Marvel Comics Presents #77

After 10 chapters, the Shanna the She Devil epic comes to a close- finally. And while I enjoyed the exciting ending and glad that one of my new favorite characters didn't die, that's not the segment of this issue I want to talk about!

Beginning in this issue, it's a Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos Old World team-up with Dracula! Holy Frickin' Cow! I love team-ups. Love Marvel horror. LOVE Nick Fury. This is a win, win, win! Only downside, this is only a three-parter! 

That just doesn't seem fair. We had a 25-part Black Panther story that ran slower than a snail in molasses. We have sat through numerous 7-12 part long runs starring Wolverine. That Shanna tale was 10 issues long. But we only get 3 parts of a Nick Fury/Lord of the Vampires war story? I'm gonna make the most of it, I promise you that!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Hawkman, Vol. 2: Deathbringer

Robert Venditti continues to slay it in this 12-issue series that seeks to make sense out of all of Hawkman's reincarnations. Venditti kicks things off with revealing the Carter Hall's very first life and the events that lead to him constantly dying and then being resurrected. While I was very satisfied with the end results of this series, I didn't feel like everything was properly explained or covered.

As I said during my review of volume 1, you will not see the JSA version of Hawkman as in 2017-18, those characters were currently non-existent due to events of Final Crisis or some other similar massive crossover event that rewrote multiverse history. I would have liked Venditti to explain what happens when one of Carter Hall's past lives are wiped from existence due to a Crisis level event. But such a concept isn't explained.

Also, I noted the absence of Hawkgirl from this series in the volume 1 review. That kinda happens here too. But in Hawkman's very first lifetime, there IS a mysterious woman who constantly hounds him. I'm assuming that this woman is Shiera/Sheyara/Kendra. But really there's no explanation as to why Hawkgirl keeps being reincarnated along with Hawkman. Having the pair be some sort of fated lovers doomed to never be together eternal romance is one that I am okay with. But if you start this love affair from Hawkman's very first life, things just don't make very much sense under that theory. 

Last thing I am disappointed in is the cover to this book. It pretty much gives away the amazing ending to this book. Yes, Carter Hall manages to defeat the big boss Deathbringers at the end of this story with the help of all of his past lives. Maybe the cover doesn't blatantly tell you what happens. But if you connect the dots throughout this series, this cover winds up ruining the surprise climax. So don't get mad at me for spoiling the ending. DC's trade paperback editorial and marketing staff did that for me.

This series was great. It has a few unanswered questions. And the cover kinda ruins a big surprise. But I enjoyed the heck out of the final battle and thought that Robert Venditti did an amazing job making sense out of a beloved character with a very confusing backstory. 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Hawkman, Vol. 1: Awakening

Around 2017, right around the beginning of Robert Venditti's Hawkman series, I sat in on a Q&A with the author. I had a general notion of what the series was about: Hawkman and his reincarnations. But what piqued my interest was when Venditti promised a chance to meet the Hawkman of Krypton. That was an idea I had never thought of.

A little later the same day, I went to another Q&A. This one was with Evan 'Doc' Shaner and Jeff Parker about their Future Quest series. The pair were very welcoming and while tech was setting up, they asked the handful of us in the audience if we had been to any other panels. I mentioned the Hawkman one and how there was going to be a Hawkman of Krypton. For a minute, Parker, I think, stroked his chin and then proclaimed 'That's a brilliant idea!'

Thanks to that singular yet enthusiastic, I immediately put that Hawkman series on my wish list. Of course there was a caveat. I'd wait until I could somehow get my hands on the whole thing to read at once. It took several years but last week I was finally able to get my hands on both volumes at my local library. And I loved it! 

This series doesn't just seek to revisit all of Hawkman's past lives. Instead, Robert Venditti is on a mission to make sense of those reincarnations! From his time as the Egyptian ruler Khufu to Katar Hol of Thanagar and lives in between, the mystery as to why Carter Hall is bound to constantly be reborn throughout time AND SPACE is revealed!

Yes, there was a Hawkman on Krypton. But that wasn't the only big reveal. Some other really cool revelations are that other seemingly unrelated characters in the DC Universe are also Carter Hall reincarnations. Sir Justin, the Silent Knight and the old western gunslinger Nightwing are also some of the adventurers past lives. 

A re-teaming with Ray Palmer in the microverse explains more of the science behind Carter's past lives, especially as the hero starts to experience time slips. It very well could be possible that two or more reincarnations can operate at the same time and place. So I wouldn't be surprised if it's revealed that the current Nightwing, Dick Grayson, is also a Carter Hall reincarnation! 

As Carter Hall uncovers the mysteries surrounding his confusing past, Hawkman will learn that an even greater mystery is on the horizon. One that threatens to destroy Carter Hall's beloved planet Earth. And one tied to Carter's first life in which he has no memory of at all!

I loved this opening love letter to the character of Hawkman. It highlights just about every aspect of the icons history. Don't expect to see the JSA in this series as at this point in DC History, those heroes don't exist. Also, Shiera/Hawkgirl/Hawkwoman is not as much of an active player in this story as you'd expect her to be. Yeah, she's here. But Shiera isn't a part of Carter's active search for answers. And I can't put my finger on why that is...

I devoured this first volume in just a couple of hours. Maybe not even that long. This was a fun ride with elements of Indiana Jones, Doctor Who and comic book history all mixed in. 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

The Three Stooges April Fool's Day Special #1

On their way to Poughkeepsie, the fellas are kicked off their bus. For bringing a live chicken, of course. Having to hoof it now, the boys find themselves at a renaissance fair. Only they think that they've traveled back in time to 'mud-evil' times. Welcomed as guests, though considered a bunch of bozos, Larry, Moe and Curly make the most of things. And that means getting into trouble! 

Then in a classic issue from the Dell/Gold Key years, Larry, Moe and Curly Joe have car trouble somewhere in the humid desert of the Western US. There the Stooges get mistaken for both bank robbers and US marshals. It's a cartoonish romp that can only be played out by this trio of troublemakers.

I'm really torn over this issue. I liked both stories. The first tale captured the classic Stooges perfectly in a modern, albeit antiquated, setting. The second tale was also wonderful. It hit all the right notes of the Curly Joe era while also following a classic Stooges trope- mistaken identity. 

No, my problem was that I don't understand why this is considered an April Fool's Day special. Having the guys get into a joke war seems a little more fitting. Sure, the guys get mistaken for both robbers and lawmen. But there's no real intentional deception. I'd even enjoy a prank of a serious Stooges story. Or having some sort of impish version of Shemp throw Larry, Moe and Curly for a loop. (Shemp Imp-get it?! Ha!) Something that was an actual April Fool, you know?

Usually April 1st results in a trick. But this issue actually has a surprise treat. If you scan the QR code, you get a full classic episode of the Three Stooges. And I checked! Even though this is a 5 year old issue, the link to the episode on Youtube still works!

I imagine if you QR the above cover image on your phone, it'll work for you!

A fun issue that provides some added enjoyment. Just not the material that I would expect for the occasion in which this issue was to be celebrated. 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Blue Beetle #2 (2022 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

Manipulated by his Uncle Jarvis, brilliant inventor Ted Kord unknowingly helps to create a nearly indestructible army of androids. Ted seemingly thinks that his uncle is dead and the project is kaput when an explosion wipes out the laboratory. But a discovery of plans that survived the blast led Kord to the remote Pago Island along with his friend, Dan Garrett. There, Kord learns that his uncle is still alive and with the formula of his androids perfected, Jarvis seeks to rule the world.

Activating his magic scarab, Garrett becomes the Blue Beetle. First freeing Kord, Garrett goes into battles with the mechanoids. Unfortunately, the fracas sends the roof of Jarvis' cavern lair down atop the villain, his creations and Dan Garrett. In his dying breath, Garrett asks Ted Kord to take his place as the Blue Beetle.

Back in his father's lab, Kord utilizes the parts of old experiments to develop a beetle shaped flyer, a high-tech uniform and a dazzling light and air-blast gun to fight evil anywhere it rears its ugly head. 

Thus is the origin of the Ted Kord Blue Beetle. Though the character had debuted about a year earlier as a back-up in the pages of Captain Atom #83 (November, 1966), Kord's back story would not be revealed until issue #2 of his short-lived 1967-68 series. 

One key difference between Ted Kord and Dan Garrett was the use of superpowers. An ancient Egyptian scarab gave Dan Garrett his powers. Kord had to rely on a prowess in martial arts and an array of gadgets. For one thing, Dan Garrett was trapped under heavy boulders and unable to pass on the scarab to Ted. But later on, once Kord obtained it, he never could get the antiquity to work. 

The Ted Kord Blue Beetle was the creation of Steve Ditko (The Amazing Spider-Man). This issue was plotted and illustrated by Ditko with a script by D.C. Glanzman. This creative duo also created the back-up feature starring The Question. In this story, The Question takes on a villain that operates a stolen flying costume powered by compressed helium. Called The Banshee by his victims, this flying fiend commits a number of robberies. But these crimes are small potatoes and the Banshee has his sights on Crown City, the home of the mysterious new crime fighter The Question. Only, the Banshee doesn't realize that he's being targeted also by The Question's alter-ego, newsman Vic Sage who is just as active in bringing the baddie down as The Question is. 

Other than Marvel Comics, was there a comic book publisher that was creatively killing it during the mid-60s like Charlton Comics? The answer is no, there wasn't. At this time, Charlton boasted a line-up of Ditko, Dick Giordano, Dennis O'Neil, Pat Boyette Jim Aparo and others. Yet, because of the insane popularity of Marvel and the boost is sales given off by the Batman '66 TV series, Charlton Comics was fighting for crumbs. Sadly, the quantity of sales could not outpace the quality of the books. Blue Beetle's rebooted run was canceled after only 5 issues. The Ted Kord Blue Beetle would not return to print in new adventures until 1985 with the Crisis on Infinite Earths establishing the Charlton characters as part of the DC Universe.

One last fun fact of note. Both stories in this issue were lettered by 'A. Machine'. This wasn't a human employee with a cool name but a fun pun for Charlton's Vari-Typer office composing machine. A cost cutting decision, in 1957, the Vari-Typer was used by the publisher to letter the captions and word bubbles of all of Charlton's titles until the company folded in 1985-86, the same time period in which Ted Kord, The Question and friends were welcomed into the DC Comics throng.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Completing this review completes Task #8 (With an Animal in the Title) of the 2022 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Marvel Comics Presents #76

After 3 intense chapters worth of torture, Weapon-X escapes and gets some revenge. Finally. It's about as gory and rough as you can get without this issue losing its Comics Code rating. 

The Shanna the She-Devil story still hasn't concluded yet. But it's full of action, this chapter is. 

Death's Head, the Marvel UK answer to DC's Lobo has a solo shot story. The robot assassin has the tables turned on him as it's the target of an intergalactic big game hunter. Like somebody can out hunt Death's Head...

Then the D-list Marvel character Woodgod has the other one-and-done slot. Rarely seen unless in the pages of a Marvel team-up series or a Hulk comic, the human/animal hybrid goes head-to-head with the nefarious Roxxon. The mega-corporation wants to capture Woodgod and his fellow Changelings. The 'best way' to do this involves convincing one of Woodgod's underlings to turn against the de facto leader and then kidnapping all the female Changelings. Let's just say that Woodgod's reaction is definitely one that was lead not by his heart or his head but another part of his body...

An interesting issue. Each story segment was very good. I think the Shanna story is running a bit long. But overall, I enjoyed this issue quite a bit.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Ms. Marvel: Stretched Thin (Family Comic Friday)

Ms. Marvel, Kamala Khan, has found herself stretched really thin lately. And I'm not talking about Kamala's terrigen mist imbued shape-shifting powers. Between her responsibilities as a Junior Avenger, her fan-fiction, school work and responsibilities at home including baby-sitting her infant nephew, Kamala is barely keeping it all together. There just isn't enough hours in the day nor does the new Ms. Marvel have the energy.  Something's got to give and Kamala's family are afraid it's them that will suffer the most!

Kamala knows that she's got to do something soon. But before she makes those changes, there's a new villain on the horizon- Machinesmith. An online antagonist and one that threatens to destroy Kamala's family if Ms. Marvel doesn't betray the Avengers! Kamala thinks she can do this on her own. But when the villain attacks Kamala through her nephew's favorite new mechanical toy, the young hero just may have to hand over the keys to Avengers tower in order to save her loved ones.

It took a while but Marvel has started to get on the young adult graphic novel bandwagon. Along with the Miles Morales Spider-Man, Spider-Ham and Black Panther, Ms. Marvel is leading the way in this 2021 graph novel for readers aged 8-12. Though I think readers up to the age of 15 could really get a kick out of this book. 

That's not to say that Stretched Thin isn't without its problems. For one thing, I don't think Nadia Shammas (X-Force) has done all her research on the character of Kamala Khan. Early on in this book, Khan mentions that it's only been a few weeks since she was affected by the terrigen mist. So far, so good. But the Khan family dynamics are all wrong. 

In the comics, Kamala's brother isn't married, nor does he have a son. He's still in school, secretly pining for the girl who will become his wife eventually. So where did this nephew come from? Was it so necessary for the story to add a never before seen character and age up Kamala's brother? The Kahns are such a large family with cousins and uncles and aunts. Why couldn't the baby Kamala have to babysit be cousin? Why play fast and loose with the family dynamic?

I also feel that the need to point out that Machinesmith was a good guy. Well, he was at least 5 years ago. In 2017, he was on the side of the angels as part of Scott Lang's Ant-Man Security Solutions. So I must ask: when did Machinesmith turn bad again? Or did Nadia Shammas tinker around with more Marvel Comics canon?

I also had some issues with the artwork of Kamala. I thought all the other characters, especially the cover baddie, whom I might say looks an awful lot like a Recorder or even X-51, the Machine Man, were great. And when it comes to Ms. Marvel, I had no issue with the shape-shifting or even her costumes. No, what I had an issue with was Kamala's face. In some panels, artist Nabi H. Ali (Beautifully Me) illustrates Kamala as a pre-teen girl. But from time to time, Kamala's face looks de-aged like a toddler. Could it be some sort of symbolism? Maybe. But, I doubt that many young readers would get the connotation. 

Ms. Marvel: Stretched Thin was an enjoyable read. I just feel that some liberties were greatly taken with the source material. Also, there were some minor inconsistencies with the art work. Still, despite these small flaws, this was still a pretty faithful adaptation of Ms. Marvel. I think the kids will love it even though the more established readers will nitpick the flaws. 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.