The Tick: Karma Tornado #9

   The last issue of Karma Tornado ends with not just a bang, but a whimper, and a scratch of the head. 

   The Tick spends a quiet day at home in his and Arthur's apartment. But that quickly makes the Tick very bored and a restless Tick is a thing unto itself. Besides accidentally finding ways to keep his downstairs neighbor away, our hero learns he's out of milk!

    Horrors ensue!!!

   Add a spray painting vandal, some faulty carpentry, and that annoyed neighbor and you have one of the oddest Tick stories of all-time. Only, it wasn't my favorite story. The jokes were stale, the plot was ripped from an episode of Muppet Babies, and Arthur's only on like 2 pages! Plus, Tick seems to do better when he has a dastardly villain to vanquish or some fellow crimefighters to get chummy with. 

   Though the series is named The Tick, the main character isn't a great solo act. He needs an ensemble cast to really thrive. Two random 'everyday' joes just isn't the going to cut it for a great supporting cast to balance out the Tick's mighty ego and Quixotic view on life.

  Lastly, there's a serious plot nit. The Tick is back to living in his apartment with Arthur. But just a couple issues earlier, the duo were crashing in Barry Hubris' mansion. So, what changed? Why wasn't this move back covered in this series? I had said earlier that the Karma Tornado series operated outside of continuity from issues #12 and the long overdue issue #13. So, does this issue take place before Tick #11 when Tick is given the rights to Barry's property? Either way, the writers or maybe the editors dropped the ball in not informing the reader to this 'change in venue.'

   Sadly, this a poor finish to an otherwise really good series.

   Not Worth Consuming

   Rating: 4 out of 10 stars.

The Tick: Karma Tornado #8

  The Tick's impressive physique gets him discovered as the latest star of a 24-hour superhero channel on cable. But finding his niche might not be so easy as the Tick is no Christopher Reeve. Our intrepidly insane hero is run through the gambit of cable fodder starring in a medical soap opera, a news commentary show, and an X-Files type series in hopes of scoring big ratings. But through a comedy of errors and poor acting chops the Tick and a slew of media researchers might find their heads on the chopping block before this zany adventure is through.

    Issue #8 was another Tick masterpiece. Sometimes the best issues don't have the heroes doing anything heroic but instead trying to live out their normal lives. This is one of those issues. A great parody of 90s cable TV, this was a very funny issue even though not every joke killed. 

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

The Tick: Karma Tornado #7

   The Tick and Arthur receive a mysterious summons and wind up in Middle of Nowhere, Ohio. Okay, they also make have gotten lost somewhere on the New Jersey Turnpike...

    While at their destination, they discover the place abandoned and pretty eerie. That is until the hoards of rats show up. Then comes the vampire hunter who mistakes Tick for a bloodsucker (I mean he is called the Tick after all.) Finally, Tick and Arthur come face to face with the head vampire who seeks to make the Tick his field general in a rat infested army of the undead. There's only one way for the Tick to defeat this demon- break out the Monopoly set!

    The Tick returns to his level of zaniness hijinx in this very funny and somewhat creepy issue. The story would have made a great Halloween special. The art again was very good and I loved the character of the vampire hunter. But it's the odd humor and non-sequiturs that make this a classic Tick tale.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Benjamin Bear in Brain Storms! (Family Comic Friday)

  

The French are known for many things: fine wine, exquisite cuisine, the impressionists, free jazz, their oft occurrence of surrendering... But one thing the French don't get enough kudos is for their comic strips and graphic novels. That's one reason I choose this book as my selection for this week's Family Comic Friday. 

   'Benjamin Bear' was created by Eisner Award nominee Philippe Coudray and is the star of a series of books that collect one-page strips based on a particular subject. The title for this volume is Brain Storms and each cartoon features the brown bear and his forest friends solving tricky riddles (such as the brilliant method of proving that 4+4 can =9) and other problems such as how two people in separate cars can cross a river using only 5 stepping stones and still be able to drive on the other side.

  Published by Toon Books, this volume is considered a 'level two' comic in that it's easy to read and is recommended for readers in grades 1 and 2. But I don't see older readers not delighting in this series as well. This book does have some punchlines and words that might be a little too difficult for younger readers to understand, so a parent, older sibling, or other guardian might need to help explain those. 

   The art is quite simple in that old-school Parisian style. One thing I must say about French cartoonists- they are simplistic to the Nth degree, yet they're every bit as imaginative and stunning as a Jack Kirby or Neal Adams. Oh- and though this is a French cartoon, it's published in English! So you can put away your handy dandy French-to-English dictionaries.

    I found this 2015 book on the new arrivals shelf in children's section at my local library. There are two other volumes in the series thus far. I highly recommend this book and if the rest of this series is as good as this one- I tout them too! The Benjamin Bear books can be found new and used on Amazon. Prices vary but this volume starts at about $7 plus any shipping or tax costs.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

The Tick: Karma Tornado #6

   A US senator hell-bent on becoming president targets the Tick and Arthur as the cause of all of American Society's problems. This causes the duo to become pariahs in the media. Fed-up with being accused of being a bad guy, Mr. Tick goes to Washington to set the record straight. But will a secret society and one giant ape stop the Tick before he can restore his good name?

   This wasn't my favorite story in terms of Karma Tornado and Tick stories in general. There were some funny moments, but I just don't consider this one of the classic Tick stories. That's saying something when I have major plot issues with a story and find it superior to an otherwise flawlessly crafted tale (See Karma Tornado #5.)

   Maybe Tick does better with a bizarre foe as opposed to a run of the mill greedy senator. Maybe unlike a good DC Comics title (edited by Julius Schwartz), apes don't 'sell' Tick comics. I'm not sure what it is, but something was off with this issue. 

   Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

The Tick: Karma Tornado #5

  So how do you solve a cliffhanger when you're involved in a massive explosion that's supposed to destroy an entire galaxy? You draft up a handy dandy wormhole and send your hero back into the bosom of his comfy new mansion he was awarded when he beat a fellow superhero bearing the same moniker. 

   Ok- so it's a pretty lame plot device and the reader deserves better. However, there's another reason for this cop out. See, as I've been mentioning for a while, the 13th issue of the original Tick series took over a decade to be published. Karma Tornado sought to extend the Tick franchise by having the hero be plucked from the timeline before the cliffhanger in issue 12. So in order to have the Tick be able to come back to earth, he has to return sometime after the events of issues 12-13. SPOILER- Tick and Arthur survived!

But aside from that bit of mind-bending physics,  this issue was pretty funny. Ever since the Tick defeated Barry Hubris, the big blue superhero was given access to the former Tick's home, gadgets, vehicles, and pretty sweet bank account. Thus, when Tick and his sidekick Arthur, who finally makes an appearance in the awesome series, go shopping around for a new superhero team to join, they get taken for a ride. Well, it didn't help having Tick brag about his wealth and awesomely tricked-out  motorcycle. 

   Will our illustrious heroes realize that they're being used for their money and luxuries before it's too late and the bank account reaches zero? Will this sudden popularity go to the Tick's head? Will any crimefighting actually be done in this episode? You'll just have to pick up a copy of this issue and find out for yourself!

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

The Tick: Karma Tornado #4

  Having been tricked by the famed primate astronaut Ham, the Tick finds himself the caretaker of a gigantic celestial being. When he's not providing maintenance and cleaning for this force of nature, the Tick is touring the galaxy writing up travelogues. But when Tick discovers that his reports are being used less for vacationing and more as a buffet menu, his new master will take matters to explosive new heights.

   If this sounds an awful lot like Silver Surfer and Galactus, well you're not very far off. Just replace Norrin Radd's Christ-figure self-righteous pitying with Tick's self-loathing (would you want to scrub out the undercarriage of a giant elemental who can't reach when he has to wipe?) and you could swear that you've been reading Lee and Kirby's Galactus Trilogy.

    Sure, the plot was ripped-off from a classic Marvel story from the 1960s. And yeah- the ending of this story paints the writer into a gigantic corner. But this chapter was still pretty darn funny and the art was still far more superior than the original Edlund run.

    But really, how is the Tick going to come out of this cliffhanger? I'm at the edge of my seat waiting to find out.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

The Tick: Karma Tornado #3

    American History books teach us that the first primate sent into space by the Americans was a chimp named Ham who splashed down to earth and lived his days at a zoo. Well, those books lied as the Tick will soon find out.

    This issue begins with the Tick being sent back to earth after the intergalactic contest of champions. Only, the aliens that abducted the Tick forgot to account for earth's rotation and transports our hero into the void of space. Thankfully, the Tick is picked up by a passing ship that houses the famed chimpanzee Ham, whose been granted a superior intellect thanks to gamma radiations that led the primate's ship astray. (In order to keep ahead of the space race, the Americans faked another launch with a Ham duplicate.)

    Spending decades in outer space alone has made Ham a little crazy, not to mention paranoid. First he thinks the Tick has been sent by NASA to finally put him away. But after finding the Tick to be nothing more than a little looney himself, the primate astronaut agrees to return Tick back to earth or will he? The answer will leave you in stitches unless  you're an attorney for Marvel- then you might be running to your local courthouse to file suit for copyright infringement. 

    Issue 3 is just as clever and funny as the previous two issues. But the big reveal at the end of this issue leaves me thinking that the writers tore a giant page out of Marvel's playbook. Still, this is better than most stuff that was published by the House of Ideas when this work was published back in the early 90s. 

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's free Sneak Previews of 3 new DC Titles!!!

  Tomorrow marks the final issue of Convergence, the latest reboot to the DC Universe. Now, I'm not going to wax poetic at how I hate for my heroes to be changed or that I secretly enjoy a good reboot- if done right. But last night as I was working on some admin work for the new DC releases, I noticed a new thing has been posted. Make that 3 new things.

   Right now on the DC Comics website, if you browse the new releases you'll find sneak peaks for 3 post-Convergence titles. Those sneak peaks star Batman, the Justice League, and Superman. None of these previews says if these are from Batman #1, JL #1, and Superman #1. For all I know these could preview Detective Comics #1 (2015) and Action Comics #1 (2015)which originally starred the Caped Crusader and the Man of Steel starting in the late 30s.

  Regardless of which titles these actually will be published under, these previews are worth checking out. They run between 10-11 pages each with a one-page update on the character's backstory post-Convergence, and best of all- they are free!

   Normally, I'm anti-eBook but since these are teasers for the actual paper titles due out sometime later this summer, I'm on board with it. The best one involves Superman, who must deal will life as a superhero with an exposed secret identity. (Hint- yes this was a spoiler but this was also a news story on CNN, Yahoo!, and the Soup so the revelation was already out there several weeks before I came along to share this article with you, my dear readers.

Here are the links to the sneak previews:

 For Batman click here.

For Justice League click here.

For Superman click here.

Happy Reading!

The Tick: Karma Tornado #2

   The Tick has been named the captain for the earth contingent in this intergalactic competition. Along with the Tick is his time-displaced teammates including Eli Whitney, George Washington Carver, Mrs. O'Leary's cow, a T-Rex, Nefertiti- OH!!! The T-Rex just ate the cow. It looks like Tick's team is going to be a man down during this competition!

    I know that many consider Edlund's original series as the definitive Tick series and I would agree that it lays the foundation for a character so crazy, so insane that you can't help but laugh! But I think I like Karma Tornado a little better than the first series. The art is superior and the writing is brilliant.

    The only thing missing is Arthur, Tick's sidekick. He balances Tick quite well. He's the Dean Martin to Tick's Jerry Lewis. The duo of Eli Whitney and George Washington Carver, who act as Tick's co-captains and scorekeepers are a good substitute for Arthur, but it's not the same. 

  Featuring an out-of-this-world cliffhanger that will leave you as breathless as the Tick.

    Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

The Tick: Karma Tornado #1

   Karma Tornado was a series created to bridge the gap between issues 12 and the long-delayed 13th issue of the original Tick series by creator Ben Edlund. These stories may or may not be canon. In fact, they might even exist in an alternate reality than Edlund's first series.

   In issue #1 the Tick is plucked from the timeline by a powerful extraterrestrial race of beings. These aliens seek to pit different races and beings against each other in a contest of might, skill, and rhythm (see the Salsa Competition scheduled for day two of the intergalactic competition.)

   The winning team will grant their species a special gift that will advanced their societies evolution for the better. But in order to not make the other species jealous or the winner seem all superior, the winner's won't be announced nor will they know just what said prize is.

    This is masterful Tick insanity at it's best folks. The art was great, but it was the zany story and tons of odd and whimsical characters that made this opening chapter so good. If the rest of the series continues on this path, I'm in for a really awesome treat.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Happy Memorial Day, 2015!

and thanks to those of you who served or are currently serving in the Armed Forces!

The Spirit #21 (DC Comics 2007-09)

   In hopes of bringing down a local gang, the Spirit impersonates their leader under the guise that he has recently been released from jail. But when Chief Dolan's daughter Ellen is kidnapped and taken as a hostage, by the gang the Central City Police are forced to release the actual baddie. What transpires when there is now two bosses and a ton of oddly polite bikers is a comedy of errors that only writers Sergio Aragones and Mark Evanier could craft.

    I still prefer Darwyn Cooke's run on this series. I felt that he, with his classic noir style, seemed to channel Will Einser's original take on the Spirit really well. But the duo of Aragones and Evanier are a very close second. The plot was so screwball I thought I was reading a comic book adaptation of a Howard Hawks film. It was tons of fun.

   The art was quite good as well, but it surprised the heck out of me. I was convinced that the art was by writer Aragones. It had that quality of his non-Mad Magazine works such as 'Sergio Aragones Destroys the DC Universe.' Instead, this book was crafted by a Paul Smith. I'm not familiar with his work, but it was quite good and paired well with the Spirit and his zany cast of characters.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Teen Titans Go! #7 (series 1)

 

 Starfire's sister Blackfire returns under the guise of spending some time together for some family bonding. Their time together involves Starfire trying to best her older sister at a series of physical challenges. These contests might look innocent to the naive Starfire but her teammates smell a rat and well they should as these tests of might and strength are a ruse for Blackfire who's secretly trying to sell her baby sister back into slavery in return for a pardon of her many intergalactic crimes.

   I really enjoyed this issue as I've finally figured out this series formula. Along with an original story, every issue features at least one brain teaser by Raven, a Beast Boy/ Starfire knock-knock joke, a few factoids by Robin and/ or some other visual gags that are drawn like a Manga. I really didn't give the first Teen Titans cartoon a fair chance so I don't know if that series also had jokes and gags sprinkled throughout the action like this comic. But I'm suspecting that it did.

    I'm very glad that my library has started to carry some of these back issues (in library binding form. This format includes a glossary of terms and some thought provoking questions that are great exercises for up-and-coming writers and cartoonists.) Also, these books are really peaking my interest in watching the show as well collecting this series.

    Lots of potential fun for the entire family.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

The Tick Omnibus, Volume 3 (2nd Printing)

No, there's no Christmas story here.
This is the cover to what would have been
Tick #13.

  The third omnibus featuring some mighty blue justice roughly completes Ben Edlund's epic run of the Tick. Though this only collects issues 11-12 there are tons of great extras in this book including Edlund's very first sketches and appearances of the Tick in other media plus a sneak peak of issue #13.

    I had said that Omnibus 3 'roughly completes' the first series and I wasn't lying. There was a long-rumored 13th issue but it's publishing was very unlucky as it took over a decade for Edlund to finally complete it! (And you thought it took a long time for Marvel to finish up Ultimate Hulk/ Wolverine!)

   Aside from an epic cliffhanger that wouldn't be resolved anywhere near when this book was published, there wasn't very much to hate about this collection. Yeah, it's a short omnibus but at 100-pages and with lots of great extras it's worth the $12 cover price. Or go to the New England Comics website and get it for only $6!

  So, let us talk about the stories themselves. Issue #11 is the original story in which the epic Tick cartoon episode "The Tick Vs. The Tick" was based. Yep- it's the first appearance of Barry, the Comet Club, and the Sidekicks Lounge! The only thing missing is the Evil Midnight Bomber Who Bombs at Midnight (Yeah, baby, YEAH!)

   Then issue #12 wraps up a nit from the Tick that I couldn't figure out for the longest time. When Tick beats Barry, he and Arthur are given the rights to the former Tick's name, mansion, and his secret lair. (So that's how Tick got it!) But alas, when it looks like the Tick and Arthur are about to be ambushed by the Terror and his team of henchmen, we get that famous 'To Be Continued' that won't be resolved anytime soon.

   Still, as I said this is an essential volume and I loved just about every minute of it. Oh and I'll get that Edlund follow-up some day.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

 

Ah-Nold Says...

I got back into town around midnight last night. I went straight back to work so I am exhausted. I haven't read a family comic yet so no reviews Famil Comic Friday tomorrow. But I will be starting back with reviews again tomorrow. 

Will it be a DC title or a Marvel masterpiece? Maybe I'll be exploring an unknown independent gem or maybe I'll throw you off by having read a regular novel!

Tune in sometime tomorrow afternoon to find out!

Important Message from a Madman...

  Dear readers,
   
    My wife was called to St. Louis this week where she went to spend some time with her ailing grandmother. On Thursday, Grandma Useted passed away and for the past couple of days I've been in limbo trying to figure out when the funeral will be and trying to get a flight out all the while working a full-time job and covering for a sick coworker. Ah, the perks of being a sous chef.

    There's been a lot of lost sleep, cleaning, packing, and waiting by the phone. Oh, and then there was last night where I fell into that 15-hour coma after the grueling week at work. Thus no Family Comic Friday post.

   Well, I just wanted to let you the readers know that Madman With a Book is still active, but I won't be posting regularly until later next week. I have no idea where I'll be staying and if anyone's going to have internet access. I may get a review in tomorrow, but I won't guarantee it. I've got several errands to run still and packing.

   Rest assured, I'm still trying to break into comics and I'm still reading, collecting, and reviewing, but family comes first.

  Thank you for your readership and understanding.

Legends of the DC Universe #38

  The Traitor Trilogy ends with what might not have been the most well written or most well-drawn issue- but it sure was one of the most action packed issues ever! The Traitor is looking for revenge at the hands of the Green Lanterns of the past who have bested him over the past 150 years. Happy to oblige, Kyle Raynor, freed from exile on a barren asteroid, uses his power ring to resurrect Hal Jordan, Abin Sur, and Sur's predecessor in titanic fashion.

    The ending was both shocking and awesome. It ends the story on a high note all while paying tribute to previous chapters of this trilogy. But hopefully, this really is the end of the traitor because I think he was at his pinnacle in terms of obsession, powers, and brute strength. To continue on would start to make his appearances in Legends of the DC Universe a little tedious and then he'd start to wear out his welcome. Though I wouldn't mind seeing more of the Kyle Raynor GL in not only this book but his own title as well.

   Am I starting to become interested in reading and/ or collecting the books that chronicle his run as the Lantern? Only time will tell, but if this review was a magic 8-ball, it would have to say "outlook good."

   Worth Consuming

    Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Legends of the DC Universe #37

   In this trilogy friendly world, I should have seen this coming. The Traitor returns! After being soundly defeated by Abin Sur in the Old West and then by Hal Jordan during the Silver Age, the Traitor is freed from his solar prison and has his sights on revenge.

   As we already established in the previous 4 issues of this series, Hal Jordan is dead. His replacement is Kyle Rayner, who at this point in time is the only Green Lantern in the entire universe, thanks to Jordan's actions as Parallax. For Kyle, the Traitor isn't a legacy he was prepared for and when the villain destroys the only Lantern ring left in existence, the last Green Lantern is left to die on a barren planetoid.

   This issue was a very good opening chapter into the final phase of the Traitor Trilogy. The art was very good and the story itself was excellent. I only hope that the second act is just as good- if not better than this one.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Legends of the DC Universe #36

  The 'Destroyer of Worlds' storyline finally comes to an end with Hal reconciling with the Spectre entity and pulling a time-travelling trick that obviously was stolen from the Superman: The Motion Picture playbook. Also, what Hal does is kinda what got him in trouble as Parallax and was what resulted in his need to become the Spectre and find redemption in the first place. Talk about ironic switcharoos.

   This issue did help to clarify why it took so long to make Caul into a full-on bad guy. As I mentioned earlier, his reasons for taking down the Spectre was due to his inherent nature for self-preservation. This made him sympathetic. That was until he also destroyed all of creation after temporarily offing Hal Jordan. 

   In this issue, we learn that being a powerful psychic isn't all it's cracked up to be as hearing everyone's inner most thoughts is enough to drive anyone mad. So, in order to find peace without dying, Caul sought to quiet the voices instead and decimate all humanity.

    This was an exceptional ending to an otherwise hoo-hum story. There's a couple of great cameos and having some of Hal's family members finally realize it had been him trying to make contact with them through the other side was very touching.

   This story ends with a blurb that continues this story in the pages of Spectre #1. Normally, this would tick me off but the ending of the story didn't end on a cliffhanger. Had I have to grab that issue to discover if Hal lived or died from a burning building or something, that would be another story. But this tale was a teaser for the new series much like the old Showcase Presents: created to garner interest without tricking the reader into having to buy another series they otherwise might not have any interest to buy. Man, I miss the old days.

   If this overall story was any indication of the quality of the Hal Jordan Spectre series then I have no interest in collecting it. But if I was to find issue #1 in a dollar bin or grab bag, I would give that series a chance. But it's not something that I will be actively seeking to make a part of my collection at this time.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Legends of the DC Universe #35

   Finally, we're getting somewhere. 

   The power psychic Caul decides to put on some clothes and invites some of his former fortune-telling cronies from his CIA days to a seance. There he takes advantage of their unassuming nature and he destroys them. Now Caul is a super-charged battery of metaphysical energy and he's ready to take on the Spectre. 

    On the side of good, thanks to the spiritual guidance of Abin Sur, Hal Jordan's has finally been preparing for this battle as well. But when he renounces the power of the Spectre, he finds that he must battle Caul alone. Once free from the villain's snare, Jordan will discover that he's lost more than just his only chance for redemption.

   The action and adventure were better in this issue, mostly because there finally was some to enjoy. But the dialogue was lame and the art was even lamer. Though, I really like these painted covers. This one looks like it was painted by Dave (Sandman) McKean, but it's not. But I liked it anyway.

   Thankfully, there is only one more issue left. I don't think I can take much more of this storyline. It's not been one of my favorites in an otherwise superior anthology series.

   Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

Legends of the DC Universe #34

Great cover- cruddy issue.

As Hal Jordan continues to find his purpose as the new Spectre, the psychic Caul continues to grow stronger. It's all leading up to a final conflict between the two powerful entities. But before this happens, Hal makes a few visits to old friends and family on earth. However, because of his spiritual status, nobody can recognize him and after they part, they soon forget ever meeting with him. 

   These not so great reunions only make Jordan feel more obsolete. While it makes for an interesting story thread, it doesn't do much to save this issue from being an utter bore. Plus, in order to boost Hal's confidence, he's now been paired with the spirit of Abin Sur. But just who is behind this supernatural pairing of Pinocchio Hal with Jiminy Cricket Abin isn't clear. Is it God? Fate? Hal's Imagination? It's not revealed. 

   What is revealed is that its Abin Sur whose been the narrator of this story all along. You think it's Hal but with the introduction of Hal's precursor, it's now clear that this tale is being recalled through the alien's perspective. But again, I'm not really sure what his role is other than being some sort of conscious guiding force to a weary Hal Jordan.

   As for as our mystery villain Caul, not very much is revealed about him either nor does he really do anything to progressive this story along.  We do learn that Caul was working for the CIA, but they let him go for being too powerful. Now, I'd think that the intelligence community would want to keep their heavy hitters around so I'm thinking he's also a bit of a loose cannon. As for his lack of contribution to the story's plot. He spends the first 4 pages doing naked yoga. Sure, it's a way to help him build up his macabre powers but it's about as unneeded a nude scene as there will ever be one in the history of comics. 

    This issue just wasn't my cup of tea. The art was fair. The coloring was bland. As for the story itself, it seemed stuck in neutral. Why this story needed to be a 4-parter is beyond me.

    Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

Legends of the DC Universe #33

   This story takes place just after Hal Jordan became the Spectre. Riddled with guilt over the actions he committed as Parallax, Jordan seeks to redeem himself. Now as God's personal vessel of wrath, the former hero gets that chance. However, Jordan's piled up even more grief as he heaps vengeance over a myriad of souls. To Jordan, it's okay to reap justice over evil doers but since the Spectre-side of him has a bit of a mean streak in him, some of the methods employed are a bit too violent. This puts Hal at unease and he feels like his own humanity may be slipping away with each punishment.

    Thus, Jordan seeks out advice from God in the realm of Heaven. But he ends up meeting people from his past who have also transversed to the great beyond. Their words of wisdom seem to do little to ease Jordan's conscious and that's a very bad thing as a powerful psychic on earth named Caul has had a vision that he's not fond of. Thus, Caul is planning on destroying the Spectre before the spirit of God's vengeance gets to him first.

    I remember seeing this issue in stores when it first hit shelves and thinking 'So Jordan's the Spectre now..." I was glad that DC hadn't given up on the former Green Lantern. But I didn't buy this issue and so I haven't been very familiar with Hal's time as the Spectre. Finally owning and reading it, this opening chapter helped to fill in some of those gaps and it was great seeing some long past heroes from DC's Silver Age.

    But there's very little action in this issue and it moves at a snail's pace. Also, with the new character of Caul added to the mix, Jordan's trip down memory lane takes away from establishing the villain as anything more than a psychic seeking to prevent his own demise. Thus, Caul is a more sympathetic character as who can't relate to self-preservation? Maybe the next issue will give this mystery man a little more meat to make him more interesting and more villainous.

  Worth Consuming

   Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Monstrous Regiment by Terry Pratchett

   Folks, it's actually NOT odd that I read a novel. I've read tons. It's just that after a long day working in a hot kitchen, I like to unwind with my favorite hobby- reading and collecting comic books. But when the legendary author Terry Pratchett recently passed after losing his long battle with degenerative brain disease, I felt it was time to take another trip to Discworld in his honor.

   Discworld is a flat planet that rests on the backs of 4 elephants who in turn rest on the shell of a giant turtle who floats through outer space. It's residents are an odd collection of witches, wizards, guardsmen, con artists, and even Death himself. Pratchett's stories are massive and my only flaw with this accomplished satirist is that he will often paint himself into a corner and rush to end his books with a random supernatural event that has little to do with the actual plot or fool the reader with an elaborate rouse.

  But Pratchett is a master at writing biting satirical dialogue. No topic is safe as he's skewered everything from religion to Santa and beyond. Often it's what's unsaid that is just as funny as the things the author makes his creations say. This book is a definitive reflection of that unique writing style.

   In Monstrous Regiment, young Polly is on the hunt for her missing brother who joined the Borogravia army a year prior and hasn't been heard from since. After cutting her hair, learning to walk with a swagger, and arming herself with a few choice swears and a strategic pair of socks, Polly Perks, barmaid becomes Ozzer Perks, corporal. But she might not be the only new recruit to the Borogravian army with a secret. Only time and the war corresponding Ankh-Morpork Times will tell of those skeletons in the unit's army.

   Featuring some great cameos from Death, and members of the Night Watch, including Sam Vimes, this volume was one of the better Discworld titles. I love all of the books in this series, but this volume had a really good ending to it and that's one reason I rate it as superior. My only regret is that Pratchett passed away too soon to see more Polly stories in the future. I think she is a character with a full rich story that's not finished yet. Sadly, the scribe of Discworld is now silent.

    Worth Consuming and yes- I plan on reading some more Discworld novels in the very near future thanks in a very large part to this awesome volume.

  Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Sisters (Family Comic Friday)

  Ever have that younger sibling that drove you nuts? Was your older brother or sister a big bully or at least that's what you thought because they always got their way or you into trouble? Then this true story graphic novel is the book you've been looking for Or that you should have written!
 
    Sisters is the 2014 sequel to the awarding winning graphic novel Smile by Raina Telgemeier. In this graphic novel, Riana is going on a semi-cross country drive to a family reunion along with her mom, younger sister, and baby brother. It's total sibling rivalry between Raina and Amara, mostly because while Raina is the oldest and a budding artist, it's the younger who keeps winning art awards and accolades.

    Throughout the trip scenes from the sisters lives are recounted. It's not a very good time for the family right now as their dad recently lost his job and his new vocation is preventing him from taking the trip with the fam.  That situation has caused the gang to move, pinch pennies, and has put a strain on the marriage of Raina's folks. Then there's also that little matter of Amara's pet snake who got loose in the family van and may have died somewhere under the seats or it might still be lurking around in the back under the cooler.

   I really enjoyed this tale. Though not all of the family crises mentioned in this book are solved by the final page, Sisters did have an enjoyable enough ending. Plus, with this being the second book, I'm sure a third book is on its way in this a trilogy friendly world. So, some matters will probably be addressed and solved then.

   The art was quite good and it matched the dynamic storytelling. Like I mentioned earlier, this is the sequel to another book called 'Smile.' I'm such a fan of this book and of Telgemeier that I hope to get my hands on that book very soon. Plus, I'm interested to know if Amara ever became famous like older her sister. If anybody has any info on her, please leave me a note in this review's comments section.

  Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Star Trek The Key Collection: Volume 5

  

    The fifth volume of the Checker reprints of the Gold Key Star Trek comics from the 60s was an even better thrill ride than the previous one. The art was so much better in this one and the writing was very, very good. Let's discuss the art first.

 In the issues of volume 4, Spock's ear were drawn to such a degree they were freakin' huge. They took up most of the side of his head. Thankfully, the ears here are much less pronounced. The likenesses were amazing as well, especially of Kirk and Scotty, who plays a much larger role in these issues.

    The art of the Enterprise featured dynamic exteriors (AGAIN) and very good facsimiles of the interiors. The renderings of the aliens were pretty good too. I had to remind myself that with these issues being published years before the Star Trek films came out, that the Klingons were not going to be sporting their now iconic cranial ridge.

     Speaking of Klingons, they were featured in a clever story in which Kirk must go undercover to expose a Klingon gun running scheme in order to overtake a dilithium rich planet along the Neutral Zone. Another great tale features Kirk, Spock, Scotty, and McCoy racing against time when a radiation leak begins to turn them into children. Along with a cryogenically frozen professor and a time-travelling romp through the 1850s and 60s, this volume was near flawless in its delivery.

    Sadly, this appears to be the last volume in the series. Though Gold Key published about 30 more issues before ending in 1979, this volume was last issued in 2006. Along with that, the Checker Book Publishing group went out of business in 2010. Though I can find all five volumes on Amazon, I've not found another publisher that has issued reprints of the remaining issues- yet!

     IDW Publishing, who currently owns the rights to the Star Trek comics franchise, has issued two volumes reprinting the Gold Key series. But there are only two volumes thus far and they're only at issue #12.  So, only time will tell, unless I get lucky in the bargain bins.

Worth Consuming
Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

The Unfunnies: First Follies

Alligator abortions. Penguin prostitution. A foul-mouthed baby chick with a high-scoped rifle aimed at his head. A pedophile who’s been raised from the darkest pits of hades. When Mark Millar titled this series “The Unfunnies,” he wasn’t joking.

This is perhaps the most profane, vile, disgusting comic book I’ve ever had the displeasure to read. Perhaps what makes this book so shocking is that the characters are drawn in the style of some of your favorite childhood cartoons and when they commit these wanton acts, it’s pretty brutal.

Which is more shocking to see? Robert DeNiro shooting somebody in cold blood or Mr. Rogers? When innocence is lost, it’s very violating and that’s how this book made me feel. I definitely will be dropping this title from my collection and I will NOT be seeking out further books under this title.

(This book reprints Unfunnies #1 and 2.)

  Not Worth Consuming

Rating: 0 out of 10 stars.