Judge Dredd: Christmas is Cancelled

With a title such as 'Christmas is Cancelled', don't expect any of these holiday tales set within Mega City One to have happy endings. While the 8 or so stories are set within a dystopian society, there's a cheeky element to many of these tales. One story is a sci-fi parody of the Nativity complete with mutant versions of donkeys, sheep and cow. Another is a retelling of A Gift of the Magi which takes the selling of a body part to a new level. 

Featuring the talents of Al Ewing, John Wagner, Paul Marshall, Dave Taylor, this collection of Judge Dredd stories set during the month of December, this read is very British. Nothing is sacred. There's drugs. There's murder and violence. Both big government and even bigger business are corrupt. But unlike another book of similar material, this Rebellion Developments publication has something the previous didn't- HOPE. Because no matter how bad things get in the year circa 3000, there's always Joe Dredd and his fellow Judges to help bring about a semblance of law and order in hope of bringing forth a better tomorrow. 

Containing reprints from Xmases past from 2010-2014. This book was issued in gratuity with Judge Dredd Magazine #439; released December, 2021.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Guardians of the Galaxy #1

After the events of Annihilation, the Guardians of the Galaxy have decided to take a break from things. Only, another universal threat has manifested. This time, Zeus and several cybernetically enhanced Greek gods have turned Mount Olympus into a warship that can transverse time and space. In order to power it, Mount Olympus must terraform planets at a level of destruction on par with Galactus. Normally the Nova Corps would answer the call to action. However, what happened in Annihilation led to the the Corps' membership to dwindle down to just two!

Richard Ryder comes to the Guardians for help. Tired, wore out and still recovering from their part of the battle, the Guardians decline. Except, the decision eats at both Peter Quill and Rocket who both sneak away to join the small team of Nova Corps, plus Moondragon and an Captain Marvel from another universe to stop these Greek gods from destroying the universe!

Marvel.com claimed that this issue was a Thanksgiving set issue. While Peter Quill does make a turkey for his friends at the beginning of this issue, he doesn't wish anybody a Happy Thanksgiving or anything like that. There are a couple jokes about how the turkey looks weird, which is funny based on the odd stuff Gamora and the other Guardians are preparing for their cookout. After like 3 pages, the turkey is gone, Nova comes asking for help and the story picks up steam from there. So, is this a Thanksgiving comic? I'm gonna say 'No!'

First of all, Thanksgiving is never mentioned anywhere. This variant cover nor the regular cover shows a Turkey Day gathering or any sort. Other than Marvel.com listing this as part of their Thanksgiving reads, I don't see evidence of this issue being a holiday book. Even the Marvel Wiki is noticeably quiet on this plot point. Maybe I got some bad advice. If so, that makes me nervous as I recently bought 3 other issues suggested from that online article. What if those comics aren't really set during Thanksgiving either? I'm going feel like I wasted my money.

The good thing is that I enjoyed this issue. Al Ewing's opening salvo was very action packed. I really wouldn't mind getting my hands on the rest of this storyline. But I think I'd only get it if I could check it out at the library or if I could find the trades for super cheap.

Worth Consuming. But boy was I disappointed.

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Ant-Man: Ant-iversary

Dr. Henry Pym, Scott Lang and Eric O'Grady are plucked from the time stream to battle a futuristic version of an enemy so unthinkable, that I wouldn't believe it if I didn't see it myself. 

In this 60th anniversary epic, readers are treated to 3 untold tales of the trio of men to bear the moniker of Ant-Man. Pym is removed during the dawn of the Marvel Age of Comics just as he is fighting a quartet of some of his not-so-well-known foes from the 1960s. O-Grady is sent into the future right after he steals the Ant-Man suit from Pym, who is working for SHIELD at the time. Lang's story occurs during the present of 2022, right after the Avengers stop Ultron for the umpteenth time. 

Tom Reilly is the main artist for this tribute to Ant-Man. Yet, if you were to tell me that he had help from an assortment of other artists, I'd believe you. Reilly changes his style to reflect the time periods in which each Ant-Man exists. It's a level of dedication (and nostalgia) that I greatly appreciate. Story writer Al Ewing also tries to differentiate his narrative voice which each time period. I just didn't feel that he was as effective as Tom Reilly was in making things feel as timely. Although, how he presents the Marvel Universe in the future of 2549 A.D. feels like how comics and literature in general is going, what with the near ubiquitous use of emojis, tech-speak and the removal of letters from everyday words.

There's also a pair of classic Ant-Man stories from the early 1960s. Hank Pym takes on the Protector and the Time Master in those reprint tales. Both villains are part of the team of 4 that take on the original Ant-Man at the beginning of this anniversary miniseries. While nowhere near on par with the likes of other classic Ant-Man foes like Egghead or Kang the Conqueror, I loved getting to see these vintage tales in vibrant color. I've always admired the Ant-Man and later Giant Man tales as his stories were more scientific in nature like those of the Barry Allen Flash and needed the use of his brain a lot more than his brawn. 

There's also a Wasp miniseries floating around. That 4-issue mini came out earlier this year. Based on how similar that cover to those books looked to the Ant-Man stories, I researched and found that Al Ewing and Tom Reilly were the creative forces behind that project as well. One way or another, I must get my hands on it. If it's half as good as this book was, then I am in for a treat!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Immortal Hulk, Vol 4: Abomination

When I last left the Immortal Hulk, he had just completed a venture through Hades, reunited unsuccessfully with ex Betty Ross Banner, and then went back into therapy with long thought dead Doc Samson. Then both Hulk and Samson went to pay their respects to the late Rick Jones, only to learn that someone had stolen the body. And then... for some reason I let 3 years pass before following up on this amazing series by Al Ewing (Defenders) and Joe Bennett (Checkmate).

I had last read volume 3 in the autumn of 2019. So COVID wasn't just the only reason why I took a break. See, Abomination was the last volume available at the time. I figured I could wait a couple of months and then binge volume 4 and 5 at the same time. And then the pandemic hit, my library closed for almost 2 years and I added several volumes of this series to my 'To Read' list.

Finally, Immortal Hulk came up on my list of things to read and the time was right. After a cursory review of the third volume, I dipped my toe into gamma infested waters and I got swept in the undertow! Not only does the Hulk learn about the whereabouts of Rick Jones body, the Big Green Machine learns the secret of gamma radiation! But the revelation that blew me away was the return of a long forgotten part of Bruce Banner's psyche! 

I really screwed up with my last trip to the library. I only checked out 1 unread volume of Immortal Hulk! Hopefully, I can make a trip without excessive delay in order to get my hands on 5, 6, and maybe more. 

What I didn't screw up on was reading this book. It was violent and bloody and crude and I loved it. I'm not a big fan of how Hell and its denizens are key players in this series. But it's not done gratuitously like some of those 1970s Doctor Strange stories that how goten under my skin recently, so I'm dealing. There's a lot of Dante's Inferno mixed into this story as this is also a very psychological narrative about the Hulk.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Immortal Hulk, Volume 3: Hulk In Hell

After a volume that saw unspeakable destruction as well a new level of regeneration on the part of ol' Big Green, we now see the Immortal Hulk in Hell. 

Yes- the Green Door was the gate to Hades. There, Hulk and friends will encounter old friends, family and foes.

This volume lead me to ask 'why do comic books agree that there's a Hell. But there's hardly ever an belief in a paradise?' (Unless you are a fallen Norse warrior...)

Hulk's trek through the damned isn't the only storyline in this volume. We catch up with a pair of Hulk family icons that we had though long dead. I've used the EC horror books of the 1950s as a comparison to this amazing series quite a bit in my reviews of Immortal Hulk. Well, I'm not stopping with this volume. 

Kyle Hotz (Agent X) illustrates issue #14 which finds that while a foe of Banner has fallen, love never dies. His rendering of the funeral in the rain was something straight out of Tales from the Crypt or The Haunt of Terror. I loved the Gothic quality of it all.

After a small hiccup, the quality is back to normal. Al Ewing is killin' it in this series!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Immortal Hulk, Volume 2: The Green Door

In the aftermath of Hulk's battle was Sasquatch, an entity attached itself to the Big Green Machine. As a result, the Immortal Hulk has come enraged!

A poor, unsuspecting town in Iowa is ground zero for the Hulk's anger. On the scene are the Avengers. But they are all grossly unmatched against a sometimes ally who is completely uncontrollable and totally sadistic this time around. 

There appears to be only one way to stop the Hulk: a super-weapon that will vaporize not only the monster but the entire township. The plan will work. But does Earth's mightiest heroes have the courage to pull the trigger?

I've seen my share of Hulk rampages. There's been more violent skirmishes in the annuals of Marvel history. But I don't think I've ever seen the Hulk this evil- even when he was the Maestro! 

For the most part, even though it is another Hulk Vs. Avengers battle, this was a pretty original story. Except for this one scene in which the Hulk whispers something to his cousin, Jennifer Walters, AKA She-Hulk. Whatever the secret was, it immediately deflates Walters. The segment was very much like Thor's encounter with Nick Fury in the Original Sin storyline. Way to go all out on that Marvel!

Volume one was so creepy. It was retro. It was something that I felt that I'd be remembering for years to come. Volume 2 went in a completely different direction. One that while I was disappointed that the twist endings aspect of Immortal Hulk was gone, I still am hooked on this series.

I guess Al Ewing's desire to keep this series fresh is commendable. I really have no idea where Hulk is going to go next. This volume has an ending that has me rushing to the library for volume 3. It's still a great series. I just wasn't as enthralled by the Green Door as I could have been, I guess.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Immortal Hulk, Volume 1: Or Is He Both?

It took me a while. But I finally got on the bandwagon of this critically acclaimed, fan favorite series. Thank you local public library!

Delving back into his earliest days, along with the Bill Bixby led TV series, Bruce Banner and the Hulk are sharing equal time with each other. Bruce leads the way during the day. But the night is Hulk's time. 

In this first volume, Banner travels the Midwest. He wanders based on an itch in the back of his brain. Some would say, it's just the wound from where Hawkeye fatally shot him with a special Gamma tipped arrow. But this newly resurrected Banner believes that this irritation is the Hulk guiding Bruce on a series of missions of mercy. 

I loved this first volume. The first 3-4 issues had great twist endings similar to the EC Comics of the 1950s. Each issue has Banner playing gumshoe with the Hulk leaving a trail of retribution across the US. 

Around issue 4, we then add Alpha Flight's Sasquatch to the mix. In his human guise, Sasquatch is the second foremost expert of Gamma radiation. Can the Canadian hero, along with an intrepid reporter with a secret past that ties-in with the Big Green Machine, find the Hulk before he goes from Hulk Smash to total Hulk Rampage?!

I loved Al Ewing's (Mighty Avengers) writing. He really captures the source material created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby back in 1962 while tying in those great twist endings found in classic horror comics. This series is a perfect mix of terror and sci-fi! Some awesome covers by my all-time fav artist Alex Ross, doesn't hurt the quality either! A great start to a very promising series that has a large following!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Crypt of Shadows One-Shot (Marvel 80th Anniversary Special)

I've said it many a time on this blog; the 70s were my favorite time period for Marvel Comics. Around 1970, when the Comics Code adjusted to allow certain monsters back into comics, such as vampires and werewolves, Stan Lee jumped at the opportunity! One of the first Marvel Horror titles of the new era was Crypt of Shadows. This anthology series was mostly a book of reprints. But the covers were amazing and the stories themselves were fantastic!

In honor of Marvel's 80th anniversary, the House of Ideas is releasing a number of one-shot specials revitalizing some long-forgotten publications. I'll purchase a few of these new, right off the shelf. For the most part, when these books hit the bargain bin, I'll surely snag them up then. But with Crypt of Shadows being a favorite of mine, there was no way I was going to wait for a copy!

Jennifer Blood's Al Ewing pens the three stories that comprise this one-shot. Told in the Rashomon style with a twist, there's not much I want to reveal about this story as it would spoil the epic surprise ending. All I will say is that this book is about a man, with a terrifying fear of dogs, who sees a therapist for a radical new treatment. 

Now some of you might be thinking that for me to say that there's a shocking turn of events. But an anthology horror series wouldn't be an anthology horror series if each story didn't finish with some sort of bolt from the blue!

While I really enjoyed these stories, I had to re-read some sections. The book is great but it's also quite complex. That's not a bad thing either. However, I wish I could say the same about the artwork.

The variant covers by Kyle Hotz, Young Guns and John Tyler Christopher were all phenomenal. But the artwork by a trio of artists, including Garry Brown (Babyteeth) were of varying quality. I mention only Brown as his art was the best. It's not Kirby/Romita/Ditko quality but it's good. But it's all downhill from there. 

What's wrong with the overall art? Mostly, it's the level of detail. There isn't any. I'm used to artists who like to pepper panels with creative set pieces and minute details. But for some reason, Marvel's next generation of artists refuse to add anything to the background. I just refuse to believe that nobody in the Marvel Universe has some posters or photos of family and friends on their living room walls!

Marvel has decided to reflect on it's past during the whole of 2019. I think that's a great idea. It's been working for DC very well. This one-shot horror special was a beautifully gory return to Marvel's roots. The House of Ideas has a fantastic line-up of talented writers and storytellers. Now if only Marvel's bullpen could be staffed with amazing artists once more. 

Maybe that will be the focus of anniversary #81...

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

The Merry X-Men Holiday Special #1

I really don't recognize the X-Men anymore. I'm not talking about the Manga-styled variant cover for this 2018 Christmas special. I actually like thise festive and playful work from Rian Gonzales. No, the things I don't comprehend are all inside the book.

The Merry X-Men Holiday Special is set up like an Advent calendar. There are 25 one-page stories; one for each day of December, leading up to Christmas Day. Actually there are 19 stories, as the Jubliee story is told in multiple parts. She and her son are kidnapped and imprisoned in the most strange shopping mall every conceived. Jubliee's story is spread out over several days throughout the book. I my opinion, it was the best story of the book. Really, it should have been the only story in the book. Instead we get a series of confounding capers.

For instance, there's Magneto in Poland, where apparently Warsaw has become a war zone. Or he's gone back in time to World War II Poland. I really don't know which.

Other oddities include Wolverine with fire claws?! Captain Britain and Meghan have a toddler who can speak better than most 30 year olds. Speedball is no longer wearing his torturous costume as penance from the events that lead to Civil War. Then there's Nightcrawler wearing a beard and surrounded by elves? And what's with the girl with antlers on her head and I'm not talking about faux ones either!

I realize that I haven't read an X-Men book since right around when Ice Man came out as gay. I didn't stop reading because of some protest. I just haven't been to my local library in a while to catch up on the adventures of the Marvel mutants. I've had plenty of chances to buy new X-Men books. But I feel why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free? Right?

Anyways, a lot of changes have happened to the X-Men in the year or so since I last caught up with the team. I can't say that I am very happy with all the changes.

I like the Advent idea however. If you are a regular reader of this blog, you know that I am all about the Advent. But I think that the entire Marvel universe would have been better suited for this special instead of just the X-Men. There's so many mutants and so many story lines to follow. Some of these short stories build on that drama and if you don't know everything going on with Xavier's gift students, you will miss something. That omission makes for uneven and disappointing reading. 

Featuring art and stories from a number of artists including Chris Sims, Al Ewing, and Chip Zdarsky, this should have been a home run. But the holiday special barely limps into second base. 

It was bound to happen at some point. This is my first not so great read of the 2018 holiday season. The Advent idea of the book is sound and it should be reused next year. But spread the love to all areas of the Marvel Universe. Or maybe just the villains. Next time, just don't focus on one large and yet very self-contained chunk of Marvel's output.

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

You are Deadpool #2-4

Generally, when I review a series, I read each book in order. Then I post my reviews of the individual issues in order starting with issue #1. I then review all of the numbered issues until I reach the final issue. However with You Are Deadpool issues #2-4, I can't do that.

You Are Deadpool is a RPG comic book. Based on your score in the first issue, you then proceed to issues #2, 3 or 4. If your score is not in the right range, you may not get to issue #2 until you score enough points in issue #4. Also, there are certain special items that would benefit you if you don't do the issues in order. Being that You are Deadpool is a game, you also might have to go in a different order in order to win. 

Yes- in You Are Deadpool, you can die and have to start over as well...

Since I do not want to ruin the fun of game play, here's a general overview of issues #2,3, and 4...

Issue #2: Due to the time machine device you stole in the first issue, you end up in the 1960s. Here you must find the proper fuel in order to re-power the device in hopes of getting back to the future. Your travels will put you either at the origin story of the Fantastic Four or the Incredible Hulk or face-to-face discussing art appreciation with Grasshopper Man?!

Issue #3: Due to the time machine device you stole in the first issue, you end up in the supernatural swamps of the 1970s. Here you must collect a certain number of mystical gems in order to transport yourself through a magical portal in the heart of the swamp. But be careful- if you don't have enough gems, you die and have to start over. Featuring appearances by Man-Thing, a jive-talking eye-patchless Nick Fury and a face-to-face battle with Richard Nixon's minion, Grasshopper Man?!

Issue #3:  Due to the time machine device you stole in the first issue, you end up in the corporate raiding 1980s. Just as you are admiring the Big Apple before Disney got a hold of it, your time device is stolen. In order to get it back, here you run afoul of gritty superheroes such as Daredevil and the Punisher and a souped-out Grasshopper Man?!

I really enjoyed these levels of game play by Al Ewing and Aco. This is the type of Deadpool insanity I have been missing since Wade Wilson became a baddie again thanks to stupid ole' Secret Empire. My favorite issue was the issue #3. I like the 1960s Marvel era very much. But I grew up reading the 70s stuff with it's madcap titles such as Master of Kung-Fu and Werewolf by Night. The 80s was a hit-or-miss time for me when it comes to Marvel and so I wasn't such a fan of that book. Still, this was a lot of fun to read and play and unlike some of those Choose Your Own Adventure books, I actually went back a few times and did the other scenarios to see how things would play out. 

Issue #2- Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.
Issue #3- Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.
Issue #4- Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.
Average rating: 8.333 out of 10 stars,

You Are Deadpool #1

You Are Deadpool #1
Written by Al Ewing
Art by Salva Espin

Covers by Rahzzah, Salva Espin, & Ron Lim

Over the past couple of years, Marvel has been experimenting with the ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ format. Several titles such as a 2016 Halloween ComicFest edition of The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl is an example of such trial and error. Unfortunately, the use of arrows and mutli-page flow charts haven’t made for the easiest of reads in terms of presentation.

Now Marvel is at it again with a 4-issue miniseries in which you the reader gets to be the Merc with a Mouth! Only there’s a twist to the formula- you are gonna need dice.

You Are Deadpool has you taking Wade Wilson on a clandestine mission through a secret research laboratory. In this book, there’s several D&D elements involved. Along with needing a six-sided die, you will need a pen and paper to add and subtract from Deadpool’s emotional points, as well as keeping inventory of items you can pick up throughout the adventure.

Back in the 80s, there was a series of paperback gamebooks call Lone Wolf. The books had charts and forms for the reader to maintain their health meter as well as develop an inventory and develop certain skills needed to complete the adventure. You Are Deadpool is the comic book version of this and it’s quite the accomplishment.

This Al Ewing and Salva Espin collaboration was a lot of fun. The first 4-5 pages explains the rules of the game. There’s even a page where you could cut out and make your own die (with some added help)- if destroying comic books is your sort of thing. With an easy numbering system of panels, not pages, there’s quite a bit of action to be had. But I think the real fun is still to come.

The Deadpool emotion points dictate whether you continue on to issues 2, 3, or 4 of You Are Deadpool. Normally when I say that I’m going to wait until the trade comes out, I usually mean that I am on the fence about a title. Not willing to go any further until the series is collected, I end up waiting for the title to show up at my local library for free. I am going to wait on reading the rest of this game-style comic but I will not wait for the trade.

Since you need all 4-issues to fully enjoy this Marvel experiment, it was smart of the House of Ideas to publish all needed copies within a 4 week span. Doing this book at a monthly might very well result in the loss of readership.  As for myself, I will continue to show up at my LCS at obtain the other 3 books. But I am going to wait until I have the entire game, as well as time and patience to sit down and play it in one sitting.

If the next trio of issues are as adventuresome and funny as this debut book, I hope that Marvel will continue to expand on this premise, possibly even making a game for more than one player.

Marvel’s comics have had a lot of low points lately. But You Are Deadpool is not one of them. A fresh idea that entertains as well as redefines everything you known about sequential art. This miniseries promises to be the most innovative and immersive comic book of the summer.

You Are Deadpool #1 debuted in stores and digital media on May 2, 2018.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

This review published concurrently at Outrightgeekery.com.