Micronauts #5
Published and © by Marvel and © Mego, May 1979
Title: “The Prometheus Pit!”
Synopsis: The Micronauts’ search for Bug brings them to Cape Canaveral – and into battle with crazy scientist Professor Prometheus.
Writer: Bill Mantlo
Penciler: Michael Golden
Inker: Joe Rubinstein
Review: Micronauts wants to be something special. But, despite exceptional art, the series struggles to find its “it” thing. This fifth issue is a case in point: It’s enjoyable, but lacking. A major problem is that the series’ B-plot – a brewing revolution back on the dystopian Homeworld – is more interesting than the Micronauts’ Lilliputian adventures on Earth. Homeworld offers political intrigue and class warfare stemming from Baron Karza’s sinister Body Banks. Earth offers the threat of a generic mad scientist … and Muffin the dog. Bill Mantlo’s story needs to level up if Micronauts is going to make the leap.
Grade: B+
Second opinion: Recommended by The Slings & Arrows Comic Guide (second edition), 2003.
Cool factor: We’ve said it before but, dang, this is a pretty book.
Not-so-cool factor: It remains to be seen if Micronauts can shake free of its derivative elements.
Notable: The “Micromails” letters page includes an LoC from future Eclipse editor Cat Yronwode.
Collector’s note: According to the Grand Comics Database, there is a Whitman variant of this issue.
Character quotable: “I believe Steve Coffin called it his Muffin, Commander!” – Acroyear, because nothing is scary like a Muffin
Editor’s note: This review was originally published by Sequential Reaction (v1) on April 18, 2016.
