All-Pro Sports Comics #1 (2022 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Challenge)

Even though I was born and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina, I paid very early attention to the career of one Vincent Edward Jackson.  

Oh, you don't know Vincent Edward Jackson? Well, do you know Bo- Jackson, that is!

Jackson played a trio of sports for Auburn University including baseball and football. Bo's impressive scoring of 17 touchdowns and almost 1,800 yards during his senior year earned the Tiger the Heisman Trophy and Walter Camp Award in 1985. While Bo's future looked paved in goal with teams such as the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Buccaneers putting early bids on the multi-sport star. Ultimately, Bo went on to play with the Kansas City Royals and Los Angeles Raiders while securing several lucrative endorsement deals including Nike and a live-action cartoon series with NBC. 

But early on as a child, Bo Jackson almost ended up behind bars. The 8th of 10 children, Jackson's family were literally dirt poor in rural Alabama. They lived in a 3 room shack that did not have indoor plumbing. Often targeted for his stutter, Jackson developed a violent temper. The angeralso earned him a nickname- 'Bo-hog', later shortened to just BO.

A violent incident of animal cruelty put Bo at an impasse- clean up his act or got to juvenile detention. For the sake of his mother, Bo chose to put his aggression into school sports. Bo become a 3-sport star and was heavily recruited by many SEC schools. Jackson selected Auburn due to it's proximity to his family and the rest was history.

Some of that history includes Bo running a touchdown for a then record of 92 and 93 yards, breaking baseball bats over his knee when he struck out, hitting a home run in 4 consecutive at bats, and becoming the first player in MLB all-star history to hit a homer and to steal a base in a game. He was the MVP for that 1989 game. 

The Bo Jackson train came to a screeching halt in a January 1991 NFL play-off game against the Cincinnati Bengals. A rough tackle resulted in Bo dislocating his hip. Somehow upon being taken off the field, the hip popped back into place and the damage was done. Blood vessels damaged, Jackson was soon diagnosed with avascular necrosis which killed all of the cartilage within Bo's hip socket. 

Bo would never play football again. After taking 1992 off to get a total hip replacement, Bo returned to baseball with the Chicago White Sox and the California Angels. While Bo did have some impressive numbers, chronic pain kept him from ever playing more than half a season's worth of game. By 1994, Bo Jackson hung up his cleats for good. 

This issue of All-Pro Sports Comics was published in 1991 just as Bo's career ending injury had experts wondering 'what if?' Published by Burke Publishing, this issue was to usher forth a vast line of comics based on current and all-time great superstars of all areas of sports. Ultimately, only 5 issues were published. Joe Montana, Wayne Gretzky, Larry Bird and Evander Hollyfield were featured in these unauthorized biographies. Sadly, Burke Publishing folded sometime in 1992 before the release of the much promised issue to feature 'Steffi Graf Graf and the Babes of Tennis!' All-Star Sports Comics would be Burke's only comic book publication.

There is supposed to be a variant cover to this issue. Bo in his Royals uniform is the lesser known version. Despite the rarity of the KC Royals cover, I haven't seen a very big difference in the prices of the 2 comics. Though, I've run across the Raiders issue on several occasions in bargain bins throughout the North Carolina comic convention circuit. 

Bo Jackson will never be a part of Canton or Cooperstown. His career was too short and he never played for a championship team. But those short several years that Bo did play were exciting. If anything, Bo will forever be enshrined in my personal hall of fame. He was an amazing specimen who unfortunately became a victim of a career ending injury.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars. 

Completing this review completes Task #37 (About Sports) of the 2022 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Ghostbusters: Ghost Busted (2022 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Challenge)

Manga.

Comics and graphic novels that originate from Japan. Often printed in black & white for either economic reasons, aesthetic purposes; or both! Based on Japanese scrolls from the 19th Century, most manga is read from right to left. The artwork is highly stylized and sometimes a characters emotions or a scenes overall theme might result in the characters looking totally different for a panel or two. While a majority of manga is based on popular Japanese franchises or an all-new idea, a manga set to a licensed property from the West has become a growing trend in the past 50 years. Batman, Star Wars, Star Trek (Original Series and Next Gen.) and the Marvel Universe have all received the manga treatment. 

Ghostbusters.

A doomed labor of love from Dan Aykroyd to create a project to help keep best friend John Belushi out of trouble, resulted in the birth of a comedy horror franchise. In 1984, the world was introduced to the Ghostbusters. Ray, Peter, Winston and Egon. These four heroes work to free New York City from the threat of the demonic Gozer and it's army of ghosts and demons. After a not-as-good sequel, an amazing ABC Saturday cartoon series and toy line and a handful of video games ranging from god-awful (Sega) to epic, the Ghostbusters were turned into a manga in 2008.

Ghost Busted is set a couple of years after the events of Ghostbusters II. Reinstated by the mayor of New York, the guys set about ridding the world of spectral threats. But instead of just blasting every ghost they run across, the Ghostbusters have also gotten into the medium business. 

Realizing that many spirits are just the deceased trying to right some wrongs before heading over to the other side, the fellas now try to solve the Big Apple's ghost problem peacefully. However, should things get out of hand, the Ghostbusters are not afraid to use their nuclear powered proton packs. 

While the Ghostbusters continue to investigate the paranormal to great success, a character from the team's past hasn't had it so good. A plan of revenge is brewing. Allies are being recruited. Soon, a new team of busters will wall the city streets. A team of the undead. Meet the Ghostbuster-busters!

This Manga might not be all that traditional. The publisher, Tokyopop isn't Japanese. It's an L.A. based company whose Manga division was based in Germany. Up until 2011, Tokyo pop published German translations of Japanese comics as well as original English language Manga for American markets. The company now focuses strictly on Japanese properties. 

Also, this book reads left to right like a traditional English language text. The panels also rotate clock-wise instead of counter. But the artwork is definitely traditional manga. When a character gets emotional, they become angelic chibis or hyper-sensitive emojis. 

So Ghostbusters: Ghost Busted wasn't very true to the manga genre. However, I'm not your average manga reader. The number of manga I've read compared to traditional comics and graphic novels looks like the electoral college numbers between Reagan and Mondale. With exception of the cat-centric What's Michael?, I don't think I've read anything manga that wasn't based on an American property. 

Plus, I love Ghostbusters. I didn't realize how much I needed them until COVID. With being lockdown and then bogged down, I counted down the days to the true sequel of the franchise Ghostbusters: Afterlife. Even after being pleasantly surprised with that 2021 film, my hunger for Ghostbusters continues to gnaw. Consider my appetite sated. But I'll be hungry for another round of my favorite ghost hunters soon! Because CRUD! No Slimer!!!

Though I might have cheated reading an Americanized manga published in Germany, I enjoyed this read. The 2022 reading challenge is supposed to take me out of my comfort zone. I argue that I did venture out a bit. I just didn't swim out into the deep end of the manga pool

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Completing this review completes Task #41 (Manga Work) of the 2022 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Marvel Comics Presents #50

It's the 50 issue anniversary of Marvel Comics Presents and what does the House of Ideas do for a celebration? How about an 8-pager starring Ultra Man? How about a Billy Mumy penned story starring Comet Man? What about a wraparound cover that features every character to ever star in this series? 

Okay- that ones pretty cool. But for an overall anniversary issue, this was a pretty lame offering. 

I mean Ultra Man is considered a bigger joke than Forbush Man! Comet Man? Really? Who is that? 

Now the Wolverine/Spider-Man team-up comes to an exciting and satisfying close. And the Silver Surfer story was interesting. But it wasn't anything special to mark a celebration issue.

This really could have been better. More epic. More oomph. Something...

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

The Batman & Scooby-Doo! Mysteries #2 (Family Comic Friday)

I got behind this week. As a result, I'm digging into my stack of books I haven't had a chance to review for today's Family Comic Friday. 

I'm going to a personal fav for this one. It's got Batman. It's got Scooby-Doo. And it's got mysteries galore! Let's take a look at an early issue of The Batman & Scooby-Doo Mysteries.

In this issue, a ghost has taken up residence inside the Batcave. Could a real spirit have been unleashed into the Dark Knight's inner sanctum? Or even worse- has somebody discovered the location of the Caped Crusader's secret lair? With Scooby-Doo and Mystery Inc. on the scene, plus Robin, Batman will get to the bottom of this mystery for sure!

The Batman & Scooby-Doo Mysteries is a 12-issue maxi-series. It's solidly in the vein of a previous favorite series of mine- Scooby-Doo Team-Up. Only we explore the long history of Mystery Inc. and the Batman Family. In the first issue, Scooby and the gang went back in time to the days of just before Bruce Wayne became Batman. While it had a bunch of 1950s era Batman nostalgia, it was lacking something. 

While I still haven't figured out everything issue #1 was missing, I did put my finger on one thing. The great Sholly Fisch was not the writer of that premier offering. Thankfully, Fisch is back. But regular team-up art partner Dario Brizuela isn't. Yet, with the art of Randy Elliott, it's an adequate substitute. Elliott has the mystery gang down pat having illustrated many, many issues of Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?. His Batman is classic DC. Robin looks more like Bruce Timm's version from Batman: The Animated Series. It was all very good.

I also liked the twist to this story. It felt very Batman '66. I don't want to ruin the surprise but I think Randy Elliott spoiled it with the cover. I just won't dig too deep into the Joker's role in this clever detective comic. 

While there are only 2 issues left in this series to hit store shelves, a Volume 1, collecting issues 1-6, is currently available. If the young reader if your life hated to see Scooby-Doo Team-Up disappear, this is the replacement series you've been needing. I just hope when this series ends that another round of Scooby parings will be forthcoming in comics form real soon!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Harley Quinn and the Gotham Girls

Originally published as Gotham Girls #1-5. This miniseries is based on the web series of the same name. I'm not sure why DC decided that they had to add Harley Quinn's name to the collection. I would have read this without touting her. But I guess the publisher felt that the only way to sell this trade paperback was to add Harley's name to it. I think that is a sad testament to how much trust DC Comics has in it's female lead properties. 

The premise involves Catwoman stealing a vial of something from a chemical lab. It's revealed that inside the container is a powerful fertilizer that will increase yield a thousand. Unfortunately, this stuff will also cause weeds and invasive plants to thrive uncontrollably. Poison Ivy realizes the harmful potential of this stuff on the Earth and will do anything to keep it out of the wrong hands. With help from Harley Quinn, it's two against one vs. Catwoman. 

Added to the mix is Batgirl ,who is investigating the break-in. Sometimes she's assisted by Catwoman. Sometimes, Catwoman plays opportunist and turns Poison Ivy and Harley against Batgirl. Don't feel bad! Helping Batgirl while conducting official business for the Gotham City PD is Rene Montoya! A little out of her element but not to be underestimated!

I absolutely hated the dynamic between Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy. Ivy is so manipulative of Harley in this story. If you ask me, that makes Ivy worse than the Joker because Harley came to the Guardian of Gardens for refuge. Instead, Harley is being used, mocked and mistreated by Poison Ivy.

That relationship also doesn't seem canon to both Batman: The Animated Series as well as the web series. Sure, Harley Quinn can annoy the heck out of Poison Ivy. That, I don't blame one bit. But in animated form. I never got the impression that Poison Ivy was anything but a friend to Harley. Lover? Perhaps. But I never felt like Ivy wasn't truly a friend to the Joker's ex-girlfriend. 

Aside from writer Paul D. Storrie (Graphic Myth & Legends) getting Harley and Poison Ivy's relationship completely wrong, this was an enjoyable read. Though, I did feel that the 5th issue fell a little flat. Issues 1-4 provide backstory to Catwoman, Harley, Ivy and Montoya. Issue 5 neglects to dive, albeit even briefly, into Batgirl's personal history. That omission really interrupts the story flow. 

The artwork was very good. Jennifer Graves (Robin) draws everyone in the hybrid TAS/Gotham Girls style that is both retro and art deco. The covers by Shane Giles were amazing! They screamed the outstanding work of the late Darwyn Cooke! (In other words, I loved it!)

This work was enjoyable. It was far from perfect as a couple of characters just weren't portrayed as accurately as intended. But for someone who loves Batman: The Animated Series and it's various incarnations, this miniseries, I was entertained. Just next time, treat my girl Harley Quinn a lot bit better!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Car 54, Where Are You? (Gwandanaland Comics #648- The Complete 7-Issue Series)

I know that when I say that I'm a big fan of something it probably sounds trite because I like a lot of things. But when I say that I am a big fan of Car 54, Where Are You?, I'm not lying. 

In the very early 90s, Nick At Nite used to air the series in rerun. I used to stay up late on weekends and during the Summer with my mom watching marathons; laughing my butt off! The show which only ran for 2 seasons, from 1961-1963, starred Joe E. Ross (It's About Time) and Fred Gwynne (TV's Herman Munster) as Big Apple beat officers Toody and Muldoon. Toody is kind of a schlub, having never earned a medal or commendation in his surprisingly long career. Muldoon is a mama's boy, living with his two sisters while eternally swearing off the prospect of marriage.

My favorite episode of the series is titled 'White Elephant.' A gang of criminals have rented an abandoned greasy spoon in hopes of breaking through into the bank vault that sits on the opposite side of the wall. Toody feels bad that 'such nice people' are stuck with such a crummy eatery. So he gets his fellow police cronies to help fix up the place. As hard as they try to fail, the gangsters give up their life of crime and end up becoming successful caterers. 

As the episode ends, an elderly couple has rented the dump next door to the caterers. It's their plan to rip through their wall and break into the safe of the caterers next door. But with the arrival of Toody and Muldoon, those plans are squashed. It appears the elderly crooks are going into the stamp collecting business!

'White Elephant' is the measuring stick to which I judged the 7 issues of the Dell Comics adaptation of Car 54. I even went as far to re-watch that classic episode just to make sure it held up. And what do you know? I laughed so freaking hard. It was great! Even more so when I learned that legendary boxer Jake LaMotta, the real life inspiration for Scorsese' Raging Bull was playing one of the gangster!

The writing of the stories were top notch! One issue has Toody and Muldoon at odds with each other to the point of requesting a transfer! Another has the boys assigned to truancy beat. While on patrol, they keep running into a young lad who in reality is a baby-faced crime lord. Toody's chance to earn a police medal and the issue where the cops of the 53rd Precinct get starry-eyed and ruin a movie shoot were such perfect stories, I wouldn't be surprised if either story were actual plots written by the series writers of my favorite episode. 

Not every issue was perfect. The story where everybody confuses a chimp in a police uniform for Toody was down right goofy. I don't even think the yarn where a cowboy and his pack of Indian colleagues accidentally rob a furniture as way to repay Toody, would be allowed on airwaves today. I could see Netflix or Hulu having to pull this one after complaints of Native American stereotypes or something of the sort.

My biggest complaint has got to be the artwork. The images of Toody and Muldoon are great renderings of Ross and Gwynne. But those are the only two characters who look like their real life counterparts. Al Lewis, who would go on to immortality as Grandpa Munster, played Officer Leo Schnauser. In real life, Lewis had a sharp nose, round face and widow's peak. Yet in these comics, Schnauser looks more like a portly Don Knotts!

Going back to the illustrations of Toody and Muldoon. They get repetitive. I think that the artists were tasked to draw about 25 images of the actor's faces in different poses. Then those sketches were superimposed over and over and over in every issue. I first thought 'Wow! Whomever drew these did an amazing job making great renderings.' But I quickly realized that these was the same drawings as the positioning of the character's heads didn't quite match with the bodies.

If I had only read 1 or 2 issues, I probably wouldn't have noticed. But having read them all in just a couple of days, I noticed. I felt a little gypped. I also understand that publishers like Dell had to fight ways to cut costs in order to compete with DC and up-and-coming Marvel. 

Nits aside, I loved all 7 issues. It was fun getting to see old friends. It's even inspired me to watch all of the episodes of Car 54 again. Feel good reads for sure- if you can find them!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Completing this review completes Task #49 of the 2022 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge. 'That Makes You Smile.'

Marvel Comics Presents #49

The Daredevil story titled 'White Messiah'. It's an 8-pager. And it's a stinker. It features a black gang leader with pre-cognitive abilities named Scope. So you take Daredevil's sonar and pit it against this guy's ability to sense when somebody is trying to harm him and I'm really surprised
either one was able to land a punch on each other. 

But that's not what made this one a clunker. It's the dialogue. I'd expect it from a 70s blaxpliotation movie. There's all these jive turkeys and honkys peppered in, mostly from Scope. I expect better from Wolfpack's John Figueroa.

There is also a lot of criticism of the white savior syndrome here. Scope questions Daredevil's right to guard Hell's Kitchen when he's white and most of the neighborhood population is black. I know the irony here is with Matt Murdock being blind, he can't tell who is what color. But if this story was published today, it would be polarizing. 

You'd have half loving the cultural relevance. The other half would criticize it as being woke. I see it as a sequential art take of The Defiant Ones between a hero who pictures himself a villain and a bad guy that sees himself as a savior of his downtrodden people. It's supposed to be poignant and ironic. Sadly, the poor dialogue makes this story more farcical that poignant.

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.