Dark Horse Presents (1986) #64

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Seriously, they thought this issue was good enough?

The opening is a terrible bit of corporate synergy–a prologue to the Dr. Giggles movie from screenwriter Coto, who’s just as awful writing comics as he is writing movies. It’s a mean, gory eight pages of crap. Though Burrows’s art isn’t bad.

Then there’s a Boris the Bear, which is funny if you like Richardson making fun of Dark Horse. It’s weak, except for Smith’s artwork, which brings a certain amount of charm.

The Creep ends on a very depressing note. It’s one of the finest things Dark Horse Presents has published in the last twenty or so issues… just amazing work from Arcudi and Eaglesham.

The closing story is this writing workshop collaboration. Though Rubio’s art looks like a Disney movie, it’s all an obnoxious blind guy who’s mean to his dog. Definitely problematic, but it has a great finish.

Dark Horse Presents 64 (July 1992)

Seriously, they thought this issue was good enough?

Then there’s a Boris the Bear, which is funny if you like Richardson making fun of Dark Horse. It’s weak, except for Smith’s artwork, which brings a certain amount of charm.

The Creep ends on a very depressing note. It’s one of the finest things Dark Horse Presents has published in the last twenty or so issues… just amazing work from Arcudi and Eaglesham.

CREDITS

Dr. Giggles, Part One; story by Manny Coto; art by Alan J. Burrows; lettering by Bill Spicer. Boris the Bear; story by Mike Richardson; art and lettering by James Dean Smith. The Creep; story by John Arcudi; art by Dale Eaglesham; lettering by Pat Brosseau. Scraps; story by William C. Herrel, Douglas Miers, Eric Dinehart, LaDonne Lynn, Matt Hammond, Doselle Young, Jeff Camp, John Clapp, Jason A. Turner, Steve Kaiser, Mike Kerr and Janine Goldfarb; pencils by Bobby Rubio; inks by Jorge Pacheco; lettering by Karen Casey-Smith. Edited by Randy Stradley.

Dark Horse Presents (1986) #5

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There’s very little to say about this issue’s Concrete story. It’s not a bad story, just another waste of time–though I guess the art is nowhere near as strong as usual. The story’s about this young woman who wants to be an artist and wants Concrete to be her subject. When she meets him, does she overcome her urban withdrawal and talk to him?

No.

Then there’s John Workman’s Roma. Workman–who’s lettered just about everything at one time or another–initially gives the impression of being a really good artist. Then it becomes clear he’s way too design oriented. As far as the writing, I think Los Bros Hernandez should have pursued plagiarism charges. Roma reads almost exactly like early Love and Rockets.

I could barely follow Randall’s writing on Trekker so I’m hoping it passes quietly from my memory.

Smith’s animated animal adventure is, once again, charming.

Dark Horse Presents 5 (February 1987)

No.

I could barely follow Randall’s writing on Trekker so I’m hoping it passes quietly from my memory.

Smith’s animated animal adventure is, once again, charming.

CREDITS

Concrete, Burning Brightly, Brightly…; writer and artist, Paul Chadwick; letterer, Bill Spicer. Roma; writer, artist and letterer, John Workman. Trekker; writer and artist, Ron Randall; letterer, Workman. Pookey, Pickin’ Up Sticks; writer and artist, James Dean Smith; letterer, David Jackson. Editor, Randy Stradley; publisher, Dark Horse Comics.

Dark Horse Presents (1986) #4

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It’s a real toss-up this issue for worst writing.

Randall’s script for Trekker is laughably bad, but there’s something almost confrontational about Stradley’s Mindwalk script. It’s like he’s punishing the reader for taking the time to read the story, as though he or she isn’t being punished enough by Emberlin’s artwork.

Randall’s Trekker art, on the other hand, isn’t terrible. He’s got some issues with proportions and perspective, but his enthusiasm and persistence are clear. He worked hard illustrating his derivative, atrocious sci-fi story.

The rest of the issue is similarly unimpressive. Sure, Chadwick’s Concrete artwork is amazing, but the story is another one where Concrete spends eight pages doing something then decides to reverse and not tell anyone. So why does the reader have to put up with it, to sympathize for the character? Why should we?

Once again, a moderately cute Boris strip closes the issue.

Dark Horse Presents (1986) #3

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Yay, Warner’s back with Black Cross–featuring a bunch of expository dialogue recapping the first story. With all that useless exposition, one might think Warner would explain the ground situation to the reader. But he doesn’t. It’s confusing and a lot of work thinking about something so dumb sounding.

Stradley and Emberlin’s Mindwalk has its weakest entry so far, with Stradley inexplicably using two narrators here. A mediocre first person narrator is one thing, but then he brings in a female narrator who sounds like a six-year-old. Emberlin’s art is similarly problematic, though he draws Kirby-esque monsters well.

The Concrete story is charming. It’s the adventures of the female scientist (still not clear on Concrete’s origin, which seems to be intentional) trying to move his unconscious body. Chadwick’s art is gorgeous.

The Boris Chronicles strip is cute, with Smith basically converting a newspaper strip to four pages.

Dark Horse Presents 4 (January 1987)

It’s a real toss-up this issue for worst writing.

Once again, a moderately cute Boris strip closes the issue.

CREDITS

Trekker; writer and artist, Ron Randall; letterer, David Jackson. Concrete, The Gray Embrace; writer and artist, Paul Chadwick; letterer, Bill Spicer. Mindwalk, Mindwar!, Part Two; story and script, Randy Stradley; story and art, Randy Emberlin; letterer, David Jackson. Boris the Bear, The Boris Chronicles; story and art, James Dean Smith; script, Randy Stradley; letterer, David Jackson. Editor, Randy Stradley; publisher, Dark Horse Comics.

Dark Horse Presents 3 (November 1986)

The Boris Chronicles strip is cute, with Smith basically converting a newspaper strip to four pages.

CREDITS

Mindwalk, Mindwar!, Part One; writer, Randy Stradley; artist, Randy Emberlin; letterer, David Jackson. Concrete, The Four-Wheeled Sleeping Pill; writer and artist, Paul Chadwick; letterer, Bill Spicer. Black Cross; writer and artist, Chris Warner; letterer, David Jackson. Boris the Bear, The Boris Chronicles; story and art, James Dean Smith; script, Randy Stradley; letterer, David Jackson. Editor, Randy Stradley; publisher, Dark Horse Comics.