Marvel

Many comic book collectors and fans consider Kingdom Come to be Alex Ross' best work. I like that possible future of the DC Universe. But it's not my favorite of his. I absolutely adore the Alex Ross/Kurt Busiek collaboration from 1994 known simply as Marvels. It follows the span of the Marvel Universe through the eyes of a human newspaper photographer trying to make sense of a world full of superheroes and villains.

So how in the world did I miss Ross' 2020-21 follow up, Marvel? 

Well, for one thing, I'm sure it had something to do with the pandemic. As much 'free time' as I supposedly had as a teacher having to go virtual, I did very little reading. I did even much less comic book shopping. During the pandemic, I had to attend so many useless Zoom meetings that should have been emails because the high ups in my district were terrified of being accused of not doing anything by political detractors. Plus, my anxiety was at such an all-time high, I had trouble focusing on reading. 

But once the pandemic was over and we all started exiting our homes like Punxsutawney Phil looking for his shadow, how did it still take me 4 years to discover this book? A very recent chance trip to Ollie's helped me to find this trade paperback for a very good deal. (If you're in the Durham NC area, there's still a couple dozen volumes of this book if you like to save money like I do.)

Marvel is what Alex Ross originally envisioned Marvels to be. It's an anthology unencumbered by the scope of current Marvel canon. An assortment of creators were to craft stories of their favorite characters in situations as realistic or far fetched as the imagination could reach. No timeline was off limits. Past, present, future or even alternate timeline was a possibility for the tales to be contained. Ultimately, Marvel Comics passed on this project, citing it to be an idea just too lofty for a relative newcomer in the comic book industry to tackle. So Ross put the idea back on the shelf, teamed up with Kurt Busiek and Marvel Comics history was made! (Made ironically by exploring Marvel Comics history.)

Jump forward to the approach of the 25th anniversary of Marvels. The House of Ideas approached Ross for a follow-up to the ground breaking mini. A couple of sequels, including a dark timeline 2-parter had already been done. Ross didn't really want to go back to that storyline. So he pulled deep into his portfolio and dusted off his original plans for Marvels. This time the editors whole-heartedly agreed to the miniseries.

The various stories that make up Marvel is framed with a Doctor Strange epic throughout the 6 issues of the mini. The demon Nightmare has placed the entire Marvel Universe into a deep sleep. His plan is to become the most powerful entity in the universe by drawing upon the hopes, fears and dreams of the heroes, villains and deities of the 616 Universe!

There's a ton of adventures in this book. Too many to give proper attention to. So I'll focus on just a trio of my favs. 

Alan Weiss explores an early adventure of Prince Namor set in the early days of the second World War. He's asked to infiltrate a new underwater mega-structure to determine if its a refuge for the wealthy hoping to avoid the coming global holocaust or is secretly an Axis underwater base. It's a story that shows a much more swashbuckling Sub-Mariner as opposed to the snobbish ruler of Atlantis that we know of today. Very thrilling and completely unexpected.

Speaking of unexpected, in a futuristic story set after 'The War of the Worlds', we see the apocalyptic gladiator games that Killraven was forced to compete in would be like if they were populated by super-heroic survivors of the alien invasion of Earth. I won't spoil the surprise of who makes it to the games. But it's an idea that if Marvel ever decided to expand on, I would making it a part of my pull list in a heartbeat. Featuring dynamic story and artwork by Daniel Acuna.

My choice for third is a tie. That's because we get a pair of stories starring my favorite non-superhero member of the Marvel Universe: Nick Fury. Adam Hughes crafts a Sgt. Fury story set at the very tail end of WW2. Greg Smallwood designed a whirlwind look at the Steranko era of Nick Fury: Agent of SHIELD. Both were bookend looks at a fantastic character that to choose one over the other would be like a father picking a favorite child. 

This collection was tons of fun. The unexpected ending was both bizarre and yet perfectly fitting. Marvel might have supposed to have been a celebration of 1994's Marvels but by story's end, it wound up being a love story to Timely, Atlas and Marvel Comics and the influence it has made on American pop culture history!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

The Impossible Man Summer Vacation Spectacular

Way back in issue #175 of the Fantastic Four (October, 1976, to be exact), Galactus devoured Poppup, the home planet of that interplanetary pest, the Impossible Man. As a result, after a really bad case of indigestion, the life essence of Galactus was transferred to the Impossible Man who cloned himself a wife and a whole slew of kids. They then choose to wander the stars as refugees about the world devourer's ship.

In this summer special from 1990, the Impossible Man and the fam are rather bored. So they take leave of Galactus' spacecraft to have a fun-filled vacation on planet Earth! That means none of the superheroes OR super-villains of the Marvel Universe are safe from inter-dimensional hijinks, pranks and overall tomfoolery. Spider-Man, Doctor Strange, Quasar and even Doctor Doom will rue the day they meet the first (and only) family of Poppup. 

This overall Summer special was a fun read crafted by a number of talents such as Roy Thomas, Jackson 'Bruce' Guice and Ron Marz. The Doctor Strange segment, which co-starring one of my favorite characters from that part of the Marvel Universe, Rintrah, was probably my favorite section of the book. Though the extremely unexpected pairing of the Impossible Man with the Punisher, complete with an entry from his war journal was a hoot. It was written and illustrated by Jim Valentino, who is such a master at skewering the superhero dynamic. I would pay good money if Marvel ever came up with an Impossible Man/Punisher special. Especially would love it in Valentino crafted that one-shot as well.

The Impossible Man Summer Vacation Spectacular might be almost 35-years old. But it's not something that will break the bank either. I got it a couple of years ago out of a bargain bin and I'm seeing it for less than $12 bucks online at several online retailers. Lots of laughs and a very fun way to beat the summer heat.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Vision and the Scarlet Witch #12

The second, and so far final, miniseries starring the android Vision and the mutant Scarlet Witch, comes to a close. Wanda finally gives birth to her miracle child. But there's a twist! It's twins!

It's a total family affair in this extra-large finale. Vision's spiritual brother Simon Williams- AKA Wonder Man, is on hand for the joyous occasion. So is recently resurrected from the dead evil brother, the Grim Reaper. Plus, there's the zombified body of the real Simon Williams, who for some reason is decked out like Rambo with the arsenal to boot! Oh, and we can't forget grandpa Magneto, who was recently revealed to be the real father of the Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver. 

There's essentially 2 stories going on here. Vision is with Wanda, whose delivery has taken some tricky turns. Meanwhile, on the streets below, Wonder Man and Magneto have teamed up to stop the Grim Reaper and the Simon Williams zombie, who are trying to enter the hospital to kill the expectant parents. 

This issue has got to be the most underrated or understated appearance of Doctor Strange in a comic book. The Scarlet Witch chose him to be her OB-GYN. There's not a single act of magic conducted by the Sorcerer Supreme. Unless you consider delivering twins to be magical. Otherwise, the presence of Stephen Strange just seems unnecessary here. 

Though this issue doesn't take place on Mother's Day, I feel like the holiday theme was at play here. Wanda does give birth in the month of May. And you can't get much more motherly than giving birth. So I guess this issue counts as a Mother's Day issue. Though probably only by technicality.

This was an enjoyable series. Having the holiday themed issues, which except for the Thanksgiving issue, was unexpected by me, was a delight. Steve Englehart crafted a fun maxi-series and having completed it now makes me want to watch WandaVision. Sadly, I know the truth about Wanda's children and I am more than aware of the tragedies that befall the Marvel Universe as a part of that eventual revelation. Avengers: Disassembled and House of M both have their origins here. Required Marvel reading. I just wish things would have ended positively for the starred married couple.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Vision and the Scarlet Witch #4

After a hoo-hum issue, Steve Englehart redeems himself with this story about prejudice and greed.

In between the last issue of the first miniseries and issue #1 of this maxi-series, Vision and the Scarlet Witch saw their dream home being burned down by townsfolk who didn't want muties or heroes living in their quiet little burg. Despite the loss, Wanda and Vizh aren't done with Leonia, New Jersey just yet and they've bought another home.

Feeling like the former Avengers haven't gotten the message yet, those same citizens plan another assault on Vision and his wife. Thankfully, the couple have a pair of guardian angels who are secretly super-powered mutants as well. Living in Leonia as a husband/wife magician act known as Glamour and Illusion, one can manipulate matter while the other can become intangible. Pretty good abilities for a pair of illusionists and the newest members of the Vision and Scarlet Witch family.

Actually, scratch that. The newest member of the title family is Wanda's fetus in which Doctor Strange has just confirmed that the Scarlet Witch is pregnant! 

A much, much better issue that introduces a pair of new characters that I like. Plus, a bunch of bigots get a comeuppance in some spectacular ways that only a mutant with magical hex would be able to pull off. Plus an appearance by Doctor Strange.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Darkhawk Annual #3 (2023 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

The character of Darkhawk is very similar to Captain Marvel, when he was bonded to Rick Jones. 

In Captain Marvel #17, Rick Jones finds the Nega-Bands, which are used by Mar-vell to increase his super strength and other heightened abilities. When activated, Jones would switch places with Mar-vell who was for a time trapped in the Negative Zone. Thankfully, a protective bubble would prevent Rick from getting annihilated from Annihilus and the scores of other fiends that occupy the Negative Zone during these switcheroos. Meanwhile, both Mar-vell and Rick Jones share a telepathic link during their interconnected period.

Jump ahead to March, 1991 for the first issue of Darkhawk. New York teen Chris Powell discovers a magical amulet. When used, the bauble allows Chris to switch places with the android Darkhawk, who normally resides in an advanced starship located in a dimension known as Null Space. When switching places, Chris could control Darkhawk, even summoning an arsenal of weapons and gadgets housed on Darkhawk vessel. 

When the third annual of Darkhawk hits stands in August, 1994, Chris Powell and Darkhawk have discovered a way for the two to operate as one as well as separately without either having to be stuck in the other dimension. Just like Rick Jones and Captain Marvel were able to do permanently after aiding the Avengers in a battle with the Super-Adaptoid.

In the title story ' Future Shock', Darkhawk is fighting with arch -enemy, Dreamkiller while Chris Powell is mending his strained relationships with family and friends. At one point, Chris is sent to the store for ice cream when a descendant of Dreamkiller known as Damek is sent from the future to avenge the humiliations both Powell and Darkhawk have imposed on his ancestor. Eventually Damek teams with his very distant relative, after freeing him from jail. But when Damek sees the sadistic way Dreamkiller treats innocents, the descendant learns the truth and teams with Darkhawk and Powell to bring the real evil one down.

Three other stories comprise this annual.

Story number 2 teams Chris operating as Darkhawk with the Sorcerer Supreme, Doctor Strange. This team up is a cyberpunk supernatural thriller in which Darkhawk must enter the internet to repair a breach computer researchers accidentally formed with the realm of the dread Dormammu! 

Chris Powell uses his Darkhawk abilities to solve the drive-by killing of a former high school classmate in the third tale.

The last story involves Savage Steel, an armored antihero who has had run ins with both Darkhawk and the Punisher. In his solo short story, Savage Steel tries to bust up the operations of a small time drug dealer by using the very teens that the thug tried to violently recruit as drug mules as Savage Steel's neighborhood watch.

Darkhawk and Chris Powell were created by Tom Defalco and Mike Manley. Neither of which contributed to this 64-page annual. 4 separate teams worked on the quartet of stories within, including Danny Fingeroth, Eric Fein and Jim Novak. Cover art by Andy Lanning.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Completing this review completes Task #39 (An Annual) of the 2023 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

Let's face it; the main reason any of us wanted to see this movie was for the introduction of Professor X, Reed Richards and Blackbolt into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. We do get about 20 minutes of them along with a Maria Rambeau Captain Marvel and the Peggy Carter Captain America. It's about 15 minutes more than I expected based on other big multiverse team-ups. (I'm looking at you Arrowverse!) But that big 'reveal' just wasn't enough to make this Doctor Strange sequel all that watchable.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness does introduce viewers to modern superhero America Chavez. Her ability to transverse alternate worlds is the catalyst of the majority of this film's plot. Someone with unspeakable power wants America so that they can travel freely throughout the multiverse. But in able to harness that power, America Chavez must die. That's something Stephen Strange and Sorcerer Supreme Wong will risk their lives to prevent. And with Wanda Maximoff on their side, they just might very well stop this force of evil. That is unless there's a traitor in their midst.

With a title like 'Multiverse of Madness', I was expecting quite a few multiverses. I was hoping to maybe visit the Marvel 2099 reality and maybe see some Agents of SHIELD. Yet, with exception of one scene that is rapid fire, there's very few multiverses being traveled too.

The first Doctor Strange film really ignited my passion to read through the earliest comics to star the Sorcerer Supreme. That means I've read a lot of Doctor Strange over the past 6 years. This movie just didn't feel like a Doctor Strange movie to me. But it is very much a Marvel movie and it's got the director's fingerprints all over it!

Sam Raimi was behind the camera for this movie. Raimi is no stranger to Marvel films, having directed the first three Spider-Man features. But those are Sony pictures and this is Disney. Yet, there's a lot of blood, gore and demons spilling over into almost every scene of this motion picture. Such stuff is what Raimi cut his teeth on with his Evil Dead series of horror comedies. That army of damned souls look like they were borrowed from Army of Darkness and there's another Raimi staple in the mix with a cameo by the Man himself, Bruce Campbell. Though can anybody tell me where brother Ted Raimi (Xena: Warrior Princess) is hiding in the multiverse? Cause I didn't see him!

I don't think having Sam Raimi as the director is what put me off major parts of this movie. Though seeing a bunch of characters with their heads explode was a little off-putting. I don't think Uncle Walt would approve of that. Not having seen WandaVision isn't an excuse that I buy either cause I followed things quite well. I just felt that this movie really dragged along at a snail's pace and this whole thing could've been resolved in about 30 minutes. Not the 2 plus hours of run time!

Another issue I had was with the character America Chavez. I thought the actress playing America was really good. I had no issues with the character's LGBTQ background. My whole thing was her appearance. I've only encountered the character in a handful of books. But she's always seemed to be a more body positive character like Valiant's Faith. Yet, actress Xochitl Gomez (The Baby-Sitters Club) is rail thin. Shame on Disney for passing up a chance to portray a superhero who also battles the scale.

If you are looking for an adequate Doctor Strange sequel, check out Spider-Man: No Way Home. It reveals more about what happened after the first film that this picture does. Too long. Not enough multiverse. Missed opportunities in a film that doesn't feel like a Doctor Strange movie. It's very Marvel but just too dog gone long.

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #146

Issue #146 marks the last of the 'Siege of Darkness' devoted issues. 

You really get the sense that these 4 segments are designed mostly to tie up the loose ends. Though there are some notable occurrences peppered throughout.

In the Doctor Strange segment, the demoness Salome makes her first appearance. A minor character that has yet to appear in any movie or TV show as far as I can tell. This debut probably does very little to move the issue value needle. But that could change.

Readers are re-introduced to the Nightstalkers. A trio of ghoul hunters composed of Blade, Hannibal King and Frank Drake; these guys really hate each other. The Children of the Night might have a legitimate chance if the Nightstalkers decide to finish each other off first!

The Devil-Slayer, Eric Payne, is finally given a chance to redeem himself. After years of battling booze, demons and skeptics, the troubled hero finally comes out on top. 

Lastly, continuing from last issue's Ghost Rider story, Danny Ketch attempts to move Heaven and Earth to safe a friend and ally from a deadly Lilin attack.

Speaking of that Ghost Rider story, this is Ketch's swan song in the pages of MCP. At least as a main feature. Wolverine stepped down several issues ago and next issue, Vengeance, that much more hard core version of Ghost Rider will take over for a little while.

Lastly, I want to talk about the cover. As you may recall, MCP has flip covers. The Blaze cover was far more superior than the Doctor Strange image I chose. I don't know why, but I just like the one with the Sorcerer Supreme more for some reason.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #145

It's another round of 'Siege of Darkness' stories in this issue. 

Morbius, the Living Vampire comes face-to-face with the half-Vampire vampire hunter, Hannibal King. It's not Morbius whom King is after. It's a young Lilin child that Morbius feels should not be held accountable for the sins of the father or mother Lilith in this case.

A blast from Doctor Strange's past returns in the midst of this crisis. She's being haunted by her own demons. However, when she learns who her truth father is, things suddenly fall into place.

Danny Ketch is back at one of his favorite haunts, the Cypress Hills Cemetery, where an ally of the Midnight Sons is being held captive by a faction of Lilin.

Finally, Blade makes contact with an ally from his Dracula hunting days. Unfortunately, the guys buried under a ton of rubble and time and air is running out.

All 4 of these stories were good tie-in segments to the 'Siege of Darkness' crossover event. But if you were to read all of the main titles and glossed over this issue, I really don't think you'd miss anything. Of the 3 tie-in issues of MCP (thus far), this is perhaps the issue that most captures the origin anthology spirit this title intended. But geez- that flip cover of Morbius by Steve Lightle and Fred Harper. Man, what a mess. That's why I went with the Ghost Rider cover instead to represent this issue.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #143

After wrapping up several multi-part stories, MCP #143 is poised to introduce 4 all new tales. But things are a bit different in this issue. Instead of 3 multi-part stories and a one-shot tale, all 4 segments in this issue are supplemental chapters to the Marvel cross-company story arc 'Siege of Darkness.'

Lilith, the mother of Demons is launching an all-out attack on the Marvel Universe. In order to take over the world, she must first rid the world of its supernatural defenders. In order to do this, Lilith summons the Lilin, her satanic spawn of super-powered demons!

A lot of action has already transpired in the pages of titles such as Doctor Strange and Ghost Rider. I don't have those issues, nor have I read them prior. So forgive me if I don't have all the details 100% accurate.  

Johnny Blaze is alive! Along with Danny Ketch and the new Spirit of Vengeance, aptly named Vengeance, Blaze is separated from the forces mustered by Doctor Strange. It's kinda fortuitous as the trio of hellraisers learn that there's a traitor in the midst of heroes referred to as the Midnight Sons.

Elsewhere, Jack Russell attempts to rescue a group of trick-or-treaters who have been kidnapped by Lilin. The Scarlet Witch learns that demons can also exist in digital form. Rounding things out, the Devil-Slayer, Eric Payne, fights a duo of demons- baby Lilin called Infinks as well as the damning call of the bottle.

Everything that transpires in this issue as well the couple of issues is all going to refer to the 'Siege of Darkness' story line that introduces Marvel's Midnight Sons imprint. As mentioned previously in other reviews, I read these issues months prior and am just now getting caught up. As the Midnight Sons thing hasn't been something to pique my interest, my forthcoming reviews will probably be less than stellar. It's a lot harder to explain a bunch of vignettes that may or may not offer anything to the story than a quartet of stories that are split up into multiple chapters.

I think the overall concept is intriguing. And there's a bunch of differing characters being used. No Wolverine! No Iron Fist! But 3 times as many Ghost Riders! But this issue of MCP is what comic fans would consider a supplemental money grab as the segments don't really do anything to move the overall plot along. Well, maybe that Spirits of Vengeance chapter does with its revelation of a rat in the midst of Doctor Strange's group of heroes. But it's such an insignificant bit of information that otherwise could have been included elsewhere.

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

Essential Doctor Strange, Vol. 3

This volume of Essential Doctor Strange sees the good doctor back in the starring role of his own title. After renouncing his title as Master of the Mystic Arts with the cancellation of his first series, Stephen Strange went back into medicine. But as with just about any and all comic book universes, you just can't keep a good character down.

After teaming with both the Hulk and the Sub-Mariner, Doctor Strange donned his mystical cape and formed the Defenders. With the popularity of that super-team title, Strange starred in about a dozen issues of Marvel Premiere. With the horror levels amped up thanks to the recent loosening of the Comics Code, Doctor Strange won over a ton of new fans. 

By the summer of 1974, Doctor Strange was leading his own title again. And that's where this book begins. Strange has resettled into his Sanctum Sanctorium. Along with his faithful servant Wong, Strange has taken an apprentice, his lover Clea. Strange has also taken on the mantle of Sorcerer Supreme after his master, The Ancient One, has left this physical plane to become one with the universe.

The adventures in this volume is one to boggle the mind. First Strange must save himself by entering the Orb of Agamotto. Then Doctor Strange must battle Eternity after the Earth has been deemed ready for destruction. After that battle, Strange takes on the Lord of Vampires, Dracula, after the Count attacks Wong. Things wrap up with a twisty little saga called the 'Creator Chronicles'.

The last volume wasn't really something I enjoyed. The level of evil in the characters was upped, especially as Strange went from dueling super-powered beings from other dimensions to magically imbued satanists. From page one of this book, things were mystical and arcane. But I saw that magic as science that wasn't yet understood. Strange and Clea have to struggle with this type of thinking when they go back in time to Colonial America. But when Strange battles Dracula, I started feeling ill at ease again.

Anything magical Doctor Strange does to take on the Lord of the Vampires didn't bother me. But the workings of Dracula and his followers were not my thing. There's literal devil worship and I don't like stories like that. I had been wanting to one day gather the collected Tomb of Dracula books. But if the comics contained in this collection as any indication of such, I won't be taking part. 

A good collection of stories. Just some of those stories felt so very evil. I'll be selling this book along with my other 2 Essential volumes. 

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #106

One of the stories mercifully comes to a close in this issue. The curtains close on the demon-filled Ghost Rider/Doctor Strange story. I would have liked the Wolverine/Nightcrawler tale and the Gerry Conway Young Gods epic to have ended this issue. But I understand why you can't have all 3 of your multi-parters end in the same volume. That kinda defeats the purpose of a rotating anthology title.

I was very intrigued by the one-shot story. It's about a one-eyed priest called Gabriel, the Devil-Hunter. If you were to call this guy a D-lister, I'd say you were being generous. A quick Marvel Wiki search reveals that Gabriel has only made 22 appearances in comics. 13 of those appearances were in the 1990s Damien Hellstrom horror series. His very first appearances were in a long-forgotten Marvel horror magazine, NOT COMIC, called Haunt of Horror.

Anyways, this story isn't memorable to me as I became an instant fan or anything like that. This issue was full of 1990s Marvel Comics cliches- gritty, grim and poorly drawn. But I swear I can see a character from Vertigo Comics swirling around in this. If Garth Ennis' Preacher- AKA Jesse Custer- wasn't birthed from this Devil-Hunter character, I'll eat my hat. Both characters are preachers with questionable faith, they both wear clerical collars and they both will at one point or another lose an eye! 

Yeah, I don't think I'll be dining on a fedora any time soon...

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #105

I'm getting kinda bored with MCP right now. The Wolverine/Nightcrawler and Doctor Strange/Ghost Rider stories don't seem to be going anywhere. The Young Gods adventure is kinda hokey. Only the great artwork from Tom Sutton (Not Brand Echh) is what keeps me reading that story. 

Our only winner this issue is the one-shot story. It seems the 8-pagers are the only thing worth reading in this anthology series lately. I hope that changes soon.

As for this one-and-done tale, it stars the ever loving blue eye'd Thing. Sent to the Negative Zone by Reed Richards, The Thing is tasked with obtaining a rare, but powerful gem. But first, Ben Grimm has got to get by the gem's keeper. 

I loved its twist ending. I just wish I was as ecstatic about the other 3 offerings...

Not Worth Consuming!

Rating: 3 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #104

I haven't really talked about the 3 continuing segments in a while. There's still a Wolverine/Nightcrawler team up, a Ghost Rider/Doctor Strange team-up and a story starring the Young Gods, a kind of second rate Eternals. 

The Wolverine/Nightcrawler story is pretty good. It's been setup as a whodunit with Nightcrawler being asked by his old German circus trope to solve a murder and Wolverine being called in for help. 

Not so much of a fan of the Ghost Rider and Doctor Strange story. I like both characters very much. It just suffers from too much darkness as many stories starring Ghost Rider do. Doctor Strange stories have their share of demons and such. But their more like monsters from another dimension and not denizens of Hell like as in this story. Thus why I am not a fan.

 I'm on the fence about the Young Gods story. Right now, the team of super-powered humans is divided into teams around the globe, trying to stop an ancient evil from spawning. The story is okay. The dialogue is awful. Like from a bad detective novel. But the art is amazing. Tom Sutton is an artist that I am pretty familiar with. I've seen his work in What If... (first series) and Amazing Adventures. But I didn't remember his female characters being so alluring looking. It must have something to do with the inks of X-Force's Jon Holredge. Sometimes, the right inker can turn a good artist's work into something great and that very well could be the case here.

The one-shot story is pretty good. It stars the knockoff Captain America, U.S. Agent. But the thing that sold me on this 8-pager was the villain. It's the Peace Monger. First and only seen in the pages of MCP #27, it was pretty cool reading a follow-up to that tale. It never felt like it was the last we'd seen of the Peace Monger with that story that starred the Native American superhero, American Eagle. But, this appearance will be the last we ever see of the villain unless somebody decides to use him in the future. But after nearly 30 years of obsolesce, I doubt we ever will.

An enjoyable issue with one segment that is just not my cup of tea.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #103

The backup story is the most memorable part of this issue. It involves a pan-dimensional being that looks like a lime green Minotaur. Named Rintrah, he's the apprentice of Doctor Stephen Strange. 

This is Rintrah's second appearance in MCP. I really liked him in my first encounter with him. After this story, I am in love with him! 

Rintrah has made the acquaintance of a human female. She knows he's not human. But in order to not start a panic, if Rintrah is to leave the confines of the Sanctum Sanctorum, he must cast a spell to look human. Everything seems to be going well on Rintrah's date. That is until the spell begins to wear off in the middle of a Central Park concert!

While I really loved this story, I don't understand why the sight of Rintrah is such a cause of panic in the Big Apple! Manhattan is rife with battling mutants, avenging superheroes and uncanny villains. Why would 1 lone chartreuse bull-man cause a panic in Central Park? Now if I saw a regular white dude morph into a monster, sure, I'd freak out. But since sights like The Thing and Tigra are a dime a dozen in NYC, why does Rintrah have to disguise himself? 

Is it because his isn't orange? I bet it's because of his color! Wow! Is MCP masking a statement against racism in a charming yarn about magic and mirth? 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #102

One of the stories in this issue involves a character from the Old West. He wears all white and rides a devilish white pony named Banshee. When I was young, he was called Ghost Rider. But in this issue, he's referred to as the Phantom Rider. When the heck did that happen?

It does turn out that this version of the hero is from the 1990s. But even according to the story by Howard Mackie (Gambit), all previous ancestors of the modern horseman were called Phantom Riders as well. Again, when did this transitional name change happen? 

That story is the only single issue tale. In the chapter tales, Wolverine and Nightcrawler investigate a town that may be harboring anti-mutant radicals, the Danny Ketch Ghost Rider and Doctor Strange protect the sanctum sanctorum from an ancient evil, and a diverse group of Celestial sponsored heroes travel the globe to prevent a series of events from unleashing an ancient horror upon the world. 

A very supernatural heavy issue. It felt very 1970s Marvel. I liked it!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #101

After an epic centennial issue, a quartet of new stories and segments appear in between the Sam Kieth illustrated flip covers.

The X-Man Nightcrawler is summoned back to the circus he called home in Old World Germany. Seems that some strange things have been happening. As a back-up, Kurt Wagner calls upon Wolverine to assist in the investigation. 

Ghost Rider begins a team-up with the Sorcerer Supreme, Doctor Strange, to take on a demon called Gorn. And we're not talking about the reptilian alien race from Star Trek!

In the lone single issue segment, The Punisher takes on a gang of gun runners. This story had a very powerful message that involves a youth torn between following the straight and narrow or the luxurious life of a thug. Fantastic Ron Marz (DC Vs. Marvel Comics) scripted tale!

Then we've got a multi-parter starring characters called the Young Gods. This diverse team of heroes is kinda like a third rate version of the Eternals. Since the Celestials are involved, I think I'm kinda right about my summation. Maybe they're second rate. Dunno.  

Otherwise, an ancient evil has awakened on Earth and the Young Gods have asked the Celestials for the chance to save their former home planet. The ancient ones allow them to intervene. But should they fail, they will die and die really brutally. 

I normally am a fan of Gerry Conway (Superman). But I felt like the story was a little contrived. Really riding on the coat tails of the great Jack Kirby here. But the artwork of Tom Sutton (Amazing Adventures) was fantastic. The men each looked like an Adonis. The women are drawn like super models. Definite early 90s eye candy.

An uneven mix of stories. A pair are really good. One, pretty forgettable. And another only superior in terms of art appeal.

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

Doctor Strange #1 (2022 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

In the December 1969 issue of Doctor Strange (#183), Stephen Strange swore off the dark arts and went back to practicing medicine as a consultant. It seemed that after years of battling Dormammu, Nightmare and Baron Mordo, the one thing Doctor Strange didn't have a defense spell for was low sales cancellation. 

Then in 1971, Strange once again donned his magic cloak and the Eye of Agamotto to save the world as the Defenders in the pages of Marvel Feature #1-3. Soon, the Defenders got their own title and popularity in the team plus more relaxed rules about the supernatural in comics approved by the Comics Code Authority led Marvel to test out Doctor Strange as a solo character once again.

After a 2-issue run starring Adam Warlock, Doctor Strange took over as the feature character of the tryout series Marvel Premiere. Spanning issues #3-14, Doctor Strange took on the mantle of Sorcerer Supreme with the death of the Ancient One. He then battled a vampire-like serpent cult and took on an apprentice in the form of his lover, Clea. Apparently, the changes were good enough for the fans and the House of Ideas as Marvel issued a new Doctor Strange series with a cover release date of June 1974.

The first story in the second volume of Doctor Strange sees Clea improving in her magical prowess. To lighten Strange's pensive mood, Clea produces a bunny from a hat. This prompts Strange to declare it time for bed and has faithful manservant Wong assist him with preparing for sleep. 

As this happens, a sinister figure lurks outside and using magic, causes Clea's rabbit to become gigantic. In a panic, the rabbit escapes by crashing out of one of the windows in the Sanctum Sanctorum. Since these are non-defensive actions, the defrocked Catholic cardinal turned self-proclaimed God's personal weapon against evil, Silver Dagger is able to penetrate Strange's home. Silver Dagger mortally wounds Strange, steals the Eye of Agamotto and kidnaps Clea before magically disappearing. 

Near death, Stephen calls upon the Orb of Agamotto. But due to its necromantic powers, the Sorceror Supreme is thrust into a bizarre pocket universe that is governed by anything but the laws of reason! Oh, and there's a talking caterpillar a'la Alice in Wonderland too.

Compared to the stories in Marvel Premiere, this opening salvo into the second Doctor Strange series was top notch. The stories in Marvel Premiere felt a lot like a kid who gets new responsibilities for the very first time and goes nuts. With the rules lessened on elements of the supernatural in comics, those stories seemed ready to push the envelope into elements of evil not seen in sequential art since just before the Comics Scare of the 1950s. Now in Doctor Strange #1, it feels like the CCA saw what Marvel was trying to do and started to impose some new parameters.

With the new guidelines set, the quality of the work actually improves in my opinion. Steve Englehart (The Avengers) continuing from Marvel Premiere, had the head writing duties and he crafts a tale that is very Doctor Strange but also very Steve Englehart. There's a very tongue-in-cheek manner to this story, what with a former priest learning the dark arts to defeat agents of Satan and Clea's pulling the literal rabbit out of a hat trick at the story's beginning. 

Assisting with the story and on pencils was Frank Brunner. Already a master of horror comics from mags like Vampirella and Creepy, Brunner's style was Gothic meets animation; which is ironic as Brunner later went to work in Hollywood for companies like Disney and Hanna-Barbera. Brunner also has the distinction of being one of the few artists of my youth who used thin lines instead of thick in his artwork and that I liked!

I read Doctor Strange #1 as part of my continued reading through the Marvel Essential collections of Doctor Strange tales. So far, I am liking what I am reading and I look for the remaining 2 dozen or so issues remaining. If Englehart and Brunner continue on as they have in just the first issue, this Essentials volume is going to be explosive!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Completing this review completes Task #26 (With A Magical Element) of the 2022 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Marvel Comics Presents #61

The Hulk and Wolverine team-up story comes to an end with a surprisingly bright ending. One that I was very very pleased with. And look at that cover. It's so stunning. By Vision and the Scarlet Witch artist Richard Howell, I wonder how many covers starring Wolverine and the Hulk can be considered 'beautiful.' I know this one is!

The one-and-done story has a blast from Doctor Strange's past, Marjorie Brink. Now this is a character that only appears in this one issue. But she apparently played a major role in Strange's life as a former lover. In only 8 pages, this story spans decades. A fanciful tale that does a ton in just a very brief amount of time.

In the Scarlet Witch story, Wanda has awaken in the past. Looking in a mirror, she looks like herself but she's wearing pirate garb. Turns out that the creep from the last issue sent her consciousness into a distant relative who happens to sail the 7 seas while practicing witchcraft. 

I just shuddered. What is happening to Wanda Maximoff's body in the present day?

The Poison story is weird. I'm not sure where her path with the homeless, and possibly mentally ill Mop Man is going. I'm empathetic to her secret identity plight as a struggling single mom. Plus the art by Star Wars' Cindy Martin is amazingly alluring. But I have zero idea where this tale is going.

Not a bad issue. Not perfect either. I guess this is one of those diamond in the rough issues.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Present #44

The complete origin of the entity at the center of the Wolverine story is revealed. And our baddie is a really, really fat guy! Man, Marvel sure likes its villains to be obese. The Blob. Kingpin. Whatever this things real name is. Talk about fat shaming. 

The Avengers bring out the really, really big guns in an attempt to end the Enchantress' thrall over Wonder Man. Enter Captain America and Thor!

The Doctor Strange 8-pager was my favorite story. Doctor Strange has a new student- the Bull-like humanoid Rintrah. Strange is about to go out for a night on the town and encourages his apprentice to practice his magic. But a missed spell causes a mound of trash to take on a monstrous form. Now it's killing New Yorkers indiscriminately. Can Rintrah take out the trash on this baddie before it's too late?

Lastly, there's another one-and-done with another Native American hero: the Puma. I've never encountered this character before. And I must admit that my first encounter was forgettable. I honestly cannot remember what happened in this story. 

This issue wasn't terrible. But when you can't remember what happened in 25% of the book, I don't really think you can give this anything close to a perfect grade.

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars. 

Spider-Man: No Way Home

 WARNING- MASSIVE SPOILERS!