DC's Terrors Through Time #1

Finally, after several years of complaints, DC releases a holiday time special that contains relevant content but doesn't make the reader want to kill themselves because of being shamed about the sins of the world. 

For instance, in the prequel story starring the Gotham City Sirens, Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy and Catwoman face a Hawaiian earth spirit who is unhappy with how their pristine island has become tarnished by man. I did not realize how much damage cats have done to the island chains' ecosystem, including the surrounding oceans! But in this story, the Sirens 3 are given a chance to redeem the wrongs and there's a little bit of hope; something that has been lacking from DC Comics' for the past several years.

I think DC is starting to understand that the readers with money to spend want to be entertained, not preached at. If I want a sermon, I know where to go on a Sunday morning. There's nothing wrong with covering political or even social topics. Just don't be snarky with your comments and inside jokes. Not every white male in America supports Trump and his ideals...

There are 7 other stories in this book which looks at horror through the ages as opposed to time travel frights. Based on the cover with the Super Sons looking over blueprints for a time machine, that's what I thought this book was going to be about. Alas, I was wrong.

Instead, the opening story, starring the Phantom Stranger sets the tone for this 80-page giant. The Stranger's story reflects on his eternal mission to save humanity from the forces of darkness. This usually involves demons and monsters. But I would have expected a story that took place over eons would have The Stranger wearing different togs. Instead, he wears that 1960s mod turtle neck, fedora and cloak of his throughout all time. I didn't know his costume was so timeless.

The story starring The Demon, Etrigan, was perhaps one of the best stories ever published by DC. The ending was absolutely freakin' perfect! If they still do awards for story of the year in comics, this one gets my vote and full support!

Other stories of note was the Halloween set story of the Super Sons as they go to trick-or-treating to all the secret lairs of the Justice League's line-up. Then go 50 years into the future to see how Swamp Thing protects the Green after a nuclear catastrophe. 

There's also a really good Green Lantern Corps story set about 425 years in the future. I felt that it was a story that contained characters that DC isn't done with yet. If that's the case and a Green Lantern Corps series set in the 25th century is to be a thing? Well if so, expect me to be adding it to my subscription wish list at my local LCS. It's that good!

And let's not forget that I was a fan of the Gotham City Sirens tropical tale. 

The two stories I was not a big fan of involved the Justice Society of America and Deadman. The JSA story, set during WWII, involved stopping some Nazis from obtaining a magical museum piece that could turn the war in Hitler's favorite. Overall, the art was good and the plot was okay. I just felt like writer Charles Skaggs (Grayson) was trying to fit 25 gallons of pickles into a 5 gallon bucket. The pacing was just too fast and the one-liners fell flat.

As for the Deadman tale, I blame the artist, Kelley Jones (Batman & Dracula: Red Rain). I love Jones' work. But I hate how he draws Deadman. This team-up with Damian Wayne had promise. But writer Tim Seeley (Hack/Slash) ruins it with Deadman waxing philosophical at times and Batman, when he appears, just doesn't seem himself. I thought Batman liked and respected Boston Brand. But here, the Dark Knight seems to treat Deadman with the disdain you'd expect from Batman to have towards Plastic Man. 

A very good offering of stories from DC. Not very scary. And like I said, there wasn't any time travel. But this also book contained what I think is the best story of the whole year of 2022! And this was probably the best holiday giant from the House The Superman Built in the last 5 years. I'm feeling a lot of hope for the December offering thanks to this issue.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Blue Devil Annual #1

This wasn't the last Blue Devil issue released for it's 1984-86 run. This annual WAS the last issue I read, however. So technically, when it comes to DC Comics, they saved the best for last.

Something is causing the supernatural heroes of the DC Universe to fight each other. Manbat is going for The Creeper's throat. Madame Xanadu and the Phantom Stranger are about to hex each other into oblivion. And thanks to about $6 million dollars in damage to his hard work for an upcoming flick, Blue Devil is about ready to rip the Demon, Etrigan's head off!

Just what or who is behind this madness? Throw in Felix Faust, Black Orchid, Nebiros, the demon who caused Dan Cassidy to become fused within the Blue Devil suit, and a bunch of baby imps and it's an all war!

This was the essential Blue Devil issue! The desert setting for the final showdown. The banter. The action. I wanted more of this. 

One could argue that the foundations of Justice League Dark are laid in this annual; even though it took about 3 decades for it actually happen. I think you could also argue that the other supernatural team that Blue Devil was a member of, Shadowpact, was birthed in this over-sized issue. 

Another factor in the positive for this issue is that not only does Blue Devil co-creator Paris Cullins pencil the cover, he also illustrated the whole shebang! Cullins left the series after less than a dozen issues and the art quality dropped significantly. I'm really glad that we got his artwork in this epic story! Having Cullins in on the action really was the cherry on top to this perfect read!

Summer Fun indeed! 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Are You Afraid of Darkseid? #1 (One-Shot)

It's time for DC's annual Halloween offering. Though not officially billed as a horror holiday title, DC consistently produces a yearly 80-pager filled with chills, thrills and giggles.

The framing story for this special has the Damian Wayne led Teen Titans bonding around a campfire. To pass the time, the team tell an assortment of ghostly tales.

The first story is a team-up between title character and New God Darkseid and that DC darlin',  Harley Quinn. Together, this unlikely pair take on a perverse version of the legend of Bloody Mary. With a great twist scare ending, the first was definitely the best of the bunch.

Don't think for a minute that it's all downhill from the very beginning. The continued bantering between the Teen Titans is just pure brilliance. And I took quite a bit of delight with just about every tale offered.

Other stories of note include Aqualad and Aquaman investigating the legend of Ogopogo, Clark Kent and Lois Lane on the search for a pair of missing twins, a Wonder Woman/Vixen team-up that had me wishing for a regular series between the two and a Batman-styled urban legend. 

There was only 1 story that I wasn't very big on. It's an epic starring the Phantom Stranger and that poignant pathway from life to death. Wasn't a bad story. It just was very deep and one of those prose tales that if you don't understand all the references and Easter eggs buried within, you miss out on most of the plot. Beautifully illustrated. But for a Phantom Stranger fan who loves his eerie exploits, this romanticized piece was a bit of a disappointment.

The cover was illustrated by Dan Hipp. I'm familiar with his work on the most recent incarnation of Teen Titans Go! Considering how much the Damian Wayne Robin is like the spastic Robin on the Cartoon Network farce, I'm wondering if I've been missing out by not following the most current comic version of the DCU's Teen Titans... It's definitely worth further exploration!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars. 

Showcase Presents The Phantom Stranger, Vol. 2

Volume 1 was a classic collection of spooky stories that had plots that skirted the edge of the supernatural. But more often than not, the villain was revealed to be a Scooby-Doo level bad guy in a mask. Occasionally, we'd get an honest-to-goodness ghost with an occasional UFO alien or monster peppered in. But even then, the true monsters turned out to be ourselves with prejudices and biases. It was an honest representation of horror comics restricted by the Comics Code. 

Volume 2 is comprised of stories published in the early 70s. At this point in comic book history, the restrictions on stories involving demons, vampires and other ghoulies was lifted and it appears that a now unencumbered DC Comics went wild in the pages of Phantom Stranger.

The Phantom Stranger runs afoul of an international cabal of covens. As these worshipers of evil seek to create a literal hell on Earth, they also seek to destroy the Stranger as he's the only thing that is standing in these devils' way!

Occult denier, Dr. Terry Thirteen, is the foil in many of these stories. I love this character. But he's so very much like Scully from The X-Files, as no matter how much sorcery and witchcraft does his witness, Dr. Thirteen always has an answer for why the episodes that just occurred were mere tricks of smoke and mirror. The last story which reprints an epic horror crossover with the House of Secrets and House of Mystery is proof of such blindness! 

This volume also compiles the complete (but short) 'Spawn of Frankenstein' storyline by Len Wein. Based on the Mary Shelley creation, this monster is what will eventually become an Agent of SHADE, and later one of Grant Morrison's Seven Soldiers. It was neat seeing his origins, or maybe it's more of a revitalization. Plus, really cool and creative how both the Phantom Stranger and Dr. Thirteen are added to the mix. 

Lastly, if you are fan of Deadman, then this is an essential read. Several of the final handful of Phantom Stranger issues have the ghost of Boston Brand teaming with the Stranger. Albeit, it's a reluctant pairing as Deadman really doesn't trust this guy. It's a crossover to the level of supernatural excellence of Doctor Fate and The Spectre but with a 70s flavor to it.

I liked this volume. But I am more of a purist. When it comes to horror, I am game to just about anything. But if I had to pick the type of horror that I am least a fan of- it's stuff dealing with demons. Ghosts. Witches. Magic. I can deal with. But once you start opening a portal to Hades and adding demonic possession, I'm just not a fan of that. Unfortunately, while Phantom Stranger, Volume 2 still bears the original formula of the series. But we started edging just a bit too much into Linda Blair territory for my liking.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Scooby-Doo Team-Up #13

 Shaggy being brave?

  Scooby on a quest for rengeance... I mean, vengeance?
  
  Daphne able to do wicked somersaults?

   Something is up with the Mystery Machine gang and that can only mean one thing: the ghosts of the DC Universe have arrived. 

    When the Phantom Stranger comes to the gang's house on Halloween, the detectives are whisked away to a ghost town in the deserts of Nevada. Their mission: to find where all of the ghosts of the DCU have been disappearing to and who is behind their apparent ghost- nappings.

    Featuring a veritable Who's Who of DC Universe spooks, this issue was tons of holiday fun. Along with Phantom Stranger and Deadman, this issue features Kid Eternity, JEB Stuart (from the Haunted Tank), the Spectre and many more.

   The only problem I had with this issue was when it was released. The story takes place on All Hallow's Eve. So in theory, this book should have released prior to October 31st. Yet, Scooby-Doo Team-Up #13 was released just yesterday- November 4th. What is this, the Treehouse of Horror? Halloween specials should come out before Halloween- I consider that slight unforgivable.

    Despite the poor timing of when this issue hit shelves, I still consider it Worth Consuming and I rate it a 10 out of 10 stars. There's nothing wrong with the art or quality storytelling by Sholly Fisch and it's not the production team's fault this book didn't mean the Halloween 2015 deadline.