As discussed yesterday, it’s widely held that the comics printed back in the 90′s were more flash than substance. Many in the hobby hold these books in contempt, but I? I bear a secret shame.
I loves me some 90′s funny books.
We’ve already reviewed my fondness of Milestone’s Icon. Today in part two of this week’s series of shameful revelations, I’d like to chat with you about a little series from Jim Shooter’s gone-before-its-time Defiant Comics, Warriors of Plasm.
Warriors of Plasm was the capital ship of Defiant’s fleet of six comic titles. It was the company’s first, and best, book. While the stories were always entertaining, it was the setting that grabbed me, still holding my imagination so many years later.
Warriors of Plasm is set on a living planet, the Org of Plasm. Like any living thing, the planet requires sustenance. The world isn’t solar powered. And it sure ain’t a vegan.
No, the Org of Plasm is a meat eater.
Those who call the Org home feed their world by conquering other planets. The conquered are then marched into the living planet’s gaping maw for a sumptuous meal of people. I still quote this book from time-to-time.
“Feed him to the Org!”
It makes me giggle, but so do Donner Party documentaries.
All the technology on the Org is organic in origin. Ships, weapons, communication devices – every bit of it formed of living matter. While villains, the denizens of the Org were required to live in harmony with their planet. Otherwise they, rather than the conquered, would wind up on the supper table.
Earth could learn a lot from the Org of Plasm.
Shooter and his team created an awesome alien setting. Exploring it alongside the characters of Lorca and Sueraceen was a treat ended too soon. Warriors of Plasm, a title that launched the company, died with the company seeing only 14 issues in print (#0 – #13).
I get lonesome for the lost worlds of Defiant and Milestone. Just as I hope that we find Milestone’s universe somewhere in the 52 Earths of DC’s multi-verse, I ache for some miraculous rebirth of Plasm. Somehow, someway I want the Org to feed once again.
November 29th, 2007 at 8:31 am
Never really read Plasm. Though I did buy the first issue. Of course, this was during my binge comic buying days, where I picked up one of everything (I knew a comic shop owner). Anywho, with the recent revitalization of Valiant, surely there’s room for a Defiant comeback?
November 29th, 2007 at 8:49 am
I liked Warriors of Plasm. definitely one of the wierder and more disturbing 90′s superhero comics out there. And the living organic world seemed like it had a lot of (horryfyingly fascinating) potential.
November 29th, 2007 at 9:19 am
The planet was alive? And ate people? Sounds like the evil mirror universe version of Mogo. AWESOME!!!
November 29th, 2007 at 12:55 pm
I’m still laughing my ass off over the Donner Party comment. Aron, you are a sick, sick man, and I love you to bits. Edible ones, even.
November 29th, 2007 at 10:46 pm
Wasn’t this the one where the zero issue was published as a set of trading cards? Even in the 90′s I knew that idea was doomed to fail no matter how good the book was.
November 29th, 2007 at 10:59 pm
That’s the one, Smax! It was gimmicky… Honestly, I think that DEFIANT would have done a lot better had Marvel not sued them… I’m with Paul, though. Why not a DEFIANT relaunch?
November 30th, 2007 at 7:42 am
Shooter’s Broadway Comics also had some cool concepts.
Lasted even shorter than Defiant, though.
Best,
Hunter (Pedro Bouça)
January 17th, 2011 at 12:32 pm
This will be the initial website I read on my new Iphone. Ill be back.
August 19th, 2011 at 1:48 am
no shame on that,i gotta say.