The Adorable Beastling (Family Comic Friday)

Family Comic Friday explores a magical new realm and dozens of fantastic creatures in the young readers graphic novel: The Adorable Beastling.

The Adorable Beastling HC
Written and Illustrated by Jonathan Rosenbaum
Published by Action Lab/ Discover
Pages: 33
Retail: $11.99

A new pod of beastlings have just hatched. There's 4 beastlings total. 3 of them are mean and green and fiercely terrifying the other babies animals of the forrest into giving them their food. 

But the 4th beastling is super sweet. She loves the other animals and she shares her food with her new friends. Can a beastling survive in the wild without being rough and gruff?

Jonathan Rosenbaum crafts a wondrous story filled with unique creatures and even more fanciful flora. I just want a pizza plant of my very own! The Adorable Beastling is like the fable of the Ugly Duckling. Only in reverse. This story also felt like Casper the Friendly Ghost with the amiable beastly being pushed into being bad like her trio of mean brothers.

Formatted like a hard cover storybook, The Adorable Beastling has a layout similar to a graphic novel; only there are no borders. The font is quite whimsical, much like the story itself. But I had serious problems with the size of the type.

On some pages, the size of the font is easy enough to read. But on other pages, you need a magnifying glass. I understand that Jonathan Rosenbaum was probably trying to to drown out the beautiful artwork with the narrative. But if you make the words too small to read, is it really worth it?

I thought that this book was so heartwarming. It was a feel good book that didn't pander to the reader by making things too sad like some other books involving lively creatures. Young readers ages 8 or younger will love this story while older family members and friends will enjoy exploring a brand now fantasy world with them. 

The Adorable Beastling is an instant classic. This is a perfect introduction of graphic novels and comics! I hope that this isn't the last we'll see of our new heroine. But a larger font size would be greatly in future editions.

Look for The Adorable Beastling in print and your favorite digital platforms!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Robin #4

Well, I was right. This issue has Robin learning the ropes from Lady Shiva. We also see the origins of why this Robin uses a staff and a bolo caster.

The art’s gotten better and is on par with the writing. This issue also features another fantastic Brian Bolland cover.

I am so glad I’ve stuck with this mini-series. It’s only gotten better as the issues (and tensions) mount.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Robin #3

I think I’ve got this series figured out. Every chapter is has Tim Drake learning from a new sensei on how to become a fighter.

Issue one had Robin learning from one of Batman’s old trainers. The previous issue had Robin learning by proxy from his first official solo outing as the new sidekick of the Dark Knight. This issue has Drake learning to street fight from the guy he rescued from the street gang, who happens to be a former DEA agent.

I

suspect with Lady Shiva making herself known as a potential ally of Robin’s we’ll be seeing her teaching her own form of martial arts.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Robin #2

The Tim Drake Robin finds himself on the run after he witnesses a man being beaten by a street gang and the fledgling sidekick comes to the guys rescue. With very little than a personal computer and a solid gold Visa card, Robin finds himself no longer in France for training but now he’s on his very first solo mission to bring down a ruthless crime lord.

Not 100% sure where this book is going. But, I like what I see. This series’ art is so very 90s, it’s sad. However, the writing is very good (the characters have depth and the dialogue isn’t very cheesy) and the fantastic Brian Bolland covers make up for the other visual slights.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Robin #1

Part One 

Sometime after A Lonely Place of dying, Tim Drake finally got permission to be Batman’s new sidekick. Big on brains but lacking in the muscles department, the new Robin is sent to Paris to train with one of the last remaining masters of an ancient martial art.

Thus begins chapter one in the story of the new Robin. A very interesting take on a classic hero. It’s amusing to see Robin building himself from the ground up. Plus, to have Lady Shiva waiting in the wings, there are surprises behind every corner.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Betty and Veronica: Friends Forever: What If... #1 (Family Comic Friday)

Are you the type of reader that wonder 'What If?' Have you ever wondered 'What if George Washington was a cyborg?' or 'What if Billy the Kid ever rode a T-Rex?' Well, then Archie Comics has got a comic book for you. Join Family Comic Friday as we explore Betty and Veronica: Friends Forever: What If... #1

Betty and Veronica: Friends Forever: What If... #1

Written by Bill Golliher
Art by Dan Parent and Rich Kowslowski
Published by Archie Comics
Pages:
Retail: $2.99

 

I've been a fan of stories that expand the imagination. I grew up reading Marvel's What If... comics that asked epic questions such as 'What If Spider-Man Joined the Fantastic Four?' or 'What If Wolverine Became the Lord of Vampires?' Some of those stories have now since become reality, such as 'What If Jane Foster Found Thor's Hammer?' But then you've got some weird What If's. Like the one that explored what would happen if the planet eater Galactus became an Elvis impersonator. 

 

As i got older, DC Comics upped the imaginary story game with their Elseworlds imprint. With these slightly more mature stories, we learned what comic book lore would be like if Superman did not survive the destruction of his planet Krypton or if Green Lantern lived during the time of Aladdin's lamp. Apparently, DC also has a fascination with vampires as the company has also explored what would happen if Batman too became the lord of vampires!

 

I'm guessing you can tell that I love these imaginary stories. They're a big chunk of my collection! and it's ever growing with publishers like IDW and even Archie producing these fanciful titles! Thus, I think you can tell how excited I am to see Archie jumping back into 'What If' waters with this new comic!

 

Explore what would happen if Betty was the rich one and Veronica was poor! Could Jughead be a better ladies man than Archie? And imagine the extra trouble Archie could get into if he had an identical twin brother! All that and more awaits inside this all-ages approved one-shot by Bill Golliher and my personal favorite Archie artist, Dan Parent. Together, Golliher and Parent bring back the classic Betty and Veronica with a speculative twist!

 

I only wish that the stories did not end how they did. Two tales explore other ideas but they seem to fall back into the established character tropes by the end of the story. The Archie and his twin story had a predictable ending. Only the story about if Betty and Veronica were both witches seemed to have a great surprise ending. But I didn't feel like that how the two forever friends ended up being witches was ever properly explained. Were they born into it? Or did they become practitioners of the dark arts in order to woo Archie Andrews? I guess to further exploration that aspect might damage the all-ages charm of this comic book.

 

This book had a great premise! More please? Don't make this just a one-shot! There's so many other 'What If' scenarios out there. Bring in Moose and Midge and Reggie. Don't just focus on the main 4 characters next time. This book has great art that is perfectly timeless. Let's just see a little more willingness to change things up without feeling like the plot line has to always fall back to the forever love triangle of a redhead, a blonde and a brunette.

 

 

Betty and Veronica: Friends Forever: What If... #1 debuted in print and digital formats on January 22nd, 2019. 

The Big Lie #1

I read this book a few days ago and I still am not sure how I feel about it. 

For one thing, this 9/11 conspiracy theory comic book is something that I am quite surprised was ever made by Image Comics. Most, if not all comic book publishers are considered to be quite liberal. And while some of the 9/11 theories do attack the Bush family for giving the family of Osama bin Laden a sort of free pass as well as the scuttlebutt on whether W's administration knew of the attack or not; generally those who believe in such a cover-up are considered firmly right wingers.

A big fan of the X-Files, my wife found me this 2011 book at a warehouse sale. Gotta love her. She thinks I come up with some weird, wild theories. And yet, she still indulges me.

See, a local comic shop was trying to clear out some inventory for a steal. I think I might have paid a quarter for it. The cover, which bears a very angry Uncle Sam over the smoking ruins of the World Trade Center is quite powerful. The story inside. Eh, not quite so much?

Instead of being a book that covers just the facts, writer/artist Rick Veitch (Swamp Thing) frames his argument for a 9/11 conspiracy around a sci-fi premise that is almost as old as science fiction itself. A time traveler arrives at the World Trade Center on the morning of the attack. Her plan is to convince her husband to leave, thus saving his life. 

The husband works for a movie production company. Being in league with Spielberg and Lucas, the producer and his cohorts are highly skeptical of the woman. When warnings don't seem to motivate anyone to leave, the time traveler starts spouting out facts about that fateful day along with arguments about a conspiracy. 

See, I think the woman went about it all wrong. She should have proved that she was from the future. I know that Rick Veitch wanted to try to convince us the readers of a conspiracy as being behind the 9/11 attacks. But I think he didn't connect via his storytelling method. 

What Veitch should have done was to actually set this up like an X-Files episode. Have a couple of folks in a smoky office going over the facts and all of the discrepancies and such. I don't think have fictional characters to move the narrative forward would have been a bad idea. I just think that using time travel and the amount of ridicule and mockery the traveler goes through cheapens the impact of both the possibility of conspiracy and reality of a national tragedy.

An interesting read about a subject that I didn't know as much as I thought i did. It just wasn't executed very well to make me into a believer.

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars. 

Devil Dinosaur by Jack Kirby: The Complete Collection

Collecting one of Jack Kirby's most underrated comic book series. A T-Rex type thunder lizard is scarred a deep crimson red by a tribe of cavemen. Rescued by Moon-Boy, the first human, Devil and the lad form a sort of psychic bond and travel through prehistoric earth. On their travels, the battle rival tribes, hangry dinosaurs, and aliens!

This was a series that I remember reading most if not all of the 9 published issues as a kid. In the 1980s and 90s, works by Kirby such as Kamandi, The Demon and even Devil Dinosaur were relegated to the dollar bins! I remember ordering a 100 book grab bag around 1987 and it was filled with tons of Jack Kirby post-Marvel age classics! Man, I wish I still had those! Because now, after the passing of 'The King' these former dollar bin gems are now selling for prices of $5-$50 a pop!

While Jack Kirby's influence was egregiously overlooked during the last few years of his life, the tide has changed over the past decade or so. The Marvel Cinematic Universe has introduced new generations to Jolly Jack! It's really increased interest. Thankfully, Marvel Comics, the publisher, has caught on to the resurgence and released collections such as this. 

This book was published in 2014. But last year, Marvel learned from the success of DC's takeover of Ollie's Bargain Outlets and liquidated a ton of it's inventory. I found this $15 book for like $3 in beautiful condition. Meaning that I could relive the entire series for less than a dollar per book, I snagged this up and held onto it with a death grip until I made it to the cashier.

The early stories of Devil Dinosaur were quite thrilling. It was the type of stuff you'd expect to see in a 1960s prehistoric movie. But Devil Dinosaur was far more superior than those B movies thanks to Kirby. By issue 5 or so, the book went from prehistoric to cosmic, adding the meddling influence of an alien race who are doing genetic testing on early humans. By the end of this 9-issue series, Kirby presents the creation story from Genesis in the Merry Marvel Way. While clearly not Biblical, I actually loved this interpretation. 

Why Devil Dinosaur only lasted 9 issues is beyond me. Comic Book fans were fickle in the 70s. At least Devil Dinosaur was allowed to not go extinct with a number of special appearances and even a new series from the House of Ideas in which Devil is bonded to a young girl in 21st century New York. Unfortunately, if you are looking for Devil's crossover with Godzilla, due to licensing issues, it wasn't reprinted. You'll have to seek the bins for that epic or shell out some big bucks for the collected Essential Marvel Godzilla trade which has long since gone out of print.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

For almost 110 minutes, those who grew up as neighbors of the legendary Mr. Rogers, get a chance to experience another visit with the childhood icon. 

Tom Hanks plays Fred Rogers, who from 1968-2001, appeared almost daily on the TV screen of millions of children and their parents and their parents parents. While Tom Hanks doesn't become Mr. Rogers, there are moments when you can see good ole Fred popping up in the Forrest Gump star's demeanor or accent. 

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood was inspired by Tom Junod's 1998 Esquire article titled 'Can You Say...Hero?' In the film, Junod's character, now referred to as journalist Lloyd Vogel, is self-destructing. A new father, his own troubled relationship with his father has left the writer scarred and angry. Hoping to give him a new perspective, his editor assigns Vogel (Matthew Rhys) to interview Fred Rogers. But when Vogel meets Rogers and finds him almost exactly like his on screen persona, the writer becomes suspicious.

As Lloyd Vogel digs deeper into just who Mister Rogers really is, the journalist must learn just who he is. And that will mean facing a childhood of hurt and pain. Hopefully, in the end, maybe a little bit of Fred Rogers will rub off on Lloyd Vogel, making him into the husband and father he longs to be.

This 2019 film is framed like an episode of Mister Rogers Neighborhood. From the iconic miniatures opening of the show to the 'Won't You Be My Neighbor? theme'. We get appearances by Mr. McFeely, learn how a magazine is made thanks to Picture-Picture and take a trolley ride to Make Believe Land. Throughout this missing episode, Mister Rogers talks to his neighbors about anger and how it is affecting Lloyd Vogel's life!

 Oh NO! Mister Rogers didn't feed his fish!

The film really did feel like a lost episode. The original cameras and some parts of the set, including King Friday and Daniel are re-used to give Tom Hanks' version of Mister Rogers Neighborhood an as near as possible authentic feel. Yes, trying to keep things as much as things would be on the series made for some oddly trippy scenes. But by the end of this film, I was okay if Tom Hanks and PBS decided to reboot Mister Rogers Neighborhood with some new episodes. Just leave Lloyd Vogel out of it. I felt like this movie was focused too much on him and his family problems and not enough of showing us Fred Rogers. 

Mister Rogers is a lot like painter Bob Ross. He's just so innocent and pure and super chill. It's a complete 180 turn from the chaos of modern day. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood does a wonderful job bringing back such more innocent times. I just hate that it's marred by trying to show how people find solace or even themselves in Mister Rogers. My wife thought that made for a better movie. I felt that that part in which people found answers in Mister Rogers, that part is a given. I wanted to see the unknown Fred Rogers. We get some glimpses. But what I really wanted to know was if Mister Rogers started out in the Army as a sniper and or a Navy SEAL! 

That's been part of Mister Rogers' mystique and a long-time urban legend. Ultimately, considering how bizarre things get in the movie, it was a part of neighborhood lore that could've been explored in the movie. Having Tom Hanks as Mister Rogers, killing Nazis on screen. That could've been filmed for this movie. 

Ultimately, I think we all wanted to see that! 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7
 out of 10 stars.

Fantastic Four: Grand Design #2

Issue #2 of Grand Design was such a disappointment. I feel in love with Tom Scioli's (The Myth of 8-Opus) premier issue which covered in brief yet amazing detail the early history of both the Marvel Universe and of the Fantastic Four. In that chapter, Scioli did mix some modern mythos of the MCU with the original blueprints lain by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. But by doing this, Tom Scioli helped to clarify some of the plot holes that had plagued the early days of the Marvel Age of Comics. In my opinion, this concept filled-in the cracks perfectly to forge over 80 years of comics into a single cohesive timeline. So, what the heck went wrong with issue #2?

This issue opens with the beginning of what fans call 'The Galactus Trilogy'. The first 2-3 pages are straight from Fantastic Four #48-49. But then Scioli decides to mash-up multiple timelines and story-lines into, well, I really don't know what. 

Whereas Tom Scioli sought to make a cohesive timeline in Grand Design #1, it seems that Scioli decided to make a 'What If' story in this last issue. Scioli combines elements from Earth X, Days of Future Past, and even a couple of stories from the original What If series of 1977-1984. If Tom Scioli had either kept both issues of this miniseries as a chronicle of the FF or had both issues become a hodge-podge of Fantastic Four lore, I would have been happy. I did not like this sudden transition between the two issues.

After completing issue #1 was disappointed to learn that Grand Design was limited to only 2 issues. But after finishing this chapter, I'm okay with their not being more. I don't know if I'd even buy a third issue after having plodded through this train wreck. I must admit that the artwork was way more improved. But I'd rather have a better story over artwork just about any day!

A deluxe edition that combines issues #1 and 2, plus a remastered classic Fantastic Four issue is due out quite soon. Skip it! The classic tale has been reprinted several times in it's story-line continuance. Look for that instead. Then, just seek out the first issue of Grand Design and pretend that the last page doesn't say 'To Be Continued.' Save the $4 you'd spend on this issue on something else.

Not Worth Consuming!

Rating: 4 out of 10 stars.

Catwad: It's Me, Two (Family Comic Friday)

Family Comic Friday digs into it's massive read pile to introduce you to an all-ages romp starring your new favorite grumpy cat, Catwad!

Catwad: It's Me, TwoWritten and Illustrated by Jim Benton
Published by Scholastic
Pages: 128
Retail: $8.99

2019 was not a good year for cat icons. We lost both the frowny-faced Siamese, Grumpy Cat and the adorable Lil Bub with her ever present tongue that stuck out. With their losses, this cat lover's heart was ripped into shreds. Thankfully, 2019 introduced us to a new adorable kitty- Catwad!

Catwad is a sarcastic blue fur ball who lives with his roommate, the rather dim Blurmp. Catwad loves terrorize Blurmp from making him think that there are zombies in the basement to playing a wide assortment of practical jokes. However, a lot of times the joke is on Catwad as much of Blurmp's antics gets his roommate into some sticky situations- literally!

Catwad is the creation of Clyde's Jim Benton. Benton builds upon the formula of a snarky cat who is bothered by his housemates, like with Jim Davis' Garfield. But Benton adds alternate dimensions, fantasy and twist endings to make Catwad a truly unique comic. I chuckled so many times at the antics of these two kitties.

What really makes Catwad so funny is the writing. Jim Benton has got to be a cat owner. Because someone with an aversion to gatos would not be able to capture the way those crazy felines act. I could so see some of my cats getting into the mischief Catwad and Blurmp do.

This collection of short stories might have an occasional zombie or vampire, but they're not scary.  Catwad is recommended for readers aged 8-12 but I think older readers and grown-ups will enjoy this too. There's a hint of Ren and Stimpy in this book without the intense level of gross-outs. Though some parents make object to some of the Tom and Jerry acts of violence that occur in this book.

For example, one more than one occasion, Catwad loses his tail by some mishap. But by the next story, it's grown back. (I think Alfred, my tailless wonder, would love to be able to do that!)

It's Me, Two is the second collection of Catwad stories. The first book, It's Me debuted in the Spring of 2019. If the young reader in your life falls in love with these felines, then be on the look out for book three, set to debut this April!

Need some laughs? Then let the cat out of the book with these hilarious collections published by Scholastic!

The first two volumes of Catwad are currently available in print and digital formats!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Joker: Year of the Villain One-Shot

Joker stories are getting to be a dime a dozen. He is perhaps the most popular Batman villain of them all. Thus DC Comics is putting out tons of stories about the Clown Prince of Crime ad nauseam. I am sure that the average Joker fan feels that those stories are so amazing. And I will admit that the role reversal of the Batman: White Knight storyline does seem to have some originality to it. But the majority of the Joker stories being produced these days just seem interested in diving deep into the Joker's psyche and getting as violent as possible. It just doesn't make sense to spend full price on stuff that's going to be in the dollar bin next year.

So why did I buy this Year of the Villain one-shot at original price? That's easy! Two words: John Carpenter!

Having the legendary director, who by many is considered more of a modern master of horror than Stephen King, take on Batman's most deranged enemy was so intriguing to me. I just had to know what the Halloween creator was going to do with the Joker. 

In this story, Carpenter focuses on one of the Joker's henchmen. Thus, you really get to see Joker at his most insane and in this one-shot, that has Joker and adjutant taking on the roles of Batman and Robin. Of course, the villain has a warped way of seeing vigilante justice. Murderers an thieves are off the hook. But if you are a jaywalker or don't pick up after your dog makes on the sidewalk- beware this antithesis of The Bat!

Jon Carpenter's story was unique but not really different. I remember that classic 1960s story in which the Joker made his own versions of Batman's utility belt. But Joker didn't really try to go on the 'straight and narrow' with his gadgets. I was also rather unhappy with the ending. It's too open-ended. However, I would not be surprised if the henchman and some other characters introduced in this book might pop up in a future issue of Batman/Detective Comics or even a sequel one-shot. 

A good story that is at times quite creepy. Not the definitive Joker tale. But I also don't think that this story is over yet. Thus, I will rate it slightly higher that I might normally.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Superman Vs. Zod

This volume collects some but not all of the appearances of General Zod. However, he's such a non-player in many of these stories, that DC really shouldn't list Zod on the title of this book.He's not even in the first story included here! Instead, the book should be called Superman: Adventures in the Phantom Zone. 

The first story is from a 1961 Superboystory. It introduces the concept of the phantom zone projector which will become a staple of many Superman family related tales. 

Zod appears in a couple of stories from the late 70s. But the star of that two-parter is a female Kryptonian named Faora-Ul. She's a precursor to Ursa, Zod's right hand man, er woman, from Superman II. I'm wondering why this character got a new name/identity in the movies? Copyright payments to the creating artist, maybe?

Zod and Faora return for another 2-parter set right around the end of the Pre-Crisis era. Zod's got a slightly bigger role. But really, this episode from DC Comics Presents is more about Jor-El and the creation of the phantom zone projector than about the evils of Zod's military attempted coup. 

We don't really see Zod in all his soldierly glory until the last story. It tells of the Science Council's cover-up of the impending destruction of Krypton. Plus it calls the Ursa character Ursa. And there's the tragic character of Non finally!

This all leads up to a big question: why were the leaders of Krypton so eager to deny that the planet was about to explode? Has the reasons for their conspiracy ever been explored? And if so, where can I read this tale?

This was a very good collection of Superman stories. But it offered more questions than answers. Plus, it really doesn't feature Zod enough to be a Zod book. I am wondering if this is why I was able to find a copy of this book at Ollie's for only $2!

Enjoyable but definitely nowhere near anything you'd expect from that dynamic cover pitting the last son's of Krypton in mortal combat.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

. 

Fantastic Four: Grand Design #1

With artwork that looks like it was done with a BIC ballpoint by a high schooler chilling during study hall, you would think that I wouldn't be on board wanting to read this. But I'm actually a big fan of Tom Scioli's work. His New Gods inspired Myth of 8-Opus was a yard sale find that I fell in love with. 

Scioli is very much a disciple of Jack Kirby. That following is what inspired Marvel Comics to hire Tom Scioli to create this 2-issue miniseries devoted to Kirby's amazing historic run on Fantastic Four. 

Fantastic Four: Grand Design doesn't seek to reboot the First Family of Marvel. I was very afraid of that was going to be the case. Instead, Scioli seeks to chronicle the beginning's of the Marvel Age of Comics while clarifying some of the oft confusing errors that earned scores of Marvel fans the coveted 'No Prize.' 

With the creation of the FF, Stan Lee was trying to create an all-encompassing universe in which all of his superheroes lived in the same world. Laying the foundation of such a project is a lofty goal that paid off beautifully for the House of Ideas. But such architecture has it's flaws in the design phase. Thus you have this comic- Grand Design. 

Tom Scioli's project was a labor of love. The Gobots writer/artist could have only focused on the lives of Reed, Sue, Johnny and Ben. But he takes on the added task of examining the origins of the cosmic side of the Marvel Universe. That's a side of Marvel that is overlooked quite often because it can be confusing and very complex. But Tom Scioli did a very good job explaining some areas of the MCU that had been a mystery to me for quite some time.

A great who's who for established Fantastic Four fans. It's also a very concise but still abundant introduction for those who want to dig into the mythos of the FF.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Scooby-Doo Team-Up #49

The Scooby gang are summoned to Stagg Industries to investigate what is described as a monster terrorizing the staff. 

No, it's not Metamorpho, the Element Man. And no- it's not Stagg's caveman bodyguard, Java. Whatever it is that is giving Simon Stagg fits, it's something other than the usual unusuals that is amiss in the workplace.

Sadly, this was one of the weakest stories in what I consider one of my favorite comics series of all time. I knew who the monster was from the beginning. Based on the clues, if you're familiar with the 1960s Metamorpho comic, you'll probably figure it out too!

While I felt that the big reveal was telegraphed, I did enjoy how the story was framed. Writer Sholly Fisch channels Agatha Christie here, having the entire take take place in only 1 room. But some of the dialogue got old as the same jokes were recycled over and over. I really thought we were over this trope. 

Dario Brizuela's artwork was perfect as ever. Metamorpho and crew looked great in the Scooby-Doo style. And the coloring was spot-on as it can be really difficult to capture the essence of the Element Man in the style of the legendary Ramona Fradon (my vote for the quintessential artist of the world's weirdest superhero.)

An enjoyable read but far from perfect. This was a bit too silly like some of the Hanna-Barbera guest star issues.

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

Classic Star Wars: The Early Adventures

A few years ago, I read the complete Al Williamson run on the Star Wars comic strip. In all three volumes, called Classic Star Wars, there were forewords in each that proclaimed that while the Williamson stories are good, the Russ Manning era of the strips were far superior. Being a huge Star Wars lover, I had to know what the fuss was all about. So Classic Star Wars: The Early Adventures was quickly added to my wish list.

After months and months of searching, I finally found a copy of this book which I could afford. Some sites had this book listing for upwards of $80 as this Dark Horse edition was out of print. And don't even ask about the 9 individual issues. I never could find a web site or LCS that carried these in the bins. 

Anyways, after finding this book, I immediately took to reading it. It's a mix of several stories that continue the struggle between the Rebel Alliance and the Empire. As per George Lucas' instructions, Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader cross paths but never officially face-off. This makes for a number of stories that contain close calls and non-canon baddies. 

The most memorable of these is a holographic agent of evil code-named Blackhole. It appears that this villain is going to be the main villain in the strip. But after the third story run is complete, he disappears- literally. He's never seen nor mentioned again. 

Also never mentioned again is a massive Rebel database named Mistress Mnemos, who promises to investigate Blackhole and just doesn't seem to get around to it. 

There's also this lizard Imperial officer referred to as Major Rahz. He's really awesome looking but quite unusual for Star Wars. Remember, the Empire wasn't known to be very accommodating to non-humans. Other than this guy, I think Admiral Thrawn is the only true alien species member to hold rank in the Empire. While very non-canon, I did think this dude was pretty cool!

One neat storyline reveals how the Rebels were able to purchase and maintain a fleet in the shadow of the Empire. This had always been a question to me. And while I am sure that the reveal has been retconned time and time again, the answer I found in this book was forever acceptable. 

The main reason anybody would want to own this book is that it contains one of the earliest appearances of Boba Fett! He crosses paths with Luke and Han; hinting at what trouble he'll be giving the Rebels in the Empire Strikes Back. I'm very interested to see if funny pages containing any of the strips from this story are considered highly sought after collectibles from fans of those who wear Mandalorian armor. 

I really can see where people would enjoy the Russ Manning stories. But are they superior to Al Williamson's run? Not in the least! Manning's artwork was quite cartoonish. It very fluid and fanciful. But it doesn't come close to Williamson's photo-realistic art that I remember enjoying every Sunday at my Grandmama's house. 

I think the reason Russ Manning gets so much love is that the artist was in the final stages of cancer when he accepted this project. I've heard that superstar talent such as Archie Goodwin filled in for Manning during some periods of time from 1979-80. You even get a sneak peak at what Al Williamson will be bringing to the series in the Boba Fett segment! 

These artists were true heroes as the kept Manning's name on the artwork so that he could keep his health insurance, even though Manning never even touched the storyboards. Being that Star Wars was Manning's last project, I am okay with the comics legend getting as much love as he did. But I still prefer Williamson's work on the Star Wars comic strip.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Bowie: Stardust, Rayguns and Moonage Daydreams

Having read Michael Allred's Red Rocket 7, about an extraterrestrial rock God come to save the earth, I already had the notion that Michael Allred was destined to be David Bowie's visual biographer. It was just a matter of time when he would fulfill it. That when was revealed recently in the amazing graphic novel Bowie: Stardust, Rayguns and Moonage Daydreams.

Bowie: Stardust, Rayguns and Moonage DaydreamsWritten by Steve Horton and Michael Allred
Art by Michael Allred
Embellishes Laura Allred
Published by Insight Comics
Pages: 160
Retail: $39.99

In the summer of 2019, Mike Allred announced his plans for a David Bowie biographical graphic novel. I was automatically on board with hit with the news. Red Rocket 7 read so much like an adaptation of David Bowie's sci-fi classic movie, The Man Who Fell to Earth. Allred's rock opera, also spans the entire history of rock and roll. While you can see the Madman Creator's love for music throughout; the scenes where Rocket meets David Bowie are where you feel the most connected. For Mike Allred is clearly a fan of Bowie!

Back to last summer. I follow Michael Allred and his equally talented wife, Laura, on social media. One day I was scrolling down my feed when I was struck by this beautiful black and white sketch of the Starman himself in the style of Allred. I knew that this scene didn't appear in Red Rocket 7. Where did it come from? Imagine my surprise as the image was the first preview for the new Bowie biography! My wishes had been granted!

Over the course of about 6 months, a new sketch would pop up on my social media feed pretty regularly, showing the progression of this project. This began a lengthy countdown to last week when the book finally debuted in stores. And I was first in line for a copy!

Stardust, Rayguns and Moonage Daydreams focuses on the early years of Bowie's career. From having to change his name in order not to be confused with a member of the Monkees all the way through the creation of Bowie's personas of Ziggy Stardust and later Aladdin Sane, this is a whirlwind history of the early days of glam rock.

Helping Michael Allred with research and co-scripting duties is Steve Horton (Amala’s Blade). Horton does a great job introducing the reader to the entire lineup of the pioneers of glam. But it's Allred's talented hand that brings heavenly icons such as the late Bowie as well as Marc Nolan, Mick Ronson and Freddie Mercury back to life. With such a large cast of characters, especially in those large group scenes, a ‘Who's Who’ in the appendices would have been appreciated.

This book is very much an Allred project. One of Michael Allred's favorite motifs is the use of the third eye. In much of Allred's work, the third eye is used as a New Age portal between other worlds or dimensions of consciousness. In this book, the third eye is the Stargate between David Bowie the man and his creative process which evolves into Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars.

Another example that makes this book a very Allred project is the presence of Laura Allred. Laura has been Michael's longtime colorist and sometimes inker. Her amazing palette makes Bowie's world so colorful and at times ethereal. 

This graphic novel was a visual delight. So many images of the Starman looked so real. This might be graphic novel blasphemy but I would kill for Bowie: Stardust, Rayguns and Moonage Daydreams to be made into an animated movie. Not that the artwork of the Allreds was lacking a fluidity of motion. It's just that the biggest missing piece to this rock and roll tapestry was the music. Couldn't a Kindle version of this book be released with a soundtrack? 

Minus the tunes, Bowie was still a complete sensory adventure into the creative process. Be sure not to overlook the loquacious tribute from Neil Gaiman at the beginning. To gloss over the sketchbook and Michael's afterword would be an equal disservice to the reader.

An intergalactic playlist for the soul. It's only January! But 2020 is going to have a difficult time coming up with something to beat this book for graphic novel of the year.

Bowie: Stardust, Rayguns and Moonage Daydreams debuted on January 8th, 2019! If you can't find this in the graphic novel section of your local bookstore, check the music books section. That's where I found my copy!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

LOAC Essentials Volume 13: Charlie Chan by Alfred Andriola, 1938

They say 'don't judge a book by it's cover.' But it was the cover that really enticed me to put this book on my wish list. The stunning sketch of actor Warner Oland in full make-up as the Chinese detective Charlie Chan really caught my eye. 

I understand that the series of films starring white actor Oland as a Chinese super-sleuth is 'yellow-facing.' And to have Chan's son played by Keye Luke (Gremlins), an actual Chinese actor was a huge racist slap in the face. But there's no arguing that the quality of the movies on which this comic strip was based, were some of Hollywood film noir's best motion pictures. 

I've really been falling in love with collections of classic newspaper strips. The artwork is some of the best of all time. Famous names such as Alex Raymond, Dick Giordano, Alex Toth, Russ Manning and Al Williamson got their start in the so-called funny pages. Plus, the storytelling was top-notch. Yes, there was a little redundancy in order to help readers who missed a couple of day's worth of strips get caught back up. However, I have come to see how these artists took creative measures in order to keep things from getting stale. 

Alfred Andriola, the creator behind classics such as Dan Dunn and Kerry Drake, not only had to make the characters in the strip look like their real life counterparts; Andriola had the added challenge of making the mysteries to be easily solved by the readers while not glossing over important clues. Remember, some of these stories transpired over 2-3 months of time. So it was easy to forget that Character X was revealed to be left-handed in one of the earlier strips.

Andriola wasn't always successful with the plotting. On more than one occasion, Andriola would mention a clue that was never revealed prior. I think the artist was hoping people would think that they forgot such mistakes over time. But as I read this book over the period of about 10 days, I didn't forget! 

One thing that never translated well in either the strips or this collection were colors. Originally printed in black and white, you wouldn't know if a character had green eyes unless someone mentioned it. Well, the color of a character's eyes has a lot to do with the big reveal of the killer. Yet, Andriola or his avatar of Charlie Chan never once mentions the person's eye color! Not at all! That's a mistake I cannot forgive!

Around 3 years worth of stories were created for the funnies. This volume by the Library of American Comics covers roughly the first 365 days of strips. I really enjoyed this read, warts and all and I hated that it ended so soon! Hopefully, the publisher will be producing a volume 2 very soon! If so, you can be sure that I will be asking for it as a gift!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Major Impossible: Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales Volume 9 (Family Comic Friday)

Family Comic Friday examines another of Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales! Meet John Wesley Powell: Union Army Officer, Civil War hero, and rugged explorer of the dangerous Colorado river! And he did all of this with only 1 arm! This is Major Impossible!

Major Impossible (Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales #9)
Written and illustrated by Nathan Hale
Published by Harry N. Abrams
Pages: 128
Retail: $13.99

Revolutionary War hero Nathan Hale continues his bloody and gruesome tales of terror from the annals of history! In this edition, Hale crafts a two-era story of one John Wesley Powell. The son of abolitionists, Powell gets his chance to fight against slavery when his joins the Union Army at the beginning of the Civil War. Powell's love of military strategy and history make him an ideal candidate for command which results in the loss of his right arm!

For most, the loss of a limb would mean the end of one's Army career. But for Powell, it only sparks a flame deep within the soldier's soul for more action and adventure. Powell will spend the remaining 2 years of the war as a Major, leading his troops in some of the most deadly fighting in the Civil War. But once peace is declared- that's not the end of John Wesley Powell's thirst for adventure.

4 years after the war between the states, Powell mounts a 10 man expedition through the unexplored portions of the Colorado River. Powell's trek will take several boats through class 4 and 5 rapids. Along the way, the explorers will lose supplies, transportation and lives as only 6 men return to civilization!

Major Impossible is perhaps the most different volume of this fan favorite series. For one, a new character from the Colonial Era is introduced while one of the more established characters has a more diminished role. Then we have the frequent time jumps from John Wesley Powell's Civil War career and his post-Army career expedition. Hale's stories often span the decades but they usually go in progression from earliest to later events.

Though this was a much different Hazardous Tale, I very much enjoyed this book. And kids aged 8-12 will too!

The part of Powell's amputation might be a little intense. Plus, there's one scene that involved a little bit of rear-end nudity. The incident is funny but might be considered a little risque. Such an occurrence has never been in any of the other books. So that was certainly different.

With the exception of the nude scene, this is one of the more tamer volumes in the Nathan Hale series. That's okay as I thoroughly enjoyed it. I just hope that we'll have more Hazardous Tales on the horizon sometime soon!

Major Impossible debuted in print and digital formats on December 3, 2019. A second print edition will be released on January 15, 2019.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.