Suicide Squad #1 (Free Comics Book Day 2016 Edition)

 Though the movie is getting slammed by critics, DC Comics has done everything right in marketing this film. From overtaking Hot Topic and Journeys clothing and accessories line to making Harley Quinn the flagship character of the franchise, DC hasn't disappointed me in their attempts to build excitement and garner new viewers for the villain-led film. This May, DC Comics officially kicked off the Suicide Squad fervor issuing a Free Comic Book Day giveaway. So it was an ideal read to get me even more excited for when I go see the movie tomorrow.

    Reprinting the first issue of the New 52 Suicide Squad from 2011-2014, this book kicks you in the teeth and then literally rubs salt in those wounds. In this issue, the squad has been captured and being tortured for information regarding their team's designation. As the interrogator makes his way from villain to villain, each member of the Suicide Squad reflects on the crimes that sent them to Belle Reve Prison. But how did they end up captives of the Scarecrow and can they free themselves before one of them breaks?

      Though DC will have cancelled this title and relaunch it twice prior to the release of the Suicide Squad film, I really am interested in reading this series. It was extremely compelling and there are some mysteries involving Harley Quinn and Deadshot that I really want to get to the bottom of. And that cliffhanger- holy cow! I must know what happened next! 

    Yes- I hate cliffhangers. Especially when I don't have the follow-up titles. But unless DC published an one-shot story with all new material, I doubt that any of Suicide Squad titles starring the villains appearing in the film were published without a cliffhanger.

    HEY!!! WHY DIDN'T DC MAKE THIS ISSUE WITH ALL NEW MATERIAL???

    Okay, I'm a little peeved. But regardless of my misgivings, writer Adam Glass wrote one heck of an opening chapter and the interior artwork of Federico Dallocchio was off the chain crazy good. Like I expect the film will be, this book was mega gritty, crazy violent, and had a bit of sex appeal. Not a book for kids. 

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Hilda (And the Stone Forest) #1, Free Comics Book Day 2016 Edition (Family Comic Friday)

  I haven't had a lot of time on my hands recently what with a job search and finally landing a new job this week. So for this week's edition of Family Comic Friday, I dug deep into my collection of Free Comic Book Day offerings to present to you this treasury from this year's giveaway event. 
   The title story is Hilda, an adventurous girl who along with her pet dog/fox Twig save a family of gnomes from a runaway yard. Yes, you hear me, a patch of grass grew legs and stole a home of magical creatures! As odd as it may seem, this escapade opens Hilda and her friends up to a world of magic, delights, and danger. 
    Then we have a story starring Akissi and her brother Fofana. They are a pair of siblings who live in a town in Africa and are one of the few families that have a TV. To earn a little pocket money, the duo are charging admission to see the latest episode of everybody's favorite superhero Spectreman. But when Dad unexpectedly shows up early from work, Akissi and Fofana will have to work fast to clear out the makeshift movie theatre or they're going to get busted!
    Lastly we have a story called Fantasy Sports. Here, a young girl scores the winning homerun in what appears to be a game of gladiator baseball. But when the ball comes back, it opens her up to unimaginable (and unseen) dangers. I didn't like this story by Sam Bosma. Well, that's not fair, I didn't understand it. I didn't understand really what the strange game the girl was playing, nor why her baseball came back. It doesn't help that the story jumps over a large period of time in which the girl is now older, complaining about stinking fish, and accompanied by a volleyball playing wrestler. 
     Hilda by Luke Pearson and Akissi by Abouet and Sapin were both really good and I want to read more of their exploits. There was a charm to Hilda's story and Akissi was laugh out loud funny. (See the third to last panel- it's brilliant!) The two stories, though very different from each other, opened my eyes to two new worlds that I really would not mind visiting again and again. 
     If you are interesting in reading more about these characters, you should look no farther than Amazon, your local comic book shop, or library. All three books are published by Nobrow Press. Akissi has been available for several months and Fantasy Sports is a series that started last year and now has 2 volumes. But Hilda, under the series title Hildafolk has been around since 2010 and about 7 books have been published.
    Hilda, Akissi, and Fantasy Sports are reccomended for readers aged 6-11 but adults will enjoy these tales. I highly praise Hilda and Akissi. But the jury is still out for Fantasy Sports and the implied amount of violence may be objectionable to some parents. So, reader beware and use your best judgement on that one.

   Hilda- Worth Consuming. Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.
   Akissi- Worth Consuming. Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.
   Fantasy Sports. Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.
    
    

Free Comic Book Day, 2016

May this issue of Superman/Batman #3 remind you that there's only 3 days until Free Comic Book Day, 2016!