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 . . . . . 588 comics documented
However, it's more of a throwback to the early 1960's adventures of the Fantastic Four than it is something brand new and fresh like the original work by Neil Gaiman was. The FF act exactly like the FF of old, with Doctor Doom, the Frightful Four, Sandman, and Namor also reprising their roles albeit in period-looking costume. The only significant difference is with Medusa, who now has the ability to turn folks to stone with her gaze (like the original figure of Greek mythology).
The story has a few twists to keep things interesting and include some subtle comments on the more selfish impulses of humanity. However, it pales in comparison to the original Marvel Knights MARVEL 1602 eight-issue 2003-2004 maxi-series from Neil Gaiman and Andy Kubert.
That work was fresh and magical, and presented familiar Marvel characters in an entirely different light. MARVEL 1602: FANTASTICK FOUR reads more like an alternate/what if FF story. While I did enjoy it, I couldn't help making those comparisons and wishing this to be more like the original.
I believe the old adage "too much of a good thing . . ." applies here. MARVEL 1602 was spun off into six mini-series. I suspect the others may be like this one, entertaining reads but lacking the magic. THREE STARS.
In terms of size, that's correct. But comparing FEAR ITSELF to CIVIL WAR set my expectations too high. If I had to pare down my Marvel mega-event recommendations, it would be AVENGERS FOREVER (the Kurt Busiek 1999-2000 version), SECRET INVASION, AVENGERS DISASSEMBLED and CIVIL WAR. Unfortunately, as good as it is, FEAR ITSELF just doesn't belong in the same company.
What you have is a good Thor story, with a lot of back-up characters from the Marvel Universe. There is a event within the event that I won't spoil (in case any one still hasn't read this) that could have lent itself to a lot more drama than it received here.
Odin has a brother, who has been released from confinement through the actions of Sin (the Red Skull's daughter). He's got a giant grudge against Asgard, and uses Earth/Midguard as his launching point for a major attack. He rewards Sin with a special hammer that enhances her powers, and then releases more hammers into Earth's atmosphere so various baddies (and good characters) can get them, become monstrous and powerful and increase the Serpent’s (the brother's nickname)power (he feeds on fear). We never learn Serpent's actual name, nor do we learn why he had to be imprisoned forever (and why on Earth, when there are nine realms?), and where all these hammers came from.
Nevertheless, I was entertained by the story, the dynamic art, the colorful big panels and splash pages, plenty of action, and a small but satisfactory amount of drama and conflict. However, it seems like a lot of this story played out in the various spin-offs and crossover issues. I felt like I was missing key parts by only reading these seven issues. That took some of the heart and emotion out of it. THREE STARS.
Gamma radiation does grant special powers, but it's not kind to the human form. Poor Rick Jones is fused with teenager Del Frye's body in the most graphic example of body horror I've ever seen in a standard superhero comic. Likewise, Doctor Leonard Sampson is mutated along with Sasquatch from Alpha Flight to become one entity: Doc Sasquatch.
This mini-series spins off from events in IMMORTAL HULK, when Gamma Flight was ordered to track down the Hulk and instead broke ranks and helped him. The team is Puck, Titania, Absorbing Man, Doc Sasquatch and new members scientist Dr. Charlene McGowan and the Rick Jones/Del Frye monstrosity.
When a new gamma mutate starts a rampage in Austin, Texas - Gamma Flight steps in and talks down Stockpile (Dionne). Their relationship leads to learning of a mysterious experiment that is turning an entire small town into mini-Hulks. The trail leads to encounters with Skaar, Son of Hulk and The Abomination.
There is better-than-average characterization of the main players here, even though the action doesn't allow for many interludes. Especially interesting is a budding romance between Doc Sasquatch and transgender Charlene. FOUR STARS.
On a side note, it seems to me that a new short-lived Ka-Zar series comes along at least once every three years. I was wondering which of the second-tier Marvel characters has the most volumes, spin-offs and mini-series. Could it be Ka-Zar? There are ten such iterations that I know of. However, Moon Knight has double that amount and reins as king of the Marvel limited series.
Now it falls to occasional-Marvel-writer Zac Thompson to re-boot Marvel's version of Tarzan and Pellucidar. He makes some changes, indeed. Thompson piggy-backs onto some plot threads from the Empyre mega-event where Ka-Zar was murdered by the alien Cotati. The power of the Savage Land brought him back to life, just as it had for his wife Shanna. But renewal came with changes to his body and his mind. Son Matthew is a bit rebellious and poses a challenge for his parents to develop him into a proper protector of the Savage Land.
A new threat comes via techno-organic creatures (polyscions) attacking and spreading sickness and corruption. Behind it all is the mysterious Domovoy, the flesh weaver. The resolution to the problem and the path forward is not what you might expect (cue The Youngbloods singing "Get Together”). THREE STARS.
#583 - #588 SECOND COMING #1-#6 of 6 by Mark Russell and Richard Pace (Ahoy Comics, 2019-2020) The people who objected to this comic are the very people who should be reading it. Lighten up, evangelicals. SECOND COMING is a thoughtful bit of entertainment and not a blasphemous work to be dismissed or blocked. That a Fox News report about it persuaded DC/Vertigo to abandon plans to publish it is a shame. Ahoy Comics took a chance, a giant leap of faith, and released it. Glad they did.
Besides, this is just so damn funny.
If you're a fan of Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett's GOOD OMENS then you'll really appreciate this. Writer Mark Russell pokes fun at humanity, religion, faith, war, and violence in a respectful manner and his satirical pen is sharp.
God is unhappy with the way his son, Jesus Christ, handled his first mission to Earth - - so he pairs him up with an alien superhero called Sunstar, with abilities like Superman, and hopes that he'll learn how to tactfully use force to save humanity and get his message across. It plays out exactly like THE ODD COUPLE. It's Jesus who ends up teaching Sunstar what's important.
Just brilliant. I loved this. FIVE STARS.
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