Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos #101

If you ever wondered how such a mish-mash of lunatics get paired together to become the Howlers, this is the issue you've been waiting for. If you thought it was all because of selective service randomly drafting recruits for the war effort, I don't think you really understand the Marvel Way of storytelling. Sure, most of these guys got drafted into the Army. A couple volunteered to fight. However, the way the unit came together was a story of fate, heroics and teamwork.

I thought it was a very good story. However, a couple of things seemed a bit far fetched to me. For example, my favorite Howler, Dum Dum Dugan, was a strongman in a European travelling circus when he met Fury and his CO, 'Happy' Sam Sawyer. Because of how well they worked together, Dugan was put in Fury's outfit upon request. Would that sort of placement been allowed back in 1942? I've glossed over how Dugan's trademark bowler isn't GI. But could just anyone say 'that guy has moxie. Enlist him. Then put him in my platoon!' 

While all of the Howlers appear here, in all honesty, this story is more about how the Fury/Dugan team came about. It's also about Nick's good friend Red Hargrove, whose death during the attack on Pearl Harbor inspired Fury to become a commando. 

Reprinting issue #34 of the series, this issue is a bit of a rarity as it's the first half of a 2-parter. Most issues up to this point have been stand alone. With 1 or 2 exceptions. It's possible that we get more of the Howler's origin in the following issue. Hopefully, the origins of Dino, Izzy and especially my next favorite Howler, Gabe, will be presented in the next issue giving those hardworking grunts their just due!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos #132

Reprinting issue #30.

It's a change of scenery for Nick Fury and the Howlers. Instead of going behind the lines of Nazi Germany, the Howling Commandos are sent to fascist Italy; where they're immediately captured and sent to a POW camp.

Fury's men are immediately hated by the Canadian Air Force captain whose become the de facto leader of the prisoners in the camp. Capt. Andre has been able to forge an uneasy truce with his captors and any slight disruption to the apple cart could cause ripples to that relative calm. As rowdy as Fury and the Howlers get, it turns out that the Sarge's bad boy behavior in captivity is a ruse so that he can meet with the camp's commanding officer who is secretly a member of the Italian resistance against Mussolini. 

Now the mission completely changes. The Howlers are tasked with playing Hogan's Heroes by faking an escape, disguised as Italian soldiers in order to steal a massive shipment of gold in hopes of crippling Benito's war machine.

There's one thing to say about this series: no matter how far fetched and insane the Howler's missions are, they never get old. Like switching over from Germany to Italy. Or staging a robbery of Fascist gold. This story originally came out in 1966, 4 years before that amazing war-comedy starring Clint Eastwood, Kelly's Heroes, did. Since I've now encountered 2 different stories involving American troops stealing enemy gold, I'm wondering if that was something that actually happened during World War II... If so, I'd like to read a book about such heists.

Very interesting and exciting read.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Sgt Fury and His Howling Commandos #128

In the pages of Essential Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos,Vol. 1, Fury's right hand man, Dum Dum Dugan was injured and sent stateside for rehabilitation. Unknown to the Howlers, Dugan was on his way back to them when his transport vehicle was shot down by the feared Nazi raider, the Sea Shark! Now as the Howlers, with help from the mysterious Navy Captain known only as the Skipper, scour the Atlantic for survivors of the attack, Dum Dum leads his comrades on a desperate mission of survival! That's because the Sea Shark has it in mind to finish off the job of elimination of all evidence of the villain's actions, which are in clear violation of the Geneva Convention!

As much as Stan Lee could milk a dead horse with endless appearances by Doctor Doom in the pages of the Fantastic Four or Magneto giving the X-Men constant fits, the Marvel legend sure could keep things fresh in the pages of Sgt. Fury. Plus Stan the Man wasn't afraid to shake up the Howler's lineup. 

I think being veterans of World War II, Stan and the rest of the bullpen did everything they could within the confines of the Comics Code to make the war in Sgt. Fury as realistic as possible. So they added a few Nazi villains that were colorfully on par with the typical comic book baddie. Based on the fact that this version of the war occurs in a universe filled with superheroes, it makes sense that these Nazis seemed like demonic mad scientists bent on world domination and the spread of evil. ( Man, I'm starting to sound like Stan Lee here...) However, in the pages of Sgt. Fury, good men died, got injured, and bore their scars internally as well as externally.

Look, I am a huge fan of Nick Fury. I love his super spy adventures and I just adore his stint in the United States Army. These issues are some of the best works of the Marvel Age of Comics. Being a war comic, which has a sorta niche following, these books are seriously underrated. I'm glad I got my hands on all of the issues I needed for a full story run before the secret of these gems got out!

Reprinting the main story from Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos #26.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos #89

Reprinting the main story from Sgt Fury #27, this issue details why Nick Fury wears an eye patch now as an Agent of SHIELD. 

While working incognito in the Bavarian Alps, Fury sustains an eye injury. But rather than let the accident scuttle his important mission, Fury continues on, having to adjust to a lack of depth perception when having to fight his way out of fisticuffs with a squadron of soused Nazis.

The cover is a bit misleading. Yes, the eye injury is why Nick Fury will one day don an eye patch. However, it doesn't cause him to lose his eye yet. The damage is done. However, the medic at the end of this story tells Fury that it will be a few years before he'll no longer be able to see out of his left eye. 

Fury's diminishing eye sight will probably play a part in upcoming issues of Howling Commandos. I await to see just what part it will play. For now, Nick has a pair of eyes, working in a capacity yet to be fully determined. Calling the events in this story the origin of Fury's eye patch is in my opinion a rather loose definition of the word 'origin'. Still, Stan Lee's tale is way better than the genesis of how the Samuel L. Jackson Nick Fury lost his eye.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Frontline Combat #9 (2024 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

From the letter from the Editor placed on the inside cover, this was to be the first of 7 issues devoted to the American Civil War. Readers had requested the conflict of 1861-1865 be included in EC's war torn title. However, Harvey Kurtzman and William Gaines felt that a single issue just wasn't enough space to adequately devoted to this important period in American history.

Frontline Combat was a sister series to the very macho Two-Fisted Tales, which originally focused on adventure stories. The book started off well, but with the end of the Korean War, EC saw a decline in sales. Ultimately, Frontline Combat's last issue would be #15. 

This issue would focus on the start of the war. There are 4 segments, all penned by Kurtzman. The first chronicles the life of Abraham Lincoln from childhood to his inauguration as the 16th President of the United States. Readers then experience the first shot of the Civil War with the siege of Fort Sumter. The action heads West to the neutral state of Missouri as both Confederate loyalists and Union soldiers fight over possession of Camp Jackson. Lastly, we witness Union overconfidence turn the battle of Bull Run/Manassas into the Rebels first major victory of the early days of the war. 

While this issue highlights the constitutional crisis of the legality of the succeeding Southern States, slavery is never overtly addressed in this book as the main cause of the Civil War. Yet in true EC twist fashion, the narrator of the opening segment on Lincoln is revealed on the last page as being a black man who lives in Charleston, South Carolina on the eve of the Fort Sumter blockade. 

The artists featured in this issue are Jack Davis, John Severin, and Wally Wood. Cover art by Harvey Kurtzman. The one-page prose story was replaced with excepts of the inaugural address of Abraham Lincoln, featured in the opener titled 'Abe Lincoln!'

Though the full 7 parts of the Civil War series never came about, Two-Fisted Tales did devote a pair of issues to the Civil War before being cancelled in 1955 at issue #35. For those who might wish to follow up on learning more on the Civil War in comics and graphic novel form, check out Battle Lines: A Graphic History of the Civil War by Ari Kelman and Jonathan Fetter-Vorm,  Marvel's 4-issue Epic Battles of the Civil War and the 'Big Bad Ironclad!' and 'The Underground Abductor' entries in the Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales series for all-ages readers.

Completing this review completes Task #21 (Set in the 1800s) of the 2024 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Fish Police #1 (2024 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

The main character of Fish Police is Inspector Gill. With his toboggan cap, vest and pencil thin whiskers, Gill looks like an underwater version of Frank Serpico. He's determined to bring down the organized crime cartel known as S.Q.U.I.D.. However, Gill also gets suckered into a lot of red herrings when many of the tips he receives are from beautiful dames.

The latest sultry siren to entice Gill into pursuing S.Q.U.I.D. is named Angelfish. She claims that her uncle is being forced into making illegal drugs for the gang and wants out. Gill is want to dismiss her until she reveals that her uncle has created a drug called Hairballs that can take it's users to another dimension where everyone walks on land with 2 legs. 

Inspector Gill has the strange feeling that he was originally from the surface world and sees Hairballs has a way of getting back to where he once belonged. The cop takes the assignment only to learn that Angelfish's uncle is perfectly happy where he is as a member of S.Q.U.I.D.. Instead of defecting, he wants the detective to bring back his niece Goldie into the fold. Goldie just happens to be the new receptionist at Gill's precinct and she loves being on the side of the good guys!

Fish Police debuted in a black and white format in 1985. Written and illustrated by Steve Moncuse, Fish Police was originally self-published by the creator's flag Fishwrap Productions. In 1987, Fish Police was picked up by Comico, starting at issue #12. The series soon found a new home with issue #17, being acquired by the Connecticut based Apple Press shortly after Comico declared bankruptcy. Apple would continue the series until 1991, culminating in issue #26. 

The idea of cops and robbers played out by seafood might seem rather ludicrous. However, the concept is done in a very mature, dark manner that shouldn't be confused as child's play. As part of Hanna-Barbera's attempt to produce more adult themed cartoons, Fish Police was adapted as a prime time sitcom in 1992. Airing on CBS, the show featured the voice talents of John Ritter, Ed Asner, and Tim Curry among others. 6 episodes were produced. However only 3 aired domestically before being quickly cancelled due to very low rating performances. 

From 1992-93, Marvel reprinted the first 6 issues of Fish Police in full color as a promotional tie-in for the animated series. With the show's abrupt end, Marvel also pulled the plug on the comic rather quickly. For the past 30 years, Steve Moncuse has teased plans for a Fish Police revival. Other than a short story that appeared in a 2013 issue of Dark Horse Presents, nothing new has been forthcoming.

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

Completing this review completes Task #28 (A Story About Fish) of the 2024 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Crime Patrol #11 (2024 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

(Issue read was Crime Patrol #5, the Gemstone Publishing August, 2000 Reprint Edition)

Though 1950-55 was the heyday of EC Comics, William Gaines and company were perfecting their brand in the late 1940s. Starting out as International Comics before a name change to International Crime Patrol, what would become just Crime Patrol with issue #7, focused on gritty violent crime stories. The police might not get their man. But justice was always done by the end of each story.

In 1949, when this issue was originally published, publisher Gaines and editor and artist Al Feldstein had begun to experiment with horror. That's why the middle story, 'The Werewolf's Curse'!, was included in a book devoted to criminal activity. As readers of Crime Patrol began to write letters praising these tales of terror, Gaines and Feldstein saw the merits in releasing an all horror comic. Crime Patrol #15 introduced readers to the Crypt Keeper who hosted the Feldstein tale 'Return From the Grave' Two issues later, Crime Patrol morphed into The Crypt of Terror, hosted by the ghoulish Crypt Keeper. Another two issues later, the publication would make more final name change to Tales From The Crypt and the short-lived Age of EC Comics was born. As a cost-cutting measure with US Postal Service permits, the numbering was never altered throughout the publication's lengthy evolution.

Crime Patrol #11's first story claims to be a true life tale taken from the files of the FBI. Proclaiming that the names were changed to protect the innocence, the true crime moniker was more than likely a story gimmick to sensationalize the kidnapping of a wealthy socialite for ransom by a couple of small time crooks. 

The third story is an account of a female pickpocket forced into working as a card sharp for a seedy carnival owner. There is no mention of this tragic tale being based on reality or not.

As for the middle feature, 'The Werewolf's Curse!', it's based on a classic horror trope. A pair of siblings have inherited a castle. Legend has it that the fortress is cursed by a werewolf which both heirs laugh off as pure legend. That is until their faithful dog and the caretaker of the manner are both mauled by an unseen assailant. This story lacks the signature twist ending that would become the staple of the EC line. Instead, the reader is left to wonder if there really was a curse of a lycanthrope or if the countryside was terrorized by some other unknown beast that could walk on two legs.

With this issue, featuring art and story Al Feldstein with contributions by Richard Krause, Howard Larsen, H.C. Kiefer and a dramatic cover by Johnny Craig, this isn't a perfect EC Comic, but you can see that things are slowly falling into place for William Gaines and company.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Completing this review completes Task #18 (An EC Comic (Reprints are allowed) of the 2024 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Classics Illustrated: Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol & Notes

This 1997 edition of Classics Illustrated Study Guides reprints the original 1948 released, featuring the artwork by Henry Kiefer. Unfortunately, the artwork has been digitally retouched to the point that all of Kiefer's original nuisances have been destroyed. I was able to find several original pages of artwork from Classics Illustrated #53 and let me tell you that whomever at Colorgraphix recolored this reprint should have been arrested for desecrating artwork. Everything looks so flat and bland. There's no depth as the original shading has been all but erased. If you ever get a chance to read this book in its original form, I ask that you not judge Kiefer's art based on this edition. This volume is just not up to his masterful standards!

This was a fine retelling of the classic that basically gave birth to much of our modern Christmas traditions. There's also a large article at the end of this book that deep dives into the intricacies of A Christmas Carol. The story's life on stage and screen, a life history of Dickens, even a study of the importance of Christmas pudding are topics examined in that study guide. I only wish that essayist Debra Doyle would have explained why Dickens called this story A Christmas Carol when there's no music or lyrics to be found. That''s a tidbit I'd love to learn about. 

Including a list of study questions, this book is like the Clif Notes of Graphic Novels. While this version is much more economical to my wallet, I'm not sure if the retouched artwork is worth the savings.

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

True Believers: King in Black- Beta Ray Bill #1

Marvel's True Believers series was great. For only a buck, you could purchase reprints based on some of the most iconic moments in comic book history. In full glorious color. They were great for collectors like me who didn't want to pay beaucoup bucks for the originals. The True Believers helped me make affordable dents into collections that would have to go without if I had to rely on purchasing an original copy of the story to complete my runs. Plus, for those of us who tried to support younger readers who were interested in getting their collections going, these were cheap ways to provide essential reading material.

This volume reprints issue #337 of Thor (Vol. 1) which introduced fans to the hugely popular Beta Ray Bill. A member of the Korbinites, Bill has the face of a horse with a slighter snout. Armed with cybernetic enhancements and a specialized suit, Bill was chosen by his people to lead them to a new home. During this exodus, the Korbinites are attacked by demons of Surtur and almost Bill, despite saving his people, nearly died in the assault. To save him, his mothership encases him in a crystalline structure that places Bill in a state of suspended animation.

All of this backstory gets revealed later on. SHIELD tasks the thunder god in investigating Bill's space ship which has gotten too close to earth's orbit for Nick Fury's taste. Aboard the ship when Thor meets Bill, it's classic Marvel. Both think the other are enemies. Naturally, Bill thinks Thor is one of those demons. Thor thinks Bill is a dangerous alien intent on conquering his beloved adopted planet. In the melee, Thor drops his hammer which to the Odinson's shock is picked up and used with ease by Beta Ray Bill. 60 seconds have now passed and Thor reverts back into his human form of Dr. Donald Blake.

And wouldn't you know it, just when it looks like Beta Ray Bill is about to make ketchup out of Blake, Odin interferes and whisks Bill away to Asgard! That's because with Bill holding onto Mjolnir, the Highfather believes that he's Thor and calls him away to an emergency brewing in the nine realms.

You'd think for a god with the ability to see everything, Odin would know that an orange skinned fella with huge teeth and an equine face is totally different looking from a scrawny white dude. And this isn't the first time Odin makes these sort of impulsive mistakes. Believe me when I say that the most unworthy character in this story is the leader of Asgard!

While you get to see Beta Ray Bill in action, you don't get to see much of him as Thor. The cover is the biggest glimpse you get of Beta Ray Thor! But it's one of the most memorable covers of all time! This issue was originally published in 1983 and in my original comic book collection, I was the owner of this book. That previous ownership is why I wanted this book again. This 2020 reprint was issued as a tie-in to the King in Black major Marvel crossover event. I had zero interest in that storyline. Nostalgia was the main reason I needed this book. 

Written, penciled and inked by Walt Simonson, this is the issue that turned him into a definitive creator of Thor stories. When I was just a mere lad of 5 when I bought this book, I just wasn't old enough to appreciate it. Now in my mid-40s, I am so fond of this era of Thor. Why I just haven't done more than dip my toe into the Thor stories of the 1980s, it's not because of hatred. I'm still into the mid-70s on my run of Essential Marvel collections. I'll get to this period of time. It's just going to take me some time to get there.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Classic Comics Library: Santa's Tinker Tots

A Christmas gift from my bride. This book reprints the 1958 Charlton Comics issue of the same name.

In this comic, Santa's helpers are little tykes dressed in red called Tinker Tots. Not Elves! The youngest of the group is a blonde munchkin named Punch. When a last minute letter to Santa arrives, Punch works hard on the rush order. Sadly, he breaks the toys as he slips on ice while loading the gifts into Santa's sleigh. 

It's too late for Santa to wait any further. So one family is going without presents. That just wont do for Punch for anyone to go without presents from St. Nick. Thus the Tinker Tot goes to his room and sacrifices his favorite gift from his boss and takes a trio of baby reindeer on an emergency delivery run!

This was a very sweet issue. The art was very clean. The story had a definite Christmas feel with carols and religious imagery that isn't gratuitous. 

While I do not think that the Tinker Tots have ever popped back up in another comic, the artwork looks very similar to several stories taken from Dell's numerous Santa Claus Funnies that were published as part of the Dell Four Color Comics series. 

This cover looks similar to the Gwandanaland Comics reprints of which I am a fan of. I've talks with other fans and this book isn't from them. There was another publisher called Classic Comics Library that released this. A quick Amazon search reveals that their last publication was 5 years ago. So I think CCL is now defunct. Regardless, I loved this book. It was a great Boxing Day treat!

And this is my last holiday comic read of 2021. I've still got a bunch of stuff I haven't reviewed in the past couple of years, so more stuff will pop up until New Years. So stay tuned for more- maybe.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Batman #181 Facsimile Edition

There's a new criminal queen on the Gotham City scene. Her name is Poison Ivy and she uses a mix of botanical knowledge and chemistry to put others under her command. But in order to become the most feared femme fatale of them all, Ivy must eliminate Interpol's top 3 most dangerous female criminals. In order to do that, Poison Ivy plans to use the Caped Crusader whose fallen under the villainess's spell with her bedeviled kiss!

In the second feature, the members of the Gotham City Detective's Club must protect a mystery novelist who has been marked for death when the clock strikes 10pm! While the majority of the club members seek to provide protection for writer, Batman will do the dirty work by doing what he does best: sleuthing and maybe knocking around a few heads!

I was really excited when I heard that DC was releasing this facsimile edition of the first appearance of Poison Ivy. Of most of Batman's most deadly and famed foes, Poison Ivy is perhaps the only one whose first appearance of which I am not familiar with. 

When the character appeared in Joel Schumacher's Batman and Robin, I was disappointed on how much of a romantic wedge she was between the dynamic duo. I guess I must forgive Schumacher a little bit as this debut has Poison Ivy toying with Batman's heart strings while Robin struggles to detoxify Batman from Ivy's lipstick.

While I understand that 1960s comics often played the romance angle quite a bit between the heroes and their opposite sex foes, I really thought that Poison Ivy was immune to such outdated tropes. Man- was I wrong!

I really enjoyed the second story. Last year's Batman: The Brave and the Bold/Scooby-Doo movie had a version of the mystery club. It's neat to see one of that awesome film's inspirations for the first time. 

I also loved the 1966 vintage ads. I really loved those. Some were so timeless looking, especially the Bullwinkle ad. It looked more like some I would have seen in a 1980s comics not a reprint from the mid-60s. The advertising art and print quality was that prestine! There's also letters from the editor and a full run-down of other DC titles released during this time period.

DC has plans for more facsimile edition books. As much as I love seeing the vintage extras and secondary adventures, the publisher is going to have to offer books that I don't have in my collection. I've got so many reprint collections of classic DC material, the odds that I have a version of the work in question are often in my favor.  I got lucky this time around! We'll just have to see what else the House that Superman built has in store for this run of reprints!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

True Believers Star Wars Ewoks #1

Before the Porgs, the benchmark of cuteness in the Star Wars universe were the Ewoks. But since the late 1980s, those distant cousins have been anything but forgotten. Well, that's all changed this week as Marvel brings the little fur-balls back in a True Believers re-release for this Family Comic Friday Extra.

True Believers Star Wars Ewoks #1

Written by David Manak
Art by Warren Kremer
Inks by Marie Severin
Published by Marvel Comics
Retail: $1.00
Reprints Ewoks #1 (1986)

1985-1990 is generally known as the Star Wars dark ages. The original trilogy was completed. Star Wars: Droids, an animated series starring C-3PO and R2-D2 was a brief candle in the wind on the ABC Saturday morning line-up. Anything Star Wars being sold in stores was on the clearance shelves. If not for the break-out stars of Return of the Jedi, the Ewoks, Star Wars might not have encountered the resurgence it did in the 1990s and beyond.

As controversial as the Ewoks have been among Star Wars fans, there's no doubt that without them, we probably would never have gotten Episodes I-III or VII-IX. Along with a couple of TV movies from Disney, the Ewoks had a Saturday morning cartoon which spanned a couple of seasons. As a result, Wicket, his friends Teebo and Princess Kneesha were marketed out the wazoo as stuffed animals, t-shirts, pencils and comic books!

In the mid-80s, Marvel Comics operated a kid-friendly imprint called Star Comics. This legendary line contained a number of licensed titles such as Masters of the Universe, Spider-Ham and Madballs, which have become highly sought after collectibles. Both Star Wars: Droids and Ewoks were given the comic book treatment. Just as with the cartoons they were based on, Droids didn't last very long. But the Ewoks enjoyed a decent run of 14 issues over the course of 3 years.

True Believers Star Wars Ewoks #1 reprints the first issue of that 1980s adaptation. In it, Chief Chirpa's daughter, Princess Kneesha, has come down with a mysterious illness. The Ewoks' medicine man recalls a miraculous liquid that had amazing healing powers. But in order to obtain it, one must traverse a deadly gorge of fire.

After sneaking away a special jewel, Wicket and Teebo embark on journey to find more of the liquid. On their adventure, they'll encounter talking rocks, fierce trolls and other perils. The little heroes might even come across the miracle elixir. But will they be able to save their ailing friend in time?

There's two big time names in the creation of this book. The first is EIC, Jim Shooter. The wunderkind was responsible for the 1980s Marvel Renaissance and the big time crossovers Contest of Champions and Secret Wars. The other is inker, Marie Severin. A member of the original usual gang of idiots behind E.C. Comics and MAD Magazine, Severin was the co-creator of Spider-Woman and several memorable Howard the Duck characters.

Some astute older fans might recognize the name of illustrator Warren Kremer. A Harvey Comics staple, Kremer created Richie Rich and Hot Stuff the Little Devil.

In 2019, the Ewoks are a nearly forgotten part of Star Wars lore. Other than featuring in a chapter of last year's Tales From Vader's Castle, the Ewoks haven't been seen in any of the prequel or third trilogy films. With a hint that The Rise of Skywalker might return to Endor, that may all change.

So why not re-introduce the newest generation of Star Wars fans to the Ewoks?  With a cover price of only $1.00, this is book is quite friendly on the pocket book. And as Star Comics was approved for all-ages, there's nothing objectionable for Star Wars fans of any age! Then if the young reader in your life becomes a fan, check out Star Wars: Ewoks- Flight to Danger, which reprints the first 10 issues of the original Star Comics run.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

True Believers Star Wars Ewoks #1 debuted in print on May 1st, 2019.

ICYMI #2- A Family Comic Friday Extra!

UPDATE: Since the publication of this review, Peter Simeti, the founder and publisher of Alterna Comics was kind enough to inform me that ICYMI aims to reprint all 3 issues of Adam Wreck. Issue #2 will be reprinted in ICYMI #3 and the final chapter will run in ICYMI #4. Because each issue of Mr. Crypt is a stand alone issue, without a cliffhanger, only the first issue of that miniseries was reprinted. I misunderstood that only first issues were being reprinted.


I have corrected the mistaken information about the first issues only. I have also altered my rating score for the book HIGHER. However, my stance on ending cliffhangers in comics geared for kids and teens is unwavering and will not be removed from this review. Nor will my suggestion that Alterna publish all chapters of it's reprint series simultaneously. It is my opinion that in order to keep the next generation of readers reading comics, you can no longer expect them to wait lengthy periods for the second act.


Sometimes I just have so many all-ages books to share that I can’t contain it one review! For this Family Comic Friday Extra, I’ll be introducing you to ICMYI- the second run sampler of family fun titles from Alterna Comics!

ICMYI #2
Written and Illustrated by Michael S. Bracco
Published by Alterna Comics
Retail: $0.99

ICMYI (In Case You Missed It) is a new sampler title from Alterna Comics. Since 2006, the New England based publisher has released dozens of all-ages titles. But it’s really been in the past 2 years that the company has started to go from obscure indy publisher to comic book force to be reckoned with. That means that quite a few all-ages works have come and gone without much notice.

I’m really excited by this clever bit of marketing. The first issue reprinted the premier issue of Mr. Crypt, a title I’ve already done some reviewing of in the past. So I waited until issue #2 for a new-to-me title in which to share ICYMI with you.

Issue #2 reprints the first chapter of the 3 issue sci-fi adventure series Adam Wreck.
Adam is a youngster who has spent the past few years in outer space with his scientist parents. Being the only kid in the dark void of the unknown has been a boring and lonely way of life. But that’s all about to change when space pirates attack Adam’s ship.
Adam’s parents manage to get him to the sole escape pod before becoming captives of the pirates. With his vessel damaged upon landing, Adam must find a way off this new planet in order to find his parents. But first, Adam must survive the dangers lurking in every corner before he can formulate a rescue!

Adam Wreck was an exciting mix of Star Wars, Lost In Space and Indiana Jones. The artwork was a little bit rough for my taste. But the opening chapter was quite exciting. I loved the muted palette of colors comprised primarily of aqua blue, gray and orange used by Michael S. Bracco. And the price of only $.99 cents is always right to a bargain hunter such as myself.

When I was a kid, if a book ended with ‘to be continued’, I was immediately turned off because who knew when I was ever going to get back to the comic book store to get the next issue. My small town didn’t have an LCS and it was an almost 45-minute drive to the nearest one. So regular weekly trips wasn’t in the cards.

That’s the same with kids today. Families are so busy with school, after-school sports, music lessons, tutoring, and such that it’s not easy for kids to get regular trips to the comic book shop. I’ve argued and will continue to argue for publishers to eliminate cliffhangers in their comics aimed at kids. Especially, if the industry is to truly survive for the next generation, something needs to be done to not put off young readers with multipart stories. Plus, in a world where consumers can get the entire series of a show now on Netflix, to expect kids to wait 30 or 60 days for part 2 is an outdated way of thinking.

Alterna does have issues 2 and 3 of Adam Wreck available in a PDF digital format on it’s online store. Plus, kids can buy all 3 issues of Adam Wreck, autographed by the creator.

Don’t get me wrong- I think what Alterna Comics is doing to reintroduce it’s older family-friendly books back is brilliant. I just think that something needs to be done to provide kids with the entire story. Maybe for a book longer than 3 issues, Alterna could release simultaneously an ICYMI #2.1 and an issue #2.2 so that kids can purchase the entire story during one trip to the comic book store. Above all else, if Alterna is going to continue with just releasing the first issue, the publisher needs to make sure that print and not just digital copies of the rest of the series are readily available for sale at their online store.

ICYMI is a great idea that needs a little fine tuning in order to retain loyal comic book readers into the next generation. Alterna has an awesome library of titles and I look forward to seeing what’s in store for the future. I just hope I, along with other readers, young and old, will get a chance to get the entire story without much difficulty or wait.

ICYMI #2 debuts in store March 13th, 2019. All three issues of Adam Wreck are currently for sale in both print and digital formats at the Alterna official online store on Etsy.

For more Family Comic Friday and other reviews, check out my blog: Madman with a Book!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

This review was concurrently published on Outrightgeekery.com.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

The Vault of Horror #14

• A pair of con men use a medium to swindle an old lady out of her inheritance. But the spirits have other plans. 
• In a play on an old urban legend, an African butler misinterprets the desires of his master and puts the man's fiance out for display.
• An animal loving wife is pushed beyond her limits when her cantankerous husband takes up a new hobby- taxidermy!
• A rising star in the boxing circuit must throw the match of his life or else never see his baby son ever again.

This issue of the Vault of Horror offers a score of terrifying treats. Everyone's favorite EC horror host is the Crypt-Keeper. But mine is the Vault-Keeper. I don't know why. His stories just seemed more interesting to me while CK's stuff, while good, just didn't seem so believable. 

No, that's not right. Something's missing with what I am trying to say, just like some of the details of Crypt-Keepers report of the boxer with the kidnapped child. The story jumps six months at one point but it's never revealed if the kid returned home safely or not. 

I usually am not big on the Old Witch's stuff at all. I'm just not a Ghastly (Graham Ingels) fan. But the story about the wife and her taxidermist hubby was a creepy story that actually begged for Ghastly's distressed touch. Plus, as an animal lover myself, I would be destroyed if I came home to find that my spouse did to- Oh, NO! You're not getting a spoiler out of me. I don't care if the stories reprinted are over 60 years old!

A fantastic addition to my EC Comics collection. I'm still a long ways off from completing it, but I get closer all the time.  

Featuring the art of the legendary Johnny Craig, this issue is a gem!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman

First of all, I love this book. The stories are great. The art is classic 80s/90s. I love the writing and there’s not a weak story in the bunch. I very much consider this book worth consuming, but there is a catch. This isn’t a collection of comics about the 90s TV show Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. It’s a collection of post-Crisis tales that inspired the show. Even though the back cover explains this, the front is devoid of this info, thus, I felt like it’s false advertising.

With Superman being added to the CW's Supergirl, I'm really digging the Man of Steel in a major way that's been missing with the Zack Synder movies. I didn't hate them, but having Superman be more of a god among men than a super-powered alien just isn't my style of Superman. Plus, having Dean Cain as Supergirl's adopted father, I've been nostalgic for Lois & Clark. Corny as it may have been, it was a cool show.

If I had all the stories contained in this volume, it would mean I spent money on books I already had. Adding to the problem is that the book doesn’t have an index to let you know what issues are collected within. So, if you have an extensive late 80s Superman collection, this may not be the collection for you if you are looking for never before collecting material. Buyer Beware- but keep in mind I am a big fan of John Byrne, Jerry Ordway, and Dan Jurgens and think the material within is top notch.

However, the cover sucks rocks. Kidding! I actually miss Teri's Lois Lane too!

Worth Consuming

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Spider-Man: Black, Blue, & Read All Over #1

First of all, I love the cover. It looks very retro, like the live-action Spidey TV-show of the 70s, which I love fondly despite knowing it was very hokey.

Then there is a great companion piece with a reprint of ASM #12 in which a very sick Spider-man is unmasked as Peter Parker by Doctor Octopus. The twist is everyone thinks Petey was trying to be heroic and isn’t the wall-crawler at all.

Lastly, there’s the title tale in which Spider-man convinces Jonah Jameson that he’ll unmask if the Daily Bugle will publish the wallcrawler’s side of the story for a change. It’s a nice tale that shows you how hard it is to be a hero. But, the ending is lame.

Average everything out, and I give this tale a 6 or of 10. But, it’s still very good and Worth Consuming, but just barely.

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

iZombie #1 Special Edition

   Let's look at the facts: 
   
    I love Michael Allred. His art is so clean, so retro, so kitsch. 
    I love Laura Allred who colors and sometimes inks husband Michael's art.
    I've only read a couple of iZombie issues or stories and I love them!
    Yet for some reason, I've not been able to get into the iZombie TV show on the CW!

   I think the problem is that the show is live-action and with the exception of the opening credits, the series doesn't feature the artwork of the Allreds and I think that's the big selling point for me.

   This Special Edition reprint of the first issue of iZombie was released to co-incide with the premiere of the CW series in March of last year. But I wasn't able to get my hands on a copy until a couple of weeks ago when I finally found a copy in a dollar bin. It's not that I didn't look for this when it came out last year, I did. But at the two or three comic shops, I went on the hunt for this, they had sold out pretty quick.

     iZombie is the story of Gwen. By day, she's the leader of a grave digger crew at a cemetery. By night, Liv's digging up the bodies she buried earlier in the day in order to feed on their juicy delicious brains and to prevent from going full on zombie on somebody living. But when she feasts, she inherits some of her meal's memories temporarily. When she learns that one of the corpses she consumed was murdered, she decides to take it upon herself to solve his murder! 

     I think this is another reason I'm not into the TV series. Other than having the main character eat brains and use that information to solve crimes, the series and the comic are two different things. Why they don't even feature the same characters. The main character of this comic is named Gwen. The heroine of the TV show is named Liv and she works as a criminologist for a living! 

   I know some folks will say that I'm being too sensitive and that there's no reason why I can't like both. Well, that's just dumb, folks. That's like saying if I like steak, then I'll love liver. They might both come from the same animal but while steak is delicious, that irony piece of rubber called liver is just nasty. 

   That's kinda how I feel iZombie. iZombie: the comic book is now going on my wish list for my comic book collection: it's wicked fun. iZombie: the Series is on my to-do list if the show ever goes into rerun syndication but what little I've seen so far is a little too hokey and a tad too much like a Dawson's Creek for the undead. I'll probably get to it but it's on the backburner for now.

   As for why this is a Special Edition comic, this issue has a couple of articles about the making of the TV show and I think there were one or two pages of unused art from iZombie #1. But in terms of any director's cut added scenes, you will not find them in this book. But with the success of the show, the price of issue #1 has jumped to about $20-35 bucks, so this is a good starting point with this more affordable reprint.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Planetary #1 (After Watchmen...What's Next?)

A couple of years ago when the Watchmen film came out, comic book stores were giving away samples of similar titles. This was one of those reprint examples released under the banner: 'After Watchmen... What's Next ?' 

Here, a mysterious man named Winter is recruited to become a member of a clandestine team of metahumans. In their first mission, they discover what happened to a superhuman team that disappeared during World War II.

I liked this title. I was very impressed with the plotting and writing. The dialogue, while a little crude, was original and Warren Ellis didn’t dumb down to the audience. The art was very good and there were some impressive amounts of gore and action.

Not sure if I want to make this series part of my collection, but I wouldn’t mind finding additional stories at my library or trades for very cheap at a used book store or comic’s sale.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

   

E-Man #1

   This issue of E-Man just also happened to be a book I was recommended last week to read when I was bored. Thanks again to my love of comic book grab bags, I happened to have an issue on hand and what an issue to have. This book, published by Modern Comics in 1977, reprints the very first issue by Charlton Comics in 1973 and is the brainchild of Nicola Cuti and Joe Staton.

    E-Man is an energy being that survived a supernova. In his quest for intelligent life, he comes across a space ship filled with a hostile entity. When the energy being discovers this hostile has intentions to destroy our planet, he assumes the form of a human. With help from a stripper with a heart of gold and ice in her veins, our hero becomes E-Man, with the power to convert matter into energy and vice versa.

    E-Man was quite good for a short-lived book from the 70s. Charlton was the publishing company that could but sadly it just never managed to overtake the big two publishers and eventually was swallowed up by DC by the 1980s. This book is proof of the talent and quality that Charlton was able to get their hands on- if only they could have had the bankroll of a Marvel Comics. A very good feature with great art but a very abrupt ending as if parts of the finale were edited for time or space. 

    The backup feature is called 'The Knight', a superspy for the international espionage agency C.H.E.S.S. The Knight is a rogue who gets in fights and follows the beat of his own drum. If he wasn't such a damn fine agent, the agency's high-ups, codenamed King and Queen, would have had him arrested or kicked out years ago.

   In this tale, the Knight, along with agents codenamed Rook and Bishop, infiltrate a company that makes rocket boosters in hopes of seeking out a mole. But to their chagrin, the entire organization is filled with double-agents! Now, the trio must destroy the plant, saving humanity and hopefully themselves in the process. 

    If the story of the Knight sounds familiar to a DC title called Checkmate- I don't think you are that far off the mark. Checkmate has operatives codenamed White Knight, Black King, Black Rook, White Queen, etc... It's also a super secret intelligence community, only they employ super heroes. Also, Checkmate was co-created by Paul Kuppenberg, a longtime contributor to Charlton who went to DC shortly after the company bought out the Charlton catalog. I really don't think this is a coincidence. But that's okay. This issue was like reading a rough draft of Checkmate, a series which I really like and am on the hunt for both complete series.

    If you can get your hands on a Charlton E-Man, expect to shell out some big bucks. But Modern Reprints dot bargain bins and are peppered throughout grab bags nationwide. (I have a total of 3 E-Man books thanks to grab bags.) A welcome addition to my collection, I cannot wait to read more and find more E-Man. You can also find E-Man series published by Comico and First Comics in the dollar bins and I hear they are very good titles as well.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.