Short-Lived Marvel Comics Series Lasted Only 7 Issues

From the Internet Movie Datebase:

In the year 2274, young residents enjoy an idyllic, hedonistic lifestyle within the protective confines of a domed city. The general belief is that when each person turns 30, they are reincarnated for another blissful life cycle. Those who know the much darker truth become “runners” and flee to a hidden sanctuary. When law enforcement officer Logan (Michael York) goes undercover to locate the refuge, he winds up instead trying to initiate a revolution with runner Jessica (Jenny Agutter).

Logan’s Run was a movie based on a novel by William F. Nolan and George Clayton Johnson.


Marvel’s adaptation of the series lasted only seven issues – five issues to recount what happened in the film, and two issues to come up with stories about what happened after the novel and the film ended. Each of the issues was drawn by famous artist George Perez; Gerry Conway scripted the first issue, to be replaced for the remaining six issues by David Kraft.

(Warning: Spoilers follow!)

The first issue takes off at a brisk pace; Logan is chasing a runner through the underbelly of the city. It’s sort of refreshing to read “the movie” in comic book form. The actual film was filled with really bad acting; to see Gerry Conway (and later David Kraft) adapt the film to comic book form actually gives the story more credibility, and with the ability to be more descriptive, the story makes more sense.


Logan is called a “sandman” – as are all the police who chase down those who are trying to escape their “rebirth.” They’re universally feared throughout the domed city. All people have a gem in their hand that while they are young, glows white. As they get older, approaching their 30th birthday, it begins to glow red, which means they’re ready to be “reborn,” or in other words “killed off to make way for the younger generation.” People here aren’t referred to by last names – rather, they’ve got a first name and a number. If you’re the first Eric, you’re Eric-1. If nine other Erics came before you, your name is Eric-10.

In the first few pages, we also learn about Carrousel, the special event that heralds the rebirth (aka execution) of all those who’ve reached the ripe old age of 30. Dressed in attire to hide their identity, they enter a chamber where they levitate to the ceiling – at which point they seemingly disintegrate. It’s billed as a glorious ceremony, but some people know better and try to flee! Carrousel is a huge event in the dome, much like a baseball or football game today.

Carrousel – it’s not as fun as it looks.

Throughout this issue, Logan has some encounters with people who are fleeing the dome and headed to sanctuary – and he learns that people really don’t “renew,” they just die.

Logan has a moment of revelation.