EDITOR'S NOTE: 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. . . .
# GOAL FOR JULY 31 . . . 583 comics documented
CURRENT COUNT . . . . . 525 comics documented
#505 SAUCER STATE #1 (IDW, 2017)
The governor of New Mexico and her husband were abducted by aliens. Now, she’s the President of the United States and contemplating “coming out” to share her story with the public. Others in public office have also made contact.
Now, NASA records a radio signal from space indicating that alien visitors are on their way. Picking up where he left off in the prior series, writer Paul Cornell puts an awful lot into this debut issue.
FOUR AND ONE-HALF STARS.
#506 DOCTOR MIRAGE #1 (Valiant, 2019)
World famous paranormal investigator Shan Fong Mirage isn’t the only person who can speak to the dead. She meets a young, misfit female with the same abilities who comes door-knocking to tell Shan that she has a message to deliver from her dead husband.
THREE STARS.
#507 THE NICE HOUSE ON THE LAKE #1 (DC Black Label, August 2021) I loved this debut issue, and was on the fence about whether I could hold off and wait for the eventual trade paperback (my normal practice). Nope. This is too good. I want to know what happens next.
Occasional contributor to the blog Matt Lowder didn’t give away too much in his review, so I won’t either. While the world collapses, a disparate group of individuals receive an invitation to a nice retreat/getaway. FIVE STARS.
A punk rocking Cherry made a deal with the devil, and now she’s approaching her 27th birthday when her soul is due. She’s given an option: find the recently escaped Seven Sins of Hell and send them back. Not an easy task, since “they’re all horribly evil . . .” THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
Two more from Captain Blue Hen friends Joseph Schmalke and Rich Woodall’s Scout/Black Caravan imprints . . . . .
#508 THE ELECTRIC BLACK #4 (Scout, January 2020) THE ELECTRIC BLACK is a different kind of horror anthology. It’s also a destination, a mysterious teleporting store where sometimes the story occurs and the characters are more than just hosts to introduce the separate stories.
In Issue #4 a band of cultists break into The Electric Black with theft of the Black Ledger on their mind and get an entirely different experience for their efforts. Fans of the series will want to read this issue as it also explores origins of The Electric Black, the Black Ledger, the Black Caravan and more. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
#509 THE PERHAPANAUTS: SECOND CHANCES #1 (Scout/Black Caravan, June 2021) I’ve heard of the Perhapanauts, a monster/hero team from indie creators Todd Dezago and Craig Rousseau that have been published through various publishers and now land in the Scout/Black Caravan camp. Never having previously picked up a Perhapanaut book I was curious to read this.
Forgettable fun, if you like that sort of thing. There are three stories here with a cute opening time travel tale where the team debates whether to interfere and change history, and do so anyway. There’s a back story that showcases team member Arisa in the days before the Perhapanauts. The art is uncluttered and eye-appealing. THREE STARS.
#510 MOON KNIGHT #1 (Marvel, July 2021) A new creative team takes their stab at Marc Spector/Moon Knight. As with any well-done debut issue, they establish where they might be taking the character, provide a few hints, and raise some questions so readers will come back to learn the answers.
Borrowing a little bit from both the Warren Ellis and Jeff Lemire runs on Moon Knight, Mr. Knight in the all-white business suit runs the front office of the Midnight Mission which pledges to protect all nighttime travelers and “congregation” members within its’ “territory”. Out the back door goes the caped, hooded Moon Knight on his “mission.” I get the feeling this is a religion for these two aspects of the same person.
No Khonshu god in sight (in a special jail, apparently). Moon Knight supposedly disenfranchised from said god, but still refers to himself as the Fist of Khonshu. That raises some questions. A comics friend tells me that all those things are explained in a prior run of The Avengers, where Moon Knight was a member until he was kicked out because of the aggressive ambitions of Khonshu. I just haven’t read that yet.
I’m on the fence about this one. I like what’s happening here, but wonder if it’s going to be different enough to hold my attention. If there were less choices to be made for my monthly comics dollars, I’d add this to my pull list. However, there are many choices and I only have so much time/money to invest in comics. I may pick up another issue or do before the final verdict. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
#511-#514 SUPERCROOKS #1-4 (Marvel/Icon, 2012) Mark Millar writes a funny and entertaining Oceans 11-styled crime caper/theft with second-rate super-villains carrying out the heist. They are daring to rob one of the most dangerous super-villains of all time, now retired and surrounded by a fortress abode with numerous traps and security guards, including a formidable disgraced former super-hero.
The art by Leinil Francis Yu is dynamic and fluid, enhancing this engaging and often humorous story. Forgettable fun. FOUR STARS.
A lot of times I can pick up a second or third issue of a series and still catch up enough to understand what the story is about. I think what I missed by not reading Issue #1 of THE VISITOR is a reason to care.
This is not a bad book. I’m just indifferent, but don’t let that stop you from checking it out. On the upside, a mysterious cloaked figure who wants to eliminate some sketchy politicians gets a thumbs-up from me.
THREE STARS.
#517-#520 RAI #13 - #16 (Valiant, May-August 2016)
As a companion piece to the 4001 AD epic, this is non-essential but reading it provides a nice overview of how Valiant's writing staff managed to blend all the different characters and stories together to create this magical saga.
Each issue focuses on a different iteration of Rai, until we come to the current 4001 AD version - - the Rai who must destroy New Japan and Father in order to save what remains of humanity. Cool simplistic yet evocative covers from David Mack.
FOUR STARS.
#521-#525 LAKE OF FIRE Graphic Novel (Image, February 2017)
This book made an immediate impact on me. LAKE OF FIRE prompted me to research the Albigensian Crusade and the persecution and genocide of the Cathars in Southern France in the 13th Century.
If a graphic novel / piece of fiction creates enough curiosity and interest to look something up and learn about it then there's a lot of value in that.
I credit the realistic depiction of the times. Pair that up with a story of alien invasion and that's a winner sure to compel me to keep reading to the last page.
The art was dynamic and very expressive. The story moved at a cinematic pace, with good characterization. I came to care about several of these characters. A good read.
FOUR STARS.
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