The Goon: Chinatown and the Mystery of Mr. Wicker (Volume 6)

Eric Powell's The Goon is known for it's dark humor. There's tragedy, true. But, it's not known for being somber. Chinatown and the Mystery of Mr. Wicker is a tale that connects a new player for the Goon's turf with the earliest days of the Goon's term as Labrazio's main henchman. This chapter also merges lady troubles the Goon is having currently with a singer at his favorite saloon with the backstory of the first woman the mobster ever loved.
  But, gee is this story a downer. There's very little humor and tons of heart break. The art continues to stun and I really liked learning more about the Goon's origin, particularly how he got his trademark facial scar. Yet, I'm missing the morbid jokes and obscene visual humor. I've not given up on this series. I have the distinct feeling what happens in this stand alone tale will have major implications to what happens in the Goon main series. I just hope this isn't a sign of things to come and a change in story quality.
   Not my favorite, but was still worth consuming if only for it's revelations and ramifications for future storylines.

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Firestorm by Taylor Anderson, A Destroyermen series novel

Firestorm is my 6th journey into the alternate earth of the Destroyermen. The crew of the WWII destroyer, the Walker are marooned on a strange earth along with displaced English colonials, Imperial Japanese, and blood thirsty Spaniards. On this new earth, they are joined by a lemur/ cat hybrid called the Lemurians and must fight giant monster fish, ravenous reptilian Grik, and the Japanese.
  In Firestorm, a lot happens. The Walker fights to free their colonial allies from the Spanish Dominion in areas of Hawaii and the Bay Area. While a troop of Lemurian Marines fight on the shores of Ceylon, after the Grik use some gigantic fish to wreck their navy. Adding to the suspense, a new batch of Japanese battleships enter through the time warp, filled with a hull of dying and tortured American POWs

.
   It's been about 3 years since I read book five, so it's took my a little longer to devour this book as I had to go back and try to remember whose who and why are they important. I'm hooked on this series and very glad that my local library didn't just add this book I'd requested to their inventory, but they got me books 7 and 8 in the Destroyermen series. I can't wait!

8 out of 10 stars.
Worth Consuming.

In Memory of Gimli...

 I was supposed to finish this week punching out reviews of Eric Powell's The Goon series this week but life got in the way. Yesterday, we had to say goodbye to our special little guy, Gimli. Gimli was a 12-year old Maine Coon, and he literally came with our house. On the day of our walk through inspection, we heard a faint little meow, and out of the woods behind our new home came the scrawniest little ball of fur you've ever seen. He walked with us through the inspection like a proud owner showing off his house to new buyers. Only, we discovered we didn't buy a house, we were buying a cat and getting a house thrown in as a bonus.
    When we first took him to the vet, we learned Gimli (whom I named because he looked like a dwarf at the time) was FIV-positive, the feline version of HIV. Gimli had a torn ear, so he must have got into a fight previously and contracted the virus. We were told he only had one year to live and could be contagious to our other three cats, and was just going to get more frail and sick, so the best option was to put him to sleep now. We told the vet they were nuts. You don't kill your child if they get sick and we vowed to keep him outta fights with our other guys.
   Well, for 10 years, Gimli beat the odds. He ballooned to 20lbs! He never got in a fight with anyone, and he quickly became everyone who met him's favorite cat. Over time, he ever found his purr.
   Gimli was a Steel-Cat. He loved to watch the Pittsburgh Steelers play every Sunday. He'd sit on my left side in my recliner, starting sometime around the middle of the first quarter and staying the entire game, never flinching through my many rants, cries, and shouts of joy for my Stillers. For over three years, he proudly wore a tag proclaiming himself "The Terrible Cat" after the Steelers signature Terrible (rally) Towel. He even had a favorite player, #Jamesfarrior. When they'd say James' name on the TV, Gim would turn and look for him every time. It's a shame James never met his number one furriest fan.
 Gimli was also my neck cat. He'd curl up on my right shoulder and look at the various comic books I'd read every night before bed. He particularly seemed interested in the black and white comics I would read, getting up close to every page I'd turn inspecting them, probably for quality control purposes. He even would be on this very desk that I'm typing from now, trying to vie for the many pets he'd seek to add to his "all the pets" collection and even trying to type out his own messages.
   To this day, I wonder what "PL.>>>>>>>>>>>>>888888njjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjj" means.
   Over the past year, Gimli's weight went into the mid-teens. We attributed it to age. But in the past couple of weeks, he shrunk even more. He began to have trouble with his bowels and lost all control. A bunch of trips to the vet (his new one, not the one wanting to cheat Gim outta 10 years of pets, Pittsburgh, and panels of comic art) suggested it was his FIV finally getting the best of him. The diagnosis was lymphoma, which normally strikes FIV-positive cats. Sadly, the only treatment, steroids, is the worst thing for FIV cats, as it allows other viruses and diseases easy access to grow and fester.
   So my wife and I prepared our good-byes. We watched one final Steelers game with Gimli but he was so tired and kept falling asleep. Plus, after half-time, he must of gotten uncomfortable and jumped off the chair and kept trying to find a spot to rest.
   Well, yesterday, Gimli was finally able to get comfortable. At 2:45pm, Gimli Bear Dillard collected all of the pets needed for his collection and won the game. He went off to be with four sibling cats and five human siblings (lost through miscarriage) in Heaven. I have the Terrible Cat tag as a key chain now. But, our house, which had never been without Gimmi, feels odd and empty. I keep seeing him on top of the backs of chairs or walking by a door frame. I look out the window at the spot where he's buried- fitting as it's near the spot where we first met him. I don't feel like watching the Steelers right now or reading a comic book for that matter. I'm sure in time I will. But right now is time for honoring the best damn Steel-Cat ever.
  It may be oddly calm here at Casa Dillard, but on the other side, it's pandemonium. I imagine that our five little angels (Luke, Chewbacca, Arwen, Theo, and Jazzmin) are petting the bejesus outta him, and he's truly in Heaven right now. A Terrible Cat, indeed.
  

(Gimli, with one of his new tenants, one week after moving day)

 

The Goon, Volume 5: Wicked Inclinations

In this volume, the Goon's chief rival, the Zombie Priest rears his ugly head. Since the Goon demolished his original army of the undead and Buzzard, a Goon ally, has rendered the town cemetery off limits to fresh material, the Priest has come up with a new menace that involves using the corpse of a pregnant mother. It's this unspeakable evil that brings new attentions to the priest and the town in which the Goon resides.
  The humor is dark and funny as hell. More fantastic art by the amazing Eric Powell.
I loved every panel.

Worth Consuming.

The Goon, Volume 4: Virtrue and the Grim Consequences Thereof

When Dr. Alloy comes to the Goon and his sidekick Franky for help, the universe may never be the same. The virtuous act of bravery by the Goon results in an evil transformation of Alloy and both the Dr. and Goon being incarcerated.

   The art of Eric Powell is a beautiful mixture of gritty film noir and zany pre-WWII cartoon. I loved every page. The only thing I had trouble with was understanding what Alloy's human/ iguana hybrid is saying. I don't understand a like of Spanish and some subtitles were greatly needed.

  I'm totally hooked on Goon. And if I every find a t-shirt with an image of Dr. Alloy's Genetically Enhanced Cream Corn, I'm buying 3 of 'em. (Hint, Hint Dark Horse Comics!)

Worth Consuming.

Welcome to Goon Week!

Over the past month, I've needed a little bit of comic relief. We've been down to one car, our lawn mover broke, we've been working like crazy, my wife got a really bad lung infection, and two of our cats are extremely ill. One is deathly ill and is on fluids, special diet, and medication.
   So, when my local library finally decided to purchase the first dozen volumes of Eric Powell's celebrated series, the Goon, I grabbed up every copy I needed to complete my run and dove in heads first.
  Over the next week, I'll be reviewing volumes 4-12 of the world's greatest (and only) mobster teamsters vs. zombies comic book of all time!

Marvel Monsters Group Presents: Monsters on the Prowl #1(limited series)

 

The art was soooo cool, a colorful tribute to Jack Kirby and the monsters era of comics.
Included is reprint of Jack Kirby’s “Ninth Wonder of the World”.
Worth Consuming!

This is part of a series of 4 “one shots” put out last Halloween by Marvel under the “Marvel Monsters Group” label. Includes “Devil Dinosaur #1”, “Fin Fang Four #1” and “Where Monsters Dwell #1”

Beautiful Eric Powell Cover!

WORTH CONSUMING!

Fables: Werewolves of the Heartland

Fables creator Bill Willingham spins a yarn revolving Bigby Wolf and his search for a new Fabletown. In his travels, he encounters a community of werewolves who consider him a god of wolves. But, when Bigby decides that this litter needs to be put down, an elite group of werewolves try to become Voltaire by killing their “God.”

   The art is not the same as in the Fables series. It’s not as clean as the series and it’s a little off putting. Perhaps the biggest shock is all the nudity. When these humans “wolf out” they get stark naked and the artist of this series reveals everything. Let’s just say none of these guys have ever been bar mitzvahed.

A pretty good story. Its reveals some plot threads introduced a while back concerning Big’s days in World War II Germany. I think its classic Bigby but not classic Fables. Hopefully, this is not a sign that Willingham’s Fables will no longer be the dynamic quality work it’s been for the past 7 years.

  Rating: 8 (out of 10)

Welcome to my reading journal

In the past 7 years, I've read well over 2,600 books of various types. Some might think reading this much is crazy. But, I think it's insane not to be an avid reader. Many of what I've read came from my local library, where I've been working with the staff to build up the graphic novel section from 2 shelves filled mostly with Garfield and Bloom County to three separate sections with books devoted to children, teens, and adults.
  I don't just read comics. I love sci-fi and mysteries. I was a history major, so I love to learn about history and famous people. I'm also a chef and I like to read about cooking and art in order to have a better grasp on the latest culinary trends and for inspiration.
   Finally, I must stress that while I've read thousands of books in the past 3/4 of a decade, not all of these books came from my public library. Some books are part of my collection. Some books were borrowed, while some books have come and gone (mostly to be resold at used book shops.) But, every book I've bought, I've not paid full price. I'm an avid bargain hunter. I've culled through millions of long boxes, musty book shelves, and rummage sale and thrift store boxes of prose to necessitate a reading journal to keep track of what I've read and plan for my next adventure down the "rabbit hole."

So, happy reading and like a fellow madman often says, "Allons Y!"

"Star Wars Omnibus: Droids and Ewoks"

 WORTH CONSUMING!

What a thrill it was to turn on the telly on a Saturday morning, pour yourself a huge bowl of 3po’s and milk and watch the animated adventures of Droids and Ewoks on ABC.

For the first time ever, the complete 8 issue run of Droids and 14 issue cycle of Ewoks is reprinted and collected in Omnibus form. For $24.99, having a full color account of these adventures isn’t a bad price. (It’s even better when you get it for 50 cents)

Along with a crossover story with the Ewoks, that somehow makes R2 and Threepio over 200 years old, there’s a reprint of a ROTJ color comic starring the Ewoks.

 

It’s a really fun read. The Ewoks stories are more childish (ages 5-8) and Droids is a for a little more older crowd (ages 9-13), but for a Star Wars junkie like myself, this is a trip down memory lane.

"Doctor Who: Prisoners of Time Volume 1"

 

WORTH CONSUMING!

 

In this epic 50th anniversary mini-series, someone is stealing the companions of the Doctor. Each issue focuses on a single Doctor, starting with the first, William Hartnell up to #11 Matt Smith.

The first four Doctors are collected here in volume 1. The first Doctor meets up with the Animus and his giant ant slaves in 1880s London Underground. Then the second Doctor uses Jamie as bait to end an alien slave ring. The Third Doctor is recruited by Liz to solve the mystery behind the Brigadier’s recent slew of odd commands. Finally, the Forth Doctor, K9, and Leela must find a missing gem before the Judoon tear a tiny planet apart.

The art is fantastic. Renders of famous characters is flawless. This is the beginnings of a great story with an incredible mystery at the heart of it all.

Can’t wait for volume 2!

All Winners Comics #1 70th Anniversary Special

 

The tribute story takes place during that brief period of time that All Winners was still published and the very end and just after WWII and contained Capt. America and Bucky as members. It explains that those heroes were replacements created by the government to prevent people from losing hope upon hearing that those symbols of freedom had “died” at the hands of the Nazis.

This is all said and good. However, when a zombie horde attacks NYC, the All-Winners are faced with a dead Capt. and Bucky. Both of which weren’t dead but in suspended animation. Did the writers and editors of this anniversary special forget that?

The reprint tale is quite good and the Simon/ Kirby art is awesome! I loved it. Not a bad issue, but there are some serious plot nits in the tribute tale.


Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

All Select Comics #1 70th Anniversary Special

The Blonde Phantom of the 1940s is nothing like the one Spider-man teams with in Marvel Adventures. It’s a bit like a Black Canary knock-off. The mystery of a murdered husband was very good and I liked the twist ending, but the heroine was lacking in substance.

 Then there’s the Marvex reprints about an alien robot who turns against his evil masters and becomes a hero on earth. I liked the two chapters but for some reason Marvex’s appearance changes from human looking to oxidation copper green. No explanation is given.

 Mike Allred contributes with a tribute piece on Marvex and it’s funny. Probably the best thing about the whole book.

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

Siegel and Shuster: Dateline 1930's #1

Sometime around 1937, right before National Periodicals picked up Superman to star in Action Comics, the duo of Siegel and Shuster created a tabloid comic for a Cleveland newspaper. It contained dozens of new comic strips, but never saw the light of day. That is until the early 80s, when Eclipse Comics printed it for the first time ever.

This book was intended to be the first of many weekly comics. So, expect lots of cliffhangers with unresolved plots. However, for it’s historical significance, it’s a treasured piece of comic history. Imagine if this had become a weekly piece of a small potatoes Cleveland rag. There might have never been a Superman. The Superhero may have never become the “flavor or the month” for publishers. The comics industry might look very different or have never existed at all. The possibilities are endless and frightening.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

"Star Trek: The Next Generation: The Gorn Crisis"

On Deep Space Nine, the Federation went to full scale war with the J’emm Hadar. But, during this multi-episode war, the Enterprise never popped up. So, what happened???

This graphic novel seeks to answer that question by having the Enterprise E crew seeking out the assistance of the Gorn in the epic war occurring at DS9. However, some Gorn feel that the race has gotten weak and is seeking revenge for the damage Kirk did to the Lizard race’s reputation (and manhood) during the classic episode “Arena.”

There’s lots of threads to this storyline that incorporates at least 3 different Trek series. The art and re-design of the Gorn is very good. The likenesses of the Enterprise crew is questionable.

Overall, a very good story and a thrill-a-minute read!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Human Torch, Volume 1: Burn

The Human Torch meets Backdraft. I’m surprised it didn’t happen sooner. When a fireman spontaneously bursts into flames and dies, an old friend of Johnny Storm’s drafts the hero into the FDNY to look into the matter. Was the fireman a doomed mutant or is there a serial super-villain arsonist stalking the Big Apple???

A really good series that looks into Johnny’s days in high school before and after his fateful rocket experiment. The art is a little too manga for me tastes. But, it’s some early work of Skottie “Deadpool Team-up” Young’s and you see hints of his genius emerging in 2003.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.