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.

Jon Sable Freelance #25 and 26

Jon Sable Freelance #25 (June 1985) features "Homecoming Part 1: The Angel" and starts with him in the disguise of B. B. Flemm discussing his leprechaun books as a Broadway play with Eden Kendall. He then meets up with Mike Blackmoon minus the wig, mustache and glasses. She shows him a painting of a line that she did for the hunting article that he wrote. Sable goes home only to find the federal agent waiting to tell him that Sparrow is out to kill him since he did not kill him in the last issue. He takes Mike to a cabin to get closer and he starts telling her of his mother.

"Homecoming Part 2: The Moses Line" is the main feature of Jon Sable Freelance #26 (July 1985). This story is about how his parents met in the last part of World War II. His father, Captain Jack Sable, was part of the Eighth Air Force that got shot down over Belgium. He meets and fall in love with a resistance fighter code named Moses.

Both issues features a bonus Shatter story. Mike Saenz was the artist while Peter B. Gillis was the writer.

Women Wednesday: Grace Park On Human Target

Grace Park, who played Boomer on Battlestar Galactica will be appearing on a future episode of Human Target titled "Cornerman". All new episodes starts tonight and I think she deserves to be the woman of the week.

Jon Sable Freelance #22 and 24

Jon Sable Freelance #22 (March 1985) and 24 has part one of "The Contract" written by Mike Grell, who also did the covers and illustrated the interior. Widowmaker, the horse from last issue, is now a carriage horse at the start of the first book. Sable takes Mike Blackmoon for a ride to celebrate her birthday. The pair have been growing closer and she is the tall artist for his line of children books that he writes as B. B. Flemm. His publisher, Eden Kendall, also appears in very sexy white lingerie. Anyway, Sable is approached by a federal agent to terminate Sparrow. He thinks the offer over before accepting. Jon Sable Freelance #22 also has "Safari Sketchbook" that features text, sketches and photographs that Mike Grell did while on safari in Africa.

Jon Sable Freelance #24 (May 1985) has the conclusion of "The Contract" (I actually picked up two copies of this by mistake). He finds himself in Isreal making out with Rachel in the desert outside of Jerusalem. Sable sets up a deal with an arms dealer before getting attacked after leaving his establishment. The pair attack a warehouse that has Sparrow's second in command and lover only to find out that it was a set-up. Rachel not only betrayed Sable but was also sent to kill Sparrow. The ending is pretty cool with the last two pages having no words. Another installment of "Safari Sketchbook" is in the back of this issue.

Jon Sable Freelance #21

Jon Sable Freelance #12 (February 1985) features another great cover by Mike Grell. "Widowmaker" had him going after the wife that was convicted of hitting her husband with a horseshoe and has been dubbed the White Widow by the press. She claims that he was kicked in the head by a horse. She is out on bond while her case is on appeal but her husband has been in a coma for the past five years. Widowmaker is also the name of the horse that her husband trained for the Olympics. Jon Sable met him during that time while he was training for the Pentathlon and he was helped with his equestrian events. He tells her that she is not going to get away with it and starts showing up everywhere. Sable even goes to the stable to visit Widowmaker just in time for the White Widow to go for a ride. I will not spoil her fate but it is ironic.

Jon Sable Freelance #19

I have read a couple issues of Jon Sable Freelance from First Comics in the past (#8, 30, 32, 34 and 40 to be exact). When I recently picked up the eighty-nine comics for ninety-nine cents, I picked up several more issues of the series. Mike Grell not only did the cover for Jon Sable Freelance #19 (December 1984) but he also wrote the script as well as penciled and inked the interior art. Janice Cohen was the colorist while Ken Bruzenak did the lettering. This issue's story was titled "Prey" and finds Jon Sable back in Rhodesia, South Africa being hunted by bounty hunters (he has a price on his head). He visits Colonel McKenna and his wife, Ruth, who are the parents of his dead wife, Elise (she died along with their son and daughter in a house fire set by poachers). The Colonel is not very happy to see him but Ruth has a little more sympathy. The end is very touching because the last two pages has no words while the Colonel makes a very important decision. In fact, there are several wordless pages through the issues and Mike Grell's art is just breathtaking.

The Badger #15

Bill Reinhold was the cover artist and did the interior pencils for The Badger #15 (September 1986). Mike Baron wrote the script titled "Enter The Wombat" while Ricky Bryant inked, Willie Schubert lettered and Linda Lessman colored. This issue finds Norbert Sykes in Sidney, Australia in search of a Thylacine (Tasmanian tiger). He meets up with the Wombat, who is protecting the bush where the beast roams.

"The New Regime" is the title of the Zoomtown bonus story written by Mike Baron, penciled by Graig Brasfield, inked by Brian Thomas, lettered by Willie Schubert and colored by Ron Courtney. Chastity becomes the new leader and puts women in charge of everything in the community. This does not set well with Gear, the former leader, who leaves Zoomtown.

The Badger #12

I have read a several issues of The Badger from First Comics over the years. The issues were #14, 19, 36, 43, 48 and 63 for those that would like to know. I like this series because Norbert Sykes, a Vietnam veteran, suffers from multiple personality disorder and the urban masked vigilante known as the Badger is just one of them.

Bill Reinhold did the cover of The Badger #12 (June 1986) that features Norbert crashing into a window while Hodag puts the moves on Daisy (Lord Weterlackus looks on in the background). He also penciled the interior art along with Rick Stasi. Mike Baron, who also created the series, wrote the script titled "Red Snow" while Keith "Kez" Wilson inked. Linda Lessmann was the colorist and Willie Schubert was the letterer.

This issue also features an untitled Zoomtown backup story written by Mike Baron, penciled by Ron Wagner and inked by Gary Martin.

Dollman #3

Hector Gomez did the cover for Dollman #3 (February 1992) from Eternity Comics and was based on the science fiction movie from Full Moon Entertainment starring Tim Thomerson as Brick Bardo, space cop. I really wish Hector did the interior art as well but that went to Marcelo Campos. Bill Spangler wrote the script titled "Midnight Show" that has the Braindead kidnapping Toni, a stripper. The back cover features an advertisement of the movie coming out on video. If you are not familiar with the movie, go see it for it is much better than this issue. I am not surprised that the series only lasted for four issues.

Clive Barker's Nightbreed #3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 12

I am pretty sure that Jim Baikie was the cover artist for Clive Barker's Nightbreed #3 (June 1990), 4 (July 1990), 5 (September 1990), 6 (November 1990), 7 (January 1991) and 8 (March 1991) but I am not too sure about #12 (November 1991). He also did the interior art for #3 and 4 before being replaced by a various artists. Alan Grant and John Wagner were the writers until #5 when D. G. Chichester took over the writing. Epic Comics, an imprint of Marvel Comics, published the series. If you enjoyed the horror movie, then you will enjoy the comic series.

Coyote #3

Jackson Guice was the cover artist and interior penciler for Coyote #3 (September 1983) from Epic Comics, a creator-imprint of Marvel Comics. Steve Englehart wrote the script, Bob Wiacek did the inking and Christie Scheele coloring. "How The Coyote Chased His Tail" finds Slyvester Santangelo in Las Vegas trying to find a spy from Israel before facing the Djinn in the desert.

Jazz Age Chronicles #2

Ted Slampyak did the front and back covers for Jass Age Chronicles #2 (March 1989 as well as the script and the interior artwork. The black and white comic mixes vampires in 1926 Boston. In addition to the main story titled "The Case of the Beguiling Baroness", there is also a text story called "Cafe Noir" featuring Ace Mifflin and a one page mini-mystery also by Ted Slampyak. This three issue series was based on the Call of Cthulu roleplaying game. The comic is still going now online at Jazz Age: The Comics Website.

The Liberty Project #5 And #6

James Fry did the cover and the interior pencils for The Liberty Project #5 (October 1987) that features Crackshot, Burnout, Vibe...er, Slick, Cimarron and Johnny Savage. "How to Take Over A Planet part 1" was written by Kurt Busiek, inked by Doug Hazlewood, colored by Adam Philips and lettered by Mindy Eisman. The Liberty Project team faces aliens and become media darlings.

James Fry, Richard Howell and Stan Woch did the cover of The Liberty Project #6 (November 1987) that features Valkyrie vs Cimarron. Fry once again did the interior pencils while Kurt Busiek wrote "Misery and Gin" that was inked by Doug Hazlewood, colored by Adam Philips and colored by Mindy Eisman. Cimarron travels to Nelson, where people have been going in but not coming out. She meets up with Valkyrie, an aviatrix that flew with Skywolf and Airboy. They find out that someone has been brainwashing the townsfolk.

John Bolton's Halls of Horror #2

Three stories appear in John Bolton's Halls of Horror #2 (June 1985). The first features a caveman named Tumak that leaves his tribe. The second features a version of the Humgoo tale from The Monster Club. The final story is about Father Shandor, a monk turned demon stalker. The stories were scripted by Steve Moore and colored by Tim Smith. John Bolton did the wraparound cover, interior pencils and ink.

Champions #4

Doctor Arcane graces the cover of Champions #4 (November 1986) as drawn by Carol Lay. "The Curse of the Hellfire Crown" story continues with Dennis Mallonee as writer, Chris Marrinan as penciller, Dell Barras as inker, Marcus David as colorist, Carrie Speigle as letterer, Sean Deming as editor and Catherine "Cat" Yronwode was the editor-in-chief. The roleplaying game bonus features include Champions Combat Room #4 and character information for Rose and Malice.

Champions #2

Flare fighting Malice graces the cover of Champions #2 (September 1986) as drawn by Carol Lay, who also did the interior artwork. Dennis Mallonee returns as the writer while Catherine "Cat" Yronwode is back as the editor. The bonus roleplaying game features include Champions Combat Room #2 along with character information on Icestar and the Morbanes.