Andromeda #1
Published and © by Andromeda, September 1977
Title: “The Man Who Walked Home”
Synopsis: A time traveler stumbling backwards toward Zero Day appears annually for a second as civilization rebuilds itself.
Writer (original story): James Tiptree Jr.
Writer (adaptation): John Allison
Artists: Allison and Tony Meers
Review: Andromeda wastes little time establishing the fact it will be trafficking in sophisticated, thinking-person’s sci-fi. “The Man Who Walked Home” is a dense, at-times-difficult read, with odd speech cadence and a plodding plot. It was probably a better short story than graphic adaptation, though the pencil art here is excellent.
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Title: “The Escape and Pursuit of Jeanne d’Arc”
Synopsis: A surreal piece featuring a biplane, gun-totting samurai, little girl with a crucifix and woman burning at the stake.
Writer: Dean Motter
Artist: Motter
Review: Future Mister X creator Dean Motter is in full Moebius mode, delivering a dream-infused short that’s more thinker than entertainer.
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Title: “A Day at Ygsrd’s”
Synopsis: A bear-like alien walks into a creature-filled bar. Orders a drink. Drinks the drink. Then leaves.
Writer: Jason Ross
Artist: Ross
Review: As its synopsis suggest, there’s not much going on in this two-pager. The cluttered art is quite nice, though.
•••
Title: “Troll”
Synopsis: A hairy troll under a bridge waxes philosophical about the joys of scaring unsuspecting travelers.
Writer: Don Marshall
Artist: Marshall
Review: This “Cerebral Swamp” one-pager is in the style of Jeffery Catherine Jones’ “Idyl”; the art by Don Marshall is lovely.
Grade (for the entire issue): B
Second opinion: “Stylish if somewhat hit-and-miss science fiction … .” – The Slings & Arrows Comic Guide (second edition), 2003
Cool factor: Ground-level sci-fi.
Notable: Not listed in The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide.
Character quotable: “But sometimes it drowns, an’ spoils all da fun …” – The Troll
A word from the writer/artist/editor: “My own story, ‘The Escape and Pursuit of Jeanne d’Arc,’ follows. I shan’t attempt an explanation. All I ask is that you play around with it in your head a little.” – Dean Motter, in an introduction to this issue
Editor’s note: This review was originally published by Comics Bronze Age on October 9, 2009.
