Espers (comics)
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''Espers'' (sometimes styled as ''ESPers'') is a
creator-owned In the United States, creator ownership in comics is an arrangement in which the comic book creator retains full ownership of the material, regardless of whether the work is self-publishing, self-published or published by a corporate publisher. I ...
American
science fiction Science fiction (often shortened to sci-fi or abbreviated SF) is a genre of speculative fiction that deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts. These concepts may include information technology and robotics, biological manipulations, space ...
/
superhero A superhero or superheroine is a fictional character who typically possesses ''superpowers'' or abilities beyond those of ordinary people, is frequently costumed concealing their identity, and fits the role of the hero, typically using their ...
comic book A comic book, comic-magazine, or simply comic is a publication that consists of comics art in the form of sequential juxtaposed panel (comics), panels that represent individual scenes. Panels are often accompanied by descriptive prose and wri ...
series created and written by James D. Hudnall. It centers on a disparate group of people with various
psychic A psychic is a person who claims to use powers rooted in parapsychology, such as extrasensory perception (ESP), to identify information hidden from the normal senses, particularly involving telepathy or clairvoyance; or who performs acts that a ...
powers who are brought together under duress and later coalesce as a team. The series was first published by
Eclipse Comics Eclipse Comics was an American comic book publisher, one of several independent publishers during the 1980s and early 1990s. In 1978, it published the first graphic novel intended for the newly created comic book store, comic book specialty stor ...
in 1985, and most recently published by
Image Comics Image Comics is an independent American American comic book, comic book publisher and is the third largest direct market comic book and graphic novel publisher in the industry by market share. Its best-known publications include ''Spawn (comics) ...
in 1998.


Creation

Writing in 1995, Hudnall noted the spy genre, Japanese
anime is a Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, , in Japan and in Ja ...
films and the British TV series ''
The Champions ''The Champions'' is a British espionage thriller/science fiction/occult detective fiction adventure television series. It was produced by Lew Grade's ITC Entertainment production company, and consists of 30 episodes broadcast in the UK on ...
'' as influences on the series. He hoped ''Espers'' would bridge the gap between superhero comics aimed at younger readers and the growing adult-orientated comic market, and strove to write strong female characters for the series; Hudnall hoped to create "a ''
Hill Street Blues ''Hill Street Blues'' is an American serial police procedural television series that aired on NBC in prime-time from January 15, 1981, to May 12, 1987, for 146 episodes. The show chronicles the lives of the Metropolitan Police Department staff ...
'' of comic books". At the time he was working for Eclipse as marketing director, and ''Espers'' was his first published comics work. Hudnall also admired
Alan Moore Alan Moore (born 18 November 1953) is an English author known primarily for his work in comic books including ''Watchmen'', ''V for Vendetta'', ''The Ballad of Halo Jones'', Swamp Thing (comic book), ''Swamp Thing'', ''Batman: The Killing Joke' ...
- especially ''
Watchmen ''Watchmen'' is a comic book Limited series (comics), limited series by the British creative team of writer Alan Moore, artist Dave Gibbons, and colorist John Higgins (comics), John Higgins. It was published monthly by DC Comics in 1986 and 19 ...
'' - and
Frank Miller Frank Miller (born January 27, 1957) is an American comic book artist, comic book writer, and screenwriter known for his comic book stories and graphic novels such as his run on ''Daredevil'', for which he created the character Elektra, and ...
. He and initial artist David Lloyd undertook considerable research ahead of the series to ensure the needed level of accuracy and realism; Hudnall also eschewed codenames or costumes for the characters.


Publishing history


Eclipse Comics

The first five issues in the series were published from 1986 to 1987 by
Eclipse Comics Eclipse Comics was an American comic book publisher, one of several independent publishers during the 1980s and early 1990s. In 1978, it published the first graphic novel intended for the newly created comic book store, comic book specialty stor ...
. The first four issues were illustrated by David Lloyd, and the fifth by
John Burns John Elliot Burns (20 October 1858 – 24 January 1943) was an English trade unionist and politician, particularly associated with London politics and Battersea. He was a socialist and then a Liberal Member of Parliament and Minister. He was ...
. The initial 4-issue story arc, later titled "Espers," introduced the main characters. Covers for the first four issues were provided by
Mick Austin Michael J. Austin is a fine artist who lives and works in the UK. Initially a comic book artist and illustrator, his painterly style led to him leaving this genre and concentrating on fine art in 1996. Biography Mick Austin started his artistic ...
,
John Bolton John Robert Bolton (born November 20, 1948) is an American attorney, diplomat, Republican Party (United States), Republican consultant, and political commentator. He served as the 25th United States ambassador to the United Nations from 2005 to ...
,
Brian Bolland Brian Bolland (; born 26 March 1951)Salisbury, Mark, ''Artists on Comic Art'' (Titan Books, 2000) , p. 11 is a British comics artist. Best known in the United Kingdom as one of the Judge Dredd artists for British comics anthology ''2000 AD (comi ...
and
Garry Leach Garry Leach (19 September 1954 – 26 March 2022) was a British comics artist and publisher. Biography Garry Leach's early work for ''2000 AD'' included mainly one-off stories featuring ''Dan Dare'' and '' M.A.C.H. 1''.John M. Burns John M. Burns (1938 – 29 December 2023) was an English comics artist, with a career stretching back to the late 1950s. Biography His initial work was as an illustrator for '' Junior Express'' and ''School Friend''. He also worked on the ...
took over as artist for the second four issue arc of the series, titled "The Liquidators". However, only one issue - #5 - was published before the title was put on hiatus, a decision that Hudnall himself attributed to disappointing sales and to an unspecified dispute between Eclipse and himself.


Epic Comics

The series languished in limbo until 1989, when Hudnall struck a deal with Marvel's
Epic Comics Epic Comics (also known as the Epic Comics Group)Shooter, Jim. "Bullpen Bulletins: The Truth About the Epic Comics Group!" Marvel comics cover-dated November 1982. was an imprint of American publishing company Marvel Comics, active from 1982 to ...
imprint, where eight issues were published under the title ''Interface'' from 1989 to 1991. The first six issues of that series, featuring painted art by Paul Johnson, re-introduced the main characters and re-told the first story arc in flashback form, before picking up the "Liquidators" storyline. The final two issues of the Epic series functioned as an epilogue to the arc.


Halloween Comics

The series then suffered its second extended publishing hiatus, this time for over five years before Hudnall himself revived the series in 1996, self-publishing another six issues under his own Halloween Comics imprint from 1996 to 1997. These issues were numbered as volume 2; 1–6, and comprised the "Undertow" story arc, featuring art by then-newcomer
Greg Horn Greg Horn is an American comic book artist best known for his work as a cover artist for Marvel Comics and various other publications. Working primarily as a digital painting, digital painter, he is well known for his pinup paintings of female c ...
. Reflecting the real-life publishing schedule of the series, the events in these issues take place several years after those detailed in ''Interface''.


Image Comics

The series was then moved to
Image Comics Image Comics is an independent American American comic book, comic book publisher and is the third largest direct market comic book and graphic novel publisher in the industry by market share. Its best-known publications include ''Spawn (comics) ...
, a decision which Hudnall explained in print at the time as one intended to make the series more broadly available than he could under his own imprint. Image published another seven issues of the series from 1997 to 1998, the first six of which again featured art by Horn. the series has not seen publication again.


Plot


"The Storm"

:''Originally published in ''Espers'' Vol. 1 #1-4'' People imbued with advanced psychic powers (known as ' espers') have been around for hundreds of years, but that their existence had been successfully kept from the general public by a secret conspiracy among a handful of powerful groups, including the Inner Circle, the Triad, and the Society of Esper Anarchists (known as the SEA). These diverse groups are all engaged in a generations-long war against each other in the shadows for power, control, and world domination. Five Espers from around the world are gathered by Linda Williams in an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to rescue her father from
Beirut Beirut ( ; ) is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Lebanon. , Greater Beirut has a population of 2.5 million, just under half of Lebanon's population, which makes it the List of largest cities in the Levant region by populatio ...
, where he is being held hostage by terrorists working for the Inner Circle. In the process they stumble upon a much bigger conspiracy.


"The Liquidators"

:''Originally published in ''Espers'' Vol. 1 #5 and ''Interface'' #1-8'' Williams and her allies come under simultaneous (but separate) attack from super assassins hired by the Inner Circle and by the forces of
mafia "Mafia", as an informal or general term, is often used to describe criminal organizations that bear a strong similarity to the Sicilian Mafia, original Mafia in Sicily, to the Italian-American Mafia, or to other Organized crime in Italy, organiz ...
crime lord Benito Giovanetti (revealed to be the man behind the
grassy Knoll Dealey Plaza is a city park in the West End Historic District of downtown Dallas, Texas. It is sometimes called the "birthplace of Dallas". It was also the location of the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963. The Dealey Plaza Historic ...
). The Espers are aided by Alan Black, an assassin for the S.E.A. Afterwards the Espers encounter a Mind Dancer before they are aided by a mysterious 'Master' named Lori who teaches them more about their powers before disappearing herself.


"Undertow"

:''Originally published in ''Espers'' Vol. 2 #1-6'' Several years later, the Espers come to the rescue of a 17-year-old high school girl from
California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...
named Skye Lanning. The petulant teenager possesses powerful psychometric powers, and as a result is being pursued by both the Triad and the Inner Circle. The Espers try to convince a reluctant Skye to join their team instead for her own protection. The struggle culminates in a final battle at an Inner Circle headquarters hidden in plain sight at
Walt Disney World The Walt Disney World Resort is an destination resort, entertainment resort complex located about southwest of Orlando, Florida, United States. Opened on October 1, 1971, the resort is operated by Disney Experiences, a division of the Wa ...
in
Florida Florida ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the north, the Atlantic ...
. It is revealed that all the world's Espers originated from a secret human breeding program masterminded by a shadowy group called the Architects, whose origins date back to the
American Revolutionary War The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was the armed conflict that comprised the final eight years of the broader American Revolution, in which Am ...
. The Architects have sought to alter humanity over hundreds of years through breeding and mysticism, and became The Inner Circle in 1880. In 1922 a group of Espers fled this selective breeding program; these were the forebears of the six 'renegade' Espers who make up the team.


"Black Magic"

:''Originally published in ''Espers'' Vol. 3 #1-4'' The Espers come under attack by the occult branch of the Architects called The Pentacle while trying to stop the Architects' master plan to turn the
United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...
's High Frequency Active Aural Research Project (
HAARP The High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) is a University of Alaska Fairbanks program which researches the ionosphere – the highest, ionized part of Earth's atmosphere. The most prominent instrument at HAARP is the Ionospher ...
) - an array of antennae pumping high doses of energy into the ionosphere turning it into a transmitter blanketing the Earth - into the most powerful mind control device on the planet.


"Crossed Purposes"

:''Originally published in ''Espers'' Vol. 3 #5-7'' Later the Espers go in search of Alan Black in
Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...
, believing that they cannot battle the Architects without the help of the S.E. A; Alan and Simon then travel to an S.E.A. cell in
Siberia Siberia ( ; , ) is an extensive geographical region comprising all of North Asia, from the Ural Mountains in the west to the Pacific Ocean in the east. It has formed a part of the sovereign territory of Russia and its predecessor states ...
, and Simon finds the 'Master' Lori. Meanwhile, Bill, Maria, and Ian head to
Rio Rio or Río is the Portuguese and Spanish word for "river". The word also exists in Italian, but is largely obsolete and used in a poetical or literary context to mean "stream". Rio, RIO or Río may also refer to: Places United States * Rio, Fl ...
to try to liaise with the Triad, who dominate the city.


Characters


The Espers

*Linda Williams: a wealthy American based in
Monaco Monaco, officially the Principality of Monaco, is a Sovereign state, sovereign city-state and European microstates, microstate on the French Riviera a few kilometres west of the Regions of Italy, Italian region of Liguria, in Western Europe, ...
who is able to psychically hack computers and other devices operating on the electro-magnetic spectrum, a skill she uses to draw the names of the other Espers from a
CIA The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA; ) is a civilian foreign intelligence service of the federal government of the United States tasked with advancing national security through collecting and analyzing intelligence from around the world and ...
databank. *Ian McVicar: an English art smuggler, with the ability to shift into time at a different rate - effectively giving him super-speed. Due to his experience in tight situations he functions as the team's field commander. *William Silent Bear: a mechanic from
North Dakota North Dakota ( ) is a U.S. state in the Upper Midwest, named after the indigenous Dakota people, Dakota and Sioux peoples. It is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba to the north and by the U.S. states of Minneso ...
with powerful
telekinetic Telekinesis () (alternatively called psychokinesis) is a purported psychic ability allowing an individual to influence a physical system without physical interaction. Experiments to prove the existence of telekinesis have historically been cri ...
abilities, being able to levitate himself or anything else and even deflect bullets with his mind. *Maria Rivas: a
left-wing Left-wing politics describes the range of Ideology#Political ideologies, political ideologies that support and seek to achieve social equality and egalitarianism, often in opposition to social hierarchy either as a whole or of certain social ...
Argentine Argentines, Argentinians or Argentineans are people from Argentina. This connection may be residential, legal, historical, or cultural. For most Argentines, several (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of their ...
journalist, marked for death by the
right-wing Right-wing politics is the range of political ideologies that view certain social orders and hierarchies as inevitable, natural, normal, or desirable, typically supporting this position based on natural law, economics, authority, property ...
regime even before joining the Espers. She can project a forcefield around her that gives her teleportation powers. *Jiro Yabuki: a
Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...
ese student who can generate a wide variety of energies from his hands. *Simon Ashley: a
Jamaica Jamaica is an island country in the Caribbean Sea and the West Indies. At , it is the third-largest island—after Cuba and Hispaniola—of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean. Jamaica lies about south of Cuba, west of Hispaniola (the is ...
n chef who is a powerful
pyrokinetic Pyrokinesis is a psychic ability allowing a person to create and control fire with the mind. As with other parapsychological phenomena, there is no conclusive evidence in support of the actual existence of pyrokinesis. Many alleged cases are hoa ...
. *Sky Lanning: an
America The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
n high school student with
psychometric Psychometrics is a field of study within psychology concerned with the theory and technique of measurement. Psychometrics generally covers specialized fields within psychology and education devoted to testing, measurement, assessment, and rela ...
abilities, giving her the ability to read the history of any object by touch. She joins the group after they save her life.


Allies

*Alan Black: an assassin for the SEA and a powerful
psychic A psychic is a person who claims to use powers rooted in parapsychology, such as extrasensory perception (ESP), to identify information hidden from the normal senses, particularly involving telepathy or clairvoyance; or who performs acts that a ...
; while occasionally helpful to the Espers he is devoted to the S.E.A's centuries-long battle in the shadows against both the Inner Circle and the Triad. *Brian Marx: a modern-day
chaos magic Chaos magic, also spelled chaos magick, is a modern tradition of magic. Emerging in England in the 1970s as part of the wider neo-pagan and esoteric subculture, it drew heavily from the occult beliefs of artist Austin Osman Spare, expressed ...
-wielding magician on the run from the Architects.


Adversaries

*Sergei Koznishev: a murderous, high-ranking Inner Circle telekinetic. *Tracy King: a former reporter who has become possessed by an evil ancestor named Aldo Roth, a rogue
necromancer Necromancy () is the practice of magic involving communication with the dead by summoning their spirits as apparitions or visions for the purpose of divination; imparting the means to foretell future events and discover hidden knowledge. ...
who died in 1787.


Collected editions

Image planned a second collection of Volume 3, named ''Espers: Crossed Purposes'', but it was never published. ''Interface'' #7-8 also remain uncollected.


Reception

Reviewing the title for ''
Amazing Heroes ''Amazing Heroes'' was a magazine about the comic book medium published by American company Fantagraphics Books from 1981 to 1992. Unlike its companion title, '' The Comics Journal'', ''Amazing Heroes'' was a hobbyist magazine rather than an anal ...
'',
Gerard Jones Gerard Jones (born July 10, 1957) is an American writer, known primarily for his non-fiction work about American entertainment media, and his comic book scripting, which includes co-creating the superhero Prime for Malibu Comics, and writing for ...
had mixed feelings - praising Hudnall's ambitions and ideas but noting that the minimalist style left the series wanting in characterisation.


References


External links

* * * *
The Espers at International Hero
{{Eclipse Comics 1986 comics debuts 1996 comics debuts 1997 comics debuts 1987 comics endings 1997 comics endings 1998 comics endings American comics Defunct American comics Epic Comics titles Eclipse Comics titles Image Comics titles Science fiction comics Fiction about telekinesis Fiction about telepathy