POWER LORDS #1 ONI PRESS/NACELLEVERSE
.The final title of the first year of the Nacelleverse is here. And unfortunately, it is the one I have the least knowledge oif it’s backstory. While I was still making visit to Toys R Us when these action figures were on the shelves, I didn’t have much of an interest in them. And by the history of the original toy line, neither did many others. With a original character line up of 10 action figures who had some sort of transforming mechanism, the main man was Adam Power. Adam’s figure could spin around to show a human side. The figures spawned a secondary group of figures called Beast Machines. The line only lasted for two years (1983-1985). Very little alternate merchandise was created. Coloring books, board game, jigsaw puzzles, and a three issue mini-series from DC Comics. A video game was released for the Magnavox Odyssey 2 system but was only released in a limited capacity making it a sought after collector’s item. The saga of Adam Power was a very basic plotline with very little character development. It is a shame that this final entry in the Nacelleverse seems to be heading down that same path. While he apparently in control of his Power Jewel, he still is a brash, unthinking kid. Which is exactly how he gets sucked into a wormhole that is feeding off his Power Jewel and get shunted one year into his future where he is missing his Power Jewel. Even knowing some of the backstory (yes, I own the complete DC series), the rest of the cast is weak and without his powers, Adam comes off as a 1960’s non superhero like one of the Sea Devils. Introducing two different sets of side characters in two different time zones provides the reader with a bit of a challenge to the reader.And while I have no doubt that Adam will regain his powers and defeat the evil of Arkus and Raygoth. One interesting note about the series however is that all the characters and aliens came from the fertile mind of Wayne Barlowe, the author and artist of Barlowe’s Guide to Extraterrestrials (and yes, I had a copy of that as well.) A bit of a let down, 6 out of 10 Grahams.
REDCOAT #9 IMAGE/GHOST MACHINE COMICS
Nifty! Wrap-around cover! Don’t see many of those these days. Not only that but we get a wonderful tall tale reminiscent of Mark Twain. A story of drinking, friendship, helping people, mixed in with a little bit of historical facts. And these are the kinds of stories that Geoff Johns and Bryan Hitch are great at! Once a year, Johnny Appleseed and Simon Pure meet for some storytelling, a few gulps of Johnny’s moonshine jug, and maybe an adventure or two. Plus a little choas. As the two men accidentally magic up a giant worm that is crashing through the forest. The Redcoat title is quickly becoming a favorite and you can definately see why in this issue. And with the promise of a meeting with Annie Oakley next issue, this is a series I will be staying with. 10 out of 10 Grahams.
YOR THE HUNTER FROM THE FUTURE #3 ANTARCTIC PRESS
Don’t let Kelsey Shannon’s cartoony cover fool you. Inside is another example of the eye-catching 1974 Argentinian black and white comic from Lanciostory Magazine. Eugenio Juan Zappietro’s story is beautifully illustrated in black and white by artist Juan Zanotto. The story (best known as the basis for the 1983 Science Fiction/Fantasy film staring Reb Brown) is a classic tale of a hero and his companion travelling a world lost to time. Wood carved boats carry our characters from landmass to landmass. On some they find space helmeted men firing cold fire weapons while others hold horrors of giant spiders. And while the story is a perfect example of this genre, I cannot put into words the absolute beauty of the artwork. This is a title that should be studied by art classes. 10 out of 10 Grahams.
IT’S TIME FOR A WAYBACK WENDESDAY …
THE MIGHTY THOR #300 (OCTOBER 1980) MARVEL COMICS
Wow! Forget the Toys R Us shopping spree, Thor has reached a milestone! Three hundred issues! And this overstuffed issue has everything. From some plot points from the Lord of the Rings, to a huge amount of backstory about Odin in the early days. Thor meets his real mom and fights Celestials. The Sky Fathers meet in mass and Odin enters the Destroyer. With such talents as Mark Gruenwald and Ralph Macchio, Keith Pollard and Gene Day, all under the leadership of Jim Salicrup and Jim Shooter there was no way you could go wrong with this one! Even if it was a quarter more! Throw in a Hostess Fruit Pie ad starring the Human Torch and an appearance of the Hostess Peach Pie and this one has it all. Of course, nowadays all this story has been wiped away by newer generations with newer stories to tell. But that is why the back issue boxes will always be around! 10 out of 10 Grahams.