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 SEPTEMBER 30 . . . 750 comics documented
CURRENT COUNT . . . . . 753 comics documented
#717 - #719 OLD MAN HAWKEYE #1 - #3 (Marvel, March - May 2018) Like OLD MAN LOGAN, this series takes place in a world 45 years after Red Skull and various super-villains wiped out almost all the super-heroes. The United States is divided up into territories controlled by villains, with most of the country turned into a wasteland.
Clint Barton/Hawkeye is going blind, and wants to go out with a bang on one final mission. He kills off most of the multiplying mutant Madrox gang except for one, who bonds with the Venom symbiote. They grow in numbers as they follow Hawkeye’s trail.
The Marshall in this wasteland used to be known as Bullseye, and he becomes obsessed with stalking Hawkeye as well. Hawkeye has a big showdown with a former Thunderbolt, Atlas, in Issue #3.
Gritty and bloody, this series is fun to read and very entertaining. Of course, I don’t take it seriously (which explains the fun - for me). These three issues were another rescue from the bargain bin. Someday after I catch up on all my other reading, I may just seek out the trade paperback so I can finish this story. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
There’s new leadership as the Heavy Metal machine moves foward, with Tim Seeley now editor-in-chief. Several new series debut here (Savage Circus, Dark Wing, Sun Eater) that would later move into single issues and collections.
But for me, the highlight is the work from the older veterans showcased here, such as Moebius, Richard Corben, and Mark Bode (son of Vaughn Bode, who revives some of his popular characters in a very familiar style.) None of these stories, although well-done and with amazing illustrations, caught on enough with me to induce me to start picking this up again. I was an avid follower back in the early days. Ah, memories! FOUR STARS.
Even though this is obviously aimed at a much younger readership than I, DELILAH DIRK AND THE TURKISH LIEUTENANT is a rapid fire reading action adventure with a roguish but likable female adventurer and her efforts to steal some treasure in 1807 Constantinople (Istanbul).
The story is told from the point of view of Erdemoglu Selim, a reluctant lieutenant in the Turkish Janissary Corps who gets pulled into the escapades of Delilah Dirk and becomes an accomplice (perhaps because of his ability to speak English). He has a natural passion for brewing excellent tea and defers to Delilah for the heavy lifting of the story, as she is the one accomplished in swordplay, acrobatics, archery, and mayhem.
There are some fabulously depicted settings for this story, and Tony Cliff's art is as appealing as his friendly story. I took things a little less seriously when Delilah reveals that her sailboat can also fly. That made for some interesting side plots/conflicts when it crashed.
Despite the sarcastic banter back and forth between the two, a real friendship develops as evidenced by their reuniting in the final chapter. Worth a look. FOUR STARS.
#728 SECOND CHANCES #2 (Image, September 2021) Here’s a fresh creative team to keep an eye on: Ricky Mammone writer and Max Bertolini artist.
I am really enjoying this book. There’s a noir feel to the part crime, part fantasy storyline. The black and white art ranks among the best. Just a fun book with a clever plot and striking visuals.
We learn a little more about the mysterious Mr. LeBlanc, although there is still much to tell. He’s a generous soul with a good heart, which makes him likable to me. A desirable contract killer with a past relationship to LeBlanc. The assassin-for-hire Kabuki Twins. Poor Emma, used-to-be Ada, also having history with LeBlanc. A kid with serious hacking skills. The Darknet Vikings. A cliffhanger ending. FOUR STARS.
Should the assembly of survivors recognize Samuel Blueblood as the wizard from another world with incredible healing powers who also saved Vanessa and Dougie from certain death? Or is he Samuel Blueblood, a wanted murderer who left a trail of blood behind before crossing through the Breach into California’s forests?
There is evidence for both side, making Vanessa’s choice to support him a difficult decision. Yet, if she wants to learn the secret of the Breach and how to correct the influx of alien monsters - - he is her only hope.
Vanessa’s also transforming in this strange new world from a potty-mouthed reactor to a decisive leader. Every issue so far has been better than the one before. FOUR STARS.
One of the advantages of my part-time job is by visiting six different comic shops every month I get exposed to some indie titles that I might not see in just one location. Such is the case with BLOWTORCH, from little Mississippi indie publisher Second Sight. There are only two shops on my route that have been selectively displaying some of their books.
The first issue was published as a one-shot, released in April 2021 although the credits page states 2020. Maybe it was in the can until Second Sight made it public. It apparently did well enough that a second issue was released in June, and the Comics Price Guide website shows it as a five-issue miniseries. It’s definitely a quality book and worth a look, as long as super-powered covert teams interest you.
Richard Kincaid a.k.a. Blowtorch is a member of C.H.E.S.S. As a former Ranger he survived an explosion but has a disfigured face that he conceals. He’s the only team member who wears a mask. We get brief glimpses of his backstory and hints at his origins in one-panel flashbacks and conversations with other characters. The story wisely sticks to the action of the current mission, of which there is plenty.
Kincaid gets a phone message from a desperate Susan (ex-wife) who’s been working at secret underground Alaskan research project to convert dead soldiers into super-soldiers. One of the subjects, S-26, has gone berserk, exhibiting freezing powers and trashing the facility. Blowtorch grabs a chopper and heads there, persuaded by another team member, Rowan Moore, a.k.a. Footpath who loves hurling mini-bombs, to assist.
The black and white art throughout is some of the best I’ve seen in recent times. This book, along with SECOND CHANCES at Image and Marvel’s BLACK, WHITE & RED mini-series, makes me wonder if we’re on the cusp of a black-and-white revival.
Since this is a one-shot, things wrap up neatly with a last page image revealing that perhaps the threat has not been entirely eliminated.
Very entertaining stuff. The only member of the creative team that is familiar is Saida Temofonte on letters. Keep an eye on the scripting team of Alfred paige and Alex De-Gruchy and great detailed artwork and shading by Montos. If you like G.I. JOE, CHECKMATE and DEATHBLOW you will probably enjoy this title. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
#731 - #735 SYMPATHY FOR NO DEVILS #1 - #5 (AfterShock, October 2020 - February 2020) A mixture of several genres and tropes led me to believe there was more at the root of this story than the simple detective story on an alternate world of monsters established in Issue #1. I struggled a bit to try and determine what the author was getting at. Had I known his intentions (a homage to a buddy cop film) in the beginning I think it would have improved the flow of the story.
What kept me going was Lee Ferguson’s art, reminding me of Steve Ditko’s fantasy art. A full review of this series appears on the blog for Thursday, September 30. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
#736 - #749 MILES MORALES: WITH GREAT POWER trade paperback This review is as much about the importance of Spider-Man as it is about Miles Morales. A full review appears on this blog for Thursday, September 30. I experienced warm feelings of nostalgia while writing this. FIVE STARS.
#750 - #753 BLADE RUNNER ORIGINS #1 - #4 (Titan Comics, March - June 2021) Surprisingly, this series has been less popular with reviewers than the other BLADE RUNNER offerings from Titan Comics. For me, this is the series that grabs my interest, from the characters, the storyline, and the atmospheric art. I was kind of indifferent to the very first series.ORIGINS makes me want to revisit that, and the other spin-offs and give them a second chance.
This takes place ten years before the events of the BLADE RUNNER film, and relates the early days of the Tyrell Corporation into the Nexus phase of robot/android development. The alleged suicide of a Tyrell bioengineer brings detective Cal Moreaux into the investigation. His work reveals a cover-up and a murder committed by a Nexus 5 prototype.
A full review appears on this blog for Thursday, September 30. This first story arc is a well-written introduction to the continuing story, and holds a lot of promise for great things to come. FOUR STARS.
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