I loved Jim Starlin's "Metamorphosis Odyssey in EPIC ILLUSTRATED 1-9. (Issue 3 introduced Dreadstar).
I loved THE PRICE graphic novel, (later reprinted in color as DREADSTAR ANNUAL # 1 )
I loved the DREADSTAR Marvel graphic novel.




And I loved the DREADSTAR comic book series, issues 1-5.
It maintained such a consistent level of great art and storytelling, even when it went from painted art (the graphic novels) to pen & ink (when it became the DREADSTAR comic series). It was so consistently good.
It portrayed war, heroism and tragedy on a grand scale.

Leading up to some thing called "Plan M", some monumental undertaking that would save two intergalactic empires from destroying themselves.
And then...
In issue 6, "Plan M" was revealed. And "Plan M" was... stupid. Trite. Silly. Annoying. Disappointing. Not believable.

I kept reading for another 6 issues or so, but I never enjoyed another issue after. The stories were consistently half-hearted and disappointing beyond that point.
I asked Jim Starlin once at a show, as politely as I could, what happened at that point (i.e., WTF) and he let on that Marvel was very late paying him, and that affected his enthusiasm for the series.

Starlin eventually took the series to First Comics, with issue 27. But the series never regained its early magic. What a let-down.


Rarely have I seen a series that started so good take such an incredible dive in quality.