Nexus V2 – Capital Comics (1980’s)

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Nexus is a comic book series created by writer Mike Baron and penciler Steve Rude in 1981. The series is a combination of the superhero and science fiction genres, set 500 years in the future.

The series debuted as a three-issue black-and-white limited series (the third of which featured a 33 RPM flexi disc with music and dialogue from the issue), followed by an eighty-issue ongoing full-color series. The black-and-white issues and the first six color issues were published by Capital Comics; after Capital’s demise, First Comics took over publication.

On the creation of the series: Baron noted that they had originally pitched a series called Encyclopaedias to Capital Comics, but the company rejected this, saying they were looking for a superhero title. Over a drink at a restaurant, Baron outlined his ideas for Nexus to Rude.

Nexus was entirely Baron’s idea. He even came up with the lightning bolt for the costume. All that we needed then was a name… a few weeks passed. Baron calls, and, without preamble, just says “Nexus.” We finally had our name.”

Jim & Frank (1993)

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Jim is a series created by Jim Woodring. It began in 1980  as a self-published zine and was picked up by Fantagraphics Books in 1986 after cartoonist Gil Kane introduced Woodring to Fantagraphics co-owner Gary Groth. The publisher released four magazine-sized black-and-white issues starting in September 1987. A comic book-sized continuation, Jim Volume II, with some color, began in 1993 and ran for six issues until 1996.

Jim, which Woodring described as an “autojournal”, contained comics on a variety of subjects, many based on dreams, as well as surreal drawings and free-form text which resembled Jimantha automatic writing. Besides dreams, the work drew on Woodring’s childhood experiences, hallucinations, past alcoholism, and Hindu beliefs. It also included stories of recurring Woodring characters such as Pulque (the embodiment of drunkenness), boyhood friends Chip and Monk, and, in Volume II, his signature creation Frank.

Batman: The Dark Knight Strikes Again (2001)

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Batman: The Dark Knight Strikes Again, also known as DK2, is a 2001-2002 DC Comics three-issue limited seriescomic book written and illustrated by Frank Miller and colored by Lynn Varley. The series is a sequel to Miller’s 1986 miniseries The Dark Knight Returns. It tells the story of an aged Bruce Wayne who returns from three years in hiding, training his followers and instigating a rebellion against Lex Luthor‘s dictatorial rule over the United States. The series features an ensemble cast of superheroes including Catgirl, Superman, Wonder Woman, Plastic Man, The Flash, and the Atom.

Before Watchmen: Ozymandias(2012)

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As he awaits the final moment for his master plan to come together, Ozymandias reflects on what brought him there and makes an autobiographical recording of his life that spans 1939-1985 (when the story of Watchmen takes place). We see his early studies and adventures, the beginnings of his financial empire and his crime-fighting career, and his first unnerving encounters with The Comedian and Doctor Manhattan—the latter of which prompted him to build his Antarctic fortress of Karnak, aid in resolving the Cuban Missile Crisis, and retire from crime-fighting to concentrate on saving the world at any cost. The story debuted to mostly positive reviews.

Mr. Punch – Hardcover 1st Printing (1994)

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The book follows the childhood memories of the narrator, illustrating various experiences in his life: fishing on the beach at dawn; his grandparents and how one grandfather went mad; a hunchback great-uncle; the betrayal of children by adults; fear of the unknown; an unwanted pregnancy, violence, possibly even murder.

The general story is paralleled with the traditional story of the Mr. Punch show, ‘The oldest, the wisest play’. The narrator is first introduced to Mr. Punch when fishing with his grandfather, but encounters it, and a mysterious ‘professor’ (Punch & Judy man), during various other activities. The story of Mr. Punch, is that he kills his baby, then his wife Judy and the police officer who comes to arrest him. He outwits a ghost, a crocodile and a doctor, convinces the hangman to be hanged in his place and, at the play’s end, even defeats the devil himself.

Like many of Gaiman’s works, a major theme in this graphic novel is memory and the unreliability of one’s own recollections.

Death’s Head 2 V2 (1993)

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Originally launched as a four-issue limited series, Death’s Head II then became an ongoing series – and also featured in a number of team-up limited series designed to showcase new Marvel UK characters. One of these was Death3, teaming up Death’s Head II with newly created “brothers”, Death Metal and his prototype Death Wreck. The recurring character throughout this was Dr Evelyn Necker, the scientist who creates the Minion series (Death’s Head II and his “brothers”). Death’s Head II became the flagship character for Marvel UK – a costume was even made for promotional appearances and was part of the 1993 Lord Mayor’s Show – and there were concerns at Marvel UK in early 1993 that they could be overestimating his popularity and over-exposing the character. When Marvel UK was cancelled, a Death’s Head II/Punisher crossover was in production and he was playing a key role in the completed, but never published, Loose Cannons (released online).

Seven Soldiers: Zatanna (2005)

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Zatanna is almost run over by Guardian’s wife and subsequently vanishes. The most famous of the soldiers, she survives, appearing in stories set “One Year Later“, though her newly acquired apprentice Misty Kilgore has yet to appear.

Silver Surfer – In Thy Name (2007)

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The Silver Surfer delves alone into the furthest depths of the void; tangling with organ-stealing pirates, demonic beasts and a race of alien aristocrats. Everyone’s favorite Cosmic Wanderer discovers that even in the midst of a galactic utopia, horror is never far away…With electrifying artwork by the dynamic Tan Eng Huat (Doom Patrol, Batman) and an endlessly inventive script by Simon Spurrier.

Before Watchmen: Dollar Bill (2013)

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Bill Brady was meant to be a star; in what capacity he never knew. Behind the smoke and mirrors of National Bank is the thrilling origin of a beloved hero! By Len Wein & Steve Rude.

Creed (1994)

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Creed is the brainchild of Trent Kaniuga, a young man who began writing, drawing, and publishing the book when he was seventeen years old. Creed is also thirteen-year-old Mark Farley, a young man whose mission is to rid the dream world of evils, and he does all this under the guidance of a talking frog named Cascan Jep. Mark is also aware that he is a comic book character, and he doesn’t care for the fact that he cannot age. You see, comic book heroes don’t age. His friends will one day leave him behind, and he will be forever thirteen. This is intriguing stuff, and the influence of Todd McFarlane (Spawn) on Kaniuga’s work is quite apparent.