Sunday, March 27, 2022

Marvel Comics Presents #75

The best segment of this issue didn't even really happen. It's all a dream of Franklin Richards and it focuses on his fears of his family being constantly targeted by Doctor Doom. This Dave Cockrum (Uncanny X-Men) penned and inked story is rather poignant. Has their ever been a story where Franklin gets in the middle of a battle and confronts Doom as to why why is he always hurting his daddy? If not, this story might be the closest we ever get to it! 

And if this idea happens sometime in the future, I hope I get contributor credit. Okay, at least a free autographed copy of the book. Sound good, Marvel?

I also liked the Meggan and Kitty Pryde centered Excalibur tale. It has them being held captive in the lighthouse while the rest of the team is away getting provisions on the mainland. It's a lot like Home Alone as these gunmen have zero idea just who they've taken hostage. 

The Weapon-X tale continues to go nowhere. The Shanna The She-Devil story looks to head into the final battle. I think the next chapter or so will be rather explosive. But this chapter still moved slowly. 

The artwork however, especially of an African priestess conducting a ritual, is rather alluring. Maybe it's the lack of clothes sported by the practitioner of black magic. Maybe it's the artwork of Paul Galacy (Master of Kung-Fu). Maybe it's Maybelline... Regardless of what it is, it's what helped bump this issue up into the Worth Consuming range.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.


Saturday, March 26, 2022

Life With Archie #172 (2022 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

To complete this task for the 2022 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge, 'bought from your favorite LCS', I could have gone hog wild. My favorite comic shop is a hybrid comic book store/used book shop called Books Do Furnish a Room in Durham, NC. I subscribe new releases from them. But I didn't want to review something brand new. As a result, I gave myself a budget of $2, with the parameter of finding something neat that I had never seen before. And this was what I found. 

It's the Summer of 1976 and it seems like everyone has bicentennial fever. The American government sponsored a pair of freedom trains that toured the county with over 500 artifacts as a traveling museum of Americana. The US mail sponsored a patriotic set of stamps. The Treasury Dept. produced commemorative quarters. In entertainment, Elvis put on a series of shows with songs devoted to the founding of America. The NFL had players wear patches on their jerseys. Companies like 7-Up, Kleenex, Duncan Yo-Yo,Snoopy, even a publisher of the King James Bible were among the countless brands that produced special bicentennial products that year. Yes, even the comic book industry got involved. 

Marvel's 1976 calendar was bicentennial themed. Jack Kirby's heralded return to Marvel kicked off with a Captain America treasury devoted to the founding of our country. DC produced a tabloid sized salute to America hosted by the Man of Steel along with a release of specially tagged covers. And Archie Comics released Life With Archie #172.

Titled 'Birth of A Nation', the story involves Archie and the gang travelling to Washington, D.C. on a school field trip. The friends travel to the Lincoln Memorial, the White House and other patriotic places of interest before heading to the National Archives. At that museum, the gang view the Declaration of Independence.

While reading the words of Thomas Jefferson, Archie finds himself transported back in time to 1773. No longer in D.C., Archie is now situated in Boston Harbor, dressed as an Indian and tossing tea into the drink. After taking part of the Boston Tea Party, Archie is chased by British soldiers throughout Beantown only to be saved by Paul Revere. Only Paul looks an awful lot like Jughead!

Soon Archie takes part in Paul Revere's midnight ride. After he completes his run, Archie continues to jump through time witnessing the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the winter at Valley Forge and other key moments during the Revolutionary War, all the while encountering important figures in history; only they're portrayed by members of the Archie gang.

This Archie story is a rare one in that it comprises the entire issue with one exception. There is a L'il Jinx one-pager that greatly satirizes the fervor of bicentennial commercialism. L'il Jinx's observation that all that collectibles and knickknacks being sold in honor of America's 200th birthday should be referred to as 'buy-cenetennial!' I think when it comes to the creators of this book, they definitely practiced what they preached.

Though there aren't any credits attributed to this issue, an online search credits Frank Doyle as the writer with Stan Goldberg and John D'Agostino on art. I'm pretty sure that Up With People and the Bicentennial Feel Good Committee (or whatever it was my mom always referred to) had some input with the script because this story paints an incredibly rosy picture of America. 

Currently, there is great debate in our over the teaching of critical race theory; especially in regards to how our country was formed. So I am not sure how this issue would be presented if it was released new today. Nor am I sure how well this book would be received.  But in 1976, Americans were trying to feel good again what with the aftermath of Watergate, the energy crisis and Vietnam. Thus, the pomp and circumstance surrounding the 200th birthday of the United State of America was promoted as a feel good party for its citizens. 

Life With Archie #172 definitely reflects a lot of that national pride. As a result of the ultra-positivism, some of this story reads kinda corny. Especially the closing part when Archie returns to the present day and is thanked by a National Archives security guard for being a fine teenaged patriot.

If you were looking for a Bicentennial time capsule to add to your comic book collection, this would be the issue to get. It's beauty is surely found in the eye of it's beholder. But there is no doubt that this comic is patriotic.

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

Completing this review completes Task #34 (Bought From Your Favorite LCS) of the 2022 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.







Friday, March 25, 2022

Captain America: The Korvac Saga (Family Comic Friday)

It's confession time. I've never read the entire Korvac Saga. I've read the first few issues of what is considered the prelude. When I was reading the original Guardians of the Galaxy Omnibus, I read the issues of The Avengers that guest-starred Yondru, Charlie-27 and Vance Astro. I had every intention to read the rest of the story. But I got to reading something else and next thing I know 7 years have passed. 

Recently, I found this book. A little big bigger than a digest, this volume reprints the 4-issue miniseries of the same name from 2011. This version of the Korvac Saga takes place quite early in the revived career of Captain America. A born military leader, Cap is butting heads with Iron Man over leadership of the team. Iron Man is more used to going with his gut on making a plan. For Captain America, everything is a chess game in a strategic plan of attack. 

As the story is opening up, the Avengers are getting their butts handed to them by a bunch of C-listers like Quasimodo and the Living Laser. Thanks to mostly sheer luck, the Avengers discover that these underdog villains had their powers and armor upgraded by a supposedly random nobody hacker named Michael Korvac. The capture of Korvac feels too easy to Cap. So he goes to the local jail in hopes of getting some answers. Instead, Captain America is meet by a group of super-powered mystery men who claim to be a sort of intergalactic police force from the year 3000 and they want Korvac back immediately! 

Then everything goes wonky...

Now Steve Rogers finds himself thrust into future. Kovac has revealed himself to be an insane android. And did we mention Korvac has taken control of future Galactus' warship? Threatening to destroy the entire universe, Cap must team with these Guardians of the Galaxy by storming the TAA II and claim the ultimate nulifier in order to stop an ultimate evil!

Captain America: The Korvac Saga was a fun read. But it was rated A for All Ages. Based on the fact that the original Korvac Saga was Comics Code Approved, it was all ages too. Technically. So why did we need a reboot? Was this an attempt by Marvel to garner interest in Captain America in younger readers in anticipation for 2011's The First Avenger? If so, why use the Guardians? 

And don't say that this book was designed to boost the Guardians in the eyes of young readers! Their movie wasn't for another 4 years. Plus, this isn't even the Star Lord, Groot and Rocket Raccoon version the team we're dealing with! And with Sony owning rights to Galactus and considering how obscure Korvac is to the casual Marvel reader, this miniseries being rated All Ages just doesn't make sense to me.

Don't get me wrong. This was an exciting book. Justice League Unlimited's Ben McCool's story is modern with a nostalgic touch. Craig Rousseau's (Marvel Her-oes) art and inks are dynamic. But the dialogue is terse, the vocabulary is too advanced and the lines are too thin for an All Ages read. I'd say this was more of a 11 and up type read. Maybe go 12 or 13. I know that kids read and differing levels. But I can't see a 4 year old reading this.

Featuring Avengers #167, the opening salvo of the original Korvac storyline, this is a volume older readers will probably enjoy more than the kiddies. 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Thursday, March 24, 2022

The Tick 20th Anniversary Special #1(2022 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

One bright shiny day at the Brockton, Massachusetts location of New England Comics, a lanky young man places a sketch on the store wall. At the request of one of the store managers, Ben Edlund submitted a portrait of an all-new costumed character called The Tick. Is he a hero? Is he a villain? Nobody knows because this was a character that Edlund came up with spur of the moment. 

A few weeks later, Edlund is asked to flesh out the character into a 3-page tale that would appeal the 14th and 15th volume of the New England Comics Newsletter (July-August & September-October 1986). The character was a hit with customers who quickly demanded more adventures. 

Seeing an opportunity in the burgeoning Indy comics craze of the mid-80s, NEC signed a deal with Edlund to create a new comic series based on the Tick. Originally, Tick was designed wearing a furry brown costume. But a fan vote updated the character into a sleek, navy blue uniform with animated antenna. Ben's dad helped to design the logo while the minuscule printing company Associated Printers (later Morgan Printing Inc.) jumped into the realm of comic book fabrication for the very first time. It took about 2 years, and with the Indy comic bubble having burst, about a dozen distributors, but the Tick #1 was shipped out to fans and nationwide comic sellers in 1988. Fingers were collectively crossed.

And the Tick was an immediate hit!

Jump forward to 2006 (or 2007 according to the publication date) and New England Comics was celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the creation of the Tick! A beloved animated series on Fox Kids, a cult-classic short lived live series on Fox, a secret fan club, and dozens of comic books and tons of merch later and the Tick still thrived. Naturally, it was time for a tribute one-shot. 

With The Tick 20th Anniversary Special, NEC culled from the numerous talented writers and artists who had previously worked on the character as well as other members of the Tick universe. The Man-Eating Cow, the Chainsaw Vigilante, and sidekick Arthur are among those who make appearances. (But where's Paul the Samurai?!) Creator Ben Edlund along with his dad, crafted a new 4-page center spread story that some consider the epilogue of the long-delayed Tick #13. And non-associated talent such as Matt Kindt (Mind MGMT), Scott Shaw! (Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew) and Fred Hembeck (Dateline: @#$%) make contributions as well!

While the grab bag of work is a mix of brilliant tributes and sorely-lacking fantasy, the price of admission is the lengthy articles that dig into the early history of The Tick. I really learned a lot and since the print was ultra small, I felt like I read a coffee table book's worth of comic book history. And eye strain to boot!

While I wasn't a big fan of the tributes, I definitely want more Tick. I also want to complete my collection of Tick back issues. If this book was meant to be an smorgsabord of Tick bites, it definitely whet my appetite and a trip to NEC's online Tick store is in my future.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Completing this review completes Task #7 (Already in Your Collection) of the 2022 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.




Wednesday, March 23, 2022

Excalibur: Weird War III (2022 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

With the July, 1989 issue of Excalibur (#10), the world was introduced to the 'Cross Time Caper'. A pac-man shaped robot that was an inter-dimensional gate along with a time traveling train took England's answer to the X-Men through time and space. The first alternate world the mutants visited was one in which the Nazis won World War II. 

Over the course of 12 issues, Excalibur's ranks grew by one when they visited King Arthur's court and added the tiny purple dragon Lockheed. They then took on some Silver Age members of the Marvel Universe, discover a UK inhabited by Cowboys and Indians, participate in a madcap grand prix and revert to alternate versions of the X-Men; all the while narrowly avoiding a group of extra-dimensional bounty hunters called Technet. 

With the conclusion of issue #24, the caper was over. Or was it?

In 1990, Excalibur would return to the world that started it all, Earth-597. The world where the Axis powers win the war! Hitler is now confined to a wheelchair with the Red Skull by his loyal side. Not confined is Charles Xavier. In the role of Goebbels and Hauptmann, this Charles Xavier is making a play to overthrow the Fuhrer by experimenting on mutants and turning their life-force into unlimited psychic power. 

During the 'Cross Time Caper', Excalibur battled their evil selves. In Weird War III, the heroes have melded into one with their evil halves. Earth 616 and 597 have synced together, possibly as a residue aftermath of said Caper. Thus, as reality bleeds together, the two worlds become a bit of a chaotic mess.

I am a big fan of the 1988-98 regular series version of Excalibur. It was wacky fun by Chris Claremont and Alan Davis. With writer Michael Higgins' (The Infinity War) take on the 'Cross Time Caper', the story is incredibly dark and serious. I understand that Nazis aren't funny. But Weird War III felt more like a continuation of X-Men's 'Days of Future Past' than anything in the Excalibur repertoire. The same goes with the artwork by Tom Morgan. It's gritty and gangly. Very similar to Morgan's work on West Coast Avengers and Punisher 2099.

Overall, this story just doesn't feel like Excalibur. This is more like a Marvel MAX tale. And for fans, the results can be rather jarring. While the regular series relishes in the weird, Weird War III is not the right type of weird. Nor is it a proper spin-off.

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

Completing this review completes Task #21 (Graphic Novel Under 100 Pages Long) of the 2022 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Tuesday, March 22, 2022

Superman Annual #11

Have you ever thought really hard that you own something and yet for the love of it all, you just can't find it? That's how I was with this comic book. For the longest time, I thought I owned this beautiful issue. But it turned out that I merely had a reprinted version of the tale in the pages of DC Universe: The Stories of Alan Moore.

Well, that all ended this weekend when I found this book at the Raleigh Flea Market. It's a grail find! And I only paid $2 for a Fine or better copy!

'For The Man Who Has Everything.' 

The story has been made into both an animated episode of Justice League Unlimited and an episode of the CW's Supergirl. While I've never seen the Supergirl episode, the cartoon version was a classic. If somebody wishes to go into animation or adaptation script-writing, this should be required viewing. 

Right before he created Watchmen, Alan Moore scripted this delightful double-sized story. It's Superman's birthday. Batman along with Jason Todd, and Wonder Woman have traveled to the Fortress of Solitude to bestow the Man of Steel with gifts. But it turns out that someone has beat them to it. 

In the middle of the fortress stands Superman, entranced. A mysterious flower is wrapped around his body and its thorns are penetrating his supposedly impenetrable body. Inside Superman's mind, Kal-El is on Krypton. It didn't explode. However things are far from paradise.

Jor-El lost face and his position with the Science Academy because his prediction of mass destruction never came to pass. Now Jor-El is embroiled with a group of militants that long to see the old days of Krypton restored. This extremism has caused fractures between the members of Kal-El's family and now the entire House of El is in peril.

I've been a fan of this story for a very, very long time. I love how Superman loses control against the villain who is behind this plot. Normally, the Man of Steel pulls his punches. But since the antagonist is almost as powerful as he is, Superman just beats the living snot of them! 

As this is a re-read, I noticed how much more powerful and terrifying the scenes on Krypton are. Alan Moore's chaotic look on the formerly doomed planet reminds me of how bad things are these days on planet Earth. Jor-El's fanatic cronies remind me of several key players that on really putting a spin on things. I'll make sure that I DON'T SAY anything further about it.

With illustrations by fellow future Watchmen artist Dave Gibbons, Superman Annual #11 is one of the greatest stories ever told and one of my personal favorites. So glad I got to finally add this book to my collection!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Monday, March 21, 2022

Marvel Comics Presents #74


Once again it's the one-and-done tales that steal the show. 

Former baddie turned merc, the Constrictor takes on a case that hearkens back to the death of Capt. George Stacy.

Then it's another tale of fire and ice as the Human Torch and Ice-Man re-join forces to take on a group of fire-powered villains who have kidnapped Johnny Storm's wife, Alicia Masters. 

Both are way better stories than the Weapon-X story that doesn't seem to really do anything and the Shanna the She-Devil story just doesn't seem to go anywhere. Though I am wondering why if you knew you were going up against a bunch of bad guys that utilize fire, why would you pick a mutant with ice powers? What? Was Angel unavailable? 

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

Sunday, March 20, 2022

Did You Hear What Eddie Gein Done? (2022 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

On a cold November evening in 1957, at a decrepit farmstead in Wisconsin, sheriff's deputies will make a horrifying discovery that will fracture the American psyche. 

Thus begins the legacy and legend of Ed Gein. A murderer and body-snatcher, Ed was raised by an over-bearing mother and a cuckolded alcoholic father. After the death of his father and mysterious death of his brother Henry, it was just mother and son. And Ed was in heaven. But that paradise was fleeting. 

No less than a year after Henry's passing, mother Gein died too. And an already mentally fragile Ed snapped. Ed first tried to dig up his mother. But she was encased in a concrete underground vault. So Gein began to dig up the bodies of recently deceased women of similar age and built to mother and he got creative. 

When the sheriff deputies raided Gein's home in 1957, they found the body of hardware store owner Bernice Worden. She had been shot and mutilated. But on top of that, the authorities found the remains of what would be estimated 40 more women. Roughly trained in taxidermy, Gein used the bodies to make a demonic assortment of arts and crafts. And he had made masks and suits in a bizarre attempt to resurrect his mother.

If this story sounds vaguely familiar, it should. Gein's handiwork went on to inspire writer Robert Bloch in the creation of his 1959 novel Psycho. It would later become an Alfred Hitchcock feature film and all-time classic of horror and film studies. Texas filmmaker Tobe Hooper would play on the Ed Gein family dynamic and desire to dress in human skins in the Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie series. Gein's influence would later pop up in the 80s as the godfather of slasher films culminating in 1991 with the main baddie Buffalo Bill in the Oscar willing Silence of the Lambs.

Jump forward to 2021 and the story of Ed Gein is still terrifying millions. Did You Hear What Eddie Gein Done? is a graphic novel account of the story of Ed Gein. Written by horror writer and Gein biographer Harold Schechter, this book takes an all-encompassing look at the horrors committed by Ed. It dives into the family history, the cause and effects of an over-bearing mother, the fact and legends surrounding Gein's crimes. 

There's considerable time spent exploring Gein's questioning by authorities, including psychologists and criminologists. Readers spent time jury stands during Gein's numerous court appearances. And we visit him during his final days in a state run facility for the criminally insane. All around this story, Schechter reveals how the horrors of Ed Gein changes American family norms, our sense of security, and thelurid desires of entertainment. 

Helping Harold Schechter on art is Eric Powell. The creator of the black comedy Dark Horse series, The Goon, Powell's resume is one of noir, freakish crime and macabre humor. I've seen a couple of documentaries on Ed Gein prior. So I have a fairly good idea what Ed Gein looked like. Eric Powell does an amazing job making Gein and the other major players look like they did in real life. Maybe even better. 

This graphic novel looks like a crime dossier. The black and white art embellished with this moldy green hued cover and chapter breaks gives everything a slightly spoiled look to it. I think it symbolizes the rotting of Gein's victims as well as the decay of the American dream. If I'm wrong, I'm wrong. But, the palette elicits an unsettling affect. 

For those who enjoy tales of the bizarre and macabre, Did You Hear With Eddie Gein Done? is the graphic novel tale of true crime you have been looking for. Definitely not a graphic novel that is safe for work, the horrors contained inside literally was the stuff nightmares are made of. I could only read this book on weekends because I didn't want to be in a dark mood during the work week. But I would not trade this book for anything- except for maybe an autographed copy!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars. 

Completing this review completes Task #38 (That Is A Murder Mystery) of the 2022 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Saturday, March 19, 2022

Marvel Comics Presents #73

Wolverine's Weapon X story shows just how much pain and torture the mutant went through. No wonder Logan had no memories of this and his life prior for a very long time.

The Shanna the She-Devil story is going through what I consider a chess-move phase. Nothing huge is happening other than getting all the main players into position for the final act. Sometimes you only need 1 chapter to do this. Some writers take several. And it's not always a bad thing. We'll see if Gerard Jones, in his Marvel Comics debut, can do this succinctly or make too many moves and bore me to tears.

There are 2 one-shot stories in this issue. The Black Knight stars in one. Namor, The Sub-Mariner in the other. 

I've always thought that the Black Knight was an aesthetically fun character. But I hate the concept that he'll be eternally damned if he kills anyone with that family heirloom sword of his. If it was me, I'd ditch the bad sword for a non-soul crippling one. Or just not be a superhero and leave the hunk of junk on the family estate mantle. Only thing about this story I liked was the all too brief appearance by Doctor Strange.

The Namor story was a little better. He decides to help a sub full of Soviet/Russian sailors from destruction. A good story that showed the promise of the collapse of the Berlin Wall and the end of USSR. Unfortunately, in today's climate, it really seems that this archaic story could become timeless if certain evil parties succeed in Eastern Europe. 

Not a very thrilling issue. But one that is timely all of a sudden.

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

Friday, March 18, 2022

The Time Museum Book 1 (Family Comic Friday)

Written and Illustrated by Salt Water Taffy's Matthew Loux, The Time Museum was one of the most refreshing and brilliantly smart graphic novels for older elementary school grade readers that I have read in a very long time. 

In the debut book, young Delia Bean has just learned that her beloved Uncle Lyndon is actually a time traveler. The founder and curator of the Time Museum, it's Lyndon's job to prevent tears in the space-time continuum from destroying time itself.

Seeing promise in Delia's abilities, the youngster is chosen to participate in the Time Museum's intern program. But first, she must earn a spot against 5 other candidates in a trio of tests arranged throughout history, past and future!

During her tests, Delia meets another time traveler. A mysterious man who calls himself the Grey Duke. Is he friend or foe? Or maybe a little of both? 

I completely loved this book. The characters are perfectly written. The concept is creative and there are a bunch of mysteries that I must know the answers to! And I love the relationship, albeit ever so cautious, between Delia and the Grey Duke. It's a lot like the one between the Doctor and River Song. Now, I'd go more in depth on this. But I am afraid I'd spoil things. True, this book was written in 2017. But I would hate to spoil the surprises in this amazing story.

Being a book from 2017 is also a downside to me. Thankfully, there is a book 2 out there for me to read. But that book dropped in 2019. It's 2022 and I don't see a third volume on the horizon. Maybe Matthew Loux wraps things up nicely in that book. But I would hate for such a promising series to be confined to only a pair of reads. 

I guess I'll just have to read that sequel and find out for myself. 

So if the young reader in your life likes time travel, history, intriguing mysteries and maybe some thunder lizards, then a trip through the Time Museum might be in your family's future. 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Thursday, March 17, 2022

The Green Team: Teen Trillionaires #1 (2022 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

In 2011, DC Comics decided it was time to reboot their comics line once again. First up in this New 52 were the obvious retooling of the adventures and origins of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and the Justice League. A few months later, there was an announcement for a new addition that left many of us doing a double-take. Returning to print was those junior tycoons, The Green Team after a nearly 40 year absence from store shelves.

Created by Joe Simon and Jerry Grandenetti, The Green Team was first featured in the May, 1975 issue of DC 1st Issue Special #2. The Green Team originally was a group of child millionaires that sought out adventures by investing in new and exciting projects for the investment sum of a flat one million dollars. The 2013 reboot took into effect inflation. To be a member of the 2013 Green Team, you had to have a trillion dollars or in the case of leader Commodore Murphy, the promise of such. Murphy will inherit a trust fund of $64 million dollars upon reaching his 21st birthday. 

Modern day Green Team members also were teens instead of pre-pubescents. Comprising the new team was superstar actress Cecilia Sunbeam and oil tycoon J.P. Houston. J.P.'s twin sister Lucia Lynn is an honorary member. There's a fourth member of the team, the Arab prince Mohammad Qahantii. But as of the first issue, the prince isn't a member yet.

The debut issue starts off with Prince Mohammad searching out the Green Team. Eager to proof himself to his wealthy father, the prince secretly travels to a pop-up expo of scientists and researchers eager for Green Team backing. But instead of impressing the Green Team, Mohammad accidentally alerts a team of madmen eager to kill Murphy and his wealthy pals. 

That's where issue #1 ends. I don't own the remaining 7 issues of this short-lived series. I also wasn't expecting to be a fan of this book. But despite the millennial take on the Green Team, I enjoyed this book. Social media wasn't something anywhere on the horizon in 1975. But the excessive of use of Wi-Fi is a natural progression of events in this comic. What I didn't expect is for Commodore Murphy planning on becoming a superhero. But once the madmen attack the expo, the Green Team leader activates a digital set of armor a la Iron Man. 

The 2013 series was written by Art Baltazar and Franco (Tiny Titans). This is one of the duo's few Teen rated works. Normally, the pair are known for their all ages family fun. On art duty was the Brazilian Ig Guara (Lockjaw and the Pet Avengers) with regular covers by Harley Quinn's Amanda Conner.

The original Green Team was supposed to garner at least 2 issues. But editorial retooling and the DC implosion made it a scraped project. The modern cousin was hoped to run 52 issues. It only made it to 8, one of the first casualties of The New 52's second wave. So far, the reboot has never been compiled into a trade paperback or hardcover. So for collectors and interested parties into the rest of this story, such as I, we'll need to test our luck in the bargain bins for a good deal!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Completing this review completes Task #1 (With a Color In The Name) of the 2022 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

DC 1st Issue Special #1 (2022 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Challenge)

Thanks to a rumored paper shortage thanks to Marvel Comics, Carmine Infantino released a number of new series. The thought was if DC boasted a large enough order, they wouldn't miss out on the limited amount of newsprint held by their distributors. Out of this game plan, DC released an anthology series similar to Showcase Presents titles titled 1st Issue Special. 

The debut issue feature Jack Kirby's premiere of the mythologcial character Atlas. Kirby had previously tooled with the character to little avail. Issue #2 featured Kirby's former creative partner Joe Simon. Along with artist Jerry Grandenetti, Simon created a kid-centric title called The Green Team. 

The Green Team was comprised of 3 child millionaires. There's the Commodore, a shipping magnate with a toy boat that really pops! JP Huston is an oil tycoon who is more interested in adventure than digging oil wells. Cecil Sunbeam is a director who never uses a script but manages to produce amazing blockbusters. 

As the Green Team, these boy millionaires meeting regularly to agree on funding projects for the price of a cool million bucks. Through the crack pots and the occasional greedy Gus, the Green Team wade through the proposals to find the diamond in the roughs in hopes of making more money of their investments.

The only rule to join the Green Team is that the members must have at least $1 million dollars in their bank accounts. Thanks to a computer error that pays off in the stock market, the Green Team has welcomed it's newest member- Abdul Smith, a black shoeshine boy who longs to be a part of an elite club. 

In the Green Team's first adventure, they fund a project that promises to replace print, music, TV and movies with the ultimate pleasure experience. All done by computers. A shyster leads a protest of actors and performers who claim the Green Team's latest venture will put them out of a job. But deep down, the protest leader is just hoping for a shakedown. And he'll get his just desserts when he barricades himself into the pleasure-dome as the human mind just can't handle that much entertainment!

1st Issue Special marked the only official full comics appearance of the Green Team. The response to the comic was enough to green light a regular series. Two issues were plotted out and illustrated. Unfortunately, the DC impulsion resulted in the series being scrapped. Only those lucky enough to get their hands on the fabled 2-volume Cancelled Comics Cavalcade got to read those tales. 

Other than the occasional cameo, the Green Team operated in the shadows of the DC Universe. Then in 2013, with the New 52, the Green Team finally returned to print. Thanks to inflation, members had to be trillionaires to join the club. Cecil was gender-swapped into Cecilia. Adbul was replaced as the young Arab prince, Mohammed Qahtanni. Instead of longing to fund exciting projects, this Green Team sought to become superheroes who used money to save the day. The series lasted 8 issues. 

As for the issue itself, this is an odd duck. The artwork is great. But it's also a product of the times. With Simon and Grandenetti being in the later stages of middle age, their attempts at teen lingo was about a decade out of date. The addition of the colored Abdul was revolutionary for it's time, marking him as one of the first black characters in comics that wasn't portrayed as a stereotype or sidekick.

Honestly, I was surprised to learn that the Green Team was popular enough to merit a potential series. But it really doesn't surprise me that it got the ax considering how unlike DC this title was. The Green Team reads more like a satire of America's growing millionaire culture. With the boys admitting that their theme park was a failure so they'll have some fun blowing the structure to bits, this issue was more like something you'd expect to find in the pages of Mad Magazine. Not as a DC Comic. Experimental or otherwise.

Not Worth Consuming!

Rating: 4 out of 10 stars.

Completing this review completes Task #24 (With A Green Cover) of the 2022 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.


Wednesday, March 16, 2022

Marvel Comics Presents #72

Because of the cover subject matter, this is the most valuable and in-demand issue of the entire series. Price guides list a cover price of anywhere from $25-35 for a near mint cover. How I got this for just 32 cents is beyond me. 

Issue #72 presents the much requested Weapon X origin story of Wolverine. Not his origin story as it had been earlier revealed that Wolverine was way older than he looked and that he was not born with adamantium bones; this issue reveals how Logan got his metal infusion.

As for the first chapter, it starts off great. Then things go from your normal storytelling to the notes of an unknown professor who is tasked with putting Logan through a hellish amount of tests. Instead of straight-to-the-point record keeping, we get a bunch of supposition, cliches and flowing imagery. It's like this researcher is a doctor of literature not biology and genetics. 

The whole thing is the single work of Barry Windsor Smith (Machine Man). The art. The writing. The inking. Even most of the lettering. I like Smith's work. His art is great. But I don't like how he writes for the narrator. I just don't buy it that a ruthless medical researcher would be using his lab notes to write the next great American novel. 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.


Tuesday, March 15, 2022

The Fantastic Four Anniversary Tribute #1

Late 2021 marked the 60th anniversary of the debut of the Fantastic Four. The previews of this book listed dozens of amazing artists and inkers along with Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Naturally, I thought that this tribute was going to be of dozens upon dozens of stories, one-pagers and pin-ups. And since Stan and Jack were listed, there might be some reprints or maybe some never-before-seen scripts and sketches. I was really excited. 

So on the New Comics Wednesday this book dropped, I sprinted over to my favorite LCS after work and bought me a copy. Then for some reason, I didn't read it until last night. And boy was I disappointed.

Instead of all new takes on the First Family of Marvel Comics, the abundance of art talent were each given a page from Fantastic Four #1 and Annual #3- the marriage issue between Mr. Fantastic and the Invisible Girl. In other words we get the amazing stories written by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. But no Jack Kirby art! I don't know whether this is yet another kick in the nuts to the legacy of Jack the King from the House of Ideas or I got taken for $7! Maybe both!

I think if Marvel had went the extra mile to assign a team of writers to the rest of the art crew and have greats like Neil Gaiman, John Byrne and Alan Moore rewrite each page to reflect their style, I would have been okay with a retelling of those two classic comics. But to just remix the artwork is not at all what I expected or wanted in a tribute comic. 

Don't get me wrong. Seeing Adam Hughes, The Allreds and many, many more superstars put their thumbprint on the Fantastic Four's earliest, greatest hits was fun. I enjoyed attempting to guess who illustrated what and checking to see if I was right. But again, I felt like I was promised something I didn't get. 

A nice tribute that doesn't pay full homage to half of the creators of the FF. Thankfully, I didn't pay more than I did.

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.


Monday, March 14, 2022

ET-ER #1

When an up-and-coming emergency medicine doctor witnesses an after hours car crash in the hospital parking lot, she scrambles to the scene. It's a decision that will change Dr. Chen's life forever. A team of orderlies quickly arrive and take the victim to the basement. But there's no emergency ward in the basement! Is there?

Underneath a major medical center somewhere in the United States, there's an emergency room for intergalactic patients. And they serve anyone, anytime. From a convalescent that is a literal planet killer to an invalid with a weaponized immune system to a medium-sized green man in desperate need of a universal translator, Dr. Chen will learn the true meaning of universal healthcare. That is if she decides to join the staff of the ET-ER.

I wasn't expecting this story to take place on Earth. I was thinking that the ET-ER was going to be like Grey's Anatomy on Deep Space Nine. Instead, this series is more like Men In Black meet Chicago Med. But I loved it. 

This late 2021 series was lauded as a one-shot from AWA as part of the publisher's Upshot imprint. Upon finishing this book, I was disappointed, thinking that my visit to the emergency room to the intergalactic stars was over. But I am happy to say that another issue is on the way sometime this year. There's a Frank Cho cover coming that I may have to pounce on!  I'm so ready to schedule a follow-up visit with this team of extraterrestrial physicians.

Oddball drama with sci-fi medical science. Featuring a slew of talent including Dan Panosian (Alice Ever After) and Mark Texeira (Moon Knight), it's the best care anywhere!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Sunday, March 13, 2022

Amazing World of Carmine Infantino (2022 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Challenge)


My Mount Rushmore of comics would be comprised of Stan Lee, Julius Schwartz, Will Eisner and Jack Kirby. After reading this book, I might have to change my line-up. 

I knew of Carmine Infantino's work on The Flash and ushering in the Silver Age of Comics. I was familiar with his work on Adam Strange and Star Wars. But I never really knew just how much of an influence on the DC Universe and comics itself that Infantino had until now.

If not for Infantino:

+ The look and feel of Batman would be very different including DC Comics' loss of rights to the character.
+ DC's 1960s beloved oddball characters such as Deadman, Detective Chimp, Bat Lash, and Strange Sports Stories would not exist. 
+ DC might have folded in the 1970s during a time when newly formed Warner Bros. was looking to unload the fledgling House of Superman that was being crushed by upstart Marvel Comics.
+ The policy of returning rights and artwork to artists might never occurred. Or possibly been seriously delayed well into the 80s or later.

And there is so much more. So much, it fills a volume!

Amazing World of Carmine Infantino is over 170 pages of comic book history. Filled with his artwork, sketches and words, this autobiography is also an oral history as many of Carmine's peers and influences offer insight. There's also a ton of praise from countless others who benefited from Infantino's talent and tutelage. 

Within the last year or so, I read the graphic novel biography of Jack Kirby. Having finished this autobiography, I see now how much Carimine Infantino was the Jack Kirby of DC Comics. He did everything. Infantino was a writer, plotter, artist, cover artist, editor, publisher and later DC Comics president. But unlike Kirby, Carmine didn't get as screwed by his publishers as The King did. As for when Kirby was with DC, the promised creator freedom didn't appear. Infantino doesn't seem to blame executives for the thriving failure of Krby's Fourth World as Jack always did. Infantino just blames poor sales and moves on.

Dosed Carmine paint a rosy picture of himself? To some degree. But he also seems not to bear grudges (though, boy, does he hate Bob Kane) and he is willing to point out his shortcomings and defeats. Don't expect to get too much a reveal in the artist's personal life once he gets going in the comics profession. 

An enjoyable book, Amazing World of Carmine Infantino highlights an exciting time in the comic book history- The Silver Age. If you are a Marvelite, you probably wont do flips for this book. But if you are also a comic book history, this is a fascinating account of how the 'enemy' operated in the early days of the war between DC and Marvel.

Now, who do I replace on my comic book Mount Rushmore???

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Completing this review completes Task #28 (Prose non-fiction about Comic Book History) of the 2022 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.



Saturday, March 12, 2022

The Nearly Complete Essential Hembeck Archives Omnibus

Fred Hembeck- The Man who launched a thousand optometry appointments. 

Fred Hembeck has been a part of my life for a very long time. From his hilariously deadly Fred Hembeck Destroys the Marvel Universe to his splash page spreads in Marvel Age to his similar postings in DC's Daily Planet, I cut my teeth on the cartoonist/comedian/comic book historian. While I am sorry for the bite marks, I am even more sorry to say that none of those amazing works I previously mentioned are in this book. 

The omissions are due to those works being owned by DC and Marvel and this massive work was published by Image. But packed within this 900 page behemoth are all of Fred (and your) favorite characters. Superman. Spider-Man. Jimmy Olsen, The Hulk, Nick Fury, Bizarro. Dennis the Menace. Wife Lynn and daughter Julie. And of course Fred!

The majority of work in this collection is from Hembeck's Dateline: @!!?#, a regular comic column that appeared in various incarnations of the Comic Buyers Guide. There's some rough drafts, experimental non-comic book related work. That tragic assault on a Native American family by US cavalrymen will haunt me till the day I die. Plus, there are dozens on comic book cover recreations; including some brilliant switches that take a DC icon and a Marvel regular and put them in the other's books. 

As I mentioned earlier, this book is just a fraction under 1000 pages. I should have finished this book in just a couple of months. But I took my time. For one reason, Hembeck is noted for using very, very tiny letters, as he's got lots to say on the subject of sequential art. So I would have to take breaks due to eye strain. Unfortunately, some of the Datelines didn't reprint very well either due to smudging or too dark inking. So I had to skip a couple of them as they were indecipherable. That being said, reading 2 or 3 of Fred's Dateline: @!!?# reports,which are normally only 1 page in length each, is tantamount to reading an entire magazine's worth of articles. 

If this type of writing/reviewing style sounds familiar, yeah it probably does. I do see a little bit of Fred Hembeck in my love of comics. Makes sense. I see a lot of my most beloved professors from my degrees in both culinary and history in my day-to-day professionalism. They say that if you spend 10,000 hours on something, you become an expert in it. At age 44, I probably qualify as such with comic books, though I still have much to learn. And Fred Hembeck was and is one of my comicdom professors. 

Oh, yeah... The other reason for taking so long to finish this work! I didn't want my time with Hembeck to end!  I've been honored to be a Fred Hembeck acquaintance for almost a decade now. I bought a Supergirl sketch card from him on eBay and wound up a friend on Facebook. Every year, my family look forward to his witty (and long) birthday wishes to me. Now we've evolved into rivals playing each other on a music trivia app. 

So when I closed the book on this for the last time I was sad. But then I realized that Fred has a website. And it is still accessible. So I've got lots more education to gain from Mr. Hembeck!

And sir- if you're reading this- Very sorry for those bite marks! Hope they've healed!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.


Friday, March 11, 2022

Marvel Comics Presents #71

The Wolverine and Ghost Rider story comes to an end. Finally! Too many ninjas. Too much backstory of a family that isn't interesting. Too many chapters. It all comes to a close!

More deaths fill the pages of the Shanna the She Devil segment. But at least no animals were harmed in the illustrating of this chapter. 

The Daredevil story takes a great turn in a apocalyptic story that is becoming a whodunit. Very good story that just has an implausible overtone to it.

The New Mutant Warlock stars in the one-shot story. This was a story that I wish Marvel had followed up on. In it, Warlock saves a FBI agent from a group of mutated scientists with the ability to change their shape. Kinda like Clayface- only with flesh instead of mud. And there is 3 of them!

Anyways, the story had a setup where the FBI agent offers Warlock a place in the agency and I really think Marvel should have done a miniseries on the pairing of the straight-laced fed and the wacky New Mutant. Another Scott Lobdell triumph that had a bunch of untapped potential. Too late to do something now...

A better issue. Maybe I am biased with the Wolverine/Ghost Rider story coming to a close. But I did enjoy reading this one.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

My Video Game Ate My Homework (Family Comic Friday)

Dewey Jenkins is a brilliant kid. He's great with electronics and gadgets. But because he is dyslexic, Dewey struggles in school. If he can't ace it in his science fair project, Dewey will spend his vacation in summer school. 

One of Dewey's best friends, Ferg, is the principal's son. While in his dad's office, Dewey's buddy accidentally breaks the science fair grand prize, an experimental new video game system. Since Dewey is such a tech wizard, he'll probably be able to fix it. But when the video game eats Dewey's science fair project, he'll need all the help he can get.

Along with his twin sister, her best friend and Ferg the butterfingers, Dewey must enter the video game to save his project. Or it's summer school for sure!

This is an interesting entry in the DC kids graphic novels. Works like The Secret Spiral of the Swamp Kid and We Found A Monster star characters that aren't DC Universe regulars but there are some official guest stars floating around. Not in this work. I don't even think super heroes exist in Dewey's world. Instead, the kids wear tees with Wonder Woman on them and discuss their favorite characters on Teen Titans Go! 

This graphic novel was written and illustrated by Dustin Hansen, a real video game expert. Hansen also has dyslexia. You know how they say writers should write what they know? Well, Dustin Hansen really does know his stuff! And he does an amazing job showing this Madman what dyslexia looks like from a suffer's eyes.

My Video Game Ate My Homework was extremely clever and creative. I didn't really understand the whole thing about the number of lives that a character has in the video game. But that's always been one of my weaknesses when playing video games. Dusten Hansen does what video game developers do very well; he creates a whole world. 

Now for my criticism that isn't really a criticism. I liked Hansen's artwork. The monsters in the game and the settings are awesome. The one thing that is a bit unusual for a DC Comic is that everybody look like the human Muppets from Sesame Street. The round noses that are different colors from the rest of the body. The round eyes the size of billiard balls. The lanky arms and legs. I'm wondering if Hansen graduated from the Jim Henson school of art!

A really great graphic novel for 8-12 year old readers with a message. Perfect for those with learning disorders, fans of video games and of course, those who love comics and graphic novels. 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.



Thursday, March 10, 2022

Marvel Comics Presents #70

 Oh my God- this awful Wolverine/Ghost Rider story just will not end. I'm getting so tired of it.

The one-and-done story stars Black Widow as she battles with an old Soviet era friend over the soul of another Russian colleague. I thought maybe that one of these extra characters might be from Natasha's family in the Black Widow movie, but they're not. Would've been cool if it was!

The Daredevil story continues to be really good. Except that the 1991-92 idea of what an NYC lock down would look like is nowhere near what the real thing in 2019-21 was. 

I am also torn as to the Shanna the She-Devil story. It's really good with amazing artwork by Marvel Adventures' Paul Gulacy and I love the character of Dubose Wilson. But they keep maiming these magnificent looking beasts. At least it was not a cute little puppy or pussy cat. But I hate it when they hurt animals. Yes- even when they are just drawings and not the real thing.

An okay issue. But not one of my top favs.

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

Wednesday, March 9, 2022

Marvel Comics Presents #69

I might be sick and tired of the Wolverine/Ghost Rider team-up story. But I am in love with this cover! It's by Sandy Plunkett and Alan Weiss and it just may be in my top-10 favorite covers of all time.

The Shanna the She-Devil story is building. No gratuitous animal murders in this chapter. But we do get introduced to a diamond smuggler named Dubose Wilson in this issue. He's been stiffed by the guy who killed the zoo animals in the last issue and he's on route to Africa as well. I see this character as being played by Richard Pryor back in the 90s. Today, he'd probably be portrayed by Kevin Hart. Needless to say that Dubose is smarmy. But he's also likable.

A new multi-parter starring Daredevil begins in this issue as well. There's a heatwave going on and the Big Apple is on lock-down thanks to some rabid wild dogs. The story is quite good. But based on what I know having just experienced a lock-down, I find it hard to believe that the entire city would be shutdown thanks to a bunch of ravenous dogs. It was barely shut down because of COVID. Clearly, there aren't any packs of dogs in Jersey. Couldn't the National Guard come in a terminate these pooches? There's just a big chunk of plausibility that's missing from this story.

Lastly, in a single issue tale, the Silver Surfer encounters a sentient space ship that has been so terribly lonely for way too long. A heartbreaking story that will leave you in tears over a flying saucer. 

Not a bad offering this time around. The cover is just a thing of beauty. It alone is worth the asking price.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Monday, March 7, 2022

Marvel Comics Presents #68


Marvel Comics lied! Last issue the editors said that the Wolverine/Ghost Rider story was coming to an end in this issue. It said in the last panel 'To Be Concluded.' In this issue, things wrap up with a 'To Be Continued.' Gosh darn it! This blasted story is still going to keep going- for at least one issue. But still...

The Fantastic Four story does end in this issue. I knew it was coming. I didn't want it to. The villain is finally revealed and no, it's not Doctor Doom, The Frightful Four or Rama Tut. Instead, it's some alien race I've never heard of that looks like a cross between the Impossible Man and the FF in their purple astronaut suits. 

Starting up in this issue is a Shanna the She-Devil multi-parter. It's a good opener. But there's one graphic scene that just haunts me. It's of a slaughtered elephant. It was killed by poachers. Only the poaching didn't happen in the African wild but in a zoo in London! But due to this unspeakable killing, Shanna will be heading to the Dark Continent as she's got a pretty good idea just who is behind the carnage.

The one-and-done story is a charming story involving Lockjaw. He's with some of the Inhumans in New York City. But as a dog is want to do, Lockjaw senses something is wrong and goes off throughout the city. It's a good thing, because a land developer with even less of a heart than Shanna's poacher is about to torch a rundown tenement loaded with homeless and disadvantaged New Yorkers!

I hated the Wolverine/Ghost Rider entry. I'm just getting tired of it. The Fantastic Four story was good. But I didn't want it to end. The Shanna story is good. But I hate it when animals get mistreated. Even sketched and inked ones. And that Lockjaw story was fan-dam-tastic! So good. If Scott Lobdell and Jose Delbo had done a miniseries of Lockjaw adventures a la Lassie, I'd be all over the web to get my hands on it. Great story!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.


Sunday, March 6, 2022

Marvel Comics Presents #67


After 7 chapters, the Poison story comes to a much overdue end. I did like the ending for Poison and her son. But this story was way too long! 

Speaking of too long, the Wolverine/Ghost Rider cover story is only at part four. But things are getting too convoluted. Thankfully, the end of this segment promises to be concluded next issue. 

On the other hand, the Fantastic Four story could go on forever! In this chapter, it's Flame-heads' time to shine. 

Speaking of Flame-heads--- Spider-Man takes on a pyromaniac named Blowtorch. According to the Marvel Wiki, this is his only Marvel appearance. If it was based solely on appearance, I kinda understand. Blowtorch's costume looks like a flea market knockoff of a stormtrooper and a Shogun Warriors robot.

2 good stories. 2 entries that is/have worn out their welcome. 

Hoo-hum again.

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

Saturday, March 5, 2022

Marvel Comics Presents #66

Somebody is pitting the original members of the Fantastic Four up against android versions of themselves. With the first couple of bouts involving Mr. Fantastic and the Invisible Woman, only one android was needing. But in this chapter starring the Ever Loving Blue-Eyed Thing, the mysterious robot maker has to assign a whole replicant lineup of the Marvel First Family! It's Clobberin' Time!

I've started to lose interest in the Poison story. I my opinion, with the main antagonist gone, it's time for the man behind the curtains to lay low.  Mop Man should be a man in the free. But the mob boss whose hit man failed to kill Mop Man has taken the loss personal and sent more minions after him. Dude, you're in the clear! There's nobody after you. Even Poison doesn't seem to care. Focus on running some guns or finishing a big drug deal. Don't go asking for trouble!

I'm thinking our mob boss should be added to the annals of dumb criminals. 

With the single issue story, it stars the Voluminous Volstagg. Normally the cowardly part of the Warriors Three, in this story, Volstagg steps up for a damsel in distress. Too bad this is all a ruse to make the Asgardian look the fool.

Oh. And Wolverine and Ghost Rider make a plan and split up to take on the band of murderous ninjas. This is mostly a filler segment of their team-up. 

Hoo-hum.

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

Friday, March 4, 2022

Marvel Comics Presents #65

Well it wouldn't be Marvel Comics if Wolverine and Ghost Rider didn't meet for the first time and respond by beating the living (and unliving) crap out of each other!

This issue's Fantastic Four chapter focuses on the Invisible Woman who comes face-to-face with the Invisible Girl! This segment definitely makes me wonder 'when did the Invisible Girl become the Invisible Woman?' I can imagine some of my friends and even family members with some very inappropriate answers. But really- when did the change become official? I've read up to about 1975 in the complete run of FF adventures and Sue Storm is still being referred to as girl. I may have to research this.

The one-shot story involves that sibling of Thanos from another mother, or is it father?- Starfox! The idea is that a legend of the blues escaped death and became an even bigger legend on the moon of Titan. It's all thanks to Starfox. But I gotta wonder- why him when there are clearly some bigger names in blues music who preceded him? And why Starfox? I've read a few Avengers issues with Starfox and I've never know him to be a fan of the blues. Maybe I missed something. But this story seems really out in left field.

Once again the Poison story is really odd. And like a car accident, I can't turn away from it. Put it this way- there's a definite moral to be learned from this chapter. If you hire a mob boss to send a hit man to kill the ex-boyfriend and the ex ends up killing the hit man because of latent super human powers, don't expect a refund. Maybe also don't expect to live after you request said refund as well as asking for a do-over.

Another good issue. MCP isn't blowing me away right now. But it's not the worst stuff I've ever read either.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

GI Joe: Saturday Morning Adventures #1 (Family Comic Friday)

The book I am reviewing today is one that I am really excited about. Yeah it came out last week. But I hadn't got my issue until after last Family Comic Friday's press time. 

GI Joe: Saturday Morning Adventures gives us old fogeys a chance to relive the thrill of watching a new animated episode when you got home from school. Okay- at least in my neck of the woods, G.I. Joe came on every weekday at 4pm on channel 22. Maybe for writer Erik Burnham and illustrator Dan Shoening the show came on on Saturdays. Hence the title. But for kids in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area, we said 'Yo Joe!' every Monday-Friday afternoon!

In this brand new series from IDW Publishing, Cobra Commander has come into possession of the legendary magic lamp of Aladdin. With only 3 wishes, the villain must choose wisely if he hopes to conquer the planet! Wish #1 is for a squad of giant BATS- Battle Android Troopers. But because Cobra Commander is such a massive tightwad, a Cobra squad is only 5 deep and one of the androids has already been wiped out by the Joes! With only 2 wishes and 4 BATS remaining, Cobra has got to get creative if they're going to be triumphant.

This first issue was like watching the first episode of 'The M.A.S.S. Device'. All your favorite characters bad and good were there. (Okay- I don't remember seeing Snake Eyes.) There's action. There's adventure. And then there's that darn 'To Be Continued!' 

But we do get one of those great PSAs at the very end. It deals with the modern plague of online bullying. But it's still ended with 'Knowing is half the batlle.' (And for those of you not in the know- the other half of the battle is 25% red lasers and 25% blue lasers.)

As soon as I finished issue #1, I was online with my comic book guys placing a subscription for the rest of this series run. I'm not sure how many issues this story will be. But if I had to guess, it's probably going to be 5 issues long as the opening storyline for each season was always 5 episodes in length.

If you were a kid of the 80s, you're going want to go out and grab this book. You'll relive a lot of memories and share some with the young reader in your life too! The storyline is classic. The artwork looks like stills from an unaired episode of the original series. This is something everyone is gonna love! And hey! Maybe if this is a hit, we'll see other 80s toons get the Saturday Morning comic book treatment as well!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Thursday, March 3, 2022

Marvel Comics Presents #64

Vampires are the subject once more for the second issue in a row with a one-and-done starring Blade! With appearances of Safron Caulder, Hannibal King and Frank Drake, this felt like a missing issue from Tomb of Dracula. Old Fang-Face is mentioned. But he doesn't appear. Darn!

The Fantastic Four start off a 5-part series. It looks like the first 4 parts are going to focus on a single member of Marvel's First Family. First up is Mr. Fantastic.

Wolverine and Ghost Rider... AND Ninjas! Logan's foes are in Madripoor. Danny Ketch's are in Brooklyn. And it looks like both anti-heroes are heading for a showdown in the heart of Manhattan!

Meanwhile Poison finally meets the Mop Man and the reason why someone is trying to kill this poor paranoid schizophrenic with special powers is finally revealed. And it's one of the dumbest reasons for trying to kill a man. Apparently, when Mop Man is sane- he's quite the lover. And so jealous boyfriend who is like a wealthy day trader with fancy apartment, nice threads and an even nicer car has decided to hire a hit man. A hit man employed by one very large nasty crime lord.

A good run of 3 great entries and one tale that is completely flying off the rails. It's interesting. But geez, that Poison tale is it really implausible. 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Wednesday, March 2, 2022

John Wayne Movie Comics (Gwandanaland Comics #133)

Gwandanaland Comics presents a quartet of John Wayne movie adaptations that have lingered in the public domain. From the legendary Dell 4 Color series, these books have never been reprinted nor collected before. And since Dell and in the case of 2 of the films, the production companies don't exist anymore, you probably will never see these comics reissued.

First up is 1956's The Conqueror. Here, a very American John Wayne is portraying mighty Mongol Genghis Khan. Actually, there's no Genghis Khan. The film begins with the historical figure as just your everyday tribal chief named Temujin. Bent on revenge at the death of his father, Temujin seeks assistance from fellow tribal ally Wang Khan against the Tartars. But treachery is afoot as the Khan's shaman is scheming to overthrow his great leader in hopes of arising from the ashes of total war. 

Clearly, Temujin would run afoul of this plan. But the daughter of Tartar's chief has stolen his heart. The New York Times called this film an 'Oriental Western.' I call it schmaltz. Very uneven story and it's just weird trying to imagine all of the characters as Asia when they're all played by white Hollywood actors. 

Rating- 4 out of 10 stars.

Next up was an adaptation of 1959's Horse Soldiers. I reviewed this film separately as part of my 2022 reading challenge. It has John Wayne as a Union Soldier on a mission into deep Southern territory to ransack a supply depot and to destroy the railroad. William Holden and tennis legend Althea Gibson co-starred. 

A thrilling adventure that was also a bit uneven. The opening scene is about 18 pages long. The climatic final battle clocks in at just 2. But the story is nowhere as melodramatic as The Conqueror.

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Then we have the western comedy North To Alaska. Wayne plays a prospector who goes into Seattle for supplies and to pick up his partner's fiance while the lover builds a honeymoon cottage on their claim. Well, fiancee decided that 2 years was too long to wait and went and got herself hitched to some other dude. 

So Wayne's character returns with another gal, a saloon hostess in hopes that she'll fall in love with the guy staying in Alaska. But she's in love with Big John. Meanwhile, claim jumpers are causing trouble all over the town. The Union had gotten involved and commandeered everybody's property. But like they say 'Hell Hath No Fury Like a John Wayne Scorned!'

Legendary comic and late night pioneer Ernie Kovacs played one of the swindlers. I'm a big fan of his and though this book is missing his wit and wry sense of humor, I really enjoyed this gold fever farce. I think I might actually seek this out if the movie ever hits AMC or TCM.

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

1961's Comancheros is the featured adaptation on the cover. This is the book that really captured my interest. Sadly, it's the weakest of all the books. It's not Dell's fault though. 

The first half of the story has John Wayne playing a Texas Ranger who keeps getting the slip from a Louisianan card sharp on the lame for killing a man in a duel. That part is really good. But when the ranger and the rogue join forces to infiltrate gun runners to the violent Comanches, things get confusing. There's double-crosses. Wayne going undercover as one of the black marketeers just doesn't make sense because I feel that the guy who is his contact should have known who he said he was wasn't the guy. Plus, the whole dynamic of the family of gun runners that John Wayne finally meets is just off. Really, nothing made sense.

I've grown over the years to appreciate the films my dad and grandpa used to watch together. But if this was the first Western I'd give a try to, I wouldn't have the new found fondness. I'd stick with my original opinion as a tyke- Boring and jumbled!

Rating: 2 out of 10 stars.

The collection itself was a Gawndanaland Comics triumph. The images were colorful and crisp. Great color printing. I loved it. The subject mater varied in quality. Some of it is uneven and I put that blame on Dell for focusing too much on unimportant parts of films. Some of it is clumsy. I put that blame on the movies for not being all that well made. John Wayne might be an American icon much like Joe DiMaggio. But DiMaggio only batted .325. 

Face it- some of these films were duds.

Rating of the quality of the volume: 10 of 10 stars.

Overall Rating: Worth Consuming
Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.