Growler on Superhero Fiction!

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Superhero fiction is one of the hottest storytelling genres out there. Here's where I comment on everything you need to know!

See also, Essential Comic Book Links and Growler on Superhero Comic Books.

Back in February 1993 a new universe of superheroes sprung on the scene. The Milestone Uinverse!

An imprint of DC Comics this line of superheroes were created by many of the great and the good creative talent in the industry. A fresh break from the long established Marvel and DC heroes, these new heroes forged ahead with quality stories and fantastic superhero fiction. Effortlessly merging science fiction with fantasy a new era was born! Icon, originally an alien who crash landed on earth 200 years ago, took the form of the first being it saw and kept changing that identity to hide the fact that he aged very slowly. Being on earth gave him amazing powers which he used for the greater good. Fast forward to the present day he gained a sidekick, Rocket, and the two of them began a fruitful partnership fighting for truth and justice. Icon was written by Dwayne McDuffie and illustrated by M D Bright and was a fantastic read. The Hardware armour was the creation of the most brilliant inventor alive, Curtis Metcalf. It was a protective bodysuit which had a whole arsenal of technological wizardary and weapons. Using this armour to go after his corrupt boss, Hardware began his quest for justice.

Click here to check out Batman: Year One - Deluxe Edition (DC Comics) by Frank Miller

Hardware was written by Dwayne McDuffie and drawn by artist Denys Cowan.

Blood Syndicate was the name given to a collective of individuals who gained their powers as the result of a massive biological catastrophe, known locally as the Big Bang, in a residential neighbourhood.

These survivors based themselves in an abandoned warehouse and fought to protect their territory, the Dead Zone, from threats that attempted to destroy them. Their members were Holocaust, Tech 9, DMZ, Brickhouse, Morph, Flashback, Fade, Wise Son and Third Rail.

Click here to check out Batman: Dark Knight Returns (DC Comics) by Frank Miller

The stories were superhero fiction with a raw, gritty feel focusing on the lives of these individuals and how they adapt to their new status quo. Blood Syndicate was written with a sci-fi and fantasy flavour by Dwayne McDuffie and Ivan Velez Jr and pencilled by Trevor Von Eeden.

Static was also a survivor of the Big Bang and gained the power to emit and control powerful electrical discharges.

A young teenager (and self confessed geek) named Virgil Hawkins, the adventures of Static were split between the superhero fiction action adventures and the everyday drama and growing pains of his secret identity. This series was a lot of fun and a great read.

Static was written by Dwayne McDuffie and Robert L Washington III and illustrated by John Paul Leon.

Milestone met with a roaring success and quickly expanded to include titles such as Xombi, Shadow Cabinet and a crossover with DC Comics superheroes entitled Worlds Collide.

Milestone produced some great stories during its existence but ceased publishing in early 1997. The comic book market was shrinking fast and publishers across the board were disappearing.

Click here to check out Batman: The Dark Knight Strikes Again (DC Comics) by Frank Miller

Readers were tightening their belts economically and there was a noticable 'flight to the core', the core superhero universes of Marvel and DC Comics.

I read Milestone for their first year of publication before drastically cutting back my consumption of comic books. As such, I never got to read the complete adventures of the above characters.

I would welcome a series of trades/graphic novels reprinting the complete Milestone line and believe it would introduce a whole new audience to quality superhero storytelling and some wonderful stories.

Static has gone on to be seen by a wider audience when it was adapted into the hit animated series Static Shock.

I'm hoping that Milestone will return in some form in the future, both as reprints and new material to give the world more original superhero fiction to enjoy.

Alpha Flight published by Marvel Comics was one of the earliest titles I collected, read and enjoyed way back in 1985.

It was the ongoing adventures of a team of superheroes that worked for a branch of the Canadian government. The same branch that created Wolverine.

Click here to check out Alpha Flight Classic Volume 1 (Marvel Comics) by John Byrne

I actually started this series with issue 29. The first one after the original creator John Byrne left to take over the Hulk title. The Hulk's creative team transferred onto Alpha Flight. This incarnation of the team was a favourite as it brought me up to speed with the team and moved quickly onto new challenges. Written by Bill Mantlo, the run I enjoyed lasted 12 issues up to issue 40. The artwork really sold me during these quality tales. The penciller was none other than Mike Mignola, now best known for his own creation, Hellboy. He brought a cool look and feel to the storytelling. He stayed for only three issues and was followed by artists John Bogdanove, Sal Buscema, and David Ross. The fantastic inker Gerry Talaoc worked on the title until issue 38 and kept the look consistent throughout the numerous changes. He was followed by Whilce Portacio in issue 39. I personally found the artwork at this time too jarring a change from what had come before so issue 40 was my last on the series.

Click here to check out Omega Flight: Alpha To Omega TPB (Marvel Comics) by Mike Oeming and Scott Kolins

The run had some incredible storylines and character arcs and featured guest appearances from the X-Men and the Avengers. Issue 29 had the team up against the Hulk which was a baptism of fire in itself.

Issue 33 shed new light on the origin of Wolverine going back to his Canadian roots and showing his life soon after he gained his adamantium claws.

It also showed the close friendship he had with the then leader of Alpha Flight Heather Hudson known as Vindicator. She was coming to terms with the loss of her husband, the previous Alpha Flight leader Guardian who was killed on the job.

Click here to check out Batman: Long Halloween by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale

Her assuming the electromagnetic battle suit draped in the Canadian flag was a nice bit of closure to her story.

Another favourite arc of this run was that of Shaman. After temporarily losing his magical based powers he went on a quest to regain them. This involved many trials and tribulations and eventually resulted a new costume and abilities.

These are just a few of the many storylines, twists and turns in this extraordinary run and are well worth a read and great entertainment.

Quality superhero action adventures with a healthy dose of drama within. The hallmark of Marvel goodness.

As I mentioned earlier, I started reading Alpha Flight by chance just after John Byrne, their original creator left the series.

Click here to check out Batman: Hush by Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee

I only read his original issues, numbers 1 to 28, in the last five years. It was difficult and expensive to get hold of those issues in the early days. You see there were no reprint trades in those days so the only way to get hold of back issues was to hunt them down far and wide.

The most popular ones often sold for many times their original price. And John Byrne's Alpha Flight was very much sought after in those days.

After finally reading them I found it an excellent original creation and the first 8 issues are now available in the Alpha Flight Classic trade/graphic novel.

The title has recently been reincarnated as Omega Flight and I'm looking forward to reading the trade.

Pure class.

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