Wolverine: Flies To A Spider # 1

Despite the holiday decorations behind Logan, this really isn’t a Christmas or holiday-themed book. Though it takes place on New Year’s Eve, the main storyline is that a biker gang has infiltrated a small town and it’s resident’s are at their mercy. Wolverine’s decided it’s a great place to grab a beer- but I’m sure he’ll be butting heads with those thugs very soon.

Not a kids book! It has a parental warning and parents should take heed. In most X-Men books, Wolverine’s claws are mostly for show or cutting up robots, trees, and the occasional loaf off-reach bread. But, here, Wolverine does some serious killing with those Ginsu knives of his. It’s pretty bloody and gorey, too. It’s like if Robert Rodriguez decided to craft a Wolverine comic.

Goes to show that not all comics are for kids. I enjoyed the book’s grittiness and I thought the plot was pretty good and a very ironic ending. However, seeing Wolvie in complete maniac mode is still a bit of a shock for a comics purist like myself. Take note, this isn’t your Dad’s Marvel Comics here.

Buyer, Beware.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Batman: Noel

In a very unique twist, an overworked Batman plays the role of Scrooge as he using the Joker’s latest accomplice as bait for roping in the Crown Prince of Crime.

Visited by several “spirits”, the Dark Knight’s faith in mankind isn’t just questioned, it’s put to the test. It gets a little confusing at times with the shifting of narrators. Plus, you can argue that Batman is Bob Cratchit and Joker is Scrooge- from certain points of view.

The art captures the gruesome effect of I, Joker and Brian Azzuello’s The Joker. Great Stuff by Lee Bermejo that is visually stunning. A cross between Nolan’s universe and the Animated Series.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Disney Comic Hits #5

I knew Gladstone made Disney comics. But, who knew Marvel did? In the mid-90s,

they did with an anthology series called Disney Comic Hits. Here, they focused on the

newer films, like Beauty and the Beast, Toy Story, the Lion King, and Pocahontas. In fact, that’s the 4 tales in this holiday-themed issue.

The stories are pretty good. Though, they take place seemingly sometimes during the films. For instance, the Beast and his staff are still enchanted and Pocahontas is still set

during the strive of settler vs. tribesmen, though John Smith had already been shot.

Then in the Lion King tale, Timon and Pumbaa have made it to America and are

involved in a heist to save a snail friend of theirs from an evil sales clerk. It’s all very

confusing. Especially, because I’ve seen Lion King 1 and 2 and I am pretty darn sure

both were set in Africa.

The tales are charming and kids will like them. They may not be fans of the Toy Story tales. It’s prose and not in comic form. It might disappoint them to not have a Toy Story

comic in this issue. It bugged me.

But, it was cheap (another dollar bin gem) and a relaxing pace for the holidays.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Holiday Special 2011

Not the best effort by Marvel.

The first story is supposed to be a Spider-Man tale, but he’s merely a bit player in the story and has no lines. The main character is a female villain that I’ve never encountered and it made the story a little hard to follow; much less care for.

The next tale involves Wolverine and his merry bunch of students at Jean Grey School for Gifted Mutants. It’s a lighthearted tale where Wolverine teaches leadership by hosting a hockey game. Not much holiday here, but it’s a fun story.

The third tale has the real Nick Fury invading a Hydra base on Christmas Eve. The art is fantastic and I hope one day Marvel will issue a follow up, because I really want to know what happens next.

Lastly, is a Hanukkah tale starring The Thing and every Jewish super hero in the Marvel U.
I didn’t know there were that many. I actually felt a little bad for the bad guy in this tale because he was just trying to help out some needy kids. Thankfully, he was invited to Chinese food with the rest of the Jewish characters at the end of that tale. I would have be sad if they didn’t.

Again, okay tales. I’m not really a current Marvel guy, so I probably missed lots of little details, in-jokes, etc. I mean, I didn’t know who the villain was in story 1, didn’t I? Marvel went the way of DC and Scrooged us with no holiday special this year. Hopefully, that’ll

change real soon.

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

Teen Titans: the Lost Annual

Mike Allred, and his wife Laura are fantastic. The penciller and inker husband and wife duo have a very retro style that’s lavishly done. I love the thick lines, the acid-trip colors, and the zany things they create. It’s like Mike draws and outline and Laura fills it in with a menagerie of wonders.

Now, about the book. I know that this “Lost” annual doesn’t have the Elseworlds imprint. But, before DC decided to terminate the line, this was scheduled to be released as a Elseworlds title.

Where else but an Elseworld will you find aliens dressed as the Beatles brain washing JFK to be their general-at-arms?

Crazy fun in the vein of Madman (another Allred classic!)

Very much worth consuming!

DCU Infinite Holiday Special #1

DC did it again with this 2006 holiday special set against the backdrop of the Infinite Crisis and 52 story lines. Here Santa asks Shadowpact for help while Supergirl is tasked with brightening a little’s Christmas as Batwoman proves that there really are Hanukkah miracles.

But the best story is the Elseworlds themed tale in which Superman plays Santa to a little boy. The ending is totally unexpected and completely wild and I love it!

I hate that DC doesn’t do holiday specials anymore. Hopefully, that is a trend that will pass very soon. I understand they are busy with their New 52 story lines, but it’s been 2 Christmases now and we’ve gotten bupkis.

DC is also the better creator of Christmas and holiday themed specials. Hopefully, someone will read this plea and I’ll get my holiday wish.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.