Science Addiction: Alpha and Omega (Spire Christian Comics, 1978)

It's been awhile since I've posted a Spire Christian Comic (the last being In His Steps), so how about we take a look at possibly the coolest Christian comic ever conceived by Spire and Al Hartley? That comic would be Alpha and Omega, a sci-fi take on Adam and Eve from the Book of Genesis.

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Science Addiction: Star Reach #1 (1974)

Sometimes finding the long lost early works of a respected artist can throw one for a loop and blow them away. Such is the case of what happened when I first read Star Reach #1. Star Reach was an independent anthology comic book that wasn't easily found among the comic racks in department and convenience stores at the time. This was the type of book you had to mail order or subscribe for, or if you were the type, might have found in a head shop. It contained dark subject matter featuring sex and drugs within sci-fi and fantasy realms.

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Science Addiction: The 7th System (Sirius, 1998)

It's fair to say that most comics from the 90's suffer from a bad rap for drawing artwork that has become notorious for it's sense of style during the decade. One of the most underrated artists of the period, and certainly an exception to the 90's comic-curse is Roel Wielinga, who in my opinion is one of the better artists still drawing today.

The 7th System was Roel's first attempt at writing and illustrating a comic book, and it's a damn good one at that. The story focuses on a cluster of planets called the 7th system, and the various races that inhabit each world. The leaders of each planet formulated a ritual called the Games of Cruden, a gladiator-style battle that would determine which planet would rule the 7th system.

The last man standing and victor of the contest is a man called Domonisk from the planet of Borset. He becomes the Governor of the 7th system and rules for 12 years before becoming overthrown by an alliance formed by other planets..and is subsequently exiled to the prison planet of Vela.

Due to an experimental serum that was given to him while he was Governor, Domonisk found that he was now immortal and fought his way for survival on the harsh planet, becoming a Demon God with a vengeance against those that had banished him.

Armed with a powerful dragon mount, Demon God Domonisk now seeks out his revenge as a group of bounty hunters are on his trail...

After a tense battle, Domonisk is knocked from his mount and left vulnerable. As words are exchanged, a giant Roche Wyrm attacks from below, which the hunters believe the Demon God has summoned.

As the giant Wyrm wreaks havoc it is discovered that one of the bounty hunters is actually Princess Kat, who Domonisk decides to rescue from the Wyrm and kidnap for reasons unknown. It's a fantastic end to the first issue that has me yearning for more.

The 7th System lasted six-issues, and they are well worth seeking out as for the amazing artwork and the fascinating, fully-fleshed out universe. Although Roel has moved on from comics, he is still illustrating beautiful artwork. Check out his website over at www.roelphantasm.com.

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Science Addiction: Swiftsure #1 (Harrier, 1985)

Now this is quite a cover, eh? I wasn't sure what to make of it at first...but anything combining a corpse, an exploding spaceship, and Stonehenge (in vivid color) is enough to awake my interest. Swiftsure #1 was a sci-fi anthology series and the second comic title released by UK-based Harrier Comics. Alan Moore endorsed the title as Editorial Consultant and referred to the series as "a channeling of some of the best new talent Britain has to offer into a solid and presentable format that will allow each to develop into their own unique way, without the restrictions of a given style or genre."

That premise really sounds great, but to be perfectly honest most of the first issue of Swiftsure did little to captivate me...until I landed on the last story, "Codename: Andromeda". Written by Bill W. Ryan and penciled by Dave Harwood, together they tell the story of Kris Prescott, a scientist who dies in a spaceship explosion and is found and revived by aliens. Check out the first episode below:

The premise of "Codename: Andromeda" is captivating and well written, and has me wondering how the story turns out. I'll have to pickup more issues of Swiftsure to find out, and although some of the stories in this series are hit and miss...it's gems like this one that light the imagination in the science fiction parts of my brain. Well done, Harrier.

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Science Addiction: Track Rabbit (Geoff Vasile, 2007)

Track Rabbit #1 is the first mini-comic created by Geoff Vasile. It features a tale called, "Look To The Stars" which tells the story of Peter, a science fiction-reading geek who gets dumped by his artsy girlfriend and finds himself entrapped in another relationship with a girl named Anthea. Peter digs Anthea at first, but soon realizes they have little in common.

To combat the stresses he's enduring in the relationship, Peter decides to build a spaceship...out of his own science fiction novels.

Peter's plan involves taking Anthea for a quick ride in his creation and then dumping her...however, his plans change as the ship loses control and the troubled couple find themselves traveling through space, and eventually, another planet appears.

The ship endures a hard landing and the engine blows up shortly after they arrive. Several months after the crash-landing, Peter and Anthea meet the planet's inhabitants...which are cute alien monkey thingies. Anthea loves 'em, while Peter does not get along with them at all.

The ship eventually turns back into a pile of science fiction books for Peter to read, while his relationship with Anthea gets decidedly casual as she befriends the alien monkey thingies. One day a spaceship appears, only to lift Anthea and her new found friends off to another planet. Anthea says goodbye to Peter, and offers an explanation as to why she is leaving him on the planet to die.

This is a great first work and mini comic by Geoff Vasile. He has since produced a few more issues of Track Rabbit. Be sure to check those out as well as his other works, and you can find more info at his website here: http://geoffvasile.com/

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Science Addiction: Invasion '55 (Apple Comics, 1990)

 

I love sci-fi movies of the 50's...especially those that fall under the "Alien Invasion" category. It Came From Outer Space. Invaders From Mars. Earth Vs. The Flying Saucers. In those movies, there is nothing more dreadful than a saucer full of little, green bug-eyed baddies with giant laser guns, prancing around the suburbs and zapping all of the housewives, dogs, and policemen into oblivion.

Apple Comics and writer Chuck Dixon (Robin, Birds of Prey) came up with a cool idea at the turn of the 90's...to tap into some of that 50's sentiment towards U.F.O.'s and aliens and bring it back to the forefront in comic form. And together with international artist Lito Fernandez, they did just that. Invasion '55 is a three-issue series about a small town in New Mexico dealing with an alien invasion in the fall of 1955.

And to those that have watched and enjoyed a 50's sci-fi movie, there really isn't anything new here as far as the story goes. The aliens land, we witness them being discovered...and then watch as they begin killing everyone that gets in their way. A greaser named Ricky watches as his friend gets fried into a bucket of KFC by one of the aliens, but is able to defend himself and escape with one of the alien's guns.

 Ricky proceeds to run around town only to find everyone else is dead and the aliens seem to have taken over. These particular aliens are a strange bunch. They sport satyr-style legs and helmets out of Star Wars, apparently don't say much and like to throw dead humans into a giant pit. There is no warning, no declaration of war...nothing. Just a bunch of weird-looking aliens getting ready to make the world's largest human bonfire.

Besides Ricky, the other characters in the story include a boozing Air Force pilot who is in flight during the invasion, and a young boy named Jimmy who makes a wild discovery of an underground network of the aliens while looking for his teacher.

Dixon's writing is good and maintains the feel of a 1950's sci-fi invasion movie. The story's one downfall is that it doesn't introduce anything new or exciting to the concept. It's really just an homage to the movies it's portraying here, simple as that. Fernandez's artwork is fantastic though, and gives the story much life. He inserts tiny little details into his drawings here and there, and really gives you the feeling that you're witnessing an invasion during that time period.

I've only had the pleasure of reading the first issue, but my interest was perked enough to seek out the rest of the series. Invasion '55 is nothing complicated or mind-shattering, just a fresh take on the alien invasion genre in simpler times...when life was easier, safer and innocent...and complete hysteria was triggered by flying U.F.O.'s and the outpouring of man-killing aliens. Check it out.

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Science Addiction: Tales To Offend (Dark Horse, 1997)

At first glance, this issue of Tales To Offend #1 looks like it might have existed during EC Comics' science-fiction heyday, right along with Weird Fantasy. But this is not the case. Released by Dark Horse in 1997, this one-shot issue is actually the brainchild of a man named Frank Miller. Yep...the same man responsible for those amazing runs on titles like Daredevil, Batman and Sin City.

This comic is special in the fact that most fans of Miller's work don't even know that it exists, due to being released under very little fanfare. Tales to Offend features two stories (and one Sin City story, "Daddy's Little Girl") introducing titular space hero Lance Blastoff, who while not fooling around with Slutbots or barbecuing aliens for lunch is busy saving damsels in distress on a world full of ravaging Dinosaurs.

The first story kicks off with a female tour guide of sorts, leading a group of "tourists" around a world called the Dinosaur Planet. The tour guide speaks of a world without pollution or greed while huge dinosaurs hover nearby. A T-Rex suddenly chomps on the tourists right after the guide proclaims the dinos live in peace...

Enter Lance Blastoff to save the woman while she begs him to spare the killing of the hungry T-Rex. Not only does Blastoff "get off" on killing the beastie, he quickly turns the woman into a dino-meat addict after she gets a whiff of fresh cooked T-Rex. The story ends as Blastoff proclaims, "Remember Kids! Eat Meat! And Lots of it! It's Nature's Perfect Food!"

The next story begins as the woman begs Blastoff to stay with her after a one-night stand. Having gotten what he wanted, Lance takes off and lets another Dinosaur "wine and dine" her...Miller really goes no holds barred with his hero's antics and nothing is held sacred. Personally I was never near offended enough (or at all) to understand the meaning behind this comic's title, but if someone looks closely enough it should be there.

Eventually Blastoff reaches his ship, the Starship Phallica...where his legion of "Slutbots" just happen to be waiting to vie for his attention. A distress call comes in from an alien ship, and Lance debates whether to ransack them for their alien weaponry or use the helpless aliens as food for his next Superbowl Party. The cuteness of the aliens wears on Blastoff though, and the story ends as Lance takes the aliens to the "Mall Planet" and sells them off as pets to happy families. Everyone is happy...except for the now lobotomized aliens.

This is a very lighthearted romp for Miller, and while the humor is tongue-in-cheek Miller is able to evoke through illustration a certain feel for the meaning of his stories. The style of the art and the dialogue resemble those early EC comics Miller is spoofing here, and feels like an ode to sci-fi writer/artist Wally Wood. This may be the only dose of science fiction Miller fans may get to see, so for that I would say Tales to Offend is well worth picking up.

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