PGHHEAD'S 2023 COMICS ODYSSEY, Part Twenty-Five

       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 July 31, 2023. . . 700 comics documented

CURRENT COUNT . . . . .  528 comics documented

#504  W0RLDTR33 #1 by James Tynion IV and Fernando Blanco (Image Comics, April 2023) When I want to read a good horror comic, there are several creators that I trust to spin a good story - - - Cullen Bunn, Jeff Lemire, John Lees. It’s well past time to add James Tynion IV to the list (Something Is Killing The Children, Nice House On The Lake, Department of Truth, etc). When he’s not writing licensed characters for the Big Two, he’s at his absolute best. So it is with W0RLDTR33. This could end up being his bloodiest and most graphic storyline so far, so be advised.

    One of the themes here is the dangers of the Dark Web, in this case the Undernet. Just forcing others to watch images can result in immobilization, loss of motor function, and death. A young man becomes infatuated with this and commits mass murder on a giant scale. His older brother is trying to understand how it happened and come to his aid (his brother’s in a police station jail cell). 

     There are homages to the late science fiction writer Harlan Ellison and other nods to popular culture fascinations, including (of course) covert agencies (good or bad? - not sure). There’s also a naked tattooed female assassin by the name of PH34R who may be the instigator, or just the messenger. Tynion and Blanco jump cut through several scenes and characters as the debut issue rushes forward. 

     Back in 1999, a group of computer grad students discovered the Undernet and created a message board called W0RLDTR33. Once they

realized the dangerous potential they shut everything down. Now, some unknown party has resurrected the Undernet and unleashed an era of violence. 

    Already up to Issue #4, I came to the game late and have decisions to make. Thinking about what happens in this book makes me shudder.

I keep exploring debut issues and they keep exceeding my expectations. Good reading, if I can only keep up. FIVE STARS.

#505  MY GREATEST ADVENTURE #80 facsimile edition by Arnold Drake and Bruno Permiani (DC Comics, September 2023) This reprints the very first appearance of The Doom Patrol from 1963’s MY GREATEST ADVENTURE #80. An original copy in various conditions could set you back as much as $700, so this is a welcome opportunity to read it since I missed the first release.  Classic super-hero fare from the Silver Age, with just enough of a difference to lift it up a bit. 

    The first part introduces the three members of the team, led by the wheel-chair bound surgeon/genius known as The Chief. The Chief tells how all three of them developed unique abilities due to mysterious accidents. 

   Over the years, other team members have been added and the abilities of the original three have been further defined and enhanced. But it all started here with Rita Farr (elongation abilities, either a giant or tiny/miniature), Larry Trainor (releases a negative energy being from his body for 60-seconds maximum) and Cliff Steele (damaged so much in a fatal race car accident that only his brain was retained and placed inside a robotic body). 

  The second half of the book details their first team-up against General Immortus, an old foe of The Chief who’s secured an atomic convertor device. A fun team to re-visit. They’ve come a long way since then. THREE STARS.

#506 - #507  THE BROODING MUSE #1 by various creators (Cherry Bomb Comics, October 2022) A quick scan of this magazine-sized black-and-white comics anthology appeared to be yet another effort to match the excitement of those old 1960’s CREEPY and EERIE magazines.  I was mistaken, as this is a series of four linked stories that all occur in a post-apocalyptic world, two of which are continued in Issue #2.

    While I love an opportunity to support small indie comics publishers (Cherry Bomb is located in Hanover, PA) I can only recommend this one to those who share my sentiments or die-hard comics horror fans that collect as much as they can.

   There’s just not enough revealed of this strange new world that the characters are thrust into to give readers a good feel for the concepts, as well as a reason to care about the primary characters and their conflicts. Yet, there is potential here and perhaps the writing will improve and the stories will do a better job of giving readers the important background.

   Likewise, the art is below expectations on the final story, and spaced out too much on the too-short (one page) third story. Although the opening tale (and the most interesting of the quartet), “Kayla And The Castle Keep”,

by Patrick James and Nik Poliwko features some powerful and exciting images. “Witness At Wet Rock” by Art Pencil (really?) and Herman Gonzalez is set in the marrow wastelands of the title story and has evocative art to match the Twilight Zone twist-ending story. TWO AND ONE-HALF STARS.

#508 - #515  BLUE PERIOD Volume One graphic novel/manga by Tsubasa Yamaguchi (Kodansha Comics, English translation 2020)  A manga about high school soul-searching dramatics that aims to educate while it entertains? I wasn’t expecting that and found the story to be both fresh and interesting, although maybe not satisfying enough for me to continue.

This series is ongoing, with Volume 13 released in May 2023.

     Main character Yatora is a model high school student who does well in class, studies hard, has lots of friends (drinking must be legal in Japan at high school age!) but isn’t quite satisfied and questions his choices and directions in life. HIs bleached hair and “cartilage piercings” garner him plenty of attention.  One day, he walks into an art class, and finds a new world of exploration in painting. 

   The story here is just as much about art as it is about coming-of-age and preparing for further education beyond high school. At times, it feels like a tutorial on various aspects of art (from still life in pencils and charcoal to oil paintings) as well as a recruitment pamphlet for the art schools in Tokyo. 

     Yatora finds new friends, new competitors, and new challenges as the story proceeds. The art is interesting and much easier to follow visually compared to some other manga that I’ve read. There’s also an interesting subplot involving a transgender character who is often mistaken for female based on appearance. 

   While I appreciate the effort Yamaguchi is making here to give a basics-of-art class manga-style while telling the story of Yatora - I started to become bored about mid-way through. At least the pace picked up in the final chapter. THREE STARS.

#516 - #525  SQUISHED by Megan Wagner Lloyd and Megan Mee Nuter  middle grade graphic novel (Scholastic/Graphix, March 2023) Hardcover, 256 pages.

A great book for young readers about a large family of seven children and 11-year-old Avery's challenges and coping mechanisms. No privacy. Wants her own room. Badgered by younger siblings. Drifts apart from best friend. Family considers moving away, etc.

The creators understand Avery's point of view and present it in a friendly way that middle grade readers will be sure to relate to. The conflicts and resolutions are detailed and explained in such a warm fashion. It's all about the family and this story revels in it.  FIVE STARS.

#526 - #527  TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES / THE LAST RONIN: LOST DAY SPECIAL One Shot by Kevin Eastman and Tom Waltz with art by Kevin Eastman, Ben Bishop, Esau & Isaac Escorza and Freddie Williams II.  (IDW Publishing, July 2023)  If you’re going to be following the next series in The Last Ronin saga, you may want to pick this up. While

it won’t spoil critical details of the upcoming series it does serve as a set-up issue and introduces a lot of characters that may be featured in the new series. More importantly, it reveals more of the new, younger turtle clan (still mutated, but barely teenagers - but who wants to quibble over that? Also, why keep tagging these new series as “Last Ronin” when that title no longer pertains to a character? Just let it go, already.) We get to see Odyn, Yi, Moja and Uno in  short skirmish and they exhibit some cool skills. Some of their individual personalities and quirks are also identified.

  Following the events of The Last Ronin, New York City is free of the yoke of the Foot Clan. However, several factions are trying to take control and trouble is brewing. 

    The new mutants (Yeah, why not call them that? Marvel can’t yell copyright infringement  if we don’t capitalize it.) share a sensei in Casey Marie Jones who is raising and training them with mom April O’Neil. When Casey takes a day off for a date, April decides to take the young turtles along for a supply run, which provides the excuse to introduce readers to all the new characters and situations. Despite the modicum of action and anything really happening it, this was a fun read. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.

#528  WEIRD WORK #1 by Jordan Thomas and Shaky Kane (Image Comics, July 2023) “Cops, cults, crooks & corruption. It’s weird work but somebody’s gotta do it.”

      I wanted to like this book, but it was just too hard to do. If you take away the “weird” world setting (lots of aliens, reminding of several strange Adult Swim cartoon series and/or Futurama) this is just a standard crime noir tale that feels over-used and not fresh. The art is cool, but art alone won’t carry the book. If you enjoy offbeat art similar to Michael Allred and Geoff Darrow you might appreciate Shaky Kane’s work. Maybe future issues will improve the storyline, but I’m not sticking around to find out. Too much else out there awaits me. 

   Back cover synopsis:   “It’s 18 months since Lady Haste, the head of crime in Stellar City, was locked up, creating bloody mayhem on the streets. Things have started to get back to normal - well, as normal as is possible in Septamus Prime’s capital.

     That is until washed-up detective Ovra Sawce is woken by a phone call. Three dead bodies found in a warehouse on the wrong side of town: A crooked cult leader. A tech billionaire's right-handed woman. And Ovra’s corrupt partner . . . Things just got weird.” TWO AND ONE-HALF STARS.

Albert Hammond Jr - Thoughtful Distress (Sub Español - Lyric Video)

Albert Hammond Jr. 3 of 3

Albert Hammond Jr - Darlin' [Visualizer]

ALBERT HAMMOND JR 2 of 3

Albert Hammond Jr - Old Man [OFFICIAL VIDEO]

Music of 2023, #78: ALBERT HAMMOND JR.

Unknown Mortal Orchestra - That Life

Music of 2023, #77:  UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA

SunYears feat. Fruit Bats - Last Night I Dreamt That I Met Phil & Don (...

SunYears 3 of 3

SunYears feat. Ron Sexsmith - Granddad's Song (Official Music Video)

SunYears 2 of 3

SunYears - Come Fetch My Soul! (feat. Jess Williamson) [Official Music V...

Music of 2023, #76:  SunYears

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - Gila Monster

Music of 2023, #75:  KING GIZZARD AND THE LIZARD WIZARD.

Their new album is heavy metal influenced, especially Black Sabbath.

PGHHEAD'S 2023 COMICS ODYSSEY, Part Twenty-Four

    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 July 20, 2023. . . 667 comics documented

CURRENT COUNT . . . . .  503 comics documented

 #480  AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #29 (Disney 100 variant cover) by Zeb Wells and Ed McGuinness (Marvel Worldwide Inc, September 2023) Norman Osborn is the captive of Doctor Octopus, who just used his new upgraded robot arms to take out Gold Gobin and Spider-Man. He installs a wired helmut on Osborn’s head to revisit old memories of the Green Goblins’s past disruptions of Doc Oc’s endeavors.

   Spidey/Peter Parker and J.Jonah Jameson discuss ways to use an old set of Doc’s arms to figure out where he’s holding Osborn. Seems to be connectors inside the arms that create a spinal interface with the wearer. IF Parker dons it, will it change his disposition?

      Meanwhile, there is a two-page scene that pulled me right out of the story - - the reappearance of the “web-whanging warrior” Rek-Rap (Parker backwards). The editor’s note says he won’t show up until a later story arc, but Ed McGuinness really wanted to draw him. What? Speaking of McGuinness, it’s his wonderful art that carried me through Wells’ slower than it needed to be story. Still not impressed with what he’s doing on this title. THREE STARS, thanks to McGuinness.

#481  HAUNT YOU TO THE END #2 by Ryan Cady and Andrea Mutti (Image/Top Cow Comics, July 2023) Issue #2 covers the first night of the paranormal investigative squad exploring the island of Isla Lodo - “the most haunted place on Earth.”  While this title has plenty of supernatural horror to introduce, the future world devastated by ecological horror is equally worth of more exploration and I hope writer Cady has more to show us.

    Billionaire eccentric Callum Shah and Matt Park inspect the ruins of Rasmussen Manor. Skeptical journalist Park has an encounter with a ghostly zombie-like presence and later the dead speak to him in his dreams. While exploring the derricks, the second team loses sight of military contractor Suzanne ‘Gersh’ Gershwin and one of her crew. 

     The follow-up issue continues the dread with a slow build-up. Mutti’s art continues to amaze me. However, this issue didn’t engage me as much as the debut did. Down one star. FOUR STARS.

#482  SIRENS OF THE CITY #1 of 6 by Joanne Starer and Chary Randolph (Boom! Studios, July 2023)

Layla is a punk-rock attired runaway in New York CIty, 1987. She was abandoned at birth, raised in foster homes, pregnant at sixteen. Kicked out of the last foster home when her latent powers blew out the back of the house. Now she’s looking for Dianne Gold, who may be her true mother. 

She’s living on the streets after leaving her boyfriend (and father of her child) Jerome - pissed off at him and herself for what happened.

     There’s some human drama here and gritty street realism that is really well done. That alone would be enough to make the book interesting.

Add the urban fantasy that is the root of the story and you have a winner.

Plus, Randolph’s art really pops here. He does the colors as well; and utilizes shades of black and white with the occasional red and blue added in small portions to great effect. When I scanned the book and saw this art, it was an immediate impulse buy.

     Layla may be a “siren”, and her unrealized abilities gain the attention of several underworld players when she uses them at a Chelsea Hotel party populated with some questionable and dangerous characters. Definitely worth a look so you can decide if you want to add yet another title to your pile. I did. FIVE STARS.

#483 - #490  ALLERGIC by Megan Wagner Lloyd and Michelle Mee Nutter (Scholastic / Graphix, March 2021)

A coming-of-age middle-grade graphic novel featuring a girl with severe allergies who just wants to find the perfect pet.

      I've been exploring some YA graphic novels lately, always looking for something new to recommend for my grandson. He has an allergy to dogs, and this book is perfect for him although he's dealing with it quite well and taking some helpful medications so he can visit his friend's home where there is a dog. He ended up getting a hamster, so that satisfies his need for a pet.

  ALLERGIC is about so much more than a young girl with an allergy to furry pets (cats, dogs, etc) and her need to find a pet that won't cause her to break out and suffer. It's also about her family relationships as well as a new friendship that becomes threatened when a dog arrives. Her family is expecting a new baby, and she's already experiencing troubles with her younger twin brothers. FIVE STARS.

#491 - #493  THE 06 PROTOCOL #1 - #3 of 4 by Lee Turner and Cliff Richards (AfterShock, September 2022 - June 2023) Synopsis: The seemingly perfect life of the Mirino family is shattered when family patriarch, Faust, is brutally murdered on a quiet summer night. His wife, Cat, and 16-year-old daughter, Missy, are forced to confront a shocking truth about Faust’s involvement in a secret government program known as The 06 Protocol.

Now Cat and Missy have to protect each other as they are hunted, and haunted, by the people and secrets of Faust’s double life.

      The debut issue reminded me of the Bourne movies, The Fugitive, and Season One of Hanna (Amazon Prime) in the best action/adventure/thriller ways. A secret division of the government were developing genetically perfect warriors in an experimental program that went awry. There’s a connection to Cat and her family that is later revealed and plays a big role in the proceedings. There is plenty of drama to keep things interesting and get readers vested in the main characters.  

 

  Issue #2 heightens the suspense. With W.A.S.P. (the secret agency) hot on her trail, Cat saves Missy and two friends from being gunned down by W.A.S.P. Corrector agents, and commandeers a school bus as they make their escape. With no idea who they can trust or turn to for answers, they learn of a W.A.S.P. monitoring site underneath the St. Louis Arch and enlist that agent in their investigation. They may be running; but they are determined to find answers.

     In Issue #3 their flight takes Cat, Missy and companions from rural Missouri to Washington D.C. in search of answers and a fabled antidote. Along the route they learn of a latent experimental subject and recruit him before his injected rage awakens and he annihilates a clown at his daughter’s birthday party.

   Beset with long delays between issues due to AfterShock’s reorganization, THE O6 PROTOCOL may have lost its’ audience and deserves better. If the storyline appeals to you, it’s worth hunting down the back issues. There should be a trade paperback released sometime in 2024 but the release date and announcement has yet to be determined. FOUR STARS.

#494  KNIGHT TERRORS #1 by Joshua Williamson and Giuseppe Camuncoli

(DC Comics, September 2023) I think I went a little backwards by reading KNIGHT TERRORS: FLASH before this one, but the Flash book was released before it. Seems like that was the plan of grand architect Williamson to release KNIGHT TERRORS during the second week of the crossover. That probably helped build the mystery and interest.

   I generally steer away from cross-over events and I’m not going to alter my plan here, although KNIGHT TERRORS just might be one of the better cross-overs of recent years. However, I’ve heard a lot of less-than-positive comments on some of the individual mini-series. I think it best for me to wait and see if DC will publish a best-of KNIGHT TERRORS collection later and discard some of that stuff. 

    The art and colors are great here. Just keep in mind that there will be different creative teams involved in the connecting limited series. 

   Due to some side effects of the Lazarus Rain, the whole world is trapped inside their nightmares. A new villain comes to the front, Insomnia - The God of Nightmares. Why does he want revenge on the DC heroes? I love that the prime investigator here is Deadman/Boston Brand and appreciate the way Williamson is handling the character. Deadman begins the issue by inhabiting the physical form of Batman, and then vacates him to probe inside the body of Insomnia, where he exits quickly after learning of his background. (Not going to spoil it, read it if you want). 

     Why did I buy this? The other reason - - I couldn’t resist that great cover art. The issue ends with the introduction of another classic DC hero to assist Deadman, the pulp/detective version of The Sandman. Exciting. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.

#495 - #502  THE DRAGON PATH graphic novel written and illustrated by Ethan Young (Scholastic/Graphix, May 2021)

     I've been wanting to explore some of the stories available in the young adult section of graphic novels. Always looking for books to suggest to my grandson Dylan. Thanks to some recommendations from Matt Lowder, I've been discovering the cream of the crop. This was highly entertaining, and an awesome introduction to the worlds and concepts of fantasy (and the theme of the hero's journey) for younger readers, especially middle-grade.

The story has some surprises, but is concise and covers Chinese culture in addition. Young's art is very appealing and reminds me of both Jeff Smith and Stan Sakai. I’ll add another 1/2 point to Matt’s rating and give this FIVE STARS.

#503  THE HUNGER AND THE DUSK #1 by G. Willow Wilson and Chris Wildgoose (IDW Publishing, July 2023)  If you’re looking for a new fantasy comic to read, beyond swords and sorcery but still within the realm of Dungeons & Dragons and Warcraft, etc.  this is your ticket. I became fully engaged with the story within a few pages. Wilson is a skilled and inventive writer when it comes to original science fiction or fantasy stories. The art by Wildgoose is beautiful and panoramic in scope. 

     Synopsis:  In a dying world, only humans and orcs remain . . . mortal enemies battling for territory and political advantage. But when a group of fearsome ancient humanoids known as the Vangol arrive from across the sea, the two struggling civilizations are forced into a fragile alliance to protect what they have built.
As a gesture of his commitment to the cause the most powerful orc overlord, Troth Icemane, sends his beloved cousin Tara, a high-ranking young healer, to fight alongside brash human commander Callum Battlechild and his company of warriors. With a crisis looming, the success of this unlikely pair's partnership and the survival of their peoples will depend on their ability to unlearn a lifetime of antagonistic instincts toward one another...and rise above the sting of heartbreak.

   The characterization is well done. Plus, there’s an interspecies romance brewing between the two main characters who seem to have instant chemistry. FOUR STARS.

Guest Review by Matt Lowder of THE DRAGON PATH graphic novel

Spotlight review of a another young adult (YA) original graphic novel (OGN) by Matt Lowder

THE DRAGON PATH written and illustrated by Ethan Young (Scholastic/Graphix, May 2021) Paperback. Middle grade (ages 8-13). Matt's rating: 4.5 STARS OUT OF A POSSIBLE 5 STARS.

A prophecy, a destiny, family secrets, and Chinese culture woven like Howl's Moving Castle meets Fire Power and Avatar the Last Air Bender with inks and lines like Stan Sakai. Glorious middle grade graphic novel.

A motorized village, revealed to be the Wong Clan’s, is returning to their ancestral home, the Old Land. The road is a bad one, like a length of Mad Max territory. With the encouragement of his dubious adviser, Quan, Lord Wong believes that in returning they will fulfill a prophecy. Meanwhile Lord Wong’s willful young son, main character Prince Sing, has been seeing visions about his mother’s death and what initiated his ancestors’ exodus from their homeland in the first place.

When the clan is attacked by the reptilian Dragon Tribe for trespassing and past injustices, Sing is separated from his clan. Presumed dead, Sing is in fact in the company of new friends -- Ming the Mystic and a colossal black-and-white feline with a single horn.

Themes of betrayal and true identities, with magic woven throughout, create an action-packed adventure, though the hero's journey is a bit simple and surface level, its a great introduction to the tropes and admittedly has suprise reveals and promises for more.

The neatly aligned, clean, traditional panels are filled with movement thanks to Young’s line work -- bold, stipple and dash style or hatching and shading. Young’s choice of a color palette and artful use of shading bring a vibrancy and heightened emotional depth to most scenes. Conflicts, pacing, and backstories are interwoven and paced very well, especially for middle grade.

This eclectic world of Chinese culture, fantasy, and nonstop action is worth exploring. This is how you show a story, with movement, use of foreground and backgrounds, and sometimes no dialogue. Recommended. 4.5/5

Lucero - Buy a Little Time (Official Video)

Lucero 2 of 2

Lucero - One Last F.U. (Official Lyric Video)

Music of 2023, #74:  LUCERO

WHITE HOUSE DOWN - Official Trailer

WHITE HOUSE DOWN (2013) on Netflix:  This starts out slow and kind of boring.

I almost stopped watching. Then it kicks into gear and becomes an entertaining

action flick - - that is, if you are willing to overlook the far-fetched 

over-the-top situations that seem unlikely. But, a traitor within the White

House admin? - - - that's pretty believable. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.

Teenage Fanclub - Foreign Land

Music of 2023, #73: TEENAGE FANCLUB

Lael Neale - I Am The River (Official Video)

Music of 2023, #72:  LAEL NEALE

DeWolff - Night Train (Official Music Video)

Music of 2023, #71: DeWolff

Tetsuo: The Iron Man Original Trailer (Shinya Tsukamoto, 1989)

TETSUO: THE IRON MAN on Joe Bob Brigg's Last Drive-In Show on

Shudder TV.  One of the weirdest films I've ever watched. Very little dialogue,

even with the subtitles. Just 66 minutes long, enhanced by Joe Bob Brigg's 

commentary throughout. You will know as much about the story from

watching the trailer as I did by watching the whole film, except for the 

erotic scenes and the industrial music instrumental themes. Yes, you say

it right - - - that is a metal driller-penis that the main character is flinging

 around in that trailer.  TWO AND ONE-HALF STARS.

PGHHEAD'S 2023 COMICS ODYSSEY, Part Twenty-Three

   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 July 20, 2023. . . 667 comics documented

CURRENT COUNT . . . . .  479 comics documented

#451 - #453  CYBERPUNK 2077: TRAUMA TEAM #2 - #4 of 4 by Cullen Bunn and Miguel Valderrama (Dark Horse Comics, 2020)  I picked this series up when it was originally released, solely on the strength of Cullen Bunn’s reputation. I had no idea that it was based on a video game. The comic actually preceded the release of the game, a bold move. 

      I’m reminded a lot of the Judge Dredd universe, dystopian mega-cities overrun with criminals who seem to favor high-rise apartment buildings for their base of operations. I guess the game did well (I’m not a gamer) as interest in Issue #1 rose and I ended up selling it. Time for a re-visit before I sell off the remaining issues. 

     The art team does some fine work here. There’s more blood than I’m used to seeing in science-fiction comics but considering the plot revolves around a trauma team of medics forced into dangerous situations it’s appropriate. 

    

Main character Nadia is an assistant EMT for TTI: Trauma Team International (extractions for profit). She’s the only survivor of a failed rescue mission that ended in a shootout and the death of her lover in front of her eyes. She’s suffering from her own version of PTSD and when she’s thrust into a new rescue missions she freezes at critical moments. The subject of this extraction is the cruel criminal Apex, a “platinum” paying customer of TTI and the team finds themselves holed up on an upper floor and surrounded by his foes.

   This situation is even more life-threatening than before, but Nadia and Apex may just survive by teaming up.  The ending is very climatic but also loosely played so readers can interpret the finale however they want. 

    If all comics based on video games were this good, I’d be a believer. I was skeptical but CYBERPUNK 2077 won me over. The underlying theme is  . . . when the world becomes cruel and cynical is there still room for compassion and morals?  FOUR STARS.

#454 - #455  SINK #11: CUTTHROAT Deluxe Edition by John Lees and Alex Cormack (Comix Tribe, 2023) I’m a big fan of this series and spent a little extra to help the Kickstarter fundraiser and get this deluxe edition with heavier paper, extra content, bookmark and metal trading cards. If you’re a fan of comics that blend crime and horror then keep an eye out for the comic shop release later this year. Every issue is a stand-alone story that takes place in the fictional Scottish city of Sinkhill (based on John Lees’ home town of Glasgow). 

   Main character of this issue is Chrissie Woods, a grumpy widower with a feisty little bulldog/terrier mix who’s got a reputation in the neighborhood as a trivial complainer and a bit crazy. She’s still haunted by a childhood encounter (real or imagined) with Iron-Tooth Jack, the local legend called the Gorbals Vampire - -  seven foot tall with metal fangs.

    Her neighbor’s young son goes missing, and Chrissie is convinced (because of her nightmares) that Iron-Tooth is back. She’s determined to find the missing boy and bring justice to Iron-Tooth.

    Chrissie is based on Lees’ grandmother (loosely) and the story is based in part (loosely) on a dream that she related to him when he was young and impressionable. 

   The back content is a mix, featuring some short one-page Sink comics, text piece by Lees, profiles of cover artists (including local C.P. Wilson III of The Stuff of Legends), and a cover gallery. Good stuff. FOUR STARS.

#456 - #461  WE STAND ON GUARD #1 - #6 by Brian K. Vaughan and Steve Skroce (Image Comics, July-December 2015) Futuristic war in 2112 - 2124 between Canada and the United States, with the U.S. as oppressor. Great story, and great art in this six-issue mini-series which I read in the individual issues. The comments in the letter pages are worth picking them up. 

     A general foible in parts of our human nature is to covet our neighbor's possessions. When that envy is acted on, it's usually trouble. When one nation's government covets something that another nation possesses (land, territory, oil, other resources) it generally leads to war. In this future scenario, the U.S. desires Canada's water. A fatal bombing of Washington D.C. is blamed on Canada, and this provides the motivation for the U.S. to retaliate by bombing Canadian cities and invading with high tech armored machines, aircraft and human and robotic ground troops. 

     Vaughan's story deals more with the human drama, and wisely so, among a small band of Canadian freedom fighters. The opening scenes in Issue #1 are extremely graphic and disturbing, and this sets the tone for the rest of the series, focusing on a brother and sister fighting for survival. The finale was a victory of sorts, but left an opening for more story. I prefer this the way it ended.

    I enjoyed the story mainly for the characterization and it's not possible to return most of these characters for a sequel. FIVE STARS.

#462  EXORCISTS NEVER DIE #3 by Steve Orlando and Sebastian Piriz (Mad Cave Studios, July 2023)  This is becoming one of my favorite current horror titles for various reasons: 1) The art and coloring by Piriz is dynamic and exciting to view. 2) Orlando’s story keeps me engaged with the confrontations verbal and physical, between the two Exorcist Knights, Syd Miller and Ellen Blair - once lovers who have a historic strained relationship. 3) Every month it’s a new representation of one of the Seven Deadly Sins - but never in a predictable manner. And, each Sin seems to recall previous grievances between the team. This time they go up against Gluttony - and it’s not the pig-out food fest you might imagine -  it’s a thirst/hunger for glory and recognition that almost overcomes one of them. 

   I love the entire premise and it keeps me interested as Orlando reveals different aspects of the devil-fighters organization each issue. At the bottom of the Hellscraper (inverted multi-story building leading to Hell) there may be more than just a soul auction going on. And there may be more demons to fight, too many for a team of just two. Next up: Greed, bigger and meaner than ever. FOUR STARS.

#463 - #464  THOR ANNUAL #1 by Collin Kelly & Jackson Lanzing with art by Ibrahim Roberson (Marvel Worldwide Inc, September 2023) I haven’t been reading THOR, so the release of an annual is a chance for me to catch up a bit while enjoying a self-contained story (annuals are usually reliable for a one-shot complete story). There’s a lot going on here, pretty much epic in nature, and what I appreciate is that it’s not stretched out over multiple issues or part of a big crossover event. The story is pretty compact and concludes satisfactory, although leaving an opening (of course).

     Thor, the All-Father (but still feeling more like Thor than he is like his father Odin) learns from Sif of a new threat to the Ten Realms and travels to Earth/Midguard to learn more from his allies. He finds a changed world.

   THOR: “Your life here. All you have ever known . . . is dirt and suffering. And your only hope of escape is . . . not causing trouble.”

   PETER PARKER (who doesn’t remember he is Spider-Man): “A bit bleak, but . . . yeah, you nailed it.”

   M.O.D.O.K. has incorporated within himself the broken pieces of the destroyed Bifrost/Rainbow Bridge and has transformed into something cosmic, the huge M.Y.T.H.O.S. (Master of Yggdrasil, the Tyrant of Humanity, the Omnipotent Savior.) Curiously, the story does not explain the acronym. I learned of it on the Comic Book Roundup site from a reviewer. How they knew is another mystery. 

   The story ends satisfactorily, and Thor even learns how to handle and conduct himself in his new King of Asgard role and his confidence grows.

    The back-up feature is a six-page prologue to THE IMMORTAL THOR series by Al Ewing and Martin Coccolo coming in August. Thor uses the All-Power to restore his broken hammer to full strength. Ho hum so far. FOUR STARS.

#465 - #467  CAPTAIN AMERICA #750 an over-sized anniversary issue featuring seven stories by various artists and writers (Marvel Worldwide Inc, September 2023) To be fair in my comments here, I haven’t been following any of the Captain America titles. So, this issue could be much more important to regular readers. It’s sad and reflective, serving as a reminder of the importance of Cap and pointing the way for the new series to follow. It didn’t work as well for me, probably because I’m not as vested in what’s going on.

    The publisher’s synopsis relates what’s inside better than I can: 

     “THE CAPTAINS AMERICA MOURN THEIR FALLEN!
After the harrowing events of CAPTAIN AMERICA: COLD WAR, the Captains America return home to mourn their fallen - and strive to honor the power of legacy. Plus: The secret origin of Sam Wilson's new shield revealed, and a bold new direction for Sharon Carter!
In honor of 750 issues of CAPTAIN AMERICA, a team of fan-favorite guest writers join forces with superstar artists to spin timeless tales celebrating the epic history of the star-spangled hero! “

     The entire issue read to me like a series of scenes rather than introducing any major plot or action. My overall impression is that I just read one giant eulogy, with plenty of scenes of funeral services and graveside visits. I’m not even sure who the character is that is being mourned in one of the stories. 

       The longer stories mark the end of writer Tochi Onyebuchi’s run on the title, and the penultimate issue of Jackson Lanzing & Collin Kelly’s run on their title. Those two were the better stories of the issue.

   It’s a mixed bag of storytelling and artwork that didn’t create any desire for me to start following any Captain America title. Sigh. 

   Better to go back and dig out my copies from the Brubaker run and read them again. TWO AND ONE-HALF STARS.

#468  KNIGHT TERRORS: THE FLASH  #1 of 2 by Alex Paknadel and Daniel Bayliss (DC Comics, July 12, 2023 release date) While I’m sitting out the two-month Knight Terrors event, I decided to sample at least one title and chose this. The story was much better than expected and I found it to be engaging. Curiosity is probably going to prompt me to pick up the concluding issue.

    As an introduction to DC characters with those unfamiliar with them (hard to imagine) these short mini-series will give readers a basic understanding, but that’s about it. Unless the title is written by the current scripter on the regular series (this one isn’t) you can’t get a real feel for the book’s true configuration as these stories occurs outside of the main continuity. So why bother? If you like good stand-alone stories (although this breaks the one-issue standard) you might possibly find a good one in the Knight Terrors bunch.

     Barry Allen is the main Flash in this one, not understanding that he’s living in the Nightmare Realm and having trouble distinguishing reality from dreams. He even foreshadows this in a conversation with Iris. 

     Wally (as Kid Flash) has been stabbed by Gorilla Grodd with the Spear of Destiny and is dying in a hospital bed. Barry tries to use the Speed Force to go back in time and alter reality. Of course, things don’t work out as he expected. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.

#469 - #478  ANOTHER KIND young adult original graphic novel by Trevor Bream and Cait May (Harper Alley, 2021)  A librarian friend of mine and fellow comics fans, Matt Lowder, wrote such a glowing review of this awhile back that I had to check this out for myself and reserved a copy from the local library. His review was posted to my blog on July 14.

      I’m always looking for books to recommend or purchase for my 7-year old grandson. A voracious reader who’s several levels beyond second grade for reading comprehension- - I thought this might appeal to him. However, he may not be ready for the violence that’s contained in the story so I’m holding off for a few years. 

   As for me, this was a real winner - - and I agree 100% with everything that Matt said. It whetted my appetite to try some more YA OGNs.  FIVE STARS.

   Synopsis: “Tucked away in a government facility nicknamed the Playroom, six not-quite-human kids learn to control their strange and unpredictable abilities. Life is good--or safe, at least--hidden from the prying eyes of a judgmental world.  

     That is, until a security breach forces them out of their home and into the path of the Collector, a mysterious being with leech-like powers.

     Can the group band together to thwart the Collector's devious plan, or will they wind up the newest addition to his collection?

#479  DC MANGA SAMPLER by various writers and artists (DC Comics, July 2023) In September, DC will release several manga collections featuring familiar superhero characters. This free hand-out at comic shops gives readers a chance to preview the first three titles and decide if this is worth their attention.

     While you can get a good feel for the art styles, it’s difficult to really understand what the main plot of these stories may be - simply because the samples are not long enough to really determine that. Unless, this is the main story. If so, it’s strange — - like Bizarro super-man versions of these characters.

     Apparently JOKER: ONE OPERATION JOKER VOL. 1 will be about The Joker raising a baby boy (who looks a little like a tiny Bruce Wayne). In a flashback scene, Joker gets into a fight with Batman at a chemical plant and falls into a vat all over again.

     BATMAN: JUSTICE BUSTER VOL. 1 is told completely without words as Batman chases a flying armored foe across the city’s skyline. The villain’s mission is interrupted by Batman but he still manages to escape. In the only dialogue so far, the villain reminds Batman “you can’t be lax about gadget maintenance”. 

   SUPERMAN VS. MESHI VOL 1 is apparently about Superman’s hunger cravings. When Lois turns down Clark Kent’s lunch invite, it gives him an excuse to change into Superman and travel to a ramen restaurant in Japan to get some double-pork. 

   I’ll probably break down and pick up at least one of these, most likely the Joker story. TWO AND ONE-HALF STARS.