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Crimson Spider
01-08-2005, 02:34 PM
I've been sick for a few days, which means one thing: Catching up on old comics that I never got around to reading!

http://members.aol.com/braab1013/union.jpg

The story I read is a three-issue limited series published in late '98 called Union Jack. Before reading it, I knew little to nothing about Jack, which worked to my advantage, I guess; the Jack featured in this story is different from the WWII Jack.

It was published at a time when Marvel was shitting out limited series like crazy. That kind of explains why I never really read it before. At the time, I bought, like, 40 comics a month, most of which I just skimmed through and never actually read.

It's written by Ben Raab, a writer I never gave much attention to, and drawn by John Cassady.

In a nutshell, Jack's recently taken up the job of Britain's own hero/vampire hunter after his best friend's grandfather. The story's pretty straightforward, but what made it a great read were the great characters and beautiful artwork (especially during the action scenes). That's not to say that the writing's average, as there are some moments that I found quite clever.

I can't say much else without spoiling it. I bet you can find it pretty cheap (a quarter, most likely), so check it out.

Also, does anyone know if a sequel was ever published? The ending kind of left things open for a follow-up.

F!
01-08-2005, 04:12 PM
Certain plot threads are continued in the current series The New Invaders from Marvel.

Crimson Spider
01-08-2005, 05:46 PM
Oh, yeah, he's in that, isn't he? I'll have to check it out.

Ichbin Der Ausgang
01-09-2005, 08:28 AM
It was published at a time when Marvel was shitting out limited series like crazy.
The more things change, eh?

Crimson Spider
01-09-2005, 08:50 AM
The more things change, eh?

Hmm, maybe it's just that I haven't been buying as many comics as I have in the past, but doesn't Marvel seem relatively much more focused when it comes to limited series nowadays? If not on the basis of quantity, then quality?

Owen Heitmann
02-23-2005, 05:45 PM
The Union Jack's costume in that picture and the mention of vampires in the plot remind me of Jack Staff by Paul Grist (the first story arc features vampires), originally published by Dancing Elephant Press and now under Image. Jack Staff's one of my favourite comics right now, so I might have to do a review soon.

Crimson Spider
02-23-2005, 08:06 PM
I believe Jack Staff was meant as a Union Jack parody. Whether or not that's still the case, I have no idea.

Owen Heitmann
02-24-2005, 06:35 PM
Hmmm... Jack Staff didn't read to me like a parody, so I did a little research and found this at http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/j/jackstaf.htm:


Jack's original four issue story arc was first conceived by Paul as a story for Marvel Comic's Union Jack character. However Marvel already had a mini-series in the works for the character, and weren't interested. Rather than let it go to waste, Paul modified it (in a big way, as the version that finally appeared could not have fitted in the Marvel continuity of the characters), and created the character of Jack Staff.

So, more of a homage or 'inspired by' than a parody, I guess.

Owen Heitmann,
Artist/co-writer, 5031 (http://www.24hourcynic.com) web-comic

Crimson Spider
02-24-2005, 06:46 PM
Yep, you're right.

I guess that's why I forgot and thought it was a parody.

ob_genius
04-14-2005, 12:00 PM
have never heard of this one before. I am gonna check this one out.