Son of Ambush Bug #6 (of 6)

The Son of Ambush Bug ends with the myriad of plotlines being solved. As the Bug finds himself in an off-panel purgatory, the Asian version of the Bug meets his ultimate fate with the King of the Lizards, Arrr-Gyle! is folded away, and the Interferer, the dastardly villain behind the many hits of Ambush Bug, discovers a universe that can never benefit from his powers of altering reality.

 

Of course, the main plotline that involves AB searching for his lost child is concluded as well. But the ending is left to interpretation as to whether it all ends badly or well for the duo. I’ll leave that decision to you. But I must say I hate ambiguous endings. Ever since the movie Castaway, I’ll never been a fan of them.

 

Overall, the series and this issue was neither the best of worst thing I’ve ever read. Compared to the other Ambush Bug stories I have read however, this one is definitely not my favorite, not by a long shot.

 

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars

 

 

Son of Ambush Bug #5 (of 6)

 The Ambush Bug is put on trial, but it’s not for the crimes committed by his impostor. No, instead the Bug is accused of violating the sanctity of the DC Universe by manipulating his knowledge that he is a comic book character. The reality altering villain, the Interferer doesn’t like encroachment on his turf and thus has finally found a loop hole in doing away with the Bug since 5 issues worth of attempted murders didn’t seem to stick.

 

  His defense attorney and prosecutor is none other than Mr. Harvey “Two-Face” Dent. Now, one might say that since Dent is a character in a comic and prosecutes the Bug for having such knowledge, wouldn’t Two-Face be accused as well? No, because he’s not manipulating reality and mocking convention like Ambush Bug does.

 

This entire issue contains the most madcap trial since Alice went before the Queen of Hearts. But I loved every page of it. This was what the previous issue was missing- the ability to stick to the plot, mock and parody the comic book industry, and make me laugh out loud. I cannot wait for the 6^th and final issue.

 

Worth Consuming.

 

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Son of Ambush Bug #4 (of 6)

 

This is seems to forget the plot of the previous 3 issues. The killer of the Bug, the disappearance of Cheeks, and the whole plot involving someone trying to change the DC Universe into their ideal image is completely forgotten. The Arrr-Gyle plot in which AB’s arch-enemy/ dirty sock has an imposter committing crimes as the Ambush Bug is the only thing really addressed from the first half of the series.

 

What we do get is the Ambush Bug and his creators and editor Julius Schwartz playing with the conventions of comicdom, and I’m not talking about that yearly event in San Diego. There is some absolute zany moments that I love and there are points in which I’m burying my head in my hand because the jokes are so lame. Again, it’s only by having Arrr-Gyle trying to frame the Bug for crimes that he didn’t commit that keeps this issue on track.

 

True, I saw the surprise ending a mile away, but at least it allows for plot development but I would estimate that about 60% of this issue is utter chaos. While I like chaos, most of it just doesn’t have a real purpose. Normally, if the Ambush Bug starts going a little insane, it’s to point out the flaws of his surroundings of to poke fun at the comic book industry as a whole. This was like watching Carrot Top, Gallagher, and David Copperfield throw out everything they’ve got in their repertoire and hope that the end result is the next Hamlet. To Geffin and the rest of the DC crew- focus, man, focus!

 

Not Worth Consuming.

 

Rating: 4 out 10.

 

Son of Ambush Bug #3 (of 6)

The arch-enemy of the Ambush Bug is a wrinkled up sock called “Arrr-Gyle.” In this issue, the insane sock looks to frame the Bug for a multitude of crimes by having a horde of ravenous laundry pile into an Ambush Bug costume and going on a crime spree.

In the meantime, The Bug continues to search for his missing son, Cheeks, who is now playing soldier in a rotating battlefield of war comic parodies. Along the way, AB also hopes to find the fiend who killed him and sent him to heck! But with a crazed bodysuit that looks a lot like our surreal hero, will the Bug’s killer succeed in killing off the title character again or just take it out on a not quite that innocent pile of dirty socks?

 

It’s not classic Ambush Bug hi-jinx, but it’s close. The art is still in need of help, but the addition of “Arr-gyle” was needed to put a semblance of order back into this mad cap comic.

 

Worth Consuming.

 

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Son of Ambush Bug #2 (of 6)

 

Somebody is out to kill the Ambush Bug and they are willing to change dimensions, time, and genres to do it. As you can tell from the cover, the fiend succeeds and the Bug ends up in hell. Can a DC Universe exist without an Ambush Bug? Can hell survive with an Ambush Bug?

 

Just how AB finds a loop hole in the system will make you laugh and have you slapping your head at the same time!

 

Now this is the Ambush Bug I remember. Fantastic issue- the art is still rough, but it’s extremely clever and funny.

 

Worth Consuming.

 

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Son of Ambush Bug #1 (of 6)

When I was about 10, I wanted to start selling comics at the flea market. The idea lasted long enough for me to order a hundred comics for like $25 from an ad in a comic book whose memory has long since been forgotten. I then went to the flea market, put all the books in a box for a $1 apiece and quickly got bored as nobody showed any interest. I didn’t even make it an entire weekend. By late Saturday, the get rich quick scheme was a pipe dream and I spent the rest of the weekend in my cousins’ pool. Needless to say the comics became a part of my collection.

It was because of that “grab bag” of books that I first came across Ambush Bug. I first thought that this comic was about the Son of Ambush Bug. Then I kept reading the word “Ambush” as Amish”- I still can’t figure out how or why. But, reading about the offspring of a retired (or dead) super hero who drove a buggy in Pennsylvania Dutch country just didn’t interest me and it sat buried in my collection until somebody came along and stole my collection.

Flash forward decades later and I’ve got Son of Ambush Bug in my collection again. Only this time, I meant for it to be there. I feel in love with the character thanks to my reading of 52 and the Countdown spin-off mini. I later got the first mini-series and the Stocking Stuffer and my love for the absurd and oh so surreal super-hero was cemented.

The title “Son of Ambush Bug” is supposed to be a rip on bands in the 60s that would title their follow-up albums as “Son of…” Though, I don’t think that answer, which is given in the letters page at the end of this issue, is all that accurate. In this series, a villain that has the ability to change the reality of comic book characters steals Ambush Bug’s beloved doll-child, Cheeks. The cherubic Cheeks is turned into a gritty parody of War comics and retitled Cheeks: Combat Medic.

The disappearance of Cheeks leads the Ambush Bug on a cosmic retooling session that would’ve left the Crisis on Infinite Earths spinning on its ear, if it had an ear. Along the way, Ambush Bug shifts realities becoming a Japanese Kaiju hunter, a PI, and the target of a secret organization that doesn’t like the fact that AB knows he’s a fictional character existing in a comic book universe.

The book has promise. It’s not a good as the first mini-series. However, I found myself laughing aloud often. The art is rough. It’s slightly early Keith Giffen and that doesn’t reflect his best work. But, I don’t read Ambush Bug for the art. Okay, maybe I do a little.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

The Ambush Bug Stocking Stuffer (Holiday 2013 Theme)

The Ambush Bug Stocking Stuffer

This 40-page special is supposed to be a holiday/ Christmas themed book. But, the holidays are more of an after-thought than an actual plot device. I’m wondering if the creators of this book had extra material left over from the previous Ambush Bug mini-series and thought “What the heck? They bought our other Ambush Bug titles, let see if they buy this!” In other words, this book doesn’t match the quality are level of hilarity of other Ambush Bug titles.

Why did this work? I think the main reason I wasn’t so impressed was that the book goes everywhere and in  perhaps a comics first, backwards in time as well! Ambush Bug is trying to find his beloved doll, which seems to have turned into a zombie of sorts, killing other toys. The next thing I know, the writers claim that Bug found the toy and end of story- only there’s still 13 pages left in this 40-page special. So, they do what they do best- filler. Ambush Bug stories are really good at doing one page “splashes” that are funny and very smart. Those are about the only real holiday related content. The main story takes place during Christmas but these mini-stories are actually about Christmas.

I really wish it was better than it was. Even the art seemed rushed and sloppy. Not Keith Giffen’s best work. No wonder even Julie Schwartz refused to be a part of it!

Not Worth Consuming.

Rating: 4 out of 10 stars.

Holiday atmosphere rating: 5 out of 10 jingle bells.

Ambush Bug #1

What can I say? I love Ambush Bug. He’s wild, crazy, and totally bizarre. He’s also a comic book character that knows HE IS A COMIC BOOK CHARACTER! He also can’t figure out why nobody else around him knows that but him.

This Keith Giffen creation celebrates his first solo issue by going out and getting a sidekick to help him solve crimes. His first challenge is a bunch of Right-wing terrorist whackos who’re planning on blowing up a building filled with nuclear bombs. Oh, and one of their grandmothers who voted for Jimmy Carter!

 

You can’t make this stuff up! A solid dollar bin gem that I might find myself reading over and over from time to time because it was that much fun and totally insane!

Worth Consuming

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Ambush Bug Year None #7 (of 6)

 

  No, you didn’t miss anything. It appears that DC editor Dan Didio lost issue #6. Then after almost a year of searching, the writers and editing staff said “Screw It!” and made a new issue 6, but titled it issue 7. Is that because they might one day find issue 6 and later reissue it as a special “Lost Annual?”

  Despite the major scheduling screw up to tie up this series, Keith Giffen managed to produce a very funny and very well scripted alternate ending to this series. Sadly, not everything about Year None would be that great and not match up to the quality of other previous Ambush Bug titles from years past.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Ambush Bug: Year None #5

We finally have our Ambush Bug back! It appears he went ‘rogue’ and tried life as a minion to a bizarre super villain named Yellow Snow. Sounds like something from The Tick, it’s that bizarre.

Then AB has been posing as a Monitor and might have something to do with the destruction of one of the new 52 worlds of the multiverse.

It’s good to not only see the Bug back in his own series after a short hiatus, but also good to see this series reaching the same quality of other AB Adventures penned by creator Keith Giffen.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Ambush Bug Year None #4

The Bug’s gone missing, along with several cats, dogs, and other assorted animals. The writers ask if the DC Universe can survive without Ambush Bug. I ask if the series can survive without him. This series lacks the quality of previous AB minis and one-shots. I’m not sure what’s missing besides our hero. His new wife, Dumb Bunny, is funny, but she can’t carry this title on her own.

Some very funny scenes and great sight gags. Just not the best work by Keith Giffen. Maybe a Post-52 DCU is too gritty for the insane Ambush Bug.

Worth Consuming

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Ambush Bug Year None #3

The cover is no joke- nor it’s it an imaginary story. The Bug really does wed Dumb Bunny (of Inferior 5 fame.) As Ambush Bug adjusts to married life and DB becomes step-mom to a bouncing, baby, uh, well a toy doll, the parody series gets funny again, after a mediocre issue #2. Plus, the killer of Jonni DC is trying to snuff out other lesser rans in the DC Universe and it looks like Ambush Bug is his next target.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Ambush Bug Year None #2

When Ambush Bug tries to explain anything, the facts get jumbled and weird things are summarized, mostly because the guy is nuts. But when he tries to explain his origin by ripping off Marvel legends, it get maddening. I’m not sure if Keith Giffen was asleep when he wrote this, most of the words didn’t make any sense. At one point, I was about ready to throw this book across the room when I got to the really excellent cliff-hanger. So, it wasn’t entirely all bad.

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

Ambush Bug Year None #1

In the midst of the craziness that is Countdown, Keith Giffen and Dan DiDio have brought back The Ambush Bug! It appears that with a new 52-earth multi-verse, someone’s killed the DC’s universes continuity cop, Joanie DC. So, the part-time PI, full-time nut case is on the job to bring the killer to justice, or to at least slap him on the wrist with a sock filled with anchovy paste and pickled whipped cream. (The insanity is contagious!)

Expect a madcap riot that’s so far in left field, it somehow ends up in shallow right.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Ambush Bug #4

  

   It’s the final issue of the Ambush Bug miniseries and the star of our show is finally going into a Battle Royale with Darkseid. Only, this death wish must be postponed until story’s end. Instead, the Bug is targeted for death by a villain who accidently wound up in the wrong book. As this villain realizes he’s been placed in the wrong title with another character who is completely aware he’s in a comic book too (AB!), the walls of continuity come crashing down. Plus, it seems that writer and creator, Keith Giffen, has broken into editor Julie Schwartz’ liquor cabinet and is holding the ending of this book hostage until Ambush Bug becomes a monthly title.

 Sadly, Ambush Bug never got a monthly title. But, he did get several more one-shots and a couple more mini-series. I look forward to them as they surely are as wicked fun as this one, right?

 Normally, I don’t do this, but there’s a Showcase Presents that collects every appearance of the Bug and I might just have to get it. Some back issues are really expensive, especially, his first appearances in DC Comics Presents and Action Comics. I just must read every Ambush Bug story and I don’t mind buying a book that has some previously read and owned material in it in order to accomplish this feat.

 Worth Consuming.

Ambush Bug #3

Okay- Ambush Bug and Darkseid are going to battle to the death for real- only not this issue. Instead, the Ambush Bug has decided to take advantage of the new DC universe brought forth by the Crisis with a small selection of Who’s Who. Just don’t expect any big names in this guide. It’s for all the forgotten characters, like Egg Fu (who will one day return in the pages of Countdown). Oddly folks like Space Cabby and teen leader of the free world, PREZ, are noticeably absent.

Meanwhile, Jonni DC, Johnny’s sister, has her own problems as the new universe is wrought with continuity problems that only she can correct.

Once again, bizarre content, brilliant fun. 

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Ambush Bug #2

 

If you are expecting to see the Darkseid/ Ambush Bug battle as cliffhangered in the last issue, you’ll have to wait. Instead, part-time PI Ambush Bug takes a case involving a giant mutated koala bear named Quantis. I usually hate it when a super villain’s real name is a tease to their MO in terms of crimes committed. For example, a moniker I do like is Edward Nygma or E.Nygma for the real name of the Riddler. But to have a guy named Charlie Tunna get turned into a radioactive fish villain is too much.

Yet, to have the koala’s name be Quantis is really clever, because few people realize that Quantis is a name for an airline that serves Australia almost exclusively and koala bears are from Down Under as well.

Lots of great gags and easter eggs. I really enjoyed it.

Worth Consuming

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.