1983’s Omega Men delivered an epic tale that blended superheroes with sci fi and offered some more mature themes than the typical comic at that time.
What Is It?
Omega Men follows a ragtag group of freedom fighters who come from the Vega star system, which is under the yoke of the malevolent Citadel Empire. Each of the members of this group has unique abilities and they hail from a planet in the system and have a reason to fight against the tyranny of the Citadel. The initial storyline follows the members of this group as they struggle to liberate the Vega system while fighting amongst themselves to determine how best to help their people. Among the main characters are the noble leader Primus, the fierce feline-like warrior Tigorr, the pacifist-turned-warrior Broot, the cyborg Doc, and the twin sisters Harpis and Demonia.
Created By: Marv Wolfman, Joe Staton, Roger Slifer, Keith Giffen
Original Run:
Green Lantern Vol. 2 #141-144, 160-161
Action Comics #535-536
Teen Titans Vol. 1 #24-25, Annual #1
Omega Men #1-38
Legacy:
Omega Men delivered an epic superhero saga with plenty of sci fi elements, and it stood out from many of the other comics on the stands at that time for its adult themes and more mature storylines.
A Closer Look:
The team known as the Omega Men were first introduced in Green Lantern #141 in 1981, and they would go on to several appearances in that title and a few others before starring in their own series which hit the stands in 1983. This was a time when the comic industry was pushing boundaries with less oversite from the Comics Code and more freedom in the direct market. The Omega Men series was directed at more mature readers with its violence and adult themes and even carried a “Mature Readers” advisory.
The series started out seeming somewhat derivative, mixing in elements of Star Wars with plenty of other sci fi and superhero tropes. But it quickly began to distinguish itself as not your typical sci fi or superhero book, taking twists and turns while also delivering interesting and unique characters coming from the many worlds of the Vega system. Much of this occurred during writer Roger Slifer’s run with the title (with an assist from Keith Giffen) as he wrote all but one issue from Number 1 to 19. He unfolded an epic saga of the Omega Men against the tyranny of the Citadel, and those issues deliver some gripping tales.
Slifer would then depart after the nineteenth issue and a rotating set of creators would handle the title through its 38th and final issue. Some of those kept up the quality of the earlier issues while others seemed to meander, but the Omega Men would remain a fun series throughout its run. The book is still remembered by those who followed it for exploring themes of loyalty, freedom, and the cost of rebellion while also blending action-packed space opera with nuanced character development. And the original run of the series is certainly worth seeking out.
Cancelled Too Soon?
Omega Men had a decent run of thirty-eight issues, though many of us would have liked for it to stick around longer (and for Roger Slifer to return to the writing duties). It’s quality grew inconsistent during the second half of its run which led to declining sales and the eventual cancellation. But the characters would continue to appear in other DC comics for years to come.
The Story Continues:
The Omega Men would not fade away after their cancellation as they have continued to make guest appearances in other DC titles over the past few decades in several incarnations. They would play a part in 1988’s Invasion storyline as well as the Genesis saga in 1997. They appeared in the Starman title in 1999 and also in Adam Strange in 2005. Then, from 2006 to 2007, they returned in a six-issue limited series of their own title. A decade later in 2015, the team returned in their own series again, this time a complete reboot as part of the “DC You” revamp going on at that time. That was written by Tom King and lasted for 12 issues.
Interesting Facts
The intergalactic bounty hunter Lobo made his first appearance in Issue #3 of the series. Created by Roger Slifer and Keith Giffen, he started as a minor character, but he would go on to become a fan-favorite anti-hero in the DC Universe who has made regular appearances across many titles.
The Omega Men are considered an important peacekeeper force in their part of galaxy because the Green Lantern Corps cannot enter into Vegan space due to a long-standing agreement with the Psions.
Where Can You Read It?
Surprisingly, the original series has never been reissued in any sort of collected set. Those issues are not super expensive in the collectable market (except #3 because of the first appearance of Lobo), but it will still get pricey to collect them all. You can buy ebook versions of the original issues from Amazon’s Kindle and comiXology for $1.99 an issue, and that is a least a good way to sample the series.
