Star Trek: The Next Generation Special #1

This 1993 special wasn't meant to be a supplemental piece to the already established TNG series from DC Comics. In fact, this deluxe sized issue was meant to give a myriad of writers and artists a chance to craft their very own Star Trek tale. It was like the ultimate fan fiction comic. Only it was crafted by professionals. 

There are 3 stories in this book. First up is a Guinan led story by Tony Isabella, who now identifies as Jenny Blake, and Bob Ingersoll. On special assessment from the Enterprise, Guinan is helping an old friend establish a saloon on a Federation colony. An outbreak of psychosis has plagued the new colony; threatening to shut the entire operation down. With the latest attack, Guinan summons the Enterprise, that provides an away team led by Commander Riker. As members of the Enterprise crew begin to experience episodes of terror, it's identified that each victim is facing their deepest, darkest personal fears. But who or what is invading the minds of the crew and colony? Hopefully, a member of the Enterprise security team with limited psychic ability will be able to uncover the culprit!

Ken Penders pens a story where Worf requests some leave in hopes of training his son Alexander in the ways of the Klingon warrior. Unfortunately, the planet Worf choose for his father/son bonding is about to experience a massive electromagnetic storm. Can the Enterprise make it to the planet in time to make a rescue?

Lastly, Star Trek novel legend Diane Duane provides a glimpse at a day in the life of Data's beloved cat Spot. Having accidentally escaped from his master's quarters, the curious kitty takes an epic trek through the bowels of the Enterprise D.

This special was originally supposed to usher forth a new anthology of quarterly releases, as per the article from editor Alan Gold at the back of the book. But as with many ambitious plans in the comic book industry, it wasn't meant to be. At best, DC managed 6 total specials over the span of 3 years. 3 were devoted to the Original Series and a trio starred the Next Generation. I've got all 3 of the specials starring Kirk and Spock. But I only have the first 2 books starring Data and Picard. In fact, I didn't even know that their was a 3rd book! So I have something to look forward to! 

Actually, I have 2 things as I haven't read the second special yet!

Lots of fun and it felt very authentic to the crew of the world Enterprise D! I just wish that the mystery behind that plague of insanity wasn't given away from the very beginning!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Classic Doctor Who Comics #9 (2025 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

In 1964, British horror studio, Amicus Productions decided to dip their toe into the science fiction genre. Hoping for an immediate hit, they contacted BBC Studios to license a series of films based on the smash television hit Doctor Who. 

They went with the Doctor's most famous foes, the Daleks. After penning a 3 movie deal with the creator of the Daleks, Terry Nation, Amicus went about adapting their origin story, aptly titled 'The Daleks.' Amicus then hired esteemed actor Peter Cushing as the title role. 

Not wanting viewers confused about there being another Doctor, the BBC demanded some changes be made. Instead of being an alien known only as the Doctor, Cushing's Dr. Who would be an eccentric elderly human who creates a time machine called TARDIS, which can also transverse the universe. Thus the Doctor can change the location of where his time machine emerges from a journey forward or backwards in time. He would also have 2 grandchildren, older teenager Barbara and precious 11-year old Susan. Along for the journey would be Barbara's klutzy boyfriend Ian. 

Adjustments would also be made to the Daleks. Their frames were bulked up and height was added to make the cybernetic aliens look more intimidating. As the film would mark the Daleks' first appearance in color, two new models were produced with a fiery red and black shell. Some of the suction cups were replaced with pincer claws. Other Daleks were to be armed with flame throwers. The BBC put the kibosh on that upgrade, fearing that it would frighten young viewers.

Dr. Who and the Daleks 1965 debut in the United Kingdom was a massive hit. While the TV series had universal appeal with audiences of all ages, the film was clearly aimed at children. Across the pond in the United States, the film bombed. 1966 audiences had yet to become familiar with the Doctor as it was still several years away from Doctor Who debuting on public broadcasting airwaves. 

Since the British sci-fi series was an unknown entity to American audiences, a comic book adaptation was produced. Dell Comics accepted the challenge for garnering interest in the movie. Joe Gill adapted the Milton Subotsky and Terry Nation screenplay. Gill must have been given an early version of the script because those forbidden flame-throwing Daleks menace Dr. Who and his family on more than one occasion in this book. Dick Giordano and Sal Trapani penciled and inked with photos of the cast adorning the interior and exterior covers.

The story of Dr. Who and the Daleks is an origin story. While showing his granddaughters and Ian his newly invented time machine, Ian accidentally activates TARDIS sending the quartet to a desolate planet. A thermonuclear war has caused survivors to mutate into two warring factions: the humanoid Thals, who developed a cure for the effects of radiation sickness and the underground dwelling Daleks, who look like giant brains with tentacles. The Daleks also happen to control the planet's limited food supply. 

The Thals make frequent raids on the Daleks stronghold for food while the Daleks seek the radiation cure. Finding killing abhorrent, the Thals would be willing to make a peace with their foes, trading food for medicine. The Daleks seek to annihilate their foes once the cure is in their grasp. As Dr. Who attempts to escape from his Daleks captors, a planet killing bomb is activated. Now the Thals must disarm the weapon in hopes of their survival, even if it means wiping out the Daleks forever.

The Dell adaptation of Dr. Who and the Daleks was never officially released in the UK. It was an American only release. One of the few times that the States possessed a classic Doctor Who licensed product and Britain didn't. A few copies are said to have appeared on American bases throughout the UK at the PX, eventually making it's way into the populace. 

British Who fans wouldn't get an official chance to see the collective work of Gill, Giordano and Trapani until the Summer of 1993. The 9th issue of Classic Doctor Who Comics, released by Marvel Comics UK, featured a complete reprinting of the 1966 adaptation. Colin Howard crafted the cover image of Cushing as Dr. Who, facing one of those terrifying new Red Daleks. The Neutron Knights by Steve Parkhouse and Dave Gibbons is this issue's backup comic. It sees the Fourth Doctor played by Tom Baker summoned to Earth by Merlin the Magician. Photographed posters of a reject from the Planet of the Apes called an Orgon and Mary Tamm as the first incarnation of the Time Lord Romana are centerfold inserts and producer/director John Ainsworth examines the comics of the Slyvester McCoy era of Doctor Who.

In 1966, Amicus produced its follow-up to Dr. Who and The Daleks. Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 A.D. was a box office bust. Production problems and Cushing's diminished role due to a serious illness were blamed for the film's problems. As a result, the sequel never made it to the States and Amicus scraped its option for a third film. Both movies have garnered cult status, though neither are officially canon. To explain the existence of the Peter Cushing films, they have been retconned over the years, explained to have been films officially requested by the Doctor in hopes of educating the populace to the threat of the Daleks. 

Completing this review completes Task #28 (A Doctor Who Comic or Graphic Novel) of the 2025 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Worth Consuming! 

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Green Arrow #75 (2025 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

Most anniversary sized issues seem to fit into one of 3 main categories: a major team up that fans have been clamoring for, a death or resurrection of a major character, or a major life event like a wedding, promotion to a team or new child. Very rarely it seems these very special issues act in celebration of the vast history of the character or team that the subject of said comic is truly reflected in terms of an 'anniversary.' Yet that is what Mike Grell and Rick Hoberg achieved in issue #75 of the 1988-1998 series of Green Arrow.

During a New Year's Eve celebration in downtown Seattle, Oliver Queen is near fatally wounded by an arrow welding assassin. Because of his war on organized crime in the Emerald City, Green Arrow has been targeted by the Yakuza, who are trying to gain a foothold in the Pacific Northwest. As Oliver recovers, the three ladies in the Archer's life, long-time love Black Canary, mother to one of his children, Shado, and Marianne, a youthful woman who writes fairy tales and just declared her love to Ollie at the beginning of the story. Even the mysterious assassin is found to have a deep bond with Green Arrow in this retrospective of a character that editor Mike Gold compared to a cross between 'Robin Hood and Peter Pan' in his farewell address to the readers in the letters column.

Rick Hoberg provided the pencils and inks for this oversized issue from 1993. Mike Grell does double duty as the cover artist in a powerful image that features all of the main characters of this story.

Completing this review completes Task #9 (With The Word GREEN in the Title) the 2025 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Grateful Dead Comix #1 (2025 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

Despite the cover indicating that this is #1 of Grateful Dead Comix, it's actually the 6th issue in the series. Issues #1-5 were originally published by Kitchen Sink Press in a larger magazine sized format. Sales were fairly decent and Deadheads, fans of the world famous Grateful Dead, loved seeing their favorite songs brought to life in 4-color form. However, rising costs in the production of the book, especially in terms of multicolored ink and paper, resulted in editors needing to shrink the size of the book done to the standard comic book size of 6.625 inches x 10.25 inches. 

Unfortunately, the new format as well as renumbering of the book couldn't keep the book from becoming a victim of the dramatic drop in overall sales of comics in the early 90s. The retooled Grateful Dead Comix was cancelled in April, 1994 after just 2 issues. It didn't help that it took nearly a full year for issue #2 to see print. Knowing how some fans are picky about their collection of hardcover and softcover collected works all looking uniform, the format change was probably met with some level of complaint as well.

The issue contains full comic adaptations of 2 Dead songs. Reed Waller and Kate Worley interpret Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter's 'Ripple' as a woman remembering a lost love through the items she finds in her attic. Paul Ollswang's depiction of Hunter's 'Attics of My Life' seems to stay away from the bowels of the sky parlor; instead focusing on a strange man with antlers who battles fierce beasts in a land of feminine-looking sprites. 

This issue also continues a project by Tim Truman. Based off of the never produced 6 song concept album 'Eagle Mall', Truman crafts a story full of creatures and characters that look like they were taken straight out of the animated cult classic film Heavy Metal, engaging in an epic war on an unknown battlefield. This segment features songs #4, 'Lay of the Ring' and #5, 'At The Pass'. Songwriter Robert Hunter worked with Tim Truman in this attempt to finally see his passion project come to fruition. The following issue promised to bring 'Eagle Mall' to an stunning conclusion. 

Grateful Dead Comix didn't just cover visual representations of the band's songbook. Previous issues covered legendary sets performed by the Grateful Dead, including their 1967 performance at the Monterey, CA fairgrounds. Cartoonist (and Deadhead) Terry LaBan, contributed to a frequent series called 'True Life Experiences of a Reluctant Deadhead'. Another segment was on tap for the next issue. Other future plans for Kitchen Sink's franchise license included a special edition hardcover collection of issues #1-4. Limited to 500 copies, it included a bookplate autographed by guitarist Jerry Garcia.

Completing this review completes Task #34 (With a Three Word Title) the 2025 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

Lobo #1 (2024 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

After a popular tryout miniseries, DC Comics decided that the time was right for an ultra violent regular series starring the Czarnian bounty hunter Lobo. Only this version of Lobo was nothing like he was envisioned by creators Keith Giffen and Roger Slifer.

When he first appeared in the pages of The Omega Men #3, Lobo was a hardened baddie that never let a bounty go unclaimed. This is rather like the 1990s version of Lobo. Only, instead of dressed like a Hell's Angel from Hell, the original Lobo wore a skin tight leotard hued in purple and neon orange. The new Lobo had long, greasy hair and wore earrings and chains. Giffen's Lobo had a feathery bouffant and was free of adornments. Actually, you couldn't see his ear from the hairstyle that invokes images of Farrah Fawcett and Vinnie Barbarino. He might have been wearing earrings.

The biggest difference in the two versions of Lobo was in how the character was presented. Giffen's Lobo was like Clint Eastwood's Man with No Name' outlaw Western character. The 1990s Lobo was like the 'Man With No Name' set to 11- make that 12!  Keith Giffen claimed in a 2006 interview that his Lobo was  'an indictment against' Marvel's violent antihero, the Punisher." But as Alan Grant took over the reins from Giffen after the 1990-91 miniseries, in 1993 Grant shifted Lobo to become an over-the-top parody of Marvel's Wolverine. 

It's ironic that a character meant o criticize the disturbing 80s trend of mega violent characters evolved into a character noted as one of the industry's most Uber violent, no holds barred, irreverent figures of all-time. It's even more ironic that Lobo's lack of sacred cows, except for those space dolphins, would give birth to a number of imitators that continue to push the envelope to unthinkable levels. Topps Comics, Image and even Marvel created their own parody versions of a character that was a satire in of itself. Talk about the snake eating it's own tail.

In this premiere issue, Lobo is on assignment. He's on the hunt for a real nasty. Only instead of being hunted for killing somebody's loved one or for stealing something valuable, the bounty is for missed alimony payments! Things go wrong for Lobo, leaving the bounty hunter with only a single body part to claim his money. Only a nose and two nostrils isn't enough to make a claim which leaves this bastich extremely P-O'ed. 

After roughing up his handler, Lobo is given a new bounty, a milquetoast accountant named Quigley. Only it's the handler who's having the last laugh as Lobo is being lured into a trap as his quarry is protected by the most dangerous bunch of henchmen in the galaxy. 

The original version of Lobo would return to much controversy with DC's New 52 relaunch. Readers were left to find that the rebooted Lobo was actually an impostor, much like how Jodo Kast impersonated Boba Fett. Only in this case, it's the pretender who comes out on top. Today's Lobo has become more of an offensive buffoon. Now the father of a half human teen prone to bouts of papa's bad attitude, Lobo's intensity and insensitivity are balanced by daughter Crush's ability to think things through before acting. 

Interior art and cover by Val Semeiks.

Completing this review completes Task #26 (The first issue of a series or miniseries) of the 2024 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Jurassic Park: Raptor #1&2 (2023 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

Topps Comics was an experiment from the beloved baseball card manufacturer Topps. Seeing the potential of comics due to the ominous presence of speculators, Topps joined the already crowded comic book marketplace. Marvel veteran Jim Salicrup was selected as the company editor in chief. His clout helped to recruit an impressive roster of talent including Steranko, Jimmy Palmiotti, and Tony Isabella. 

Topps pulled off a coup securing rights to a number of impressive franchises. The Kirbyverse was a number of quasi-interconnected books based on abandoned ideas and projects created by the King, Jack Kirby. Salicrup was able to obtain the rights to produce new adventures of beloved titles like Cadillacs and Dinosaurs as well as classic characters such as Zorro. Being able to obtain the much coveted rights to adapt Francis Ford Coppola's version of Dracula really put Topps Comics on the radar of the comics industry.

Once Bram Stoker's Dracula was secure, Topps Comics was able to draw in popular franchises such as The X-Files, Friday the 13th's hockey mask wearing antagonist Jason and a comic book reboot of Topps' notorious Mars Attacks trading card set! Eventually Topps managed to secure the rights to publish works based on the most movie of the year 1993, Steven Spielberg's Jurassic Park.

Topps Comics first released a 4-issue adaptation of the film. Walt Simonson scripted. Pencils were by Gil Jane with George Perez inks. A special edition issue #0 was a prequel to the movie, exploring how the dinosaurs of Isla Nublar were created.

Immediately after the success of the film, movie viewers demanded a sequel. Fans of the 1990 novel were already begging author Michael Crichton for a second volume. Spielberg's movie magic added millions of voices to that request. While Crichton would agree to begin writing the official sequel novel in 1994, Topps Comics beat the Jurassic Park creator to an officially authorized comic book with 1993's Jurassic Park: Raptor.

The 2-part Raptor takes place just 3 days after the events of the film. With the help of the United States military, Dr. Alan Grant and Dr. Ellie Sattler are wrangling up the dinosaurs that escaped their enclosures during the tropical storm. Officials are convinced that all of the raptors have been killed by the park's T-Rex. But Alan Grant isn't so sure. 

Not finding any evidence of a raptor nest, Grant is convinced that some of the raptors escaped their pen and laid eggs elsewhere on the island. So the paleontologists travel to a less populated area. The perfect spot is a series of caves that are protected by high tides. Along with finding the missing baby raptors, Grant and Sattler discover an expert poacher is on scene, hired by an unknown entity to capture the infant reptiles.

Jurassic Park: Raptor was the first of a miniseries of trilogies that continues the saga of Jurassic Park. Jurassic Park: Raptors Attack and Jurassic Park: Raptors Hijack finish out the official comic book sequel. The trilogy was written by Steve Englehart, spanning a total of 10 issues. Issue #2 of Jurassic Park: Raptor ends with a 'to be continued blurb' which is really confusing as the cover proclaims that the second book is the last chapter of a 2-parter. Eventually, Topps Comics would release Jurassic Park Adventures, which would collect all 10 chapters of the Raptor Trilogy into a single, sequential series.

Pencils for issues #1&2: Armando Gil.

Inks by Dell Barras.

Covers by Michael Golden.

Worth Consuming!

Issue #1: Rating 10 out of 10 stars.

Issue #2: Rating 8 out of 10 stars.

Completing this review completes Task #42 (Comic Book Starting With the Letter J) of the 2023 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Quantum Leap #13 (2023 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

"Theorizing that one could time travel within his own lifetime, Dr. Sam Beckett stepped into the Quantum Leap accelerator and vanished. 

He awoke to find himself trapped in the past, facing mirror images that were not his own and driven by an unknown force to change history for the better.

His only guide on this journey is Al, an observer from his own time, who appears in the form of a hologram that only Sam can see and hear. And so, Dr. Beckett finds himself leaping from life to life, striving to put right what once went wrong and hoping each time that his next leap will be the leap home."

This was the introduction to the classic 90s sci-fi series Quantum Leap starring Scott Bakula as Beckett and Dean Stockwell as Al. Created by Donald P. Bellisario, Quantum Leap ran for 97 episodes (including a 2-hour pilot movie) on NBC for 5 seasons from 1989-1993. 

In this time travel based series, Sam Beckett traded lives of an assortment of people. During his adventures through time, Sam would become a woman, an elderly black man, a Navy Seal, a minor league baseball player, a young man with Down Syndrome and the notorious Kennedy assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald.  Every life that Sam took control over, he would have to correct some sort of mistake in the time line in order to get closer to going back home to his time period of year 1999.

From 1991-93, Innovation Publishing produced 13 comics based on Quantum Leap. The premise of unique circumstances behind Sam's leaps continued with the time traveller switching places with a death row inmate, part of a pair of identical twins and a department store Santa in the series' lone holiday comic. Issue #13 was to be released as a one-shot special titled 'Time and Space'. However, due to production delays, this project became what would be the series' final issue documenting Sam Beckett's 1963 experience of leaping into an extraterrestrial aboard an honest-to-god UFO.

Issue #13 ended with a soft cliffhanger. After saving a human couple who were abducted by the aliens, Sam leapt into the body of a toddler. Issue #14, which was titled 'Two Dweebs and a Little Monster', was to be the first of a 3-part trilogy in which Sam leapt into the bodies of youngsters. The first chapter would have Sam's host being kidnapped by a pair of bumbling brothers seeking to sell the child to baby brokers. But with NBC cancelling Quantum Leap and Innovation founder David Campiti's departure leaving the company in disarray, the comic adaptation was sacked. A promised annual with Sam leaping into the body of a heart surgeon in the middle of an operation with his patient flat-lining on the table, was also cancelled. 

The biggest problem of Quantum Leap wasn't the fan base. They were loyal and vocal. Even through season 4, some episodes drew audiences of up to 18 million viewers. NBC just didn't have faith in the show. The home of the peacock changed Quantum Leap's schedule 8 times in the show's 5 year run! Thus a major complaint from the fans were that they never could find the show!

The plug was finally pulled by NBC execs on May 5, 1993. In the episode titled 'Mirror Image', Sam leapt into his body. Only, he didn't return to his time period. Instead, Sam found himself in a bar in Western Pennsylvania on the exact day and time he was born. Facing a bartender who claims to be in control of Sam's leaps, Dr. Beckett is given a choice of going home or correcting the biggest mistake of his time travel career. Ultimately, Sam leaps to the 1960s, informing Al's then wife Beth, that Al is alive and imprisoned in a Vietnamese POW camp.

As a result of Sam's sacrifice, history is changed. Al and Beth remain married upon Al's freedom. The couple wind up having 4 daughters, one of which would be involved with Project Quantum Leap. Dr. Sam Becket (sic) never returned home. 

Speak about fan outrage! NBC received countless phone calls requesting at a chance to bring Sam home. A letter campaign was launched. For decades, Scott Bakula teased fans with hints of a feature-length movie to bring Sam Beckett home. Finally in 2022, the Quantum Leap project was revived, ironically on NBC. Only, Bakula was a no-show and sadly Dean Stockwell had passed away the year prior.

The spirit of Al Calavicci is alive and well in the new series as the backstory of the reboot tells of how Al never stopped searching for his friend. As mentioned earlier, daughter Janis, would have a troubled relationship with project coordinator Magic Williams; the now older Navy Seal that Sam had leapt into. Though new leaper Dr. Ben Song went back through the Project Quantum Leap accelerator to save his fiancee from an evil leaper, season 2 provides hope that Ben might run into Sam Beckett before returning to 2022 California. Right now, Scott Bakula denies being involved with the reboot. But Leap fans can dream. 

And yes, while I realize NOW that I read this book previously, I actually don't remember it! So, is it really a re-read???

Script by Christine Elaine Hantzopulos. Art by Luke Ross. 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Completing this review completes Task #23 (A Time Travel Story) of the 2023 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Stupid #1 (2023 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

It's not a rare thing for comic book publishers to make fun of themselves. Marvel Comics roasted not just their Distinguished Competition, but themselves in 1967-69's Not Brand Ecch. Many of those characters, including the title's unofficial mascot Forbush Man, would return in the self-parodying volumes of What The--?! that ran from 1988-1993. 

DC Comics is more subtle when it comes mocking themselves. The House of Superman tends to let characters such as The Ambush Bug or Lobo make fun of the very comic universes that they operate out of. The comic book turned magazine known as MAD, turned self-parody into an art form. From calling it's team of writers and illustrators 'the Usual Gang of Idiots' to lampooning the magazine's buck-toothed mascot, Alfred E. Newman on every cover, nobody does self-deprecating better than William Gaines and Harvey Kurtzman's MAD Magazine. MAD is currently part of DC Entertainment.

In 1993, just a year after it formed, Image Comics put out this one-shot comedic issue. Stupid was written and illustrated by Hilary Barta; who was no slouch to self-parody, having worked on What The--?! previously. Along with co-writer Doug Rice (Plastic Man), Barta created a 26-page parody of Image's biggest ever star, Spawn.

The satire begins with failed comics artist Al Persimmon awaking on a stormy rooftop trying to remember just why he is in a spandex costume with a ridiculously long cape. Now known as Spewn, the character begins to recall that he sold his soul in order to get another chance to make his failed comic book a success. Only, he can't remember just what his comic book was about. A chance encounter at his old publishing company pits him with his arch-enemy, the Vile-ator! Maybe this demon knows what Al Persimmon's comic book was all about!

Along with the story of Spewn, this issue includes a 2-page Where's Waldo? parody called Where's Aldo?, also drawn by Hilary Barta. The comic concludes with a faux-letters page that promises that the Savage Dragon and Sam Keith's The Maxx would be the stars of issue #2. This however could have all been a part of the letters page joke as no further issues of Stupid would ever be forth-coming. In 2002, Image would release Stupid Comics, a 3-issue miniseries. Based on Jim Mafood's newspaper strip of the same name, Stupid Comics was not a follow-up to this work.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars

Completing this review completes Task #46 (with a 1-word title) of the 2023 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Classic Toys from a Madman's Youth: Advent 2019 Day 7

For today's Avent, we're heading to 1993. But the toy in question wasn't one that I owned. But I

did play with them. Ultimately, the main reason I am writing about today's featured item is

because as a competitive shopper it ranks up there as one of my personal best finds! Today's

toy is a set of 6 action figures! So Zord up everyone! It's Morphin' Time!

Today's toys in question are Jason, Trini, Billy, Zach and Kimberly! The original line-up of

the Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers. Did I say 6 action figures? More on this later!

My story occurs sometime during the 1993 holiday shopping season. I was with my mom at

the Toys R Us in Raleigh NC at Crabtree Valley mall. I was on hand with her to help buy

presents for my kid sister who was probably at the babysitters or my grandparents. 

The big thing my sister and just about every kid in the world wanted that year was the Mighty

Morphin'Power Rangers. The original line of figures were sadly sold out as the manufacturer

Bandai grossly underestimated the popularity of the action figures. Not only did the news lament

the shortage, there were signs on the front of toy store too, warning parents that there were no

Power Rangers for sale. 

At some point, I had to disengage from my mom. Probably because she was now shopping for

me. So, after a while of exhaustingly limited to baby kids and the Barbie doll section, I went to

the front of the store and settled down in front of an empty bin. It was then that the magic

happened!

A Toys R Us worker came over with a couple of large blank cardboard boxes. He took out a

box cutter, deftly slit the tape right down the middle and dumped treasure literally right in my

lap! It was Power Ranger action figures! Complete with flip head action! That meant if you

pressed a button, the figures head would change from their Power Ranger persona to their

secret identity.

I was now the front runner for brother of the year! I quickly scooped up all of the figures.

There was Billy. Got Zach. Here's Trini. Found Jason. Kimberly was the hardest. But I got

her too! And then I found it! TOMMY!

Just a month or so prior, Saban introduced a new member to the Power Rangers- the

formerly evil Tommy Oliver: The Green Ranger. He wasn't even one of the original Rangers!

Everybody wanted one of these figures! But he wasn’t supposed to debut in stores until next

year! Yet here I was in possession of the most coveted Power Ranger figure of the holiday

season!

At this point, I felt like Charlie Bucket in that scene in Willy Wonka when he finds the Golden

Ticket. Parents started to notice that some teenager (I was 15 or 16 at the time) had just

discovered the toy score of the year. Adults started trying to take the figures from my arms.

But I’m quite feisty when it comes to shopping and I slapped several hands away.

People actually tried to follow me. So my mom was just going to have to deal with me

intruding on whatever shopping she was doing to for me. When I finally found my mom, I

threw the figures in the cart and told her to run to the checkout! I’m not kidding. Crazed

parents were literally trying to steal these toys that I found from our cart!

I have no idea what my mom originally was planning to buy for me that year. But that’s okay.

After we survived the checkout process and had the Power Rangers safely locked in the trunk,

we went over to the Barnes and Noble next door for my mom to gift shop for her son. That was

completely fine with me. I love books!

Well, that’s my account for today’s Advent. For my present for you today, here’s a commercial

highlighting the flip head Power Rangers. Sorry about the quality. 

Enjoy!

Archie's Christmas Stocking #1

This was a delightful holiday special from 1993 comprised of several winter themed adventures. In it, Archie's dad is having trouble getting into the holiday spirit, Archie and Jughead travel far and wide for the perfect Christmas tree, and the eternal teenager gets into a sticky situation as the Riverdale Mall Santa. 

There's also two classic yarns from 1958 and 1963. Both while a little dated, were quite charming little stories. In the older tale, Archie plays Santa at Veronica's Christmas party and ends up finding himself under the mistletoe- a lot! Then in the older classic adventure, Archie buys matching gifts for Betty and Veronica. But he accidentally switches the tags and has to do the old switcheroo in order to not get in the doghouse with either.

All this plus a very alluring cover with Betty and Veronica as vixens. It's a near flawless holiday special from Archie Comics!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.