Space: 1999 #1
Published and © by Charlton, November 1975
Title: “Moonless Night”
Synopsis: A nuclear chain reaction blows the moon – and the inhabitants of Moonbase Alpha – out of orbit and into space!
Writer: Nicola Cuti
Artist: Joe Staton
Review: This five-page recap of the television pilot is a little too condensed: the series’ premise isn’t quite clear and there is little sense of dramatic pacing. On the art side, Joe Staton’s pacing is better, and he also does a nice job capturing the likenesses of the TV series’ actors.
•••
Title: “Intelligent Species”
Synopsis: The Moonbase Alpha crew explores a world for possible settlement – but finds the planet ruled by monstrous, sentient slugs.
Writer: Nicola Cuti
Artist: Joe Staton
Review: Nicola Cuti is in his element with this original sci-fi story, which features a fun plot and surprisingly snappy dialogue.
Grade (for the entire issue): B
Second opinion: “One of my all-time favorite covers.” – Richie Prosch, Comic Effect #7, Autumn 1994 … “Nic Cuti produced acceptable stories, and Joe Staton decent enough art.” – The Slings & Arrows Comic Guide (second edition), 2003
Cool factor: C’mon, it’s “Space: 1999.” It’d be pretty hard being a child of the Bronze Age and not thinking this was cool.
Not-so-cool factor: The production values at the Charlton printing facility. This reviewer’s copy of this comic is actually a tilting parallelogram.
Notable: Based on the British television series of the same name. … This issue also includes “The Kammerer Effect,” a non-“Space: 1999”, sci-fi short story by Nicola Cuti, with spot illustrations by Tom Sutton.
Character quotable: “The Earth is lost! We must look to space for our new home.” – Commander John Koenig
Editor’s note: This review was originally published by Comics Bronze Age on Aug. 27, 2010.
