The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror Omnious Omnibus, Vol.1: Scary Tales & Scarier Tentacles

The premise behind the Ominous Omnibuses is to collect all 23 volumes of Treehouse of Horror annuals that were issued from the now defunct Bongo Comics. This is to occur with the publication of 3 slipcased hardcover editions. Though whether this will happen in just a few months or annually until 2024, I just don't know. 

Along with the material found in the Halloween annuals, these collections are supposed to house horror themed material from other Simpsons related holiday titles and some never before published material. But right now from a collector's standpoint, all I've got is a massive headache.

Let's do a little comic book math. There's 23 total ToH books in existence and I don't own any of them. These comics aren't very easy to find and when I do stumble across them, they're selling for an average of $15 per book. So $15x23=$345. If all 3 omnibuses retail for the $40 MSRP of this issue, I should only have to pay $120 plus tax. Overall, going this route seems the most economical, even if I have to wait a couple more years. Yet, because of how this book was edited, I can't mark anything off of my wish list yet.

Instead of collecting the comics whole, publisher Harry N. Abrams decided to cut all the books into pieces and catalogue the stories based on genre type! There are stories about aliens Kang and Kodos, frights about alternate realities and legends of things that go bump in the dark. Plus, there's a whole lot of shorts, parody ads and vignettes about life in Springfield that I've read in many a Simpsons regular series comic book.

While I am unhappy with how these stories have been collected, I have been thrilled with many of the surprises in this book. There's Simpsons yarns written by Star Wars' Mark Hamill, The Goldberg's Patton Oswalt and Doug TenNapel (Cardboard). I had thought that celebs didn't appear in Simpsons comics, but we get visits by Alice Cooper, Lemmy Kilmister and the living embodiment of Ned Flanders, Pat Boone! in a trio of stories written by the stars themselves.

My favorite story in this collection was an EC Comics tribute that featured inks by Al Willamson (Weird Science, Weird Fantasy) and pencils by John Severin (Two-Fisted Tales)! I never thought I'd ever see the Simpsons rendered by a pair of EC legends! But I did and it was fantastic. The story might have been a bit disjointed. But it was a visual dream come true!

Over 400 pages of Simpsons frights. A great way to start off my Halloween 2022 reads. I just wish this book could have been in order like an actual omnibus and not a mix-matched catalogue of titles organized by genre. I really wanted to get a few volumes off my wish list and right now, I now have 2 future editions of omnibuses added to it.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Flash Gordon on the Lost Continent of Mongo

Fierce warriors, ancient beasts and the forces of Ming the Merciless await Flash Gordon in this 1967 paperback!

Al Williamson (Star Wars) worked on the Flash Gordon comic strip in the 1960s. It's where he really honed his skills to where he became my all-time favorite Star Wars artist in the 70s and 80s. This book blows up the panels of the Flash Gordon daily strip to where only one or two segments appear on each page. But the art is incredibly crystal clear. Why today's publishers can't enlarge pictures without making things look fuzzy and pixelated in beyond me.

In this collection of 3 stories, Flash Gordon, along with Dale Arden and Dr. Zarkov, embark on an expedition of an uncharted region of the planet Mongo. From just about the very start, the expedition goes poorly, being attacked by hostile natives. In the initial scuffle, Dale is kidnapped. Can Flash Gordon save his beloved? Will the expedition yield the secrets of Mongo? And why didn't the trio of heroes bring some extra muscle and weapons with them?

This was a visually enjoyable read. But there was an X-factor that I just wasn't a huge fan of. For one thing, Flash Gordon seems kinda stupid here. I remember that he was portrayed as a sort of dumb jock in the 1980 live-action movie. But I really thought that Flash was a near genius in the comics. I guess I remembered them wrong. 

Yet in the 1980s Guardians of the Earth comic book, Flash is the team leader and pretty straight-forward as the master planner. Maybe when Flash gets older, he gets wiser? Still, this is not the 'savior of the universe' that I am accustomed to.

The three stories also seem to follow the same plot. Flash and his team get attacked. Dale is kidnapped. Dr. Zarkov is no help as he gets injured. Flash scouts out his enemies. He then runs afoul of some monstrous beast and discovers something that will help him in the process. Gordon carries out his attack, saves the girl and returns to camp with Dr. Zarkov miraculously healed. The End. Repeat as needed.

Can you see why I wasn't such a fan of this book? Flash doesn't come close to ending his expedition in this book. The third story does have a happy ending. But more adventures on the lost lands of Mongo are teased in what I assume are further editions. While I would like to know what happens next, the predictability of these adventures haven't swayed me to scope out the internet to find book 2.

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

Blade Runner #2

The story of Rick Deckard continues in the second issue of the 1982 Marvel Comics adaptation. The artwork by Al Williamson and Carlos Garzon really is a thing of beauty. Plus, I love how Archie Goodwin captured the futuristic wasteland feel of the book. Making sure to have Deckard be the narrator, as he was in at least one version of the film, was the right move.

Pretty much the only thing I have left to watch before going to the movies tomorrow is the trio of short films that are supposed to bridge the original film with 2049. Looking forward to it.

Really, if you are a fan of the series, you need this two-issue miniseries. It's beautifully illustrated, masterfully told, and just the right thing to whet your Blade Runner appetite when you don't have quick access to the Ridley Scott classic.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Blade Runner #1

This Monday I'm going to go see Blade Runner 2049. I am a huge fan of the original film and the Philip K. Dick book (Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?) and when I first saw the trailer for the sequel, I gasped. It's one of the few trailers I will watch everytime it's on TV. Unfortunately, I couldn't go to the double feature at AMC theatres in which both the original and the sequel were being shown back-to-back late Thursday night into Friday as I had to work early the next morning. It's also a good thing I didn't go to see the movie yesterday after work anyways. When I got home, I laid on the bed and woke up 6 hours later! I slept hard!

Since I didn't get a chance to see the first film to get reacquainted with the franchise, I was able to do the next best thing- I read it! 

This 1982 adaptation from Marvel is a loving recreation from Archie Goodwin and Al Williamson and Carlos Garzon. If those names sound familiar, it's because this trio was behind the Star Wars comic strip from the 1980s. Considering the amazingly renderings of Han Solo (along with Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader), this was the perfect group to illustrate a comic book adaptation of a Harrison Ford sci-fi film.

If you notice on the cover it says that this comics adaptation of the Ridley Scott film is 'A Comic Art Classic" and they're not joking. There's a scene in which Ford as retired cop Rick Deckard is checking out a crime scene. The use of shading to illustrate city lights emanating through the shadows of some Venetian blinds was visually stunning! 

Blade Runner is considered a masterpiece of not just science fiction but film noir and special effects- oh and costuming and set design! Folks, this film is a classic and a favorite of mine. This comic book is the next best thing to getting to watch it. Now having re-read it for the first time in decades, I can also declare this one of my all-time favorite adaptations in all of 
comicdom!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

The EC Archives: Crime SuspenStories, Volume 3

   Dangerous dames, cunning con men, scorned lovers, and murderous psychos fill panel and page of Crime SuspenStories, Volume 3. Reprinting issues 13-18 of EC Comics’ classic crime thriller comic, this book is lovingly reprinted by Dark Horse Comics.

    I consider myself someone of an expert on EC books. I’ve been reading and collecting them since I was about 10. So, I have seen a variety publisher’s efforts to reprint this stories in so many different styles. In my opinion, I can officially declare that Dark Horse’s efforts are clearly best.

    Up until Dark Horse took over the license, I would have rated the Russ Cochran editions the best. These hardcover collections from 1986-1988, are considered by many to be the standard for EC Comics reprints. They were printed on prestige acid-free paper with beautifully bright covers. Unfortunately, the Cochran interiors were printed only in black and white. The decision  was in an effort to cut costs down, but ultimately it was disappointment to readers. That’s not the case with the Dark Horse volumes. Every dismembered victim is brought to gruesome life in vibrant 4-colors on shiny, hi-stock paper.

    Dark Horse’s collections are little paper time capsules. This era of EC Comics lore is just as the publisher was beginning to overtake DC Comics as the industry leader. With EC’s popularity, new titles were being developed. Initial advertisements for MAD, originally published as a comic book, are highlighted throughout the run of these books. There’s also a number of stories written by Ray Bradbury. Just  prior to issue #13’s release, Bradbury signed an exclusive contract with EC to publish comic adaptations of his works. Also highlighted are masters such as Johnny Craig and Jack Kamen who spin original yarns of revenge gone wrong. Volume 3 also collects the first ever EC works by Al Williamson.

    Another thing that I appreciate with this collection is that the original letters pages are restored. These pages contained Bill Gaines insightful editorial commentary. The Russ Cochran volumes reprinted the original pages as well. Yet when Gladstone took over the licence, they were replaced with a letters page composed of modern readers opinions. That’s all well and good for Gladstone. But the new letters don’t reflect the irreverent tone that would inspire Stan Lee with his letter pages at Marvel.

    The book retails for $49.99. For many, this collection isn’t cheap. But it’s a superior omnibus of reprints that rival anything currently on the market. Collectors of 1950s shock comics will love this book.

    Book will arrive in stores on June 27th, 2017.

    Worth Consuming!

    Rating: 9 out of 10 Stars.

  (This review originally was posted on Outrightgeekery.com on 5/24/17.)

Classic Star Wars, Volume 3: Escape to Hoth

   The final adventures of the Rebel Alliance chronicled by Archie Goodwin and Al Williamson is collected in this Dark Horse treasury from the mid-90s. In this volume, the Rebels seek to establish their new base on the ice planet of Hoth.  But first the Alliance fleet's caravan must escape an Imperial blockade. Then Luke is stunned by a blast from his past before accidently getting Han captured by a band of bounty hunters under the employ of one Boba Fett. Lastly, Luke and Vader have one more battle through the Force before this epic comic strip comes to an end.

   If you are disappointed that this series is through like I am, remember 2 things. First, the next thing that happens in Star Wars timeline is the events of Empire Strikes Back- so you haven't missed anything. Second, though the Goodwin/ Williamson run is through, it's not the end of Classic Star Wars. No less than 2 Han Solo adventures are contained under the imprint title and with volume 4 of this series, you'll get the Russ Mannings run on the strip that occurred before Goodwin took over as scripter. I told that this was a confusing title!

  None the less- those adventures are on my wish list and I loved the Goodwin/Williamson books. Goodwin was a gifted storyteller of Star Wars and I just can't say enough about Al Williamson. His art is just that damn good! If you overlook these treasuries you're really doing yourself a disservice!

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Classic Star Wars, Volume 2: Rebel Storm

    Continuing the newspaper series by Archie Goodwin and Al Williamson. In this collection, the Rebellion sniffs out a traitor amongst some new allies, Han enters Chewie in a gladiator match to the death to retrieve a mystical gem, Luke faces an ancient evil lurking in the Massassi Temples on Yavin, Darth Vader christens his super star destroyer, The Executor, and the Mon Calamari join the rebellion.

   The stories are excellent and I think after 2 volumes, I finally have the unique pacing down pat. But what I really love is the artwork. Not every panel of Luke, Han, and Leia look like their real life counterparts. But the renderings of droids, Lord Vader, and vehicles by the talented artist, Al Williamson is stunning! It also helps that the editorial team at Dark Horse did a museum quality job on the restoration and coloring of these strips.

   I am so glad that I have volume #3. This book ends on a cliffhanger and I don' think I could wait very long to find out what happens next in what is, unfortunately, the swan song to a fantastic run of Star Wars universe tales.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Classic Star Wars Volume One

 Before I begin my review, let's get one thing straight: Classic Star Wars is by far the most confusing Dark Horse title EVER! Classic Star Wars is a 3-volume collection of newspaper strips by Archie Goodwin and Al Williamson that ran in papers nationwide from 1980 until 1984 when the title was cancelled. I've always thought that this series should have been titled Star Wars Daily and that the original Marvel Comics run should have been designated CLASSIC! Instead the Marvel reprints were packaged as CLASSIC STAR WARS: A LONG TIME AGO... Added to the confusion is yet another series of trade paperbacks that reprint the 1979-1980 non-Goodwin penned strips called Classic Star Wars: The Early Adventures!

    Having read the introductions, a little bit of this confusion is finally cleared up to me. Dark Horse in the early 90s had just received the rights to publish Star Wars comics and they were desperate to start raking in the sales. They didn't have the original Marvel books in their possession yet, so they went on to print the newspaper strips.

   For some reason, the first 18-months of the strips was MIA. Desperate to present rabid Star Wars fans with anything original, Dark Horse found its answer in rival publisher Russ Cochran and series artist Williamson. Russ Cochran had a few years earlier put out these giant sized hardback editions of the strip. But they were in black and white and they were reprints from a collection of clippings a fan made during the strip's original run. The images weren't all that great. Plus, since some strips didn't carry the weekly strip while others didn't carry the Sunday edition, to keep the reader from getting lost there were redundancies galore. Enter: Al Williamson!

    Strip artist Al Williamson apparently was ultra-meticulous. Not only did he have all of the original artwork but they were catalogued to such a degree that his files actually found flaws in the Russ Cochran archives! Working with Dark Horse, Williamson and company produced what I am just about to review, a beautiful collection of the strips, edited to look more like a classic format comic book, repetitive panels deleted; now colored, re-inked, and featuring original covers and filler art by Al!

  While I hated the title, I loved the content. The great introduction by writer Archie Goodwin helped me to better understand the way the strips were organized. There's lots of drama and action but it's framed in such a way that every other panel had to be a cliffhanger in order to entice the reader back the next day.

   In this volume, we learn of what really happened with Han and that bounty hunter on Ord Mandell. Then Luke accepts a deadly mission to the Imperial shipyards before he's a captive of the Serpent Masters. Lastly, before Han sniffs out a rebel traitor on an ocean planet, the crew of the Millenium Falcon are trapped in the wake of a collapsing star.

   The stories were exciting and I was riveted. There was one thing that really bugged me storywise and that was the love triangle between Princess Leia, Han Solo, and a certain farmboy from Tatooine. True, all of this happened before the big reveal in Return of the Jedi that Luke and Leia were brother and sister. But you'd think Lucas would've put the kibosh on this plotline. Plus, looking back at the massive hots Luke has for his (at the time unknown) sister, it's kinda creepy.

    But the thing I loved the most about this book was the art. Now when these strips were first published I was of the ages of 3-7. Yet, looking at Williamson's deft artwork and dramatic shading, I was taken instantly back to the days of having my uncles or parents read to me the daily adventures of my favorite Star Wars characters. Williamson's art is so identifiable. Though Luke may not look like Luke on every panel, the artist's renderings of spaceships, droids, and Darth Vader are so perfect.

    George Lucas was clearly influenced by the Flash Gordon serials of the 40s and 50s in making Star Wars. Here, Al Williamson's work is inspired by the classic strips that starred Flash and the Merciless Ming. Plus, I think the artist loves to draw lizards because he hides them in his artwork a lot. It's like a cool signature Easter Egg.

    With Marvel owning the rights to these properties again, you might see this series get a new reissue one day soon. But, the original Classic Star Wars volumes are not hard to find. Amazon has a ton for sale and I often find the books in this series at LCS and used books stores nationwide. And for a decent price too.

    A forgotten treasure in the Star Wars comic universe.

   Worth Consuming

    Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.