Written by Mike W. Barr
Art by Terry Dodson; Andrew Pepoy; Dave Lanphear; Tim Divar; & Family Fugue
Cover Art by Norm Breyfogle & George Cox
SUMMARY:
Published by Malibu Comics for January 1994, the two-part Prime cross-over from Prime # 8 concludes with “The Battle of All Mothers.” Despite Prime’s best efforts, Doc’s escape van absconds with a captive Mantra. Ironically, the escape van passes a car containing Eden Blake’s unsuspecting kids. Inside his underground lab, Doc reveals that Mantra shall be an expendable pawn for his diabolical mutation experiments to create super-powered soldiers. It’s up to Prime to rescue a defenseless Mantra in time. Battling a mutated octopus-like creature in the sewer, a sword-wielding Mantra must save young Kevin (whose time-limited Prime form has dissolved) from Doc’s vengeance.
Note: Mantra is an immortal, 1500-year old male warrior Lukasz presently trapped inside modern-day woman Eden Blake’s host body.
REVIEW:
Sporting good artwork, this issue’s storyline delivers some solid chemistry between Mantra and her guest star, Prime, who is Malibu’s answer to Shazam/Captain Marvel. To writer Mike K. Barr’s credit, he nicely conveys these two heroes as equals, as each must save the other in turn. Hence, Mantra # 7 proves a surprisingly good read.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
There’s a cover reveal for next issue’s team-up with Warstrike, along with a two-page “Mantra’s Mail” letters-and-answers column. A cartoony and overtly sexist, two-page “You Can’t Spell Mantra Without Man” series synopsis includes artwork from Terry Dodson, Al Vey, & Patrick Owsley. A separate two-page spread hypes Malibu’s armored hero, Prototype.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 7 Stars
