Christmas with the Super-Heroes #1

Originally from ’88-89, this volume is a collection of reprints and not a volume of new stuff like more recent DC holiday ventures. I didn’t have a problem with this as I had only previously read one tale before- a Batman tale by O’Neil and Miller. The best story starred the JLA and was titled “Who Killed Santa?”

But really, they were all great stories.

This book was the kind of comic I would have loved to have received for a Christmas present. Speaking of presents, the Neal Adams cover looks a lot like the super heroes wrapping paper my parents would have used when I was you. That was sooo cool.

"Marvel Adventures Fantastic Four Vol. 6: Monsters & Mysteries"

WORTH CONSUMING!

Marvel Adventures are just the best! Sure, there geared for Kids, but the cover says “All-ages”!

This volume has the FF solving a Whodunnit in Atlantis, Fighting a Skrull invasion by what could only be summed up as the only foursome dumber than the guys in “Tropic Thunder”, The Thing becomes the King of the Mole-people, and the group is sent back in time to met Rama-Tut.

 

 The Tut story is the best. Alicia gets her sight back and Thing finally gets an answer as to whether the girl would still love her if she wasn’t blind. Sadly, it all gets ret-conned at the end and the event never really happens (try explaining this all to my wife and watch her head explode.)

"DC Universe (DCU) Holiday Bash II (1998)"

WORTH CONSUMING!

There are some really great stories in this. DC does a much better job at the Holiday tales that Marvel. I think it has to do with the fact that DC seems to have a far greater appeal for families and this title is just that. Kids should demand mom and dad read this on Christmas Eve!

 

"Kamandi: At Earth's End #4 of 6"

WORTH CONSUMING!

 Kamandi finally finds his man. Just don’t get your hopes up into finding out just why he has to kill Superman. The Man of Steel (now reduced to tin foil due to years of pollution preventing him from receiving the yellow sunlight that gives him his super-powers) appears in the next to last page.

Oh well, you should have expected that. There are 3 issues left to go.

"Marvel Holiday Special 2004, #1"

One of the best Holiday issues of all-time. The Jonah story which is based on A Christmas Carol is paced very well with lots of humor, poignancy, and holiday cheer (or lack thereof). Interestingly enough, Spider-man is hardly in this story. It’s more of an Avengers tale. The X-Men story was brilliantly done. Who knew Emma Frost had a heart?

I didn’t like Franklin Richard’s tale. It was too much like an after-school special and it was too humanistic for my tastes. (This probably means everyone else thinks it’s the greatest story ever told)

Again, Spidey is larger than life on the cover and hardly anywhere to be found in the book. This is a pet-peeve of mine.

Still, this book rocked and was worth consuming.

"Marvel Holiday Special: Christmas 1994"

This is a very interesting mix of holiday stories. The Iceman/ Beast story is based on an obscure original X-Men tale from the 60s. The art was inconsistent, but it was a great story. The Capt. story was very good, so is the Thing’s. I didn’t understand the Silver Surfer story and what it had to do with any earth or alien holiday. Like the Surfer, it was just weird.

And the X-Men poem at the end was very funny.

 Big disappointment though. Spiderman is taking over a 1/3 of the cover, yet he’s relegated to a 2 page story without any words.

 Still, with that oversight, it’s very much worth consuming.

"Kamandi: At Earth's End #3 of 6 (Elseworlds, 1993)"

 

Well, the plot got better. Sadly, the artwork remains quite unrealistic.

Case in point: Kamandi and company find a car with self-refueling power cells (ok, I buy that) and they hit the open road only to be attacked by a gang of car enthusiasts (again, a rip-off of Mad Max, but I with it so far). Then Kamandi comments that these gangs have to salvage parts and fuel from other run-down vehicles and then the cars of shown. They look like the exact opposite of Micro Machines, very squat- but Huge!!!!

The problem with it is that they are all symmetrical and fully loaded.

 What’s up with that?

 At least the Mad Max cars look like 2 trucks crashed into each other. So, why should I believe that on a world with a complete car and gas shortage should there be so many muscle cars? Once again, my readership and intelligence is insulted.

"Kamandi: At Earth's End #2 of 6 (Elseworlds, 1993)"

Kamandi rescues the obligatory last fertile female on earth in issue 2.

That cliché is forgivable. What I don’t understand is why she has to be captured by a wide array of bizarre mutant males. I call this the X-men paradox. You never see an entire race of mutants in X-Men with the same powers. There’s always a different power/body type/ look for each character.

The same goes for Kamandi. No one looks the same. And every mutant male is way too top heavy. (This type of art work is a main reason why I am not a fan of A.D. 2000) I hate it.

The Omega Man, Mad Max, and Night of the Comet are cult classics when it comes to this type of story and they all used uniform looking villains. So, why does anyone how draws post-apocalyptic comics feel that they have to go hog wild and draw a vast array of body types. Carte Blanche is not an excuse. Why, it even insults my readership.

Not worth Consuming.

"Kamandi: At Earth's End #1 of 6 (Elseworlds, 1993)"

Kamandi is one of those titles that I kick myself for not keeping. When I was younger, I’d order those comic books grab bags advertised in back issues and when it would arrive, I would receive dozens of Kamandi’s, New Gods, and Mister Miracles. At the time, I thought they were crap. Nowadays, an issue fetches about $15-30 bucks apiece.

 D’oh!

  This Elseworlds tale involves Kamandi being forced by his computerized “Mother” to kill a mysterious man in Arizona. Along the way, he meets a guy who just happens to have an unlimited supply of gasoline and guns. This is pretty standard fare. Although, there is a mysterious being known of “Ben Boxer” following them, so the real mystery is if he is a friend of foe.

   Worth Consuming, but it needs to get really good by the next issue, or I am really going to hate this entire mini-series.

"Spiderman Holiday Special 1995"

For a holiday special, the stories are actually quite good. The art is very 1990s, but enjoyable. (I really think that comic art in the 90’s had way too many thin lines that made everybody look ridiculous) And there are some great cameos and it is fun to read.

Praises aside, this issue is a prime example why Marvel sucked in the 90s. Spidey a clone, no he’s not, yes he is? Venom a good guy? Johnny Torch marries Alicia and she’s really a Skrull? Aunt May Dead? (wait, that’s actually a good thing.) Anyhoo, what was Marvel Thinking?

This is worth consuming, but its real close, like 52-48 in favor of consumption.