Steve Rogers: Captain America #1

 

 While DC's Rebirth was breaking all sorts of sales records last week, it was this issue that stole all of the press. Steve Rogers: Captain America #1 is perhaps the most controversial comic since that variant issue of Batgirl in which the Joker was holding the heroine hostage a la the Killing Joke. Now I normally stay away from spoilers but the big reveal of this issue has been so hyped, you'd have to have been living under a rock to miss the twist. So, you've been warned…

  On the very last page it's revealed that Steve Rogers is a secret member of the terrorist cell, HYDRA!!! Both series writer Nick Spencer and edited Tom Brevoort both claim that Steve has been a member since before becoming the Sentinel of Liberty in 1940. HYDRA Steve’s not a clone, not a Skrull, and not an imposter.

Well, with the stunning final page and the assurance that this is not a sales ploy, the internet did what is does best in these situations- it lost it’s collective sh*t! Nick Spencer received death threats. Fans vowed to disown Marvel and never acknowledge this version of Captain America. And everyone from Stan the Man to the man himself, Chris Evans weighed it on the twist ending.

  So what about me- the Madman who has been a Captain America fan ever since he can remember? Cap and Superman have vied for the title of my #1 superhero of all-time since I could read and I would go back and forth all the time. For the past decade, Cap has held that role firmly without fail and the reason why is simple- his very essence has been unwavering.

  Since September 11, Superman has been portrayed more as a god amongst men that as the living embodiment of the American immigrant- seeking truth, justice, and the American Way! But Steve Rogers no matter when he abandoned his role as Captain America to become Nomad: The Man Without a Country or was suddenly turned into a physically old man- he was an American patriot through and through.

So, what’s my take on the revelation that Steve Rogers is a traitor? Well, let’s review the plot momentarily.

   Recently having regained his youth, Steve Rogers shares the title of Captain America with the Falcon. A SHIELD prison facility had a massive break-out and Steve and his girlfriend, Sharon Carter, seek to bring the super-villain prisoners back into custody. Amongst the villains is the nefarious Baron Zemo, whose pretty pissed that the Red Skull has become the defacto leader of HYDRA during his imprisonment.

  Meanwhile, flashbacks to the 1920s show the level of abuse Steve and his mother endured at the hands of the alcoholic Mr. Rogers. If not for the help of a mysterious woman named Elisa, who knows how far Steve’s father may have went on this latest bender. She eventually takes the two out for dinner as it is evident that the mother and child haven’t eaten in days.

  While these events unfold in the past, Cap catches up with Zemo who is holding an important scientist hostage. Zemo escapes but not before the Captain America wannabe, Jack Flag stumbles in on Steve. Steve apologizes to Flag and then kills him (or least, we are made to think he did.) Just as Steve reveals that he is a HYDRA agent, in the past we see that Elisa is a member of HYDRA and invites Mrs. Rogers and Steve to the next community meeting.

 My theory is that this Elisa person is manipulating the timeline. I would bet money that Elisa is Madame Hydra and she went back in time to make Steve Rogers a minion of the terrorist cell. My reasoning: Elisa keeps mentioning that Steve will be someone important one day. So, it’ll play out for a while that Steve’s a baddie and then Sharon and Falcon and maybe Bucky will have to go back in time to save the day. Thus Steve both isn’t and is a HYDRA agent at the same time. But again, that’s just my theory.

  When I first learned of Steve’s betrayal, I must admit, I was shell shocked. I struggled with it long and hard and then I decided to stop listening to the masses and read the book. This was one of the best Cap stories since Ed Brubaker was in charge during the Winter Soldier storyline. I was impressed with it, but I was also a bit scared of the story.

  The Red Skull’s rhetoric reads just like posts linked to my Facebook feed from angry family members and friends- immigrants are taking our jobs, Europe’s overrun by refugees, the government doesn’t want to protect us. Basically, everything the Nazi villain stands for, the Republicans have been blamed of doing. I’m not going to choose sides or attack one political party over another. No, my point of being scared because of this issue is that Americans are angry- not just Republicans, but Democrats too. The whole nation seems ready to fall apart and when a great source of escapism like comics, is so blurred with reality, well to me, it means that things really are in dire straits.

   I’m looking forward to see where this series goes next. Cap is still my all-time fav for now. But time will tell if Steve Rogers remains a HYDRA agent or not. Sadly, there are too many so called ‘fans’ out there who forget that stories in comics aren’t solved in 32-pages anymore but over the course of several months. Be patient folks, the best of Steve Rogers may be yet to come!

  Worth Consuming

  Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Bart Simpson's Manual of Mischief

  

  Ever wanted to be the biggest mischief maker on your block, but didn't know how to go about it? Well, your prayers have been answered with Bart Simpson's Manual of Mischief. Straight from Springfield's most notorious trouble maker under the age of 12, comes a guide to everything you need to become your class clown, your family's super-secret practical joker, and the spray paint scourge of your community.

   Lessons in this manual include:

• Making prank phone calls
• operating in disguise
• practical jokes for the school, home, and workplace
• career choices for up-and-coming mischief makers and much, much more!

   I've read several books in the Vault of Simpsonology series, like the Book of Moe, Comic Book Guy's Book of Pop Culture, and Bart Simpson's Guide to Life. But the Manual of Mischief is the first book I've read that had lots of activities for readers to engage in such as removable bad ass skateboard stickers, fake health food labels for your sugary soda of choice, and a collection of trading cards devoted to the art of sneakery. But, they are not  all easy to do either. I gave up on the disguise kit activity after about 5 minutes of Homer-like frustration trying to get it to work right.

   I only rarely stumble across these books at a used bookstore or in this case, Ollie's Discount Outlet. But when I find them, I snatch them up as they are the perfect rainy day read to boost your spirits. Since this book has things to cut out of it, I expect that this might be a harder book to find in perfect condition, unless you get lucky like I did or go to Amazon where prices as of right now start for copies that are used as low as $0.41! 

   A fun read in the classic Simpsons style that is worth a read, or two, or three. And believe me, I'm going to be trying some of these pranks one day! There's some comic gold in these pages waited to be exploited!

   Worth Consuming

  

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Rush City #1

Virgin Cover to Issue #1.

Meet Rush- a cocky ex-paramedic who for some reason decides to become a sort of savior-for-hire. Here, Rush, with his souped up sports car, has taken a job in which he will rescue a little girl, probably kidnapped, who got separated from her mother while boarding the subway.

There’s a mystery about Rush and why he refers to his car as a human being. Rush City’s back cover tells you to go online to read the exclusive online, origin-telling, issue #0. Sadly, that was like 10 years ago when first published and the link no longer works. Issue #0 was released in very limited release inside an issue of Gamepro Magazine, but I don't know which one to look for. Plus Rush City hasn't been released as a trade, so I doubt that I will ever find this issue. So I guess some research is needed to find out what makes Rush, well Rush.

Despite this problem, I really liked the book. The action and writing were awesome. The art was fantastic and Rush is a great meta-human anti-hero that DC sadly just never really picked up on.

Worth Consuming

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

DC Universe: Rebirth #1

Someone is trying to break through the barriers of the DC Universe. With their return is a warning of players who are manipulating the timeline, causing the DC Universe to have lost 10 years of continuity. Players so secret, even though the clues to their identity are teased from the very first panel, you will be completely shocked as to who they are during the last panel reveal!

    With the completion of the New 52! experiment, DC Comics seeks to return their comics to that timeless multiverse that has endeared to DC fans for over 60 years! Geoff Johns, the mastermind behind the Arrowverse of live-action shows on the CW such as The Flash and DC Legends of Tomorrow, scribes the single best DC book in a long, long time. Featuring the art of Ivan Reis, Gary Frank, and many more, this issue evokes the classic artwork of Crisis on Infinite Earths' penciler, George Perez.

   Speaking of Crisis, this 80-page one-shot not only resets the DCU, it pays tribute to over 30 years of stories and art inspired by the Marv Wolfman/ Perez maxi-series from 1985-86. There are so many homages and easter eggs that along with the great story, comprise an epic love letter to DC Comics.

   I enjoyed the New 52! for the most part. But honestly, it wasn't the DC that I remembered. That's what I love about DC Comics, it's established on legend, myth, and nostalgia. Rebirth seeks to return DC to that classic framework. I'm so psyched as to what the events of Rebirth will bring and extremely excited to read more.

   To paraphrase DC's Mediocre Competitor: Make Mine DC!

   Worth Consuming!

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Postcards: True Stories That Never Happened

   A really cool anthology concept: you take some of the hottest indy talents around, give them an old-timey postcard, and have them craft a story based on the piece of mail. Editor and writer 

Jason Rodriguez is an amateur deltiologist (he collects postcards.) Taking from his personal collection, he assigned some of his peers to create stories that might be true but aren't necessarily. 
  
  Some of the stories are based solely on the image on the front of the postcard. Some epics involved only the shorts messages scribed on the back and a couple is a combination of both front image locale and on-the-back greeting. 

    Accepting Rodrigeuz's challenge include Michael Gaydos, Stuart Moore, Phillip Hester, and underground comix legend, Harvey Pekar. There's a real mix of themes and emotions in these stories. Some are quite beautiful while others are downright tragic. There's high drama in just about every tale. Yet, I don't recall laughing once, as none of these not-so-true stories are what you would consider comedies. Even the Pekar story which is based on how he meet his wife via postcard correspondence is twinged with sadness. And to my chagrin, more than one story ends with that blasted pet peeve of mine- the open-ended ending!

   If you are looking for a smile, you won't find them in this book. Yet, despite the sadness that colors every story, there's something that just made me keep turning the page wanting to know what happens next. With some explicit language and adult themes, this is not a book for kids. But this is duly worth a read if you can find this 2007 collection published by Villard.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Family Comic Friday CANCELLED On Account of Surgery!!!

 
  Loyal readers, today is when I would post my weekly Family Comic Friday review. But today, I had to cancel that on account that I'm due for surgery in less than 3 hours. 

     Late last year, I was driving home when I noticed a pain just under my right elbow. I thought maybe after a long day in the kitchen, it was just sore and with my other hand, I tried to massage it a little. Only instead of a tight muscle, I found a lump. 

    Over the past about 8 months or so I've had numerous MRIs, doctor appointments, and headaches with medical billing but it's been determined that I have a tumor under my right elbow. Complicating matters is that the mass is growing right over a blood vessel, resulting in not just the pain I felt but circulation problems as well. So, we've made the decision to get this removed before it gets any worse.

   My doctor says that it's non-cancerous. But they are going to biopsy the tumor anyways. I'm not wishing cancer on myself and I am thinking positive on things. But I am also not so oblivious to the fact that there's a small but real chance that the doctor's got it wrong and it is cancer. I'd rather be aware of the possibility than be one of those people who say 'But you said it was fine!' and their whole world comes crashing down.

    All this being said
I would love to say that I'll be punching out reviews again tomorrow. I've got tons of books to review. But, it all depends on how I'm feeling. So, just keep tuning in and I'll be back as soon as I'm feeling up to it again!

   

The Tick's Big Tax Time Terror

     

  The Tick comes into a giant windfall due to a tax loophole. Meanwhile, Barry, the evil Tick, discovers that someone has been stealing his credit card. Donning the forbidden identity of the Louse, Barry seeks revenge on those who have stolen his identity. Back in the City, Tick's teammates have been making some big purchases on a certain online auction site which may account for Barry's lost funds.  It looks like some of Tick's allies are in for a massive beat down...

    Another very funny one-shot special. I laughed the most at this one as there were some very clever easter eggs and some very amusing banter. But I felt the most lost with this book as well. In this issue, there is a doppelganger Tick and Arthur team called Flea and Doyle that I've never run across. (Is there a third team with a sidekick named Conan? Sherlock fans should get the reference.) Also, the events from which the Tick received his tax check are an undiscovered country to me as well. So I am sure some inside jokes went right on pass me!

   The next book in the miniseries is the Father's Day Special. It is a book that I currently do not own. But like the books that cover all that unknown information I just griped about, I have a feeling I will not be without these issues for long.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

The Tick's Big Mother's Day Special

   

  The Tick and Arthur come face to face with the clones created by Chairface Chippendale. While Arthur seeks the help of his superhero pals for answers, the Tick has become the de facto Momma to the duplicates. Unfortunately, it's not going to be a happy little family for long as a comedy of errors begins to wipe out the dupli-ticks one-by-one.

   Another laugh a minute riot. I enjoyed this goofy Mother's Day special. It really lifted my spirits even if clones of the Tick were dropping like well ticks off the back of a wet hound dog... Okay, maybe that's not really a thing. 

   Regardless, another great one-shot from the gang at New England Comic Press

   Up Next: The Tick's Big Tax Time Terror!!! 

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

The Tick: Big Year 2000 Spectacle

   

  When I'm feeling bummed out and super stressed, I need a laugh. The best way to get them is to read that Ben Edlund classic creation known as the Tick! Last night, with my arm surgery just a couple days away, that's exactly what I did and I ended up reading several!

    The first Tick I read was Tick: Big Year 2000 Spectacle. In this one-shot special, villain Chairface Chippendale is trying to make his mark in the art world. But his every move is blemished by the accidental heroics of the Tick and his faithful sidekick, Arthur. Tired of being bested by the big man at every turn, Chairface uses a de-evolving ray gun to regress the Tick into a less formidable foe. Only, the Tick's body is so super-strong, the rays bounce off of the hero and create a series of duplicates, each a little bit less bright than the previous copy. 

    This book marked the first in a series of one-shots published by New England Comics Press that would drop throughout the year 2000; thus why 2000 was considered a 'Big Year.' Each story had a continuing plot but would be framed in such a way that you could read them out of order and not really get lost. I've got several from this line and I decided to read at least 3 of them in a row.

   Chock full of zany fun, this was a great read. Once again, I found myself laughing so hard that it piqued my wife's interest as to what was just so gosh darn funny. You've got to read this and when you do. believe me, you'll never look at a jar of urine the same way ever again.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Doctor Who: The Companions by John Nathan-Turner

    The Companion. A staple of the series Doctor Who. It's the crew member of the TARDIS that anchors the Doctor, completes him, and makes Whovians dream that one day we'll hear the melodic whine of the time ship's grinding brakes in hopes that it will be our turn to travel through time and space.

   This 1986 book covers every companion to grace the interior of the TARDIS. Written by (at the time) showrunner John Nathan-Turner, it's filled with lots of insider information about the creation of the characters and the process in casting the talent to portray them on the small screen. However, if the companion isn't from Nathan-Turner’s era, you'll get very little information on your favorite companions. But that wasn't a problem for me as my Doctor, the Fifth played by Peter Davison, features heavily in this book. But it does make for an incomplete compendium on the companions of the first six Doctors. Especially those who traveled with the Hartnell, Troughton, and Pertwee Timelords...

   The book also boasts several painted covers of some past companions. Several were quite good renderings of the actors. A couple were okay but did feature some awesome monsters. And then there is the black and white painting of Elizabeth Sladen’s Sarah Jane Smith… if not for a listing of subjects in the front of the book, I would not have a clue who the artist was going for.

    Doctor Who: The Companions was printed in the UK. I'm sure over there this isn't a hard book to find. But anything classic Who is rare here in the States and I was thrilled to find this at the Doll Book Exchange last month.

  A must for classic Who fans- especially of the Fourth, Fifth. And Sixth Doctors!

  Worth Consuming!

  Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Nothing to Fix by Fiona Van Verth & Noni Harris (Family Comic Friday)

    Last week I shared the story of a trio of local girl scouts who created their own comic books to raise funds for their troop. Well, it's been a week since we looked at Sara T's historical novel. Now it's time to review the other creation.

   Nothing to Fix was created by Fiona Van Verth & Noni Harris. It's the story of two young girls on their way to camp. One is a goody-goody. The other is a little bit rebellious. But when the chance comes to explore the camp by sneaking out, the two find that they have much more in common than they first expected.

   The artwork of Nothing to Fix has elements of Manga and Adventure Time. It was an interesting read and was created like a professional comic in that if you were to lay the pages flat, you would see on the front a page from the beginning and back of the book. Then flip it out, and the process would be the same. I was very impressed with this level of technical merit.

   That being said, my copy ended abruptly with the girls sneaking out. There wasn't a 'The End' or posting for the story being to be continued. I hope I didn't get a copy that was missing the last page. I don't think I did but I am not sure.

The creators at Chapel Hill Comics, Free Comic Book Day 2016!

    Last week, I mentioned that copies of the comics were supposed to be for sale at Chapel Hill Comics. I've seen nothing to indicate otherwise. But if you do get a copy of this book from the great crew at CHC, make sure your copy has all the pages. OR ask if Fiona and Noni are planning in making Nothing to Fix a miniseries with more issues in the future.

   Check out both Nothing to Fix and Boadicca. They were really cool works and the funds go to a great cause.

   Worth Consuming!

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

  Oh and check out the listing for Nothing to Fix here at stashmycomics.com

The Amazing Spider-Man: Election Day

   The days of the New York mayoral election are coming to a close and the polls show the race neck and neck. The only thing that could swing it in either sides favor is a massive takedown of a super villain or maybe your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.

  A serial killer is on the loose and the murderer been planting patented Spider-Tracers on the corpses. With the cops on his trail, Spider-Man is seriously wounded. A quick escape is just what the web-slinger needs. But a run-in with a new Goblin-like menace (aptly named Menace) arrives on the scene and gives Spidey the fits, resulting in the wall-crawler's arrest. Thankfully, Spider-Man has lawyer Matt Murdock on retainer...

    Then in a history making team-up, Spider-Man comes to the aide of a guy named Barry on the streets of Washington D.C. The Spidey villain Chameleon seems to think that if he can take President-Elect Barack Obama's place during the inauguration, he'll become the 44th POTUS. But with the Spider-Man's Spider-Sense and the Knight Rider-like driving skills of Joe Biden, Democracy should still be save- for now.

  Lastly, Captain America and Spider-Man join forces to fight a group of robots that look like Abe Lincoln and members of his historic cabinet. Offended by the poor imitation, Capt. regales Spidey with a tale of the time the Sentinel of Freedom met Honest Abe thanks to the always trusty cosmic cube.

   All three stories were very good. I had read the Obama Election special somewhere before. Though, I don't remember Joe Biden being such a goof. I guess the VP's antics being constant fodder for the likes of Jimmy Fallon made me more aware of it.

   The main election story reminds me of how little I know of this era of Spider-Man. Yes, I am more of a DC person but I try to be very well round. Yet for some reason, the 90s and 00s were just a period of Marvel history that I have considerable gaps of knowledge.

   Published in 2008, Election Day to me marks the beginning of John Romita Jr's 'Big' period. I dunno if it's arthritis, or age, or just a change in styles, but this is the earliest accounts of all of the characters in his works becoming more barrel-chested and broad-faced. The art isn't lacking in quality and there are still glimpses of his iconic touch that made him a comic collector's household name in the 80s. But his artwork has definitely changed over the years.

   A very good volume that 5-6 years ago would've been priced in the $30-50 dollar range due to the hotness of Obama collectibles. But controversies, approval ratings, and the fickle nature of comic collectors have resulted in this book's value to drop considerably. I found my hardcover copy for $2.99 at Ollie's Discount!

    Take a gander for it, folks. You might get lucky like I did. And who knows... maybe after the election, this book might rise in price again...

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Strange Sports Stories #2 (of 3)

Welcome back to the Museum of Sports History, Trivia, and Oddity with your host Hall O.Fame! First, thrill to the most bizarre team to ever take to the court as a high school basketball prodigy must win the most important win of his life when he is paired with the likes of Albert Einstein, Martin Luther King Jr, and John Wayne, and Honest Abe against the galaxy's best!

 Then a young man with Olympic aspirations becomes the greatest athlete ever when he finds a magic medal. Lastly, with two outs and the championship on the line, a fledgling baseball team resorts to slapstick as their last hope for victory!     

The second of three issues of Adventure Comics' Strange Sports Stories was, well, strange. The opening story seemed to me like something I had read before in the pages of the Tick. In the first couple of issues of The Tick: Karma Tornado, the Tick has been whisked away to an intergalactic Goodwill Games in which he is the captain of a team of athletes comprised of Cleopatra, Booker T. Washington, and a T-Rex! That Karma Tornado story was published almost a year after this issue and I would hate for that awesome tale to have been a rip-off of the Strange Sports Stories opener here...
   

 The other two adventures in this comic were okay. They weren't quite as good as the opening yarn, nor were they of the caliber of the stories that comprised issue #1. But I still enjoyed reading them!

   Along with a couple of pages filled with strange but true stories from the wide world of earth sports, I enjoyed this book, though maybe not as much as the previous issue.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Thor: Season One

   Sometimes I get really lucky and I find a book that I've been wanting somewhere for a steep discount. That was the case here with Thor: Season One. My library had carried a couple of the books from this Marvel series that recounts the origins of some of it's most popular character's while giving them a modern twist and I enjoyed them.  Plus, I've really been getting into Thor a lot and he's grown into one of my favorite characters. So, to find this hardcover for less than $7- oh I had to jump on it!

   Here we learn what exactly got Thor in trouble with his father Odin, resulting in the Asgardian's exile to earth. We also see the early formations of the Warriors Three and experience Loki's discovery of his true heritage. But what really interested me in this story was the dynamic between Thor in his human persona of Dr. Donald Blake and his partner, Jane Foster.

   In this story, Jane is Don's equal. Both are doctors and together, they start a clinic right as Blake begins to uncover the truth of his past as Thor. Jane even knows Blake is Thor. Yet, every time Thor took over instead of Donald Blake, I kept hoping it would hurry up so we could get back to the good stuff. Yes, Donald Blake's ho-hum life as a crippled doctor was just that much more interesting to me and that my friends is a sign of great writing under the Marvel Comics banner.

   Matthew Sturges, whose work I've enjoyed in the pages of Vertigo's House of Mystery and Blue Beetle, is a master at back stories. He makes the person behind the capes and superpowers so engaging and so intriguing. That's exactly what Stan Lee did when he created the Marvel Universe over 50 years ago and I can tell from this book, that someone took notes and kept with the time-honored formula.

   The Season One books were all published in 2013. Now three years later and with Marvel's reboot of its entire universe for the first time ever, I doubt seriously that we'll ever see a Thor: Season Two. But this book was a masterpiece and is a classic that shouldn't be ignored. No matter how much you think you know the story of Thor, this book with art by Pepe Larraz (Star Wars: Kanan) will make the Norse gods new to you once again!

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Bizarro

 Bizarro has arrived on earth. Taking inspiration from a certain flying hero from Metropolis, Bizarro decides to become a superhero as well. But with his skewed ‘up is down- down is up' logic, Bizarro’s heroics has the city in near shambles.

   Taking inspiration from an idea of Clark Kent's, Daily Planet photographer Jimmy Olsen decides to befriend Bizarro in hopes of taking him on a cross-country venture to what would be the would-be hero's new home- Bizarro America (Canada!) And if this results in a best-selling coffee table book, well it's a win-win for Olsen. Along the way, the new pair of ‘Worstest Friends Ever!’ encounter a chupacabra named Colin, a pair of Egyptian themed villains, an actual ghost town, not so secret agents, and much more bizarre insanity that will have Jimmy Olsen rethinking the whole crazy scheme!

  It's really hard to do Bizarro right or is it wrong? See to the quasi-hero, everything is backward. Good is bad. Bad is good. For example, if the car Bizarro was driving in broke down, he would proclaim “This am the best thing to never happen!“

   Only a few writers have ever gotten Bizarro imperfections just right. Creators Otto Binder and George Papp were the closest, with Curt Swan doing an admirable job as well. Series writer Heath Corson did a really great job on not just Bizarro but the whole series. I loved how not only does Corson capture the essence of Bizarro but he takes the character into areas that have never been explored such as having Jimmy and Bizarro switch personas a la a failed magic trick.

Yet after over 60 years none of the writers of Bizarro have ever got him 100% right. Because if everything is backwards to him wouldn't he introduce himself not as “Me am Bizarro” but “Me no am Bizarro” instead? Am I picky? Sure, but I am trying to stay true to the character folks… When something great happens, Bizarro should not respond with 'Awww-some!"

 While the buddy-cop dynamic between Olsen and Bizarro was a laugh a minute riot, they were overshadowed by a bit player. The minute chupacabra Colin dwarfs over the regular sized characters and guest stars that pepper this book. Saying not a word but “hiss,” Colin's body language speaks volumes and he's really funny. That's all thanks to the fantastic cartoonish renderings of artist Gustavo Duarte ( and a slew of guest artists extraordinaire like Kyle Baker, Francis Manapul, and the late Darwyn Cooke.)

   What with DC rebooting the DC Universe this summer and Bizarro to become a member of Red Hood's Outlaws, a sequel probably isn't on the horizon anytime soon. But to forget Colin would be a crime against all of comicdom. I hope we see him paired with Bizarro in the Outlaws book. Colin is that great of a character to be forgotten.

  Worth Consuming

  Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Adventures of Supergirl #1

 

  It's been a strange week for Supergirl. First, it's announced that CBS is canceling the show. Then it's not cancelled- but only if changes to the show format is made. Then DC announces the publication of this book which dropped Wednesday. Since the show's fate was up in the air, I figured it would be extremely important to support this series in order to seen DC and CBS that I want Supergirl to be renewed I even went on social media and started a hashtag called #Savesupergirl!

   Well, imagine my surprise on Thursday that it was announced that the CW will pick up Supergirl for a second season. I honestly thought it would take a little while for an agreement to be made and that this comic would be the measuring stick for a second season. Well, DC and CBS kept their end of the deal and I kept mine.

   Based on the hit CBS series, issue #1 of the Adventures of Supergirl has the Girl of Steel assisting the DEO in capturing yet another alien escapee from Fort Rozz. Only, this takedown takes a more personal note as Kara discovers that her adoptive human sister, Alex Danvers killed the alien's sister years prior. When the alien, known as Rampage, discovers that Supergirl and Danvers are sisters, she takes Kara hostage seeking revenge. With Alex and the DEO on the hunt, can Supergirl mend fences before another sister's life is unfortunately lost?

   I don't know if DC knows how much of a big deal is it for me to buy a book new. Money is an option to me and so to maintain my collection, it's bargain bin city all the way. But Supergirl grew on me and I was so pumped for a second season. It took a little while to gain steam and by the cliffhanger of season one, I was hooked!

   The storyline was like reading a missing adventure from season one. Writer Sterling Gates captured the voice of Supergirl actress, Melissa Benoist, quite well here as she's the narrator as like on the show. The overall formula was just like the show too! Cover art by Cat Staggs was freakin' awesome and I hope her photorealistic touch will continue on here.

   The only thing I wasn't such a fan of was some of the interior art. Artist Bengal (Batgirl: Endgame) does a reasonable job on the renderings of Alex Danvers and DEO head Hank Henshaw. But Supergirl looks, well like Supergirl- just not this Supergirl. Let me explain, the Supergirl portrayed in this comic has pixie-like looks and platinum blonde hair just like the comic book version. Other that the costume, Bengal's Supergirl looks nothing like actress Benoist. I'm sorry but that oversight has got to be fixed. It's inexcusable.

   Despite my misgivings with Bengal's rendering of Supergirl, I enjoyed this comic. I liked it so much, I will make a commitment to at least buy the next issue over the rack too! That's how much I love the character, adore the show, and appreciate the efforts of DC/CBS/and the CW to give us a season 2!

   #SupergirlSaved

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

(Also available in a digital format, but hey, comics were meant to be read on paper!)

A Sad, Sad Day...

                                                           Nov. 11, 1962- May 14, 2016

Captain America: Civil War

   After the devastating events in the Age of Ultron, the world has begun to lose faith it the heroes of the Avengers. As a result, the United Nations issues a set of accords that would place Earth's Mightiest Heroes under their command. Tony Stark is all for the venture while Captain America feels that this loss of autonomy will eventually mean that the Avengers would become puppets of the UN. 

   As representatives from across the globe gather to sign the proclamation into law, a terrorist blows up the proceedings, killing the king of Wakanda. The suspect is reported to be the Winter Soldier and global law enforcement is instructed to kill on sight. Steve Rogers believes that his old buddy Bucky is being framed and risks everything to save the Winter Soldier and clear his name. But it won't be easy as the Black Panther of Wakanda is on Bucky's trail and swears vengeance for the death of his father.

   Captain America: Civil War starts off like Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace. There's a great action scene at the beginning and then some talk of diplomacy- a lot of talk about diplomacy. I was getting a bit disappointed as Civil War wasn't starting out as good as Captain America: the First Avenger or Winter Soldier did. I actually was feeling a little ho-hum about the picture until thankfully, someone came to save the day.

   Enter: Spider-Man and welcome to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Web-slinger. Young Peter Parker and his guardian Aunt May actually saved the movie. Both characters, played by Tom Holland and Marisa Tomei, had heart, soul, and humor, something lacking from the first 45-minutes of Civil War- I can't wait to see more of their quirky chemistry in the upcoming Spider-Man: Homecoming feature. 

Paul Rudd's Ant-Man also helps to salvage the film, adding an extra dose of humor, but really the film's savior is Spidey! Billy Elliot's Tom Holland brings something to Spider-Man that's never been done in live-action before- he brings youth. All of the previous actors to play Spidey in live action, including the Electric Company, were well into their 20s. Holland was 18 when filming began and his age brings a level naivete to the character that has been missing from the characters. Plus, Holland's star-struck quality of being on Iron Man's team organized to incarcerate the Winter Soldier and Capt, was perfect. Spider-Man is known for being a wiseacre when he fights villains and this Spidey is just like in the comics and it was about time.

   About just over 2.5 hours, this is a lengthy film. But once Iron Man and Captain America's ranks start filling out, Civil War becomes much more fast paced. Some of this is due to the lightening quick wit of the superheroes (Marvel exceeds at banter!) But, the tempo is also due to much more dynamic action scenes that take place in the last half of the film. 

    Though not my favorite Captain America picture, I did like this film somewhat more than Avengers: Age of Ultron. I honestly have no idea where Marvel is going to take these characters next after everything transpires, but the two bonus scenes during the credits give a good hint at some the fun that awaits. I just hope that the writers lay-off the swears. There were much more in this Marvel film than just about any movie prior and it's just a tad unsettling to this old-school Marvelite to have his beloved heroes talking like sailors on leave.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Boadicca: Queen of the Britons by Sara T. (Family Comic Friday)

   During last Saturday's Free Comic Book Day events, I met a trio of young aspiring comic book artists at Chapel Hill Comics. These three artists were from a local girl scout troop and they had decided to create some mini comics and sell them to achieve various awards and raise some funds for their troop. I thought this was a genius idea and I purchased a copy of both of their books. Today, I review the first of the pair:  Boadicca: Queen of the Britons by Sara T. (The second book will be getting reviewed in next week's Family Comic Friday)

   Sara T., I am told, was the first in her girl scout troop to have the idea to create a comic for her Silver Award. Her group leader got in touch with the great guys at Chapel Hill Comics and they paired Sara T. up with Invader Zim's Warren Wucinich, who acted as a mentor. Together, Sara T. and Warren came up with the idea for this book!

   Boadicca: Queen of the Britons is the true account of Boadicca's last fight against the Roman Invaders of Britain. Set around 60AD, Boadicca (also referred to as Boudica or Boudicca) becomes the leader of her tribe after the death of her husband. With her two daughters and her people, Boadicca mounts guerilla attacks at the Roman Army to the point that Emperor Nero almost decided to withdrawal from Britain altogether. Imagine how different world history would have been had this happened.

    Sara T. did a great job on her first work. The cover featuring Boadicca is a warrior pose with her fiery red hair and green plaid garb is one of the best covers I've seen this year! The flow of the story was a little uneven at times but hey, how many of us have published their own comic book before the age of 16?!  Plus, the author included a factoid sheet about the heroine at the end of the comic that helped me to better understand Boadicca and her struggles as a warrior queen.

    From what I was told last week, Chapel Hill Comics was going to carry a few copies of the books the girl scouts artists created in their store. CHC is legendary for being an outlet to help aspiring comics creators get their works not just published but seen and they kept the tradition alive with this project. To see about order a copy check out their website or email them at mail@chapelhillcomics.com. Oh, and check out this book's listing on Stashmycomics.com here!

    As for Sara T., I see great things in her future. I was very impressed with her determination, level of detail, and hard work getting this book out. I hope you parents of aspiring cartoonists will pick up a copy of this book (and my selection for next week) as inspiration for helping the next generation of creators get practicing! The future of comic books is going to be in independent publishing, I think, what with the big two of DC/MARVEL going to be focusing their efforts of strictly superhero stuff for a while. Take inspiration from these young ladies and grab a copy of Boadicca ASAP!

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Mercury: An Intimate Biography of Freddie Mercury

While this is a biography of legendary Queen frontman, Freddie Mercury, a majority of this tome focuses on the band as a whole. That actually doesn’t bother me as I am a huge Queen fan and I’ve always wanted to read a history of the group.

Much is made of Mercury’s sexuality. But thankfully, it’s not full of very sordid details. I’m not questioning Freddie being gay nor am I being homophobic. It’s just that I remember trying to read Steven Tyler’s biography and giving up after chapter 2 because it read like a letter to Penthouse.

Strangely enough, what shocked me about Mercury’s sexuality was that he had several sexual relationships with women after coming to terms with being gay. Pretty much, Mercury was attracted to anything. If the earth had made contact with aliens, I think he would have tried to boink them too. It’s like he was omnisexual with strong homosexual preferences, very much like Torchwood’s Capt. Jack Harkness.

The book was very well written, though the Brit slang is sometimes hard to decipher. Also, there are several characters in this history of the same name that makes for some confusing reading as you try to get everyone’s role understood. I counted at least 4 of the singer’s associates with the first name of Peter.

Alas, this exhaustive recount of the superstar’s life, loves, music, and antics prove that there is only 1 Freddie Mercury.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Strange Sports Stories #1 (of 3)

Issue #1 with the trading cards attached.

   Welcome to the Strange Sports Hall of Fame. Based out of Canton, Ohio it's run by the aged Hall O. Fame. Fame has the personal claim to having been involved with every American sport invented in the past 200 years! In his museum are exhibits to not only every sport imaginable but some that are out of this world and everywhere in between.

   Hall O. Fame, along with his robot hostess Miss Sullivan and resident alien sports expert, Bob the Blob, takes his guests on a whirlwind tour of several adventures including a story about a high school running back that happens to be a werewolf, a brave young man with leukemia's dream of being a radical skateboarder, and some strange but true stories of happenings in the world of baseball and boxing.

   I enjoyed this book, thought the art was a little rough. But I happily remember the original Strange Sports Stories that DC put out in the 70s and how fun they were. That's what I expected with this book and that's what I got. But I'm wondering how Adventure Comics, which in no way is affiliated with DC, was able to name this comic STRANGE SPORTS STORIES.

   I would've thought there would be some sort of copyright against that. Maybe that's why this series was limited to only 3 issues. I'm guessing Adventure Comics couldn't pass on the title and so they figured that they bolt and run before DC found out...

   I'm not accusing anyone of anything. I just can't find anything about this series online other than some listings of back issues for sale. If anyone has any further info on this, please drop me a line. I'm very interested in learning more about this little-known series.

   BTW- if you are interested in collecting this book, complete issues come with a pair of really cool trading cards based on characters from this series.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Star Blecch: Generation Gap #1

  

    A dollar comic? Yes, please!
    A Star Trek comic? Absolutely!
    A Star Trek parody comic? Shut the front door! I'm all in!!!

   Star Blecch: Generation Gap is a collection of stories that skewer every facet of the Star Trek from the original series to Deep Space Nine- and everything in between.

    The title story, based on the Star Trek: Generations film that introduced Captains Kirk and Picard to each other, was the worst story. When I first started reading this, I wondered why it kept jumping all over the place. I finally realized that this story was set-up like a MAD Magazine parody in which it's more about roasting the conventional norms than trying to tell a cohesive story. Thankfully, that's not the case with the rest of the book.

    My favorite story was the Deep Space Nine adventure. Maybe I was a little biased as DS9 is my favorite of the Trek shows. But it really was the cream of the crop.

   Trek Teens, a yarn in which the crew of the Enterprise is portrayed as 50s high schoolers and Trek Babies which combines the original series with the classic 80s cartoon Muppet Babies, rounded out the top three. 

   The oddest thing about this issue is how it was packaged. You'd think that this was a collection of all new material. Well, it's not. Except for the Generations feature, the rest of the book is comprised of parodies reprinted from other Parody Press offerings. In the back is a reprinting of all the covers of the other PP Trek spoofs. Since I was pleased with a majority of this comic, I figured I would add those books to my wish list.

    Well, my curiosity got the best of me and I'm glad it did. I went online prior to this review and discovered that most of the Trek material found in all of those books are comprised in this volume. Only the DS9 parody, Deep Space Diner seems to have more original Trek material within. (Thank you, mycomicshop.com for coming to the rescue and helping me save some cash on this!)

   Worth Consuming.

   Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.