The 25 Baubles of Pop Culture! Advent 2022 Day 4

Ornaments representing Marvel Comics is next on our Advent. I start off with my favorite decoration. From Hallmark, this 2011 release is part ornament and part comic book. Some of the ornaments I adore most was a set of Little Golden Book ornaments from the mid-80s. These books were exact 2in x 2in replicas of some classic kids books that I adored as a kid. Well, the same thing kinda happens here.

The ornament boasts a replica to the cover of Avengers #4, which marked the resurrection of the character into the Silver Age of comics. I just love how Hallmark has Cap. literally leaping off the page. Then inside there are several pages that reprint Earth's Mightest Heroes and their first encounter with the revived World War II hero.

After Captain America, my next favorite Marvel property is the Fantastic Four, Marvel's First Family. Unfortunately, a quick Google search doesn't seem to uncover any ornaments starring the whole team. There's a couple made of the Human Torch. But they just look hokey. So I chose this early 2000s miniature set from Hallmark. Spider-Man, The Thing, The Hulk and Wolverine at one time or another were members of the FF. I guess technically this counts. One of the cool things about this ornament is that you hang the 6 heroes individually or you can combine the bases for one deluxe ornament. 

Spider-Man is another favorite of mine. If my wife didn't hate spiders so darn much, I would have tons of Spidey stuff all over my house. One of my favorite ornaments is of Spider-Man hanging upside with his webs. It's such a beautiful piece. But then I saw an ornament that looked just like it only instead of webs, the wallcrawler is using Christmas lights. Well, I had to pick that one instead! It's also from Hallmark, dated 2019.

Hallmark doesn't have the monopoly on great Marvel tree decor. Pottery Barn has an adorable set of hand stitched felt replicas of Black Panther and Spider-Man. Disney offers a resin ornament of Nick Fury. While this is of Nick Fury Jr and not of his dad, the former WWII Sargent, I like this one because he's decked out in the classic blue and white SHIELD uniform. Lastly, I really dig this painted wooden ornament for sale on musicdope80s.com. It's of the Hulk's head, adorned with a Santa hat. I think the image is taken from a classic work by John Romita or Sal Buscema. 

Captain Universe: Power Unimaginable

Collecting the almost very first adventures of Captain Universe- the superhero who could be you! 

This volume features the Bill Mantlo/Steve Ditko creation that debuted in the pages of Micronauts. Since Marvel no longer owns the rights to that property, the first storyline is missing from this book. It seems really weird to me. The Micronauts are referred to several times in the stories collected and in at least one of them, there are characters from the Micronauts seen in panels recalling Captain Universe's origin. Surely, Marvel could have worked out some sort of licensing agreement to have had those books added to this assemblage.

I bought this book because of the reprinted stories from Marvel Spotlight. I figured paying less than $7.00 cover price (Check your local Ollie's for this book!) was going to be cheaper than finding those 3 issues from the early 70s. It was a very good gamble as I enjoyed almost the entire book.

The concept behind Captain Universe was that there's the sentient power called the Unipower. It bestows itself upon random people in need of superhero assistance. From a small child to a pair of twins, the Unipower wasn't prejudiced. The best story involves Bruce Banner being stripped from his Hulk persona and becoming Captain Universe. While fighting his mean green alter-ego, Banner must also stop a nuclear missile from being launched on the Soviet Union!

My least favorite story was the last one. It sorta reboots the character and ends on a cliffhanger. I wouldn't mind either if Marvel ever published a second volume. As this book debuted in 2005 and a quick Amazon search doesn't show a sequel, I ended this amazing read a little unfulfilled. 

Another thing that might make you feel like you are missing something is that some of these stories are from Web of Spider-Man. Other than an off-panel cameo of Peter Parker, the wall-crawler is absent from this book. Do not expect this book to be the jewel of your Spidey collection.

But for someone like myself who didn't any of the books or stories reprinted (except for the Marvel Fanfare beauty), this is a great collection of adventures. I love the Steve Ditko art and it's kinda fitting to read this now as he passed away earlier this year. Plus it features work from the great Bill Mantlo whose career, but not life, was cut way too short by a hit-and-run driver.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Unlimited Access #1

Axel Asher, also known as in inter-dimensional skipping hero Access is back. 

This time, he doesn't just have to prevent heroes from both the DC and Marvel universes from jumping between worlds, he now has to prevent them from screwing up with the time-line.

During a period of lost time, Access discovers that the believed long dead Hal Jordan Green Latern has returned! Not only that, but the Hulk has been sent back in time to the Old West. 

Generally, when a hero from one world enters the other world, there's a loose period of time in which Access must return the interloper to their original world. To go past that limit could mean the return of the Amalgam Universe; another dimension in which the Marvel and DC Universes are blended into one. But when people are starting to be sent back and forwards in time, those rules are no longer in play.

There's no telling how much time Access has to fix time before the Amalgam world returns...

Written by Karl Kesel, a writer with experience in both DC and Marvel lore, Unlimited Access is in good hands. But this 1997 miniseries isn't written by someone who was involved with the three prior stories in the DC/Marvel crossover Saga. Having time travel being thrown into the mix was a brilliant twist. It really makes the story of Access that much more interesting and fresh.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

1977: A Madman Turns 40: 2017- Day 27

Cover to issue #1.

    This month marks the 40th Anniversary of one of my favorite comic books- The Rampaging Hulk. It actually is more like a magazine or tabloid. because it was printed over-sized like a copy of LIFE Magazine. The book was printed in black and white and served 2 purposes A) to be a little more edgy in order to appeal to older readers and B) be used as a promotional tool for the live-action Hulk TV series starring Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno that debuted a year later.

    This first issue of the Rampaging Hulk recaps Hulk's origin as a gamma bomb transforms Bruce Banner into a big Green Monster. But instead of being a full retelling of the Incredible Hulk comic book, this series takes Hulk and his sidekick, Teenager Rick Jones into the stratosphere. While vacationing in Rome (where all superheroes go after they get their powers for some much needed R&R), Hulk and Rick are kidnapped by alien invaders called the Krylorians. 

    Under the guise of friendship, the Krylorians actually want to use the Hulk as a weapon against those who oppose their harsh rule. Rick helps the Hulk figure this out and the duo escape. While on the run, they meet Bereet, a rebel who uses her techno-artworks as weapons against the Krylorians.
 

Bereet.
Her weapons were kept in her satchel.
It's like the TARDIS: bigger on the inside.

     For the next several months, Hulk, Rick, and Bereet's adventures are chronicled as they seek to overthrow these alien tryants. But then all of a sudden in the middle of 1978, this storyline abruptly stops. Gone is Bereet. The Hulk is back on Earth and who knows where Rick Jones went. That's because the editors lead by Stan Lee decided to shift the focus to being more like the TV show as I mentioned earlier. (Later issues of the Hulk comic would tie-up the loose ends to the Bereet storyline. Turns out it was all part of a series of very popular films that Bereet made on her home planet!)

   In the new Rampaging Hulk format, Bruce's name is changed to David as like on the show. (Rumor has it that CBS execs though the name Bruce was a homosexual name and requested Stan Lee change it on the show. Honest!) Each issue has Banner travelling the US searching to be cured from the Hulk transformations. More often than not, trouble finds Banner and he turns into a giant monster. 

    One thing about this new format that was not like the TV show were guest stars. Characters who also had their own Marvel Magazines such as Moon Knight and the Man-Thing made appearances in Rampaging Hulk. It's the closest fans the show would get to an actual superhero team-up until the Hulk TV-Movies in the 80s that featured Daredevil and Thor.

Cover to Marvel Essential
Rampaging Hulk Vol. 2.

    I never read these books in their original form. I found giant-sized treasury editions called Marvel Essentials that reprinted these stories plus some of the background articles on production of the Hulk series and that issue of the Hulk comic that tied-up Bereet's storyline. I enjoyed both and they are now permanent fixtures of my collection. A little silly, a lot of action and a whole lotta Hulk.

   Worth Consuming!

   Rating: 8.3 out of 10 stars.

Uncanny Origins #5

Madman Dig Cover!

     Issue #5 examines the ends and outs of the fateful day that Dr. Robert Bruce Banner was exposed to gamma rays and unleashed a Hulk upon the world. Like the last issue, this is more of a story of Hulk's first 24-hours on earth than a who's who in the Hulk mythos. Though I have read this story in the original form of Incredible Hulk #1 almost 100 times, the Uncanny Origins version of Hulk's origin does offer some things that I never knew (and always wondered about) like just how and why did Rick Jones end up on that bombing test range- especially if it's supposed to be on a secure army base!

   The last 2-3 pages give a very good general overview of the Hulk's life story after his first night. Though it's not explained why the Hulk goes from only coming out at night to whenever Dr. Banner gets agitated. Another thing completely glossed over it Hulk's part as a founding member of the Avengers. I know that this is the behemoth's solo story but his whole troubled history with Earth's Mightest Heroes is such an integral part of his history, I am surprised that the creative team doesn't even devote one little panel to it.

   Regardless of my small problems with this issue, it's a very good read. It's very well written by Glenn Greenberg (Dracula: Lord of the Undead) and the art was excellent. For the past 4 issues, Dave Hoover has done an exceptional job transforming the Marvel Universe to look more like the DC cartoon universe. X-Factor's Pablo Raimondi pencils this issue and to be honest, I couldn't really tell that this series had switched artists on me. 

   Killer cover by the way!

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.
   

Avengers Assemble, Volume 2: Science Bros (Marvel NOW!)

A friendly wager between Tony Stark and Bruce Banner takes the heroes on a global race against time to locate and rescue a missing scientist with Captains Marvel and America playing the role of referees. But this competition is no longer fun and games when the Avengers come face to face with a bio- terrorist whose kinda a big deal. Well, at least in HIS mind…

  Then the Black Widow's past comes back to haunt her when she is summoned by the widow of one of her hits requests that she find her missing daughter. Widow's search joined by Hawkeye and Spider-Woman will lead them to a mysterious sewer lair where the laws of nature have been horribly perverted.

  Quests seem to be the theme of this volume as the final story involves a newly reconstructed Vision who is struggling with his role in a world that passed him by after being disassembled by his ex-wife, the Scarlet Witch. His latest mission is to locate a corporate hero who has recently learned that he's outlived his usefulness to the execs at Roxxon. As the Vision sees how discarded this fellow hero is, it causes the Avenger to reevaluate his own position on a team that he no longer recognizes.

   Avengers Assemble starts off with the humor and fun banter that won me over as an Avengers fan. After some pretty heavy plots involving the end of the universe and numerous betrayals, it’s great to finally get some laughs. It just seemed weird to up and forget these horrors that had yet to come to a definite conclusion. It was also a little confusing but I got over it and enjoyed the stories regardless. I figured they'll get back to those crises eventually.

Well…

  See this book is actually a series I haven't gotten into yet. Since Marvel has this unfortunate habit of canceling titles and renumbering them all under the Marvel NOW! Imprint, I accidentally skipped volume 1. Plus, now Marvel has started to carry over different series into the trades instead of issuing them as separate works making for even more confusion. (For example, All-New Hawkeye #1-6 were collected as Hawkeye Volume 5 instead of ANH Volume 1.) So just what exactly did I read?

Avengers Assemble is a series from 2012 meant to reflect the cinematic version of the team. To be a starting point for new readers is all well and good, but Spider- Woman, Captain Marvel, and the Vision don't even appear in the first Avengers movie. But these characters do play heavily into the plots of the 2014 Avengers series that I thought this book was a continuation of. Geez… no wonder I was confused.

  Still, this wasn't a bad read and I'm more than willing to give volume 1 a go. But come on Marvel- get with it. You're giving my wish list fits with your convoluted numbering!

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Indestructible Hulk, Volume 4: Humanity Bomb (Marvel NOW!)

 

    With the destruction of Attilan, the Inhumans' reserves of terrigen mist have been unleashed upon an unsuspecting populace. Anyone with even the slightest bit of Inhuman DNA is in danger of transforming into an unimaginable assortment of beasts, mutated humans, or even a super-powered hero like the Kamala Kahn Ms. Marvel. Leading the charge for a cure is Bruce Banner and his think tank of scientists at SHIELD. However, when it's revealed that Banner's cure is in the form of yet another bomb, the Avengers have visions of gamma disaster that created the Hulk. In other words, Iron Man, Beast, and Ant-Man typically act before they speak and massive carnage ensues.

   Unfortunately for one of Banner's team, the cure unlocks their latent Inhuman potential and is transformed into a ferocious monster that feeds on anger. How will the Hulk be able to stop the newest member of the Inhuman family when this new foe keeps siphoning away any trace of rage and continuously reverts the Hulk back into a human? For once, Bruce Banner will have to save the day!

   This volume marks the end of the Stan Lee/ Jack Kirby Hulk. Up next are the reality changing events of Secret Wars that reboots the original Marvel Universe in DC Comics Crisis fashion for the first time ever. Unfortunately, the ending left me really confused as the volume ends with a cliffhanger and the promise to be continued in Hulk #1!

   What Hulk #1 is it? Is it Totally Awesome Hulk which star wunderkind Amadeus Cho taking on the role of the Green Goliath? Or is the answers to the end of this series found in one of the many one-shots and miniseries that accompany the Secret Wars storyline? For the sake of spoilers, I've not been able to find out what happens next. (But, folks, if you know- please feel free to spill the beans. Because I have to know what happens next!)

   Another Marvel NOW! triumph by Mark Waid with a cool Bruce Banner/ Tony Stark team-up by Jeff Parker.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Indestructible Hulk, Volume 4: S.M.A.S.H. Time (Marvel NOW!)

 

    Disappearing Airports... Rampaging Dinosaurs... Invading armies comprised of Vikings, pirates, and P-47 Thunderbolts... Someone is messing with time and only the Hulk can save it! 

    Because his gamma radiation can withstand the destructive currents of the time vortex, the Big Green Machine will team up with some of your favorite Marvel heroes of yesteryear in order to save tomorrow. But since the Hulk isn't really known for keeping on task, he'll be aided by a drone that comprises the brain patterns of Bruce Banner. For the first time ever- it's mighty Hulk and puny Banner teamed together to save time itself. Yet there's a caveat- should the Hulk calm down at any point during his quest, he'll morph back into his human self, stuck in a vegetative state  somewhere past unable to reconnect with his Banner persona.

   This volume was a fun ride. I love stories about time travel and this chapter of the Indestructible Hulk doesn't disappoint. Guest-starring the Black Knight, Kid Colt, Betty and Thunderbolt Ross, and a slew of characters that exist in the Marvel Universe's past, I was so stoked. I only wish that Hulk traveled to more time periods and meet further characters (maybe a few real-life historic figures too!) 

   This volume was written by Mark Waid, who I've really become a fan of with his work on latest runs of Daredevil. He's known as the only man to have ever read everything ever published about Superman. Well, I must say I think he's done quite a bit of reading up on the Marvel Universe as Waid crafted a story that paid loving tribute to the Marvel Age of Comics created by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and many more comics legends. 

   Aiding Mark Waid is the stunning Mateo Scalera (Black Science.) His ability to capture 1,000s and 1,000s of years of history in a seamless setting of time periods was awesome. Plus, I think he stole some designs from his work on Black Science as the suits worn by some of the time travelers looked very similar to that of the time displaced crew of that crafty Image series.

   It's a nearly flawless time traveling romp that pays homage to the Hulk family.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Tales to Astonish #1: featuring the Hulk, Wasp, and Hank Pym

While on a working vacation to Scadanvia, Hank Pym and ex-wife, Janet Van Dyne are recruited by the local authorities to look in on a madman who beleive’s he is Loki, the Norse god of Mischief, incarnate.

Adding to the mix is the Hulk, who makes a livesaving appearance, literally in the nick of time. This Hulk is coherent, with the brain of Banner having taken over. So, don’t be surprise that the Hulk is dressed and flying airplanes.

The art work is pretty darn good, with painted scenes that are gruesome and beautiful at the same time. The plot is really good and reminded me a little of CSI or Kolchak, the Night Stalker. The ending got a little too dragged out and I didn’t like one of the twists involving the Hulk. Regardless of this, the book was very good and very much worth consuming.

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

The New Fantastic Four: Monsters Unleashed

  

  When a rogue Skrull, impersonating the Invisible Woman incapacitates the Fantastic Four, the alien fakes their deaths in order to recruit a new team. Comprised of Wolverine, Spider-Man, Ghost Rider, and the gray Hulk, here comes the New Fantastic Four. Their formation will take them to the mysterious lair of the Mole Man called Monster Island to apprehend the supposed murderers of the First Family of the Marvel Universe.
   
 Written by the legendary Walt Simonson with art by the master of Monsters, Art Adams, Monsters Unleashed collects the epic three issue run that has become a fan favorite and is regarded as a classic FF storyline. It's so well respected that this all new team spawned not one but two 'What If...' Specials in the last decade. That's a testament to this 25-year old storyline's staying power amongst fans! 

    Featuring a slew of Skrulls, superheroes, crazy inventions of Reed Richards, and giant monster cameos, this is the perfect Fantastic Four story. I, like many other fans just wish the new line up would have lasted a little longer than a trio of issues.

   Worth Consuming.

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.



     

Hulk Smash (the) Avengers

  This trade collects the 5-issue miniseries, of the same name, that examines the Hulk's tumultuous history with Earth's Mightiest Heroes. From becoming a founding member of the Avengers and quickly their arch-enemy all the way through to about 2010 when Bruce Banner temporarily lost his gamma powers and a mysterious new RED Hulk come on the scene, just about every major time period of these two colossal icons of the Marvel Universe is contained in this book!

   Along for the journey are some of the original creators behind these classic events. Featuring the writing and artistic talents of Avengers legends such as Tom DeFalco, Roger Stern, Ron Frenz, Michael Avon Oeming and many more, the only notable absences from this collection were Stan 'The Man' Lee and George Perez, who has the distinct of being the only many to draw every Avenger and Justice Leaguer ever! (Another presence sorely missed is the late Jack Kirby, who co-created the Avengers with Lee. If I had it, I'd poor a little ink out in his illustrious honor.)

   The book was a wild ride of different incarnations of the team as well as different versions of the Hulk. Along with the original Green Machine and Avengers line-up, readers of this collection will get a peak at the Gray Hulk, Banner-mind controlled Hulk, plus cousin She-Hulk, best bud Rick Jones,  along with the West Coast Avengers and the New Avengers.

   A must read for any collector of the Hulk or the Avengers (or both!)

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 8 out of 10 stars. 

Avengers: Age of Ultron

 It's getting to be a Free Comic Book Day Tradition for Marvel to issue a new live-action feature film during that same weekend. It started with the first Thor movie in 2011 and has continued ever since. The media was making a big deal that this week was the biggest week in sports history what with the Red Sox and Yankees playing, NBA and NHL playoffs, the NFL draft, a NASCAR race, and the Mayweather fight. But I argue that with the release of Avengers: Age of Ultron, along with FCBD, this is the biggest weekend in geekdom!

    Age of Ultron was fantastic. It's the Empire Strikes Back of Marvel sequels as it was 10 times better than the first Avengers movie. Why it's even set to break all of the records the first film did in 2012. So if you have yet to see it, you are in for a treat, just be sure to get to it early as even on a Sunday afternoon, it was pretty crowded. 

    Age of Ultron starts off with the team attacking a Hydra base in Central Europe in hopes of retrieving Loki's staff, stolen during Winter Soldier. When the Avengers finally take the base, Tony Stark is ambushed by the Hydra influenced Maximoff Twins, Pietro and Wanda, who show Stark a vision of the future in which Iron Man's failures resulted in the end of life on earth. 

    Determined to not let this happen, Tony and Bruce Banner work to design an Artificial Intelligence that would cover the earth in a defensive shell and hopefully put the super hero in retirement. But when the programming takes a life of its own in the form of Ultron, the Avengers find themselves on the run of their lives. 

    This film has everything- action, adventure, a budding romance between two Avengers, great banter and running jokes galore. It also has a ton of superhero cameos, along with the occasional villain. But with the numerous interweaving plots and threads in this film, it's getting to the point where if you aren't watching all of the films, you're going to get lost quickly and that includes the supposedly unconnected Guardians of the Galaxy. When it comes to comic books, I hate it when you have to read a different title for the story to continue but since Marvel films come out at a rate of about once every few months, I actually like the interlocking storylines of the movies.

   The film as I mentioned before was heavy on action. While the opening attack on Hydra had some sequences that looked a little fake, the majority of the special effects were stunning. Speaking of stunning, the Iron Monger suit that's been popping up in the films as an easter egg since the end of the Edward Norton Hulk film finally gets some use. Thanks to some nasty tricks of the Scarlett Witch, the Hulk goes on a rampage that only Tony Stark's mighty armor can stop and holy cow! (And established fans, be ready to be overwhelmed by a scene at the end of the film in which all of the Avengers battle a legion of Ultrons. It was like that moment was taken from the dreams of George Perez, as there's so much happening in such a confined space.)

   I must warn you that some of the action in that scene is too intense for a very young child. I know this from personal experience as no less than 3 kids under the age of 5 went into simultaneous fits because if the violence during the showing I went too.

    As for whether this is a film for the whole family, I'm going to say no. The are some violent scenes that might be too much for those under the age of 10. There's also a little bit of language though that's not too much of an issue as there aren't any biggies. But this is a PG-13 movie for goodness sakes and the character of Ultron did seem to scare some kids in the theater.

    Speaking of Ultron, he was voiced by the always amazing James Spader. He gave the terrifying robot a very scary vibe balanced with some great one-liners that help prevent the character from being a total 'monster.' As for monsters, Mark Ruffalo's troubled Bruce Banner and his quest to balance the beast within was very well done and he should be nominated for a Golden Globe for his dual role of man and monster/ Hulk.

   The film had a ton of easter eggs. Most of them hint as the next chapter in the series; Infinity Gauntlet, parts one and two. But the seeds of descension planted by the mind games of the Scarlett Witch, played by a very goth Elizabeth Olsen, I think will play heavily into the next Captain America film based on the epic Civil War storyline. The line for that 2016 film starts right here, behind me!

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Adventures: Hulk #11

  The first ever crossover in Marvel Universe history occurred way back in Fantastic Four #12. In that epic issue from the early 60s saw the Thing tussling with the Incredible Hulk. Buildings were destroyed, bystanders were hurt, and a legend was born.

   Over the next 5 decades, the two titans would continue to tussle. But thanks to that dynamic two-part story, the Thing and Hulk would become uneasy friends. Often they'd team-up together and then due to some misunderstanding (usually on the Hulk's part) the two heroes would battle it out until that fragile truce could be reestablished. The same is no different in this all-ages friendly story from 2008.

   Here, Bruce Banner comes to the Baxter Building along with his teenage pal Rick Jones. The duo are looking for Reed Richards to assist the good doctor in finding a cure for the gamma radiation that turns him into the big green machine. The only member of the Fantastic Four at home is lovable Blue Eyed Benji.

     Not one to let a friend down, Thing gives Bruce free reign over Reed's lab. But when a squad of Doombots invades the lab, an errant laser blast angers Banner and he turns into the Hulk. Naturally instead of the attacking robots, the Hulk assumes the Thing attacked him and another classic battle between the two heroes is born!

   One again, Marvel crafted another all-ages classic in their Marvel Adventures line. It was fun and funny and full of action and adventure. The art was very good as well though it might have been just a little too clean for a battle royale between the Thing and the Hulk. Still this was an excellent story that isn't very expensive if you can find it. Plus, I just loved the last page- especially the very last panel.


  Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10

Rocket Raccoon and Groot: The Complete Collection

  This collection includes the first appearances of Rocket and Groot along with the Rocket Raccoon 4-issue miniseries, the Annihilators mini and a short-story sequel from Annihilators: Earthfall.

  Groot got his start in a 1960 issue of Tales to Astonish. In that story, Groot could say much more than " I am Groot" and was a bad  guy. It's classic Stan Lee and Dick Ayers sci-fi fun.

   Rocket was first known as Rocky Raccoon. He first appeared in a trippy story in 1976 about a Prince who lives in a Heavy Metal type universe were medieval meets technology. I think whoever did this book was on some serious drugs. The story ended with a cliffhanger that asked readers to write in if they wanted to see more. Since there isn't a follow-up chapter, I'm assuming readers didn't.

   But this wasn't the end of Rocket. He reappeared in an anniversary issue of Incredible Hulk. Here, the big green machine has been transported to the asylum planet of half-world. I had just read this story not 6 months ago, so I kinda just glanced over it. It's a good thing too since the Rocket Raccoon miniseries take place right after the events of the Hulk story. So, it was a good refresher.

  The Rocket miniseries was insane in more ways than one. Rocket is the chief of security on the planet Halfworld in which insane patients received therapeutic treatment by anthropomorphized animals. On the other half of the world, robots build toys to help keep the patients happy and calm. I had this miniseries on my wish list but having read this now, I probably wouldn't seek it out for my collection unless I found it for less than a buck an issue. It does feature some early work from Mike 'Hellboy' Mignola and it's visually stunning but this story was really weird (and maybe just a little too weird for me.)

   Annihilators was awesome. It was funny and full of action and contained great amounts of Easter Eggs. It takes place after the Peter Quill led Guardians of the Galaxy have disbanded. In that series, Rocket has no memory of life on Halfworld. This series attempts to rectify that retooling some of the events in the RR miniseries. I loved it and thought it was the best part of this collection.

   The Annihilators sequel was very funny too. It featured the media mogul Mojo and was a great parody of cartoons and action figures. The only problem with it was that it was a secondary feature and was way too short a tale.

Why Rocket and Groot have never been given their own monthly series is beyond me. They're a fantastic duo that work well together. They have crazy adventures and more importantly- they make me laugh. With Guardians being the darlings of the Marvel Universe, they probably won't get a series anytime soon. But hopefully EIC Axel Alonso will green light another miniseries soon.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Avengers, Volume 5: Adapt or Die (Marvel NOW!)

   In the Marvel NOW! Avengers series, the multi-verse has been shrinking for quite some time. In previous volumes, there's been a round robin tournament between worlds, passively battling for a sole proprietorship of what will be a single-verse. The Avengers have won several encounters by the skin of their teeth or just sheer luck. Tired of these near misses, the Illuminati have been quietly building a planet-killer type weapon to ensure the survival of earth-616.
   
   The Avengers are not the only ones who've discovered that the multi-verse is dying. Evil science organization AIM has taken notice and has discovered a way to open a portal to each Earth moments before it's scheduled to die. Their premise is to plunder these planets of their technological researches but with any wormhole, it's a two-way entrance. When a morally ambiguous Avengers team passes over to our universe, AIM must clean up their mess while the Avengers must cover-up the existence of the multiverse to an unsuspecting public. While the two sides are doing their versions of damage control, the earth-616 Bruce Banner makes a power play audition to become the newest member of the Illuminati.

    This volume is another exciting chapter in the Marvel Now! Avengers saga. But with all of these reality changing events going on, I've got to wonder where does all of this fall in other Marvel NOW! series. I've read the entire NOW! runs of FF, Iron Man, Daredevil, and I've dived into several other Marvel series like All-New X-Men and Mighty Thor. With exception of the Avengers titles, the shrinking of the multiverse, is never mentioned. I'd think with these reality changing events, it would be the focus if not at least a component of every Marvel title. But it's not.

   So do the Avengers titles take place a few years in the future or the past from the other titles? Is that why the end of the multi-verse is never mentioned in the pages of Deadpool? Not all of the New 52 books occur during the same year. Action Comics and Justice League are set 5 years in the past while the Batman titles are in the present. If that's so, I'd love someone to confirm this.

    Despite my confusion over these plot oversights, this doesn't make for a poor offering by the Marvel editors. I love stories involving multiple universes and this volume delivers. It's also leading up to another Civil War between Captain America and Iron Man. Months ago, the Illuminati wiped Cap's memory of the knowledge of the worldkiller device. But from the events in this book, I get the sense that Steve Rogers is not oblivious to the covert actions of the Illuminati.

    The writing was perfect. The art was good. I even enjoyed the gallery of variants covers, many of which focus on a mash-up of classic Avengers and X-Men covers. (Although 24 variant covers of Avengers #24 is a bit excessive.) 'Adapt or Die' was a great read and it's got me pumped for volume six.

   The possibilities for this series are endless, even if it looks like the multiverse of Marvel Comics is rapidly shrinking to a galaxy of one.

    Worth Consuming.

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Treasury Special: Giant Superhero Holiday Grab Bag

The phrase 'Holy Grail of Comics' is used quite a lot lately amongst comic book collectors. Oddly enough, it's perhaps the most un-nerdy of films that coined the phrase. The film in question is a little gem that my wife just loves called 'Coyote Ugly.' In the film, the lead character meets a guy and for a date works at a fish market. For payment, the guys received a bag and is very secretive to let her know what's inside. After she accuses him of buying drugs, the guy pulls out a mint copy of Amazing Spider-Man #129- the first appearance of the Punisher, proclaiming that the book is the "holy grail of comics.

   Whether that particular issue is the holy grail has been up for debate. But now, fans of all ages will tell you of that one special book that would make their collection complete or at least until the next holy grail pops up. For me, it's Action Comics #252- the first appearance of Supergirl. It's not that I'm a huge fan of the hero but when I was younger, I actually got that issue for my 12th birthday. I've since lost it but would love to have my hands on it again one day.

   Action Comics #252 is expensive. I probably won't be getting my hands on it anytime soon. But a couple of months ago, I had the chance to purchase what many readers consider their holy grail. The book in question is the 1974's Giant Superhero Holiday Grab Bag.

   The book isn't so much hard to find as it's almost impossible to locate in good condition. There're several reasons for this. First, the book, published as part of the Marvel Treasury Series, was gigantic. It was about 3x the size of a normal comic. Roughly about the size of a Life Magazine, it was not easy to store. Finding a plastic bag in which to store it was even harder to find and most bags at the time weren't air tight or treated to prevent it from the elements or light. Secondly, the pages were stapled, but the stack was glued along the spine. After 40 years, that glue has all but dried up and to find a copy of the Grab Bag with the cover still attached without new glue or added tape is rare as well.

    The copy I found was in beautiful shape. The cover is pristine but also is no longer attached to the spine. Plus, the papers inside are nicotine yellow in color. For only $8.00 plus shipping on Amazon, it was a tremendous deal. When I got it in August, I shared some pics of it with my now jealous friends on Facebook and made a goal with myself to hold out on reading this book until Christmas Eve.

     The Marvel Grab Bag contains 5 stories, but they're not all holiday themed. This is actually forgivable even amongst the staunchest of collectors. By 1974 standards, a Christmas themed comic was rarely done by Marvel, but not unheard of.

    The first story is a Christmas-themed reprint of Marvel Team-Up #1 starring Spider-Man and the Human Torch who're both on the trail of the sinister Sandman. Then in a classic Daredevil story, the Sub-Mariner seeks Matt Murdock to represent him in a court of law in hopes of suing the human race for taking over all of known dry land. Then we get back to the holidays with a Black Widow story about a teen who seeks her help in fleeing a cult. That story is a bit of a downer, but the art was quite good.

     The final story was a two-parter from Fantastic Four issues #24-25. This story teams up the Avengers with Marvel's First Family against the might of the Incredible Hulk. For years, this issue was sought after just for this tale which was reprinted here for the first time ever.

    Lots of fans I know want this issue because it was under their tree when they were kids. I wasn't quite born yet for this issue to have been a gift, but I dreamed of this book as a kid, seeing it at conventions, shops, and in ads in back issues. There are a few other books in this format from both DC and Marvel and I want them. So what if not every story is holiday related or that I've read a couple of these stories before. This book brought back memories and above all, made me feel like a kid again.

     Hopefully, if you'll ever get your hands on this collection, you might get to enjoy some of that Christmas magic that I enjoyed when reading this.

  Worth Consuming

  Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Spider-Man: Christmas in Dallas

   I can think of a lot of places to spend Christmas. Dallas just doesn't come to mind when I do. This very rare Christmas comic was published in 1983 and was available only as a special insert in a Sunday edition of the Dallas Times Herald. In it, Peter Parker is assigned by the Daily Bugle to cover a celebrity fundraiser in the heart of the Lone Star State. This mission comes just in time for Parker to miss his Christmas vacation that he has planned with his Aunt May. But he won't have very much time to fret as the Kingpin has decided to invade the charity event dressed as Santa. Only this fat man wants the presents for himself, in the form of cold hard cash posted as ransom for each guest.

    This issue has been on my radar for some time. Due to its rarity, it's not very affordable or easy to find. I got lucky on a low-grade copy over the summer and I must say it's been worth the wait. The comic does a good job advertising the Dallas newspaper without being too overt about it. Plus, it recounts the origin of Spidey without taking up very valuable 'all-new story' space. There was at least one thing I think the writers got wrong about this book as it has Peter falling in love with a stewardess and then getting the hots for another girl at the charity event. I may be wrong, but during this time, wasn't Peter Parker engaged to Mary Jane Parker?

   I finished this last night and I've been racking my brain on a different issue about this comic. Is it fair to base it on the quality of the advertisements? I usually don't but I feel like I must make an exception here. See, as I mentioned earlier, this issue came free with a copy of the Dallas Herald Newspaper. Instead of ads for video games, movies, or the ubiquitous X-Ray glasses for only $2.95 (They really work, kids!), this comic has ads for Dallas area businesses such as Boot World and swinging atrium doors. There's even one for a pawn and appliance shop. Oh, and don't forget that you could get the chance to meet Santa at Chi-Chis, Chuck E. Cheese, and the Lone Star Steak House (on route 59 in Bixby) no less.

   It just makes for some very interesting but strange reading. I felt like I was in Bizarro World when it came to the ads in this issue. Amazingly enough the price for a full or queen size bed hasn't really changed in 31-years. If anything, solid oak panelled desk chairs has fallen in price since the days of being in kindergarten and Return of the Jedi.

   I'll overlook the weird trip through Texas commercialism this time. But I must critique this book for its filler. See, this book used local Texas advertising only, so there was a bigger chance that the entire book wouldn't have enough to make for a full-sized comic. So, Marvel added some filler. For instance, there's a Spidey word search. Only, the instructions forget to tell you that when looking for Marla Madison's name in the puzzle, the two parts of it aren't necessarily together.

   Then there's the 'Spider-man's Favorite Villains' page. I highly doubt Green Goblin and Doctor Octopus are the wall-crawler's favorite anything. Towards the end of this book, things turn strange as we've got the most bizarre Bullpen Bulletin newsletter from Jim Shooter in which he claimed to have turn into a penguin. Lastly, there's this gem that you must see for yourself:

Santa Hulk Hate Good Grammar!

Overall, this comic was worth the extra money and the extra wait. It had a very good plot with an interesting time capsule of life in Dallas, 1983. The issue also gave me some laughs which were clearly unintentional. However, I deem the book Worth Consuming if not for the fact that I learned that there are 3 more books in this "series" and I want them. That's the greatest testament to any comic book series. It's a success if it leaves you wanting more.

 Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Essential Rampaging Hulk, Volume 2

I was sorely disappointed with this volume. I loved volume 1. It was a recap of the Hulk’s earliest adventures mixed in with the exotic alien artist Bareet. Her and her cosmic magic bag of tricks were a delight as she sought the Hulk and Rick Jones’ help to defeat a hideous race of invading aliens. Sadly, Bareet was written out of this magazine after it was decided to make Rampaging Hulk more like the hit live action television show starring Bill Bixby.

Since the series was written and published as a magazine, it wasn’t subject to the Comics Code. So, some more adult themes were up for grabs in this book. For example, in one story, Bruce Banner takes refuge at a Manhattan Y, he’s nearly gang raped by a pair of homosexuals. In another story, Banner juggles an abused drug addict and a suicidal single mother. There’s some very frank story lines in this volume that you wouldn’t have seen in a normal 48 page monthly. It’s just really weird to see such mature themes in a 70's comic dealt with such grittiness. Did Martin Scorsese craft these?

The biggest thing this volume has going for it is the art. The magazine was originally published in stark black and white. It made for some fantastic experiments with shadow. Graphite has never come in so many shades.

But while the art clearly benefits from the black and white of both the original format and the newsprint reprinting, one areas that was overlooked was the lettering. I’m not sure how it looked back in 1981, but using dark letters on a charcoal gray shaded letter box is very hard to read in a black and white reprint. Why the editors at Marvel did not retouch these is beyond me. But it also meant that several stories were difficult to follow as the lettering was unreadable.

Speaking of editing, in the next to last story, I found a big typo. A woman who picks Bruce up in her truck refers to both her betrothed and her new suitor with the same name. However, the new paramour’s name was referred to just a couple of panels earlier as a different name. I bet if I had found this when the magazine was originally, I would have won a coveted Stan Lee ‘No Prize” which was a honorary accolade given to astute Marvel Comics readers back in the day.

I did enjoy reading this volume. The art is some of my favorite in all of my years of reading comics. Yet with it’s new format of no holds barred material and poor lettering, this wasn’t as good as volume 1. Things did pick up towards the later issues, but the series was cancelled before these improvements were implemented to win back readership. Oh, well.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.