03: ALIEN LEGION, Pt. 1 (Epic, 1983)
Epic Comics’ ALIEN LEGION, Issue 1
Steven and Chris dive into Chris’ number one favorite comic book from the 1980s (perhaps of all time), ALIEN LEGION created by Carl Potts, Alan Zelenetz, and Frank Cirocco.
Listen to the full episode:
Fontispiece for ALIEN LEGION Issue 1 (image copyright © 1984 Carl Potts/Epic Comics)
(Above) Character dossiers at the front of ALIEN LEGION Issue One (images copyright © 1984 Carl Potts/Epic Comics)
Example of Origin Back-Ups, starting in ALIEN LEGION Issue 2 (image copyright © 1984 Carl Potts/Epic Comics)
Notice how this connects with an “interior moment” from earlier in the issue (see below)
ALIEN LEGION Issue Two, Page 10 (image copyright © 1984 Carl Potts/Epic Comics)
SHOW NOTES:
0:00 - Musical Intro
0:15 - Intro to the series
02:07 - How the floppies differ from the collected trade; the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe style entries to the main legionnaires
08:55 - Issue One; Zelentz and Cirocco’s specific way of approaching this sprawling space opera
28:15 - Issue Two & Three
30:31 - Allusions to LOST
44:39 - Torque Dunn & Jogger Grimrod as sketchy legionnaires in the Wolverine and Punisher mold
58:12 - Detour discussion into challenges of creator-owned comics
1:08:38 - Issue Three; and its Back-up Story
1:20:53 - Era of Post-Decompressed Storytelling & Cirocco’s Covers
1:25:19 - Issue Four and Torrie Montroc’s Solo Issue
1:40:21 - Zeerod’s Back-Up Story in Issue Four
Books Mentioned in the Podcast
Goodwin & Simonson’s MANHUNTER trade
Note: All images are copyright of Carl Potts and/or Epic Comics
(Below) Pages from ALIEN LEGION Issue One (images copyright © 1984 Carl Potts/Epic Comics)
(Below) Pages from ALIEN LEGION Issue 4; Torrie Montroc’s origin told through hallucinatory fever dream.
