Star Raiders

by Elliot S. Maggin, José Luis García-López

Graphic novel based on the Atari 2600 game "Star Raiders"

Genres: Graphic Novels, Science Fiction, Comics

64 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

Elliot S. Maggin, also spelled Elliot S! Maggin, is an American writer of comic books, film, television and novels. He was a main writer for DC Comics during the Bronze and early Modern ages of comics in the 1970s and 1980s. He is particularly associated with the character of Superman.

Reviews

[Greg Shantz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this for Jose Luis Garcia Lopez's art and I was not disappointed.

[Little Timmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice different SiFi comic. Recommended

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun blast from the past: a graphic novel tie-with an Atari game. The art is very nice, there's not much substance to the story. It's a very cliched story of rag-tag rebels against an evil alien empire. Also, somewhere in the middle of the book, the main characters become the supporting characters, and a previously minor character becomes the focus of the story. It makes the entire plot structure feel slightly "off."

[Rex Hurst · Rating 4 out of 5]

The game Star Raiders came out in 1979, with various iterations on different consoles, and was perhaps the first space combat simulation game, using a first person perspective to maneuver and fire, as if you were in the cockpit. It was the grandfather of Wing Commander, Elite, Star Fox, and so on, and so on. Here the galaxy is dominated by an insectoid race, called the Zylons, and a group of well-worn heroes attempts to take the battle back to their home base. Essentially, this is the plot of game as well. It is an action packed violence-filled story with one-dimensional characters shooting at things. Don’t expect any character growth or anything. I’m sure my 8 year old self in 1983 would’ve loved it. What stands out is the amazing art, painted with incredible detail and skill. The art is in fact way better than the material it supports.

[Tony Calder · Rating 3 out of 5]

Early in the 1980s, DC Comics did a deal with Atari to produce comics about their games. The Atari Force monthly comic was the main result of that, but this graphic novel - based on the classic Atari game of the same name - was the first title released.

Adapting other media to comic form doesn't give the creative team as much control as they would usually have but even given those circumstances, this is far from Elliot S! Maggin's best work. I never played the game, so I don't know how close the characters and plot stay to the game, and that may have had an effect on the weaknesses in the story. The artwork by Jose Luis Garcia Lopez is excellent and easily adds an extra star to my rating.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to admit I read this strictly on the basis of the creative team, Elliot S! Maggin and Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez, as I've never been a player of video games (you mean the purpose of Frogger isn't to kill the frog? ;-) ).

The story reminded me of a lot of the later STAR TREK series in some ways, with the Zylons reminding me of the Borg, particularly and with obvious differences. But this came first, so it's all good.

[Amy M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad at all, but it was a bit confusing and the ending was rather sudden.

The art by Jose Luis Garcia Lopez was great, I'll have to see what else he's done.

[Gonzalo Oyanedel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Los tenues nexos con Atari Force ni afectan ni benefician una historia en plan space-opera cuyo gran mérito es el esmerado trabajo de José Luis García López.

[David Palazzolo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember when this came out--how I pined for it, entranced as I was by Jose Luiz Garcia Lopez's extraordinarily beautiful work, but alas I could not afford this or the similar works from this line of DC graphic novels. Ah, well, things work out in the end eventually, for only 30+ years later and huzzah! I finally can pick up a copy!! Garcia Lopez's art still sings after all this time, but Elliot S Maggin's story falls somewhat flat. I get the feeling this was supposed to be a prequel of sorts to the later Atari Force series also by DC. Full disclosure, this work is an adaption of the old Atari game of the same name.

[Christopher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another find from my library vault. Not as bad as I imagined, especially considering this was based on the Atari (remember that?) video game from the 80's. The writing is pretty cheese but the art is really nice.

[Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love this ogn, the story is ok, tying into the 80s Atari Force comic book series. The plot is very connect the dot except it isn't at all. The main reason to get this the AMAZING Jose Luis Garcia Lopez PAINTED art. So good it gets 2 stars, the plot gets 1. This can be found on the cheap.