Strikeforce: Morituri #5 (1987)
Pencils: Brent Anderson
Inks: Scott Williams
This is mostly a recovery issue where the team come to terms with their first death, which sharply brings into focus what they have coming to them all too soon. Each has their own distinct coping mechanisms: Aline flirts with movie stars, enjoying her new found fame. In contrast, Jelene turns to her bible, Harold compulsively dictates his memoirs, Robert punches things, while Louis just wanders round feeling useless. It's these little human touches that make the book so special, overshadowing the straighter A plot concerning a new Horde weapon.
Strikeforce: Morituri #6-7 (1987)
Pencils: Brent Anderson
Inks: Scott Williams
This two parter begins innocuously enough, as the stir crazy Morituri are let out to party at Guy Harding's club, the Holowood actor who's fallen for Aline. Some Horde interference leaves the team with a captured ship, which they rashly decide to use to take the fight to the enemy in space. During the flight, Harold suddenly burns up into nothing. It's probably the series' most shocking death, as Harold is not only the team leader, he's the poster child for Morituri and hero of the story. To watch him die halfway through his journey with the last words "Not before I'm finished!" is a real gut wrenching moment, but the impact is lasting, as for once in comics, we're certain he's not coming back.
The shell shocked team vow to continue their hair brained mission without Harold. They split up to search the Horde mothership, which as any horror movie will tell you, is usually a bad idea. Here it mainly works out for them. Aline confronts the Horde commander, while Jelene uncovers their trophy room, full of fun easter eggs like Captain America's shield and Robbie the Robot.
Robert, who started out as the team's Colossus, a gentle, sensitive strongman, has become embittered and emotionally deadened by all the death and suffering he's witnessed. He stays behind to finish the job and blow up the mothership. More bravura and natural feeling character development from Gillis.
Strikeforce: Morituri #8 (1987)
Pencils: Brent Anderson
Inks: Scott Williams
Another concept that made Morituri fairly unique (outside, ironically, the New Universe) is that it took place in close to real time. To be more specific, Gillis' 20 issue run takes place over a period of 13 and a half months. So by this point the Morituri are around halfway through their year and down to three surviving members. Naturally, Tuolemo has been busy training new Morituri recruits. The strength of the series' concept also proved its long term failing, as at the rate the main characters dropped dead, Gillis and Anderson had to keep coming up with new ones to replace them. In the law of diminishing returns, the new trio of Will, Ruth and Pilar aren't quite as likable or interesting as the original cast, but they're a picnic compared to what comes later.
The junior Morituri picked the worst time to join, as not only are the surviving trio of Aline, Jelene and Louis grieving and rudderless without Harold, the Horde are about to microwave San Francisco in revenge. Novice Ruth is reluctantly thrust into leadership by default, as she shows some natural aptitude for it. It's not the most memorable issue, but serves its purpose in properly introducing and integrating the new characters into the team.
Next comes the final chapter for the old guard.
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