New Challenge: I LOVE COMICS 3000

I LOVE COMICS 3000, PART 8 - - formerly known as THE 2021 COMIC BOOK QUARANTINE ODYSSEY

This began as the 1,000 COMICS CHALLENGE issued to Captain Blue Hen from some friendly comic shops in Texas and Ohio.  Captain Blue Hen Comics didn’t win that challenge, but they came close.  Then, they were invited to keep going and participate in a 2,021 challenge - - same rules, the winner is the shop/group that reads and posts 2,021 comics first.  Captain Blue Hen apparently took first place, although the results have yet to be officially announced. So, the quest begins anew: the new moniker is I LOVE COMICS 3000. Sometime after that it may be called COMICS 5K. I’ll happily contribute. This has been fun.

I’ll share all my posts to the group on this blog page.  I’ve been numbering my entries, picking up where I left off with the 2,021 COMIC BOOK QUARANTINE ODYSSEY.  I’m curious to see how long it takes me to read that many comics. I want the results to be realistic so I’m not going to binge read unless I happen to be in the mood.  There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t end up reading some comics, so we’ll see how long it takes me.

#269, 270, 271  AMERICAN JESUS, VOLUME 1: CHOSEN (Image) I read the second series first, without realizing it was the middle of a trilogy. It didn't matter. Both read quite well as stand-alone stories, but I picked up new appreciation for this series after finally reading this. Mark Millar is a dynamic duo by himself: 1) He has incredible ideas, and 2) He's a great storyteller. A nine-year old boy survives an accident that should have smashed him into oblivion. It's a miracle! When he begins to exhibit healing powers and supreme intelligence - - people begin to worship him as the second coming of Christ. The only naysayer is the local Catholic priest, who's seen enough unwarranted tragedy in his life to justify his skepticism.

This is a first person narration from the point of view of the nine-year old boy, and Millar shows great sensitivity and understanding as the boy struggles between using his powers or waiting for adulthood to reveal himself. The first 80% of this story is a warm, heartening saga with a feel-good vibe all over it. Then it takes a turn that I did not expect for a sucker-punch of an ending. FIVE STARS.

#272  STAR WARS ADVENTURES #1 (IDW, 2017) A Star Wars comic aimed at younger readers. First issue features the beginning of a Rey story, and also a one-shot tale with Obi-Wan Kenobi. THREE STARS. 

#273 THE FLASH #73 (DC, 2019) Part 4 of a very good Year One story which introduces new speed-force-powered villain The Turtle (works different for him, obviously). The best part is the opening scene where Iris knocks on Barry’s apartment door, which he doesn’t answer because he slumped on the other side and near death. While Iris makes this heartfelt guilty confession to him, Barry is trying to vibrate his hand enough to enter his body and remove a bullet slowly inching towards his heart. A modern classic moment. FOUR STARS. 

#274  JUSTICE LEAGUE #27 (DC, 2019) “Apex Predator, Part 2 — part of the Year Of The Villain: The Offer saga. A big cluster of stuff — Martian Manhunter captive, Professor Ivo, Amazo, the Monitors, the Multiverse, the Anti-Monitor, Legion of Doom, young boy Shayne (son of Martian Manhunter/Hawkgirl?) and Lex Luthor in Obi-Wan Kenobi’s tattered robe. The best thing about this issue is my Arthur Adams variant cover, the image of which reflects my mood after reading this. There’s a good reason I’ve been avoiding Tynion’s version of Batman. What a mess. TWO STARS.

#275, 276, 277  FIVE YEARS (Abstract Studios, 2019) I read the first three issues of the Terry Moore crossover/continuation featuring characters from his other series. You don't need to be familiar with those to enjoy this - - an espionage tale of a group of women banding together to prevent the development of a super-bomb. It's scheduled to run 10 issues (9 so far). I'll definitely check out the collection once it finishes. Very intriguing and well-developed. FOUR STARS.

#278 SCOUT #1(Eclipse, 1985) The great Timothy Truman writes and draws this saga of Emmanuel Santana a.k.a. Scout, a Native American Apache on a mission to bring down a corrupt United States Government. America in 1999 is empty, not the result of a bomb, but a combined effort by Russia, Japan, Africa and South America to close off relations. Fields go barren, topsoil eroded, orchards picked over - - the country is tapped out. “As ever, America pretended it wasn’t happening.”

With the aid of a spirit guide ( a gahn ) who manifests as small talking insects and animals, Scout rides a motorcycle out of the mountains to do battle with the ancient four monsters (disguised as humans), the real enemy, who were summoned by Grail (the POTUS). In Issue #1, Scout takes down Mr. Al, a pornographer who’s befriended various U.S. Senators. Mr. Al is really a giant owl man. A female consort enslaved by Mr. Al decides to leave with Scout. The backup feature, FASHION IN ACTION, by writer/artist John K Snyder III is a cool action tale of F.I.A., a protection agency for executives staffed by tough female operatives in the year 2087.  In the first story, their client tv host/comedian Johnny Mars (hmmn, a Smiths connection?) gets abducted during a New Years eve gala by agents of Doctor Cruel. Good stuff. FOUR STARS.