Rob reviews Starblazer #1: The Omega Experiment...
Rewind time back to April 1979 and a new comic adorned newsagents shelves. Taking advantage of the science fiction boom, the folks over at DC Thompson decided to publish Starblazer - a 64-page anthology that told a complete story in one single issue.
What then followed was 281 further issues that followed the same simple format up until Starblazer's retirement in 1991. While the Starblazer name has long gone into the sunset, other mini-digests such as Commando and indie comic Sentinel continue to fly the flag for these done-in-one digests.
Sadly I missed out on Starblazer's original outing as I came along in 1986. However, from reviewing Alan Holloway and Ed Doyle's work with Sentinel, I discovered Starblazer. And thanks to the joys of Facebook Marketplace, I've managed to grab a small collection (some even signed!) - and they didn't cost a fortune either!
It also has issues from this collection that I'll be reviewing!
Kicking things off is Starblazer #1: The Omega Experiment. While later issues would delve into a more fantasy theme, as the title suggests, this one is pure science fiction through and through. The setup to this opening issue is pretty simple. Not content with current faster than light travel that sees craft take months to reach their destination. Humanity has developed a way to travel even faster by harnessing the destructive power of a black hole. As such, this power has given humanity the means to travel across the galaxy in an instant, and the Omega Experiment was born.
Chosen to pilot the experimental star-ship is dashing space debonair, Lute Fireball. Alongside his trusty A.I. companion Archee, Lute Fireball is loaded into the tiny ship and sent hurtling 4-weeks travel away from Earth. And this is when things start to go wrong.
Upon re-entering real space the Omega Experiment vessel finds itself lodged within the side of a meteorite - and on a crash course with the local planetary body. Lute has to work fast as without the right orientation the craft will burn up in the planet's atmosphere. In a true cliffhanger moment, Lute narrowly avoids disaster and crashes onto the planet below. With the Omega, Experiment trashed its over to Archee to send a distress signal back to Earth, and then await rescue.
The duo soon then discover that they are not alone as a gigantic insect beast picks up the Omega Experiment and takes off with it deeper into the jungle. Realising he was left alone due to being organic Lute sets off on top of the giant robot insect to see where it's taking his ship. From here things get a bit inconsistent (they weren't consistent anyway) as Lute encounters a group of SMASH Robots whose origins are pretty similar to Battlestar Galactica's Cylons. Wanting to know why a human has landed on their planet, this first contact doesn't go to plan - especially when Lute demands to speak to the robot's master.
Anyway, the usual to-and-fro ensures as the SMASH-bots attempt to discover humanity's secrets through some old all-ages interrogation. Of course ever the hero, Lute Fireball stays steadfast but is soon betrayed by Archee who gives the SMASH-Bots the Omega technology in return for Lute's life. Throwing Lute into a machine that could easily kill him - the robot leader decides to build another automaton to then pit Lute against it in glorious gladiatorial combat...what?!
Turns out - thanks to some well-placed exposition - that the SMASH-Bots original creators gifted them with emotions. This naturally lead to the robot rebellion, and gave way to a murderous desire to be "masters of the Universe". And thanks to Archee, this race is building two Omega devices.
The action soon picks up the pace as Lute is forced to battle Novun's creature, to then make his escape. Reuniting with Archee, the duo learn about the already completed Omega device which has been crafted with the wrong schematics - the device only works on small items. With this knowledge, Lute decides to blow it up anyway, and make good of his escape. Cut to a high-speed chase across the skies, and Lute finally rendezvous with the Space Lab 8 and heads home.
But wait! What about the other Omega device and the aliens? Well, the planet soon explodes which creates another black hole which allows the crew to head home.
While Starblazer would go on to have quite a varied collection of stories, The Omega Experiment is one of the better ones. Sure the story has its questionable moments, but it's a classic sci-fi tale relevant to the era. Alan Rogers tackles both writing and art duties as he gives a pretty consistent - if not slightly convoluted story. Lute Fireball is an alright protagonist who's a mix between Han Solo and Flash Gordon (who would appear a year later). The antagonists are also pretty menacing with a sleek insect-like design.
The true standout of this issue is Rogers's art. Each page is packed with detail, which helps to refine each scene and paints the overall world. Action is also well presented with plenty of focal points and angles that give everything a cinematic feel. Shadow work is also of high quality and Rogers utilises it well whether it is the bleakness of space, the dense foliage of the planet, or even the vast construction sight of the robot's Omega device, each has a great sense of depth.
Starblazer #1: The Omega Experiment was a perfect start to this ambitious new comic book. While the story doesn't necessarily hold up in today's world, it's a great science fiction adventure. And which youngster doesn't like a dashing hero shooting aliens and blowing stuff up?
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Rob Lake - For more comic book and video game chat why not follow Geek Culture Reviews on Twitter and Facebook @GeekCultureRev
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