Hello, 2023!
Saturday, December 31, 2022
VCK | Zooey Deschanel & Joseph Gordon-Levitt | What Are You Doing New Ye...
Happy New Year everyone!
PGHHEAD'S 2022 COMICS ODYSSEY, Part Fifty-One
PGHHEAD’S 2022 COMIC ODYSSEY, PART 51
Documenting my 2022 comics reading by writing at least a mini-review and aiming for a goal of 1,200 books was a stretch goal for me. Yet, having posted 1,008 reviews in 2021 (with a goal of 1,000) that seemed possible. It’s clear at this point that I’m not going to reach it, but I’m happy to have come this close. I’m considering a 2023 goal of 1,200 books read and documented here, same as 2022. That’s an average of 100 books per month, easy enough to check and update.
# GOAL FOR December 31, 2022 . . . 1200 comics documented
CURRENT COUNT . . . . . 1114 comics documented
This 26-page comic comes at an affordable price ($2.99) and contains one all-new opening story plus four reprints, all with Christmas themes. These are warm, light-hearted funny stories with eye-appealing art and colors.
Archie & friends have to help Santa deliver presents on Christmas Eve when the usual reindeers and North Pole staff eat some cheap candy canes past their expiration date. Archie’s hiding place for the gifts for Riverdale High School’s Christmas party turns out to be a bad choice. A yard decorating contest gets ultra-competitive between neighbors. Archie struggles to find an affordable gift from Veronica’s ever-changing wish list.
Jughead’s dog (Hot Dog) has a way of getting his point across when Betty is stumped for creative Christmas gifts.
A very pleasant break from reality, this holiday side trip to Riverdale. One year later, I’m still welcoming the break from reality. FOUR STARS.
Imagine the origin story of Santa Claus as if it was written by The Grinch, although there is more than just a negative or bitter spin on the legend here. A well-intentioned husband and father in the Belgium of centuries past notices poverty-stricken children in the village and begins to carve wooden toys for them to bring a little joy into their life. This catches the notice of The Star (cosmic entity in the sky) which makes sure that Nicholas Sinterklass can continue to produce more toys, turning him into an immortal who cannot be harmed and providing him with time-traveling reindeer so that he can turn this into a world-wide enterprise. Sinterklass maintains his soft spot for the underprivileged and shunned and hires the little people who were outcasts. They help him build the toys and come to be known as elves.
One day the List is stolen so Santa doesn’t know who should receive the bad gifts. He gets a new purpose in life when he sets out with trusted elf Plum to investigate who is using the Naughty List to brutally murder people. Things come to a head in Issue #4 with a ending of sorts but not a satisfactory resolution, leaving an opening for a Volume Two (which I would welcome).
You might think that writer Nick Santora is a bitter, negative person. However, in his message at the end of the story he reveals how much he respects his wonderful Christmas memories. Rather, he can’t understand why some people get so negative in December . . . . “so NAUGHTY LIST is Christmas getting tough and pushing back against all the complaints!”
The story is, as intended, fun, silly and a little weird . . and definitely not for kids. FOUR STARS.
#1109 AVENGERS FOREVER #12 by Jason Aaron and Aaron Kuder (Marvel, February 2023) Part Three of Avengers Assemble: The Siege Of Infinity Tower
An army of Avengers from across the multi-verse is assembled to defend Avengers Tower from Mephisto’s forces. Everybody’s here: the Carol Corps air force, Steve Roger’s Howling Commandos, Thor-God of Fists, Invincible Ant-Man/Tony Stark, the Star Panther, etc. Plenty of glorious battle action fluidly illustrated. Old Man Phoenix (wha?) shows up near the end.
The most memorable storyline for me is Ant-Man, Moon Knight, and Vision shrinking down to ant-size to tunnel underneath and try to flank Mephisto’s forces from behind only to find . . . (no spoilers, sorry).
The story moves from here to AVENGERS #64 where more Avengers fight the Multiversal Masters Of Evil on a prehistoric Earth.
THREE STARS.
#110 BATMAN / SPAWN one-shot by Todd McFarlane and Greg Capullo Variant cover by Gabrielle Dell’Otto (DC/Image, February 2023)
Almost twenty years have elapsed since the last meeting of Batman and Spawn and one thing hasn’t changed: Todd McFarlane could definitely benefit from a writing assist. There’s some great art by Capullo here (inked by McFarlane) which makes this worth the asking price. The story seems clear-cut enough, but McFarlane manages to muddy it up (including some stiff dialogue).
Someone wants to have Spawn and Batman fight again, hoping that only one will survive. Is it the Court of Owls who created a false impression/hope in Spawn’s mind, or was the Violator behind this?
Does it really matter. If you guess this ends in a stalemate / status quo then I don’t need to tell any more.
THREE STARS.
I’ve only sampled one or two episodes of the Gargoyles cartoon series and thought I might be hopelessly lost in this story. I picked this up mainly for my son’s benefit. He’s a big fan of the show on Disney+.
However, in between the minor skirmishes and set-up for future issues a good job is done of introducing the large cast of characters and detailing the premise for the series. It helps to have the original creators involved.
THREE STARS.
#1112 - #1114 SUPER NARWHAL AND JELLY JOLT children’s graphic novel by Ben Clanton (Tundra Books, 2017)
I make it a point to personally read all books before I gift them to any of my grandchildren. You never can tell when the subject matter may be too difficult for young minds to understand, presents topics or themes they aren't quite ready for, or just plain violent (guns, blood, etc).
What I like about this book are several things: 1) It's inventive and clever and funny enough that my bright seven-year old grandson can enjoy as well as read aloud to his twin four-year-old brother and sister.
Mixed in among the engaging short stories is a middle section with some educational details about super sea creatures that I know will be appreciated. This was a good find. FOUR STARS.
Saturday, December 24, 2022
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery | Official Trailer | Netflix
GLASS ONION on Netflix: A fun flick. Cool mystery with quirky characters.
Not quite as entertaining as KNIVES OUT was but a worthy sequel. FOUR STARS.
Friday, December 23, 2022
Book Review of POUR YOUR HEART INTO IT by Howard Schultz
POUR YOUR HEAR INTO IT: HOW STARBUCKS BUILT A COMPANY ONE CUP AT A TIME by Howard Schultz and Doris Jones Yang (Hachette Books, January 1999) Trade paperback, 351 pages.
Synopsis on the Goodreads website .. . . .
In Pour Your Heart Into It, CEO Howard Schultz illustrates the principles that have shaped the Starbucks phenomenon, sharing the wisdom he has gained from his quest to make great coffee part of the American experience.
The success of Starbucks Coffee Company is one of the most amazing business stories in decades. What started as a single store on Seattle's waterfront has grown into a company with over sixteen hundred stores worldwide and a new one opening every single business day.
Just as remarkable as this incredible growth is the fact that Starbucks has managed to maintain its renowned commitment to product excellence and employee satisfaction. Marketers, managers, and aspiring entrepreneurs will discover how to turn passion into profit in this definitive chronicle of the company that "has changed everything... from our tastes to our language to the face of Main Street" (Fortune).
My Four-Star Review on the Goodreads website . . . . .
This novel begins with a biography of Howard Schultz, the man behind Starbuck's rise as a company for the 21st Century. It certainly helped to learn what molded and shaped his business philosophy as well as his own personal standards/goals. If I had to sum it up, I'd say that Schultz is guided by his heart and a sense of what's important to companies thriving in the modern world: engage the employees.
The remainder of the book covers the first ten years of Schultz's involvement and guiding hand in the growth of Starbucks. Funny, I didn't really pay much attention to their stores until I moved to the eastern part of Pennsylvania where there were more locations. Then, I took a job that required me to travel to thirteen states and Canada, and I saw Starbucks everywhere. Starbucks became a reliable location to secure my morning cup of java. I enjoyed the story of their rise to prominence. Schultz doesn't leave anything out, including some of the setbacks. The years in question are 1987-1997, and since then the company has really spread out. I'd welcome a second book covering those years since 1997.
I'm not certain that Starbucks still employs the same principles as Schultz (he retired as CEO) but weekly or more often visits to the local Starbucks are a regular part of my routine. I still get the sense that it's a decent place to work and employees seem to be appreciative in their demeanor.
While it took me twelve months to read this book, that doesn't mean it was boring or wasn't engaging. It's because I decided to participate in many Goodreads challenges/group reads this year and prioritized the books with deadlines ahead of ones that I could take a more leisurely reading pace with. This book and one other suffered from my lack of attention because of that.
Yet, by only reading one or two chapters at a time I came to appreciate the contents of Howard Schultz's story more than if I had read it straight through. The other book I neglected was fiction, which I abandoned after fifty-plus pages because more interesting reading compelled me. To be fair to it, I'm going to start over from the beginning with that one in 2023.
Book Review of X-RAY by Ray Davies
X-RAY: THE UNAUTHORIZED AUTOBIOGRAPHY by Ray Davies (Overlook Press, June 1996) Trade paperback, 432 pages.
Synopsis on the Goodreads website . . . .
This subversively brilliant, one-of-a-kind rock autobiography ingeniously styled as a biography, is written to capture the essence of Ray Davies, lead singer and songwriter of the Kinks and one of the greatest rock and rollers of all time.
Part autobiography, part social history, part psychological thriller, this elusive and daring book exposes rock stardom as the heaven, hell and purgatory it is.
I need to share upfront that THE KINKS are my all-time favorite rock band, and RAY DAVIES is my favorite songwriter. His wry observations on English society and human nature caught my attention back in the 1960's and Kinks songs has been a big part of my background music as I moved through life. That may help explain why I give this a five-star rating compared to some other reviews on Goodreads.
Yes, this is not a tell-all. It also only covers a short period of time (ending in 1973) and doesn't spend enough detail on the reasons the Kinks were so popular - their music and the clever songs. Naturally, being a big fan I've read about that elsewhere so I'm not disturbed by the absence of more details about that in X-RAY. However, it's not as if nothing is written about that here. It's just that Ray's troubles with royalties, family, depression, a failing marriage, self-doubt, etc. dominate this "unauthorized autobiography". Perhaps Mr. Davies wanted to indicate that the life of a rock star is not all it's cracked up to be.
In any case, this is not your typical rock musician auto-biography. Just like "The Hard Way", one of the classic Kinks songs, Raymond Douglas Davies never takes the easy route. Instead, he chose to write this as a piece of fiction, taking place in an unspecified future where the "gray men" (a recurring theme from PRESERVATION) control the corporate world and/or the government. It's a corporation who assigns a young intern the assignment of interviewing an aged and grumpy old musician about his past life.
For what purpose? The intern is the narrator of the book and as he learns from the book of Davies he begins to assimilate and then emulate the attributes of his subject, including his paranoia and mistrust of authority. And, why not? After all, the narrator is Ray through and through.
What I learned from reading this for the second time (25 years later, first read in November 1997) is that not only can Ray Davies compose memorable rock songs - - he's just an inventive and good writer. Now X-RAY goes back on my shelf. I may not wait as long to read it again. Maybe target 2027, the 30th anniversary?
Book Review of LOST TO THE LAKE by Anna Willett
LOST TO THE LAKE by Anna Willett (The Book Folks, March 2022) Paperback, 231 pages. ISBN # 9781913516482
White Mist Lake Retreat is the perfect place for a couple’s getaway. Only Beth and Marty Jacobsen are grappling with more than marital problems.
Surviving a horrific home invasion, Beth is desperate to put their life back on track. Desperate enough to agree to do the unthinkable for the man she loves. But at White Mist Lake, danger follows and secrets have a way of finding you.
My Four-Star Review on the Goodreads website . . . . .
I was in the mood to read a thriller and this fast-paced novel scratched that itch very well. Things begin with a nasty home invasion and the suspense and tension just builds and continues from that point until the final chapters.
All the characters in this novel are flawed in one way or another, which only adds to the realism. Nobody's perfect, certainly not main character Beth Jacobsen who was too attracted to the wealth of her husband to really try and get to know him better. She also becomes too reliant on the bottle to ease her tension and uncertainty for her own good, as this affects her ability to think clearly through some perilous situations. Despite those character failings, Willett has a way of making you empathize with Beth.
I would not want to spoil the fun for readers by detailing more than that. This is a good read that rewards with a satisfactory ending.
PGHHEAD'S 2022 COMICS ODYSSEY, Part Fifty
PGHHEAD’S 2022 COMIC ODYSSEY, PART 50
Documenting my 2022 comics reading by writing at least a mini-review and aiming for a goal of 1,200 books was a stretch goal for me. Yet, having posted 1,008 reviews in 2021 (with a goal of 1,000) that seemed possible. It’s clear at this point that I’m not going to reach it, but I’m happy to have come this close. I’m considering a 2023 goal of 1,200 books read and documented here, same as 2022. That’s an average of 100 books per month, easy enough to check and update.
# GOAL FOR December 31, 2022 . . . 1200 comics documented
CURRENT COUNT . . . . . 1103 comics documented
What’s more dangerous than a brilliant individual who because of his shyness, peculiarities, and introverted personality never gets the attention he deserves for his hard work, and then goes on to resent the human race because of it? A powder keg waiting for the fuse to be lit. Things start out slowly here and I do believe Dano is going to show how Edward Nashton evolved into the threat he became, layer by layer.
My only concern is that six issues may be too many for a slow burn rise to defining moments as depicted in the film. It could be that readers become bored. However, there’s enough promise here that I’ll definitely pick up Issue #2 before deciding. Both story and art are worthy of multiple readings. FOUR STARS.
The story takes place two years after the fall of Billionaire Island in 2044. Shelly Bly (the unidentified narrator in all the text boxes?) is a newspaper columnist working on a story about the collapse of the world-wide economy in the aftermath of the island debacle. She visits Bel Canto campus where the invalid, shut-in father of the deceased Rick Canto (billionaire villain of BILLIONAIRE ISLAND Volume One) is being manipulated by a bullish male nurse. The beloved Business Dog is hailed as a savior, but is unfortunately missing.
While I laughed in multiple places, this story isn’t as coherent and consistent as I’ve come to expect from Russell. This is long on set-up and back-story and meanders all over the place, which can make it difficult for readers to figure out what the main storyline will be. However, I’m enough of a fan that I’ll definitely come back for Issue #2 with high expectations that all will become clear. THREE STARS.
The Marks family is wealthy (among the elite, two high paying exploitive jobs, able to afford an android maid) and have their lives turned around during a shopping trip when a protest group explodes a building which collapses on top of them. Their teenage daughter doesn’t survive.
The android maid (Which-Where, also referred to as Witch-Were) studies up on pagan rituals, etc and summons a devil. She wants to purchase the soul of the deceased daughter and make a deal.
This is told through a series of flashbacks, which are identified as “now” and “then”. However, neither the “nows” or the “thens” are told in consecutive order. It’s like a jigsaw puzzle. I like a challenge in my reading, but I found this annoying. Cool concept, poor execution. TWO AND ONE-HALF STARS.
#1095 - #1097 BATMAN - ONE BAD DAY: PENGUIN by John Ridley and Giuseppe Camuncoli (DC, December 2022)
Writer John Ridley takes a deep dive into the character of Oswald Cobblepot/Penguin and makes him sympathetic, although his frightening side still comes through. I was actually rooting for him at the end of the story.
The Penguin is broken down, despondent after being humiliated by The Umbrella Man who takes over his various enterprises with none of the restraint and balance that Penguin used to bring as crime boss. All the Penguin has to begin his long comeback is a gun and a single bullet. Yet, he manages to put a new together and learns a bit about himself and his limitations while doing so. Very well told and illustrated.
FOUR STARS.
Anabeth Dean is a gifted young fifteen-year-old with art skills, curiosity and a love of nature. She’s trapped in a life where she’s the object of ridicule at school and seen as a servant at home where a busy mother tries to make ends meet by taking on boarders (some creepy and predatory) and taking care of her disabled father (he of the secrets).
Her grandpa gives her a map of a nearby secluded forest so she can find a nest of terns to sketch and this leads to an encounter with a strange young man (Knox) who doesn’t speak like normal folk and seems very naive. She uncovers a unique and beautiful flower in the forest that Knox tries unsuccessfully to persuade her to discard.
Deep underground a race of goblin-like creatures are trying to avoid being eaten by snakes while protecting a relic imbued with unspecified powers. They send an emissary to the surface to obtain needed supplies to maintain their zone’s defenses. Could it be Knox, even though he doesn’t look as pointy-eared and toothy as the goblins?
An intriguing introduction that I haven’t decided yet whether I’ll follow it. I believe this runs three over-sized issues. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
After a violent confrontation with Skunk (the school bully) in which Ted (the only black student in a 1980’s small town) was injured, Ted uses the glasses to wish him away. But to where?
As Issue #2 continues, the boys argue and debate while waiting for Skunk’s disappearance to be noticed. Ted decides to wear the glasses and wish that Skunk hadn’t vanished. Skunk doesn’t show up, but that sets off a series of events where a missing persons investigation begins and Ted becomes the prime suspect (perhaps because he stands out in a white-dominated town). When the police detective zeroes in on Ted, Kenny uses the glasses to wish that Ted could leave Summerton behind. That does not go as anticipated.
What makes this book work is the story-telling and evocative art and colors. Beyond the main premises is a secondary story of prejudice and suppressed feelings of homosexual love. FOUR STARS.
The CEMETERIANS by Daniel Kraus and Maan House reminds me of some of the more off-centered episodes of THE X-FILES and FRINGE. (I miss them both.) Here, human bones keep turning up in unusual places in inanimate objects including a child’s stuffed animals and a woman’s wedding dress. An unspecified government agency teams up a renegade scientist and a disbarred theologian to investigate. They find the bones originating from cemeteries, where the bodies inside the graves are mysteriously missing their skeletal structure. Who or what is behind this is the mystery driving the story. This was especially wordy but as the debates between the scientist and the religious person were so enticing that I didn’t mind taking longer to read this. FOUR STARS.
In DENIZEN written by David Andy and Tim Daniel with art by Chris Shehan (of SPECS), there is an undefined demon hiding inside an abandoned camping trailer that threatens a family’s cross country roadtrip into the woods of Joshua Tree National Park. There is some sort of connection between the new father-to-be of this family and his son, who is scheduled to meet them at the park. However, the story connection is unclear and the art makes me think the son is the person who brought this trailer into the park. THREE STARS.
Wednesday, December 21, 2022
NOPE | Official Trailer
NOPE on Peacock Streaming Network
Not as scary as some of the other Jordan Peele films, but this one
does have its' moments. I like the blending of science-fiction with horror, as
a UFO terrorizing a horse ranch turns out to be something quite different.
FOUR STARS
Tuesday, December 20, 2022
For TMNT Completists: THE LAST RONIN Covers Collection
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The Empty Hearts “It's Christmastime” Hollywood Christmas Parade
Turn it up, as the audio quality is not perfect.
The Empty Hearts performing “It's Christmastime” at The Hollywood Christmas Parade. The Empty Hearts are Wally Palmar from The Romantics, Elliot Easton from The Cars, Andy Babiuk from The Chesterfield Kings and Clem Burke from Blondie.
Procol Harum - A Christmas Camel (2001)
R.I.P. Gary Brooker. Great to see him performing alongside original
member Matthew Fischer in this 2001 concert . . . . .
The Banshees of Inisherin Trailer #2 (2022)
THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN on HBO: I loved this movie. Great story,
great acting, funny and sad. My favorite scenes are the confessional and
the pub ultimatum. I'm going to watch it again. FIVE STARS.
Monday, December 19, 2022
Book Review of NOOSE by Brennan LaFaro
NOOSE by Brennan LaFaro (Dark Lit Press, September 2022) Kindle Edition.
Synopsis on the Goodreads website . . . .
It’s been fifteen years since Noose Holcomb perpetrated the Buzzard's Edge Train Robbery of 1872, leaving Rory Daggett an orphan. Settled in with a new family and a second chance at life, Rory never quite sheds the thirst for revenge.
When one of the gang members returns to Buzzard's Edge, Rory's life is violently upended once more. Capturing the rogue spurs on a furious chain of events that pits Rory against each member of Noose's gang, every one more twisted and terrifying than the last, in order to work his way to their leader. With the help of a fellow orphan whose life Noose turned upside down and the town's sheriff, Rory will stop at nothing to be the man who ends Noose's reign of terror, but can he do it without becoming the man he seeks to kill?
My Four-Star Review on the Goodreads website . . . . .
NOOSE is a great adventure yarn, especially if you enjoy weird westerns. There's just enough strange and odd about this to take it beyond standard western fare. It's a short novella and a quick read. Author LaFaro also included a short story featuring one of the more interesting characters from the novella, Mirella the witch, which sheds a more sympathetic light on her. This proceeded at a different pace than the main novella and spotlights the writing skills of LaFaro.
NOTES:
DECEMBER 05: This reminds me of the paperback westerns my father used to read, although I suspect NOOSE is a bit more gruesome. I'm ready for a rooting-tooting, rip-roaring weird western adventure yarn. I believe this will be a quick read, even quicker if I wasn't trying to multi-task and read several books at the same time.
My favorite line so far, about 13% into the book: "I'll spare you the grisly details, Rory, but you ever been so sick you felt like you was gonna vomit 'til your innards turned to outards?"
DECEMBER 07
About 38% into the story. The supernatural element has been introduced as well as the remaining members of the Noose gang.
21%: I had about as much energy left as a horse that just hauled a fat man up a mountain."
DECEMBER 11
At 60%, just finished Chapter 9, the most brutal and violent chapter so far and very well done.
DECEMBER 13Now at Chapter 12 (72%).
I enjoyed the mirage-like entry into the saloon. A different beginning to that encounter.
Hate to stop mid-way in a fight scene. Hope to get back to this soon.
at 61%: ". . . the setting sun bled a mixture of pink and purple so vivid, it looked more like a painter's palette than the hellish sky that had overseen this day."
Saturday, December 17, 2022
Book Review: GHOST EATERS by Clay McLeod Chapman
GHOST EATERS by Clay McLeod Chapman (Quirk Books, September 2022) Hardcover, 304 pages.ISBN #97816836921
Synopsis on the Goodreads website . . . . .
Erin hasn’t been able to set a single boundary with her charismatic but reckless college ex-boyfriend, Silas. When he asks her to bail him out of rehab—again—she knows she needs to cut him off. But days after he gets out, Silas turns up dead of an overdose in their hometown of Richmond, Virginia, and Erin’s world falls apart.
Then a friend tells her about Ghost, a new drug that allows users to see the dead. Wanna get haunted? he asks. Grieving and desperate for closure with Silas, Erin agrees to a pill-popping “séance.” But the drug has unfathomable side effects—and once you take it, you can never go back.
My Four-Star Review on the Goodreads website . . . . .
This one was good to the last drop. While the story never really lags, it did seem like a slow build through the first several sections/parts. I didn't mind, as the characters were quirky and interesting, none more so than protagonist Erin (the narrator). Far from a one dimensional character, she's become so complacent with one aspect of her life (her relationship to Silas) that everything else revolves around that. I never really bonded to her but I can certainly understand and feel for her,considering the endless loop that she is caught up in.
The final three sections of the novel accelerate like a race car. I read those later chapters at a rapid clip, pedal to the metal. Two scenes will stick in my memory for a long time - - the first day on the job, and what happens after the door is left open. (Say no more).
The ending is satisfactory and reinforces the inner messages about addiction and family and responsibility. Well done.
NOTES:
DECEMBER 07:
I'm enjoying this. I appreciate the voice of the narrator (Erin) and like her character. The writing feels confessional, like a friend sharing secrets with you over coffee. The opening prologue introduces the characters in an action setting and foreshadows the creepiness, establishing the atmosphere. Things don't really pick up in terms of horror until the last act of Part One, but I have a feeling it's going to ramp up from there. In the meantime, I've really gotten to know these characters and have a feeling I'll be worrying about them shortly.
There are some nice approaches to presenting this information by the author, most notably in "date stone", the first chapter where Erin assesses her blind date as if she were an EMT and checking the accident victim for a pulse/signs of life.
DECEMBER 13
Just finished Part 2, and the first attempts at contact with the afterlife. I have an uneasy feeling about this.
Page 103: "I am the house. Every room is a chamber of my heart, every hallway an artery, every beam a bone. All I need now is a ghost. I'm ready to be haunted."
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