You know what you need before the comic-con? Another big ol' stack of comics!

Maybe two, it's entirely possible between when I type this and now. (And sure enough, I did!)

There are honestly not a lot of good reasons why I live where I do--I'd tell you why, but I don't like remembering what a lout I was--except comics. Seriously. When I was a kid, probably from about seven years old until I graduated from high school; there was always at least three places in my tiny Montana hometown that had comic books. The last time I was there was at least fifteen years ago, and the only comic I saw was a clearance copy of WATCHMEN. (Which I bought!) 

Where I live now, my main comic book shop, where my pull list lives, has three locations; two of which often have cheap books. (The third is a bit more of a casual, gamer store) There's two other comic shops, a used bookstore that sells a bunch; and then two more places the next town over! Throw the local comicon on top of that, and more recently, a used toy store with two locations? That kind of explains why I remain. (Well, that and inertia...those boxes are heavy!) 

I think of this, not just because said comicon is tomorrow; or because I just bought a stack of books when I was trying to get a ticket for it; but because my dad turns 80 this month. And he's doing OK for an 80-year-old guy; although he's not driving anymore: he recently told his doctor that was kind of hard on my mom, since it cut into her drinking time...I don't think Mom's had a glass of wine in years, and I unfortunately see where my sense of humor comes from...Anyway, I was thinking, what if I had to go back to Montana and take care of my folks?  (Odds are I won't have to; my sister lives much closer!) I might not have a comic shop within a hundred miles or more; so stocking up on cheap books now while I can makes more sense! Get those issues of Damage while you can! Doesn't matter if I have time to immediately read them.

Anyway, here's a book from a mini-series that I bet you a quarter I don't find the rest of at that show: from 1989, Strikeforce: Morituri Electric Undertow #1, "Street Moves" Written by James D. Hudnall, pencils by Mark Bagley, inks by Carlos Garzón.

We checked out the last issue some time back, which had the same creative crew; but like a ton of other comics had the time this was an attempt to pivot to 'prestige format,' and maybe keep going as mini-series on their own schedule instead a month-in/month-out grind. Or maybe to charge $3.95 a pop instead of $1.50...Actually, before I bash that, let's math it out. This one's 52 adless pages for $3.95; while Strikeforce: Morituri #31 was $1.50 for 25 story pages, with ads. I'm basing the page counts on the GCD rather than counting myself, and I think the $1.50 book was a slightly higher-end than regular newsstand, newsprint comics, but it seems like a better deal. For readers, anyway; maybe the creative team got a bigger payout with the prestige format stuff. Also, I'm glad I looked this up, since this was a five issue mini and I wouldn't have guessed that. (A brief pause, as I just ordered a collection, with the tailend of the regular series and all of Electric Undertow!) 

You may be wondering if I ordered it just to save myself some hassle, or I saw it cheap and snatched it, or some vague completionist urge, or was it actually good? Three out of four of those; but mainly, it is pretty good! Set ten years after the end of the regular series, after the alien Horde had been defeated, earth has settled back into being largely corporate-run states, with the citizens affluent and kind of dumb; addicted to VR and computer learning and/or consumerism. There also seems to be a lot of people spontaneously combusting, although no one knows why. Dan Baker is a private investigator, and one of the few surviving Morituri recipients (the one-year lifespan having been cured in the series) and has a fairly good life: he married one of his teammates, and they have two kids. Except he was currently living in his office, since he was afraid he was losing his mind; as he kept seeing one of his dead teammates, Will Deguchi. (I'm not positive, but I think Will was designed after early series artist Whilce Portacio!) 

This was maybe less than a year out from New Warriors #1, so Bagley hadn't quite broken big yet; but this is nice work. Now, if I could just find that note I scribbled somewhere; I think I'm missing one, maybe two issues in the whole series; let's see if I can avoid buying the whole run twice!  

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I was going to say the CW's Legends of Tomorrow did this, but then again I think the Flash did as well: occasionally, for narrative purposes a character's arc might be over and they could be written out, but the show slotted the actor or actress over to another role, seemingly just because they liked having them around. Today's book has long been in development for a TV show, and I wonder if they might not do the same thing--in fact, this very issue does as well! From 1987, Strikeforce: Morituri #13, "Johnny, We Hardly Knew Ye..." Written by Peter B. Gillis, pencils by Brent Anderson, inks by Scott Williams.

The remnants of the first and second generation Morituri team was heading back from Jupiter in a stolen Horde ship, having taken the fight to them against orders. Adept had absorbed a ton of scientific data from the Horde, but also knew she was on the way out, that the Morituri effect was killing her. From space, they can see that a sizable chunk of Canada was on fire: their base, Morituri Mountain, had been blasted by the Horde. Back on earth, Commander Pogorelich was given command of the new Morituri, third-generation class; after the death of previous leader Commander Nion. The press conference for the rookies is called off, as they are sent to arrest their predecessors.

The first-gen batch lands in Detroit, although Adept had already passed. (She doesn't explode, as most of them had, and seemed to have died relatively peacefully.) When the authorities try to arrest them, Aline slaps down a cop and gets shot, but the crowd sides with them, and they escape in the cops' flyer. Talking it over at an old factory, the remaining five are divided as far as next steps: a court-martial wouldn't mean much, they were all already dead; but were they above the law? Before coming to any conclusions, they are attacked by the rookies, one of whom had been the actor portraying their old teammate Vyking in the holo-movies, now with powers himself! While the rookies seemed to just be doing their jobs, some of the originals are a little put-out, feeling their sacrifices weren't being respected; so some feelings are hurt during the fight. Eventually, the rookie Wildcard, who could copy the powers of nearby other Morituri, melts down--the Morituri process would kill inside of a year; they weren't guaranteed any stretch of time--but Aline thinks he absorbed her death, which might have bought her some time.

After that, and the usual momentary freakouts from a couple members, the fight was over; and the first-gen agrees to come in, while both sides have seemingly bonded over Wildcard's--and their own impending--death. As they are taken away, Aline asks to see Adept's body, but it had already been taken for autopsy.

Also this issue: the far more cheerful behind-the-scenes story, "How Peter & Brent Create (and Destroy) Strikeforce Morituri" (Written by Peter B. Gillis, pencils by Brent Anderson, inks by Scott Williams.) Together, they work on the grueling process of character creation, with Brent doted upon by Shanna and Zabu from his time on Ka-Zar, and I love Peter considering his Chris Claremont poster. Carl Potts guest-stars, to yell at them that the book was late, but this was a double-sized issue! Be cool, man. Read more!

This wasn't the last issue of the series--although that was less than a year out, perhaps appropriately. But it is the last issue with the book's creators: from 1988, Strikeforce: Morituri #20, "...Salute You!" Written by Peter B. Gillis, pencils by Brent Anderson, inks by Scott Williams.

Strikeforce member Harold "Vyking" Everson had been a writer, and like many writers, took a lot of notes for a project he never finished, a book about his time on the team. Since his recorder could have confidential information on it, it's turned over to the current commander, even though he protests he had never even met Everson. As he listens to it, the Horde announces they will be freeing their captured human slaves, but like everything the aliens did, it was cruel: they had been implanted with bombs, and would have to be quarantined or segregated. A raiding party also hits Washington, D.C.: the Horde could easily have destroyed earth, but that wasn't their way; they didn't even seem overly concerned about resources or losses, only sadism as a way of life.

Meanwhile, former member Aline "Blackthorne" Pagrovna had lived longer than a normal Morituri: the process that gave them powers killed them inside of a year, but her pregnancy had somehow given her more time. Her child had been placed in an incubator, and Aline knew her time was running out, and she dies. Her friends had salvaged an alien transmitter, that they hoped would bring them help against the Horde; although they acknowledge it could just as easily attract something worse. As the Strikeforce battles the raiding party, they realize the raiders are surgically altered human slaves, living bombs. The Horde Commander broadcasts directly to the team, which seems like the sort of thing a TV cartoon villain would do, except it's heartless and vicious: during the battle, the Horde also attacked other cities that weren't defended. Even with their powers, were the Strikeforce a legitimate help in the war? Their government didn't think so, according to the commander; and he claims he could kill as many humans as he likes. The team is on the verge of crushing despair, when children run to their heroes, cheering them even in the wreckage.

The Strikeforce commander ends the issue listening to Harold's recorder, as he wonders what a good reason to die would be, and when he will find out. One final gutpunch from Gillis and Anderson, although I'm curious why they were leaving the book: there wasn't a letters page or editorial or anything here discussing it.
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"The End" Week: Strikeforce Morituri #31!

Almost three years into the series, and by this point the original writer and artist were gone, the original cast gone, even the original bad guys were gone. So, what was left? Um...from 1989, Strikeforce Morituri #31, "The Bitter End" Written by James D. Hudnall, art by John Calimee Mark Bagley (it's mis-credited in the issue!) and inks by Carlos Garzon.

We checked out the first issue a couple of years back, from Peter B. Gillis and Brent Anderson, with an uncredited bit by Whilce Portacio. The invading alien Horde are picking earth to pieces, until a scientist invents the Morituri Process, which can give a human super-powers...but will kill them within a year. So by issue #31, the original cast was long dead, but apparently defeated the Horde; as a new alien narrates their plan proceeding. And it seems a bit overly complicated a plan: after Andre Lamont came to power by having the previous leader assassinated, the aliens use a clone to sex him up and implant a psychic command to blame the assassination on the Morituri agents. One of whom actually was the killer, while two others are seeking revenge for botched genetic engineering that was going to kill them. The non-conspiratorial Morituri heroes are trying to stop the killer and expose Lamont, which they do; but it's all part of the alien's larger plan...

The alien seems to imply having an employer, which would be at least the third separate alien race in the series with sinister designs on earth. If you watch the TV show Falling Skies, it tends to do the same: introduce new aliens every season finale...

Strikeforce: Morituri would continue, since these heroes were able to use a cure that kept them from exploding like their predecessors, in a "prestige format" limited, Electric Undertow. Haven't read that one, but every couple of years it seems like there's a rumor of either the book being revived or optioned for TV. Hasn't happened yet, but maybe someday: I suspect there are TV producers who wouldn't mind being able to replace cast members every year.
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With a name like "Morituri," it's got to be...well, a bit of a downer, yes.

Even though I may still have this particular comic, I bought another Strikeforce: Morituri #1 out of the quarter box a while back, along with a few other issues from that series. I've lost some since then, but I read the first year or so back in 1986, then fell off the book as both the distribution seemed to get sketchy (at newsstands, anyway) and the first wave of characters died off.

More after the break!

It's a pretty good high concept, and unsurprisingly, one that has pulled some interest for a TV version: Earth is under attack by the alien Horde, who are picking the planet apart to steal its resources, and because they're dicks. (Samples of their dickery: ejecting human captives from orbit, so they can be seen burning up on re-entry; decapitating children, and stealing archive copies of classic films like E.T. and Raiders of the Lost Ark) It's a losing battle until a scientist comes up with the Morituri Process; which overlays a second metabolism on the subject, giving them super-powers. Oh, and (mumble) it kills the subject inside of a year, tops.

While I haven't read the whole series, creators Peter B. Gillis and Brent Anderson play it very straight: there are no reprieves for the Morituri heroes. I don't think any of them got noble sacrifice deaths, either; most of them burn out at inopportune moments. Some die off-duty while waiting for battle, one dies right after her first fight, and I know one dies on his way to the big one.

The first issue is not only a good set-up for the rest of the series, but also reads pretty well as a done-in-one. I also loved that the framing device for the tale of the Black Watch (the first wave of Morituri soldiers) is a comic! To differentiate it from the 'real-world,' the art for the comic section was from Whilce Poratcio--spelled 'Wilce' here--who would later go on to Punisher and Wetworks, and must've been like twelve when this came out.

Strikeforce: Morituri could well be turned into a TV series, but the rights are apparently in dispute now, presumably so Gillis and Anderson can get their rightful cut. Which may also be just as well: while it could be the next Battlestar: Galactica if done right, it could also have been the next Night Man if they'd tried it in the 90's. It would be interesting to see how strict they play with the concept, and if a hit actor or actress would "miraculously" survive longer than their year...or if a problem or unpopular one would spontaneously combust sooner.

Also: I wonder how well this series did when it came out? It lasted a good three years or so, not bad for a non-licensed, unconventional super-hero property. The month Strikeforce: Morituri #1 came out also featured The 'Nam #1, the third month of the New Universe, two digest-size books (for Marvel's Star line and G.I. Joe) and Frank Miller and Bill Sienkiewicz's Daredevil graphic novel and Elektra: Assassin #3! I have to wonder how all of those sold, in comparison to the books of today.

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