Generation X #4

I've read this issue before. But it's such a Christmas classic that when I finally located an issue, I immediately put it in my read pile to read it again.

The main story is that while members of the Xavier School are out for a holiday field trip, they come across a hostage situation. Readings indicate that there is a mutant involved somehow and it's believed that the disfigured lad holding his teacher and classmates is what is causing sensors to go wild. However, in a twist, it's not the boy, though mutated he may look, that is the dangerous mutant on the scene. Instead, it's a character nobody really suspected and I'm not sure very many readers even know who the foe is. New costume notwithstanding...

Indicating that humans with deformities might make them looked upon as freaks in the eyes of society, but it doesn't make them mutants, is a poignant addition to X-Men lore. It had been, and still is debated, that birth defects should make humans into mutants in the Marvel Universe. Yet, this issue clearly states that those humans who might look different from the rest of society, while are not mutants, are classified as such and it's a tragedy that they get lost in the cracks. Mutants have groups like the X-Men to turn to for protection. Who do those with Dome Syndrome or Multiple Sclerosis have? 

While this 1995 issue is indeed thought provoking, it's not the writing of this story, by Marvel mutant veteran, Scott Lobdell, that makes this issue a classic. It's the artwork by Chris Bachalo. Almost every page oozes Christmas. There's an elf narrator throughout the book. His words are presented like scrolls of lost holiday lore. Panels of jingle bells and other holiday icons fill the borders between panels and pages. Not a single inch of space is wasted. It's like a classic TV Christmas special that I don't want to end.

Many, including myself, erroneously think that the title of this book is the 'Generation X Holiday Spectacular' and that this is the 4th edition. I've wasted several hours trying to find issues 1-3 to no success. No, this is 4th issue of the 1st volume of Generation X, which ran from 1994-2001. Adding to the confusion if you're trying to compete the run of this series, Generation X would be temporarily cancelled to make way for Generation NeXt, a 4-issue miniseries tie-in to the 'Age of Apocalypse' storyline that saw a changed mutant society after someone went back in time and assassinated Charles Xavier. 

I gotta say that this is a great issue and if the quality of this lone tale is any indication of the rest of the Scott Lobdell/Chris Bachalo run, then I want it!!! I already own Generation NeXt 1-4, so I should be able to collect them without much further annoyance. I just wish that the storyline of the troubled young man wasn't left so wide open. Did he get the help he so craved? Did he wind up incarcerated? Do we ever see this guy again. Too many questions prevent this from being a happy ending.

Worth Consuming.

Stray

There's been more than a fair share of great comic book titles being unceremoniously cancelled, scraped or plain up never getting past the planning stage. This 2001 deluxe format comic by Scott Lobdell and Jimmy Palmiotti might just rank among those titles.

Stray is the story of an aspiring actress whose life turns upside down the day she gets fired from her waitressing gig. We all know that adopting a stray dog on the day you get canned isn't exactly the wisest financial decision to make. But that's exactly what Catherine 'Cat' Denton does. Call her a softie.

Unknown to Cat is at that exact moment an alien life-form named Acturex is hurtling to planet Earth to stop a hidden menace seeking to conquer our planet. Acturex's plain is to merge into the body of Garrick, Cat's downstairs neighbor who's a prime specimen of strength, endurance and good looks. However, a slight miscalculation causes Acturex to merge into the body of the stray living with Cat. And there's no way for the alien to find a new host until his mission is complete.

Using her acting skills and various costume changes, Cat Denton now goes on casting calls by day and secretly saves the Earth from alien invasion at night with the help of Rex, her super-powered and psychically linked pooch!

I couldn't tell you where I got this book. I've had it for awhile. Probably came from a grab bag. Having an adorable animal as a main character, I still didn't take any chances before I read this book. Having been burnt before by the shocking and gruesome death of the dog in issue #1 of The Weather Man, I made sure that no animals were harmed or killed in the completion of this comic. Once I broke one of LaVar Burton's cardinal rules of book consumption from Reading Rainbow, I dug into the book and was pleasantly surprised. 

The art looked a little bit off. I at first thought it was computer generated. Once I realized that Dustin Nguyen was behind the inking of Adam Polina's artwork, I knew that this wasn't funky CGI material; this was year 3000 illustrations! My puny human brain just wasn't able to comprehend the evolution of the artistic talent behind Stray.

I don't think the advanced penciling for this story was what has prevented there from ever being another story about Cat and Rex. Its been 23 years with bupkis. Though Stray was a joint DC/Wild storm production, the book itself was published by Homage Comics. I don't know about you, but I've never heard of this venture before(I think). A quick Google search reveals that they were the driving force behind Astro City and Leave It To Chance before Wildstorm quickly absorbed these Indy classics. 

You go to the Homage Comics page on the DC Wiki and Stray isn't even listed as one of their publications. So I think this book might be all we get. Barring some miracle revival. Until then, if you ever come across this book in a bargain bin at your favorite LCS or a Con, you really should consider picking it up. It's a quirky, quick read that oozes heart and creativity. 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Red Hood and the Outlaws Annual #2

An encounter with an impostor St. Nick at Wayne Manor sends 10-year old Jason Todd and his friends Starfire and Roy Harper on a trek to the North Pole to find out why the real Santa Claus didn't come to visit Red Hood and the Outlaws. 

The New 52 had a lot of memorable moments. However, the fun moments were few and far between as this incarnation of the DC Universe was much more dark and gritty. This holiday annual was lots of fun as it seems that fans of the Red Hood, Starfire and Arsenal got to explore an untold tale from their early days as youths. Only something just doesn't add up and it's not Dan DiDio and Jim Lee playing fast and loose with continuity. 

Scott Lobdell gifted fans with a festive story that was gritty, violent and absolutely bonkers. Yet, it was a wild ride that I will definitely visit again in future Christmas comics reading seasons. Jonboy Meyers' art was great and while the cover by RB Silva and Walden Wong is deceptively cute, it made for a great wrappage for this package full of New 52 twists and turns!

I've never read any of the Red Hood and the Outlaws books previously. Thanks to this 2015 annual, I may just start. I didn't really understand the concept of the series. I'm still not 100% understanding of why Starfire is with Jason Todd and not the Teen Titans; but I now have a better grasp of this series' concept enough to give it a go.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #85

A new Wolverine story begins in this issue. Big surprise there. Actually, I have mixed feelings about this. And the negative I have isn't really about Wolverine. It's about the cover artist.

For roughly 85 issues, there was a different cover artist. That all changes here as Sam Keith becomes the permanent cover artist. I am a fan of Keith due to his creation The Maxx. Both the comic book and the animated series that appeared as part of the MTV series Oddities. (I'll admit; before researching just a few moments ago, I thought The Maxx was on Liquid Television. Oops!) Anyways. So I like Sam Keith. But I am not digging his take on Wolverine. 

Okay. Let me retract slightly. This cover and the next couple are decent. But as I've been looking ahead on what's to come, there are some real stinkers. I'll be pointing them out as we come to them.

Now what I am liking about this new Wolverine tale is the story itself. Wolverine is back in Madripoor. That's a plus for me. He's in a relationship with Tyger Tiger. Another plus. And penciler Sam Keith is making her look really alluring. Another plus. But the thing that I am liking about this story is the antagonist, a mutant called Cyber.

This is Cyber's first ever appearance. But in the story, he's got a history with Wolverine. Right now, it's not revealed. But apparently, just the mention of his name is enough to make Wolverine put his tail between his legs and fall into a cold sweat.

Finally, after years of being this little wise-ass who can't be beat, there's someone who makes Wolverine feel like a defenseless child. Yes. I know we just sat through 12 chapters+ of a Weapon X story that saw Logan suffer terrible torture under the guise of laboratory experiments. But deep down, Logan was still fighting his oppressors, even if most of it was subconscious. Here, Wolverine is rattled deep to his core. And I love it!

Meanwhile, the Firestar story continues with nothing really new happening. A new multi-parter starring X-Man, the Beast, attending a symposium in Europe and facing a deep, dark secret from his past. Finally, Scott Lobdell and Ron Wilson craft a fun Speedball story. Once again, my interest in the New Mutant character is whetted by the talent of MCP. I may have to find some back issues or a trade because I am really enjoying these stories.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #71

The Wolverine and Ghost Rider story comes to an end. Finally! Too many ninjas. Too much backstory of a family that isn't interesting. Too many chapters. It all comes to a close!

More deaths fill the pages of the Shanna the She Devil segment. But at least no animals were harmed in the illustrating of this chapter. 

The Daredevil story takes a great turn in a apocalyptic story that is becoming a whodunit. Very good story that just has an implausible overtone to it.

The New Mutant Warlock stars in the one-shot story. This was a story that I wish Marvel had followed up on. In it, Warlock saves a FBI agent from a group of mutated scientists with the ability to change their shape. Kinda like Clayface- only with flesh instead of mud. And there is 3 of them!

Anyways, the story had a setup where the FBI agent offers Warlock a place in the agency and I really think Marvel should have done a miniseries on the pairing of the straight-laced fed and the wacky New Mutant. Another Scott Lobdell triumph that had a bunch of untapped potential. Too late to do something now...

A better issue. Maybe I am biased with the Wolverine/Ghost Rider story coming to a close. But I did enjoy reading this one.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #68

Marvel Comics lied! Last issue the editors said that the Wolverine/Ghost Rider story was coming to an end in this issue. It said in the last panel 'To Be Concluded.' In this issue, things wrap up with a 'To Be Continued.' Gosh darn it! This blasted story is still going to keep going- for at least one issue. But still...

The Fantastic Four story does end in this issue. I knew it was coming. I didn't want it to. The villain is finally revealed and no, it's not Doctor Doom, The Frightful Four or Rama Tut. Instead, it's some alien race I've never heard of that looks like a cross between the Impossible Man and the FF in their purple astronaut suits. 

Starting up in this issue is a Shanna the She-Devil multi-parter. It's a good opener. But there's one graphic scene that just haunts me. It's of a slaughtered elephant. It was killed by poachers. Only the poaching didn't happen in the African wild but in a zoo in London! But due to this unspeakable killing, Shanna will be heading to the Dark Continent as she's got a pretty good idea just who is behind the carnage.

The one-and-done story is a charming story involving Lockjaw. He's with some of the Inhumans in New York City. But as a dog is want to do, Lockjaw senses something is wrong and goes off throughout the city. It's a good thing, because a land developer with even less of a heart than Shanna's poacher is about to torch a rundown tenement loaded with homeless and disadvantaged New Yorkers!

I hated the Wolverine/Ghost Rider entry. I'm just getting tired of it. The Fantastic Four story was good. But I didn't want it to end. The Shanna story is good. But I hate it when animals get mistreated. Even sketched and inked ones. And that Lockjaw story was fan-dam-tastic! So good. If Scott Lobdell and Jose Delbo had done a miniseries of Lockjaw adventures a la Lassie, I'd be all over the web to get my hands on it. Great story!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #21

There's a great story starring the mercenary Paladin. It involves a newspaper magnate hiring Paladin to rescue his daughter whose been kidnapped and held for ransom. Only the kidnapping was faked in order to bring awareness to protected lands owned by her father. And then you get the mafia, KGB and nameless other entities involved! It's a good thing Paladin charges for expenses!

This In Like Flint-type story was hilarious. I wish it wasn't a one-and-done story. The Scott Lobdell penned story was far more superior than the Cyclops mutant virus cover story and the way too drawn out Black Panther tale. 

The other 8-pager stars The Thing. This story was also very good. But with the subject matter of domestic violence and mental illness, it was also a heart-breaker.

I want more Paladin!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #9

There's 2 one-and-done stories in this issue. The first has Cloak, from Cloak and Dagger, on a solo adventure. A youngster has disappeared in a cave and the reason for the disappearance has sinister origins. Or does it? Mole Man's Moloids are behind the kidnapping. When it comes to many of their actions, its often due to a sort of culture clash kinda confusion and almost always comical... Not here! 

Writer Marcus McLaurin (The Punisher) has this what should be lighthearted adventure go quite dark.  It just wasn't necessary. Yet, that's the gritty late 80s Marvel for you. DC went light and offbeat. The House of Ideas wanted to be more mature with a social relevance slant. With a story like this, it just doesn't work.

Thankfully, in story #2, the writers do go light! X-Men's Scott Lobdell, who is known for having a bit of a funny bone, spins a yarn about a Marvel superhero so obscure, I've never even heard of him. The Spaniard El Aguila, is a mix of Zorro, Captain America and The Tick. In Lobdell's story, El Aguila returns to his home town, only to find it overrun by a mutant crime lord whose powers are derived from contact with the earth. El Aguila, despite being a mutant himself, is grossly outmatched. But the hero is far from outwitted. This was such a great story. I hated to see it end. I hate even more to find out that Lobdell and El Aguila never got a chance to reteam in some sort of humor action comedy series. 

That's the gritty 80s Marvel for you!

No real changes occur in the very interesting Man-Thing story (that has very little Man-Thing). There's only 1 chapter left in the Wolverine story. Can't wait for something new to take it's place. But I love the cover from Brian Murray. 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.