Matzah Man to the Rescue! (Family Comic Friday)

Note: Due to a death in my family, I got behind on things. This review was meant for last week's Family Comic Friday. However, life and emotions got in the way. Please enjoy this better late than never review!

The house cat stole your shank bone? Run out of unleavened bread for the Seder? Grandma didn't make the charoset because she thought Grandpa was doing it? If you answer yes to any of these Passover celebration calamities, then you must call upon Matzah Man!

This all ages graphic novel is a perfect introduction into the Jewish holiday of Passover! I'm married into a Jewish family and I've participated in the Passover Seder before. Yet I learned some new stuff about the holiday from reading this book!

Matzah Man to the Rescue! is divided into several easy to read chapters. The artwork is a mixed medium of cartoon art and real life photographs. So if the young readers in your life have never learned about Passover before and don't know what a matzo looks like, they'll be able to now thanks to Illustrator Charlie Fowkes. I just wish writer Eric Kimmel had devoted more space than just a paragraph about how to make charoset, since the use of it on Matzah wafers are history's first records of what we now refer to as the sandwich. 

This is a turbulent time in history. The conflicts in Israel are full of good intentions and terrible atrocities. Antisemitism is at a 75 year high and don't think for a minute that I am not aware nor compassionate towards those Palestinian families that are in the middle of a war because of their faith and heritage as well as extremists who acted independently of the majority. Iranians too! I have cousins who are Iranians and they often talk about how their family and friends long to be free of the regime that currently rules Iran with an iron fist.

My hope reading this graphic novel accomplishes 3 things. I've already achieved my goal of reading and collecting a new holiday themed graphic novel. Now I hope others looking to teach their little ones about the Jewish culture will go out and get this book. Then I hope that learning experience might help spread understanding, love and peace to a troubled section of our ailing world.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Walt Disney's Donald Duck "Balloonatics": The Complete Carl Barks Disney Library Vol. 16

I'm learning that as I read my way through the complete works of Carl Barks, the 'good duck artist' is not one to let a good trope die. In not one but two stories, Donald Duck becomes a part of the hot-air ballooning community. 

First, the nephews are trying out some new miniature dirigibles made by Gyro Gearloose, which wreak havoc on Donald who's trying to get some very much desired R&R. In typical Donald firebrand fashion, the boys' Uncle gets revenge. And by revenge, Donald goes overboard with a hot air balloon in his likeness and about double the size of any inflatable you might see at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. Plus, it's armed to the teeth!

Story #2 has Huey, Dewey and Louie find a hunting falcon that's just too timid to be a hunter. As the boys try to help the bird find his confidence, Donald enters a contest by being held by the Duckburg Parachute club in which he hopes to win the prize for most original sky dive. Hopefully that will involve the use of a hot air balloon, some vintage balloonist digs and one nervous bird of prey.

Other adventures starring Donald, his nephews and sometimes their spinster uncle, Scrooge McDuck involve a hunt for a sea monster, searching for precious stones in the desert and an investigation into the mysterious destruction of test rockets. There's a classic Turkey Day story in which Donald and cousin Gladstone Gander compete for a chance to earn Thanksgiving dinner with Daisy. It's a tale I've read before but I don't mind a re-read. It's one of Barks' all-time best tales!

There's a couple of stand-out segments in this volume. The complete reissue of Dell Four Color #1161 'Walt Disney's Grandma Duck's Farm Friends', has Barks' presenting a quartet of stories set at Donald's father's family homestead. First, the farm gains a new resident in the form of a gigantic elephant that Uncle Scrooge was gifted from a dignitary. A new chick on Grandma's farm causes mischief along the country side when he's revealed to be a genius with good intentions but some poorly planned ideas. Gladstone makes a visit with intentions of becoming a matador. Then finally, with the nephews visiting Grandma, disaster hits in the form of both a blizzard and the appearance of the Beagle Boys on the lam from the law!

Lastly, readers get to enjoy a half-dozen Junior Woodchuck stories guest-starring Uncle Scrooge in 4 of them! These tales were from when Barks had officially retired from comics. Gold Key had lured the creator back to script duty, but arthritis and age had made it impossible to carry on his quality of work. At the time these stories were published in the 70s, original readers complained of how uninspired the artwork appeared. With their reprinting, Fantagraphics presents new artwork by Danish artist Daan Jippes. The remastered artwork looks like that of Barks and yet, there's something modern about it. Barks was known to be a minimalist when it came to backgrounds. Jippes crafts a masterful background in every panel! Really jarring stuff- in a good way!

The new tales have an Uncle Scrooge more full of piss and vinegar than many of us are used to. His inclusion in those Junior Woodchuck stories were crafted right as the world was about to celebrate its first Earth Day in 1970. (So in a way those stories are holiday themed!) Scrooge McDuck is more like a robber baron, than a penny-pinching businessman, in these stories to the point of almost unlikability. Thankfully, Huey, Dewey and Louie and their scout troop pals save the day and Scrooge's soul in these very different Duck tales. 

With this volume, I'm not sure of a couple of things. For one, why is this a Donald Duck book and not an Uncle Scrooge edition? Would it have even been so bad to have had this volume starring the nephews instead of Donald or Scrooge? Also, if this is a collection of the complete Carl Barks' works of the residents of Duckburg, why the time jump? The Grandma stories were published in 1961. Barks' ecological stories were published a decade later. This is volume 16 of a 26 volume collection. So why put the Junior Woodchuck stories here and not in volume 25 or 26? I'm not complaining about their inclusion. I just don't understand the thought process of the editing team as to having them here and not later on down the line.

A great read that just confuses me as to why certain stories are published out of order if this was supposed to be a omnibus of Carl Barks works about the Disney ducks.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Mr. Monster's True Crime #2

There's a pretty well known copy of the pre-code version of True Crime Comics. Illustrated by Jack Cole, the image has a young lady with a gun ducking behind a gangster who is shot by a policeman. The hail of bullets spells out the word 'RAT' on the criminal's chest. While this issue doesn't feature that iconic art work, the story that image is based on is in this book!

Mr. Monster's True Crime #2 completes Michael T. Gilbert's tribute to Jack Cole's work on the late 1940s crime comic originally published by Magazine Village. A part of the Mr. Monster Super-Duper series of tributes to comics published before 1955 and the establishment of the comics code, this is the last issue featuring to the more grown-up crime works of the Plastic Man creator. 

Though all 3 of the stories contained in this issue claim to be based on true stories of deceit and murder, there's more sensationalism that facts behind the scenes. The opening story is the one I mentioned earlier in this review. It tells of one Bennie Dickson and how he turned to a life of crime, wooing a 17-year old girl into his sordid world of bank robbery and murder. 

We then head to the Great White North where a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police is murdered by a bootlegger and in retaliation, his brethren prove that the Mounties always get their man!

Finally, readers are introduced to the man whose addled visage does grace the cover of this issue. James Kent is an escaped convict whom the publishers promised a reward of $100 for his apprehension. The story features narration that over exaggerates the criminal's paranoia at looking over his shoulder at every turn in a manner similar to what EC Comics will soon be issuing in its crime books. I understand why Gilbert used the cover image he did for this issue. I just don't understand why he didn't include the opening story in Mr. Monster's True Crime #1 since that issue used the RAT image!

If you're looking for Michael T. Gilbert's most popular character, Mr. Monster, you'll only see him on the opening page. Otherwise, this might be a Mr. Monster special, but it's really all about Jack Cole. 

Be sure not to miss the informative article by noted crime author Max Allan Collins who gives a fantastic account of Cole's limited run on the original True Crime series of which this two-part special is based on.

A lot of excitement and a must for fans of post World War II comics that are unable to afford the originals. But for me, I really wish that there was more Mr. Monster to be had!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars. 

Justice League of America Annual #1 (2024 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

The Justice League are at the mercy of their deepest fears when the villainous Doctor Destiny invades their dreams!

When Doctor Destiny last encountered the Justice League, the heroes had to resort to drastic measures that would prevent the foe from dreaming. This fractured Destiny's psyche and caused his body to shrivel down into a skeletal form. Seeking a cure as well as revenge Doctor Destiny escaped his Gotham City cell and is running experiments on kidnapped patients under the guise of a legitimate sleep clinic.

In typical Justice League fashion, the heroes break up into groups in search for the fugitive as well as the victims that Doctor Destiny kidnapped. As the protagonists arrive at the various locales throughout Gotham in hopes of apprehending Doctor Destiny, the Leaguers are met instead with grotesque versions of their worst nightmares.

The first ever Justice League of America annual from 1983, was written jointly by Paul Levitz and Len Wein. Penciled by Rick Hoberg with inks by Dick Giordano, this issue sports 2 surprise guest stars. Unfortunately, one of those reveals are spoiled by their appearance on the cover. Black Green Lantern Jon Stewart also guests in this issue. Only his appearance isn't so much as a revelation as a special treat for DC readers as once again, Stewart is begrudgingly recruited by the Guardians of Oa to assist Wonder Woman and the Flash on their leg of the Doctor Destiny manhunt. 

Astute readers of Justice League of America might notice the absence of a major player on that action packed cover by Hoberg and Giordano. There's no Caped Crusader! That's because at this point in time, Batman and the Justice League had a falling out over the political crisis in Markovia and the Dark Knight left the League to form the Outsiders. Despite having almost a dozen active members, Hawkwoman standing by her Thanagarian man and a Green Lantern on hand, without the presence of Batman on his home turf, this version of the Justice League just seems way understaffed.

To learn more of where Batman is, fans should start with issue #1 of Batman and the Outsiders.

Completing this review completes Task #46 (With a $1 cover price (original price)) of the 2024 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Team Trash: A Time Traveler's Guide to Sustainability (Family Comic Friday)

You might think that the concepts of recycling, reducing waste and reusing materials are a fairly new thing. But thanks to the time travelling adventures of students Charlie and Oliver, you will learn that cultures have been practicing sustainability for thousands of years!

The school science fair is quickly approaching. This year's theme is renewable applications! Charlie was really hoping to be paired with her best friend, Jack. Unfortunately she was late to class and must team up with Oliver who's more interested in perfecting his artwork instead of crafting an amazing report on recycling like Charlie and Jack were gonna do!

When a rival science fair team brings an experimental robot to school for their project, Charlie and Oliver accidentally bump into it activating the machine's unknown time travelling abilities. The new friends find themselves in ancient Pompeii. Thankfully, it's not volcano day. Instead the children meet a man who's using broken pottery and other refuse to repair a damaged part of the city wall. 

The malfunctioning time machine promises to send Charlie and Oliver back to their present time. But only if they'll work together and gather information about sustainable ideas used throughout history. Now the duo travel through time and space learning about the advances in recycling technology along with the challenges cultures have faced in trying to make the Earth a safe and healthy place for the next generation to live.

I was fascinated to learn about the amazing things our ancestors did to conserve our precious resources. However, as Charlie and Oliver arrive in the 20th century, the children begin to lament the damage plastic has done to our environment. It can be argued that this section of the book gets a little preachy. I'll say that the book begins to take a one sided approach against this advance in technology. Yes, micro plastics are bad and that swath of garbage in the middle of the Pacific Ocean is a ridiculous blunder on mankind's part. However, it can be argued that without plastic, we would have lost World War II to the Germans. I will admit that this book does point out the myths about how little material we are made to recycle is actually recyclable. But no mention is made of how our local governments charge their citizens exorbitant recycling fees while rarely delivering on the sustainability promises made from those products we use. 

The book offers some great ways for kids to take steps to help save the planet. Reaching out to our senators and congressmen is an important step. But don't lie to the kids reading this book that 'elected officials want to hear from you!', because they don't. From my experience, they really, really don't.

Both the author, Kate Wheeler, and the illustrator, Trent Huntington, have completed works that promote sustainability. I was awfully impressed that these creators actually practiced what they preach as this book is made from paper that is FSC-certified, meaning that the wood fibers that have been responsibly sourced. I don't care how nice to our planet an e-book might be; but nothing beats the intimacy of a tangible paper book. Thankfully, the book industry is trying to keep paper from dying with steps like using fully or partially recycled paper!

This 2023 graphic novel from Holiday House is sure to make young readers think. If your parents and guardians out there decide to support their decisions to help save the planet, give them your full blessing. But also, help them not get overwhelmed as practicing the 3 Rs of reduce-reuse-recycle are isn't something that one child can tackling alone or all at once. Yet with ever small step, hopefully our society can get there!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

The Unexpected #183 (2024 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

DC's The Unexpected started life as Tales of the Unexpected in 1956. Due to restrictions set by the Comics Code, DC began Tales of the Unexpected as a milder sci-fi anthology alternative compared to the compilation series being published by EC Comics. Over the next decade, as guidelines over what was deemed unacceptable to be in comics lessened, especially elements of the macabre, Tales began to include fantasy and horror stories along with those sensational science fiction adventures. 

By 1968, DC had determined that they had a glut of Sci-fi and horror titles and they retooled Tales of the Unexpected into a fantasy only series. Starting with issue #105, the title was trimmed down to The Unexpected. However, it was soon revealed that sales for a fantasy only book wasn't as strong as DC had hoped for. Pretty quickly, elements of horror and science fiction were reintroduced into the title though the series never reverted back to its original name. 

The Unexpected continued in print to May, 1982; ending at issue #222. It survived through the DC Implosion of 1978, incorporating titles such as House of Secrets, The Witching Hour and Doorway Into Nightmare in its pages. A series that began without a host, by the time The Unexpected was cancelled, hosts such as the Witches Three and Abel were presenting spooky stories to readers in rotating segments. 

This February, 1978 issue was published almost a full year before the assimilating effects of the Implosion were felt in the title. Yet, the 3 stories presented in this book are full of terrifying twists and turns. In 'The Dead Don't Always Die' George Kashdan and Ernesto Patricio give a deadbeat swindler insight on the forthcoming date of death of a relative- it just might not be the one he was hoping for. Carl Wessler and Gerry Talaoc warn a pair of American crooks wreaking havoc in Brazil to 'Beware the Green Cannibal.' Finally, Kashdan returns with art by E.R. Cruz in a mad scientist story titled 'Golden Grave.'

Cover art, based on the opening story, was by Luis Dominguez.

Completing this review completes Task #40 (A Work Published in February of Any Year) of the 2024 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Garrison's Gorillas #2 (2024 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

Spinning out of the popularity of 1967's The Dirty Dozen, Garrison's Gorillas debuted on the ABC airwaves the following year. It followed a commando unit compromised of 5 American convicts given a chance at parole and having their records wiped clean if they serve on a suicide squad in World War II Europe. Consisting of a con man, a safe cracking mechanic, a demolition expert and a cat burglar, the Gorillas were led by 1st Lieutenant Craig Garrison, referred to as 'The Warden.' The cons knew that if they refused to serve in the most dangerous of missions behind enemy lines, the Gorillas won't be sent back to prison; they'd be executed by firing squad for desertion. 

As a tie-in to the 1968 live action series, Dell released a comic book adaptation that ran for 5 issues. 4 of the books featured art by Sam Glanzman including this sophomore effort. A Navy veteran aboard the USS Stevens during the second World War, Glanzman's war comics are notable among fans for it's extreme keenness to detail. The artist's renderings of the actors might not be that close to real life, but Glanzman's illustrations of military vehicles are second to only that of the manuals servicemen used to operate them!

There's two stories of behind the lines espionage in this issue. The first story has the Gorillas posing as crashed American airmen in an attempt to locate whose providing the Nazis with the plans of the Holland resistance. Story two takes place in occupied France with the commandos tasked to destroy a gigantic Nazi super cannon that travels via railroad.

Neither story is all that different from other war comics of the day. If the plots of the TV series are indicative of this issue, it's no wonder that the show only lasted for a 26 episode season. Ironically, Garrison's Gorillas would see a tremendous resurgence in 1980s China of all places. Reruns of the war drama were so popular, it's rumored that the Chinese government would schedule their meetings around times Garrison's Gorillas was due to air. While that story is probably just American propaganda or folklore, is it true that the Chinese government did award the series a public service award for being so popular that even criminals would stay home when it was on. No word on if any of the producers or stars of the show were ever presented with a tangible certificate of merit for the government honors.

With the abrupt cancellation of the series, whether all 5 members of Garrison's Gorillas made it to the end of World War II unscathed and earned their pardons has never been revealed. But if Garrison's Gorillas was to end similarly to that of The Dirty Dozen, you can be sure that at least one or two of these commandos earned their freedom.

Completing this review completes Task #4 (A Dell Comic based off a Live-Action TV Show) of the 2024 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.