Comic Reviews 11/30/12

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: THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN
Issue Number: 698
Title Story: Day in the Life
Title Arc: Dying Wish
Publisher: Marvel
Creators: Lee & Ditko
Writer: Dan Slott
Artist: Richard Elson
Colors: Antonio Fabela
Letters: Chris Eliopoulos
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

There is no way to review this comic without SPOILING the main point of the
plot. If you somehow do not know by now what happens that is a MAJOR change in
this fifty-year-old character and would rather read the comic first then move on
to the next review and maybe come back after you have read ASM #698. THIS IS
YOUR ONLY SPOILER WARNING!

There are a few stories, movies, comics and the like that are written in such a
way that lead you down the path believing one thing, that you understand what is
being said and done based on what has come before or what your basic
understanding of the character is, only to find that at the very end something
very different was going on. It is those works that give you the feeling once
they are done that you immediately want to experience them again knowing what
you now know. Movies like THE SIXTH SENSE and MEMENTO are like that. This comic
is definitely like that so if you don't know anything about the big reveal of
this comic the first read is very different than the second. Last chance to look
away dear review readers.

It needs to be said that this issue is the first part of a three-part story that
culminates in the final issue in December - #700. Through this issue we follow
Peter Parker and Spider-Man through what appears to be a typical day. He stops a
would be criminal, checks in on the job, attempts a reconciliation with MJ, and
even visits Aunt May in the hospital. All the while he ponders what a good life
he has, what marvelous things he has done and how he is going to improve things
starting today. It seems to the casual reader, like myself, that something
positive has happened to Peter that could be a life-changing event. To the more
avid reader of all things Spider-Man this change of attitude might be a hint
that they either missed something or that something else is behind it all. The
main plot involves Dr. Otto Octavius who is a prisoner on the Raft and is near
death. Spider-Man is notified by the Avengers that Doc Ock is about to die and
has asked for him to visit – that is he has asked for Peter Parker. Spider-man
goes to see him in the last few pages and it is in that last conversation that
we learn why we may have thought Peter was acting a bit odd. It is after that
conversation that you will want to go back to the beginning and read it again,
knowing what you now know. No, I am not going to tell you what they said to each
other. You will have to read the comic, if you can find a copy or wait for a
second printing, or go on the Internet and find out what is happening. It is a
major change. It will have a lot of people very upset, some interested, and some
may even swear off following Spider-Man any longer. Just remember that this is
part one of the story and you might want to read the whole thing before forming
a lasting opinion. I don't pretend to know how it will end or how it will lead
into the new #1 in January – THE SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN. I just know I have to
follow it through to number 700 as urged by the writer, Dan Slott. Elson and
Fabela do a fantastic job on the visuals as they should on such a monumental
(apparently) event. This is one of those comics lots of people will be talking
about. It is worth your time and money to see why, in my opinion.

Title: JUDGE DREDD
Issue Number: 1
Title Story:
Title Arc:
Publisher: IDW
Creators: John Wagner & Carlos Ezquerra
Writer: Duane Swierczynski
Artist: "RIPE": Nelson Daniel
Artists: "PROTECTION RACKET": Paul Gulacy & Leonard O'Grady
Letters: Shawn Lee
Cover Artist: Various
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Science Fiction

JUDGE DREDD is the most popular British comic series ever. It began in the
second issue of 2000AD, a weekly anthology comic magazine, and has been featured
in all but three issues ever since. It has also had its own magazine and comic
books as well as a couple of movies. It is the beginning of the twenty-second
century in Mega City – a giant metropolis that spans the entire east coast of
North America with a population of over eight hundred million people. The city
is walled off from the radioactive wastelands of the interior. It is also a
multi-level civilization and naturally the more well off inhabit the upper
regions. The advances in technology have made it possible to have the basic
life-sustaining systems controlled by robotic systems that are designed to never
fail. In the first story "Ripe" we get a closer look at one of the marvels of
that technology and when happens when things go horribly wrong. In one topside
Pleasure Mall a tree called the Paradise Machine grows luscious, genetically
enhanced fruit free for the plucking and enjoyment of all. The machine rushes
the fruit from bud to full ripeness and then decay in two minutes. It is
constantly recycling what is not eaten in an endless loop. On this day we see a
seemingly minor robot decide not to do its job regulating waste flow at the very
lowest level. This decision has effects that flow all the way up to the Paradise
Machine. Suddenly the ripened fruit begins flying off the machine/tree at high
velocity impacting people and smashing windows of the stores in the vicinity.
Whether seizing an opportunity or perhaps as part of a plan a band of looters
invade one of the stores taking advantage of the chaos. At this point we are
introduced to another institution of Mega City – the Judges. They are the law in
every aspect – they enforce the law and as their title suggests they also act as
judge, jury and sometimes executioner, no lawyers, juries or appeals. It is
Judge Dredd who arrives to handle the looting situation but he and his fellow
judges find they have a bigger problem. The Paradise Machine continues to cycle
through periods of shooting fruit all over. The ensuing goop jams their
communications gear and they have to rely on their weapons to take control. But
as we see there is something more sinister going on as even the service robots
on the upper level start to malfunction. Dredd will have to get to the bottom of
things, literally and figuratively to restore the peace in future chapters.

The second story, "Protection Racket" is self-contained and concerns a service
robot in a nostalgia shop that apparently is rebelling against its owner.
Perhaps this story takes place during the course of the above story but it
matters not. A gang enters the store and begins a smash and grab over the
protests of the proprietor. His service robot who is supposed to protect him and
the store refuses to act in protest over the way it has been treated for years.
When a regular customer decides to help himself the owner can't stand it and at
the urging of the robot takes the law into his own hands. But as you might guess
the real law, Judge Dredd, will show him the error of his ways. The hook of this
story is not so much the morality of the need for obeying the law but the odd
behavior of the robot. It adds and element of mystery as well as humor to the
story.

Both entries are good reading, even if you have never sampled JUDGE DREDD in the
past. The two distinct art styles give different looks to the work but both are
very appealing. The one criticism I have read of Gulacy's Dredd is that his
helmet is not the traditional comic version but instead is patterned after the
one worn by Stallone in the movie. I am not such a nitpicker and enjoyed it all
the same. I think you will too.


Title: GRACE RANDOLPH'S SUPURBIA
Issue Number: Volume Two #1
Publisher: Boom!
Creator: Grace Randolph
Writer: Grace Randolph
Artist: Russell Dauterman
Colors: Gabriel Cassata
Letters: Steve Wands
Cover Artist: Various
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

The initial mini-series of SUPERBIA was successful enough to warrant an ongoing
series beginning with this issue. It is helpful to read the mini-series but new
readers can jump on with this issue easily enough. The concept is a bit of a
soap opera involving the world's greatest heroes, the Meta Legion, who along
with their spouse and children have settled together in a quiet suburb so as to
share their personal as well as professional lives. Each family has its own hero
and their share of problems. The leader is the all-powerful Sovereign, a
Superman analog. He is shacking up clandestinely with a former ex-addict
villainess and his ex, journalist Hayley Harper, is threatening to expose this
arrangement. The current girlfriend, Helen Heart, also known as Hella wants
nothing to do with the support group the other spouses have formed to be of
service to the Meta Legion. Her situation is about to get exposed but not by
Hayley. Then there is Robert White the current Marine Omega who recently moved
to Superbia with his wife Eve to assume the role from his mentor Mike Smith.
Unknown to all Mike's widow Ruth is really a shape-shifting sleeper agent who
murdered Mike. There is a female Amazon type Batu, Daughter of Bright Moon. She
and her husband have recently discovered that their son, not their daughter, has
inherited the mother's legacy. She has reluctantly accepted this disappointment
and is off with her son Eli on his first adventure astride a magical flying
beast to meet his grandmother.  Then we have the Batman/Robin analogs Night Fox
and Agent Twilight. Playing into the old cliché they are also lovers but have
recently been found out by Night Fox's wife. No one is really happy in this love
triangle. This issue is actually set up as an introduction for new readers. It
introduces the major characters and begins a few sub plots to develop going
forward. The last panel promises that internal strife within the families and
among the group is not the only issue that they will be dealing with. This title
deserved to have an ongoing, and not just because the mini-series sold so well.
The characterization is critical with a cast of so many characters. While parts
of the plots are nothing new the entire concept of a functioning hero group with
so many odd characters and situations works well. The art is splendid making the
entire effort first class. If you like super heroes in general this independent
effort is worth giving a try.


Title: COMEBACK
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Image
Writer: Ed Brisson
Artist: Michael Walsh
Colors: Jordie Bellaire
Letters: Ed Brisson
Price (USD): $3.50
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Science Fiction
Mature – Comics on the Edge

Mark and Seth are operatives for a very special organization. Basically they
make people disappear, but not in the usual sense. Their methods include time
travel. They offer a very secret and very expensive alternative to losing a
loved one. An example of what they offer is how the story opens. Without telling
him why the two arrive at the home of Mr. Fields and proceed to drug him when he
resists. Next they pull a body out of their van, placing it in the house before
they set it on fire. Mr. Field's daughter has paid the exorbitant fee for the
company to go back in time, grab her dad and bring him forward two months into
the present past a fatal event that would have cost Mr. Fields his life. The
spare body will help cover up what they have done. But a peculiarity of time
travel messes with the mission. We learn the details of how this company is set
up when Seth meets with the next potential client. Mr. Ingram lost his wife in a
car accident 65 days ago. This means they will have to make the trip back in a
day or two since they are limited to how far back they can go. We see just how
much it will cost Mr. Ingram during their meeting. But all is not well within
the company. Both Mark and the boss have noticed a change in Seth's appearance –
like he is worn out and does not care about his appearance. Later Seth confides
to Mark that he is going to quit after the next trip. This may have something to
do with the final scene when Seth is once again with Mr. Fields in the past.
Since the first attempt failed he tells him he will disappear in a more
traditional way – somewhere safe away from the fatal event. But is that really
his intention? Their methods are clearly not legal. They even include bribery of
coroners. But the problems with Seth are taking center stage. Whatever
complications this will have for the company and its clients remain to be seen.
This is an interesting thriller including a man in the shadows apparently
following Seth. The set up is good giving us the details of the operation and
the people involved. There is bound to be some tense moments in the next issue.
It is an interesting plot. The art style is good with coloring that sets the
tone. It is good enough to see what happens next.

Title: CLONE
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Image
Creator: David Schulner
Writer: David Schulner
Artist: Juan Jose Ryp
Colors: Felix Serrano
Letters: Rus Wooton
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Science Fiction
Mature – Comics on the Edge

Looking at the cover and browsing the inside I was very impressed with art of
Juan Jose Ryp and the coloring of Felix Serrano. Ryp put a lot of effort into
the details, more than most artists, and Serrano is a good colorist, though I
noticed a bit of inconsistency here and there. Art is a strong point to grab
your attention – especially on a first issue. Speaking of first issues this is
Schulner's first comic book and he present a complex concept to ponder. He
explains it in the text in the back. What if you met all the versions of
yourself that never were? What if you had to confront your past and your future?
I am not sure those questions is that accurate of a description of what is
happening to Luke Taylor, a scientist who works at Los Alamos Labs. We see the
story from his perspective. First he dreams of being chased by another man and
gets shot in the gut before he wakes in a cold sweat. Imagine his surprise later
when he finds the man he was in his dream laying on the kitchen floor bleeding.
He calls himself Foster but is clearly a look alike of Luke. Foster warns Luke
he must go get his wife, who is at the Medical Center getting a sonogram of her
unborn baby. "They" are coming for both of them and "they" are also clones of
Luke. Before long Luke will be involved with Foster and some operatives seeking
to help him find his wife who was abducted by another clone. Foster and company
have a lot of explaining to do to Luke and to us. We are left with knowing
unknown to Luke he has been cloned, several times, and some of those clones are
hunting not only him but other clones. It is all very mysterious but the details
are purposely left for later so we can get right into the action from the start.
Clone stories are not new but this one is so far pretty decent in plot and art.
If you prefer science fiction this comic is one of the better ones.

Title: INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Mark David
Artist: Leinil Francis Yu
Colors: Sunny Gho
Letters: Chris Eliopoulos
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

One of the few MARVEL NOW! First issues I have been waiting for is
INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK. I am a fan of Peter David who also writes the best X-book
on the racks, X-FACTOR. I figured he would do an equally great job on this title
so I signed up for it. I am not sure if this follows directly from the plots in
the previous title but I found it to be instantly accessible and a good jump on
point for anyone who is either a Hulk fan or has not been keeping up with him in
except in certain crossover events. This is the original Hulk who transform from
Bruce Banner whenever he is angered or threatened. This series marks a change in
attitude of Bruce Banner about the monster within. Over all the years he has
sought to rid himself, cure himself, from becoming the Hulk. Now he has finally
accepted the fact that this cannot be done. So what does he do about it now? 
That is the gist of the plot. The action takes place in a small town in Alabama.
Maria Hill is communicating in an encrypted chat with Agent Coulson. She is on a
mission here but continues to question him about information that will lead to
the whereabouts of the Hulk. He wants her to concentrate on the current mission
and stop obsessing on the Hulk. Imagine her surprise when none other than Bruce
Banner walks in and sits with her. He has a proposal to make that will solve her
Hulk problem and at the same time provide him the recognition he deserves as one
of the smartest men on the planet. Rather than try to cure himself of the Hulk
he wants to manage him. S.H.I.E.L.D. has the resources he needs to put his
Banner time to the best use, developing technology for the betterment of
mankind. In return Hill will get to direct the power of the Hulk in a focused
fashion for those situations that require his unmatched strength. Rather than
the Hulk being a bomb he would be a cannon. She can point him in the right
direction. As it turns out Bruce is aware of the mission that brought her to
this small town and he proposes a demonstration of how it will work. This is a
fine premise for the book and will hopefully transform the way everyone, even
the Avengers (comic continuity anyway), views the Hulk in the future. The
balance of the book deals with how this trial run plays out. There are some
things as the cover illustration shows that are left unrevealed as yet. Why is
Hulk wearing a belt with glowing lights on it?  What is that little floating
robot next to him all about?  These and more questions will be answered moving
forward. For now the restart of this series promises an interesting future for
both Banner and his alter ego. Leinil Yu does a splendid job with all the
various scenarios David has plotted out and the supporting staff finishes it off
in good fashion. This is definitely one of the new #1 issues you should give a
chance.


                                    *****
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 Comico to Innovation to Caliber, name this comic book detective series.

The answer was Mike Barr's excellent series, THE MAZE AGENCY. The winner by the
dice is Keith Martin.

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
In the original Valiant Universe, which character's story began in Topeka,
Kansas?
Here is a no prize question:
What movie was the first to be distributed carrying the PG-13 rating?

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.

11/23/12

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: ALL-NEW X-MEN
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: Stuart Immonen
Inker: Wade Von Grawbadger
Colors: Marte Gracia
Letters: Cory Petit
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

     This is one of the most anticipated titles in the group of Marvel Now titles 
coming out. If you have not read any of the pre-publication hype about it you 
might be surprised by the cover, which shows the original X-Men in their 
earliest incarnation. Beast looks like a human, Angel and Iceman likewise have 
not been transformed and Jean Grey is there as the original Marvel Girl. Bendis 
and the rest have found a way to bring back Jean Grey - not as a clone, a LMD, 
or in some untold tale of the past. This is the original group and they will be 
plucked from their time and brought to the present. Imagine what their first 
impressions will be of their future selves, of what has gone by that they have 
not yet experienced, of the Xavier's school now named after Jean and so much 
more. In this present, our present, Jean is dead as is Xavier, Cyclops possessed 
and corrupted the Phoenix Force killing the professor in the process and the 
dying race of mutants was given a rebirth by the dispersing of the Phoenix Force 
by the Scarlett Witch and Hope. The story begins shortly after the end of AvX: 
CONSEQUENCES. Cyclops escaped imprisonment and has joined Emma, Magik, Magneto 
and others to be the protective force of the new mutants emerging around the 
world. They are mostly hunted by the rest of the world but are dedicated to the 
survival of the mutant race. We look at the present situation from two 
perspectives. Scott and the others are making very visible "rescues" of mutants 
around the world - mutants who suddenly display powers and are immediately set 
on by regular humans or the authorities. The other perspective is from the 
mutants at the Jean Grey School - Beast, Ororo, Iceman and Kitty Pride. They 
fear for all of their kind because Cyclops and the others will be viewed as 
extremists, even terrorist thus turning all humanity against their kind. They 
are in a quandary. If they fight him they lose, if they don't fight him they 
lose. But then something Bobby says gives Hank an idea. The last few pages are 
set back in the early days when the original five X-Men are having their own 
discussion about the plight of mutants in their own time. You may have seen this 
in a preview elsewhere. It is at this point in time that the older, still 
mutating, Beast arrives with a plea to his younger self and the others. The set 
up is all here and the fun is about to begin. It make take another issue or two 
to get into the really good stuff but not to worry, the next issue is out next 
week. I have been on board for this series for two reasons. I like the premise 
and am interested to see how it plays out. I also have enjoyed the writing of 
Bendis on most everything he does so I don't think I will be disappointed. The 
entire art team does a really good job making it visually appealing as well. I 
would not recommend you buy every single MARVEL NOW comic just because they are 
new first issues. The quality in story and art has to be there for any comic. I 
think this one is definitely worth your time and money.

Title: GREAT PACIFIC
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Image
Creators: Joe Harris & Martin Morazzo 
Writer: Joe Harris
Artist: Martin Morazzo
Letters: Doug E. Sherwood
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Science Fiction/Adventure
Mature Readers 

 The inside cover text of this new comic is very interesting reading. Depending 
on your point of view it is either a warning of what is to come or silly 
environmentalist extreme scare tactics. There are some statistics that if you 
take seriously are indeed alarming. The UN estimates that on tenth of unrecycled 
plastic ends up in the oceans of the world - 50,000 pieces per square mile. 
Since it takes hundreds of years for post-consumer plastic to degrade it is a 
growing problem. While most of us would see this as a problem the protagonist of 
the story, Chas Worthington sees it as an opportunity. We get the impression 
from the opening panels, apparently from later in the story, that a great mass 
of mankind's discarded junk has come together to form a land mass halfway 
between California and Japan and is about the size of Texas. Later that will 
become the setting for the story. But we start two weeks earlier as we meet Chas 
Worthington III, heir to a large oil fortune. At first on the surface he seems a 
bit stereotypical of a comic book rich young adventurer. We first see him 
hunting lions with the Maasai in Kenya. Perhaps he is seeking a simpler way of 
proving himself a man, as do the members of the tribe in their own way. These 
scenes are in contrast to his duties as heir. His aid and best friend Alex helps 
keep him up to date on the goings on of the corporation, things he should be 
involved in as the major shareowner. We see he has other interests that occupy 
his time while presenting the image of a spoiled heir and international playboy. 
That seems to fit with him what appear to be orange golf balls off an oilrig off 
the coast of California. But on that same rig his people are developing a devise 
that will transform oil into water. If it proves out it will revolutionize oil 
spill clean ups and if applied to plastics complex hydrocarbons it could solve 
the solid pollution problems of the world. But he is also a realist. He knows 
his own board of directors hate him and are more concerned with short-term 
profits. But he has a plan and the first step will be his own death. I must say 
this story grew on me right from the start and by the end I was hooked. There 
are a lot of details left open for speculation and that opening scene of the 
Great Pacific Gyre is most intriguing. What Chas is planning is only hinted at 
here and there but I instantly liked him. He is not the man most others believe 
him to be. The science fiction elements of the story are not overwhelming, just 
enough to set the basis for a good story. The art is decent enough and the 
layouts have a good mix and move the story along. I am thinking Chas will have 
enemies as he moves forward and needs to get clandestine for now. We will see if 
it pays off as the story goes forward. I am along for the ride.



Title: CHASING THE DEAD
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: IDW
Creator: Joe Schreiber
Writers: Matthew Scott & Tim Westland
Artist: Dietrich Smith
Colors: Sendol Arts
Letters: Comicraft
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Horror
Mature - Comics on the Edge


This thriller begins twenty years ago with a boy and girl barely in their teens 
at a playground. The conversation keys us in that kids their age and younger 
have been disappearing. Sue tells Phillip she is scared that the serial killer 
dubbed the Harvester will appear and they are prime targets. Phillip promises he 
will always be there to protect her - prophetic words. Their encounter with the 
Harvester will be a secret they keep for the next twenty years. In the present 
Sue carries a scar from that encounter but she has also had a successful career 
as the owner of the hottest real estate firm in Boston. She and Phillip are 
estranged for unnamed reasons. Her immediate concern involves her daughter, 
Lily. Sue came home late and the sitter informs her a man called saying they had 
an appointment. Distracted by the alarm clock going off unexpectedly Sue goes to 
her room and it shortly after she discover that Lily and the baby sitter are 
nowhere in the house. Thus begins a terror filled night as a voice on the phone 
instructs her to do as he says if she wants to see her daughter again. Thus on a 
stormy winter night she is driving back to Gray Haven with items the caller 
instructed her to bring. He is directing her to that place she and Phillip had 
the fatal encounter as children. But what is the purpose and who is behind it 
all?  So far it is a basic thriller with only a hint of something unworldly in a 
few panels at the beginning. Maybe it is a straight murder thriller or maybe it 
is something more. So far it has gradually built up the suspense and hopefully 
that will continue next time. The art is better than average with great 
coloring. I classify this as horror based on the cover illustration. That aspect 
of the story is yet to come.

Title: LOCKE & KEY: OMEGA
Issue Number: 1 (of 6)
Title Story: Our Regrets
Title Arc: Omega
Publisher: IDW
Creators: Joe Hill & Gabriel Rodriguez
Writer: Joe Hill
Artist: Gabriel Rodriguez
Colors: Jay Fotos
Letters: Robbie Robbins
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Horror
Mature - Comics on the Edge

This critically acclaimed horror mystery has gripped me from the beginning and 
is now into the final six-issue arc that will wrap things up. It is possible to 
begin reading LOCKE & KEY with this mini-series and get the gist of what is 
going on but I strongly urge you to start from the beginning. This is a multi-
faceted saga that can be appreciated one arc at a time but the entire story 
needs to be taken in to be fully appreciated. Naturally there are collected 
editions that will enable you to do that if you can no longer find individual 
issues. At this point the villain of the piece, a demon by the name of Dodge, 
has possessed the body of Bode Locke, the youngest of a family living in the 
ancestral home. The house has many secrets, the major one being a doorway to 
another dimension filled with demons that are psychic parasites. They can cross 
over but need a human host to inhabit. If they do not have one they turn into an 
inert magical metal. The Locke's over generations has fashioned keys from this 
metal - each with magical properties of all types. Doge has manipulated and 
killed his way into obtaining the one key to finish his plan, the Omega Key. It 
will unlock the dimensional gateway to usher the rest of his kind into our 
world. This opening chapter of the finale is split into two themes. On the one 
hand we watch Dodge, in Bode's body, gathering the final things he needs to 
accomplish his task. Everyone else is unaware of any of this and those that 
accidentally find out are dealt with. The rest of the issue ties in with the 
story title, "Regrets." One of the core group of friends of Tyler Locke, the 
older brother, is filming a documentary of sorts to show at the big cave rave 
after the prom. It is probably not a good Idea the cave is the very one Dodge 
plans to unleash the demons into.  Our filmmaker tasks each one of his friends 
to say on camera what their biggest regret might be. What advise would they give 
themselves if they could go back to visit their younger self? He is not just 
filming these friends but others in the class. Sometimes the quips are comical 
and others, like Tyler's, are very serious. We know from reading the entire 
story The Locke family has had one tragedy after the other in their lives so it 
is no surprise that Kinsey Locke's regret is deeply tragic as well. There is 
only one brief scene that might indicate something new, another key, will be 
formed before the end. This is the set up and I expect the tension to build to 
hopefully an amazing ending. I have said from the start hope appealing the art 
of Rodriguez is to me. I know that is a subjective thing but for me his style 
really fits well into the big picture. Fans of the series will not be 
disappointed with the way this arc has been introduced. It will be difficult to 
wait for each new issue knowing the end is in sight. 

Title: FANTASTIC FOUR
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: Unstable
Publisher: Marvel
Creators: Lee & Kirby
Writer: Matt Fraction
Artist: Mark Bagley
Inker: Mark Farmer
Colors: Paul Mounts
Letters: Clayton Cowles
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

Yet another Marvel Now #1 issue is out and on my review list. I am a bit jaded 
about all these new #1 issues already, especially for those titles that are not 
significantly different from the previous numbering. The DC New 52 made sense 
because with very few exceptions the plots and character backgrounds where 
different post FLASHPOINT. FANTASTIC FOUR had a new number 1 just two years ago 
and yet here we are again with another restart of the numbering just because 
there is a new creative team taking the same characters with the same history in 
a new direction (aka new story arc.) But I digress. Things have settled down 
from the latest adventures in this tile and the companion book FF so it is time 
for another adventure. Strangely enough the catalyst for the what is to come 
begins millions of years ago where the FF are found trapped inside a dinosaur's 
mouth and Reed has sustained a rather nasty injury to his left arm. It is that 
injury once they are back in the present that forces Reed into making a 
decision. Once back the others are back to some routine activities - Sue looks 
after the kids, Johnny is off on a spectacular date, Ben is tangling with the 
Yancy Street Gang - but Reed is making a startling discovery. By the end of the 
story he proposes that the team take the kids with them through space and time 
in the modified space ship Pestilence. They can explore places together, have 
adventures together for as long as they like and because the Pestilence can 
travel through time they won't be gone long at all. But as a back up plan they 
will pick a team of heroes to stand in their place incase they don't come back 
to the exact time they left. It all sounds like a great education opportunity 
for the kids of the Future Foundation - plenty of adventure with hopefully not 
so much action. But of course he is hiding the ulterior motive.  I think it is a 
good a start as any for a new story arc. There is one panel that indicates what 
may be happening one year from now and Franklin voices a bit of foreboding bad 
things. So we are not all that comfortable that all will be a fun adventure, 
which is what you would expect anyway. The art is good enough to convey what it 
has to. This is the set up for what is to come so it is not all that exciting. 
Feel free to jump on to the book at this point and see if this is worth 
following.

Title: FABLES: WEREWOLVES OF THE HEARTLAND
Issue Number: Graphic Novel (HC)
Publisher: DC/Vertigo
Creator: Bill Willingham
Writer: Bill Willingham
Artists: Craig Hamilton & Jim Fern
Inkers: Craig Hamilton, Ray Snider, Mark Farmer & Jim Fern
Colors: Lee Loughridge
Letters: Todd Klein
Cover Artist: Daniel Dos Santos
Price (USD): $22.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Fantasy
Mature - Comics on the Edge

You may have seen previews of this graphic novel in the back of several Vertigo 
titles recently. The premise at the beginning has Bigby Wolf searching for a new 
location for Fabletown. The Mayor had tasked him with this duty and after 
possibilities in Maine and Pennsylvania did not pan out he traveled further west 
to Iowa. It turns out that Blackbeard had been secretly investing in a small 
town called Story City and in fact pretty much owned the place. Since the Mayor 
wanted to know more about those financial dealings it fit well with Bigby's 
task. If you saw the preview you know that as he approached the town through the 
woods he happens into a pack of werewolves hunting a human but before he can 
intervene he is tranquilized and brought into town as a prisoner. It is after he 
awakens in a jail cell that he begins to learn the secrets of Story City. To his 
surprise one of the leaders is an old ally from World War II. Arthur Harp was an 
early recruit into the secret American spy organization OSS. Bigby had been 
wandering around behind enemy lines killing Germans whenever the opportunity 
arose. He happened on Harp who had been injured when his cover was blown. The 
two formed a team and soon Harp had the power he needed to do real damage to the 
enemy and Bigby had the intelligence data to focus his efforts more effectively. 
This whole flashback sequence is a journal of their collaboration leading up to 
a major mission to take out secret efforts to create a different kind of super 
soldier in a famous old castle. Without giving out too much detail I will say 
the Nazi plan involved a famous character of literature and while the mission 
was eventually a success Bigby was apparently the only survivor. So imagine his 
surprise to see his old friend alive and married to the female Nazi blood 
specialist both of whom were apparently buried under the rubble of the German 
castle. It seems they both were infected with Bigby's blood during the bloody 
fighting at the castle. They were turned into werewolves and soon found it was 
pointless to fight each other as neither died from any wounds. So they kept 
their presence secret and labored at creating a generation of werewolves first 
by using the special properties in their blood on selected subjects until they 
were successful with a core group. They then migrated to the US clandestinely 
and eventually settled in this isolated town where they bother no one and are 
left alone, or so says Harp. So this is how this town grew into an isolated 
population of werewolves living seemingly normal human lives. But there are 
darker secrets and faction among the younger generation who have plans of their 
own. The main plot of the story has Bigby learning more of the secrets about 
life in Story City that will eventually put him in direct conflict with nearly 
everyone there. Whether this can be a place for the new Fabletown or something 
that will become more sinister is the gist of the plot. I enjoyed this story as 
much as any of the arcs in the ongoing FABLES series. Willingham establishes the 
genesis of the American werewolf seamlessly into FABLES history and presents a 
drama based on that premise that has an interesting conflict of ideas and 
purposes. And he even manages to give a tip of the hat to an iconic figure of 
literature. It is a very satisfying story that held my interest from beginning 
to end. I was less impressed with the art, especially since the cover 
illustration is so well done. The mechanics are fine throughout the story but I 
found rendering of the faces of the characters somewhat minimal and lacking 
definition at times. Bigby does not really resemble the character I am used to 
and other characters could be more detailed than they are. It is a minor point 
though. I would recommend this book for FABLES fans for sure. For the rest of 
you it is a good sampling of Willingham's work that would make an excellent gift 
for the holidays.

                                    *****
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:
Who fought the Pinocchio Patrol in their debut issue?
The Pinocchio Patrol were the first foes of Peter David's SOULSEARCHERS & 
COMPANY. The winner by the dice is David Lizewski.

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
From Comico to Innovation to Caliber, name this comic book detective series.

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 11/16/12

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: SHADOWMAN
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Valiant
Writers: Justin Jordan & Patrick Zircher
Artist: Patrick Zircher
Colors: Brian Reber
Letters: Rob Steen & Dave Lanphear
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

Valiant's latest relaunch of its classic character comics is a fan favorite, 
SHADOWMAN. This is their occult comic involving supernatural characters in a 
struggle between good and evil. It is set in New Orleans and begins in the past 
as Josiah and Helena Boniface face the reality that they will likely never see 
each other again. She is pregnant with their son and he is about to face the 
forces of Master Darque as the current Shadowman. The dead have declared war on 
the living and Shadowman and his allies hope to stop the invasion from the other 
realm. Josiah leaves Helena an amulet advising her to keep their son safe. After 
the events unfold we move forward to the present where the grown Jack Boniface 
is curator of a museum of culture in the city. He wears the Amulet we saw 
earlier and on this day he will learn who his birth parents were, what they were 
accused of doing but not why they vanished some twenty years ago. He lived with 
his mother until he was ten. On the day she gave him the amulet she died in an 
accident leaving Jack to grow up in foster care. This is also the day that the 
forces of evil will return in a gruesome way. The embodiment of this new 
incursion is Mr. Twist, a being so gruesome he is not easy to describe. His 
first act is the slaughter in a most bloody fashion of all the patrons of a 
local bar. He has some sort of plan as the herald of the master ? we presume he 
means Darque. What Jack does after hearing the news about his lost father will 
suddenly turn the attention of Twist and his brethren to him. But the forces of 
good, old allies of Josiah are also aware of a change that will bring about the 
appearance of Shadowman after so many years. This is a good first entry and a 
good introduction to the scope of the series. Shadowman is a being of 
supernatural origins that can wield great power when the light of day is gone. 
Will Jack be able to step up to the call of his legacy?  Will he be able to use 
great power with great responsibility?  Stay tuned to find out. The art is very 
appropriate for this type of comic Zircher and Reber are good choices. The 
detailed line work and proper color tones give it the aura it needs. This is 
essentially an expedition into horror and wee feel it right from the beginning. 
So far Valiant has hit the ground running on all of its new titles and this is 
no exception.

Title: IRON MAN
Issue Number: 1
Title Story:  Demons and Genies
Title Arc: Believe
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Kieron Gillen
Artist: Greg land
Inker: Jay Leisten
Colors: Guru eFX
Letters: Joe Caramagna
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

Marvel is well into its relaunch of titles with new #1s under the banner of 
Marvel Now! The latest entry is IRON MAN. One thing I have noticed lately with 
Marvel comics is the range of talent in art, or the lack thereof in their 
titles. I guess it is because they push out so many titles that they all can't 
be grade A art. IRON MAN is very appealing to me in that regard. I have always 
favored Greg Land's work and the finishes and color on this title complement it 
very well. For a contrast take a look at AvX CONSEQUENCES #6 as my example of 
just really poor effort. But I digress? This new series starts off fresh without 
a lot of baggage from the last art and we are not dumped into an action scene 
that is explained later. Rather Tony Stark is in a night club in New York enjoy 
downtime flirting with the ladies that are flirting with him and also having 
discussions with Pepper Potts, CEO of Resilient. Meanwhile Maya Hansen is in 
Argentina and desperately sends a phone message before disaster strikes. She is 
the creator of Extremis. The phone cal was sent to trigger another, prerecorded, 
message to Tony and a few select friends. It is a safeguard setup in case anyone 
every got there hands on the Extremis protocols. With it they can genetically 
engineer super beings ? incredibly strong, incredibly fast and able to breath 
fire. Now Tony knows Maya is likely dead and he must track down who has Extremis 
and stop them from using it or selling it. Thus begins this multi-issue arc with 
Iron Man tracking down the agents of A.I.M. who stole Extremis and everyone who 
may have bought it. The second half has most of the action on the first step of 
this mission. In a bit of a humorous, if unbelievable, touch Tony manages to 
sneak into a demonstration for perspective buyers merely by shaving his face 
claiming to himself that shaving is a great disguise when you have the world's 
most famous moustache. Regardless it is not long before Iron Man makes the scene 
and the action begins. I enjoyed this fresh start from start to finish. Gillen 
is a good scripter giving his characters personality while advancing the story. 
This is a good jump on point for those who want to give IRON MAN a try.

Title: FREELANCERS
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: Tiny Fighters
Publisher: Boom!
Creators: Matt Gagnon & Felipe Smith
Writer: Ian Brill
Artist: Joshua Covey
Letters: Pat Brosseau
Price (USD): $1.00
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Action/Adventure

Quite often BOOM! Will start a new series with an extra boost, practically 
giving away the first issue for only one dollar. This makes it really easy for 
readers looking for something different. This comic is about a pair of female 
"agents" for hire. The term used in their profession is Freelancers. They have 
an agent and they take various jobs, in a vigilante sort of way, for a price. 
They have expertise in the martial arts learned from an early age at a very 
special orphanage.  As an example the issue begins with them trying to retrieve 
a stolen exotic pet cat. This ends with them chasing the petnapper driving a 
Lamborghini with their Volkswagen. They get the cat but not the leader of the 
gang behind it all. He is Lobo Ramirez, leader of the Mulholland Drivers. Their 
thing is pillaging homes of the wealthy in the LA hills. So they get half their 
fee and a slap in the face when their agent takes on their number one rival 
freelancer, Katherine Rushmore. With the unforeseen help of a new friend they 
get a second chance at Ramirez. Before the issue is over they will have a run in 
with Katherine and pay a visit to their old dojo. The issue ends with a major 
cliffhanger. The pace of this story is just right. There are some brief 
flashbacks at the appropriate time that help to flesh out the history of the 
characters. There is also a more humorous tone to the whole issue. It is not a 
strait comedy but the banter between Cassandra and Valerie lightens things up 
and gives them character. It is just the right touch. There are some serious 
aspects to it all but mostly it is a buddy comic about two girls struggling to 
make a living at what they do best with obstacles popping up everywhere. The art 
is better than I expected, especially when it shifts briefly to greytones in the 
flashback and then again to a more cartoonish style in a short backup story 
showing the girls as orphans in the dojo. That story is a departure from the 
main plot showing what they experience the outside when they decide to run away. 
It is a cute story, again with a touch of humor, in which they learn a valuable 
lesson. It is a fun comic and well worth a buck for what you get.

Title: BATTLEFIELDS
Issue Number: Vol. 2 #1 (of 3)
Title Story: The Green Fields Beyond
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
Writer: Garth Ennis
Artist: Carlos Ezquerra
Inker: Hector Ezquerra
Colors: Tony Avina
Letters: Simon Bowland
Cover Artist: Garry Leach
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: War Comic
Mature Readers

One of my favorite writers of war comics is Garth Ennis. He always provides 
interesting characters with some depth to them and different situations they are 
placed in. This second volume of his BATTLEFIELDS title takes place in Korea. It 
is 1951 as we look in on the British forces in the west of the country in the 
Imjin River sector. In particular the story revolves around a tank crew in Sabre 
Squadron of the 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars. As the story opens a new 
transfer, Trooper Robinson reports to Sergeant Stiles for duty. The sergeant 
fills him in on their position ? strung out over too much territory and the 
Chinese rumored to be amassing across the river. As I said Ennis gives his 
characters some depth. It turns out that Frankie Robinson volunteered to be in 
the sergeant's unit based on advise from his brother. It seems that Stiles saved 
his brother's life during WWII and he told Frankie Stiles would look after him. 
Stiles saved Robbo's life though the older brother lost his legs from his 
injuries. There is a conflict here as Stiles is uncomfortable with the idea that 
the reality of war is lost on the young Robinson. He feels so strongly that 
Frankie's expectations are unrealistic that he appeals to his commander to get 
Robinson transferred out. Ennis spends a lot of time with dialogue between 
Stiles and his captain. They are both veterans of WWII and spend some time 
exchanging war stories and discussing how different it would have been if they 
had the tanks they have today. This is very enlightening for us to get into 
their heads before the events later in the book. The build up to the main plot 
begins as Stiles takes Robinson out on a night patrol. At this point we are not 
sure if he is helping the kid get the lay of the land or is trying to scare him 
into reconsidering his choice in the first place. By the end of the book they 
are separated from their unit and join up with the Gloucester Regiment, as a 
major conflict is about to begin. I really enjoy this comic for the story and 
the pace as I have mentioned. These are real people in bad situations that are 
dedicated to their mission. There is some humor used sparingly and always a 
sense of the seriousness of life on the battlefield. The art is top notch with 
exceptional coloring giving things the proper tone. If there were anything 
negative it would be the tendency to be realistic in the accents making a few 
spots harder to understand ? a minor point. I would pick this comic over some of 
the other war comics with gimmicks as it comes off as more true to life. Try it 
and see if you agree.

Title: STORM DOGS        
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Image
Creators: David Hine & Doug Braithwaite
Writer: David Hine
Artist: Doug Braithwaite
Colors: Ulises Arreola
Letters: Richard Starkings & Jimmy Betancourt
Price (USD): $3.50
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Science Fiction

This story is set centuries in the far future. Thousands of planets across 
galaxies are part of the Union of Free Independent States. Intelligent species 
from these worlds have been invited to join if they conform to principals of 
equality, and liberty. Those who do not conform are left to develop in 
isolation. The story takes place on a planet called Amaranth where the culture 
is not yet technologically advanced enough to join the Union. They do a small 
amount of trade in ore with the Union and when they report a series of 
suspicious deaths the Union sends a team to investigate. This opening chapter is 
more about introducing us to the planet and its unique life forms and atmosphere 
as well as the Union team than it is about the main plot. The unique aspect of 
this planet is its rainstorms. The indigenous animals are immune to its effects 
but as we learn through a narration the first settlers found that their dogs 
that ran free when they first got there were driven mad from the rain and ran 
like being chased by devils. Now they say anyone who is crazy enough to go out 
in a storm is called a Storm Dog. When people have to go out in the weather they 
wear protective suits. In recent times murder victims have been found outdoors 
having been disemboweled and worse. The team sent by the Union has culture and 
language expert, a forensic scientist, a special weapons and tactics trooper all 
led by Commander Cassandra Burroughs. They will be operating under strict rules 
of dealing with lesser-developed worlds ? sort of a prime directive. They will 
use lesser technology, including weapons and have no access to the Weave ? their 
version of the Internet, which they access through internal tech under their 
skin. It is all this detail that makes it a believable and interesting 
background to set the story. After the team makes contact with the locals a 
storm approaches so they head indoors. But when a distress call comes in from a 
mining transport stranded on the highway and under attack the team convinces the 
local sheriff they must go out to aid them. Thus we get to see what is attacking 
that vehicle, the results of that attack as well as the effects of the rain on 
one of the crew who escaped the attack but whose protective suit was 
compromised. Things are just beginning to happen in the story and we have yet to 
meet the other indigenous intelligent life on the planet. Part of good science 
fiction is integrating the science-based speculation seamlessly into an 
interesting story, ion this case what appears to be a murder mystery. The script 
handles this well without being heavy handed. The art is detailed and fluid. 
There is a great deal of effort in presenting the alien world and its varied 
species in the best possible manner. This has the makings of a better than 
average story. It is worth a look. 


Title: THE CBLDF PRESENTS LIBERTY ANNUAL 2012
Publisher: Image
Creators: Jonathan Hickman, Andy Diggle, Ben Templesmith, Howard Chaykin, Sina 
Grace, Steven T. Seagle, Marco Cinello, Joe Keatige, Chynna Clugston-Flores, JG 
Roshell, James Robinson, James Asmus, Takeshi Miyazawa, Richard Starkings, Ian 
Churchill, Chris Roberson, Roger Langridge, Gabriel Ba, Chris Giarrusso, David 
Hine, Doug Braithwaite, Brandon Graham, Jim McCann, Janet Lee, Kieron Gillen, 
Nate Bellegarde, Jordie Bellaire, Terry Moore, Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard
Cover Artists: Gabriel Ba, Rachel Dodson and Chris Giarrusso
Price (USD): $4.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Mixed Anthology
Mature Readers

The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund has been around since 1986. This non-profit 
was set up to help finance creators and retailers against prosecution on free 
speech grounds. The LIBERTY ANNUAL is one of the ways the CBLDF raises funds for 
this worthy cause. You can learn more about the organization and how you can 
help at www.cbldf.org

As I recall past issues of this comic have had stories relating to personal 
freedoms and free speech in particular. But this is not a comic to hammer home 
those themes to change peoples minds if need be ? although that certainly is a 
worthy goal. It is about raising money for legal defense and so the creators and 
others involved do not get paid for their contributions. So the content runs the 
gamut from heavy on the message to just plain good work to help the cause. You 
are looking at sixteen separate short to very short stories in 48 pages with no 
ads that have a variety of styles and messages. Most interesting to me was the 
final entry by Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard, which is a six-page chapter in 
the continuing saga THE WALKING DEAD. I do not know if this particular episode 
actually appears in the ongoing series but if it doesn't then fans of that 
series will definitely want to get a copy of this issue. It is set in a Wal-Mart 
where the Governor is shopping for certain supplies with a newcomer named Scott. 
The supplies are small fish tanks and anyone familiar with the comic or TV show 
knows what the Governor keeps in those tanks. He actually explains to Scott why. 
So this is one of those entries not devoted to free speech. It is a perfect 
contribution to the effort from the creator who also happens to be the COO of 
Image Comics. Another entry that ties into a different comic series is "All 
Freedoms Grow" by David Hine and Doug Braithwaite featuring Masika Zenda from 
their new series STORM DOGS reviewed earlier in this blog. I was happy to see it 
because in it Masika, the culture and language expert of the Union team in that 
book, is conducting a rite of passage with some teens that will be citizens of 
the Union of Free Independent States. If you have read STORM DOGS you will want 
to read this part of the story. It is background about this future society 
consisting of thousands of worlds across the galaxies and how dearly that 
society holds personal freedoms. On the lighter side you have Chris Giarruso's 
"Common ComiConversation." In it he is at a convention signing books and 
listening to an avid fan of Mini Marvels go on and on. The punch line comes when 
Chris tries to plug his other work. In "Just As Real As Yours" Jim McCann and 
Janet Lee present a sensible view of family life. In this tidbit an older woman 
with a "traditional" family meets a father and son doing the wash at the local 
laundromat. When she learns that young Liam has two dads the conversation 
becomes very enlightening. It is essentially an essay on what makes a family 
without preaching against people who are against same sex marriage and adoption. 
It is very well done. A more serious entry is called "Last Rights" by James 
Asmus and Takeshi Miyazawa. It explores the question of what would you do if you 
knew it was the last day you had to live. The sun explodes and the world becomes 
aware that all life will be wiped out in a very short time. Some riot and loot, 
as you would expect. But others rise to claim freedoms they have been denied by 
their government ? even to just read certain material. Taking it all in the 
narrator has a unique perspective on it all. This has been just a brief glimpse 
of the variety you will find in this volume. There are many other very worthy 
entries worth your time. If you can afford the extra dollars I urge you to help 
the cause of free speech by donating to CBLDF. Naturally a direct donation will 
go further but if that is too much hassle then at least buy this comic and help 
the cause.

                                    *****
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:
Famous first lines of which character?
"There!  My flying broomstick is finished at last!!"

The GREEN GOBLIN called his glider this in his first appearance. The winner by 
the dice is Erin O'Connor


THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
Who fought the Pinocchio Patrol in their debut issue?


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 11/9/12

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: GIVE ME SOMETHING GOOD TO EAT
Publisher: 11 Car Pile Up Productions
Creator & Writer: Chris Denmead
Artist: Katie Hickey Schultz
Price (USD): $13.00
Release Date: Now On Sale
Genre: Horror – All Ages

This book is the brainchild of Chris Denmead, a local patron of That's
Entertainment. He calls it a children's picture book and indeed it is 31 pages
each with a full-page illustration. About 80% of the page is a pretty consistent
background – the edge of a house with smoke coming from a chimney, a few trees,
the moon, stars and on occasion an owl as well as the narrative of the story.
These are not photocopies one after the other but are similar drawings of the
same scenery. Taking up so much of a large 6" X 9" panel with background seems a
waste. It is not distracting from the story but it compresses the action to the
bottom fifth of the page. I think the best part of the art is the coloring,
which is imaginative in contrasting key figures and objects with each other. The
line work is a bit flat making it look like a child's work due to the lack of
perspective and depth. While it relates the story and action well enough it
could be a lot better. The story is simple enough. It is about Halloween night
and a pumpkin that comes to life to eat children as they sample the candy in a
bowl nearby. Child after child in their Trick or Treat costumes stops for a
handful only to be grabbed by the pumpkin and ingested. All the while the
pumpkin gets larger. Even a dog is not immune. Each one takes up four or five
pages. In the end the tables are turned on the pumpkin. The book wraps up with
narrative taking up most of the last two pages ending with common sense warnings
for a safe Halloween. It is a simple story that takes its time getting to the
finish but ends well moralistically. You will have to judge for yourself if it
is worth the price.

Title: A+X
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Marvel
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

Playing off the A vs. X series that was separate from the AVENGERS VS. X-MEN and
told stories to illuminate the main event Marvel now has a similar post event
series. In this book you will get a couple of stories with an Avenger teaming up
with an X-Man and not necessarily connected to any other events in other comics.
The first issue has these two stories and both have a time travel element to
them.

"Captain America + Cable in Fight for the Future" by Dan Slott, Ron Garney,
Danny Miki, Cam Smith, Mark Morales, Will Quintana and Clayton Cowles. The story
is set in 1943 as Captain America and Bucky get their latest mission. They are
to drop in behind German lines near Lyon, France to sabotage a vengeance weapon
being buried by the Nazis. Intelligence indicates it will be sleeper robots, the
product of Hitler's new "wunderkind" Atticus Trask. What they find is a bunch of
robots working on a much larger giant robot that resembles what we know as a
sentinel. As they plan their method of attack they are forced to act prematurely
as Cable suddenly appears guns ablaze. He is of course from the future and knows
that Trask is tampering with the past and is not going to waste any time
planning a covert operation. It will take teamwork among the three heroes in
order to stop the Nazi plan. The interesting part of this story is the different
perspectives of the good guys. Cap and Bucky see this as another diabolical plan
by the enemy if not to win the war then to avenge defeat at a later date. But if
they have such technology why not use it on the battlefield now?  From Cable's
perspective he has to stop someone from changing the past so as to preserve not
only his future but also ours. There are bits of dialogue that are refreshing
and even humorous but it is mostly an action drama that is well drawn.

"The Incredible Hulk + Wolverine" by Jeph Loeb, Dale Keown, Danny Miki, Frank
D'Armata and Albert Deschesne. I mentioned both stories have a time travel
element. This one has a unique twist. In the present Wolverine and Hulk are
together in Avengers tower arguing over a piece of cake when who should burst
onto the scene via time warp but Wolverine and the Hulk – or at least a version
of them. It is actually the future Hulk known as Maestro and a much older gray-
haired Logan and they immediately attack. Now this seems strange, especially
since Maestro declares they do not want any witnesses. When he declares that
this is not the Hulk they seek two things are clear. They are here to find the
Red Hulk and they will kill the Green Hulk and Wolverine if they get in the way,
or maybe kill them anyway. But if they kill their past selves won't they be dead
too? It is all part of a master plan by the one who sent them and when we learn
who it is in the last panel it leaves more questions for another day. The art on
this story is exceptional making it the better of the two stories in that
regard. But the story is too short and leaves us hanging and wondering will it
be continued in this comic or another title down the road.

So as far as the title goes it is a mixed bag that gets a slightly positive
review. The stories are decent if too short but they are not critical to other
things going on in the Marvel Universe. If you prefer seeing various heroes mix
it up without being bogged down with continuity and crossover storylines that
this is for you.

Title: BEDLAM
Issue Number: 1
Story Title: The End of Everything Good
Publisher: Image
Writer: Nick Spencer
Artist: Riley Rossmo
Colors: Jean-Paul Csuka
Letters: Kelly Tindall
Cover Artist: Frazer Irving
Price (USD): $3.50
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Horror
Mature – Comics on the Edge

This comic is very interesting both in plot and graphic design. The action takes
place in two time frames – one ten years ago and one in the present. The older
scenes are depicted in three colors, black, white and red while the present is
in color though there is stronger emphasis is in red. The past focuses on a
deranged killer known as Madder Red. In the opening scene he has taken over an
opera house with his accomplices and killed all the people except one little
girl. He holds her hostage on stage while the police are about to storm the
building. He is dressed in a gray body suit from head to toe and wears a mask
with a white face that has jack-o-lantern like features in red and a red X on
the forehead. There is no way out but he seems not to be bothered as the local
vigilante hero known as The First crashes in from above to take him out. A lot
of the dialogue takes place at the police interrogation room as Madder Red
reveals his end game. He intended to be captured to put the police on trial.
Prior to the assault at the opera house he and his crew planted six bombs, each
in a child's belongings, each at a different school. They could be anywhere in
the city of Bedlam. Instead of bargaining for his freedom he is bargaining for
his own death. He claims over a prerecorded telecast to the city that unless he
is dead in one hour the children will be. In his mind this will prove to the
people that those who claim to be keeping them safe through the rule of law will
be exposed as fakes. If they kill him they are going against their own rules, if
they don't they are letting hundreds of kids die. I have called this a horror
story and that aspect shows up later as we see a "doctor" planning to operate on
a man who is just waking from sedative, apparently. The doctor claims he is
already dead and from what we have seen up to this point we believe that. So how
is it he can carry on a conversation?  The doctor claims he will suck the poison
from his brain so that he can help make the city safe again and great again. 
The other sequence shows a man listening to the radio and TV as he rises and
prepares for his day. The news is about a killer on the loose – a killer that is
preying on senior citizens. This man is on medication of some sort and is
clearly disturbed either with the world or himself. A female detective, Ramira
Acevedo, is on the serial killer case, which peaks the interest of this man.
Later he is out walking in the city and comes across two older boys beating a
younger boy accusing him of stealing from them. What the unnamed man does next
is unexpected to say the least. Nick Spencer has penned a fascinating tale that
has many twists and illogical actions by the players. There appears to be a
grand scheme behind the actions of the main characters that will slowly be
exposed moving forward. You really cannot guess what will happen next or what
future issues will bring. This comic will get you thinking and guessing right
from the start. I recommend it.

Title: LOT 13
Issue Number: 1 (of 5)
Publisher: DC
Writer: Steve Niles
Artist: Glenn Fabry
Colors: Adam Brown
Letters: Saida Temofonte
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Horror
Mature – Comics on the Edge

This story is set in Fairfax County Virginia in two different eras. The first is
1670 in a bizarre court hearing. The laws of the times are based on those of
Louis the XIV who proclaimed suicide to be illegal and those who commit it will
be brought before the courts and punished, whether or not they are already dead.
It is in that context that we see a dead man standing trial. He killed his wife
and their three children before blowing out his own brains. Strangely the
victims stand accused as well and all are found guilty. That is the background
for the horror that will present itself in the future. We only get a hint of it
in this issue. In the present a family is moving their household from an
apartment to their new place far away in the suburbs. But they find the house is
not yet ready and so the parents and three kids head back out on the freeway to
find a place for a few days. Those are the circumstances that will bring them to
an apartment building with rooms for rent by the day. We don't know if it is
this building, their new home or the old apartment that connects them to the
events of colonial times, but they have become connected. As I said there are
only hints, all having to do with the young boy that was murdered by his father
in 1670. He seems to be appearing briefly to members of this family – first at
the old apartment, then at this new temporary home in a more graphic way. But as
of now we have no idea why he is around or what he wants. The art is very good
though the flesh tones are just slightly off in places. Most of the story is set
up for what is to come with the mystery of it all only touched on. It is too
early to tell how it will play out but so far it seems very promising.

Title: JOE KUBERT PRESENTS
Issue Number: 1 (of 6)
Publisher: DC
Cover Artist: Joe Kubert
Price (USD): $4.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Mixed – Anthology

As the text inside written by Kubert himself explains he was given the reins of
an anthology book where he could feature his own work plus the work of others he
chose for six issues. Two of the stories are by Kubert himself and two are from
creators he picked to join him in this venture.

"Hawkman" by Joe Kubert
This one begins with a self-portrait of Joe at his drawing board introducing his
version of the origin of Hawkman and Hawkgirl. It begins on Thanagar as they are
summoned to headquarters for a vital mission on a far away planet in the galaxy.
Their leaders have been monitoring Earth and are disturbed by the wars, famine,
disease and weapons of mass destruction that have developed over the years. They
are worried that Earth could affect the balance of peace in the galaxy some day.
Our two heroes are being sent to get more first hand information before a plan
of action can be determined. By design they land at night in a jungle area to
escape detection. There first interaction will be with a tribe that they learn
only have food an medicine because they have allowed "civilized" men to bury
toxic waste underground in their land. Katar and Shayera set out to protect this
tribe from the danger they have unknowingly brought into their midst. It is
interesting to note that in this version the Thanagarans have the ability to
communicate and control the animals of the jungle, something I do not recall
from other versions of Hawkman. It is a good story with a moral ending and of
course masterfully drawn and colored.

"Angel and the Ape" by Brian Buniak
This is a lighter entry in the volume. If you are unfamiliar with the title
characters there is a brief recap told by Angel of how she met the intelligent
Ape on a trip to Africa and they made such a good team that he accompanied her
to the states where they set up their own detective agency. The first case
involves a man, Walter Weissmuller, who comes to them claiming he is in danger
of being killed and wants their protection. As the story unfolds we learn that
he is the owner of the Silver Safari Restaurant that has a jungle motif and
animatronics animals that complete the experience. He was in the business with
his brother. The two fell in love with a waitress, Mimi Myne, and the brother
won her and left to start his own dinosaur themed eatery. Despondent Walter
contacted a hit man to put him out of his misery. But then he hit the lottery
and being now much richer than his brother Mimi switched sides. Now he is afraid
the hit man will carry out the kill anyway. Angel and the Ape is a fun feature
with lots of humor and silly situations. Visually it fits well with Kubert's
work in a style that reminds me of Eisner. It is a great addition to the volume.

"Spit" by Joe Kubert

This story is totally in black and white, apparently printed right from Kubert's
pencil work. It is a tale of an orphan boy called Spit who was abandoned by his
mother and spent the first few years of his life as the subject of abuse by
other kids at the orphanage as well as whippings from the mistress. It is not a
good situation – the constant beatings and near starvation. He was dubbed Spit
by the others as an indication of what they felt about his worth. In this short
story we begin with him finally walking out on his own and seeking some place,
any place that is better. He will end up at the docks seeking refuge on a
whaling ship. This brief chapter has the makings of a much larger story though
it is unclear if the feature will continue through the mini-series. Kubert's
work is amazing even when it is just pencils and minimal backgrounds. He gets
the feelings across to us in a way no one else could.

"U.S.S. Stevens" by Sam Glanzman
This is a story of a naval ship in WWII. Specifically it tells the story of a
young seaman, Jerry Debitt, eager to learn all he could at the elbow of the
Gunner Patty Scone. Ironically though they trained and Jerry learned quickly
they would actually never see a naval battle. Instead it was badly damaged by
Kamikaze pilots. But Jerry made his goal of being a gunner himself. The story
tells of his dreams of telling his son of his war adventures and his ultimate
fate. I found this story somewhat disjointed but illustrated capably. I am not a
big fan of war stories but this one is impressive.

In all, this anthology is well worth the price and your time. There is something
for everyone and all of it is better than most of the super hero stuff that is
so popular.

Title: GHOSTS
Issue Number: 1-Shot
Publisher: DC/Vertigo
Cover Artist: Dave Johnson – Variant by Phil Jimenez & Andrew Dalhouse
Price (USD): $7.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Horror Anthology
Mature – Comics on the Edge

This anthology tells nine ghost stories as told by the likes of Al Ewing, Toby
Litt, Cecil Castellucci, Joe Kubert, Neil Kleid, Mary Choi, Paul Pope, Gilbert
Hernandez and Geoff Johns.  Rather that detail each one I chose to point out a
few. One I found intriguing is "Wallflower" by Cecil Castellucci with art by Amy
Reeder. It tells the tale of a young couple through narration and illustration.
As we see their lives progress and their family grow we see some typical scenes.
She has an artistic flair for decorating and takes up art as a hobby. He is
dedicated to his work and as time goes on is absent from many meals. Each page
has one panel that is a framed picture, a snapshot of their life at the time.
Little by little we see the portraits depict less expression of affection as
each becomes more distant and involved in their own interests. In later pages
her depiction in the panels and the portraits become faded and colorless until
she is no longer in the picture. As the middle-aged husband realizes she is gone
his own image begins to fade as well. He eventually begins a journey to find her
and the end of the story is unexpected but satisfying. Kubert's entry is
introduced by Editor Karen Berger explaining this story was the last Joe both
wrote and illustrated before his untimely death. It is penciled and lettered but
he never got the chance to ink and color it. It is the story of a an old man who
was nearing death, left in the jungle by his tribe to meet Quetzlcoatl on his
final journey. The man is resigned to his fate but is bothered by his grandson
who won't leave his side. When the angry god arrives it is the boy that he
points to over the pleas of the grandfather to take him instead. It is a classic
story of unforeseen circumstances that ends well with a small twist to make you
smile. In contrast, "A Bowl of Red" by Neil Kleid with art by John McCrea and
Andrew Elder, is brightly colored over the detailed art that is more in the line
of a good horror story. The story begins at a chili cook off in El Paso, Texas.
The three judges are confronted by a man who is badly burnt all over his body to
the point some of his skin is gone. He is ranting about having found the perfect
chili and his body paid the price. He begs them to go see for themselves and
help him prove his devotion to the "heavenly fire." Up to the challenge the
three judges find their way to the restaurant with a sign that merely says
"Abandon Hope." The proprietor explains the risks and consequences but the
skeptic judges demand their bowls to see for themselves. The twist of the story
involves the secret pepper used to make the chili and the supernatural nature of
its existence. It is delightfully scripted to slowly unfold the secrets and the
results are not unexpected. Another outstanding entry is "Ghost For Hire" by
Geoff Johns with art by Jeff Lemire and Jose Villarrubia. Eddie and his ghost
brother Louis have a unique business going. They promise to their clients that
they can scare people for whatever purpose the client chooses and they get paid
well for it. Now it seems odd that a ghost would care about money and he
doesn't. He even does not like what they do but at least he still has the
companionship of his brother. Their latest clients are a brother and sister who
want to scare their mother enough to have her committed so they can sell her
home and get on with their lives in better style. But unlike previous jobs Eddie
has shocking news for the couple after the deed is done. In this case Louis will
feel a lot better about what they are doing and even gets a nice surprise from
Eddie in the end.  These are the highlights of the volume. Some of the others
stories are decent enough and a couple are below par. But that is what you get
in such an anthology and in this one the gems outweigh the clunkers.

                                    *****
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 Milestone title BLOOD SYNDICATE, from what two gangs did the members that
formed the group come?

The Paris Bloods (to which Holocaust belonged) and the Force Syndicate (to which
Tech-9 belonged) were the first two gangs involved. The winner by the dice is
Stu Cathell.

Here was your no prize question:
Who was the first recording artist to have three consecutive double albums reach
number one on the Billboard pop charts?

Arguably the most successful female artist of the disco era, Donna Summer helped
kick off the disco revolution. Summer received five Grammy awards, charted four
#1 pop singles in 13 months, and was the first recording artist to have three
consecutive double albums reach number one on the Billboard pop charts.

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
Famous first lines of which character?
"There!  My flying broomstick is finished at last!!"

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 11/2/12

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: BRAVEST WARRIORS
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: KaBOOM!
Creator: Pendleton Ward
Writer: Joey Comeau
Artist: Mike Holmes
Colors: Zack Sterling
Letters: Steve Wands
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: ALL AGES Humor – Cartoon Adaptation

The creators of ADVENTURE TIME, a very successful cartoon and comic book, now
bring you this comic full of offbeat humor and interesting characters. You get
the idea of what you are in for as the comic begins with the wrap up of their
latest adventure in the first two pages. They are somewhere in space and have
been tasked with solving the gender inequality of another civilization. The
ambassador to that civilization is a talking banana who is despondent by the
Warriors' constant irreverence. How the problem can be solved seems irreverent
as well but it actually works. The fun begins as they relax back at their secret
headquarters and we are introduced to the group. They are a somewhat normal
looking group of teenagers and the descriptions that introduce them are kind of
funny though it pushes a running gag about who is the bravest a bit too far. The
story is more a series of bits. The first has them baking cupcakes in the
kitchen while Danny makes the popcorn with his popcorn gun. The gag is that the
cupcakes will fight each other. Huh? Sure enough it is the green cupcake versus
the orange. It never really is a contest, as you will see. Soon they are joined
by the unofficial fifth Warrior, the female Plum who secretly sometimes has a
mermaid tail and has an ancient and wise second personality that lives in her
second brain. As you can see there is a lot of silliness going on. The gang
settles down to watch a movie, "The Zombie Food Court from Heck" followed by a
trailer for "Space Sharks." When Wallow has his turn he runs a love movie, which
gets the others angry because this was supposed to be scary movie night.  I
won't say this is my favorite kind of comic humor but it is amusing and will
appeal to a wide audience.

Back up story "Laser Sunday" by Ryan Pequin with Mirka Andolfo

This story has the team playing laser tag against a busload of second graders.
The plan is to team up against the kids before it becomes every man for himself.
Whoever wins gets to ride shotgun for a month. The plan has everyone excited and
it is a fun story as well.

The art is typical of the genre and it adds to the feel of a cartoon on paper.
If you are a fan of ADVENTURE TIME you will get a kick out of this one.

Title: GRIMM FAIRY TALES 2012 HALLOWEEN SPECIAL
Issue Number: 1-SHOT
Framing Story by Joe Brusha, Ralph Tedesco, Raven Gregory & Pat Shand
Letters: Bernie Lee
Publisher: Zenescope
Price (USD): $5.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Horror
Mature – Comics on the Edge

Unlike the STEAMPUNK HALLOWEEN comic I reviewed this comic really is a bunch of
horror stories tied together with a framing sequence, "Myths & Urban Legends" by
Patrick Shand, Tiziano Zaffiri and Chandran Ponnusamy, that turns out to be a
horror story all its own. Three girls have left a costume party as one of the
group wants to have more of a thrilling evening. She drags her friend to a
cornfield with many pumpkin head scarecrows and proposes it is the proper
setting for telling scary stories. This leads into the rest of the issue as each
takes turns telling their particular stories.

"Island of Dolls" by Raven Gregory, Amin Amat and Jeff Balke
The first one is set in Mexico City in the 1950s. Don Julian leaves his home
after finding out his wife loves another. He finds seclusion on an island and
begins his life as a hermit. The serenity is disrupted one day when he hears a
little girl playing in the water nearby. She is crying because her doll has
floated away. He chooses to ignore it at first until he realizes something is
terribly wrong. He finds the little girl floating face down and is heartbroken
he ignored her. The horror comes later when he hears the girls voice in the
night calling for her dolly. He finds the doll and brings it to his home but the
voice does not stop. The voice is so compelling he soon spends all of his time
finding or buying dolls and soon his home and the island have dolls all over the
place. But it is the finale of the story that solves the mystery of the voice.

"Are You There?" by Pat Shand, Elias Martins and Jeff Balke
This one begins with a high school class about fairy tales and urban legends.
The teacher tasks the students to read about the kidney thief, Bloody Mary and
the killer in the back seat and report on what the moral would be – as there
were morals in Grimm's fairy tales. Right after the new girl Naru, a Japanese
person, finds the others in the girls room calling "Bloody Mary" into the
mirror. She is unfamiliar with the legend but introduces one of her own that is
similar. The Japanese legend says that the ghost of Hanako-san haunts public
rest rooms. If you call out "Are you there, Hanako-san" the story goes that she
will answer, "I am here." Then you better run or suffer the consequences. They
all try it, have a laugh and go on their way. But Naru will find there is more
to the legend than they thought.

"The Clown" by Raven Gregory, Marcelo Salaza and Jason Embury

Whenever a horror story starts with a babysitter you know things will go
horribly wrong. It starts off with a typical situation with the buxom high
school student looking after a couple of typical kids who warn her as she tucks
them in not to let the monster get her. But once the kids are in bed and Shawna
is watching TV she will find something very strange about this house.

"Jack The Lantern" by Dirk Manning, Andrea Errico and Erick Arciniega
The girl that brought here friends to the field tells the closing story. It
begins in 1789 on Halloween. There is a serial killer on the loose that
surprises his victims wearing a jack-o-lantern mask and he has been very busy.
This goes on for some time and a year later he is paid a surprise visit by the
devil himself. Without getting into the details Jack is desperate to save his
soul and so he makes a deal with the devil. But as is usually the case any deal
with the devil comes at a price. This particular case dooms Jack to a fate that
he can only escape from on one day a year, Halloween. Which brings us back to
the girls in the field on Halloween in the present. Heh, heh!

The anthology is a good mix of stories that are pretty decent and all have good
art. If you are into short horror stories this is a good collection.

Title: LET'S PLAY GOD
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: IDW
Writers: Brea & Zane Grant
Artist: Eric J.
Letters: Neil Uyetake
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Crime Drama
MATURE – Comics on the Edge

This mystery starts with a girl band called Doomed Earth as they wrap up a
rehearsal. Billy takes off while Mel and Kira head to the roof for a drink to
cool down. This affords us some insight into the characters before the action
starts. Later, as Mel is left alone she notices a man in the window across the
alley with a camera. If that is not startling enough she watches as a person in
a mask sneaks up behind him and slashes his eyes then his throat before grabbing
the camera and pushing him half out the window. Thinking the cameraman may still
be alive, Mel calls 911 and rushes over only to find her band mate, Billy, has
also entered the apartment. This begins a tense situation between the friends as
the cops arrive and they both are taken in for questioning. Mel does not know
what to think and when Billy slips her a photo album to hide from the cops she
gets more suspicious. Could Billy be the mystery attacker or someone connected
to the killer? What is in the album she doesn't want the cops to see? Mel has a
lot to struggle with at a time she is not feeling great about her life anyway.
It is too soon to tell if this will be a deep mystery or more of a story of
relationships, friendship and trust. He art is different enough from what I am
used to. There is fine definition in the characters and a stark coloring gives
it a unique look, it grows on you as you read. So far I like this book and am
interested to see where it will go next.

Title: ALAN ROBERT'S KILLOGY
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: Sally Sno-Cones Gets Pinched
Publisher: IDW
Creator: Alan Robert
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Horror
MATURE – Comics on the Edge
Characters based on the likenesses of Frank Vincent, Brea Grant and Marky Ramone


IDW is making a big deal about this comic having characters with likenesses of
three celebrities of some note. It is a unique gimmick but I don't know if that
would entice many people to buy the comic. For me the quality of the story and
art is what matters. In this case it is a creation of one man so it is his
proficiency that is on the line. The art is actually pretty decent. Robert has a
unique style that is very detailed in line work and backgrounds. He has a good
sense for layouts and the action flows well from panel to panel. The inking and
coloring is rather dark but that works well for this story set mostly in a jail
cell for the first half but it lightens up in the flashback sequences. The story
starts in the holding cell at the police station. In one cell we have Sally Sno-
Cones, a hit man for the local mob, a younger longhair named Cole Edwards also
in jail for murder and a blond covered in blood who recently sliced up her
boyfriend. She is Summer Rhodes. The three are getting on each others nerves and
the two guys come to blows, which only stops when a cop appears but once he gets
close enough he is revealed to be a zombie. How zombies came to be in this drama
has its beginnings in Sally's story, which he tells to the other two. His story
is all about a classic hit man for the mob. Rather than recap his career he
begins with a recent turn of events when the Don decided to save his own skin by
ratting out Sally to the feds. With 87 hits to his name there is a lot of dirt
that Sally is on the hook for that will be hard to hide. In going back to
destroy the evidence he finds that one of his victims, his brother-in-law who
pulled a big heist of a museum shipment but held back from giving the Don his
cut, is now a zombie. This has to do with that heist containing some kind of
voodoo witch mummy. And now several of the victims in cold storage are zombies.
This somehow will tie in with the stories of the other cellmates eventually. But
their main problem is they are locked in a cell and all the cops are now
zombies. They may never get out but in future issues we are going to hear Cole
and Summer tell their stories. It is not a bad start and certainly raises the
question if the story can possibly end well for these three. I found it
entertaining enough to be worth your consideration.


Title: NATIONAL COMICS: MADAME X
Issue Number: 1-SHOT
Publisher: DC
Writer: Rob Williams
Artist: Trevor Hairsine
Colors: Antonio Fabela
Letters: Travis Lanham
Cover Artist: Fiona Staples
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Horror/Supernatural
Mature – Comics on the Edge

DC has done number of one-shot comics with older characters under the National
Comics banner. The latest is MADAME X. Mima is an expert in the use of the Tarot
cards and their magic properties give her visions of the future. The story is
set in New Orleans where she works as a consultant for a prestigious law firm. A
local city councilman who ran on an anti-voodoo platform has been murdered. The
so-called "Voodoo Queen of New Orleans" has come to the firm, as she is sure she
will be charged with the crime. Recently she cursed the councilman while
drenching he and his wife in blood in front of TV cameras. After that Councilman
Meachum's campaign against her and her city in the swamps intensified. So she
sent him a heavily cursed ancient voodoo knife as a statement. It was that knife
that was found buried in his chest. The queen views Mima as a sister. Mima's
once celebrated career was ruined when she accurately predicted a very rich man
would be robbed. When it happened he responded by suing Mima and discrediting
her with his power. But Mima does not believe in Voodoo though she knows magic
is real. Still it falls on her and her colleagues to investigate the case and
prove their client innocent. Madame X uses the power of her cards to lead the
team to the mysterious voodoo city in the swamp and will eventually discover why
Meachum was really killed and by whom. It is a decent tale with a well-scripted
plot. The art is above par and works well to provide visuals that the dialogue
does not describe. The ending is a bit enigmatic. This is likely done on purpose
so as to leave open the possibility of a regular series down the road. From what
I saw in this issue it would be a good idea.

Title: AVENGERS
Issue Number: 32
Title Arc: End Times
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artists: Mike Mayhew & Brandon Peterson
Colors: Jason Keith
Letters: Cory Petit
Cover Artist: Brandon Peterson
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

Brian Bendis is wrapping up his long run on THE AVENGERS and NEW AVENGERS with
an arc aptly titled END TIMES. It began with a repentant Wonder Man asking for
forgiveness in trying to turn people against the Avengers. In the last issue we
saw a women, her face wrapped in cloth so only her eyes showed, who was in some
foreign land, city, or planet and in dire need. In the end she pulled out an
Avengers membership card and activated its signal beacon. But who is this
mysterious Avenger, if she even is one? That is the question Hank Pym poses to
Tony Stark notifies him. You would think that such a device is coded for the
particular member it was issued to and you would be right. But this is an older
card that was not made that way – it is an old-school card. So this is either a
presumably dead past member or someone using the card. That is the logical
conclusion except Tony has traced the signal to the Microverse. I am tempted to
tell you who the mystery woman is but I do not want to spoil the fun. There is
an interlude scene of her getting captured and then mysteriously escaping from
plain sight, which is a big clue as to her identity. Needless to say the
Avengers assemble at the place where they can enter the Microverse at the point
of the signal. This location is another big clue. In the end Iron Man, Thor,
Captain America and Hank Pym are the ones that follow the signal to its source.
They successfully find the woman and will have to face a major force of power in
this microscopic land if any of them are to return home. After all the drama of
AvX this is a more entertaining story that has moments of humor Bendis does so
well. It is also a story with an element of hope and a promise of an eventual
happy ending. I think most fans of the series will welcome the revelation in
this issue and will be patiently waiting for the next issue, as I am.

                                    *****
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:
This one is for small press fans of the last two decades. In what comic feature
do the cats Stan and Ollie hang out?
Innocent Bystander by Gary Sassaman, its own comic and then a feature in
"Geeksville", was the answer. The winner by the dice is Gary Katzoff.

Here is your no prize question:
What is the fastest growing plant on earth?
Bamboo has been measured surging skyward as fast as 39 inches in a 24-hour
period due to their unique rhizome-dependent system.

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
In the Milestone title BLOOD SYNDICATE, from what two gangs did the members that
formed the group come?

Who was the first recording artist to have three consecutive double albums reach
number one on the Billboard pop charts?

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.