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. I needed to end June with 500 comics read in order to be on track. I’m going to make a bigger effort from this point forward. Wish me luck. . . . . . .
#481 THE LEGEND OF SHANG-CHI one-shot (Marvel, April 2020) “The Equinox Blade” What a nice relief to take a break from continuing storylines and read a solid, tight, action-packed one-shot that I can devour and forget about.
Leiko Wu of MI-6 recruits Shang-Chi to London to steal a mystical katana from the British Museum. It devours souls and is a danger to both museum security forces and the public. Turns out Lady Deathstrike is also attempting to steal it. They fight inside the museum. After great struggles, Shang-Chi is victorious but breaks the sword in pieces just in case MI-6 has other intentions. Of course, there’s a little twist at the end. Good story-telling by Alyssa Wong and dynamic art from Andie Tong. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
#482 MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE: REVELATION #1 (Dark Horse, July 2021) This is the official prequel to the upcoming Netflix animated series produced by Kevin Smith, who also co-wrote this story with Rob David.
I, along with my eldest son, have fond memories of He-Man. During his childhood, you could generally find Star Wars, G.I. Joe, and Masters Of The Universe toys scattered around the house. We had the Castle Grayskull set, watched the cartoon series on t.v., saw the movie, and read the mini-comics together than came with the toy figures.
It seemed like this comic and the new Netflix show would be a great opportunity to share our enthusiasm with my six-year old grandson. Good thing I read this first. Not so fast.
The comic is somewhat dark, grim, and introduces concepts and themes that I would consider too old for younger minds to grasp. Issue #1 is so plodding that I doubt my grandson would express any interest in going any further. There’s not enough characterization here for him to connect with He-Man, etc. This is more like MOTU written for grown-ups.
I had better expectations from Kevin Smith. I hope the Netflix series is better than this. I was looking forward to it. TWO STARS.
#483 - #486 STRAY DOGS #2 - #5 of 5 (Image, March - June 2021) Favorable word-of-mouth and glowing reviews have propelled STRAY DOGS into a must-read status. Due to limited printing (who knew?) this book is earning huge numbers on the resale market.
While I liked Issue #1, I was sort of indifferent but decided to stay with it anyway. Why? Because like CHEW, a book that didn’t do that well in pre-sale but went bonkers after it came out and people read it, STRAY DOGS is fresh and engaging. There’s nothing else in current comics quite like it.
However, unlike CHEW this is not a feel-good, cleverly funny story. Don’t let the cute animals fool you. This is not one to share with younger readers. The subject matter is dark, with a deplorable villain. These cute dogs, so expressive and brilliantly portrayed in a fashion not unlike a Disney cartoon, are captive and abused.
Kudos to Trish Forstner and the art team. Kudos to Tony Fleecs for a script that builds suspense in layers until the final resolution in Issue #5. The book isn’t perfect. I was willing to overlook some flaws and go with the flow. Definitely worth a reading. Just shy of perfection. FOUR AND ONE-QUARTER STARS.
This debut issue contained three stories, of which two are pretty good. Writer J.M. DeMatteis takes Kaine through a lot of soul-searching and imaginary confrontations and conversations with key figures from his history, all while he’s confined and semi-conscious in an experimental lab. He’s definitely been through some crap.
The Spectacular Spider-Girl here is May Parker, daughter of Peter and Mary Jane in an alternate universe. Things get complicated when a clone of Spider-Girl tries to supplant her and take over with dishonorable intentions. Featuring an appearance of The Jersey Devil.
The last story is just plain poor, suffering from infantile writing and children’s book art. Frog-Man and The Tenacious Tad-Pole are not funny, but they are fans of Spidey and want to be his sidekicks. THREE STARS OVERALL.
#488 BUNNY MASK #2 of 4 (AfterShock, July 2021)
Paul Tobin is writing a captivating mystery/romance/murder book with supernatural themes.
Voices in the head. Bunny Mask art materializing within the office/home of main character Tyler. A superbly creepy book with expressive art by Andrea Mutti.
At one time, bunny masks were a cute novelty. I’ll never look at one the same way again. Tobin/Mutti have made that mask a thing to cause shivers.
FIVE STARS.
#489 MOTHS #1 of 6 (AWA/Upshot, June 2021) I’ve been following the Resistance Universe created by J. Michael Straczynski. After the first two issues of the main title blew me away with their complexity and on-the-nose themes, later issues and spin-offs didn’t reproduce that initial magic for me. MOTHS brings it all back. Mike Choi’s art has a computer-generated look, but it’s still awesome to view.
Emily Kai is a moth, ready to blossom despite knowing that after utilizing her unknown powers for the first time she will have only six months to live. She wants to do good and make a difference in the world. But is the group that assists her have the same goals, or will they exploit her for monetary gain? FIVE STARS.
#490 MARJORIE FINNEGAN, TEMPORAL CRIMINAL #1 of 8 (AWA/Upshot, June 2021) I’ll pick up anything Garth Ennis writes, usually guaranteed to be different, clever and often illuminating. Well, two out of three so far. I’m not feeling it yet for this book, but I’ll carry on.
I found the text introduction by Ennis in the back of the book to be more interesting than the actual story. He promises a lot more than what happens in Issue #1, so we’ll see.
Marjorie is a time-traveler, at first seen as a sort of criminal intent on stealing some treasure from a new Egyptian tomb. Then, she’s a sort of sheriff preventing a Nazi from helping villagers hold off an invading horde of Vikings? So, which is she? THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
Primary Laws Of The Belari System: 1) No person or Clan may exit the system. 2) No person or Clan may do the designated work of another Clan. 3) Clans may not merge. 4) Any person hat breaks a Primary Law shall be made an Outcast.
CLANS OF BELARI is a science-fiction saga that engaged me from the get-go, with it’s caste system and autocratic enforcers (The Souk). Clay is a pilot for the Frigate Clan, transporters of goods, equipment and personnel to and from all regions within the Belari system. After his ship crashes, he adopts the only other survivor (besides himself) a four-year old girl.
He raises her under the radar of The Souk and plans to teach her the Frigate skills. She questions everything and exposes the flaws in the system, especially when Clay seems to violate many of the principles that he explains and defends to her. That eventually catches up to him in a cliffhanger twist of an ending to Issue #1.
The extra content in the back pages profiles all of the Clans. The others are Vein Clan (mining, and primary employers of Outcasts a.k.a. slaves); Metal Clan (manufacturing); Agron Clan (farming); Dark Arm Clan (fishing); and Belari Cap (fuel production for inter-planetary space flight and transport). FOUR STARS.
This introductory issues raises more questions than it answers, and presents it’s theme and side plots in fluid fashion, although at times it gets bogged down a little in exposition. Still, there is some interesting world-building going on here and the art is dynamic. Worth checking out. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
#493 BEYOND THE BREACH #1 of 5 (AfterShock, July 2021) Not getting enough action or thrills out of your current choice of reading? This one starts out funny. Just as you relax and keep reading, the hammer comes crashing down on Page Three. BEYOND THE BREACH grabs your attention immediately and doesn’t let go until the last page.
Poor Vanessa has had more than enough. While tending to her dying mother, her sister shacked up with her boyfriend. As a final send-off, Vanessa uses his credit card to finance a solitary road trip, beginning with a drive through the majestic Redwoods of California.
The Breach hits, and thousands of inter-dimensional creatures come through to create havoc. Plus, they’re hungry and humans look tasty.
With her car wrecked during The Breach, Vanessa struggles valiantly to escape, rescuing a young boy and an apparently friendly small alien. Safety is just temporary. FOUR STARS.
In this spin-off story, Spider-Man (Peter Parker) faces off against Venom (Mac Gargan, one of the fake Avengers who was impersonating Spider-Man). Ms. Marvel lends a hand which she inserts into Venom’s mouth and rips out a naked Gargan from the symbiote suit. (I didn’t know you could do that!)
Just another interlude in the Siege. The scorecard on the last page reminds me that this is just one of the 43 single issues comprising the Siege story and begging for my money over six months in 2010-2011. Oh, wretched excess! THREE STARS.
#495 THUNDER MACE #2 (R.A.K. Graphics, December 1986) It’s fun to revisit some of the black & white independent comics from their glory days. This is an ambitious fantasy effort from a tiny publisher in Akron, Ohio featuring intricately detailed and expressive art.
The demon Yraegael and his unholy legions bring dark days to the realm. A brave warrior travels to the lair of Komodo, last of the dragons, to possess a weapon of great power. He becomes Thunder Mace and takes the battle directly to the monstrous Kula who guards the entrance to the tyrant’s throne room. Good stuff for sword and sorcery buffs. THREE STARS.
#496 - #498 SHADOWMAN: END TIMES #1-3 (Valiant, 2014) Master of psychological suspense Peter Milligan takes a deep dive into the psyche of Shadowman. This mini-series did not go over well with fans, but it remains one of my favorite Shadowman story arcs. FOUR STARS. A longer review was posted to this blog for July 19, 2021.
#499 - #504 KI-6: KILLERS (Valiant, 2019) With this entry I cross the half way point of my personal challenge: to read and document 1,000 comics in 2021. Wish me luck!
I think this was intended as the prequel for a new Valiant series in 2020, but then covid got in the way and halted a lot of planned releases. I would love to read more featuring these cool characters.A longer review was posted to this blog for July 19, 2021. FOUR STARS.
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