Thor, Volume 2: Who Holds the Hammer? (Marvel NOW!)

 

  The saga of the female Thor continues in volume 2. The new hero has yet to give up her war against Roxxon and the Dark Elf, Malekith, who are divvying up the mineral rights to all of the nine realms. But Thor's most recent attack may have upset a clandestine SHIELD investigation by Agent Roz Solomon.

     Meanwhile, the Odinson is still seeking to discover the real identity of Lady Thor. With list in hand, the former God Of Thunder will revisit some old flames, ancient foes, and some painful memories.

    I am enjoying the new take on Thor. Essentially, the original Thor is still the same prideful powerhouse he once was, only he is without his ability to control the elements and his hammer, Mjolnir. But the title is called Thor and really the woman who now bears that title really shares the book almost equally with the Odinson.  I don't mind this. But I am surprised that more fans of the popular title haven't cried foul about it.
    
  One interesting thing about the change of Thor's is that it is hinted that Odinson might not even be the first God of Thunder. He certainly hasn't been the last what with Beta Ray Bill and Thunderstrike temporarily wielding Thor's hammer in the past. (By the way, if you have yet to learn who the new Thor is, you will get your answer by book's end.)

     Included in this volume is Thor Annual #1. It features a classic version Thor adventure, a first meeting between the Warriors Three and the new Thor, along with a tale of the Highfather Thor and his granddaughters. (Could this mean a return of Odinson to the mantle of Thor or does this take place in an alternate timeline?)

    Speaking of alternate time streams, this edition closes with a classic issue of one of my All-time favorite series from the late 70s. But I don't want to expound too much on just what is contained in the classic reprint least I give away the female Thor's true identity to those readers still not in the know.

    A good book that is in a sort of limbo for me as the Marvel reboot storyline Secret Wars takes place next. I really have no idea when I may return to this book since the Secret Wars series has yet to be completed due to numerous and lengthy delays.

    Worth Consuming

    Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

The 18 Days of a Star Wars Christmas Miracle +7: Day 6

The Christmas Parade- in many towns it's what officially begins the holiday season. Heck, many consider the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade to be the beginning of shopping season when Santa comes to town. 

   And who doesn't love a parade? 

  My advent gift for you today is a clip from the Disney Christmas Parade which now includes it's very one Imperial garrison. 

   Enjoy...

Monster on the Hill ( Family Comic Friday)

   The British township of Stoker-on-Avon has a bit of a problem; a monster named Rayburn. Whereas the other towns have their own personal monsters that regularly attack them, Rayburn just hides in his cave overlooking Stoker-on-Avon and mopes.

    Now this sort of arrangement would be a dream come true for the people of Tokyo. But in the English countryside, these frequent attacks are a thing of pride for each borough. It's also an important source of income in the form of the tourist trade.

    In danger of bankruptcy, the Mayor of Stoker-on-Avon appoints Dr. Wilkie, an eccentric scientist considered the town quack, to get Rayburn back into fighting shape. Assisted by the fearless paperboy,  Timothy, the doctor begins his quest to reform Stoker's wayward monster on the hill.

    This was a very good graphic novel. The book is set in rural England during the height of the Victorian era. It's a very British story with a quirky premise, dry humor, and a little bit of magic, mirth, and mayhem.

   Yet the book is actually written by American author and illustrator Rob Harell (Adam@home). Harrell had me completely fooled. I felt like this was a work by one of the Pythons or Terry Pratchett. I think that is a shining example of his talents. ( He's also an accomplished painter... Here's a link to some of his breathtaking works.)

    There's nothing parents would object to in this book. Tthe book is very funny and expertly drawn. I think readers aged 9-15 will  enjoy this book the most. Younger readers will like this graphic novel too, but there are some pretty big words and they might need an older reader to help with those.

   Now if you little one might be scared of Monsters, then you may want to wait on this a little while. However, Monster on the Hill is not a scary book, nor is it gory. There is a bad guy in this book that Rayburn and friends eventually have to face, but that monster looks like a giant mountain lion made of dirt.

    I also think that Monster on the Hill would make a great animated movie. But if they do, please don't make it CGI Are you listening, Rob Harell? Reading this book, I kept hearing Matt Smith (Doctor Who) as woeful Rayburn with the equally talented Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock) as Rayburn's old school mate, the boisterous Tentaculor. (Really, Rob, are you and publisher Top Shelf listening? I think you got a blockbuster hit on your hands here. I just ask for passes to the premiere.)

    Folks, get on the bandwagon here because I predict that this story is going to be huge one day!

   Worth Consuming.

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

The 18 Days of a Star Wars Christmas Miracle +7: Day 5

 

 As a kid, I had Star Wars toys, books, videos, sheets, clothes, even cereal. But one thing I never had were Star Wars ornaments!

   That was until 1996 AND I WAS 19!

   After 19 years, Hallmark finally answered my and scores of other Star Wars fans requests with the release of the first ever Star Wars ornament of the Millenium Falcon! It was one of those 'magic' keepsake ornaments where you plugged it into one of the sockets of a strand of lights and the ship lit up!

     I remember standing in line at the Crabtree Valley for over 2 hours to be one of the first people to buy it. Out of about 100 moms and grandmoms waiting to get their ornaments, I was the only guy there. I was so out of my element. But it was worth it.

    For my advent present to you today, I have included a link to an extensive history of all of the Star Wars ornaments from 1996-2005. Also, if you find yourself to be crafty, you might enjoy Pinterest link for some idea in creating your own Star Wars ornaments.

   Enjoy!

The 18 Days of a Star Wars Christmas Miracle +7: Day 4

  Santa Yoda is perhaps the most iconic Star Wars Christmas image. It was painted by Ralph McQuarrie, who was the concept artist on the original trilogy. Santa Yoda was used as the 1981 edition of Christmas card issued by Lucasfilm. If you were a member of the cast or crew of Empire Strikes Back, then you got this in the mail as a holiday greeting from George Lucas.

   Since 1977, Lucasfilm has issued a Star Wars themed Christmas card that it would give to actors, artists, craftsmen, and more as a thank you for all their hard work during the previous year. The cards aren't that rare, nor are some of the images used as many of them have been recycled in Star Wars trading card sets in the 90s. But since they have something to do with Star Wars, the Lucasfilm Christmas card of any of the past 37 editions are a highly sought after piece of memorabilia.

   For my Advent present today here is a look at some of the past cards issued by George Lucas. If you haven't been able to make Star Wars creator's Christmas card list, this may very well be the next best thing...

   Enjoy...

The 18 Days of a Star Wars Christmas Miracle +7: Day 3

   In 1980, there was one toy on every boys wishlist- a Boba Fett action figure from the Empire Strikes Back. The figure at first was offered as a mail-away offer from Kenner. That meant you have to buy 3 or 4 other Star Wars action figures, cut the UPC code off the back and wait 3-4 years (okay, it was months, but it felt like years) for the figure to arrive in the mail in a very small nondescript brown cardboard box.
 
    By the way, this willful destruction of mint-in-package figures in why an unopened Yoda figure is worth the price of a small car.

   Anyways, the main thing that made this toy so awesome (besides it being of Boba Fett) was that the figure was supposed to come with a feature on the back in which you could fire the missile on his jetpack at your little sister. It also meant you might shoot her eye out. Kenner realized this and instead removed the firing pin, glued the rocket into the jet pack and mailed the bounty hunter far and wide to disappointed kids everywhere. (BTW- a prototype Boba Fett with Firing Jet Pack is worth the price of 4 small cars.)

   For today's advent, I have included a link of several Star Wars toy commercials from 1980 along with the one telling kids to cut up their action figures, plus a great article about the whole firing missile debacle.


    So fill up a glass of egg nog, snuggle up in your vintage Star Wars comforter and enjoy being 5 again...

 

The 18 Days of a Star Wars Christmas Miracle +7: Day 2

 

 It just wasn't Christmas without this LP. I don't know how many year's in a row would be put up the Christmas tree watching 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' and listening to this album. 

   Produced in 1980 by Meco, the techno whiz behind the disco version of the Star Wars theme and the Cantina Song. Featuring Anthony Daniels as C-3PO, R2-D2, and Chewbacca, the majority of the album took place in a droid factory making toys for an 'S. Claus.' 

   The album is hard to come by, with the cassette version being especially rare. But another reason that makes this album so collectible is that it features the first profession recording of Jon Bon Jovi. Recording under his birth name 'John Bongiovi' the future rocker landed the lead vocals on the song 'R2-D2 We Wish You A Merry Christmas' as his cousin, who was a producer on the project, ran the studio that John worked at as a custodian. 

    So as my advent present to you, here is a recording of that first Bon Jovi, er Bongiovi masterpiece...