Despicable Deadpool, Volume 2: Bucket List

I really don't like this angrier, grittier Deadpool. Yeah, he made the big mistake of following the Nazi Steve Rogers. But, he sorta was a double agent. He never really sold out any of the mutants Rogers was trying to exterminate. Plus, Wade was trying to protect his little girl who was half-mutant.

The Merc with a Mouth is mad. He wants revenge! I get it! But I prefer the more light-hearted, goofier Deadpool. When I read Deadpool, I want a laugh or two. I don't expect Punisher's War Journal.

There's some great moments. And I get an occasional chuckle. Thankfully, Gerry Duggan is still writing Deadpool. Otherwise, I think this EMO Wade Wilson would be completely unreadable.

The artwork by Mateo Lolli is also very well done. It's another plus to an otherwise not enjoyable series from the House of Ideas.

When Marvel announced that Deadpool was going bad again, I had my reservations. Turns out, I am completely justified. This just isn't my favorite version of Deadpool.

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

The Joker/Daffy Duck Special #1

The Joker/Daffy Duck Special rounds out my completion of DC/Looney Tunes Wave 2. This one was the one I least expected to enjoy (though I really loved the variant cover and used it as my FB avatar for a while.) Yet, I was for the most part pleasantly surprised.

The art was probably my least favorite aspect of this special. Norm Rapmund and Brett Booth's artwork was quite frenzied and for a Joker adventure, that works very well. but Daffy looks freaky. I know that ducks have these little parts on their bill that are referred to as teeth. Yet, seeing Daffy with a full mouth full of pearly whites is just unsettling.

The story itself was very well written. Daffy treks to Gotham City to see why the Acme Company hasn't filled his latest order of gags. Turns out that Acme has been closed for years and is now the hideout of the Joker!

Normally the Clown Prince of Crime would just off anyone who trespasses on his turf. But Daffy manages to talk his way into becoming the villain's new capo. It's merely a ruse to buy himself some time to escape. but Daffy actually turns out to be pretty good at his job.

I didn't like the ending. I didn't really think it was all that fair towards poor Daffy. But overall, the opening story was entertaining.

I wish I could tell you about the back-up feature. But it was really forgettable. Done in the Looney Tunes style, I cannot for the life of me remember if the Joker or Daffy are even in this Joey Cavaleri penned tale.

Wait a minute!!! I seem to recall Daffy posing as a psychologist at Arkham and he's analyzing the Joker... Still, it's a little cloudy. But if it's not that memorable, it must not have been all that great.

Wow. what a way to end a special. This one's going to be tough to rate. Unfortunately, the back-up tale is going to weigh this book down. But I still recommend this to fans of DC and Merry Melodies because the first story was pretty decent for the most part.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Harley Quinn/Gossamer Special #1

Gossamer- that fuzzy orange monster that always grabs Bugs Bunny and says that he’s gonna ‘hug him, squeeze hi, and call him George.’ That’s the Looney Tunes character that is starring in the DC/Looney Tunes crossover with the Joker’s EX-Girlfriend Harley Quinn. Most people recognize Gossamer but don’t remember his name. That’s kinda how I felt when I read that Harley was pairing up with Gossamer. I couldn’t for the life of me figure out who this Mortimer was. But once I saw the cover, I was like ‘so that’s his name.’

The story takes place right after a hurricane is bearing down on Harley’s home turf of Cooney Island. In hopes of accessing the damage, Harley Quinn stumbles across a crate that had washed ashore and immediately calls dibs! Inside the crate Gossamer and he’s hungry. Just as the monster about to eat every hot dog on Coney Island, a massive robot attacks Harley and her new friend.

Just who’s behind this attack? Well, the answer to that question isn’t that hard. There’s big giant smiley face painted on the robot! Harley and Gossamer do NOT like being shot at. Boy, o-boy is Mistah J gonna get it!

You know they saying ‘how can I miss you if you won’t go away?’ That is how I felt about this opening yarn. A big deal was made of both Jimmy Palmiotti and Amanda Conner leaving Harley Quinn after such a lengthy title run. Yet, they’re both back only like 2-3 months after their retirement. I know that DC wanted me to be in awe of their return in this special. But the husband and wife team weren’t gone long enough to feel like I needed to welcome them back. Harley’s co-creator Paul Dini has been away long enough from his creation that any time he returns to do a story about The Maid of Mischief, it feels fresh, edgy, and new. Why didn’t DC have him do the opening story?

The second story was done in the Looney Tunes style. It’s an almost exact clone of the Merry Melodies cartoon Hair-Raising Hare. In that 1946 cartoon, Bugs Bunny is lured to Gossamer’s master’s evil lair and hi-jinx ensues. Replace Bugs will Harley, add a little bit of her psychological background and you’ve got this insane romp.

I was excited about a Harley Quinn special. But I just don’t recognize this Harley very well- YET. I’m a classic Harley, in the classic suit kind of guy. Why I was even a little stunned at the sexual banter between Harley and Poison Ivy. I had heard of such a relationship between the two but never personally witnessed it until in this comic. Not being anti-same sex relationship here. No, it’s just that the rumor became fact and I didn’t expect it in this book.

These crossovers are rated Teen. But you know that a lot of parents are going to share these with their kids. If you think about it, this story is the first time Looney Tunes addresses homosexuality and gender without making a joke out of it as they had for decades. Don’t believe me? Watch any Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd cartoon made before 1980. At some point, Bugs will dress up as a woman, seduce Elmer, and then make fun of the hapless hunter for kissing a guy!

An interesting read with hints of humor that at the bottom of it. More probably if you know who these supporting characters of Harley’s are. This issue will make you have to have a dialogue about Harley’s life and loves. Especially if read with younger readers. I didn’t know Looney Tunes was so edgy. I guess when you take away the smoking guns and carrots, you’ve got to tackle heavier stuff…

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Star Trek Vs. Transformers #1 (Family Comic Friday)

Today’s Family Comic Friday selection brings together two beloved cartoons from my childhood. Welcome to Star Trek Vs. Transformers!

Star Trek Vs. Transformers #1
Written by John Barber
Art by Mike Johnson
Published by IDW Publishing

From 1973-1974, the crew of the USS Enterprise concluded it’s five year mission in animated form. Along with Kirk, Spock and McCoy, this 30-minute series featured a three-armed and legged creature named Arak and a cat person named M’Press as part of the Enterprise crew. Though I wasn’t born yet, I grew up watching the acclaimed Saturday morning cartoon in rerun on Nickelodeon in the early-to-mid 1980s.

At the time Star Trek: The Animated Series was being aired in syndication, a new dynamic series was being aired new to young American audiences- Transformers. This series saw the friendly Autobots fighting the deadly Decepticons on planet Earth during the Me Generation 80s. Never in all the years of watching both franchises did I ever think I would get to witness these two cartoons ever crossing paths until now thanks to this fantastically retro comic book from IDW Publishing.

The story opens with the Enterprise receiving a distress call from Cygnus Seven. The planet, which orbits extremely close to Klingon territory, is also home to a dilithium mine. Kirk and his crew are asked to help the miners from a Klingon attack on the colony.

When Kirk beams down to Cygnus Seven, the captain finds the camp not attacked by Klingons but unmanned vehicles from Earth’s past. Suddenly, a fiery red and blue tractor trailer appears on the scene. Just whose side is it on?

Using their phasers, the away team defend themselves and they incapacitate the driverless truck. But when Kirk and his team go to inspect the vehicle, Mr. Spock discovers that there is more than meets the eye with this piece of ancient earth machinery.

OMG! This was such a great opening chapter. Generally with a team-up, the two parties never officially meet until the very last page of the first issue! Not here- instead Federation representatives and Transformers are facing off with each other by page two of this story! And don’t worry- those dastardly Klingons are lurking around here too!

I’m not sure why the Transformers from 1984 are now present at Stardate: 5892.7. But that’s okay as that is a part of the adventure and mystery that I have to look forward to in this four-issue miniseries. In fact, I’m actually glad that IDW decided not to go the route of Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home and have the Enterprise crew going back in time to the 80s again!

John Barber and the artist Mike Johnson have captured the spirits of both classic kids cartoons so very well in this book! I can hear the voices of all of the original actors in this first issue clear as day. Plus, I love how Johnson draws the book to look like it was a cartoon and not a comic.

There’s plenty of temptation to draw the characters in such fluid ways in this action filled opener. But that’s not how these characters were animated originally. When Kirk rescues a crew member from being zapped by a laser, he looks like an old action figure being thrown by an angry toddler. That’s not poor illustrating. That’s a master craftsman staying true to the original source material; something that is rarely seen in today’s comics.

With exception of one minor swear by Doctor McCoy, this was a great read for kids aged 6 and up. If you love Star Trek and they love Transformers; this is the book you have been praying for to share with the young readers in your life! IDW has a nostalgic hit on their hands! Excellent work! I felt like I was watching a lost episode of two of my favorite cartoons from long ago!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Star Trek Vs. Transformers #1 debuted in stores and digital platforms on Wednesday, September 25, 2018.

This review was concurrently published on Outrightgeekery.com.

Spider-Man/Deadpool, Volume 0: Don't Call It a Team-Up

Whatever you do, don't call this volume a team-up book!

Published in 2016, this Marvel trade was released in anticipation of the Deadpool/Spider-Man series. This book collected the earliest stories to feature Deadpool making life hell for Spidey. Again, not a treasury of team-ups but it is a bunch of crazy crossovers.

My favorite story has the Merc with a Mouth and his geriatric pal Al traveling back in time to Peter Parker's high school days. In this adventure Deadpool and Al interact with Peter's friends and foes a la Forrest Gump in the pages of Amazing Spider-Man #47- originally published way back in the swinging 60s!

Another great story in this edition is from the pages of Superior Spider-Man. During this time, Doctor Octopus had taken over Peter Parker's body. So when Wade crosses paths with this grittier web slinger, the mutant soldier of Fortune knows that something isn't right. Featuring a Donald Trump-like villain years before he was a political entity, it's an interesting look at Marvel's dislike of The Donald.

I loved every story in this collection. It was a fun read that had me laughing a lot! If you live near an Ollie's you might still be able to find a copy for a fraction of the original cover price!

A must for fans of Spider-Man, Deadpool and the insane characters of the Marvel Universe.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Catwoman/Tweety & Sylvester Special #1

In this DC/Looney Tunes crossover, the witches of the two franchises are having their Witches Conclave. During this gathering, a bet is made as to who would ultimately win if given the chance to fight to the death- the Tweety Bird or the Puddy Tat? But even when both are given the chance to finally off the other, the two enemies never can seem to finalize on their opportunities.

In order to accomplish this feat, once and for all, both Tweety and Sylvester are granted champions who will do the deed in their place. For Sylvester, he's paired with Selena Kyle- the Catwoman. For Tweety, he's teamed with Dinah Lance- the Black Canary. Though both heroines don't really want to participate in this blood feud, they are compelled. For you see, if Tweety dies, then birds of all sorts will died with him. That includes bird themed superheroes. The same happens for Sylvester. If he used up all nine of his lives, it's night-night forever for Selena too!

Though I had to read the first 3 pages about 10 times to understand the mumbo-jumbo of those in the Witches Conclave, I liked this book. There's tons of surprises in this special. Gail Simone and Inaki Miranda pulled out all the stops in this one!

I also enjoyed the Looney Tunes style back feature. It has both Sylvester and Catwoman trying to break into Granny's apartment. The Puddy Tat wants Tweety of course. The cat burglar wants some of Granny's ice, as in diamonds. It was a laugh out loud adventure that I would love to see done as an actual animated short.

The DC/Looney Tunes crossovers are always great fun and this one is no exception. Too bad the DC/Hanna Barbera pairings aren't as fun. Maybe it's because they try to reinvent the wheel that are the HB properties whereas these specials capture some of the original heart of the Looney Tunes gang.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Casper's Ghostland #1/100 (Family Comic Friday)

Casper the Friendly Ghost and his friends Spooky, Hot Stuff, and Wendy, The Good Little Witch are back in Casper’s Ghostland #1/100. How can a comic book have 2 numbers, you ask? It’s a question we look to answer in this week’s Family Comic Friday.

Casper’s Ghostland #1/100

Written by Mike Wolfer, Pat Shand
Art by Eric Shanower
Publisher by American Mythology.

American Mythology has issued a new Casper’s Ghostland special just in time for Halloween. The comic features two all-new stories. In the first, Casper goes to visit his buddy Hot Stuff, the Little Devil. On his way, The Friendly Ghost meets a number of forest creatures who have some rather salty ways of talking. Thankfully, Hot Stuff has learned his lesson about cursing. So just who is behind this wave of foul language? Then in the second adventure, Casper plays relationship therapist to his buddy Spooky who has just broken up with his girlfriend Poirl. 

I really thought that the first tale, ‘From Bad to Curse’, was delightful. Seeing cute little forest animals curse was worth a chuckle or two. Don’t worry parents! The cuss words were replaced with symbols. But this yarn would make for an interesting episode in your home if read out loud during a child’s storytime.

‘Blow Off Some Steam’, the second story in this book, wasn’t as enjoyable. I’ve never really been a fan of Spooky. He’s rather gauche and annoying as he loves to play obnoxious haunts on folks. But Spooky actually has some great moments in a couple of the shorts reprinted from Casper’s Ghostland’s of long ago. 

From  1958-1979, Casper’s Ghostland ran for 98 issues under the publication of Harvey Comics. In the 90s, a 99th issue was published as a one-shot special. About a year or two ago, American Mythology obtained the rights to the entire Harvey Comics library. Thus, this first issue of Casper’s Ghostland is also the 100th issue. 

The numbering of comic books can be a tricky thing for even the most experienced of collectors. For newbies to the hobby, it can be downright confusing. Generally when a series ends, that's it for the numbering. Then a second volume is debuted sometime down the road and the numbers start again at #1. But that's not always the case.

Take Marvel's Fantastic Four. On at least two occasions, the publisher reverted the numbering of the titles back to that of the original numbering of volume one that started all the way back in 1963. Now going into volume 4, Fantastic Four’s numbering has rolled back to number #1--- for now.  

Currently DC has done this tactic as well in order to officially issue anniversary books of Action Comics and Detective Comics. These big deal issues usually means big money. Yet, it’s not always the big numbered issue that win over collectors. Releasing a fan-favorite title renumbered at #1 is another selling point that can result in huge sales,

To reinvigorate a title, publishers will cancel a title and reboot it with a new first issue. Marvel has been really guilty of this, running series for a very short time before cancelling it and quickly turning around with another same-titled issue with a few short weeks. I think Deadpool is currently at volume 9 thanks to this practice.

DC Comics is no better when it comes to similar practices. In fact, I would say that they are worse. For example, their series based on Cartoon Network's original Teen Titans cartoon was published as Teen Titans Go! When the Network rebooted the series into a more sillier format, producers titled the show Teen Titans Go! Those who were devoted to the original Teen Titans toon often tend to hate the new, goofier show. Thus fans trying to find copies of the original series sometimes will accidentally buy the new show’s back issues because of the same title snafu.

 In cases like this, it's okay to ask a vendor if you can remove the desired issue from the protective plastic in order to determine if this is the issue you are looking for. But make sure to ask first! When it comes to purchasing online, you’ll have to do your research!!! There's tons of wiki sites that can help with your comic book search and avoid buying the right numbered issue from the wrong volume.

Hopefully, this little tutorial on numbering comics will help the younger reader in your life start their comic book collection. Remember that while there’s a trick in finding the issue’s to fill your collection, there’s no wrong way in order to catalog them. Some fans group their collections by the main character while others go ABC. As long as the collector can find their books when they want them, that really all that counts.

As for Casper’s Ghostland #1/100, I enjoyed it. Upon researching this title, I discovered that at least 2 issues of the original Harvey Comics run were Christmas issues. So, I’ll be on the hunt for them. 

This special release is great for reader’s of all-ages. It’s got ghosts, devils and witches; but done in the classic Harvey style, they’re family friendly. I only wish that this book had been released a little closer to Halloween, especially since Casper’s Ghostland #1/100 was meant to act as a holiday special.

Casper’s Ghostland was released in the print medium on September 5th, 2018. Issues can still be found at a local comic shop near you. Or you can order direct from the publisher at this link here.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

This review was concurrently published on Outrightgeekery.com.

House of Whispers #1

A Voodoo Sorceress maintains the dream whelm of her followers aboard her houseboat, The House of Whispers. Through the secrets of her devotees, Erzulie Freda is able to view any malpractices of magic through her looking glass. One such misuse of the dark arts involves two pairs of girls who are reciting incantations from a powerful notebook. While playing the classic parlor game of telephone, the children get the words wrong. Each time they misspeak, the girls lure a powerful entity that much closer into the real world. 

Erzulie must stop these girls. But in her over-zealousness, she accidentally transports the House of Whispers to parts unimaginable- right into the back yard of brothers Cain and Abel!

This Cajun cousin of The House of Mystery and The House of Secrets was a mixed bag. I really enjoyed the concept of a new domicile of darkness being added into Vertigo's new Sandman Universe collection of titles. But there was such a jumble of scene cuts that it took a little while to understand what is going on. 

The House of Whispers is not really an anthology title like it's relatives. There's snippets of assorted stories, but the crux of the action is between Erzulie and the young ladies playing telephone.

I was just about ready to say that I will wait until this is collected to read the rest when at the end of this first issue, Cain and Abel show up. This really isn't a spoiler as myself and a lot of other readers had been hoping for this to happen. Well it did and it's made me want to read more! AND I'm not willing to wait until next year for it to be reprinted as a hardcover or trade paperback.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Fight Club 2

Tyler Durden Lives!

What an unholy mess this comic book sequel to Fight Club was. 

Set 10 years after the events of Chuck Palahnuik's ground breaking novel, the story's narrator is now going by the name Sebastian. In order to be allowed back into the public, Sebastian must take a butt load of drugs. It's made him and his sex life with now wife Marla fairly dull. Though it has produced a son who has a rather alarming interest in bombs like his old man did- while as Tyler Durden!

I said earlier that Tyler Durden lives. Is he still hiding somewhere in the recesses of Sebastian's mind? Or has Tyler come home to roost somewhere inside of Junior?

I really hadn't much interest in the sequel to Fight Club. I had to read the book and seen the film in college. It was okay but it wasn't that life changing work of fiction that others have seen this Palahnuik work as. But the reason I read it was because someone in my life was changed by it.

A couple of weeks ago, one of my students lost her lengthy battle with lung disease. Knowing how much a fan of this book and it's predecessor was to her, I checked out the books from my local library to use as part of a memorial to my former pupil. 

Since that memorial, this book has sat in my car. I've needed to get it back to the library. But it just didn't feel right. Then yesterday, I had a good hour or so to burn, so I gave Fight Club 2 a read. I kinda want that hour back...

A large majority of the dialogue in this book is covered up by images of medications, roses, and other items. So, I feel like a bunch of the mysteries in this book were meant to never be revealed. But about halfway through, something changed and the book got really good. Then there was the ending...

The conclusion on this book was one hot mess. The author, Chuck Palahnuik, actually becomes a character in the story. Then the world ends or is it merely a fake-out? Then there's the whole issue with Tyler's existence. It wasn't that it was confusing or anything difficult like that. I just felt that the finale was a massive cop-out!

Honestly, did Fight Club need a sequel? That confined, never to be free from the influence of the club he created ending for our narrator, Sebastian, was perfect. I didn't need to have this contrived, partially hidden continuation of a story that paints itself into a massive corner. Some people, such as my former student, loved this comic series. I did not. 

Not Worth Consuming!

Rating: 4 out of 10 stars.

Olivia Twist #1

Take the beloved Charles Dickens character of Oliver Twist and make him and his street-wise friends female. Then put Olivia Twist in a dystopian future. Add some cruel and unloving orphanage caretakers and you have a turn-of-the Victorian Era story for the post-millenials.

Olivia Twist #1
Written by: Darin Strauss, Adam Dalva

Art: Emma Vieceli

Published by Dark Horse Comics

I was all set to make Olivia Twist #1 my selection for last week’s edition of Family Comic Friday. The first half of this modern retelling of a classic work of English fiction was making for a really good read. This obviously wasn’t all-ages fare. There’s some adult on child violence in the work-farm orphanage in which Olivia lives. But the original Dickens tale was far from peaches and cream and still we require students to read Oliver Twist is middle school and high school.

But when Olivia meets the female version of the Artful Dodger, that’s when any thought of making this book be the highlight of my weekly family friendly series went right out the window. Dodger cusses like a sailor. And we’re not talking ‘hells’ and ‘damns.’ No, the Artful Dodger goes straight for the big one! That mother of all dirty words that resulted in little Ralphie having to wash his mouth out with soap (and risk premature blindness) in A Christmas Story.

One F-bomb, I maybe could let slip. But the last 10 pages read like Tarantino’s take on Oliver Twist. The story itself was quite good. It’s a shame about the language. But for readers in high school and higher, this is something that I recommend.

Many lovers of classics get upset when their beloved childhood stories get rebooted and retold. I for one have nothing against such a retelling as long as the time in right. The last time I recall the story of Oliver Twist being retold was in the Disney feature Oliver and Co. That was about 30 years ago. It’s not like the story of an orphan waif in search of a loving home is being rebooted every couple of years. So I am perfectly fine with the work done by Darin Strauss and Adam Dalva.

To put this story in the setting of a dreary future in which the United States no longer exists is actually a smart, though daring move. The type of reader Dark Horse is trying to appeal to are devotees of The Hunger Games and the Maze Runner. To set this 3-issue miniseries in a dystopian setting is a perfect hook for that audience who often struggle with the question ‘Should America for all it’s wrongs still exist?.’ Plus, the dreariness of this time period is almost as hopeless as it was for Oliver back in Victorian England.

The artwork by Doctor Who artist Emma Vieceli was also right for this. She doesn’t make this futuristic landscape look very promising. Even the rare time we see how the upper class lives, their mansions manage to look ominous and foreboding. But some of the color palette just didn't match the scenery. It WAS too cheerful!

Dark Horse might very well be on to something. Should Olivia Twist manage to be a hit, I think the publisher should consider producing further classic’s with a modern twist. I only recommend staying away from Frankenstein and Dracula, which have both been rebooted to death. But what about role-reversed Rescuers or the Hunchback of Notre Dame being set in South Bend, Indiana? I would be willing to give those new looks at timeless classics a read.

Olivia Twist #1 debuts in stores nationwide tomorrow.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Project Superpowers #0 (2018)

There are some things you just don't pass up. A new release comic book for only 10 cents is one of those things. 

This is the latest series from Dynamite Entertainment based on a number of forgotten superheroes from long defunct comic book publishers of the 1940s and 50s. However, this is also first one without Alex Ross at the helm.

Being a huge Alex Ross fan, you would think that I would be all over the Project Superpowers books. But I just didn't for one reason or another. I think the biggest reason is that I felt that Project Superpowers was too much like Marvel's The Twelve in that a bunch of forgotten heroes are revived in the modern day. 

Maybe I hitched my wagon to the wrong cart. But I liked The Twelve. I have no regrets.

This teaser into the new Project Superpowers series, this time helmed by Suicide Squad's Rob Williams sees a once thought dead hero returning to warn an ally of an impending doom. This introductory issue does it's job quite well. It acts as a small teaser of the story to come while offering a lot of vital backstory. 

This book also did it's job in at least one other way. While I don't think I am going to go for the rest of this series, I am interested in finding the first and maybe second series by Alex Ross. So, there's a bit of a win there. 

My LCS had 3-4 more of these 10 cent beauties. I would imagine that a lot of stores have some issues still on hand. Not because this wasn't a good read. It was. But it's like I say to start this review- you can't pass up a 10 cent comic. So I expect that many stores ordered big on this. 

A very good introductory read. While it may not make you want to invest in the current series, it will make you want to dive more into the back issues which has since been collected as hard covers and trades.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Astro City, Volume 16: Broken Melody

For a couple of volumes now, the mysterious Broken Man has been floating in and out of continuity; warning readers of some terrible doom. In Astro City, Volume 16: Broken Melody, many (but not all) of the questions of the Broken Man's origin are explored. Also, we get an in-depth look at the importance of Astro City's music scene and it's long history of music genre themed superheroes.

Somewhere in the middle of this volume is the 100th issue ever published about one of my favorite comic book cities. It explores the controversial origin and history of the Astro-Naut. This Clark Kent/Tony Stark/Howard Hughes hybrid is whom the city gets it's moniker. It was a wild 1940s era ride.

This entire volume was absolutely fantastic. Every story was top notch stuff from Kurt Busiek, Brent Anderson and Alex Ross. I also pride myself at solving the mystery behind this entire story before the big reveal!

Astro City hasn't dropped in quality. But Broken Melody is one of the best volumes in this series. And it's the best story arc I have read since Volume 14: Reflections; the Tarnished Angel sequel. 

If you read one non-main stream superhero this year- this volume is in a very close tie for the one I recommend. Jeff Lemire's Black Hammer, Volume 1 is the other honoree. 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Black Hammer, Volume 2: The Event

I told you that I was on the hunt for the next volume of Black Hammer. It did not take long to achieve that goal.

A new player enters the once seemingly impenetrable barricade preventing the residents of Black Hammer Farm from returning home. 

Several more origins are revealed as are the final days before the event in which the heroes were removed from their earth and placed inside a bubble dimension. But one solid mystery from the book remains unanswered no matter how much I researched for it- where is issue #12?

This volume reprints issues #7-11 and #13. Where's 12? I would like to say it's going to be reprinted in Black Hammer Volume 3. However, according to the description on Amazon, it's not going to be there. Neither will the first annual in the series. Based on how things are always as they seem in this series, it's kinda spooky for those two issues to not be included. It's almost as if someone based them to another earth...

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Little Tails in Prehistory (Family Comic Friday)

You've heard of moose and squirrel. Surely, you are all familiar with cat and dog. But have you ever encountered two such friends as squirrel and dog? Well, let me introduce you to Chipper the dog and Squizzo the squirrel! Together, they are the stars of this week's Family Comic Friday Selection: Little Tails in Prehistory!

 

Little Tails in Prehistory
Written by Frederic Brremaud
Art by Federico Bertolucci
Translated by Mike Kennedy
Published by Lion Forge

Squizzo and Chipper take an exciting trip through the prehistoric past encountering dinosaurs, wooly mammoths and cavemen! The intrepid animals starf out in millions of years in the past where they encounter a archeopteryx; a colorful feathered reptile. The creature tells the duo that in order to get back to the modern era, Squizzo and Chipper must travel to the heart of a volcano seen way off in the distance. As the dog and squirrel get closer to the volcano, they move forward in time meeting and sometimes fleeing from ancient creatures of different periods of prehistory.

Prehistory is the fourth book in the Little Tails series created by the French creative team of Frederic Brremaud and Federico Bertolucci. In all of these volumes, now totaling six, Chipper and Squizzo learn about animals from the deepest oceans to the greenest forests in the land.

Each page is a wonderful mix of adorable sequential art and lavish painted scenery. Chipper and Squizzo's adventures take place in the cartoon segments of each page. The animals they discover are rendered in some visually stunning settings. As a child, I remember being entranced by this book about dinosaurs. I forget the name, but that book was filled with these fantastic scenes of dinosaurs doing battle or enjoying life as a thunder lizard would. Little Tails in Prehistory brings back the wonder of that lost treasury of mine.

Brremaud and Bertolucci do something in this book that is one of my keys to a perfect Family Comic Friday offering- it's both entertaining AND educational! Sure, saying that the triceratops used it's flanged collar to attract a mate is a bit of a stretch. That animal lived before humans were even thought of. So how do we really know that's what a triceratops ready did to find it's soul mate? Regardless, there's lots to learn in this book. Thanks to Chipper and Squizzo, the learning is also fun and funny.

This 2017 book is recommended for all ages. Being a book about dinosaurs and other prehistoric beasts, there are some complicated words like elasmosaurus. So an older co-reader's help may be needed for younger bookworms. While at least one dinosaur chases our heroes, there's nothing overly intense or scary. Jurassic Park this is not.

Check out Little Tails in Prehistory and it's sister volumes at a library near you or at Amazon.