Do you ever wonder why it is that you can’t remember the endings of some of your favorite comic book stories? It might just be that they didn’t end, they might have been cancelled first. There are many reasons for a comic book series to end abruptly. Be it ‘creative differences’ or lack of sales, either way it leaves the reader missing out of an ending.
Here are some noteworthy standouts of unfinished series.
This one always jump to my mind first…
Sonic Disruptors
‘Sonic Disruptors’ was set to be one of 1987 DC Comics first 12-issue MAXI-SERIES. Written by Mike Baron with artwork by Chicago’s own Barry Crain this futuristic wacky world was cancelled after only 7 issues. Whether it was due to poor sales or something else fans of this comic missed out on an ending. A long awaited graphic novel said to finish the storyline was planned, but never materialized.
1963
The Image Universe of the 1990’s saw the arrival of Alan Moore’s comic book series ‘1963.’ This retro comic book series flashed back to the Silver-Age comic books from MARVEL COMICS. After just a few this series just disappeared. Since all the creators have moved on, there’s little hope on the horizon for more.
All-Star Batman & Robin, the Boy Wonder
One of Frank Miller’s craziest tales of the early 2000’s was the DC Comics Frank Miller/Jim Lee series ‘All-Star Batman & Robin, the Boy Wonder. Retelling the early days of the Dynamic Duo this highly controversial series took way too long to be released. Just under a dozen issues took over three years to be published. Miller did jump back to DC Comics for the ‘Dark Knight: Master Race’ series, but no word on a return to ‘All-Star Batman & Robin.’
At least we have a few issues – a proposed All-Star Wonder Woman series set have art by Adam Hughes never was released.
The Last Galactus Story
Published within the pages of the EPIC ILLUSTRATED, Marvel Comics answer to Heavy Metal magazine – John Byrne’s Galactus swan song serialized story was one of the most highly regarded tales of the 1980’s. Marvel Comics cancelled this anthology series in 1984 leaving the final chapter missing. This tale of Watchers, Galactus and his herald Nova remains one of the great Marvel Comics stories never finished.
Image United
In 2009, at the height of Kirkman-Mania following the mega-hit ‘Walking Dead,’ Image Comics produced a series featuring a company-wide crossover written by Robert Kirkman and enlisting the artistic talents of all of the Image Comics founders. Unfortunately the series retained the company’s tendency for extreme lateness. After only three issues and following many long delays, this mash-up was quietly abandoned.
Strata
1986 saw the debut of this Renegade Press black and white series featuring the adventures of Charles Flambeau and his ever-resourceful otter companions, Lancelot and Arthur. This series exploded on the scene with the black & white comic book boom. But before 1989 the whole black & white comic book market went bust leaving our intrepid heroes high and dry in the upside-down world of STRATA.
Battle Chasers
After rocking the world of Marvel Comics ‘Uncanny X-Men’ in the 1990’s, Joe Madureira broke all kinds of sale records with his Image Comics book ‘Battle Chasers.’ His artwork that mixed current superhero stylings with that of manga magazines jumped off the page. After 3 years of ever increasing publishing delays the book stopped coming out.
*** GOOD NEWS here is that Joe Madureira’s ‘Battle Chasers’ will return this summer with an Image Comics giant extravaganza tenth issue with 36 pages of story and artwork with no ads! ***
