Surprisingly, I didn't have to buy another copy of this.

It's got a cameo of my favorite character, but this issue is dark. Well, that might not be entirely accurate; but it's definitely not sunshine and lollipops--damnit, that's half-wrong, too. Let's just see: from 1984, Micronauts: the New Voyages #3, "In the Country of the Blind!" Written by Peter B. Gillis, pencils by Kelley Jones, inks by Bruce Patterson. The cover blurb is "Spawn!" Um, not that one.

This one starts out cheerily enough, with Bug playing a holographic chess game with Nightcrawler--or at least a hologram of him, that switches to Wolverine after Bug beats the computer. Despite multiple encounters across the Marvel universe in their first series, aside from the Beyonder appearance in #16 (the mandated Secret Wars II crossover) I believe this was the only time Marvel characters would show up in New Voyages. In hindsight, I can't help but wonder if that hurt sales. Bug also makes an offhand comment to Commander Rann, asking if this meant there wasn't going to be any good bars in the section of space they were exploring; that would be reiterated by a later letter-writer, noting the book's transition from Star Wars style space adventure, to a slightly harder sci-fi.

Rann is puzzled, since this section of the Microverse had traditional planets orbiting suns; not the molecule-chain shaped worlds they were familiar with. (Rann had explored the Microverse for about 1,000 years; apparently seeing molecule-worlds the whole time?) Meanwhile, Marionette has just smashed the hell out of Endeavor II's sickbay. While looking for a possible cybernetic replacement for Rann's recently severed hand, she instead found the legacy of Baron Karza: body banks, filled with organs harvested, willingly or unwillingly, from the citizens of Homeworld. ('Willingly' isn't exactly accurate, 'lost gambling' would be closer.) Mari is distraught, and Rann gives Biotron an earful. Biotron points out the body banks were standard issue: Karza had ruled the Microverse for a thousand years or so, and what was the point of throwing the parts out now? Especially since the Micronauts need--Rann cuts him off, not about to hear it, and disappointed this new Biotron didn't seem to share the principles of his fallen friend.

In the engine room, Acroyear was not especially comfortable with the ship's new power source, an alien egg. (Not the facehugger kind...hopefully.) He discusses Huntaar's recent mutation with him: while Karza had turned him into a living weapon, an alien intelligence had now made him "a living sculpture or painting." Huntaar found a peace in it. Later, Rann decides to take the crew down to check out a planet, mostly just to get off the ship for a bit. His announcement wakes Mari from an uneasy sleep, but she doesn't notice blood on her pillow...unsettling. That scene creeped me right out when I read this originally!

The alien planet doesn't have a great atmosphere, and seems oddly bright; forcing the 'Nauts except Huntaar to wear survival armor, another remnant of Baron Karza's. (It would be like Luke or Leia having to wear Stormtrooper armor somewhere! Also, they seemed to have a variety of sizes.) The alien life seems to be coating itself with a mercury-like reflective layer, and when Bug tries to take a plant sample, a laser is reflected back at him! Meanwhile, back on Endeavor II, Biotron and Microtron clean up the carnage in sickbay, and worry about their masters: with the exception of Huntaar, they were all dying of radiation sickness taken the previous issue. The 'bots had considered replacing everyone's organs in their sleep, since they would never have taken replacements willingly. Without them, the Micronauts would be dead within days.

If not sooner: after larger, bug-like creatures damage their shuttle, the 'Nauts realize the atmosphere of the planet amplifies light into lasers. Which could maybe recharge Endeavor II, if sunrise wasn't coming up! Rann calls the 'bots to pick them up, and hurry; but then the ground shifts as colossal solar panels shift towards the sun. The shuttle is brought in by a metal grapple, as Endeavor II is caught in the laser sunrise...! 

The radiation sickness subplot had a few more issues to go, and while it was rather harrowing, in retrospect it was practically a cakewalk compared to later issues. The only lighthearted issue of the series was #6, which, while fun, was largely imaginary and still had radiation sickness lingering over it!