The MLJ heroes have had various incarnations. First in the 1940s when Mr Justice, The Shield (the first patriotically
garbed hero in the US), The Hangman, Comet and others burst on to the
scene with artists including Will Eisner. But they were never together
as a “super group”.
The first time these heroes were to meet was in The Adventures Of The Fly and then progressed onto their somewhat hip and campy own title -my favourite ever being issue #4 which I wrote about a couple years or so ago:
http://www.comicbitsonline.com/2010/04/14/the-return-of-too-many-super-heroes/
And then they vanished into obscurity but with a hardcore fan base. Then, in early 1983, Archie Comics revived its Red Circle imprint and The Mighty Crusaders were back and Rich Buckler wowed those of us who remembered the old characters. Sadly, it was the issue after Buckler left that destroyed the new title.
In 1991, DC comics, short of new ideas already, ‘revived’ the characters under license from Archie in a rather lack-lustre let’s-just-use-the-names way. The only titles of note in that incarnation were the late Mike Parobeck as artist on The Fly and The Black Hood.
Other than that, best forgotten.
But then DC had the characters under licence again and, having just re-read that incarnation of the Crusaders my initial unimpressed opinion stands.
The characters did pop up in a couple of Archie’s Weird Mysteries issues and even though more cartoony they worked.
When Archie Comics themselves stated they were going to revive the team I wasn’t impressed. I could not see it working and the pages I saw left me cold.
However, Archie PR man Rik Offenberger sent me a preview first issue and I thought that, since he sent it I’d flick through it.
My opinion having now seen the complete story and art for issue #1 of The Mighty Crusaders?
I loved it.
I’m surprised but it is a really fun action comic and why Archie could do this while DC could not…well, you guess!
So, I’m doing the opposite of what I intended to do. I am recommending this book. Seriously.
The story:
“Ashes to Ashes” Part One: Our world demands heroes – a new generation must RISE! Over a decade ago, the super hero team known as The Mighty Crusaders did the impossible: they won. Successful in their battle against evil and finding they’d made the world a better place, the heroes settled down to the small town of Red Circle to start families, unwind and take a much-deserved rest.
When the quiet town is rocked by the return of the ultimate evil, the super hero residents are obliterated! It’s up to their heirs to fight for justice and crusade against evil. They are our last, best hope.
They are….THE NEW CRUSADERS!
credits & other details:
Script: Ian Flynn
Art: Ben Bates, Gary Martin, John Workman, and Matt Herms
Cover: Ben Bates
Variant Cover: Ryan Jampole and Matt Herms
Shield Variant Cover: Ben Bates
Sketch Variant Cover: Mike Norton
Shipping Date: 8/8
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: 8/22
32-page, full color comic ?
$2.99 US.
And here’s a sneak peek:
The first time these heroes were to meet was in The Adventures Of The Fly and then progressed onto their somewhat hip and campy own title -my favourite ever being issue #4 which I wrote about a couple years or so ago:
http://www.comicbitsonline.com/2010/04/14/the-return-of-too-many-super-heroes/
And then they vanished into obscurity but with a hardcore fan base. Then, in early 1983, Archie Comics revived its Red Circle imprint and The Mighty Crusaders were back and Rich Buckler wowed those of us who remembered the old characters. Sadly, it was the issue after Buckler left that destroyed the new title.
In 1991, DC comics, short of new ideas already, ‘revived’ the characters under license from Archie in a rather lack-lustre let’s-just-use-the-names way. The only titles of note in that incarnation were the late Mike Parobeck as artist on The Fly and The Black Hood.
Other than that, best forgotten.
But then DC had the characters under licence again and, having just re-read that incarnation of the Crusaders my initial unimpressed opinion stands.
The characters did pop up in a couple of Archie’s Weird Mysteries issues and even though more cartoony they worked.
When Archie Comics themselves stated they were going to revive the team I wasn’t impressed. I could not see it working and the pages I saw left me cold.
However, Archie PR man Rik Offenberger sent me a preview first issue and I thought that, since he sent it I’d flick through it.
My opinion having now seen the complete story and art for issue #1 of The Mighty Crusaders?
I loved it.
I’m surprised but it is a really fun action comic and why Archie could do this while DC could not…well, you guess!
So, I’m doing the opposite of what I intended to do. I am recommending this book. Seriously.
The story:
“Ashes to Ashes” Part One: Our world demands heroes – a new generation must RISE! Over a decade ago, the super hero team known as The Mighty Crusaders did the impossible: they won. Successful in their battle against evil and finding they’d made the world a better place, the heroes settled down to the small town of Red Circle to start families, unwind and take a much-deserved rest.
When the quiet town is rocked by the return of the ultimate evil, the super hero residents are obliterated! It’s up to their heirs to fight for justice and crusade against evil. They are our last, best hope.
They are….THE NEW CRUSADERS!
credits & other details:
Script: Ian Flynn
Art: Ben Bates, Gary Martin, John Workman, and Matt Herms
Cover: Ben Bates
Variant Cover: Ryan Jampole and Matt Herms
Shield Variant Cover: Ben Bates
Sketch Variant Cover: Mike Norton
Shipping Date: 8/8
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: 8/22
32-page, full color comic ?
$2.99 US.
And here’s a sneak peek:
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