Star Wars: Moving Target, A Princess Leia Adventure

   Set just before the events of Return of the Jedi, the Rebel Alliance has learned that the Emperor is building another, more powerful Death Star. The fleet is in much disarray after the battle of Hoth and a diversion is needed in order to give the Rebels the time needed to mount an assault on Endor. While Luke is still trying to locate Han, Princess Leia volunteers to send the Empire on a wild goose chase setting up a number of homing beacons on various planets on the other side of the galaxy away from where the Alliance is really regrouping. 

   Along with the pilot Nein Nunb and a ragtag band of soldiers, Leia must mount a decoy fleet in hopes of attracting the Empire's attention. Using old codes, that the Empire can and will break, will cause countless Rebel sympathizers to put their lives on the line for the ploy. More importantly, has Leia signed ber own death warrant when an Imperial star destroyer shows up before she's even activated the first beacon?

    True, since Leia appears in Jedi, we know that she'll come out alright. But, this is still a thrilling adventure that sheds light on some key moments in Episode VI. However, I think that this book eradicates 'Shadows of the Empire,' the multimedia storyline that was to bridge together Episodes V and VI, from Star Wars canon. So, that possibility might infuriate some people.

   Moving Target is the next book in the Journey to the Force Awakens series of young adult novels. Though the book isn't numbered 'volume 2' or 'book 2,' the character of Ematt makes an several appearances and his rescue by Han Solo are mentioned in this book. So, if you are trying to figure out which book to read first the order (thus far) is 1. Smuggler's Run and 2. Moving Target. Not sure where the Luke Skywalker adventure finds in this 'trilogy', but I will very soon. 

   Another thing tying Smuggler's Run and Moving Target together is that the main story is sandwiched between an prologue and epilogue that occurs just prior to the Force Awakens. Here, Leia is now a General in the fight against good and evil, dictating her memoirs. The premise of these books is to offer clues to the forthcoming blockbuster directed by JJ Abrams. Whereas Smuggler's Run gave us little more than a glimpse at old Han, this book was brimming with clues.

     First of all, with the character of Ematt appearing in both the past and current Star Wars timelines, I'm now sure he's going to play a role in Episode VII. Also, Leia makes several remarks about another character that leads me to believe that he or she is one of Leia's kids but living under a different name to keep them safe from the dreaded First Order. Thirdly, well I can't really say much about the clues surrounding it because it will all but give away another possible spoiler. 

  All I can say is this- a lot about the speculations of Episode VII surrounding several mystery players is all but confirmed here. Authors Cecil Castellucci and Jason Fry craft a very good tale without giving away too much. If anything, this book has just gotten me even more pumped up for December 18th! 

   An exciting read that leave's Han and Chewie's tale lagging 12 parsecs behind.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Doctor Who: Nemesis of the Daleks (Volume 15)

  

 Abslom Daak: the Dalek Killer. The only man in the known galaxy who chose the death penalty over saying 'Sorry.' He's also the only other person that brings fear into the hearts of the Dalek race other than the Doctor. 

 (Madman Fun-Fact: Until last season's episode 'Time Heist', Abslom Daak was just a character in the comic books. But when his face popped up on a screen of known criminals at large on a data screen- he joined Doctor Who Canon. Read the stories that inspired that little Easter Egg in this edition: Nemesis of the Daleks.) 

   In this collection, the Dalek Killer meets the Doctor for the first time in an adventure filled with carnage, excitement, and lots of tiny tanks yelling 'EXTERMINATE!' Accompanying this multi-part story is Daak's origin along with an epic adventure in which Daak rounds up his team of Dalek-killing mercenaries.

    Along with the Daak stories are about a dozen Seventh Doctor adventures which range from deadly serious to down right goofy. There was maybe only one or two stories that I didn't like but as a whole, there were tons of time-travelling/ mind-bending plot twists that Doctor Who is known for. 

   Another awesome addition to this anthology was a couple of backup features. One segment is arranged like they were data files printed from the TARDIS or UNIT. The second feature is a director's cut style commentary behind all of the stories in this volume. Both were very entertaining and informative about the creative process of British comics.

   Featuring art and scripts by Richard Starkings (Elephantmen), John Tomlinson (John Constantine: Hellblazer) and others, Nemesis of the Daleks was an enjoyable read. It was also very British. To my knowledge, all of the stories in the collection have never seen print in the States before (except for a couple that appeared in the pages of Doctor Who Magazine.) Most appeared in a weekly Hulk comic or an anthology of Marvel licenses based on TV shows like GI Joe. 

   Published by Panini UK LTD, the same company that put out those collectible sticker albums when we were kids, volumes like this can be found in the US but they are hard to come by. I found mine copy at a used bookstore. It is only the second such volumes I've ever found in about 10 years of searching. But Amazon has just about the entire run of Doctor Who British reprints featuring your favorite incarnations of Timelord, available for about $15-$20 each.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.
  

It's beginning to Look Like Episode VII...

I decided that this year's Advent theme will be: The 18 Days of a Star Wars Christmas Miracle +7. Since Episode VII comes out this year, I thought it was fitting... Here's just a preview of the holiday mayhew- I mean mayhem to expect beginning Tuesday. 

All-New Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Volume 1

 

  When Batman: The Brave and the Bold aired on Cartoon Network from 2008-2011, the series maintained the already mentioned title throughout the entire run. Now, this might seem like an odd statement to make but it's gotten to be a trend in cartoons for each season to have a new title. A big example of this is Disney XD's Ultimate Spider-Man. The show is called 'Web Warriors' in season three and in  2016, season 4 will be titled Spider-Man Vs. the Sinister Six. BBB lasted 3 seasons without a single name change.  So why did DC cancel the original Batman: The Brave and the Bold comic and replace it with the All-New Batman: The Brave and the Bold?

   This mystery is an easy one to solve. Each episode of Brave and the Bold started with a 2-5 minute long opening sequence called a 'cold open.'  In that scene, Batman would be paired with a partner different from the one the Caped Crusader would be teamed with in the main story. The first Brave and the Bold series followed that format. But when the series was relaunched, DC decided to omit that formula in order to devote more pages to the overall story. However, this was not why the first series was canceled!

    The reason for the reboot was due to fan complaints. The villains used were considered weak and uninteresting. The stylization of some characters such as Katana and the Doom Patrol looked nothing like the TV show or even the comics on which they were based and the storylines didn't follow the old-school style of the Cartoon Network show. Thus, fans stayed away from the book in droves.

   Now, I've read a handful of issues from the original Brave and the Bold and I never noticed any of these problems. But, I do think that the 'All-New' version was a little more superior. First of all, the great kids comics writer Sholly Fisch was brought in as series writer. Fisch, along with new title artist Rick Burchett managed to produce a series that was heavy on villains and classic DC lore. It was like reading a print version of the celebrated cartoon.

   So let's take a brief look at the adventures contained in this premiere volume. In the first issue, Superman seeks Batman's assistance in solving a series of crimes in the bottle city of Kandor. Then Billy Batson and Talky Tawny arrive in Gotham and find that the city isn't in the Holiday Spirit. It's up to Captain Marvel to help Batman overcome the mental effects of the Psycho Pirate and save Christmas.

   Did somebody mention that there weren't enough villains? Issue three has Batman and the Flash stuck in a bizarre mirror world of the creation of the dastardly duo of Mirror Master and the Mad Hatter. Then the number of baddies is turned up to 11 when Talia Al Ghul rounds up an assortment of enemies to stop the wedding of Batman and Wonder Woman. Then the Dark Knight teams up with Guy Gardner to save the earth from a horde of Manhunters.

   Speaking Manhunters, in this volume's last story, Batman trains the Martain Manhunter to be a better detective through a number of deduction challenges. This issue was filled with puzzles, mysteries, and surprises as the reader was encouraged to participate in finding the alien shapeshifter.

   I really enjoyed this book. It was tons of fun and a great old-school style read. My only complaint is that the book ended. Well, that and I'm still bitter that the cartoon got canceled. It was a good show! Thankfully, there're several more issues both Brave and the Bold series left for me to collect and read.

   Worth Consuming

    Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

 

Written and Drawn by Henrietta ( Family Comic Friday)

  A few months ago, I reviewed a book published by Toon Books. 'Benjamin Bear in Fuzzy Logic' was a brilliant collection of comics written and illustrated by French cartoonist,  Phillips Coudray. Not only was the book smart and funny, the book had great features like creative writing activities. The publisher also included a great article on the age appropriateness of their line of books.

    I couldn't sing Toon Books praises loud enough and my latest venture with the company was no different.

    'Written and Drawn by Henrietta' is a delightful tale about a creative little girl who wants to write her first book. Assisting Henrietta is her pet cat, who like real cats often makes the creative process more of a challenge than it really should be. But he does have some great one-liners!

    Beautifully crafted by celebrated Argentinian cartoonist, Liniers, the book changes scope frequently from the real world to Henrietta's storybook. When we are taken to the world she is crafting, the art looks let's like a cartoon and more like it was hand drawn by a five-year old.

   This art technique may not seem like much but it made the story more realistic, like it really was written by a precocious tot. Also being able to change art styles is harder than it looks and it's a mark of a master artist.

   Henrietta's start was very entertaining. I originally only chose this book because it was published just this year. But I found myself laughing often and thought the entire read was a journey to an unexplored world. In other words, that's exactly what every reader should experience when they open a book.

   Children aged 5-8 will delight in this clever tale. Don't be surprised if the adventures of Henrietta inspires your child to create their own book. Be sure to check out the last couple of pages in this book fit more ideas on how to help your aspiring author make their own children's book.

   A masterpiece in graphic novels- not just for young readers but in the genre as a whole.

   Worth Consuming.

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Happy Thanksgiving, 2015!!!

Star Wars: Smuggler's Run: A Han Solo & Chewbacca Adventure by Greg Rucka

     Smuggler's Run is one of about 5 or 6 books issued by Disney to make new and established fans alike get psyched for Star Wars Episode VII. (Like we needed prodding...) Published as part of the 'Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens Series,' this line of books is supposed to contain vital 'clues about the highly anticipated film.'

    I've been a Star Wars fan since birth. Born in 1977, Star Wars and I have been through thick (Empire Strikes Back) and thin (the introduction of Jar Jar Binks.) The film series is like an old friend that I just cannot imagine any part of life without it. So of course, I had to snag up as many of these teaser novels as possible before the deadline of December 18th (In my case, it's December 17th, as I have tickets to see the film the day before it officially releases.)

    This book is written by Greg Rucka (Gotham Central) and features occasional artwork by Phil Noto (Birds of Prey.) Together, they craft an enjoyable tale set between Episodes IV and V. The majority of Smuggler's Run takes place immediately after the Battle of Yavin. The Rebels, despite being glad to have just defeated the Empire in this important battle, know that they've got to hightail it somewhere fast before the Empire retaliates. 

   A Rebel by the name of Ematt has gone into hiding on the planet Crykon. The leader of a covert team know as the 'Shrikes,' Ematt has been scouting out potential sites for a new rebel base. Should the Empire find the Rebel, the entire fate of the Alliance could go up in smoke with no potential place left to hide in the galaxy.

   Han and Chewie are hired by Princess Leia to rescue Ematt. But the task will not be easy as the Emperor has made the capture and interrogation of Rebels a top priority after the destruction of the Death Star. Now, an Imperial Security Chief named Beck is hot on Ematt's trail. Oh, and don't forget the team of bounty hunters that followed the Millenium Falcon to Crykon on a mission to capture Solo and his Wookiee for payments owed to the crime lord Jabba the Hutt. The smuggler's are going to need much more than luck if they hope to survive this suicide mission.

    That's the plot of Smuggler's Run in a fairly large nutshell. So, where do clues to Episode VII fall in with all of this? Well for one, the story of Ematt's rescue is sandwiched between scenes of an older Han Solo biding his time in a cantina. Also, with characters such as Ematt and Beck playing such prominent roles, I wouldn't be very surprised if they pop up at some point in the Force Awakens, even as minor characters. 

   This is just speculation here but the stormtrooper character of Capt. Phasma is played by a woman- so maybe Beck becomes Phasma after the fall of the Empire? Both Beck and the actress playing Phasma, Gwendoline Christie, are blond so it's possible. Heck, there's such a tight lid over who many of the actors appearing in the film are playing, anyone new in this book might show up in the upcoming film and I not know it yet.

   Smuggler's Run was an enjoyable read. But it just didn't have as many Easter eggs as I expected. Now, I might very well revise this after I watch Episode VII- we'll just have to wait and see. But for less than $15, this isn't a bad read and despite being a young adult book, it's not something any fan of Star Wars should pass up.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

   

38 Things I Learned Upon Turning 38

1977- It really is the best year ever for music, movies, and TV! Honest...
1978- There's nothing wrong with wanting an early bird special...
1979- Getting the mumps is scarier than a nuclear meltdown, at least to a 2-year old...
1980- Empire Strikes Back is the Greatest Film Ever Made (and yes, I DO believe in miracles!)
1981-Abuse doesn't have to weaken you. You can suppress it. Sadly, when the memories come racing back, you then have to become strong again.
1982- When you already know how to read, learning the alphabet is
 bo-ring!
1983- You shouldn't scratch your chicken pox, but it feels oh so good...
1984- A Republican can win a presidential election- by a landslide!!!
1985- When this baby hits 88 MPH, you're gonna see some serious shi- (Oops, Language!)
1986- Hands Across America is like Communism- it works on paper but not when you live in the middle of nowhere...
1987-  Breaking your arm isn't all it's cracked up to be.
1988-  You're never too young to read 'A Brief History of Time.'
1989- I'm Batman
1990- Okay, maybe I'm not. Becoming a teenager is hard for some people
1991- Those expensive shoes you're just dying to have are killing my feet.
1992- Families break apart...
1993-  You Must Read the T-Rex escape scene during a massive rain storm. It's amazing!!!
1994-  Life is Like a Box of Chocolates, you never know what your gonna get!
1995- Just because you get baptized- you're not showing the world you are perfect. You're telling people "I'm saved despite my imperfections."
1996- If you peaked in high school, there's nothing left to look forward to in life.
1997- Wearing all black can really ruin a sunny disposition.
1998- You can find true love online (and no it's not a fat guy in disguise as a hot girl.)
1999- You don't have to sleep together or shack up to have a trial marriage. It's a good idea to role play and practice putting your finances together before things get real.
2000- In times when it looks like the world will end, people will fight over green beans opposed to batteries and candles for some reason...
2001- Losing a child doesn't mean you're not a parent anymore...
2002- Getting stranded in an ice storm can actually be kinda fun and rewarding.
2003- There's a first time for everything, like getting fired...
2004-  People will lose their freakin' minds over a flash of areola!
2005-  You will no go to hell or be supporting paganism for watching Harry Potter.
             The movie Madagascar? probably...
2006-  It takes 16 years for people to get their thumb...
2007- Learning to walk again is one of the most important steps you'll ever take.
2008- " If you forgive someone, that doesn't mean you have to see them ever again" is a big fat lie!
2009- ...Sometimes family get mended back together.
2010- Just because you have a BA degree in Area A that doesn't mean you go for the masters. Getting the degree in Area B might be the better choice...
2011- Job offers might not come until after you graduate.
2012- Sometimes the corporate route is better than the scenic route- it might not pay as much, but there are hidden perks they don't teach you about in school...
2013- Your never too old to become an orphan...
2014- The government wants the very best from you- things like your money, time, bodily fluids...
2015- The bullies in your life might have a better job, more money, lots of kids, but if you are a geek and you have tickets to see The Force Awakens a day before anyone else, you're doing okay for yourself.

The Untold Legend of the Batman

   The Untold Legend of the Batman reprints the 3-issue miniseries written by Len Wein. Originally published  in 1980, it features art by John Byrne and Jim Aparo. The book is a virtual encyclopedia of the life and times of not just the Wayne family but the Batman Family as a whole and a few of the Dark Knight's Rogue's Gallery.

    When I first read this book in 1989, I thought this was one of the biggest piece's of crap I had ever read. Dr. Thomas Wayne was the first Batman? Bruce was the first Robin?? And just who the heck was Lucius Fox, Jack Edison, and Philip Wayne?

    I must admit, at age 12, my scope of knowledge about the Caped Crusader was severely limited. So, much of this book felt made-up or in complete error to me. Now with an addition 25-years of reading and watching Batman comics, books, films, cartoons, and much, much more- I must say that this book got it right. Well, they did until the 'Crisis on Infinite Earths' erased much of the history contained in this epic miniseries in 1985. No longer did Batman know who killed his parents, Thomas wasn't the original Batman, and a young Bruce now lived with Alfred at Wayne Manor after the death of his parents.

    Then a little bald man named Grant hit the scene in 2000...

    When the Scottish Wunderkind started writing Batman, Grant Morrison re-established many of the previous bat-facts that I thought were preposterous. In a way, it was Morrison's work on the various Batman titles that validated the Untold Legend of the Batman to me. It also made me want to read the book again.

   Fast-forward about 15-years. Last month, I took some books to a used bookstore in hopes of A) making more room and B) getting some new stuff. Well, as I waited for my trade credit totals to come back, I shopped around where thanks to my lovely wife, I finally found a copy of this book!

    The original copies I had were reprints that came along with cassette tapes that read the story to you. I think my mom gave them to me for Christmas or my birthday. The book my wife found was a pocket-sized paperback, reprinted around 1982 by TOR books. I have seen this book a couple of times on Facebook, but that was about it. Needless to say, this book is kinda hard to find. It may not be rare, but it is scarce. (Okay- a quick check of eBay reveals that the online bidding site had quite a few of these. But in terms of running across this at a con or comic book store at a price I liked- I've not been able to find it before.)

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

DC Superheroes: My First Book of Girl Power (Family Comic Friday)

  

 Sorry, it's a day late folks, but I'm on a mini-vacation with my wife in wonderful and weird Asheville, NC. After the week I've had at work, this was much, much needed. My wife's been at a conference during the day, so I've been catching up with friends, owners, and artists about new trends in comics. Oddly, enough, today's article reviews a book that I discovered later after my wife got done with her meetings and we went out to dinner. We stopped at this funky little shop called the L.O.F.T. )Lost Objects, Found Treasures) on our way back to the van. It had tons of cool stuff like a Boba Fett puzzle tower, rap star cookie cutters, bacon flavored floss, and the book I am reviewing today: DC Superheroes: My First Book of Girl Power.

     This book is one of about a dozen titles in the DC Superheroes: My First Book series. The books are board books, geared for early readers. It's also an excellent way for parents who grew up reading comics to introduce superheroes to their children without being violent or scary. 

    The series started in 2011 with My First Superman Book, followed by a Batman and a Wonder Woman edition. All three of those books are touch & feel books, meaning there are things made of different textures for children to explore while reading this book, such as Superman's cape or twine from the Dark Knight's Bat-Rope. Over the past 4 years, series creator David Katz has released books with your favorite DC heroes teaching the ABCs, shapes, and opposites. The most recent book came out in July about the importance of sleep. 

    Girl Power is the only book in the My First Series not written by the series' regular author. It's written by Julie Merberg (creator of the Mini Masters Board Books series that introduces youngsters to famous artists with titles like Painting With Picasso.) This book introduces many of the leading ladies in the DC Universe such as the well known Wonder Woman and Supergirl. It also includes some more obscure characters like Black Canary and Raven from Teen Titans. 

    The art is a bit of a toss up. In all of the books, the artwork is from DC's style guides created around 1978-1986. I recognize some of those same images were used in the creation of Kenner's awesome Super Powers line of action figures and other cool toys. Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez was the genius behind much of the artwork, though his regular inker, the equally legendary Dick Giordano penciled some of the guide's artwork as well. I just wish that all of the images were different and not recycled on several pages.

     I bought this book to introduce a new member of our family to the world of superheroes. This Christmas, maybe I'll be the first to read it to them. This series has been a sleeper but from page one, the nostalgia and creativity (and educational value) is a hit. More importantly, it's geared towards girls- a valuable and grossly untapped source of potential comic book readers.  Once again, Marvel gets all of the praise and fandom for crafting adult books that appeal to women readers, but DC excedes in reaching out to the next generation with this awesome series of early reader board books that must become a part of your aspiring comic book collector's reading rotation. Boy or girl!

    Worth Consuming

    Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Been Slammed...

Folks, It's happened again! I've been slammed at work and when I get home I crash. Yesterday was the place where I am contracted out's Thanksgiving celebration. Over the past several days, I have had to prep 16 turkeys, make over 100lbs of stuffing, cook up 20 gallons of gravy, and whip  up countless gallons of stock from scratch. That's on top of all of my other duties at work like running the breakfast line and grill and inventory. 

So, that ate into my down time because as soon as I got home, I would crash on the bed.

Well, things have slowed down again so I should be able to start reading and reviewing again in the next day or two.

Sorry for the delay...

Sincerely, One Overworked Madman

Teen Titans Go!, Volume 6: Titans Together!

  The original series of Teen Titans Go! did something most cartoons still refuse to do- it aged and evolved with its audience. In season one, you meet the inexperienced group of young superheroes trying to make a difference in the superhero community while finding their place in the world. In season two, the team started adding new associate members and by the third (and final season) the team started to grow up and on at least one occasion, we trekked to the future and see the Titans drop the 'Teen' from their name, taking over after Batman, Superman, and the rest of the Justice League retired. 

    This volume was published after those future episodes were shown on Cartoon Network and the series' future rested in limbo. Here we encounter the group fighting their main enemy HIVE, associate members such as Aqualad & Speedy teaming up together, and the future is now when Nightwing travels to the present day to prevent his younger Robin self from becoming evil. It's a trippy time-traveling yarn that is full of mind-bending paradoxes. 

   Fans of the original Teen Titans Go! series will delight in this volume. It's a little bit anime, a little bit dramatic, with bits of activity and joke book thrown in and not at all like the new series that most TTG purists absolutely hate! A fun collection that's very much worth consuming. 

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

EXCLUSIVE: Gerard Way Dishes On His Writing Process, Umbrella Academy 3

  
  At a special VIP panel at NC Comicon, former My Chemical Romance frontman, Gerard 
Way dished on his writing process on forthcoming projects. "I've had to change the whole 
way in which I write," Way said in regards to being married and a new dad. The multimedia 
artist must focus his talents during the day in order to leave opportunities for family time in 
the evening. Getting older also has cut into his writing. "I used to be able to write and draw 
all night...now I can't stay up (late) talking about Star Wars until 9:30(PM). "

   But don't let his diminishing energies fool you. Way told guests that the long-awaited third 
series of The Umbrella Academy is underway. 'I'm writing issue #3 right now' the rocker told
a packed Carolina Theatre in Durham NC. Regular series artist Gabriel Ba just finished 
preliminary layouts and "should be drawing the first issue any day now."

   Though Way didn't elaborate on when the next series would drop, the artist did seem to 
think fans might see the first issue sometime in 2016.

    Fans might not just be seeing the students of the Umbrella Academy in print next year. 
Way told attendees that he has pitched a pilot for TV. Though Way doesn't seem to mind 
what direction the adaptation takes, ('I don't care much about the adaptation. The books
are on (store) shelves and they speak for themselves,") he does have a vision for how the 
series would open. "I see Rumor coming out of a limo, surrounded by photographers, 
looking very much like Jackie O. She so wants to disappear." Gerard probably feels so
strongly about this starting scene as he told a room full of about 700 fans, that Rumor was
 the character he most relates to.

    Speaking of Rumor, expect a lot of her in series 3. Way explained that the first two
 issues will focus on Anya and Rumor. But by issue #3 " the story is all about Rumor."

    So when Umbrella Academy 3 drops, what's next for Gerard Way? The star hinted at a 
novel, just don't expect an autobiography. "I think you have to be old to write a memoir... 
But I would love to write a children's book." 

Gerard(L) at the NC Comicon panel this morning.
He will be appearing and signing through Sunday.

Fangbone! Third-Grade Barbarian, Volume 1 (Family Comic Friday)

   I like to read and collect a title called 'What If...' Begun in 1977 and having ungone several incarnations, the Marvel Comics series ponders questions like 'What if Wolverine was a Vampire?' and 'What if Captain America was never unfrozen?' One of the most popular storylines of the original title run were two issues devoted to the Robert E. Howard character Conan the Barbarian. 

   Written by Roy Thomas, the pair (issues #13 & 43) asked 'What If Conan was Stranded in Modern Times?' These stories, due to licensing problems were never reprinted and are highly sought out by collectors. But despite their rarity, the stories were really quite good. It was those excellent issues that made reading my selection for this week's Family Comic Friday so intriguing.

   Fangbone is a barbarian youth from Skullbania, a land of another time or another dimension- not sure which. When the evil Venomous Droll is about to attack his village, the earnest warrior is sent to modern day earth with a vital part of Drool's body needed to make him all-powerful: his big toe! When monsters from Skullbania are sent to earth to retrieve the appendage, Fangbone must raise an army of third-grade misfits at once in order to save both his native land and his new adopted one as well.

    Fangbone was quite funny. Readers aged 8-12 will enjoy this book that is quite clever and very silly. Though humorous read, some of the jokes are used ad nauseam like the following:

  Teacher: Where are you From?

   Fangbone: Skullbania!

   Teacher: Is that in New Jersey?

   The array of monsters are extremely creative without being frightening and the book itself has an important message of teamwork and that even misfits have strengths that can assist any army no matter how motley!

     There are two more books in the series created by Michael Rex. However, the last volume was published in 2012. So unless you find it on Amazon or your local library (like I did) you probably won't find this book at a mass market bookstore. But that shouldn't stop your child from joining Fangbone's army of 3rd graders.

    Worth Consuming

    Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

   

Lois Lane: Fallout by Gwenda Bond

Marvel might get all the kudos for it's numerous titles starting female superheroes, but it is DC whose making strides in recruiting the next generation of new girl readers. Last month DC launched the DC Superhero Girls line on their website. With weekly minisodes, activities, and a toy and comic book series coming up next year, the message of DCSH Girls is clear- girls can save the day as well as any boy!

   But 'Girls' isn't what I am reviewing for this post. No, what I am reviewing today is another series geared towards young girls, though boys could enjoy it too! What I am talking about is the Lois Lane mystery series for young adult readers.

    This series is written by author Gwenda Bond and is a reimagining of Lois Lane's days in high school. Lois is an army brat whose been all around the world thanks to her dad's military career as a general. The Lanes have finally settled down in Metropolis, hopefully for good. Things at Lois' new school should go great for the 16-year old if she can follow her dad's advice to not rock the boat. But in typical Lois fashion, her pursuit for justice and truth will make her instant enemies with the Principal when on her first day the young lady sticks up for a fellow student whose being bullied.

    This spunk will put Ms. Lane on several other party's radar. Her anti-bullying cause will make Lois the target of the bullies collectively known as 'The Warheads' who spend all their time playing a virtual reality game and eerily act and talk as if they were of one mind. Lane's attitude also garners the attention of a certain editor of the Daily Planet as well. It will also land the young lady a new job!

   Now a cub reporter for an online reporter for The Scoop, online sister publication of the Planet aimed at teens, Lois will use her new clout to expose the wicked ways of the Warheads. When the attacks start getting personal, the young reporter will need the help of her new friends at the Daily Planet including cyber genius Devin and indy rock fashionista Maddy. But can she trust her new colleagues or is the only person she can truly rely on a budding reporter from the MidWest that she only knows from chatting with on the Internet with the screen name of SMALLVILLEGUY?

    Fallout was an interesting read. I really wanted to get to the bottom of the mystery and I really wanted the bad guys to get what was coming to them. For a young adult mystery novel, it was pretty fresh and new. There were a few cliches, like the ubiquitous evil principal and Lois' parents being the kind that just don't understand what it's like to be a kid anymore.  Overall, the book was quite good and I'm looking forward to the next book which drops early May 2016.

    Before I go, I want to talk to the established fans of DC for a minute. I know you will hate that in this book Lois is a young girl, that she got her start on a kid's feature at the Daily Planet, and that the book takes place now and not during the 90s or even the 80s. The book is geared toward young readers- readers who might one day want to pick up a comic book about Lois Lane and maybe start collecting them. These are the very same potential readers that could one day save the print industry because they got hooked on superheroes thanks to a novel such as this. 

    I was willing to overlook the modern twist. In fact, I like that Clark Kent is involved in the story without physically being a part of Lois' life. I am sure that his presence will send some purists into a fit of rage. But what won this book over for me was that Lois Lane, for how hip and modern she was presented, still was a curious sort who got herself into trouble and is a terrible speller. ('How many 'P's in Rapist?') Take away her iPhone, her plaid skirt, and love of video games, boiled down this is the same Lois that we (and Superman) fell in love with over the past 77 years and that makes this young adult book WORTH CONSUMING!

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars

Gotham Central: Book One: In the Line of Duty

   Explore the series that inspired the FOX series GOTHAM. Written by Ed Brubaker and Greg Rucka, Gotham Central focuses on the men in blue who keep Gotham City safe when Batman is busy.

    I love this series, it's like Law & Order meets Batman. In this volume, the night and day shifts of the GCPD work together to bring down Mister Freeze for killing one of their own before the sun sets and the Dark Knight clocks in for his shift. Then the night shift works overtime to solve a kidnapping ransom gone sour in the midst of a fire bug's reign of fiery terror. This volume wraps up with the day squad and Rene Montoya being outed as a lesbian. But things get even worse for the detective when the creep who is blackmailing her ends up with a bullet in the back and all evidence points to Montoya as the prime suspect. 

    I just recently completed my run on this groundbreaking series. It's been on my radar for quite some time after  I read a couple of issues reprinted in a Batman 100-Page Spectacular a while back. Plus, I am such a huge fan of Brubaker's work on Captain America and his ICON crime series Criminal. I'm not so familiar with Rucka's body of work, but that's actually going to change as I recently bought the Han Solo tale he wrote for the 'Journey to the Force Awakens' series of novels published in time for next month's release of Episode VII.

    One of the neat things about this series is that not only are the stories  separated by night and day shifts at Gotham Central, but each shift is written by just one author. Brubaker writes the night shift tales while Rucka tackles the day shift adventures of Montoya and partner Crispus Allen. The writers did manage to join forces in the opening storyline that joined the two squads together and introduced all of the major players. 

    Though the two squads are as different as night and day, the title's transitions appear seamless thanks to the striking artwork of Michael Lark. His gritty style looks like a series of courtroom sketches were married with the timeless design appeal of Darwyn Cooke's 'New Frontier.' It was both classic and modern at the same time, much like how the sets and costumes on the TV series GOTHAM is designed.

     If you like Gotham for its superhero-less approach, you'll love Gotham Central which has limited amounts of Batman Family sighting. On the flip side, if don't like that elements of classic and new Batman stories got melded together then you'll love this series which has Gordon as an old man instead of a rookie cop under the tutelage of Montoya and Bullock.

   A great series that didn't get much love when it first came out in 2002. Find it now in bargain bins before the popularity of GOTHAM and next year's Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice sends this sleeper into the stratosphere. 

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.
   

It's a Dog's Life, Snoopy

With the new Peanuts movie hitting theatres last Friday, I thought it would be fitting to read a collection of Snoopy cartoons. This full-color collection of Peanuts tales contains a full year of yuks. From the snows of January to the dog days of summer (pun intended) to the crisp nights waiting for the Great Pumpkin and back to snow with the holidays fast approaching, there’s lots of great jokes and gags. Is every joke a winner? No, but the vast majority of strips are perfect. A few jokes repeat, so be patient.

I love the snowy strips best.

Sadly, you can see the years wearing on creator Schulz as not every strip is drawn with crisp definitive lines found in Peanuts tales. Even some of his signatures are chicken scratches. It sometimes makes this collection a little sad as you know that in this later year treasury each entry is coming towards the end of the Peanuts strip’s run, which on it's very last day of publishing, Schulz passed.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

The New Fantastic Four: Monsters Unleashed

  

  When a rogue Skrull, impersonating the Invisible Woman incapacitates the Fantastic Four, the alien fakes their deaths in order to recruit a new team. Comprised of Wolverine, Spider-Man, Ghost Rider, and the gray Hulk, here comes the New Fantastic Four. Their formation will take them to the mysterious lair of the Mole Man called Monster Island to apprehend the supposed murderers of the First Family of the Marvel Universe.
   
 Written by the legendary Walt Simonson with art by the master of Monsters, Art Adams, Monsters Unleashed collects the epic three issue run that has become a fan favorite and is regarded as a classic FF storyline. It's so well respected that this all new team spawned not one but two 'What If...' Specials in the last decade. That's a testament to this 25-year old storyline's staying power amongst fans! 

    Featuring a slew of Skrulls, superheroes, crazy inventions of Reed Richards, and giant monster cameos, this is the perfect Fantastic Four story. I, like many other fans just wish the new line up would have lasted a little longer than a trio of issues.

   Worth Consuming.

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.



     

A Zombie's History of the United States: From the Massacre at Plymouth Rock to the CIA's Secret War on the Undead by Dr. Worm Miller

    You remember learning about these events in American History Class, right?
* President Thomas Jefferson orders William Clark to assassinate an infected Merriweather Lewis  and to destroy his journals before the explorer was to reach Washington and become a zombie.
* The Mexican Army storms the Alamo to find that all of the Texans inside have been massacred by the walking dead.
* The US Army drafts nearly indestructible zombie-human hybrids to storm the beaches of Normandy.

    A Zombie's History of the United States is an in-depth look at the impact the undead have had in the forming of this country. The book also reveals the conspiracy to not just eradicate the menace from America but to erase the undead from the pages of history books worldwide. Now thanks to Dr. Worm Miller and the University of Minnesota's Zombie Studies Department, the story of the American zombie can finally be told.

   Okay, folks, I'm not delusional. A Zombie's History is a work of fiction and is a parody of history books and conspiracy theories. Last summer, I won a drawing for my local library's adult summer reading program. I got to pick 3 free books as my prize. This book was one of them.

   I'm not crazy about zombies, honestly.  But I can't pass up a good zombie book or comic! Yet, while some would literally die to become a walker, I would not. I constantly tell my wife that if somebody starts ambling to me moaning for brains, I'm going for the head! And I'll ask questions later!

   This book from 2010 was a fun read. I majored in history and my focus was modern American history. So, this was the perfect type of read for me. I enjoyed seeing important episodes of American history being given the zombie treatment. It's one reason I am psyched for next year's 'Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.'

   Speaking of episodes, while I do not think this book would work as a film, I think it could have some success as a TV series, in the style of Comedy Central's 'Drunk History.' I think it could be a horror comedy mockumentary that a cable channel such as SyFy or IFC should seriously consider obtaining the rights to.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.  

The G-Man Super Journal: Awesome Origins by Chris Giarusso (Family Comic Friday)

   

A little bit of sage advice about kids and reading- sorry about the language...

  

Page Example of Awesome Origins.

 Parents, I get it. You want your child to read and you want them to enjoy it. Comics are a great way to get kids reading. But you also don't want them to read nothing but comic books. Especially since schools will be requiring them to read chapter books for reports and summer reading assignments.

    So why not combine the best of both worlds with the G-Man Super Journal? Part prose book, part comic book: this will delight readers who love superheroes but need to start reading those pesky chapter books. The Super Journal reads like the ultra-popular Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. Only, the pictures are replaced with comic book panels. 

Cover to Volume 1.

    Awesome Origins is exactly what the title says it is. Inspired by the G-Man comic book series by Chris Giarusso, it tells how G-Man and his friends all got their superpowers in the form of a creative writing journal that the title character must keep for English class. Along with a cast of zany teachers, parents, and grown-up superheroes, this book answers many question about the series that I've always had such as: 

Why is Eddie Delta's only superpower the ability to change color?

What made the material of G-Man and Great Man's outfits magical?

And just what does the 'G' in G-Man stand for anyway?
 Awesome Origins is intended to be the first in a series of G-Man chapter books. I'm completely on board with Giarusso writing more Super Journals. I just hope he doesn't stop publishing the awesome G-Man comics that made me such a fan of his characters and work.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.