Justice League of America Annual #1 (2024 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

The Justice League are at the mercy of their deepest fears when the villainous Doctor Destiny invades their dreams!

When Doctor Destiny last encountered the Justice League, the heroes had to resort to drastic measures that would prevent the foe from dreaming. This fractured Destiny's psyche and caused his body to shrivel down into a skeletal form. Seeking a cure as well as revenge Doctor Destiny escaped his Gotham City cell and is running experiments on kidnapped patients under the guise of a legitimate sleep clinic.

In typical Justice League fashion, the heroes break up into groups in search for the fugitive as well as the victims that Doctor Destiny kidnapped. As the protagonists arrive at the various locales throughout Gotham in hopes of apprehending Doctor Destiny, the Leaguers are met instead with grotesque versions of their worst nightmares.

The first ever Justice League of America annual from 1983, was written jointly by Paul Levitz and Len Wein. Penciled by Rick Hoberg with inks by Dick Giordano, this issue sports 2 surprise guest stars. Unfortunately, one of those reveals are spoiled by their appearance on the cover. Black Green Lantern Jon Stewart also guests in this issue. Only his appearance isn't so much as a revelation as a special treat for DC readers as once again, Stewart is begrudgingly recruited by the Guardians of Oa to assist Wonder Woman and the Flash on their leg of the Doctor Destiny manhunt. 

Astute readers of Justice League of America might notice the absence of a major player on that action packed cover by Hoberg and Giordano. There's no Caped Crusader! That's because at this point in time, Batman and the Justice League had a falling out over the political crisis in Markovia and the Dark Knight left the League to form the Outsiders. Despite having almost a dozen active members, Hawkwoman standing by her Thanagarian man and a Green Lantern on hand, without the presence of Batman on his home turf, this version of the Justice League just seems way understaffed.

To learn more of where Batman is, fans should start with issue #1 of Batman and the Outsiders.

Completing this review completes Task #46 (With a $1 cover price (original price)) of the 2024 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 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.

Headless Horseman Halloween Annual 2023

Let me start by addressing the elephant in the room. The Headless Horseman, who is the horror host of this anthology special, is female. I know that is not supposed to be an issue in this gender fluid generation. However, when something doesn't match syntax, tone or pre-assumed expectations, it makes my brain itch. That's not being a boomer. It's my OCD. Go figure. I want things to be written (and advertised) correctly, but could care less if my house is messy or not. 

If the host is supposed to be the Headless Horseman from The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, then sure, I'm justified in my confusion because that character was the ghost of a Hessian soldier. And I'm pretty sure that the soldier was male. If this is an all-new character or a character from the Hellboy universe or Eric Powell's The Goon, which most of the art of this character closely resembles, then I have no issue with the gender of the Horseman. Just don't call this character a HORSE... MAN!

Now when it comes to the host, I had no issues with them. There were those punny elements you'd get from those B-movie theater hosts. They look awesome. And They spin a good yarn. I just don't know who this Headless Horseman is...

There are 5 stories in this issue. It starts with a tale set inside a fantasy video game. Not very scary, but it's got a great moral and awesome ending. There's a weird fable about a woman with writer's block. A group of teens go trick-or-treating with the new kid and his mom. Only there's something very, very wrong with mom. There's a wolf on the prowl as a little girl, dressed as Little Red Riding Hood, gets separated from her mom during trick-or-treating. And then there was the fifth and final story.

Up to this point, other than initial confusion over just who this Headless Horseman really was, this anthology was going great. That story about the new kid and his mom freaked me out and even though I didn't really get the writer's block story, I saw merit in it. But then Dark Horse had to go and ruin everything by getting political.

The story in question is about 4 kids dressed as monsters who are visiting a haunted house on Halloween night. The exhibits in the exhibition are really lame. It seems like the real horror is in getting old. Then I start to realize that the kids aren't dressed as monsters. They are monsters! So it's a haunted house about what humans do and the idea of what constitutes the contents of a haunted house for monsters and ghouls seemed like a novel idea. And then we get to that room!

Every year the haunted house has a new room. This year's room is full of right-wingers spouting off their agenda. Did we really have to throw MAGA into the mix? The concept was doing well up to now. It didn't need to get frighteningly real with the internal strife affecting our country. When I'm not reading comics and writing reviews about them, I'm a public school teacher. It's culinary, so I don't teach tricky subjects like race, gender or religion. But I still see a diverse mix of kids that will one way or another be highly affected by the results of the 2024 election. I deal with those fears everyday and I witness countless teachers and staff bailing out in anticipation of a Red Wave. When it comes to horror right now, I need vampires, zombies and psycho killers. I don't need tales of right-wing militants or uber-Dems. Those kind of frights already keep me up at night.

This one-shot is listed as an annual. So I see potential that there might be another issue next Halloween. I would be fine with that. Editors at Dark Horse, just leave the politics for election night if you make this an annual occurrence!

Worth Consuming! 

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars. (But it could have been a 9 out of 10 if not for how that final tale ended.)

Darkhawk Annual #3 (2023 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

The character of Darkhawk is very similar to Captain Marvel, when he was bonded to Rick Jones. 

In Captain Marvel #17, Rick Jones finds the Nega-Bands, which are used by Mar-vell to increase his super strength and other heightened abilities. When activated, Jones would switch places with Mar-vell who was for a time trapped in the Negative Zone. Thankfully, a protective bubble would prevent Rick from getting annihilated from Annihilus and the scores of other fiends that occupy the Negative Zone during these switcheroos. Meanwhile, both Mar-vell and Rick Jones share a telepathic link during their interconnected period.

Jump ahead to March, 1991 for the first issue of Darkhawk. New York teen Chris Powell discovers a magical amulet. When used, the bauble allows Chris to switch places with the android Darkhawk, who normally resides in an advanced starship located in a dimension known as Null Space. When switching places, Chris could control Darkhawk, even summoning an arsenal of weapons and gadgets housed on Darkhawk vessel. 

When the third annual of Darkhawk hits stands in August, 1994, Chris Powell and Darkhawk have discovered a way for the two to operate as one as well as separately without either having to be stuck in the other dimension. Just like Rick Jones and Captain Marvel were able to do permanently after aiding the Avengers in a battle with the Super-Adaptoid.

In the title story ' Future Shock', Darkhawk is fighting with arch -enemy, Dreamkiller while Chris Powell is mending his strained relationships with family and friends. At one point, Chris is sent to the store for ice cream when a descendant of Dreamkiller known as Damek is sent from the future to avenge the humiliations both Powell and Darkhawk have imposed on his ancestor. Eventually Damek teams with his very distant relative, after freeing him from jail. But when Damek sees the sadistic way Dreamkiller treats innocents, the descendant learns the truth and teams with Darkhawk and Powell to bring the real evil one down.

Three other stories comprise this annual.

Story number 2 teams Chris operating as Darkhawk with the Sorcerer Supreme, Doctor Strange. This team up is a cyberpunk supernatural thriller in which Darkhawk must enter the internet to repair a breach computer researchers accidentally formed with the realm of the dread Dormammu! 

Chris Powell uses his Darkhawk abilities to solve the drive-by killing of a former high school classmate in the third tale.

The last story involves Savage Steel, an armored antihero who has had run ins with both Darkhawk and the Punisher. In his solo short story, Savage Steel tries to bust up the operations of a small time drug dealer by using the very teens that the thug tried to violently recruit as drug mules as Savage Steel's neighborhood watch.

Darkhawk and Chris Powell were created by Tom Defalco and Mike Manley. Neither of which contributed to this 64-page annual. 4 separate teams worked on the quartet of stories within, including Danny Fingeroth, Eric Fein and Jim Novak. Cover art by Andy Lanning.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Completing this review completes Task #39 (An Annual) of the 2023 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Wonder Woman Annual 1989 (2023 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

With exception of the cover, this 1989 annual features artwork, including inks and colors by an all-female crew. Cover artist George Perez also pens this extra-large sized feature that chronicles Princess Diana's Post-Crisis debut. 

When the princess of Thermyscira first arrived in the world of men, she didn't speak much English and knew even less of modern day ways and norms. So, Diana needed an intermediary in order to spread her message of peace and unity. Enter Myndi Mayer; a press agent who sees dollars signs in the arrival of the DC Universe's newest heroine. A progressive feminist, Mayer believed in Princess Diana's message. That didn't mean that there weren't marketing opportunities to be found around this Wonder Woman.

This story takes place after the shocking overdose death of Myndi Mayer. The PR agent's death means that end of a chapter in Wonder Woman's life. Diana has decided that the life of a celebrity is not for her. So Mayer's agency must pack up all of the artifacts and effects of the Wonder Woman campaign so that Diana can transport it back to Thermyscira for preservation. As the team goes through these mementos, they reminisce about the highs and lows of Princess Diana's first months in modern civilization. 

This annual was both a closing chapter for established Wonder Woman readers as well as a starting point for newer fans. Along with the death of Myndi, Diana had just finished a climatic battle with Circe as well as Ares. But as we know, Wonder Woman's beef with the god of war is never over. The War of the Gods epic crossover is still 2 years away. But in this new stage in Diana's life, more battles with the upper echelon of Greek gods and continued alliances with the superhero community are in Diana's near future.

Perhaps the most notable segment of this story is the origin behind the logo that Diana wears on her chest. Just like as with Superman's S-shield, the supposed W's on Diana's armor are misinterpreted as English letters.  Kal-El's S-Shield is the Kyrptonian symbol of hope. Diana's double-W's are in honor of a great warrior who helped the Amazons of Themyscira centuries ago: the insignia of Steve Trevor's mother!

Due to the death of Hermes' son Pan, a rift in the fabric of time and reality opens. This anomaly ushers Diana Trevor back in time to Themyscira. The time displaced pilot arrives on the tropical island in the middle of a catastrophic scene as the Amazons are attempting to prevent demons from the underworld coming topside. 

We learn that Diana Trevor sacrificed herself to aid a race of people she did not even know. The Amazons as a result, bury Trevor with full honors and use the Air Corps insignia of a double-W on Trevor's uniform and incorporate it as a totem of strength and courage, which Princess Diana proudly wears. But we also learn that Diana wasn't named after the goddess of Greek myth but instead after Diana Trevor. So that means Steve Trevor is in love with the woman named after his mother!

Featuring Ramona Fradon, Jan Duursema, Colleen Doran and Trina Robbins among others.

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars. 

Completing this review completes Task #32 (A Wonder Woman Story) of the 2023 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Robin Annual #7 (2007)

I've had this book in my collection for probably a decade and it wasn't until 2 days ago I learned that it was a Halloween themed comic! The database I use for organizing my collection has been lacking in updating its new releases; thus I've been rushing to create my own personal log just in case the website shuts down. That new inventory is how I came to learn that this annual was holiday themed.

There are 2 stories inside. The first book is set at Halloween. A serial killer is targeting the members of a Gotham City family. Due to the surgical skill of the murderer along with the way the entrails have been removed, the media have dubbed this fiend as 'The Great Pumpkin.' (Thanks a lot Detective Harvey Big Mouth!) Working solo, the Tim Drake Robin has tasked himself with finding the killer before the whole family meets a grisly end. 

The back-up story, featuring the Damian Wayne Robin, is set in Japan during the Obon Festival: also called the Festival of Ghosts. Obon is held on July 15th. But that doesn't mean that this eerie ghost tale isn't appropriate for the build up to All Hallow's Eve. Setting up the 'Resurrection of Ra's al Ghul' storyline, after being drugged by a crazed elderly man, Damian wakes up in a cemetery, facing a horde of ghosts. 

I really liked the opening story. It's a good crime thriller in the vein (pardon the pun) of Thomas Harris' Silence of the Lambs. The villain is great though I am mighty disappointed to learn that after 15 years of their first appearance, the killer has never returned to print even though writer Keith Champagne (Stranger Things) really sets up a return.

I was also a fan of the artwork by Derec Donovan (Nick Fury's Howling Commandos). It had an animated quality. Not quite like the 1990s animated Batman series. But close enough to find it really visually appealing. 

I also liked the artwork of the secondary story by Jason Pearson (Body Bags). But that was about all of this story I liked. Pearson crafts the ghosts in this story to look like traditional Japanese spirits and demons. That sort of touch I greatly admired. But how often is it that I want the bad guys to win???

See, this story involves Damian Wayne during his infancy in the DC Universe having debuted as a teen just a year earlier. Well man, is this version of the son of Batman a total a-hole! Sure, in the current day, Damian is arrogant, rude and spoiled rotten. But in this story, I want to hurt him personally. He's that insufferable. 

The overall issue was rather good with one of the main characters being a huge dick (and I'm not talking Grayson!). The coolest thing about everything else is that I've got a new Halloween book in my collection that I didn't have to pay for! 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Action Comics 2022 Annual (2022 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

The character of Mongul made his debut in the pages of DC Comics Presents #27 (November, 1980). Created by Len Wein and Jim Starlin, Mongul was the exiled leader of the Wazoons, a warrior-like race. Not one to let a little thing like a coup keep a despot down, Mongul has plans to create the Warworld; essentially a Death Star-like artificial planet that Mongul would use to re-conquer his home world and then later the galaxy.

Superman and fellow Justice Leaguer J'onn J'onzz, the Martian Manhunter, manage to destroy Warworld. But this still doesn't stop Mongul. His attack on the Throneworld of the Prince Gavyn Starman results in the death of several members of the royal family. Superman's actions result in an obsession by Mongul, with the Warzoon warlord plotting to first destroy Earth's sun and then later gifting Superman with a Black Mercy. The mind-altering attack of the extraterrestrial parasitic flower is so brutal that the resulting smackdown by Superman is one of the few times the Man of Steel actually loses control in the pre-CRISIS era. 

Placed in a coma by Superman, Mongul would not return to comics until after the retcon of CRISIS. In the pages of Superman #454, Jerry Conway introduces a newer version of Mongul. With the Warworld returned to continuity, Mongul operates a sort of floating Las Vegas, where the villain oversees a series of gladiatorial games that eliminates any threats to Mongul's reign, while making himself very wealthy. 

The Warworld comes across a dying Superman in the dark recesses of space. Despite being at such a point of his Post-CRISIS career, Superman's name has traveled far and wide. With an artificial red sun, Mongul gives Superman just enough power to compete as the Warworld's latest champion. Eventually, the Man of Steel manages to gain the trust of Mongul's former #1 warrior, Draaga ,and Superman leads a revolt of the Warworld sending Mongul once again into exile. 

Numerous retcons since then have put Mongul back on the throne of Warworld. But the Warzoon's hatred for Superman has never abated. In the past couple of years, Superman and Mongul have butted heads with the 'Warworld Rising' storyline. In it, Mongul, leading a squadron of Warzoon battleships have the Earth back in their cross hairs. 

Jumping to the 2022 Annual of Action Comics, the Warworld Rising arc has completed. As sort of postscript, regular series writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Si Spurrer (Way of X) craft a never revealed origin story for the character. Exploring Mongul's time as a child forced into exile with his mother for showing cowardice during the culling of the Warzoon tribal chief, also called Mongul; the Superman villain's childhood story is paired with a period of time from Clark Kent's youth. Mongul is having to learn how to fight for himself in a wasteland of poisoned pools, scavenger species, and cannibal warriors. At the same time, Clark is learning what it means to let others get the glory despite having powers that the last son of Krypton could use to his advantage to become the best at everything. 

Dale Eaglesham (Shazam!) and Ian Churchill (Supergirl) are the artists for this annual. Based on the differences in the artwork and previous experience, I believe that Eaglesham penciled the Clark Kent origin. Franco Francavilla was the regular cover artist. Steve Rude crafted the variant cover that was printed on card stock with an extra dollar added to the cover price. 

While the promise of a Mongul origin story called to me, I must admit, it's the pastel cover of both Superman and Mongul by the Afterlife With Archie artist was what sold me on this book. The story is both grim and gritty like a Mad Max movie and full of down home charm like Field of Dreams.

As of June 14th, 2022, Action Comics 2022 Annual was #20 of the list of Highest Rated Current Comics on Comicbookroundup.com.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Completing this review completes Task #50 ( Is trending on the comicbookroundup.com top 20) of the 2022 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge. 

Superman Annual #11

Have you ever thought really hard that you own something and yet for the love of it all, you just can't find it? That's how I was with this comic book. For the longest time, I thought I owned this beautiful issue. But it turned out that I merely had a reprinted version of the tale in the pages of DC Universe: The Stories of Alan Moore.

Well, that all ended this weekend when I found this book at the Raleigh Flea Market. It's a grail find! And I only paid $2 for a Fine or better copy!

'For The Man Who Has Everything.' 

The story has been made into both an animated episode of Justice League Unlimited and an episode of the CW's Supergirl. While I've never seen the Supergirl episode, the cartoon version was a classic. If somebody wishes to go into animation or adaptation script-writing, this should be required viewing. 

Right before he created Watchmen, Alan Moore scripted this delightful double-sized story. It's Superman's birthday. Batman along with Jason Todd, and Wonder Woman have traveled to the Fortress of Solitude to bestow the Man of Steel with gifts. But it turns out that someone has beat them to it. 

In the middle of the fortress stands Superman, entranced. A mysterious flower is wrapped around his body and its thorns are penetrating his supposedly impenetrable body. Inside Superman's mind, Kal-El is on Krypton. It didn't explode. However things are far from paradise.

Jor-El lost face and his position with the Science Academy because his prediction of mass destruction never came to pass. Now Jor-El is embroiled with a group of militants that long to see the old days of Krypton restored. This extremism has caused fractures between the members of Kal-El's family and now the entire House of El is in peril.

I've been a fan of this story for a very, very long time. I love how Superman loses control against the villain who is behind this plot. Normally, the Man of Steel pulls his punches. But since the antagonist is almost as powerful as he is, Superman just beats the living snot of them! 

As this is a re-read, I noticed how much more powerful and terrifying the scenes on Krypton are. Alan Moore's chaotic look on the formerly doomed planet reminds me of how bad things are these days on planet Earth. Jor-El's fanatic cronies remind me of several key players that on really putting a spin on things. I'll make sure that I DON'T SAY anything further about it.

With illustrations by fellow future Watchmen artist Dave Gibbons, Superman Annual #11 is one of the greatest stories ever told and one of my personal favorites. So glad I got to finally add this book to my collection!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Blue Devil Annual #1

This wasn't the last Blue Devil issue released for it's 1984-86 run. This annual WAS the last issue I read, however. So technically, when it comes to DC Comics, they saved the best for last.

Something is causing the supernatural heroes of the DC Universe to fight each other. Manbat is going for The Creeper's throat. Madame Xanadu and the Phantom Stranger are about to hex each other into oblivion. And thanks to about $6 million dollars in damage to his hard work for an upcoming flick, Blue Devil is about ready to rip the Demon, Etrigan's head off!

Just what or who is behind this madness? Throw in Felix Faust, Black Orchid, Nebiros, the demon who caused Dan Cassidy to become fused within the Blue Devil suit, and a bunch of baby imps and it's an all war!

This was the essential Blue Devil issue! The desert setting for the final showdown. The banter. The action. I wanted more of this. 

One could argue that the foundations of Justice League Dark are laid in this annual; even though it took about 3 decades for it actually happen. I think you could also argue that the other supernatural team that Blue Devil was a member of, Shadowpact, was birthed in this over-sized issue. 

Another factor in the positive for this issue is that not only does Blue Devil co-creator Paris Cullins pencil the cover, he also illustrated the whole shebang! Cullins left the series after less than a dozen issues and the art quality dropped significantly. I'm really glad that we got his artwork in this epic story! Having Cullins in on the action really was the cherry on top to this perfect read!

Summer Fun indeed! 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

The Beano Annual 2016

The Beano is a legendary weekly comic book from the UK. The book has been going strong since 1938. With over 4000 uninterrupted issues, the big boys from the US such as Superman and Batman can't boast such a feat!

There's about a dozen different characters and segments to The Beano; all of which occupy a shared universe in the little hamlet of Beanotown. My favorite were the Bash Street Kids, General Jumbo and Dennis the Menace. 

The Bash Street Kids are a bunch of school kids who are rather undisciplined. For some reason, their antics reminded me of a lower-income version of the students from American TV's Head of the Class.

General Jumbo is a young boy who creates these amazing automated war toys that he used to fight crime and solve mysteries. It's the only drama in the entire book.

Then there is Dennis the Menace. No, it's not the tow-haired moppet who terrorizes his next door neighbor, Mr. Wilson. This raven-haired fellow is quite the little demon who literally has sent his pop to the funny farm on more than one occasion.  Oddly enough while neither Hank Ketchum's American creation nor Beano's Dennis have anything to do with each other, the two Menaces debuted within a week of each other on both sides of the Atlantic!

There were a couple of segments that I wasn't such a fan of. There's this one recurring spot called 'Know Your Squelchies.' A Squelchie is a pile of goo that comes in varieties ranging from farm cow to Dalek. Some of these guys are funny. But for the most part, I don't think I am getting the joke. 

There was another segment called 'Les Pretend.' Here a young boy dresses up like his mother and tries to woo his father for some weird favor. Again, maybe I didn't get the joke of this one. But it sure did make me feel uncomfortable reading it. 

Oh--- I forgot Bananaman! This one was awesome. A young boy becomes a superhero from eating the iconic yellow fruit. This parody of Superman and Batman and others was rather funny! I had a chance to grab a couple of Bananaman graphic novels along with this and I passed them over! I really regret that now! I really wanted more of him!

This hardcover annual was also filled with fun and games perfect for young readers. Though with the British slang, some American youngsters might not understand everything that was going on here. I would have been in the same boat if not for years of watching British sci-fi and comedy!

Well, I finally got a chance to read a Beano. I liked it. But that doesn't mean that I need to find more for my collection. Okay- Bananaman! I want more of the Man of Peel!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Star Wars Adventures Annual 2019: Ac Family Comic Friday Extra!

Some weeks there's just so much great stuff coming out that you can't put in into just one review. That's why we have Family Comic Friday Extra! This week, meet a forgotten character from a galaxy far, far away in our look at Star Wars Adventures Annual 2019!

Star Wars Adventures Annual 2019Written by Cavan Scott, Pierrick Colinet, Elsa Charretier
Art by Mauricet, Margaux Saltel
Published by IDW Publishing
Pages: 48
Retail: $7.99

2019 has seen the return of the original Star Wars universe! Earlier this year, Marvel released Star Wars #108, wrapping up several long-lost story lines from the first ever Star Wars comic book series. That issue brought about the return of a few characters that many fans never thought that they'd ever get to see again.

One thing I have to say about Disney- they listen to their customers. Star Wars #108 was such a big hit, the over-sized issue went into a second print. The cyborg bounty Hunter, Valance was so well received, he's back in the pages of the new Marvel miniseries Target: Vader.

Valance isn't the only character seeing a return to action. In this giant-sized annual, the ever-so-suave Lando Calrissian is joined by a character so controversial, he's considered the Jar-Jar Binks of the original Star Wars trilogy. I'm taking about Jaxxon!
Jaxxon is a smuggler rival of Han Solo's. He's rude, crude and incredibly self-centered. He's also a giant green bunny rabbit!

For years fans have debated on the character. The creation of Jaxxon was brought about because Lucasfilm forbid Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader from interacting with each other during the gaps between A New Hope and Empire Strikes Back. So Han Solo and Chewbacca went on a series of solo adventures, running into the likes of Jaxxon.

Like a broken bottle of vinegar, Jaxxon stunk. And he was very hard to get rid of...

Jaxxon would appear several times throughout the original comic book run along with appearances in the Star Wars newspaper strip and some Dark Horse books. But we all thought we'd seen the last of the space bunny when Disney declared that all events of the Star Wars extended universe were null and void.

As Disney and fans would have it, Jaxxon appears here to stay as he and Lando seek to free a race of people enslaved by the Empire. Together, these two swindlers must pull off the ultimate con which will require Jaxxon and Lando to rob the Emperor's archive of stolen relics.

The idea of telling the backstories of all these artifacts that the Empire has ransacked would make for an awesome anthology series set in the style of Star Wars Adventures. But for now, let's talk about this story…

It's set immediately after the battle of Endor. There's great cameos from beloved characters such as Han, Leia and Nien Nub. Landon is great and he's got way better chemistry with Jaxxon than Solo ever did.

The problem with Jaxxon is that he's a total jerk. You might hate Jar-Jar Binks. But you also kinda pity him. There's not very much redeeming about Jaxxon. But he's a great comedic foil in this story.

The artwork was very good. I was disappointed that regular Star Wars Adventures artist Derek Charm wasn't available for this annual. But I liked the cartoonish style of Mauricet (Dastardly & Muttley). It greatly reflects the humor that writer Cavan Scott masterfully peppers throughout this adventure.

Jaxxon and Lando's tale isn't the only glimpse into the universe of Star Wars. The back-up story stars a very young Princess Leia and her until-now unseen adoptive mother. In this beautiful epic by writers Pierrick Colinet and Elsa Charretier (The Infinite Loop) and artist Margaux Saltel (The Wicked + The Devine), Leia's mom regales the tyke with a hopeful bedtime story about the brave Padme Amidala!

The artwork was a little more Little Golden Books than IDW Publishing. But it was still a very adorable tale that links mother and daughter of the first two trilogies together. If you have a young reader who is a big fan of the Star Wars Forces of Destiny line of toys and webisodes, they are going to love this capper to the 2019 annual.

The Star Wars Adventures Annual 2019 brought back fond memories of Marvel's Star Wars comics. This is a thrill ride and a half that all fans of Star Wars will love! And so will parents and guardians of younger readers! It's Force friendly and Jedi approved!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars!

Green Arrow Annual #1

In this holiday themed issue, Green Arrow and fellow members of Team Arrow are about to celebrate Christmas. Things seem to be going perfectly. A little too perfectly...

This annual is a fairly good starting point for newbies like myself. I've been into comics for almost 40 years mind you. It's just that I'm not a big fan of Green Arrow. Same goes with the CW series. Of all the DC shows, it's my least favorite and when it comes to GA in comics, the last thing I remember reading about him was the two-part wedding album stories from about 10 years ago.

But by making this issue a Christmas issue, my interest was immediately peaked. Plus quite a bit of back story is included and that really helped this be a story I could navigate through. 

There was one thing I was a little confused about. What's up with Green Arrow's tree city? It's pretty darn cool and I like it. But what's the purpose of it? Is it more easier to defend? Economical? Just aesthetically pleasing? Come on issue writer, Ben Percy! You tell us so much about Oliver Queen and Co., but you left out the details of Tree City???!!! I want to know more.

A very enjoyable holiday themed issue that is full of action, drama, and more. 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Star Trek: Annual #6 (Convergence, Part I)

 Gary Seven appears on the Enterprise-A only to be murdered by a mysterious foe. Plus, Spock has been kidnapped! In Seven's stead is a woman named Isis, that claims to a fellow time agent of the Aegis. She claims that a race of aliens called Devidians are trying to alter the time line so that the Federation will fall to the Romulans!
   Meanwhile, in the 24th Century, the crew of the Enterprise-D are attacked again by the Devidians, where in their latest assault, they kidnap Mr. Data. 
     It's a two-part crossover that involves characters not just from the original series and the Next Generation but the movies and even fan fiction! Written by novelists Michael Jan Friedman and Howard Weinstein, it's an ultimate Star Trek lovers dream! Featuring a beautifully painted interconnecting cover, this was the first half of one of the best Star Trek stories that I have ever come across and I'm counting all of the series and films combined!

   Worth Consuming

   Rating:10 out of 10 stars.

The Simpsons Winter Wingding #3

 It's another winter-themed Simpsons annual from Bongo Comics. This one is from 2008 and unlike the Winter Wingding I reviewed yesterday, this one is filled with some holiday cheer. Well, in the case of Flanders in the first story, it's more like holiday jeer.

   Due to the commercialization of Christmas, Ned decides to ban Christmas, including Santa, in the Flanders homestead. Feeling bad for Rod and Todd, the Simpsons try to bring a little magic to their household by posing as Santa on Christmas Eve. Yet, things get really outta hand when another Santa arrives; this one demanding presents like wallets and jewelry.
    Then in a Hanukkah-themed story, Krusty learns that their aren't any mascots for those eight crazy nights. Seeing dollar signs, the clown forms a focus group in order to create the Jewish version of Santa. What the group, made of Bart, Milhouse, Nelson, and Ralph design is the stuff of nightmares.
    There's two other stories in this volume. Both aren't holiday related and only one really involves winter as a plot device. That story has Homer going to Professor Frink for an experiment. Both hope to hibernate Homey over the winter months in order to lose weight. Cue a plot taken for Weekend At Bernie's (and a forgotten SNL parody ad starring the late Phil Hartman.) The second story has Bart sent to a Scared Straight program at Springfield Jail. Only, instead of being intimidated, Bart becomes the new boss on the cell block.
     4 stories; all very funny. When you need a break from the winter blahs and there's no new episodes of the Simpsons to watch, the Winter Wingdings are perfect. I only hope I can get the rest of annuals in time for next year's holiday festivities. Though you can enjoy these annuals any time of the year (it just helps to read theme during the winter!)

   Worth Consuming

    Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

   

The Simpsons Winter Wingding #5

    Cold weather and mischief abound in this 2010 winter annual from Bongo Comics. 
    First, the whole town of Springfield gets the flu. Then Homer wins a skiing trip. He gets free plane tickets, but they Simpsons would do better off if they just walked to the lodge thanks to lay-overs and contest restrictions. Lastly, Principal Skinner buys a school bus that can travel in any sort of weather conditions. It's up to Bart, Milhouse, and Nelson to sabotage the new machine or snow days will become a thing of the past.
    I enjoyed this collection of Simpsons stories. But just because there's a festive holiday scene on the cover, it's not a holiday comic. That doesn't mean you can't enjoy this comic during the holidays. I've gotten to enjoy my own snow days recently and this book was a perfect comic to help get in a Winter Wonderland kind of mood. Just add hot cocoa and a comfy blanket.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.
     

Power Man and Iron Fist: Sweet Christmas Annual #1

Variant Cover

   It's taken him nearly 5 decades, but Luke Cage has finally been on the receiving end of much respect and love that he deserves. A large part is due to the Netflix Defenders project that Marvel has been unveiling over the past couple of years. Luke made his live action debut late last year on Jessica Jones and later starred in a series of his own this September. 
Both series have been huge hits and in response, Marvel Comics put out this holiday special starring Power Man and his partner, Iron Fist (who'll be getting his own Netflix series sometime in 2017.)
    It's Christmas Eve and everyone in New York wants the latest toy, a Pokemon knock-off called a Schnuckie. Iron Fist, Power Man, and his daughter are in line at a toy store in hopes of snagging one of the hot toys before the place closes at midnight. But when the clock strikes 12, the duo learn that there's a sinister plot behind the year's hottest toy.
    Featuring guest appearances by Spider-Woman Jessica Drew, the Son of Satan, and maybe even a certain jolly old fat man, this was a very fun holiday special. Marvel has undergone quite a few changes in the past 3-5 years, some good and some bad. Often the company has been criticized for turning it's back on it's established fan base. But Sweet Christmas was in my opinion a very good mix of humor, action, and holiday cheer that I think is directed at fans both young and old. 
     There's one slight bit of controversy with this book; but it has nothing to do with content. The problem is how to catalogue this comic. It's touted as the Power Man and Iron Fist: Sweet Christmas Annual #1. However, some comic book sites that fans use to manage their comics stash list this book as an annual to the current Power Man and Iron Man series run. So, if you buy this book and can't find it under Sweet Christmas, check it out under the Power Man heading.

    Worth Consuming

    Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Avengers Annual #21 (Citizen Kang, Part 4)

This is it- Captain America, Thor, the Fantastic Four, and the Avengers team up to take down Kang the Conqueror once and for all. But in order to do that, they’ll have to face an army of time displaced heroes and villains. It’s a unique combination of characters that have both befriended and stymied these heroes in the past. Some I know like Ulysses Bloodstone (as a caveman) some I have not come across.

The ending ties up some loose ends of the multi-parted origin of Kang. It also ties it that very confusing story starting Mantis from the previously reviewed Fantastic Four Annual (Citizen Kang, Part 3.) Plus as with the other annuals in this storyline, we get the top ten villains of the Avengers as well as a really cool map of Kang’s Chronopolis.

What I think would’ve taken this annual over the top would’ve been a Marvel Handbook style listing of Kang’s army of time travelers. But knowing how detailed Marvel makes them, this book would’ve clocked in at probably 98-pages and cost $8 in 1992 dollars.

I wasn’t a fan of the ending. It was a little better than that FF annual and thankfully; all parties are given a good amount of face time in this series. Speaking of faces, the art is down-right terrible. Herb Trimpe, would drew the classic cover to the first confrontation of Wolverine and Hulk, just dropped the ball here. I don’t know what happened but his style has gotten sloppy with horrid anatomy. I didn’t like.

Worth Consuming, but just barely.

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Fantastic Four Annual #25 (Citizen Kang Part 3)

It’s the Fantastic Four’s turn to investigate the temporal disappearances of some of earth’s mightiest heroes. Sadly, this iconic team couldn’t warrant their our chapter in the Citizen Kang storyline as what can only be described as a B-list roster of Avengers are also on the trail of their missing allies. Most of the story stars the Avengers- in a Fantastic Four comic!!!

Some of the spotlight is explainable as a third party has convinced both the FF and the Avengers that their ‘opponents’ are under the influence of Kang! But, instead of building up to this, I think the Marvel Bullpen could’ve spent some time in part 4 of Citizen Kang flashbacking as to how and why the Avengers got into this scuffle with the first family of Marvel.

Along with this chapter, we get a look at the Fantastic Four’s top 10 villains, a cute story starring Ben Grimm and his nephew Franklin Richards, and a strange story starring two former Avengers! Avengers again- I think this was a fantastic Four Annual. Anyway it stars Mantis who engages another former Avenger name Moonstone in a test of strength in hopes of gaining this bald Avengers help in finding her missing son. A) I don’t know what this has to do with the Citizen Kang storyline and B) don’t know why this couldn’t have waited for the Avengers chapter.

   Lastly, more of Kang’s origin is examined. Now if goes from interesting to confusing as this part of the villains history is filled with alternate Kangs and tangent timeline that diverge whenever Kang time travels.

I wish that this issue had some shining moment. With exception of the 10 ten list and the Thing story, there really wasn’t much to enjoy. The plotting stunk and the art was typical of the mid-90s. In other words- it was filled with horrible anatomy and looked too much like Rob Liefeld for my taste.

Not Worth Consuming

Rating: 3 out of 10 stars

Thor Annual 17 (Citizen Kang Part 2)

Well, now Captain America and Vision are missing. So, Thor is sent to investigate. His arrival in the mysterious town of Timely sends him back in time to Medieval Europe, where he comes face to face with sometime Fantastic Four baddie, Prester John. Thor’s arrival has cause the potential peace between England and the Norsemen to be in jeopardy. If the Avenger can’t fix things soon, this event could damage the entire space-time continuum.

This isn’t the Thor we all know and love. Odinson has somehow been replaced with a bearded construction worker named Eric. This is probably the least familiar era of Thor comics to me. But this is a very good read and hasn’t turned me off of the god of Thunder.

Along with this story, we get more of Kang the Conqueror’s back story, an awesome tale starring the Warriors Three and Ulik, the savage troll, a look at Thor’s top 10 villains, and an awesome pin-up of classic Thor versus Ulik.

Sure, my Thor isn’t in this but the story and art is proof why he’s becoming one of my all-time favorite superheroes.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Batman annual #9

 

Yesterday was the 75^th anniversary of Batman’s first appearance on newsstands. So, of course I wasn’t going to let the milestone pass without reading a Batman comic. I choose Batman Annual #9, from 1985. Titled “The Four Faces of Batman” we delve into Batman’s history, first as a child witnessing his parents brutal murder. Then we see Batman as he avenges wrongs AND bends the rules when he investigates a bank robbery than results in an innocent’s death. Third, we examine Bruce Wayne’s dual nature as millionaire playboy and Dark Knight detective when a childhood friend of Bruce’s is murdered. Lastly, we examine the legend of the Batman as a child, a teacher, and a criminal recount in their own words how they were saved from a fire by the Caped Crusader. In a touching twist, we see that event from Bruce Wayne’s eyes but it’s loyal butler Alfred who gets the last word, turning off Bruce’s alarm clock so the playboy can recover from injuries sustained in the line of duty.

I felt like this was the perfect choice for something to read in tribute to one of my all-time favorite super heroes. This annual takes place in 1985, right in the middle of the Final Crisis, I’m pretty sure that Len Wein and the slew of artists who worked on this annual used it as a final tribute to the original Batman. Case in point, during the first face of Batman, Batman says “it’s been a long time since I thought about my parents death.” These days, you can’t go an entire story arc without the Batman having a flash back to his parents demise. Clearly, the Dark Knight honored in this annual is indeed “your father’s Batman.”

The art is pretty good (I just love the painted cover) and the plotting is fantastic. The third act was supposed to be an interactive tale with the reader solving the murder mystery. Sadly, the solution makes this chapter the weakest of the bunch. Otherwise, a fantastic annual that is very much Worth Consuming.

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.