Editing Alien Legion

{{Short description|Science fiction comic book series}}
{{Infobox comic book title <!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics--> 
|image               = Alien Legion.jpg
|imagesize           = <!-- default 250 -->
|caption             =
|schedule            =
|limited             = y
|SciFi               = y
|War                 = y
|publisher           = [[Epic Comics]]
|startmo             = April
|startyr             = 1984
|endmo               = August
|endyr               = 1990
|issues              = 38
|main_char_team      =
|writers             =
|artists             =
|pencillers          =
|inkers              =
|letterers           =
|colorists           =
|editors             =
|creative_team_month =
|creative_team_year  =
|creators            = [[Carl Potts]]<br />[[Alan Zelenetz]]<br />[[Frank Cirocco]]
|TPB                 = Alien Legion: Slaughterworld
|ISBN                = 0-87135-763-1
|TPB1                = Omnibus Volume 1
|ISBN1               = 1595823948
|subcat              = Epic Comics
|sort                = Alien Legion
}}
'''''Alien Legion''''' is a thirty-eight-issue American [[science fiction]] [[comic-book]] series, with several associated titles, created by [[Carl Potts]], [[Alan Zelenetz]], and [[Frank Cirocco]] for [[Marvel Comics]]' [[Epic Comics]] [[imprint (trade name)|imprint]] in 1983. It features a military unit, Force Nomad, similar to the [[French Foreign Legion]]. 

Within the [[Multiverse (Marvel Comics)|Marvel Comics Multiverse]], the '''Alien Legion Universe''' is designated as '''Earth-98140'''.

== Development ==
''Alien Legion'' — cover-titled ''The Alien Legion'' for its first series and initial [[graphic novel]] — features Force Nomad, a military unit similar to the [[French Foreign Legion]]. Its characters include leader Sarigar, whose lower half is serpentine, the fully humanoid Torie Montroc, and Jugger Grimrod, an alien of the Thraxian race.

[[Carl Potts]] began developing the character designs and structure of ''Alien Legion'' as a sample of his artwork when he was attempting to break into the comics field. He chose to develop an original story and characters to stand out from the competition when submitting to editors.<ref name=":0">{{Citation|title=Carl Potts Podcast Bio Interview 2020 by Alex Grand & Jim Thompson| date=26 August 2020 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HH6AQslPmM |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/4HH6AQslPmM| archive-date=2021-12-13 |url-status=live|language=en|access-date=2021-03-24}}{{cbignore}}</ref> 
{{blockquote|The original concept was the '[[French Foreign Legion|Foreign Legion]] in space' and all the legionnaires were human. ... Then I created the humanoid/serpentine design that later became Sarigar and decided that the Legion should include a wide variety of species. This was in the early '70s. By the time I got around to developing the idea further in the early '80s, ''[[Star Wars]]'' obviously became an influence. The ''Alien Legion'' universe is a giant extrapolation of the American democratic melting-pot society where different races and cultures work together for the common good while dealing with the pluses and problems that the nation's diversity creates.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.popimage.com/may00/interviews/pottsinter.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525223414/http://www.popimage.com/may00/interviews/pottsinter.html |archivedate=May 25, 2011 |title=Interview: Carl Potts |publisher=PopImage.com |date=May 2000 |accessdate=December 1, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>}}
Potts returned to the concept in 1983 after joining [[Marvel Comics]], and the series was pitched as a part of the [[Marvel Universe]]. [[Jim Shooter]], then Editor-in-Chief of Marvel, approved the idea and Potts began development on the series under Marvel's contract which guaranteed profit participation for new characters. After Shooter withdrew his permission for the series, [[Archie Goodwin (comics)|Archie Goodwin]] extended an offer to launch ''Alien Legion'' under the [[Epic Comics]] imprint.<ref name=":0" />

==Publication history==
Potts and co-creators [[Alan Zelenetz]] (writer) and [[Frank Cirocco]] ([[penciler]]) completed development of series, and the franchise debuted with Marvel/Epic Comics' ''The Alien Legion'' #1-20 ([[cover-date]]d April 1984 - June 1987).<ref name="gcd-original">{{gcdb series|id=2858|title=''Alien Legion'' (Marvel, 1984 series)}}</ref> The 18-issue ''Alien Legion'' (Oct. 1987 - Aug. 1990), minus "The", followed, generally scripted by [[Chuck Dixon]] and penciled by [[Larry Stroman]].<ref name="gcd-1987">{{gcdb series|id=3403|title=''Alien Legion'' (Marvel, 1987 series)}}</ref> Afterward came the three-issue Dixon-Stroman miniseries ''Alien Legion: On The Edge'' (Nov. 1990 - Jan. 1991);<ref>{{gcdb series|id=4010|title=''Alien Legion: On the Edge''}}</ref> the two-issue Dixon-Stroman ''Alien Legion: Tenants of Hell'' (1991);<ref>{{gcdb series|id=4223|title=''Alien Legion: Tenants of Hell''}}</ref> the [[one-shot (comics)|one-shot]] cover-titled ''Alien Legion: Grimrod'' and copyrighted ''Alien Legion: Jugger Grimrod'' (Aug. 1992), by Dixon and artist [[Mike McMahon (comics)|Mike McMahon]];<ref>{{gcdb series|id=46109|title=''Alien Legion: Jugger Grimrod''}}</ref> the single-issue ''Alien Legion: Binary Deep'' (Sept. 1993), by Dixon and Argentine artist [[Enrique Alcatena]];<ref>{{gcdb series|id=46108|title=''Alien Legion: Binary Deep''}}</ref> and the three-issue miniseries ''Alien Legion: One Planet at a Time'' (April–July 1993), by Dixon and penciler Hoang Nguyen.<ref>{{gcdb series| id=15742| title=''Alien Legion: One Planet at a Time''}}</ref>

Additionally, Marvel/Epic published two spinoffs: ''Marvel Graphic Novel'' #25 (cover-titled ''Marvel Graphic Novel: The Alien Legion''),<ref>[http://www.comics.org/issue/272235/ ''Marvel Graphic Novel'' #25]. Grand Comics Database.</ref> released in 1986 and containing the story "A Grey Day To Die" by writers Potts and Zelenetz, penciler Cirocco, and the first series' regular inker, [[Terry Austin (comics)|Terry Austin]];<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.comicsreview.co.uk/nowreadthis/2011/06/04/alien-legion-a-grey-day-to-die-an-epic-graphic-novel/ |title=Alien Legion: A Grey Day to Die – An Epic Graphic Novel |first=Win |last=Wiacek |publisher=ComicsReview.co.uk |date=June 4, 2011 |accessdate=January 8, 2017 |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20121208035918/http://www.comicsreview.co.uk/nowreadthis/2011/06/04/alien-legion-a-grey-day-to-die-an-epic-graphic-novel/ |archivedate=December 8, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> and the one-shot crossover with another series ''Law Dog and Grimrod: Terror at the Crossroads'' (1993).<ref>[http://www.comics.org/series/49487/ ''Lawdog'' <nowiki>[sic]</nowiki> ''and Grimrod: Terror at the Crossroads'']. Grand Comics Database.</ref><ref name=oneshots/>

As well, two [[short stories]] appeared: the 10-page "Tough Enough", by writer Dixon and penciler [[Douglas Braithwaite]], in the Marvel/Epic magazine ''Epic'' (cover-titled ''Epic: An Anthology'') #3 (1992);<ref name=oneshots>{{cite web|url=http://alienlegion.com/one-shots.html |title=One-Shots |publisher=AlienLegion.com (official site) |accessdate=January 8, 2017 |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130117023918/http://alienlegion.com/one-shots.html |archivedate=January 17, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{gcdb series|id=4450|title=''Epic'' (Marvel, 1992 series)}}</ref> and the 12-page "Altered State", by writer Potts and artist Alcatena, in ''Heavy Hitters Annual'' #1 (1993).<ref name=oneshots /><ref>[http://www.comics.org/issue/52292/ ''Heavy Hitters Annual'' #1]. Grand Comics Database.</ref>

[[Dark Horse Comics]] announced it was publishing a new ''Alien Legion'' series in 2010 <ref name=alienlegacy>{{cite web|first=John |last=Geddes |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/2009-11-16-alien-legion-st_N.htm |title='Alien Legion' prepares for blast-off |work=[[USA Today]] |date=November 16, 2009 |accessdate=November 18, 2009 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091119042429/http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/2009-11-16-alien-legion-st_N.htm |archivedate=November 19, 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> but the series was delayed. Instead of being produced by Dark Horse, the new four-issue series, ''Uncivil War'', was published in 2014 by [[Titan Comics]]. The new series was co-plotted by Potts and Dixon, scripted by Dixon, with art by Stroman and Potts.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bleedingcool.com/2013/07/19/new-titan-series-for-2014-alien-legion-adler-sally-of-the-wasteland-scarlett-couture-and-accident-man/|title=New Titan Series for 2014 - Alien Legion, Adler, Sally of the Wasteland, Scarlett Couture and Accident Man|date=19 July 2013}}</ref>

The ''Alien Legion'' series of comics was the longest-running property to emerge from the Epic Comics line.<ref name=":0" />

===Collected editions===
Some of the stories have been published in [[trade paperback (comics)|trade paperback]] and hardback form.

''Alien Legion: Slaughterworld'' (1991; {{ISBN|0871357631}}), collects ''The Alien Legion'' #1 & 7-11.<ref>{{gcdb series|id=47432|title=''Alien Legion: Slaughterworld''}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Marvel Graphic Novels and Related Publications: An Annotated Guide to Comics|first=Robert G. |last=Weiner|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=npIsZV7grboC&dq=slaughter+world+alien+legion&pg=PA212 212]|isbn= 978-0-7864-2500-6|publisher=[[McFarland & Company]]|location=[[Raleigh, North Carolina|Raleigh]], [[North Carolina]]|year=200}}</ref>

Checker Book Publishing released the books ''Force Nomad'' and ''Piecemaker'', collecting the second series, and ''Footsloggers'', collecting the first six issues of the first volume. [[Titan Books]] published trade paperbacks of the ''On the Edge'' and ''Tenants of Hell'' miniseries.

[[Dark Horse Comics]] published the ''Alien Legion Omnibus Volume 1'' in December 2009 ({{ISBN|1-59582-394-8}}), collecting the first seven story arcs of the original Epic Comics series; and ''Alien Legion Omnibus Volume 2'' in May 2010 ({{ISBN|978-1-59582-494-3}}), rounding out the first series including the graphic novel.

Titan Comics began publishing omnibus collections of the original Epic Comics material in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://titan-comics.com/?tag__series=alien-legion|title=Alien Legion - Titan Comics|last=|first=|date=|website=titan-comics.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170513013657/http://titan-comics.com:80/?tag__series=alien-legion |archive-date=2017-05-13 |access-date=2020-04-02}}</ref> A collected hardcover edition of ''Uncivil War'' was published by Titan in February 2015.
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!PUBLICATION
!ISSUE
!WRITER
!ARTIST
!COLLECTED EDITION
<small>'''*=not collected'''</small>
|-
|''Alien Legion'' (1984 1st Series)
|1–20
|Carl Potts, Alan Zelenetz
|Frank Cirocco, Terry Austin
|''Alien Legion: Footsloggers'' (Checker)
''Alien Legion: Slaughterworld'' (Epic Comics)

''Alien Legion Omnibus'' Vol. 1–2 (Dark Horse)
|-
|''Alien Legion: A Grey Day to Die'' (1986)
|1
|Carl Potts, Alan Zelenetz
|Frank Cirocco, Terry Austin
|Marvel Graphic Novel #25 (Marvel)
''Alien Legion Omnibus'' Vol. 2 (Dark Horse)
|-
|''Alien Legion'' (1987 2nd Series)
|1–18
|Chuck Dixon, Alan Zelenetz
|Larry Stroman, Randy Emberlin
|''Alien Legion: Force Nomad'' (Checker)
''Alien Legion: Piecemaker'' (Checker)
|-
|''Alien Legion: On the Edge'' (1990)
|1–3
|Chuck Dixon
|Larry Stroman, Mark Farmer
|''Alien Legion: On the Edge'' (Titan)
|-
|''Alien Legion: Tenants of Hell'' (1991)
|1–2
|Chuck Dixon
|Larry Stroman, Dan Panosian
|''Alien Legion: Tenants of Hell'' (Titan)
|-
|''Alien Legion: Jugger Grimrod'' (1992)
|1
|Chuck Dixon
|Mike McMahon
|*
|-
|''Alien Legion: Binary Deep'' (1993)
|1
|Chuck Dixon
|Quique Alcatena
|*
|-
|''Alien Legion: One Planet at a Time'' (1993)
|1–3
|Chuck Dixon
|Hoang Nguyen, Scott Hanna
|*
|-
|''Alien Legion: Dead and Buried'' (2014)
|1
|Chuck Dixon
|Larry Stroman, Randy Emberlin
|''Alien Legion: Dead and Buried'' (Titan)
|-
|''Alien Legion: Uncivil War'' (2014)
|1–4
|Chuck Dixon
|Carl Potts, Larry Stroman
|''Alien Legion: Uncivil War'' (Titan)
|}

==TV and film attempts==
In 1995, Potts wrote a screenplay for an ''Alien Legion'' television adaptation, which was optioned in 1996 by [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer|MGM]]. [[Bob Gale]] (screenwriter of ''[[Back to the Future]]'') wrote the pilot script. After MGM stopped development of the series, the property was then optioned by [[Dimension Films]], but the series was cancelled due to management changes. ''Alien Legion'' was later developed by [[Mainframe Studios]], who was seeking another science fiction property after ''[[ReBoot]]'', and Potts was hired as executive editor to develop the animated version.<ref name=":0" />

Through his friendship with producer [[Boaz Yakin]], which began with their collaboration on early drafts of the first [[Punisher]] film, Potts' ''Alien Legion'' screenplay was optioned in 2009 by producer [[Jerry Bruckheimer]] and [[The Walt Disney Company]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Marnell|first1=Blair|title='Alien Legion' Movie Advances With Disney And Jerry Bruckheimer |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2595487/alien-legion-movie-advances-with-disney-and-jerry-bruckheimer/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170113115839/http://www.mtv.com/news/2595487/alien-legion-movie-advances-with-disney-and-jerry-bruckheimer/|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 13, 2017|website=mtv.com|accessdate=11 January 2017 | date=November 17, 2009}}</ref> In 2010, Bruckheimer exercised the option, buying the screenplay and assigning ''[[Game of Thrones]]'' showrunner [[David Benioff]] to do a rewrite.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grand |first=Alex |date=November 7, 2019 |title=Carl Potts Interview: Editor, Artist, Professor |url=https://comicbookhistorians.com/carl-potts-interview-editor-artist-professor/ |access-date=July 11, 2024 |website=Comic Book Historians}}</ref> Benioff, who was a fan of the comic series as a child, completed three drafts of the script before he was removed from the project. Potts introduced [[Tim Miller (director)|Tim Miller]] to the producers, who then declined the project due to creative differences with Disney. Potts states that he is continuing to develop ''Alien Legion'' with other partners.<ref name=":0" />

In 2023, the rights were picked up by [[Warner Bros. Discovery|Warner Bros.]], with Miller slated to direct an adaptation.<ref name="thewrap">{{cite web | title=Warner Bros. Picks Up 'Alien Legion' With Tim Miller Attached to Direct | url=https://www.thewrap.com/warner-bros-alien-legion-tim-miller/ | website=[[TheWrap]] | last=Umberto | first=Gonzalez | date=November 14, 2023 | access-date=November 14, 2023}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
* {{official website | http://alienlegion.com/}}
* [http://www.lambiek.net/artists/p/potts_carl.htm Carl Potts] at the [[Lambiek Comiclopedia]]
* {{comicbookdb|type=title|id=1020|title=''Alien Legion'' (1984)}}
* {{comicbookdb|type=title|id=7151|title=''Alien Legion'' (1987)}}

[[Category:Defunct American comics]]