DC's T'was the 'Mite Before Christmas #1

This year's annual holiday release from DC Comics is representative of the complaints many of the fans of the publisher have been grousing about all year. The story telling is pretty darn good; but could be better. The artwork has devolved collectively. And the DCU is just too full of lame characters in an attempt to diversify it's lineup in order to appease every demographic.

As with 80-page giants of year's past, there are 8 stories inside. Batwoman outsources some help when the Riddler terrorizes Gotham over the 8 nights of Hanukkah. Superman gives a dose of his signature hope and optimism to a young man in crisis on a lonely Christmas Eve. Batmite makes a holiday visit to the Batcave where he encounters Damian Wayne for the very first time to disastrous effects. Lex Luthor is visited by a trio of spirits while the Raven is left home alone at Titans Tower during an attack by members of the Fearsome Five. Harley Quinn and Princess Amethyst switch roles for the holidays as a techno-virus turns Booster Gold into a clone of Santa Claus. And then there's a D-level former member of the Teen Titans who feels sorry for himself and receives a dose of It's a Wonderful Life. 

All of the stories except for that last one were of a quality ranking for a 6 or higher. The Superman, Lex Luthor and Raven stories were 9s or better. Booster's tale, the Harley switcheroo and Batmite stories were decent. The Batwoman story could have been better. Yes, it is very heavy on LGBTQ+ themes. But that's not why I ranked it low. The solutions for the Riddler's puzzles were really confusing and that art of the last page looked like it was drawn by somebody else. It just didn't look right from the rest of the story.

The one story that stunk was indeed a part of DC's Pride line-up. But again, that's not why I gave that story a 2 out of 10. It was a lame story about an even lamer superhero named Bunker, who I've never heard of in 40 plus years of reading comic books. That being said, I refuse to believe that someone as virtually unknown as Bunker would really be the catalyst to saving the DC Universe from Dominators. I could think of dozens of low-level characters who would have more of a direct impact over the DC Universe if they weren't born than Bunker. Ragman. Obsidian. Crazy Quilt. CALENDAR MAN!

I'm also shocked that of these 8 stories there's not 1 tale starring a black or Asian character. 

Another thing missing has to do with something I applaud DC for at least making a small effort to include. As I mentioned, the Superman story involves a young man who is about to commit suicide on Christmas Eve until the Man of Steel stops him. Inside the back cover of this book there are a couple of phone numbers and other contacts for suicide prevention including the Jed Foundation for teens and NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness). As one who experienced a best friend killing themselves (and was a huge DC fan), I appreciate DC Comics including those contacts. But why didn't they include 988, the new, easier to remember phone number of the National Suicide and Crisis hotline??? I asked my wife about this omission and her being a social worker was appalled at 988's absence. 

I liked a majority of this book. The Ben Caldwell cover and the clever pun to A Visit From St. Nicolas with the book's title were awesome. It's just that there was too much focus on characters that aren't big names in DC Comics. I can't believe I am gonna say this but I think it would be best if DC killed off 50% of it's cast of characters. And not for a brief snap like with The Infinity Gauntlet. Kill off all of the C and D list characters. Get rid of all of the legacy characters. Keep it to one Flash, one Robin, one Superman for 5 years. (Multiple Green Lanterns would be allowed. Just not as many as usual.) Write good stories that focus on quality instead of quantity. You can still have black, Asian, gay/queer, and Latino characters. Just make the field of players smaller for a little while in order to appeal to readers who want to be entertained. I understand that people need to feel represented in the media they enjoy. But just because I have a pair of adopted goats, I don't need DC to create a superhero who has a Nigerian Dwarf for a sidekick to feel like I have a place in this world. 

T'was the Bat Mite Before Christmas had good storytelling. Now DC should get back to great storytelling instead of trying to check boxes to make everyone happy. And while you're at it, recruit some new art talent. This holiday special was definitely NOT a feast for the eyes. 

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

Booster Gold/The Flintstones Special #1

Dating in the 25th century is hard enough without having prehistoric aliens invading. In order to investigate their misjudgment of the time stream, Booster Gold and his alien sidekick Skeetz must travel millions of years into the past. Booster arrives in the prehistoric past where he must seek the help of Fred and Barney. 
   
Mark Russell continues his exciting run with the modern stone age family. While the story was quite entertaining it wasn't the best of this book.

 In the second feature was a modern look at the Jetsons. While I absolutely hated their sleek look, the story was fantastic. In it, George's mother is dying of some dread disease and with daughter Judy's help, Mother Jetson has her consciousness transferred into a robot. Oh, and Grandma's name? Would you believe, Rosie???

Yes- I gave away a big spoiler but if you've been keeping up with the forthcoming releases on social media, you'll know that this giant plot point has long been revealed. 

I've gotten really behind on my reviews. This book dropped in March and I probably read it within a week of it's release. But when I read the Jetsons story I just knew that this was setting up a new offering in DC's Hanna-Barbera Universe line of reboots. I for one will be first in line for it when it arrives in stores this November.

A good first act. An amazing second feature. 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Time Masters: Vanishing Point

If you read Bruce Wayne: The Road Home, you'll see Booster Gold, Superman, Green Lantern, and the lesser known Rip Hunter, Time Master following the Caped Crusader as he is displaced through time. You might think that’s the extent of their journey, but you’d be very wrong.

Time Masters: Vanishing Point is the other side of the story. Along with trying to find Batman, this volume gives us Rip Hunter’s origin, plus Booster Gold’s ancestor in guise as Supernova must prevent several time distorted villains from claiming mastery over time itself.

The Road Home isn't the only storyline that will make you want to read this story. Many of the events of this miniseries lead directly into Flashpoint and Issues 40-45 of Booster Gold. I had actually read this story a while back but I've been sitting on this review until it came time to read Flashpoint. Since I am almost done with Flashpoint, this seemed as good a time as any to post it.

A fantastic story that’s a little confusing, but mostly because of the twists and turns and rules of time travel. Thankfully, just about every plot loop is completed by journeys end and it makes for an enjoyable read.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars

Booster Gold #47 (A Flashpoint Tie-In)

  Booster Gold comes face to face with the man in control of the monster, Doomsday: General Nathaniel Adam. For Booster, whose from the unaltered DC Universe, it's like seeing an old friend and wondering whatever did he do to piss him off. For Adam, as a member of the Flashpoint, he's never seen Booster before in his life and the Air Force officer is convinced that this newcomer is a shock trooper from Emperor Aquaman's Atlantean forces. Now bound with metahuman resistant chains, how will the Hero You Never Heard Of find the ket to reversing the Flashpoint- Barry Allen!
    The thrilling conclusion to Booster Gold is not without it's detractors. For one thing, I hate that in the New 52! Booster Gold was merely a footnote as a member of Justice League International. I hope with Rebirth, he'll be a major player again. So, parts of how this book ended was bittersweet. I did however, LOVE that it's revealed who, how, and why those mysterious phrases were written on the chalkboard in Rip Hunter's base (see Time Masters: Vanishing Point #6.) Why they had to be written in code is still a mystery. But I at least was happy with how that plot point turned out. 

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Booster Gold #46

Despite his being stuck in the Flashpoint, history is about to repeat itself. Only this time Booster Gold will be playing the role of Superman. The being known as Doomsday is out of control and after a run in with a charter bus, the creature is now heading for Metropolis. It's up to Booster Gold, a mysterious woman with absorbing powers, and his arsenal of futuristic gadgets to save the day.

  The Death of Superman is one of my favorite DC story lines. Seeing it twisted around with Booster Gold playing the Man of Steel role was a delight. I was so excited with this issue that I almost skipped a bunch of Flashpoint tie-ins to find out what happens next.

  Oh, the massive amounts of self control being expended here…

  Worth Consuming.

  Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Booster Gold #45 (A Flashpoint Tie-In)

   Stranded in the Flashpoint, Booster and his drone sidekick, Skeets, are mistaken for an Atlantean scout unit. Fearful of an attack from Atlantis, the Army has thrown everything at the time-stranded heroes. Though Skeets has been rendered inoperable, Booster's been able to fend off everything Uncle Sam has in his arsenal, for now. But all bets are off when Booster comes face-to-face with the one being that still haunts his worst nightmares- Doomsday!
     

Another great tie-in chapter to Flashpoint. Filled with twists and turns, this issue is so shocking, you've got to read it to believe it. So, I'll just leave it at this- Dan Jurgens is a freakin' genius and if you are a fan of the Kryptonian killing machine known as Doomsday, then you must read this issue!
  
    Worth Consuming

    Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Booster Gold #44 (A Flashpoint Tie-In)

Booster Gold experiences a temporal shift and finds himself stuck in the Flashpoint. Seeking answers, Booster and his drone sidekick Skeets travel to the closest community, Central City. But instead of being welcomed, the duo are attacked. Mistaken as an Atlantean scout, Booster tries to reason with the soldiers. But the time for conversation is over when Booster comes face to face with his worst nightmare- Doomsday!

The events of this issue immediately follows the miniseries Time Masters: Vanishing Point. In that story, a group of heroes lead by Booster Gold and Rip Hunter seek to rescue Bruce Wayne from being stranded in the time stream. After completing their mission  Rip and Booster return to their base of operations and find a chalkboard scribbled with tons of forewarnings to the coming Flashpoint event. That final scene is the beginning of this issue and the two books flow together seamlessly,

   Booster Gold creator Dan Jurgens did triple duty on this issue. His writing was both humorous and intriguing, his artwork masterful, and look at this cover- man, does it rock! A great tie-in to Flashpoint.

  Worth Consuming

  Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

"Justice League America #100"

This 100th issue starts out great. All three versions of the League are present trying to iron out this whole open membership debacle that nearly wiped everyone out in issues 96-97. Then the Snazz and Flash take Blue Beetle and Booster on a tour of the spaceship, only to discover it’s making more Overmasters in light of the alien warlord’s death. Then Lord Havok, now possessing the brain of Max Lord attacks.

    

And then wouldn’t you know it? The cliffhanger come and I now have to have an issue of Warrior to finish it! I hate when this happens! Geez- put a disclaimer or something!

This is such a major pet peeve of mine.

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

JLA: Act of God, Book 1

 

  A strange act of God causes all the super powered heroes and villains to lose their powers. That now means the heavy hitters are Batman, Steel, Blue Beetle and Booster Gold!

   A very interesting opening chapter that looks at the question “What makes one a hero?”
The art is fantastic. The story is really good. Excellent plotting and some spot on character analysis of DC’s best and brightest!

   Kudos!

   Worth Consuming.

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Justice League America #90 (Judgment Day, Part 4)

Blue Beetle and STAR Labs race to save Booster’s life, but it appears that they won't have to rush because the human race has literally stood still. No more births, no more deaths. This would be ideal, except the Doomsday entity has once again sped the end of days timetable up once again. Now earth only has 24 hours.

The chapter reminds me of Torchwood: Miracle Day in which Death took a holiday. With no more births, Power Girl is now freed up to do some major damage. After a disappointing Chapter 3, segment 4 seemed to address why Superman, Hal Jordan, Batman and others aren’t involved and the backbiting between League factions has subsided. Could be better, but not bad.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Justice League Task Force #13 (Judgment Day, Part 2)

The raid on the Mt. Everest fortress didn’t go well. As a result, Booster Gold is near death and being rushed to STAR Labs for immediate emergency surgery. It appears Gold’s plan that he saves the day as foretold in the history books of the 30th Century isn’t going so well either.

Now the timetable for destruction Earth has been moved up and will be even more immediate should any more metahumans get involved. Thus, the UN has banned the League from any further involvement. This causes a rift between League members that splits the team into a passive and an active league.

In the middle of this fracas, has anyone noticed “Where’s Ice?”

I love the in-fighting of this group. If it’s going get restructured, well then all greivances need to be aired. It’s very un-DC and I love it. I can’t wait for the next chapter.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Justice League America #80

Welcome back to the party, Booster Gold. The futuristic hero returns to active status with a new suit built by resident League tinkerer, Blue Beetle. But, the new suit isn’t without kinks. Imagine Iron Man if Tony Stark was replaced by Curly from the Three Stooges.

Aside from that, the JLA is called to apprehend an crashed space ship said to house escaped prisoners. The President has called in his own enforcers in order to prevent an incident. Yet, Wonder Woman thinks that these criminals may not be as rotten as they’ve been led to believe and she decides to take a stand for due process.

This issue abounds with guest stars- Bill Clinton is actually the President in this tale and a long lost member of the League returns to do Bubba’s bidding.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Justice League America #87

The League battles Dreamslayer and his New Extremists as the world crumbles under everyone’s feet. The plot with Dreamslayer trying to turn Bloodwynd into a traitor is supposed to be the main event. But it is the Blue & Gold who steal the show. Booster’s new battle suit has bugs in it and a reluctant Blue Beetle is literally repairing the blasted thing in mid-battle. It harkens back to classic Giffen/ DeMatteis Justice League that’s been missing for some time.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.