Bill & Ted's Most Triumphant Return

According to Alex Winter, Mr. Bill S. Preston, Esq. in the flesh, in this book's foreword, when the creative team of Brian Lynch and Jerry Gaylord was crafting this miniseries, Bill and Ted creators Chris Matheson and Ed Solomon were working on the third film in the series, Bill & Ted Face the Music. Secretly, Winter, along with the creators as well as Keanu Reeves were on massive pins and needles. If 2015's Bill & Ted's Most Triumphant Return sucked, it could very much upset the whole thing. Studio execs could warrant that if a comic book sequel to the first 2 Bill & Ted movies was a giant flop, why would they want to pump millions of dollars into another live action flick to could potentially go belly up as well? Thankfully, this canon comic book epic didn't wreck the franchise!

Taking place after the events of Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey, the boys having some massive writer's bock. The world is demanding another rock epic from Wyld Stallyns and the fear of failure has paralyzed the guys. It's also really bugging them as to why Chuck De Nomolos, the villain from the 2nd movie, hated Bill and Ted so much. Into the time machine for the fellas...

Appearing in the future, they meet a teenaged De Nomolos who is ostracized by friends and family alike. Turns out being the foretold killer of your society's messiahs really carries a stigma. Bill and Ted really feel bad for the kid and they attempt a personality makeover. However, their good deeds don't go unpunished as when Bill and Ted return to their time, they find themselves replaced by De Nomolos and his future cronies! If you thought making robot Bill and Ted to kill the real McCoy was sinister, you haven't seen anything yet as Chuck De Nomolos not only strands the boys in prehistoric times, but he also allegedly kills off both members of Station, turns Rufus into a wanted fugitive and steals Death's Grim Reaping powers!

I thought this was a fantastic midquel that doesn't do anything to harm the flow between Bogus Journey and Face the Music. If you're having trouble visualizing what a midquel is, think about how Rogue One now sits in-between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope. Lots of great historical cameos. I won't spoil anything. But I do want to complain just a pinch that Cleopatra and ancient Egypt is nowhere in this book despite being featured on the front cover. 

Speaking of the cover, there are tons- TONS, of variant covers. Plus there are several shorts that explore the B&T universe. They were great reads featuring art and story by special guest-stars. I wouldn't mind another helping of these tales; they were that great.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

CBGB: OMFUG (2026 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

Creators from mainstream and Indie comics along with musicians, music experts and those intimately involved in the operation of the legendary New York music venue CBGB joined forces in 2010 to present a 4-issue anthology from Boom! Studios. 

CBGB was at the forefront of the American punk scene, providing a headquarters for fabled bands such as Television, Blondie, Talking Heads and Ramones. It later evolved into the home of New Wave as punk began to fade. But it wasn't intended that way. When Hilly Krystal opened his bar, he felt that country music was going to be the next best thing in the Big Apple. Hence, the name CBGB, which stood for 'Country, Bluegrass and Blues'. Like one of the characters says in the opener 'A NYC Punk Carol', which untangles the facts from the myth of CBGB, the owner 'couldn't have been more wrong.' In desperate need of patrons, Krystal would allow very avant garde acts to perform under the arrangement that the band got the door sales and Holly got the bar take. Soon, an unusual new vibe began to form, fueled by a single rule: there are no rules.

Kieron Gillen, Rob G.,  and Kelly Sue Deconnick, among others, examined the past, present and future of CBGB. The past of the venue was vast and rich. The present for fans of CBGB, was pretty bleak. In 2006, the club closed due to a dispute over rent. (Patti Smith was the site's final act.) A year later, Hilly Krystal passed from complications of lung cancer. By the time this miniseries saw print, CBGB was an entity in name only with licensing of the name and logo on countless T-shirts, hats and book bags being overseen by the venue's long-time general manager, Louise Staley, who reviewed and approved all of the stories in this collection. 

As for the future of CBGB, as long as the acts that got their start at 315 Bowery, Manhattan continue to enthrall the next generation of music lovers and musicians, CBGB will continue to live on, if only as just a memory and commercial property.

Note: OMFUG isn't an acronym for dirty talk. It stands for 'Other Music For Uplifting Gourmandizers.' In this case, the gourmandizers were 'eaters of music.'

Completing this review completes Task #4 (About Music) of the 2026 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Rating: 5 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.

We Served The People: My Mother's Stories (Family Comic Friday)

A young cartoonist learns about her mother's life growing up in China's Cultural Revolution in the biographical graphic novel: We Served The People: My Mother's Stories.

We Served The People: My Mother's StoriesWritten and illustrated by Emei Burell
Published by Archaia/ BOOM! Studios
Pages: 160
Retail: $24.99

From 1966-1976, millions of children were uprooted from their homes and sent to work in rural populations of China. The idea was to strip away the last vestiges of Capitalism from Communist China. One way to do that was to move children from modern cities to work on farms and plantations. The idea was that this most simple was of life would make the citified children of China less Westernized. But it actually had a reverse affect on Emei Burell's mother.

We Served The People is a first person account of a Chinese young woman's time working for a rubber plantation nearly 800 miles away from her family in Beijing.  As one of the only women taught to drive and operate trucks and tractors, 'Mom' learns about engineering first hand. This opens her up to wanting to get her degree in engineering when she was finally allowed to return to the capital city to be reunited with her family.

I feel like there's a sequel to this story because there's this huge build-up towards getting Emei Burell's mother to Sweden where she will eventually continue her college education in the sciences. But before she ends up in Sweden, the story ends. Yet, I really feel that Mom Burell was just getting started.

For a book advertising the impact of the Cultural Revolution on a person, We Served The People was more passive. Red Scarf Girl is an excellent prose account of Ji-Li Jiang's mis-education at the hands of a program that experts agree was a giant step backwards for China. Jiang's memoir tells more of how she had to change whereas this graphic novel is more about the aftermath of the lost years of education at the hands of the Mao Zedong school of thought.

The stories in the book were very interesting. I just expected more accounts during the Cultural Revolution instead of afterwards. Emei's mother spent almost a decade away from her family. But not even half of this book is devoted to that time of separation. I was just left wanting more.

One thing that I was quite upset at having too much of is something I mentioned recently in another review. It's the waste of paper. In between the stories, BOOM! Studios and Archaia put 2-4 solid read pages as dividers. I'm sure that the cost of red ink isn't cheap. Plus, there's the fact that the first 10 pages of this book are blank as well. If you had omitted all of that, you would have shaved 30 pages from the book and probably could've sold it for under $20.

Comic book publishers have got some great stories, such as this one, to tell. But in order to survive this hostile economy, brought upon thanks to a pandemic and exorbitant production costs, changes to how our graphic novels are printed must occur. Please, don't go digital only! But consider trimming those blank pages in order to make graphic novels of historical importance, like We Served The People more affordable.

We Served The People: My Mother's Stories is currently available in print and digital formats.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Fresh Off The Boat Presents: The Legion of Dope-Itude Featuring Lazy Boy #1

When you are in quarantine procedures, you find yourself finally with time to do those things you always wanted. Time to read a book. Or clean the house. Or finally cataloging those comic books. It was in that back log  that I came across a one-shot issue devoted to the critically acclaimed ABC sitcom Fresh Off the Boat.

Wait-a-minute..?! Fresh Off The Boat had a comic book?

Fresh Off The Boat Presents: The Legion of Dope-Itude Featuring Lazy Boy #1
Written by Gene Luen Yang
Art by Jorge Corona
Published by BOOM! Studios

Fresh Off The Boat ran on ABC for 5 years from 2015-2020. The show was based on Chef Eddie Huang's same-named memoir of growing up in 1990s Orlando as basically the only Asian family in the community. Newcomer Harrison Yang played the lead role of Eddie. The series also starred Constance Wu (Crazy Rich Asians), Randall Park (Ant-Man and the Wasp) as Eddie's parents. Shazam's Ian Chen and Forrest Wheeler (Mortal Kombat) played brother Evan and Emery.

Essentially, the sitcom was about race, culture and eventually Eddie's discovery of his love for food and cooking. So where does comic books fit in with Fresh Off The Boat?

In the May 2nd, 2017 episode titled 'Pie Vs. Cake' Eddie and Emory decide to create a comic book together in order to win a contest. However, the brothers have two completely different ideas for how the book should go. It results in the two going off on their own to make their comics and failing miserably. Eventually the bros hug it out and team-up to craft a super hero team based on their family.

Fresh Off The Boat aired on Friday nights. With 'Pie Vs Cake' debuting on the first Friday of the month, if a fan of comic books watched that episode when it aired new, that meant the next day, they'd be in for a treat. That's because that year, Eddie and Emory's comic book dreams became a reality for fans participating in Free Comic Book Day 2020.

The Legion of Dope-Itude Featuring Lazy Boy was a freebie tie-in to the series! How did I miss that? Looking back, I had to work that Saturday at the culinary school I used to teach at. So for FCBD 2017, I needed my wife to go to my LCS in my stead. And then 3 years passed before I opened the package of comics that my bride procured. Yeah, I got that far behind...

The sitcom aired it's series finale just this February; much to my dismay. Actress Constance Wu threw such a tantrum of after a fifth season was announced by ABC that it caused a lot of tension on set. Her venom at being tied down to another year of sitcom filming was so vicious producers and cast felt that it was time for the Huang family to bid farewell to fans. Thus, this forgotten comic book was a welcome social distancing treat for a fan of Fresh Off The Boat such as myself.

Written this 'Lost Episode' is Gene Luen Yang and he's more than qualified to pen this tale. Yang's American Born Chinese parallel's the Huang Family's journey of assimilation into the American Dream.  The cartoonist evokes the mannerisms and dialogue of the actors who play the characters perfectly.

The artwork  by Jorge Corona (Feathers) wasn't quite so perfect. Eddie and his parents were drawn pretty darn close to their live-action counterparts. Brother Emery sometimes looked like actor Forrest Wheeler. But little Evan's scenes looked nothing like Ian Chen.

Now that I think more about, Jorge Corona's work is very cartoony. It has a child-like element to it. Since this is supposed to look like the comic made by Eddie and Emory, I guess that explains some inconsistencies. If that's the case, then I retract my criticism by half.

Still, the combined efforts of Gene Luen Yang and Jorge Corona was a great substitute for the real thing! I'm not sure why BOOM! Studios never made this one-shot into a series. But it's not too late! With no new Fresh Off The Boat on television, why not bring back this creative duo to create more adventures of this Huang family? I'd be all into that! And I think fans of comics and the ground-breaking series would be too!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Over the Garden Wall: Soulful Symphonies #1 (Family Comic Friday)

Journey back to a land full of surreal wonders in this week's Family Comic Friday as we review Over the Garden Wall: Soulful Symphonies  #1.

Over the Garden Wall: Soulful Symphonies #1Written by: Birdie Willis
Art by: Rowan MacColl
Published by: Boom! Studios/Kaboom!
Retail: $3.99

Fans of Cartoon Network's 2014 miniseries Over the Garden Wall will be thrilled when they make their next trip to their favorite comic book store. Brothers Wirt and Greg are back, along with their companion Beatrice, in an untold adventure set in the land of the Unknown.

The brothers stumble upon what they think is a ghost town. It's only residents are a trio of sisters who run the local theatre. Missing their two leading roles, Wirt and Greg audition for the show much to Beatrice's warnings. Is this a simple musical in need of a helping hand? Or is there a sinister secret behind the actions of the sisters three?

Over the Garden Wall: Soulful Symphonies was a very surreal read. Wirt and Greg have great comedic timing. Like the Marx Brothers before them, the brothers conversations are often in two different directions with hilarious results.

I also liked the eerie nature of the story. It was spooky without being horrifying or gory. I'm very interested to know what happens in issue #2.

One thing I didn't like was the singing. I guess with a name like ‘Soulful Symphonies’, I should have expected singing. Trying to understand the pace and tempo of a song without any music is really difficult for me. If you have very little musical inclinations, you probably feel the same way. I understand that music played a big role in the animated miniseries. But in my opinion, music doesn't translate very well in comic books.

The art looks a little primitive. The brothers' faces look like a grade-schooler drew it with simple circles for eyes and triangles for the nose. However, the artwork of this comic is nearly a flawless representation by artist Rowan MacColl of that from the miniseries.

If you are looking for a humorous read that is full of unexpected twists mixed in with a healthy dose of chills, the young readers in your life are going to enjoy Over the Garden Wall: Soulful Symphonies. Further issues do promise to up the scare factor a little bit. Most sources cite that the Over the Garden Wall miniseries is for ages 10 and up. So, parents of younger comics readers may want to hold off on this Boom! Studios publication for a little while.

Over the Garden Wall: Soulful Symphonies #1 was published in print and digital formats on August 7th, 2019.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

The Muppet Show: The Treasure of Peg-Leg Wilson

Rizzo and his band of rats go on the hunt for buried pirate treasure.
The ever-wild Animal gets domesticated. 
Plus a Kermit the frog impersonator decides to stage a coup as lovable ole' Kermie.

If you ever wished that The Muppet Show could be turned into a comic book, consider your wish granted. Betty Boop's Roger Langridge crafts a 4-issue miniseries starring your favorite Muppet characters and their most iconic skits from The Muppet Show. Muppet Labs, The Swedish Chef, Pigs in Space and Veterinarian's Hospital are all highlighted in this amazingly cozy read.

Every inch of every panel and page is jammed full of gags, jokes and fun. This is a perfect read for a dark, cold night when you are bundled up in a blanket and 3 layers of pajamas. It's that fun! And that insane! If you are a fan of Jim Henson's Muppets, then this 2009 collected work the book for you! 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Jim Henson's The Storyteller: Sirens #1 (Family Comic Friday)

Today’s Family Comic Friday selection is one that kids of the 80s are going to want to share with their kids and grandkids! Jim Henson’s The Storyteller is back in comic book form in a new miniseries devoted to mermaids and other sirens of the sea!

Jim Henson’s The Storyteller: Sirens #1
Story by Bartosz Sztybor
Art by Jakub Rebelka
Published by the Boom Studios imprint Archaia
Retail Price: $3.99

If you were a kid growing up in the 80s and had HBO, then you have got to be familiar with Jim Henson’s The Storyteller. Though the show only lasted one very short season, episodes were shown as reruns well through the mid-90s. The award winning series starred Doctor Who’s John Hurt as The Storyteller. Sitting in front of a roaring fire, the narrator regaled his faithful pooch with thrilling, yet obscure, European folk tales.

A 4-episode revival series based on Greek myths debuted in 1990 with Michael Gambon (the Harry Potter series’ Dumbledore) starring as the fabulist. Now some 30 years later, Jim Henson’s beloved creation has returned in an all-new 4-issue miniseries. This time the focus in on stories of mermaids and other sirens of the sea.

Issue #1 focuses on the lesser known tale of ‘The Mermaid and the Fisherman’. This Polish folktale is not to be confused with the story of the Warsaw Mermaid, of which the maiden of the sea is a national icon. However, I wouldn’t doubt that the tale was somewhat inspired by the Warsaw Mermaid as there are some similarities between the two legends.

In this debut issue, a fisherman has his heart set on raising enough money to buy a stunning fishing vessel. No matter how well the angler does on his daily catch, the money his receives is never enough to make him happy. That is until one day when the sailor hears the song of a Mermaid. Having imprisoned the creature, the fisherman soothes his savage spirit to her enchanting song. But at what cost?

Archaia makes the wise move of using native talent for this opening tale. Warsaw’s own Bartosz Szytbor pens this epically sad tale of the sea. But to me, what really blew me away was the amazing artwork of Jakub Rebelka.

Namesake’s Rebelka paints the entire story. His strokes and moody dark tones are quite reminiscent of a lot of Polish folk art that I have seen. I know quite a bit as my wife is a third generation Polish immigrant and I’ve spent a lot of time learning of her family’s Eastern European heritage. That aside, the passion and angst of every character in this issue is masterfully done by the Polish master artist.

This new miniseries based on Jim Henson’s The Storyteller is both entertaining and education. Children of all ages can experience a small slice of Polish life without the indigestion of consuming too much kielbasa and sauerkraut. I only wish that Archaia had gone just a tiny bit further and included a 1-2 page section on something factual  and educational about Poland. I would love to have seen a closing segment on other Polish artists or maybe a fact sheet about the importance of the mermaid in Polish culture. Maybe this is something that could be worked up for the trade collection???

A great opening chapter in a legendary series. It will delight both kids and the adults who grew up watching the show!

Jim Henson’s The Storyteller: Sirens #1 debuted in print and digital formats on Wednesday April 3rd, 2019.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

The Thrilling Adventure Hour #1

I read this issue a couple of months ago. I could have sworn that I had reviewed it back then as well. Yes after an exhaustive search, I cannot find evidence of ever have given my opinion on this first issue from Boom! Studios. So forgive me if I repeat myself. But hey,  just in time for Halloween, right?

The Thrilling Adventure Hour is about a married couple of semi-professional mediums/ghost hunters. Frank and Sadie Doyle seem better suited as mixologists than ghost busters. In fact, they don't even seem to fit this more modern time period.

Most modern comic book readers are not familiar with The Thin Man series of comedy mystery films. The Thin Man movies focused on Nick and Nora Charles; a wealthy couple who were amateur sleuths. They had this rapid fire dialogue thing going on that was absolutely brilliant. Plus with their smarmy attitude towards everyone and everything, you weren't quite sure if Nick and Nora thought that the world was their own private little sandbox.

When it comes to the Doyles, I have a theory. In this issue, Frank and Sadie agree to help an interracial couple whose new new home is supposedly haunted. Now you might be thinking as to why must I point out that the couple of different races. It's 2018, I should be agreeable to this sort of thing in American society. Well, I am. But the Doyles don't seem to be. In fact when Frank and Sadie first meet their new clients, they are taken aback by the mixed race couple. Thus I think the Doyles are ghosts!

Think about it. They can see and communicate with spirits. They appear more suited for the 1930s. And the Doyles don't understand social norms. It's just a crazy idea, but I think there's a Sixth Sense twist going on here.

A darling opening chapter in which I am eager to read the rest of the story. A comic/horror triumph by the writing/illustrating team of Ben Acker and Ben Blacker!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Lumberjanes #49 (Family Comic Friday)

Welcome to Family Comic Friday. This weekly column highlights comics and graphic novels that can be enjoyed by the whole family. It's my hope that the books featured not only opens the young readers in your life up to the world of comic books but the joy of reading as well.

This week is all about girl power as we’ll be reviewing the latest issue of Boom! Studios’ award winning series Lumberjanes! Then in our penultimate preview of the 2018 Free Comic Book Day releases, we check out the anthology one-shot Comic Friends Forever, featuring creators such as Hope Larson and Shannon Hale.

Let's get started with my review of …

Lumberjanes #49

Written by Shannon Waters, Kat Leyh

Art by Dozerdraws

Published by Boom! Studios

Lumberjanes is the title nobody thought would or could ever get made. The series was created by the team of Shannon Watters, Grace Ellis, Brooklyn A. Allen and Noelle Stevenson. These women comic creators saw a lack of material for girls aged 10-13 on the market- especially made by women.

Working with the publisher Boom!, this creative team was able to book an 8 issue miniseries and turn it into a global phenomenon that next month will celebrate it's historic 50th issue!

Lumberjanes follows a group of 5 campers who are spending their summer at Miss Qiunzella Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet's Camp for Hardcore Lady Types summer camp. Using their unique talents and endless spirit of adventure, the girls notice some strange things going on in the nearby woods. Weird stuff, like three-eyed foxes and an old woman who transforms into a bear.

Over the past 48 issues, the secret behind these supernatural occurrences has been building up to the 50th mega issue that promises to reveal something.

Now you might be asking why am I reviewing a book that promises to let several cats out of the bag in the very near future. Well, for one thing, this issue reads like a very good starting point. The entire camp is stuck inside the mess hall thanks to a monsoon outdoors. Having all of the main and supporting characters in one place offers new readers a chance to really explore the various personalities that occupy the camps.

A couple of the campers discover a hidden tunnel that runs under the camp. While yes it adds to the overall mysteries surrounding the camp itself, a new reader doesn’t have to have read the previous 48 issues of this series to understand just what is going on. Sure, it helps. But it’s not required.

I want to talk a minute about the artwork and that’s going to lead into a controversial aspect of the comic book. The book is illustrated by German artist Dozerdraws. The artist gives amazing life to each and every character in this book. But there was something about one of the Lumberjanes named Jo that I couldn’t quite put my finger on. So, I did a little research into the character.

Jo is a transgender girl. The child of a gay married couple, Jo a male transitioning to a girl. In no way am I condemning the character or the book. I think Lumberjanes is a good series for children, especially girls. But I add this information because not all parents and guardians may feel that the subject matter of sexuality and gender is inappropriate for their child.

One reason I started doing Family Comic Friday almost a decade ago is one day I was at a comic book store and a frustrated mom went up to the clerk. With a copy of Hellblazer in her hand, she asked if it was appropriate for her 8-year old son. The clerk responded with two thumbs up. ‘Hellz yeah!’, he crooned.

It was at this point I realized that some parents have no idea what comics are age appropriate for their kids, much less nieces, nephews and grandkids. So when I review a comic, I base my score on storytelling, art and editing- not content. But I do feel that I need to let all parties involved know of anything that might be considered controversial or even a little too grown up for the recommended age group. Ultimately, when it comes to letting a child read any book I review, it’s ultimately up to the parent or grown-up to decide. But perhaps, by my reviewing of this series, I might encourage some families to begin a more open dialogue on gender and sexuality.

In terms of my rating, I give Lumberjanes high marks. The storytelling was flawless, though I wish that some of the characters names were given earlier on. In terms of the artwork, it was really good. So good, that I thought one of the characters was really a boy and I was right! I give Dozerdraws high praise for not trying to make Jo look any different than they did. To do so would have hidden Jo’s true persona and I think that in a nutshell is what Lumberjanes is all about- being true to yourself!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Lumberjanes #49 was released in print and digital media on April 25, 2018.

Comic Friends Forever

Written and Illustrated by Hope Larson, Ben Hatke, Shannon Hale, LeUyen Pham

Cover by Vera Brosgol

Rated: All-Ages

Release Date: May 5, 2018

Comics friends forever! First Second presents an amazing Free Comic Book Day anthology that celebrates kids comics, girl power, and the amazing work of creators Vera Brosgol, Hope Larson, Charise Mericle Harper, Ben Hatke, and Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham. Don't miss out on this comic filled with the power of friendship that's great for every kid reader in your store.

This review was published concurrently on Outrightgeekery.com.

Batman '66 Meets Steed and Mrs. Peel

60's camp meets 60's mod in this amazing crossover from DC Comics and Boom! Studios. 

The Dynamic Duo joins forces with the Original Avengers in this story that spans two countries. Filled with villains from both franchises, this was one of the best crossovers I've read in a while AND I read a bunch of crossovers and team-ups. It's one of my favorite categories of comics and this one does not disappoint!

Victorian Undead's Ian Edington did a whiz-bang job of capturing the quirks and mannerisms of all of the characters of both properties. Mrs. Peel, played by the alluring Diana Rigg, was always a little cheeky. But the way she plays Mrs. Robinson to Robin's Dustin Hoffman was a little uncomfortable. So, maybe Edington goes a bit too far there. But his idea to have Batman and Robin meet Steed and Peel almost immediately instead of waiting for a couple of issues was a smart move!

I was also digging the artwork. Doctor Who's Matthew Dow Smith took his form to the 60s in a brilliant way. His illustrations of Adam West, Julie Newmar, Patrick Macnee were so very spot on. 

As both TV shows this crossover was based on were set in the 60s, Pop Art was a rising art movement. During this time, Andy Warhol was famous for making silk-screened images of famous people. While I know that's not what Matthew Dow Smith did here, his realistic looking images look silk-screened. Very appropriate for a tale set in the 1960s!

Full of swinging 60s humor, action, and sex appeal- Batman '66 Meets Steed and Mrs. Peel was a great read that I didn't want to end!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Clueless Senior Year

Story by Amber Benson & Sarah Kuhn
Art by Siobhan Kenan
Published by Boom! Studios

Clueless Senior Year follows Cher Horowitz and her friends Dionne and Tai almost immediately after the first film ends. Cher's relationship with Josh has been put on hold while she's struggles to find herself before graduation. Dionne has gotten fed-up with how boyfriend Murray has been treating her. So she decides to run for class president against him. Meanwhile, former ugly duckling Tai must choose between her dream of going to art school or running her aunt's apple farm after she inherits it.

Living in the 90s

The movie Clueless debuted in 1995. At the time, Clueless was hailed as an accurate portrayal of high school life for that generation. I graduated high school in 1996. Without all the excesses of life in Beverly Hills, my experience was pretty similar to Cher's: Nobody knew what in the hell were they going to do with their life.

By 1995, the rules had changed on members of Generation X. We had been told for years to A) graduate high school B) get a degree and C) find a job. However, the job market got tougher as the previous generation before us started getting masters and doctorates. As a result, my generation was told that the 3-point plan we had been sold on wasn't going to cut it anymore. Thus, even more school was on the table if we wanted to achieve our dreams.
Like Cher, many of those in Generation X kinda got burned out with the whole situation. The best way to deal with our problems was to shop them away. If we happened to find love while on a quest to fulfill our consumerist impulses that was all the better. Ah, 90s life!

Not How I Remember It

Reading this sequel to Clueless was really odd because this isn't the 90s I remember. Senior Class just felt dated and no longer relevant. Writers Amber Benson and Sarah Kuhn claim in the book's extensive production notes section to have studied up on mid-90s vernacular and pop culture. But peppering a story with slang and numerous Fresh Prince references isn't enough to capture the giant pain in the butt being a teen in the 90s was. I feel like the story has been updated with millennial problems flavored with 90s era teen angst. That just doesn't work for me.

It's getting to be a big deal to bring back the 90s. Almost every other show scheduled for next TV season is a reboot of a 90s sitcom. While you can argue how originality is dying in the TV medium, that's not the point I am trying to make. At least for these reboots, they're going to deal will the characters living in 2017. But this sequel has Cher and friends still in the 90s. Yes, they dealing with problems like gender rights, the environment, and LGBT relationships. But their responses to them aren't typical for a Clinton Era teen. Okay, I'm playing the historically inaccurate card here. But I can- because I lived it!

Fitting Into the Franchise

Another issue I have with this book has more to do with the Clueless franchise as a whole. Why do we need this book as a sequel when there was a Clueless TV series? For 3 seasons, the adventures of Cher and Dionne continued on after the film. In fact, several actors from the original movie reprised their original roles such as Stacey Dash and Donald Faison. So does this book eliminate the series? Is this a supplement? Did the folks at Boom! Studios forget that part?

Another thing Boom! seemed to have forgotten is what the original cast looked like. All of these characters look like friends of Ken and Barbie. The representations of the characters by newcomer Siobhan Keenan are pretty generic. If this wasn't based on an established property, I wouldn't be opposed to the artwork. But I am one of those in the camp of characters need to look like the actors who portrayed them. One thing I can't excuse is the coloring and inking of the book. It looks like someone used magic markers and gives the series a coloring book feel to it.

Sweet Vibes

I will give some praise where praise is due. This book comes with a soundtrack. Before each major scene, the writers provide you with snippets from each character's collection of mix-tapes. If you happen to be able to play the songs while reading this, it actually adds to the 90s vibe. It's in my opinion one of the few things the writers got right!

Clueless Senior Year would be a great read if it wasn't trying to fit into the Clueless franchise. But since it does, just like Cher, this book can't find it's true self.

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

The Woods, Volume 3: New London

In the first volume, a handful of students from Bay Point Prep decided to explore their new surroundings in hopes of finding a way of returning back to earth. Now those students find themselves guests of earlier inhabitants.

Residing in a township called New London, some of these citizens can trace their lineage back hundreds of years. With over 400 young people newly arrived on this mysterious planet, the ruler of New London, The Duke, sees new recruits to conscript in the town's dwindling army used to defend his lands from a malicious force. Now it's a race back to Bay Point in hopes of warning the students of the coming army of conscriptors. But a new player has taken a leadership role at Bay Point and the stakes have never been more deadlier!

James Tynion IV continues to take this amazing series into new realms. I don't feel like the Woods ever gets stale. Tynion isn't afraid to kill off beloved characters or place them in impossible situations. The author also puts as much of himself into the flashback sequences as the action packed scenes on the forbidden planet. So much that I feel like the Woods is one of the most perfectly balanced comics ever.

The art of Michael Dialynas is also very well crafted. He creates some wondrous alien creatures that are whimsical, terrifying, or both at the same time. I don't give it as much praises as I should because of the amazing story. But Dialynas’ art is just as vital to this series as Tynion’s writing.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

SummerSlam 2017 Special

Writers: Box Brown, Ryan Ferrier, Aaron Gillespie
Artists: Derek Fridolfs, Kendall Goode
Published by Boom! Studios

Epic Battles

Next to Wrestlemania, SummerSlam has been the WWF/WWE’s top showcase. Some epic battles have happened over the years at the event. Hulk Hogan & the Macho Man Vs. Ted DiBiase and Andre the Giant. Bret Hart Vs. The British Bulldog. And who can forget when the Undertaker fought the Undertaker?!

 The annual summer match-up is just a couple of weeks away. This year’s going to be a big one as it’s the 30th anniversary. In celebration of the event Boom! Studios has teamed with the WWE to bring fans the 2017 Summer Slam.

Major Talent

   The special gives background ‘stories’ to some of fans most beloved wrestling team-ups. Andre the Giant biographer Box Brown chronicles the class struggle between the American Dream Dusty Rhodes and elitist Macho King Randy Savage. D4VE’s Ryan Ferrier examines the twisted psyche of Mick Foley right before a match with the Undertaker. Looney Tunes’ Derek Fridolfs brings back those insane Australian wrestlers, the Bushwhackers. Then modern era grappler, Seth Rollins, in given nightmares by Lady Death’s Aaron Gillespie.

    Overall, these stories weren’t bad. The Mankind/Mick Foley story was a bit spastic but so is Mick Foley. I didn’t quite understand everything going on with the Seth Rollins story. But that's because I don’t really keep up with wrestling that much any more. But the stories set during the 80s and 90s were fun trips inside a scrapbook of SummerSlam memories.
 
  The artwork was pretty decent. Daniel Bayless, Rob Guillory, Fridolds, and others do some amazing work making these wrestling legends come to life. I only wish that Box Brown was allowed to give Dusty Rhodes and the Macho Man story his distinctive artistic touch. But hey, only getting the story by Box Brown is better than no Box Brown at all.

A Pessimistic New Day

   There was one story that I absolutely hated. Titled ‘The New Day’s Optimistic Odyssey’, it features the trio of wrestlers call ‘The New Day.’ My reasons were multiple. First of, all this was part 5 of a series. Okay, I get that but where are the other 4 parts to be found? So, right away, I didn’t understand anything that was going on. Why are there unicorns and marshmallow cereal everywhere?

    Secondly, and this is coming from my godson- the New Day’s gimmick is considered incredibly racist. My godson is African American and he’s told me that he and his friends had to stop watching WWE due to the New Day. He says it’s because of how the WWE portrays this stable of black gospel singing wrestlers as ‘stupid and dumb.’ I think the word he was going for was ‘stereotypes.’ But if it’s a good enough reason for my godson to not like, it’s good enough for me too!

Money Trouble

      Lastly, let’s talk price. The book retails for $7.99. In the past couple of years, I have shelled out eight bucks for holiday specials. But not for only 42-pages of material!!! It’s a special, I get it. So I could maybe pay $5.99. But eight bucks? If this was a 64-page or 72-pager, I could do it. But this price is just way too steep for me.

I suspect this one is going to wind up in bargain bins pretty soon and that's a shame. It's a decent collection of wrestling themed stories. But that price tag is going to put quite a few fans off of getting it.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

The Woods, Volume 2: The Swarm

   Still stranded on a planet God knows where, the students of Bay Point Prep continue their fight to survive. A group of several students went to explore the woods that surround the school and run into inhabitants. But can these fellow displaced earthlings be trusted? Meanwhile, back at the school, things have turned deadly as one of the instructors has declared martial law. Yeah, putting the football team in charge of law and order- that's a great idea! It's another example of how humans can sometimes be the worse monsters of all.

       Batman Eternal's James Tynion IV digs deeper into the backstory of the students of Bay Point. These scenes don't explain why the students got kidnapped. But the do offer layers of character development and provides motive for the character's actions in the wild.

      The art is by Michael Dialynas Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Dimension X. It's a unique balance of modern American, colonial era British, and never-before-seen flora and fauna. A little rugged, it's engaging enough to be creepy without scaring the hell out of you.

      An unpredictable series that is very well executed and it's constantly getting better with each issue.

      Worth Consuming!

      Rating: 10 out 10 stars.