20th Century Ghosts: 20th Anniversary Edition by Joe Hill

This collection of short stories by Joe Hill is a rarity. Not because it's a limited run or a anything like that, despite being a 20th anniversary edition. The rarity is due to the fact that first published novels are almost never an anthology of short stories. Yet in 2005, PS Publishing took a leap of faith in up-and-comer Joe Hill and unleashed 20th Century Ghosts upon the world and a new horror writer great was born!

Joe Hill is not the writer's real name. Born Joseph King, Hill is a member of the acclaimed King family of writers. That's right, Stephen King is Joe Hill's papa! Hill is an abbreviation of his middle name, Hillström, as well as an off-tribute to his love of comic books as Joe Chill is the man who killed Batman's parents. Wanting to make a name for himself based on his own works and not the gravitas of the King family moniker, it was a struggle to get the attention of even the smallest of publishers.

20th Century Ghosts is a reflection of Joe Hill's evolution from relative unknown writer to award winning author. No less than 2 stories in this collection have been adapted into films. Love the growing horror franchise of 'The Black Phone'? The short story that gave birth to those Ethan Hawke led thrillers is here. A couple more were adapted into comic books. This was an amazing collection where just about every story was a masterpiece.

I've got 2 favorites: 'Pop Art 'and the title story of this collection are tied for first. 'Pop Art' is about an unusual friendship between a lonely young boy and his best friend Arthur, a living child made of inflatable plastic! '20th Century Ghost' is a sweeping epic love story to the silver screen in which a small time movie theater is haunted by the ghost of a young cinephile. 

Other notable tales that I really, really liked was 'Bobby Conroy Comes Back From the Dead', an ersatz high school reunion between 2 former love birds setting in the Monroeville Mall during the filming of the George Romero classic Dawn of the Dead! It was a new addition to this anniversary edition. 'Best New Fiction' sees a struggling literary review editor looking for the next thing in horror fiction. I both loved and was similarly creeped out by the Tales From the Darkside level ending. 

'Abraham's Boys' tells of 2 boys whose demanding father reveals his secretive past. 'Voluntary Committal' was a trippy adventure about a spectrum child and his creative process that has an unforgettable ending on par with Richard Bachman's 'The Long Walk'. In 'The Cape', a previously unpublished work, I found myself rooting for the bad guy! That's how freaking amazing a writer Joe Hill is!

I can't forget 'Last Breath' about a family that visits a museum that displays the last gasps of both the world famous and the common man. Another new addition to this book, it's a quirky story on par with another 90s horror anthology series I grew up with, Monsters, as the tongue is definitely in cheek with this clever episode.

The one story that I wasn't such a fan of was 'My Father's Mask'. It starts off with tremendous intrigue as a family sneaks away with their son in the dead of night, supposedly trailed by a mysterious cadre. However, things go downhill the next morning when the boy awakens. The suspense molds into some bizarre S&M Oedipal fantasy with nearly nude parents wearing domino masks. By the time this story ends, readers encounter a cherubic lad riding a bike in a nightgown and an unusual round of cards. Oh, and questions. A whole lot of questions. I went online afterwards in hopes of getting some answers about how the story ends. Turns out I wasn't the only one confused by it. Yet it seemed after getting responses from several so-called 'experts', I became even more confused about the symbolism and wasn't really sure what the hell I had just read.

1 dud out of 17. Terrible odds if you were a manufacturer of hand grenades. But for entertainment purposes, that's pretty good. If it's coming from Joe Hill, I'd take those odds any day. 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars

Edge of Spider-Verse

While it was DC Comics that introduced us to the multiverse, Marvel's Spider-Verse storyline from 2014-15 is what has powered superhero movies for the last decade. 

This prelude to the Spider-Verse epic event reintroduces a fan favorite while establishing several new versions of Spider-Man.

* First up is the 1920s gangster filled world of Spider-Man Noir. Most of the super-villains have been put to pasture thanks to the vigilante hero The Spider, that at this point in time, Peter Parker is thinking about retiring.

*In a world where the radioactive spider bit Gwen Stacy, the aspiring drummer becomes known as Spider-Woman. Blamed for the tragic death of Peter Parker, Gwen must run one step ahead of the New York Police Department which is lead by her father, Chief of Police George Stacy!

*A research scientist who specializes in arachnids discovers that his work might be behind a horde of sleep-walking zombies that are kidnapping citizens as soldiers in their ever growing army. 

*Visit a world where Peter Parker is abused by his uncle Ben and as a result, kidnapping and torturing neighborhood animals in a truly horrifying take on the Spider-Man.

*Lastly, on a technologically advanced earth, a 10-year old girl is bonded to a bio-engineered spider and placed inside an Iron Man level suit of armor!

All 5 stories were amazing. Ironically, the story that I liked the least, the Spider-Gwen introduction, is everyone else's favorite. Don't get me wrong. I prefer Gwen over Mary Jane. I have no qualms with there being a Gwen Stacy version of Spider-Man. It's just that the 3 stories that came after Spider-Gwen's debut were so freaking awesome!

After the 'zombie' story, I couldn't wait to read Spider-Verse and I had to find out what happened next. The demented Peter Parker story had an EC Comics horror quality. ( I just wish that the last panel had much better art.) And I think I've become a Peni Parker and SP//DR fan! That Manga inspired world was so cool! Their Daredevil was so wicked! Where can I find more of their adventures? Are there any?

If you want the first appearance of Spider-Gwen and you can't afford first print prices, this trade is the affordable way to do it. I didn't initially realize what I was getting with that. I was just trying to read the prelude to the Spider-Verse tale and not be lost without it. 

My local library has 'Spider-Verse' collected as an omnibus. I realize now that the collected edition probably has the contents of this trade inside it. But I bought this book way before I learned about the omnibus being at the library. So I'll just skip that part if it comes to that. Though I might re-read the horror stories and the Peni Parker introduction. Considering that I don't like to re-read stuff (as there's so much never before read stuff out there for consumption), that's high praise coming from me!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Swamp Thing Annual #1 (2026 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

 In 1982, Bernie Wrightson and Len Wein's creepy creation, the Swamp Thing, made its motion picture debut. Written and directed by Wes Craven, the film tells a mostly faithful origin story of Dr. Alec Holland and how he is transformed into a being of sentient plant matter.

While working in a secret government lab deep in the swamps of Florida, Dr. Holland has created a formula that can transform barren deserts into futile farmland. His sister Linda, has also discovered that a single drop of the formula can also double as a powerful explosive. Anton Arcane, a despotic paramilitary leader, has caught wind of the chemical and attacks the lab in hopes of making the formula a part of his ever growing arsenal. During the assault, the chemical is spilt on Holland and he immediately catches fire thanks to its volatile properties. To extinguish himself, Holland jumps into the murky swamp and seemingly perishes.

Meanwhile, Alice Cable, a new government attaché to the project, flees with one of Holland's notebooks. With Arcane's operatives trailing her, Cable must find a way to alert Washington to the attack. However, the commandos get the better of Cable. With the notebook in their possession, there's no longer a need to keep Cable alive. But right before they silence the government agent, a mysterious creature emerges from the muck. It's the Swamp Thing and boy, is he mad!

The live action film was produced by Swampfilms and distributed jointly by Embassy Pictures and United Artists. It started Ray Wise as Dr. Alec Holland.  Adrienne Barbeau played Alice Cable. Renown French actor Louis Jourdan was the evil Arcane. Dick Durock would don pounds of rubber and fake moss as the title character. Over the next decade, it would only be Durock's body in the Swamp Thing suit. The imposing 6'6" actor would star opposite Heather Locklear in 1989's campy Return of the Swamp Thing. A year later, Durock would return for an hour long TV series on cable's USA Network. The series would run 72 episodes over 3 seasons. 

None of the subsequent Swamp Thing adaptations to star Dick Durock would receive the comic book treatment. This oversized special was written by Bruce Jones. Mark Texeira penciled; Tony DeZuniga inked. The cover image is of the original theatrical poster. It was painted and airbrushed by celebrated fantasy and sci-fi artist Michael Whelan. 

Completing this review completes Task #30 (A Movie Adaptation) of the 2026 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Popeye and Business and Office Careers #1 (2026 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

Writer Joe Gill and artist Tony Tallarico led the young readers of 1973 through the growing field of office management. Your guides are Popeye the Sailor Man and his infant ward, Swee'Pea. 

Many jobs explored, such as office manager, secretary, and stenographer, had been around for decades. But with the growing use of computers to compute complex algorithms, data processing and scheduling and payroll, new positions and roles were being added to office setting. 

The argument has always been that computers are going to take human jobs. We see this more today with the controversial role of artificial intelligence. But in 1973, the job field was actually growing thanks to computers. That's because of how primitive they were back then!

The average computer used in offices in the 1970s were the size of several of our current xerox machines put together. They could fill an entire room, based on the size of the business. The standard personal computer is several years away from being offered to businesses. These computers also lacked the internal data processing features like spreadsheets. Yes, this is a world without Microsoft Office.

Popeye explains that to program a computer, you would need a team of employees; from technicians who would fine tool the machine on a regular, almost daily basis to punch card operators who tabulated the cardstock paper inserts that fed data into the computer for analysis.

Published by King Features Syndicate, the art and distribution studio that put Popeye and friends in dozens of newspapers nationwide, Popeye and Business and Office Careers was one of 15 other educational comic books starring the sailor. Other career pathways explored by Popeye and friends were in healthcare, communications, transportation and agri-business as part of King's Career Educational Series.

Cover by George Wildman.

Completing this review completes Task #5 (An educational comic) of the 2026 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

The Star Wars #8

The Dark Horse Comics adaptation of the original George Lucas rough draft of Star Wars does indeed come to an end in this issue. Issue #8 doesn't appear to have an expanded page count. So either Dark Horse made an error in planning for how many issues this miniseries should run or Lucas had so many different ideas in how to wrap his story up that he failed to pace things out properly. It's got to be George Lucas' fault. I say this because so much happens in the finale compared to some parts of act one and two that drag out to a snail's pace. Star Wars was such a lucrative property for Dark Horse, if the publisher felt like a 9th or 10th issue was warranted, they would have approved an extension as this sort of thing happens all the time in order to boost sales. 

So what does happen in this closer:

* Annikin Starkiller infiltrates the Empire's Space Fortress in hopes of rescuing Princess Leia who's being interrogated under threat of torture.

*General Luke Skywalker and Han Solo somehow manages to teach a bunch of primitive Wookiees to fly Imperial fighters and organizes an assault on the gigantic space station.

* A new ally emerges.

* Lots of people die on both sides of the conflict.

*Lastly, we get an ending satisfying enough that should ticket sales be dismal, you feel like there was a happy ending. But you don't close things out too perfectly less the studios decide to green-light a sequel.

For those who finish this miniseries, you'll have to settle for option A. This was Dark Horse's swan song with the Star Wars franchise. With Disney buying Lucasfilm in 2012, the House of Mouse had plans for a new series of films as well as giving Marvel, which was also owned by Disney, carte blanche on publishing the further adventures of Luke Skywalker and company. In other words, Disney had no intention of looking backwards; nor were they willing to share a piece of the lucrative Star Wars pie.

Ironically, thanks mostly to the pandemic's crippling effect on the comic book market, Marvel had to source out some of its Star Wars catalog back to Dark Horse. Another irony, instead of giving them any of the established trilogies or the new generation series that was coming to movie screens, Dark Horse was given free reign to establish history of the Old Republic. While in 2014 it didn't look like 'The Saga of The Ophuchi', the proposed next chapter in The Star Wars, perhaps with multiverses being the main focus of the big 2 publishers and their visual arts media, maybe the time is right to continue the adventures of Annikin Starkiller...

I know I'd buy it.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

The Star Wars #7

Meet the Wookiees! Essentially, everything that George Lucas wanted to do with the people of Chewbacca's tribe in Return of the Jedi but had to replace with the much more marketable (In other word: cute and cuddly) Ewoks occurs in this chapter. 

The Wookiees appear more bestial like Bigfoot, with less fur around the face and chest and a bit more stocky. This design would eventually be reused as the character Zeb Orrelios, the last Lasat from Star Wars: Rebels; except with the change in fur color of Zeb's being purple and his having the ability to speak basic. 

There's an Imperial base on this planet. General Skywalker plans to train the Wookiees to attack it, using all those great wooden booby traps used during the Battle of Endor to destroy a squad of Imperial tanks that would eventually be utilized by the droid forces of the Separatists in Phantom Menace. Once the base is secured, they'll plan to steal all of the fighters, conduct a quick pilot training course before attacking the Space Fortress and rescuing Princess Leia who's currently being tortured by a Sith bloke who looks an awful lot like David Prowse. Good thing these primitive warriors understand how to fly heavy machinery.

This issue ends with a promise that the next  will wrap everything up. I don't see how. It feels like there's still like an hour of movie script to jump through. 

Trust the process, Padawan...

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

The Star Wars #6

Remember that ridiculous scene in The Last Jedi where the ship Princess Leia is in gets blown to pieces and it blasts her into space? Instead of dying, she uses the Force to float herself to safety before failing into a brief coma. Remember that scene? Some called it her 'Mary Poppin's scene' Well, that's what is depicted on this issue's cover and it actually happens inside. Just like with Episode VIII, I rolled my eyes at the whole thing. Not because I don't think Annikin Starkiller could survive the brief effects of being in space without any sort of protective suit. But because the impact of the hull breach should have shot him out of the ship like a human cannon! And yet, the hero is within reach of a tow cable ejected by one of the droids. 

And wouldn't you know it: a character that I had started to really like dies in a somewhat unnecessary melodramatic way!

There's only 2 issues left and if we were to compare what has occurred here to the final draft of Episode IV, we at the part where the Millennium Falcon has left Tatooine and is about to go into hyper-drive to Alderaan. And yet here, the heroes managed to escape a squadron of TIE fighters through an asteroid field and crash land on a supposedly uninhabited jungle. I've got zero idea where things are going. I like it but it's also a bit unsettling being in such an undiscovered country.

On to issue #7!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars. 

Antman and the Wasp: Quantumania

Following the events of Marvel: Endgame, Scott Lang has been riding high on the success of a bestselling biography and popular lecture circuit. But things aren't so great on the home front. Girlfriend Hope Pym Van Dyne barely has time for him now that she runs her father's company. Daughter Cassie has been getting into trouble with the cops; mostly because her father refuses to let her become a superhero. Adding to problems, secretly, Hank Pym has been helping Cassie create a device that could communicate with the Quantum Realm. This really freaks out Janet Van Dyne and before she can turn off the device, she, Hank, Cassie, Hope and Scott are plunged into that microscopic universe.

It's learned that while Janet was stuck in the Quantum Realm, she meet a fellow castaway who promised to return Van Dyne to her world in exchange for repairing his damaged ship. On the day the vehicle is to be activated, Janet learns that whom she thought was an ally actually had plans to conquer the entire known multiverse. Despite a promise to leave her universe free from his plans for conquest, Janet destroys the machine, making a very powerful enemy. Thus, Kang the Conqueror promises revenge on Janet Van Dyne, with the guarantee that should he ever free himself from his exile in the Quantum Realm, her universe will be the first to be destroyed.

Stuck once more in the Quantum Realm, Scott and family must find a way back home without alerting Kang of their presence. But Janet Van Dyne made a lot of enemies during her time away from Hank and Hope; mostly because her betrayal of Kang led to the villain's conquest of the Quantum Realm and slaves of it's inhabitants. Throw in a forgotten foe from the first Antman film and it's essentially 5 against a universe that literally defies the established laws of quantum physics.

I recorded Antman and the Wasp: Quantumania sometime last November on my DVR. FXX was the channel showing it. I get a week off for Thanksgiving break and had every intention of seeing the film in it's entirety in one sitting. FXX was showing the movie in a sort of marathon viewing. As my DVR timer was set to begin recording 2 minutes early, the after credits scene was what started things off and it spoiled a huge chunk of the movie for me. Add in the terrible CGI, the excessive use of green screen and the knowledge that most of what occurs in this movie gets scrapped because of the cancelling of actor Jonathan Majors (due to an arrest for assault and battery), who plays Kang and I quickly lost interest in the movie.

I think I watched the first hour during Thanksgiving break. Another hour or so during Christmas and then today, I finally got up the nerve to finish the film and free up a couple hours on my DVR. Maybe it's because I am nearly 50 and I have seen more than my fair share of superhero movies. Maybe it's because Hollywood is operating on tired cliches and very little else. Maybe it's both, because I found very little in this 2023 film that surprised me. I was literally running through everything that happened in the last climatic battle scene out loud a good 3-4 seconds before it happened. I wasn't bored as much as I was unimpressed.

I feel like a major Marvel villain such as Kang the Conqueror shouldn't have been wasted on such a minor hero as Antman. Kang deserves better than Scott Lang. He needs the Avengers. Yeah, I know. Earth's Mightiest Heroes are defunct at the moment. Having Kang was going to be what brings the old team together in what, the MCU's 5th wave. Or is it 6th? 7th? I have no idea.

The plan going forward for Marvel is to have Doctor Doom, played by Robert Downey Jr., as the main villain. But did we have to forgo Kang just because the actor who played him did something criminal? Actors and actresses have been fired and recast since the beginning of Hollywood. If you are going to explore the multiverse of the MCU and officially add the Fantastic Four and the X-Men to it, it really makes sense to keep Kang your villain. He's the time travelling, multiple Earth visiting antagonist that has given everyone fits at one time or another. It's almost like Kevin Fiege was unhappy with the plans made for the Kang Saga and was looking for any glitch to change things around. To me, this feels like the crimes committed by Majors was almost secretly welcomed by Marvel. If Disney was really sickened by those crimes, they would have kept their original plans and recast another actor to play Kang.

This is a movie that was not very well made in terms of creativity or special effects. It's also a film with a lot of baggage. I'm glad that I didn't spend about $80 going to the theaters to see it with my godson. It would have been a waste of time and money- hard earned. Antman and the Wasp Quantumania is almost, ALMOST NOT as bad as the worst MCU film ever made, Thor: The Dark World. But not by much. I hate to say it but it's Jonathan Majors who makes this film somewhat re-watchable.

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

The Star Wars #5

General Skywalker, Annikin Starkiller and the royal family of Aquilae have procured passage off the besieged planet only to walk into a trap!

This was an action packed issue. It was also unnecessary. You do learn a little bit more about the Sith Knight that the Emperor recruits to capture the Princess. We're also introduced to a deadly gas that the Sith are immune to. But other than that, everything in this issue feels like a period of time George Lucas spent on the rough draft script in a state of writer's block.

They say that it was Lucas's first wife, Marcia Griffin Lucas, who took the parts of the original Star Wars trilogy that weren't working and made them into iconic scenes and characters. 'Polishing a turd' is how I have heard it referred to. In regards to this segment, I tend to believe that assessment. 

Great Mike Mayhew artwork. But really, this is an issue that you could skip and not miss anything because by chapter end, the protagonists are still exactly where they started. 

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars

The Star Wars #4

Yes, the reptilian Dewbacks were originally supposed to be angry looking ostriches.

After a trio of action packed issues, things slow down a bit in part 4. But don't worry. Skywalker, Starkiller and the Princess have made it to Mos Eisley Spaceport, called Wilson Spaceport, in the George Lucas rough draft.

All of the excitement of the Cantina scene is here. Han Solo, looking more like Swamp Thing with scales instead of Indiana Jones, is introduced. But don't expect Chewbacca. This smuggler works alone. 

Then plans are made with some members of the growing Rebellion against the Evil Empire. The young twin brothers of Princess Leia are placed in stasis. A forgotten character reappears only to die pretty unexpectedly as well as quite heroically. 

Oh, and Darth Vader and a very evil looking Sith Knight have arrived, joining the search for the Princess.

I had mentioned during my review of issue #1 that this miniseries has 8 parts. 9 if you count the #0 issue which is more of a showcase of artistic designs and character bios. Yet in my previous review, I said that this issue would be the exact midpoint of the storyline. That's because when I read this issue, I was under the assumption that issue #7 was the last issue. When I bought these books last year, I purchased them as a bundle with a label that the set contained issues #1-7. I had falsely assumed that I was purchasing a complete set.

With this issue ending with the main characters still stuck on Aquilae, I kept thinking that there's no way everything gets wrapped up by issue #7. I did some research and learned that I was right. I was missing the 8th and final issue. Thankfully I found a copy for a decent price and a fairly quick delivery date. So I am really looking for an epic conclusion. Still, considering how much at a snail's pace things are moving here, I have my doubts everything is going to be finished up when we get to issue #8.

I'm now halfway there. We shall see!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

The Star Wars #3

The scenes that you would expect to see in Episode IV on Tatooine and the Dune Sea occurs in this issue. With some subtle and blatantly different changes.

The droids emerge from their escape pod, argue over which direction to take, separate and somehow both wind up with General Luke Skywalker.

Princess Leia and her younger twin brothers have survived the assault on Aquilae. In the presence of Skywalker and his Padawan, Annikin Starkiller, it's imperative that the remaining royal family find safe passage off the planet.

Skywalker and company are attacked while attempting to reach the nearest space port. But instead of Tusken Raiders, they are attacked by stormtroopers brandishing laser swords. 

These storm troopers are way more violent than in the finished product. In A New Hope, they essentially barbecue Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru. Here in the rough draft, when dealing with a belligerent, the soldiers will string them up like on a rack, torture them, then kill them, while leaving them in place as a warning to others that the Evil Empire is not to be trifled with. George Lucas had added the death scene of the Lars family in order to secure a more favorable PG rating. Lucas felt a G rating might prevent older audiences from watching the film and I think he was right about that. But if he had kept the stormtrooper torture scenes in the final film, the first Star Wars film might have garnered a younger potential audience killing R rating! (Note: PG-13 ratings didn't exist until the mid-1980s.)

Lots of action. High levels of violence. This is not the Star Wars universe that I grew up with and I don't mind it one little bit. But we're almost at the half-way point and the heroes haven't even gotten to the space port. I have no idea where things are going. Is this really just a 7-issue miniseries?

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

The Star Wars #2

The planet Aquilae is under attack. The Evil Empire has decided to bypass diplomatic talks and to take the planet by force. To do so, the Emperor orders the Space Fortress commanded by the Sith Knight, Darth Vader, to attack the planet. 

In the attack, the King is killed, leaving General Skywalker in command until Princess Leia, the new ruler of Aquilae, can be retrieved from the University, where she studies. However, there are Imperial sympathizers in the ranks of King's royal advisors and they've clandestinely arranged an illegal surrender of the planet. With the threat of arrest for treason, the general must stand down. But he's not going to go quietly.

The attack on Aquilae plays out like the climatic battle of Yavin in Episode IV. So the level of action and adventure in this issue rises in leaps and bounds, considering how boring the opening chapter was. 

We're introduced to the prototypes of R2-D2 and C-3PO. (Their names are phonetically spelled out and henceforth will only be referred to as 'the droids'.) The droids turn out to be property of the Empire, housed aboard the Space Fortress. As Aquilae fighters begin their assault on the fortress, they will take that legendary escape pod and crash into the desert landscape below. Let me just say, it's really weird having the Galaxy's most beloved astromech droid speaking basic language instead of binary beeps and boops.

Let me talk about the art before I close. It's amazing. Mike Mayhew is the artist and he's got such an amazing touch of realism. I also think that he's trying to make some of the characters look like actors who potentially could have been cast back in 1977. Not the major characters, as they're based on the McQuarrie sketches. But I swear one of the Imperial officers who advise Darth Vader of the attack on Aquilae is Rene Auberjonois from Benson!

A much better second act. Things are starting to gel a bit more. Lots more action! Very little diplomacy and no, it's not because of the death of the leader of Aquilae and a large chunk of his trusted advisors.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

The Star Wars #1 (2026 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

The first chapter of a 2013-14 miniseries from Dark Horse Comics. It's based on a complete first rough draft from George Lucas that he completed in 1974. A few years before the release of this 8 issue series (9, if you count the #0 issue that acts as a primer for this completely different take on the Star Wars universe with character breakdowns and sketches), Lucasfilm had published the script on their website. With Lucas in talks with Disney to sell the franchise, Jonathan W. (J.W.) Rinzler, the executive editor of LucasBooks, obtained blessing from the creator himself to publish a visual representation of the original vision of Star Wars before it was too late. 

Rinzler, a noted writer and historian of several Star Wars novels and non-fiction works about the filming of the movies, adapted the rough draft. While Rinzler was extremely faithful to the script, artist Mike Mayhew sprinkled the pages with hidden treasures in the background like the Easter Bunny with an unlimited amount of eggs. Mayhew referred to the original character designs of artist Ralph McQuarrie. But he also made sure to make this new vision of Star Wars seem a little bit familiar to established fans.

The Star Wars opens with that familiar title crawl, explaining the story before. The old Empire has fallen. The Sith have established a new Empire by exterminating almost all of the Jedi-Bendu after a massive rebellion. One of the last surviving Jedi, General Luke Skywalker, leads the military forces of the planet Aquilae. The Emperor, seeking the planet's cloning technology, has demanded Aquilae's full surrender or face total war. Kane Starkiller and his son Annikin, have arrived to warn General Skywalker, of a sneak attack. Starkiller also makes a dying wish that Annikin becomes Skywalker's Padawan apprentice in the ways of the Jedi. 

As Kane Starkiller departs to arrange transport for the royal family to flee Aquilae, planetary defense radar sensors go wild. Something massive has entered the solar system. It's the size of a small moon. It moves with the speed of a comet. Also, it's man-made. The Emperor's Space Fortress has arrived!

There's a lot of drastic differences that look like they came from a galaxy far, far away. It's just not the galaxy you are used to. The Star Wars comic reads like an alternate dimension, similar to the Marvel Cinematic Universe's multiverse. General Luke Skywalker is more like a mixture of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Han Solo. The Han Solo here isn't even human. He's more like the Swamp Thing if the DC legend had only 3 fingers and toes on each appendage. The legendary star destroyers look the same. Only they're now shrunk to house only a 2-man crew and boast TIE fighter level maneuverability. As for the Death Star, referred to as the less intimidating Space Fortress, it's firepower is nowhere near on par to being able to destroy a planet with a single laser blast. 

While much of the first rough draft of Star Wars wouldn't make it to the silver screen in 1977, Lucasfilm has been like a Native American tribe taking down a buffalo: nothing went to waste. The original design of the Wookiee, of which Chewbacca is a proud member of, would eventually become Zeb Orrelios, from Star Wars: Rebels. The royal family escape plot would evolve into the basis of the opening act of Episode I: The Phantom Menace, with Jedi knights rescuing Queen Amadala of Naboo from invaders. Speaking of the prequel film, this issue is rather dull as diplomacy dominates a majority of the plot. The slow churn of the wheels of democracy is one of the biggest complaints of fans about Phantom Menace. Hopefully, the action will pick up in issue #2. 

The swan song of Dark Horse's tenure as the comic book publisher for the Star Wars franchise.  This is an essential read for the most fervent of fans who thrive on the technical manuals and creature compendiums that reveal the inner workings of the Galactic Senate, its Sith-led Imperial predecessor and the order of the Jedi Knights. It's unlike anything one has ever seen aside from those early McQuarrie drawings and paintings and with the Star Wars universe in the hands of Disney, it's a corner of the galaxy that looks to never be rediscovered anytime soon. 

Completing this review completes Task #39 (A Star Wars Comic) of the 2026 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

The Spirit Archives, Vol. 22

According to historian Paul Buhle, in his forward to this volume of The Spirit Archives, the stories here occur during the early throes of Will Eisner's fallow period. Eisner was seeing the writing on the wall in regards to how comic books and their crafters were being demonized by the public and notable child psychiatrists. Having been creating Spirit comics for over a decade, Eisner was getting the wanderlust, desiring a change. Thus if the adventures of the Spirit, Commissioner Dolan and company seems a bit like a cup of weak coffee, you'll understand.

But like with other masters of the comic arts, (any arts actually), the worst that Will Eisner has to offer is loads better than some of the worst artists and their so-called masterpieces!

The French black widow P'Gell appears in several stories, seeking fortune and fame, along with another husband to take to the proverbial cleaners. The Octopus, arguably the Spirit's primary arch enemy returns from the dead. Although, since nobody knows what he really looks like, thanks to his ability to wear countless masks all at the same time, could this Octopus actually be an impostor? (That's my theory at least.)There's also a rather unique criminal named Mr. Carrion who along with his pet bird Julia, is creepy fun with his evil schemes mixed with a touch of heartfelt sympathy for others.

The Spirit's girlfriend Ellen Dolan is now Central City's Mayor at this point. I remember in a previous volume that she ran for office. I just didn't recall that she had won. Being such an important figure now, Ellen has very little time to pine over her crime fighting boyfriend who's yet to walk her down the alter. Doesn't she realize that as Mayor, she can skip ceremony and declare herself married to the Spirit?!

Also, returning from a rather long hiatus is former sidekick of the Spirit, Ebony White. He'll pop up in perhaps the best story of the whole volume, a capper to a multi-part adventure that sees Spirit stranded in Asia and having to hoof it through the Himalayas to the nearest port back Stateside. Ebony might be a controversial character in comics. But he's also one of the most sincere and genuine characters ever crafted.

Another great volume. Maybe not Eisner's best. But I got a kick out of it!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Little Lulu, Vol. 7: Lulu's Umbrella Service

 A recent visit to a rather large area used book store uncovered this treasure. It's always fun to find something that you didn't even know existed. It's even better when you find it for a fantastic price and in excellent condition.

Dark Horse's compendium of the complete run of Dell/ Gold Key Little Lulu comic titles was published in the early 2000s. There are 29 volumes! And just my luck (in terms of trying to get the rest of the series), they've been out of print for quite a while. Believe me; if there were more books available for the price I paid for this one, I would have bought up the whole lot. 

I just wish that these were in color. Instead, these volumes are given the Essential Marvel treatment, being published in black and white to make them more affordable. However, there are at least 3 stories in which having color is vital to being able to understand the action better. I had the same issue with Showcase Presents Green Lantern volumes 1-3 because you have a superhero whose main weakness is the color yellow but you can't tell what is that hue because there's no colors to be seen.

My enjoyment of Little Lulu is a lot like a child and their palette as they mature. As a kid, Lulu and friends just weren't my style. But now as I enter middle age, I appreciate the subtle humor of innocent Lulu Moppet. I cackle at the absurd approach to life Tubby has,  especially when he assumes his role as 'the World's Greatest Detective!' Lulu's fairy tales to Alvin shows childhood naivety mixed with the brilliance of the creative mind. The children in these pages are truthfully how the children I teach and interact with every day: they hear things wrong, they think they are always right and they lack the ability to ask adults for wisdom. Any nuggets of insight are provided by their peers. 

Thank goodness I don't have to teach them!

The genius behind these stories is John Stanley. Another comic creator that it took me decades to appreciate. As a young, YOUNG comic book collector, I tended to favor the artists who used more complex lines and shadows. I went for realism. Yet I find in today's troubled world, simplicity is best. If only I could find more of these editions without having to take out a small loan.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10.

Archie's Valentine's Spectacular 2026 #1

The all-new feature for this year's Archie Valentine's Day Spectacular was a parody of the massive Netflix animated hit K-Pop Demon Hunters. Only it wasn't funny. Plus, it was the most dreadful thing I have ever read from Archie Comics.  It was such a disappointment. The writing was unpolished. The artwork was amateurish; supposed to invoke the styles of anime and Manga. The story succeeded in neither. It ends with a question posed to whether or not this was the end of the assault on the singing talents of Josie, Veronica, Sabrina and Betty by an arcane force. For my sake, I hope this experiment has concluded. I don't think I could read another chapter of the 'Spirit Slayers in Love'. 

The 5 backup reprints were better. Not by much. The Frank Doyle two-parter where first Veronica and then Betty go overboard in attempting to make Archie their Valentine had moments of funny antics and stunning art. It just didn't feel very original. Cheryl Blossom's attempts to permanently drive a wedge between Archie and the girls shows just how self-centered Archie and Veronica could be. It was reinforced by a follow up where Veronica sends Betty away in tears and Archie confesses that he woos Veronica because of how spoiled she is, just convinced me further that Betty would be better off dating someone who would appreciate her more. Jughead, anyone?

The fifth and final story featuring the talents of George Frese was my favorite of the bunch. Clearly from sometime in the 1940s or 50s, I liked the classic look and feel. It was a typical Archie love triangle story but it had a more timeless appeal to me. I would have loved it if all of the backup stories were from this era.

If anything, this special has convinced me that while I am a fan of Archie Comics, I can do without the schmaltz. I love the wholesome nature of Archie's holiday tales. I adore the ingenuity of the parody stories. Plus, Archie does horror so well with a balance of comedy and unsettling suspense. So what in the world went wrong with Becky G!'s original story? Maybe not being familiar with the source material had a little to do with it. Having Sabrina's cat Salem use the term 'sus' had me rolling my eyes. I'm going be honest, with the use of gender neutral pronouns and a mysterious character who hates the band's message of hope and love, I thought at first that this was some sort of allegory about the immigration policies of our current presidential administration instead of Archie's version of K-Pop Demon Hunters.

I think overall, the original tale lacked a timeless quality to it. Plus, the reprinted material reminded me how selfish Veronica is. Also, Archie is just a darn fool, thinking more with his pants than his brain. I think from now on, I'll stick to the deep ends of the Archie Comics pool that I like best. Just as long as that section stays away from Netflix series as inspiration!

Rating; 4 out of 10 stars.

Dr. Werthless (2026 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

The back cover to this graphic novel biography of the controversial psychiatrist, Dr. Fredric Wertham promises 'an unbiased look.' However, that claim is a little hard to believe based on the title, Dr. Werthless (sic). And yet true crime author Harold Schechter and artist Eric Powell managed to give Wertham both praise and criticism whenever it was due.

The German born Jewish M.D. was known to be bullish and divisive with his medical colleagues. Yet, when it came to his patients, he was very compassionate and non-judgmental. Prior to the 1950s, Wertham treated some of the most depraved serial killers and re-offenders of the time, including the pedophile torturer Albert Fish, and the troubled struggling artist Robert Irwin. Wertham would testify at these men's trails that the psychiatric system failed them and that if these murderers had been committed to a qualified mental institution and not institutionalized as part of the revolving-door prison system of 'common murderers', they would not have gone on to later commit the atrocities that Dr. Wertham would be called in to testify on their behalf.

As much as Wertham would decry the influence of violence from magazines, books and movies had on these men, the doctor had very little qualms with making a little bit of money recounting the perverse exploits of Albert Fish and others in a number of books. Meant to be scientific studies on the inner workings of the criminally insane mind, Wertham 's works read more like the pulp fiction 'garbage' that he was preaching against. He also didn't have any misgivings about selling the rights to his books to the producers of Broadway and Hollywood, as long as they didn't change the facts too much. 

It is for this reason that Frederic Wertham is considered by some as the grandfather of true crime. His Dark Legend: A Study in Murder, an account of a preteen boy who slaughtered his mother in front of his siblings predates Truman Capote's 1959 opus, In Cold Blood by almost 2 full decades. Dark Legend was optioned to become an Off-Broadway play in 1952, to which Dr. Wertham gained a low level celebrity status. Enthralled by the notoriety, the doctor begin a crusade against comic books and sealed his legacy in the annuals of modern American history and pop culture. 

In the 1940s, Wertham was made aware of the plight of black youths and how they became lost in the psychiatric system because of inequitable conditions of black hospitals and sanitariums. Often a mental health crisis for a black American would result in their becoming institutionalized, perhaps for life, whereas an white American might be prescribed medication and some out-patient therapy. After meeting writer and activist Richard Wright, Wertham would open a low-cost mental health clinic in the basement of St. Philip's church in Harlem. From his work at the LaFargue Clinic beginning in March, 1948, Wertham treated black youths, particularly males ,who would claim to be depressed and oppressed because of their treatment in society. One young boy said that it was how comic books portrayed blacks that made him feel the most stereotyped. Intrigued by this session, Wertham went to a nearby newsstand and perused the selection of comics. What he found shocked him and it would lead him on a crusade against sequential art for the rest of his life.

One of the biggest complaints I would have about this book is the time jumps. Just when you think Schechter is about to explore Wertham's assault on comic books, the narrative goes back to the 1940s or earlier. This happens at least thrice. If you've read a lot of accounts of the comics scare of the 1950s, you would have a fairly good idea of Wertham's work with youths that led to him publishing Seduction of the Innocent and becoming the expert witness in 1954 during Senate subcommittee hearings on juvenile delinquency. Dr. Werthless provides a fascinating look at the early case history of the infamous psychiatrist. It is interesting to note that Wertham, while being an expert witness in the landmark Brown V. Board of Education lawsuit, the doctor's fixation on the dangers of comic books almost derailed the NAACP's case. Even when he was attempting to do good, he let his own prejudices overtake common sense!

After reading this book, I have no doubt that Fredric Wertham had care and compassion for his patients and the more impoverished they were, the more empathy the doctor had for them. However, I also believe that Wertham saw dollar signs with every case he was presented with. Because of his intolerable nature with his colleagues, Wertham stunted his professional growth. Passed over for promotions and fellowships because of how he put patients in front of peers, Wertham turned to print media as a way of boosting his stature. If Wertham couldn't become a celebrity amongst his colleagues, he would become one in the public eye. To do so meant elevating, and sometimes exaggerating the effect of society on America's highly suggestible youth and mentally ill from the pulps and comic books. 1950s America was already in a state of panic on hidden Communists thanks to Senator Joseph McCarthy; why not add to those fears by claiming that comic books were turning children into raving lunatics? 

Harold Schechter is the type of crime author that could write the phone book and I would read it. However, the life and times of Fredric Wertham comes to a very odd abrupt end. The title of this book 'Doctor Werthless' was based on a parody ad Wally Wood created in the pages of MAD after the Senate hearings. It looks at how baseball could be considered the source of all juvenile delinquency if viewed using the methods of Wertham. Even the last chapter is titled 'Werthless and Woody'. With it, you'd expect some sort of final showdown between the psychiatrist and Wood. But it never happened. The Dr. Worthless parody was explored in the previous chapter, making the reader wonder just what was the connection between the two men that the writer was trying to achieve?

Regardless of my dissatisfaction at how this graphic novel biography ended, I very much would love for the author and illustrator Eric Powell to collaborate again with another shocking true crime exposé.

Completing this review completes Task #31 (A Biography) of the 2026 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

DuckTales Valentine's Day Special 2026 #1 (2026 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

In 2022, Disney awarded Dynamite Entertainment the rights to publish all new adventures of fan favorite characters and properties. The Big Apple set Gargoyles was the first property to go to print. By the next year, Dynamite was releasing origin stories of beloved Disney villains such as Maleficent and Cruella De Vil. More current animated films such as Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas and Lilo and Stitch began to fill shelves in 2024. 

It was Dynamite's initial plan to feature a lineup of comics based on the syndicated weekday cartoons from the 1990s known as 'The Disney Afternoon', with Gargoyles leading the way. However, it wasn't until late 2024, that Dynamite released a monthly series based on both DuckTales and spinoff TV show Darkwing Duck. Both have been extremely popular with Darkwing Duck's arch nemesis NegaDuck getting a miniseries soon after. Meanwhile, DuckTales star Uncle Scrooge has been receiving a fair share of solo love over at Marvel with a one-shot look at the Duckburg multiverse with Uncle Scrooge and the Infinity Dime and the follow up miniseries Uncle Scrooge: Earth's Mightiest Duck.

The DuckTales Valentine's Day Special 2026 is Dynamite's first companion piece to the beloved children's series that ran from 1987-90. In it, Uncle Scrooge is on guard against con artists who might want to steal his vast riches under the guise of being McDuck's Valentine. The powerful sorceress Magica De Spell just happens to be scheming against Scrooge on this lovely Valentine's. But she doesn't have plans to make the bijillionaire fall in love with her. As usual, Magica just wants his lucky dime. However, when her spell deflects off of Scrooge's lucky dime, it backfires into an enchantment that causes both to lose their memories and assume that they are each other's soul mate.

As nephews Huey, Dewey and Louie traverse the globe with the assistance of pilot Launchpad McQuack and inventor Gyro Gearloose, Scrooge and Magica uncover vast riches and hidden treasures with the help of Scrooge's dogged determination and De Spell's magic. Making an unstoppable pair, could these two former foes be falling in love this Valentine's Day?

Written by comedian and podcaster Connor Ratliff and comedy waiter James III, this Valentine's Day special hits all the high notes of a Disney Duck story. There's adventure. There's fantasy. There's humor. Add in unforgettable cameos by the Beagle Boys, Donald Duck and Flintheart Glomgold, this was almost a perfect story for fans of the many creations of Carl Barks. The only thing missing was the nephews' handy Junior Woodchuck Handbook.

Artwork was by Libero Ermetti. The muted hues along with how the background appears just a little bit out of focus from the action of the main characters, one feels like they're watching a never before seen episode of the classic DuckTales series instead of the most recent reboot starring David Tennant, which features less classic looking versions of the citizens of Duckburg. 

Main cover art was by Nicoletta Baldari. Variant covers were illustrated by Ermetti,Stefano Porcu and others.

Completing this review completes Task #34 (A comic book about a holiday OTHER than Christmas) of the 2026 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Teen Titans Go! #12 (2026 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

It's Valentine's Day and love is in the air at Titans Tower. First Robin attempts to woo Starfire with his over-the-top antics, which includes wearing a diaper dressed as Cupid. Then there's the mysterious package that has shown up in the living room. Sent from a secret admirer, the gigantic gift isn't for Starfire. It's for Raven! And it comes with a massive flaming heart wrapped thorns. 

Written by Sholly Fisch with artwork by Dario Brizuela, this 2026 issue is based on the long running animated series from Cartoon Network. After a popular run with 2003's Teen Titans, which was much more serious and action packed in nature, Cartoon Network followed up with Teen Titans Go! in 2013. Using the same cast of voices and fairly similar character designs, the show was controversial amongst viewers. Some die hard fans of the Titans didn't like the new show's slapstick tone. Others were okay with the humor but they found the sing-along episodes rather annoying. 

This issue has none of the musical interlude, lots of laughs and subtle touches to nearly 60 years of Teen Titans legend and lore.

Cover by Brizuela and Franco Riesco.

Completing this review completes Task #37 (A work released in 2026) of the 2026 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Bart Simpson #3 (2026 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

Gail Simone has had a storied career, 'beginning as a fan critic and analyst on the treatment of women in comics, cooking the term Women in Refrigerators' and 'fridging' in response to the horrific death of Kyle Rayner's girlfriend in Green Lantern #54. In October, 1999, Simone had a regular weekly column called 'You'll All Be Sorry' appearing in Comic Book Resources. It offered a range of satirical pieces that mocked recent releases to parodies of fan fiction.

In her quarter of a century in writing scripts for the comic book industry, Simone crafted the adventures of Deadpool, Superman, Batgirl and even the comic book excavations of Tomb Raider, Laura Croft. In 2007, Simone took over the reigns of DC's flagship female character Wonder Woman, embarking in the longest tenure of Princess Diana by a female writer. Then in 2010, she took over as the head writer for the Birds of Prey. 

Gail Simone has inspired and empowered countless female fans and next generations of women writers and artists with her female heavy stories that entertain fans of all genders. But to me, my favorite works of Gail Simone are her earliest and perhaps most overlooked pieces. I'm talking about the Simpsons spinoff title, Bongo Comics' Bart Simpson. 

Her first professional comic book credit is Simpsons Comics #50 (August, 2000). Beginning in 2001, Simone wrote many stories that started America's bad boy, Bart Simpson while featuring the entire populace of Springfield, USA. Simone's writing style on the series was very much like that of former Simpsons staff writer and producer Conan O'Brien. You get the feeling that Simone has a brilliant sense of humor and is a fan of the product that she crafted stories about. Conan O'Brien wrote one of the show's all-time best episodes, The Music Man parody, 'Marge Vs. The Mono-Rail.' to that effect, I believe Gail Simone while at Bongo Comics penned 8 and 16-page Simpsons story that were consistently on par with that groundbreaking 1993 episode.

Bart Simpson #3 marked Gail Simone's debut on the sister series. Simone doesn't just write the space themed opener. She writes the scripts for the entire issue; taking on triple-duty.

The main story 'Terror on Trioculon' is a parody of the 1960's cult classic TV series, Lost in Space. Filling out the roster for the crew is the entire Simpsons clan as the Space Family Robinson, Milhouse as the robot, Moe taking the role of Lisa's pet space monkey, and Mr. Burns as the utterly useless Professor Smith! 

Homer flies through an asteroid belt, crash landing the ship on a planet of 3-eyed mutants. Any two-eyed person is considered a freak and enslaved to eventually take part in a series of gladiator games against the gigantic Jim-Bo! While Bart fights for his family and their freedom, Lisa searches desperately for the needed fuel source to rocket away from the chaos! All the while, Professor Burns whines and moans about his lot in life and Robot Milhouse chickens out in typical Lost in Space fashion.

In the first backup story, Lisa is the star as she wins VIP concert tickets to see 2 different boy bands on the same day! Unable to decide which group's show to attend, the two acts engage in a literal 'Battle of the Boy Bands' for Lisa's attention. Then in the third and final tale' Sky High Bart!', Bart visits the lab of Professor Frink. Donning a pair of experimental platform shoes, the lad towers over his friends and enemies. However, when the shoes malfunction, Bart shoots high unto the heavens; finding himself in the pathway of a massive jumbo jet!

The main story reflects Gail Simone's knack for writing those fan fiction parodies on the CBR website. The writer peppers the Lisa story with elements of the eldest Simpson daughter's trademark feminism. But when both boy bands prove to be more style than substance, Lisa winds up picking the group that has the best looking member with 'washboard abs'. It's a decision that feels like Lisa is just a typical girl at heart, but deep down I think Lisa has just basically given up trying to take the high road among a bunch of troglodytes with her seemingly shallow selection. As for the story involving Professor Frink, it feels like Gail Simone was given carte blanche on being able to place Bart in one of the wildest scenarios ever and she took the assignment with relish! Can anybody tell me why FOX has never given her the chance to write an episode of the long running animated series?!

John Costanza penciled and inked the opener. Mike Rote contributed art to the Dan DeCarlo layouts of both secondary tales. This issue was one of DeCarlo's last credits before his death in December, 2001

Completing this review completes Task #35 (Work by Gail Simone, Grant Morrison or Brian K. Vaughn) of the 2026 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.