Weird Wonder Tales #18 (2024 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

Weird Wonder Tales was just one of the many horror titles that Marvel published in the early 1970s thanks to the lessening of restrictions on such titles by the Comics Code. There was only one problem with these type books in the eyes of 1970s readers: based on the reprinted material inside, the Marvel horror anthologies were tame compared to what DC and Charlton were putting out. These stories were also way past G-rated compared to the horror material Marvel was distributing in magazine format which had some mild nudity and swears in them. 

Starting with issue #19, Marvel made the one-time Avenger Doctor Druid the series host, hoping that continuity would earn readers. Unfortunately, the experiment was a failure and Weird Wonder Tales was cancelled 4 issues later with issue #22. The ultimate irony is that nearly 50 years later, many of Marvel's horror anthologies from the 70s are sought out by collectors as the reprints they contain are affordable alternatives to the original issues from the 50s and 60s. This was the last issue under the title's original format.

In this issue there are 2 stories. The cover story, (I Created) Krang!, is a double sized giant monster story by Stan Lee and brother Larry Lieber with art and inks by Jack Kirby and Dick Ayers. A scientist seeking to use enlarged insects as environmental replacements for fuel burning vehicles travels to Europe where a rare tree might hold the key to gigantism. The assistant steals some of the resulting formula and puts it atop a seemingly harmless ant. However too much is applied and the ant grows to the size of an elephant. Even worse, the ant has developed super intelligence, forcing the scientist to make more formula in order for Krang to create an army of oversized insects and thus conquer the world!

The backup feature combines horror and ancient myth. From the early 1950s, 'The Cartoonist's Calamity' was featured in the pages of Venus #17. The story stars the character of Aphrodite. Growing bored with life as a goddess, the daughter of Zeus comes to Earth where under the name of Venus, she becomes the editor of a struggling fashion magazine. In this tale, her head cartoonist Jimmy Rogers has been acting erratically. Venus goes on to discover that Jimmy has been moonlighting for a horror comic; only now Jimmy's terrifying visions have come to life and are driving their creator insane!

Written and illustrated by Bill Everett, the horrors Jimmy Rogers creates seem ripped directly from the sketchbook of Basil Wolverton. When it comes to the lettering, it must have been by the same fella that crafted the stylized font for the word 'Comics' on the Action Comics logo. Just about every speech bubble using that style instead of italics for expressions of disbelief and shock!

The material in this book might not be the most terrifying horror title to ever grace market shelves. But this was a 1970s horror anthology that has since earned the respect of collectors, if not about 5 decades too late. 

Cover by Jack Kirby, Klaus Janson and Danny Crespi.

Completing this review completes Task #13 (A Horror Comic) of the 2024 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Marvel Comics Presents #1

I'm not sure if it just finally took me forever to collect this entire anthology series from the 80s and 90s or I just had to finally will myself to knuckle under and buy those final pesky issues. I know I had to dig deep into my pocket for a copy of the final issue as #175 cost me one green-hued portrait of Andrew Jackson.

The series starts off with 4 stories. The first 3 tales are the opening chapters of multi-parters. The cover story sees Wolverine in Madripoor seeking to fulfill the last wishes of a dying man; only to become embroiled in a gang war.

The mindless Man-Thing finds itself in the middle of a political scandal that hearkens to Iran-Contra. Only I don't seem to recall demon worship being a part of Ollie North's guns for hostages plans.

Shang-Chi- The Master of Kung-Fu, returns to Hong Kong and is immediately targeted by old enemies made by both his infamous father and himself.

The last story is a stand alone adventure about a cosmic baddie called the Fear Eater. This guy is a parasite and he's tired of feasting on your standard fear of dying. So the Fear Eater sets his sights on the Silver Surfer! Naturally, a bad idea!

Featuring a host of legendary talent including Al Milgrom, Klaus Janson, and Dave Cockrum. I hope you love anthology comics and Marvel characters. Because you'll going to see a slew of reviews coming your way as I work my way through another 174 issues!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

The Dark Knight III: The Master Race

The latest chapter in the Dark Knight saga by Frank Miller has Bruce Wayne dead after being unable to recover from injuries in a battle with a super-powered Lex Luthor. Cassie, the Dark Knight's former apprentice has taken up the mantle of the Bat and has declared war on the corrupt cops of Gotham.

Meanwhile, Wonder Woman is ruling Themyscira alone with her new son; the product of a union between the Amazon and Superman. While their eldest daughter seeks her place in the world, the Man of Steel has exiled himself to the Fortress of Solitude after an unknown defeat. When a forgotten evil presents itself as the savior of the human race, which side will both Cassie and Lara, the Last Daughter of Krypton, take?

Yes, a lot seems to have transpired from the events of the Dark Knight Strikes Again. Some things which seem to contradict said events. For example, in the sequel to The Dark Knight Returns, The Dark Knight Strikes Again, Green Lantern had become just a source of Emerald power. Yet here, Hal Jordan has seemingly returned to human form and no explanation is given.

One of the reasons for these inconsistencies maybe that Frank Miller isn't doing the majority of the writing here. Instead, it's 100 Bullets Brain Azzarello who has taken on head writing duties. Miller is still involved in the project but at the time of production he was suffering from a number of health problems. Thus Azzarello's need to take over.

Unlike in the first two books, Miller does more art. Original series artist Klaus Janson is still around but he is on inking duty only here. Frank Miller is instead assisted by Andy Kubert for a majority of the nine issue series. But it's what Miller focuses on throughout this mini's run was my favorite part of the Master Race. 

At the end of each issue was series of tie-ins called The Dark Knight Universe Presents. These back-up features focused on characters mainly unexplored in Miller's Dark Knight universe such as the Atom and Aquaman. I actually wanted more of those stories than the main story of the Master Race I was presented. 

Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy this chapter in the Dark Knight story. But I enjoyed the back-ups more. I am told that a fourth volume is in the works and if so, I really hope Miller focuses more on the supporting cast as they were a lot more interesting to me than what was going on with the DCU Trinity.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars. 

Silverblade #1

  Jonathan Lord had it all- good looks, a lucrative movie career, ladies, fame, and fortune. Bad decisions, vices, and age have caused Jonathan to loose just about everything except his mansion Shangri-la and a modest nest egg, thanks to his most famous role the Silver Blade, which is due to be a blockbuster at movie theatres next summer. Now, a virtual recluse, Lord stays in his private screening room, watching his younger self on screen over and over.

    Jonathan's butler Bobby Milestone, is a former child actor who starred in the Silver Blade with Jonathan. Unable to find work, Milestone ended up becoming Jonathan's butler. As a hobby, Milestone collects replicas of the Maltese Falcon which he finds at memorabilia shops around Hollywood. Looking to rob Shangri-la for a big pay day and possible snuff out Lord on the side, Milstone's collection is destroyed by a pair of thugs. 

   Yet, when one of his newest acquisitions that winds up being the actual Maltese Falcon, breaks on impact, the former movie legend is blessed with magical powers of a all-consuming flame that bathes Jonathan. Now with the ability to become any of the characters he portrayed on screen and suddenly 40 years younger, what will Jonathan Lord do with his new lease on life?

    I had seen ads for this maxi-series from 1987-88 since I started collecting comics again in 2007. But it wasn't until a year ago that I finally found several of these issues at a comic book store in Asheville. It took a few more months but I finally completed this collection and was ready to read it and then I got busy reading other stuff. That was until I came across an ad in an old issue of something from DC and it sparked my interest to give this series a go.

    The first chapter starts off slow. But I assume that will 11 more issues, the build-up in introducing the major players was sorely needed. Once the robbers attack Lord's compound, the story, written by Cary Bates (Justice League of America, Superman), really took off. Next thing I know it, the story says 'to be continued' and I've reached the back cover. 

   The art team behind this series is an all-star group of some of the best talents in DC Comics history. Gene Colan, Joe Orlando, Anthony Tollin, and Klaus Johnson are just a handful of the talented artists that worked on this series. Oh, if only this was the 90s and I could've gotten this issue signed. Man, that would've been a treasure.

   Not bad for an opening chapter. It shows promise. I just expect a lot more in issue #2.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.