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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: June 2009
Cover Price: $3.99
Writer: Kieron Gillen
Artist: Dan Brereton

A sect of an alien race of beings has renounced their god-figure and decided that they would create a new religion. They deemed Beta Ray Bill their new deity and were cast out of ther society by those who clung to the established religion. Now that they’re being pursued and persecuted, by the rest of their race, they turn to Beta Ray Bill to save them. Soon after defeating the religious persecutors, our hero will have to determine if he’s comfortable with his new status as their god.

Gillen uses a cosmic super hero story to pose some interesting concepts and questions about religion. It’s also just a cool Beta Ray Bill story, which I can always appreciate (especially since Beta stories seem so few and far between these days – and are usually pretty nifty [especially that Godhunter mini series]). I was excited to see Brereton‘s name on the cover because I can always count on him for very unique and wonderful painted art. However, I was a bit let down to discover that this story featured his pencils, instead – which don’t nearly live up to the quality of his painted art. On the other hand, the Marko Djurdjevic cover is sure nice to look at.

On Ebay: Beta Ray Bill | Kieron Gillen | Dan Brereton
On AtomicAvenue: Beta Ray Bill

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: Larry Hama
Artist: Rodolfo Damaggio with Bill Sienkiewicz

When the DC and Marvel Universes merged in Marvel vs DC, a new one was created: the Amalgam Universe. This one-shot combined Man-Bat with Man-Thing.

A creature called the Bat-Thing is watching Francie Sallis and her daughter Kelly. This green-skinned, winged monster stalks the night and Detective Clark Bullock has decided to extend the Sallis girls his aid. When some local thugs enter the mix and launch an attack on the girls the frenzy inspires the empathic monster to leap into action. But, who will he attack first? And, what’s his connection to the Sallis girls?

Hama handled this book excellently. He’s created a true horror/suspense tale and we’re along for the ride trying to figure out character motivations. If you can read this tale without looking at the cover (I know! It’s an enormously difficult task.) you’ll be in for a real treat. That’s because the artist doesn’t give us a good look at the monster’s face until halfway through the book. All great monster movies use this trick to build up your interest in what the creature is actually going to look like. Damaggio’s art fits the moody tone just right and Sienkiewicz’s inks add that extra touch of artistry that he’s so good at. I’m a sucker for monsters in almost any form of entertainment – and I’m always up for a great Man-Thing story. Put those together, and you’ve got my recommendation for this one.

On Ebay: Amalgam | Larry Hama | Bill Sienkiewicz | Roger Cruz
On AtomicAvenue: Amalgam Comics