It's Martian Vs. Martian in the most insane paring of all-time. Due to a temporal rift Marvin the Martian has emerged in the DC Universe, introducing J'onn J'onzz to an new color of Martian- the black Martian! Thinking he's found a comrade, the Martian Manhunter extends an olive branch to Marvin. The tiny Martian accepts but he's appalled that J'onn has yet to conquer earth and eagerly seeks to train the Manhunter in the art of global conquest. And J'on J'onzz thought the White Martians were a headache...
Then in the second feature, the same tale is told but it's given the Looney Tunes treatment. Now in the some of the other specials, I didn't like the fact that they repeated the main story in the back-up feature. But it actually works here. This story is so insane that the zany style of the Looney Tunes gang works best in this situation.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed both stories. But the back-up feature was way better than the DC Universe set story. Great writing by Steve Orlando (Supergirl) and Jim Fanning. They are both very witty. The visuals were okay but not perfect artwork by Aaron Lopresti (Atomic Toybox) and John Loter and I just love how Lopresti finally reveals what a black Martian looks like without their helmet! A lifelong mystery finally solved!!!
A fun read that is full of great laughs but a little lacking in the art department.
Worth Consuming!
Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.
When prospector Yosemite Sam finally strikes it rich, it brings about the attention of some unsavory characters. Seeking protection, Sam hires the baddest bounty hunter in the Old West, Jonah Hex as his body guard. This usually isn't Hex's thing but he's got a week to kill before the fee for his latest capture gets delivered.
Then in the second feature by Bill Matheny and Dave Alvarez, it's bear season and Sam and Hex reunite when their paths cross. Jonah is on the hunt for a renegade while Yosemite Sam is trying to catch a nasty bear that has become the stuff of legend for it's destruction of property. There's absolutely nothing that could link the two prey, is there?
The Jonah Hex/Yosemite Sam Special was really good. It was another great DC/Looney Tunes crossover that got overlooked by the magnificence that was the Batman/Elmer Fudd Special. When I saw the preview cover, I noticed that Foghorn Leghorn was on the cover. He's a giant talking chicken! So, I couldn't figure out how they were going to explain him in this book. Thankfully, writer Jimmy Palmiotti (Harley Quinn's) explains it as Leghorn is a circus freak with feather who doubles as a strongman.
The interior art was great. I really like Mark Texeira's (Black Panther) style. It's quite gritty and rustic. But I didn't like the cover so much. Hex looks great. Foghorn's okay. But what is wrong with Yosemite Sam? Isn't he supposed to be bowlegged? Texeira makes him look too static for some reason. But man, doesn't Jonah look awesome? Okay- my favoring of the cover was 50/50.
A really good Western/cartoon crossover with just a small cover issue or two...
Worth Consuming!
Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.
Stories by Cavan Scott
Art by Derek Charm and Jon Sammariva
Published by IDW.
Return of the Adventures
It's been a couple of years since Lucasfilm and Disney authorized an all-ages Star Wars Comic. When Dark Horse owned the license, they published a number of graphic novels. Star Wars Clone Wars Adventures covered details set during the prequel trilogy. Star Wars Adventures furthered the action of Luke, Leia, and other classic trilogy characters in trades set between Episode IV and IV. Now Star Wars Adventures has returned in an anthology series that promises to explore the origins of new trilogy characters as well as explore some never before told tales of your all-time favs.
In this first issue, Rey's life on Jakku is explored in a story titled Better the Devil you Know. The gruesome junkboss Unkar Plutt has been kidnapped. His absence has created a vacuum of power that brings in a new leader whose way more worse than Unkar ever was- if you can believe that. This whole situation wouldn't have anything to do with that J9 droid unit Rey found the other day would it?
Emil Who?
Unfortunately, if you want to know the answer to that question, you will have to wait until next month for issue #2. If cliffhangers aren't you thing and you'd rather have a story with a definite ending, you'll love the next tale. It's called Stop Thief and stars Obi-Wan Kenobi. Set during the Clone Wars, Kenobi is on the hunt for a thief that steals something from the Jedi during a visit to Dex's Diner. What is interesting about this story is it's narrator Emil Graf.
Emil Graf is the grandson of rebel hero Milo Graf. Never heard of him? Don't fell bad, I had not either. Upon doing a little research, Milo Graf is the star of a Star Wars juvenile fiction series from England called Adventures in Wild Space. The Wild Space books have started appearing in America bookstores over the past year and they guest star a number of characters such as Grand Moff Tarkin and Admiral Ackbar. So if you or the junior readers in your life really dig the Tales from Wild Space series at the back of this comic, check your local library or Amazon.
The Series You're Looking For
Both stories by Tekken's Cavin Scott were quite entertaining. I just hate that the Rey story is a multi-parter. But that's my pet peeve and nothing I really hold against Scott or the publisher, IDW.
I absolutely love the animation-style artwork. Both Derek Charm and Jon Sammariva do amazing jobs making the characters look fluid. They're also quite adequate representations of some of pop culture's most iconic characters. Be sure to also check out the extensive cover gallery at the back of this issue. There's literally dozens of variant covers rendered by some of the best in the biz including Chris Samnee and Craig Rosseau.
Star Wars fans, this is the Star Wars comic you've been looking for...
Worth Consuming!
Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.
Life is so very hard for Justin. His parents make him do his homework instead of playing video games. His teacher wants him to do his best in school. And his twin brother, Jeremy, not only looks just like him but loves him and wants to spend quality time with him as well. But all of that's going to change when Justin finds a magic ring in his box of cereal.
The ring will grant any wish. Since Justin wants to play video games all the time, the ring obliges. Now Justin is living out his favorite game, Cosmic Commandos, in real-life. As giant aliens, flying robots, and living balls of snot attack his city, Justin finds himself unable to get past the boss levels. As his energy drains, Justin becomes weaker and unable to complete his missions. Thankfully, Jeremy has been reading up on the game manual. But can he help his twin brother before Justin's energy level reaches zero?
Cosmic Commandos was a fun read by Franklin Richards: Son of a Genius' Christopher Eliopoulos. This 2017 all-ages graphic novel by Dial Books is his first independent title. Young Readers will instantly recognize Eliopoulos' style from his illustrations of Brad Meltzer's Ordinary People Change the World Series. But parents might recognize other comic influences on this book in the form of Charles Schulz and Bill Watterson.
First of all, the children all look like characters from Peanuts. But it's not a straight rip-off. Justin is not drawn to look like Charlie Brown nor is Jeremy Linus. But when Jeremy gets said at his brother rejecting him, you can see Charles Schulz's influence on Eliopoulos's art. Why even the school is named after Schulz- another subtle tribute that only the adults will catch.
When it comes to the imaginative plot, there's a lot of Calvin and Hobbes at play. The legendary comic strip by Bill Watterson had day dreamer Calvin wishing he was space explorer Spaceman Spiff instead of being stuck in class. Justin is very much Calvin, to the point he's a bit of a brat- a very annoying brat. Also, in Peanuts, you don't see grown-ups, but you do here and they look very much like Calvin's mom and dad.
By the end of the book, I was very much wanting it not to end. I'm very glad it ended on a high note because for the first couple of chapters, I really didn't like Justin. So much that I was ready to throw the book across. But I stuck with the book and was duly rewarded with the ending.
Speaking of endings, I would be very happy if this book stopped where it did. Yet I would also be open to a sequel. Regardless, I hope to see more entertaining all-age adventures from Christopher Eliopoulos in the very near future.
Worth Consuming!
Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.
Written by Nate Cosby
Art by Scott Brown & Ruairi Coleman
Cover by Scott Brown & Omi Remalante
Produced by Dynamite Entertainment
Fruit Follies
It’s rare these days to find an all-ages comic book that can appeal to readers of all ages. But the good folks at Dynamite Entertainment have managed to do just that with their newest title Fruit Ninja.
Though Fruit Ninja originally was based on the very popular video game series, this comic follows the characters of the Youtube Red animated series. In both the book and cartoon, the main characters are Seb, Niya, Peng, and Ralph. All four are young students learning the ancient art of Juice Jitsu. Unlike their ancestors thousands of years ago, this group isn’t quite so disciplined. But their skills are unmatched as they battle with the disgraced Fruit Ninja Durian Grey and his army of fruit salad zombies.
The stories aren’t as scary as it sounds. In fact, the battle between good and bad Fruit Ninjas is actually done in the form of a dance-off. How terrifying is that? Well, Ralph’s dance moves need some major work… Plus the fruit salad monsters look more like silly scarecrows than menacing ghouls.
Wedged between an ancient Fruit Ninjas tale and the modern story is an adventure starring Barry Steakfries. Steakfries is the main character in the video game Jetpack Joyride. In this story, Barry seeks to steal a new jetpack from his archenemies, the scientists at Legitimate Industries. The heist looks to be smooth as the buttercream that powers the jetpack. That is until Barry is chased by a team of rocket powered hippos!
Want Steakfries With That?
Though this comic is titled Fruit Ninja, my favorite story was the Barry Steakfries adventure. Throughout the story, the editor interjects his hilarious commentary to the reader about the dangerous of stealing jet packs. This type of silly analysis is similar to techniques used by Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett. I only wish that the editorials were in a font just a little less strenuous on the eyes.
First issues tend to not be all that great. Like a TV pilot, there’s kinks to work out. But I think based on how much I enjoyed this, Fruit Ninja can only get better. It’s very funny, very smart, and something that I would read on a monthly basis. Good job Dynamite! Keep it up and you’ll have a loyal reader in me.
Fruit Ninja debuts in stores Sept 6th.
Worth Consuming!
Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.
Review originally published August 30, 2017 on outrightgeekery.com.
Another collection of Spider-man team-ups with some of the best, brightest, and most unusual characters in the Marvel Universe. (The Adam Warlock/ Strangers tale might be one of the best cosmic stories that I've ever read!) It may not seem like much, this volume. But, this is perhaps one of the most important collections of Marvel Team-Ups ever put together.
Volume 3 includes the some of the first ever appearances of Iron Fist, the Giant-Sized X-Men, the villain Arcade, and the first American appearance of Captain Britain. A number of these issues are the first ever pairing of writer Chris Claremont and artist John Byrne, right before their lengthy partnership on X-Men. If anything else, this book also opened me up to a slew of issues and reprints that I didn't know I wanted until now, including the ultra-rare Essential Marvel Team-Up Volume 4.
There's a wealth of great Spider-man stories in this volume. But there's one noticeable omission, Marvel Team-Up #74 in which Spidey teams up with the Cast of Saturday Night Life. Due to licensing agreements, that issue could not be reprinted. But that's okay, as a very long time ago I bit the bullet and bought that classic issue for about $15- and it was worth every penny!
Along with Claremont and Bryne, there's a ton of great talent in this book including Bill Mantlo (Rom: Spaceknight), Sal Buscema, and Ralph Macchio.
A collection that should not be overlooked just because it's in black and white.
Worth Consuming!
Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.
Stories by Mark Evanier, Paul Levitz, Phil Hester, and Jack Kirby.
Art by Scott Kolins, Ande Parks, and Jack Kirby.
Published by DC Comics.
Only Evanier Can Go to Apokolips
For the Month of August, DC Comics published a series of one-shots based on some of the most iconic Jack Kirby DC creations. It was all done to celebrate what would have been the King's 100th birthday. The New Gods, Etrigan the Demon, and the Black Racer were among some of the properties highlighted in the Kirby tributes. But DC saved the best for last in the Darkseid 'Over-sized' Special.
The main story was written by former Kirby apprentice and biographer Mark Evanier. I think it was the perfect choice. Like the Vulcans say in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, 'Only Nixon can go to China.' Ideally, if you're going to focus on the most important character that the King introduced to the DC Universe, you would have Kirby write it. But since his greatness cannot be with us, Evanier is the next best thing, since he had access to Kirby's notes and plans for the character.
(Interesting Note: Speaking of Nixon, Jack Kirby hated the 37th President of the United States. Seeing his abuse of power in the White House, Kirby designed Darkseid after Richard Nixon all the way down to his insecurities as a despotic leader.)
Now back to the review...
In the main story, Evanier writes of a band of resistance fighters. Their leader Makayla was an orphan at Granny Goodness' Orphan and escaped. In respond to the horrors she was subjected to, Makayla and he pair of companions deface statues and monuments erected to impose the fear of Darkseid over the populace of the Armaghetto. After three years of failures, Darkseid enlists the Female Furies to end this budding revolution. So when Makayla ups and surrenders to the Furies, has she finally given up or is there a secret plan behind her concession?
The all-new character of Makayla was one of the best new characters added to the DC Universe in a very long time. I need to know more of her story. I want a six-issue miniseries where Makayla continues her revolution against Darkseid and I want Mark Evanier to write it! I also want Scott Kolins to draw it.
Kolins' style is very dank and gritty. It's perfect for the slums of Apokolips. Plus, Kolins' has got this quality similar to personal favorite Frank Quitely that shows the characters warts and all.
A Fitting End For a One Man Army
The back-up feature is by Paul Levitz and Phil Hester. It showcases OMAC, just after he topples the general of the NPA (National Protection Agency) in the pages of the original OMAC comic from 1975. I loved the ending given to the One Man Army Corps. I think it would have been a fitting ending to the character right then and there. With art by Ande Parks this story was a powerful tribute to Kirby's skills as both a creator and artist.
There's a couple of classic Kirby stories here too. I've read the Forever People story before. But the All-Seeing Eye from Tales of the Unexpected #12 was something I've read about in books and magazines but never gotten to read until now. Nobody is quite sure who wrote the tale of a talisman that can see anywhere in the world. But this is definitely a Kirby-illustrated story filled with his then experimental panels and angles. It was awesome to finally get to read a story I've heard nothing but praise for for decades.
As I said earlier, DC saved the best for last in their Kirby 100th Birthday specials. Everything was perfect from the stories to the art and even the reprints. Well, almost everything was perfect... Sadly, the King wasn't here to enjoy it with us fans.
Worth Consuming!
Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.
Review originally published September 2, 2017 on outrightgeekery.com.
