Shang-Chi and the Quest for Immortality (Family Comic Friday)

Shang-Chi, the Master of Kung-Fu is a Marvel character that is more aligned with mature readership than a figure of all-ages family fun. Created in the 1970s as Marvel's answer to the martial arts film craze brought about by the influences of Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan, Shang-Chi originally was the son of the global 'yellow menace' known as Fu-Manchu. Over time, the
controversial antagonist was replaced with a figure whose origin wasn't encased with a legacy of East Asian prejudices and hate. Shang-Chi's rebooted father, Zheng-Zu was no less evil or power hungry. Even more, he still wasn't a character for children as the leader of the Five Weapons Society was a gangster who had his hands in some very adult criminal activities such as gun running, human trafficking, and drugs.

Of course with the live action Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Marvel wanted to produce a kid friendly graphic novel to introduce the characters to a broader audience. To do this, creator Victoria Ying set the story during Shang-Chi's childhood. Yes, Shang-Chi's father is still a heartless criminal leader who rewards loyalty over issuing parental love. Only now he's more of a passive character in which the young hero lives in the shadow of his father's approval. 

Ying makes another wise move by having the story focus more on the mythology of Shang-Chi's world as opposed to the dark criminal elements. In this book, Shang-Chi is on a quest to find a magical orchard that fruits could heal the boy's ailing father. In the midst of Shang-Chi's journey, he meets a mysterious hooded man who claims to be Shang-Chi's brother and the protector of other offspring who have been deemed unworthy of inheriting Zheng-Zu's criminal enterprise.

This graphic novel is a decent prequel to 2021's Shang-Chi motion picture. It opens Shang-Chi's eyes to his father's dark nature while also authenticating the myths of ancient China into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The story also shows how you can love someone even when they are imperfect, even when that nature is extremely vile.

Cruel parents seems to be a universal theme. Snow White, Cinderella, even The Simpsons show that parents are people too. And that means flaws. It's a complicated process to love someone who is supposed to love you back and yet sometimes in return mothers and fathers aren't capable of such kindness. Thus if this story opens up questions about parental abuse or neglect, it's my hope that parents and guardians are willing and equipped to address such complicated inquiries. Though I think the recommended age of 8-12 might be a bit too immature. 10-14 might be more appropriate.

A read that potentially could open many doors. Not just to some complex family ethics, but also to Chinese culture. The artwork is highly indicative of modern and classic Oriental styles. Plus, young readers are introduced to new characters that have entertained millions of Chinese children for millennia. If you are going to show Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings to your family, this book could act as a good introduction to many of the characters as well as be a great follow up to a reader interested in learning the rest of the story.

I really thought this book was older than its 2023 publication date. It might have been due to come out when the movie did but was delayed due to COVID. But a 2 year hiatus? The book has a preview for a Ms. Marvel graphic novel I read and reviewed a long time ago. So maybe it was due to come out in 2021. Not sure. But it shouldn't interfere with the enjoyment of this book.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Love University (Family Comic Friday)

A young woman learns a fantastic secret about her past in this week’s Family Comic Friday review of Love University!

Love University #1 and 2
Written and created by Allison Chaney Whitmore
Art by Carola Borelli
Colors by Agnese Pozza
Published by EvoluzionE Publishing’s ClassE imprint

Lucy is supposed to have one more year before starting college. However, during a fateful college trip, she learns that she is an extremely powerful creature from ancient lore! She’s a real life cupid! And she’s been invited to immediately join an exclusive institute of higher learning- Love University!

While this new academy is the stuff of dreams come true, there is a caveat. Being a cupid means that Lucy cannot ever fall in love! As the school term is just about to begin, Lucy will have to decide between the magical realm or her mundane origins. Along the way, she’ll have to navigate college orientation, temptations from demigods and protect her heart from ever falling in love!

This was a wonderful new series from the digital publishing company EvoluzionE’s all-ages imprint ClassE. It was quite engaging and a unique spin on the ordinary person who finds out that they are quite extraordinary classic storyline. But I did think that the story itself is moving a little slow.

I read the first couple of issues. While issue #1 does introduce most of the major players; it takes until about the end end of issue #2 for things to start transitioning from interesting to intriguing. The action level really ramps up with the introduction of some nefarious players to our drama when BAM! End of issue #2. With no issue #3 (YET!), I was a little disappointed not knowing what’s gonna happen next!

Love University isn’t just a series aimed at girls. If the young reader in your life is a huge fan of Percy Jackson, Artemis Fowl or The Fairy Tale Detectives, then they will love this new digital series too!

ClassE is an all-ages imprint. While there’s nothing objectionable, scary or overly provocative, I think that Love University is maybe a little too advanced for very young readers. But I would say that those 10 and up will really enjoy this series.

It’s true that Allison Chaney Whitmore (The Lost Heir) pens a tale that is quite mature. However, the reason that I think that this book is a little more sophisticated is thanks to the artwork. Carola Borelli uses very power strokes and deep clean lines in her artwork. It’s definitely the opposite of the cartoonish artwork that has dominated most if not all of the all-ages graphic novels and comics I review at Family Comic Friday. And let’s not forget the vibrant pastel palette of colorist Agnese Pozza. It’s perfect for this series that blends reality and myth. 

I think your up-and-coming comic collectors are going to really love this series!

Issues #1 and 2 of Love University are available now in digital format at Gumroad.com!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

This review was concurrently published on Outrightgeekery.com.

Pandora's Legacy (Family Comic Friday)

Welcome to another edition of Family Comic Friday! I hope you are all as big of fans of mythology as I am for today’s selection is full of epic heroes, villains and creatures. This week, I will be reviewing Pandora’s Legacy from Kaboom! This 2018 graphic novel modernizes the Greek myth of Pandora’s box and blends in folklore and legends from around the globe!

Pandora’s Legacy
Written by Kara Leopard
Art by Kelly and Nichole Matthews
Published by Kaboom!
SRP: $9.99

Trevor and his sisters, twins Janet and Charlie, are just about to beginning summer vacation at their grandparents house when their beloved cat Po, escapes his carrier. Fleeing into the woods, the siblings chase after their cat and make an amazing discovery. In the middle of the woods is a derelict cottage filled with ancient looking statues. When Trevor breaks a vase that one of the statues is holding, the siblings unknowingly release an army of mythical creatures. For you see, that Grecian urn was in fact Pandora’s box!

The siblings aren’t flying blind as they attempt to retrieve the monsters unleashed. Their cat Po now houses the spirit of Greek hero Prometheus and can now talk. He explains that the Trevor, Janet and Charlie are descendants of Pandora and the next in a long line of protectors of her fabled box of monsters.

However, with the original container now in pieces, the children will have to rely on the only thing that remained with Pandora- hope! Can they devise a new way of capturing the missing creatures? It’s just possible that the key to locking the monster back into their prison has been in their possession since before this adventure began.

Kara Leopard (Mr. Hare and Mr. Bear) pens an amazing tale that promises to be the first of a series. The idea of a family of protectors of Pandora’s Box is quite similar to Buffy, The Vampire Slayer. Only replace bloodsuckers with gorgons, mermaids and other creatures of myth and fable.

I really liked all of the characters in this book. However, I think Kara Leopard has a huge problem on her hands. The best character in the book non-fatally sacrifices their freedom to save the day. The writer has got to figure out a way to bring him or her back because that character steals all of the best parts of this story!

I also feel like I need a Greek-to-English dictionary in this book. The main characters are Greek Americans and they use Greek words sprinkled throughout their conversations in English. Yet, there's nothing like an Editor's Note to explain what is being said. I felt a tiny bit lost in translation at times because of that. Some young readers might feel the same. (Something to consider if there is ever a sequel.)

The art by twins Kelly and Nicole Matthews (Lumberjanes/Gotham Academy) was quite interesting. Though Pandora’s box is a Greek myth, I am thinking that the monsters she set free weren’t all from that same part of the world. The creatures in this book have features identifiable from Japanese and European mythology as well as Greek. Plus aren’t Chupacabra’s from Mexican and Puerto Rican folklore?

As I mentioned earlier, Pandora’s Legacy looks to be the start of a new comic/graphic novel series. Published by Kaboom!, I went to their website in hopes of finding out more about a second book. However, there isn’t anything indicating a sequel. The initial announcement for this volume was posted during the publisher’s countdown to Comic-Con last year in July. So perhaps a second book will be unveiled around the same time and manner this year.
As always with Family Comic Friday, I rate a book on it’s artistic quality. However, I also inform parents and guardians of areas that may not be suitable for all-ages. This is an entertaining book perfect for ages 8-12. Older readers who are fans of Percy Jackson will dig this book too!

There is a couple of scary monsters who attack the children at various points. Those situations are that which some younger readers might find a bit too much Also, one of the minor characters has same sex parents. While there’s nothing explicit or condemning about that, I mention this as I understand that different parental units have different parenting styles. I also mention this as I know that many same sex couples have a desire to find age-appropriate graphic novels such as Pandora’s Legacy which are friendlier and more open to all lifestyles.

Kaboom! has a real winner here! There appears to be a near unlimited source of monsters and villains out there that need returning to Pandora’s box. But if Leopard and the Matthews’ twins want to get book two to be as good, if not better than this one, they’re all going to have to find a way to bring that mystery character back from their exile!

Pandora’s Legacy debuted in Print and digital platforms on December 4, 2018!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Wonder Woman/ Tasmanian Devil Special #1

     The Batman/ Elmer Fudd Special got all of the attention during last month's release of DC/ Warner Bros. crossovers. But one of the best unsung specials was this one. In the Wonder Woman/ Tasmanian Devil Special, the evil goddess Circe has turned the Amazons of Themyscira into stone. In order to save her sisters, Princess Diana must obtain a mystical object from the fabled Minotaur of the Labyrinth.

     This will not be an easy journey for Wonder Woman. For the walkways of the Labyrinth are constantly in flux and soon the changes to the Amazons will become permanent. Seeking a guide that can transverse the maze without getting lost, Wonder Woman enlists the help of the Tasmanian Devil. But Diana and Taz have a precarious history together. Will the world's most destructive force assist the Amazonian princess before time runs out?

     Birds of Prey's Tony Bedard crafts a very heart-felt story that combines the spirit of the DC Universe with Greek legend and Warner Bros. humor. The back-up feature which stars Wonder Woman, Taz, and a score of Looney Tunes icons acting out the scenes of Illiad and the Odyssey follows that same formula. Writer Ben Caldwell pens that story in verse, much like the Looney Tunes cartoons of old. The whole special was a delight. Unfortunately, it just didn't get the critical praise it deserves because a sister title hogged it all.

     With dynamically different but both just as masterful art styles by Barry Kitson and Byron Vaughns, this is an enjoyable special that deserves a read.

    Worth Consuming!

     Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Thor: God of Thunder, Volume 4: The Last Days of Midgard (Marvel NOW!)

   The days of Asgard on earth are numbered when Roxxon declares war on Thor after he assists SHIELD in shutting down one of the corporation's illegal operations. After a small absence from the earth, Thor returns to Broxton Oklahoma only to find that the big business has bought up the entire town, evicted it's residents, and covered the city in smog and  pollution. Thor can normally deal with any sort of physical assault, but he's never dealt with an army of slimy corporate lawyers before. How will the god of Thunder survive on the battlefield known as the US Court of Appeals?

    Meanwhile, in the distant future, King Thor makes one last stand for planet earth when Galactus arrives to feed on its desolate husk. When the old god seeks assistance with a damned sword it will take combined might of his three granddaughters to save his soul. However, when a forbidden tome is unearthed in the libraries of Asgard, it appears that the present-day Thor's time of being worthy to wield Mjolnir are coming to a close.

   This exciting issues for many changes for the god of thunder as well as the entire realm of Asgard. Frigga, the Warriors Three, Jane Foster, and Ulik contribute in a story that feels a lot like a swan song for the god of Thunder. There's even a small glimpse of the female Thor that's been a controversial subject as of late. Oddly, the only major player not involved in this story is Loki for some reason and that's weird because he's been such a presence in the story of Thor since the very beginning.

  I'm sure he'll rear his ugly head sometime soon before the reign of the new Thor ends.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Olympians Volume 7: Ares: Bringer of War (Family Comic Friday)

As a kid, I loved to study mythology in school. With characters like Zeus, Hercules, Thor, and Loki learning mythology was like getting to study comic books at school. Sure, people used to worship these guys (and gals) but there is no denying that these mythical characters are the archetypes for Superman, Captain America, and Wonder Woman.

    I enjoy the Norse gods more than the Greek/ Roman. I'm not sure why, though I am sure it has something to do with the fact that I like Marvel's Thor more than DC's Wonder Woman. Plus, there seems to be more sex in the Greek/ Roman myths as opposed to the mischief and battle heavy Norse tales.

    Well, it may not be Asgard...

  Bringer of War is the seventh book in George O'Connor's Olympians graphic novel series. Released in January of this year, this book also has the distinction of being the first 2015 publication I've read. The book wasn't really what I expected, but that's not a bad thing. Instead of being an overall recount of the god of war Ares' origin and his most famous exploits, this volume explores the Trojan War recounted in Homer's Iliad; most importantly the waning days of the decade-long battle.

   The gods have convened in Zeus' battle room. Overlooking the battle, the gods are divided into two camps- those pro-Trojan and those in support of the Greeks. Only Zeus is neutral and he's allowed the fates to determine the outcome. If the gods have anything to do with it, they will impact the war to achieve their own personal agendas.

   Though Ares plays an important part in the story- often possessing soldiers into a sort of blood lust on the battlefield- he's really a minor character. One such warrior Ares instigates is Achilles and to me, 'Bringer of War' is his story. The original Man of Steel (and my personal favorite characters in Greek myth), Achilles' weakness was his heel. I always hated the story of the fall of Troy as it's also the story of Achilles' death. However, I was unaware that his death was the result of his unheroic actions after he smights his fiercest foe.

    It is darn near impossible to recount Homer's account of the Trojan War in just 72 pages. Thankfully, this book is 80-pages long. Here, O'Connor includes some fact files on some of the major players in this story, discussion questions, suggested readings, and most importantly, a section of "G(r)eek Files"- an annotated account of this story that includes some vital backstory to the Iliad.

  The art of this series was just as awesome of the writing. At the end of this story, George O'Connor gives some important kudos to the superheroes of DC and Marvel. They inspired him to love mythology as much as I do. He really gives in to his admiration during a multi-page scene that has the gods of both factions battling each other in the ultimate battle-royale on Mount Olympus. It was like watching the best of DC duel it out with the titans of the Marvel Universe.

   'Bringer of War' was a very fun read and I deem it the best all-ages graphic novel of 2015. (Thus far...) I might one day explore some of the other volumes of this series. But like I mentioned earlier, I am more of a fan of the Norse gods. Maybe George O'Connor will craft a series based on them. Until then, I'll just have to enjoy the adventures of the lords of Asgard in the pages of Marvel's Thor comics.

   Worth Consuming.

  Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.