Marvel Comics Presents #163

Issue #164 appears to be full of promise as 3 segments come to a close in this issue. 

If you recall what I said in my review of the last issue, the Vengeance/Diabolique story has been straddling the line between chilling thriller and occult horror that I just can't stand reading. Well, the finale crossed that line and scared the hell outta me. If you ask me, I don't think that this is the last we've seen of evil little Diabolique. That prospect is going to keep me up at night...

The New Warriors story ends with a pleasing guest cameo from a bizarre and rarely seen member of the FF Family. It was a great story if only for the inclusion of Slapstick, the Living Cartoon. I'm more than willing to give this era's New Warriors regular series a read in hopes it captured just a fraction of the insanity and laughs. 

As for the Mace story, it ended on an uptick. The middle two chapters had been rather cliched what with ninjas and clones and such. But the ending added a depth of mystery missing since the introductory chapter. Still, it wasn't enough to turn my into a fan.

Tigra's story rounds out the quartet. The former Avenger has taken refuge in the Australian Outback and everything seems idyllic. That is until a group of mercenaries arrives at the village that houses Tigra and kidnaps most of the population. Now Tigra is on the hunt for her missing 'kinsmen'.

The plot of the Tigra story doesn't really do anything for me. But that John Czop (New Warriors) artwork is just breathtaking. Pretty risque stuff for 1994 Marvel Comics.

2 great stories come to an end here. A third story at least comes to a thankful end. And the 4th is at least a feast for the eyes. Overall, it's a good read. But I can't wait to see what the next issue brings with 3 all new stories waiting in the wings.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars. 

The Never Weres

  In this young adult sci-fi mystery, set in the not to distant future, humanity hasn't had a live birth in about 15 years. There are no elementary schools. Human cloning is illegal due to horrific mutations. Crime is running rampant, food is scarce and civilization is under militaristic surveillance 24/7. 

   Maybe the future that this book is set in isn't that far off...

   In this dystopian society, the human race's last hope rests on 3 teens. Jesse is the son of biologists and is a budding genius in the field of animal cloning. Mia hopes to preserve our history through art and volunteers with the elderly. Xian is a tinkerer who loves to go exploring in places she doesn't belong.

     When one of Xian's adventures results in the reopening of a missing girl's cold case, the trio finds themselves targets of the police. As they uncover clues in the city sewers, they come ever so much closer to solving not only the mystery of the missing girl but could solve the genetics puzzle of successful human cloning. Or they could doom it permanently...

    The Never Weres is the first solo graphic novel by journeyman artist Fiona Smyth. Adults might recognize her style as it's been used in MAD Magazine and a score of magazine advertisements. She has a cartoonist style that is creative, different, and yet oddly familiar. This helps to make this gritty story seem a little less hostile than it really is.

   When I review books for Family Comics Friday, I usually read books that are for all ages. This is one of those rare exceptions. The plot looked really intriguing and that is what this book was. But the ethical questions of human cloning, along with themes of hope in a hopeless world and dystopia may be too much for younger readers. Recommended for ages 10-18, I would have to agree. This is not a book for a 5 years old; that's for sure.

    Smyth crafted a clever mystery with lots of twists, turns, and brains. This is a thinking man's graphic novel for sure. And when you finish it, it will leave you thinking about some serious stuff. 

    Worth Consuming

    Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.