Whither Zydroid?

[Rhindle The Red]

So I'm going through a bunch of pages that I saved from 'Video Games' magazine back in the 80's (I threw the rest of them out ) and I come across pages from "The Zydroid Legion", a comic strip written by the late Lou Stathis and illustrated by the one and only Matt Howarth (of 'Post Bros. and Savage Henry fame).

 

What I'm wondering is: why doesn't anyone seem to remember this? There's not one mention of it on the web (not even on Howarth's site) and I never seem to hear anyone talk about it.

 

Here's a sample:

 

The story is similar to The Last Starfighter, but precedes it by several months. Does anyone know if it was ever finished? Does anyone have chapters 1 and 2 (I'm missing them)?

 

I also came across "The Video Kid" strips by Peter Bagge and a cartoon review of the 1982 AMOA (Amusement & Music Operators Association) trade show. Seems they thought Q*Bert was going to be a hit!

You better radio in for landing instructions, Danny.

[slapdash]

I remember both of these...

 

I don't think Zydroid was ever wrapped up, but am not sure. Maybe it's time to round up the author & artist if it wasn't and see if they ever finished it?

[Rhindle The Red]

quote:

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Originally posted by Russ Perry Jr:

Maybe it's time to round up the author & artist if it wasn't and see if they ever finished it?

---

As I stated, the author, Lou Stathis, unfortunately, passed away.

 

I have, however, located Matt Howarth's web site and banged off an e-mail to him.

 

Let's see where this leads.

(sung to the tune of "The Bear Went Over The Mountain")

The spear goes into the monster

The spear goes into the monster

The spear goes into the monster...

The monster loses his mind.

[Rhindle The Red]

So, here's the question:

quote:

---

Hello,

 

I am writing to you about a project you worked on back in 1983 for, I believe, Video Games Magazine called "The Zydroid Legion." I have been unable to find any information about this project anywhere on the Web.

 

I was big into video games back then and recently became involved with them again and this is what led to my going through my old archives and finding "The Zydroid Legion." In the interim between gaming, I got into comics and had been a fan of yours for many years. I was pleasantly surprised to see that I had liked your stuff even back when I wasn't into comics.

 

So if you don't mind, I have a few questions:

 

Was this series ever finished? It's been a long time and as I noticed the series went from color to black and white. I may not remember an ending because there may never have been one.

 

Has it ever been collected/reprinted? Is there any chance it would be in the future?

 

Do you still have any artwork and would it possibly be available for sale?

 

I'd greatly appreciate any answers you could give me and thank you for your time.

 

-Philip R. Frey

---

 

And here's the answer:

quote:

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Answering your questions:

 

Alas, the Zydroid Legion saga remains unfinished. Video Games Mag were not

particularly keen on the strip, which explains why it was demoted from color

to black&white. If memory serves me, I think there would only have been one

or two more chapters to its conclusion, but the Mag cancelled it anyway. (I

always suspected that they felt comicstrips were inappropriate for their

publication.)

 

The pieces were never collected together, and I doubt they ever will be.

"Finishing" the story would be awkward nowadays, since the writer (Lou

Stathis) passed away a few years ago.

 

I still have all the art, but I do not sell originals of published work (a

personal quirk). I *do* however take art commissions, and could do you

something like a group- or action-shot from the series. The way I operate

these commissions is to let the buyer propose a price along with their

request, then I respond to the offer (another personal quirk).

 

Thanks for your interest, and I hope my answers have been of some help.

 

Matt Howarth

www.matthowarth.com

---

 

So I wonder what he'll think a fair price is?

 

Hmmmmm......

Burbank Tower to American Flight 812, are you in trouble?