Amazing Heroes Issue #6 Table of Contents

Amazing Heroes Issue #6 Table of Contents

Periodical

Comics Strips

The sixth issue of Amazing Heroes has a black-and-white Table of Contents, one whose header features the title, Amazing Heroes, on the left side, and the words “No. 6” and “November 1981” on the right. After this, it lists the more notable aspects of the issue. Such aspects include the cover illustration, “Moon Knight and Marlene – a Family Portrait” by Bill Sienkiewicz, “Amazing Readers” which features letters from fans, “Star Wars”, an adventure story written by Archie Goodwin and Al Williamson, “Comics Report”, a news compilation by Michael Catron, “Coming Distractions”, a checklist of new comics, “A New Phase for Moon Knight” by Michael Catron, “The Life and Death of the Doom Patrol”, an article chronicling the history of the Doom Patrol by George Guay, “Doom Patrol Index” by George Guay, a “Star Hawks” adventure by Archie Goodwin and Gil Kane, and an illustration of Dr. Fate by Mark Lamport. To the right of this list, there are several illustrations of characters mentioned throughout the issue, including animations of Darth Vader and Moon Knight. Below the list, on the left-hand side, there is a list of staff members. To the right of this, publication/copyright information and ad rates are offered. Next to this, there is a list of advertisers and what page they are advertising on. Finally, the lower right-hand side is marked with a “5” for the page number.

The Table of Contents features three main popular culture references: Star Wars, Moon Knight, and Doom Patrol. All three of these popular entities – one originating as a movie that spun off into comics, with the other two’s origins in comic books – feature non-traditional heroes throughout their series. In the Star Wars films, the character of Han Solo is a great example of an anti-hero; he is snarky and rude, but begrudgingly saves the day. Doom Patrol features a group of misfits with superheroes, lovingly referred to as the “world’s strangest heroes”. Lastly, Moon Knight features an anti-hero with three secret identities, who also displays the “Dark Triad of personality”. These three series, while very different, offer unique perspectives on the identities of heroes, and what it means to be one. By featuring three sets of abnormal, go-against-the-grain heroes within its pages, Amazing Heroes is demonstrating to its readers that there is a completely alternative way of being a hero, one that goes against the prior understanding of what it means to really be a hero. For example, in the case of Han Solo (in Episode IV: A New Hope), he is not driven by a desire to save others – in fact, he is reluctant to do so, both when rescuing Princess Leia and when the Rebels attack the Death Star. However, his desire for riches is what led him there, and is his initial motivation; it is not until later in the movie that he decides to do the “right thing” for the sake of doing it. Essentially, Han Solo is not a hero because he wants to be; he is a hero as a result of his reluctance. In featuring such eccentric, and sometimes morally questionable, characters and positioning them as heroes, Amazing Heroes takes the stance that there is a lot more to being a hero than donning a cape and flying around major cities.

Executive Editor: Michael Catron
Art Director: Peppy White
Contributing Writer: George Guay
Contributing Artists: Bill Anderson, Rudi Franke, Doug Hazelwood, Mark Heike, Gary Kwapisz, Mark Lamport, Kevin Nowlan, Mike O'Neal
Cover Art: Bill Sienkiewicz

MSU Special Collection Comic Art, PN6725.A47

Zam, Inc.

1981-11

Holly Simon

Rights Restrictions Apply

10 1/4 x 6 1/8 in.

English

Periodical

OMIT

1981-1992