Camelot 3000 2 (January 1983)

This issue’s goofiness isn’t all Barr’s fault. For instance, Bolland’s the one who reduces a riot scene to three people against a white backdrop. Guess he didn’t want to take the time on backgrounds.

But amidst the combined, considerable goofiness, there are a couple good things coming through. First is the love triangle between Arthur, Lancelot and the queen whose name I can’t remember. Guinevere? Anyway, Barr continues it straight–they’re all reincarnated or resurrected, but the history exists. It gives Camelot some actual volume, which the series desperately needs. The human protagonist from the first issue is barely present here. Barr uses him to do a Marvel-style recap of the first issue but nothing else.

The other good part is Merlin and Arthur’s bickering. Merlin treats Arthur like a moron. It’s funny, especially since Bolland draws Merlin so mean.

The art’s masterful, but boring. Maybe it’s the subject.

CREDITS

Many Are Called…; writer, Mike W. Barr; penciller, Brian Bolland; inker, Bruce Patterson; colorist, Tatjana Wood; letterer, John Costanza; editor, Len Wein; publisher, DC Comics.

Contemporaneously…

Camelot 3000 1 (December 1982)

Besides the beautiful, precise art from Brian Bolland and Bruce Patterson, it’s hard to determine exactly what Camelot 3000 has going for it from the first issue.

Mike W. Barr writes the human protagonist pretty well; his emotional turmoil is believable, for example. But a lot of the comic features a larger than life King Arthur, who remains unperturbed whether he’s waking up after two thousand years, fighting aliens or playing with ray guns. He’s a lousy character, especially since Barr changes the focus from the kid (who becomes Arthur’s squire) to Arthur around the halfway point.

While the art’s beautiful, it’s ineffective. Bolland’s occasional full page spreads never have enough oomph. The Lady of the Lake raising up Excalibur is an iconic shot but a dull scene.

Barr doesn’t spend enough time establishing the setting either, though he deserves credit for dropping the reader into an alien invasion cold.

CREDITS

The Past and Future King!; writer, Mike W. Barr; penciller, Brian Bolland; inker, Bruce Patterson; colorist, Tatjana Wood; letterer, John Costanza; editor, Len Wein; publisher, DC Comics.