Batman/Santa Claus: Silent Knight #4

Issue #4, which closes out Batman/Santa Claus: Silent Knight arrived in stores today just in time for After Christmas Sales! I guess technically, we're still in the 12 Days of Christmas. However, I would have liked to have been able to have finished this story before Santa came down the chimney. 

The finale itself didn't disappoint. After Superman became possessed by the entity that was tormenting Krampus, the combined might of several, but not too many, heroes took on the Man of Steel, some frost giants and a few other Norse creatures of power. Meanwhile, Krampus, having kidnapped Damian Wayne in the last issue, was having a crisis of conscience on par with Gollum and Smeagol about whether or not to just punish the lad or to eat him. The battle scenes were amazing.  Damian Vs. Krampus was riveting. But it was the finale that was just so gosh darn satisfying. 

I will not spoil the absolute ending. I will confirm something however. In the last issue, it was told that Santa had banished Krampus to a nether realm. I speculated that it was the Phantom Zone. This issue affirms my guess. Now why Superman didn't know Krampus was there based on his previous experiences with the dimensional prison is beyond me. Yet, Superman, after he's freed from the evil entity, states that other races and beings have used the Phantom Zone to trap their biggest baddies. So, if a follow-up occurred in which the DC Universe had to take on a slew of villains from other realms that have been imprisoned inside the Zone, I would very much place an order for that story's entire run. 

I just hope Jeff Parker is tasked with writing that tale. 

Silent Knight was a flawless Christmas comic book. Way better than that 80-page holiday annual DC also released this year. This mini-series was proof that you can have a story filled with character both major and minor in relation to their impact to the DCU without having to overcrowd that whole story, nor having to pander to every demographic know to exist. I'm not sure if I'll make this an annual holiday read. But it's definitely a story I will be re-reading often!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Batman/Santa Claus: Silent Knight #3

A relatively harmless prank resulted in a misunderstanding that led to Santa Claus banishing Krampus to a nether realm. While in this 'negative zone', something caused Krampus to lose his mind. 

So now we know what turned Krampus evil. And we learn why the demonic being becomes a forgotten part of holiday lore. However, that's not what makes this issue worth the price of admission.

There's a ton of monsters unleashed in this issue. Big baddies. Ugly suckers. Some threatening to destroy London. A London defended by Wonder Woman and friends. But that's still not what makes this issue worth the price of admission.

What makes this the single most greatest DC holiday comic of them all is that childlike wonder of Superman in the presence of Santa. Add the contrasting skepticism Damian Wayne has towards Claus and you have this dichotomy of differing views on the magic of Christmas that is just universal. Marvel was a Scrooge this year focusing on a handful of Star Wars Life Day covers and variants of Avengers going skiing. I applaud DC Comics putting out such a book as this that promises to separate fans because of the subject matter. Yet, this is a timeless story that is for everyone and I believe it will become a DC classic.

Great story by Jeff Parker. Amazing covers by Dan Mora. Very good art by Michele Bandini.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Batman/Santa Claus: Silent Knight #2

The main villain of this story is revealed to be Krampus!

First of all, he's on the cover. It's not a spoiler to say that Krampus is who released those ancient vampire creatures in the first issue. Well, now, he's also behind the release of some Nordic harpies and dozens of other Norse creatures that Santa Claus imprisoned for trying to kill humans; especially innocent children.

There's only one problem: Krampus, while a certified trickster, he's not a killer. Over the centuries, Krampus' threat to eat naughty children has all been part of con in cahoots with Santa. Claus would reward good children with gifts. Krampus would scare the bejesus out of the naughty kids with the prospect of those youngsters becoming his next meal. Just as the little brats wet themselves while promising to be good, Santa would swoop in and make a deal of repentance in return for keeping Krampus at bay. 

The Krampus of this story is a demon. But he's not a fallen angel. Just as this version of Santa Claus is a god, he's not a religious god, Krampus is a secular demon. If that makes any sense. You know how Marvel established that the citizens of Asgard aren't gods but powerful inter-dimensional beings that were at one time in Earth's past worshiped as Gods? Well, that's kinda what happened here. 

Trapped on Earth away from their native realms, Claus and Krampus seek to make the most of their situation. Midnight on every December 25th, the barriers between dimensions weaken. This results in Santa and Krampus having to be out among the populace to capture these new-coming escapees from hells unimaginable. To prevent humanity from living in fear of deadly terrors, Santa Claus and Krampus perform this good cop/bad cop routine involving toys for the kids. Over the centuries, they both became religious icons of the winter holidays. Claus is canonized as the saintly gift giver, whereas Krampus is demonized as an eater of children.

So what turned Krampus into such a being of evil? That's an aspect of his origin story yet to be told. 

This holiday event from DC Comics continues to amaze. Jeff Parker has knocked it out of the park with this tale. I only recently became aware of Krampus in the last 3-5 years. Considering how prevalent he's been in comics and horror films, I'm stunned by how many American kids just don't know of the characters. Maybe this book will help teach our holiday uneducated next generation of the very European figure of Krampus.

Above all, I hope the quality of the last 2 issues of the miniseries doesn't disappoint.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10.

Batman/Santa Claus: Silent Knight #1

When an ensemble of Gotham City carolers are slaughtered by a group of vampiric creatures, Batman is called to the scene. Only these monsters are not in the same category of Kirk Langstrom and his Man-Bat serum. No. These beings are of an ancient eldritch race supposedly long forgotten. At first the magician Zatanna is recruited to find the culprit. But these case is going to require an expert at magic that is as ancient as the creatures behind the murders. 

Enter: Santa Claus!

This! This is what DC Comics needs to be. It was a great story that didn't need to pander to any religion, race, creed, or gender. Yes- this is a Christmas time story. Yes- Santa Claus is involved (though the St. Nick in this story is more on par with Odin). That being said, it's a holiday themed opening chapter that can be enjoyed by Christian, Jew, Muslim, Atheist, even Druid! 

I have 400 Christmas and Winter holiday themed comics in my collection. So I can say with some authority that this opener was one of the best Christmas comic books to come out in years! It was perfect! The banter throughout a sizable demographic of the Batman family. How Damian Wayne was unbelieving in Santa and Claus is just as skeptical of him right back! The terror and wonder of the holiday. The big reveal of the big boss behind the threat of these vampire-like demons!

I loved this issue and proof that Jeff Parker needs to lead the charge behind the 21st century of DC Comics!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Scooby Apocalypse and Hanna-Barbera Preview Edition #1

From 2016, this preview book gives glimpses into 4 of DC's Hanna-Barbera reboot titles. Readers get a look at the Mystery Inc. gang taking on the hordes of zombie undeed in Scooby Apocalypse. Mark Russell's modern retelling of the greatest stone age family of them all, The Flintstones, are examined as is a Mad Max take on Wacky Races in Wacky Raceland. Finally, the epic team-up of nearly a dozen of Hanna-Barbera's more dramatic properties in the Jeff Parker/Evan 'Doc' Shaner venture Future Quest.

I had already read the entire run of the rebooted Flintstones run that took an innocent family from the time of dinosaurs and gave them 21st century problems such as PTSD and gender equality. It wasn't a bad read. But it lacked the humor and heart of the original 1960s series. 

I don't think I like my Scooby-Doo to be so gosh darn violent. If you took the original gang with their yuks and silly montages of being chased through a haunted house and placed it all in the middle of The Walking Dead, I would be okay with it. But again, this book is missing the retro humor which makes reading Scooby-Doo comics a guilty pleasure for me.

Wacky Raceland looks fun. Maybe it's because I don't have cemented fond memories of that series like I do with the Flintstones and Scooby-Doo. Or maybe it's a cartoon show that was destined for a gritty reboot that seems to have no rules. Regardless, I really want to read it. 

Future Quest is a series I've been collecting. Yet I've not been able to find those missing issues for the right price. But I am always on the eye for those holdouts every time I make a run at the bargain bins. Plus Shaner and Parker were so nice and inviting when I met them at a panel a few years back. I've got a loyalty towards approachable folks such as they!

I enjoyed this glimpse of titles. But I think my days of owning preview books are over. When  I first started out with my second collection of books, freebies such as these were a great way to boost my long boxes while giving me affordable looks at potential series I would want to use my hard earned cash for. Now that I have over 11,000 comics, storage room is at a premium and I think newer, younger readers would benefit more from titles such as this one.

Worth Consuming! 

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Agents of A.T.L.A.S. Vs. X-Men and the Avengers

A premier edition hardback collecting a pair of crossovers starring the Agents of A.T.L.A.S..

A little background information first- The Agents of ATLAS are a group of superheroes who first operated in the 1950s. (Originally, they were a Roy Thomas and Donald Glut concept floated around in the pages of What If... #9 (June, 1978). The group of heroes became official members of the Marvel universe after Marvel editor Mark Paniccia stumbled across the classic issue and inspired Jeff Parker to bring the group into the present day. 

After the events of the first Secret Invasion, the dastardly Norman Osborn negotiated his way into becoming the head of Earth's intelligence community. Not trusting the sometime Green Goblin, super spy Jimmy Woo took the place of the Chinese crime lord Yellow Claw's criminal underworld. With the help of the simian Gorilla Man, telepathic Marvel Boy, Atlantean Namora and the super-powerful robot M-11, Jimmy Woo keeps tabs on Osborn while transforming the criminal elements he's inherited into a force of good. 

X-Men Vs. Agents of ATLAS opens with teammate Venus being kidnapped by a centaur. With the X-Men having just fled their San Francisco area base, thanks to Osborn declaring the mutant enemies of humanity (once again), Woo hopes to borrow the X-Men's Cerebra device to find the missing agent. The unauthorized use of Cerebra sets off a warning alarm and the X-Men return to their abandoned base to investigate. 

In typical Marvel fashion, when the two teams meet, it's a battle royale. Nobody talks. They always start with fisticuffs. Only, there is a slight twist to this battle as members of both teams seem to have a history of fighting each other previously. Yet nobody can actually recall having done so before. 

Then in Avengers Vs. Atlas, the agents respond to a time anomaly in the heart of New York City. Jimmy Woo's team discovers Earth's Mightiest Heroes in the midst of an epic battle with a gigantic entity that seems to be about 1 second out of sync with time. Thanks to Wolverine being a member of the Avengers and having been in the previous story, Logan prevents a typical first meeting melee. That is until the temporal entity engulfs the modern day Avengers and replaces them with the original line-up! 

Now it's Jimmy Woo's Agents of ATLAS against Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Giant Man and the Wasp. And now the battle begins before a chance of introductions. Remember that the Hulk was one of the original Avengers? Hopefully, he won't show up, right?

I absolutely hated the X-Men story. It had too many characters. There was too much back story that one needed to know in order to enjoy the plot. And while I enjoyed the elements of the original X-Men and their first encounter of the Agents, things got really confusing. And honestly, it didn't feel like some of those feelings of deja vu ever truly got resolved. Plus, this story was a two-parter and it felt like writer Jeff Parker was trying to shove an extra large helping of stuffing into a medium sized turkey. And the opening segment was a giant sized Thanksgiving feast of disappointment. 

At least the artwork was exquisite. Carlo Pagulayan illustrated the modern story and his depictions especially of the female characters was alluring. The flashback segments were by Chris Samnee. Those segments evoked the nostalgic feel of the late, great Darwyn Cooke.

The Avengers story was a 4-parter. I loved the first 3 issues. I had a better understanding of the story. I'll admit that reading the X-Men crossover helped a lot with that. The element of time travel and having lots of surprises pop up was great. The ending was really meta. There's a lot of quantum physics involved. And while I understand that the characters got to point B from point A, I have no idea how the Avengers arrive at that point. And I read that segment at least thrice!

The Avengers tale almost salvaged this entire edition. I was just about ready to keep this book as part of my collection. Yet that complex ending was just way too over my head. I'd rather my limited shelf space be devoted to something else. So I'll trade this in hopes of purchasing some else more permanent for my collection.

Oh! And isn't that like the worst cover to a book that you've ever seen in your life? There were so many other great regular and variant covers used in these comics. Why did they choose that monstrosity from Humberto Ramos? It looks like they dislocated Cap's jaw or something!

Rating: 4 out of 10 stars.

Archie Meets Batman '66

The combined forces of the Joker, Riddler, Penguin and Catwoman descend on Riverdale in their bid to take over the world. Figuring that Batman is the reason they can't conquer Gotham City, the villains of the United Underworld embark in their most devious caper yet in Archie Andrews' backyard! Aided by the enchanting songs of the Siren, the fiends manage to enslave the adults of Riverdale. But for some reason, the lyrics just don't affect the teenage population. 

With the Bookworm on the loose in Gotham, Batman can't afford to leave the big city. So the Caped Crusader sends Robin and Batgirl in his place. Meet Dick Grayson and Barbara Gordon, the newest students of Riverdale High School. Along with Archie and his gang, these young heroes may be the last line of defense between 4 of Batman's most deadliest enemies and the fate of the free world!

Regular Batman '66 writer Jeff Parker pens this swinging 60s era crossover. There's a lot of the magic of that monthly series in this book. But of the Batman '66 crossovers, this is probably my least favorite. The other team-ups made by the Dynamic Duo involved other live action characters like the Green Hornet and the Man from UNCLE. Those stories felt like natural progressions of the TV show. Having Batman, Robin and the rest interact with the Archie gang felt more like those Scooby-Doo cartoon crossovers from the 70s. 

The artwork by Dan Parent was superior as ever. The definitive modern era Archie artist proves that he's got the chops to tackle the Batman '66 universe. And then there's the covers! A half-dozen regular cover masterpieces from Michael Allred (Madman). Plus, there are literally dozens of variant covers by many amazing artists such as Joe Giella, Jerry Ordway and Art Baltazar. 

I must make one giant complaint. There's a great Batman '66/Archie connection that would have made a great capper to this story. Unfortunately, Jeff Parker ruined the moment by having Bruce Wayne flippantly ruin things with an off-the-cuff but it all makes sense sort of observation a couple of issues prior to the ending.

Plus- isn't Barbara Gordon an adult on the Batman '66 series? So why isn't she susceptible to the Siren's call like the other adults? Okay- so I had 2 complaints!

I had read issue #1 a long time ago when it first came out in 2018. And then I had forgotten all about it until just recently. Worth the wait. Just not as perfect as I had built things up to be in my head.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four: Silver Rage

Upon a chance encounter with the Impossible Man, Spider-Man runs afoul a mysterious alien scientist who sets up residence in Central Park. Resulting in the seemingly thought impossible death of the Impossible Man, the alien menace establishes protocols that begin fusing the people of Earth with a never before encountered race of cosmic parasites. 

Needing help, Spider-Man seeks out the Fantastic Four. Having defeated cosmic threat like Galactus and Blastaar, The First Family of the Marvel Universe have experience with this sort of thing. But as the fusion of humans and parasites seem permanent, Mr. Fantastic decides to go on a search of the universe for answers on how to defeat this joining. 

As the FF are now three, Spider-Man finally gets his dream chance of becoming the team's fourth. But something seems to be wrong with the wall-crawler. Is he succumbing to these parasitic beings? Or is there something a little more sinister behind his malady? Help might only be forthcoming in the one person least expected- Doctor Doom!

A chance find on the new shelf at my local library, I had no prior knowledge of this 2007 story. Written by Jeff Parker (Batman '66), this story is rated all-ages. But I didn't feel that the action and adventure was watered down in any way. I never even saw what the rating of this book was until after I finished this book. What I am saying is that Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four: Silver Rage doesn't feel like an all-ages tale. 

Around this time of this limited series original publication, Marvel was publishing a series of all-ages comics under the banner of Marvel Adventures. While I am a huge fan of these books, you can tell that they are written for both young and older readers to enjoy without anything offensive. There's nothing tell-tell about the universal age recommendation to this four chapter book! 

I also adored the artwork. Penciled by the late Mike Wieringo, there's a quirky appeal to this book. 'Ringo, as he liked to refer to himself when signing autographs, had a timeless style that was super-fluid. It works amazingly well as Mr. Fantastic, Spidey and the Impossible Man are all characters that seem the be triple-jointed. A national art treasure, Wieringo is yet another artist who left us too soon!

An exciting Fantastic Four and Spider-Man team-up filled with tons of cameos and levels of drama, excitement and physics! This is an underrated read that needs a second look.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Archie Meets Batman '66 #1

The Batman '66 franchise continues it's run of epic crossovers with some of your favorite characters from the swinging 60s. This time Batman and the Boy Wonder are joining forces with Archie and his friends from Riverdale High in the 6-issue miniseries Archie Meets Batman '66!

Written by Jeff Parker and Michael Moreci
Art by Dan Parent
Inks by J. Bone
Published by Archie Comics & DC Comics

Poison Ivy has unleashed a deadly botanical creation on the attendees of the 1966 Gotham City World's Fair. As The Dynamic Duo are tasked with stopping the chaos, Batman's greatest foes are teaming up once again to bring the world to it's knees! Only Catwoman, The Joker, Riddler, and Penguin aren't targeting Gotham. Instead they have their eyes on a defenseless plum ripe for plucking- Riverdale!

Meanwhile, Veronica has noticed that her father is acting rather strange. As she goes to the Riverdale police for help, she finds that the police chief is acting just like Mr. Lodge! Has Veronica uncovered a sinister conspiracy among the rich and powerful of her burg?

Issue #1 of Archie Meets Batman '66 moves the all players into position. However, if you are expecting to see the World's Oldest Teenager hanging out with Batman and Robin, you will have to wait until issue #2. Not having the two parties meet is the standard structure for a multi-issue cross-industry crossover. While I love crossovers, it's always infuriated me when this happens. Yes, there are a few cases of both stars of a crossover joining forces right from the start. But those instances are the exception, not the rule, when it comes to team-ups.

Despite the lack of having Riverdale and Gotham's elite join forces, this first issue was rather good. There's some awesome cameos, of which I expect more in the remaining 5 issues. But there was one noticeable anachronism in this story. As I mentioned earlier, the story is set during Gotham's 1966 World's Fair. Yet, there's Batgirl in the crime-fighting mix with Batman and Poison Ivy. Jeff Parker and/or Michael Moreci: somebody made a big goof as Batgirl didn't appear on Batman until 2 years later!

I had zero issues with the amazing art by Dan Parent. The Die, Kitty Die artist was a long-time illustrator for Archie Comics. His art style became the standard for how Archie was to look in the early 90s through much of the 2000s.  His renderings of the Batman Family in the style of Archie Comics is very retro cool!

Twice in the past two years, residents of Riverdale have had their lives turned upside down by Gothamites.  But this go-round is a very different beast from Harley and Ivy Meets Betty and Veronica. That series was a little more aimed at older teens and adults. Archie Meets Batman '66 has an almost universal all-ages appeal that should delight fans of both franchises- ONCE THEY FINALLY MEET!

While this issue will let you down a bit, the awesome cliffhanger is going to perk you up like 12 cups of espresso. The Caped Crusader dancing the Batusi while the Archies play Sugar, Sugar is more than a given, gonna happen in this miniseries. You're just going to have to wait a few issues for it to occur.

Archie Meets Batman '66 #1 debuted in print and digital medias on July 18th, 2018.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

The review was originally posted July 16, 2018 at Outrightgeekery.com.

Batman '66 Meets Wonder Woman '77

A decades spanning epic starring the cast of Batman '66, Wonder Woman '77 and Ra's al Ghul!

Jeff Parker does a masterful job starting the story in the 1940s in which the first season of the Lynda Carter Wonder Woman series was set. Then we jump to the 1966 era Batman and finally we end up in 1977 where we meet an aged and retired Batman, a grown-up Robin now Nightwing and a new Commissioner Gordon.

To me, there was one BIG continuity error as the first act had the Eartha Kitt Catwoman. But in the second two-thirds of the story, she's white. Jeff Parker claimed that he did this in order to honor all three actresses who played Catwoman during the run of the Batman TV show. However, in previous issues of Batman '66, it was established that both the Eartha Kitt and Lee Meriwether  Catwomen were 'copy-cat' thieves taking advantage of the Julie Newmar's Catwoman being incarcerated in Arkham. So while the tribute is great and all that, it contradicts canon that Jeff Parker himself had established in this franchise of Batman '66 titles.

Regardless of the mistake, this was a really good story. I only hope that this isn't the end of the Batman '66 tales. I really would like to see Batman '66 meet Superman '78 and Flash '90. That last one might be a little too far in the future to really happen. Though the Flash does have the ability to time travel. But maybe we'll see those Legends of Superheroes characters one day. 

Hey, a comic book collector can dream...

Featuring some great covers by two of my personal favorites Alex Ross and Michael Allred!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Batman '66 Meets The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

  

When a new operative of the criminal organization THRUSH frees all of the inmates from Arkham, Batman and Robin must join forces with the Man from U.N.C.L.E.!

Jeff Parker returns to the Batman '66 universe in this 2016 crossover! All of your classic television favorites are here including Batgirl, Egghead, Napoleon Solo, and Soviet agent Illya Kuryakin. (Man, did my mom have a crush on him!) There's even a few 'modern' villains such as Poison Ivy and a mystery player involved. Sorry- I can't spoil it! (But I can tell you- I saw the plot twist from a mile away!)

Other than what my mother has told me about the Man From U.N.C.L.E., I have never seen the show. But my mom was what you would call a super-fan of the show. So, I think I have a decent idea of what sort of flow to expect from the U.N.C.L.E. characters. Considering that the Batman '66 segments fit very well with that show's personality, I would say that Jeff Parker did an admirable job combining the two franchises.
 
 My favorite part of this book was the art. David Hahn (Suicide Girls) does a fine job at capturing the Batman '66 look of both the show and comic book series. But of course, more than anything, I dug Madman's Mike Allred's groovy covers. I really want to see him take on a 4-issue crossover between Batman '66 and Star Trek '66- and not just the covers. I think it would be wild!

Great fun for those nostalgic fans of classic TV and classic comic books!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Future Quest #1 (Family Comic Friday)

  Normally when I review a book for Family Comic Friday, I make as many attempts as possible to find an all-ages rated book. However, this week, I decided to review a comic that was based on something from the 70s that would have been all-agesback in the day, but in it's rebooted form is now considered rated for readers aged teen and up.

    Earlier this year, DC Comics announced that they were releasing 4 new comics based on classic Hanna-Barbera cartoons from the 60s and 70s. The 4 titles were reboots of the Flintstones, Scooby-Doo, Wacky Races, and many more animated shows that adults from my generation just adored. Of the reboots, I chose the one that is considered by fans to be the least retooled (and closest to the original source material): Future Quest.

   The comic, being a reasonable facsimile to the original shows of which the characters that star in this series originated, has the crossover of all crossovers. When a series of temporal paradoxes explode over the Florida Everglades, Jonny Quest and his friends investigate. In these portals are characters such as Space Ghost, the Herculoids, Mightor, and many more of your favorite Hanna-Barbera action and sci-fi heroes from years past. But quick on Jonny's heels are the forces of his arch-enemy, Dr. Zin, and they have the tools  to collect the strange beings bleeding over into our universe and the resources to make them an army of unmatchable power!

    The brains behind Future Quest are X-Men: First Class' Jeff Parker, along with Adventures of Superman artist Evan 'Doc' Shaner, and living legend Steve Rude! They did a fantastic job bringing the heroes of my past into the present and made them exciting and new without changing the formula too much. Many reboots of cartoons from the 70s are done tongue-in-cheek or barely resemble the original with updated outfits or modern trends. Here, everybody looks classic but with just that little modern day touch of class and there's one very good reason for this- Darwyn Cooke.

    Just before Darwyn Cooke (Justice League: The New Frontier) passed from his horrible fight with cancer, he developed all of the designs of characters to be used in this book. As it is with all of his works, Cooke was very devoted to nostalgia but he wasn't afraid to change things up when warranted. Even though Darwyn didn't get to personally complete this project, his deft hand is evident in each and every panel.

     I loved this first issue. Was I 100% sure who everyone was or had a complete understanding what was going on? No! But, I liked what I saw and I and very much willing to continue with this series. Of the 4 reboot titles, this one spoke to me the most. There's no goofy Mad Max element or veiled allegory to the economic disparity of poor and the 1% as in Wacky Raceland or retooled The Flintstones. This felt like something that I would be proud to share to the next generation of readers and it's why I shared my review here with you now.

    Speaking of the next generation, this book is rated Teen. Under DC's personal guidelines, the book is recommended for ages 12 and up. But other than a couple of panels of mild violence, there's nothing really objectionable. Sex appeal is at a near zero. The language was extremely tame. The idea of inter-dimensional crossover between universes is perhaps the most grown-up thing in the book. I mean, we are talking about quantum physics here, folks.

    So if your child hands you a copy of Future Quest and asks you to A) buy it or B) read it with them- choose option C and do both! This was a fun trip down memory lane and I am sure that the guest stars that keep popping up over the course of this series will continue to thrill and delight. Who knows, for a Space Ghost Coast to Coast fan like me, I might luck out and get a chance to see my old buddies Borak and Brak!

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 8.5 out of 10.

Indestructible Hulk, Volume 4: Humanity Bomb (Marvel NOW!)

 

    With the destruction of Attilan, the Inhumans' reserves of terrigen mist have been unleashed upon an unsuspecting populace. Anyone with even the slightest bit of Inhuman DNA is in danger of transforming into an unimaginable assortment of beasts, mutated humans, or even a super-powered hero like the Kamala Kahn Ms. Marvel. Leading the charge for a cure is Bruce Banner and his think tank of scientists at SHIELD. However, when it's revealed that Banner's cure is in the form of yet another bomb, the Avengers have visions of gamma disaster that created the Hulk. In other words, Iron Man, Beast, and Ant-Man typically act before they speak and massive carnage ensues.

   Unfortunately for one of Banner's team, the cure unlocks their latent Inhuman potential and is transformed into a ferocious monster that feeds on anger. How will the Hulk be able to stop the newest member of the Inhuman family when this new foe keeps siphoning away any trace of rage and continuously reverts the Hulk back into a human? For once, Bruce Banner will have to save the day!

   This volume marks the end of the Stan Lee/ Jack Kirby Hulk. Up next are the reality changing events of Secret Wars that reboots the original Marvel Universe in DC Comics Crisis fashion for the first time ever. Unfortunately, the ending left me really confused as the volume ends with a cliffhanger and the promise to be continued in Hulk #1!

   What Hulk #1 is it? Is it Totally Awesome Hulk which star wunderkind Amadeus Cho taking on the role of the Green Goliath? Or is the answers to the end of this series found in one of the many one-shots and miniseries that accompany the Secret Wars storyline? For the sake of spoilers, I've not been able to find out what happens next. (But, folks, if you know- please feel free to spill the beans. Because I have to know what happens next!)

   Another Marvel NOW! triumph by Mark Waid with a cool Bruce Banner/ Tony Stark team-up by Jeff Parker.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Batman '66, Volume 4

   Writer Jeff Parker, cover artist Michael Allred, and a slew of other great artists, colorists, and inkers present another thrilling chapter of Batman adventures based on the 1966 TV series. But this volume comes with an added bonus. Along with a King Tut caper, the Joker becoming a superhero, and the Penguin pulling a slew of crimes based on bats instead of birds for a change; Batman and Batgirl visit Japan to take on the Batmanga villain, Lord Death Man! 

   But that's not all that is included in this thrilling volume. Along for the ride is the one-shot Batman '66: The Lost Episode. That story is based on a treatment by acclaimed sci-fi writer Harlan Ellison (City on the Edge of Forever, Star Trek: TOS) that for some reason or another never made it on TV. Lucky for you, the entire original proposal is reprinted along with stunning color photos from the hit series.

    In the lost episode, Two-Face would have been introduced to the Batman '66 universe. Rumor had it that producers were seriously looking at Clint Eastwood to play the role of Gotham DA Harvey Dent, who becomes the deranged villain after half of his body is doused with acid, in season 4. But, alas Batman was canceled after just 3 seasons. Oh, and did I mention, it's written by the great Len Wein (Swamp Thing) with art by the equally great Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez (Super Powers)?

   I really loved this volume. It continues to build on the Batman '66 mythos and pits both classic Batman TV series and new Batman comics villains in that funky little corner of the DC Universe. I'm starting to see this book in the light of other comic books based on unused plans for shows that got canceled much too soon (IE Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 9.) 

Lord Death Man by
Sandy Jarrell.

   But this edition holds a place very dear to my heart for another reason. Earlier, I mentioned the Lord Death Man story. Well, it just so happens late last year, I got to meet the artist for that issue, Sandy Jarrell, at a convention in Raleigh. He was doing blank sketches and I commission him to make me a piece with the caveat that he could draw it of any Batman villain, except for the usual suspects of Joker, Catwoman, Riddler, and Penguin. Well, an hour later and Jarrell presented me with my very own sketch of the Japanese Batman adversary. It was so awesome looking, people kept asking to buy my book! (Get in line, folks...)

   Batman '66 is a fun little series that despite getting cancelled recently, doesn't look like it's going to go away anytime soon and I am glad. Right now, Batman and the Man from UNCLE are teaming up in a miniseries and I hope DC has that smarts to either return Batman '66 to store shelves or kept pairing the Dynamic Duo up with more legends from the swinging 60s.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Batman '66, Volume 3

The Joker and Catwoman embark in a dastardly scheme during the Arkham Talent Show.

  A mysterious TV producer creates a series based on a gritty no-nonsense version of the Dark Knight.

  A bat-robot replaces the Dynamic Duo during a crime spree of Gotham's most notorious villains.

  And Marsha, Queen of Diamonds, infiltrates the Bat Cave to steal the Bat-diamond that powers the Caped Crusader's laboratory and data banks...

   All this action and more awaits in the third volume of DC's fantastic Batman '66 webcomic devoted to the 1960s Batman television series. Once again author Jeff Parker, regular series art Jonathan Case, along with guest stints by Art Baltazar and Franco, Dean Haspiel, and others capture the spirit of the campy cult classic that aired on ABC. Also, Michael Allred and wife, Laura continue to thrill with their pop-culture themed covers.

    One thing that I have really liked about this series is that it includes a personal favorite who wasn't around in the 60s, Harley Quinn. Up till now, she's been a minor character as the Joker's therapist, Dr Harleen Quinzel, who sees great promise in trying to reform the Clown Prince of Crime. But in the opening story, we start to see her go down that dark path that will turn Quinzel into the Joker's girlfriend.

   Now, one thing I didn't like about this book. The back cover (and Amazon) promises that Batman: The Lost Episode is in this volume and it ain't. The Lost Episode is taken from a script originally meant to be used in season 4- but never happened as ABC cancelled the series after season 3. This lost episode was to have starred Clint Eastwood as Two-Face. But the rumor and script were lost to time and the bottom of the original screenwriter's desk. Sadly, it's still lost to me until, hopefully, volume 4 hits stores sometime later this year.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Batman '66, Volume 2

  A snakebit millionaire, the Joker downsizes his gang, an evil cousin from across the pond, time-travelling hijinx with King Tut, a frozen summer in Gotham, and the Riddler gets away. All this and more; along with covers by the great Mike Allred. It must be another volume of DC's digital first comic homage to the 1960s- Batman '66!

    Jeff Parker and a host of top indy talents continue to give the classic Batman TV show the comic book it long deserved. It's still got that quirky magic, but there are just a few things mission in this collection of comics as opposed to volume 1. The first collection had those clever cliffhangers told by an over enthusiastic narrator. It also contained some crafty cameos when Batman and Robin would scale the wall of a building. Lastly, any little plot curve was eventually solved a few stories later on. But there was a plot in which someone at Barbara Gordon's workplace was zapped by an arcane tome and it's not been resolved- YET! If that plot is explored in volume 3, I fear someone (probably me) will have forgotten this little bit of demon possession.

   I really enjoyed this volume and I look forward to the next. I hope DC continues to publish this dynamic series for quite some time. There is supposed to be a Wonder Woman '77 based on the Linda Carter series, but it's not happened yet. I hope this isn't a bad sign for the future of this awesome book.

  Worth Consuming.

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.