PGHHEAD'S 2023 COMICS ODYSSEY, Part Forty-One

PGHHEAD’S 2023 COMICS ODYSSEY, PART 41

       This marks the third consecutive year that I have attempted to document my comics reading by writing at least a mini-review. The goal was 1200 books read and reviewed in 2023.  I’m out of time and have fallen well short of the mark this year. Still, this has been such

a fun endeavor that I will continue in 2024 (although I may just dispense with challenging myself to a set # of reviews).

# GOAL FOR December 31, 2023. . . 1,200  comics documented

CURRENT COUNT . . . . .  888 comics documented

 #868 - #872  AVENGERS PRIME #1- #5 by Brian Michael Bendis and Alan Davis (Marvel Worldwide Inc, August 2010 - March 2011)  I’m a big fan of the art of Alan Davis and his visuals on this series are absolutely stunning.

     The best endorsement I can make for this story is - - - remember when superhero comics were fun, just fun, first and foremost? Bendis takes the iconic characters that

made up the original Avengers (Iron Man, Thor, and Steve Rogers - but without the Captain America costume) and makes fun of them in a respectful way that is very entertaining. What would those early days of the Avengers be without internal squabbles?, and the arguments here between Steve and Tony are priceless!

     The story begins following the end of the Siege epic and Steve Rogers has become the head of S.H.I.E.L.D., in charge of United States security. A result of the aftermath is the fall of the city of Asgard, now in ruins on Earth. When searching the rubble of Heimdall’s observatory, the three heroes are individually transported to different areas within the Nine Realms. 

     Tony Stark, in useless armor, makes the mistake of trying to name drop his relationship with Thor, not realizing that the Asgardian lord is despised by the band of ogres that capture him.  Steve Rogers fights through an elven village and finds a romantic interest in the Elven woman Mageth.

     Thor is confronted first by The Enchantress and later by Hera, the goddess of Death. All three heroes find their way back to one another and (of course) triumphantly end all threats. FOUR STARS.

#873 - #874 BATMAN - SANTA CLAUS: SILENT KNIGHT #1 - #2 of 4 by Jeff Parker and Michele Bandini (DC Comics, February-March 2024)  Don’t do what I did. I looked at the cover for #1, decided it should be a fun read that I could then pass onto my grandson, and made an impulse buy. On the upside, this is a good story with some neat visuals. However, it wasn’t what I expected, which was a tight Christmas story one-shot suitable for all ages. This is a mini-series, and it’s dark (like most Batman stories, no surprise). Still, I decided to invest in Issue #2 and now I’m in for the full ride. At least it’s just a $3.99 comic.

      Some ugly winged creatures interrupt Christmas carolers and silence them forever. (Hey, I get sick of Christmas music too, but that solution is a bit extreme. How about earplugs next time?) They are the Draug, similar to vampires except the puncture wound is singular and they completely drain and kill their victims (exsanguination, in case the word comes up on Jeopardy).  Batman, Robin, and Zatanna have their hands full.

     Until some help arrives in the form of Santa Claus, looking like Odin or an Asgardian god (because he is). He knows Batman and the others, including what was on their Christmas wish lists. Writer Parker pulls from Scandinavian mythology and goes back to Viking times to reveal the origins of the Draug. Many creatures from the wilds of Asgard made their way to Earth. Asgard would dispatch hunters every year to round them up, eventually sealing the Draug in a vault. During the last hunt, Santa Claus and his friend Krampus were left behind. Krampus is beast-like, with a mischievous and murderous streak (likes to eat people, including children) that is kept in check by Santa - who eventually confines him as well.

     Krampus has escaped and freed the Draug and is on a mission of revenge.   The remainder of this story will relate how Santa, Batman and company handle the situation. Plenty of guests stars in just the first two issues alone, with Superman showing up at the end of Issue #2. THREE AND ONE-QUARTER STARS.

#875 - #880  AVENGERS ARENA VOLUME 2: GAME ON! trade paperback by Dennis Hopeless with art by Alessandro Vitti, Kev Walker, Jason Gorder and Riccardo Burchielli  (Marvel Worldwide Inc, September 2013)

 

    This is the middle volume in the series, so I'm coming into this cold. I'm also not familiar with Marvel's AVENGERS ACADEMY, RUNAWAYS, or DARKHAWK; so I'm also at a disadvantage when it comes to recognizing and understanding the twelve characters here. However, I've always been curious about all three titles, and finding this trade paperback in a bargain bin seemed like an inexpensive way to try them out. If I really liked the story then I could seek out the other two volumes. 

     Well, that's not going to happen - - - but I'm not saying this is a totally bad story. These are lesser-known Marvel characters, all young adults, and the situations are interesting just as much as the mayor players are.

    Twelve teen superheroes are kidnapped, transported to a deadly island (Arcade's Murder World) and expected to fight to the death until just one remains. While I certainly don't expect Marvel to kill that many characters, there's a certain amount that will need to be sacrificed in order to maintain any tension in the storyline before the assumed rescue. To writer Hopeless' credit, some of these characters are downright mean-spirited. 

     A decent read but not something that I feel I need to continue or should recommend. THREE STARS.

#881 - #884  THE WARLORD Volume Three #1 - #4 by Bruce Jones and Bart Sears (DC Comics, 2006)  This revival of Mike Grell’s classic ’70’s-’80’s sword and sorcery character lasted just 10 issues. The original story was probably inspired by Edgar Rice Burrough’s John Carter of Mars series featuring man of two worlds. 

   Main character Travis is an experimental test pilot whose craft malfunctions and seems to be headed for a fatal crash when it simply disappears. Travis wakes up in the ocean of a fantasy world and quickly becomes mistaken for Cassis, the war god and fabled savior of a kingdom besieged by a cruel barbarian warlord. Meanwhile,Travis’ love interest in our world begins to search for him and encounters dinosaurs.

     Jones does a decent job of respecting Grell’s work and adding some of his own touches, plenty of drama, a love triangle, a reluctant hero, a life-changing discovery (possible alien tech, the armor) that transforms Travis into the Warlord, just in time. Sear’s art is not the best example of what he’s capable of, looking very rough and unfinished except for the larger panels. There’s an abundance of small, tight panels in this comic that especially make it difficult to focus on the action in fight scenes. 

    The emergence of the Warlord doesn’t occur until the end of Issue #4, which allows the story to build and create some suspense and anticipation. Still, I’ve read enough to be satisfied and won’t be looking for the remaining issues.  THREE STARS.

#885 - #886  THE MIRACLES #1 by Joe Glass and Vince Underwood (CEX Publishing, October 2023) 

 

  Here’s some things worth noting about THE MIRACLES. 1) As an introduction to a new series, this one answers all the major questions before the issue ends. Nothing is vague or stretched out to fill space - - it’s all there, and wraps up as a single episode. Nothing to be continued. New story next issue, although I’m sure some minor hanging threads will be untangled. 2) It’s an extra-sized debut issue priced at $6.99, but it’s printed on quality paper and includes 45 pages of story and art - - so that’s like two comics for your money.  

     I think it’s one of the better books to introduce younger, middle-school and up, readers to the wonder of super-hero comics. It removes much of the clutter of modern super-hero books and keeps to the basics that most likely attracted many of us to this format in our younger days. The main character, high school student Elliott, has a real sense-of-wonder, awe and enthusiasm for his newly founded super-powers. He learns that he’s part of a super-hero family, as his parents are aliens from another world who decided to become defenders of the common man, much like Superman.

     As for me, I’m just a long-time reader of super-hero comics now a bit jaded. I”ve read enough of this genre to satisfy me and just follow a few titles. And, there’s enough older Marvel, DC, Image, Valiant, etc super-hero books in my collection to keep me going. The story is whimsical and fun, the art is not earth-shaking but has it’s moments. Just giving you a heads-up in case this sounds interesting to you.  THREE AND ONE-QUARTER STARS.

#887 - #888  UNIVERSAL MONSTERS: DRACULA #1, #2 by James Tynion IV and Martin Simmonds (Image/Skybound Comics, October-November 2023)  Since he stopped writing licensed properties (most notably, BATMAN, etc.) James Tynion IV has really introduced some marvelous works to the creator-owned indie marketplace (most notably DEPARTMENT OF TRUTH, SOMETHING IS KILLING THE CHILDREN, etc.)

In the text afterword to Issue #1 he explains that he prefers to work with his own creations, but accepted the assignment to write an adaptation of the Universal film version of Dracula because it made a lasting impression on his young developing mind. 

    While this new series respectfully recreates the feel and look (thanks to amazing Simmonds art) of that film, Tyrion’s script is a breath of fresh (not foul) air. He’s really bringing this legendary icon to new life and anyone who is a fan of the film, the novel, or the vampire genre should be checking this series out. 

      Simmond’s previous art chores on DEPARTMENT OF TRUTH are memorable but sometimes murky. Here, he again both illustrates, inks and colors his work in a painted style that bring more clarity than I’ve ever seen from him before. The images are incredible.  Tynion wisely hasn’t scripted one word of dialogue for Dracula so far, just letting the visuals communicate the power and menace behind the character. Also, I’ve never seen Renfield imagined and portrayed as creepy as he is here.

  The introduction of the main characters (Harness, Van Helsing, etc) and build up to the first victim to mingle blood with Dracula (Lucy) is dramatized perfectly. There’s been a lot of focus (and very well done) on Renfield so far, but I expect things to progress in bloody fashion very soon. This book is a winner. FIVE STARS.

 

More About the January 2024 Return of GAMUT

EDITOR'S NOTE:  Gamut returns in January 2024 with a renewed mission and much to offer. I'm looking forward to their return.  Read below to learn all the details.

From the official House of Gamut September 01, 2023 press release . . . . . .

The nonprofit will serve as the global hub of dark speculative fiction for readers and writers 

On January 1, 2024, Gamut—the magazine that published over 100 speculative stories in 2017—will return as House of Gamut, a global nonprofit featuring an online magazine, a publishing arm, and a teaching academy for writers.

As a home for readers and writers of dark speculative fiction, our team at House of Gamut is dedicated to giving people spellbinding works to read through our publishing house and online magazine, while serving writers during all stages of their careers with courses from professional writers and industry experts.

Our newly launched online magazine—as well as novels, collections, and anthologies—will focus on dark speculative fiction and non-fiction across a wide range of genres including fantasy, science fiction, horror, thrillers, neo-noir, new-weird, transgressive fiction, magical realism, and literary fiction that leans into genre.

House of Gamut welcomes authors and readers, providing an inclusive, one-stop shop where people from around the world can read, write, and get published. Deeply committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion across the board, we are on a mission to uplift and amplify marginalized voices.

Our 501(c)(3) organization (nonprofit status pending) is helmed by President Richard B. Wood and Creative Director & Editor-in-Chief Richard Thomas. With an MBA from the UCD Smurfit School and an MFA from Emerson, Wood has thirty years of startup and business experience and is also the author of Bayou Whispers and The Prodigal’s Foole. Thomas has edited various works including The New Black, Exigencies, Burnt Tongues, and/or The Lineup: 20 Provocative Women Writers and authored the novels Transubstantiate, Disintegration, Breaker, and Incarnate as well as the short story collections Staring Into the Abyss, Tribulations, and Spontaneous Human Combustion (a Bram Stoker Award finalist).

Our team of editors includes:

• Senior Fiction Editor Mercedes Yardley—author of seven books, as well as a two-time Bram Stoker Award-winner for her novella, Little Dead Red, and her short story, “Fracture”
• Fiction Editor Cynthia “Cina” Pelayo—Bram Stoker award- winning author of Crime Scene, International Latino Book Award winning author of Children of Chicago, and Forgotten Sisters, forthcoming from Thomas and Mercer
• Fiction Editor Maria Haskins—an award-nominated Swedish-Canadian writer, reviewer, and translator whose work has appeared in Black Static, Interzone, Nightmare, Lightspeed, and The Best Horror of the Year.
• Fiction Editor Christa Wojciechowski—author of the novella Popsicle at Crystal Lake Publishing, as well as other works in Bram Stoker and Shirley Jackson nominated anthologies
• Non-Fiction Editor Sarah Lamparelli—a librarian whose work has appeared in Black Static and The Best Horror of the Year
• Poetry Editor Heather Foster—MFA graduate whose work has appeared in Third Coast, PANK, cream city review, Tampa Review, RHINO, Monkeybicycle, and South Dakota Review

Our Layout and Design team includes, Dullington Design (Todd Keisling), and Kip Ayers.

“We’re embracing the past, present, and the future of the industry,” says Wood. “From the past, we take the concept of patronage, but as a non-profit, it’s the people we rely on for our funding. In return, they receive a tiered set of benefits. Using the internet (present), we’ll share stories via Gamut Magazine, teach writing and literature courses via the Gamut Academy, and reach a much wider, global community through Gamut Publishing’s anthologies and longer works of dark speculative fiction. We have one common goal: to help people who have a passion to write master their art. These readers, writers, students, and teachers are the future, and we at Gamut want to be a part of making their dreams a reality.”

“We’re excited to be building on the past success of Gamut Magazine and Dark House Press, as well as my other editing projects to create reading experiences that are dark, weird, moving, original, and deep,” adds Thomas. “By tapping into a global experience, utilizing a wide range of voices and perspectives, we hope to celebrate this Golden Age of horror and other dark fiction, to really explore contemporary speculative fiction—through tension, fear, psychological horror, wonder, hope, magic, myth, alien realities, grand weirdness, and the unknown.”

Sign up for our email list to receive updates and join the House of Gamut community.

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Book Review: THE BEST OF GAMUT edited by Richard Thomas

THE BEST OF GAMUT edited by Richard Thomas (Gamut, Inc; January 01, 2024) Kindle edition. 220 pages.   ISBN # 9798989247813

Gamut Magazine is returning in 2024, under the House of Gamut umbrella. Gamut Magazine was an online magazine devoted to speculative fiction that ran from 2017 through 2019, successfully funded through a Kickstarter campaign. Along with the return of the magazine, the House of Gamut includes a publishing arm and a teaching academy.

As a former supporter, I received an advanced review pdf copy of THE BEST OF GAMUT from editor Richard Thomas, without obligation. However, I knew as soon as I became involved in the stories that I wanted to say something about this. (Scheduled release date is January 01, 2024).

I resisted the impulse to read this well-assembled anthology without interruption, and took my time in order to fully appreciate the stories individually on their own merits. THE BEST OF GAMUT is a very fine assortment of various genres and themes. I rated 10 of the 15 stories as above average, including a Five-Star stand-out, "The God Of Low Things" by Stephen Graham Jones, and four more that rated Four Stars or higher.

The stories:

ETCH THE UNTHINKABLE by Kurt Fawver - - The collection opens with a grim, disturbing tale that seems to symbolize much, and perhaps set the tone for this anthology. A crowd assembles to wait in line for a special pop-up comedy show with Etch The Clown performing inside a rundown, abandoned warehouse in an unnamed city. Some lines come to mind . . . . Comedy is Dead. Funny or Die. . . . . Funny and Die. Hard to get attached or feel something for any of these characters but the story and imagery linger in the mind. Shudder. THREE STARS.

METAL, SEX, MONSTERS by Maria Haskins A woman who discovers she is a succubus and/or soul-draining creature during a middle school lights-out party goes on a lifetime sex-and-destroy rampage until finally questioned by an investigator. There's a twisty ending to this one. The authors choice of first person narration makes this work. THREE AND ONE HALF-STARS.

SLIPPING PETALS FROM THEIR SKINS BY Kristi DeMeester DeMeester puts a creepy spin on vampiric and body snatcher themes with a story about a middle sister of three who tries to prevent a transformation after the older sister is invaded from within in flowery fashion. A bit predictable, as I saw the ending coming but I still enjoyed this symbolic tale. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.

GHOST STORIES WE TELL AROUND PHOTON FIRES by Cassandra Khaw A graveyard between the asteroids. Only two passengers left on the space ship. Maybe only one is real, and he's in love with the one who may not be real. They both age, but at vastly different rates. Will there be a confrontation with death? Lots of questions about this one. The way it is written is somewhat vague and often full of big words that I think the author included on purpose to add to the confusion. In spite of all that, I liked the story especially the back and forth dialogue. THREE STARS

GARNIER by Brian Evenson My favorite of the collection so far. A love triangle culminating in a murder, related to a real estate transaction. Narrated in two different points-of-view, those of the two male competitors for the female's attention. Which one of them murdered her? Both narrators drop clues while Evenson keeps us guessing.FOUR STARS 

LOVE STORY, AN EXORCISM by Michelle E. Goldsmith This one really crept under my skin and kept tingling. Throughout the entire story, you get a sense of dread and just keep reading waiting for the payoff (on the last page, for those keeping track - and subject to interpretation). Told in second person, which is a neat trick, but skillfully done here. A coming-of-age story where it's easy to empathize with the narrator, subject to a nearly lifelong dangerous relationship with an abusive and controlling best friend. FOUR AND ONE HALF STARS - best rating so far!

AN ENDING (ASCENT) BY Michael Wehunt I felt this one, especially during the perfectly chosen scenes and descriptive wording. Wehunt packs a punch, first to the gut and then to the heart. 

In the near future a cure for aging is developed. But through an unspecified glitch, the cure is ineffective on anyone born before 1980. A senior citizen who just missed the mark has to carry on knowing his wife, children and grandchildren will outlive him. (Gut punch). 

Then, the best part of his life for decades is about to be taken away from him, causing him to contemplate his purpose and reason.(Heart punch). That's a lot of hurt.

A real contender for top story in this collection. But, like many of the stories here the ending is not crystal clear and final resolution is left to the reader to decide. That took a bit of the bruise away. FOUR AND THREE-QUARTER STARS.

THE BUBBLEGUM MAN by Eric Reitan Two young children try to rescue their drugged mother from an abusive relationship with her pimp. A creepy clown with strange powers may provide the solution. Weird and unsettling story. THREE STARS AND ONE-QUARTER STARS 

THE MARK by Kathryn E. McGee Speaking of weird, I found myself saying "WTF?" after reading this story. McGee takes a seemingly minor situation and exaggerates both the scene and the outcome. Body horror of a most unusual variety. A lonely woman on a dinner date is troubled by a facial blemish. THREE AND ONE-QUARTER STARS 

FIGURE 8 by E. Catherine Tobler I'm not sure that the second person narration is absolutely essential to the way this science-fiction story is told. I did not relate to the main character, a female clone. She's the eighth version, and for unexplained reasons is determined to eliminate the seven that came before her. Still, this is fast-paced throwaway entertainment with a twisty ending that some may see coming. THREE STARS 

THE MOMENTS BETWEEN A horror story of the worst kind, and that's a compliment. It got under my skin and disturbed me. A mother in a rural farmhouse suspects something awful in the root cellar and takes drastic action. It's just a symbol for the bigger problem, and the real source of the horror. FOUR AND ONE-HALF STARS

THEY ARE PASSING BY WITHOUT TURNING by Helen Marshall A fantasy tale set in a post-religious war society where a young girl is recruited by the ministry and has several encounters with Archangels, eventually helping one to pass through it's final moments. More of a scence rather than a complete story. I found it difficult to determine what was the point of this long story. TWO STARS.

CRADLE LAKE by Jan Stinchcomb I read this story twice but, unfortunately, this was vague enough that I couldn't determine what the author meant. Here's what I guess happens: In the near future, a pregnant high school girl drowns herself in a lakeside community. It's an incident that adults want to forget, perhaps because the world has become sterile. The young folks, including elementary students, memorialize the death with plastic baby dolls that ends up driving their parents away. TWO STARS.

THE ARROW OF TIME by Kate Dollarhyde An emotional story about the bond between daughter and a dying mother. Together they mourn the ravages of climate change in California. The mother, an astrophysicist, invents a time machine to go back to better times. Time travel may have caused her incurable cancer. After her death, her daughter risks everything to use the machine. FOUR STARS

THE GOD OF LOW THINGS by Stephen Graham Jones It appears that the best was saved for last, and very deserving. A heart-warming blend of dark humor, some OCD behavior, nature and horror as only Stephen Graham Jones can tell it. A bicyclist has a collision with a prairie dog, and takes what he believes are humane actions that have both expected and unexpected consequences. FIVE STARS

The Coral - That's Where She Belongs

THE CORAL  2 of 2

The Coral - Wild Bird (Official Video)

Music of 2023, #120:  THE CORAL

Nation Of Language - Stumbling Still (Live on KEXP)

NATION OF LANGUAGE 4 of 4

Nation of Language - Too Much, Enough (Official Video)

NATION OF LANGUAGE 3 of 4

Nation of Language - Sole Obsession [Official Music Video]

NATION OF LANGUAGE 2 of 4

Nation Of Language - Weak In Your Light (Live on KEXP)

Music of 2023, #119:  NATION OF LANGUAGE

Barbie | Main Trailer

 

BARBIE on HBO . . . . .  This was so much better than I expected, even mixing

in some subtle messages/social commentary along with the entertainment.                                                  The opening was  very clever and set a tone that the film was just not able to maintain throughout.

Glad I didn't see it in theaters as I was getting distracted about 2/3 through.

A fun film, for the most part. THREE STARS.

Do Nothing - Happy Feet

DO NOTHING 2 of 2

Do Nothing - Nerve

Music of 2023, #118:  DO NOTHING

MY YEAR IN BOOKS - - - 2023

 One of the most appreciated changes in my life since retirement is the increased amount of time I can find to read, one of my favorite ways to pass the time.  It's not quite as much free time as I had anticipated, as there are still bookshelves of titles waiting for me to get to them. Still, it's more than I had before when I was working and made sure I read at least 30 minutes an evening before bed. Here's a nice overview of what I read in 2023 . . . . .

My Year In Books - 2023

 

Someday at Christmas - Pearl Jam

Bob Dylan - Must Be Santa (Official Video)

Christmas - - - BOB DYLAN. This one gets you singing and dancing.

Vibeke Saugestad - All I want for Christmas is you

Merry Christmas Loopy Lu-THE KAISERS

Regifting for the Holidays by THE ALICE PROJECT

the Seinfeld comedy series concept gets a Christmas song . . . .

Slade – Merry Xmas Everybody (Official Top Of The Pops Video)

more unconventional Christmas music . . . . . . SLADE

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny | Official Trailer

INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY on Disney+: A fitting

finale to the series. Harrison Ford is looking really tired, but manages to

put forth a memorable performance. Plenty of eye candy in this one, some 

great scenes  -- horseback riding in the NY subway, a car chase in the narrow

streets of Morocco, time travel to an ancient era. Cameos from major 

characters of the franchise. FOUR STARS.

PGHHEAD'S 2023 COMICS ODYSSEY, Part Forty

       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. This year I’m going to

fall short of the goal, but the effort was worth it . . . . .

# GOAL FOR December 10, 2023. . . 1,133 comics documented

CURRENT COUNT . . . . .  867 comics documented

#847 - #852  THE SIXTH GUN, VOLUME 8: HELL AND HIGH WATER by Cullen Bunn and Brian Hurtt (Oni Press, July 2015)  I’ve been following this series since Volume One and have become quite attached to Drake, Becky and company. It was a shocker to see things take such an unpleasant turn in Volume 7. You can’t help but root for these characters, and suffer with them when they are defeated. As if that wasn’t enough, the bad times continue in Volume 8.

  

There have been more battle scenes and action panels with dialogue or text in the last two volumes and the story has presented a showcase for Hurtt to display his distinctive expressive art style. 

   Synopsis:  The Six - the cursed pistols that can destroy the world - have fallen into the wrong hands. Griselda the Grey Witch and her henchman Jesup Sutter now control the weapons. As they prepare to use the guns to throw open the gates of Perdition and condemn the world to darkness, they are opposed only by a ragtag group of desperate heroes. But Drake Sinclair, Becky Montcrief, and Screaming Crow have a few surprises in store for the ageless witch. As the apocalypse dawns, a vicious gunfight rages in the streets of a nameless city!     

    The Knights of Solomon (another ancient order also interested in possessing the artifacts and securing them from use) decide to step in since Sinclair’s band have failed and are hiding out. Before things play out, they also take a beating. Seems like sacrifices are the order of the day, as the Grey Witch unlocks the seal and descends into the underworld to plunge the world into eternal darkness and start anew. After enduring more battles and an apocalyptic storm and flood, Becky comes to the conclusion that the only way to win may be to stand back and watch it happen. An old friend shows up (in a new role) and provides a gateway for them to enter the gates of Hell for a final confrontation. 

      This was an intense reading/viewing experience as Bunn and Hurtt are rapidly tying the various plot threads together for the concluding volume.

This has been a great and consistent series, often taking things in directions that were far from predictable. FOUR STARS.

#853 - #857  THE SIXTH GUN, VOLUME 9: BOOT HILL trade paperback by Cullen Bunn and Brian Hurtt (Oni Press, September 2016)  This makes the list of Top Ten Comics Series of All-Time (That I Have Read, an important disclaimer). The end was very satisfying. Both Bunn and Hurtt had a few more awe-inducing story twists and exhilarating illustrations up their sleeve for this very satisfying concluding volume. Of course I’d grown attached to certain characters and didn’t want to see them die, but this would not be a realistic story nor make the points it wants to make if nobody makes a sacrifice and all the good guys emerge unscathed.

   If you like the weird western genre or dark fantasy then put this one on your list to check out. Recommended. FIVE STARS

 Synopsis: 

The gates of the Armageddon have been thrown open, and the world we know has been destroyed. Now, Griselda and her minions journey through the Realm of the Dead in search of the Devil’s Workshop. Giving chase, Drake Sinclair and Becky Montcrief have one chance to stop the Grey Witch before she takes control of the Workshop and recreates the world in her horrific image. Old friends—and old enemies—reappear in this final apocalyptic chapter of the hit series!

#858 - #861  BACK ISSUE magazine #148 (TwoMorrows Publishing, December 2023)  When it comes to magazines about comics there is none better (for my money) than BACK ISSUE. I don’t read it regularly but grab an issue when the subject matter interests me.

  This issue features DC’s line-up of space-based characters from the Bronze Age, most notably ADAM STRANGE  but also the FROM BEYOND THE UNKNOWN anthology series, THE FABULOUS WORLD OF KRYPTON backup features, a spotlight on Superman villain MONGUL, and THE OMEGA MEN series. Everything is in depth, detailed, story synopsis, behind the scenes, interview with creators - - everything a comics fan could ask for. FIVE STARS.

#862  JENNIFER BLOOD: BATTLE DIARY #1 by Fred Van Lente and Robert Carey (Dynamite Entertainment, November 2023)  I’ve only read a couple random issues of Garth Ennis’ JENNIFER BLOOD before this. So, I wasn’t aware that she had passed on and her daughter was assuming her identity and role. No matter if this is your first time with the character, it’s easy to pick up on the gist of things. If you like Marvel’s PUNISHER comics and vigilante/anti-hero/gun for hire type of comics then I think you will like this as well.

    In this introductory/set-up issue, the new JB gains the confidence of the leader of a violent white supremacist gang who hands her the contract to rub out a corrections officer. Will she or won’t she? Maybe she’ll protect her prey and help her get the goods on the rest of the gang. Next issue should provide some answers. 

    There’s a very touching opening scene with JB visiting her mom’s grave  to pay respects, confess that she keeps her emotions in check and uses a journal to articulate her feelings, and admit that when she’s not Jennifer Blood she feels useless: “The world is grey and pointless . . . and I think . .  why do I bother?”   She’s on the verge of committing suicide when a cry for help from another section of the graveyard snaps her out of it. “But, so far, at least, whenever I’m at my lowest, something always happens to rescue me, to stay my own hand . . to bring the blood back into my veins.”

   An emotional moment that was ruined for me when it’s later revealed that she was on assignment, and was supposed to be at the graveyard to rescue a member of the gang, and was actually hired by them. I don’t think Van Lente made a mistake in the script - -  it just took the heart out of it for me. Maybe I’ll come back for Issue #2. We’ll see. Kind of bummed that this is a $4.99 book and there are no extras. Just a 20-page story. THREE AND ONE-QUARTER STARS.

    NOTES: While I’m on the subject of cover prices, let me get this one thing off my chest. Today, while visiting my local comics shop I saw some interesting new series debuts from both Boom and Dark Horse. Normally, those would be impulse buys and I’d check them out to see if I wanted to follow the series. However, not when these books were priced at $7.99, $9.99 and $5.99 and didn’t appear to offer much in the way of extras.  I’m just not going to spend that much on a single issue of an unproven title. What are these publishers thinking? 

#863 - #864 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #39 by Zeb Wells and John Romita, Jr. (Marvel Worldwide Inc, February 2024)  The big Spiderman event that has been building up for months in one or two page teasers is finally here.

Actually, this is the fourth part since Gang War kicked off in November in the AMAZING SPIDER-MAN: GANG WAR FIRST STRIKE #1. 

      On the downside I’m not a big fan of major event/crossovers in comics (with a few exceptions) and I’ve said enough about that before, so no need to rehash here. On the upside, I jumped into this story easily so there’s no need to read in order (at least in these opening stages) or feel you have to purchase 27 issues before the storyline wraps up in DAREDEVIL: GANG WAR #4 in March 2024. But, bless you if you do - - and know that all comic shops love you. 

   If you do decide to take the plunge, what you’ll find in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #39

is a fast-paced story that moves along fluidly considering all the various players, parts, and side stories. Romita, Jr.’s art seems made for am epic like this, and his action scenes are fun to view.  Plus, if you like team-up books this one features in addition to Peter Parker - - Miles Morales, She-Hulk, Elektra/Daredevil, and Spider-Woman - - as there are way too many criminal gangs scattered across Manhattan for just one super-hero to handle. 

    No casualties so far, although the credits page says that Hammerhead killed Madame Masque, who (no surprise) shows up near the end of this issue (unless that’s a new person behind the mask). I would expect some major players to be killed in the opening rounds of a gang war, but this is the Marvel U. and not the real world. However, Tombstone has been shot and is on life support while Hammerhead was hospitalized (briefly).THREE STARS.

#865 ASSASSIN’S CREED: VISIONARIES #1 by various creators (Studio Lounak/Massive Publishing, November 2023)  Creative teams in this anthology series are given complete freedom to develop their own versions of the blade-wielding, parkour-leaping/climbing assassin from Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed video games.  While I’m not a big fan of the game (my son Dave is, however) as well as the prior sampling of some of the comics series, that Albuquerque cover and interior art caught my eye.

     In the first story, “La Bestia” by Ale Santos and Rafael Albuquerque a female assassin in 1971 Brazil allows herself to be captured by the police so that she can infiltrate the prison/interrogation chambers led by a brutal former Nazi officer.

    The second feature, “No Tomorrow” with story and art by Stephane Louis  is a time-travel (more like time-influencer) tale that takes place in a future where the Templars believe they can influence future events in such a way as to eliminate the Assassin Brotherhood by killing the last one. A romantic betrayal that leads to rescue and training by a mythogical-looking creature and finalizes in retribution. “The Assassin’s Creed is eternal.”

     This was much better than I expected, with some appealing art and colors. I may have to check out Issue #2.  FOUR STARS.

#866  DEAD DETECTIVE #1 by Bob Heyoka and Fabio Lima Jansen (Black Box, November 2023)  While the story is interesting, there is no hook here to bring me back for Issue #2. I can guess that this series will be about the relationship between two detectives, one alive in the real world and the deceased other existing in the underworld/limbo but it never gets to that point and instead spends the entire issue revealing the incident 15 years prior (Detroit on fire, Devil’s Night, 1995) when Detective Rex Danto was killed by a devil cult. The issue ends in 2011 with his partner Jim Falls revisiting Danto’s grave, pouring a beer tribute onto the ground which opens a doorway leading down to a portal to  . . . where?  I am assuming it is the other dimension where he will reunite with his partner.

    The art and colors are really good with some creepy imagery but the story seemed plodding and predictable in spite of that. Art alone won’t keep me onboard, especially with a $4.99 book. 

   The synopsis on the publisher’s website reveals where this is going:  

     While investigating the death of his partner, a detective discovers a portal to the afterlife. Reunited in the underworld, they must solve the mystery of a demonic cult-and save the city of Detroit from the forces of evil.    It might have helped if that synopsis was included on the credits page. THREE AND ONE-QUARTER STARS.

#867  BLITMAP #1 by Jack Timer and Matias Basla (Sup Incorporated / Titan Comics, November 2023)  Another book like DEAD DETECTIVE, where the art and colors are much better than the story. If you’re looking for a new science-fiction comic to read in a futuristic solar punk metropolis world, then you may want to check this out. It looks like video game eye candy, and that’s no surprise as Sup is the brainchild of video game developers.   

What attracted me to this title is the unique publishing concept, as described on the webpage:  “Every printed copy comes with a one-of-a-kind, collector's item cover. No, really. Like every single cover. No one in the world will have the same cover as you.” . . .Sup Inc.'s team of engineers and artists took 6 months to develop a new patent-pending printing technology called "Hyperpress" so that every single copy is unique. Wrapped in foil blind bags, you can discover your cover when you open it. A feat achieved without using Artificial Intelligence.

   I’ve only included the foil bag art here. My specific cover features a side profile of the character Cici in the third image below the Blot-Map logo. I’ve seen some of the covers on the website and there are all variations on the 7 different panels on the bag. Mine is used several times. It’s just colored differently to make it unique. Still, a pretty cool concept.

You don’t really see what Cici looks like in the story, as she and all members of the Blitnauts faction wear television sets/video monitors as headgear. In the city of Caelum, Blitnauts and Logos battle for power. Cici is on a data retrieval mission and her group meets rich and privileged Logo Liz, who is bored and in search of adventure. Her bodyguard knows one of Cici’s group, so there is an uneasy bonding which becomes stronger when all of them are involved in a bar brawl. During the skirmish they fall into some kind of portal to an unknown location as the issue ends.

By purchasing this issue, I was able to register my unique cover via a QR code. There have been some follow-up emails from Sup, which I’m not tech savvy enough to be interested in. I’ll let them explain this part:   “The Blitmap IP is completely open-source. This means that anyone is free to use the IP and imagery, in any way they want. The comic is Sup's. sponsored contribution to the growing universe of Blitmap. Want to sell merch with Blitmap characters on it? Build a Blitmap video game? Create and monetize whatever you want - the IP belongs to you. Just don't duplicate the comic issue exactly and sell it.”

I’m not planning to explore that option. But, realizing that there may be some Pop Culture Podium friends that may want to utilize this, that I’m giving you all a heads-up here. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.