Space: 1999 #4
Published Charlton and © by ATV Licensing, May 1976
Title: “Demon Star”
Synopsis: The crew of Moonbase Alpha encounters a race of extremely hostile aliens – or are they actually a peace-loving people?
Writer: Nicola Cuti
Artist: John Byrne
Review: Much like the previous issue (see review of Space: 1999 #3), this story by Nicola Cuti is good, quirky fun – but it’s got a familiar feeling you can’t quite shake. This one does feature a nice twist, but a second turn at the end feels tacked on. John Byrne’s early art is a lot of fun, too, as the artist experiments with his storytelling. But he is experimenting, and sometimes his layout choices don’t really serve the story. His alien design is also a mixed bag: It works in some panels, but looks pretty goofy in others.
Grade: B
Cool factor: John Byrne frog aliens …
Not-so-cool factor: … who sometimes look like Muppets.
Notable: This issue includes an uncredited text backup story titled “The Micron Metamorphosis.”
Character quotable: “I know of no faiths that worship both saints and demons” – Dr. Helena Russell (she’s a doctor, not a theologian, Jim!)
Editor’s note: This review was originally published by Comics Bronze Age on Sept. 4, 2009.
