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: Amalgam Comics
Cover Date: June 1997
Cover Price: $1.95
Writer: Barbara Kesel
Artist: Bryan Hitch
When the DC and Marvel Universes merged in Marvel vs DC, a new one was created: the Amalgam Universe. This one-shot combined X-Force with Doom Patrol and Teen Titans.
Brother Brood and his Brood have captured Niles Cable. Now, it’s up to his team, X-Patrol, to free him. This time, the team (consisting of Elasti-Girl, Shatterstarfire, Beastling, Dial H.U.S.K. and Ferro Man) have a new recruit named Jericho (a gray version of the Fantastic Four’s Thing with a glowing eye). And, although Elasti-Girl recommends him – the rest of the team is unsure of his trustworthiness.
Meanwhile, back in Zenosha, the captive Niles Cable has been infected with a Brood implant that will eventually overtake his body and consciousness. He has the power to destroy the implant but, doing so will release his control over the techno-virus that infects his body. Killing the implant would mean finally succumbing to the infection that he’s faced for decades!
When the team finally reaches Zenosha, they face off against the Brood, Terra-X the Destroyer (a neat combo of Terra and Galactus’ herald, Terrax), and the Brood. While they’re distracted, the brood implant has nearly overtaken Niles Cable and he is forced to fight his own team. However, Jericho sheds his rocky outer shell and reveals who he truly is: [a young, techno-virus-free Niles Dayspring – which explains that glowing eye], come to save the future from Brood infestation. This powerful mutant destroys Brother Brood and frees Cable of his brood implant.
Plenty of fun action to be had here and powerful art by Bryan Hitch. Same as last time, the Beastling provided some much-needed humor and fun but, unfortunately, Elasti-Girl was much more serious this time around. The story really seems to draw strongly on the Cable mythos, so fans of his will probably have a stronger appreciation for this issue. And, who doesn’t enjoy a good mystery hero?
On Ebay: Amalgam | Barbara Kesel | Bryan Hitch
On AtomicAvenue: Amalgam Comics