Much like the lost television shows that debut each season with fanfare and promotion yet end up cancelled a short time later, some comics arrive on the scene and are embraced by their fans yet fade away before we're ready to say good-bye.
In thinking of a few titles I miss (now that they are gone from my weekly pull list) I thought it would be fun to ask what comic series do you miss now that they are cancelled? I really want to hear from you and plan to post some of your responses in an upcoming Comic Related commentary. I'm curious what you miss reading and why you miss it? E-mail me a chuck@comicrelated.com with those titles that left you crushed when you heard they were ending and let me know why you miss them.
Here are a few of my guilty pleasures / MIA treasures...
Starman - Jack Knight and the Shade... It was a recurring storyline that I loved. Actually, I think it was the villainy of the supporting character, Shade, that really endeared this title with me. That combined with the ties to the JSA history, the unmistakable almost noir feel of the city and life Jack lived made it a title I looked forward to each month. I enjoyed the way Jack viewed collecting, the little treasures found in life, tattoos and philosophy. I miss this story.
Sin City - Though not technically gone, Mr. Miller it's been far too long since my pull list included one of your fine Sin City stories. I've been proud to collect Frank Miller's work as it evolved over the years. From the early classic Daredevil stories (which framed his early work for me), to the Wolverine mini-series (which did nothing short of change the way my father saw comics), to the Ronin style change (an underrated and revolutionary comic story), through the Martha Washington years (great big fun) and on into Sin City, Frank Mller has remained one of my favorite storytellers.
Preacher - Cassidy, Jessie Custer, Tulip, the Saint of Killers... man I miss this title. Sure, a movie is in the works but I approach that with honest fear and trepidation hoping they get it right (unlike what I fear is happening with the upcoming Constantine movie). Personally, I would love to see Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon back for a few more tales of heavenly defiance, southern rabble rousing and general, deplorable, bloodthirsty fun. If you, like me, miss the days when the Preacher arrived monthly, look back on this great series by visiting the Preacher's Divinity website [website link].
Dreadstar - Jim Starlin's Vanth Dreadstar was one of those classic space yarns that I remember from way back. Having grown up on a steady diet of Star Wars fascination, Vanth the wanderer and freedom fighter always appealed to me. Starlin's humor and wit made this a title I looked forward to reading. Even as other authors (Peter David) took over for Starlin it remained a treat. I miss Skeev, Oedi, Willow, Zyzygy Darklock, Lord Papal and the full cast. While mentioning this title, it's worth checking out Starlin's new project, Kid Kosmos [website link] which looks promising. That said, more Vanth would be appreciated.
Valiant Universe - I really enjoyed the Valiant Universe seen in the 1991 to 1996 pre-Acclaim run. I wasn't as big a fan of some of the changes Acclaim brought to the various series in the 1997 to 2002 run, but it was nice to see the stories continue. That said, the change lost some of the original tone and feel that made Valiant valiant. Eternal Warrior, Archer, Armstrong, Turok, Timewalker, Solar, Dr. Mirage, Rai... what a great team title this would make! I would love to see some of these characters return or even find themselves integrated into the Marvel or DC universe. It would be fun to see a bleeding of the worlds if only for a time. For a great look back on the Valiant characters/universe, don't miss visiting the unofficial Valiant comics website [website link].
Elementals - Ah Comico... We knew you well... Sure, by the end of the series the Elementals were pretty silly, but you have to admit it was a fun ride. Bill Willingham was the man behind the original flat color Elementals produced by Comico (while headquartered in Norristown, Pennsylvania). Did you know that, even though Comico went into bankruptcy in 1990, it continued publishing books until 1997? There were attempts at that time to restart the title, but they proved unsuccessful. I would love to see a company pick-up and produce the kind of art and stories that made the elementals fun and interesting back at the start. Over on Bill Willingham's website [website link], in his FAQ section, he mentions that "So what ever happened to the Elementals?" will be a question answered one day soon. That, at least, is one spot I'm watching for additional info on what ever happened to this title.
L.E.G.I.O.N. / R.E.B.E.L.S. / Valor - This was a great look at the Legion dropped into the modern day DC Universe. Enjoyed it! Miss it! Through Valor, readers got to see Zero Hour starting well before it rippled across the DC Universe. During that read, I honestly felt rewarded for supporting a title I enjoyed. Way to go DC. More comics should make you feel that way when you walk away from a read.
Bone - Yes, I know it just ended, but I'm not ready to see Jeff Smith move on to other projects. For me, at least for now, if it's not Bone... Stupid! Stupid! Rat Creatures! ...I'll just feel a little less than satisfied. If you haven't been lucky enough to find yourself reading an issue of Bone, you need to do yourself a favor by going out and grabbing the recently released Bone single volume edition. It's a great 1344 page stocking stuffer for the holidays. To see what Jeff is up to and what the future holds, you need to visit Boneville [website link], his long running home on the web.
I'm sure there will be many other "personal classics" that touch me as a fan, but while I'm waiting I would love to read more stories from any of these lost, past favoriates. One fan's opinion.
