Comic Book Review: Fusion
Comic Book: Fusion
Author: Steven Barnes
Issues: 17
Hard Core Scale: 2/4
Normal Scale: 7/10
Publish Date: 1987 Eclipse
About: The Tsunami and its very diverse crew take on various mercenary jobs
throughout the galaxy.
Often had Weasel Patrol and Dr. Watchstop as back issues.
Review: A fine dream of the B/W era. A mixed bag of things. When Gallacci and
Dowling are at the art helm things tend to be stronger and more series. Other
artists have various degree of success. Gallacci knows how to preserve space
and is a treat as always. It’s hard to enjoy when the artist is not Gallacci. Though
as always there are weak backgrounds. What hurts is the nature of its story. We
start of strong with a five-part series in a unique and vibrant SF universe
rife with aliens and genetic creations. Fun imaginative art that is made
stronger by the B/W. Creature designs are the selling point along with Gallacci's knack for tech. The deep history of
the universe does not have to explain itself. However, the pacing kills it starting in
issue four. The relationships and stakes blow out of proportion fast. Then
after that series we get random serials, some good, others not. A majority
though is connected. When it is not, it
is a problem. The issue with episodic in nature things it becomes hard to carry
a plot in the long run. The tone begins to blur from dead serious to gag reel. Fusion
had the chops to be something special, but its lack of direction made that
difficult. Its stronger parts is what left me give it a 2/4. The comic was put
on hold when Downing changed gigs, and then faded in obscurity at the end of
the B/W movement and Comic implosion during the 90s. A shame because I do like
these characters and their stories feel incomplete, but when you have no road
map at the start or at least after issue five then perhaps it is for the best. It
is important to have a road map when you start a series like this.
Back issues: included Dr. Watchstop which always had great art and great intellectual
humor. I guess I should give it 4/4. My kind of humor I guess with the effort in
art.
Weasel Patrol: It’s a fun chaotic mess in art and story. Slapstick chaotic
humor done well enough. A repetitive
mess. One can debate how long you can keep a gag up. 2/4. I laughed, but it is
nonsense for nonsense sake.
