Solitaire (comics)
Encyclopedia
Solitaire was a superhero comic book
created by Gerard Jones
and Jeff Johnson
in 1993 for Malibu Comics
.
It was published consistently from November 1993 until September 1994, when the series was, with the eighth issue, turned into a mini-series to be cancelled at the twelfth issue.
The character appeared a few more times after the cancellation of his series: first, in the one-shot Ultraverse Double Feature #1, published in January 1995, second (in a warped Black September form) in Black September # Infinity, and finally in issues 6-8 of Prime vol. 2.
Solitaire is a crime-fighting superhero. He uses detective skills and a network of street-level informants to wage a one-man war on crime a la DC
's Batman
. He is not, however, without superpowers, as Batman is. Solitaire has a rapid healing ability (like Marvel
's Wolverine
) which allows him to recover from stab wounds, gougings, and even gun shots.
Solitaire was unique among superhero comic books of the early 1990s for its overt Oedipal themes and mainly realistic presentation of real-world atrocities, including: sexual-abuse, urban cults, gun-smuggling, corruption, insurance fraud, and drug use.
Of further interest, the covers of the first six issues act as panels in their own right; they bridge the narrative gap found between issues 5 and 6 of the series. After reading the last page of issue 5, the reader is advised to look at the covers of the issues published so far, then at the cover of issue six. Then they are prepared to read the first panel of issue six.
.
This was, in fact, the main driving force of the plot of the series, as Solitaire's superpowers were given to him by his father after Nicholas tried to kill himself by driving a sportscar off a California cliff side. This suicidal desire was fueled by the realization that his life had become an empty shell due to the secrets he kept, knowing his father's true nature. Anton Lone then had his son's body installed with nanomachines capable of rebuilding his body. Waking up and realizing he could not die, Nicholas Lone swore to use the wealth given to him by his father to end the atrocities his father caused.
As the series continued, Solitaire began to experience blackouts and memory lapses. It was finally revealed that as the nanities repaired his body from injuries, they were also brainwashing him to follow his father's orders. To escape becoming his father's puppet, Nicolas had the Cabal, the scientists that had originally placed the nanobots in him, remove them. Completely free from his father, Solitaire then had the Cabal make him a costume laced with similar nanites which would heal him, but at a slightly slower rate.
Facing his father's bodyguard, Jinn, Solitaire battled him to a standstill in unarmed combat. Arriving on the scene, Antone Lone realizes that Solitaire is his son, and in a rage, kills Jinn. Antone Lone stabs Solitaire and drags him to the roof. He commands one of his employees, a flame-based Ultra, to kill the hero. Pulling out the knife, Solitaire dodged the ultra's attacks. Continuing its attacks under Antone Lone's orders, the ultra fires a massive blast at Solitaire, who had placed himself between the ultra and his father. Solitaire dodged out of the way one last time, which caught Antone Lone in the blast, vaporizing him. Solitaire then watched as the ultra flew off into the night. Solitaire, leaping off the building, renewed his quest to protect those in need.
, though the latter was trapped in the Marvel Universe) to remain unscathed as a result of Black September, though the mystery of what inspired him to begin his quest in becoming a hero is now shrouded in mystery (as the battle he'd witnessed between Hardcase and Headknocker Pre-Black September most likely didn't happen since Hardcase wasn't supposed to exist in the Post-Black September Ultraverse).
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
created by Gerard Jones
Gerard Jones
For the entrepreneur see Gérard Jones.Gerard Jones is an award-winning American author and comic book writer.-Biography:Jones was born in Cut Bank, Montana, and raised in Los Gatos and Gilroy, California...
and Jeff Johnson
Jeff Johnson (comics)
Jeffrey "Jeff" Johnson is an American comic book artist.He is best known for his work with writer Gerard Jones on Marvel Comics' Wonder Man and Malibu Comics' Solitaire and with writer Chuck Dixon on Crossgen's Way of the Rat though he has also pencilled many other titles in his long career in...
in 1993 for Malibu Comics
Malibu Comics
Malibu Comics was an American comic book publisher active in the late 1980s and early 1990s, best known for its Ultraverse line of superhero titles. The company's headquarters was in Calabasas, California. Malibu imprints included Aircel Comics and Eternity Comics...
.
It was published consistently from November 1993 until September 1994, when the series was, with the eighth issue, turned into a mini-series to be cancelled at the twelfth issue.
The character appeared a few more times after the cancellation of his series: first, in the one-shot Ultraverse Double Feature #1, published in January 1995, second (in a warped Black September form) in Black September # Infinity, and finally in issues 6-8 of Prime vol. 2.
Solitaire is a crime-fighting superhero. He uses detective skills and a network of street-level informants to wage a one-man war on crime a la DC
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
's Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
. He is not, however, without superpowers, as Batman is. Solitaire has a rapid healing ability (like Marvel
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
's Wolverine
Wolverine (comics)
Wolverine is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Born as James Howlett and commonly known as Logan, Wolverine is a mutant, possessing animal-keen senses, enhanced physical capabilities, three retracting bone claws on each hand and a healing...
) which allows him to recover from stab wounds, gougings, and even gun shots.
Solitaire was unique among superhero comic books of the early 1990s for its overt Oedipal themes and mainly realistic presentation of real-world atrocities, including: sexual-abuse, urban cults, gun-smuggling, corruption, insurance fraud, and drug use.
Of further interest, the covers of the first six issues act as panels in their own right; they bridge the narrative gap found between issues 5 and 6 of the series. After reading the last page of issue 5, the reader is advised to look at the covers of the issues published so far, then at the cover of issue six. Then they are prepared to read the first panel of issue six.
Fictional Character Biography
Solitaire's secret identity is Nicholas Lone, son of Antone Lone, L.A.'s major crime lord within the UltraverseUltraverse
The Ultraverse was the name given to a comic book imprint published by the American company Malibu Comics. The Ultraverse was a shared universe in which a variety of characters — known within the comics as "Ultras" — acquired super-human abilities.-History:...
.
This was, in fact, the main driving force of the plot of the series, as Solitaire's superpowers were given to him by his father after Nicholas tried to kill himself by driving a sportscar off a California cliff side. This suicidal desire was fueled by the realization that his life had become an empty shell due to the secrets he kept, knowing his father's true nature. Anton Lone then had his son's body installed with nanomachines capable of rebuilding his body. Waking up and realizing he could not die, Nicholas Lone swore to use the wealth given to him by his father to end the atrocities his father caused.
As the series continued, Solitaire began to experience blackouts and memory lapses. It was finally revealed that as the nanities repaired his body from injuries, they were also brainwashing him to follow his father's orders. To escape becoming his father's puppet, Nicolas had the Cabal, the scientists that had originally placed the nanobots in him, remove them. Completely free from his father, Solitaire then had the Cabal make him a costume laced with similar nanites which would heal him, but at a slightly slower rate.
Facing his father's bodyguard, Jinn, Solitaire battled him to a standstill in unarmed combat. Arriving on the scene, Antone Lone realizes that Solitaire is his son, and in a rage, kills Jinn. Antone Lone stabs Solitaire and drags him to the roof. He commands one of his employees, a flame-based Ultra, to kill the hero. Pulling out the knife, Solitaire dodged the ultra's attacks. Continuing its attacks under Antone Lone's orders, the ultra fires a massive blast at Solitaire, who had placed himself between the ultra and his father. Solitaire dodged out of the way one last time, which caught Antone Lone in the blast, vaporizing him. Solitaire then watched as the ultra flew off into the night. Solitaire, leaping off the building, renewed his quest to protect those in need.
Black September
After the Black September Event, which changed the Ultraverse's reality, Solitaire guest-starred in a three-part story in Prime #6-8 vol. 2. On leave from Los Angeles and for now, fighting his renewed battle against crime in Washington D.C., he aids Prime against the makers of a drug which causes massive cellular degeneration in its users while at the same time granting ultra-like abilities (such as super-strength). The two defeat the originization responsible. As a sidenote, it would seem that Solitaire is one of the few (along with Zip-Zap of The Strangers and the original Night ManNight Man
Night Man is an American action/adventure/sci-fi series that aired in syndication from September 15, 1997 to May 17, 1999. The series is loosely based on a comic book published by Malibu Comics and was created by Steve Englehart and developed for television by Glen A...
, though the latter was trapped in the Marvel Universe) to remain unscathed as a result of Black September, though the mystery of what inspired him to begin his quest in becoming a hero is now shrouded in mystery (as the battle he'd witnessed between Hardcase and Headknocker Pre-Black September most likely didn't happen since Hardcase wasn't supposed to exist in the Post-Black September Ultraverse).