The 1980s Atari Force series is not well-remembered, but it delivered a fun sci fi adventure comic that is worth seeking out.
What Is It?
Martin Champion led an elite group that had explored the galaxy in search of a new home for humanity as they were facing ecological devastation on Earth. Organized by A.T.A.R.I. (Advanced Technology and Research Institute), they piloted the multi-dimensional starship Scanner One throughout their journeys while dealing with the threat presented by the Dark Destroyer. They successfully found New Earth which offered a fresh start for the human race, but twenty-five years later Champion is convinced that the Dark Destroyer is still alive and still a danger to the galaxy. He assembles a new team of recruits with special abilities–including his son–to prove that his former nemesis still exists and must be eliminated.
First Appearance: Atari Force Vol. 1 #1 (1982)
Created by: Gerry Conway, Roy Thomas, Ross Andru, José Luis García-López
Original Run:
Atari Force Vol. 1 #1-5 (1982)
DC Graphic Novel #1: Star Raiders (1983)
Atari Force Vol. 2 #1-20 (1984-85)
Atari Force Special #1 (1985)
Legacy:
This odd little comic book series started as a tie-in to the Atari video games but eventually morphed into an interesting, Star Wars-style space opera that delivered a decent sci fi/fantasy adventure.
A Closer Look:
For those who bought the Atari 2600 video games Defender, Berzerk, Star Raiders, Phoenix, and Galaxian, there was a curious little mini-comic book insert that contained a tale that sort of related to the game while also following the adventures of a group known as the Atari Force. It was pretty much standard sci fi adventure stuff and the five comics told a fairly complete story. Those were then followed by Star Raiders in the first edition of the DC Graphic Novel series which was set in the same universe but was not a direct continuation of the previous story (though some of the concepts were carried on the later Atari Force series). The mini-comics never drew much acclaim, but co-creator Gerry Conway came up with an idea of how to continue the story, and that materialized with the second volume that hit the stands in 1984.
The new Atari Force was very different from the one linked to the games and it had essentially no merchandise tie-in beyond the name and the occasional use of the Atari logo. The series focused on a group of quasi-superheroes as they followed Martin Champion in his quixotic attempt to prove that his former nemesis was still alive. All of this resulted in a very Star Wars-like adventure with the Dark Destroyer standing in for Darth Vader. The series borrowed heavily from sci fi and comic book tropes, but it offered enough of its own originality to stand out as a decent genre offering that was not completely derivative. It was populated with a colorful group of characters–particularly Dart, Pakrat, Hukka, Morphea, and Babe–and had enough storylines to keep them all engaged in the action. Sci fi-centric comics were becoming more popular at that time, and this counted as one of the better entries on the stands.
Gerry Conway stuck with the series through the first dozen issues, and Mike Baron would later take over as the main writer. José Luis García-López penciled the first twelve issues (with the exception of #4 and 5 when Ross Andru stepped in), and Eduardo Barreto would finish out the series. Sadly, the quality of the stories dropped some during the latter half of its run, even though I consider Mike Baron to be a good writer. But the artwork remained strong, and the series was still enjoyable throughout its run, and it could have continued for several more years if DC had not lost faith in the property. It is still worth seeking out as a fun little sci fi epic in comic book format even if it might end up leaving you wanting more.
Cancelled Too Soon?
Yes. Sales apparently slipped for the comic during the second year of its run, and there may have been some licensing costs associated with the Atari name. Also, the video game crash happened right about that time, which could have had repercussions on the comic book series. DC brought the book to a close with its 20th issue, though it did manage to wrap up most of its major storylines.
Should It Be Rebooted?
Yes. This comic was a ton of fun when at its best, and there are plenty more adventures that this group could have followed throughout the multi-verse it created. If a new creative team were to take over, they could pick up right where the original series ended, or they could jump a few years in the future to mark the passing of time. And if the Atari name brings any additional cost with it, just rename the group. That company apparently does hold the rights to the characters from the original series, but I am thinking not the second group since most of the product tie-ins were dropped at that point. So a revival could jettison the original characters and continue on with the group that was central to the better run of the series. Sadly, the Atari Force never garnered much acclaim during its original run, so there may not be much interest in a reboot.
Interesting Fact:
The first five comics in the series were part of a tie-in that DC did with multiple Atari 2600 games. They also did separate comics (not linked to the Atari Force) for Yar’s Revenge, Swordquest, and Centipede.
Where Can You Read It?
DC has never issued a collection of the Atari Force stories, and that may indicate that they no longer have the full rights to the series. Dynamite Entertainment announced plans to reprint the first series that was tied to the video games, and that was solicited but never published. The original comics have never gained too much value, so you can go back and collect those issues without breaking the bank. All five issues of the first volume are available to read online at AtariAge.com.
