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.

The Spirit #22 (Correct Version)

The cover is a tribute to Will Eisner's original series
in which the series title would play a part of the scene or action.

   When magicians begin popping up all over the city dead, it's up to the Spirit to solve the case and prevent a crime spree. Most of the stories in this series have been crime noirs that are heavier on action that actual crime solving. That changes here are there are dozens of clues littered throughout this book in which the reader is invited to solve before the protagonist can.
 
    You pretty much know from the start who the villain is. But like the Spirit, you're beginning from square one trying to determine a motive while figuring out just how they did it.  Honestly, I thought the solution stunk. It was so far fetched but the build-up and the conclusion in which the Spirit apprehends the villain was very good.

    The art by Chad Hardin and Wayne Faucher was also well done. They've been a great duo to attempt a reasonable facsimile of Will Eisner's timeless style. But they, along with the deft talents of writers Sergio Aragones and Mark Evanier, just aren't enough to make this a very memorable story because as I said the solution just wasn't all that great.

   Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

Batman #40 (The New 52!)

  This is it- the epic showdown between Batman and the Joker!

   Using the combined might of Gotham's superhero and villain community, Batman leads an army against the Clown Prince of Crime to prevent him from poisoning the entire city with an ultra-lethal level type of Joker toxin. The battle culminates with the two enemies battling each other mano-y-mano in the underground caverns of Gotham. With explosives detonating and the caves crumbling, the duo has an ultimate battle to the supposed death.

    That's right- I said death. But this isn't really a spoiler as the possible demises of the two characters have been covered in detail on Yahoo!, CNN, Facebook, Buzzfeed, and dozens more social media sites. However, I have a theory that one character survived. I won't tell you who but one of the two combatants suffers an injury to their left side of their chin and their right eye. At the end of the book, you see a man in shadow with a bandage to his left chin region and a patch over his right eye. So whoever it is... SURVIVED!

   I thought that this was the definitive final battle of Bruce Wayne's Batman and the Joker. Getting villains and heroes together to fight for the fate of Gotham City was brilliant. The utter carnage the two unleash on each other was epic! And the banter- oh my gosh...It was awesome. The Dark Knight literally forcing the Joker to cry uncle after the villain has made so many members of the Batman Family beg for their lives- classic!!!

   Now is the time of Jim Gordon as the Bat. I don't quite know how that's going to work out nor if it will be successful. But I almost want him to thrive because with this (possible) ending chapter to Bruce Wayne's story was in my opinion the only way Batman and the Joker should go out- together and at each other's throats!

   A fantastic job by writer Scott Snyder that is capped by a dynamic pencil and ink job by Danny Miki and Greg Capullo that channels the legendary Frank Miller. 

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars

Miles Morales: The Ultimate Spider-Man, Volume 1

Ok- I think the cover ruined Spoiler #2.

  

     It's a new series and a new life for Miles Morales, the Ultimate Spider-Man. After the assault on Roxxon Corp. Miles has some new allies in the form of SHIELD agent Ultimate Spider-Woman, feisty Bombshell, and the mysterious Cloak & Dagger. He also has a new family dynamic as the teen has been named a ward of the state as it's assumed that his father died during a recent visit from Galactus.

    In reality, Mr. Morales discovered that Miles is Spider-Man and blamed him for the death of his mother. It's been hinted that Miles' dad has a mysterious past and clearly having a son with super powers hit too close to home. But I have no idea when all of this happened nor which series it all takes place. It surely didn't happen in the pages of Ultimate Spider-Man! Thankfully, I know of these events now because of flashbacks and conjecture from other characters. But if not for these teasers I would've been clueless to about 50% of what's going on in this series.

   Along with these changes comes another villain from the Peter Parker Spider-Man's past. I don't want to spoil who it is, but it's a huge reveal. There's another big spoil in this book that involves a mysterious character and it very much could result in the end of Miles' claim to the mantle of Ultimate Spider-Man.

 But before any of this takes place, you're invited to a very special gathering of friends and family. It's been 2 years since the death of Peter Parker and Aunt May and Gwen Stacy have thrown a party to reflect and honor the fallen superheroes life. With tons of cameos and surprises, it was a very fun read that made me missed the original Ultimate Spidey series. It had heart, humor, and tons of food. It was perhaps the best recent story I've read in quite a while.

    The new series is just as good if not a teeny bit better than the first Miles Morales certain title. I still don't understand why Marvel needed to cancel that series and then immediately issue a new series (other than trying to cash in on those few readers who think an issue #1 will be worth big bucks one day.) The writing by Brian Michael Bendis is superior as always and the art was excellent. But like I mentioned earlier, if not for some very much needed flashbacks, I wouldn't have enjoyed this volume quite as much as I did.

  Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Showcase Presents: Eclipso

   After being scratched by a mystical black diamond, scientist Bruce Gordon finds himself a man cursed. Every time there is an Eclipse of the moon, Gordon changes into the evil Eclipso. Capable of knowing Gordon's every move, this villain will do everything he can to prevent the allies of the beleaguered scientist from stopping his reigns of terror which can only be ceased by a blinding flash of light.

   Eclipso is what we call a gimmick character as he and his alter-ego are powered and hindered by certain factors that must occur in order for the villain to appear or be stopped. Usually, a gimmick character is pretty lame as those established hindrances are used as literary devices to push the plot along. Often these devices are done to death and it gets annoying quick. For example, the Marvel character of Sleepwalker could only fight crime on earth when his alter ego went to sleep. So, you could expect when the hero was close to catching the bad guy, his host would, unfortunately, wake up.

   That's exactly what happens here with Eclipso as first! Each and Every time an eclipse would occur, Bruce would run off and start his Jekyll and Hyde transformation in Eclipso. I had to admit, I wondered just how many eclipses occur on a yearly basis! I'm almost 40 and I can really only remember about a dozen ever occurring in my lifetime.

   This must have been an issue that plagued DC and thankfully, the writers and editorial staff decided to keep this series fresh. Eventually, Bruce and his counterpart could exist separate from each other from time to time. Then it was established that Eclipso could be summoned by artificial means. Add to the mix a good Eclipso, a giant version, a negative villain not affected by bright light, and the occasional begrudging team-up with his nemesis, this actually made for a great read.

   This collection of stories is amongst one of the smaller treasuries from the Showcase Presents line. As I got to the end of this book, I actually got a little sad that this archive was coming to an end. Also, this book doesn't bear a volume number  and it was released almost 8 years ago so further collections aren't likely. (I've even tried to find info on a complete listing of Eclipso tales and other than the 20 or so stories in this collection, I can't find anything else with the character until 1992's Eclipso: The Darkness Within miniseries. I refuse to believe that there wasn't a single appearance of Eclipso for almost 30 years.)

A great offering of tales from DC's House of Secrets very hard to find Pre-1970s period. It was fun, entertaining, and it restored my faith in the oft-criticized gimmick genre.

  Worth Consuming

  Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Ultimate Comics Spider-Man, Volume 5

 

 It's been a year since Miles Morales' epic fight with Venom and the conflict still haunts him as it left one parent dead and the other crippled. Vowing to never again put friends or family into harms way, Miles has destroyed his suit and tried to go about life as a normal kid. But the life of a crime fighter isn't so easy to give up as friends, SHIELD agents, and superheroes are constantly trying to get Miles back in the game.

    It looks like the Ultimate universe will have to do without a Spider-Man. So when Miles witnesses an attack by the mysterious duo the media is calling Cloak & Dagger, his curiosity isn't peaked. That is until he learns that the ruthless Roxxon Corporation, that was behind Miles getting his spider powers, is now working behind the scenes attempting to recreate a new Spidey out of runaways and kidnap victims. Now it's full on war but will Miles fight alone or can he gain the trust of SHIELD and these new heroes in order to bring down the global giant?

    I'm not sure if Marvel had the entire Ultimate universe undergo a 'One Year Later' scenario or if it's just this title that jumps ahead 12 months. I've not been able to readily get my hands on other Ultimate Comics titles at my library. So, I'm not very familiar with anything else new under the Ultimates imprint. But, I liked the idea of having Miles' story jump ahead some.

   I've long felt that Miles was just too young and too frail looking to be Spider-Man. He has the attitude and the athletics but let's face it, he's a bean pole. With this transition, Miles has gained some much needed bulk and height. I'm not so afraid that if a strong guy like Juggernaut got a hold of him that he wouldn't break the kid in half anymore.

   Bendis continues to do a fantastic job with this new Spider-Man and the level of heart, angst, humor, passion, and action is top notch. Sadly, this volume is the last of Bendis' run on the Ultimate Comics Spider-Man title. Marvel has this hair-brained idea to now only run a series about 12 months to 2 years in order to produce better quality stories and, of course, make more money.

    (I mean, hey, if the cover says issue #1, it must be going to be worth a million days one day, right?)

But worry not true believers as Bendis, Miles,  and company will be back in the pages of Miles Morales: The Ultimate Spider-Man!

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Ultimate Comics Spider-Man, Volume 4

  After the battle that resulted in the accidental death of his uncle Aaron, Miles Morales' Spider-Man finds himself Public Enemy #1. On his trail is brash investigative reporter Betty Brant, who thinks she has a lead as to just who is behind the new mask of Spider-Man. But her snooping will result in a blast from the Peter Parker Spidey's past when Venom returns!  Believing Miles' father to be Spider-Man, Venom wages war on the Morales family. Sending mom and dad to the hospital, Miles must go on the attack or he'll be the next target on the enemy's hit list. Armed with the assistance of former Parker flames, Gwen Stacy and Mary Jane Watson, Miles will need all the intel and insight he can get in his first ever battle with the symbiote terror!

    It's been a few months since I last returned to the corner of the Ultimate universe. It wasn't because I didn't like the previous 3 volumes of this series. It's that I had to wait a very long time for my queue to pop up at my local library. That's how in demand this series is. 

     There's very little I don't like about the Miles Morales Spider-Man. Brian Michael Bendis gives this version of Spidey just as much care and attention to detail as he did to the Peter Parker incarnation. I know some cannot get over the fact that a Spider-Man is black. But that's never bothered me in the least. 

   My issue with the Morales wall-crawler is that he's so young and tiny. It's evidenced here in the fights scenes against gigantic Venom. In comparison, it looked like the villain could have snapped Morales in half like a twig and used his legs for toothpicks if he'd ever got his hands on the wily hero. Over the course of this series, Miles has inherited Peter's mantle, web-shooters, and powers. Now if he could inherit his muscle. 

   Not short on deft-defying acrobatics or zingers, this Spider-Man is here to stay, as long as a strong guy like Rhino doesn't catch him first!

  Worth Consuming
  
   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Showcase Presents: Superman Family, Volume 4

  When I was a little kid, it would be a special treat when my father would bring our his collection of comics from when he was a youngster. Born in 1955, my dad's collection was from the Silver Age of comics. So  most of my introduction into comics were titles from about 1956-1968. That's not a bad tutorial for a kid born in 1977 to have.

   My pop had things like the first appearance of the Barry Allen Flash, the Hal Jordan Green Lantern, and the Black Panther. (I later inherited these gems only to have them stolen by an older high school 'friend.') But my favorite comics were the ones that starred Superman, particularly those adventures that starred members of Superman's Family. Those titles included Superman's best friend Jimmy Olsen and the Man of Steel's best gal, Lois Lane.

    This collection reprints some of those gems from the Olsen and Lane titles. Ranging from 1959-1960, this book includes the first appearance of Jimmy as Giant Turtle Man, the beginning of the Imaginary Tales stories that pondered what would happen if Superman finally married Lois, and numerous cameos from another Superman Family favorite of mine- Supergirl!

    Featuring art from Silver Age legends Curt Swan and Kurt Schaffenberger, these stories are true American treasures. Sadly, just who wrote most of these classics has become lost to time or poor record keeping but you can see the deft handiwork of iconic DC editor, Julius Schwartz. The only thing missing would be a few ape covers because hey- gorillas sell books, kids!

   Besides being an anthology of some of the lesser known Superman titles, this was a time capsule to my childhood. It's been almost exactly 2 years since this title was published and a fifth volume in this series has yet to be issued. I hope DC hasn't given up on this series as there are at least another 10 years worth of stories left to be retold.

  Sometimes hokey, with some archaic views towards women and teens, but never boring, this is great stuff from the Silver Age that's totally Worth Consuming!

  Rating: 9 out of 10 stars

Princess Decomposia and Count Spatula (Family Comic Friday)

  

 Poor Princess Decomposia! Her father, the king, is a bit of a hypochondriac and hasn't left his bed for years. Thus, the Princess has become the unofficial official head of state. With very little time to herself and even fewer friends, she's very lonely, overworked, and unappreciated. So when the castle cook quits suddenly, the Princess must act quickly and she immediately hires a pastry chef who happens to be a vampire without fangs but a very mean sweet tooth.

    Armed with Count Spatula's vast array of culinary masterpieces, Decomposia is on the verge of finally succeeding as the Underworld's de facto leader. But as their friendship grows, a budding romance between the princess and chef begins to blossom. Soon, Decomposia starts to find time for herself and actually enjoy life. But when the rest of the castle staff begin to gossip that the zombie Princess is falling for a vampire, will the two live happily ever after or will the king put an end to this affair before love finally gets a chance to bloom?

    Princess Decomposia and Count Spatula is just such a great book. I love the title which is a play on Dracula. I thought the art though a little rough, was very whimsical and appropriate for this story. The plot was excellent and the dialogue was very clever. Each character had their own unique voice and dialect. And Imagination! WOW! Besides the numerous unique monsters that appear throughout this book (including a super creepy eyeball creature) the recipes that Spatula devices are culinary dreams!

As a professional chef, I think this book was neat and something needed in the comic book world. There're all sorts of titles devoted to superheroes, scientists, writers, soldiers, reporters, and the like. But where are the graphic novels about chefs? 

    If you've got an aspiring chef home then this is the book for them!  This is the type of book that as a kid if I read this, it would have inspired me to have become a chef a lot sooner that I did. It's got wonder, whimsy, and most of all heart. It's a true winner.

    The only thing I wish this book would've done was to explore the monster realm a little more. There's quite a bit about the goings on of the castle. But considering how wondrous the castle employees are, I'm sure the residents of the Underworld are just as creative. Maybe there'll be future volumes of the adventures of Princess Decomposia and Count Spatula. We can only hope!

A very quick read, this book, published by First Second, is geared for those in grades 6-10. It teaches valuable lessons about delegating, honesty, and friendship. Also, if you read a little between the lines and look at the potential romance of a zombie and a vampire, there's also a little lesson about race and how it can transcend cultures and overcome prejudice. Who knew graphic novels could be so deep?

   Worth Consuming.

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Legends of the DC Universe #41

   The final issue of Legends of the DC Universe threatens to tear apart the very fabric of the DCU. With only the most annoying character in the history of DC Comics to aid him, Snapper Carr, the Atom must literally race against time! His mission is to prevent the workings of Chronos from stopping time itself after the villain set up a battery to drain a time machine called the Time Pool of temporal energy. Left running, the battery is causing velociraptors, knights, tanks, and sink holes from all of history to converge on the Atom's home of Ivy Town.   

   Will the tiny hero be able to save the day before time runs out? 

   The final issue of this dynamic series ended with lots of time-bending action. I enjoyed seeing tanks and dinosaurs destroying a small town, but I would've liked to have seen more of it. More variety too. I kinda wanted to see some of the old Justice Society heroes or even villains from that era, but then I remembered that at this point in DC history, they would've been on Earth-2. So, I guess they couldn't have made an appearance after all. 

   I also found myself doing something I didn't expect- liking Snapper Carr. When he was first introduced in the pages of Justice League of America, he was nothing more than a glorified sidekick with the job of either writing down the latest adventures of some of the heroes or get himself into trouble. He was clearly around to appeal to the younger generation in hopes that those young readers might relate to the character. But why they didn't use Robin or Jimmy Olsen for that role is beyond me. Still, writer Rich Faber did a really excellent job in making this Snapper a more of a  down-to-earth character who lacks confidence and doesn't over congratulate himself with those annoying snaps of his. 

   Legends of the DC Universe was a fun series and I'm a little sad to see it go. The New 52 tried to revive this idea slightly with its 'DC Universe Presents' series, but it just wasn't the same. On the bright side, there's still an 80-page Giant that I've yet to find and add to my collection so I got that to look forward to. But with DC being on a kick to bring back some old favorites as a result of its Convergence storyline, I don't see why the publisher couldn't revamp this dynamic anthology series once again.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.