"The End" Week: Atari Force #20!

Like hopefully a couple of other "The End" posts, I'm writing this in the summer, where we've had what feels like more 100-degree days than usual, and more than a few days where it was far too hot to go biking when I usually would've. Which left me, too many days, staring into space and not accomplishing much. One thing I could've done, that I still haven't as I type this, is look at some runs I've been putting together on the cheap and figure out what issues I actually need; maybe prevent myself from buying the same books multiple times. I've got a much longer stretch of Kamandi than I would've figured, almost all of Strikeforce: Morituri, but have recently stalled out on getting Slapstick or Arion. Oh, and as of now I have four of this series, although there are some more to track down besides: from 1985, Atari Force #20, "Trial...and Verdict!" Written by Mike Baron, pencils by Eduardo Barreto, inks by Ricardo Villagrán.

As the title implies, this issue the team faces judgment: they had defeated series big-bad the Dark Destroyer, but had committed a few crimes to do so. The authorities still don't seem to believe there had ever been a 'Dark Destroyer,' despite testimony from lawman Rident, and later psychic evidence from Morphea. The team organizes a small-scale jailbreak, walking out of court, the verdict no longer mattering to them. In a "multiverse shuttle" that resembles a larger version of the Legion's time bubble, the Atari Force heads from New Earth to old...and whatever adventures they might have in your imagination. Oh, and the Atari Force Special, which maybe hit stands in 1986! Collect them all, unless somehow DC or somebody has announced a trade collection in the four months since typing this. (The editorial page from Andy Helfer tries to paint this last issue as merely the natural conclusion of the story, as opposed to losing the license or being unwilling to shell out to maintain it; but I'm pretty sure Atari Force sales were well above cancellation level even in the end, so they aren't horribly difficult to find. The special and mini-comics, maybe.)

But, like we mentioned last time, this issue also features "Hukka vs. the BOB," from Keith Giffen, Robert Loren Fleming, and Karl Kesel, a slapstick masterpiece! Tempest buys "Personal Pal" robot Bob, to keep the Hukka company while he studies. But, when Hukka ignores (or, probably can't read) the warning "Do not immerse in water" Bob stops playing nicely. Hijinks ensue!