comic books superheroes

Malibu Ultraverse Origins

As I wrote earlier this week, Malibu’s Ultraverse was full of creativity and energy.  I’ve come across an issue entitled Ultraverse Origins that was published eight months after the Ultraverse line launched.  This book contains some good, succinct origin tales for many of the characters.  Today I’m presenting just a handful of these origin stories.

Below is the origin of Prototype written by Tom Mason & Len Strazewski, drawn by Dan Jurgens and Terry Austin.  Click the image to enlarge.

Prototype origin from the Malibu Ultraverse

Below you’ll find the two page origin of Freex written by Gerard Jones and drawn by Walt Simonson.

Freex origin from the Malibu Ultraverse

Freex origin from the Malibu Ultraverse

Below you’ll find the two page origin of The Night Man written by Steve Englehart and drawn by Kevin Maguire.  Long time Ultraverse fans will recognize the cable car and the connection with the Strangers origin.

The Night Man origin from the Malibu Ultraverse

The Night Man origin from the Malibu Ultraverse

Below you’ll find the two page origin of Firearm written by James Robinson and drawn by Howard Chaykin.  This series was really Robinson’s practice run for Starman.  A good example is the way the lead character, Alec Swan, carries on about Santa Monica.  It’s very similar to the way Jack Knight thought of Opal City.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m not knocking Firearm, I’m just saying you can see some similarities.

Firearm origin from the Malibu Ultraverse

Firearm origin from the Malibu Ultraverse

So have I convinced you to seek out some Ultraverse comics yet?

4 thoughts on “Malibu Ultraverse Origins

  1. I had forgotten about these guys as the merger happened about the time we lost our comic shop in Bangor. I’ve got an issue or two of Nightman in storage here somewhere.

  2. Firearm looks like a book which would be right up my alley. I hve gotten into Robinson as of late from his work on Superman and Cry For Justice, so I will have to keep an eye out for this title! (In addition to Starman, which everyone and their brother tells me I would enjoy.)

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