For the last three years I have embarked on a Comics Odyssey, reading and writing reviews of comics towards an ambitious goal which I only attained on one of three attempts. This year, I still want to read more comics and write reviews, but I’m not setting a specific goal. I’ll just document them and number them. We’ll see how far I can go . . . . . . . .
In “Burning Ambitions” a pompous, blustering small town mayor fuels the the rage over “woke indoctrination’ in television, movies and comic books to finance his campaign for state governor. Public burnings of comic books occur as his Crusade Against Comics moves across the state’s public libraries. Until he snatches a coveted comic from the hands of a local librarian and recoils in shock at the cover and title: The Pyromaniac Politician. From that point he’s transported to within the pages of the comic book, where the white lines between panels are razor sharp and the sound effects and actions are real. Burning comics, indeed.
The parents of the young boy in “Keep It Fed” won’t believe that there’s a monster under his bed that wants to eat him. It agrees to spare him if he will feed it something he loves. So, he begins feeding it his comic book collection. Flash forward to his teenage years, where he’s still feeding the monster who shares his love of comics. His parents, upset that he hasn’t joined the working world, take his comics collection outside and begin to burn it. You can imagine what happens next. FIVE STARS.
#48 -#49 NINJAK: SUPERKILLERS BOOK 2 by Jeff Parker and Mike Norton (Valiant Entertainment / Alien Books) Synopsis:
PRESTIGE ED - 48 PAGES - Ninjak, with the help of Punk Mambo, must go deep undercover to infiltrate Daylight's organization. While every mercenary nips at their heels, Colin King must do the unthinkable and forget who he is, namely, the most excellent agent MI6 ever had. Along with Myna, in a role reversal now as his protector, they must confront Kingmaker and his sister, the all-knowing Syphon, for a blowout finale that comes with a body count.
That synopsis makes this sound better than it actually is. I hate to say that because I’ve been a fan of Valiant comics since the first iteration in the 1980’s under Jim Shooter’s direction. This just reads so formulaic, as if Parker and Norton are just going through the motions. Parker, who is capable of so much better, fails to wring any emotion out of the story. Norton also seems to have lost a step. There’s an announcement of a Valentine’s Day special Valiant book coming out as well as a new Ninjak one-shot in February, but I’m too disappointed by this to care. TWO AND ONE-HALF STARS.
Two good one-shot stories from DC Comics. I’m so happy they still do this occasionally . . . . . . . . . .
#50 THE PENGUIN #6 by Tom King and Stevan Subic “An Unimportant Man, Part One” (DC Comics, March 2024) Even though this story may continue beyond Issue #6, it ends at a complete stopping point. Story-telling and art are exceptional on this one. Synopsis:
The battles between the Penguin and Batman are the stuff of legend on the streets of Gotham City…but what of their very first encounter, the first strike in this contest of champions? Tom King and guest artist Stevan Subic (The Riddler: Year One) tell the story of the brutal first meeting of these two titans.
What impresses me most is how Tom King puts us right into the character’s head, revealing their thoughts via the text boxes. Also, three different points of view being expressed, differentiated by colors. Subic draws the creepiest, revolting Penguin.
Oswald Copplepot is just a lowly worker at a lounge, doubling as maintenance person and bartender. He becomes an informant to Batman and gives him the scoop on the whereabouts of various members of the Falcone crime family - - so there’s a bond of sorts as they are helping each other. Penguin is not above using people, as the ending to this issue clearly hints at. FOUR STARS.
#51 GREEN ARROW #8 by Joshua Williamson and Phil Hester. Inks by Eric Gapstur. Wild cover art by Sean Izaaske. Great art from Hester and a twisty plot from Williamson make for a fun, entertaining read. The hitman-hooeia apparently kills two prominent members of the Arrow family while another one goes missing. The Arrow family uses deception to uncover who’s really behind the contracts and learns that there’s a new spin to how the Suicide Squad operates, which should clue you as to who is the instigator. And, that missing Arrow family, member? Yeah, he apparently went to work for them.
There’s sure to be more to this storyline in the coming issues but what happens here is a satisfactory complete story if that’s all you’re looking for. FOUR STARS.
#52 - #59 AVENGERS: REVELATIONS Trade Paperback by various creators (Marvel Worldwide Inc, January 2015) This reprints four unrelated Avengers-connected tales, all from over-sized 2014 annuals. The best-looking entry is by Jim Starlin and Ron Lim, just breath-taking. The most original and creative entry is from Barbiere and Marco Rudy.
Just an average collection, elevated in my rating based on the original, creative Doctor Strange story.The Avengers Christmas story is boring and pointless, with simplistic art that suits the storyline but doesn't help make it appealing. The Mojo world story is typical of these staged confrontations but a little better. The Thanos story features breath-taking art but mainly serves as an overview of his history in the Marvel Universe. OVERALL RATING: THREE STARS.
Jim Starlin and Ron Lim tell a tale (from THANOS ANNUAL #1, 2014) that takes place before the conclusion of CAPTAIN MARVEL #33 (1974) that serves as place marker of sorts in the long journey of Thanos. His future (already know to us) is hinted at by various characters (Mephisto, the Living Tribunal, and a hologram of future Thanos). THREE STARS.
The Uncanny Avengers (Cap’s attempt to integrate mutants into the team) get transported to Mojo world and his latest scripted reality television extravaganza. Can they survive the wrath of an unleashed Ghost Rider/Spirit of Vengeance teamed with the new Avengers of the Supernatural? Story by Rick Remender and Paul Renaud from UNCANNY AVENGERS ANNUAL #1 (2014). TWO AND ONE-HALF STARS.
Doctor Strange is called upon to fulfill an old debt to an enclave of Himalayan techno-monks = end the threat to the neighboring village by an escaped demon. There’s also an emotional flashback to the eary days of Strange’s medical career when he was arrogant and felt godlike until a humbling incident became a character builder, an incident that he recalls when solving the problem of the demon. Very compelling story with creative art that is sometimes hard to follow. Story by Frank Barbiere and Marco Rudy from NEW AVENGERS ANNUAL #1 (2014).FOUR STARS.
How the various Avengers spend Christmas Eve, and who will be the loneliest tonight (hint: Cap) is detailed through various incidents and situations that are never connected. They just happen, and most of them are pretty dumb. I found this to insult my intelligence, especially the overly simplistic art. I can’t even imagine a young reader enjoying this. Story by Kathryn Immonen and David LaFuente from AVENGERS ANNUAL #1 (2014) TWO STARS.
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