Tuesday, October 2, 2018

Black Knight in Camelot 3000



I remember when Camelot 3000 first came out, I didn't collect it because it seemed separate from DC's superhero stuff and I didn't think it would interest me.  Then I heard about delays on the later issues of the Maxi-Series that dampened the enthusiasm of a lot of fans.  Still, I liked Mike W. Barr's work on titles like Batman and the Outsiders, and Brian Bolland's art simply amazed me, so a few years later I collected the entire run - and I loved it!  The story was cool and it was so great to see Bolland doing interiors as well as covers.  I am a bit surprised that DC has never revisited any of the characters introduced within.

15 comments:

AirDave said...

I was one of many diehard DC fans back in the day - anything DC published I bought. Camelot 3000 was pretty cool. It was one of those off-beat stories.

-> Ray said...

The delays in publishing Camelot 3000 fueled my comic buying habit as a kid, because it allowed me to beg my dad to take me to the comic store... just in case the new issue had come in yet. That line worked for about three years!

TJW said...

I was a huge fan of Camelot 3000 from the beginning,and I loved the ending. The idea of bringing the Black Knight into that world is truly inspired. It would be so cool to see a collection of characters with connections to King Arthur and Camelot such as the Shining Knight, the Black Knight, Etrigan and Prince Valiant collected together on one cover.

jlbgriggs2 said...

It is one of my favorite stories from DC.

Carycomic said...

The only thing I remember about CAMELOT 3000 was that one of the 31st century Knights was reincarnated as a woman! The first time I ever heard of reincarnation used for what Robin Williams later referred to (in the movie DEAD AGAIN) as "karmic sex change."

Glenn said...

The changes toward the end seemed socially forced. It certainly was not what got me hooked into book and by the end with the delays I just bought the remaining issues from leftover bins at discount rather than off rack.

Not really see any way to integrate it into DC other than alternate future.

BigMike20X6 said...

Now there's an idea I don't think I'd have ever thought of :D
How about a sequel of sorts riffing on the classic Iron Man/King Arthur Story...
Iron Man 2020 vs Doom 2099 in Camelot 3000 :D (Possibly guest starring Robin 3000 from his own Elseworlds tale)

Jay Johnson said...

It's been years, but I think some of the Camelot 3000 characters showed up at least once in one of the wordless "possible future" montages, along with the Legion, Kamandi, Atomic Knights, Tommy Tomorrow, etc. before the multi-verse came back and some of those futures become alternate Earths.

Bob Greenwade said...

C3000 kept my interest, but didn't excite me. I did collect and read it until the end, though I don't recall how that went other than feeling kind of, "Oh. Okay." So, obviously, this is a matter of taste.

I was also a little disappointed that, by necessity, the characters could never go on to later interact with the Legion of Super-Heroes.

I also second TJW's suggestion of Arthur-connected heroes: The New Knights of the Round Table! (OK, I think that name's been used already, but that would be the principle.)

Burnsteel said...

The Camelot 3000 characters made a brief appearance in Justice League 3000 or 3001 during the New 52

Mr. Morbid's House Of Fun said...

Clever idea inserting Dane Whitman into the world of Camelot 3000. Especially since he's been to both the 20/21st and 11th centuries.
Now that's a series that's just begging to be collected into a new trade, if only there was enough demand for it.

Good suggestions for sequels, such as Iron Man 2020, Doom 2099, the Shining Knight, Current IM, Current Dr. Doom, The Demon, and more.
Let's see 'em!

TJW said...

How could I forget in my suggestion for a group of characters related to King Arthur and Camelot that Kevin Matchstick of MAGE fame is a reincarnation of Arthur Pendragon?

Anonymous said...

There was another futuristic depiction of medieval legend called "Rocket Robin Hood" in the 1960's.

Carycomic said...

I'd love to see Ross depict a team-up between them and Spidey '67! As a tribute to Grantray Animation if nothing else. The plot device for bringing them together? The Sheriff of Planet Nottingham forms an unholy alliance with J. Jonah Jameson (the same way he did with the animated Prof. Smythe).

jackel said...

to TJW's idea of other King Arthurs don't forget the cartoon from the early 90's King Arthur and the Knights of Justice which Marvel adapted to a comic mini-series in 1993...
Ross as always another great cover...
and also as always much fun...

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