"[Mike] Grell created a Celtic barbarian in the time of the Roman Empire who, at the moment of his death, is yanked into a far-flung future where he becomes a space pirate and freedom fighter aboard a star-roving vessel shaped like a Spanish Galleon and named the Jolly Roger. A Celtic barbarian space pirate. How could you not love that?" -- John Ostrander
How indeed?
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PACIFIC COMICS:
Inspired by my own "Grimjack" discussion lecture, I decided to read all of Starslayer next, simply for my own amusement. (If anyone would care to join in, feel free.) Starslayer is, in a way, the counterpoint to Mike Grell's own Warlord, but instead of being a modern man thrust into the world of the past, it is (as the cover of the the first issue says), "A Celtic barbarian in the far-flung future." It was originally to have been published by DC but fell victim to the "DC Implosion." Unfortunately, Starslayer did not enjoy the popularity or longevity of DC's Warlord. On the backissue market, it is perhaps best known for being the first appearance of Dave Stevens' Rocketeer, the second appearance of Sergio Aragones Groo the Wander, and the birthplace of the aforementioned Grimjack. Starslayer was the second offering from fledgling Pacific Comics, an independent publisher at the forefront of a whole new movement in comics that would change the medium forever. (Incidentally, the first offering was Jack Kirby's already-in-the-can Captain Victory graphic novel, which, after a bit of tweaking, become the first three issues of that series.) Jim Starlin was working on a creator-owned character at the time as well, one he intended to call "Starslayer" had Grell not beaten him to it. Starlin's character became Dreadstar. But I digress.
The story begins in A.D. 43. Merlin Ambrosius makes a cameo appearance berfore Torin Mac Quillon is teleported to the far-flung future. He was snatched from the past by a woman named Tamra on behalf of an organization known as the Confederacy of Planets. In the future, Earth has become virtually uninhabitable due to centuries of war and polution. Then the Sun goes nova, engulfing Mercury due to its lack of mass, but colling considerably. Ironically, Earth is saved by a protective layer of industrial pollution saturating its atmosphere, but the populations of Earth's colony worlds [on Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Neptune, Uranus and Pluto (or their moons)] are returning to the planet of their origin so as not to freeze to death. Earth cannot sustain them, however, and Tamra has "recruited" Torin from the past for a traditional heroic quest.
Tamra explains: "It's been learned that the Ancients had a secret--a power spource great enough to secure our victory and perhaps save all mankind. thje secret of this power source is said to be contained in an amulet, one piece of which was given to the leader of each colony of the Confederation, to be returned in time of need. Sometime during the Fifth World War, the information was lost, the amulaets forgotten... until now. We need you, Torin Mac Quillon... to retrieve the amulets and return them to Earth... if they still exist."
The reason she picked Torin in the first place is because she needed a warrior in the prime of his life (because men of her time are soft and weak), snatched from the past moments before his death so as not to affect the timeline. He was fighting against Roman soldiers and had just thrown himself on Roman spears when he found himself teleported to the future. Unfortunately, he lost an eye in the batttle, but Tamra was unable to do anything about that because it happened early on in the fight. She does, however, equip him with a headband and attached eyepiece which contains photosensors allowing binocular vision as well as infrared capability. The headband/eyepiece also connects him to S.A.M., a symbionic android mindlink in the shape of a monkey. Due to a misunderstanding of the past, SAM speaks like Humphrey Bogart, a dialect thought to be "Bogie." She also supplies him with futuristic weaponry and, through SAM, the knowledge and ability to use them.
SPOILER: The Confederation of Planets had hoped the amulets would provide the secret to an energy source powerful enough to stand up against the invading forces, but Tamra discovered their real purpose. The Ancients had predicted that Earth would become uninhabitable and that the Sun would go Nova, becoming too cold to support life. The reason they set about colonizing the solar system was to build devices on each of the planets which, during a time of sysygy, could be used to pull the Earth into the Sun, the fissionable and fusible material in the atmosphere reigniting it. Their mission was a success, but the Log of the Jolly roger does not end there.
FIRST COMICS:
After the first six issues at Pacific Comics, Mike Grell took Starslayer to First Comics, where he had already agreed to do Jon Sable, Freelance. The plan was for him to write and provide layouts for the first two issues #7 & #8), then turn the title over to someone else. In his first story, the Directors of Earth decided: "When you have nothing left to live for, there is still revenge." Grell introduced the Tao VII spaceport and its owner, Crayne. Torin is despondent over the loss of his wife and son, and so decides to use the knowledge he gets from SAM (who has dropped the "Bogie" speech pattern by this time) to build the time machine to send him home. Tamra (now Tamara) insists that if he returns, it can only be to the moment of his death, lest he disrupt the timeline. Meanwhile, the Director's of Earth are following in the Raptor (think "Imperial Dreadnought"). First they destroy the spaceport, then they commit genocide on a planet the Jolly Roger visited. They escape, but Torin is still determined to go back home. In despiration, Tamara tells him how she came to choose him for the mission to save the Confederation of Planets.
She had all of history to choose from, but didn't have a lot of time, so she concentrated on her own family. she traced it back the the British Isles in the first century A.D. Torin had been "snatched by the Gods" in full view of 100 men. As one so favored by the Gods, his wife Gwynyth and son Brann were accorded special favor. Rather than becoming slaves, she eventually became the wife of a Roman centurion. Two years later, Gwynyth bore a daughter who would be Tamara's ancestor. If Torin return to the moment of his his death, not only will none of that never happen, but Tamara will never be born to save him at the moment of his death in the first place.
New writer John Ostrander took over with #9. He is not only "new" to the title, but at this time had written only three previous comic book back-ups stories. He immediately begins introducing new characters and concepts: Cynosure, a "side-slip" device (for the Jolly Roger to move between dimensions), the A.C.C.E (Alpha Centauri Commercial Empire), Chris Heyman and the immortal Black Thom McKuen. He also brings Crayne back into story as well as establishes that Tamara belongs to the wealthy D'Orsini family (who used to own the Jolly Roger, BTW). The other three Directors of Earth (or former Directors, I should say: Zolata, Dyah and P'eng-Shou) disagree with the path the other Director, Bragg, is pursuing in his vendetta against the Jolly Roger. Meanwhile, Torin and company have taken on the slaver Free Enterprise and have freed the slaves in order to take control of their own narrative.
The Comtesse Lavinia D'Orsini is the matriarch of the familia. Other members are her bother Soames, Roegah, Cesare, Quenten, and Tamara's cousin Lady Patricia DeRust. Their faithful servant is Wimbledon. Tamara becomes separated from Torin, Crayne and S.A.M. as Cesare captures and attempts to brainwash her. She escapes and reunites with the others, then they set off to Cynosure to secure a side-slip device from Chris Heyman.
FIRST COMICS (#14-19):
With the arrival of Timothy Truman on artwork, Starslayer really gets good. Chris Hayman makes her fist actual appearance in #14 and officially joins the crew in #16. Torin begins showing signs of future shock and runs afoul of Count Ariosto, the "Rude Baron," by poaching on his private game reserve. Tamara has a sexual dalliance with Crayne, and Crayne betrays Torin to Ariosto for cash. His plan was that Torin would escape, then to run the scam again with Torin's many other enemies. He did not, however, clue Torin or Tamara in. Chris Heyman discover's Crayne's treachery just as Grimjack tracks down Crayne, who owes him money. Tamara hires Grimjack to free Torin, but has no money to pay him so puts up the Jolly Roger as collateral.
Meanwhile, in Ariosto's dungeon, Torin meets Pappy Rackett and other prisoners, including Hambleton, the "clone brother" of the D'Orsini family servant Wimbledon. Also, the wizard Sphinx makes "his" first actual appearance, although we'll see "him" "later" in the "Demon Wars" and in Dancer's all-out attack on Cynosure. By this time, the ACCE has tracked Torin down, and inadvertantly end up providing cover for their rescue and escape. When the mission is over, Tamara tries to renege on her deal with Grimjack, but Torin won't let her. Grimjack ends up selling the Jolly Roger to Torin for a cred, and he and Tamara become co-captains at this point. Pappy and Ariosto's former prisoners become the Jolly Roger's crew at this point, and Crayne makes himself scarce. There is one final bit of "Old Business" to take care of, and that's the Raptor back in their own dimension. By this time, Bragg has assassinated the other three of Earth's Directors and is waiting patiently for the Jolly Roger to return. Chris Heyman fins a "Starslayer" missile aboard, a doomsday device which turns a sun into a black hole. Torin defeats Bragg in hand-to-hand combat and leaves him behind as the entire solar system, now deserted (because the re-ignition of the sun was only temporary), is sucked into the black hole.
FIRST COMICS (#20-26):
With Grimjack awarded his own series, Timothy Truman slowly withdrew from Starslayer, providing first "breakdowns" then "layouts" then "continuity." With the back-up slot now vacated, the Black Flame, by Peter Gillis and Tom Sutton, fills the spot. (Tom Sutton's style is far better suited to this sword & sorcery/magic strip than Grimjack IMO.) Black Thom McKuen returns, hideously scarred, now Mad Thom. Beginning with this issue, Starslayer begins moving in a direction I am not particularly fond of (or at least there is one aspect of the plot I am not part I am not particularly fond of. Specifically, the Gods Torin worshipped cannot cross into the mortal realm without followers and sacrifices. Torin had been swearing oaths by "Morrigan" all along, and, with the "sacrifice" of the entire solar system, Morrigan herself comes screaming out of the black hole and forces him to become her avater. From now on, every person he kills makes her stronger. It has been decades since I last read beyond this point.
The Mobae of the Pyesti are great "space whales" which swim in the timestream. The crew of the JR ride the "Golden Moby" back to the beginning of time and become prisoners of the Pyesti, who are assemvbling a "temporal army" in order to study the phenomena of war and violence. On their way back to the present they stop off in 1938 China to pay tribute to Milton Caniff and Terry & the Pirates. Two crewmen jump ship and Tamara is concerned about them creating a major temporal rupture. Her most strongly held beliefs about time travel are put to the test when Torin must kill in order to save her life. Then comes a "soft crossover" with Grimjack #9. After that, "Count Ariostos" returns, but it's really Kalibos, in his origin and first actual appearance. Chris leaves to pursue Kalibos and to become a supporting character in Grimjack. The "Black Flame" back-up takes over #27 in its entirety.
ISSUES #28-34:
So far, the Morrigan/avatar angle has been pretty easy to ignore, but with #28, Torin begins to transform into a sort of ogre from time-to-time, which move the story further away from its "Celtic barbarian space pirate" roots, AFAIAC. The incestuous D'Orsini family returns, and gains the ability to remotely control the Jolly Roger. Tamara's relationship to the D'Orsinis is made explicit. She is a former high-priced prostitute who became involved with the Contessa's favorite son, Sisemund. She is also a murderer. But Sisemund was cagey about his exact relationship with her and never revealed whether she was his wife, mistress, daughter or what. After the couple broke up, Tamara planted an explosive device on his ship which inadvertantly killed 11 other people in addition to Sisemund. How the Contessa chooses to deal with tamar will depend on whether she is Sisemund's wife/mistress or daughter. The O'Sinin's set off after the Jolly Roger aboard their own ship, the Revanche (which means "Revenge"). By the end of the story, the Contessa's spoiled granddaughter Patricia is being held as a permanent hostage as a check against further hostile action by the D'Orsini's. Also, we learn that, in fact, Sisemund murdered Tamara's mother, and she was with him only long enough to exact her own revenge. The other causualties were unintended.
Issue #31 explores the legend of Torin Mac Quilon, the Starslayer. It begins in A.D. 46, with Marcus Rubinus telling Torin's son Brann of his father. Marcus rubunus is not only the centurian who married Torin's wife Gwynyth, he is also the soldier who took his eye in final battle. From there we return to the present, to the Tao III space port, where a survivor of the destruction of the Tao VII station tells her tale. Also, the former chaplain of the Raptor provides his eyewitness testimonty. Finally, Hambleton (now spelled "Hambledon") tells Patricia what he knows of his captain.
Next, the Jolly Roger sets (solar) sail for the planet Danus in search of Black/Mad Thom McKuen. they have reason to believe that he holds the secret to defeating Morrigan and freeing torin from the Death Goddess's service. On the way they meet Kaness Kanorum of the Danae, a.k.a. the "Dogs of War." (I didn't appreciate it at the time I first read these stories back in the '80s, but these characters and concepts come from Warp, which I have just recently read in its entirety for the first time.) Tamara masquerades as Sargon, Mistress of War, then Sargon herself appears. Black/Mad Thom regains his full memories and stands revealed as N'Gali of the Orishna-Nla of the land of Ife. (The story doesn't make it explicit, but this is the same land from which Grimjack's Goddess hails.) Torin must fight a final battle against Morrigan's new avatar, none other than Bragg. when the series wraps, the Jolly Roger has run aground on Danus, but Torin has been restored, body and soul.
THE "DIRECTOR'S CUT":
The "Director's Cut" is essentially a reprint of the original Pacific series plus the first two issues of the First series (#7-8) published by "Windjammer" (a separate imprint of Valiant/Acclaim), except both of the latter two issues have been completely redrawn and then split up so as to become "bookend" chapters (i.e., issue #7 is now #1).
"EARTH-J" VERSION:
I have read comic books all my life but I have seldom had the desire to write them... except for certain characters, of which Starslayer is one. I submitted only one plot, to Marvel, circa 1985. Carl Potts was the submissions editor at the time. It was rejected, for reasons that had nothing to do with the quality of the writing, although I freely admit it wasn't very good. I have no idea what rights issues may be involved in Starslayer. I assume Mike Grell owns the rights to the primary characters, but what about those introduced by John Ostrander, such as Pappy Rackett and the d'Orsinis? What about Cynosure? (In the Director's Cut, "Crayne" was changed to "Krayne" for some reason.)
Anyway, the last issue of Starslayer was published in 1985. My version would take place 30 or 40 years later and focus on the subtitle: "The Log of the Jolly Roger." With Torin's soul healed, his wanderlust dissipated and he was content to settle on Danus. Torin and Tamara never had a romantic relationship prior to this, but with Torin's mind set right, their status quo has changed. They eventually get married and have two children, twins named Brann and Gwynyth. The Jolly Roger has remained in spacedock all this time. Most of the crew has gone their separate ways, but loyal Pappy Rackett is still with them. The new series begins when Brann and Gwynyth decide to repair the JR and set out on adventures of their own. Pappy Rackett comes along to "keep an eye on them."
The first issue would be narrated by Pappy, and would detail the history of the Jolly Roger, from the time it was built as a pleasure craft for the d'Orsinis through the events of the 34-issue series (downplaying the Morrigan/avatar stuff). What neither Torin nor Tamara know is that the kids have acquired a sideslip device and intend to use it to visit different dimensions as well as, perhaps, for time travel, which would allow for a wide variety of stories. When word of this gets back to Danus, Tamara in particular is worried about them corrupting the timeline, and she and Torin set out to find them and put a stop to it. Brann and Gwynyth would become the new Torin and Tamara, and Torin and Tamara would become (in a way), the new Bragg. The series itself would continue to be "The Log of the Jolly Roger."