Doctor Who: Free Comic Book Day 2015 (Family Comic Friday)

This week's Family Comic Friday focuses on the classic British sci-fi series, Doctor Who. Now, you might be saying 'Wait a minute Madman, Doctor Who isn't for kids!" And you'd be wrong! When the show first aired in November 1963, not only was the show aimed at kids- it was an educational series to boot. One week, the Doctor would fight crazy aliens, the next he'd take his little blue box, the TARDIS, somewhere back in time and meet cavemen or Marco Polo. Eventually, the aliens and monsters episodes would prove to be more popular and the time travelling adventures would be phased out completely, unless the Doctor went back in time to meet someone like Shakespeare and battle some aliens posing as the three witches from Macbeth.

    Though Doctor Who is a little scary and a little violent, at it's very heart, this is a kids show. I started watching about 1981-82. This was when the first Peter Davison (The Fifth Doctor- My Doctor!) episodes as the Doctor were airing on PBS in America. I was 4 or 5 and I'd come home from Kindergarten and plop myself right in front on the tube and watch me some Doctor Who. I loved it!

   The series went away from American airwaves about 1986 and stopped being made altogether in 1988-89 in Britain. Years of waiting and rumors of the Doctor's return meant having to get your Who fixes by either watching old episodes on VHS or finding a novelization of his new adventures. We got a small glimmer of hope with a 1996 TV movie on FOX, no less. But it was another 9 years before the TARDIS would rematerialize on the airwaves. 

   From when Christopher Eccleston's Ninth Doctor advised his future companion Rose and us to "Run!" in 2005, three other actors have assumed the role. David Tennant's Tenth Doctor is by some considered the best Doctor of all-time. I would have to agree (though I am very fond of the Fifth Doctor.) Tennant's successor, Matt Smith is my wife's favorite and really the incarnation that helped make the series become more mainstream and more universally kid friendly. Currently, we are at Doctor #12, played by elder statesman, Peter Capaldi. His Doctor is a little more obtuse, grouchy, and very original series Doctor Who, but the kids and established fans love him anyway!

    If you want to catch up on any of the new Doctors in comics, Titan Comics is where it's at. Concurrently, they run 3 different Doctor Who series containing all-new adventures of the Tenth, Eleventh, and Twelveth Doctor. At this year's Free Comic Book Day, Titan offered a book that featured 3 short stories starring the Tennant, Smith, and Capaldi Doctors. Let's take a look at them individually:

   The first story starred the Capaldi Timelord as he and his companion Clara travel to a planet that's seen some odd storms brewing. When the Doctor discovers that the lightning in the storms is alive, he must rescue the creature before it overloads the power core of the planet's research station. The art was very good with great renderings of the Doctor and Clara. But, the story jumps around a little as if the script was deemed too long and edited for time. Only, those cuts removed vital information to making this a very coherent tale.

   Next up is Matt Smith's Doctor as he and his companions travel to London, 2015, where all of the residents are going ga-ga for Free Comic Book Day. The Doctor uncovers an alien plot in which the menace is using his comic to control the London populace. This was a very funny story. The only issue here was that the Doctor travels with 3 all-new companions and this short tale doesn't give very much time for the reader to adequately become familiar with them all.

    Lastly, we have the Tenth Doctor and his new companion Gabby. It's laundry day in the TARDIS and when the Doctor accidently leaves his handy sonic screwdriver in his coat pocket, it turns the dirt on his clothes into a rampaging gunk monster. The best story of the book- it had fun, adventure, and most of all hearts (as Timelords have 2 of them compared to humans who only have the one.)

    This Free Comic Book Day offering has me excited to start diving into these series; especially the Smith and Tennant books. One very awesome teaser at the end of the book was that Titan is to start publishing miniseries based on the 10 other versions of the Doctor with Eccleston's incarnation being first up.

    Another cool announcement (and the reason I choose this book for today's Family Comic Friday selection) is on August 15th (2 weeks from tomorrow), Titan will be hosting the second annual Doctor Who Comics Day at various comic book shops and libraries around the globe in celebration of the release of the first Titan Doctor Who Crossover event. Be sure to check the Doctor Who Comics Day page for more details. And then check with your local comics retailer or library to see if they are participating in this event. Hopefully, they are and you can pick up some free goodies, meet some fellow Whovians (fans of Doctor Who- DON'T LET ANYONE TELL YOU IT'S CALLED 'DWEEKS' AS THAT'S COMPLETELY FALSE!), and have to some fun!

   So, what are you waiting for- check out these fantastic comics today and become the newest companion to the Doctor!

   Worth Consuming

   Rating:  12th Doctor tale: 8 out of 10 stars.
               11th Doctor adventure: 9 out of 10 stars.
               10th Doctor story: 10 out of 10 stars.
    AVG Rating: 9 out 10 stars.

Silverblade #8

  Capping off another thrilling cliffhanger from the last issue, Jonathan Lord is no longer the Lord of the Undead. But he can never return to that persona least he suffer the ultimate fate of a vampire permanently: undead and thirsty for human blood.

   Meanwhile thanks to progress made between former enemy Blackfeather, Milestone, and the ghost of former TV star, Brian Vane, the ever growing group of allies to Jonathan and the Falcon spirit have discovered a way to track the Executioner, now posing in the form of the Winged Avenger, a character from a beloved 1960s superhero program.

   But the Executioner has other plans for Lord as he's forcibly convinced the producers of the Silverblade remake to hire Jonathan Lord, Jr. as the new Silverblade. Now, in devious fashion, the Executioner hopes that a workplace accident will be able to bring about Jonathan's demise and make the Falcon vulnerable to attack without his champion to fight in its stead.

     This chapter wasn't quite up to par with the previous two issues. However, some threads left dangling since issue 4 were returned to by having the Executioner kill off the murderous director whose assassination attempt on an elderly Lord turned him into the Silverblade. With the director's assistant now under the Executioner's power, the ultimate force of evil has another ally in his arsenal to destroy his polar opposite- the Falcon.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 our of 10 stars.

Silverblade #7

  Jonathan Lord is stuck in the form of Dracula. Unable to control his blood lust, one ally of the former actor has died and more will follow unless he can somehow change back into his younger self or another one of his myriad of characters as a Hollywood legend of the 40s and 50s. 

   Meanwhile, Lord's butler Milestone has made some serious progress learning about the precarious balance between the Falcon spirit and the Executioner spectre. With Blackfeather, now younger and an ally on the side of the Falcon, the forces may just have a chance to defeat the evil phantom inhabiting the Winged Avenger suit. But that may mean that Jonathan Lord must die in order to do it.

   Another thrilling chapter. The last issue was near flawless and this one doesn't disappoint. There are more realistic tidbits at the end of this issue that shed light on some of the mysteries in this series. They're awesome, but you have to play detective and read between the lines to solve them.

  I'm going to rate this issue with the full amount of star but will consider issue #6 my favorite issue of the series, thus far.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

The Manhattan Projects, Volume 1: Science. Bad.

Everything you know about the Manhattan Project is a lie. First of all- the quest to create a nuclear bomb was just a cover for a slew of experiments involving time drive, alternate dimensions, and other types of fringe science. Besides, we had the bomb years before we even used it...

   Well, that's according to the new series I started reading: The Manhattan Projects. The brainchild of Jonathan Hickman, I first learned of this series when I was getting his autograph at a convention a few years back. The guy in front of me had just about every issue getting signed so, I took some time to examine them (from afar, of course.) 

   The covers look almost identical to the cover to this premiere volume. They have a large black circle in the middle with the MP logo, art and writer credits, issues number, and price. Unlike Einstein being on this book's cover, the individual issues might have a subtle pop art-style difference like a color wheel or the Soviet Hammer and Sickle. 

    When my local library finally decided to pick up this series, it took me even longer to get into to it as volume 1 was checked out for several months. When I finally got my hands on it last week, I both slapped my forehead for taking so long to get into this dynamic series and did a small victory dance for finally getting this book into my possession.

    All of your favorite physicists from the Second World War are in this book. Oppenheimer, Fermi, Feynman, Daghlian, and the previously mentioned Albert Einstein. But by volume's end, the way you look at any of these pioneering scientists may just change how you look at American History and physics itself. 

     Hickman's brave new world is exciting and the art by Nick Pitarra. His style is very similar to that of Frank Quietly. The inking is pencil thin and with muted color tones and some gritty detailing, it's the perfect visual pairing with Hickman's unique look at 1940s science.

    If you like alternate timelines, historical fiction, time travel, or just science in general- you must read this book. I'm going to bet that Manhattan Projects is the series most of you, my dear readers, aren't reading! Run, do not walk, to your local comics shop or demand that your librarian carry this series.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Silverblade #6

  

 Seeking to end the reign of terror of the Executioner in the form of the Winged Avenger, Jonathan Lord has used his powers to assume his toughest role yet- the Lord of the Undead, Dracula. But the bloodlust is too much for Lord to control and as a result, one of the former actor's allies is killed in a most gruesome Hollywood fashion. 

   An interesting twist in a very interesting series that never ceases to amaze. With a cliffhanger that I didn't see coming (but I should), this is perhaps the best issue in the series thus far.

    The plot- flawless.
    The art- stunning.
    The book itself- Worth Consuming

    Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Silverblade #5

   With the Winged Avenger still on the loose, Jonathan Lord is taking the responsibility of super hero a littel more seriously. Thanks to the ghost of his former friend Brian Vane, Lord and manservant Milestone have gleaned vital information that puts Silverblade and his falcon spirit guide on the hunt of Native American shaman Blackfeather. The same Blackfeather who unleashed the falcon's antithesis, an evil entity called the Executioner and now posing as the Avenger.

     Once Lord finally locates Blackfeather, the newly forged super hero learns the hard hard way that nothning is as it seems and that potential enemies are in fact allies. However, that also means that those the former actor considered friends could very well be enemies.

   The action of this chapter was quite good. But the whole concept of the Winged Avenger seemed to go to the wayside once Jonathan Lord found Blackfeather. Some of Silverblade and Blackfeather's origin is revealed and that helped reveal some of the mysteries that have been building thus far. But really, what's the deal with the Executioner? Will he return? And just where did he go?

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Silverblade #4

    In the last issue, a seance gone horribly wrong resulted in the death of a family in the Hollywood hills. Used in the ceremony was an old costume of deceased actor Brian Vane's. During the late 60s, Vane was a crimefighter called the Winged Avenger. Like TV's Batman, the show was hokey but it was a camp classic. It was also the last series Vane worked on when he killed himself so it's the perfect conductor to summon the actor's spirit. Only, the man leading the seance, an elderly Native American named Blackfeather had other intentions and used the costume to become the vessel for a malevolent entity called the Executioner. 

    Now, the Executioner in the guise of the Winged Avenger is wreaking havoc over the skyline of Hollywood. Thankfully, there's Jonathan Lord to the rescue. In the form of his most famous character, the Silver Blade, Lord is currently a fierce gargoyle with the ability to flying. Which is perfect, since the Winged Avenger can fly too! 

   Another really good chapter in a maxi-series that I think is finally going somewhere. Obviously, the Executioner is an enemy of the Falcon spirit and the Falcon sensing that someone was about to unleash it, bestowed special powers on Jonathan Lord in hopes he'll combat it. But only when the Winged Avengers tries to kill friends of the former actor, does Jonathan finally take action. 

   Speaking of action, this issue was jammed packed with it. The aerial scenes between the two flying combatants were some of the most visually stunning this side of Spidey taking on the Green Goblin or even the Vulture. Gene Colan shows that he truly is a master in those pages.

    Another neat feature starting to pop up in the issues are bits of articles, selected filmographies, and important documents that shed a little light on the characters in this story. Those extras help to make this story seem like it was plucked right from the Hollywood tabloids and I suspect that Alan Moore borrowed this concept in his numerous 'League of Extraordinary Gentlemen' series. (He was working at DC at the time of this book's publication, so it is possible. But if I have offended Mr. Moore for this suggestion, I do apologize.)

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Silverblade #3

   For the past two issues, a demented filmmaker has been trying to kill Jonathan Lord and his 'son', who is actually Jonathan blessed with some mysterious powers to made him decades younger. Well, for someone near and bear to him, the third time will be the charm as yet another group of hired assassins attacks Lord's compound of Shangri-la. Yet another twist in a series that I haven't got a clue as to where's it's headed, I'm really enjoying this series. 

    The book starts with a whole family being murdered during a seance, then Lord and his new girlfriend are called in to investigate, and then when you think this is going to become a supernatural thriller, the movie turns into Lethal Weapon with hire goons reaping major carnage on the shores of Malibu.

 One other interesting turn has Lord's manservant, Milestone, being harassed by a group of spirits. First is the mystical entity that was inside the Maltese Falcon statue that gave Lord his magic powers. The second is that of Brian Vane, a fellow actor on the original Silver Blade with Lord and Milestone. Vane witnessed the seance attack as it took place in the very house in which he committed suicide. This ghost knows who killed the family and now armed with the Falcon Spirit and a former colleague, Silverblade is on the hunt for the two pairs of killers- one human and one otherworldly. 

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars
   

Silverblade #2

   Jonathan Lord just received a slew of new super powers. He's got the ability to become any of the characters he played in his lengthy acting career. He also gains their abilities, too! And he just got younger by about 40 years. But instead of becoming a superhero, Jonathan does what most of us would do- he uses his powers for himself.

    First on his list is to arrive at a high-profile movie premiere and announce to the world that Jonthan Lord, Jr is gunning for the lead role in the Silver Blade remake! Along with becoming the envy of the Hollywood elite and scoring with a hot babe reporter, J Lord, Jr. has also become a target of the same villain who tried to kill him in the first issue. And he's using a man dressed as the sam duck-faced killer in the movie premiere to do they job left unfinished at Lord's Shangri-la compound.

   Having Lord be more selfish than trying to help his fellow man was kinda refreshing. Instead of the typical superhero fodder, the act of having the main character be more interested in reviving his career and sow some oats means that I, the reader, am in for an unexpected wild ride.

   I can't wait for what happens next. But I do hope it gets somewhere understandable quick.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Jurassic World

    On the same day that the film became the 3rd highest grossing movie of all-time and that it was announced that a sequel was now in the works, I finally saw Jurassic World. I am a huge fan of the movie and an even bigger fan of the original novel by one of my favorite writers, Michael Crichton. Oddly enough, out of all 4 films in the Jurassic series, this was the first one I saw in theaters. 

    Jurassic World takes place some 20 years after the first film. The dream of John Hammond has finally been realized and Isla Nublar has been converted into the technological theme park marvel, Jurassic World. The park is run by super-efficient park manager Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard) who has trouble seeing the human side of things. Her nephews are visiting the park for the week, but she doesn't even have any time for them as she is super busy wooing prospective corporate sponsors for the park's newest coming attraction- the Indominus Rex.

   This hybrid dinosaur is super stealthy and wicked mean. It's proof of what Jeff Goldblum's character, Ian Malcolm, in the first film advises- 'Man should not play GOD!' When the hybrid manages to break loose, it's up to ex-Navy Seal Owen (Chris Pratt) to save the day. He's been working on a super secret project with Jurassic World's genetic research parent  company InGen involving the training of velociraptors as army weapons. 

    During the melee, Claire realizes that her nephews are unaccounted for and seeks Owen's help to rescue them. While on their rescue mission, they see first hand the carnage of the Indominus Rex, who isn't killing for food but sport, setting itself up to become the dominant thunder lizard of the park. However, there are several species of dinosaur ready to challenge the Indominus as alpha dog as the giant creature destroys park attraction after park attraction and unleashes a hell on the visitors of the park some 65-million years in the making. 

    Jurassic World was an excellent film. It's no Jurassic Park and it doesn't really try to be. However, there are several easter eggs that elude to that classic film and it pays a respectable homage to it without being gaudy or flashy. 

    Yes, there are a few plot devices that were borrowed from the original film and some cliches were telegraphed from the beginning. Particularly as you could tell from when certain characters were first introduced in the film that they would become dino-chow by the time the credits roll. However, the film was a fresh take on a film series over 2 decades old and I didn't feel like I've seen this movie before. (Well, there was one scene in which a flock of flying dinos terrorize the park. I remember leaning over to my wife and saying 'Where's Ian Zeiring (of the Sharknado films) when you need him?")

    The acting was quite good and both Howard and Pratt steal just about every scene they are in which is saying something as there are dinosaurs in just about everyone one of those scenes. Without giving away too much of the end of the film, I will say that I am glad both are set to return in the sequel but I really haven't the foggiest clue how they are going to be able to do a 2nd (technically 5th) film after the amount of dino-destruction Jurassic World occurs.

    A fun 2-hour ride that really puts you in the film. I didn't see the movie in 3-D as that technology gives me massive headaches. But I could see how many would think this movie was made only to be seen in that format. It should be noted- if you see the film in regular 2-D, some scenes will look grainy and I think that is because those scenes were particularly shot to be viewed in 3-D.

    Worth Consuming

    Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Teen Titans Go!: Thunder and Lightning Strike! ( A Family Comic Friday Extra!)

  

Reprinting Teen Titans Go! #6

In this library edition of Teen Titans Go!, a pair of brothers with the powers of thunder and lightning are reaking havoc over the city in which the Titans love so dear. The entire city will come crashing down if the Titans don't act quick enough. However, it seems that their interference in a domestic dispute is just making things worse. It's up to level-headed Raven to save the day and the city.

Another masterpiece from J. Torres covering the first animated incarnation of the Teen Titans on Cartoon Network. The story itself was pretty good and it would have been excellent if you had removed Thunder and Lightning from the story altogether. That right, I said it, the main villains of the story were NOT needed.

 First of all- they look rediculous. Lightning looks like a knock-off of fan favorite Firestorm (and mine too!) Whereas, Thunder looks like a gorilla in a samurai costume. This is really strange as their DC Universe comic book design look nothing like the actual characters in the DC Universe. Notice the image of the cover of Superman #303 below. Now compare it to the image of this hard cover edition of Teen Titans Go! #6. They look like 2 different sets of characters.  
  
  Another problem I had with these dueling siblings is how silly they are. Lightning mishears Thunder who is giving him sage advice to control his powers over an otherwise crowded city. Thinking it to be an insult, a clash ensues. How can you mishear thunder? It's like super loud! You can hear it three counties over without mistakes. Sheesh...
    
   Torres and the gang rarely drop the ball in this series. That was until this one. However, I put some of the blame on the animation staff at Cartoon Network. It's mentioned at least 3 times that this is the return of the weather-themed duo. So, the archetype for both the look and atittudes of Thunder and Lightning apparently were first established on the Teen Titans TV show. If Torres was bound to use that version of the villains in this comic, then he was severely handicapped before have even typed up the first page of the script.

    There's a website that publishes Garfield cartoons without Garfield in them. If that site could take this issue and remove the baddies from it, this book would make a great read. It might make for some awkward and confusiing moments but it would still be a better read without them in it.

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

(Note: Like the other library editions in this series, a glossary of terms, discussion questions, and writing exercises are included in the back. However, this volume did not include an activity page as others have for some reason.)
    

Adventures in Cartooning: Characters in Action (Family Comic Friday)

 

When a knight errant and his trusty steed come across some seedy characters in the forest, they learn that their beloved king is in peril. At the castle, the knight discovers that the king is missing and a famous director has decided to hold casting calls for his replacement. But the knight will have to get in line to audition if he's interested in the job.

   Adventures in Cartooning: Characters in Action is one in a series of books presented by the Center for Cartoon Studies. Just what is the Center for Cartoon Studies? It's an educational institution based in Hartford, Vermont. The school's focus is on sequential art, primarily cartooning. Adventures in Cartooning is written and drawn  by James Sturm, Andrew Arnold, and Alexis Frederick-Frost: graduates from the CCS. 

    This 2013 book is like Schoolhouse Rock or Sesame Street in that they make learning fun again. Here, the series creators take a bizarre situation, such as a director turning a castle into a movie set, and add details that inform you on how to best draw characters. For Example, there are two characters that look like Albino peanuts and they can change into anything. They are also father and son. But how can you tell? Well, it's explained by the bigger 'peanut' that his son has a smaller body and larger head proportionately compared to his. 
  
   At the end of the book, the knight is taught by his friend the Magic Cartooning Elf how to draw characters. One of the steps he teaches our hero is that when drawing kids make their heads larger than their bodies. Hmm... I wonder where I heard that tip???

    Adventures in Cartooning takes the beloved art of drawing and creating and boils it down to a more age appropriate level. When I was a kid just about the only art book for those under the age of 21 was 'How to Draw the Marvel Way.' But the art was so advanced in that book for a kid the age of 11 to copy that I got frustrated that my stuff looked nothing like the experts and I gave up quick. 

   I'm not saying The Marvel Way isn't a good book. In fact it's a classic! But it's just too much for children of ages 6-13 to master. I'm ecstatic that the CSS has issued these books. But I'm a little jealous too as I wish I had books like this growing up! If your child is interested in possibly becoming a cartoonist or just want to learn how to draw in general- run, don't walk, to your computer or iPhone and order all of the books in this series. 

   Along with Characters in Action, the other books in the Adventures in Cartooning series, published by First Second are:

• Adventures in Cartooning (2009)
• Adventures in Cartooning Activity Book (2010)
• Adventures in Cartooning: Christmas Special (2012)
• Sleepless Knight  (2015)
• Gryphons Aren't So Great (2015)

Check these books out, your children and the next generation of comic book enthusiasts will thank you!

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

By the way, if you have a child or teen who is interested in one day becoming a cartoonist or involved in the comic book industry, check out the website for the Center for Cartoon Studies. It's never too soon to start getting ideas about college and they might even offer camps and have other links for getting your child on the right track to becoming the next Jack Kirby or Alex Ross.

Go Set A Watchman by Harper Lee

 

  The literary event of 2015 asks the question, 'When is a sequel not a sequel?' Though Go Set A Watchman follows up with Scout, Atticus, Jem, Calpurnia, and many more characters from Lee's 1960 masterpiece To Kill A Mockingbird it is not a sequel to the award winning classic. Instead, this book was actually the first draft for Mockingbird.

    Harper Lee finished the manuscript for this book in 1957. Her publisher liked this book but felt that it lacked a concrete plot. Also, editor Tay Hohoff felt that the flashback parts of when Scout, Jem, and Dill were kids were the best parts of the book and encouraged Lee to start over with that time period. 

I'm so glad Harper Lee listened to Hohoff.

    See, Mockingbird is my favorite book of all-time and though I read more comic books than fiction these days, I was counting down the days until this book dropped on July 14th. I'm such a fan of TKAM that I've read the book like 7 times (and it's the only novel I've read more than once, except for school assignments.) I'm such a fan of TKAM, I pre-ordered this book on Amazon. I'm such a fan of TKAM, I even paid a little extra on shipping so that the book was delivered to my door on the day the book came out. 

    Go Set A Watchman is a book fraught with controversy. First many question as to whether this book was actually written by Harper Lee. Some point to her deteriorated state. Born in 1926, the 89-year old Pulitzer Prize winner is now deaf and blind and some critics feel that her guardians pushed for this book's release in order to exploit and extort from the beloved civil rights figure. 

   Another source of controversy is how much Atticus Finch changed from being a champion of the lower class and  people of color during the Depression to a dyed in the wool bigot at the height of the 1950s civil rights movement, particularly eyeing the NAACP as a threat to the way of life of Southern Whites. Such a change left not only only daughter Scout Finch disillusioned but many readers as well. 

    I for one overlook this change in the Finch family patriarch. For one thing as I mentioned earlier, this book was a rough draft. Reports say that Lee put this book in a safe deposit box sometime between 1957 and 1960 and then forgot about it until her lawyers and accountants discovered it in 2014. In her elderly state, I doubt she made any changes to the original manuscript and it was published as-is.

   Another factor that may prove my theory right is Scout's recollection of Atticus' defense of a one-armed black man when she was a little girl. In this book, Tom Robinson was acquitted! Yet in Mockingbird, poor Tom was found guilty despite Atticus proving that Bob Ewell severely beat his daughter Mayella! 

    With inconsistencies between the two novels, readers of this book will need to take it with a grain of salt. Don't read this book as a sequel as much as a return to some of the most beloved characters in 20th Century American literature. The scenes of Scout, Jem, and Dill are the best parts of this book (especially when the trio play Revival.) 

   The rest of the book was quite interesting with Scout returning to her hometown of Maycomb in her 20s from living in the Big Apple for several years (though for the life of me, I have no idea what Jean Louise did for a living as it's not even mentioned.) However, Scout roams around the small town having debates about love, life, and equality while having those childhood flashbacks of her's with any and everyone she meets. Like the main character, this book lacks direction and jumps from place to place as well as points in time from Scout's childhood to becoming a young woman to her previous return visits from up North. 

   Even though this book is like a compass without a needle, Go Set A Watchman is going to become a classic if only for the fact that it's a lost work of the elusive Harper Lee who only wrote one other published book. Watchman is like when JRR Tolkien's son posthumously published scores of the Middle Earth creator's notes and unfinished pieces on the Lord of the Rings trilogy- it gives glimpses of already established and much loved characters but it doesn't change the main body of work published by the author who I might add is a talented storyteller. 

   Since this isn't an official sequel to To Kill A Mockingbird you the reader have every right to accept the parts you enjoyed as canon and reject those you hated. So if you dislike that Atticus Finch becomes more like Archie Bunker when the NAACP comes to town, then you can just say 'That's not how that happened.' You won't be right or wrong. You'll be an observer from afar, watching life in the 1950s Solid South. You may be offended. You may be vindicated. But no matter what view you take, at least you'll be a little entertained when you do.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Archie Vs. Sharknado #1

Just when you thought it was safe to walk on dry land!!!  Recently, the Archie gang has meet super group KISS, competed with the kids from Glee, fought zombies, and evaded Predators. Now, the Archies tackle the phenomenon known as Sharknado!

   When a massive Sharknado attacks Riverdale, Archie and Dilton and the rest of the gang must use brains and brawn to save their beloved town. Featuring all of your Archie Universe favorites including Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Moose, Josie and the Pussycats, and Mr. Weatherbee. No one is safe and by the end of this issue some fan favorites WILL be reduced to fish food.

Don't let the variant cover fool you- the classic style of Archie, Jughead, and Hot Dog abounds in this one-shot tie-in with the Syfy Channel franchise. That makes for one strange comic. Imagine the Riverdale students you remember, covered in blood, killing man-eating sharks, and being dismembered. (Note picture below.) This isn't the Archie Comics you grew up with and yet in a very morbid way this is the same Archie of your youth who can't decide between Veronica or Betty. And even more oddly, this works!

   

   Even though this is drawn in that all-ages family friend look by long-time Archie Comics artist Dan Parent- this is not a book for everyone. There's no sex or cursing, but younger readers might not be able to handle this level of shark induced carnage. Though I cannot find one for this book, it's got to be considered at least rating of Teen.

    Released just today, this book came out in time for tonight's Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! on Syfy. I think it's extremely clever. So brilliant, that I, a collector notorious for not buying books when new, had to rush out as soon as I was done with work and snag a copy. Sadly, I could only find the variant covers available at my local comics shop.

 (Side Note: regular cover A and variant C, which features the classic version of the Archie Gang was sold out at the comic book store I went to. In fact, I've been told that the classic-style covers are outselling the modern looks about 5-1! Proof that fans can handle more mature stories drawn in that iconic style that has thrived for over 40 years! Take that Mark Waid and Fiona Staples!)

Like a train wreck, you can't look away and there's a wickedly morbid fascination with tornadoes filled with sharks. Living in North Carolina, where there're been about a dozen shark attacks in the past month, I actually don't see this as taboo either. (#guiltypleasure) I can't believe I'm going to say this but in terms of Archie Vs. Sharknado, I'm hooked!

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Silverblade #1

  Jonathan Lord had it all- good looks, a lucrative movie career, ladies, fame, and fortune. Bad decisions, vices, and age have caused Jonathan to loose just about everything except his mansion Shangri-la and a modest nest egg, thanks to his most famous role the Silver Blade, which is due to be a blockbuster at movie theatres next summer. Now, a virtual recluse, Lord stays in his private screening room, watching his younger self on screen over and over.

    Jonathan's butler Bobby Milestone, is a former child actor who starred in the Silver Blade with Jonathan. Unable to find work, Milestone ended up becoming Jonathan's butler. As a hobby, Milestone collects replicas of the Maltese Falcon which he finds at memorabilia shops around Hollywood. Looking to rob Shangri-la for a big pay day and possible snuff out Lord on the side, Milstone's collection is destroyed by a pair of thugs. 

   Yet, when one of his newest acquisitions that winds up being the actual Maltese Falcon, breaks on impact, the former movie legend is blessed with magical powers of a all-consuming flame that bathes Jonathan. Now with the ability to become any of the characters he portrayed on screen and suddenly 40 years younger, what will Jonathan Lord do with his new lease on life?

    I had seen ads for this maxi-series from 1987-88 since I started collecting comics again in 2007. But it wasn't until a year ago that I finally found several of these issues at a comic book store in Asheville. It took a few more months but I finally completed this collection and was ready to read it and then I got busy reading other stuff. That was until I came across an ad in an old issue of something from DC and it sparked my interest to give this series a go.

    The first chapter starts off slow. But I assume that will 11 more issues, the build-up in introducing the major players was sorely needed. Once the robbers attack Lord's compound, the story, written by Cary Bates (Justice League of America, Superman), really took off. Next thing I know it, the story says 'to be continued' and I've reached the back cover. 

   The art team behind this series is an all-star group of some of the best talents in DC Comics history. Gene Colan, Joe Orlando, Anthony Tollin, and Klaus Johnson are just a handful of the talented artists that worked on this series. Oh, if only this was the 90s and I could've gotten this issue signed. Man, that would've been a treasure.

   Not bad for an opening chapter. It shows promise. I just expect a lot more in issue #2.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Daredevil Volume 2: West Coast Scenario (Marvel NOW!)

   

   Mark Waid continues his epically fun run of the Man Without Fear in this volume that doubles as a tie-in to the 'Original Sin' storyline. In that miniseries, a character called the Orb has caused superheroes to relive their deepest darkest secrets. With Daredevil, he has visions of his beloved father abusing him and his mother, Maggie. Seeking answers, Daredevil learns that his mother has been arrested and extradited to Wakanda without due process. In order to save her, Daredevil will have to call in some favors at SHIELD and pull a few shrewd  legal eagle maneuvers that borderline as an international incident. 

   But before all that, celebrate Daredevil's 50th Anniversary with a special issue that looks at two potential futures and a rather forgettable moment in Matt Murdock's history. The first story takes place in the distant future of San Francisco in which something has caused most of it's residents to lose their vision. Speak about the blind leading the blind... Then in a prose story, a possible wife of Murdock's writes her last will and testament along with some of her personal history with the hero, to her unborn child. It's a chilling story that leaves the reader breathless at the very end. Lastly, while Murdock and Nelson are closing their practice, Reed Richards uncovers the last will and testament of Matt's twin brother Mike. It's a goofy tale taken from a rather goofy time in the life of Daredevil as a way to throw Foggy and Karen Page of the scent that Matt Murdock is really a superhero.

    Then wrapping up this volume is a story involving a villain named the Purple Man. I'm not familiar with this guy, but he's super strong, nigh invulnerable, has wicked mind control powers- oh did I mention he's purple. He just may be my new favorite Daredevil villain. I really would like to find more tales starring this super creepy baddie!

    A lot happens in this volume but Mark Waid and his artist in residence, Chris Samnee, did another marvelous job chronicling another chapter of the Daredevil family. (Okay- the Mike Murdock story was corny, but it ended on a high note.) Secrets are revealed, mysteries finally solved, and a lot of kick-butt action and thrills is had by all players. Another triumph of dynamic writing and cutting-edge art- both of which are lightyears ahead of their time

     Worth Consuming

    Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Krull #2

    King Colwyn has found the Glaive, a mystical weapon that has the power to destroy the Beast, an evil being laying siege to the Monarch's planet of Krull. But, Colwyn's quest is far from over as now he must discover where his enemy's citadel is before it vanishes once again in order to rescue his betrothed Princess Lyssa. Along with that, members of Colwyn's party dropping like flies making his heroic quest that much more difficult. 

    While the first issue of this two-parter was fraught with the standard fantasy cliches, this half was more exciting and less predictable. With deception, humor, and a mysterious cyclops, this miniseries actually has me excited to see this movie- warts and all. Though the ending was (as I remember seeing on TV recently) a bit hokey. (However, with the promise of a galactic savior on the horizon, I think a publishing company like IDW should create a follow-up to this film. Hey, Krull does have a cult status, people.)

    I know that Krull is one of those films that 'so good, it's bad.' But with early appearances of actor's Liam Neeson and Robbie Coltrane, this could be a fun little time capsule into early 80s British cinema. Now, if only I could find this movie on TV again...

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

    

Krull #1

See that metal star? That's the glaive
needed to beat the beast in the background.

  On the planet of Krull, a malevolent entity called 'Beast' from space has arrived laying waste to the peaceful inhabitants of the medeval world with his horde of 'Slayers'. The being's dark fortress changes location every evening, making it impossible to garner an assault. The only hope for the planet is to fulfill an ancient prophecy that says if the oldest son and daughter from two rival clans unite in holy matrimony, then the evil one will be destroyed and that their heir will one day rule the entire galaxy. 

   But before Prince Colwyn can marry Princess Lyssa, the Beast's army interrupts the ceremony, kidnapping the girl and killing off the rest of the royal family. Only Colwyn survives and guided by a ceremonial elder, he searches for a mystical weapon called the 'Glaive', the only thing powerful enough to destroy Beast. Now king, Colwyn begins his quest, mounting an army in search of the glaive in order to make a final assault on the Beast's citadel and save his beloved Lyssa.

    The first of a two-part Marvel Movie adaptation of the British sci-fi fantasy film of the same name. Krull is from 1983 and it shows. Once Star Wars came out, studios tried to capture that same formula and failed miserably more often than not. 

   Now, I vaguely remember this film as a kid. But, I think it's because I owned the issue and probably was in the same room where my dad, his brothers, and my grandpop were watching it on HBO. Recently I was flipping channels and came across the last 5 minutes of the movie and marveled at how hokey the special effects were. I felt like Mystery Science Theatre 3000 missed a huge opportunity by not covering this flick on one of it's episodes.

   As for the comic, it was okay. Some of the plot is cliched. It's like every fantasy movie has to have the hero go off on an epic quest, meet up with an assortment of oddballs who just happen to have the exact skills needed to achieve victory, oh and yes, a damsel in distress. But there were several characters in this book that were engaging and that I sorta liked. So, this wasn't a bad read. Plus for a Marvel Movie Adaptation, the art wasn't terrible (and I've read some stinkers in my time.)

   But Lord of the Rings, this ain't.

   Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

fishFishFISH (Family Comic Friday)

   Lee Nordling and Meritxell Bosch, the team behind the dynamic 2014 book BirdCatDog, explore the murky deeps of the ocean in fishFishFISH! This 2015 graphic novel once again uses the revolutionary concept of BirdCatDog in which there are 4 different ways to read this book. 

    First you can travel with the little yellow fish as he swims in the deep blue sea all by his lonesome. Second, you can trail the big, bad barracuda on the hunt to fill his belly. Or thirdly you can join the school of fish as they make friends amongst the coral. Or you can read how the stories all three subjects in this book intertwine by reading the whole page from top left all the way to the bottom right. 

   Although this book took a little while for all three stories to really gel but by the halfway point Nordling and Bosch crafted a really excellent story that was exciting and fun. (Side note: just where are all fish swimming at, Atlantis? With sunken ships, broken pottery, and damaged statues either a cargo fleet for ancient Greece's version of Pottery Barn hit a massive storm or these fish are the new residents of the fabled sunken city of yore!)

   Though there are no words in this graphic novel, this is a great graphic novel for readers of all ages, especially aspiring artists and writers. With the unique format that tells each character's story individually and as a whole, this book is a great tool for teaching children about sequential art, plotting, and intermingling of storylines. The art may be cartoony, but the lessons it teaches about story structure make this (and it's sister book BirdCatDog) required reading for kids who dream.

  Worth Consuming

  Rating: 9 out of 10 stars

We Are Pirates by Daniel Handler

I read another traditional book- in less than a month. And it was a novel to boot! What am I, sick or something?
   
   In We Are Pirates, a young girl named Gwen is going through the growing pains of becoming a young woman. Feeling unwanted and bored, she goes on a shoplifting spree. Caught by security, Gwen is forced by her parents to volunteer at a retirement home as punishment. Assigned to a patient who was a former Navy man and amateur nautical historian, Gwen becomes enamored with the idea of becoming a pirate. With elderly Errol, his nurse Manny, Gwen's new best friend Amber, and an accidently shanghaied boy named Cody, Gwen leads the team to steal a fake pirate ship and lay scourge to San Francisco Bay.

  In We Are Pirates, Phil Needle is under the gun to finish production on a new radio program about American outlaws. Without a title and an assistant, Phil Needle makes some rash decisions in order to complete his first episode in time for a broadcasting convention. This leads Phil Needle to hire a young girl named Alma as his new secretary, but his choice may lead him down a path that could ruin his career, marriage, and relationship with his wayward daughter Gwen.

    Now, I didn't suffer a wrinkle in time or anything like that. We Are Pirates is basically two stories in one, with seemingly mundane events in one plot making lasting impacts on the other. But that doesn't make for easy reading.

   We Are Pirates was written by the crafty mind behind Lemony Snicket. But he doesn't just write prose for kids. Wen writing under his real name of Daniel Handler, the author also writes adult novels. I stress the word 'ADULT' here. This book has sex, graphic murder, sex, language, angst... did I mention the sex? So don't go buying this book for your children under the assumption that this is an innocent as one of Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events (which I did!) This book has adult themes, adult ideas, and some very frank talk about sex acts.

  Another problem I had with this book is that Daniel Handler does not seem to know how to transition from the past to the present. He'll mention a memory of either Gwen's or Phil Needle's, then get back to the present and then out of the blue, we're back in the past without any sort of warning from the writer. Handler's paragraphs seem to go on forever whereas grammar classes teach us that a well-structured paragraph should be around 3-5 sentences each.

(By the way- if every time you read the words 'We Are Pirates' you then hear the 'bum-bum-bumpbump, bada-bum-bum-bumbum-bump' from those Farmer's Insurance commercials well you're not alone.")

   Also, in terms of timing, each chapter is split into two parts. One-half of each chapter will revolve around Phil Needle with the other starring Gwen. However, Phil Needle's part might take place a week before Independence Day while Gwen's segment occurs during the last week of May. Yet for some reason except for the first and last chapter, the author doesn't tell the reader when said events occur in the timeline. Even worse the story jumps around in each chapter and doesn't follow a linear sequence of events meaning Gwen's actions in chapter 3 may take place a month before what she did in chapter 2. (Again without any acknowledgement that the story jumped back in time.)

   I would rate this book very low if it wasn't for the crafty way Handler ties everything in by the final page. It's quite clever on the level of 'Reservoir Dogs' or 'The Usual Suspects.' But I don't want to give away too much in order to ruin the twists and turns that evolve in this novel.

   So does that mean what you think I'm thinking...

 That's right, I'm recommending this book and I also consider it Worth Consuming. Just trust me when I say you need to push through as some segments won't make any sense until the very end. Believe me, it's worth the wait and the read.

   Worth Consuming

  Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

(Oh, any to answer the question: NO, I'm not sick. I've just been in the mood to tackle some non-comic book summer reads. As the great Phil Needle says 'It'll pass. It's just a phase."

 

 

Dakota North #5

 The groundbreaking series from 1986-87 comes to a close after only 5 issues. Dakota reunites with her brother, but they both find themselves in the clutches of a deranged sheik who uses falcons are weapons. Though the ins and outs of this caper (beginning all the way in issue #1 with her first client, a besieged fashion designer) are finally revealed, this issue ends with more questions than answers such as:

• What happened to Ricky's girlfriend, the former teenaged assassin?
• Did Luke the designer end up with his loyal assistant who pined for him the entire series?
• and did Dakota's father get killed or did his new love just happen to be holding a revolver?

    Dakota North pops up in various other titles over the next 3 decades but to my knowledge, her backstory is secondary to the title's star in which she is guesting. These 5 issues have never been collected in trade form (to my knowledge) so the chance of any treasury collecting her minor roles is slim to none. So I guess I'll have to wiki-read up on her exploits. 

    If you take away the ending, issue #5 maintained the same amount of quality, humor, and action that filled the previous 4. I'm not sure who to blame for the ending. I honestly think co-creators Martha Thomases and Tony Salmons intended for this series to go longer than it did. (If fact, at the end of this issue, there is an ad for subscribing to Marvel Comics and Dakota North is listed as one of the titles available for subscription.) So when the powers that be at Marvel informed them of the sudden cancellation, they had to scramble to tie up the loose ends. But as I said, the ending left me with more questions. 

(If any of my readers can give me some more info on Dakota North or recommend any other titles to keep up with her exploits, please feel free to leave me a comment.)

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Archie #1 (2015)

Archie #1 came out with over 20 variant covers.
This is the cover to issue #1U, art by T-Rex.

    

 74 years after his debut in issue #22 of Pep Comics, the powers that be decided to reboot Archie Andrews and his gang. Tackling that momentous task are Mark Waid (writer) and Fiona Staples (art.) Now Archie is a character that's going through many incarnations- Little Archie, a caveman, a rocker, a zombie, and countless other roles. But at the heart of each story, the Riverdale gang was wholesome and innocent.

   Archie couldn't decide between Betty or Veronica. Jughead was lazy and addicted to food. Reggie was also trying to one up Arch and Moose and Midge were the perfect couple. That was the Archie gang in it's very essence; whether they were living in colonial times or performing a parody of MASH (as the Archie Players.)

    It's not like Archie didn't adapt with the times either. Moose wasn't stupid, turns out he was dyslexic. Archie entered a bi-racial relationship with Valerie from Josie and the Pussycats. Even a gay character moved into town in the form of Kevin Keller.

   So why did Archie have to be completely remade? Don't get me wrong, I love Mark Waid. If you've read my blog much, you'll know how much I am a fan of his recent work on Daredevil. Waid is a great writer and when I met him a few years back, at a mass signing he was only 1 of 2 who actually talked to the fans and not just grunted 'hey' before passing the book to the next guy to sign.

   In Archie #1 Archie and Betty have just broken up but neither is sure if that was the right thing to do or not. Complicating matters is that Betty decides to go to a school dance with another guy as Archie keeps avoiding her. But thankfully, the day is saved when Archie fills in for the lead guitarist who is a no-show. However, things are not all hunky dory as at the very end of the book, Arch walks past a giant billboard proclaiming that Lodge Industries are moving into town.

    That's right folks, Veronica doesn't even appear in this book. Along with that, Jughead is more of a slacker than ever before as he doesn't even have food as a motivator for him to do anything and Reggie is virtually a non-entity.

From what I can tell about the future of this book is that when the Lodge's move to Riverdale, the love triangle between Archie/ Betty/ and Veronica will begin and I am assuming so will the Archie/ Veronica/ Reggie one as well. Why did we have to reboot Archie for that? Presumably, Mr. Lodge's company moving to town will impact someone, probably Mr. Andrews, into losing their job and Veronica's dad will probably be more cunning in trying to remove Archie from the picture altogether. But, you don't need a reboot to do that stuff either.

   Making Archie black or gay, or even a woman would be a true reboot. All Mark Waid does is take a beloved childhood icon and make him unrecognizable with new art and designs by Fiona Staples. But again, why do that at all? It was just announced this weekend at Comic-Con that Archie and the Ramones will be teaming up for a special issue. The artwork is to be in the classic Archie Comics style that have thrived for over 40 years.

   This issue also reprints the very first appearance of Archie in that issue of Pep I mentioned earlier. It's supposed to show the reader that times change. Yes- the Archie of 1941 looks very different from the Archie of 1970,96, or 2014. But so did Superman, Batman, and Captain America when they first arrived in the Golden Age of Comics. But with all of these characters, their iconic looks evolved while maintaining a timeless style that any child could point out of a line-up. (Don't believe me- take a picture of Batman from 1938 and a picture of Archie from this issue. The child will instant point out Batman but be clueless as to who this red-headed guy is.)

My point is: the Archie gang of 2015 looks more like kids you would see at the mall- not Pop's Chok'lit Shoppe.

   If this was a book made up of completely new characters, I would be singing it's praises. For a contemporary look at teen life in the New Millennium, it's flawless. But as the next generation's Archie- it lacks depth, nostalgia, and recognizability.

    Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

Dakota North #4

After receiving a tip from her offices in Paris, Dakota North treks to the City of Lights in hopes of saving her brother. But her brother and new 'girlfriend,' an teenaged assassin/ fashion model have moved on to Switzerland in order to dodge another onlsaught of hired killers. Will Dakota finally reach Ricky before it's too late? Has Ricky's new girlfriend actually chosen love over duty? There's only one issue left to answer all these questions.

    With some new baddies, the level of thrilling action got bigger and badder. This issue wasn't quite as funny as the previous three but that's okay. I don't expect a series like this to always be a laugh riot. That doesn't mean this issue wasn't a fun ride. 

   With a demented shiek and his lethal throng of killer falcons, a sniper attack in an art musuem, a train car that turns into an actual car, and killer fashion models, this is the type of cat-and-mouse thriller I think editor Jim Shooter and writer/co-creator Martha Thomases were originally aiming for. C'mon Marvel, give this series another chance- it so deserves it!

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Dakota North #3

 

Unbeknownst to young Ricky North, he's in possession of a gold pen that contains a deadly toxin. With the item in his pocket, he's now become the target of some very bad people- the very same ones that Ricky's sister Dakota is busy keeping her fashion designer client Luke safe from. That's going to be hard to do as Luke's just been kidnapped. Without big sis in the picture, Ricky hasn't got a chance. Good thing the assassin marked to take him down has just fallen in love with the young man and whisked him away to Paris!

    With Dakota playing bodyguard and Ricky playing the fool, I just don't understand why this series didn't take off. I know I am in part to blame as I had the chance to read this series when I was in 5th grade and I passed. But I don't think I would have enjoyed it as much as this is more of a grown-up comic. 

    There's no swears or nudity. But the level of humor is more aimed at the 16-29 crowd. Plus, with references to fashion designers, politicians, and obscure authors, I am sure that no matter how much older I was for my age, most of this series would have gone directly over my head.

   Hopefully, Marvel will one day give the North siblings another chance because with their lack of superpowers and twisted senses of humor, they are a breath of fresh air in a medium that is stagnant with mutants, vigilantes, and cosmic gods.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Dakota North #2

   Dakota's second assignment is to protect an old CIA friend of her father's named Cooper. Coop just wrote a damning tell-all about his time as a spook. While he goes on a day-long media junket, it's up to Dakota to keep him alive. But Coop's agent has accidentally let slip his entire itinerary, so it's not going to be easy for the red-headed PI/ bodyguard.

    Issue 2 was an exciting look at a day in the life of Dakota North. Snipers, car chases, and the David Letterman show! It was like reading a story of my life!

   The twist to this issue isn't the knowledge that Cooper has about the CIA that has assassins on his tail but a solid gold pen that contains a deadly poison. This toxin is so potent, just what's in the writing instrument could wipe out a couple city blocks. Good thing Coop pawned it off on Dakota's baby brother Ricky in a poker game.

   Another great issue with Ricky again being the star. I think Marvel missed a perfect chance to create a series just about him. For example, when Coop is tricking Ricky into the card game, Ricky's dad says 'You're too young to gamble.' to which the lad replies 'I can cover $50.' I was laughing so hard. Great dialogue by writer/ co-creator Martha Thomases.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.