kh (04/17/83)
Since no one has asked me yet, I am going to tell you various things
about the various titles I read every month. I must warn you, I can get
rather dull at times, especially about comics, but you might learn
something, so...
There will be three parts to this series: Mainstream, Non-Mainstream,and
not-yet-released comics.
Part One:
Non-Mainstream (These comics are available at speciality shops and by Mail
Order only)
1. Dreadstar, by Jim Starlin (Epic Comics) $1.50/bi-monthly
This is the Story of Vanth Dreadstar, who was introduced in
Metamorphosis Odyssey in EPIC magazine #1-9. He is the
sole survivor of his galaxy and was responsible for its
death. he is now trying to prevent one interstellar empire,
The Instrumentality, from destroying another, The Monarchy,
who are warring for control of Dreadstar's adopted galaxy.
Points in its favor: Jim Starlin.
It is my opinion that Jim Starlin is one of the greatest people
ever to write or draw comic books, and since he does both for
Dreadstar, it ranks as one of the finest available.
Flaws: . It is rather violent, but War, especially
on the scale involved, Is Hell. Also, it is hard to
take the heroes totally seriously, e.g., in the
first issue, Vanth singlehandedly destroys an Insty starship.
Conclusion: very good "Swords and Starships" comics.
2. Warp, by Frank Brunner and Peter Gillis (First Comics) $1.00/monthly
Since unc!tim has already described First Comics' line, I will
only briefly mention what I like about them. They are
good heroic godwar stories, with a touch of humor
spread throughout to keep it from being morbid or boring.
The artwork on the main story is excellent (Frank Brunner at
his best) but the backup story (by Ditko in issues 2-4) is
unbearable.
3. E-Man, by Martin Pasko and Joe Staton (First) $1.00/monthly
Satire, through and through. Very funny if you get all of the
jokes. Narrated by the ghost of Dr. Albert Einstein and his
pet koala, it is the tale of an energy being who can assume
a myriad of forms. He is described as "The World's Most
Physically Impossible Super-Hero", and trys to live up to
the title.
4. Jon Sable, Freelance, by Mike Grell (First) $1.00/monthly
Blood and gore in the present. Well drawn, but slightly silly
plots distract from the mood of intense violence Grell is trying
to project.
5. Coyote, by Steve Englehart and Steve Leialoha (Epic) $1.50/bimonthly
Very strange story about a man raised by a shaman in the Arizona
deserts. Fairly well drawn and written, so I think I'll keep
buying it for a while.
6. Omega Men, by Roger Slifer and Keith Giffen (DC Comics) $1.00/monthly
The art is really the high point of this series, although
the story is fairly interesting. The Omega Men are a band of
~75 aliens trying to liberate their star system and its 22
inhabitable worlds from The Citadel, the natives of one of those
worlds. Very violent, with blood abounding. It's an acquired taste.
7. Camelot 3000, by Mike W. Barr and Brian Bolland (DC) (12 issue series)
$1.00/monthly
This story, about the return of King Arthur in the year 3000 AD, is
one of the most highly advertised magazines in comicdom, but it
could sell itself with no problem. It is skillfully draw and
written, and its only major flaw is the fact that the technology
described is, in my opinion, 2200 AD at best. It is entertaining,
funny, touching, surprising, and everything that a comic should be.
And, as it is a limited series, the story will have an end.
8. Ronin, by Frank Miller (DC) (6 issue series) $2.50/every 6 weeks
This is really bizarre. It is futuristic and medieval, a duel
between the reincarnations of a demon and his Japanese destroyer
in a future depression in New York City. Miller's style, for
those of you who didn't read Daredevil when he did that, is
very rough; he specializes in fights and outlines. And yet, this
series could possibly turn out to be the greatest thing ever made.
Since only the first issue has been published, we'll have to wait
and see.
9. Micronauts, by Bill Mantlo and Butch Guice (Marvel) $.75/bi-monthly
The best comics about toys ever made. Originally, the Micronauts were
a set of high-tech children's dolls (something like SF GI Joe's with
interchangeable parts), but they have gone far beyond that. They are
the outcasts of the Microverse, a universe that can only be reached
by a combination of shrinking and dimensional transportation. They
fight against a superbad dude named Baron Karza (pronounced Kartha)
who is a fundamental force of evil in the Microverse and who has
at last count raised himself from the dead twice. Mantlo's writing
has greatly improved over the past several years, and it is now
among the best Marvel has to offer. Newcomer Butch Guice, who pencils
and inks, is dynamite.
10. Moon Knight, by Doug Moench and Kevin Nowlan (Marvel) $.75/bi-monthly
The main characters are Batmanesque crimefighter Moon Knight,
millionaire playboy Steve Grant, New York cabbie Joe Lockly,
and mercenary Marc Spector. The only problem is, they are all
the same man. You see, Moon Knight has a personality problem-
he has three too many. But fortunately he keeps them in control,
so he doesn't slip up too much. It is a brutal magazine, with
emphasis more on the human element than on super heroics,
although those are definitely present as well. You may be
familiar with Moon Knight from Cerebus the Aardvark; then
again, maybe not.
Next up: What I can buy at 7-11 if I miss it everywhere else.
_ _
/.| |.\ The Demolished Hacker
-| | | |- Kevin Maroney
\_| |_/ duke!unc!kh