Flashpoint: Hal Jordan #2

   After the Atlantean assault in issue 1, the only fighter battalion left to defend the United States is the squad contracted out by Ferris Aircraft. But things are looking up as the aerospace plant has been assigned with retrofitting their planes with technology cloned from Abin Sur’s crashed ship. However, the hopes and dreams of a Guardians powered air force will come crumbling down when Ferris is attacked by a fleet of Amazon piloted planes.

   INVISIBLE Amazon piloted planes!

  This chapter in the Flashpoint tie-ins was awesome! Thrills on every page. Adam Schlagman has crafted an amazing storyline that interweaves with his other Flashpoint title Abin Sur- The Last Green Lantern.

  But once again, it’s the amazing art by Cliff Richards that steals the show. The majority of his work over his career has been contained to horror titles like Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Yet, his work in Hal Jordan looks like he’s been crafting war comics for decades. It’s his genius level of attention to detail that is making him a new personal favorite artist with every page I turn of this dynamic miniseries.

  Worth Consuming

  Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Flashpoint: Frankenstein and the Creatures of the Unknown #2

     

  Frankenstein and his Creature Commandos have finally made it to their creator's secret laboratory in Gotham City. The group hope to find some answers as to a cure for some of their comrades. But the Creatures will need to act fast as Miranda Shrieve, granddaughter of the group's original CO during World War II, is on their tale and she's coming complete with an armament of garlic bombs, electric shock gimzos, and silver bullets. Find out what's Shrieve's beef with these living monsters and how will the Creatures of the Unknown survive her onslaught?
    Oh, did I mention that she's accompanied by J.A.K.E., the GI Robot???
    I really love this tie-in series. I've been such a fan of DC's horror titles of the 70s and 80s. The Creature Commandos were such an integral part of Weird War Tales and I'm glad to see a version (any version) of this group get some much due kudos, respect, and a second chance.
    Jeff Lemire has really become known as the go-to DC 'dark lord' with his creepy tales starring the Hellblazer, Deadman, and others and he's not disappointed me with this series. This is eerie fun and very much Worth Consuming!

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.
 
 

Flashpoint: Abin Sur- The Green Lantern #2

  After having crashed landed on earth, it looks like Abin Sur will spend the rest of his days under the microscope of scientists at the Superman Project. But seeing the alien as a new weapon against the Amazonian/ Atlantean threat, the President of the United States enlists Hal Jordan to act as a the Green Lantern's partner in conducting rescue and seek and destroy missions in war-torn Europe.
    But as Abin Sur assists in the war in Europe, the clock is ticking for the Green Lantern to complete the mission given to him by the Guardians: destroy the earth to prevent a dangerous weapon hidden in the planet's core from being used by an unknown alien force. Assigned to put him back on task, Sinestro intercepts Abin Sur. With Sinestro being at odds with the Guardians will he good against their orders or will Abin Sur have to fight his best friend and fellow Lantern to the death?
    Not my favorite chapter of the numerous Flashpoint tie-ins. There's so many flashbacks, that the action never gets a chance to get rolling. But, the pacing isn't my biggest reason for not liking this book- it's the length.
    After I finished this issue, I thought that it felt a little light. So, I went back and counted the number of pages that contained storyline. There was only 18-pages of story! I kid you not; every other page was an advertisement.
    In contrast, I looked back at some other tie-in issues. Knight of Vengeance #2 has 22 pages of story whereas Green Lantern Industries #1 had 29. Where's the consistency??? And if I had paid the full price of $2.99 for this issue, I'd be majorly pissed! Thankfully, I only paid a quarter, but still there's a standard of consistency and quality that just wasn't there in this issue. Bad form DC editors!
   
   Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

Flashpoint: Citizen Cold #2

   The Rogues of Central City come gunning for Citizen Cold. Using Snart's sister Lisa as bait, can the anti-hero keep his wits or will his family attachments result in Citizen Cold losing his cool?
    A very interesting chapter. Before the epic throw-down, there's a really great scene where Cold is flirting really hard with Iris West. She's only interested in the story but seeing Snart's amorous attempts crash and burn was actually really funny. Usually, it's the hero in their secret identity that has trouble with the ladies. Having the 'hero' fail was pretty clever.
     The one thing I wasn't a fan of in this Flashpoint tie-in was the art. I liked the color palette used by Michael Atiyeh but I'm still not digging the art. Scott Kolins, who does double duty as writer and artist should leave the pencils to someone else. The anatomy is off but not in a 90's over-muscled way. One scene might have Iris sporting a gigantic head with tiny Donald Trump-like hands and it the next scene, she's got calves the size of well, baby calves. 
     Now I know that I'm no Picasso, (okay,with my carpal tunnel, maybe I am) but the point is, I understand that I'm not a comic book artist. My artistry in is my skills as a Professional Chef. I can whip up some great food, but I leave drawing to those skilled with a pen and paper. But while I love the story, I am just not digging the artwork.

   Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

Flashpoint: Emperor Aquaman #2

    The origin of Arthur Curry/ Aquaman are revealed in this issue. The product of a human father and an Atlantean Princess, young Arthur is a generational prodigy, able to communicate with the creatures of the briny deep. 

  

  Now for a Pre-Crisis devotee like myself, this story isn't all that new. But, in the post-Crisis DC Universe, this is brand new stuff- as Aquaman's half-human roots were erased from continuity. In the New 52 and DC Rebirth, Aquaman is again half-human, half Atlantean. So, the roots of the New 52 Aquaman take to soil here in this dynamic issue.

    Emperor Aquaman #2 was a thrilling read with lots of great twists and turns. Plus, it's been great seeing the original Aquaman return after all these years. In my opinion, the reason Aquaman gets such a raw deal isn't because of lame superpowers or that he wears an orange suit. It's because from 1986-2010, the Aquaman of comics and cartoon fame was a mere impostor to the throne. The post-Crisis King of the Sea can't hold a candle to Arthur Curry!

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Flashpoint: Deathstroke and the Curse of the Ravager #2

  I had always heard that Deadpool was initially a carbon copy of Deathstroke. I didn't realized how true that statement was until now. At the end of issue #1, it looked like Deathstroke's story in the Flashpoint was over as Emperor Aquaman had speared the mercenary through the heart. Nobody told me that Slade Wilson had a mutant healing factor!
   (Okay- Deadpool was designed as a clone of Deathstroke. I will admit!!! But Deathstroke doesn't have the absurd sense of humor or knowledge that in reality, he's a character in a comic book that Wade Wilson have!
    Talking about returning from the dead. Deathstroke's arch-rival the Warlord has returned after being seemingly massacred in issue #1. Now Slade's 'resurrection' surprised me, but I was positive that the Warlord was killed off by the King of the Seven Seas. Does Warlord have a healing factor too?
     A good chapter but it got a little confusing for me. Maybe I should've re-read the first issue but I wasn't that interested to double check on things. 

   Worth Consuming

    Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Flashpoint: Secret Seven #2

   Shade, the Changing Man recruits another wayward member of the Secret Seven. This time, it's Amethyst, hero of the Gemworld, that has been magically summoned. Only now she's a 12-year old girl trapped in a 20-something's body and she's wary of the good intentions of Shade. She's even more distrustful of Shade's new mistress, the formerly evil (or so she says) Enchantress!
    Meanwhile, another former member of the Secret Seven has decided to expose the rest of the team to the world. Only, there's one little problem- the magician calling for a press conference, Abra Kadabra, has never been a member of the Secret Seven before. What sinister plan does he have up his sleeve and how do sorceresses Zatanna and Raven fit into this all-encompassing mystery?
   I'm still not 100% sold on this Flashpoint tie-in. This issue was way better than the premier issue. But things are so convoluted with mystery and with new players being added to the mix at a frantic pace, that I'm not convinced that series creator Peter Milligan (2000 A.D.) can wrap this up in the 20 or so pages of issue #3. 
    I love the artwork in this series, however. It's by one of my all-time favs, George Perez (Wonder Woman). The drawings are clean, it's classic and every panel adds that touch of whimsy that all of DC's magic related titles should have.
  
   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Flashpoint: Batman- Knight of Vengeance #2

   Jim Gordon gets a tip on the whereabouts of the Joker and decides to investigate alone. As in without the assistance of the Batman! Of course, you know this will not end well. But how it ends will shock the pants off of you. 
    A great read that would've have been so much more better had I not already known what was going to happen prior to reading this book. Social media can be great and it can be such a kick in the pants because of spoilers aplenty. Don't worry, my loyal readers, this Madman will not spoil issue #2 for you.
     A must read by Brian Azzarello with super-creepy art by Eduardo Risso.

    Worth Consuming

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Flogging Molly: Speed Of Darkness

Do you like very hard rock? A fan of Ska? A connoisseur of Pirate Shanty tunes? Well, if you like all three, then you will love Flogging Molly. I had to pleasure of seeing them live and they were awesome. They mixed Catholic guilt with a pirate theme and made some awesome tunes.

But, they’re just not for me on CD. The songs are just very busy, very fast, and the words are somewhat too hard to understand. Plus, the loud continuous beat was giving me a headache by track 3.

This is just a prime example of a band that’s better live then on the radio.

NOT WORTH CONSUMING!

Rating: 3 out of 10 stars.

Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

   In my life there have been 2 books that no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't finish them. For summer reading in high school, I had to read Wuthering Heights. I tried twice, getting stuck and crapping out at exactly page 51! The other book was Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

   In 1998, Johnny Depp starred in a version of the film. I was a big Depp buff at the time and I really wanted to see it. But a friend recommended that I read the book first. So, I checked it out at the library- I never could get past the first chapter. Never really did see the picture either.

    Then a few days ago, I came across the graphic novel adaptation of the book. Having completely said 'The heck with Bronte', I decided not to let 2 books hold me back and I checked it out. 

    A large majority of Thompson's own words are used in this book. Each page of Thompson's attempt to find the American dream in Las Vegas of all places, contains large excerpts of the original text which before being published as Fear and Loathing was a 2-part article that ran in Rolling Stone in 1971. 

    The premise of the book has Thompson, under the name of Raoul Duke and his attorney, a Dr. Gonzo, renting a red convertible behemoth and driving to Sin City. In their trunk is a literal pharmacy of legal, illegal, and unimaginable things to get them high. Duke is supposed to be heading to Las Vegas to cover an off-road race for a sports publication. He then is asked to stay longer to cover a naroctics officer's conference. All-the-while, Duke and Gonzo claim to be searching for the American Dream.

    Honestly, I think the whole thing was an excuse to go gambling and get high as a freaking kite in the Seediest City in the World under someone else's dime. The first half of this book is literally unreadable. All Duke and Gonzo do are get high, become extremely paranoid and try to kill one another! However, this could all or partially be made up as Hunter S. Thompson's Gonzo Journalism style combined both fact and fiction; sometimes considering hallucination and anecdote as gospel truth.

    The second half of this graphic novel adaptation was actually pretty good. Duke has to cover a convention of drug enforcement officers and he and his lawyer often prank the unwitting lawmen, acting as DEA agents from L.A., with horror tales of animal sacrifice and perversion overtaking the City of Angels' drug scene. I preferred this section's madcap to the latter part's madness.
     This version of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas adapted and illustrated by Angora Napkin's Troy Little is probably the closet I will ever come to reading (and completing) Thompson's actual tome. But that's okay- this was some intense reading regardless and I feel like I conquered the book. I did happen to enjoy the cartoonish art and unique editing styles of Troy Little's. It fit in nicely with the source material and it's possibility of not being 100% the truth. 

   Not as bad as I thought but I really can't see why it's such a landmark book of the American experience either.  
   
   Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

The King of Kazoo (Family Comic Friday)

    King Cornelius, of the realm of Kazoo, has yet to make his legacy. He's lack of confidence and boastful stubbornness has made him appear as a joke to his subjects. But when his daughter Princess Bing, an aspiring wizard, notices a tunnel that has appeared on the summit of Mount Kazoo, the King thinks he's found his chance to earn a place in the hearts of his people. Along with his daughter and his royal inventor, Torq, and his new-fangled gronkless-speedster (AKA an automobile that Torq invented and the King took credit for) Cornelius conducts a mission to get to the bottom on the mystery. But in order to save the day, he's going to have to learn to trust the abilities of his brilliant daughter, Bing, and genius staff-person, Torq. 
    I thought the King of Kazoo was brilliant. The story by cartoonist Norm Feuti was funny, smart, and original. It combines a medieval fantasy motif with modern day creations like cars and mechanical men. Plus, there's the Frog People of the Swamp, an evil Alchemist, and lots of zany slapstick antics... The excitement never ends!
    I also didn't want this book to end. I wanted there to be a sequel and above all else, I want to see the King of Kazoo as either an animated feature OR a TV show. Just please don't make it CGI! That would ruin the whimsical effects that come alive with Norm Feuti's cartoons. 
     A fun read that kids and kids at heart will love. One of the best new books I have read in 2016!
    
    Worth Consuming

    Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.
 

Secret Defenders #1

You remember the Defenders? Well, they’re back- Darkhawk, Nomad, Spider-Woman, and Wolverine! What? That’s doesn’t sound familiar! That’s because in this new series, the original team has broken up- though they never really were officially a team. Now, Doctor Strange finds his powers greatly diminished and unable to travel across the country to fight a new supernatural threat. So, with what little powers he has left, the Sorcerer Supreme has recruited this new squad to prevent the powers of darkness from making Phoenix their new headquarters.

The premise is great- the team will change every 2-3 issues and fans votes are supposed to pick the team. I am very interested in reading the rest of the series and seeing the new and bizarre team-ups loyal Marvelites from the 1990s came up with.

Worth Consuming

    Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

World of Flashpoint #2

   So far in Flashpoint, some heavy hitters and fan favorites have been noticeably absent from all the action- until now. Desperate to stop her father from committing genocide on the people's of Themyscira and Atlantis, Traci 13, armed with Madame Xanadu's tarot deck, scours the globe looking for anyone to help her. Wanna know what happened to XXXXXX XXX, XXXXX XXXX, and XXX XXXXXX in the Flashpoint, then you must read this important issue. Oh, and the cliffhanger to this issue- Holy Cow, I completely forgot that in the original DC Universe, XXXXXX XX had magical powers too!
   (You didn't really think I was going to name names do you? That would spoil all the fun!)
    A killer read from Rex Ogle (Teen Titans) with awesome artwork by Eduardo Francisco (Ame-Comi Comics.) The only thing I was 100% sold on was the cover by Brett Booth and Norm Rapmund. The art of the tarot cards were great but Traci 13 looked wrong.

    Worth Consuming

    Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.
   

Booster Gold #46

Despite his being stuck in the Flashpoint, history is about to repeat itself. Only this time Booster Gold will be playing the role of Superman. The being known as Doomsday is out of control and after a run in with a charter bus, the creature is now heading for Metropolis. It's up to Booster Gold, a mysterious woman with absorbing powers, and his arsenal of futuristic gadgets to save the day.

  The Death of Superman is one of my favorite DC story lines. Seeing it twisted around with Booster Gold playing the Man of Steel role was a delight. I was so excited with this issue that I almost skipped a bunch of Flashpoint tie-ins to find out what happens next.

  Oh, the massive amounts of self control being expended here…

  Worth Consuming.

  Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Flashpoint #3

Barry Allen's attempt to get his powers back has failed. Now near death, Thomas Wayne struggles to keep Barry alive or any hope of reversing the Flashpoint event is gone with the formerly Fastest Man Alive.

  Meanwhile, Cyborg seeking to recruit an army to take on the combined Atlantis-Themyscira threat, is ordered by the President to stand down and let the Army take control. Apparently, standing down means hacking into the mainframe to the Pentagon to find. Will he uncover the secrets to the Superman and if he does will he find a friend or a foe?

   This miniseries just keeps getting better and better. I have been so impressed with Geoff Johns and how he created a new faucet of the DC Universe that's familiar but yet completely different as well. If you have not read Flashpoint point yet, what are you wanting for? This is classic alternate universe DC at it's very best and very much Worth Consuming.

  Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Relish: My Life in the Kitchen

    The graphic novel medium is pretty much an untapped resource when it comes to food. Yet, with it's visual aesthetic, you'd think that this would be the perfect venue for it. Maybe that's because no one's been able to crack the code- until now...
    Lucy Knisley's Relish is a glimpse at her life story and how food has had such an impact on her life and that of her family. Her mother was a superstar employee at Dean & Deluca and later a much sought after caterer in Northern New York. Her uncle ran a trendy Big Apple gourmet shop in the 80s and her father is a consoussier of the Manhattan restaurant scene. 
    Added to this neat tale are several recipes. Knisley draws out pictures of each item and provides unique insight into the selection of products, substitution of ingredients, and other variants. Her pasta carbonara recipe is something that I am dying to try out one day soon.
    This 2013 graphic novel by First Second has a suggested reading of ages 6-12 but really, this is a memoir and tribute to food that any age can enjoy. I think it should be required reading at the culinary school where I teach. It's got some many great insights on food trends, what it means to be a chef, and how food brings people and cultures together.
     A really awesome read that I highly recommend. Be on the lookout for other food related graphic novels by Knisley, like I am: French Milk (2008) and An Age of License (2014.)

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.
      

Suicide Squad

   Spiraling out of the events of Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, Central Intelligence adviser Amanda Waller seeks approval from the Department of Defense to held up a special group of meta-humans called Task Force X. Unofficially known as the Suicide Squad, Task Force X is made up of the worst of the worst villains and top notch commandos the DC Universe has to offer and it's their mission to do the tasks that the American government can't do without serious repercussions. 
     When a supernatural threat begins to lay waste to Midway City, the Suicide Squad are activated and must learn to work as a group or they'll die in a bloodbath of Biblical proportions. Meanwhile, the villainous Joker, upset over losing his girlfriend Harley Quinn to the prison system, works in the background to steal her back in the midst of the Suicide Squad's deadly mission. 
     I don't know what Rotten Tomatoes was thinking- this movie wasn't bad. I went to see it with my wife and she even liked it and she has very little background knowledge of most of the characters. Plus, she said it kept her attention and she would recommend it for people to go and see. For a violent movie such as this, that's high praise from a non-comics reader.
     The film has been slammed for being chaotic. But, there's a ton of back story to go through and spending the first 15-minutes trying to provide dossiers on the members is vital background information that needs to be presented for both the causal viewer like my wife and expert collectors such as me. Now, the opening credits, as well as the closing ones, are a bit of a mess, but really who judges a film on credits?
     Of course, Harley Quinn, played by the Wolf of Wall Street's Margot Robbie stole the show but it wasn't Jared Leto's Joker, who dominates the trailers but has maybe 15 minutes screen-time as best, that interested me as much as The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. Yes, Will Smith as the ultimate assassin Deadshot was amazing. So what if his eye piece was on the wrong eye. If Harley was the heart of the Suicide Squad, Smith's character was the soul. 
     Another character that just literally kills in Suicide Squad was El Diablo played by Jay Hernandez (Friday Night Lights.) His troubled gang banger who refuses to use his pyrotechnic super powers as penance because of a tragedy in his mysterious past was intriguing and I felt like his performance could be Oscar worthy.
     The one character I really felt coming into this picture that was miscast was Viola Davis as Amanda Waller. To me, CCH Pounder, who provided the voice of the anti-hero bureaucrat in the Justice League and Justice League Unlimited animated series, was Amanda Waller. But Davis did a pretty good job and I wouldn't mind seeing her back in the role for the inevitable sequel. 
     If you've been on the fence about seeing Suicide Squad, I urge you don't listen to the haters. I had every intention of seeing it last week, but I was too exhausted from a 6 day work week and spend most of last Sunday asleep. This movie was a lot better than certain internet sites would have you believe. I really enjoyed it and I would love to see a director's cut. (Just please don't release it only on Blu-ray!!!) 
     A great comic book based film but a little too mature for those under 13. This is NOT Batman V Superman, people! 
     I give it a solid 8.

     Worth Consuming

    Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Anna Banana and the Chocolate Explosion! (Family Comic Friday)

Tow- headed moppet Anna Banana has a squad of stuffed animal friends. One sunny day, her pals get really hungry and ask her to teach them how to bake a chocolate cake. But you can expect that with a title like The Chocolate Explosion, there's going to be more mess than baked goods created in the Banana kitchen.

   This was a cute little all ages graphic novel. I was a little concerned that this might be a story book as opposed to a book of sequential art (and not qualify for Family Comic Friday) since it's published more like a very long picture book. But this is a tale told as a comic book, only without panels.

  Written by Moroccan children's writer Dominique Roques (with very imaginative art by Brussels illustrator Alexis Dormal), this was an English translation. So if you are interested in getting this book for your child, make sure you get the English translation if you do not read French. It also explains why some of the narrative seems a little stilted at times as phrases in French probably don't pop as well when translated into English.

 Anna Banana was a delight to read. Very creative and really funny. I loved the stuffed animals, especially Fuzzball, who looks like a tiny but very friendly version of Oscar the Grouch. Come and join the fun with Anna Banana. Just be sure to clean up afterwards.

  Worth Consuming.

   RATING: 9 out of 10 stars.

Star Trek Beyond

 Who knew that in the 50 year history of Star Trek, the only thing missing was the Beastie Boys?!

    Clearly, this is a reference for those who have gone to see the film. I finally was able to see it tonight and I loved it. No, I was not scared off by the detractors of the latest entry in the Star Trek Reboot Franchise. I had every intention of seeing it the week it came out with a buddy of mine. But he kept putting it off with excuses that I later learned never came to be on his end. Maybe Rotten Tomatoes scared him away. Regardless, after 3 weeks of waiting, I said 'enough's enough." and decided to see it by myself.

    In this chapter of the rebooted Trek universe, Kirk and crew are into year 3 of their 5-year mission and are about to enjoy some much needed R&R. While on shore leave on the Yorktown space station, the Enterprise is called upon to launch a rescue mission is an uncharted sector of space. The missing ship is located in a nebula, which means that the Enterprise will be cut off from communicating with Starfleet. Once through the nebula, it becomes immediately appearant that Kirk and his crew were duped as the are overcome by an unknown swarm of enemy ships that cripple the Federation's flagship. 

   After ordering all hands to abandon ship, the majority of the Enterprise crew are captured by the army of a completely new character named Krall (Luther's Idris Elba, as you've never seen him before under about 9 pounds of prosthetics and make-up), whose got a major beef with the United Federation of Planets for some reason. But not all of the Enterprise crew are held captive by Krall. Kirk and Chekov made it out safely. Can they organize the remaining uncaptured crew members, save their comrades, and find a way off planet before Krall unleashes a weapon that promises to destroy the entire Alpha Quadrant?

     I don't know why some many people hatred this movie. I thought it was really good. By shear coincidence, I happened to see the film on the day that media outlets were declaring Star Trek Beyond to be a massive flop. But, this film had me and the 30 or so other patrons who saw the movie with me, flipping over how awesome it was. There was lots of great moments, some funny, lots filled with action. There's even a very touching tribute to the late Leonard Nimoy as well as the original Enterprise crew in this film.

     In the original Star Trek films, it is commonly agreed upon that the even numbered films are the best. But if you ask me, the odd numbered films in the reboot franchise series are the best. Beyond captures the spirit of the original series so well and it just surpassed Into Darkness, the previous Trek film that critics and fans just raved over. 

     Star Trek Beyond was directed by Fast & the Furious franchise director, Justin Lin and it marks the first of the new series not to be directed by J.J. Abrams, who was busy with Star Wars Episode VII. But Abrams did have a hand as an executive producer and his good buddy Greg Grunberg even makes an appearance in the film. 

     Maybe critics of this film weren't happy that Justin Lin was at the helm for this one. I for one thought he did an very good job. I'm not very familiar with his other works but with all of the crazy angles and fast paced machinery, you could tell that the Fast & the Furious had something to do with influencing this picture. But some of these crazy angled shots made me a tad motion sick, but I quickly was able to rebound from that. So glad I did not opt for 3-D!

      Don't let those who have trashed this film keep you away. It's a good way to spend 2 hours. In fact, it's one of those films that I kept looking at my phone not for knowing how much time until I could leave but I was checking to see how much time was left as I did not want this one to end. 
     
     Worth Consuming

    Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Flashpoint: The Canterbury Cricket #1

 The last surviving Ambush Bug, the Canterbury Cricket, has been appointed a protector of the realm of England. But without a team, he's got quite the task ahead of him. Luckily, he meets up with a group of heroes with supernatural abilities, who might be able to help the Canterbury Cricket achieve his task and liberate The United Kingdom from the Amazons.

    Whether this Flashpoint version of the Ambush Bug can pull it off will have to wait as his story continues in the pages of Flashpoint: Lois Lane and the Resistance. This one-shot only does two things- establishes the completely unique character and tells his origin story. There's also the mystery of a supporting character but I doubt her secrets will be revealed as she dies pretty suddenly.

    This was an okay tale by Mike Carlin (Captain America.) But between the Canterbury Cricket’s talk in riddles and Etrigan the Demon speaking in rhyme, I didn't have a clue what the hell these guys were talking about half the time. The art by First Wave's Rags Morales was pretty good but it didn't seem as gritty as the assortment of dark magic heroes that makes up the cast of players in this morality tale.

   I can see visions of the New 52’s Justice League Dark but this group is a pale imitation.

 Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

Flashpoint: Hal Jordan #1

   Hal Jordan- Green Lantern of Sector 2814. He's been so hit-and-miss with me. As a child I loved his costume and above all else, his power ring and all the funky things that he could create with it led to the character being such a favorite of mine. For quite some time, he was in my top-5 superheroes. Then when I started collecting comics again 10 years ago, I bought up a fair share of Green Lantern books and I was completely unimpressed. Then I discovered Darwyn Cooke's tribute to the DC Silver Age, The Final Frontier, and Jordan captured my heart again. That was until Ryan Reynolds took on the mantle in the 2010 film, I mean,  stinker of the same name. Why can't the character be executed consistently?
   Well, Adam Schlagman (Flashpoint: Abin Sur- The Green Lantern) was able to craft an opening chapter in this 3-part mini-series tie-in and capture that child-like wonder and Silver Age goodness that I loved about Hal Jordan's character. It felt like I was reading a vintage classic filled with action, adventure, and above all, it was fun!
   Hal's been haunted by his father's ghost as a hot-shot pilot since I can remember. Here, with Hal Jordan being the East Coast's first line of defense as a combat pilot contracted out through Ferris Air and NOT a Green Lantern, I felt like this was a comfortably familiar but completely original take on the DC Universe's Man Without Fear. Plus, the smart-ass that is Oliver's Hal Jordan is what Ryan Reynolds' Green Lantern should have been!
    Added to this issue's brilliance was the artwork by Ben Oliver (Ultimate X-Men.) His airbrush painted quality style was amazing. His character's looked like I was looking at photographs and then there's the action scenes. From opening the book to the very first page, every dogfight scene was action packed and breathtaking.
     So good, I'm tempted to read ahead for more action and thrills instead of waiting until after reading about 2 dozen other tie-ins.

    Worth Consuming

    Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.
    

Flashpoint: Green Arrow Industries #1

    In the Flashpoint universe, Oliver Queen isn't a hero- not even close. He can't shoot an arrow to save his life. He's incredibly self-centered, and his got more kids and ex-wives than most Hollywood superstars.

    What Ollie is is the top weapon's designer in the world. But he's not gotten that moniker through hard work or a smattering of honesty. Ollie has hired out a squad of Green Arrows, an ex-military private security force that takes out the worst enemies imaginable. Then they steal their weapons, bring them to Queen's Green Arrow Industries and the billionaire reverse engineers the tech and sells it back to the US military. 
      Oliver Queen has never been more wimpy, more selfish, or more like Tony Stark than in this Flashpoint one-shot tie-in. But I'm not really sure if I like it. It's definitely a different take on the Green Arrow- well almost. In the DC Universe, he's quite the Lothario but Queen is also known for being a bit of a bleeding heart liberal. Not this Oliver Queen, he's just in it for the money. I kinda felt like I was reading the first issue of Iron Man.
     By the end of this issue, Queen will have that moment that changes everything. It's that turn that makes me very interested in learning what happens next. Unfortunately, unless Oliver Queen pops up in either the remaining issues of Flashpoint or one of the tie-ins, the story of Green Arrow Industries ends here. This was a one-shot.
      Darn!

    Worth Consuming

    Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.
     

Suicide Squad #1 (Free Comics Book Day 2016 Edition)

 Though the movie is getting slammed by critics, DC Comics has done everything right in marketing this film. From overtaking Hot Topic and Journeys clothing and accessories line to making Harley Quinn the flagship character of the franchise, DC hasn't disappointed me in their attempts to build excitement and garner new viewers for the villain-led film. This May, DC Comics officially kicked off the Suicide Squad fervor issuing a Free Comic Book Day giveaway. So it was an ideal read to get me even more excited for when I go see the movie tomorrow.

    Reprinting the first issue of the New 52 Suicide Squad from 2011-2014, this book kicks you in the teeth and then literally rubs salt in those wounds. In this issue, the squad has been captured and being tortured for information regarding their team's designation. As the interrogator makes his way from villain to villain, each member of the Suicide Squad reflects on the crimes that sent them to Belle Reve Prison. But how did they end up captives of the Scarecrow and can they free themselves before one of them breaks?
      Though DC will have cancelled this title and relaunch it twice prior to the release of the Suicide Squad film, I really am interested in reading this series. It was extremely compelling and there are some mysteries involving Harley Quinn and Deadshot that I really want to get to the bottom of. And that cliffhanger- holy cow! I must know what happened next! 
    Yes- I hate cliffhangers. Especially when I don't have the follow-up titles. But unless DC published an one-shot story with all new material, I doubt that any of Suicide Squad titles starring the villains appearing in the film were published without a cliffhanger.
    HEY!!! WHY DIDN'T DC MAKE THIS ISSUE WITH ALL NEW MATERIAL???
    Okay, I'm a little peeved. But regardless of my misgivings, writer Adam Glass wrote one heck of an opening chapter and the interior artwork of Federico Dallocchio was off the chain crazy good. Like I expect the film will be, this book was mega gritty, crazy violent, and had a bit of sex appeal. Not a book for kids. 

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

The Batman Adventures #12 (Family Comic Friday)

   Batman Adventures #12. It's one of two most coveted issues by collectors in the past 3-5 years (with New Mutants #98 being the other.) This issue, based on the classic Batman: The Animated Series from the 1990s, marks the first appearance of the Joker's girlfriend in comic book form. Though this series wasn't officially canon, collectors have been in a frenzy to pick this book up in anticipation of today's debut of the Suicide Squad movie.
    In this issue, Barbara Gordon goes to a costume party, dressed as a female version of Batman. When Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy kidnap the guest of honor, Barbara goes into action as Batgirl to save the day. But while the new hero has Harley and Ivy under control, she may have bitten off more than she can chew when a new foe enters the scene: Catwoman!

    For a comic that is fetching prices of $475- to over $1000 because of a first appearance, this book was a bit of a disappointment. Harley is barely in this issue. She's got maybe 8 lines at best. But the collector wants what the collector wants...
     As a Batman: The Animated Series comic, this is a fun read. It captured the spirit of the cartoon very well. The art was spot on and the writing of Kelley Puckett was exceptional. If anyone was going to write a Batgirl themed issue, it needed to be him as he created at least one version of the heroine and was a prolific writer of her stuff in the 90s. 
     Lastly, folks, I hope you're not thinking that I am advocating you buy your child this book- well I am but I don't expect you to shell out $500 clams for an ungraded copy. I choose this issue to review as it's a kid's friendly version of Harley Quinn to read. Thankfully, this issue can be found for less than $20, along with 9 other tales in the pages of Batman Adventures, Volume 2! 
      Batman: The Animated Series and the three series of comics based on the show were such great views and reads. I loved them. My little sister adored them and even my mother thought it was a good show. And now parents who grew up watching this show are sharing with there kids and the second generation has fallen in loved with them as well.
      Even non-Harley Quinn issues can be a little pricey. You can sometimes get lucky in a bargain bin but even after 10 years of active searching, I've barely scratched the surface with my wish list. So check out the reprint collections. Four volumes are currently available and they can be bought for decent prices on Amazon. 
     It's a great way to collect the series without breaking the bank.

     Worth Consuming

     Rating: 7.5 out of 10 stars.
     

Doom Patrol and Suicide Squad Special

   When the superhero Hawk (of the duo Hawk & Dove) is caught running guns to the Contras by the Sandinistas in Nicaragua, Amanda Waller is ordered by the President to assemble a Suicide Squad. Hoping to show up Waller and her elite program, high-ups from Central Intelligence formulate their own plan and manipulate the Doom Patrol to conduct their own rescue mission. 

    Like with all team-up stories, both groups will see the other as a threat and the fur will literally fly. But, when the two teams look like they are ready to rip each other's throats out, a new player unexpectedly enters the arena- the Soviet backed elite of armored warriors: the Rocket Red Brigade!

     This 1988 special was an interesting mix of real life meets sci-fi/ fantasy. With appearances of both Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev and the Doom Patrol and Suicide Squad involved in the Iran-Contra mishap- this is kinda how I wish history really went down for the 40th President of the United States. Or maybe the folks at DC got a little too political for this one...

     Other than Colonel Flag and Amanda Waller, this line-up is unlike any version of Suicide Squad that I have ever come across. With a team-up of C-listers that I have never heard of including the Thinker, Mister 104, and the Weasel, this is a pretty weak group of villains. But according to the afterword, DC would only allow unpopular and expendable characters for the mission to Nicaragua. 

     And don't get me started on the Doom Patrol line-up. Who are these people? Other than Robotman, honestly, who the heck are they?

     One plus to this special is the team of writers and artists involved. This book features one of the first published works by Eric Larsen of Savage Dragon fame. It's also co-written by one of my good Facebook (and semi-professional) buddies Paul Kupperberg. So despite my misgivings with the line-ups of both super teams, this is an epic book that I would say often gets swept under the rug due to a lack of superstar superheroes! 

     Often found in bargain bins nation-wide, this is an affordable Suicide Squad one-shot that could be the gem in your collection.
     
   Worth Consuming.

   Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Countdown to Suicide... SQUAD!!!

   Folks, in 3 days I'll have a day off from work and I'm going to be going to the superhero movie event of the summer- Suicide Squad. I'm even going in costume to the film! So in terms of getting ready for the movie, I'm digging into my collection and going to be reading and reviewing some Suicide Squad themed comics.

   So let's start with 1988's Doom Patrol and Suicide Squad Special... 
   

Flashpoint: Reverse Flash #1

  Another story published under the Flashpoint banner but set outside the Flashpoint Universe. This issue examines further the lengths and depths Eobard Thawne, AKA the Reverse Flash, AKA Professor Zoom, will go to to give Barry Allen hell. In many ways this issue is a sequel or continuation of The Flash #8 from 2010. Titled The Reverse Flash Rebirth, that issue explored Thawne's life in the 25th century and what led up to him becoming the futures most deadliest villain. Here, we get a good look at the Reverse Flash's dalliances with the speedsters of the past in his quest to become history's only Fastest Man Alive!
    The story was one of the best in the Flashpoint series. But that does not mean that this book is not without it's flaws. The most obvious issue is the artwork. Joel Gomez's (Witchblade) pencil work is rough at best. Many of his characters look dis-proportionate. Now I am not one to really talk, the guy obviously more talent than I, but many scenes just look out of sorts. 
     The second problem with this comic is a little more unforgivable. The cover states that this is issue #1 of 3. Well, I am here to tell you that there is no issue #2 or #3! This was one of the last things off my Flashpoint wish list and the main reason is for months I looked and looked and looked some more for those non-existent titles. Flashpoint: Reverse Flash is a one-shot no matter what the cover says.
     And now you my friends have been fairly warned.

    Worth Consuming

    Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Flashpoint- Kid Flash Lost #1

 

   I really don't know how to explain this issue without giving away some major spoilers. Bart Allen- Kid Flash- is still running around Central City with his ancestor Barry Allen chasing down the temporal motorcyclist, Hot Pursuit. But this is Flashpoint! There's supposed to not be a Flash nor any other speedsters! Plus, Hot Pursuit died just prior to the Flashpoint...
  So, What's going on here?
  See, I told you I can't really get into a good solid review without spilling a few apple carts. All I can say about this issue is this- the events that transpired in this 2010 Flashpoint tie-in by Sterling Gates (Stormwatch) actually will directly influence the massive 2015 crossover event Convergence! 
    More and more as I read this series, I'm starting to think that not only the New 52 but this year's Rebirth of the DC Universe was pre-planned and blueprinted for a very long time prior to 2010! Very big kudos to Dan Didio, Jim Lee, and Geoff Johns no matter how wrong some things went. (Honestly, not everything about the New 52! was awful- mostly just what they did with Superman!)
    A necessary read Worth Consuming!

    Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.