Firearm (comics)
Encyclopedia
Firearm was a comic book series created by writer James Dale Robinson
and artists Howard Chaykin
and Cully Hamner
for Malibu Comics
' Ultraverse
imprint, which lasted 18 issues, with an additional 0 issue. The 0 issue included a 35-minute Firearm movie, on VHS
. The series was about Alec Swan, a private investigator
who, against his own wishes, becomes embroiled in cases involving the strange and the ultra-human.
After the series ended, there was a six-issue mini-series called Codename: Firearm
about another character with the same code name, which featured Alec Swan in backup stories.
James Robinson wrote the script for an unpublished Firearm Annual #1 issue, and briefly offered copies of the script to fans through the letters column
in his Starman
comic.
, the British
equivalent of the Navy SEALS; his mission record was extraordinary. He then became an agent for the Lodge
, one of England
's covert agencies. As one of its "squires", Swan earned his codename, "Firearm", due to his proficiency with guns. As a Lodge agent, Swan did many things which haunted him.
His last mission as a Lodge operative concerned two rogue ultra-human agents, one from the Lodge and one from Aladdin
, an American
agency. A transatlantic operation arose, combining the forces of both agencies to stop the agents. High command, determined to eliminate the targets, decided that pawns were needed to die with them in order to ensure the scenario looked realistic. Swan was the only one to walk away from the mission, and upon learning the truth left the agency. The only thing he took with him was his weapon, which he informed the Lodge he had "lost."
Swan left England for America
, where he finally settled down in Pasadena, California
. He set up shop as a private investigator
, hoping for a quiet life, but never finding it. His cases almost always, sooner or later, involved the fantastic.
, a group of wealthy cannibalistic ultras, who hunted down retired servicemen
for sport. Alex battled and killed the Sportsmen, one by one. He also had to deal with their chef, the man who prepared the human flesh. He eventually rescued their intended victim. The lone survivor of the Sportsmen, Edwin Mosely
, was entranced by stellar phenomena
and flew off; he would return later in the series to bedevil Swan.
. Unable to find any information on the streets, Swan was forced to ask for help from the Lodge, something he had promised himself he would never do. The West Coast liaison for this organization was the owner of Yates Bookstore. This would tie in with Swan's deep love for books, as he enjoyed the huge variety of novels Yates stocked. He just did not enjoy the Lodge part of the business. In exchange for the information provided, Swan would have to take a case for them in the future.
Swan was able to infiltrate the military base where Kevin was being held. While fighting the guards, Swan finds himself staring down the barrel of a pistol. Expecting death, he is surprised to find the mysterious guard letting him go.
The Lodge case involved Swan having his consciousness projected, against his will, into a cyberspace recreation of Glasgow, Scotland. Once there he had to free the program from the control of a double agent, rescue the professor that had created the program, and find his way home. He succeeded, and, once free, proceeded to make it clear that he would never work for the Lodge again.
. By now, Alex and Ellen are seriously dating. Alec is hired by Samuel Garrett to find his son's killer, and soon finds himself contacted by Rafferty, who challenges Swan to stop him. Rafferty leads Swan on a cross-country chase leaving a wake of murdered ultrahumans behind him. During the chase, Rafferty is able to destroy Swan's special firearm. The chase ends in San Diego at Reverend August's cathedral. Rafferty had stormed the cathedral to kill the ultra-child Penny Slater, who has the ability to heal with a touch, but soon found himself surrounded by the police. Using the cathedral workers as hostages, Rafferty calls for Swan, hoping to use him as a distraction to aid his escape. Swan defeats Rafferty's men and rescues the child. As the bomb-rigged cathedral explodes around them, Swan and Rafferty mortally wound each other. Rafferty dies inside the burning cathedral, Swan on the steps outside. Penny Slater, herself unhurt, is able to revive Swan.
In the midst this case, Alec marries Ellen, who was now working in Las Vegas as a showgirl. They began a life together, and Alec is trying once again to peacefully settle down.
appeared in Ultraverse/Avengers and later appeared in Ultraforce
.
James Dale Robinson
James Dale Robinson is a British writer of comic books and screenplays who is also known for his interest in vintage collectibles and memorabilia. His style is described as smart and energetic, built upon his vast knowledge of obscure continuity from the period known to fans and historians as the...
and artists Howard Chaykin
Howard Chaykin
Howard Victor Chaykin is an American comic book writer and artist famous for his innovative storytelling and sometimes controversial material...
and Cully Hamner
Cully Hamner
Cully Hamner is an American comic book artist and writer.-Career:Since his 1992 debut on Green Lantern: Mosaic, Hamner has worked for nearly every major American comic book publisher, and is chiefly known for such titles as the aforementioned Green Lantern: Mosaic, Blue Beetle, and Red...
for 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...
' Ultraverse
Ultraverse
The Ultraverse was the name given to a comic book imprint published by the American company Malibu Comics. The Ultraverse was a shared universe in which a variety of characters — known within the comics as "Ultras" — acquired super-human abilities.-History:...
imprint, which lasted 18 issues, with an additional 0 issue. The 0 issue included a 35-minute Firearm movie, on VHS
VHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
. The series was about Alec Swan, a private investigator
Private investigator
A private investigator , private detective or inquiry agent, is a person who can be hired by individuals or groups to undertake investigatory law services. Private detectives/investigators often work for attorneys in civil cases. Many work for insurance companies to investigate suspicious claims...
who, against his own wishes, becomes embroiled in cases involving the strange and the ultra-human.
After the series ended, there was a six-issue mini-series called Codename: Firearm
Codename: Firearm (comics)
Codename: Firearm was a six-issue limited series by Malibu Comics for its Ultraverse line and was published in 1995. It was written by David Quinn, with art by Gabriel Gecko....
about another character with the same code name, which featured Alec Swan in backup stories.
James Robinson wrote the script for an unpublished Firearm Annual #1 issue, and briefly offered copies of the script to fans through the letters 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...
in his Starman
Starman (Jack Knight)
Starman is fictional character, a comic book superhero in the , and a member of the Justice Society of America. He is the son of the original Starman, Ted Knight...
comic.
Fictional character history
Alec Swan's career began when he was a member of the Special Boat ServiceSpecial Boat Service
The Special Boat Service is the special forces unit of the British Royal Navy. Together with the Special Air Service, Special Reconnaissance Regiment and the Special Forces Support Group they form the United Kingdom Special Forces and come under joint control of the same Director Special...
, the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
equivalent of the Navy SEALS; his mission record was extraordinary. He then became an agent for the Lodge
The Lodge (comics)
The Lodge was a fictional government organization from Malibu Comics' Ultraverse imprint.Created by Basil Wentworth towards the end of World War II, the Lodge's purpose was to prepare for the Cold War that was destined to come about...
, one of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
's covert agencies. As one of its "squires", Swan earned his codename, "Firearm", due to his proficiency with guns. As a Lodge agent, Swan did many things which haunted him.
His last mission as a Lodge operative concerned two rogue ultra-human agents, one from the Lodge and one from Aladdin
Aladdin (comics)
Aladdin was a fictional government organization from Malibu Comics' Ultraverse imprint.- Overview :Aladdin was a U.S. government agency apparently founded sometime in the 1960s to deal with the growing number of Ultras in their world. 1n 1970, their scientific division, using a synthesis of...
, an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
agency. A transatlantic operation arose, combining the forces of both agencies to stop the agents. High command, determined to eliminate the targets, decided that pawns were needed to die with them in order to ensure the scenario looked realistic. Swan was the only one to walk away from the mission, and upon learning the truth left the agency. The only thing he took with him was his weapon, which he informed the Lodge he had "lost."
Swan left England for America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, where he finally settled down in Pasadena, California
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
. He set up shop as a private investigator
Private investigator
A private investigator , private detective or inquiry agent, is a person who can be hired by individuals or groups to undertake investigatory law services. Private detectives/investigators often work for attorneys in civil cases. Many work for insurance companies to investigate suspicious claims...
, hoping for a quiet life, but never finding it. His cases almost always, sooner or later, involved the fantastic.
Sportsmen
While investigating the disappearance of Artie Tate for Claire Brody, Swan found himself facing down the SportsmenThe Sportsmen (comic)
The Sportsmen were foes of Alec Swan, also known as Firearm. They first appeared in Firearm #1, from Malibu Comics.-Origin and Motivations:...
, a group of wealthy cannibalistic ultras, who hunted down retired servicemen
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
for sport. Alex battled and killed the Sportsmen, one by one. He also had to deal with their chef, the man who prepared the human flesh. He eventually rescued their intended victim. The lone survivor of the Sportsmen, Edwin Mosely
Edwin Mosley (comics)
Edwin Mosley is a comic book villain created by writer James Dale Robinson and artist Cully Hamner that appeared in the Malibu Comic's Ultraverse book Firearm.-Sportsmen:...
, was entranced by stellar phenomena
Amber Hunt
Amber Hunt is a fictional character from Malibu Comics' Exiles comic book series, created by Steve Gerber. She is a pyrokinetic super hero in the Ultraverse and was once host to the Phoenix Force.-Fictional character biography:...
and flew off; he would return later in the series to bedevil Swan.
Ellen
A few hours after the Sportsmen incident. Tired, battered and bruised, Swan sees two figures perched high on a building. Painted on the side is the words "...said T.E. Lawrence, picking up his fork". Entranced by the ongoing stellar phenomena, a multi-limbed man named Ramon was trying to convince Ellen, who has small wings, to fly to the moon. Ramon, mentally ill, doesn't realize that even if Ellen had larger wings, flight to the moon would be impossible. Swan quickly incapacitates Ramon and talks Ellen to her senses. Swan learns she only stays with Ramon because he didn't think she was a freak because of her wings. Swan tells her he thinks her wings are sweet and talks her into a date.Prime
A missing child case took an interesting turn when Swan discovered that the child in question was Kevin Green, better known as the ultrahuman, PrimePrime (comics)
Prime is a superhero created by Bob Jacob, Gerard Jones, Len Strazewski, and Norm Breyfogle. He debuted in Prime #1 under Malibu Comics' Ultraverse imprint, and was one of its flagship characters along with Mantra and Hardcase . The character design was credited to Bret Blevins...
. Unable to find any information on the streets, Swan was forced to ask for help from the Lodge, something he had promised himself he would never do. The West Coast liaison for this organization was the owner of Yates Bookstore. This would tie in with Swan's deep love for books, as he enjoyed the huge variety of novels Yates stocked. He just did not enjoy the Lodge part of the business. In exchange for the information provided, Swan would have to take a case for them in the future.
Swan was able to infiltrate the military base where Kevin was being held. While fighting the guards, Swan finds himself staring down the barrel of a pistol. Expecting death, he is surprised to find the mysterious guard letting him go.
The Lodge case involved Swan having his consciousness projected, against his will, into a cyberspace recreation of Glasgow, Scotland. Once there he had to free the program from the control of a double agent, rescue the professor that had created the program, and find his way home. He succeeded, and, once free, proceeded to make it clear that he would never work for the Lodge again.
Rafferty
Alex became involved in the hunt for the ultra-killer, RaffertyRafferty (comics)
Rafferty was a fictional assassin from the Malibu Comics' Ultraverse imprint. He was a foe of Firearm , first appearing in Firearm #12 , written by James Robinson.-Fictional biography:...
. By now, Alex and Ellen are seriously dating. Alec is hired by Samuel Garrett to find his son's killer, and soon finds himself contacted by Rafferty, who challenges Swan to stop him. Rafferty leads Swan on a cross-country chase leaving a wake of murdered ultrahumans behind him. During the chase, Rafferty is able to destroy Swan's special firearm. The chase ends in San Diego at Reverend August's cathedral. Rafferty had stormed the cathedral to kill the ultra-child Penny Slater, who has the ability to heal with a touch, but soon found himself surrounded by the police. Using the cathedral workers as hostages, Rafferty calls for Swan, hoping to use him as a distraction to aid his escape. Swan defeats Rafferty's men and rescues the child. As the bomb-rigged cathedral explodes around them, Swan and Rafferty mortally wound each other. Rafferty dies inside the burning cathedral, Swan on the steps outside. Penny Slater, herself unhurt, is able to revive Swan.
In the midst this case, Alec marries Ellen, who was now working in Las Vegas as a showgirl. They began a life together, and Alec is trying once again to peacefully settle down.
Black September
Following the Black September Event, Alec Swan's whereabouts were unknown. An amalgam version of Alec Swan and the Black KnightBlack Knight (Dane Whitman)
Dane Whitman is a fictional comic book superhero in the Marvel Comics universe, the company's third person to bear the name Black Knight. Created by writer Roy Thomas and artist John Buscema, he first appeared in The Avengers #47 Dane Whitman is a fictional comic book superhero in the Marvel Comics...
appeared in Ultraverse/Avengers and later appeared in Ultraforce
Ultraforce (comics)
The Ultraforce is a fictional superhero group that appears in comic books published by Malibu, and later Marvel, as well as an animated series produced by DIC. Their purpose was to protect the public and keep other Ultras from getting out of line...
.