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.
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