Reading Room MANHUNTER 2070 "Never Trust a Red-Haired Greenie" Part 1

Yes, I know we promised this for May, but things came up...

...yet I doubt you'll complain as you finally get to read the last, never-reprinted Showcase appearance of Starker...

Unfortunately, Starker, that's not going to happen, as we'll see

Tomorrow!

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

Coming Monday...the Return of MANHUNTER 2070 in "Never Trust a Red-Haired Greenie"!

The third (and final) tale in his never-reprinted Showcase run...

...with an ending you won't believe they dared publish!

To entice you further, here's a never-reprinted extra, which we forgot to run when we re-introduced the character HERE...the very first appearance of Manhunter 2070 from Showcase #90 (1970) which also synopsizes the series' concept...

See you 55 years from now on Monday!

Reading Room MANHUNTER 2070 "D.O.A." Conclusion

We have already seen...

Discovering the Brotherhood of Space has put a 100,000 credit bounty on him, Starker returns his two dinner dates to the safety of their home on Earth.

While en-route he tells the story of how he became a bounty hunter after pirates killed his asteroid miner father and took the then-teenage Starker to serve as a galley slave.

After a few months, he works up the courage to supplant the cook...

Script and pencils for this never-reprinted tale from DC's Showcase #92 (1970) are by Mike Sekowsky, with most inks provided by Frank Giacoia.

However, the last page is inked by Vince Colletta.

And the cover is inked by Dick Giordano.

Be back next month as we present the third (note, we didn't say final chapter) of Manhunter 2070...

Reading Room MANHUNTER 2070 "D.O.A." Part 1

It begins as a carefree night out on the town 55 years from now...

...and then this never-reprinted tale from DC's Showcase V1 #92 (1970) takes a decidedly-downbeat turn.

Payback's a bitch, even in the future, as you'll see...

TOMORROW!

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 the final six issues of Showcase, Jason's Quest and Manhunter 2070.

MANHUNTER 2070 Returns on Monday...

...with the Origin of Starker...

...as shown in this "teaser" from the back of DC's Showcase #91 (1970).

Written and penciled by Mike Sekowsky, inked by Vince Colletta.
But before that, catch up with the first part of the never-reprinted Manhunter 2070 saga HERE!

Reading Room MANHUNTER 2070 "Space Duel"

Think "reality TV" is a recent phenomenon?

In 1970, a visionary writer/artist/editor saw it happening, but a century later (which is only 55 years for us)!

Sly Ben, sadly, didn't appear again.
Too bad as he would've added a bit of comic relief to a rather grim series.
This "tag", written and penciled by Mike Sekowsky and inked by Vince Colletta, appeared in the back of DC's Showcase V1N91(1970).
Like the short that appeared at the end of the previous issue, it didn't "tease" what would be in the next issue, but served to expand the world of 2070 for the readers, establishing story elements that Sekowsky could come back to in future tales.
In fact, there was a "teaser" at the end of the book, and you'll see it tomorrow...

Reading Room MANHUNTER 2070 "Planet of Death" Conclusion

We Have Already Seen...

...commissioned to bring in a trio of space pirates, bounty hunter Starker tracked them to Pheidos, a world where practically everything, plant or animal, is trying to eat everything else, making it the perfect hideout world!

With one of the criminals devoured by carnivorous insects, Starker continues his assignment...

But before that, we have another brief interlude as Starker ends up on a reality TV show!

TOMORROW!

Yeah, I know this series was written in 1970.

Maybe Mike Sekowsky was more prescient than we thought...

Written and pencilled by Mike Sekowsky, inked by Vince Colletta, this never-reprinted tale from DC's Showcase V1#91 (1970) proves the adage that "space opera" is "horse opera" with blasters instead of six-shooters.

Reading Room MANHUNTER 2070 "Planet of Death" Part 2

When Last We Left Our InterGalactic Bounty Hunter...

...which is why the outlaws he's been hunting considered it to be the perfect hideout!

...wait until Starker sees who (or what) else is among the potential diners...

TOMORROW!

Written and pencilled by Mike Sekowsky, inked by Vince Colletta, this never-reprinted tale from DC's Showcase V1#91 (1970) proves the adage that "space opera" is "horse opera" with blasters instead of six-shooters.
Sekowsky was no stranger to space opera, having illustrated Speed Carter: SpaceMan for Atlas (later Marvel) in the 1950s as seen HERE, HERE, and HERE, as well as Harvey's 3 Rocketeers in the 1960s as seen HERE and HERE!