Doctor Who A Fairytale Life #1

 

Companion Amy Pond really wants to see an honest to goodness dragon. Coming up with the next best thing, The Doctor takes Miss Pond to a pleasure planet in which tourists act out medeval scenes with an all-automated cast. Only, there’s no tourists to be found and the automated systems gone into hibernation.

Before the Doctor can surmize what’s happened, Amy comes down with a strange virus and has been informed that her demise will come at the hands of the dragons of the looming Black Tower.

For a Doctor Who issue, it’s got some work to be done. The art sometimes looks like the Doctor and Amy and sometimes just a random nerdish young professor and a sassy redhead. Thankfully, the Mark Buckingham cover of Fables fame, does not disappoint when it comes to capturing the duo. The scenery and planet resident’s artwork is very good. The Tardis interiors, however, are quite photo-realistic.

The story isn’t bad. It captures the essence of the 11th Doctor. But, I have this nagging feeling that I’ve read this story before. Stay tuned for a confirmed analysis.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Justice League International #66 (Judgment Day, Part 6)

The Doomsday storyline ends with a death that I must say, saw coming from the start- and that’s not because I knew the character was dead from other sources.

This epic 6-issue crossover wasn’t bad. However, it’s not the best thing I’ve read or the best Justice League tale. It started off very confusing and full of poison with brother vs. brother. Then the storyline got cleaner but the art was absurd with tiny heads superimposed on way-too-muscular bodies.

This final chapter was very good and it was fitting. It began with the promise of change and in the end, that’s just what is going to happen. Task Force and JL America will continue on. But the days of JL International are numbered. I just wish the editor of these titles, a Mr. Rueben Diaz, was more upbeat and not a Joe Quesada-type who felt he was more important that the reader and the titles themselves. Hopefully, the future JL titles will have a more positive editor and slant.

Worth Consuming

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Justice League Task Force #14 (Judgment Day, Part 5)

Under the influence of the Doomsday entity, Ice has set the perfect trap for the League. This sets up a meeting of former partners Fire and Ice. As the clock continues to fall to zero, Fire tries to convince Ice to turn away from her evil ways and the reason as to why this alien spector has chosen Earth for destruction is finally revealled.

The action and the story is the highlight in this chapter and it’s actually the art which is poor. I don’t know if a substitute artist or inker was used, but some of the characters look too goofy than usual, with extremely small heads and way too buffed up bodies. It’s like Rob Liefield got his hands on the JLA. I’m not a fan.

Thankfully, the story is better (than in previous chapters) and makes this book Worth Consuming.

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars

"Sleeper: Season 1

A sleeper agent with super powers finds his contact in a coma and in deep with the agency his infiltrated. Both friend and foe are closing in on him as one side sees him as a traitor and the other as a mole.

I really like this Ed Brubaker series. He did a fantastic job on Captain America and counter-espionage seems to be his foray. It’s not a book for all ages. Lots of Tarantino level swears and innuendo. There’s also a lot of gratuitous sex and T & A.

These types of adult graphic novels usually don’t appeal to me. However, Brubaker is such a master craftsman when it comes to these types of tales. Thankfully, the sexual situations are infrequent. Still, the content isn’t for everyone and parents should show caution with this series. I recommend that it is not for those under 18.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Justice League America #90 (Judgment Day, Part 4)

Blue Beetle and STAR Labs race to save Booster’s life, but it appears that they won't have to rush because the human race has literally stood still. No more births, no more deaths. This would be ideal, except the Doomsday entity has once again sped the end of days timetable up once again. Now earth only has 24 hours.

The chapter reminds me of Torchwood: Miracle Day in which Death took a holiday. With no more births, Power Girl is now freed up to do some major damage. After a disappointing Chapter 3, segment 4 seemed to address why Superman, Hal Jordan, Batman and others aren’t involved and the backbiting between League factions has subsided. Could be better, but not bad.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Justice League International #65 (Judgment Day, Part 3)

   Under pressure by the UN, and lacking faith himself, Max Lord has created a team that will hopefully keep the League at bay and stand down. Only, Lord's team accidently went and attacked those Leaguers who decided to not fight this Doomsday entity. 

   Things are getting really dull in this story all of a sudden. 

   Plus, is the UN the only entity who seems to care about the actions of the League? What about Superman, Batman, and other international teams like the Global Guardians and the Rocket Reds?

   Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

Justice League Task Force #13 (Judgment Day, Part 2)

The raid on the Mt. Everest fortress didn’t go well. As a result, Booster Gold is near death and being rushed to STAR Labs for immediate emergency surgery. It appears Gold’s plan that he saves the day as foretold in the history books of the 30th Century isn’t going so well either.

Now the timetable for destruction Earth has been moved up and will be even more immediate should any more metahumans get involved. Thus, the UN has banned the League from any further involvement. This causes a rift between League members that splits the team into a passive and an active league.

In the middle of this fracas, has anyone noticed “Where’s Ice?”

I love the in-fighting of this group. If it’s going get restructured, well then all greivances need to be aired. It’s very un-DC and I love it. I can’t wait for the next chapter.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Justice League America #89 (Judgment Day, Part 1)

In a massive cross-over involving the Justice Leagues America, Europe, and Task Force; recent events have unfolded in which it appears to be Judgment Day, as foretold in prophecy. Meanwhile, a power struggle between Wonder Woman and Captain Atom have caused the United Nations to lose even more faith in the Super Human community. That’s resulted in the threat of disbandment and thus, all 3 teams have been summoned together in an attempt to get the Leagues under control or else trim the fat.

With that problem on the horizon, a super-powered alien has taken over Mt. Everest as it’s command post and given the world a week left to exist. Thankfully, because he is a time-traveller, Booster Gold knows what’s about to happen next and it involves him being the hero to save the day for once. 

  In other words, the earth is doomed!

I understand the League’s gotten too big and reading previous editor’s note’s in the letter sections, I’ve been ready for this. But, the editor seems to not like his books and his missives seem like sour grapes. Thankfully, the writers and artists of these titles don’t seem to feel the same way and have put out a very good opening chapter to this epic.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Cosmic Odyssey, Book 4: Death

Darkseid’s contingency plan has gone to pot, as the Anti-Life Equation Entity is just too gosh darn powerful. It’s all up to Batman and Forager, who battle a duo of zombie’s for the fate of the Universe.

Speaking of the Bat, in chapter one, he made a call to someone to keep an eye on Darkseid, because he’s about as trusty as a condom lined with holes. That mystery of who was called was left under wraps until now. Ironically, it’s Batman’s phone call that also results in the universe being spared, because our mystery player has to pull Darkseid’s butt out of the fire.

I loved this entire series. It ended with lots of great emotion. A hero must come to grips with being responsible for an entire planet’s demise- population and all. Another hero will meet his final fate, While a third must come to terms with his prejudices.

A fantastic job by writer, Jim Starlin, and artist, Mike Mignola.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Cosmic Odyssey, Book Three: Decisions

With one planet already toast and the fates of four others hanging in the balance, Darkseid decides to enact his contingency plan. His secret weapon- Etrigan, the Demon. I love that two classic Jack Kirby DC characters have teamed up for what's probably the first and only time ever. A great chapter in a fantastic story.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Cosmic Odyssey, Book 2: Disaster

Darkseid sends out 4 teams to fight the Anti-Life equation entity from destroying the universe. The stipulation is that if any 2 teams lose, everything goes bye-bye. Teams are sent to Earth, Rann, Thanagar, and some planet that I’ve never heard of. Can you guess which planet is gonna bite the dust?

With predictable stakes, I still enjoyed the book. The art is amazing and there are several mysteries within that make up for the forementioned plot point.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Cosmic Odyssey, Book 1: Discovery

After centuries of scheming and searching, the Anti-life Equation has finally been found. Fortunately, it wasn’t Darkseid who discovered it. Unfortunately, it caused Metron to have his brain fried. Even worse, an anti-matter entity that powers the equation has become aware of our universe and is targeting it for destruction.

Yes, this seems an awful lot like Crisis on Infinite Earths. Only, there’s no multiverse and the whole crisis is framed as if it was the result of interference from the New Gods.

The thing that makes this title very different is that an alliance is formed between mortal enemies Darkseid and Highfather. To combat this threat, they recruit a team of superheroes that include Superman and John Stewart.

Wait a minute… That happened in Crisis, too. Well, I realized this after reading this book and it didn’t bother me. I love New Gods stuff and this book doesn’t disappoint. Adding to the formula is early work by one of my all-time fav artists, Mike Mignola. That’s worth the cover price alone and makes this volume very much.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Tales of Suspense, Featuring Captain America Iron Man #1

The past is coming back to haunt Captain America and Iron Man. A villain is plotting on killing a powerful Asian businessman in an attempt to take over the world. This villain appears to have gotten his hands on Tony Stark’s original armor specs from his captivity is Vietnam and he also happens to be an old Nazi enemy of Steve Rogers.

The motive for the plot is a little muddled, just as to why Capt. and Iron Man are at odds with each other a good dozen years or so before Marvel’s Civil War storyline. The book is at times beautifully painting, but the anatomy is at tad off with some panels having the characters looking like they’ve got giant legs and tiny heads.

Not the best read, but it was still entertaining. For 1990s Marvel (a period I think was their weakest) it’s not bad and I didn’t feel like the money I spent on this was wasted.

 

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Justice League International Special No. 2 Featuring The Huntress

The Huntress, a somewhat disciple of the Batman’s joined the JLA in the late-80s. She lasted about a dozen issues, mostly as a bit player and then BOOM!- she disappears without much explanation.

This special tries to correct that oversight, by explaining where she went and why she begin’s the story in hiding. All seems well until the appearance of a new costumed vigilante in a local paper brings her out of exile and on the front doorsteps of the League.

It’s not a bad story, but there are a few problems, mostly with plotting. The background of Huntress is muddled. There’s still some Pre-Crisis bleed over of Huntress originally being the daughter of the Earth-2 Batman and Catwoman. Plus, she’s got some many aliases as she is now trying to hide from the mob, that even Huntress herself, can’t keep things straight.

The biggest problem is the title. It says “Justice League International” on the cover, but Huntress was never a member of that version of the League and the team she runs to for help is the Justice League America and NOT the JLE.

Other than that, the art is good and the dialogue is good capturing the silliness of Giffen and DeMatteis.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

GREEN ARROW/ BLACK CANARY WEDDING SPECIAL #1

Who invited Snapper Carr to the Wedding? That question is essentially what sparks off the ticking time bomb that is the wedding of Green Arrow and Black Canary. While the duo is having their bachelor/ette parties, evil is plotting to ruin the blessed event.

In true superhero fashion, the nuptials are ruined when a slew of DC’s baddest villains invade the Emerald Archer’s wedding ceremony.

Great art. Very funny at times. If it seems like a copy of Fantastic Four Annual #3 when Reed and Sue got married, that’s forgivable. What is not forgivable is the book’s ending.

In what is getting to be a huge pet peeve of mine, this book ends with a cliff-hanger that requires me to buy issue #1 of Green Arrow/ Black Canary. I hate being surprised like that. Normally, I do run out and get those cliffhanging issues, but this time, I wasn’t too invested and I sought out Wikipedia for answers.

For what I did read of this book, it was Worth Consuming.

Black Canary Wedding Planner #1

Having been and on-again/ off-again couple since the late 60s, Green Arrow and Black Canary are finally going to tie the knot. The time for the nuptials is quickly approaching. Only, the recent crime wave of the Countdown storyline is keeping Canary from getting anything done.

So, with help from Arrow, and her bridesmaids, Black Canary has developed a checklist, a Wedding Planner of sorts. This very funny issue explores her mishaps as she tries to do everything in order to make it a special day. The art is really good and the planner format of the 2nd act is very clever. However, I really think DC missed out selling an actual Black Canary wedding planner for the comic book lad and lady wanting to tie the not in sequential art fashion.

Worth Consuming

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars

Rust, Created by Steve Miller #1

In a foreword by creator Steve Miller (probably not of the Steve Miller Band, but not positive), explains that this take on his creation is slightly different that the Rust people might know. Well, I got this book in a grab bag and I’ve never heard of Rust, so it’s all new territory for me.

Here a cop is shot, left for dead, and thrown into a batch of industrial solvents. The chemical company has an idea what’s happened and they work around the clock to put the kibosh of things. Eventually, the cop wakes and is turned into a big heaping pile of rusted metal.

 

The premise isn’t too bad. Being all gruff, orange, and comprised of garbage, he’s kinda like a dirtier version of the Thing. I was actually set to want to read more issues (if I ever came across them), but then I read the complete issue guide to the first Rust series, then published by the defunct Now Comics.

What I read from that was a cross between Swamp Thing, kiddie porn, and a zombie apocalypse. It put me off from ever reading this series ever again. Not my cup of tea.

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

The A-Team #3

Each issue of this mini-series is a stand alone story. So explain to me how is it a mini-series? This issue involves a famous TV cowboy hiring the Team to steal a prototype aircraft from a rogue island nation. The country is never named, but you’re to assume Cuba.

I don’t know why Marvel never picked up the A-Team as a continuing series. It captures the spirit of the show amazingly well and the art is pretty darn good. Not every panel looks like the team, but it’s close.

Very good stuff. Brought back my childhood.

  Worth Consuming

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

The A-Team #2

 

I remember owning the entire set as a kid. All three issues came in a grab bag I bought at about age 6 at Tons O’ Toys. Having lost these issues over the years, I was thrilled to find at least the last 2 issues of the Marvel mini-series.

Each issue is a stand alone story. This issue sees the Team hired by a family to bring their dad back from the cult he was kidnapped from. Everything goes okay until Hannibal and BA arrive posing as phone repairmen for a compound that has no land lines. Uh-Oh!

I don’t know why Marvel never picked up the A-Team as a continuing series. It captures the spirit of the show amazingly well and the art is pretty darn good. Not every panel looks like the team, but it’s close.

Very good stuff. Brought back my childhood. 

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Fables Vol. 18: Cubs in Toyland

The prophecies of Ambrose are beginning to come true. As one of Bigby and Snow’s children trains to become the Great North Wind, another child (Therese) must deal with her jealously over the slight. There are tempters afoot, and Therese is whisked away to another dimension, promised to be that kingdom’s next ruler. Oldest cub, Dare, senses something is wrong and follows in hopes of rescuing his sister.

Willingham has done it again. Every time I think that Fables can’t progress as a series, he takes it into another direction. While the Mister Dark storyline is still explored, the Oz storyline is nowhere to be found in this volume. I find myself needing to no longer get attached to Willingham’s awesome characters because there are some shocking demises in this volume. You’ve been warned.

A great book and I cannot wait for the next volume to come out. 

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.