ClanDestine (1994) [Comics]

The cleverly titled ClanDestine was a short-lived 1994 Marvel series with a bit of an odd history. Created, written, and drawn by Alan Davis, the series features an extended family of characters (the Destines), each with a unique super power. After eight issues on the title, Davis left and Marvel brought on a new writer and artist to keep the series going another four issues. A few years later, Davis returned to the fold and wrote two ClanDestine mini-series, ret-conning things so that the final four issues of the original series were simply a dream. Collected editions of the original series follow suit, including only the first eight issues and excluding the final four.

The series starts out strong, as genuinely creepy monsters launch a series of attacks against the scattered members of the Destine family, succeeding in killing some and forcing others to flee. The remaining family members reunite and discover that the mastermind behind the attacks is a "super advanced prehistoric beast" named Lenz, an escaped AIM guinea pig, who is searching for a device called the Gryphon so he can produce others of his species

The next few issues aren't as tightly plotted, but place the series more firmly in the Marvel Universe. The youngest members of the family, Rory and Pandora, run away from home and end up in New York. Since New York is a small village with just a few residents, it makes perfect sense that the Amazing Spider-Man stumbles upon their presence and calls their sister to come pick them up. These issues also have a weird little Punisher cameo. What can I say? It was the 90s.

Issue # 8, Alan Davis' last in the original series, is a flashback issue with three untold stories of the Destine family throughout history. Cameos include Dr. Strange and the Invaders. Solid background into some of the main characters.

Issues 9-12 are fairly standard super hero stories, as M.O.D.A.M. (M.O.D.O.K.'s temporary feminized successor) allies with Lenz in a plot against the Destines. There's nothing particularly wrong with it and the characterization doesn't seem like an amazing departure from what Davis provided.

Overall, ClanDestine stuck with most of the trappings of the genre: code-names, super powers, skintight costumes, super-villains, etc. The relationship between the characters as members of a secret extended family was an interesting twist, but apparently not enough of one to save the title.