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ASTONISHING TALES No. 28, February 1975 |
This stark contrast between the life Luther Manning vividly remembers and what the world has since become is perhaps best seen during the cyborg’s visit to the library/museum on 42nd Street, whilst investigating a black market meat operation. The trip itself later leads into the discovery that there is actually an armed rebellion taking place against the murderous machinations of Simon Ryker’s regime. But initially it presents itself as simply an adrenalin-fuelled spotlight upon the grisly day-to-day dealings of the vicinity’s disagreeable inhabitants, who appear to be perfectly happy to tear the Demolisher apart just to get at the veteran soldier’s few remaining scraps of human flesh; “They’re looking at me like I’m the morning menu!!”
Unhappily however, much of this well-written, engrossing atmosphere is then somewhat dispelled by the sudden arrival of a battle tank and a cluster of “creeps… packing lasers with heat conversion units.” This shocking plot-twist comes completely out of the blue, and despite the author’s attempt to suggest the aforementioned head-hunters were merely a pre-planned ruse to lead Deathlok straight towards the tightly-knit military force, disappointingly still debatably smacks of Buckler merely scrambling around in desperation for some big threat to throw at his co-creation.
Fortunately, due to the sense-shattering shenanigans which result from the armoured vehicle’s appearance, such an unconvincing element can probably be easily forgiven – especially when for once, the action actually shows Manning being heavily outmatched when it comes to firepower. In fact, a palpable sense of danger emanates from these prodigiously pencilled layouts as Luther’s helicopter is sketched tragically being destroyed, and the “born loser” finds himself cornered by the killer tank without any discernible means of escape.
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Concept, Script & Artwork: Rich Butler, and Coloring: L. Lessmann |