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

The first publisher to produce a comic book based on the popular 1984 sci-fi picture, The Terminator was NOW Comics. NOW had quickly obtained licensing rights for several very popular franchises and began 1987 as a force to be reckoned with by the big two comic book publishers. However, things quickly fell apart. Fans hated the color process of books. NOW experienced tremendous delays in getting their books out on time. Eventually the creative staff and the franchise owners began to complain about not being paid; either on a timely basis or even at all.

In 1990, NOW Comics filed for bankruptcy and the license for the Terminator was quickly snatched up by Dark Horse Comics. NOW produced it's final miniseries series based on the James Cameron hit, Terminator: All My Futures Past right as Dark Horse made it's Terminator debut with a 4-issue minute that would eventually become known as Terminator: Tempest, when the story would be collected in trade paperback the following year.

The story takes place 6 months after the futuristic events of the 1984 Terminator movie. In 2029, Skynet's main CPU has been destroyed by John Connor. Kyle Reese was successful in preventing Sarah Connor from being assassination by the time- traveling T-100. However, based on these successes, the human resistance should have total victory over the machines by now. But it appears that the machines were less dependent on a central processing unit than originally thought.

As the resistance conducts cleanup sweeps on machine outposts, it's discovered that Skynet had a second TDE (Time Displacement Equipment) in working use. It's the mission of the team led Colonel to infiltrate the base where the TDE resides. Before destroying the machine in order to prevent another Terminator from making a play on Sarah Connor, Col. Randall's team will step through the time machine. Once back in Los Angeles, 1990, Randall's crew will attack Cyberdyne Systems, hopefully preventing the tech company from developing Skynet. But first, the soldiers must find food, shelter, money and weapons because there's no way back to 2029. Oh, and clothes because everyone that uses the TDE winds up in the past naked as the day they were born.

Unfortunately for Colonel Randall, the TDE in 2029 wasn't destroyed. A trio of T-800 Androids were activated with the mission to find Randall's squad. These terminators emerged in 1990 naked and vulnerable. But unlike the humans, these time travelers have several advantages as they don't need food, money or shelter. Oh, and they managed to sneak weapons through the time vortex in the body of the soldier Randall had trusted with the destruction of the TDE.

John Arcudi was the scribe responsible for this 4-issue miniseries. There's an article at the end of this issue, written by Arcudi, that states he was tasked with writing the script both super fast and under total confidentiality. During Christmas 1989, word had yet broke that Dark Horse Comics was to become the new home for the Terminator franchise. Arcudi was given this project with a very long leash about what ideas he had about the plot. His only real directive was that his script needed to be completed fast as Dark Horse wanted a new Terminator book on shelves as soon as NOW's licensing agreement expired.

To achieve this quick pace, Arcudi along with artist Chris Warner and inker Paul Guinan had to create the book using the Marvel Method in which Arcudi would plot the story, Warner would lay everything out, then Arcudi fills in the dialogue with Guinan finalizing the inks. Not every comic book creator can work this way. In fact, Arcudi didn't even get to see the finished product for this issue until he had already completed his plotting for issue #3! But, despite a lot of flesh and a Robert Kirkman amount of red ink uses for the blood, this was a great opener. 

It really pains me that I was only able to purchase the first half of this miniseries. I've got a decision to make: do I read issue #2 and then wait to one day find the other 2 books for a decent price or do I go ahead and spend some dough to get the rest of this mini PDQ. I could also find a cheap, used trade of Terminator: Tempest and get some trade on my 2 floppies. I definitely want to find out what happens next. I just don't want to spend too much in able to find out.

Completing this review completes Task #32 (A Dark Horse Comic) of the 2026 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Dick Tracy Book 3: Official Movie Adaptation

Len Wein takes over the scripting role for the third and final issue of Disney Comic's Dick Tracy miniseries. Issue #3 is the official adaptation of the live action film starring Warren Beatty, Al Pacino and Madonna. 

I felt like this was a fairly good adaptation of the movie. It's been decades since I saw it. Maybe the 2 prequel issues helped me to enjoy it more. Though I think to consider the 1990 noir film based on the popular Dick Tracy comic strip a children's movie, was perhaps a bad idea. There's a lot of murders and violence. Mostly from Tommy guns and explosions. But at least one character is killed by being buried in a cement coffin called 'The Bath.' Don't even get me started on the abuse the Kid suffers at the hands of Steve the Tramp!

One thing that I didn't realize was how much sex was in this movie. There isn't anything blatant. But the costumes worn by Madonna's character Breathless Mahoney are pretty risque. And the innuendo she pours over Dick Tracy, trying to lure him away from his sweetheart Tess Trueheart was quite silacious. At the time, I was only 12. What did I know???

Kyle Baker was the artist for the entire series. It's interesting work to say the least. The background sets and the NPCs of the story have that traditional early Kyle Baker style that's raw, fierce and sometimes uninhibited. But when it comes to the characters created by Chester Gould, they look like they were penciled and inked by the Dick Tracy creator himself. With one exception: the title character! I'm wondering if there was a clause in Warren Beatty's contract that all promotional imagery, including comic adaptations, had to have his likeness. 

Al 'Big Boy' Caprice, who was played by Al Pacino, had the legendary actor's eyes. But Big Boy is drawn more like Pacino appeared under a good 10 pounds of foam rubber makeup. Madonna's character looks more like a sultry blonde illustrated by Patrick Nagel. It could be anybody in a blonde wig in a slinky dress that hangs onto the body in the right places. 

As for Tracy's squad of do-gooders, Dick Tracy Jr, Sam Catchem and such, they vary in style. The Kid has coal black button eyes whereas Sam looks like Flattop in a bowler with a permanent grin on his face. If you're familiar with the comic strip, based on the artwork, you should be able to figure out some surprise reveals ahead of time. Just keep a detecting eye out.

Lot of fun. I think being in my late 40s, I was able to enjoy this book more than I would have as a preteen. This trip down memory lane has got me wanting to see the live action picture again. That's really saying something because I remember when I first saw the film, I was really blasé about how it turned out. Dick Tracy 1990 has a reputation of being a terrible movie despite really killing it in theaters those first 2 weeks in theaters. It has become a sort of cult classic. Maybe it warrants another view. I'm definitely in the right frame of mind for it!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Dick Tracy Book 2: Dick Tracy Vs. The Underworld

The debate will always be 'Who has the best Rogue's Gallery: Batman or the Flash?' Once you figure that out, #3 is undoubtedly that of always honest cop, Dick Tracy! The blood thirsty Flattop, with his horizontal cranium. The Brow, with his multiple folded forehead that rivals that of Duke great, Shane Battier. Names like Mumbles, Prune Face, Itchy and Breathless Mahoney either indicate a physical attribute or character trait that gives the reader a clue as to the type of villain Tracy and his men will be encountering. 

I was 12 when Dick Tracy hit theaters and I admit that I caught the fever. When it was announced that in the 1990 live action film all of Dick Tracy's main foes were assembled in what was built as an all-out gang war with Tracy and his squad in the middle to protect and serve the post-prohibition citizens of the metropolis, known simply as 'The City', I was thrilled! I grew up spending a lot of time on the farm owned by my grandmama and her family. The adventures of Dick Tracy were a weekend surprise as the major newspapers of Raleigh, NC didn't carry the strip. I feel in love with the unique criminals and their clever names. B.O. Plenty! You knew that guy stunk! Although they had been killed decades earlier, I grew up reading the classic Dick Tracy stories that were collected in comic book format. There probably was a paperback collection floating around the house. So imagine my disappointment when 90% of the promised characters get knocked off in the first 15 minutes of the Warren Beatty led movie!

If you are like me and you felt that a majority of the best Tracy villains were killed off way too early, then you will love the first 2 issues of the Dick Tracy comic miniseries produced by Disney during its all too brief experiment as a comic book publisher. Issues 1&2 act as a prequel to the movie. I've learned over the years that the live action film had underwent dozens of rewrites as the franchise rights changed hands several times in the 70s and 80s. So I wonder if perhaps there's was a lot of stuff that was not good enough for the silver screen but still warranted public notice. Hence the prequel treatment.

In book 2, Prohibition finally gets repealed. The illegal trade of alcohol is no longer a lucrative venture. As a result, Prune Face makes a play for the numbers racket run in The City solely by Lips Manlis. When some of Prune Face's gang wipe out a deli that is secretly a front for illegal sports betting of the Manlis gang, Lips' right hand man, Al 'Big Boy' Caprice is incensed! He wants revenge. But Lips is concerned about making waves what with Dick Tracy given carte blanch by the Chief of Police, on cleaning up the criminal element of The City! 

Seeing Manlis refusing retribution as a sign of weakness, Big Boy begins a play to take over. Meanwhile, a group of unknown thugs have knocked over an armored truck. Tracy and his men manage to apprehend all but 1 of the robbers, who flees to the sewers for help from a mysterious figure known only as The Mole! As Tracy investigates a robbery, the FBI send an agent to search for a criminal who might have taken up residence in The City. His investigation and how it ties into the armor car heist will amaze even the most staunchest of crime noir/mystery lovers with a plot that rivals Mickey Spillane, Agatha Christie and James Bond's papa, Ian Fleming.

Showing the origins of the two-way wrist watch radio, along with introducing about another dozen novelty villains of the Dick Tracy Rogues Gallery, book 3 is the official adaptation of the 1990 live action film.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Dick Tracy Book One: Big City Blues (2026 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

1990 saw a longtime dream of actor/director Warren Beatty come true when a feature length live-action version of the crime comic strip Dick Tracy debuted in theaters. Beatty had developed a treatment for such a film in the early 70s. Film rights switched hands many times and yet Warren Beatty was constantly attached to the project, chomping at the bit to play one of his long time heroes. 

Dick Tracy was created by Chester Gould. The police detective with unwavering scruples debuted in newspapers beginning in 1931. 3 years later, Dick Tracy would hit radio airwaves before a string of movie serials would thrill kids and adults alike in 1937 with a 15-parter starring Ralph Byrd. Add in a Dick Tracy cartoon that aired on television during the early 60s, that was the limit to the character's non-print appearances in the media until the 1990s. 

Disney Studios through Touchstone Pictures and Buena Vista Pictures finally got involved in the Dick Tracy project in the 80s. With Warren Beatty leading the project not just as the lead actor but now behind the lenses as director, superstars came out of the woodwork to appear in the film. Al Pacino, Dick Van Dyke, Dustin Hoffman and Madonna, arguably the biggest female pop singer of the time, all signed onto the picture which finally debuted on June 15, 1990.

There was a ton of licensing for the film. Toys, bubble gum cards, clothing, even a video game were released as tie-ins. Disney released a 3-issue comic book miniseries. During this time, Disney self-published their own comics for a very brief 3 year period. They were high quality works featuring art by media juggernauts. Unfortunately, Disney Comics was one of the many smaller publishing houses that couldn't survive when the comic book bubble burst in the early 90s.

John Moore wrote the script for this series. Art was from Kyle Baker. If you were expecting this issue to be an adaptation of the movie, you'll have to wait. Issues #1 and 2 are actually the prequel build-up. The story begins in 1938. Prohibition is about to be repealed. The gangs of 'The City' are in chaos as the lucrative cash flow from illegal bootlegging runs dry. Prune Face is attempting to encroach into the numbers racket controlled by rival Lips Manlis. Numerous small time thugs hide in the shadows in hopes of picking through the debris and casualties left in the war of the growing mob war. 

Most of the City's police force are on the payroll of either Manlis or Prune Face... Or BOTH! That is except for one police detective that wears a bright yellow overcoat and matching fedora everywhere he goes: Dick Tracy. Having recently arrested the son of an important socialite for public intoxication, Tracy finds himself stuck at a desk job. But when his girlfriend, Tess Trueheart's father is murdered while transporting 'kitchen supplies' for Lips Manlis, Tracy disobeys orders. With Tess distraught and the police claiming that Mr. Trueheart was really a smuggler, Dick investigates on the sly to find Mr. Trueheart's killer.

This was a totally unexpected treat. But probably not how you think. I wasn't expecting this to be the comic book adaptation of the film. Based on the cover title proclaiming 'Big City Blues', and how I have learned over the years that Warren Beatty longed a trilogy of Dick Tracy films, I came into this selection of my reading challenge as being a continuation of the 'first film.' I didn't know that I was going to get the inside track on how things lead up to the events of the film. 

A must for fans of Dick Tracy. It took me forever to find all 3 issues. I like to have an entire story run before I read the title. However you won't have to worry about a cliffhanger here. The story ends with a satisfying ending that you could use as the entryway into the film. Or you could wait until you find issue #2. But if you decide to skip ahead as it turns out that issue #3 actually is the adaptation of the movie, you'll be just fine, I think.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Completing this review completes Task #38 (A Crime Comic) of the 2026 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

DuckTales #4 (2025 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

Chip n' Dale Rescue Rangers. TailSpin. Darkwing Duck. Without the success of their predecessor DuckTales, none of these classic Disney cartoons from the late 80s-early 90s would have existed. In fact, the Disney Channel as it operates today as a leader in children's programming as well as the streaming juggernaut Disney+, if not for the pioneering nature of DuckTales.

Production for DuckTales began in 1986. At the time, it was a big gamble for Disney who was fledgling against a wave of new animation studios that was poaching quality talent away from the House of Mouse. In 1985, Disney saw a moderate success with the weekly TV series Adventures of the Gummi Bears. Debuting on NBC, the show was an all-new property, though loosely based on the popular gummy candies. It's surprise popularity enticed Disney to begin production on a daily syndicated series that would air in the late afternoon when children would be home. It needed to be based on a Disney icon. Instead of focusing on Mickey Mouse producers wanted a lead character with a bit of an attitude. And of you wanted attitude in the Disney universe, you headed over to Duckburg, Calisota!

Based upon the classic Duck universe comic stories of Carl Barks, DuckTales was an adventure heavy animated series that saw Uncle Scrooge and his nephews Huey, Dewey and Louie seeking treasures from across the globe; even the Moon! Enemies such as the Beagle Boys, Flintheart Glomgold and Magical De Spell would be the standard flies in Scrooge's ointment as he constantly looked for new ways to fill his already overflowing coffers. 

To the dismay of Duck fans, Donald Duck would be missing. Due to an internal edict by Disney, the main trio of Mickey, Donald and Goofy were forbidden from being used in the newly developed television animation department. Thus, Donald was sent away to join the Navy (He already had the hat and tunic!) and the larger than life Launchpad McQuack was introduced to pilot Scrooge and his nephews around the world. (The policy forbidding the use of Disney's major Golden Age characters would be overturned in 1992 with the release of the syndicated series Goof Troop starring Goofy and his son Max. Again, thanks to the popularity of DuckTales!)

As DuckTales quickly dominated the airwaves, Disney immediately looked for ways to market the series through merchandising. The first thing Disney approved was a comic book series by their American license holder of the Disney comic book rights, Gladstone. The first few issues had Studio Program material featuring Donald in the episode based adventures. Yet on the covers it was  Launchpad on the engaging with Scrooge and family; not Donald! The rest of the book was filled with a classic Barks story, which also featured Donald.

I realize the mastery of those stories in my older age. But for a 12 year old who was a fan of the TV show as well as a subscriber to Gladstone's comic adaptation, the stark contrast of art styles between the TV show and 1950s Disney Ducks was confusing. Having Donald acting out stories that he wasn't even involved in on the TV didn't help matters much either. Once Disney 's Studio Program realized that Donald was absent from the series, the remainder of the first volume of DuckTales' 13 issues featured Launchpad instead. Those first tales featuring Donald are now considered non-canon by fans.

In 1990, Disney revoked the licensing rights form Gladstone. The studio decided to publish their own comics. Len Wein was hired as the Editor-in-chief. With a full length feature film hitting theaters later in the year, Disney Comics published the second volume of DuckTales. The 18-issue series was nothing like Gladstone's book. An all-new multi part story saw Uncle Scrooge, the nephews and Webby, the granddaughter of McDuck's housekeeper, Mrs. Beakley attempting to recover Scrooge's lucky dime from the clutches of Magica De Spell. 

In this issue, the Duckburg estate is celebrating the safe return of Webby from being held captive by Magica. As a present, Scrooge takes his nephews and Webby on a cruise where bad weather causes McDuck to be swept overboard. He awakens, marooned on the tropical island of his dreams because the native monkeys pay him in trade for coconuts and other fruits in rubies, diamonds and emeralds. However, everything becomes less than ideal when a giant ape arrives on the scene literally throwing his weight around!

While the story ends with a 'To Be Continued' blurb, thankfully things on Ape Island satisfyingly end to prevent readers from having to wait for Scrooge's rescue in issue #5. 

Volume 2 ran for 18 issues right up until the publisher imploded in 1991, cancelling all but a trio of series. DuckTales #4 was written by season one screenwriter Frank Ridgeway. Covers and art by Cosme Quartieri and Robert Bat.

Completing this review completes Task #4 (A Comic Book Based on an Animated TV Show) the 2025 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Steed and Mrs. Peel #1 (2025 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

The quirky spy series The Avengers originally ran from 1961-1969. Contrary to popular beliefs, The Avengers didn't air on the BBC. Instead it was part of the programming for ITV. Also known as Channel 3, the independent free-to-air public broadcasting network had a budget way smaller than the state-run British Broadcasting Channel. So in 1965, American broadcaster ABC bought the series, making the names John Steed and Mrs. Emma Peel household names. The series made actress Diana Rigg a cultural icon. 

After The Avengers ended in 1969, it seemed that the show was doomed to languish in reruns. Surprisingly, the episodes that started Mrs. Peel's replacement Tara King, were lasting hits in France. As a result, champagne manufacturer Laurent-Perrier created an advertising campaign starring Patrick Macnee as John Steed and Linda Thorson as King. 

The success of the campaign brought about interest in a reboot. Macnee returned as Steed in the retooled New Avengers. As Patrick Macnee was pushing 50, The New Avengers featured younger actor Gareth Hunt taking on the more strenuous stunts as trained martial artist Mike Gambit. Playing the role of the beautiful but deadly Purdy was the blonde actress Joanna Lumley, about 2 decades shy of her role as the boozy Patsy Stone on the sitcom Absolutely Fabulous.

This 1990 3-issue miniseries takes place in between the events of the original series and the 1976-1978 reboot. Written by Grant Morrison with art by Ian Gibson, the Acme Press/Eclipse Comics published series sees Steed reuniting with Mrs. Peel after it has been revealed that a mole has infiltrated the never named branch of British Intelligence that Steed works for. After a military strategist is murdered and Tara King is incapacitated, Steed turns to the only person he can trust: Emma Peel. 

Mrs. Peel has been spending her time away from the intelligence community with her husband in the South American jungle. An anthropologist, Mr. Steed was presumed dead, which led to Emma becoming an unofficial agent for the British crown. When Mr. Peel was found safe and sound, Mrs. Peel left to reunite with her spouse. In this miniseries, Mr. Peel is alive and well, observing native ritual sacrifices. It's a subject that clearly doesn't hold Emma's interest and she's more than willing to help out her old partner for old times sake.

This series, like other subsequent titles based on the British TV series, are titled Steed and Mrs. Peel. Not The Avengers. That's because in the United States, Marvel Comics owns the naming rights to The Avengers as well as The New Avengers. It's made for a little bit of confusion amongst comic collectors looking for the adventures of John Steed and Mrs Peel in print. Muddling things is the fact that because John Steed and his revolving door of partners debuted on the boob tube and later the silver screen in a 1998 American made film starring Ralph Fiennes and Uma Thurman, the British franchise has naming rights over Marvel when it comes to live action works. Thus, the cinematic adventures of Earth's Mightiest Heroes must be officially titled as Marvel's Avengers. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, the first Avengers film goes by the name Marvel Avengers Assemble.

In 2012, Acme/Eclipse's 3 issue miniseries was reprinted as a 6-issue limited series by Boom! Studios before releasing a regular series penned by Mark Waid. Both publications by Boom! were released as Steed and Mrs. Peel.

Completing this review completes Task #21 (Written by an Author From the UK) the 2025 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

The Impossible Man Summer Vacation Spectacular

Way back in issue #175 of the Fantastic Four (October, 1976, to be exact), Galactus devoured Poppup, the home planet of that interplanetary pest, the Impossible Man. As a result, after a really bad case of indigestion, the life essence of Galactus was transferred to the Impossible Man who cloned himself a wife and a whole slew of kids. They then choose to wander the stars as refugees about the world devourer's ship.

In this summer special from 1990, the Impossible Man and the fam are rather bored. So they take leave of Galactus' spacecraft to have a fun-filled vacation on planet Earth! That means none of the superheroes OR super-villains of the Marvel Universe are safe from inter-dimensional hijinks, pranks and overall tomfoolery. Spider-Man, Doctor Strange, Quasar and even Doctor Doom will rue the day they meet the first (and only) family of Poppup. 

This overall Summer special was a fun read crafted by a number of talents such as Roy Thomas, Jackson 'Bruce' Guice and Ron Marz. The Doctor Strange segment, which co-starring one of my favorite characters from that part of the Marvel Universe, Rintrah, was probably my favorite section of the book. Though the extremely unexpected pairing of the Impossible Man with the Punisher, complete with an entry from his war journal was a hoot. It was written and illustrated by Jim Valentino, who is such a master at skewering the superhero dynamic. I would pay good money if Marvel ever came up with an Impossible Man/Punisher special. Especially would love it in Valentino crafted that one-shot as well.

The Impossible Man Summer Vacation Spectacular might be almost 35-years old. But it's not something that will break the bank either. I got it a couple of years ago out of a bargain bin and I'm seeing it for less than $12 bucks online at several online retailers. Lots of laughs and a very fun way to beat the summer heat.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

The Cartoon Guide to Physics (2022 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

This 1990 illustrated guide to physics is broken into 2 parts: mechanics and electricity AND magnetism. The first segment can be summoned up by Isaac Newton's 3 law of motion.

1. A body at rest persists in its state of rest, and a body in motion remains in constant motion along a straight line unless acted upon by an external force.

2. A body's acceleration is directly proportional to the force exerted on it and is in the same direction as the force.

3. To every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

(from owlcation.com)

Add in gravity, a bunch of equations that supposedly proves the theories behind the science and some history, you've got section one in a nutshell.

Section #2 isn't quite so clear. There's a lot about magnets. A lot about how we get electricity thanks to particle charges. Add in the best explanation I have ever seen about Einstein's theory of relativity that didn't use the old adage about putting your hand on a hot stove for a minute vs. spending 30 minutes with a beautiful woman. Then throw everything out with the paradoxes of quantum mechanics and I might be able to explain how to change a light bulb while putting a magnet on the door of your fridge. 

UCLA physics and astronomy professor Larry Gonick teams with Discover Magazine's Art Huffman to teach the laws of the physical universe in The Cartoon Guide to Physics. The duo do their best to explain physics. It just whenever you add letters to numbers (or substitute them), my eyes glaze over. 

For a very long time, I thought I just couldn't understand math. Then in my senior year of high school, I was finally diagnosed with math dyslexic. Once I understood that, my love of science abounded to a point that I daily use physics, chemistry, biology and even math in my career as a professional chef and culinary teacher.

As part of the reading challenge, I was to read a book about science. Since I enjoy physics, especially time travel and how simple machines work, I gave this book a chance. 

There are 2 hosts for this book. The adventurous Ringo and his fellow astronaut, an unnamed hostess with the letter L on her belt. Ringo tends to get into trouble and gets easily confused. The hostess usually conducts her experiments with panache. Their visual aids make the confusion brought upon by the equations easier to understand many of the principles explored in this book. But I think an animated version would be a lot more helpful that using charts with arrows flowing this way and that. 

Of the books I have read for this challenge, this has taken me the longest. Some nights I could breeze through 2-3 chapters. On others, I could only make it through a single chapter before my brain just turned to mush. I learned a lot. But when it comes to the theoretical stuff, I think I am just too much of a realist (or maybe a literalist) to understand it all.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Completing this review completes Task #48 (About Science) of the 2022 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

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.

Marvel Comics Presents #40

There's a fan-favorite issue of The Avengers that guest-stars David Letterman. From 1983, Wonder Man is invited to the NBC late night talk show to discuss his latest flick. 

Jump ahead to 1990 and Simon Williams is back on the talk show circuit hawking the new movie he's making while under the enthrall of The Enchantress. Instead of Dave and company, Wonder Man is in Burbank to meet with Johnny Carson and Ed McMahon! There's also The Beast, Hank McCoy, on site hoping to break the hold Asgardian goddess has on the acting Avenger. We've also got Ronald Reagan and wife Nancy who calls for the government to stop the terror that is Wonder Man. 

I liked the Reagan cameos. But I'm not sure why they're here because by 1990, George H.W. Bush was president. Bush 41 and VP Dan Quayle are mentioned in this chapter. But why aren't they involved? That doesn't make a lot of sense to me. 

Again, only 1 out of 4 stories were enjoyable. The Wolverine story is typical Logan fodder. Gritty. Corny. Overblown. The Hercules story just doesn't connect with me. Maybe it's because I've not read the miniseries that sets up just where the Roman Hero is at this moment in the Marvel Universe. 

And I'm not familiar at all with the character known as Overlord. I think he's an Eternal. Not sure. Of all the Jack Kirby properties, The Eternals is probably my least favorite. Just as I've been nonplussed to see Eternals on screen, I have very little enthusiasm with this 8-pager.

Not Worth Consuming!

Rating: 3 out of 10 stars.

Katy Keene Special #33

Despite the cover, there's no beating the heat in this holiday themed issue. But that's okay with me! As long as it's not a Scrooge- whereas the cover is seasonal and the interior is all something else. Now not every story is Christmas related. But at least two stories have that yule tide spirit and that's enough for me.

The main yarn is a festive story involving supermodel Katy Keene getting all her wealthy friends together to help support an ailing children's hospital during the holidays. Then there's a short in which Katy gets her sister a video game for Christmas. Being an Archie Comic, it's got that typical one-liner ending. There's a third short story that is at least set during Winter. But it's not a Christmas tale.

The final adventure involves a character dreaming about Amelia Earhart. I was wondering why this story was included and I think I've got my answer. Despite promises of future editions, issue #33 would be the last of the series. With exception of a couple of issues of a Katy Keene Digest title (that would be cancelled before Summer, 1990) there would not be another Katy Keene comic published again until 2019 with a miniseries release in anticipation of the live-action Lucy Hale series that aired on TheCW. So, I think Archie was trying to empty it's inventory.

For a 30 year old Archie Comic, this one isn't so bad. The Archie titles went through a slump in the 90s. But you don't see evidence of it here. In fact, I thought this series was pretty innovative what with a number of the outfits in these stories were designed by fans. I appreciated how the editors gave credits to those readers for their contributions.

Before I close this review, I wanted to point out an oddity. I love to read over every single aspect of an old comic. There was a letter from the editor inside. In it, he talks about his writers and artists that would be attending a Con. One of the artists listed was Dan Parent, who happens to be my favorite Archie artist of all time. With this book being 30 years old- just how old is that guy? From his Facebook page, he looks early 40s. What was he in 1990? 12???

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Countdown to New Who: Advent 2016: Day 21

    I wish Doctor Who toys were available when I was a kid. There were Doctor Who toys but for the most part, they were only available in the UK. But if they had American Doctor Who toys, I would've wanted them. 

   As a kid who grew up in the 70s, 80s, and 90s, the ultimate sign that Christmas was near was the Sears Christmas Wish book. Every year around September or October, this massive book of clothes, decorations, and of course toys would arrive in the mail. I would devour every page (Even the ultra dull women's clothes and housewares sections),  just so I was building up anticipation until I got to the toys. It was so cool.
    For my Advent present for you today, I decided to go retro. Below are links to what a Sears Christmas Wish Book would look like in 1990, 1983, and the year this Madman was born- 1977!
    Who says that my Advent gifts have to be all Who? 
   
    Enjoy...

The 1990 Christmas Wish Book

The 1983 Christmas Wish Book

The 1977 Christmas Wish Book