Cyberspace Comics market report, reviews and more

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: September 1997
Cover Price: $2.99
Writer: Tod Dezago
Artist: Andy Smith

The Jorken and the Kront are two alien races that have been feuding over the virgin moon, Yordel, for six thousand years (picture the Middle East … in spaaaaaaaace!). The Jorken have devised a plan to kidnap teleporter, Lila Cheney, and force her to ‘port a bomb into the Kront’s governing palace. Unfortunately for the Jorken, they quickly discover that you can kidnap a teleporter … but it’s near-impossible to keep one. So, their next big idea? Kidnap her huge, strong guy friend and force her into doing their dirty deeds for them.

Oh! Did you think they’d kidnap Strong Guy? Well, so did they. But, looks like they nabbed Lila’s newest bodyguards, Kree-Tor (every intergalactic pop music star needs a gaggle of guards), instead! So, it’s up to Lila and Strong Guy to rescue their pal. But, in the process, they manage to end the millennia-old Jorken/Kront war. Sounds good, right? Wrong! Now, the two races, devoid of their sole purpose in life have joined forces against their newest enemy … Lila & Strong Guy!

Strong Guy was one of the main players that made Peter David’s original X-Factor work so well. Later writers came on board and kicked him out of the book by putting him in a coma. But, you can’t keep this strong guy down … and happily he recovered (better than ever thanks to Forge). But, X-Factor had changed drastically by then and taken on a more conspiratorial direction. This shady, paranoia-laden direction was cool but certainly no place for Strong Guy. Fortunately for us SG fans, Marvel deemed our hero worthy of a one-shot book and boy! … is it fun! The art is awesome, slick, bombastic and dynamic. The story is whacky, light-hearted (despite dealing with an enormous space war) and very wacky. Both of those aspects are what a great, fun Strong Guy story is made of … and this fits the bill. Enjoy!

On Ebay: Strong Guy | Todd Dezago | Andy Smith
On AtomicAvenue: Strong Guy | X-Factor

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: March 2002
Cover Price: $2.25
Writer: Chuck Austen
Artist: Chuck Austen

After the events of Marvel Mangaverse: New Dawn, the Godzilla-sized Hulk is on the loose in New York City. Adding to the monster’s destruction, Satanna and her minions are running loose. Curiously enough, while chaos is consuming the city, Damon Hellstrom calls a meeting with John Blaze, to reveal that they are brothers. He also empowers Blaze to become the Ghost Rider and they set out to fight Satanna and her demons. The super-sized evil mistress may be too big for them to take down … but, the Hulk’s enormous stature may just do the trick!

Normally, I like fun and humor in my comics but, this seems to have just way too much of it. It relies on humor much more than action. And, with a book centered on these specific characters, the exceeding amount of humor just doesn’t seem to fit. Add to that the strange artwork, which mixes very cartoony character designs with burgeoning CGI technology (this was 2002, after all), and I just can’t give this book a high recommendation.

* It should be noted that dissatisfaction with this book starts at the very cover. Even though Werewolf By Night is prominently featured on the cover, he doesn’t appear in this story at all.

On Ebay: Mangaverse | Chuck Austen
On AtomicAvenue: Mangaverse

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

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: September 2009
Cover Price: $3.99
Writer: Tom DeFalco
Artist: Rick Burchett

Blaine Cole is a teenager on the run from the law. Sheriff McGreeley claims the young boy, nicknamed Kid Colt, murdered an innocent farmer. And, the Sheriff has hired Sherman Wilks, the deadliest bounty killer, to find Kid Colt. However, U.S. Marshal Samuel Gemmell might have a problem with that because he wants to see the Kid questioned and offered a fair trial – not killed!

While Kid Colt and his drifter companion, Everett Hawkmore, are out looking for an eye witness that can clear him of the murder charges, they come under attack by Sherman Wilks and his posse. And, after some fancy shooting by the Kid, the duo makes a break for it. They come across a burned down house and make their camp there. After hours have passed, Wilks and his bounty hunters catch up to the Kid & Hawkmore … and then they all find themselves set upon by raiding Scavengers! So, an unlikely truce is formed as our heroes team up with the men who were sent to kill them.

After the smoke clears, it’s just Kid Colt and Everett Hawkmore left … with Wilks aiming his shotgun at them both. The men swap stories – Kid Colt explains the circumstances behid his murder charge and Wilks reveals how and why he became a bounty hunter. Eventually, the two agree to a shoot out in order to determine their fate. After all, every good Western story should have a shoot out, right?

This story is pretty much a modern re-telling of Kid Colt’s beginnings. The interesting thing about his origin is that Colt is, indeed, a killer! He killed his father’s murderer in a fair fight, though, and in the “wild west” stories, this would have been a pardonable offense. However, the man he killed happens to be the Sheriff’s brother – with that in mind, you can bet that the Sheriff is out to get the Kid. So, while looking for a witness to clear his name, the Kid gets involved in other heroic adventures. Adventures like this one. And, it’s certainly good Western fun. I don’t know how long the concept could continue before it grew old but, it makes for a fine and dandy one-shot!

On Ebay: Kid Colt | Tom DeFalco
On AtomicAvenue: Kid Colt

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: Dynamite
Cover Date: 2010
Cover Price: $6.99
Writer: Grant Calof with Eric Eisner
Artist: Jeevan J. Kang

Nearly 150 years from now, the Earth is in the midst of the Great Drought. It hasn’t rained in years, the oceans have dried up and the ozone layer has been entirely destroyed. There are only three giant nations left on earth. North America has joined together to form the N.A.U. The European nations have formed the A.I.U. and China has merged with Russia to form the U.S.R.C. The strongest of these nations only has enough water reserves to last for twelve months.

In the N.A.U., Dr. Aaron Turner has discovered a previously hidden, underground glacier that could temporarily ease the N.A.U.’s citizens. This newfound source of water would likely make the N.AU. the world’s greatest super-power and so, he is sent, along with a team, to uncover the glacier and prep it for utilization. Turner and his team must prevail against dangerous terrain, an active volcano … and, worst of all, a rival U.S.R.C. team who wants to claim the glacier for themselves. However, whichever group claims the glacier, it’s still only a temporary reprieve. Can humanity work together to solve their common problem? Or, will infighting lead to the destruction of the human race?

H20 is a thrilling prestige format one-shot that presents a frightening future vision. After all, clean water is essential for life to exist and the possibility of it disappearing spells the destruction of mankind. The opening pages of art present chilling scenes as we’re witness to landscapes devoid of water. San Francisco Bay – a vast dessert. Now, the science behind it all and the possible solutions to the problem may be far from rock-solid (I have no basis to say ‘yea’ or ‘nay’) but, the basic premise is great. And, after the glacier is found, it’s a race to beat the “soviets” there. It’s the Space Race all over again! But, this time it’s for humanity’s survival.

If there’s anything I could pick on this book for, it’s that I would have liked to see more of the ramifications of the Great Drought. Sure, they went into some details, like time-released water bottles but I’m very curious to see how else humanity has adapted. As you progress through the story, the possibility of clean water becoming the world’s scarcest resource sinks in and hopefully, you’ll truly appreciate how fortunate you are to have it readily available.

On Ebay: H20
On AtomicAvenue: H20

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: March 2002
Cover Price: $2.25
Writer: Adam Warren
Artist: Keron Grant

The Baxter Building’s Metatalent team (including Assistant Director Agatha Harkness, Technician Alicia Masters and Acting Director Reed Richards) has detected an invading alien lifeform. They’ve codenamed it Annihilus and dispatched their field unit against it. Using their Metatalent Augmentation Suits, they attack the alien individually. Jonatha Storm destroys the alien first using her superheated gases and plasmas but Annihilus is somehow instantly reconstituted and defeats her. The same goes for Sioux Storm and her invisible force fields and then for Benjamin (pronounced Ben-Ya-Meen) Grimm and his armature made up of rocky materials. Finally, Reed uses his intelligence to figure out a way to finally destroy the alien lifeform.

As a Fantastic Four story, this book is just terrible. There’s no family interconnection to be had. The characters are totally unrelatable: Jonatha is impulsive. Sioux’s an introvert. Benjamin lacks the confidence he’s known for and Reed is a jerk. As for the villain, the once-great Annihilus is reduced to a mute, motivation-less invading alien. The manga-inspired art is pretty nice but even then, the color palette is just too dark for a Fantastic Four book. The only thing I really enjoyed was the character interviews that gave each FF member a chance to analyze the other. That part was fun but, if you’re an FF fan, I’d stay far away from this one. Adam Warren fans, on the other hand, might dig it!

On Ebay: Mangaverse | Adam Warren
On AtomicAvenue: Mangaverse

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: Ty Templeton
Artist: Templeton with Rick Burchett

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

After two years, Lady Talia (mix of Talia and Lady Deathstrike) has come face to face with the man who killer her father (Ra’s-A-Pocalypse). Interestingly enough, the man who killer her father is Dark Claw, her former lover. And, similarly, he has dreamed of coming face to face with the man who killed his father, as well. Now that she has him at her mercy, Talia must decide if getting revenge will be worth becoming a murderer.

The art style perfectly mimics the critically-acclaimed 1990s Batman cartoon series and the story delivers an interesting twist, considering both main characters are trying to come to terms with the same problem: what would happen if they met their father’s killer? This added importance of characterization puts this one-shot well above the previous Dark Claw comic from the year before.

On Ebay: Amalgam | Ty Templeton
On AtomicAvenue: Amalgam Comics

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: October 1998
Cover Price: $2.99
Writer: Tom DeFalco
Artist: Jeff Johnson, Dave Ross, Mark Bagley

Augusta Seger comes to Avengers Mansion for help and recruits Hawkeye to stop a destructive computer virus from falling into the wrong hands. However, once they get back to her office, Hawkeye discovers that it was all a ruse and is attacked by Batroc the Leaper, Machete and Zaran. He makes short work of the trio and returns to the Mansion.

With the help of Junior Avengers, Justice and Firestar, Hawkeye tries to find Seger. Their first stop is the jail that Batroc is being kept in. But, this is just another set up. This time, the trio comes under attack by Oddball and other thugs. But, they’re certainly no match for our heroes.

Finally, Firestar discovers that Seger is a renowned biologist that has fallen out of favor with the scientific community. She now goes by the “colorful” name, Albino … and she wants to set up a meeting. Once our heroes get to the meeting spot, they’re attacked by the mastermind behind all of these events, the Taskmaster! Unsatisfied with his ability to mimic the movements of anyone he observes, the Albino has now given him the power to mimic any super power he has seen. But, even still, he’s not powerful enough to defeat three Avengers.

As a Hawkeye fan, I welcome any solo title Marvel is willing to give him but, I’ve rarely been overly impressed with any of them. Unfortunately, this issue doesn’t differ from the trend. Sure, there’s plenty of action to be had … but where’s the characterization? And, Hawkeye doesn’t even deliver the final victory – it’s Justice that gets that claim. And Oddball? The master juggler super-villain? Really?!

Note: This issue takes place just before Avengers vol. III #7

On Ebay: Hawkeye | Tom DeFalco
On AtomicAvenue: Hawkeye

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: February 2010
Cover Price: $3.99
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: Michael Lark

Some of the big bad guys of the Marvel Universe have a meeting that reminds me a lot of their get-togethers from the Acts of Vengeance crossover. But, this time around, they’re even less friendly, as Doctor Doom is demanding that Norman Osborn turn Namor over to him. Now, at this point in Marvel’s continuity, Osborn’s amassed quite a bit of power and is head of H.A.M.M.E.R. (his version of S.H.I.E.L.D.). That power, coupled with his maniacal Green Goblin persona, leads him to turn down Doom’s demand (which is not something one should do, lightly). In response, Doom releases a swarm of insect-sized dangerous robots upon Osborn and his compatriots.

After the swarming menace was defeated, Osborn turned his attention towards Asgard (which was hovering over Oklahoma, at the time). But, once again, he was met with adversity. This time, the President of the U.S. declined Osborn’s request to launch an attack on the “invading” Asgard. Finally, he and Loki decide that an incident will have to be engineered to initiate public outcry against Asgard.

For a one-shot prequel, there’s a lot going on here. Initially, the interaction between Osborn and Doom, was handled very well. Bendis has a keen ear for dialogue and he also demonstrates a strong understanding of both of these characters. For the action lovers out there, the middle of the book appeals to you as the Dark Avengers take on Doom’s tech-swarm. And, finally, you criminal masterminds and 9/11 Truthers will get a kick out of Loki and Osborn planning to orchestrate an incident to inspire national pride and xenophobia.

On Ebay: Siege | Brian Bendis
On AtomicAvenue: Siege

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: March 2002
Cover Price: $2.25
Writer: Ken Siu-Chong
Artist: UDON

With the threat of the Hulk (see Marvel Mangaverse: Eternity Twilight) looming large, Tony Stark decides to unleash his greatest weapon. It’s a force so powerful that he’s even kept the secret from his Avengers, lest the villain, Apocalypse, would discover its existence. But, the Hulk’s destruction now outweighs the danger of Apocalypse, so Stark has given the location of the “Iron Avengers” to his team (Captain America, Hawkeye, Scarlet Witch, Vision). But, just as Tony feared, Apocalypse does learn of the weapons’ location, and he dispatches his team of villains to secure the “Iron Avengers” Mech Vehicles. However, the Avengers make short work of Apocalypse’s team (Sinister, White Queen, Juggernaut, and Archangel). They say that if you want something done right, then you should do it yourself, so Apocalypse, himself, takes on the Avengers. But, the Iron Avengers utilize their super-secret ability to combine into a giant mech-warrior (think Voltron) and they manage to defeat their arch-nemesis. Next up? The Hulk!

This one-shot fits right between the Marvel Mangaverse bookend one-shots, and takes the phrase “Avengers Assemble!” to a whole new level. It’s a standard action-adventure romp with little room for character development but the upside is getting a look at all these newly redesigned characters. It’s fun to see them all through a manga-inspired lens. My biggest complaint is that putting super-heroes in mech-suits kind of defeats the purpose and fun of these heroes having super-powers.

On Ebay: Mangaverse | UDON
On AtomicAvenue: Mangaverse