Warriors of Plasm
Encyclopedia
Warriors of Plasm was the flagship title of Jim Shooter
's Defiant Comics
comic book company.
Besides the original first issue (#1) of the comic (1993
), there was also a zero issue (#0) of Warriors of Plasm which was released as an insert in Previews magazine, and as a trading card
set that could be put together in a binder to be read as a comic. There was also a Warriors of Plasm graphic novel
titled Home for the Holidays, published in between issues #5 and #6.
threatened Defiant Comics with a lawsuit over a similarly titled property, Plasmer
.
Jim Shooter changed the name to Warriors of Plasm to avoid any further legal issues with Marvel. Defiant Comics, however, still wound up defending themselves in a court battle with Marvel over the name.
Defiant Comics won in court, but ended up spending over $300,000 in legal fees to defend itself. The loss of capital would help lead to Defiant's eventual collapse.
. Most of the books were written by Jim Shooter and illustrated by David Lapham
. Shooter had discovered Lapham during his tenure as editor-in-chief of Valiant Comics
.
The series also featured the talents of Len Wein
, a former editor-in-chief at Marvel Comics, and Dave Cockrum
, who helped co-create many of the "new" X-Men
at Marvel Comics with Chris Claremont
.
The final issue of Warriors of Plasm was one of only two books published by Defiant to carry the Schism storyline. Originally, Jim Shooter had planned to do a "crossover" including all of Defiant's titles and characters, but because of the failure of the company only Warriors of Plasm #13 and Dogs of War
#5 ever saw publication.
However, he devises an attempt to overthrow the rulers of Plasm. To do so he genetically modifies five humans. When his rebellion is thwarted, he sends them home. These humans gain superpowers and then set themselves in preparation to attempt to defend the Earth from the oncoming alien invasion from Plasm. The humans do not function well together, suffering leadership conflicts and the desire to regain their normal lives.
The five genetically altered superheroes are all residents of New Jersey
. They are:
Jim Shooter
James Shooter is an American writer, occasional fill-in artist, editor, and publisher for various comic books. Although he started professionally in the medium at the extraordinarily young age of 14, he is most notable for his successful and controversial run as Marvel Comics' ninth...
's Defiant Comics
Defiant Comics
Defiant Comics was a comic book publishing imprint of Enlightened Entertainment Partners, LP. Defiant was established in 1993 by former Marvel Comics and Valiant Comics editor-in-chief Jim Shooter.- Publication history :...
comic book company.
Besides the original first issue (#1) of the comic (1993
1993 in comics
-January:* Doom Patrol #63: " The Empire of Chairs," Grant Morrison's final issue as Doom Patrol writer.-February:* Action Comics, with issue #686, suspends publication following "The Death of Superman."...
), there was also a zero issue (#0) of Warriors of Plasm which was released as an insert in Previews magazine, and as a trading card
Trading card
A trading card is a small card, usually made out of paperboard or thick paper, which usually contains an image of a certain person, place or thing and a short description of the picture, along with other text...
set that could be put together in a binder to be read as a comic. There was also a Warriors of Plasm graphic novel
Graphic novel
A graphic novel is a narrative work in which the story is conveyed to the reader using sequential art in either an experimental design or in a traditional comics format...
titled Home for the Holidays, published in between issues #5 and #6.
Legal battle
Originally called Plasm, the title was changed after Marvel ComicsMarvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
threatened Defiant Comics with a lawsuit over a similarly titled property, Plasmer
Plasmer
Plasmer was a short-lived 1993 comic book series from Marvel UK, created by Glenn Dakin and Pascual Ferry.-Fictional character biography:...
.
Jim Shooter changed the name to Warriors of Plasm to avoid any further legal issues with Marvel. Defiant Comics, however, still wound up defending themselves in a court battle with Marvel over the name.
Defiant Comics won in court, but ended up spending over $300,000 in legal fees to defend itself. The loss of capital would help lead to Defiant's eventual collapse.
Publication history
Warriors of Plasm was published for a total of 13 issues from August 1993 to August 19941994 in comics
-Year overall:* Huge changes in the marketplace force many retailers and small publishers out of business...
. Most of the books were written by Jim Shooter and illustrated by David Lapham
David Lapham
David Lapham is an Eisner Award winning American comic book writer, artist, and cartoonist, best known for his work on his groundbreaking independent comic book Stray Bullets.-Biography:...
. Shooter had discovered Lapham during his tenure as editor-in-chief of Valiant Comics
Valiant Comics
Valiant Comics is a comic book imprint published by various publishers since its inception with Voyager Communications, Inc. in 1989, later Acclaim Comics, Inc. Its assets were purchased from the bankruptcy of the Acclaim Entertaintment by Valiant Entertainment, Inc. in 2007.-Voyager...
.
The series also featured the talents of Len Wein
Len Wein
Len Wein is an American comic book writer and editor best known for co-creating DC Comics' Swamp Thing and Marvel Comics' Wolverine, and for helping revive the Marvel superhero team the X-Men...
, a former editor-in-chief at Marvel Comics, and Dave Cockrum
Dave Cockrum
David Emmett Cockrum was an American comic book artist known for his co-creation of the new X-Men characters Nightcrawler, Storm, and Colossus...
, who helped co-create many of the "new" X-Men
X-Men
The X-Men are a superhero team in the . They were created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, and first appeared in The X-Men #1...
at Marvel Comics with Chris Claremont
Chris Claremont
Chris Claremont is an award-winning American comic book writer and novelist, known for his 17-year stint on Uncanny X-Men, far longer than any other writer, during which he is credited with developing strong female characters, and with introducing complex literary themes into superhero...
.
The final issue of Warriors of Plasm was one of only two books published by Defiant to carry the Schism storyline. Originally, Jim Shooter had planned to do a "crossover" including all of Defiant's titles and characters, but because of the failure of the company only Warriors of Plasm #13 and Dogs of War
Dogs of War (Comics)
Dogs of War is a comic book series originally published by Defiant Comics from April 1994 until August 1994. The series lasted only five issues before Defiant ceased publication of the title.The book was based on characters created by Jim Shooter...
#5 ever saw publication.
Plot
Far from earth is a planet which is also a living organism: the Org of Plasm. The Org must constantly be fed. This is accomplished by conquering new planets. Lorca, the Supreme Acquisitor, leads this mission. Lorca soon sets his sights on Earth.However, he devises an attempt to overthrow the rulers of Plasm. To do so he genetically modifies five humans. When his rebellion is thwarted, he sends them home. These humans gain superpowers and then set themselves in preparation to attempt to defend the Earth from the oncoming alien invasion from Plasm. The humans do not function well together, suffering leadership conflicts and the desire to regain their normal lives.
Characters
On Plasm, the main characters are:- Lorca - Lorca is the Supreme Acquisitor on the Org of Plasm. He seeks out other planets for the living Org of Plasm to consume.
- Sueraceen - Sueraceen is the High Gore-Lord of Plasm, its chief military officer.
- Ulnareah - Ulnareah is the Grand Inquisitor of Plasm. He serves under Lorca but has his ambitions set much higher.
The five genetically altered superheroes are all residents of New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. They are:
- Glory - a.k.a. "Mrs. J"; Louise Johnson, a married grandmother of two.
- Preach - Reverend Martin Gilbert, the bishop of a New Jersey church.
- Shooter - Elvis Mazerov, an ex-military officer.
- Mouse - Rick Tietz, a large, shy auto-mechanic.
- Nudge - Cookie Wazenegger, a quiet, polite girl who works at a cosmetics counter.