Pop Culture by the Numbers by David Hoffman

A really fun little fact book that reviews the numbers behind some of pop cultures most beloved icons. 

You learn some really interesting stuff like the number of theaters that originally agreed to show the first Star Wars film (only 40!), the number of bottle caps in Bert's collection (368!) and the number of steel wire cables that comprise the two gigantic cables of the Golden Gate Bridge (a whopping 25,572!)

There's about 50 total subjects in this book. That number could of been much higher if not for the artwork. There's about 30 pages of pop art-style images of things like Twinkies or Elvis' hips. I liked the art. But you could have had 15-20 more pages of factoids if those images were merely reduced in size by half. Kinda seems like a waste of space. 

This Hallmark Gift Books' publication was ultra trendy and an enjoyable read. But for the original cover price of $12.95, it just doesn't seem to be an efficient use of all 145 plus pages. Glad I got this book for only a buck on trade credit...

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Archie Vs. Predator II #1

The most deadliest race of hunters in the universe return to go old Riverdale, USA for another round of trophy hunting in the pages of Archie Vs. Predator II #1.

Archie Vs. Predator II #1
Written by Alex de Campi
Art by Robert Hack
Published by Archie Comics/Dark Horse Comics
Retail: $3.99

(As with any review, the potential for spoilers exist. While the reviewer tried to be as spoiler free as possible, reader discretion is advised.)

I love the wide range of crossovers Archie has had with other amazing franchises. His run-in with The Punisher is the stuff of legend. Archie Vs. Sharknado was a fun-filled gory romp! But there’s something different about Archie Vs. Predator II.

You know how Deadpool is aware that he’s actually a comic book character? Well Betty, Veronica and a Predator-Human hybrid in the form of Archie, have that same kind of knowledge. They’re all quite aware of the unusual things that happen to the Archie gang. From time travel to becoming superheroes to summoning demons, this group of ageless teenagers are anything but typical.

Seeking a way to possibly undo the events of the first Archie Vs. Predator series via the Memory Lane in which Archie was able to view married life with both Betty and Veronica, the teens wind up in an alternate universe comprised of their more gritter, rebooted selves. Yes, with the existence of an Archie multiverse confirmed, the town of Riverdale is about to experience a ‘Crisis’ of DC Comics proportions when this unlikely meeting of Archies results in the return of Predator!

The opening chapter of Archie Vs Predator II was some trippy stuff. I've never really seen Archie Comics take such a risk as to having the characters acknowledge that they are part of a greater comic book franchise. I'm wondering if a mass crossover of different types of Archie's is in the works here. Could we be one day be seeing a visit from L'il Archie and Friends or Archie 3000? That would be epic!

I was blown away by the artwork of Robert Hack (Doctor Who). His pencils capture the classic Archies with a sort of pained innocence while portraying the rebooted versions as contemporary yet classic. His Predators look amazing. But there's just not enough of those alien baddies in this first issue.

There's also not enough first issue. I'm really starting to feel that for the lofty price tags we pay, I'd rather pay a little extra for 2 or 3 oversized issues than almost $4 for 5 small issues. 22-24 pages just isn't enough room in a comic book to achieve a decent pace. Especially when it comes to crossovers! Writer Alex de Campi (Smoke) has woven such a meta concept at stake into this miniseries. Unfortunately, by the time you get the hang of things, issue #1 ends without the reader ever getting anywhere.

Archie Vs Predator II is some very sophisticated stuff, what with the concepts of what is reality vs. fiction and alternate universes. It's great for fans of DC's Crisis books or Robert Heinlein. But if you are expecting a bloody sci-fi dangerous game between Dark Horse's Predator and the teens of Archie Comics, you'll have to wait until next issue. While the prospect of that conflict has gotten me ready for more, I'm disappointed that for the cover price we don't get any Predator kills in this issue.

Archie Vs Predator II debuts in print and digital formats on July 24, 2019.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Red Panda and Moon Bear (Family Comics Friday)

This Family Comics Friday, we head to sunny Florida to catch up on the hilarious adventures of the world’s two newest (and possibly youngest) superheroes, Red Panda and Moon Bear!

Red Panda and Moon Bear TPBWritten and illustrated by: Jarod Rosello
Published by Top Shelf Productions
Pages: 193
Retail: $14.99

The sister and brother duo of Red Panda and Moon Bear are the defenders of their Floribbean community. They keep their neighbors safe from everything; from a pair of bad dogs to a disappearing apartment building to the most adorable but destructive beings in the universe. If there is evil in the barrio, Red Panda and Moon Bear will be there to defeat it!

This graphic novel was extremely funny. I’ve worked with kids for a number of years and both Red Panda and Moon Bear sound like kids do! The heroes come up with inventive yet far-fetched inventions to defeat crime. Only these gadgets work! Well, most do...

This is author/illustrator Jarod Rosello’s third work; his first however, for kids. I’m hoping that Rosello continues to write for younger readers because he does it extremely well. Here's to hoping that we might also see more adventures of Red Panda and Moon Bear!

Jarod Rosello is a Cuban-American writer. His background shows in many facets of this book from the smattering of Spanish words to the various Caribbean ethnic backgrounds of the many residents of our heroes’ hometown. This book is definitely a cultural account of his Florida upbringing. Though I doubt he got his superpowers from a magic hoodie like Red Panda and Moon Bear did.

The art was cartoonish and comical. It had notes of Adventure Time with Jake and Finn. But those arms! They looked as if made from the same rubbery substance of those of Mister Fantastic; just minus all the elastic. But as the recommended age range from this book is of readers 9-12 years old, I don’t think anyone is going to complain.

Readers younger than 9 might find a couple of characters a little scary. There is a ghost in this book, but she’s kind. The use of Spanish words without any sort of English subtitles might be a tad difficult for those not familiar with the language. So grown-ups might be needed to help interpret some passages.

Overall, this is a silly but adventurous read that young readers will enjoy. Parents should find nothing objectionable. Though as mentioned earlier a couple of villains fought b Red Panda and Moon Bear may be too scary-looking for the youngest of readers. There’s still a few prime weeks of Summer reading left before the school year starts. Make Red Panda and Moon Bear a part of it now!

Red Panda and Moon Bear debuted in print and digital platforms on July 23, 2019.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Superman: Sunday Classics 1939-1943

The first in a very long line of editions collecting the long running Superman comic strip of 1939-66. This volume has the first 3 years of the Sunday strips which comprised of a different story than that in the dailies.

I would love to eventually own all the these. But they're not cheap. Nor are all of them still in print. But when I can find them affordably, I'll snatch them up in a heartbeat. And no, unlike other series, I won't wait to read them until I have the complete in- order set!

This book reprints Superman's cosmic origin, following the Man of Steel through his first appearances in Metropolis. These early adventures have Superman battling giant robots, two-bit hoods, femme fatales and a half villain named Luthor.

Before the close of this volume, the United States and Superman enter the war effort against the Nazis and Imperial Japanese. Clark Kent and Lois Lane travel the nation covering the sale of war bonds and creation of new war machines only to stumble upon Nazi saboteurs! Good thing that the Man of Tomorrow is here to ensure freedom and democracy for today!

Superman creators Jerry Siegel and Joel Shuster present their greatest creation in all of his art-deco glory. It's very much a product of its time. The men are all drawn to look like Jerome Kerr and the women are illustrated as the ever so sultry Veronica Lake and Dorothy Lamour. I love the 1930s style of the Superman logo. It's really classic stuff.

One thing that didn't transfer so we is the lettering. It's very pencil thin and tiny. Thus it's extremely hard to read. Seeing as these are nearly 80 year old reprints, the lettering is quite faded. You'd have thought that the editors of this omnibus would have doctored up the dialogue. But they didn't. Could it be that with so small a font any repair work would have damaged the artwork?

This is a great collection of early Superman comics. The art is breathtaking. But you need a magnifying glass to read these beauties. Aspirin too!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Rick and Morty Vs. Dungeons & Dragons

Take someone whose never watched a single episode of Rick and Morty, nor have they ever played D&D, and have them read this book? Well, that's me. But thanks to the personal recommendation of Oni Press editor, Sarah Gaydos, I gave this book a try and I loved it!

At last year's Bull City Comic Com, I interviewed Gaydos as she was the driving force behind the epic Star Trek Vs. Transformers crossover when she worked at IDW. I asked her for any sneak previews of her new projects over at Oni and she told me that I must read this crossover even if I had never played Dungeons and Dragons or ever seen an episode of the Adult Swim hit series.

So I took up Sarah Gaydos challenge when I found this book where else but at my local library! And I loved it!

All of Morty's friends at school are enjoying role-playing games. Not wanting to be left out, Morty goes to his local gaming shop to find out what the fuss is all about. At the store, Morty flirts with a girl gamer who invites him to play D&D one night after the store closes.

Not knowing how to play the game, Morty reluctantly goes to Rick for assistance. Turns out, Rick Sanchez is a total gamer! So, Rick and his older buds try to teach Morty the basics of the game. Only Morty keeps dying! 

Running out of patience and character sheets, Morty insists that Rick create a world in which the rules of Dungeons and Dragons exist for reals in order to truly experience the game in a LARPing sort of way. With Morty's mom and siter eager for adventure and Morty's dad secretly being a master gamer himself, it seems that the Smith family might finally found a way to bond as the perfect family!

I have no real way of knowing if this comic book was anywhere really like the show as I've never seen Rick and Morty. But I know a bit about D&D from reading articles and having discussions with friends who do pole play. (Those certain episodes from The Big Bang Theory helped with my a priori knowledge of the game as well.) But what I can say is that this miniseries was a very funny and a fun read. 

I liked that all versions of D&D are explored including the CBS Saturday morning cartoon and Forgotten Realms. Well, almost all. Why is the Fourth Edition considered unspeakable garbage? I'm interested to learn if that's just an inside jokes or if that edition of Dungeons and Dragons is really that awful. Since Jim Zub is a big name D&D comics writer, I might just have to PM him on Twitter and ask....

The artwork by Troy Little was a great. It was a very good mix of Rick and Morty cartoon meets realistically gritty Dungeons and Dragons art. Now in the comics, all of the orcs, dragons and villains are drawn in the style of the Adult Swim series. But a lot of those amazing covers done by Little and friends have Rick and his grandson illustrated in an epically 'advanced' way!

The only thing I could have done without were the character sheets of the Smith and Sanchez clan. Since I don't play D&D, I didn't understand them. I didn't know if they were meant to be real or done as a joke. If it was the former, I missed out on the punchline.

Rick and Morty Vs. Dungeons and Dragons was a great read for anyone. As long as you are a geek that loves hanging out with friends at their favorite LCS or playing board games and such, you'll enjoy this book. You don't have to be a fan (or even all that acquainted) with either franchise. But it sure won't hurt if you are!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Dark Nights: Metal- Dark Knights Rising

This Dark Nights collection reprints the seven one-shots devoted the most evil Dark

Knights of the Dark Multiverse. 

This book read like a library of Elseworlds stories. Yes, I know that these origin stories

are canon. But they have that imaginary 'what if' kind of feel to them that I love so

much when reading those Elseworlds classics.

The most surprising element to this volume is the level of violence. Some of your most

favorite superheroes are taken down by an evil version of the Batman in gruesome

fashion. It's almost like Robert Kirkman took a break from The Walking Dead to pencil

these ghoulish adventures. 

While Kirkman didn't have a hand at these amazing tales, a number of DC talents did.

Scott Snyder, Peter J. Tomasi, Joshua Williamson, and James Tynion IV are just a

few of the many, and I do mean many, artists and writers who contributed. They all

did a fantastic job. Almost.

Along with the seven one-shot origin tales, there was also a one-shot that focused

on Detective Chimp and the efforts of a number of scientists on Blackhawk Island

to combat this coming Dark Multiverse crisis. I literally remember zero of what these

guys contributed to Metal. Perhaps it's time to re-read it. I was so lost reading Dark

Nights: Metal because I hadn't read all of the prelude material. But I've just completed

all of that by finishing this volume. So I guess I am doing something that I rarely ever

do and giving something I've already completed a second read.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Star Wars: Jedi Academy: Revenge of the Sis (Family Comic Friday)

For this week’s Family Comic Friday, I’m digging into my to-read pile to bring you the latest adventures of the younglings from the Jedi Academy. This time, the focus is on Christina Starspeeder as she begins her apprenticeship on the planet Jedha! Be sure to strap in for some all-ages Star Wars fun!

Star Wars: Jedi Academy: Revenge of the Sis
Written by Amy Ignatow
Art  and story by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
Published by Scholastic Inc.
Pages: 176
Retail: $12.99

The seventh book in the Jedi Academy series is the best as Christina Starspeeder, older sister of Victor, heads to Jedha to start her Jedi apprenticeship. Christina has been paired with legendary master Skia Ro. But things could not get any worse for the Padawan who tries too hard to impress her master. 

Nearly causing a war between Wookiee tribes, instigating a music revolt among the Bith and almost becoming a meal to a band of hungry Wampa, Christina is just about to give up on being a Jedi when she uncovers a disturbing trend. Everywhere Starspeeder and her master travel to smooth down an uprising also seems to be the newest locale selected by the Hutts for a new casino and pod-racing track.

Is there a connection to these seemingly peaceful races suddenly becoming violent and the Hutts? Or is it Christina Starspeeder’s doing? If you ask Skia Ro’s droid, it’s because Christina’s a jinx. Nah- it can’t be that…

I wasn’t lying when I said that Revenge of the Sis was the best volume in the entire Jedi Academy series. I really loved the Roan Novachez trilogy by Jeffery Brown. They were extremely clever books. When the story shifted to Victor Starspeeder, I was a little disappointed. Victor didn’t seem as strong of a character and he was a little bit whiny. But like Luke Skywalker, the Padawan matured. However, making Victor’s older sister the star of this volume was a brilliant move.

Christina is more what I expect out of a Jedi apprentice. She’s got the chops. But she still has a long way to go towards becoming a master. But what I really enjoyed about this book was the change of scenery!

The academy on Coruscant is great and all that but after 6 volumes, it’s gotten to be a predictable setting. Having Jedha as the setting adds to the wonder of the Star Wars universe. We got a small but not really significant glimpse of the planet in Rogue One. But thanks to this volume, I was really able to make a connection to that ancient planet’s history and lore.

The addition of Amy Ignatow (The Popularity Papers) to the mix brought a new dynamic to this series. The Jedi Academy series mostly examines a few well-known settings and characters. I.E. Tatooine, Coruscant, Yoda. But this book, with the articles on the many species that make up the Star Wars universe, really added a depth to the plot and ultimately the fun.

Jarrett J. Krosoczka continues his run on this series. Krosoczka created the Starspeeder family and his creative touch with the artwork and the Star Wars version of social media were perfect for this next chapter in older sister Christina’s path to becoming a Jedi. His cartoony versions of the Gammoreans and Bith were really fluid and full of energy. However, there’s this one Padowan with milky white eyes. What race is he from? Can anybody tell me, cause I really would like to know!

Like with almost all of the reviews I write that involve works that I really love, I always find myself wishing for more. Well, I’m in luck! Christina’s story will continue in the pages of Jedi Academy Book #8, ‘Attack of the Furball’ this September.

Revenge of the Sis was a fun all-ages journey to that Star Wars universe of far, far away. This was a book that unique and new but still maintained enough of the Star Wars canon that readers new and old to the franchise could enjoy without being repetitive or too confusing. If the young reader in your life likes the Jedi Academy series, they are going to love this entry!

Star Wars: Jedi Academy: Revenge of the Sis debuted in print and digital formats on March 26, 2019.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9.5 out of 10 stars.

This review was concurrently published on Outrightgeekery.com.