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. 

The Best of DC Digest #30 (2025 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

It's not often that the Dark Knight is wrong. However, when he claims that 11 crimes have been committed on the cover of The Best of DC Digest #30, there are actually only 10 infractions in need of solving. That's because the Robin/Batgirl story is a 2-parter. 

The run down for this issue is as follows:

• 'Wanted for Murder One: The Batman'. A talk show host with a grudge against the Caped Crusader is found dead. Off in the distance, Batman is witnessed fleeing the scene. With the GCPD on his trail, Batman must clear his name or surrender in disgrace.
• 'The Assassin Express Contract'. Christopher Chase accepts a mission to impersonate a wealthy industrialist who has a hit out on him. Already confined by the limits of a racing train, the Human Target must restrict himself further when it's revealed that the subject he's tasked with portraying now has an injured eye.
• 'Riddle of the Unseen Man' sees Roy Raymond, the famed TV Detective who investigates strange but true occurrences is besieged by a seemingly invisible person throughout his daily operations.
• 'Burial For a Batgirl' and ' Midnight is the Dying Hour's sees Barbara Gordon at Gotham State University for a festival honoring Edgar Allen Poe. When a controversial figure is found murdered on campus, Batgirl and the Boy Wonder swing into action to find the killer.
• Magical Mirror Mystery.' When the new mirror Ralph Dibny buys for his wife, Sue, shows the image of a missing woman, the Elongated Man travels to the mansion of the girl's father to solve the mystery.
• Famed magician Mysto aims to solve the 'Three Feats of Peril' that his fallen mentor seeked to perform before his untimely death.
• Crippled private investigator Jason Bard aims to solve how a daredevil skydiver was stabbed to death in the middle of a jump in 'The Case of the Dead-on Target.'
• Captain Mark Compass finds his attempts to crush a ring of smugglers thwarted at his ever turn in 'The Ocean Pest.'
• J'onn J'onnz, the Martian Manhunter, appears in 'The Man With 20 Lives.' Gifted with mental telepathy, the Martian knows that a Gotham City thug committed an impossible murder. But in order to solve the crime, he must operate as human police detective John Jones to extract a confession of guilt.
• Batman bursts into the middle of a performance of MacBeth as a sniper takes aim at the star in The Stage is Set - For Murder!'

Each story appeared previously in the pages of Detective Comics. Talent such as Frank Robbins, Dennis O'Neil, Irv Novick, Joe Certa and Vince Colletta worked on these tales which at some point all challenge the reader to solve the mystery from clues sprinkled throughout each story before the hero does. Some of the clues are easy to piece together while some hints require expert level expertise. It's those more difficult leads that feel like cheats, playing upon obscure knowledge of animals, cultures and even the laws of physics in able to solve the mysteries. 

Len Wein was this issue's contributing editor with Mike W. Barr acting as special consultant. 

Completing this review completes Task #38 (A Comic Book Digest) of the 2025 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Super Powers #4

Superman and Firestorm wind up in Ancient Rome thanks to the Doom Seed taking root in the heart of modern Italy.

Meanwhile, the Martian Manhunter infiltrates Darkseid's lunar fortress in hopes of dismantling the technology that is powering the seeds. Despite using his invisibility powers, the despot of Apokolips is able to detect the Manhunter's presence. Darkseid warns that any interference with Desaad's computers will result in the automatic destruction of the Earth. It's clearly a bluff on Darkseid's part. Unfortunately the stakes are too great for J'onn J'onnz to risk it.

So instead of the series ending before Batman, Robin and The Flash get a chance to destroy the seed they've been tasked with, we're going to get 2 more issues of the Justice League Vs. The New Gods of Apokolips. I'm not complaining. But just once I'd like to see the good guys call Darkseid's bluff and see the villain kinda crumble in utter disappointment. 

Sure, the ending would have been anticlimactic. Yet you couldn't argue that it was an ending nobody saw coming. Not even the antagonists.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Martian Manhunter/Marvin the Martian Special #1

It's Martian Vs. Martian in the most insane paring of all-time. Due to a temporal rift Marvin the Martian has emerged in the DC Universe, introducing J'onn J'onzz to an new color of Martian- the black Martian! Thinking he's found a comrade, the Martian Manhunter extends an olive branch to Marvin. The tiny Martian accepts but he's appalled that J'onn has yet to conquer earth and eagerly seeks to train the Manhunter in the art of global conquest. And J'on J'onzz thought the White Martians were a headache...

Then in the second feature, the same tale is told but it's given the Looney Tunes treatment. Now in the some of the other specials, I didn't like the fact that they repeated the main story in the back-up feature. But it actually works here. This story is so insane that the zany style of the Looney Tunes gang works best in this situation. 

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed both stories. But the back-up feature was way better than the DC Universe set story. Great writing by Steve Orlando (Supergirl) and Jim Fanning. They are both very witty. The visuals were okay but not perfect artwork by Aaron Lopresti (Atomic Toybox) and John Loter and I just love how Lopresti finally reveals what a black Martian looks like without their helmet! A lifelong mystery finally solved!!!

A fun read that is full of great laughs but a little lacking in the art department.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Scooby-Doo Team-Up #24

  J'onn J'onzz finds himself being haunted and turns to the Mystery Gang for help. The Martian Manhunter has become the target of a pair of clandestine agents that investigate aliens living on our world. As a series of broadcasts seemingly featuring J'onn declaring war on the human race, the Justice Leaguer needs to clear his name or he might become a science experiment for the CIA!

    Featuring some really awesome forgotten characters of the DC Universe including J'emm: the Son of Saturn, Ultra the Multi-Alien, and Starman (no, not that one... no, not that one either- you know, the blue one!) Writer Sholly Fisch and artist Dario Brizuela really outdid themselves with this Scooby-Doo Team-Up.

    I really think this series is best when is focuses on DC characters and this is a long overdo return to series greatness by focusing on the heart and soul of the Justice League.

    Worth Consuming

    Rating: 10 out of 10 stars
     

Adventures in the DC Universe #13 (Family Comic Friday)

   It's October and that for many that means new cartoons start! One such cartoon is Justice League Action. It's a reprise of the classic Justice League and Justice League Unlimited cartoons that aired on Cartoon Network in the late 90s. Why even DC Comics voice legends Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill will be reprising their epic roles of Batman and the Joker on the show which will air in 15 minute increments similar to Teen Titans Go!
    So to celebrate this new series, I decided to review an issue from the short-lived but very awesome series Adventures in the DC Universe. This series was created as a companion piece to both the Batman and Superman Animated Series that featured other members of the DC Universe. (This was prior to the creation of the Justice League series.) Each issue was comprised of a main story that often teamed up two unlikely characters and a short story back-up feature on a third character.
    In this issue, the teen speedster Impulse sneaks out of his home to see a hot young band that named themselves after the hero. While at the concert, the band's manager is shot and everyone is a suspect. On the scene is private investigator John Jones, who reveals himself to be the Martian Manhunter to young hero. Together Impulse and J'onn J'onzz seek out the hows and whys behind the attack.
    Then in the second feature, Connor Hawke, son of the original Green Arrow, is mysteriously blinded while investigating a gang. The gang leader's daughter helps the legacy hero escape but when Connor regains his sight, you can believe he's not done with this criminal element. But one his second try, the archer will have to rely on his other senses to stop this foe.
    I loved the Bruce Timm style art. It shows the evolution of the DC animated universe from the Batman/Superman cartoons to their eventual Justice League replacement. This series isn't easy to find but when you do, you often will find them in bargain bins. If your child has been to Mickey D's lately and gotta the JL Action fever based on the super hero toys found in the Happy Meals, then this is the series to keep them excited until the new series airs.
    I wish I could tell you when Justice League Action will air. Going to both Wikipedia and IMDB, both just list October, 2016 as the debut date. So, check local listings and check them often. It's going to be out of this world!

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Flashpoint: The Outsider #3

  The Outsider vs. a very not-so-nice J'onn J'onzz. The Martian has an axe to grind. Hey,  decades of experimentation and abuse at the hands of the Soviets will do that to a person. 
    Really was disappointed in the ending. The Outsider: I really hate that guy. He's worse than Lex Luthor and that's saying volumes. 
    This issue is concluded in Flashpoint #5, but I really can't figure out what good the Outsider is gonna be able to do considering how poorly things are looking out for Barry Allen, Cyborg, and their dwindling band of allies.

    Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

Justice League United, Volume 1:Justice League Canada (New 52!)

    Former members of the Justice League find themselves pitted together against an alien invasion in the Canadian wilderness in this opening chapter of Justice League United. Also known as Justice League Canada, this short-lived series didn't get very much love, lasting only about 16 issues, along with an annual and a Futures End tie-in one-shot. But I don't know why- I liked it! (Okay- that reason alone is probably why JLU was canned.)

   The events of this volume take place after Forever Evil with the government sanction disbandment of the Justice League. Now I've read Forever Evil, but I don't remember the group splitting up. In fact, I thought the League carried on having Lex Luthor as a member! So, when and where this happens is something I've not come across. But that lack of knowledge didn't keep me from enjoying this book.

   The way these heroes come together is reminiscent of how the Justice League first came together way back in 1960. A would-be alien conqueror (Starro) sends forth creatures based on the elements to subjugate mankind. In the New 52! reboot, a rogue Thanagarian scientist is kidnapping humans in the Great White North in order to create a being that would be so undefeatable that whoever possessed it would literally being the ruler of the universe. His mission is carried out while under the protection of a heavy that can change from fire to stone, and then wood much like in the first appearance of the Justice League of America in Brave and the Bold #28

   Another twist is the role of Adam Strange and the love of his life Alanna. Here, Alanna is a human but due to a zeta beam malfunction, the two must switch places on earth and Rann or the two will die thanks to close proximity. This twist with Adam most often stuck on Rann gives Alanna a chance to be the hero for once.

   One more thing surprised me about Justice League United that I think was grossly underreported. This series introduces the new character of Equinox. Equinox is a female member of the Cree nation whose powers change with the seasons. Being how the media has gotten so excited over diversity in comics, such as a black Spider-Man, a female Thor, and a lesbian Batwoman, the addition of Equinox got swept under the rug. What, is it only news if an established character becomes more diverse? Hypocrisy, I cry!!!

    Justice League United was quite good. Writer Jeff Lemire paired up a great mix of wisdom (J'onn J'onnz), youth (Stargirl), muscle (Supergirl and Hawkman), and the much needed comic relief (with the roles of Blue Beetle and Booster Gold going to Animal Man and Green Arrow.) Mike Mckone has a deft touch with just about all of these characters as series artist though his Martian Manhunter seems to be artistically fluid as the alien team leader looks strikingly different in every issue. 

   I managed to snag volume 2 which I'll be tackling very soon. This issue made me excited for Justice League titles again and not since Giffen and DeMatteis were the League this much fun.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

All-New Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Volume 1

 

  When Batman: The Brave and the Bold aired on Cartoon Network from 2008-2011, the series maintained the already mentioned title throughout the entire run. Now, this might seem like an odd statement to make but it's gotten to be a trend in cartoons for each season to have a new title. A big example of this is Disney XD's Ultimate Spider-Man. The show is called 'Web Warriors' in season three and in  2016, season 4 will be titled Spider-Man Vs. the Sinister Six. BBB lasted 3 seasons without a single name change.  So why did DC cancel the original Batman: The Brave and the Bold comic and replace it with the All-New Batman: The Brave and the Bold?

   This mystery is an easy one to solve. Each episode of Brave and the Bold started with a 2-5 minute long opening sequence called a 'cold open.'  In that scene, Batman would be paired with a partner different from the one the Caped Crusader would be teamed with in the main story. The first Brave and the Bold series followed that format. But when the series was relaunched, DC decided to omit that formula in order to devote more pages to the overall story. However, this was not why the first series was canceled!

    The reason for the reboot was due to fan complaints. The villains used were considered weak and uninteresting. The stylization of some characters such as Katana and the Doom Patrol looked nothing like the TV show or even the comics on which they were based and the storylines didn't follow the old-school style of the Cartoon Network show. Thus, fans stayed away from the book in droves.

   Now, I've read a handful of issues from the original Brave and the Bold and I never noticed any of these problems. But, I do think that the 'All-New' version was a little more superior. First of all, the great kids comics writer Sholly Fisch was brought in as series writer. Fisch, along with new title artist Rick Burchett managed to produce a series that was heavy on villains and classic DC lore. It was like reading a print version of the celebrated cartoon.

   So let's take a brief look at the adventures contained in this premiere volume. In the first issue, Superman seeks Batman's assistance in solving a series of crimes in the bottle city of Kandor. Then Billy Batson and Talky Tawny arrive in Gotham and find that the city isn't in the Holiday Spirit. It's up to Captain Marvel to help Batman overcome the mental effects of the Psycho Pirate and save Christmas.

   Did somebody mention that there weren't enough villains? Issue three has Batman and the Flash stuck in a bizarre mirror world of the creation of the dastardly duo of Mirror Master and the Mad Hatter. Then the number of baddies is turned up to 11 when Talia Al Ghul rounds up an assortment of enemies to stop the wedding of Batman and Wonder Woman. Then the Dark Knight teams up with Guy Gardner to save the earth from a horde of Manhunters.

   Speaking Manhunters, in this volume's last story, Batman trains the Martain Manhunter to be a better detective through a number of deduction challenges. This issue was filled with puzzles, mysteries, and surprises as the reader was encouraged to participate in finding the alien shapeshifter.

   I really enjoyed this book. It was tons of fun and a great old-school style read. My only complaint is that the book ended. Well, that and I'm still bitter that the cartoon got canceled. It was a good show! Thankfully, there're several more issues both Brave and the Bold series left for me to collect and read.

   Worth Consuming

    Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

 

Justice League Task Force # 15

No matter what you threw at the Martian Manhunter, he was always the rock of the Justice League and it’s many incarnations. Now with the League in absolute shambles, the faith of the Last Martian has been tested to beyond belief.

Allies turn enemy, friends depart, and stuff explodes.

A very powerful issue that focuses on perhaps the most vital but underappreciated member of the League.

Great storytelling. Fantastic art.

  

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

DC Retroactive Justice League Of America The 90s #1

     Giffen and DeMatteis are back! Who else but those two could be chosen to best reflect what the Justice League was all about in the 90s. 

    In this lost tale, the Injustice League winds up with some dangerous parademon tech, resulting in Big Sir getting even bigger- and looking an awful lot like a certain giant lizard from Japan.

   It’s a laugh riot, capturing the essence of the creative duo’s best work on the various Justice League titles.

   The reprinted tale that deals with J’onn J’onzz and his decision to leave the League is very good as well. Sadly, I’ve read that issue already. Bummer!

   Worth Consuming.

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

DC Comics Presents - The Flash #1

A tribute issue in honor of the passing of the great Julius Schwartz, long-time Editor In Chief of DC Comics. Schwartz was known for having concept covers drawn up and then would assign writers to use that idea for use in a forthcoming issue of said title. It's also fitting that the Flash is used as one of the heroes to pay respect to Julie as it was Schwartz who was solely responsible for the Speedster's 'return' to comics in the 1950s.

The first take has Barry Allen testifying against a mob boss. But before he can testify, an assassin marks the criminologist for death. Cameos abound with Iris West, Martian Manhunter, Deadshot & more.

The second tale features some of the Flash’s Rogue’s Gallery. However, the story is rather flat.

Worth Consuming if for just the first story alone.

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.