Strikeforce: America (1995) #1 by Dave DeVries, Scott Clark and others
So this is the relaunch — this series was originally launched as Strike Force America in 1992, and now three years later (after Comico going dormant), we have a new number one, and they’ve tweaked the name. Colon comics sell better, perhaps?
To recap, this is an Elementals spin-off, but with a totally new team of super-heroes.
But… that page looks very familiar…
Yes! The first eight pages of this are just eight pages that were originally published in the first #1… which I guess makes sense (you can’t expect anybody to remember three years in the past, and you avoid having to do all the recapping). But it makes for very choppy reading.
And then we get what has to have been meant to have been the original #2.
The artwork looks very similar to the first issue (i.e., bad and amateurish), so I’m guessing this was done back in 1992.
We get (I think) 22 new pages, so it’s not like those eight reprint pages “cheated” the readers or anything, but…
Anyway, this issue is really bad, too — they fight the demon dog, and then…
… er, I guess one of them dies?
And that’s the end.
The Slings and Arrows Comic Guide #2, page #641:
STRIKEFORCE AMERICA
Comico: 1 issue 1995
Appalling super-team spin-off from Elementals, with none of
the charm, originality or competence of either run. Mindless,
derivative and easily forgotten.~WW
Harsh!
Huh. This (attempt at a) series got no press whatsoever?
Strike Force
Strikes Again
The Saga of Strike Force
America continues! Strike Force
America: Special Edition #3
comes in two versions. One fea-
tures not only a foil-embossed
cover, but a holographic foil
centerspread poster of The Force
as well for $4.95 (a $7.95 value),
while the second has the same
great story and art as the deluxe
version, but without the ultra-
cool foil-embossed cover and
never before done holographic
foil centerspread for a price of
$2.50. Written by Dave DeVries
and illustrated by Scott Clark and
R.R. Phipps.
This issue begins a two-part
storyline that is an excellent jump-
ing on point for new readers.
Collateral Damage has destroyed
a maximum security prison in an
attempt to free some of the most
powerful villains ever created to
aid him in his personal war against
The Force! It’s a battle royale
that’s got America thundering at
herborders! Commander Chaos
is forced to stand alone against
the living weapon, and there can
be only one winner of this cata-
clysmic confrontation!
What? I don’t think that ever happened…
Hero Illustrated #22, page #88:
Justice Machine Annual #1-four ordi-
nary people who lost their lives and
returned from the grave with powers
given to them by elemental spirits.
Years later, the number of super-
powered characters in the Elementals
Universe exploded, leading to the gov-
ernment forming their own team, Strike
Force America. This June, Comico
gives the team their own ongoing
series. Dave DeVries, who’s worked on
Marvel’s Phantom series, will be writing
the title and Scott Clark (StormWatch
and Warblade: Endangered Species) is
the penciler.
“Major Chaos is the
leader of Strike Force.”
Azzarello comments. “He
is a military man who’s
leading a group of people
who have no respect for
authority-including his
own. So that differs from
a lot of other team books
because it’s a team book
without a sense of team-
work. There’s a certain
amount of interplay that is
just based on tension. It’s
kind of a lot like having a
job.”
Oh, it did get some press, but under the name “Strike Force America” and not “Strikeforce: America”.
Overstreet’s FAN #1, page #75:
Truh, it sort of does have an Image feel, doesn’t
I wonder how that happened…” muses editor
wello. ‘In overall scope, this book is a lot like
Wengers comics of the 70’s. Remember those?
thus, those issues were the heyday of that particular
On closer inspection though, readers may be
with the way things are handled. This is not
in ordinary team book.”
I can find no reviews of this book.