View source for Atari Force

{{Short description|Comic book series}}
{{italic title}}
{{Infobox comics organization
<!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->
|image        = Atariforce1 01.jpg
|caption      = Cover art for ''Atari Force'' #1. Art by Ross Andru and Dick Giordano.
|publisher    = [[DC Comics]]
|debut        = ''Atari Force'' #1 (1982)
|creators     = Gerry Conway and Roy Thomas
|type         = 
|team         = y
|base         = ''Scanner One''
|members      = 
|fullroster   = 
|cat          = 
|subcat       =
|altcat       = 
|sortkey      = Atari Force
}}
'''''Atari Force''''' is the name of two [[comic book]] series published by [[DC Comics]] from [[1982 in comics|1982]] to [[1986 in comics|1986]]. Both were loosely based on trademarks of [[Atari, Inc.]]

== Publication history ==
The first ''Atari Force'' title was a series of [[minicomic]]s created in 1982 to be packed in with certain [[Atari 2600]] video game titles from fellow [[Warner Communications]] subsidiary [[Atari, Inc.]]  The five games that include the comics are ''[[Defender (1981 video game)|Defender]]'', ''[[Berzerk (video game)|Berzerk]]'', ''[[Star Raiders]]'', ''[[Phoenix (1980 video game)|Phoenix]]'', and ''[[Galaxian]]''. The comics were written by [[Gerry Conway]] and [[Roy Thomas]] and the artists included [[Ross Andru]], [[Gil Kane]], [[Dick Giordano]], and [[Mike DeCarlo]].

An ''Atari Force'' [[DC Comics insert previews|special insert]] appeared in two comic books cover dated January 1983<ref>[http://www.comics.org/issue/37018/ ''DC Comics Presents'' #53] and [http://www.comics.org/issue/37028/ ''The New Teen Titans'' #27] at the Grand Comics Database</ref> and served as a prequel to the ongoing series launched a year later. The insert was the story previously published in the ''Phoenix'' minicomic, but the story title was changed to "Code Name: Liberator" and the featured ship's name became ''Liberator''. In addition, the art for the aliens showed them as more frog-like. Atari released a ''[[Liberator (arcade game)|Liberator]]'' arcade game featuring Commander Martin Champion and the Atari Force name.

In 1983, [[DC Comics]] published a [[graphic novel]] based on ''Star Raiders'' that tied into the mini-comics. It was the first title of the ''[[DC Graphic Novel]]'' series. It was written by [[Elliot S! Maggin]] and illustrated by [[José Luis García-López]]. The graphic novel was a larger format than normal comic books, and reached a much larger market (via comic book specialty stores) than the small subset of persons who bought the 2600 cartridge.

The second series (Jan. 1984 - Aug. 1985) was released monthly, in conventional comic-book format, and lasted for 20 issues.<ref>[http://www.comicvine.com/atari-force/65-44194/issues-cover/ Atari Force comic books - Comic Vine]</ref> Gerry Conway returned as writer while [[José Luis García-López]] became the main pencil artist. However, original series concept artist Ross Andru did draw issues #4–5. In issue #13, [[Eduardo Barreto]] took over as penciler and, in #14, [[Mike Baron]] became the regular writer through the final issue, #20. Issues #12-20 also featured backup stories by different writers and artists. In 1986, a "Special" issue was released with work by different creators, some of whom had done backup stories for volume 2. The backup story of issue #20, "Hukka vs. the Bob!" by [[Keith Giffen]], [[Robert Loren Fleming]], and [[Karl Kesel]], was reprinted in the Best of DC #71 digest, containing the Year's Best Comics Stories, in April 1986, and was voted as one of the best comic book stories of the year in Comics Buyers Guide magazine, among others.

In 2015, [[Dynamite Entertainment]] announced plans to reprint the original comic book and release new comics based on Atari properties: ''[[Asteroids (video game)|Asteroids]]'', ''[[Centipede (video game)|Centipede]]'', ''[[Crystal Castles (video game)|Crystal Castles]]'', ''[[Missile Command]]'', ''[[Tempest (video game)|Tempest]]'', and ''[[Yars' Revenge]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/07/06/atari-returns-to-comics-at-dynamite-entertainment|title=Atari Returns To Comics At Dynamite Entertainment|publisher=[[IGN]]|author=Couto, Anthony|date=6 July 2015}}</ref> The reprinted Atari Force comics were solicited in 2017, but never materialized.

== Fictional biography ==
The original Atari Force was a team of humans from different nations using the multi-dimensional starship ''Scanner One'' to search for a new planet for humanity to inhabit as the Earth was facing ecological devastation. The team was handpicked by A.T.A.R.I. (Advanced Technology and Research Institute), and consisted of Martin Champion as mission commander, Lydia Perez as pilot and executive officer, Li-San O'Rourke as security officer, Mohandas Singh as flight engineer, and Dr. Lucas Orion as medical officer. A semi-sentient alien creature, named Hukka because of the noise he made, later joined as team [[mascot]].

The second team, formed approximately 25 years after the first, was also led by Martin Champion. He was convinced that the original team's nemesis, the Dark Destroyer, still existed. Although he was correct, most of the rest of humanity did not believe it, but humored him due to his heroic status in successfully leading the original Atari Force to find New Earth. Other team members included Christopher "Tempest" Champion, son of Martin Champion and Lydia Perez; Erin "Dart" Bia O'Rourke-Singh, daughter of Mohandas Singh and Li-San O'Rourke; Hukka; Morphea, an insectoid [[empathy|empath]]; Babe, an alien [[toddler]] of immense size and strength; and Pakrat, a humanoid rodent thief. Later additions to the team were Blackjak, Dart's human lover; Taz, a short alien warrior; and Kargg, the Dark Destroyer's former chief underling.

=== DC Universe ===
[[Captain Marvel (DC Comics)|Shazam]] mentions that he saved Atari Force in Gamelands in ''Shazam!'' v3. #14 (November 2020).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sawan |first=Amer |date=2020-09-06 |title=Atari Force: DC May Have Resurrected Its WEIRDEST Video Game Super-Team |url=https://www.cbr.com/shazam-atari-force-explained/ |access-date=2023-05-01 |website=CBR |language=en}}</ref>

== Collected editions ==
* ''Atari Force Trade Paperback'' (November 15, 2017, {{ISBN|978-1524105389}}): Solicited, but not published.

==References==
 {{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://home.hiwaay.net/~lkseitz/comics/AtariForce/ Atari Force Headquarters] - a fan site that offers far more information on the series. No content appears to have been updated since 1999.

{{Roy Thomas}}
{{Dynamite Entertainment}}

[[Category:1982 comics debuts]]
[[Category:1986 comics endings]]
[[Category:Comics based on video games]]
[[Category:DC Comics titles]]
[[Category:Science fiction comics]]
[[Category:Characters created by Roy Thomas]]
[[Category:Characters created by Gerry Conway]]
[[Category:Comics by Paul Kupperberg]]
[[Category:Dynamite Entertainment titles]]
[[Category:Space opera comics]]