Dark Horse Presents (1986) #47

Dhp47

If it weren’t for a one page Rich Rice cartoon of an apologetic Godzilla, this issue would be really scraping bottom.

Okay, not exactly true. Buniak’s got a beautifully illustrated jungle adventure featuring Tarzan and Kong stand ins. Lovely ink washes. The story’s not strong, but the art’s the point.

Otherwise, it’s a weak one. The art from the Trumans is pretty good. While the plot has a solid finish, their writing is disastrous. The first person narration is… Ugh.

Wolfer and Warner have some future story about an earth invaded by alien dinosaurs and the Japanese building humans battle armor. It’s lame and derivative, with some occasionally okay art. I don’t think Wolfer has a single original idea.

As for Mielcarek’s story, is Dark Horse publishing mediocre eighth grade illustrators? The writing’s moronic, but the art is simply hideous. Maybe the worst art I’ve ever seen in this series.

Dark Horse Presents 47 (January 1991)

If it weren’t for a one page Rich Rice cartoon of an apologetic Godzilla, this issue would be really scraping bottom.

Okay, not exactly true. Buniak’s got a beautifully illustrated jungle adventure featuring Tarzan and Kong stand ins. Lovely ink washes. The story’s not strong, but the art’s the point.

Otherwise, it’s a weak one. The art from the Trumans is pretty good. While the plot has a solid finish, their writing is disastrous. The first person narration is… Ugh.

As for Mielcarek’s story, is Dark Horse publishing mediocre eighth grade illustrators? The writing’s moronic, but the art is simply hideous. Maybe the worst art I’ve ever seen in this series.

CREDITS

Jungle of the Giants; story and art by Timothy Truman and Benjamin Truman. Burn Out; story and pencils by Mike Wolfer; inks by Chris Warner; lettering by Pat Brosseau. Desperate; story and art by Brian Buniak. Monster Island; story and art by Vince Mielcarek; lettering by Jade Moede. Edited by Randy Stradley.

Dark Horse Presents (1986) #45

Dhp45

While the letters page informs me Wagner’s Aerialist isn’t homophobic, but then I wonder why I haven’t seen any comics in Dark Horse Presents where a guy forces a woman to have sex to degrade her. Because the story ends with the boyfriend of the protagonist forcing himself on him (after the protagonist was off having a clandestine meeting with a beautiful woman). A great sociological mind, Wagner is not.

Crash Davis is a lot of fun, even though the Soviets are now backing the American sky pirates. Harris’s approach seems to be a thirties serial, only with some modern sensibilities. Harris also includes the workers’ plight.

I can’t believe John Byrne never pushed DC to sue over Spivey and Mielcarek’s entry. It’s Superman crapping on Lana because he’s with Lois, done in Man of Steel‘s style. Hard to say what’s worse–Spivey’s amateurish, fanfic writing or Mielcarek’s awful art.

Dark Horse Presents 45 (November 1990)

CREDITS

The Aerialist, Part Two; story and art by Matt Wagner; lettering by Kevin Cunningham. Crash Ryan; story and art by Ron Harris. Pilgrim Souls; story by Jim Spivey; art by Vince Mielcarek; lettering by Steve Alexandrov. Edited by Randy Stradley.