Twisted Toyfare Theatre, Vol. 6

I splurged on a second volume of Twisted Toyfare Theatre. This volume features an introduction from professional wrestler Rob Van Dam. I didn't realize that he was such a geek. Had I, I might have been a fan of his.

I'm noticing in this volume several names pop up. Matthew Senreich and Tom Root among others. Add Seth Green to the list and you might be saying ' Oh, yeah. These are the guys behind Robot Chicken!' That means that TTT is either the father of the Adult Swim series or it's the TV adaptation. That's really interesting considering that DC Comics actually threatened to sue Toyfare for using their characters in satirical ways for TTT but on Robot Chicken, with Cartoon Network being a Warner Bros. property, DC Comics works were skewered almost in every episode. Just goes to show that anyone is willing to have a good sense of humor if they get paid for it. 

As with all the other volumes I have read, there's just too many segments to pay adequate attention to. Daredevil takes actor Ben Affleck to court for the hero's portrayal in the Daredevil movie. Hulk and Spider-Man attend a showing of Episode II: Attack of the Clones while fans also get a chance to see what Star Trek III: The Search for Spock would have been like if it took place in the Star Wars Universe. We see deleted scenes from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and then take a tour of Cobra headquarters after dark, when everybody should be long asleep.

'The Official Handbook to the Twisted Toyfare Theatre Universe' was as usual, a delight. But those 'Slideshow' one-pagers that take screenshots of classic cartoons and rework them into skits was something that the editors should have buried long ago. I feel shame that I ever was a fan of Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors...

The main segments were great. A really neat glimpse at the genius behind Robot Chicken. But those creative forces should stick to using toys for the jokes. Riffing on classics just wasn't in their wheelhouse.

Sadly, this will probably be the last volume I'll be able to get my hands on. Volumes 8-11 are out of print. Apparently, the print run was really small as sellers are asking prices that I'd expect to pay for an Action Comics #252. Maybe I'll get lucky some day. But it will probably be a while before that happens.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Superior Iron Man, Vol. 1: Infamous

This is an example of how to not judge a book by its cover. I've been sitting on this book for probably 5 years now. It came in a Comic Book Bento Box as a gift from my bride. (Remember CBBB? They're were a graphic novel grab bag subscription service that was so fun to get in the mail each month. Now defunct. Long may it rest...) I had just finished a volume of Iron Man where Tony's brother Arno Stark was set to take on the mantle of Iron Man, when I received this book. I wasn't all that thrilled with Arno and thinking this book was chronicling his adventures, I waited to read it.

I couldn't have been more wrong in my assessment.

Superior Iron Man, Volume 1 takes place immediately after the events of AXIS. For those of you not familiar with Marvel's 2014's crossover event, AXIS was the Freaky Friday storyline where good guys became villains and villains became heroes due to the meddling of the Red Skull. When everybody went back to their normal selves, something went wrong with Tony Stark, screwing up his moral compass. 

So imagine what the billionaire playboy would have become if he never got injured from a land mine and had his life saved by Professor Yinsen. What we have at the beginning of Superior Iron Man is a hedonistic, unrepentant alcoholic Tony Stark intent on imposing his own personal Utopia upon the world. To change the world in his own image, Tony has set up base in San Francisco. He just released his latest version of Extremis as an app which turns users into Kardashian-like versions of themselves. There's a hitch to this however. Tony offered Extremis 3.0 as a trial. Now reverted back to their imperfect selves, the citizens of San Francisco must pay an exorbitant fee daily to feed their addiction to perfection.

I really loved this book. I devoured it in about an hour. Add Daredevil, She-Hulk, Pepper Potts and an all-new villain to the mix and I was hooked. Amoral Tony Stark. It's a brilliant experiment that left me reeling because I don't have volume 2!

I'm going to rate this book with a perfect score. However there was a continuity error that just stuck in my crawl. Towards the beginning of the book, Stark hosts this big event for Extremis 3.0 on Castro Street. However an issue later, Matt Murdock, fully into his internal dialogue says that the event happened on Canton Street. Just so you know, I researched and there isn't a Canton Street in the City by the Bay.

Castro Street in San Francisco is a historic area known for Harvey Milk and the fight for gay rights. Could writer Tom Taylor have received some flak from fans for setting that scene at such an iconic locale, that Marvel had to retcon things? If so, why didn't they change the name of the scene for this trade? I can see where having Tony Stark offer the people of San Francisco a way to change themselves into what they've always dreamed of being set on Castro Street as being perceived insensitive to the struggle of the LGBT+ community. I'm just flummoxed over the nit and I want to know more about the mistake.

The artwork by Yildiray Cinar and Laura Braga was amazing. One of the best sets of Iron Man armor ever!

Be on the lookout for the Full House Easter egg tribute! So clever!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Daredevil #31 (2024 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

When law partner Foggy Nelson and secretary Karen Page begin to suspect that attorney Matt Murdock might be the super-powered vigilante, Daredevil, Murdock invents the character of Mike Murdock. Matt's 'twin' brother, Mike is the antithesis of the real deal. He's brash, loud, charming and a bit of a jokester. Everything Matt Murdock has longed to be but keeps bottled up inside is allowed to flow out in the guise of brother Mike. 

In the previous issue, Mr. Hyde and Cobra have re-teamed. Instead of battling Thor, both go up against the Man Without Fear. Hyde concocts a formula that is intended to render Daredevil blind. Unknown to the villains, since Daredevil is already sightless, the chemical strips Matt Murdock of his radar-like abilities. 

Starting from where things left off, Mr. Hyde and his partner in crime are about to strike when the New York Police Department charges into the warehouse doubling as a criminal lair giving Daredevil a chance to escape. However, without his billy-club/white cane hybrid walking device, Daredevil is unable to make his way home. His stumbling attracts the attention of the populace, leading Daredevil to pose as Mike Murdock in order to convince friends Foggy and Karen that any reports of a possibly blind Daredevil is not linked to actual blind person Matt Murdock!

After convincing what has got to be two thirds of the most gullible law firm in all of New York, Daredevil must then fool Mr. Hyde and Cobra into believing that their compound didn't work and that the hero still has sight. With help from Foggy, Daredevil travels a tightrope strung between two buildings rather poorly. Yet the villains interpret the protagonist's clumsiness as showing-off and they retreat from their latest caper. Daredevil thinks he's bought some time and has Nelson escort him home. The chapter ends with Foggy being kidnapped by an unseen force and Cobra now pretending to be Daredevil's assistant. 

Speaking of gullibility, can Matt Murdock, who has been blind since childhood, really be fooled by the voice of Cobra as to being best friend, Foggy Nelson? It remains to be seen and in reality, it's pretty doubtful that he can be tricked. However, it's implied from the cliffhanger that everything is a-okay with Daredevil and fans should be terrified at the prospect of the Man Without Fear helplessly being at the clutches of his foes.

Fans of the Silver Age Daredevil, such as humorist Fred Hembeck, have pointed to issue #8, the first appearance of Stilt-Man, as the most absurd moment in the character's early history. This issue written by Stan Lee could easily be a contender for that distinction. The prospective cliffhanger is laughable. Did Stan the Man really think fans wouldn't expect Daredevil to know when he's being hoodwinked? A more plausible pause that would elicit an elevated heart rate would have a snipe aiming at the now super-powerless Daredevil. Just because Daredevil lost his radar ability, the change should not have diminished the enhanced hearing and other senses Matt Murdock has picked up since losing his sight. 

The artwork by Gene Colan saves this ludicrous issue from being a total lemon. John Tartaglione adds a smoothness to the dynamic artwork with his inks in panels that scream mid-1960s stylish Manhattan. Lettering by Artie Simek. Cover art by Colan with John Romita Sr. and Frank Giacoia.

Completing this review completes Task #17 (A Daredevil Story) of the 2024 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

Crypt of Shadows #1 (2023)

For the second year in a row, Marvel releases a horror themed one-shot under the legacy banner of Crypt of Shadows. Unlike last year's offering, none of these stories seem to be set around Halloween. Also unlike last year's offering, every story was actually quite good!

Once again Victor Strange, the vampiric brother of Doctor Strange is our host. Trapped in that mirror somewhere in Strange's Sanctum Sanctorum, Victor regales readers with creepy stories set in the Marvel universe while scheming to escape from his shadow realm prison. The main theme of most of these stories are team-ups involving classic 1970s Marvel horror characters.

Deadpool is hired to kill a priestess who seeks to rule both the world and underworld. But he's got to get through N'Kantu, the Living Mummy in order to obtain his bounty. Daredevil is nearly ripped to shreds by the ninja clan known as the Hand. Coming to his aid is the Man-Thing, whose touch results in death in those who know fear. Good thing Matt Murdock is the Man Without Fear. Then the Hulk is assisted by the Werewolf by Night from an all-out assault by Kraven the Hunter. 

The only story to not feature a team-up stars the Scarlet Witch. She fights a demonic force called Bricklayer. It's the villain's first appearance and it's a pretty darn good one. Years ago, this haunted house was destroyed. Only one of the bricks from the possessed domicile lodged itself into the chest of a vagrant. Now the vagrant continues the destroyed home's reign of terror by killing innocents as the super-strong and extremely evil Bricklayer. This was a villain I very much want to see more off and the tagline at the end of the story promises more of the character. Though I expect Bricklayer's legacy to be taken up by a new host body.

Fans are also promised more of Victor Strange in the pages of Doctor Strange. I'm excited for this prospect as well. It might actually persuade me to buy the books new when Marvel finally pits brother against brother once more. 

Marvel managed to make a Halloween special that was relevant and yet not preachy. Comics can tackle tricky subjects while still being fun. Finally, after several years of feeling like I was being targeted by the House of Ideas, it seems that the publisher finally understands that fans want to be entertained, not talked down too. If I wanted to spend my hard earned cash being made to feel like the source of all humanities problems, I'd enroll in an ethics course in college. When I buy comic books, I want to enjoy it and I actually enjoyed this horror comic.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #151

Typhoid Mary's return to Marvel Comics Presents was so massive, it had to spill over into a second issue. 

Mary is bent on revenge. Not just to any man who ever abused her but all creeps in general. After rescuing a young woman from a research facility similar to the one that tortured Mary, both heroes and villains are on the duo's trail. Wolverine wants to save Mary. Daredevil does too. Vengeance wants to exterminate Typhoid for her sins. And then there's Steel Raven.

Steel Raven is a brand new antagonist. Just introduced for the first time in issue #150, Steel Raven is a mercenary hired by the research team that Typhoid busted her little friend out of. This new character is a lot like Boba Fett in that money talks but there's also a strong moral code. With tresses like Silver Sable, a costume like Deadpool, and an arsenal to make Frank Castle blush, Steel Raven seems to be an amalgam of many characters. Thankfully, Ann Nocenti and Steve Lightle have done a fairly decent job keeping the character from being too one-note. However, her dialogue could use some work.

Another issue that has just 1 story, split into 4 chapters. Unlike the last issue where each chapter seemed to focus on 1 main character, this time around, the story feels more like a regular comic book caper. It's got a lot going for it. But that anthology essence is completely missing.

This story has a plot twist decades ahead of its time. Well for the cinema, this story probably got its inspiration from 1992's The Crying Game. But for a Comics Code Approved book, the big surprise reveal in this two-parter is a whole generation ahead of its time. 

Year 3000 stuff.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #150

When Wolverine and Typhoid Mary parted ways at the end of 'Typhoid's Kiss' in MCP #116, I suspected that their story wasn't over.

When the Danny Ketch Ghost Rider and Typhoid Mary said their goodbyes at the end of 'The Walking Wounded' in MCP #127, I was convinced that their story wasn't over. 

And now all I can say is- I WAS RIGHT!!! (kinda...)

In the extra special 150th issue of this bi-weekly anthology, Wolverine reunites with Mary Walker to save a young woman from a shadowy research facility. The experiments being done are eerily similar to the bio-science torture Mary underwent, and resulted in the unlocking of her Typhoid Mary psyche. 

Due to the special occasion, the story is divided into 4 chapters. Wolverine and Mary occupy the first couple of chapters. Vengeance stars in the third segment. Typhoid Mary arch foe and former paramour Daredevil rounds out the story in the last chapter. 

While Wolverine and Mary reunite, opportunities are missed with Michael Badilino replacing Danny Ketch as the Spirit of Vengeance in this story. I understand that at this point in Marvel publication history, Ketch is dead or at least trapped in some sort of limbo. But couldn't the editors or issue writers Ann Nocenti (Uncanny X-Men) and Steve Lightle (Daredevil) have said that this story took place before those events so we could have had Ketch and Walker met again? Would that have been such a big deal?

I've said frequently, that for this series to really work, it needs to be comprised of 4 different segments. But I also have no qualms with MCP mixing things up if A) it's done creatively and B) it still follows the spirit of utilizing 4 segments; or in this issue's case chapters. 

But man- a giant missed opportunity that prevents this from being the perfect Typhoid Mary reunion.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Daredevil Noir

The idea behind the Marvel Noir books is that instead of coming to being in the early 1960s, the Marvel Universe explodes in the 1930s or 40s. My first experience with the Noir universe was Nicolas Cage's voice over of the gumshoe Spider-Man from Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse. Thanks to that occurrence, I know that the Marvel Noir books are supposed to be more edgy, sexier and deadlier than what you'd expect from an Earth-616 based comic.

Daredevil Noir was given an Parental Advisory rating. While it wasn't as tawdry as a Vertigo Comic, there was definitely an edge to this story. Probably because there was such a huge body count. 

Instead of being doused with radioactive chemicals, the Noir Matt Murdock was born blind but always imbued with his radar-like abilities. Known for being fearless and a bit of a daredevil as a child, Murdock works for attorney Foggy Nelson as his private detective. Nobody suspects a blind guy as being a snitch. 

Nelson and Murdock are hired by the girlfriend of an up-and-coming gangster. She's been abused by this thug and seeks revenge by having the guy brought down a peg or two. The fact that the crime boss is also the man who killed Matt's father in cold blood is just the icing on the cake to take the assignment.

This is one of those series that I have to blame my qualms on the inker or the colorist. Or both. The story by Alexander Irvine (Iron Man: Rapture) was pretty good. And the artwork by Tomm Coker (Black Monday Murders) was absolutely brilliant. But the coloring of this story is so dark that I had trouble making out characters. I'd know who were the main characters. But you throw in some smaller roles and with that constant addition of rain and shadow, this made it impossible for me to figure things out from time to time. 

Being published in a slightly larger format than that of a digest didn't help the visuals either.

Don't get me wrong. The ending was great. Open-ended but tremendously well choreographed. The big reveal towards the end was jaw-dropping. However, I wasn't such a big fan of including characters that had zero parallel to a modern Marvel counterpart. But I guess if you did that, then that major twist would've been ruined. 

When you add everything up, I think the pluses and minuses equal each other out. I was entertained. But it's not something I will consider keeping in my collection.

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #136

 

All 3 multi-part stories come to a close in this issue.

The Iron Fist/Daughter of the Dragon adventure finally sees some action. In the vein of Jackie Chan's Rumble in the Bronx, Marvel's resident kung-fu fighters take on the Yakuza and Sabretooth among the tenements of the Big Apple.

The Wolverine/Cyber story has two results. One unexpected- a death! One expected- Cyber double-crosses Logan with typical Marvel fisticuffs!

As for Ghost Rider and Luke Cage. We get all the poop on why Darklove betrayed Mephisto and decided to become a demon of love instead of hate. It's a pretty good ending to a story that was fairly ridiculous. 

The one-shot tale involves Daredevil. I'm a few weeks behind on reviewing that which I've read. But in the case of this story, I just can't recall anything about it. Truly a forgettable story starring the Man Without Fear.

A better offering of MCP. Maybe because 3 very long stories are coming to a close finally. But still not the best issue I've read. Not even close.

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #91

The main highlight of this series is a team-up between Daredevil and the Impossible Man! It's an 8-page single issue romp. But 8 pages is enough for once. 

The Impossible Man has been either forbidden from or gotten bored with his interactions with the Fantastic Four. That's not really made clear. In search of a new superhero to pal around, Impossible Man pals around Daredevil. Yes, he helps Daredevil fend off an assault from his old enemy, Kingpin. But since Daredevil is blind, he can't be impressed by Impossible Man's shape-shifting talents, it's back to the FF for the lone survivor of Poppup! Lucky them!

As for the other 3 stories, there's nothing really memorable. In the Wolverine story, Tyger Tiger enters negotiations with a rival crime lord. It's about as interesting as the trade embargo segments from that Republic Senate scene in The Phantom Menace. More of Hank McCoy's past is revealed. We know that Professor X erased the memory of an old girlfriend of The Beast's. We still don't find out the how and why. Then in the Ghost Rider/Cable story, the pair of unlikely allies join forces to save a young girl from a cult of undead killers. Mostly just action and adventure. But nothing really in terms of why this cult wants the girl yet.

An insane tale mixed into the middle of 3 stories that basically put the major players into place for what will hopefully be an action packed issue #92.

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #81

Weapon X's slaughter of his captors continues. But this time, I know that it's all an experiment done by a virtual reality simulator attached to his noggin! You can fool me twice, Marvel and Barry Windsor Smith! But not thrice!

The Wargod story starring Captain America was great. Too bad the twist was spoiled in the last issue. Also, too bad that they didn't mark that last issue with a 'To Be Continued.' I really thought this was a one-and-done story. (Okay- maybe I did get fooled thrice!)

The one-shot stories are amazing. The Scott Lang Ant-Man story proves just how good a character Scott Lang is! It got Lang pulled in 3 directions- struggling ex-con, single dad and super hero. Classic Marvel-type story. I loved it.

Then Daredevil takes on slum lords. When an elderly woman refuses to leave her tenement, the landlord hires some thugs to evict. The finale is thrilling and falls into that supernatural mystique of how Matt Murdock's costume plays on the fears of villains and even the elect!

I love it when superheroes take on your standard thug. It helps make them seem more real to me than battling your Red Skull, Doctor Doom or mere Batroc the Leaper. Probably my favorite segment of the book. But even with the Weapon X ruse, I really enjoyed this issue!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #70

 Oh my God- this awful Wolverine/Ghost Rider story just will not end. I'm getting so tired of it.

The one-and-done story stars Black Widow as she battles with an old Soviet era friend over the soul of another Russian colleague. I thought maybe that one of these extra characters might be from Natasha's family in the Black Widow movie, but they're not. Would've been cool if it was!

The Daredevil story continues to be really good. Except that the 1991-92 idea of what an NYC lock down would look like is nowhere near what the real thing in 2019-21 was. 

I am also torn as to the Shanna the She-Devil story. It's really good with amazing artwork by Marvel Adventures' Paul Gulacy and I love the character of Dubose Wilson. But they keep maiming these magnificent looking beasts. At least it was not a cute little puppy or pussy cat. But I hate it when they hurt animals. Yes- even when they are just drawings and not the real thing.

An okay issue. But not one of my top favs.

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #69

I might be sick and tired of the Wolverine/Ghost Rider team-up story. But I am in love with this cover! It's by Sandy Plunkett and Alan Weiss and it just may be in my top-10 favorite covers of all time.

The Shanna the She-Devil story is building. No gratuitous animal murders in this chapter. But we do get introduced to a diamond smuggler named Dubose Wilson in this issue. He's been stiffed by the guy who killed the zoo animals in the last issue and he's on route to Africa as well. I see this character as being played by Richard Pryor back in the 90s. Today, he'd probably be portrayed by Kevin Hart. Needless to say that Dubose is smarmy. But he's also likable.

A new multi-parter starring Daredevil begins in this issue as well. There's a heatwave going on and the Big Apple is on lock-down thanks to some rabid wild dogs. The story is quite good. But based on what I know having just experienced a lock-down, I find it hard to believe that the entire city would be shutdown thanks to a bunch of ravenous dogs. It was barely shut down because of COVID. Clearly, there aren't any packs of dogs in Jersey. Couldn't the National Guard come in a terminate these pooches? There's just a big chunk of plausibility that's missing from this story.

Lastly, in a single issue tale, the Silver Surfer encounters a sentient space ship that has been so terribly lonely for way too long. A heartbreaking story that will leave you in tears over a flying saucer. 

Not a bad offering this time around. The cover is just a thing of beauty. It alone is worth the asking price.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #49

The Daredevil story titled 'White Messiah'. It's an 8-pager. And it's a stinker. It features a black gang leader with pre-cognitive abilities named Scope. So you take Daredevil's sonar and pit it against this guy's ability to sense when somebody is trying to harm him and I'm really surprised
either one was able to land a punch on each other. 

But that's not what made this one a clunker. It's the dialogue. I'd expect it from a 70s blaxpliotation movie. There's all these jive turkeys and honkys peppered in, mostly from Scope. I expect better from Wolfpack's John Figueroa.

There is also a lot of criticism of the white savior syndrome here. Scope questions Daredevil's right to guard Hell's Kitchen when he's white and most of the neighborhood population is black. I know the irony here is with Matt Murdock being blind, he can't tell who is what color. But if this story was published today, it would be polarizing. 

You'd have half loving the cultural relevance. The other half would criticize it as being woke. I see it as a sequential art take of The Defiant Ones between a hero who pictures himself a villain and a bad guy that sees himself as a savior of his downtrodden people. It's supposed to be poignant and ironic. Sadly, the poor dialogue makes this story more farcical that poignant.

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #5

Thanks to an energy vampire, Wolverine is in some of the worst shape I have ever seen the mutant in this side of the live action Logan film.

With Man-Thing, things are getting even more weirder with this cult of Satan worshipers who have accepted the muck monster as a demonic answer to their prayers. Still not sure what they've got to do with selling weapons to fund rebels in South America. But I just can't put these 8 pages down!

I hate, Hate, HATE the Master of Kung-Fu story. An old frienemy of Shang-Chi's has joined forces in hopes of rescuing an old flame. But the kidnapper's overall objective, which involves selling drugs to fund rebels in South America is just too freakin' similar to the Man-Thing story. Why didn't the editors wait on this story until after the Man-Thing saga wraps up?

Lastly, in the 8-page closer, Daredevil comes across a teenager, mangled to a pulp, in an alley. The boy claims that someone is trying to kill him. The Man Without Fear persuades the lad to seek out Matt Murdock for help from the tormentor. But who the lawyer discovers is behind the stalking will shock everyone- including this reader!

Three very solid stories. And then there's the Master of Kung-Fu. Such a disappointment. Especially, considering how much I was looking forward to this tale. But I push on...

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Zombie #1

This is one of those titles where when I saw the premise, I slapped myself in the head and was like 'why didn't I think of that!’

Back in the 1970s when the Comics Code eased the restrictions on horror comics,
Marvel bought the rights for the word zombie. They then quickly put out a comics black
and white magazine called Tales of the Zombie. It follows a young man named Simon
Garth whose turned into one of the undead by a voodoo priest. But unlike most
Zombies, Garth retains a small vestige of his humanity and becomes a wandering enemy
against practitioners of the dark arts.

Tales of the Zombie lasted only 10 issues. Marvel's trademark on the word ‘ zombie’ was
found to be too vast to litigate misuse. Any legal claim was soon forfeited. But what about
Simon Garth? Did Marvel give up on him too?

Marvel's original Zombie has come and gone over the years. Garth has appeared in
several team-ups titles and even had a miniseries and a chance at being one of the
Howling Commandos unit of SHIELD monsters. He even popped up in the fourth series of
Marvel Zombies. Only he wasn't really the Zombie old timers like myself grew up with---
until now!

This one-shot takes place sometime after God knows which latest chapter in the Marvel
Zombies series. Manhattan's remaining few is protected by just a small handful of
superheroes lead by Daredevil. Recon by Falcon is showing the zombie horde about to
prepare a final offensive when one of the child survivors befriends one of the walking dead
and allows it into camp.

It's Simon Garth and the heroes are quick to notice that due to a mysterious talisman worn
by him, thezombie can be controlled. Seeing their one chance at survival, the heroes are
going to make Simon into a suicide bomber of sorts! But will destroying such a gentle
creature as Simon turn the heroes into an even more uncanny monster than the dead
that stalk them?

This was a really good story. It had an insane ending. But it was jammed packed with action,
excitement and brains. I enjoy the art work by Stefano Raffaele and I didn't want this story
to end! Of course, this being the Marvel Zombies franchise, it's not going to end anytime
soon.

One of the best Marvel stories I have read in a year that has been more of a downer for
the House of Ideas than a plus.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Avengers Halloween Special #1

Though it was released on Halloween day, at least Marvel got in the spirit of the season and produced this special. Marvel, earlier in October, did produce an all-ages Halloween special, which I reviewed as a Family Comic Friday selection. However, in the recent past, the House of Ideas has been quite the Scrooge when it came to doing holiday one-shots of any type. 

The Avengers Halloween Special has 5 short stories, some of which are quite eerie. Case in point- the first tale starring Daredevil. It has Matt Murdock undergoing an eye transplant. But when the bandages come off, he is terrified by visions of the dead!

Next up we see a world where Doctor Doom might be the good guy! It has tones of Invasion of the Body Snatchers and I would love to see this explored further in an issue of What If... 

Then Tony Stark goes to the Antarctic to recover a project that his father was working on during World War II. If this sounds a lot like a certain John Carpenter film starring Kurt Russell, give yourself a pat on the back!

The fourth story takes place in France during the 1800s. In Jay Baruchel's writing debut at Marvel, he puts forth an epic in which asks what if the Punisher became the Phantom of the Opera?

Lastly, we go to upstate New York for a ghost story that involves a pair of trick-or-treaters, the destroyed remains of a school for gifted youth and a still functioning Danger Room.

The Daredevil and Doctor Doom stories were the best! I was truly creeped out in the first tale. It was quite horrific with an ending that rivals some of the twists of an EC Comic. The Doctor Doom story as I said earlier is so good and brilliant that it merits a return story in the pages of What If...

The X-Men and Punisher accounts were very good. They had gothic tones but weren't scary. Plus, they had good art. But they just weren't as perfect as the previous adventures I've mentioned. Besides, I thought doing direct tributes to works of literature was DC's Elseworlds kinda of thing to do... (Maybe someone needs to inform Jay Baruchel.)

Then we have the Thing/Iron Man fusion. It should have been good but it was flawed. For one thing, we've got Deadpool and Colossus added to the mix. I only thought these two characters were friends in the Deadpool films. Yet, they're buddy-buddy here. Then there's several deaths that just do not seem plausible based on the method of how they die. I really wish I could expound more, but that would be giving up some massive spoilers. One thing I will say is that if you like the ending of Carpenter's The Thing, you'll love the ending of this thriller.

This special is hyped as the Avengers Halloween Special. But really, they're not even a part of this one-shot. You've got individual characters who have at one time or another been Avengers. (Has Doctor Doom or The Punisher ever even members of the World's Mightiest Heroes?) What was wrong with calling this a Marvel Halloween Special? That being said, does that mean December's X-Men Holiday Special is not going to have the X-Men in it? 

This Halloween release had some great scares as well as so-so moments. I would have liked this to have dropped the week before Halloween so I would have had a chance to read this before All Hallow's Eve. But better late than never I guess. OR you can wait until next Halloween season to give this comic a read.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stories.

Deadpool, Volume 4: Temporary Insanitation

     A not-so-scrupulous accountant has crossed too many players of Manhattan's underbelly. Seeking protection and sanctuary, the money-man (and his laptop full of incriminating evidence) goes straight to the top for help- DEADPOOL! But these crooks aren't willing to blink and they've brought in a heavy hitter to take in the turncoat accountant- Typhoid Mary!! Enter the wildest team-up and the first (and probably only) single issue multi-issue crossover in comics history.
     Guest-starring Daredevil, Power-Man, Iron Fist and most of the sanitation crew at Fresh Kills landfill!
     Then things get supernatural when a horde of inter-dimensional beings invades Deadpool's wife Shiklah's subterranean kingdom. This Last Days of Magic tie-in will shock long-time Deadpool fans and looks to change the game for the Merc With A Mouth for some time to come. 
     The first storyline was classic Deadpool! It's crazy funny and a shining moment in a era of Marvel that's been sub-par at best. But why does Gerry Duggan, along with writers Charles Soule and David Walker insist on making Wade Wilson such a tragic character!? He's much better when he's funny and surreal than a homicidal version of Charlie Brown. That's why I buy the book- fun and games not going down in flames...

    Worth Consuming

    Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.
     

Daredevil, Volume 2: Supersonic

  Elektra Natchios, former college lover of Matt Murdock and dangerous assassin has reappeared in Daredevil's life. But this isn't a social visit as Elektra comes to the Man Without Fear demanding the safe return of her child. But Elektra doesn't have a child or does she? If she does, if the protector of Hell's Kitchen the father? It will take all of combined resources of Matt and Daredevil to get to the bottom of this intriguing mystery.

   Then Matt Murdock travels to Macau in order to enter a high stakes poker tournament. Featuring an epic team-up with the Amazing Spider-Man, this story reveals a little more about how Daredevil made the world forget that he and Murdock are one and the same. But the how the vigilante pulled it off is still unexplained.

    Lastly, in two one-parters, Daredevil, with the help of a deaf superhero named Echo, must take on Klaw as the master of sound infects the Big Apple with a sonic virus and then our hero battles a villain named Gladiator who has buzz-saws attached to his hands and murder in his soul.

    I loved the Elektra and Spider-Man stories. Both would very well written and had great twists and turns. Charles Soule's (Letter 44) writing is slowly winning me over throughout this Daredevil run. It's not Mark Waid quality but the mix of gritty and light-hearted is enjoyable. The artwork of Ron Garney (A+X) is really good and I like how he interprets what Daredevil sees with his sonar-vision.  And man, do I dig those Bill Sienkiewicz covers on issues 6 and 7. 

    The last two stories, which originally appeared in Daredevil Annual #1; those I'm on the fence with. Soule does a fairly good job with both stories. (I think I would like the Gladiator story better if I knew who that character was.) Though how Echo and Daredevil are able to communicate with one another seems a little far fetched. 

    During Klaw's sonic attacks, Daredevil is wearing noise cancelling head phones. So how can he tell what Echo is saying to him if he's blind? Even worse, how can Echo understand what he is saying to her? Yes, I know that those who are deaf can sometimes read lips (and maybe Daredevil can too with his sonar) but in a couple of panels, the Man Without Fear has his back turned away from her! Did the artist Vanessa R. Del Rey forget that Echo can't hear?

      The new Daredevil series (which some dub Back In Black) is gradually getting better. But there's still some rough edges, like with the stories contained in annual 1. But should I get my hands on further volumes, I can honestly say that I will continue to read them.

    Worth Consuming

    Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.
  

Daredevil, Volume 1: Chinatown

    Matt Murdock and Daredevil have returned from California. With the move has come some changes. By day, Matt Murdock,whose disbarment has been overturned, is now the newest member of the Manhattan District Attorney's office. At night, Daredevil has switched to a mostly black uniform and taken on an apprentice. Together, Murdock and Daredevil are seeking ways to take down a Chinese religious leader with possible underworld ties named Tenfingers. 
    And that's where I've got to stop the review and jump on a soapbox...
    By the end of Mark Waid and Chris Samnee's dynamic run (Daredevil 2014-15), the whole world knew that Daredevil and Matt Murdock were one and the same. Yes, Murdock tried to 'kill himself' with help of the Kingpin. But by the last page of the final issue (#18) Murdock double-crossed Kingpin and seemed at peace with the world knowing his secret.
    But by the end of the first chapter of this volume, it's clear that nobody knows Daredevil's secret identity. In fact, some folks don't seem to be able to remember him at all. So when did this happen? When will the secrets of this be revealed? And will it be soon?
    I sure hope so. It's been about 3 years since Nick Fury whispered something in Thor's ear to make him unworthy to wield his hammer Mjolnr. I sure hope Marvel doesn't take as long to reveal how Daredevil made the world come down with a massive case of partial amnesia.
    A very gritty action-packed start to the new Daredevil. A little confusing with a great mystery at the heart of it all and oh so very complicated. There are not clear answers to what's going on here with Daredevil- yet! By hey, that's been the Man Without Fear in a nutshell since day one, hasn't it?

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Daredevil, Volume 4: The Autobiography of Matt Murdock

 You would think that life is going quite well for Matt Murdock. Foggy Nelson's cancer seems to be getting under control. Matt's got a great new girlfriend and law firm in San Francisco. Plus, he's got a multi-million dollar book deal in the works and a new Daredevil persona.

   But Matt Murdock is the Charlie Brown of Marvel Universe! With his new persona comes the fact that everyone and their brother knows that the blind lawyer and the Man Without Fear are one in the same. Thus Foggy, his new girl, even his clients are all targets thanks in no small part to a multi-media surveillance system run by the Shroud.

   So in order to protect his friends, Murdock decides to make a deal with the devil himself- the Kingpin! But what can the lawyer offer the man who seemingly has everything? Why, the death of Matt Murdock, of course!

   The Autobiography of Matt Murdock signals the end of the epic run of Mark Waid and Chris Samnee, whose art is exceptional and his vintage style, I think, makes him the next Darwyn Cooke. Waid, whose been the driving force behind the Man Without Fear for about 4 years now, made a very depressing character fun again. Waid added heart and humor to the character. But there was more than enough zaniness in the Waid run like run ins with zombies, stuntmen, and even Stilt-Man! Plus, Waid's Daredevil was full of awesome courtroom drama. It was like a comic book version of Law & Order with the Order part being represented by a costumed vigilante.

   The first couple of chapters fit this formula quite real and they were great reads with one bothersome fly in the ointment: the Shroud. I hate the Shroud. I've thought him to be a D-list character since he first popped up in the pages of Spider-Woman all the way back in the late 70s. He's a total Batman AND Daredevil copycat if there ever was one. But, the Shroud's place in this story, while an annoyance, still carried a whimsical theme to the book.

   Once the Kingpin rears his big fat ugly head, the tone of the book got much more serious and to me, a lot less enjoyable. I long to read a collected version of Frank Miller's run on Daredevil. Yet, I have a feeling based on how I like a more light-hearted Hero of Hell's Kitchen, I probably will not enjoy it as much as I think I would.

   A good read that could've been better but still Worth Consuming in the end.

   Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.