DC Silent Tales #1

Less is not always more important in this experimental comic book. Gustavo Duarte's Silent Tales was originally published as a series of 6 digital comics under the banner DC's Speechless! None of these stories have words, with exception of the occasional sign in the background like for an exit from a building or a banner declaring items inside a store are on sale. Being essentially a pantomime, this very much is an experiment. Sadly, I didn't feel like the results of the half dozen tales had a success that was replicable.

Here's what on store in this issue without giving away too much of the plots:

• Harley Quinn takes on a DIY project.
• Cyborg looks to relax at Titans Tower with his latest record store find.
• Zatanna adopts a very hungry rabbit.
• Superman learns why it's important to separate his laundry under the categories of whites, colors and radioactive.
• The Joker partakes in some art appreciation under the watchful eye of Commissioner Gordon and the Batman.
• Intergalactic bounty hunter Lobo goes treasure hunting against a band of Nazi vampires!

Let me back that up. Nazi vampires. Vampires that happen to be demonic disciples of the Third Reich! Versus Lobo! Why hasn't DC Comics done a DC Horror series based on this idea?!

Silent Tales wasn't without good ideas. It's just proof that words are important. We live in a society that is obsessed with emojis and text speak. This book proves that comics need words and dialogue just as much as they need pictures. I like Gustavo Duarte. His artwork in Bizarro, the road trip adventure with Jimmy Olsen was so fun. That's why I wanted to buy this 2023 one shot. Unfortunately, the stories in this book are far from superior to his previous work because some of the details get lost without those oh so important words. (To be fair, Duarte didn't write Bizarro. Heath Corson did and that might have something to do with the better storytelling.)

Still, Duarte's art was fantastic as usual. So whimsical. Quite funny. He's a master of caricature. And those creative Ideas. I'm game to read more future works by Gustavo Duarte. But the emphasis has to be on the word 'read'. We live in the age of talkies!

As for DC Comics - please keep taking digital works and giving them the paper treatment. Each trial might not be a success. But for those of us who love the floppy, please don't keep us in the digital dark. 

And please, make that Lobo against the Nazi vampires miniseries a reality... PLEASE!

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

Batman/Santa Claus: Silent Knight #1

When an ensemble of Gotham City carolers are slaughtered by a group of vampiric creatures, Batman is called to the scene. Only these monsters are not in the same category of Kirk Langstrom and his Man-Bat serum. No. These beings are of an ancient eldritch race supposedly long forgotten. At first the magician Zatanna is recruited to find the culprit. But these case is going to require an expert at magic that is as ancient as the creatures behind the murders. 

Enter: Santa Claus!

This! This is what DC Comics needs to be. It was a great story that didn't need to pander to any religion, race, creed, or gender. Yes- this is a Christmas time story. Yes- Santa Claus is involved (though the St. Nick in this story is more on par with Odin). That being said, it's a holiday themed opening chapter that can be enjoyed by Christian, Jew, Muslim, Atheist, even Druid! 

I have 400 Christmas and Winter holiday themed comics in my collection. So I can say with some authority that this opener was one of the best Christmas comic books to come out in years! It was perfect! The banter throughout a sizable demographic of the Batman family. How Damian Wayne was unbelieving in Santa and Claus is just as skeptical of him right back! The terror and wonder of the holiday. The big reveal of the big boss behind the threat of these vampire-like demons!

I loved this issue and proof that Jeff Parker needs to lead the charge behind the 21st century of DC Comics!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Zatanna and the House of Secrets (Family Comic Friday)

Sorry to not do a Family Comic Friday last week. I had a bout with a nasty chest virus. Thankfully, it wasn't COVID. But due to waiting on COVID results and other tests, I had to quarantine. So I couldn't head to my library for some new all-ages stuff. But my hiatus is over and it's time to dive back into my weekly look at comic book and graphic novel reads for families to enjoy!

Zatanna and the House of Secrets is a recent offering that I've been waiting a very long time to get my hands on. I have always been a fan of DC's horror anthologies; cutting my teeth on them at a very young age. Thus, I was really excited to see how young adult novelist Matthew Cody (Cat Ninja) tackled the House of Secrets and it's long rich history. 

Zatanna lives in the House of Secrets with her father, Zatara. Zatara is a magician stuck to hosting magic shows at retirement communities. Secretly, Zatara is the caretaker of the House of Secrets. But Zatanna is blissfully unaware of this; as well as dad's real magic abilities. This is until one night, when Zatanna's father appears with a black eye and strict to not let his stage assistant, Pocus the rabbit out of her sight. 

Living in a bizarre run-down looking house with an off-beat dad, Zatanna is desperate to fit in with her school friends. With Pocus in her backpack, the girl sneaks out of the House of Secrets to a Halloween party thrown by the coolest kids at school. Things seem fine until a strange looking boy with blue skin attempts to steal Pocus and makes off with the key charm fastened around the bunny's collar.

A little unraveled from the incident, Zatanna hurries home. But now, her house is transformed into a menagerie of magical oddities. And a mysterious woman who holds Pocus' key charm and now claims to be the new owner of the House of Secrets. 

I really enjoyed this book. It told a very imaginative story set within the DC Universe. It had lots of nostalgic Easter eggs. But it also managed to seem fresh and brand new too! 

I do feel like the editors or just the book designer ruined a couple of surprises. I had an inkling of the addition of one classic DC magical character thanks to the cover. But a couple of the establishing pages seemed to ruin the overall surprise. Why do companies feel the need to ruin everything in a commercial of teaser?

I really like the artwork of illustrator Yoshi Yoshitani (I Am Not Starfire). It's got a traditional Japanese quality mixed with hints of Las Vegas and fairytale. It was a very nice fit for this enchanted graphic novel. 

Zatanna and the House of Secrets is recommended for ages 8-12 and I think that's appropriate. There's nothing scary. A couple of ultra-thrilling scenes. And a few laughs peppered in. 

I'm hoping there's more to Zatanna's story. There's more than one House and there were more than one horror anthology. So maybe a Zatanna and the House of Mystery is coming up. I would really like that and I think young readers would too!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Blue Devil #13

30 plus years after it was published, this Madman got his wish. Issue #13 was far from unlucky with Zatanna, Jon Stewart and Etrigan returning to free Dan Cassidy from the long-distant Nebiros. 

It turns out Dan's hi-tech pitchfork has absorbed some of the demon's bad mojo. That's good news for the studio behind the Blue Devil movie as it turns out that the film footage shot isn't full of demonic influence. But for Dan Cassidy, it spells trouble.

The comedic elements of the past issue are all but gone. But I still enjoyed this supernatural chapter very much nonetheless. Full of great guest stars and chock full of new twists and turns; including a new player who promises to give Dan Cassidy the fits. That is, if he survives the events of this issue!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Blue Devil #12

It finally happened! The long-awaited premiere of Blue Devil at L.A.'s Chinese theatre promises to be a blockbuster. As they say, the devil is in the details and the moving images of the demonic Nebiros have unlocked the evil side of Dan Cassidy.

Wreakng terror on the movie goers, Blue Devil has unlocked powers unimaginable. It will take the combined efforts of Zatanna, Green Lantern Jon Stewart, the rhyming Demon, Etrigan, and an all-new hero named Kid Devil to defeat Cassidy's dark side without doing any permanent harm to the famed stuntman.

It's always great when you get an appearance from Jack Kirby's Demon. Plus Zatanna just has great chemistry with Blue Devil. I really wish she would have become a permanent fixture of this series. 

This caper to the first year of Blue Devil was a supernatural comedic masterpiece by the writing team of Dan Mishkin and Gary Cohn with fantastic art by Alan Kupperberg.

Just about darn near perfect!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

The All-New Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Volume 2: Help Wanted

I don't seem to have good luck with team-up titles. I find one I like and then BAM! Cancelled!

It happened with Scooby-Doo Team-Up and it happened with this amazing series based on the Cartoon Network series of the same name. The Caped Crusader joins forces with well established characters such as Superman as well as more obscure heroes such as the Alan Scott Green Lantern from the JSA. 

This book was my official entry into my 2020 Halloween comics readings due to the final story of this volume. It stars magician Zatanna joining with Batman on Halloween in order to solve the puzzle behind just who broke into the House of Mystery. It's a delightful romp that features some of the most evil as well as mischievous characters to occupy the DC Universe.

Scooby-Doo Team-Up's Sholly Fisch is the scribe behind these gems. He's a proven master at
all-ages storytelling that is rooted deeply in the 80 year plus history of DC Comics. The House that Superman Built really needs to give Fisch a monthly legacy title for all generations of readers. His being greatly underused in his bi-monthly offerings of DC's lone pair of all-ages titles (Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? and Looney Tunes.)

A great read that I hated to see end. 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Blue Devil #5

 

Go to Hell, Blue Devil!

That's literally what Dan Cassidy does when he recruits Justice Leaguer, Zatanna to help him finally be freed from his rubber suit imprisonment. All Dan has to do is waltz into Hades, ask the demon who zapped him for help and he'll be released. 

If only Dan's ego wouldn't get in the way...

Sorceress Zatanna, who opened the breach between earth and the realm of the underworld, is on point. She'll stay on this side of the portal to prevent any little minions from crossing over. And it that doesn't work, then there's always the Mexican army to save the day!

Lots of action and adventure. While the Blue Devil series is a supernatural based one. It's not overt as say a Hellblazer or Son of Satan series. I'm perfectly fine with this as I like horror and the macabre. But I have very little to do with demons and such. Yes, they're in this book. But I don't feel like they're going to jump off the page at me or something. Those kind of books, I can do without. 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Blue Devil #4

Dan Cassidy seeks to be freed from the Blue Devil suit by teaming up with the mighty Zatanna.  But in order to be freed, Cassidy will have to ask the demon who imprisoned him. And he'll have to ask nicely. Does our reluctant have what it takes to face Nebiros once more without letting the past difficulties get in the way?

We got a brief visit from the Elongated Man. I really wish their was more of him in this story. Ralph Dibny isn't my favorite superhero or anything like that. But he (and wife Sue) were the heart and soul of the DC Universe and any chance to return to that pure presence gets me right in the feels. 

Dan and Zatanna make a great team and I wouldn't mind seeing more of them together. Also, I know that won't be the case. But they have great chemistry.

A very good chapter in the Blue Devil saga that succeeds in the chemistry department as opposed to the direct supernatural elements. 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

A Very DC Halloween

Collecting 2017's DC House of Horror and last year's Cursed Comics Cavalcade. This is a truly disturbing look at some of your favorite heroes from the House That Superman Built. 

Let's first examine DC House of Horror. I don't know how I overlooked this Halloween special. It's the main reason I bought this book. I already had Cursed Comics Cavalcade in my collection. But I could not pass up this getting my hands on this trade. 

Keith Giffen (Justice League) pens all of the stories in DC's House of Horror. Giffen, who is known for penning some rather lighter fare, such as all of those Ambush Bug stories, must have a dark side deep down. Every story in this special was extremely creepy. From a ghost story involving Harley Quinn and some poor haunted schmo hired to renovate the old Arkham Asylum ruins to a young American girl who summons the spirit of an Amazon warrior princess, I was creeped out by all of these stories. 

And that zombie Justice League story! Man, did that have a tragic ending!

The Cavalcade wasn't so bad. A couple of stories were rather light-hearted such as the Zatanna yarn in which her (and Fables' Bill Willingham) show a scared little girl the magic behind Halloween. The Swamp Thing and Demon stories were quite good as those fan favorites characters never seem to miss. And I enjoyed the twists of the Batman story and Robin/Solomon Grundy team-up. 

Speaking of that Batman episode, the villain introduced in that, Gorehound, needs to see a return in a multi-story arc in the pages of Detective Comics! 

I love Halloween comics. These didn't disappoint getting me in the holiday spirit. But I was unprepared for the level of depravity and sorrow that these normally upstanding and upbeat characters! 

I'm glad it's only just for All Hallow's Eve!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Cursed Comics Cavalcade #1

This, the official 2018 Halloween special from DC Comics has it's roots in history. 

First is the amazing cover that pays homage to the EC Comics of the 1950s. EC is the benchmark for which all other horror anthologies are ranked. Nice work Doug Manke!

Then there's the title. Back in 1978, sales at DC were dismal and a slew of comic book titles were unmercifully cancelled. To finish up the titles' running story-lines and to finalize pay for the creators, artists and writers, a small hand full of ash cans titled 'Cancelled Comics Cavalcade' were produced. To find one of these two issues is to find a holy grail in which you'd have to mortgage a first child to be able to afford. If you were a fan of any of the books cancelled, it was a day full of horrors.

So that's where we get the cover and title of our book. What's inside is 10 spooky stories starring characters from the DC Universe. Some tales are set during Halloween; some are not. Just as the seasons vary, so do the quality of the stories. 

The Batman story involving horror-themed movies and the Robin/Solomon Grundy team-up are the best stories. Once again the Batman Family tales are the best. Is this because of some unfair bias on the part of DC to put better talent on these titles? Or are the Gotham City themed characters the best that DC has to offer?

In the almost perfect category is a New Orleans 1880s themed story starring Jason Blood and his counterpart, The Demon. Then there's a heartwarming tale starring Zatanna and her dad. Plus the Swamp Thing story was quite good though it was a bit too meta at times to thoroughly enjoy. 

The Black Lightning/Katana story was good but it wasn't great. For some reason, lately, nobody really seems to be able to do the character of Katana right. Black Lightning is obviously in this book because of his series of The CW. So why couldn't he have been given a solo story? Is it because Katana is currently a weak character? (I think she needs to show up on the TV show, but that's subject of a different review.)

Dragging up the rear was a poorly drawn Green Arrow feature that has a bunch of plot holes. Then there's the disappointing (because he's my favorite and this story sucked) Superman tale that have more holes in it than the Titanic. 

The Guy Gardner story was another tale that should have been better than it was. Plus, the art was a very pale imitation of the late Darwyn Cooke. And rounding out the book was....

And then there's that problematic Wonder Woman story. As if you could not tell, I forgot all about it and had to go back to see which story I was forgetting. It had great art. The monster was quite creepy. I was satisfied with the ending. Yet, I had completely forgot about this ghost tale.

Cursed Comics Cavalcade was a decent mix of horror themed adventures. But based on the title, I think it would have been cool to have had this special comprised of stories starring characters who were cancelled during the DC Implosion. Along with Black Lightning, we could have see scares starring Firestorm, Kamandi, Vixen, and Shade the Changing Man. To appease the DC Editors, you could still have a couple of Dark Knight capers as the anthology series Batman Family was cancelled during this time. 

It's a missed opportunity but hey, there's always next year! Come on, DC Comics! Give this idea a chance... if you dare!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Scooby-Doo Team-Up #19

  It's Halloween night and the magician Zatanna invites the Scooby-Doo gang to a special show. But entertainment isn't all that the mage has in store for the detectives. Someone has kidnapped her father Zatara, again!

     The gang accept the case but while teaming with Zatanna, they discover that many mystical icons of the first generation of DC magic heroes have been stolen within the past few days. With the clock ticking to midnight, Scooby and friends race to solve the mystery least a sinister plot come to find fruition at the Witching Hour.

   This issue of Scooby-Doo Team-Up was a lot of fun. Dozens of magically powered characters from over 75-years of DC Comics pop up for cameos in this. Many I remember from reading my dad's old comics and some i had never heard of before.

    I really appreciate how writer Sholly Fisch ties in Zatanna’s first appearances in comics when she enlisted the Justice League of America to help find her dad the first time way back in 1964-65. It's little Easter eggs like this that makes this series a joy for older readers and not just the young generation.

   Before closing, many thanks to those of you who have become a fan of Scooby-Doo Team-Up. It was just announced that the series will be be going monthly starting with this edition. This means that the series is growing in fan-base. I really love this series and the move from bi- monthly to monthly should mean that there is more epic team ups to come starring the crew of the Mystery Machine.

Worth Consuming

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Black Canary & Zatanna: Bloodspell

The legendary Paul Dini has done it again with this original graphic novel starring the two biggest purveyors of fish nets stockings in the DC universe. When Black Canary is targeted by a ghost, she seeks the help of her fellow JLA-alum Zatanna for help. What transpires is a supernatural romp through Sin City.

  But, this isn’t some Frank Miller gore fest. Instead, Bloodspell is 96 pages of fun! I didn’t want this story to end. It’s got that magic spark that Dini infused in Batman the Animated series and its subsequent sequels. The art is classic and I just love the flashbacks that detail the history between the heroines. Plus, there are cameos galore. The only thing about this book I didn’t like was that it ended. Though I was also a little disappointed that when I finished the story, there were still about 40-pages left in the book. I thought that maybe there was another story or a reprint of a previous pairing between Canary and Zatanna. Unfortunately, about 2/3 of those extra pages involved a rough draft of the script. Thankfully, the other third was comprised of some fantastic character sketches AND other ‘director’s cut’ insider information.

   To my knowledge, Black Canary and Zatanna have never had a ‘Thelma & Louise’ type adventure before. But I wouldn’t mind if DC decided to add a Paul Dini helmed title to their New 52 line-up. I would buy it new every week. That’s a testament to just how good this book was!

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

"Secret Origins (3rd Series, 1986-90) Issue #27"

NOT WORTH CONSUMING

A true disappointment. This story was some jumbled, so full of subplots and ret-cons, it wasn’t funny. First of all, I always thought Zatara and Zatanna had something to do with Batman, but he’s strangely absent. Did I miss something here? Anyway, I was not a fan of them to begin with and this issue didn’t do anything to change my mind.