Marvel Comics Presents #4

Al Milgrom's Fear Eater saga concludes in this issue. After facing the Silver Surfer, Steve Rogers and the ever lovin' blue-eyed Thing, the parasite decides to feast on Thor, The God of Thunder!  point of near-starvation, the Fear Eater must succeed, least he waste away to nothing.

The Fear Eater sidelines the Asgardian with a mild malady while summoning up the foretold Ragnarok. Unable to join his warrior brothers, Thor despairs. It looks like the Fear Eater is finding going to munch on a Marvel Super Hero!

The stories starring Wolverine, The Master of Kung-Fu and Man-Thing continue. All of them are rather good. Logan gets the literal crap slapped out of him with a foe called Razorfist. 

The Shang-Chi story starts to finally build up steam. But with the motive of that stories baddie being tied in with Iran-Contra just as the Man-Thing story, it just seems to me that the editors should have spread things out a little bit. It makes for what is supposed to be a fresh collection of anthology tales feeling a little bit stale. 

And once again- where in the frick is Man-Thing? Never before have I experienced a story where the main character is such a non-entity. Good thing that the 'supporting cast' is so interesting. But, Geez...

Oh- and that twist ending to the Fear Eater story! CLASSIC!!!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #3

Wolverine is reunited with a blast from his past- Jessan Hoan. Only she doesn't remember ever knowing the Canadian mutant.

The confusing web of the political conspiracy in the Man-Thing saga gets even more tangled. Now we've got a pagan priestess involved in matters. 

Shang-Chi agrees to help his old friends to save his old flame. But to do this, he's going to need to call in reinforcements and that means calling on an old foe.

Lastly, the Fear Eater turns to Ben Grimm as his next meal. A recent blast of gamma energy has caused the FF's Thing to mutate further. But it's when the Fear Eater turns Thing back into his human form does Aunt Petunia's favorite nephew start to have doubts.

The Wolverine story continues to captivate. The chapter starring the Master of Kung-Fu seemed unneeded. Lots of talk but no meat. The Thing story was okay. But it seems to me as a long time reader of Fantastic Four stories that having the Fear Eater mutate Ben Grimm further would do more to wreck the hero's confidence than reverting him back to human. 

As for this chapter of Man-Thing. I don't know what to tell you. The story is interesting. But I can't understand why the United States government would need devil worshipers to stop Communism in a South American country. 

A mixed bag. Typical for an anthology. But a couple of segments were some hot messes. 

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #2

In the second issue of Marvel Comics Presents, Wolverine survives his first taste of the Madripoor nightlife only to come face-to-face with an old friend. Then in the political saga involving the Man-Thing, we get lots of conspiracy and intrigue but very little-to-no Man-Thing. Shang-Chi, the Master of Kung-Fu, is reunited with a lost love. But things appear complicated with a new mystery man added to the reunite clandestine team's line-up. The fact that the paramour gets kidnapped by thugs doesn't help thing either. 

Lastly, in the lone stand alone story, Al Milgrom brings back the Fear Eater. On the menu today is The Captain. Not Captain America. Just The Captain. But it's still Steve Rogers and with the former World War II non-com comes the baggage of the death of sidekick Bucky Barnes. It's that sort of grief that makes for some tasty vittles for the Fear Eater!

A good second issue. No sophomore slump here. The Wolverine story is that sort of gritty B-movie action flick stuff you'd expect from the late 80s. But it's intriguing. The Shang-Chi story has the titillating edge found with adventure flicks filled with femme fatales. And Al Milgrom's Fear Eater stories are great.

I just can't put my finger on the Man-Thing story. Why is he even in this thing? It's a good story. But with Man-Thing maybe appearing in one or two panels- what's the point of having him in this tale? I think people would have read this minus a main Marvel character's inclusion. But what do I know? I've only been reading comic books my whole life...

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #1

I'm not sure if it just finally took me forever to collect this entire anthology series from the 80s and 90s or I just had to finally will myself to knuckle under and buy those final pesky issues. I know I had to dig deep into my pocket for a copy of the final issue as #175 cost me one green-hued portrait of Andrew Jackson.

The series starts off with 4 stories. The first 3 tales are the opening chapters of multi-parters. The cover story sees Wolverine in Madripoor seeking to fulfill the last wishes of a dying man; only to become embroiled in a gang war.

The mindless Man-Thing finds itself in the middle of a political scandal that hearkens to Iran-Contra. Only I don't seem to recall demon worship being a part of Ollie North's guns for hostages plans.

Shang-Chi- The Master of Kung-Fu, returns to Hong Kong and is immediately targeted by old enemies made by both his infamous father and himself.

The last story is a stand alone adventure about a cosmic baddie called the Fear Eater. This guy is a parasite and he's tired of feasting on your standard fear of dying. So the Fear Eater sets his sights on the Silver Surfer! Naturally, a bad idea!

Featuring a host of legendary talent including Al Milgrom, Klaus Janson, and Dave Cockrum. I hope you love anthology comics and Marvel characters. Because you'll going to see a slew of reviews coming your way as I work my way through another 174 issues!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Three Stooges: Thru The Ages One-Shot

I'm not able to head over to my favorite LCS every week; what with a partial return to work. Thankfully, the fellas over at Books Do Furnish a Room have been holding stuff for me on my list. And this week was my chance to finally pick up some issues that were collecting dust.

From the cover, it appears that Three Stooges: Thru The Ages would finally address the changing line-up of Shemp, Curly and Curly Joe. One existed in the prehistoric past. Another lives in the time of knights and dragons. The third is from the future. But unfortunately, this is definitely one of those times you shouldn't judge a book from it's cover. 

Thru The Ages marks the 5th anniversary of American Mythology having the licensing rights to produce Stooges comics. We do get 3 stories each starring a rotating member of the trio. Instead, we get a zoo caper with Shemp. Curly is goaded into wrestling a bruiser in hopes of winning some cash. And Curly Joe seems to play third fiddle as Moe and Larry try to persuade a big-wig producer to fund their next project. All 3 stories were rather funny and I don't regret paying full price for this one-shot. But the plots do nothing to reflect the cover with was a big selling point for me.

There were a couple of cool extras. One was a complete rundown of all of the Stooges comics from American Mythology. This has helped me to determine what Halloween and Christmas specials are now on my wish list. But did you know that there was an April Fool's issue?? That plus the revelation of an All-Shemp issue are now on my radar. 

The other extra is an interview with 2 of Larry Fine's great-grandsons and a grandson of Curly's. That was an interesting insight at being the legacy of comedic and cultural icons. And the rare photos of the Boys were really cool.

I enjoyed this read. It didn't turn out how I expected. But it was a much needed read for refreshment and humorous delight.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.