DC League of Super-Pets: The Great Mxy-Up (Family Comic Friday)

This all-new original graphic novel takes place immediately after the events of the 2022 animated film starring Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson and Kevin Hart. The Justice League is slowly adjusting to all having become pet owners. While the heroes are doing a fantastic job of team-working with their powerful pets, the Justice League still likes to conduct business cloistered away from the animals. The heroes have even rigged the main conference room of the Hall of Justice to not accept pets!

The Fifth dimensional imp, Mr. Mxyzptlk, sees this injustice and decides to have a little fun at the Justice League's expense. After a little bit of mischief, Mxy turns all of the human heroes into animals. Superman is now the Parrot of Steel. The Dark Knight has become the Wombat-Man. Now with the amenities of the Hall of Justice working against them, the Justice League has got to team with the League of Super-Pets in order to stop Mr. Mxyzptlk from reeking continual havoc on the people of Earth; even if that means teaming up with a old enemy...

This was a brilliantly made graphic novel done entirely in the essence of the full-length animated film. If DC decided to make 'The Great Mxy-Up' the plot of the inevitable Super-Pets sequel, I would be 100% okay with this. Though I would have Mr. Mxyzptlk take things to the next level and turn Krpyto, Ace and the rest of the pets into humans. I think it would be hilarious to have Krypto looking like The Rock and to see tiny little Kevin Hart barely fitting into the costume of the Batman. 

Plus, such a change would keep things from being completely like this book. 

I'm also hoping that this isn't the end of the Super-Pets in graphic novel form. I really enjoyed this book. Though I wish I had read this AFTER seeing the movie instead of the other way around. I did miss out on a couple of things that weren't really explained unless you had already seen DC League of Super-Pets. For instance, I didn't know Merton was a female turtle until I was about 80% through this book. Also, there are a few plot point surprises from the movie that get spoiled if you read this graphic novel first.

However, if the young reader in your life is in love with DC League of Super-Pets and they love reading, then you must get them this book! It's about 150 pages long and has a full, rich vocabulary that is perfect for those in grades 2nd-5th. Plus, the action is more heroics than violent encounters as Mxy likes to stir up trouble in order to make Superman and his pals have to sweat instead of hurt people needlessly. 

Lots of fun involving a fan-favorite character that really gets portrayed perfectly. I guess it's hard to portray an inter-dimensional sprite on series TV without spending a ton of cash on special effects. But if this does become the plot for Super-Pets 2, I really think Warner Bros. and DC Comics could pull it off.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

The 25 Baubles of Pop Culture! Advent 2022 Day 15

The franchise selected today from that pop culture random generator is a subject of which I could again devote an entire 25 day Advent to! It's the tree decorations that honor the comic book heroes of the DC Universe!

There's no argument- I am a DC person. I love Marvel. I have a lot of Marvel books and favs. But my heart belongs to DC Comics! My dad had a huge collection of DC books that I was enthralled by as a lad. And while my devotion to DC Comics drives my Marvel loving students crazy, I think deep down, my wife and cats are DC people too. 

While my being a DC person is something you can't debate, just who my favorite character is could be argued for decades. It's got to be one of the members of the Superman family. I just can't decide who. My hair has a natural curly-cue just like the Man of Steel. So I cut my hair and wear glasses to resemble Clark Kent. Then there's the fact that I used to own a copy of Action Comics #252, the first appearance of Supergirl (which was eventually stolen) and I am just such a fan of her's because of that connection. Since I cannot make up my mind, here are a pair of Hallmark ornaments. First is a video of the 1995 Magic Clark Kent/Superman phone booth ornament. I'll let the video reveal the surprise. Then up next is a 2018 representation of the Maid of Might from the DC Superhero Girls animated series of Cartoon Network.

Now for a set of ornaments from my childhood. It's a set of 4 plastic (or resin?) ornaments of Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman and Robin from 1979. Made in Korea, I had these as a kid but over the years, they got lost or broken or thrown away. I really enjoyed these because the characters were in their regular costumes but with holiday touches, like a sack of presents or a wreath. I would be willing to bet money that my mom bought these at Roses or K-Mart.

Out of researching this post, my favorite ornament is this one from Hallmark. The 2020 decoration seems to be one of the few highlights of that sucky year. It has classic look Aquaman astride his trusty seahorse, Storm. My runner-up is also from Hallmark. It's a 2018 representation of the Batboat from the 1960s Batman TV show that starred Adam West and Burt Ward. I'm sorry. I am wrong. The Batboat was from the 1966 live action film. NOT the TV series.

From the Etsy and other similar website department, I selected a really cool one based on my favorite villain/anti-hero. This beautiful mixed medium bauble has Harley Quinn in her traditional jester costume. I love the sliced effect that makes the complete image along with that black yarn. Just perfect Harley!

And now from my growing favorite part of the Advent: the DIY ornament. I selected this project that I saw on Pintrest. You will need a Styrofoam ball, some hot glue and fabric starring your favorite DC characters. You cut the fabric into rounded strips, like ovals or something similar to a baseball cover. Adorn the edges with ribbon trim and hot glue colorful bows and a satin loop on the top of the ball. I particularly like this pattern as it's very similar to a pillow I have and it features artwork by Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez and Dick Giordano, the main artists for DC's commercial line of the 70s and 80s.

Dear Justice League (Family Comic Friday)

Family Comic Friday is thrilled to present to you a graphic novel that has been on top of our wish list ever since it was first announced earlier this year! Have you ever wondered why Green Lantern always wears green? Or if Superman has ever had a bad day? Now those important questions can finally be answered in the pages of DC Zoom’s Dear Justice League!

Dear Justice League
Written by Michael Northrop
Illustrated by Gustavo Duarte
Published by DC Zoom
Pages: 176
Retail: $9.99

I love the concept of someone answering fan mail and the responses have hilarious effects. David Letterman and Jimmy Fallon have perfected these viewer mail bits over the past 30 years. That’s why when DC Comics announced its first wave line-up of young reader titles earlier this year, I immediately zeroed in on this graphic novel.

All of your favorite characters answer emails from their most loyal young fans. In the midst of doing so, the Justice League will uncover an alien invasion, bond with their super-pet mascots and maybe attend a birthday party or two.

Dear Justice League was smartly written by Michael Northtrop (Tombquest series). The questions from the kids are so sincere that I wonder if Northtrop got his inspiration from actual child fans of the Justice League.

My favorite aspect of this book was the artwork! I’m a big fan of Gustavo Duarte, ever since I was introduced to him in the pages of the hilarious miniseries, 2016’s Bizarro! Duarte illustrates his characters beautifully. It’s very cartoony and yet very classic looking and clean. Plus, his characters have such lively expressions to the extent that you don’t need words to understand what is going on. But it helps

One added treat to Dear Justice League was a preview to 2020’s Dear Super-Villians. In this follow-up, Harley Quinn, The Joker and more of your favorite DC Comics baddies will be answering their own batch of fan mail. I can’t wait for next Fall!

Dear Justice League was a lot of fun. Full of laughs and great illustrations, this is a book that is recommended for readers 7-10. But almost all ages of readers should get some sort of enjoyment out of this great graphic novel from DC’s amazing Zoom imprint!

Dear Justice League debuted in print and digital formats on August 6, 2019.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

DC Nation #0

The wedding of Batman and Catwoman.

Bendis’ take on the Man of Steel.

A world with No Justice League.

These three storylines promise to dominate the DC Universe this summer. As a triple threat prelude, DC Nation #0 gives fans a small glimpse of what’s to come in the next few weeks.

In ‘Your Big Day’, Tom King shows us the Clown Prince of Crime awaiting his invitation to the wedding of the century. Brian Michael Bendis reveals to us a Clark Kent very much off his game as the Daily Planet is reeling from the unexpected resignation of Lois Lane in ‘Office Space.’ Lastly, Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV and Joshua Williamson introduces reasders to the new teams that will protect the earth in the absence of a Justice League in the No Justice Prelude.

The Joker story was the best. Tom King’s dry wit shows in the fractured sense of humor of the Joker’s. I also really dug Clay Mann’s artistic rendering of Batman’s greatest foe.

I was a little confused with the Superman story. I keep hearing that Bendis is going to temporarily change Superman’s canon. I don’t think Lois’ departure from the Planet is the big change. But if it is, it’s definitely not what fans were expecting.

I absolutely love- LOVE, that DC was able to snag Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez back into doing the forthcoming The Man of Steel miniseries. The artist has basically been in convention circuit retirement. But to have the man who created almost every single iconic piece of DC merch that I grew up with is a well received blast from the past!

Finally there’s the No Justice Prelude. Boy, was that a hot mess. Three different writers author this adventure and a disconnect shows. The story involves the Justice League dissolving into 4 teams to save the earth. The teams, comprised of heroes and villains, are based on the concepts of mystery, entropy, wonder and wisdom. But I don’t think they are correct.

For instance, Harley Quinn in placed on team wisdom. Quinn is the epitome of entropy! Why wasn’t she put on that Batman led team? Plus you’ve got Zatanna and Dr. Fate on Team Wonder. But both of them seem more suited for Team Mystery. I can’t figure out if DC’s best and brightest really think these characters best reflect these principles. OR is this one of those JLA things where you switch opponents because there is too evenly a match-up between foes?

I’m really excited about all three stories. Even though I was not impressed with the No Justice story, I am hoping each individually written miniseries will be better than the joint collaboration. The biggest issue I am going to face with all of these titles however, is cost.

What appealed most to me with this issue was it’s price! You just can’t beat the cover fee of only 25 cents! It’s like 1980 rates again and I loved it. But all of the issues that spin out of this prelude comic are going to be at least $2.99 per issue or more. Estimating there’s probably going to be about 30 issues total coming out of all three storylines, there’s no way I will be able to afford this book until I find everything eventually in dollar bins or as trades.

For those of you who are into the variant covers,  you are going to have to pony up some big bucks. Those issues have cover prices of $60-90 a piece. That’s original suggested retail price- not LCS mark-up!

DC Nation #0 was a very good sampler of what’s in story for the DCU. Though not 100% happy with every story, I absolutely cannot complain about the cost.

DC Nation #0 debuted in stores and digital platforms May 2, 2018.

Worth Consuming!

Ratings:
Joker Story- 10/10 stars
Bendis' Superman: 8/10 stars
No Justice:4/10 stars
Overall: 7 out of 10 stars.

This review was published concurrently at Outrightgeekery.com.

Justice League

Centuries ago the Apokoliptian war lord Steppenwolf sought to make the earth the latest conquest in the name of the Fourth World. But an alliance between the realms of men, Atlantis, and the Amazons resulted in his first ever defeat. Driven insane with embarrassment of his lost, Steppenwolf was exiled and his three mother boxes, called the Trinity were hidden away from the rest of the world. 

With the death of Superman, the time is right for Steppenwolf's return to conquer earth again. As mankind mourns the loss of the Man of Steel, morale is at an all-time low for the human race. Thus, fear and anguish are just what the New God needs in order to power his horde of Parademons for attempt #2.

Aware of a mounting attack, but hopelessly out-manned, Bruce Wayne seeks a to raise his own army of defenders. Aided by Diana Prince, Wonder Woman, the Batman has a list of potential helpers. But does the aging billionaire playboy have what it takes to recruit a speedster with ADHD and social anxiety disorder, an aquatic hippie, and a cybernetically enhanced teen who can communicate with Steppenwolf's mother boxes?

Justice League was been getting slammed in the press, mostly by critics and amateur online reporters that don't understand comic books. Everyone is making such a big deal of what Rotten Tomatoes has to say. That site is just an average of critics nationwide and should be taken with a grain of salt.

Back in my day, nobody cared what Siskel and Ebert thought about the movies. We just wanted to see them insult each other- and maybe throw a punch. Gene Shalit's mustache was more important to us than what he thought about films. The only critic worth listening to was Leonard Maltin. But he's more like Bob Costas in that his depth of film knowledge is so impressive, he's like the Stephen Hawking of movie history. 

Look, if you don't even want to read my review, that's fine. I do this blog because I like to write about geeky things and this is more like my personal reading and movie journal. If it inspires someone to give something a go- cool. If they decide not to consume something because of my opinion- that's fine too. But I am in now way the only opinion that should matter. I might be considered an expert in comics because of my 40-years of knowledge on the subject, but in the end- it's all up to you on whether to see the Justice League movie.

Anyways, now that I cleared that, here's my take on what went right and wrong with the film. 

Not Long Enough- The movie runs right at about 2 hours. DC is taking a huge gamble putting the League together first and then building solo films around it. They're having to play catch up to Marvel and the speedy pace is off-putting to many. Personally, I would have liked to have seen the movie about 15-20 minutes longer.

 I hope there will be a director's cut. But please DC/ Warner Bros, don't make it for Bluray only! I still have student loans to repay and can't afford one just right yet.

Music To My Ears- Composer Danny Elfman was behind a majority of the tracks in this film. Though he's been a bit of a dick about it, I did enjoy having the 1989 Batman theme and some of the Animated Series peppered throughout the film. It's a been a very long time since I left a movie wishing that the music store was open. I really do want the soundtrack to this. It's pretty great.

Lack of Heavy Hitters- Having Steppenwolf as the main bad guy is really not the best idea. Most people I talk to have actually responded to my naming of him by saying 'That 70's rock band?' I kid you not. Honestly, I was hoping for an appearance by Darkseid, Steppenwolf's master, but even he is less of a household name than the Joker, Luthor, or Penguin. 

Another relative unknown to many is that of Cyborg. Unless you are familiar with the New 52 Justice League or the Teen Titans, not many casual fans are going to be very knowledgeable of him. I had a Cyborg Super Powers action figure as a kid and I remember him from some version of Super Friends in the 80s and I thought newcomer Ray Fisher was really good as the reluctant hero. But for every 1 me out there who grew up with the character, there's probably 3 people who are asking 'Cyborg? Who's he?'

Hail to the King- Tapping into Kirby's Fourth World is smart. Jack Kirby's very short stint at DC sent the publisher into a quantum leap that rivaled Marvel. Honestly, I feel like Marvel's Infinity War stuff is way less interesting than Kirby's New Gods. The House of Ideas is banking on the creations of Jim Starlin to send the Marvel Cinematic Universe into it's next phase of films. But let's be real people- Jim Starlin is no Jack Kirby!

Casting- For the most part, DC got almost every character right. The dup of Gal Gadot, and Ben Affleck as Batman and Wonder Woman is perfect. As I said earlier Ray Fisher's Cyborg was great! And man I think I am in love with Jason Momoa. His portrayal as Aquaman finally made the character relevant and not the joke of the DC Universe.

But I have to talk about Ezra Miller's version of the Flash. I really don't think Miller's acting was terrible as that I think Zack Synder vision of the speedster is flawed. Miller's Barry Allen is hyper, socially awkward, and the comic relief of the team. That's not Barry Allen so much as how I would describe Allen's great-grandson Impulse (Bart Allen.) Maybe the heads at DC didn't want people to be confused between the Flash on Justice League with Grant Gustin's superior version of the Flash on the CW. But for a huge Flash fan like myself, I was a bit put off.

The Chuckle Hut- Finally, I want to talk some about the laughs. Apparently, Zack Synder's version of the film was too dark and so when he stepped down after a family tragedy, Warner Bros. called in Joss Whedon to beef up the lighter side of the film. I understand that the Flash was used ad nauseam for a majority of this. But did you have to turn Batman into a heavily armored version of Spider-Man? 

At about the halfway point of the movie, Batman starts making one-liners and kinds taunts both his teammates and the villain in a way similar to that of Peter Parker. We already had a great movie with Spider-Man and a billionaire playboy with lots of tech. We didn't need to morph the two together in the second act of Justice League.

I had a ton of fun with this movie. There's some great Easter Eggs and I personally have a theory about who the seventh member of the League is. All I will say is that he's already made a couple of appearances in the movie. But it will be some time before I post my theory as to not be accused of spoilers.

Despite the negative press, Justice League is a great way to spend a couple of hours. Though a bit scary with those Parademons, Justice League is a lot more fun for the whole family than current comic book movie competitor Thor: Ragnarok, which has quite a bit of innuendo and overt sexual content. So if you desperately need to escape the house with a nephew or cousin this Thanksgiving weekend for a little bit, flock to the theaters and check it out. In the end, after the two bonus scenes, I think you'll be glad you did. 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice

Today I took my godson to see the highly anticipated Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice. I've spent the last week staying away from spoilers and reviews, but it's been hard. I know that the critics have hated the movie while most fans loved it. That is, with the exception of some DC fans, who just hate it to no end and have even started an online petition to get director Zack Snyder banned from directing the Justice League film due out next Thanksgiving. 

   So what did this Madman think of Dawn of Justice?

   In terms of the cast, I thought it was great. Henry Cavill returns as the Man of Steel. He's okay as Superman but I love his Clark Kent. The same goes for the much maligned Ban Affleck. His Batman was pretty good but his Bruce Wayne was superb. Generally, the previous films get the Dark Knight right but give very little care to getting his billionaire alter-ego right. Not this time! Rounding out the DC trinity is Gal Gadot who appears as the first ever cinematic version of Wonder Woman. She was pretty kick-ass but since there's a bit of mystery about her yet to be determined until her solo feature comes out sometime next year, I wasn't 100% sold on her... YET!

    The role of Lois Lane, played by Amy Adams, whom I hated in Man of Steel was actually better this time around. So was Fishburne's Perry White. But the supporting characters that steal the show are Jeremy Irons and Jesse Eisenberg. 

   Jeremy Irons plays Batman's long-suffering faithful butler Alfred. He's a little gritty and a tad grumpy but he has good chemistry with Affleck. Jesse Eisenberg's character doesn't really work well with anyone. He's really bat-crap crazy and is obsessed with destroying Superman. His Lex Luthor is nothing like that in the comics or other films but as a loose canon type of character rebooted as a kind of evil Mark Zuckerberg- it kinda works.

   The plot of the film in a spoiler-free nutshell is that after the events of Man of Steel, the world is reeling from the total destruction of Metropolis at Superman and Zod's hands. Bruce Wayne is convinced that the Last Son of Krypton is poised to be the end of society and takes it upon himself to bring him down. Added to the mix is Lex Luthor who seeks to use the US government and a newly found glowing green rock as a means of taking down the Man of Tomorrow.

   That's really all I can say about the film without giving away some major spoilers. There are cameos galore and this film does act as an introduction piece for the Justice League films. But DC tries a little too hard to cram about 5 hours worth of film into 2.5!

   DC is behind Marvel when is comes to establishing their cinematic universe. But why does DC have to go the movie route? Their 'Arrowverse' shows are so good, whereas Gotham is wicked fun and Supergirl has that Otto Binder oddball charm. With the DC cinematic universe- something is missing.

   I read that it took Kevin Smith needed2 showings to discover that Dawn of Justice actually has heart. I don't have the money (or time) to go see this film again so soon. But, I would have to agree with Smith, that this film has heart. What is lacking is soul! 

   One reason I love the DCTV programs is that they take me away from the troubles of this screwed up world. With crumbling buildings, terrorist attacks, untrustworthy leaders, and a film-long debate over the roles of God and Man- Dawn Of Justice felt like I was watching the evening news! I thought Marvel was supposed to be the more realistic comics universe...

   Another thing missing from this film is a sense of humor. I love that the DCTV shows can laugh at themselves. Once Batman and Superman were able to start cracking wise I felt like things finally fell into place during the last 45 minutes.

   So, what does the future hold for me and the 'Snyder-verse' as these DC films are referred to? I'm pumped for next year's Wonder Woman. What teasing was done for that film in BVS was awesome! Justice League? I can't give up on my favorite superhero team! I've been a DC person ever since I started reading my dad's old Jimmy Olsens and Lois Lanes when I was 3 or 4. Yes- this film isn't my dad's DC but it's also not something that's unfamiliar to me either. I think like with this film, it's going to take time for everything to finally achieve synergy! 

   And yes- It's worth the wait!

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 8 out of 10. 

Scribblenauts Unmasked: A Crisis of Imagination (Family Comics Friday)

Cover to the last chapter of A Crisis of Imagination #18.

 Maxwell and Lily are siblings from an alternate earth. Maxwell has a magic pen and pad that can conjuror anything he can imagine. Lily has a globe that when powered up can transport you to anywhere in the known universe. Together this brother and sister superhero team are the Scribblenauts.

   Created in 2009, Scribblenauts is a puzzle adventure video game that has developed a sort of cult following. After several years success, the franchise branched out into the DC Universe with Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure in 2013. Featuring over 2,000 characters from the DC Universe, the game spawned a number of action figures, t-shirts, and in 2014, a webseries and eventual print comic book series.

   In this series, Maxwell and Lily return to the DCU after the events of the video game to discover that their beloved friends in the Justice League are being menaced by their former allies. When Maxwell discovers that these supposed friends are being possessed by Shadow Demons, the Phantom Stranger arrives to warn that a crisis looms threatening the very fabric of the multiverse. The key player behind this threat- the Anti-Monitor.

     The book begins like a sugary kids book. I'm not knocking it. But the first two issues weren't really my cup of tea. But once the books started to delve into the rich history of the multiverse and include characters from Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew, Earth 2, and Batman Beyond, I really took a shine to this book. It was like reading an amped up all-ages version of Crisis of Infinite Earths.

   Like any good kids multimedia project does, Scribblenauts includes a story that children will enjoy along with little nuggets that bring back a wave of nostalgia to adults. The art, while cartoony, still evoked over 75 years of DC History. By the end of this book, I wasn't wanting it to end.

   There is a bonus story that while too entertaining, it negates some of the stories in this plot. It was never published prior to this collection. I am thinking that is that case as it wipes out one baddies transformation into one of the good guys in the main series.  Honestly, I am not even sure why they included it. 

    One thing that some properties, like Disney, do is push the envelope, often with a bit of innuendo. That doesn't happen here. Nor is there any bad language. Lots of cool lines from classic films like Ghostbusters and Back to the Future abound in this series and they gave me a chuckle. There are some mild violence and a little bit of sorcery but otherwise, like the Scribblenauts video games, this miniseries is considered quite family friendly.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Batman- The Dark Knight, Volume 1: Knight Terrors (New 52!)

  

 Someone has released all of the inmates of Arkham back into Gotham City. Making matters worse, the escaped inmates are given a toxin that removes their fear and gives them super strength. Batman's quest to find the culprit will pit him against some of his most deadly foes- including the Scarecrow, Poison Ivy, and Bane.
   
   But perhaps his most deadly foe is a new one known only as the White Rabbit. Looking like the Inferior 5's Dumb Bunny, only sluttier, the White Rabbit puts the Dark Knight on notice that she cannot be caught. As Batman gets ever so closer to catching his new foe, the number of bat-villains and their level of deadliness increases, meaning that the Caped Crusader will need to call in some allies for help, including the Justice League. 

   For some reason, my library obtained volumes 2, 3 and 4 long before volume 1. It didn't make for uneven reading nor did it make me feel like the story had been spoiled for me. But, I'm a little disappointed with this volume as the White Rabbit is still on the loose by volume's end, yet she doesn't pop up in any of the following books (in this series) that I've already read. Since her story really isn't over, I feel like this book is incomplete when you look at the series as a whole. 

   However, the story itself was quite good. I liked having several of the Justice Leaguers guest-starring in this book. Those characters gave this book another dynamic missing in most of the New 52! Batman titles. A good story by David Finch but it was Ed Benes' art that really stole the show.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's free Sneak Previews of 3 new DC Titles!!!

  Tomorrow marks the final issue of Convergence, the latest reboot to the DC Universe. Now, I'm not going to wax poetic at how I hate for my heroes to be changed or that I secretly enjoy a good reboot- if done right. But last night as I was working on some admin work for the new DC releases, I noticed a new thing has been posted. Make that 3 new things.

   Right now on the DC Comics website, if you browse the new releases you'll find sneak peaks for 3 post-Convergence titles. Those sneak peaks star Batman, the Justice League, and Superman. None of these previews says if these are from Batman #1, JL #1, and Superman #1. For all I know these could preview Detective Comics #1 (2015) and Action Comics #1 (2015)which originally starred the Caped Crusader and the Man of Steel starting in the late 30s.

  Regardless of which titles these actually will be published under, these previews are worth checking out. They run between 10-11 pages each with a one-page update on the character's backstory post-Convergence, and best of all- they are free!

   Normally, I'm anti-eBook but since these are teasers for the actual paper titles due out sometime later this summer, I'm on board with it. The best one involves Superman, who must deal will life as a superhero with an exposed secret identity. (Hint- yes this was a spoiler but this was also a news story on CNN, Yahoo!, and the Soup so the revelation was already out there several weeks before I came along to share this article with you, my dear readers.

Here are the links to the sneak previews:

 For Batman click here.

For Justice League click here.

For Superman click here.

Happy Reading!

52 Aftermath: The Four Horsemen #3

   

As Batman and Superman fend off Death's army of the undead in Bialya, Wonder Woman and members of the Justice League act as envoys to the newly recognized nation of Villains Island (not the actual name- but it should be! It's actually called Oolong Island.) In a race against time the Amazonian Princess must buy the island's mad scientists time to fortify themselves and activate a potential weapon against a plague horse of the next Horseman, Pestilence.

    The action ramps up to 11 in this issue. So far, it's the best issue. The art is still stunning but finally, the storyline matches the artwork in terms of quality.

   Worth Consuming

  Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

52 Aftermath- The Four Horsemen #1

  During 52, a cadre of super-villains started an island commune with the expressed purpose of ridding the earth of their enemies one and for all. If that meant they became the de facto rulers of earth- so be it. One of their experiments was to create living embodiments of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (or was is Apokolips?) and they did a lot of damage with those.

    Now, the Four Horsemen are free from their new masters and are running rampant throughout the earth. Seeing this as a major setback from their island paradise being recognized as a sovereign state by the UN, the villains must do the one thing they dread most: ask for help from the Justice League.
   
    I read 52 several years ago and I've actually forgotten much of what happened involving this island commune for super villains sub-plot. I seem to remember the Metal Men and Egg Fu having something to do with this. But honestly, that wasn't my favorite story subplot and I glossed over it. Had I not waited so long to read this tie-in miniseries, I might have enjoyed this first issue more. Instead, I had to run back to my collection, pull out some issues of 52 and get a little more reacquainted with that plot.
 
   Even with the tutorial, this didn't help me to enjoy this issue very much. Not looking too good for the rest of this series.

   Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

Legends of the DC Universe #13

Part 2 got a little better but it didn't do very much to make this overall story a favorite of mine. The link between the rampaging mutant and the giant-sized Justice League is made much clearer. So, that helps the plot along a little bit. Plus, the tragic ending also won me over some- not for somebody dying but how the writer and artist crafted it into a memorable moment in an otherwise ho-hum story.

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

Legends of the DC Universe #12

This is perhaps my least favorite issue and probably story thus far in the Legends of the DC Universe series. You'd think this would be a home run what starring the Justice League and all.  Some virus or magic has turned many of the Leaguers into giant raving lunatics. With their enormous size, time is running out as their mass is sure to through them into seizures and likely cardiac arrest. It's up to the Atom to get to the literal heart of the matter.

   The art is good. The dialogue's okay but the plot itself is really everywhere. The civilians hassled by this huge inconvenience have turned on the JLA so much that I thought for a while I was reading an X-Men title. It just seemed out of sorts for a DC book from 1999. Then we've got this mutant whose gone insane as well but he's normal size. What does he have to do with any of this? It's really convoluted and I'm just not a fan of this one.

Not Worth Consuming

Rating: 2 out of 10 stars.

Power Girl: Power Trips

   For a brief period of time, Power Girl was treated as the IT Girl of DC Comics. I never really got into her mostly based on her appearance. With her Amazonian physique and huge assets, I tried to steer away from her stuff thinking it was mostly a sex comic.

  Then about 3 years ago, something changed. I had just finished up my collection of the Giffen and DeMatteis run of Justice League titles from the 80s and 90s. Being one to hate cliff hangers, I waited until I had these runs complete before I read them. Power Girl, who takes up residence at one time or another in most of these titles, was a dark horse character that I came to love due to her scrappy work ethic and the mystery of her true origin and place of birth. Plus, she’s was/is/ and then maybe wasn’t after all the Earth-2 version of Supergirl. Well, that in my book made her not so bad.

As I read more books starring Kara Zor-L, I became even more of a fan of hers. From her earliest appearances in the 1970s reboot of the Justice Society in All-Star Comics to finding her missing family in Infinite Crisis, Power Girl cemented all of the hype that surrounded her almost a decade ago.

Two titles that boosted Power Girl to a temporary super-star status were JSA and her own self-titled series. Power Trips is a treasury that collects two stories from this era. The first 4 issues is from JSA: Classified, a series devoted to unpublished mini-series starring some of the members of the JSA. In this storyline, the Psycho Pirate seeks to make Power Girl release the truth behind her jumbled origin. I liked this story because it really did help correct some of the mess behind just Power Girl was. After the Crisis, we’d been told that Power Girl was really the granddaughter of the Atlantean wizard Arion, a Legionnaire sent to the past for a mission but stricken with amnesia, and the real cousin of Superman. But Psycho Pirate, who never lost track of what the multi-verse was like before Crisis on Infinite Earths, knows the truth about Kara and will manipulate time and space to help her see the light.

I liked this story, but there are too many open ended plots that never get resolved. At the end of chapter 4, we learn that Lex Luthor is behind this plot and then in the epilogue to Power Trips, we see Power Girl get attacked by Clayface. But by chapter 5, which is a reprint of her premier self-titled series, Kara has moved to New York to star up a research company. There’s no mention of the assault by Clayface and Lex Luthor is never heard from again.

What’s up with that? And do those plot lines ever get resolved?

Thankfully, the next storyline helps me get over this confusion pretty quick. Written and drawn by the dynamic team of Amanda Conner, Jimmy Palmiotti, and Justin Gray, the first 12 issues of the 2009-2011 series of Power Girl is awesome. This epic tale has Power Girl battling the Ultra-Humanite, dealing with a photographing Peeping Tom, and fighting off the advances of a hormonal space Casanova that looks an awful lot like Sean Connery in Zardoz. (Don’t believe me, then why does this guy fly a giant stone head for his space ship?)

Power Girl: Power Trips is a massive volume filled with 16 issues. For only $30 and in full color, that’s a freaking steal! The art of Conner and Gray is fantastic and I love the covers, especially to PG #10. Kara’s facial expression on that cover is just classic. While this volume is gigantic, it’s in no way an omnibus. So, there’s still 15 issues of Power Girl out there waiting for me to collect and devour.

I’m trying to collect all of JSA and JSA Classified and with my search for the remaining Power Girl issues now underway, hopefully, I will find out why Luthor wanted Power Girl to know the truth about the multiverse so bad and why Clayface attacks her. I highly recommend this edition and I hope you’ll over look some of the inconsistencies from the first story line and the second. If you can, you’ll be in for a visual treat that’s funny, sexy, and extremely smart.

Worth Consuming

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars

The Weird #4 (of 4)

 

Okay, spoilers aside for a moment. I had said in my review of issue one of this mini-series that I had never heard of the Weird before I came across these books. I’ve never seen him before and I have never seen him since. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out what happens at the end of this book, based on that knowledge. So, when I talk about what transpired, I hope you’ll understand that I’m really not giving anything away.

 

The Justice League must prevent the Weird from going critical and destroying the earth. But before they can do they, they’ve all got to team together to fight two of the Weird’s enslavers from his home dimension. Only, these hostile entities don’t want to leave and have taken up residence in two of earth’s mightiest beings in hopes of enslaving this dimension and maybe blowing up a few solar systems in the process.

 

I won’t mention who are used as vessels by these evil beings. I’ll try to keep that plotline from getting spoiled. However, I will say that the final fate of the Weird is heroic, tragic, and just plain heartbreaking. Thankfully, the Weird is allowed to tie-up a few loose ends with his son, who was introduced in issue 2. But just because there is a perfect moment in time between a father and his child that does not mean that there is a happy ending for this mini-series.

 

While I hate the way this series ended, I wouldn’t trade it. It’s a permanent part of my collection and I am proud to say that if you collect comics, then this series should become a part of yours too!

 

Fantastic writing and excellent art by the great Bernie Wrightson. I cannot recommend Wrightson enough. For more examples of his work, check out back issues of the 70s horror anthologies the House of Secrets and the House of Mystery. You’ll be glad you did!

 

Worth Consuming.

 

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

 

The Weird #3 (of 4)

 

The Weird has a final confrontation with the conjuror that brought our newly formed hero’s life essence across dimensional plains. We learn the origin of the half-human/ half emerald wizard and discover that the Weird was actually a slave in his dimension. Faced now with the Justice League ready to take the Weird down in order to prevent him from going nuclear, more entities from the protagonist’s home dimension have made it to the other side and have decided to make it their new home. But in order to do this, they’ll need bodies- powerful, strong, and indestructible bodies.

 

 Hey, has anybody seen the Man of Steel lately?

 

The third chapter in the Weird’s saga was very well crafted. The origin of the conjuror was creepy. It reminded me of the early stuff Alan Moore did in Swamp Thing, have terrible people do terrible things. Original Swamp Thing artist, Bernie Wrightson adds that extra creep factor to the short life of the amateur wizard responsible for bringing the Weird and two of his jailers over to earth.

 

I cannot wait for the ultimate chapter when the Weird and the Justice League must take on the enslaved bodies of ******* and ******. Nope- you’re not getting a spoiler outta me!

 

Worth Consuming.

 

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

The Weird #2 (of 4),

With over 24 hours before the Weird can reconnect with the portal to his universe of origin and hopefully reseal it permanently, this newly formed super being does something that just melts your heart. Being created from a recently deceased father, the Weird decides to spend one last day with his son.

 

While the father son bonding unfolds, the Justice League and Superman continue their search for the Weird in order to keep him from blowing up half the planet with his cellular structure levels still edging ever so closer to becoming “super nova.”

 

The biggest thing we learn about the Weird is that the conjuror who brought him into this universe is a bad guy. Drunk with power (or should I say horny), this half human/ half emerald construct is bidding his 24 hour window of opportunity into recharging his batteries. The fiend does this by having his way with random women and draining their life essences into dust.

 

Chapter 2 is what’s got me hooked on this mini-series. The Justice League are starting to act and sound more like they do in the pages of their own comic. Superman is as noble as ever. Plus, Bernie Wrightson just makes this evil conjuror all that much more creepy with his horrific art! Plus, the whole father son dynamic thing-I love it.

 

The Weird is a book that I don’t think got much love when it came out in 1986 and I think it’s still overlooked. Maybe my reviews will change that. Great stuff.

 

Worth Consuming.

 

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

The Weird #1 (of 4)

The title says it all. When a mysterious energy source is somehow transported across dimensions to the middle of downtown Metropolis, the Justice League and Superman are called in to investigate. When their investigation creates a spark in the strange ball of light, it sets off a chain reaction that raises a recently departed father from the dead and changes him into a being of immense power. This thing is so powerful that his molecular structure is going nuclear and looks to not only destroy Metropolis but take half of the earth with it.

This first chapter is a little strange. The writing of the Justice League is way off. It’s the Giffen and DeMatteis line-up but with the exception of Batman, none of the other Leaguers sound like themselves. Guy Gardner is more even tempered and shows respect to both the Dark Knight and Superman. Blue Beetle is serious for once! And Black Canary and Captain Atom- well, I don’t remember them being members at the beginning of this incarnation of the League.

As for the Weird, I’m at a loss. I’ve never encountered him in any of my other readings of DC Comics. The person who summons the energy source into this dimension. Is he the being’s master or a future foe? Plus, why is this conjuror half human and half emerald? He looks a lot like John “Hellblazer” Constantine. Is it him?  There’s a lot of unanswered questions here. Hopefully, the next chapter will shed some light on those loose plot points.

It’s not my favorite story- but there’s time to impress me. I do enjoy the Bernie Wrightson art very much and with the Weird and his even odder cohort, I think selecting the Swamp Thing veteran to pencil this mini-series was the right move!

Worth Consuming.

 

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

"Justice League America #100"

This 100th issue starts out great. All three versions of the League are present trying to iron out this whole open membership debacle that nearly wiped everyone out in issues 96-97. Then the Snazz and Flash take Blue Beetle and Booster on a tour of the spaceship, only to discover it’s making more Overmasters in light of the alien warlord’s death. Then Lord Havok, now possessing the brain of Max Lord attacks.

    

And then wouldn’t you know it? The cliffhanger come and I now have to have an issue of Warrior to finish it! I hate when this happens! Geez- put a disclaimer or something!

This is such a major pet peeve of mine.

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.