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 AUGUST 31 . . . 667 comics documented
CURRENT COUNT . . . . . 571 comics documented
#557 GOD OF TREMORS prestige format one-shock (AfterShock, August 18 2021) A complete story of 19th Century gothic terror, nightmares and spiritual awareness (of a creepy nature) that doubles as a showcase for the actual ignorance and brutality of the times.
“When Aubrey has his first seizure, he’s pulled out of school and hidden away in the family’s remote country estate. His father — a high-ranking English priest — tries to chase the “devil” out of Aubrey, bu maybe the devil lurks in the grotesque pagan effigy that dwells on the grounds. And maybe the devil will turn out to be Aubrey’s only ally” . .
Writer Peter Milligan is a master of psychological horror. He put me right into the head of poor Aubrey as he suffered the blows and brutal techniques of exorcism as practiced by his strict father. A father who denounced the work of Charles Darwin, and who denies his mother’s pleas to listen to doctors who suggest treating Aubrey for the conditions of epilepsy.
Piotr Kowalski’s highly detailed art is beautifully displayed in the larger panel format and enhances the dismal atmosphere and nature of the story.
Milligan always leaves something for further thought or comparison in most of his works. Here, I was reminded of the current situation with anti-vaccination advocates and science deniers. FIVE STARS.
Writer George C. Romero (son of the iconic film-maker) presents the back-story to Night Of The Living Dead and offers an explanation for the cause of the zombie infestation.
The roots lie in western Pennsylvania in 1962 where a doctor/scientist looks to nature to hold the key to cellular regeneration. He wants to revive beloved members of his dead family. The government funding his efforts are exploring a new breed of subservient soldiers. The trail leads to a Doctor Cartwright’s investigations into a search for “nature’s loophole” in Haiti, where dead people sometimes wake up.
This is sufficiently creepy, but very slow to unfold the story. However, it’s worthwhile simply for the incredible art of Diego Yapur, eerily colored in shades and hues of black, white and red. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
To all those historical figures profiled on the cover of Issue #1 add another: Joseph Stalin. How and why they fit into the storyline is only vaguely hinted at and has yet to be prominently featured. The sleeper agent of the rebellious gods of another dimension, awakened on Earth by a violent family encounter in Issue #1, meets fellow displaced gods and learns a little of his destiny.
The story builds and creates suspense. It’s well done. My problem is that I’ve read so many similar storylines in the past that this isn’t holding my interest. The art also takes a step backwards from Issue #1, except for a nice panoramic two-page battle scene flashback. The fault lies in too much exposition/dialogue this issue. Hard to illustrate that in an interesting fashion. I’ll be letting that shop know that I don’t wish to continue. THREE STARS.
I missed the first part of this five-issue (quarterly) reimagining of the Marvel Universe by merging with Japanese mythology. This is the second issue, although it reads as a stand-alone. I’ll probably seek out that first issue (March) as I’m now curious and somewhat intrigued by what writer/artist Peach Momoko is doing here.
The manga-influenced art here is expressive and different. Young Mariko is troubled by dreams that purport to be memories of a past. She may be a child of demons/spirits/monsters/magic, brought down from a mystical mountain and raised by a foster grandmother. I’m trying to figure out which Marvel character she represents, leaning towards Kitty Pryde/Shadowcat.
Versions of the Black Widow, Nightcrawler and Emma Frost/The White Queen are here as well, uniquely portrayed in Momoko’s stylings.
I sort of feel guilty for not giving Hickman’s X-Men stories at least a chance to win me over. This is how I’ve decided to make up for it. FOUR STARS.
I was won over by the art in the first issue, and now the story is getting better. It didn’t take long for law enforcement to see a possible connection between the murder of a cartel associate and the Steel Knights motorcycle club. Especially after the cartel dumped them for the drug transportation services of the rival Lake Street Boyz.
The Steel Knights HQ is under 24-hr police surveillance as the club debates how to discipline the two members who acted on their own. President Jack makes a mistake during an intended peaceful meeting with The Lake Street Boyz and initiates conflict. It’s not long before payback is sought in the closing pages. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
I’ve enjoyed the antics of stand-up comedian Snelson, previously featured in the back-up stories in the HASHTAG: DANGER series. While I”m not completely sold on the character, he is an amusing combination of comedians Rodney Dangerfield and Louis C.K. Some of his sketches are borderline inappropriate or not politically correct.
He gets the spotlight in this mini-series, where after working the mid-Western comedy circuit with a gaggle of unlikely fellow comedians he’s about to get canceled after a disastrous rant-like performance in Nashville.
It’s funny, outrageous, and definitely intended for adults only.
Ahoy is making noise about “the first funny book series in fifty-plus years to star a standup comic,” dating back to DC’s The Adventures of Bob Hope. I guess they don’t know about AfterShock’s recently wrapped up mini-series Knock ‘Em Dead, although that was more about the horror than the comedy. Doesn’t matter. SNELSON deserves some attention. FOUR STARS.
Who doesn’t enjoy a well-done horror comic? The art by Daniel Hillyard caught my eye, so I bought this one on impulse. This story of a wacko serial killer sharing an affection for vintage vinyl 45 singles with the FBI agent tasked with shadowing him and masquerading as his friend made me uncomfortable.
It wasn’t the gory, bloody depictions or depravity that unsettled me as much as the choppy style of story-telling did. This one hops around all over the place. It begins two days from now, cuts to today, and then two weeks ago. What’s the significance of the teddy bear mask with one button eye? Throw in a twisted cult/commune (the Bellini Family Sunflower Farm) led by a domineering goddess. Issue #1 raises many questions and offers no answers.
Ordinarily, I wouldn’t be turned away from a story like this - - but I’m not going to follow this one. It’s the storytelling method that bothers me. Plus, I think writer Doug Wagner is trying to show off - - which is clever only when it’s not so obvious what he’s doing. (at least, to me). Caveat Emptor. THREE STARS.
#564 RED ROOM: FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 2021 (Fantagraphics, August 2021) While we’re on the subject of disturbing content - - ugh. Writer/artist Ed Piskor, never one to shy away from controversial topics in his comic/art takes such a dramatic departure here from his last work GRAND DESIGN, an inventive re-telling of the origins of Marvel’s X-Men.
Unlike a lot of FCBD offerings that are reprints, this is an add-on to the existing RED ROOM series and an entry point for new readers who dare.
This is unsettling stuff. Because of the dark web and the benefits of untraceable crypto-currency, a new subculture has emerged: the live-streaming of webcam murders for entertainment.
Normally, I’ll give complex works a second reading just to make sure I comprehend everything before writing about it. I’m bothered enough by this one that I’m going to have to put it away and come back to it later.
You may or may not hear from me again about RED ROOM. I do have the first two issues in my to-read backlog, but I think I’m going to stop from going any further with this title.
I’m also afraid to view Piskor’s YouTube channel, Cartoonist Kayfabe!, but will probably stray there when I’m feeling braver. The rating reflects my respect for the distinctive art style of Piskor, reminding me of classic 1970’s underground comics from R. Crumb and others. THREE STARS.
#565 CATWOMAN 2021 ANNUAL (DC, June 2021) “I Walk Through The Valley” Thinking I was purchasing a standalone story I picked this up without scanning it. I don’t regret that. This is an intriguing story with great art, but it’s not what I was expecting.
It’s the continuation of a storyline involving Azrael and the Order of St. Dumas with Ludovic Valley on a brutal downsizing mission. Three different artists, which makes for some abrupt-on-the-eyes scene breaks. Two out of three art styles are impressive.
Even though her name is on the cover, Catwoman only appears on three pages and as Selina Kyle pissed off at the hospitalization of an associate by Valley. That cool looking battle on the cover doesn’t occur in this annual. Talk about bait and switch. I suppose you’ll need to pick up CATWOMAN #33 to see that happen. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
I think I”ll be depending on others to keep me up to date on what’s happening here. I’m losing interest rapidly.
Part of that is because it takes a lot for a superhero title to keep me coming back on a monthly basis. The other part is that I just don’t like superhero versus vampire stories.
Moon Knight/Marc Spector walks his own path now, free of the Khonshu influence, and establishes the Midnight Mission to aid his neighbors as the white-suited Mr. Knight and taking down evil-doers as the cloaked and hooded Moon Knight. He’s keeping appointments with his shrink and has a new assistant, Reece. She’s a recently turned vampire and this issue is about taking care of the vampire threat in an apartment building where the villain is inconspicuous (until outed). Ho hum. This is not for me. THREE STARS.
#567 THE MARVELS #4 (Marvel, August 2021)
By this point, readers have figured out that the small nation of Sin-Cong is going to play a prominent role in the story. Last issue, pre-FF Reed Richards and Ben Grimm were on a ’60’s mission to collect bio-samples for the U.S. government from a plan to creat giant monsters in Sin-Cong - - only to find out they were too late.
This issue Aero is on a mission in present-day Sin-Cong when a mysterious black dome encases the nation. Lotus makes a public appearance to declare this a demonstration of the new independent Sin-Cony’s power. Back in NYC, those giant monsters are showing up, much more than new character Kevin Schumer (still not liking him) can handle with gadgets from The Tinkerer. Spider-Man, Iron Man, Captain America and Doctor Strange are needed to step in.
Finally after four issues, a concurrent theme to this title seems to be emerging. I say “seems to be”. This has been a slow burn so far.
THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
#568 KANG THE CONQUEROR #1 (Marvel, August) “Only Myself Left To Conquer”.
The immortal Kang, man of many faces and timelines, remains my favorite all-time Avengers foe. Of course, every story with Kang involves playing around with time travel and this is no different.
This time, Kang travels back in the past to mentor/tutor a young version of himself - - Nathaniel Richards.
Which begs the question - - - Which came first? The chicken or the egg? Great art, interesting premise. Cliffhanger ending. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
“There’s no cops. No ambulances. No fire trucks. There isn’t even a f**king news helicopter. . . . How is that even possible? . . . We’ve got f**king monsters eating people on the highway. A plane crash in a field. And it’s like the f**king world is asleep?”
Poor Vanessa. Just as she begins her retreat to the southeast California forests to recover from a bad breakup, her world turns upside down. A dimensional breach opens, allowing monsters to emerge with destruction and death their intent.
Issue #1 was wild (wildly good) but Issue #2 gets crazy (crazy good, natch)! I hesitate to label this a horror comic. It’s more a mash-up of horror/fantasy/science fiction with an undertone of wry humor, punctuated by the commentary of brash heroine Vanessa, who swears like a sailor and tags some of the monsters as “dick-munchers” and “weird floating things with teeth on their anuses”.
The wizardly stranger (Samuel) riding a giant tortoise also crossed over via the Breach, and recognizes some of the monsters (pistopods, midolant tree leaches) but not all of them. Vanessa tallies up the monster-count, now at eight different species and possibly from three different universes. He appears to be friendly, and came to the assistance of Vannessa and young Dougie (swallowed by a monster last issue). But is he friendly or dangerous, as the cliffhanger ending implies?
Dynamic art. Imaginative world-building. Great dialogue and characters. The story-telling quality has really stepped up since Issue #1. I’m onboard for the long haul. Loving this book. FOUR AND ONE-QUARTER STARS.
#570 SECOND CHANCES #1 (Image, August 2021) When the black & white art is this good, you don’t need color. Shadows and shading is utilized so well here that color would minimize the noir effect. And, this is a mysterious crime story that is more potent due to that effect.
Main character and narrator Leblanc is in the business of creating second chances: “With the right amount of cash, a proper referral . . and a good reason to start over . . I can give you a new life.” When one of his former clients calls him in dire need of saving, Leblanc tries to prevent a huge mistake. (“No such thing as third chances.”)
After an encounter with female ninja assassins wearing Oni masks, Leblanc’s past comes back to haunt him and he’s pulled into a downward spiral. A very impressive debut issue with a creative team that’s new to me (writer Ricky Mammone, artist Max Bertolini) but one to keep an eye on. FOUR STARS.
Now she sets off in search of Emmy and enters the subterranean world of goblins, demons and ghost worshippers that exists directly under the city. It’s a wild disturbing trip down the rabbit hole, full of strange images and sights - - none more so than the shrine to the last protector of Harrow County.
I know I would appreciate this even more if I had kept up with the Harrow County mini-series. Still, I’m fascinated by this and have dipped my toe in these swampy Southern waters. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
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