By Brian Hofacker

Writer: Charlie Huston, C.B. Cebulski, Rubin Furth and various
Art: Greg Land, David Finch, Klaus Janson, Kalman Andrasofszky and various
Cover art: Greg Land

Regardless of how adjustable a protractor is or how real the televised powers of Chris Angel and David Blaine may seem, there exists certain principles of the universe that cannot be ignored or broken. For instance, in geometry, the angles of a triangle will always add up to 180 degrees. Or, consider the First Law of Thermodynamics, which states that energy can be changed from one form to another, but it cannot be created or destroyed.

Oddly enough, there is also an unbreakable principle of sorts that can apply to comic book literature, and it states that the expected utility of a work is based on that work’s ability to inspire further interest in comic books. Certainly comic book stories must be equipped with the unique elements of their genre; and although very important, the strength of these elements do not necessarily have to be the final verdict to define a well designed comic book, for even if a story fails in its class obligation, it can still achieve the highest rank by sending the reader digging through back issues or waiting impatiently for the next chapter.

DC’s 2004 Adam Strange mini-series, “Planet Heist”, is a perfect demonstration of how this “principle” works. Although still based on the simple concept of a hero with a jetpack and ray guns, the re-imagined adventures of Rann’s defender inspired fans to crack open their archives and revisit the space adventures of the 50’s and 60’s with a new respect. What’s more, the success of Andy Diggle and Pasqual Ferry’s version of Adam Strange’s heroics blasted the hero into other mini-series and primed readers for a new Omega Men mini-series, as well as a  Mystery in Space mini-series starring Captain Comet and the Weird.

Similarly, on the other side of the comic book industry, Ed Brubaker’s current Uncanny X-Men storyline “The Extremists” for Marvel is creating a stir in X-fans for the classic Chris Claremont morlock adventures of the 1980’s. Of course, “The Extremists” follows Brubaker’s first Uncanny story arc, the immensely powerful “Rise and Fall of the Shi’ar Empire” which not only revisits Giant-Size X-men #1 (1975) but the “Dark Phoenix Saga” and beyond. In fact, to increase its value as a model comic book story, Uncanny X-Men #475 even comes complete with a reference to Uncanny X-men #193 (1985) which featured Firestar’s first appearance in the Marvel Universe and Warpath’s kidnapping of Professor X. Furthermore, Brubaker’s senses-shatter Captain America #25 and his intense work on Daredevil have created an immense fan base for the writer, demonstrating the strength of a well written comic book.

Most recently, it is the Legion of Monsters one-shots from Marvel that is filling fans with nostalgia for the days when a dollar and a half supported a weekly fix of comic books. Each of these horror themed one-shots is graced with an amazing cover by artist Greg Land and features a modern adventure of Marvel’s classic creature characters from the 1970’s by various creative teams. Starting with a frightening main feature and finishing with an intriguing back up story of a different Marvel monster, this series is sending fans rummaging through 40 years of back issues and giving a new value to the Essentials and Milestones.

The first Legion of Monsters one-shot unleashed the Werewolf by Night, a character that made his debut in Marvel Spotlight #2 (1972) by creators Gerry Conway and Mike Ploog. In addition to his moonlighting in Marvel Spotlight, Jack Russell also starred in Werewolf by Night, which ran for 43 issues during the 1970s, as well as five 'Giant-Size' editions. Oddly enough, the recently revitalized Moon Knight first appeared in issue #32 of the series, and Jack Russell co-starred with the feline Avenger, Tigra, as she prowled onto the scene in Giant Size Creatures #1(1974).

In his Legion of Monsters one-shot, Jack Russell is still the loner that his curse and creators originally designed him to be; only the modern day version travels America’s highways Easy Rider-style and appears to finally be in control of his curse. In the 2007 Legion of Monsters update, current X-Men writer Mike Carey with artist Greg Land detour Jack Russell to a roadside bar where he lets his savage side loose on a group of hunters after a young girl also inflicted with Lycanthropy. The issue’s back up story features a lonesome tale of Marvel’s version of Frankenstein with art and story by Skottie Young.

The second Legion of Monsters one-shot plants the most startling swamp creature of all back on the stands, the Man-Thing! Created by writers Stan Lee, Roy Thomas, and Gerry Conway and artist Gray Morrow in Savage Tales #1 (1971), the Man-Thing was once a biochemist named Ted Sallis whose research at recreating the famed "super-soldier serum" was subjugated by Advanced Idea Mechanics (AIM) and transformed Sallis into a massive, sluggish, vaguely humanoid creature that lurks in the Florida Everglades near the Seminole reservation. After Savage Tales, the muck-monster went on to stalk various titles and his own series; the most prominent, Man-Thing (1974), was written primarily by Steve Gerber and introduced Howard the Duck. In 2005 Man-Thing also starred in a TV-movie.

In 2007 Marvel’s mock-monster re-emerges, and Greg Land’s ominous cover art for Legion of Monsters easily reminds readers that “whoever knows fear burns at the touch of the Man-Thing”. The murky creature appears as massive and mysterious as ever in the one-shot story by Charlie Huston with art by Klaus Janson. The tale has a morally ironic twist that is reminiscent of a Tales from the Crypt plot and certainly brings fans back to the frightening roots of the Man-Thing as he shambles about in his strange and silent way, feeding on the fear of the corrupt tycoons that would destroy his home.

In contrast to the flora-filled Florida setting of the Man-Thing story, the next Legion of Monsters one-shot casts readers to fiery pits of hell, as writer Robin Furth and artist Kalman Andrasofszky conjure a tale starring the dangerously beautiful and seductive daughter of the devil, Satana. Complete with tantalizing family references and a technological upgrade to the supernatural, Satana’s tale summons the ultimate temptation for readers to crack open their coveted classic collection of 1970’s Marvel Spotlights and revisit the satanic sibling rivalry of Satana and her brother, Daimon Hellstrom.

Titled “Satana and the Electric Pentacle”, this Legion of Monsters one-shot calls up Satana in her original sinister nature as she is forced to travel to hell and free a claimed soul. In order to fulfill her contract, Satana faces the hellish Scorpion Queen, and then outwits her captor, proving that you shouldn’t deal with the devil or his daughter. The issue’s cover portrait by Greg Land along with Kalman Andrasofszky interior art is enough to have fans offering their souls for a Satana ongoing series, but really it is the overall concept of the story, which makes no allusions about Satana’s sinful nature, that makes the tale so compelling. Rubin Furth flawlessly incorporates the designs that Satana’s creators, Roy Thomas and John Romita, originally applied when they debuted the character in Vampire Tales #2 (1973), by keeping her every bit the antagonist, yet making her appealing enough to root for.

Backing up Satana’s anti-heroics is an ancient account of the Living Mummy by Jonathan Hickman, who incorporates historic information and uses an all splash page layout to create an incredibly attractive and unique read. The undead theme of the back-up story also preps readers for the final Legions of Monsters one-shot and the return of  Morbius, the living vampire, as well as and Dracula.

Although a bit abstract, the vision of  Morbius from writer Brenden Cahill and artist Michael Gaydos maintains the tragic essence that has surrounded the vampire-like character since his first appearance in Amazing Spider-Man #101 (1971) by Roy Thomas by Gil Kane. The one-shot tale takes Morbius to San Francisco, seeking an end to his undead existence; this is quite an ironic twist since his vampirism is a consequence of his attempt to cure himself of a rare blood disease with an experimental treatment involving vampire bats and electroshock therapy. The story takes a horrid turn when Morbius reluctantly fulfills a request to bite a dying girl in order to save her. The events that follow are a gruesome illustration of the classic tragedy of Morbius.

While the Morbius story is an interesting additive to the character’s various revamps, it is the issues back up story of Dracula that is without a doubt the coup de grace of the Legion of Monsters one-shots. Starring Dracula from Marvel’s classic Tomb of Dracula series which debuted in 1972 by artist Gene Colan with an array of legendary writers including Marv Wolfman, the 2007 story by C.B. Cebulski with artist David Finch is the perfect compliment to the original series. The story begins with a proposed truce between Dracula and his vampire daughter and adversary Lilith, a scheme that at first appears to go savagely array, but soon all is revealed as part of Dracula’s larger design. Cebulski provides a plot that is dark, dramatic and enthralling, filled with the suspense and mystery that resides in the heart of the original Tomb of Dracula series. Furthermore, the art by David Finch is immaculate, and includes an impressive splash page of Dracula that is incredibly nostalgic of Gene Colan’s classic work.

From the soulless nature of Satana to the intimidating silence of the Man-Thing, each of the Legion of Monsters one-shots flawlessly captures the essence of the featured characters as they were originally designed by their legendary creators over three decades ago. These tales are wrought with an undeniable sense of nostalgia that entices readers to dig back through their collections and crack open their collected editions, as well as hope for a continuation to these faithful companions to Marvel’s classic tales of suspense and savagery... and perhaps even a return of the Manphibian (Legion of Monsters #1, 1975)!

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