Avengers #239 (2026 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

This comic book came out with a cover date of January, 1984. I was 5 years of age. To say that by the time I was 5 that this comic book was my introduction to David Letterman would be a good guess. But you would be wrong.

My parents were on the young side when they had my in 1977. By 1983, neither were the age of 30 yet

 My mom, a nurse, worked nights. My dad was in college. They were night owls. They were hip-ish. To say that the exploits of David Letterman, his musical sidekick Paul Shaffer and the rest of the Late Night crew was already a nearly nightly session at my home would be an accurate description. The infamous interview between Jerry Lawler and Andy Kaufman in a cervical collar, was an early childhood memory for me. A traumatizing one. But one that I remember fondly. That's for sure.

This is one of those issues that I owned in my original childhood collection. The one that I foolishly allowed to be stolen when I was in middle school. I don't remember where I bought it. Heck, my dad might have bought it and then it ended up in my collection. But I could guess 3 possible locations that it was bought at: the Grocery Boy Jr., 7/11 or Tales Resold. All from the Raleigh Brentwood area. 

The story is a classic. Wonder Man's movie career has stalled. To help jump start it, Simon's agent gets him booked to Late Night With David Letterman. Unfortunately, since Wonder Man is currently on reserve status with Earth's Mightiest Heroes, the show's producers are wanting some more well known Avengers to tag along as well. With heavy hitters Captain America and Thor away on personal missions, Hawkeye and the Vision call in as many favors as they can to support Simon's big break. 

Along with Hawkeye, the Beast, Black Widow and Black Panther are all able to make. (I just realized that it appears that Clint Barton and Vision only made it to the letter B of the Avengers roll call!) Also in attendance is Fabian Stankowicz, a recent lottery winner who's been creating ways to attack the Avengers in order to make a name for himself. Using his knowledge of mechanics, Stankowicz turns Letterman's studio into an arena of death! 

This story also features the SHIELD super heroine Mockingbird. Fresh from their honeymoon, Hawkeye introduced her to his teammates and it's a good thing too because Stankowicz hadn't planned on Mockingbird being in attendance and she pretty much is the catalyst that saves the day! Though Letterman and Paul Shaffer and the World's Most Dangerous Band lend hands as well. 

This issue was part of Marvel's notorious 1984 Assistant Editor's Month event.  In 1983, Shooter and his editors went to the West Coast for Comic-Con and left the junior editors to take over the reigns for a month. As a result, some of the most off-the-wall stories and ideas were brandied about, such as the canon story where Aunt May temporarily becomes a herald of Galactus! I've got a few of these issues. I'd love for Marvel to reprint all of those issues as an omnibus. Though with GI Joe, Conan the Barbarian and other titles not being licensed by Marvel anymore, such a collection might be impossible. Perhaps I will add them to my already rather large wish list...

A fantastic issue that I am more than excited to have back in my collection!

Script by Roger Stern. Art and cover by Al Milgrom and Joe Sinnott. Michael Carlin is the editor to blame for this story!

Completing this review completes Task #9 (An Avengers Comic from the 1980s) of the 2026 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Batman/Deadpool #1

The Dark Knight meets the Merc with a Mouth. 

This should have been the event of the year. If this had occurred 30 years ago, it would have made the front cover of Wizard Magazine, Entertainment Weekly and a host of other publications that have gone the way of the dodo. Even 20 years ago, such a cross company crossover would have made the news.

But it's 2025. There's so much media out there, this epic introduction was barely a blip on the radar. Still, getting the stars of the DC and Marvel universes together again for the first time in over 20 years was a crossover that established fans have been clamoring over for a very long time!

I must admit, I forgot about this one-shot happening. Earlier this year when the announcement was made, I promptly emailed my favorite comic shop and ordered a copy. I then put a pic of Batman and Deadpool together- officially!- on my Facebook pic. Then as time elapsed, I just forgot about it until I saw on a comic book website that the time had come. And yet, despite having been really excited about the meet-up, it was another week until I picked up my copy!

While Batman meeting Deadpool is the primary selling point of this book, there are several other crossovers contained in this Marvel published giant. After Deadpool is brought over from his universe to the DC one by a mysterious benefactor who hires the mercenary to off the Bat;  Wonder Woman and Captain America reflect on their past history which sees the DC and Marvel universes cohabitating as one. Then Daredevil and Green Arrow bump into each other in a story penned by Kevin Smith, who helmed classics starring the two characters. The Dark Knight Returns Batman and the Old Man Logan Wolverine are given the same treatment by an artist/writer who knows the pair rather intimately: Frank Miller! Then we get a tease that the Amalgam Universe could be alive and well with the introduction of Logo: a hybrid of Czarnian bounty hunter Lobo and the mutant Wolverine. 

Every story but 1 was great. Woman Woman with her World War II introduction to the world was the perfect team-up pairing with Captain America. Princess Diana must have a thing for Army men named Steve. Having Kevin Smith bring the Man Without Fear and the Emerald Archer together was another brilliant idea. And could it be true that we're going to be returning to the Amalgam Universe? Please say it's so! But man, has things fallen off for Frank Miller...

The artwork was primitive. But I can't really fault that. Arthritis and age have reduced many an artistic talent in the comic book industry to far cries of their glory years. But the dialogue for this piece. It was chopped full of cliches. It was such a jumbled mess. I didn't know what was happening nor what the hell either character was trying to say. 

Oh! And how could I forget that adorable play date between Krypto and Jeff, the Land Shark! Plus I loved the cultural exchange program between the Guardians of Oa and the Guardians of the Galaxy! Having Rocket Raccoon as a Green Lantern was hilarious. That adventure was way too short.

There was only one missed opportunity. No Deadpool meets Deathstroke. No Deadpool meeting Harley Quinn. Okay. That was 2 missed opportunities 

Thankfully, the DC/Marvel fun doesn't have to end just yet. In November, Batman and Deadpool will intermingle once more in a one-shot published by DC. Grant Morrison is set to pen it. Hopefully, Wade Wilson will meet Slade Wilson and Harleen Quinzel. Regardless, it should be epic. I can't wait. And hopefully, I won't forget about it this time!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Superman/Fantastic Four: The Infinite Destruction

Superman and the Fantastic Four. It became a viral movement to see both films in the theater in one sitting much like Barbie and Oppenheimer a couple years back. I didn't watch Superman and Fantastic Four First Steps in one sitting. I don't think my back could take it. But I managed to see them both within the same week. Little did I realize that I could have experienced a meeting of the two icons at one time years ago.

In 1999, DC Comics and Marvel mingled their two universes together for one of their last co-published works in Superman/Fantastic Four: The Infinite Destruction. Just like when Superman meet Spider-Man in 1976, this book was published as a super-sized tabloid. Only the cover would be slick and thicker like a paperback. Written and illustrated by Dan Jurgens, with additional artwork by Art Thibert,  the concept has Galactus crossing dimensional barriers absorbing the energies of Krypton as it explodes. As the planet dissipates, a tiny rocket flees the destruction but not without the notice of the world consumer.

Years later, Superman intercepts a Kryptonian drone bearing a message from his father Jor-El stating that Galactus was behind the destruction of his home planet and that the Man of Steel's Earth is on the menu. This leads Superman to travel to the Earth-616 universe, seeking assistance from the Fantastic Four. While in that universe, it's discovered that an enemy from Superman's world crossed barriers as well and has plans to become the next herald of Galactus. But before that happens, Superman is captured by the Devourer and blasted with immense energy. Now welding the power cosmic, Superman has become the new herald of Galactus and with his incredible powers added to the mix, not even Kryptonite can stop the Man of Tomorrow!

I knew I had been holding on to this work for a reason! It was a great way to capture off the Summer of 'Super Fantastic'! I must say that the format with the deluxe edition paper and cover, being so gigantic, it was a bit unwieldy. I'm pretty sure I damaged the spine some as the sturdier paper would bend terribly against the book binder used. Age, size and wear definitely will prevent this from remaining a pristine mint book in your collection no matter how careful you are.

I thought this book would have worked better if it was jointly published as a joint What If.../Elseworlds. Readers are supposed to go into this book with the fore-knowledge that Superman and the Fantastic Four know each other. Presumably, from the crossovers DC Vs. Marvel and/ or the All Access minis. Also I don't think Superman crossed paths with Reed, Sue and company in his 1996 meeting with the Silver Surfer. 

If you are new to comics and you came across this book, you'd probably be wondering about how these two icons are acquainted since it's been over 2 decades since entities from both worlds were in a comic book together. Though you won't have to wait much longer as Deadpool and Batman are set to meet for the very first time later this November.

Another thing is the choice of villain. No, not Galactus. He was perfect for this. It's the DC baddie selected for this book: the Cyborg Superman. Yeah, he's evil and ruthless. Plus, since he has to participate in the ubiquitous reluctant pairing of protagonist and antagonist in order to help the Fantastic Four minus Mister Fantastic find Galactus, having someone more powerful in this story just wouldn't work. But could you imagine how epic this story would have been if DC and Marvel had decided to pair Galactus with Brainiac?! 

Jurgens (and Thibert) did a fine job. The artwork was classic 1990s Superman and I like how they worked in that Easter egg for the Superman: The Animated Adventures toon into the mix. I was just disappointed from the cover. It's illustrated by Dan Jurgens. But it's painted by Alex Ross. He's know for several oversized one-shots starring members of the Justice League. I was hopeful based on which that the interior art was also by Ross. Alas, it wasn't to be.

Wanna actually experience both Superman and the Fantastic Four on the same set together? Plus the presence of First Steps for Galactus? Then this is your book. You might have to go out in the wild to find a copy of get lucky on something like eBay..Though if DC and Marvel were smart, they'd refuse this book in time for the holiday shopping season. It's the pairing social media has been clamoring for all Summer long!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Godzilla Vs the Fantastic Four #1 (2025 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

In 1977 American comic book fans were treated to the king of all crossovers when the King of All Monsters, Godzilla became an official part of the Marvel universe. For 24 issues, Dum Dum Dugan, Gabriel Jones and SHIELD did their best to contain Godzilla as he rampaged his way across the United States. Along the way, Hank Pym, Spider-Man, and even Moon Boy and Devil Dinosaur during a trip back in time, tried to stop the radioactive beast from making New York City his next stomping ground.

In the final issue of Godzilla, King of the Monsters, it's Marvel's First Family who are pitted against the beast before he ultimately returned to the depths of the sea for another underwater slumber. With Godzilla's hibernation, Marvel's partnership with Japan's Toho Studios was ended and the events of the last 2 years of events were retconned out of continuity. So it's only fitting with Godzilla's return to the House of Ideas in this 2025 series of a half dozen one-shots that the Fantastic Four are chosen to welcome the Kaiju legend back!

The 6-one shots are supposed to be a rebooted continuation of the original 70s series and will show Godzilla's progression over the years in Marvel Comics history had Marvel never lost the rights from Toho. Basically scrapping everything that happened to conclude the series, in this story simply titled 'Godzilla Vs. The Fantastic Four', Gojira has made it to Manhattan coming East via the Atlantic instead of traversing the United States. Reed Richards hopes to make a final stand at Liberty Island. Unfortunately, sheer brute strength isn't enough to keep the King of the Titans down.

Mr. Fantastic regroups, leading Godzilla to the Baxter Building. At FF headquarters, Richards will reroute the entire Eastern seaboard power grid into the Baxter Building; essentially turning it into a giant bug zapper. 

The victory is premature. Because immediately once Godzilla is defeated, the sky over New York turns to fire. This has happened before. Galactus has returned and he brings with him a new herald: the three headed alien dragon destroyer known as King Ghidorah!

Ryan North penned this epic story that rivals Stan and Jack's 'Galactus Trilogy' by adding Kaiju to the mix. John Romita Jr. penciled the interior artwork with the regular cover crafted by A Kubert. Further issues will star the Hulk, Thor, Spider-Man and the X-Men. The 6-issue chronicle into Godzilla's missing timeline culminates with a challenge by the New Avengers, who's roster is heavily influenced by the recent Thunderbolts* film starring Sebastian Stan and Florence Pugh. Hopefully, Dum Dum and Gabe will show up at some point along the way. Their appearances would be so fitting since they were main characters in the original Godzilla comic. 

Completing this review completes Task #17 (A Kaiju Comic Book) of the 2025 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Monster Unleashed

When I first heard about this 2017 Marvel crossover, I was pretty excited. The big baddies of Marvel's sci-fi 1950s and 60s like Fin Fang Foom, Goomba and the Creature from the Black Bog were finally gonna rise up against the heroes of the Marvel Universe and reclaim their place as the rightful rulers of earth. It even appeared from some of the earliest artworks that good guys such as Devil Dinosaur were going to rise up against these men in tights. Yet, that wasn't to be the storyline at all.

An invasion by kaiju-like creatures does happen in Monsters Unleashed. However, these behemoths are unlike anything to have ever graced the pages of a Marvel Comic. Planet Earth has been chosen as the newest nest of the Leviathon Queen, a massive crimson egg-laying beast. But before she can settle in, the world must be cleansed of vermin. That means 'bye-bye, pesky humans.' 

The superhuman population assembles on a global scale like never before. Heroes and villains join forces to stop these Leviathons from decimating the planet. That's where the Marvel monsters of the Silver Age of comics step in. They've been biding their time waiting for the chance to conquer our planet and they're not about to let a bunch of extraterrestrial interlopers just swoop in and take the planet from them! 

Monsters Unleashed was unlike any massive crossover event I've ever read from the House of Ideas. For one thing, it was fun. There wasn't any sort of major shock, like the death of Captain America at the end of Civil War. The editors didn't try to add some new character that was going to change the way we looked at people of color or gender or reveal that some beloved established character was now retconned to be furry or something like that. Instead, this storyline was a tribute to the giant monsters of a by-gone era of creativity and thinly veiled fear of the Red Menace of Communism!

The new character that was introduced in this series was a young pre-teen boy named Kei. He has the ability to draw monsters and make them appear and disappear as needed. With this ability, Kei becomes Kid Kaiju (a freakin' awesome 2010s superhero name if I've ever heard one) and perhaps humanity's last hope for salvation against these big nasties.

I really loved how Monsters Unleashed utilized Moon Girl. Having her become a sort of mentor for new hero Kei was a perfect casting choice. Then we have monster-hunter Elsa Bloodstone becoming Kei's bodyguard and mentor in a preview of a Monsters Unleashed regular series that continues from where the 5th issue of the miniseries ends. Even though I've got plans to downsize my collection somewhat, I think I'd be more than happy to collect the follow-up series because just like this crossover event, it was fun. 

Okay. Now it's time to pick apart the story a little. With kaijus appearing all over the globe, both villains and protagonist alike, there's a lot of destruction here. Some notable landmarks become piles of rubble, like the Nevada's Hoover Dam, the imperial palace of Wakanda and Johannesburg's FNB Stadium. I've read Marvel stuff from the past 7 years since this story came out. I've not heard about rebuilding efforts from Monsters Unleashed still being a thing in the Marvel Universe. Is superhero calamity reconstruction company Damage Control that good at quick repairs? Or do the magicians of the Marvel Universe like Doctor Strange cast instance rebuild spells? I think what I'm trying to get at is as much as I enjoyed the scenes of massive destruction, the level seen in this book was just too implausible to me.

Cullen Bunn penned a great story that was a thrill ride a minute. Smartly plotted. Hilarious banter. The art was good. Though a lot of the alien kaiju seemed to have googly eyes that made them look more silly that deadly serious. (Was Hobby Lobby having a sale on them?) I did mourn the death of one of Kid Kaiju's creations. The character is only there for like 5 pages and yet I feel in love with them. Hopefully, they'll make a return! Some great variant covers by Arthur Adams appear in the back and they're not to be missed. 

Another gem unearthed at my nearest Ollie's, Monsters Unleashed is an extremely fun read  despite it's over-the-top level of chaos and destruction.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Archie Meets Riverdale #1

I think I write some of my reviews in my sleep. I know for a fact that I read this 2022 one-shot crossover the week it debuted in stores. I enjoyed the Hell out of it. And I could have sworn that I drafted up my praises. Yet, this book was still in my to-review pile with no proof of a post about Archie Meets Riverdale anywhere on this blog. 

In the original Archie Comics universe, teenage egghead Dilton Doiley is working on another one of his experiments which naturally malfunctions. Only this time around, the device latches on to a parallel universe plucking the Riverdale Archie Andrews from his drama heavy universe into the overly cheery world of Riverdale, USA that us readers have been devotees of for over 80 years! As Dilton tinkers with his machine in hopes of fixing it, random teens from both universes pop in and out of their realities. Before you know it, all of your classic Archie characters will be on the PG-13 side of the spectrum and those brooding teens from Riverdale will be existing in a saccharine reality otherwise thought unimaginable.

You know, the only way to fix this might be a joint prom between both Riverdale High student bodies!

I've never seen an episode of Riverdale. But I Wiki-read about it a lot. I HAVE read quite a few Archie team-up books. Archie Meets Riverdale is among the creme de la creme of them! I know that at least in one of my dream reviews in the past, I wished for this crossover to happen. Well, the wish was granted, albeit in my head, and it was a marvelous wish fulfilled. 

I loved that Pat & Tim Kennedy decided to draw the classic Archie gang in a more nostalgic look from the 1940s and 50s. If Archie Comics had gone with Dan Parent's version which is based a lot more on Dan DeCarlo's look established as the playbook for presenting the world's oldest teenagers, the differences between the two universes wouldn't be as striking. I love the Dan Parent/Dan DeCarlo model. It's the definitive look for Archie and the gang. It just would not have been as effective if that version was used for this crossover. 

Good Call, Archie Editors!

A fun ride for Archie and Riverdale fans. Though I think the more established a classic Archie fan you are, the more you'll get out of this book. 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Batman #21-27, 29-33 & DC Comics: Zero Year One-Shots (2023 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

(DC Comics Zero Year contains: Detective Comics #25, Batgirl #25, Batwing #25, Batwoman #25, Birds of Prey #25, Catwoman #25, The Flash #25, Green Arrow #25, Green Lantern Corps #25, Nightwing #25, Red Hood and The Outlaws #25 and Action Comics #25.)

When DC Comics rebooted its entire line-up in 2011's New 52 campaign, almost all of the major players seemed to be retooled. That is with the exception of the Batman. For one reason or another, most of the Bat-Family history was the same as before the change which occurred on August 31st. Making drastic changes to Batman, the publisher's most popular character, might have destroyed DC's loyal fan base. Another reason for keeping Batman's history from being completely rewritten as opposed to the newer, grittier version of Superman, was the need to keep some of the established DC characters from looking too different. Regardless, the ultimate decision was all about money.

Batman writers Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV both noticed the need to incorporate a little bit of New 52 backstory into the Batman Family. Not wanting to erase any of the amazing lore crafted about the legend of the Dark Knight, especially Frank Miller's Batman: Year One, the writing duo went even further back with Zero Year! 

DC Comics had already explored this 'zero year' in 2012 in commemoration of the 1-year anniversary of the New 52 in which all existing series were given an issue #0 that delved into the origins of these rebooted characters. In follow-up, Snyder and Tynion crafted an entire storyline based around the 'zero month' concept. 

Batman #21 would see Bruce Wayne returning to Gotham City after years of a self-imposed exile. This occurs 5 years before the beginning of the storylines of the New 52 lineup. Many believe Wayne is dead and Bruce wants to keep it that way. That is until the billionaire discovers that a menacing force known as the Red Hood Gang has infiltrated the Wayne family business and is using Wayne Enterprises technology and funds to organize a criminal vice over the city. 

Bruce Wayne attempts to stop the Red Hood Gang by acting as a standard ski-mask wearing vigilante. But his early attempts don't do much to intimidate crooks. Building upon his childhood phobia of bats, Bruce Wayne creates a high-tech suit resembling a giant chiropteran and begins to strike fear into Gotham's criminal element. 

As Bruce Wayne/Batman fights the Red Hood Gang, another player is working in the shadows. Edward Nygma has positioned himself as a trusted advisor to current Wayne Enterprises CEO, Philip Kane. This gives Nygma not only access to a vast enterprise of advanced technology, but also the ability to manipulate the Red Hood Gang after Batman seemingly kills their leader. 

With Gotham in a power vacuum and a deadly super storm hurricane zeroing in on Gotham, Nygma makes his play. Now touting himself as the Riddler, Nygma detonates scores of bombs, shutting off the metropolitan area's power.  Effectively Gotham is cut off from the rest of the world. 

It is at this point that a dozen New 52 series take a brief pause in their current storylines and revert back to Zero Year. Clark Kent learns that despite having god-like powers, he's nothing compared to an act of God. Rookie Keystone City policeman Barry Allen volunteers to beef up Gotham's depleted police force and learns that all saints are sinners and vice versa. Marine John Stewart assists in the evacuation of citizens that have flocked to the Gotham coliseum. These are all episodes that will define these heroes years later.

Meanwhile, the members of the Bat-Family are also learning important lessons on the eve of Zero Year. Barbara Gordon gets a first hand look at mob mentality and displaced trust when the public shelter she has fled to begins to flood. Dick Grayson learns about bravery and to never trust someone with the last name Falcone. Cassandra Cain gets her first taste of vigilantism while making a chance encounter with a member of the Metropolis police department. But most perplexing of all is the back story of Jason Todd. His story sees him infiltrating the Red Hood Gang and running afoul of an alluring member of the League of Assassins all for the chance at cheap thrills!

After the Zero Year one-shots, the regular storyline commences. It sees Gotham isolated with the Riddler ruling the megalopolis through the use of deadly drones and the only power source in town. Batman comes to grips with his past distrust of Jim Gordon and along with Lucius Fox, seeks to restore power and order to Gotham.

Zero Year was a unique crossover event. To only have to purchase 12 single issues, each comprised of a stand alone story that occurs with such devastation in a major location in the DC Universe was actually a rare thing. For example, if one wanted to read all of the material of 1988-86's Crisis on Infinite Earths, the first major multi-issue crossover event, they'd have to buy the 12 issues of the maxi-series plus an astounding 38 supplemental issues. Compare that to Marvel's 2015 Secret Wars event where fans had to purchase nearly 100 issues in order to complete their wish list. 

Though fans' pockets weren't as assaulted with Zero Year as with other in-house crossovers, the story itself was a bit jarring. There are flashbacks splattered all throughout the series, many of which don't get addressed properly, if not at all. The final issue takes place in 3 simultaneous perspectives; one of which is at least 5 years (or more) in the past, just as Batman seeks to finally wrestle control of Gotham from the Riddler while a team of Air Force jets approach with warheads armed and ready. 

Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV do manage to create a Batman origin story that does not contradict Batman: Year One. The whole idea of the coming super storm and Riddler's role in the crippling of Gotham City were plot devices used in 2022's The Batman. 2012's Batman: Death of The Family and other previous works might have established the Joker as the Dark Knight's most deadliest foe. But, a lot of that is personal vendetta type stuff. Batman: Zero Year establishes the Riddler as Batman's most destructive enemy, willing to sacrifice millions at the cost of saving face in order to prove just who is the smartest man in Gotham City!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Completing this review completes Task #35 (An Entire In-house Crossover Event like Civil War or Final Crisis) of the 2023 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Archie Meets Batman '66

The combined forces of the Joker, Riddler, Penguin and Catwoman descend on Riverdale in their bid to take over the world. Figuring that Batman is the reason they can't conquer Gotham City, the villains of the United Underworld embark in their most devious caper yet in Archie Andrews' backyard! Aided by the enchanting songs of the Siren, the fiends manage to enslave the adults of Riverdale. But for some reason, the lyrics just don't affect the teenage population. 

With the Bookworm on the loose in Gotham, Batman can't afford to leave the big city. So the Caped Crusader sends Robin and Batgirl in his place. Meet Dick Grayson and Barbara Gordon, the newest students of Riverdale High School. Along with Archie and his gang, these young heroes may be the last line of defense between 4 of Batman's most deadliest enemies and the fate of the free world!

Regular Batman '66 writer Jeff Parker pens this swinging 60s era crossover. There's a lot of the magic of that monthly series in this book. But of the Batman '66 crossovers, this is probably my least favorite. The other team-ups made by the Dynamic Duo involved other live action characters like the Green Hornet and the Man from UNCLE. Those stories felt like natural progressions of the TV show. Having Batman, Robin and the rest interact with the Archie gang felt more like those Scooby-Doo cartoon crossovers from the 70s. 

The artwork by Dan Parent was superior as ever. The definitive modern era Archie artist proves that he's got the chops to tackle the Batman '66 universe. And then there's the covers! A half-dozen regular cover masterpieces from Michael Allred (Madman). Plus, there are literally dozens of variant covers by many amazing artists such as Joe Giella, Jerry Ordway and Art Baltazar. 

I must make one giant complaint. There's a great Batman '66/Archie connection that would have made a great capper to this story. Unfortunately, Jeff Parker ruined the moment by having Bruce Wayne flippantly ruin things with an off-the-cuff but it all makes sense sort of observation a couple of issues prior to the ending.

Plus- isn't Barbara Gordon an adult on the Batman '66 series? So why isn't she susceptible to the Siren's call like the other adults? Okay- so I had 2 complaints!

I had read issue #1 a long time ago when it first came out in 2018. And then I had forgotten all about it until just recently. Worth the wait. Just not as perfect as I had built things up to be in my head.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

The Batman/Judge Dredd Collection

The 1990s was the cross-publication crossover era. After a brief blip in the late 70s, the DC and Marvel universes went through most of the 1980s without the two sides ever meeting. Then in the 90s with Marvel facing bankruptcy, the worlds of the two big publishers collided. Not to be outdone, the major indy publishers followed suit. Shi meet Daredevil. The Ninja Turtles meet Savage Dragon. And Batman meet everyone!

That's how the DC Universe came to meet the citizens of Mega City One!

In Judgment on Gotham, a futuristic piece of tech transports the feared Judge Death to Gotham City. In a melee with Death, the Batman gets his hand on the dimensional warping gadget and finds himself in Mega City One facing down the one and only Judge Dredd! Meanwhile, back in Gotham, Judge Death forms an unholy alliance with the Scarecrow! 

Vendetta in Gotham sees Judge Dredd in Batman's backyard and he's come with a sentence on the Dark Knight- a death sentence! 

The story Die Laughing is supposed to be the next story. According to the ending of Vendetta in Gotham, that's where things wrap up. Yet, for some reason, The Ultimate Riddle came next. It has Batman, The Riddler and Judge Dredd enslaved by a powerful being who has joined the mightiest fighters in the galaxy in a no holds barred battle royale.

Vendetta in Gotham wraps things up with the Joker joining forces with the Dark Judges in Mega City One! 

Finally, the last Czarnian, Lobo is hired to protect an intergalactic children's host who happens to get kidnapped by the mutants of Mega City One. The story was a wild ride. What would you expect from a 1990s era Lobo story? Not sure why this one was added to a collection of Batman/Judge Dredd crossovers. But I am glad it was. Now if we could get a Lobo/Deadpool crossover!

5 amazing adventures. The level of violence, gore and naked flesh would make this a Vertigo property. But I guess DC saw a cash cow and thought they'd lose sales and they might of! I'm sure 2000AD didn't care one bit. But this is definitely not something for all ages. Maybe not mature audiences only type stuff. But please don't buy this for your under 11 years old Batman fans!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Batman/Fortnite: Zero Point

Prior to reading this book, the amount of information I know about the video game Fortnite probably couldn't fill a thimble. It's a multi-player video. Players dressed in a array of crazy costumes are dropped onto an island. Last person standing wins and the victory nets big awards like customizable skins, power ups and weapons!

The amount of information I know about Batman could fill a web page. Like this one!

When a mysterious storm hits Gotham City, Batman is called to investigate. Sucked into the storm, Batman finds himself trapped on a seemingly deserted island. That is until some madman with a funky looking axe attacks him!

Unable to speak and without a memory as to who he is, Batman must rely on his ingrained instincts in order to survive. But every 22 minutes, time resets and the Dark Knight finds himself back at square one. Being stuck in a time loop is a challenge in on itself. Sometimes Batman explores the island. Sometimes, he fights for his life in a battle royale. 

Hmmm... That female warrior in the catsuit with the whip looks oddly familiar. If only the Batman could forge an alliance with her.

Wow. Just, wow! I've never played Fortnite before. But I wanna! Thanks to the special code included in this book, I might have a great start if I do become a player! But, I also want to know the rest of the story. 

I'm not going to spoil how this story ends. But a whole DC Comics/Fortnite series of comics is set up with this 6-issue series. Plus, there just might be some superstars from other franchises that show up on the island. You'll just have to read for yourself. 

I've seen that Spider-Man has just become a playable Fortnite character. Comics fans have been clamoring for a new Marvel/DC crossover. Could Zero Point be laying the foundation to that much desired reunion of the Big Two publishers? 

We'll see!

A fantastic mystery story by Christos Gage (Netflix's Daredevil). It's quintessential Batman. Yet it is also a Fortnite story that is perfect for the uninitiated. Epics Games made the wise decision to partner with DC Comics and Batman in order to reach out to those of use who otherwise might have looked the other way with a third-person shooter game.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Tsum Tsum: Takeover!

I love crossovers and team-ups. I don't think this book can be classified as a team-up. I think since two universes converge, this is more of a crossover. But I'm not really sure.

When a package belonging to the Collector is lost in transit, this spells mayhem for the Big Apple. The package crashes and a group of Tsum Tsums are unleashed on the world. As these creatures assume the form of their friends, some Tsum Tsums become heroes while a few fall under the influence of Ultron! Of all of the villains they could run afoul of, they pick the one most evil and most able to adapt to any situation. 

This miniseries is from 2016. It's yet another bargain find at Ollie's. My big question is- are Tsum Tsums still a thing? 

Tsum Tsums are a Japanese toy property based on Disney licenses. They are supposed to be rectangular in shape. But they look more like a tube or a pill capsule to me. These toys are designed to be stackable and apparently kids created a party game where you try to knock over as many of the stacked up figures as possible. The Tsum Tsums eventually became the stars of a video game or two.

If you ask me, Tsum Tsums are a fad similar to POGs. Which essentially means, I get the gist of them. But I still don't fully understand them. Thankfully, you don't have to understand the toys or the games to enjoy the book. Kudos to writer Jacob Chabot (The Mighty Skullboy Army) who made this story fun to read and enjoy without having much of a knowledge of the Tsum Tsum property. 

If the Tsum Tsums are why you are buying this book, you might need a little bit of knowledge about Marvel Comics. But you should do okay reading this if you don't.

Not a bad expenditure of $2.99.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

The Doomed and the Damned #1

I am a huge fan of crossovers. My collection is full of titles that generally pits a well known superhero like Spider-Man or Batman with an assortment of pals ranging from A-list allies such as The Human Torch to B-listers such as Plastic Man to never-rans like the one-time Avenge,r Jack of Hearts. It was always a treat when a villain was paired up with a do-gooder, as those tales were often unpredictable. 

This year, DC Comics gave us 2 Halloween themed specials. I never got around to the Swamp Thing book. (I guess I have that to look forward to next year.) But I could not wait to get my hands on The Doomed and the Damned. 

This volume features 10 spine-tingling tales featuring some unbelievable team-ups. Green Lantern learns a lesson in facing personal demons when the rhyming Etrigan appears looking for the same criminal. Man-Bat and Madame Xanadu investigate a literal ghost story with a twist. The Frankenstein/Aquaman trip to the Moon was far-out and I enjoyed the Superman/Swamp Thing mystery but that one seemed to leave out some important details that left me wondering who really was the narrator of that tale…

The final story had the despot of Apokolips, Darkseid seeking solace in a Gotham City speakeasy only to be shamed by some social justice warriors into a drinking contest with some guy named Baytor. It’s needless to ask just what Darkseid is doing in a bar in Batman’s back yard. This story was insane. I liked it. But I was also surprised that it saw print. 

The tale was written by Garth Ennis, whom has become the target of a number of sexual harassment accusations from young women who sought the Preacher creator as a mentor and might have gotten hit on in return. Truly, I am shocked that there was not a fire storm of protests from the social media populace demanding the removal of the Ennis story from this collection. Especially since Ennis skewers the SJWs in their over-the-top needling of Darkseid. 

I felt that the Batman story wasn’t a true team-up. He helps an orphan boy who believes that his brother was kidnapped by a demon hiding in the orphanages’ lavatory. Then there’s the Wonder Woman adventure with Raven. The implications of that story. Was it canon? Because if so, Princess Diana is going to have a DEVIL of a time in future issues of Wonder Woman and probably even Justice League Dark. 

I was really confused by the semantics of the last story. It was written fairly well in terms of the plot. But I guess I am just too old nowadays to understand the nomenclature of gender/ non gender pronouns without a road map. 

The characters of Klarion the Witch Boy and his adversary Beast Boy keep referring to Klarion's cat Teekl as 'they'. And I kept thinking that I was missing something because only 1 character had kidnapped the Teen Titan Raven. Being a magical creature, I was thinking maybe Teekl is actually two characters fused together. Plus in previous stories, the cat has always been referred to as a boy. But that's apparently not the case in 2020 comics.

It seems that Kirby originally made Teekl a girl. But sometime in the 90s, Grant Morrison changed Teekl over to being a male. I'm guessing that writer of this story decided to end the confusion once and for all using the non-binary they/them to describe Teekl.

I support those wanting to use non-binary pronouns instead of he/she. But I also support good grammar. I was always taught that THEY was plural, meaning more than one. I know that I will never have the impact to change this. But I think to avoid confusion, those who are non-binary might consider the use of THY or THOU. Using THEM is okay as it can be grammatically correct for the most part. But using THEY for just 1 person doesn't sound right in terms of syntax. But maybe that's just me getting old…

Despite feeling (and possibly showing) my age, I enjoyed this book. It’s been a couple of days since I read this book to now writing up my review. And it’s probably best I did as I feel that my rating on this book has improved over time. (Except with that Wonder Woman story. That just really feels unforgivable in so many ways.) 

A chilling collection of classic crossovers with modern day advancements. They may not all make sense to me, a traditionalist comic book collector in his 40s, but they made for a fun read this pandemic ridden Halloween season.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Star Trek: The Q Conflict

We've had other comics join together the Original Series and the Next Gen universes- but never to this scope!

The Q Continuum is at war! Q is involved in a struggle for control of the 4 quadrants with a pair of omnipotent races. The battle is threatening the fabric of time and space. Thus to save reality, Captain Picard offers to mediate between the three entities. 

In typical Q fashion, the demigod takes up Picard's offer but he twists it in his own warped way. In a 'fwash', the crews of the Enterprise D, Deep Space 9, Voyager and the original Enterprise are sorted into teams and must act as champions for the 3 combatants with the safety of all known time and space at risk!

This was a book that I had to pick up new! I could not wait for a used copy to go on sale! I really wanted to read this book. I know I could have read it earlier in individual issues. But the scale of this book was so massive, I knew that to read over a span of 2-3 months as individual issues would have resulted in something being lost over that time period. 

I was right!

There's so many cameos and Easter Eggs in this book. Reading this as a collected edition, I am pretty sure I caught all of them. Though there was at least one egg that I didn't quite understand. At the end of issue/chapter one, there's a ghostly image of some man in the distance. I've tried but I can't figure out who that is. I hope it's not Gene Roddenberry. Not that he doesn't deserve the respect but to pay homage to him in the story instead of an afterward on the last page of the book, would be a massive disruption of the fourth wall. 

As for the book, I loved it. And I wanted more. Not only that, I know that there's going to be more. If you think IDW is going to stop at Q Conflict, you are completely fooling yourself. The publisher is going to milk this cash cow- and I'm okay with it!

I want to see everyone in the sequel. The crew of Discovery. Captain Archer and his crew. Chris Pike and Number One. The older versions of Kirk and Spock. Saavik. David. And the Kelvin Enterprise Crew. 

Come on, IDW! Let's make Q Conflict II the Crisis of the Star Trek universe! It will be the ultimate crossover and a guaranteed moneymaker! And I WILL BUY IT!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Archie Vs. Predator II #1

The most deadliest race of hunters in the universe return to go old Riverdale, USA for another round of trophy hunting in the pages of Archie Vs. Predator II #1.

Archie Vs. Predator II #1
Written by Alex de Campi
Art by Robert Hack
Published by Archie Comics/Dark Horse Comics
Retail: $3.99

(As with any review, the potential for spoilers exist. While the reviewer tried to be as spoiler free as possible, reader discretion is advised.)

I love the wide range of crossovers Archie has had with other amazing franchises. His run-in with The Punisher is the stuff of legend. Archie Vs. Sharknado was a fun-filled gory romp! But there’s something different about Archie Vs. Predator II.

You know how Deadpool is aware that he’s actually a comic book character? Well Betty, Veronica and a Predator-Human hybrid in the form of Archie, have that same kind of knowledge. They’re all quite aware of the unusual things that happen to the Archie gang. From time travel to becoming superheroes to summoning demons, this group of ageless teenagers are anything but typical.

Seeking a way to possibly undo the events of the first Archie Vs. Predator series via the Memory Lane in which Archie was able to view married life with both Betty and Veronica, the teens wind up in an alternate universe comprised of their more gritter, rebooted selves. Yes, with the existence of an Archie multiverse confirmed, the town of Riverdale is about to experience a ‘Crisis’ of DC Comics proportions when this unlikely meeting of Archies results in the return of Predator!

The opening chapter of Archie Vs Predator II was some trippy stuff. I've never really seen Archie Comics take such a risk as to having the characters acknowledge that they are part of a greater comic book franchise. I'm wondering if a mass crossover of different types of Archie's is in the works here. Could we be one day be seeing a visit from L'il Archie and Friends or Archie 3000? That would be epic!

I was blown away by the artwork of Robert Hack (Doctor Who). His pencils capture the classic Archies with a sort of pained innocence while portraying the rebooted versions as contemporary yet classic. His Predators look amazing. But there's just not enough of those alien baddies in this first issue.

There's also not enough first issue. I'm really starting to feel that for the lofty price tags we pay, I'd rather pay a little extra for 2 or 3 oversized issues than almost $4 for 5 small issues. 22-24 pages just isn't enough room in a comic book to achieve a decent pace. Especially when it comes to crossovers! Writer Alex de Campi (Smoke) has woven such a meta concept at stake into this miniseries. Unfortunately, by the time you get the hang of things, issue #1 ends without the reader ever getting anywhere.

Archie Vs Predator II is some very sophisticated stuff, what with the concepts of what is reality vs. fiction and alternate universes. It's great for fans of DC's Crisis books or Robert Heinlein. But if you are expecting a bloody sci-fi dangerous game between Dark Horse's Predator and the teens of Archie Comics, you'll have to wait until next issue. While the prospect of that conflict has gotten me ready for more, I'm disappointed that for the cover price we don't get any Predator kills in this issue.

Archie Vs Predator II debuts in print and digital formats on July 24, 2019.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Rick and Morty Vs. Dungeons & Dragons

Take someone whose never watched a single episode of Rick and Morty, nor have they ever played D&D, and have them read this book? Well, that's me. But thanks to the personal recommendation of Oni Press editor, Sarah Gaydos, I gave this book a try and I loved it!

At last year's Bull City Comic Com, I interviewed Gaydos as she was the driving force behind the epic Star Trek Vs. Transformers crossover when she worked at IDW. I asked her for any sneak previews of her new projects over at Oni and she told me that I must read this crossover even if I had never played Dungeons and Dragons or ever seen an episode of the Adult Swim hit series.

So I took up Sarah Gaydos challenge when I found this book where else but at my local library! And I loved it!

All of Morty's friends at school are enjoying role-playing games. Not wanting to be left out, Morty goes to his local gaming shop to find out what the fuss is all about. At the store, Morty flirts with a girl gamer who invites him to play D&D one night after the store closes.

Not knowing how to play the game, Morty reluctantly goes to Rick for assistance. Turns out, Rick Sanchez is a total gamer! So, Rick and his older buds try to teach Morty the basics of the game. Only Morty keeps dying! 

Running out of patience and character sheets, Morty insists that Rick create a world in which the rules of Dungeons and Dragons exist for reals in order to truly experience the game in a LARPing sort of way. With Morty's mom and siter eager for adventure and Morty's dad secretly being a master gamer himself, it seems that the Smith family might finally found a way to bond as the perfect family!

I have no real way of knowing if this comic book was anywhere really like the show as I've never seen Rick and Morty. But I know a bit about D&D from reading articles and having discussions with friends who do pole play. (Those certain episodes from The Big Bang Theory helped with my a priori knowledge of the game as well.) But what I can say is that this miniseries was a very funny and a fun read. 

I liked that all versions of D&D are explored including the CBS Saturday morning cartoon and Forgotten Realms. Well, almost all. Why is the Fourth Edition considered unspeakable garbage? I'm interested to learn if that's just an inside jokes or if that edition of Dungeons and Dragons is really that awful. Since Jim Zub is a big name D&D comics writer, I might just have to PM him on Twitter and ask....

The artwork by Troy Little was a great. It was a very good mix of Rick and Morty cartoon meets realistically gritty Dungeons and Dragons art. Now in the comics, all of the orcs, dragons and villains are drawn in the style of the Adult Swim series. But a lot of those amazing covers done by Little and friends have Rick and his grandson illustrated in an epically 'advanced' way!

The only thing I could have done without were the character sheets of the Smith and Sanchez clan. Since I don't play D&D, I didn't understand them. I didn't know if they were meant to be real or done as a joke. If it was the former, I missed out on the punchline.

Rick and Morty Vs. Dungeons and Dragons was a great read for anyone. As long as you are a geek that loves hanging out with friends at their favorite LCS or playing board games and such, you'll enjoy this book. You don't have to be a fan (or even all that acquainted) with either franchise. But it sure won't hurt if you are!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Scooby-Doo Team-Up #20

The Mystery Inc. gang go intergalactic in this exciting issue! But this time the phantom is real!

Space Ghost- that star of dramatic cartoon and late-night buffoonery, teams up with Scooby-Doo to defeat a pair of his greatest foes. 

Normally, the Hanna-Barbera team-ups are done by other artists. But this time, it's DC team-ups master, Dario Brizuela, on pencils. It makes logical sense as Space Ghost and Super Friends were both designed by Alex Toth, of which Brizuela is an apt pupil of. 

I loved this issue. It's so unlike the other HB pairings. Those tend to be very silly. And while there's some dry wit and one-liners, this issue is done more in the serious tone of the original Space Ghost. 

Now that a toned-down crossover of Space Ghost and Scooby has been done, I wouldn't mind a silly sequel. I loved Space Ghost Coast-to-Coast. It was utterly surreal. But should that ever occur (as this back issue is over 2 years old), they've got to have Space Ghost's co-host, Brak!

Lots of sci-fi fun!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars!

Superman Vs. The Amazing Spider-Man in The Battle of the Century

This 1995 joint publication reprints the very first DC/Marvel crossover ever! In 1976, worlds literally collided as the Man of Steel and your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man fought against each other and then joined forces against the combined might of Lex Luthor and Doctor Octopus!

You might also note that I did not refer to this book as having reprinted the first DC/Marvel collaboration. In 1975, DC and Marvel were approached by MGM Studios to craft a joint adaptation of The Wizard of Oz. Having great success with this venture, the two publishers finally decided it was time for their most famous characters to meet!

I wasn't born when this team-up occurred. But as a kid, I saw ads for it in back issues and I salivated over it. But for some reason or another, I never could find a copy of this. Then last year at a con, my search was finally complete as I found this banged up copy for only a buck!

Gerry Conway, a veteran at writing both Spider-Man and Superman, wrote the script. Ross Andru was on pencils and Dick Giordano did inks. 

Carmine Infantino and Stan Lee were the editors on this. It was during this time, Infantino expressed frustration at not getting a chance to be DC's head editor due to the lengthy tenure of Julius Schwartz. Lee made all sorts of promises to Carmine and eventually poached the DC man when his contract came up later in the year. This is why Infantino worked on the Marvel Star Wars series in 1977-78. But Stan Lee was known to make promises that he never intended to keep and made Jim Shooter EIC instead in 1978. 

Superman Vs. Spider-Man follows the tried but true (but not always the best) rules of first time ever crossovers. The first act has both Superman/Clark Kent and Spidey/Peter Parker acting independently of the other. And of course, the lives of both run socking parallel. 

The second act has the real villains pulling off their master scheme. Some misunderstanding makes our heroes believe that the other is behind the attack. Epic battling ensues.

Then in our final act, our heroes discover that neither is a baddie. So Superman and Spider-Man team up to put the true foes behind bars. Then you get a hinted promise of a rematch/continued rivalry to conclude the yarn.

A couple of years after this book, the two heroes would met again. This time against Doctor Doom and the Parasite. I've actually read that one previously. A few years ago, I found a pocket paperback reprinting of that story. 

While the story was chopped all to hell to fit a paperback's format limitations, I enjoyed that team-up just a little bit better. Maybe that's because with the two already knowing each other, Superman and Spidey don't spend half the book fighting each other. Plus there is a great twist as Kent goes to work by J. Jonah Jameson at the Daily Bugle and Parker becomes the new Daily Planet photographer.

A good read that doesn't disappoint but really doesn't do much on surprises either. An important milestone in comic book history on so many levels, any copy of this story is a must for collectors!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Walt Disney's Adventures of Tinkerbell (Dell 4-Color Comics #896)

Last month I reviewed a holiday collection called Walt Disney's Christmas Classics. The book was published by IDW. It reprinted an annual holiday comic strip that ran in newspapers for almost 50 years. 

In these festive tales characters such as Peter Pan and Tinkerbell would share adventures with Cinderella's pet mice. Or maybe Bambi and Sleeping Beauty would team together to save Santa from the Beagle Boys.

I thought that these crossovers were the only ones of their kind. But I found that to not be the case in this 1958 issue of Dell 4-Color Comics #896 (Walt Disney's Adventures of Tinkerbell). 

I bought this book as a part of my wife's Tinkerbell and Peter Pan Collection. A gift for her, I got to read it first before it went into her permanent collection display case. I had seen copies of this book for upwards of $100. Yet while in Chicago, I got a very good deal for a fraction of that cost. 

The book begins with a clever plot device. Normally, Tinkerbell doesn't speak words as you and I do. She communicates with tiny tinkles and jingles of her wings. But to have a comic book in which the main character doesn't speak was pretty unheard of in the 1950s. So, the writers of this book came up with a smart idea to have Tink get a yearly 'fairy wish' and for this year's wish, she gets to speak English with all her friends. 

There are four stories in this comic. The first takes place in Neverland with Peter Pan stealing the bell from Captain Hook's ship. In return, Hook kidnaps Peter's bell- I.E. Tink! A cute story- it felt like a retelling of the 1953 Peter Pan movie only there aren't any of the Darling children.

Tinkerbell then goes off to visit some of her friends and this is where the crossovers come in. First, she teaches the Wicked Witch to be nice to the Seven Dwarfs. Then Tinkerbell goes to visit Dumbo's circus where a new lion attraction has gotten the flying elephant into a terrible tizzy. Lastly, Tink travels to Italy where she assists Pinocchio and Geppetto in finding some beautiful flowers for a special festival.

On the back cover there's an activity in which children could cut out a picture of Tinkerbell, make a few folds, add glue, string, a stick and some flour and make a pixie dust kite. I have a feeling a lot of these books ended up with the back cover being destroyed, thus why pristine copies are so expensive. 

There's a sequel book to this comic. It of course in on my list to find for my bride. It's just about as expensive as this book is. But that volume is actually harder to find as I have never seen one for sale except online. I wonder what activity kiddos were expected to make out of those issues.

Worth Consuming if not for anything else that it's charming as hell, a fun crossover comic and classic 1950s Disney through and through.

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Harley and Ivy Meet Betty and Veronica

Mr. Lodge wants to convert a swamp into a shopping center. Unhappy with this project, Poison Ivy, with Harley Quinn in tow, travels to Riverdale to persuade Hiram to cease production. But when Mr. Lodge refuses, Ivy goes to plan B- kidnap his daughter Veronica.

Seeing their chance at a costume ball, Ivy and Harley are poised to snatch Veronica. However, a little magical snafu, thanks to Sabrina, causes Harley and Ivy to switch bodies with Betty and Veronica. Oh, and Reggie now thinks he's the Joker! Plus add a cadre of unusual villains to the mix, such as a gangster with a peach for a head, and you've got an odd-ball tale that could only come from Paul Dini and Marc Andreyko!

I had previously reviewed the first issue of this series sometime last year. Or maybe it was 2016. Anyways, I really enjoyed what I read and I wanted more. But my budget not being infinite, I wanted until everything was collected in one volume. 

Finally getting my hands on the hard cover collection, I enjoyed the funny romp through Riverdale and Gotham City. However, it's wasn't as good as I think it could have been. See, this crossover takes place in the rebooted modern Archie universe. Here Mr. Lodge is a businessman of questionable ethics. Betty and Veronica despise each other. Archie is a floundering typical teen with very little direction in life. (He's also pretty boring as a modern American teen!) There's just too much millennial teen angst here! The only one who is sheer perfection is Jughead!

I would have preferred that this adventure take place in the original Archie realm. But during both the planning stage of this miniseries and when the series first debuted in stores, a revival of Classic look Archie wasn't on the horizon. Thankfully, that has now changed with Dan Parent leading the renaissance of good feels Riverdale. 

The art by Laura Braga was done in the DC style of Harley Quinn. I enjoyed it. Braga captures all of the characters very well. Plus I love the timeless touches she adds to the story like using a Classic Archie era image on the cover of Archie's copy of 'Captain Pureheart' comic.

There was also a ton of awesome cameos and Easter eggs. That was thanks in very large part to the nostalgia heavy Paul Dini. I don't want to give them all away. But in this mini we see the return of a L'il Archie staple- L'il Jinx! 

I had fun reading this book. As I always say, Paul Dini is the definitive Harley Quinn writer, having been her creator and all that. There's lots of old school nods and cool Gotham City twists. But let's face it, this is modern style Archie Comics. For fans of the TV show Riverdale, this is great. But it's not my cup of tea. I don't want to know the seedy side of the River's Edge. 

Should there be a sequel, hopefully they'll give Dan Parent a go at it. That more wholesome, good-time version of America's oldest teenagers is the one I want to see interact with Harley and Ivy. It worked for Archie when he meet The Punisher. It could work here too!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.