GI Joe #90

 

Poor Rock and Roll and Clutch; those two just seem to have the worst luck going on road trips when they get a 3-day pass. Last time, the Dreadnoks destroyed Clutch’s classic convertible on a trip to California. This time, the guys are cruising down the Jersey shore only to stumble upon the boardwalk at Broca Beach. Man, those bumper cars sure look a lot like HISS tanks!

 

The events that unfold in this issue will undoubtedly have drastic repercussions for the Joes in coming issues. I can’t wait to see what happens next! I must say the idea of hiding Cobra vehicles in plain site by disguising them as rides at an amusement park was a stroke of genius. Larry Hama and the guys in the Marvel bull pen really pulled out all stops on this issue! Bravo!

 

Worth Consuming.

 

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

GI Joe #89

 

This issue is designed primarily to introduce new characters and vehicles that Hasbro recently added to the ever growing GI Joe line. It’s pretty standard fair in which these new Joes and their newest tank undergo a training mission that inevitably becomes a real mission when they stumble upon a Cobra plot.

 

You’d think Cobra would know to stop planning their next mission for global conquest so close to the Joe’s training grounds. But, they never do.

 

About the only thing really enjoyable or memorable is the character Hardware. He’s a big strong Joe, so strong, that just about everything he touches breaks. So, of course, when it looks like the Joes are about to win out, Hardware breaks something, putting them into another pickle. If you asked me 20 years ago about this issue, I’d say “Why would I want to buy a vehicle and figure that breaks so easily?” I kinda feel the same way. With Joes like these, it’s no wonder that Cobra, with its confederacy of dunces, have been a boil on the backside of humanity for so long. However, Larry Hama does such a great job at crafting really interesting characters that you overlook some of the image problems associated with the later Joe toys.

 

This is not the worst Joe issue I’ve ever read, but it’s also not my all-time favorite either. It’s just okay.

 

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

GI Joe #88

 

Python Patrol? That’s the stupidest name for a GI Joe team/ figure/ vehicle/ or play set ever! The idea isn’t so bad. Destro comes up with a new type of stealth technology with a radar resistant paint scheme process he calls pythoning. Since Cobra is a snake-themed organization, it’s appropriate. To best market the new product, Cobra hosts a demonstration in a fictional European country.

 

Concerned that this show of products may underlie with a plan to infiltrate a neighboring country that is an ally of the US, the Joes provide a show of force of their own with a joint military training maneuvers exercise. What happens next is sheer insanity when a greedy border guard allows Joes and Cobras to crisscross into hostile territory.

 

I have thought something was this European and this madcap since the days of Monty Python’s Flying Circus. Maybe Larry Hama was paying the Pythons tribute with this whole insane bit of Joes and Cobras invading their perspective enemy’s land and their not being anyone to greet them.  Plus calling the stealth painting process “Pythoning”, maybe I’m on to something.

 

  The addition of Snake Eyes, Scarlett, Flint, and Lady Jaye posing as boorish American tourists give this issue a touch of the mistaken identity craziness of A Fish Called Wanda. Plus with Cobra Commander trying to rent a car from a bunch of snooty French waiters, I don’t think I’ve laughed so much to an issue of GI Joe before.  Like I said, this issue is totally insane and with the exception of the cover, I love it.

 

Worth Consuming.

 

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Batman: Arkham Unhinged, Volume 3

The final chapter in the epic series based on the video game Batman: Arkham City. Volume One of Arkham Unhinged was an introduction into how and why the people of Gotham created a town to house the vermin of Arkham Asylum. It also explained why Batman and vigilante allies such as Catwoman were deemed enemies of the “state.”  Volume 2 gave the backstory to many of the main players that Batman faces in the video game, including the Mad Hatter, Penguin, and Harley Quinn. It’s this third volume that offers a resolution to the storyline and includes an epilogue into what transpires after the final credits of Arkham City roll.

 

I thought the postscript which involves a final confrontation between the Dark Knight and the Clown Prince of Crime was brilliantly crafted. I could honestly see this as the last Joker story and be satisfied with it, should DC ever decide to finalize the book on Batman’s greatest foe. If you’ve ever completed Arkham City, then you know that the Joker bites the dust at game’s end. However, this final chapter proves that the Joker is even more deadly when he’s dead.

 

Volume 3 also includes a chapter on the backstory of Batman and Talia al Ghul. It explores the doomed relationship between these two lovers. There’s also several chapters that examine the Batman Family’s final assault on the social experiment that is Arkham City. I enjoyed all of these parts very much with one exception: the endings are all left open with the blurb “to be continued in the Batman: Arkham City video game.” I think I would’ve been left much more disappointed with this volume of Arkham Unhinged had the Joker/ Batman chapter not been included at the end of this book. It at least offers some sort of resolution.

 

I hate to see this series go. I though all three volumes were very good reads. Maybe there will be another Arkham related video released soon which hopefully lead to more great comic storytelling to look forward to. I’ve learned that there is a collection of comics based on the Arkham City video game and hope to make those a part of my collection real soon.

 

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

GI Joe #87

A good example of the adage “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” The cover looks weak. It looks like somebody took a Destro figure and plop him into whatever this flying vehicle is and drew it. It doesn’t look real. It looks like somebody copied it straight from the Sears Catalog- remember those? Heck, Destro even has a kung-fu grip on his steering levers!!!

But, the story is awesome. It takes places at Destro’s castle in Scotland where the Joes are keeping his property under surveillance while the golden domed arms dealer and his girlfriend play house. Added to the mix is that Destro’s neighbor has sold off some of his property and it’s been turned into a vacation resort for RVs. Plus, the Broca Bros. Circus just came into town.

In other words, Destro and Baroness are about to get a visit from Cobra and the pseudo- Cobra Commander very soon.

 

I loved the story. It was full of twists, turns, and absolute insanity. Cobra is the master when it comes to sneaking an entire army under someone’s nose and they do it so darn creatively. The only thing missing would’ve been the Impossible Man being behind all of this.  This is a fantastic story full of subterfuge but the cover is just plain awful.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Avengers By Brian Michael Bendis: The Heroic Age (2012)

 

This massive collection features 3 Avengers stories written by living legend Brian Michael Bendis. Set at the beginning of the Heroic Age, right after the fall of Norman Osborne’s Dark Reign, the Avengers big three- Tony Stark, Thor, and Steve Rogers- are tasked to reform the Avengers and to bring back glory and honor to the privilege of being one of earth’s mightiest heroes. The stories collected in the massive tome are: Avengers (2010-2012) #1-6, New Avengers (2010-2013) #1-6, and the Avengers Prime miniseries.

 

I had already read the Avengers story in another form before I bought this book. I’ve read it recently, so I didn’t feel the need to read or review it again. It’s a tale that involves the Next Avengers and the Maestro Hulk. I really enjoyed it and I highly recommend it.

 

The Avengers Prime story sees the Big Three whisked away to another dimension. It seems like all of Asgard has been warped into a single strange topography. But, with the Norse goddess of the dead, Hela behind this strange new world, it’s anyone’s guess as to what’s real and what’s illusion. It’s an okay story. I like the mistrusting banter between Steve Rogers and Tony Stark, with Thor in the background literally banging his head up against a wall. The story wasn’t my favorite which is a shame as I am a huge fan of Captain America and Thor. It was lacking the “ummph” that I just love in their stories.

 

The ending was bittersweet with Rogers loving and then losing a Norse woman. I would very much like to see a conclusion to that opened ended plotline.

 

Then there’s New Avengers. First, Ben Grimm becomes an Avenger. Love it! Then Doctor Strange and Damion Helstrom become vessels for some other-dimensional horror that’s got his sights on the Eye of Agamotto and the destruction of earth. With the Avengers in the future fighting Maestro, the New Avengers are left to save the earth. With great characters such as Spider-man, Luke Cage, his wife Jessica, Wolverine, and the Thing and their classic quips and one-liners, I loved this story. I want to very much to get my hands on the rest of the series. It’s a must read for any Avengers fan!

 

Overall ratings:

Avengers: 9 out of 10

Avengers Prime: 7 out of 10

New Avengers: 10 out of 10

Grand Total Rating of Book: 8.7

 

Worth Consuming.

Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew! in The Oz-Wonderland War #3

The epic triple-sized cross-over between Captain Carrot and his Amazing Zoo Crew, the people of Oz, and the residents of Wonderland comes to a close. With all of the needed rulers of Oz rescue, with the exception of one, this united coalition of freedom fighters take it to the Nome King one final time.

The series started with a whimper but ended with a bang. I enjoyed it very much. I’m typically not a fan of funny animal books, but I grew up reading Captain Carrot and I love Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass (it’s also my favorite Disney film.) This mini-series was darn near perfect. The only thing really missing was Alice. However, in an article by series scribe Nelson Birdwell, it just wasn’t feasible since Alice dreams of being in Wonderland whereas determined by a sequel book to Wizard of Oz, Dorothy lives in Oz. So, I was able to forgive that slight.

(Spoiler) I’ve also been saying that this is the weirdest crossover ever- that was until the final page when Captain Carrot’s alter ego Rodney rabbit came face-to-face with the inferior 5! Now, as far as I know, nothing ever came of this surprise ending. But, as I think about it, I would love to one day see a Captain Carrot/ Spider-ham/ Inferior 5/ Great Lakes Avengers crossover with a special appearance by the Legion of Substitute Heroes. Hey, Marvel and DC, could we make this happen? PLEASE!!!!!!!

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew! in The Oz-Wonderland War #2

Captain Carrot, the Zoo Crew, and a combined effort of Oz and Wonderlanian forces continue to search for more of missing leaders of Oz. This time up for rescue are the Scarecrow and a certain Wizard.

I really enjoyed this issue. It was a lot more fluid that the first book. I think it just needed a little time to hit its stride. It’s a good thing Captain Carrot has Dorothy Gale around or none of the missing Oz characters would ever have a chance of being found. But it’s a real shame Alice isn’t in this book. I wonder why she’s not here. I miss her. Hopefully, her absence will be addressed.

On the subject of absent promises, the Jabberwock was promised to be in the issue last issue, but he was nowhere to be found. I’m not sure why. However, he does appear here- along with a strange team-up between Captain Carrot and almost every funny animal of the rabbit persuasion to exist in DC Comics history. Along with several bunnies I’ve never heard of, the Good Captain meets up with another rabbit donning the red and gold- Marvel Bunny and briefly reunites with the love of his life- Wonder Rabbit. Sadly, their love is left unrequited.

 Also, thanks to some editor’s articles throughout this issue, I now know why in the last issue of Captain Carrot and the Amazing Zoo crew why we were promises with a 6-part series on the Oz-Wonderland War and only received 3. That’s because of the Zoo Crew series getting cancelled. Originally, there were to be a 6-part story that took place in the pages of Captain Carrot. However, shake-ups at DC caused the title to be scrapped altogether. The higher ups did manage to get this series to see the light of day as a mini-series and made 3 double sized issues instead of 6 standard sized comics. Thus, nothing was omitted and DC actually found a way to keep their promise in order for this series to find newsstands and eventually my collection.

 Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

 

 

 

Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew! in The Oz-Wonderland War #1

 

It’s perhaps the weirdest cross-over of all! Captain Carrot and is squad of super-powered funny animals from earth-C are recruited by the Cheshire Cat to help Wonderland’s finest to save the leaders of the land of Oz. It appears there’s this guy called the “Nome King” and he’s the leader of a race of hairy bearded creatures called “Nomes.” Are the supposed to be gnomes? I don’t know, but these guys are mean. Along with his Nome soldiers, the Nome King wears a golden hat that gives him control of those scary flying monkeys.

 

With these baddies plus a bunch of other unusual creatures that have struck fear in the hearts of many a resident of Oz and Wonderland, it’s up to the Zoo Crew to save the leaders of OZ before the Nome King gains access to a portal connecting Oz to Wonderland. With each leader of Oz captured, the Nome King’s power is increased exponentially. So, with every Oz leader saved, the Nome King gets weaker.

 

There’s only one problem, the Nome King has changed these leaders into random inanimate colored objects in color coordinated places. So, if you got changed into a red fire hydrant, the Nome King would place you in a field of roses along with a red vase, some ruby red slippers, and a red rubber ball. The caveat is that you only get one guess or that person is the Nome King’s object forever. But, there is a little bit of the Batman villain the Riddler in the Nome King as each mission can be solved by a riddle that reflects the past history of Oz and Wonderland.

 

Since Captain Carrot and the Zoo Crew have never heard of Wonderland or Oz, they’ll need help from the White Rabbit and Dorothy Gale to help solve the riddles. In this first chapter, the combined earth-C-Wonderland-Oz must save the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion. Can they do it without letting their egos and unfamiliarity with the land of Oz get in their way?

 

A very interesting first chapter. It’s not at all what I expected. I thought the Zoo Crew would somehow be dragged in a war between the people of Wonderland and Oz, as the title implies. I thought some Zoo Crew members would have taken sides and it would’ve been like a true civil war. Instead, I like this idea of a team-up that involves solving a series of puzzles much better that my first thoughts. It captures the works of Lewis Carroll and L. Frank Baum quite well.

 

Worth Consuming.

 

Rating: 8 out of 10 star

GI Joe #86

This is an issue I remember owning as a kid. The Joes are called to protect an office building from an invasion of Iron Grenadiers. It just happens that a super-secret spy satellite program is housed inside the besieged building, posing as an advertising agency. When the Joes finally make it inside, they meet the program’s head of security- a tall bearded man who looks awfully familiar and answers to the name of “Joe.”

 

That’s right- in a clever bit of writing; Larry Hama manages to tie in the classic GI Joe line of the 1960s with the updated Joe team of the 80s. This is a fantastic tribute to 25 years of the most popular boy’s toy line of all-time, up to the Kenner line of Star Wars.

 

This was the perfect GI Joe book with some great twists, turns, and diversions. I could read this book over and over.

 

Worth Consuming.

 

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

GI Joe #85

Storm Shadow and Zartan essentially play tag, trying to put the kibosh on each other. Storm Shadow wants revenge for the master of disguise killing his uncle and framing him for it. Zartan just wants to off Storm Shadow so he can get some peace and quiet. The action is quite good, but since nothing really gets accomplished in this issue, is it really needed?

Also, this is the 3^rd ninja silent issue. I read this issue, if you can call it reading, in about 5 minutes. The first time GI Joe did an all-quiet issue was a ground breaking. The second one was novel. I fear that this issue is wearing out that welcome. I just didn’t think this was such a great read. Not at all my favorite issue, that’s for sure.

 

Not Worth Consuming.

 

Rating: 3 out of 10 stars.

GI Joe #84

 

This is just a weird issue. The Cobra Commander imposter seeks to consolidate his power by doing away with Zartan. That means infiltrating the shape shifter’s shape shifting fortress. Add to the maddening scenery a clan of red clad ninjas and by the end of the issue, you’ve got a real head scratcher here.

 

The only thing I really took away from this issue was that yet another “final” showdown between Zartan and Storm Shadow, who is looking for revenge on the latter for killing his uncle, is gearing up.

Not Worth Consuming.

 

Rating: 3 out of 10 stars.

GI Joe #83

 

In this issue we meet Roadpig. This is an interesting character. A quasi-member of the Dreadnoks, Roadpig is also Donald. No, that’s not his secret identity, it’s his dual personality. Donald is meek, very polite, and I suspect, British. Roadpig is just what his name says he is- rude, crude, and someone you don’t want to meet in a back alley somewhere. Plus, he stutters terribly.

 

Oh, did I mention he is in love with Zartan’s sister Zarana, who conveniently happens to be rotting in a New Jersey jail after she and the Dreadnoks gave the NJ Highway patrol fits in the previous couple of issues.

 

This issue is also unique in that the MP Law and his faithful German Shepard, Order are the only Joes that appear in this issue. It’s the duos time to shine and they do not disappoint.

 

Worth Consuming.

 

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Tiny Titans, Volume 8: Aw Yeah Titans! (A Review and a Look at the Current State of Kid Friendly Comics)

 

Sadly, we say good bye to the Tiny Titans in this volume as it collects the final issues of the award winning series. Some important questions are finally answered, such as will Bumblebee win her babysitting badge, will Beast Boy win the love of Terra finally, and what do the heroes look like without their masks? Also, Superman’s face is finally revealed for the first time in the final issue. (Most adults are show from the neck down- there are some exceptions, such as Alfred, Trigon, and Lobo.)

 

I liked this series. I hate to see it go. I hate it particularly when a quality comic for kids comes around and it lasts about as long as this sentence. Tiny Titans lasted for 50 issues, about 4 years. However, that’s a testament to how lousy DC and Marvel are at marketing their comic books to kids. Sure, they give out the occasional all-ages book during Free Comic Book day. But, the majority of books offered the first Saturday in May are not kid friendly and most comic book stores don’t take the time to tell parents what is and isn’t appropriate for a 10 year old to read. I once saw a parent grab a copy of Eastman and Laird’s TMNT and give it to a kid who could not have been older than 7. That’s an R-rated book- not the kid friendly stuff you see on TV.


Parents just don’t know what’s out there for their kids to read and what’s available only for moms and dads. There are books for toddlers, elementary age, high school, and adults. Sadly, other than a very tiny rating over the bar code, most adults don’t have a clue what book is for what age group. And don’t think that the covers will help in that decision. Recently, Marvel had variant covers of some of their biggest stars as babies- yet all of those books were geared for at minimum, the middle to high school crowd.

 Plus, have you ever seen Marvel do a commercial for their comics? No- but I bet you can describe the trailer to their latest film or cartoon! Yet, based on these films, parents don’t realize that most of those films are rated PG-13 and the cartoons are often Y-10 (for ages 10 and up.) Do you know about Super Hero Squad or Go Teen Titans- two excellent all ages cartoons that have comics to boot? Probably not. Sadly, thanks to Marvel and DC’s focus on the now, the next generation is being overlooked and parents are being misinformed about the all-ages arena.

What’s needed in comic books in order for the next generation to latch on to them and for parents to be open to their kids reading comics is for people in the know help educate parents so they know what is and isn’t kid friendly. Here’s a hint: Watchmen is not kid friendly! One character walks around with his doodle out the whole book while in another section of the comic; a couple graphically does the nasty in a flying car. That’s one reason I do this blog. Tiny Titans may be gone, but that doesn’t mean parents can’t find this amazing series at their local library or for pennies on the dollar online or in a dollar box at a local comics shop.

 

If you are an avid comic reader like me, I encourage you if you see a parent at a store stressing over what to buy their little tyke to read- please take the copy of Vampirella out of their hand and show them the all-ages section. The future of the comic’s industry is in your hands and that parent will thank you!

 

Worth Consuming!

 

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Tiny Titans, Volume 6: the Tree House and Beyond

 

The duo of Art Baltazar and Franco prove once again that Tiny Titans is just for little kids. In this issue, Talon, an Earth-3 version of Robin unleashes a plethora of alternate universe versions of the Titans. Now, I must ask how many kids are going to understand the concept of the multiverse? Okay, maybe someone about ages 12 and up. But, Tiny Titans is supposedly for kids under 10. Maybe I’m just too naïve about today’s youth.

 

OKAY- now that I think about it, I was 6 or 7 when I read the first ever crossover of the JLA and JSA from the 1960s and I understood it. So, maybe I am an old fuddy duddy.

 

In this volume are Robin’s galore and I’m not talking about birds. Every version of Robin, including Cassie from The Dark Knight Returns teams up with every version of Batgirl for an all-out Batgirl/ Robin party. (How they added Damian to the mix was hilarious)

 

 Funny enough, the character of Stephanie dresses as both characters as she does in the adult version of Batman. If anything, Tiny Titans is a good primer for when young DC readers get ready to graduate to the grown-up books. I wish I had this as a kid.

 

I guess I’m trying to make excuses for loving a kid’s comic. Well, I’m done with that. Tiny Titans is an award winning series and I think it’s just a blast to read. I recommend this series highly and parents you can rest assured that this series is appropriate for your aspiring comic collector.

 

Worth Consuming.

 

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Tiny Titans, Volume 3: Sidekickin’ It

I love this series. Yes, it’s for kids. But, like any good Disney/ Pixar movie there’s stuff in this series that are clever Easter eggs just for the grown-ups. For example, (PE) Coach Lobo tells the Tiny Titans that life on his home planet was full of dolphins. Kids might think that’s funny. Adults in the know (like me) would understand that despite as tough as Lobo is, he’s got a soft spot for space dolphins.

Art Baltazar and Franco are comic geniuses that truly love the DC Universe. Their stories reflect the rich history of DC’s past and present. No wonder these guys have won tons of Eisner awards for this series.

It’s pure joy for everyone and I am so glad my library got 3 new volumes of this awesome series.

AWWWWWW, Yeah!

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

GI Joe #82

 

This is the issue I’ve been waiting for. A look at the selection process for becoming a Joe. I’ve heard that the Navy SEAL program is the toughest there is. Well, this induction process makes that one looks like applying for the mail carrier exam.

 

Larry Hama really did his research in this issue which concludes with a raid on an armory. Is this raid part of the recruits’ final training or is there a more devious motive behind this attack of Cobra commandos? You’ll just have to read and decide for yourself.

 

This is one of my favorite issues in the series with an amazing amount of attention to detail.

 

OKAY- wait. I’ve got to fault one thing and I think its Hasbro’s fault and not Larry Hama. There’s a recruit in this issue called Budo. He’s of Asian descent. As you may know, Joes come from all branches of the military. So tell me, which branch do the samurai come from? This guy wears full ancient warrior gear. It even looks like he wears sandals. This just doesn’t seem like they type of General Issue that the US army would approve of? This is yet another reason I started to see GI Joe as less of a really cool war toy and more far-fetched than is realistically possible. Regardless, the story was good, but the line is starting to show signs of trying too hard and coming up short.

 

Worth Consuming.

 

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

GI Joe #81

Battle Force 2000’s pursuit of the Dreadnoks across the Jersey Turnpike continues. Only things don’t quite go so smoothly for the futuristic Joe squad. Can you say “the bad guys win?”

 Despite the frustration at the bad guys getting away with murder, I must say it was an interesting conclusion to the two-parter. More of the real estate scam headed by Zartan’s siblings is examined. I still wouldn’t buy milk from those two, but I can understand how some people would be gullible enough to follow their crazy pyramid scheme. Sometimes, people just get so desperate and so greedy, they can’t help themselves.

 There’s more Smokey and the Bandit type laughs and lots of action. Not my favorite issue, but very enjoyable.

 Worth Consuming.

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Happy President's Day

GI Joe #80

 

I’m really torn about this issue. It stars Battle Force 2000, which was one of the main reasons I stopped collecting GI Joe figures, besides the ridiculous Space Shuttle play set. But, this issue has a very good plot and is funny as heck.

 

After the events of GI Joe #79, the Joes seek out to shut down the Dreadnok secret base once and for all. Tasked with the job is Battle Force 2000, which is joined by Mutt looking for revenger of the injuries Junkyard sustained. In scenes that remind me of Smokey and the Bandit, Dreadnoks and Joes destroy the New Jersey Turnpike in a comedy of errors. I loved it.

 

Also, this issue answers a question I had a few issues back during the Cobra schism- where are all of the residents of Springfield during the civil war on Cobra Island? Well, the answer is that they are on a cargo ship waiting to be transplanted on American soil covertly. Zartan’s siblings made a killing posing as punk rock real estate agents and have bought a deserted town on the Jersey shore. With a legion of HISS tanks, helicopters, and Crimson Guardsmen setting up base in the bowels of these coastal condominiums, expect lots of domestic mayhem at the hands of Cobra.

 

Final verdict: I will rate this issue as Worth Consuming, but just barely.

 

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

GI Joe #79

Yes, from this cover its true- The Dreadnoks are not nice to doggies. In this issue Junkyard and Mutt and Law & Order (the only 2 Joes with Dog sidekicks and I know what you’re thinking but Timber doesn’t count, he’s a wolf) are on the hunt for a suspected Dreadnok hideout in Jersey of all places. I’ll admit, I had to peek ahead and make sure Junkyard didn’t die. He does get seriously hurt, but not killed.

 

Anyway, that plot was engrossing. The secondary plot about Zartan’s siblings running a Ponzi scheme as real estate moguls is ludicrous! True, they are masters of disguise, but really except for putting on business suits, the duo have their hot pink hair and war paint on. There’s an old saying “you can put lipstick on a pig, but it’s still a pig.” Maybe the artists are showing the siblings as they really are but everyone else sees them like Donald Trump a la Quantum Leap so we know who is who. That’s my “No Prize” solution. Let me know if I am wrong.

 

I really didn’t enjoy this book. From the cover to the next to the last page, I hated it. I did like the final page that reveals that yes, Junkyard survived and that Buzzer gets his just rewards from Mutt for hurting the dog. Still, it didn’t save this from being worth consuming.

 

Not Worth Consuming.

 

Rating: 4 out of 10 stars.