In 2021 I set a goal to post reviews here for 1,000 comics, and finished the year at 1,008 reviews. It was a stretch - - not to read that many comics, because I actually read quite a bit more. The challenge is to find and take the time to write a fair review of what I read - - but I made it. I’m up for a new year, and a new challenge. My goal for 2022 is to read and document 1,200 comics. That’s an average of 100 books per month, easy enough to check and update. Wish me luck!
# GOAL FOR July 10, 2022 . . . 633 comics documented
CURRENT COUNT . . . . . 603 comics documented
#589 - #592 CAMPISI: THE DRAGON INCIDENT #1 - #4 of 4 by James Patrick and Marco Locati (AfterShock, August - December 2021) CAMPISI is a light-hearted slice-of-life inside a small borough of a major metropolis (NYC, maybe) where organized crime runs the town. Naturally there are rivalries to be expected when two crime families are in such close proximity to each other.
Sonny Campisi is a member of the Rossi family, a wise-cracking "fixer" who carries a baseball bat but prefers to resolve problems more diplomatically. He's got a heart, and a keen sense of community and the importance of neighborhood fixtures. The senior Rossi has passed on, and Rossi Jr. is not so benevolent when enforcing family matters.
Right there is enough for the makings of an interesting crime drama spiced with humor. Introduce a fantasy element and things get even more interesting. A dragon, last of his race and bearing a centuries-old grudge, enters Green Village and sets up residence in the upper-level stories of a high-rise under construction. He's looking for the descendent of the family that wiped out the dragons many years ago. He won't destroy the town as long as the descendent is delivered to him.
This development upsets the Rossi crime family, who were making plans for the annual rib festival / cooking competition. Sonny gets the call to make the problem go away.
The story moves forward at an engrossing pace as Sonny tries several methods to "fix" the problem and save the city. He eventually arrives at a compromise with the dragon, but it comes with a cost (albeit a satisfactory one for me).
The only issue I have is with the work of artist/colorist Marco Locati, who favors some off-beat color choices (monochromatic and dichromatic hues) along with some sketchy penciling that makes it sometimes hard to discern exactly what is happening, especially in some action panels. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
This re-boot of the most popular Milestone character is both respectful to the source material and a fresh update to the series.
Writer Vita Ayala ties the Big Bang event (tear gas of experimental origin used during a protest) to a student protest (instead of a gang fight) and mixes in current world events, cultural issues and concerns - all without preaching. She lets the story make its' points.
What kept this compelling to me were the family interactions and Virgl/Static's relationships with his high school friends. That elevated this first story arc (hopefully) above the average super-hero fare.
The artwork is equally engaging, although at times I had trouble clearly discerning what was occurring. The backgrounds are too dark in several instances. Still, the inventive Chris Cross on layouts with finishes and colors by Nikolas Draper-Ivey makes up a vibrant art team. FOUR STARS.
Talk about dusting off the archives - - I haven’t read an issue of this title since the 1980’s. My only regret is that this one didn’t feature creator Howard Chaykin on the story/art. But, Grant and Badger did a commendable job and revived those memories.
AMERICAN FLAGG takes place in a divided United States of 2031 (oh oh, hope its’ not prophetic) where the American government has relocated to Mars, leaving what remains of the U.S.A. to be governed by a corporation, The Plex. Main character is Reuben Flagg, a former TV star and ladies’ man who was drafted into the Plexus Rangers as a deputy in Chicago, Illinois.
The story here centers around the relocation of English royalty to Omaha, complete with castle and in-fighting between members of the royal family, into which Flagg and a companion ranger are inserted to sort it out. Good, nostalgic fun. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
#600 WEB OF SPIDER-MAN #15 by David Michelinie and Mike Harris/Kyle Baker on art (Marvel, June 1986)
. Another nostalgic trip when Peter Parker had less to worry about, although Venom and spider-clones weren’t too far away.
Spidey is tracking down aging cat burglar The Fox when he has his very first encounter (and also first appearance) of the villain called Chance.
Meanwhile, Mary Jane comes to the rescue just as Peter is about to get tossed out of his apartment.
THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
I really wanted to like this. I get the feeling this was just one, big five-issue battle with way too many characters. I couldn’t always tell what side they were on.
An inter-dimensional species called The Poisons can consume symbiotes and their hosts, and launch an all-out attack on the Marvel Universe.They forcibly bond heroes to alien symbiotes and consume them/take over.
Rage, D-Man and Jean Grey (to name just a few) were bonded to symbiotes and couldn’t shake off the influence. Some heroes, led by Captain America and Venom, counter-attack aboard the orbiting Poison spacecraft. Poison Thanos has other ideas and rips through Cap’s ship.
Venom comes through and saves the day. The Poisons, when released from their symbiote/human bond relationship look like the tiny man-eaters from the Plants vs Zombies video game.
TWO AND ONE-HALF STARS.
#603 EDGE OF VENOMVERSE #2 by Christopher Hastings and Irene Strychalski (Marvel, 2017)
Gwen leaves her real world to travel the weird space in-between realities and ends up in “the comic book land of super-heroes!” To survive, she puts on a costume and becomes mercenary soldier Gwenpool.
She manages to get herself killed on her first encounter with a crime family and is saved by bonding with an alien symbiote to become . . . . . GwenVen, or VenPool, or whatever you prefer.
She fights The Hand ninjas next, and then in her secret identity takes a job in Matt Murdock’s office (because she became infatuated with Daredevil). Sigh. This may best be appreciated by a younger audience, although I’m not sure they can follow it easily, either. I believe this concludes my one-year fascination with Venom. Over and out.
TWO STARS.
No comments:
Post a Comment