“Yesterday’s” Comic> Prime #1

“Look how cool this ‘R’ is!”

Prime #1

Malibu/Ultraverse (June, 1993)

“Prime Time”

WRITERS: Len Strazinsky & Gerald Jones (co-creators with Bob Jacob)

ARTIST: Norm Breyfogle

COLORIST: Paul Mounts

LETTERER: Tim Eldred

EDITOR: Chris Ulm

Sort of continuing where the Ultraverse Premiere #0 story ended, Prime confronts the pervert gym teacher, but scares some of the girls as well. This is told by the teacher as he’s being grilled by an alleged government agent (who at least uses a zappy zap to end the pervert’s sexual interest–by that I mean zaps his junk with radiation), who also hears a drug dealer’s story about Prime paying HIM a visit. The dealer managed to get a sample of Prime goop when the bulletproofing turned to play-dough and the agent kills him when the dealer tries to up the price for it. This is interrupted by a news story about Prime’s previous experiences in a news interview with the editor of a magazine focusing on Ultras before a special report shows Prime helping Somali relief workers get supplies past thieves, but when his body starts to break down, Prime has to hurry off before his body turns to goo, revealing someone inside.

What they got right: The framing device of government agents (who seem to know more about this than they let on) learning about Prime works well enough for the character’s introductions as we see Prime’s first two big operations. The news report does show that he’s getting noticed, and that the agents know something about Prime’s limits when they here he went to Somalia. At least the agent in charge doesn’t seem to be all bad, considering he did something about the pervert, and he did try to bargain with the dealer in good faith at first.

What they got wrong: The rest of the interview, talking about Hardcase and Prototype, may not have been necessary, however.

What I think overall: It’s an okay introduction but we don’t know a lot about what’s going on. That’s not a dealbreaker, but it does leave you confused for the first issue, which is taking a risk. Honestly, if it wasn’t for the cartoon and Prime’s general importance to the Ultraverse–and the fact that this is listed as “essential” in the reading order I’m using–I’m not sure I’d continue. I’ll give it another issue or two before deciding if I’ll continue with this one.