My View - Comic Reviews by David LeBlanc: May 2013

Friday, May 31, 2013

Comic Reviews 5/30/13

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 GREEN TEAM: TEEN TRILLIONAIRES
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: Riot Act
Publisher: DC
Writers: Art Baltazar and Franco
Artist: IG Guara
Inker: J.P. Mayer
Colors: Wil Quintana
Letters: Travis Lanham
Cover Artist: Amanda Conner with Paul Mounts
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

When DC starting promoting two NEW 52 titles some of the online sites framed
them as being based on the politics of the day. THE MOVEMENT featuring common
people with super powers taking control of things the government could not fix
as a metaphor for the 99% crowd. And this title about the very rich is
therefore about the one-percenters. Well there is no doubt this is about super
rich kids as you can guess from the subtitle, "TEEN TRILLIONAIRES." Our
introduction to this class of people starts with Prince Mohammed Qahtanii. He is
the son of a very wealthy middle east noble. His father has always impressed on
him that his income must grow and his share price must increase. He has finally
decided to prove himself worthy to someday succeed his father but he will do it
his own way. So he is off on his own, with his chauffer-bodyguard, hoping to
make a deal with one of the world's richest teens, Commodore Murphy. How rich
is he? Well his nickname is "64" for the number of trillions he will get from
his trust fund when he turns 21. But he is not one of the idle rich. He makes
money faster than anyone funding big ideas and developing new technologies.
Mohammed's chance to meet Commodore is at one of his spontaneous events called
the POXPO or Pop-Up Expo. It is handled like a rave with participants given a
few days notice and then secretly sent the location. It is the chance for
exhibitors to showcase their ideas with the hope of funding. Mohammed is a bit
socially awkward but is befriended by Lucia Lynn "LL" Houston, from a very rich
oil family, and she helps him get acclimated. She is his entr‚e to Commodore
because her brother, J.P. Houston, is Commodore's best friend and partner. JP is
also a voice of reason as we learn that like most of the super rich there are
people that mean them harm. Commodore is playing with buying the right
technology to be super powered, like a teenage Iron Man idea. The other member
of 64's Green Team is his gal pal teen actress Cecilia Sunbeam. The basic plot
is Mohammed's father tried to buy Commodore's company and he turned it down. Now
Mohammed wants to give it a shot to prove himself. But what he learns Commodore
is not interested in the money selling the company will bring him because he
already has enough - a concept foreign to Mohammed's father. So most of the book
is introduction to all of these characters and what they are all about. While
Commodore is bonding with Mohammed, seeing a lot of his own past in his
situation, the whole party is about to be disrupted by an innocent mistake made
by the prince. Think of this issue as the first chapter in the origin of what
this group of teens will become. As I said there are bad people out there out to
get the rich, and not just to get rich themselves. When they show up it could
become a baptism of fire, or a premature end to it all. I like the characters as
they have developed so far. They are portrayed as good people with personalities
and the interaction is realistic. The art is pleasant in every aspect. While
this first arc deals with problems from an external threat that has to be dealt
with what the focus and direction will be down the road matters more to me. If
this is only going to be about self preservation of the super rich using high
tech I think it will get old quick. Lets see what it is like a few issues down
the road.

Title: UNCANNY AVENGERS
Issue Number: 8 AU
Publisher: Marvel
Writers: Rick Remender & Gerry Duggan
Artist: Adam Kubert
Colors: Frank Martin
Letters: Cory Petit
Cover Artists: Cheung, Morales & Ponsor
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

This is the AGE OF ULTRON tie-in issue of UNCANNY AVENGERS. While other tie-ins
have mostly dealt with the initial part of the main event this one stays current
by dealing with the new status quo in the main book. You need to know, and will
find out if you don't know when you read the introduction, that in the main book
Wolverine tried to stop Ultron by traveling to the past and making sure he was
never created. The "present" is a much different world as the result of his
intervention and he cause many other side effects. While this story deals with
some of the members of this particular team of heroes as they find themselves in
this world changed for a second time it also involves the time-traveling
conqueror Kang working from the far future in 4145. He is on his own mission
using the abducted Apocalypse twins, Uriel and Eimin, children of the corrupted
X-Man Archangel, to mold the timestream to his own liking. Eimin is anxious to
please Kang and wants to go back in time to kill their enemies before they rise.
But Kang has a broader view what must be done and so he takes the twins back to
our present, in the Age of Ultron. He explains when Wolverine killed Hank Pym in
the past many things changed. The Avengers disbanded, the Vision was never
created, and Odin ceded the Earth to Morgana Le Fay after Thor was killed. He
gives them their mission. Colonel Steve Rogers must be killed in battle or he
will stand in the way of their future. That is the set up for the action to
come. From the other point of view we see Colonel America paying a visit to
Havock who along with his wife, Rogue, has taken refuge with the Morlocks after
stopping the mutant massacre. Steve wants to take Caliban back to stand trial
for murder that Havock and the others claim was self-defense. This is a courtesy
call to end things peacefully for the authorities above will send worse than a
friendly emissary if Steve goes back empty handed. Once all of this current
status has been established for the reader the twins make their move. There is
much confusion at first as to who is attacking and why but the Apocalypse twins
soon make it clear they will take no prisoners in fulfilling their mission. But
we also see that Eimin, may be dedicated in his belief to protect all mutants it
is an attitude that can be a weakness as well. The outcome may not be what is
expected when everything is done. Since it all takes place in this altered
timeline some of what happens may be erased at some point when the event is
over. For now the effects are devastating for all, including the twins. I do not
follow this title normally but this episode is pretty much a stand-alone story
that was interesting reading. Followers of the title may or may not get more out
of it.

Title: HALF PAST DANGER
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: Bite the Bullet
Publisher: IDW
Creator: Stephen Mooney
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: WWII/Science Fiction

This war period adventure has an interesting mix of characters - an embittered
Irishman, a sexy British agent, a U.S. Marine Captain and a mysterious Japanese
operative. What brings this unlikely mix together? That is the gist of the
first issue. It starts in the South Pacific in 1943 as Sergeant Tommy Flynn
leads his squad on a mission on one of many Japanese controlled islands. What
they find is a German encampment complete with planes and tanks. This is vital
information they need to get back to Command. Skirting around the Germans to
avoid contact they get way off their intended course and find something even
more astounding, dinosaurs. Now, just two months later, we find Flynn in a bar
in New York though it is not clear if he was discharged or went A.W.O.L. It is
here where the other three will seek him out. It is clear his recent experience
left him with no desire to get involved again with the war or even government
agents. What happened on that island has affected him greatly and has gotten the
attention of the allied command. Which brings us to the obvious question - why
are a British agent and a Marine working with a Japanese operative during WWII?
The answer is left for another time. What we have is a thrilling adventure that
has a historical setting but then mixes in the improbable likelihood of
dinosaurs. Are they part of the Nazi plot or just a coincidental presence? We
will have to wait and see where it all leads. I must commend Mr. Mooney for his
talent. He does it all in this comic and it all comes together nicely. His
artwork is very accomplished with all the elements pencil, ink and coloring all
coming together to advance the story visual in the proper compliment to the
dialogue. The script has the right feel to it as the characters in the various
situations are realistic and the subtle humor here and there adds to the
realism. I enjoyed this story so far and Mooney has left enough questions to
make me want more.

Title: THE BOUNCE
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Image
Writer: Joe Casey
Artist: David Messina
Colors: Giovanna Niro
Letters: Rus Wooton
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero
MATURE - Comics on the Edge

It is not often that you open a comic about a super hero to find the hero in his
civilian identity smoking dope in the very first panel. That is what his
roommate Terry finds as he walks in on a typical Wednesday, Jasper sitting on
the couch watching the news and getting high. But as Terry turns to take toke
himself Jasper has left abruptly. Clearly Terry does not know that Jasper is the
Bounce, a hero who can bounce around like a ball. He heard on the news that the
police chief and his family are being held hostage and sprang into action. But
it appears that his recreational diversion is about to mix with his heroics in
an unlikely way. Later while looking for the next new high he is finally
introduced to the person said to deliver the ultimate high. As it turns out that
person, going by the name of The Fog, is not selling some new street drug - he
is the drug. His power produces a mist that has an amazing effect when Jasper
inhales it. Messina and Niro try to convey the experience in a few panels, a
difficult thing to do in comics. But this is not just a high as a female voice
tells Jasper not to fear what he finds on the other side. Well the other side
just may be somewhere else, maybe not even in our dimension or time. In a sub
plot a government contractor is having a meeting with some military brass to
brief them on the progress of his work - something he refers to as the practical
application of extra-dimensional knowledge. The equipment he shows them looks
like something out of STAR GATE. Are these two things connected somehow? We are
not sure at this point. This is obviously a different kind of heroic fiction.
Other than the fact that the Bounce did try to avert tragedy in the hostage
situation there is not much else to admire about him. Perhaps his drug habit
will lead him into something that will alter his whole perspective on his life.
That remains to be seen. It is an interesting concept and it is rendered nicely
though the flesh tones are a bit pale. It will take a while for things to really
start happening. It is probably worth it to stick around to see what happens.

Title: DmC DEVIL MAY CRY: THE CHRONICLES OF VERGIL
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Titan Comics
Writer: Izu
Artist: Patrick Pion
Layouts: Robin Recht
Colors: Digikore Studio
Cover Artists: Jean Bastide & Patrick Pion
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Horror/Supernatural
MATURE - Comics on the Edge

The heart of the story begins a few pages in after some flash backs to the
experiences of Dante, one of the major characters. This story is built on a
world where demons are in the world secretly influencing humans, sapping their
vitality to their own ends. They come from the Limbo dimension or universe and
have elements in network TV, the police and global conglomerates. Their leader
is Mundus but humans know him as Kyle Ryder a corporate mogul and he is really a
king of the Demons. Their plan is going according to their timetable and it
won't be long until they sap all human energy. The lead character is Vergil. He
is one of two sons of the mating of a demon and an angel. Like the demons he has
the power to pass between worlds. He needs to find his way to the Hellfire
prison on the human world where his brother Dante is being held. Dante is the
key to human salvation. But Vergil will need help in finding the portal he can
use to access Hellfire. For that he will need the right human accomplice and he
appears to have found her. Kat is a psychic that has been plagued by nightmares.
Unknown to her they are not nightmares. Her astral form has been leaving her
body and traveling to Limbo where she has witnessed the horrors of the demon
world. Vergil plans to have her imprisoned in Hellfire and then when her astral
form travels into limbo he will be able to follow her back. The only problem
with that is what happens to humans in Hellfire is not pleasant. It took me a
while to grasp it all and understand the levels to this story. This type of
story is not something I normally get into and on the surface it is not overly
complex. The main problem I have with this comic is the lettering. I am used to
traditional sized lettering that almost all mainstream comics use. This comic
uses a much smaller size that requires closer reading and frankly looks odd
because the word balloons are so small. The result was a jarring effect and it
took away from the overall experience. So that is a downer and I cannot say I
would enjoy reading more issues but if you are a fan of this type of story check
it out and see what you think.

Title: THE DEEP SEA
Issue Number: One-Shot
Publisher: Dark Horse
Writers: Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray
Artist: Tony Akins
Colors: Paul Mounts
Letters: Bill Tortolini
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Science Fiction

This is another one of those comic stories previously presented in serial form
in the pages of DARK HORSE PRESENTS. Unlike most of those others it will not be
an ongoing comic for now. So if you already have those DHP issues there is
nothing new for you here. This is an adventure story that begins in 1958, as
some deep-sea explorers will make the first descent into the Challenger Deep, a
location at the southern end of the Mariana Trench. The crew of five is making
final preparations when an unfortunate accident sidelines Paul Barry with a
broken leg. Now he will have to monitor the attempt at a world record deep-sea
dive from the surface. The crew disappeared without a trace when some force
pulled them down to a depth beyond their intended goal. Now fifty-five years
later Paul has been taken back to that area because the ship has been found.
What is more miraculous is that the crew was in it and they have only aged one
day since they disappeared. They have a tale to tell about what happened after
they lost contact but cannot explain the lost 55 years. It will be something to
ponder another day as soon the rescue ship is attacked by giant cephalopod
unlike anything anyone has seen before. Could the return of the Sea Bastard
brought about this strange creature? What does it mean for the mankind? This is
a decent action story with a bit of science fiction mixed in. It reminds me of
the Challengers of the Unknown in a way. The art is slick and the pacing is
decent. I do hope the team picks up the story again because I would like to see
the next chapter.

*****
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:
What do Miracle Dog and the killer of Izaya's wife have in common?

Steppenwolf was the name of the villain who killed Izaya's wife. Steppenwolf was
also the code word used to change Miracle Dog from a harmless mutt into Miracle
Dog and back again.

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
What comic book ran the original serialized origin of THE INHUMANS?
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.

Friday, May 24, 2013

Comic Reviews 5/25/13

Have you ever heard the theory that real life is in your dreams and your waking
hours are only a dream? That may be what Winslow believes. All his life he has
had the same dream over and over. He is in a place with no name and he is
flying. It was his refuge from the life with his adoptive parents who were
always fighting. As he grew older the dream became more intense, he became
consumed by it; it became harder to wake up. The dream was so real that waking
up sometimes felt like falling asleep. Eventually he could not concentrate on
anything else and the doctors were convinced he really could not distinguish
dreaming from reality. So eventually he was committed to a psychiatric hospital,
which is were we find him as the story begins. He has a casual friend, Ziggy,
who is schizophrenic. The only other friend is Anne who serves meals in the
cafeteria. She has been passing him books about dreaming from the outside world.
It is clear there is a spark between them. These circumstances and conversations
gives us insight into the main characters save one, a mysterious man who will
enter Winslow's life very soon. It is shortly after Winslow's latest doctor
tries a session using regression therapy when things change. It is during that
session's dream state that Winslow sees three figures cloaked in dark robes.
They see him; they looked at him. This has never happened before and it
frightens Winslow. Later that evening, while he is awake in his room, the
figures appear in his room and reach out to him with clawed hands. Fortunately
Anne is nearby and hears him yell. She opens his room and when the figures
appear again they both begin to run. It seems like Winslow has gone from a
lifelong dream to a waking nightmare. The story involves these two on the run
from forces they do not know nor comprehend. At several turns an old man with a
staff appears when they need him most with a little aid and guidance. He
eventually identifies himself as the Dream Merchant and the antagonists as the
Regulators. It seems Winslow's dream is very important and now the Regulators
will pursue him to advance their own agenda. It is a frightening and mysterious
premise without full explanation at this point. There is a bit of suspense and
the characterization is developing page by page. The art is unique and well
suited for the theme of the work. At first this seems like a work exploring a
particular form of mental illness but as wee see now it is much more. I am not
totally committed to this series yet but I would like to see what happens next
as Winslow and Anne cope with life on the run from the boogiemen.

Title: THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER
Issue Number: 1 (of 2)
Publisher: Dark Horse
Creator: Edgar Allan Poe
Adapted by: Richard Corben
Letters: Nate Piekos
Price (USD): $$3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Horror
MATURE - Comics on the Edge

You do not have to be familiar with this famous work of Poe to enjoy it. I
grabbed this issue because I am a fan of Richard Corben's art. He is one of
those artists who are instantly recognizable. His characters mostly have long
faces and large noses. His females tend to be well endowed in proportion to
their body. The story follows a young man named Allan who has been summoned
rather urgently to the home of an old classmate, Roderick Usher. Unfortunately
it is a long ride by horseback and in the night his horse abandons him. He
finally makes it to the house of Usher on foot. When he finally arrives in a
dense fog he is startled by what he finds in the entrance hall of the house - a
pile of coffins and decaying bodies strewn about. He stumbles and hits his head
and later awakens in a bed. He explores a bit and finds his old classmate at
work on a painting. Surprisingly Usher brushes aside the cause of his urgent
summons explaining that his painting is more important now. He shows several
sketches - an anatomical study of a nude female and then reveals it is his own
sister, sitting across the room au natural. Usher begs his leave and says they
will meet for breakfast but it the sister who comes to Allan's room that night
refusing to speak. She passes him a series of notes saying she fears for her
life and Allan must help her escape from her brother when he leaves. This is the
mystery that is being set up that has to do with the coffins, Usher's mad
obsession and the painting of his sister he is rushing to complete. There is
enough of a tease in this first half to get you intrigued, especially if you do
not know the full story. Corben's art is fascinating to me and as always his
coloring is brilliant. He added a narrator to bookend the chapter and that adds
another element to the experience. I would be interested to see how fans of Poe
take to this adaptation. On its own it is worthwhile to check out anyway.

Title: BATTLESTAR GALACTICA
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
Creator: Based on the Universal Television series created by Glen A. Larson
Writers: Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning
Artist: Cezar Razek
Colors: Vinicius Townsend
Letters: Simon Bowland
Cover Artist: Alex Ross
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Science Fiction/TV Adaptation

Fans of the original Battlestar Galactica series on TV should appreciate this
series, which brings us back to those characters with new plots. Rather than
carry on from where it left off way back then (and I disregard the second series
which had them actually reach Earth) the comic book creators go back to the time
when they are still in deep space, still looking for Earth, and are still being
pursued by the Cylons. The opening page begins appropriately with the familiar
opening dialogue heard every week recited by actor Patrick McNee, "There are
those who believe that life here began out there." The action takes us back
through a recap of major events, one being Adams's personal loss of his wife and
son to the Cylon attacks. It haunts him every day, even as he leads a makeshift
fleet of military and civilian spacecraft across the cosmos in search of the
lost tribe of humans from their distant past. This recap leads us into the
current day; on the anniversary of the attack on Caprica and the other colonies
Adama addresses the fleet to reaffirm their mission and purpose. That being the
set up, an introduction to new readers and a refresher for past fans, we get
right into action as an incoming Cylon attack is detected. This one is bigger
than ever with multiple basestars appearing out of a nearby nebula. With the
overwhelming odds and the damage to the Galactica Adama has no choice but to
sanction the use of heretofore forbidden technology. Zee, a brilliant scientist
in the body of a young boy, has been working on temporal weapons. In order to
buy time for the Galactica and the rest of the fleet he proposes to use two
vipers outfitted with these weapons. Naturally Starbuck and Apollo are chosen
for the mission. The plan is to fire on the battlestars. This will displace them
temporally - actually remove them from the timeline as if they never existed.
With ten shots apiece they can hit all the basestars and the attack will have
never happened. Of course this is the set up of the ongoing plot when something
goes wrong. I think the artists have really captured the likenesses of the
original actors close enough on the interior art and superbly by Alex Ross on
the cover. The flow of action throughout is depicted well as are the characters.
I enjoyed this return to one of my favorite series from long ago. The effort is
good enough for new readers to enjoy as well.

Title: DOOMSDAY .1
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: IDW
Creator: John Byrne
Colors: Leonard O'Grady
Letters: Neil Uyetake
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Science Fiction

In 1975 John Byrne was published in his first pencil and ink color comic series
from Charlton called DOOMSDAY +1. He of course went on to become a big success
in the industry. Now he is returning to his roots with a comic series loosely
based on the same concept - a few astronauts returning from space after a global
cataclysm. He has updated the circumstances to set it in the present time and
change the antagonist from a South American despot to the sun. Astronauts on the
International Space Station are the first to understand the problem. The sun has
let out a tremendous burst of radiation. Their instruments indicate it is of
such a magnitude that anyone not shielded as they are from the rays, everyone on
the Earth exposed to it in other words, will develop cancer within a year. But
looking closer they see things are worse than that. This is a massive solar
flare that is unlike any other in the past. It is large enough to have its own
gravity, condensing into a spheroid with a cloud of plasma surrounding it that
is larger than the Earth. In a nutshell this will mean the end of the planet.
After the flare hits there will be a ring of fire sweeping across the globe.
Little if anything will survive or be habitable. So what do you do when certain
doom approaches? After learning and believing that this could be the end of
everything we look in on a few places on Earth and a few key people who are
reacting. The president, against the advise of nearly everyone, goes on national
TV to tell everyone of their fate and she advises the people of their only
option. In Rome the Pope is following his own course as his advisors discuss the
most likely place on the planet where life might be able to endure. And in a
maximum-security prison in Southeast Texas, the warden and his top correctional
officer ponder their own fate, being in an area that might survive. They wonder
what to do about the prisoners when that decision is taken out of their hands.
But it is the seven astronauts who are the main cast of the story. Without
future contact with Earth, and the ISS in the path of the flare, they have no
choice but to take the shuttle to avoid the flare and then land on what is left.
In typical Byrne fashion there is a lot of character interaction among these
astronauts. We learn quickly about the relationships and sometimes the
unpleasant friction among some. Sometimes it is a bit overdone in his effort to
emphasize the point. As the story goes forward, if they survive at all, we know
they will have to put aside their difference for their own survival and that of
mankind. Byrne's art is another that is instantly recognizable. Those who have
read a lot of his work will recognize a few familiar faces he has used for
characters in his other work. Leonard O'Grady does a splendid job with coloring
it all. I liked the first issue and hope Byrne can maintain my level of interest
without getting bogged down too much in melodrama. I'll wait and see.

Title: REGULAR SHOW
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Kaboom!
Creator: JG Quinel
Writer: KC Green
Artist: Allison Strejlau
Colors: Lisa Moore
Letters: Steve Wands
Cover Artists: Various
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Humor/TV Adaptation

I am someone who grew up on very old school cartoons from Looney Tunes to Popeye
and later to things like Rocky & Bullwinkle to Animaniacs and so on. I have
limited my current cartoon interest to generally the superhero fare like Batman
Beyond and the current Ultimate Spider-Man and Avengers series. In prime time I
have enjoyed the Simpsons, Family Guy, and South Park. There has been a surge of
popularity of shows on Cartoon Network and I have sampled them from time to time
but the characters and humor is in a much different vein and I find I can't
really get into it. This is not so much of a criticism as it is recognition of
the difference of tastes in generations when it comes to humor. Some is more
universal and other types appeal more to the young or older than others. I
really like Bing Bang Theory for example but never cared for The Office. So
recognizing this I decided to sample a comic based on one of those newer
cartoons I do not watch. I really don't know anything about THE REGULAR SHOW so
I approached this purely as a comic book. If you are also unfamiliar the first
thing you notice are the main characters on the cover. They are an odd mix of
anthropomorphic animals - a raccoon and a bird, what looks like an animate ghost
broom with a hand on the other end- he is called Fives, a rather husky short guy
with green skin they call Muscle Man and a guy named Benson that looks like a
gumball machine with arms and legs except the globe is half filled with liquid.
There are a couple of other characters but you get the idea. So I figure the odd
combination of this type having adventures in a world filled with otherwise
normal people is done for visual effect - they stand out and some of them more
odd than others. The plot has the guys working at an outdoor charity concert.
Rigby the raccoon and the bird, sorry they do not give his name, are on trash
duty with Benson supervising them and others. The two begin wishing there was a
mosh pit but it is the wrong music and wrong kind of people. Muscle Man
overhears this and takes it as a challenge. He and Fives start mixing it up in
the crowd and before long there is utter chaos. But something else happens as
well. There is a surreal effect on the crowd. Some outside source has taken them
over and the ground is beginning to rumble. There is a dark force that feeds off
the energy of rowdy adolescents and it seems it is centered right below the
mayhem they have created. Will Benson and the others who are not affected be
able to save everyone before something disastrous happens? This is not so much
humor, to me anyway, than it is a silly cartoon adventure. There are bits of
humor along the way, mostly to appeal to the younger crowd. The story is
structured to flow properly and leaves a cliffhanger for next time. The
mechanics of the art are professionally rendered as well. I think the creators
accomplish what they desire and hit the marks for their intended audience.

Back up story: Thrill Baby
Written & illustrated by Brian Butler, colored by Maarta Laiho

In this second story the guys are trying to get Rigby to ride a roller coaster
thrill ride called the Face Melter. They interpret his hesitance to be fear but
it turns out to be embarrassment. He claims he can never get a good picture
taken, as this is one of those rides that snap a photo at a critical point in
the ride. Whenever he gets off the staff is always laughing at the ridiculous
faces he makes. The others come up with a plan to fix that and, well you can
expect something to go wrong.

Title: SUPERGIRL
Issue Number: 20
Title Story: Home Invasion
Publisher: DC
Writer: Michael Alan Nelson
Artist: Mahmud Asrar
Colors: Dave McCaig
Letters: Rob Leigh
Cover Artist: Emanuela Lupacchino with Nei Ruffino
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

Back to the NEW 52 and another series to see where it is going after 20 issues.
This issue turns out to be a good one to sample as it is presented in such a way
that knowledge of what preceded it is not critical to understanding the plot.
The story involves Supergirl, her counterpart from Earth 2 Power Girl, and
Supergirl's AI fortress under the sea she calls Sanctuary. As the story begins
the two supergals are in Sanctuary and have just been politely informed by
Sanctuary that Power Girl is obviously a clone of Supergirl and therefore if she
remains still the eradication protocol will be invoked. There is something in
its Kryptonian programming that will not allow clones of its master to exist. No
matter what Supergirl says or even commands Sanctuary it will not deviate from
its programming to eliminate Kara. When she finally convinces it to do another
test, rather than decide who is the real deal by gladiatorial combat, it changes
its mind and declares that Supergirl is actually the clone and needs to be
destroyed. Eventually we get to the point where Sanctuary attacks. Can either or
both of these heroes stand up to Kryptonian technology designed to overcome
their powers? This is a fun issue. For one, Power Girl is back to her pre-New 52
costume and there is a bit of sparring about it when Supergirl says she is too
"old" for the outfit with the cleavage window. There are other bits of sarcasm
and asides that really make the script fun to read. It is not often a writer can
pull it off and still maintain the serious part of the plot - Peter David comes
to mind - but Michael Nelson handles the balance very well. The art is decent
enough though sometimes the pencils on the characters seem inconsistent from
panel to panel. It has good layout and sequencing and the coloring is fine.
This was a pleasant comic and it is not just a temporary conflict thing as the
ending reveals. I would not hesitate to recommend you give this issue a try to
see if it is something you would like to follow.

*****
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 series XOMBI David Kim was unable to resurrect his assistant
Kelly Sanborne with his blood's nanomachines. Why not?

She had been cremated so the nanomachines had no material to work with. The
winner this week is Keith Martin.

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
What do Miracle Dog and the killer of Izaya's wife have in common?
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.

Friday, May 17, 2013

Comic Reviews 5/17/13

Dark Horse has been re-introducing its super hero line of characters, first in
the pages of DARK HORSE PRESENTS and then launching new series. The latest is
the mysterious vigilante in a leather body suit with a facemask padlocked to his
collar and only exposing one eye. There is a red "X" painted across his facemask
and hence he is known as X. He is not a Batman style hero. He targets the
baddest of the bad guys, usually sends them a picture of themselves with a red
"X" across their face, and later kills them. As the series kicks off it follows
the events as depicted in DHP. Two bad guys named Duroc and Hereford have
assembled a militia of hired killers to get rid of X once and for all. After X
took care of them the third member of the triumvirate decided to go into hiding
in his state-of-the-art panic room but it did not keep X out. This issue begins
with the aftermath of the initial bloodbath leaving Duroc, Hereford and the
hitman in a bloody pile in a warehouse. The police are just beginning to
investigate when they realize from the red X's who was responsible. Captain
Wilder orders them to dump the bodies and burn the place down but he realizes
too late that someone was watching and overheard it all. It was Leigh Ferguson,
a columnist for the Evening Journal who goes by the title The Last Muckraker.
She now has bits of information about the three gangsters that have been killed.
She does not know who did it so she just dubs him X for now. She will play an
important role as the story in this issue reaches its climax. Another prominent
"businessman" has received the photo with the X over his face and this time he
calls Captain Wilder because he knows what happened to his three friends. The
captain will use this foreknowledge to set up a trap for X but will it work?
This is a vigilante story that pushes to the edge in violent content. Even
though he is a killer you root for X and he somehow manages to overcome obstacle
at every turn. The civilian component added by Leigh adds to the appeal and she
is the narrator as well. The art is decent though the pencils tend to be a bit
rough on some characters' faces. It is an engaging drama that should grab you if
you bother to give it a try.

Title: CHIN MUSIC
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Image
Creators: Steve Niles & Tony Harris
Writer: Steve Niles
Artist: Tony Harris
Letters: Bill Tortolini
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Crime/Horror
MATURE - Comics on the Edge

Some times a comic is so intricate you need to read it slowly enough to absorb
and think about what you are reading. A telltale sign that you did not is the
second reading. That is where I found myself on this comic. The first time I
thought it was a jumble of different disconnected scenes and it was not clear to
me where it was going. After the second reading things began to make sense, but
not everything. The star of part of this drama is none other than the famous
treasury agent Elliot Ness. There are three basic sequences involved in this
story. One starts in Egypt. A client is thanking a man, a mystic of some sort,
for helping him find someone who has been stealing from him. As he exits a
mysterious person enters the tent with glowing red eyes. The mystic flees and
surprisingly starts flying. Now he is pursued by three red-eyed people, also
flying. From the looks of this we are in the middle of some intense power
struggle, and it does not end well for the mystic - but the weird part is when
they are done with him they let him go. I am trying not to reveal too much.
Let's just say he should not be alive at this point. The unexplained thing is
that this guy in Egypt somehow is found on a road in Chicago by Elliot Ness.
Thus we have the second sequence involving how things go from there. Finally the
opening sequence shows Ness at his desk inscribing a single bullet with some
kind of runes. After performing a ritual he inserts it into a gun and fires it
out the window. Where it goes is revealed at the end of the issue. This is not
necessarily in chronological order. In fact there is a clue in the panel style
every time we are in a different location, and perhaps a different time. What it
all means and what comes next baffles me. The individual scenes are clear but
how most of it ties together logically is not. Tony Harris does a great job with
the visuals; there is no complaint on that end. Like many of Niles' stories you
have to stick with it for a while for things to be made clear.

Title: SUICIDE SQUAD
Issue Number: 20
Title Story: Discipline & Punishment - part 1 of 2
Publisher: DC
Writer: Ales Kot
Artist: Patrick Zircher
Colors: Jason Keith
Letters: Jared K. Fletcher
Cover Artist: Jason Pearson
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero/Villain

Once again I am looking back at a NEW 52 title from DC that I don't regularly
read. This time it is SUICIDE SQUAD. It turns out to be a good issue to jump on
and see what is new. The scene is the headquarters of the operation, Belle
Penitentiary in Louisiana. Amanda Waller is in charge of the criminals used for
clandestine operations. Right from the start we see who will be involved as of
now. They are Deadshot, Voltaic, Harley Quinn, The Unknown Soldier, King Shark
and an unknown participant who narrates the introduction and is only revealed to
us in the final panel. This mystery man has dialogue with Waller throughout the
issue as they evaluate the personalities of the team from his point of view.
There is no mission in this episode. Instead it is a study in how the inmates
are controlled and how they are punished if they do not stay in line. It is also
about interactions among the prisoners themselves. For example Voltaic
deliberately pushes the Unknown Soldier's buttons to get a reaction. The Soldier
reacts violently with no interference from the staff to teach Voltaic a lesson.
His fate is not just a beating as we learn later. Deadshot is restrained on a
lab table; his eyes propped open while Waller lectures him from a video screen
above. She reveals to him why he is still alive with a little backfill for new
readers on Deadshot's presumed death not once but twice in the recent past. That
revelation itself is a form of punishment. But more importantly she makes it
known that despite his desire to resign he and all the others will be serving
for a long time. The reason why is a new twist added to the premise of this
book. In another "experiment" a sexy woman is allowed into King Shark's cell and
begins praising him for his physical prowess. It appears to be the beginning of
a seduction but is much more. In Harley's case a man made up like the Joker
comes into her room. This is to get her to react and to gauge her reaction. But
he reveals he is of course not the Joker but was sent to kill her. When he
alters his course from his instructions the outcome is not what was expected. It
is all about Waller assessing this new mystery man based on these test he has
devised. Since there is a second half to this story other prisoners in Belle
Reve may be tested as well. But for now the first half has revealed some
secrets, given us new insight into some on the team, and introduced a new
character to Amanda's operation. It is a very good issue for sampling the tone
and theme of the title apart from action scenes when they are in the field. If
you are curious about the title this is the issue to get.

*****
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 gave Mister Miracle his other name, Scott Free?
Granny Goodness dubbed Mr. Miracle, Scott Free - to mock both his plight and his
planned fate. The winner by the dice is David Lizewski.

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
In the Milestone series XOMBI David Kim was unable to resurrect his assistant
Kelly Sanborne with his blood's nanomachines. Why not?

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.

Friday, May 10, 2013

Comic Reviews 5/10/13

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 MOVEMENT
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: Eaten From the Inside Out
Publisher: DC
Writer: Gail Simone
Artist: Freddie Williams II
Colors: Chris Sotomayor
Letters: Carlos Mangual
Cover Artist: Amanda Conner
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

It is probably not accurate to classify this as a super hero book. There are
characters with super powers but whether or not they are heroes is up to your
point of view. They are a group that calls itself The Movement. They not only
work outside the law they also work against it some times. The action is set in
Coral City. Through this introductory issue we see that there is a lot of bad in
the local police force. The beginning sequence shows two of the less ethical
cops trying to extort sex from a girl in an alley in exchange for not framing
her boyfriend for dealing drugs. The Movement has more than super powers in
their bag of tricks. They also use social media to expose bad people. In this
case several people suddenly appear, all wearing silver facemasks and playing a
recording of the officer making his threat on their cell phones. Channel M, the
Internet identity of The Movement, instantly posts it to the net. The scene
serves to highlight the extent of the size of the movement and the depth of
problems in the police force. Even the chief is powerless to root it out and he
even has problems of his own. There has been a rash of killings and the latest
victim has just been found. If that isn't bad enough a young boy with powers
believes he is possessed and as he enters a church at the prodding of the pastor
it appears he may be correct. So these two situations have the cops out in force
but the Movement arrives to take charge and they make no bones that the police
are not welcome. This is an interesting dynamic for a change. Simone takes time
to characterize several members of the group showing their powers and their
attitudes, which have quite a range. Williams is a powerful artist who adds to
the story with a style very much like Neal Adams. This introduction has me
wondering how long the Movement can just usurp the authority in their section of
Coral City without a major conflict with the police. They have the upper hand
with their powers, and they are considerable, but you know there will be
pushback. It is a fascinating premise that is worth staying with for a while to
see what develops.

Title: SHADOWMANIssue Number: 0 (Zero)
Publisher: Valiant
Writer: Justin Jordan
Artists: Roberto De La Torre, Mico Suayan w/Lewis LaRossa & Neil Edwards
Colors: David Baron
Letters: Rob Steen
Cover Artists: Dave Johnson, Khari Evans & Lewis LaRossa
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Horror

This zero issue is essentially the origin of Master Darque, the immensely
powerful necromancer who currently is trapped in the parallel world known as the
Deadside. Shadowman is new to his power and is being aided by two humans in a
war to prevent Darque from making his way to Earth and possibly ending
existence, as we know it. But to understand Darque better we go back to his
beginning, right from birth. The narrator is actually his twin sister. She
retells the day of their birth, a somewhat unusual entrance into the world at
the cost of their mother's life. From an early age their father let them know
that they were very special and began training them in the art of magic, dark
magic. Nicodemo and Sandria eventually manifest their latent ability to wield
magic and their training begins in earnest. Their father explains that there is
a place where they can learn more, how to do things they can't do here. It is
called Lyceum. He has only seen a vision of it and spent his whole life trying
to find his way there through magic. He was not adept enough but his children
have already surpassed his ability in their early teens. He needs their help and
together they can all pass over to this wonderful place. They love their father
and will anything for him and so they begin even more training and get a series
of body tattoos over the years. By the time they were eighteen they were both
very powerful and the time was ready for the ritual. This is the climax of the
story as they learn the truth of their father's plan and suffer the consequences
of it. This is one of those issues in which the title character does not even
appear. It is a story that stands on its own as a powerful lesson in how power
and the lust for it can corrupt even family bonds. The art is especially apt for
this type of story with masterful coloring at every step. It may not be
necessary to follow the main plot of the series but it helps bring some
understanding of the main villain. Of all the Valiant titles this one has more
depth of characterization and this issue proves it.

Title: TEN GRAND
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: Blood Oath
Publisher: Image
Writer: J. Michael Straczynski
Artist: Ben Templesmith
Letters: Troy Peteri
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Crime/Horror
MATURE - Comics on the Edge

Two of my favorite comic creators are J. Michael Straczynski and Ben
Templesmith. That is to say when they are working on creator owned properties.
If you have never read FELL by Warren Ellis and Templesmith you should seek it
out. It is well worth your time. His art is very unique and works well on darker
themes. His characterizations and coloring/shading really adds to those types of
stories. Joe Fitzgerald is a fixer. His fee is ten grand, hence the title of the
book. He explains to his latest client that it is not a lot of money but it is
enough to weed out the kooks, clowns, whackos, feebs, creeps and the like.
Debbie has managed to scrape together the fee because she does not know where
else to turn. She explains her sister from Seattle, Sarah, came to live with her
and work at a local coffee shop. She got mixed in with a group called the Divine
Will and soon moved in with them instead. It was supposed to be about
spirituality and responsibility but after a while things changed. Sarah called
late at night to explain that it was not what she expected. The members were
involved in demonology. When Debbie went to see her the people at Divine will
explained that Sarah had left but Debbie believes otherwise. What clinches the
deal for Joe is a sketch of the leader of Divine Will, James, which Sarah had
made for Debbie. When Joe explains he killed that man two years ago Debbie
explains she saw him at Divine Will running the place. At that Joe agrees to
take the case for free. That is the set up. The rest of the issue is about Joe's
story, which has some very interesting aspects to it. As an enforcer he would
often be called on the take out competitors of a local gangster, Mr. Antonio. We
see when he got the job to take out James. We also see that it ruined his life
by costing the life of his true love, Laura. This was going to be his last job.
He was going to give it up for her. Instead they both were the objects of
supernatural retaliation. Fortunately, or not, for Joe an angel appears to him
as he dies to make him an offer he can't refuse. This story was great reading.
It starts off simple enough with no hint that it will involve angels and demons
and when the angel first appears in the present it is a surprise but it leads to
the back story in a most efficient way. This is a real thriller done in a
masterful way is story and art. Get it now.

Title: SUICIDE RISK
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: Getting a Bit Short On Heroes
Publisher: Boom! Studios
Creator: Mike Carey
Writer: Mike Carey
Artist: Elena Casagrande
Colors: Andrew Elder
Letters: Ed "Duke" Dukeshire
Cover Artist: Tommy Lee Edwards
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Crime/Super Villain
MATURE - Comics on the Edge

Most stories about people with powers are very similar. A few try to take a
different approach and to me that makes them more interesting. Such is Mike
Carey's newest approach SUICIDE RISK. In this version of reality super powers
are just emerging. The problem is that most of the people with powers are
villains. The few that are heroes either eventually turn bad or are outnumbered
and get dead. Where does that leave the ordinary heroes, the police with no
super powers? That is the premise of this comic. Specifically the lead character
is one of those policemen, beat cop Leo Winters. Leo relates just how bad the
circumstances have become as he tells a superior of the latest incident. Thirty
cops were up against five villains and when the dust settled the good guys lost
seventeen with twelve injured and fourteen civilians were killed. The visuals
depict this battle in gruesome detail. Leo can't see how they could possibly
prevail against the rising tide of super powered bad guys. But Leo has heard how
these people have been getting their powers. Word is you can buy them on the
street. Carey takes time out to visit Leo's home life. It offers another view
from family and friends about this whole situation as well as the strong support
of his wife for his work. So what would you do in his place when you find the
clue that would lead you to the source of the powers? Would you turn it over to
the higher ups or take things into your own hands? That is the question Leo has
to ask himself. It is a compelling plot and there is strong character
development that brings depth to the situation. Elena does a great job on every
panel and page with the strong coloring making it a polished product. I did not
find anything to complain about and believe this comic deserves a wide audience.

Title: THE BLACK BAT
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
Writer: Brian Buccellato
Artist: Ronan Cliquet
Colors: Mat Lopes
Letters: Rob Steen
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

I am not a big fan of the old pulp heroes redone in comics. Most of those I have
read are decent enough but fail to excite me enough for more. It is with this
attitude I looked into the BLACK BAT, Dynamite's latest foray into the genre.
What stands out in this first issue is Ronan Cliquet's art. He manages to
maintain the noir feel to it all, especially in the scenes featuring the Black
Bat. The story is not told in a linear fashion and Lopes is adept at coloring
the different scenes ever so slightly in his coloring to indicate the shift. The
two succeed it making this a modern comic with just the right feel. The Black
Bat character is the alter ego of defense attorney Tony Quinn. He has a love
hate relationship with the city he is in. He sees it for what it is - corrupt,
violent and unforgiving. At one point in his life, after losing his sight to a
vicious attack he was ready to give up on the city and life. But a doctor gifted
him with new corneas that somehow restored his sight, allowed him to actually
see in the dark and still present himself to the world as a blind man. Through
the period of his sightlessness his other senses sharpened. With two secret
allies he creates the Black Bat persona to work outside the law. This first
issue outlines some of those details and presents his first case for us to see.
Someone has been kidnapping cops and Quinn has a plan to use another ally as
bait to get to those responsible. But this will not be an easy win. As I said I
really liked the composition and the art. It is a better than average story as
you would expect from Buccellato. It is not enough to keep me coming back for
more but I recognize a good product when I see it.

Title: IRON MAN
Issue Number: 258.1
Title Story: The Thought That Killed
Publisher: Marvel
Plot: David Michelinie & Bob Layton
Script: David Michelinie
Artist: Dave Ross
Inker: Bob Layton
Colors: Chris Sotomayor
Letters: Dave Lanphear
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

Some of you with no foreknowledge of this comic may be wondering with IRON MAN
recently restarted for Marvel NOW with a new number one how this issue of IRON
MAN could be 258.1 already. But if you take a closer look you will see it is not
the MARVEL NOW series. This is truly a story that takes place after #258 of the
old series. The opening page confirms it. This is a continuation of the Armor
Wars II story first began in #258 by John Byrne and John Romita Jr., a follow-up
to the seminal Armor Wars story by David Michelinie and Bob Layton. Now
Michelinie and Layton are revisiting Armor Wars themselves for the first time.
What makes this a fun story is that it is removed from current continuity and
does not get mixed in with anything else going on in the Marvel Universe at the
time. It is a perfect type of story to entice readers the same week that the new
Iron Man movie is released. We have a younger curly haired Tony who recently had
a biochip removed that was causing him odd back pain. It is similar to the
biochip used to repair Tony's spine after he was shot. It was designed to go
dormant after the damage was repaired but it is now mutated into something else.
Tony has a theory that programmable nanites that had once been injected into his
blood by Justin Hammer may be the key to the biomass mutating. At this period of
time he is dating Rae Lacoste. Unknown to him she is actually working for
Hammer. It is all part of an elaborate plot that will soon come to a head when
the biolab attempts to analyze it. Rhodey has a strong supporting role in the
action sequences, which Layton presents masterfully. The first part of the story
ends with a good cliffhanger enticing us to come back in a week for the next
part. As I said a self-contained story set in earlier times is accessible to
all readers, especially those who may have given up on current continuity. Give
it a try - I think you will like it.

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

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

Last week's trivia question:
What feature jumped from STARSLAYER to PACIFIC PRESENTS to a graphic album?
The answer is Dave Stevens' ROCKETEER!

Here is your no prize question:
Which president paid off the entire national debt?
Andrew Jackson was the only president to actually pay off the national debt. On
Jan. 8, 1835, all the big political names in Washington gathered to celebrate
what President Andrew Jackson had just accomplished. A senator rose to make the
big announcement: "Gentlemen . the national debt . is PAID." That was the one
time in U.S. history when the country was debt free. It lasted exactly one year.

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
Who gave Mister Miracle his other name, Scott Free?

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.

Friday, May 3, 2013

Comic Reviews 5/4/13

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: JUPITER'S LEGACY
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Image
Creators: Mark Millar & Frank Quitely
Writer: Mark Millar
Artist: Frank Quitely
Colors & Letters: Peter Doherty
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero
MATURE - Comics on the Edge

I will read almost everything from Mark Millar. When I read he was doing a
story about super hero legacy children I knew I would go for it. Add to the fact
that the art is by Frank Quitely and you know it will appeal to lots of readers.
It appears the story will initially focus on two children of the first
generation of super heroes and how they view their place in the world. But it
begins at the start of the origin of the world's first super heroes. It starts
in 1932, three years after the crash on Wall Street. One man who lost everything
in the aftermath, Sheldon Sampson, began having dreams of an island off the
coast of Africa. He was so troubled about the plight of his country that he
wanted to do something to save it. When the island kept calling out to him
promising salvation and better times he finally decided to act. He gave up on a
possible new career and even his fianc‚e to pursue the dream. With his brother
and a few college friends he set out to find the island. They made their way to
the area and hired a ship to take them where he felt the island would be.
Despite the captain's protests they would find nothing there his friends stood
behind him all the way. It sort of reminded me of the search for Skull Island in
KING KONG. Though the island proves to be real we never get to see what they
find there or how they got their powers. The story shifts to the present and it
is no coincidence that the state of the country is approaching circumstances
similar to what Sheldon experienced prior to the stock market crash. This part
of the story focuses on two areas. We have the existing heroes battling a major
villain who is so powerful it will take their combined physical and mental
powers to defeat him. In the aftermath Sheldon, known as the Utopian, and his
brother Walter, who has the psychic powers, get into a heated argument over
whether their efforts should take another approach. Walter believes they should
force the world's leaders to be more responsible about things that are leading
to the financial collapse of major economies. Sheldon is more the straight-laced
Boy Scout who believes their responsibility is to serve and protect. Though some
of the younger generation is a member of the super team it is Utopian's children
who don't care to be super heroes. We see in other scenes how the son Brandon
has tired of the super hero gig, claiming all the cool opponents are gone. He
and his sister like the money from endorsements but would rather party than play
super-cop. In fact Chloe is an avid pacifist and vegetarian who runs with a wild
crowd and would rather date normal bad boys than other people with powers. Her
world appears to be in conflict with her parent's ideals and it is about to come
crashing down. This is an interesting start and it sets up the status quo for
the most part. There are conflicts among the heroes and between the generations
that will be explored as the story goes forward. No doubt some things will
change as these differences strain relations. You can almost guess some event
will be a catalyst to heat things up. Quitely does his usual fine job and
Doherty is spot on with his coloring. It is a terrific package and will grow in
popularity as word spreads. I recommend you give it a try.

Title: BEFORE WATCHMEN: COMEDIAN
Issue Number: 6 (of 6)
Title Story: Eighties
Publisher: DC
Creators: Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons
Writer: Brain Azzarello
Artist: J.G. Jones
Colors: Alex Sinclair & Lee Loughridge
Letters: Clem Robins
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

This is the final issue of the BEFORE WATCHMEN group of books. It is a bit late
but it is not a wrap up of the bigger story, just the final chapter involving
Comedian. Through this mini-series and others we have scene the character evolve
into the ruthless agent who is willing to do what it takes. Through the Viet Nam
war and the close association with the Kennedy administration. This final
episode takes place during Bobby Kennedy's campaign for president. It is also
background in this version of the US relating to the conflict between the CIA
and the FBI. It recants how Comedian is relieved from his duties after his part
in a village massacre. While that event is covered up for political reasons it
will play into future events. Back in the states Blake has decided to hand out
justice to the criminal elements in the same fashion, which puts him in conflict
with Night Owl and Rorschach. But the main story gets back to his relationship
with the Kennedys. While in California Blake is approached by a former FBI agent
who has a revelation to make - someone will try to assassinate Bobby. He claims
the CIA is behind it and it is something others want to thwart, for their own
reasons. The man claims the Bureau will do nothing to stop it and will then
expose the CIA's involvement for their own purposes. Blake is instructed to use
the information as he sees fit with strong implications that the powers on his
side want to win the war and Bobby's death could galvanize the anti-war
movement. So this story is all about the choices Blake will have to make. A late
night visit by Bobby himself adds another twist to the story. I won't spoil the
ending as it is better seen on your own. I enjoyed Azzarello's script through
the series and this seems like a good place to end it. I can also see room for
more stories involving this character but perhaps that would not be advisable.
Overall I think the concept of all of these series was worth executing as I have
enjoyed most of them. I think they should leave it be for now, ending on a high
note.

Title: VADER'S LITTLE PRINCESS
Issue: 7 x 7 HARDCOVER ONE-SHOT
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Creator: Jeffrey Brown
Based on STAR WARS - Lucasfilms Ltd.
Price (USD): $14.95
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Film characters parody
All Ages

This charming little book is a delight for Star Wars fans of all ages. Jeffrey
Brown is an accomplished cartoonist and he brings his own passion for the
subject matter into the mix. This is essentially a collection of one-page comic
strips or panels. The central characters are Darth Vader and Leia. The premise
is that she is actually living with her dad from the time she is a sweet little
girl growing into a "rebellious" teenager. Many are typical father-teen
situations like Darth dropping her off at school in an AT-AT or taking her on a
driving lesson in a Tie Fighter. The panels span the various ages and include
other characters from the movies. We have Luke complaining about Leia taking too
long in the bathroom and Han promising to bring her home by 10:00. There is even
a scene with her wearing the famous outfit she wore as a slave to Jabba only in
this case Darth is saying the familiar phrase, "You are not going out dressed
like that!" And of course what rebellious teenager hasn't said, "I hate you!" To
which Vader responds, "Yes! Use your hate!" Wait until you see the punch line to
Leia's, "Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope!" It is all very clever
and witty. Browns art style on original stuff is unique and recognizable. On
this book he translates the famous heroes into younger versions quite well while
maintaining the familiar appearance of the adults. I enjoyed it a lot and I
think you will too.

Title: PEANUTS
Issue Number: 8
Publisher: Kaboom!
Creator: Charles M. Schulz
Artist: Vicki Scott
Inkers: Paige Braddock & Justin Thompson
Colors: Nina Kester, Donna Almendrala & Art Roche
Letters: Alexis E. Fajardo
Cover Artist: Charles M. Schulz
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Comedy - All Ages

Kaboom! Is carrying on the legacy of Charles Schulz by bringing all new stories
of his beloved characters to another generation in comic book form. The series
is up to number eight and this issue brings us three new stories plus a couple
of classic strips from the creator himself. On the visual side the work is very
good. Vicki Scott successfully portrays all the characters we have come to know
flawlessly. The supporting inkers and colorists provide fine finishes making it
a top-notch production. The introductory story, "Ha Ha Herman" written by Paige
Braddock, follows the tradition of the beleaguered Charlie Brown who never seems
to get any joy out of life. Peppermint Patty and Marcie invite him to play a
game called Ha Ha Herman. Charlie has to go hide and then yell out the catch
phrase. It is apparently a game of hide and seek with the person whom is it
being the only one who hides. When the girls start searching Marcie suggests
Patty loves Charlie Brown causing Patty to blurt out that no one could love
someone so boring, dull and wishy-washy. They just happen to be standing next to
the bush Chuck is hiding in prompting him to leave while giving his classic
sigh. Marcie trying tries to mend things but only Patty will be able to sooth
Chuck's feelings if she can. The end result is what you would expect. In
"Missing Peace" written by Nat Gertler Charlie's little sister Sally is doing a
300 piece jig saw puzzle only to find one piece missing. The entire plot
involves her looking high and low for it while Charlie tries to calm her down.
But Sally can be explosive at times and so the frustration becomes too much.
Her final reaction and the location of the missing piece are too good to spoil.
It is a fun story. The last entry is "Lone Beagle" written by Art Roche
featuring Snoopy. It is a series of segments loosely tied together in which
Snoopy speculates about his life based on the comments of those around him.
Sally scolds him for acting like a vulture followed by some harsh comments when
he refuses to fetch a stick. Perhaps he is "defective" as she puts it. This
leads him to ponder about things that have brought him joy and realizing those
things are not all that great he seeks "professional" help from the 5-cent
psychiatrist, Lucy. In the end it works out as he finds his worth and the really
important things in life. Added to all this are two classic strips from Schulz
- one is a familiar clip of Charlie Brown's baseball team and the other features
Lucy being her crabby old self. The only negative I can see is the $4 price
point on this product. It may be forced by higher royalties or some such
business reason but I prefer products suitable for younger readers be more
economically priced. Still it is a polished effort and a lot of fun for
everyone.

Title: AMALA'S BLADE
Issue Number: 1 (of 4)
Publisher: Dark Horse
Creators: Steve Horton & Michael Dialynas
Writer: Steve Horton
Artist: Michael Dialynas
Colors: Michael Dialynas
Letters: Steve Horton
Price (USD): $3.50
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Fantasy/Adventure

This mini-series is a follow up to previous installments of Amala's story
published in DARK HORSE PRESENTS and reprinted in the inevitable zero issue. The
setting is the land of Naamaron an island separated by two distinct groups who
had been at civil war for years. On the west side are the Purifiers that have a
steam driven society. To the east are the Modifiers, a technology driven
society. The central cities of Ouon and Avatoun, like the rest of the island,
are separated by a neutral territory. The lead character, Amalia, is the
greatest assassin in the land. Previously she had killed a captain and
commandeered his ship. As this story begins she is in a tavern deep in Purifier
territory. As you read this you will see that the story is very accessible. She
is undercover on her next assignment making what appears to be small talk with a
local drunk who is bragging about killing a Modifier. You will also notice a
drunken monkey ghost hanging around but apparently only visible to Amalia. It
turns out there are several ghosts that appear to her from time to time. Well,
there is a sudden revelation and Amalia is forced to finish her job and beat a
hasty retreat. That really is a scene to get us more familiar with the
underlying conditions of the land and her place in it. Her employer is the
Vizier who has a palace in the neutral territory. He is concerned that while she
gets the job done she is drawing to much attention. Quick and easy is not her
method. He has a plan to correct that. We also get to see the other side of
Amalia's life, living on Smitty's farm in Purifier territory. This is where she
finds the peace of a simple life between assignments and has a budding romance
with Smitty's assistant. Of course the tranquility is eventually interrupted as
the Vizier's messenger brings her next assignment - to kill a Purifier
noblewoman. This comic is more interesting for the characters than anything
else. The bar scene provides action and a look at Amalia's ability. The
supporting cast is a diverse mix of true friends, scheming employers and what is
up with the ghosts? The art is not to my liking although it is structured well
dynamically. The lines are rough which makes it less appealing to the eye
although the characterization added visually works well. It is too soon to judge
the story but it is off to a good start. You might want to give it a try.

Title: AVENGERS ASSEMBLE
Issue Number: 014 AU
Title Arc: Age of Ultron Tie-In
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Al Ewing
Artist: Butch Guice
Inker: Tom Palmer
Colors: Frank D'Armata
Letters: Clayton Cowles
Cover Artist: Nic Klein
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

Once again I am sampling an AGE OF ULTRON tie-in issue of another series. I have
not been reading AVENGERS ASSEMBLE but like other tie-in comics to this event it
is not necessary in order to understand what is going on for this comic. For
this special issue the focus is on the Black Widow, Natasha Romanoff. She has
taken a day off from everything and just enjoying the company of two old friends
from the Champions the daredevil stuntman George and his agent Richard. A good
part of this is just set up for what is to come - the tranquility of an outdoor
caf‚ and old friends getting together. What this issue does for a change is not
start in the middle of the Ultron takeover but rather at the beginning. We get
to see Natasha's perspective as first news from the east coast breaks as one by
one all communications are lost from its major cities. Even the Avenger's card
cannot get through. Her first instinct tells her that nuclear war has begun and
she must get her friends to safety before it hits San Francisco. But when she
looks up she realizes what it really is - Ultron. As the Ultrabots attack chaos
abounds. Natasha takes charge in a flight for survival, though many perish.
Seeking temporary refuge in the sewers she will soon have to confront a new
danger. George the stunt man has a prosthetic arm. Unlike the normal metal and
plastic type this is made with Stark technology - a fully functional cyber
appendage. We all know that all technology connected to the wireless world is
vulnerable to Ultron's control. Eventually, because we have already seen her in
other chapters of the main event, we know Natasha will survive. How she came to
be scarred is part of this story. I enjoyed this episode a great deal. I dislike
coming in to the middle of the action and finding out later what came before as
in the main title. This provides that "from the beginning" perspective I like
and highlights the Black Widow's strength of character. The artwork is good
quality. The final panel showing the Widow's disfigured face is haunting. This
issue is not enough for me to sign up for yet another Avengers title but as an
adjunct to the AU event it was well worth it.

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

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

Last week's trivia question:
On the death theme: Which god from New Genesis was the first to die on Earth in
the war with Darkseid's minions?

In the original NEW GODS series, Seagrin was the first to die on Earth, done in
by the Deep Six.

Here is your no prize question:
What is the highest elevation on the Massachusetts Turnpike?

I-90 hits an elevation of 1724 feet in the foothills of the Berkshires in
Western Mass.

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
What feature jumped from STARSLAYER to PACIFIC PRESENTS to a graphic album?

Here is your no prize question:
Which president paid off the entire national debt?

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.

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