Comic Reviews 1/28/11

Title: INVINCIBLE IRON MAN
Issue Number: 500
Title Story: The New Iron Age
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Matt Fraction
Artist - Iron Man and Spider-Man: Salvador Larroca & Frank D'Armata
Artist - Ginny Stark: Kano
Artist - Howard Stark II: Nathan Fox & Javier Rodriguez
Artist - Tony Stark & the Mandarin: Carmine Di Giandomenico & Matthew Wilson
Letters: Joe Caramagna
Cover Artist: various
Price (USD): $4.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

As you might guess from the credits this extra-sized anniversary issue has
several stories. But unlike some landmark issues the stories here are all
related together. The different plotlines have different artists that
distinguish them as we shift back and forth among the stories. The first starts
in the present as Peter Parker is riding the subway and who should be on the
same car but Tony Stark. It is clear that Tony no longer knows Peter is Spider-
Man so the conversation is more personal. It is also clear to me I have missed
some things along the way by not reading every Spider-Man and Iron Man comic.
Peter is angry for Tony firing him at some point. Peter now works at a think
tank. Tony explains he had problems with his brain due to Norman Osborn. But
Tony really wants is the memory of a weapon that Peter helped him build. It was
something that occupied his mind when it was not otherwise occupied and with
Peter's help he realizes it is a megadeath weapon and now someone else is trying
to build it. In 2052 Howard Stark II, age 46, is functioning as War Machine as
part of an insurgent group against a tyrannical world ruler. Likewise Ginny
Stark, 22 years old is aligned with the Black Widows fighting for the same
cause. So who is this emperor of the world? It is none other than the Lord
Mandarin. Even more curious is that the Tony Stark, now age 76, is his personal
valet. Mandarin has the weapon that could not be made in our time and plans to
destroy the world with it and there are no Avengers or Iron Man to stop him. But
there are those pesky insurgents and you know that before the end Tony will
somehow eventually save the day. You see it all ties back to the present day
after Spider-Man and Iron Man foil the plans of those who thought they could
build the weapon. But what if someone else - better funded and technically
astute got hold of the plans someday? Peter suggests a way to stop that from
happening and it will come in handy one day. While it seems a bit disjointed at
first it all comes together thanks to Matt Fraction's fine scripting. The
various art styles make a good presentation though I preferred Larocca, D'Armata
and Kano's contributions to the others. For a change it is not just a bunch of
stories to fill up a larger issue. The extra pages have a preview of Iron Man
2.0 as well as a cover gallery of all 500 issues of INVINCIBLE IRON MAN. This
one is a worthy celebration of the longevity of the title.

Title: JURASSIC PARK: THE DEVILS IN THE DESSERT
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: IDW
Story & Art: John Byrne
Colors: Ronda Pattison
Letters: Shawn Lee
Cover Artist: John Byrne
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Science Fiction




Since IDW has the Jurassic Park license they are putting out another series
playing off the whole dinosaurs alive today theme. So far this title has no
relation to the original except the dinos themselves, though they do not
actually appear except in shadow until the very last panel in this issue. It
takes place somewhere it the dessert of the American west. A farmer has
discovered about 15 of his cattle horribly mutilated and sends his son into town
to fetch the sheriff. When the two return to the scene they find the same
slaughter but no sign of the father, only half of his mutilated horse. After
taking precautions for the safety of the boy and his mother, Will the sheriff
and his deputy Daniel investigate and see the ominous tracks, which they send
off to experts. Before it is over we will have the FBI involved as well as two
paleontologists. There are also some human victims along the way to keep the
action moving. Byrne manages to work in an old relationship between the sheriff
and the presumed widow for good measure. It is an interesting read as it moves
along although up to this point it is somewhat predictable for those familiar
with the movies. Still it is good fun for readers of all ages who are fans of
the genre. It is a bonus for any of you John Byrne fans who like to see him on
something beside super heroes.

Title: ETHAN?
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: GG Studio
Writer: Alessandro Apreda
Artist: Fabrizio Fiorentino
Colors: Giuseppe Bbox Boccia
Letters: Studio Blue
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Science Fiction
Mature Readers

It is odd to see a comic with a one-word title ending in a question mark. ETHAN?
Is a story about a man whose name is Ethan Babylon. But as the story starts you
might wonder. He awakens in a strange bed with a beautiful woman but does not
remember how he got there. Ok, so far. When she wakens and says she missed him
and starts calling him Ronnie he really is puzzled. Then a S.W.A.T. team comes
crashing in through the walls and before you know it he is being given a severe
beating before landing in prison as an accused multiple murderer Ronnie
Mossberg. The script really takes us on a ride through the sordid past of Ronnie
Mossberg as his defense attorney narrates the various crimes he has committed.
Ethan of course can only sit and wonder how he got into this other man's body.
It is interesting there is so much contempt for the killer that even his lawyer
and in the end a priest have no regard for their supposed impartial function in
his life but instead kiss him off with insults. Ethan begins to wonder if he was
ever Ethan. His execution takes place half way through the book - but the story
is not over. At the moment of electrocution he has a moment of clarity when he
realizes exactly when he was no longer Ethan. Furthermore, he "awakens" once
again to find himself being scolded by an underage female and since he is in yet
another body he figures she is his daughter. When she plants a firm one on his
kisser he realizes he has "jumped" into a pervert. And this guy has a not so
pretty life either. So what would you do if you suddenly found you were
reincarnated so to speak into someone else's life? I mean starting over as a
baby with no knowledge of your past lives is one thing but actually becoming
someone else? Once I got into this I found it fascinating. Part of that was due
to the art and how Fiorentino portrays the variety of characters involved in the
story. Each scene has a different aspect from perspective to lighting to color
and the people range from ordinary street people, female dancers, high tech
thugs, sexy lawyers and TV hosts, to the fat cop at the end. This is one well-
crafted story in both art and story. You just can't help wonder how and why this
is happening to Ethan and thanks to the nice art you gladly follow along where
it goes. This is the first comic I have seen from GG Studio and I am impressed.

Title: GORE
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: Masks, part 1
Publisher: GG Studio
Writer: Alex Crippa
Translation: Andrea Plazzi & Adam McGovern
Artist: Emilio Laiso
Flats: Domenico Nagliero & Alberto Baldisserotto
Colors: Alessia Nocera
Letters: Studio Blue
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Horror
Mature Readers

The second comic reviewed this week from Italian publisher GG Studio is set
appropriately in Venice in 1880. It is the time of Carnival. A rich banker from
France and his young female companion are cruising the canals in a gondola when
their gondolier is suddenly pulled into the water and devoured. Before the
couple can react something punches its way through the hull and grabs the
banker. The young girl has one chance to swim to safety when a crossbow dart
wounds her attacker. As her would be savior reaches to pull her out of the water
the creature, a demon mermaid, pulls her under and then leaps onto the pier at
her attacker. After a bloody fight the young man prevails and the demon is
killed. The next day the hero is angered by the newspaper report of a shark in
the canal killing the three victims. Then he is approached by a young female,
the sister of the dead young lady. They were captives of the banker who used
them for his pleasure. With no money or papers she seeks only to find out the
truth of her sister's death. This lays the groundwork for the story unfolding.
In another scene we witness the leader of the local constabulary briefing his
men about the atrocities that take place every year during carnival. He warns
that they will unable to prevent most of it but make every effort to cover up
the truth for the bad press it will bring the city. It seems like our young hero
is the only one with the will and the skills to stop some of the slaughter. With
the police on their own agenda he will be essentially fighting on two fronts.
And the one demon we saw at first is only one of many that enter our world
through a portal each year. They are well aware of the man who hunts them and
are looking to turn the tables on him. It is a fast-paced story with lots of
detail given to the art in every panel. There is good use of coloring to
distinguish day from night and the layouts break up the pages in different ways
each time. While I did not like it as much as SETH? It is still a fine first
issue for another publisher trying to make a splash in our market. From the ads
in the back it looks like more titles will soon appear. I hope they do well.

Title: GRIMM FAIRY TALES MYTHS AND LEGENDS
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Zenescope Entertainment
Creator: Raven Gregory, Joe Brusha & Ralph Tedesco
Writer: Raven Gregory
Artist: David Miller
Colors: Jason Embury
Letters: Jim Campbell
Cover Artist: Various
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Fantasy/Horror



Once in a while I grab one of the Zenescope GRIMM FAIRY TALES titles for a
diversion from the normal books I read. This one is not part of the ongoing
titles like TALES FROM WONDERLAND and others so I decided to check it out. I
have found all of their comics to have fetching covers featuring scantily clad
females and the interior art is generally very competent with high production
values. This one is no exception in that regard. The story is set at the
Seidwell Rehabilitation Institute. The main character is Britney Waters a
therapist dealing with the patients in individual and group therapy. The group
has a mix of problems. Lydia is addicted to pain killers and blames herself for
her mother's suicide. Brian and Louis are bad boy alcoholics from the upper
class. Tanya has a sex addiction. David has a binge eating disorder. Andrea is a
self-mutilator who brutally murdered her abusive foster parents. Eric is a
catatonic Schizophrenic who never speaks to the group. With a mix like that you
know there will be a lot of weird things going on - like Brian and Louis paying
an orderly for sneaking booze and Lydia trading sex for pills with another. But
the horror of the story comes from a beast, apparently a form of werewolf, which
has mutilated other animals in the woods nearby. The staff is warned to be
careful and the grounds appear safe behind the fences. It is only when the beast
proves they are not a deterrent for him one night that things start to get very
interesting. This issue of necessity is mostly set up spending time to introduce
the characters and their quirks. Britney is apparently the heroine though she
could well become a victim by the end. For what it is this first issue delivers
well and sets things up for a lot more action next time. It is a worthy addition
to the company's offerings.

Title: SUPERIOR
Issue Number: 4
Publisher: Marvel/Icon
Creators: Mark Millar & Leinil Yu
Writer: Mark Millar
Artist: Leinil Yu
Inkers: Gerry Alanguilan, Jason Paz & Jeff Huet
Colors: Sunny Gho & Javier Tartaglia
Letters: Clayton Cowles
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero
Mature Content

Four issues in is a good time to see how this title has developed. Simon Pooni
was a normal kid until Multiple Sclerosis robbed him of his mobility and the
sight in one eye. He now has only one good friend, Chris. One night a monkey in
a space suit visited his room saying he would grant Simon a wish. It turns out
he wished to be his favorite super hero of comic books and five movies,
Superior. In a flash he is transformed to the spitting image of the character as
portrayed in the movies - he looks like the actor. And he has all the major
powers - strength, flight, super hearing, speed and heat vision. So far he has
been afraid to tell his parents, and he can't change back to a boy, so he ran
from home and confided only to Chris. Now he has become the hero he wanted to
be. He has been performing all kinds of problem solving and life saving feats.
This catches the attention of a television reporter who plans to land an
interview, the first exclusive, by putting herself in peril, counting on
Superior to save her. This issue has a lot of scenes that point out the impact
Superior/Simon has had on others. His parents fear he is dead or the prisoner of
some pervert even though he left them a note telling them not to worry. Tad
Scott, the actor who played Superior in the movies, is suddenly out of a job
because the suits fear they will need to clear the name and likeness rights with
the "real" Superior before making another movie. And then there is Rich. It
seems a group of bullies beat him up on the way to basketball practice. When
Simon finds out he has a unique way of dealing with the leader that will put an
end to that stuff. Toward the end Superior decides it is time to step up his
efforts at helping the world and the space monkey shows us a bit more of his
master plan. I really enjoyed this episode. It has a number of plot threads and
characters that will develop as we go along. For now it takes a logical
progression as to how a kid might react to suddenly being the equivalent of
Superman or Captain Marvel. The interview shows us that Simon is pretty mature
for his age, as does the way he handles the bully. Now all we need is major
conflict or tragedy. That is bound to be coming soon. The art is dynamic though
I always ponder why three inkers are needed. It is not too late to catch up with
this new comic. I think it is worth it.


*****
TRIVIA CONTEST!!!! WIN REAL PRIZES!!!!!

If you think you know the answer to the trivia question send your guess via
Email to me at ComicBkNet@aol.com and you could win the prize. The first six
correct answers will be assigned a number and a roll of the dice will determine
the winner. You should put your real name in your message so we know who you
are. Prizes must be claimed at our store within 30 days of winning. The prize
will be a $10 credit slip, which will be redeemable for merchandise at regular
retail or in-store ongoing specials only. Only one prize per person will be
allowed per every 4 weeks. I will be the sole judge of the correct answer even
if more than one answer could be correct. Submit only one answer per Email
please but guess as often as you like.

Last week's trivia question:
In a monumental change, the comic industry finally raised the price of the
average comic from 10 cents to 12 cents. What was the year?

The answer was the DC December 1961 issues, with 1962 cover dates, are listed as
the first 12-cent comics. The winner by the dice roll is Gary Katzoff.

Here was your no prize question:
What US location has the lowest Zip Code number?
The lowest ZIP code for any of the U.S. States is 01001, which is for Agawam,
Massachusetts.

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
What was the name of Kobalt's archenemy?

Here is your no prize question:
Which sports figure first uttered the famous line on national TV, "I'm going to
Disneyworld"

Folks, you never know who among the readers is knowledgeable about the question
so don't hesitate to send in an answer - even days after it appears.

Comics Reviews 1/21/11

Title: WONDERGIRL
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: Growing Pains
Publisher: DC
Writer: J.T. Krul
Artist: Adriana Melo
Inker: Mariah Benes
Colors: Marcelo Maiolo
Letters: Sal Cipriano
Cover Artist: Nicola Scott & Doug Hazlewood with Jason Wright
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero


This one shot explores the personal relationship of Cassie Sandsmark, Wonder
Girl, and Helena her human mother. Cassie has pretty much dedicated her life to
being Wonder Girl and living at Titans Tower. The main plot really plays up the
fact that her mother does not approve of her career choice. Helena's work takes
her all over the world and so Cassie decided to visit with her in London at an
archeological conference. Right from the first scene together we get the idea
her mother will not let up on the jabs and Cassie eventually ducks out of the
seminars to be alone. The other plot involves whom she meets and strikes up a
friendship with while touring the museum. A young girl named Kiran is also here
with her archeologist parents. When an attempted robbery involving rock
creatures begins Wonder Girl swings into action and so does Solstice, Kiran in
her hero identity. Look for more of her in the very near future and I suspect
this comic was used on purpose to give Solstice a grand entrance. But I was not
so keen on the main plot. It carries through the book to the very end when in
the last few panels Helena approaches Cassie and gives her a big hug. It did not
seem authentic to me that just having Cassie fight a major villain and end up
safe would be enough to turn her mother's attitude. Aside from that complaint
the book was entertaining, had good art and introduced a new character to the DC
pantheon. So I give it thumbs up.


Title: DAREDEVIL REBORN
Issue Number: 1 (of 4)
Title Story: Reborn
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Andy Diggle
Artist: Davide Gianfelice
Colors: Matt Hollingsworth
Letters: Joe Caramagna
Cover Artist: Jock
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero



If you are curious about what happened to Matt Murdoch after the whole
Shadowland event there is of course a follow up series with the word "Reborn" in
the title. Yes Daredevil has left the city and the profession in search of
himself. He used to battle evil but since he succumbed to it he needs to be
alone away from his former life. So we first see him walking somewhere out west
until he comes across a remote town. He befriends a young boy who is also blind
but is soon harassed by a group of local thugs who want him to leave and give
him a beating to prove it. In his current state of mind Matt doesn't even want
to resist. The thing is even though the sheriff stops the guys he sends them on
their way and then gives Matt a ride to the edge of town telling him to take the
morning bus out of town. So what we have is a classic plot where the stranger
happens on a town with a secret and it seems like everyone from the diner
waitress to the police are in on it - except maybe the blind boy. How long will
it take for Matt to decide he needs to find out the reason behind the bum's rush
and what is that secret? It looks like we will find out eventually. I am willing
to approach the character as a very changed man on a quest. Whether this ends
with him returning to being Daredevil is not important to me. In fact I think it
would be cool if he didn't. I liked the art for the composition and use of
perspective and coloring. In fact the last panel is pretty cool. I'll be
interested more in the ending than the mystery of this town.

Title: CHAOS WAR: X-MEN
Issue Number: 1 (of 4)
Title Story: Dead X-Men
Publisher: Marvel
Creators: Louise Simonson, Chris Claremont & Doug Braithwaite
Colors: Rob Schwager
Letters: Dave Sharpe
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero




There seems to be a pattern of multiple dead people coming back to life in
comics these days. There are a dozen of them over in DC's Brightest Day series
and now it looks like Marvel is using that plot device as well. I have not been
reading the CHAOS WAR stuff but decided to see if one of these related series is
readable on its own. The cover alone is intriguing as you see Esme and Sophie,
John Proudstar, Banshee, a Madrox dupe and others walking out of a raging fire.
All these characters are dead in current continuity. But as we see from the
first panel something has brought them back to life on the grounds of the
decimated Xavier Academy. They are as much confused as the reader. They are not
zombies, they know they are dead. The consensus is they need to find out why
this is happened and Thunderbird takes charge. Some will search the grounds
while others check for life nearby. They soon see the results of the Chaos
King's work. It is he who has destroyed the dreamworld plunging the living into
an eternal sleep. Next he obliterated the underworld freeing the dead to walk
the Earth. Through cryptic clues they realize where they have to go but they may
be stopped by a sudden relentless attack. How it wraps up and whether it affects
the events in the main book will remain to be seen. I liked this one for a
couple of reasons. It was neat to see Sean, Moira and John Proudstar again as I
was a big fan back in the early days of the All-New X-Men. The interaction of
the characters was not bad either considering some of them did not have a clue
who the more recently dead were. But like all X-Men they are working together
and making sacrifices. The art holds up though it is nothing spectacular. I
would hold off judgment and a final grade until the second half comes out.

Title: RYDER ON THE STORM
Issue Number: 2 (of 3)
Publisher: Radical Comics
Writer: David Hine
Artist: Wayne Nichols
Colors: Feigiap Chong & Sansan Saw
Letters: Richard Starkings & Jimmy Betancourt
Cover Artist: Francesco "Matt" Mattina
Price (USD): $4.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Supernatural - Horror
Mature Readers



This series started off with a lot of information being established about the
main characters. When a femme fatale Katrina asked the private eye named Ryder
to investigate the suicide of her boyfriend Michael Hudson he finds himself
getting deeper into a world of ancient beliefs. Hudson believed he was a
descendent of an ancient race of daemons that once ruled the Earth. When Katrina
is attacked by a living daemon the intervention of Charles Monk, with his
glowing daemon-killing, bullets saves them both. But Ryder touches a bullet and
his hand starts to burn in pain and Monk has no choice but to cut it off. As
this chapter opens the three have formed an alliance. The fact that Ryder
himself must be a daemon descendent does not faze the others as Monk educates
them on the ancient history of the daemons and the Order of the Sacred Blood
their avowed enemies. A society of knights at the beginning they had collected
the diseased blood of the daemon hive queen and used it on weapons through the
ages to root out and kill daemons walking among us as humans. Monks glowing
bullets are the last weapons of that kind. In this chapter Ryder and Katrina
grow closer as their true natures and desires begin to surface for the reader.
There are many layers of the story including the Danton family that Michael
Hudson blamed for his parents deaths. Ryder will find his connection to it all
by the end of this chapter and the major threat to humanity is also revealed.
This is a really dense series. There is a lot of development, history and
revelation making it worth the price. It would be less economical if they
instead did regular sized issues for a cheaper price. The art is spellbinding in
places with everyone doing a great job. So far this series does not disappoint
and should have a bang up finish.

*****
TRIVIA CONTEST!!!! WIN REAL PRIZES!!!!!

If you think you know the answer to the trivia question send your guess via
Email to me at ComicBkNet@aol.com and you could win the prize. The first six
correct answers will be assigned a number and a roll of the dice will determine
the winner. You should put your real name in your message so we know who you
are. Prizes must be claimed at our store within 30 days of winning. The prize
will be a $10 credit slip, which will be redeemable for merchandise at regular
retail or in-store ongoing specials only. Only one prize per person will be
allowed per every 4 weeks. I will be the sole judge of the correct answer even
if more than one answer could be correct. Submit only one answer per Email
please but guess as often as you like.

Last week's trivia question:
In WOLVERINE: ORIGIN, several people wore a wool cap often worn in cold
climates, a brimless cap. James wore one when he was given the label Logan. The
name of this type cap is Canadian. Do you know it?
If you remembered the McKenzie brothers you know their hats called toques! The
winner by the dice roll is David Mc Barron.

Here was your no prize question:
Who owns the most expensive action figure as of 2008?
As with anything else, no matter how many people try to improve upon it and
expand it, there will be nothing as truly valuable as the first G.I. Joe action
figure. This prototype stands at twelve inches tall and was purchased in 2003
for $200,000. It is currently owned by collector Steve (Diamond Comics
Distributors) Geppi. Joe is being showcased at the Geppi Museum in Baltimore,
Maryland. David Mc Barron also got this one correct.

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
In a monumental change, the comic industry finally raised the price of the
average comic from 10 cents to 12 cents. What was the year?

Here is your no prize question:
What US location has the lowest Zip Code number?

Folks, you never know who among the readers is knowledgeable about the question
so don't hesitate to send in an answer - even days after it appears.

Comic Reviews 1/14/11

The comics reviewed are chosen by David not by That's Entertainment management
or staff. The opinions expressed are his alone. If you have an opposing view you
are welcome to respond to David directly by Email at the address above.


Title: CYANIDE & HAPPINESS
Issue Number: One-Shot trade paperback - collected from the web comic on
www.explosm.net with previously unpublished material
Publisher: IT an imprint of Harper Collins Publishers
Creators: Kris Wilson, Matt Melvin, Rob DenBleyker & Dave McElfatrick
Price (USD): $13.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Humor
Mature - Comics on the Edge (some material may be offensive to all ages)




It has been a while since I found myself laughing out loud at a comic book but
that is what happened when I first saw a few of the strips in this collection
and knew I had to read the whole book. One fascinating thing is that the four
creators did not meet until 2 years ago though they have been doing these online
comics for four years. Sometimes simplicity speaks more than detail. I think
that is why so many of these gags hit home. The characters are just stick figure
drawings and there is no unessential background or detail to clutter things up.
Many times it is just two people talking until the joke is told. You will
quickly become enamored of these odd looking characters but the book comes with
a warning. "If you are younger than 15 or older than 50 there is an 87% chance
something in this book will offend you." Heck, I'm over 50 and I am offended by
the warning! Of course that warning is tongue in cheek because there are some,
not the majority by any means that will test your judgment on what is funny and
what is just bad taste. Since I am very broad minded about sick humor I found
the occasional groaner mixed in with some puns and genuinely funny ideas makes
the volume a lot more fun. To give you an idea on one page orange guy walks up
to green guy and says Tony is dead. Green says, "Oh, God no... I didn't get a
chance to tell him." "Tell him what?" "That I spilled arsenic in his orange
juice." On another page one guy is admonishing another that Easter isn't all
about candy and bunny rabbits and colored eggs. It's about Jesus' resurrection
from the dead. Silence as Jesus enters, grabs the guy with the bunny ears and
bites him as the admonisher looks at the reader and says, "Happy Zombie Jesus
Day!" Later it comes to a guy cooking on a grill as wife congratulates him for
getting some meat for the barbeque after all. She says she has to go buy Timmy a
gift. Maybe he'll stop crying like he has been all afternoon. By the way where
is Timmy? To which the man replies, "You ever heard of the phrase 'Two birds one
stone?'" And on it goes some are just cute, some are very clever, some are
really bad puns and some will have you telling yourself you should not be
laughing. As I said with an open mind you can find the humor in it all and have
a good laugh. If you are offended by jokes about religion, the handicapped,
disease and death, homosexuality, fetuses (yeah there's a few of those) or John
Wilkes Booth then I suggest you not pick this book up. Personally I think there
is something for everyone in this one.

Title: EARP: SAINTS FOR SINNERS
Issue Number: 1 (of 5)
Publisher: Radical Comics
Creators: Matt Cirulnick
Writer: M. Zachary Sherman & Matt Cirulnick
Artists: Mack Chatter, Martin Montiel & Colin Lorimer
Colors: Kyushik Shin
Letters: Rus Wooton
Cover Artist: Alex Maleev
Price (USD): $5.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Crime Adventure
Mature - Comics on the Edge

The story takes place in the not too distant future in a much different world.
Actually it is not an improbable future some might say as worldwide depression
has led to food riots, gas riots looting and general chaos. The United States
has become more like the old west as even dueling has been made legal. To carry
the simile further the main character is Wyatt Earp, retired US Marshall. The
story is filled with other famous names including Virgil and Morgan Earp, Doc
Holiday and the James Gang among others. Wyatt has retired to Las Vegas and from
atop a skyscraper recounts the tale of the days fighting criminals with Doc
Holiday until he quit then with his brothers. It all leads to a train they were
guarding. It was filled with a lot of money heading for Vegas when the James
Gang attacked. In the heat of the battle a third group jumped in and made off
with the cargo. In the firefight Virgil is killed. In the present the wounded
Morgan shows up at Wyatt's after escaping from the Pinkertons. The book flashes
back to also tell us Doc's story. How he worked with Wyatt and looked the other
way when some of the cops took there cut off of seized evidence. That is until
he had to choose between his job and his loyalty to his friend. Back in the
present, after Virgil's funeral Wyatt decides to hang it up and move to Vegas.
He is going with Doc and they convince Morgan to come for a few days, so they
can convince him to retire as well. But Vegas is not going to be so easy to
settle down in. The famous Wyatt Earp draws attention. Even the Mayor and his
private police force are there to greet them as they start to work on
refurbishing an old building into their own casino, the A-OK. The guys soon
learn that to do business in this town they are supposed to play along with what
amounts to the municipal protection racket. Since this has four more issues to
go there is a lot more to the story and the people behind the attack on that
train. While the story has a lot of connections to the old west it is just the
names of the people and places with a little parallel here and there. So far the
plot holds my attention, after it stopped bouncing back and forth to introduce
the players and their background. The art on the other hand gave me mixed
feelings. Realizing there are a lot of different styles out there I know I won't
like them all. It is not I dislike this one either. It is unique and has a lot
of dynamic elements that fit the story. Maybe the coloring in some panels could
be blurring out detail I would rather see. Still it does get the job done. So I
would recommend this one for the story, which seems to be going in the right
direction.

Title: BATMAN BEYOND
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: Madness, Mayhem & Mentachem
Title Arc: The Heart of the Matter
Publisher: DC
Writer: Adam Beechen
Artist: Ryan Benjamin
Inker: John Stanisci
Colors: David Baron
Letters: Swands
Cover Artist: Dustin Nguyen, variant by Darwin Cooke
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

This is yet another series based on the very well done cartoon show of the same
name. If you never saw an episode or two it is really worth looking for. It is
set in the future when Bruce Wayne has retired from being Batman and disappeared
from public life. The teenager Terry McGinnis stumbled upon Bruce and his
secrets and eventually under Bruce's guidance began to fight crime in the Gotham
City of tomorrow as Batman Beyond. Since this is at least the third comic book
series start for our hero it does not get into the origins of the character.
Instead we have him taking down a group of bad guys dressed up like Tweedle-dee
and Tweedle-Dum. For the new reader it is an introduction to the way things work
- Terry is the field agent in constant contact with Bruce doing the Oracle
thing. The main antagonist for this issue is a man named Jatts who just found
out that after all those years of prolonged exposure to the materials he handled
while in the Metahuman Evidence Confiscation Unit he has contamination into his
bones and only has months to live. So he decides on a plan to rob the vault
where he works of a very unique magic wand. For whatever reason when he touches
the wand it is absorbed into his body and he gains the power to transmute things
into different elements. As he decides to leave Metropolis fast he does not know
that the Justice League got the alarm and is on the way to intercept him.
Through the course of the story Jatts will take over a shopping mall with
Terry's mother and brother among the hostages. While Terry races to the scene
and Bruce is coordinating strategy with the future Commissioner Gordon the fun
part of the story begins with the entrance of the future Justice League. None of
the characters are from our time - this is an all future League with familiar
names and powers if not faces. We are left without knowing if Terry will work
with them or against them for the sake of his family. I like the characters in
this future Gotham. The comic stays true to the cartoon while doing everything
the right way to be entertaining for the new reader. Terry has a loved interest
that provides another subplot as well. The art is very capable, again keeping
true to the TV show with people who are more realistic than cartoony. It is good
fun and captivating for all ages. I am glad to see this title back on the racks
again.

Title: ULTIMATE CAPTAIN AMERICA
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Jason Aaron
Artist: Ron Garney
Colors: Jason Keith
Letters: Clayton Cowles
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero





Since I am interested in all things Ultimate this was on my list this week. It
begins with the Ultimate Captain America, AKA Steve Rogers as a prisoner being
taunted by a man conveniently in the shadows. He has come to shoot Steve but
after a dialogue wherein the man taunts him to pray for God's help he leaves
again promising to return in five minutes to end it all. How Steve got in this
position will be the plot of this arc as we move back to the beginning six weeks
ago. The setting is North Korea where the powers that be are attempting to make
their own super soldier. We are witness to a test of the current subject as four
soldiers are put in the room and told to kill him. They fail of course. And
watching the proceeding with the Korean scientists and military is an American
wearing a ski mask to hide his identity from them. He has been supplying the
serum but he warns them not to use this new weapon to attack South Korea. But it
seems Captain America and the British SAS are about to spoil the plans as they
breach the facility. The mysterious American has an exit plan and before it is
over he will face Cap mano a mano. This is a good first issue. It does not
bother to get into any origin story for Steve Rogers that has been covered
before in another series. But it seems there is an origin to be told, based on
the revelation at the end of the issue. This one has some mystery, thrilling
action scenes and good characterization. The art is decent in every aspect. We
are left with Captain America in a bad situation, which may or may not be
leading to that first scene I described. Regardless it promises to be
interesting and entertaining.

Title: IAN CHURCHILL'S MARINEMAN
Issue Number: 2
Title Story: Deep Trouble
Publisher: Image
Creator: Ian Churchill
Colors: Ian Churchill & Alex Sollazzo
Letters: Richard Starkings, Jimmy Betancourt & JG Roshell
Cover Artist: Ian Churchill
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero




I missed the first issue of this title from Image and decided to see what it is
all about. Right from the first page I was impressed with Ian Churchill's
artwork. The opening scene has the hero racing underwater to save his friend
Jake who is trapped in a mangled shark cage while a great white shark circles
around. The hero is Steve Ocean, AKA Marineman. He can breathe underwater and is
really strong - hmm... did Ian clear this with DC? Anyway, the art is very
detailed - first as seen from Steve's perspective and then in a two page splash
from Jake's. The appealing nature of the finished art is there throughout,
though at times some characters are really not drawn to proper proportions. As
for the story the opening splash is just the framing part to get us into a flash
back to how we got there. It seems Steve's father is a Commander in the Navy and
has just commandeered his son into escorting a female lieutenant on a tour of
the town as she settles in. She is not too keen on the idea but after Steve
performs a heroic act she becomes friendlier. The story is set on the coast of
South Africa and Steve is part of a TV show that has his good friend Jake in the
shark cage. He and another man will attempt to tag a great white to study its
migratory habits. That is when the shark jumped snapping the cage tether and
damaging the door latch. So it is up to Marineman to save his friend but in
doing so on live TV he will reveal his special talents. This will concern his
father and his superiors but also an old man who is very interested in the news
cast. I found the story likable and the characters as well. The supporting cast
is given enough dialogue for us to get to know them without taking away from the
main story. It seems to be going at a deliberate pace with enough mystery to
engage the reader enough to want to see the next issue. What I thought was going
to be a silly Aquaman copycat turned out to be a fun story worth reading.

Title: TWENTY SEVEN
Issue Number: 2 (of 4)
Publisher: Image/Shadowline
Writer: Charles Soule
Artist: Renzo Podesta
Letters: Shawn Depasquale
Cover Artist: W. Scott Forbes
Price (USD): $3.99 - Golden Age format
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Science Fiction/Supernatural
MATURE READERS - COMICS ON THE EDGE



I reviewed the first issue of this series and liked it enough to come back for
more. Up to this point I find that my expectations about what is going on were
erroneous. Will Garland is a modern day guitar hero whose brilliant career was
cut short by a crippling nerve disorder. On his 27th birthday Garland sought out
a mad scientist named Hargrave Swinthe in search of a cure. He ended up going
through a bizarre ritual, Swinthe ended up dead, and now Garland has a strange
device embedded in his chest. After finding out he could play again his joy was
short lived as the talent faded and the pain returned. Now the ghosts of
Swinthe, and a few others, are visible to him. Swinthe explains that the ritual
was really a scientific experiment through contact with extra-dimensional
beings. Garland relates the vision he had of the being and another while going
through the process. As Swinthe's ghost explains the entity's affection for the
number nine as well as creative subjects it all begins to become clear. The
devise in Will's chest gives him an ability for three hours each time he uses
it. In fact being able to see and talk to ghosts is one of them abilities. But,
he is limited to twenty seven times and then his life will be over. It is during
this explanation that Swinthe alludes to the connection with Cobain, Hendrix and
other brilliant artists that died at the age of 27. As the power to see Swinthe
fades Will has to make choices. Not the least of which is what to tell the
police who are looking into Swinthe's death. It would be nice to know how to use
the devise in his chest to his advantage instead of just getting random
abilities. And the whole dead at 27 thing does not sound promising. There are a
couple more players added to the cast this time and one of those extra-
dimensional beings is snooping around as well. It is getting to be a journey
that is very unpredictable as to where it will go. The art is very distinctive
with an angular quality and nice coloring. This title got me thinking more than
I first expected it would. So far it did not disappoint me.

***** TRIVIA CONTEST!!!! WIN REAL PRIZES!!!!!

If you think you know the answer to the trivia question send your guess via
Email to me at ComicBkNet@aol.com and you could win the prize. The first six
correct answers will be assigned a number and a roll of the dice will determine
the winner. You should put your real name in your message so we know who you
are. Prizes must be claimed at our store within 30 days of winning. The prize
will be a $10 credit slip, which will be redeemable for merchandise at regular
retail or in-store ongoing specials only. Only one prize per person will be
allowed per every 4 weeks. I will be the sole judge of the correct answer even
if more than one answer could be correct. Submit only one answer per Email
please but guess as often as you like.

Last week's trivia question: Special covers were all the rage in the Eighties. Continuity Comics did a crossover in its books with different types of special covers each month - embossed, foil, etc. One they called an "Indestructible" cover. The question is from what did they make the cover?

The answer is Tyvek(tm) which is the paper-like material used on those envelopes
you have to cut open because it is impossible to rip. You may also see it as a
protective layer over wall insulation on the outside of buildings, just before
they put on the siding.

The winner by the dice roll is Phillip Rutkiewicz.

Here was your no prize question: What is the most sold musical instrument in the world?
The musical instrument that has the highest sales in the world is the harmonica.

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION: In WOLVERINE: ORIGIN, several people wore a wool cap often worn in cold climates, a brimless cap. James wore one when he was given the label Logan. The name of this type cap is Canadian. Do you know it?
Here is your no prize question: Who owns the most expensive action figure as of 2008?

Folks, you never know who among the readers is knowledgeable about the question
so don't hesitate to send in an answer - even days after it appears.

Comic Reviews 1/6/11

REVIEWS

The comics reviewed are chosen by David not by That's Entertainment management
or staff. The opinions expressed are his alone. If you have an opposing view you
are welcome to respond to David directly by Email at the address above.

Title: MILLAR & McNIVEN'S NEMESIS
Issue Number: 4 (of 4)
Publisher: Marvel/Icon
Creators: Mark Millar & Steve McNiven
Writer: Mark Millar
Artist: Steve McNiven
Colors: Dave McCaig
Letters: Clayton Cowles
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Villain/Crime


This is the final issue of Millar's story of a super criminal. Some have likened
it to a story of what if Batman was a bad guy. It has certain parallels in that
the title character appears to be on a vendetta based on what happened to his
parents who in this case were depraved criminals. Nemesis has left a trail of
dead police officers across Asia with thousands of innocents also killed as
collateral damage. That was apparently a warm up to his ultimate target the
Chief of Police of Washington, DC, Blake Morrow. So far he has kidnapped the
president, murdered the entire staff of the Pentagon, kidnapped Morrow's
children forcing him to reveal his darkest secrets and then returned the
children after artificially inseminating the daughter by her own brother. He has
sent Morrow a note stating his intention, "Blake Morrow March 12th at midnight -
flatline still counts." Morrow now has Nemesis' secret identity and is out to
get Nemesis with a major task force before he can carry out his plan. The chief
got information from a police department mole that Nemesis has been
impersonating his own uncle, Howard Anderson. The task force closes in on the
Anderson estate but it is too soon to believe he will be captured that easily.
Sure enough the whole thing is a trap and Morrow finds himself in the hands of
his enemy and learns of a betrayal by one of his own men. To his surprise they
are in the White House and both his wife and the President are they are wearing
bomb vests. The choice he is given is to detonate one or the other. If he
refuses they will both die. It is the climax point in the story and charges
forward from there with deadly result. But is the story over? In the aftermath
we learn the true story behind the man called Nemesis. It is a good twist to a
gripping story that was a fast-paced thriller the whole way. McNiven provided
excellent visuals and McCaig's coloring job was superb. This would make one heck
of a movie and the ending leaves us a chance of a sequel. I thoroughly enjoyed
the whole experience.

Title: BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: Part One
Title Arc: Golden Dawn
Publisher: DC
Creator: Bob Kane
Writer, Artist, Cover: David Finch
Inker: Scott Williams
Colors: Alex Sinclair
Letters: Dave Sharpe
Variant Cover Artist: Andy Clarke
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

As part of the whole new direction of the Batman family of books David Finch
gets his own self-contained title featuring Bruce Wayne as the Dark Knight. He
has proven himself to be a good storyteller in both words and pencils and the
finishes by Williams and Sinclair provide a visual delight for the readers. This
first arc involves the disappearance of a woman he used to play with as a child.
Dawn Golden would visit the Waynes with her parents when Bruce was a boy. Over
time he warmed up to her initial sullen and aloof attitude. In narration we
learn he last saw her when she broke his heart in college. Now she has gone
missing, Commissioner Gordon has no solid leads and the case is high visibility
with the press and local politicians. Batman is following his own obsession to
find her or die trying. The trail leads him to Killer Croc. Finch takes his time
showing that confrontation which will be particularly difficult for Batman this
time due to the fact that Croc is taking Venom. It is an interesting insight
into the way Batman plans his moves and carries them out. The trail will lead
him to others and a climax confrontation with another old foe. There is a
subplot involving some street bums that will no doubt play into the main story
down the line. It is an excellent start for this new title and a way for fans to
follow Batman stories told in the classic style without all the Batman Inc. tie-
ins.

Title: ECHOES
Issue Number: 1 (of 5)
Publisher: Image/Top Cow
Creator: Joshua Hale Fialkov
Writer: Joshua Hale Fialkov
Artist: Rahsan Ekedal
Letters: Troy Peteri
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Horror - black & white
MATURE: Graphic Content - Comics on the Edge




This is an interesting mix of horror and noir elements. The narrator is Brian
Cohn and right from the beginning we see that this story will be complex because
of Brian's condition. Is he a reliable storyteller? The first several pages jump
back and forth from his childhood, to good times with his wife expecting their
first child, to telling his story to the police, to caring for his father who is
slowly deteriorating in health. We can't be sure because Brian himself is under
therapy and on medication. Later in the story we wonder if he is really seeing
these things or is he hallucinating because he is off his meds. Just before he
passes away the father becomes suddenly lucid and tells Brian he has to go to
the old house and find the box in the crawlspace. He alludes to "bodies" and "so
many dead girls" so Brian naturally wonders what dark secret has been hidden by
his father for so long. With his watch timer constantly reminding him to take
his meds Brian begins exploring the old homestead with a feeling he is being
watched, that he is not alone. The monologue he goes through subtly reminds us
that we are watching a retelling of the story but it may not be entirely
correct. The horrific discovery only opens more questions for Brian and the
reader. After the initial confusion at the start of the story we are taken on a
chilling adventure that draws us deeper into the mind of Brian Cohn. What was
his father involved in so long ago? Is this the evidence of a hidden past or is
there more to the story? Is someone else lurking in the shadows as one scene and
the cover suggest? It is well scripted to get us to this point with so many
questions to answer. The art is such that certain panels bear looking at more
than once to find clues to parts of the plot. Even the ramblings of the elder
Cohn's roommate in the hospital have a bearing on the story. It is a worthy
effort that is sure to get more gripping as we move along.

Title: DC COMICS PRESENTS: JLA
Issue Number: 1-Shot
Publisher: DC
Price (USD): $7.99 - 100-Pages
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

This "Spectacular" is essentially a reprint of JLA 90-93 from 2004. Those issues covered two self-contained stories reproduced here. Please note the series they are taken from is JLA and not the current run called JUSTICE LEAGUE of AMERICA.



Story: Perchance
Writer: Joe Kelly
Artist: Chris Cross
Inker: Tom Nguyen
Colors: Chris Sotomayor
Letters: Nick Napolitano

The title is from the old saying, "To sleep, perchance to dream." It is
appropriate to the story set in a time shortly after Wonder Woman and Bruce
Wayne had a brief romantic encounter. The opening scene is the set up as Diana
comes to Gotham and helps capture the latest villain of the week. The two dance
around having "the talk" while the captured villain in the background adds some
comic relief. Later at the Watchtower on the moon a passing comment by a
colleague gets Diana thinking - was a simple kiss a shared moment by warriors on
the battlefield or a desperate attempt to reconcile years of pent up emotion?
It's time for an answer. So she visits J'onn J'onzz to use a certain machine he
has developed. It is not a gateway to knowledge or predictor of the future but a
window into the subconscious. In it she will sleep and perhaps find the answers
she seeks. Several scenes pass by - the two as the new Dynamic Duo with Diana as
Batwoman, as warriors together on Paradise Island, dining with her family and
his friends, the rejection by her mother of a most wanted petition, she becoming
more dark in his world of maniacal foes, him growing old as she does not age,
and so on. In the end she emerges from the machine to find Bruce waiting there.
They manage to settle the problem amicably. This is a decent enough story that
explores relationships that occur between comrades and the various turns they
may take. Kelly turns in a good script. While the art is able enough in
structure and composition I did not care for the pencils all that much. For one
thing Chris Cross draws Diana more muscular than needed to accentuate her power.
Still it was not that bad.

Story: Extinction
Writer: Dennis O'Neil
Artist: Tan Eng Huat
Colors: David Baron
Letters: Rob Leigh/Jared Fletcher

This second story is more typical of a JLA story as it involves many of the
characters through most of the story. Involved in the plot are Plastic Man,
Superman, John Stewart, Flash, Wonder Woman and Atom. It starts as Plastic Man
sounds the alarm when a cloud of rocks appears as if out of nowhere and starts
to puncture holes in the Watchtower. Luckily Plas can stretch to plug the holes
until the others arrive. Further investigation indicates that a spaceship ripped
through hyperspace bringing with it the damaging debris. When the gang finally
gains entrance to the ship they discover a spaceman in the form of a monkey,
though he quickly reverts to a humanoid shape based on the JLA's appearance. The
JLA are cautious about accepting the being calling himself Pepaey but agree to
help him locate a species on Earth, one he is tasked to monitor - an ape known
as the silver masked monkey, a nearly extinct species that may only be found in
the Amazon. But when their quest ends in failure Pepaey reveals that according
to his references this species of monkey should have become the dominant life
form on Earth. Next he asks to see more of the planet to see how it actually did
develop and to his horror witnesses the worst of mankind does to itself. This
convinces him that this dominant species wants to kill itself and if so he will
assist. It takes the combined effort of all to thwart his plan and get to a
proper understanding. As I said this is a more typical JLA story but not a very
good one. The characters are often caricatures of themselves and many written
fearing Batman more than the alien. The art is displeasing as well. Though it
carries the story forward as it should the people are often drawn out of
proportion, particularly too tall. The coloring is decent but it can't save the
rest for my tastes.

In summary I grade this one with a just passing grade. Since it is a reprint,
and I have been an avid follower of the JLA in all its incarnation I am not
surprised I do not remember reading these stories before as they are indeed
forgettable - the second more than the first. DC would be better served to issue
a 100-page special with unused inventory stories than recycling mediocre stories
in hopes of selling more high-priced spectaculars.

Title: WHAT IF? 200
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Marvel
Cover Artist: Lucio Parrillo
Price (USD): $4.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

Celebrating the 200th issue of the title Marvel issued a larger issue with two
stories and a backup on thoughts about the favorites of some creators. There is
also a retrospective by Roy Thomas, a reprinting of all 200 covers and finally a
reprint of the classic #35 - What If Elektra Had Lived?

Story: What If Norman Osborn Won the Siege of Asgard?
Writer: Marc Guggenheim
Artist: Dave Wilkins
Letters: Dave Lanphear

In this story the turning point is identified as the point in the Siege of
Asgard when The Sentry killed Ares thus weakening him just enough to be
eventually defeated and the tide turned. In this alternate version Ares decides
not to be led into war against Asgard and instead tries to attack Osborn only to
be killed much earlier than the Siege by The Sentry. Thus he is more able to
withstand any assault and ultimately help Norman takeover Asgard with its
arsenal. Now Norman can set his sights on the rest of the world. Even his Dark
Reign Cabal cannot withstand Reynolds when he learns of his wife's assassination
by Bullseye. The Cabal falls as most of Earth's heroes did before them and with
Sentry now taking on the persona of the Void he is too powerful even for Dr.
Doom. Does Norman Osborn stand a chance - or for that matter the rest of
mankind? This one ends in disaster, as do many of the alternate realities in the
annals of this title. It is a believable story of what could have happened if
events unfolded differently. The art is decent though somewhat heavy in the
coloring for my taste. I enjoyed it though.

Story: What If I, The Watcher, Killed Galactus?
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Dale Eaglesham
Colors: Laura Martin
Letters: Todd Klein

Stan revisits one of his classic stories from FANTASTIC FOUR #48-50. In that
epic Galactus was about to destroy Earth but the FF obtained the Ultimate
Nullifier, which could destroy the Galaxy or even the Universe. Rather than risk
his own demise he set the Silver Surfer free and left, promising never to
return. But what if instead Uatu the Watcher went one step further and killed
Galactus himself? That is the story Stan is now proposing. Sure enough Uatu is
called on the carpet for his crime of interference, which is at the core of his
people's beliefs. The might of the Watchers is demonstrated as they brush aside
the cosmic power of the Silver Surfer and whisk everyone off to the place of
judgment. Stan adds another look at the Watcher society and how Uatu is still
dedicated to their beliefs after the one slip and a certain fate offering no
excuse but admitting his action. But Stan has a neat twist at the end that is
indeed ironic and well done. This was an enjoyable story capably rendered by
Eaglesham with the always-terrific coloring of Laura Martin. It is a worthy
entry for this landmark issue.

The reprint feature is "What If Bullseye Had Not Killed Elektra?" written and
drawn by Frank Miller himself with inks by Terry Austin and colors by Glynis
Wein. The story is told in the rain as Matt Murdock stands over the gravestone
of Elektra. The teller approaches covered by a large trench coat and umbrella
and we can tell it is clearly the Watcher who will tell Murdock about another
world a heartbeat away where Elektra still lives. In that world Bullseye is shot
and killed during his prison break and so never killed Elektra. Since she is
following what would have happened she is commissioned to kill Matt's law
partner but at the last minute decides to let him go. These two events forever
change her future. The Kingpin is outraged she let her prey live and so sets Mr.
Slaughter to the task of killing Elektra to gain all his contracts. Meanwhile
Foggy tells Matt about his brush with deaths leaving Matt no choice but to
attempt to bring her in. With all kinds of assassins after her Elektra has a
fight on her hands as her quarters are compromised. She manages to elude them
all and matt returns to his place without finding her, only to see she has
turned to him as a last hope. How will their story end? You have to read it to
find out. I can see why this is a favorite of both Ed Brubaker and Brian Michael
Bendis. It was unique to have the creator of the original story also do the
alternate reality version and Terry Austin on inks gave Miller's pencils a great
look. It is a fitting end to a truly landmark issue of this fan favorite title.

Title: OSBORN
Issue Number: 2 (of 5)
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Kelly Sue DeConnick
Artist: Emma Rios
Colors: Jose Villarrubia
Letters: Clayton Cowles
Cover Artist: Ben Oliver
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Villain




I picked up the first issue of this mini out of curiosity. What could be more
interesting than a follow up to Norman's fall from power? Could anyone live up
to the power of the months-long story that put Osborn in the seat of power to
the point where he nearly took over the country? I was pleasantly surprised to
read that first issue and find a fascinating story unfold that featured Osborn
only in a few panels but gave the promise of another great story in the making.
After his take down by the Avengers Osborn was imprisoned and as we saw last
issue he was transferred to a top-secret privately run supermax prison called
the Special Containment Center. He is in a special wing along with four other
super villains so dangerous that they are locked away for years, even decades.
The first issue gave us some insight into those inmates before Norman is
introduced into the cell he now languishes in. But we also saw that some are
working behind the scenes to free him, even before he arrives. These people wear
tattoos of the Green Goblin, his former persona, and number in the hundreds. One
of them is father Coulmier, a priest who serves in the Special Containment
Center. The story opens as Osborn has his first meeting in the Father's office.
It is an interesting dialogue that gets even more interesting when the guard is
excused so the priest can hear Norm's "confession" - a ruse so that Coulmier can
explain to Norman how the cult is planning to free him. On the outside at Front
Line reporter Norah Winters is supposed to do a news piece on Osborn but he has
suddenly vanished from public confinement. She is pressing every lead to find
out where he is gone. She is about to get a mysterious invitation to a midnight
meeting that may give her some answers - leaving the reader pondering who is
behind this and why. As the cult of the Goblin sets their plan in motion we
start to see the old Osborn start to surface as he and his new allies join
forces. It is a fascinating story with good characterization. While Norman was
not of necessity seen much in the first issue he is given lots of face time in
this one with some sharp scripting setting the tone for things to come.
DeConnick really gets it when it comes to giving the characters the right
dialogue for their circumstance and disposition. Rios has a very appealing style
that is finished well by Jose's coloring. It is a very good read and fitting
follow up to Norman's fall from power. He may not breathe free air again by the
end of it but I am willing to stick with it to see where it goes.


*****
TRIVIA CONTEST!!!! WIN REAL PRIZES!!!!!

If you think you know the answer to the trivia question send your guess via
Email to me at ComicBkNet@aol.com and you could win the prize. The first six
correct answers will be assigned a number and a roll of the dice will determine
the winner. You should put your real name in your message so we know who you
are. Prizes must be claimed at our store within 30 days of winning. The prize
will be a $10 credit slip, which will be redeemable for merchandise at regular
retail or in-store ongoing specials only. Only one prize per person will be
allowed per every 4 weeks. I will be the sole judge of the correct answer even
if more than one answer could be correct. Submit only one answer per Email
please but guess as often as you like.

Last week's trivia question:
In the "Origin of the Legion" in 1968 who joined the Legion of Super-Heroes
first after the three founders?
The answer is Triplicate Girl. The winner by the dice roll is Keith Martin.

Here was your no prize question:
From what source did the group Duran Duran get their name?
Duran Duran got their name from a movie called "Barbarella." A mad scientist in
the movie went by the same name. Several got it right and the first was Al
Gordon who earns his spot in the Trivia Hall of Fame with an asterisk because he
is technically not eligible even for a no prize. Christian Mock beat the rest of
the guessers.

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
Special covers were all the rage in the Eighties. Continuity Comics did a
crossover in its books with different types of special covers each month -
embossed, foil, etc. One they called an "Indestructible" cover. The question
is from what did they make the cover?

Here is your no prize question:
What is the most sold musical instrument in the world?

Folks, you never know who among the readers is knowledgeable about the question
so don't hesitate to send in an answer - even days after it appears.