Jim Shooter has revamped Doctor Solar, Man of the Atom yet again in a new series from Dark Horse Comics. The first issue was intriguing, but how often can one reinvent the wheel? Shooter’s first revamp was so spot-on that comparisons of the two are inevitable. Shooter also had a hand in the character’s development when Valiant switched over to Acclaim, and of course Solar went through several revision under other hands (including Dan Jurgens‘) while still at Valiant.
I think the first issue suffers in comparison to Solar: Alpha & Omega (with Barry Windsor-Smith) and Valiant’s initial, intertwined “Second Coming” storyline, but if you are a reader new to the character that comparison shouldn’t be a problem. As a bonus, the first 48-page issue also includes a reprint of the first Gold Key issue from 1962, and it certainly compares well to that!
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Doctor Solar and Magnus, Robot Fighter were two super-heroes I had always heard about, seen pictures of but never saw an actual book. I will look forward to these titles with no expectations. I have the Valiant issues, though I have no memory of them. (But ask me about "B&B" #123 or "Avengers" #137). I do remember about Doc's painted covers and Magnus' amazing karate chop!
I'd like to offer one caveate about those Dark Horse archives: they feature the original series color, and on the slick paper the imperfections really jump out. Also, they're priced out of the range of the casual reader. I highly recommend, however, the four-issue Vintage Magnus Robot series from Valiant. It reprints some of the best of the original stories on a more "absorbant" (as opposed to "shiny") paper stock, and features state of the art colors.
The first issue of X-Men and the issue in which Doctor Solar first wore his visor costume were both cover-dated for the same month, Sep. 1963. I can see Scott's similarity to the earlier Solar, however.
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Magnus is known for gorgeous Russ Manning artwork;
Solar is known for bad "comic book" science!
Did he always have the exact same origin as Dr. Manhattan?
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I’d say Dr.Manhattan was styled on Captain Atom.
Dagwan said:
You can find out for yourself! His first appearance is reprinted in the first issue of the new series.
My own theory is that Stan Lee based Cyclops on Doctor Solar!
Ugh. 2 panels into that and I was snoring.
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." -Groucho Marx
Check out the Secret Headquarters (my store) website! It's much better now!
Listen to WOXY.com, it's the future of rock-n-roll!
The first issue of of Doctor Solar was cover-dated October 1962.
Dagwan said:
Hey, I said it was known for its bad science, not its story or art!
Stan wasn't shy about "borrowing" from Marvel's and other companies' Golden Age names: Human Torch, the Angel, Ka-Zar, Daredevil, Quicksilver.
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