While cleaning up, my father found a comic book from the late '70’s called “Heavy Metal presents : Ulysses”. It lists the script writers as being Homer, Lob, and Pichard. It’s cover features an austere Zeus with his hand on a scantily clad green-haired Athena (though the clothing she is wearing is made of blue metal) and petty little “Ulysses” on the stern of a ship. Here is the dialogue of the first two pages :
Narrator : After ten years of fierce fighting, the proud city of Try has fallen to the Greek warriors. Today, the blood of the gallant ment will no longer be spilled, and the victors wish only to return to their far-off homes.
Narrator (again) : Among them is the crafty Ulysses, a warrior’s warrior, who prepares to depart for Ithaca, his native isle, where his faithful wife, Penelope, awaits him…
Ulysses : Penelope, my beloved, my dove … How I long to see you again…
Ulysses (again) : AWAY ALL THE ROPES! TO THE OARS!
Homer : Ahoy there! Is ther somne little place for me abord?
Ulysses : Who is that? His face is somehow familiar…
Random Warrior : It’s the poet HOMER. You must know him – He was at the front with us.
Ulysses : I wasn’t aware that a poet’s place was on the battlefield.
Random Warrior : Buy Homer is a war correspondent, Oh valiant Ulysses!
Homer : By Zeus! And who will describe the mighty deeds of the Trojan war to your people, Ulysses, if not a poet? Who else will sing songs of your deeds and those of the Greek and Trojan heroes for the generations to come?
Homer (again) : For ten years, I have taken endless notes and gathered information, it’s all there! Now I need only find a publisher!
Ulysses : Very well! We will be honored to have you on board! You can read us a few pages of your book during the voyage!
Narrator : Ere long, Ulysses’s [sic] ship, driven on by favorable winds, sails joyously towards its destination…"
Ulysses : In a few days, we will be in Ithaca and Penelope will be in my arms! Penelope, my little chikadee!..zzzzzzz…
Narrator : But alas, in their metal fortress crowing the inaccessible hights of Olympus, the Gods have decided otherwise…
The artwork of the comic is more interesting than its script. It blends stereotypical images of ancient warriors with science fiction elements. For example, the aforemention Athena looks like this has some kind of radio transmitter thingy on her helmet. Other gods, like Hera, have striking attire. There are also many scantily clad - to - nude women. The colors are also odd (see note about Athena’s hair). However, while the artwork is unusual, is is not very good.