The Jaguar #8

I picked up The Jaguar #1 (August 1991) and 7 (March 1992) when they originally came out from Impact Comics. I liked them but finding the series at the local newstand was spotty at best. I quickly snatched up The Jaguar #8 (April 1992) when I spotted it for ninety-nine cents on my last comic buying spree. The cover artist for the issue was Mark Beachum, who also did the cover of #7. "Iron Coincidence" was written by William Messner-Loebs, penciled by Ken Penders and Chuck Wojtkiewicz, inked by Scott Hanna and Pablo Marcos, colored by Tom Ziuko and lettered by Tim Harkins. Jaguar goes against Pegg, a mercenary that can turn invisible.

The Fly Annual #1

George Pratt did the cover of The Fly Annual #1 (1991) from Impact Comics, which is an imprint of DC Comics. "The Dark Towers" is part four of the Earth Quest saga that was going through all the Impact Annuals. Bonus stories includes "Up the Amazon Without A Paddle" and "Power Failure" (the latter features a member of the Web in 1973).

Cyber Crush: Robots in Revolt #3

I love the cover of Cyber Crush: Robots in Revolt #3 (November 1991) by Jim Balent. You just can't go wrong with a killer female robot. Too bad that she does not appear in any of the stories within this issue. "Ro-busters" and "Hammer-Stein is...Mek-Warrior!" both feature a combat robot called Hammer-Stein. "Robo-Hunter" features Sam Slade, the only human on a robot planet. This is my only comic book from Fleetway Quality Comics.

Warp Special #2

First Comics only published three issues of Warp Special that was a spin off from their Warp! series that lasted for nineteen issues. The titles were in reference to the first American science fiction play from 1971 titled Warp! written by Stuart Gordon and Bury St. Edmund. The play and back story became the basis for the comics. In the play, David Carson is a bank teller that learns that he is Lord Cumulus. As the avenger of the universe, he battles Lord Chaos. The play was originally performed by the Organic Theatre Company in Chicago, Illinois before moving to Broadway in 1973. Now who says you don't learn something new by reading this blog.

The cover of Warp Special #2 (January 1984) was by Marc Silvestri, who also provided the pencils of the interior artwork, and features Lord Cumulus and Sargon, Mistress of War. "Forged in the Flame" was written by Peter B. Gillis, inked by Mike Gustovich, colored by Janice Cohen and lettered by Pete Iro. In this issue, Lord Cumulus and Sargon are betrayed by Meroe to raise Ylem, who is trapped in the forge under the city of Fen-Ra.

Vampirella Changes Publishers

According to Comics Continuum, Vampirella has been acquired by Dynamite Entertainment from Harris Publications. Specific plans about the character's future will be announced soon.

Starslayer #33 and 34

Starslayer #33 (October 1985) features a cover by Jon Eddings, who also penciled the interior art. "And Now...Sargon!" was written by John Ostrander. Sargon the Sorceress is the sword-bearing babe on the cover but she is not the only one in the story.

The Black Flame back up story in this issue is titled "New Dreams This Morning!"

The last issue of the series is Starslayer #34 (November 1985). The cover features the death goddess, Morrigan, fighting Torin in his avatar form. "Redemption" seems to be a fitting end to the title.

Jon Eddings and Mark A. Nelson were the cover artists for Starslayer #31 (August 1985). "Legends" retells how Torin Mac Quillon, a Celtic warrior from the time of the Roman Empire, is pulled to the distant future. The story was written by John Ostander, inked by Mark A. Nelson, lettered by Willie Schubert, colored by Wendy Fiore, penciled by Jon Eddings and edited by Mike Gold.

Mike Grell originally created Starslayer: The Log of the Jolly Roger for DC Comics but plans were halted with the DC Implosion that canceled many titles. He offered the series to Pacific Comics, who published six issues in 1982. Grell was swayed to continue future issues at First Comics by editor Mike Gold. He left the series with #8.

The Black Flame's back up story is titled "Every Smallest Dream...!" written by Peter B. Gillis, who also created the series. Thomas F. Sutton was the penciller, Don Lomax was the inker, Steve Haynie was the letterer, Rick Taylor was the colorist and Rick Oliver was the editor.

Jon Sable Freelance #33

Mike Grell and Sergio Aragonés team up for Jon Sable Freelance #33 (February 1986). They not only did the cover but also wrote, penciled and inked the story titled "Cave of the Half-Pints". Jon dons his B. B. Flemm's disguise to meet Sucio Eroganes along with Mike and Eden in Los Angeles. Sucio is a cartoonist doing the storyboards for the movie based on Flemm's leprechaun books. The opening sequence's artwork is, of course, done by Mike Grell. The storyboards is done by Sergio Aragonés and follows three leprechauns (Grog O'Leary, Dusty Cruster and Dooley) being kicked out of Dublin's faery mound in 1847. They meet a Red Man on a ship sailing to America, where the trio sets up their faery mound. They start making their own special brew and have several misadventures throw the years.

Jon Sable Freelance #31 and 32

Jon Sable Freelance #31 (December 1985) and 32 (January 1986) features part one and two of "The Gauntlet". After spending a night with Mike, Jon is picked up by a mysterious blonde while taking a walk. She rushes him to the docks to see his old friend Captain Hook aka Jerry Fetter. He is recruited to go into Nicaragua to find out if large crates that the Russians have there are actually MIG 25's. After saying goodbye to Mike, he meets the rest of the team that includes Aileen Saxon (the mysterious blonde who was trained as a Navy SEAL), Ed Gardner (an older demolitions man that served in Korea), Patrick O'Reilly (a black Irishman that got busted up in Vietnam but can still fly anything), Will Jordan (a Texas Ranger that is an excellent marksman and tracker) and Tahnee Hand (half Cherokee and half gypsy woman that that is highly trained in wilderness survival and primitive weapons).

The team plans before going to Nicaragua in Jon Sable Freelance #32. The mission turns even deadlier than expected when the crates end up having medium-range missiles on mobile launches with nuclear warheads.

Mike Grell not only drew both covers but he also wrote and illustrated the two part story. Ken Bruzenak was the letterer and Janice Cohen was the colorist.

Jon Sable Freelance #28, 29 and 30

After a hot shower scene with Sable and Mike, Jon Sable Freelance #28 (September 1985) finds our hero being introduced to Sonny's old friend, Wichita Kaintuck. The pair used to run a movie stunt business called Skid, Crash and Burn, Inc. "Bye Bye Blackbird" has the trio going to a fund raiser along with Mike put on by a famed producer's daughter. Among the items up for bid is Errol Flynn's boots from They Died With Their Boots On, the helmet worn by Kirk Douglas in The Vikings, Clint Eastwood's .44 magnum and the Maltese Falcon. Naturally, the bird is stolen and everyone at the fund raiser is suspected. Mike Grell pays homage to Sam Spade in this issue and the following two issues.

This issue also features part four of the Shatter back up feature.

"Murder...in Spades" is the story's title in Jon Sable Freelance #29 (October 1985) and involves the search for the missing Maltese Falcon.

Part five of the Shatter back up feature is also included in this issue

"The Stuff of Dreams" concludes the search of the missing Maltese Falcon in Jon Sable Freelance (November 1985).

This issue also features part six of the Shatter back up feature.

Jon Sable Freelance #27

Mike Grell once again did the cover for Jon Sable Freelance #27 (August 1985). He also wrote and illustrated "Torch Song" that tells the tale of Jon Moses coming to America in 1951 to meet his father, Jack Sable, and his wife. We learn that his mother escaped the Germans during a bombing attack on D-Day and continued to work for MI9 after the war. He was a rebel during his teens before turning down an appointment to West Point that his father had set up. Jon went to Middlebury College and his father cut him off the family funds. He started blowing sax in a dance band and started to compete in the pentathlon. After a post-graduate course at the government's Vietnam finishing school, he competed and made the 1972 Olympics in Munich. The story shifts back to the present and Jon Sable makes love to Mike Bloodmoon while she is wearing a red sash around her head (there's some pretty adult soap opera moments here folks).

This issue also features another untitled Shatter story.

Batman: Under The Red Hood Website Now Live

Batman: Under The Red Hood is now live from Warner Brothers. There is not much there except for a cool artwork of Batman and the Red Hood that would make a cool desktop wallpaper. There is also a link to sign up for exclusive updates to the upcoming direct-to-video animated movie that is coming this summer.