Comic Reviews 5/30/14

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: X-MEN: NO MORE HUMANS
Issue Number: Original Graphic Novel
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Mike Carey
Artist: Salvador Larroca
Colors: Justin Ponsor w/Matt Mills, Jeromy Cox and Guru-Efx
Letters: Cory Petit
Price (USD): $24.99 Hard Cover
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero



It is noteworthy and surprising that this book is the first X-Men original
graphic novel since X-MEN: GOD LOVES, MAN KILLS. It just seems odd to me that
there hasn't been a story worthy of this distinct presentation in all that time.
This story follows regular continuity set in THE UNCANNY X-MEN and ALL-NEW X-MEN
shortly after the "Battle of the Atom" storyline. The X-Men have split into two
groups. Half are fugitives led by Cyclops and the rest live at the Jean Grey
School for Higher Learning with Wolverine and Storm as Headmasters. The original
X-Men had travelled from the past to this time and are now stuck with no way
back. After first living at the Jean Grey School they are now living with
Cyclop's group. Recently the young Scott Summers went off into space with the
Starjammers to reconnect with his father. That is where we find ourselves as the
story begins. The title of the book is intriguing as it evokes memories of
another major storyline from the past when the Scarlett Witch uttered three
words, "no more mutants" and impacted the Marvel Universe for a long time. As
you might guess the major plot point of this story is a world in which all of
the humans have disappeared. The opening scene reveals who is behind this major
event and it is someone the X-Men recently fought. He is a part of the Evil
Brotherhood from the future and claims to be the son of Mystique and Wolverine.
He is the shapeshifter Raze. But rather than go through the mechanics of how
this is done the scene shifts to the Jean Grey School as a jumbo jet is falling
out of the sky right at the main building. How the team goes into action and
avoids a disaster is clever and visually exciting. But more importantly this
event is how the group finds out something is wrong. There is no one on board
the flight at all. The psychic Rachel realizes it at first and Cerebra confirms
it. There are no longer any humans, that is to say non-mutants, anywhere on the
planet! To verify this first hand a team teleports to New York City and indeed
they see the results of people suddenly vanished - cars crashed and belongings
left everywhere but not a soul anywhere. The only conclusion is that seven
billion people have been kidnapped or worse. But who could do such a thing and
why? That is the same question Cyclops and his group are pondering as they also
appear in NYC after checking out other major cities on the planet. Naturally
there is distrust between the groups. But even Cyclops or Magneto who both
advocate a strong pro-mutant agenda could not stoop to creating a world with
just mutants on it. When the older Beast detects the presence of a single human
in Southern New Mexico several of the group take off to what most believe could
be a trap. The story moves forward with a rapid pace. Raze has stolen technology
that not only allowed him to bring about the new status quo but also he begins
opening doorways to alternate dimensions. His plan is to repopulate the Earth
with more mutants by bringing those oppressed beings from other Earths to a new
home here where he of course will lead them. But he also realizes the good-guy
mutants will be an impediment to his master plan and so he is building forces to
take them out in the place and time of his choosing. This book includes 108
story pages so there are subplots involved in the larger story. Naturally the
heroes want to get things back to normal if they can. If that is possible there
is the problem of restoring all the people to the places they were when they
vanished but then millions of them would die. Imagine a plane full of people
suddenly back at 35,000 feet but the plane has long since crashed. Multiply that
by thousands and then think of similar scenarios. While Magneto originally comes
down on the side of the X-Men isn't a world populated by only Homo-Superiors
something he would embrace? One important point of view is expressed by the
older Hank McCoy over the tactics they are forced to use at one point as well as
the coda to the story at its end. Except for Mystique the Brotherhood Raze has
assembled are all other Earth counterparts of the mutants of this Earth.
Ironically one in particular will be the key to resolving the story in the end
and that is someone too good to reveal in this review. Carey does a great job
utilizing a large cast of characters. He takes time to showcase the talents of
many of them. Sometime it is integral to the furtherance of the plot and other
times it is just a small part of a large battle. He manages to hold our interest
from page to page with the right amount of pacing all the way. Larroca, Ponsor
et al present a visual masterpiece worthy of the platform that a hard cover
novel can display. The only negative I found with this book is the additional
material included in the back. There are five pages showing the script, finished
pencils and then the final colored page from different parts of the novel. I am
not a fan of this though I realize some people enjoy it. I don't mind the
creator bios either. But then there are six pages of ads for other Marvel
products. Really? Is that necessary in a premium product?  Aside from that the
work is still worth the price and I urge everyone to get it.

Title: MPH
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Image
Creators: Millar & Fegredo
Writer: Mark Millar
Artist: Duncan Fegredo
Colors & Letters: Peter Doherty
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Science Fiction





This super speed story is by A-list writer Mark Millar. It has the premise that
there is a drug that will give someone super speed once they take it. It begins
back almost thirty years with the very first person to gain super speed. In his
case he lost control and passed through several states before the MPH wore off
and he stopped. In his case he was interrogated and then locked up by the
military in solitary confinement. It is not apparent that they ever found out
what it was that he took or where he got it. But he reappears at the end of the
issue ready to tell his story. The main part of the story is about what is
happening right now and catalogues the appearance of the second super speedster
and how that came to be. It is the story of a small time player in one of the
drug gangs in Detroit. Roscoe has aspirations to save enough to leave for
California but soon finds himself in prison for fifteen years or more. It is
here he will be introduced to a previously unseen drug called MPH and from that
point on his whole life will change. It is interesting how the two situations
are contrasted. In the first Mr. Springfield could not control his speed. In
Roscoe's case the effect is profoundly different. He is in complete control. In
fact while the drug is in effect it is as if the rest of the world has nearly
stopped in time. He can move around the people who appear frozen in time,
spilled papers suspended in mid-air and so forth. Now if you were a criminal
with no hope for the immediate future in such a situation what would you do? The
set up promises some interesting developments. While we are still in the dark as
to where the drug came from that may be cleared up by the next issue. Will
Roscoe go on a one-man crime spree or take the opportunity to make a fresh start
far away?  I am interested enough to see where it goes. The art is very
enjoyable as well. I usually enjoy Millar's comics and this one is no exception.


Title: FOREVER EVIL AFTERMATH: BATMAN VS. BANE
Issue Number: 1-SHOT
Title Story: Black Dawn
Publisher: DC
Writer: Peter J. Tomasi
Artist: Scot Eaton
Inkers: Jaime Mendoza & Scott Hanna
Colors: Hi-Fi
Letters: Travis Lanham
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero



This book, like several others, came out before the delayed finale of FOREVER
EVIL but it is not necessary to read how it ended to follow this story. During
the chaos of that major event the criminals of Arkham and other major prisons
for super villains were broken out and in Gotham Bane took control of the city
with his army of bad guys of all types. The Talons are part of his alliance. The
situation has gotten to the point where Gotham is isolated and the police are
all but helpless to stop Bane and his minions from doing whatever they want. But
the story is not all about anything goes. In fact Bane is swift to punish those
who decide they can do anything they want to exploit the situation. It is clear
from the start that with the Crime Syndicate finally defeated Batman will return
to his city and Tomasi takes things slowly to introduce the Caped Crusader back
into the mix at the proper time for maximum effect. Without actually showing
Batman until nearly half way through the story we see but and pieces of things
that indicate he is already at work. As the first half gradually builds up to it
the second half is almost entirely the battle between Batman and Bane. Unless DC
was planning a major twist in Batman continuity you can guess how it will end.
Rather than put this story in the continuity of one of the regular titles it
stands alone to wrap up the aftermath, at least the major point, for Gotham
City. There is a lot of action that is ably handled by the art team and the
ending is a satisfying conclusion. There may be stories in other titles dealing
with other heroes and what they return to after the FOREVER EVIL story. This one
actually deserved a one-shot showcase.


Title: V-WARS
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: The Shot Heard Round the World
Publisher: IDW
Writer: Jonathan Maberry
Artist: Alan Robinson
Colors: Jay Fotos
Letters: Robbie Robbins
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Horror




One of the Free Comic Book Day offerings from IDW this year was V-Wars #0. If
this series takes off and becomes a huge hit that free comic will surely become
a collector's item. The events there precede this first issue explaining the
events that led to a world-wide epidemic of vampires. However, this is slightly
different than your normal vampire apocalypse story. The explanation is that
melting Arctic Ice released a long trapped virus. (So I guess Global
Warming/Climate Change is the ultimate villain of the piece!) The difference is
that this virus does not infect people with vampirism. Rather it triggers
dormant genes in some people - junk DNA carried for generations. The story draws
on vampire myths and lore from around the world explaining that not all with the
dormant gene will become vampire ala Dracula. There are variations in the
vampire types and they exhibit different characteristics. Though as the
transformations increase they all seem to exhibit the same insatiable hunger, at
least the violent ones do. The protagonist of the story is Doctor Luther Swann
who is an expert on the subject. While not all the humans who have transformed
are violent there are many humans with the attitude of killing them all and let
God sort it out. It is a parallel to the familiar mutant stories in Marvel
comics. Swann has been embedded with a file strike team in San Diego to research
the phenomenon and provide information to the government. The story in this
first issue opens right after Swann returned home only to find his own daughter
had been infected. It only firmed his resolve to help lessen the conflict
through understanding between humans and the self-named bloods. He has the ear
of the Speaker of the House of the US Congress who is also seeking a peaceful
solution to the conflict that grows daily not only here but around the world.
There are those on both sides of the conflict though that do not want peaceful
coexistence and one such faction will take things to a new level with "The Shot
Heard Round the World as the story title implies. The key element in this first
chapter occurs when Swann is isolated from the strike team by someone who knows
a great deal about what is going on behind the scenes and makes the effort to
warn Swann about it. So this is really a political intrigue story set in the
background of a war that nobody wanted and does not appear to have a solution.
It is not just a battle of the month between vampires and humans with the reader
not sure who the good guys really are. The art is adequate though not as
appealing to me as it could be but it gets the job done. This is more
interesting than I thought it would be. Is it the next WALKING DEAD? Only time
will tell.

Title:EVIL EMPIRE
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Boom! Studios
Creator: Max Bemis
Writer: Max Bemis
Artist: Ransom Getty
Inker:
Colors: Chris Blythe
Letters: Ed Dukeshire
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Political Thriller



At first I wasn't sure how to categorize this comic. It opens with a scene
twenty five years from now in a dystopian future. It shows a man in wheel chair
in Los Angeles being attacked and beaten by some local thugs when a Good
Samaritan comes to his rescue only to be set upon by what now passes as the
authorities. The editorial text heavily implies that this was brought about not
by some plot device used in science fiction movies but by the citizens of the
country. With that as the setup we go back to the present time to witness the
events that will lead up to this future police state. It is told from the
perspective of an underground rapper named Reese and a candidate for president
of the United States. The story is going to show us how modern society gradually
devolved into that evil empire. There is some really good dialogue that deals
with politics in general. Reese tends to rap against the system advocating for
radical change to the usual politicians. The two contenders during this election
year seem to be examples of more of the same. Imagine her surprise when one of
them, the younger Sam Duggins, pulls some strings to visit her backstage after a
gig. While it seems he may be courting her endorsement she quickly points out
that while she loathes his opponent, the middle-aged Republican Ken-doll Laramy,
she views Duggins as the opposite side of the same coin. Their meeting is
interrupted by some tragic news about his opponent and when she is later being
interviewed by MTV about that incident Duggins once again appears. It is at this
point that he sounds less of a candidate by urging those who are listening to
not just vote for someone because he or she fits the generalized demographic
they are placed in. There may be a spark of interest between the rapper and the
politician. At this point it seems this could evolve into an unlikely love story
given time and the right circumstances. But it is a deeper story though it is
not yet clear how anything we see in this first issue is the start of major
changes towards that evil empire. As the story closes there is a shocking
revelation from the Republican Laramy that actually may be the catalyst we have
been looking for all along. While the story is interesting and has some things
to say that ring true we are still waiting for the plot to get to the point. The
characters are unique and interact in believable fashion. The art is decent with
very nice use of panel layouts and backgrounds. It is a good effort that could
blossom into a thrilling story if we give it enough time.

Title: THE 7TH SWORD
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: IDW
Creator/Writer: John Raffo
Artist: Nelson Blake II
Colors: Dave McCaig
Letters: Troy Peteri
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Science Fiction





This is the first comic book story from John Raffo whose credits include THE
RELIC and THE INTERPRETER. It is set on a far off world, the Earth colony
Helios. The main character is Daniel Cray a native of Earth who had been part of
the U.N. peacekeeping force during the rebellion. When those forces left the
planet he missed his ride back and now works as a security guard on tankers
crossing the western dessert. It is that job that will get him thrown into the
middle of a power struggle between a local warlord named Kavanaugh and the
hidden city of Zenzion, a hidden city many to believe to be a myth. It is during
a routine tanker run that Cray and his clients are set upon by androids
attempting to steal their fuel. The battle serves to show us Cray's abilities as
a fighter and swordsman. But an unfortunate result of the battle leaves all but
Cray and one injured companion alone with no means of transportation across the
cruel sands. But rather than meeting their fate the two are swept up by riders
on horses and taken to the hidden city of Zenzion. There he is viewed as a
potential spy for the Warlord Kavanaugh. The leaders of the city know that
Kavanaugh wants their resources and a base near the southern settlements. He is
brought before the council of elders to explain his situation. Whether they
believe he is a spy or not will soon matter little as the compound is about to
be invaded by the actual minions of Kavanaugh there to deliver an ultimatum.
There may be many among the citizens who hate or distrust Cray, but he may be
their only hope. I really liked the art on this story. It is clean and detailed
with terrific coloring. The hero is likable in that he is impelled to do the
right thing despite the forces against him. Even though this conflict is really
none of his concerned he is in the middle of it and will take the right side
because honor demands it. The addition of cyborgs and androids as opponents make
it seem all the more strange that his weapon of choice is the bushido sword of
the Samurai. So far it is an interesting story and you should give it a try.


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

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

Last week's trivia question:

"The Story of You-Know-Who" was the subtitle of a one-shot about who?

The who in the title was Arseface, from the series PREACHER. The winner by the
dice is Erin O'Conner.

Here was your no prize question:
Who is the only person to win an Academy Award "Oscar" whose first name is
Oscar?

Oscar Hammerstein II won two Oscars for the lyrics of winning songs. In 1941 he
won for "The Last Time I Saw Paris" from Lady Be Good and in 1945 he won again
for "It Might As Well Be Spring" from State Fair.

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:

With the latest X-Men movie just out I decided to go to the source material for
this week's question. DAYS OF FUTURE PAST ran for two issues of THE UNCANNY X-
MEN in 1981. The second half of the story was titled "Mind Out of Time!" - Or
was it? How did the previous issue actually promote the closing chapter of this
now classic story?

Here is your no prize question:

The song "The Power of Love" was nominated for an Oscar for best original song
in which film?

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 5/23/14

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 UNITED STATES OF MURDER INC.
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Marvel/Icon
Creators: Brian Michael Bendis & Michael Avon Oeming
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: Michael Avon Oeming
Colors: Taki Soma
Letters: Chris Eliopoulos
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Crime Drama
Mature - Comics on the Edge




This latest crime drama by the creators of POWERS is set in an alternate
timeline during the last half of the twentieth century where the Mafia grew ever
more powerful until at one point the US government conceded a whole portion of
the country to the families. So we have a divided US where some cities are
controlled by organized crime and others aren't. How this came about exactly is
not yet revealed though I am sure that will come out in the course of the
series. The concept is something Bendis and Oeming have been working on for
years to get to the point they are satisfied to launch the comic. The main plot
begins as the protagonist, Valentine, is being is going through the ceremony of
becoming a "made man" in the mob. He is the son and grandson of former bosses of
the family. His induction into the inner circle is more of a legacy thing than
the usual route of a lifetime of service to prove his worth and loyalty. This
point is made clear to him by the Don at the ceremony. It is not long afterward
that he is given his first task. He will no longer be doing menial jobs like the
other hired hands in the rackets. He is given a briefcase to deliver to a
certain Senator in Washington, DC. He is not allowed to open it, it is a message
for the Senator. He is then to return and report that the package has been
delivered. This is the set up for the plot that will have some interesting
developments along the way. Over objections he brings his cousin Padrino for his
first train ride out of the territories. There is conflict on the train with
some people who are obviously aware the pair are part of the mob. It is also
here that they meet Jagger Rose who was sent by the Don to watch over Valentine,
fortunately for him. The story is interesting as the dynamic between the all-
business Jagger and Valentine develops. She helps him complete his task in the
proper manner and all are surprised at what happens shortly after he leaves the
club where he meets the Senator. What is more surprising is the aftermath when
he returns. Neither he nor Jagger trust that they were told everything about the
mission but it is Valentine's mother who really lays a big bomb shell on him in
a private meeting later. It is something she has been planning since his birth
and her plan is just now beginning to take place. There is not much to say about
the art in this comic as it is the usual fine effort from Oeming. The plot moves
along nicely and the twist at the end was not something you can see coming.
Everything about the characters and the dialogue is spot on as you would expect.
If you are a fan of the creators and/or good crime drama you will want to get
this one.

Title: DEADLY HANDS OF KUNG FU
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: The Place of No Mind
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Mike Benson
Artist: Tan Eng Huat
Inker: Craig Yeung
Colors: Jesus Aburtov
Letters: Joe Sabino
Cover Artist: Dave Johnson
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero/Martial Arts



Old Marvel characters never seem to fade away. Eventually they come back in a
new series and so is the case with Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu. He is currently
a member of the Avengers and as he completes a mission to capture a particular
villain he gets a call from Captain America to report to Avengers Tower. It is
here that Cap informs him of the murder of his old friend from MI-6, Leiko. The
opening scene of the book is the play out of the fight she had in London's
Chinatown that lead to her rather gruesome execution. Shang-Chi is granted a
leave to pay his respects to her family but Cap warns him the cost of seeking
revenge. Being totally immersed in the Kung Fu way of life means that he
understands that to be a futile path to follow. Even the prodding of his
comrades in the Tiger Dojo demanding justice do not seem to sway him from doing
the honorable thing. However his eventual journey into Chinatown reveals that
those responsible for his friend's death prefer a pre-emptive strike against
him. The plot sets up the impetus for Shang-Chi to delve deeper into the cause
of Leiko's death, something that Director Black Jack Tarr of MI-6 is more than
willing to let happen. Shang-Chi will soon be facing someone whose name he has
not heard in a long time. This is a pretty decent story for this type of genre.
The plot is straight-forward and progresses smoothly with lots of action. The
art is dynamic and the layouts support the complimentary nature to the script.
It is a very solid first issue that can be enjoyed by old fans and newcomers
alike.

Title: MARS ATTACKS: FIRST BORN
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: IDW
Story: Chris Ryall & Sam Kieth
Writer: Chris Ryall
Artist: Sam Kieth
Letters: Shawn Lee
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Science Fiction




IDW has been publishing all kinds of MARS ATTACK comics lately, many which
crossover to other comic characters in their other titles. This one is different
in that it explores a story with normal people in the aftermath of the invasion.
The story centers around a young girl named Clare and her uncle Woody. They are
the only members of their family to survive the invasion. Clare was struck blind
and her parents were disintegrated. Fortunately her uncle was able to save her
but he also saved one other - a baby alien. It is quite odd and disturbing to
see young Clare playing with the alien baby she cannot see. She calls it baby
and indeed it is a strange sight to see the infant in a tiny protective suit,
complete with a glass dome helmet and with a blonde wig on top of it. For now
they all live in the basement of the house. While Woody takes care of the things
to keep them alive he has impressed on Clare three rules. No going upstairs
without an adult. Even with an adult you never leave the property for any
reason. Rule number three is more of a statement - failure to follow the rules
will result in bad, bad things. He also impresses on her that the aliens are not
going to return. But as we see at the end he is not quite right about that. It
is mostly set up for what is to come, though there are a couple of scenes that
provide interesting insight into the situation. More importantly is the constant
question in the back of our minds. What if they do come back and find these
humans holding one of their children? The story explores the innocence of youth,
compounded by the blindness from seeing what the world has become. We are left
to imagine what if any horror will follow. It is an interesting concept that
draws you in on the strength of the story rather than some contrived crossover
with established characters. Sam Kieth's art is at its best and the coloring is
a soft touch to a bleak world. If you normally avoid this part of the comic rack
I suggest you give this one a try.

Title: SUPERMAN DOOMED
Issue Number: 1-SHOT
Publisher: DC
Creator: Siegel & Shuster/Doomsday created by Dan Jurgens, Brett Breeding &
Jerry Ordway
Writers: Scott Lobdell, Greg Pak & Charles Soule
Artist: Ken Lashley
Colors: Sunny Gho
Letters: Carlos M. Mangual
Price (USD): $4.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero



I am not a regular reader of the Superman titles so I am not sure if the events
that begin this story follow directly after anything going on currently in
another title. It jumps right into the action as Doomsday is devastating a
tropical island. In this NEW 52 version of the character it is able to suck the
energy out of any electronic or mechanical devise that gets near it. The people
close to it are instantly incinerated by their proximity to Doomsday. Jets and
bombs prove to be ineffective. As Superman arrives his is only able to save a
few pilots that have no chance to bail out before Doomsday somehow teleports
away. It seems that this is the problem. Doomsday has been appearing out of thin
air in various places around the globe. The last time he was around he had
escaped the Phantom Zone and Superman speculates that he may be using the Zone
to pop in and out at different places in the world. One thing is clear, he is
getting stronger with each excursion as he absorbs more and more energy. Through
the course of this story we will see other heroes join in the conflict,
primarily Steel, due to his proximity at one of the incursions and Wonder Woman
who is the first to answer the call. As the battle rage they learn more about
Doomsday's rising strength and finally it is Superman who knows what must be
done before it is too late. But at what cost? The major sub plot takes place in
Smallville where mysteriously all the residents have suddenly collapsed into
comas. The whole area has been quarantined but that won't stop Lois lane or Lana
Lang from finding a way in. Again, I am not sure if this event is chronicled
elsewhere as there is not editorial reference to it. It may or may not be
connected to Doomsday but there is something fishy going on with Lois that is
worth noting. There is at least partial resolution to the main plot by the end
but of course this is just a bookend to the event going forward in the ongoing
titles. That is called "Infected" and begins in ACTION COMICS #31 already on
sale as well as SUPERMAN and SUPERMAN/WONDER WOMAN. As a stand-alone comic it
reads well though it leaves us hanging as to what is happening in Smallville.
The art is less appealing to me as it is less polished than the mainstream
titles. It is still a good read and I suppose a good lead-in to the main event
if you care to follow it through the various titles.

Title: BEE AND PUPPYCAT
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: KaBOOM!
Creator: Natasha Allegri
Writers: Natasha Allegri & Garrett Jackson
Artist: Natasha Allegri with Patrick Seery
Letters: Britt Wilson
Back up story: "What Happened" part one by Madeleine Flores
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Fantasy
ALL AGES



I read through this comic a couple of times and I am still not sure what is
going on. It is apparently the story of a young lady who lives alone with her
pet she calls Puppycat. The hard part to get around is the art style. The girl
is clearly of age. In fact the cover variant I picked up, cover B by Zac Gorman,
depicts Bee in a more age-appropriate fashion, as in her late teens or early
twenties than does the interior art. Allegri draws everything in cartoon fashion
that makes Bee look like a pre-teen maybe four feet tall. Anyway, Puppy cat is
her magical friend apparently from another dimension. The main story shows them
at home and during nap time Bee is whisked away to a strange place. It looks
like empty space with a lot of keys floating around. There are also little
creatures resembling Puppycat that somehow get stuck in parts of Bee's body -
arms, hair and such. So she grabs the keys and starts "unlocking them" out of
her body. Whether this is a dream or really happening is not clear until she
awakens and finds herself no longer on her couch but locked outside on her front
porch and instead of her clothes she is wearing a t-shirt with a picture of
herself at age 2 with pudding all over her face. Nothing really flows logically
in this story. It seems like Puppycat, whose only communication is internal so
sometimes we can see what it is thinking, will transport the two to this other
dimension where they are assigned a temporary job by a monitor floating in the
air with wings on it. It is all kind of disjointed with very little explanation
of what is going on and why. Maybe the art style is to attract the very young
readers as they might be attracted by the lovable Puppycat and identify with a
childlike protagonist. To this much older reader there is nothing here to
interest me to come back for more.

Title: WEIRD LOVE
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: IDW/Yoe Comics
Cover Artist: Ogden Whitney from ROMANTIC ADVENTURES #50, 1954
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Classic Romance Reprints







This is another in a series of reprint comics put out by IDW with YOE comics.
The first impression you get is the quality of the production. They have taken
pains to restore the old art and though the paper is a stiffer grade it has the
look and feel of those old comics from the fifties. The theme this time is weird
love stories though it is less on the side of "horror" weird and closer to just
out of the norm stories. The typical strategy is to open with a shocking title
and then evolve a story often with a twist or surprise ending. The opening piece
is called "I Fell for a Commie" and it is reprinted from LOVE SECRETS #32,
August 1953. The art is attributed to Sam Citron and Dick Beck. It starts with a
chance meeting of a couple at the Unemployment Office. Gladys has been laid off
from the candy company and happens to be the person that an unkempt man in line
unloads on about the injustice of the American society as he rants about the
haves and have-nots. A well groomed man intercedes and the two strike up a
friendship that blooms into a relationship over a week or so until Tom cuts it
off abruptly with a letter to her. Some time later she happens to see a friend
of her with Tom and when Gladys inquires her friend explains he was giving her a
lift to a new club she joined. Gladys can't help but see what this club is all
about. It is there she learns the horrible truth, that this is a club for
communists! She manages to rekindle things with Tom while pretending to be
interested in joining the club, all the time hoping he will come to his senses
about belonging to such an organization. It is all kind of predictable and it
does have a solution in the end that explains things thoroughly and gets the
loving couple a happy ending. Another long story is "Love of a Lunatic" by Ogden
Whitney and reprinted from ROMANTIC ADVENTURES #50, 1954. As a child Ruth lost
her father and grew up with little memory of him. As she approached her twenties
her mother badgered her to find a good man to take care of her but Ruth rebelled
at the thought. So much so that when her mother contrives a date with the son of
a friend Ruth plans to tell him off but to her surprise he has the same idea,
being repelled by the parents meddling in their lives. What begins as a charade
to fool the older women soon turns into love. Things have taken a nice turn
until one day a man shows up at the door, Ruth's father. It turns out he was not
dead but in an institution for the insane. Ruth's mother kept the truth from her
and is anxious to get her married in fear that she inherited her father's
madness and would have no one to look after her. This sets the wheels in Ruth's
brain turning and the constant reminder of what might happen in the future, now
that her father is around pushes Ruth over the edge. Will she end up in an
institution like her father having true love snatched from her now that she
finally has found it?  That is the basis of the plot. The story is a bit longer
than it needs to be but it does keep moving forward to a logical conclusion. In
a more traditional fashion "The Taming of the Brute" by Joe Gill from JUST
MARRIED #53, 1967, explores the lives of a newlywed couple as they get to know
each other more closely. The relationship began with Nick making a bold move on
the beach moving in on George to capture the attention and the heart of Loretta.
At first she is excited by his brutish nature but eventually she decides that he
needs to be more of a gentleman and give her more attention constantly. Once
they are married she carries things further as she becomes more demanding of
Nick to the point of nagging him in front of friends. What happens next is
certainly outdated by today's standards but maybe not so much for the sixties.
And so it goes with a couple more stories and a very odd one-page instructional
piece admonishing females that in all of their fashion choices, be it clothes,
hair or even how they walk, a girl needs to be aware of how she looks from the
back. First impressions are important but don't forget the back. A mirror is a
girl's best friend. It is a hoot! These type of comics are interesting to me
even though they are far removed from my usual reading genre. I enjoy seeing
what was popular fifty to sixty years ago. While they are mostly somewhat silly
stories now they reflect the times as they convey social norms and political
views that today are considered politically incorrect in some cases. The artists
did a fine job with the materials they had to work with and these reproductions
showcase that talent. It is a pleasant diversion in my opinion.


                                    *****
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 event lead the Kent's to sell their farm and open a general store in
Smallville, in the 60's continuity?The Kents moved when Clark was going to begin school. The winner by the dice
roll is Jeremy Mower.

Here was your no prize question:
What Massachusetts town claims to be the birthplace of volleyball?
Holyoke, MA claims to be the birthplace of volleyball.

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
"The Story of You-Know-Who" was the subtitle of a one-shot about who?

Here is your no prize question:
Who is the only person to win an Academy Award "Oscar" whose first name is
Oscar?

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 5/16/14

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: ORIGINAL SIN
Issue Number: 1 (of 8)
Title Story: No One Is Watching
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Jason Aaron
Artist: Mike Deodato
Colors: Frank Martin
Letters: Chris Eliopoulos
Price (USD): $4.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero




This is an eight-issue series so you expect the first issue to be mostly set-up
for what is to come. The first few pages are shots of the Watcher at his home
base on the moon, doing his watching thing while the narrator talks about his
never-ending duty to witness all that he can until he suddenly turns to say, "I
see you" before a big boom does him in. Thor is the first to discover something
is amiss as he passes by on his way to Earth and he contacts Captain America who
is dining in civilian guise with Natasha, Logan and Nick Fury. Soon they and
Iron Main join Thor to witness for themselves the crime no one thought possible,
someone has murdered the Watcher. It is clear that this was done by someone
unique. Who can sneak up on the Watcher? From the looks of things the immediate
area was ransacked crudely and quickly. Nick reluctantly agrees to lead the
investigation but warns the list of people who even know the Watcher exists is a
short one, and a lot of them are not bad guys. Things may be discovered that may
shock them. And so it begins as Nick starts the wheels in motion to bring
together people he will need on his team. It is really not clear if it is Nick
communicating with T'Challa but the Black Panther is sent information to
investigate and is advised others will join him. Ant Man approaches the secret
hiding place of Cyclop's X-Men to team up with Emma Frost as the Black Panther
provides them transportation in the form of an underground borer. Meanwhile
Doctor Strange is teaming up with the Punisher and Moon Knight is piloting a
ship with Winter Soldier as they pick up Gamora on their way to the moon. The
strangest thing happens right back in New York as The Thing and Spider-Man
confront a Mindless One on a rampage carrying the Ultimate Nullifier! There is
even a scene in shadows of a couple of bad guys who clearly are involved with
the stolen stuff from the moon, but are they the killers? The whole idea of sin
is touched on with regards to the Mindless Ones so that aspect is only beginning
to be explored. Oh, and if you buy this issue in time you will get a free glow-
in-the-dark Watcher eyeball for your very own. If you think that is an odd
promotional gimmick you have to read the last panel of this issue. My first
impression is that there is a lot of stuff going on and a lot of characters
involved. Jason Aaron has set the stage and there is bound to be some surprises
as the investigation moves forward. We also know from the promotion ahead of the
series that a lot of secrets will be revealed - sins people have committed that
will be revealed. That is the stuff I am most interested in because it will set
up situations going forward outside the series. Frankly I was not that impressed
with the art. Parts of it are decent but then some of it is not. Still it is an
important mini-series and I will stick with it to the end.

Title: MILES MORALES: ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: David Marquez
Colors: Justin Ponsor
Letters: Cory Petit
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero





Is anyone else getting tired of new first issues of ongoing series, or is it
just me? Anyway, now that the Galactus problem has been taken care there is a
major change in Miles Morales' life. Miles revealed his secret identity to his
father and that was the last time he saw him. So Miles has been living with his
friend and confidant Ganke while holding out hope that his dad will return to
the apartment. That is the new status quo. But things are going to get shaken
up. There are multiple sub plots going on. With S.H.I.E.L.D. shut down prisoners
in their containment facilities are being transferred to federal prisons. Well,
there is a reason that they didn't go to federal facilities in the first place -
they are too dangerous. One of the most dangerous prisoners in the Ultimate
Universe is Norman Osborn. In another plot there are two bad guys on a crime
wave wearing protective suits that in the dark give them the appearance close to
that of Spider-man. The other major plot is of course Mile's situation.
Complicating things is his growing relationship with Katie Bishop. He has
reached that point we have seen in other super hero stories. She is questioning
missed calls and texts. He is trying hard not to lie to her but can't tell her
he was out on a mission with the new Ultimates. Or can he? If all that is not
enough to fill one issue wait until you see what is waiting for you on the final
page. Sorry, can't spoil that one, but it could be really big if it is real.
Despite my opening comments about Marvel's overused marketing practice this is
one of my favorite comics. It is straight forward in the direction it is going
and Bendis has always had the long term objective in mind. The characters are
well developed be they likable heroes and friends, or really evil bad guys. The
troubles Miles has are scripted in believable fashion and in this episode it is
delightful to see who he turns to for some "expert" advice. As always the art is
top notch. Of all the latest restarted Ultimate titles this one is the best.

Title: THE NEW 52: FUTURES END
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: Into the Future
Publisher: DC
Writers: Brian Azzarello, Jeff Lemire, Dan Jurgens & Keith Giffen
Artist: Patrick Zircher
Colors: Hi-Fi
Letters: Dezi Sienty
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero




Last week I wrote about the "zero" issue of this comic that came out on Free
Comic Book Day. For those of you who missed that comic you need not feel you
missed all that much. The meat of the story begins here in issue #1. To recap a
little bit: at this point we find Batman Beyond has travelled from thirty five
years in the future, his own time, to five years from now. The plan was to go
back much earlier, about two years ago but since he was not the one who was
supposed to make the time trip the device missed the target and dropped him five
years from now with no way to go back home. The Batman Beyond future is bleak
and this was a last ditch effort to stop Brother Eye from ever being created so
it could not take over the world of the far future. But Terry overshot the time
by seven years so he is left to improvise with only the assistance of Alfred,
his suit's AI interface. Meanwhile, we are now five years relative time into the
DC future. We are going to see things that will happen then IF this is not just
a possible future. These time travel stories can be tricky so anything can
happen. Plus this is a weekly series that will play out over a year. There will
likely be short segments that are stories on their own while other plots, like
the Batman Beyond situation that will run the entire year. In this opening
segment we get to see the future version of Stormwatch that now includes Hawkman
as they confront an evil they may not survive. There is a rather brutal scene
featuring Grifter as he goes about his normal business. If you are not familiar
with his history it is a hard thing to watch until the very end. Then there is
Jason Rusch desperately searching for Ronnie Raymond. Firestorm is needed badly
and Jason must find Ronnie so the hero can answer the call. As Firestorm rushes
to Seattle they discuss some things and there is a brief reference as to why
they are now part of the Justice League that has to do with another big DC event
coming soon in the regular timeline. These four plots are enough to fill the
first issue alone but there is one more thing that happens - a major hero dies.
With a story that stretches out so far it is understandable that things will go
at a slow pace on some things. It is also understandable that it behooves the
writer to catch our attention and somehow leave us with a big bang to keep us
coming back week after week. So far the first issue does all that. If future
issues follow this pace there will be some major changes from what we know of
the current time and what will come to be in five years. I like the pace here
and the artwork from this time is pretty good. I am also a sucker for getting
more of the story every week, as long as the quality stays this good and the
story keeps my interest. So far it is a good start.

Title: CYCLOPS
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Greg Rucka
Artist: Russell Dautermen
Colors: Chris Sotomayor
Letters: Joe Caramagna
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero





If you have been reading the ALL-NEW X-MEN or are at least aware of what has
been going on over there you know that the original X-Men were brought forward
to our time by Hank McCoy. Now they can't go back and through a series of events
that transpired Scott met his father, whom he thought died in a plane crash long
ago. In a surprise to many Scott decided to take off into space with his father
and his crew, leaving his fellow X-Men back on Earth. This series follows his
adventures in space with Corsair and the Starjammers. While I enjoy the two X-
Books written by Bendis I was not sure I could get into a spin-off title by
another writer. It turns out that Rucka has a good handle on the character of
Cyclops, at least this younger version as established over the last couple of
years. He touches on some of the past events briefly but they really have little
bearing on this series. At the same time he does not ignore the internal
conflict Scott has initially, especially his feelings for Jean, whom he is
writing to in his spare time. What we get is a good start to rebuilding a
relationship severed many years ago - less time in relative years that Corsair.
The first main theme running through this issue is that neither is sure how to
relate to the other. At sixteen Scott has been through a lot and has seen how
his life theoretically would affect others if he becomes the man the older Scott
is in this time. He is young enough to have dreams of being a hero and is still
disappointed at how that turned out. From Corsair's point of view he is just not
sure how to be a father to a younger Scott after all this time. As always he
leans heavily on his lady, Hepzibah, to help him figure it out. The supporting
cast is colorful and add to the plot without upstaging the stars. Scott is
essentially a space-pirate in training and really enjoys that part. By the end
of the first issue a clear path has been set to help the father and son bond.
The script hits all the right points with characterization and developing a
story to flow into the next issue. The art is fine and the coloring is
exceptional. There is a small amount of action but that is not the point of the
first issue. I think if you read this one you'll be interested enough to come
back for more.

Title: THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN
Issue Number: 1.1
Title Arc: Learning To Crawl
Publisher: Marvel
Creator: Lee & Ditko
Writer: Dan Slott
Artist: Ramon Perez
Colors: Ian Herring
Letters: Chris Eliopoulos with Joe Caramagna
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero




Now that Marvel has restarted AMAZING SPIDER-MAN with a new number 1 following
the further adventures of Peter Parker back in his own body it seems that writer
Dan Slott decided he needed to go back to the beginning and tell parts of
Peter's start as Spider-Man that we missed. He doesn't really start from the
beginning but basically recaps the origin and death of Uncle Ben in the first
two pages. Once the heavy remorse has subsided Peter realizes he is the man of
the house now and has great responsibility. He covers some ground we are
familiar with already. Money is tight. Bills are overdue. Ben's pension has been
drawn down. Peter is making extra money performing as Spider-Man but he needs
more to take care of May. This part of his story is embellished. He is pushing
hard on the celebrity thing hoping to make a big enough score to take care of
May for life. This is all happening around the time of Ben's funeral and soon
things get really hectic for Peter. Between May being over-protective and the
hassles at school while sneaking away to entertain his growing following makes
things a little tense. There is also a sub plot involving one of those devoted
followers but this is no ordinary fan boy. He is one who is inspired and he has
the talent, brains and resources than to do more than watch from the sidelines.
This will no doubt add some conflict later in the series. For now the idea is
showing us a longer look at how Peter eventually finds his way to becoming a
true hero. It is more of the same from those early days, but just stories never
told. Even the art tries to recapture the magic that Ditko brought in those
early days. Comics have come a long way since the sixties but the right idea
handled by the right creative team can always entertain today's fans.  This look
back is worth the time of any true fan.

Title: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN: WHO AM I?
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Joshua Hale Fialko
Storyboards: J.L. Mast & Geoffrey Beaulieu
Artist: Juan Bobillo
Colors: Andres Mossa
Letters: Chris Eliopoulos
Price (USD): FREE!!
Release Date: NOW AVAILABLE
Genre: Super Hero




This is the third AMAZING SPIDER-MAN title out in eight days. This one is a
little different. As explained in the opening text page it is a FREE print
version of the first chapter of the SPIDER-MAN INFINITE COMIC. That is a digital
comic available through the Marvel App. Those of us who prefer to get our comics
in paper form get to read it for the first time. The other reason it is
different is that it portrays Spider-Man as a criminal - sort of. It starts as
Spider-Man suddenly awakens without any knowledge of who he is or where he is.
When the fog clears he finds himself in the middle of a bank robbery. The two
security guards are webbed up tight and the masked robbers are telling him to
help them grab the loot and go. He is surprised he is a bank robber, but then he
is surprised that he is wearing a skin-tight suit with horrible fashion sense.
This is heavily played for laughs as he wise cracks as usual but in a different
fashion. Slowly by deduction he figures out he can climb walls and shoot webs
but his memory is clouded enough so that he goes along with the gang, even helps
take hostages all the while doubting whether this is really who he is. As the
story reaches its climax he is forced to make a drastic decision. I really did
not get into this story. We are supposed to go along with the idea that someone
who suddenly awaken with no knowledge of his past would do things counter to his
character. I think that is a stretch. There are indications that someone outside
of this group of thugs is pulling the strings, but not Spider-Man's.  It just
doesn't sit right that Pater would go along so willingly just because someone
else says he should. And no one in the bank speaks up to try to dissuade him.
The banter and inner thoughts are pretty funny from time to time so it is at
least readable for that purpose. The art is also good enough though it is clear
from a lot of space between panels that it was formatted for another medium. I
think I would pass on future issues of this comic, but for a free comic it was
worth my time.

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

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

Last week's trivia question:
Which Avenger was the first originally created for a TV cartoon?
FIRESTAR was out of comic book continuity when she was created for "SPIDER-MAN
and HIS AMAZING FRIENDS".

Here was your no prize question:
What is the fastest growing plant on the 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:
What event lead the Kent's to sell their farm and open a general store in
Smallville, in the 60's continuity.

Here is your no prize question:
What Massachusetts town claims to be the birthplace of volleyball?

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 5/9/14

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: DREAM POLICE
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Image
Writer: J. Michael Straczynski
Artist: Sid Kotian
Colors: Bill Farmer
Letters: Troy Peteri
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Supernatural/fantasy





This is the latest in the series of JOE'S Comics from J. Michael Straczynski. It
takes place in the Dreamscape which in this imagination is more than just the
subconscious constructs of individuals. There is a hierarchy of individuals in
the Dreamscape categorized by their functions. There are the Dream Police
officers, Architects, Changelings, Nightmares, Echoes and Wisps. The focus of
the series is on the Dream Police and in this case one particular officer, Lt.
Joe Thursday. If that sounds vaguely familiar you just have to read a few panels
to know he is modelled after Joe Friday of Dragnet and JMS admits the series is
influenced by the hard-nosed detective as well as other sixties cop shows like
Adam 12, Burke's Law, Mannix and Honey West. His partner is Frank Stafford and
they help keep the Dreamscape a place where people come expecting a good time be
that reliving their past, imagining their future or just escaping reality. There
are rules here to make sure dreamers have a good time and when those rules are
broken, either by dreamers or the regular citizens of the Dreamscape, Joe and
Frank go into action. When someone is about to have a dream the architects get
busy constructing the scene for it to happen. If the dream goes awry it is up to
Frank and Joe to set things straight. For example in one dream a man is seeking
guilt-easement but the Changeling assigned to represent his cat is feigning
death after the man accidently dropped a couch he was moving. This is against
the rules for a Changeling who essentially rewriting the story to suit his own
whim. Frank of course knows this and convinces the kitty that he will either be
demoted to a Wisp, a fate that lasts a thousand years, or if it gets worse the
Nightmares will show up. The Nightmares are interesting as they are depicted as
men in black suits with a cane and a top hat. Their faces are partially covered
in a white mask. The worst that can happen to a dreamer or errant Dreamscape
denizen is for a Nightmare to remove his mask. Part of the issue explains the
various things that go on here - how dreams work and how the detectives perceive
the people in it. In dual panels we see things as dreamers see it and in the
next as the detectives see it. Even the diner where they eat is constantly
changing which has a random vista generator. One minute they may be eating steak
and eggs but as various dreamers wander in and out they may eating Chinese, or
Mexican or even some exotic alien cuisine. The featured plot for the first issue
involves one of their toughest situations to deal with - a vivid dreamer. He
realizes he is having a dream, therefore he can't be hurt and decides he can do
anything he wants, like start shooting people. Now a dream death is not for real
but the trauma to the dreamer may be so frightening it may cause a heart attack
in the real world. You get the drift. While the Dream police cannot be killed
they still feel the pain if injured and are under strict rules as to how to
handle things. This situation gets so out of hand it naturally brings out the
Nightmares. There is a lot of ground covered in this first issue though there
are still other aspects of this world to be explored - not the least of which is
the drastic transformation of Joe's partner Frank at the end of the issue -
something that apparently Joe does not even notice. This is one of the better
comics from JOE'S COMICS in my opinion. It has some interesting concepts, fun
dialogue and humor and a touch of mystery to keep us baffled. The artwork
supports the story very well. I found to be very entertaining and want to see
more of it.

Title: SOUTHERN BASTARDS
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: Here Was a Man
Publisher: Image
Creators: Aaron & Latour
Writer: Jason Aaron
Artist: Jason Latour
Colors: Rico Renzi
Letters: Jared K. Fletcher
Price (USD): $3.50
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Action/Adventure
MATURE - Comics on the Edge




I often pick up first issues from the mature readers section of the racks
because in most cases they explore themes you won't see in the mainstream comics
that are just variations on a theme themselves. Often they are too violent or
use language not used in comics meant for the general public, or at least pre-
teens. This comic is about Earl Tubb who is returning to his boyhood home
decades after he left. His father passed away some forty years before and his
uncle had been living in the family house until he recently was put in a home to
live out his final days. Earl was not one to stay in the small Alabama town or
even come back to visit. He has moved on with his life. His daddy was a famous
figure in the town. He was the local sheriff who gained some notoriety when he
fought off a bunch of local gangsters with a keepsake autographed baseball bat.
That was long ago and now Earl has finally come back to clean out the old
homestead and put to bed the last vestige of his ties to a place he no longer
cares about. But as you might guess early on it may not be so easy to do that.
Even just having a meal at the local BBQ joint becomes a hassle as an old
classmate, Dusty, recognizes Earl and after some polite conversation advises
Earl to get out of the county as fast as he can. It seems the town has its own
form of justice now. Everyone answers to the Boss and the actual law is
ineffective. When Earl gets caught up with Dusty's problems by being in the
wrong place at the wrong time he may have a hard time cutting ties with the town
as fast as he expected. While the story uses the stereotype of the backward town
run by strongmen and half-witted henchmen it still comes across as a decent
story. The focus is more on Earl, his remembrances of the past and his
determination to finish things he set out to do. He is portrayed as a good guy
that can't stand by when something bad is happening and that will get him into a
lot of trouble. Jason Latour does a great job depicting the action and the mood
in every scene. This was a surprise to me as I was not expecting something
deeper than the title suggested. You might want to check it out.

Title: THE NEW 52: FUTURES END FCBD SPECIAL EDITION
Issue Number: 0
Publisher: DC
Writers: Brian Azzarello, Jeff Lemire, Dan Jurgens & Keith Giffen
Artists: Ethan Van Sciver, Patrick Zircher, Aaron Lopestri, Art Thibert, Dan
Jurgens, Mark Irwin, Jesus Merino & Dan Green
Colors: Hi-Fi
Letters: Carlos Mangual
Cover Artist: Ryan Sook
Price (USD): FREE!
Release Date: FREE COMIC BOOK DAY - May 3
Genre: Super Hero

This free comic is the precursor to the weekly NEW 52 series beginning this
week. Since there are multiple writers and artists for the series they are all
credited. You may still be able to pick up a copy left over from Free Comic Book
Day if you missed it. The FUTURES END story will take place five years into the
future but the set up for the series is thirty five years in the future. This is
the time in which Terry McGinnis is the active Batman under the guidance of a
much older Bruce Wayne. This series will be the official introduction of Batman
Beyond into the NEW 52 continuity, although the start of the story does not
correlate with the ongoing BATMAN BEYOND UNIVERSE continuity from the comics. It
is a very bleak future with all of mankind on the run from Brother Eye. Even the
hope that the world's super heroes can put an end to it is fading fast. As you
will see on page after page most of the heroes have already been "assimilated".
Brother Eye plans to wipe out all humans but in a counter-intuitive strategy we
see the heroes he has already defeated are now part machine - they have robotic
lower bodies for the most part. There is a lot of conflict and failure in this
fight page after page of it. One by one the heroes are falling - either being
evaporated or falling down babbling ones and zeros as they are assimilated.
While the main force attacks a certain installation to disable Brother Eye's
satellite communications Bruce and Terry need enough time to power up a time
travel device. The plan is to go back before Brother Eye was ever created and
stop it from happening. If this sounds familiar it is. It is not the first plot
in comics with a horrific future can only be fixed by a time traveler. But can
Terry fix it? What will it take?  There is a major glitch in the plan as this
prequel ends that changes the whole plan. But don't worry, if you miss this
issue the first issue will catch you up on the problem real quick. The fun part
is that this is a weekly series so there will be a lot of stuff happening in it
over the next year. This will effect a lot of characters over that time. What is
most interesting is that the story takes place five years from now so it will
also introduce things that are about to happen in current time and show how
those things impacted people five years from now. I really like these kinds of
stories and the array of talent on it ensures a quality product. If you can't
find a copy of this zero issue be sure to pick up #1 this week.

Title: VERTIGO QUARTERLY CMYK
Issue Number:  1 (Cyan)
Publisher: DC/Vertigo
Cover Artist: Jared K. Fletcher
Price (USD): $7.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Anthology
MATURE - Comics on the Edge





This new anthology from Vertigo will come out every three months. The unifying
theme is CMYK standing for the four colors that are the building blocks for all
comics - Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black. Each issue will feature one of those
colors on the cover and as a jump-off point for the stories within. It could be
a mood, a plot point, an emotion, a coloring point and so on. It is up to the
creators how they use it. As I have said in the past I find most anthologies
have some good, some bad and some ugly within the pages. Here are my impressions
of this first volume of the series that uses cyan/blue as its theme.

The opening piece is "Serial Artist" by Shaun Simon with art by Tony Akins and
colors by Andrew Dalhouse. This is one of the better stories in the volume. It
involves Mike who inherited the family business, a funeral home. Business has
not been good enough to meet the expenses and he and his girlfriend Liz agreed
on a plan to add to the bottom line. Liz is the one who finds aging people who
are near their end and helps hasten it along. But Liz is an artist at heart and
begins committing murder and staging the corpses in artistic statement. This
will begin a downward spiral that will end their relationship if not their
freedom. The use of blue in this case is very clever. It is a well-thought out
plot and has strong support from the art team.

In a more humorous sci-fi piece Joe Keating and Ken Garing present "918" in
mostly blue hues and backgrounds. The story is set on a space station that
consists of various pods connected to the main structure. Each pod has a unique
number assigned. Alix is one of the denizens here and admits to a friendly alien
at the bar that his life has been a mess of drug abuse and failed relationships.
His new friend promises him the trip of his life. All Alix has to do is swallow
a blue capsule and then go to a room, number 918. The pill will make him want to
do freaky stuff and he will find a lot of it in that room. But he never actually
says the number, it is written on a piece of paper. The twist of the story is
what happens to Alix when he mistakenly goes to room 816. It is a clever bit and
is visually nice.

One of the better drawn and colored stories is "So Blue" by Amy Chu with art by
Alitha Martinez and colors by Tom Chu. It explores the world of music
celebrities. Aging six-time Grammy winner Ava is attending the relocated opening
of the Motown Museum sometime in the future. But most of the attention at the
event is being drawn to rising star Milly. The whole plot revolves around Ava's
resentment over her fading popularity. The thing that finally makes her snap is
the announcement that Milly will be doing a cover of Ava's classic song, "So
Blue." It doesn't take long to manipulate things that set her plan in motion. By
the end you can see it coming but it is clever and fun to read.

The other story I liked more than the rest is "Madame Bluebeard" by Robert Rodi
with art by Javi Fernandez and Jose Villarrubia. The art on this one is a bit
crude in the line-work though the composition is decent. The story is one
reminiscent of old horror comics, at least in how it ends. The basic plot
follows rising movie star Milano Tanner. At this point in time it is a career
killer to be a homosexual and Milano's agent advises him so. Milano's lover has
a solution - he needs a beard, a hot female that will act in public as his love
interest to throw the media off the scent. And so the arrangements are made for
him to be seen with Celeste Azzurro. At first it seems she does it not only for
the money but to bathe in the publicity. But in the end we find her true reason.
The final scene will have you flipping back to the beginning as it brings the
true perspective to the dialogue that starts the whole story.

There are other stories that range from mildly interesting to somewhat
disappointing. "Blue Sundae" involves an ice cream truck driver that captures a
monster in his vehicle and does not know what to do next. There is an attempt at
a twist ending that I found a flop. More of flop is Fabio Moon's piece at the
end of the volume. It is about two men who apparently make high-end vases for
art shows. The gallery is sold so they have to shut down their business and
figure out what to do next. The End. HUH? There are three more piece along
science fictions themes that are properly written but lack a major punch I feel.
Still I feel the book is a worthy effort and there is enough good material to
justify the price. Your opinion may vary.


Title: THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: Lucky to Be Alive
Publisher: Marvel
Creators: Lee and Ditko
Writer: Dan Slott
Artist: Humberto Ramos
Inker: Victor Olazaba
Colors: Edgar Delgado
Cover Artist: Ramos + variants
Price (USD): $5.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero


This comic is probably the most anticipated issue this week. Fans who have
turned away from reading Spider-Man titles ever since Doctor Octopus took over
Peter's body are coming back now. However, if you hoped to see how or why Peter
finally came back from the dead and got his own body back you missed it. That
happened in SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #30 and Peter first swung back into action in
the series finale, issue #31. You may have to settle for a second printing of
those issues if you want to read the actual transition. This new beginning, at
least of the title, starts with a brief flashback to the lab incident that
started web-head's career. However, Slott has added a future plot point. Before
the spider that bit Peter dies it also bites a female in the crowd on her foot.
It is just something to set up a future story. The main point of this issue is
to get Peter back into action and have him begin to realize some of the problems
he will face due to Otto's actions over the months he was in control. It begins
with Spider-Man back to his own self fighting off a group of bad guys called the
Menagerie. During the course of the battle one of the villains, Gypsy Moth, uses
her power to shred Peter's costume. He manages to land a knockout punch but is
left au natural except for his face mask. This is key to a plot point later in
the book. Among the things Peter is facing is the mess to his reputation. On the
plus side he now has a degree and his own corporation. To the delight of many,
including his aunt May, he has a presser to announce Parker Industries has
severed all ties to Spider-Man. On the down side he will have to correct some
flaws in Otto's robot designs to make them commercially viable in order to save
the company. Slott tries to touch a lot of bases here, especially for new
readers. J. Jonah Jameson has left the office of mayor in disgrace. The public
in general is beginning to change their attitude about Spider-Man as he is back
to his old wise-cracking self. Even the employees of Parker Industries notice a
change in their boss. But the toughest problem is about to rear its head in the
form of Otto-as-Peter's girlfriend, Anna Maria Marconi. She is about to lay a
bombshell on Peter. The main story is twenty two pages but there is also a lot
of filler for those extra two bucks. Dan Slott and Christo Gage provide two
short pieces centering on supporting villains to set up plots for the future.
Electro tries to regain former glory and finds that all is still not right with
his powers. This will end with a vow to get back at Spider-Man (Otto was in
charge) for those experiments he did on Electro. In a similar story Felicia
Hardy, AKA the Black Cat, had a run in with Octo-Spider. He of course viewed her
as a minor criminal and just knocked her out and left her webbed up for the
police. Now Felicia feels betrayed by her friend and former lover and she too
vows revenge. There is a cute cartoon-style three-pager on how Spider-Man's
powers and gadgets work written by Joe Caramagna and drawn nicely by Chris
Eliopoulos. Up to this point the comic would have been a bargain at $4.99. But
there is more. The powers that be decided to promo other Spider-Man related
titles in this issue as well so we get a brief look at the new series starring
Spider-Man 2099 by Peter David, Will Sliney and Antonio Fabela. Another segment
follows Peter as he attempts to catch up on what is happening with the Kaine,
the Scarlett Spider. The brief story explains to non-readers what has been up
with Kaine and directs us to follow him in THE NEW WARRIORS. Finally Dan Slott
and Ramon Perez give us a preview into their companion mini-series "Learning to
Crawl" that begins in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 1.1 It will be the secret history of
Spider-Man beginning from the start in untold stories happening in the first few
months after Peter was bitten. But wait... there's more! Marvel also included the
entire first issue of INHUMAN in the back of this book. Frankly it is obvious
why they would but I prefer such gimmicks not be used to clutter up an unrelated
title. Other than that, this is a must have issue for true fans of Spider-Man.
It is also an expensive "first" issue for anyone who is drawn into the comics
from the new AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 movie that purely by coincidence just debited
this past weekend.

Title: RAI
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: Welcome to New Japan
Publisher: Valiant
Writer: Matt Kindt
Artist: Clayton Crain
Letters: Dave Lanphear
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero





Valiant is continuing its re-launch of old titles this month with RAI set in
Japan twenty centuries in the future. Similar to the old series Japan is now an
island in the air above the surface of the Earth. All activity is run by an
artificial intelligence known as Father. Father runs everything. Keeps the food
growing, makes new jobs, and even tells people who and when they are allowed to
have babies. Crime is not entirely eradicated but there has not been a murder in
Japan in over a thousand years - that is until now. The story begins as the
perpetrators are about to dispose of the body and are interrupted by a local
constable. Their use of illegal weapons is the catalyst and the lead that will
lead Father's champion, Rai, to the forces behind it all. This is not and
idyllic society though it is mostly peaceful. There is an underground resistance
known as Raddies and they hate Father, and Rai and anything run by electricity.
But are they capable of murder? The trail will lead Rai to the supplier of
weapons, a mythical hero known as Spylocke. That confrontation will result in
more questions than answers. In fact Spylocke warns RAI that his unquestioned
faith in Father will lead to terrible things. As a counter-point to the intense
action we are introduced to an ordinary citizen to see things from her
perspective. Lula narrates some of the story and explains a lot of the
background we need to understand this society. Whether she will have a bigger
role in the plot remains to be seen. I have mixed feelings about this comic. The
art takes a while to get used to as you do not see that many mainstream comics
done in full-painted format. A lot of it is very dark but the detail and
progression of action is very good. I think this will grow on you more after a
couple of issues.

                                    *****
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 "T. O." stand for in evil's professor T. O. Morrow name?
It stands for Thomas Oscar.

Here was your no prize question:
How many answers are possible with the Magic 8 Ball?

The Magic 8 Ball is a toy used for fortune-telling or seeking advice,
manufactured by Mattel. The Magic 8 Ball is a hollow plastic sphere resembling
an oversized, black and white 8-ball. The 3D shape inside the Magic 8 Ball is
called an icosahedron--a 20-sided shape (essentially a D-20 die). Therefore,
there are 20 potential answer options every time you shake the ball.

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
Which Avenger was the first originally created for a TV cartoon?

Here is your no prize question:
What is the fastest growing plant on the Earth?

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 05/05/14

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: ORIGINAL SIN
Issue Number: 0 (OF 8)
Title Story: Who is the Watcher?
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Mark Waid
Artist: Jim Cheung with Paco Medina
Inker: Mark Morales, Guillermo Ortego, Dave Meikis, Juan Viasco & Jim Cheung
Colors: Justin Poser
Letters: Chris Eliopoulos
Price (USD): $4.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero


Time for my obligatory "zero issue" rant. The only thing worse than numbering a
comic with a zero (zero is not a counting number math fans) is to label it #0 of
8. Does that mean it is one of eight comics in the series? Evidently not because
at the end of this issue there is a full page ad for ORIGINAL SIN #1 (of 8).
Presumably there will be an issue number 8, that is to say the main story runs
eight issues so it is impossible for the zero issue to be part of eight, it is
part of nine or stands alone. The zero issue should properly be one of nine in a
nine issue series.  But I digress... This prequel, if you will, features Uatu the
Watcher and Nova. It is really an origin issue of the Watcher as you might guess
from the story title. It begins with a brief introduction to Nova for those who
are not so familiar with his story. That is a good thing because it sets us up
for his eventual meeting with the Watcher, and ultimately the ending of the
story. We get to see Nova in action against what appears to be an Aztec god
risen from the Earth to attack oil fields in New Mexico. Once Nova realizes the
truth about his foe he handles the situation easily - just as the Avengers
arrive on the scene. Half-joking Nova ponders why the Watcher did not show up to
see this "Cosmic" battle and Iron Man explains the event was not that
noteworthy. He says Uatu keeps tabs on everything everywhere but when Nova asks
why no one has an answer. So Nova blasts off to the moon to visit Uatu in his
home and ask the question. We know the Watcher rarely speaks. But in his lair he
has technologies from the universe and from all time. It is part of that
technology that will explain to Nova the truth about Uatu's past, not only his
own past but that of his people. The question of why he does what he does is one
thing. The question of why he does not interfere with other races and their fate
is another. But there is yet another question Nova needs to ask and surprisingly
Uatu speaks just three words that are all that need to be said. This is an
excellent story on its own. In some ways it is a good adjunct to the main series
that starts with issue #1 in that it explains what the Watcher is doing and what
his abilities are. Someone who watches everything everywhere knows a lot of
secrets and many of them will be revealed in the new series. It is also key to
Nova's story going forward, given the knowledge he has gained from Uatu. You
won't need this issue to follow the main book, but I recommend you get it
anyway.

Title: JUSTICE LEAGUE UNITED
Issue Number: O
Title Arc: Justice League Canada
Publisher: DC
Writer: Jeff Lemire
Artist: Mike McKone
Colors: Marcelo Maiolo
Letters: Carlos M. Mangual
Cover Artist: Mike McKone with Gabe Eltaeb
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero



Yes, this is another "zero" issue but that issue has already been addressed. I
keep looking at the cover of this comic and there is something about it that
just does not appeal to me. On the one hand it appropriately highlights the
members of the cast with more emphasis on Animal Man in the foreground, the
Martian Manhunter looming large in the background and Adam Strange more
prominent than the remainder of the group. I guess it is just not very dynamic -
more like a class picture. I have no problem with the art, just the composition.
I have always enjoyed Mike McKone's work and the coloring by Marcelo Maiolo is a
perfect match to his style. This comic clearly takes place after the events of
FOREVER EVIL and the inclusion of Supergirl indicates she will ending her tenure
with the Red Lanterns or at least has at this point in time. The story begins in
Toronto at a celebrity event featuring Animal Man and Stargirl. This is
conveniently situated for the introduction of the NEW 52 version of Adam Strange
to make his debut. He approaches the duo with a fantastic story about alien
artifacts and a mysterious disappearance of his grad student, Alanna Lewis. They
were on an anthropological dig in Northern Ontario to investigate what appear to
be the bones that are not of Earthly origin. While checking them out a beam of
light suddenly hit Alanna and she just vanished. Adam also found a device buried
there and when he shows it to the heroes the three are momentarily transported
to what appears to be an alien planet. So the three go off to investigate the
dig further and this time they are attacked by aliens. At a crucial point J'onn
J'onz and Green Arrow show up to even the sides. Stargirl used her old signal
devise to summon back up and they are the only ones who responded. The remaining
aliens manage to make an escape and we learn from their conversations back at
their base on a moon near Thanagar they have been abducting species from various
planets for some biological experiments that will "change the universe." They
did not have the chance to cover up their presence on Earth before Adam stumbled
on the location. We know from the opening scene that most of the team will
eventually find this planet to attempt a rescue but for the time being Alanna
and the remaining prisoners are about to be disposed of by the chief jailer, a
certain Czarnian bounty hunter. And wait until you see who the prisoner is that
plans to stand up to Lobo. This is a good beginning story. I like the
introduction of Adam Strange and don't mind the tweak in his origin. Alanna is
not from the planet Rann (at least I don't think so) but is his student. There
is a sequence that also introduces a Canadian heroine that will eventually join
the team. Her name is Miyahbin and when she transform she appears to have
magical powers. In all it is an interesting start with solid scripting from fan-
favorite Jeff Lemire. To break the tension there are bits of humor here and
there as well. This one is worth a try as it shows a lot of promise.


Title: SECRET ORIGINS
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: DC
Cover Artist: Lee Bermejo
Price (USD): $4.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

This first issue is broken into three separate origin stories. These are of
course NEW 52 versions so there are tweaks here and there.

Story: Superman Secret Origins
Writer: Greg Pak
Artist: Lee Weeks
Inker: Sandra Hope & Lee Weeks
Colors: Dave McCaig
Letters: John J. Hill

It may well be that the origin of Superman has been told and retold more than
any other comic book character. All the essential elements are included. The
story is narrated by Kal's mother, Lara as she looks back on the events leading
up to the escape from Krypton of her son in the small rocket ship. She also
speculates on what may become of him on Earth in general terms while the visuals
depict the Kents finding him and raising him as their own. That part is narrated
by Martha Kent and she too speculates what will happen after she and Jonathan
have passed. The scripting is very good as toward the end of the story the two
mother's comments are blending together. I never tire of this story and this NEW
52 version stands up well among the others. And the art is splendid as well.

Story: The Long Year
Writer: Kyle Higgins
Artist: Doug Mahnke
Inker: Keith Champagne & Christian Alamy
Colors: John Kalisz
Letters: Carlos M. Mangual

This origin story is about Dick Grayson becoming Robin, the Boy Wonder. The
basic plot remains the same as he is eventually orphaned when his parent's
trapeze act is sabotaged by Tony Zucco. Dick is left for time to live in Wayne
Care Center and begins a nightly search for leads to finding the man who killed
his parents. He has been roughing up known associates of Zucco in hopes one will
lead him to the killer. Fortunately for Dick Batman has been following his
exploits closely and at the appropriate time takes Dick to the Batcave for the
reveal of his big secret. There is no resolution of the Zucco plot here as it
concentrates on the events of that first year after the killing, Dick's
training, and his eventual choosing a robin as his trademark. It is a clean and
direct origin story and the art is decent as well. You can't have all the big
guns featured in one issue as each deserve their own lead story. Robin, on the
other hand, is a good choice to include since he is one of the earlier members
of the DC hero lexicon.

Story: Daughter of the House of El
Writer: Tony Bedard
Artist: Paulo Siqueira
Inker/Colors: Hi-Fi
Letters: Travis Lanham

The final inclusion in this volume, as you might guess from the story title, is
Supergirl. She has been around the NEW 52 for a while but this story goes back
further to her time on Krypton. As part of the class structure on the planet
citizens are prepped and tested at an early age in advance of their lifetime
careers. In the El family it seems the men are scientists and the females are
soldiers and leaders. So it was Kara's decision to follow in her mother's path
and train for service. The story opens with an incident in the wild with Kara
saving two errant classmates from a dangerous beast only to be admonished for
interfering with their training. Fortunately her mother explains the bigger
picture to her instilling in her the fact that sometimes doing the right thing
means living up to the consequences. The story gets into the different approach
her father Zor-El took knowing the impending doom the planet faces. His decision
failed and the only hope for his daughter is to send her off on a rocket, like
her cousin, before the planet explodes. Both of his choices lead to an
unfortunate conflict with Lara, one that comes too late to really resolve. After
a brief run through of Kara travelling to Earth and orbiting the sun for a while
her rocket crashes to Earth. In the final scene she uses her powers to rescue
some doomed astronauts but her method results in a lecture from cousin Kal,
reinforcing her mother's words from long ago. This too is a worthy addition to
the volume and is very well done in every aspect. I look forward to future
issues and more origins of super heroes. You may not have to read this title to
enjoy your favorite comics, but I find it a good complement to the ongoing
issues.

Title: 24
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: Underground
Publisher: IDW
Writer: Ed Brisson
Artist: Michael Gaydos
Colors: Josh Burcham
Letters: Shawn Lee
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Action




I reflected on this comic after reading it and wondered if there is anyone out
there who has not seen or is familiar with the hit TV show 24. How would they
respond to this story? I concluded that it is still a good story and the
background of what has gone before certainly enhances the experience for those
who know it. But it also can be read on its own merits. There is a brief
introduction for both types of readers that explains the gap between the last
episode of the show and the events that are about to happen. Jack Bauer was a
CIA agent in the counter-terrorist unit. Due to events of the last season of the
show he became an international fugitive, branded as a terrorist himself. He is
the kind of hero who did what he believed was right to stop a certain kind of
evil in the world. He has averted all kinds of global disasters but in doing so
gave up his freedom. His television adventures will begin again on Monday, May 5
on the Fox Network. This comic explores his time in the last four years in the
European underground. The story is set in Odessa, Ukraine. It starts with a
character named Roman who owes money to the Russian Mafia and unfortunately has
passed the deadline to pay. It turns out Jack is working for Roman's brother
Petro using the alias Borys. He has struck up a relation with their sister
Sofiya and the family hopes that soon Borys will marry Sofiya.  Soon he will
become entangled in the family affairs in another way. When Mishka can't get his
money from Roman he sends his men to visit Petro and they demand that he help
steal cargo from a ship at the docks where he works. Failure to make good on his
brother's debt will have consequences for Petro's family. Naturally he confides
in Jack and Jack pledges to help him, as long as Sofiya does not find out what
they are up to. For a man of Jack's talents it should be easy enough to get
Petro out of this jam but what Jack does not know is that the gang leader,
Mishka, is someone who he has harmed in the past. Furthermore this incident will
put the CIA on his trail. Like many of the stories in the TV show we have only
scratched the surface of what is to come. This opener introduces the main
characters and the beginning of the conflict which is sure to widen as the story
unfolds. There are some character building incidents and a good amount of action
before the double climax sets us up for the next issue. As I said the story
stands on its own and the new reader can get into it with ease. The art is
decent in that it captures the likeness of Keefer Sutherland fairly well. I like
a little more definition in the line work but the overall effect is good enough.
I recommend this book to fans of the show and to anyone who likes action and
espionage set in a realistic climate.

Title: THE ELTINGVILLE CLUB
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: This Fan... This Monster!
Publisher: Dark Horse
Creator: Evan Dorkin
Cover Colors: Sarah Dyer
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Slice of Life Parody
Mature Readers - Comics on the Edge





The splash page of this comic will tell you all you need to know about Eisner-
Winner Evan Dorkin's talent as an artist. He not only provides detailed pencils
with his mastery of black and white comics but also realizes when the detail is
not needed that expressions can provide the focus for the smaller panels. It is
worth it to flip through the pages and see how skillfully he mixes things up to
make an emphasis and advance the plot. The title characters are Bill, Pete, Josh
and Jerry, the founding members of the Eltingville Comic Book, Science Fiction,
Fantasy, Horror and Role-Playing Club. It starts with Bill on his own at Joe's
Fantasy World comic store as it opens for business. This is Bill's lucky day as
Joe has agreed to hire him. In typical fan boy fashion Bill believes he has died
and gone to heaven. That is until he learns some of the rules of employment. The
point of this comic is to highlight every stereotype there is about "evil" comic
shop owners. His attitude towards customers is that most of them are (bleep)ing
crazy and gotta be handled like moronic babies. As for Bill, Joe impresses on
him that he is lucky to working here. If Bill and the other members of the club
didn't spend so much money here every week he would have kicked them out long
ago. So Bill is not allowed behind the counter and not allowed to deal with
customers. His job is to bag and board comics, that is it. As the day goes on we
see Joe being rude to nearly every potential customer in the shop be they
looking for the latest Archie, or Manga, or some independent title. It does not
matter to Joe as he derides their choices or just point to the rear of the store
if he happens to have something they want. One really funny seen is the one time
a girl comes in looking for the latest trade version of SAGA. In an instant all
the guys whip out their smart phones and start snapping pictures. You get the
general idea. The turning point of the story comes when Joe has to run out to
Walmart before the manager finds the secret stash of high-demand toys his friend
put aside and puts them on the shelves. With Bill alone in the store with strict
instructions to stay away from the phone, the register and never go behind the
counter. Well that is all Bill needs to find out all of Joe's dark secrets - the
horded hot books, a massive stash of cosplay porn and the kicker is a store log
book in which Joe slams all the customers with derisive nicknames and such. You
know this is leading somewhere and sure enough the rest of the club shows up and
are shocked that Bill now works here. The others had always wanted a job at
Joe's. This may be the one thing that will drive a wedge between the friends.
And wait until Joe comes back to see what has happened while he is gone.  There
is a lot going on in this comic. It runs on a rapid pace and there are chuckles
on every page. Any true fan will have a lot of fun with it. Any decent retailer
will cringe in horror. This is one entertaining comic you really should read.

Title: THE FLASH
Issue Number: 30
Title Story: Lost Time
Publisher: DC
Writers: Robert Venditti & Van Jensen
Artist: Brett Booth
Inker: Norm Rapmund
Colors: Andrew Dalhouse
Letters: Dezi Sienty
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero



Since the FOREVER EVIL series is running a bit late some of the NEW 52 comics
are now doing stories set in the aftermath of that event. This latest issue of
THE FLASH is one of those books, but it also gives us a peek of things five
years in the future - a lead in to the next big DC event and the FLASH ANNUAL
coming out this week. The story in the present has Flash running around more
than ever trying to repair the damage done to Central City by the Crime
Syndicate. Much of this issue has to do with Barry juggling his duty to help put
things right with his duties in his civilian guise in the police lab. As part of
the healing process the department has ordered everyone to have a psychological
evaluation before returning to full time duty. The powers that be want to be
sure the officers who lost comrades and family or just failed to save others are
fit for service. As he settles in for his session Barry takes every spare moment
when the doctor is looking away to Flash out and back for some small task. It
really drives home the fact that he is so fast he can do this without notice.
The actual session is interesting as he talks about the events of the recent
calamity in such a way that does not give away his other identity but still is
truthful about his experience. Meanwhile there are plenty of action sequences
for fans to revel in the ability of the fastest man alive. It is a nice break
from the villain of the month type stories but it still has a few panels of
heavy drama. There are two scenes set in the future. Five years from now there
is a tragic event involving a character that will be re-introduced into the NEW
52 continuity in the annual. At the end we go even further forward to 2034 where
the Flash, now in a blue uniform, is about to embark in a race against time. All
you need to do is read any of the Channel 52 Breaking News segments in this
week's books to get a hint of what is to come. I enjoyed the story because it
does stand alone. I have not read a Flash comic for a while but I found this a
good read and a better jump-on point for those who are intrigued with the future
storylines coming up here and in the NEW 52 in general.

                                    *****
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
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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 successful comedic leading man of the movies in the 30's and 40's did C.C.
Beck use as a model for his CAPTAIN MARVEL?
Fred MacMurray was the model for the big red cheese. The winner by the dice is
Mike Dooley.

Here was your no prize question:
Where was the first street in the US that was illuminated by gas lights?
Pelham Street in Newport, RI was the first street lit by gas lamps.

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
What do "T. O." stand for in evil's professor T. O. Morrow name?

Here is your no prize question:
How many answers are possible with the Magic 8 Ball?

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.