Atlas-Seaboard; 25¢

The short-lived, cult classic Atlas-Seaboard line of full color comic books and black and white magazines is a study in contrasts. A number of the titles were almost self-contradictory, thrashing about trying to find a direction. But some of the others...

There were flashes of brilliance there, and that’s what compels fans of a certain age who experienced them to have a strong sense of “What if...?” when it comes to thinking about what would have happened if Martin Goodman’s second Atlas line had lasted.

Many of the series lasted only a few issues, but this week’s subject only lasted one. At least on the surface. The Atlas-Seaboard character with the oddest existence (or most existences) was Demon-Hunter, and it came with a dynamic, compelling cover by creator and interior artist Rich Buckler. With a new, imposing, mysterious figure on the cover, it pretty much demanded to be read.

Of course the covers were supposed to look like the Marvel comics of the day, and if you weren’t paying attention it could certainly work. And once you opened it up, it continued looking like a great Marvel comic from the period.

In his origin story, Gideon Cross had renounced the demon cult which had granted him incredible powers and now stood opposed to them. Their goal was “Xenogenisis,” the rebirth of a demon race on earth. David Anthony Kraft (Comics Interview) wrote it and Rich Buckler plotted and illustrated it. Readers got enough to easily know they wanted more.

And that was all. This issue is definitely worth seeking out.

But there is, however, more to to the story.

Over at Marvel, Buckler’s “Deathlok The Demolisher” series in Astonishing Tales had been canceled mid-story. The story was to be more or less wrapped up in Marvel Spotlight #33 (1977), although it would also carry into Marvel Two-in-One #27 before fading into the great land of permanently dangling storylines. Again with Kraft writing and Buckler illustrating, Deathlok returned ostensibly for the wrap-up story. Only it was easily as much the origin story for Devil-Slayer.

Devil-Slayer was Eric Simon Payne. He had renounced the demon cult which had granted him incredible powers and now stood opposed to them. Their goal, and stop me if you’ve heard this before, was “Xenogenisis,” the rebirth of a demon race on earth. His costume was blue with an orange cape where Demon-Hunter’s was red with a blue cape, but otherwise it’s the same guy.

That wasn’t his only appearance. Devil-Slayer went on to pop up in Kraft’s The Defenders #58-60 (1978) for a three-part story entitled, not surprisingly, “Xenogenisis.” He wasn’t done there. Well, Devil-Slayer was, as was Eric Simon Payne, but Gideon Cross wasn’t. Cross came back as Bloodwing, in the Buckler-published Galaxia Magazine (1981). This one didn’t get as far as mentioning Xenogenisis, but there was mention of a demonic “Crimson Brotherhood.” The character looked the same as his Marvel incarnation on the color cover (interiors were black and white), but the feel was a little more rough and tumble.

– J.C. Vaughn