SINISTER HORDE | Canadian Animation, Cartooning and Illustration

SINISTER HORDE

“Sinister Horde” created by Jason Stephens first appeared in SIN, 1, June 1992. It derives its humour through role reversal. “Sinister Horde” are the bad guys and they consistently defeat the good guys.

In the first issue, the members are introduced. “Mr. Dead” is the leader of the group. “The Clot” has abnormally tough skin. “Malady” has kisses that kill. “Captain Nasty” is devious and “Necroman” is toxic bile contained in a suit. In the “Necroman” story that follows these introductions, he kills a hero “Blazing Sun” who was in turn overcoming two villains.

In issue two we are introduced to a group of misbegotten heroes called “The Astonishers”. They are led by “The Fighting Republican” and include “Phantasmo”, “Mustang Sally”, “The Ugly Freak”, “Teen Satan” “She-Bug and “Paul The Lumber Lord”. Their purpose is “to bring the “Sinister Horde” to Justice”. In the ensuing battle Phantasmo” and “The Ugly Freak” go home. “Captain Nasty” likes “Teen Satan” and makes him his junior partner. “Malady” gives “She Bug” some advice and her cosmetic surgeon’s business card. “Necroman” dissolves “Paul”, and Mr. Dead tells “The Fighting Republican” and “Mustang Sally” to “vamoose” which they do.

Issue 3, tells us that “The Sinister horde” are really cartoon heroes in a periodical called “Sacred Organ” read by the characters in the “Land of Nod” – or are they? It also gives us the “Horde’s” origins. After a couple of jabs at superhero stories with claims of coming from the planet “Hordon” or being bit by a radioactive cockroach, “Malady” settles down to the “true” account. They were a group of circus performers who dreamed of making a fortunate building a space ship and going into space. When someone stole their spaceship, they formed a suicide pact and overdosed on pills. Instead of killing them, the pills turned them into mutants.

All that is except “Captain Nasty”. His is another story. He was mutated by the U.S. Government in 1942, and became “Captain Nice” leader of the “Idealists”. He was so popular that the government and the other “Idealists” became jealous and locked him in a refrigerator. Decades later, the circus mutants freed him and he became “Captain Nasty” committing crimes and other nastiness.

In issue 4, enter “The Land of Nod” “Dave reading “Sinister Horde Special Preview”. He is shocked to see the “Sinister horde” has been altered. There is a “Sinister Horde” four page description of the alterations. Back in “The Land of Nod”. Merv and Dave go to “Fascinating Komics Incorporated” to confront the “Publisher” who they destroy by seizing the contract. Dave rips up the contract and frees the “Sinister Horde” who show no gratitude except that “Captain Nasty” tosses “Dave” a signal ring for which “Dave” is incredibly grateful.

In the final story the “Sinister Horde” decide to leave the U.S. because the crime rate is too high, and there is too much competition and move to a place with a low crime rate and no “Astonishers” to inconvenience them. They go to Canada but come up against C-Force composed of Red Maple, “The Beaver”, “Rocky The Canadian Shield” “Blue Jay Man” and “Silver Birch”. What follows is a two page fight which stops in the middle.

Here both SIN, and the “Sinister Horde” serial end. When SIN Comics begins “Sinister Horde” has been replaced by “Atomic City Tales with Big Bang”

MEDIUM:

PERIODICAL GRAPHIC COLLECTION:

Cover:

Back: SIN, 2, Aug. 1992.Illus., Jay Stephens. Tragedy Strikes Press.

Front: SIN, 3, Oct. 1992. Jay Stephens. Tragedy Strikes Press.

Content serial:

SIN,… Cartoonist, Jason Stephens. Tragedy Strikes Press. Black & white.

1, June 1992: “take the cake”:19-24.

2, Aug. 1992: “The Astonishers”: 1-10.

3, Oct. 1992: “it’s a head-splitting origin”: 15-24.

4, Dec. 1992: “Sinister horde”: 9-12, 29- 30.

5, Feb. 1993: “Bust a move”: 13-17.

GALLERY:

$C:\Users\Robert\Documents\CARTOONING ILLUSTRATION ANIMATION\IMAGE CARTOON\IMAGE CARTOON S\SINISTER HORDE, SIN, 2, Aug 1992, fc.jpg$ “The Sinister horde” (left) vs “The Astonishers” (right). SIN, 2, August 1992: Back cover.

$C:\Users\Robert\Documents\CARTOONING ILLUSTRATION ANIMATION\IMAGE CARTOON\IMAGE CARTOON S\SINISTER HORDE, SIN 4, Dec 1992, 8.jpg$ “Dave” discovers “The Sinister horde” has been altered.” SIN 4, Dec. 1992: 8

$C:\Users\Robert\Documents\CARTOONING ILLUSTRATION ANIMATION\IMAGE CARTOON\IMAGE CARTOON S\SINISTER HORDE, SIN, 4, Dec 1992, 18.jpg$ “Dave” and “Merv” go to confront the publisher of Sinister horde.” SIN 4, Dec. 1992: 18.

$C:\Users\Robert\Documents\CARTOONING ILLUSTRATION ANIMATION\IMAGE CARTOON\IMAGE CARTOON S\SINISTER HORDE, SIN, 5, Feb 1993, 14.jpg$ “C-Force” confronts “Sinister horde” SIN 5, Feb. 1993: 14.

$C:\Users\Robert\Documents\CARTOONING ILLUSTRATION ANIMATION\IMAGE CARTOON\IMAGE CARTOON S\SINISTER HORDE, SIN, 5, Feb 1993, 15.jpg$ “Sinister horde” confronts “C-Force” SIN 5, Feb. 1993: 15.

$C:\Users\Robert\Documents\CARTOONING ILLUSTRATION ANIMATION\IMAGE CARTOON\IMAGE CARTOON S\SINISTER HORDE, SIN, 5, Feb 1993, 16.jpg$ The confrontation continues. SIN 5, Feb. 1993: 16.

$C:\Users\Robert\Documents\CARTOONING ILLUSTRATION ANIMATION\IMAGE CARTOON\IMAGE CARTOON S\SINISTER HORDE, SIN, 5, Feb 1993, 17.jpg$ The confrontation ends. SIN 5, Feb. 1993: 17.

$C:\Users\Robert\Documents\CARTOONING ILLUSTRATION ANIMATION\IMAGE CARTOON\IMAGE CARTOON S\SINISTER HORDE, SIN, 5, Feb 1993, bc.jpg$ SIN 5, Feb. 1993: Back cover.

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