Friday, May 29, 2015

Making a Splash: Star Hunters

Ya know, Groove-ophiles, after Star Wars made such a big hit, comicbook publishers were gonna try their darndest to capture the sci-fi/science fantasy market for their four-color babies. DC's best shot owed more to Star Trek than Star Wars, but the Star Hunters' leader, Donovan Flint, was definitely from the Han Solo school of swagger. The brain-child of writer David (Claw, Starfire, Iron Man) Michelinie and inker Bob (Iron Man) Layton, The Star Hunters found a unique way and reason to send their crew on their long, deep-space mission, and if it weren't for that dat-blamed DC Implosion, they might have had a chance to catch on. Though it lasted only eight issues (July 1977-July 1978, including the double-sized debut in DC Super-Stars #16, June 1977). Another truly groovy thing about Star Hunters is that is laid some superior artwork on us. DCSS 16 and SH 1 were penciled by Don Newton, ish #2 by Larry Hama, #3 by Mike Nasser (Michael Netzer), and the rest of the series by Rich Buckler. Layton inked DCSS #16 and issues 1-5. Tom Sutton inked issues 6-7. Each of these pages is pre-tty far out, in Ol' Groove's opinion!










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5 comments:

  1. keythd23May 29, 2015 at 3:17 AM

    For a huge Bob Layton fan like me the first 4 issues of Star Hunters were a cornucopia of pencillers embellished by this master inker. In rapid succession we had Don Newton, Larry Hama, Mike Nasser and Rich Buckler. All looking great under Mr. Layton's beauteous blacks and zip-a-tone.

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  2. AnonymousMay 29, 2015 at 10:06 AM

    I bought comics off the spinner rack when I was a kid. We didn't have a comics store like we do now (now we have two), so the selection was hit and miss. The only issue I ever saw was the "Junkworld" issue, but I loved it; read and reread it multiple times.

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  3. hobbyfanMay 29, 2015 at 10:17 AM

    I acquired some of these issues via second hand outlets in the 80s. At first glance, you'd think Flint was, like, separated at birth from Oliver Queen, but with an Irish brogue. It's too bad Flint and his crew have not been seen since the series ended.

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  4. AnonymousMay 29, 2015 at 10:29 PM

    Thanks for publishing these. I bought the entire run when it came out and teen-age me especially loved the Don Newton artwork. I wish they had done just one more issue to wrap up the cliffhanger storyline. Any chance you post this series in the future?

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  5. The Groovy AgentMay 30, 2015 at 6:42 AM

    Yes, indeed, Groove-ophiles, you will be seeing Star Hunters in future posts. This post was a tease to see if there was interest in Flint and crew...looks like there is!

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