Space Hero Saturdays MANHUNTER 2070 "Incident on Krobar 3"

A mere 47 years from now...

...the 21st Century's Deep Space will look a lot like the 19th Century's Wild West!

This short appeared in the back of DC's Showcase V1 #90 (1970), leading into the final three issues of the series' original run, dedicated to one of Mike Sekowsky's more innovative projects...

Sekowsky had quite a bit of latitude at DC as a writer/artist/editor during this period, revamping Wonder Woman, Metal Men and Supergirl (in Adventure Comics) while also presenting a couple of potential series in Showcase, Jason's Quest and Manhunter 2070.

This prequel was written and penciled by Mike Sekowsky, inked by Dick Giordano.

We re-presented the entire never-reprinted saga...

"Planet of Death" Part 1

"Planet of Death" Part 2

"Planet of Death" Conclusion

"Space Duel"

"Starker's Origin"

"D.O.A." Part 1
"D.O.A." Conclusion
"Next Issue"

"Never Trust a Red-Haired Greenie!" Part 1

"Never Trust a Red-Haired Greenie!" Part 2

"Never Trust a Red-Haired Greenie!" Conclusion

The story ended on a cliffhanger, and the apparent death of Starker.

For twenty years, except for a cameo in the revived Showcase's 100th issue, during a multiverse and time-spanning tale featuring almost every character who headlined a strip in Showcase...except James Bond from #43's adaptation of the movie Dr No...Starker had disappeared from the DC Multiverse.

HA!

Fooled Ya!

In 1990, Howard Chaykin and Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez created Twilight, a mini-series combining and "updating" an assortment of DC Comics' 21st Century-based characters including (from left-to-right) Star Hawkins & Ilda, Tommy Tomorrow, Karel Sorenson (and the rest of the not-pictured Star Rovers), and Manhunter 2070 (who apparently survived the ambush), along with the Space Cabbie, Knights of the Galaxy, Space Ranger, and even the Space Museum!

It was also revealed that interplanetary private eye Star Hawkins was actually Axel Starker, brother to Manhunter 2070, whose full name was Jon Starker...contradicting the only-child storyline from the Showcase series.

Note: Star Hawkins was co-created by artist Mike Sekowsky (who, as a writer/artist/editor created Manhunter 2070) and writer John Broome, so the two characters were "brothers" sharing a "father", as it were.

Chaykin had already radically re-envisioned several other characters, including Blackhawk and The Shadow, and while his controversial Shadow updating (continued by Andy Helfer, Bill Sienkiewicz, and Kyle Baker) wasn't considered "official", the changes he introduced into Blackhawk became part of post-Crisis on Infinite Earths canon.

As to where Twilight stands in terms of continuity...well, we're not sure.

The events in the story have never been referenced in any other DC titles, nor has it ever been reprinted.

Which may be just as well, since Jon Starker dies during the tale.

But, Manhunter 2070 still had one more life left!

DC's continuity being what it is (or isn't) these days, it seems you can't keep an interplanetary bounty hunter dead for long.

In 2012, comics legend Walt Simonson wrote and illustrated a one-shot graphic novel, Judas Coin...

The coin falls into the hands of various people throughout recorded history (including a number of both notable and almost-forgotten DC characters)...

...the final chapter takes the reader to a near-future we have more than a passing familiarity with...

Yep, Starker survived!

Part 1

Conclusion

Have a look at Manhunter 2070, a worthy addition to our collection of Space Heroes!

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Reading Room JUDAS COIN "2087 AD: Manhunter 2070" Conclusion

When Last We Left Our Interplanetary Bounty Hunter...

...tracking his latest quarry leads Starker into another encounter with the two "red-haired Greenies" who, years earlier, tricked and left the bounty hunter for dead.

But neither Starker nor the two con-women realize what the true prize is...

Did the coin survive...and cause the star to go nova?

Could it end up in the hands of someone we know in the 30th Century?

Only time will tell...

If this tale by Walt Simonson is, in fact, Manhunter 2070's swan-song, it's a helluva finale, and one I'd like to think creator Mike Sekowsky would've appreciated!

Reading Room JUDAS COIN "2087 AD: Manhunter 2070" Part 1

Last week we told you about Twilight...

...a 1990 mini-series that "resolved" the story of Manhunter 2070...by killing him!

But, DC's continuity being what it is (or isn't) these days, it seems you can't keep an interplanetary bounty hunter dead for long.

In 2012, comics legend Walt Simonson wrote and illustrated a graphic novel...

The coin falls into the hands of various people throughout recorded history (including a number of both notable and almost-forgotten DC characters), the final chapter takes the reader to a near-future those who read our recent re-presentation have more than a passing familiarity with...

Looks like Starker learned his lesson from their previous encounter.

But things are not quite what they seem, as you'll see tomorrow!

The now out-of-print graphic novel is a fascinating look at a master at work.

Simonson does each chapter in a different style mirroring each part's differing time period.

The "future" chapter is rendered in a kool manga/anime "look", though still utilizing Walt's trademark storytelling techniques.

(Having his favorite letterer, John Workman, along, doesn't hurt!)

Simonson also adheres to original story continuity, inserting references to occurrences from the earlier tales and keeping the characters to their pre-Crisis on Infinite Earths personalities!

It's a helluva book, and well worth picking up at your local comics shop (or e-book provider) to read the complete tale!

Whatever Happened to MANHUNTER 2070 ?

You thought this was the end of Manhunter 2070?

For twenty years, you would've been correct, except for a cameo in the revived Showcase's 100th issue, during a multiverse and time-spanning tale featuring almost every character who headlined a strip in the comic* (and considered "out of continuity" even then by the authors and DC), Starker had disappeared from the Multiverse.

But in 1990, Howard Chaykin and Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez did Twilight, a mini-series combining and "updating" an assortment of DC Comics' 21st Century-based characters including (from left-to-right) Star Hawkins & Ilda, Tommy Tomorrow, Karel Sorenson (and the rest of the not-pictured Star Rovers), and Manhunter 2070, who apparently survived the ambush, along with the Space Cabbie, Knights of the Galaxy, Space Ranger, and even the Space Museum!

It was also revealed that private eye Star Hawkins was actually Axel Starker, brother to Manhunter 2070, whose full name was Jon Starker, contradicting the only-child storyline from the Showcase series.

(Note: Star Hawkins was co-created by artist Mike Sekowsky [who, as a writer/artist/editor created Manhunter 2070] and writer John Broome, so the two characters were "brothers" sharing a "father", as it were.)

Chaykin had already radically re-envisioned several other characters, including Blackhawk, and The Shadow, and while his controversial Shadow updating (continued by Andy Helfer, Bill Sienkiewicz, and Kyle Baker) wasn't considered "official", the changes he introduced into Blackhawk became part of post-Crisis on Infinite Earths canon.
As to where Twilight stands in terms of continuity...well, we're not sure.
The events in the story have never been referenced in any other DC titles, nor has it ever been reprinted.
Which may be just as well, since Jon Starker dies during the tale.
But, Manhunter 2070 still had one more life left...as you'll see Tuesday!

*One character didn't appear...James Bond, who appeared in an adaptation of Dr No in Showcase #43 (1962).
You can read the reason 007 popped up at DC HERE.

Reading Room MANHUNTER 2070 "Never Trust a Red-Haired Greenie" Conclusion

When Last We Left Our Interplanetary Bounty Hunter...

...tracking and capturing fugitive embezzler Milton Wallen on the planet Zoldar turns out to be the easy part as bounty hunter Starker also tries to recover the embezzled funds from the guys who fleeced Wallen in a crooked card game.

But there's a third pair involved in this hunt who neither Starker nor the criminals he's chasing are aware of...

The "buying public" apparently wasn't..buying, that is.

Not only was this tale by writer/penciler Mike Sekowsky and inker Frank Giacoia in DC's Showcase #93 (1970) the end of Starker's try-out run, but the end of Showcase as well.

But, just as Showcase was eventually revived (twice), Starker returned from the dead (twice)...as you'll see...

Tomorrow!

Reading Room MANHUNTER 2070 "Never Trust a Red-Haired Greenie" Part 2

We Have Already Seen...

...Starker accepts an assignment to capture embezzler Milton Wallen, which takes the interplanetary bountry hunter to the planet Zodan, where theft is a way of life (sorta like Washington DC).

After persuading the locals (nicknamed "Greenies") to return some of his property they mistook for their own (as shown above), Starker proceeds to neighboring planet Zoldar, where Wallen headed after landing on Zodan...

I guess we can't post the disclaimer "No glyphs were harmed during the making of this comic book!"...

You'll see the finale...but not the conclusion to this tale...

Tomorrow!

Script and pencils for this tale from DC's Showcase #93 (1970) are by Mike Sekowsky, with inks provided by Frank Giacoia.