PGHHEAD'S 2023 COMICS ODYSSEY, Part Two

PGHHEAD’S 2023 COMICS ODYSSEY, PART 2

    This marks the third consecutive year that I will attempt to document my comics reading by writing at least a mini-review. The goal is 1200 books read and reviewed in 2023, although I missed the mark in 2022 by 88 books.  Still, I like that number as it’s easy enough to track - - - 100 books per month on average. Wish me luck!

# GOAL FOR January 10, 2023. . . 33 comics documented

CURRENT COUNT . . . . . 34 comics documented

#20  SCARLET WITCH #1 by Steve Orlando and Sara Pichelli (Marvel, March 2023) “My life’s been a roller coaster. Sometimes strange. Often painful. But I’m excited to lay new track. This shop. This town. The Last Door. . . So I built a spiritual mercantile. Here at Emporium, people can get help with the small things. And for those in greater need . . .there’s The Last Door. Part Seeking Spell. Part portal. It finds those at their lowest, those with nowhere to turn, and brings them here.”

   This is a new beginning for Scarlet Witch. I applaud it, for reasons which I’ll explain. Back over 30-40 years ago when I read many more superhero titles, THE AVENGERS (by Steve Englehart) and WEST COAST AVENGERS (by John Byrne and others) were my mainstays (apologies to those of you who don’t remember those exact titles). Scarlet Witch was my favorite female superhero; and The Vision and Scarlet Witch were my favorite couple. 

     Much later, the Scarlet Witch is a character who’s been mistreated by various writers. Back then, Byrne broke up the marriage and took the twins away. Scarlet Witch turned wicked and mad. Later, other writers continued the dark trends - - - House of M, No More Mutants, Avengers Disassembled, all with Wanda as the perpetrator/villain. Even in the recent Trial Of Magneto she was duped and played. 

   Finally, we’ve got a writer (Steve Orlando) who treats her with the proper respect, not ignoring her troubled past but moving her through more positive changes. There’s a bit of philosophizing and heartfelt emotions in the first issue, a standalone story. I like the premise. 

     However, that’s where it ends. This story is well-done but not very exciting. The Corruptor is a curious villain, not given much in the way of origin. Seems like a title of The Persuader would be more descriptive of his powers. The art by Pichelli is good, but also not very interesting. Still, if you’re a fan of the character you may appreciate what happens here and check this out for yourself. Finally, a respectable treatment of Wanda. THREE STARS.

#21 - #26  THE SIXTH GUN, BOOK 1: COLD DEAD FINGERS by Cullen Bunn and Brian Hurtt (Oni Press, January 2011) A full review of this supernatural western thriller appears on this blog for Monday, January 09. FIVE STARS.

#27 - #33 KAIJU NO. 8, VOLUME 1 story and art by Naoya Matsumoto (Viz Media, December 2021)  I have a hard time getting engaged with manga, but from time to time I find a title that appeals to me. KAIJU NO. 8 pushed all the right buttons: good story, great art, a little bit of humor, and a main character that is likable.

       A youngster, Kafka Hibino, makes a pact with a childhood girlfriend to some day join the Japan Defense Force that protects the country from constantly emerging attacks by deadly monsters (kaiju). He continually fails the entrance exam while his friend passes on the first try and rises within the ranks as both a tough fighter and a leader. Kafka ends up working on the kaiju-corpse cleanup crew mopping up after the Defense Force battles. 

   He decides to try out one final time and befriends a young headstrong intern after they save each other's lives. But Kafka undergoes a transformation during recovery into a human-sized version of a Kaiju. He then has to hide his identity while trying to become a member of the Force, turning on his mini-kaiju powers at both opportune and not-so-opportune moments.

    A fun read with just enough humor to keep it light-hearted. FOUR STARS.

#34  GANGSTER ASS BARISTA #1 by Pat Stand and Renzo Rodriguez (Black Mask, December 2022) Part crime comic, part slice-of-life, part comedy - - with most of the activity occurring within a coffee shop. That’s different, and I like it. 

   Trinity is a tough young woman with a criminal past, trying to eke out a living working in 2018 New York City for minimum wage as a barista at The Green Bean. She’s got a mean streak which manifests whenever she encounters difficult, dumb or rude customers - - which is quite often. The day-to-day incidents within a coffee shop provide most of the humor. Think it’s easy to keep smiling at customers and always be cheerful? You really have to work at it in order to maintain it. 

      One day a drunk man with attitude gets into a scuffle with a burly customer and forgets his backpack. Trinity spots it and discovers it to be stuffed with money. She takes it, of course.

    Next day thugs show up looking for the missing backpack. This probably won’t end well. The black and white art is detailed enough to be impressive, with some nice ink work and shading. FOUR STARS.