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. Tomorrow, Juy 01, begins the second half of 2021 - - meaning I should be at 500 comics read by now. I need to step it up in the second half, although there are some comics I've read that I haven't done the write-up for just yet. Hoping to catch up with those this week. Wish me luck . . . . .
#416 THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #157 (DC, 1979) Batman and Kamandi in “Time . . . My Dark Destiny!” by Bob Haney and Jim Aparo.
Place Kamandi outside of his fantastic future world and into Gotham City and he becomes less interesting, just another muscle-bound character.
The method writer Haney used to transport him here is just too much of a believable stretch to repeat here. Suffering from amnesia (of course), Kamandi is manipulated to be the enforcer for a criminal organization called Extortion, Inc until Batman recognizes him, frees him, and finds a way (another wild stretch of believability) to return him to his own world in the future. Fun, but forgettable. THREE STARS.
Natural history museum employee and nocturnal mammal expert Kirk Langstrom injects himself with bat serum and develops their natural abilities (and appearance).
In the origin story, he helps Batman stop some late-night museum burglars. In the middle story, the transformation is complete and Man-Bat has a throw down with Batman, who has figured out who he is and wants to help him transform back. Langstrom rejects that, escapes, and later decides he needs a place to rest and picks the Bat-cave (of course).
In the final story, Batman enlists the help of Francie, Langstrom’s fiancee, to coax him into accepting the offer of assistance. Instead, Langstrom injects Francie with the bat-serum in order to have a companion. Fortunately, Batman has the antidote and brings them both back to human form. A happy ending? This was not the last story of the Man-Bat. Also fun, and not so forgettable. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
All the conflicts in this first issue are internal, and quite alarming. Why the team would play war games with a dangerous and unproven new team member (Jericho) doesn’t make sense, but it’s a great opening.
The deeper problem is that Raven is becoming even more aloof and actually exhibiting more sinister facial characteristics, and ends up telling the team she is leaving the Titans rather than accept their offer to help her through a difficult time. The bigger problem is that the demonic Trigon wants her back to rule by his side. The Titans devise a plan to have Jericho assume Raven’s form and infiltrate Trigon’s realm. That backfires in a big way. FOUR STARS.
The art kept me turning the pages of this one. Moench’s story is heavy on the introspection and light on action. Both Spectre and his human host James Corrigan have recently died and been resurrected. Corrigan tries to solve the mystery of his death without utilizing Spectre, whom he’s having a feud with.
The story jumps back and forth with Corrigan’s memory coming back at odd times (did his former girlfriend exhale a red mist that killed him?) and the scene breaks could have been a bit smoother - making it hard to engage with the story. More red mist in the present, and a subway murderer using it for deception and camouflague. THREE STARS.
#420 NOTTINGHAM #4 (Mad Cave, June 2021) Best issue so far, with one more to go!
The conflict heats up as Hood & his Merry Men infiltrate a tourney. Maid Marian suspects they are after the rich prize she informed them of, but they are after something much more: blood, revolt, and overthrow of the government. A big battle occurs, depicted in gory glory by the intriguing art of Shane Connery Volk.
It doesn’t look good for the forces of Sheriff Blackthorne and his allies. FOUR STARS.
#425 VENOM #35 / #200 Legacy Numbering (Marvel, June 2021) I just noticed the similarities between the Venom and Nottingham covers this month. Surely a coincidence!
Sometimes in the final issue of a writer’s lengthy run on a title, story gets sacrificed in order to tie up all the loose ends. Also, sometimes the writer just goes through the motions as things wind down — artist as well. That is definitely not the case here. This is one of the best final issues of a series that I have read.
Everything is here: emotional, heartfelt exchanges, sacrifice, responsibility, loyalty— as well as some new interesting directions that the next writer may take up in the next volume of VENOM. The art is spectacular. Cates and company did this one proud. FOUR AND ONE-HALF STARS.
Things fast forward to 2051 in this version. Also, I remember a highly rebellious core of young superheroes in the first series — set to topple the established order, even to the point of killing their parents. Things are a bit calmer here. However, at its’ heart this is a tale of a dysfunctional family. They just happen to have immense powers, and it seems like here they are intend on improving the world.
I haven’t seen any work by artist Tommy Lee Edwards since TURF, and this is a nice surprise, helping to smooth over the absence of Frank Quitely (maybe too much of an abrasive style for this kinder, more benevolent JUPITER’S LEGACY.) To some, this may seem bloated and plodding, as Millar uses the over-sized first issue to introduce all the players, reveal some conflicts, and set the stage for more. I think it was necessary. I’m sensing this is going to be a broad sweeping epic and that is what I’m looking forward to.
The afterwords text piece by Millar seems ironic now, as he refers to the Netflix JUPITER’S LEGACY series as “the biggest show in America, the biggest show on Netflix, and higher numbers than any other show on planet Earth for the past three days running.” Really? Recently, the news has been all about Netflix pulling the plug early, and cancelling the series. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
Captain Harlock has been a popular character in other countries, so it’s nice to see if he can attract an American audience. Despite the facial scars, dark cloak and deaths-head symbols he comes off as more of a guardian of the galaxy rather than his space pirate. His supporting cast doesn’t look menacing at all, more like cartoon characters.
A comet-like black sphere crashes to Earth, awakening some members of the dangerous Maxon race who have been in hibernation. Immediately things get much colder as the temperatures drop across the globe. Sensing that something is up with the weather, Harlock decides to investigate.
Nice art, especially when it gets a chance to shine in the larger panels. There’s a ton of small panels and a lot of story/exposition crammed into the first issue. Not feeling it, but I’m going to try the next issue and then decide. THREE STARS.
#428 W.E.B. OF SPIDER-MAN #2 (Marvel, June 2021)
In my review of Issue #1 I said this book wasn’t for me. However, I picked up Issue #2 at the request of a long-distance comics friend. Of course, I’m going to read it before I mail it.
The holographic Green Goblin turns out to be as dangerous as the real thing. When Spider-Man/Peter Parker exits the W.E.B. labs to pursue, the hologram gets real definition and a fun subway chase begins. The team thinks they stop the theft of crucial W.E.B. data but knock out power across part of Manhattan in doing so. Iron Man is pissed, and lays the blame on Parker.
This was better than Issue #1, but still feels like an introduction to these characters for younger readers. If I’m asked, I’ll pick up Issue #3. Otherwise, no. THREE STARS.
That art is what makes this book work. Great stuff from Jim Cheung, Brett Booth, Stephen Segovia and Marcio Takara that makes the sometimes confusing story by Todd McFarlane more palatable. Regular Spawn readers will have a much better understanding of what occurs here.
Captain Blue Hen apparently is expecting big things from this title, judging by the generous amount of copies on their shelves. Do them a favor and pick up a copy. It could become your refreshing alternative to the heroic output of the Big Two publishers. By contrast, Maroon Hornet in Oxford, which doesn’t sell much Spawn comics, only brought SPAWN’S UNIVERSE in for customers who pre-ordered it. THREE STARS.
#430 SABRETOOTH #3 (Marvel, 2005) “Open Season, Part III of IV”
Daniel Way writes a suspenseful script and Bart Sears throws down some amazing visuals. What a creative team!
A U.S. Coast Guard search party is stranded on a tiny isle on Lake Superior, being picked off and mutiliated one by one. Is it Sasquatch, Sabertooth, or . . . The Wendigo?
FOUR STARS
#431 RAMPAGLING WOLVERINE #1 (Marvel, 2009)
“Forty-eight all-new pages in glorious black & white!” Three stories and a text piece, all good with no filler.
The best of the best is “Sense Memory” by Joshua Hale Fialkov and Paco Diaz Luque. I would love to see more of that artist’s work!
FOUR STARS.
#432 THE PUNISHER #10 (Marvel Knights, 2002) “This Makes It Personal”
Tom Peyer, not known for gritty, street-smart action fare, does Frank Castle proud here.
Although the premise here is kind of quirky, more like the Tom Peyer I know. Seems like the mob is involved in some competing taxi companies and go to war with each other, even equipping taxi cabs with missile launchers, etc. Frank goes undercover and takes on a job as a taxi driver, but the mob (with a really gross crime boss) is wise to him, and rigs the cab.Cool art by Manuel Gutierrez. FOUR STARS.
#433 PUNISHER MAX #14 (Marvel Max, 2011)”Frank, Part Three”
Jason Aaron also does a good job with this character, and Steve Dillon’s art is distinctively identifiable. (Miss you, Steve.)
Frank Castle kills a corrupt cop, and is sent to a maximum security prison. Inmate Big Jesus is plotting a revenge attack on Frank and gets sent to solitary - his cell right next to Frank so he can torment him through the walls.
Frank gets reflective, and flashes back to a time when he was still married and his first encounter with the mob. FOUR STARS.
The best run of Captain America I ever read was written by Ed Brubaker, so that’s a big magnet for me. When I want to see photo-realistic art but with a distinctive style that is more expressive (emotionally, and with physical action) give me some Mike Deodato. Great combination of talents here.
Agent Sharon Carter runs the Secret Avengers, a black ops unit assembled by former Captain America Steve Rodgers (now just a super-soldier). The enigmatic Shadow Council, led by a life model decoy of Nick Fury calling himself Max, is in a competition with the Hai-Dai for control of the mystical eyes of the dragon (crystals/gems) and either the capture or termination of Shang-Chi. Shadow Council wants him to use his blood to resurrect his father and hopefully control the destiny of China. Max is being helped by another former super-soldier, John Steele.
Add Valkyrie, Beast, Ant-Man, Black Widow, the mysterious Prince of Orphans, and Moon Knight into the mix and you’ve got a rocking action adventure. FOUR STARS.
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