Lego Star Wars: Darth Maul's Mission (Family Comic Friday)

Yes- this is a children’s book! It’s either completely wayyyyyyy too young for me or I’m wayyyyyyy too old for it.

  Whichever.

  So, why did I check it out and read it? Well, it was placed in the New Arrival Kids Graphic

Novel shelf at my library. I had recently watched the Freemakers Lego Star Specials Cartoon Network and while geared for kids, I did find them very funny. That explains the Lego Star Wars part, but why is a 38-year old husband trolling the kids section. Over the years, I’ve been working on building up the graphic novel sections (in 13 years, it’s gone from 1 shelf to over a dozen, plus a kids and young adult section.) It doesn’t help that the librarians at my local branches don’t really know what’s appropriate for kids and what’s not. I mean, I found Watchmen in Young Adult once and Death: High Cost of Living in the kids section!

   Anyway, the book wasn’t a comic book or graphic novel by any stretch of the imagination. It needs to be shelved in young readers for sure. Even though the characters used word bubbles to speak, there isn’t any sequential action indicative of the comics medium.

  It’s a children’s book, through and through. Though, there are plot holes as the action goes from Naboo to Tattooine to a dance party on said desert planet and back to Naboo with no answer as to why Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan make the interplanetary u-turn in the first place. Talk about your suspensions of disbelief!

  Parents, expect many laughs and probably even more questions when reading this as a bedtime story.

Worth Consuming

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Flashpoint: Project Superman #2

  

 Meet Kal…

       In another life, everything would be perfect for him. An adopted ma and pa who loved him very much. A devoted girlfriend who was nosy as she is beautiful. A best bud and a beloved dog with whom he could share his inner secrets with without fear of exposure to the outside world. It’s an ideal life.

      But this is the Flashpoint and life for the young Kryptonian boy, Kal-El is anything but.

      In the Flashpoint, Kal is put under the microscope by researchers affiliated with the US military, constantly tested in hopes of becoming America’s greatest weapon. Life is scary for the alien child. Project head, General Sam Lane is doing his damndest to make Kal’s life a little bit easier, seeing the lad as the son he never had. Playing catch, reading him bedtime stories, and allowing Kal time with his puppy Krypto, Lane is trying to give the youth the life he deserved, in another life.

      But when the General suddenly disappears, a new commander will assume ranks and any hope of a normal and compassionate life for young Kal will be a thing of the past.

     The origin stories are the best part of Flashpoint. This chapter of Project Superman is no exception. In Flashpoint #3, you see Kal’s life in the modern day Flashpoint universe- he’s extremely timid, fearful, and as gaunt as a starving man who’s been marooned at sea for months. After this big reveal,  you wonder ‘how did ‘the Man of Steel’ get this way?’

     This issue explains that and so much more.

     Plus amazing art from Gene Ha! (Top Ten.)

     What more can you ask for?

  Worth Consuming

  Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Deadpool, Volume 1: Millionaire With A Mouth

  In the 80s, Wendy's had a commercial that was ultra popular. In it, this old lady looks a this gigantic bun with a teeny tiny hamburger patty in the middle of it and she yells 'Where's the Beef?' Well, with this new Deadpool series, I felt like I was asking the same question only that Deadpool represents the beef in this hamburger of odd proportions.
    After the events of Secret Wars (of which I have yet to read), Deadpool is now the most popular superhero in the world. He's the de facto leader and benefactor of the Avengers with Tony Stark MIA. Plus, with being so busy and so sought after, Deadpool has started up his version of Heroes For Hire, with D-listers such as Foolkiller, Solo, and Slapstick wearing the Merc with a Mouth's costume for a slew of gigs (most of which don't pay.)
     With what little funds he receives going to the Avengers, Deadpool's employees at HFH are disgruntled, overworked, and a little bit on edge. But with a serial killer, dressed as Deadpool, on the loose in New York killing both friend and foe of Wade Wilson's, has one of these employees finally gone postal? Or has our insane hero finally snapped? 
    (My guess, probably both...)
     With 7 Deadpool's now, trying to fit them all into this story was a tough challenge for Gerry Duggan. Sadly, there are two things missing from this Deadpool series: Co-writer Brian Posehn and Deadpool. Posehn went back to doing stand-up. I don't know Deadpool's excuse. When your public is clamoring for more Deadpool and you've relegated him to brief cameos, you gotta ask 'what are you thinking, man?'
     The first half of this book is so light on Wade Wilson, it's a bit irksome. Not that the hired hands of Heroes For Hire aren't funny or entertaining. They are, but when you pay to see a superstar and all you get are a bunch of opening acts, you're going to feel a little gypped. 
    Thankfully, by the second half of this book, Wade Wilson is back in the spotlight. But it's just too little too late at this point. I've not given up on Deadpool. I just hope that by volume 2, he's back in the driver's seat. 

   Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

Flashpoint: The Outsider #2

 

  After the assault on his supposedly ultra-secure compound (see issue #1), the Outsider tortures some poor schmo to death. As a result, the mysterious villain looks back on his rise to power and attempts to narrow down the list as to who really wants him dead the most. Needless to say, this list is quite long, but the deeper look into this incredibly unique (to the Flashpoint) character was very interesting and compelling. 
    Great artwork by Javi Fernandez (Magneto) with a killer cover by Kevin Nowlan (Metamorpho: Year One.) 

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Flashpoint: Legion of Doom #2

  After some careful planning, Mick Rory (Heatwave) enacts his plan to break out of the flying fortress known as Queen's Row. With a small band of prisoners and Eel O'Brien- the Plastic Man, helping him escape, Rory uncovers the secrets of the prison for super villains known as the Row and get reunited with his confiscated gear. But he's not done yet as Heatwave seeks to add some heat to old Detroit; home of his arch-enemy Cyborg!

    The gore factor in this series is proof that while Flashpoint is a great storyline, it's not the DC Universe. It's also not for kids. When the book says on the cover that it's rated for teens up, the editor's mean it! But if they ever decide to make this miniseries into a movie, they've got to have Tarantino helming this project! This has his name written all over it!

   Insane stuff that pulls no punches!

  Worth Consuming

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Flashpoint: Lois Lane and the Resistance #2

 Continuing from the pages of Flashpoint: Canterbury Cricket, the supernaturally powered members of the Resistance finally meet up with Lois Lane. But more of Wonder Woman's Furies have also discovered Cyborg's only spy behind the enemy lines of New Themyscira. Which side will prevail resulting in Lois Lane revealing the whereabouts of Resistance leader Penny Black? And even more important, who will discover the location of Penny's enchanted suit which has the power to finally turn the tide of the Atlantis/ Themyscira war in the favor of the human race!

   Where the stand alone issue of Canterbury Cricket was confusing as all get out, this issue of Lois Lane and the Resistance answered all sorts of questions. it even made me appreciate the Canterbury Cricket story that much more.

    Lots of twists- lots of turns abound in this issue, including a shocking cliffhanger that I really should have saw coming a mile away. But I didn't! Kudos to writer Andy Lanning for penning enough centrifuge that I wasn't able to put my finger what was going to happen until too late!
 
   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Flashpoint: Deadman and the Flying Graysons #2

 There's dozens of thrills and surprises in this issue. Nobody is safe and that's why I really don't want to get to in depth in this review, least I give away a major spoiler.

     Yes, I know that this issue is almost 6 or 7 years old, but with Flash season 3 being about Flashpoint, I know that there are others such as me reading this series in order to gear up for the TV version. So, really, there will no spoilers here!
   
    Worth Consuming

    Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.
   
   By the way- I just adore the circus poster like cover by Cliff Chiang! Just magnificent!