Jack Kirby's Fourth World Featuring: Mister Miracle

This second volume of Mister Miracle's original series exploits signal a time of change for both the heroic escape artist and his creator Jack Kirby.

    It's 1972 and Kirby's Fourth World Experiment has been deemed a failure. New Gods and Forever People has been cancelled after only about a dozen issues each. Lack of readership and a bigger lack of faith on the part of the DC editors signalled a quick end to the exploits of Highfather, Orion, and Beautiful Dreamer.

     But because Mister Miracle was more of a super-hero title than a cosmic saga, it managed to survive for another 8 issues. In the last volume, Scott Free won his temporary freedom from the clutches of Granny Goodness and Darkseid. Now, Miracle, his assistant Oberon, his girlfriend, the fierce Big Barda and some of her lieutenants from Apokolips, the Furies, travel the country putting on a travelling sideshow. They are assisted with the help of the original Mister Miracle's son acting as their road manager. 

   Exploring haunted houses, fighting an assortment of ghouls, and uncovering various crime cartels, the series turns into a trippy adult version of Scooby-Doo and the Mystery Gang, minus the dog. However, Scott gains a sidekick in the form of a young boy named Shilo Norman. 

   Shilo witnessed a murder and until he can testify against the criminals, Miracle is named his guardian and bodyguard. (If you read the 80s Mister Miracle Series or Grant Morrison's Seven Soldiers, you'd know that Shilo will one day inherit the mantle of the World's Greatest Escape Artist after Scott retires from superheroing.)

   Though this volume covers the end of Kirby's run at DC, this isn't the end of the Fourth World. This isn't even the end of the Mister Miracle series. Thankfully readers and management at DC saw Kirby's work as the masterpiece it was and revitalize this series (and New Gods) again around 1977-78. Sadly, the DC Implosion of titles due to company-wide poor sales and evener poorer distribution practices lead to both titles being cancelled once again (and permanently) before the begin of the Reagan 80s. 

    If you want to collect the last 7 issues of this series, you'll have to search. Issues 19-25 have to this point never been collected or reprinted. The same goes for New Gods 12-19.

    Another Kirby triumph. Though the Furies start dropping from the scene by story #4 and it's not explained why. But some other odds and ends left unresolved from the last volume and due to the suspensions of the other Fourth World titles are addressed.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Star Wars: Princess Leia #1

   Star Wars has returned to it's original home- Marvel Comics. I've not been able to get my hands on that series but was lucky enough to find this premiere issue of Princess Leia in a grab bag during this year's Free Comic Book Day.

   Leia takes place immediately after the credits to Episode IV begin to roll. The celebration for the destruction of the Death Star is short lived as the Empire now knows where the Rebels' hidden base is located. As Luke, Han, Threepio, and the rest of the Rebellion begin to pack up and move out, Leia is left to grieve for her beloved Alderaan. But the fiery Princess wants action and demands the right to serve her cause.

    However, with the Empire just issuing a 10 milloin credits bounty on her head, General Dodonna refuses to let the last living member of the ruling House of Organa off planet without an assault garrison, much less out of his sight. As rumors swirl that the Empire is capturing and murdering Alderaanian survivors in retaliation to the Princess' involvement with the destruction on the Death Star, Leia is determined to gather up as many refugees as possible before it is too late.

    This series looks to explore Leia's pivotal role in the Rebellion post Battle of Yavin. Along with R2-D2 and a House of Organa hand maiden turned X-wing pilot, this looks to be an exciting series that will take Princess Leia to the furthest reaches of the Star Wars universe.

   Next stop: Naboo!- home of Leia's birth mother Padme Amidala.

   I really enjoyed this opening chapter. The art by the great Terry Dodson (who was an artist on some of Dark Horse Publishing's Star Wars titles) is stunning. Dodson does a fantastic job with his photo-realistic renderings of not only the iconic characters but the vehicles as well. Directing Dodson into which corners of the Star Wars galaxy to explore is one of my favorite writers- Mark (Daredevil) Waid! He answers some lingering questions about the Battle of Yavin, such as 'Was Admiral Ackbar there?' Short answer- Yep, he was!

   I hope to get my hands on the rest of this storyline if not the entire series. I was thrilled to see that Marvel was getting it's hands back on Star Wars and with this first taste, I'm hungry for more.

   As Lord Vader would say "Impressive...Most Impressive."

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Jack Kirby's Mister Miracle

   This black and white collection reprints the first 10 issues of the King's dynamic debut of Mister Miracle. Scott Free is a fugitive from orphanages of Apokolips. Seeking refuge, funds, and some excitement, the young man meets the aged magician Mister Miracle. With Miracle's experience and Scott's array of futuristic technology, the two look to revitalize the Mister Miracle traveling magic show.

   But when a master criminal assassinates the old man, Scott assumes the mantle of Mister Miracle to avenge his fallen friend. Along with his new sidekick Oberon, Mister Miracle then travels the country, escaping from an array of insane traps, and righting wrongs all while fighting off a rogues gallery of Apokoliptian soldiers tasked with bringing Scott back to his home planet for judgment at the hands of the dastardly Granny Goodness.

   Of the titles in Kirby's Fourth World series, Mister Miracle was the only one I remember reading as a kid. He was a member of the Justice League, so to me he was a real established superhero. Names like Darkseid, Orion, New Gods, and Forever People- theose were like those non-super star baseball cards you got while looking for a Jose Canseco or Nolan Ryan in a package of ball cards. I considered them commons. I would get dozens of Kirby titles in grab bags as a kid and I'd toss them into the corner of my comic book trunk and read the few Superman and Batmans peppered throughout. Man, how wrong I was to overlook this Jack Kirby gems.

   I've overlooked that mistake nowadays, collecting the Fourth World series reprinted in trades. Mister Miracle and Jack Kirby's Fourth World Starring Mister Miracle represent the final two pieces to the Fourth World puzzle that I was missing. The adventures of Mister Miracle, Oberon, and eventually the female fury from Apokolips, Big Barda were the most like a superhero comic and thus are the most sought after of the Fourth World titles. It took me forever to find these for less than cover price. (I've seen this book sold for as much as $100 on eBay and Amazon- no joke!) But once I did, I snatched them up before anyone else had a chance to beat me to it.

    A beloved treasury that is worth every penny- if you can find it. A little goofy, a little odd, but a whole lot of fun and adventure.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.
 

The Spirit #32

With the US Army threatening to send the mysterious new island in Central City's harbor back to the murky depths, the Spirit races to save Commissioner Dolan's nephew before it's too late. Meanwhile, Leprechaun detective Cormac is leading an army of hobos from Central City against an army of the undead. If their reanimated leader gets his hand on a stolen Irish artifact called the Celtic Stone before dawn, not only Central City but the entire world will be enslaved by a powerful Zombie King.

   Funny, exciting, and a little scary was this the final chapter of the story titled after the stolen rock, the Celtic Stone, and it was perfect. Former Eisner disciple Mike Ploog returned to the world of the Spirit to send this epic series out in style and he did just that! The plot was great- the art even better. I loved it!

    I just hate that this is the final issue of a fantastic Spirit series that highlighted some fantastic artists and writers.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

The Spirit #31

 

  The series ends with the opening chapter of a two-parter about strange happenings in Central City harbor. A mysterious island has just popped up in the bay much to the panic of the US Armed Forces. Meanwhile, the Spirit is on the hunt for Commissioner Dolan's nephew who might be tied up in some shady dealings and has gone missing. Adding to the fun is the appearance of a new detective from Ireland who also happens to be on the hunt for the young Dolan. Oh, and this new inspector is also Leprechaun...

   Mike Ploog, who actually worked on the Spirit with creator Will Eisner returns to the franchise in this two-parter titled 'The Celtic Stone.' You can really see the influence of Eisner on Ploog's script, but it's the art that shows the biggest resemblance. I could have sworn that this was a missing Eisner work because it looked that close to the master's original works.

   I really enjoyed this first chapter. It captured the fun, mystery, and sometimes creepy tones of the original Spirit series from the 40s. I hate that this series is ending as this is a prime example of just how great a character the Spirit is and a testament to the overall quality of the past 31-issues.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

The Spirit #30

   Central City is in the midst of a gang war between the Yakuza and Triad that operate out of the city's China Town. But as it's spilling out into the rest of the City, Commissioner Dolan puts the Spirit in charge of ending the turmoil. Can the hero solve this conflict alone or will he have to accept some less than reputable help from some of the other gangs that operate in the metropolis?

   This was a perfect noir story that had twists, turns, and the patented shock ending. It was very fast paced and a very fun read. Michael Avon Oeming writes and draws this single-issue epic. He did a magnificent job from cover to cover. Sadly, it was the only one he crafts in the dynamic series devoted to the Will Eisner hero. 

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Rutabaga The Adventure Chef: Book 1 (Family Comic Friday)

   

 Rutabaga is a young chef who travels the countryside in search of new recipes and adventure. In his travels, the gourmand meets a group of knights-errant, a king, some Vikings, and other strange creatures. Along with his magic cauldron. Pot, Rutabaga helps his new friends battle a dragon, train a baby monster, and uses his knowledge of exotic fruits and veggies to battle a crusty cook in an epic cook off in the kitchen of a secret tavern.

    I loved this new series by Eric Colossal. As a professional chef, I am excited to see youngsters so interested in food and developing culinary skills. Shows like Iron Chef and Chopped on Food Network have really inspired the next generation to be more adventurous and willing to learn how to cook. I think this revolution is because of how busy the modern family is these days that youngsters see an opportunity to slow things down and bond with siblings, parents, and loved ones by preparing a meal that everyone can enjoy ever once and a while. Plus, there's is just so much great food to explore in the world!

   That's what Rutabaga does here. He scours the world for culinary delights and uses his food knowledge to help others heal, relax, or celebrate their cultural heritage. There are dozens of recipes peppered throughout this book that children can try and create (with parental help, of course) such as the Adventurer's Snack Sacks filled with meat and potatoes and Chicken Spear with Peanut Dipping Sauce. I'd love to try the Perfect Pep Potion. Though, I'm not sure where they keep the sweetened blood berries at Wal-Mart. There's also a few recipes inspired by Rutabaga's adventures at the end of the book for readers to try.

   Speaking of the end, I did not want this book to stop. It was such a fun read. The art was cartoony but very detailed. The scenes when the Viking characters battle the monstrous Koraknis were epic. Eric Colossal did a fantastic job on this book and I cannot wait to see where he takes Rutabaga next.

   I expect big things from the Adventure Chef series in the coming year. I think it will be making must read lists (for 2015) and winning lots of young reader and graphic novel awards. Get on the bandwagon now folks as Rutabaga is going to be huge.

   Now let's get cooking and reading!

   Worth Consuming

  Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.
   

The Spirit #29

   If you are a fan of Doctor Who, then you know that some of the best episodes don't even feature the Doctor in them. Take the classic episode 'Blink' which introduces the ultra scary Weeping Angels. The 10th Doctor is in that episode maybe a total of 10 minutes. But it's the supporting cast (and those darn Angels) that make it a fan favorite.
   That's the same way here with a story titled 'Needles and Pinski.' Here, an up-and-coming tattoo artist named Pinksi who is taking the city by storm. So much that Commissioner Dolan's daughter is dying to have one inked by him. In between Ellen's trips to see about some new art, we learn that this new artist is secretly running a drug running operation on the side.
   
    Pinksi's partner is an older tattoo artist from the old school way of body art. Named Needles, he's feeling his age compared with the youngsters popularity. Tempted to retire, Needles has only one thing stopping him- the parlor's beautiful receptionist.

    A love triangle forms as Needles has no idea that the secretary for the parlor is secretly Pinski's girl. As jealousy mounts, the elder partner will learn of the drug running scheme but his life may be in danger when he also catches Pinksi in the middle of the act of fixing to torch the place.

   Will the Spirit, on the trail of Pinksi's drug running pals be able to save the day before it's too late?

  As you can see from my plot synopsis, I mentioned the Spirit once. I think out of the 32-page story, he appears in maybe 8 of them. Ellen Dolan is in this issue more than the Spirit is. But with it's gritty finale, twist ending, and dynamic art, this is one of my favorite issues not just in this Spirit series but of any published incarnation of the Will Eisner character that I have yet read.

    Worth Consuming and sure to become a favorite of yours if you just give this unique tale a fighting chance.

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

The Spirit #28

   Part three of 'Choices' focuses on the Spirit femme fatale, Plaster of Paris. The Spirit travels to France after he gets a tip that the lethal lady may just have returned from the dead. While in Gay Paree, our hero flashes back to his first meeting with Plaster in the hot desert sands of the Sahara.
   
    While the dangerous dame did have ties to the Spirit villain the Octopus, that's about all that this chapter has to do with the previous two issues. That's very disappointing because after building up a running story involving Spirit trying to rehabilitate his former girlfriend, Silken Floss, the Octopus lackey is nowhere to be found. Plus, except for popping up in flashbacks, the former Denny Colt's archenemy doesn't appear either.

   Now, the story about the possible resurrection of Plaster of Paris was very good and entertaining. It just had nothing to do with the previous two chapters of the 'Choices' storyline despite being built up as such. So, that's going to drop the star rating for this book a little bit but not enough to not be considered Worth Consuming.

   Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

The Gigantic Beard That Was Evil

 

   On the island of Here, everything is seemingly perfect. There's no crime, no litter, everyone is clean shaven and life is easy. It's also amazingly banal on Here. But at least it's not like There, where the ocean begins and the world is dark, scary, and nobody returns from.

   All that changes when Dave wakes up to an out of control beard growing on his face. It's not a simple matter of a little stubble as when Dave shaves his face, it grows back within minutes. The old adage of 'if you shave, it will grow back fuller and darker' is true here as Dave's beard begins to grow to such a point it threatens the safety of the citizens of Here and their property and more importantly their simple way of life.

    The Gigantic Beard That Was Evil by Stephen Collins is a black and white 2013 graphic novel that challenges the concept of conformity. The story includes elements of the film Pleasantville with the people of Here's fear of the unknown anything different that the norm. The eerie perfection of the island community also reminds the reader of the idyllic setting that Jim Carrey's character is subjected to in the Truman Show. Along with the very bizarre flowing beard and the satirical bent towards pre-accepted social mores, this book could easy have been written by Roald Dahl or the subject of the next Tim Burton picture.

   I thought this graphic novel was incredibly engrossing. There was a perverse curiosity behind why the people of Here were a community of Stepford People. But I don't think that the beard was truly evil. It didn't have a mind of its own and it didn't try to eat the town like the creature in the Blob. I think it's malevolence was more in the minds of the people of Here because it represented that dark and forboding unknown of There.

   Another great read that, unfortunately, has a slightly ambiguous ending. Again, it's not a knock at the quality of the work or at the talents of Mr. Collins. I just don't favor books with unsettled endings.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Sailor Twain OR The Mermaid in the Hudson

   This graphic novel from 2012 is a Victorian Era mystery set on the Hudson River. Strange occurrences result in a steamboat owner's disappearance. When his body is flushed from the river, authorities declare it a suicide but the owner's brother has other thoughts. He becomes convinced he can bring his beloved brother back. Soon he too begins acting strangely. Eventually, the sibling begins to correspond with a mysterious writer who is an expert in paranormal and mythical creatures, particularly mermaids. 

    The captain of the ship has other thoughts. With his new owner striving to acquire seven lovers and staring off into the mighty river below for hours on in, the mariner believes that his new boss is going off the deep end like his brother did before he went missing. Nearly ready to send his crew off into a mutiny, Captain Twain finds that there just may be a method to the brothers' madness when discovers an injured mermaid the deck of his ship.

    Sailor Twain was engrossing. I was captured from just about the very beginning and I could not put this fantastic book down. The book is 400 pages, but I devoured it in one day. The story along with the mystery of the mermaid on the Hudson was that good.

   The art was also very good. The mermaid was gorgeous and the scenery of 1800s New York was breathtaking. I did think that Capt. Twain and a few of the guests on the steamboat looked a little cartoony. With his triangular nose, Twain looked like Guy Smiley's (from Sesame Street) ancestor and I swear that Dr. Brunson Honeydew from the Muppets Show was a dinner guest in another scene.

   But I thought this book was excellent. I wasn't a huge fan of the ending, but that's because it was ambiguous. I know that the reader is given the chance to decide Capt. Twain's fate at the end of the book with the numerous clues peppered throughout the story as to how those captivated by a mermaid's song met their fates. But I just happen to favor story with concrete endings and that's more of a matter of personal taste opposed to evaluating the quality of this story. 

    One last caveat. There is quite a bit of sex and nudity in this book. Some scenes are downright sensual. If this isn't your cup of tea that I recommend that you choose another beverage. 

  A fantastic work by Mark Siegel. I hope to encounter more of his works in the future. I also wouldn't be opposed to a sequel as I feel that the story for some of the characters in this book was far from over.

  Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

The Spirit #27

The cover by Brian Bolland features a super-creepy
looking Lorelei Rox and the deft fingers of
the ever-unseen Octopus.

   Chapter 2 of 'Choices' features a character named Lorelei Rox. She's a siren with an enchanting voice that at the right frequency she can control minds. The Octopus has decided to take advantage of the chanteuse's gift by setting up a sonic device that could enslave the entire city and eventually the world. It's up to the Spirit, Commissioner Dolan and the Central City police, and Octopus affiliate, Dr. Silken Floss to stop the madman's ploy of global domination.

   One part crime noir, one part Phantom, this story was thrilling and a little hokey. The character of Lorelei is a lot like the 1966 Batman series villain Siren, played by Joan Collins. But the character of Ms. Rox was created first sometime around 1940. But I can see that this character definitely was an inspiration to the writers and producers of that classic ABC series.

   This issue builds upon the previous issue with the Spirit having helped to restore Dr. Floss' reputation. But she's still on the fence where her loyalty lies. The team of DeSanto and Uslan have done a wonderful job in crafting what I think is the first ever multi-part Spirit story. But, I felt like the story flipped from gritty noir to goofy parody the moment the Octopus whisks Lorelei to his subterranean sewer lair. Hopefully, the final chapter in the next issue will not disappoint.

   Worth Consuming

  Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Pop Culture Folk Art at Orange County's Hog Day 2015

In Orange County, NC, the fam went to the 33rd annual Hog Day. The festival is devoted to North Carolina BBQ. For those of you not in the know, NC BBQ is whole hog pork, deboned, chopped, and doused in pepper vinegar. For someone like myself who 's trying to lose weight, my menu options were limited. So I decided to devote my attention to the crafts section in search of pop culture folk art.

My search was not as hard as I thought it would be.

My first stop was at a booth called Blown Glass by Winston. Along with a menagerie of dragons, birds, and other animals, there were honest to God superheroes. As you can see in the picture, Winston crafted characters such as Deadpool, Superman, Green Lantern, Captain America, and an upside down hanging Spider-man. I couldn't get him in the picture, but Winston also does a mean Lizard.

Winston's son paints the glass and his work is amazing. To the right of Superman, you see a green and white figure they made of a Miami Hurricane football player. The detail was crazy good and I would love for them to make me a Steelers one. 

My mother-in-law and I went halfsies on a Tinkerbell figurine for my wife. Here she is in her new home, a display case devoted to Peter Pan and Star Wars collectibles that are very fragile. 

The next stop for me was AmourableArt. The below duo of Darth Vader and the TARDIS was enough for me to A) fetch the wife immediately and B) start shopping. Pat Kenrick does an amazing job of sketching anything from seashells to silhouettes to pop culture icons the images below. After his sketch, he watercolors the interior of the pictures to look like ocean scenes or in the case of the Doctor Who print, the Time Vortex. I snatched up an 8x10 of the TARDIS and once I get a frame, it'll be hanging in my office next to my autographed Kelly Yates print of the Fifth Doctor.

I bought a couple more things here, but I can't put pics of them up yet as the art due to be anniversary gifts for my bride next month. But I strongly advise that if you love fan art like this, you need to check them out at their website or their Facebook page for more selections. You can also email Pat's wife Alexis about commissioned works if you can't find what you're looking for.

Throughout Hog Day, I found little odds and ends that would make excellent gifts for the superhero or pop culture fan in your life. On the left, you see little bottles with images of Iron Man, Capt. Jack Sparrow, and such forth. At that booth, you could make your very own sand or aqua-artwork. 

At several booths, skilled knitters and sewers created everything from M&M bibs to Ninja Turtle and Superman bows like in the pic in the middle. At another booth, a woman sold maracas made in Guatemala. These music shakers had images of just about every cartoon imaginable. But I thought the likenesses of Batman, The Thing, and Black Costume Spidey were quite good. (Image on right.)

Your collection doesn't have to have only officially licensed stuff to be yours. It's the little treasures that someone took the time to craft that can make your hobby unique. There are dozens of festivals and craft fairs nationwide every weekend that have little curios and artwork such as the examples I've shown today. These events are worth checking out. They're good for the community, filled with good music, delicious food, and quite possibly the next addition to your collection of favorite characters, movies, or books.

Stinky Cecil in Operation Pond Rescue (Family Comic Friday)

Stinky Cecil the Toad and his friends from the swamp go on an epic quest to save their beloved marshlands from becoming a highway.

  If the plot sounds like something you might have seen before- you have. Borrowing heavily from animated films like 'Over the Hedge' and 'Ferngully' with a plot twist straight from a Simpsons episode, Stinky Cecil was still quite original. Written by longtime Peanuts writer, Paige Braddock, this 2015 graphic novel contains characters that were funny, witty, and they had some great one-liners to boot. Their tiny attack on the giant bulldozers were so comical and creative as well.

   Stinky Cecil, while very light reading and aimed at kids in grades 1-5, tackles some heavy subjects. The main subject is environmentalism. It's not preachy but having a group of swamp creatures fight for the protection of their wetlands is the human equivalent of chaining oneself to a giant oak.

   Another subject that this book tackles is death. From just about the first page, the circle of life is hit head on when Reggie the house fly dies after his 5-day lifespan is up. Reincarnation is also addressed here as the gang all expect the beloved bug to regenerate at any moment. It also might be a little harsh watching a ferocious hawk try to make frog legs out of poor Cecil.

     Stinky Cecil was a funny read and though not too original in terms of plotting, the humorous dialogue was quite refreshing. Filled with silly sight gags, corny puns, and some toilet humor (this is a book about a stinky toad) it will appeal to most young readers. But, if you feel that death is a touchy subject or you have qualms about reincarnation- this book may be a bit too old for your child.

   While environmentalism can boil over into some heated debates, the message of being a good steward of our planet by taking steps to recycle and to not haphazardly rape and pillage nature for no reason other than progress for progress sake are lessons that can be applied early in life without being too liberal or conservative.

    Like the coke can you recycled last week, I have a feeling you'll be seeing Stinky Cecil and his wild friends again someday soon.

   Worth Consuming

  Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Batman/ Superman, Volume 2: Game Over (New 52!)

 

   A new video game pits Batman and Superman in a real life battle for the Earth when Mongul returns. After vanquishing the enemy, the duo are challenged by Mongul's son for retribution, with planet earth once again in the crosshairs. Teaming with members of the Superman and Batman families, the Caped Crusader and the Man of Steel are entered in a deadly tournament of champions. The winner becomes the leader of Mongul's Warworld. The loser has their home planet vaporized into atoms.

    Then it's a collision of World's Finests when Earth-2's Huntress and Powergirl infiltrate the Batcave and run amok. When the nano virus afflicting Powergirl  infects Superman, the heroes must form a quartet or both Powergirl and the alternate earth version of her cousin will ignite as Kryptonian bombs.  Echoes of Bruce and Clark's cross-earth capers from volume one bleed into this new reality with a central foe behind the alternate earth drama- Darkseid!

    This volume was heavy on action and I'm enjoying the uneasy dynamic between Batman and Superman. Their relationship seems very well established by having the two meet when they were youngsters and I'm okay with this as it plays on a Superman/Batman: Secret Files story that I just thought was aces. What I felt wasn't very clear was some of the histories of the New 52! in general.

   It's mentioned that Mongul has returned to conquer earth. But I'm not sure when he did that. For New 52! books, I've read just about everything Batman published, along with the opening chapters of Action Comics and this series (up through here.) So far, Mongul's name hasn't come up once and what little research I've done into Justice League doesn't mention the character either. So when did this happen? The classic use of tiny boxes on the bottom of pages to denote when past events occurred by the editorial staff was sorely missed by this avid comic collector.

   For a reboot, there have been some really awesome changes. I enjoyed the introduction of Powergirl and Huntress to the New 52! I felt that Powergirl was sorely missed during this reboot and it appears with her starring in a new miniseries with Harley Quinn that the editors hope to correct this oversight.

   I also enjoyed that Batman and Superman 'forgot' that they had travelled to Earth-2. In the classic DC Universe, everytime characters from earth-1 and 2 got together, it was more and more like a reunion that had to deal with a rowdy guest than any sort of earth shattering crossover that the covers would hype. That's gone here and having the two pairs of World's Finest learn to work together made for a better story. But never would Batman fist bump the Huntress- ever.

   Another change that I enjoyed was the new version of the Toyman. Instead of a dweebish nerd who uses toys to cause mischief, he's rebooted into a hip video game creator who isn't so much a bad guy as much as an entrepreneur who got mixed up with the wrong crowd. I like that he's later used as a tech expert for Superman trying to make amends for almost destroying the earth in a Mongul backed trap.

    Along with the story and character reboots, the art was very good. Jae Lee continues to thrill with his whimsically scary style. I love the watercolor effect of the coloring too. It adds to the haunting appeal of Lee's work.

   The artist is joined by Brett Booth who pencils the first act of this volume. His art is drawn in a 'widescreen' style, meaning you have to read the book sideways and the art is less contained. I liked it, but there were times when you almost needed the giant key to Superman's Fortress of Solitude acting as a directional arrow to guide the reader to which panel to view next. (PS- they had these in the olden days of comics too, kids!)

  A very good chapter in the New 52! adventures of Batman and Superman that just could've used a few tricks from the days of the classic DCU!

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

 
 
 
   

The Spirit #26

Cover by the great Brian Bolland.

   

    

   Issue #26 kicks off a three-part story devoted to an integral part of the Spirit mythos- the femme fatales. The first dangerous doll featured is Dr. Silken Floss, the former high school sweetheart of Denny Colt before he became the Spirit. This is mostly an origin story that reveals why the former good girl devoted herself to a life of crime as the Octopus' right-hand man- er woman. It's up to the Spirit to tap into that now hardened persona in hopes of convincing her to help stop the Octopus from unleashing a deadly biological agent on Central City.

   This is all-new territory for fans of the Will Eisner hero. First, this marks writer FJ Desanto and artist's Justiniano's inaugural take on the Spirit. With a different tone and new art, I had to prevent myself from saying that this story was better or worse that Aragones/ Evanier/ and Hardin's run on this series.

   This issue is also the first chapter in the first ever multi-part story of  this series. Most of Eisner's original Spirit tales were single issue stories. Thus no cliffhangers. But that didn't mean that there wasn't a degree of continuity throughout the Spirit's classic first run. That's exactly what happens here as this issue has an ending, but there's also a set-up for chapter 2 of this storyline entitled 'Choices.'

   An okay story but it's one fraught with more questions than answers. Hopefully, more will be revealed in issue #27.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Batman Forever: Official Comic Book Adaptation (3rd Printing)

   Yesterday marked the 20th anniversary of the movie Batman Forever opening in theaters. That means I was 16 when I took my then 5-year old sister to see the movie. God, I am officially old...

    In honor of that milestone (of the film's release not my being old), members of the Facebook group 'Unite Fans of the DCU Project' decided to either watch the movie again or read/ reread the official comic book adaptation of the film. I hadn't read my copy before, so I went with reading the comic book.

   So how different was the comic from the movie? It was mostly faithful to the movie, but the scenes sequences were skewed. In terms of the beginning of the film, it doesn't start with Batman stopping Two-Face from robbing the Second National Bank of Gotham. Instead, it starts at Arkham with guards discovering that the criminal has escaped the asylum and then it goes to Wayne Enterprises with Bruce Wayne meeting Edward Nygma for the first time. After Wayne refuses to conduct further research on Nygma's sonic brainwave transference device, the action goes to Gotham Bank where the movie original started off.

  After that slight change in plot, the book follows the film's plotting pretty much without any new scenes. There was some extra dialogue thrown in. For example,  Two-Face and Riddler getting high off of Nygma's brain drain machine after the two antagonists first meet. 

  The only other major change in this book is the appearance of Batman. Until the third act, Batman is drawn in the same costume that Michael Keaton wore in Batman and Batman Returns. I'm pretty sure Val Kilmer's Batman did not wear that costume at any point in the film.

    So why the change? It's not like they thought Keaton was going to be playing Batman in the third film. He had made it clear that if Tim Burton didn't direct, he wouldn't wear the cowl. The art team did a very good job of rendering the characters to look like the actors that played them and it's clearly Val Kilmer as Bruce Wayne in the first two acts of this book. So again I ask, why did the artists draw this Batman in the wrong costume?

   For a comic book adaptation, it was actually pretty good. The story was faithful to the source material. The art was near photorealistic and the colors were vibrant just like in the movie. I consider this a dollar well spent and worthy to be a part of my collection forever.
  
   Worth Consuming

    Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

The Spirit #25

   The Octopus seeks to corner the canned mushroom market in Central City. Now, what would a dastardly villain like that be wanting to set up a monopoly in such a thing as that? Well, it turns out, he's rigged a cooking contest where only his brand of canned mushrooms is eligible for the winning recipe. Thus, the Octopus hopes that once the citizens of Central City become poisoned by his tainted fungi, the crime lord will be able to hold the town ransom for the antidote.

   I really loved this issue. One it involves the Octopus- the definitive archenemy of the Spirit. Two- it's a story with heart, brains, and humor. And three- it involves cooking which is my passion and vocation. So for me it was a win-win-win!

   Once again the combined writing team of Aragones and Evanier crafted a masterful tale. The art, however, is quite different. The pencils by Aluir Amanico were good, but they didn't quite match the skilled pen of Chad Hardin who drew the past few issues. Still, that didn't take away from enjoying one of the best modern Spirit tales to come around in quite some time.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Laugh Last and Laugh Best at the Joker 75th Anniversary Poll!

    It's the Joker's 75th Anniversary since his first appeared in the pages of Batman #1 all the way back in 1940. To celebrate, you might have noticed that DC Comics has released a slew of special Joker 75th anniversary covers. But if you really want to get in on the fun, then head over to Comic Book Resources and vote for your favorite top 10 Joker-centric moments of all-time.
    Be sure to read the official rules so your vote counts. Sadly, it's for comic books only as I'd surely nominate 'Christmas With the Joker' from Batman the Animated Series! Below is the template you can use. Be sure to include 'ACBC' in your post in the comments section along with your ballot so that good folks at CBR.com know to count your vote and make it private.

The deadline is 11:59 pm PST on June 30th.

  Happy Voting!

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ACBC

The Spirit #24

   Bodies seem follow wherever the Spirit roams. Or is it the other way around? The hero goes on a globetrotting adventure from the United States to the jungles of Cambodia to recover a missing artifact.  It seems that during the Vietnam War, a unit of soldiers came across a valuable idol near Phnom Penh. Since it would be impossible to bring the statue back to the states and so they form a tontine in which the last surviving member of the group would return to Central Asia and recover the priceless artifact for themselves. 

   Well, one of the vets has decided to end the wait prematurely and is killing off the rest of the unit one by one. But with a dwindling list of suspects, who is the killer and will the Spirit be able to stop the carnage before it's too late? 

   An instant classic by Sergio Aragones and Mark Evanier. The art by Chad Hardin continues to emulate Spirit creator Will Eisner's timeless style quite well. But I really would like to see MAD Magazine veteran artist Aragones give pencilling the Spirit a try. I think while it would be very cartoony, it would also be a rare treat for fans of both the legendary artist and the classic noir gumshoe.

   Worth Consuming

   9 out of 10 stars.

The Spirit #23 (Correct Version)

Cover by legendary artist
Joe Kubert.

Commissioner Dolan is pretty stressed and needs to relax. So his daughter Ellen and the Spirit take him out to a Dude Ranch for a much needed R & R. But the vacation turns into a working vacay when one of the fellow visitors is murdered during a horseback ride.

    I liked this issue as the art and writing were quite good. It was like reading a comic book version of an Agatha Christie novel, of which I am a fan of. There were intriguing characters with fascinating backstories that may or may not have anything to do with the crime committed. You just have to wade through the clues.

   However, I wasn't quite such a fan of the ending. It's not that the mystery wasn't crafted well or that the reveal was a total cop-out (one Christie novella had all of the victims being the murderer for God's sake!) But when the killer was revealed, as was his motive, I was expecting the criminal to say " ...And I would've gotten away with it if it wasn't for those meddling kids!" This wasn't the mystery machine folks!

   Worth Consuming but it has a very hokey cliched ending and an even cornier punchline.

   Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

San Andreas

 

  So, yesterday, I didn't get much of a chance to type up a review and that's for good reason. I spent my Saturday with my beautiful wife at the movies. The film we choose to see was the disaster film, San Andreas. Starring the Rock, Carla Gugino, and Paul Giamatti, I almost expected this film to be a disaster unto itself, but I was pleasantly surprised.

    The premise of the film is simple: California which is long overdue for a giant earthquake, experiences the biggest earth shaker in recorded history. The Rock (Dwayne Johnson) is a chopper pilot for the LA Fire Department and must rescue his estranged wife and daughter from a pair of quakes in the City of Angels and San Francisco. Meanwhile, a professor at Cal Tech played by the always great Paul Giamatti, has developed  a new system for predicting earthquakes and uses the new found knowledge to alert the general public thanks to an intrepid reporter played by Archie Panjabi of the Good Wife. 

   It's pretty standard disaster movie fare as everything that the expert warns about at the beginning of the film must occur (and does) before the end of the film. Throw it a handful of helpful survival tips, some incredible bad luck and even more unbelievable good luck and you have San Andreas. Oh, and don't forget the cliches such as the highrise door that plummets to nowhere, scientists yelling 'nobody is listening to me" and at least one super-heroic adrenaline filled toss of a child and/ or girl from impending doom!

   Now here's what surprised me: The Rock actually wasn't that bad of an actor in this movie. He was intelligent enough for me to believe that he could actually save the day. However, there was a couple of scenes, like one where a guy tries to carjack him that I was ready for the former wrestler to lift his trademark eyebrow and give the gunman a flying elbow. 

  Another thing that surprised me was that despite a recent commercial giving away the ending, mostly in particular who lives and who dies, I actually did not feel like that trailer ruined the entire movie. Plus the stunning visual effects were realistic enough for me to forget that blasted commercial and enjoy myself. Sadly, whoever was in charge of photoshop didn't do such a great job as old photos of the Rock's family looked like superimposed heads on a 1980s nuclear family.

    I had mentioned earlier that the Rock's acting wasn't so bad and it wasn't but who stole the film for me were the duo of Hugo Johnstone-Burt and Art Parkinson who play English brothers in San Francisco on holiday (that's British for vacation) and end up befriending the daughter of the Rock's character during the melee. I expect to see much more of them in the future, especially younger Parkinson whose already gained some fame as Rickon Stark from Game of Thrones.

   More of a feast for the eyes and that part of the brain that enjoys guilty pleasures. If Jurassic World is sold out, this isn't a bad alternative to turning around and going back home. 

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Fairy Tale Comics (Family Comics Friday)

   Ramona Fradon, Karl Kerschl, David Mazzucchelli, Raina Telgemeier, The Hernandez Bros., and many more. Editor Chris Duffy assembles all-star grouping of writers, artists, and inkers in this collection of Fairy Tale Comics. The mix of well-known Grimm fairy tales like 'Snow White' along with obscure Eastern European lore like 'The Small-Tooth Dog' and Asian classics like 'The Boy Who Drew Cats' was eclectic. I'm glad that Duffy decided to add those lesser known stories as I had never heard of them until now.

   (A funny coincidence: the same night after I read about the cat drawing boy, Whoppie Goldberg actually told the tale to Jimmy Fallon on the Tonight Show. I took it to be a sign that I had stumbled upon a hidden treasure and I did!)  

     I happened upon this book by accident at my library when from across the circulation desk I saw that it was just checked in. The book is from 2013 but honestly, I had never seen this book until just then. There's a companion piece to this anthology called 'Nursery Rhyme Comics." It too is edited by Duffy and I assume it's just as fun and whimsical as this book.

    The book is suggested for ages 6-12, but I think with the level of talented writers and artists in this book it's got an appeal for collectors of all ages. The book can be found on Amazon for less than $20.

    A very fun read.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.