True Believers: King in Black- Beta Ray Bill #1

Marvel's True Believers series was great. For only a buck, you could purchase reprints based on some of the most iconic moments in comic book history. In full glorious color. They were great for collectors like me who didn't want to pay beaucoup bucks for the originals. The True Believers helped me make affordable dents into collections that would have to go without if I had to rely on purchasing an original copy of the story to complete my runs. Plus, for those of us who tried to support younger readers who were interested in getting their collections going, these were cheap ways to provide essential reading material.

This volume reprints issue #337 of Thor (Vol. 1) which introduced fans to the hugely popular Beta Ray Bill. A member of the Korbinites, Bill has the face of a horse with a slighter snout. Armed with cybernetic enhancements and a specialized suit, Bill was chosen by his people to lead them to a new home. During this exodus, the Korbinites are attacked by demons of Surtur and almost Bill, despite saving his people, nearly died in the assault. To save him, his mothership encases him in a crystalline structure that places Bill in a state of suspended animation.

All of this backstory gets revealed later on. SHIELD tasks the thunder god in investigating Bill's space ship which has gotten too close to earth's orbit for Nick Fury's taste. Aboard the ship when Thor meets Bill, it's classic Marvel. Both think the other are enemies. Naturally, Bill thinks Thor is one of those demons. Thor thinks Bill is a dangerous alien intent on conquering his beloved adopted planet. In the melee, Thor drops his hammer which to the Odinson's shock is picked up and used with ease by Beta Ray Bill. 60 seconds have now passed and Thor reverts back into his human form of Dr. Donald Blake.

And wouldn't you know it, just when it looks like Beta Ray Bill is about to make ketchup out of Blake, Odin interferes and whisks Bill away to Asgard! That's because with Bill holding onto Mjolnir, the Highfather believes that he's Thor and calls him away to an emergency brewing in the nine realms.

You'd think for a god with the ability to see everything, Odin would know that an orange skinned fella with huge teeth and an equine face is totally different looking from a scrawny white dude. And this isn't the first time Odin makes these sort of impulsive mistakes. Believe me when I say that the most unworthy character in this story is the leader of Asgard!

While you get to see Beta Ray Bill in action, you don't get to see much of him as Thor. The cover is the biggest glimpse you get of Beta Ray Thor! But it's one of the most memorable covers of all time! This issue was originally published in 1983 and in my original comic book collection, I was the owner of this book. That previous ownership is why I wanted this book again. This 2020 reprint was issued as a tie-in to the King in Black major Marvel crossover event. I had zero interest in that storyline. Nostalgia was the main reason I needed this book. 

Written, penciled and inked by Walt Simonson, this is the issue that turned him into a definitive creator of Thor stories. When I was just a mere lad of 5 when I bought this book, I just wasn't old enough to appreciate it. Now in my mid-40s, I am so fond of this era of Thor. Why I just haven't done more than dip my toe into the Thor stories of the 1980s, it's not because of hatred. I'm still into the mid-70s on my run of Essential Marvel collections. I'll get to this period of time. It's just going to take me some time to get there.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Marvel and DC Present The Uncanny X-Men and The New Teen Titans #1

This is a book that I've seen numerous times online, having been purchased by others. Yet, I never once found it in the wild. Man, would such posts make me jealous! So you can be sure when I finally did get a chance to buy a copy, I promptly declared it was mine and added it to my pull pile.

This X-Men/New Teen Titans crossover continues the Phoenix Saga. But the main baddie chosen for this story is one that just seems unlikely. Darkseid, in yet another attempt to bring his Anti-Life Equation to fruition, has traded some powerful tech with the morally ambiguous Metron. Yet, up until 1982, when this book was published, the New Gods of Apokolips were never considered to be major foes of the Teen Titans. Yes, Deathstroke, the Terminator is involved in this plot. But he's a hired hand of Darkseid's and not the mastermind behind everything. I guess writer Chris Claremont (X-Men Vs. Dracula) really needed a powerful villain in order to bring Jean Grey back from the dead. 

That resurrection isn't a spoiler. You can see that Dark Phoenix has returned on the cover! The real mystery that I won't spoil, is whether or not the entity that has returned is Jean Grey or not. 

The most interesting thing about this story was how both the X-Men and Teen Titans exist in the same universe. I was expecting some sort of inter-dimensional tear in the fabric of reality bringing the two biggest sellers of DC and Marvel together. But I had forgotten that Superman and Spider-Man were a part of the same shared universe in their crossovers in the 1970s. 

It would be a dozen years before DC and Marvel would produce another crossover. The 90s were full of them because Marvel was close to folding and needed the sales boost such epic meetings brought with them. Nowadays, the Marvel and DC universes seem as far apart as the East is from the West. But I know in my heart that the boundary between both worlds is separated by the mere width of a single page. 

Featuring art by Walt Simonson (Fantastic Four) with inks by Terry Austin and a roster of over a dozen A-list characters, this epic was a true all-star event. Considering how beloved this book was and the fact that a reprint was issued in the mid-90s, I can't believe that it took me over 40 years to find my copy! Was it worth the wait? Visually- yes! But the story gets a little busy and Claremont really tries too tug too tight on the heart strings with Scott Summers in terms of the return of the Dark Phoenix. That overtly soap opera feel of the Uncanny X-Men is what put me off that series after a while and the book's ending sure does get soapy... I mean sappy.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Star Wars #108

Last month, Marvel released a facsimile edition of issue #50 of it's original Star Wars series. Knowing that for it's 80th anniversary that the House of Ideas was going to be releasing the 108th issue to the now non-canon comic that ran from 1977-86, I wondered why Marvel wasn't re-releasing issue #107. A week or two later, a True Believers $1 reprint of the final issue of Star Wars was released. But for the life of me, I couldn't understand what made that anniversary issue so gosh darn worthy of such a premium edition instead of the finale. 

Now thanks to finally getting my hands on a copy of this issue, I got my answer!

Star Wars #50 contained a one-shot story called 'The Crimson Forever.' This story, written and illustrated by Archie Goodwin, Al Williamson and Walt Simonson, is considered a classic and perhaps the best or one of the best of the entire first volume. It involves a pair of gems that when separated caused a deadly plague and some revenge against both the Empire and Rebellion at the hands of a woman whose brother died during the Battle of Yavin. Issue #108 is a completion of the story.

Another element of the original that was a fan favorite involved a cyborg bounty hunter named Valance. Knowing the identity of the pilot who destroyed the first Death Star, Valance seemingly met his fate in a battle with Darth Vader, sacrificing himself rather than give up that important information. Well, for those fans of this baddie with a heart of microchips, his story is also continued... in a way. 

There's quite a few fan favorites here. The hoojibs! The prim but pretty deadly Amazi. And the green space bunny Jaxxon!

What, you didn't like Jaxxon? He's a way better character than Jar Jar Binks ever was. So he looked like a nauseous Bugs Bunny. At least he was a compelling character that I didn't wish dead.

Noticeably absent is Lando! Where's he at? He appears on the cover of issue #107. So it's not like he up and disappeared. Or maybe he did and I just don't remember. 

This Legends issue was a welcome return to the Star Wars timeline I grew up with. I miss it so. But I am appreciative that Disney and Marvel understands that while it may no longer fit with their plans of the Star Wars Universe, there still are paying customers who remember that era and desire it's return!

Featuring several writers and artists including Matthew Rosenberg, Ben Passmore and Giuseppe  Camuncoli, I loved the varying art style. It's like getting to work on some sort of dream project. Just about everyone wanted a chance to work on it and Marvel did a wonderful job selecting some of the best Star Wars talent on the market today. I also appreciate having some of the original creators of on hand. Jo Duffy and Simonson contributed in their own ways with plotting and such.

Sadly, both Williamson and Goodwin have passed. Yet, Marvel managed to bring back the late Carmine Infantino for a special edition cover. While I liked his cover and Simonson's offering, I had to go with Michael Golden's cantina shoot-out cover (JAXXON!). But it was a hard choice, because I also really liked John Tyler Christopher's action figure variant of Valance. In the end I still think I made the right choice. But it was a tough decision.

Purchasing issue #108 was a no-brainer. I loved the original Marvel run and I wanted to see that version of Star Wars once again. I don't often say it but Thank You, Marvel! Here's to another return soon! 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

New Gods Special #1

Art and Stories by Shane Davis, Walt Simonson, and Jack Kirby

Published by DC Comics

  DC’s latest offering in their year-long bicentennial celebration of Jack Kirby’s birth is all about the New Gods. Kalibak has plans to turn New Genesis into Apokolips 2.0. Once he unleashes the fires of the planet’s core, the son of Darkseid plans on establishing himself as ruler. Thankfully, there’s another of Darkseid’s offspring to defend New Genesis from Kalibak’s secret assault- Orion!

  Axcend’s Shane Davis pits brother against brother in this thrilling opener of the New Gods Special. There’s tons of guest stars here such as Lightray, Forager, and Highfather. But the one character oddly missing is Darkseid! But don’t worry, he’s gonna rear his ugly head in his own one-shot special later this summer.

Ugly Inside

Davis’ story was very intriguing hinting upon the nature vs. nurture dynamic that Kirby sprinkled into the New Gods. Being born on Apokolips, Orion is at heart one wicked dude. But because of his childhood spent on New Genesis as the adopted son of Highfather, Orion has learned to control his rage.

One thing Orion cannot control is how he looks. Genetics has him naturally look twisted and cruel. If not for a Mother Box, Orion would annually win the Ugliest Person Award on New Genesis. So when Orion finally gives into his Apokoliptian heritage during his climatic battle with Kalibak, his Mother Box can no longer mask his true face.

This is the only moment in the story that I really was unhappy with Shane Davis’ art. When Kirby would draw Orion’s true self, he looked hideous. Davis changes Orion’s face. But he doesn’t do enough to really make you think that the Orion is evil at heart. Forager is frightened by this version of Orion. I didn’t feel as shocked.

Back-Up Features

The New Gods Special includes a several shorts. The first is a tale of Orion as a youth. With art and story by Walt Simonson, this exciting story teams Orion with ocean-farer Seagrin on one of his first missions: an underwater quest in the briny depths of Apokolips. Simonson is one of those few artists whose work has actually gotten better over the years. I didn’t want this fun shark tale to end.

It wouldn’t be a Jack Kirby tribute without something from the King himself. Rounding out this special are two short stories reprinted from the Forever People #5 and 7. Both tales focus on a little-known character called Lonar. As explained in former Kirby assistant Mark Evanier’s afterword, Lonar was supposed to be spun-off onto his own series. But the cancellation of all of Kirby’s Fourth World titles ended that plan.

I am really excited that DC decided to reprint some of Kirby’s harder to find Fourth World stuff. When I saw that the publisher was putting stuff from the Forever People in this special, I actually hesitated on buying this. I already have Kirby’s Forever People omnibus. But that volume doesn’t include any of the King’s grabbers- Kirby’s term for second feature fillers.
The New Gods Special was an exciting trip back to Kirby’s Fourth World. Filled with works inspired by the King, they in no way copy him. It’s really hard to imitate greatness. Especially when the benchmark established is Jack Kirby. But for a tribute creative to honor one of comic’s all-time greats, this is a fantastic homage of one of the King’s most enduring DC Universe creations.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Sherlock Holmes #1

This is one of those comics in which if it wasn't for the group's I participate in on Facebook, I wouldn't have known that it existed. When I saw this posted as a comic convention find by a fellow group member, I was so jealous. I immediately went to the net to purchase a copy for myself. Needless to say, it wasn't cheap. So, I held off on getting the book and I waited.

  My wait wasn't very long as I found a decent good- to- very good copy for only a buck! I'm pretty sure I yelled out “MINE!”, even though I was the only customer in the store at the time. That's how bad I wanted this issue.

  This issue, dated October 1975, is based on the writings of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, adapted by Dennis O’ Neil, who at the time of publication was doing masterful mystery work on various Batman series. So he was the perfect choice to head this up. The gothic style cover art is by superstar artist Walt Simonson (Thor) with interiors by Filipino artist E.R. Cruz. I'm not very familiar with Cruz and what little I could find about him could fill a postage stamp. But he did do some work on a variety of DC'S lesser known horror titles and his work here is really good.

  Sherlock Holmes #1 is divided into two parts. Part one retells Doyle's ‘The Final Problem’ in what was to be the last ever story between Holmes and his arch-enemy, Professor Moriarty. I've read the story on which this part was based and the adaptation was quite good.

 Part two covers a story that I have yet to read in prose form, ‘ The Adventure of the Empty House.’ That story marked Holme’s return after a brief hiatus in which fans of the detective went bonkers and demanded that Doyle resurrect his most famous creation. To rate the story on its merits alone, the solution to how Holmes survived his encounter with Moriarty was OK. But his reasons for faking his own death were actually quite brilliant.

  The biggest surprise about this issue is that not only is it the first issue, it's the only issue. I'm not sure why it didn't catch on with readers. And no this wasn't a one-shot as there's a plug for issue #2 at the end of the book. And no- this title wasn't a victim of the DC implosion as that didn't occur until 1978. (Speaking of book endings, there is a great article about Sherlock Holmes in fiction and film at issue's end that was really interesting. Be sure not to skip it!)

 A fun read that is best read at night. A must for fans and collectors that consider themselves a member of the Baker Street Irregulars.

  Worth Consuming.

  Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

   

The New Fantastic Four: Monsters Unleashed

  

  When a rogue Skrull, impersonating the Invisible Woman incapacitates the Fantastic Four, the alien fakes their deaths in order to recruit a new team. Comprised of Wolverine, Spider-Man, Ghost Rider, and the gray Hulk, here comes the New Fantastic Four. Their formation will take them to the mysterious lair of the Mole Man called Monster Island to apprehend the supposed murderers of the First Family of the Marvel Universe.
   
 Written by the legendary Walt Simonson with art by the master of Monsters, Art Adams, Monsters Unleashed collects the epic three issue run that has become a fan favorite and is regarded as a classic FF storyline. It's so well respected that this all new team spawned not one but two 'What If...' Specials in the last decade. That's a testament to this 25-year old storyline's staying power amongst fans! 

    Featuring a slew of Skrulls, superheroes, crazy inventions of Reed Richards, and giant monster cameos, this is the perfect Fantastic Four story. I, like many other fans just wish the new line up would have lasted a little longer than a trio of issues.

   Worth Consuming.

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.