Wednesday, November 24, 2010

1980's Flashback: Alien Legion



Alien Legion was a series of comic books and associated titles originally created by Carl Potts, Alan Zelenetz, and Frank Cirocco for Marvel Comics; Epic Comics imprint beginning in 1983. It featured the military unit known as Force Nomad, which was similar to the French Foreign Legion, but in a science-fiction setting.

Titled "The Alien Legion" for its first two volumes (and initial graphic novel), the series was an extrapolation of the United States government and modern society. Among the Tophanic Galactic Union’s three major galaxies, the ideal of an equal, democratic melting-pot climate often clashed head-on with a reality that included widespread corruption and prejudice among countless races with endless numbers of cultures, languages and moral codes.

The Legion’s fully integrated ranks must work together in Force Nomad to succeed and survive despite their differences. The best and the worst sentient beings from three galaxies were then thrust into high pressure situations that often tested the ideals upon which their intergalactic government was based.

Collaborators on the series included Chuck Dixon, Larry Stroman, Terry Austin, Chris Warner, Whilce Portacio, Mark Farmer and Scott Hanna. Alien Legion graphic novels, mini-series or one-shots have included A Grey Day to Die, On the Edge, Tenants of Hell, One Planet at a Time, Binary Deep and Grimrod: Terror at the Crossroads.

Dark Horse Comics is currently planning a new Alien Legion series and in the mid-2000s, Alien Legion was optioned by producer Jerry Bruckheimer and The Walt Disney Company for a live-action film, which still remains in development. The most prominent characters included Colonel Sarigar, team leader whose lower half is serpentine; Captain Torie Montroc and an alien of the Thraxian race, Jugger Grimrod.

1 comment:

Walter said...

Love me some legion. The authors dealt with war issues, sometimes a bit too difficult to deal with in a more mundane setting like Vietnam.