1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
index
home
|
DC Heroes Role Playing Module: Ambush Bug - Don't Ask!
1986
Scott Jenkins - author, Thomas Cook - editor
A rare treat for Ambush Bug fans, this RPG module consists of a very bizarre adventure set during Ambush Bug's heyday, circa the first half of his first miniseries. Your own characters are supposed to follow Ambush Bug around as he teleports through time, space and reality on a mission to stop some evil plan of Lex Luthor's. Jonni DC, Cheeks and the Phanton Stranger also make appearances. (Although this technically isn't a DCU appearance, I'm including it here because it does contain a lot of original Ambush Bug text content.)
BUG FACT: This module contains lots of reprinted artwork and a great deal of information on the Bug. The back cover of this book is a lifesize Ambush Bug mask (Mask scan supplied by Agent #002 Squashua.)
|
|
Swamp Thing #46
March 1986
Alan Moore - writer, Stephen Bissette and John Totleben - arists, Karen Berger - editor, Tatjana Wood - colorist, John Costanza - letterer
In this Crisis on Infinite Earths tie-in book, John Constantine takes the Swamp Thing to the Monitor's briefing headquarters, where all the DCU heroes are planning out their strategy for combining the remaining five universes into one, true universe. Ambush Bug appears in two panels, among the group of heroes.
|
|
Best of DC #71
April 1986
Keith Giffen - plots and pencils, Robert Loren Fleming - balloons, Bob Oksner - inker, Anthony Tollin - colorist, John Costanza - letterer, Julius Schwartz - editor
This digest-sized book reprints DC's choices for their best stories of 1985. The Ambush Bug story from Action Comics #565 made the cut, but it is edited from 8 pages down to 5. Also included are "Mogo Doesn't Socialize" (Green Lantern #188, May), "Brief Lives" (Omega Men #26, May), "Forever Blowing Bubbles" (Green Lantern #187, April), "Just As Night Follows Day..." (Batman #383, May) and "Hukka vs. the Bob" (Atari Force #20, August).
|
|
'Mazing Man #6
June 1986
A very early cameo by Ambush Bug, and this one isn't even Crisis-related! Taking a cue from Booster Gold, Ambush Bug has signed on as a beverage spokeman. His billboard ad shows up in another mid-80s DC "I Can't Believe They Printed This Either" funnybook, 'Mazing Man. Reported by Agent #012 Kevin. Images supplied by Agent #016 Dan.
|
|
Son of Ambush Bug #1
July 1986
Keith Giffen - plots and pencils, Robert Loren Fleming - scripter, Bob Oksner - inker, Anthony Tollin - colorist, Gaspar - letterer, Julius Schwartz - editor
After finding a new place to live - and discovering that he has lost the respect of everyone in town, including himself - Ambush Bug is given a new assignment by Jonni DC. A cosmic buttinsky called The Interferer is going around changing people and planets to his own liking. His first human victim was Jonni herself, leaving her powerless and forced to call on Ambush Bug for help. Meanwhile, a mysterious agency has plans of their own for the Bug.
BUG FACT: This book begins Ambush Bug's slide from a happy-go-lucky comedic character into an unsatisfied despressive, unimpressed by and uninterested in the DCU.
|
|
Son of Ambush Bug #2
August 1986
Keith Giffen - plots and pencils, Robert Loren Fleming - scripter, Bob Oksner - inker, Tony Tollin - colorist, John Costanza - letterer, Julius Schwartz - editor
The Bug is blown up (several times) by that mysterious agency and is sent to Hell. He escapes via the exit door and goes to Japan to seek out The Cleaver, of the Uh-Oh Squad. The Cleaver kills him (accidentally.) Meanwhile, Argh!Yle! begins Operation Big Boot (a plot to seize control of Superman) and the agency starts experimenting on a scrap of Ambush Bug's teleporting uniform.
BUG FACT: This issue includes Argh!Yle!'s Who's Who entry. ("Paste it in between pages 20 and 21 of the first issue.")
|
|
Boris the Bear #1
August 1986, published by Dark Horse Comics
One of Dark Horse Comics original titles, Boris the Bear began as a response to the glut of b&w Ninja Turtle clones that were flooding the market. And although neither radioactive nor mutant, Ambush Bug made Boris's kill list in the very first issue! I have a complete run of Boris the Bear from back in the day and I completely forgot about this non-DC Bug parody! Sort of shows how industry-wide the Bug had become in such a short time. This issue was reprinted a few years later in color as Boris the Bear Instant Color Classics #1. (Reported by and scanned by Agent #016, Dan Marco.)
Click here to read the entire Ambush Bug kill scene!
|
|
Son of Ambush Bug #3
September 1986
Keith Giffen - plots and pencils, Robert Loren Fleming - writer, Bob Oksner - inker, Anthony Tollin - colorist, Gaspar - letterer, Julius Schwartz - editor
The agency's tests on a duplicate Ambush Bug uniform cause the deaths of several volunteers. The Cleaver kills himself, distraught over killing Ambush Bug. But the Bug has escaped from Hell again, and he goes to see Blotto, also from the Uh-Oh Squad. Blotto accidentally kills him, and then kills himself. Meanwhile, the Interferer turns the agency into little elves. The Bug returns and looks up Ms. Mohawk (another Uh-Oh Squadder), and she dies. But Argh!Yle!'s plan gets a big boost when one of his hench-socks sneaks into the agency and steals the duplicate Bug uniform.
BUG FACT: This issue is hosted by Bunny, a swimsuit model. The cover is an homage to the classic "Flash of Two Worlds" storyline, one of the most famous comic books covers in history.
|
|
Son of Ambush Bug #4
October 1986
Keith Giffen - plots and pencils, Robert Loren Fleming - scripter, Bob Oksner - inker, Tony Tollin - colorist, John Costanza - letterer, Julius Schwartz - editor
The animated duplicate suit is beat up by subway punks and put in jail, while on its way to slip a mind control boot on Superman's foot. Argh!Yle!'s plan is foiled when DC Comics blows up his headquarters. Ambush Bug takes the fight directly to the Interferer's home, where he is put through several grueling tortures. The Interferer grows tired of playing around and decides to have the Bug taken care of, permanently... so he contrives to have Ambush Bug arrested.
BUG FACT: The letter column for this issue features the Death Duel of the Crazed Mutant Letterhacks... a write-off between two fans who sent letter after letter to the Ambush Bug books, T. E. Pouncey and Mark Haden Frazer.
|
|
Son of Ambush Bug #5
November 1986
Keith Giffen - plots and pencils, Robert Loren Fleming - scripter, Bob Oksner - inker, Anthony Tollin - colorist, John Costanza - letterer, Julius Schwartz - editor, Steven Bissette - surprise penciller
Ambush Bug goes to trial, and Two-Face is the prosecutor. The Bug is found guilty of contempt of comics and sentenced to inkarcaration. Cheeks, who has been suffering his own Interferer transformation since issue #1, still is.
BUG FACT: The title of this miniseries is a reference to bad B movies like "Son of Godzilla," and does not refer to any actual progeny of the Bug.
|
|
Son of Ambush Bug #6
December 1986
Keith Giffen - plots and pencils, Robert Loren Fleming - scripter, Bob Oksner - inker, Anthony Tollin - colorist, John Costanza - letterer, Julius Schwartz - editor
Ambush Bug is sent to limbo as a result of his trial. The Interferer travels to the world of the Omega Men, and is removed from power when the Omega Men book is cancelled with him still inside. Mitsu-Bishi, Ambush Bug's Japanese counterpart, is eaten by a pterodactyl. When his time in limbo is up, Ambush Bug is banished from the DC Universe, meaning that he must give up his costume and get on the train to reality. Luckily, his long-lost sidekick Cheeks is on that train, and Irwin Schwab rides happily into the sunset. Literally.
BUG FACT: "Hero History", in this issue, lists all of Ambush Bug's previous appearances and also describes his downfall from lovable pest to depressed loner.
|
|
|
