Dreadstar
Encyclopedia
Dreadstar was the first comic series published by American publisher Epic Comics
, an imprint of Marvel Comics
, in 1982
. It was centered on Vanth Dreadstar
, sole survivor of the entire Milky Way
galaxy, and an ensemble cast of crewmates, including cyborg sorcerer Syzygy Darklock
, and their struggle to end an ancient war between two powerful, evil empires: The Church of The Instrumentality run by the Lord Papal and the Monarchy, administered by a puppet king.
The comic, created by Jim Starlin
, was bimonthly during most of its run. Epic published 26 issues, after which it was published by First Comics
who carried it for 38 more issues, for a total of 64 issues. The first 41 issues were published bi-monthly, after which the book was published monthly for a time, though it resumed bi-monthly publication with issue 51. In the early 1990s, a six issue limited series
was published by Malibu Comics
' Bravura line of creator-owned titles. Jim Starlin had stated in interviews as early as 2000 that he was working on a new Dreadstar series titled "Class Warfare" (including sample artwork in Slave Labor Graphics
' The Price trade paperback), but the last mention of this was in late 2002. In 2011, in promotion for 'Breed III
, Starlin again mentioned the possibility of another Dreadstar series.
, cat-like humanoid Oedi, and freebooter Skeevo. Vanth, newly arrived in the Empirical Galaxy after the events of Metamorphosis Odyssey
, tries to live a pastoral existence on Oedi's planet of peaceful cat-people, but his peace is disturbed by the arrival of Darklock, who wants him to get involved in the conflict between the two major forces in the galaxy, the Monarchy and the theocratical Instrumentality. Vanth refuses until the war comes to his planet, wiping out most of the population. Oedi survives and joins them; Willow and Skeevo join later, though the team is in place for the first issue.
Dreadstar takes the side of the Monarchy against the evil Lord High Papal of the Instrumentality, but his team end up becoming fugitives when the Monarchy falls, and go to great lengths to try to uncover a traitor in their midst. The transition to First Comics happened just when the traitor was about to be revealed, and the first issue published under First Comics, #27 contained this revelation.
Peter David
took over the writing duties with issue #41 (March 1989) after Jim Starlin
left the title, and remained on it until issue #64 (March 1991), the final issue of that run. Stranded in a nonfunctional ship between galaxies, the crew finds a baby floating in space, who quickly grows to maturity. It is later revealed that the baby is the personification of the Twelve Gods of the Instrumentality, which fled the Empirical Galaxy. Dreadstar finds himself once again in a galactic conflict, except that in the end he discovers he has taken the wrong side. He changes sides just in time, but the personification of the twelve gods had by this point merged with the sword of power of that galaxy and regained their full might. However they were defeated and the gods of the galaxy they were in began to take him prisoner in their realm. As he was being taken away he took the spirit of Dreadstar's teammate Iron Angel with him and then fulfilled a curse that was cast upon Dreadstar that for as long as Dreadstar lived, so would the High Lord Papal. Papal was revived and empowered and battled Dreadstar until Papal's energies got too depleted and he realized it was a different galaxy and fled.
In issue #6, the final issue, Dreadstar is alive and back to his old self by the end of the story.
In 2004 Dynamite Entertainment
reprinted the first 12 issues of the Epic series in two full-color volumes.
Dynamite has also announced a full-color collection of the Metamorphosis Odyssey for February 2010 (ISBN 9781606901199).
Epic Comics
Epic Comics was a creator-owned imprint of Marvel Comics started in 1982, lasting through the mid-1990s, and being briefly revived on a small scale in the mid-2000s.- Origins :...
, an imprint of Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
, in 1982
1982 in comics
-Year overall:* San Diego-based independent publisher Pacific Comics makes a strong push in the marketplace, following Jack Kirby's Captain Victory and the Galactic Rangers with four new ongoing titles, Starslayer, Ms...
. It was centered on Vanth Dreadstar
Vanth Dreadstar
Vanth Dreadstar is a fictional comic book character created by Jim Starlin. According to the new Overstreet Price Guide, Dreadstar was originally introduced in Epic Illustrated magazine #3 . His first "solo" appearance was in Epic Illustrated #15 . Dreadstar's sword's first appearance was in Epic...
, sole survivor of the entire Milky Way
Milky Way
The Milky Way is the galaxy that contains the Solar System. This name derives from its appearance as a dim un-resolved "milky" glowing band arching across the night sky...
galaxy, and an ensemble cast of crewmates, including cyborg sorcerer Syzygy Darklock
Syzygy Darklock
Syzygy Darklock is a fictional character in the space opera comic book series Dreadstar created by Jim Starlin. He first appeared in the 1981 graphic novel The Price, which was originally published in black and white in Eclipse Graphic Album Series #5 . It was reprinted, with colorized artwork, in...
, and their struggle to end an ancient war between two powerful, evil empires: The Church of The Instrumentality run by the Lord Papal and the Monarchy, administered by a puppet king.
The comic, created by Jim Starlin
Jim Starlin
James P. "Jim" Starlin is an American comic book writer and artist. With a career dating back to the early 1970s, he is best known for "cosmic" tales and space opera; for revamping the Marvel Comics characters Captain Marvel and Adam Warlock; and for creating or co-creating the Marvel characters...
, was bimonthly during most of its run. Epic published 26 issues, after which it was published by First Comics
First Comics
First Comics was an American comic-book publisher that was active from 1983–1991, known for titles like American Flagg!, Grimjack, Nexus, Badger, Dreadstar, and Jon Sable...
who carried it for 38 more issues, for a total of 64 issues. The first 41 issues were published bi-monthly, after which the book was published monthly for a time, though it resumed bi-monthly publication with issue 51. In the early 1990s, a six issue limited series
Limited series
A limited series is a comic book series with a set number of installments. A limited series differs from an ongoing series in that the number of issues is determined before production and it differs from a one shot in that it is composed of multiple issues....
was published by Malibu Comics
Malibu Comics
Malibu Comics was an American comic book publisher active in the late 1980s and early 1990s, best known for its Ultraverse line of superhero titles. The company's headquarters was in Calabasas, California. Malibu imprints included Aircel Comics and Eternity Comics...
' Bravura line of creator-owned titles. Jim Starlin had stated in interviews as early as 2000 that he was working on a new Dreadstar series titled "Class Warfare" (including sample artwork in Slave Labor Graphics
Slave Labor Graphics
Slave Labor Graphics is an independent American comic book publisher, well-known for publishing darkly humorous, offbeat comics.-Company history:...
' The Price trade paperback), but the last mention of this was in late 2002. In 2011, in promotion for 'Breed III
Breed (comics)
'Breed is the title of three limited series of comic books, The first two are six issues in length, the third will contain seven, written and drawn by Jim Starlin and published by Malibu Comics under its Bravura imprint, the third by Image Comics....
, Starlin again mentioned the possibility of another Dreadstar series.
The Metamorphosis Odyssey
Vanth Dreadstar first appeared in "The Metamorphosis Odyssey", in Epic Illustrated #3, where he unwittingly aids the Orsirosian named Akhnaton in destroying the Milky Way Galaxy, the only way to stop the ever-expanding Zygotean empire.Epic Comics
The series centered on the exploits of Vanth Dreadstar and his crew--powerful mystic Syzygy Darklock, the cybernetic telepath WillowWillow (Dreadstar)
Willow is a fictional character in the space opera Dreadstar, created by Jim Starlin. She was introduced in the first issue of Dreadstar's regular series and had her origin told in issue 2.-Character history:...
, cat-like humanoid Oedi, and freebooter Skeevo. Vanth, newly arrived in the Empirical Galaxy after the events of Metamorphosis Odyssey
Metamorphosis Odyssey
The Metamorphosis Odyssey is a lengthy allegorical story told in several distinct parts in several formats, from illustrated magazines to graphic novels to comic books. It is the work of writer/artist Jim Starlin. Notably, the story introduces Vanth Dreadstar, who first appears in Epic Illustrated...
, tries to live a pastoral existence on Oedi's planet of peaceful cat-people, but his peace is disturbed by the arrival of Darklock, who wants him to get involved in the conflict between the two major forces in the galaxy, the Monarchy and the theocratical Instrumentality. Vanth refuses until the war comes to his planet, wiping out most of the population. Oedi survives and joins them; Willow and Skeevo join later, though the team is in place for the first issue.
Dreadstar takes the side of the Monarchy against the evil Lord High Papal of the Instrumentality, but his team end up becoming fugitives when the Monarchy falls, and go to great lengths to try to uncover a traitor in their midst. The transition to First Comics happened just when the traitor was about to be revealed, and the first issue published under First Comics, #27 contained this revelation.
First Comics
The downfall of the Instrumentality came swiftly after the transition to First. Dreadstar, severely injured, went into a coma and awakened in the aftermath of the war--a bureaucracy where those with extraordinary powers, like himself, are commissioned as policemen to track down others of their kind. Eventually, Willow takes over the master computer, and Dreadstar and his friends leave the galaxy again.Peter David
Peter David
Peter Allen David , often abbreviated PAD, is an American writer of comic books, novels, television, movies and video games...
took over the writing duties with issue #41 (March 1989) after Jim Starlin
Jim Starlin
James P. "Jim" Starlin is an American comic book writer and artist. With a career dating back to the early 1970s, he is best known for "cosmic" tales and space opera; for revamping the Marvel Comics characters Captain Marvel and Adam Warlock; and for creating or co-creating the Marvel characters...
left the title, and remained on it until issue #64 (March 1991), the final issue of that run. Stranded in a nonfunctional ship between galaxies, the crew finds a baby floating in space, who quickly grows to maturity. It is later revealed that the baby is the personification of the Twelve Gods of the Instrumentality, which fled the Empirical Galaxy. Dreadstar finds himself once again in a galactic conflict, except that in the end he discovers he has taken the wrong side. He changes sides just in time, but the personification of the twelve gods had by this point merged with the sword of power of that galaxy and regained their full might. However they were defeated and the gods of the galaxy they were in began to take him prisoner in their realm. As he was being taken away he took the spirit of Dreadstar's teammate Iron Angel with him and then fulfilled a curse that was cast upon Dreadstar that for as long as Dreadstar lived, so would the High Lord Papal. Papal was revived and empowered and battled Dreadstar until Papal's energies got too depleted and he realized it was a different galaxy and fled.
Cross Roads
Toward the end of the First Comics run, the publisher released the Cross Roads mini-series which featured team-ups of the company's major characters. One issue featred Grimjack, Nexus and Dreadstar. This was alluded to in a later issue of Dreadstar, with several flashback panels depicting Dreadstar alongside Nexus.Malibu
The Malibu series takes place several years later, with the Lord High Papal training Dreadstar's daughter. The characters from the original series, except Oedi, show up, and the series climaxes in Dreadstar apparently being accidentally killed by his own daughter.In issue #6, the final issue, Dreadstar is alive and back to his old self by the end of the story.
Image
Dreadstar and Oedi appear on the last page of Breed III #5 and in issue #6 along with other of Starlin's creations, such as Wyrd and Kid Kosmos as part of the "Elsewhere Alliance".Reprints
In the early 2000s SLG Publishing reprinted the Metamorphosis Odyssey and the first few issues of the Epic series in four black-and-white volumes.- Dreadstar Volume 1: Metamorphosis Odyssey (ISBN 978-0943151281)
- Dreadstar Volume 2: The Price (ISBN 978-0943151304)
- Dreadstar Volume 3: Plan M (ISBN 978-0943151359)
- Dreadstar Volume 4: The Secret of Z (ISBN 978-0943151465)
In 2004 Dynamite Entertainment
Dynamite Entertainment
Dynamite Entertainment is an American comic book company that primarily publishes licensed franchises of adaptations of other media. These include adaptations of film properties such as Army of Darkness, Terminator and RoboCop, literary properties such as Zorro, Dracula, Sherlock Holmes, Alice in...
reprinted the first 12 issues of the Epic series in two full-color volumes.
- Dreadstar Definitive Collection Volume 1 Part 1 (ISBN 978-0974963815)
- Dreadstar Definitive Collection Volume 1 Part 2 (ISBN 978-0974963822) — Vol 1 Part 2 contained an ad promising Vol 2 in 2005 but has not yet been published.
Dynamite has also announced a full-color collection of the Metamorphosis Odyssey for February 2010 (ISBN 9781606901199).
External links
- Izak (Dreadstar ally). The Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe.
- Burgas, Greg. "Comics you should own – Dreadstar #1-40". Comic Book ResourcesComic Book ResourcesComic Book Resources, also known as CBR is a website dedicated to the coverage of comic book-related news and discussion.-History:Comic Book Resources was founded by Jonah Weiland in 1996 as a development of the Kingdom Come Message Board, a message forum that Weiland had created to discuss DC...
. September 22, 2006 - Burgas, Greg. "Comics you should own – Dreadstar #41-64". Comic Book Resources. September 22, 2006