The second sequel to Barry Windsor Smith’s Lifedeath was schedule for 1987 and was rejected by Marvel Comics. Barry then used the story and art for the 1999 graphic novel, Adastra in Africa (Fantagraphics Books)., featuring his New God creation, Adastra, who first appeared in his Storyteller series of graphic novels.
Initially created in the mid-1980s, it was intended to be the third and final installment of the acclaimed Chris Claremont/BWS LifeDeath issues of Marvel Comics' The Uncanny X-Men. This remarkable story, left untouched in the artist’s files for over a decade, has now been reworked as an episode from Lady Adastra’s early life on planet Earth.
Why did Marvel reject Lifedeath III? According to Barry Windsor Smith:
They said the story promoted suicide […] What are they, a bunch of kids ? If you don't get that out of reading the story then eat shit ! D'you think any one of those tribal people even gave a thought to personal sacrifice being suicide ? Even while they were starving to death, y'know? Shit ! This's biblical stuff - it's got depth. It's the, y'know, (twiddling fingers for "quotes") "final sacrifice".
Least he could've done was redraw the character. But, as usual with all BWS art from that period, it looks amazing.
ReplyDeleteBWS' art is fantabulous...more of a "Heavy Metal" type artiste than somebody who fits the Marvel Way, however...
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