This book collects several one-shots of the all-ages title, Marvel Super Hero Adventures. This is a rough off-shoot of the early 2010's series Marvel Super Hero Squad. Instead of taking place in Super Hero City, these stories take place in the Marvel 616 universe. It's only through Spider-Man's storytelling do the characters resort to looking like their Squad counterparts.
Penciling the action is Dario Brizuela. If you follow my blog regularly, you'll know that I am a huge fan of his work on the DC Comics title Scooby-Doo Team-Up. While the bodies of the characters are kinda squished like those on MSHS, you can tell that this is a Brizuela work by the faces. He's got this unmistakable quality in all of the vizages he draws, much like that Steve Ditko or George Perez.
The framing scenes really look like SDTU. I love Brizuela's Spider-Man. I would love to see a Marvel Team-Up series in which some Disney or Fox cartoon property interacted with other characters of the newly shared Disney Empire. As long as it didn't take Dario Brizuela away from doing the Scooby-Doo series that I love so much, I'd be on-board with his as that Marvel series artist.
Return of the Dapper Men's Jim McCann pens all of these stories. They are quite well written in that exciting Marvel fashion. Though some of the closing scene jokes are a bit stale. And on at least two occasions, things just seem to end abruptly for no reason at all.
This is the type of series parents and teachers would love. Spidey's stories all have a moral such as how to overcome bullying and learning teamwork. Featuring some of the House of Idea's most popular properties such as Black Panther, Doctor Strange and Ms. Marvel, this is a great combination of classic and modern Marvel.
Speaking of which, Marvel must really be putting all of it's eggs into the Marvel Rising basket. This is the third such recent collection I have read that has the same intro to the new Disney XD/Hasbro series. I've actually seen very little concerning this new series. I keep hearing that there's a TV show and a line of toys but other than these massive ads and a FCBD offering, I've not seen anything but negative criticism over this New Warriors related property.
Based on what I read with this collection, I think Marvel should stick with Marvel Super Hero Adventures as their flagship all-ages property. Each issue has an educational wholesome message. The series can feature a wide range of characters. Plus, it doesn't have to focus on some very controversial, and to some families and civic leaders, age inappropriate characters. And even if the characters in question do appear, those elements, considered to be in that moral gray area, don't have to be hyped upon! That is because fun and excitement is the focus of these one-shots; not gritty character development drama such as with Marvel Rising.
Marvel Super Hero Adventures knows what kids really like. It's not having to worry about the troubles of the world. Yes, there's elements of learning here. But at the heart of it, kids wanna be kids and this trade allows them to be just that!
Worth Consuming!
Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.
A blizzard has rendered New York City immobile. As a result, the Avengers have nothing to do. So it's video games, hot chocolate and boredom. Lots of boredom! But that all changes when a pair of frost giants appear in Times Square reeking massive amounts of frigid havoc!
Then Spider-Man must stop a group of pirates who have stolen a yacht full of items being auctioned for charity. But since the Hudson doesn't have a lot of high areas for Spidey to swing from, the wall-crawler must take a detour through the sky-scrapers of downtown.
This book also contains some fun and games activities. There's a colorful maze of the Bifrost Bridge. Plus there are 4 more funny comic strip parodies by Ty Templeton. And finishing out the book is a pin-up to for kids to color- OF SPIDER-MAN!
You know, I am not really sure why any of these Marvel Super Hero Adventures one-shots are being titled after Captain Marvel. It's not that I have anything against Carol Danvers. It's just that she's barely in the frost giants story and she's nowhere in the Spider-Man back-up feature. If anything, this book should be named after Spider-Man as both Peter Parker and Miles Morales have more action and lines in the title tale.
That first story set the perfect ambiance of a frosty Winters read. I loved how it gave me a post-holidays feel. This is a great comic for kids of all-ages to read. Just add a huge blanket and that hot cocoa. I only wish that Spidey's back-up tale was a little more chilly. It's just a pinch too sunny for a Winter special. But enjoyable none-the-less.
Worth Consuming but man is that title in complete error!
Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.
I have the best LCS in the world. When things get really busy and I overlook cool things to add to my pull list, they’re there to fill-in for my slack. And that’s the case with this week’s Family Comic Friday selection; an all-ages Halloween special. If it wasn’t for my guys at Books Do Furnish A Room, I would have missed out on the Marvel Super Hero Adventures Halloween Spooktacular #1.
After that review, we’ll conclude our look at the 2018 Halloween ComicFest mini comics with a preview of Top Shelf’s Johnny Boo and the Spooky Tree! ComicFest is this Saturday! Don’t forget to stop by your favorite comic shop for some free Halloween themed comics!
Marvel Super Hero Adventures Halloween Spooktacular #1
Art and stories by Ty Templeton, Jeff Loveness, and Jacob Chabot
Published by Marvel Comics
It’s been a while since Marvel Super Heroes Adventures has even been on my radar. Based on the epically vast toy line from Playskool and Disney cartoon series, MSHA offered all-ages adventures with all of your favorite superheroes. There was even Stan Lee as the mayor of the heroes’ hometown! Then about 2 or 3 years ago, Marvel and it’s partners just up and stopped the line without very much warning. But the franchise appears to be back!
The Halloween Spooktacular promises to be the first in a new line of specials based on MSHA. There’s a food and Thanksgiving related special coming out next month! But it’s October, so of course, that means some spooks and scares first!
Being an all-ages book, if I was to gauge the scariness of the overall book, I would give it a 2 out of 10. The Spider-Man story in which the webslinger is trying to scare a trio of pranksters was very goofy and pretty funny. Spidey is many things- a master scary-storyteller is not one of them. There was quite a few chuckles in that yarn.
It’s the second story that might be a little scary for some. It has Spidey and some friends touring the Sanctum Sanctorum of Doctor Strange. The Sorcerer Supreme’s home is filled with many magical things that look spooky. Also, the villains of the story, little purple demons with wings and big teeth, might be a little intimidating for the youngest of readers.
This special also features some fun and games. There’s a maze of Spider-Man’s mask, some hysterical parodies of the Sunday comics and much more. One thing that is going to make this comic much more rarer and more valuable in the future is an activity that has you cut out paper dolls in which to play with against Thanos! Many of these issues will be damaged due to that play theatre. Thus when kids grow up into adults and want to find this book as a way of capturing some bit of lost youth, it will be very hard to find an unspoiled copy without spending a little extra for it.
The one thing I was disappointed it was the editing. The table of contents for this issue is 100% wrong. It lists the Doctor Strange story as being on page 2. The scary stories of Spidey supposed to be on page 14. That’s actually switched in the contents of this comic. For some, this isn’t a big deal. But things like this make my brain itch.
The Marvel Super Hero Adventures Halloween Spooktacular was a fun surprise this week. It’s a great way to spend time with the Marvel young fan in your life as the holiday draws near. Two very funny stories; with a slight bit of intensity in the scare factor in one of them. I loved the cover, especially how the Hulk’s costume alludes to the fabled 1950s Spider-Man costume that made have inspired Marvel’s Steve Ditko in designing the wallcrawler! Plus fun activities to enjoy! You may want to buy 2 copies as one is sure to get damaged thanks to the craft project!
The Marvel Super Hero Adventures Halloween Spooktacular #1 debuted in print and digital formats on Wednesday October 24th, 2018!
Worth Consuming!
Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.
Johnny Boo and the Scary Tree Mini-Comic #1
Written and illustrated James Kochalka
Published by Top Shelf
Rating: All-Ages
Code: JUL180059
Release Date: October 27, 2018
Price: Free, also comes in packs of 25 for trick-or-treaters at $4.99/ea.
Are you scared of scary stuff? Don't worry, Johnny Boo will keep you safe with BOO POWER! Being scared can be really fun... when you're the best little ghost in the world! It's a brand-new spooky adventure from the Eisner-Award-winning mind of James Kochalka!
