3. Star Trek (DC Comics, 1984-1996)






To provide some context for my choice, let me first discuss previous Star Trek comics.

Gold Key's comics, which I read for the first time about 15 years ago, did not appeal to me. They seemed uncharacteristic of the show. I'll never forget moments such as a Spock/alien encounter where Spock said something like, "Ooh, that creature makes my skin crawl." Not a thing our favourite Vulcan would ever have said.

Then there's Marvel Comics' Star Trek. It was passable for me. It could be solid. But it could also be inconsistent. I don't doubt the effort, but it did leave me with a feeling of ennui, to be honest.

Then came DC Comics' Star Trek. Finally, I got a comic version I could be proud of!

These did feel like the "further adventures" of the original crew. And they were bloody good at times, consistently so. They developed the characters, they explored things that the franchise should have been exploring, and it all came together so well, plot-wise and art-wise.

The character development was the most compelling argument in favour of this making #3 on my list. It felt like every character got his/her chance to shine; like the fourth theatrical movie, everyone had something to do. It remained very true to the spirit of the original series, and I never felt like I was reading anything that was filler.

I am not sure "Easter eggs", in its current context, was used back then, but there were plenty of them. The book utilised great writers and artists well. There was plenty to enjoy - and the most rewarding aspect is that while the book did look back (e.g. the likes of Mudd appearing), it never failed to look forward.

One of the finest comic book Star Trek incarnations ever.

Get well soon, Cei-U!

3. Special Marvel Edition # 15-16, Master of Kung Fu # 17.
Publisher - Marvel
Year - 1973
Writer- Steve Englehart
Artists- Jim Starlin/ Al Milgrom






I will admit to buying this book because of the Jim Starlin artwork but I stayed on for the father son dynamic between Shang Chi and Fu Manchu. I knew nothing about Fu Manchu other than he was a Sax Rohmer creation appearing in a 1913 novel, "The Insidious Fu Manchu."  It seems that Romher also created Sir Nayland Smith and Dr. Petrie , who were supporting characters in the MOKF book. Shang Chi is a half breed who was raised and trained to be a living weapon in the service of his father until he discovers that Manchu’s plans are to remake the world in his vision. The early issues were written by Steve Englehart and he gave way to Doug Moench in issue # 20. He used Manchu as the behind the scenes brain in some of this series until issue # 118 where he is killed off.

Powerful last page in both dialogue and design.

3. Gustave Flaubert’s Salammbo

Adapted by Philippe Druillet in three books published by Dargaud in 1980, 1982 and 1986. Published in English in Heavy Metal.



Salammbô is a historical romance set during the war that opposed Carthage and its mercenaries following the first Punic war (Carthage refused to pay its understandably miffed hired soldiers).

Druillet morphs it into a tale set in the ruins of an ancient galactic empire. The grandeur of Carthage is transposed from the Mediterranean to the depths of outer space, but human passions remain as strong as ever.

The role of the central character, the mercenary leader Matho, is assumed by Druillet’s space hero Lone Sloane. Trying to lose himself in the barbaric splendor of Carthage’s decaying civilization, Sloane falls under the spell of the beauteous princess Salammbô… a passion that will not end well, as you can imagine.

Druillet is true to his extraordinary and unique vision, with pages hemorrhaging details, characters and weird designs. His crowd scenes seem to contain millions of tiny figures; his palaces seem to reach all the way to the skies; his war elephants seem to be able to crush all the ones from the Lord of the Rings movies under one foot. Druillet is a master of the excessive, of the fantastic, of the surreal vision.

Master of Kung Fu
Englehart, Moench, Zeck, Day, and Gulacy




Master of Kung Fu was always one of those titles that I saw at friends houses or passed around school.

The bigger kids were the ones, it was a little too adult(ie not superhero, war, or MAD)like the plethora of supernatural titles in the 70s, and I hadnt SEEN a Bruce Lee film, just had them described enthusiastically, but the big kids or adults thought it was cool. I had to have it, like Tomb of Dracula, years of being on the fringe of GETTING IT meant I really had no choice in the matter. Of course the sporadic distribution over here in the 70s was beyond me then.

I was lucky that when I did start to collect I found a local bookshop that had a fairly regular supply and I was hooked. Moench, Zeck, and Day were my intro though I had been tortured with glimpses of that beautiful Paul Gulacy work on occasion. 

Moench gets extra credit for kickstarting my obsession with Frazetta when he has Black Jack Tarr discover Silver Warrior and become enamoured of it.

I dont think you can love MOKF without being convinced that Gene Day would have acheived greatness if he hant been taken so young. His visuals after Mike Zeck leaves IMHO showcase an eye for design up there with some of the true giants of the field and you could see his actual drawing ability get better month by month.

#3 is King of the Rocket Men, form Innovation and Christopher Moeller...



This 4-issue mini-series adapted the Republic serial King of the Rocket Men, which launched the Commando Cody (he took the name in Radar Men From the Moon) franchise, which would span 3 serials and a tv show, as well as inspire Dave Stevens' The Rocketeer. Jeff King runs security for a scientific research lab, which is being menaced by the mysterious Dr Vulcan, who steals an experimental ray weapon that can melt solid rock. King investigates, while protecting the staff from attacks by Vulcan's henchmen.

Christopher Moeller adapted the serial, with his always excellent painted art. Moeller had the ability to create dynamic stories, within the medium of paint, with better storytelling skills than Alex Ross, for my money. He also handled advanced tech well and gave King a railgun, which added to his rocket pack and took the place of the cliched revolver we saw in the serial. The series was timed for the release of the Disney film, based on The Rocketeer comics, hoping to cash in on it by presenting the original. It went largely unnoticed; but, is an exciting, pulpy comic, filled with thrills and cliffhangers, just like the serial. It also has a coda that is not in the serial, with a potential future for Jeff king and America.

The Innovation series was full color; but, it was collected by Caliber, in a black and white trade collection. Well worth checking out, especially if you are a fan of the Rocketeer or Moeller's own Iron Empires books ("The Passage", from DHP; Faith Conquers, and Sheva's War).

Well wishes on a speedy recovery Kurt!