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 . . . . . . .
#131 - #132 NICK FURY VS. S.H.I.E.L.D. #5 of 6. Written by Bob Harras. Pencils by Paul Neary Inks by Kim DeMulder. Cover #5 by Kevin Nowlan (Marvel Comics, October1988) Following the explosion at the missile base in Hong Kong, Nick Fury has an uneasy alliance with Madame Hydra as they head to the Himalayas and uncover some reveals into the mystery of the Delta Equation and the corruption within S.H.I.E.L.D.
Corporate big-wigs from all over the globe are aligning with the Delta Program. S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Clay Quartermain, a product of the secretive regenerative process, is impressing new S.H.I.E.L.D. brass while agent Rollins is disturbed by what he has become and what the process means.
Harras really drops a ton of references here, all kind of vague but hopefully will be explained in the conclusion - - - The Ascension Call. Encoders. The Sacred Time. Unearthly spheres. Beyond LMDs (Life Model Decoys) to the next levels. Tractor beams pulling “chosen ones” towards the S.H.I.E.L.D. satellite. Delta’s “priests”. Ex-communcation.
So much to decipher! THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
#133 - #134 NICK FURY VS. S.H.I.E.L.D. #6 of 6 Written by Bob Harras. Pencils by Paul Neary. Inks by Kim DeMulder. Cover #6 by Tom Palmer. (Marvel Comics, November 1988). Putting up with the mystery, confusion, and side plots/scenarios was worth it to get this pay-off in the final issue. Everything gets explained, and the origins of the Delta Project and breakdown within S.H.I.E.L.D. are revealed - - and the source is surprising and unexpected. Many of these items were devised to maneuver Nick Fury into position so the Infinity Formula within his veins could be tapped to create a master race that can regenerate their decaying, aging bodies at will. I don’t want to share anymore than that, in case you want to read it. Despite everything I’ve shared so far, you may still be surprised - - in a good way, Some really good story-telling on display here, with wonderful art and some great creators contributing covers. FOUR STARS OVERALL.
#135 DUKE #3 by Joshua Williamson and Tom Reilly (Image Comics/Skybound, February 2024) Synopsis: Duke has been captured and held in the Pit, along with Clutch. They agree to work together (sort of) with the other captive, The Baroness, for an escape attempt. But Destro (not completely revealed yet, but you can guess from the shadowy profiles) wants Duke destroyed and sends Major Bludd to infiltrate the pit.
While I’m curious to see how the Energon Universe eventually merges the Transformers and G.I. Joe domains together, I’m not following any of the new Transformer titles. Why? This may bother some fans to know, but I have never ever read a Transformer comic that really interested me. Great toys, but never liked the stories - - and I’m familiar, having read them to my young son back in the day as well as taking him to the movies and watching the tv series. I did check out the new G.I. JOE, COBRA COMMANDER, and DUKE series - - but DUKE is the only one that I’m sticking with.
There’s four reasons for that: 1) This reminds me of the original Marvel G.I. Joe comics as well as the best of the cartoon series in a warm, nostalgic way and 2) Williamson knows his G.I. Joe history, respects the canon and doesn’t upset the applecart while still putting a different spin on these familiar characters. #3) The visuals and colors are really cool, and different from the older comics. 4) Not much of a follow-up to the original threat of the Transformers, which is what got Duke into all this trouble, but how Williamson meshes this into the storyline is intriguing me. FOUR STARS.
#136 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #43 by Zeb Wells and John Romita, Jr. (Marvel Worldwide Inc, April 2024) Synopsis: The final battle has arrived. With MADAME MASQUE controlling the majority of lower Manhattan, she’s changed her tactics to focus on her biggest threat, BEETLE. The daughter of Harlem gang leader TOMBSTONE has been making big moves in this war and now controls everything in Manhattan north of Central Park, but she’ still not satisfied.
The two powerhouses have gathered all their forces in Central Park to decide who gets to take it all and sweep up the straggling players. It’s a coin toss who will win, but SPIDER-MAN and his team don’t intend to let that coin land. They’re entering the fray to end this gang war once and for all. To the victor goes the city!
This marks the 21st chapter (not counting all the preview and teaser issues) in the 27-part GANG WAR that began in November 2023 and concludes with DAREDEVIL: GANG WAR in March 2024. (Strikes me as odd that a Spiderman epic doesn’t conclude in a Spider-Man issue, but maybe it’s a wrap-up/epilogue). I did not attempt to read them all, realizing that it was actually possible to pick out random issues and still enjoy this.
After all, this is at its’ essence a long, drawn-out brawl but a pretty entertaining one. Most appreciated is John Romita Jr.’s art in his distinctive blocky style that really amplifies the battle scenes.
In this issue, Spider-Man visits a hospitalized Randy Robertson, and vows to bring the gang war to an end. During the battles there’s a bit of trash-talk and swaggering as well as some fun exchanges. Big baddie Tombstone does some soul-searching and begins to regret the role model he unconsciously provided for his daughter. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
#137 - #141 CHEW, VOLUME FIVE: MAJOR LEAGUE CHEW by John Laymon and Rob Guillory (Image Comics, April 2011) Synopsis:
Tony Chu - the cibopathic federal agent with the ability to get psychic impressions from what he eats - has been kidnapped! He was ambushed, knocked out, brought to a remote location, and bound securely. His captor intends to feed Tony from a menu of his choosing, to find out what Tony can see, in order to learn from him. His daughter, Olive, has been kidnapped for the exact same reason. Two kidnappers, two captives, and two very different outcomes. Presenting the fifth storyline of the New York Times bestselling, Harvey and multiple Eisner Award-winning series about cops, crooks, cooks, cannibals, clairvoyants - and kidnappers!
Comics friend Francois Demorcy mentioned that as it progressed, the CHEW series became darker and darker, and I see it heading in that direction with Volume 5. Yet, I found this to be the most entertaining and exciting story arc in this wacky world created by Layman and Guillory since the introductory Volume One. Layman's story ideas are always inventive and wildly weird. Guillory's art is really growing on me. It reminds me a bit of Sergio Aragones, and seems to get better and better as this series moves forward.
I especially appreciate how every single element/theme/character, no matter how seemingly insignificant, shows up in later volumes to play a bigger role in the series. Two examples in MAJOR LEAGUE CHEW: the behind-the-scenes machinations of the Russian culinary vampire from earlier volumes, as well as the return of the cock-fighting rooster Poyo.
Some highlights:
CHAPTER ONE Mike Applebee finally fires Tony Chu, who ends up as a pedestrian traffic cop/meter reader who rises in rank due to his tasting abilities solving some crimes. His former partner, Colby, ends up with the FDA partnered with a sentient lion who steals all the credit for their collars.
CHAPTER TWO Tony's daughter, Olive, begins her captive training by some unlikely teachers (and former allies/foes of Tony). At the same time, Tony is kidnapped by the former boyfriend of Amelia, Tony's current love interest. In especially brutal fashion, with more ominous purpose than just jealousy.
CHAPTER THREE Dan Franks, Tony's captor, has found a way to achieve his life-long dream to write a nonfiction book about the sex lives and scandals of former major league baseball stars - - by transcribing what Tony learns from eating their exhumed body parts.
CHAPTER FOUR Meet Herschel Brown, a xocoscalpere who can sculpt chocolate into any form that can exactly mimic its real-life counterpart. On assignment, Olive discovers an enhanced cibopathic ability - - she can assume the skills of anyone's blood that she consumes. This ability plays a major role in Chapter Five, as Tony throws a Tom Seaver-like fastball from hell.
CHAPTER FIVE Amelia Mintz, the saboscrivner girlfriend, uses her abilities to learn where Tony is being held captive and manages to assist him. Colby gets assigned to a new partner at the FDA, the now heavily-armored Poyo.
Crazy good stuff here, as long as you have the stomach for it. FIVE STARS.
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