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Malibu's Street Fighter comic is absolutely terrible

5:23 PM on 03.01.2008, Joseph Leray 64 comments

Malibu's Street Fighter comic is absolutely terrible photo
     retro

A lot of bad stuff happened in 1993 -- the Buffalo Bills lost their third consecutive Super Bowl, The Nanny premiered on TV, and I was in kindergarten. The worst disaster of 1993, however, is unarguably the publication and distribution of Malibu's first Street Fighter comic.

A few weeks ago, I went to a flea market, hoping to find cheap retro games. I keep waiting on the day when I find a copy of Chrono Trigger that doesn't cost a grand, but it hasn't happened yet. Unfortunately, it seems like my local peddlers have done their homework and aren't as easily duped as I would like. 

Nevertheless, I did find the "fightin'" first issue of Malibu's Street Fighter, for $0.50. This, you must realize, is tantamount to finding a copy of E.T., or Daikatana, or Superman 64. I was actually able to buy, with dimes and nickels, a physical manifestation of the game industry's shame.

Hit the jump for some more information about what might be worst comic I've ever read. 

According to the foreword by writer Len Strazewski, the comic was officially licensed by Capcom (who pulled the plug after 3 issues) and the plot details were hammered out in a couple of hours one afternoon. I'll admit that I don't know much about comics, but I'm pretty sure it takes more than one afternoon to create a successful narrative. Keep in mind that Capcom gave the green light to the Street Fighter movie, but I still can't believe that they approved this gem.

The plot itself isn't particularly interesting, and basically gives some background information, probably cribbed from the game manual. However, where the game really shines fails takes a shit on my face is the artwork. You guys may have your panties in a twist over Street Fighter IV's questionable art direction, but it looks exponentially better than Malibu's attempt. Just pay attention to their facial expressions. Balrog looks like a crack fiend with Down's, and Ryu appears as though he was hit in the face with a shovel. Classy stuff.

The series does have one redeeming quality, though: In the second issue, Balrog and Sagat beat Ken to death and send his bloody scalp to Ryu, in order to goad him into fighting again. That's fucking metal

Anyway, for your viewing pleasure, hit the gallery for some scans. You should be able to read the entire thing cover to cover. And if your retro goggles aren't foggy enough, check out those sweet ads for Clay Fighters and Prototype. And, for a more in depth look at the series check out 4th Letter's thorough synopsis


LAUNCH GALLERY (27 IMAGES)
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MrSadistic's Avatar
MrSadistic at 03/01/2008 17:32
I used to have the first issue of that comic series. That first picture with Chun-Li turned me when I was a kid, for some reason.
Artix Lumin's Avatar
Artix Lumin at 03/01/2008 17:38
One thing you forgot mention was that Sonic was made in 1993 and I was born in 1993!
Two bad things right there!
Def JM's Avatar
Def JM at 03/01/2008 17:39
I almost got the SF3 manga today I opted out for something else. Anyone actually read it for any input?
Justin Villasenor's Avatar
Justin Villasenor at 03/01/2008 17:40
Damn, you weren't kidding about the faces. All it took was one look at everyone on the front cover to send me into a fit of laughter.
manasteel88's Avatar
manasteel88 at 03/01/2008 17:47
ah no issue 2 where ken gets the beaten to a bloody pulp by Sagat?
Professor Pew's Avatar
Professor Pew at 03/01/2008 17:48
So bad it makes DC comics almost enjoyable ;)
HarassmentPanda's Avatar
HarassmentPanda at 03/01/2008 17:48
"The series does have one redeeming quality, though: In the second issue, Balrog and Sagat beat Ken to death and send his bloody scalp to Ryu, in order to goad him into fighting again. That's fucking metal."

I'm sorry, but this can't possibly be bad. That one series of events makes this an intensely awesome comic series. The rest of the book could actually be made out of turds, but that one metal-ass event overrules them all.
Joseph Leray's Avatar
Joseph Leray at 03/01/2008 17:50
Panda wins this thread.

Here, have an internet.
michiyoyoshiku's Avatar
michiyoyoshiku at 03/01/2008 17:52
There is another SF Comic where Ryu is basically Goku and it takes place on an Island.
Gameboi's Avatar
Gameboi at 03/01/2008 17:52
LOL, the faces are indeed amusing.

What's this negative speak of DC comics, Professor? :-(
solarmystic's Avatar
solarmystic at 03/01/2008 17:58
For some reason i am strangely compelled to read/finish every single one of the pages posted in the gallery.

I'm not repulsed by the horror of its mediocrity.
louiefalls's Avatar
louiefalls at 03/01/2008 18:08
I have the first issue of the A-Team comic. Apparently theres a new Mr T one coming out. That'll be poo.
skruloos's Avatar
skruloos at 03/01/2008 18:17
I still have this comic AND issue number 2 which pissed me off since I'm a Ken fan. Awesome stuff really. Another "good" one is the Mortal Kombat comic which, I think, has a similar art style to this Street Fighter one.

And Professor Pew, I don't know of much that Marvel has done lately that has been all that great. I found Civil War a complete bore. And save for the Ultimate titles, I've largely been disappointed. Especially with the Brand New Day Spider-man stuff. Terrible.

I've been much more impressed by DC's stuff lately. 52 was far more interesting in my opinion. Plus it kind of brought Batman back to a pretty respectable level.
aborto thefetus's Avatar
aborto thefetus at 03/01/2008 18:20
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

What are you talking about? That was amazing.....
Professor Pew's Avatar
Professor Pew at 03/01/2008 18:25
I kid Gameboi, I grew up on Marvel and the last DC thing I remember is Superman Returns. And that unaired pilot of Aquaman. Oh man..
Justice's Avatar
Justice at 03/01/2008 18:31
Too many pages!
Im OK's Avatar
Im OK at 03/01/2008 18:51
OMG I remember this.

Good thing Capcom makes their own comics now.
manasteel88's Avatar
manasteel88 at 03/01/2008 18:52
ah man if i had a scanner the second issue would soooo be up right now!
GrayFox's Avatar
GrayFox at 03/01/2008 19:42
Dude you were in kindergarten in 93? You must be like 18-19 then. Now I feel old..
Joseph Leray's Avatar
Joseph Leray at 03/01/2008 19:46
Nah, I'll be 21 at the end of May. But I'm still a baby.
necksnap's Avatar
necksnap at 03/01/2008 19:51
I dunno. I actually have the send away comic for Mortal Kombat.
That one is pretty aweful as well.
topgeargorilla's Avatar
topgeargorilla at 03/01/2008 20:00
Shit Orcist, I'll be 21 in July, and you get to write for Destructoid?!

Sonofabitch....

Anyway, cookies for you.
Eschatos's Avatar
Eschatos at 03/01/2008 20:06
Hey, at least this beats the Doom Comic.
Nubc4kes's Avatar
Nubc4kes at 03/01/2008 20:16
Pygmy's Avatar
Pygmy at 03/01/2008 20:26
whoever hits the hardest, wins!
Crackpot360's Avatar
Crackpot360 at 03/01/2008 20:26
That makes the SF movie almost enjoyable.

Needs more Van Damme!
Mxyzptlk's Avatar
Mxyzptlk at 03/01/2008 20:27
Yup, the Doom comic still has this beat.
Pygmy's Avatar
Pygmy at 03/01/2008 20:40


Amazingly hot.
urbanyeti's Avatar
urbanyeti at 03/01/2008 21:53
The comic lost my interest. But Clay Fighters? YES PLEASE! Ickybod Clay FTW.
s0lesurviv0r's Avatar
s0lesurviv0r at 03/01/2008 21:53
I finished up my comic reading for this week by getting up to date with Dr. McNinja, Girl Genius, One Piece, Naruto, Bleach, Gantz, Hunter X Hunter. But this totally tops all of it, kudos.
NihonTiger90's Avatar
NihonTiger90 at 03/01/2008 22:12
This sucks, except for Sagat killing Ken. That's sweet... but it should have been Ryu.
Qalamari's Avatar
Qalamari at 03/01/2008 22:20
Wow, that was pretty atrocious. My favorite parts were page 20 where Balrog's complete immolation just pisses him off a little... and the ad on the second-to-last page for the blatant Iron Man ripoff comic.
kohelhunter's Avatar
kohelhunter at 03/02/2008 00:15
sooo...terrible....we need to make sure none of the people who worked on this comic ESPECIALLY THE WRITER never works in comics again.
Trowble's Avatar
Trowble at 03/02/2008 00:21
I remember buying this comic and the 4 or 5 books afterwards. When I was a kid it was the shit, can't find them though.
The Unforgivable's Avatar
The Unforgivable at 03/02/2008 01:15
nice.
Paustinj's Avatar
Paustinj at 03/02/2008 01:56
Link to Ken getting beat to death anyone? :D
Paul Soth's Avatar
Paul Soth at 03/02/2008 02:11
I have a friend who for the past several years has run a large Chun-Li fansite. It's my opinion that this damn comic caused him an inane amount of grief from Chun-Li/Ryu shippers. By pure luck I stumbled upon a copy (I've read it before back in the day at a friend's house) and sent it to him so that he could have evidence of the foul thing.

Speaking of such, a few years ago at Origins, I actually managed to run into by pure chance a representative from Udon Comics, who was trying to get the game publishers interested in their work. It was just before the start of their Street Fighter comic, so I asked him about the storyline they would use, and he made it a point to mention the Malibu comic by name and how they would ignore it.
DarkTetsuya's Avatar
DarkTetsuya at 03/02/2008 02:30
I remember that, there was a preview of the comic in EGM some years ago, iirc.
RAB's Avatar
RAB at 03/02/2008 02:44
@ Def JM

nah man to be honest the manga is pretty crappy

what you need to check out are the trade paperbacks by UDON




[img] http://www.capcomcomics.com/previews/sf_vol3/02.jpg[/img]

im way satisfied man the artwork is fucking gorgeous and the stories are totally canon and legit.
RAB's Avatar
RAB at 03/02/2008 02:45
[img] http://www.capcomcomics.com/previews/sf_vol3/02.jpg[/img]
Boolean's Avatar
Boolean at 03/02/2008 03:11
"Once you were like this stream, laughing, flowing"

Yes, she was just like that laughing stream.

God this is just sad. The terrible faces, the constant line breaks when th-
re is no ne-
ed to and there is a sh-
it load of room still in the panel. The awful fight scenes.

...BEST COMIC EVER!
Boolean's Avatar
Boolean at 03/02/2008 03:24
Holy fucking shit:



0.o
Necros's Avatar
Necros at 03/02/2008 03:48
Kinda old, since I saw this about half a year ago, but it's still so fucking painful to read.
Boolean's Avatar
Boolean at 03/02/2008 04:12
^^

It was printed in 1993, of course it's bloody old
koose's Avatar
koose at 03/02/2008 05:39
"EAT MY DASHING UPPERCUT!"

best line ever!
Holyetheline's Avatar
Holyetheline at 03/02/2008 08:35
Wow, that is terrible...
Vampiricwound's Avatar
Vampiricwound at 03/02/2008 08:39
*sigh* i got the first 3 issues (didnt realize they never had a 4th) waaaay back in 93 i think i still have them in a box in the closet somewhere, and yes....it was terrible
Blommen's Avatar
Blommen at 03/02/2008 09:52
"Add this to your script!" *punches Ken in stomach*

Yep it's pretty bad...
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