US 1 is a 1983 Marvel comic about a superhero trucker. The series is a licensed tie-in comic based on Tyco Toys slot-car racing toy line.
The series stars Ulysses Solomon Archer, an engineering genius who dreams of being a trucker despite his parents' disapproval. While riding in a truck with his brother Jefferson Hercules "Jeff" Archer, they're run off the road by a mysterious trucker in a black semi called the Highwayman.
Jeff is killed and Ulysses is given a metal skull with the unintended ability to pick up radio frequencies. Seeking revenge against the Highwayman, Ulysses builds a special truck filled with weapons and gadgets.
This series provides examples of:
- Alien Abduction: Eventually it's revealed that on the night the Archer brothers encountered the Highwayman the aliens wanted to abduct select Ulysses as humanity's representative in an interplanetary federation. However, they accidentally abducted Jeff. Jeff, who was always jealous of Ulysses, didn't correct them.
- Aliens Steal Cable: The alien Ulysses meets speaks in CB radio trucker lingo. They also speak a number of other dialects from different forms of mass media including Shakespearean English and Asgardian dialect.
- Arch-Enemy: The Highwayman to Ulysses. He killed Ulysses' brother and is behind several of the other villains in the comic.
- Betty and Veronica: Sweet waitress Mary is the Betty. Tough Fiery Redhead trucker Taryn is Veronica. Ulysses is Archie.
- Blonde, Brunette, Redhead: Mary, Midnight, and Taryn respectively though it's revealed that Mary is Midnight.
- Cranial Plate Ability: U.S. 1 had a metal plate installed in his head to save his life after a his truck was run off the road by the Highwayman. This allows him to hear radio transmissions in his head, and gives him resistance to mind control.
- Dark Is Evil: The Highwayman is always wearing dark clothes and shadowed. He drives a black semi called the Blackrig.
- Deal with the Devil: The Highwayman was originally the best trucker on the roads. His abilities degraded as he got older so he sought eternal youth, even asking the Ancient One for help. Eventually, he made a deal with the Devil. Subverted when we realize that the Highwayman is actually Jeff and his powers are just alien technology.
- Destination Defenestration: Repeatedly happens at the Short Stop due to the frequent brawls there.
- Dread Zeppelin: Baron von Blimp's main vehicle is exactly what you think it is.
- Giant Space Flea from Nowhere: During a race with Taryn, Ulysses encounters an alien whose spaceship has broken down.
- Greasy Spoon: The Short Stop, a truck stop that serves as Ulysses' base of operations.
- Green-Eyed Monster: Jeff's jealousy of Ulysses eventually led him to become the Highwayman.
- Hair of Gold, Heart of Gold: Both Ulysses and Mary McGrill have blond hair. We later find out Mary is the villain Midnight, though she was under the control of the Highwayman.
- Instant A.I.: Just Add Water!: A strike from Midnight's hypno-whip hitting Ulysses' metal radio skull and his silver dollar truck remote turns the truck sentient, though it is unable to communicate or move on its own.
- Loan Shark: Mr. Legreed. Poppa Wheelie and Wide Load work out a deal with him to fund Ulysses' superhero work.
- Luke, I Am Your Father: The Highwayman is Ulysses' brother Jeff.
- Meaningful Name:
- Mary McGrill is a waitress who works at the Short Stop.
- The banker trying to take the Short Stop is named Mr. Legreed.
- Several of Ulysses' associates have trucking-related names. See the entry for Theme Naming.
- Mind Control: Midnight's whip allows her to do this to people. It turns out that Midnight is actually Mary and she was under the control of the whip as well.
- Organic Technology: The alien Ulysses meets has a ship powered by organic technology and uses the chicken Ulysses is hauling to repair it.
- Psychic Static: Ulysses is able to thwart Midnight's mind control thanks to his metal skull and a foil gum wrapper between his teeth.
- Putting on the Reich: Von Blimp's henchmen have Nazi uniforms even though they're not Nazis or even German. He just thinks the Germans had the best uniforms.
- The Rival: Taryn is both this and love interest to Ulysses.
- Significant Monogram: Ulysses' initials are U.S.A.
- Theme Naming: Lots of Ulysses' allies have vehicle-related names or nicknames. His adoptive parents are Poppa Wheelie and Wide Load. His sidekick is named Retread. One of his love interests is named Taryn "Up The Road" O'Connell. A blimp-piloting antagonist is named Baron von Blimp.
- Use Your Head: Ulysses' metal skull makes a decent weapon.
- Whip of Dominance: Midnight carries a mind-controlling "hypno-whip".
