X-Men: Worlds Apart

Ororo and T'Challa. A match made in Heaven, destined to be separated by their bloodlines and responsibilities. For Ororo is the mutant X-Man Storm and T'Challa is the king of Wakanda and sometimes Avenger Black Panther. 

X-Men: Worlds Apart was a 4- issue miniseries released 16 years ago in 2008. So, I think I'm not going to spoil much by saying that this story marks the start of the crumbling foundation in Ororo and T'Challa's marriage. When a Wakandan mutant is accused of murdering a high ranking official, it's up to Queen Ororo to head a royal inquiry in T'Challa's absence. 

Tensions in Wakanda are already at an all-time high. Many of the Wakandan people are distrustful of outsiders. They're even more suspicious and afraid of the mutant master of the weather. How dare an X-Man marry into the royal family! Storm discovers that a powerful psychic from her past has returned and was actually behind the murder. Unfortunately, her subjects refuse to let the lad who was manipulated into the death escape mandatory Wakandan execution. So Ororo will cross loyalties from the Queen of Wakanda to X-Men leader to ensure justice prevails. But when the Black Panther suddenly returns, possessed by the Storm's ancient foe, Ororo will have to cross some lines that will forever mar her place in the Wakandan palace and in her bonds of Holy Matrimony with T'Challa.

The main story was tedious to read. Not because of the main plotline taking place in Wakanda. It was the secondary plot involving Cyclops and the those mutated CHUDS, the Morlocks. They've got to be my least favorite part of the X-Men universe. I've never liked the Morlocks. I've always found them to be unnecessary. I thought this was going to be a tale about Storm and T'Challa. Instead, about a third of the main feature involves those annoying sewer dwellers! And it takes place during the X-Men's exile in San Francisco; perhaps the weakest of any of the Marvel mutant eras!

There was a brightspot. This book also includes a team-up of the two lovers from the pages of Marvel Team-up #100 and a late 90s issue of Black Panther. The earlier story was classic 80s Marvel with writing, plotting and art by Chris Claremont and John Byrne. Back when Storm was illustrated with those mysterious cat-like eyes. That too brief short story details the origins of the two lovers first meeting as children.

The more modern tale was kinda powerful with its allegory of racism and bigotry. Yet it's also rather absurd with the narration being provided by State Department liaison to Wakanda, Everett K. Ross. True, Ross has always been a sort nervous sort of fellow. But the story was supposed to reflect a report Ross was sending to his supervisors. It was anything but professional with a bunch of jokes that fall flat.

A must for die hard X-Men fans who think the Morlocks are great. However, that's not me in the very least. That's still to not say I wouldn't be open to more stories about Storm and T'Challa. Maybe it's happened prior and I just don't know it, but I would really dig a What If... detailing what would have happened if as youngsters, T'Challa forsook the throne of Wakanda and instead went off to live with Ororo in the Kilimanjaro valley of Kenya. Would Ororo have become Storm at the request of Professor X? Would Klaw or the Man-Ape have claimed the title of Black Panther after the death of King T'Chaka? That's a story I want to read. 

Hey, Marvel... call me! I'm willing to help punch out a script!

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

Feasting on Asphalt: The River Run by Alton Brown

Recently one of my culinary students asked me if I had ever heard of Alton Brown. Had I heard of Alton Brown? He's like my culinary hero. He's one of the reasons I got into becoming a foodie. He actually advised me in person to go to culinary school in order to achieve certain career goals I had.

Yes, I have heard of Alton Brown!!!

I had several of his books on the bookcase in my office and brought them out for my student to inspect. From looking them over I inspired myself to take one of his books and give it a read in my quest for extending my culinary knowledge. 

I chose Feasting On Asphalt: The River Run because I had been such a fan of the 6-part documentary along with the first miniseries. In 2007, Alton Brown and his camera crew rented motorcycles and a RV to drive the entire length of the Mississippi River, starting all the way down in the Louisiana Delta up to the lutefisk filled waters of Minnesota. 

Along the way, the crew would explore the diners, restaurants and food manufacturers that were off the beaten path in hopes of recapturing the spirit of the All-American road trip before the days of the interstate highway systems made everything much more accessible.

There's a lot of fun to be had going the long way. Sadly, the extra time isn't one of those benefits. But by travelling the byways as opposed to the interstates, there are still some small town gems to be found. But you better hurry as larger box stores and restaurant conglomerates are making those bight spots fade into distant memory.

This book is a journal companion piece to the video diary Brown makes of his trip. Added to this book that you don't find on the show are about 40 recipes. Brown also includes a buyer's guide for some of the special ingredients he bought along his trek to make those dishes. However, being that this book is about 15 years old and COVID lockdown did considerable damage to the smaller corners of the culinary industry, don't be surprised if many of the attractions and purveyors are no longer in business.

I wish Alton Brown had written such a journal for his first road trip which explored the original path of legendary Route 66. Also, I just recently learned that there was a third volume in the series! Feasting on Waves had Alton and company on boats touring the Caribbean. How did I miss this one?! And why didn't Alton write a book about it?? I especially would like such a thing since with Alton Brown's relationship with Food Network has been terminated, Feasting on Waves is no longer available on streaming. 

Ah... missed opportunities.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Jack and the Box (Family Comic Friday)

Did you ever read The Cat in the Hat and wish it was a comic book or graphic novel? Well, you almost have your wish with the Level 1 adventure from Toon BOOKS, Jack and the Box!

Young Jack is a bunny whose parents have given him a new toy. It's a Jack-in-the Box named Zack! And new buddy Zack is full of surprises! 

Written and illustrated by graphic novel legend Art Speigelman (Maus: A Survivor's Tale), this is an early reader that can introduce the youngest of younger readers in your life to sequential art! Jack and the Box uses repetitive words, many of which are visually cued by the artwork. A lot of the words rhyme; like how Jack's toy is named Zack. And speaking of Zack- he's going to surprise the whole family with just all the magical stuff he can do!

I really think Art Spiegelman tapped into his inner Dr. Seuss with this book. Don't believe me? Just wait till you see what Zack can do once he and Jack start playing hide-and-go-seek! The ending to this book might not be as dramatic as The Cat in the Hat, but you'll definitely feel the vibe of Things 1 and 2 by the time you reach the end!

Jack and the Box is a very short and quick 32 pages. While it's a speedy read, the laughs and surprises are going to make this read a book that everyone is going to want to enjoy again and again!

A 2008 release by a graphic novel legend is sure to become a new classic.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

High Rollers

Who can forget the action drama High Rollers? The 2008 blockbuster was filled with A List in roles you never imagined some of your favorites ever playing.

Jamie Foxx played CQ, a captain in one of L.A.'s deadliest gangs.

Will Smith starred as Trey Loc, the coke-addled leader of a South Central drug empire.

Thandie Newton portrayed Rita, a desperate woman willing to make a deal with the devil to save her family.

Ben Stiller as Machete, a smarmy bookie with a knack for the ponies.

Wait a minute? You've never heard of this film? Oh, that's right. That's because High Rollers was a 2008 graphic novel from Boom Studios. But I didn't lie about the amazing cast that fills these pages. Artist Sergio Carrera (Green Lantern) illustrates a slew of amazing talent as the players in this story that has no heroes; only devils and fallen angels. Carrera also casts Matthew Modine, Jason Stratham and Outkast's Andre3000 in important roles in this story. There might be other celebs in here that I just don't recognize. But thanks to the likenesses I did recognize, High Rollers feels like watching a movie from an alternate earth.

High Rollers is written by crime novelist Gary Phillips (Perdition, U.S.A.). With titles like Peepland and Vigilante: Southland under his belt, this is not the author's first and only foray into comics and graphic novels. However, I liked his overall story a lot better than the prose chapter that introduces all the major players at the beginning of this book. I am also glad I didn't give up on High Rollers because of that opening segment.

The prose part of High Rollers is filled with dime paperback cliches. The dialogue reads like a stereotype of blacks and South Central gangs. Not the kind of stuff I'd expect from an award winning author. Phillips in an interview with Greg Rucka (Whiteout), found at the back of this book, mentions that editor Mark Waid (Daredevil) made some notes on story improvement that Phillips wasn't a big fan of. But he did agree on some 'compromises.' With such a large cast and how the story begins in the middle of CQ's latest assignment from his boss, perhaps some story setup was needed. However, the quality of those pages didn't meet the superiority of the majority of this book.

This story is presented in 4 chapters. Chapters 1-3 of High Rollers is action-packed as CQ rises in the ranks as head of the gang. The first half of chapter 4 continues at that pace. But the way everything feels rushed to the conclusion, I wasn't satisfied with the ending. I like more definite endings. High Rollers concludes with the promise of more to come. Yet, it's 14 years later and there doesn't seem to be a sequel out there. 

I also know that we aren't supposed to judge a book by its cover. But when the cover includes items that you cannot find anywhere in the book, that annoys me. The outline of the stripper is okay as even though there are no scenes occurring in a strip club, it is mentioned a couple of times that some characters enjoy the company of them as lovers. However, there are playing cards on the front and a roulette wheel on the back cover and that's not the kind of gambling that occurs in High Rollers. Machete is a bookie to whom Rita's husband is greatly in debt. I'm also assuming that the 'high' in the title is in regards to the drugs dealt by CQ's gang. 

High Rollers was originally released as a 4-issue miniseries. The prose prologue was added just to the graphic novel. So if I had read the floppies instead of the trade paper back, I might have a slightly different attitude towards the beginning of the story. That still leaves the ending, which in my mind is still unforgivable. 

Also, I read this as a trade. So while I understand that my attitude towards the cover and chosen title might also be varied, my feelings towards this format remains the same. It's like watching Blade Runner. You have differing attitudes to the director's cut version you view. Still, the interior artwork was an amazing star-studded affair that kept me reading. So did the improved storytelling. I would just recommend that you find the back issues instead of reading the trade if High Rollers is of interest to you!

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

Youngblood Volume 1: Focus Tested

The government is looking to reform the Youngblood team. Only this time, the reboot will be televised. Now the stars of their own reality TV series, Youngblood is guided more by focus groups and marketing strategy than by original member Shaft. So when Youngblood is openly challenged by members of it's former arch-enemies, Mayhem Inc., the heroes must determine whether this is all for ratings or are their foes really out for blood?

This 2008 reboot of Youngblood wasn't something I had on my wish list, much less my radar. But I recently got a Bento Box and this was one of the books included. 

I liked the premise that super heroes would be treated as celebrities and those first couple of issues were excellent. But the cliffhanger of issue #2 going into issues 3 and 4 caused a paradigm shift and all that I really enjoyed about this book was gone. Like all of the cameos of famous people. Almost a dozen pepper the first two issues. By the end of the fourth issue, all we got was a strange appearance of what was supposed to be Jay Leno, but his chin was way too small!

There's a second volume that concludes this series. But the piss-poor quality of the second half of this book isn't inspiring me to run out to my local book store to know what happens next. If I come across it, great. But I will not loose sleep if I do not find out what happens next.

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars. 

The Simpsons Winter Wingding #3

 It's another winter-themed Simpsons annual from Bongo Comics. This one is from 2008 and unlike the Winter Wingding I reviewed yesterday, this one is filled with some holiday cheer. Well, in the case of Flanders in the first story, it's more like holiday jeer.

   Due to the commercialization of Christmas, Ned decides to ban Christmas, including Santa, in the Flanders homestead. Feeling bad for Rod and Todd, the Simpsons try to bring a little magic to their household by posing as Santa on Christmas Eve. Yet, things get really outta hand when another Santa arrives; this one demanding presents like wallets and jewelry.
    Then in a Hanukkah-themed story, Krusty learns that their aren't any mascots for those eight crazy nights. Seeing dollar signs, the clown forms a focus group in order to create the Jewish version of Santa. What the group, made of Bart, Milhouse, Nelson, and Ralph design is the stuff of nightmares.
    There's two other stories in this volume. Both aren't holiday related and only one really involves winter as a plot device. That story has Homer going to Professor Frink for an experiment. Both hope to hibernate Homey over the winter months in order to lose weight. Cue a plot taken for Weekend At Bernie's (and a forgotten SNL parody ad starring the late Phil Hartman.) The second story has Bart sent to a Scared Straight program at Springfield Jail. Only, instead of being intimidated, Bart becomes the new boss on the cell block.
     4 stories; all very funny. When you need a break from the winter blahs and there's no new episodes of the Simpsons to watch, the Winter Wingdings are perfect. I only hope I can get the rest of annuals in time for next year's holiday festivities. Though you can enjoy these annuals any time of the year (it just helps to read theme during the winter!)

   Worth Consuming

    Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

   

DC Universe Decisions #4

It’s election day for the DC Universe. The culprit behind the attacks has been caught. The heroes have reeled in their political ambitions. And the American People are about to make their voice heard.

   However, before any of this can transpire, the Man of Steel grants Lois Lane an exclusive interview in order to do some damage control.

    I really enjoyed Superman’s speech. Here, it’s the Man of Tomorrow at his most humblest. He’s not some demigod among men, he’s an alien like we are all, only his homeland is light years away. I missed this version of the Big Boy Scout but I think I miss his idealism more.

   A great ending with some super creepy twists and one finely inspiring ending.

  Worth Consuming

  Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

DC Universe Decisions #3

  The race for President is heating up. Under the guise of showing their support Bruce Wayne and Wonder Woman are able to embed themselves into more campaigns. But when a secret service agent turns on the politician he is assigned to protect, the stakes get higher. Ironically, this event helps Batman to figure out who is behind these mind controlled acts of terror. Now to bait the trap…

   Decisions returns to its political intrigue roots. When it clicks as a thriller, it’s like Marathon Man, but with superheroes.

    It’s not just a thriller. There are some very funny moments, especially thanks to the Flash, whose very perturbed that the media isn’t covering the assassination attempts as in depth as they are the circus of superheroes who are throwing their support behind a wide open field of candidates.

   One thing off with this issue is some of the art- in particularly, that of Lois Lane. Her eyeballs look like they take over all of her forehead. And there was one scene where is looks like she broke not only both arms but her wrists and all ten fingers. Really freaky looking.

  Worth Consuming

  Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

DC Universe Decisions #1

   Someone has a grudge against the candidate for President. Not just one candidate, but all of them and the person behind the scheme is using mind controlled suicide bombers to try and eliminate all of the competition. When former Doom Patrol member Robotman is nearly killed saving one of the candidates from an assassination attempt, it prompts the Justice League to get involved with the investigations.

   Assigned to security detail for one of the Democratic candidates, League member Green Arrow discovers that the bomber is using close members of each candidate's campaign to carry out the attacks. The attack also happens live on national television right after Arrow declares to there are no active bomb threats. To save face, the hero agrees to an interview. But Ollie makes things go from bad to worse, when he accidentally gives his endorsement for the job seeker he is supposed to protect.

   I had heard from friends that this miniseries from 2008 was really preachy. Maybe it gets that way in the later issues, but this opening issue didn’t feel preachy. It felt like an intense political thriller. Sure, Green Arrow makes everyone wallow in his self-righteousness, but hey so what else is new?

   Okay- the role reversals are totally new territory. The wild card candidate that says whatever is on his mind is the Democrat. The Republican candidate is an African American female who's considered even tempered and refined. I’m telling you, it’s this year’s election only reversed...

I’m wondering if the editors at DC planned it this way to avoid backlash because co-creator/ writer Judd Winick (Batman) is considered one of the more liberal voices in comics. Or maybe his writing partner Bill Willingham (Fables) kept him wheeled in.

   A good opening act. I hope it doesn’t go downhill from there.

  Worth Consuming

  Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

The Amazing Spider-Man: Election Day

   The days of the New York mayoral election are coming to a close and the polls show the race neck and neck. The only thing that could swing it in either sides favor is a massive takedown of a super villain or maybe your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.

  A serial killer is on the loose and the murderer been planting patented Spider-Tracers on the corpses. With the cops on his trail, Spider-Man is seriously wounded. A quick escape is just what the web-slinger needs. But a run-in with a new Goblin-like menace (aptly named Menace) arrives on the scene and gives Spidey the fits, resulting in the wall-crawler's arrest. Thankfully, Spider-Man has lawyer Matt Murdock on retainer...

    Then in a history making team-up, Spider-Man comes to the aide of a guy named Barry on the streets of Washington D.C. The Spidey villain Chameleon seems to think that if he can take President-Elect Barack Obama's place during the inauguration, he'll become the 44th POTUS. But with the Spider-Man's Spider-Sense and the Knight Rider-like driving skills of Joe Biden, Democracy should still be save- for now.

  Lastly, Captain America and Spider-Man join forces to fight a group of robots that look like Abe Lincoln and members of his historic cabinet. Offended by the poor imitation, Capt. regales Spidey with a tale of the time the Sentinel of Freedom met Honest Abe thanks to the always trusty cosmic cube.

   All three stories were very good. I had read the Obama Election special somewhere before. Though, I don't remember Joe Biden being such a goof. I guess the VP's antics being constant fodder for the likes of Jimmy Fallon made me more aware of it.

   The main election story reminds me of how little I know of this era of Spider-Man. Yes, I am more of a DC person but I try to be very well round. Yet for some reason, the 90s and 00s were just a period of Marvel history that I have considerable gaps of knowledge.

   Published in 2008, Election Day to me marks the beginning of John Romita Jr's 'Big' period. I dunno if it's arthritis, or age, or just a change in styles, but this is the earliest accounts of all of the characters in his works becoming more barrel-chested and broad-faced. The art isn't lacking in quality and there are still glimpses of his iconic touch that made him a comic collector's household name in the 80s. But his artwork has definitely changed over the years.

   A very good volume that 5-6 years ago would've been priced in the $30-50 dollar range due to the hotness of Obama collectibles. But controversies, approval ratings, and the fickle nature of comic collectors have resulted in this book's value to drop considerably. I found my hardcover copy for $2.99 at Ollie's Discount!

    Take a gander for it, folks. You might get lucky like I did. And who knows... maybe after the election, this book might rise in price again...

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Adventures: Hulk #11

  The first ever crossover in Marvel Universe history occurred way back in Fantastic Four #12. In that epic issue from the early 60s saw the Thing tussling with the Incredible Hulk. Buildings were destroyed, bystanders were hurt, and a legend was born.

   Over the next 5 decades, the two titans would continue to tussle. But thanks to that dynamic two-part story, the Thing and Hulk would become uneasy friends. Often they'd team-up together and then due to some misunderstanding (usually on the Hulk's part) the two heroes would battle it out until that fragile truce could be reestablished. The same is no different in this all-ages friendly story from 2008.

   Here, Bruce Banner comes to the Baxter Building along with his teenage pal Rick Jones. The duo are looking for Reed Richards to assist the good doctor in finding a cure for the gamma radiation that turns him into the big green machine. The only member of the Fantastic Four at home is lovable Blue Eyed Benji.

     Not one to let a friend down, Thing gives Bruce free reign over Reed's lab. But when a squad of Doombots invades the lab, an errant laser blast angers Banner and he turns into the Hulk. Naturally instead of the attacking robots, the Hulk assumes the Thing attacked him and another classic battle between the two heroes is born!

   One again, Marvel crafted another all-ages classic in their Marvel Adventures line. It was fun and funny and full of action and adventure. The art was very good as well though it might have been just a little too clean for a battle royale between the Thing and the Hulk. Still this was an excellent story that isn't very expensive if you can find it. Plus, I just loved the last page- especially the very last panel.


  Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10

Star Trek: Year Four: The Enterprise Experiment

  Yesterday, the galaxy lost a great man with the passing of Leonard Nimoy: forever to be known as Mr. Spock. In no way was my reading of this trade done as a tribute or some sort of cheap attempt at garnering readership or hits within the Star Trek community. Honest. I actually started reading this book a couple of days before news of Nimoy's hospitalization for chest pains and had finished this book up the night before his death. With yesterday being my day to review a family-friendly comic, I got a day behind on reviewing 'the Enterprise Experiment' and this just happens to be an eerie coincidence.

   'The Enterprise Experiment' was written by original series screenwriter DC Fontana. The story is set during the fourth year of the Enterprise's five-year tour. (The CBS show was canceled after only 3 years, so there are two 'mystery' years of the Enterprise. Why there has never been a Star Trek: Year Five though is beyond me.) The mini is also a sequel to the episodes 'The Enterprise Incident'- which was originally written by Fontana and 'Errand of Mercy', the episode that interduced the Klingons and the Organians.

  Since this story is based on two episodes, there's basically two parts to this story. The first part is the sequel to the 'Enterprise Incident,' in which the Federation has developed cloaking device based on the cloak Kirk and Spock stole from the Romulans during the 'Enterprise Incident.' When Kirk and Spock are on a shuttle craft in order to test the cloaking device's effectiveness they find themselves unable to detect any trace of the ship. That is because the cloaking device is also based on the technology of the Guardian of Forever, thus it phases the ship out of sync with the physical universe. With a Romulan warship on the horizon, Kirk and Spock must regain contact with their starship or they'll become sitting ducks.

    Part Two is the sequel of sorts to 'Errand of Mercy' starting with the Klingon Kor launching several successful attacks on outposts in the Klingon Neutral Zone. Since it appears that the Organians are no longer enforcing the peace treaty they imposed during "Errand of Mercy' the Enterprise is ordering to investigate the Organians disappearance and to stop Kor's attacks on Federation enclaves.

       I liked part one a lot better than part two. Mostly, I found the Romulan story to be more exciting and interesting. But I also found the Klingon story to be in error with the films, particularly 'Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.' Though the actual whereabouts of the Organians is a subject of debate amongst Trek fans, it's mentioned in both the film and novelization of ST:VI that the sentient beings have suddenly disappeared. But Year Four takes place a good decade or so- thus this story is in error. Trekkers call this sort of continuity flaw a 'nit' and this is a serious one.

    Another thing that I felt was out of sorts were flashback sequences involving Kirk, Spock, and McCoy. The purpose of those scenes was to show how much the three men are a family to each other than their actual families are. But it really didn't have much of a place in this story since the main themes had more to do with trust amongst people and faith in technology and not "family is the company you most keep."

   I don't think DC Fontana meant for these flashbacks to even be included. In the back of this volume is the writer's five-part original proposal for this series. Nowhere are the family flashbacks of the Enterprise's big three even mentioned. So, I think the blame rests with the editors. A good 10 pages was wasted on this extraneous storyline- pages that could have been used to better fill out the conflict between the Federation and the Klingon Empire.

   Once again, IDW Publishing did a great job examining the unexplored reaches of the fourth year of the USS Enterprise's five-year mission under Jim Kirk. However, with the new Trek movies, IDW seems to be less focused on the original series. There's no reason why the publisher can't release comics based on both Treks since the new films are set in a tangent universe. I'd really like to see how the fifth and final year of Kirk's first command of the Enterprise ended. But since it's been 7 years since this Year Four story was published, it's probably a pipe dream.

    Lastly, let's talk about the art. It's very good with amazing detail to not just the original cast but the guest stars and the Enterprise as well. I marvelled at how much detail was put into the cloaking device and the work done on animated series character Arex, was fantastic. But the covers by the Sharp Brothers were even better and I enjoyed the pencil to inks processes added to the director's cut materials at volumes end.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Walt Disney's Gyro Gearloose - Free Comic Book Day 2008

The zany mad scientist/ inventor of Duckburg finally gets his own comic- though it’s a one-shot Free Comic Book Day edition. Sorry!

This book features several stories involving Gyro Gearloose and the residents of Duckburg, like when he helps Uncle Scrooge hide his money from the Beagle Boys. The best stories are the ones taken from 1980s Ducktales comics in which Gyro is trying to help Launchpad not crash anymore. Hir inventions never work, but it’s Scrooge’s pilot and his “eh? What can you do? At least we didn’t die!” attitude that makes those stories so gosh darn funny.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars