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Post by Batflunkie on Jan 5, 2016 12:33:57 GMT -5
When it comes to comics and politics, I like to think of myself as non-partisan, but sometimes that always isn't the case. My favorite comic book company in the world, next to Valiant, is probably Malibu and their line of "Ultraverse" titles. In a time where art surpassed story, Ultraverse had some pretty darned interesting ideas (corporate mascot superhero, vampire who feeds on the super-human abilities of others, war-torn transgendered superhero, boy who's super powered body is only held together by his ego). It's a travesty that this brilliance had to be assimilated into the almighty corporate machine that is Marvel, never to be heard from again.
My love for the syndicated Glenn Larson Nightman tv show is how I initially discovered it and it'd be years before I actually read any of it, but boy, what a trip it was
****EDIT******
Decided to alter the thread title to encourage general discussion about Malibu as a whole, as well as their other imprints, Bravura, Aircel, Adventure, and Eternity
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Jan 5, 2016 12:38:30 GMT -5
Never read Ultraverse, but I'm really really glad to have another Valiant fan aboard!
Ultraverse sounds like something I might enjoy, based upon your description.
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Post by Batflunkie on Jan 5, 2016 12:44:13 GMT -5
Ultraverse sounds like something I might enjoy, based upon your description. It's definitely up there as a candidate for the reasons why "not all 90's comics are bad". Nightman is probably my favorite of the line, it's about this saxophonist who wound up in a car accident with a cable car. Apparently a piece of shrapnel from the wreck lodged itself in his brain to where he never needs sleep anymore. He can also "hear" the evil thoughts of those who might in the future commit crimes(?), kind of weird trying to explain it to people It's also sound completely stupid, but it's amazingly good |
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Jan 5, 2016 12:53:28 GMT -5
Ultraverse sounds like something I might enjoy, based upon your description. It's definitely up there as a candidate for the reasons why "not all 90's comics are bad". Nightman is probably my favorite of the line, it's about this saxophonist who wound up in a car accident with a cable car. Apparently a piece of shrapnel from the wreck lodged itself in his brain to where he never needs sleep anymore. He can also "hear" the evil thoughts of those who might in the future commit crimes(?), kind of weird trying to explain it to people It's also sound completely stupid, but it's amazingly good Actually, it sounds like it has the potential to be deeply psychological. I'm intrigued. So that's where you'd recommend starting? |
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Post by Batflunkie on Jan 5, 2016 13:06:36 GMT -5
So that's where you'd recommend starting? No, not exactly. I'd recommend starting with Hardcase #1 and Ultra Monthly #1 (an in-universe tabloid rag devoted exclusively to "Ultra-Humans"), as they kind of lay the down the groundwork. After that, just read whatever looks good. Though do keep in mind that the Ultraverse does has this nasty "gimmick" where one comic's story continues in another (like say Prime #5 continues in Prototype #3) |
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Post by foxley on Jan 5, 2016 15:35:41 GMT -5
The Strangers was my favourite Ultraverse title, followed by Mantra.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2016 15:58:06 GMT -5
Another Ultraverse fan here. I liked Prime (a modern take on Capt Marvel/Shazam) that went in directions that Cap could not. I even liked their team title Ultraforce. Nightman & Hardcase were great too.
In the early 90's Valiant & the Ultraverse were my favorites. They were better than DC & Marvel at that time.
Another favorite - a crossover - Prime/Capt America that featured an evil alternate universe Bill Clinton. |
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Crimebuster
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Post by Crimebuster on Jan 5, 2016 16:05:08 GMT -5
I'm pretty ambivalent about Ultraverse in general, but I love Firearm by James Robinson. I'm still trying to track down a sealed copy of #0, which came with a VHS tape containing a 30-minute Firearm live action movie that never aired anywhere. A great little series, James Robinson at his peak - Firearm started just before he did Golden Age, Starman, and Leave It to Chance.
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Post by Arthur Gordon Scratch on Jan 5, 2016 16:53:44 GMT -5
I agree, Firearm was probably the best book those companies ever put out.
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Post by Batflunkie on Jan 5, 2016 17:18:33 GMT -5
I'm pretty ambivalent about Ultraverse in general, but I love Firearm by James Robinson. I'm still trying to track down a sealed copy of #0, which came with a VHS tape containing a 30-minute Firearm live action movie that never aired anywhere. A great little series, James Robinson at his peak - Firearm started just before he did Golden Age, Starman, and Leave It to Chance. Somebody was actually nice enough to upload the entire thing to youtube And I somewhat share you sentiments in regards to Prime, got really tired of all the accuastions of molestation and pedophilia in the book while Prime was seen with Kelly |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2016 17:42:45 GMT -5
I'll add to the chorus for Firearm as well. There wa sa lot of stuff in the line by folks like Englehart and Gerber, but the line had weakpoints as well. I did enjoy the Perez work on Ultraforce as well, but the animated series for it was pretty bad. My favorite character from the line as a whole though was the villain Lord Pumpkin....  it also brought Barry Windsor Smith back to Conan for the first time in 20 years...  -M |
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Post by Action Ace on Jan 5, 2016 18:47:17 GMT -5
At one point, The Ultraverse was my second most purchased "universe" after DC.
Prime was my favorite followed closely by The Strangers.
Others I collected were Hardcase, Prototype, Night Man, Freex and Ultraforce.
I tried out or bought at least one issue of Exiles (I think I got all 4), Mantra, Sludge, Rune, Solitaire, Elven and that Lord Pumpkin issue. I also got the Godwheel, Break-Thru and Black September events.
It's been too long since I last visited the Ultraverse.
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Post by Icctrombone on Jan 5, 2016 19:46:55 GMT -5
I was a total comic slut in the 90's buying just about every " New Universe" being published. I enjoyed Ultraverse, especially Strangers By Hoberg and Engelhart. But I found the artwork in many of the titles to be subpar. When I look back, Hardcase really had inconsistent art from issue to issue.
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Post by Batflunkie on Jan 5, 2016 19:50:54 GMT -5
Prime was my favorite followed closely by The Strangers. I enjoyed Ultraverse, especially Strangers By Hoberg and Engelhart. I've always heard that Strangers was one of the weaker of the original Ultraverse line-up, so I can't say that I've personally ever read it. Was more of a "The Solution" fan myself |
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Post by Icctrombone on Jan 5, 2016 19:52:37 GMT -5
Prime was my favorite followed closely by The Strangers. I enjoyed Ultraverse, especially Strangers By Hoberg and Engelhart. I've always heard that Strangers was one of the weaker of the original Ultraverse line-up, so I can't say that I've personally ever read it. Was more of a "The Solution" fan myself I had the first 20 or so issues. It was a good read. I liked the Solution as well. |
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