Comic Reviews - 3/25/11

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.

Several revivals of old series this week

Title: RUSE
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: The Victorian Guide to Murder
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Mark Waid
Artist: Mirco Pierfederici
Cover Artists: Butch Guice, Mike Perkins & Laura Martin
Price (USD): $2.99 (cover price) on sale for $1
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Mystery





Crossgen Comics was a wonderful line with high production values and interesting
concepts while it lasted. Unfortunately it failed as a company and when the
rights were sold Disney bought them. Now that Disney also owns Marvel some of
those concepts are being revived under the Marvel brand. First out was SIGIL and
now we have this book, which was one of my favorites, partly because it is
written by Mark Waid who returns for the relaunch. RUSE is set in the city of
Partington in Victorian England. The world's greatest detective, Simon Archard,
has been called to the scene of what appears to be the murder of Archduke
Ehrlich. After just a few minutes he declares that despite the stabbed and
beheaded body lying on the floor indicating murder the Archduke actually
committed suicide! The family and servants gathered are aghast at such a
proclamation. Like Sherlock Holmes, Archard points to certain clues indicating
the veracity of his decision and soon reveals the mutilation of the body was
done to cover the shame the family would face if the truth got out. When the
truth is revealed the party guilty of the attempted cover up flees the scene and
Archard and his partner, Emma, give chase and the issue is resolved. This
sequence of events is not the main plot. It is a setup to introduce new readers
to the skill of the sleuth and the dynamic between Emma and Archard. He treats
her like an assistant thought she clearly is a valued asset. But the Archduke's
demise does leave another clue to follow up - why did he commit suicide? The
evidence leads to a seedy part of town where our intrepid heroes will find
themselves in a precarious situation. I like this series for the mystery
elements and for the relationship between Simon and Emma. The dialogues they
have are humorous without distracting from the serious plot. The art is just
okay in my opinion. While it is competent in structure the coloring takes away
or at the least fails to enhance things to a better finished product. Still it
is not bad enough to turn me away. I still love the characters and the plot so I
will be staying with it. Since That's Entertainment is offering this first issue
for only a buck you should give it a try.

Title: XOMBI
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: Prison of Industry
Title Arc: The Ninth Stronghold
Publisher: DC
Creator: Dwayne McDuffie for Milestone Media
Writer: John Rozum
Artist: Frazer Irving
Letters: Dave Sharpe
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero



Another revived series this week comes from the old Milestone line published by
DC. The lead character is David Kim a resident of Dakota. His body is filled
with nanomachines that have made him virtually immortal. When he was first
infected those tiny machines repaired his body at the sacrifice of his dear
friend Kelly, who they used as raw material in the process. Now he is younger
looking and not only does he heal quickly from any wound but he has become a
sort of weirdness magnet. To illustrate the point the opening scenes relate how
weird it can get. Animals in paintings in a museum jump from one canvas to
another, a handful of change begins talking to the holder, at a screening of
Nosferatu in a Michigan movie house has not one scene with the vampire in it -
he is in the back of the room biting one of the patrons. A friend of David's
realizes what is happening and sends David to a secret prison in Dakota run by
the church to be sure a certain prisoner does not escape. Also on the way are
Nun of the Above and Catholic Girl. Yeah some of the characters have whimsical
names - one sister that can shrink down to very small size is called Nun the
Less. This is a good skill as it seems the prison itself was shrunk to the size
of a large table top and Nun the Less can access the rooms to see what is
happening. It turns out the prisoner they are tasked with securing was a man who
got infected by a copy of the book "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" and was himself
turned into a much more malevolent version of the monster. Trying to complete
their mission gets very difficult as strange things begin happening. Maybe it's
that weirdness magnet thing. The strange situations and characters remind me of
some of the weirder stories from Grant Morrison. It is totally unpredictable and
has bits of humor beyond just the kooky character names. Rozum makes the effort
not to turn David into just another variety of super hero. He is instead a guy
who has been dealt a strange hand and tries to do the right thing in some very
odd circumstances. The art is stylish with a good interpretation of what the
script calls for and moody coloring as fits the scene. This is not an ordinary
comic but it is truly worth sampling.

Title: PHOENIX
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: Resurrection
Publisher: Atlas Comics
Writer: Brendan Deneen & Jim Krueger
Artist: Dean Zachary
Colors: Mai
Letters: Richard Emms
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero


The other revival comic this week is PHOENIX from Atlas Comics. I have never
read any of those old Atlas versions of this character so I have no
preconceptions about the new title. It is a most odd opening in which a man is
strapped down to a table thinking of how everything - family, friends, home -
has been taken from him. But the one thing they have not taken is his life -
though they keep trying. Indeed as the scene pans back we see two me trying to
kill him with their devices. It appears to be an alien abduction from the looks
of the bad guys. However, instead of killing Ed they have somehow transformed
him into something else. He manages a burst of energy that stuns his captors and
he races to find an exit. What he finds is the rest of the people from his town
all apparently dead on tables like he was strapped to. All dead except his
friend Max. When the aliens arrive with more firepower he is blasted through a
hole in the wall and sure enough he is now falling toward Earth from space. Now
if this happened to you how would you explain it? Who would believe you? Just
the part about surviving reentry and crashing to Earth is bad enough but the
whole I was abducted by aliens and they kept killing me but I wouldn't die bit
would soon get you locked up in a padded room. That will be the problem Ed faces
at first anyway. He has to find someone to believe him and then find a way to
get back to save his friend on the ship. What I liked was the linear fashion of
the story. Even though we are brought in to it in the middle of a tense scene we
do not need to know what came before. We need to know what the narrative tells
us along the way and by the time it ends with a cliffhanger we have a good
feeling for what is happening, if not why. Other characters are briefly
introduced but how they have related to Ed in the past is not made clear yet.
The things we can expect in the future is an explanation of just what the aliens
are trying to do, maybe why Ed got so invulnerable and what if anything else can
he do. What I did not like was the art. It reminded me of many self-published
first efforts I used to get for review when I edited the Emag years ago. Not
that there wasn't an occasional gem in those but too many lacked backgrounds, or
consistent perspective, or decent coloring and things like that. Mike Grell is
the Editor in Chief of Atlas and I am surprised that he let out artwork that
wasn't more polished than this. But maybe that is me. It could be appealing to
someone else. So I give the one a low C grade. It could develop into an
interesting story but it is moving too slow and the art is a turn off for me.

Title: AFTER DARK
Issue Number: 3 (of 3)
Publisher: Radical Comics
Creator: Antoine Fuqua & Wesley Snipes
Writer: Peter Milligan
Artist: Leonardo Manco
Paints: Kinsun Loh, Jerry Choo & Sansan Saw
Letters: Clayton Cowles
Cover Artist: Tae Young Choi
Price (USD): $4.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Science Fiction
Mature Readers


This issue is the wrap up of the series that brings a lot of elements together
in a most unsuspected way. The title alludes to the fact that on this world the
most dangerous place to be is outside after dark. The discontented citizens are
rioting everywhere. To bring hope back to the people the military brought
together an eclectic team of specialists and criminals to search for the one
person that may bring harmony to the world: a woman known as Angel. Along the
way two team members are killed but the team finally reached their goal only to
have Angel refuse to return with them to Solar City. But is the mission really
to bring her back or to find and kill her? That is how the opening begins. A
faction in the team feels the whole Angel as redeemer is wrong and the cult
around her is dangerous. Others think they should kidnap her and take her back
against her will. In a bloody scene the decision of what to do is made and they
head back with Angel in tow. Along the way they stop for another they met on the
way, a very old being that has the form of a baby. He is also able to read minds
and Angel wants him along. He is very instrumental in scenes to come. Angels
return to the population is hailed as a second coming and we begin to see what
she is really about. I never expected this series to take the turn it did at the
end. There are betrayals and power plays that come out of nowhere. The story
plays into that old adage - be careful what you wish for. The slow beginning in
the first issue makes this last issue even more thrilling. The art carries it
well with the paint finishes highlighting contrasts between the players and the
dark world they inhabit. This is the type of story that grows on you and ends
with a major splash. I enjoyed it immensely.

***** 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:
Which DC villain was the first encountered by The Sovereign Seven?
The first DCU villain in Sovereign 7 was Darkseid. The winner this week is Tom
Courchaine.

Here was your no prize question:
Who was the first female athlete to pose nude for Sports Illustrated? (Not a
"swim suit issue" even!)

In 2002 Jenny Williams did a tasteful pose on the beach, with her arms and fists
covering her topless chest. The picture stirred some controversy, but she was
not nude as she had a bottom on. The answer goes back to 1972 when Cathy Rigby
posed with her back to the camera doing the splits on a balance beam, with no
clothes on.

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
Why did SAVAGE DRAGON have two alternate versions of issue 13, released 8 months
apart?

Here is your no prize question:
Which U.S. domestic airline was the first to serve alcohol in flight?

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 - 3/23/11

Title: WESTERN CLASSICS
Issue Number: GRAPHIC CLASSICS VOLUME 20
Publisher: Eureka Productions
144 pages, 7" X 10" paperback, full color
Cover Artists: Front - Cynthia Martin, Back - Ryan Huna Smith
Price (USD): $17.95
Release Date: March 2011
Genre: Western Anthology

Often when I review an anthology I look for the good, the bad and the ugly (a little Western reference there.) This volume consists of seven stories and a poem all adapted and illustrated by modern creators. Where else would you find Zane Grey, Robert E. Howard, Willa Cather, Trina Robbins, Dan Spiegle, Al Feldstein and a host of other creators all in one book? So lets see what we have.

"Riders of the Purple Sage" by Zane Grey. Adapted by Tom Pomplun and illustrated
by Cynthia Martin. This the longest story in the volume running 48 pages. It is
by far the best of the lot. I am familiar with the source material only by name
but I can see why it is a classic. Zane Grey is the master. He wrote nearly
ninety novels selling over 13 million copies making him the best selling western
novelist. This story has a little of everything. A woman trying to hold on to
her homestead and cattle business is besieged by a corrupt minister with a lot
of power in a small western town. When she tries to keep her rider, Venters,
from being falsely accused of a shooting the minister and his thugs try to drive
him off but the arrival of a stranger who thwarts the effort. It turns out this
new man, Lassiter, has a bit of a reputation but he is also searching for the
grave of his sister who is buried on the Jane Withersteen's land. They become
friends. The story gets involved with cattle rustlers and a secret one of them
has involving Lassiter. It is too involved to get into in detail other than to
say it has lots of character development and plot turns. Lassiter originally
wanted to avenge his sister but in the end settles for justice and though
fortunes are made and lost there is satisfying resolution for all the good guys
and just desserts for the bad guys. Pomplun clearly worked hard to capture the
essence of the story and Cynthia Martin does a fantastic job in bringing it to
life. This one story is worth the price of the book.

"Knife River Prodigal" by Robert E. Howard. Adapted by Ben Avery and illustrated
by George Sellas. I was not aware that Robert E. Howard had done a western story
as he was most noted for "Conan" and the sword and sorcery genre. This tale has
a bit of humor to it. A young man named Buckner gets into a gunfight with the
wrong man so his pappy tells him to leave home and head for California. Along
the way he hooks up with a gang of thugs and sees their true colors when they
hit town. It is a story of redemption but is played for the humor as well. The
art is appropriate for the material so the combination makes a delightful entry
in the mix.

"The Right Eye of the Commander" by Bret Harte. Adapted by David Hontiveros and
illustrated by Reno Maniquis. This is not only a western but also a mystery
tale. It involves the commander of the Presidio in 1797 that at a point in his
career lost his right eye to a wound from an arrow. One stormy night the master
of a schooner from Massachusetts sought shelter from a raging storm with the
commander's permission. After a night of hospitality and too much drink the
schooner was on its way and the commander arose to find his right eye socket now
had a glass eye in it. The natives under his protection treated this new
development as a miracle of Saint Carlos. As time goes on they find it casts a
pall on their attitudes and they fear even looking at it. Indeed the eye seems
to slowly change the demeanor and attitude of the commander. It is a subtle
horror that ends with a somewhat satisfying resolution and a hint of what may
come in the future on another shore. I liked the story and the art was good but
not great. I would say this one is slightly above average.

"The Holdup" starring Hopalong Cassidy by Clarence E. Mulford. Adapted by Tim
Lasiuta and illustrated by Dan Spiegle. I have been a fan of Dan Spiegle's work
from decades ago. While the style and line detail is appealing to me I think the
coloring on this one did not work as well as it should. But it still is a better
than average story in the fashion of a good old cowboy hero I remember a little
bit from my youth. If fact Hopalong Cassidy is one of the most popular cowboy
characters of his day with more movies than any other cowboy hero including Roy
Rogers. This story has a basic plot with Hoppy and his friends riding a train
back to their ranch after a cattle drive. They learn of a previous hold up on
this line from talking with the crew. When the same gang tries to rob this train
of the payroll it is carrying Hoppy and his crew are ready to defend the train.
I like this one for story and art taking off slightly for the coloring but that
is personal taste.

"La Perdida" by Gertrude Atherton. Adapted by Trina Robbins and illustrated by
Arnold Arre. This is a story of a girl who was forced into an arranged marriage
with a much older man at the age of fourteen. Two years later she fell in love
with a boy her own age and they both felt the rage of her husband as the boy is
thrown in prison while the girl is shamed into toiling in the village in public
disgrace. It is only a series of circumstances and timing that might find a way
for the two to be together in happiness. The story is short and sweet with a
predictable outcome. The art is a unique style that works well. I would give
this one a B grade as well.

"The Last Thundersong" by John G. Neihardt. Adapted by Rod Lott and illustrated
by Ryan Huna Smith. This story involves life on the plains where the whites and
Indians live in peace. A very hot summer has gotten so bad that even men of
faith wonder if they are being punished. In that setting we watch as the old
medicine man prepares to perform a rain dance to awaken the thunder spirits.
Watching are a newspaperman, a preacher, a physician and an Indian Agent. The
dialogue among these four men is most interesting as they ponder the values of
the Indians, their culture and their vision of God. As the old man began his
dance it is not long before the younger men of the tribe show how time and
mixing with the whites have changed attitudes about the old ways. It is very
clever and the punch line comes when the preacher visits the old man in private.
I like the story that succeeded in making its point in a brief but succinct
fashion. The art is very similar to Rick Geary so there is that appeal to it.
This one is above the average.

"El Dorado" by Willa Cather. Adapted by Rich Rainey and illustrated by John
Findley. After expecting to be let down at some point I got to the last story
and found this gem penned originally by the well-known writer Willa Cather. It
is a fascinating story of a man who bought into the dream of making a fortune in
the new west after successfully running a moneymaking business in a general
store in Virginia City. An introduction by a friend lead to a gradual wearing
down of his resistance when he is asked to get in on the ground floor in a town
called EL Dorado. The organizer of the investors sold several prominent
businessmen on the fact that it is a brand new town located where every railroad
of the west converged. It would soon be a boomtown and all would get rich on the
growth to come. When the false claims were revealed at first the slick organizer
always had a response and a new promise with others to arrive soon. One by one
the promises proved to be false and the organizer, who also owned the bank, left
town to bring back his family. But a telegram soon arrived saying his father was
dying and his remaining relatives in El Dorado left to see their father as well.
When they did not return the town started to die a slow death. One by one the
settlers cut their losses and headed back east. But Colonel Bywaters always saw
things through to the end and decided to stay with his new store and no
clientele except an occasional wagon passing through. There is a resolution to
the story in an ironic twist that closes things nicely. The art is strong on
this one, the most appealing in the volume. I still rank it just below Riders of
the Purple Sage but above all the rest.

"Out Where the West Begins" by Arthur Chapman, illustrated by Al Feldstein. This
is an introductory poem that serves the volume well to set the stage for what is
to come. The illustration of a cowboy on the range is exceptional.

This volume intrigued me when I first learned of it and am glad I had the chance
to read it. As I said at the beginning it is a strong anthology worth the price.
I never did find the bad or the ugly and that is a good thing.


Title: ABATTOIR
Issue Number: 3 (of 6)
Publisher: Radical Comics
Creator: Darren Lynn Bousman
Writers: Rob Levin & Troy Peteri
Artists: Bing Cansino, Rodell Noora & Dennis Calero
Colors: Andrei Pervukhin
Letters: Troy Peteri
Cover Artist: Tae Young Choi
Price (USD): $3.50
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Horror
Suggested for Mature Readers - Comics on the Edge


This story started out rather slowly though the horror element entered into the
very first chapter. As it has progressed the plot got more involved and the
protagonist got into more of a dilemma. Richard Ashwalt is a real estate agent
who got the unenviable task of selling a house where a local man brutally
murdered his own family. Before the house is even cleaned up a mysterious man
named Jebediah Crone offers to buy it but Richard senses something wrong and
refused. From there on his life gets more troubled. His boss sold the house to
Crone anyway and Richard is suddenly named as a person of interest in another
murder. Having been warned by a friend he goes underground and sneaks back to
the house to find clues to what is happening. What he found disturbed him even
more. All traces of the murder are gone but he found a mirror that disturbs him.
Needing to clear his name he needs to track down Crone but there are no
reference to him that he can find in public records. Under an assumed name he
goes to visit another real estate agent who dealt with Crone in the past. He
tells a story of yet another house where a furious wife killed her cheating
husband and his lover before hanging herself. Crone bought that house back then
and this agent lead Richard to yet another contact with more information. It is
clear to Richard by now that Crone is seeking house touched by violent death.
The next contact has a similar tale with a different ending and there is a
surprise revelation at the last page. This series grew on me after the second
issue and this one really gets things moving along. There is a subtle exposure
to plot elements as we go along but we really haven't got to the motivation of
the antagonist yet. Apparently he is not the only one with a hidden agenda
either. The story is gripping and continues at a rapid pace. The art is
appealing with good layouts and detail. The coloring gives it a hue that really
sets the mood. This is one of the better books from Radical.

Title: GRIM GHOST
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: Neither Heaven Nor Hell
Title Arc: The Grim Ghost Returns
Publisher: Atlas
Writers: Tony Isabella & Stephen Susco
Artist: Kelley Jones
Inker: Eric Layton
Colors: Kieran Oats
Letters: Richard Emms
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Supernatural Hero


I decided to sample another Atlas reboot of their old comic book line. When I
saw Tony Isabella was in on the writing I felt pretty good about what it would
be like. Tony is the creator of Black Lightning for DC. The last time he handled
the writing chores for BLACK LIGHTNING it was one of the best books on the
racks. It is well worth seeking out in the back issue bins. The setting is in a
place between the living world and the hereafter - between heaven and hell.
Those that exist here have not passed on to the afterlife and exist in this
limbo realm known as the Fringe that is a nightmare version of the place they
knew when they lived. One such person is Michael who has newly arrived. Those
here do not retain the memory of their life. There is another here who has
become Michael's friend and mentor. Matthew Dunsinane is a protector in this
realm who wears a cape and mask and goes by the name of Grim Ghost. There are
also evil people in the realm led by Braddock, the Grim Ghost's enemy. In life
the two were enemies in the time of the American Revolution. Now they are both
doomed to this netherworld. Braddock seeks to capture the souls of the newly
arrived while the Grim Ghost tries to thwart him. The plot for this first issue
involves one such conflict with Michael lending GG a hand as his more or less
prot‚g‚. It may be that down the road Michael will become a new Grim Ghost but
for now he is learning how to deal with a power that he has in the Fringe. It is
decent plotting with lots of exposition and character development ending on a
somewhat cryptic note. The art is dynamic with good layouts and coloring that
sets the mood. It is a decent first issue that could develop into a good series.

Title: INSURRECTION v3.6
Issue Number: 1 (of 4)
Publisher: Boom! Studios
Creator: Blake Masters
Writers: Blake Masters & Michael Alan Nelson
Artist: Michael Penick
Colors: Darrin Moore
Letters: Travis Lanham
Cover Artist: Karl Richardson/Rael Lyra
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Science Fiction



This one reads like it is the basis for a video game. The year is 3000 when
pollution, poverty and armed conflict have been eliminated from Earth. The same
can't be said for the places off-world where geo-economic blocs wage war over
the ores on a moon in the outer rim that make the utopia possible. We witness a
skirmish in one such war on Sparta. The weapons of war have very sophisticated
and brutal. Androids called Auts fight against the Retsu and just when they have
the upper hand tragedy strikes. The main plot follows the replacement Aut for
the team leader lost in that battle and the Glomrat executive Hal Windsor sent
to oversee the operations on Sparta. It touches on the relationships betweens
the humans of the story, the Auts among themselves and the interaction between
the group. We witness human foibles and weakness. We see Auts that act very
human for the most part, including emotional attachments. There are some brief
scenes that promise subplots to develop and in the end a cliffhanger to set off
the action. There is a lot stuffed into a standard length comic and it all reads
easily and sensibly. The art is well done giving us a variety of layouts and
thrilling action sequences. I am not sure if it will blossom into a great comic
but the beginning is worth a read.

Title: SEA GHOST
Issue Number: 1-Shot
Title Story: The Sea Ghost in the Machine
Publisher: Nemo Publishing
Creator: Jay Piscopo
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

If the style looks familiar in this comic it is because it is a homage to SPACE GHOST as well as the body of work of Alex Toth and a little bit of Aquaman thrown in as well. Sea Ghost lived in the undersea ruins of Atlantis with his children Coral and Triton. Commander X contacts him about a temporal displacement and when he swims out to investigate he is trapped in a mysterious globe and whisked away to another planet. What he finds is a divided world with two species. There is a group called the Phlan live under the sea while the
Simas took dominion of the surface world in an uneasy truce after years of war.
Now both groups believe they are near the end times when only one species will
rule the entire world for the glory of their god Vorrgoth. Sea Ghost learns all
this while prisoner of the Phlan and when he has learned enough he easily
escapes demanding to know why he was brought here. The Phlan do not know and
suspect he is a weapon of the Simas. When he visits the Simas he meets the same
conundrum. It is up to Sea Ghost to end the senseless war if he can and discover
his role in it all and who brought him here. This is indeed a fun if you get
into the theme and style intended. It reads like a plot for a cartoon hero but
with a little more depth. The art is also characteristic of the genre so Piscopo
has done what he set out to do. The only distracting flaw is the lettering. All
the dialogue balloons are semi-transparent showing a bit of the scene through
them. I did not care for this choice at all so points off for that. It is still
a fun comic nonetheless.

*****
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:
From the Silver Age:
Who was the black guy in EASY COMPANY?
It was Jackie Johnson and many entrees got it right. The winner by the dice is
Stan Hosmer.

Here was your no prize question:
For us real old timers - On which television show did Tom Terrific and Mighty
Manfred the Wonder Dog make their debut?
Tom Terrific was a cartoon segment created specifically for the Captain Kangaroo
Show that aired from the Fifties through the Sixties. The Captain's show set a
record for children's programs running for and unprecedented 30 years from 1955
to 1985. The Trivia Hall of Fame welcomes Sean Fowler for getting it first.

In the late Forties / early Fifties, the UPA film studio created a series of
abstractly drawn cartoons featuring 'Gerald McBoingBoing', 'Madeleine', and
'Mister Magoo'. The simple lines and abstract, minimal backgrounds made the
animation easy and inexpensive (although relatively lavish by today's television
standards).

Designer/Director (and former UPA exec) Gene Deitch created 'Tom Terrific' with
this in mind; the imaginative scripts and stylized designs hid the fact that the
animation necessary for kid's TV budgets was so crude. The scripts were tongue-
in-cheek and the music was minimal as well - mostly just an accordion. One guy,
Lionel Wilson, did all of the voices.

In the stories, Tom had the ability to change into any shape he could imagine in
order to save his loveable (and lazy) dog Mighty Manfred from the clutches of
the villainous Crabby Appleton and other do-badders in three five-minute
segments that made up each story arc.

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
Which DC villain was the first encountered by The Sovereign Seven?

Here is your no prize question:
Who was the first female athlete to pose nude for Sports Illustrated?
(Not a "swimsuit issue" even!)

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 3/11/11

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: AXE COP
Issue Number: 1 (of 3)
Title Story: Bad Guy Earth
Publisher: Dark Horse
Creator: Malachai Nicolle & Ethan Nicolle
Writer: Malachai Nicolle
Artist: Ethan Nicolle
Colors: Dirk Erik Schulz
Price (USD): $3.50
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Humor/Science Fiction
All Ages



This is one of the most unusual comics I have ever seen. One reason for that is
that the writer, Malachai, is only six years old and his brother, Ethan, (30)
does all the art except for the coloring. AXE COP was a playtime creation of the
brothers that eventually became a web comic and then a one-shot published last
December. That success lead to this three-issue series as they got together and
played some more to get enough material for Ethan to weave into a somewhat
cohesive story. I say somewhat because the plot goes here and there unexpectedly
on almost every page. The opening scene, which really has nothing to do with the
rest of the plot, takes place in a restaurant as Axe Cop and his side kick
Dinosaur Soldier (yes, he's a real dinosaur) are in a booth when Axe Cop decides
he is thirsty. He spies a cup of water on the next table and takes a drink. The
next thing you know he is being scolded by a talking hammer at that table for
drinking the brains of his friend. It turns out Mr. Cup has water for brains and
Axe Cop drank most of it leaving Mr. Cup quite unintelligent. This is all from
the fertile mind of a six-year old. If you can think back to those days kids
that age play in a stream of consciousness way so be prepared for anything as
the story progresses. It turns out Axe Cop was walking down the street when he
spotted Axe Cop Academy. He went in, as the only student, learned fighting from
wall posters and read the "How to Be a Cop With an Axe" manual. As he left he
found the Axe Cop Police Station close by and so became the only Axe Cop at the
station. The real cops do not like him because he breaks all the real cop rules.
When they try to pull him over for speeding he uses a faint bomb to incapacitate
them and get away. He and Dinosaur Soldier noticed a new planet in the sky
growing ever larger and with their Axe Cop computer determined that the planet
was growing super duper fast and would soon squish the Earth. It would be up to
them to demolish the bad guy planet, if they can get past the cordon of real
cops and the army now surrounding Axe Cop Station. This all happens in the first
few pages. Equipped with their planet shocker gun, which is tiny but has a
really big button, they use the Axe Cop Cruiser's rockets to fly into space to
destroy the bad guy planet. From there is it is one thing after another with the
good guys and bad guys alike chasing after them. They make their way to the
invisible lab of Uni-Man and get to use ingenious inventions like the laser-
portal gun and even a machine that turns bad guys into good guys. The bad guys
want to get there hands on that devise to change it into a bad guy machine so
they can make the whole Earth into a bad guy planet. It is zany and
unpredictable making it fun for all ages. Ethan is an accomplished cartoonist
that not only puts these ideas to the page but also manages to weave unrelated
things together to make it work. Who knows what will happen next? I recommend
this comic for everyone. Adults will get a big kick out of the quirky fun and
kids will have their own imaginations inspired to perhaps create characters of
their own. Don't miss it!

Title: THE INTREPIDS
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: Mad Scientists Are a Girl's Worst Enemy
Publisher: Image
Creator: Kurtis J. Wiebe & Scott Kowalchuk
Writer: Kurtis J. Wiebe
Artist: Scott Kowalchuk
Colors: Justin Scott
Letters: Frank Zigarelli
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Science Fiction



Keeping with the theme of zany comics the cover of this one jumps right out at
you with a giant gorilla enhanced by advanced technology on his head and chest
being repelled by four young heroes with a few nice toys of their own. These
forgotten children have been taken in by Dante, a mechanical engineering genius,
and given a purpose in life - to stop the spread of mad scientists. Chester is
the technology wiz; Doyle is the larger-than-life strong man, Rose handles
aerial assaults with her jet pack and assorted weapons while Ms. Crow is the
leader and martial arts expert. They run into the giant ape in Russia while
trying to shut down a nefarious research lab. That scene gets us familiar with
the team and how they function. Later we see them meet with Dante as they get
their next mission when Dante relates the story of his relation with Dr. Koi,
the made genius behind using animals with enhanced technology for bad purposes.
The set up is pretty good and the script has plenty of character development
along the way. It is not extraordinary among the comics out there but the craft
in both writing and art is better than most. It remains to be seen if it grows
into something a little more compelling.

Title: WULF
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Atlas Comics
Writer: Steve Niles
Artist: Nat Jones
Colors: Mai
Letters: Richard Emms
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Sword & Sorcery





Atlas has recently relaunched comics featuring characters from the comics of the
early seventies. Both GRIM GHOST and PHOENIX hit the stands last month and now
Steve Niles has taken up the writing chores on another core character, WULF.
WULF is set in the distant past when men waged war against each other and
supernatural opponents with sword and shield. As the story opens it appears that
the planet is in the beginnings of an extinction event. Meteors are crashing
everywhere wiping out hundreds of thousands who are powerless to avoid the
disaster. One superior warrior, Wulf, resigns himself to the fact that they all
may die soon but he will go down fighting and helping those in need. The other
major player here is Sanjon, a warrior who dabbles in mystic arts. His response
to the cataclysm is to pray to the dark gods offering himself body and soul if
they will open a door for escape. The sacrifice he makes is rather graphic in
intensity if not visually. His prayers are heard as he is transformed into
something entirely different just as Wulf happens on to the scene. The other
character is a cop in the present day named Lomax. He witnesses a strange event
and when he investigates he is drawn into the conflict by magical means. It is
an interesting set up with minimal time for character development but we get the
gist of the situation easily enough. The action should really ramp up next time
as we get a better feeling for what will come down the road. The artwork is dark
in tone but not so much that it blurs out detail. In fact the pencil, inks and
colors compliment each other well and present a nice product. This one will take
time to develop but it looks promising from this debut.

Title: 5 RONIN
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: The Way of the One
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Peter Milligan
Artist: Tomm Coker
Colors: Daniel Freeman
Letters: Joe Caramagna
Cover Artist: David Aja (Variant by John Cassaday)
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE





I was not really up for another version of Wolverine but I decided to give this
a try anyway. The setting is Japan in 1600. The battlefield is Sekigahara as the
clans of the east and the west clash. In the aftermath many former samurai are
left to wander the Shogunate as leaderless warriors - Ronin. Some search for
vengeance, some for honor. Among these Ronin a legend is born. It tells of a
Ronin who cannot die, or rather will not stay dead. The Ronin have a way of
communicating, leaving messages at temples to organize meetings. Our Wolverine
Ronin, the narrator of the story, arrives to what he thinks is a meeting only to
find he is alone. He knows something is wrong. Sure enough, another Ronin in
full armor attacks him. It seems this one has turned on his brother, perhaps on
all of them, and in quick order slays Wolverine. Of course this is not the
Wolverine of our time, he has no claws other than those fashioned from steel and
attached to gloves. But though he falls in this battle he is still the Ronin who
will not die. The healing factor remains part of this version. He lives again to
try to solve the mystery of the turncoat and the fate of the other Ronin. What
he finds will not be pleasant. While the art is pretty good I did not find
myself enthralled by the story. There are a couple of twists that make sense to
the plot but it just a familiar character transplanted into a different
situation. If you like the genre you may enjoy it. It is not my cup of tea.

Title: ANNIHILATORS
Issue Number: 1 (of 4)
Title Story: Blame It On the Black Star
Publisher: Marvel
Writers: Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning
Artist: Tan Eng Huat
Inker: Victor Olazaba
Colors: June Chung
Letters: Joe Caramagna
Cover Artist: Alex Garner
Price (USD): $4.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero


Wendell Vaughn who was known as Quasar, Protector of the Universe, narrates the
story. He was part of the Guardians of the Galaxy. Now he has come together with
others to form a new group of first responders to crises of Galactic
proportions. There is Ronan, the Kree Accuser, Kallark known as Gladiator the
Majestor of the Shi'ar and Commander of the Imperial Guard, Beta-Ray Bill the
enhanced Korbinite and the Silver Surfer. They are set to meet in the neutral
territory at the place known as Knowhere. But someone else is there to greet
them. It is a Space Knight and she takes them on one by one and handily defeats
them. After proving her point she introduces herself as Ikon. She is the
greatest living Space Knight sent to join this group called the Annihilators.
Her first impression is not a good one. She gets them to thinking about
themselves, whether a group of so powerful beings can function together when
their first emergency is detected. Those first scenes put a little drama into
the plot and the main plot is introduce as indeed a crisis worthy of their
mission. If you followed the previous series some of these characters will be
very familiar to you. If not the structure of the opening scene is a good
introduction. The villain introduced appears to be a worthy adversary. Whether
or not the conflict to come will maintain interest remains to be seen. The art
works well though the Silver Surfer looked a bit odd to me. It is good enough
to carry the plot. Where the plot goes will decide if it is worth staying with
the title.

The back up story "Timely Inc." is by Abnett & Lanning with art by Timothy Green
and Nathan Fairbairn and letters by Clayton Cowles. It follows two other
characters from the old Guardians of the Galaxy, Rocket Raccoon and Groot. It
actually starts out on a more humorous note as RR finds himself schlepping the
mail at a large corporate office on Alpha Centauri. He is oppressed by his boss
and humiliated that his life has come to this. When his boss threatens to fire
him for having personal mail sent to the office Rocket goes to investigate. He
finds the package mysteriously addressed to him but when it opens out jumps a
clown intent on killing him. The battle that ensues is pretty funny as they
bounce around the place breaking lots of stuff. Rocket's only defenses are
office supplies, which make it funnier still. The plot is not all fun though.
After the situation is resolved Rocket decides to head into space to find his
old friend Groot. That will begin a story of more serious circumstances. I
actually liked this story more than the lead story. It is fun and dynamic in the
art department. As it turns from humorous to more somber it still kept my
interest and ends with a promise of a more interesting story. I don't think the
two stories together justify a $5 price. Maybe separate books would be better.


Title: EARP: SAINTS FOR SINNERS
Issue Number: 2 (of 5)
Publisher: Radical Comics
Creators: Matt Cirulnick & David Manpearl
Writers: M. Zachary Sherman & Matt Cirulnick
Artist: Colin Lorimer
Colors: Kyushik Shin
Letters: Rus Wooton
Cover Artist: Alex Maleev
Price (USD): $3.50
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Future Western
Suggested for Mature Readers


In a not too distant future the country has become as lawless as the old west.
The government returned to special Marshals to capture notorious criminals like
Jesse James, Billy the Kid and others. Yes in this world the names are familiar.
The most famous of the new breed of lawmen is Wyatt Earp. After the death of his
brother Virgil in a train robbery Wyatt decided to retire and his former partner
Doc Holliday convinces him to start his own small casino, the AOK, in Las Vegas.
Joining them are Kate, Doc's girlfriend and Wyatt's brother Morgan. But they
soon learn that to play in this town they will have to deal with local
billionaire Flynn and his private security force, the Pinkertons. Alan Pinkerton
pressures them to pay protection money, or else. Morgan eventually gets mixed up
with Jesse James, the modern day Robin Hood, going in on a heist in which he
gets captured by the Pinkertons but escapes. He is chased back to the AOK where
a gunfight ensues and the place is burned down leaving Morgan dead. During the
struggle Wyatt discovered that Alan Pinkerton is actually the man who killed his
other brother in the train robbery. In the second part of the story we flash
back a month to events leading up to the event. The guys take in a show at
Flynn's casino where Wyatt falls in love with the star performer, Josie. She is
in reality a captive of Flynn who wants her to become his next wife. He keeps a
tight rein on her but she spurns his advances. As fate would have it Jesse James
picks that night to rob the casino. After the robbery he later returns in secret
to see Josie, whom he has a history with. Before the end of the issue Josie will
have a showdown with Flynn and unexpected savior comes to her aid. It is turning
into a love triangle that can need to no good. I like the art on this book with
its varied layouts and attractive coloring. The plot is a bit involved with lots
of characters and the flashback kind of confuses the sequence of events. At this
point I am not sure where it will all lead and I am also not sure I care. So a
mixed review on this one. It has some good and some not so much.

***** 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: The Beatles, Elvis, Kiss, and Devo all had cameos in the 4th issue of what Marvel magazine?

The magazine in question was the black & white HOWARD THE DUCK. The winner by
the dice is Erin O'Connor.

Here was your no prize question: Who was the first sports person to be on the box cover of the "Breakfast of Champions"?

The first sports celebrity to get his photo on a box of WHEATIES was baseball's
Lou Gehrig. David McBarron for the second week in a row got it first.

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION: From the Silver Age: Who was the black guy in EASY COMPANY?

Here is your no prize question: For us real old timers - On which television show did Tom Terrific and Mighty Manfred the Wonder Dog make their debut?

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 3/4/11

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: X-MEN LEGACY
Issue Number: 245
Title Story: Chapter 1
Title Arc: Age of X
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Mike Carey
Artist: Clay Mann
Inker: Jay Leisten
Colors: Brian Reber
Letters: Cory Petit
Cover Artist: Lienil Yu & Marte Gracia
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

I was pleased enough with the AGE OF X ALPHA comic that I decided to try the
first chapters in the main plot. That story runs through X-MEN LEGACY and NEW
MUTANTS for three issues of each. Since it is a story of the same characters in
a much different world each book does not concentrate on its core characters but
concentrates on all the characters in a bigger story. We really don't know if
this is our own world somehow altered in the past but in the present we know the
X-Men never existed and mankind has hunted to extinction most of the mutants.
The remaining few have banded together to make a last stand. In AGE OF X ALPHA
we got a peak at the background of some of the characters - events in their
lives in this hostile world. For example, Cyclops is now known as Batista. He
was used as a mutant executioner in Alcatraz until he escaped. Wolverine tried
to stop human scientists from spreading a "cure" for the X gene but had to
absorb the last remaining sample of it into his own system. His healing factor
is now gone so he cannot even pop his claws or it will be fatal. While these are
familiar characters they have different roles in this play. Magneto is the
leader of the group now barricaded in Fortress behind a force field wall that
has to be reinforced daily as the humans manage to penetrate it in one of their
attacks. This opening chapter begins with such an attack. Through it we get to
see who is around to defend their own kind. The field leader is Cannonball.
Among the troops are Namor, Angel, Iceman, Storm, Colossus and other familiar
faces. Rogue is now known as Legacy but she is held in reserve. Her special
talent is used to save the memories of the dying - a duty that has Cannonball
calling her Reaper. We see her called after the battle to gather the memories of
Heather Tucker before she passes away. In a moment of calm after the battle we
get to see the different relationships that have blossomed - Scoot Summers and
Frenzy, Psylocke and Iceman, Storm and Namor. Most of this is introductory to
set the stage and get a good idea of what has developed. The real plot begins as
Legacy is wandering the grounds and witnesses a perimeter breach. As others
arrive to the alarm call the take her down but notice Gambits cards passed right
through her. Yes this is Kitty Pride who mumbles some cryptic words before
Magneto arrives to return her to her to the Brig. She was being held there with
other mutants considered too dangerous or unstable to mix with the rest. Why did
Kitty leave to go outside the barrier? Why was she being held in the first
place? Who else is in the Brig? I found it all very intriguing and good reading.
The character dynamic is different and the dialogue feels right. The art is very
good as well. The first chapter brings you right in and makes you want more.
Stay tuned.

Title: NEW MUTANTS
Issue Number: 22
Title Story: Chapter 2
Title Arc: Age of X
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Mike Carey
Artist: Steve Kurth
Inker: Allen Martinez
Colors: Brian Reber
Letters: Chris Eliopoulos
Cover Artist: Mico Suayan & Marte Gracia
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

The story continues directly from Part 1 in X-MEN LEGACY. Kitty Pride had
escaped the brig in Fortress, the last stronghold for the world's mutants
against the humans who want them extinct. She used her power to go outside the
barrier and was recaptured when she came back. Rogue, known now as Legacy, or
sometimes as Reaper, witnessed Kitty hiding something before Magneto came to
return her to her cell. Now only Legacy has a clue to what Kitty was up to. But
she holds this information to herself and when Magneto refuses to let her
interrogate Kitty she forms a plan to get to Kitty secretly. The keeper of the
jail is Danger, the android with many bodies, so it has to be a good plan.
Legacy still has the power to absorb other mutant powers by touch so part of the
plan is getting the right power to bypass security. How she does it is clever.
Besides Kitty she will meet two other people there and before the end another
mutant will be on the run. Mike Carey has provided a solid script that has some
mystery and discovery and more mystery as a result. The two other people in the
prison and how Legacy interacts with them are key to what happens next. It is a
thoughtful plot. He also mixes in a few personal moments with other people to
make the other members of the group more real in this new setting. The art in
this book is very appealing. So far AGE OF X is worth the time and money.

Title: IRON MAN 2.0
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: Palmer Addley is Dead
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Nick Spencer
Artists: Barry Kitson, Kano & Carmine Di Giandomenico
Colors: Matt Wilson & Kano
Letters: Joe Caramagna
Cover Artist: Salvador Larroca
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero



This new comic is about James Rhodes, AKA War Machine. This oversized first
issue for a buck more includes one of those recaps of past history from James as
a youth through his meeting Tony Stark, his career as War Machine right up to
his part in the Dark Reign conflict and now with the Secret Avengers. This is
good for those of us not up to speed with all things Iron Man and War Machine.
This new story brings us to the present. James has been reassigned to Mackelroy
Army Base. He is working with three intelligence contractors on a case involving
a man named Palmer Addley who was a specialist in just about everything on the
cutting edge of technology. He was in a deep immersion project run out of the
Strategic Technology Office requiring no outside communication, not even
television. Six months ago he committed suicide. About two months later all of
his technology initiatives began to crash. If he built it, or fixed it, or
improved it - it is now offline. Then a week later the same projects pop up
elsewhere working just fine. These are all top secret classified Darpa projects
that somehow have been spirited away and spread out around the world while the
originals have been rendered useless. This tech is being used for the basis of
big time terrorist attacks in other countries and often leaving a message -
"Palmer Addley is dead." So far the team has not been able to figure out how the
tech was stolen or leaked and have exhausted all means including scientific,
cerebro and even mystics to figure out how the information got out of such a
secure facility. So the investigation begins. The story is framed but a
seemingly unrelated sequence in Ann Arbor, Michigan. In the opening a house wife
is being rolled into surgery and she warns the doctor that her ex-husband is not
a good person. She is worried about her children should anything happen to her.
That was six months ago. At the end of the book it is the present and the same
woman receives a package at home. The ending may give you an idea how she might
be tied into the main story. Well, so far I am not getting the meaning behind
the title of the book. Iron Man appears early with James before he begins his
new job but there is no armor involved from that point on, certainly nothing
indicating Rhodey will become Iron Man 2.0. The story though is interesting and
intriguing. I've always enjoyed Barry Kitson's art and it is up to snuff as
always. So far it is a good enough series to hang around and see where it goes.

Title: THE MISSION
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Image
Creator: Jon Hoeber & Erich Hoeber
Writer: Jon & Erich Hoeber
Artist: Werther Dell'edera
Colors: Arianna Florean
Letters: Dave Sharpe
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Mystery
Mature Readers - Comics on the Edge



What would you do if a strange man came to you and told you that you have a
mission? The mission is to kill someone you do not know. Obviously most of us
would think he is crazy and ignore him. This is what happens to Paul Haskell.
After a routine physical he is met in the parking garage by a man named Gabriel
carrying a lantern. That in itself is odd. Gabriel tells him he has a mission
and hands him and envelope. He says there is a war going on between good and
evil and Paul has a part to play. When Paul balks Gabriel gets forceful and
tells him the mission is to kill a man named Neal Cameron. The envelope has his
address and picture. It must be done within 48 Hours. And so the drama begins.
Paul takes the envelope but later discards it. The next day Gabriel approaches
him again with another envelope telling Paul he really has no choice and by the
way you better answer your phone - before it is even ringing. When it does, it
is Paul's doctor telling him to come in immediately based on the blood work that
just came back from the lab. How did Gabriel know he would get a call at that
moment? After a long conversation wherein Gabriel hints Paul could save himself
from cancer, and a strange nightmare that evening, Paul decides to at least
check out the intended victim. This is a story that seems odd at first and as it
goes along you realize there is more to it than you first thought. Clearly there
is something, some group or power - maybe even supernatural, at work behind the
scenes in trying to direct events toward a certain outcome. Not only does
Gabriel seem to know things ahead of time concerning Paul but the possible
reason why Neal Cameron needed to be killed is revealed at the climax of the
issue. Moving forward will Paul continue to be involved or will another person
be given a mission? What if anything is the end game? It is a gripping story
that builds through each page. The art is a bit rough for my tastes but it still
is acceptable. I like this comic.

Title: CROSSED PSYCHOPATH
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: My Dreams Always Turn Ugly
Publisher: Avatar
Creator: Garth Ennis
Writer: David Lapham
Artist: Raulo Caceres
Colors: Digicore
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Horror
Mature Readers - Comics on the Edge

One of the most horrific and explicit comics in language, gore and sexual
situations has been the CROSSED series of mini-series. The original created by
Garth Ennis established a world in which most of the population has been
infected by the Crossed disease. The visual indication that one is infected is a
blood-red rash in the form of a cross across the victim's face. As in the
WALKING DEAD the few regular humans remaining are constantly on the run trying
to find a safe haven and avoid the infected. Once infected the victims become
blood thirsty, sex-starved maniacs. They are constantly attacking, and either
raping or killing or eating new victims. This is not for the squeamish. David
Lapham has picked up the ball and is now spinning tales that get away from
normal humans trying to survive. He looks at the situation as it involves people
who have demons of their own. In CROSSED FAMILY VALUES it was a very
dysfunctional family with an authoritarian abusive father. He shows that
sometimes the normal humans are bigger monsters than the infected victims.
CROSSED PYCHOPATH is another such tale. It begins with a dream sequence alluding
to the title of the story. It then goes right into the main story of a small
group of survivors watching a band of Crossed abusing and torturing animals and
then turning on one of their own and laughing all the time. As the four
witnesses sneak away to find another path we drift into another dream sequence -
this time of another Crossed rape scene and the dreamer is revealed to us as he
wakes with a scream. His name is Harold and he has been trapped in a ravine
after breaking a leg trying to escape from the Crossed. The four pull him out
and set his leg but then have a heated argument about whether to burden
themselves with a cripple. One side is on the humanitarian aspect while the
other is based on the best chance of survival. Harold weaves a tale of his own
plight saying it involved a group of survivors he was separated from when he was
injured. Those others are on their way to a safe place where work is being done
for a cure to the virus. He was tracking them trying to catch up and proposes
they all continue on his quest. When he proves some worth by being able to hear
the crossed coming when the others can't they agree to join with Harold. But we
know from his dreams and his thoughts that Harold is far from being normal. As I
said this is not for everyone. While some may reject it as being too far over
the edge visually those visuals accentuate the points being made. The art in the
regard is top notch. If you don't mind the blood and perversion there is a story
being told that is worth reading.

Title: FANTASTIC FOUR
Issue Number: 588 (Final Issue)
Title Story: Month of Mourning
Title Arc: THREE
Publisher: Marvel
Creator: Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Artist: Nick Dragotta
Colors: Paul Mounts
Letters: Rus Wooton
Cover Artist: Alan Davis, Mark Farmer & Javier Rodriguez
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

This then is the last issue (for now - nudge, nudge, wink, wink) of the
FANTASTIC FOUR. Last time they suffered the tragedy of losing one of their own
in a heroic death to save others. The story is told with no dialogue relying
heavily on Nick Dragotta to interpret the script properly and Mounts to give it
the right tone. It begins where the last issue left off with the Avengers racing
to the Baxter Building to help avert the invasion from the Negative Zone only to
arrive too late. There in front of the portal, now sealed, is Ben hugging the
Richard's kids surrounded by the others. As the story progresses the only text
is a note of the number of days since the event - that is until the very last
panel. (I wonder if Wooton gets paid by the page or the word.) You can guess the
kind of scenes pictured - Ben's look of disbelief as the others arrive, then the
reaction by Sue as she is told, later her withdrawal into a force bubble and so
on. The funeral scene is the typical from above perspective of a room full of
familiar faces, most in costume but others like Peter Parker and Bobby Drake in
civilian clothes. A quick scene shift to Europe reminds us of another character
involved with the family since the beginning. There are some other moments that
are not so touching. Valeria puts up a to do list in front of the Future
Foundation kids classroom only to erase it and replace it with one chilling
item. Ben seems to be having the hardest time coping and attempts by Bruce
Banner and Don Blake to console him end up being hard on everyone. Finally Reed
is as always weighing things that need to be done - not so much in relation to
Johnny's death but for the good of the future. He gets a most unexpected visitor
that may be of help. As I said it takes the art to carry such a story and for
the most part the team does well. Certain panels are more striking than others
but the overall effect is good. I wouldn't want a steady diet of comics without
words but this one suits the mood Hickman wants to set. I guess it is a fitting
end for now, though we know the story continues in FF #1 next month

The backup story is called "Uncles." It is also written by Hickman with art by
Mark Brooks and Paul Mounts. It is spun off from one page of the previous story
on Day 14. Franklin is on the roof of the Baxter Building, still grieving when
Spider-Man swings by to pay a visit. This is a very well scripted tale as
Franklin reveals the trouble he is having with the death of his uncle. Spider-
Man takes him for a hot dog to distract him but later as they sit among the
rooftops he relates to Franklin how he too lost an uncle when he was younger. It
is particularly nice to relate the two events and for Peter to counsel Franklin
about the pain eventually going away and the loving memory staying strong. In a
way I enjoyed this short story much more than the main feature.

*****
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 Valiant Universe terms, Harbingers are people with special powers.
Who was the first Harbinger to appear in a Valiant VH1 comic book?

Someone was close guessing Toyo Harada, knowing that some Harbingers were around
before the namesake title began its run. However, the very first was in the
first VH1 comic and he was Magnus the Robot Fighter. It was eventually revealed
that he was the son of Kris and Torque of the HARBINGERS comic, and a Harbinger
by birth. This one stumped the class - so I win!

Here was your no prize question:

In 1999 BMI listed the "Top 100 Songs of the Century"- the most played songs on
American radio and TV. John Lennon and Paul Simon were the two performers to
record more original recordings on the list than The Drifters, Elton John, Roy
Orbison and this act. Can you name the six-man band whose recordings tied for
the third most songs on the list?

There was an extra clue in the question. "Six Man Band" was a single from the
Association who hit the Top 100 list with "Never My Love", "Windy" and
"Cherish".

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:

The Beatles, Elvis, Kiss, and Devo all had cameos in the 4th issue of what
Marvel magazine?

Here is your no prize question:

Who was the first sports person to be on the box cover of the "Breakfast of
Champions"?

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.