Dragonfly #2
☆ Be the first to review + Add to your collection — Join freeDragonfly #2 represents a pivotal early chapter in one of the Copper Age's most distinctive creator-owned superhero series from an independent publisher. The issue deepens the series' unusually grounded approach to superhero storytelling, weaving domestic violence, occult mythology, and corporate intrigue into a single superhero narrative at a time when most cape comics avoided such real-world subject matter. The death of Ken Burton at the hands of Zzara marks a genuinely consequential plot development — the kind of permanent supporting-cast loss that was rare in 1985 mainstream or independent comics alike. As a chapter in Dragonfly's path toward joining AC Comics' Femforce — the first ongoing all-female superhero team title in American comics history — the issue holds a small but real place in the broader story of female-led superhero fiction in the independent press.
In "Cycle of Fire," Dragonfly faces a terrifying return from the past as Psiborg reemerges to challenge him, while the personal tragedy of Jim Randall—his violent outburst and the kidnapping of his daughter—threatens to spiral out of control. Meanwhile, Ken’s deepening descent into the occult ends in a shocking confrontation with the insect god Zzara, leaving the consequences of his choices hanging in the balance. Written and illustrated by Rik Levins, with inks by Jim Sanders III, colors by Rebekah Black, and letters by Tom Scott, this 1985 issue features a cover by Rik Levins and John Beatty.
ComicBooks.com Value
Find on ebay
Sell my copy
Have this issue — or a whole collection? Get a fair offer from us, skip the marketplace fees and the hassle.
We Buy Collections ▸History
Dragonfly was conceived and owned entirely by creator Rik Levins, who later went on to work for Marvel on titles including Avengers and Captain America. The solo series was published under a unique arrangement with AC Comics (formerly Americomics) in which Levins retained ownership and funded the title himself, with AC president Bill Black confirming in Comics Interview #36 (July 1986) that the profit split was 70% to Levins and 30% to AC, though the book consistently broke even. Issue #2 appeared in 1985 alongside the launch of AC's flagship Femforce title, placing it squarely in the middle of AC's most ambitious expansion period as an independent publisher. The 'Cycle of Fire' story continued directly from the events of issue #1, maintaining the serialized, character-driven tone Levins had established from the character's debut in Americomics #4 (October 1983).
Trivia · 8 facts
- Story title: 'Cycle of Fire' — written and penciled entirely by Rik Levins, inked by Jim Sanders III, with a cover inked by John Beatty.
- Psiborg, the series' primary antagonist introduced in issue #1, returns as the main physical threat; the issue marks his second confrontation with Dragonfly.
- Ken Burton — Nancy Arazello's occult-obsessed friend whose ritual originally transformed her into Dragonfly — is killed by Zzara the extradimensional insect-god in this issue, a significant and permanent supporting-cast death.
- Nancy Arazello (Dragonfly) confides her secret identity to her sister in this issue, a key relationship development in the ongoing serial.
- A subplot involving Jim Randall (Nancy's abusive brother-in-law) beating his wife Jane and kidnapping their daughter Heather runs parallel to the superhero action, reflecting the series' unusually grounded real-life characterization.
- The issue includes a Dragonfly pinup by Mark Propst, who was later associated with Lobo at DC Comics.
- The series was creator-owned and self-funded by Rik Levins under a formal publishing arrangement with AC Comics, making it one of the earliest documented creator-ownership deals at the indie publisher.
- The contents of Dragonfly #2 were later reprinted in black and white with graytones in the 1991 squarebound graphic novel 'Dragonfly: Cycle of Fire,' which collected issues #1 and #2 and was described as AC/Paragon's first venture into the graphic novel format.
Cast · 12 characters
Full credits
Reprints
Reprinted in Cycle of Fire #1 (1991)
Key issues in Dragonfly
Reviews
Reader reviews
No reader reviews yet.