My friend John Moret started a thread with a similar title about television series of the past that ended before they should have. When I first went there, I thought it was about comic books, hence starting this companion thread.

Now we all have our favorite titles. Some have planned endings and conclude the intended story.

Others are canceled because of poor sales, but some of those pass away before even their very first story line is concluded.

This a brief look at my Top 5 list.

 

1. Star Hunters (DC, 1977-78)

Just seven issues after a double size debut in DC Super Stars #16, but what a series. I love good sci-fi, and writer David Michelinie delivered. The rotating art crew didn't help, but still a good title. Why sci-fi isn't the comic book staple it used to be is beyond me.

2. Rima, The Jungle Girl (DC, 1974-75)

Another seven issue series, but my first exposure to the concept that someone other than Tarzan and the Phantom could protect/work in a jungle setting. Great Nestor Redondo art, although in hindsight Robert Kanigher scripts are average jungle fare. Hated how her return was handled in First Wave. What was with the nose ring chain anyway?

3. Starfire (Not the Teen/New/adjective less Titan; DC, 1976-77)

This one actually lasted eight issues. Michelinie, along with Elliot Maggin and Steve Englehart writing along the lines of sword and sorcery sci-fi, but still a good story to the impressionable teenager I was back then. Mike Vosburg art throughout the series.

4. The Maze Agency (started 1988)

Mike W. Barr wrote both an entertaining and "fair play" mystery every time. The art crew has varied across the different incarnations between Comico, Innovation, and Caliber (including Adam Hughes), but this was a great series whose likes the comic book industry hasn't seen before or since.

5. 'Mazing Man (DC, 1986 with specials through 1990)

Light hearted, comedic, but a good entertaining read every time from Bob Rozakis and Stephen DeStafano, although I never completely understood why the artist changed character designs halfway through the original series.

My honorable mentions: Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew (DC) along with Howard The Duck (Marvel). Both good series in their original runs, but except for E. Nelson Bridwell and Carol Lay on CC's "The Oz-Wonderland War", the creative crews on the various revival attempts since just have not quite gotten the hang of the concepts and what made the special to begin with.

 

Granted, I'm working from memory here, and my collection is not complete on Rima and Starfire. My personal theory on their endings is that #s 2 and 3 did not have a long term plan (or at least not one apparent to me) and that all suffered from being unique concepts that sadly couldn't survive long term in a super-hero driven comic book market.

'Mazing Man and Captain Carrot might have a future as Johnny DC titles if handled properly. But as to the rest, I can always dream, but I'm not holding my breath.

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  • Part of the weird charm of 'Mazing Man was the oddness of 'Maze and his world view within a "normal" adult sit-com-type NY neighborhood.  It was sort of like if SpongeBob became a regular on Friends.   I'd want some of the adult storylines to continue in 'Maze, so Johnny DC wouldn't work well.  I'd love to see it return, though.

     

    I wouldn't mind seeing Scott McCloud age the Zot! cast and continue their stories into adulthood.

  • I'll second Chase.

     

  • Long time Legionnaires will know my answer to this question. Quantum & Woody. There are many others, some already mentioned here, but that is the #1 book that I miss.
  • A few more:

     

    X-Men: The Hidden Years

    Young Justice

    El Cazador

     

    and a current one:

     

    Star Wars: Legacy

  • Oh, certainly, Chase! (A trade paperback is finally scheduled to come out, apparently -- there's a listing on Amazon, so it'll probably be solicited next month). El Cazador, MAZE Agency & Mazing Man were wonderful, too.

     

    My other big regret is not getting more issues of Jolley & Kirk's Bloodhound, another great series about a non-powered person in a world of superheroes.

     

    Other choices include Top 10, Bat Lash, Monolith, Midnight Mass, and Gotham Central. 

  • Yes! Midnight Mass!
  • Off the top of my head: Gotham Central.

     

    However, I strongly second The Maze Agency. I've followed it through all its iterations (and publishers), and I miss it dearly.

     

    And mentioning The Maze Agency brings to mind Ms. Tree, a book that was a long-running if modest success as an indie that actually fared worse once it went to the big leagues and was published by DC.

  • Great call on Monolith, Rob.
  • My picks:

    • Agents of Atlas
    • The Thing
    • Infinity Inc
    • The Metal Men back-up from Doom Patrol (would have prefered it the other way around!)
    • Spider-Girl (I miss Mayday and her MC2 friends)
  • I second (or third) Maze Agency and 'Mazing Man especially, and probably Chase, from what I remember of it.

    I have almost an entire short box of series that died in that great upheaval of the late 1960s that I would have liked to have seen continue:

    * Bat Lash (already mentioned)

    * Secret Six

    * Beware the Creeper

    * Hawk & Dove

    * Angel & The Ape

    * Hot Wheels

    * Inferior Five

    * Anthro

    * Black Orchid (in Adventure)

    * Captain Action

    * The Shadow (Kaluta)

    * Sword of Sorcery

    * Not Brand Echh

    * Silver Surfer

    * Dunc & Loo

    * Get Lost

    * And the legendary Go-Go from Charlton. 

    There was a lot of stuff that didn't really get a chance back then that was pretty off beat. Super-heroes weren't selling well, but none of this stuff seemed to be what the audience was looking for either, and publishers didn't last long if those first numbers weren't great.

    -- MSA

     

     

     

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