I apologize for my ignorance, but what is that from?

Very excited by this thread. I consider Atari Force to be the best pure space opera I've read in comic books (obviously with strips you have Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers). I've never read the giveaways. I didn't own an Atari and I've never been interested in tracking them down. But I pulled out my issues of Atari Force (all purchased off the spinner racks) and will definitely be following along.

I know 12 years worth of bullies with whom I went to public school who beg to differ

May this be the only time in your life when the response above is warranted within a given context.

Atari Force (mini-comic) #5 (1983)



Created and written by: Gerry Conway & Roy Thomas
Art: Gil Kane, Dick Giordano, and Mike DeCarlo
Design: Neal Pozner
lettering: John Costanza
colors: Adrienne Roy
editor: Dick Giordano

Synopsis: The events of the previous issue being ignored, the team has now been on one continuous quest since departing the Earth in issue #2. They have been to thirteen worlds and, finding nothing suitable, are beginning to lose hope. Commander Champion is hiding from the crew the fact that, for whatever reason, they have to turn back after the next planet which (of course) ends up being perfect for their needs. However, it turns out that it is owned by an interplanetary federation committed to peace, and they must travel to the homeworld of The Custodians of Life in order to be approved for settling the planet. While this is happening, The Dark Destroyer (from issue #3) has returned from the dead and has taken control of the federation itself, turning them against the Atari Force. The team debilitates the ships without killing the pilots and then destroys The Dark Destroyer again (but not before it creates a spawn and sends it off into space without the team's knowledge), causing the federation to approve their application. Earth begins resettling to this new planet as Martin Champion and Lydia Perez find new love.

---

So the anomaly that was issue #4 is now wholly ignored, the team having continuously been in space since the time of issue #3 (issue #4 had them back on Earth). We're also back to the usual page count and the usual high gloss paper. And yet, it's weird to see this quest coming to a close when it had only gotten started in issue #3 and was then ignored in issue #4. The very premise of this issue rests upon the crew being fatigued, desperate, and ultimately relieved, but (for the reader) the quest was just getting started.

It's a flawed issue in many respects, characterization feeling particularly weak and forced:





but there is also a sincere sense of joy and relief that comes across as these heroes finally near the end of their journey:



There are also interesting concepts tossed around -- an origin story for this interplanetary federation that seems far more thought out than Star Trek's, some heavy considerations of morality during wartime, and some endearing characterizations of repair drones that we only get one brief panel to enjoy:



It really seemed like Thomas and Conway had a lot left to say and do with this series, even though they bring it to a definitive close by the end. However, they also already know by this point that a new Atari Force is on the way:




In terms of the video game tie-in, of the five issues published, this one takes the assignment most seriously, as this



does an excellent job of bringing this to life convincingly:



And, almost as if making up for past sloppiness, this story also works in clear references to older Atari games that were already classics at this point, including Centipede



and Breakout




In the end, this was never a consistently well done series, but it was fun, featured some stunning art (especially by Andru) and it contained some powerful ideas that resonated as well. Truly, the series' biggest misstep was the lead characters: boring/obnoxious Martin Champion and Lydia Perez aside, this little volume did most things right.


Grade: A-

You went to public school?