DC Silent Tales #1

Less is not always more important in this experimental comic book. Gustavo Duarte's Silent Tales was originally published as a series of 6 digital comics under the banner DC's Speechless! None of these stories have words, with exception of the occasional sign in the background like for an exit from a building or a banner declaring items inside a store are on sale. Being essentially a pantomime, this very much is an experiment. Sadly, I didn't feel like the results of the half dozen tales had a success that was replicable.

Here's what on store in this issue without giving away too much of the plots:

• Harley Quinn takes on a DIY project.
• Cyborg looks to relax at Titans Tower with his latest record store find.
• Zatanna adopts a very hungry rabbit.
• Superman learns why it's important to separate his laundry under the categories of whites, colors and radioactive.
• The Joker partakes in some art appreciation under the watchful eye of Commissioner Gordon and the Batman.
• Intergalactic bounty hunter Lobo goes treasure hunting against a band of Nazi vampires!

Let me back that up. Nazi vampires. Vampires that happen to be demonic disciples of the Third Reich! Versus Lobo! Why hasn't DC Comics done a DC Horror series based on this idea?!

Silent Tales wasn't without good ideas. It's just proof that words are important. We live in a society that is obsessed with emojis and text speak. This book proves that comics need words and dialogue just as much as they need pictures. I like Gustavo Duarte. His artwork in Bizarro, the road trip adventure with Jimmy Olsen was so fun. That's why I wanted to buy this 2023 one shot. Unfortunately, the stories in this book are far from superior to his previous work because some of the details get lost without those oh so important words. (To be fair, Duarte didn't write Bizarro. Heath Corson did and that might have something to do with the better storytelling.)

Still, Duarte's art was fantastic as usual. So whimsical. Quite funny. He's a master of caricature. And those creative Ideas. I'm game to read more future works by Gustavo Duarte. But the emphasis has to be on the word 'read'. We live in the age of talkies!

As for DC Comics - please keep taking digital works and giving them the paper treatment. Each trial might not be a success. But for those of us who love the floppy, please don't keep us in the digital dark. 

And please, make that Lobo against the Nazi vampires miniseries a reality... PLEASE!

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

Dear DC Super-Villains (Family Comic Friday)

After a lengthy hiatus due to the pandemic, Family Comic Friday is back!

My local library is where I get my hands on the latest all-ages releases. Thanks to COVID, the reading center was closed. Finally, that exile appears over and I'm back to reviewing family favorite graphic novels and more!

I've been looking forward to Dear DC Super-Villains ever since I read Dear DC Super-Heroes. I really felt after I completed the good guys book that a baddie version would be a natural sequel. However, I don't think the format works well with the enemies.

The premise of this series is that kids would write their favorite- or in this case- least favorite heavy hitters of the DC Universe with an assortment of questions. Michael Northrop (Rotten) again is the author of these dispatches. But it just doesn't seem like the right fit having super-villains corresponding with children. At least in this terse political environment...

Another thing that seemed off was a running story of how the Legion of Super-Villains is in chaos with leader Lex Luthor in jail. Gorilla Grodd really wants to be the new leader but nobody seems to want to take orders from an ape! This volume also ties in with a prison break and a run in with the heroes of the Justice League. In all, things in this read felt uneven.

Some segments were rather funny. I especially loved the banter between Catwoman and Batman. And Northrop's Harley Quinn was just perfect. Luthor too! But why is Katana a part of this? She's not a villain? Has she turned sides recently and I'm just not aware?

I enjoyed the whimsical artwork by Gustavo Duarte (Bizarro). He's just a fun artist to experience. I hope the kiddies like him too!

I'm not over with the Dear DC series. I think if they go back to the heroes with a book three, things could return to normal. Maybe a spooky edition with the members of Justice League Dark or a collection of letters to some of the most bizarre characters in the DC Universe like Adam Strange, Lobo and The Creeper. Or why not both!?

This was an enjoyable read that families will love. This sequel just didn't have all of the magic of the original. I guess that's sequels for you!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Dear Justice League (Family Comic Friday)

Family Comic Friday is thrilled to present to you a graphic novel that has been on top of our wish list ever since it was first announced earlier this year! Have you ever wondered why Green Lantern always wears green? Or if Superman has ever had a bad day? Now those important questions can finally be answered in the pages of DC Zoom’s Dear Justice League!

Dear Justice League
Written by Michael Northrop
Illustrated by Gustavo Duarte
Published by DC Zoom
Pages: 176
Retail: $9.99

I love the concept of someone answering fan mail and the responses have hilarious effects. David Letterman and Jimmy Fallon have perfected these viewer mail bits over the past 30 years. That’s why when DC Comics announced its first wave line-up of young reader titles earlier this year, I immediately zeroed in on this graphic novel.

All of your favorite characters answer emails from their most loyal young fans. In the midst of doing so, the Justice League will uncover an alien invasion, bond with their super-pet mascots and maybe attend a birthday party or two.

Dear Justice League was smartly written by Michael Northtrop (Tombquest series). The questions from the kids are so sincere that I wonder if Northtrop got his inspiration from actual child fans of the Justice League.

My favorite aspect of this book was the artwork! I’m a big fan of Gustavo Duarte, ever since I was introduced to him in the pages of the hilarious miniseries, 2016’s Bizarro! Duarte illustrates his characters beautifully. It’s very cartoony and yet very classic looking and clean. Plus, his characters have such lively expressions to the extent that you don’t need words to understand what is going on. But it helps

One added treat to Dear Justice League was a preview to 2020’s Dear Super-Villians. In this follow-up, Harley Quinn, The Joker and more of your favorite DC Comics baddies will be answering their own batch of fan mail. I can’t wait for next Fall!

Dear Justice League was a lot of fun. Full of laughs and great illustrations, this is a book that is recommended for readers 7-10. But almost all ages of readers should get some sort of enjoyment out of this great graphic novel from DC’s amazing Zoom imprint!

Dear Justice League debuted in print and digital formats on August 6, 2019.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur #37 (Family Comic Friday)

We're finally into the month of December and our preview of holiday themed issues continues with a review of Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur #37. Set on Christmas Eve, 10-year old Lunella and her crimson dinosaur companion must play Santa when the real deal crash lands in the Big Apple!

Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur #37

Writer: Brandon Montclare
Artist: Gustavo Duarte
Cover: Natacha Bustos
Publisher: Marvel Comics

SRP: $3.99

Rating: Teen

Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur is an award-winning comic book about a child genius who discovers a time-displaced dinosaur. The terrible lizard is Devil Dinosaur, a Jack Kirby creation from the 1970s. At that time, Devil was so named because of his red skin, which made him a mutant of sorts. His many adventures were set in prehistoric times with a simian lad named Moon Boy.

In the present day, Lunella Lafayette has been diagnosed with the Inhuman gene. When she emerges from terragenesis the process that give Inhumans their powers, Lunella now has the ability to swap minds with Devil Dinosaur when the moon is full. It's an interesting twist on the Wolfman mythos, only sometimes a little girl becomes a 30 foot reptile!

This series is rated T for Teen and I think that's a big mistake on Marvel's part. I've read several issues of Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur and while some action may be a little intense for really young readers, it shouldn't be rated Teen. True, it should not be rated all-ages either but it's not correct to rate this series for only for readers 13 and up.

Both Marvel and DC need to create a new rating. Call it something like P for Pre-Teen and have the book be appropriate for readers 10 and up. In an industry claiming difficulties in reach the next generation of young readers, putting the wrong parental advisory on a book geared for kids in 3rd or 4th grade is not a viable way to reach your new target demographic. 

I think the main reason this title is rated for older readers is due to the artwork. I like Gustavo Duarte's style, personally. But a parent told me recently that some artwork just seems too advanced for his 8-year old son. He then showed me an example of a book which was crowded with very fine-lined stuff. The parent pointed out that there was just too much going on action-wise in the story, that his son just lost track of what was going on. 

Gustavo Duarte has a sketchy style similar to Skottie Young, which appeals to young readers. But both artists love to fill every inch of the paper with tiny little details. It's something I love in a comic. But maybe that dad is on to something too.

This issue of Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur is one of those books where you may find yourself wanting to buy two copies. There are some Valentine's Day-style holiday cards at the end of this issue for kids to cut out and give to friends. If you have a young reader who is interested in investing in comics, this issue is one that will be valuable sometime in the near future. With many issues getting clipped with scissors, this book will be difficult to find when the next gen of readers mature. And with difficulty comes a higher price. Just something to think about but not a requirement. 

If the young reader in your life wants to have fun with this book- let them! If you only want to buy one issue. Be fine with that as well. Kids are supposed to enjoy being a kid. And a Christmas themed comic book from Marvel is one of those fun time rights of passage. Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur #37 is a great holiday read that fits that bill! Just don't be scared off by that Teen rating on the cover if your child isn't 13 yet.

Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur #37 debuted in digital and print platforms on Wednesday, November 28th, 2018.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Bizarro

 Bizarro has arrived on earth. Taking inspiration from a certain flying hero from Metropolis, Bizarro decides to become a superhero as well. But with his skewed ‘up is down- down is up' logic, Bizarro’s heroics has the city in near shambles.

   Taking inspiration from an idea of Clark Kent's, Daily Planet photographer Jimmy Olsen decides to befriend Bizarro in hopes of taking him on a cross-country venture to what would be the would-be hero's new home- Bizarro America (Canada!) And if this results in a best-selling coffee table book, well it's a win-win for Olsen. Along the way, the new pair of ‘Worstest Friends Ever!’ encounter a chupacabra named Colin, a pair of Egyptian themed villains, an actual ghost town, not so secret agents, and much more bizarre insanity that will have Jimmy Olsen rethinking the whole crazy scheme!

  It's really hard to do Bizarro right or is it wrong? See to the quasi-hero, everything is backward. Good is bad. Bad is good. For example, if the car Bizarro was driving in broke down, he would proclaim “This am the best thing to never happen!“

   Only a few writers have ever gotten Bizarro imperfections just right. Creators Otto Binder and George Papp were the closest, with Curt Swan doing an admirable job as well. Series writer Heath Corson did a really great job on not just Bizarro but the whole series. I loved how not only does Corson capture the essence of Bizarro but he takes the character into areas that have never been explored such as having Jimmy and Bizarro switch personas a la a failed magic trick.

Yet after over 60 years none of the writers of Bizarro have ever got him 100% right. Because if everything is backwards to him wouldn't he introduce himself not as “Me am Bizarro” but “Me no am Bizarro” instead? Am I picky? Sure, but I am trying to stay true to the character folks… When something great happens, Bizarro should not respond with 'Awww-some!"

 While the buddy-cop dynamic between Olsen and Bizarro was a laugh a minute riot, they were overshadowed by a bit player. The minute chupacabra Colin dwarfs over the regular sized characters and guest stars that pepper this book. Saying not a word but “hiss,” Colin's body language speaks volumes and he's really funny. That's all thanks to the fantastic cartoonish renderings of artist Gustavo Duarte ( and a slew of guest artists extraordinaire like Kyle Baker, Francis Manapul, and the late Darwyn Cooke.)

   What with DC rebooting the DC Universe this summer and Bizarro to become a member of Red Hood's Outlaws, a sequel probably isn't on the horizon anytime soon. But to forget Colin would be a crime against all of comicdom. I hope we see him paired with Bizarro in the Outlaws book. Colin is that great of a character to be forgotten.

  Worth Consuming

  Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.