PGHHEAD’S 2023 COMICS ODYSSEY, PART 30
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 September 20, 2023. . . 864 comics documented
CURRENT COUNT . . . . . 665 comics documented
#641 - #642 10 YEARS TO DEATH one-shot by Aaron Douglas and Cliff Richards (AfterShock Comics, September 2021) Always good for a second reading, and a great book to prep myself for October/Halloween month.
I originally reviewed this in October 2021 . . . . .
https://popculturepodium.blogspot.com/2021/10/october-31-days-of-horror-10-years-to.html
#643 - #644 ALL NIGHT & EVERY DAY prestige format one-shot by Ray Fawkes and Andrea Frittella (AfterShock Comics, March 2023) “Party like there’s no tomorrow . . . because there isn’t”
There are enough story possibilities in this one-shot comic to fill a four or six-issue mini-series. AfterShock Comics and writer Ray Fawkes resist that impulse and instead stick to the core of the story and stick the landing.
ALL NIGHT & EVERY DAY is like one of those creepy Twilight Zone revival episodes narrated by Jordan Peele that don’t scare you so much as creep under your skin and itch. Maybe Fawkes will return to this world again for a new story. The potential is certainly there, as well as a built-in villain and/or protagonist of dubious motives.
Welcome to the ‘Banquet Hideous’, the party that never ends. You can’t leave. You don’t age and you never die no matter what happens inside. Once a door is opened and a new room entered, you won’t be able to turn around and go back to the same place.
Grief-stricken Michaela was left standing at the altar on her wedding day. Her fiancé never showed his face, not even two years later as police have no clues concerning his whereabouts. Michaela’s refusal to give up the search has turned her into an introvert. Friends try to help her out of her shell and bring her to the house party and end up trapping her and themselves within its’ curse. Guess who she finds within?
There is quite a bit of drama here, and a bit of new disturbing information that causes Michaela to rethink her previous relationship. Will the house take pity on her and lead her to the exit door? This is how you create a one-shot with impact! FOUR AND ONE-HALF STARS.
#645 - #646 A FOULNESS IN THE WALLS prestige one-shot by Cullen Bunn and Rodrigo Zayas (AfterShock Comics, February 2023) For a 46-page one-shot this packs a powerful punch that could leave a bruise on your psyche. While this could be labeled as a ghost story, haunted house story or fit well within the supernatural genre, I consider this to be a highly effective example of psychological horror, detailing the pains of one-way relationships and dependancy. What do you do when that’s over?
Main character George buys the only home he can afford, a rundown neglected one-story, and attempts to rebuild his life. His new home is haunted by a lingering presence. It’s not a spiritual manifestation, objects moving about, or portraits with eyes that follow you. This particular haunting assails your olfactory senses in ways that induce vomiting and extreme nausea.
It’s George versus the smell. He’s determined that it will not force him to leave. Those perceptive enough to pick up the clues may see the foreshadowing of a twisty ending. I did, but it did nothing to dispel the uneasiness of reading this. I believe this is the best one-shot horror story I have seen from Cullen Bunn, and I’ve seen many. Well done. FIVE STARS.
#647 - #648 GOD OF TREMORS prestige format one-shock (AfterShock, August 18 2021) A complete story of 19th Century gothic terror, nightmares and spiritual awareness (of a creepy nature) that doubles as a showcase for the actual ignorance and brutality of the times.
“When Aubrey has his first seizure, he’s pulled out of school and hidden away in the family’s remote country estate. His father — a high-ranking English priest — tries to chase the “devil” out of Aubrey, bu maybe the devil lurks in the grotesque pagan effigy that dwells on the grounds. And maybe the devil will turn out to be Aubrey’s only ally” . .
Writer Peter Milligan is a master of psychological horror. He put me right into the head of poor Aubrey as he suffered the blows and brutal techniques of exorcism as practiced by his strict father. A father who denounced the work of Charles Darwin, and who denies his mother’s pleas to listen to doctors who suggest treating Aubrey for the conditions of epilepsy.
Piotr Kowalski’s highly detailed art is beautifully displayed in the larger panel format and enhances the dismal atmosphere and nature of the story.
Milligan always leaves something for further thought or comparison in most of his works. Here, I was reminded of the current situation with anti-vaccination advocates and science deniers. FIVE STARS.
#649 - #652 THE DEVIL’S CUT magazine-sized one-shot by various creators (DSTLRY Media, August 2023) I’m impressed by this over-size preview of things to come from new comics publisher DSTLRY. I’m excited to dig into some new titles once they debut later in the year. I’m excited by the promise and the potential. Having said that, there really wasn’t any one of the eleven stories included in this anthology that wowed me and made me crave more of the same. But, I will definitely pick up most of them and give them another chance.
Some of the stories didn’t feel like previews of upcoming series, more like short one-shots that admittedly pack a bit of a punch. However, for a publisher that boasts ‘unfiltered stories” from the most “fearless creators” there was only one tale that might get the censors bound-up about it.
Here’s the elevator pitch from DSTLRY:
The Devil's Cut is your introduction to DSTLRY, a new publisher redefining creator-owned comics. In the aging process, the whiskey that evaporates is called the Angel's Share. But the most potent spirits are captured in the wood-the Devil's Cut.
This is The Devil's Cut-unfiltered stories from the most fearless creators, offering a distinct taste of the quality to come. 88 oversized pages printed on premium paper, featuring a flight of high-proof work from our Founding Creators including Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV, Tula Lotay, Mirka Andolfo, Jock, Becky Cloonan, Brian Azzarello, Marc Bernardin, Elsa Charretier, Lee Garbett, Joelle Jones, Stephanie Phillips, Ram V, Jamie McKelvie, Junko Mizuno and friends including Francesco Francavilla, Ariela Kristantina, Eduardo Risso, Christian Ward, and more. Edited by the legendary Will Dennis.
Also, to be fair, I may not have been reading a portion of the actual first issue - - more like a snapshot of what’s in store. In an interview with The Comics Beat website, CCO Chip Mosher described THE DEVIL’S CUT as “not previews, but the first appearance of new worlds from our Founding Creators and Friends.”
For stories that only have a limited amount of pages to make their points, there’s not a single dud in the bunch. All of these creators have established their credentials and you can expect a quality story with quality art. There’s also a diversity of genres and themes - - although no super-heroes (not that I was hoping for that). This is adult content, although I think middle-school readers can easily handle almost anything here (except the one I hinted at).
I’ve already gone on too long about this, so I’m going to cut this short. To be fair, I want to read the individual stories a second time. I’ll write more about THE DEVIL’S CUT and highlight the stories that were my favorites. Eight of these eleven tales are scheduled to become series in 2023 and 2024. Lots to look forward to. FOUR STARS.
#653 - #654 THE DEVIL’S CUT reviewed, Part Two (DSTLRY Media, August 2023) I’m going to begin by reviewing the two stories here that are about to become the first series released this year by DSTLRY. But first, a quick note to those like me who are curious and want to sample new series: THE DEVIL’S CUT is the least expensive way for you to get an overview and then decide from there what you may want to pre-order (recommended, in case the books start flying off the shelves - but I’m not predicting that.) Even if you don’t like it, you can probably get more than the list price for it on eBay. It’s already creating speculator fever.
“The Stowaway” is the eight-page story contribution of writer/artist/colorist/letterer Jock. It’s hard to tell from what little is revealed here if this science-fiction story takes place on Earth or another planet. The primary character, a young unidentified impoverished female, sneaks aboard a massive space cargo ship to steal some food from the main kitchens and just barely gets off ship as it preps for launch. Jock’s art is done in his usual evocative style. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
This story will become the series GONE, debuting in October. From the website (dstlry.co) I was able to learn more. Her name is Abi, 13 years old, and she lives on a far planet where the main industry is servicing starships. The series details what happens when she stows away on a luxury space-cruiser and leaves her home. I’ve seen enough to order the first issue, and I’ll decide from there.
“What Blighted Flame Burns In Thee?” by Becky Cloonan and Tula Lotay is one of the better stories in THE DEVIL’S CUT, and will become the series SOMNA, debuting in November. SOMNA “offers a haunting investigation into puritanical repression and concealed desires.”
There are some stunning visuals by Tula Lotay in this 11-page story, which takes place in an English village in the 1600’s. Because Agnes is the only family member not stricken by a plague-like disease, she is immediately identified as cursed by the town’s witch hunter. Gawain, her boyfriend, visits her prison cell and tells her of a plan for her escape. A bribed guard will leave her cell door open; and she needs to hide inside a large wooden coffin underneath the newly dead before it is moved away from the prison grounds for burial. There’s a chilling Twilight-Zone type twist to the ending of this introductory story.
Once again, I check the website to learn more: The main narrative will focus on Ingrid, who is trapped within a harsh marriage to Roland, the chief witch hunter. This is one that I know I want to read. Two for two so far. FOUR AND ONE-HALF STARS.
THE ALMAGAM UNIVERSE, 1996: Back when Marvel and DC were actually collaborating in more friendlier times, they put out a series of one-shot superhero titles that created new characters out of existing iconic figures from both companies. My favorites were Dark Claw (a hybrid of Batman and Wolverine) and Iron Lantern (Iron Man and Green Lantern). As far as entertaining stories went, it was more about the creativity and art than something that you’d want to read more than once. A great premise, but not so much the execution.
They published 24 comics in total in April 1996 and later in June 1997 (twelve done by DC, twelve done by Marvel). The stories were written as if Almagam Comics had existed long enough to establish a history, which was referred in the footnotes pointing out back issues of fictional titles. Some of the one-shots also featured made-up letter pages from fictional letter-writers from fictional cities.
#655 BULLETS AND BRACELETS #1 by John Ostrander and Gary Frank/Cam Smith (Marvel Comics, April 1996) Princess Diana (Wonder Woman) in this story is a rogue Amazon from Paradise Island who left it behind to investigate man’s world. Trevor Castle (Punisher) is a special forces operative who saw his family killed and waged war against the Mafia as the Punisher. The story states that they were former teammates now re-united to take on Monarch (Jim Rhodes, former friend of Castle). They end up getting teleported via a Boom Tube to Armaghetto on Apokolips and run into Big Titania and the Female Furies.
My favorite line comes after Diana comments to Trevor: “I thought you had taken to using dummy bullets.” To which Trevor replies “I did. But the dummies kept getting up.”
Diana and Trevor argue and bicker like an elderly couple until they become captured by Thanoseid right before Orion shows up to confront Thanoseid’s sword-fighting assassin Kanto, who gives it up after learning who he is. The heroes end up over the Bifrost Bridge to New Asgard where All-Highfather Odin reveals that Kanto is the son of Diana and Trevor, who decide on the last page get back together.
The art is much easier to follow and fun, even in the scenes where everybody’s talking and revealing stuff. TWO AND ONE-HALF STARS.
#656 BRUCE WAYNE, AGENT OF S.H.I.E.L.D. #1 by Chuck Dixon and Cary Nord/Mark Pennington (Marvel Comics, April 1996) Another story where the art kept me happy enough to bother reading this. A S.H.I.E.L.D. force, led by agent Bruce Wayne, attacks Hydra HQ and Lord Green Skull (like a mix of Joker and Red Skull). His own daughter, Selina Luthor, kills him quickly (on page 3!) and takes over as Supreme Hydra. Bruce gets a version of Batgirl/Huntress and Moon Knight/Nightwing (Moonwing) to help with the assault while commander Nick Fury frets and worries in front of assistant Sgt. Rock.
Bruce’s team runs into a version of Deathlok/Deadshot and Jason Todd/Bane (Venom) but they end victorious in some pretty boring battles where everyone talks too much. TWO STARS.
#657 JLX #1 by Gerard Jones/Mark Waid and Howard Porter/John Dell (DC Comics, April 1996) I didn’t even like the art here, which was pretty uneven. There are way too many characters for me to detail them all here. It’s superheroes versus former teammates in the usual confusion, with Aquaman bemoaning the treatment of mutants (of which he is one) and spins off his own team, hence JLX. Yep, even the Sentinels make an appearance. J’onn J’onzz (Martian Manhunter) is the last survivor of the martian race known as . . . the Skrull.
Mark Waid is a usually reliable writer with a knack for getting to the heart of so many trademark licensed characters. I haven’t read too many bad stories by Waid, but I’m thinking this is one he would probably like to forget/erase. ONE AND THREE-QUARTER STARS.
SUMMARY: I bought about ten of these titles when they were initially released, with these being the last three I still have. You may be wondering why I bothered to read them again if they were so horrible. Well, back in 1996 these weren’t all that different from the regular superhero books. I also think I had a better tolerance for them back then. Feeling nostalgic, I read these again - - much to my regret. Now, they are just a ruined memory.
#658 - #660 TROUBLEMAKERS #13, #14, #15 by Fabian Nicieza with art by Kevin West/Dan Davis (Acclaim Comics Inc, April 1996 - February 1998) Sometime after Acclaim Comics purchased Valiant (the first iteration) back in the 1990’s they hired writer Fabian Nicieza as editor-in-chief. Under his reign, both X-0 Manowar and Turok were re-booted into the worst versions of those characters I have ever read. Turok became a young modern teen with womanizing on his mind even when venturing into the land of dinosaurs (‘nuff said).
However, Nicieza created a new series, THE TROUBLEMAKERS, that showed a lot of potential, which he never succeeded in materializing. Plagued by bankruptcy issues with the parent company, the release of Acclaim titles became less and less frequent and interest dropped off, soon followed by the company.
The Troublemakers were a team of young superheroes created by a scientific experiment gone wrong, the result of genetic manipulation by the Galloway and Galloway Company. There were some emotional moments of good drama throughout the series, but Nicieza seems to muddle things up with unnecessary side stories and too much angst (like a hybrid of Archie and teen superheroes). Even his work at Marvel failed to click with me. If you want to read his best works, Troublemakers may be your best bet. THREE STARS.
#661 SIMON SPECTOR one-shot by Warren Ellis and Jacen Burrows (Avatar Press, December 2004) This black-and-white one-shot was part of Warren Ellis’ Apparat Singles group, a series of first issues of various “science-fiction, high adventure, and weird and occult journeys” all based on the pulp tradition. As Ellis states in the text piece, “this is what I think adventure comics would look like today if you blanked out the last sixty years of superhero comics.” Four total titles were published and collected in the APPARAT trade paperback, if you can find it.
Simon Spector is a super-intelligent, highly volatile investigator, a combination of Sherlock Holmes and Doc Savage. He takes an assignment to rescue the husband of his client, abducted by one of his arch-enemies. Ellis leaves plenty of openings for artist Jacen Burrows to do what he does best, illustrate bloody violent scenes. I’m not trying to minimize his skills, just spotlighting his strengths. FOUR STARS.
#662 -#665 THE RAY BRADBURY CHRONICLES, VOLUME ONE trade paperback by various writers and artists (Bantam/Spectra Books, July 1992) This collection features comic adaptations of five classic stories written by the late science-fiction/fantasy/horror author Ray Bradbury. This also features an introduction by Bradbury, as well as a reprint of “I, Rocket” a story he wrote specifically for EC Comics (illustrated by Al Williamson) at a very young age in 1953.
It’s difficult to pick a favorite among these. They are all exceptionally well-done. Artists include Kent Williams and Ralph Reese. My favorite illustrations are those done by P. Craig Russell for “The Golden Apples of the Sun”. My favorite story (featuring unbridled and successful optimism) is “The Toynbee Convector” adapted by Ray Zone with art by Chuck Roblin.
THE RAY BRADBURY CHRONICLES were one of many graphic novel projects produced by Byron Preiss Publications and ran for three volumes. Sadly, this is the only one I have. FIVE STARS.
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