Comic Reviews 5/27/11

REVIEWS

The comics reviewed are chosen by David not by That's Entertainment management
or staff. The opinions expressed are his alone. If you have an opposing view you
are welcome to respond to David directly by Email at the address above.


Title: BOOSTER GOLD
Issue Number: 44
Title Story: Turbulence
Title Arc: Flashpoint
Publisher: DC
Creator: Dan Jurgens
Writer: Dan Jurgens
Artist: Dan Jurgens
Inker: Norm Rapmund
Colors: HI-Fi Designs
Letters: Carlos M. Mangual
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

This is the first DC tie-in to FLASHPOINT and as such sold rapidly. After the
search for Batman concluded Booster had returned to the present to find a bunch
of strange phrases scribbled on a chalkboard. Things like "Wonder Woman Princess
of War" and "The Terror of Aquaman" and many others. We now know those phrases
were referring to what is status quo after the Flashpoint event happened. In
fact, as we see in this issue, shortly after his return the event happened and
Booster blacked out. When he awoke Rip Hunter and Michelle are no longer there
so he and Skeets head to Coast City to find Green Lantern. They are met with
hostility in the form of a multi-pronged attack by the military that think
Booster is an agent of Atlantis. Since this may be the first sampling of the
title for readers who want to get all they can out of FLASHPOINT Jurgens has
included a brief recap of the origin of Booster in a flashback. He has given us
some insight into where Booster fits into the event now occurring. As far as we
know he and Barry Allen are the only two people who are aware that the world has
changed though Booster is only just realizing he is not in Kansas anymore. It is
a side plot off the main story that will show things not covered there. Jurgens
plots it well and the art is top notch. If you can find it you might want to get
it.

Title: DRUMS
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Image
Writer: El Torres
Artist: Abe Hernando & Kwaichang Kraneo
Cover Artist: Raul Allen
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Supernatural Thriller
Mature - Comics on the Edge

Image has been coming out with a lot of new series and mini-series that have
some pre-press buzz on the Internet. This one is set in Santa Rosa, FL where an
FBI team, Iron and Poltz have been sent to investigate a mass death scene. The
local sheriff has never seen anything like it. They arrive to a room full of
bodies with no apparent cause of death. The opening two pages give a hint it may
be related to a religious ritual the Latino victims were conducting. While they
wait for some forensic evidence of gas or poisoning Iron visits the morgue to
view some of the bodies. Once he is alone one female corpse suddenly grabs him
and speaks as if possessed by someone or something. The story gets into three
main religions that are implicated by a cultural anthropologist consultant. The
plot will take her and Iron to visit one of the main leaders of one of the
religions. The script is only giving bits and pieces of information as we go and
is thick with dialogue. The mystery only deepens as the first issue wraps up
with another supernatural event. The art is appropriately dark for the subject
matter and the stormy weather throughout. It might take some thought to stick
with everything and process it. This is not another zombie tale. But I think it
is well executed and should be interesting as it moves along.

Title: RED SPIKE
Issue Number: 1 (of 5)
Publisher: Image
Creator: Michael Benaroya & Jeff Cahn
Writer: Jeff Cahn
Artist: Salvador Navarro
Colors: Ifansyah Noor
Letters: Josh Aitken
Cover Artist: Mark Texeira
Price (USD): $1.00
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Science Fiction/Military

This is a bargain book at only a buck. If you like the shoot-em-up black ops
type comics this one should work well for you. But it also has an element of
science fiction that pushes it toward the super-powered genre. The basic
background is that the government has perfected a system known as Red Spike. The
system is incorporated into soldiers and it allows them to use massive amounts
of adrenaline at will. This is basically a quest for the super soldier plot. So
far two men have Red Spike installed. In the opening scene Matt and Gregg
parachute into hostile territory and take down an unimaginable number of troops
using the speed and strength that Red Spike affords them. It is almost a
competition between the two and that is sometimes not good. They have to get
into a certain building to plant charges and escape before it blows. This allows
us to see how they interact and the slightly different response they have to the
stimulus. There is a subplot involving a government agency that is looking into
the project but that does not develop too far. It also appears that those in
charge of Red Spike might be doing more than just upping adrenaline levels in
their subjects. So this title has elements of government intrigue, secrets
within secrets, maybe a love interest and lots of action. So far it ties
together well and the art supports the effort. It remains to be seen if it will
be a big hit or a niche comic to appeal to certain fans. For only a dollar it is
worth sampling.

Title: PIXIES
Publisher: Arcana
Creator/Writer: Sean Patrick O'Reilly
Scripts: Sean Patrick O'Reilly, Shawn DePasquale
Artist: Leisl Adams
Colors: Chandran
Letters: Shawn DePasquale
Price (USD): $.25
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Fantasy - Romantic Comedy

If you thought the last comic reviewed was a bargain then look at this one for
only a quarter. It is an introductory look at a graphic novel and 3D animated
feature coming in 2012. The book starts at the very beginning of the story as a
young boy named Joe Beck had the bad luck of chopping down a tree with a pixie
in it. Unknown to Joe the pixie king is angered enough to send the injured
pixie, Samuel, and his friends to plague Joe with misfortune for the rest of his
life. Sure enough the bulk of the issue shows all the mishaps Joe will have as
he grows, most of which the unseen pixies are responsible for setting up. As he
grows he ends up working in his father's auto repair shop and there too there
are constant mishaps, things that make him late for work and on and on. He
finally meets a girl that is friendly to him and it looks like his life is
taking a turn for the better, until he walks into an open manhole on the way
home. I can see from this brief preview that this could translate into a movie
very well as it has lots of visuals that would work well on screen. The art is
good but not cartoonish and the three pixies are kind of funny on their own. For
25-cents you can't go wrong. And one reason it is so inexpensive is that there
are seven pages in the back with eight per page ads for Arcana's other graphic
novel offerings. You can't go wrong for the price and the finished product
should appeal to all ages.

Title: X-MEN GIANT SIZE
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: First to Last
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Christopher Yost
Artist: Paco Mendina & Dalabor Talajic
Inker: Juan Vlasco & Dalabor Talajic
Colors: Marte Gracia & Wil Quintana
Letters: Joe Caramagna
Price (USD): $4.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

The first though I had was that the title seemed deceiving because the book felt
a little thin for the price and the Giant-Size tag. But the page count and lack
of lots of ads make up for that. The book is set up into two plots called the
then and the now. Different art teams handle the two so as to differentiate the
two. In the now the mutants are living on their island off the West coast when
the Guardian Clan of the Neo attacks them. Their plan is to evidently wipe out
all normal mutants, as the Neo are stronger, faster and more powerful. Their
leader explains that their kind was decimated and they have had no live births
since the same thing happened to the X-Men and their kind. The Neo want to find
out the secret of a mutant birth so their own kind will not die out. They will
not listen to reason and the fighting continues. During the battle Cyclops is
suddenly overcome and starts to have a vision of a long repressed memory. The
"Then" part of the story kicks in as the original X-Men are fighting with the
Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. When a Sentinel appears Magneto takes his team away
And soon Cyclops is ordered telepathically to retreat as well. But the kicker is
the repressed memory. After it all the X-Men are visited by god-like beings
calling themselves calling themselves the Evolutionaries. They state their
mission is to ensure the survival of Homo Superior. I have no idea if the
Evolutionaries ever appeared before in an X-Men comic (a lot of history in all
those years) but as you might expect they show up in the "now" part of the story
with the same mission and a startling revelation as to how they plan to carry it
out. The story will continue in X-MEN #12 so if you read that title you will
need to get this book. If you just read this one and get hooked well you will be
buying X-Men as well, which is the purpose I guess. I liked the plot and the
execution of it and the art is good enough though I preferred the "now" sections
more than the "then" parts. It is a must for all you X-Men fans and worth a look
but at a higher price point for the rest of you.

Title: ROCKETEER ADVENTURES
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: IDWE
Creator: Dave Stevens
Cover Artists: Alex Ross & Dave Stevens
Pin ups by Mike Mignola with Dave Stewart and Jim Silke
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Adventure

There are three stories in this new anthology featuring the characters created
by the late Dave Stevens.

"The Rocketeer"
Writer/Artist: John Cassaday
Colors: Laura Martin
Letters: Chris Mowry

This one begins mid story even though it is issue #1 with only a paragraph to
explain that the Maroni gang is holding Cliff "Rocketeer" Secord's girlfriend
Betty captive to keep him from exposing their plan to extort money from the
government by threatening to shoot off a stolen military rocket. The story
begins with a stand off with Cliff confronting the gang with his pistol trained
on the control panel and Betty strapped to the missile. You can predict what
will happen and that our hero with a jet pack will be flying off to save the
lady. It is visually a stunning offering if light on plot and it wraps up
comically to make us feel good. As I said the art is the best part.

"Home Again"
Writer/Artist/Letterer: Mike Allred
Colors: Laura Allred

Speaking of art, fans of the Allreds will like this offering though it too is
only part of a story. As the title suggests Cliff has just returned to his home
and is welcomed by Betty and his friend Peevey. It seems someone has offered him
an opportunity to use the jet pack for good but the offer has strings attached.
He says he is in trouble and it involves a man named Jonas. Cliff's trip to New
York gave him a chance to soar among the skyscrapers but he is mum about the
details of what the trouble is all about. It is not clear if this is a
continuing story or what Allred intended - a portion of a story that might be
typical of the Rocketeer in an ongoing comic. He is not listed as contributing
to the next issue so I am guessing it is the latter. If that is the case it is
not very satisfying.

"Dear Betty"
Writer: Kurt Busiek
Artist: Mike Kaluta
Colors: Dave Stewart
Letters: Chris Mowry

This story on the other hand has a beginning, middle and an end. It takes place
from October 1944 until August 1945. Cliff is off helping the war effort while
Betty works as an actress in New York. The story has her reading various letters
from Cliff with only a few panels of what he might be up to in the war. The main
plot follows Betty as she worries over his safety while fending off the advances
of her leading man. When the letters stop she fears the worst - that her man
might not return. This is a very nicely scripted story and the art is
delightful. It is the best of the three in the title. More segments like this
could make this title worth following.


*****
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:
According to DC, how many votes decided if Jason Todd, Robin II, lived or died?
There were 5343 votes in favor of Robin II dying, and 5271 in favor of him
living. 72 votes determined his fate. The winner this time is Gary Katzoff.

Here was your no prize question:
The motto "In God We Trust" first appeared on U.S. currency in 1864. What was
the denomination of the coin?
The two cent piece was the first coin of the United States to bear the motto "In
God We Trust". It was produced in the United States from 1864-1873, and was very
slightly smaller than a modern U.S. quarter.

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
Where was Stan Lee's boss when he got the idea that Marvel needed to do a
superhero team comic book?

Here is your no prize question:
Which planet has the longest day, from sunrise to sunrise?

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

Comic Reviews 5/20/11

REVIEWS

The comics reviewed are chosen by David not by That's Entertainment management
or staff. The opinions expressed are his alone. If you have an opposing view you
are welcome to respond to David directly by Email at the address above.


Title: FLASHPOINT
Issue Number: 1 (of 5)
Title Story: Chapter One
Publisher: DC
Writer: Geoff Johns
Artist: Andy Kubert
Inker: Sandra Hope
Colors: Alex Sinclair
Letters: Nick J. Napolitano
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero



If you have not been reading THE FLASH you missed the beginning of the story of
FLASHPOINT but that will not hinder you from understanding or enjoying this
title. Suffice it to say that Barry Allen had been warned by his doppelganger
from one of those 52 parallel Earths about a coming time disruption that would
be majorly disruptive to the timeline. He thought Bart being in our time was the
cause but it was not. Before anyone can stop it - it happens. This is the
moment, in the plot that is, where the story begins. After a few introductory
pages to set the mood we zoom in on Barry asleep at his desk in the police lab.
He doesn't know it but the world has changed. In a few moments he knows
something is wrong. His boss is talking about solving a murder that will prove
the truth about the city's greatest hero, Citizen Cold. When he tries to "run"
to a reported shootout he falls down some stairs and is picked up off the floor
by his own mother - problem is she should be dead. She has never heard of the
Flash or even the Justice League for that matter. So at this point it seems
Barry is the only one who knows that the world has changed drastically. Just how
drastically is shown in the next few pages as several heroes meet on a rooftop
in Gotham to try and come to an agreement about banding together to stop a world
tragedy caused by Aquaman and Wonder Woman. Some of the faces are familiar, some
of the costumes are familiar but things have changed. Among them is Abin Sur is
the Green Lantern of the sector. The six kids of the Marvel family and Tawny the
tiger join together to call on Captain Thunder. Others are there but it is too
cool to reveal them all. Meanwhile Barry races, in his mother's car, to find the
one man who might be willing and able to help him find out what happened and how
to fix it - the world's greatest detective! That proves to be a big surprise for
him as well. So far I love it. The change in everything Barry has ever known is
a huge hurtle if he wants to save the world. I can see why other mini-series
will explore just how different these and other characters are in this jumbled
up continuity. The art team does a great job, as you would expect. I may not be
reading all of the tie-ins but the main book by itself promises to be a fun
ride.

Title: MEGA MAN
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: Let The Games Begin
Publisher: Archie Comics
Writer: Ian Flynn
Artist: Patrick Spaziante
Colors: Matt Herms
Letters: John Workman
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Science Fiction/Super Hero - Video game adaptation
All Ages


This Archie comic is racked with the mainstream titles. This first issue is an
origin issue of the title character. It opens in mid-adventure and then flashes
back to how it all began. Doctor light is about to have the grand unveiling of
his the latest development from Light Labs. His two robot children assistants,
Rock and Roll, are encouraging him to help get over a bit of stage fright. Light
Labs is going to introduce their line of Robot Masters. They are designed to
perform complex tasks, interact with people and direct the other robots in their
duties. Each has a specialty - forestry management, land reclamation, arctic
exploration, demolition/excavation, waste reduction and power management. Light
has reformed from building robots for military application and plans to use
these new models to advance humanity. His partner, Albert Wily, lost his
credentials for conducting unethical robotics experiments. He is upset he cannot
share in the glory in this advancement in AI technology. So he plans to sabotage
the Robot Masters and send them rampaging, thereby discrediting Dr. Light. Since
they set the new standard there is nothing or no one that can stand up to them.
Dr. Light will have to come up with something even better - Mega Man! Converting
Rock into this will not be easy or guaranteed to work. He will need super armor,
a mega blaster and a special chip to adapt to his foes. As the title says, let
the games begin. This is a fun title that appeals to the young but has enough
intelligent action and dialogue to interest the older audience. It is a basic
story that is well drawn and brilliantly colored. I am not familiar with the
video game but that is not a prerequisite to enjoy the story. It is off to a
good start.


Title: NETHER WORLD
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Image/Top Cow
Writers: Bryan Edward Hill & Rob Levin
Artist: Tony Shasteen
Colors: Dave McCaig & Lee Loughridge
Letters: Troy Peteri
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Horror




Image has been putting out some interesting books lately with a variety of
creators exploring all different genres. This one is set in a large metropolis
where the protagonist, Ray Parker, hunts down bail jumpers. We get to see how
good he is as he chases his latest case into a restaurant kitchen to find him
holding a girl with a knife to her throat. That is the introduction to the main
character. He is later approached to take on a private job. It is simple enough
- get a girl who is a waitress and bring her to another address for her safety.
After he declines the job he is approached in his apartment by an agent of a
well-known but unseen gangster who wants him to find the same girl. Once the
hood leaves Ray decides that this is worth looking into. It seems like a crime
thriller all the way through, even near the end where he finds himself in
another fight that ends with a big surprise. I would not have figured this to be
a horror story except for the title. It is a decent story with the right flavor
of a hard-boiled detective who gets into something he did not expect. The art is
superb as well. This one is a decent find among all the stuff out there.

Title: BREED III
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: Return to Elsewhere
Publisher: Image
Creator: Jim Starlin
Letters: Ed "Duke" Dukeshire
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Science Fiction






Jim Starlin's half human/half demon hero has been around for a long time. You
can catch up on his beginnings in a collected trade called BREED: THE BOOK OF
GENESIS. But that is not essential for you to read and enjoy this comic. Starlin
uses the rescue of a woman and her son to set up the exposition. After rescuing
the pair from attacking demons Breed brings them to an interdimensional world
where demons cannot follow, Elsewhere. There he explains his life in a quick
recap of what is covered in the collected trade. He tells of his mother's rape
by a demon and later in his life how that side of his genes emerged. Over time
with help he learned to control the demon half and use his strength and power to
fight against them. It was in Elsewhere, using the water from a special well
with mystical waters that had magical healing powers. But beyond that they could
be used to cast visions of his future. That is what led him to the woman. As the
story moves forward Starlin fills in a lot more detail than I have described.
The story is only beginning but Starlin gives the new reader plenty of
information to go with the plot so it makes sense. His mission has always been
to fight the demons and we should see lots of that action next issue. As always
his art is recognizably distinct and professional. I like how this first issue
takes the time to bring everyone up to speed before getting to deep into the
ultimate goal. I think you will too.

Title: BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY
Issue Number: 1 (of 5)
Title Story: Ruins
Publisher: DC
Writer: Paul Dini
Artist: Carlos D'anda
Colors: Gabe Eltaeb
Letters: Travis Lanham
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero - Video Game Prequel




This comic bridges the gap between the BATMAN: ARKHAM ASYLUM and BATMAN: ARKHAM
CITY video games. The story picks up one year after the first video game. Former
Arkham warden and newly elected Mayor of Gotham City Quincy Sharp has decided to
close down the asylum. In its stead he, he established "Arkham City", the new
maximum-security home for thugs, gangsters and criminal masterminds. It is set
in a heavily fortified district of Gotham. Inmates are free to roam within the
walls as long as they do not try to escape. Sharp has also appointed Dr. Hugo
Strange to run it - a man who knows Bruce Wayne is Batman. The story opens with
the Joker hopped up on a super strength drug called Titan. Batman defeats him
once again and Joker is left to ponder the effects of the drug are having on him
long term - that he may have faced Batman for the last time. We also get glimpse
of Harley Quinn in a cell still devoted to her "puddin'". But the main plot is
about the new mayor. He is put on the spot on a TV interview but we know he is
being coached secretly by a voice coming through the ear bud he is wearing. Then
we follow Batman for the rest of the book as he is tracking down a brother and
sister criminal duo that have plans for the new city hall just finished. It
seems they too are being directed to action by some unseen mastermind. Who it is
and how wide his control is is the subject of the mystery. This is a decent
Batman story with a twisting plot and interesting characters including the cameo
by yet another of Batman's foes. The art is pretty good in supporting Dini's
story. It looks to be a worthwhile mini-series.

Title: AGE OF X: UNIVERSE
Issue Number: 2 (of 2)
Publisher: Marvel
Letters: Joe Sabino
Cover Artist: Simone Bianchi & Simone Peruzzi
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero





This second half of the AGE OF X tie-in takes place before that story begins and
can be read for its own sake. It takes a look at people outside the Fortress X
story and their part in the war between humankind and mutants. This second half
has two stories. The title allows other creators to play with the characters in
this very different universe.

Story: Avengers
Writer: Simon Spurrier
Artist: Khoi Pham
Inker: Tom Palmer
Colors: Sonia Oback

The Avengers are Captain America, Iron Man, Redback, the Hulk and Sue Storm.
They work for the government under the orders of General Frank Castle to hunt
down and capture fugitive mutants. They have pursued the few remaining mutants
to their final stronghold, Fortress X. They have come to realize that they are
not expected to capture the mutants but to exterminate them. As Banner stays
behind with General Castle Captain America leads his team to penetrate the
fortress with Sue providing a cloak with her powers. The story involves dialogue
between Sue and Cap about how far they need to go for the mission and where they
will draw the line when it becomes kill or be killed. As they make it through
the external guards a battle breaks out and Captain America makes his decision
that will trigger events and force decisions on his part and on Castle's part.
The whole story lays the foundation for how the mutants will choose to defend
the fortress. The timing of these events is before the main story takes place in
the AGE OF X crossover event. I felt it was good use of the characters bearing
in mind that they are not the same people we know from regular continuity. The
plot had purpose and redemption in the end for some. The art was up to speed
making it a good addition without taking away from the event books.

Story: Dazzler
Writer: Chuck Kim
Artist: Gabriel Hernandez Walta

This shorter story has Dazzler, Exonim and Gabriel trying to escape capture by
traveling through the sewers of Manhattan. Human soldiers led by the
government's top bounty hunter, Dr. Strange, soon set them upon. They put up a
brave struggle but one by one it seems they are no match for the Master of the
Mystic Arts. But there is more to the story and there is a satisfying ending.
While it is a decent read it is somewhat predictable once you turn to the last
two pages. Still it is a good use of Stephen Strange who really deserves title
billing, not Dazzler. On the down side the art is terrible. The characters are
flat and the coloring is dull. Even though it is filler Editor Daniel Ketchum
should have found another artist.

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

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

Last week's trivia question:
From 2003 - What organization owns the largest collection of comic books in the
United States, and probably the world? (6,000 titles, approximately one hundred
thousand pieces)
While the University of Michigan has a prodigious collection, it still does not
match the Library of Congress for number of individual titles. The winner by the
dice is Jason Pavao.

Here was your no prize question:
What famous American movie star's ashes are in an urn that also contains a small
gold whistle?
Sean Fowler got it first - it was Humphrey Bogart. His actress wife Lauren
Bacall had the whistle inscribed, "If you need anything, just whistle" - words
she spoke to him in their first film together, "To Have and Have Not".

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
According to DC, how many votes decided if Jason Todd, Robin II, lived or died?

Here is your no prize question:
The motto "In God We Trust" first appeared on U.S. currency in 1864. What was
the denomination of the coin?

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 4/13/11

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: CAPTAIN AMERICA: FIRST VENGEANCE
Issue Number: 1 (of 7)
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Fred Van Lente
Artist: Luke Ross & Neil Edwards
Inker: Crimelab Studios & Daniel Green
Colors: Richard Isanove & Sotocolor
Letters: Clayton Cowles
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero - Movie tie-in

This comic is not an adaptation of the upcoming Captain America movie. Rather it
is a tie-in that tells stories around the film - back-story and fill-ins of some
things that do not fit into the big picture. For those of us familiar with the
comic Captain America there is a lot of established history. But this is movie
continuity, a parallel Earth Cap. So this series will help us to unthink certain
things and add new things to form our picture of the cinematic Captain America.
Some parts of it will parallel scenes from the movie making it a true tie-in.
That alone makes it an essential way to get more out of the movie when it
finally debuts. Visually it is a good product with a mix of war scenes and
scenes from the life of a young Steve Rogers. It is very capable art with adept
inking and coloring. One plot occurs during the war in Nazi-occupied Danish
Straits in 1944. It is a lot of visual action as Cap parachutes into the heat of
the battle and proceeds towards his primary goal. As this moves forward with
little dialogue it is intertwined with scenes from his earlier life growing up
in Hell's Kitchen - listening to his sick mother tell him to follow his heart
and don't let others tell him what he can't do - standing up to bullies even
though he is not a match in strength - making a life-long friend and feeling his
heart break when his pal makes it into the service but he is rejected. It is a
well-plotted story and will hold your interest whether or not you have ever read
Captain America. It is highly recommended.

Title: FEAR ITSELF: SPIDERMAN
Issue Number: 1 (of 3)
Title Story: Spiderman: Day One
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Chris Yost
Artist: Mike McKone
Colors: Jeromy Cox
Letters: Joe Caramagna
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

This is obviously a tie-in to the Marvel summer event FEAR ITSELF. It does not
waste any time going into why things are the way they are. Rather it just shows
us a number of situations - a cross section of people who have things going
wrong in their lives and are about to take desperate measures. On the streets a
fender bender turns the on-looking crowd against one of the drivers because the
other driver accuses him of being a terrorist. The crowd swarms on him and only
a timely intervention by Spider-Man saves him from a beating or worse. It is
just one incident in a day where the whole city seems to have gone mad.
Meanwhile Peter can't seem to get a hold of his aunt by phone and is tied down
helping others stay alive. One man is about to jump out of a high story window,
a pregnant woman is helpless as her baby might be coming weeks early, another
man plans to protect himself from the people outside by shooting at them from a
window. Spider-Man tries to help one of them when he reaches the end of his web
literally and then is attacked by an unlikely source. It is all action with no
explanation about who or what is behind it all. How can Peter survive? What will
the madness do to his friends and loved ones? These are unanswered questions for
another issue. While I liked the art and the scripting I got the feeling of
jumping in a mid-plot. Like I have to know the big picture from the main story
in order to understand more about what is happening here. By the end though I
realized this is more self-contained with the event story as a backdrop. It will
take the whole three issues to appreciate what the creators are doing here.

Title: MOON KNIGHT
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: Alex Maleev
Colors: Matthew Wilson
Letters: Cory Petit
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

The opening scene faked me out at first. Two men face each other near a
helicopter in the dessert. They are at odds. Lockley is mad at Bushman for
senselessly killing a professor to get the gold in a temple. Bushman does not
care and guns him down as he leaves but Lockley is not dead and makes his way
into the temple only to collapse at the foot of the statue of the moon god. Then
we learn it is a syndicated adventure series produced by Marc Spector, whom we
know as Moon Knight. It is only a prelude to the real adventure as the Avengers
call him outside of his debut party. Cap, Spider-Man and Wolverine are here in
Los Angeles to tell Marc about criminal activity moving in to take over LA and
they want to be sure he will be actively involved in shutting it down. About a
third of the book is taken up with these scenes to set up the premise of the
series. Next we see Moon Knight go into action as two hoods confront a rather
large man, Mr. Hyde, who is supposed to give them something. But this guy wants
his money and soon the whole deal goes bad. As Moon Knight steps in he will
eventually find out what it was that the two hoods came for and it is big enough
to call in the Avengers. The plot is slow to develop but it does have a big bang
at the end that promises a more involved story than I thought it would. I did
not care for the art very much though. The coloring is ok but the pencil and ink
work is just not visually appealing - lacking a certain polish I have come
accustom to in even one-off stories and unimportant mini-series. This is an
ongoing and I expected something better. So it is a mixed review at this point
with the story weighing more than the art.

Title: GRIMM FAIRY TALES: THE DREAM EATER SAGA
Issue Number: 0 (OF 12)
Title Story: Prelude
Publisher: Zenescope Entertainment
Plot: Raven Gregory, Joe Brusha & Ralph Tedesco
Writer: Raven Gregory
Artist: Anthony Spay
Colors: Falk
Letters: Jim Campbell
Price (USD): $1.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Fantasy

I learned more about the whole line of Grimm Fairy Tales books from this one
issue than any of the few I have read in the past. This maxi-series will
evidently tie together the Realms of Wonderland, Oz, Myst and Neverland as well
as Earth. Earth is the Nexus that all the Realms flow through. Many evil things
from the Realms want to control Earth. The High Council has taken an oath to
protect Earth at all costs. The story in this prelude to the maxi-series
involves the Realm of Myst. It was here that a secret holy order recorded the
history of all that had been or would be. They each have second sight and where
trained from childbirth. Their records where stored in a vast library of "fairy
tales." The one book desired more than any other, the Book of the Lost. This
prelude story is about Baba Yaga as a young girl. It tells how the Dark One
murdered her family. On that night she swore vengeance on those who failed to
protect her family. She has appeared in issue of GRIMM FAIRY TALES, as has the
Dark One. In this brief story we see how Baba's mother tried to protect her when
the Dark One invaded, how she tore a page from the Book of the Lost and gave it
to Baba and how the High Council arrived to late to keep Baba from being
orphaned. The torn page is the Tale of the Dream Eater - a boogieman story told
to kids to get them to go to bed. How that will play out in the series remains
to be seen. More importantly, this value-priced zero issue has a treasure trove
of information in the back pages that explains each of the Realms and all of the
major characters in the Grimm Universe that will play a part in the big picture.
I did not realize there was a connection to any of the series having only
sampled some of them from time to time. The character sketches and text is
worthwhile in getting a thumbnail of the big picture before the story begins in
earnest in part one of the story in a title called ONCE UPON A TIME. It looks to
be fascinating.

Title: UNCOUTH SLEUTH
Issue Number: Graphic Novel
Title Story: Harry Johnson and the Case of the Crabbes
Publisher: Fulp Fiction
Creator: Charles Fulp
Writer: Charles Fulp
Artist: Craig Rousseau
Inker: Norman Lee
Colors: Liquid!
Letters: Comicraft
Cover Artist: Dean Yeagle
Price (USD): $12.99
Release Date: August 2011
Genre: Humor/Detective
PG-13

I was offered an advance copy of this graphic novel for review recently. It will
be solicited in the July PREVIEWS with "SPOTLIGHT and STAFF PICK" designations.
It was worth getting a copy to see why. It is about an outspoken, womanizing,
heavy drinking, and fedora wearing adventurer with a hot exotic dancer sidekick.
No not Charlie Sheen - he has or had two hot sidekicks. This is about Harry
Johnson. Now, seeing the name of the lead character brought to mind some crude
humor and sure enough it did not take long for Mr. Fulp to use that name as the
set up for a joke. In fact the book is full of that kind of humor, some of which
I cannot relate in a review meant for all ages. It starts in typical noir
fashion as a beautiful babe shows up at Harry's office to hire him to find her
missing father. When she declares she is looking for "a Harry Johnson" you can
fill in the blank before reading it. Yes, he is uncouth but he gets the job
done. Harry gets into it and learns that he has to talk to a friend of the
missing Doctor Crabbe (hence the double entendre title of the story) who is
vacationing in South America in a village of cannibals who have converted their
village to a couples only resort. So he needs to take a woman with him and
recruits a local exotic dancer. They are soon off to have an adventure that
involves some wild characters including evil scientists, Nazis, bodacious female
government agents and a few comical characters thrown in for fun. It is pretty
wacky all the way through. Harry never misses a chance to crack a crude joke
though some of the others get in some good ones as well. It is part Indiana
Jones and part James Bond with a lot of humor. The whole point is to not take
any of it too seriously. It is just for fun and does have a plot that gets
mostly resolved. You have to appreciate the style and some may find it
sophomoric. I took it for what it is. Though it is not laugh out loud funny I
was very amused. The art is very professional in a style that fits perfectly for
this kind of book. Check out the solicitation next month and go online to
www.uncoutsleuth.com to check it out for yourself.

Title: LOCKE & KEY: FREE COMIC BOOK DAY EDITION
Publisher: IDW
Creator: Joe Hill & Gabriel Rodriguez
Writer: Joe Hill
Artist: Gabriel Rodriguez
Colors: Jay Fotos
Letters: Robbie Robbins
Price (USD): FREE
Release Date: FCBD - May 7
Genre: Horror

I have been following this series of mini-series since it began and have always
given it good reviews. The art is superb in detail, layout and finishes. The
story of the Locke family and the mystery of the various keys with interesting
powers they find is captivating and chilling. The man who killed their father is
back in the form of a boy masquerading as their friend. He is trying to obtain
one particular key, the key to the Black Door, and has resorted to killing and
even taking over other people's bodies to carry on his charade. The Locke kids
gradually discovered his secret but as the story has unfolded he has always been
one step ahead of them. The big story has still got a year to run its course.
This sampling for Free Comic Book Day is only a small taste of what it is all
about. In it Dodge uses the crown from a previous story to waken the shadows in
the Locke mansion in a master effort to find the last key. Each of the three
Locke kids struggle to get free from shadow monsters but it is the older boy,
Tyler, who saves the day in this short story with a large ending. As I said it
is only a sampling of the kind of story you can expect when the final story
begins in June. I like it and will follow it to the end.

*****
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 is the source for the chapter tiles in MAGE: THE HERO DEFINED?
The source was from the Bard himself - Shakespeare's MACBETH. The winner by the
dice roll is Jeremy Mower.

Here was your no prize question:
What US city is the largest in land area in all the 50 states?
Sitka, Alaska, which covers 2,874 square miles, is the largest in area in all 50
states.

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
From 2003 - What organization owns the largest collection of comic books in the
United States, and probably the world? (6,000 titles, approximately one hundred
thousand pieces)

Here is your no prize question:
What famous American movie star's ashes are in an urn that also contains a small
gold whistle?

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

Comic Reviews 5/6/11

The comics reviewed are chosen by David not by That's Entertainment management
or staff. The opinions expressed are his alone. If you have an opposing view you
are welcome to respond to David directly by Email at the address above.

Title: ACTION COMICS
Issue Number: 900
Main Story: Reign of Doomsday
Title Arc: The Black Ring
Publisher: DC
Creator: Siegel & Shuster
Writer: Paul Cornell
Artist: Pete Woods
Colors: Brad Anderson & Jesus Merino with Blond
Letters: Rob Leigh
Cover Artist: David Finch or Adam Hughes or LEX ROSS
Price (USD): $5.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero


This comic has stirred up a lot of attention online and in the news media - but
not so much for it being a landmark number for any comic or even for the main
story. The buzz is around one of the added features that make this a 96-page
celebration - more on that later. The main story brings to a wrap the story
featuring Lex Luthor who has been the lead in this comic ever since Superman
took off on his walking tour of America. But of course you cannot have a super
duper anniversary issue without the man that put the title on the map. What
prompted his return was the return of Doomsday as seen in STEEL, OUTSIDERS, JLA,
SUPERMAN/BATMAN ANNUAL and SUPERBOY. In each on of those stories Doomsday
fought, defeated and vanished with the four men involved in the "Reign of
Superman" story and Supergirl. As the chapter begins Big Blue is back in
Metropolis and starts to head off to find Doomsday but is quickly transported
thousands of light years into space by Luthor who has gained near infinite power
and plans to take his final revenge on the Man of Steel. Meanwhile the
Eradicator, Cyborg Superman, Steel, Superboy and Supergirl are captives in a
cloaked space ship in the debris field of the remains of New Krypton. The ship
seems to be an endless series of tunnels that loop back on themselves with no
visible exit. To top that off Doomsday attacks them and can adapt to their
powers. The Superman Luthor plot is classic Superman stuff as Kal struggles to
overcome unimaginable power but Luthor's ego appears to be the one thing he
can't control. In the other plot the others struggle to survive and are soon led
by the Cyborg Superman to a room where the bigger plot, to be continued in
future issues, is revealed. In all it is a good story and not having read any of
the Luthor issues of ACTION COMICS did not take away from understanding the main
plot and its resolution.

Additional stories:
"Life Support" - Damon Lindelof, Ryan Sook & John J. Hill

This is a delightful story follows a brilliant young man going on a job
interview. What little we see of the city he is in makes it seem somewhat
futuristic but we are more focused on the job and why he is being offered a
ridiculous amount of money to design a life support system for a ship only big
enough to carry an infant. It is well written and drawn and of course midway
through you will realize where he is and who his potential employer is. Well
done!

"Autobiography" - Paul Dini, RB Silva, Rob Lean, Java Tartaglia & John J. Hill

This 3-page brief is a dialogue between Superman and an alien from a long
deceased civilization. He has been to many places in the galaxy, even helping
other species until their worlds perished. He relates one such tale and the two
relate on how alike they are. It is an interesting story with interesting art.

"Friday Night in the 21st Century" - Geoff Johns, Gary Frank, Brad Anderson &
John J. Hill

This is another short story in which Lois plans a surprise for Clark involving
an invite to his "friends" for dinner. You can guess from the title that they
are from a long ways away.

"The Incident" - David S. Goyer, Miguel Sepulveda, Paul Mounts & Rob Leigh

This is the story that created the entire hubbub and made this issue an instant
sell out. In it Superman is asked to meet the president's National Security
Advisor at Camp David. Superman spent twenty-four hours standing in a square in
Tehran between a crowd of protestors and government troops. He did not say or do
anything - just stood in solidarity with the people who are being repressed.
Naturally after he left the Iranian government protested, calling it an act of
war. The NSA chief wants to know why he would create an international incident.
It is at this point that Superman declares that he has decided to look at the
bigger picture, that he is tired of his actions being construed as instruments
of U.S. policy. He will go to the United Nations the next day and renounce his
U.S. citizenship because "truth, justice and the American way... it's not enough
anymore." There is more to the script and in fairness it is a balanced view that
goes more into his motivation and a small ray of hope in the consequences of his
visit to Iran. But the media latched on to the citizenship thing and the blogs
are having a field day about it. I'll bet Siegel and Shuster never would have
thought their creation would cause this kind of commotion.

"Only Human" - Richard Donner & Derek Hoffman

This one is different in composition. The format is that of a script accompanied
by storyboards. It is an effective way of telling the story. Lois interviews a
former superstar athlete, Cliff Carter, who is now the spokesperson for
Supertech, a high tech firm with suspected ties to Intergang. He is promoting a
prototype super suit that will put the abilities of super strength, speed and
flying into the hands of the masses. Cliff is so bold he proposes a race against
Superman to prove how superior the suit is. While Lois claims Superman would
never agree to such a race Clark chimes in that he just might. You see where
this is going? Superman shows up and agrees to a flying race. But it is not just
about proving who is better and by the end we see why it was a good decision. I
enjoyed the story and the change in format. It was a pleasant surprise.

"The Evolution of the Man of Tomorrow" - Brian Stelfreeze

The issue closes out with a two-page spread showing the evolution of Superman in
6 drawings of him from left to right. In the first he is the original Clark Kent
about to change costume, in the next he has his shirt off but the shield and
face are more toward the silver age version. And so the transition continues
through the long-haired version from not that long ago to a current version
holding a large American flag. Hmm... this one must have been drawn before that
other story made him more politically correct. In any case it is a nice visual
and a fitting end to a grand celebration of 900 issues.

Title: DANGER GIRL AND THE ARMY OF DARKNESS
Issue Number: 1 (of 6)
Publisher: IDW
Writer: Andy Hartnell
Artist: Chris Bolson
Colors: Adriano Lucas
Letters: Marshall Dillom
Cover Artist: J. Scott Campbell
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Action/Adventure/Supernatural
Mature - Comics on the Edge



This opening chapter concentrates initially on the organization known as Danger
Girl. It is a secret group of adventurers that solve problems, save the world,
that kind of thing. The narration is by one of the group, Abbey Chase who is
seen on the cover. She was a renowned thief before joining the organization and
has a hefty price on her head. As the story opens she has allied herself with
her enemies, some South African mercenaries, who need her help. One of them was
kidnapped by Moroccans when he tried to buy an ancient book of evil. Abbey has
an amulet that is supposed to counter the dark powers of the book. She plans to
trade it for the captured brother. Abbey is moving in with the mercenaries by
helicopter and has ground support from four people from Danger Girl on the
ground. They also have military assets available that owe them favors. There is
a lot of shoot-em-up action as Abbey and the Merc locate the prisoner
eventually. But there is a double cross as the true motivation of the head merc
is revealed. The power of the book is revealed as well when one page is
translated and the only clue as to where the book is now is one page of it with
the drawing of a man who looks strangely like Bruce Campbell. This is a fun
adventure if you are into it. The art is pretty good in all aspects and the plot
moves forward at a rapid pace and a bit of humor. It is not a bad read for the
first issue.

Title: SUICIDE GIRLS
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: IDW
Plot: Steve Niles, Missy Suicide and Brea Grant
Script: Brea Grant
Artist: David Hahn
Inker: Cameron Stewart
Colors: Antonio Fabela
Letters: Shawn Lee
Cover Artist: Cameron Stewart
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Action/Adventure
MATURE - Comics on the Edge - Nudity

The nudity is female topless shots in the story and in supplemental gallery
pages. There is also a page in the back of photos of actual Suicide Girls three
of which are topless. I guess that is part of what they are about as well as
tattoos. You can check out the actual website for more info about this cultural
phenomenon at suicidegrils.com on the web. For the purposes of a comic story the
Suicide Girls come from a long line of fighting women through the ages that help
women in peril. This story opens in this fictional world where an organization
known as Way*of*Life has it tentacles deep into the government and they control
the prison system among other things. It is clear those individuals who oppose
anything too much, who don't conform, get sent away for rehabilitation and
usually are never heard from again. One such female called Frank is in a prison
after searching for a long time for her friend, Xena. They had both protested
the prison system and investigated Way*of*Life to the point when Xenia vanished
after emailing Frank that she had discovered the big secret. Now Frank is locked
up and planning still when unexpected help arrives from a group of females many
considered a myth - the Suicide Girls. They propose to break her out and if she
joins them they will help her find Xenia and bring the bad guys to justice - of
their own making. It is a decent set up with some action and another secret
among the group. The art is very appealing and the brief nudity in the story in
one panel is pertinent to the character - as opposed to the back matter which
apparently is there to entice those so inclined to check out the web site and
become a "member" for more revealing photos. Still I enjoyed the story and you
might too.

Title: PLANET OF THE APES
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: The Long War
Publisher: Boom!
Writer: Daryl Gregory
Artist: Carlos Magno
Colors: Juan Manuel Tumburus
Letters: Travis Lanham
Cover Artist: Karl Richardson & Carlos Magno
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: $3.99
Genre: Science Fiction



This series is set long before the first Planet of the Apes Movie (actually
based on a novel) and long after the world was laid waste by nuclear war. The
human population is decreasing and the apes are rulers. But it is not yet at the
point where humans are unable to speak and kept in cages. It is 2680 A.D. in a
typical city state called Mak. Apes and men live in the city but the apes are
clearly in charge. The relative harmony is about to be disrupted as a human in
ninja disguise swings into a courtyard where the Lawgiver is teaching children
about the time when the ape Caesar ordered all of man's weapons sealed away
bringing about the harmony they enjoy. The attacker proceeds to kill the
Lawgiver with an assault rifle and then escapes. Thus begins a tense situation
between the two main characters - Council Voice Alaya, the Lawgiver's
granddaughter, and Sullivan, the female mayor in Southtown where the humans
live. Sullivan grew up with Alaya and looked up to the Lawgiver as her own
grandfather. The fear among the apes is that men are now making forbidden
weapons. The gorillas begin a systematic search of Southtown for a hidden gun
factory while Sullivan is summoned to Alaya for an ultimatum. While the series
is somewhat formulaic - there must of course be conflict between man and ape -
it is still a plot that intrigues us. Apes are on the rise while man has fallen
greatly. Yet they still live in peace together and have for a long time. It
remains to be seen if that peace has been shattered for all time. The art on
this book is very detailed and colored splendidly. So far it looks like a good
book to stick with.

Title: TOMB OF DRACULA PRESENTS: THRONE OF BLOOD
Issue Number: 1-SHOT
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Victor Gischler
Artist: Goran Parlov with Dalibor Talajic
Colors: Lee Loughridge
Letters: Jeff Eckleberry
Cover Artist: Bryan Hitch & Paul Mounts
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Horror




This is a vampire story of a different sort. The framing sequence a member of
the Klaw sect approaches Lord Dracula for permission to execute a deserter,
Raizo Kodo. What he really wants is more information about his prey and Dracula
tells his story that begins in Japan in 1585. Two brothers are approaching the
camp of Jakkaru, an enemy warlord who strikes at night with amazing atrocity. He
has defeated the armies of five warlords already. Raizo leads his brother Ryuhei
on their mission to cut off the head of the snake before he strikes against
them. Their plan is to enter the enemy camp as peasants bringing food to the
kitchens. Their plan gets them into Jakkaru's tent and the two engage him in
swordplay. The fight proceeds and seemingly ends when Ryuhei manages to stab
Jakkaru through the chest. But to their amazement he soon grabs Ryuhei and bites
him in the neck. Raizo grabs by chance a wooden practice sword and runs Jakkaru
through and thus kills the vampire but the damage to his brother is done. The
two manage to escape but the consequences of their mission will show up later
after they have already returned home. They may have killed one enemy but
unwittingly brought another into their village. Before long Raizo will have to
make a hard choice that will change his life forever. What he does and how he
himself is turned into a vampire is the thrust of the story. I found myself
becoming more enthralled by the story as it moved along. It is somewhat
predictable except for the critical moment when Raizo makes a choice at the last
minute, a minute too late. The plot tries to show us a different side of a
vampire who is driven not only by the bloodlust but also by a code of honor he
never lost. It is a good story with strong artwork backing it up. It is a lot
more than I expected.

Title: GARFIELD & COMPANY
Graphic Novel Number: 1 - Fish to Fry
Hard Cover, 32 pp., 6-1/2 X 9"
Publisher: Papercutz
Creator: Jim Davis
Letters: Janice Chiang
Price (USD): $7.99
Release Date: May 24
Genre: Cartoon Adaptation
All Ages




If you are a Garfield fan then this is something to add to your enjoyment of the
famous feline. It is not however a collection of strips but new original stories
based on the new Cartoon Network animated series "The Garfield Show." What you
get are three complete stories featuring those familiar characters. The art is
unique for readers of normal comic books. It is a 3D style - almost like someone
took individual pictures of a stop action animated feature. It is brightly
colored and captures the essence of the characters.

"Family Portrait" is written by Peter Berts. Jon gives his girlfriend a framed
photograph of himself, Odie and Garfield as one of her birthday gifts. When she
remarks it must have taken hours to get the pose right he says it was a piece of
cake. But we can see what Garfield is thinking and get the true story. It goes
from Jon trying to use the timer on his own camera with page after page of
disastrous results. He finally has to resort to another strategy and in the end
the picture is priceless.

"Nice to Nermal" is written by Mark Evanier. When Nermal the cat shows up to
spend the day Garfield literally kicks her out. While he is distracted Jon
accidentally throws his stuffed bear Pooky in the trash. Naturally Pooky finds
it and lets Garfield know if he wants it back he has to be nice to her all day.
It is a painful day for our hero and the worst humiliation comes after he gets
Pooky back!

"Fish to Fry" is written by Baptiste Heidrich & Julien Monthiel. It is the
shortest story in the volume and involves Jon agreeing to look after Liz's fish
while she is away. Of course Garfield hears this and begins dreaming about a
fish buffet. In it he tries to eat one fish after another but has disastrous
results until he is finally brought to Fish Court to stand trial. Will his dream
be enough to stop him from eating the real thing?

While the target audience is 6-14 year olds this is something for kids of any
age. The humor is along the lines of the comic strip though I think Davis has a
bit more sarcasm in his work usually - easier to do in a 4-panel strip. These
stories are more fanciful fun with familiar characters. Kids will love how they
move along visually as the 3D effect works well. I must admit I am more of a fan
of Odie so I hope the series will highlight him more once in a while. It is a
good size at a reasonable price for a hardcover so look for it at the end of May
in comic and book stores everywhere.

***** 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 battled THE LUMP in "The Battle of the Id!"?
Didn't Jack Kirby come up with some great splash pages? This one was from
MISTER MIRACLE, when Scott Free had to fight a battle in the mind. The winner by
the dice is James Woodruff.

Here was your no prize question: What U.S. city is the largest in land area in the contiguous 48 states?
No one got this one but the answer is Jacksonville, Florida, which covers 758
square miles.

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION: What is the source for the chapter tiles in MAGE: THE HERO DEFINED?
Here is your no prize question: What US city is the largest in land area in all the 50 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.