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 June 20, 2023. . . 567 comics documented
CURRENT COUNT . . . . . 404 comics documented
#396 - #401 MONSTERS UNLEASHED monster-sized edition by Cullen Bunn with art by Greg Land, Steve McNiven, Salvatore Larocca, Leinil Francis Yu and Adam Kubert (Marvel Comics, December 2017)
Don't expect a complex plot, especially in a storyline jam-packed with a slew of giant monsters and almost every superhero and team in the Marvel Universe. This mini-series introduced Kid Kaiju, a fun and interesting character creation, who plays a major, major role in the proceedings.
I was glad to see Elsa Bloodstone also get an important role in the proceedings, as well as Devil Dinosaur and Moon Girl.
This is pure fun, escapism at its’ best. What made this especially work for me is the blow-up of the great artwork throughout in this monster-sized edition (14"wide by 21" long). Nothing beats a full-page or double-page spread of super-heroes in battle versus monsters. Kudos for the monster on monster fight scenes (oops, trying to avoid spoilers).
The only gripe is how heavy this book is. You need a big lap or a tabletop to read it properly (not recommended for bedtime reading because of the size). This sure won't fit into a comics storage or magazine storage box and it's too damn big to stand up in a bookcase - have to put it in flat on top of or beneath other books. Sigh, such a complainer!
Might make a great coffee table item.THREE STARS.
#402 - #403 PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL: BASE one-shot by Torunn Gronbekk and Djibril Morissette-Phan (Marvel Worldwide Inc, April 2023) This was released in-between Issue #9 and #10 of the just concluded PUNISHER series. Gronbekk builds a little further on the new backstory for Frank Castle that was introduced by Jason Aaron. In similar fashion, if readers thought the pre-Punisher Frank Castle was a loving family man - - Gronbekk and Morissette-Phan paint a different canvas.
Frank struggles to express love or emotions towards his family, perhaps due to his traumatic experience as a wartime Marine. But this is not made specific, nor does Gronbekk draw upon the “love of war” as Aaron did. Frank and Maria seek assistance from a marriage counselor, which doesn’t seem to help and having Frank note his feelings in a daily journal only makes things worse when Maria gets a peek at it.
Frank pays a little more attention to the family dog, which he takes for daily walks. It’s during one of these walks that he spots something amiss at a neighborhood residence, apparently a family held captive in their basement by organized crime gang members and torturers. So, even before his wife and kids were gunned down Frank Castle was involved in some vigilante action pre-Punisher with just a ski mask to conceal his identity. FOUR STARS.
#404 TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: THE LAST RONIN - LOST YEARS #1 written by Kevin Eastman & Tom Waltz with pencils & inks by Sl Gallant, Maria Keane, Ben Bishop & Kevin Eastman. Colors byLuis Antonio Delgado (IDW Publishing, January 2023) If you loved TMNT: THE LAST RONIN mini-series and crave more, then I would recommend this to you. I was excited to read this after scanning the expressive and surprisingly fluid (considering multiple participants) art.
While the story was also good, I learned that a little turtles goes a long way with me. Too bad I didn’t learn it before signing up for the next Book Club selection at Captain Blue Hen Comics and bought a hardcover copy of THE LAST RONIN. But, I liked that story, already sold most of the issues, and I’m looking forward to reading it complete and at one time. I thought the long gaps between issues didn’t help with the original releases.
This new mini-series will tell the untold story of Michelangelo’s journey before THE LAST RONIN across Japan,Asia and Europe towards his last battle in New York City. With Master Splinter’s journal as his guide, he will fight more battles and learn more lessons. Also, in the current timeline it showcases new master Casey Marie Jones as she prepares a group of young (too cute) turtles to become the next version of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Both stories are engaging with great art and colors. I’m just not feeling this enough to want to pick up the rest of the series. FOUR STARS.
No comments:
Post a Comment