Because publishers want you to buy their product every month, comics are typically serial in nature. However, occasionally (and more often nowadays than ever before) publishers launch a comic title that is only meant to last for one issue. While ongoing series often have multiple chances to hook in new readers, the comics highlighted in this ongoing investigations only had One-Shot At Greatness!
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Date: May 2002
Cover Price: $2.99
Writer: Todd Dezago
Artist: Bryan Hitch & Paul Neary; second half by Ivan Reis & Randy Emberlin
In a bid to take over New York City, Bonham and his insectoid-vampire clan blow up a bomb underneath the city. The explosion derails two subway cars; each of them happen to have a super-hero on board: the Thing in one, and She-Hulk in the other. It also reaches an underground lab owned by Roxxon and led by Dr. Jonas Harrow in an attempt to create an army of synthezoids. The captured synthezoid that he’s studying? That’d be Dragon Man! And, did I say captured? Well, that explosion sets him free.
So, once the Thing and She-Hulk meet up in the subway tunnels they’re caught in a big battle with Dragon Man and Roxxon. On top of that, both parties find themselves under siege by a swarm of insectoid-vampires! And, if they can’t stop them, they’re headed topside to feast on NYC.
For a double-sized issue like this, not much really seems to happen. It features some art by Bryan Hitch (who’s pretty well-regarded these days) but it looks kind of sloppy to me (although his cover is great!). And, as much as I really enjoy the Thing and Dragon Man … this story kind of fell flat for me. There’s plenty of action here but no characterization to give the book any kind of backbone. The book’s ingredients have plenty of potential but unfortunately it just didn’t reach it this time around.
On Ebay: the Thing | She-Hulk | Dragon Man | Todd Dezago | Bryan Hitch