Blue Devil #6

After the supernatural events with Zatanna in Mexico, Dan Cassidy is ready for the normalcy of Hollywood. But first, he makes a detour in Las Vegas. But it's not for pleasure. 

Along his travels, Cassidy runs into a pair of aliens who are being hunted by some mighty indestructible robots. It's a massive comedy of errors and a direct return to the charm that made me fall in love with the series.

The mid-1980s line of new DC heroes was very hit-and-miss. Blue Devil ranks up there with Blue Beetle and Booster Gold as some of the best. I guess there really was a pot of gold on the other side of DC's rainbow!

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.

Kaijumax Season Two

Xander Cannon did it again! He crafts this tale of no hold's barred crime and punishment. Full of sinners and very little saints. Cannon illustrates a world in which characters who despite winning my heart wind up as worm food or worse! All the while, the giant monster/prisoner drama breaks my heart and makes me terribly uncomfortable. And yet when the ride is all over- I'm ready for more!

That's how it is with the second season of Kaijumax! An escaped prisoner (about 40 stories tall) defies the odds in order to reunite with his children! A rookie cop (about 40 stories tall) learns what it means to lose a partner and how to break in a new one! A prodigal son (also about 40 stories tall) must make amends with the passing of the estranged father!

While Season Two does carry over several story lines from the previous series, there's all sorts of new characters and angles that are added to the mix. Secrets are revealed. Debts are paid. And yet with everything going on, I would have to say most of the characters, as well as 90% of the island of kaiju prisoners from Season One are largely forgotten. 

Xander Cannon does promise at the end of this book that Season Three will bring it's focus back to the prison. I'm so looking forward to that. Unfortunately, I'm not sure when I will be able to make another visiting day at Kaijumax anytime soon. The pandemic has limited my resources. My library, which has volumes 3-5, is on delivery only and there's a 2-3 week waiting period for check-outs. But man, am I itching for another hit of this comic series that is a cross from HBO's Oz and the Godzilla films!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Blue Devil #3

Superman villain Metallo is revealed to be behind the attack on Blue Devil's brownstone. (Plus the robberies at STAR Labs.) True, Cassidy's domicile was collateral damage. But Metallo was the culprit. 

Blue Devil finds himself once again playing the reluctant hero. But in the end, Blue Devil will earn high praise from the mightiest hero of Metropolis- Superman!

The relationship between Superman and Blue Devil is so classic. I wonder why we never saw much transpire between the two. Blue Devil would have made a great entry to the Superman Family. But he gets relegated to the supernatural side of the DC Universe what with Blue Devil becoming a member of Shadowpact. 

I think the similarities between how Superman and Dan Cassidy interact was too similar to that of one of my all-time favorite DC characters, Firestorm. It's the Man of Steel who takes on an early mentor role to Firestorm, up to and including backing the Nuclear Man's acceptance into the Justice League. 

I'm sure the complete reboot of the Superman mythos after CRISIS will have something to do with Blue Devil leaving Metropolis life behind. 

A very funny story with two excellent henchmen of Metallo's who are completely inept! Here's hoping that we'll see more of them in the future.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

The Big Book of Thugs

This entry in 'The Big Book Of' series focuses on many of the lesser known gangs of primarily American history. But first, this book starts with an account of the origin of the word THUG from the history of the thuggees, a murderous cult from India. 

Journalist Joel Rose looks at gangs from all eras of American history. From it's colonial era days that in ways ignites the spark of American Independence through the old West to the gang wars of New York City. We see glimpses of Mafia's origins in Chicago, L.A. and Las Vegas. Lastly, we see how even the political parties of the United States used corruption, racism and patriotism to become some of the most vicious gangs in American history. 

This wasn't my favorite entry in the series. But I did enjoy it. I think the Big Books are best when they deal with the strange and macabre. There are some characters in this book. And they are the ones I liked best. The lengthy account of the Warren G. Harding administration was rather good too!

Once again, some of the industries most legendary artists join together to bring fans of history, crime and graphic novels an eclectic look at the darker sides of America. The Big Book of Thugs may not be pretty with it's lynchings, riots and killing. But it's a visually stunning book!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Green Lantern: Legacy (Family Comic Friday)

I'm pulling from my massive to-read pile for today's post. Join Family Comic Friday as we meet the newest member of the GL Corps in Minh Le's Green Lantern: Legacy!

Green Lantern: Legacy TP
Written by Minh Le
Art by Andie Tong
Published by DC Graphic Novels for Kids
Pages: 143
Retail: $9.99

When a legendary member of the Green Lantern Corps passes away, the ring is transferred to her grandson: 13-year old Tai. That's right- this replacement is only 13! Does a child barely in his teens have what it takes to become the next great protector of sector 2814? The ring clearly thinks so and thus the youngest member ever admitted into the Corps begins his training.

But Tai's tenure as a Green Lantern may not last for long when he is confronted by a member of Sinestro's Yellow Lantern Corps. Suffering from years of persecution as a second generation Vietnamese immigrant, Tai is tempted by the villain's yellow ring to enact the revenge and justice he and the members of his community have so desperately yearned for. Will Tai succumb to his dark side?

Green Lantern: Legacy was a pleasant surprise. I was afraid that this new Lantern might be a complete reboot of the GL franchise and have done away with over 50 years of classic characters. If you have similar apprehensions, fret not! Many of your favorite Green Lantern characters are here including Jon Stewart and Kilowog.

I'm not sure where Hal Jordan is however. Hal nowhere to be seen or mentioned in this graphic novel. According to the book, Tai's grandmother was the Green Lantern who trained Jon Stewart. Could Legacy be an Elseworld-type story in which the ring selects merchant Kim Tran instead of test pilot Jordan? Or is this story another untold chapter of the DC Universe?

I really hope the answer is yes to the second question. I would like to see Tai added to the Green Lantern roster full-time. I know that there seems to be a disproportionate number of humans in their ranks. But hey--- What's one more great character???

This is award-winning author Minh Le's (Drawn Together) first foray into the DC Universe. And I hope he becomes a permanent fixture, just as I hope to see more of Tai Tran! Le's characters are very real. The kids sounds like kids. The villains are creepy. And while there's a very socially relevant plot behind this origin story, this isn't preachy. What Legacy does is make you think, love and empathize. 

I also enjoyed the artwork by Andie Tong (Star Wars). Its not exactly very clean. But it's a great mix of American, Asian and intergalactic cultures. Sometimes, I forgot who was behind the art as many panels look a lot like that of Battling Boy's Paul Pope. But that's not an insult as I really like Pope's artwork. It just means that I am adding Andie Tong to my list of artists to be on the lookout for more from!

Together Le and Tong created a flawless new member of the Green Lantern Corps. Tai's Yellow Lantern adversary is pretty good too. In a rotten sort of way! But I kinda wish that the creative team had done a slightly better job at hiding the Easter eggs that reveal who Tai's arch-enemy is. I hate to say it, but I knew who was going to be trouble for Tai and friends from the antagonist's very first introduced panel. And no! It's wasn't just my instincts kicking in. The evidence is there- clear as day and yet a little bit of a spoiler. 

Green Lantern: Legacy is a graphic novel perfect for readers 10 and up. There's a some fighting. But it's mostly the scenes of domestic terror and racism that may be a bit too intense for younger readers. This definitely is a graphic novel that promises to entertainment. But it's also a work that very well might be a helpful tool in addressing race and xenophobia to young readers.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.