Strange Days: The Year in Weirdness (#1)

If you think 2020 is weird, well, you're probably right. It's extremely weird what with a pandemic and quarantines and massive loss of live, employment and livelihood. But 1995 was a pretty weird year. 

Published by the editors and writers of the Fortean Times, Strange Days: The Year of Weirdness chronicles the strange and unusual. From UFO sightings to ghosts, doppelgangers to astrological occurrences, animal attacks and strange creatures galore. If something didn't make sense with the normal way of life, it was covered by the Fortean. 

So what is the Fortean Times? Until a year ago, I didn't know anything really about it. And except for a very brief mention of it in a recent episode of Doctor Who, it's probably not a publication known by many. Since 1973, the Fortean Times has covered anomalous phenomenon through the use of the scientific method. Thus, the Fortean is the Fox News of all things bizarre- that is if Fox News was truly fair and balanced. 

I had bought this book at a yard sale early last year. I read some of it and then kinda filed it away. Why did I finish it now all of a sudden? It was all thanks to the pandemic. I finished the book for a couple of reasons. First, I hoped to possibly uncover a clue as to the origins of COVID. Then I wanted to read about read things that were really bizarre. That was to help make today's strange days a little less odd. It actually worked. 

It was refreshing to read a book about the odd, weird, and macabre without taking a side. Often these type of books veer off into either direction of Skepticsville or Conspiracy Theorist's Junction. This book really does just tow the straight and narrow by giving facts from reports and any sort of comment from the scientific community that may have investigated these incidents. 

Now if only the reports of this current crisis was reported the same way.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Archie Comics Presents… The Man from R.I.V.E.R.D.A.L.E.

The 1960s was the decade of free love, hippies, Vietnam and super spies! President John F. Kennedy’s 1961 recommendation of Ian Fleming’s From Russia, With Love sparked the world’s interest in smooth secret agents, fast cars and even faster femme fatales. With America in the midst of the Cold War with the Soviet Union, the public turned to the likes of James Bond, Our Man Flynn and a host of others to provide some heroic insight into some otherwise very private dealings between the East and West. One unlikely hero during this time of international strife was a red-headed high schooler named Archie Andrews; The Man from R.I.V.E.R.D.A.L.E.!

From 1966-1967, Archie and his pals were agents of P.O.P. (Protect Our Planet) in the pages of Life With Archie. Almost two dozen stories starring The Man from R.I.V.E.R.D.A.L.E. were written by Frank Doyle with art by Archie fan favs such as Bob White and Dan DeCarlo. The P.O.P. agents secret headquarters was operated out of Pop Chocklit’ Shoppe. Though it seemed that all of the enemy agents of C.R.U.S.H. knew this as Pop’s was often bombed, ransacked or vandalized. And if the bad guys weren’t attacking the malt shop, they were doing their best to infiltrate Lodge Enterprises.

The artwork of Archie and his friends was pretty standard for 1960s Archie Comics. But the designs of those C.R.U.S.H. baddies was pretty darn sleek. Most of these villains were illustrated like a costumed villain from the pages of Marvel or DC. But they were so very good. The fire-tressed Flametrower was positioned to take over the world in some of the most dynamic poses this side of Jack Kirby. Whereas, the Man from R.I.V.E.R.D.A.L.E.’s Sandman screamed the influence of EC’s Jack Davis and Wally Wood. 

The title of the Man from R.I.V.E.R.D.A.L.E. was clearly a parody of the popular spy TV series, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., starring Robert Vaughn and David McCallum. Other than the extensive use of acronyms and being about spies, that pretty much was the only real comparison between the comic book and the TV series. That is until the popularity of both properties began to wane.

By the Fall of 1966, the Archie lead series began to focus on one of his girlfriends. Betty Cooper became the Girl from R.I.V.E.R.D.A.L.E. This was in response to a Stefanie Powers led spin-off called The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.,  that had debuted just a few months prior. Both female led series were revolutionary for their time. But the effects of a glut of spy lead franchises was beginning to take its toll on the populace. By the Spring of ‘67, Life with Archie would move on to the awakenings of the Summer of Love and The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. was unemployed. It’s parent series would be promptly cancelled mid season the following year. 

Instead of U.N.C.L.E., it could be said that much of the Man from R.I.V.E.R.D.A.L.E. was based off of James Bond. All of the agents of P.O.P. utilized gadgets from drugged lollipops to gas filled lipsticks. But sometimes, the team managed to get the job done with everyday household objects, such as the common vacuum cleaner. And yes- Archie and his cohorts carried guns. But they had about as much accuracy as an entire squadron of Storm Troopers!

Just as James Bond was keen to use tricked out automobiles to save the day, the Man from R.I.V.E.R.D.A.L.E. had a vehicle filled with gadgets. Archie’s jalopy, Betsy, was the vehicle of choice for P.O.P. Though the car was much more reliable in this fantasy series than in Archie’s everyday life. In this series, Betsy could do an assortment of neat tricks, like fly, float and even split right down the middle to avoid guided missiles. 

The Man from R.I.V.E.R.D.A.L.E. was a great way for Archie Comics to kick off it’s Archie Comics Presents life of reprints. These stories might have been silly at times. But they were fun and thrilling. Plus, it was a great distraction in this time of social distancing and self isolation. 

If you are a fan of classic Archie and you in need of a pick-me-up that combines espionage and humor, order yourself a copy now! Along with print copies, Amazon and Comixology have this book available in digital formats. Or help out your struggling LCS and arrange for a copy via curbside pick-up or possible delivery! Now is the time to help out struggling small businesses while keeping yourself healthy and sane. I think any of these actions would make any of the agents of P.O.P. and the Man from R.I.V.E.R.D.A.L.E. proud that you are doing your part to help in times of crisis!

Archie Comics Presents… The Man from R.I.V.E.R.D.A.L.E.
Written by Frank Doyle
Art by Bob White, Dan DeCarlo, Various
Published by Archie Comics
Pages: 224
MSRP: $10.99

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Enola Holmes: The Case of the Bizarre Bouquets (Family Comic Friday)

Did you know that Sherlock Holmes had a sister? Family Comic Friday didn’t either! Learn all about the forgotten sleuth in our review of her latest graphic novel adventure- Enola Holmes and The Case of the Bizarre Bouquets!

Enola Holmes: The Case of the Bizarre Bouquets
Written and Illustrated by Serena Blasco
Based on the novel by Nancy Springer
Published by IDW Publishing
Pages: 64
Retail: $14.99

Dr. John Watson is missing! The sidekick and biographer of the great Sherlock Holmes is nowhere to be found! Having very positive experiences with the good doctor in the past, Enola Holmes wishes to contribute in finding him. But it will not be easy as she must not run afoul of her brother!

See, Enola Holmes is a runaway. Eager to find her missing mother, Enola escaped her boarding school. Thanks to a family trust, she lives comfortably in London at a boarding house apartment. As she looks for her mother, Enola fills her days solving crimes just like her brothers Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes. But she must be stealthy, for should either brother catch up with her, Enola will be back in at the school quicker than you could say ‘Professor Moriarty!’

Enola’s only clue is a very strange bouquet of flowers and plants at the Watson residence. Knowing that certain botanicals have hidden meanings, the youngest Holmes knows that there’s something not quite right about this arrangement. In her quest to find Dr. Watson, Enola’s sleuthing will involve uncoding a series of cryptic communiques, donning a series of disguises and travelling into the deepest, most terrifying location in all of London- the madhouse of Clooney Hatch!

Okay- we here at Family Comic Friday kinda knew that Sherlock and his brother Mycroft had a sister. On the BBC series, Sherlock, it was revealed that the world’s greatest detective had a sister named Eurus. Only, this lil’ sis was very much the villain. However, like Enola, Eurus is not canon. Neither character ever appeared in any of the original mysteries by Holmes creator, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

This is the first Enola Holmes graphic novel that I’ve ever read. With The Case of the Bizarre Bouquet being the third book of the series, I am not really sure of much of the established back history of the characters. But, I am a nut for anything Sherlock Holmes and wanted to jump right in on this. Thus, based on my familiarity with Eurus, I developed a theory about Enola Holmes- she’s not really related to Sherlock!

What if Enola is just a young orphan heiress who got tired of being stuck at her school. Having read the exciting adventures of Sherlock and Watson in the papers, in my theory, Enola believes that she is the long-lost sister of the Holmes brothers. Using some of her inheritance, this young lady creates a new persona as the greatest lady detective ever! What if instead of trying to avoid capture, the reason Enola dodges Sherlock is the fear that he’ll end the illusion of her being a member of the Holmes family tree?

New readers and myself will get a chance to explore this mystery further on the big screen. Sometime later this year, Stranger Things’ Millie Bobby Brown will star as Enola Holmes. Could this feature film reveal the truth about Enola? Is she really a Holmes? Well, if you’re not willing to wait, there’s another way to get your answer!

Enola Holmes is the star of the Enola Holmes Mysteries written by Nancy Springer. Currently, there are seven books in the series. The Case of the Bizarre Bouquet is the third book and this graphic novel is a stunning visual adaptation of it.

The force behind this adaptation and of the previous two books is Serena Blasco. She’s a writer/artist from France and Blasco’s work is really amazing. She blends ink and watercolors with a vibrant palette of pastels to bring Victorian Era London to life! Plus Blasco makes the mysteries very interactive.

Yes, young readers can solve many of the codes and puzzles peppered throughout this graphic novel. Unfortunately, readers such as myself might not realize the two-way nature of those parts of the book as the solutions are inserted in the appendix without any sort of stated challenge. I would argue for a note from the author or editor explaining this better in order to make the books more engaging.

Sometimes it’s more fun to read a series of books out of order. In my case, it’s built up a very strong fan theory about the validity of Enola’s kinship with Sherlock Holmes. Or you can start at book one with The Case of the Missing Marquess. Being a mystery book, there’s some stunning crimes committed by various characters. Plus, the puzzles inside are a little complex. But I think parents should have no problem if the Enola Holmes young adult books and graphic novels were read by young readers aged 10-14.

Enola Holmes: the Case of the Bizarre Bouquets debuted in print on Wednesday, March 25th, 2020. The complete line of Enola Holmes books can be found on Amazon and other platforms. Due to the limitations and economic hardships caused by the Coronavirus pandemic, OG asks that if it is possible, please support your local comic shop! But above all else, be safe when making purchases for you and your child.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Super Duck #1

Golden Age superhero turned comedic foil Super Duck returns to print in an all-new miniseries from Archie Comics. While this premise might seem great for the kiddies, this is one for the grown-ups!

Super Duck #1
Written by Frank Tieri and Ian Flynn
Art by Ryan Jampole
Covers by Ryan Jampole, Derek Charm, Andy Fish, Eric Gorham and Erica Henderson
}Published by Archie Comics
Retail: $3.99

Super Duck made his very first comic appearance way back in 1943. Appearing in the pages of Jolly Jangles #10, Super Duck was yet another attempt by a publisher to chase in on the ultra popularity of Superman. Some may call Super Duck a parody. Others might call him a waterfowl carbon copy as Super Duck’s original costume even had a diamond emblem very much like one of the chest of the Man of Steel.

Just a year later, in 1944, Super Duck would undergo some massive changes. Thanks to a threat of litigation from DC Comics, the suit and cape were gone. Now Super Duck wore a black shirt with red lederhosen and an alpine hat. The heroics were replaced with Donald Duck-like slapstick. Until 1960, the only thing super about this character was his name.

The character of Super Duck was gone. But the Cock-eyed Wonder was never really forgotten. Reprints of his Disney-type yarns would be reprinted up into the early 1980s in digests such as Laugh and Jughead. In the past few years of the revitalization of Archie Comics, there’s been sightings of Super Duck advertised in the background of various comics and even a character of two of the CW series, Riverdale has been reading some back issues (or so I’ve been told). It seems that you just can’t let a good duck die…

In this new series, Super Duck’s time of being just another funny animal appears to have never occurred. The greatest hero of Ducktropolis (now called New Duck City) is still wearing the tights and cape, fighting an assortment of evil scientists and giant robots.Things have changed in that Super Duck’s latest battle nearly kills him and they should not be so as the pills the hero takes are supposed to make him invulnerable!

With his popularity dwindling and his powers fading, what is an aging mallard to do in a world that is quickly becoming not his own?

There’s a definite Howard the Duck vibe going on here. First of all in the irreverence and satire. Ravencroft’s Frank Tieri has been known to give his stories a dash of grim yet tongue-in-cheek humor. But I think the real reason I feel like this book should be running for President is due to the scene in which there's this dominatrix hen with gigantic - er, let’s call them assets, shall we? I’m starting to wonder if this heroic drake reads Playduck?

That’s not to say that I didn’t like this book. It was very funny. The back-up feature set in Super Duck’s glory days was a brilliant parody of super heroes. Plus, I thought that the artwork by Dexter’s Laboratory's Ryan Jampole was awesome. It’s deceptive though!

With a wholesome history and even more chaste looking main character, it would be easy to assume that Super Duck is an all-ages property. But there’s plenty of mild swears, deranged violence and over-sexuallized birds in this book to be rated PG-13 at least! So parents, if you find this title misshelved in the kiddies section of your favorite LCS, don’t pick this up for your little one! Make this version of Super Duck a new addition to your personal grown-up collection!

Super Duck #1 debuts in print and digital formats on Wednesday, March 25, 2020.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Jim Henson’s The Storyteller: Ghosts #1 (Family Comic Friday)

Take a chilling trek to the Old Country in the pages of Jim Henson’s The Storyteller: Ghosts #1

Jim Henson’s The Storyteller: Ghosts #1Written and Illustrated by Mark Laszlo
Published by Archaia
Retail: $3.99

Jim Henson studios, the company that brought you Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy and Big Bird, embraces it’s dark side in this premier issue based on the British children’s series The Storyteller.

‘Ghosts’ is the seventh themed series in Archaia’s line of anthology comics based on global myths and legends. Over the course of 4 issues, fans of the Jim Henson property will be enticed by spooky stories of ghosts and phantoms from the 4 corners of the globe.

Issue #1 is based on a Scandanvian phantom called a myling. These are the vengeful spirits of infants. Mylings seek some sort of justice in order for their souls to finally be at peace. In this issue, an innocent man goes his entire life haunted by a myling. What is the sinister purpose behind this unwarranted harassment?

Jim Henson’s The Storyteller: Ghosts #1 was extremely eerie. The art of the baby spirit with the huge noggin’ was truly unnerving. There’s some gruesome images of the remains of a couple of characters. And the origin story of the myling was very sad.

So why in the world would I review this for a weekly column called Family Comic Friday? Because kids like to be scared! And I would much rather a young reader dive into something a tiny bit more targeted for young adults and teens than for them to get their hands on a copy of something truly upsetting like Harrow County or the deceptive chills of an Archie Horror title.

This debut issue reminded quite a bit of Alvin Schwartz’ Scary Stories. The illustrations are creepy and the tale itself is dark. But it’s a safer dark than what’s going on in our Covid-19 restricted world. If the young reader in your life is needing a fright, turn to this short story rather than turning on the evening news!

If your family is a fan of Jim Henson’s other maturely macabre properties such as The Dark Crystal or Labyrinth.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Jim Henson’s The Storyteller: Ghosts #1 is currently available in print and digital formats such as Comixology.

This review was concurrently published on Outrightgeekery.com.

Essential Thor Volume 5

I'm not really as big of a fan of the cosmic Thor stories. The ones I adore are those that delve into Norse myth or are the run-of-the-mill tussles with super powered baddies. I'm not sure why that is. But I really hated Thor: The Dark World and if it wasn't for the humor and use of the Asgardian goddess, Hela, I probably would've hated Thor: Ragnarok too!

Speaking of Ragnarok. The end of Asgard occurs at least twice in this book. One sees the fall of Odin. The other occurrence is a reprinting of a classic Stan Lee/Jack Kirby foretelling of the end of all things. 

Gerry Conway, one of my all-time favorite Superman creators, pens all of the original stories. Some instances were very good. But Conway sends Thor and company into space quite a bit in this huge 500 page plus volume. So, it was difficult to enjoy this collection thoroughly. 

I really got a kick out of the Marvel/DC crossover. Yes, 4 actual characters from the DC universe crossover into Marvel territory in a two-parter some 5 years before the Man of Steel will meet The Amazing Spider-Man. For some, this crossover might seem that much of a big deal. But if you were an avid reader of Justice League of America and The Brave and the Bold around 1968-1972, you'll get a kick out of the appearance of several minor but oh so import figures in DC history. 

Oh, wait, now that I think of it, there were 5 characters who crossed over!

The art by Sal Buscema, his brother John , Len Wein and others was amazing stuff. It's interesting how much the characters change when crafted by other artists and yet they still manage to look iconic too! 

An enjoyable read of Thor stories. However, it's just not my favorite collection of them either. With only 1 Marvel Essential collection of Thor stories, I am thinking that I am not going to ever get to the Walt Simonson era. I guess I am going to have to start looking for color collections or possibly start collecting Thor single issues in order to get to that and close out the Odinson's original series of tales.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Bart Simpson, Vol. 9: Class Clown

Trying times call for distractions. There's just about no better distraction to me than a comic book. But some comics still hit a little too close to home. Thankfully, that's not been the case with Bongo Comics' various titles based on beloved Simpsons characters. 

In this collection of stories from the Bart Simpsons line, the spiky-haired dude gets into a bunch of hairy situations. My favorites included the resurrection of Truck-a-saurus, a hilarious tree house caper involving Milhouse, Ralph and an ancient text and the various stories devoted to that masked protector of Springfield, Bartman! The Professor Frink short was charming and that story in which Mrs Krabappel is forced to move in with the Simpsons was funny too. Unfortunately, I can't recall any other stories. 

I seem to think that there was a Comic Book Guy adventure and one or two stories devoted to Itchy and Scratchy. But I can't remember. 

Sadly, I didn't find myself laughing out loud that much. I don't think it's because I hated this book. I'm more afraid that the whole Coronavius thing has permeated everyday life so much, that my Ha-Ha distraction ended up being more Hoo-Hum.

Worth Consuming! but I really can't recall if I truly loved this whole book or not...

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

The Sunken Tower (A Family Comic Friday Extra!)

Are you looking for some excitement? How about some adventure? Maybe a few laughs? Then let’s go exploring The Sunken Tower in this week’s Family Comic Friday Extra!

The Sunken Tower, Book One
Written and Illustrated by Tait Howard
Published by Oni Press
Pages: 136
Retail: $17.99

When young Dig is kidnapped by a group of blood cultists, things look very grim. Dig, along with his cellmates Iana and Crina are about to be sacrificed to an ancient subterranean evil. But thanks to some magical abilities, Dig is able to help his colleagues escape. 

The flight from the cult won’t be easy as the captives find themselves in the middle of a sunken city. With the rabid followers on their heels, Dig and company’s only hope of escape is to find their way to daylight. That means a lengthy trek through the center of the abandoned town and straight up the stairs of the sunken tower!

The Sunken Tower promises to be the beginning of a new series of humorous adventures starring a young wizard, a warrior and rogue. This new epic from Oni Press is recommended for ages 8-12. Even though the baddies are members of a death cult, I don’t think that these guys could strike fear into just about anyone. They’re quite bumbling and they have some of the best lines in the whole book!

This book features characters of different races as well as lifestyles. Both Iana and Crina are two young ladies in love and another character makes some comments that suggest that he too is part of the LGBTQ community. Future volumes might reveal if that’s true. But to go any further into speculation will actually spoil one of the book’s many twists and turns.

I really enjoyed The Sunken Tower. It had some very funny moments. Plus, the action scenes rivaled some segments of The Lord of the Rings. The art was quite cartoony. But it actually fits with those scenes that made me laugh out loud! 

It really looks like Oni Press has a fantasy/comedy hit on it’s hands with this one!

The Sunken Tower debuted in hardcover print on March 11th, 2020.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

This review was concurrently published on Outrightgeekery.com.

Al My Friends Are Ghosts (Family Comic Friday)

Imagine what life would be like if you were friends with a ghost! That's exactly what happens when Effie stumbles upon an abandoned building that also happens to be a school for ghost children. Join Family Comic Friday as we explore KaBOOM's newest graphic novel: All My Friends Are Ghosts!

All My Friends Are Ghosts
Written by S.M. Vidaurri
Art by Hannah Krieger
Published by KaBOOM!
Pages: 160
Retail: $14.99

Effie is having trouble at school. While she's very creative and loves to write, her English teacher disapproves of her fondness for monsters and mythical creatures. Effie's classmates think she's weird. And her mom is constantly at odds with her walking home by herself. It's all of these issues that make Effie feel very alone.

During one of Effie's walks, she stumbles upon an abandoned building in the woods. But it's not the building that is so fascinating. It's what's inside that inspires; an entire school made up of ghostly students and phantom teachers!

Deciding to dress up as a scholarly apparition, Effie pretends to be a ghost in order to find other kinder spirits. However, it is the very nature of being a lost soul that could end up being trouble for the human girl. For spending too much time in the afterlife could cause Effie to become a ghost as well!

This was a very interesting story by Iron: Or The War After's S.M. Vidaurri. While some of the concepts seemed a little too complex for me, I thought this was a very well thought out graphic novel. Viduarri crafts not just one by two immersive worlds filled with amazing characters and unique situations. If you felt like the ghost school in this book was a lot like Hogwarts for wraiths, you wouldn't be alone. There's even a game called haunt pass that the ghostly students play. But just as with Harry Potter's Qudditch, there are some rules that I really didn't understand. But I think if further books about Effie and her phantom pals are in the works, S.M. Vidaurii has laid a great foundation on which to build upon. 

I also want to give a massive shout out to artist and fellow North Carolinian Hannah Krieger for her work on All My Friends Are Ghosts. This is her first book and she really killed it. (Yes, pun intended.) There are some great action sequences in this book. And I really loved that dramatic pose of the character Caim towards the end of this graphic novel. I expect great things from Krieger. 

All My Friends Are Ghosts is a fanciful tale that families will love. Despite being about ghosts, this really isn't a scary book. It's a book about what it means to have someone on which to call a friend. Why some ghosts don't even really look like ghosts. As they have started to forget their human pasts, some specters start to exhibit the looks of animals and other creatures. It makes for a very fresh take on the human child befriending a spirit story.

This book is recommended for readers aged 9-12 and I think that is a good starting point to judge if All My Friends Are Ghosts is appropriate for the young reader in your life. Some action scenes are intense. Plus, there's some preteen angst and a little bit of potty humor. Yet, overall, it's a graphic novel that will that you and your family to another plane of existence and excitement!

All My Friends Are Ghosts is slated to have dropped in stores just this week. However, some online purveyors list that the book will debut in print and digital formats on March 17th, 2020! If it's not available in your neck of the woods just yet, be patient! 

For more Family Comic Friday and other reviews, check out my blog: Madman with a Book!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

This review was concurrently published on Outrightgeekery.com.

Simpsons Comics Royale

When I am feeling bogged down by the weight of the world, I turn to humor. Harley Quinn. The Tick. Deadpool. Their insanity helps make my life more sane. And then there's The Simpsons. Sometimes you need the bizarre philosophies of Homer and Bart to help make sense of things. 

This is an unusual collection of Simpsons Comics. It's not a reprint of full issues. Instead, it's a mix of never-before-reprinted tales and all-new comic book material. In this volume we've got a Lisa story of Wonderland proportions, Krusty takes an entourage to Hollywood, and Radioactive Man learns just what happens when you flush the toilet in a state of the art porta-potty.

Sprinkled throughout this edition are a number of essays by Simpsons creator Matt Groening. His advice to those wanting to be cartoonists should be required reading for all first year art students. His reflections on his early life shows the origins of many of the icons of Springfield. But his dictionary of favorite slang words was 4 pages of wasted space. So was his 2-pager about his first bully. I would have rather had more advice or inside scoops on the history of the TV show. If anything, I now want to read some of Groening's first comic strip, Life in Hell. 

Considering that that series started in 1977, my birth year and FAVORITE year, how did I miss this!!!

I wasn't huge on the Lisa story which was surprising since I am a huge fan of Alice in Wonderland. Like I said, some of the essays were lame. So was that Sideshow Mel multi-parter! Plus, not being a direct reprint of the comics themselves and the very unusual pacing of all those verbose interludes made for an odd pacing. 

Yes, this took away a lot of stress from a world full of coronavirus and done to death primaries. But it just wasn't my favorite of Simpsons books either.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Ben10: The Manchester Mystery (Family Comic Friday)

Family Comic Friday takes you into the newest graphic novel adventure of Ben10 in The Manchester Mystery!

Ben10: The Manchester Mystery

Written by C.B. Lee

Art by Lidan Chen
Published by KaBoom!
Pages: 80
Retail: $7.99

Ben Tennyson and his family are once again touring those little traveled corners of the United States. Their journey takes them to a quiet little ghost town. Oh, there's people living in this town! It's not abandoned. It's an actual ghost town because of that haunted house!

Eager to investigate the mysterious past of the Manchester mansion, Ben runs into the stars of his favorite supernatural reality show! Supposedly, the monster behind the haunted domicile hasn't been seen for decades. That is until now! But as Ben learns the truth about his idols, he comes to find out that a sinister force is behind the current string of hauntings. Is it a ghost? Or has one of Ben10's enemies returned?

This graphic novel is based on the long running Cartoon Network series of the same name. Featuring a young boy with the ability to change into a variety of super-powered aliens, this show has fueled the imaginations of kids for over 15 years! Writer C.B. Lee (Not Your Sidekick) crafted a really interesting story that had some many plot threads and yet never once got tangled. It's a great balance of Ben's personal life and his quest to end villainy!

The illustrations were also great. I'm not so familiar with the newer Ben10 cartoons. So I am not sure how spot on Lidan Chen's art is compared to that. But what I saw in this graphic novel looked amazing. Plus, all the creatures Ben turns into look just like they did during season one all those years ago! I loved it!

The Manchester Mystery was a little funny and a little creepy. It was also 100% action-packed fun! Perfect for readers aged 9-12! And grown-ups who grew-up watching Ben10 when it first debuted in 2005! 

Ben10: The Manchester Mystery debuted in print on Wednesday March 10th, 2020. Look for it at your favorite comic book shop, bookstore or Amazon!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Har-Har Comics #1

Prior to reading this book. I knew nothing about Har-Har Comics. Nothing! I did not even know that such a book existed. But I found it at a used book store for 20 cents plus the protective bag! So this unknown comic was a low-risk purchase for me. 

I'm happy to say that it was worth every cent I paid!

Har-Har Comics debuted in 1990. Published by Fantagraphics, this comic is all about funny animals. That was Fantagraphics' bread-and-butter. The company that brought you Critters and Usagi Yojimbo, as well as human based titles such as Love and Rockets, Fantagraphics has survived unto this day. In an era where Indy publishers are a dime a dozen and unlikely to survive until their 5th birthday, for Fantagraphics to have existed since 1976 is an impressive feat.

This comic book is all about the laughs. The main character is known as Hyper Al. He's a dog or wolf that gets into some odd situations including getting abducted by aliens and tested to become a knight in King Arthur's Court. I laughed several times at his tales. he's drawn more like you'd expect an old 1940s cartoon villain would look. yet, Hyper Al is all sweet and innocent.

The other main feature of this issue is a story that ponders the question 'What if regular pets were "anthropomorphic?' It follows a giant dog name Huck and his hapless owner as they go for a walk through town. When Huck gets loose from his lease and meets the new female in the neighborhood..., well, let's just say that love is in the air. 

I would love to find myself another issue. I'm actually in luck. Fantagraphics' did give this series by Captain Jack's Mike Kazaleh a second issue. But that was it. Considering that the 90s was known for it's gritty comics, a cute book like this getting a second try is an impressive feat in it's own.

I guess the big question is now- will I ever find Har-Har Comics #2? Tune in regularly to my blog and see...

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars,

Scooby-Doo Team-Up #16

With only two issues left to collect my run of Scooby-Doo Team-Up, I really thought that this would be the last issue I'd locate. The resurgence in popularity and interest in Shazam and his Marvel family has made the prices of key issues of other titles on my wish list, jump sky high. But, being the bargain bin hunter that I am, my perseverance paid off at a used book store!

This was one of the best issues in the entire series. Sholly Fisch is the writer and he's been almost perfect when it comes to the issues that have Scooby teaming up with the DCU characters. Dario Brizuela adds his patented touch to the artwork. His characters remind me so much of the old Alex Toth inspired Super Friends cartoons. The only problem with this book is that there's very little of Captain Marvel, Mary Marvel or Captain Marvel Jr to be found in this book!

The Mystery Inc. detectives are called to find the Marvel Family when they are kidnapped by Mister Mind and his Monster Society of Evil. There's plenty of Shazam villains in this book including IBAC and those crocodile people. (Yes, I was right that they were really characters from the old Fawcett Comics based on their cameo in last year's awesome live action flick!) Just as there's very little of the Big Red Cheese, don't expect to see very much of Dr. Sivana and his family here either.

I loved the twists in this book. I thought that while it's occurrence was a tiny bit predictable, this issue stayed away from a lot of the worn old cliches that pepper the Hanna-Barbera crossovers. Still, I felt that for an issue supposedly starring Captain Marvel, there's very, very little of him to be found in this issue. 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.