Simpsons One-Shot Wonders: Bart Simpson's Pal Milhouse #1

The second of 18 total Simpsons One-Shot Wonders. I knew that there was a Milhouse comic book. I just didn't know that it was part of a rudimentary series of specials devoted to some of Springfield's otherwise minor residents. Professor Frink, Police Chief Wiggum and Jimbo are among those who I've learned were given the singular starring role treatment beginning in 2012. I just don't think Lisa nor Bartman, who starred in 3 of these one-shots, deserved the honors as both of them had series runs at one time or another during Bongo Comics' impressive 25 year run. 

I found this book at this year's 301 Endless Yard Sale. One of my former students and her friends were doing a sale and I found a couple of Simpsons comics that I didn't have for only a buck apiece. I chose to read Milhouse first because of the interesting cover. I remember someone from the show being chased by that airplane a la Cary Grant in North by Northwest and I thought the image of Milhouse as Conan the Barbarian was pretty rad. Unfortunately, the concept of the book doesn't quite seem to match the way Milhouse acts on the TV show.

The general idea behind the 2 main stories is that poor, awkward, nerdy Milhouse is so desperate for friendship that his best friend is his over active imagination. I've been watching The Simpsons ever since their days as filler on The Tracey Ullman Show and while Milhouse is definitely a dweeb, I've never noticed that he got lost inside his own head. Daydream retreats by Homer? Absolutely! By Milhouse? Not so much. Okay, never...

The second story at least seemed a bit more plausible. Milhouse gets thrown into his locker by Nelson. Trapped, Milhouse imagines that the locker has a secret entrance to a gigantic secret headquarters where he's international super spy 00! 

The three back up stories were more on par with canon Milhouse. Bart learns it's his best friend's birthday and arranges to bribe everyone at Springfield Elementary into making it Van Houten's best one yet. But soft-hearted Bart doesn't last for long as he then sets up Milhouse to prank Mrs. Krabappel and eventually rats him out without conscience. Lastly, Milhouse teaches you how to make the best prank phone call ever without getting in trouble for it with Bart acting out all the steps by ringing up Moe's tavern. 

Finally, one-shots editor, Louis Lane talks about the Springfield specials he has in store. A book about Homer when he was a kid was on tap next at the time. The first special starred Ralph Wiggum and the letters page saw Milhouse answering in his school mate's stead. It was funny. Though I clearly didn't understand that inside joke about someone's made up name. I googled it and I still don't get it. Also as a bonus, there's a 'hot rod' type sticker of Milhouse that looks like it was made by Ed ' Big Daddy' Ross, that after 13 years has lost its adhesive quality and yet remains inside the comic as if by magic.

With the news about our bombing of Iranian nuclear sites last night, I felt like I needed something light to read. I got that last night. A couple of laughs as well as a chance to think about something else other than complete and utter nuclear annihilation. It just seemed more like a Simpsons Treehouse of Horror episode instead of a regular season broadcast.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Saturday Morning Adventures Halloween Special One-Shot (Family Comic Friday)

Celebrate Halloween 2023 by taking a trip back in time to the late 1980s with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Saturday Morning Adventures Halloween Special. 

For the past couple of years now, IDW Publishing has been releasing a number of books based on kids cartoons from the 80s. While most of the cartoons in this series aired on weekdays after school and not Saturdays, I've been a big fan of these publications. 

There are 2 stories in this Halloween special. The first story has Master Splinter sending the Turtles out on patrol on a Halloween night where the heroes come face-to-face with their old nemesis, Creepy Eddie. A master of dreams, Creepy Eddie takes the turtles to his realm where Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello and Raphael must make it to the end of the yellow brick road which leads to the exit by midnight or else they become slaves to Eddie! Then readers head over to Dimension X where Krang and Shredder are trying to unlock the secrets to a meteorite with mysterious properties. Shredder believes that if he can create a special sword with the space rock, he'll be able to create a powerful weapon that will make him and Krang the rulers of Earth. To do this, Shredder summons the spirit of an ancient master bladesmith who refuses to help Shredder because just doesn't like Oroku Saki's style. 

This special was so much fun. I don't really remember Creepy Eddie but then again, it's been over 35 years since I saw his single appearance on the original TMNT cartoon series. I thought the story was so funny and I loved how none of the characters took themselves too seriously. The Turtles made comments about how the retconning of Turtle history is just too confusing while Creepy Eddie was plagued by his lawyer to not be too similar to another certain dream master who also wears a striped sweater; least he violate copyright law.

The story starring the villains was also a lot of fun. Though I will admit at first I thought this was going to be a stinker. Then I remembered how funny Krang was. He thinks he's a big deal and yet he's like a toddler who thinks he's bigger and badder than he really is. As Shredder kept on yapping, I started to hear that iconic deep voice by late actor James Avery and I just didn't want this trip down memory lane to stop.

Turtles are huge this year. Thanks to a new animated movie, I saw a ton of kids dressed as their favorite Turtle during a recent trunk-or-treat event. Even though these Turtles look like they did when we 40-somethings were growing up (and that by the way, is the correct way that they should) kids will love it. Adults will love it because of the nostalgia. With tomorrow being the annual Trick-or-Read free comic giveaway at comic books stores nationwide, why not pick this one-shot special up while getting so free Halloween themed reads. It's a something the whole family enjoy- guaranteed!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Batman/ The Spirit One-Shot (2023 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

The Batman/The Spirit one-shot team-up titled 'Crime Convention' won the 2007 Eisner Award for the 'Best Single Issue/One-Shot'. Written by Jeph Loeb, this madcap adventure is the first ever pairing of the Dark Knight and 'the real only middle-class crimefighter.'

The story has Gotham City's Commissioner Gordon and Central City's Commissioner Dolan heading to Hawaii for a convention of police and law enforcement officers. On his way to the airport, Dolan is swooned by a fiery redhead named Ivy while Jim Gordon is being accompanied by his new girlfriend; a sultry brunette by the name of P'Gell!

The villains of the Batman and the Spirit have joined forces to make the convention an explosive event that nobody will ever forget! Everyone from the Cossack to Killer Croc have converged on America's 50th state to have some fun, get some sun and hit at the heart of their arch-enemies. Thankfully, Batman and the Spirit are en route to Hawaii. But are they too late?

The star of this book is artist Darwyn Cooke. Introducing the Spirit to the DC Universe, Cooke would later go on to be written and illustrator for the first 14 issues of DC's Spirit ongoing. A student of the golden and silver ages of comics, Cooke combined classic artwork with modernized poses and Kirby-esque framing. As a result of his efforts on both this one-shot and the Spirit monthly, Cook earned the 2007 Joe Shuster Award for Outstanding artist.

Dave Stewart won the 2007 Eisner as best colorist for this special. 

A Late Freeze, The Preposterous Adventures of IronHide Tom, Skyscrapers of the Midwest #3 and They Found The Car were the other nominees for this category. 

Batman and the Spirit would team again, along with Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze in the 2010 miniseries First Wave.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Completing this review completes Task #9 (Best Single Issue or Serialized Story to Win Eisner Award) of the 2023 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Star Wars: Return of the Jedi: Ewoks #1 (Family Comic Friday)

Wordless comics seem to be a growing trend right now and I'm not sure if that bothers me. I generally feel that if I buy a comic book and there's no words in it (aside from sound effects), then I got gypped. Yet on my last trip to my favorite LCS, I bought not 1 but 2 pantomime comics. 

Man, I must be a sucker...

Star Wars: Return of the Jedi: Ewoks is part of a series of one-shots Marvel will be releasing this year in honor of Episode VI's 40th anniversary. It just happens to be a lucky coincidence that I chose this book to review for Family Comic Friday as Disney and Lucasfilm is releasing the movie for 1 day only on this very day! Sadly, where I happen to be as I write this review is nowhere close to where Jedi is being shown in theaters. Not like I've not seen the movie a hundred times, including open day 1983 (Mission Valley Cinema, Raleigh, NC- may you Rest In Peace!), but if I had the chance, I'd go see it again now!

The main reason I decided to review Ewoks this week was due to its cover rating. Marvel has this special listed as being for teens (and up). Yet, the Ewoks themselves have always been fodder for marketing to children. For Millennials and Gen Z, the Ewoks are the Porgs of Generation X.

One purpose of this weekly review is to help parents navigate the ratings system of comics. It's not a uniform program and it's left to each individual publisher to rate their own books. I've seen reprints of stuff from the 60s, which had no rating system, be re-released as all-ages and they really shouldn't have (and vice versa), hence Family Comic Friday.

Knowing that kids love Ewoks and the older folks who now have kids might be wanting to share their 40th anniversary memories with their children and grandkids, I thought it might be a good idea to check this book out. 

The premise is that the elders of Ewok village are having a festival. During this event, Logray and some of the other adults regal the woklings with tales of legendary Ewoks from the past. There are essentially 3 stories. Story One is about a young Ewok who befriends a Dulok girl. You'd only know who the Duloks were if you watched the 1985-86 Ewoks cartoon, which I did. The Duloks are the main enemy of the Ewoks. These furry green bipeds are mostly rivals in terms of battling over resources and land. Though I think on at least one or two occasions, a Dulok tried to eat a Ewok. This is an adorable tale, drawn similarly to the animated series and boasts a message of friendship and tolerance. 

Story #2 tells of an unfortunate Ewok who stumbles across a Gorax. These gigantic creatures ARE known to have enjoyed the Ewoks as a snack. While the artwork is absolutely stunning, the middle adventure can be terrifying. That ending really stunned me, though what Logray does to the storyteller when we return to the present gave me a huge laugh. If you are one who thought Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark was too intense, this is a story young readers should skip.

The final story is really fanciful. It tells of an Ewok who built their own flying machine out of parts scavenged from the Imperial presence on Endor. There is one scene of violence when the Ewok steals a Scout Trooper's helmet. The Ewok knocks the guy out with a giant log to get it. But who are we kidding? He could have killed him. It's really up for interpretation. 

Star Wars had always been known to have 3 things in it- heartwarming inspiration, jump scares, and thrilling adventures. This one-shot has all three. So really, if you're already letting your 4 year old watch Star Wars, then you'll probably not have any issue with this issue. 

I fell in love with the main cover that bears the image of a Ewok's face. The way they are enthralled by the village bonfire was just so elegant and intense. I knew I had to have it. One of the variant covers is done in the style of the Saturday morning cartoon show. It's something that very much would appeal to a young child. But don't be fooled. Some of the material in this anniversary comic is intense and I am not lying when it comes to that middle story. It starts off with the image of a decomposing Ewok. But let's face it- Episode IV has the charred corpses of Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru. So it's not like it's anything that's never been seen in the Star Wars Universe before. 

Great read. I would've liked words. But it brought me back to my childhood and some fond memories. This is a book that generations of Star Wars lovers can partake in together and make some fond memories of their own. It's just something that may have to wait a while if the young reader in your life just isn't ready for some of this material yet.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Secret Wars Too, #1

This comedic one-shot tie-in to Marvel's 2015-16 Secret Wars event was a bit of a disappointment. Over the year's Marvel had developed a number of 'Not Brand Echh' style parodies of their annual massive event story lines. Many of them have been quite funny. But not this time around.

The main story is a metaphysical story in which Secret Wars scribe, Jonathan Hickman has just finished pitching the idea to Marvel's think tank to great success. However, Hickman realizes that he doesn't have a clue how it's going to end. Enter Doctor Victor Von Doom for a funny pep talk that goes off an a great tangent about hot dogs. 

Unfortunately, this story is peppered with jokes about how the issues in the miniseries will not ship on time as well as groaners about too many tie-in comics. My question is: If Marvel knows that this is a problem, why do they repeat themselves time and time again?

The other stories in this book were pretty forgettable. There's a yarn about how not killing off Uncle Ben would actually be one of the worst follies to ever befall the Marvel multiverse. Aside from the clever puns of alternate Peter Parker heroic personas, it was a stupid story. A tale involving the tragic character of D-Man was naturally quite sad. We also had a couple of episodes involving a universe of Bear Marvel heroes and the computer hacking adventures of Spidey, Jessica Jones and Daredevil that started out great but got ridiculous pretty quick. 

Only the dimension shifting adventures of Kate Bishop and America in their quest for something called 'pizza' and a Eric Powell parody on a reality series starring Doctor Doom were back-ups in this one-shot that were any good. 

An excellent question is posed thanks to the last story: why hasn't Marvel signed The Goon creator, Powell, to any sort of contract. I bet something by him and Donny Cates would kick serious booty!

Thankfully, I only paid a buck for this book. Quite a disappointment really. But it's from the Axel Alonso era. So could you expect anything less?

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

Crypt of Shadows One-Shot (Marvel 80th Anniversary Special)

I've said it many a time on this blog; the 70s were my favorite time period for Marvel Comics. Around 1970, when the Comics Code adjusted to allow certain monsters back into comics, such as vampires and werewolves, Stan Lee jumped at the opportunity! One of the first Marvel Horror titles of the new era was Crypt of Shadows. This anthology series was mostly a book of reprints. But the covers were amazing and the stories themselves were fantastic!

In honor of Marvel's 80th anniversary, the House of Ideas is releasing a number of one-shot specials revitalizing some long-forgotten publications. I'll purchase a few of these new, right off the shelf. For the most part, when these books hit the bargain bin, I'll surely snag them up then. But with Crypt of Shadows being a favorite of mine, there was no way I was going to wait for a copy!

Jennifer Blood's Al Ewing pens the three stories that comprise this one-shot. Told in the Rashomon style with a twist, there's not much I want to reveal about this story as it would spoil the epic surprise ending. All I will say is that this book is about a man, with a terrifying fear of dogs, who sees a therapist for a radical new treatment. 

Now some of you might be thinking that for me to say that there's a shocking turn of events. But an anthology horror series wouldn't be an anthology horror series if each story didn't finish with some sort of bolt from the blue!

While I really enjoyed these stories, I had to re-read some sections. The book is great but it's also quite complex. That's not a bad thing either. However, I wish I could say the same about the artwork.

The variant covers by Kyle Hotz, Young Guns and John Tyler Christopher were all phenomenal. But the artwork by a trio of artists, including Garry Brown (Babyteeth) were of varying quality. I mention only Brown as his art was the best. It's not Kirby/Romita/Ditko quality but it's good. But it's all downhill from there. 

What's wrong with the overall art? Mostly, it's the level of detail. There isn't any. I'm used to artists who like to pepper panels with creative set pieces and minute details. But for some reason, Marvel's next generation of artists refuse to add anything to the background. I just refuse to believe that nobody in the Marvel Universe has some posters or photos of family and friends on their living room walls!

Marvel has decided to reflect on it's past during the whole of 2019. I think that's a great idea. It's been working for DC very well. This one-shot horror special was a beautifully gory return to Marvel's roots. The House of Ideas has a fantastic line-up of talented writers and storytellers. Now if only Marvel's bullpen could be staffed with amazing artists once more. 

Maybe that will be the focus of anniversary #81...

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic 20/20 One-Shot (Family Comic Friday)

This week’s Family Comic Friday is for pegasisters and bronies of all ages. It’s IDW Publishing’s 20th anniversary. To celebrate, the company is releasing several one-shots that reflect the company's past, present and future. And up next of the rotation is My Little Pony!

Let me first say that I’m not the best person to ask about the My Little Pony franchise. I’m not 100% if the ponies from the future are how they are normally presented in the cartoons and comics or not. But I was interested in IDW’s idea to have future and past meet in this all-ages friendly comic. Thus, is why I choose to review it.

So, let’s take a trip to the land of Equestria as Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash and the rest of your favorite ponies travel back in time! If I get something wrong in my plot synopsis, please forgive me and bear through it. Here it  goes…

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic 20/20 One-Shot
Written by Ted Anderson
Art by Toni Kuusisto
Colors by Heather Breckel
Published by IDW Publishing
Pages: 25 plus ads
Cover Price: $4.99

Rainbow Dash is about to perform her famous sonic rainbow maneuver for a crowd of dignitaries when she is struck by lightning! Don’t worry- she’s fine. But the incident causes Rainbow Dash, Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie to be sent 20 years into the past!

Immediately, each adult pony meets their younger selves. In order to get back to the right time, all of the friends are going to have to find their missing ‘elements of harmony.’ But that’s going to be difficult as none of the fillies have met each other yet! How is this going to affect the timeline? Each pony and their younger selves are going to need an extra dose of magic to make things right again! Good thing friendship is magic!

Writer Ted Anderson played it smart by making this special a book that both new and old fans of My Little Pony can enjoy. But I think he could have gone a little further and added possibly a small tutorial or glossary of terms here. There are some elements that don’t make a lot of sense to a newcomer to the franchise such as myself.

For instance, a character in the story notices that the older version of herself has wings. It’s hinted that when the ponies get to a certain age and social status, they can get these new appendages. But it’s not really explained how. Yes- knowing too much about the timeline is used as an excuse to gloss over this. But I am still left wondering how a pony becomes a Pegasus!?

The one thing that Ted Anderson did not do very well is explain where this one-shot special falls in with the rest of the My Little Pony comics from IDW. These anniversary specials are supposed to go either 20 years into the future and 20 years into the past. For all I know, this comic did both. Does the book start 20 years ahead of when the regular series occurs and the characters go 40 years back in time? I would have appreciated a little more clarification on that.

Despite the unfamiliar territory, this special was an enjoyable book. Just because I didn’t understand everything that was going on that I do not notice that this is still a comic book of high quality. This book was made especially for the fans by attempting to bridge generations. With great art by Toni Kuuisisto and a wondrous pastel palette by Heather Breckel, this has the look and feel of My Little Pony.

I even appreciate that with a franchise like My Little Pony, the creators tried very hard to obey the rules of time travel. Not everyone can do going back and forth in time very well. Anderson and Kuusisto got it right to a point that even Doc Brown wouldn’t be able to find any flaws with the quantum mechanics of it all!

There’s absolutely nothing objectionable in this book. Fans of My Little Pony of any age or gender will enjoy this read. The concept of time travel might need some explaining to really young readers. But, then again, some kids have a better grasp on physics than adults do. One thing new readers of any age might need is a more experience fan of the ponies to explain the character dynamics and social constructs of Equestria a little better.

The My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic 20/20 One-Shot debuted in print and digital media on January 23rd, 2019.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Super Hero Adventures- Captain Marvel: Frost Giants Among Us! #1

A blizzard has rendered New York City immobile. As a result, the Avengers have nothing to do. So it's video games, hot chocolate and boredom. Lots of boredom! But that all changes when a pair of frost giants appear in Times Square reeking massive amounts of frigid havoc!

Then Spider-Man must stop a group of pirates who have stolen a yacht full of items being auctioned for charity. But since the Hudson doesn't have a lot of high areas for Spidey to swing from, the wall-crawler must take a detour through the sky-scrapers of downtown.

This book also contains some fun and games activities. There's a colorful maze of the Bifrost Bridge. Plus there are 4 more funny comic strip parodies by Ty Templeton. And finishing out the book is a pin-up to for kids to color- OF SPIDER-MAN!

You know, I am not really sure why any of these Marvel Super Hero Adventures one-shots are being titled after Captain Marvel. It's not that I have anything against Carol Danvers. It's just that she's barely in the frost giants story and she's nowhere in the Spider-Man back-up feature. If anything, this book should be named after Spider-Man as both Peter Parker and Miles Morales have more action and lines in the title tale. 

That first story set the perfect ambiance of a frosty Winters read. I loved how it gave me a post-holidays feel. This is a great comic for kids of all-ages to read. Just add a huge blanket and that hot cocoa. I only wish that Spidey's back-up tale was a little more chilly. It's just a pinch too sunny for a Winter special. But enjoyable none-the-less.

Worth Consuming but man is that title in complete error!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

What If? Magik Became Sorcerer Supreme #1

This is an interesting take on what could have happened to Colossus's sister Illyana after her time-warping time in limbo. Instead of staying with the X-Men, Magik goes off on her own to find herself. With untamed dark powers, everywhere Illyana goes is filled with supernatural dangers. This captures the attention of the Sorcerer Supreme, Doctor Strange.

So what if Stephen Strange decided to train Illyana Rasputin to be his successor?

This was another What If that I would love to see explored further. The premise is very intriguing. Having
Colossus enter the picture as a sort of devil's advocate against his sister's training would
have made for a dramatic story. Plus, I really like the character of Doctor Strange. It's just he
gets a little too dark for my tastes sometimes.

I absolutely love the cover by Jeff Dekal. It's my favorite of the 2018 one-shots. Quite
stunning and really cool looking.

The interior art was a different story. Felipe Andrade's stuff here looks like scribbles. Marvel
has been criticized lately for some really poor artwork in their books. I've tried to be fair
about it. But this time, I'd have to agree.

The last What If? One-shot of the 2018 bunch was the best- in terms of story. The art was a mess at best. But
it wasn't enough to prevent me from wanting more.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 Stars.

What If? Flash Thompson Became Spider-Man #1

One of the things I wanted to see during the new What If one-shots was to have the Nick Fury Watcher host the stories. Having read most of them, I had been disappointed. Finally with this one, request granted! 

One thing with this new version of Nick Fury I did not expect was for this Watcher to wax poetic. It doesn't quite fit. But I would imagine being forced to become the Watcher, it's going to result in some changes. I'm just not used to having Nick Fury talk less like a New York grunt and more like Christopher Marlowe...

As for the story itself, this What If? has Peter Parker bully, Flash Thompson getting bit by that radioactive spider and becoming Spider-Man. The Flash Thompson Spider-Man doesn't have the guilt of a dead relative on his hands. That makes this Spidey reckless, unencumbered and down right dangerous. 

This was very, very good. Gerry Conway is one of my favorite Superman writers. He's also one of my favorite Spider-Man scribes. Conway does an amazing job on this with tons of twists and shocking turns. 

She-Hulk's Diego Olortegui does an amazing job on the art. His take is full of respects given to Steve Ditko, John Romita, Sr and others. Awesome work and I hope to see more of it in the future. 

One thing about this story- it gave me an idea for a What If? The events at the end of this story would have meant down the road Spidey would not become one with the Symbiote. I know that they've done stories about what if some other superhero became Venom. But I now want to see a What If about if there never was a Venom. How would that impact the Marvel Universe. With no Venom, there be no Carnage, no Anti-Venom and no Lady Venom. (Is that one a thing or did I dream that one?) Clearly, that absence would result in void in several storylines, right? Worth exploring..., oh and Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

What If? Thor was Raised by Frost Giants #1

For this issue of What If...?, the question is raised, what if Odin was killed and instead it was Thor who was raised by the frost giants?

It's an interesting concept that I was quite surprised hasn't been tackled yet! It was also a refreshing take. Instead of focusing on how having Thor and Loki growing up as brothers and not adversaries in arms would impact the Marvel Universe, this one-shot takes place during the times of Norse myth. However, a second issue in which we do see what the world would be like without the Avengers, would be a concept I'd love to see explored.

A couple of things don't really gel in this issue however. First is Thor's temperament. When his father, Odin is killed by Laufey, the lad swears to kill the king of the frost giants. But over time, he becomes Laufey's heir apparent and actually swears love and fealty to the king of Jotunheim. It just seems unlikely that Thor would turn like that. He's got too much honor. Unless being with the frost giants is enough to make you loose your self-respect...

The second issue is also about Thor. At one point in this story, Thor goes from being white-skinned to that of the blue skin of the frost giants. This isn't so much a nitpick. Loki changes his appearance throughout his time on Asgard. So for Thor to change in appearance makes sense. 

 Like if Thor was to smite some ice creature in order to become a frost giant- that would make sense. But the change just happens. There's no explanation as to why or how. That omission just seems like a very important piece of the puzzle.

It's not a bad story. The art is quite good. I'm willing to bet that the the missteps of these book are due not because of poor storytelling but lack editing. Or maybe too aggressive of an edit or two. I had heard that writer Ethan Sacks had contributed a script just a couple of pages too large for what Marvel was willing to publish. So, I'm betting that the editing staff at Marvel took an exacto knife to the script and in doing so trimmed away some important parts. Not just important parts but vital to a cohesive and well-rounded story. Unfortunately, it got away from the House of Ideas this time...

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Kid Death & Fluffy Halloween Special #1

I am in no way familiar with the main character of Kid Death. He's a boy of 12 or so. He looks a lot like Sylvester P. Smythe, the janitor mascot of the long defunct Cracked Magazine. And he likes to kill and maim! Kid Death also has a pet dog named Fluffy. The dog is also quite ripe; having been dead for some time. And he's got a very dumb and very busty sister named Bubbles.

Everything I just described was what I gleamed from reading this Halloween special. My God, what have I read???

The story of this issue is as follows... Kid Death has to go to a Halloween party with his sister. It's being held the funeral home that a friend of Kid Death's sister's family owns. At the local funeral home, business is booming. That's because the owners are killing townsfolk and then charging a literal arm and leg for burial expenses. Will Kid Death, his dead dog and brain-dead sister make it out alive? Our serial killing gravediggers have no idea just who they've let in their doors.

I found this book over the summer in a bargain bin. I thought the (variant) cover by Jimmy Palmiotti (Harley Quinn) and John Cebollero was kinda cool. Kid Death is giving some classic horror monsters the biz. But this is one of those times where you never should judge a book by it's cover. 

This special from the Event Comics was as they used to say in 1990s Southern Baptist churches: it's was rude, crude, and social unexceptionable. Some Halloween special can be enjoyed by a wide array of age grows. That's true even if the book isn't rated All Ages. But that is not the case here. This Halloween comic is very gory. It's quite gross. And it's filled with some right-wing, anti-Semitic, anti-Catholic, and pro-pedophilic imagery. 

I'm sure that the creators behind this book from 1997 aren't really deep down racists. No- I haven't unraveled a Comicsgate conspiracy. This book was created over 20 years ago, during the height of Palmiotti and best bud (and regular cover artist) Joe Quesada's immature period. People change over time. Heck, I've actually started liking Joe Q after years of bashing the guy when he was in charge of Marvel. 

Speaking of change, 20 years ago, I might have been fawning all over this special. But I've mature a tiny bit and this book was just ick... So disappointed in this. After reading, I feel like I need to take a shower. 

Not Worth Consuming and no longer a part of my collection.

Rating: 2 out of 10 stars.

Superman: The Earth Stealers

Set right in the middle of John Bryne's amazing run on Superman, this one-shot has the Man of Steel fighting for Truth, Justice and the Earthling-Way! 

Someone has stolen the earth from it's orbit. This mysterious entity is towing the former third rock from the sun to a giant processing plant in the farthest reaches of the galaxy. There, the earth will be stripped down for it's raw materials and the people of earth will be used as fuel for the planet killer's refineries. 

In order to save the earth, Superman agrees to a test of strength. However, his foes are also massive cheats as they've weakened the Man of Tomorrow by using red-sun lights as well as Superman's friends as bargaining chips.

The John Byrne era of Superman is like a fine wine. It's gotten better with age. In fact, most modern Superman fans agree that this is one of the best, if not the best, Superman runs. Byrne was obliviously a fan of Superman and it shows in stories such as this one. 

I don't think the post-Crisis Superman had ever been through such a test as The Earth Stealers. This one-shot really seals the deal with this rebooted Superman being an untapped resource of raw-energy. I remember fans being upset that Bryne made Superman not as strong as he was before the events of Crisis. But stories such as this showed that Superman wasn't a wimp but hero maturing in his powers. As a kid, I hated seeing Superman struggle. As an adult, I love watching Kal-El grow from Clark Kent into the Last Man from Krypton. 

An almost forgotten Superman classic from the 80s. Features a fantastic story from John Byrne, amazing art from master Superman artists Curt Swan and Jerry Ordway. This can be a dollar bin gem. You just have to look for it!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Tomb of Dracula Presents:Throne of Blood One-Shot

An intriguing story of the arrival of the first ever vampire in Japan. Set during the feudal period of the Empire of the Rising Sun, a pair of brothers seek to end the reign of tyranny of a dreaded war lord. Unaware of the threat of a bloodsucker, one brother is bitten in the assault and develops the early symptoms of vampirism. Can the uninfected brother save his clan family before it's too late?

This book was another grab bag find. I really couldn't figure out where Dracula fits into this tale from the cover alone. I'm pretty sure Dracula wasn't Japanese. But my question was answered pretty quick. While yes, this is a story that can be read separate from any Marvel title, I'm clueless as to what series this book segues into. Writer Victor Gischler doesn't go right out and tell the reader to pick up the next issue of some title for the rest of the story. But the implications that this adventure continues somewhere is clearly there.

This book was published in 2011. I'm a little surprised that Marvel didn't publish several more one-shots based on the premise of Tomb of Dracula Presents. I actually would have liked further stories of vampires in other countries. Missed opportunity from the House of Ideas- Oh well...

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/ Usagi Yojimbo One-Shot (2017)

Written, drawn, and Lettered by Stan Sakai

Established Histories

   I first learned about Usagi Yojimbo from a random visit to a toy store in 1989. I was on a major Ninja Turtles kick at the time and I had to have all of the figures. A new batch of figures had just arrived and Usagi was one of them. Decked in a blue samurai outfit, and brandished two sharpened katanas, I instantly fell in love with that white rabbit!

   So what if the toy manufacturer Playmates called him by the wrong name? He was super cool looking! For those of you new to the character, Usagi Yojimbo is the name of the series. Miyamoto Usagi is the rabbit's full name. Usagi is hired out as a yojimbo; a kind of Japanese bodyguard.

    When I learned that IDW was putting out a new crossover one-shot starring Miyamoto Usagi and the Turtles, I was thrilled. Stan Sakai is doing the story and art? Consider me first in line! Variant covers by talent such as Sergio Aragones- with a team-up of Stan and Turtles co-creator Kevin Eastman? Consider my comic reserved and paid for!

Hello Again For The First Time

   An ancient danger threatens to tumble all of feudal Japan into the sea. To battle it, the Kakera-Sensei must replace a stone fragment that has broken off the seal that weakens the beast. Needing protection, Kakera-Sensei calls upon the rabbit ronin Miyamoto Usagi to guard him on his quest.

    However, this mission is far too important for the yojimbo to face alone. So Kakera-Sensei summons a quartet of heroes from the future to assist in the quest: the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. While this is Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Raphael; these are not the same turtles that Usagi has teamed with in the past.

   This Turtle team is from an alternate universe. They are just as skilled and qualified as the ninja master Usagi knows. But the danger is mounting in the form of a army led by the wicked Jei. Can the rabbit warrior and the reptilian fighters learn to become a cohesive fighting unit and save Japan before it’s too late?

Classic Usagi

   As true to Stan Sakai’s style, he combines Japanese folklore with historical settings. Sakai’s use of Namazu, a giant catfish, who’s massive body resulted in earth-moving tremors, was classic Usagi fare. Then to use actual places like the Kashima Shrine, Sakai makes a story like this one-shot come alive.

   I’m not very sure that I liked that these turtles weren’t the same version that Usagi knows. The camaraderie between the two sets of friends is a missing dynamic. It does help to simplify the story as this book is only 48-pages. But that spark of friendship is sorely missing. However, now that we’ve established alternate versions of the Turtles exist, could we be seeing a crisis on Infinite Ninja Turtles on the horizon?

   Don’t stop reading after the story ends. Be sure to flip a few pages to the great interview with Stan Sakai. It gives so very informative backstory as to how a group of Ninja Turtles meet up with a samurai bunny in the first place. Plus, it’s talks about that beloved Yojimbo figure of mine from 1989!

    The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle/ Usagi Yojimbo one-shot is a fun trip down memory lane indeed!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Judge Dredd Funko Universe One-Shot (Family Comic Friday)

Judge Dredd- [juhj dred] noun. A futuristic peacekeeper assigned to the over-crowded metropolis of Mega-City One. To the criminal element, he acts as their judge, jury, and executioner. He is the Law!

Funko– [fuhn-koh] noun. A modern-day company devoted to all things pop culture. They produce and distribute an assortment of big-eyed, adorable looking versions of society’s favorite characters. Primarily known for their vinyl bobble-head collectibles.

IDW– [ahy dee dubh-uh l-yoo] noun. A comic book publisher. This company is known for producing comics of numerous beloved licenses.

Judge Dredd comics are known for being dark and gritty. The items Funko produces are cutesy. Can these two properties combine to make a credible work that not only appeals to established Dredd fans as well as be read by anyone? Add IDW to the mix, then the answer is yes!

Have you not been able to read AD2000 with your kids because they weren’t old enough yet? IDW’s Judge Dredd Funko Universe is a one-shot that die-hard fans can share with the younger generation. Hence, this book is the answer to your geek parenting problems. Plus, the book has a tone much similar to the Itty Bitty Dark Horse books by Franco. There are subtle little Easter eggs throughout the book that moms and dads will have a fangasm over.

Written by John Layman (Chew), this comic captures the appeal of Judge Dredd perfectly. The first story, ‘Crim Story’, introduces Dredd’s world to a new generation without dumbing down the property. Dredd’s persona, a gritty cop with a soft side is explored in the middle yarn, ‘All Pupped Up.’ By the issue’s final story, ‘Matters of Life & Death,’ readers are introduced to Dredd’s archenemies, the Dark Judges.

In terms of Judge Dredd’s enemies, they don’t transfer over in the Funko style very well. Artists Francesco Gaston and Troy Little do try their best. It’s just that Judge Death looks better when he looks like an anorexic member of the metal band Gwar ! The Funko versions of the Dark Judges are too gosh darn cute! Furthermore, this art-style isn’t all wrong for the AD2000 flagship. Judge Dredd, along with fellow officer Judge Anderson, actually looks pretty cool as a Funko.

This comic is perhaps the most bizarre title to receive the new makeover. However, Judge Dredd isn’t the only title that will be getting the Funko Universe treatment.  (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Ghostbusters, and X-Files are just a few titles to be transformed by IDW into Funko one-shots this month.) Furthermore this comic might be a little too PG for all fans of the lawman of tomorrow. But this book is far more superior than that live-action stinker from the 90s starring Sylvester Stallone and Rob Schneider!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Review was originally published on May 30, 2017 on outrightgeekery.com

Suicide Squad/ Banana Splits Special #1

  Cashing in on the success of the more adult reboots of popular Hanna-Barbera cartoons such as Scooby-Doo, DC Comics released a number of one-shots earlier this year. One such title was the Suicide Squad/ Banana Splits. The selection of the Suicide Squad was the obvious choice. Fresh of the success of last year's smash movie, the covert team of metahuman criminals have reached near Batman-level popularity. Obviously, everybody also remembers the Banana Splits! They were the stars of a short-lived variety show that aired on NBC Saturday mornings.

      Wait, you don't know Fleegle, Bingo, Dropper, and Snorky? Don't worry, I don't either.

       The Banana Splits are an odd choice to headline a Hanna-Barbera themed crossover. The show doesn't exactly have reputation of being a big hit, much less a cult hit. Sure, the show was an early production by Sid and Marty Krofft. But during marathon's of Krofft series on Boomerang or Nick at Nite, the Banana Splits are never shown because the rights are owned by Hanna-Barbera. Plus being musicians, they looked like a scary version of the Chuck E. Cheese band. Yet, when you consider that Killer Croc and King Shark are members of the Suicide Squad, this pairing might actually be a bright idea.

       The Suicide Squad/ Banana Splits Special starts off with the Splits being arrested for being mistaken as metahuman criminals. Sent to Beve Reve prison, the Banana Splits are recruited into Amanda Waller's Task Force X. Their mission: to retrieve and rescue the Suicide Squad whom have become captured during a recent assignment.

       The story was actually decent. I enjoyed the banter between the members of both groups.  and was actually wanting the Banana Splits to remain permanently with Task Force X by story's end. DC took a gamble with this story written by Mark Russell and it paid off. Another thing that helped was the cohesive art style crafted by Ben Caldwell (PREZ.)

        Each special comes with a back-up feature that gives yet another Hanna-Barbera character a modern reboot. This second feature stars Snagglepuss. His tale was considered quite controversial when it was released earlier this year. In this 1950s era set story by Exiles' Tony Bedard, Snagglepuss is a gay playwright whose been brought in front of Congresses' House Committee on Un-American activities. People have joked for years that the pink mountain lion was gay. This story just confirmed it. Regardless, the Snagglepuss was a brilliant allegory on the Red Scare that gripped the middle part of 20th Century America. 

         This book was a pleasant surprise. I really didn't think the Banana Splits were worthy of a reboot. Plus, I wasn't sure if having Snagglepuss get outed would work. Yet this book was a success all around. Well, except for one thing. The Snagglepuss back-up ends with a 'To Be Continued' blurb. Yet I can find no evidence of any continuation of the story. Thankfully, it doesn't end on a cliffhanger but this lack of closure still bugs me.

     Worth Consuming!

      Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

 

Ian Fleming’s James Bond: Service Special One-Shot

 Great Britain Has Been Insulted!

   When a high ranking American official goes on record proclaiming England’s lack of usefulness as an ally to the U.S., a terrorist cell makes it their mission to silence this enemy of the Crown. Working on a series of coded communiques, sent to MI6, as his only clues, secret agent James Bond is tasked with infiltrating the nationalist extremists and shutting it down permanently before they can enact revenge. And if 007 can win back the affection of the United States in the process, even better.

   Star Wars: Darth Vader’s Kieron Gillen pens an interesting James Bond adventure in this one-shot from Dynamite. The author does a masterful job capturing the wit of Sean Connery’s 007 throughout the book. He also follows the basic plot of a Bond film pretty well. Gadgets, M, Q, and Moneypenny all make their appointed rounds. It’s just a little odd to encounter a 007 story that’s not filled with femme fatales christened with names that have naughty double meanings.

   The artwork was fair. Artist Antonio Fuso’s (Torchwood) pencils didn’t really wow me. I’m not sure if rendering 007 as normal looking guy, and not in the style of one of the many actors to have portrayed the character in film, was a great idea. I felt more disconnected to this version of James Bond because of his generic every-man look. Thankfully, the writing was good enough to make up for some of this slack. The art deco style of the cover, credits, and establishing pages were stunning. They made me feel like I was looking at the opening credits of a real life Bond flick. Major kudos to the design team on this.

   James Bond: Service Special was an entertaining read that seems almost ripped from today’s headlines. It was a tiny bit confusing at times in the beginning. But I felt that the overall story was very fresh as was the concept of a MI5, acting in concordance with MI6. That was completely new to me. Upon further research, it turns out there’s actually been an MI1 all the way to MI19. Only MI5 and MI6 remain in the present day. But I was able to follow this caper quite well without that prior knowledge of British Intelligence.

    Worth Consuming

    Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Archie Meets Ramones #1

 

  In perhaps the most unusual team-up ever, the Archies of Riverdale High Meet legendary punk group, the Ramones. Considering that all of the original line-up is sadly deceased, you might be asking just how in the heck is this possible. It’s what I asked myself when I saw this at my favorite LCS, Books Do Furnish a Room.

    The book starts in the modern day, where the Archies are struggling as a band. They can’t stay on key. They bicker and fight amongst themselves. And poppy tunes like Sugar, Sugar are just too outdated for today’s youth. Now a really bad set has the group in danger of losing the Battle of the Bands unless they can pull things together in Round 2.

  To boost morale, Riverdale schoolmate Sabrina presents Archie with a copy of the Ramones debut album as a sort of good luck charm. But when the ginger-haired teen plays the record it transports the Archies to New York City 1977! In the Big Apple, the teens meet the pioneering punk rockers who teach the time-warped teens how to dress, act, and play rock n’ roll! (Lesson #1: Play Loud!)

    This was actually pretty funny. Joey and Dee Dee Ramone have some great lines and I loved the nostalgia of it all. I was born in 1977 and I just adore about anything from that year. Punk rock, especially that of the Ramones, is part of that adoration of mine. (Be on the lookout for a great cameo from another pioneering band from that era as well as a very young and grungy looking Mr. Weatherbee!)

    It’s been a while since I read something published in this year that was just plain fun. I had a blast reading this- so much that I re-read many of my favorite parts over and over. And the variant covers- I had trouble choosing which one to get as many pay tribute to classic Ramones albums such as Rock n’ Rock High School. But I finally went with Dan Parent’s homage to the group’s debut album, Ramones.

    Archie Meets Ramones dropped yesterday and until I saw it at my comics shop, I didn’t know anything about it. Though Archie, Jughead, and the gang are presented in that rebooted Archie style of Mark Waid and Fiona Staples, this one-shot captured the fun of the classic Archie books quite well. If you are looking for a totally strange read that relives some of the good things of the 70s, then this is the book for you.

 

  Worth Consuming

  Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Flashpoint: Green Arrow Industries #1

    In the Flashpoint universe, Oliver Queen isn't a hero- not even close. He can't shoot an arrow to save his life. He's incredibly self-centered, and his got more kids and ex-wives than most Hollywood superstars.

    What Ollie is is the top weapon's designer in the world. But he's not gotten that moniker through hard work or a smattering of honesty. Ollie has hired out a squad of Green Arrows, an ex-military private security force that takes out the worst enemies imaginable. Then they steal their weapons, bring them to Queen's Green Arrow Industries and the billionaire reverse engineers the tech and sells it back to the US military. 

      Oliver Queen has never been more wimpy, more selfish, or more like Tony Stark than in this Flashpoint one-shot tie-in. But I'm not really sure if I like it. It's definitely a different take on the Green Arrow- well almost. In the DC Universe, he's quite the Lothario but Queen is also known for being a bit of a bleeding heart liberal. Not this Oliver Queen, he's just in it for the money. I kinda felt like I was reading the first issue of Iron Man.

     By the end of this issue, Queen will have that moment that changes everything. It's that turn that makes me very interested in learning what happens next. Unfortunately, unless Oliver Queen pops up in either the remaining issues of Flashpoint or one of the tie-ins, the story of Green Arrow Industries ends here. This was a one-shot.

      Darn!

    Worth Consuming

    Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.