A Madman's Best of 2015 Picks...

2016 is almost here and with that it's time for this Madman to announce his best of 2015 picks...

TV Show: Gotham- Gritty, dark, seductive, and so much fun to watch. This show easily beat out the other superhero shows that have flooded the airwaves. It also just beat out Doctor Who, which in Peter Capaldi's second year as the Doctor got better and better. But when I thought back to which show I've been looking forward to the most every week, I had to go with this noir re-imagining of the early days of Bruce Wayne and Jim Gordon. Most of this is thanks in a large part to Robin Lord Taylor, who steals the show as the rising crime lord, The Penguin!

Movie: Marvel's Ant-Man- Neck and neck with The Force Awakens, Ant-Man beat out Star Wars for 3 reasons: 1- it was very faithful to the original source material. 2. There were very few plot holes in Ant-Man compared to Episode VII. and 3. Ant-Man when put up to JJ Abrams' take on Star Wars felt fresh and not something that I've seen a hundred times before. With lots of great cameos, easter eggs, and the legendary Michael Douglas tying the Hank Pym Ant-Man to newcomer Scott Lang's version, played by Paul Rudd (Friends), the film was brilliant. Heck, I think I've been waiting for the Ant-Man film about as long as I have for the new Star Wars but in the end, The Force wound up with ants in it's pants.

Book (Fiction): Go Set a Watchman- Harper Lee's much-anticipated follow-up to To Kill A Mockingbird. But Watchman was more of a first draft than a sequel though most of the plot takes place after Mockingbird. Yes, some of this book cancel out events in the classic first novel. But it's Harper Lee and it's a new classic waiting to be explored by fans and newcomers alike.

Comic Book (Adult): SHIELD #2- Agent Phil Coulson and his team infiltrate a New York high school to stop a dealer peddling stolen HYDRA tech and end up meeting the new Ms. Marvel. The story was fun, exciting and a great crossing of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the Marvel NOW! books. I can so see this being a forthcoming episode of Marvel's Agents of SHIELD.

Comic Book (All-Ages): Rutabaga, Adventure Chef, Volume 1. What's one thing missing from Dungeons & Dragons? If you say cooking and culinary- you are right! This book follows young Rutabaga as he uses his culinary prowess to fight dragons, Vikings, and grumpy kings. With cool recipes and awesome craft ideas, Rutabaga looks to be the next series that your child will clamor over!

   So, these are my picks of the best of the year... There were tons of other great books, movies, TV shows, and comics that I read this year. These are just my opinion and if anything hopefully my recommendations will inspire you to check out some new media that wouldn't appear on your radar.

   Happy Readings and a Joyful New Year to you all!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures, Volume 1

 This IDW Publishing collection reprints the first four issues of Eastman & Laird's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures (Volume 2) series published by Archie Comics in the early 90s. Now you might be thinking 'what in the heck is a gritty series like the Turtles being published by a goody-goody publisher like Archie?' Well, the answer is quite simple- this series is based on the kids cartoon series of the same name.

    While at this time Mirage issued a series that was gritty and more for adults, Archie released titles based on the cartoon series that ran from 1987-1996. In 1988, Archie put out a 3-issue miniseries based on the first five episodes of the show, which were packaged as a self-contained miniseries, much like GI Joe did years earlier. Playmates, the company that owned the rights to produce action figures based on the property, were hesitant to go through with a large production run unless it could be proven that the Turtles could carry an animated series. With the show an instant success, Playmates green lit a complete run of figures, playsets, and, of course, a full series of cartoons. (This also explains why the first figures of Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michaelangelo looked more like the original Eastman & Laird designs as opposed to their Murakami-Wolf-Swenson counterparts.)

     When Archie began a full series they were in quite a rush to meet production and public demands. So, the first four issues of the second volume were adaptations of the first two episodes of season 2 (The Return of the Shredder and The Incredible Shrinking Turtles.) I can't really recall if writers Dave Garcia and Beth & Ken Mitchroney were faithful to the storylines. It's been years since I have seen these episodes. But the artwork by Garcia and Mitchroney were pretty faithful to the main characters. April's assistant Irma and rival reporter Vernon however, look nothing like they did on TV. 

     I found this book at my local library and I am glad I did. I've been dabbling in whether or not to collect this series or not. I didn't want to spend a lot of time and money on a series only to find that it was childish, or corny, or even worse- LAME. But I liked what I read and I am more than willing to officially put the Archie incarnations on my wish list. With IDW releasing these books in collected form, I might even save a little money if I decide to go the collected treasury route (and I may have to as some of the later issues are very pricey.)
  
    A tubular trip back to the early days of the kid-friendly Ninjas Turtles.

   Worth Consuming.

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Mighty Mouse And Friends Holiday Special

This 1987 Christmas special by Spotlight should have been called the 'Terrytoons Christmas Special.' With stories featuring Mighty Mouse, Heckle & Jeckle, and Deputy Dawg, this book brought back memories of my childhood. And with all three stories being holiday themed, this was even more of a treat!

   Terrytoons existed from 1917-1971. I was born in '77, so all of the Terrytoons that I watched were in rerun and syndicated. But my mom and dad grew up on these and for a while, they would watch them regularly with me. Terrytoons was 20th Century Fox's answer to MGM's Tom & Jerry, Warner's Looney Tunes, and Disney's cast of characters. While certainly unable to hold a candle to these three giants, Terrytoons has built a small but loyal cult following with fans ranging from Andy Kaufman's avant-garde skit to the theme of Mighty Mouse on the very first episode of Saturday Night Live to Heckle &Jeckle and Mighty Mouse popping up on episodes of Robot Chicken on Adult Swim. 

In the late 80s, Mighty Mouse even had a brief period of fame when he was revived in a new series of cartoons. The New Adventures of Mighty Mouse ran for about 2 seasons as part of CBS' Saturday morning line-up of cartoons. Marvel even picked up the property and ran a Mighty Mouse comic for about a year. As this issue appeared on shelves in 1987, the same year as the cartoon debuted, this was probably Spotlight's last official Terrytoons property. Oddly enough, Marvel didn't garner the rights to Mighty until 1990, way after the New Adventures had been canceled and it explains why that series only lasted 11 issues.

     Title star Mighty Mouse begins this holiday comic, saving the residents of his mouse village from the evil cats. The latest scheme from the felonious felines has them taking a page from the Trojan Horse, gifting the mice with a giant Nutcracker on Christmas Eve. But when the town clock strikes midnight, the statue emits a hoard of cats who have the mice on the menu for Christmas dinner. Of course, Mighty Mouse arrives to save the day but something just wasn't quite the same without having Mitzi, the tiny titan's girlfriend, in need of rescue from the gatos.

    Then in the Heckle & Jeckle romp, the crows are raising money for a charity. But when the bank in which they just deposited their funds is robbed, the pair must go back out for more donations or several families will go without Christmas gifts. It's a heartwarming tale that relies on dumb luck and an apparent absence of the FDIC to insure their stolen deposits...

   Lastly, Deputy Dawg is trying to get his nephew to go to sleep so Santa can come. Only, the little tyke doesn't believe in St. Nick. So, Deputy Dawg spins a yarn about how his Pappy became best buds with the Jolly Old Elf. 

    All three stories were quite good. They weren't dumbed down and they seemed to capture the nature of their original cartoon incarnations quite well in both appearance and spirit. I only wish that this was an all-color affair and not printed in just black & white. 

    I've only come across this book online. It's not something that I can say I've found lying around in bargain bins nationwide. If you like Terrytoons, you will have to look around for this book to complete your collection. (I recommend you try Milehighcomics.com, the site where I found my copy.)

  And no- mine's not for sale!

   Worth Consuming

    Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

     

Superman #165 (A Holiday Favorite Revisited)

Lex Luthor has been elected President of the United States. It's a fact that doesn't sit very well with the Man of Steel. Seeking advice, solace, and allies, Superman makes the rounds with his fellow Justice Leaguers while giving them their Christmas presents. 

Featuring the artistic talents of Art Adams, Mike Wieringo, Ed McGuiness, Rob Liefeld, Norm Rapmund, and many more, this was a great Christmas themed story that's drawing style changed which each hero Superman engages. 

One of my favorite stories begins with a scene involving Waverider and Mongul's Warworld. Yet, that's the only time we see these characters. It's a moment that has to nothing do with the holiday themed story but thankfully, it doesn't really detract from the rest of the tale. 

Speaking of detractors- even the art of the much-maligned Rob Liefeld is pretty good. The late 90s version of Aquaman with the long hair and hook hand actually looks great done by the creator of Deadpool. It's almost a Christmas miracle!

 Worth Consuming

 Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Scooby-Doo #43

   Back in the day, we had these things called records. They were black discs with grooves on them in which once placed on a record player would produce a cacophony of sounds. Well, one of my favorite holiday records was a Scooby-Doo mystery album. The Mystery Gang was working at an orphanage when some holiday monster threatens to kick the kids out of the group home. Enter Santa Scooby to save the day...

    I must have worn that record out. So, imagine my joy when I found this Christmas themed issue in a bargain bin (Comics for a dollar or less. I love them...)

    In this issue, a ballet company is haunted by a ghoulish Nutcracker upset that they have switched the annual pageant over to a production of the Christmas Carol. Is the villain the hotshot Russian dancer whose been replaced? Or is it the production manager who smells this caper as the ultimate PR op? Or is it the costume designer, upset that he had to make a slew of new costumes on the fly? Only the combined might of the Mystery Gang will be able to get to the bottom of this mystery.

  Then in a non-Christmas themed story, Shaggy enters  a contest to change the design of a beloved college mascot. But when the mascot appears on the day of the bid unveiling, the Mystery Gang face a deadline of 60 minutes or the college will face the wraith of the Grinder!

    Both stories were very good and I thought that they were well written and born fantastic likenesses of the characters. The mysteries themselves weren't dumbed down either. But I wish that both stories in this comic were holiday themed, not just the feature. But this wasn't touted as a 'Christmas Special' so I can overlook it somewhat.

   With some scares, laughs, and winter fun, this is a great holiday themed issue anyone can enjoy. 

    Worth Consuming

    Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Merry Christmas, 2015!

And a happy new year!!!

The 18 Days of a Star Wars Christmas Miracle +7: Day 25

Dear readers, 

    Christmas is here. I hope you've enjoyed my trek through the holiday season and I hope you'll continue to visit my blog for more Star Wars, Superhero, and other geeked themed reviews and much more. 

 I've spent the past 4 weeks I've touted the joys of a Star Wars Christmas. But the true meaning of the season is the birth of Christ. Before I go, I hope you'll enjoy this Christmas wish from a different sort of lord... ENJOY and MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD #10

  It seems that even a suave superspy can't enjoy a peaceful Christmas Eve at their bachelor pad. Col. Fury is called upon SHIELD to save the world from the Hate-Monger. The villain's plan is to drop a germ warfare bomb upon the Big Apple. Upon detonation, the missile would release a contagion eventually wiping out the 'inferior' races of planet earth. With time running out, Nick Fury will meet the enemy in earth's orbit. But if he's not able to stop the Hate-Monger before the clock strikes Midnight over Manhattan, this will be their last Christmas ever...

   When I last encountered the Hate-Monger it was in the pages of Fantastic Four (#s 21-22). Seemingly, the foe had died but this is comic books and well bad guys don't tend to stay deceased for long. But the Hate-Monger's return wasn't the only thing that perplexed me about this issue.

    I bought Nick Fury #10 for a song. Not in great shape, but to pay only $4 for an original 1969 reader's copy with the cover still intact is not a bad deal. Being complete like that, this book shouldn't be missing any pages. Yet my copy started on page 4. There was no splash page, no title, and no credits. Why the book even starts off with Fury beating the crap outta a group of punks for no apparent reason.  

   Now artist/ writer Jim Steranko was known to be very experimental with his books- especially Nick Fury. So, having the book start in the middle of the action with no warning might have been one of his tests. If so, it failed completely on me because I spent a lot of time trying to find the title page elsewhere in the comic.

   (And for those of you saying that this book was an error with pages missing from the print run or that they were torn out- there is no evidence of any ripped pages and the book has a definite ending and the ubiquitous letters page and Stan's Soapbox editorial are both included at the end of this issue. So, there... But if anyone could scan me those missing pages, that'd be sweet!)

    Regardless of the strange beginning, this was a fun read. The art was classy and very Steranko. The painted cover is so retro cool! The dialogue was a little cheesy but so were most spy films of the era. Plus, it's a Christmas themed issue, people! That's like printed gold.

    Worth Consuming

   Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

The 18 Days of a Star Wars Christmas Miracle +7: Day 24

It's a major award!

   There's just one more day until Christmas! I hope everyone is enjoying themselves and are having a saving and healthy Christmas!

  For my advent gift to you today I've included a link to a great article about why Star Wars and Christmas seem to go hand in hand.

Enjoy!

Super Lexi is Not a Fan of Christmas by Emma Lesko

 

  Important Note: I won a copy of this children's chapter book from a giveaway on Goodreads.

   Lexi is a second-grade girl who has lots of anxieties. To overcome them, Lexi sees her strengths as super powers. In this, the second book in the Super Lexi series, Lexi must learn to overcome the phobias she has with her school's annual Christmas party called the 'hoopla.' With loud music, chaotic singing, possible food allergies, and other assorted episodes of general merriment beyond her control; the thought of having to endure another hoopla sends Lexi into fits of nausea. But Lexi will have to even deeper when this year's party requires the youngster to buy a secret Santa present for a classmate.

  I wasn't such a fan of the beginning of Super Lexi. The potty humor of flatulating classmates, barfing snowmen, and a little girl who sees the world through acid-colored glasses just wasn't my taste. But I had made a commitment to read this book as I had requested a free copy of it online- so I pressed on. The book began to grow on me, especially as Lexi and her pixie-like BFF Kaylee try to get the moppet out of having to participate in the Christmas party by trying to get on Santa's naughty list. By the end of the book, I was a fan of Super Lexi.
 
   Author Emma Lesko crafts a clever story that based on her 'About the Author' blurb and website, appears to be grounded in some part on her own childhood. (For more on Super Lexi, sample chapters, and some fun and games, check out the author's website.) This helps to give the traumas of young Lexi a humanizing effect. Adding to the livelihood of the story are amazing illustrations by fellow Raleigh, NC native Adam Winsor.

   All of this adds up to what could become a very popular series...

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

The 18 Days of a Star Wars Christmas Miracle +7: Day 23

 
  We are getting oh so much closer to Christmas. As I was searching for an Advent present for you today, I was reminded of what inspired me to make a Star Wars themed advent. The 2015 Lego Star Wars advent calendar.

   Now I can't bring you the advent online so, I offer you the next best thing-

Today's advent present is a link to a brand new Star Wars Lego game. (You will need to create an account in order to play.)

  Enjoy...

The 18 Days of a Star Wars Christmas Miracle +7: Day 22

  

  It's getting closer to Christmas my friends. Hopefully, you've got your shopping done, and are ready for friends and family. 

    Do I hear laughing? Or was that a groan? Well, maybe my Advent present today will take a little bit of the holiday stress off of you. 

   ENJOY!

The Honeymooners #3

Somewhere around 1986-1990, right before the rise of the Internet, fan clubs stopped publishing newsletters and got into the comic book industry. These books would feature original stories, articles with surviving cast and crew members, and ads for fan-made books and other merch. With an Art Carney interview and an ad for a Honeymooners book made by the founder of the Jackie Gleason fan club, this Christmas-themed issue was one such example. How else could you explain a 1987 comic book about a 1955 TV show? 

 The book, like the classic series, follows the Kramdens (Ralph & Alice) and the Nortons (Ed & Trixie), as they struggle to make ends meet in the Big Apple. Here, Alice has been dropping hints for a new dress for Christmas. A dress that costs $200! (Which in 1987's dollars would be about $827 according to saving.org!) 

   Not wanting to disappoint his beloved, Ralph seeks to get the dress by investing his Christmas bonus on a Christmas tree venture with an old friend. Alice sees this as another one of her husband's get rich quick schemes and a fight ensues. In disgust, the couple wishes that they had never met. Key the 'It's a Wonderful Life' homage...  But there's a twist- fate keeps bringing the two together and the comic's artist and writer can't figure out how! 

    This issue was interesting. I liked the story and it seem very original despite the oft-used holiday plot device. The art was quite good, but the printing was terrible. 

   The bottom third of the page looked like the images were double exposed. I think if this series wasn't a labor of love between a select few Honeymooners fans, they probably could've afforded to not allow a massive print error like this to be released. But I've never heard of Triad Publications and I'm sure for a tiny publisher like them, money was an object. 

   Originally, 24 issues of the Honeymooners was planned but only 12 were released. Sales must have been dismal. Oddly enough, I've only ever found this issue in bargain bins on multiple occasions. And believe me, the bargain bins abound with these type of comics and while they aren't of the best quality they aren't horrible reads.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

 
  

The 18 Days of a Star Wars Christmas Miracle +7: Day 21

Since I celebrated the Ewoks cartoon yesterday, it's only fair that I celebrate the other cartoon series that made 1984-85 great- Star Wars: Droids! 

   Though Ewoks lasted a couple of years longer- Droids was clearly the better show. It featured C-3PO and R2-D2 as they travelled the universe looking for new masters but always ending up discovering trouble. 

   Anthony Daniels supplied the voice to Threepio as he did in the films. Though I doubt Kenny Baker was the doing the beeps and boops of Artoo.

   One thing that made the show so awesome was that stormtroopers, TIE fighters, and a certain bounty hunter from the Empire Strikes Back made appearances on the show. Another aspect was that it featured the writing styles of one Paul Dini- the genius behind Batman: The Animated Series and creator of Harley Quinn.

  My advent gift for you today is one of those amazing episodes written by Dini.

   Enjoy...
 

The 18 Days of a Star Wars Christmas Miracle +7: Day 20

    Next to Jar Jar Binks, the most controversial characters in the Star Ward Universe are the Ewoks. But love 'em or hate 'em, Episode VI just wouldn't be the same without these tiny cousins to Chewbacca.

   Today's Advent gift to you is one of the cooler aspects of the Ewoks- the first episode the Ewoks cartoon show!

   Enjoy...

The 18 Days of a Star Wars Christmas Miracle +7: Day 19

 

 I hope everyone is having a great weekend and that many of you are getting to see Star Wars Spoiler Free!!!

   Tonight is our annual Christmas party with our best friends (as married people) and there two wonderful daughters that we consider god-children...

   To share some of the holiday fun with you- my advent present for you tonight is a loyal bunch of stormtroopers putting up a tree for their Christmas festivities...

   Enjoy!.

Scribblenauts Unmasked: A Crisis of Imagination (Family Comics Friday)

Cover to the last chapter of A Crisis of Imagination #18.

 Maxwell and Lily are siblings from an alternate earth. Maxwell has a magic pen and pad that can conjuror anything he can imagine. Lily has a globe that when powered up can transport you to anywhere in the known universe. Together this brother and sister superhero team are the Scribblenauts.

   Created in 2009, Scribblenauts is a puzzle adventure video game that has developed a sort of cult following. After several years success, the franchise branched out into the DC Universe with Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure in 2013. Featuring over 2,000 characters from the DC Universe, the game spawned a number of action figures, t-shirts, and in 2014, a webseries and eventual print comic book series.

   In this series, Maxwell and Lily return to the DCU after the events of the video game to discover that their beloved friends in the Justice League are being menaced by their former allies. When Maxwell discovers that these supposed friends are being possessed by Shadow Demons, the Phantom Stranger arrives to warn that a crisis looms threatening the very fabric of the multiverse. The key player behind this threat- the Anti-Monitor.

     The book begins like a sugary kids book. I'm not knocking it. But the first two issues weren't really my cup of tea. But once the books started to delve into the rich history of the multiverse and include characters from Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew, Earth 2, and Batman Beyond, I really took a shine to this book. It was like reading an amped up all-ages version of Crisis of Infinite Earths.

   Like any good kids multimedia project does, Scribblenauts includes a story that children will enjoy along with little nuggets that bring back a wave of nostalgia to adults. The art, while cartoony, still evoked over 75 years of DC History. By the end of this book, I wasn't wanting it to end.

   There is a bonus story that while too entertaining, it negates some of the stories in this plot. It was never published prior to this collection. I am thinking that is that case as it wipes out one baddies transformation into one of the good guys in the main series.  Honestly, I am not even sure why they included it. 

    One thing that some properties, like Disney, do is push the envelope, often with a bit of innuendo. That doesn't happen here. Nor is there any bad language. Lots of cool lines from classic films like Ghostbusters and Back to the Future abound in this series and they gave me a chuckle. There are some mild violence and a little bit of sorcery but otherwise, like the Scribblenauts video games, this miniseries is considered quite family friendly.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

The 18 Days of a Star Wars Christmas Miracle +7: Day 18 (SPOILER FREE MOVIE REVIEW)

  For today's advent, I decided to review the Force Awakens while being as spoiler free as possible. 
   
  For one thing, the Force Awakens is wicked fun. But it's not Empire Strikes Back- perhaps not only the greatest Star Wars film ever, but the best film of all-time- period. True, I have seen Episode V over 200 times and I might be a little biased. Multiple viewings of this film, which I am sure will be occurring in the next few weeks, will help me to really place this film at second or third place over A New Hope and Revenge of the Sith. 

   The acting was quite good. It was great seeing Han, Leia, Chewie, and some other friendly faces. But how did the new characters do? 
   Oscar Isaac's Poe Dameron, the best pilot in the Resistance is cocky, fierce, and a little wild. But he's quite likable. The mysterious orphan Rey played by Daisy Ridley is a star in the making. I take that back, her performance as the scavenger from the planet Jakku is proof that a star is born. Another mysterious character is that of Kylo Ren, who plays a Sith Lord for the First Order. Played by Adam Driver- he's a creepy dude who I actually do not like at all (though his voice when helmeted rivals James Earl Jones' Darth Vader.)

   One thing about Episode VII that quite different from the other 6 movies are the villains. Unlike the Empire, the troops of the First Order don't strike me as evil. But they are baddies nonetheless. But whereas I love the bad guys characters of the Empire like the Emperor, Boba Fett, and, of course, Lord Vader, I hate these guys and hope that the resistance hands them their just desserts by the end of Episode IX. 

    Oh, I almost forgot one more character- the controversial Finn played by John Boyega. When he was first cast last year, some folks lost their freakin' minds over a black stormtrooper. The biggest argument was that the clones used as the original Stormtroopers were not black. Well, this is the second or third generation of stormtroopers made up of recruits and conscripts. So, haters: STIFLE!

    Boyega was the comic relief of the Force Awakens. But he wasn't annoyingly stupid like the notroious Jar Jar Binks. In fact, sometimes, his character of a conflicted stormtrooper played the straight man to an elderly Han Solo, who had some very funny moments as well. Still, Boyega's character was play with such heart and such charm that I openly welcome him into the Star Wars family. (On a side note, Boyega's Finn is rumored to be the son of Lando. If that becomes true, I'm totally fine with it because they both have that dapper swagger and a way with the ladies.)

   So, should you see Star Wars? Absolutely! The few trailers and commercials for the film haven't spoiled anything. In fact, expect some misdirects. JJ Abrams did a great job in making you think that Character A was going to turn out to be a Jedi or a villian, or someone's kid only to have it be Character B. (And yes, as I've been predicting a couple of characters from the Journey to the Force Awakens books do appear in this film. But do you have to read those books to understand what's going on? Not really, though Smuggler's Run does offer the most insight into the goings on in which we first are reintroduced to Han and Chewie.)

   Lastly, here's a couple of tips for seeing the movie this weekend.

   1. Get there early for seats but don't expect to see the film immediately at showtime. My tickets last night were for 7:30. It wasn't until 7:55 that the commercials and trailers finally ended.
   2. Cosplay is okay. But thanks to the a-hole in Denver, expect bag checks, head coverings and fake weapons to be banned, and regular appearances of ushers checking the emergency exits.
   3. There was a rumor of a secret scene at the end of Episode VII. If you hate staying through credits, go ahead and leave, there isn't anything waiting for you at the end of the movie except your car.
   4. Check your theatre for problems. I heard that one screening in Cary, NC was cancelled because their copy of the film was damaged. There were lots of upset folks last night.

   So there you have it. I hope you'll go out and see Star Wars this weekend. There are some many showings, you shouldn't have any troubles getting to see the Force Awakens. Was it a perfect movie? No, but even A New Hope had it's flaws. There were 2 moments that upset me and only 1 of which really pissed me off. Episode VII was a journey back to the Star Wars universe and JJ Abrams was the right man to do it. I hate that he's not directing the next 2 films. With lots of easter eggs, tributes, and original trilogy thrills, this is the next chapter of the House of Skywalker that we waited 32 long years for.

   The Force is strong with this one...

    Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

   

Star Wars Advent News...

   Tomorrow's Advent post will be delayed until in the afternoon.  My intention is to write up a review for Episode VII but I want to ruminate on it a bit and make sure that I compose one that is as spoiler free as possible. So sit tight, I didn't forget...

17 The Force Awakens Spoilers For Someone Who Hasn't Seen the Movie Yet...

 

 With the Force Awakens, it's going to be really hard not getting any spoilers unless you see the movie first. I get to see the film tonight at 7:30. Everyone at my work knows I am going and I am going to be asked question after question about what happened.  So, I thought it might be fun to come up with some fake spoilers to throw out tomorrow. Feel free to use them when describing Episode VII to your friends and family...

1. The Force doesn't like to be awakened until 10 am. It will sleep in on weekends.

2. To start it's day, the Force will drink a hot cup o' joe, catch up on emails, and have a morning constitutional...

3. Chewbacca is revealed to really be 2 Ewoks standing atop an Ugnaught.

4. The reason Luke is missing from the trailers is because he accidently went back in time, where he fell in love with a girl named Shmi and ended up becoming his own grandpa.

5. We learn that Han Solo hates snakes. This phobia gives him a bad feeling...

6. Leia has been financing the continuing war against the First Order by selling her worn metal bikinis to Japanese businessmen online. Sales have not been good lately...

7.Nalan Cheel quit Figrin Dan and the Modal Nodes and created the Indy-Pop band Alderaanian Sunburn.

8. No taun tauns were injured in the filming of the Force Awakens.

9. A Jawa did get a hang nail, but it was quickly fixed. He did not have to apply for workmen's comp.

10. Poe Dameron's serial number is revealed as 4815-16-2342.

11. Han and Leia never married. They did have a threesome with a Shistavanen Wolfman- there were complications...

12. Boba Fett survived the Sarlacc. The episode did result in the bounty hunter losing that lovin' feeling if you know what I mean...

13. It's revealed that R2-D2 and C-3PO aren't a gay couple because Threepio is a figment of Artoo's imagination.

14. The secret scene at the end of the film has Han, Leia, Chewie, Finn, Poe, and Rey eating at a really good Shawarma restaurant at the Mos Eisley spaceport.

15. James Earl Jones appears as a new bad guy, Darth Boisterous. All of his lines are dubbed over by David Prowse.

16. A third Death Star appears in this film. It's made of Legos, but all thermal exhaust ports are properly vented to prevent another debacle like on Yavin.

and 17. It's not really a Death Star. It's more like a Death Meteorite...

  Oh, and here's a bonus spoiler- There's going to be a sequel!!!

The 18 Days of a Star Wars Christmas Miracle +7: Day 17

 It's finally here- technically. For the longest time, December 18th was to be the official opening of Episode VII. But with Fandango's secret showings for tonight and Disney deciding the best way to prevent spoilers is to up the date of the film's opening, today is the day the force finally awakens.

   I've been waiting for this movie for 32 years. 1983, there was a story on Entertainment Tonight which both promised the 3 prequels and another trilogy to round out what happened after Return of the Jedi. I know we got the prequels but  what I wanted was to see the further adventures of the rebels I loved watching in episodes IV, V, and VI. Well, starting today, that mission will begin the process of being accomplished.

   With Episode VII, we'll finally get some all new footage of Han, Leia, Chewie, the droids, and most importantly- find out what the heck happened to Luke!

   Since I know you are craving some new Star Wars, my advent present for you today is a trio of videos showing rarely seen deleted footage from the original trilogy! May it whet you appetite.

   Enjoy...

  click here for deleted scenes from A New Hope...

  click here for deleted scenes from the Empire Strikes Back...

  click here for deleted scenes from Return of the Jedi...

The 18 Days of a Star Wars Christmas Miracle +7: Day 16

    You'd think with the tons (and I mean tons) of Star Wars merchandise on the market that it would be easy to shop for a Star Wars fan. But, you'd be surprised...

   The first problem is that Star Wars fans love to shop and so there's a good chance you might buy something they've already got.

   The second problem is there are lots of people who think 'if it's Sci-Fi it must be Star Wars.' I can't tell you how many times I've heard that someone got a Star Trek necktie or a Halo lunchbox because their loved ones didn't know what Star Wars stuff looks like.

   Lastly, there is bootleg stuff. I went to the Dollar Tree the other day and I saw a lot of toys for something called Star Missions. This line of toys looked like Star Wars but brother it wasn't Star Wars.

   So my advent present for you today is a wish list of some really cool and hard to find Star Wars stuff.

    I hope this helps you find the perfect gift for the Star Wars fan in your life...

    Enjoy!

Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens: Shattered Empire

  Over the past month, I have been reading as many of the 'Journey to the Force Awakens' books as possible before Episode VII drops on Friday. Most have been entertaining but offered very little of the vital clues that were the reason I wanted to read the books in the first place. That is not so here.

    In Shattered Empire, we learn of the continuing struggles of the Rebellion right after the defeat of the Emperor. While Greg Rucka does a fantastic job exploring the further missions of Princess Leia, Han Solo, and Luke Skywalker that's not the reason a true fan of Star Wars needs to read this book. It's because Shattered Empire reveals the true parentage of ----- NOPE, not gonna spoil it!

    With dynamic storytelling by Rucka (Gotham Central) and near photorealistic artwork by Marco Checchetto (Amazing Spider-Man) this is by far the best book in the 'Journey' series. It was tons of fun and even brings in some of newer characters introduced in the young adult novels. But Shattered Empire is just too darn short. 

   At only 4 issues long, I finished this book in just over an hour and I was desperate for more. Thankfully, the Force will awaken in just under 48-hours.

    (This volume includes a reprint of Princess Leia #1 and a beautifully remastered edition of the comic that started it all Star Wars #1.)

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

The 18 Days of a Star Wars Christmas Miracle +7: Day 15

   One of my favorite gifts to receive for Christmas (even now) is a grab bag of comic books. Usually in multitudes of 3,5,10, 25, 50, or 100 I love the surprise of finding something that's been on my wish list or some hidden gem that I've never even heard of. A comic book grab bag has never steered me wrong and has often resulted in finding me new stuff to read and collect that I otherwise wouldn't.

   Every once in a while I'll get lucky and find a Star Wars comic- either from Dark Horse or Marvel; the original publisher of the Star Wars comic book.

    Today's advent present for you is a look at some of the wilder covers of the original Star Wars run from Marvel (1977-1986.) It's a neat time capsule at the original trilogy that many have never seen before. I hope you'll like...





 

Bizarre Adventures #34

  

The cover says that this book isn't for kids and for 1983- they're right. 

   First of all- look at the cover- it's a skeleton Santa. Or maybe it's dad dressed as Santa coming to surprise his kiddies but he got stuck in the chimney and died. It looks kinda gruesome and kinda wicked awesome and man was I all over this!

   I didn't even know this book existed until probably 6 months ago and someone posted the cover on social media as a sort of Christmas in July motif. At that point, Bizarre Adventures #34 went on my wish list because A) It was a Christmas Themed book and B) it was a scary book or, at least, a weird one.

   So let us look at the stories contained inside:

• A homeless teen discovers that he's the Son of Santa and must take over the role when Jolly Ol' Saint Nick is brutally murdered by the Anti-Claus.
• Howard the Duck is shown by an angel that if he wasn't born his friends would've turned out a-okay!
• In an apocalyptic wasteland, a young renegade and his buxom sidekicks rescue a kidnapped tyke on Christmas Eve.
• When Santa accidently kills his father, a young boy murders the fat man's helpers one-by-one until he finally meets the real Father Christmas in his living room with a sackful of toys and one mean can of whoop ass.
• Santa's trip to the Big Apple doesn't go as planned when he's arrested for breaking and entering by New York's Finest.
• Finally, in a tribute to the classic EC Comics of the 1950s, a time traveller arrives in Victorian England in hopes of witnessing a more peaceful Christmas and gets stuck in the middle of some brutal class warfare between the Little Match Girl and her fat-cat employer.

    These Bizarre Adventures were completely off the wall and totally insane. Only the third and fourth story is really gory. But just about every tale has its fair share of sex, greed, and violence. In 1983, this book wouldn't have been deemed suitable for readers under the age of 16. Hence, the book is published without the Comics Code stamp on the cover. 

   For 2016, I would say parents of those under the age of 13 should be advised about this books contents. And for goodness sake, don't let them take this comic to school unless you'd enjoy seeing your child's place of higher learning on the 6 pm news for being under lockdown because some teacher took issue to the book's treatment of kids with weapons.

   Featuring art and stories by Al Milgrom, Denny O'Neil, Alan Kuppenburg, Mike Carlin, Larry Hama, and many more, this is a hard to find holiday themed Marvel comic. As the last book in the series, it's also the rarest. A little violent, a bit shocking as well. But it was a fun campy B-movie trek through the genres of horror, sci-fi, parody, and whatever the heck Howard the Duck is considered...

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

The 18 Days of a Star Wars Christmas Miracle +7: Day 14

  If I had the money, my house would rival that of Chevy Chase's character in Christmas Vacation.  One day, it probably shall, but I'd like to get out of debt first. But when I do- look out neighborhood- cause my yard is going to be full of Steelers, Doctor Who, superhero, and, of course, Star Wars light ups!


One thing I really want is the image on the right- it's an inflatable Jabba the Hutt. The only thing missing is a holiday slave Leia...



For my Advent present for you today, I have included a link to a house decked out to the nines with Star Wars Christmas goodies. Along with some cool memorabilia, there's a cameo from a certain archeologist as well as another carol from the epic Christmas in the Stars album from the 80s.

Enjoy...

The 18 Days of a Star Wars Christmas Miracle +7: Day 13

    The Lightsaber- it's extremely iconic to Star Wars. Why nobody has ever made a stand of Christmas lights that look like lightsabers is beyond me. (If you decide to ever make some as a payment for my idea, I'll take 7 strands, please!)

   For my Advent present for you today is perhaps the next best thing- A fully decorated house in which the lights dance to various Star Wars themes. 

The idea of coordinating the music to Christmas lights is so cool. It's also a labor intensive project that takes hours, sometimes days to program. I'm a master light-stringer, but I am a novice compared to this other house!

Enjoy both videos!

Archie Christmas Classics

  

What with the Force Awakens coming out next week and working, working, working... (I'm a chef, so this IS my busy season) I am a little behind on my Christmas-theme readings. But I started it out with a massive bang!

   Archie Christmas Classics is a giant 192-page time capsule of holiday themed Archie Comics from the 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s. There aren't just Christmas stories in this book but holiday pin-ups pages, pages to color, and a bonus 2-page prose story from the 1940s. 

   I read a ton of Archie Comics as a kid. I've also read a lot of Christmas Archie stuff since comic back to collecting in 2007. So, it's a wonder that there was only 1 story in this collection that I've ever read before. I'm so used to getting a treasury that's filled with, if I'm lucky, about 50% of things I've already consumed before. Not the case here. And there was only one story didn't I wasn't much of a fan of and that was because it included some renegade Santa's helper elf character that everyone seemed to know (but me!)

   Published in 2011, this is a very fun and entertaining collection of stories that include just about every one of your favorite Archie characters, holiday cheer, magic, and the Christmas spirit. Worth every penny I paid for it!

   Worth Consuming!

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

The 18 Days of a Star Wars Christmas Miracle +7: Day 12

   I've read my fair share of comic books. Heck, I've read other people's fair share of comics, too. Some of my favorite ones are Christmas themed (any holiday themed comic is awesome, but I really love Christmas ones.)

   To my knowledge, there never has been a Star Wars Christmas comic. Nor has there ever been a holiday themed book based on Life Day, the Wookiee version of Christmas from the Holiday Special.

   So for today's advent present to you, I'm giving you the gift of comic books. Below are the links to 2 free comic books from the good folks at Comixology. The books are digital and you will need to set up an account but hey, they're free!

NOTE: This site does ask for a credit card, but use this site all the time. It's an Amazon-owned company and if you buy the free books on the site, they do not charge your account. 

   Enjoy...

Click here for the Star Wars Comic Sampler

Click Here for the Free Comic Book Day 2005 Star Wars Edition

Baba Yaga's Assistant (Family Comic Friday)

That's one scary looking witch.

   Masha is a young woman raised by her grandmother. Her mother died when Masha was very young and with her grieving father absent from most of her life, the girl learned many things from her Russian Nana. Along with a little magic, Masha was taught the stories of the Baba Yaga: a child-eating witch from Central European folklore. But one day, Masha finds an ad requesting a new assistant for an ancient witch. Grandma's stories were true- Baba Yaga is real!

   But before Masha can become Baba Yaga's assistant, she must accomplish a series of tests. The very first mission is to discover a way to enter a house propped up with chicken legs and no visible entrance. Good thing Masha is armed with the knowledge of her grandmother's accounts of the legendary spellcaster and a litany of subtle compliments.

   I meant to read this 2015 graphic novel during the Halloween season, but it kept getting put off for some reason. I found it at my local library and as my 2 renewals had almost run out, I needed to read this or return it for a later time. I'm glad I decided to read it.

 Usually, I say that the books I read for Family Comic Friday that there isn't much for parents and guardians to object to. Well, this time, it's not the case. The book is about a witch. Some parents may not want their children exposed to witchcraft. However, this witch doesn't do anything worse than the baddies in Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, or the Wizard of Oz.

   The next issue is that this book is about a witch that eats children. Parents may object to this as well. But remember, the witch in Hansel & Gretel had plans to eat the heroes of that story. In Baba Yaga, there is a trio of kids that get captured and held prisoner by the sorceress and it's up to Masha to save them. This may be too intense for some readers, so discretion is advised.  (By the way, Amazon says this book is appropriate for those in grades 4-7.)

   A very interesting read that I think very well could be the beginning of a series. It was a quick read with art in the style of old-world European woodcuts mixed with New Yorker cartoons. But is this book set in Europe or the States? Sadly, this book doesn't answer that question.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

The 18 Days of a Star Wars Christmas Miracle +7: Day 11

I bet this sucks (pun intended...)

  Folks, I feel bad about that little prank I played on you last night. I shouldn't have made you watch the Donny and Marie Star Wars Special. 

   So, in order to make it up to you, I present as my advent present for today perhaps the greatest Star Wars parody of them all: Hardware Wars!

   Enjoy...

The 18 Days of a Star Wars Christmas Miracle +7: Day 10

   I wonder if Wampas bounce?

   There have been tons of Star Wars parodies in the past 4 decades. From mash-ups with Elvis to the Family Guy TV-show's take on the original trilogy, the ways to make a little fun at the ways of the Force seems endless.

   My advent present today is by far on of the worst Star Wars parodies or all-time. From September 1977, I present to you the Donny & Marie Star Wars Special! 

   I'm sorry I don't have a receipt so you can return this but hey, this clip is only 12 minutes long. So, the suffering isn't endless. Guest-starring C-3PO, R2-D2, Darth Vader, and a score of dancing stormtroopers, this is one of those things it's so bad, it's good. 

   You just have to see for yourself...

   Enjoy...

The 18 Days of a Star Wars Christmas Miracle +7: Day 9

 

    The Ugly Christmas Sweater.

    It's become the required fashion of holiday parties everywhere.

    For my advent present today for you here's a look at some awesome Star Wars themed ugly sweaters to help make your next office party outfit out of this world...

   Enjoy.

(Didn't get enough of the ugly Star Wars sweater?  Then click here for some more holiday themed fun!

Batman, Volume 7: Endgame (The New 52!)

   This volume collects the epic Batman storyline that changed everything you know about the Dark Knight!

   The Joker has returned to Gotham City and he's completely changed. He's more cunning, more insane, more deadly, and more powerful than ever before. Along with a newly reconstructed face, the Joker also carries a deadly virus in his system that has turned him into a walking biological weapon- along with now bearing seemingly instructive regenerative properties. 

   The Joker's virus has turned the people of Gotham into raving lunatics. With the sickness spreading, the Caped Crusader must call in all of the members of his Batfamily along  with some of Gotham's must dangerous to save the city before the America military carpet bombs the entire burg as a containment measure. But first, Batman must defeat his allies in the Justice League who have been infected with the Clown Prince of Crime's contagion.

   Issue #40 marked the final confrontation between Batman and the Joker. I had read it before as I received it as a gift during Free Comic Book Day weekend from my brother-in-law. I was so thrilled that I couldn't wait for this volume to come out. It was a good decision as I consider it one of the best issues of 2015. 

   But just as I read that issue with a little bit of confusion having not read issues 35-39, I was a little bit confused here when I started this book. During the Death of the Family storyline, the previous Joker appearance in the comics, the Joker severely beat Alfred. As a result, his daughter came to help him recover and fill-in as Batman's right-hand man. 

   Now, in issue #40, Alfred was in the hospital, so I figured that one of the chapters of Endgame (I didn't read yet) was when this mystery daughter came into the picture. Yet, she's almost on page 1 of volume 7 already helping out (and Alfred's recovering from the Joker's assault in Family.) So, where in the heck did she come from? She didn't show up in volume 6 of Batman, which is a collection of random tales, so again I ask, where did she pop up and what did I not read first before Endgame?

    Questions aside, this was a fantastic read that adds mystery to the Joker mystique and ushers in a new phase in the Batman mythos. 

   You don't want to miss out on Endgame!

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

The 18 Days of a Star Wars Christmas Miracle +7: Day 8

It's time to spread a little Christmas cheer with everybody's favorite walking carpet: Chewbacca!

  So tall, so furry, so gosh darn loyal and lovable. It's one reason we named our second son, Chewbacca! (This is no joke, we actually have a HUMAN child named Chewbacca, or Chewie for short.)

  Anyways, the picture of the album you so on the left is a real recording. It's not officially licensed, but somebody took all of the noises Chewbacca made in the original trilogy, put them on a synthesizer and put them to music. Much like those Christmas albums that use puppy barks and cat mews to single Jingle Bells- someone had the idea to make Silent Night using Wookiee calls.

 So my gift to you today is a sample of the  fabled recording along with a link to another song that answers the eternal question: What Do You Get a Wookiee For Christmas When He Already Owns a Comb?

Enjoy...

The 18 Days of a Star Wars Christmas- MAKE THAT Hannukah Miracle +7: Day 7

  Folks, Tonight marks the first night of Hannukah and I thought I would devote tonight's advent to helping my Jewish readers get in the spirit of the Festival of Lights Star Wars style! And who better to help me than the quarter-Jewish Harrison Ford (AKA Han Solo!)

   I know what you might be thinking, there isn't anything Star Wars to decorate my house for Hannukah! Well, you couldn't be more wrong folks. Here's a style guide from 2014 to help you make this Hannakuh a StarWarsakuh!

   And while we're at it, here's directions on how to make your very own 'Droidel'  in which to bet all those Imperial Gelts on!

   So, sit back with a nice warm latka and listen to the ultimate holiday song as my present to you for the Hannukah season.
 

    Enjoy!