DC's I Saw Ma Hunkel Kissing Santa Claus #1

I Saw Ma Hunkel Kissing Santa Claus. Great pun title. Adorable cover. As for the overall book itself, it had highs and lows. This 2025 holiday special has got some of my all-time favorite characters. It's got some obscure ones, that are fan favs. And it's got at least one character that I didn't know who in the heck they were.

Supergirl stars in my favorite story. She's spending Christmas in Smallville this year and Clark set her up on a blind date. I'm still not as much of a fan when she's all sad and depressed. I prefer my Maid of Might all bright and chipper. But the ending just melted my heart. It was perfect!

Harley Quinn has a Christmas getaway with Poison Ivy. I don't mind this relationship. It was strongly hinted upon in Batman: The Animated Series- by Paul Dini, who created her. So if he says she's bisexual, then Harley Quinn is bisexual. What I don't like is DC currently claiming that they're presenting the definitive story of how these two become a couple because Paul Dini already did that in 1993's 'Harley and Ivy'!

The parody of It's a Wonderful Life starring Animal Man and the Phantom Stranger was hilarious! 

The JSA story that does indeed star Ma Hunkel, the original Red Tornado was festive fun and very nostalgic. But where was Scribbly? He needed to at least have a cameo in this flashback story!

I liked the twist on the trope where a guy finds himself with 2 dates at the same time. Here we find Billy Batson and Captain Marvel at a high school Christmas dance dating Billy's dream girl... and her mom! Well, the Captain is dating the mom. Now that I think about it, this was a subplot of Superman IV: The Quest for Peace, while both Clark and Superman attended the same dinner date with 2 different women. Okay. So its not an original twist...

The Doctor Light story was good as well. It features the Kimiyo Hoshi Doctor Light, Ray Palmer and a holiday prank played on blowhard Guy Gardner.

The Martian Manhunter story was fair. I loved that it involves Krampus. But too much of the story took place inside of J'onn J'onnz' consciousness and was a bit too metaphysical for my tastes.

And then we've got the Hanukkah story, which is sadly the worst story. It stays the gender fluid character known as Galaxy. This character apparently debuted in a young adult graphic novel that I have no memory of ever seeing any sort of advertising for. I don't even recall seeing the so-called origin story being listed in Previews nor the coming attractions section of Midtown Comics. Galaxy has been putting their girlfriend on the back burner during the first 7 nights of Hanukkah. With one evening to go, Galaxy is determined to to spend it with true love. Unfortunately, a figure from Galaxy's past, has other ideas.

DC has the right to fill their holiday specials with whatever they like. Galaxy would not have been a character that I would have selected. But there are readers out there who would say the same about selecting Animal Man or Ma Hunkel. I just find it surprising that Batman, the Flash or Wonder Woman don't even appear anywhere here. They're some of the company's most lucrative properties and yet they are nowhere to be found. 

This wasn't the worst DC holiday special. There really was more good than bad. I just could've done without the Galaxy story. The artwork was not good. What is wrong with Galaxy's ears? Is the character wearing headphones? The plot was good. The dialogue was not. Is this is how DC thinks teens and young adults talk? Being a high school teacher, I am aware of much of the slang and vernacular of this current generation. But they don't communicate this obnoxiously, I think. Like the annoying song that you can't get out of your head, the Galaxy story, especially the way everyone talks, marred my overall enjoyment of this special.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars. 

Harley Quinn x Elvira #1

I had forgotten that I not only bought this Dynamite Entertainment/DC Comics 2025 crossover, I made sure to special order it and the rest of the 6 issue miniseries. I'm a huge fan of Harley Quinn. I've been a fan of hers since her first appearance all the way back to September 11, 1992 on Batman: The Animated Series. I am a proud member of the Gang of Harleys. Plus I am a sucker for any and all comic books that are Halloween themed. Even if the Samhain celebration in this story is occurring in August!

A bad dream reveals that Harley has subconsciously been fretting over missing Halloween last year. She had a terrible stomach flu. So in order to make up for missing All Hallows, she's going to throw the biggest Halloween party Coney Island has ever seen- in the sweltering heat of Summer! And to make it a bash to remember, Harley's going to have as the guest of honor, the Mistress of the Night herself, Elvira. Now all Harls has got to do is meet Elvira...

As for Elvira, she might be able to make it to the bash. Her schedule has suddenly been blown wide open after she learns that her weekly horror movie theatre program has just been cancelled! So when Elvira goes to give her old boss a piece of her mind at his house, she runs into Harley, who just happens to have a fully loaded rocket launcher in her possession.

One big boom and a destroyed mansion later, Harley Quinn has become Elvira's newest best friend. And suddenly in need of cash, the horror hostess agrees to host the extravaganza. Cue the promise of issue #2...

I've got zero idea where this story is going to go. I am just thrilled that the two stars of this series meet with at least half of the first issue remaining. I can't tell you how many cross company crossovers I've read where the two stars don't meet until the last page of the first issue. I also couldn't tell you what's in store for Harley Quinn and Elvira. There isn't really an antagonist here unless you count Elvira's boss. Logic tells me he'll pop back up by the end of this miniseries. But he can't really be the only bad guy in this thing. Can he? 

Unfortunately I might not find out who the villain of this miniseries is until March of next year. I mentioned already that this is a 6-issue miniseries. What I've neglected to mention is that each issue is a monthly. Issue #2 isn't due until right before Thanksgiving and it's Hanukkah when we'll all see issue #3. If you are a regular reader of my blog, you will know that I hate cliffhangers. As much as I appreciate the talents of Jimmy Palmiotti, Amanda Conner and Juan Samu, I'm not sure I can wait until March for the full ending. This issue finished with an ending that left me satisfied enough to wait for the other 5 issues to come out before I read the whole thing. 

Who am I kidding? It won't be until next Halloween when I read it all in a row. I don't care if Harley and Elvira's block party takes place in August, April or next week. I'll be saving this for October 2026!

A little bawdy for my taste. But full of Halloween humor!

Worth Consuming!

Rating:  8 out of 10 stars.

Joker: One Operation Joker, Vol. 2

I love comic book characters that are so insane that their antics borderline on the surreal. The Tick, Madman and Slapstick come to mind in this category. While I've never put Batman's archenemy the Joker in this category before as he's just too mean and violent in his capers, this manga series by Kodansha may cause me to rethink my earlier analysis of the Clown Prince of Crime.

The idea of having Batman transformed into a baby is a concept that I am sure happened during the Bill Finger/Dick Sprang era. However, that de-aging of the Caped Crusader was more than likely an imaginary story or the work of that good intentioned imp, Batmite. No matter what the reason, that transformation was done with a humorous slant and wasn't a permanent thing. 

In Joker: One Operation Joker, not only is Batman's stint as Batbaby a long-term event, (Volume 2 begins a year after the Dark Knight's encounter with similar chemicals that altered the Joker), this story sees the Joker raising the infant as his own. In the Joker's mind, if he can raise the Batbaby back into the symbol of justice that Batman is, it will prove that righteousness is a flawed social concept.

To help the Joker in his endeavor is Harley Quinn, who poses as Batbaby's mom. One of the Joker's chief henchmen is giving him pointers on being a working dad. Plus, the villain is turning to social media for tips on how to navigate the subways and streets of Gotham. Expecting the citizens of Gotham to ostracize him, the Joker is learning that it's a metropolis full of angels... And that sort of care for one's fellow man is driving the Joker batty!

You might wonder how people are interacting with the Joker without the slightest fear he's going to massacre them. Turns out that without his makeup and typical purple garb, the Joker looks like an albino with dyed green hair. And with so many punks and hipsters in Gotham City, nobody blinks twice at some random dad with chartreuse bangs and wearing an occupied baby carrier.

As wacky and off-the-wall the concept of this story is, I am enjoying it. I applaud DC being willing to allow a manga publisher carte blanche in making a story as unexpected as One Operation Joker. It's a breath of fresh air that has been missing from the rather stale ideas DC Comics America has been churning out. I think fans want something new and unexpected and that's definitely what you will get from writer Satoshi Miyagawa. If you're needing those nostalgic nods to the vast 80 years plus of Joker and Batman lore, you'll get that from artist Keisuke Gotou,

As implausible as it seems that the Joker would decide to stifle his impulse in killing a defenseless baby Batman and instead raise him as his son, I want to know how this story ends with volume 3. While I was able to get volumes 1 and 2 at my local library, it looks like I'm going to have to purchase book 3. Not sure why my library does this. But it's a tad annoying. I'll be more than just a tad annoyed if I learn that this whole non-canonical story turns out to be a dream of the Joker's or something imaginary.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

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.

Harley Quinn and the Suicide Squad April Fools Special One-Shot

It's April 1st and I had been looking forward to a couple of holiday themed comics to celebrate April Fools. I hadn't bought anything for Easter, so I was thrilled to have this book to read. However, I had set it aside and forgot where I put it. After spending 2 straight days searching, I finally located it in time for a holiday read. But now that it's over, I really wish I didn't spend all that time looking for it.

Harley Quinn is invited to head up a support group for super-villains. A former psychiatrist and current villain in her own right, Harley is more than qualified for the job. Her first client is Man-Bat. Only, the former Kirk Langstrom doesn't know that. Harley's attempts to cure the villain in the middle of an assault on Gotham City is rather funny. It's only when Harley gives up on house calls and puts up her shingle does things go downhill and fast!

For one thing, the art changes from the hyper-realistic style of Jim Lee to an uber-cartoony look from Sean Galloway; AKA Cheeks. The story itself goes from funny to absurd to the point that the reader is never sure if Harley really is counseling some of the lower tiered villains of the DC Universe or if it's all in her head. In fact, when the artwork reverted back to Jim Lee's, even Harley is unsure as we find her undergoing some sort of mind control at the hands of that heartless b*tch, Amanda Waller.

The title of this 2016 one-shot is Harley Quinn and the Suicide Squad April Fools Special. For 90% of this book, I was wondering 'where is the Suicide Squad in all this?' Once I got my answer, I really wasn't happy. Poor Harleen Quinzel, alias Harley Quinn, has gone through such a gauntlet of crap in her life story. Abused as a child, mistreated and manipulated by the Joker and now tortured by Waller, man, things just keep getting worse for one of my all-time favorite characters. And it kept making me mad!

Really, this shouldn't have even been labeled an 'April Fools Special'. There is really nothing about the holiday in this book. During the Silver Age, DC would do these occasional April Fools stories where readers were encouraged to find all the erroneous stuff artists hid in the artwork. I was expecting the same with this book. Instead I got to see poor Harley get mistreated again and have to sit through an ending that was essentially a 4-page advertisement for a Suicide Squad series that I have very little interest in reading. 

I guess the joke was on me...

Not Worth Consuming!

Rating: 2 out of 10 stars.

DC's Harley Quinn Romances #1

This is my last Valentines read for 2024. It's last year's 80-paged Valentine's Day special from DC Comics. From the clever title which is a great pun of those Harlequin Romance novels that everyone's mom, including mine, read, I thought we were going to be in for a treat. Instead, much of this book was one big hot mess. 

Readers get not 1 but 2 Harley Quinn tales. The last story, which also stars a slew of ladies from the DC universe, including members of the Birds of Prey as well as Superman's mermaid ex Lori Lemaris, was lots of fun. It's got Harley and the gals having a Galentine's Day brunch on Wonder Woman's credit card. Each of the women describe their past dalliances with King of the Sea, Aquaman. It was a brilliant exploration of the 80 year plus superhero career of Arthur Curry. 

If only the opening Harley story was anywhere near as good. That story has Harley interrupting a Valentines Day caper planned by lady love, Poison Ivy. I don't care what anybody says, but Poison Ivy is just as bad a romantic choice for Harley Quinn as the Joker is. If not worse! The Joker is abusive and manipulative. And that's not cool. Yet, Poison Ivy seems to do the same under the guise of being Harley's best friend/lover. I don't think any casual observer of the Joker/Harley Quinn relationship could see that the Clown Prince of Crime really had no love or care for Dr. Harleen Quinzel. Yet with Poison Ivy, she might not be physically abusive with Harley, but Pamela Isley is so rude and mocking of Harley. Most folks think Ivy and Harley are soul mates. But I know the truth! That girl is POISON!

The Power Girl story in which Superman sets her up with Jimmy Olsen was pretty cool. I hadn't realized that she had been reintroduced into the same DCU universe as Supergirl. Once I did a quick Google search to clear those questions up, I enjoyed the heck out of this story. Though I still prefer Supergirl to Power Girl any day!

The Hellblazer story was also really well done. It had a lot of heart and the big reveal of the secret guest star to the tale was so satisfying! 

The other remaining 4 stories stink, Stank, STUNK! I don't care a thing about the characters of Wildstorm. I didn't like them when they were the product of Image Comics and I don't like them now. The Kite Man story was stupid. The Fire and Ice story should have been a home run. Only the writing was clunky and the ending was flat. The Batman story had good writing and a clever plot with Batman racing the clock to deactivate a bomb placed inside a random dude's neck and the new fiancee tagging along. But the artwork was awful. 

I've yet to read this year's DC Valentine's Day special. The title of 'How to Lose a Guy Gardner in 10 Days' was ingenious. I immediately placed my order for the book when I saw it. Only it's currently on back order. That means I'll be reading it next year I guess. However, if it's anywhere close to how disappointing this book was, I might be waiting for nothing but a big letdown.

What a waste of a 10 spot. A twenty if this year's offering is just as lame!

Not Worth Consuming!

Rating: 3 out of 10 stars.

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.

Strange Love Adventures #1

For the past couple of years, I've been lamenting both the pricey $9.99 MSRP and the lack of quality of the over-sized DC holiday specials. Well, it's Valentine's Day and I laid down a Hamilton for this years romance offering. 

And I must say- this one was great!!! 

Instead of trying to make a political statement (or insult it's bread & butter readers), DC actually crafted 8 stories that were entertaining and fun! They all had heart, which is probably a good thing since this is a Valentine's Day special. True, not every story takes place during V-Day but love is definitely in the air. 

Highlights include: 

• Harley Quinn goes on the rebound from the Joker once again to become the Bride of Black Adam?!
• Sgt. Rock is sent to dinosaur island and makes allies from unlikely pair of love birds
• Alfred reflects on his time as the patriarch of the Batman Family
• Billy Batson calls upon Clark Kent to help him navigate his first date
• Iris Allen and the Flash go on a Valentines double-date with Grodd

I am surprised that DC didn't focus on same-sex relationships or gender identity in this special. While the Alfred story is about the bonds of family love and the Harley story ends with her and Poison Ivy having a romantic night together, the majority of these stories are about heterosexual relationships. I really would have thought that DC would be all about Love is Love in this special, which for a special about love and romance, would have been completely appropriate. I'm just thankful that for once DC left out references to Trump, Global Warming and more of it's triggering soap boxes. 

Now if only DC would carry this formula to it's Halloween and Holiday specials. But with the forthcoming deaths of most of the heavy hitters of the DCU, I'm not holding my breath. At least this special was satisfying!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Harley Quinn and the Gotham Girls

Originally published as Gotham Girls #1-5. This miniseries is based on the web series of the same name. I'm not sure why DC decided that they had to add Harley Quinn's name to the collection. I would have read this without touting her. But I guess the publisher felt that the only way to sell this trade paperback was to add Harley's name to it. I think that is a sad testament to how much trust DC Comics has in it's female lead properties. 

The premise involves Catwoman stealing a vial of something from a chemical lab. It's revealed that inside the container is a powerful fertilizer that will increase yield a thousand. Unfortunately, this stuff will also cause weeds and invasive plants to thrive uncontrollably. Poison Ivy realizes the harmful potential of this stuff on the Earth and will do anything to keep it out of the wrong hands. With help from Harley Quinn, it's two against one vs. Catwoman. 

Added to the mix is Batgirl ,who is investigating the break-in. Sometimes she's assisted by Catwoman. Sometimes, Catwoman plays opportunist and turns Poison Ivy and Harley against Batgirl. Don't feel bad! Helping Batgirl while conducting official business for the Gotham City PD is Rene Montoya! A little out of her element but not to be underestimated!

I absolutely hated the dynamic between Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy. Ivy is so manipulative of Harley in this story. If you ask me, that makes Ivy worse than the Joker because Harley came to the Guardian of Gardens for refuge. Instead, Harley is being used, mocked and mistreated by Poison Ivy.

That relationship also doesn't seem canon to both Batman: The Animated Series as well as the web series. Sure, Harley Quinn can annoy the heck out of Poison Ivy. That, I don't blame one bit. But in animated form. I never got the impression that Poison Ivy was anything but a friend to Harley. Lover? Perhaps. But I never felt like Ivy wasn't truly a friend to the Joker's ex-girlfriend. 

Aside from writer Paul D. Storrie (Graphic Myth & Legends) getting Harley and Poison Ivy's relationship completely wrong, this was an enjoyable read. Though, I did feel that the 5th issue fell a little flat. Issues 1-4 provide backstory to Catwoman, Harley, Ivy and Montoya. Issue 5 neglects to dive, albeit even briefly, into Batgirl's personal history. That omission really interrupts the story flow. 

The artwork was very good. Jennifer Graves (Robin) draws everyone in the hybrid TAS/Gotham Girls style that is both retro and art deco. The covers by Shane Giles were amazing! They screamed the outstanding work of the late Darwyn Cooke! (In other words, I loved it!)

This work was enjoyable. It was far from perfect as a couple of characters just weren't portrayed as accurately as intended. But for someone who loves Batman: The Animated Series and it's various incarnations, this miniseries, I was entertained. Just next time, treat my girl Harley Quinn a lot bit better!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Tis The Season To Be Freezin' #1

I'll give DC Comics some props- they still managed to put out a holiday special once again! Marvel Comics has been a Scrooge going on 4 or 5 years now. But I must say that DC's Tis The Season To Be Freezin' has got to be the worst holiday offering in many years!

There are 8 short stories in this book. The best was the opening salvo from Paul Dini. It's from the Batman: The Animated Series universe, with art to boot. Tim Drake is in downtown Gotham looking for a gift for Bruce Wayne when Mister Freeze begins to wreak some icy havoc. 

Also in the high level of quality was a Jeff Trammel (Truth & Justice) penned Christmas Eve encounter between Firestorm and newly reformed Killer Frost as both have agreed to monitor duty at JLA headquarters. Then Vixen and the Super-Pets had an interesting team-up in Iceland for a story by Tee Franklin (Harley Quinn: The Animated Series Kiss, Kill Bang Tour). I liked it enough to say that I'd love a limited series starring this group in the future as Vixen can speak with the pets. Come on DC- give this a chance!

A heatwave struck Central City tale between The Flash and Captain Cold was pretty good. It was written by SNL alum Bobby Moynihan. However this story was peppered with digs against science deniers, Karenism and other feeble attempts at post-2020 humor. Stick with character development and leave the politics to Weekend Update.

I also enjoyed the Legion of Superheroes story. Though I didn't really connect with the story so much as I wasn't familiar with the main character of Polar Boy.

Stories starring personal favorites of mine such as Bizarro and Harley Quinn were hard to read-literally. I've always complained that whomever writes Bizarro doesn't do enough with his vocabulary to be reverse enough. (You know up is down, bad is good.) But writer Amedeo Turturro (Batman: Three Jokers) figured out a way to turn things up to 11 in this global warming Bizarro World story and I couldn't keep up with the opposites. 

With the Harley story, I feel that editors edited out some important information to this story. There were just too many awkward jumps in scene. I wonder if this was supposed to be a 16-pager and it got chopped in half. It did not flow well at all.

Lastly we have the JLQ story. It's an ad-hoc team of LGBTQ+ heroes. Earlier this year (I think), DC Comics had a contest where fans could vote for a new series. The Justice League Queer was one of the voting options. It was eliminated in the first round. But DC cried foul with the fans and have continued to pursue making this idea a reality. I personally think it's not fair to the other 14 projects that also voted down and have been buried in the vaults. If DC decides to do the Round Robin vote again (and I think they should) it should be if you lose- YOU LOSE! Too bad, so sad.

Anyways, the story was in desperate need of introduction. If I am not mistaken, this is only the second appearance of the JLQ. There's so many C-list or lower characters in this thing, a line-up card, similar to what used to happen in the pages of Justice League of America is needed here. One of the characters is not a part of the JLQ- it's Sigrid Nansen AKA Ice Maiden, AKA Ice. There is such a major change to the character, which normally I would be okay with. But This character also appears in some current issues of The Human Target. Once again, DC just jumbles the timelines and the issues currently on shelves don't have any connectivity. 

All 8 stories have an ice/snow theme. Thus, there's dozens of warnings about climate change. Thankfully, DC stayed away from Trump, The Alt-Right and COVID. But with the level of snide comments about people who don't think the way the creative team at DC does with this book, I had to double-check to make sure that I wasn't reading an Axel Alonso edited Marvel property. 

I read other current DC works. They don't have this level of 'wokeness' to them. I don't think DC realizes that their holiday specials are big opportunities for gaining new readership. There are a lot of folks who haven't bought a comic book in years. But they'll go for a holiday comics because of the nostalgia. You'll always get a Harley Quinn and a Batman story. Sadly, DC adds a lot of unfamiliar characters and unproven talent to fill in the rest of the 75% of the book. 

These specials are $9.99. At some point, I am going to stop buying these. The recent Halloween book was a stinker and this one is far from perfect. Would it kill DC to put something festive on the cover? Yes- I am thankful that DC Comics put out another holiday special. But did it have to be such a waste of my hard earned cash in an age of rampant inflation and a time where quality is lacking? 

Take my advice- if you haven't bought this book yet- don't! Wait till it hits a bargain bin. You'll have a much more merrier Christmas if you do!

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

Are You Afraid of Darkseid? #1 (One-Shot)

It's time for DC's annual Halloween offering. Though not officially billed as a horror holiday title, DC consistently produces a yearly 80-pager filled with chills, thrills and giggles.

The framing story for this special has the Damian Wayne led Teen Titans bonding around a campfire. To pass the time, the team tell an assortment of ghostly tales.

The first story is a team-up between title character and New God Darkseid and that DC darlin',  Harley Quinn. Together, this unlikely pair take on a perverse version of the legend of Bloody Mary. With a great twist scare ending, the first was definitely the best of the bunch.

Don't think for a minute that it's all downhill from the very beginning. The continued bantering between the Teen Titans is just pure brilliance. And I took quite a bit of delight with just about every tale offered.

Other stories of note include Aqualad and Aquaman investigating the legend of Ogopogo, Clark Kent and Lois Lane on the search for a pair of missing twins, a Wonder Woman/Vixen team-up that had me wishing for a regular series between the two and a Batman-styled urban legend. 

There was only 1 story that I wasn't very big on. It's an epic starring the Phantom Stranger and that poignant pathway from life to death. Wasn't a bad story. It just was very deep and one of those prose tales that if you don't understand all the references and Easter eggs buried within, you miss out on most of the plot. Beautifully illustrated. But for a Phantom Stranger fan who loves his eerie exploits, this romanticized piece was a bit of a disappointment.

The cover was illustrated by Dan Hipp. I'm familiar with his work on the most recent incarnation of Teen Titans Go! Considering how much the Damian Wayne Robin is like the spastic Robin on the Cartoon Network farce, I'm wondering if I've been missing out by not following the most current comic version of the DCU's Teen Titans... It's definitely worth further exploration!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 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.

Harley Quinn & Poison Ivy

Spiraling out of the events of Heroes in Crisis (which I have not yet read), Poison Ivy has returned from the dead. But Ivy's resurrection hasn't been easy as there appears to be something in the fabled Green causing the villain to turn into a literal vegetable. Leave it to BFF and soul mate Harley Quinn to do whatever it takes to fix her friend. And when it turns out that the Floronic Man, Jason Woodrue is behind Poison Ivy's flawed regeneration, Harley will go full Thelma and Louise in a cross-country escape!

This was a great Harley Quinn story in which you can tell how much she loves her best pal, Red. Jody Houser really captures this unique relationship extremely well. There's lots of great twists and turns in this road trip farce. Well, until the last chapter. For some reason the Supergirl writer takes a great story sprinkled with comedic fisticuffs and shove in as much 3rd action carnage as unnecessarily possible. What does Jody Houser think this is- a Marvel Cinematic Universe movie?

The artwork by Adriana Melo (Doctor Who: The Ninth Doctor) was good. But the cover artwork by Elena Casagrande (Catwoman) was superb! Too bad we couldn't get the entire story illustrated by her!

It was a good story that had an ending that just went off the rails. I'm okay with the disappointing end. But the last chapter that got us to it was a real put-off that ruined an otherwise flawless story.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

The Suicide Squad (2021)

 

If you put James Gunn in the director's chair, be ready for anything. 

Amanda Waller brings Task Force X back in action with the live action sequel to 2016's Suicide Squad in The Suicide Squad. (Yeah, that's not confusing...)

This time, Harley Quinn, Captain Boomerang and Rick Flagg are paired with an even more rag-tag group of super villains in order to restore democracy to a tiny island nation. A small junta that just happens to have it's hands on a super weapon capable of global destruction.

Once more, Margot Robbie is perfect as Harley Quinn. It's just a rotten shame that after 3 live action films now, they still can't find the right vehicle for her! 

The Suicide Squad was a total gore fest. Heads explode! Bodies get ripped to shreds. And limbs go flying- literally. Add to it an Elizabeth Warren level of liberal amount of F-bombs and a bunch of dick jokes, and the occasional trip to the toilet and you've get a glimpse what Guardians of the Galaxy might have been like if it wasn't a Disney venture. 

There's so many twists and red herrings that to go too much further into the plot would result in massive spoilers. So let's just focus on the tone of the film. It's R-rated. So, parents- don't take your kids to this expecting a family friendly film. 

And let's talk about DC Movies in general. When it comes to the comic books, DC is more lighthearted compared to Marvel. And I love that! I think DC having so many fictitious American cities like Gotham and Metropolis; instead of occurring in gritty Manhattan or L.A., gives DC Comics stories a tone of fantasy even when things are it's most darkest. When it comes to TV shows and cartoons, Warner Bros. captures that whimsy perfectly. But for some reason, when it comes to the big screen, Warner just insists in exploring the heart of darkness!

Could it be that since Warner Bros. doesn't cow-tow it's fan base like Disney does, that DC movies will keep pushing an envelope that nobody asked for? Think about Deadpool. It's probably the most dark toned Disney film in both sense of humor and seriousness. Yet for a character without any boundaries, the Merc with a Mouth was pretty much put in a box. It's a large box. But a container none-the-less!

With The Suicide Squad, maybe there was a box. But it was ripped to shreds. And then crapped on. A lot. Yes- there were some funny moments. Like when Task Force X interrogates mad-scientist, The Thinker, played by former Time Lord, Peter Capaldi. But for the most part, it doesn't feel like a DC Comics venture. This film is definitely a James Gunn venture and it reflects his time at Troma Films. 

Wait! That's it!!! This movie was like if  Lloyd Kaufman was able to secure the rights to a Task Force X movie and then made it like it was set in the Toxic Avenger universe! Maybe if they threw Toxie and Sgt. Kabukiman into the cells of Belle Reve along with King Shark and Polka Dot Man, I would have liked this film more. Instead, I'm left shaking my head. 

And putting all your chips behind John Cena's Peacemaker for the next HBOMax DC project?! Yuck! The character is completely unlikable. Which is weird, since I like John Cena. 

I also like DC Comics. No- I LOVE DC Comics! But when it comes to live-action super hero projects that I am most looking forward to in the next 12 months or so- most of my top-10 list is Marvel stuff. Warner Bros. went back to the drawing board with this movie. I wonder what projects were left on the blackboard, considered B-level stuff...

God Help Us All.

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

Family Comic Friday

The Madman household welcomed a new member to our family this week. Please welcome Ms. Harley Q! She becoming great buddies with her other Batman named brother, Alfred. 

So, excuse me not having time for a FCF offering this week. Worry not. I'll be back next week with a fun all-ages read that the whole family can enjoy!

Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn

Before we get into this review, I want you to know that I tried. I really tried to like this movie. I've been a fan of Harley Quinn ever since her first appearance on TV way back on September 11th, 1992. I even tried to defend the Birds of Prey movie on social media to the Nth degree, sight unseen against all the haters. But upon watching the film yesterday, I just could not be a fan of it. 

Birds of Prey or whatever it is that Warner Bros. and DC have decided to rename the film, follows the continuity of 2016's Suicide Squad. After being sprung from jail by the Joker, Harley Quinn goes on another crime spree with her beau. But this time between the two lovers is different and Harley decides to dump Mister J. Now an independent woman, Harley Quinn experiences for the first time an independence to go her own way. But this emancipation means that Harley is now a marked woman.

With every baddie who she ever wronged out to kill her, Harley Quinn must use her wits to find a way to stay alive. That opportunity comes in the form of Gotham gangster, Roman Sinois; AKA The Black Mask. If Harley can retrieve a special diamond encoded with important banking information from a fallen mob boss, Quinn will no longer have to look over her shoulder. But matters are complicated when Harley finds the young pickpocket who stole the gem from Sinois' bodyguard and driver, Black Canary. The thief swallowed it!

Now Harley must wait for nature to take it's course. But that means having to fight off hordes of gang members and crazies until the Ex-lax kicks in! Oh the things a girl will do to win her freedom...

Here's the deal. Based on that plot line, I am 100% fine with the film. I liked the changes from the Birds of Prey comic books to the big screen. I thought that the villain played by Trainspotting's Ewan McGregor was great. He's an even loonier bad guy that Jared Leto's Joker! I even thought this film's version of Victor Zsasz (Chris Messina) was pretty good, even though I am forever a fan of Anthony Carrigan's portrayal of the serial killer for hire on Gotham. My big problem was the film's very gruff change in ratings.

Suicide Squad was PG-13. This movie was rated R and we're talking HARD R. The F-word is spoken from just about the very first line. To the degree that it would make any character from a Tarantino movie blush. The crudeness of the movie really made me uncomfortable. 

The violence level was upped too. And the fighting bothered me. But not in a way that I was triggered. In fact, I just got bored with all the fighting. At one point, I could pretty much tell what scenes were added to reflect whatever video game adaptation was being marketed as a tie-in and at that point, I was longing for the power to go out or something in order to not have to endure any more of it. 

Can anybody tell my why DC thinks it's necessary for it's superhero movies to have all of the fight scenes done in super slo-mo? I'm literally done with that style of directing or choreography. It's time for DC/WB to figure something else out. 

Sadly, I almost decided to be done with comic book movies and comic books altogether based on this movie. Ultimately, I decided to not go that extreme. But I have decided to really weigh out if seeing such films like Birds of Prey is worth my time anymore. Even though I saw this as a matinee, I felt like I wasted my money on this. 

My decision had nothing to do with the film being directed and produced by women. My disappoint wasn't based on the fallen hopes of an Alpha male. It had nothing to do with the movie being full of strong female characters. I thought Journee Smollett-Bell was great as the daughter of the Black Canary your parents grew up with. (I even think Smollett-Bell deserves a couple of award noms for her role! She really was that good!)  

Rosie Perez's Renee Montoya was darn near perfect! And I really enjoyed the added mystery character who I'll refer to as the 'Crossbow Killer' (I'm trying to avoid spoilers here...) And then we've got Margot Robbie. She's a great version of Harley. I thought her Jersey accent was a little-more-over-the-top than as before. But that's exactly what Birds of Prey is:  over-the-top!

I love characters such as Harley Quinn and Deadpool and The Tick. Their skewed way of seeing things help make my world a little more sane. Yes- i realize that the two Deadpool films are full of violence and F-words. But, those movies seemed to (thankfully) be reigned in a little bit by the production company AND Disney. Here, with most of the film taking place inside Harley's head, Warner Bros. seemed okay with just throwing all sorts of crazy ideas up against a wall and going with whatever stuck to it. Birds of Prey was a film that had a vision. It just didn't really seem to have any direction.

The lack of structure of this film made for times I hoped for a chance to leave the theater. Birds of Prey had great characters and some awesome moments. But it wasn't the action scenes that made this film bearable. It were those quiet moments when the characters had a chance to develop. Unfortunately, there was too much insanity to make for a balanced superhero picture. And coming from a devoted member of the Gang of Harley's, that says volumes!

Take my advice, if you love comic book movies, go see it. just don't pay extra for 3-D or IMAX. Those extra bells and whistles just aren't worth paying for.

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

New Year's Evil #1

For DC Comics, 2019 was the Year of the Villain.

The title of this holiday special is a throwback to a series of 1998 one-shots that were devoted to the villains. So I very much appreciated DC's throwback to that lineup of dastardly specials. True, the villainy of 21 years ago wasn't nowhere near as evil as the acts that has occurred throughout the Year of the Villain. But still, I'm a sucker for nostalgia. 

In this 80-page giant, fans will celebrate the holiday season with a number of bad guys including the calculating Calendar Man, the intoxicating Poison Ivy and the merry Prankster AND Toyman! (Sadly, those two didn't have a team-up story together! I would have paid an extra $1 just for that!)

Of course, this wouldn't be a special about antagonists without that Clown Prince Cover Boy, The Joker! His New Year Eve story about an impostor Joker terrorizing Gotham was probably the best story! ANDDDDDDD... it wouldn't be a DC holiday special without a story that features DC's other cash cow, Harley Quinn!

I'm not complaining about that. Her story that guest stars Renee Montoya was quite lighthearted and heartwarming. And I love Harley Quinn. I'm just saying that if you thought DC could overlook the Joker's Ex-girlfriend even though this is a holiday title devoted to villains and Harley is more of an anti-hero- well then you'd be wrong! 

You can't have villains without heroes. Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman have prominent roles in this special that features 8 different stories. But that's about all for the champions. I don't recall appearances from The Flash, Green Lantern or anybody else. Yes- the villains really shine here!

This was the last holiday special I read for 2019. Being more set at New Year's than Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa, I waited until after almost right at the turn of the year/decade to read this. 

You know now that I think about it, Hanukkah might have been mentioned but it was never observed in this special. Kwanzaa wasn't even thought about!  A couple of non-traditional holidays were part of some of the stories (and no- I am not counting the made-up holiday by an alien race in the Sinestro story), but I would have liked a story set at Diwali or a Krampus style adventure. 

I have no problem with other holidays than Christmas. And holiday comics are quite interesting when they look at how Winter is celebrated nationwide. Why, I'll even say Happy Holidays sometimes. But I will never deviate from calling December 25th anything but Christmas! So as long as DC never gets afraid to refer to Christmas as only X-Mas and only by that term, I'll have no problem with the House That Superman Built delving into international and non-Christian holiday waters! 

If any of the powers that be over at DC read this review- let's see some global flare next year! I really think it's needed to keep these festive reads, which I adore and look forward to so much,  relevant and fresh!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Harley Quinn #68

Harley Quinn finds herself a holiday fugitive in this festive issue!


Harley Quinn #68
Written by Sam Humphries
Art by: Sami Basri
Covers by Guillem March, Frank Cho
Published by DC Comics
Retail: $3.99

This has not been a great holiday season for the Joker's ex-girlfriend thus far. The first Thanksgiving after the death of her mother, didn't leave much for the Quinzel family to be thankful for.  Thus, Harley Quinn is determined to make this Christmas the most holly jolliest of them all!

Harley Quinn finds a way to get herself accepted to Tinseltown- an all-inclusive Christmas resort! But when memories of Momma start to bring Harley down, the self-proclaimed Cupid of Crime finds herself on the wrong side of Tinseltown's security force. For it's a mandated law that in order to be welcomed to this Yuletide wonderland, one must be full of Christmas Spirit!

Now in prison at the resort, can Harley 'Escape From Tinseltown?'

I loved this issue. There's been a Harley Quinn Christmas issue for the past couple of years. These holiday home runs have become an annual tradition for me. And this one was worth the wait.

Citizen Jack's Sam Humphries took over the reigns for this series earlier this year from Amanda Conner, Jimmy Palmiotti and Chad Hardin. They were the best group to handle Harley since she was first crafted by creators Paul Dini and Bruce Timm. So, I was a little cautious that Humphries' holiday take of Harley Quinn just wouldn't be the same. But like I mentioned earlier, this issue was a home run. Thus, Sam Humphries really knocked it out of the park!


On top of the writing, I was in love with the art. Sami Basri (Batgirl) gave all of the characters such life and warmth. It reminds me quite of bit of Frank Cho's (Liberty Meadows) work. (By-the-way, Cho illustrates that festively fun variant that has Harley hijacking Rudolph!) Basri has this long standing member of the Gang of Harley's stamp of approval.

I would have liked a little more of Harley's interactions with Tinseltown before her banishment. But other than that, I enjoyed this Christmas comic book very much! And kudos to the gang at DC Comics to actually use the words Merry Christmas (and a Happy Hanukkah!) instead of a generic Happy Holidays! It was refreshing for the House That Superman Built to actually be a Cindy Lou Who instead of a Grinch for once!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars. 

A Very DC Halloween

Collecting 2017's DC House of Horror and last year's Cursed Comics Cavalcade. This is a truly disturbing look at some of your favorite heroes from the House That Superman Built. 

Let's first examine DC House of Horror. I don't know how I overlooked this Halloween special. It's the main reason I bought this book. I already had Cursed Comics Cavalcade in my collection. But I could not pass up this getting my hands on this trade. 

Keith Giffen (Justice League) pens all of the stories in DC's House of Horror. Giffen, who is known for penning some rather lighter fare, such as all of those Ambush Bug stories, must have a dark side deep down. Every story in this special was extremely creepy. From a ghost story involving Harley Quinn and some poor haunted schmo hired to renovate the old Arkham Asylum ruins to a young American girl who summons the spirit of an Amazon warrior princess, I was creeped out by all of these stories. 

And that zombie Justice League story! Man, did that have a tragic ending!

The Cavalcade wasn't so bad. A couple of stories were rather light-hearted such as the Zatanna yarn in which her (and Fables' Bill Willingham) show a scared little girl the magic behind Halloween. The Swamp Thing and Demon stories were quite good as those fan favorites characters never seem to miss. And I enjoyed the twists of the Batman story and Robin/Solomon Grundy team-up. 

Speaking of that Batman episode, the villain introduced in that, Gorehound, needs to see a return in a multi-story arc in the pages of Detective Comics! 

I love Halloween comics. These didn't disappoint getting me in the holiday spirit. But I was unprepared for the level of depravity and sorrow that these normally upstanding and upbeat characters! 

I'm glad it's only just for All Hallow's Eve!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Batman and Harley Quinn

Ty Templeton and Rick Burchett were who you wanted to be in charge of writing and art duties when the newest issue of Batman Adventures dropped. Both talents return to the Batman: The Animated Series universe in this pair of stories starring the Dark Knight and Harley Quinn!

The Joker has belittled his girlfriend for the last time! Feeling completely ignored, Harley Quinn betrays the Clown Prince of Crime to Batman, only to find that The Joker is too pre-occupied with defeating the Caped Crusader! Thus, once 'rehabilitated' by the staff at Arkham Asylum once again, Harley plans on going on her way and she winds up with her supposed BFF Poison Ivy. Sadly, this time around, Harley's role is to become the villainess' lackey! 

Enough is enough for Harley Quinn and she decides to go straight and alone. But with Poison Ivy and The Joker seeking revenge for previous double-crossing, it will take the combine efforts of Batman and Nightwing to keep the Maid of Mischief on the path of righteousness. 

The two stories reprinted in this volume are both a prequel and sequel to 2017's direct-to-DVD animated feature Batman and Harley Quinn. If you've not seen the film, you're okay as the first half of this book is a prequel. But as quite a bit of the movie is referenced in the sequel half of this book, if you haven't seen the film, YOU WILL GET LOST!

Both tales were originally published as web comics on DCComics.com. The first act is 7 chapters long and the artwork is really good up until chapter 5. At that point, the cleanliness of the art drops and everything looks like the very rough computer generated stuff of 2000's Gotham Girls. I really wonder why Burchett's work suffered. Was it due to having to rush to meet deadlines?

A team of artists and writers tackle the production of the second story. Jeff Parker and Amanda Deibert pen an awesome tale that explains some of Harley Quinn's earliest meetings with Task Force X. The art is split among some great Batman talent including Sandy Jarrell and Dario Brizuela. 

Overall, this was an enjoyable read for fans of Harley Quinn and Batman: TAS. But it really helps to have watched the Batman and Harley Quinn movie in order to get the full effect.

Worth Consuming but not without it's flaws!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.