Not quite as much fun as the last time Simonson and Miller were in a comic together, but OK.

The last time would've been Robocop vs. the Terminator, one of my favorite mini-series ever! But, they aren't working together on this one: from 1996, Dark Horse Presents #114, featuring "Fever Dream" by Walt Simonson and "Lance Blastoff" by Frank Miller.

"Lance Blastoff" is Frank's spoof of sci-fi, jetpack-wearing heroes; and is mean-spirited as hell, which is also presented as American as hell...which, OK, fair. Women love him! Men love h--I mean, want to be him! Lance would only appear a couple more times, because the joke is mighty thin.

"Fever Dream" is a short prequel to Walt's Star Slammers revival; as aging Slammer Rojas is cut off and pinned down by the alien Pliests. He can't form the telepathic "Silvermind" link with the other Slammers, to warn them about mined caverns; but does make contact with what could be the Silvermind of the dead. With his ancestor Jalaia advising him, or a severe concussion, Rojas fights his way out; but Jalaia also tells him his wife Rilla was still out there, neither alive...nor dead. Rojas warns the others and is airlifted out, with the nurse telling him of another upcoming mission, that could be a milk run--it won't be! Darn, when we discussed the old Marvel Graphic Novels a bit back, I'm not sure I remembered having the Star Slammers one, and I'm a big Simonson fan! (Or, maybe I still haven't gotten around to that hard count!)

Also this issue: a chapter of "Lowlife" by Ed Brubaker, "Under a Big Black Sun." I don't think he does art very often anymore, but I guess if I had Sean Phillips to do it I wouldn't either? Still, this reads like a whole thing rather than just a chapter; although it's downbeat as all get out: the sun had changed, now appearing black; but otherwise no different, and life went on. But, as a young grad student's relationship and friendships collapse, and he realizes his life was not satisfying at all, he wonders if that was the start of it, or just a coincidence. And, another chapter of "Trypto the Acid Dog" by Bill Mumy, Miguel Ferrer, and Steve Leialoha: Trypto was a somewhat Spuds McKenzie-looking pit bull (I think?) given godlike powers from a dip in toxic waste, trying to get home to his boy and punishing assorted wrongdoers like he was the Spectre. This installment, Trypto breaks up a dog-fighting ring, turning the spectators into dogmen to fight themselves and healing and freeing the innocent doggos to return to homes they were stolen from. But he finds his family had moved, and they might be headed for trouble in L.A. It's actually immensely satisfying, like a good revenge movie.

Oddly, I didn't read this run of DHP regularly, but around this time I picked up several! Evan Dorkin had his Hectic Planet "Bummer Trilogy" starting in #118.