Danger Unlimited
Encyclopedia
Danger Unlimited was a comic book
series
written and drawn by John Byrne. It ran only four issues, with print publication dates of March to June 1994. The series was published by Dark Horse Comics
.
titles at Dark Horse Comics under the Legend imprint, as did other artists and writers such as Mike Mignola
and Frank Miller
. In addition to Danger Unlimited, Byrne created Babe
(1994), John Byrne's 2112 (1991), and John Byrne's Next Men (1992–1994) while with Dark Horse.
Danger Unlimited was intended as an ongoing series, but it ended abruptly after just four issues at Byrne's decision, due to less-than-anticipated sales brought on in part by the mid-1990s collapse of the American comic industry. Byrne himself provided insight into this collapse (or Wall Street-like “normalization”) in the letter column
to issue #4. Byrne had intended the series to capture a wider, younger audience with a lower cover price and no content that would require a "mature" warning. Low pre-sales and long lead times gave him less revenue, so he made the decision that it was unprofitable to continue work on the title.
Byrne says he has been misquoted about his intention for the title. He never said it was "the Fantastic Four
done right." His self-described quote was, "Well, since nobody else is doing the Fantastic Four" -- that is, an old-fashioned, adventure-based superhero series suitable for all ages -- "I thought I would." That the book was not a copy of the earlier title is bolstered by the fact that while the "original" Danger Unlimited team had similar attributes to the Fantastic Four, the later team had different powers and backgrounds.
Each issue included an additional story featuring "Torch of Liberty," an American superhero similar to Captain America
. They were set during World War II
in the European theater. Although no members of Danger Unlimited appeared, this had many connections within the same universe, including a cameo by the Torch in one of the Danger Unlimited stories. The stories and characters were also created by Byrne.
of the series is called “Phoenix Agenda” and is set in 2061. The 20th century backstory is interwoven throughout the four books out of sequence via flashbacks.
In December 1959, the Carson family meets explorer Mike Worley in South America
to investigate an ancient spaceship that had crashed in the Amazon jungle in the distant past. The ship's systems trap the four and expose them a substance that was supposed to give the ship's crew powers as warriors on whatever planet they visit. The substance would later be nicknamed, "Gunk." They escape after brief exposure to the Gunk, but it gives each of them superpowers which they use to fight for good as the original Danger Unlimited. The members include Miss Mirage (Connie Carson), who can project illusions. Her brother Thermal (Calvin Carson) can project heat and cold. Their father, Doc Danger (Robert Carson), is a brilliant scientist who had his intellect augmented even more, continuing his mutation over the years with an increasingly enlarged cranium and atrophied limbs until he became nothing more than an enormous head by 1985, supported by a flying platform with robotic arms. And Hunk (Worley), who gains rocky, superhard skin and superstrength. In 1985, the team engages in a final battle with Umbra, their most powerful foe. During Umbra's attack on DU's headquarters, Thermal is seriously injured and Doc Danger places him into a biological stasis
chamber. Nobody knows what happened, but Doc Danger shuts down all systems and places the headquarters into a "timelock" time suspension force field. The team was missing and presumed dead.
75 years after the battle, the timelock disengages and the new Earth government moved in to demolish the headquarters. A sudden energy signature inside draws a military team to investigate. Calvin bursts free from the containment pod and loses consciousness. A sample of Gunk was also stored inside the pod and explodes over Corporal Teresa LaFayette. When they awake, Calvin has partial amnesia
and no longer seems to have his powers. LaFayette has gained the power to become a giant spiky, rocky humanoid. Professor Davis Palmenter, who was studying what happened to the two, realizes it was Gunk at work again and smashes the sample vial of it with his hand. He is split into three identical but independent clones
. It is explained to Calvin that an alien race called the Xlerii invaded Earth in 2010. All superhumans mysteriously disappeared in 2011 during the ensuing Alien War. The ship that they investigated in 1959 was a Xlerii advance scout. After defeating the bulk of Earth's forces, the Xlerii offered Earth a deal for peace and prosperity but in reality are taking over, altering the global environment to fit their needs. The Earth is now perpetually dark and shrouded by clouds, with frequent rain.
Calvin and LaFayette flee to her grandmother's house in Louisiana. The three Palmenter clones arrive, sent by LaFayette's commanding officer, Captain Brewster, who's also a freedom sympathizer, and convinces them to become the new Danger Unlimited. LaFayette takes on the name "Belabet," based on her grandmother's Creole exclamation of "La belle et la bete" (Beauty and the Beast
) upon seeing her transform. Parmenter calls himself (himselves?) "Caucus." They plan to pursue two main missions: to find out what happened to the original Danger Unlimited and to drive the Xlerii from Earth while finding out what happened to all of the superheroes. Calvin would continue to try to regain his memories and discover the fate of his former teammates.
A previously unpublished page on John Byrne's website -- finished, colored and lettered -- shows two unidentified characters sneaking through a top security Xlerii holding facility to find the corpse of Calvin Carson in a morgue
-like drawer after finding out that Captain Brewster had previously inspected the drawer.
Four promotional pages published as the series premiered showed a battle between the original team (presumably circa 1970, as Doc Danger's head had visibly expanded in both height and girth) and Xlerii aboard one of their spaceships.
Nazi supervillain Golgotha is mentioned in John Byrne's timeline of that universe as being fought and killed after World War II
. He was resurrected in 1965, battled Danger Unlimited thereafter and later killed in battle by Calvin Carson after murdering Calvin's wife.
Ultroid is another villain mentioned in the timeline but not revealed within the series.
:
Danger Unlimited was a comic book
series
written and drawn by John Byrne. It ran only four issues, with print publication dates of March to June 1994. The series was published by Dark Horse Comics
.
titles at Dark Horse Comics under the Legend imprint, as did other artists and writers such as Mike Mignola
and Frank Miller
. In addition to Danger Unlimited, Byrne created Babe
(1994), John Byrne's 2112 (1991), and John Byrne's Next Men (1992–1994) while with Dark Horse.
Danger Unlimited was intended as an ongoing series, but it ended abruptly after just four issues at Byrne's decision, due to less-than-anticipated sales brought on in part by the mid-1990s collapse of the American comic industry. Byrne himself provided insight into this collapse (or Wall Street-like “normalization”) in the letter column
to issue #4. Byrne had intended the series to capture a wider, younger audience with a lower cover price and no content that would require a "mature" warning. Low pre-sales and long lead times gave him less revenue, so he made the decision that it was unprofitable to continue work on the title.
Byrne says he has been misquoted about his intention for the title. He never said it was "the Fantastic Four
done right." His self-described quote was, "Well, since nobody else is doing the Fantastic Four" -- that is, an old-fashioned, adventure-based superhero series suitable for all ages -- "I thought I would." That the book was not a copy of the earlier title is bolstered by the fact that while the "original" Danger Unlimited team had similar attributes to the Fantastic Four, the later team had different powers and backgrounds.
Each issue included an additional story featuring "Torch of Liberty," an American superhero similar to Captain America
. They were set during World War II
in the European theater. Although no members of Danger Unlimited appeared, this had many connections within the same universe, including a cameo by the Torch in one of the Danger Unlimited stories. The stories and characters were also created by Byrne.
of the series is called “Phoenix Agenda” and is set in 2061. The 20th century backstory is interwoven throughout the four books out of sequence via flashbacks.
In December 1959, the Carson family meets explorer Mike Worley in South America
to investigate an ancient spaceship that had crashed in the Amazon jungle in the distant past. The ship's systems trap the four and expose them a substance that was supposed to give the ship's crew powers as warriors on whatever planet they visit. The substance would later be nicknamed, "Gunk." They escape after brief exposure to the Gunk, but it gives each of them superpowers which they use to fight for good as the original Danger Unlimited. The members include Miss Mirage (Connie Carson), who can project illusions. Her brother Thermal (Calvin Carson) can project heat and cold. Their father, Doc Danger (Robert Carson), is a brilliant scientist who had his intellect augmented even more, continuing his mutation over the years with an increasingly enlarged cranium and atrophied limbs until he became nothing more than an enormous head by 1985, supported by a flying platform with robotic arms. And Hunk (Worley), who gains rocky, superhard skin and superstrength. In 1985, the team engages in a final battle with Umbra, their most powerful foe. During Umbra's attack on DU's headquarters, Thermal is seriously injured and Doc Danger places him into a biological stasis
chamber. Nobody knows what happened, but Doc Danger shuts down all systems and places the headquarters into a "timelock" time suspension force field. The team was missing and presumed dead.
75 years after the battle, the timelock disengages and the new Earth government moved in to demolish the headquarters. A sudden energy signature inside draws a military team to investigate. Calvin bursts free from the containment pod and loses consciousness. A sample of Gunk was also stored inside the pod and explodes over Corporal Teresa LaFayette. When they awake, Calvin has partial amnesia
and no longer seems to have his powers. LaFayette has gained the power to become a giant spiky, rocky humanoid. Professor Davis Palmenter, who was studying what happened to the two, realizes it was Gunk at work again and smashes the sample vial of it with his hand. He is split into three identical but independent clones
. It is explained to Calvin that an alien race called the Xlerii invaded Earth in 2010. All superhumans mysteriously disappeared in 2011 during the ensuing Alien War. The ship that they investigated in 1959 was a Xlerii advance scout. After defeating the bulk of Earth's forces, the Xlerii offered Earth a deal for peace and prosperity but in reality are taking over, altering the global environment to fit their needs. The Earth is now perpetually dark and shrouded by clouds, with frequent rain.
Calvin and LaFayette flee to her grandmother's house in Louisiana. The three Palmenter clones arrive, sent by LaFayette's commanding officer, Captain Brewster, who's also a freedom sympathizer, and convinces them to become the new Danger Unlimited. LaFayette takes on the name "Belabet," based on her grandmother's Creole exclamation of "La belle et la bete" (Beauty and the Beast
) upon seeing her transform. Parmenter calls himself (himselves?) "Caucus." They plan to pursue two main missions: to find out what happened to the original Danger Unlimited and to drive the Xlerii from Earth while finding out what happened to all of the superheroes. Calvin would continue to try to regain his memories and discover the fate of his former teammates.
A previously unpublished page on John Byrne's website -- finished, colored and lettered -- shows two unidentified characters sneaking through a top security Xlerii holding facility to find the corpse of Calvin Carson in a morgue
-like drawer after finding out that Captain Brewster had previously inspected the drawer.
Four promotional pages published as the series premiered showed a battle between the original team (presumably circa 1970, as Doc Danger's head had visibly expanded in both height and girth) and Xlerii aboard one of their spaceships.
Nazi supervillain Golgotha is mentioned in John Byrne's timeline of that universe as being fought and killed after World War II
. He was resurrected in 1965, battled Danger Unlimited thereafter and later killed in battle by Calvin Carson after murdering Calvin's wife.
Ultroid is another villain mentioned in the timeline but not revealed within the series.
:
Danger Unlimited was a comic book
series
written and drawn by John Byrne. It ran only four issues, with print publication dates of March to June 1994. The series was published by Dark Horse Comics
.
titles at Dark Horse Comics under the Legend imprint, as did other artists and writers such as Mike Mignola
and Frank Miller
. In addition to Danger Unlimited, Byrne created Babe
(1994), John Byrne's 2112 (1991), and John Byrne's Next Men (1992–1994) while with Dark Horse.
Danger Unlimited was intended as an ongoing series, but it ended abruptly after just four issues at Byrne's decision, due to less-than-anticipated sales brought on in part by the mid-1990s collapse of the American comic industry. Byrne himself provided insight into this collapse (or Wall Street-like “normalization”) in the letter column
to issue #4. Byrne had intended the series to capture a wider, younger audience with a lower cover price and no content that would require a "mature" warning. Low pre-sales and long lead times gave him less revenue, so he made the decision that it was unprofitable to continue work on the title.
Byrne says he has been misquoted about his intention for the title. He never said it was "the Fantastic Four
done right." His self-described quote was, "Well, since nobody else is doing the Fantastic Four" -- that is, an old-fashioned, adventure-based superhero series suitable for all ages -- "I thought I would." That the book was not a copy of the earlier title is bolstered by the fact that while the "original" Danger Unlimited team had similar attributes to the Fantastic Four, the later team had different powers and backgrounds.
Each issue included an additional story featuring "Torch of Liberty," an American superhero similar to Captain America
. They were set during World War II
in the European theater. Although no members of Danger Unlimited appeared, this had many connections within the same universe, including a cameo by the Torch in one of the Danger Unlimited stories. The stories and characters were also created by Byrne.
of the series is called “Phoenix Agenda” and is set in 2061. The 20th century backstory is interwoven throughout the four books out of sequence via flashbacks.
In December 1959, the Carson family meets explorer Mike Worley in South America
to investigate an ancient spaceship that had crashed in the Amazon jungle in the distant past. The ship's systems trap the four and expose them a substance that was supposed to give the ship's crew powers as warriors on whatever planet they visit. The substance would later be nicknamed, "Gunk." They escape after brief exposure to the Gunk, but it gives each of them superpowers which they use to fight for good as the original Danger Unlimited. The members include Miss Mirage (Connie Carson), who can project illusions. Her brother Thermal (Calvin Carson) can project heat and cold. Their father, Doc Danger (Robert Carson), is a brilliant scientist who had his intellect augmented even more, continuing his mutation over the years with an increasingly enlarged cranium and atrophied limbs until he became nothing more than an enormous head by 1985, supported by a flying platform with robotic arms. And Hunk (Worley), who gains rocky, superhard skin and superstrength. In 1985, the team engages in a final battle with Umbra, their most powerful foe. During Umbra's attack on DU's headquarters, Thermal is seriously injured and Doc Danger places him into a biological stasis
chamber. Nobody knows what happened, but Doc Danger shuts down all systems and places the headquarters into a "timelock" time suspension force field. The team was missing and presumed dead.
75 years after the battle, the timelock disengages and the new Earth government moved in to demolish the headquarters. A sudden energy signature inside draws a military team to investigate. Calvin bursts free from the containment pod and loses consciousness. A sample of Gunk was also stored inside the pod and explodes over Corporal Teresa LaFayette. When they awake, Calvin has partial amnesia
and no longer seems to have his powers. LaFayette has gained the power to become a giant spiky, rocky humanoid. Professor Davis Palmenter, who was studying what happened to the two, realizes it was Gunk at work again and smashes the sample vial of it with his hand. He is split into three identical but independent clones
. It is explained to Calvin that an alien race called the Xlerii invaded Earth in 2010. All superhumans mysteriously disappeared in 2011 during the ensuing Alien War. The ship that they investigated in 1959 was a Xlerii advance scout. After defeating the bulk of Earth's forces, the Xlerii offered Earth a deal for peace and prosperity but in reality are taking over, altering the global environment to fit their needs. The Earth is now perpetually dark and shrouded by clouds, with frequent rain.
Calvin and LaFayette flee to her grandmother's house in Louisiana. The three Palmenter clones arrive, sent by LaFayette's commanding officer, Captain Brewster, who's also a freedom sympathizer, and convinces them to become the new Danger Unlimited. LaFayette takes on the name "Belabet," based on her grandmother's Creole exclamation of "La belle et la bete" (Beauty and the Beast
) upon seeing her transform. Parmenter calls himself (himselves?) "Caucus." They plan to pursue two main missions: to find out what happened to the original Danger Unlimited and to drive the Xlerii from Earth while finding out what happened to all of the superheroes. Calvin would continue to try to regain his memories and discover the fate of his former teammates.
A previously unpublished page on John Byrne's website -- finished, colored and lettered -- shows two unidentified characters sneaking through a top security Xlerii holding facility to find the corpse of Calvin Carson in a morgue
-like drawer after finding out that Captain Brewster had previously inspected the drawer.
Four promotional pages published as the series premiered showed a battle between the original team (presumably circa 1970, as Doc Danger's head had visibly expanded in both height and girth) and Xlerii aboard one of their spaceships.
Nazi supervillain Golgotha is mentioned in John Byrne's timeline of that universe as being fought and killed after World War II
. He was resurrected in 1965, battled Danger Unlimited thereafter and later killed in battle by Calvin Carson after murdering Calvin's wife.
Ultroid is another villain mentioned in the timeline but not revealed within the series.
:
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
series
Ongoing series
The term "ongoing series" is used in contrast to limited series , a one shot , a graphic novel, or a trade paperback...
written and drawn by John Byrne. It ran only four issues, with print publication dates of March to June 1994. The series was published by Dark Horse Comics
Dark Horse Comics
Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent American comic book and manga publisher.Dark Horse Comics was founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson in Milwaukie, Oregon, with the concept of establishing an ideal atmosphere for creative professionals. Richardson started out by opening his first comic book...
.
Publication history
From 1991 to 1994, John Byrne developed his own creator-ownedCreator ownership
Creator ownership is an arrangement in which the creator or creators of a work of fiction retain full ownership of the material, regardless of whether it is self-published or by a corporate publisher. In some fields of publishing, such as fiction writing, creator ownership is a standard arrangement...
titles at Dark Horse Comics under the Legend imprint, as did other artists and writers such as Mike Mignola
Mike Mignola
Michael Joseph "Mike" Mignola is an American comic book artist and writer who created the comic book series Hellboy for Dark Horse Comics. He has worked for animation projects such as Atlantis: The Lost Empire and the adaptation of his one shot comic book, The Amazing Screw-On Head.-Career:Mignola...
and Frank Miller
Frank Miller (comics)
Frank Miller is an American comic book artist, writer and film director best known for his dark, film noir-style comic book stories and graphic novels Ronin, Daredevil: Born Again, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Sin City and 300...
. In addition to Danger Unlimited, Byrne created Babe
Babe (comics)
Babe was a four-issue comic book mini-series published by Dark Horse Comics under their Legend imprint from July 1994 - October 1994. It was written by John Byrne, with pencils and inks by Byrne, and covers by Gary Cody....
(1994), John Byrne's 2112 (1991), and John Byrne's Next Men (1992–1994) while with Dark Horse.
Danger Unlimited was intended as an ongoing series, but it ended abruptly after just four issues at Byrne's decision, due to less-than-anticipated sales brought on in part by the mid-1990s collapse of the American comic industry. Byrne himself provided insight into this collapse (or Wall Street-like “normalization”) in the letter column
Comic book letter column
A comic book letter column is a section of a comic book where readers' letters to the publisher appear. Comic book letter columns are also commonly referred to as letter columns , letter pages, letters of comment , or simply letters to the editor...
to issue #4. Byrne had intended the series to capture a wider, younger audience with a lower cover price and no content that would require a "mature" warning. Low pre-sales and long lead times gave him less revenue, so he made the decision that it was unprofitable to continue work on the title.
Byrne says he has been misquoted about his intention for the title. He never said it was "the Fantastic Four
Fantastic Four
The Fantastic Four is a fictional superhero team appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The group debuted in The Fantastic Four #1 , which helped to usher in a new level of realism in the medium...
done right." His self-described quote was, "Well, since nobody else is doing the Fantastic Four" -- that is, an old-fashioned, adventure-based superhero series suitable for all ages -- "I thought I would." That the book was not a copy of the earlier title is bolstered by the fact that while the "original" Danger Unlimited team had similar attributes to the Fantastic Four, the later team had different powers and backgrounds.
Each issue included an additional story featuring "Torch of Liberty," an American superhero similar to Captain America
Captain America
Captain America is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 , from Marvel Comics' 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby...
. They were set during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in the European theater. Although no members of Danger Unlimited appeared, this had many connections within the same universe, including a cameo by the Torch in one of the Danger Unlimited stories. The stories and characters were also created by Byrne.
Plot
The only story arcStory arc
A story arc is an extended or continuing storyline in episodic storytelling media such as television, comic books, comic strips, boardgames, video games, and in some cases, films. On a television program, for example, the story would unfold over many episodes. In television, the use of the story...
of the series is called “Phoenix Agenda” and is set in 2061. The 20th century backstory is interwoven throughout the four books out of sequence via flashbacks.
In December 1959, the Carson family meets explorer Mike Worley in South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
to investigate an ancient spaceship that had crashed in the Amazon jungle in the distant past. The ship's systems trap the four and expose them a substance that was supposed to give the ship's crew powers as warriors on whatever planet they visit. The substance would later be nicknamed, "Gunk." They escape after brief exposure to the Gunk, but it gives each of them superpowers which they use to fight for good as the original Danger Unlimited. The members include Miss Mirage (Connie Carson), who can project illusions. Her brother Thermal (Calvin Carson) can project heat and cold. Their father, Doc Danger (Robert Carson), is a brilliant scientist who had his intellect augmented even more, continuing his mutation over the years with an increasingly enlarged cranium and atrophied limbs until he became nothing more than an enormous head by 1985, supported by a flying platform with robotic arms. And Hunk (Worley), who gains rocky, superhard skin and superstrength. In 1985, the team engages in a final battle with Umbra, their most powerful foe. During Umbra's attack on DU's headquarters, Thermal is seriously injured and Doc Danger places him into a biological stasis
Stasis
The term stasis may refer to* A state of stability, in which all forces are equal and opposing, therefore they cancel out each other....
chamber. Nobody knows what happened, but Doc Danger shuts down all systems and places the headquarters into a "timelock" time suspension force field. The team was missing and presumed dead.
75 years after the battle, the timelock disengages and the new Earth government moved in to demolish the headquarters. A sudden energy signature inside draws a military team to investigate. Calvin bursts free from the containment pod and loses consciousness. A sample of Gunk was also stored inside the pod and explodes over Corporal Teresa LaFayette. When they awake, Calvin has partial amnesia
Amnesia
Amnesia is a condition in which one's memory is lost. The causes of amnesia have traditionally been divided into categories. Memory appears to be stored in several parts of the limbic system of the brain, and any condition that interferes with the function of this system can cause amnesia...
and no longer seems to have his powers. LaFayette has gained the power to become a giant spiky, rocky humanoid. Professor Davis Palmenter, who was studying what happened to the two, realizes it was Gunk at work again and smashes the sample vial of it with his hand. He is split into three identical but independent clones
Clones
Clones is a small town in western County Monaghan, in the 'border area' of the Republic of Ireland. The area is part of the Border Region, earmarked for economic development by the Irish Government due to its currently below-average economic situation...
. It is explained to Calvin that an alien race called the Xlerii invaded Earth in 2010. All superhumans mysteriously disappeared in 2011 during the ensuing Alien War. The ship that they investigated in 1959 was a Xlerii advance scout. After defeating the bulk of Earth's forces, the Xlerii offered Earth a deal for peace and prosperity but in reality are taking over, altering the global environment to fit their needs. The Earth is now perpetually dark and shrouded by clouds, with frequent rain.
Calvin and LaFayette flee to her grandmother's house in Louisiana. The three Palmenter clones arrive, sent by LaFayette's commanding officer, Captain Brewster, who's also a freedom sympathizer, and convinces them to become the new Danger Unlimited. LaFayette takes on the name "Belabet," based on her grandmother's Creole exclamation of "La belle et la bete" (Beauty and the Beast
Beauty and the Beast
Beauty and the Beast is a traditional fairy tale. The first published version of the fairy tale was a rendition by Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve, published in La jeune américaine, et les contes marins in 1740...
) upon seeing her transform. Parmenter calls himself (himselves?) "Caucus." They plan to pursue two main missions: to find out what happened to the original Danger Unlimited and to drive the Xlerii from Earth while finding out what happened to all of the superheroes. Calvin would continue to try to regain his memories and discover the fate of his former teammates.
Additional background
Byrne eventually intended to reveal that the team's arch-enemy, Umbra, was actually Caroline Carson, the wife of Robert Carson (Doc Danger) who had mysteriously perished and been somehow resurrected and transformed before the team was formed. This may explain why Doc Danger says as he readied himself to battle Umbra alone, "And, in the end, perhaps this was how it was always meant to be..."A previously unpublished page on John Byrne's website -- finished, colored and lettered -- shows two unidentified characters sneaking through a top security Xlerii holding facility to find the corpse of Calvin Carson in a morgue
Morgue
A morgue or mortuary is used for the storage of human corpses awaiting identification, or removal for autopsy or disposal by burial, cremation or otherwise...
-like drawer after finding out that Captain Brewster had previously inspected the drawer.
Four promotional pages published as the series premiered showed a battle between the original team (presumably circa 1970, as Doc Danger's head had visibly expanded in both height and girth) and Xlerii aboard one of their spaceships.
Nazi supervillain Golgotha is mentioned in John Byrne's timeline of that universe as being fought and killed after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He was resurrected in 1965, battled Danger Unlimited thereafter and later killed in battle by Calvin Carson after murdering Calvin's wife.
Ultroid is another villain mentioned in the timeline but not revealed within the series.
Collected editions
The series has been collected into a single volumeTrade paperback (comics)
In comics, a trade paperback is a collection of stories originally published in comic books, reprinted in book format, usually capturing one story arc from a single title or a series of stories with a connected story arc or common theme from one or more titles...
:
- Danger Unlimited (Dark Horse, softcover, April, 1995, ISBN 1569710589, hardcover limited edition, August 2005, ISBN 1569711119, IDW PublishingIDW PublishingIDW Publishing, also known as Idea + Design Works, LLC and IDW, is an American publisher of comic books and comic strip collections. The company was founded in 1999 and has been awarded the title "Publisher of the Year Under 5% Market Share" for the years 2004, 2005 and 2006 by Diamond Comic...
, also includes Babe #1-4 and Babe 2 #1-2, 244 pages, softcover, March 2009, ISBN 1600103634)
Danger Unlimited was a comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
series
Ongoing series
The term "ongoing series" is used in contrast to limited series , a one shot , a graphic novel, or a trade paperback...
written and drawn by John Byrne. It ran only four issues, with print publication dates of March to June 1994. The series was published by Dark Horse Comics
Dark Horse Comics
Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent American comic book and manga publisher.Dark Horse Comics was founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson in Milwaukie, Oregon, with the concept of establishing an ideal atmosphere for creative professionals. Richardson started out by opening his first comic book...
.
Publication history
From 1991 to 1994, John Byrne developed his own creator-ownedCreator ownership
Creator ownership is an arrangement in which the creator or creators of a work of fiction retain full ownership of the material, regardless of whether it is self-published or by a corporate publisher. In some fields of publishing, such as fiction writing, creator ownership is a standard arrangement...
titles at Dark Horse Comics under the Legend imprint, as did other artists and writers such as Mike Mignola
Mike Mignola
Michael Joseph "Mike" Mignola is an American comic book artist and writer who created the comic book series Hellboy for Dark Horse Comics. He has worked for animation projects such as Atlantis: The Lost Empire and the adaptation of his one shot comic book, The Amazing Screw-On Head.-Career:Mignola...
and Frank Miller
Frank Miller (comics)
Frank Miller is an American comic book artist, writer and film director best known for his dark, film noir-style comic book stories and graphic novels Ronin, Daredevil: Born Again, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Sin City and 300...
. In addition to Danger Unlimited, Byrne created Babe
Babe (comics)
Babe was a four-issue comic book mini-series published by Dark Horse Comics under their Legend imprint from July 1994 - October 1994. It was written by John Byrne, with pencils and inks by Byrne, and covers by Gary Cody....
(1994), John Byrne's 2112 (1991), and John Byrne's Next Men (1992–1994) while with Dark Horse.
Danger Unlimited was intended as an ongoing series, but it ended abruptly after just four issues at Byrne's decision, due to less-than-anticipated sales brought on in part by the mid-1990s collapse of the American comic industry. Byrne himself provided insight into this collapse (or Wall Street-like “normalization”) in the letter column
Comic book letter column
A comic book letter column is a section of a comic book where readers' letters to the publisher appear. Comic book letter columns are also commonly referred to as letter columns , letter pages, letters of comment , or simply letters to the editor...
to issue #4. Byrne had intended the series to capture a wider, younger audience with a lower cover price and no content that would require a "mature" warning. Low pre-sales and long lead times gave him less revenue, so he made the decision that it was unprofitable to continue work on the title.
Byrne says he has been misquoted about his intention for the title. He never said it was "the Fantastic Four
Fantastic Four
The Fantastic Four is a fictional superhero team appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The group debuted in The Fantastic Four #1 , which helped to usher in a new level of realism in the medium...
done right." His self-described quote was, "Well, since nobody else is doing the Fantastic Four" -- that is, an old-fashioned, adventure-based superhero series suitable for all ages -- "I thought I would." That the book was not a copy of the earlier title is bolstered by the fact that while the "original" Danger Unlimited team had similar attributes to the Fantastic Four, the later team had different powers and backgrounds.
Each issue included an additional story featuring "Torch of Liberty," an American superhero similar to Captain America
Captain America
Captain America is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 , from Marvel Comics' 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby...
. They were set during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in the European theater. Although no members of Danger Unlimited appeared, this had many connections within the same universe, including a cameo by the Torch in one of the Danger Unlimited stories. The stories and characters were also created by Byrne.
Plot
The only story arcStory arc
A story arc is an extended or continuing storyline in episodic storytelling media such as television, comic books, comic strips, boardgames, video games, and in some cases, films. On a television program, for example, the story would unfold over many episodes. In television, the use of the story...
of the series is called “Phoenix Agenda” and is set in 2061. The 20th century backstory is interwoven throughout the four books out of sequence via flashbacks.
In December 1959, the Carson family meets explorer Mike Worley in South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
to investigate an ancient spaceship that had crashed in the Amazon jungle in the distant past. The ship's systems trap the four and expose them a substance that was supposed to give the ship's crew powers as warriors on whatever planet they visit. The substance would later be nicknamed, "Gunk." They escape after brief exposure to the Gunk, but it gives each of them superpowers which they use to fight for good as the original Danger Unlimited. The members include Miss Mirage (Connie Carson), who can project illusions. Her brother Thermal (Calvin Carson) can project heat and cold. Their father, Doc Danger (Robert Carson), is a brilliant scientist who had his intellect augmented even more, continuing his mutation over the years with an increasingly enlarged cranium and atrophied limbs until he became nothing more than an enormous head by 1985, supported by a flying platform with robotic arms. And Hunk (Worley), who gains rocky, superhard skin and superstrength. In 1985, the team engages in a final battle with Umbra, their most powerful foe. During Umbra's attack on DU's headquarters, Thermal is seriously injured and Doc Danger places him into a biological stasis
Stasis
The term stasis may refer to* A state of stability, in which all forces are equal and opposing, therefore they cancel out each other....
chamber. Nobody knows what happened, but Doc Danger shuts down all systems and places the headquarters into a "timelock" time suspension force field. The team was missing and presumed dead.
75 years after the battle, the timelock disengages and the new Earth government moved in to demolish the headquarters. A sudden energy signature inside draws a military team to investigate. Calvin bursts free from the containment pod and loses consciousness. A sample of Gunk was also stored inside the pod and explodes over Corporal Teresa LaFayette. When they awake, Calvin has partial amnesia
Amnesia
Amnesia is a condition in which one's memory is lost. The causes of amnesia have traditionally been divided into categories. Memory appears to be stored in several parts of the limbic system of the brain, and any condition that interferes with the function of this system can cause amnesia...
and no longer seems to have his powers. LaFayette has gained the power to become a giant spiky, rocky humanoid. Professor Davis Palmenter, who was studying what happened to the two, realizes it was Gunk at work again and smashes the sample vial of it with his hand. He is split into three identical but independent clones
Clones
Clones is a small town in western County Monaghan, in the 'border area' of the Republic of Ireland. The area is part of the Border Region, earmarked for economic development by the Irish Government due to its currently below-average economic situation...
. It is explained to Calvin that an alien race called the Xlerii invaded Earth in 2010. All superhumans mysteriously disappeared in 2011 during the ensuing Alien War. The ship that they investigated in 1959 was a Xlerii advance scout. After defeating the bulk of Earth's forces, the Xlerii offered Earth a deal for peace and prosperity but in reality are taking over, altering the global environment to fit their needs. The Earth is now perpetually dark and shrouded by clouds, with frequent rain.
Calvin and LaFayette flee to her grandmother's house in Louisiana. The three Palmenter clones arrive, sent by LaFayette's commanding officer, Captain Brewster, who's also a freedom sympathizer, and convinces them to become the new Danger Unlimited. LaFayette takes on the name "Belabet," based on her grandmother's Creole exclamation of "La belle et la bete" (Beauty and the Beast
Beauty and the Beast
Beauty and the Beast is a traditional fairy tale. The first published version of the fairy tale was a rendition by Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve, published in La jeune américaine, et les contes marins in 1740...
) upon seeing her transform. Parmenter calls himself (himselves?) "Caucus." They plan to pursue two main missions: to find out what happened to the original Danger Unlimited and to drive the Xlerii from Earth while finding out what happened to all of the superheroes. Calvin would continue to try to regain his memories and discover the fate of his former teammates.
Additional background
Byrne eventually intended to reveal that the team's arch-enemy, Umbra, was actually Caroline Carson, the wife of Robert Carson (Doc Danger) who had mysteriously perished and been somehow resurrected and transformed before the team was formed. This may explain why Doc Danger says as he readied himself to battle Umbra alone, "And, in the end, perhaps this was how it was always meant to be..."A previously unpublished page on John Byrne's website -- finished, colored and lettered -- shows two unidentified characters sneaking through a top security Xlerii holding facility to find the corpse of Calvin Carson in a morgue
Morgue
A morgue or mortuary is used for the storage of human corpses awaiting identification, or removal for autopsy or disposal by burial, cremation or otherwise...
-like drawer after finding out that Captain Brewster had previously inspected the drawer.
Four promotional pages published as the series premiered showed a battle between the original team (presumably circa 1970, as Doc Danger's head had visibly expanded in both height and girth) and Xlerii aboard one of their spaceships.
Nazi supervillain Golgotha is mentioned in John Byrne's timeline of that universe as being fought and killed after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He was resurrected in 1965, battled Danger Unlimited thereafter and later killed in battle by Calvin Carson after murdering Calvin's wife.
Ultroid is another villain mentioned in the timeline but not revealed within the series.
Collected editions
The series has been collected into a single volumeTrade paperback (comics)
In comics, a trade paperback is a collection of stories originally published in comic books, reprinted in book format, usually capturing one story arc from a single title or a series of stories with a connected story arc or common theme from one or more titles...
:
- Danger Unlimited (Dark Horse, softcover, April, 1995, ISBN 1569710589, hardcover limited edition, August 2005, ISBN 1569711119, IDW PublishingIDW PublishingIDW Publishing, also known as Idea + Design Works, LLC and IDW, is an American publisher of comic books and comic strip collections. The company was founded in 1999 and has been awarded the title "Publisher of the Year Under 5% Market Share" for the years 2004, 2005 and 2006 by Diamond Comic...
, also includes Babe #1-4 and Babe 2 #1-2, 244 pages, softcover, March 2009, ISBN 1600103634)
Danger Unlimited was a comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
series
Ongoing series
The term "ongoing series" is used in contrast to limited series , a one shot , a graphic novel, or a trade paperback...
written and drawn by John Byrne. It ran only four issues, with print publication dates of March to June 1994. The series was published by Dark Horse Comics
Dark Horse Comics
Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent American comic book and manga publisher.Dark Horse Comics was founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson in Milwaukie, Oregon, with the concept of establishing an ideal atmosphere for creative professionals. Richardson started out by opening his first comic book...
.
Publication history
From 1991 to 1994, John Byrne developed his own creator-ownedCreator ownership
Creator ownership is an arrangement in which the creator or creators of a work of fiction retain full ownership of the material, regardless of whether it is self-published or by a corporate publisher. In some fields of publishing, such as fiction writing, creator ownership is a standard arrangement...
titles at Dark Horse Comics under the Legend imprint, as did other artists and writers such as Mike Mignola
Mike Mignola
Michael Joseph "Mike" Mignola is an American comic book artist and writer who created the comic book series Hellboy for Dark Horse Comics. He has worked for animation projects such as Atlantis: The Lost Empire and the adaptation of his one shot comic book, The Amazing Screw-On Head.-Career:Mignola...
and Frank Miller
Frank Miller (comics)
Frank Miller is an American comic book artist, writer and film director best known for his dark, film noir-style comic book stories and graphic novels Ronin, Daredevil: Born Again, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Sin City and 300...
. In addition to Danger Unlimited, Byrne created Babe
Babe (comics)
Babe was a four-issue comic book mini-series published by Dark Horse Comics under their Legend imprint from July 1994 - October 1994. It was written by John Byrne, with pencils and inks by Byrne, and covers by Gary Cody....
(1994), John Byrne's 2112 (1991), and John Byrne's Next Men (1992–1994) while with Dark Horse.
Danger Unlimited was intended as an ongoing series, but it ended abruptly after just four issues at Byrne's decision, due to less-than-anticipated sales brought on in part by the mid-1990s collapse of the American comic industry. Byrne himself provided insight into this collapse (or Wall Street-like “normalization”) in the letter column
Comic book letter column
A comic book letter column is a section of a comic book where readers' letters to the publisher appear. Comic book letter columns are also commonly referred to as letter columns , letter pages, letters of comment , or simply letters to the editor...
to issue #4. Byrne had intended the series to capture a wider, younger audience with a lower cover price and no content that would require a "mature" warning. Low pre-sales and long lead times gave him less revenue, so he made the decision that it was unprofitable to continue work on the title.
Byrne says he has been misquoted about his intention for the title. He never said it was "the Fantastic Four
Fantastic Four
The Fantastic Four is a fictional superhero team appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The group debuted in The Fantastic Four #1 , which helped to usher in a new level of realism in the medium...
done right." His self-described quote was, "Well, since nobody else is doing the Fantastic Four" -- that is, an old-fashioned, adventure-based superhero series suitable for all ages -- "I thought I would." That the book was not a copy of the earlier title is bolstered by the fact that while the "original" Danger Unlimited team had similar attributes to the Fantastic Four, the later team had different powers and backgrounds.
Each issue included an additional story featuring "Torch of Liberty," an American superhero similar to Captain America
Captain America
Captain America is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 , from Marvel Comics' 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby...
. They were set during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in the European theater. Although no members of Danger Unlimited appeared, this had many connections within the same universe, including a cameo by the Torch in one of the Danger Unlimited stories. The stories and characters were also created by Byrne.
Plot
The only story arcStory arc
A story arc is an extended or continuing storyline in episodic storytelling media such as television, comic books, comic strips, boardgames, video games, and in some cases, films. On a television program, for example, the story would unfold over many episodes. In television, the use of the story...
of the series is called “Phoenix Agenda” and is set in 2061. The 20th century backstory is interwoven throughout the four books out of sequence via flashbacks.
In December 1959, the Carson family meets explorer Mike Worley in South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
to investigate an ancient spaceship that had crashed in the Amazon jungle in the distant past. The ship's systems trap the four and expose them a substance that was supposed to give the ship's crew powers as warriors on whatever planet they visit. The substance would later be nicknamed, "Gunk." They escape after brief exposure to the Gunk, but it gives each of them superpowers which they use to fight for good as the original Danger Unlimited. The members include Miss Mirage (Connie Carson), who can project illusions. Her brother Thermal (Calvin Carson) can project heat and cold. Their father, Doc Danger (Robert Carson), is a brilliant scientist who had his intellect augmented even more, continuing his mutation over the years with an increasingly enlarged cranium and atrophied limbs until he became nothing more than an enormous head by 1985, supported by a flying platform with robotic arms. And Hunk (Worley), who gains rocky, superhard skin and superstrength. In 1985, the team engages in a final battle with Umbra, their most powerful foe. During Umbra's attack on DU's headquarters, Thermal is seriously injured and Doc Danger places him into a biological stasis
Stasis
The term stasis may refer to* A state of stability, in which all forces are equal and opposing, therefore they cancel out each other....
chamber. Nobody knows what happened, but Doc Danger shuts down all systems and places the headquarters into a "timelock" time suspension force field. The team was missing and presumed dead.
75 years after the battle, the timelock disengages and the new Earth government moved in to demolish the headquarters. A sudden energy signature inside draws a military team to investigate. Calvin bursts free from the containment pod and loses consciousness. A sample of Gunk was also stored inside the pod and explodes over Corporal Teresa LaFayette. When they awake, Calvin has partial amnesia
Amnesia
Amnesia is a condition in which one's memory is lost. The causes of amnesia have traditionally been divided into categories. Memory appears to be stored in several parts of the limbic system of the brain, and any condition that interferes with the function of this system can cause amnesia...
and no longer seems to have his powers. LaFayette has gained the power to become a giant spiky, rocky humanoid. Professor Davis Palmenter, who was studying what happened to the two, realizes it was Gunk at work again and smashes the sample vial of it with his hand. He is split into three identical but independent clones
Clones
Clones is a small town in western County Monaghan, in the 'border area' of the Republic of Ireland. The area is part of the Border Region, earmarked for economic development by the Irish Government due to its currently below-average economic situation...
. It is explained to Calvin that an alien race called the Xlerii invaded Earth in 2010. All superhumans mysteriously disappeared in 2011 during the ensuing Alien War. The ship that they investigated in 1959 was a Xlerii advance scout. After defeating the bulk of Earth's forces, the Xlerii offered Earth a deal for peace and prosperity but in reality are taking over, altering the global environment to fit their needs. The Earth is now perpetually dark and shrouded by clouds, with frequent rain.
Calvin and LaFayette flee to her grandmother's house in Louisiana. The three Palmenter clones arrive, sent by LaFayette's commanding officer, Captain Brewster, who's also a freedom sympathizer, and convinces them to become the new Danger Unlimited. LaFayette takes on the name "Belabet," based on her grandmother's Creole exclamation of "La belle et la bete" (Beauty and the Beast
Beauty and the Beast
Beauty and the Beast is a traditional fairy tale. The first published version of the fairy tale was a rendition by Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve, published in La jeune américaine, et les contes marins in 1740...
) upon seeing her transform. Parmenter calls himself (himselves?) "Caucus." They plan to pursue two main missions: to find out what happened to the original Danger Unlimited and to drive the Xlerii from Earth while finding out what happened to all of the superheroes. Calvin would continue to try to regain his memories and discover the fate of his former teammates.
Additional background
Byrne eventually intended to reveal that the team's arch-enemy, Umbra, was actually Caroline Carson, the wife of Robert Carson (Doc Danger) who had mysteriously perished and been somehow resurrected and transformed before the team was formed. This may explain why Doc Danger says as he readied himself to battle Umbra alone, "And, in the end, perhaps this was how it was always meant to be..."A previously unpublished page on John Byrne's website -- finished, colored and lettered -- shows two unidentified characters sneaking through a top security Xlerii holding facility to find the corpse of Calvin Carson in a morgue
Morgue
A morgue or mortuary is used for the storage of human corpses awaiting identification, or removal for autopsy or disposal by burial, cremation or otherwise...
-like drawer after finding out that Captain Brewster had previously inspected the drawer.
Four promotional pages published as the series premiered showed a battle between the original team (presumably circa 1970, as Doc Danger's head had visibly expanded in both height and girth) and Xlerii aboard one of their spaceships.
Nazi supervillain Golgotha is mentioned in John Byrne's timeline of that universe as being fought and killed after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He was resurrected in 1965, battled Danger Unlimited thereafter and later killed in battle by Calvin Carson after murdering Calvin's wife.
Ultroid is another villain mentioned in the timeline but not revealed within the series.
Collected editions
The series has been collected into a single volumeTrade paperback (comics)
In comics, a trade paperback is a collection of stories originally published in comic books, reprinted in book format, usually capturing one story arc from a single title or a series of stories with a connected story arc or common theme from one or more titles...
:
- Danger Unlimited (Dark Horse, softcover, April, 1995, ISBN 1569710589, hardcover limited edition, August 2005, ISBN 1569711119, IDW PublishingIDW PublishingIDW Publishing, also known as Idea + Design Works, LLC and IDW, is an American publisher of comic books and comic strip collections. The company was founded in 1999 and has been awarded the title "Publisher of the Year Under 5% Market Share" for the years 2004, 2005 and 2006 by Diamond Comic...
, also includes Babe #1-4 and Babe 2 #1-2, 244 pages, softcover, March 2009, ISBN 1600103634)