Flashpoint #1

 Barry Allen awakens in a world that is not his own. He's no longer a speedster. He beloved Iris West is in the arms of someone else. And his mother is still alive!

  But this is just the tip of the iceberg. In this world, all of Europe has been sunk by Aquaman's Atlantean forces, the UK is under the control of The Amazons of Themyscira, and there's no such thing as Superman or the Justice League.

   One thing this earth does have is a Batman. But this version is more ruthless, cunning, and willing to use a gun. If Vic Stone- Cyborg can win him over to his cause, it will rally a global force of metahumans who could end the Amazon/Atlantis conflict and ensure global tranquility. But that's IF Batman agrees to lead this army of ragtag heroes.

   Geoff Johns does a masterful job in this opening chapter of Flashpoint. It truly is a DC Universe unlike any other that I've ever seen. As of right now, I’ve got about 100 questions. But to be fair, there’s about 100 Flashpoint related issues to dive into. So for right now, I’m going to try to shut up, sit back, and enjoy the ride. With deft artwork by Andy Kubert and colors by Sandra Hope, I think I can manage that.

  Worth Consuming

 Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Steve Rogers: Captain America #2

The regular cover to issue #2!

   I couldn't wait. After the explosive finale of SRCA: #1, I just couldn't wait for this storyline to play out. Nor could I allow for spoilers to ruin the fun of reading just what made Steve Rogers an agent of Hydra when this series comes out in trade form probably around Christmas. (Articles spoiling this issue were already popping up online as early as yesterday morning!!!) No, I was first at my LCS waiting for an issue. (It didn't hurt that I also needed to make some possible job contacts while I was at it.) But now I'm wishing maybe I had waited...

   Issue #2 does reveal just how and why Steve Rogers pledged allegiance to the terrorist organization Hydra. But I must say, based on all of the theories swirling around in my head for the past month, the truth behind Captain America's secret ties was a bit of a let down. YES- what did occur in this issue to make Steve a double agent was one of the possibilities I had come up with. But of all of the scenarios running through my brain, the truth was the one option that I felt the least positive about. (I also felt that it was a little bit of a cop out!)

   There's more villains in this book than Capt. or any of his allies. That's probably another reason I didn't feel so connected to the story. I want my Captain America comics to feature the Sentinel of Freedom, dagnabbit! With my questions answered, am I done with this series now until it comes out in trade? I'm going to have to think on it. The only 2 copies available at the store were variant covers that were priced at $10 each! -And like I said earlier; I was the first person in the store!!!

   I think now that the origin behind Steve Rogers' new affiliation has finally come to light, the hoopla over this series will probably dwindle down. If I can get the next issue for cover, I probably will continue getting this series first run. I'll just have to wait and see...

   Don't be surprised that if you want this issue that it might cost you! Also, don't be shocked to see this issue (and it's variants) on eBay and other auction sites for 2,3, or 4 times as much as cover! As a Facebook pal pointed out- Hail, Capitalism!!!

  Worth Consuming

   Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Deadpool by Posehn & Duggan, Volume 3

    Deadpool's search for the daughter he didn't know he had continues. But before Wade can enact some blood-soaked revenge on those who've manipulated his past the Merc with a Mouth, he's got a little trip to take- down the aisle to holy matrimony. Though, based on who Deadpool's mystery bride is, should I say it's unholy?
    Before the 'I Do's', Deadpool is thrown the most epic bachelor's party aboard the USS Essex. After the 'I Do's', Deadpool and bride go on a honeymoon to Japan. Needless to say, neither locale will ever be the same again and probably had to be condemned afterwards.
    Deadpool's extensive and often confusing origin are explored in length in this omnibus edition. During an Original Sin crossover event, Agent Preston is shown visions of Deadpool's missing daughter while her partner Agent Adsit is shown a harrowing account of the death of Wade's parents. Meanwhile Deadpool is sent back in time to the 1950s in order to save Nick Fury from being assassinated by a time-travelling Adolf Hitler!
    Folks, you can't make this stuff up- that is unless you're authors Brian Posehn and Gerry Duggan. The duo has often been criticized for being too zany in their stories. But zany and bizarre- isn't that the essence of the anti-hero?
     An insane collection of Deadpool tales that shed about as much light on the troubled mutant as it does muddy the waters a little bit more. But that's okay as I don't think we're ever supposed to really know Wade Wilson. Deadpool has got to have some surprises least he's just not that entertaining to read.

   Worth Consuming

  Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

   This omnibus edition collects the following: Deadpool #26-34 and Annual #1.

The Flash #12 (The Road to Flashpoint, Part IV)

This is it! The final chapter on the Road to Flashpoint! Hot Pursuit's allegiances and the true culprit behind the age accelerating death of the Elongated Kid are finally revealed.

  Geoff Johns ends this Flash series in such a way that to disclose anything else will reveal some major spoilers. I know that it's been 5 years since this issue first came out but what with the next season of the Flash going to cover the Flashpoint storyline, I really should stay mum on some things.

  A great read however! Now on to Flashpoint!

 
Worth Consuming

 Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

The Flash #11 (The Road to Flashpoint, Part III)

  Is the multiverse hopping Motorcyclist Hot Pursuit behind the bizarre death of the Elongated Kid? The Flash isn't sure. But the hi-tech biker thinks that the sudden aging of the fallen superhero might be the result of a chronal paradox and targets Bart Allen whose from the future. As the Central City crime lab performs an autopsy on the Elongated Kid, Barry must race Hot Pursuit for the life of young Bart. But the Scarlet Speedster had better be right that his descendant from the future isn't the culprit or the very fabric of the multiverse could unravel spelling the end of all existence.

     This is Barry Allen at his very best- solving a mystery. The Flash has a great group of villains with the Rogues but the character really is in his element when it comes to solving crimes. If the story is a mystery involving Flash's Rogues Gallery, even better!

  Whether or not Hot Pursuit will join the Rogues remains to be seen. But this was another action packed story by Geoff Johns that will leave you guessing all the way to the end and some…

 Worth Consuming

 Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Independence Day: Resurgence

It took 20 years for Roland Emmerich to make a sequel to Independence Day. I'm wondering if he should have waited about 20 more.

   Independence Day: Resurgence takes place 20 years to the day that the 1996 sci-fi thriller covered when it first hit theatres. In the present day, the world has had unmitigated peace and jumped light years ahead technologically speaking. Almost all of the damage done by the giant invader ships has been rebuilt and earth has colonized outposts on the moon and Saturn in anticipation of another wave of attacks.

   But all is not well after the earthling victory in the battle of 1996. Those who were captured by the aliens and subjected to their mind probes suffer from PTSD. These attacks are getting worse as a mysterious probe suddenly appears via a wormhole over the moon base. Is this a signal of new aggression from the invaders or has a new more deadlier player arrived on the scene?

 Resurgence takes the idea of alien encounters giving humanity a technological boost and then assumes the audience is pretty dumb. I refuse to believe that humanity could jump so far ahead considering the considerable damage caused in the first film. It took over 13 years for the Freedom Tower to be built atop Ground Zero and that was just one building.There is no way on earth that all of Washington DC could be replaced in less than 2 decades time!

  Speaking of 9/11, it subtly plays a role in this film. Remember when President Obama informed the world that Bin Laden had been killed? Thousands of millennials celebrated the death of an enemy that had been on everyone's minds for so long. Well, the children who survived the first Independence Day attacks have grown up to become soldiers and political players, so when they meet with Jeff Goldblum’s character David Levinson, there's quite a bit of hero worship.

   Yet those born after 1996 kinda think that the alien invasion might have been a hoax or not such a big deal. In other words, the theme of this film is about passing the torch and not forgetting the lessons we learned from history's mistakes. Of course, earth makes the same mistakes as in the first film when a bigger alien ship arrives seeking to drain our planet's core in order to fuel their ships.

    Thankfully I didn't feel like I had seen all of this movie before. But recently director Roland Emmerich has been complaining that the DC films Man of Steel and Batman V. Superman stole many of his 1996 film’s idea. I found this kinda funny as much of the disaster scenes in Resurgence seemed taken from last year's San Andreas, especially the tidal wave scene.

  Lots of destruction occurs in this film. Honestly I think that with this bigger ship actually landing on earth, it would be too heavy for our planet and alter earth's orbit. So be ready to throw your suspension of disbelief aside for about 2 hours.

   The best parts of this film involves those few of the original cast to return. The second generation newcomers of Liam Helmsworth as fighter pilot Jake and his cronies just didn't interest me at all. Plus much of their fates were telegraphed early in the film, so I really didn't care if they lived or died- I knew within the first half hour! It also doesn't help much that Yahoo! put an article up Thursday about who is coming back for part 3!

  Yes, the film ends with a promise of more extraterrestrial mayhem. But with Resurgence being declared a flop, that might not happen now. When the first film came out, I was 18 and I was clamoring for a sequel. I had read over the years what the sequel would be like and Resurgence stayed true to that vision. But I think as I got older my imagination became a reality with the horrors of 9/11, jading me of how much of a utopia humanity has created in this sequel.

  It's not a bad movie but for an alien invasion picture, it's just way too unrealistic.

  Worth Consuming.

 Rating:7 out of 10 stars.

The Flash #10 (The Road to Flashpoint, Part II)

   The Flash comes face-to-face with the multiverse literally as he pursues the mysterious motorcycle driver known as Hot Pursuit. Meanwhile, a blast from Barry Allen's past returns to help determine the how and why the Elongated Kid was murdered. But it's going to be difficult

for the World's Fastest Man to balance his life as both a criminologist and as a mask as cracks in the relationship between the Flash and Bart Allen come to the surface.

    A very faced paced issue with some neat twists and turns. Another character that I thought was only created for the TV show pops up in this issue proving me wrong yet again. But it's not a bad thing; it only helps me fall in love with the CW series all that much more. And the all-new character of Hot Pursuit is awesome. I hope he'll pop up in Central City sometime next season.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Adventures of Supergirl #4

  Supergirl continues to investigate just who really is behind all of the attacks on her and her friends. Along with her adopted sister Alex Danvers, Kara ventures down to the Fort Rozz crash site looking for clues. There, the sisters are attacked by Kryptonian security-bots, supposedly left over from the crash landing. But when Supergirl finds a hidden chamber filled with images of her time on earth, her suspicions are confirmed: The Girl of Steel is being watched!

   I actually read this issue twice. I wasn't so happy with it and I felt that that just couldn't be right. The past 3 issues had been winners and I refused to believe that this chapter was a stinker. Thankfully, a quick re-read helped tune me in to some clues that I had been overlooking or I saw them and just couldn't make a connection at first glance. This ended up being a very good issue though I'm really getting impatient for the climatic ending of this storyline.

    The cover by Cat Staggs was another home run. The interior artwork by Carmen Carnero (Swamp Thing) was very good as well. Though Supergirl still doesn't look like her TV counterpart yet, there does seem to be a little more favoring of Melissa Benoist in some panels. But the renderings of the security robots were spot on from the series and the action scenes with the mystery antagonist really jumps off the page.

   Speaking of things jumping, I don't want to give away a major spoiler but there was a scene that actually scared the bejeezus outta me. You know in those horror flicks where someone looks out a dark window and it's empty and then they do something and then BAM!- there's the villian looking out the window scarying the crap out of both the character on screen and the aduience? Well, this book has the sequential art version of such a frightening scene. Again I don't want to give away the scare but when it happens, oh, my God, will it freak you out!

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.


   

Feathers ( Family Comic Friday)

  Bianca is a young girl from the City, a white walled settlement that houses the upper class. Poe is from the Maze, an urban wasteland that encompasses the City. Born with black feathers, the odd looking boy operates in the shadows scavenging for food and shelter with his adopted dad, Gabriel. On a tour of the Maze with her father, Bianca runs away in hopes of looking for adventure. But when she runs afoul of the both the palace guard and a gang of waifs called the Mice, Poe must step out of the shadows to rescue the young girl. But as he mounts a rescue, the young hero learns of a dastardly plot that threatens the safety of every child in both the City and the Maze.

   Feathers is an Indy miniseries, published by Archaia Studio and created by newcomer Jorge Corona. The series was an interesting mix of fantasy and old world Victorian aesthetic. Full of mystery and wonder, Feathers is a subtle allegory on classism with the rich and noble of the City looking down continuously at the lower classes who make up the Maze.

  While the story was quite good and I hope that Corona comes out with a sequel to answer the many mysteries. There's much to be explored surrounding Poe's origin and his connection to the City Guide, a mythical patron who led ocean fairing settlers to the lands that would make up the City and the Maze. However, my favorite thing about this book was the art!

  Along with being the creator/writer of Feathers, Jorge Corona is the man behind the dynamic art of this series. Along with inker/ colorist Jen Hickman (The Monsters of Jimmy Crumb), the artwork looks like in reality it was done by Hellboy creator Mike Magnolia. It has that dark, creepy vibe to it. Honestly, I was expecting the crew of the BPRD ( Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense) to come trudging out from one of the corners it looks so much like a Hellboy title- it's sick.

   A good book that I think can only get better. It all depends if there will be a sequel. If so, the art shouldn’t be changed- not one little bit. But I do hope for more character development, especially with Poe and his father, Gabriel.

   Worth Consuming

  Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

  

The Flash #9 (The Road to Flashpoint, Part I)

  It's the day of the Flash Family picnic and Barry Allen is about to leave his overworked crime lab when he gets the call to investigate the death of a 'cape.' At the crime scene, things are nothing as they seem as the costume is that of the teenaged Elongated Kid but the corpse looks like that of an octogenarian. As Barry seeks to get behind this bizarre death, the crimefighter is challenged by a new foe that seems very familiar with the Speed Force. Only this speedster drives a souped-up motorcycle and is powered by draining the speed of others in tune with the Speed Force as the Flash learns when he touches his opponent's fuel rods.

    This is a really great issue. Full of drama, action, adventure, and mystery. Okay- there was a tiny bit too much soap opera drama but hey, Grant Gustin's Barry Allen gets mopey all the time! Speaking of Gustin, what I really liked about this issue is how closely the set-up is to that of the TV show. 

   When I first starting watching the Flash, I was disappointed at how it looked nothing like the comics. But I realize now that my judgment was based on the Pre-Crisis Flash and not the Post-Rebirth Flash. Man, I was so wrong. Most of the CW show's premise is the same with this 2011 series. Barry's mother was killed by the Reverse Flash. There's a fellow criminologist named Patty who has a thing for Barry. Even the archetypes for Joe West and Captain Singh are in this book (Barry's crime lab supervisor is named Singh. On the show, he's promoted to the  head of the CCPD precinct where Joe and Barry work.) Sadly, there is no Cisco Ramon, Caitlin Snow, or whoever the heck the awesome Tom Cavanagh happens to be playing this week.

      Going into this Flashpoint summer reading, I was expecting to find a world completely unlike that on the live action series. How wrong was I to discover that the comics are much more in tuned with the Arrowverse's Flash that I ever expected! I can't wait for the next chapter!

    Worth Consuming

    Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.  

The Flash #8 (The Reverse Flash Rebirth)

This opening salvo in the Road to Flashpoint looks that the troubled, often confusing origin of the Flash's worst enemy: Eobard Thawne AKA Professor Zoom AKA the Reverse Flash. 

Though this isn't considered part of the Road to Flashpoint storyline, this issue is included in the Road to Flashpoint trade and it's an important piece of the puzzle. Written by DC genius Geoff Johns; Johns really the right person to craft this tale that is full of time paradoxes, thrills, and murders aplenty. Plus, Johns is the only one who can make this despicable villain just that bit sympathetic to the reader. Assisting Johns with artwork duties is Scott Kolins (Beyond!), who does a fantastic job throughout the entire issue.

Want to know the motivation behind the Reverse Flash's hatred of his 'idol', then you must read this story. The definitive origin of the villain who would be the World's Fastest Man at any and all costs!

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Summer Reading... Had Me a Blast!!!

   This summer in anticipation for Season 3 of the Flash, I will be reading the entire Flashpoint story line, including the 5-issue Road to Flashpoint published in the pages of the Flash. It makes perfect sense, especially as it was revealed just last week that Flashpoint will be the theme of the CW show's third season.

   Now I understand that by reading Flashpoint it in no way is going to unfold that way in the comics. But I am chomping at the bit for new Flash episodes (as well as Supergirl and new Legends of Tomorrow and new Gotham.) So, I might as well bide my time with reading the inspiration for next season's plot.

   I'll still be turning in a Family Comic Friday review each week. I'll also be reading some other stuff as to not get stale. But look out for my Flashpoint reviews all throughout the summer!

   Happy Reading...

Doctor Who: Hunters of the Burning Stone (Doctor Who Graphic Novels Volume 17)

  Hunters of the Burning Stone collects a trio of comics from Doctor Who Magazine starring the Eleventh Doctor. 

   The first story has the Doctor, Amy, and Rory on a tour of the Doctor's 1,000 Favorite Places To Visit. He means to take the Ponds to modern day Prague but winds up behind the Iron Curtain prior to the fall of the Iron Curtain. Things couldn't a more dangerous turn as Rory ends up kidnapped by Soviet agents and Doctor reveals that history could be altered as the fall of the Berlin Wall isn't a fixed point in time.

   Then take a look at a holiday adventure from Amy and Rory's childhood. It's a fun adventure filled with the dastardly Krampus, some evil elves, and a mysterious schoolgirl named Mels! Don't skip the last page of this story it is is such a beautiful goodbye to the Ponds after the events of 'The Angels Take Manhattan.'

   Lastly, the Doctor is reunited with his very first companions, schoolteachers Ian and Barbara. It's DWM's take on the 50th Anniversary of Doctor Who and it was a surprise filled journey full of Easter Eggs, cameos, and much more. 

   These are the rarest of the Doctor Who comics to find. Published from the British publisher Panini Press, unless you find a comic book store willing to carry these imports, you have to either go on Amazon and hope the price is right or you get lucky like I did and find it at a used book store for a decent price. 

   Though all three of these stories are stand alone reads, they all continue a storyline that starts in the companion piece The Chains of Olympus. I do feel like maybe I should have waited until I found that book and read that one first- but it's British Who comics and like a kid at Christmas, I couldn't wait to tear into this this. I was a bit lost at times but this was worth it!

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Secret Files & Origins: President Luthor #1

I’ve read the story in which Luthor is elected President on the United States. I’ve also read his downfall in the pages of Superman/ Batman. Now, read the story behind the story as we learn what was Lex’s motivation, how he got Talia Al Ghul to take over LexCorp, and Superman’s reaction to the news.

The secret files are taken from Luthor’s very own private journals and they reveal a cunning mastermind who will let nothing get in his way and Woe, to the poor schmo who does.

A great read.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Time Warp #1

This short-lived, but superb sci-fi anthology featured stories about “doomsday and other strange things.” Each issue featured 8 different tales with twists right out of the EC Comics playbook. Comic legends Denny O’Neil, Paul Levitz, and Steve Ditko contribute. Michael Kaluta did some super cover work that harkens back to some classic 1940s-style pulp art. He missed his calling if he never did a Buck Rogers or Flash Gordon book.

Time Warp only lasted 5 issues and though they weren’t massive hits, they’ve formed a sort of cult status among collectors, especially those of anthology comics. I was lucky to find this copy in a dollar box and I hope to find the other 4 issues. Though, I suspect that I’ll have to cough up big bucks for those.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

    

Pink Panther #1 Free Comic Book Day 2016 ( Family Comic Friday)

  Every Saturday evening from about the age of 4-6, I was treated to syndicated episodes of Wonder Woman, The Muppet Show, and to close things out, The Pink Panther. The Panther's madcap antics, usually at the expense of his ubiquitous comic foil, the Little Man, was a favorite of both sets of grandparents. So no matter whose house I was visiting, the Pink Panther was always on.

  At this year's Free Comic Book Day, the Pink Panther made an unexpected appearance to the joy of many. Now, I am not sure if having Panther portraying the Mighty Thor on the cover had everything to do with it, but on most of the comic book groups I am a member of on Facebook, this was the issue most people were glad to snatch up or regretted the most in missing out on. )OK, it probably had a little bit to do with the popularity.)

    For some reason my wife and I got on the topic of the Pink Panther last night. So I decided what the heck and I went through my haul of FCBD finds to relive my child for a minute or two. The book starts out with the Panther explaining to readers how their parents used to enjoy his movies, cartoons, and comics. I thought it was a great idea having the character introduce himself since many of today's generation probably don't even know who the Pink Panther is.

  After the introduction, we get an all new adventure in which Thor loses his hammer during a battle with Loki. When Mjolnir lands on earth, it looks like an ordinary claw hammer. Delighted at his find, Panther takes the hammer home. But when the cat goes to help a neighbor nail some pictures to her wall, the Panther discovers that there's something strange about his new tool

   This comic features a second story; a classic tale from the 70s or 80s. While the story, about Panther getting trapped on a tropical island with a volcano problem, looked much more like the cartoons of my youth, the story features something that I don't ever recall happening in a Pink Panther cartoon- talking!

  Both the Panther and Little Man, this time the chief of the island, have some witty banter with each other in the comics, but on the show- they never talked. Don't think that the Pink Panther show was 30 minutes of deafening silence, not one bit! The show had backup features like the Texas/ Tijuana Toads and the Ant and the Aardvark, who make a gag page appearance in this issue.

  This book, published by newcomer American Mythology Comics was a great time machine back to my youth. It was very fast paced and lots of fun to read. I know that I use the word fun a lot but if a book isn't fun to read, why do it? And this preview of the new series was really fun AND funny!

   The new Pink Panther series drops this month. If you can't find it ask your local comic book store to carry issue number #2 in time for a late July release. Until then, you can order a copy of the first issue at http://www.americanmythology.net. On the site,you can even catch some free Pink Panther cartoons like your mom and dad used to watch when they were kids and you'll understand why the Pink Panther is one cool cat.

  Worth Consuming

  Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Showcase Presents: The War That Time Forgot, Volume 1

   Date: circa 1942-1945
   Place: The Pacific Theatre
   Event: World War II
   Status: TOP SECRET

   Follow the adventures of the brave fighting men of the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marines as they take on the Imperial Japanese during the Second World War. The enemy has taken up refuge in the thousands of tiny islands that dot the Pacific Ocean. One area of key interest is a mysterious island that always seems to be covered by a dense fog bank. But what lurks inside the mist is a danger far more deadly than the combined might of the entire Japanese Empire...

    This books collects the original stories of the War That Time Forgot that were published in the pages of Star Spangled War Stories from 1960-66. It's an odd collection of early adventures and versions of some of the legends of DC's WAR comics including GI Robot, Caveboy and Dino, the Losers, and the Suicide Squad. They fight the Imperialist Japanese in the air, on land, and below the waves but in every one of these stories, they also battle dinosaurs!

    1960s DC Comics is one of those eras in which you either love it or hate it. I grew up reading my father's comic book collection from when he was a boy and they were all titles from the 1960s. In other words, my heart belongs to Silver Age DC. 

   Not every one of these stories are gems. In every issue they phrase "relics from the Dinosaur Age" is repeated at least 3 times per adventure, during an thrilling attacks by the thunder lizards. But that's not what bothers me most about these adventures though it did get predictable over the course of this 500 page plus collection.

   My biggest problem were the dinosaurs themselves. It wasn't that I thought the idea of the creatures surviving  into modern times was a farce. No, my issue was that the sizes of the dinosaurs was preposterous. In at least 3 stories, a tank lands on the back of a dinosaur. But it doesn't crush the reptile, no it manages to carry the tank off into an other part of the island. There were never dinosaurs that big!

    Then there are the pterodactyls. They're huge. I learned recently that some flying dinosaurs were the size of a small plane so having a P-47 Thunderbolt in a dog fight with a couple of these creatures is accurate. But there's no way that they were as large as a B-17 Flying Fortress!

   Another issue was on how the soldiers dealt with these terrible lizards. Bullets seem to have no effect on them but a single hand grenade to the mouth can have these dinos pushing up daises? I find that highly suspect and felt a little like my intelligence was insulted.

     Do I feel like I wasted my time with this book? Not at all. It is a little dated and kinda hokey? Yeah, but it was still an entertaining read. But if you are expecting a volume 2, forget it! 

   Every original Dinosaur Island story is collected in this archive. Why they numbered this volume 1 is something I don't have the answer to. But if you are looking to add to your collection some classic DC War stories without paying an arm and a leg, featuring artwork from legends like Joe Kubert, Ross Andru, and Mike Esposito, this is a very good buy, though now out of print, it can be a little pricey unless you shop around.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

All-New X-Men, Volume 6: The Ultimate Adventure

    With their teachers summoned to Westchester to hear the reading of Professor X's will, the students of the New Xavier School are bored silly. Suddenly Cerebro goes wild having detected a new mutant just coming into her powers. But when some of the time displaced X-Men arrive, they spook the young mutant further and find themselves teleported away to various locations around the world. Separately, each member of the team are faced with strange happenings that lead them all to come to the same realization- this is not their earth!

  Just when I think All-New X-Men can’t  get any better, Brian Michael Bendis scoops a handful of the mutants up and puts them into his Ultimate Universe! BAM- or should I say Bamf? Either way, it’s an instant classic.

  The addition of the Miles Morales as a guide for the time and space displaced original X-Men was a brilliant idea. Spidey isn’t really known for being affiliated with the X-Men. But because Miles has crossed universes before, teaming with the Peter Parker Spider-Man of Earth-616 in the miniseries Spider-Men (2012), it makes perfect sense.

  If you like stories that involve time travel- then All-New X-Men is the series you’ve been looking for. But if you also like for your time travelers to hop from alternate earth to alternate earth, you should watch Doctor Who. But this volume is the next best thing!!!  Featuring some of your favorite Ultimate Universe characters (Plus X-23!), dynamic art by Mahmud Asrar (Siege: Battlefield), as well as the aforementioned Bendis this truly is the Ultimate Adventure!

Worth Consuming

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Sergio Aragones Funnies #8

 I found this comic in a bargain bin recently. Featuring the art and slightly skewed brain of MAD Magazine legend Sergio Aragones, each issue has a theme. The issue I found theme is in treasure. What, you couldn't figure that out from the cover? Actually- the cover reveals more about the theme than the stories do as really the treasures discovered in this issue lies in the heart of each character and doesn't necessarily represent a monetary value.

  Anyways, along with some great short stories and some one page gags, Aragones included some seek and find games where you have to find the list of missing objects. But those activities are harder than they appear! Magnifying glasses are a must!

   I think the best part of this issue is of a true story in which Aragones was tasked one year with arranging the annual MAD Magazine editors retreat to his childhood home of Mexico. It was a neat look at some of the behind the scenes antics of the late William Gaines and his bunch of beloved “idiots.” they seemed like a really fun bunch and I wish that there were more of such adventures in this book.

  Hey, Sergio Aragones should make a graphic novel of his exploits at MAD! I call dibs on a free autographed copy for my genius idea!

   If the trip to Mexico wasn't included in this issue, I would say that this publication from Bongo Comics was for readers of all ages. But that South of the Border adventure gets a little salty at times. so maybe some parental discretion is advised for those under the age of 11.

    Worth Consuming.

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Daredevil, Volume 4: The Autobiography of Matt Murdock

 You would think that life is going quite well for Matt Murdock. Foggy Nelson's cancer seems to be getting under control. Matt's got a great new girlfriend and law firm in San Francisco. Plus, he's got a multi-million dollar book deal in the works and a new Daredevil persona.

   But Matt Murdock is the Charlie Brown of Marvel Universe! With his new persona comes the fact that everyone and their brother knows that the blind lawyer and the Man Without Fear are one in the same. Thus Foggy, his new girl, even his clients are all targets thanks in no small part to a multi-media surveillance system run by the Shroud.

   So in order to protect his friends, Murdock decides to make a deal with the devil himself- the Kingpin! But what can the lawyer offer the man who seemingly has everything? Why, the death of Matt Murdock, of course!

   The Autobiography of Matt Murdock signals the end of the epic run of Mark Waid and Chris Samnee, whose art is exceptional and his vintage style, I think, makes him the next Darwyn Cooke. Waid, whose been the driving force behind the Man Without Fear for about 4 years now, made a very depressing character fun again. Waid added heart and humor to the character. But there was more than enough zaniness in the Waid run like run ins with zombies, stuntmen, and even Stilt-Man! Plus, Waid's Daredevil was full of awesome courtroom drama. It was like a comic book version of Law & Order with the Order part being represented by a costumed vigilante.

   The first couple of chapters fit this formula quite real and they were great reads with one bothersome fly in the ointment: the Shroud. I hate the Shroud. I've thought him to be a D-list character since he first popped up in the pages of Spider-Woman all the way back in the late 70s. He's a total Batman AND Daredevil copycat if there ever was one. But, the Shroud's place in this story, while an annoyance, still carried a whimsical theme to the book.

   Once the Kingpin rears his big fat ugly head, the tone of the book got much more serious and to me, a lot less enjoyable. I long to read a collected version of Frank Miller's run on Daredevil. Yet, I have a feeling based on how I like a more light-hearted Hero of Hell's Kitchen, I probably will not enjoy it as much as I think I would.

   A good read that could've been better but still Worth Consuming in the end.

   Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Team-Up #74 (Volume 1)

This is not a joke. This is not a dream. In 1978, Spider-man really did team with the original not-ready-for-prime-time-players of Saturday Night Live!!!

In perhaps the most bizarre comic of all-time, the mutant Silver Samurai and his goon’s take SNL hostage as he searches for an ancient Chinese ring that John Belushi happens to be wearing. Thankfully, Peter Parker had tickets to watch a live taping of the show with Stan Lee hosting. With the building locked, the only hero in the building is Spidey. So, with the help of the cast of Saturday Night Live, the wall-crawler manages to save the day.

There are hi-jinx galore- Garrett Morris as a Black Thor (Shouldn't he be Ant-Man???), Belushi goes Samurai Delicatessen vs. Silver Samurai, and Waldorf and Stadler from the Muppet Show even make an odd cameo.

I love this issue. It’s so bizarre and strange. I’ve been searching for it for just about forever. Great art, though Bill Murray looks nothing like himself. But a good job on renderings of everybody else.

A note for Essential Marvel Team-Up collectors: This issue is not reprinted in any of the 4 volumes currently on the market. That’s probably because Marvel doesn’t have the license for the SNL product anymore or there’s some royalty tie-ups with the Belushi and Gilda Radner estates.

Madcap fun- Worth Consuming.

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Mad Scientist Academy: The Dinosaur Disaster (Family Comic Friday)

Meet Ken, the Monster Boy…
Wolfgang, the Wolfboy…
Thora, The Bug Girl...
The Lagoon Boy, Tad…
Miss Scarlet, the vampire…
And the robot moppet Nicole…

    Class is in session for the Mad Scientist Academy. It’s the students first day and their new teacher is Dr. Cosmic. Though he’s a mad scientist, he’s also a pretty bad one. None of his experiments seem to go right and his newest exhibit on dinosaurs has a lot of bugs in the system. 

    While Dr. Cosmic searches for his missing pet dinosaur, Oscar, the children are tasked with answering a series of riddles based on the robotic dinos placed throughout the exhibit. Something causes the dinosaurs to run amok. As a result, the pupils must find the off switch before the entire school comes crashing down. Armed with their new hi-tech textbooks, their wits, and Wolfgang’s lunch, can the kids save the school from disaster or will they become a T-Rex’s next meal?

     The Dinosaur Disaster is the first in a new series of books by author/ illustrator Matthew McElligott. This book mixes humor, monsters, and science to create a book that was both entertaining and educational. This book made learning really fun, even to an old war horse like me who has watched his share of the Jurassic Park movies.

     This book was published in 2015 and McElligott just released book two of the series- The Weather Disaster in May. Be sure to check out his website. It’s got lots of great videos, activities, and cool experiments to try at home. But if you decide to become like Dr. Cosmic, be sure to have an adult on hand for safety’s sake just in case. 

   A great graphic novel series that’s got lots of promise. And from looking at some of the other books McElligott has written, I wanna check out his Benjamin Franklinstein series that combines history with silly monsterized versions of famous people. 

   Like the back cover says Mad Scientist Academy is “packed with monstrous facts and ferocious fun’ but there’s nothing here that should scare the adventurous reader in your home.

    Worth Consuming

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.  

Adventures of Supergirl #3

    Following her battle with Vril Dox, Supergirl is thrust into a nightmarish world of zombified loved ones, alien hybrids, and werewolf hordes.

    This issue was an interesting mix of alternate versions of the Girl of Steel without delving into the concept of the multiverse. I'm sure we'll see that play out next season during the planned Supergirl/Arrow/Flash/Legends Of Tomorrow crossover event. But gee, there's a lot of Supergirl variants that I didn't realize are out there.

     Once again, DC has brought me running back to my LCS to get another chapter of the Supergirl TV tie-in! That's 3 first run issue purchases in a row. I'm hooked and this is a great way to wait out the summer hiatus. And though this was not the best issue of the series thus far, it was an enjoyable read. The mystery of who's behind these attacks on Supergirl is compelling and I will be snatching up the next segment on the day when it hits shelves in a couple of weeks in hopes of finding that answer.

   My only problem with this series is something I have mentioned previously- the rendering of Supergirl. Cover artist Cat Staggs kills it with stunning photo-realistic drawings of actress Melissa Benoist. So if DC will allow that, then why can't they make the images of Supergirl in the story look like the actress as well? Everyone else in this series looks like their live action counterparts! So why does Kara Zor-El Danvers look like she would in a non-TV tie-in DC comic book?

    DC has made comic book adaptations of both the Flash and Arrow TV shows. Though I haven't read those yet, I doubt that the lead characters weren't sketched to look like Stephen Amell and Grant Gustin! So get with it DC- make Supergirl look super!

   Worth Consuming 

  Rating: 8.5 out of 10!        

Batgirl, Vol. 1: The Batgirl of Burnside

After an experimental surgery involving electrodes placed along her spinal cord, Barbara Gordon regained the ability to walk after being crippled by the Joker. Inspired by how the new technique maps her brain, Barbara created a security system that mimics her photographic memory rich mind. In time, her computer program wins Barbara a place in a lucrative doctoral program. Seeing a chance to make a new life outside of Gotham after her apartment burns down, Barbara enrolls in college in the neighboring borough of Burnside to complete her dissertation.

   But with new friends who work for a popular online dating app and a new university, Barbara struggles to balance her academic life with her blossoming social life. On top of all that is her duties as Batgirl, which have kicked into high gear as she's mysteriously attacked by another, more glitzy Batgirl who seemingly knows all of Babs’ secrets. Is there an impostor to the title of Batgirl of Burnside? Or is Barbara slowly losing touch with reality.

  Batgirl of Burnside is essentially a re-branding of the superhero, making her more trendy and hip. It was an interesting read that attempts to tell Batgirl’s story to a new target audience. But the image shuffle of Batgirl that left me with a lot of questions. The penultimate chapter of this book does explore how Babs regained her ability to walk but her past as a pre-paralysis Batgirl is left in doubt. In fact, it's hinted that this may very well not be her actual reality and that her life is a fraud.

  When this book started to explore the possibility of the coming DC Universe Rebirth, I started to enjoy this series. But the first third of this book was really not my cup of tea. What with the characters constantly texting and going to raves or trendy art shows, I, an older comics' reader, felt a disconnect. But by the midway point, Batgirl started to return to her roots as a martial arts practicing Nancy Drew and things started to click here.

  So is this re-branding of the Barbara Gordon Batgirl a Gen-Xer’s allegory on the overly pervasive nature of a social media driven culture? Or is it a millennial’s cry for a personal voice in a multimedia flooded society on the verge of dystopian collapse? It's up to you, the reader, to decide. Hey, it might even be a little bit of both. But no matter how you look at the revitalized Babs  one thing is certain; the seeds of DC's Rebirth begin in this volume!

  Worth Consuming

  Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.