Comic books: 1990's Next Men

Back in the nineties one of the biggest comic book series around was Marvel's X-men, (One of Examiner.com's all time favorites as well.) it was the story of a group of young men and women who were born with unique abilities. Shunned and feared by a world they'd sworn to protect.

Well legendary comic book artist and writer John Byrne took that concept and altered it ever so slightly to make it his own. His Next Men were the product of planned genetic manipulation by an evil genius named Sathanas ( another name for Satan). His chief henchman was a corrupt , power mad senator named Aldus Hilltop who would later become president of the United States. All of these events were manipulated by Sathanas who was also a time traveler from the future as well. The Next Men series was much darker than Marvel's merry mutant band.

Dark Horse comics was pushing the envelope with sex, child abuse and nudity. Not to mention the violent images of battle. The Next Men were raised in a secret underground lab dubbed "The Greenery." and programmed as soldiers from their childhood. Killing was unfortunately very easy for them to do. Until they escaped with the help of agent Tony Murcheson from a rival secret organization due to a leak by from someone within the base. With her help and the rival agency Control, They learned the value of human life and became somewhat of a team.

The Next Men consisted of Jack, super strong but tragically unable to control his ever growing strength without the help of a restraining harness. Jasmine whose agility was unparalleled. Gravity was merely a study instead of a law with her innate abilities. Nathan's vision was nearly unlimited. He could see through walls and the various light spectrums and energy wavelengths, this ability was also a curse. HIs eyes were more like organic scanners than human eyes thus giving them a hideous appearance. Bethany was so invulnerable that her hair could cut through steel, that also made her unable to be touched or know human tenderness.

The youngest of the Next Men were the twins Danny and Gillian, Danny was a speedster whose legs were grotesquely disproportionate to his small frame. To all intents and purposes Gillian had "faded," the term the Next Men used for dying at a very early age. Later on we found out that just her body disappeared but her mind had merged with Danny's.

What even his Next Men team mates thought was just an "imaginary friend" was really his sister who was now able to "posse" people and hijack their bodies at her will. In the first issues of the series the team faced everything from their Russian counterparts bent on world domination to former family members who abused them. Also lust, betrayal and jealousy within their own ranks. Tough times for a group of teenagers.

This definitely wasn't a kid's comic book. Examiner discovered this lost treasure by visiting a local comic book store in Rochester Hills Michigan called Comix Corner. They decided to launch a new bundle program. Packaging as many sequential issues of one series that they could gather. The price is pretty sweet as well. I recommend all local readers to visit and take advantage of this deal while it lasts. Who knows what treasures await you. Examiner.com is definitely going to visit again and again.

For More Information: www.byrnerobotics

For Oz Wilson: oztitan@yahoo.com