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.