My View - Comic Reviews by David LeBlanc

Comic Reviews 3/16/12

2012-03-16T11:31:00.000-07:00

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: BEYOND THE FRINGE
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: Peter and the Machine
Publisher: DC
Writer: Joshua Jackson
Artist: Jorge Jimenez
Colors: Randy Mayor
Letters: Wes Abbott
Cover Artist: Drew Johnson
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Science Fiction/TV adaptation

Fans of the TV show FRINGE will want to pick up this comic written by the star
Joshua Jackson who plays Peter Bishop. This first issue ties in with the
current season of the show as it explores Peter's attempt to save both universes
and thereby the Olivia he loves. Strangely enough it starts in Central Park in
the year 2026, fourteen years in the future. Peter and Walter are preparing to
begin their attempt at the ultimate solution. Here they have reconstructed the
machine that only Peter can activate, the machine Walter has dubbed Daisy. The
machine will be sent into the past through a wormhole overhead. It has been
calibrated to the wormhole's radiation and Peter's DNA. Walter expects Daisy to
break apart in the wormhole, scattering its parts across time. There are markers
broadcasting in each of these eras and when Peter follows he will be drawn to
the pieces, as they will be to him. He needs to place each piece on its marker
to complete the cycle. This will supposedly change the effects when Peter enters
the machine in 2011 creating a different future. Somehow Peter will make choices
in the past that will save everything, unlike the first time he used the machine
and the consequences were disastrous. Peter first lands in prehistoric times and
as predicted a piece of the machine is near where he landed. As he activates the
device that sends the first piece off to the future he himself transits time and
ends up in Greece in the year 356 BC. And so it goes time after time as he moves
forward to different places and times. He makes stops in Japan, Spain, China,
Tibet and others. Along the way he meets some locals and in a place called Hy-
Brasil he is saved by a man who knows more than we expected. Through it all he
wonders if all he is doing will help or make things worse. That is the constant
theme throughout the story that features not only the familiar Observer who has
much to reveal to him, but the most disturbing may be when he meets himself.
This is a classic time-travel theme and does not give all the answers to what is
happening on the show but it does give us more insight into Peter and his
dilemma. The art is superb capturing the essence of the characters very nicely.
It is a must read for fans of the show.

Title: THE MANHATTAN PROJECTS
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: Infinite Oppenheimers
Publisher: Image
Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Artist: Nick Pitarra
Colors: Cris Peter
Letters: Rus Wooton
Price (USD): $3.50
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Science Fiction

Though not all of us lived through it most of us are aware of the original
effort to build an atomic bomb code named the Manhattan Project. The chief
scientist on the project was Doctor Robert Oppenheimer. But what if there was
more about it than the public was told? What if that was not the only purpose?
Hence the title is plural. And speaking of plural, the subtitle "Infinite
Oppenheimers" is aptly chosen, as you will find out by the end of the first
issue. As Dr. Oppenheimer finds out when he joins the projects there is already
ongoing research - recovering mythological artifacts, the first attempt at
artificial intelligence using 150,000 computers and so on. He is told once they
have built the bomb he will have the resources to build anything he can
conceive. But the US is not alone in having unrevealed technology advanced for
its time. Part of this episode involves an attack on the facility by Japanese
robots controlled from far away. That incident shows us something more about the
good doctor that may not register at first. But along side the main plot and
inserted through the book is the history of Doctor Oppenheimer and his twin
brother Joseph starting from their conception. On those pages their stories are
told with Robert's story in blue tones horizontally across the top and Josephs
in red tint across the bottom. Like the coloring their lives went down
contrasting paths with Joseph leading a disturbed life and eventually ending up
in an institution for the mentally unfit. This is a very effective technique
that highlights not only the characters but also the unique art style of
Pitarra. If just the main plot was there you might consider this an imaginative
story of a certain genre. But adding in the biographical line feeds right into
the main plot and verifies that curious subtitle. Hickman has put a lot into
this first chapter that is worth reading more than once. This title should be
well received and I found it well worth the time and money.

Title: NIGHT FORCE
Issue Number: 1 (of 7)
Title Story: The Gatherers
Title Arc: 250 Minutes
Publisher: DC
Creator: Marv Wolfman & Gene Colan
Writer: Marv Wolfman
Artist: Tom Mandrake
Colors: Wes Hartman
Letters: Wes Abbott
Cover Artist: Leonardo Manco & Wes Hartmen
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Horror/Supernatural

I never have read any of the original NIGHT FORCE comics by Wolfman and Colan so
this will be about first impressions. I do not even know if all or any of the
characters are from that series. It begins with an attempted drowning of a
college coed on the coast of Hilton Head Island. The first hint of supernatural
elements show up in visions she has while gasping for air, as she is held
underwater. Luckily Sgt. Duffy of the Hilton Head Police received a call and
arrived in time to save her, though the offender escaped. The officer and the
victim, Zoe, will soon be drawn literally into the web of Baron Winters in his
mansion in DC. This is a story with sinister forces working behind the scene.
Each side has pawns being used without knowledge of the big picture. Before it
is over we will see more visions of strange beings, disembodied spirits, a
serial killer in the wrong place at the wrong time, and the death of one of
those pawns. There is a master plan at work and even Duffy's role in it all is
suspect by the end of this chapter. I won't say I understand it all, but then it
is plotted that way so as to slowly reveal the bigger picture and the role each
has to play in it. It involves sinister forces, magic and even a very
intelligent leopard named Merlin. Mandrake frames the story with excellent
layouts that enhance the story and Hartman's colors do it justice. For a first
issue I found it engaging. Fans of this genre will surely enjoy it.

Title: SUPURBIA
Issue Number: 1 (of 4)
Publisher: Boom!
Creator: Grace Randolph
Writer: Grace Randolph
Artist: Russell Dauterman
Colors: Gabriel Cassata
Letters: Steve Wands
Cover Artist: Ale Garza & Nei Ruffino
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

As you might guess from the title this is a story about super heroes in the
suburbs. Actually it is their own private suburban neighborhood set up so they
all can have a secure place for their families while off on missions as the Meta
Legion. The Superman analogue, isn't there always one, is called Sovereign. His
live-in girlfriend, Helen, is a semi-reformed super-villain and drug addict who
is not behind bars because, well, Sovereign likes her. There are a lot of
characters involved in this story, each with their own unique quirks or flaws.
There is an Amazonian type warrior Batu who has a normal husband and two kids.
The daughter is expected to manifest powers soon and is constantly being trained
by the mother. The older leader of the group, Marine Omega has been very ill and
being tended to by his wife of thirty years. Just joining the group and moving
into the neighborhood is Bulldog, Marine's Omega's trusty sidekick, and his
wife. She is a nurse and could be critical to the plot as one scene suggests.
Night Fox and his wife Alexis are having problems after she caught him with
another hero, a man. She is confiding in Helen about the problem. And of course
there are no secrets from Sovereign with his enhanced senses. Then there is Dion
with at least the power of microscopic vision as Cosmic Champion a member of the
Cosmic Corps. This first issue serves to introduce all of these characters and
give us a little look at their relations as they relate to their mates and team
members. The occasion is the arrival of Bulldog and his wife and a party is held
in his honor. The action will begin next issue as the team is given a mission.
However, one subplot is revealed in the end that will surely be the major focus
of the mini-series. I am not sure if yet another comic deconstructing the super
hero genre is needed. Most of these characters are flawed to one degree or
another and you just know tragedy will occur sooner or later. With so many
characters it is hard to focus on who will be the key individual in the big
picture. With only four issues this series is no doubt going to shift into high
gear next time. With very appealing art and more than one subplot it will be
interesting to see where this will lead.

Title: AGE OF APOCALYPSE
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: David Lapham
Artist: Roberto de la Torre
Colors: Lee Loughridge
Letters: Chris Eliopoulos
Cover Artist: Humberto Ramos & Dean White
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

For those of you who did not read to the prelude to this story in the pages of
UNCANNY X-FORCE there is a brief recap of the situation as it now stands in this
future alternate world established by Apocalypse and now run by a changed
Wolverine now known as Weapon Omega. He is tainted by the Apocalypse seed and is
as ruthless a dictator as his predecessor. His former wife, Jean Grey, was
working with the human resistance in a ploy that failed, resulting in the loss
of her mutant powers. She and a powerless Sabertooth are now allied with the X-
terminated, and underground group of humans attempting to save humanity from
extinction at the hands of the ruling mutants. In that lead in story the main
base of the resistance was wiped out along with the city of St. Petersburg but
the small band of humans escaped and now Logan is bent on hunting them down. The
central figure and leader is William Stryker now known as Prophet. They will
fight on with their major objective being the death of Logan. But this is more
than just a team using hit and run guerrilla tactics. They also have moles
inside the mutant population working with them. As they search for any knowledge
or technology that will help the cause they rescue a human from the normal earth
who has valuable information that will lead them to another enclave. The person
in charge there will be key to the next chapter. I enjoy these stories of
alternate realities where familiar characters go down different paths. So far
the story is engaging and the alliance shows not everyone is on the same page
but still are united in the ultimate cause. The art is good enough though I
prefer cleaner pencil and coloring. Still it is a worthy project worth staying
with to see what develops.

Title: FAIREST
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: Wide Awake
Title Arc: Prince of Thieves
Publisher: DC/Vertigo
Creator: Bill Willingham
Writer: Bill Willingham
Artist: Phil Jimenez
Inker: Andy Lanning
Colors: Andrew Dalhouse
Letters: Todd Klein
Cover Artist: Adam Hughes
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Fantasy
Mature Readers - Comics on the Edge

You may guess from the story title that this first chapter in the spin-off from
FABLES features not one of the "Fairest" but another character, Ali Baba. It
begins with him finding a magic bottle in the ashen ruins of a city devastated
by the war between the Fables and the forces of the Adversary. Instead of a
D'jinn that can grant him wishes once released he instead meets a lowly bottle
imp calling himself Jonah Panghammer. His specialty is gathering knowledge, it
flows to him naturally. While he must serve Ali Baba as a condition of his
freedom he won't be doing any magic. But his knowledge may prove useful as he
assures his master that he can lead him to the great treasure looted from the
city. At his point, unknown to the duo, another is following them. He is Captain
Oakheart, a wooden soldier formerly in service to the Emperor. With the war over
he has fashioned a new mission, to hunt down those who are after the spoils of
war. The trail leads to a goblin encampment where Jonah reveals the nature of
the great treasure they have capture and what Ali Baba must do to obtain it. I
won't reveal what it is or his role in it all but the final sequence finally
ties in with the main theme of the book as we meet one of the Fairest. I have
followed Willingham's work for decades and latched on to FABLES from the start.
He has created a whole universe where characters only in books in our world are
very real and cross genres of all type to co-exist here. Amazingly he keeps
finding new areas to explore and characters to populate them. This story has
captured me, as did the rest of the FABLES stories. The art is spectacular and
colored brilliantly, topped off by a nice cover by Adam Hughes. You do not have
to be a long-time fan of FABLES to get into it so I suggest you give this
affordable comic 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:
In what title did Marvel's Celestials first appear?
The Celestials first appeared in THE ETERNALS #2. Nearly everyone said issue #1
but all we wanted was the title anyway. The winner by the dice is David
McBarron.

Here was your no prize question:
Which is the tallest waterfall in the world?
The tallest waterfall in the world is Salto Angel in Venezuela. It is 3,212 feet
high. The water drops more than twice the height of the Empire State Building
and 15 times that of Niagara Falls. The no prize is also awarded to David
McBarron.

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
In what title did Barbara Gordon first appear as Oracle?

Here is your no prize question:
What candy bar was named after its inventor's family horse?

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

Comic Reviews 3/9/12

2012-03-09T13:34:00.002-08:00

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: INVINCIBLE
Issue Number: 89
Publisher: Image
Creator: Robert Kirkman & Cory Walker
Writer: Robert Kirkman
Artist: Ryan Ottley
Inker: Cliff Rathburn
Colors: John Rauch
Letters: Rus Wooton
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

Although this series is up to #89 the cover declares this is the first issue in
a bold new direction so I figured it was worth looking at. As a newcomer there
is no helpful recap up front but as you read it you will find the plot is easy
enough to follow. This is a somewhat typical super hero universe with lots of
good guys and bad guys of varying types. Invincible is one of those heroes but
for now he is sidelined with something called the Scourge virus. He is currently
in a secret base on the dark side of the moon belonging to his sworn enemies. I
am not sure how deep that goes since they are so willing to cure him. They are
pledged to help Mark recover and coexist in peace lest they arouse the attention
of the Coalition, which would exterminate not only these enemies of Invincible
but likely the Earth as well. This is not an action issue. It deals with
people's reactions to Mark's plight and how each is dealing with it. One of the
more interesting beings is Dinosaurus who is a sentient reptile with high
intelligence, an ally of Mark's. He will go to the moon base and try to persuade
the people in charge he can help. We also see how some teammates react, mostly
with sadness and fear. There is one other named Zandale who is called
Bulletproof. He is the Black character featured on the cover. It is not giving
anything away because of that cover to tell you that he volunteers to stand in
for Mark as Invincible when an emergency arises. There is a plot element however
that reveals itself late in the story. During the testing done on our hero one
technician makes a startling discovery that is worth killing for by another
character. It is an interesting development that should prove critical in the
future. I found this issue to be mostly accessible and interesting. The artwork
is very accomplished with strong coloring adding a good finish. This should be a
good jump on point for new readers. You can decide for yourself if this "new
direction" (a new Black Invincible?) is bold or something that echoes
developments in a comic from one of the big two.

Title: G.I. JOE: A REAL AMERICAN HERO ANNUAL 2012
Publisher: IDW
Writer: Larry Hama
Artists: Ron Frenz, Ron Wagner & Herb Trimpe
Inker: Sal Buscema
Colors: Rachelle Rosenberg
Letters: Shawn Lee
Price (USD): $7.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Military Adventure

Long ago I had a special affection for annuals. In most cases you got more for
your money whether it included reprints of classics stories or self-contained
all-new material. Then they became events of their own often tying in with one
or more annuals of other titles, which diluted their appeal to me. Not being a
reader of the G.I. Joe comics I decided to sample this annual to see how IDW
handles the concept. First off it is a self-contained story for twice the price
of a normal comic with more than twice the pages. That I judge to be the right
thing to do. The story begins with a man called Ted Bergendorf, a drill press
operator in Ohio. That is he was until he got laid off. That whole day was one
of frustration and by the end of it he makes a decision to control his own
destiny. You see he is a sleeper agent for Cobra, the international bad guys
that the Joe's fight all the time. When Ted snapped he decided to activate
himself on a mission of his own making, beginning with building a fertilizer
bomb - a very big one. He then proceeds to gather member of his Crimson Guard
cell to plan the operation. But, he has drawn the attention of the Cobra
Commander with this illicit operation and he sends Zartan the mission to stop
Ted and his group, now considered rogue. But the G.I. Joes have been monitoring
Zartan and so they will be drawn into the whole conflict at some point. Oh,
Zartan is a master of disguise and can even make himself invisible to electronic
surveillance as well as masquerade as anybody else. This brings all the elements
to where most of the action will occur - an amusement park in St. Joseph,
Missouri. Poor Ted has both the good guys and the bad guys after him if they can
stop fighting each other long enough. While this is a believable plot for this
type of comic I found the execution of it somewhat lacking. By the end Ted is
more of a parody of a stereotype than a mastermind we are suppose to believe can
pull off a major terrorist incident. Some of the scene transitions are not
smooth either. At one point there is an opportunity to show the courage of one
of the Joes in saving a teammate but instead of highlighting that feat it is
handled in a matter of fact manner in a single panel after it happens. This is a
long running series, which means it has a solid fan base that will enjoy this
more than I did. Your own opinion may lie somewhere in between.

Title: CONAN THE BARBARIAN
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: Queen of the Black Coast
Publisher: Dark Horse
Creator: Robert E. Howard
Writer: Brian Wood
Artist: Becky Cloonan
Colors: Dave Stewart
Letters: Richard Starkings
Cover Artist: Massimo Carnevale
Price (USD): $3.50
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Sword & Sorcery

Dark Horse has been running Conan books for a while, since 2003, so it may seem
strange to see this as issue #1. The indicia indicates it is actually the 88th
comic of the series. The text piece in the back explains the big picture behind
the CONAN THE BARBARIAN title is to present the original stories in
chronological order with some new stories mixed in to fill in the spaces where
there are gaps in his history. They have now reached the time when is a more
worldly man in his twenties. This arc is one of the most requested to be adapted
by the fans. It opens with Conan speeding through a seacoast town on a stolen
horse barely escaping capture by the local constabulary by leaping on to a
departing merchant vessel. After some tense moments he strikes up a friendship
with the captain by explaining how he came to this situation. That story is one
of the abuses of power of the authorities against our hero after he witnessed a
murder in a tavern and foolishly stayed to finish his drink. But thankful for
the provided asylum Conan pledges his sword in defense of the ship if need be.
It may be needed as the captain explains the biggest danger in some of the
waters they will be traveling - Belit, captain of the Tigress, and known as the
Queen of the Black Coast. She is a woman who knows no mercy or empathy. She
drives her crew with such authority none would dare disobey her. Her piracy has
destroyed many but Conan is mesmerized by the description, as if she was a
goddess he had dreamed of in his youth. This issue is the set up for what is to
come as indeed the ship comes upon the Tigress at the close of the issue. Those
last few pages are mostly without dialogue and are worth studying to figure how
much is real or dream or even maybe a spell. The next issue is sure to start out
with a lot of excitement. I really liked the way this story is handled. In some
places there is editorial narrative that sets the mood as we learn the lore and
gather an insight into Conan's thoughts and feelings. The art is splendid in its
simplicity with superb coloring. It does not matter if you have read any of the
prior volumes; this is indeed a good jump on point.

Title: THE DARKNESS
Issue Number: 100
Title Story: The Darkness
Title Arc: Total Darkness
Publisher: Image
Creators: Marc Silvestri, Garth Ennis & David Wohl
Writer: Phil Hester
Artists: Romano Molenaar, Leandro Oliveira & Jose Luis
Inkers: Joe Weems, Rick Basaldua, Ryan Winn & Alisson Rodrigues
Colors: Felix Serrano & Bill Farmer
Letters: Troy Peteri
Price (USD): $4.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Horror/Crime
Mature Readers - extreme violence

Here is another oversized issue just out marking the 100th issue. It appears to
be a big team effort with lots of contributors. The extra pages include a
preview of the next issue with a new team, text pieces from some of the
creators, and an art gallery from a contest for aspiring artists using the
Darkness as the subject. The main story is the end of an arc that has Mafia hit
man Jackie Estacado traveling to the home dimension of the Darkness to confront
the very source of his power. For those not in the know Jackie came to this
blessing, or curse, when he turned 21. He can access this dimension and bring
forth the demons who live in it to do his bidding - usually violent murder.
After struggling with the implications of this power for years Jackie received a
Sun dagger forged by the Angelus and he used it to make the transit to the
Darkness himself. At first he though he was fighting the Darkness itself but
then he experiencing a very unique transit to yet another place where he finally
meets the one he seeks. This is really a very interesting confrontation that
goes on for pages. It is as if he was having a conversation with the devil, and
he may well be. The Darkness weaves a tale to convince Jackie that long ago he
faced the same quest as wielder of the Darkness only to become what he came to
destroy. Is it true or a lie to save itself? It is a fascinating discourse that
ends in the ultimate battle with a satisfying ending. There is also a framing
sequence outside of the story related by a shepherd of sorts who is telling this
tale while guiding other servants of the darkness to a final judgment and even
he does not know what awaits them. It is all very well scripted and beautifully
rendered. Once it is over you may wonder what will be next and that is revealed
in the preview to the next issue. I won't spoil any of that. I have not always
found this title to my liking but this one was a notch above the rest and a
worthy tribute to this long-running series.

Title: BATMAN BEYOND UNLIMITED
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: DC
Cover Artist: Dustin Nguyen
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero/Cartoon adaptation
ALL AGES

This comic is adapted from the television cartoon and is restarting with new
numbering and an added feature.

Batman Beyond
Title Story: 10,000 Clowns
Writer: Adam Beechen
Artist: Norm Breyfogle
Colors: Andrew Elder
Letters: Saida Temofonte

Set in the distant future Bruce Wayne has retired from his role as Batman but
young Terry McGinnis stumbled on his secrets and now fights crime in Neo-Gotham
as the new Batman. In this first issue Bruce and Terry are facing an influx of
Joker gangs from other cities, even other states. Meanwhile their female friend
who is in on Terry as Batman has gotten close to a notorious criminal computer
hacking group and must decide whether to go undercover without telling Bruce and
Terry. We also get a glimpse of Terry's personal life as he tries to persuade
his ex-girlfriend to make up. And another familiar member of the Batman family,
Barbara Gordon is now the police commissioner. This is a good mix of super hero
action, personal relationships and behind it all is the mystery of just who is
organizing all the Joker gangs. We at least get to see the mystery leader in the
last panel. Thing are going to get interesting.

Justice League Beyond
Title Story: Snake in the Grass
Title Arc: Konstriction
Writers: Derek Fridolfs & Dustin Nguyen
Artist: Dustin Nguyen
Inker: Derek Fridolfs
Colors: Randy Mayor
Letters: Saida Temofonte
The second feature is the future Justice league, which Batman has recently
joined. We have Warhawk - a half-breed Thanagarian, Kai-Ro - the Green Lantern
of our sector, Barda - exiled from New Genesis, Aqua Girl and Superman. Their
first adventure with Batman takes place in Neo-Gotham where a dangerous drug has
been developed giving people animal likeness and power. It has become an
underground illegal racket and there is a power struggle between the Joker gang
and a militant group known as the Animal Kingdom to control the distribution. As
the two forces clash on the streets the Justice League arrives to break things
up. But they will have a much bigger mission as they are called away to their
satellite headquarters. This is a fun story with some interesting new characters
in the mix. The main plot will involve another member that appears to be a new
version of the Atom. And all the while Terry is struggling with his duties as
Batman being trumped by the call of the Justice League. It is not high drama but
it is a fun story sure to please all fans.

Title: JUSTICE LEAGUE
Issue Number: 6
Title Story: Part Six
Title Arc: The Beginning
Publisher: DC
Writer: Geoff Johns
Artist: Jim Lee
Inkers: Scott Williams with Sandra Hope, Batt and Mark Irwin
Colors: Alex Sinclair with Tony Avina
Letters: Patrick Brosseau
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

The first arc of this New 52 title wraps up in this issue. Seven familiar heroes
have come together for the first time as one by one they are forced to face a
threat to all of Earth - the forces of Darkseid. This is the all out battle
issue as Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Aquaman, Flash and Cyborg are engaged in
heated battle with Darkseid himself Batman is on a mission to rescue Superman
from the torture he is being subjected to on Apokolips. These two conflicts take
up most of the issue and Cyborg appears to be the key to eventual victory. The
final scenes are more fun as the seven super heroes are introduced to the world
as heroes. There is some funny banter among the group as some claim this was a
one-time thing and others insist they must stay a team so as to be more accepted
as individuals among the citizens. Flash delivers the punch line as he declares
to the president what the name of their group should be called. While I did not
find this particular episode as engaging as those leading up to it, it is still
a tidy wrap up to the first story and the true beginning of the relationship as
a group. Of course there is always another major threat waiting in the wings. As
this story takes place in the past there is more to tell about the evolution of
the group dynamic in the coming months and it will be interesting to see how
more heroes join the group as hinted at in the epilogue. But wait, there is
more! You may have forgotten or maybe wondered what DC was going to do with that
mystery woman in purple that appeared in cameo shots in every one of the New 52
debut issues. Wonder no more as the back up feature begins to reveal the story
of Pandora. So far she has been an observer and her story here begins with here
looking on as a man is found dead in the street. To give us some insight as to
who she is the rest is mostly a dialogue between Pandora and another famous DC
character that appears to her - the Phantom Stranger. He reminds her that people
like they are told by the Circle of Eternity that they must observe what they
have sown but are forbidden from getting involved. In the conversation we learn
a little about the reforming of the Universe at the end of Flashpoint and
Pandora's role in that event. There are other mysteries and secrets discussed
that you will want to read about. It seems these two don't agree on their role.
Pandora states her mission at the end and it involves a third mystical being she
must find and imprison. She will do so without Phantom Stranger's help but she
has plans on who will help her. There is much more to her story that I have not
revealed and even more coming in the future. This will be a key element of the
new DC Universe so you won't want to miss this issue of JUSTICE LEAGUE to see
its beginning.

*****
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:
SPIDER-MAN was hyping lots of products in 2002. One of the TV ads he was in was
for Cingular Wireless, wherein he web-slings around the country to the tune of a
heavy rock beat. The question is what is the name of the song or the group that
performs the music?

Hint: It is an original song from the same decade Spidey began.

The theme to the commercial is by the madman from Detroit, Ted Nugent. "Journey
To The Center Of The Mind", by the Amboy Dukes, was a hit in 1968. The winner
this time is Kevin Browne.

Here was your no prize question:
Which NFL team had the first cheerleading squad?
The Baltimore Colts (now the Indianapolis Colts) was the first NFL team to have
an organized cheerleading squad. It was the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders who
gained the spotlight with their revealing outfits and sophisticated dance moves,
which debuted in the 1972-1973 season.

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
In what title did Marvel's Celestials first appear?

Here is your no prize question:
Which is the tallest waterfall in the world?

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

Comic Reviews 3/2/12

2012-03-02T14:57:00.001-08:00

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: DEMON KNIGHTS
Issue Number: 6
Title Story: The Balance
Publisher: DC
Writer: Paul Cornell
The Demon was created by Jack Kirby
Artists: Diogenes Neves & Robson Rocha
Inker: Oclair Albert with Rocha and Neves
Colors: Marcelo Maiolo
Letters: Jared K. Fletcher
Cover Artist: Michael Choi
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero/Supernatural

Time to look at a couple more of the DC New 52 for the first time. Rather than
look at the debut issues I am sampling the current offerings to see how well
they read jumping in at this point. First up is DEMON KNIGHTS, taking its name
from the Jack Kirby character the Demon, Etrigan. It appears the Demon Knights
are a group of warriors involved in the supernatural for the most part. There is
of course the Demon with the other main character being Madam Xanadu. Along with
them are the Amazon warrior Exoristos, the horsewoman unnamed in this chapter
and a female Valkyrie referred to as Shining Knight who rides a winged horse
called Vanguard. For some reason they are defending a walled cities the locals
refer to as Camelot. This is clearly set in medieval times and the leader of the
defenders is a Saracen. Each has a part to play. Exeristos jumps over the wall
to meet a huge rhino-like beast charging to breach the gate. The opposing army
are mostly armored raptors which she faces alone as her allies rain arrows down
on them. Meanwhile the horsewoman has left the encampment and gathered a herd of
wild horses to make her way to another city to seek help. Shining Knight is
preparing the army in Camelot to fight if the walls are breached and Demon is
protecting Xanadu who knows she needs more power to aid in the fight but to gain
it she would have to perform a human sacrifice. The enemy is led by none other
than Vandal Savage who not only has the lizard horde but also dragons at his
disposal. How all this got to this point is a mystery to the new reader, which
is my criticism of this title. Many comics have a brief standing blurb about the
main characters starring in the title so we at least know who they are. Aside
from Demon and Xanadu the new reader does not know if anyone else is a regular
or even their names. A brief recap to set the scene would also be a help in
understanding the story. On the plus side the art is detailed and colorful
providing good visuals. This chapter reads well and provides lots of action,
valor, and hints at plots within plots. So I would give this an average grade
but would suggest starting at the first issue to get the full picture.

Title: THE SAVAGE HAWKMAN
Issue Number: 6
Title Story: Open Graves
Publisher: DC
Creator: Gardner Fox
Plot: Tony Salvador Daniel & James Bonny
Script: James Bonny
Artist: Philip Tan
Colors: Sunny Gho
Letters: Travis Lanham
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

The other New 52 I chose stars a character with a long convoluted history in the
DC Universe. I imagine he has a new back-story for the reboot and they have
added the sobriquet "Savage" to his title. I am not sure if that is to indicate
his fighting style or appearance. I will say it fits his new look as his armor
and weapons are a lot more angled and bladed than in the past. Again we are left
with no explanation about the story up to this point. Hawkman does narrate a
little bit in the opening that lets us know that he is in New York and the dead
have begun walking the streets and attacked him in his loft. He was given
ancient book to translate and it speaks of a relic known as the Mortis Orb,
something that could unleash Hell on Earth. As he investigates the shop where
the book came from he is set upon by Jim Craddock, the Gentleman Ghost. He wants
Hawkman to find the Orb for his own purposes for it possesses the key to eternal
life. There is something about Hawkman's nth metal that will lead him to the Orb
and so the story revolves around Hawkman's quest for his own reasons. Along the
way he will find where and why the Orb was hidden. He will also learn that the
power of the Orb will unleash many of the dead to rise and if used for Gentleman
Ghost's plan will sap the life force of many of the living. This is unlike most
Hawkman stories I have read in the past. I did not find myself compelled all
that much by the plot nor the harsher appearance of the winged warrior. While
the art is finely executed it is not enough for me. Maybe I am just more
enamored of past incarnations of the main character but this story is just
derivative stuff. I probably won't be staying with this one.

Title: AVENGERS SOLO
Issue Number: 1 (of 5)
Title Story: Pathfinder
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Jen Van Meter
Artist: Roger Robinson
Colors: Fabio D'Auria
Letters: Clayton Cowles
Cover Artist: John Tyler Christopher
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

I did go back to the first issue of this mini series, which is just wrapping up
now. While the title would suggest a series showcasing various Avengers it is
actually a short series featuring Clint Barton, Hawkeye. After helping a citizen
escape from an assailant in a high tech armored suit the seemingly ungrateful
victim shuns further contact. Later the man shows up at Avenger's mansion to
enlist Hawkeye's help in finding his sister who disappeared six months ago and
is somehow connected to the attack earlier. The man hands Hawkeye a disk he says
has some details and asks to meet at a hotel later. When Hawkeye arrives he
finds the man with an arrow in his back, perhaps used to try and frame Hawkeye
for the murder or a signal to stay out of it. The plot has him track down the
killer, meet a mysterious ally and get drawn into finding the missing girl to
avenge her brother. The trail leads to a modeling agency and the disk provides
details on a now defunct research institute working on prenatal nutrition. The
leader was killed in a fire, his assistant is missing and everyone else involved
is either dead or missing as well. Someone is trying to cover up whatever was
going on and anyone connected with the study, including the missing girl, is in
danger. This is a good beginning plot as it involves a deepening mystery, some
super heroics and showcases Clint as being more than a top archer. A new player
is introduced in the last panel to keep the action going next time. I did not
care for the art all that much in this story. The coloring is very dark close up
art is off a bit though the flow and layout is good.

There is also a back up story featuring AVENGERS ACADEMY shortly after they
moved into their new headquarters on the west coast. It is written by Jim McCann
with art by Clayton Henry and Chris Sotomayor. It is very brief but it features
Hank Pym taking two of the students, Finesse and Striker, on a mission to his
former lab in Death Valley. It seems Doctor Myron Maclain, presumed inventor of
Adamantium, apparently has surfaced at Hank's old lab and the three are going to
investigate, if they can make it there in one piece. The story is very short but
captures the essence of the characters as depicted in their own series. It
remains to be seen how the story develops as a backup to this title. It may draw
in fans of that series. Taken together they make an interesting comic book, if
only for five issues.

Title: BATTLE SCARS
Issue Number: 4 (of 6)
Publisher: Marvel
Story: Chris Yost, Cullen Bunn & Matt Fraction
Script: Chris Yost
Artist: Scot Eaton
Inker: Andrew Hennessy
Colors: Paul Mounts
Letters: Joe Sabino
Cover Artist: Carlo Pagulayan, Jason Paz and Guru eFX
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

I read the first issue of this mini-series and have read some buzz on the
Internet that the lead character, Staff Sergeant Marcus Johnson, is expected to
be a key player in the Marvel Universe. I have also read speculation that he is
directly related to a major character and those rumors are confirmed on the last
panel of this issue. The basic plot is that some unknown agency had Johnson's
mother killed to draw him back from active duty. They want to abduct him and
have contracted a number of mercenaries including Taskmaster, Deadpool and the
Serpent Society to carry out the task. The word is out he is wanted dead or
alive, though the reward will be more if alive. Marcus was in S.H.I.E.L.D.
custody but is now out looking for his own answers aided by his squad mate and
Army Ranger "Cheese." S.H.I.E.L.D. is also trying to regain Johnson so he is on
the run from both the good guys and the bad guys. As the opening scene reveals
this all has to do with his blood, in more ways than one apparently, as doctors
revive a dying patient while a man in black confers with the head doctor
revealing the man is aging rapidly and needs the "blood" within a week. Most of
this issue is a slugfest with all the bad guys going after Marcus and fighting
off each other as well. Everyone wants the reward and Marcus wants Taskmaster
who may have some answers he seeks. As he manages to escape and actually
confront Taskmaster he only gets a single word before being interrupted by a
mask man who warns him to go away and hide, leave it all alone. It is this
mystery person who in the end will reveal a startling fact about Marcus' past.
This was an easy story to get back into thanks to the recap at the beginning.
The script takes it purposely through battle scenes and confrontations to get to
a dramatic climax. The art supports that purpose well and is very appealing. The
lead character has some mystery to him that is slowly being revealed. Why his
blood is so important is just now being explained, though not yet how it came to
be that way. It remains to be seen just how important Marcus Johnson will be in
the future. This could be a key character that will make this story sought after
long after it is over.

Title: HALO: FALL OF REACH - INVASION
Issue Number: 1 (of 4)
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Brian Reed
Artist: Felix Ruiz
Colors: Val Staples
Letters: Jeff Eckleberry
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Science Fiction/Video Game adaptation
Parental Guidance - 17+

I decided to look in on this series once again as it begins a new 4-issue arc.
It is set in the 26th century. Prior to this story the humans have spread out
into the galaxy establishing 800 colonies after the development of hyperspace
travel. As time went on an insurrection developed among the colonies and Dr.
Catherine Halsey developed a new breed of super-soldier. Children were put
through grueling training and experimental enhancements to become the elite
fighting force known as Spartan-II. But this is not just about civil war. An
alien alliance known as Covenant started a war by obliterating millions on a
peaceful farming world. When the Covenant invaded Sigma Octanus IV in search of
an ancient artifact the Spartans retaliated, eradicated the invaders with a
super bomb and retrieved the artifact. They then retreated to their base on the
planet Reach, unknowingly being followed by an enemy probe. The main plot as
the story opens is about one of the heroes of Sigma Octanus IV, Captain John
Keyes. He is back at Reach ad is informed about his next command. But before he
begins he must go through upgrades to his Spartan enhancements and pass a field
test. The changes involve the addition of improved shields developed from
captured Covenant technology and the addition of an AI interface to aid him in
becoming an even greater super soldier. The plot serves to get us familiar with
the AI dubbed Cortana and how much she adds to John's ability. The test is for
keeps, literally he must kill if he has to in order to reach the objective and
he may be killed along the way. It highlights the seriousness of the need for
this upgrade to succeed. What also emphasizes that fact is the subplot involving
the first encounter in space with the new Covenant force looking for Reach. This
is a decent space opera that relies on the action and technology to move things
forward. Along the way there are other bits that add to the characterization and
the ending shows the desperation and dedication of the human forces. I am not
sure how much this reflects action in the video game but on its own it is
worthwhile science fiction. I liked the art, which is brilliantly enhanced by
the solid coloring job of Val Staples. You might want to jump on at this point
to see if you agree.

Title: BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER SEASON 9
Issue Number: 6
Title Arc: On Your Own - part 1
Publisher: Dark Horse
Creator: Joss Whedon
Writer: Andrew Chambliss
Artist: Georges Jeanty
Inker: Karl Story
Colors: Michelle Madsen
Letters: Richard Starkings & Jimmy Betancourt
Cover Artist: Phil Noto
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Horror

I never really got into the BUFFY TV series though I know it was very popular.
It has continued its popularity in the comics with new "seasons" and continues
to be one of the top selling independent comics on the racks. I picked up this
issue to see if it is accessible to a new reader with little knowledge. The
answer is yes. I guess most people know Buffy kills vampires (duh) and those in
her profession are known as Slayers. There is a text piece up front that informs
us that Harmony established peace among vampires and humans with the end of
magic on Earth. However, there now exists a new breed called zompires, mindless
vampires who ignore the peace and seek blood. Buffy is helping the SFPD fight
the zompires along with her friend on the force Detective Dowling. That is basic
background along with information about other characters that have little impact
on the story this issue. This story is more about Buffy's personal life. She
recently learned she is pregnant but does not know who the father is. She
believes it may have happened when she was in a drunken state, girl can't hold
her liquor, so there are a few candidates. That is really not her concern
though. She does not know if she can or should raise a child considering her
profession. So she turns to her friend Robin the son of a Slayer named Nikki.
Meanwhile Detective Dowling is having a ride-along with Angel, the vampire, and
they have some interesting discussions about vampires and about Buffy. It is
Nikki's story in flashback that indicates to Buffy what her life might be like
if she keeps the baby. By the end she meets with Spike to ask a big favor in
support of her future. While there is a little bit of action in this issue it is
all in the flashbacks. This is a good thing as it reinforces Nikki's story and
how she handled her upcoming blessed event without taking away from the personal
relationships that highlight the main plot. The art is decent with the character
faces clearly defined and well finished. As an entree into this long running
comic I found this to be an exceptional issue I would recommend to anyone.

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

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

Last week's trivia question:
In the history of the Justice League of America whom was the first non-founding
member to be recruited?

Green Arrow joined in Justice League of America #4. The winner by the dice is
Jason Pavao.

Here is your no prize question:
Which rock song holds the record for the most sheet music copies ever sold?

The answer is "Stairway To Heaven" by Led Zeppelin

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
SPIDER-MAN was hyping lots of products in 2002. One of the TV ads he was in was
for Cingular Wireless, wherein he web-slings around the country to the tune of a
heavy rock beat. The question is what is the name of the song or the group that
performs the music?
Hint: It is an original song from the same decade Spidey began.

Here is your no prize question:
Which NFL team had the first cheerleading squad?

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 2/24/12

2012-02-24T11:14:00.000-08:00

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: ROAD RAGE
Issue Number: 1 (of 4)
Title Story: Throttle - part 1
Publisher: IDW
Creator: Joe Hill & Stephen King
Adapted by: Chris Ryall
Artist: Nelson Daniel
Letters: Robbie Robbins
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Action Drama
Mature Readers - Comics on the Edge

There are three pages of text in the back worth reading that explains the
genesis of this title. The overall inspiration is from Richard Matheson's "Duel"
which originally was a novel and later made into the cult favorite movie
starring Dennis Weaver. It is the story of a beleaguered traveling salesman, I
can relate, being terrorized across the desert by an unseen trucker in a big
rig. When Steven King and his son Joe Hill were asked to contribute to an
anthology book honoring Matheson in 2009 they co-wrote "Throttle." Since then
Joe Hill has had tremendous success with LOCKE & KEY at IDW and in the course of
things approached Chief Creative Officer for IDW Chris Ryall about adapting
"Throttle" to a comic book. This evolved into the four issue series ROAD RAGE.
The first two will adapt "Throttle" and the last two will adapt the original
novel, not the movie, "Duel." Since "Duel" was the inspiration for "Throttle"
this first story takes a similar theme - motorists being attacked by an unseen
trucker in a big rig. But in this case the motorists are bikers, a gang called
The Tribe. As the story unfolds we learn that the one out front, Race, met a man
named Dean in Afghanistan. Six months ago Dean approached Race about setting up
a meth lab with Race, Vince and the others fronting the money to get it started.
As often happens the lab in a motor home blew up and the Tribe caught up with
Dean at his place packing to leave. Dean claimed the money blew up with the lab
but in the heat of the moment a fight broke out and Dean and his girl were
killed. Now Race is convinced that Dean gave some or most of the money to his
sister and they are on the road to her place planning to probably split up after
they get what they can. That is basically the set up to the background. Along
the way we learn more about the strained relationships in the gang and of course
the encounter with the trucker in a rather large tanker at one stop along the
way. It is shortly after that that the chase begins. The second half of the book
ramps up the tension and suspense on the road as the trucker reappears and makes
his move. Where it will end concludes next issue. This is a tense story that
builds momentum from just character development at first to straight action
toward the end. I really enjoyed the artwork by Daniel. He takes a lot of panels
to give some great visuals that add to the plot. King and Hill do justice to the
original theme and Ryall and the team put it together nicely. It is worth your
time.

Title: DC UNIVERSE PRESENTS
Issue Number: 6
Title Story: Renewal
Title Arc: CHALLENGERS OF THE UNKNOWN
Publisher: DC
Writer: Dan Didio
Artist: Jerry Ordway
Inkers: Ray McCarthy, Andy Lanning & Marlo Alquiza
Colors: Tony Avina
Letters: Travis Lanham
Cover Artist: Ryan Sook
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Action/Adventure

This New 52 title is a showcase for DC characters that do not have their own
titles. It is a way to introduce those characters into the new DC Universe with
any changes or twists from the versions we have come to know. In the case of the
Challengers they are now the stars of a reality show featuring a team of
celebrities in a contest of wits and endurance as they battle the elements.
Producer June Robbins, romantically involved with the pilot Ace, is hoping to
revive the franchise after a dismal previous season. The usual names are on the
team - Maverick, Red and Rocky. The rest are not great celebrities - a starlet,
a young billionaire obsessed with his social media presence, a scientist and an
archeologist are along for the show. They are heading for the Himalayas and as
is familiar with previous origins there is a disaster as they crash.
Miraculously they all survive though Race is nowhere to be found. In fact the
rest awaken as guests of the monks in Nanda Parbat, a mystical hidden temple
familiar to DC fans. There is more than meets the eye with their hosts and some
cryptic warnings are given in their words and June's dreams. Even the
archeologist has a secret which he shares with June and that will play a big
part in there fate as they leave the monastery in hopes of finding Ace and
returning to their own civilization. As in the past someone was bound to say it
- they realize they are living on borrowed time. When I began I was off put by
the idea of the whole reality TV bit but it really only serves to bring the
characters together. Their actual adventures will be more along the lines of
what I am used to. They will face challenges of mysterious and even supernatural
nature. As the story develops the characters a fleshed out as we begin to relate
to the dynamic. The art is really good in all aspects. I look forward to the
second episode to see what happens next.

Title: YOUNG JUSTICE
Issue Number: 13
Title Story: .and the Penalty
Publisher: DC
Writer: Greg Weisman
Artist: Christopher Jones
Inker: Dan Davis
Colors: Zac Atkinson
Letters: Dezi Sienty
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero/Cartoon Adaptation

With the cartoon series starting up again in March I decided to take a look at
the comic again. There are two plots in this one. For those who are not familiar
this book is not set in the main DC Universe - let's call it the cartoon
Universe though it is also not the same as the Teen Titans cartoon. Anyway, in
this version the group is sanctioned by the Justice League under their guidance.
It is led by a new Aqualad and includes Superboy - the Conner Kent clone of
Superman and Lex, M'Gann the Miss Martian, Wally (Kid Flash) West, Dick (Robin)
Grayson and Green Arrow's ward Artemus. The main plot follows the team on their
latest mission. Aqualad is under strict instructions from Batman. After their
first encounter with Clayface he is told to track and locate Clayface but do not
engage him. This is another test of Aqualad's leadership ability that seems to
be lacking lately. He is torn between his desire to be a part of the good fight
on the surface world and what and who he left behind in Atlantis. The other plot
is a bit brief and will no doubt lead into a larger story later. Artemis has
been sent into faked custody of the court so she can gain information on a
larger plot involving Icicle Jr., the son of the former colleague of her own
criminal dad. She gains information but is not pleased with the assignment. The
action this issue centers on the main team and their two encounters with
Clayface. At the end Aqualad will have to make a major decision. There are
traces of the plots that tie in with previous episodes of the TV show. The art
team has translated the cartoon likenesses admirably. Like most of the DC Kids
line this is a perfect comic for younger readers and older fans can enjoy it as
well.

Title: THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN
Issue Number: 679.1
Title Story: @UatuJackson Watches
Publisher: Marvel
Writers: Dan Slott & Chris Yost
Artist: Mathew Clark
Inker: Tom Palmer
Colors: Rob Schwager
Letters: Joe Caramagna
Cover Artist: John Tyler Christopher
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

The cover of this issue caught my eye because it is just Spider-Man set against
a blue background but the normal dark blue parts of his costume is the exact
same hue as the background so only the red, white and black parts are seen. It
is a very clever concept. When I saw this was also a point-one issue I decided
to check it out. Not being a regular follower of all those Spider-Man comics I
lose track of his latest circumstances rather quickly. So, to catch up, Peter
now works for Horizon Labs as part of a team of seven smarter than most
"scientists" working each in their own lab and together to come up with ideas
for amazing inventions. Most are younger like Peter, Uatu, Grady, Bella and
Sajani. There is an older member called Jurgen Muntz and the seventh member is
isolated in his lab - his identity known only to the boss, Max Modell. The story
starts off as a narrative by Uatu Jackson, a young black female, on her blog
discussing most of the above details. We look back weeks ago to the whole Spider
Island event and see these Horizon geniuses have been working on a cure while
trying to figure out who is in Lab Six. Even the famous Reed Richards is
involved in the process. The team does not know but I guess regular readers of
Spider-Man do know that the mystery man is Morbius. This is a pretty high
security facility but Peter has managed to create his own secret entrance so he
can come and go as Spider-Man is needed. The plot this issue has Uatu teaming up
with Peter to solve the mystery of the other lab resident. Peter on his own, as
Spider-Man decides go the extra step when his Spider sense alerts him and
crashes into Lab 6 to avert a perceived disaster. I like the Uatu character who
is a bit obsessed with supernatural beings and how to defeat them. There are a
couple of cute jokes played off her name, the same as the famous Watcher, like
the name of her blog and at one point she spouts, "My name is Uatu. Watch this!"
I found this a good point one issue as it enlightened me to what Peter is up to
these days and added a little information on the supporting cast at the lab. The
Morbius presence is logical when you find out what he is doing there and the
ending leads into a future plot that should prove interesting. The art is really
good as expected. This issue pretty much stands alone and offers a good jump on
point for new or lapsed readers.

Title: GLORY
Issue Number: 23
Title Story: The Way It Was
Title Arc: Once and Future
Publisher: Image
Creator: Rob Liefeld
Writer: Joe Keatinge
Artist: Ross Campbell
Colors: Ms,shatia Hamilton
Letters: Douglas Sherwood
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

This is another one of the titles originally created by Rob Liefeld that stopped
publication long ago. Image is restarting them with the original numbering and
so GLORY begins with #23. PROPHET is already out. BLOODSTRIKE and SUPREME will
resume with their original numbering in March and April respectively. This title
starts off better than Prophet did in that it explores the origin of Glory from
before her birth. Her mother was the queen of a warrior clan so advanced humans
would call them gods and her father was the king of a savage people we might
call demons. They had been at war for eons for reasons long forgotten. To make a
lasting peace the two united and gave birth to Glory who was trained from
childhood to rule both sides and destroy either if they broke the truce. After
hundreds of years she decided to defy her calling and come to Earth to aid them
in becoming greater than they are. She aided the allies during WWII but takes no
orders from anyone, even Supreme who was worried about her intentions and lack
of respect for authority. She went missing years ago and the story picks up with
a young girl who from the age of seven had dreams of Glory's adventures. She was
somehow connected to her over the years and then after Glory vanished the dreams
became repeats of previous adventures. With a budding career in journalism in
her future Riley decided to do her thesis on Glory and begins tracking down
leads to what happened to her hero. The trail leads her to France where perhaps
by chance she meets Gloria West who has some answers in an amazing story. She
also will get a foreboding of what is to come. This is a really nice way to
reintroduce the character and build a supporting cast for the future. The art is
very stylish and the finishes make it visually pleasing. I never read the
original series but this reboot has gotten my attention. I think it may develop
into a worthy offering.

Title: PEANUTS
Issue Number: 2
Title Story: Various
Publisher: Kaboom!
Creator: Charles M. Schulz
Cover Artists: Vicki Scott, Paige Braddock & Nina Kester - Variant by Schulz
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Humor/Comic Strip Adaptation
ALL AGES

After reading the infamous zero issue I decided to see how this series is doing
after a couple of issues. The theme is mostly seasonal with a couple stories set
in winter and another about Valentine's Day.

"Snowball's Chance" by Justin Thompson, Vicki Scott & Paige Braddock has Lucy
planning a snowball attack on good old Charlie Brown. Her efforts at first seem
out of the norm until the very end.

"Avalanche" by Vicki Scott, Bob Scott & Paige Braddock has little dialogue as
Charlie Brown shovels a path to Snoopy's dog house after a heavy snow. The punch
line comes as Snoopy pays it forward shoveling to his bird buddy Woodstock's
nest.

"Heart Attack" by Vicki Scott, Bob Scott & Alexis E. Fajardo is the Valentine
story with Charlie Brown trying to compose one for the little red-haired girl.
This story more than the others captures the essence of the character - his
optimism, derision by others and his eventually resignation about his own
resolve.

"Umbrella Fella" by Shane Houghton, Matt Whitlock & Lisa Moore has Lucy bullying
younger brother Linus. They are at the library when a major rain storm begins
and she off course wants Linus to go home to get an umbrella so she won't get
wet. She holds his blanket hostage so Linus must find inventive ways to stay dry
until he can retrieve the umbrella.

Classic Peanuts strips by Charles M. Schulz w/colors by Justin Thompson & Alexis
E. Fajardo fill out the issue here and there reminding us of the breadth of
ideas that the strip entertained us with over the years. It is nice to see the
characters in full color and the newer contributions do justice to the source
material. This is a fun comic for all ages and a real treat to PEANUTS fans both
young and old.

*****
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 DC ONE MILLION stories took place in which century?
The century was the 853rd Century. The winner this time is Stephen Kostrzewa.

Here is your no prize question:
Who holds record for most Academy Awards for acting?
A timely trivia question - Katharine Hepburn holds the distinction of the most
acting wins with four Leading Actress Oscars. Tied with three awards for lead
and/or supporting acting are Ingrid Bergman, Jack Nicholson and Walter Brennan.

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
In the history of the Justice League of America who was the first non-founding
member to be recruited?

Here is your no prize question:
Which rock song holds the record for the most sheet music copies ever sold?

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 2/19/12

2012-02-19T13:22:00.000-08:00

My View
David LeBlanc
ComicBkNet@aol.com

David LeBlanc was the Editor of the Comic Book Network Electronic Magazine for
over ten years. He is a life-long fan of comics and moderated online comic book
forums long before the Internet became the place to be. David works part-time at
That's Entertainment, the Eisner-winning comic store in Worcester, MA.

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: ADVENTURE TIME
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: KaBOOM!
Creator: Pendleton Ward
Writer: Ryan North
Artists: Shelli Paroline & Braden Lamb
Letters: Steve Wands
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Cartoon Adaptation - Humor/Fantasy
All Ages

This much anticipated comic is an adaptation of the very popular cartoon series
on Cartoon Network that has enthralled kids and adults alike. I've categorized
it as both humor and fantasy because the action takes place in a very different
world with lots of unique characters. The two main players are Finn the human
and Jake the dog. Jake is a magical dog with stretchy parts that often come into
play. They are friends with Princess Bubblegum, a human made of bubblegum that
rules the Candy Kingdom. Then there is BMO who appears to be a handheld game
system, Marceline the Vampire Queen and Ice King though they do not have much
involvement in this issue. I have only seen one segment of one show in this
series so I don't pretend to know a lot about these characters. Rather I look at
this from the perspective of a new reader to see what all the hoopla is about.
This episode involves Finn and Jake's archenemy, the Evil Lich. In the opening
scene we watch as a snail enters into a purple bag on the ground. When he
emerges he is followed out by a rather large skeletal being with horns, the Evil
Lich! It turns out the bag is a tesseract - a staple of science fiction that is
a container that is bigger on the inside than the outside, like Dr. Who's
Tardis. Now that he is out he plans to suck every single thing on the planet
into the bag to destroy Jake and Finn. As he begins his path of destruction Jake
and Finn are alerted by the noise and shaking and they soon spy Lich on his evil
rampage. Donning their anti-mind-control head bands they head off to confront
their enemy first with words in the form of battle burns, something they are as
fond of as fist bumping. Then they go into Jake suit mode wherein Jake stretches
around Finn to form a larger, muscular warrior to attack Lich. In the course of
the story they find it is not enough, as he not only sucks all of Candy Kingdom
into the bag but Jake and Finn as well. The guys find new friends inside but
their task will be difficult because the expanse inside the bag is vast and
everything going into it goes to a different place. Can even the Desert
Princess, the first person they meet, be of help or are they stuck forever? The
art in this lead story is very true to the cartoon so the fans will love it and
new readers will get the gist of the visual difference of this world. This is a
wacky kind of humor that is hard to categorize. Often it is just simple things
like the fist bumps and the battle burns that provide levity. The visuals of
things in this strange place also will make you smile - like the ironic name of
the Desert Princess who is composed of cake and cupcakes as Jake points out
makes her more like a Dessert Princess. It is so different and imaginative that
you can't help but be drawn into the silliness.

Back up story: "My Cider the Mountain" by Aaron Renier
Unlike the first story the art in this one is more detailed in line and coloring
making it visually different from the cartoon. In the story Princess Bubblegum
is planning a birthday party for Cinnamon Bun. A cute little guy, I don't know
what he is, called Tree Trunks, brings cider for the party only to be told by
the Princess that she cancelled the order. It seems she has been getting some
mysterious cider from the sky. Sure enough some birds fly down each carrying a
bucket of cider in their talons. As Tree Trunks goes home to his house in the
woods a bit dejected he takes comfort in the fact that the woodland animals like
his cider. It is then he hears a noise and ends up following what appears to be
a mummy through the woods to an isolated spa. It is there he finds the birds
grabbing buckets of cider outside a window. He has found the source of the
mysterious cider! The big reveal at the end is the twist to the story and lends
a couple of punch lines at the party. Like the first story it relies on a quirky
humor and interestingly strange creatures to drive the plot. In all this is a
fun comic that people are snatching up quickly. It is bound to be a hit. Now,
for those of you who have already read the comic did you see the added bonus
text at the bottom of some of the pages? Often it is very faint and it is easy
to overlook if you concentrate only on what is in the panels. Go back and look
again, it adds another dimension to the fun.

Title: GODZILLA LEGENDS
Issue Number: 3
Title Story: Secrets
Publisher: IDW
Writer: Mike Raicht
Artist: Tony Parker
Colors: Ian Herring
Letters: Chris Mowry
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Monster Science Fiction

The Godzilla titles from IDW have flourished over the months since the first
issue with all the variant covers including the one of Godzilla's foot smashing
down on our favorite comic store, That's Entertainment. I saw the latest issue
of one of these titles, GODZILLA LEGENDS, featuring Titanosaurus on the cover
and decided to see what it was all about. What I found was a more interesting
story than I expected. It begins as a young boy named Tristan is woken from
sleep by a voice in his head. Looking out his window he sees a young lady
calling herself Miki Saegusa standing out front. She is talking to him
telepathically. She knows he is also a telepath and has come to talk to Tristan
and his parents with a proposition. She tells them of an institute funded by the
United Nations just outside of Gresham, Oregon. They are gathering gifted
children from all over for special schooling at no charge to the families -
Xavier's School immediately comes to mind. Tristan is given the choice and
agrees to go. He is not only telepathic but can see bits of visions of the
future, things that seem to come to pass later. At orientation they meet
Headmaster Mugal who explains that Miki, using her gifts, was able to
communicate with Godzilla and help avert disaster. It is their hope that
students like those gathered here can communicate with other monsters and have
similar results. At first the tests seem to be probing Tristan's limits but the
effects on him later could lead to a disaster. As we see near the end there is a
deeper secret in this school and a sinister plot is being hatched. I enjoyed
this story very much. So as not to disappoint the reader Titanosaurus does
appear but it is only part of a much bigger picture. It seems like Miki and
Tristan will be the real heroes down the road but for now they are tools of
someone else. The art is well done adding the right effects for the variety of
scenes involved. This is much more than a monster-smashing story. I just might
go back to the first two issues to see what came before.

Title: BLACK PANTHER: THE MOST DANGEROUS MAN ALIVE
Issue Number: 529
Title Story: The Kingpin of Wakanda
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: David Liss
Artists: Shawn Martinbrough & Jefte Palo
Colors: Felix Serrano, Jesus Aburto & Jean-Francois Beaulieu
Letters: Joe Caramagna
Cover Artist: Francesco Francavilla
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

As many know the Black Panther took over the previous Daredevil title continuing
its numbering, which is why this issue is 529. T'Challa is now the former Black
Panther, that title now being held by his sister Shuri. He is depowered and
living in Hell's Kitchen fighting the good fight in Daredevil's place. He is
allied with Luke Cage, The Falcon and Sofija against Wilson Fisk and his crime
empire. This is the final chapter of the series that wraps up T'Challa's tour of
duty in New York. The objective is near - they plan to cripple the Kingpin's
empire and keep him from gaining control of Wakanda and all its wealth. As the
action begins T'Challa, Luke and Falcon have broken into Fisk's headquarters in
a frontal assault and are skirmishing with his Ninjas. As a precaution Kingpin
instructs his trusted servant, Miyu, to erase the computer's financial database,
which is backed up elsewhere, while Typhoid Mary and Lady Bullseye will join the
battle against Luke and Falcon. Fisk wants to confront T'Challa himself. As part
of the master plan Sofija is across the street in a sniper's perch waiting for
the word from T'Challa to begin the end game. While Luke and Falcon are not
privy to all the details they fight on as true heroes trusting their leader to
know what he is doing. It is a tense action-filled battle that has more than one
surprise before it is all over. T'Challa has been playing this like a big chess
game and is about to checkmate the Kingpin. This is a satisfying story that can
be read on its own without confusion. There is a brief recap at the start and a
couple of interesting epilogues that lay the groundwork for the future exploits
of the King of Wakanda. The art is not the most appealing to me. I found the
coloring a bit dark and the in places the facial features get blurred by it.
Otherwise it is a solid closing chapter leaving Hell's Kitchen in the future
care of Daredevil in his own new series. We will have to look elsewhere for
T'Challa in the future.

Title: SUICIDE SQUAD
Issue Number: 6
Title Story: The Hunt for Harley Quinn - part 1
Publisher: DC
Writer: Roam Glass
Artist: Clayton Henry
Inkers: Scott Hanna w/Clayton Henry
Colors: Val Staples & Hi-Fi
Letters: Jared K. Fletcher
Cover Artist: Paul Renaud
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Villains

I sampled this New 52 title when it first came out and decided to see where it
is going on this new arc billed as the Hunt for Harley Quinn. The Suicide Squad
is of course a band of criminals on a tight leash doing the bidding of Amanda
Waller in the hope of reduced sentences or freedom. She controls them with
implants that can be exploded if they try to escape their duties. As we look in
on the latest group on the team it seems Harley has somehow escaped their fate
and they are hot on her trail in Gotham City. The team is led by Deadshot and
includes Savant, King Shark and the twins Light and Lime. They are well aware
that it will be difficult to capture their prey on her home turf without drawing
the attention of the Gotham PD or a certain Caped Crusader. The first hurdle is
an amazing array of goons all dressed like Harley that attack out of nowhere
when the Squad realizes the "Harley" they shot down is a man in disguise. There
is a lot of bloodshed in this battle, which reminds the reader that these guys
are not heroes and are not averse to killing. The other part of the plot follows
Harley in her quest involving the fate of the Joker. Some of you know by now in
the first issue of the new DETECTIVE COMICS Joker's face was skinned off of him
and is now being held at Gotham PD. Whether Joker is still alive is anyone's
guess. But Harley has a plan to find out. While her goons distract the Squad she
heads for Arkham Asylum to confront an old acquaintance. This serves to show us
some of Harley's origins in flashback, a highlight of this issue. I thought I
might get lost jumping back into this series now but it turns out this issue is
perfect to sample as this new arc begins. The script is masterful and executed
nicely. It dwells on some of the characters in the squad giving us insight into
the current dynamic and starts this in depth look at Harley Quinn as a bonus.
The art is superb with Henry, Hanna, and Staples all contributing to some very
nice visuals on every page. The ending is intriguing and may be a surprise to
some. In all it is a worthy addition to the line that deserves to continue. Why
should just the good guys have their own titles?

Title: THIEF OF THIEVES
Issue Number: 1
Story: Robert Kirkman
Publisher: Image
Creator: Robert Kirkman
Writer: Nick Spencer
Artist: Shawn Martinborough
Colors: Felix Serrano
Letters: Rus Wooton
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Crime Drama
Mature Readers - Comics on the Edge

All I needed to see was that this title was written by Robert Kirkman before I
decided to give it a try. I am always open to genres other than the normal super
hero stuff. This one follows Redmond, a master thief, living in the real world
with other interesting characters. Redmond has a big reputation and with that
comes bigger and bigger heists. The main plot reveals that he has been tasked
with a major job in Venice, the heist of the century. But it begins on another
job on a cruise ship where things do not seem to be going so well for a master
thief. He is captured and believed to have stolen something from a safe deposit
box owned by a passenger called the Countess. Soon her goons have him tied up
below deck and are beating him to find the missing item. When the Captain
protests the Countess arranges for a helicopter to fly them off his ship so they
can continue in her own country. This plot segues into an earlier time when
Redmond comes upon a female trying to jack his car. Through a series of events
she becomes his apprentice and in the present is heavily involved in his
operations. This whole first issue is set up to give us some knowledge of the
main players and their relationship. We know there is a big job being planned
and Redmond was fronted a half million dollars to do the prep work months ago.
The ending scene is a bit of a shocker but will no doubt lead to something big
next time. I like Kirkman's scripts. He has a flare for the dialogue depending
on the characters involved. This is highlighted in a scene between Redmond and
his apprentice. He also does not give too much away up front letting us enjoy
the situations as they change unexpectedly. The art is a good fit for this type
of story with just the right coloring to fit Martinbrough's unique style. If you
like crime drama and comics that read like a good novel this one is for you.

Title: DICKS
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Avatar
Writer: Garth Ennis
Artist: John McCrea
Colors: Digikore Studios
Price (USD): $4.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Humor
Mature Readers - Comics on the Edge

Whenever you see a comic by Garth Ennis you know it will be pushing the
boundaries and most likely be not for the younger crowd. When it is also being
published by AVATAR you can expect anything and most likely you will get it. I
knew this was a comic title of sorts but I found it unlike any humor comic I am
used to, even those others aimed at adults. The main characters are good buddies
Dougie and Ivor. Dougie is engaged and about to be married because he knocked up
his girlfriend and his future father-in-law demands he do the right thing. That
is what drives the main plot from the anticipation, the bachelor party, the
wedding day, the honeymoon and beyond. Along the way we get to know these guys
and some of their relatives and acquaintances. They visit Ivor's uncle who
suggests Dougie bump off the bride to be, or at least her father. He then forces
Ivor to take care of his pet snake. That leads to a bar scene where the snake
escapes and ends up in the pants of a local bully. Realizing the boys are behind
this the bully goes after them and the story just goes off on strange things
from that point on. The bachelor party is a wild scene and Dougie barely makes
it to the church the next day. Ivor pulls off a very embarrassing toast at the
reception and plans a super prank for the newlyweds. There are lots of swearing
and toilet humor throughout - but here is the thing. The script is all written
in heavy Irish dialect. Half the time I am trying to figure out just what normal
people are saying, never mind those with speech impediments like missing teeth.
It is not high literature and the plot is somewhat predictable - except for the
part where a ghost gets his revenge. It is wild and certainly not for everyone.
The art on the other hand is perfect for this comic. The characters have unique
cartoon qualities and the lettering fits right in. There are a number of back up
shorts that I found a bit more humorous as they focus on just two pages to get
to the punch line. Some of them are decent, a couple fall flat. And they also
include the more "adult" themes of the book. In fact the last page is just an
exercise in poor taste as they reveal what would happen if Avatar came out with
a bad idea for a super hero. I won't spoil that one for you. I can't say I would
recommend this to anyone and I don't think I would pick up another issue. The
guys do a good job in what they want to accomplish, it is just not my cup of
tea.

                                    *****
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:
Nuck and Futz were supposed to be characters in what comic book series until the
editors caught the joke?
Nuck and Futz were to be character names in YOUNG JUSTICE, until the
editors figured out the obscene spoonerism. The winner by the dice is Stu
Cathell.

Here was your no prize question:
Many songwriters considered it the ultimate compliment to be recorded by Frank
Sinatra. What was the only Beatle song he recorded?
The only Beatle song recorded by Frank Sinatra was "Something" by George. He
not only called it one of the most beautiful love songs of the last 50 years,
but also said it was his favorite "Lennon and McCartney song." No doubt, George
got a laugh out of that. Our fearless leader Paul Howley wins another no prize
for getting it first.

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
The DC ONE MILLION stories took place in which century?

Here is your no prize question:
Who holds record for most Academy Awards for acting?

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 2/11/12

2012-02-10T11:57:00.000-08:00

My View
David LeBlanc
ComicBkNet@aol.com

David LeBlanc was the Editor of the Comic Book Network Electronic Magazine for
over ten years. He is a life-long fan of comics and moderated online comic book
forums long before the Internet became the place to be. David works part-time at
That's Entertainment, the Eisner-winning comic store in Worcester, MA.

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 TWELVE
Issue Number: 9 (of 12)
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: J. Michael Straczynski
Artist: Chris Weston
Colors: Chris Chuckry
Letters: Jimmy Betancourt
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

This series may hold the record for longest time on hiatus. Issue #8 came out in
November of 2008 and after more than three years we have #9 finally on the
racks. There is a basic synopsis at the beginning though so much has happened so
far it is hard to cover it all. The Twelve were a band of heroes in the 1940s
that all set off to fight the Nazis in the war. They were trapped in Berlin and
put into cryogenic suspension to be studied by their captors in order to
duplicate their powers - though not all of them have real powers. That never
happened and the group was left in those chambers only to be dug up and revived
in 2008. They are put under the care of the military and housed together in a
mansion where they receive counseling and support in adjusting to a brave new
world. They are eventually offered roles as heroes in the twenty-first century.
They adjust in different ways. The swashbuckling Blue Blade becomes a celebrity;
the Phantom Reporter starts a column for the Daily Bugle, Dynamic Man allies
with the FBI and begins a new crime-fighting career while the only female, the
Black Widow, resumes her mission as an instrument of justice for an unknown
party. Rock Man is still bemoaning the loss of his underground civilization. At
the close of the last issue the Laughing Mask has been arrested for a crime from
the 1940s. As the story resumes the mentalist of the group, Mastermind Excello,
has bailed out the Laughing Mask and has returned to the mansion to let the
others know that he has come to grips with his future. An end is coming but what
the final scene may be is not yet clear. Meanwhile Dynamic Man is putting on an
exhibition in a baseball park and the Blue Blade prepares for the debut of his
one-man show. The main focus of the plot has to do with the robot of the group,
Electro. He was the brainchild of Philo Zog who controlled the automaton through
an electronic mind link. His niece, Elizabeth Zogolowski has temporary custody
of the robot but lacks the funds to fight the court battle against the
government. Blue Blade has graciously agreed to fund her suit in return she
agrees to have Electro appear in Blue Blades show. But there are fears that
Philo was going mad before he died when Electro disappeared with all the others.
Has his mind been imprinted on the robot brain and does that spell danger? Later
in the chapter the Phantom Reporter will probe deep into that question in an
attempt to find out Electro's secret. And speaking of secrets, the Fiery Mask
finally opens up to Excello revealing the shame and guilt he feels about how he
gained his flame powers. This may be a bit much for a new reader to jump into. A
lot of what I have detailed is what has gone before and is not mentioned in this
chapter. However, the plot in this issue is easy enough to follow with the focus
clearly on Blue Blade, Elizabeth, the Phantom Report - the narrator of the
series, and Fiery Mask. JMS does an excellent job on the script and the art team
makes it come alive. I think it is well worth your time to try it out at its
reasonable price. You may just want to get the collected or single issues once
you do.

Title: MAGIC THE GATHERING
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: IDW
Writer: Matt Forbeck
Artist: Martin Coccolo
Colors: J. Edwin Stevens
Letters: Shawn Lee
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Fantasy/CCG adaptation

A special note about this comic: If you buy the sealed edition you will get a
free "Treasure Hunt" Magic card. Here is what Wizards of the Coast put out in
some promo material:
It follows the adventures of a new Planeswalker by the name Dack
Fayden. Dack's not just a powerful mage but also one of the
greatest thieves of his age. Unlike other thieves, though, he
steals - he'd prefer to say "borrows" - not for money but
knowledge.
Dack has a special power called psychometry. This allows him to
pry into an artifact, figure out how it works, and teach himself
the spells it uses. It also gives him visions of the most intense
times the object has been used, which can be both horrifying and
enlightening.
In this opening story Dack is looking for the people that destroyed his town.
Not having ever played MTG I have no idea how well this comic ties in. Dack is a
Planeswalker - he can teleport between planes. I do recognize some names of
places he visits - Ravnica, where he is being chased by a rather large beast
with dragon wings - Fiora, where he has a price on his head and a female who
wants to run away with him - and back to Ravnica where he can heal his wounds
and probe the latest artifact. It may be the best clue he has had yet to his
endless quest. As a first issue this one is pretty good. It introduces the main
character and his immediate associates, shows some of the unique capabilities he
has and gives us a small sample of some of the creatures and places we can
expect to see. The plot is well scripted and the art is exceptional. I found the
story to be readily accessible and interesting. Perhaps Magic players will get
even more out of it, beside the free card, but any avid comic book reader can
enjoy it.

Title: GREEN LANTERN: THE ANIMATED SERIES
Issue Number: 0
Title Story: True Colors
Publisher: DC
Writer: Art Baltazar & Franco
Artist: Dario Brizuela
Colors: Gabe Eltaeb
Letters: Saida Temofonte
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero - cartoon adaptation

In November Cartoon Network ran the first episode of this new series that will
debut in March. In that preview episode Hal Jordan and Kilowog head off into
space in a special long-range space ship powered by the energy of the Oa
lantern. It has an artificial intelligence computer dubbed Aya. Rather than
adapt that story this zero issue takes those basic concepts and begins a new
adventure in deep space. They are following an energy source in space and come
across a green power ring floating in space. But they both soon realize if this
were truly the power ring of a fallen comrade it would be flying off to find a
suitable replacement. That means that it is a fake and they have been lead into
a trap. This leads into an encounter with some Red Lanterns and Kilowog is taken
captive. The adventure will lead Hal to another planet and a mysterious object.
In true form everything ends well in the end and the mystery box is a clever
addition to the plot. The art is faithful to the animated characters and the
colors are vivid making the effect even better. I am also curious about the
colorist. Is it just a coincidence that his name is beatle spelled backwards?
Anyway, this is a great comic for all ages with the self-contained story format
and likable characters. If you are still into the cartoon versions of your
favorite heroes check out the series on Cartoon Network next month. That way you
can get a double dose after reading this comic.

Title: WINTER SOLDIER
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Ed Brubaker
Artist: Butch Guice
Colors: Bettie Breitweiser
Letters: Joe Caramagna
Cover Artist: Lee Bermejo
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

I am a sucker for first issues even when I do not know the characters very well.
Well, I know who Bucky is and followed him in his latest incarnation as Captain
America. He was supposedly killed, again, in the FEAR ITSELF event but as we
found out in one of those after issues his death was faked. The tag line for
this comic is "believed dead by the world at large, and haunted by his past,
Bucky fights for redemption as the Winter Soldier." I am not sure I get the
redemption part but decided to see what this is all about. It is essentially a
spy thriller with super villains thrown in. Bucky is working with Natasha
Romanoff, the Black Widow. They are tracking down elements of Department X, the
cold war Soviet Union Secret Science Division that brain washed Bucky to be the
perfect cold war assassin. Another sleeper agent has been released from stasis
and the trail leads to a long forgotten Soviet agent living in the US. True to
form Brubaker has an intriguing plot with action and romance aplenty. He leads
us through the maze while filling in some of the blanks along the way. He also
has some interesting villains and the end of the chapter that will make this
more exciting - especially when we see who the first target of that sleeper
agent is. I have always enjoyed Guice's art and Breitweiser has a special
coloring technique that gives a special look to the art. It is very effective
visually. This is not a book that needs a lot of familiarity. You can pick it up
and follow it easily. It is definitely worth your time.

Title: ALPHA GIRL
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Image
Creators: Jeff Roenning & Jean-Paul Bonjour
Writer: Jeff Roenning
Artist: Robert Love
Inker: Dana Shukartsi
Colors: Diego Simone
Letters: Drew Gill
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Horror
Mature Readers - Comics on the Edge

The opening sequence of this comic explains how civilization came to an end. It
was not atomic war, meteor strikes or seismic activity but it was caused by a
third rate cosmetics company, Moujou. The structure of the comic has two main
elements. First we meet the title character though we have not been told her
name. As a child she and her younger brother were orphaned when their single
mother overdosed. She bounced around a few foster homes and ended up with a
rather wealthy foster mom. Buddy was not so lucky. After a couple of bad
situations he ended up in juvenile prison. That is about all we see of them for
now. The girl narrates the story and the second half of the book reveals what
happened at that cosmetic company. This is basically a zombie story. Two
perfumers have stagnated in their positions and one day they are given a choice
between taking up research in pheromones with a pay cut or take to the streets.
It is what they develop that has unexpected results and begins the horror sure
to follow. The premise is straightforward. The artists do a good job with
characters that are varied and unique. The coloring is a good fit and changes to
fit the moods and characters in fine fashion. The writer is taking the time to
build up to the main event by spending time on the characters as much as the
events. It is easy reading and clearly leads to more mayhem next time. Just how
the story will revolve around the Alpha Girl remains to be seen. For now it is a
fun book with some promise.

Title: O.M.A.C.
Issue Number: 6
Title Story: One More Amorous Conflict
Publisher: DC
Creator: Jack Kirby
Writers: Dan Didio & Keith Giffen
Artist: Scott Kolins
Inker: Scott Koblish
Colors: Hi-Fi
Letters: Travis Lanham
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

I looked at the first issue of this New 52 title and decided it was time to
check in again. The cover harkens back to the Kirby DC titles that spawned the
original OMAC series. As I had noticed with the first issue the story title
follows the same pattern being words with the same first letters O-M-A-C. There
is no major plot synopsis to start but at least we get the main idea. Kevin Kho
is connected to the amazing satellite Brother Eye. At times he changes into the
One Man Army Corp, or whatever the acronym stands for now - basically a much
larger hulking man with a large Mohawk and a larger attitude. It is not
something he wants but rather is stuck with. We see from the opening scene that
Brother Eye is in contact with him in his civilian identity through his
computer. Strangely enough Brother Eye is also in contact with the head of
Checkmate, Maxwell Lord, though they are both sworn enemies. Brother Eye has
discovered some secret files in the Cadmus database where Kevin works referring
to something called Zero Patient. But Max also has his contacts within Cadmus
and will be looking to find out what the files are about. But this story is more
about Kevin and his co-workers. Tony has the hots for a female consultant and
convinces Kevin to ask his friend Jody to join them on a double date. Each
person has his or her motivation in this outing. Tony wants to make it with
Leilani. Leilani has her own secrets and is searching for something she believes
Kevin has while Kevin just wants to make things better with he and Jody. When
Leilani makes her move and reveals her true nature Kevin has no choice but the
Omactivate (yes they actually use that word) to deal with it. For an old Kirby
fan this is a fun comic. The secret of Leilani and what she seeks is right out
of the Fourth World epic from long ago. It ties in nicely with the whole
OMAC/Brother Eye theme and Max Lord is just icing on the cake. Didio and Giffen
are having fun with this comic and the two Scotts do and admirable job with the
art. I found this chapter easy enough to get into having skipped to it from
issue #1. This may be one of those comics not high up in sales among the New 52
but it deserves your attention.

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

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

Last week's trivia question:
Famous first words of which comic book character?
"A few seconds more and we'll know whether we have succeeded or not!"
Bruce Banner debuted with those words before his rendezvous with a Gamma bomb.
The winner by the dice roll is Jeremy Mower.

Here was your no prize question:
In the TV show THE JETSONS, what was Astro's real name?
t was learned that the Jetson's pet dog was originally named Tralfaz.

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
Nuck and Futz were supposed to be characters in what comic book series until the
editors caught the joke?

Here is your no prize question:
Many songwriters considered it the ultimate compliment to be recorded by Frank
Sinatra. What was the only Beatle song he recorded?

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 2/2/12

2012-02-03T15:53:00.000-08:00

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: GRIMM FAIRY TALES PRESENTS ALICE IN WONDERLAND
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Zenescope Entertainment
Creator: Raven Gregory, Joe Brusha & Ralph Tedesco
Writer: Raven Gregory
Artist: Robert Gill
Colors: Jason Embury
Letters: Jim Campbell
Cover Artist: Various
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Fantasy
MATURE: Comics on the Edge

The fact this comic is a more mature offering clues you in to the fact that
these are not the lovable Disney characters we all remember. This Wonderland is
a realm of madness. Within this realm the Jabberwocky feeds on the sanity of
anyone unfortunate enough to end up in Wonderland. For generations a man named
Charles Dodgson has been sending unsuspecting innocents into Wonderland in
exchange for his own immortality. He is in league with the Jabberwocky. And so
the opening scene shows Dodgson urging the young girl named Alice to enter the
large opening at the base of a tree. But rather than fall through a deep hole
she finds herself entering a large cave with voices all around urging her to go
deeper and deeper. The first thing she meets is a white rabbit, sans the funny
clothes, explaining to her she is now in Wonderland where up is down and forward
is backward. Soon she is chasing the rabbit into a land where your mind can
change the way things appear. The art team does a good job in trying to help us
visualize the experience in a series of surrealistic panel with boats floating
in air, upside down island and various objects floating everywhere. When she
finally lands on solid ground she is confronted by the Jabberwocky. He tells her
she cannot leave, that no one ever leaves. She sees the hunger in his eyes and
surmises he wants out as well from his curiosity about where she came from. She
promises to help him if no one gets hurt and he of course agrees. She then gets
to see the looking glass showing her the real world she left showing her a grown
up Alice - the person she was meant to be. This part of the story is the set up
as we shift the story years later when Alice is more mature. Her outfit has
become more alluring for the fan boys with bare midriff, large breasts and a
barely there mini-skirt with white stockings held up by a garter belt. The bad
girl art is the trademark of the Grimm line from Zenescope. The rest of this
opening chapter has the now comely Alice encountering a not so friendly Cheshire
cat and some other terrifying things leaving us at a cliffhanger as she meets a
walrus. The story is the kind I pretty much expected from the start. The heroine
is pleasant to look at and faces various terrors with more to come. As with most
of these titles the art is well done from fine detail and superb colring. That
part of it is well-executed. If this kind of adventure is your cup of tea (no
pun intended) then this title is better than most. At a reasonable price it is
worth looking into.

Title: DEADPOOL
Issue Number: 49.1
Title Story: Deadpool the Musical
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Daniel Way
Artist: John McCrea
Colors: Veronica Gandini
Letters: Joe Sabino
Cover Artist: Stegman, Babinski & Gracia
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero
Parental Advisory

I have read a few Deadpool comics on occasion and found them humorously
entertaining. He is of course Wade Wilson. He is a mercenary with incredible
healing powers and martial art skills. He is very efficient and also crazier
than a sack of ferrets. This point-one issue is the prelude to February's issue
#50 which is promoting his supposed death - we think. What the creators have

done in this issue is to recap his story from Wade's point of view. It is

supposedly Wade doing his own self-analysis. Feeling pretty down lately he has

decided to recap his adventures in the form of a musical. Each segment is pretty

much rhyming and set to popular tunes, though for this old fart most of the

songs mentioned are unfamiliar. Your mileage may differ. The opening scene is in
the present where four gunmen wearing Mardi-Gras masks converge in a warehouse
as Deadpool confronts them. As our hero takes care of the threat he breaks into song with lyrics set to the tune of "O.P.P." by Nature. From then on it is a

slide show of adventures from supposedly being hired by S.H.I.E.L.D. to kill

Wolverine, to a confrontation with Daken, a quick recap of Secret Invasion and

the Dark Avengers and eventually joining the X-Men when he decided to become a

costumed super hero. There is action sequences moving quickly through other

adventures, presumably all from his regular series - and the melody changes in

foot notes telling what other recent song is the basis. It probably makes a lot

of sense to the regular followers of his antics. For the rest of us it is a very
brief synopsis of what has come before. While I got the gist of his story from
this chapter the whole rhyming to popular rap and hip hop songs is lost on me.
The art is fairly decent making it ok visually. I came away not really deciding
if this comic should be recommended for the casual reader. I think it is of the
type that will make an impression based on what you bring to it yourself. So I
would say for $3 you could do worse. Personally I much prefer the regular format
and the crazy humor of the usual stories.

Title: STATIC SHOCK
Issue Number: 5
Title Story: True Natures
Publisher: DC
Creators: McDuffie, Cowan, David & Dingle
Writer/Artist: Scott McDaniel
Inker: Andy Owen
Colors: Guy Major
Letters: Travis Lanham
Cover Artist: Khary Randolph with Emilio Lopez
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

Someone saw me with this comic at the store and remarked that he did not know
that they had made a comic based on the STATIC SHOCK cartoons. I proceeded to
explain that they had already had another series based on the cartoon and in
fact the cartoon was based on the original comic book series from Milestone
Comics years ago. As part of the New 52 DC decided to bring back Static who has
electromagnetic powers and is now residing with his family in New York rather
than the original Dakota of the Milestone series. It turns out this particular
issue has a dream sequence that shows new readers how Virgil Hawkins grew up in
a harsher city and at one point considered confronting a bully with a gun. At
the last minute he decided he was not a killer and fate stepped in as he and
others found themselves transformed by an event known as the Big Bang on Paris
Island. This three-page sequence is worth it for those who have not taken a look
at Static yet. But that is an interlude in the main story that has Static at
first at the seeming mercy of some powered bad guys who have been tasked with
his murder. Since this is at the opening of the issue we pretty much know he
will turn the tables. For the time being he manages to fake Static's death and
heads home to plan his next move. The chief bad guy, Piranha, is trying to
secure a security contract for a major underworld syndicate and figures he has
won the right but the employer wants to see the body. There are a lot of
characters involved in the plot both those employed by Piranha and those of his
rivals. Before the issue is out, Static will have to make a move after his
sister is kidnapped as part of the master plan. It may seem a bit hopeless for
our hero but he also has allies familiar to those of us who followed the
Milestone characters. Look for them next issue. Static in his original series
many moons ago (a little Indian lingo there) was written in the image of Spider-
Man - him being a teen with great power given to him and finding a way to be
responsible about it. After all this time he has been more adept and confident

as this series shows. Unfortunately this title is not one of the better sellers
for DC. I found the story fairly easy to follow and the action leads to
consequences and further developments nicely. It is well done and deserves to be
given a chance. As I said this particular issue will help new readers get caught
up so give it a try.

Title: USAGI YOJIMBO
Issue Number: 143
Title Story: Shoyu
Publisher: Dark Horse
Creator: Stan Sakai
Cover Colors: Tom Luth
Price (USD): $3.50
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Anthropomorphic Hero
ALL AGES

I have not read a Usagi comic for a long time so I decided to check in on his
latest adventure from Dark Horse Comics. For those of you unfamiliar with the
character he is a samurai living in the end of the sixteenth-century, a time of
civil war in Japan. He lost his lord in battle and now wanders the land in
search of harmony fighting injustice and honing his spiritual and martial
skills. It turns out this particular issue is the beginning of a two-part story
making it a good way to sample his adventures. Usagi happens into a small town
at night seeking lodging when he sees some unsavory characters running off in
the distance. Deciding not to get involved he changes his mind when he notices a
fire in the distance and runs to investigate. He quickly sounds the alarm and
with the aid of others puts out the fire before it can cause major damage. He
tells his story to Wada, the local constabulary, but the law man is indifferent
and warns Usagi to leave his town. His reception is much warmer from the owner
of the establishment, Mitsui, who offers him food and shelter and later a job.
Mitsui fears the fire was set by his chief rival, Hata. Sakai take his time in
developing the story as the next day Mitsui explains that he is a maker of Shoyu
Soy Sauce a brand well known for its flavor and quality. We get a detailed
account of how the product is carefully made in the old tradition. Mitsui
explains that Hata is also in the business but his product is inferior, as Hata
takes shortcuts in his process. It is a set up that infers that Hata wants to
drive Mitsui out of business and perhaps the corrupt sheriff is in league with
him. It seems that Usagi realizes the danger and following his personal code
will stay and help Mitsui. This is a delightful story in that Sakai develops the
characters and their motivations while exposing the readers to a part of
Japanese culture and tradition. Sakai is an accomplished cartoonist as is
evident visually page after page. I am not a fan of anthropomorphic characters
as a rule but the fact that all of these characters are animals with human
characteristics does not detract one bit from the story. This title is fun for
all ages. If you have been at all curious about this long-established character
this issue is a good introduction.

Title: HAUNTED CITY
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: Suffer the Little Children
Publisher: Aspen
Creator: Chap Taylor
Writers: Chap Taylor & Peter Johnson
Artist: Michael Ryan
Colors: Kelsey Shannon
Letters: Josh Reed
Price (USD): $3.50
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Supernatural/Crime

It always disturbs me to open up a first issue of a comic series only to see
text on the inside cover telling "The story so far..." This of course means that
there was one of those "zero" issues published earlier. Why comic companies
still continue this practice puzzles me. Do they think readers will more readily
buy an initial issue if it is #0 versus #1? Anyway, the other problem with this
one is that text itself. If you are going to bother to bring new readers up to
speed with a recap of what has come before at least make the effort to make it
legible rather than in some tiny fancy font that is obscured by the background
coloring making it even harder to read with these old eyes. In my view this is a
major editing blunder. I guess they think it is more important to give more
space and larger fonts to the production staff (not the creators) and the
various alternate covers and their credits. If you want me to get interested in
what I am about to read make it easier to read the fricking recap! But I
digress...

Detective Tom Whalen is a bad cop. He is corrupt and a drug user. When he tried
to back out of a drug deal with the Koreans he was forced to fight for his life.
Chasing one of his assailants into an old theater he sees the ghost of a young
girl just before he took a bullet to the head. Waking in the hospital he is
surprised to see a man in a suit standing over him. The mystery man will only
tell him that Internal Affairs are on the way. They know the Koreans were buying
evidence dope from a dirty cop in narcotics, Whalen himself. The man identifies
himself as Peter Hopkins and hands Tom his card identifying him as the
Witchfinder General and advises Tom to call him when things get bad enough. Tom
is no fool. Realizing he is on the verge of getting busted he takes off and
seeks refuge at the den of a friendly drug dealer he knows. There he learns that
the bad guys are after him as well. All this serves to get us more familiar with
Tom as the lead character of the story. The bigger picture involves small
children that have gone missing. One such is followed in the opening sequence.
He is Deshawn Carver and he is an orphan. Other boys pick on him and his foster
father is no comfort. It seems his only comfort is praying to a statue of a
female with wings. We learn through the course of the story that this is
Morrigan, a pre-Christian figure of Celtic Mythology. She preys on the helpless
children who have no one else to turn to and give their fate to her freely.
Whalen will go to Hopkins and his group and they explain that their group has
been protecting the city for hundreds of years from things no one believes are
real. The parallel plots follow the next potential victim of the Morrigan and
Whalen as his predicament gets worse. Since he is no doubt the major character
we feel somehow he will side with the good guys fighting the supernatural, if he
can avoid both the cops and the criminals. It is an interesting plot with no
apparent easy way out for the protagonist. As with most Aspen comics the art is
good quality. Right now it is not too involved with a lot of the supernatural
stuff, just enough to peak our interest. I guess that zero issue was not needed
after all as I followed this story easily and am interested where it will lead.

Title: THE TRANSFORMERS: ROBOTS IN DISGUISE
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: The Autonomy Lesson
Publisher: IDW
Writer: John Barber
Artist: Andrew Griffith
Colors: Josh Perez
Letters: Shawn Lee
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Science Fiction - based on the toy & cartoon characters of HASBRO

I recently reviewed the TRANSFORMERS one-shot THE DEATH OF OPTIMUS PRIME. This
is one of two new series that follow directly from that comic. The sister title
is TRANSFORMERS: MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE. In the one-shot we learned that the
Autobots finally won the war against the Decepticons. The long-dead home planet,
Cybertron, has come back to life with the Autobots ruling and the Decepticons
under their control. They have to toe the line or the inhibitor chips in their
heads can be remotely detonated with deadly force. Countless non-combatants have
also come back to Cybertron to repopulate the world. They are known as Non-
Affiliated Indigenous Life-forms dubbed Nails by the others. The Nails are not
enamored of either side in the now finished war and just want to live in peace
on their world. Among the Autobots there has been a rift. Those siding with
Bumblebee stayed on Cybertron to build a new society. Rodimus took the others on
a starship to search for the long-lost guardians of ancient myth as a way to
save their world from further strife. Upon takeoff in MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE
the ship apparently exploded. While those on Cybertron believe their departing
comrades have perished readers of that other title know they actually were
teleported to another part of space to face their own adventures in that series.
This series will follow the developments on Cybertron. Even among themselves all
are not in agreement as to how best rule. Some of the Decepticons are being used
as a sort of police force to help quell uprisings among the Nails. Unfortunately
they tend to take too much pleasure in their duties, which will lead to a major
crisis by the end of the chapter. There is a major plot among the Decepticons
led by Ratbat. We probably all assumed that they would not remain docile
prisoners for long. On top of this the planet itself is exhibiting sentient
activity, attacking approaching ships as they land. Bumblebee has his hands full
with disgruntled Autobots, plotting Decepticons and the ever-growing majority of
the population defying his authority. It is an involved plot that is well
scripted and proceeding forward to major confrontations. I liked the art in
every aspect. The coloring is essential to the definition of each character. I
never imagined a Transformer comic would be this detailed but it is an
interesting story that should be fun for all ages.

*****
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 was the back-up feature for the first SUPERGIRL comic book series?

Zatanna was the backup in the first SUPERGIRL series. The winner by the dice is
Gregory Goding.

Here was your no prize question:

Which U.S. President was never elected to the office of President or Vice
President?
Gregory Goding also got the no prize this time. This was easy if you thought
about it. Gerald Ford was of course the answer. He was appointed to Vice
President after Agnew resigned and became President after Nixon resigned.

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:

Famous first words of which comic book character?
"A few seconds more and we'll know whether we have succeeded or not!"

Here is your no prize question:

In the TV show THE JETSONS, what was Astro's real name?

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

Comic Reviews 1/27/12

2012-01-27T16:48:00.000-08:00

For trademark reasons they could not call this comic THE AVENGERS even though
that is the name of the old TV show. Those of us old enough to remember that
series will no doubt be curious if this comic lives up to those memories. It
starts out in a pub as two operatives discuss the possibility of a mole in the
organization. When one of them ends up tied to an anchor at the bottom of the
bay Steed is called in to investigate the murder. "Mother" warns him that there
is a mole in the department and to trust no one. But of course there is one
person he can always trust, Mrs. Peel. Soon they are on their way to pay a
visit, pick up clues and solve the mystery. The dead man, Foggy, was an expert
at devising war game stratagems and was kept on after retirement. His house is a
marvel of various oversized game pieces from chess, dominoes and the like. His
green house is even in the shape of a bottle with a small ship in the center. It
is here that they find a clue that will lead them to a noted advice columnist
where the mystery will deepen further. I enjoy Gibson's art, as it is a somewhat
unique style. I have seen in a number of comics from England over the years. He
does pretty well with the likenesses of the main characters but it is the
composition and detail of the entire book that appeals to me. Morrison has
started off with many things unexplained allowing us to follow along with the
Avengers, if I may call them that, as they slowly peel (no pun intended) back
the layers hiding what is underneath. You do not have to be familiar with the
characters to enjoy the show. I'd say it is off to a good start.

Title: STAR TREK: 100 PAGE SPECTACULAR
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: IDW
Creator: Gene Roddenberry - based on STAR TREK the Original Series
Cover Artist: Joe Corroney
Price (USD): $7.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Science Fiction

This volume has four (mostly) self-contained stories by various creators based
on characters and concepts for STAR TREK: TOS. I say mostly because it appears
there is more to tell in a couple of them. Sure enough the inside back cover has
details on collected volumes hitting on the themes in this comic as well as
others in the IDW line. Here is what to expect in this issue.

"Alien Spotlight: Romulans"
Written & drawn BY John Byrne, colors by Leonard O'Grady, letters by Neil
Uyetake.

This one features a familiar Romulan Commander as he is being assigned to a new
ship. It is the latest in the fleet and features new technology that will
outclass anything in Starfleet. The Praetor handpicked him and his introduction
to the ship's power potential power is demonstrated by the destruction of the
Commander's old ship. The story is more about the Commander and his apprehension
about what his mission will be. We know he is thinking along the right path when
we learn the Praetor's intentions and who is in league with him behind the
scenes. It is also about the Commander's wife and son who play a role in the
overall drama. But the story is incomplete. Perhaps it will be continued in
another chapter if there is an issue #2?

"Alien Spotlight: Tribbles"
Written by Stuart Moore, art by Mike Hawthorne, colors by Mike Hawthorne & James
Brown, letters by Richard Starkings.

This story, on the other hand, is self-contained and a delight to read. A small
freighter carrying Dilithium crystals and grain has been hijacked by Klingons.
It crashes on a small planet on the outer galactic rim where the crew of three
manages to escape on foot with the Klingons in pursuit. To everyone's surprise
the planet is inhabited with Tribbles, cute little balls of fur we met in one
episode of the original TV show. They like humans and hate Klingons and aid the
crew initially. The plot revolves around how the crew will get back their ship
and in the end it is the Tribbles who provide the needed help. It is a clever
story with a lighter side, as you would expect. It is not rushed and the art is
pretty good as well. It is my favorite of the volume.

"Captain's Log: Sulu"
Written by Scott and David Tipton, art by Federica Manfredi, colors by Andrea
Priorini with Chiara Cinabro, Letters by Neil Uyetake.

This story takes place after Sulu has become Captain of the Excelsior. He has
been given a diplomatic mission. A race he encountered while still on the crew
of the Enterprise, the Tholians, has taken offense at the existence of a
Federation colony near their territory. Starfleet has managed to arrange a
meeting with the Tholians to renew their non-aggression pact and want Sulu to be
their spokesman. However, along the way the Excelsior must answer a distress
call from another ship and will arrive late to the summit. This could stop
negotiations before they start, as the Tholians will not tolerate such an
affront. It will be up to Sulu to rescue his comrades and somehow make peace
with the Tholians before they take drastic measures. It is a straightforward
plot with a good set up, mid point and final resolution. I like the art for the
most part but the coloring seemed a bit off on the flesh tones. Still it is a
decent self-contained story as well.

"Mission's End #1"
Written by Ty Templeton, art by Stephen Molnar, colors by John Hunt, letters by
Neil Uyetake.

I see from reading the blurb on the collection version of this story that it is
a "lost" tale of the final mission of the original Enterprise and her crew. I
think the emphasis there is on crew as Gary Mitchell is along for this one with
Kirk, Uhura, Spock and the others. The Enterprise is participating in a First
Contact meeting with a race of aliens that have evolved on what appears to be a
giant moon-sized space station abandoned eons ago by those who built it. These
insects are now rather large and are dominated by the spider like beings. The
crew is accompanied the female Captain Cassady who has been covertly observing
the beings for six months. The story is crafted in a much-expected manner for a
Star Trek episode with some clever plot devises along the way to move things
forward. Eventually they make contact and begin to learn more about the culture
- some of which is disturbing. But the kicker to the story, and the plot thread
left dangling for the collected volume, is the fact that this "space station" is
still functioning with lights and environment. What Spock discovers about that
is pretty revealing.

In all it is a worthy collection that samples some of the varied elements of the
Star Trek mythos. If you have not read any of IDW's STAR TEK titles this might
be a good one to 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:
What was the full title of Neil Gaiman's first series for TEKNO COMIX?
The title was "Neil Gaiman's Mr. Hero The Newmatic Man." Everyone knew but only
one can win. The dice chose Mauricio Carvalho.

Here was your no prize question:
Which U.S. state East of the Mississippi is the largest in area?
Georgia with 57,906 square miles is the largest. I believe Florida is second
with 53,927 square miles.

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
What was the back-up feature for the first SUPERGIRL comic book series?

Here is your no prize question:
Which U.S. President was never elected to the office of President or Vice
President?

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

Comic Reviews 1/20/12

2012-01-20T10:40:00.000-08:00

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: SCARLET SPIDER
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: Life After Death
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Christopher Yost
Artist: Ryan Stegman
Inker: Michael Babinski
Colors: Marte Gracia
Letters: Joe Caramagna
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

If you are not familiar with the whole Spider-Man clone history you may be
better off with this book than others. For the record they have included of the
whole convoluted saga written by Roger Ott using illustrations from the various
Spidey books involved. I found it interesting but not really necessary in
reading the main story. So starting fresh from the first page as a reader with
little knowledge of the intimate details I found the main story accessible and a
good story by itself. There is a flashback sequence midway that fills in the
reader on the main details. The minimal information you need to know is that
Kaine is a clone of Peter Parker. He has all the Spider-Man powers and has
recently been given a new lease on life. The cloning process was defective and
he had been dying as his body started to degrade but he got better. Now he just
wants to leave it all behind and the immediate plan is to escape to Mexico where
bad guys and certain authorities will never find him. He has taken on the role
of the Red Spider in the past but now it is just about finding a place to lead a
normal life. He has made it to Houston so far and as luck would have it he
overheard a loose-lipped apparent drug dealer talking about a big deal going
down that night. His intent is to swoop in at the right time and get the
financing he needs to get away by stealing from the bad guys. Artist Ryan
Stegman takes an interesting approach in the scenes leading up to the point
where Kain swings into action, sans costume. Each panel has little spiders
crawling over it, as if it was a picture of the comic with spiders crawling on
top of it. It is somewhat distracting at first but has an odd appeal
artistically. The rest of the art is pretty good and has a lot of variety in its
composition. The real kicker of the plot is what the interrupted deal was really
all about and in the last panel we meet Red Spider's first major foe. I enjoyed
the story as it shows some growth in Kaine's character along the way. This is
not a Peter Parker type person. He has a harder edge and is not doing the whole
super hero thing because it is an altruistic thing. It is a good counterpoint to
Spider-man and worth checking out.

Title: AVENGERS: THE CHILDREN'S CRUSADE
Issue Number: 8 (of 9)
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Allan Heinberg
Artist: Jim Cheung
Inker: Mark Morales with Livesay & Cheung
Colors: Justin Ponsor with Paul Mounts
Letters: Cory Petit
Cover Artist: Cheung & Ponsor
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super hero

I have mentioned this book being a lead up to the next big Marvel event AVENGERS
versus X-Men. In fact it has already been a mini version, a preview if you will,
because we have seen both sides tangling over the fate of the Scarlet Witch.
This is the penultimate chapter. The Young Avengers have located Wanda without
her memory or powers about to marry Victor von Doom. Through the last chapter
the Young Avengers have taken her into the time stream thus reviving her memory
and her reality-altering power. She now knows about the horror she created with
M-Day and seeking to make things right has restored Rictor's mutant powers. Her
plan is to do the same for all the remaining ex-mutants but a timely
intervention by Patriot allowed Doom to usurp the reality-altering power for
himself. This is where this chapter begins. Can you imagine Doom with that kind
of power? He has no fear of anyone or anything. He plans to shape the world to
his own liking. He will remake the world to one free of poverty, disease and war
- peaceably ruled by Victor Von Doom and his bride, Wanda Maximoff. That is his
desire. There is a lot of posturing between X-Men, Avengers, and the Young
Avengers as Victor takes his leave. Everyone has an opinion of what to do next
with Victor and with Wanda. It is fascinating as every possible point of view is
expressed about what to do next. Naturally there is a big, literally, battle and
it ends with a possible tragedy leading into the final issue. The whole
adventure is designed to bring Wanda back to the mainstream and as we see from
the promos for AVX she will be back. The question is how will her fate be left
after the final issue of this series and will that play into the start of that
new event. You'll have to get the next issue to find out. Don't miss it.

Title: WHISPERS
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Image
Creator: Joshua Luna
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Supernatural/Slice of Life

This is a hard one to categorize. The central part of the story is about Sam
Webber who has a severe case of OCD and germaphobia. Unlike some TV shows about
people like this the comic explores it from his point of view. We share his
thoughts about simple things like opening a door. The mere thought of such an
act gives him visions of monstrous microbes entering his body, perhaps from a
slight cut on his hand, and then devouring him from the inside. His last thought
is his headstone with the cause of death listed as "He touched a door handle"
This is one messed up dude. His meeting with his friends does not make things
any brighter. His ex-girl friend Lily is despondent because a drunk driver
killed her mother, the guy got off with probation and now her sick father has no
one to support him and his increasing medical bills. But our protagonist can't
get his mind off a dream he had the night before, one that he suspects might not
have been a dream at all. That is where the supernatural part comes in. What he
experience was like an out of body experience. In this "dream" he was like a
ghost and he found himself seeing his friends asleep in bed. He just thought of
them and he was there. The look on the faces of one couple as he blurts out a
detail only they would know confirms to the readers that this must be something
unusual. That is the setup in the first part of the book achieving the two goals
in establishing the plot - Sam has this mental disorder but he also has a
special gift. The second half of the book involves his next paranormal journey
that evening but this time he knows it is not a dream and plans to direct
himself where he wants to go and whom he wants to see. He will not have as much
control as he might hope and some of the things he sees will be disturbing. He
may wish he never started this. So this is a story about someone who has the
ability to go places and see things unseen by others. On the plus side he does
not have to worry about germs, being an astral being and all. On the down side
he will see private moments, bad things happening to those he cares for, and
perhaps some life-altering moments. It is a good premise that so far is
attention-grabbing right from the start to the end. Joshua Luna is a very
accomplished artist. His style is very appealing in its realistic characters and
soft color tones. It is a good comic about some real situations and
relationships and a bit of supernatural thrown in to drive the plot. This one is
worth your time.

Title: DARK MATTER
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: Rebirth
Publisher: Dark Horse
Writers: Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie
Artist: Garry Brown
Colors: Ryan Hill
Letters: Richard Starkings
Cover Artist: Garry Brown
Price (USD): $3.50
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Science Fiction

This comic is a space adventure. The scene is a derelict ship floating in space.
The "crew" is awakened from stasis with no memories of who they are or how they
got on board. The awakening is a programmed response from the ship as the life
support systems begin to fail. The first to awaken rushes to the bridge to see
if he can figure out what is wrong but is soon thrown aside by a female who
quickly restores life support. She does not know how she knew what to do.
Neither knows who they are nor does the third person that joins them. Once
everyone is revived we have six people who are in the same situation. One
interesting part of this premise is that bit-by-bit each individual learns
things that they know, skills that they have which partly explains why they are
on a space ship. They also accidentally awaken the ships security system in the
form of an android, which gave me flashbacks to the movie ALIEN. As the issue
reaches its conclusion it appears they will have a bigger problem on their
hands. This is interesting at first read though some of it seems formulaic.
Obviously not knowing why these people are in this situation poses an
interesting puzzle for the reader to try to figure out. On the down side the art
is not that appealing to me. The lines are rough and the coloring is blotchy. I
believe this is intentionally the style of the artist and colorist but it does
nothing for me. I give it an ok grade for story so far and might check back to
see what happens next.

Title: LOBSTER JOHNSON: THE BURNING HAND
Issue Number: 1 (of 5)
Publisher: Dark Horse
Writers: Mike Mignola and John Arcudi
Artist: Tonci Zonjic
Colors: Dave Stewart
Letters: Clem Robins
Cover Artist: Dave Johnson
Price (USD): $3.50
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Noir

This comic is billed as coming from the pages of HELLBOY. Since I am not a
reader of that comic I find myself in the familiar position of being an
objective reviewer looking at these characters for the first Time. I noticed
Mike Mignola's name in the credits but only as creator and co-writer. That is
fine with me, as I never liked his particular style of art to my taste. Zonijic
and Stewart on the other hand have a different appeal. It is hard to describe
but I guess it is the detail and coloring that really fit well with the subject
matter. It involves a female reporter named Cindy during the days of
prohibition. She is looking into a series of incidents involving what appear to
be Indian ghosts in a certain neighborhood. One incident involved a cop who was
killed and scalped and before a band of these imposters can kill another victim
they are set upon and killed by a mystery man wearing aviator goggles and
helmet. She tries to get information from area residents but no one is talking.
But one person she finds has a theory based on bits of information that may help
her in her search for the truth. However, her snooping just might get her
killed. The pacing of this story is just right. It starts with a startling
incident as a young couple encounter these glow in the dark hoods disguised as
Indians. That affords us our first look at the hero, if only briefly. Then we
gently go into the details at the remains of the scene the next day as cops
investigate and Cindy asks probing questions. Along the way we get bits and
pieces about some of the people involved and one page or two of others who are
no doubt higher up the food chain but remain more of a mystery at this point. As
Cindy gets closer things get more dangerous and we end at a good point. It is a
good package, well executed. This one is a winner.

Title: LOCKE & KEY GUIDE TO THE KNOWN KEYS
Issue Number: One-Shot
Publisher: IDW
Creators: Joe Hill & Gabriel Rodriguez
Writer: Joe Hill
Artist: Gabriel Rodriguez
Colors: Jay Fotos
Letters: Robbie Robbins
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Horror/Fantasy

I have been reading this series, which comes to its conclusion soon. I passed
over this one-shot when it first came out but on the advice of Pete Beaudoin
decided to give it a look. What I thought was just a mostly text explanation of
the various keys that play a part in the bigger story was actually less than
half the book. It does cover the keys that have appeared so far in the story,
being purposely vague about the Omega Key, by showing excerpts from the journals
of the various members of the Locke family from Benjamin Pierce Locke in the
late 1700s to Bode Locke in 2011. In each excerpt about individual keys you will
learn how they have been fashioned out of what is called the "whispering iron"
and how different generations of the Locke family used or were affected by those
keys. That is followed by a five-page artists' gallery of characters from the
series and a really cute comic strip on the inside back cover of an encounter in
a comic shop between a female employee LOCKE & KEY fan and a mew male customer
by Kate Leth. The real stand out part of this comic is the first sixteen pages.
It tells the story of Chamberlain Morse Walton Locke and his ailing son on the
Locke estate in Lovecraft, Massachusetts in 1912. It seems Ian has been getting
worse. His seizures occur more often now. His father knows he won't survive to
year's end and so devises a plan to forge a new key - one that will open a very
unique door to a place where the world is a stage for those who go there. It is
a very special gift for a boy who will never live to see the future but revels
in the stories of his family's past. It is a touching, non-horrific break from
the stories in the main series. If you are a fan and skipped it by all means
grab a copy. But it is also a good sampler for those unfamiliar with the series
as it gives so much information about the keys - some of which I wish I knew
before the series began. Either way this one gets my endorsement.

*****
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 three comic book titles were the first to have Full Holographic covers?

Malibu's Prime #1, The Strangers #1, and Hardcase #1 all had variants that were
FULL-cover holograms. No winner again this week.

Here was your no prize question:
Which planet in our solar system rotates clockwise?

Venus is the planet that rotates clockwise. Jason Pavao got it this time.

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
What was the full title of Neil Gaiman's first series for TEKNO COMIX?

Here is your no prize question:
Which U.S. state East of the Mississippi is the largest in area?

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

Comic Reviews 1-13-12

2012-01-13T13:33:00.000-08:00

Dynamite has been putting out Robocop comics lately and I decided to sample the
first issue of a new story in their efforts. The events in this one take place
following the events of the first Robocop movie. However it also has a bit of a
flashback to Alex Murphy, aka Robocop, to his days as a child. The set up tells
us there is revolution and chaos in America as OCP has taken over Old Detroit in
a political coup. Murphy and what is left of the Old Detroit Police Department
are going to try to make it out of Michigan to get help from the military. All
communication lines have been cut or blocked so they will have to travel to
Ohio, if they can make it out. ED-309s patrol the streets and as the story opens
a new deadly robot prototype has been sent out to stop them. All the while we
learn that Murphy is slowly losing his mind. We see as we go along that he is
seeing visions of his dead partner for one thing. The new Robocop style robot is
stronger and deadlier and is mind controlled by an old dying man, referred to
those really in control as "the Old Man". He is obsessed with destroying Murphy
and the real person in charge is using that rage to suit her own ends. The basic
premise is good enough. We get a lot of robot on robot action with even more
promised for the next issue as we see the latest weapon OCP has up their sleeve.
The drama going on in Murphy's head adds to the tension with his sergeant not
being aware of the problem. Will Murphy breakdown altogether and can the good
guys prevail over the next wave thrown at them? Dynamite has put together a
pretty decent comic with some twists and for fans of Robocop it is a worthwhile
read.

Title: CURSE OF THE WENDIGO
Issue Number: Graphic Novel/Prestige Format
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
Writer: Mathieu Missoffe
Artist: Charlie Adlard
Colors: Mambba
Letters: Jason Ullmeyer
Price (USD): $7.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Horror
Mature - Comics on the Edge

If you read THE WALKING DEAD you will recognize the artwork of Charlie Adlard on
this comic with decent coloring by Mambba. Missoffe is a French writer and this
work was previously published in Europe in 2009 by Soleil. It is set during the
First World War in 1917 but the tale has roots much earlier in colonial America
with the Cree Indians. A French trader married into the tribe and learned of a
ritual to never know fear or death again. He was changed into a supernatural
being, the Wendigo, absorbing the strengths of his enemies as long as he feeds
on their flesh. He fled the tribe leaving death and grief behind. Now a hundred
years later Wohati, one of the descendants of the tribe, has been called by the
Great Spirit to avenge his tribe. His journey has brought him with the American
forces fighting in the Great War. As the story opens we learn that sentries have
been gone missing night after night. After one particular firefight from the
trenches the Germans raise a white flag. It seems they too have been missing
their sentries and the two forces form a temporary alliance. Each agree to send
three soldiers to find out what happened to their men - they agree to hunt down
the enemy of their enemy. Wohati volunteers to go along as well, knowing what it
is they are really hunting. Soon he is leading the path the group follows and
they eventually come upon a gruesome scene as depicted on the back cover. It is
after that discovery that Wohati tells the rest of the curse of the Wendigo. It
is a thrilling story that follows the group to a village that gets them closer
to their prey but at the same time leads them into a trap. The tension never
lets up until the very end as a major surprise promises to end the conflict once
and for all. The back of the book contains some interesting interviews with both
Missoffe and Adlard as a bonus. This is a fascinating story that is well
scripted and executed. It is worth the price.

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

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

Last week's trivia question:
Who (by name) gave Ayden's bow to Arwyn?
The mysterious Neven was the one in this great tale in the now dwfunct SOJOURN
series by CrossGen. The winner by the dice is - me because no one had the
correct answer.

Here was your no prize question:
In a modern deck of cards which king does not have a mustache?
The King of Hearts is the only king without a mustache.

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
What three comic book titles were the first to have Full Holographic covers?

Here is your no prize question:
Which planet in our solar system rotates clockwise?

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

Comic Reviews 1-6-2012

2012-01-06T10:59:00.000-08:00

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

The legal title of this comic is DC COMICS: ELSEWORLDS 80-PAGE GIANT. I guess because it is mostly a reprint of the released and then withdrawn comic of that
name. It was originally withdrawn because of one story by Kyle Baker had a panel
showing Superbaby in a microwave. Now that comic has been resurrected and filled
out to 100 pages. There are nine different stories that follow the Elseworld
format in that familiar characters are in stories from very different than
normal continuities. As a bonus there is a nine-page section by Mark Waid and Ty
Templeton that is a gallery of first-pages from various comics of the Silver age
as told in an Elseworld context. For example you get Clark Kent adopted by the
Booth family in a Superman story called "President Abraham (Brainiac) Lincoln
versus Clark Kent, Metallo!" There is also a Legion of Super Heroes page
featuring a potential member who was rejected in "The Revenge of Young
Darkseid." You get the idea - they are all done for fun. The opening story, "The
Reaching Hand" is by D. Curtis Johnson with art by Aaron Lopresti and Gloria
Vasquez and letters by Kurt Hathaway. It adds the most divergence from the norm
in that Bruce Wayne is a police detective investigating a series of murders. The
first is an inmate of Arkham, Ralph Dibney, who never recovered from his wife's
death and is now found apparently frightened to death in a cell locked from the
outside. Wayne and his partner, Harvey Dent, start having nightmares of a
maggot-covered hand reaching up from a bottomless darkness. The next day
forensic photographer James Olsen is found stuffed headfirst in a toilet.
Believe it or not the victims, and previous Jane Doe all have a connection which
plays out as the detectives find a solution in the end that has a typical - not
over yet mystery ending. One story featured on the cover stars the sons of the
supers - Superman Jr. and Batman Jr. It is written by Bob Haney, art by Kieron
Dwyer, colors by Rick Taylor and letters by Gaspar. It is a possible future when
the two sons are also crime fighters but one day Superboy Jr. decides that he
will never replace his father and so decides to quit the business. The story is
about a series of events that forces him back to helping Batman Jr. and
realizing he has worth of his own. The infamous Kyle Baker story is called
"Letitia Lerner, Superman's Babysitter." It is all in fun as Letitia shows up as
a reluctant Ma Kent goes out for the first time in months with Pa. The Superbaby
is very mischievous and she spends the night chasing him around the farm and
elsewhere as he crashes through things, leaves a horse on a water tower, bites
through an electrical chord and yes, even crawls into the microwave when she is
not looking. Of course he is indestructible so the fun is in Letitia's terror at
seeing the perilous situations he puts himself into and her inability to stop
him. In "The Batman" by Paul Pope with assists by ted McKeever and Ken Lopez
Bruce Wayne is now Baruch Wane in 1939 Berlin and his friend is Komissar Garten
in the opening scene. He has a different origin with the same theme - swearing
to fight crime after witnessing the death of his parents. In this episode he
learns that the works of an Austrian Jew have been confiscated for his anti-Nazi
views. The Komissar is doing his duty to repress such works and of course Wane's
alter ego has a different opinion. There is even a different take of the world
of KINGDON COME in a story called "Dark Night of the Golden Kingdom as told by
T. Robert Peyer, Ariel Olivetti, Pat Garrahy and William Oakley. The mix is
heavy on humor and satire with one story having Lex Luther a media mogul who
rose to fame managing recording stars who are familiar super heroes. There is
even a feature with Batgirl and Black canary as teammates and roommates pursuing
Catwoman while dealing with the men in their lives. The whole experience is a
fun ride, which may be too far apart for some fans that are used to reading
Elseworld stories that are mostly serious. I found it to be well executed and
mostly an entertaining read.

Title: TEEN TITANS
Issue Number: 4
Title Story: Danger Squared
Publisher: DC
Writer: Scott Lobdell
Artist: Brett Booth
Inker: Norm Rapmund
Colors: Andrew Dalhouse
Letters: Travis Lanham
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

This is another of the New 52 I had not yet sampled but rather than go back to
number one I decided to sample the latest issue because Superboy was featured on
the cover. I have read some of his new adventures and wanted to see how his
first meeting with the Teen Titans would be handled. From the blurb on the first
page I learned that Red Robin, Wonder Girl, Bunker, Skitter and joining this
issue Kid Flash and Solstice are being hunted by an enemy organization called
N.O.W.H.E.R.E. that wants to capture, corrupt or kill super powered teens.
Readers of SUPERBOY will know that he is a clone developed in a lab and surprise
- he is now an agent of N.O.W.H.E.R.E. targeting the Teen Titans. Much of the
action in this issue is between Superboy and Wonder Girl as he tries to capture
her in Times Square on New Year's Eve. To offset those scenes we contrast it
with scenes at the penthouse home of Red Robin as members are getting to know
each other better and share hopes, fears and the usual teen angst. Celine,
Skitter, confides to Miguel, Bunker, about her fears of losing her humanity to
her arachnid nature. Tim consoles her and promises to help cure her and then who
shows up but Kid Flash, Bart and Solstice, Kiran on the run and looking for
sanctuary. These are the two basic plots. As the new arrivals get to know the
rest Cassie is fighting Conner and making a mess of the area. I think the best
part of this comic is the art. What I mean is I do not care for the premise. DC
has mixed up the membership with some new faces but having Superboy as the
unwitting bad guy is just unimaginative. This almost seems like an attempt at
the persecuted mutants theme from the competition. And of course the team is now
very ethnically and sexual preference diverse though the latter is not brought
up in this issue. It is just not interesting enough to me to keep with it.
However it may be what you are looking for so give it a try.

Title: BRODY'S GHOST: The Midnight Train and Other Tales
Issue Number: 1-Shot
Publisher: Dark Horse
Creator: Mark Crilley
Colors: Mark Crilley & Dan Jackson
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Supernatural

Brody is a teenager who sees a young female ghost. She pleads with him to help
her hunt down a dangerous killer. She also tells him he must undergo training
from the spirit of the centuries-old samurai to unlock his own supernatural.
This one-shot looks in on Brody in three separate short stories. The first is a
good introduction, as the spirits do not show up until the last panel. For all
we know this is a simple story of a girl who took a bad chance in riding the
train alone at night and is consequently attacked by muggers. Lucky for her
Brody was asleep at the end of the car when these thugs came aboard. The second
is a glimpse of the major plot as Brody is brought to one of the crime scenes of
the Penny Murderer by the ghost, Talia. By this point in his training Brody has
been able to have visions of living people's pasts and she hopes he can pick up
something from one of the crime scenes. That ability will give him a flash when
another person arrives at the scene. Could it be the killer? The final segment
shows one of his training sessions with the spirit of the samurai master. He has
grown impatient at the long time spent with no progress forcing the master to
illustrate just how much progress he has made. The three snippets are
interesting and Crilley is a very capable artist and storyteller. This would be
a very interesting comic series with a more linear sequence but each segment
stands pretty well on its own. I would very much like this turn into a series or
graphic novel. It has a lot of promise.

Title: TOO MUCH COFFEE MAN - FACSIMILE EDITION
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Boom! Town
Creator: Shannon Wheeler
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Independent strangeness

Most of the material in this comic is from 1993. Most people will probably
recognize the title character. He is a short pudgy guy with bug eyes, a dangling
cigarette and a huge cup of steaming coffee that covers the entire top of his
head. He also has on his chest TMCM in big letters. This is the strange creation
of Shannon Wheeler and the comics follow no set pattern. The opening strip is
call TMCM vs. TMCM - that is Too Much Coffee Man versus Too Much Copyright Man.
Our hero is being sued by a lawyer for copyright infringement. It starts as a
good introduction to the main character. He sits drinking his coffee. It makes
him feels so good he has another and another. The he goes to the bathroom. Then
he sits and contemplates his life. This is a very stream of consciousness style
strip until he gets the cease and desist letter. This is a bit of a tongue in
cheek swipe at some devious people who seek fame and fortune of the work of
others through legal loopholes. It is often funny and more often just silly but
strangely makes sense in the end. The second entry is about the making of mini-
comics as apparently Shannon is suffering for his art making mini-comics to sell
at the local store "Comics 'N' Junk". The clerk has some interesting suggestions
on becoming a success. The final major story diverges completely with no silly
odd-looking characters. Instead it is more of a slice of life type tale as Joel
is sitting in a diner and his friend, Trixie the waitress, sits as they discuss
life in general and Joel's love life in particular. One line that Trixie says
struck me as an interesting observation - "Somewhere between anticipation and
nostalgia we should have been happy." It is a comment on how the young are
always looking to the future for happiness while the older remember how great
the past was compared to their current situation. But the story is more about
Joel's dilemma. He wants to break up with Eve. He is not in love with her
anymore but can't stand to break her heart. He has tired of her quirks and she
loves him too much for him to be a jerk and force her to leave. This really has
nothing to do with Too Much Coffee Man. It is just a story, maybe even
semiautobiographical, that Shannon wants to tell and he does it well, complete
with a surprise ending. The balance of the book has one page strips featuring
TMCM. One is all about things you can't complain about - like having to go to
France for your high-paying job, or your girlfriend wanting to have sex all the
time. Another strip has our hero asking if we would rather work retail or have a
nail driven through our hand. There is a guest artist gallery showing other
versions of TMCM and a letters column from the nineties with some famous indie
contributors. There are even old ads for TMCM merchandise, which a superimposed
banner warning you would have to go back in time to order these items. It is a
most peculiar comic that has a limited appeal to the masses. But for those
always interested in offbeat independent work it is a delight.

Title: DISNEY-PIXAR MUPPETS: THE TREASURE OF PEG-LEG WILSON
Issue Number: 8
Publisher: Marvel
Creator: Jim Henson
Writer/Artist: Roger Langride
Colors: Digikore Studios
Letters: Deron Bennett
Cover Artist: Elisabetta Melaranci & Paolo Campinoti
Cover Paints: Gianluca Barone, Giuseppe Fontana, Silvano Scolari & Giorgio
Vallorani
Price (USD): $5.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Comedy
ALL AGES - Magazine format

My first impression of this magazine is that it has really good production
values. You get 100 pages, including the covers, in large magazine format with
only a very few house ads through the entire mag. For only $6 that is a bargain
compared to some comic sized 100-pagers for $8. The art is terrific. All the
familiar characters as good as you can expect when translated to this medium.
And the content is as close as it gets to an actual episode of the late, great
MUPPET SHOW. There is one central plot running through the entire issue which
encompasses the on and off stage production of the show. It involves a map,
supposedly a treasure map, found in a very old box by Scooter. One of the rats
sees him find it and that starts a backstage frenzy that grows larger as the
issue goes along. A subplot has Animal the drummer wearing a suit and acting
very docile. It seems that Doctor Bunsen Honeydew has concocted a pill for
enhancing social aptitude and poor Animal is the test subject. This naturally
affects his drumming ability, as he is no longer a wild guy. There is also a
Kermit look alike wandering around up to no good. And a mysterious ninja tap
dancer sneaks his way into the show. With so many pages to fill we get treated
with a lot of the usual features from the TV show. There is Fozzie Bear doing
his stand up, Pigs in Space, Muppet Labs of course, Swedish Chef, Mah Na Mah Na
trying to do a new hit with the familiar tune but using the words Machu Pichu,
Bears on Patrol, Veterinarian's Hospital, and lots of bits featuring the usual
cast - Kermit, Miss Piggy, Gonzo and the rest. Even the old coots Statler and
Waldorf are up to the usual heckling. It is really a fun magazine that
entertains page after page. Fans of all ages will love it.

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

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

Last week's trivia question:
Atlas, Thor, The Ring and Cupid belong to what super hero group?They were members of the League of Super Groovey Crimefighters.
The winner by the dice is Gary Katzoff.

Here was your no prize question:
What was the first product to have a bar code on it?
The first item sold after being scanned with a UPC barcode was a 10-pack of
Wrigley's Juicy Fruit Gum. The sale occurred at 8:01 a.m. on June 26, 1974 at
the Marsh Supermarket in Troy, Ohio. The gum is now on display at the
Smithsonian American History Museum in Washington D.C.

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
Who (by name) gave Ayden's bow to Arwyn?

Here is your no prize question:
In a modern deck of cards which king does not have a mustache?

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 12-30-11

2011-12-30T14:58:00.000-08:00

Title: MEMORIAL
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: IDW
Writer: Chris Roberson
Artist: Rich Ellis
Colors: Grace Allison
Letters: Robbie Robbins
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Fantasy

This is a most unusual comic to wrap your head around at first. I can't imagine
what it would be like trying to figure it out by beginning at issue 3 or 4. The
reason I say this is that there are two distinct plots here and yes they do
intersect but the mystery is so deep that you only begin to see a bit of it by
the end of this first issue. It begins with the story of Miss M. She is called
that because she showed up at a local hospital with amnesia and total loss of
identity. In simple terms, she does not know who she is or anything that
happened to her prior to walking in through the Emergency entrance. Though a
search of fingerprints, dental records and police reports is made no one can
identify her. The only distinguishing part of her is a necklace with a stylish
"M" on it and so she is dubbed Miss M. Next we see her a year later with a job,
an apartment, and a few friends (we'll overlook the problem with a valid Social
Security Number) and often walks around the city hoping something or someone
will jar her memory. Then one day, down an alley, she spies a little shop that
she is sure was not there before. Going into that shop is the entry into the
other plot of the story. You see we have also been told about another place in
this world, or maybe not really "in" it. There is a pocket reality once known as
the Everglade but now called the Everlands. Here there is an undisputed ruler, a
Queen. We surmise she is displeased from the conversation she is having with
some of her underlings - a marionette without strings, Hook, a man who has so
many robotic parts he is more machine than man, and a human called Seth. The
gist is she needs the key they have failed to find and one of them will pay for
that failure. By now we guess that Miss M, or Em for short, is tied up in all
this and the mysterious shop in the alley will play a part. So on one hand we
have an apparently normal human suffering from memory loss making the best of
her situation and on the other we have a whole cast of odd characters, most of
which appear to look like statues but others appear to be characters from long
forgotten stories - fairies, talking eagles and cats, even aliens and posters
that come to life. Em is a part of it all and the key plays a central role.
Where it will lead is anyone's guess, especially considering where she ends up
as she exits the shop in the alley. This is an intriguing story with a lot of
elements we have only seen glimpses of. The art is spectacular as well. Some
early reviews liken this other comic series that draw on a heavy dose of fantasy
while the characters are in the real world. It has all the makings of a hit
comic. Try it and see.

Title: THE ACTIVITY
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: Fiddler on the Roof
Publisher: Image
Writer: Nathan Edmonson
Artist: Mitch Gerads
Colors: Kyle Latino
Letters: Mitch Gerads
Price (USD): $3.50
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Spy Drama

As I was reading this comic I was immediately reminded of one of my favorite TV
shows no longer airing called THE UNIT. In that show the members were all US
Army soldiers and in an elite squad that is not on the books. Even the family
members have no knowledge of what they do and they know not to ask. They
basically went anywhere in the world to do things that even the CIA could not
do. They even often will clean up a CIA mess. It might be assassination, rescue,
or just manipulating situations to affect a particular outcome. That is
basically what members of The Activity do. They are not all military, though the
operation is run like a finely trained unit. This is more like a hybrid of a
black ops military team and a super-secret national defense intelligence squad.
This first issue is executed nicely beginning in mid-mission as we see the team
adroitly manage to kidnap a person in a Mexican hotel by setting of the
sprinkler systems and channeling the target and his body guards to an area where
the help can be hit with knock out darts. Once they are down it is a simple
matter to get out and rendezvous with the client. That opening serves to show us
how the team works. The rest of the book follows the aftermath, part of which is
dealing with the loss of a member during the mission. We also are introduced to
the latest female recruit, first in flashback and then as she is given a try out
on the next mission. I like the script because the members are distinct and
there is comfortable, believable dialogue between them. There is also
interesting action on the missions as they all work toward the goal like
something out of Mission Impossible. The art is clean and well composed to move
your eye along the page as the story unfolds. I enjoy well told spy stories and
the team concept, when done correctly is even better. This comic deserves your
attention.

Title: THE TRANSFORMERS: DEATH OF OPTIMUS PRIME
Issue Number: 1-SHOT
Publisher: IDW
Writers: James Roberts & John Barber
Artist: Nick Roche
Colors: Josh Burcham
Letters: Shawn Lee
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Science Fiction

First, I am not a fan of TRANSFORMERS comics. My exposure to the concept was
from the old TV shows and my kids toys when they were very popular. I did see
the first movie recently but have not bothered with the sequel or the comics. So
when I saw this issue celebrating 125 issues in a one-shot and the title "The
Death of Optimus Prime" on the cover I decided to check out what was going on.
For the rest of you who have not been reading the comics there is a very brief
recap of what just transpired to get us to the point where the story begins.
Apparently Optimus Prime needed to save the Universe by plunging the Creation
Matrix into the heart of Cybertron - the planet where the Autobots came from.
After a searing white light engulfed everything Optimus found himself on the
surface of the planet and the Matrix lay before him broken in two. After reading
this story and seeing the direction the Transformer comic franchise will head
next, I realized that it has always been about a duality. We have the Autobots
and the Decepticons constantly against each other. This story takes place after
the latest of their clashes. Megatron is gone and the Decepticons are captive
but the world is not at peace. Former Cybertronians are coming back to the
planet most of them are not affiliated with either Autobots or Decepticons.
They are the growing majority and they want their world back. There is a fine
line between preserving the peace and ruling with too much authority. Even among
the ranks of the Autobots there is dissention as to the solution. A segment
wants to set off into space in search of the Knights of Cybertron, ancient and
some say mythic beings, to bring paradise back to their planet. Others want to
stay and rebuild their world while keeping at peace Autobots, Decepticons and
the ever increasing neutral robots. There is some action as things get out of
hand but it is these two conflicting courses of action that will set the stage
for the future. And what of Optimus? Does he really die in this issue? You'll
have to read it to find out. While it sometimes gets involved in past plots and
other characters I found the story easy to follow and well thought out. They are
setting the ground work for the debut of two new ongoing series starting in
January. I found it entertaining and possibly a real good jump on point for
those who have been curious about the Transformers but did not want to start
mid-stream. It is well executed and the art is decent. By all means, check it
out.

Title: THE LAST BATTLE
Issue Number: 1-SHOT
Publisher: Image
Writer: Tito Faraci
Artist: Dan Brereton
Letters: Douglas Sherwood
Price (USD): $7.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Sword & Sandals

I picked this up on whim as I was drawn by the Dan Brereton cover. It looked to
be Roman Empire era battle which is a departure from the normal stuff on the
racks. Sure enough this is the story of a Roman general called Gauis Rodius in
the mid first century BC. He is a retired hero of Caesar's Legions. At least he
was retired until Julius Caesar calls upon him to track down a rebel leader
named Cammius who once swore allegiance to Rome. The twist is that Rodius raised
the barbarian Cammius as his own son. So the first question we have is where
does Rodius' allegiance truly lie? This is fantastic historic fiction set in the
time when soldiers of Rome went off to Gaul and other places often for years at
a time. When they came back they often found, as did Rodius, that things had
changed drastically. Rather than stay apart of what he no longer believed in
Rodius chose to retire. Caesar has other plans for him. The city in Gaul he is
defending may come under siege by a horde of German barbarians lead by Cammius.
Rodius soon assembles a band of four other soldiers to be his strike team. But
in the end, we suspect, it will come down to Rodius and Cammius. This is very
much a story of loyalty and perceptions. People are manipulated by the state and
by Caesar himself to suit the grand purpose. But it is also a story of deception
and betrayal - some perceived and some very real. It is deception and betrayal
that comes from more than one place. It is well plotted out to takes us through
the current state of affairs, with flashbacks to clarify how some things came to
be. Part of it is the early times when Rodius was raising Cammius. By the end of
the story we find out Rodius has secrets he never told the younger man. There is
plenty of action along the way keep things moving. Brereton has a very distinct
art style and it is particularly well suited for this subject matter. It is nice
when I pick up a comic and think this could be good and then find out it was
better than I expected. This is one such comic.

Title: BATMAN INCORPORATED: LEVIATHAN STRIKES
Issue Number: 1-SHOT
Publisher: DC
Writer: Grant Morrison
Artists: Part 1: Cameron Stewart Part 2: Chris Burnham
Colors: Nathan Fairbairn
Letters: Sal Cipriano
Price (USD): $6.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

This comic serves as the bridge from the BATMAN INCORPORATED series that ended
as the New 52 debuted to the new BATMAN INCORPORATED comic that will begin in
2012. It may have been planned this way or it may just be the two issues that
got in the way of the New 52 and so were held back and combined to make this one
shot that ends some major plot lines and finally reveals who the major
protagonist, Leviathan, really is. As I mention there are two episodes. Both
Stewart and Burnham do an excellent job and Fairbairn finishes them off with
terrific coloring. This may not be a good jump on point though it ends cleanly
with the anticipation of more to come in the new series. BATMAN INCORPORATED as
a concept brought in all members of the Batman Family, including Dick Grayson
before his current reversion to Nightwing. It also features characters from
around the world that have become part of the organization. But it opens with a
familiar member, Stephanie Brown, working undercover in St. Hadrian's Finishing
School for Girls. It is one crumb on the trail to find out Leviathan's plan. It
involves mind control of some of the subjects and is really a fun segment as she
at first works her way seemingly into a position of favor only to be found out
as the opening scene may imply. The second part begins with the two Batmen, Red
Robin and Robin seemingly captured and in a room with five doors. Their captor
is Dr. Dedalus, once Nazi scientist known as Otto Netz. He warns whoever chooses
a door first saves the others but dooms himself, and naturally Bruce makes the
first choice. He also warns that a Batman Inc. agent will die every five
minutes. Once through the door the story takes some twists back and forth
through time and around the world. As we see some of the events that led up to
this and the fate of some of those agents. It is fast paced and can be a bit
confusing but in the end there is betrayal and resolution leading up to the big
reveal. There is even a hint as to who Leviathan is before you turn the last
page. But that is not the last page. The back matter is an abbreviated history
of Batman Inc. from the beginning announcement by Bruce Wayne to the last issue
prior to this one. I recommend you read this part first before diving in. The
rest is filled with variant cover galleries from the first eight issues. In all
it is a splendid comic with lots of entertainment and closure to fans of the
first series as we await the relaunch in 2012.

Title: FORMIC WARS: SILENT STRIKE
Issue Number: 1 (of 5)
Publisher: Marvel
Creator: Orson Scott Card
Script: Aaron Johnston
Artist: Giancarlo Caracuzzo
Colors: Jim Charlalampidis
Letters: Cory Petit
Cover Artist: Giuseppe Camuncoli, Danny Miki & Jim Charlalampidis
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Science Fiction

This is the next chapter in the FORMIC WARS saga, the prelude to ENDER'S GAME.
Previously the alien Formics have attacked asteroid miners on their way to
Earth. One miner, Victor Delgado, escaped to warn Earth but was too late. While
Ukko Jukes, CEO of the large space-mining corporation plans to use his resources
against the aliens Victor and a trade official named Imala form their own plan
and have successfully gotten Victor to the Formic mothership without being found
out. His plan is to destroy it from the inside. While Victor is carrying out his
surveillance Jukes has sent a fleet of drones armed with experimental weapons to
attack the same ship. Meanwhile the Formics have begun the invasion in China. In
a scorched earth policy they stripped the land of all biological life as they
intend to use the biomass for fuel. Operating clandestinely in China the Mobile
Operations Force (MOPs) succeeded in destroying a lander and a large biomass
pile but days later Formic reinforcements came down from the mothership and
gassed an estimated forty million people. As we look into the scene victor has a
rough time when one of the drones manages to make it through a barrage of plasma
fire and destroy one of the formic guns. Both Victor on board, and Jukes from
his control center learn much about the ship from this attack and the nature of
the mothership's weapons. Jukes, not knowing Victor is on board, wants to send a
special ops team to destroy the ship from the inside. He plans to use the MOPs
team from China. But the problem is they cannot launch into space from where
they are and have decided on their own to get one of the Formic's gas guns so
the gas can be analyzed in India and a counteragent formulated. These two plots
- one on the battlefield and one in the mothership move forward as the only
hopes mankind has to survive this onslaught. Since this is a five-issue series
there is a lot more that will happen. It remains to be seen if the humans at the
front of both efforts will even survive to the end. While it helps to have read
the previous FORMIC WARS issues the recap in the beginning fills in the major
blanks and gives the reader enough to enjoy this issue. There are heroic
efforts, strange revelations and lots of tense moments in this mostly action
issue. The art is well balanced with good detail and coloring showing off the
contrasts between the humans and the Formics as well as the technology. I would
not hesitate suggesting anyone try this issue to sample FORMIC WARS. You just
might want to read the beginning after you do.

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

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

Last week's trivia question:
In the original Valiant Universe, who killed Prince Albert?
It was not Solar or Archer but the Speakeasy Bims that killed bad boy Albert.
The winner by the dice is Keith Martin.

Here was your no prize question:
What major league baseball team won the first official World Series?
The 1903 World Series was the first modern World Series to be played in Major
League Baseball. It matched the Boston Americans of the American League against
the Pittsburgh Pirates of the National League in a best-of-nine series, with
Boston prevailing five games to three, winning the last four.

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
Atlas, Thor, The Ring and Cupid belong to what super hero group?

Here is your no prize question:
What was the first product to have a bar code on it?

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 12/22/11

2011-12-22T11:21:00.000-08:00

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: JACK KIRBY OMNIBUS SAMPLER
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: DC
Reprinted from HOUSE OF SECRETS, MY GREATEST ADVENTURE, TALES OF THE UNEXPECTED,
HOUSE OF MYSTERY and ADVENTURE COMICS 1957 & 1958
Writer: "Face Behind the Mask" by France E. Herron; "The Case of the Super
Arrows" by Jack Kirby; remainder unknown
Artist: Jack Kirby
Price (USD): $7.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Science Fiction/Mystery

Nearly everyone knows Jack Kirby as the co-creator of many of Marvel's super
heroes from the 1960s and later for his "Fourth World" and other titles at DC.
But that was not his first work at DC. This 100-page sampler is a collection of
shorts he drew for DC in their various science fiction/mystery titles in the
late 1950s. Back then creators did not get credited in those comics very often
but there is no mistaking the artwork of the "king". I remember reading from
these anthologies as a young lad, sometimes while at the barbershop waiting for
my turn. They always had intriguing covers such as the one chosen for this
collection featuring the story "The Hole in the Sky." It shows three ropes
appearing from some kind of dimensional rift in the sky. On the end of each one
were valuables, jewels, cash and a huge diamond. As revealed in the plot of the
story the other dimensional beings are trying to capture humans, as if they are
fishing, and then use their bodies to invade the planet. Like most of the
stories along these lines one particular human finds out their plan when he is
captured. He then escapes and must find a way to thwart the invasion. The lead
story is called "The Three Prophecies" reprinted from HOUSE OF SECRETS #3. It is
the story of a fake fortuneteller that uses the usual assistant and hidden
earpiece to dupe his clients. Then a new psychic in town is taking his business
away so he plans to expose the competitor as a fake, since he knows how this is
normally done. To his amazement he cannot find any tricks and he is even more
amazed when the three prophecies told to him start to come true. There is a neat
twist at the end that leaves the reader pondering if it is coincidence or actual
fortune telling. This comic is a real treat. In 100 pages with no ads you get
fourteen stories that vary from pure adventure or mystery to science fiction
that includes aliens, monsters created from atomic testing, and even a man who
becomes two-dimensional when he ingests an experimental potion. Many have the
central them of an ordinary guy who foils some evil or devious plan by others.
As an added treat there is a Green Arrow story Kirby wrote and drew from
ADVENTURE COMICS #251. In that story people from the very far future send back a
quiver of super arrows as a gift to Green Arrow and Speedy. If you think the
regular trick arrows GA used were cool wait until you see these. I found this
title to be great fun. First because it collects a portion of comic history
often overlooked but very popular in its time. These adventure stories and other
titles were a staple of comics prior to the resurgence of the super heroes in
the 1960s. Secondly it is all drawn by Jack Kirby whom I have always followed
when I could. This is one of the 100-page collections well worth getting.

Title: MARVEL ADVENTURES SUPER HEROES
Issue Number: 21
Publisher: Marvel
Letters: Dave Sharpe
Cover Artist: Carlo Pagulayan, Jeff Huet & Chris Sotomayor
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero
ALL AGES

I have sampled MARVEL ADVENTURES SUPER HEROES in the past. Each issue features
one or more of Marvel's main characters in stories suited for all ages. What I
have found most of the time is that the stories are told in a style akin to the
beginnings of the Marvel Age of heroes. They are self-contained and do not
require a lot of knowledge about current continuity or major events. They
portray the essence of the characters in the traditional style. This issue has
two stories.

Story: The Big Idea
Writer: J.M. DeMatteis
Artist: Wellington Alves
Inker: Nelson Pereira
Colors: Bruno Hang

This one features Dr. Strange and Captain America. Dr. Strange is battling a
giant, mutli-tentacled being from another dimension. Ann'var is not just a
physical threat as it has mind powers that overcome his opponents whom he then
absorbs into his consciousness. When his chosen spells do not stop the threat he
casts a spell to fetch reinforcements from Avenger's Mansion. To his surprise
the spell chooses Captain America. He was expecting someone like Iron Man or
Thor - someone with more power to fight the huge beasts and the growing horde of
zombified humans. In the end he discovers a special aspect of Captain America
that can be used to win the day.

Backup Story: Super Troupers
Writer: Jen Van Meter
Artist: Pepe Larraz
Colors: Andres Mossa

The second story features the classic Hulk. After escaping capture by the
military Hulk reverts to Bruce Banner and is picked up by a circus troupe
traveling by train. He reluctantly joins them but warns that trouble has a way
of finding him. The mid part of the story is Bruce trying to fit in but always
having the weight of the Hulk on his shoulders. Sure enough, before the end the
soldiers appear and naturally are not too caring about who gets in the way of
them finding their objective. Eventually Bruce gets angry and before you can say
Bill Bixby is once again transformed into the Hulk. It ends like you would
expect. Banner survives capture and must leave his new friends for their own
safety.

As I said both stories are self-contained. This is a great title to introduce
young readers to the characters. It is usually racked along with the regular
comics of the main character featured on the cover. In this case you will find
it with the other Captain America comics. But look around the racks for other
issues. They all have MARVEL ADVENTURES SUPER HEROES across the top and I would
recommend any one of them for readers of all ages.

Title: THE STRAIN
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Dark Horse
Creators: Guillermo del Toro & Chuck Hogan
Script: David Lapham
Artist: Mike Huddleston
Colors: Dan Jackson
Letters: Clem Robins
Cover Artist: Mike Huddleston
Price (USD): $1.00
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Horror

This is a modern day vampire story that starts off more like something from the
likes of Andromeda Strain. No wait, I lied. It really starts in 1927 Romania. A
young boy, Abraham, is eating his soup while his grandmother, Bubbeh, relates
the story of a Polish nobleman, Jusef Sardu. Jusef was afflicted, some would
say, be being born a giant. From the looks of the art he was nearly eight feet
or more. Being so tall his body struggled to support his height and he walked
with a cane that had a silver handle with a wolf's head carved into it. At
seventeen his father took him to Romania to hunt wolves. What happens there and
afterward leads into the main plot. It is a tale of foreboding from 1927 as we
flash forward to the present. My opening comment refers to the story in the
present. A Boeing 777 has landed at JFK and a few minutes after all
communication from the plane ceases. All the shades are drawn and the doors are
all closed. As the HAZMAT team arrives our protagonist, Ephram Goodweather, and
his assistant suit up to follow the military once they have cleared the plane.
What they find insides is unnerving, apparently everyone is dead but there is no
trace of toxins in the air, no signs of struggle or vomiting. How could this be?
Did the pilot alone survive long enough to land? Why are all the shades drawn?
And what other mysterious cargo is on board? A hint of what is to come may be
inferred from the 1927 story, the strange cargo they find, and the last page
that could well be Abraham as an old man. I like the way this story is
structured. The writers could have just started with the present and that would
have made the story even more mysterious. They instead chose to tell us of the
origins of the evil our hero might be up against and then tie it in nicely at
the end. I am reminded of elements of the original Dracula, by Bram Stoker, in
that the parallel of an unmanned ship coming to port with the occupants all
dead. In fact, Abraham may well be an analogue for Van Helsing. No matter, it is
a solid story scripted well by Lapham and perfectly rendered by Huddleston and
Jackson. This is a more classic take on vampires that depends on the horror of
it all. This looks like a winner.

Title: STAR WARS: AGENT OF THE EMPIRE - IRON ECLIPSE
Issue Number: 1 (of 5)
Publisher: Dark Horse
Writer: John Ostrander
Artist: Stephane Roux
Inker: Julien Hugonnard-Bert
Colors: Wes Dzioba
Letters: Michael Heisler
Price (USD): $3.50
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Science Fiction

Occasionally I pick up one of the STAR WARS titles from Dark Horse and there are
many titles in that line. I like to sample some of the first issues and this one
looked interesting. The tagline on the cover caught my eye, "Stormtroopers are
the Empire's hammer. This man is its scalpel." Yes the story takes place in the
era of the prequel trilogy. Jahan Cross is the title character, a special envoy
from the diplomatic service but really with the Imperial Intelligence - A James
Bond of the Empire. He is investigating black market traffic in experimental
droid protocols. The commander of the research station appears to be living
beyond his means and Jahan with the aid of his droid has confirmed his
involvement in the clandestine operation. This opening sequence shows us the
kind of action we can expect and sets the stage for the bigger mission involving
a man who made a living and attained vast wealth after defecting to the
Corporate Sector of the galaxy, technically not a part of the Empire. The
information Cross gained suggests of a secret project there called Iron Cross
that could well be a threat to the security of the Empire. And so he is off on
the big mission to Mondder on Etti Four where the Imperial advisor to the sector
has his embassy. It is there he has a chance encounter with Han Solo and
Chewbacca who may or may not play a larger role in this tale. I mentioned the
similarity to James Bond. It plays out more with special gadgets and hidden
weapons provided by the Empire's version of "Q". The story reads well and is
drawn nicely by all involved. If you would also like to sample what Dark Horse
is doing with the Star Wars franchise this is a pretty good place to take a
look.

Title: AVENGERS: X-SANCTION
Issue Number: 1 (of 4)
Title Story: Midnight
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Jeph Loeb
Artist: Ed McGuinness
Inker: Dexter Vines
Colors: Morry Hollowell
Letters: A. Deschesne
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

This is a story about Cable, the mutant from the future, coming back again to
the present with a new mission - to destroy the Avengers. It starts with him on
a rooftop covered in a robe and hood and a sniper rifle. Spider-Man, Wolverine,
Hulk, Iron Man, Captain America and the Falcon are responding to a jailbreak
from a prison transport heading for The Raft. You may have seen this sequence in
one of those previews in the back of several Marvel comics recently. While the
threat is real enough and the Avengers join the escaped criminals in battle
Cable uses the battlefield haze to take out Falcon and drag him away. At first
we might think he is claiming his first victim but it is all part of a larger
plan - the first part of which is to lure Captain America to the location where
he brought Sam. So we are not totally in the dark as to his motivation we also
get scenes interspersed from the far future where Cable learned of the fate of
the world in what appears to be a post nuclear future. He meets Blaquesmith who
informs him that it could have been prevented but Hope was not there to do that.
Now, being a time traveler he figures he can go back and fix things so that she
can be there. And that, without verifying to us that it is all true, is why he
must destroy the Avengers before he himself dies from the techno-virus inside
him finishes him off. This is a four-issue story that wastes no time getting to
the mission and even provides the exposition we need for the motivation. The
second half is the confrontation with Cap and it ends with a bang, literally.
Loeb does a good job with the script pacing to keep it moving. The art team is
also top notch. If you are planning to follow the maxi-series AVENGERS VS X-MEN
next year you will want to start here. It appears to lead into that from what I
can tell. Either way I am enthusiastic that this will be a good story right to
the end.

Title: THE RAY
Issue Number: 1 (of 4)
Publisher: DC
Writer: Jimmy Palmiotti & Justin Gray
Artist: Jamal Igle
Inker: Rich Perrotta
Colors: Guy Major
Letters: Dave Sharpe
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

I believe this is the fourth version of The Ray DC has come up with. The
character has his roots in the Golden Age and has been re-introduced into the DC
cannon a couple of times since then. Now that the New 52 has changed things a
bit they have decided to start with a new version for this continuity. He is a
Korean American kid with New Age hippy parents. He is also a lifeguard in
California and one day he is hit with some kind of particle beam from an
experimental solar energy gunshot from Arizona. The beam has weird transmuting
effects on animals and vegetation as it travels and somehow it terminated on
Lucien. He is engulfed in light and when it dies down he himself appears as a
man made of light. Without realizing it he steps forward and rockets himself to
beach in Seattle after bouncing off a car in Hawaii and a jetliner flying over
the coast. It is there he regains his human appearance, sans clothes, and
figures out he traveled as a light beam. With some concentration he follows the
coast back to San Diego. In the rest of the book he manages to form clothes and
even a costume by bending light and has encounters with giant flying jellyfish.
And speaking of encounters his parents and his best friend are in on his secret
- or at least that he can't wear clothes because they just melt off of him. His
relationship with his girlfriend is strained a little until she sees the light
(pun intended). But the real plot is only beginning as the last few pages
premiers what will appear to be a major bad guy with a very unique origin and
power. I liked this introductory chapter. The characters are given time to have
their own personality and there is some witty banter that is not forced. The
antagonist at the end is interesting enough in his introduction and definitely
not a nice guy. I'll stick with this for the four issues for sure.

*****
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:
Where did Blue Devil make his 1st appearance? (EXACT TITLE NAME)
THE FURY OF FIRESTORM #24 marked the introduction of Blue Devil. Winner by the
dice is Mike Dooley.

Here was your no prize question:
Who invented electric Christmas lights?
Thomas Edison, the inventor of the first successful practical light bulb,
created the very first strand of electric lights. During the Christmas season of
1880, these strands were strung around the outside of his Menlo Park laboratory.
Railroad passengers traveling by the lab got their first look at an electric
light display. It would take almost 40 years for electric Christmas lights to
become the tradition we all know. MERRY CHRISTMAS everybody!

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
In the original Valiant Universe, who killed Prince Albert?

Here is your no prize question:
What major league baseball team won the first official World Series?

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

Comic Reviews 12/16/11

2011-12-16T14:44:00.000-08:00

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: AFRICAN AMERICAN CLASSICS: GRAPHIC CLASSICS Vol. 22
Publisher: Eureka Productions
Editors: Tom Pomplun and Lance Tooks
Writers: Various
Artists: Various
Cover Artists: Afua Richardson & Jimmie Robinson
Price (USD): $17.95
Release Date: December 2011
Genre: Anthology of adaptations of black authors by contemporary black artists

As the promotional material states this volumes contains stories and poems of
tragedy, humor, hope and inspiration. It is unique in that the creators are
almost exclusively black. The source material comes from the earliest African
American authors and poets. By early I mean they date from the 1890s through
1930. This is a splendid mixture of genres from the perspective of people we can
only relate to through their words. Fortunately Eureka as usual has matched up
these works with some great artists and adaptors with Pomplun and Tooks taking
on some of the chores themselves. There are twenty three stories and poems in
all, each with its own special charm. The highlight for me was the opening story
called "Two Americans" by Florence Lewis Bentley, adapted by Alex Simmons,
illustrated by Trevor Von Eeden and colored by Adrian Johnson. This story from
1921 tells of American soldiers in France during WWI. The liberated village
cheers as they enter and they also get their first look at black Americans, whom
they cheer with equal enthusiasm. But the war is hardly over and the Americans
move to the front. Days later the fighting seems to have gotten closer to the
town and a makeshift hospital is set up there. Days later one black soldier
comes staggering in to house with a white comrade strapped to his back. They are
both badly wounded. The black man is first to gain strength enough to talk and
has a tale to tell. They are both from the same town in Georgia but the
circumstances there made them enemies. It is a touching story of loss, bitter
hatred and in the end redemption. Another story called "On Being Crazy" by
W.E.B. Du Bois adapted by Tom Pomplun and illustrated by Kyle Baker follows a
black man after the turn of the century as he does things not accepted by the
whites. Wherever he goes - a restaurant, a music recital, a hotel, and a train -
there are white people telling him he is not wanted, that he is trying to force
social equality. He replies he is not - he is hungry, he likes music, he wants
to ride. Then he meets a white man on a road who crosses to the other side, into
the mud, rather than walk on the same side as a n****r. The dialogue that
follows is more of the same but more direct as to the differing points of view
and ends by answering the question in the story title. There is much more, too
much to detail. Entries by Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, Paul Laurence
Dunbar, Alice Dunbar Nelson, Jean Toomer, Claude McCay, Frances Harper and
Charles Chestnutt with illustrations and adaptations by Alex Simmons,
Christopher Priest, Mat Johnson, Afua Richardson, Milton Knight, Jeremy Love and
Lance Tooks. There are tales of witchcraft, finding out what is worth striving
for in life and even the story of Cleopatra told with a great bit of humor. It
is a great collection well worth the price. The craft of the authors and artists
shine through in nearly every entry. This volume in one of the best in the
series.

Title: THE DEFENDERS
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: I Hate Myself and Want to Die
Title Arc: Breaker of Worlds
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Matt Fraction
Artist: Terry Dodson
Inker: Rachel Dodson
Colors: Sonia Oback
Letters: Clayton Cowles
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

This story takes place after the episode shown in POINT ONE but stands alone as
far as understanding what is going on. I believe some of the events as seen by
Dr. Strange in POINT ONE will play out later in the story. For now this is the
beginning and it is the gathering of the heroes that will be the Defenders. It
begins with the Incredible Hulk, Bruce Banner - the green one, coming to Doctor
Strange for help. He knows that Nul, the Breaker of Worlds (see FEAR ITSELF), is
at large in the world. So do we from the opening two pages. He needs for the
Doctor to rid the Earth of the scourge but cannot risk getting anywhere near Nul
himself. So, in typical super hero team book fashion the recruiting begins and
soon Namor, the Silver Surfer, the She Hulk - the red one, Betty Ross and Iron
Fist are along for the ride. The fun of this first issue is the gathering
together of these characters and the dialogue that ensues. Betty has some great
one-liners and Danny Rand does pretty well too. They are just starting out on
their quest and the last few pages are full of surprises. This issue serves the
purpose in a manner I prefer - that is, the story is told from the beginning
rather than starting mid battle and filling us in with flashbacks later. There
is some intrigue midway and it builds to a dangerous situation at the close.
Next issue promises to get to the meat of the plot and so far it is getting
there fine. The art is very appealing as well. So far so good.

Title: VOLTRON
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: The Sixth Pilot
Title Arc: This Is Voltron
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
Writer: Brandon Thomas
Artist: Ariel Padilla
Colors: Marcelo Pinto
Letters: Marshall Dillon
Cover Artist: Alex Ross/Sean Chen/Wagner Reis
Price (USD): $??
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Science Fiction/Cartoon adaptation

I have memories of watching VOLTRON cartoons with my kids so I decided to sample
this comic. If you don't know Voltron is a giant "defender of the universe"
robot. Well, it is not really a robot. It is really a combination of five
different space ships that look like lions each with its own pilot and those
ships can be joined together to form the big robot. Four of them are the arms
and legs and the other is the torso and head. The action takes place on Earth in
New York in the year 2124. As we join in it seems Voltron is fighting a giant
beast or alien of his size in the streets and everyone else is scrambling to
stay out of the way of the destruction. Meanwhile a bunch of smaller versions of
the alien are attacking on the streets. Curiously, the Voltron pilots are not in
the robot but fighting on the streets themselves. It is there we are introduced
to Keith - the leader from the black lion, Hunk the yellow lion, Lance the red
lion, Pidge the green lion and Princess Allura the blue lion. While they are
holding their own fighting back the man-sized enemy Voltron appears to be no
match for the bigger ones when a second one shows up. He mentions the name
Zarkon who is apparently behind it all. Then we flash back to 2012 where a
Doctor Zarkon has a clandestine meeting with the president on a matter of
national and even world security. The prez is enlisting Zarkon in exchange for
the safety of his family. How it all ties together with the happenings more than
100 years later is not revealed. I don't really care for stories that start mid-
battle and then reveal more as the story progresses but that is how this one is
structured. There is really not enough here to decide whether this will be a
compelling story. We meet the good guys, have a lot of battle scenes, a
mysterious connection to the past and then it ends for now. I am half and half
on the art. The line work and coloring are decent and the characters are well
defined. The flashback is set off nicely with brown tones while the main story
is a mix of brightly colored foreground and two tone backgrounds. But the action
between the giant combatants is confusing at best. Most of the panels are shots
of the combatants that are too close up. Some you see an arm of one and a
portion of a body of the other. This happens panel after panel leaving the
reader straining to figure out what he is looking at. For that reason I cannot
give Padilla and all positive rating. So, this one is a mixed review. The story
may become more compelling but the structure of the layouts needs work. This
title may draw interest from those of us who loved the cartoon or had the toys.
If you are one of them your opinion may be different.
Title: BATWING
Issue Number: 4
Title Story: Better at Terrible Things
Publisher: DC
Writer: Judd Winick
Artist: Chris Cross
Inker: Ryan Winn
Colors: Brian Reber
Letters: Carlos Mangual
Cover Artist: Ben Oliver
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

This is not one of the New 52 I have been following and I believe the character
was introduced in BATMAN INCORPORATED prior to the relaunch. Since the cover
blurb said it is an origin issue I decided to sample it. David Zavimbe is
Batwing, the Batman of Africa. He is currently hunting down Massacre who tried
to kill Batwing and has taken his latest victim Dawnfire of The Kingdom. She is
the third victim of Massacre and Batwing vows to stop him from killing the last
of The Kingdom. As he ponders his next move we flashback ten years to his origin
story. David and his brother Isaac have been recruited into the army of warlord
General Ayo Keita. They are favored by the general for their speed and
dexterity. They are exceptional soldiers. But this is an ugly war. Keita is on a
quest for power using the civil war as his tool to get it. The young boys learn
eventually that Keita's mission is taking them down the path that will force
them to make hard decisions. Do they follow orders know matter what the
consequences? Do they really believe in the cause at all costs or will they draw
the line at some point? There is a critical point in the story when one of them
makes a choice which changes both their fates forever. Since this is the story
of David's origin we see how the events changed him on the path that will
eventually have him become a fighter for the right thing, though he will always
have a dark past in his memories. I enjoyed this story very much. While there
are elements of the current arc sprinkled in it is truly a stand-alone story of
what made David choose the course he has taken. The art is very dynamic with
excellent coloring. I may just have to go back to the first three issues to see
the bigger picture.

Title: VALEN THE OUTCAST
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Boom! Studios
Creator: Ross Richie
Writer: Michael Allen Nelson
Artist: Matteo Scalera
Colors: Archie Van Buren
Letters: Ed "Duke" Dukeshire
Cover Artist: Various
Price (USD): $1.00
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Sword and Sorcery

This story begins in the kingdom of Oakhaven where King Brand and his men have
been outflanked in battle with their enemies. The opposing army is composed of
demons of some sort and as fortunes would have it the king is captured and
mortally wounded. As he is confronted by the leader of the dark forces he is
ever defiant and learns that the evil one is not after his lands but something
else. The scene shifts to the future where we find Brand has been plagued by the
power of the Necromancer. His soul is gone and he is now among the undead. But
another has helped him sever the bond so that he can act on his own and
hopefully regain his soul. Valen's plan is to go to Wraithendal past the armies
to find the Necromancer. The female Zjanna who helped him break the spell vows
not to help him anymore but events later will change her mind. He seeks
alternate passage to the goal he seeks and when a rogue refuses to help he is
approached by another that promises to help. By the end of the chapter there is
betrayal, another battle and finally an uneasy alliance that will aid Valen on
his quest. This is a basic set up for things to come. The main characters are in
place though we have only begun to see how powerful the Necromancer Korrus Null
can be. The last panels reveal his next strategy in his master plan. The art is
a bit dark to suit the subject matter. The line work and detail are very
accomplished as is the coloring. This seems to be a better than average tale of
this genre with a less muddled plot than most that can often bog things down. At
only a buck for the first issue it is worth taking a look.

Title: VILLAINS FOR HIRE
Issue Number: 1 (of 4)
Title Story: Knight Takes King
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning
Artist: Renato Arlem
Colors: Jay David Ramos
Letters: Joe Caramagna
Cover Artist: Rodolfo Migliari
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Villains

We saw the prologue to this series earlier in VILLAINS FOR HIRE #0.1. That was
pretty much the end of the current run of HEROES FOR HIRE with a brief sequence
at the end leading into this mini-series. The premise now is that the Purple
Man, who can control people with his pheromone power, is determined to build a
criminal empire using a vast network of criminal contacts and powered villains.
He was really upset to learn that Misty Knight stole his concept with her Heroes
for Hire organization but is determined to make the same idea work with bad guys
instead. He is acting as "Control" on this first mission and also has a female
called Headhunter doing his technical and recruitment work. His first team has
Avalanche with his seismic powers, Death Stalker a female with a touch of death,
Scourge an assassin with a new person wearing the mask and the Shocker with his
vibro-shock gauntlets. With Shocker providing the first element of the plan to
blank out power in certain sections of New York they force an armored car to
change its route over a bridge that Avalanche has studied in detail. He uses his
power to collapse part of the bridge causing the truck to land on a barge they
have waiting to make off with their objective inside. The surprise of this story
is the fact that they are suddenly attacked not by heroes but other villains.
There is another group consisting of Tiger Shark the genetic hybrid, Bombshell a
world class acrobat and explosives expert, Crossfire a black ops elite marksman
with cybernetic implants and Nightshade a technical expert and robotics expert.
It seems these guys are after the same thing. This is a solid powers versus
powers story with more than one turn of events and surprises along the way. As
you would expect Purple man is even more enraged that someone else would
challenge him at this game. He now has a new goal - find out who is controlling
these villains and get rid of them. If you haven't read any of the hype his new
competitor may be a nice surprise to you. And it is apparent that this second
set of villains does not know who their "control" is, only that they will be
paid well for their services. This is a fun comic with lots of neat characters
and fast moving action. The art really carries it all well and the plot leaves
us waiting for more. If we can't have HEROES FOR HIRE right now this is a good
alternate.

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

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

Last week's trivia question:
Who painted the covers for the Innovation series VAMPIRE LESTAT?
It was John Bolton and the winner is Stu Cathell.

Here was your no prize question:

Who was the first woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest?Junko Tabei is a Japanese mountain-climber, who became the first woman to reach
the summit of Mount Everest on May 16, 1975.

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
Where did Blue Devil make his 1st appearance? (EXACT TITLE NAME)

Here is your no prize question:
Who invented electric Christmas lights?

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 12/9/11

2011-12-07T15:45:00.001-08:00

Title: T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS
Issue Number: 1 (of 6)
Title Story: Uprising
Publisher: DC
Writer: Nick Spencer
Artist: Wes Craig
Colors: Hi-Fi
Letters: Jared K. Fletcher
Cover Artists: Andy Kubert & Brad Anderson
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

What you need to know - T.H.U.N.D.E.R. is The Higher United Nations Defense
Enforcement Reserves. The team includes Dynamo who wears a belt that gives him
super strength, Lightning whose suit gives him super speed, Noman can move his
spirit to spare android bodies, Raven the newest recruit wears the suit with
wings and can fly and there is Menthor whose helmet allows him to mind control.
All of these members have given up their lives for the organization that tackles
threats most superheroes don't even know exist. But they have given up something
else. The equipment they wear to get these powers will eventually kill them,
except maybe Noman. Even though this is the second series from DC about these
heroes it is a perfect jump on point for new readers. The series is a retelling
from the classic Wally Wood stories and a couple versions since. So it is not a
new concept. The thing that makes it work is what the writer does with it. Nick
Spencer has a good handle on both aspects of the Thunder Agents. On one hand it
is an action series about people with super powers. The beginning and closing
scenes involve some of the Agents on a mission in Subterranea to keep the peace
during the religious holidays. The people tend to protest the president and
other elites. It shows off the powers a bit but also highlights the peril they
can be put in when things go unexpectedly too far. The other plot helps the new
readers by going into depth about the creator of the technology behind the power
suits. It is told in a dialogue between Toby Henston, who is Menthor and field
agent Colleen Franklin. They discuss some of the agents and the conversation
drifts to the story of Emil Jennings, how he became inspired when he finally got
the chance to use his talent to help change the world for the better and how
that changed over time. It gets into to depth about the power of the Menthor
helmet and its drawbacks. Both plots are interesting for different reasons.
While this issue spends more time on Menthor the action will shift next time to
the team as a whole. I like the art as well for its varied layouts and
perspectives and vibrant coloring. After waiting for the New 52 to make their
big debut the THUNDER AGENTS are back with a bang.

Title: BROKEN PIECES

Issue Number: 1 (of 5)
Title Story: Together We're Unstoppable
Publisher: Aspen Comics
Creator: Mark Roslan
Writer: Mark Roslan
Artist: Micah Kaneshiro
Letters: Josh Reed
Price (USD): $3.50
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Science Fiction

This is a fascinating story that is an updated spin on FRANKENSTEIN. Gabriella
Adams is an expert in cellular regeneration. She is so good she has continued to
receive grants for her work. That is about to change as she is visited by Damon
Ludas, lead Director at Trinion Industries. It has been a year since the gulf
bio-bomb changed the future of the planet. People can't breathe properly outside
without respirators and they live in fear of developing mutations. It has taken
this long but the effects of the bomb are now approaching Virginia. State lines
have been barricaded to try to keep affected people from moving in. People are
desperate to get away from the oncoming problem and protecting those who are
currently safe from it. While other companies have been contracting to counter
the effects of the spreading scourge Damon and Trinion want to develop an
antidote that will help the human body repair itself. The enticement of
unlimited funding and enough compensation to pay off their bills, including the
husband Richard's medical bills is enough to convince Gabriella to sign up.
Being able to take her work to the point where a body will be able to repair
itself will also help her husband's health problem long term. You can see that
this is heading toward the same kind of scenario that such an innovation in the
wrong hands could be dangerous. It turns out that one unexpected effect is going
to take the forefront as the story moves into the next chapter. I like the story
for the characters and how they are handled. Gabriella and Richard are developed
well as a strong woman and supportive husband that have faith enough in each
other not to give up hope. Damon is the corporate character that seems to be on
the right side for the good of mankind, but there is enough here to make you
wonder if there is more than meets the eye. The art is pretty good though the
flesh tones could be improved. This is a solid comic so far.

Title: MUDMAN
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Image
Creator: Paul Grist
Colors: Bill Crabtree
Price (USD): $3.50
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: SUPER HERO

I could not resist this title just because of the title. How can you not be
curious about a super hero named Mudman? The story takes place in a seaside town
in England. It follows two teenage boys, Owen Craig and his pal Jack Newton.
They have typical teen adventures one of which is sneaking into an abandoned
house on the beach that they have dubbed the Scooby Doo house. One night Owen
finds his way to the attic and finds a strange costume in a hidden room in the
attic. Before he can check it out he hears footsteps and leaps to ground running
across an area of mud and sand posted as dangerous. Little does he realize that
treading in this area will change his life. He starts to see things, or so he
thinks, happening to his body. Washing his hands one morning his arms turn to
mud and then back again. Later in the day a minor hit by a car shows that this
was not a dream, as he ends up leaving mud on the car's hood. He has become
Mudman and his baptism into heroism will involve his father, who is a cop, and
further mysteries involving the old house and some bad guy goings on there. This
is a fun comic in the style of Spider-Man type heroes. The kid has the usual
teen problems like being bullied and suddenly he gains a power he is not sure
about. He is essentially thrown into a life or death situation and must step up
reluctantly to be a hero. The art is a unique style that shows off Grist's
talent as a cartoonist. It has just the right composition, detail and coloring
to carry off the visual part of the story. I was pleasantly surprised and
recommend this book to all.

Title: PILOT SEASON: SERAPH
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: Seraph: From the Dust
Publisher: Image/Top Cow
Creator: Lance Briggs
Writer: Phil Hester & Lance Briggs
Artist: Jose Luis
Inker: Sandra Reber
Colors: David Acampo
Letters: Troy Peteri
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Supernatural

The Pilot Season is winding down so this week I am looking at the last two
entries in the Top Cow contest. The winner will win a mini series next year.
Voting takes place among the readers on TopCow.com through the end of December.
First up is a story of a man who has entered the depths of despair. He has lost
it all and despite appealing to God he feels his has been abandoned. Desean
finally gives up and just before shooting himself in the head he whispers, "God
forgive me." This is not the end of his story. A female, whom we later learn is
an angel, enters the room as the shot has fired and through supernatural means
we see his spirit being pulled back to his body as it was rising toward the
light of the afterlife. He wakens as if from a dream and finds a tattoo of a
large cross across his back. He has been recruited to fight on the side of the
angels in the classic struggle against evil men and very real demons. He is now
drawn to the streets and finds a cause to pursue. A flier on the street tells of
a lost girl only nine years old. Her mother, as it turns out, was in the hooks
of a local gang leader called Napkin and when she turned desperate she allowed
her daughter Lexi go with him for a while but she never came back. Desean
decides to confront Nukky and find Lexi. It is at that first confrontation that
Desean finds out he now has certain powers and that Nukky is holding young girls
in slavery, feeding them dreams while using them for fun and profit. Nukky
reveals that he once had Desean's sister Kelly and she delighted in the dreams
until she was used up and discarded. The story goes much deeper as Desean meets
a real angel, wings and all, who explains that he is now a Seraph. As long as he
does God's will He will be on Desean's side. This lesson is hard to learn but
learn it he does when his anger gets the better of him. There is an interesting
aside as the female angel seen before, Grace, has a friendly meeting with her
counterpart over a cup of coffee. It is more for the reader's benefit as they
discuss their ongoing struggle, each confident in ultimate triumph in the ages-
long battle of good versus evil. The art is very good right down to the
coloring. There are some interesting visuals and good structure as the sub plot
plays out along the bottom panels of the page while the main action in the upper
two-thirds. While it is not really a new story it is handled capably and reads
well. While one major conflict is resolved there is much more to explore if this
one wins the contest.
Title: PILOT SEASON: THEORY OF EVERYTHING
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Image/Top Cow
Creators: Dan Casey & Nick Nantell
Writer: Dan Casey
Artist: Thomas Nachlik
Colors: John Rauch
Letters: Troy Peteri
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Science Fiction

The final contestant in the contest is a science fiction thriller dealing with
interdimensional displacement. It opens with some masked men on the roof
opposite the National Bank of Switzerland. They check their weapons pull on
masks and then remarkably teleport into the gold depository. They overcome the
guards and place beacons on each pile of ingots, which then phase out of
existence. As they prep more beacons more guards appear and in the melee one of
the beacons is knocked off the pile and left behind as the thieves disappear
with the remainder of the gold. The protagonist of the story is Charles Witten.
He has just been thrown out of his offices in the science lab at Orange County
Community College for conducting unauthorized and probably unethical
experiments. When he arrives home he is met by government agents who want to
talk to him. It seems he was a child prodigy. He was heralded as a genius and
was the leading researcher in the practical application of string theory. Since
his wife's unfortunate death for which he was responsible, his life has spiraled
down. But the government wants his help in determining the left behind beacon
and how it works. The agency is a black operation, off the books, called the
Strategic Reconnaissance Interdimensional Network Group. They want to hire
Charles to help stop what they believe are interdimensional thieves that are
using devices Charles had worked on but never got to work completely. They have
the beacons to move objects and wear vests that allow them to move between
dimensions as well as from place to place within one dimension in a flash. This
is an interesting thriller that not only has the thefts but also a threat to
Charles himself. Now that he is involved in finding out how to track and stop
the thieves he is also a threat to them. He could possibly perfect his own work
for the good guys and pose a bigger threat. With a multitude of dimensions there
are different possible plots. One in particular is revealed at the last panel,

but we only get to see where that leads if the title wins the contest. There is
a little bit of weakness in script in places but the plot itself is good and
leads to a point leaving me wanting more. The team overall does a great job
visually to supplement the text. I am hoping this one wins, as I want to see
what happens next. But I also felt that way about some other entries. It won't
be easy to pick a winner. See if you agree.

Title: NEW MUTANTS

Issue Number: 33
Title Arc: Regenesis
Publisher: Marvel
Creator:
Writer: Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning
Artist: David Lopez
Inker: Alvaro Lopez
Colors: Val Staples
Letters: Joe Caramagna
Cover Artist: Jason Pearson/Dale Keown & Jason Keith
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

I have not read an issue of the NEW MUTANTS for a while and as this is part of
the REGENESIS arc I decided to see what is up. It turns out that this issue is a
good jump on point for new readers as well as first time readers. This issue is
a set up for what is to come. If you are looking for action you won't find any
this time, except for a danger room sequence. The current members are Danielle
Moonstar the leader and ex-mutant, Sunspot, Magma, X-Man, Cypher and the techno-
organic alien Warlock. As explained briefly in the introduction the X-Men have
been split in two over the conflict between Cyclops and Wolverine as to the
future of the younger mutants. Half have decided to stay with Cyclops in Utopia
on the West Coast and the rest have relocated with Wolverine to Westchester New
York to start a new school for gifted children. The New Mutants have been caught
in the middle. Former members Shan, aka Karma and Sam 'Cannonball' Guthrie have
decided to go their own way. The rest are still undecided as we open the story.
Some of the story involves the resident counselor Mr. Grim as he helps some of
the students make their decision. There is a humorous aside in one scene as
Cypher, who has the ability to understand languages, has a discussion in
computer binary code with Warlock. It is half binary and half English so we
never really understand the conversation. Regardless it leads to the point where
Dani decides that though Wolverine wants to defend the children and Cyclops
wants to defend the species, both in their own way, there may be a third option
from sequestering yourself apart from Humankind. And so she puts her plan into
place with Cyclops's blessing. As I said this is not an action issue but it
helps us get reacquainted with the group and sets the foundation for the future.
It also teases the next story that is sure to interest fans of a certain mutant
character from the Age of Apocalypse - Blink. Pearson's cover did not attract me
all that much as it is a more cartoonish style but the interior art is spot on
in a more realistic fashion. It has solid pencil and ink work and is finished
admirably by Val Staples in his elegant coloring. I liked this issue a lot and
may just stick around to see what happens next. I am a Blink fan as well.

*****

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

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

Last week's trivia question:

Famous first words of which character?
"So it has happened at last! I must be true to my vow."

Sue Storm of the Fantastic Four was the right answer. The winner by the dice is
Gregory Goding.

Here was your no prize question:

What website created the term "Cyber Monday" during the 2005 holiday season?

The term "Cyber Monday" was invented by Shop.org, part of the U.S. trade
association National Retail Federation. The term made its debut on November 28,
2005 in a Shop.org press release entitled "'Cyber Monday' Quickly Becoming One
of the Biggest Online Shopping Days of the Year." According to Scott Silverman,
the head of Shop.org, the term was coined based on research showing that 78% of
online retailers reported a significant increase in sales on the Monday after
Thanksgiving in 2004.

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:

Who painted the covers for the Innovation series VAMPIRE LESTAT?

Here is your no prize question:

Who was the first woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest?

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 12/2/11

2011-12-02T11:36:00.001-08:00

Title: SUPERIOR WORLD RECORD SPECIAL
Publisher: Marvel
Creators: Mark Millar & Leinil Yu
Writer: Mark Millar
Artists: Over 60 top comic book creators including Leinil Yu, Dave Gibbons, John Romita Jr., Frank Quitely, Olivier Coipel, Paul Cornell and over 50 more top comic book creators. For a complete list see back cover.
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

This comic was created at the KAPOW! 2011 convention in April. It set two Guinness World Records - the fastest production of a comic book: 11 hours 19 minutes and 38 seconds as well as the most contributors to a comic book. All the creators' services were donated, and a portion of all proceeds from the sale will be donated to Yorkhill Children's Foundation in Scotland - www.yorkhill.org

I picked up this comic first because it is Superior after all. The first six issue of that comic have been a fun time as I had expected it would be. Millar and Yu are doing a great job. This story is not part of the action as it tells a stand alone story of a day in the life of the hero created by the wish of a crippled boy and granted by a space monkey with plans of his own. (Read SUPERIOR for more details.) It starts with a mother making what she feels is a foolish request out loud. Somehow they have lost their little boy's toy duck. As the husband goes out to retrace their steps she asks Superior, because she figures he has super hearing and will hear her, to find it for them. The book then turns to the current situation our hero is dealing with and continues on as he catches bad guys and stops various disasters such as a plane crash, tidal wave and even an asteroid bombardment. The plot returns to the missing duck at the end to wrap it up nicely. Fans of the regular series may not enjoy this comic, as it does not deal with some of the major issues involving the hero here. It is not meant to do that. Instead it is designed to be a story that could be broken into small segments and thus drawn and compiled by the large number of creators involved. It is like the 24-hour comic on crack and indeed they got it done in less than half that time. I find it fun to see the variety of styles from page to page, even panel to panel. It also was done to raise money so why not give it a try if you are so inclined.

Title: BILLY TUCCI'S A CHILD IS BORN
Publisher: Apostle Arts, LLC
Creator: Adapted from the Gospels of Jesus according to Matthew & Luke
Artist: Billy Tucci
Colors: Paul Mounts
Letters: Bill Tortolini
Cover Artist: Billy Tucci & Mark Sparacio
Price (USD): $5.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Bible Adaptation
This book is available for bulk purchase to give away, resell or use as a fundraiser. Visit www.achildisbornbook.com/bulksales for more details.

I believe this is the first Christmas related comic book on the racks this year. It tells the story of Christ from the visitation of Gabriel to Mary through the flight into Egypt and everything between. This surely was a labor of love for all concerned as attested to by Tucci in his comments at the end. The art is stunning. Paul Mounts is a perfect match for Tucci's art. The two have created a fantastic retelling of the first Christmas and all the events around it. We relive Mary's shame at the scolding by her father for her condition and then the faith of Joseph strengthened by the knowledge imparted to him by an angel. It is all there - the birth in the manger, the shepherds who come to worship and so on. One very special aspect of this interpretation is the three wise men. In fact the very first page shows the three in their far off land studying the night sky and noting a very strange conjunction involving Jupiter, Venus and Regulus. They recognize it as a sign as foretold in the scriptures and prepare for the journey to meet the King of Kings. Of course we know the story also has a villain and King Herod intercepts the Magi and asks them to send word to him when they have found the newborn king. I won't spoil the ending for those who really do not have a clue how it ends. But getting back to the celestial phenomenon, Tucci incorporated the theory of one Rick Larson who researched the Star of Bethlehem, also the title of his DVD using the scriptures and Kepler's laws of planetary motion. It is an interesting addition to the story, which the reader can take a pro or con stand depending on their own faith in science or miracles. But it does not take away from the big picture and the fabulous finished product in my opinion. This is a perfect gift for anyone at this time of year that believes in the story of Christ. I have noted that organizations can order this in bulk as well. It is worth keeping in any comic collection if you can't bear to give it away.

Title: DIABLO
Issue Number: 1 (of 5)
Title Story: Sword of Justice
Publisher: DC
Writer: Aaron Williams
Artists: Joseph Lacroix & Dave Stewart
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Sword & Sorcery
Mature - Comics on the Edge

This is a story of a time long ago in a land of wars against barbarians and giants. Jacob's father was the constable of Staalbreak. In such a world enemies often keep the peace by a marriage of convenience between members of each group. So it was with Jacob's parents. His mother was from the barbarians and for years that was enough. Now as an older man Jacob is on a quest. An old seer in the marketplace draws his attention. The mystic is telling the tale of the destruction of Mount Arreat and the creation of their world, called Sanctuary. It is a tale of a great war between angels and demons and how the destruction of the mountain saved Sanctuary from a great evil. Now Jacob is told to venture out to find his destiny under the mountain. But he is also a hunted man. Why is partially revealed in the second half when we flashback to a time when he was still a boy and Staalbreak was once again at war with the barbarians. It has some tense moments as Jacob and his friend defy the wishes of the constable and venture out to join the men of their kin in battle. It ends with a tragedy in his family and a decision from which there is no turning back. The art is very stylish with detail that evokes the feeling of how things would be in such a world. The characters are intense in their actions and beliefs. It is a bit involved at first but by the end the bigger picture reveals itself. I think it will get better and better as it goes on.

Title: KICK ASS 2
Issue Number: 5
Title Story: Death by Cosplay
Publisher: Marvel
Creators: Mark Millar & John Romita Jr.
Writer: Mark Millar
Artist: John Romita Jr.
Inker: Tom Palmer
Colors: Dean White
Letters: Chris Eliopoulos
Variant Cover Artist: Bryan Hitch & Paul Mounts
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero
MATURE - Extreme violence and language

I have loved this series partly because it is outrageous and partly because the lead character is the classic hero who keeps get beaten down but always comes back in the end. We are up to issue five of the second series and Millar has gotten even more blatant with the offensive language and violence. After the first series Hit-Girl has gone straight living with her father's former partner and not doing the vigilante thing anymore. Dave has teamed up with a bunch of other urban vigilantes that were inspired by his exploits as Kick-Ass. They have indeed made a difference against some major bad guys but now the former Red Mist has been planning his revenge on Kick-Ass and with his vast wealth has assembled a team of mercenaries and gangsters. His new name is not even usable in a g-rated review - lets just call him MF. They have killed one of Kick-Ass' group even killed innocents mercilessly for the street cred but his sites are still on David. Last issue the city police were tipped that Dave Lizewski is really Kick-Ass but when they found the suit David's father claimed he was Kick-Ass and was taken in for questioning. This has really bothered Dave and during his visit to the jail he promises never to be Kick-Ass again. Right after that things go really bad. Knowing MF is still after him David is staying with friends and not going to school either. When he receives a video on his phone his whole life changes. This is the turning point of the story. The events in the rest of the chapter will push David to the edge of despair and push Hit-Girl into action, as suggested on the cover. There is the usual amount of senseless violence and more than one tragic moment. This book is not for kiddies and many comic fans may not care for this brand of story. But for what it is Millar hits the mark. These are great characters and the plot weaves and turns deliciously from moments of humor to times of grief and then stress and life-threatening danger. He keeps it moving at a fast pace and leaves you wanting more. It is not for everyone but I enjoy it.

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

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

Last week's trivia question:
Which publisher forced Defiant to change the title to WARRIORS OF PLASM?
Marvel made them change the title PLASM, because of the similarity to Marvel's UK's PLASMERS series. The winner by the dice roll is Erin O'Connor.

Here was your no prize question:
Who performed on the first CD for commercial release in the United States?
Quite fittingly, the first CD made in the United States for commercial release was Bruce Springsteen's 1984 album, "Born in the U.S.A." But it wasn't the first commercially available CD ever. That title belongs to Billy Joel's "52nd Street," which was released on CD in Japan in 1982.

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
Famous first words of which character?
"So it has happened at last! I must be true to my vow."

Here is your no prize question:
What website created the term "Cyber Monday" during the 2005 holiday season?

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

Comic Reviews 11/25/11

2011-11-25T13:02:00.001-08:00

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: KIRBY: GENESIS - SILVER STAR
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
Creator: Jack Kirby
Writer: Jai Nitz w/Alex Ross
Artist: Johnny Desjardins
Colors: Vinicius Andrade
Letters: Simon Bowland
Cover Artist: Alex Ross/Jae Lee/Mark Buckingham
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

Spinning out of KIRBY GENESIS is this series starring one of Kirby's creations
that also appears in that series. Silver Star is a super powered man whose exact
origins are not revealed in this issue. He is part of a secret government
project under the Department of Defense call Project: New Breed. The opening
scenes show him at work in Libya helping liberate that country during the recent
uprisings. Throughout various scenes we see excerpts of presidential memos and
orders from presidents starting with Nixon through George W. Bush, apparently to
clue us in on their willingness to fund the project and monitor its progress.
The current plot has his contact, Agent Walker, fetch him from Libya to meet
with the president in DC via teleportation. It seems a closer review is required
and the president has assigned a military psychologist, John Dunn, to assess the
situation before any action will be taken. As Dunn, Walker and Silver Star, aka
Morgan Miller teleport to New Breed headquarters in Oblivion, Montana we meet
Morgan's female partner and companion, Norma. Unfortunately Norma is leaving and
that sets up a dilemma for the project. She is the most powerful woman on the
planet and has always backed up Silver Star. After she teleports they do not
know where she is and Morgan decides to converse with Tracy, a little girl who
never ages kept in a big metal box, by astral projection of some sort. When he
does this he is off the grid. Clearly Agent Walker is not pleased and Agent Dunn
has his hands full when a crisis arises, as he is unable to wake Silver Star.
The story appears to be geared to show us that even powered beings have problems
with the sub plot adding Dunn as a civilian sidekick of sorts who is also
fearless in action. The ending of the chapter adds another problem for Dunn and
Silver Star. It is not a bad story though I found it a bit forced on the
problems among the characters as new ones are added on the last page. The art is
passable but not all that appealing to me. It remains to be seen if the plot
will carry the series before I decide if it is worth my time.

Title: KIRBY: GENESIS - CAPTAIN VICTORY
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: Victory is Sacrifice
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
Creator: Jack Kirby
Writer: Sterling Gates w/Alex Ross
Artist: Wagner Reis
Colors: Inlight Studio
Letters: Simon Bowland
Cover Artist: Alex Ross
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

The next spin off form Kirby Genesis is CAPTAIN VICTORY and his Galactic
Rangers. As you might guess they are space-traveling police force that face off
against special dangers no one else can handle. Captain Victory's thing is that
he can survive death by having his consciousness transferred into a new body on
his ship. His archenemy is Batteron who seeks to expand his Shadow Empire across
the galaxy. After his latest reincarnation is complete Captain Victory beams to
the surface of the latest battle zone, the planet Kloon. His trusted lieutenant
Tarin, a man with the head of a lion, fills him in. Batteron uses his shadow
technology to take over the population turning them into his shadow puppets. The
entire population has been turned and now they have no choice but to rescue
their own and abandon the planet. Victory has to make a deadly choice in the
process. Through flashback sequences we learn he is really the grandson of
Blackmass, the ruler of the Shadow Empire. We see what he was subjected to as a
young man and how he came to turn his back on his legacy to fight for the good
guys. As an introduction to the character it is a better one than SILVER STAR.
We see the highlights of who he is, how he came to his present status and how
resolved in that quest. The story is pretty much self-contained and reads
easily. It will be interesting to see if Sterling Gates can take the concept of
a warrior that does not die and make more of it than an endless cycle. The art
is appealing as is the Alex Ross cover. It seems to be a good start but time
will tell if it goes anywhere.

Title: SPY VS SPY: THE TOP SECRET FILES
Publisher: MAD Books/E.C. Publications
Creator: Antonio Prohias
Writer & Illustrator: Peter Kuper
Additional Material: Sergio Aragones
Price (USD): $9.99 Digest size
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Humor
All Ages

One of my favorite features in MAD MAGAZINE was always the Spy vs. Spy segments.
Nearly everyone has seen these sight gags about the black spy trying to get the
better of the white spy (the colors refer to their clothes not skin) and visa
versa. I always marveled at how many variations on the theme the creator,
Antonio Prohias, could come up with. And when we thought we had seen it all he
occasionally threw in a female gray spy that always got the better of the two
men. This digest-sized book is a compilation of past episodes in Mad as well as
some new material. Most of it is in color but some are black and white. Peter
Kuper has carried on the tradition and captured the essence of the perpetual
antagonists in both plot and visually. Most often on of the spies is hatching a
plot to somehow kill the other or steal his secrets. For example White puts a
fake mailbox over a trashcan where Black will mail his top-secret information to
spy headquarters. When he has finished White comes back and leans into the
trashcan to retrieve the package. Just then Black appears and pushes him in
closing the cover. But when he lifts the can he sees the bottom in missing and
it was over a manhole. White has made an escape and circled around to trap Black
in a carton, which is picked up and crushed by the garbage man. It is the
double, triple and sometimes quadruple double cross that makes the reader unsure
who will prevail until the very end. Sometimes it is a missile shot by one that
bounces off a fake window back at the shooter who in turn will have his own
method of turning it back again. The introduction of the Gray lady is a nice
touch that adds diversity even though we know she will always win in the end -
the fun is in the journey. It is all done with pictures and sound effects, there
is no dialogue. As an added bonus the pages taken from MAD will often have those
little cartoons along the borders - Marginal Madness - by the great Sergio
Aragones. But since they are reduced in size to fit the format they are a bit
hard to read for these aged eyes. But Sergio is so clever it is worth using a
magnifier to get your money's worth. This is one in a series of books collecting
the Spy vs. Spy adventures. It is well worth the price.

Title: FEAR ITSELF 7.3: IRON MAN
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Matt Fraction
Artist: Salvador Larroca
Colors: Frank D'Armata
Letters: Joe Caramagna
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

Marvel has come out with a few epilogues to the FEAR ITSELF event. I call them
that, as they are different than the SHATTERED HEROES themes in some of the
regular titles. Even the numbering tries to tie them into happening right after
the last issue of FEAR ITSELF. During the event the Grey Gargoyle possessed one
of the hammers summoned by the Serpent. With it he turned the entire population
of Paris to stone. This seemed to be a major event in itself on the magnitude of
Genosha and the like. This book covers two confrontations by Tony Stark. One is
with the Gargoyle who is now a prisoner in a specially built chamber Stark
designed. The other is between Tony and Odin just before Thor's memorial is
held. The two are intertwined though the scenes with Gargoyle take place much
later. In flashback we see the people of Paris, as cold as statues, carefully
being gathered after the disaster as in the present Tony lectures about how
rather than an inescapable prison the Gargoyle deserves death. But it is the
meeting with Odin that is the crux of the plot. His basic premise is if Odin is
a god how could he have let this happen? The resolution may take some by
surprise - unlike me who had already read what it was that happens. Some may
call it a cop out while others may just figure it is what comics always do so it
is no big deal. I won't spoil it so you can decide for yourselves. In the
context of the characters and the dialogue it is well told, the only question is
whether it should have happened. Larroca does his usual terrific job and Tony
will continue in IRON MAN #510.

Title: AVENGERS ORIGINS: LUKE CAGE
Issue Number: 1-SHOT
Publisher: Marvel
Writers: Adam Glass & Mike Benson
Artist: Dalibor Talajac
Colors: Jean-Francois Beaulieu
Letters: Dave Lanphear
Cover Artist: Marko Djurdjevic
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

Those of you who only became familiar with Luke Cage from the series ALIAS and
now the Avengers books may get a kick out of seeing his origin story retold. You
may even be shocked to see he once had hair and sported an Afro a metal headband
in his time as Hero for Hire. The story goes back to his roots as a gangbanger
who tried to move on from that life. His old partner Stryker took up with a
female acquaintance of Luke's and when he treated her badly she turned to Luke.
That set off Stryker. He had Luke framed for drug trafficking and Luke was sent
to prison. It is there that he eventually was asked to participate in
experiments in cell regeneration. During the process a vindictive guard messed
with the controls but instead of killing Luke it made him super strong and nigh
invulnerable. Luke made his escape and eventually began a new life. He
eventually has a turning point deciding to use his powers for good and
eventually get back at the man who framed him. The story may run fairly close to
the actual origin in his old title. It details how he became popular after
confronting the Rhino and his eventual showdown with Stryker. There is even an
interesting epilogue in the present as he returns to the old neighborhood and he
meets someone he once injured. It is a fitting wrap up to the story. I enjoyed
the story as a look back on what was one of Marvel's first attempts at a black
lead character. This retelling is fleshed out nicely for the new reader. I think
old fans will like it just as much.

Title: END OF NATIONS
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: Resist
Publisher: DC
Creator: Based on upcoming Massive Online Strategy Game from Trion Worlds
Writer: Ricardo Sanchez
Artist: Yvel Guichet
Colors: Carrie Strachan
Letters: Saida Temofonte
Cover Artist: Chris Sprouse, Karl Story & Zac Atkinson
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Science fiction/Game adaptation

There seems to be more than a few comics out these days based on online and game
console video games. This latest one is based on an online game not yet out.
This is basically a war story that takes place in the not too distant future
when an organization called the Order of Nations has taken over the world. There
are people that resist though and the basis for the plot is one such group
called the Constitution Riders. One field commander in particular, Barret, is
the focus of the plot. He had to leave his pregnant wife behind in Idaho rather
than swear allegiance to the Order. Now he works under General Reid fighting the
good fight. Reid has promised him that soon they will turn their sites on Idaho
so he can liberate his family. But for now there are other fights to fight. The
opening scene is a rather prolonged battle as the Riders attack a convoy
carrying a large missile. It takes several pages of action showing us the level
of technology being used in this future war. Once this mission is a success
Barret hopes the incoming transmission from the general will be the green light
to turn to Idaho but it is instead is a desperate mission to try and keep the
resistance headquarters from being overrun until the place can be evacuated.
Through this new mission we learn that this future war is more complicated than
it seemed - that the Order is no the only problem Barret will have to fight.
This is an ok comic as far as war comics go. There is lots of fighting for those
who think that is the main purpose and the rival forces get some definition with
an added backup piece. I am not sure how well it will tie in with the game
coming out or if there will be any cross buying by gamers. There is really not
too much to hold my interest right now.

*****
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:
Where did Defiant's "Warriors of Plasm" make their comic debut?
The Warriors of Plasm made their 1st appearance in an insert to Diamond
Previews #6 in June 1993, called PLASM #0. The winner by the dice is Keith
Martin.

Here was your no prize question:
Who is credited with inventing the first true gasoline powered automobile?
On January 29, Karl Benz received the first patent (DRP No. 37435) for a gas-
fueled car. It was a three-wheeler; Benz built his first four-wheeled car in
1891. Benz & Cie., the company started by the inventor, became the world's
largest manufacturer of automobiles by 1900. Benz was the first inventor to
integrate an internal combustion engine with a chassis - designing both
together. Stan Hosmer beat everyone else with the right answer.

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
Which publisher forced Defiant to change the title to WARRIORS OF PLASM?

Here is your no prize question:
Who performed on the first CD for commercial release in the United States?

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

Comic Reviews 11/18/11

2011-11-18T11:24:00.001-08:00

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: POINT ONE
Issue Number: 1
Framing Sequence: Behold the Watcher
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Ed Brubaker
Artist: Javier Pulido
Colors: Javier Rodriguez
Letters: Chris Eliopoulos
Cover Artist: Adam Kubert & Morry Hollowell/Nick Bradshaw & Marte Gracia
Price (USD): $5.99 List Price (reduced price at That's Entertainment $2.99!)
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

This title is a preview of things to come in the Marvel Universe. The framing
sequence is a clever one. Two beings of unknown origins other than the fact they
call themselves the Unseen sneak into the Watchers abode on the moon while he is
in his fugue state. Once every three years he goes into a kind of trance for
forty-two minutes. It is during that time that he uploads his observations to
the collective and is oblivious to what is happening around him - a period of
time when he is not watching. The Unseen know this and have sent two operatives
to search his archives for something that will enable them to carry out their
nefarious plan. This theme will no doubt be continued somewhere in the future as
the plot is left open as the issue ends. During their presence there one of the
men taps into Watcher's wall of memories and alternate universes to witness
events that have been observed recently by the Watcher. It is those events that
we get to see in this issue. Here is a recap.

NOVA - "Harbinger" by Jeph Loeb, Ed McGuinness, Dexter Vines and Morry
Holllowell

Nova has come to the planet Birj to warn Terrax, former herald of Galactus of an
approaching threat to the planet. Terrax attacks fearing it is a ploy to
distract him from an invasion of the Nova Corps. His stubborn belligerence will
have its consequences and we get to see just what Nova is talking about before
it is over. It is a big reveal!

AGE OF APOCALYPSE - "The Myth of Man" by David Lapham, Roberto de la Torre & Lee
Loughridge

Yes Marvel is revisiting the Age of Apocalypse. This tidbit looks in on Krakken
as he tells his young son how he defeated the Red Prophet during the war and was
the designer and manufacturer of machines that helped rid the world of the human
menace. In this segment we learn that not all the humans have been eliminated.
There are five that still fight for the human race. Their last names are mostly
familiar and this plotline promises to be very entertaining. The art is very
stylish in keeping with the dark future it explores. The prelude to the
storyline begins in UNCANNY X-FORCE #19.1 in January.

SCARLET SPIDER - "The Scarlet Thread" by Chris Yost, Ryan Stegman, Michael
Babinski & Marte Gracia

The SCARLET SPIDER goes on sale January 11. This is our first look (at least
mine) at the title character. He is Kaine. He is the imperfect clone of Peter
Parker. He was dying of cell degradation but something happened in New York that
changed all that. He was a monster, he did terrible things, but since his change
and new lease on life he just wants to run away and hide somewhere outside of
the country. From this sequence we see he has changed and his ultimate goal may
not be permanent after all. I am not sure why they decided to go with another
clone story but from this segment it looks interesting.

COLDMOON & DRAGONFIRE - "Yin & Yang" by Fred Van Lente, Salvadore Larroca &
Guru-eFX

As far as I know these are new characters being introduced and perhaps they are
going to have their own title next year. It starts with a set of twins, a boy
and a girl. Each was born with powers and isolated from each other and the world
since birth, each thinking the other died at birth. Dragonfire has the power of
molecular manipulation though it is strong it is erratic. Coldmoon has the power
as well and hers are weak but very precise. Their female guardian visits them in
her HAZMAT suit daily perpetuating the myth of the other sibling being dead. But
like some twins there is a special bond and when they both reach puberty the
attraction is so strong that it will not be denied. This chapter shows how they
discover each other and the truth about their existence. There journey to fight
the powers that did this to them will lead them to their first encounter with
the Avengers. It is a strong plot with good art. I'll be looking for this one.

DOCTOR STRANGE - "The Shaman of Greenwich Village" by Matt Fraction, Terry
Dodson, Rachel Dodson & Sonia Oback

This sequence leads into or maybe is a part of the new DEFENDERS title on sale
next month. The beginning slowly introduces a character that has been around
Greenwich Village for years. Many in the village know a man called Notebook Joe.
He supposedly is writing "The Complete History of Greenwich Village" in his
notebook everywhere he goes. When Stephen Strange visits his current benefactor,
a female that lets him crash at her place, he learns that Joe apparently never
sleeps. Loving a mystery Dr. Strange explores Joe's mind on the astral plane and
finds that instead Joe is in a constant state of sleep. It proves to be a
strange journey for the mystic and he even gets a glimpse of his own future. He
leaves us with a strange phrase, "the impossible is everywhere now" to ponder
until the DEFENDERS has its debut. It is very intriguing for reasons I have not
revealed.

THE AVENGERS - "Age of Ultron" by Brian Michael Bendis, Bryan Hitch, Paul Neary
& Paul Mounts

The final entry is a look into the future, something that surprises our
interlopers from the Unseen when they realize that fact. The beginning of the
story will be in AVENGERS #19 on sale in November and it is titled "The March
Toward Ultron." This segment is apparently from a later chapter as Ultrons are
flying over a partly demolished and partly rebuilt New York. Clint Barton,
Spider-man and Wolverine are under attack and this short bit serves to show how
desperate the situation has become. If you are an Avengers fan it is a good
tease of what is to come. And it may be enough for others to start following
that title right now.

Overall I give the book two thumbs up for giving us a lot of information on what
is to come and a special thanks to That's Entertainment for making it accessible
to readers at a reasonable price.

Title: AVENGING SPIDER-MAN
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: Avenging Spider-Man/Hulk
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Zeb Wells
Artist: Joe Madureira
Colors: Ferran Daniel
Letters: Joe Caramagna
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

Well, now we have another Spider-Man title on the racks. This one is the Spider-
Man team-up book with a different title. It will feature the web slinger with
various characters outside of his regular books. First up is Hulk. That would be
the red one, Thunderbolt Ross, who is a member of the Avengers and not the
incredible one who is off on his own after splitting from the Bruce Banner
persona. At the end of an Avengers battle with a group of A.I.M. agents Hulk is
tasked with (stuck actually) giving Spider-man a ride back to New York while the
others mop things up. In transit they learn of a major problem at the GW Bridge.
The NYC Marathon has begun but has been interrupted by an army of mole men who
apparently want to take the mayor, J Jonah Jameson, captive. The story has the
two Avengers grappling with a much bigger threat as Jameson is whisked away. The
story continues next time, if there is a next time for our two heroes. The plot
is laid out well for a first issue. We begin with the team scenes and some
typical humor you would expect to get Spidey together with his partner for this
story. The New York is intertwined to reveal the threat from underground and the
eventual merging of the two plots in an all action sequence. There is a
revelation at the end as well as a cliffhanger that teases more action for the
next issue. The art is decent and the characters are handled appropriately in
character. If more Spidey and/or team-ups are your thing you can't go wrong with
this one. As an added bonus the issue includes a digital code that you can use
online to download the entire issue for free. How can you beat that?

Title: BATTLE SCARS
Issue Number: 1 (of 6)
Publisher: Marvel
Story: Chris Yost, Cullen Bunn & Matt Fraction
Script: Chris Yost
Artist: Scot Eaton
Inker: Andrew Hennessy
Colors: Paul Mounts
Letters: Joe Sabino
Cover Artist: Carlo Pagulayan, Jason Paz & Guru eFX
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Action/Super Hero

This is the story of Marcus Johnson. It has the SHATTERED HEROES theme dress on
the cover - a post FEAR ITSELF tie-in. But is this about a hero somehow affected
by that major event? Well it is, but not a hero that was a major player in those
events. Marcus Johnson is a soldier and during that time he was in the middle of
fighting his own battles in Afghanistan. The story provides some scenes of what
life is like on those front lines until Johnson gets the word that his mother is
dead. Four days later he is at his mother's funeral with two very familiar
people watching from the shadows. It is our first indication that his story is
much more than that of a typical soldier on leave. For the first time he sees
some of the damage done by a world gone mad with fear. But at his mother's house
he realizes her death is not what it seems and soon some goons and the villain
on the cover, Taskmaster, confront him. Why are they after him and are they
responsible for his mother's death? There are hints that Johnson is someone
special but we will have to stay with the title to find out why. The build up to
the climax is a good mix of action and intrigue. The final scene, and the cover,
gives a hint of what is to come. With very good art the whole thing comes
together nicely and is well worth the bargain price to give it a try.

Title: THE ALL-NEW BATMAN THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD
Issue Number: 13
Title Story: .Batman Dies At Dawn
Publisher: DC
Writer: Sholly Fisch
Artist: Rick Burchett
Inker: Dan Davis
Colors: Guy Major
Letters: Carlos M. Mangual
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero
ALL AGES

I have sampled this title in the past. Although the cover logo does not say so
the actual title indeed has the "ALL-NEW" label legally. I believe that was done
to tie it into the cartoon series, which had a bit of a revamp for its current
run on Cartoon Network. I picked up this issue because the cover showing various
versions of Robin and a blurb - "Calling All Robins", intrigued me! They are all
here - the original Dick Grayson as Nightwing leads Damian, Tim, Jason,
Stephanie and Carrie all plucked from their time when they were the current
Robin. It seems the actual time is when Stephanie or Tim is the current Robin as
Damian alludes to being in the past at one point. This all occurred through the
power of the Phantom Stranger. It seems Batman was fatally wounded and his only
hope is for all of his prot‚g‚s to work together as the Stranger's spell holding
him in stasis will only last a day. Nightwing proposes they take him to a
Lazarus pit in the caverns of a certain mountain. It will take all of them
working together to get past the League of Assassins and ultimately Ra's Al Ghul
if they hope to save their mentor. This is a fun story for the long time fans of
Batman and Robin. Newer or younger readers may not know them all but will still
delight in seeing the diversity of kids that have been or will be sidekicks to
the Caped Crusader. The art is in keeping with the TV series but is not overly
cartoonish. There is even a lighthearted scene at the very end as Phantom
Stranger and Madame Xanadu discuss an alternative they could have chosen. This
is great fun for all ages, as usual.

Title: PILOT SEASON: ANONYMOUS
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Image/Top Cow
Creators: Matt Hawkins & Alan McElroy
Writer: Alan McElroy
Artist: Michael Montenat
Colors: Phil Smith
Letters: Troy Peteri
Cover Artist: Eric Jones
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Crime Drama

The PILOT SEASON titles keep on coming in the quest for one of them to get its
own mini-series. This one is the story of a soldier, Marcus Walsh. We know this
from a brief opening scene in Afghanistan. The story picks up a year later in
Los Angeles. Marcus was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously and wants the
world, and even his father to believe he is dead. The things he did during the
war have affected him that way. He lost himself out there as a highly trained
black ops soldier and now he chooses to lose himself or at least his true
identity. The only acknowledgement of his past is his visit to his own empty
grave. It is at the cemetery that he meets a young boy and his battered mother.
He decides that fate has given him another mission, one more honorable than
killing others in war. But the plot goes a lot deeper than putting the fear of
god into a bully. His surveillance of the batterer leads him into a much deeper
plot that will call for his particular skills in vigilante justice. I liked this
story for a few reasons. It starts with a more philosophical monologue about
soldiers and their lot in life and then gets into sub plots that lead into more
involved ones. The art is dynamic and colored well. It is a worthy entry into
the contest. It is getting harder to pick the best from all of the PILOT SEASON
entries.

Title: HOUSE OF NIGHT
Issue Number: 1 (of 5)
Publisher: Dark Horse
Creators: P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast
Story: P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast
Script: Kent Dalian
Artists: Joelle Jones & Karl Kerschl
Colors: Ryan Hill & Tyson Hesse
Letters: Nate Piekos
Cover Artist: Jenny Frison
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Horror

This comic is based on a best-selling series of novels of the same name. This
mini-series takes place between chapters of the second novel, BETRAYED. The
authors have created their own vampire (they use the term vampyre) mythos. The
House of Night is a finishing school for young vampyres known as fledglings. The
goddess Nyx marks the young with a hollow crescent moon tattoo on their
forehead. They are then sent to the House of Night for training before they
become full vampyres. The lead character is Zoey Redbird who is special among
fledglings. She has a magical affinity to the five elements: air, fire, water,
earth and spirit. It seems earlier in her story she was recognized by the
goddess as being special by having her moon filled in and added to with tattoos
normally only adults get to wear. She was also appointed as leader of a sub
group, the Dark Daughters, something that really riles the deposed leader and
fellow fledgling Aphrodite. So part of the plot is Zoey's reluctance at being
cast not only as a fledgling but also as a very special one and then having to
cope with the resident bad girl's constant taunts. She does find solace in her
own group of friends. The mini series delves into the Fledgling Handbook and its
ritual stories about the five elements. So for newcomers to the works it is an
introduction to the world of the novels and all the mythos without relying
heavily on the plots in the novels to carry the weight. This issue concentrates
on the earth element as it ties into the Viking Priestess Freya. Her story is a
valuable lesson for the fledglings and Zoey in particular as Freya must find a
way to establish a House of Night in Norway so that the fledglings in that
country will no longer have to hide. This interlude is fascinating and stands on
its own. It also ties in well with Zoey's plight as she learns a valuable
lesson. Presumably future issues will also help her as she learns of the other
figures in vampyre history that tie into the other elements. At first I was not
so much interested in a bunch of teenagers with typical angst and conflicts just
in a different setting. But this title is more than that and the art is
spectacular as well. Fans of the novels will no doubt love it and others would
be well served to check it out.

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

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

Last week's trivia question:
In SUPERBOY #50, three characters from the original KAMANDI series appeared.
Which ones?
They were Dr. Canus, Prince Tuftan, and Great Caesar. Of all the correct entries
the dice favored David Mc Barron.

Here was your no prize question:
Which famous Middle East Leader received the key to the city of Detroit in 1980?
Saddam Hussein! Saddam Hussein donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to a
Detroit church and received a key to the city more than three decades ago, soon
after he became president of Iraq. Saddam's bond with Detroit started in 1979,
when the Rev. Jacob Yasso of Chaldean Sacred Heart congratulated Saddam on his
presidency. In return, Yasso said, his church received $250,000. A year later,
Yasso traveled with about two dozen people to Baghdad as a guest of the Iraqi
government, and they were invited to Saddam's palace. Yasso said he presented
Saddam with the key to the city, courtesy of then-Mayor Coleman Young. First on
the draw with the right answer was Gregory Goding.

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
Where did Defiant's "Warriors of Plasm" make their comic debut?
Here is your no prize question:
Who is credited with inventing the first true gasoline powered automobile?

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

Comic Reviews 11/11/11

2011-11-10T12:35:00.000-08:00

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: OUR LOVE IS REAL
Issue Number: 1-SHOT
Publisher: Image
Writer: Sam Humphries
Artist: Steven Sanders
Letters: Troy Peteri
Price (USD): $3.50
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Science Fiction/OMG/WTF
MATURE - Comics on the Edge

That genre designation is the creator's designation on the back of the book. And
I must agree. It is one of the strangest comics I have read in a long time.
Strange because it goes places others haven't. It is the story of a cop who
glories in breaking up vegisexual riots. Yes, you probably guessed what a
vegisexual is - someone who has sex with plants. It makes him feel proud that he
is a zoosexual - er, someone who practices bestiality. Then at one riot he meets
a bystander just watching. She is a mineralsexual. As she explains to officer
Jok she does not screw rocks. She uses a form of meditation to merge auras with
crystals. The encounter bothers him so much he goes to see her at her apartment
and learns a lot about her and himself. But there is a final encounter later, in
a jewelry store that brings everything to a head and an unexpected resolution.
Although it is a quirky premise it makes sense in a science fiction way. The art
is really good black and white with dynamic layouts and good use of grays. It
sure is not for everyone but it is well executed and worth it for those with an
open mind.

Title: UNCANNY X-MEN
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: Everything Is Sinister
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Kieron Gillen
Artist: Carlos Pacheco
Inker: Cam Smith
Colors: Frank D'Armata
Letters: Joe Caramagna
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

Last time I looked at one half of the split X-Men in WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN.
This week I look at the other half UNCANNY X-MEN. As an aside I believe this is
the first time this title started with #1. The first thing I noticed is this is
a more serious book with a normal amount of humor based on the circumstances -
natural ribbing and sarcasm. Like the other book there is a guide in the back
detailing the major players and their positions. The X-Men, or Extinction Team
as Cyclops calls them, are Storm, Emma Frost, Magneto, Namor, Colossus, Hope
Danger and Magik. It further details sub teams, some with members of the
Extinction Team on them such as the X-Club/Science Team (look for their own
title soon), Security Recon, Street Team, Clean up (New Mutants), Gen Hope and
several recruits. The story begins with Scott talking to his core Extinction
Team explaining to them that they are not exterminators but rather their purpose
is to sway the opinion of the humans about mutants by saving THEM from
extinction by serious enough threats. It is mostly a five-page monologue that
spells out the focus of the team. But the story title is the giveaway what the
first main threat will be. Sinister is the villain and his plan involves the
Dreaming Celestial. His brutality is demonstrated very clearly. The X-Men are
brought in by S.W.O.R.D. when their monitoring detects energy spikes from the
Celestial. The rest of the book is all action as the more they attack the worse
things get. A couple of highlights include the current status of Colossus, an
interesting conversation between Namor and Emma and Magneto pushing his power to
the limit. If you prefer the X-Men in action this is a good new start. The
sinister ending, pun intended, promises more to come. It starts slow and builds
and the end drew me in to what it is all about. The art is superb as well. It is
an easy jump on point for the curious.

Title: DARK SHADOWS
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
Writer: Stuart Manning
Artist: Aaron Campbell
Colors: Carlos Lopez
Letters: Troy Peteri
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Horror

Back in 1971 a new kind of soap opera hit the daytime TV airwaves. It had a
vampire, a witch and a werewolf as three of the leading characters and it became
a hit. Maybe because it was a major departure from the normal soaps. No doubt
the appeal to a younger audience and the late afternoon airtime was part of its
success. It was a cult favorite of college and high school students. The
question is can a comic book based on baby boomer cult TV show translate into a
hit forty years later. The Collins family is an old dynasty living in the
shadows of a troubled past in a remote fishing village on the coast of Maine.
Their darkest secret is Barnabas, a man over two hundred years old, cursed by
the witch Angelique to live forever as a vampire. The rest of the family has
problems barely hinted at. Elizabeth is concerned with protecting the family
name, her son is a pyromaniac, her daughter Carolyn drinks to drown her sorrow,
and cousin Quentin has his own secret that I won't spoil. Barnabas is plagued by
dreams and it seems he is closest to the family doctor, Julia Hoffman. She is
trying to cure him of his vampirism while supplying him stolen blood so he won't
have to feed. The problem with this first issue is that it is just a little
information about a lot of people. The main focus is on Barnabas and Carolyn
both of whom are in perilous situations and Julia has a secret of her own that
spells trouble for Barnabas. It seems they are jamming an awful lot into the
first issue to set up plot points immediately. In a soap opera it works well
because the next episode is a day away or at most three. I am not sure how well
this will work on a monthly schedule. The real problem for me is the art. It is
rather crude in definition. Campbell seems to have moments with strong lines and
good coloring mixed with blurry scenes. It is just not appealing. I am not sure
there is enough here to interest new readers and I doubt there are enough 55+
year olds that read comics and are Dark Shadows fans. I could be wrong.

Title: PILOT SEASON: MISDIRECTION
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Image/Top Cow
Writer/Creator: Filip Sablik
Artist: Chris Dibari
Colors: Ivan Plascencia
Letters: Troy Peteri
Cover Artist: Michael Gaydos
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Crime Drama

Another PILOT SEASON submission in the contest to win a longer run. This one is
about a racecar driver, Vince Martinez, at the height of his game. With six
straight wins he was on his way to win the Sprint Cup. But after the latest race
he made a bad choice to blow off some steam with his team at a strip joint. One
thing led to another and after a police chase and a crash he lost it all - his
job, his freedom and his family. After his time in prison he has a menial job
and no hope for the future. Then one day an old friend from his racing days
shows up to offer him a job as a driver for a limo service in Houston. Imagine
his surprise when he goes to pick up the clients and they come rushing out of a
bank with ski masks on and guns a blazing! This is not what he signed up for but
things get worse when he learns more about what is going on and further
complications to his situation. As far as plot goes this is a decent story. Some
of the script is uninspired but the action moves along and there are bits of
mystery as we reach the climax. The art is unimpressive though. The layouts are
fine but the pencil and ink is just passable. It is not a bad comic but after
reading some of the other entries in the contest I am betting this one won't
make the cut.

Title: SEVEN WARRIORS
Issue Number: 1 (of 3)
Publisher: Boom! Studios
Translation: Edward Gauvin
Writer: Michael Le Galli
Artist: Francis Manapul
Colors: Christelle Moulart
Letters: Deron Bennett
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Adventure
MATURE - Nudity, Sexual situations

There is no text piece in this issue explaining how or where this comic came to
be. There is a translator in the credits though. Anyway, the comic is set in the
kingdom of N'Nas Amon a long time ago. The kingdom has been invaded by troops
from Persia and Byzantium and worse the homeland army has been defeated in
battle with no survivors. The queen has pulled all remaining citizens into their
fortified city and hired mercenaries to defend it. But she has a different plan
for the prince, Aksamon. She contracts with the female warriors from Sarmatia to
take the prince through hidden tunnels under the city past enemy lines to the
hidden city where he will be safe with the elders and his cousin whom he is
destined to marry to carry on the royal line. The queen has seen the prophecy
that six warriors will accompany the prince she therefore rejects the request of
a loyal servant girl to also go along. Somehow I am thinking this female will
figure into the plot later. So the seven set out on their journey. Like
something out of an Indiana Jones movie the encounter all kinds of booby-traps
one of which serves to end the first issue with a cliff hanger. There is a lot
of embellishment of certain characters along the way. Two of the female warriors
are looked at in depth at one point. The queen also has her moments with a
trusted servant. Those dialogues serve to explain a lot about their culture and
what is expected from the young prince. There is an awful lot of dialogue in
parts of the book. It becomes more evident because the unusual layouts have
eight or nine panels on most pages. I liked the art, especially the coloring.
Moulart captures the mood as scenes shift from the palace, to underground and in
flashbacks to better times. There is enough here to make for a decent story.
With only three issues to tell it all I anticipate less exposition and a lot
more action next time. Thumbs up on this one.

Title: BLOOD RED DRAGON
Issue Number: 1
Publisher:
Creator: Stan Lee & Yoshiki
Writer: Jon Goff
Artists: Carlos Soriano & Crimelab Syndicate
Colors: Fco Plascencia & Ivan Plascencia
Letters: Comicraft
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Mythology/Supernatural

I picked this one up because it was a new title and a #1 issue with Stan Lee as
creator. I did not have any hopes on the quality nor have I read any press on
it. The script is structured so that the first three pages are the end of the
first issue plot after that we rewind to earlier that day. It starts with views
of the TV news referring to a series of attacks on musical acts around the
world. The seventh occurred at the planned launch of the world tour of the
Japanese sensation Yoshiki at an abandoned amusement park in California. The TV
is in his mansion on the coast as he and his manager meet the day after. It
turns out three female organizers of the local fan club are there and the
manager explains they helped get Yoshiki out of harms way the night before.
Yoshiki has no memory of what happened until the three girls reveal their true
identities and costumes as the Shrine Maidens of the Dragon Temple. Tracy
explains they met last night as she stood to defend him when he unlocked the
dragon's power. Yeah it seems that he is connected to this mythical magic
through his music. There is a whole other supernatural realm called Oblivion.
The beastly inhabitants have devastated many worlds and the world of man is
next. Yoshiki alone may be the one person that can stop it through the power of
the dragon. Yada, yada, yada. That really sums up my feelings on the whole
thing. Mystical beings planning to invade Earth but a single person can become
an unwitting hero and channel magical powers to save the day all the while
having three scantily clad female warriors as background visuals. And speaking
of backgrounds, there aren't many. Most of the panels have solid colors behind
the characters in the foreground. It is a lazy style, IMHO, that concentrates on
characters mostly though they are not drawn badly. So the premise or the plot
does not excite me so far. I am less interested because we are entering this
title with the second issue, even though it is labeled #1. Yes they had
published one of those pesky, enigmatic zero issues last month, which covered
the attack on Yoshiki and the intervention by Tracy and probably more. You may
have read my rants in the past on why I do not agree with numbering any comic
with a "0". This issue points out another reason why. There is considerable
recap in this issue on what happened in that zero issue. It is as if it was
purposely structured this way for those of us who missed the zero issue. Anyway,
I do not recommend this comic based on what I have read and seen in this issue.
Your time and money is probably better-spent elsewhere.

***** 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 was Harvey (Two-Face) Dent's original name when he first appeared?

So as not to confuse people with another famous character, Harvey Kent got
changed to Harvey Dent. The winner by the dice is Jeremy Mower.

Here was your no prize question:
What were the world's first cork-tipped cigarettes?
The answer is Viceroy and Greg Goding got it first.

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
In Superboy #50, three characters from the original KAMANDI series appeared. Which ones?

Here is your no prize question:
Which famous Middle East Leader received the key to the city of Detroit in 1980?

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

Comic Reviews 11/4/11

2011-11-04T16:03:00.000-07:00