In 2021 I’d like to cross over the 1,000 comics review barrier, meaning reviews that I (Mike Clarke a.k.a. pghhead) contribute to the blog. That’s what this odyssey is about, beginning January 01, 2021. Wish me luck . . . . .
#191 JONNA AND THE UNPOSSIBLE MONSTERS (Oni Press, March 2021) I’m always on the lookout for kids comics I can share with my grandson, a voracious reader who’s evaluated at the third-grade level
for comprehension and reading skills. He’s five years old. This one might interest him, although I’m going to wait for Issue #2 to make sure (just in case it takes a dark turn in story).
In a world that’s several steps beyond the caveman stages yet still occupied by dinosaurs, two young sisters are separated. Jonna, the youngest, likes to wander off into the woods to explore and exercise her somer-saluting, tree-climbing skills. She encounters a huge monster/dinosaur. One year later her more-reserved older sister, Rainbow, is still searching for her.
What makes this so appealing is the art by Chris Samnee (who wrote the story with Laura Samnee). He puts his illustrative skills on fine display here with big panels free of text and lots of color to attract younger readers. One to watch. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
#192 NOCTERRA #1 (Image, March 2021) I originally passed on this one, despite the story by Scott Snyder whose creator-owned works I especially enjoy. I just figured I get more than my share of post-apocalypse comics from Aftershock, AWA, Scout, Vault, etc. However, after reading Matt Lowder’s favorable review I made sure to pick this up.
There’s a ton of story here and plenty of potential. I won’t tread familiar ground by repeating what Matt said about it. This is worth it just for the gorgeous art by Tony S. Daniel, some of his best work.
What especially strikes me as ironic (and deliberate) is what happened to Val Riggs/Sundog (ironic nickname, too). She was born partially blind, and had surgery on her fifth birthday to restore full sight. Shortly after this, the sun goes away and plunges her world into darkness. Hang around in the darkness too long, and get transformed into something monstrous. People band together and survive by doing whatever possible to provide light.
It’s amazing to me that the highly imaginative Snyder took a childhood fear of darkness and morphed it into this story. Don’t miss this one. FIVE STARS.
#193 MANIAC OF NEW YORK #2 (Aftershock, March 2021) This issue plays out like the middle act of one of your favorite Friday The 13th movies. But’s there more meat here than the average slasher flick. The Mayor seems to value property over people, and is willing to risk passengers to trap the maniac. But, before he can work his scheme, the only two members of the Mayor’s Maniac Task Force after much soul-searching and shaming attempt to risk all, by boarding the moving subway train and confronting Harry. My hands are shaking too much to keep typing, I’ll let the Aftershock summary take over . . . .
Maniac Harry, the unstoppable masked killer causing a significant drop in NYC property values, savagely slashes his way down the length of a packed subway car.
Can exhausted commuter Gabriella Acosta keep ahead of the Maniac long enough to save two children from his blade? Meanwhile, Gina Greene of the Maniac Task Force and NYPD detective Zelda Pettibone are willing to do anything to save those passengers — but time is running out, and the Mayor is ready to sacrifice everyone on board if it means trapping Harry for good.
Reading this produced the same chills as watching a Friday The 13th movie as Jason does his thing. Andrea Mutti’s art style is killing it! Check out the various expressions of fear and panic on the passengers as Mutti utilizes his painted style and color washes (icy blue) to set the scene. FOUR STARS.
#194 SCOUT’S HONOR #3 (Aftershock, March 2021) This is a real turning point issue, and what a cliffhanger ending!
Forced to confront her suspicions about Ranger Scout society, Kit undertakes the grueling Eagle’s Guard Trials on her quest for the truth — but standing in her path is Dez, the Scoutmaster’s son and her oldest friend. And Dez is not going to let this badge of honor go without a fight.
Does Dez know the secret that Kit is concealing? Will his infatuation cause him to hold back when they fight in the final trial of the Eagle’s Guard? As Kit learns more and more about the origins of the Ranger Scouts, is this truly an honorable organization or the facade for something unscrupulous? FOUR STARS.
#195-#198 WYRD #1-4 (Dark Horse Comics, 2019) The Goodreads entry sums it up pretty well: A gritty and bright fantasy spy thriller about a suicidal hero who just can’t die. . .
A longer review appears on this blog for March 16, 2021. FOUR STARS.
#199 THE BEQUEST #1 of 4 (Aftershock, March 18, 2021 release date) I don’t want to spoil any surprises for those planning to pick up this title. I’ve seen a digital preview and this one is going to please a lot of comics readers, especially those who enjoy high fantasy and role-playing games.
Just imagine a tunnel between a fantastic world of warriors, wizards and dragons (Tangea) and the scary real world (Chicago, Illinois). A mad monk is trading magical artifacts for guns and missiles. A quartet of Tangean adventurers is tasked with working undercover in Chicago to contain the spread of unearthly weapons and thwart the mad monk.
Tim Seeley’s script is delightful and Freddie E. Williams II’s art will rock your world. Bonus content: character sheets for those who’d like to incorporate these characters into their fantasy role-playing games. FOUR STARS.
#200-#204 THE BLACKLIST, VOLUME ONE: THE GAMBLER (Titan Comics, April 2016) Sometimes comics publishers latch onto licensed properties in order to cash in on the popularity of a television show or film franchise - - and don’t bother with the quality or staying true to the source material.
Here’s a perfect example (and there are as many good examples as there are bad examples) of how to do it right. If you are familiar with The Blacklist television series, you will be amazed at how closely this hews to the feel, the characterization, and thrills of the show. FIVE STARS.
A longer review can be found on the blog for March 18.
#205 KING IN BLACK: SPIDER-MAN one-shot (Marvel, May 2021) The jaded comics reader inside me can sometimes be a little too dismissive of the one-shot titles that spin off from Marvel and DC mega-epics. The thought is that it’s just a cash cow for the publisher, as they capitalize on the popularity of the epic event and the fear of missing out. There are exceptions, and when I come across them I make sure to recognize them (Immortal Hulk one-shots, for sure). Add this title to the list.
Peter Parker is experiencing a Nobel Prize-sized panic attack, on a guilt trip over his long ago role in bonding with a symbiote that led to the current disaster with Knull/King In Black. He teams up with Reptil in a noble rescue mission and both learn some valuable lessons, including that even the smallest of efforts can make a difference as well as the benefits of teamwork. A feel-good story. FOUR STARS.
VOICES: LEGACY serves as both a tribute and an introduction to some diverse characters. Unfortunately, the creative teams were saddled with the difficult task of making their points and telling their story within the fewest number of pages possible, perhaps in order to cram seven stories into a $4.99 book. They even forgot to recognize the final story on the credits page. I’m afraid the overall impression for newer readers will be confusion about the characters as well as a conclusion that this is pretty mediocre. That is unfortunate.
However, a few stories manage to rise above the rest. The best is the lead story “Words Do Matter” featuring Miles Morales/Spider-Man, delivering a good message within just three pages. The eight-page “Good Luck Girl” featuring Domino is probably the best of the bunch at detailing what the character is all about. And, the final story “Letting Go” featuring Storm ends with salvation for a promising new young mutant.
In conclusion, three out of seven are worthwhile stories. The rest are, unfortunately, forgettable. THREE STARS.
Some of my favorite Punisher stories (but not all) have been Max titles. For my money nobody does this better than Garth Ennis.
PUNISHER:SOVIET makes the short list of some of his most memorable work with this character. The gritty expressive art of Jacen Burrows is a perfect compliment in this hard-hitting brutal story.
Frank Castle/Punisher has been tracking the activities of Russian gangster Konstantin Pronchenko in New York City. He learns that many of the well-planned, methodical, precise, and ruthless hits on that organization bear his mark - - only he didn’t make the attacks. Soon, he’s partnered with Valery Stepanovich, a former Russian soldier and veteran of the Afghan Wars who has a similar reason for wanting to bring havoc to Pronchenko.
The two devise a plan to whittle the Procenko organization down until they can both humiliate and expose the Russian’s plans to pretend legitimacy and earn his credentials by corrupting a U.S. Congressman with campaign funds/influence.
Plenty of mayhem and cruelty. The bodies pile up. However, there’s more to this than grindhouse fare. There’s a message about war profiteers, the brutality of war and terrorism, and a respectful ending that sheds light on the core of Castle’s character. Well done. Definitely not for the younger readers or the squeamish. FOUR AND ONE-HALF STARS.
Also, let’s hail the comic shops that do this with their surplus of over-ordered and/or under-sold books and put them on sale for $1, 50 cents, and sometimes 25 cents. Each of the comic shops I visit as an Aftershock Ambassador does this; and those boxes draw me in like a magnet. In my comics collection there are now “bargain boxes”. Here’s my take on $6 worth of Venom titles. These were all written by Mike Costa unless noted, with various artists (all of good quality).
#152: The Land Before Crime, Part Two - - Eddie Brock and the Venom symbiote are back together. Venom wants to be more heroic and works hard to control the violent impulses. The Alchemax CEO Liz Allan offers a cure in exchange for Eddie/Venom bringing back lab dinosaur Stegron and his experimental minions. A team-up with Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur. The drama and action are interesting. THREE STARS.
#154: Skin Deep - - While Eddie sleeps, Venom stays up watching television and learning. He ventures out alone into the night to practice his brand of heroism/justice. THREE STARS.
#161: Tangled Webs — Eddie’s become dependent on the Alchemax serum that control Venom’s urges as the supply is almost gone. A meet-up with Spider-Woman. I’m not a fan of this costume for her. THREE STARS.
#162 Poison-X, Part 3, #163: Poison-X Conclusion: These two issues were written by Cullen Bunn, as part of a Venom/X-Men Blue crossover story. A band of mercenaries led by Killer Thrill all sport alien symbiotes. Venom and X-Men led by Cyclops attempt to rescue his captured father, Corsair. An arms dealer named Haze Mancer has been selling symbiotes. In a confrontation, some of Mancer’s symbiotes-for-sale escape confinement and bond with X-Men, corrupting their motives. But the story doesn’t end here, just the Poison-X portion. Things move onto the Venomized series. Color me confused. TWO AND ONE-HALF STARS.
#164 The Nativity, Part One: Mike Costa returns to script this one. Venom goes up against The Shocker, whose electrical surges just tickle him. However, once the Shocker turns up the juice the immense vibrations create a low-sonic emission that separates man from symbiote. A weakened Eddie/Venom is apprehended by agent Clair Dixon who drops a bombshell reveal on Eddie: “The symbiote’s about to spawn. You’re going to be a daddy." This issue was the most fun of them all. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
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