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 . . . . . . .
#213 - #214 G.I. COMBAT #269 by various creators (DC Comics, September 1984)
There are four short stories in this anthology book, all written by the prolific Robert Kanigher, a name familiar to all readers of DC war comics published in that time period. Writing tight, eight page stories that are memorable and often convey a message is a definite skill. With very few anthology comics (except some notable horror titles) on the market these days, that skill may be lost.
The best of the bunch is “A Tunnel Through Hell”, a WWII Haunted Tank story illustrated by Sam Glanzman (another familiar war comics artist). Just when the crew of the tank is getting disillusioned at all the killings they get a chance to make a difference and help save a peasant family.
OSS Super-Spy “The Suicide Six”, drawn by E.R. Cruz is a tight suicide mission to prevent the Nazis from being the first to complete an atomic bomb.
Sgt. Bullett and the Bravos of Vietnam are the major players in “Mekong Madness” with art by Angel Trinidad Jr. A squad of Green Berets go a.w.o.l. on a desperate mission to rescue their comrades from a Vietcong camp. The Bravos are assigned to track them down as deserters, and when they learn of their mission they end up joining in. Not everyone makes it back from this one.
“Glory Ride” is the second Haunted Tank story this issue by Kanigher and Glanzman. Tank commander Jeb Stuart makes friends with a wild stallion on the Brittany Coast, and manages to outrun a Panzer tank in order to warn the guys. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
Before I state anything about these next two titles and turn a bit cynical (yeah, I can be cynical when it comes to the Big 2 publishers) - - I have to say that I’m especially grateful to Marvel for spending the money to produce these two preview issues and to make them available for free at local comic shops. That’s a costly decision for them, but more importantly it is considerate of comic buyer’s budgets. This way readers can get a better feel for these upcoming titles, and decide if they want to go in for a little, in for a lot, or not at all. Thanks, Marvel!
#215 BLOOD HUNT DIARIES one-shot (Marvel, April 2024) This previews five pages of story and art from BLOOD HUNT #1. There are also interviews with several creators talking about their individual series for this event, as well as art, sketches, and new character (villains, mostly) previews.
Interesting aside: I mentioned to Jason at Captain Blue Hen Comics (Newark, DE) today that maybe this should have been re-titled DC VS VAMPIRES II in a joking way, meaning that Marvel and DC always copy each other - - and since DC enjoyed some success with their entry, Marvel has to do in an even bigger way. Jason pointed out that the DC vampire saga took place in an alternate version of the DC universe, while the new BLOOD HUNT occurs in current Marvel continuity. Which means that some characters might die (doubtful, and if so not for long) or the event may have some other effect, such as a popular Marvel hero gets turned into a vampire for a story arc or more (even a year). I admit that could be more interesting. I nominate Reed Richards to get turned - - and see if the other vampires blacklist him because he gets too annoying by talking about their blood urges in a scientific manner.
I also admit that the art (what little is actually shown here) is engaging and some of the new characters and creator ideas have promise. However, I’m not going to follow this series, and not because of the cost. I just have never liked the idea of mixing superheroes with vampires. And I go back as far as when Dracula temporarily turned Storm in Claremont’s UNCANNY X-MEN. And, that Avengers (or was it The Ultimates?) versus vampires story arc that included Blade didn’t wow me. I almost got hooked by the debut issue of DC VS VAMPIRES but decided to pass. I like my vampires as part of pure horror, not with superhero seasoning.
But, don’t pass up the opportunity to check this one-shot out (it’s FREE!) and decide for yourself. Your interests may vary from mine. (I’m sure of that).
For the minimalists, the anchor series for this event is BLOOD HUNT, running five issues from May through July. For a deeper dive, you’ll want to get the 16 spin-off titles between one-shots and three-part or four-part mini-series. That will involve your purchasing 37 individual issues. I’ll let you do the math and estimate the cost. And for the completists, you’ll want to pick up the regular monthly series that the Blood Hunt event will run through. That will add another 16 issues and 7 titles: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN, AVENGERS, DOCTOR STRANGE, FANTASTIC FOUR, MILES MORALES: SPIDER-MAN, VENGEANCE OF THE MOON KNIGHT AND VENOM. Wretched excess, or horn of plenty? You be the judge.
#216 PLANET OF THE APES: FALL OF MAN sampler by David F. Walker and Dave Wachter (Marvel, June 2024)
Compared to the BLOOD HUNT preview, there’s a lot more than five pages of story here: it’s a complete introduction as well as enough back-story to assist brand-newcomers to the Apes mythology. That’s more than enough to decide if you like what this story is about - - and there’s a lot of potential here.
There’s a nasty pandemic on Earth that began in 2012 and continues in 2015 where the story picks up. Because of ignorance, a lack of fact-checking and prejudice the disease is being blamed on apes. Many want to eradicate them, falsely concluding that this will stop the spread of the disease. Others recognize that there are other causes and want to save the apes from extinction. Meanwhile the apes are smarter than they appear but have wisely remained silent (since they’re captive and confined, but for how long?).
I’ve not been a big fan of the Apes film franchise so I’m passing this up, but there’s enough popularity for a comics publisher to pick up the licensing rights and revive the franchise. I’ve read a smattering of titles from their beginnings in Marvel black-and-white magazines up to the more recent Boom! Studios series and there have been some really good storylines and art - - as well as some really bad ones. If you’re a fan, I think you may like this one.
Again, thank you Marvel for helping fans make informed decisions! Also, thanks to Maroon Hornet Comics & Collectibles (Oxford, PA) for supplying the preview issues.
#217 - #218 LITTLE DEATHS one-shot graphic novella written by David Doub with art by Andrew Herman and Paul Maitland (Odyssey Comics LLC, August 2022)
Synopsis: “Opera singer. Duelist. Adventurer. French historical icon Julie d’Aubigny, also known as Mademoiselle Maurine, was all of these and more. LITTLE DEATHS delivers stories deserving of Julie’s legend as she encounters villains, lover, and the fantastic secrets of 17th century France.”
Crowdfunding is a viable option for upcoming comics creators to self-publish their works. It’s also been used by more familiar and established creators to complete works that comics publishers are reluctant to take a chance on. ComixTribe and Devils Due are two publishers that have enjoyed much success with Kickstarter, etc campaigns to fund their projects. Fontana, California-based Odyssey Comics’ mission is to provide a similar role for creators, and so far it appears they have crowdfunded seven titles.
As a comics reader, it has become a little challenging deciding whether to support a crowd-funded book or not, and not just because of the necessary higher costs. I was more active years back. Lately I’ve been very selective about supporting crowdfunded projects - usually I have to be familiar with the creators. There are many stories of customers being burned, or not receiving all that was promised. Sometimes the art previews on the Kickstarter, etc sites don’t reveal enough to tell if the total work will be equal in quality. As to the quality of the writing, that’s even more of a dice roll.
Such is the case with LITTLE DEATHS, three stories based on the historical character. There are some high quality panels and scenes here, as well as some lesser quality. Overall, the book is inconsistent.
Julie d’Aubigny was the daughter of a cabinet member in the reign of King Louis IV, and a bit of a free-thinking, independent woman. She was taught alongside the pages and was a skilled dancer and duelist. She rebelled against her arranged marriage and eventually ran away with her lover, paying their way on their journey by fencing, singing and dancing.
The stories are for mature audiences and border on erotic in some places. The art can be muddled during action scenes and crystal clear in others. There is a lot of French dialogue, which would have benefited from a captioned translation (since most American readers only understand one language).
There is a specific role-playing game module in the back of the book that seems much more detailed than the rest of this slim volume. Still, there may be an audience for this title. If you have an interest in the historical character, you might want to check this out.
There are two covers published, and the publisher is now running a sale on Cover A (the upper version) for $6.99 (reduced from $14.99) Cover B (the lower version) will cost you $19.99. Go to www.odysseycomics.com for details.
A- for effort. C+ for execution. THREE STARS.
P.S. . . . Thanks to Captain Blue Hen Comics for providing me a free copy of this, and their generosity as I recover from a serious knee injury.
#219 - #220 SGT. ROCK ANNUAL #2 “Sealed In Blood” by Robert Kanigher and Dan Speagle (DC Comics, 1982) The prolific war comic writer Kanigher gets a full issue to tell a 41-page story and fills this out with enough side plots and guest characters for a mini-series. Nice to see him get a chance to step away from the eight-page tales and expand a bit. He makes the most of it.
Guests in this issue include General MacArthur, the Haunted Tank squad, the Goliath of the Western Front, Mlle. Marie and her Maqui team, Helga Voss, Johnny Cloud, the Iron Major, and Sgt. Frank Rock’s younger brother - - Larry Rock. The story is book-ended with the scene depicted on the cover of the two brothers confronting each other. There are several flashback scenes that detail Larry’s military career as well as early days in their hometown when older brother Frank was his protector from bullies.
Larry Rock saw service in Okinawa, was injured and later became a confidante of General MacArthur. Larry was captured by Nazis and the Iron Major intended to torture him for the details of MacArthur’s Pacific victory plan. Sgt. Rock gets a special one-man mission - - “the prisoner has information which would cost countless Allied lives in the Nazis force it out of him . . . If humanly possible, rescue him. If not . . . execute him!”
Frank manages to free his brother, but they end up trapped on top of that grounded cable car. He can’t bring himself to shoot Larry, and Larry ends up making the ultimate sacrifice. No time for scenes of remorse or sorrow from Sgt. Rock - - it’s the final page of the issue. FOUR STARS.
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