The Inhumans #8
Published and © by Marvel, December 1976
Title: “Star-Search: Dust and Demons”
Synopsis: Two bug-like, mobile cities clash, leaving the Inhumans trapped in the middle of their war.
Writer: Doug Moench
Penciler: George Pérez
Inker: Don Perlin
Review: The addition of a second mobile city makes this issue feel a bit like a rerun (see review of The Inhumans #7), though writer Doug Moench gets good mileage out of the cities’ clash. Moench’s foreshadowing of the “War Between the Three Galaxies” continues to tantalize, but there better be some payoff soon. George Pérez returns as artist for one issue, and his pencils hold up much better to Don Perlin’s inks. Of all the Bronze Age artists, Pérez seems least inker dependent, as the strength of his early work comes more from strong storytelling than refined pencils.
Grade: B
Second opinion: “Intriguing as ever.” – Martin Lock, Comics Unlimited #41, November 1976
Cool factor: George Pérez’s storytelling. His three-issue absence from this title just made hearts grow fonder.
Notable: The “Black Bolt Bulletins” letters page includes an LoC future Eclipse publisher Dean Mullaney.
Collector’s note: According to the Grand Comics Database, there is a 10p British variant of this issue.
Character quotable: “Hey, not so sloppy, you big, lovable, goofy pooch! You’re getting my hair wet – and I won’t be able to do a thing with it!” – Medusa, sharing an “eewww” moment with Lockjaw
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this review appeared in Comics Buyer’s Guide #1653.
