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January 21, 2011

Retro-Read #42 Bozz Chronicles

Filed under: Retro-Read — Doorman @ 10:59 am

With years spent reading single issues here and there, juggling storylines of dozens of titles, I decided it was time to find a better way to read comics. So, it was off to the back issue bins armed with the longest want list you’ve ever seen! Putting together series after series and reading them in their complete goodness, I was reborn as the Retro-Reader!

Publisher: Epic Comics
Number of Issues: 6
First Issue: December 1985 ($1.50)
Last Issue: November 1986 ($1.50)
Writer: David Michelinie
Artist: Bret Blevins

*Warning! Plot Spoilers Below*

Amanda Flynn is a lady of the night who lived in Victorian England during the latter half of the 19th century. One evening she stumbled upon a yellow-skinned alien trying to hang himself in an abandoned building. He explained that he crash-landed onto Earth and had grown bored with the mundanity of life, here. Apparently, his civilization was much more advanced and the only way to keep him occupied was to get him involved in mysteries and strange occurences that warranted investigation.

So, Mandy and Bozz formed a detective agency, taking on the cases that Scotland Yard couldn’t handle. The business was mutually beneficial: Mandy could make a living in a more respectable profession and Bozzwell (as Mandy had taken to calling him) was happy to put off suicide as long as there was an investigation to keep him occupied. Along with a friendly (but rough) American named Salem Hawkshaw, the trio were involved in cases involving resurrected men, demon infestations, hidden societies, African curiosities and other interesting happenings.

The Bad: This series was cut down all too quickly. There’s quite a bit of fun untapped potential left.

The Good: A great mix of Sherlock Holmes and E.T.

The Verdict: Here’s a fun mix of concepts: Victorian England, an alien, a hooker, an American ruffian and Sherlock Holmes-style mysteries. Bret Blevins’ character designs are wonderful! Bozz is a wide-eyed alien who’s so advanced that everything bores him – and Bret captures that aloofness perfectly. His Salem is a bit reminiscent of Wolverine (but it’s quite likely that it’s intentional) and Mandy is instantly likeable! Michelinie manages to pack a great bit of characterization into these handful of issues and sets up (and resolves!) quite a few mysteries. I’m not too knowledgeable about Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories – but it seems that this series owes a lot to the famous detective. I imagine Sherlock fans are sure to enjoy this title and if you couldn’t tell, I’m quite fond of it myself; I wish there were a bunch more to read! This concept could go on for quite some time and continue to be just as enjoyable.

On Ebay: Bozz | David Michelinie | Bret Blevins
On AtomicAvenue: Bozz

January 14, 2011

Retro-Read #41 Light & Darkness War

Filed under: Retro-Read — Doorman @ 9:06 am

With years spent reading single issues here and there, juggling storylines of dozens of titles, I decided it was time to find a better way to read comics. So, it was off to the back issue bins armed with the longest want list you’ve ever seen! Putting together series after series and reading them in their complete goodness, I was reborn as the Retro-Reader!

Publisher: Epic Comics
Number of Issues: 6
First Issue: October 1988 ($1.95)
Last Issue: September 1989 ($1.95)
Writer: Tom Veitch
Artist: Cam Kennedy

*Warning! Plot Spoilers Below*

Life hasn’t treated Lazarus Jones well. He lost a lot in Vietnam including both legs and the rest of his platoon. The years since have been filled with drugs, alcohol, war flashbacks and his only shining light – the ever-loving, Chris. But, when a car accident puts him in a coma, Laz discovers an all-new direction for his life. While his body lays immobile in our world, his spirit is transported to a star system called Abraxas where he’s united with Steven J. Huff, Munoz Slaw and Captain Archibald Engle – his entire squad – now entangled in an all new war: the war between Light and Dark.

As part of the Light Brigade, Laz and his pals are embroiled in just one of the many battles in the Light and Darkness War. However, their fight against Lord Na of the Darkness remains an important one. Utilizing the technology of Nicholas Tesla (Nikola Tesla’s nephew), Na has discovered a way to gain access to Earth – a notable concern since passage to Earth has long since been lost. Earth weapons will play a significant role in this war fought with wood and stone weapons devised by Leonardo Da Vinci. Perhaps even enough to swing the entire war in favor of Darkness.

Fearing an imbalance in weaponry, the Forces of Light seek the aid of Nikola Tesla (the legendary inventor from the 19th & 20th centuries) to equalize the playing field. But, just when the Forces of Light need all the help they can get, Lazarus awakens from his coma – returning to Earth and leaving the war far behind. Was it all just a big dream? And, if it’s not – how can he rejoin his friends and win the war?

The Bad: It seems Cam Kennedy tried out some experimental art styles with cover #3 & 6 that just don’t match up to the quality of the other four covers.

The Good: Tom Veitch has found a way to acknowledge the true warrior spirit of the average Vietnam Vet by placing him in a war where the forces of good and evil are more clearly defined.

The Verdict: The Light and Darkness War starts off with a great concept. It pitches the spirits of Earth’s warriors into an afterlife filled with an ageless battle between two extremes: good and evil. There is no question which side is the right side to root for and it’s in this backdrop that Veitch attempts to redeem the Vietnam Veteran (who were initially scorned for their involvement in a war many Americans felt we should never have engaged in). But, that’s where an important difference should be noted – and Veitch certainly wants you to be aware that even if you don’t support the war, you can still support the troops. By taking the Vietnam Veterans of this story and pitting them against the Forces of Darkness, Veitch gives the Vets an opportunity to show their true spirit and moral character – without the question of “Is there just cause for this war?” hanging over their heads.

Cam Kennedy’s art breathes life into this strange world filled with the spirits of Earth warriors and Leonardo Da Vinci’s flying stone ships (as well as other interesting inventions). Incorporating legendary inventors like Da Vinci and Tesla was a neat idea (one that Hickman has recently used in his ongoing S.H.I.E.L.D. series), as was the travel between Earth and Abraxas. And, even though Laz’s eventual return to Earth was expected, it played out nicely. His despair over losing his friends again and returning to the life he had loathed so much was quite palpable. By the end of the series, he seems to have everything all figured out – and you just can’t help but feel happy for the guy.

On Ebay: Tom Veitch | Cam Kennedy
On AtomicAvenue: Light & Darkness War

January 7, 2011

Retro-Read #40 Gargoyles

Filed under: Retro-Read — Doorman @ 12:21 pm

With years spent reading single issues here and there, juggling storylines of dozens of titles, I decided it was time to find a better way to read comics. So, it was off to the back issue bins armed with the longest want list you’ve ever seen! Putting together series after series and reading them in their complete goodness, I was reborn as the Retro-Reader!

Publisher: Marvel Comics
Number of Issues: 11
First Issue: February 1995 ($2.50)
Last Issue: December 1995 ($1.50)
Writer: Martin Pasko, Mort Todd
Artist: Amanda Conner, Grant Miehm

*Warning! Plot Spoilers Below*

This series ties in with Disney’s animated series from the mid 1990s. It follows a clan of gargoyles who were placed under a spell that sealed them in their unmoving, stony forms. Many years later, circumstances set in motion by billionaire, David Xanatos, broke the spell – reawakening the gargoyles in modern day New York City.

Now, the clan, led by Goliath, and aided by NYPD officer Elisa Maza, intend to use their unique abilities to stave off the evil elements commonly found in a large city. In the course of this series, they do battle with Demona (a rogue, female gargoyle), street thugs, Lavonne (a genetically created vampire), Venus (a cloned being combining elements from Goliath & Maza), the Pack (a strike force of animal-inspired warriors), and corrupt businessman, David Xanatos, himself!

The Bad: This series shares the same continuity as the cartoon series and it references past events that happened in the cartoon. Not a bad thing, if you’re a fan of the cartoon – but if you’re new to the concept/story, it seems like you’re missing out on a lot of info and walking in on the middle of the story.

The Good: Great artwork by Amanda Conner. A cool cover by Joe Madureira for issue #1.

The Verdict: While I remember enjoying an episode of the cartoon here or there, I can’t say I was ever an avid follower. I’m sure this series handled the characterization just fine and the artwork was certainly a treat to look at. Unfortunately, I don’t feel that the series was able to convey the overall point of the concept. It doesn’t do much to relate the Gargoyles’ motivation – just that they want to protect the city. But, it seems like they’re more concerned with finding parties and food than they are with actively searching out villainy.

I think I would have enjoyed this much more if there was an underlying plot or purpose going on. Although, I assume it must have been difficult (or not even allowed) to establish a separate identity from the ongoing TV series. So, if you’re viewing this as a supplement to the animated series, I think you’ll dig it. If you’re planning on reading this without any working knowledge of the original source of inspiration, then I’d recommend skipping this one.

On Ebay: Gargoyles | Amanda Conner

December 31, 2010

Retro-Read #39 Brat Pack

Filed under: Retro-Read — Doorman @ 11:36 am

With years spent reading single issues here and there, juggling storylines of dozens of titles, I decided it was time to find a better way to read comics. So, it was off to the back issue bins armed with the longest want list you’ve ever seen! Putting together series after series and reading them in their complete goodness, I was reborn as the Retro-Reader!

Publisher: King Hell
Number of Issues: 5
First Issue: September 1990 ($2.95)
Last Issue: May 1991 ($2.95)
Writer: Rick Veitch
Artist: Rick Veitch

*Warning! Plot Spoilers Below*

When True-Man, the almighty super-hero maximortal, disappeared, a few vigilantes stepped in to keep the streets of Slumburg safe. But, even though they were inspired by the righteous True-Man, it turns out that these heroes have their own dark sides. The main four vigilantes consist of the racist Judge Jury, Midnight Mink the sodomite, the feminist Moon Mistress and the junkie King Rad. Each of these vigilantes has their own kid sidekick: Kid Vicious, Chippy, Luna and Wild Boy, respectively. And, it seems the sidekicks, collectively known as the Brat Pack, are even less-liked by the public than the heroes they serve under. In fact, the series opens up with the public calling for their heads. But, when Doctor Blasphemy kills them all with a car-bomb, the Brat Pack ironically earns the public’s favor.

Now, devoid of their sidekicks, the heroes have to find and train all-new sidekicks. Months of training lead up to an explosive battle between the new sidekicks and Doctor Blasphemy. Meanwhile, the heroes all get thrown into a meltdown as they fear that True-Man has returned and will be unhappy about the way they’ve warped his memory and inspiration. And, by the way, who is Doctor Blasphemy, anyway?

The Bad:

The Good: Brat Pack is considered one of the most important comics works dissecting the super-hero genre. Often listed right behind Frank Miller’s Dark Knight and Alan Moore’s Watchmen.

The Verdict: Continuing the deconstructionist look at super-heroes that began in Dark Knight and Watchmen, Rick Veitch clues us in that not all super heroes are goody-goodies. Some of them have some dark pasts … and even worse, dark presents. Foregoing the Watchmen approach, Veitch emulates the Dark Knight style of storytelling by bringing us into this world of superheroics through the eyes of the newbie-sidekicks. It helps us wrap our minds around the twisted people that the heroes have become. So, when they get their come-uppance in the end, you can’t help but root against them. I’m always impressed when a writer can make you root for the villain (in this case Doctor Blasphemy – more famously, Alan Moore made you root for the terrorist in V For Vendetta) – and this is certainly one of those rare instances.

On Ebay: Brat Pack | Rick Veitch

December 24, 2010

Retro-Read #38 U.S. 1

Filed under: Retro-Read — Doorman @ 9:14 am

With years spent reading single issues here and there, juggling storylines of dozens of titles, I decided it was time to find a better way to read comics. So, it was off to the back issue bins armed with the longest want list you’ve ever seen! Putting together series after series and reading them in their complete goodness, I was reborn as the Retro-Reader!

Publisher: Marvel Comics
Number of Issues: 12
First Issue: May 1983 (60¢)
Last Issue: October 1984 (60¢)
Writer: Al Milgrom
Artist: Herb Trimpe, Frank Springer, Steve Ditko (#12)

*Warning! Plot Spoilers Below*

After graduating from college with degrees in computer program design and electronics engineering, Ulysses Solomon Archer‘s passion for the road landed him in the passenger’s seat of his brother’s rig. One fateful night, they were driven off the road by the mysterious Highwayman. Somehow, U.S. survived the crash but his brother, Jefferson, had gone missing! An experimental metal was formed to replace U.S.’s shattered skull – crafted from an alloy that gave him the ability to focus CB channels and other frequencies into his brain. U.S. geared up his own rig, U.S. 1, with lots of high-tech weapons and even a remote control that he could control with his brain, in order to prepare for the Highwayman’s return.

As the series continued, U.S. spent his quieter time at the Short Stop Truck Stop alongside his friends Poppa Wheelie, Wide Load Annie, Retread, Mary McGrill and Taryn O’Connell. However, the Highwayman was quick to continue his attack and sent his lackies, Midnight and Baron Von Blimp, in attempts to capture U.S. Eventually, Archer defeated all of these villains and even the ‘big boss’, himself. But, it’s at this point that the series took a strange turn as U.S. 1 and the Highwayman engaged in a competition to be Earth’s first space trucker!

The Bad: The main hero is such a stereotypical, boring, plain hero. Even his “super-powers” (a CB Skull and a weaponized tractor trailer) aren’t all that interesting.

The Good: Milgrom built up quite a few mysteries in the book. What’s the secret identity of Midnight? What happened to Jefferson Archer? What’s the secret behind the Highwayman?

The Verdict: In the early 1980s, Tyco approached Marvel to create a comic based on a remote-controlled toy truck they were developing. The toy was never released but Marvel had already begun working on their first maxi-series (this predates Secret Wars). U.S. Archer was also the first trucking super hero to get his own series. Although, it should be mentioned that he’s not the first trucking super hero. Razorback predates him by quite a number of years.

Within these twelve issues, our hero undergoes quite a journey. There are some not-so-startling revelations and if you guessed where this series ends up without any inside information, you might want to check yourself for precog abilities. However, there are still two main concerns with this series. The first is that, as most comics from this time period do, each issue has to spend a significant amount of time reminding us of what’s happened before, who the characters are, and what abilities our hero has. Now, I suppose this is fine if you’re reading just one issue or if you’re reading one issue a month but if you read the series in its entirety in a short amount of time, it just gets kind of annoying. Secondly, and more importantly, the main hero is quite bland. He’s a duddly do-right character with no visible flaws. He always does the right thing and he’s not all that personable. At least, not in this series … although subsequent appearances (most recently in Avengers: the Infinity Gauntlet) have made him more enjoyable. Experience it for the ride – or skip it for a more character-driven read (like say Way’s Deadpool). Either way works.

On Ebay: U.S. 1 | Al Milgrom | Frank Springer

December 17, 2010

Retro-Read #37 Rib

Filed under: Retro-Read — Doorman @ 4:43 pm

With years spent reading single issues here and there, juggling storylines of dozens of titles, I decided it was time to find a better way to read comics. So, it was off to the back issue bins armed with the longest want list you’ve ever seen! Putting together series after series and reading them in their complete goodness, I was reborn as the Retro-Reader!

Publisher: Caliber
Number of Issues: 5
First Issue: May 1997 ($2.95)
Last Issue: 1998 ($2.95)
Writer: Andrew M. Ford
Artist: Michael Kelleher

*Warning! Plot Spoilers Below*

On a world similar to ours, yet different in many ways, there are two sentient species on the Earth: Humans and Worms. Sometime in the past, the more dominant humans integrated the worms into their society; although, this event is now looked at as more of an assimilation. Just as on our world, prejudice and mistrust continue to exist despite the co-existence of both species. Some worms have voluntarily left the human cities to live in non-conforming societies. And, of course, there are still humans that are unhappy that they have to share their world with another species.

This is the world Rib was born into. He’s a worm that has hopped from orphanage to orphanage until his 21st birthday when he was released into the world. Hoping to find out information on his parents, Rib moved to Metro City where he was quickly befriended by a human named Max who owns a bar/inn in the city. As the series unfolds, we’re exposed to prejudice and acceptance through Rib’s eyes as he encounters all kinds of different people from different backgrounds. Meanwhile, the leader of the nearest Non-Conformist Worm Society is nearing his death and his human-hating son is hoping to take power. And, in Metro City, the human mayor has put together a corrupt deal to get rid of all the worms.

The Bad: This series was all too prematurely ended and has an unfinished feeling to the overall story.

The Good: Michael Kelleher’s art truly shines here. His design of the title character elicits a true endearing feeling that makes you care for him instantly, despite his strange appearance we, humans.

The Verdict: What an ambitious story! Ford’s tale of a young, orphaned worm trying to find his way in the world exposes us to our human nature. He encounters incidents of unwarranted prejudice as well as unselfish acts of acceptance. However, it doesn’t ever come across as preachy and sometimes goes so far as to illustrate the reasoning behind prejudice. This story does wonders for breaking down the boundaries of what a comic story can do. I just wish it would have continued long enough to bring some of the building background storylines to a more definitive ending.

On Ebay: Rib | Andrew M. Ford | Michael Kelleher

December 10, 2010

Retro-Read #36 Man-Thing vol. III

Filed under: Retro-Read — Doorman @ 3:32 pm

With years spent reading single issues here and there, juggling storylines of dozens of titles, I decided it was time to find a better way to read comics. So, it was off to the back issue bins armed with the longest want list you’ve ever seen! Putting together series after series and reading them in their complete goodness, I was reborn as the Retro-Reader!

Publisher: Marvel Comics
Number of Issues: 8
First Issue: December 1997 ($2.99)
Last Issue: July 1998 ($2.99)
Writer: J.M. DeMatteis
Artist: Liam Sharp

*Warning! Plot Spoilers Below*

The Nexus Of All Realities has been shattered and if it’s not reassembled soon, the converging realities will tear apart the very fabric of our universe (and every universe). To solve this dilemma, Dr. Strange charges Ellen Brandt-Sallis with the heavy responsibility of locating and gathering all of the Nexus shards before the end of the world! Along for the ride is her former husband, the Guardian of the Nexus Of All Realities – the Man-Thing.

On their quest to gather the Nexus shards, Ellen and the Man-Thing enter unique locales and encounter interesting beings (including Devil-Slayer, Howard the Duck, Namor the Sub-Mariner, and the Silver Surfer). But, it’s not just as easy as finding a shard and taking it with them. They quickly find that gathering the shards leads them into morally ambiguous decisions. Is saving the entire universe worth it if you have to defile someone’s religion? What if it requires destroying an entire planet full of life? Making the journey even more difficult is an ancient immortal named Mr. Termineus who actually wants the universe(s) to implode upon themselves, causing the end of everything! And to make matters worse for our protagonists, he’s kidnapped their only son, Job.

The Bad: This series was all too prematurely canceled and the final issues went unpublished.

The Good: Liam Sharp’s artwork is well-suited to the flavor of this series and, J.M. DeMatteis continues to cement his place as one of my favorite writers. He uses this story to present tough moral choices, spiritual jouneys and tales of redemption.

The Verdict: This series was the flagship title of Marvel’s ill-fated Strange Tales line of horror comics. Unfortunately, at the last minute, Marvel decided to make this line code-approved (it was originally intended to be published without consideration of the Comics Code Authority) and delayed publication of half of the first string of titles. So, this title was left without much support from Marvel and did not sell well. It was combined with the other poorly-selling title, Werewolf By Night, into the double-feature Strange Tales anthology. This series featured the stories that would have been Man-Thing vol. III #9 & 10 but it was canceled after the second issue and the concluding chapters of the story were left unpublished (although they had been written).

Aside from the sad affair of an unfinished story, this series is one of the most unique tales set within the mainstream Marvel Universe. Even though it’s constrained by the CCA, it’s certainly written for adults. Make no mistakes about it – this is no basic super hero story. DeMatteis presents age-old dilemmas and makes our heroes face them with no easy way out. I’ve now read this story twice and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it both times. Sharp’s pencils are superb and extremely fitting for this story – at times he manages to create illustrations that are both grotesque and beautiful at the same time. DeMatteis works in guest-stars in nearly every issues but they don’t feel forced at all and actually play important roles in the story. His style of writing is poetic in this title and touches on important questions and spiritual journeys. I really can’t recommend this title enough and I think you’ll enjoy the ride enough to overcome the disappointment of a story without an end.

On Ebay: Man-Thing | J.M. DeMatteis | Liam Sharp

December 3, 2010

Retro-Read #35 Cosmic Guard

Filed under: Retro-Read — Doorman @ 4:25 pm

With years spent reading single issues here and there, juggling storylines of dozens of titles, I decided it was time to find a better way to read comics. So, it was off to the back issue bins armed with the longest want list you’ve ever seen! Putting together series after series and reading them in their complete goodness, I was reborn as the Retro-Reader!

Cosmic Guard #1Publisher: Devil’s Due & Dynamited
Number of Issues: 6
First Issue: July 2004 ($2.99)
Last Issue: December 2005 ($2.99)
Writer: Jim Starlin
Artist: Jim Starlin

*Warning! Plot Spoilers Below*

Ray Torres is a teenage orphan who feels that suicide is his only way out. That is, until he finds himself imbued with the Cosmic Guard power. Along with the power comes a dead super-hero’s spirit who speaks with him inside his head. This hero is the Dark Paladin, who despite being the previous holder of the Cosmic Guard, was unable to stop the Genociders from destroying his home planet. Now they’re headed towards Earth and the Dark Paladin has to train Ray Torres so that he is capable of defeating this deadly alien force. Ray’s first mission? Destroy the Genociders’ Z-10 Kilbot herald.

The Bad: This is the beginning of a much larger story that has yet to be told …. and unfortunately, hasn’t been continued for the past 5 years.

The Good: Jim Starlin knows how to tell a cosmic hero story.

The Verdict: Jim Starlin is the master of cosmic super hero stories … and here’s another one! Sure we’ve seen some of these concepts before – in fact, the Cosmic Guard power brings to mind Marvel’s Uni-Power – but Starlin always manages to keep it fun and exciting. I wish this story would have had more of a threat than just a robotic probe but as I mentioned earlier, there’s a much bigger story waiting to be unfolded here. However, since that bigger threat has yet to be realized, there’s nothing here that puts this series over-the-top in terms of cool concepts, designs or action.

On Ebay: Cosmic Guard | Jim Starlin

November 26, 2010

Retro-Read #34 Destroyer Duck

Filed under: Retro-Read — Doorman @ 3:37 pm

With years spent reading single issues here and there, juggling storylines of dozens of titles, I decided it was time to find a better way to read comics. So, it was off to the back issue bins armed with the longest want list you’ve ever seen! Putting together series after series and reading them in their complete goodness, I was reborn as the Retro-Reader!

Destroyer Duck #1Publisher: Eclipse Comics
Number of Issues: 7
First Issue: 1982 ($1.50)
Last Issue: May 1984 ($1.50)
Writer: Steve Gerber (#1-5), Buzz Dixon
Artist: Jim Starlin (#1-5), Gary Kato

*Warning! Plot Spoilers Below*

Duke “Destroyer” Duck’s not having a great week. His woman’s left him for another man and his best pal, the Little Guy, has just blinked out of existence. Months pass filled with morbid thoughts and cognac – that is, until, his pal the Little Guy shows up at his door, wounded. As he bleeds out on the floor, he explains to Destroyer Duck how he found himself on Earth, a world he never made – filled with pink-skinned primates. On Earth, he was made to work for Godcorp, Ltd – a mega corporation that ended up taking advantage of him. They used him up until nothing was left and as he took his last breath, Destroyer Duck vowed that they’d pay.

Bent on avenging his friend, Destroyer Duck hops dimensions to planet Earth to wage war against Godcorp. During his stay on Earth, he manages to gather a team around him made up of the Little Guy’s Lawyer, Cherries Jubilee (her sister is currently being taken advantage of by Godcorp) and other strange characters. They take on some weird villains including Pahkmani the Devourer and Cogburn the Corporate Man – all before they engineer the explosive destruction of Godcopr Ltd. Following their victory, Destroyer Duck is trapped on Earth and has to make the best of it with his new-found friends.

The Bad: I quickly lost interest once the initial plotline was over and the original creators left the book. All sense of purpose had been pulled from the series, at that point. I imagine that a lot of the fun of this series is lost if you don’t know the behind-the-scenes story.

The Good: At the time, this was surely a shocking paring of legendary creators. This title also launched Eclipse’s line of color comics and rose funds for Gerber to continue his lawsuit with Marvel. Sergio Aragones’ Groo debuted in issue #1 as a back-up feature.

The Verdict: Destroyer Duck is an interesting concept. To truly appreciate it, you’ve got to know the story behind the comic. Y’see, years before, Steve Gerber had created Howard the Duck for Marvel Comics and he proved popular enough to warrant his own series. Eventually, Gerber and the forces at Marvel disagreed over the book and Gerber was fired and replaced. Now, Gerber took great issue with this – How could Marvel fire him from a book he created? Naturally, he felt that it would have been nice for him to leave the book when he was ready (like how Stan Lee left his creations – Fantastic Four, X-Men, Hulk, etc – in the hands of others). And so was born one of the first battles for creator’s rights, as Gerber took Marvel to court over the ownership of Howard the Duck. Joined by Jack Kirby (another pioneer of the battle for creator’s rights – who felt sleighted by his treatment by Marvel, as well), Gerber launched Destroyer Duck – a not so subtle poke at the big corporation (Marvel). In fact, the Little Guy in the story is quite obviously intended to be Howard the Duck. And, as Gerber points out – Howard magically appeared at Marvel (via Gerber’s ultra-creative mind) where they exploited him and used him up (in Gerber’s opinion). So, it was left to Destroyer Duck (I imagine Gerber felt like DD in his lawsuit against Marvel) to take down this evil corporation Godcorp (aka Marvel) in order make them pay for their unethical actions as an evil corporation.

PHEW! Got it? Good! So anyway, knowing all of this makes the initial five issues really enjoyable. Otherwise, it’d be just a really weird comic full of talking ducks, pheromone-emitting women, a universal-jointed villainness, and other craziness. Unfortunately, once Godcorp is brought down, the series loses almost all of its draw and the last two issues couldn’t capture my interest. The series was canceled with issue seven and Howard was left in Marvel’s control. Or, was he? During the course of the series, Destroyer Duck occassionally wondered if the Little Guy that had bled out on his floor was merely a Godcorp construct created to lure another duck to Earth. So, if that thought is true – maybe the real Little Guy is still out there waiting to be rescued!

But, that’s a tale for another time. Anyway, I really enjoyed the first five issues but only because I understand why the book was created. Sure it’s a bit heavy-handed with its “symbolism” but it’s a fun poke at Marvel – made visible in front of the whole comics community. And, whether you side with Gerber or Marvel, I think this series has earned itself a unique place in the history of comics. So, my recommendation of this series is based on the story-behind-the-story, the sheer creative audacity it took to make it and its importance to the comics community moreso than the actual creative output itself.

On Ebay: Destroyer Duck | Jack Kirby | Steve Gerber

November 19, 2010

Retro-Read #33 Savage

Filed under: Retro-Read — Doorman @ 10:39 am

With years spent reading single issues here and there, juggling storylines of dozens of titles, I decided it was time to find a better way to read comics. So, it was off to the back issue bins armed with the longest want list you’ve ever seen! Putting together series after series and reading them in their complete goodness, I was reborn as the Retro-Reader!

Savage #3Publisher: Image Comics
Number of Issues: 4
First Issue: October 2008 ($3.50)
Last Issue: January 2009 ($3.50)
Writer: Jeff Frank, Steve Niles, Dan Wickline
Artist: Mike Mayhew

*Warning! Plot Spoilers Below*

Herds of werewolves have been settling into towns and cities, quietly gathering power and influence. In Arcana, Texas, a mysterious man named Sam has shown up with the intention of eliminating the evil that the werewolves represent. But, in his savage attacks on the weremen, it becomes apparent that he’s no ordinary man, either. In fact, he’s a shapeshifter, as well – some may describe him as a yeti or Bigfoot. However, he’s aware that larger forces are at work that want him eliminated. With his time growing short, Sam selects his successor … but, will he be able to impart enough training in his protege before the fight is taken out of him?

The Bad: Once you get past the initial story plot of Bigfoot vs werewolves – there isn’t much more of a hook.

The Good: I always enjoy a good versus story – and Bigfoot vs Werewolves is one I haven’t seen before – so that was the initial point of interest that caught my eye. Mike Mayhew’s painted covers are very cool looking and summon up a great feeling of intensity.

The Verdict: This mini-series only feels like issues #1-4 of a much larger story that hasn’t been told yet. It’s clear that there is a lot more to be uncovered about some of the characters and forces that are only briefly mentioned. However, I don’t get that feeling about the new main character. By the end of the book, he’s become the main focal point – but I don’t feel like his story has much of a future purpose. Sure, someone’s out to get him … but, he himself, is now a drifter of sorts. Artwise, Mayhew’s covers suck you in but his interior pencils can never hope to live up to the painted art on the front. Unfortunately, this series is pretty high on concept but low on delivery.

On Ebay: Steve Niles | Bigfoot | Mike Mayhew

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