Marvel Comics/Epic Comics; $2 

Created by writer-artist-editor Carl Potts, Alien Legion is the continuing story of Nomad Squadron, a unit in the TOPHAN Galactica Union's multi-species military. It is essentially modeled after the French Foreign Legion, but instead of humans with different nationalities it is populated with a wide array of species – mostly, but not exclusively humanoids – who come with an equally wide array of financial, social, political, and criminal backgrounds from the Union's member planets. 

Beginning with Alien Legion #1, Potts teamed with writer Alan Zelenetz, penciler Frank Cirocco, and inker Terry Austin to deliver the story. The first volume ran 20 issues, but there were multiple series and Marvel Graphic Novel #25 (Alien Legion: A Gray Day To Die), to follow. 

Carl Potts 

Potts joined Marvel's editorial staff in 1983, during Jim Shooter's tenure as editor-in-chief. Once there, he worked both as an editor and as a creator. 

On the editorial side, he guided such titles as Incredible Hulk, Doctor Strange, Moon Knight, The Defenders, The Thing, Alpha Flight, Power Pack, Strikeforce: Morituri, and Amazing High Adventure. He edited Marvel's Punisher family of titles and the first Rocket Raccoon miniseries. 

During that time, he raised the profile of such artists as Arthur Adams, Mike Mignola, June Brigman, Whilce Portacio, Larry Stroman, Jon Bogdanove, and Scott Williams. Perhaps most notably, with Potts providing layouts, their collaboration on Punisher War Journal put Jim Lee on the radar of serious collectors. 

Marvel's Epic Line 

In March 1980, Marvel Comics launched Epic Illustrated. Edited by former Editor-in-Chief Archie Goodwin, the magazine ran for 34 issues and provided the company with a competitor for France's Métal Hurlant (Heavy Metal in the US) and an outlet for material that didn't fit in the company's traditional comic books and magazines. 

In 1982, Marvel debuted their Epic Comics imprint, with Goodwin continuing as editor.  

Jim Starlin's Dreadstar, followed by Coyote, Six from Sirius, The Bozz Chronicles, Moonshadow, and The Light and Darkness War. Epic also eventually published Frank Miller and Bill Sienkiewicz's Elektra: Assassin mini-series and Miller and Lynn Varley's Elektra Lives Again original graphic novel, among other projects. 

Alien Legion #1 arrived in April 1984 to start the third series published under the Epic banner. 

The Story 

The issue opens with Who's Who-type dossiers on legionnaires Captain Sarigar, Torrie Montroc III, the seemingly psychotic Jugger Grimrod, Durge, Meico, and Torqua Dun before diving into a story that almost immediately puts the sentients of Nomad Squadron on the defensive. 

When they discover a mining operation is really cover for enemy operatives to extract rare fissionable materials for weapons to be used against the Galactic Union, the Legionnaires must hold their position until reinforcements arrive.  

This issue very strongly blends military fiction, science fiction, political intrigue, and interpersonal conflict into story and art that live up to the promise found in its compelling cover. 

t's periodically mentioned as a possible movie or television series (and with good reason), but it's hard to imagine any kind of filmed version living up to the potential found in the pages of this issue. 

– J.C. Vaughn