The Three Stooges April Fool's Day Special #1

On their way to Poughkeepsie, the fellas are kicked off their bus. For bringing a live chicken, of course. Having to hoof it now, the boys find themselves at a renaissance fair. Only they think that they've traveled back in time to 'mud-evil' times. Welcomed as guests, though considered a bunch of bozos, Larry, Moe and Curly make the most of things. And that means getting into trouble! 

Then in a classic issue from the Dell/Gold Key years, Larry, Moe and Curly Joe have car trouble somewhere in the humid desert of the Western US. There the Stooges get mistaken for both bank robbers and US marshals. It's a cartoonish romp that can only be played out by this trio of troublemakers.

I'm really torn over this issue. I liked both stories. The first tale captured the classic Stooges perfectly in a modern, albeit antiquated, setting. The second tale was also wonderful. It hit all the right notes of the Curly Joe era while also following a classic Stooges trope- mistaken identity. 

No, my problem was that I don't understand why this is considered an April Fool's Day special. Having the guys get into a joke war seems a little more fitting. Sure, the guys get mistaken for both robbers and lawmen. But there's no real intentional deception. I'd even enjoy a prank of a serious Stooges story. Or having some sort of impish version of Shemp throw Larry, Moe and Curly for a loop. (Shemp Imp-get it?! Ha!) Something that was an actual April Fool, you know?

Usually April 1st results in a trick. But this issue actually has a surprise treat. If you scan the QR code, you get a full classic episode of the Three Stooges. And I checked! Even though this is a 5 year old issue, the link to the episode on Youtube still works!

I imagine if you QR the above cover image on your phone, it'll work for you!

A fun issue that provides some added enjoyment. Just not the material that I would expect for the occasion in which this issue was to be celebrated. 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

The Three Stooges TV Time Special #1

Larry, Moe and Curly shine in a pair of all-new stories in this 2017 special from American Mythology. 

The first yarn has the boys going on a budget vacation. Using Shemp's car, the fellas are heading to the beach. But thanks to a traffic jam, Moe decides to take the scenic route. Which we all know never goes poorly!

The second story has the guys competing in a Double Dare type game show. The tasks the contestants have to complete harkens back to some classic Stooges bits. But it's the punchline to the story that only the most loyal of Stooges fans will get. (Madman translation- I kinda got it but it's also something that doesn't provide an 'A-ha!' moment for me either.)

Though this is called the Three Stooges TV Time Special, only one of the stories is about television. Well, I assume the game show story is about a TV show. I don't recall seeing any studio cameras. I know that the Stooges are considered icons of TV, but they got their start on stage and later screen. In other words, it doesn't make sense to me why this is a TV Time special.

As with just about every American Mythology comic featuring the Three Stooges, there's extra material. Along with a couple of one-page gags from probably Dell or Gold Key, there's an article on the Stooges exhibit at Geppi's Entertainment Museum. I knew that the GEM in Baltimore closed before the pandemic. That's how I realized that this wasn't a recent release even though I just purchased this on the new releases shelf at my LCS. But that's okay! I wasn't feeling all that great and appreciated the pick-me-up.

There's also an interview with a Stooges super-fan. One that also happens to be a priest. So you heard it here first- The Three Stooges are kid tested, man of the cloth approved!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

The Three Stooges Stocking Stuffer #1

With just a couple of days before Christmas, American Mythology pulled out a holiday classic starring the Sages of Slapstick- the Three Stooges. 

As there are 3 Stooges (technically), there's a trio of holiday themed stories. 

The first story has Larry, Moe and what I think is Curly Joe. I say that because the artwork looks a lot like the Three Stooges cartoon from the 1960s and Curly Joe was the 3rd Stooge for that incarnation of the fellas. This story is classic slapstick as the guys attempt to trim the tree to disastrous effect! 

Story 2 is a Hanukkah yarn. The guys are left in charge of a very expensive diamond crusted dreidel at a Hanukkah street festival. But when the luxury top is accidentally gifted to a young girl, the boys will do everything in their power to retrieve it! Even if it means destroying the entire carnival!

The final story has the fellas playing guardian angels to a young boy on Christmas Eve. This lad seems to be the object of quite a bit of danger. Thankfully, he's got not 1 but 3 heavenly protectors on his back!

I loved the awesome twist to that final story. And the Hanukkah tale was very funny. (Though I did think using photographs of items instead of drawing them was a bit of a cop out. Plus, would a Hanukkah festival use temple menorahs, which have only 7 candles?) Both seem to utilize Curly. Though the Hanukkah story might use the Stooges from the 2012 live action film; seeing as rap music and other cultural elements weren't around in the 1940s. Still, I wasn't 100% with this Christmas comic and it all comes down to 1 thing- No Shemp!!!

My wife says that I'm the only person in the world that says Shemp is my favorite Stooge. I don't think that's true seeing as American Mythology put out a Shemp special a couple of years ago. Still, I would have liked it if at least 1 story had my favorite Stooge in it. Especially because the listing for this book promised an appearance from Shemp!

According to the Previews listing- 'Join Moe, Larry, Curly, and even Shemp with tales that will fill your Christmas with chuckles and your Hanukah with hilarity!' Even with the 3 classic one-page gags, there's no Shemp! I feel like somebody told me there's no Santa Claus!

A very fun read. Only not 100% what I was promised!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

The Three Stooges: Shemptastic Shemptacular

There's 2 stories in this Shemp-tacular; one is an all-new romp. The other is a classic farce. 

The opener answers an age-old question that has plagued Stooges fans for decades: did Shemp and Curly know each other? The answer is: they sure did!

Here, Shemp is sent a package intended for the guys by mistake. When Shemp heads over to Casa Stooge, he finds the house in shambles. A mysterious message scrawled on a notepad leads Shemp to search for his friends while daydreaming he's secret agent, Shemp Suavely. Upon getting mistaken as a G-man by real spies, Shemp does everything in his power to protect the misdelivered mail and save his friends!

The classic story involves the guys getting swindled by  con man Benedict Bogus as they try to raise funds for a family in need. The fellas decide to go diving for sunken treasure. But they're gonna need a diving bell to do it. Tricked into buying a real bell, the guys might not realize that they're sitting on a literal gold mine as their new antique is revealed to be worth millions!

The story where Shemp gets mistaken for a secret agent was pure gold. It was quite different from your typical Three Stooges short. It wasn't formulaic. Plus, despite being a tad aloof about things, the otherwise scaredy cat Shemp was rather heroic in this adventure. He just didn’t know he was ever in danger!

The classic tale was pretty good too. This is the second time I've encountered this con man character. I don't remember him from the shorts. So he must have been just for the comics. He reminds me of Brer Fox, always trying to get Brer Rabbit into becoming the fox's next meal through some kind of swindle. He's really one-note and honestly isn't really needed. In fact, I feel like he detracts from the real stars of the story. But since this was a classic story, I can't fault American Mythology for the baddie's inclusion.

But why did the editors pick this story for this special? While Larry and Moe select Shemp to be the diver for the sunken treasure, this really isn't a Shemp centered comedy. Like I have hinted to prior, I know that other American Mythology specials carry reprints of classic Three Stooges comics. So maybe all of the good Shemp stories had already been republished?

Kinda like when listening to a Queen song. Even the bad ones are good. This wasn't a terrible Shemp tribute. But it didn't seem to be 100% about the greatest Stooge of them all either. But I enjoyed it because it was devoted to my guy! Now here's hoping for a Curly Joe retrospective!!!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars

Three Stooges: Thru The Ages One-Shot

I'm not able to head over to my favorite LCS every week; what with a partial return to work. Thankfully, the fellas over at Books Do Furnish a Room have been holding stuff for me on my list. And this week was my chance to finally pick up some issues that were collecting dust.

From the cover, it appears that Three Stooges: Thru The Ages would finally address the changing line-up of Shemp, Curly and Curly Joe. One existed in the prehistoric past. Another lives in the time of knights and dragons. The third is from the future. But unfortunately, this is definitely one of those times you shouldn't judge a book from it's cover. 

Thru The Ages marks the 5th anniversary of American Mythology having the licensing rights to produce Stooges comics. We do get 3 stories each starring a rotating member of the trio. Instead, we get a zoo caper with Shemp. Curly is goaded into wrestling a bruiser in hopes of winning some cash. And Curly Joe seems to play third fiddle as Moe and Larry try to persuade a big-wig producer to fund their next project. All 3 stories were rather funny and I don't regret paying full price for this one-shot. But the plots do nothing to reflect the cover with was a big selling point for me.

There were a couple of cool extras. One was a complete rundown of all of the Stooges comics from American Mythology. This has helped me to determine what Halloween and Christmas specials are now on my wish list. But did you know that there was an April Fool's issue?? That plus the revelation of an All-Shemp issue are now on my radar. 

The other extra is an interview with 2 of Larry Fine's great-grandsons and a grandson of Curly's. That was an interesting insight at being the legacy of comedic and cultural icons. And the rare photos of the Boys were really cool.

I enjoyed this read. It didn't turn out how I expected. But it was a much needed read for refreshment and humorous delight.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Laurel and Hardy Meet The Three Stooges #1 (Family Comic Friday)

It's a crossover that only could have happened thanks to the magic of comic books. Join Family Comic Friday as we review the first ever meeting between Laurel and Hardy and the Three Stooges!

Laurel and Hardy Meet The Three Stooges #1

Written by James Kuhoric and S.A. Check
Art by Diego Tapie
Published by American Mythology
Retail: $3.99, variant covers are more slightly expensive

Laurel and Hardy- this duo were stars of stage and film from the 1920s until their last movie in 1950. They are a beloved pair of comedians who saw resurgence in fame in the 60s and 70s thanks to film festivals, appearances in comic books, even a cartoon show!

The Three Stooges- Larry, Moe and Curly. This trio got their start on the Vaudeville stage in the 1920s. Their slapstick hi-jinks made them movie stars from the 1930s-60s. With new members like Shemp and Curly Joe filling in for Curly, the Stooges took over comic books and TV with a long running kid shows that combined live action and animation.

In honor of looming the 100th anniversaries of The Three Stooges and Laurel and Hardy, American Mythology has done the unthinkable- paired the two iconic comedy teams together for the very first time! EVER! 

For fans of these zany characters, this is a dream come true! Writers James Kuhoric and S.A. Check along with artist Diego Tapie pit the two comedy teams together in the ultimate comedy comic! Laurel and Hardy had a series of films in which the two were bumbling furniture movers who ended up breaking everything they touched. A very heavy piano or safe was always a gigantic obstacle to move. The Three Stooges had a running gag in which they were house repairmen who would wind up destroying the house rather than fixing it! In this one-shot crossover, a couple make the ultimate mistake hiring all 5 goof balls to help them move into a run-down home!

I laughed so much at this book. The writing duo of Kuhoric and Check were  masters at crafting Laurel and Hardy's very deft dialogue. S.A. Check captured the Stooges in their cartoon forms perfectly and illustrated some hilarious sight gags. Laurel and Hardy and the Stooges were known for being the kings of physical comedy. You'd think that a comic book couldn't capture their fluidity and yet this book does! I was extremely pleased!

Laurel and Hardy Meet The Three Stooges is rated for all ages. I agree that this is an appropriate book for kids of any age level. But it may be mom and dad or the grandparents who enjoy this book the most. The Stooges have had a minor resurgence in the past decade or so with a 2012 reboot that included a comic book series and a live action film that starred Sean Hayes. As for Laurel and Hardy, they are a big unknown to youngsters. It doesn't mean that today's young readers won't enjoy this comic book. They just might need an adult to help make  some of these figures of early Hollywood relevant. 

I'm a big fan of American Mythology. They've been bringing back a ton of classic franchises from my youth and that of my parents. They did an awesome job with this team-up and I am eager to see what comes next! Could we possibly see the Marx Brothers getting into mischief with Larry, Moe and company? That would be epic if they did! And I'd be first in line for my copy of it!

The Three Stooges: Merry Stoogemas

Another American Mythology triumph!

This 2016 Christmas special has the Stooges playing pet shop store owners on Christmas Eve. Their last sale of the holiday shopping season involves a kitten for a little girl. But when the kitty ends up back at the shop, the guys must save Christmas! Taking the term 'cat burglar' to an all-new meaning, Larry, Moe and Curly must break into a house in order to make sure the little girl wakes up to a new cat on Christmas Day!

The second feature is a reprint from a 1950s era Three Stooges comic. Here, my favorite Stooge, Shemp, replaces Curly in a non-Christmas themed story drawn by comics legend Joe Kubert! When a con man hires the boys to play ghost writer for his biography. Hoping to sign a luxurious movie deal, the crook has really padded his resume. Plus the swindler figures he can save a buck hiring the Stooges to do the job. Little does the baddie know that the he should have hired anybody but the Stooges for the job.

American Mythology really do a dynamic job capturing the Stooges perfectly in the all-new tale. They've done such a better job than Papercutz ever did with the license. Plus, I can forgive the back-up tale not being holiday themed. American Mythology loves to print a vintage tale along with an original story. It's very possible that there has probably never been an Christmas-themed Stooge story made during the time the Stooges were alive. Besides, it's got Shemp and I love Shemp!!!

There were several covers to choose from with this special. While I liked the photo covers of the Stooges dressing as Santa, I just had to get the cover penciled by Mark Wheatley. Not a lot of fans know that The Stooges, including Shemp, were Jewish. If you look closely at the ornament at the bottom right corner of the cover, you see that it's got a blue six-sided star on it. A really cool nod to the comedian's Jewish heritage and the Hanukkah holiday.

Lots of nostalgic fun with Larry, Moe, Curly and Shemp!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

They Made A Christmas Album?- Advent 2018: Day 22

Today's featured artists were ones that I had scheduled earlier in the month. But I moved them to today because of their presence on tonight's episode of Svengoolie. I am talking about the Three Stooges. 

The Stooges got their start in vaudeville in 1922. The original line-up was of brothers Moe and Shemp Howard with Larry Fine rounding out the trio. They were a sidekick to headlining comedian Ted Healy, going on in 1932 to star in the film Soup to Nuts. Immediately afterwards, Shemp left the group and was replaced by his brother Jerome. Going now as Curly, this was the most famous incarnation of the comedy group. 

A couple of years later saw the Three Stooges breaking on their own. From 1934-46, the trio starred in 90 shorts. Unfortunately in 1946, Curly suffered a terrible stroke and had to be replaced by the brother he replaced, Shemp. 

Shemp was only to temporarily replace Curly until he got better. Sadly, the portly Stooge's health only got worse, passing away in 1952 from another stroke. Shemp stayed on as a Stooge until his death of a heart attack in 1955.

Moe considered disbanding the group. However, with Larry heavily in debt and the Stooges still under contract with Columbia Pictures, Howard had to find a replacement. He found it in Joe Besser, an alum from the Abbott and Costello Show. Besser might have stayed on with the group had his wife not suffered a massive heart attack in late 1957. Moe and Larry were planning a major U.S. tour and Besser wanted to stay home with his wife.

In 1958, we get the last line-up of the Three Stooges with the addition of Joe DeRita. Eventually taking the name of Curly Joe, DeRita would see a renaissance of popularity with the Three Stooges as the classic shorts became syndicated hits. The Stooges would star in a number of films including 1959's Have Rocket, Will Travel; which airs on tonight's episode of Svengoolie on MeTV. In the 60s, the Stooges would star in an animated weekly cartoon called The New Three Stooges, complete with live-action skits in between toons.

But let's come back to 1958. With the popularity of the comedy tour over the Summer, the Three Stooges decided to record a Christmas album. Despite later releases that feature Curly on the cover with Moe and Larry, it was Curly Joe who was the third Stooge on this record.

The original recording, titled Christmas Time With The Three Stooges wasn't really all that Christmasy. First of all is the cover which has Larry inside an ersatz time machine. It looks more like a summer picture and like the guys are trying badly to sell ice cream. 

The album has 9 songs on it. Only 3 of the songs are Christmas themed. I don't know about you, but a pet peeve of mine is a holiday special that isn't really all that much about Christmas. 

Anyways, that's were we get to today's song. It's I Want A Hippopotamus for Christmas. Originally sung and recorded in 1953 by child singer Gayla Peevey, the song was a fad song in the 50s. A child's letter to Santa, requesting the actually quite deadly African mammal, the song faded into obscurity until the late 70s when it was rediscovered by the Doctor Demento Show. But at the time of the Three Stooges record's debut, the hippo song was still fairly well known and goofy enough to be sung by Larry, Moe and Curly Joe.

So, without further to-do, I present to you today's song. Enjoy...

The Three Stooges, Volume 1: Bed-Bugged!

In 2012, the Farrelly Brothers, directors of Dumb and Dumber, released a reboot of The Three Stooges. Starring Sean Hayes, Will Sasso, and Chris Diamantopoulos, the film was expected to be a smash hit. While the movie did bring in about $20 million more than it's production budget, based on expectations, the film was not a major success. (Oddly enough, a sequel is supposed to be in the works. But whether it will be a box office release or go straight to DVD is another matter.)

To cash in on the predicted buzz, Papercutz purchased the rights to not only create all-new Stooges comics, but the reproduction rights of the Dell Comics series from the 1960s. For the publisher, the move was a mixed bag of success. The Best of the Three Stooges Comics Books, Volumes 1 and 2 were critical hits. Fans who grew up watching the Stooges as kids and read the comics, snatched up these collections. They're actually pretty hard to find now. 

On the flip side, Papercutz released 2 volumes of new material to coincide with the Farrelly Brothers film. They didn't do as well as while the comics were marketed to kids, the film was a little too adult for them. As a result, these books have ended up at discount outlets over the years, which is where I found this book.

Bed-Bugged is filled with several short stories of the Stooges either taking on menial jobs and failing miserably or attempting to cash in on get rich schemes. Written by Jim Salicrup and George Gladir, these adventures include training to become sumo wrestlers, guarding a shopping mall from a horde of zombies, creating a haunted house in what very well may be a haunted house. Archie Comics legend Stan Goldberg illustrates all of these stories, such as the title story in which the Stooges are pest control workers. Also included as is a reprinted story from the 1960s written and illustrated by Norman Maurer, who coincidentally was married to Moe's real life daughter, Joan Howard.

The 1960s story was the best. Only instead of starring Larry, Moe, and Curly, this tale featured Shemp. By the time that story was published, Curly had passed away and Shemp was long gone. Instead, by this time new Stooges adventures were being created with someone named Curly Joe. Why wasn't he in this story instead of Shemp?

And why am I complaining? I love Shemp. My Yahoo! handle is a blotched tribute amalgam of my favorites Stooge's name and also my favorite bounty hunter. I guess it's just the comic book historian in me.

Normally with a book like this, the rating I give would not pursuade me to buy volume 2. But volume 2 is holiday themed and since I have a collection holiday comics, whether good or bad, the sequel is on my wish list. 

A okay read that is entertaining but not 100% my Stooges. Well, that last story is, at least.

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

The Three Stooges: Halloween Hullaballoo (Halloween Comic Fest 2016)

With today being Halloween Comic Fest, I thought it was only fitting to review an offering from last year's event. 

This 2016 holiday themed book by American Mythology offers a variety of stories starring those merry pranksters from Hollywood of old, the Three Stooges. My favorite yarns involved the Stooges getting mixed up in a zombie apocalypse, some trick or treat hi-jinx gone wrong and a very special sneak peak of a one-shot special titled The Curse of Frankenstooge. That last one is based on a classic Stooges shot in which the guys meet Dr. Frankenstein's greatest creation. I really want that one and I've added it to my wish list!

There was some awesome pictures of the guys in their heyday, along with some cut-out masks, and a couple of one-pagers from their Gold Key and Dell Comics titles in the 1960s. The more stuff I read from American Mythology, the more I dig their retro style and desire to bring back some classic properities from the 50s, 60s, and 70s.  As an added treat- I dare you to find the Shemp Easter egg hiding somewhere inside!

A great read, perfect for Halloween fun without scaring you too much. 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

A Madman's Halloween 2017 Reading List... (Part 1)

It's that time of year again. The days get shorter. The nights get longer. A chill is in the air and soon, the Witching Hour of October 31st will soon be upon us.
And with that I have crafted my 2017 Halloween reading list to help get more in that spooky spirit of All Hallow's Eve. I spent all last night combing my vast collection of over 9,000 books to conger up a few scares. I've grouped my reads into different categories in order to help those of you be inspired to find the right spooky comic book for your countdown to terror. So read on if you dare...

For the Kiddies...

All of these books were selections from the 2016 Comic Book Halloween Fest held in comic shops nationwide. The next such event is scheduled for October 28th. For an look at those titles click here...

Disney's Great Parodies: Mickey's Inferno (Mini-comic)

This is a Disney-fied version of Dante's Inferno. Reprinted and translated from it's original Italian, the book is a parody of Dante's Inferno, about a young man's trip to Hell. Only the opening chapter to the Papercutz graphic novel, the book is recommended for ages 6-11! I'm not kidding, that's what Amazon says. Well, might as well get the kids started on the classics early in life.

Grumpy Cat and Pokey (Mini-comic)

The world-famous cat behind a 1,000 memes has his own series of comics with his brother Pokey. Despite the Friday the 13th cover, this book is geared for readers of all-ages and the series is a million times funnier than anything Garfield.

Grimmiss Island (Mini-comic)

From the Art Baltazar and Franco, the minds behind such titles as Tiny Titans and Itty Bitty Hell Boy comes Grimmiss Island. The star of the book is a sort of tiki god golem that protects his creators from the evil volcano gods. For readers 8-12.

Archie's Mad House (Mini-comic)

Archie has been a mainstay of the Halloween Comic Fest since it's inception. Tons of collections devoted to Archie and all of his Halloween and other holiday stories can be found online and comic shops the world over.

The Three Stooges Halloween Hullabaloo

You'd think that this generation of young readers wouldn't be open to the Stooges. Yet, it's been a successful series for several years now. Who would've thought? It's great to see that some classics don't die away. Suggested readership is 8-12 years of age.

For Teens and Up...

Yes, the comics offered at Comic Book Halloween Fest aren't just for kids- there's books for teens and adults given away for free.  Here's a look at some selections from last year's event.

The Haunted Mansion #1

Part of Marvel's Disney Kingdoms series, this is a reprint of the 2015-16's miniseries devoted to the 999 spooks of the Haunted Mansion. For ages 12 and up.

You Choose the Story When You're the Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #1

I'm pretty sure that this isn't a Halloween themed story. Every once and a while, one of these gets added to the Halloween Fest mix. I don't particularly like it when this happens, but it's a Choose Your Own Adventure type comic and when I saw this last year, it literally was crying out for me to take it home. 12 and up.

John Carpenter's Tales For a Halloween Night, Volume 2

If you don't know why John Carpenter and All Hallow's Eve are as synonymous as peanut butter and jelly, google the words 'Michael Myers' right now! (I'll wait...) This selection of stories is from his award winning anthology series featuring the talents of Stephen King, Steve Niles, and many more. Recommended for ages 14 and up.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 10 #8

Not an offering from Comic Fest. But this continuation of the Joss Whedon series is perfect for this category. It seems that Buffy becomes a sort of cultural touchstone for people once they become teenagers. I bought this in a bargain bin for a buck just because of the Halloween cover. We shall see if it's a holiday themed story...

---

And that will wrap up part one of my list. In part two, I take on the adult books as well as some classic scares.
Over the month of October, check out my personal blog Madman With a Book where I will be posting my reviews of these books as well as many other titles,
I hope this list will inspire you to seek out some comic and graphic novel frights in time for Halloween. If you have any suggestions of you own for what makes the perfect Halloween reading list, please post theme in the comments section below...