The Thing #1

After sharing co-starring duty in Marvel Two-In-One, the ever lovin’ Thing from the Fantastic Four finally has his own solo comic. Here, legendary scribe John Bryne crafts a tale in which Ben Grimm goes back to his trampling ground of Yancy Street. Here he meets up with the leader of the Yancy Street Gang and recalls his origin.

There’s not much punching or fighting here. But, there is a really good story. I like the twist ending and it’s got a very poignant conclusion that is both bright and sad and the same time.

I’ve dabbled in this series and now I think the time has come for me to start collecting the entire series. 

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Street Sharks #2 (of a three issue series)

Maybe it’s because I haven’t read issue #1. But, this comic book about several human brothers who are turned into a gang of extreme sports lovin’ sharks (that can live on land and breathe air) is a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle knock-off. Which is ironic as Archie Comics published TMNT in the 90s right when they published this 3 issue mini-series.

The dialogue is full of corny jokes and is trite. The art is gritty and that maybe is to reflect the gritty. in-your-face nature of the street sharks. Sadly, they come across as annoying clones of Poochie from Itchy and Scratchy. Plus, the diabolic mad scientist is this series conducts some experiments that are borderline too much for kids. I recommend this not be for kids under 10.

In my opinion- NOT Worth Consuming.

Rating: 4 out of 10 stars.

DC Comics Presents: Mystery in Space #1

A tribute issue in honor of the passing of the great Julius Schwartz, long-time Editor In Chief of DC Comics. Schwartz was known for having concept covers drawn up and then would assign writers to use that idea for use in a forthcoming issue of said title.

In this issue, the First story is a team-up of Adam Strange and Ralph (Elongated Man) & Sue Dibny. I love the Dibnys, God rest their souls. So, to have them pop up here is awesome. That story involves a chance meeting in a remote African nation and the terrible consequences of Strange’s Zeta beam having on global defense in the wrong hands.

The second story is by Batman scribe, Grant Morrison. That should be a great issue. Sadly, it delves into some metaphysical metaphor for how Adam Strange was a catalyst for American’s fear of the bomb and the generation gap in terms of Vietnam. It’s really a stretch and a very confusing and awful tale.

Thankfully, the first story totally makes up for that drivel and makes this book very much Worth Consuming.

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

DC Comics Presents - The Flash #1

A tribute issue in honor of the passing of the great Julius Schwartz, long-time Editor In Chief of DC Comics. Schwartz was known for having concept covers drawn up and then would assign writers to use that idea for use in a forthcoming issue of said title. It's also fitting that the Flash is used as one of the heroes to pay respect to Julie as it was Schwartz who was solely responsible for the Speedster's 'return' to comics in the 1950s.

The first take has Barry Allen testifying against a mob boss. But before he can testify, an assassin marks the criminologist for death. Cameos abound with Iris West, Martian Manhunter, Deadshot & more.

The second tale features some of the Flash’s Rogue’s Gallery. However, the story is rather flat.

Worth Consuming if for just the first story alone.

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

DC Comics Presents Batman #1

A tribute issue in honor of the passing of the great Julius Schwartz, long-time EIC of DC Comics. Schwartz was known for having concept covers drawn up and then would assign writers to use that idea for use in a forthcoming issue of said title.

Here, Len Wein, Geoff Johns, and Carmine Infantino explore Batman’s relationship with the TV. In the first tale, the actor playing Robin on TV’s hit Batman is found murdered. Now, it’s up to the Dynamic Duo to solve the crime.

The second tale is even better in which a reality TV show’s producer always seems to know when Batman is going to strike fear in the hearts of Gotham’s underworld. Once the Dark Knight finds out is going on, he may be to late to stop Two-face from exacting revenge on the media mogul.

Two great tales, very much Worth Consuming.

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

DC Comics Presents Atom #1

A tribute issue in honor of the passing of the great Julius Schwartz, long-time EIC of DC Comics. Schwartz was known for having concept covers drawn up and then would assign writers to use that idea for use in a forthcoming issue of said title.

Here, Dave Gibbons, Mark Waid, Dan Jurgens, and others devise 2 different takes in which the Atom is required to “ride a deadly grenade!”

The first tale incorporates the classic motif that writer Gardner Fox got his ideas by his dreams tapping into the Earth-1 universe. Along with Schwartz and what I assume is pitcher Whitey Ford, the Atom must find a way to go back to Earth-1 after some criminals strand him in the “real world.”

The second tale isn’t quite as charming. Atom still must take a ride on a grenade, but that tale doesn’t hold a candle to the first tale. It does feature 60s super-criminal Chronos, which uses ideas from an imaginative writer, a thinly veiled Schwartz, to stage a series of super crimes.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

DC Comics Presents: Justice League of America #1

A tribute issue in honor of the passing of the great Julius Schwartz, long-time EIC of DC Comics. Schwartz was known for having concept covers drawn up and then would assign writers to use that idea for use in a forthcoming issue of said title.

In this issue, Harlan Ellison, Marv Wolfman, and Peter David contribute 2 tales surrounding a cover in which the Justice League is plagued by their super powers and weapons. The first tale is awesome. It has the future JLA going back in time to stop the newly formed League from getting decimated by a time travelling villain from the 30th century.

Sadly, Harlan Ellison’s tale really sucks rocks. Here, Schwartz is a character in his own tale, in which he dreams that his characters have taken over his life and he hates them for that! I really think that’s hogwash. Ellison, good a writer he may be, tends to embellish facts AND likes to restructure characters into more controversial subjects than they really are. Case in point: his first draft for City of the Edge of Forever in which Scotty was to become a drug addict.

Thankfully, the first tale makes this issue worth consuming, but just barely.

Worth Consuming!

  Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

DC Comics Presents: Green Lantern #1

A tribute issue in honor of the passing of the great Julius Schwartz, long-time EIC of DC Comics. Schwartz was known for having concept covers drawn up and then would assign writers to use that idea for use in a forthcoming issue of said title.

Here, artists and writers such as Brian Azzarello, Brian Bolland, and Scott McDaniel devise two potential tales in which Green Lantern might have reason to sell copies of his power rings for only a buck each. (That my friends is a steal.)

The best of the two stories is the first, which is set during the 60s and has the Emerald Warrior on the hunt for Gorilla Grodd. The second tale has Green Lantern and Green Arrow teaming up to stop a renegade toy seller from profiting on fake Lantern rings using shoddy work conditions and child labor. The internal conflict of Hal Jordan just doesn’t seem plausible. In just about everything I’ve read on GL, Jordan loved his dad. But in this tale, Mr. Jordan is a boozer and has led to Hal having rage issues. I just don’t see that. Maybe the writer got Jordan confused with Guy Gardner?

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Doctor Who Special 2012 Comic Book Annual

The second annual based on the Matt Smith Doctor is packed with fun for all sorts of Whovians. First, it’s Fez-mania as the Doctor, Amy, and Rory arrive in Fez, Morocco. There, they come across an old foe- the Slitheen. Later, the Doctor, acting solo, lands in rural England where he discovers an alien hiding behind a chameleon circuit. In another solo tale, the Doctor gets himself thrown into Alcatraz in order to free an old friend from The Rock. Rounding out the tales is a story about a Time Lord, who seems to have survived the great time war. That tale starts off really good, but it has an ambiguous ending that I just don’t understand. I’ve yet to read IDW’s 11th Doctor books, so I might have missed something.

Also, the annual ends with a cliffhanger that you’ve got to read another book in order to get the conclusion. I hate that. But, the annual itself was really good and I enjoyed it tremendously. Also, this annual continues the tradition of basing their covers on famous works of art. This cover is an homage to Warhol’s soup cans! Awesome!

Worth Consuming

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Ant-Man & Wasp #3

Turns out AIM didn’t want “Heaven” after all. They just stole it in order to recruit Hank Pym to their criminal organization. Now trapped by AIM, Pym endures the weirdest job interview of all time as he must escape over 100 traps in order to free Ant-Man from the Sleepwalker and save the universe from a temporal displacement.

Excellent stuff. I think Marvel did a fantastic job for once. But, they missed a great opp to have an ongoing Wasp/Ant-man title. However, that doesn’t stop the book from being very much Worth Consuming. Also, the background characters have influenced me to give Avengers Academy a very serious glance.

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Ant-Man & Wasp #2

Using a Sleepwalker/ human hybrid, AIM has kidnapped one of Hank Pym’s inventions. I say kidnap because the invention is a computer simulation of Heaven that houses the soul of Pym’s deceased lab assistant Bill “Goliath” Foster.

It’s up to Pym as the Wasp and the latest crony to bear the mantle of Ant-man to team up and rescue Foster before AIM reverse engineering of the device causes paradise to collapse.

Great mini-series. Very much Worth Consuming.

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Ant-Man & Wasp #1

Ant-man and the Wasp have reteamed for the first time ever! It’s not your father’s Ant-man and Wasp and ironically, the book actually mentions that fact! I love it.

Here Hank Pym is now bearing the mantle of Wasp, in honor of his deceased lover, Jan Van Dyne. Ant-man is an upstart SHIELD drop-out who makes Guy Gardner look like a choir boy.

I thought this book was going to be in typical Marvel fashion with the two heroes fighting each other, but it doesn’t happen. Instead, there is a great buddy cop vibe and the banter is funny.

Did I say that I love it?

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Doctor Who Annual #1 (2011)

This annual contains 4 stories featuring the 11th doctor and his companions Amy and Rory Pond. I love the Escher-type cover. It fits the story of the doctor landing on a planet that’s so topsy-turvy that up is not only down but left, right, and sideways. Then Rory becomes the King of England while Amy leads an alien revolt and the Doctor is imprisoned by a Napoleon wannabe. Lastly, the Doctor takes on a 4th companion, a robot T-Rex named Kevin. The interactions of Kevin with the gang over the course of a week is hilarious and it leads to the final tale in which a space station is having some trouble with immigration. However, to read the story's conclusion, you have to read it in an issue of Doctor Who’s monthly IDW publication.

Normally, that ticks me off, but thankfully, I have this issue already and so I’ll follow up soon. Hopefully.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Secret Invasion: Requiem

Janet Van Dyne, AKA The Wasp, has died and now ex-husband and long-time lover Hank Pym finds himself in charge of clearing her estate. Wanting to make amends for her death as well as how poorly he treated her over the years, Pym reflects over his love life in hopes of finding a way to honor the fallen Avenger.

In Requiem, we see the beginning of Pym and Janet’s relationship with the Wasp’s origin, reprinting Tales to Astonish #44 and then we see the end of Hank and Jan’s marriage with his epic court-martial as Yellowjacket in an early 80s reprint of the Avengers.

The two reprints, along with the filler story are superb. I really enjoyed the ending. There’s also a Official Marvel Handbook entry on the life of Janet Van Dyne. Though it’s very extensive, there’s some omissions that I wish were explained further. For instance, her bio sheet lists her as once being known as Doctor Spectrum and the Invisible Woman. I wanted to know how she took up those monikers, but the author doesn’t touch those subjects.

Lastly, it’s said Janet wore about 200 different outfits in her illustrious career and the book closes with a 3-page spread that tries to capture everyone of those costumes.

Great work, Marvel!

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.