Here's
the history of Pirate Corp$! and Hectic Planet from day one.
Books highlighted in RED are actually
in print and available. This list has been reorganized in chronological order,
rather than order of publication, so you will know what order to read
everything in.
Hectic Planet : Dim Future -- 1998 (Slave Labor). The first paperback collection!! This volume includes all of the Eternity work in one volume, along with pin-ups, flyers, and other supplemental material. The issues reprinted in this book are:
Pirate Corp$! #1 -- July 1987, published by Eternity
Comics. 24 pages of full, blinding color, plus Evan's first editorial on
his very first letters page. Scarily, we could run it today and most people
wouldn't realize it was 9 years old -- "The industry is a crazy place right
now. It's a crapshoot putting a book out if you're an 'independent'."
Pirate Corp$! #2 -- Oct 1987. Interestingly, 26 pages this
time, still scarily colored.
Pirate Corp$! #3 -- Dec1987. Switched to black & white,
27 pages this time around.
Pirate Corp$! #4 -- Feb 1988. 25 pages, plus letters pages.
Looking back at this book, I was highly amused to find this statement:
"[apparently], some readers are having trouble finding copies of the book.
They are available, and your retailer will probably get them for you
if they love you and your money. Ask them." Some things never change, I
guess. This was the last issue that Eternity published. The Eternity issues
were also published as:
Pirate Corp$!: The Blunder Years #1
-- July 1993 (Slave Labor). These two volumes collect the
entire Eternity run of Pirate Corp$! in black & white (touched
up for b&w).
Pirate Corp$!: The Blunder Years #2
-- July 1993 (Slave Labor). The Eternity years, part
2.
Pirate Corp$! Special #1 -- April 1989 (Slave
Labor). Dan Vado and Evan get drunk at the same party, and somehow Dan ends
up agreeing to publish Pirate Corp$!. This issue sees the beginnings
of a definite shift in the book -- the music and pop culture elements start
creeping in and the mood begins to move away from the straighter sci-fi-adventure
of the Eternity issues. This shift eventually changes the book radically
enough to warrant a name change.
Pirate Corp$! #1 -- June 1989 (Slave Labor). 24 pages,
including a cute backup featuring Elsie and Annie.
Pirate Corp$! #2 -- (spring) 1989 (Slave Labor). 24 pages,
with cute Milk & Cheese backup story!
Pirate Corp$! #3 -- 1991 (Slave Labor). 27-page story,
plus one-page M&C.
Pirate Corp$! #4 -- (March?) 1992 (Slave Labor). A veritable
potpourri of a comic -- 12-page story of how Halby and Elsie met, various
pin-ups and one-pagers.
Hectic Planet : Checkered Past -- 1998 (Slave Labor). Volume two of the collected HP! This one encompasses the Slave work from the Special through issue #4, plus more supplemental material. The issues included are:
Hectic Planet #5! (originally published as Pirate Corp$! #5 in 1993) (Slave Labor). Swanky painted Trombone Girls cover and a totally packed issue.
Vroom Socko: Paid in Full #1 -- Nov 1993 (Slave Labor). A full length story featuring the nemesis of the Jersey Devil's crew, Vroom Socko. Originally published in the UK's Deadline magazine.
Hectic Planet #6 -- Nov 1993 (Slave Labor). Painted Fibby cover, story continued from issue 5. This issue sees the name change in order to reflect the book's change from "space opera comedy" to "slice of future life stories". Color Milk & Cheese "War of the Gargantuas!" strip on the back cover!! Now available in it's second printing.
Dark Horse Presents #118, 119 and 120 contained a series of three 8-page Hectic Planet stories: Halby in a tale of romantic tragedy; that most lovable Trombone Girl Chako Marquez in a tale of romantic tragedy; and Halby's ex-gal Elsie in...a tale of romantic tragedy. These stories stand alone and you don't need to have read any issues of HP/PC$! to understand them; nor do you have to read them to follow the regular continuity.
You can order all this fabulous merchandise by mail or phone, or even online!! Check out the Slave Labor/Amaze Ink online catalog. Or, call Slave's toll-free number: 1-800-466-8929 if you wish to use your credit card. Allow 4-6 weeks for delivery! (Patience is a virtue, remember?)
And you'd like to carry Hectic Planet or any other fine House of Fun comics in your store, write or call Slave Labor today for information on how to get current or back issues. Their capable office help will attend to your every need! And remember, that's a toll-free call! 1-800-466-8929
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