Dark Horse Presents (1986) #9

Dhp09

I’m trying to think of how much more lame Mattsson’s writing could be on Vitruvian Man. I guess it’s paced well. I mean, it does indeed have a bit of content. Mattsson writes atrocious narration–it’s kind of like if Batman were an egotist moron surfer dude (with a deaf sister–Mattsson loves putting that detail in neon here). Nichols’s indie-minded artwork doesn’t fit the writing, but it isn’t bad art, just rough.

Workman’s apparently totally run out of ideas for Roma, not just in terms of creating Love and Rockets stories of his own, but also in terms of writing. This issue’s story is a conversation and some very poorly conveyed action. Maybe it’s supposed to be experimental, but it’s not getting good results.

Salmons contributes a thoughtful little alien planet story. It’s hard to read because of his art, but the best easily thing in the issue.

Dark Horse Presents (1986) #8

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I can’t believe I missed Concrete–well, actually, I can, given Vitruvian Man is in here, but I can’t believe I was “looking forward” to it. This issue’s story is… it’s hard to describe. Chadwick’s writing is kind of like if you took “Seinfeld” and made the characters care about other people’s feelings. This time, Concrete mouths off to some crappy little kids then gets so upset he has to apologize. Big whoop.

Chadwick’s art’s a little lazy here, so there’s not even that benefit.

Vitruvian Man is about an annoying jerk becoming superhuman. It’s of some note because the protagonist’s sister is deaf and Mattsson’s trying to convey that detail without ever specifically saying it. It’s lame, but it moves and the artwork from Badger and Nichols isn’t bad.

Roma, on the other hand, is lame and doesn’t move. Workman’s hit a wall on his Love and Rockets “homage.”

Dark Horse Presents (1986) #7

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I never thought I’d miss Concrete so much.

I guess Tony Salmons’s Monq is the best thing this issue. It’s a really dumb environment story, but the art’s interesting if not competent. Some of the writing is really bad, especially the conclusion, which literalizes the otherwise existential story.

Mattsson writes two crappy stories this issue.

First is The Vitruvian Man, with Mark Badger art. There are a couple good panels and it’s decent overall. Shame the story turns out to be some kind of xenophobic rambling. It’s easily one of the worst scripts I’ve read so far in Dark Horse Presents, just because it’s lazy. No effort at all. The other bad writing at least has integrity.

Doc Abtruse closes the issue. It’s probably a little better written than Vitruvian Man, but Mattsson’s still weak. The strip seems to be included to waste the reader’s time, which it certainly does.

Dark Horse Presents 9 (July 1987)

Salmons contributes a thoughtful little alien planet story. It’s hard to read because of his art, but the best easily thing in the issue.

CREDITS

Gene Shock: The Vitruvian Man, Contact!; writer, Steve Mattsson; artist, Art Nichols; letterer, David Jackson. Roma; writer, artist and letterer, John Workman. Fossil, or Perilous Archeology; writer and artist, Tony Salmons. Editor, Randy Stradley; publisher, Dark Horse Comics.

Dark Horse Presents 8 (June 1987)

Chadwick’s art’s a little lazy here, so there’s not even that benefit.

Roma, on the other hand, is lame and doesn’t move. Workman’s hit a wall on his Love and Rockets “homage.”

CREDITS

Concrete, Water God; writer and artist, Paul Chadwick; letterer, Bill Spicer. Gene Shock: The Vitruvian Man, Growth; writer, Steve Mattsson; artists, Mark Badger and Art Nichols; letterer, David Jackson. Roma; writer, artist and letterer, John Workman. Editor, Randy Stradley; publisher, Dark Horse Comics.

Dark Horse Presents 7 (May 1987)

I never thought I’d miss Concrete so much.

Mattsson writes two crappy stories this issue.

CREDITS

Monq, Message From Earth; writer and artist, Tony Salmons; letterer, Bill Spicer. Gene Shock: The Vitruvian Man, The Coming; writer, Steve Mattsson; artists, Mark Badger and Art Nichols; letterer, David Jackson. Doc Abstruse, Explains Infinity (More or Less); writers, Steve Mattsson and Jim Bradrick; artist, Bradrick; letterer, David Jackson. Editor, Randy Stradley; publisher, Dark Horse Comics.

Dark Horse Presents (1986) #6

Dhp06

This issue drags.

It opens with Trekker‘s story line ending. Hopefully Dark Horse just gave Randall his own series so I don’t have to read any more of it. The story nearly gets okay on the last page, but it’s still got Randall’s awful writing to bring it back down. The art’s real lazy too.

Workman’s Roma continues to be a Love and Rockets knock-off, but at least this issue it’s a little more engaging. The strong design sense comes through a lot, creating a nice looking story, but not a particularly good one.

I’d like to say Concrete‘s back on track but only slightly. Chadwick does a Concrete in Hollywood–with hints at Concrete’s real identity (Ron). It’s supposed to be funny and the end is supposed to be funny but it’s really just mediocre.

Then, for the close, Mattsson plagiarizes some of Dune in a weak effort.

Dark Horse Presents 6 (April 1987)

This issue drags.

Then, for the close, Mattsson plagiarizes some of Dune in a weak effort.

CREDITS

Trekker; writer and artist, Ron Randall; letterer, David Jackson. Roma; writer, artist and letterer, John Workman. Concrete, Little Pushes; writer and artist, Paul Chadwick; letterer, Bill Spicer. Doc Abstruse, Explains Warp Speed; writer, Steve Mattsson; artist, Tony Salmons; letterer, David Jackson. Editor, Randy Stradley; publisher, Dark Horse Comics.