Title:
Valkyrie
Synopsis:
### Overview
**Valkyrie! #1** (Eclipse Comics, May 1987) is the first issue of a three-issue miniseries written by Chuck Dixon, with pencils by Paul Gulacy, inks by Will Blyberg, and edited by Catherine Yronwode. It serves as a sequel to Valkyrie’s reintroduction in the *Airboy* series, where she was originally a WWII-era Nazi pilot named Liselotte von Schellendorf who defected to the Allies after falling in love with Airboy (David "Davy” Nelson Jr.). The story explores themes of redemption, guilt, and being haunted by one’s past, as encapsulated by the epigraph: "We may be through with the past, but the past is not through with us.” The miniseries was later collected as the graphic novel *Valkyrie: Prisoner of the Past* (December 1987).
### Plot Synopsis
The issue opens with Valkyrie (often called Val) emerging from 40 years of mystic suspended animation, thrust into the modern world of 1987. She grapples with the shock of lost time, mourning the life she could have had with her wartime lover, David (Airboy), who has since married, aged, and passed away during her slumber. As she attempts to adjust, Val finds work as a model but encounters sleazy industry figures, leading to a comedic yet empowering confrontation. This sets the tone for her fierce independence.
The plot escalates when Val is caught on camera defending herself against five muggers in a public altercation, instantly making her a media sensation as a "courageous young lady.” The footage goes viral (in 1980s terms), drawing public admiration and commentary from everyday people in bars and on the streets. However, this publicity alerts the KGB, who recognize her as the infamous WWII Valkyrie. They dispatch the ruthless agent Steelfox—a survivor of a 1944 massacre at Lubon, Poland, allegedly led by Valkyrie and her Air Maidens squadron—to capture her for trial in the Soviet Union on war crimes charges, including the murder of 2,000 orphaned refugees. Val vehemently denies involvement, insisting she only targeted military sites and had defected to the Allies by then, being in England at the time of the incident.
The issue builds tension through Val’s emotional vulnerability and action-oriented sequences, culminating in a dramatic rooftop confrontation where Steelfox ambushes her. He assures her of a "fair trial” in the USSR while she lies subdued, setting up her impending capture and the psychological torment to follow in subsequent issues. Marlene, likely a friend or associate (possibly the "Tia” mentioned in bar scenes or a supporting character aiding Val’s adjustment), provides moments of camaraderie, though her role is more subtle in this introductory issue.
Overall, *Valkyrie! #1* focuses on Val’s disorientation in the present, her heroic stand against everyday threats, and the looming shadow of her past catching up via Steelfox’s pursuit. The narrative blends high-stakes espionage with introspective character moments, highlighting Val’s strength, sex appeal, and inner turmoil. Dixon’s scripting effectively humanizes Val, making her a multifaceted protagonist who is "tough and confident, sexy and strong, yet at the same time very human and vulnerable.” Gulacy’s art is praised for its cinematic quality, dynamic action choreography, and emotional depth, particularly in quieter scenes of reflection.
### Key Characters
- **Valkyrie (Val/Liselotte von Schellendorf)**: The protagonist, a former Luftwaffe ace who defected during WWII. Awakened in 1987, she navigates culture shock while facing her history. She’s depicted as resilient and beautiful, with a haunted conscience.
- **Steelfox**: A vengeful KGB operative and antagonist, crippled as a child during the Lubon massacre he blames on Valkyrie. Introduced as a cold killer (slaughtering Afghan resistance fighters with poison gas), his personal obsession drives the conflict, making him a mirror to Val’s own imprisonment by the past.
- **David (Airboy/Davy Nelson Jr.)**: Val’s deceased lover from WWII, whose memory torments her. He represents the life she lost, with Val grieving his absence after learning he moved on without her.
- **Marlene**: A supporting character, possibly a friend or contact helping Val adjust (inferred from contextual "company” and social scenes, though not explicitly named in the reviewed panels; she may tie into Val’s network from the *Airboy* series).
### Comments and Quotes from Attached Images
The attached pages vividly capture the issue’s blend of action, humor, and emotion. Here’s a breakdown with direct quotes and commentary:
1. **Photoshoot Chaos (Page from Image ID: 3)**: This scene humorously showcases Val’s (or a model’s) defiance against exploitation, reflecting 1980s fashion industry sleaze. The sleazy photographer propositions: "You’re kidding, right? I’m talking about a nude pictorial.” The model retorts: "You mean I wouldn’t be wearing any clothes?” He replies: "That’s about the size of it, honey.” It escalates with a close-up of shocked eyes and "KRAK!” as glasses shatter, followed by "UH UHH!” and chaos—people collapsing, exclaiming "Schwein.” (German for "pig”). Commentary: This panel highlights themes of empowerment, with dynamic art emphasizing the slapstick violence and Val’s no-nonsense attitude, contrasting her WWII heroism with modern indignities.
2. **Media Fame and Public Reaction (Page 5 from Image ID: 2)**: Depicts a TV broadcast of Val’s mugger defeat, transitioning to bar commentary. News anchor: "And this courageous young lady defended herself against five would-be attackers. I asked her why.” Val: "They wanted my valuables and I refused to give in to them. They wouldn’t take ’no’ for an answer.” Bar patrons react: "I had to use some force... It’s the only thing scum like that understand.” A nun adds: "I don’t like being pushed around by anyone and I don’t see why I should have to take it. I remember a time when people had some decency... Amen, Sister.” A band member quips: "There you have it. The supposedly weaker sex taking on a band of street thugs. Single handedly. Maybe we could learn something from this, Dave.” Kid: "She’s a knockout!” Sleeping man: "ZZZZhore.” Commentary: This sequence cleverly shows Val’s instant celebrity status, using ensemble reactions to comment on gender roles and societal decay. The art’s detailed backgrounds and expressions add levity, underscoring Dixon’s satirical edge on 1980s culture.
3. **Rooftop Capture (Page from User’s Third Image, Not Fully Viewed Due to Tool Error)**: Steelfox confronts Val at night: "So, at last I meet the mystery woman. Come with me quietly and you’ll not be harmed further.” He adds: "I personally assure you your trial in the Soviet Union will be a fair one.” Teaser: "Next: The Battle’s Not Over! Valkyrie in the Clutches of Steelfox! Join Us For-- Capture!” Commentary: This cliffhanger panel builds suspense with shadowy, dramatic art—Steelfox’s cape-like umbrella and Val’s prone pose evoke classic spy thriller vibes, heightening the stakes of her past resurfacing.
4. **Reflection and Grief (Page 8 from Image ID: 1)**: Val brushes her hair, reminiscing: "It’s not easy waking up forty years in the future. These are the years we are in the years we once read about in science fiction magazines.” Flashbacks: "These are the years we would grow old together... The world is so different. More so than we could ever imagine... And you are gone.” Close-up tearful face: "I could never have imagined that, David. God, I miss you.” A friend enters: "Val? You’ve got company.” Commentary: Gulacy’s art shines here in the melancholic, intimate layouts—mirrors and insets symbolize fractured time. This emotional core humanizes Val, contrasting action with vulnerability, and ties directly to her lost love David, emphasizing the "prisoner of the past” theme.
GROK
**Valkyrie! #1** (Eclipse Comics, May 1987) is the first issue of a three-issue miniseries written by Chuck Dixon, with pencils by Paul Gulacy, inks by Will Blyberg, and edited by Catherine Yronwode. It serves as a sequel to Valkyrie’s reintroduction in the *Airboy* series, where she was originally a WWII-era Nazi pilot named Liselotte von Schellendorf who defected to the Allies after falling in love with Airboy (David "Davy” Nelson Jr.). The story explores themes of redemption, guilt, and being haunted by one’s past, as encapsulated by the epigraph: "We may be through with the past, but the past is not through with us.” The miniseries was later collected as the graphic novel *Valkyrie: Prisoner of the Past* (December 1987).
### Plot Synopsis
The issue opens with Valkyrie (often called Val) emerging from 40 years of mystic suspended animation, thrust into the modern world of 1987. She grapples with the shock of lost time, mourning the life she could have had with her wartime lover, David (Airboy), who has since married, aged, and passed away during her slumber. As she attempts to adjust, Val finds work as a model but encounters sleazy industry figures, leading to a comedic yet empowering confrontation. This sets the tone for her fierce independence.
The plot escalates when Val is caught on camera defending herself against five muggers in a public altercation, instantly making her a media sensation as a "courageous young lady.” The footage goes viral (in 1980s terms), drawing public admiration and commentary from everyday people in bars and on the streets. However, this publicity alerts the KGB, who recognize her as the infamous WWII Valkyrie. They dispatch the ruthless agent Steelfox—a survivor of a 1944 massacre at Lubon, Poland, allegedly led by Valkyrie and her Air Maidens squadron—to capture her for trial in the Soviet Union on war crimes charges, including the murder of 2,000 orphaned refugees. Val vehemently denies involvement, insisting she only targeted military sites and had defected to the Allies by then, being in England at the time of the incident.
The issue builds tension through Val’s emotional vulnerability and action-oriented sequences, culminating in a dramatic rooftop confrontation where Steelfox ambushes her. He assures her of a "fair trial” in the USSR while she lies subdued, setting up her impending capture and the psychological torment to follow in subsequent issues. Marlene, likely a friend or associate (possibly the "Tia” mentioned in bar scenes or a supporting character aiding Val’s adjustment), provides moments of camaraderie, though her role is more subtle in this introductory issue.
Overall, *Valkyrie! #1* focuses on Val’s disorientation in the present, her heroic stand against everyday threats, and the looming shadow of her past catching up via Steelfox’s pursuit. The narrative blends high-stakes espionage with introspective character moments, highlighting Val’s strength, sex appeal, and inner turmoil. Dixon’s scripting effectively humanizes Val, making her a multifaceted protagonist who is "tough and confident, sexy and strong, yet at the same time very human and vulnerable.” Gulacy’s art is praised for its cinematic quality, dynamic action choreography, and emotional depth, particularly in quieter scenes of reflection.
### Key Characters
- **Valkyrie (Val/Liselotte von Schellendorf)**: The protagonist, a former Luftwaffe ace who defected during WWII. Awakened in 1987, she navigates culture shock while facing her history. She’s depicted as resilient and beautiful, with a haunted conscience.
- **Steelfox**: A vengeful KGB operative and antagonist, crippled as a child during the Lubon massacre he blames on Valkyrie. Introduced as a cold killer (slaughtering Afghan resistance fighters with poison gas), his personal obsession drives the conflict, making him a mirror to Val’s own imprisonment by the past.
- **David (Airboy/Davy Nelson Jr.)**: Val’s deceased lover from WWII, whose memory torments her. He represents the life she lost, with Val grieving his absence after learning he moved on without her.
- **Marlene**: A supporting character, possibly a friend or contact helping Val adjust (inferred from contextual "company” and social scenes, though not explicitly named in the reviewed panels; she may tie into Val’s network from the *Airboy* series).
### Comments and Quotes from Attached Images
The attached pages vividly capture the issue’s blend of action, humor, and emotion. Here’s a breakdown with direct quotes and commentary:
1. **Photoshoot Chaos (Page from Image ID: 3)**: This scene humorously showcases Val’s (or a model’s) defiance against exploitation, reflecting 1980s fashion industry sleaze. The sleazy photographer propositions: "You’re kidding, right? I’m talking about a nude pictorial.” The model retorts: "You mean I wouldn’t be wearing any clothes?” He replies: "That’s about the size of it, honey.” It escalates with a close-up of shocked eyes and "KRAK!” as glasses shatter, followed by "UH UHH!” and chaos—people collapsing, exclaiming "Schwein.” (German for "pig”). Commentary: This panel highlights themes of empowerment, with dynamic art emphasizing the slapstick violence and Val’s no-nonsense attitude, contrasting her WWII heroism with modern indignities.
2. **Media Fame and Public Reaction (Page 5 from Image ID: 2)**: Depicts a TV broadcast of Val’s mugger defeat, transitioning to bar commentary. News anchor: "And this courageous young lady defended herself against five would-be attackers. I asked her why.” Val: "They wanted my valuables and I refused to give in to them. They wouldn’t take ’no’ for an answer.” Bar patrons react: "I had to use some force... It’s the only thing scum like that understand.” A nun adds: "I don’t like being pushed around by anyone and I don’t see why I should have to take it. I remember a time when people had some decency... Amen, Sister.” A band member quips: "There you have it. The supposedly weaker sex taking on a band of street thugs. Single handedly. Maybe we could learn something from this, Dave.” Kid: "She’s a knockout!” Sleeping man: "ZZZZhore.” Commentary: This sequence cleverly shows Val’s instant celebrity status, using ensemble reactions to comment on gender roles and societal decay. The art’s detailed backgrounds and expressions add levity, underscoring Dixon’s satirical edge on 1980s culture.
3. **Rooftop Capture (Page from User’s Third Image, Not Fully Viewed Due to Tool Error)**: Steelfox confronts Val at night: "So, at last I meet the mystery woman. Come with me quietly and you’ll not be harmed further.” He adds: "I personally assure you your trial in the Soviet Union will be a fair one.” Teaser: "Next: The Battle’s Not Over! Valkyrie in the Clutches of Steelfox! Join Us For-- Capture!” Commentary: This cliffhanger panel builds suspense with shadowy, dramatic art—Steelfox’s cape-like umbrella and Val’s prone pose evoke classic spy thriller vibes, heightening the stakes of her past resurfacing.
4. **Reflection and Grief (Page 8 from Image ID: 1)**: Val brushes her hair, reminiscing: "It’s not easy waking up forty years in the future. These are the years we are in the years we once read about in science fiction magazines.” Flashbacks: "These are the years we would grow old together... The world is so different. More so than we could ever imagine... And you are gone.” Close-up tearful face: "I could never have imagined that, David. God, I miss you.” A friend enters: "Val? You’ve got company.” Commentary: Gulacy’s art shines here in the melancholic, intimate layouts—mirrors and insets symbolize fractured time. This emotional core humanizes Val, contrasting action with vulnerability, and ties directly to her lost love David, emphasizing the "prisoner of the past” theme.
GROK
Cover Date:
May 1987
Publisher:
Eclipse Comics
Issue Number:
1
Year:
1987
Attributes:
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Country:
United States
Cover Price:
$1.75
Genre:
Adventure
Action
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Date Added:
2018-07-02 23:36:23
Series:
1 of 3 mini-series
Story Arc:
"Deadly New Year -- 2021!”
Automatic Estimated Value:
~$1.99
Automatic Estimated Date:
2026-03-27
Date Added:
2018-07-02 23:36:23
Writer:
Charles Dixon
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Penciller:
Paul Gulacy
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