They’ve Always Been Dead: The History Of Elementals

This video [from Strange Brain Parts] does a deep dive into the origin, history and tragic, exploitative decline of The Elementals, created by Bill Willingham and published by Comico from 1984-1997.

The initial volume of The Elementals was a foundational work for Steve and I during our early Villains & Vigilantes superhero games back in the day, because of the Bill Willingham connection to the game.

He wrote - and illustrated - two of the system's first adventure modules: Death Duel With The Destroyers and The Island of Doctor Apocalypse. Several characters from these scenarios would then appear in The Elementals.

It was only later that I discovered that Villains & Vigilantes' co-creator Jack Herman also wrote some issues on The Elementals.

The first edition of V&V came out in 1979, followed by a revised and improved edition in 1982.

Around that time, the game's creators Jack Herman and Jeff Dee were onboard to create a back-up feature for Willingham’s Elementals, when it was coming out from Texas Comics, but the company dissolved and Bill moved Elementals to Comico.

In a 2011 interview with Ain't It Cool News, Jack explains that his feature would have been based on "my first original V&V character, a superhero-versus-supernatural-horror sort of thing".

When Elementals took off at Comico, Bill Willingham started looking around for in-universe support features. Jack's submitted a story which was turned into a full-length issue and he began writing for the title regularly.

Again, quoting the 2011 interview, Jack said: "So, here's this guy who is now rightfully recognized as one of the best comics writers in America, and I was writing scripts for him!"

The Elementals Fight Saddam Hussein, Elementals #17, May 1991, script by Jack Herman,
pencils by Mike Leeke, inks by Dan Schaefer, colours by Julia Lacquement, and letters by Pat Williams

THROWBACK THURSDAY: I Think I Might Have A Problem... Or Could This Be Normal?

My collection of 10 Villains & Vigilantes rules books

I'm sure every 'serious' roleplayer has that one system that they own multiple copies of... for reasons.

My weakness, which should come as no surprise to readers old and new, is Villains & Vigilantes.

The other month postie delivered my latest eBay purchase: an original first edition of the game, in immaculate condition.

Sure, I already own my tattered original copy from the very early '80s, which is almost falling apart now, as well as reprint published by Monkey House Games in 2016.

Yet while I only recall actually playing this iteration of the game solo, before moving on to the elegant second edition, it holds a special place in my heart.

While all the books sport dynamic Jeff Dee art, out of the four different covers between the editions, I definitely have a strong affection for the original, even if my preferred rules are contained within the second edition.

The difference between first edition and second is striking, in much the same way that third edition (aka The Mighty Protectors) is a dramatic evolution from second.

I went all in on the 2016 Kickstarter to back the third edition because (a) I wanted Jeff Dee to draw to The Acrobatic Flea and (b) I wanted to support Jack Herman and Jeff Dee in their creative endeavours and help keep V&V alive.

And while I got to game with Jeff online, the fact that character creation required a spreadsheet had already made me realise this probably wasn't the rules system for me, however much I loved the game world. 

I don't regret pouring all that money into the Kickstarter because I still got some fantastic books (some of which include second edition stats as well) and got to play the game with one of my creative heroes... who also drew me an incredible illustration of my Acrobatic Flea.

The first edition of Villains & Vigilantes was my introduction to the idea of "superhero roleplaying games", which the next edition then solidified in my noggin and the rest, as they say, is history.

When sorting out my V&V rule books for the picture to illustrate this article it turned out I had more copies of the second edition (and 2.1) than I had previously realised, some well-read and annotated, one without a cover for some reason, and some pristine.

Why do I have so many copies? Honestly, I couldn't tell you. I think I just like to ensure I always have a version of the rules to hand, whenever I want to look something up or I have a wild idea for a hero or villain I want to stat up.

I certainly needn't worry about mislaying my copy of the core rules. 

My new purchase of an old favourite

Left to Right: My battered original, my new purchase, and the Monkey House reprint