Ex-Mutants
Encyclopedia
Ex-Mutants was a comic book
series created by writer David Lawrence
and artist Ron Lim
along with editor David Campiti
in 1986. It was first published by Eternity Comics
and then Amazing Comics. Contractual problems resulted in a move to Pied Piper Comics
. A legal dispute followed, and after running out of money for the struggle, the creators surrendered. The title returned to Eternity Comics and was later published in a revamped version by Malibu Comics
, which Eternity had become an imprint of. A videogame for the Sega Genesis based on the Malibu version was released.
The first series lost much of its initial charm with the loss of its creators and never prospered, finally disappearing into comic book limbo. The Malibu title ended the same month the Protectors and all other titles ended, with a literal Earth-shattering explosion leaving little to no chance of reviving the series.
A lone scientist, the three-eyed Dr. Emmanuel Cugat, selects five mutants, one male and four females, to be genetically altered, resequencing their mutated DNA to restore them to humanity. Belushi, Erin, Angela, Vikki and Lorelei become perfect physical specimens. Dr. Cugat then sends them forth to inspire the shattered Earth. Many of the mutants have other ideas, particularly their arch nemesis, the monstrous Great Fred.
The series was perhaps best described by author Lawrence in a 2004 interview in the webzine QRDhttp://www.silbermedia.com/qrd/archives/28davidlawrence.html as "a light-hearted post-nuclear adventure series. The message if there was one, and I didn't really think about it at the time, seems to be no matter how badly we fuck up we'll get by."
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 created by writer David Lawrence
David Lawrence (writer)
David Lawrence is an American writer most notable for his work in comics.-Early career in comics:Lawrence began working professionally in the field in the mid-1980s with a number of super-hero and post-apocalyptic themes for Eternity, Amazing and Pied Piper Comics. His most successful series was...
and artist Ron Lim
Ron Lim
Ronald "Ron" Lim is an American comic book artist living in Sacramento, California.-Biography:Ron Lim's first published work was an independent comic book entitled Ex-Mutants, which he worked on from 1986-1988....
along with editor David Campiti
David Campiti
David Campiti is an American comic book writer, talent agent, and co-founder of Innovation Publishing. As CEO of Glass House Graphics, Campiti oversees an international studio/agency of illustrators, writers, painters, and digital designers, producing artwork for such clients as Marvel Comics, DC...
in 1986. It was first published by Eternity Comics
Eternity Comics
Eternity Comics was a California-based comic book publisher active from 1986 to 1994, first as an independent publisher, then as an imprint of Malibu Comics. Eternity published creator-owned comics of an offbeat, independent flavor, as well as some licensed properties...
and then Amazing Comics. Contractual problems resulted in a move to Pied Piper Comics
Pied Piper Comics
Pied Piper Comics was a short-lived American comic book publishing company that ran from 1986 to 1988. Most of its titles were picked up from other publishers, and then most later moved to Innovation Publishing.-Titles:...
. A legal dispute followed, and after running out of money for the struggle, the creators surrendered. The title returned to Eternity Comics and was later published in a revamped version 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...
, which Eternity had become an imprint of. A videogame for the Sega Genesis based on the Malibu version was released.
The first series lost much of its initial charm with the loss of its creators and never prospered, finally disappearing into comic book limbo. The Malibu title ended the same month the Protectors and all other titles ended, with a literal Earth-shattering explosion leaving little to no chance of reviving the series.
Synopsis
The series is set in a not too distant future, where an all-out war has decimated the planet, and the hapless survivors and their offspring have been horribly mutated by the toxins released into the environment.A lone scientist, the three-eyed Dr. Emmanuel Cugat, selects five mutants, one male and four females, to be genetically altered, resequencing their mutated DNA to restore them to humanity. Belushi, Erin, Angela, Vikki and Lorelei become perfect physical specimens. Dr. Cugat then sends them forth to inspire the shattered Earth. Many of the mutants have other ideas, particularly their arch nemesis, the monstrous Great Fred.
The series was perhaps best described by author Lawrence in a 2004 interview in the webzine QRDhttp://www.silbermedia.com/qrd/archives/28davidlawrence.html as "a light-hearted post-nuclear adventure series. The message if there was one, and I didn't really think about it at the time, seems to be no matter how badly we fuck up we'll get by."
Publication history
- Ex-Mutants, issue #1, Eternity, 1986
- Ex-Mutants, Special Edition #1, Amazing Comics, 1986
- Ex-Mutants, issues #2-5, Amazing Comics, 1986
- Ex-Mutants, issues #6-8, Pied Piper Comics, 1987
- Lawrence & Lim's Ex-Mutants Microseries: Erin, issue #1, Pied Piper Comics, 1987
- Ex-Mutants, issues #6-7, Eternity, 1987 (numbering continued from Amazing)
- Ex-Mutants (Shattered Earth Chronicles), issues #1-15, Eternity, 1988-90
- Ex-Mutants Annual #1, Eternity, 1988
- Ex-Mutants Winter Sp #1, Eternity, 1989
- Ex-Mutants, issues #1-18, Malibu, 1992-94