Super Friends #33 (2025 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

Though Super Friends sidekicks Wendy and Marvin, along with their pooch Wonder Dog, were unceremoniously replaced by the Wonder Twins when the animated series returned to TV in 1977, the trio was given a send off in the comic book adaptation. 

Siblings Zan and Jayna, along with their blue space monkey Gleek, first appeared in comic book form with issue #6 of Super Friends. In a 3-part story, the twins are given an origin story by E. Nelson Bridwell, which sees the orphans coming to Earth to warn Superman of a space bomb attack from the villainous Grax. Impressed by the alien teens' bravery, the Justice League offers them membership and training as superheroes while Wendy and Marvin leave in issue #9 for college. It's hinted that Wendy will eventually enter the FBI after finishing college.

With Zan's ability to take the form of water in any state and shape and Jayna 's mastery of transforming into animals, both real and mythical, the Wonder Twins become valuable allies to the Super Friends. In order to change their form, Zan and Jayna must make physical contact with one another. Generally, giving one another a fist bump while as humanoids. Should the twins be separated from each other, they will remain in whatever form until they can once again touch. It is that limitation of the Wonder Twins' powers that is the main plot point of this issue.

Someone is targeting the priceless collections of Gotham City's elite. Without any clue as to the culprit, Batman enlists the Super Friends to help. Believing that he knows the next target, a collector of gems and rare birds, Batman has Zan transform into a giant diamond made of ice while Jayna becomes a bird. Only she accidentally becomes a bird that has been extinct for centuries. 

With the twins in place as bait, the culprit is revealed to be the Menagerie Man, who uses trained animals to commit his crimes. When the villain notices Jayna in prehistoric bird form moving, the Menagerie Man believes that he's discovered a missing link and unknowingly steals Jayna. 

With Zan stuck in ice diamond form, the Justice League is down 2 members. But thanks to a feathery friend, Hawkman arrives with the location of the Menagerie Man's hideout. It looks like the rescue mission is going to be easy until the Super Friends are attacked by wildebeests, leopards and birds of prey carrying nuggets of deadly kryptonite!

This 1980 issue was written by Bridwell with artwork by Wonder Twins co-creator Ramona Fradon. Inks were provided by Vince Colleta.

The Super Friends comic book would continue to run through the summer of 1981; ending with issue #47. Both the Wonder Twins and the team of Wendy and Marvin and Wonder Dog would return in the 2000s as characters in both DC animated series and as official comics canon. 

Completing this review completes Task #20 (A Superhero Team Book) of the 2025 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Plastic Man 80-Page Giant (2024 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

When a heist goes wrong, safecracker Patrick 'Eel' O'Brian is shot by a nightwatchman, doused with chemicals and left for dead by his gang. O'Brian awakens in a monastery, shielded from the authorities by the parish monks. As he recovers, O'Brian learns that the chemicals he was showered with seeped into his wounds giving him super-stretching abilities. Seeing a chance at redemption, Eel dons a red rubber suit and dark sunglasses to become Plastic Man! His first mission- to bring his double-crossing former gang members to justice!

Plastic Man debuted in the first issue of Police Comics. The creation of Jack Cole, Plastic Man was one of Quality Comics most popular characters until the publisher folded in 1956. Plas along with properties such as the Polish flying ace, Blackhawk and the war anthology series G.I. Combat was soon absorbed by National Publications (D.C. Comics). While the war books were immediately added into National's print line-up, it would be another decade before Plastic Man would return to store shelves. However, it would be the funny man who got the last laugh. 

After two brief attempts to reintroduce Plastic Man to readers, the former Eel O'Brian made the transition to TV. From 1979-1981, Plas and his son Baby Plas made Saturday mornings fun for youngsters as part of ABC's The Plastic Man Comedy/Adventure Hour. Produced by Ruby-Spears, an impressive 112 episodes aired over 5 seasons. By the end of the 80s, both Blackhawk and G.I. Combat would be shelved while Plastic Man would enter the 90s as a full-fledged member of the JLA. In 2003, artist Kyle Baker revamped Plastic Man for a new generation in a cartoony series that produced 20-issues. Baker would win numerous Eisner awards as well as a Harvey for his innovative look at the hero.

As a promotional tie-in for the Kyle Baker's series, DC released a super-sized special starring Plas. Based on the 80-page specials of the 60s and 70s, this volume is presented as a lost collection of Plastic Man's greatest adventures. Along with his debut appearance, fans are introduced to faithful sidekick Woozy Winks, a small time crook who thanks to a swami who life Winks saved, is blessed with amazingly good luck. A Dial H for Hero adventure from the House of Mystery, has Robby Reed turning into Plastic Man as he battles a villain that uses bombs made of bright light. Arnold Drake and Gil Kane mark Plastic Man's official return to comics in his debut DC series which replaces Woozy Winks with a nebbish teen pet store owner. Woozy then returns in caper in which the rich and powerful have their minds switched with hamsters in the finale penned by Steve Skeates and art by Ramona Fradon.

After the Kyle Baker series ended in 2006, Plastic Man would return to TV as a recurring character on Cartoon Network's Batman: The Brave and the Bold. Plas would appear in a number of comic miniseries over the next 15 years including Flashpoint and a segment in the newsprint inspired Sunday Comics. Plastic Man's most recent appearances in the DC universe saw him in a new black and white costume as part of Mister Terrific's super team, the Terrifics.

Completing this review completes Task #20 (An 80-page or larger giant) of the 2023 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Wonder Woman Annual 1989 (2023 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

With exception of the cover, this 1989 annual features artwork, including inks and colors by an all-female crew. Cover artist George Perez also pens this extra-large sized feature that chronicles Princess Diana's Post-Crisis debut. 

When the princess of Thermyscira first arrived in the world of men, she didn't speak much English and knew even less of modern day ways and norms. So, Diana needed an intermediary in order to spread her message of peace and unity. Enter Myndi Mayer; a press agent who sees dollars signs in the arrival of the DC Universe's newest heroine. A progressive feminist, Mayer believed in Princess Diana's message. That didn't mean that there weren't marketing opportunities to be found around this Wonder Woman.

This story takes place after the shocking overdose death of Myndi Mayer. The PR agent's death means that end of a chapter in Wonder Woman's life. Diana has decided that the life of a celebrity is not for her. So Mayer's agency must pack up all of the artifacts and effects of the Wonder Woman campaign so that Diana can transport it back to Thermyscira for preservation. As the team goes through these mementos, they reminisce about the highs and lows of Princess Diana's first months in modern civilization. 

This annual was both a closing chapter for established Wonder Woman readers as well as a starting point for newer fans. Along with the death of Myndi, Diana had just finished a climatic battle with Circe as well as Ares. But as we know, Wonder Woman's beef with the god of war is never over. The War of the Gods epic crossover is still 2 years away. But in this new stage in Diana's life, more battles with the upper echelon of Greek gods and continued alliances with the superhero community are in Diana's near future.

Perhaps the most notable segment of this story is the origin behind the logo that Diana wears on her chest. Just like as with Superman's S-shield, the supposed W's on Diana's armor are misinterpreted as English letters.  Kal-El's S-Shield is the Kyrptonian symbol of hope. Diana's double-W's are in honor of a great warrior who helped the Amazons of Themyscira centuries ago: the insignia of Steve Trevor's mother!

Due to the death of Hermes' son Pan, a rift in the fabric of time and reality opens. This anomaly ushers Diana Trevor back in time to Themyscira. The time displaced pilot arrives on the tropical island in the middle of a catastrophic scene as the Amazons are attempting to prevent demons from the underworld coming topside. 

We learn that Diana Trevor sacrificed herself to aid a race of people she did not even know. The Amazons as a result, bury Trevor with full honors and use the Air Corps insignia of a double-W on Trevor's uniform and incorporate it as a totem of strength and courage, which Princess Diana proudly wears. But we also learn that Diana wasn't named after the goddess of Greek myth but instead after Diana Trevor. So that means Steve Trevor is in love with the woman named after his mother!

Featuring Ramona Fradon, Jan Duursema, Colleen Doran and Trina Robbins among others.

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars. 

Completing this review completes Task #32 (A Wonder Woman Story) of the 2023 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Plastic Man #19 (2022 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

Plastic Man was created by Jack Cole, first appearing in Police Comics #1 (August, 1941). As small time hood Eel O'Brian, a burglary went wrong. The cops crowded in and Eel's fellow gang members abandoned him. O'Brian gets shot in the shoulder and falls into a vat of undisclosed chemicals. Instead of dying, O'Brian escaped, only to pass out on the grounds of a monastery. 

O'Brian awakens on a bed, taken in by the monks. He also discovers that he's got incredible powers. O'Brian's body has taken on the properties of rubber. He can stretch, change shapes and bounce! 

Inspired by the kindness of the monks, Eel O'Brian forsakes his criminal past and becomes a crime fighter. With his sidekick, the paunchy Woozy Winks, Eel defends his city as the superhero Plastic Man. By day, he remains Eel O'Brian in order to infiltrate the criminal underground. At night, he changes the composition of his face, dons white goggles and fights for right. And if he collects some reward money, well, a hero's gotta eat don't they?

In 1956, Plastic Man's original publisher, Quality Comics shut down. Sometime shortly after that, DC Comics bought the rights to Plastic Man and other Quality characters. It wasn't until 1966 that the House That Superman Built gave Plas his own series. That series ran for only 10 issues from December 1966-June 1968. Gil Kane (Superman), Jack Sparling (Silver Surfer), Win Mortimer(Night Nurse) were among the talented artists who worked on the title. Doom Patrol's Arnold Drake was the scripter. 

Plastic Man made an unexpected return in 1976. With a March cover date, the revival continued the legacy numbering with #11. This new run had art by Ramona Fradon (Metamorpho) and Ernie Chan (Conan The Barbarian). Steve Skeates (Blue Beetle) and John Albano (Jonah Hex) were the plotters.

For the issue I read for my reading challenge, the creative team was of Albano and Fradon. Detective Comics' Bob Smith was on inks and Ben Oda (Flash Gordon) was the letterer. 

In this issue, a gang of street toughs are terrorizing the citizens of Plastic Man and Woozy's town. With assistance from a mousy grocery delivery man, Plas puts the hurt on the gang leader who swears revenge on the employee. But before they get their hands on Plastic Man's accomplice, the young man has an encounter with a UFO. 

Thinking the meek male is a threat, the aliens shoot him with an energy beam. As he falls off the roof of his apartment building, Plastic Man tries to rescue the guy. But he's too late! Yet instead of having plummeted to his doom, the young gentleman shrugs things off and goes back to his apartment to sleep.

Thus begins the career of the newest hero of the block! With super hearing, the newcomer to crime fighting can get the upper hand on tackling the baddies first. It looks like the city will no longer need Plastic Man! Will he retire? Or is it time to find a new city to patrol?

The Plastic Man revival only lasted another issue. However, that was not the end of Plastic Man. Just 2 years later, Plastic Man would return. This time in animated form. The Plastic Man Comedy/Adventure Show would air on ABC from 1978-81. For all of 1980, he became the one of the cover features for Adventure Comics. A 4 issue miniseries was created post-CRISIS in 1988. In the 90s, Plastic Man was eventually made a member of the JLA thanks to Grant Morrison. The 2000s saw new blood injected into the character in a bi-monthly series by Kyle Baker that also ran for 20 issues. 

Over the years, Plastic Man has been seen as a very goofy character. That's how he was created by Jack Cole. It's also how I remember him on the cartoon series. In the past 30 years or so, Plastic Man has been a constant headache to Batman and isn't allowed within 100 feet of Wonder Woman. Yet with this issue, something was off.

Yes, Plastic Man disguises himself as numerous objects like a fire hydrant and his patented bouncing ball. However, this version of Plastic Man is pretty serious. He's almost has a Batman '66 kinda uber-boy scout kind of vibe him. Even when he thinks that his town doesn't need him any more, Plastic Man is more resolved to find another place to call home rather that have an over-the-top pity party like the character is wont to do in more recent titles and animated series. If anything was cheesy about this issue, it was Jeanette Kahn's 'Stan's Soapbox' style column about the revival of Showcase Presents and the mildly racist artist stoplight about one DC's up and coming talent, Mike Nasser (now known as Michael Netzer).

Despite the very uncharacteristic seriousness of Plastic Man, this issue was pretty decent. Though I thought it was strange for the narrator to say that Eel feel into a vat of acid. I don't think acid would give Plas any powers. I think had he fell into acid, the substance would have torn Eel to shreds. Okay- so the edits needed to work on consistency. It's still a fun read.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Completing this review completes Task #13 (Published the Year You Were Born) of the 2022 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge. 

Fairy Tale Comics (Family Comics Friday)

   Ramona Fradon, Karl Kerschl, David Mazzucchelli, Raina Telgemeier, The Hernandez Bros., and many more. Editor Chris Duffy assembles all-star grouping of writers, artists, and inkers in this collection of Fairy Tale Comics. The mix of well-known Grimm fairy tales like 'Snow White' along with obscure Eastern European lore like 'The Small-Tooth Dog' and Asian classics like 'The Boy Who Drew Cats' was eclectic. I'm glad that Duffy decided to add those lesser known stories as I had never heard of them until now.

   (A funny coincidence: the same night after I read about the cat drawing boy, Whoppie Goldberg actually told the tale to Jimmy Fallon on the Tonight Show. I took it to be a sign that I had stumbled upon a hidden treasure and I did!)  

     I happened upon this book by accident at my library when from across the circulation desk I saw that it was just checked in. The book is from 2013 but honestly, I had never seen this book until just then. There's a companion piece to this anthology called 'Nursery Rhyme Comics." It too is edited by Duffy and I assume it's just as fun and whimsical as this book.

    The book is suggested for ages 6-12, but I think with the level of talented writers and artists in this book it's got an appeal for collectors of all ages. The book can be found on Amazon for less than $20.

    A very fun read.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.