Marvel Comics Presents #7

The best story thus far is a very convoluted tale involving Iran-Contra, drug dealers and devil worshipers. Oh, and Man-Thing. But he's nowhere to be found. 

It's almost like somebody at Marvel wanted to do a story based on the Ollie North/Reagan Administration scandal and got the okay to do it. But in order to do it (and not get hit with a lawsuit), the creative team were told to add a Marvel character to the story. Man-Thing got selected. But in order to keep the nature of the story as in tact as possible, Man-Thing's presence is minimal. Ultra minimal!

The Master of Kung-Fu story also has an Iran Contra type scandal in the mix. But it's the reverse of the Man-Thing story as the political espionage is minuscule and Shang Chi's presence is rather large. Yet, this tale is rather lame. The Master of Kung-Fu was a great series during the 1970s, when it reflected the hugely popular trend of kung-fu movies. Now in the late 80s, with the trend being ninjas and karate, this story just doesn't resonate so very well.

The Wolverine story is okay. But I'm not really big on the whole 'I'm the best there is at what I do and what I do isn't very nice' 80s mentality of Wolverine. I'm more of a Hugh Jackman Wolverine era fan. But that one-and-done Sub-Mariner story involving Prince Namor and a submarine was rather fun. It reflected that classic 40s and 60s Atlantean anti-hero vibe. Too bad that wasn't a multi-parter...

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

The Three Stooges: Shemptastic Shemptacular

There's 2 stories in this Shemp-tacular; one is an all-new romp. The other is a classic farce. 

The opener answers an age-old question that has plagued Stooges fans for decades: did Shemp and Curly know each other? The answer is: they sure did!

Here, Shemp is sent a package intended for the guys by mistake. When Shemp heads over to Casa Stooge, he finds the house in shambles. A mysterious message scrawled on a notepad leads Shemp to search for his friends while daydreaming he's secret agent, Shemp Suavely. Upon getting mistaken as a G-man by real spies, Shemp does everything in his power to protect the misdelivered mail and save his friends!

The classic story involves the guys getting swindled by  con man Benedict Bogus as they try to raise funds for a family in need. The fellas decide to go diving for sunken treasure. But they're gonna need a diving bell to do it. Tricked into buying a real bell, the guys might not realize that they're sitting on a literal gold mine as their new antique is revealed to be worth millions!

The story where Shemp gets mistaken for a secret agent was pure gold. It was quite different from your typical Three Stooges short. It wasn't formulaic. Plus, despite being a tad aloof about things, the otherwise scaredy cat Shemp was rather heroic in this adventure. He just didn’t know he was ever in danger!

The classic tale was pretty good too. This is the second time I've encountered this con man character. I don't remember him from the shorts. So he must have been just for the comics. He reminds me of Brer Fox, always trying to get Brer Rabbit into becoming the fox's next meal through some kind of swindle. He's really one-note and honestly isn't really needed. In fact, I feel like he detracts from the real stars of the story. But since this was a classic story, I can't fault American Mythology for the baddie's inclusion.

But why did the editors pick this story for this special? While Larry and Moe select Shemp to be the diver for the sunken treasure, this really isn't a Shemp centered comedy. Like I have hinted to prior, I know that other American Mythology specials carry reprints of classic Three Stooges comics. So maybe all of the good Shemp stories had already been republished?

Kinda like when listening to a Queen song. Even the bad ones are good. This wasn't a terrible Shemp tribute. But it didn't seem to be 100% about the greatest Stooge of them all either. But I enjoyed it because it was devoted to my guy! Now here's hoping for a Curly Joe retrospective!!!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars

Welcome Back, Kotter #2

Epstein's practical jokes are getting out of hand. We're not talking about his famous excuse notes signed by his 'mother'. This time, the Sweathog managed to move Mr. Woodman's car from the staff parking lot into his office. And if Buchanan High's vice principal can prove he did it, Epstein will find himself expelled.

Mr. Kotter and the rest of the Sweathogs decide enough is enough. But their timing couldn't be worse as a family emergency has Juan Epstein in a panic unlike ever before. With his kid brother in the hospital, can Mr. Kotter and his students be there when Epstein needs them most?

This issue from January, 1977 felt like I was reading a lost episode from the iconic 1970s sitcom. From the lyrics of John Sebastian's catchy theme to one of Mr. Kotter's stories about his assortment of odd relatives to some pretty impressive artwork of the cast by Jack Sparling (Strange Adventures), I was in heaven. ( If you count how many times I inhaled that fabled aroma of 43-year old comic, I really was in nirvana!)

The neat thing about this issue was despite feeling like an episode, it didn't feel stale. That's saying something for a show that relied on the same old catch phrases and jokes every 30 minutes. All of the characters seemed unrestricted by the bounds of their regular series writers. So did the plot.

I think that with the story not being bound by the show's limited amount of set pieces helped keep this story fresh. Epstein never would have been able to fit Woodman's car into his office on broadcast television. The flashback scene and the hospital scene probably would have been scraped for budget reasons. But thanks to the affordability of ink and paper, the Sweathogs had free reign over the entire borough of Brooklyn! I wish I could say that this classic issue was perfect. There were a few flaws. Mainly with Kotter and his wife. Julie Kotter looked nothing like actress Marsha Straussman. And the banter between the husband and wife seemed like it wasn't a reflection of the characters from the TV, but more like the introductory page of a MAD Magazine send up of the show.

Okay, so Welcome Back Kotter wasn't a comic masterpiece on the same level of anything written by Lee and Kirby. But I loved watching the show as a kid and an occasional episode now is a special treat. This series was on my top 10 list of comic book TV adaptations to watch. And I was really blessed to find an issue right before the lock-down hit. Finding this book in a dollar bin recently, was just gravy and a fun diversion during a rough time physically for me.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 of of 10 stars.

The Batman & Scooby-Doo Mysteries #1

 

As a huge fan of DC's previous all-ages team-up title Scooby-Doo Team-Up, I was first in line when I found out about this new miniseries. While extraordinary author Sholly Fisch doesn't seem to be attached to this project, fan-favorite artist Dario Brizuela is back!

In the first issue, Batman summons the Mystery Inc. gang to the Gotham City Museum when he discovers that an artifact from the Dark Knight's early days has been stolen. To get to the bottom of this mystery, the sleuths, along with Robin will split-up, naturally. But in a twist, Scooby, Shaggy and Velma will travel back in time!

Sadly, I was kinda torn with this issue. I loved the nostalgic nature of this comic what with the  appearance by Professor Nichols as well as seeing Bruce Wayne in his earliest attempt as a vigilante (which looks an awful lot like the millionaire's first crime fighting get-up in Mask of the Phantasm.) But as with many stories involving time travel, the perils of paradoxes cause, uh well, a paradox...

I had to read this story twice. Not out of love for the comic and wanting to relive it. Instead, I really felt like I missed something. And believe me, I am pretty sure I did. 

Don't get me wrong. I didn't hate this book. But Ivan Cohen (Beware The Batman) is no Sholly Fisch. However, I will say that I do very much enjoy Cohen's writing of Batman, like with his adaptation of BTB. He does seem to dig deep into the annals of Dark Knight lore. I mean Professor Nichols is pretty obscure if you've not familiar with Batman from the 40s and 50s. It's that I really can't connect all those dots...

There's also a big plot point that seems unneeded with Batman, Daphne and Fred going underwater into Gotham harbor. But I don't want to dig into that too deeper here without spoiling a surprise. (A surprise that seems rather superfluous) This mystery is filled with a couple red herrings. Maybe that scene was another turn to keep readers guessing.

There are 11 issues left. And low and behold, guess whose coming for dinner next month?! It's Sholly Fisch in a caper that promises a ghost haunting the Batcave! Zoinks! I can't wait for issue #2! It's gonna be epic!

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #6

If you've ever wondered how Wolverine came to utilize the Patch persona, this story set in Madripoor is the origin story you've been looking for. Having read some of Logan's exploits as his alter ego, it's really cool putting those pieces together with this storyline.

Speaking of alter-egos- the one-and-done fourth story involves the Incredible Hulk as that Vegas tough, Mr. Fixit. I've really wanted to read some of this era of Hulk lore. This story involving a version of the Hulk completely unknown to me was a pleasant surprise. 

The Man-Thing story is still very odd and yet really good. 

The Master of Kung-Fu story is still a bit of a chore to read. But! The cliffhanger has peaked my interest. So hopefully the forthcoming penultimate chapter will not disappoint! Fingers crossed but expectations are low.

Killer wraparound cover utilizing the biological abilities of Man-Thing!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #5

Thanks to an energy vampire, Wolverine is in some of the worst shape I have ever seen the mutant in this side of the live action Logan film.

With Man-Thing, things are getting even more weirder with this cult of Satan worshipers who have accepted the muck monster as a demonic answer to their prayers. Still not sure what they've got to do with selling weapons to fund rebels in South America. But I just can't put these 8 pages down!

I hate, Hate, HATE the Master of Kung-Fu story. An old frienemy of Shang-Chi's has joined forces in hopes of rescuing an old flame. But the kidnapper's overall objective, which involves selling drugs to fund rebels in South America is just too freakin' similar to the Man-Thing story. Why didn't the editors wait on this story until after the Man-Thing saga wraps up?

Lastly, in the 8-page closer, Daredevil comes across a teenager, mangled to a pulp, in an alley. The boy claims that someone is trying to kill him. The Man Without Fear persuades the lad to seek out Matt Murdock for help from the tormentor. But who the lawyer discovers is behind the stalking will shock everyone- including this reader!

Three very solid stories. And then there's the Master of Kung-Fu. Such a disappointment. Especially, considering how much I was looking forward to this tale. But I push on...

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Essential Doctor Strange, Vol. 2

This second volume of Doctor Strange stories were published from 1968-72. The Comics Code is beginning to relax it's rules on horror. During this time period, vampires, ghouls and demons are no longer on the no-no list. And Marvel Comics embraced these loosened guidelines with a gusto!

In volume 1, Doctor Stephen Strange battled demons like Dormammu. But those arcane foes were more outlandish like a Doctor Doom or The Red Skull. Their motivation was more power hungry than occultish. Now, we see the Master of the Mystic Arts take on the cultists who worship Doctor Strange's arch-enemies.

I like horror comics. But demons and devils just isn't my thing. And this collection is chock full of fallen angels. But, the stories were still pretty compelling as they are masterfully written by the likes of Roy Thomas and Gerry Conway. Artwork by Gene Colan and a host of others was rather good too.

I love the B&W beauties. But I found a print problem among the last dozen or so issues of the first series of Doctor Strange books. Those issues were originally illustrated and colored as a sort of reverse negative with white ghostly outlined renderings of either the hero or his opponents looming over the action. As a result, the retouch team had to reverse the negative yet again in order to be printed without color. This not only whitewashes the art, the excessive inks turn lovely streamlined works of art into blobbish works of art. 

Remember that fresco of Jesus that some lady did a poor job retouching to the effect than the Christ looked more Muppet than Son of Man? That's what happened with those covers.

Along this time period, Doctor Strange was cancelled. Maybe the readers didn't like the newer, darker approach. It wasn't for almost 3 years until Strange would return to print in the first 10 issues of Marvel Premiere. When he does show up, his foes become even more demonic. But by now, the renaissance of Marvel Horror titles had gained full steam and it seemed that an America now enthralled by William Peter Blatty's Exorcist were ready for a more mature Doctor Strange. 

Will the world be ready for another Doctor Strange title? Find out in volume 3!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.