As a kid growing up in the 1970's and 1980's, I was fortunate to be exposed to a lot of sci-fi in various forms. From Star Wars to Buck Rogers, to
Battle Beyond the Stars, I absorbed elements from the sublime to the ridiculous with equal fervor and relish.
Aside from a few Star Wars comics in the late 1970's and early 1980's, I didn't really get my sci-fi from the funny books until
Alien Legion. Developed in 1983 for Marvel Comics'
Epic label,
Alien Legion was created by writers
Carl Potts and Alan Zelenetz, and first drawn by talented artist Frank Cirocco. It filled a void I didn't really know was there. It was military sci-fi--like the French Foreign Legion in space! What could be cooler? My friends and I all bought it. We picked our favorite main cast members. Mine was the profit seeking
Torqa Dun, but there were so many cool aliens and characters that everybody could pick someone different.
Now Dark Horse Comics is set to publish
Alien Legion's very first
Omnibus, collecting the first 352 pages of Legion comics in one nifty color volume. I can't recommend this collection more highly, and when it hits the stores December 16, 2009, treat yourself to an early holiday present, or better yet, add it to your gift list and let one of your loved ones buy it for you! Either way, it'll be $25 well spent.
--Scott
