Grimm Tales of Terror Quarterly: 2021 Halloween Special

On paper, which technically comic books are, the fairy tale inspired publications from Zenescope should be one of my regular reads. However, I find that for the most part, they're just a little too much T&A for my liking. That is until we get to the holidays.

I've found that the Grimm Fairy Tales inspired Christmas and Halloween specials are fairly descent reads. I've grown to love the Krampus inspired X-Mas reads. And when it comes to Halloween, Zenescope really ups the fear factor!

In this special a struggling actor has a chance to become a member of an elite club that promises unimaginable fame and fortune. All this guy has to do is harvest some souls on Halloween night at an amusement park. Picking through the throngs of visitors, only the lowest of the low will do for this culling!

I was okay with about 3/4 of this book. I liked the amusement park which combines Disney and Knott's Berry Farm. It looked like a place to have some creepy fun. This special links 4 groups of guests with the struggling actor's story book-ending everything. The first couple of stories were very good. They were monster zombie/slasher stories and I can tolerate those. But the last 2 tales involved demons and they just ain't my thing. I did like how one of them was a Riverdale parody. But that was about all of that adventure which I dug.

Yes, I know that I said that I like Zenescope's Krampus stories. But he's typically the only demon in those stories. These hordes from Hell that infiltrate the amusement park are the stuff of heavy metal fans' nightmares (or in this case dreams?!)

Great art. Fairly good storytelling. A little alluring but nothing like Grimm Fairy Tales' nudie variant covers. It was a good read. But it was just a little too demonic for my taste. 

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

Stranger Things Halloween Special One-Shot

We're wrapping up Halloween reads for the year. Just a couple of reviews left. Next up is a 2020 one-shot based on a Netflix series with deep ties to Halloween. Published by Dark Horse Comics, the Stranger Things Halloween Special takes place just a few days before the TV show does. It has the four main male characters having just finished trick-or-treating, sitting up in their tree house swapping scary stories. 

Just when it appears that the festivities are over for the night, when Will Byers casually mentions the Child Eater of Hawkins. At this point, we go back about 40 years or so to a Hawkins Halloween night that is fraught with dread. 4 children have died; their bodies turned to puddles of green goo. As the sheriff imposes a curfew, a group of children find themselves locked in the local library. It just seems that they'll have to sit out and wait until dawn- hopefully.

I don't have Netflix. So I have never seen an episode of Stranger Things. Yet I think I've enough done research and Wiki-reading to understand what's going on in this book to a point. Is the Child Eater of Hawkins one of the creatures that kidnaps Will in Season One? Or an antagonist from another season? That I do not know. But I enjoyed this one-shot enough that the only thing my questions do is make me hope we get Netflix one day. 

Series writer Michael Moreci pens a very chilling tale that has enough horror to be eerie. But it wont give nightmares. And man is that artwork very good. It's from relative newcomer Todor Hristov (Forever Maps). He's only got a trio of listings in the comic book data bases I utilize. But I hope to see more of his work in the future. 

A fun read for fans of the 80s, Stephen King, Treehouse of Horror and of course, Stranger Things.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Walt Disney's Comics #673

As I'm wrapping up my Halloween reads, I go to another one of my favorite go-tos for safe spooks. Just about any comic book by Disney is a great read. But the collective works of masters such as Don Rosa, Carl Barks and Paul Murry are considered some of the best when they A) star Donald Duck or one of his Duckburg kin and B) take place during the holidays. This issue of Walt Disney's Comics has both!

William Van Horn returns to illustrate the issue's cover. It features a Donald classic by Van Horn called 'Kids Play' in which the duck takes one a job to paint a haunted house. Only Donald doesn't know about the house's history. So, as he's doing a great job, his nephews decide to put the scare onto him. Only, there might actually be a haunt in this haunted house whose out to spook Huey, Dewey, and Louie.

Then we've got Lady and the Tramp's l'il boy Scamp going to play hide and seek with some friends in a haunted house. In another classic, The Three Little Pigs inherit a broom factory in which the Old Witch from Snow White(?- that's what she looks like!); who really seems to have her eyes on what with the factories' precious inventory. And in a two-parter, Donald Duck has been assigned as a concierge at a hotel in Transylvania! And he's actually really good at it! Naturally, that success doesn't work out when his boss surprise visits in order inspect Donald's progress. 

Okay- none of these stories take place during Halloween. But with the inclusion of ghosts, witches and monster vacationers, this is a perfect read for a cool Halloween time night. But at least these stories are more suited for this time of year than the all-new two-parter that fills the rest of this 64-page beauty. 

'Dimes Are Forever' starring Uncle Scrooge and Donald and the Mickey and Goofy adventure 'A Kidnapping in Yubet' are two stand alone stories that make up the 7-part Orb Saga. I like that you could read the stories without really missing anything. And the presence of Magica De Spell and The Phantom Blot were classic touches. However, I don't think the pair do anything to read add to the Halloween ambiance that was established by the other reads. But that's okay as they were both really good stories. 

I had a lot of fun with this one. With a little something for everyone, this is spooky Disney fun for the whole family- without the nightmares!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Fangs

What happens when a 300-year old vampire and a modern werewolf fall in love? Sarah Anderson's Fangs attempts to answer that question with a series of small snapshots of the process of finding your 'soul' mate. From those awkward introductions to navigating the rules and norms of each species to the first fight and ultimately moving in together, this was a creative story that really made me chuckle. 

I made a trip to the library today and I thought I had my reads all ready and picked when I came across the graphic novel Halloween reads display. I saw Fangs sitting there with it's simple scarlet cloth bound cover and stunning 1920s styled image of the Vamp on the cover and I just had to have it. The back cover offers zero information about what the story had to offer. So, I really have to take a leap of faith with this graphic novel and I must say that trust fall paid off. 

The idea of 2 monsters falling in love isn't really new. Frankenstein's monster has his bride. And when it comes to inter-species marriage between monsters, naturally you refer to The Munsters. But having a vampire and a werewolf getting along like this is a fairly new thing. I mean doesn't Hollywood basically tell use that the two types of monsters hate each other as mortal (or is it immortal) enemies?

Fangs is both an allegory for interracial relationships and a text book for modern dating and cohabitation which these days seem to be anything but normal. 

It's a light read with hints of the Addams Family, The New Yorker Magazine and Sex and the City. This is something that your typical non-graphic novel reading friends could enjoy along with you!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out 10 stars. 

Krypto the Superdog (Family Comic Friday)

Krypto the Superdog was an animated series that ran on Cartoon Network from 2005-06 for 39 episodes. It stars Kal-El's pet puppy arriving on earth all grown up. During quiet times, Krypto poses as the regular house pet of young Metropolis transplant Kevin by day. But when trouble pops up, the super pooch dons a cape and becomes Superdog! Along with animal pals Streaky the Supercat, Ace the Bathound and the canines of the intergalactic Dog Stars, Krypto will take on the animal counterparts of the like of the Joker, Penguin and super-foe Lex Luthor.

I remember trying to enjoy this show. But I since I couldn't figure out why Krypto was living with Kevin and his family, I wasn't a big fan. Thanks to that recent trip to the library, I came across this book in the new releases section of the kids graphic novel section. Being a Super-Family fan and excited to bring Family Comic Friday back, I took a shot on this collection of comic reprints. 

The verdict? Nice Shooting.

Issue #1 is an origin issue and explains perfectly why Krypto is still Superman's doggie but living with Kevin. Now if the writers could have explained why Streaky is around but Supergirl is not; I'd have been perfectly pleased with everything. 

Another pleasant surprise was how many human mainstays of the DC Universe guest star in these pages. Along with Superman and Batman, you'll see the likes of--- oh, I don't want to spoil the fun. And Krypto the Superdog was definitely fun. 

The artwork by Scott Jeralds (Freakazoid!), Min S. Ku (Green Lantern) and others was done in the style of the Batman: The Animated Series Universe and it was beautiful. The stories were a mix of classic DC storytelling with modern rebooting which was rather clever. I liked the Dog Stars and the villainous Mechanikat and Snooky Wookums. But I don't think they're anthropomorphic arch-types of established DC characters. But if I find out that they are, I think I might very well like this series even more.

Smartly written for the whole family, this is a great series that rightfully deserve a second look. If only the original issues were released when the series was still airing as new episodes and not right as the show got cancelled. Had DC taken action sooner with this series, the cartoon might have lasted longer than it did and not become a nearly forgotten gem. 

Kudos to DC for reissuing these family friendly reads!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

The Adventures of Cthulhu Jr. and Dastardly Dirk One-Shot (Halloween ComicFest 2019)

I guess like TV shows and movies, comic books get cancelled before they get past the pilot stage. That seems to be what happened here with this 2019 Halloween Comic Fest freebie. 

The Adventures of Cthulhu Jr. and Dastardly Dirk is a promotional comic that prints the first chapter of the proposed graphic novel. In this story, Dastardly Dirk longs to be a super villain. He's got the costume. He's got the underling. And he's got the scout cookies! 

Ironically, it's the cookies that seem to be the only thing going for Dastardly Dirk's evil ways. Scorned by his nasty peers, it appears that our anti-hero will have to stay in his suburban home with his loving wife, daughter and secret underground lair (and by that we mean the basement.) That is until a mysterious foreboding cloud appears in Dirk's cul-de-sac full of promise of an evil entity taking form on earth. Instead, it's an adorable Cthulhu whose been taken in by an elderly neighbor!

This was such a great opening chapter! The back of this issue promised a release in 2020. Sure, I know COVID has messed up a bunch of plans. But I figured by now, it would have been published already. No dice!

As I usually do, I did some research and I discovered that there will be or have already been plans to sell this book via some sort of crowdfunding. But I'm not sure if this finished up or not. So, I've actually contacted writer and co-creator Dirk Manning for more info on this. Hopefully, I will be an owner and reader of the rest of this fabulous idea.

For now, you'll need to turn to online retailers to see if they might have a back issue copy of this great read. But if the fates are in my favor, I'll be helping all of you get your hands on the full story.

A funny read that has dashes of Despicable Me and the artwork styling of Art Baltazar and Franco. Oh and Lovecraft too- if the horror writer was secretly Doctor Seuss.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9.5 out of 10 with only a half point deduction because I can't readily get my hands on the rest of these adventures.

Blue Devil #31

 

This is it! The final issue of Blue Devil. 

Dan Cassidy's journey started with a demon. And now Blue Devil's story is gonna end with a devil. And not just any devil but THE DEVIL!

Wellllllll... Not quite. This Lucifer is actually an out of work character actor who specialized in playing monsters. Needing cash and some excitement, Lucifer turns to a life of crime. But his short career in crime keeps running afoul of Blue Devil. 

Jump ahead a full calendar year. Lucifer has been paroled and seeking revenge against Blue Devil. Now armed with a magical text stolen from Madame Xanadu, the devil is definitely in the details with this one!

Not a bad ending for the series. But I would have liked Blue Devil to have a final FINAL confrontation with the demon that entrapped him within the devil suit.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Blue Devil #30

While Blue Devil is a member of the Superman Family, the character also has some deep ties with the Flash family as well. That's because of Dan Cassidy's past with former stuntman cum rogue, James Jesse AKA The Trickster! 

After a pair of outings with the Flash baddie and a Kid Devil one-off with Captain Cold, it's time for the entire Rogue's Gallery to give Blue Devil and friends a bunch of headaches. Captain Boomerang, Heatwave and the rest stop by Hollywood; along with Gorilla Grodd! 

If you are a fan of the Scarlet Speedster, you will enjoy this issue!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Are You Afraid of Darkseid? #1 (One-Shot)

It's time for DC's annual Halloween offering. Though not officially billed as a horror holiday title, DC consistently produces a yearly 80-pager filled with chills, thrills and giggles.

The framing story for this special has the Damian Wayne led Teen Titans bonding around a campfire. To pass the time, the team tell an assortment of ghostly tales.

The first story is a team-up between title character and New God Darkseid and that DC darlin',  Harley Quinn. Together, this unlikely pair take on a perverse version of the legend of Bloody Mary. With a great twist scare ending, the first was definitely the best of the bunch.

Don't think for a minute that it's all downhill from the very beginning. The continued bantering between the Teen Titans is just pure brilliance. And I took quite a bit of delight with just about every tale offered.

Other stories of note include Aqualad and Aquaman investigating the legend of Ogopogo, Clark Kent and Lois Lane on the search for a pair of missing twins, a Wonder Woman/Vixen team-up that had me wishing for a regular series between the two and a Batman-styled urban legend. 

There was only 1 story that I wasn't very big on. It's an epic starring the Phantom Stranger and that poignant pathway from life to death. Wasn't a bad story. It just was very deep and one of those prose tales that if you don't understand all the references and Easter eggs buried within, you miss out on most of the plot. Beautifully illustrated. But for a Phantom Stranger fan who loves his eerie exploits, this romanticized piece was a bit of a disappointment.

The cover was illustrated by Dan Hipp. I'm familiar with his work on the most recent incarnation of Teen Titans Go! Considering how much the Damian Wayne Robin is like the spastic Robin on the Cartoon Network farce, I'm wondering if I've been missing out by not following the most current comic version of the DCU's Teen Titans... It's definitely worth further exploration!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars. 

Fantastic Four #37

This one was an unexpected treat for this Halloween season. Every week I scroll through to see the newest forthcoming titles due out the following Wednesday. When this issue was listed, there was a 'Cover Not Submitted' image in place of the actual cover. So I didn't know this was a Halloween story until just a couple of days ago. Needless to say, I rushed to the comic book store as soon as I could and snagged me up this instant classic!

Ben Grimm and wife Alicia are now the adoptive parents of N'Kalla and Jo-Venn: Kree and Skrull children who were once mortal enemies and now siblings. It's the kids first Halloween and they've made it their mission to obtain massive amounts of candy by hitting the neighborhood multiple times. To do this, N'Kalla will use her shape-shifting abilities to create a host of amazing costumes. Jo-Venn will just have to do his best to disguise his blue skin. This assignment will be tough work. But if anyone can pull it off, it's these two!

Meanwhile, Johnny Storm is on fire. And its all thanks to the wraith of Doctor Doom. Now unable to shut off his flame and reaching unprecedented temps, Johnny has become a pariah. That is until Reed Richards can find a cure; which based on how long it has taken Mr. Fantastic to cure The Thing, Johnny may have to wait. Hopefully, a play date with best bud Spider-Man can help alleviate some of the Human Torch's loneliness. 

Why am I not reading more of this series? I enjoyed the wedding issues between Ben and Alicia. And the addition of the two alien kiddos was fantastic. This was a solid issue full of drama, humor and heart. 

I've read a lot of Fantastic Four and besides the original team of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, Dan Slott might very well be the best FF writer of them all! This was a modern comic book that while very culturally appropriate, it wasn't the least bit preachy! How come all current comics can't be like this?

I think some Fantastic Four issues or trades collections are gonna be getting added to my wish list!

A perfect little Halloween read!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Curse of the Weird #1

Steve Ditko. Through his artistic lens, Ditko is a legend; having a hand in creating Spider-Man, Doctor Strange, The Blue Beetle and nameless others. But while I am fan of Steve Ditko the artist, I am even more of a fan of Steve Ditko the writer! 

A lot of this is due to the very first comic I ever bought (Ghostly Tales #152) featured a Ditko penned and penciled story. Though it was a reprint, I was hooked at a very young age. And so for Day 5 of my Halloween readings, I'm devoting some time to one of my all-time favs in Curse of the Weird #1.

It's true! This issue isn't 100% devoted to Steve Ditko. But it was a definite selling point to me. Curse of the Weird was a 1993 4-issue miniseries from Marvel. It was one of several short run series and one-shots published at this time that chronicled Marvel's rich horror history. This title focused on the pre-code horror published by Marvel's parent company- Atlas!

The first story was a Stan Lee/Ditko collaboration called 'Do Not Panic!' It's an alien first contact story with a great twist ending. 

Next up was a Russ Heath beauty called 'The Brain.' It looked like something destined for the pages of Vault of Horror or Tales From The Crypt. The only thing missing was that crisp, clean type-set style font. Well, that and a believable storyline.

Surrealist illustrator Basil Wolverton is featured in the third slot. 'The Eye of Doom' is reminiscent of Wolverton's magnum opus 'The Brain Bats of Venus'. So much to the point that this story too takes place on the same heavenly body! It's classic Wolverton! Not for everyone. But I loved it!

Things get wrapped up with a terrifying tale from Sub-Mariner creator Bill Everett. In 'The Man Who Owned a Ghost' a man trades away his soul in hopes of killing his wife. In typical Faust-fashion, things never go right proving you should never make a deal with a devil!

This is a very good collection of classic horror from before the beginning of the Marvel Age of Comics. Don't pass up Mort Todd's (Cracked Magazine) in-depth article about the creation of these fabulous lost tales. It's a little bit disjointed with randomly inserted images of other titles. But it also gives an intimate glimpse into one of my favorite eras in comics- the comic book scare of the 1950s. 

There's 3 more issues out there. I've never run across them. But they'll definitely be coming home with me when I do. 

4 great artists. 3 fantastic stories. Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Berni Wrightson: Master of the Macabre #5

I'm not wanting to be very dark in my Halloween readings this year. What with the stress of COVID and teaching and all. But I don't want to spend my whole countdown to All Hallow's Eve reading kiddie books either. So for Day 3, I'm turning to a trusted source for my horror- the one and only, Berni(e) Wrightson.

Before he made comic book history with the co-creation of Swamp Thing in 1971, Wrightson cut his teeth on a variety of publications such as Eerie and Creepy and a host of other books from long defunct comic publications. That's the premise for the 5 issue miniseries from Pacific/Eclipse Comics. 

Berni Wrightson: Master of the Macabre is an anthology celebration of the artist and writer's earliest and somewhat forgotten works. In this, the last issue of the miniseries, there are several stories of horror and gore. The first story revolves around a Dr. Frankenstein type character and his abused servant as they rush to feed the doctor's most recent discovery- the mysteriously titled 'It!' Then underground dwelling mutants go top side looking for survivors of an atomic holocaust. An elderly man kills his nagging wife who continues to berate the guy long after passing. Finally, there's a comedic yarn about a hillbilly who wont let death deprive him of his thirst for moonshine. 

There's also a couple of one-pagers for a series named after it's title character- Limpstrel. These are beautifully illustrated but their also a little too high brow. I just didn't really understand them. Maybe it's because they were intended for a fantasy mag called Witzend and not horror which is really more my thing.

You don't have to have the other 4 issues of this mini in order to enjoy #5. I have no idea where I got this book. Probably a dollar box or a grab bag. I don't recall even how long I've held onto this early 80s issue in my collection. But this issue was creepy fun and definitely a title that I'd like to get my hands on the rest of the run.

A very haunting masterpiece by one of the master of horror comics. 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars. 

Blue Devil #29

As you might recall, Blue Devil bought a condo which just happened to be the cousin to both the House of Mystery and House of Secrets. After allowing Cain and Abel to make some renovations, Dan Cassidy is ready to move into his new adobe. But there's only one problem: the House of Weirdness seems to be allergic to it's new owner. And now Blue Devil has an infestation problem. An infestation of imps! 

Boy does Cain hate imps!

A return to the kooky macabre roots of Blue Devil. The past 2-3 issues had been just odd. And while they were mostly great reads; they were far from perfect. Issue #29 was a perfection! 

If you love DC horror from the 70s and you like your superheroes a little on the zany- this is a dollar bin delight to search for!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Arrgh! #2

Day 2 of my Halloween countdown reads is a 1975 humor book from Marvel. During the 70s, the House of Ideas had the idea to publish several comedy related titles. Crazy, perhaps the most famous of the releases, was a magazine kin to MAD and Cracked. Not quite 70s Not Brand Ecch spoofed the company's super heroes. Aptly titled Spoof was designed to poke fun at TV and movies. And then there was Arrgh!

Arrgh! took on horror. Dracula. Frankenstein and his monster. King Kong. The Wolfman and the Mummy. Nobody in the realm of the creepy and crawly was safe from the likes of Roy Thomas, Marie Severin, Tom Sutton, Mike Sekowsky, Don Glut and others. When it came to this issue, unfortunately, the readers weren't safe either.

I own 3 issues of this series which lasted only 5 issues. I chose the beautifully silly cover penciled by EC Comics legend Marie Severin. It shows a trio of Universal Studios icons poking through the fourth wall into a theater of goofballs. I really thought I was in for a Bronze Age treat.

Once you open the pages, that great treat turns out to be a trick. The first story has a guy obsessed with late night horror movies on TV getting literally sucked into the action. It's a predictable story with bad jokes and lame parodies. For some reason, all of the characters have spoofed names which for characters in the public domain just doesn't make sense.

The middle tale had the most promise. A man living in a slum has a major roach problem. In the man's fervor to get rid of the bugs, he turns to a late night exterminator for help. Only there's a twist to just who this Orkin Man is there to get rid of. 

Lastly, in a very silly modern retelling of Frankenstein, the monster's criminal brain is replaced with a childlike brain. The prose was disjointed and the over-sexualized young girl that Frank becomes friends with was off-putting. 

Like I said, the middle story was the best one. It reminded me a lot of that story in Creepshow where the mean old man with a fear of roaches seals himself off in a hermetically sealed bunker. I wouldn't be surprised if known comic book lover Stephen King maybe read this Marvel story and was inspired by it. 

I wonder if that bug story with it's lack of humor was the reason that piece was the best. Tom Sutton (Vampirella) wrote all 3 stories here. And his just doesn't seem to have that right sense of humor. But his true horror take is quite good. I think if I hadn't accidentally spoiled the ending with a over thumb of the next to last page, that story would have been all that much better. Having the twist ending on the right and not on the left really harmed the reveal. You'd think EC vet Severin would've advised on that. But maybe the cover artist was only relegated to the cover.

An interesting look at an almost forgotten piece of Marvel Comics history that just fails at it's main premise: comedic horror.

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

Betty and Veronica: Friends Forever Halloween Spooktacular #1 (Family Comic Friday)

With Halloween Comic Fest 2021 cancelled, the amount of Halloween themed books available for kids of all ages is pretty thin. But fret not, the return of Family Comic Friday has got it's hands on the brand spanking new ghostly read from Archie Comics! Prepare for the fun-filled frights of Betty and Veronica: Friends Forever Halloween Spooktacular #1!

I guess it's not fair to call this a completely new Halloween special. Only the opening tale is a first run story. It has Dan Parent penciled Betty and Veronica going to a thrift store to shop for their Halloween costumes. At the shop, the girls find a wicked pointy hat which just happens to have magical powers. The fun had at the expense of the residents of Riverdale all seems like a treat until one of their tricks backfires and Betty & Veronica accidentally summon a frightening ghost that steals their supernatural chapeau!

There's 3 reprinted stories that round out this special. First up: a scary movie viewing at the Lodge estate prompts Veronica's cousin to have a wild encounter with a supposed UFO invader! 

Then in a classic story that I've read somewhere before, teenage witch Sabrina refuses to spend All Hallow's Eve with her folks. So she's cursed until midnight to creep around as an ugly troll creature. Never one to let a good opportunity pass, Sabrina decides to go to a Halloween party in hopes of winning the best costume award!

Lastly, Archie and Veronica run afoul of the mysterious Dr. Katt in a two-part thriller. I too remember this story. Just not as well as the Sabrina farce. This feline-centric story is rather creepy and a perfect read for those Riverdale and Afterlife With Archie fans out there.

I've been looking forward to diving into my cache of horror themed books to start my annual 10 days of Halloween readings. But I wanted to start with an honest-to-goodness Halloween special to kick things off first! Anything holiday related from Archie is a good way to dip your toe into the frights. The stories have an eerie tone to them; but they're wholesome enough to not keep you up at nights!

Fun for the whole fam!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Blue Devil #28

In this rather ridiculous episode, Blue Devil fights a villain with the abilities and powers of your standard helium balloon. 

This would otherwise be a forgetful story if it wasn't for the inclusion of Bryan Buck. Buck was a teen who won the 'Why I Should Be In Dare Devil' contest. His idea was that with his ability to make balloon animals, he could help our hero by making weapons and vehicles out of latex and air from his lungs. And so that's what editors and writers did in this story.

Did nobody else submit an idea? How bad were the other ideas? The mind boggles at all of this. 

Blue Devil is noted for being an absurdist title. Maybe B. Buck's idea was the most far-out. But then I have to ask: what were some of the more 'normal' ideas that got rejected?

A very doofy issue for sure!

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

Star Wars Adventures Vol. 1: Heroes of the Galaxy (Family Comic Friday)

Before I started teaching, I was writing regularly for an online publication. So, if a couple of these issues seem familiar, it's from when I was writing for them and then posting my reviews on this page. For today's Family Comic Friday, I return to Star Wars Adventures; re-introducing myself to the Ash Can as well as the first issue. 

When I went over to my local library a few weeks ago, I noticed that they had about 10 or so volumes of this series. Seeing a chance to save some dough, I've decided to read through the whole run. Thus, my return to a couple of issues previously reviewed.

Volume 1 starts out with protocol droid C-3PO and astromech R2-D2 providing an overview of the series. SWA promised tales from all aspects of the 3 film trilogies and the filler material. So you might get a story with Mace Windu then the reformed Imperial droid from Rogue One and a tale starring Poe Cameron. Issue #1 and 2 stars new trilogy break-out star Rey in a tale from before Episodes VII!

Each issue also contains a segment called 'Tales from Wild Space.' As the framing features characters from the days before Disney owned Star Wars, Star Wars Adventures promises to cover the now non-canon aspects of the Star Wars Universe- which is just fine with me. Seeing as Disney and Marvel are all about the multiverse and What Ifs..., I see no reason why this alternate reality aspect of a galaxy far, far away can't exist in some way as well!

Featuring stories by Cavan Scott (Star Wars: The High Republic) and Landry Q. Walker (Red Lanterns), what really impresses me is the artwork. Especially the main stories by Jughead's Derek Charm~ He's got that great cartoonist quality which makes him the Alex Toth of the modern era, in my opinion.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Blue Devil #27

When the cartoon creations of a beloved animator come alive at an awards show, it's up to Blue Devil and his pals to come to the rescue. But things get seven more screwy when those friends start becoming animated avatars as well!

Blue Devil is at it's best when it's at it's most zaniest! And this issue is straight up daffy!

Featuring some comic relief from the very earliest issues of this series, I am truly sad to see this overlooked titles' run coming to an end!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out 10 stars!

Blue Devil #26

What do you do if you get cut from your baseball team? If you're a disgruntled member of Metropolis' all-star squad, you find a robotics genius, suit up to look like a big green gargoyle, and seek revenge on your old teammates. 

Unfortunately, you're screwed if you decide to pick the day Blue Devil Dan Cassidy chooses to watch the national past time.

A great story with a fun mystery twist and lots of action!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Blue Devil #25

For you new to the comic book scene- holiday special issues is a thing. There are a bunch of Christmas books. Halloween comics are growing in popularity. Every once in a while, we get lucky with a Valentines or Thanksgiving book. But I've never seen a St. Patrick's Day themed book until now!

It's St. Patty's day in Metropolis Blue Devil is enjoying some suds at an Irish Pub when a bunch of Leprechauns run amok!  With Superman away, Big Blue must team up with the Man of Steel's best friend, Jimmy Olsen to get behind the rampage! They'll need all the luck of the Irish possible to save the day from this wee folk rampage!

Tons of Fun! I wish I could have waited to read this around St. Paddys. But I was on such a tear with getting through the Blue Devil run and I just couldn't wait. 

Whenever you decide to read this, just be sure to wear green!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars. 

Dear DC Super-Villains (Family Comic Friday)

After a lengthy hiatus due to the pandemic, Family Comic Friday is back!

My local library is where I get my hands on the latest all-ages releases. Thanks to COVID, the reading center was closed. Finally, that exile appears over and I'm back to reviewing family favorite graphic novels and more!

I've been looking forward to Dear DC Super-Villains ever since I read Dear DC Super-Heroes. I really felt after I completed the good guys book that a baddie version would be a natural sequel. However, I don't think the format works well with the enemies.

The premise of this series is that kids would write their favorite- or in this case- least favorite heavy hitters of the DC Universe with an assortment of questions. Michael Northrop (Rotten) again is the author of these dispatches. But it just doesn't seem like the right fit having super-villains corresponding with children. At least in this terse political environment...

Another thing that seemed off was a running story of how the Legion of Super-Villains is in chaos with leader Lex Luthor in jail. Gorilla Grodd really wants to be the new leader but nobody seems to want to take orders from an ape! This volume also ties in with a prison break and a run in with the heroes of the Justice League. In all, things in this read felt uneven.

Some segments were rather funny. I especially loved the banter between Catwoman and Batman. And Northrop's Harley Quinn was just perfect. Luthor too! But why is Katana a part of this? She's not a villain? Has she turned sides recently and I'm just not aware?

I enjoyed the whimsical artwork by Gustavo Duarte (Bizarro). He's just a fun artist to experience. I hope the kiddies like him too!

I'm not over with the Dear DC series. I think if they go back to the heroes with a book three, things could return to normal. Maybe a spooky edition with the members of Justice League Dark or a collection of letters to some of the most bizarre characters in the DC Universe like Adam Strange, Lobo and The Creeper. Or why not both!?

This was an enjoyable read that families will love. This sequel just didn't have all of the magic of the original. I guess that's sequels for you!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Blue Devil #24

Even though Blue Devil appeared in the pages of Fury of Firestorm, the character is definitely a part of the Superman realm. Maybe it's a legacy thing as Superman was the one to sponsor Firestorm's membership into the JLA. 

In this issue, Dan Cassidy is pitted against one of the Man of Steel's most creative foes- the Toyman. After a billionaire entrepreneur obtains the rights to the Toyman's playthings, the villain vows revenge. 

I'm way behind on catching up on my reviews of Blue Devil singles. And I'm not gonna lie: I don't remember this story at all! I guess it wasn't a stinker as I don't have any strong feelings against it. But then again, I don't have any strong feelings for the story. So, it wasn't anything special either.

Oh well...

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

Harley Quinn & Poison Ivy

Spiraling out of the events of Heroes in Crisis (which I have not yet read), Poison Ivy has returned from the dead. But Ivy's resurrection hasn't been easy as there appears to be something in the fabled Green causing the villain to turn into a literal vegetable. Leave it to BFF and soul mate Harley Quinn to do whatever it takes to fix her friend. And when it turns out that the Floronic Man, Jason Woodrue is behind Poison Ivy's flawed regeneration, Harley will go full Thelma and Louise in a cross-country escape!

This was a great Harley Quinn story in which you can tell how much she loves her best pal, Red. Jody Houser really captures this unique relationship extremely well. There's lots of great twists and turns in this road trip farce. Well, until the last chapter. For some reason the Supergirl writer takes a great story sprinkled with comedic fisticuffs and shove in as much 3rd action carnage as unnecessarily possible. What does Jody Houser think this is- a Marvel Cinematic Universe movie?

The artwork by Adriana Melo (Doctor Who: The Ninth Doctor) was good. But the cover artwork by Elena Casagrande (Catwoman) was superb! Too bad we couldn't get the entire story illustrated by her!

It was a good story that had an ending that just went off the rails. I'm okay with the disappointing end. But the last chapter that got us to it was a real put-off that ruined an otherwise flawless story.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

The Suicide Squad (2021)

 

If you put James Gunn in the director's chair, be ready for anything. 

Amanda Waller brings Task Force X back in action with the live action sequel to 2016's Suicide Squad in The Suicide Squad. (Yeah, that's not confusing...)

This time, Harley Quinn, Captain Boomerang and Rick Flagg are paired with an even more rag-tag group of super villains in order to restore democracy to a tiny island nation. A small junta that just happens to have it's hands on a super weapon capable of global destruction.

Once more, Margot Robbie is perfect as Harley Quinn. It's just a rotten shame that after 3 live action films now, they still can't find the right vehicle for her! 

The Suicide Squad was a total gore fest. Heads explode! Bodies get ripped to shreds. And limbs go flying- literally. Add to it an Elizabeth Warren level of liberal amount of F-bombs and a bunch of dick jokes, and the occasional trip to the toilet and you've get a glimpse what Guardians of the Galaxy might have been like if it wasn't a Disney venture. 

There's so many twists and red herrings that to go too much further into the plot would result in massive spoilers. So let's just focus on the tone of the film. It's R-rated. So, parents- don't take your kids to this expecting a family friendly film. 

And let's talk about DC Movies in general. When it comes to the comic books, DC is more lighthearted compared to Marvel. And I love that! I think DC having so many fictitious American cities like Gotham and Metropolis; instead of occurring in gritty Manhattan or L.A., gives DC Comics stories a tone of fantasy even when things are it's most darkest. When it comes to TV shows and cartoons, Warner Bros. captures that whimsy perfectly. But for some reason, when it comes to the big screen, Warner just insists in exploring the heart of darkness!

Could it be that since Warner Bros. doesn't cow-tow it's fan base like Disney does, that DC movies will keep pushing an envelope that nobody asked for? Think about Deadpool. It's probably the most dark toned Disney film in both sense of humor and seriousness. Yet for a character without any boundaries, the Merc with a Mouth was pretty much put in a box. It's a large box. But a container none-the-less!

With The Suicide Squad, maybe there was a box. But it was ripped to shreds. And then crapped on. A lot. Yes- there were some funny moments. Like when Task Force X interrogates mad-scientist, The Thinker, played by former Time Lord, Peter Capaldi. But for the most part, it doesn't feel like a DC Comics venture. This film is definitely a James Gunn venture and it reflects his time at Troma Films. 

Wait! That's it!!! This movie was like if  Lloyd Kaufman was able to secure the rights to a Task Force X movie and then made it like it was set in the Toxic Avenger universe! Maybe if they threw Toxie and Sgt. Kabukiman into the cells of Belle Reve along with King Shark and Polka Dot Man, I would have liked this film more. Instead, I'm left shaking my head. 

And putting all your chips behind John Cena's Peacemaker for the next HBOMax DC project?! Yuck! The character is completely unlikable. Which is weird, since I like John Cena. 

I also like DC Comics. No- I LOVE DC Comics! But when it comes to live-action super hero projects that I am most looking forward to in the next 12 months or so- most of my top-10 list is Marvel stuff. Warner Bros. went back to the drawing board with this movie. I wonder what projects were left on the blackboard, considered B-level stuff...

God Help Us All.

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.