| Dreadstar | |
|---|---|
 Marvel Comics Graphic Novel Dreadstar cover. | |
| Date | 1982 |
| Main characters | Vanth Dreadstar Syzygy Darklock Oedi |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| Creative team | |
| Writers | Jim Starlin |
| Artists | Jim Starlin |
Dreadstar, published in 1982, was a science fiction comic book published by American company Marvel Comics, the third in the Marvel Graphic Novel series. This graphic novel is also the third part of the Metamorphosis Odyssey and was printed in color from paintings by Jim Starlin. [1] [2] [3]
Following the events told in the Eclipse Comics portion of the Metamorphosis Odyssey , the Dreadstar graphic novel opens with Vanth Dreadstar leading the life of a peaceful farmer. The planet on which he lives was the site of an Instrumentality experiment to create a race of cat-human hybrid warriors. The experiment was a failure, the hybrids are mild-natured and generally only suited to farming. Dreadstar marries a human scientist and lived quietly for some decades. [4]
As the story continues, it becomes apparent that the power of the sword has granted Dreadstar immortality, so he does not age along with his wife. He spends his time farming and studying magic and politics with sorcerer Syzygy Darklock. From Darklock he learns about the history of two equally-matched enemies, the Instrumentality and the Monarchy. These two galactic empires have fought a stalemated war for generations, finally turning into a conflict that neither side wants to win since their war-based economies would collapse.
At first Dreadstar is unwilling to resume his role as a warrior. But after a fleet of Monarchy ships destroys his home, killing his wife and all his friends, he joins the military forces of the Monarchy and sets into motion a plan to force an end to the war.
Dreadstar quickly rises to a military command rank, which enables him to ensure that all members of the attack force that killed his wife and home are sent on suicide missions. He then assassinates the King of the Monarchy and intimidates the new monarch, the weak-willed Gregzor, into following his plan. When Gregzor protests that the great nobles and captains of industry will resist following along, Dreadstar answers that he would deal with any resistance the way he dealt with the former king.
The story continues in the fourth part of the Metamorphosis Odyssey, contained in the pages of the Marvel comic Dreadstar .
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Benderspink, Universal Cable Productions and Illuminati Entertainment were to develop a Dreadstar TV series. [5] [6]
Bernard Albert Wrightson was an American artist, known for co-creating the Swamp Thing, his adaptation of the novel Frankenstein illustration work, and for his other horror comics and illustrations, which feature his trademark intricate pen and brushwork.
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Epic Illustrated was a comics anthology in magazine format published in the United States by Marvel Comics. Similar to the US-licensed comic book magazine Heavy Metal, it allowed explicit content to be featured, unlike the traditional American comic books of that time bound by the restrictive Comics Code Authority, as well as offering its writers and artists ownership rights and royalties in place of the industry-standard work for hire contracts. The series lasted 34 issues from Spring 1980 to February 1986.
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Punisher P.O.V. is a four-issue comic book limited series featuring Frank Castle, also known as the Punisher. The series was published in 1991 and written by Jim Starlin with art by Bernie Wrightson.
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Metamorphosis Odyssey is a lengthy allegorical story told in several distinct parts in several formats, from illustrated magazines to graphic novels to comic books. The work of American writer/artist Jim Starlin, the story introduces Vanth Dreadstar, who first appears in Epic Illustrated #3.
Marvel Graphic Novel (MGN) is a line of graphic novel trade paperbacks published from 1982 to 1993 by Marvel Comics. The books were published in an oversized format, 8.5" x 11", similar to French albums. In response, DC Comics established a competitor line known as DC Graphic Novel.
The Price, published by Eclipse Comics, is a Dreadstar graphic novel by Jim Starlin featuring Syzygy Darklock. It is the second part of the Metamorphosis Odyssey story arc begun in Epic Illustrated magazine and tells the story of the magician-priest Darklock and his rise to power within the Church of the Instrumentality.
Dreadstar was the first comic-book series published by American publisher Epic Comics, an imprint of Marvel Comics, in 1982. It was centered on Vanth Dreadstar, sole survivor of the entire Milky Way galaxy, and an ensemble cast of crewmates, including cyborg sorcerer Syzygy Darklock, and their struggle to end an ancient war between two powerful, evil empires: The Church of The Instrumentality, run by the Lord Papal; and the Monarchy, administered by a puppet king.
Shane Davis is an American comic book artist best known for his work on Superman and Batman for DC Comics.
Soul World is a fictional place appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, and created by writer/illustrator, Jim Starlin. Soul World was first alluded to in-story in Strange Tales #179 (1975), and first depicted on-the-page in Warlock Vol 2 #6 (1983). Soul World is described as a “pocket dimension” contained within the plot-motivating Soul Gem, and is depicted as an idyllic alien landscape inhabited by the souls of characters most commonly associated with Starlin's recurrent fictional protagonist, Adam Warlock. Soul World serves the narrative as a place of purgatory for souls "captured" by Warlock.
