Maximize your enjoyment of MATTER-EATER LAD: THE SERIES with this handy dandy guide to the issues thus far!
MEL:TS is set in POST-BOOT Legion continuity.
ISSUE CHECKLIST
# 1 Good Things Come To Those Who Eat
Issue 1 begins on page 1 of the MEL:TS thread and resumes on page 4.
Re-intro Tenzil Kem, former chef to the Legion. Intro of The Kem family, Ma, Pa & Renkil. Intro Taryn Loy, Tenzil's neighbor and life-long friend. Intro Lester Spiffany, working as a government courier on Bismoll.
SYNOPSIS
Tenzil is miserable at home with his trashy family when Lester delivers his senate draft notice. Between Tenzil, Lester and Taryn, they manage to get Tenzil elected to senate by buying his family its own reality TV show-- Kem Family & Friends-- making Tenzil a celebrity!
Meanwhile, shadowy figures watch and plot and Tenzil barely escapes an assassination attempt!
[ August 09, 2005, 11:20 PM: Message edited by: MLLASH ]
Posted by MLLASH on :
# 2 Interactive Do-It-Yourself Title
Issue 2 begins on page 6 of the MEL:TS thread.
Intro Prince Evillo. Intro Lotus Fruit Lass.
SYNOPSIS
Lester's secret origin s revealed during a flashback and it begins to become apparent that he has a special gift where money is concerned.
Tenzil, Taryn and Lester capture an escaped Boom-Boom Beast. They also capture the assassin from issue 1, and she reveals that Tenzil has been targeted by Prince Evillo of Tartarus.
Meanwhile, on Tartarus, Evillo holds tryouts for the Devil's Dozen. Only Lotus Fruit Lass makes the grade and his Dozen now stands at 5 members.
Posted by MLLASH on :
# 3 Welcome to Tartarus
Issue 3 begins on page 8 of the MEL:TS thread.
Intro Sugyn, Apollo, Wild Huntsman, Degree Damsel, Stick With a Nail in it Kid and Two-Face Tess as the rest of the Devil's Dozen. Intro Thora of Taltar, one of Evillo's ex-wives.
SYNOPSIS
Using a special Vacation episode of Kem Family & Friends, Tenzil, Taryn & Lester venture to Tartarus to find out Evillo's nefarious plans.
While Ma, Pa & Rnkil are busy, Tenzil, Taryn & Lester debate the best way to go about it, eventually settling on infiltrating the next Devil's Dozen tryout.
Tenzil as "Sir Prize" and Taryn as "Miss Terious" get close to succeeding, but Lester interferes when Evillo threatens to banish "Sir Prize" to the Realm of Darkness.
All 3 are then captured by the Devil's Dozen!
DEVIL'S DOZEN MEMBERSHIP
Apollo Sugyn Wild Huntsman Stick With a Nail in it Kid Lotus Fruit Lass Two-Face Tess Degree Damsel
# 4 The Night the Lights Went Out in the Realm of Darkness
Issue 4 begins on page 11 of the MEL:TS thread.
Intro Infectious Lass. Intro Azura, one of Thora's 2 allies.
SYNOPSIS
Banished to the Realm of Darkness, Tenzil, Taryn & Lester meet some of the quirky residents there, icluding Evillo's father King Malefico!
The King reveals his plan to have Tenz and the gang-- along with his League of Scantily-Clad Overendoed Assassins-- kill Evillo. Malefico teleports himself, Tenz, Taryn, Lester & the League back to Tartarus to do just that.
Meanwhile, Thora forms an alliance with Evillo and one of her 2 allies is revealed as Azura.
Pa and Renkil stay occupied while Ma makes a new friend-- Drura, also known as Infectious Lass.
[ July 07, 2004, 08:19 PM: Message edited by: MLLASH ]
Posted by MLLASH on :
# 5 Tartar US, Will You?
Issue 5 begins on page 13 of the MEL:TS thread.
Intro Eve (known as Saturn Queen in preboot continuity).
SYNOPSIS
Chaos rules as King Malefico, the League of Scanitly-Clad Overendowed Assassins and Tenzil, Taryn & Lester launch an attack on Evillo's castle!
Tenzil, Taryn & Lester engage the Devil's Dozen in combat. Things are going poorly until Lester convinces Sugyn to switch sides.
The League manages to take out both Evillo and Malefico and it is revealed that their whole plan all along was to seize Tartarus for Thora to rule.
But when Thora is taken down in combat by Infectious Lass, the League suggests that Drura become new queen of Tartarus!
Meanwhile, the third and final member of Thora's alliance is revealed as Eve of Titan.
Posted by MLLASH on :
Posted by MLLASH on :
CHARACTER SKETCH: Tenzil Kem
Tenzil is like the main character from an 80s teen movie. He's like Ferris Bueller, Marty McFly, and Zach Morris all rolled into one. Not conventially "cool", and yet so incredibly cool. Despite his ever-present shades, he always sees the brightest side of life. He is completely confident that things will work out for the best in the end, and they usually do. Of course, he's not beyond breaking whatever rules are necessary to insure this...
His family is wacko, and completely dysfunctional, yet he takes as much of it as he can in stride, confident that everything will work out. He shows far more loyalty to them than they deserve. Despite the fact that the series begins with his plan to move out, he'd never really completely abandon his folks or his brother, no matter how creepy they are or how miserable they make him.
His best and oldest friend is the girl who grew up next door, Taryn Loy. He depends on her to keep him focused and to keep his more irresponsible side in check, while he serves to provide joy and levity to her life.
Tenz is handsome, charming, and witty. But more than anything he is a good guy. That's why he's the star of the series, right?
--Eryk Davis Ester
Posted by MLLASH on :
# 6 Sissy Hissy
Issue 6 begins on page 15 of the MEL:TS thread.
Intro The Super-Companions. Intro Anti-Lad and her Fatal Femmes. Intro Dev-Em. Intro The Super-Moby Dick of Space.
SYNOPSIS
Spotlight on Spiffany! Once Tenzil makes it clear to Lester that he loves him, but doesn't love him "that way", an enranged Lester ventures out on his own.
He meets a group of men called the Super-Companions, who have watched him on the Kem Show. They try to get him to join their group, but are attacked by a gang of females called The Fatal Femmes, led by Anti-Lad. They unleash the Super-Moby Dick of Space to attack the men.
The Companions defeat the Moby Dick, but are being bested my the Femmes themselves until Lester singlehandedly turns the tide.
Lester decides to venture with the Companions to Thrann, their all-male paradise planet.
There, he meets Dev-Em, an honorary member of the Companions, and is smitten instantly by the Kryptonian rogue.
Meanwhile, Tenzil & Taryn find out the Kem Family & Friends Show has ben cancelled!
THE SUPER-COMPANIONS MEMBERSHIP
Othar Splash Shower Treehugger Shadow Mzgrzz the Magnificent Dev-Em (honorary)
THE FATAL FEMMES MEMBERSHIP
Anti-Lad Rainbow Girl Dyke Damsel Utility Girl Shaggy Lass
Posted by MLLASH on :
# 7 Senate Business
Intro Tiffany Spiffany. Intro unnamed group of Metas. Intro Heroes of Tartarus.
Issue 7 begins on page 17 of the MEL:TS thread.
Tenzil and Taryn attempt to put a spin on all the hijinks of the previous few issues, and manage to make Tenzil one of the most popular people on 2 planets.
Meanwhile, an unnamed group of Metas is captured by androids.
Renkil, traumatized by events on Tartarus, encounters a man in Metropolis that gives him life-changing advice.
Thora continues to plot with Azura and Eve.
Tiffany Spiffany shows up at Tenzil's office and demands to know Lester's whereabouts. Tenzil and Tiffany leave to find him, but Tenzil has ordered Taryn to meet with Thora as part of their deal for avoiding an interstellar incident with Taltar. Taryn decides to tail Tenzil secretly instead.
Lester, smitten, decides to join Dev-Em in his space-wanderings. They are almost struck by the spaceship that carries the Metas captured earlier.
On Tartarus, Queen Drura debuts the new super-team she has formed, The Heroes of Tartarus (or HOTties).
THE HEROES OF TARTARUS
Infectious Lass Sugyn Policy Pam Spaceopoly Lad Echo-Chamber Chet Brittle Boy Incredible Girl
UNNAMED GROUP OF METAS
Key Kid Negative Nell Weight Wizard Itch Witch Took Multi-Maid Blockade Boy
Posted by MLLASH on :
Character Sketch: Tiffany Spiffany
Lester's kid sister (by a year), Tiffany was clearly Daddy Spiffany's favorite. While Lester whines and complains whenever he doesn't get what he wants, Tiffany is more perplexed than anything else by unfulfilled desires. She's especially used to males doing basically whatever she wants, and doesn't understand when they don't. She's incredibly flirtacious, but not truly manipulative. Her flirting is more a matter of habit than anything else.
Tiffany overall has been far more sheltered and protected than Lester was, and shares the rest of the family's shock at much of Lester's 'scandalous' behaviour during his party phase. There's also a side of her that really enjoys being out on her own, though, and to be traveling with Tenz and the gang. To her, it's all a big adventure. She's a good kid at the core, though she can be incredibly insensitive and naive. She is incredibly polite and likeable on first impression.
Presently, she's still trying to find purpose in life as she grows beyond being "Daddy's little girl" and has to stake her own path in life.
Appearance wise, she should clearly resemble Lester, though her hair should be somewhat lighter (kind of a sandy blond, maybe?). She's attractive, bustier than Taryn, and dresses very expensively. She stands with a certain amount of poise and confidence, even when she doesn't feel it.
--Eryk Davis Ester
Posted by MLLASH on :
Posted by MLLASH on :
# 8 Stupid Stalag of Space
Issue 8 begins on page 19 of the MEL:TS thread.
Intro Nardo the galactic tyrant. Intro Plant Lad, False Pretenses Lad and Biron the Bowman.
SYNOPSIS
Dev-Em and Lester are captured by Nardo and become acquainted with some of the metas captured last issue.
To Lester's chagrin, Nardo alludes to nefarious plans that involve Dev-Em.
Meanwhile, Tenzil and Tiffany get ever-closer to catching up to Lester but the ship Taryn is tailing them secretly in breaks down!
On Tartarus, Infectious Lass trains the HOTties, along with their newest member... MATTER-EATER LAD...?!!?
On Taltar, Evillo is "acclimated" into Taltaran society as Thora wonders why Taryn hasn't arrived for her visit yet.
At Nardo's Stalag, we meet 3 of the prisoners there: False Pretenses Lad, Biron and Plant Lad. Plant Lad is foiled in his escape attempt as Nardo arrives with his new inmates!
Posted by MLLASH on :
# 9 Stupid Stalag of Space Part 2: He Fattened Me With Science
Issue 9 begins on page 21 of the MEL:TS thread.
SYNOPSIS
We are treated to the secret origin of Plant Lad, as he suffers his punishment for his escape attempt last issue!
Tenzil & Tiffany land on the Stalag planet and are quickly captured by Nardroids!
While Tiffany learns of her fate through fellow girl inmate Nasal Hazel, Tenzil is reunited with Lester in the boys' prison!
Tenzil & Lester plot a jailbreak with Weight Wizard, Key Kid and Blockade Boy, but they are betrayed by False-Pretenses Lad!
Recaptured by Nardo, Tenzil & Lester learn that they shall share Plant Lad's horriffic fate!
Meanwhile, on Thrann, Taryn discovers fun new hobbies!
Posted by MLLASH on :
# 10 Stupid Stalag of Space part 3 ...And One Shall Surely Be Fatassed!
Issue 10 begins on page 22 of the MEL:TS thread.
SYNOPSIS
Stranded on Thrann, Taryn finds herself having a wonderful time partying with the Super-Companions until news of Tiffany and Tenzil's kidnapping breaks.
Meanwhile, at the Stalag, Tenzil, Tiffany and Lester survive as best they can.
Nardo uses his super-fatassing power on Lester just before a massive revolt of the prisoners.
Nardo has quieted the prison revolt until his hard work is undone by the arrival of Taryn and the Super-Companions!
Posted by MLLASH on :
Posted by MLLASH on :
CHARACTER SKETCH: Taryn Loy
Taryn is the girl next door, if the girl next door's dad were a mad scientist who does crazy biological experiments on family members as well as family pets and if her mom had left after being given an extra breast by her aforementioned mad scientist dad. Taryn grew up very quick, and unlike Tenzil, who somehow managed to keep a childlike optimism despite his circumstances, Taryn harbors a certain resentment at her lot in life.
(At least initially in the series...) She is the responsible one, who always sees what's really at stake and what is really important. Despite the fact that she rarely explicitly laughs at Tenzil or his antics, she secretly values very highly the joy he brings into her life. He's the only person that she completely trusts, and deep down, she fears losing him more than almost anything. There's a certain lack of self-confidence, a unwillingness to believe that others' actually care about her, and at the same time, a strong desire to find a group that she really fits in with. She often uses her enhanced physical strength to cover up this insecurity.
Taryn is cute, cuter than she believes herself to be. In Tenzil's words, she's "just-rightly endowed". She is tall and lean, with maybe even even a slightly athletic build.
--Eryk Davis Ester
Posted by MLLASH on :
LESTER SPIFFANY
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
COMING SOON: Character Sketch for Lester Spiffany!
Posted by MLLASH on :
# 11 The Super-Road Trip... of Space! Part 1: How Green Was My Legion
Issue 11 begins of page 24 of the MEL:TS thread.
SYNOPSIS
Tenzil takes Lester and Plant Lad to Legion World to see if the expertise of Legion doctor Dr. Gym'll can help his two forcibly-fatassed friends.
En route, Dev-Em abandons Lester and the gang.
While on Legion World, Tiffany and Taryn sort-of bond.
Tenzil is delighted to see his friends TRIAD and CHUCK TAINE again.
Tiffany and Taryn are less thrilled to run into Tiffany's (and Lester's) old acquaintance, Legion ally Dirk Morgna.
The mystery of who the 'Tenzil' on Tartarus is nears a boiling point.
Meanwhile, Bismollgov decrees that Tenzil and his friends may not return to Bismoll until a suitable resolution to hostilities with matriarchal planet Taltar (caused by Tenzil & Taryn) can be found.
Posted by MLLASH on :
# 12 The Super Road-Trip... of Space! Part 2: Here There Be Everywhere A Monster!
Issue 12 begins on page 25 of the MEL:TS thread.
First postboot appearance of Questar.
SYNOPSIS
Although Dr. Gym'll's cellular trim ray does work on Plant Lad and sucessfully eliminates his super-flab, it does NOT work on Lester and Gym'll refers him to a specialist on planet Zentor.
When the gang arrive on Zentor, they find themselves attacked by a creature called the Every 10 Years Monster.
They find an ally in Questar, the self-styled Hero of Zentor, who is not a native of the planet. Questar clues the gang in on Zentor's rather odd civilization.
En route to Zentor, Taryn contacts Thora. Thora reveals her demands to Taryn, who agrees to the terms to avoid war with Taltar.
While on Zentor, Lester learns firsthand why being super-obese can make even the most ordinary things super-difficult.
Posted by MLLASH on :
# 13 The SUper-Road Trip... of Space! part 3: The Space-Rodeo... of Death!
Issue 13 begins on page 27 of the MEL:TS thread.
SYNOPSIS
The senses-shattering secret behind the Monsters of Zentor is revealed!
In the wake of this revelation, Questar abandons the planet, choosing instead to accompany Tenzil and his crew.
The Zentorian doctor cannot de-fatass Lester, but refers them to a doctor that might be able to help.
The next stop is Avatanda, the "Hippie Planet".
Questar teleports everyone to avoid a long space-transit, but his 'port goes awry and the gang ends up on Sexat, Avatanda's neighboring planet, instead!
After accidentally offending the Sexatians, the natives challenge Tenzil to a duel-- a chilli cookoff!
Meanwhile, The Matter-Eater Lad that has joined the HOTties on Tartarus is revealed as none other than Renkil Kem, Tenzil's ne'er-do-well brother!
Posted by MLLASH on :
# 14 The Super-Road Trip... of Space! part 4: The Super-Chili Cookoff... of Space! And DEATH!!!
Issue 14 begins on page 29 of the MEL:TS thread.
SYNOPSIS
The title pretty much says it all, as Tenzil sends his friends out in search of the 5 secret ingredients he requires to best the Sexatians in the Super-Chili Cookoff!
Of course, when you're dealing with the likes of Questar, Plant Lad and Tiffany Spiffany, you KNOW wackiness & hijinks ensue!
Plus, the title isn't misleading because someone very well might have died on the shocking last page!
Posted by MLLASH on :
# 15 The Super-Road Trip... of Space! part 5: Enter... The Westerner!
First postboot appearance of The Westerner; first postboot appearance of Dr. Mayavale.
Issue 15 begins on page 30 of the MEL:TS thread
SYNOPSIS
Tenzil manages to best the Sexatians in the chili-cookoff as only he can!
A new ally is gained in The Westerner, a hero who can absorb strength and endurance from others and use it against them. The Westerner offers to take the gang to Avatanda for Lester's appointment.
Meanwhile, Infectious Lass very nearly goes on a deadly rampage in the wake of the shocking revelation in issue 13!
After arriving on Avatanda, Tenzil and company meet the "doctor" they have an appointment with... none other than the nefarious, hopelessly insane Doctor Mayavale!
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
CHARACTER SKETCH: The Westerner (Tim-Thee of Sexat)
The ultimate macho western hero. The Westerner is gifted with the ability to absorb strength, endurance, and (to a limited extent) powers from others. This is the main thing that differentiates him from the ordinary citizens of the "Old West" world of Sexat, for otherwise he largely embodies the standard values of rugged individualism and self-reliance that are so highly praised on his homeworld. He is conservative, incredibly polite towards women and strangers. He is smart in a practical manner if not an intellectual, though headstrong and ready to rush into battle if his honor or the honor of someone he feels needs to be defended has been compromised.
He is handsome, very muscular, and attractive in the manner of the rugged cowboy type. He is with the gang primarily out of a sense of obligation to Taryn, who he delayed in obtained a precious ingredient for Tenzil's chili recipe, and thus endangered the lives of the entire group.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
CHARACTER SKETCH: Questar (Reges of ?)
Questar is a true believer in the traditional ideals of super-heroes. Perhaps he believes just a little too strongly for his own good, however. He's not naturally very bright, but incredibly good-natured, and the combination of these two qualities leads him to come off as even more naive than he in fact is. He is easily duped, and has an incredibly difficult time disbelieving something once he has placed his faith in it.
He should be decently attractive, though a bit geekish in appearance. He has a wide-array of powers, from energy blasts to teleportation to limited mental powers, but nothing that really puts him into the class of a "uber" hero.
He is also, significantly, star of his own holovision network, and cameras regularly follow him around recording his exploits. Sometimes they have diffculty keeping up with him, however, and so end up missing the most important stuff.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
CHARACTER SKETCH: Plant Lad (Noyd Echad of Simballi)
A former rock star on the jungle world of Simballi, Noyd was transformed into Plant Lad after acquiring a rare jungle disease. His altered appearance alienated his fans, but he soon won adoration as a super-hero. He met up with the gang after being captured and imprisoned in Nardo's Super-Stalag of Space and used in Nardo's super-fatassing experiments.
Noyd is one kewl cat. Never one to jump to any conclusions or to take action rashly, he is nonetheless quite capable of action when the time comes. Next to Tenzil, he is probably the most natural leader of the group. And don't be fooled by the rebel rock-n-roller image, Noyd secretly loves having a group to hang out with.
His appearance is a kind affected punkishness. Not genuinely a kid of the streets, yet made to look that way by the image-makers. Perhaps wearing a leather jacket? Green leather? I'm not sure how that would work.
He of course has the ability to turn into any plant form he has ever been acquainted with, though the Venusian Octopus Vine is a particular favorite.
Posted by MLLASH on :
INFECTIOUS LASS by DEAN LEE
Posted by MLLASH on :
# 16 The Super-Road Trip... of Space! part 6: The Vengeance of Mayavale!
Issue 16 begins at the bottom of page 31 of the MEL:TS thread.
SYNOPSIS
Tenzil and the gang quickly learn that Doctor Mayavale is by no means a typical doctor.
Lester, Opposable Big Toes Boy, Plant Lad and Questar are all haunted by visions of possible past encounters with the mad Doctor.
As things get weirder and more horrific for the gang, Tiffany seems to develop weird psychic powers!
[ August 25, 2004, 06:26 AM: Message edited by: MLLASH ]
Posted by MLLASH on :
RENKIL KEM (disguised as TENZIL) & INFECTIOUS LASS
Posted by MLLASH on :
# 17 The Super-Road Trip... of Space! part 7: Chance of a Lifetime
first postboot appearance of Sden, Mordecai and Jungle King (all unnamed)
Issue 17 begins on page 33 of the MEL:TS thread.
SYNOPSIS
The gang narrowly avoids being sacrificed by the insane Dr. Mayavale so that he can ascend to godhood.
Tiffany's powers seem to be increasing, and after escaping Avatanda, her premonitions force the gang to land on the unknown planet Baskh, where a mysertious woman takes gleeful note of their arrival.
Posted by MLLASH on :
# 18 The Super-Road Trip... of Space! Part 8: Age Ain't Nothing But A Number
First in full postboot appearance of Glorith
Issue 18 begins on page 34 of the MEL:TS thread.
SYNOPSIS
Glorith's evil plans for Tenzil and the gang are thwarted by Opposable Big Toes Boy, who reveals his true name to his friends.
It is revealed that Tiffany's "psychic flashes" are actually the work of Saturn Queen, who directs Tiffany to instruct the gang to venture next to Tartarus.
Posted by MLLASH on :
# 19 The Super-Road Trip... of Space! Part 10: Infectious Grooves!
Issue 19 begies on page 36 of the MEL:TS thread.
First post-boot appearance of Veilmist.
SYNOPSIS
Things start to come together as Tenzil and the gang arrive on Tartarus, little suspecting that they have been led there because of the manipulations of Eve (Saturn Queen) Aries.
The femme-triumvirate of Thora, Azura and Eve meet with the League of Scantily-Clad Overendowed Assassins.
The HOTties officially welcome Renkil Kem to their ranks, but are interrupted by news of elderly gamblers possessed by evil spirits.
Arriving at the scene, the HOTties encounter Tenzil and the gang, who are already battling the turned-evil oldsters.
Meanwhile, on Taltar, both Malefico and Evillo have unique ways to escape the planet.
Malefico returns to Tartarus with the aid of interstellar teleporter Veilmist, but his no-doubt nefarious plans are waylaid by the interference of Thora, Azura, Eve and the League of SCOA!
Posted by MLLASH on :
There's things a-brewin' re: MEL:TS!
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
You might even say there's things a-twistin' Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
MEL:TS's biggest fan has been patiently waiting for this for some time!
I can't to see Noyd, Tiffany, Tenzil and the rest! (Notice that I'm giving Noyd top billing! )
[ July 24, 2005, 02:23 PM: Message edited by: MLLASH ]
Posted by MLLASH on :
# 20 Super-Size It!
Issue # 20 begins on page 38 of the MEL:TS thread.
SYNOPSIS
Everything comes together in the synapse-snapping series conclusion!
Why was Evillo killing Bismollian senators? Why was he forming a Devil's Dozen? Who is more powerful-- Lester or Tiffany? What was Thora's nefarious plan? And just WHO has been pulling the strings all along? All is revealed!
Guest-starring: The HOTties, The Super-Companions, The Realm of Darkness Zombie Squad, The Fatal Femmes, The Former Devil's Dozen and MORE!
![[Bump]](graemlins/bump.gif)
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
)