Marvel Fanfare # 40

In perhaps one of the most beautiful tales I’ve ever read, a grandmother experiencing a crisis of faith, has her prayers answered when Warren Worthington III crashes into her back yard. Believing the mutant, Angel, is the real celestial deal, the heartwarming ending was all it took to make this story an instant classic. 

The backup feature also involves mutants and a crisis of faith of sorts. Here, Mystique summons Storm to a neutral setting in a chess match over the X-Men Rogue’s soul. The morality play is quite good until the ending when Mystique starts to morph into a member of the opposite sex. Then the lines get quite blurry and when she monologues her true intentions, I really haven’t a clue what she is talking about. Too bad, it was a disappointing ending to an otherwise near-flawless issue of Marvel Fanfare.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars

Marvel Fanfare # 38

In this Fanfare, the various identities of Moon Knight must prevent a boy band’s throng of groupies from losing their souls. In a twist on 'Portrait of Dorian Gray', an Aztec totem is the key behind the seemingly endless fountain of youth that surrounds this mysterious band. It’s a great tale, but hard to keep straight. I know Moon Knight has like 10 other personas and I couldn’t tell if he’s having a sort of Tyler Durdan moment where he’s talking with folks who aren’t really there or is he?

The follow-up story involved Rogue and Dazzler enjoying a night on the town, only to have it ruined by a group of hostage takers. This story was pretty simple, straight-forward, and guilty pleasure fun. The art was very late 80s glamour deco and it read a little like a Scorsesse movie in sequential art form.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Fanfare # 39

Moon Knight returns for the second issue in a row. It’s not even a conclusion to the previous issue’s tale. So why does he wanted such 'exclusive treatment?' This stand alone story involves Moon Knight in the guise of his cab driver persona getting involved in a strange plot to blow up the U.N. With Middle-eastern terrorists and suicide bombers, this early 90s tale strikes a little too close to this post 9/11 home.

The cover story tale doesn't involve Moon Knight. Instead, it features a costumeless Hawkeye encountering his spirit guide during a camping trip vacation. It’s a funny tale with talking animals. However, the concept that Hawkeye is a recurring element in the eternal yin/yang battle of good and evil is a little hard to swallow. Especially, because I don’t recall this factor of Clint Barton’s life ever being explored in future Avengers tales. Maybe I’ve missed something. Until then, I’ll merit this story for its humor and not its hokey premise.

Ariol Volume 1: Just a Donkey Like You and Me

   Ariol is about a young donkey and the other assorted animals he goes to school with. Pining for the love of Petunia, his class’s beautiful heifer, daydreaming of his hero Thunder Horse with another fellow classmate who happens to be a horse, and playing gross practical jokes with his best friend, Ramono the pig. The perils of being a student have never been explored with such reality and humor as portrayed by farm animals. It’s like Freaks and Geeks meet Tiny Toons.

There were times I read this going “Man, that happened to me in school once.” What’s even more amazing is that this book was translated from it’s original French and yet has a very American appeal that doesn’t seem forced or fudged like when you watch a Godzilla film.

It’s quite spectacular fun and parents will approve, ever with some gross humor, because of the realistic portrayal of the pain and wonder that is growing up. Having these all-star animals makes this book more relatable to children and has a grown-up reminiscing appeal as well.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars

Graphic Elvis: Free Comic Book Day Sampler

 

Graphic Elvis is a coffee table book full of pieces done by some of the top graphic artists and writers of today. This Free Comic Book Day offering is comprised of pin-ups from the book and Elvis quotes or quotes from famous fans about the King.

Also included in book this preview and the book itself is a cosmic tale about Elvis’ trip to Paradise after passing on Aug. 16, 1977. That tale is penned by Marvel legend, Stan Lee. Though this wasn’t drawn by Jack Kirby, the artwork is done in the style of the King of Comics. It’s a very heart-warming tale that will make you believe in a rock-n-roll heaven.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Fanfare #37

A little Asgardian Algebra. There are 3 Warriors Three. Each got their own issue of Marvel Fanfare. Yet, this is chapter 4? How’d that happen?

Well, the answer is with chapter four, the trio finally groups up and is joined by loyal fellow warrior, Thor to bring an end to Loki’s mischief. With the fate of Asgard in their collective hands, reader’s of this conclusion are in for an exciting ride.

With a very funny ending splash page, this Warriors Three epic was in a word…EPIC. Fantastic art. Amazing watercolors.

Plus, this issue concludes with a time-bending story featuring Mr. Fantastic. Essentially it's the film Multiplicity only about 8 years earlier It’s a very funny classic.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Fanfare #36

Chapter 3 is devoted to the dashing Fandril, whose been tasked to save the groom-to-be by taking him to a magical island inhabited only by celibate ladies devoted to an Asgardian goddess. Of the 3 chapters thus far, this issue probably has the most character depth to it. There’s actual consequences to his lusty actions and it helps this issue just ooze pathos.

Featuring still more fantastic Charles Vess art, this issue is Worth Consuming.

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Fanfare #35

Grim Hogun stars in chapter 2 of the Warriors Three tale. What’s unique about this tale is that it’s pretty much chapter one (MFF #34) but in the perspective of the mother as opposed to the bride-to-be. It’s a little like Run Lola, Run and this came first- so that’s pretty awesome.

 

Artist Charles Hess’ artwork continues to stun. It’s quintessential Warriors Three. Excellent Stuff.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Fanfare #34

Fanfare #34 is devoted entirely to the opening chapter of a Warriors Three tale. The warriors must act alone in order to prevent Loki from keeping a doomed couple from getting married, least Ragnarok is unleashed on Asgard. The star of this chapter is the voluminous Volstagg.

It’s a very good story. Extremely clever and fun. The art is absolutely phenomenal. I loved every panel. This is one of those stories you just want to go on forever and thankfully Marvel decided to make this a 4-part story.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars

Marvel Fanfare #33

This issue is devoted to an unused chapter of a little known Marvel miniseries called Questprobe. In this never before published tale, the X-Men have become allies with Magneto and are enjoying themselves while Magento moves his stuff from a raised Atlantis to become the headmaster of Xavier’s School for Gifted Mutants.

Did I miss something? I’m not used to Magento being a good guy and clearly this takes place during a period of X-Men history in which I’ve not read- YET!

But, the story is classic Chris Claremont. The art is pretty good for late 80s Marvel, too. But, because of certain plot points to which I am not familiar with, like the good Magneto, it wasn’t my favorite X-Men story.

However, it was good enough to add all three issues of Questprobe to my wish list. I really do want to know how that story line ends.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

DC Nation Super Sampler/Superman Family Adventures Free Comic Book Day Flip Book (2012)

The Green Lantern B-side cover.

 

Art Baltazar does it again with the preview of his latest DC Kid’s book Superman Family Adventures. Just like Tiny Titans, it’s cleverly written for kids but offers lots of Easter eggs for grown-ups. It’s like a Disney movie, offering a little something that all ages can enjoy.

There are also two very good short stories about Cartoon Network properties Young Justice and Green Lantern: The Animated Series. The art is spot on to their respective shows and the plots are quite good. Even better- they are original stories and not verbatim rip-offs of episodes I've already seen.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 9 out 10 stars.

- Spider-Man: Season One #1- FCBD 2012

This Free Comic Book Day offering from 2012 presents the first chapter of Spider-man: Season One. It’s essentially an origins tale with some retooling.

Why another reboot/ retelling of Spidey’s origin, you may ask? Well, with Marvel’s ‘Marvel Now’ reboot shifting the Marvel Universe into being more aligned with the films, it makes sense for the publisher to change things around.

This preview is just a sampler as Iron Man, Daredevil, The Fantastic Four, and others of Marvel’s best and brightest are part of the Season One line. With the changes I’ve seen in the reboot thus far, these books could be vital blueprints for navigating Marvel’s strange new world.

These books have an expensive cover price, so I’ll probably wait for them to go on sale or hit my local library.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

My Favorite Martian 2012 FCBD

For a TV show that hasn’t aired a new episode in 40 years nor been in reruns since the late 80s, I’m not sure why reprints of My Favorite Martian were chosen as a Free Comic Book Day 2012 selection- even if Hyperion Press is releasing the comics in a hardbound form. (Ok- to be honest, I’m not sure why My Favorite Martian needed to be reprinted period.)

The stories were bad- like B-movie Mystery Science Theater 3000 bad. But sometimes the art was spot on of a young Bill Bixby and Ray Walston. It’s classic Gold Key movie/tv tie-in in that it's a guilty pleasure to pick out continuity errors and make fun of the horrible plots..It was a pleasant surprise. That doesn't mean I’m gonna run out to my local comic shop and buy the collected edition either.

But, if you are a fan of the series or you love old 60s sitcoms, this series could be right up your alley.

Worth Consuming.

Marvel Fanfare #32

Part 2 of the Captain America/ Yellow Claw story finishes with an explosive finale. When it’s up to a guy named Leapfrog to save you, you’d better have some good contingency plans. Just wait till you see the calvary assembled to come to Capt’s rescue.

The backup feature is a little preachy when Vision of the Avengers decides to avenge a homeless woman murdered in cold blood. It’s a rather touching tale, but it’s also a story with a moral and a view on how to help America’s homeless problem.

Both feature really good storytelling and art.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars

Marvel Fanfare #31

Captain America is teamed with a bizarre “superhero” named Leapfrog in an attempt to stop a visiting guru from being assassinated by Yellow Claw. It’s a really weird story. Leapfrog’s like a poor man’s Ambush Bug. Completely bizarre, minus the trans-dimensional power. The better parts of the tale involve Capt. by himself. The pairing of him with Leapfrog is like a bad buddy cop movie.

There is also two other tales involving Doctor Strange and Daredevil. They’re good, just not really memorable.

Worth Consuming, but just barely.

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Fanfare #30

 

Fanfare #30 is devoted to a Moon Knight story that feels like a Swamp Thing crossover. When Marc Spector tries to flee the effects of a Full Moon eclipse, he goes on a vacation. Only, mother nature, literally, is also feeling the effects of the eclipse and is going loco.

This just seems like a plot Alan Moore would’ve done during his Swamp Thing run. It’s a really good story, the supporting characters are interesting, and the art is very well done. I just keep expecting Swamp Thing to pop out at any moment.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Fanfare #29

Another in Fanfare’s “Experimental” comics series. In the John Byrne Hulk tale, the Green Machine is summoned to a medicine and somehow lured into a trap with a siamese twins-type pair of villains. The catch is that each page is a single panel and so narration, dialogue, and art must operate extra hard to tell a cohesive story with so little room to work.

Then, we’ve got a Captain America tale that squeezes in as many panels as possible. Why, there’s panels inside of panels. It makes for a massively fast-paced read. However, with all that space being used hyper-efficiently, the writer spends very little time making the supporting characters very interesting.

A novel concept that is enjoyable, though not without faults. That’s why these stories are experiments and not masterpieces.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Fanfare #28

I’ve never really been a fan of Alpha Flight. I know Wolverine was once a member and it takes place in Canada. But, aside from those pluses, I’ve just never really liked this distant cousin of the X-Men.

This Fanfare is devoted to an Alpha Flight story that was meant to become a Marvel Graphic Novel but never saw the green light. It focuses on the checkered past of Northstar. However, it’s about his role as a member of a Canadian terrorist cell and not his controversial lifestyle choice- which I think would've made a much more compelling story.

The art is classic Marvel Graphic Novel quality. Lots of watercolors and straight pen-lines. The cast of extras is spanding and it’s a little hard keeping them straight when their names are A, B, C and 1, 2, 3.

Not the worst thing I ever read. But, just not my thing.

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Fanfare #27

 

This issue of Fanfare features two story’s created by artist’s whose works could be considered ‘experimental’ and more suitable for graphic novels. The first story ‘Cars’ involves Matt Murdock’s law firm buying an automobile only to have it stolen the very same day. The motif of the car is ever spanning and is used symbolically and obtrusively, leaving the reader thinking about cars more than the story’s hero, Daredevil.

Then in what is probably my all-time favorite Spider-man story, Peter Parker is home alone and bored to tears. As he spends a restless night making doodles with his web-shooters, scaring old ladies, and playing phone tag, I just fell in love with the story with each panel.

This is perhaps my all-time favorite issue as well. I was left wanting so much more. It’s timeless and was just a damn fine read.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars