Locke & Key, Volume 5: Clockworks

The epic story of the Locke children and the Keyhouse is almost complete. Before the finale there’s Clockworks, in which the Locke’s find a key that can turn back time. In doing so, we learn the origin of the Keyhouse, the keys, and why Dodge hated the kid’s father so much. We also learn why Dodge started out as a girl in volume 1 and why he’s been terrorizing folks ever since.

Joe Hill does a fantastic job with the plotting and helping everything finally start making some sense. The art continues to amaze and no matter how scary things get, the story always captures the human spirit giving the reader both hope and dread for the future of humanity. Papa Stephen King should be proud his genes are continuing to mystify the next generation.

I think once volume 6 comes out, I’m going have to read all the books prior in order to let this sprawling story come together as a beautifully terrifying mosaic.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Joker: Last Laugh Secret Files & Origins #1

While imprisoned in a ultra-high level security facility, the Joker learns that he’s got terminal brain cancer. Armed with the knowledge that his days are numbered, the clown prince of crime has a very tricks up his sleeve for some bucket list mayhem.

This “prequel” to the Joker: The Last Laugh mini-series (and cross-over) has a great opening chapter, several small vignettes that give insight into Joker’s demented mind, and character info of several key players. The biggest surprise is that of Shilo Norman, the replacement Mister Miracle. As the great escape artist, I am quite familiar, but as a prison employee in charge of preventing escapes, that’s a new slant on the hero and a very fitting one.

I like what I read so far and finding the Last Laugh mini-series is now a priority in my wish list.

Worth Consuming.

Justice League America #80

Welcome back to the party, Booster Gold. The futuristic hero returns to active status with a new suit built by resident League tinkerer, Blue Beetle. But, the new suit isn’t without kinks. Imagine Iron Man if Tony Stark was replaced by Curly from the Three Stooges.

Aside from that, the JLA is called to apprehend an crashed space ship said to house escaped prisoners. The President has called in his own enforcers in order to prevent an incident. Yet, Wonder Woman thinks that these criminals may not be as rotten as they’ve been led to believe and she decides to take a stand for due process.

This issue abounds with guest stars- Bill Clinton is actually the President in this tale and a long lost member of the League returns to do Bubba’s bidding.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Justice League America #88

After several issues of teasing, Bloodwynd finally gives his answer to Dreamslayer’s offer to become an Extremist. I love his response and I love the art and dialogue that goes with it.

Just what does Bloodwynd decide? That’a a spoiler that I’ve leave up to you to read and find out for yourself.

Worth Consuming.

     Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Justice League America #87

The League battles Dreamslayer and his New Extremists as the world crumbles under everyone’s feet. The plot with Dreamslayer trying to turn Bloodwynd into a traitor is supposed to be the main event. But it is the Blue & Gold who steal the show. Booster’s new battle suit has bugs in it and a reluctant Blue Beetle is literally repairing the blasted thing in mid-battle. It harkens back to classic Giffen/ DeMatteis Justice League that’s been missing for some time.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Justice League America #86

The global conspiracy that has the world fearing the end is near with false gods, disasters and Dreamslayer’s New Extremists is upping the drama to 11. The team is split with most of the League saving people from these natural disasters.

But a mysterious tower that has popped up literally overnight and contains some dangerous cultists has the League putting it’s 2 most powerful members, Captain Atom and The Ray, under the authority of the ATF and FBI to remove the cultists from their potential doomsday device. Just a few issues ago these two heroes were tearing each other apart at enemies, now they’ve got this buddy cop vibe going on that I love.

Too bad DC never decided to cash in on this idea with a Ray/ Capt. Atom mini-series.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Justice League America #85

The conclusion of the Ice story line has Ice pitted against her crazed brother in a battle to the death. It’s got some really good fight sequences and the conclusion is sufficient.

Meanwhile, the rest of the League tries to liberate this frozen kingdom from the usurper’s army. These scenes make me realize that the League has a lot of members right now with little to no super powers at all. I count 4 members at this time. That’s a bunch for what is supposed to be DC’s premiere super hero team.

From reading the editor’s notes at the end of the issue, some major changes are happening soon and I bet most of those powerless heroes will be out of work.

Worth consuming.

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars

Justice League America #84

Several issues ago, Ice left the League and went back to her homeland in the Nordic mountains. What she arrived to was a power struggle between her father and her brother. Now, Dad is dead and the power mad brother is turning the frozen kingdom into his own little dictatorship.

Answering an urgent call for help, the League comes to help liberate Ice and her people from captivity.

A very good issue. Great art. Last issue, I had to read a book I didn’t have to find out why guy Gardner was a murderer all of a sudden. Well, wouldn’t you know, now Guy is back on everybody’s good graces and nothing is made of what transpired in the issue I don’t have from a series I don’t yet collect.

Thankfully, there is Wikipedia to find the answers I need.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Star Trek III: The Search For Spock: A DC Movie Special

The rule about Star Trek movies are that the even numbered films are good and the odd numbered films suck. Well, I think Star Trek III: The Search for Spock got a bad rap based on it’s numbering.

The movie’s got Klingons! For that reason alone, it’s a great movie. And the comic adaptation doesn’t disappoint. Here, the Enterprise crew risk their careers in order to possibly return Spock to life.

There’s some very interesting source material that was omitted from the movie in this issue that clears some stuff up. Apparently, the crew was supposed to bring McCoy, whose possessed with Spock’s “spirit” to Vulcan in order to have his soul preserved in a sacred temple. Kirk didn’t realize this and thought they needed his body back in order to return him to life. That’s why, in the movie, everyone acts like the re-joining process won’t work! Spock’s resurrection is like a million-to-one odds occurrence. Plus, Kirk and the crew risked serious jail time by stealing the Enterprise on a misunderstanding.

These bits of info make a really good film even better! I am so glad I found out about this adaptation while reading up on the IDW edition of Wrath of Khan. Without that little bit of info, I would have been missing out on an essential gem in my Star Trek comics collection.

Worth Consuming.

Star Trek Movie Special #2: Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home

The Enterprise crew, having restored Mr. Spock to life, must now return to earth to face their fate for their crimes of disobeying orders, stealing a starship, and subsequently destroying said starship. But, before the gavel can be lowered, a strange probe has arrived on earth, threatening all life. It appears that whales are descendants of an alien race and Kirk must attempt to travel back in time in order to bring the now extinct mammels into the future in hopes to saving the world.

This issue has some great back up info not included in the film. We see more of the crew’s struggles to repair their stolen Klingon bird of prey and to create the galaxy’s largest aquarium of all time.

Sadly, much of the out-of-time humor the Enterprise crew experience being stranded in the 1980s is omitted in order to keep all the plot points moving. It's that humor what makes ST:IV a classic amongst Trekkies and casual fans alike and it's missing here!

It’s slightly forgivable, but still lacks a little bit of that old cinematic magic. Still, it’s Worth Consuming if you find yourself wanting to see the film but without a copy to watch on DVD.

Rating: 4 out of 10 stars.

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan #3

The IDW Publishing adaptation of Wrath of Khan concludes. It took 30 years to happen, but it was worth the wait.

Now, it’s common knowledge that Spock dies in the end, so it’s not a spoiler. But, they way they make him look in this comic is so gruesome. In the film, Spock’s skin looks bluish and is peeling. Here, every panel, the Vulcan decays ever more, revealing his horrific green blooded muscle tone. It’s actually enough to make me queasy.

Despite that, the book was fantastic and I very much like what IDW has been doing with the Trek franchise as a whole.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Star Trek II The Wrath of Khan #1

Of all the classic crew Star Trek films, only Wrath of Khan was never made into a comic book adaptation- until now! By far the best film in the series (if you choose Voyage Home, you’re not a real Trekkie), the action and thrilling art of war strategics of the film are perfectly captured.

The art is pretty good. Sometimes Khan looks like a geriatric punk rocker, but the interiors of both the Enterprise and Defiant look like they are photographs from the film.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan #2

In part 2, Khan has stolen the Genesis device while possibly having trapped Kirk into being buried alive. It's a great scene in all of sci-fi films. But this is a comic and sometimes, the power of a dramatic monet doesn't carry over from film to paper very well.

Yet when Kirk goes ballistic and yells “KHANNNNNNNNNN!”, you really can feel the anger and emotion.

Not all of the renderings of the Enterprise crew is this well done. The art of the characters is iffy at times, but the action scenes of the ships engaged in a deadly game of cat and mouse are photo-realistic and quite amazing.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Volume 8: The Sith Hunters

Last season on Star Wars: The Clone Wars, it was revealed that Darth Maul survived being cut in half by Obi-Wan Kenobi at the end of Phantom Menace. Now, I’m not really keen on this idea. I think the dead should stay dead, especially in Star Wars. We’ve already had the Emperor returned to life (by form of clone inhibition) in at least 2 Star Wars comic books. So, having Darth Maul pop up again really seems to make the Star Wars universe like a comic book or soap opera, where nobody stays dead.

Also, it takes a really cool scene in an otherwise lame movie and diminishes it’s effect.

So, in this issue, we see what happens to Darth Maul after being sliced in half and we learn a little of both Maul and his brother, Opress’s motivations. Sadly, it does little to win me over either as it seems like Opress is more vengeful and Maul is now an opportunist.

It’s really making me wonder in last season’s return of the dark lord has caused Star Wars: The Clone Wars to jump the shark.

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

Avengers: The Origin #5

The conclusion to Avengers Origins starts off with the finishing act of Avengers #1. But in that 1963’s issues last 2 panels, the 5 heroes decide to join up as the Avengers.

Here in issue 5, the last 10 pages is devoted to that commitment. This is what I’ve been expecting from Marvel, an origin tale that goes into better depth of the original source material.

The art is fantastic and the last few pages that show a glimpse of things to come for Earth’s Mightiest Heroes is poignant, inspiring, and down right touching. Excellent way to finish a mini-series that had a slightly disappointing start.

Worth Consuming.

Avengers: The Origin #4

Avengers 'Origins' finally feels like I am reading something fresh. The trio of Ant-man, Wasp, and Iron Man have tracked Hulk to a research facility whereas Ant-Man comes up with a trap for the big green machine. Meanwhile, Thor must battle a host of Lokis in order to capture the real McCoy hiding among the throng.

I honestly don’t remember any of this occurring in Avengers #1, so it felt like reading a new take of the origin of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes and not a old script with new art.

This is how Origin “reboots” or “retools” should be.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Avengers: The Origin #3

Ant-man, Wasp, and Iron Man finally track the Hulk down. Posing as a strong man robot at a local circus, the trio end up doing more harm than good. Hulk wasn’t hurting anybody and then boom- the heroes arrive guns blazing.

Again, not much is added to the story with one small exception. A brief romance of sorts is added to the mix between Hulk and the bearded lady. I’m not making this up folks and actually, I’d like for Marvel to do a follow up story where Hulk returned to the circus and made amends. Might make a good romance tale.

OK- I’m sentimental.

The art continues to be fantastic and I did like what like the writers did to explore Hulk’s time under the big top.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Avengers: The Origin #2

What a fantastic cover. No wonder Iron Man created his Hulk Buster armor!

In issue 2, Thor thinks he knows whose behind the Hulk’s rampage and returns to Asgard to investigate. Already way down in the manpower department, Ant-Man, Wasp, and Iron Man use the latest in hi-tech to track the Hulk’s movements. In terms of the Hulk, he’s made some new friends who make him seem normal in comparison.

Fantastic Art. I mentioned the cover, didn’t I? There’s a great sequence that involves the Hulk on a rampage, but I won’t let on to what happens. I will say, it’s gory and kinda morbidly fun.

Worth Consuming, but it still doesn’t add much to the content first presented in 1963’s Avengers #1.

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars,

Avengers: The Origin #1

I like origin stories and I think they can offer some unique insights into the characters background. But, what if they merely retell the exact story with very little changes? That’s exactly what happens in this book. If you are familiar with Avengers #1, volume 1, the events that unfold happen in this book.

Here’s the kicker- the 1963 Avengers story took 48 pages to tell a single adventure. This miniseries has decided to stretch it out for 5 issues! A little overkill, don’t you think?

The book does re-frame the origin to a more recent history. I’d say within 5 years of the book’s publication date of 2010. The hype for the Avengers movie probably prompted Marvel to issue this series. But again, if you’re not going to offer anything new to the storyline, don’t expect fans to shell out $3.99 per book for 5 issues when they can read the entire story along with 5-25 other reprinted Avengers tales (dependent on format) written and drawn by the very best in the biz- Lee and Kirby.

Thankfully, I paid only a buck a book, so I didn’t hurt too much in the pocket book. Also, the art is really good. I love the covers and the interior art has a realism similar to Alex Ross and a classic Marvel feel similar to John Romita- Sr and Jr.

Worth Consuming, but don’t pay full cover price! It’s just not worth that!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Avengers (2010-2012), Vol. 1

I haven’t read a current Avengers framed story in quite some time. What little I know is piecemeal from reading trade mags and website news. Oh, and lots of Wiki-reading.

So, I found this book in my library and thought that since I had issue 1, I could save myself the trouble of getting the rest of the series and check it out for free.

The Avengers have regrouped once again after the Dark Reign storyline in which heroes were outlawed and the villains ruled and kept the peace. Here, Kang invades the team and warns them that their children will one day destroy the world. Later, it’s discovered that Kang’s battle with the youngsters did more damage than expected by destroying the space-time continuum!

Just about everyone's favorite characters is here- Wolverine, Captain America, Steve Rogers, Thor, Iron Man, Hawkeye, EVEN Spider-man. It’s a time-travel storyline so, it gets a little confusing. But it is still very good. The art is fantastic and the cover gallery is stunning featuring artist favs such as John Romita Jr.

I enjoyed this book very much and I think Marvel’s take on “The Heroic Age” is really good and it makes me want to start reading current Marvel tales again.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Justice League America #83

After killing one of the prisoners, Guy Gardner has a melt down and escapes. Hot on his tail is the League, Captain Atom, the golden age Flash, and Guy Gardner!? Wouldn’t you know it, we get to the good stuff and a cliffhanger hits only to inform me, I need an issue I don’t have in another series I don’t even collect in order to get some answers! I hate that!

In order to read the conclusion, you’ll need Guy Gardner, #15.

Worth Consuming, but a total let down!

    Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.