“Yesterday’s” Comic> ALF #4

I know I said I was going to review the Static Shock Special today, but frankly I can’t get myself to review it. While I thought the back-up story, which had Static and Rocket talking to their silent creator, spent more time taking a shot at Dwayne McDuffie‘s detractors the main story didn’t have anything I would connect with the late writer/creator. I didn’t really enjoy it for the same reasons I never got into any of Milestone’s comics; I’m just not the target audience. If you’re expecting something along the lines of the show, you’re going to be disappointed. And now something I can do a proper review of:

I can see Brian as his sidekick.

ALF #4

Marvel Comics/Star Comics imprint* (June 1998)

(*At least according to the indicia, as the cover lists only Marvel–Star seemed to be phased out around this time.)

Again, there are three stories all by the same creators. The first is “It’s All In Your Minds” and it really shows that Gallagher should have at least been given access to the show bible, unless series creator Paul Fusco had planned on Melmacians having powers like a mind-swap. (Which means they used the wrong Star Trek episode: “Turnabout Intruder” was closer to this story’s plot.) In this case he swaps with Kate, and hilarity might have ensued where it not so far from the show. ALF can be a bigger jerk in the comics than he was in the show and that made him less lovable in my opinion.

The second story is the Melmac stories, where Gallagher did much better. The cartoon tended to do more with Melmac and it feels closer to what Gallagher wanted to do with this comic. “Monster Mash” has ALF investigating an abandoned “Flippies” community and meeting the movement’s founder, Timothy Bleary, and his giant fire-breathing lizard creation, Modzilla. If the first story was Gallagher at his worst on this title (and from my collection’s perspective that’s still to come) this would be one of the best.

Another contender would be the second Earth-centric story “One Hero To  Go”, where ALF is accidentally taken by a “coat burglar” and fights back using his flying belt to become the Fantastic Fur (Marvel, remember?). If the first story had been taken out, this could have been a lot more fun. For some reason he went with three stories a comic and this one suffers for the space taken by the first one.

This may be easier to recommend for fans of the show, if only for the last two stories. Otherwise it’s not one of those must have comics, although I’ll be holding on to my copy.

Related articles

• “Yesterday’s” Comic> ALF #2 (bwmedia.wordpress.com)
• Scanning My Collection: ALF Animated Adventures (bwmedia.wordpress.com)