Marvel Age #1 Cover Story: Crystar

The Saga of Crystar: Crystal Warrior

In 1983 the “Feature Length Fantasy in the Marvel Manner” debuted. This premiere issue was on a nicer paper, higher page count, higher price point ($2.00!!) than a normal issue, and promised to be everything a toy-tie-in could hope for, which isn’t much.

The inside cover has an editorial by Jim Shooter which attempts to make light of what is being made. There’s some comedic hints that this book was in fact an idea of the Marvel Bullpen, and not a request from a toy company. I have to respect the attempt though. Everyone knew exactly what this book was, why not lean into it?

So, what is Crystar? Crystar is the product of Marvel Publishing being hired to produce a comic series and concepts that Remco could use to make a toy line. Not the first or last time this would happen. GI Joe, ROM, Micronauts, and others, all found a home at Marvel. Projects like this kept the lights on while other titles were being made. The end of the book features a one-page ad for the toys, and later issues would do similar. Although the low number of times possibly signifies the failure of the toy line. The comic series likely outlived the toys!

Oh my goodness, would you talk about the comic already?! Okay, Crystar, prince of Galax, is the protagonist of this fantasy epic. Oh, spoilers, I’m totally going to share specific details about the series. So, go read it if you must, and then come back…

Realm of Crystalium, city of Galax, two orphaned princes, CRYSTAR and MOLTAR, are set to co-rule as their father intended. But, the night before and morning of their coronation, disaster strikes and the brothers are at odds with each other. The wizard of ORDER, Ogeode, comes to warn them of pending doom. The wizard Zardeth, an agent of CHAOS, comes to offer them a place of rule after CHAOS strikes Crystalium down. Their Regent Uncle tries to council them both, but the head-strong brothers fight, leading to injury and a fatal wound to Crystar. Thanks to Ogeode’s help Crystar is saved by entering the crystal prism, and emerging as Crystar: Crystal Warrior! His entourage also goes through the process, because, why not? Moltar turns to Zardeth for assistance and he is transformed into Moltar: Molten Lava… something? It’s unclear exactly what we should call his form. But he’s essentially a hard lava man and his brother is a hard crystal man, and all their friends become the same.

The next ten issues feature the two brothers gathering allies and skirmishes between the two groups. And every mystical Marvel character Jo Duffy wanted to toss in showed up too. Through non-important methods, Crystar has appearances from Doctor Strange, Nightcrawler (through his girlfriend Amanda), and Alpha Flight. As the series wraps up in issue eleven, the brothers find common ground, Moltar breaks free of Zardeth’s influence, and Crystar is crowned King.

There were clearly some “phoned in” stories in this short series, but you could also tell there were elements of potential too. Crystar’s band of followers began to have backstory, and some of the artwork by Ricardo Villamonte and Dave Simons really stood out. Issue four had some striking visuals that made me want to learn more. Overall this series suffered from the constraints of the licensing aspect, and likely some strong editorial oversight.

Likely a claim to fame for Crystar is the cover to issue 8. The skull horn in the background is the inspiration for Danzig’s logo.

And Crystar doesn’t show up again until Weirdworld - check out the ARKON! special on this page for more on that. There are definitely some cool nods to Crystar scattered throughout the Weirdworld series.

Credits:

Ralph Macchio, Mark Gruenwald, Jim Shooter: Concept Creators, John Romita JR: Graphic Designer

Jo Duffy - story

Bret Blevins, Ricardo Villamonte, Vince Colletta, Dave Simons, and others - art

Cover #1 - Bob Larkin