ICYMI #2- A Family Comic Friday Extra!

UPDATE: Since the publication of this review, Peter Simeti, the founder and publisher of Alterna Comics was kind enough to inform me that ICYMI aims to reprint all 3 issues of Adam Wreck. Issue #2 will be reprinted in ICYMI #3 and the final chapter will run in ICYMI #4. Because each issue of Mr. Crypt is a stand alone issue, without a cliffhanger, only the first issue of that miniseries was reprinted. I misunderstood that only first issues were being reprinted.


I have corrected the mistaken information about the first issues only. I have also altered my rating score for the book HIGHER. However, my stance on ending cliffhangers in comics geared for kids and teens is unwavering and will not be removed from this review. Nor will my suggestion that Alterna publish all chapters of it's reprint series simultaneously. It is my opinion that in order to keep the next generation of readers reading comics, you can no longer expect them to wait lengthy periods for the second act.


Sometimes I just have so many all-ages books to share that I can’t contain it one review! For this Family Comic Friday Extra, I’ll be introducing you to ICMYI- the second run sampler of family fun titles from Alterna Comics!

ICMYI #2
Written and Illustrated by Michael S. Bracco
Published by Alterna Comics
Retail: $0.99

ICMYI (In Case You Missed It) is a new sampler title from Alterna Comics. Since 2006, the New England based publisher has released dozens of all-ages titles. But it’s really been in the past 2 years that the company has started to go from obscure indy publisher to comic book force to be reckoned with. That means that quite a few all-ages works have come and gone without much notice.

I’m really excited by this clever bit of marketing. The first issue reprinted the premier issue of Mr. Crypt, a title I’ve already done some reviewing of in the past. So I waited until issue #2 for a new-to-me title in which to share ICYMI with you.

Issue #2 reprints the first chapter of the 3 issue sci-fi adventure series Adam Wreck.
Adam is a youngster who has spent the past few years in outer space with his scientist parents. Being the only kid in the dark void of the unknown has been a boring and lonely way of life. But that’s all about to change when space pirates attack Adam’s ship.
Adam’s parents manage to get him to the sole escape pod before becoming captives of the pirates. With his vessel damaged upon landing, Adam must find a way off this new planet in order to find his parents. But first, Adam must survive the dangers lurking in every corner before he can formulate a rescue!

Adam Wreck was an exciting mix of Star Wars, Lost In Space and Indiana Jones. The artwork was a little bit rough for my taste. But the opening chapter was quite exciting. I loved the muted palette of colors comprised primarily of aqua blue, gray and orange used by Michael S. Bracco. And the price of only $.99 cents is always right to a bargain hunter such as myself.

When I was a kid, if a book ended with ‘to be continued’, I was immediately turned off because who knew when I was ever going to get back to the comic book store to get the next issue. My small town didn’t have an LCS and it was an almost 45-minute drive to the nearest one. So regular weekly trips wasn’t in the cards.

That’s the same with kids today. Families are so busy with school, after-school sports, music lessons, tutoring, and such that it’s not easy for kids to get regular trips to the comic book shop. I’ve argued and will continue to argue for publishers to eliminate cliffhangers in their comics aimed at kids. Especially, if the industry is to truly survive for the next generation, something needs to be done to not put off young readers with multipart stories. Plus, in a world where consumers can get the entire series of a show now on Netflix, to expect kids to wait 30 or 60 days for part 2 is an outdated way of thinking.

Alterna does have issues 2 and 3 of Adam Wreck available in a PDF digital format on it’s online store. Plus, kids can buy all 3 issues of Adam Wreck, autographed by the creator.

Don’t get me wrong- I think what Alterna Comics is doing to reintroduce it’s older family-friendly books back is brilliant. I just think that something needs to be done to provide kids with the entire story. Maybe for a book longer than 3 issues, Alterna could release simultaneously an ICYMI #2.1 and an issue #2.2 so that kids can purchase the entire story during one trip to the comic book store. Above all else, if Alterna is going to continue with just releasing the first issue, the publisher needs to make sure that print and not just digital copies of the rest of the series are readily available for sale at their online store.

ICYMI is a great idea that needs a little fine tuning in order to retain loyal comic book readers into the next generation. Alterna has an awesome library of titles and I look forward to seeing what’s in store for the future. I just hope I, along with other readers, young and old, will get a chance to get the entire story without much difficulty or wait.

ICYMI #2 debuts in store March 13th, 2019. All three issues of Adam Wreck are currently for sale in both print and digital formats at the Alterna official online store on Etsy.

For more Family Comic Friday and other reviews, check out my blog: Madman with a Book!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

This review was concurrently published on Outrightgeekery.com.

Baron Rat and the Great Cheese Caper #1/ Halloween ComicFest 2018 Week 1 (Family Comic Friday)

Welcome to Family Comic Friday. This is a very special edition as this being the first week of October, we'll begin a 4 week look at some of the mini comics being offered for Halloween Comicfest 2018!

Halloween Comicfest is an annual Halloween party offered by comics shops nationwide. On October 27th, instead of candy, your LCS will give away over two dozen spooky themed comics!

There's a book for any age group. But since this is Family Comic Friday, we'll focus on the all ages mini comics. If you are one of those households that like to give away non-candy items, you have a great chance to up your giveaway game this year! All of the mini comics given away during Comicfest can also be purchased in 10-pack trick-or-treat bundles.

For our first preview we'll head to that rocking burg of Riverdale in Archie's Madhouse Mayhem. But first let's look at our regularly scheduled feature for this week's FCF. In keeping with the Halloween theme, let's look at Alterna Comics’ Baron Rat and the Great Cheese Caper #1

Baron Rat and the Great Cheese Caper #1

Written by Troy Vevasis

Art by Aleksandar Jovic

Published by Alterna Comics

Baron Rat is the best friend of everyone's favorite gentleman skeleton Mr. Crypt. Baron spends his days while his pal is gone reading the daily newspaper and dreaming about cheese. When Baron Rat learns about a cheese festival in the nearby town, there's a great chance for those dreams to become a reality!

The Great Cheese Caper was a cute all-ages one-shot. It was crafted very much in the style of an old Tom and Jerry cartoon- minus the cat adversary. Or similar to those Wile E Coyote cartoons in which the Coyote would use a bunch of crazy gadgets to get his next meal. Only replace the Road Runner with cheese!

Alterna Comics has had it's lumps in the news lately about it's supposed political stance. I overlooked that controversy when choosing this one-shot and I think you should too. There wasn't anything remotely political or edgy in this romp. Plus most of the hubbub over Alterna’s far right views have been misconstrued or proven to be unfounded.

Another plus for this comic book is the price. Most Alterna publications are priced at $1.50. This one-shot is only $1! Baron Rat is only 20 pages long. However when you compare the average size of a DC or Marvel new issue is about 24 pages AND priced at $3.99, you come to realize that this special is an absolute bargain!

Baron Rat is a an old school delight filled with laughs and charm. The artwork was a little rough at times. But the story was clever and the price was right. Also you don't have to know who Baron Rat or Mr. Crypt are to enjoy the tale!

Baron Rat and the Great Cheese Caper #1 debuted in print and digital platforms on Wednesday October 3rd.

Archie's Mad House Mayhem #1

Written by Various
Art by Dan Parent (Cover), Various
Published by Archie Comics
Rating: All Ages
Release Date: October 28, 2018
It's mischief! It's mayhem! It's a madhouse! Archie is proud to present a variety of weird and wacky tales from Archie's Madhouse - sure to leave you laughing and going crazy for more!

This edition of Family Comic Friday was concurrently published at Outrightgeekery.com.

Cyko KO #1 (Family Comic Friday)

They say to not judge a book by it’s cover. It’s a good thing I didn’t listen to whomever THEY are or I wouldn’t be sharing this week’s Family Comic Friday offering with you! This week’s selection is Cyko KO #1 from Alterna Comics. And I chose this book thanks to the awesome cover!

Cyko KO #1
Writer/Artist: Rob Feldman
Letters by Peter Simeti
Background by Toon360
Published by Alterna Comics

Let’s start with that crazy cover. It’s got our hero, Cyko KO, racing down a river of lava, while being attacked by a radio-controlled squid! First of all, it looks like it was drawn by those amazing Hanna-Barbera illustrators of such shows like Jonny Quest and Herculoids. Then it has elements of the silly 1960s Batman TV episode in which the Caped Crusader has a surf-off against the Joker. And third, it looks completely off-the-wall wacky!

I’m not sure what Cyko KO is. Is he a robot with faulty programming? Is he a complete loon with a cool looking mask? Regardless, he’s the newest fourth-wall breaking totally insane superhero in the vein of Freakazoid, The Tick, Madman, Harley Quinn, and Deadpool. But unlike the last three heroes, Cyko KO is appropriate for all-ages.

Cyko KO is the creation of animator and illustrator Rob Feldman. For the past few years, Feldman has been bringing Cyko KO and friends to life in a series of animated comic shorts based on classic cartoons from the 70s and 80s. Along with Jonny Quest, Cyko KO has a definite Scooby-Doo and Space Ghost vibe to it.

Feldman held a successful 2017 Kickstarter campaign to turn Cyko KO into a graphic novel coloring book. Due to the project’s amazing outcome, the folks at Alterna Comics got the KO-fever and became the publisher of the Cyko KO: A Comic Book Adventure You Can Color! Spurred on by sales, Alterna  commissioned Rob for a Cyko KO miniseries of which I am sharing the first issue with you!

The story of this issue finds Cyko KO and his sidekick/girlfriend Peaches on the way to the beach for the annual surf contest. The heroes are alerted to the mysterious presence of a giant squid and the disappearance of their friend, Dippy Dolphin. But before the duo can investigate the kraken, Cyko KO is challenged by his arch-enemy Cudo Cano to the ultimate surf-off ever- in the lava fields of a nearby island volcano!

I loved just about everything about this issue. The art was retro awesome! The backgrounds were so amazingly crafted. The story was very silly with some great one-liners and crazy twists and turns. Though I was not very impressed with the last couple of pages. They felt a little rushed in terms of art style. But the yucks were still great!

Cyko KO is a three-issue limited miniseries. Rated E for Everyone, it’s got a cover price everyone will love- just $1.50! Issue #1 debuted in stores on July 25th in print and is available now! One caveat- you’ll have to wait another 60 days until issue #2. The horrors! I don’t know if I can wait that long. I guess I’ll have to re-read issue #1 again… and again… and again...

Worth Consuming!
Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Metaphase (Family Comic Friday)

For this week's Family Comic Friday, I'm tackling an important subject: diversity in comics. The graphic novel I am reviewing this week is called Metaphase. The story is by Chip Reece, whom I know from being a fellow admin with over at Stashmycomics.com. Chip's son Ollie was born with congenital heart defects and Down Syndrome. Inspired by Ollie's heroic struggle and motivated by the lack of superheroes with special needs, Chip created Metaphase: the world's first superhero with Down Syndrome. 

Metaphase was originally published in graphic novel form in 2015 by Alterna Comics. The 73-page story was made possible with help from backers at Kickstarter. Next week, Metaphase is finally being released as it was intended in multi-issue comic book format of two parts. So I though now was the perfect time to share this important all-ages story with you.

Metaphase

Written by Chip Reece
Art by Kelly Williams
Published by Alterna Comics

Ollie is a boy with Down Syndrome. He longs to become a superhero like his father. But due to his heart conditions, Ollie's father is afraid of his son getting injured in someway battling the villains. So Ollie turns to a shadowy clinic called Meta-Makers in hopes of gaining powers like his pop? But is Meta-Makers hoping to create heroes or villains?

Disclaimer:

Readers, just because I know and have worked with Chip, I have in no way been asked by Chip Reece, Alterna Comics or Kelly Williams to review this book. Nor have I been paid or solicited by another party to provide a review. So what I am about to say about this book comes deep from my heart: Metaphase is one of the important comics to be published in the past decade. In my opinion, it's books like Metaphase that has helped open the flood gates to diversity in comic books! But unlike most comic book creators, Chip Reece has done it right. 

Diversity in comic books is a great thing. But it should not be formulaic in that writers sacrifice quality in order to fill a checklist to make all varieties of readers happy. For example, I have crippling social anxiety. Despite the fact that there are very few characters in comics that deal with this ailment, I am not angered by it. In fact, I would get not only pretty bored but weary if every comic book I read had a character with anxiety disorder in it. 

Sometimes you need to see yourself reflected in the entertainment you consume, warts and all. However, there are times when I just need to get away from the insanity of my life and instead lose myself in a good comic. Thus while I appreciate that Chip Reece is bringing awareness to those with special needs, I love that he stuck with only Down Syndrome for the first Metaphase adventure. I think had Reece tried to add a character on the autism spectrum and another with cerebral palsy and a third with Treacher Collins Syndrome, it would have crowded out the impact Chip was trying to make with the introduction of Ollie. But I hope in future Metaphase stories that we'll see those types of characters I just mentioned!

There is one aspect of Metaphase that doesn't translate so very well on paper and that's the syntax. Having worked and volunteered with people with Down Syndrome, I can attest that when they speak, they have a very specific dialect with it's own verbal pace. So, I had some trouble in my mind capturing Ollie's speech correctly while reading this story.
I also find it a tiny bit hard to believe that if Ollie's father was so concerned about the heart condition, why would he allow Ollie to skateboard throughout the town unattended... Does Ollie's father have attuned super-hearing in that he is always listening to his son's heartbeat? Is this an element of Metaphase that I missed?

You might have missed out on Metaphase when it first debuted in 2015. However, with Alterna Comics doing a re-release, there's no excuse to be further left out in the rain. Plus, with each issue of Metaphase being only $1.50, a third of the price of most other new comics, it's the steal of the century! Why, I encourage all of you to buy at least two copies. Keep one for your family and share one with a friend, or teacher, or librarian in hopes of getting the Metaphase word out. That's how passionate I feel about the importance of this groundbreaking work that the entire family, and even readers with special needs, can enjoy!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Metaphase #1 (of 2) debuts in stores on July 11th, 2018. Copies of the complete graphic novel can still be purchased on Alterna Comics' Etsy online store.

This review was published concurrently on Outrightgeekery.com.