User:Hazardous Matt/Sandbox/Cyberfrog

From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cyberfrog
Cyberfrog (vol.1) #1
Art by Ethan Van Sciver
Publication information
PublisherHall of Heroes
Harris Comics
ScheduleMonthly
FormatFinished
Publication dateHall of Heroes:
JuneDecember 1994
Harris Comics:
February 1996—-July 1997
Number of issuesHall of Heroes: 2
Harris Comics: 10
Main character(s)Cyberfrog
Creative team
Writer(s)Ethan Van Sciver
Penciller(s)Ethan Van Sciver
Trent Kaniuga
Inker(s)Ethan Van Sciver
Colorist(s)IHOC
Creator(s)Ethan Van Sciver

Cyberfrog was a comic book made by Ethan Van Sciver first printed by Hall of Heroes in 1994 and then Harris Comics in 1996. It featured an ill-tempered, cybernetic frog with superhuman abilities who was always drawn to danger.

History[change | change source]

Cyberfrog was created when Ethan Van Sciver was threatened by his girlfriend to do something important with his drawings or she would leave him.[1] The title was first printed by Hall of Heroes, who printed mostly Christian comic books.[2] Van Sciver left his job selling beer coupons door-to-door for Shaney's Pizza when fellow comic book artist Trent Kaniuga told Van Sciver that Hall of Heroes would pay him $500 USD for each issue of Cyberfrog, though this goes against an earlier statement made by Van Sciver that he was not paid by Hall of Heroes for his work.[3][1]

Hall of Heroes printed two black-and-white issues of Cyberfrog. The title gained noteriety when Van Sciver was featured in Wizard Magazine as an up-and-coming star of the comic book industry.

In 1996 Van Sciver took Cyberfrog to Harris Comics; a publisher that was famous for its Vampirella book.[2] Harris printed a four-issue color series of Cyberfrog. It was after Van Sciver moved to Harris and Kaniuga joined Lightning Comics when the two fought through the letters columns of their own books. The two not only insulted each other but also printed letters from fans who made fun of the other creator's title. Harris followed the series with a two-issue miniseries and "issue zero" which told the origin of Cyberfrog.

In 1997 Harris re-printed the original Hall of Heroes issues with new covers.[4] In July of the same year Van Sciver and Kaniuga said the only way to end their fighting was to have their two characters fight each other. Harris published the black-and-white Cyberfrog vs Creed. Van Sciver and Kaniuga both worked on the art but Van Sciver wrote the story by himself.

Alleged contract of sale of Cyberfrog

As of 2007 Ben Morse claims to have bought Cyberfrog from Van Sciver for $1 USD. He put an image of a contract hand-written on a scrap of paper, which Morse claims is signed by him, Van Sciver, and witnessed by Rags Morales on an online message board as proof of the purchase.[5] Van Sciver said Cyberfrog belongs to Harris.[1]

Plot[change | change source]

Cyberfrog focused on the main character and his uncontrollable attraction to danger. His origin was not revealed until the third year of the series, and stories often had Cyberfrog battling a crazed (and usually insect) enemy.

Hall of Heroes[change | change source]

In the first series Cyberfrog makes his debut by attacking a group of criminals and making fun of how they talk. Ben Riley, an angry high school student uses an ancient amulet to transform himself into the Fly, a giant insect that eats people. Later, Cyberfrog stops a robbery of a local store, but doesn't know that Ben has been watching him.[6]

Cyberfrog beats up a street gang, Traffik, as well as a super-powered group called Rush Hour. Ben is on a date with a girl and changes into the Fly and eats her. Ben is called by Osiris, lord of a place called Nadir, and tells Ben to kill Cyberfrog. Ben fights Cyberfrog, and Cyberfrog's banter makes Ben so mad he drops Cyberfrog when flying over the city. Cyberfrog lands on (and kills) Deadbolt, a superhero made by Trent Kaniuga. Cyberfrog starts to look for the Fly as the story ends.[7]

Harris Comics[change | change source]

The new series begins as Cyberfrog violently stops an attempted mugging while Ben Riley devours a group of teenagers. Later, Cyberfrog recalls his earliest memory; waking up in a swamp before he finds himself unconsciously and uncontrollably pulled into a confrontation with a group of mutants. Ben aggressively confronts Heather Swain but is subdued when she knees him in the groin and runs away. Ben does not understand why he was rejected and declares that he will have Heather.[8]

Cyberfrog defeats the mutants only to be belittled or shunned by the citizens he protected. Heather is at a night club where she is again attacked by Ben. Cyberfrog quickly takes down a villain known as Shockroach before an explosion at the nearby night club alerts him to a another threat. Cyberfrog arrives at the club and finds Ben holding Heather hostage.[9]

Cyberfrog and Ben begin an intense battle, during which Heather is able to remove the artifact that controls Ben's transformation. Cyberfrog rips off one of Ben's arms and has gained the upperhand when his boot thrusters kick in and he is subconsciously compelled to remove Heather from danger. Meanwhile, Shockroach offers his services to the leader of Traffik. Ben encounters Osiris once again, and Osiris grants Ben enhanced powers and issues orders to retrieve the artifact.[10]

Cyberfrog takes Heather home and allows her to keep the artifact. While returning to his apartment Cyberfrog is attacked by Ben. Ben transports Cyberfrog to the realm of Osiris, also transporting Heather soon after. Osiris declares Ben and Heather to be married as Heather begins a transformation process. Cyberfrog defeats Ben and destroys the artifact, ending Heather's transformation. Osiris casually dismisses Cyberfrog and Heather and returns them to the City. Meanwhile, Traffik has reformed Rush Hour as a stronger unit with Shockroach in command.[11]

Reservoir Frog[change | change source]

Cyberfrog attacks a band of cybernetic insects known as the Swarm who murdered a young couple in their apartment. As the Swarm gain the advantage Cyberfrog finds two large cannons have appeared on his arms. Unsure of the origins of the weapons Cyberfrog quickly drives the Swarm away. Meanwhile, the spirit of Ben Riley appears to a suicidal teen named Yoshi and offers Yoshi his artifact. Later, the Swarm have assembled underground and rally together, vowing to rid the streets of those who created and abandoned them; Traffik. Heather arrives at Cyberfrog's apartment shortly before the Swarm attacks in full force.[12]

A large spacecraft emerges from a swamp and flies away as the Swarm surrounds Cyberfrog's apartment and begins their attack. Cyberfrog has again found himself bearing powerful weapons. The leader of the Swarm kills the leader of Traffik, and Ben passes his artifact to Yoshi, christening him as Dragon-Fly. Cyberfrog engages the Swarm in a heated battle and is eventually overwhelmed. Heather investigates the battle and is targeted by the Swarm. Cyberfrog jumps in front of the shots meant for Heather and is heavily wounded.The spacecraft from the swamp suddenly arrives at the battle, kills all members of the Swarm and informs Heather that it is Cyberfrog's mother.[13]

Issue Zero[change | change source]

Despite the numbering, issue zero is not intended to be read prior to any other issues, rather it uses Reservoir Frog as a framing device. The one-issue story revealed the origin of Cyberfrog.

Immediately following Reservoir Frog, the spacecraft that had saved Cyberfrog and Heather details Cyberfrog's origin and expands on its claim that it is Sinn, Cyberfrog's mother. Sinn is alive, and originates from a world that intended to give each planet its own super soldier. The Sinn was equipped with a vile of genetic material that would create an offspring of the first two living organisms it came into contact with. The intention was to expose the genetic material to the spacecraft and then a human, creating a member of the planet's dominate species with tremendous abilities. Additional programming would urge the newly-created solder to respond to various disturbances.

Sinn was damanged in it's descent to Earth and crashed in a swamp. The genetic material was exposed, first to Sinn and then to an ordinary frog, rendering Cyberfrog's birth an accident. Cyberfrog wanders off to cope with the revelation and Sinn tells Heather that Cyberfrog is a twin.[14]

No storyline developed around the concept of Cyberfrog's twin, however a solicitation for another (though unsuccessful) Van Sciver creation, Salamandroid, confirms the character to be the twin.[15]

Cyberfrog vs CreeD[change | change source]

In July of 1997 Van Sciver and Kaniuga agreed to produce a crossover, advertising it as the only way to resolve thier constant feuding with one another. The feud supposedly started with Cyberfrog issue two from Harris, when Van Sciver decorated the cover with the phrase "Lick my sack CreeD".[9] Kaniuga issued the challenge which was printed in Reservoir Frog issue two by Van Sciver.[13]

Cyberfrog engages the Shlock Lobster in battle as Mark Farley watches from the crowd. Cyberfrog defeats the Lobster when Mark's friend CJ transforms from tree frog to dragon to assist in the battle. Mark realizes that he is powerless outside of the dream world when one of the Lobster's claws hit him in the head, knocking him unconscious and sending him to the dream world.

In the dream world Mark confronts his enemy Disorder, who has assumed control of the dream world due to Mark having lost focus in the real world. Disorder has joined forces with Ben Riley and both prey on Mark's self-pity to convince him to use Ben's artifact. Mark becomes Schizophrenzy and abducts Heather into the dream world. Cyberfrog finds himself battling numerous dream world demons. Mark arrives, commands the demons away and addresses Cyberfrog.

Meanwhile, Mark's friend Mary realizes she is late for their date and worries that she hurt his feelings. Mark shows Cyberfrog the artifact, transforms into an insect-like creature and attacks Cyberfrog. Mark combines his dream world powers with those of the artifact and begins to bleed the dream world and the real world together. Cyberfrog defeats Mark and brings Mark to his senses. Disorder and Ben have captured Heather. Cyberfrog destroys the artifact returning Disorder, Ben and the dream world to their proper places in the universe.

Later, Mark discovers Mary did not stand him up and realizes that he doesn't need super powers to be happy in life, just the woman he loves.[16]

Amphibionix[change | change source]

Conditions would have to be just right, and at this point, I've changed my direction and attitude so much that old fans wouldn't recognize my new version of Cyberfrog.

Ethan Van Sciver, Ethan Van Sciver: Impulsive Behavior

Harris Comics had announced plans for another Cyberfrog series, Amphibionix. Though Amphibionix has been solicited there has been no other promotional material and no scheduled release date. Van Sciver has stated that his attitude towards comics has changed to a degree where Cyberfrog may not be instantly recognizable by longtime readers.[17] Van Sciver has not announced any plans to return to Cyberfrog.

Other Media[change | change source]

According to Van Sciver there were contract negotiations to develop a toyline through the Playmates toy company and a program for the Fox Kids animated programming block. The toyline and program were never produced. Van Sciver claims the plans "fell apart".[18]

See Also[change | change source]

References[change | change source]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 http://www.thedrawingboard.com/interviews/vansciverethan.shtm
  2. 2.0 2.1 http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=84057
  3. http://www.newsarama.com/comics/010908-Ethan-07.html
  4. http://www.comiccollectorlive.com/Index/CoverTitle.aspx?id=a091988f-0175-44d5-b867-93cb2f8f1f27
  5. http://wizarduniverse.invisionzone.com/index.php?showtopic=8608
  6. Van Sciver, Ethan (w), Van Sciver, Ethan (p), Van Sciver, Ethan (i). Cyberfrog 1 (June, 1994), Hall of Heroes
  7. Van Sciver, Ethan (w), Van Sciver, Ethan (p), Van Sciver, Ethan (i). Cyberfrog 2 (December, 1994), Hall of Heroes
  8. Van Sciver, Ethan (w), Van Sciver, Ethan (p), Van Sciver, Ethan (i). "Directing Traffik" Cyberfrog v2, 1 (February, 1996), Harris Comics
  9. 9.0 9.1 Van Sciver, Ethan (w), Van Sciver, Ethan (p), Van Sciver, Ethan (i). "Torn Together" Cyberfrog v2, 2 (April, 1996), Harris Comics
  10. Van Sciver, Ethan (w), Van Sciver, Ethan (p), Van Sciver, Ethan (i). "DeathFly By Night" Cyberfrog v2, 3 (May, 1996), Harris Comics
  11. Van Sciver, Ethan (w), Van Sciver, Ethan (p), Van Sciver, Ethan (i). "The Afterlife of Riley" Cyberfrog v2, 4 (June, 1996), Harris Comics
  12. Van Sciver, Ethan (w), Van Sciver, Ethan (p), Van Sciver, Ethan (i). "Getting to Hate You" Cyberfrog Reservoir Frog 1 (September, 1996), Harris Comics
  13. 13.0 13.1 Van Sciver, Ethan (w), Van Sciver, Ethan (p), Van Sciver, Ethan (i). "Infestation" Cyberfrog Reservoir Frog 2 (October, 1996), Harris Comics
  14. Van Sciver, Ethan (w), Van Sciver, Ethan (p), Van Sciver, Ethan (i). "Yo Momma is an Alien!" Cyberfrog v2, 0 (March, 1997), Harris Comics
  15. http://www.atomicavenue.com/Atomic/titledetail.aspx?TitleID=5863
  16. Van Sciver, Ethan (w), Kaniuga, Trent & Van Sciver, Ethan (p), Kaniuga, Trent & Van Sciver, Ethan (i). Cyberfrog vs CreeD 1 (July, 1997), Harris Comics
  17. http://www.popimage.com/industrial/080800ethanint.html
  18. http://www.comicsbulletin.com/features/112398029693175.htm

External links[change | change source]