Total Eclipse (comics)

Total Eclipse is an American comic book limited series in five prestige format parts published by Eclipse Comics in 1988 to 1989. A cross-company crossover commemorating the company's tenth anniversary, Total Eclipse was intended to bring all of the company's characters together, no matter how obscure or bizarre. These included Airboy and the Air Fighters, Strike! and Sgt. Strike, Prowlers Leo Kragg and Tim Kida, Aztec Ace, The Liberty Project, Miracleman, The New Wave and Beanish.

Eclipse commissioned Marv Wolfman to write the title; three years previously he had completed the acclaimed company-wide crossover series Crisis on Infinite Earths for DC Comics. The series was initially announced as being six issues, with Bo Hampton as main artist and covers from Bill Sienkiewicz. Eclipse editor-in-chief Catherine Yronwode claimed the series would have "a much more realistic threat than any of the other big series have had.". Len Wein was also initially planned to script from Wolfman's story but this did not eventuate.

Due to Eclipse's creator-owned ethos they had to ask the production teams for permission to use most of the characters bar those from Airboy and The New Wave. Those to accede included Timothy Truman (The Prowler, though not Scout due to its future setting); Chuck Dixon (Strike! and Radio Boy), Doug Moench (Aztec Ace), Alan Moore (Miracleman), Kurt Busiek (The Liberty Project), Larry Marder (Tales of the Bean World), Don Chin (Adolescent Radioactive Black Belt Hamsters), Steve Gerber (Destroyer Duck), Michael T. Gilbert (Mr. Monster), B.C. Boyer (The Masked Man) and Trina Robbins (California Girls). Additionally Max Allan Collins and Terry Beatty allowed a cameo by Ms. Tree even through the character had moved to Renegade Press, in deference to her debuting in Eclipse, the magazine. The various creators were given the titles of consulting editors, and were able to veto any perceived misuse of their characters. Marder, Robbins, Boyer and Beattie would all draw their own characters for the series. Fred Burke was editor for the title, linking Wolfman to the creators.

Each issue would feature a back-up 'interlude' strip by a selected character's regular creative team, and a text piece on Eclipse's history by publisher Dean Mullaney, while vintage Airboy villain Zzed was announced as the main antagonist. Wolfman hadn't previously read a number of the titles before being hired to write the series. Eclipse produced plastic bags promoting the series, to be distributed to comic stores while Mullaney announced any readers not satisfied with the comic could return it.

An eight-page black-and-white preview was included in the second issue of Eclipse's promotional circular Sneak Preview.

The mini-series would be plagued by delays, and the five issues would take 11 months to appear. A one-shot called Total Eclipse - The Seraphim Objective, written by Kurt Busiek and drawn by James Fry, was published to tie-in with the series. Beanish's role was also incorporated into the plot of Tales of the Beanworld #10-11.

The immortal Cromagnon Zzed finds he cannot die by conventional means. Wanting his torment to end, he plans to destroy the universe with a "total eclipse". He and his minions attack the Air Fighters as a distraction while they steal advanced jets from Nelson Aviation. Airboy, Valkyrie and Skywolf give chase and shoot one of them down; his soul is recovered by Misery, who learns of Zzed's involvement. The Airfighters' ally Black Angel meanwhile has been assaulted by strange creatures and saved by the new Prowler, Strike! and Sgt. Strike, and they all meet visiting her in hospital. Misery meanwhile ponders if the events have anything to do with The New Wave, also under attack from Zzed's minions.

The original Prowler also meets up with Airboy and his allies. Misery sends the Flying Dutchman to offer an alliance to the heroes, while Zzed recruits the Seraphim. In New Jersey, the New Wave finally succeed in fending off the villain's monsters, and also meet up with the growing band of heroes. After a brief scuffle brought on by misunderstanding the groups begin to talk, with Misery able to persuade them of the need to band together. He notes that Zzed is encircling Earth with machines and suggests the growing band of heroes add The Liberty Project to their ranks while he sends The Heap to intercept the Seraphim. After Airboy uses his wealth to get the Liberty Project freed from prison in Pennsylvania he collects the group along with Valkyrie, and eventually persuades them to join the fight. The assemblage attempts to stop Zzed raiding Sci-Plex 3 in the Appalachian Mountains but are unable to prevent him stealing a projector for his machines, with Skywolf injured in the fight. Meanwhile in 1518 Aztec Ace and Bridget discover time is being altered, while on his Earth Miracleman notes mysterious flames.