"Star Trek: The Voyage Home (Official DC Comics Adaptation)"

NOT WORTH CONSUMING

Compared to many film adaptations (and I’ve read a bunch) - this one is sort of a letdown. Before Deluxe DVD editions, comic adaptations were as close as you’d get to director’s cut- teeming with screens not show in theatres. Case in point- Marvel’s Star Wars adaptation show a walking Walrus as Jabba the Hutt and the ultimate adaptation- Independence Day spends about 10 pages focusing on the lives of all its many players’ years before the invasion.

 

 The humor, thankfully in still there- but instead of new scenes, a lot has been removed, making this not worth consuming!

"Star Trek #36 (DC Comics 1986-1989, 1st Series)"

WORTH CONSUMING!

So Kirk breaks the rules of Starfleet with his solution to the Romulan encounter, loses the Excelsior (thus removing the “comics only” characters from the equation), and flees to Vulcan to both help restore Spock to health and seek political asylum.

 

 A fairly good turn of events.

 

 Now, let the Voyage Home begin!

"Heroes, Vol. 1"

WORTH CONSUMING!

I nothing nearly nothing about the TV show Heroes- which is weird, because I am a huge fan of comic books and super heroes. But, for some reason I just haven’t have a chance to catch this show.

 

 So, I took a big chance reading this volume, which is a compilation of NBC.com’s mini-comics based on the show. You don’t have to know everything that is going on to enjoy this show. In fact, for someone like me who knows the phrase “Save the Cheerleader, Save the World” and thinks it’s a reference to Paula Abdul’s bizarre behavior on American Idol; this is a great way to get a crash course into the show.

 

 I definitely want to see this show now that I have read this volume- but I don’t think I am going to start on the upcoming “Villains” storyline. I’ll just have to be patient and wait for reruns.

 

"Star Trek #34 (DC Comics 1986-1989, 1st Series)"

WORTH CONSUMING!

So, you finish watching the Search For Spock, Spock goes from his resurrection straight into the captain’s seat of the Science Vessel Surak. Wait, that’s not how you remember the Trek films?

Obviously, DC wanted to keep Spock in the picture, so they created this subplot. Well, now it’s time for Star Trek IV, and it seems that DC Comics painted themselves into a corner. The solution? Kill all of the members of the Surak, destroy the ship and have Spock wind up in a life threatening coma in which the only people who can save Spock are on Vulcan.

 It seems like a good premise, but there’s that small problem with the fact that Kirk and Co. are now members of the Excelsior crew.

"Star Trek #33 (DC Comics 1986-1989, 1st Series)"

 

WORTH CONSUMING!

To celebrate Star Trek’s 20th anniversary, Dc not only devotes an entire issue to the original series- it does not use any of their A- list players to craft the tale (Notes from the issue before states how everyone who’s worked on the series for the past year or 2 are taking a break). I’m sorry, but if you have an issue that honors such a gem of a show like the original series, you should tell your staff to suck it up and take a vacation after the commemorative issue is through.

 

 But, alas, they did not and this squad of subs proved that you can’t go home again- no matter how hard ya try.

WHO am I kidding? The Older wiser Starfleet crew meet up with their younger selves and the results are freakin’ awesome. Though, I do stand by my opinion on having a second string tackle this tale- it’s truly worth consuming and a must own for any Trek Collector!

The Road to Guadalupe: A Modern Pilgrimage to the Virgin of the Americas

Having read the dust jacket, I thought that I was in for a quirky, informative read about people who make pilgrimages to shrine dedicated to Mary, mother of Jesus. It sounded interesting and a change of pace from the recent books on religion I have been reading for this project. So I cheerfully checked it out.

"Star Trek #32 (DC Comics 1986-1989, 1st Series)"

WORTH CONSUMING!

The Maggie’s Planet storyline ends with (Spoiler) the Klingons being the good guys! A great change of pace and worth every panel to consume this.

Only problem with this storyline- it is way too short and the character of Maggie is like Space Fonzie meets Clint Eastwood. Sadly, DC and Rodenberry missed an opportunity to spin-off Maggie into his own title!

"Star Trek #31 (DC Comics 1986-1989, 1st Series)"

WORTH CONSUMING!

A great opening chapter about the Federation and Klingons attempt to win a contest as to who best should colonize a planet.  The character of Maggie is one of the best “new” characters I have seen in this series.  This storyline reminds me of my favorite Trek novel, “How much for Just the Planet”, only it lacks the subtle humor.

 

 Still, I enjoyed this issue very much! Worth Consuming!

 

"Star Trek #30 (DC Comics 1986-1989, 1st Series)"

WORTH CONSUMING!

Uhura is often the most named character in Star Trek besides Kirk and Spock. She’s also the least used.

This was a nice story about her and some of her origins. It’s nothing I’d write home about, but it was enjoyable, although, you might also say it’s a bit on the forgettable side, as I think back on it, I get it confused with another issue.

"Essential Ant Man, Vol. 1 (Marvel Essentials)"

WORTH CONSUMING!

Dr. Henry Pym, Ant Man, Giant Man…. no wonder this character has had one of the most complex storylines in all of comicdom.

 I really like Hank and his sidekick Jan Van Dyne. I hated when they divorced. I cheered when they were seen as a couple together in the recent Civil War series.

However, for a 60s Marvel series, it gets kinda hokey. However, two of which many consider to be the worst villains of all-time (The Top and Porcupine Man) actually are what makes this volume corny. Mainly, it’s the faux romantic tension between Pym and Van Dyne. Stan Lee never really was the “man” when it came to romantic dialogue.

 Regardless, I enjoyed this book and probably will add it to my collection on a permanent basis.

 

"B.P.R.D., Vol. 6: The Universal Machine"

WORTH CONSUMING!

It took me awhile to want to read this book. Especially, since I did not like the first volume of Hellboy. But, I just saw the 1st movie, which was awesome and having seen that Abe is a main character, I decided to give this a try.

 

 For a rookie to a series, coming into the 6th volume, this is actually a great book to start with as many of the BPRD teammates origins are examined. Sadly, Abe is more minor in this that I’d like, but I did like the character of Johann.

 

 I’d give another volume a try.

"Star Trek #29 (DC Comics 1986-1989, 1st Series)"

WORTH CONSUMING!

With a focus on the “comics only” character of Bearclaw, this story is great! Art is iffy, especially the cover. It makes the old Marvel renderings looks like masterpieces.

 

 Still, I enjoy this issue and I would read it again.

"Star Trek #28 (DC Comics 1986-1989, 1st Series)"

Yet another “Death Of Sad Sack” cover, in which what happens on the front of the book never occurs in the story.

McCoy stories are usually pretty good, but without Spock as his foil, the witty banter and charm of such tales in missing.

The art is actually pretty good, with quite a few renderings spot on!