Sometimes I just want to post a scan of a mid-1980s Jemm, Son of Saturn house ad.
Just happened to come across this ad I was rereading some ’80s Superman comics, and I don’t think I’ve reread this series (by Greg Potter, Gene Colan and Klaus Janson) since it originally came out over 25 years ago. However, I do recall really looking forward to it and enjoying it when it finally did. I should bust them out and read ’em again.
I apparently have enough residual goodwill towards this character that I’m — well, “excited” is too strong a term — how ’bout “bemused” whenever Jemm pops up in one series or another. I think his first post-series appearance was a brief cameo in the round-robin title DC Challenge, and since then he’s appeared in such places as Grant Morrison’s JLA run, in Ostrander and Mandrake’s Martian Manhunter series, and most recently (I believe) in the Superman: World of New Krypton mini-series.
So anyway, Jemm: pretty much the definition of an eighth-stringer, but I like him anyway.
There’s a new action figure of Jemm coming out this year from Mattel’s DC Universe Classics line, and here’s an extensive look at it. Doesn’t quite match the look of Colan’s twisty and amorphous version from the mini-series, but I suspect an action figure strictly matching Colan’s particular art style would only frighten and confuse.
Some people didn’t want to wait for the official figure, and thus whipped up a custom-made Jemm figure done in the style of the hyper-muscular Total Justice action figure line.
If that’s all too plastic-y for you, here’s a custom-made Mego-style version complete with cloth clothing (about halfway down the page).
And in conclusion: Jemm, Son of Saturn. Not to be confused with….
Jemm was name-checked in that huge 75 Years of DC book by Taschen as having one of the, if not THE, lowest sell-through of any DC comic ever published (9% or something like that).
Reading this post, every single time I read the name “Jemm” that theme song started in my head. Truly, truly, truly outrageous.
” think his first post-series appearance was a brief cameo in the round-robin title DC Challenge, and since then he’s appeared in such places as Grant Morrison’s JLA run, in Ostrander and Mandrake’s Martian Manhunter series, and most recently (I believe) in the Superman: World of New Krypton mini-series.”
I believe that’s the sum total of his appearances anywhere ever. Morrison brought him into continuity in JLA, Ostrander’s JLA-spinoff Martian Manhunter series tried to make sense of the Saturnian race in a DCU solar system, and then they showed up in New Krypton.
A Jemm figure gives me hope we may see an Andrew Bennett (from House of Mystery’s “I…Vampire” series) figure someday.
Seeing as vampires are currently a hot property, I expect we’ll see something from DC…….in about 4 years.
A “Jemm, Son of Saturn” trade collection would be awesome. I’d buy one. And it looks like Mike would buy one. That’s two guaranteed sales right there. Are you listening, DC?
I really liked this when it came out. Gene Colan made this book a winner for me.
Jemm seemed to me like one of the obvious early candidates for collecting as a completed storyline, a graphic novel. I was surprised that they hadn’t done that – not that it was that famous at the time, but it’s of reasonable quality and meant to be seen as a whole. But that sell-through figure, that makes some shyness about repackaging the material understandable.
(Other obvious candidates for collection are also from Colan, the Nathaniel Dusk miniserieses.)
Jemm was a pretty good comic, like a less out-there Omega the Unknown. Colan’s art was the draw for me, but I was surprised that I liked the story, too.
Speaking of Colan, DC has done action figures based on specific artists’ interpretations of their characters (I remember ads for figures designed to look like the art of Alex Ross, Tim Sale, & Mike Turner). Why not a Gene Colan DC figure line? It could have Jemm, Wonder Woman, Batman, the lead from Silverblade, Spectre, and maybe a Nightforce character or 2. I think they could move a copy or two. Maybe three if there’s some obsessive person who has to buy every DC figure ever.
I’m not much for action figures anymore but:
1) at the link, that Spirit figure in the dummied-up packaging with Eisner art is pretty amazing
2) Mike L.’s musing about a Colan figure line got me thinking about a Jim Aparo version–Spectre with giant duck and scissor accessories; Swingin’ 70’s Phantom Stranger; Aquaman and Arthur Jr. (w/interchangeable live and dead heads); Joker with a bloody crowbar; and a Batman figure that said Haneyisms at the push of a button–“Batman wants to live!” “The Batman digs this day!”
I saw the toy in a store, I thought it was Red Tornado (I didn’t look too closely). I don’t recall ever having heard of this guy before.
Mike! You’ve got to dig ’em out, re-read those comics, and report back to us. It’d be some straight up comic book content, and, y’know, not all of us are lucky enough to be sitting on a full run. Hell, I never heard of the guy, but I wouldn’t mind hearing more…
Alex – Not a bad idea…I’ll try to bust those comics out soon.
I think I first encountered his name in letter columns: maybe Nevins wanted Jemm to join the Morrison Doom Patrol?