Spanner’s Galaxy #1
Published and © by DC, December 1984
Title: “Castling”
Synopsis: Polaris Spanner recalls his past, from becoming a Kaborian squire to discovering he’s an intergalactic fugitive.
Writer: Nicola Cuti
Artist: Tom Mandrake
Review: When Spanner’s Galaxy originally hit the stands, the reviewer was still pretty new to the world of sci-fi. As such, this miniseries seemed fresh and full of big ideas. Today, it’s obvious for what it is: A largely uninspired rehash of genre tropes and clichés. Tom Mandrake’s art is similarly pedestrian and does little to enhance the story. Still, this is clearly a labor of love for Charlton alumni Nicola Cuti, and there’s enough intrigue here – barely – to bring readers back for more.
Grade: C
Second opinion: “A miniseries best left to moulder in every dealer’s bargain box.” – The Slings & Arrows Comic Guide (second edition), 2003
Cool factor: Not so much.
Not-so-cool factor: The alien combat master is a humanoid unicorn? Wait … what?!
Notable: This issue also includes a two-page text story titled “The Big Jelly Hunt.”|Collector’s note: According to the Grand Comics Database, there is a 95¢ Canadian variant of this issue.
Character quotable: “Hope the natives here are friendly.” – Polaris Spanner, optimist
Editor’s note: This review was originally published by Comics Bronze Age on June 14, 2013.
