Weird War Tales Special

Vertigo's 2000 special devoted to Weird War Tales was just plain weird...

In a tale from Garth Ennis, a quartet of buddies swap war stories while waiting out a rain storm. Then learn the secrets behind Helen of Troy. The brief history of warfare reveals a never ending pattern of bloodshed while a custodian attempts to make a nuclear holocaust a little bit prettier place to live. Plus a POW in Vietnam is saved thanks to his dynamic drawing skills. 

I should have known from the book's cover that this isn't my Weird War Tales. I have such fond memories of that title. This thing gave me heartburn.

The book doesn't have a rating but this definitely isn't for kids. There's some very, VERY graphic material here- mostly it's all in conversation (and mostly I'm pointing my finger at the Garth Ennis tale!) That one really shook me to my core and not in a good way at all.

I only paid a quarter for this from a bargain bin. Yet, I feel like I want my money back on this. 

And just what the heck is that thing on the cover supposed to be?

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

A Madman's Halloween 2017 Reading List... (Part 2)

Halloween is soon to be here. In order to get into the holiday spirits, er spirit, I selected a number of Halloween and horror themed comics from my vast collection.

In part one, I examined the more kid friendly comics available to put the fun in funeral. Okay, I'm not the Crypt Keeper, but I'm really trying folks. Anyways, part two looks at the more adult and classic horror titles that I plan to read over the next several weeks. Hopefully, these selections will inspire you to develop a Halloween reading list. So let's begin, shall we?

Modern Scares

The following are some selections from the past 30 years. They may not be classics, but they show promise to set an eerie tone to a cold October night...

Batman: Masque

This graphic novel is an Elseworlds. The premise is what is Bruce Wayne was the Phantom of the Opera. I hope there's no singing as I hate singing in comics. I never know the tune...

The Phantom of Fear City #10

Do I know how to segue or not? I have no idea if this book is scary. But I got it in a grab bag and since it's by Captain America legend Steve Englehart, I thought I would give it a try. By the long now defunct Claypool Comics, their website still stands like an abandoned cyber ghost town...

The Troll Halloween Special

I really don't know much about this shorter, grumpier version of Wolverine from Image. But I read the Troll Christmas Special a while back and it was really funny. So when I found this at a con, I just had to have it. Plus, it has a Maxx story and I really dug that mind-bending cartoon series when it was on MTV in the 90s.

Weird War Tales Special (Vertigo 2000)

There were two series that my dad would regularly read as an adult. Sgt. Rock and Weird War Tales. I'm more of a Howlin' Commandos kinda guy but I love Weird War Tales. I know I should have picked a classic story. But I just finished reading a large collection of those (Showcase Presents Weird War Tales Volume 1), so I went for the modern take.

Tomb of Dracula Presents: Throne of Blood

Another classic horror title that got a modern make-over. This 2011 one-shot from Marvel promises to integrate the Dracula mythos with feudal Japan. I'm not sure how they're going to do that. But hey, it was only a buck when I got it!

Classic Horror Titles

For my final selection of spooky reads, I'm going to look at some of the all-time greats known and beloved to horror comic fans nationwide.

The Twilight Zone #47 (Gold Key)

Rod Serling's spooky anthology series is not only perfect for a good scare, but it was gosh darn good TV. Gold Key held the rights for decades after the show was cancelled, publishing an anthology series that included some of the earliest works by Bernie Wrightson and Neal Adams. If you don't mind condition, tons of these issues can be found in bargain bins at cons and your favorite LCS.

The Demon #2 (1972-74)

Since we celebrated the 100th birthday of Jack Kirby this year, I thought it would be appropriate to read an issue from The King's horror title from his days at DC. The Demon in my opinion one of the most visually appealing characters Kirby ever designed in terms of colors and how the character just looks some much more menacing when drawn in the King's blocky style. Fun Fact- Kirby's Demon didn't start rhyming all of his lines until years later when Len Wein used the character in a Superman team-up story.

Scary Tales #11

For some, the horror titles of Charlton Comics are amongst some of the best of the 70s and 80s. By far, horror titles are what kept Charlton in business for as long as they did considering how DC and Marvel were slaughtering them in the superhero genre. Featuring the work of greats like Steve Ditko, Joe Staton, and Dick Giordano, I had to include one of these books here, especially as a Charlton horror book was the first comic I ever bought.

Crypt of Shadows #10

This short lived horror anthology isn't one of Marvel's most reknown compared to titles like Where Monsters Dwell. But the series has a sizable cult following on Facebook groups devoted to classic horror comics.

Adventures of Bob Hope #87

The classic Hollywood comedian isn't really known for horror. That's more suited for Jerry Lewis or Abbott & Costello. But when I saw this cover, I just had to have it. 1) It's a classic DC title and 2) it looked like it would be a fun Halloween read. Plus, the doggie just seemed so darn cute.

The House of Mystery #250

The creme de la creme of the DC horror anthologies. It's host Cain is considered one of the all-time great horror hosts. The series was so popular and so beloved by fans and artists alike that in 2008, Vertigo not only revived the title but managed to add Cain back into the mix as well.

The Vault of Horror #14

Last but not least, it wouldn't be a Halloween comic book reading list if I didn't included an EC Comic. The brain child of William Gaines, EC's titles were the catalyst behind the comics scare of the 1950s. As a result, the industry created the Comics Code Authority and for almost 20 years, horror comics were virtually non-existent. Because of the acclaimed HBO series, most people tend to favor Tales from the Crypt. But my favorite of the EC horror books is Vault of Horror.

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...And that's my reading list for Halloween 2017.

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...

Showcase Presents: Weird War Tales, Vol. 1

   

   Collecting the first 24 issues of Weird War Tales. I enjoyed this book but the first few issues are kinda rough. I don't think the editors knew quite where this book was going. Most of the first stories are either based on true but odd events or of the horrors of war itself. It's not until about issue 13 that this series really becomes the series that I know and love.
     The main reason for the diminished quality is the lack of a consistent host. The first few issues either don't have a host or it involves soldiers huddling around a campfire or bunker telling ghost stories. Even worse, DC would try out something really strange, like a living mound of seaweed to spin those weird war yarns. But by issue #13, they decided to use the living embodiment of Death and comic book history was made.
     With Death, any time period was now open to a good weird war tale. From the times of Vikings and Romans to the robot wars of the 22nd century, if people died, Death would be there. There's even one story set during Vietnam which I thought was very interesting as the Comics Code Authority actually made mention or use of Vietnam off limits in comics for a brief time. 
      Featuring a slew of comics greats like Ross Andru, Joe Orlando, and Marv Wolfman- the main star of this series is Joe Kubert. I don't think this series would've gotten off the ground if not for his efforts. Just about every one of the first 20 or so issues has either a cover or story by him. I think he even took over editing duties around issue #8. So that explains the advance in quality at some point.
     I really would love to have these in single issue form. But seeing how sub par some of these first issues were, I'm kinda glad I didn't. This is a good way to get the first two dozen books without spending and arm and a leg to get them. Plus, now I can save money up to buy the later issues which are far more superior.
     An interesting time capsule looking into the early days of a classic comic book series that combines war, sci-fi, horror, and everything weird.

    Worth Consuming

    Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Flashpoint: Frankenstein and the Creatures of the Unknown #2

     

  Frankenstein and his Creature Commandos have finally made it to their creator's secret laboratory in Gotham City. The group hope to find some answers as to a cure for some of their comrades. But the Creatures will need to act fast as Miranda Shrieve, granddaughter of the group's original CO during World War II, is on their tale and she's coming complete with an armament of garlic bombs, electric shock gimzos, and silver bullets. Find out what's Shrieve's beef with these living monsters and how will the Creatures of the Unknown survive her onslaught?

    Oh, did I mention that she's accompanied by J.A.K.E., the GI Robot???

    I really love this tie-in series. I've been such a fan of DC's horror titles of the 70s and 80s. The Creature Commandos were such an integral part of Weird War Tales and I'm glad to see a version (any version) of this group get some much due kudos, respect, and a second chance.

    Jeff Lemire has really become known as the go-to DC 'dark lord' with his creepy tales starring the Hellblazer, Deadman, and others and he's not disappointed me with this series. This is eerie fun and very much Worth Consuming!

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.
 
 

Flashpoint: Frankenstein and the Creatures of the Unknown #1

  During World War II, the Allied Forces had a secret weapon- the Creature Commandos! The Unit was comprised of a genetically altered vampire, wolf man, and a mer-creature, and was co-lead by the human Lt. Shrieve and Frankenstein's Monster! After taking out Hitler, the team thinks that they will either be cured of their various aliments, sent on missions against the mounting Soviet threat or allowed to leave in peace. But Uncle Sam has other ideas and forces the monsters of the Creature Commandos into suspended animation.
    Jump ahead 65 years. The Commandos have been all but forgot, still residing in their cryogenic tombs. But during the Army's attack on Booster Gold, something causes Frankenstein's chamber to break and he frees his comrades. Decades without medical treatment has caused the wolf man and the vampire soldiers to regress into more savage states.
   Without immediate help, they will forever be stuck in their most primal monster forms, and so Frankenstein leads the group to Gotham City in hopes of finding the secret lab of the doctor who treated them during the war for their afflictions. But their trek will not be easy as the military wants their Creature Commandos back and have hired the best monster hunter on the planet to recapture them- Miranda Shrieve, the granddaughter of the monster's unit leader: Lt. Shrieve!
    As a DC enthusiast, I've been particularly a fan of the company's vintage horror and war lines. Weird War Tales combined the best of both lines with strange stories that brought new meaning to the words 'the horrors of war.' Towards the end of WWT's run was a running series based on the Creature Commandos!
    With Frankenstein and the Creatures of the Unknown entering the Flashpoint, I was extremely excited. But when I first learned of this title in 2010, I was an little befuddled as to why would Frankenstein be selected to the series of Flashpoint tie-ins. But I had forgotten about Frank being a member of the Creature Commandos! So, it actually makes perfect sense and I am thrilled to see where this miniseries goes next. Plus, tying in events from Booster Gold #44-45 was a stroke of genius that advances the storyline quite well.
   
    Worth Consuming

    Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.
     

Weird War Tales #18, Halloween Theme

 

This cover is one of my favorites of this series. True, I haven’t read every issue of Weird War Tales- YET, but I just love this one.  The stories aren’t half bad either. The first tale is rather lengthy for an anthology title. It involves an American tank driver in Italy whose been bitten by a vampire and thus must either seek out his band of brothers as his prey or stalk the Nazis at night. It’s an okay tale with really gritty art. But, there’s this scene at the story’s beginning where the soldier sees a painting that looks just like him, only it’s centuries old. Then that’s pretty much forgotten and I think that was a waste of a plot device if it’s not going to figure in the climax of the story.

The second story involves a Nazi soldier whose tired of playing second best to his commanding officer. So, with the help of a spectral helper, the Nazi goes back in time in hopes of changing his fortune. It’s a really good time travel tale with a dramatic twist. The only problem with this story is the two protagonists in this story look so much alike as teenagers; I had to read the story twice to figure out who was who. The colorist used an aquamarine hue to the flashback sequences and thus the blonde haired solider and the brunette one both look like they dyed their scalps in blueberry juice. D’oh!

For such a great title, there are plot holes a’ plenty in this issue. It’s really too bad. I love Weird War Tales. This one just isn’t the cream of the crop.

Rating 5 out of 10 stars

Fright Factor: 7 out of 10 stars.

Weird War Tales #1

In this tribute to the 70s and 80s series of the same name, Darwyn Cooke and some of DC’s best writers and artists team up to produce a trio of ghostly war tales. Cooke’s tale is a romp involving zombie versions of Patton, Kaiser Wilhelm, and Napoleon as they participate in an annual war games of the dead. The only rule: No Hitler’s Allowed!

Then there’s a creepy tale about a sunken sub and a crewman who wouldn’t die. Lastly, a pair of childhood buddies turned grunts hide out in an abandoned barn, waiting for the advancing panzers to come wipe them out. Hopefully, the dinosaurs coming to their aid will get there first.

A fantastic issue. The Cooke story was the best and the Dinosaur tale was a close second. The submarine story was good, but I was confused by the ending. Still, this makes me wish Weird War Tales had never been cancelled.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.