Survival of the Fittest: Who's Got The Best Medicine? (Family Comic Friday)

I haven't done a Family Comic Friday in a while. I haven't given up on the project. Far from it. It's just that I've not really had much time to head to my local library. Plus, for the kids section of graphic novels, they got rid of the ' New Arrivals' section, making it a bit harder to find newer stuff to review. That being said, I did find something recently new at my branch. So let's take a look at Survival of the Fittest: Who's Got The Best Medicine?

Who knew that the animal kingdom had their own version of Shark Tank? Survival of the Fittest is an invention competition where creatures create amazing new products for humans based on the special properties of their very own bodies. Judging the competition as usual are Hammerhead Shark, Cookiecutter Shark and Tiger Shark. Today's episode, hosted by Hermit Crab, the trio of predators will be shown several potential lifesaving medical marvels. 

There's the extremely sharp teeth of the sea urchin that never gets dull as a potential new type of surgical scalpel. Mosquito shares a new form of syringe that is based on the bug's proboscis and is supposedly painless. And much more innovations based on the animals in the sea, land and air are in store!

And don't think that the sharks don't get in on the act too! Great White Shark has an idea to eliminate post-operative infections by having all of the equipment in the operating room textured like the sandpaper skin of those predators of the deep.

I loved the idea behind this book. There's a design segment at the end of the book that explains how such animal based technologies are in the planning stages at current time; along with hyperlinks to help young readers learn more about these amazing inventions. (You'll have to type those out as this is not a digital book that I reviewed.)

I only wish that I could have understood what was going on between the host, Hermit Crab and contestant Octopus. Was the 8-armed invertebrate flirting with the crab as he kept changing shells during every commercial break? Was the Octopus just being friendly? Was there mischief afoot? I really couldn't tell. Those interludes were pantomimed and I really could have used some words, or narrator descriptions to fully follow along with that part of the story.

I also felt that another contestant should have won, having a much better invention than the winner. But that's more of a matter of personal preference and nothing against the quality of this entertaining and educational graphic novel.

There's at least 1 other book so far in the series. 'Who Will Come Out on Top?' is about engineering innovations . If you have a young reader in your life who loves science, especially when animals are involved, this is a series that needs to be introduced to them! The vocabulary and some of the concepts are a bit advanced. I'm thinking that without a trusted adult to read along with, this is a book suited for 4th graders through 6th. 

With the inclusion of the shark tank of judges, this series makes a great summer read!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

It's Jeff #1

A week ago I reviewed a book called Silent Tales by Gustavo Duarte. I basically stated that comic stories without words don't work as effectively as the 'talkies'. Well for today's review, I want to amend that statement. Comic books without words can work... sometimes.

The book I read is Marvel's It's Jeff! #1. Written by Kelly Thompson with art by the Japanese duo known as Gurihiru, this comic has a lot of similarities with DC's Silent Tales. 

• Both books are one-shots from 2023.
• Both specials are based on digital platform series.
• Both series use only emojis for speech and only the occasional word like for an exit sign or name of a business are used.
• Both works have a humorous slant.

The only difference between It's Jeff and Silent Tales is that Marvel's book was rated for all ages and I very much think that was what made that issue more enjoyable. It also helps that Jeff is a loyal friend. He's also adorable!

For those of us not in the know, Jeff is a land shark. Genetically modified by a super villain, along with other animals to take over the world of the humans, despite being a shark, Jeff didn't have a single evil bone in his body. (Maybe that's because a shark's skeleton is made of cartilage.) Jeff ended up winning the heart of Gwenpool, who entrusted the fish to Deadpool and Elsa Bloodstone before being reclaimed by Gwenpool and becoming the official mascot of the most recent incarnation of the West Coast Avengers. Now Kate Bishop, the female Hawkeye, is Jeff's primary caretaker.

In this issue, Jeff has about a dozen adventures. Some involve him acting like a very toothy dog, like ruining Avengers Thanksgiving dinner. But many of Jeff's adventures occur as a part of his overactive imagination. Too hot for a snowball fight? Jeff's got you covered! Got a bathtub full of mermaids that need saving? Jeff's got you covered! Just need a friend? Jeff's got you covered!

I had very little trouble understanding these stories. Kelly Thompson did an excellent job plotting everything so that readers 5-95 could follow the plot. Gurihiru's cartoony style is accessible to all. And above all, I wanted more of it! Good thing there's another Jeff special that came out earlier this year. It's just too bad that I passed it over, having not read this one-shot yet and not knowing how magical Jeff is. 

I won't make that mistake again!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Sea Devils #19

This was a book that I was so delighted to read. In my first comics collection, I owned 2 copies of DC's 1960s water adventure series Sea Devils. I had one of my dad's Showcase Presents issues that introduced the team and then I bought a battered but much loved copy of issue #6 from my then favorite comics shop, Tales Resold in Raleigh, NC. 

As an overweight and asthmatic kid, I wasn't the best athlete on land. But in water, I rivaled Prince Namor and Arthur Curry in my swimming prowess. I loved the water. I just couldn't get enough pool time, ocean time or lake time. And my reading interests as a kid reflected that love. 

Thus when I found this copy of the 1961-67 DC title, I actually shouted 'Mine!' at the store and promptly added it to my stack of books I was planning to buy that day. Needless to say, I was overjoyed!

Enough backstory about me. So just what was issue #19 about? Titled 'The Sea Devil Robots!', a mad scientist named Doctor Deep has plans to become the ultimate ruler of the seven seas. In order to do that, he'll need to replace the Sea Devils with robot duplicates. (Apparently, this guy hasn't heard of a sea dweller named Aquaman...) 

Doctor Deep manages to transplant the brains of Sea Devils Biff and Nicky into their robot counterparts. But Sea Devil leader Dane and his girlfriend Judy elude the sinister researcher. That is until the Deep manages to hit Dane with his ray gun and now the expert skin diver's mind is trapped in the body of a thresher shark!

This is an issue fraught with plot holes. For one, if you put the brain of a hero into that of a robot, why would the protagonist all of a sudden start listening to that mad scientist? Shouldn't Biff and Nicky be rebelling against their captor? Obviously, Doctor Deep threatened the captive Sea Devils with something to make them do his bidding. But it's never revealed just what that blackmail is used for their compliance. 

Another problem I have with this issue is how the Doctor Deep is taken down. This is a nearly 60 year old comic, so I think I can spoil things a little. Judy saves the day by allowing herself to get captured. And we see Judy with her blonde hair and purple outfit taken in by the evil scientist. But then all of a sudden, Judy's robot starts to move on its own accord, taking control of that dastardly ray gun and restoring her friends to their correct bodies.

It turns out Judy was hiding in the Judy robot all along. So when did she do this? Didn't Doctor Deep realize she was missing for a while? Or do all of the Sea Devils have mannequins aboard their home base cruise ship and that was what was captured earlier? 

Okay. So a beloved comic book from my childhood has plot holes the size of what that iceberg did to the Titanic. DC wasn't really known for quality checking their storylines during the early to mid-60s. These things were written mostly to kids and if something didn't make sense, well hopefully the youngsters reading this weren't wise enough to figure out the mistakes. 

I'm okay with that if not just for nostalgia sake. But I did have issue with was illustrator Howard Purcell's (Doom Patrol) thresher shark. I Googled what a thresher shark looked like. And while yes, the tail fin really is that long; it's dorsal fin and side flippers are nowhere near as flowy as they are in this comic. That sort of artistic license is just something I can't overlook.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Dark Fang Volume 1: Earth Calling

Story: Miles Gunter

Art / Cover: Kelsey Shannon
Published: May 9, 2018
Age Rating: Mature 

A product of the true Count Dracula, Valla is a reluctant vampire. To prevent succumbing to her blood lust, Valla decides to reside in the deepest depths of the ocean where she partakes of some of the freshest sushi on planet earth. A man eater, Valla befriends the other predator of the sea- the shark. 

For decades, her life is far from perfect, but it is sustainable. However, one day, a mysterious black entity invades Valla's sanctuary, killing her shark friends. Enraged, Valla heads to the surface, vowing revenge of those who destroyed her ecosystem.

The vampire discovers that over a century has passed. The black death was the result of an oil spill. But oil is a big money business. To destroy the industry will cost money! What can a alluring vampire do to raise the funds to become a feared eco-terrorist?

The answer will surprise and seduce you!

This Image series by Miles Gunter and Kelsey Shannon (Scooby Apocalypse) was great. It takes the classic vampire trope and updates it for the technology heavy 21st century. 

Bastard Samurai's Mile Gunter adds ecology to the story. But he while he makes the issue thought provoking, Gunter does a great job not making it preachy. Plus the insane twists he adds to the lobbyists funding the oil industry and manipulating the governments of the world are brilliant! I'm hooked on this series! It's like Image got it's fangs in me and won't let go!

A horror story that entices with stunning artwork and unimaginable creativity; this is a series not to be missed when it drops in stores later next month!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Dark Fang, Volume 1: Earth Calling debuts in stores and digital media on May 9, 2018. 

Sharknado 5: Global Swarming

Storm Warning 

 The American phenomenon of a Sharknado goes global in the fifth installment of the SYFY channel film series. Ian Ziering and Tara Reid continue their roles as Finn and April Hudson. Meanwhile, actress Cassandra Scerbo returns as Nova after skipping out on the 4th Sharknado film.

   I for one also wish I could have skipped 2016's Sharknado 4: The 4th Awakens. Something was seriously off in that chapter. It was so bad that even David Hasselhoff and Gary Busey couldn’t save it. Thankfully, Sharknado 5: Global Swarming was a return to the schlocky film series designation as a genuine guilty pleasure.

    In the latest chapter, Finn and April and son Gil are called to jolly old Emgland. It’s the Hudson’s mission to advise the United Kingdom on how to defend from the shark-filled storms. At nearby Stonehenge, Nova with her global network of anti-shark 'sisters', has unearthed an ancient artifact.

   It is soon discovered that the artifact was used by the Druids to defeat an early outbreak of sharknadoes. However it’s misuse can also cause such storms to form. As a result,  little Gil is sucked into a portal within the nexus of massive storm about to decimate London.Throughout the rest of the film, Finn and April follow the massive storm cell as it destroys Rio, Sydney, and Tokyo in hopes of saving their son.

So Bad, it's Still Bad..

    Sharknado 5 was horrid fun. The movie is like a train and a plane crashed into each other and all the victims drowned. People shouldn’t enjoy something this awful. Yet, like a car accident on the side of the highway, you just can't look away from it no matter how hard you try.

    I think one of the reasons the Sharknado films have been so popular is that they don’t take themselves seriously. Tons of B and C list stars appear in the fifth installment. Most of the cameos are to the expense and mockery of those celebs. Some of the best appearances were Nichelle Nichols as a UN Ambassador and Geraldo Rivera as a blimp engineer who discovers that his vault is empty! Having 70s Spanish rock-star Charo appear as the Queen of England was not one of those great cameos. 

Deep down, I feel like the cast and crew wanted to go on an exotic vacation. So they tricked SYFY into financing this sequel. The premise of cyclones filled with only sharks is completely ridiculous. But now having the storms be able to transport you anywhere in the world is a bit much. Needless to say, if there’s a sixth film on the horizon for this series, I’m in! I just hope that the producers wrap things up soon before this series jumps the shark!

Rating: 4 out of 10 stars.

Worth Consuming but only for the cheese factor. 

Review originally posted August 7, 2017 on outrightgeekery.com.

Archie Vs. Sharknado #1

Just when you thought it was safe to walk on dry land!!!  Recently, the Archie gang has meet super group KISS, competed with the kids from Glee, fought zombies, and evaded Predators. Now, the Archies tackle the phenomenon known as Sharknado!

   When a massive Sharknado attacks Riverdale, Archie and Dilton and the rest of the gang must use brains and brawn to save their beloved town. Featuring all of your Archie Universe favorites including Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Moose, Josie and the Pussycats, and Mr. Weatherbee. No one is safe and by the end of this issue some fan favorites WILL be reduced to fish food.

Don't let the variant cover fool you- the classic style of Archie, Jughead, and Hot Dog abounds in this one-shot tie-in with the Syfy Channel franchise. That makes for one strange comic. Imagine the Riverdale students you remember, covered in blood, killing man-eating sharks, and being dismembered. (Note picture below.) This isn't the Archie Comics you grew up with and yet in a very morbid way this is the same Archie of your youth who can't decide between Veronica or Betty. And even more oddly, this works!

   

   Even though this is drawn in that all-ages family friend look by long-time Archie Comics artist Dan Parent- this is not a book for everyone. There's no sex or cursing, but younger readers might not be able to handle this level of shark induced carnage. Though I cannot find one for this book, it's got to be considered at least rating of Teen.

    Released just today, this book came out in time for tonight's Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! on Syfy. I think it's extremely clever. So brilliant, that I, a collector notorious for not buying books when new, had to rush out as soon as I was done with work and snag a copy. Sadly, I could only find the variant covers available at my local comics shop.

 (Side Note: regular cover A and variant C, which features the classic version of the Archie Gang was sold out at the comic book store I went to. In fact, I've been told that the classic-style covers are outselling the modern looks about 5-1! Proof that fans can handle more mature stories drawn in that iconic style that has thrived for over 40 years! Take that Mark Waid and Fiona Staples!)

Like a train wreck, you can't look away and there's a wickedly morbid fascination with tornadoes filled with sharks. Living in North Carolina, where there're been about a dozen shark attacks in the past month, I actually don't see this as taboo either. (#guiltypleasure) I can't believe I'm going to say this but in terms of Archie Vs. Sharknado, I'm hooked!

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Sharknado and Sharknado 2: The Second One

Today I gave in to the cultural phenomenon that is SHARKNADO! Friends of ours who have really good taste in comics and sci-fi recommended it and my and I decided to give it a try.

Now I love B-movies: the schlockier, the better. One of my favorite shows of all-time is Mystery Science Theatre 3000 (MST3K). It was a show in which people in front of the screen mocked horrible movies, just like I would do with friends in college (I minored in Film Studies.) The whole “how unbelievable” routine was in full force between my wife and I with myself playing the ‘believer’ to her ‘skeptic.’

Now I normally don’t combine things into one review unless they’re packaged together in a bound volume or a set. But since the two films are pretty much interchangeable, I made an exception. I will have to say that the second film was better, probably because it didn’t take itself so seriously. The opening sequence is a parody of Airplane! And that William Shatner episode of Twilight Zone. Only instead of a monster on the wing, a giant water spout of sharks attacked a commercial airliner.

SyFy and probably the world, was shocked that Sharknado was such a big hit. I’m one of those people. Even more shocking was how many people tweeted how this was the best thing that ever happened to them (The version I watch of Sharknado 2 was a repeat from Saturday with tweets from viewers last week posted in the left hand corner.) Really, a B movie about a storm system full of sharks- the best thing that ever happened to you? I feel for our country.

The sequel also garnered a lot of stars making cameos. I was surprised how many A-listers were in this thing. The first film only had Robbie Rist guest starring in it. (Yes, the same Robbie Rist who destroyed the classic show that is the Brady Bunch as the toe-headed coke battle wearing cousin Oliver. I cheered wildly when his character ‘bit’ it!) S2: The Second One had Kelly Osbourne, Kelly Ripa, and Michael Strahan, actual meteorologists from the Weather Channel and Al Roker and Matt Lauer!

I actually lost a little respect for Roker and the Weather Channel. It’s not because they agreed to do this movie. I gave them a little bit of props for that. No, I’m ashamed of the ‘reporters’ for actually reporting these sharknado weather patterns as real. I know it’s a movie but in both Sharknados, the meteorologists classify these weather spouts as EF5 tornados. That wouldn’t happen in real like as the Enhanced Fujita scale determines the amount of damage left by a tornado. It would not be classified until after the storm subsided.

I’m not going to get into the whole global warming debate but shame on SyFy and Al Roker for trying to convince me that my use of automobiles and air conditioning is going to cause man-eating sharks to rain from the sky.

Both movies are corny with bad acting, dumb lines, and even dumber special effects. However, I found it an enjoyable way to spend a mindless Sunday with a wife whose under the weather. I was entertained but unlike when I watch an Academy Award winning film, I like these movies for their lousiness not their genius.

As with any cash cow, the powers that be are going to milk this thing. I expect a Sharknado 3 to finish out a trilogy. And with other cultural phenomenon’s I would bet money that movie 3 will be in 3-D and in theatres, if only for a brief weekend showing. Will I be in line for that? Probably not, but I won’t rule out another lazy Sunday in front of the tube with some maple bacon popcorn.

Worth Consuming because it’s so bad it’s good and it has that ‘train wreck’ effect to it.

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars- this isn’t Jaws folks.