{{italic title}} {{Short description|Comic book title published by Eclipse Comics}} {{Infobox comic book title <!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics--> |image = AztecAceNo1Cover.jpg |imagesize = 240px |caption = The cover to ''Aztec Ace'' #1 (March 1984), art by Michael Bair. |schedule = Irregular |ongoing = Y |publisher = Eclipse Comics |date = March 1984 - September 1985 |issues = 15 |writers = Doug Moench |artists = |pencillers = Michael Bair <small>(#1-2, #9)</small><br>Dan Day <small>(#3-8, #10-13, #15)</small><br>Mike Harris <small>(#14)</small> |inkers = Nelson Redondo <small>(#1-8)</small><br>Ron Harris <small>(#9-11)</small><br>Mike Gustovich <small>(#9-13, #15)</small><br>Art Nichols <small>(#14)</small><br>Tom Yeates <small>(#14)</small> |letterers = Adam Kubert <small>(#1)</small><br>Esphid Mahilum <small>(#2-6)</small><br>Pete Sullit <small>(#3-6)</small><br>Peter Iro <small>(#7-9)</small><br>Carrie Spiegle <small>(#10-15)</small> |colorists = Philip DeWalt <small>(#1-12)</small><br>Dennis McFarling <small>(#1-5)</small><br>Steve Oliff <small>(#12-15)</small><br>Sam Parsons <small>(#14-15)</small> |editors = Cat Yronwode |main_char_team = Ace (Caza)<br>Bridget<br>Head |creative_team_month = |creative_team_year = |creators = Doug Moench |TPB = |ISBN = |TPB# = |ISBN# = |subcat = |altcat = |sort = Aztec Ace |addpubcat# = |nonUS = }} '''''Aztec Ace''''' is an American creator-owned science fiction comic book formerly published by Eclipse Comics. Created by writer Doug Moench, it was published for 15 issues from 1984 to 1985.<ref name= "chills">{{cite news |last=McCulloch |first=Joe |url= http://www.tcj.com/this-week-in-comics-32311-multifarious-chills/ |title=THIS WEEK IN COMICS! (3/23/11 – Multifarious Chills!) |work=The Comics Journal |date=March 22, 2011 |accessdate=June 8, 2017}}</ref> ''Amazing Heroes'' would describe the series as "a strange cross between ''Dr. Who'' and the ''Illuminati'' trilogy".<ref name=AH142ETP>{{cite magazine|date=June 1, 1988|title=Enlarging the Penumbra|author=Bob Hughes|magazine=Amazing Heroes|publisher=Fantagraphics Books|number=142}}</ref>
==Publication history== The series kept an irregular schedule due to main artist Dan Day's meticulous approach; by 1985 the book was aiming for a six-weekly schedule, with Eclipse editor-in-chief Cat Yronwode hoping for nine or ten issues a year.<ref name=AH062AA>{{cite magazine|date=January 1, 1985|title=Aztec Ace|author=Heidi MacDonald|magazine=Amazing Heroes|publisher=Redbeard, Inc|number=62/1985 Preview Issue}}</ref> Other contributors to ''Aztec Ace'' included Mike Harris and Mike Gustovich.<ref name=AH066NF>{{cite magazine|date=March 1, 1985|title=Newsflashes|magazine=Amazing Heroes|publisher=Redbeard, Inc|number=66}}</ref> The Aztec Ace logo was created by Denis McFarling.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.denismcfarling.com/pages/GraphicArt/Design/AztecAce.html|website=DenisMcFarling.com|title=Aztec Ace}}</ref>
''Aztec Ace'' featured appearances from numerous historical figures, including Amelia Earhart, Glenn Miller and Ambrose Bierce.<ref name="AH062AA" /><!--Characteristics of the series are time travel, the use of cultural icons such as political figures, historical situations, songs, and cult movies in unexpected situations, and philosophical musing. Historical renderings of ancient cultures were detailed and imaginative. Careful reading, broad knowledge, and patience were required of the reader, as well as some understanding of the ongoing storyline, all of which possibly prevented it from gathering a large following.{{cn|date=January 2023}}--> The series ended abruptly, leaving several storylines unresolved. This was announced as being due to the difficulty in finding adequate fill-in artists.<ref name=AH080NF>{{cite magazine|date=October 1, 1985|title=Newsflashes|magazine=Amazing Heroes|publisher=Fantagraphics Books|number=80}}</ref> In 1988, a copy of ''Aztec Ace'' #13 - featuring Bridget dressed as Cleopatra - was part of an Egyptology exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum.<ref name=AH153TOTN>{{cite magazine|date=November 15, 1988|title=Top of the News ''(advertisement)''|magazine=Amazing Heroes|publisher=Fantagraphics Books|number=153}}</ref>
For Eclipse's 10th anniversary in 1988, they commissioned the crossover mini-series ''Total Eclipse'', and the creators of ''Aztec Ace'' gave permission for Marv Wolfman to use the characters in the series.<ref name=AH133TE>{{cite magazine|date=January 15, 1988|title=Total Eclipse|author=Andy Mangels|magazine=Amazing Heroes|publisher=Fantagraphics Books|number=133/Preview Special 6}}</ref> The characters had sizeable roles in the series, with Nine-Crocodile the overarching villain, in league with Misery, the spectral archenemy of the aviator and hero Airboy, while Moench contributed a short "Interlude" story centred on Aztec Ace for the second issue, with art by Tim Sale. <ref name=AH145TOTN>{{cite magazine|date=July 15, 1988|title=Top of the News ''(advertisement)''|magazine=Amazing Heroes|publisher=Fantagraphics Books|number=145/Preview Special 7}}</ref> This led to the announcement of plans to collect the earlier material as a trade paperback<ref name=AH147TOTN>{{cite magazine|date=August 15, 1988|title=Top of the News ''(advertisement)''|magazine=Amazing Heroes|publisher=Fantagraphics Books|number=147}}</ref> and to continue the story as a three-issue mini-series - tentatively titled ''Aztec Ace - Time Tripper'' - in 1992 with artist Doug Heinlein;<ref name=AH194NL>{{cite magazine|date=September 1991|title=Newsline|magazine=Amazing Heroes|publisher=Fantagraphics Books|number=194}}</ref> however, these plans would not come to fruition.
==Synopsis== The story revolves around a time traveller named Ace (real name: Caza), whose goal is to save the timestream from unravelling through various intricate adventures. Ace is from the 23rd century, with his base in pre-contact Aztec Mexico; he often visits ancient Egypt.
Caza is aided by Head - formerly his assistant Tempus Fugit, reduced to a disembodied head after an accident - and Bridget Kronopoulous, Ace's sexy, adventurous girlfriend from 1940 who may or may not be the Queen of Egypt. They travel through time in a time machine called the ACE (Azure Crosstime Express, though the characters often call it 'the Egg' due to its distinctive shape), which Head controls.
Ace's main enemy is Nine-Crocodile, who creates time paradoxes in an attempt to save his own dimension at the expense of other realities - especially the modern day planet Earth; his minions include the Nightgaunt and the Ebonati.
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{gcdb series|id= 2917 |title=Aztec Ace}} *[http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/a/aztecace.htm International Hero Catalog on Aztec Ace] {{Eclipse Comics}} Category:1984 comics debuts Category:1985 comics endings Category:Comics characters introduced in 1984 Category:Fictional characters from the 23rd century Category:Comics about time travel Category:Comics by Doug Moench Category:Comics publications Category:Comics set in Mexico Category:Defunct American comics Category:Eclipse Comics characters Category:Eclipse Comics titles Category:Glenn Miller Category:Cultural depictions of Amelia Earhart Category:Comics set in ancient Egypt
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