Dreadstar

Dreadstar
Epic Comics Dreadstar #1 - cover
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First Comics
Malibu Comics
Dynamite Entertainment
FormatOngoing series
GenreScience fiction, superhero[1][2][3]
No. of issues64, 6 (Vol. 2)
Main character(s)Dreadstar and Company (Vanth Dreadstar, Syzygy Darklock, Oedi, Willow, Skeevo, Ultraviolet, Iron Angel, Tuetun, Junior, Cookie, others)
Creative team
Written byJim Starlin, Peter David
Artist(s)Jim Starlin, Angel Medina, others

Dreadstar was the first comic-book series published by American publisher Epic Comics, an imprint of Marvel Comics, in 1982.[4] It was centered on Vanth Dreadstar, sole survivor of the entire Milky Way galaxy, and an ensemble cast of crewmates, including cyborg sorcerer Syzygy Darklock, and their struggle to end an ancient war between two powerful, evil empires: The Church of The Instrumentality, run by the Lord Papal; and the Monarchy, administered by a puppet king.

The comic book, created by Jim Starlin, was bimonthly during most of its run. Epic published 26 issues, after which it was published by First Comics who carried it for 38 more issues, for a total of 64 issues. The first 41 issues were published bi-monthly, after which the book was published monthly for a time, though it resumed bi-monthly publication with issue #51. In the early 1990s, a six issue limited series was published by Malibu Comics' Bravura line of creator-owned titles. Jim Starlin had stated in interviews as early as 2000 that he was working on a new Dreadstar series titled "Class Warfare" (including sample artwork in Slave Labor Graphics' The Price trade paperback), but the last mention of this was in late 2002.[5] In 2011, in promotion for Breed III, Starlin again mentioned the possibility of another Dreadstar series.[6] In April 2020, Jim Starlin announced a crowd-funding project for an all-new 100-page story featuring Dreadstar illustrated by Starlin himself together with inker Jaime Jameson titled Dreadstar Returns.[7]

  1. ^ "'Dreadstar' Comic Book TV Series in Development". Screen Rant. 18 February 2015.
  2. ^ "'Dreadstar' Comic Book to be Developed as Scripted Series with Jim Starlin". 17 February 2015.
  3. ^ "'Dreadstar' Superhero TV Series in Development with Comic Creator Jim Starlin". 17 February 2015.
  4. ^ Brevoort, Tom; DeFalco, Tom; Manning, Matthew K.; Sanderson, Peter; Wiacek, Win (2017). Marvel Year By Year: A Visual History. DK Publishing. p. 208. ISBN 978-1465455505.
  5. ^ Thomas, Michael. "Jim Starlin Interview". Comic Book Resources. July 28, 2000
  6. ^ Dietsch, T.J. "Bringing Back "Breed" with Jim Starlin". Comic Book Resources. May 4, 2011
  7. ^ "Dreadstar Returns!". Kickstarter. Retrieved 2020-04-15.