“Remember me? I still have a comic series.”
Prime #7
Malibu Comics/Ultraverse (December, 1993)
“Moon Mission”
WRITERS: Gerald Jones & Len Strazewski
ARTIST: Norm Breyfogle
COLOR DESIGN: Keith Conroy
INTERIOR COLOR: Violent Hues
LETTERER: Tim Eldred
EDITORS: Chris Ulm & Hank Kanalz
When we left our hero behind in the reading order, Prime was on his way to the moon. Eventually arriving and doing some sightseeing while following his tracking device. Prime is met with stone likenesses of Kevin’s family, Colonel Samuels, and Kelly, all trying to get him to calm down and listen to them, but due to not understanding humans, they mostly just tick him off until he finally calms down. In a cave, Prime finds the source of the Jumpstarts, and is given a history lesson by the people inside. Something is coming, and whatever it is they showed him is enough to convince Prime to join their cause.
What they got right: Noting that Prime can’t just go straight to the moon because it moves is one of those things they thought of, which Kevin probably wouldn’t, so it’s a good thing he was briefed. If the aliens are trying to reach Prime, going through people Kevin cares about is not a bad way to do it, but instead of trying to trick him with them like many stories it’s their way to try to breed familiarity with the hero.
What they got wrong: And we know pretty much nothing. If it wasn’t for the stone people there wouldn’t be any action at all, while building up the story gives us at best a further push through the mystery at the heart of the “Break-Thru” event. Also, how does Prime know about Amber? Even in monthly order he left before she showed up. Speaking of which…
What else is there: I know I’ve been harping on the flaws in the reading list order I was going by. I wanted to go by month, not by someone’s suggested story order. Finally getting here didn’t help. The previous issue may not have the event title but leaving all this space before catching up with the one guy who was launching to the moon before everyone else doesn’t work. I would have put the previous issue just before the event, not before things like Exiles, which only set up Amber’s powers and the minor role she has in all this. I’m going by a flawed reading order and it frustrates me because when I finally get to this issue, so little happens. Meaning it kept me waiting, leading to a letdown.
What I think overall: Unless you’re following the event this is not a good comic to come in on. Even if you are, it’s not a very strong story for one full issue dedicated to nothing except Prime’s arrival on the moon. I would have put this in issue #1 of the crossover and maybe dedicating this issue to what Prime was told by the aliens. It’s a weird flow that hurts it as its own story and is a weak chapter in the crossover.
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