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 . . . . . . .
#248 - #253 CHEW, VOLUME SIX: SPACE CAKES written and lettered by John Layman, illustrated and colored by Rob Guillory (Image Comics, December 2012)
Synopsis:
While Tony Chu - the cibopathic federal agent with the ability to get psychic impressions from what he eats - clings to life in a hospital ICU, his twin sister Toni steps up to take center stage. Toni is cibovoyant, able to see the future of anything she eats, and, lately, she's seeing some pretty terrible things. Presenting a new storyline of the New York Times Bestselling, Harvey and multiple Eisner Award-winning series about cops, crooks, cooks, cannibals, and clairvoyants. Collects CHEW issues #26-30, plus the blockbuster spin-off one-shot that stole America's heart, Secret Agent Poyo.
A very different and note-worthy volume of Chew. With Tony in intensive care for most of this story arc, his twin sister Toni takes center stage and Layman takes maximum advantage of putting her under the spotlight.
Guillory's art as always is amusing and inventive, reminding me of a Mad Magazine style that blends Sergio Aragones and Jack Davis together. The Space Cakes arc is the funniest so far and had me laughing at numerous scenes. You will too, as long as you appreciate dark humor. That is, until the final chapter where things take a completely unexpected turn that will change the course of things to follow. That ending made me sad. Comics friend Francois warned me that this series was going to get darker. I was still taken by surprise.
Layman never bores or seems to run out of off-the-wall scenes. There is a handful of interesting characters (mostly villains) introduced here, all with unusual food-related abilities and crazy names to describe them. The vampiric (but he's not) character from the very beginning plays a major role throughout the various settings here. Also, Poyo the bionic fighting rooster gets a one-shot issue that is so over-the-top that it seems rational. FOUR STARS.
#254 THE SCALE TRADE #1 by Steve Orlando and Megan Huang (Magma Comix, May 2024) This is the third offering from new comics publisher Magma, and while I consider it the weakest of the trio I thought the premise was interesting. I’d like to see where Orlando will take this storyline.
The world here is one where dragons exist and don’t appear threatening. They have the ability to crossbreed and create hybrid species. However, dragon existence is endangered by illegal hunting and trapping, called The Scale Trade. Dragons are valued for their meat, their leather, and their bones.
Despite poaching being made a felony in 1982, the underground Scale Trade continues to thrive. Pressure from lobbyists almost succeeded in defunding the Dragon Conservancy Agency until a concerned activist/investor stepped in to finance their continuation.
Young Carmen Triton is a new DCA recruit, and quickly learns that due to misinformation campaigns the general public doesn’t see dragon poaching as a problem. Even law enforcement either frowns on the work of the DCA or looks the other way when poachers are exposed. Carmen, under the tutelage of veteran DCA agent Nick Cutter, finds out just how difficult their job is when they uncover a black market slaughterhouse.
The art by Huang has some moments but overall doesn’t seem to mesh with the tone of the story. While it has a crisp look, it seems more suited for a middle grade or young adult graphic novel. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
Disclaimer: I received a digital review copy from the publisher without obligation. I wrote this review solely because I wanted to.
#255 SPACE GHOST #1 by David Pepose and Jonathan Lau (Dynamite Entertainment, May 2024) “There is a cosmic vigilante who metes out justice across the space ways, bringing vengeance to those who prey upon the defenseless . . . They call him the . . . SPACE GHOST.”
This is another revival of the classic Saturday morning cartoon character (not the Space Ghost Coast To Coast talk show host from Adult Swim on the Cartoon Network - although the person is the same). Perhaps Dynamite can do what Gold Key, Marvel, DC, Comico and other publishers
did not - - establish a continuing series. Issue #1 provides a good starting point, as Pepose seems to be familiar enough with the series to include the regular cast (as well as some villains). With a welcome assist from Lau on art, they recreate the feel, the visuals, and vibe of the original 1960’s cartoons. Although this version is quite a bit darker and more violent. Nobody died or was killed onscreen in the cartoon, to the best of my recollection.
I was aware of the original series from Hanna-Barbara Studios in 1966 but only had a cursory interest in Saturday morning cartoons at that point. I was fourteen, in ninth grade, and my preoccupations had changed quite a bit. Space Ghost reminded me of a cross between classic pulp heroes The Shadow and The Phantom with the outer-space elements added. I loved his invisibility belt and ghost ship.
This debut issue provides the origin of young Jan and Jace (with chimp Blip) teaming up with Space Ghost, something never covered in the original series. Space Ghost is still mysterious. Here’s hoping Pepose creates an interesting back-story for him.
I’m not sure I’m all-in for a continuing series, although this is a good effort. I picked up Issue #1 purely for nostalgic reasons. THREE STARS.
Fun facts: The Space Ghost character was designed by iconic illustrator Alex Toth. Gary Owens (the announcer on the Laugh-In tv show) was the original voice for Space Ghost in the first cartoon series, and a young Tim Matheson (Animal House) provided the voice for Jace.
#256 - #257 BEAR PIRATE VIKING QUEEN #1 of 3 by Sean Lewis and Jonathan Marks Barravecchia (Image Comics, May 2024) If you’ve read as many comics as I have, it’s often hard to find something that seems fresh and different. I knew nothing about this title, but did check out the preview pages on the Comics Hub site and pre-ordered this based on the art alone.
A wonder to behold. There are traces of Bill Sienkiewicz, Ben Templesmith, Andrea Mutti and Jon J. Muth (all artists that I admire) in the style of Barravecchia. Check out the highly detailed penciling without dark ink lines, and watercolor washes on other scenes. The only flaw is the faint, tiny lettering (also by Barravecchia) which can be challenging to read clearly in several panels.
But what about the story, and what’s different about it? Pirates! You just don’t find many pirate comics. The addition of supernatural and fantasy elements makes this is a winner for me.
A seafaring British captain protecting the Queen’s treasures has his ship boarded by pirates and is thrown overboard for the sharks to enjoy. Instead, he lives thanks to the unusual presence of a huge bear in the water, who befriends, rescues him, and even communicates. The captain transforms into a pirate and preys on other British ships utilizing clever boarding tactics. When his crew encounters a mysterious Viking vessel, things take another weird turn.
They find a madman proclaiming to be a wizard, his two exotic daughters, and a thing in the hold that presents an even bigger threat. Soon, the captain is dead in the water again. Will he still be the narrator in Issue #2? If you like different, seek this out. FOUR AND ONE-HALF STARS.
#258 - #262 CHEW, VOLUME SEVEN: BAD APPLES by John Layman and Rob Guillory (Image Comics, August 2013) Based on how dark of a turn the story took in Volume Six, I wasn’t sure what to expect in Volume Seven. Although there are some dark moments here, things get back to the wacky humor that keeps holding my attention. Even though this seems like a kind of filler volume that sets up some major events to come, the intricate little side plots that Layman throws in are so much fun.
As always, the storyline is unpredictable and provides plenty of surprises - - one of the many reasons I keep coming back. This is never boring. Guillory’s art continues to amaze. He is the perfect compliment to Layman’s script, enhancing things in big ways by how he choses to illustrate or spice up a scene.
In Volume Seven, Tony Chu is released from the hospital, reinstated as an FDA agent, and reunited with cyborg-faced partner Colby. Since the outbreak of bird flu (way back in Volume One) the government has diminished the crackdown on illegal chicken consumption. But their efforts are not enough to satisfy the egg-worshipping Cult of the Ova, who take up the cause in terroristic fashion. Fellow agent Ceasar, who has a past with Tony’s twin sister, is communicating behind the scenes with another fellow agent - Savoy - who may be secretly training a Chu family member.
This volume introduces a huge plate of characters with weird food powers and equally weird names to describe them. That vampiric food foe (and collector/consumer of weird food freaks) is back in the storyline, setting things up for a showdown with Tony.
Some more examples of creative amusement this volume: the Thinergy Super Soda the diet drink that ends up burning way more than just fat cells; the Torta-Espadero who fashions ninja stars from tortillas; and a two-page preview of a showdown between the armored Poyo rooster and a penguin Chthulu monster. FOUR STARS.
#263 FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 2024 - ABSOLUTE POWER SPECIAL EDITION by Mark Waid and Mikel Janin (DC Comics, May 05 2024)
I really enjoy the way that Waid sets this up and builds tension - - a great introduction to the upcoming series. Janin’s art sparkles. In addition to the prelude story, there are some biographies of major characters in the Absolute Power storyline (spoiler - - Amanda Waller at the controls again) and an even shorter preview of Issue #1 (also a great tension-building setup).
Waid still knows how to tell an engaging story utilizing DC’s iconic characters as well as many secondary and minor players. He still has the Midas touch when it comes to super-hero fare. This isn’t for me, but not because it’s not interesting. I decided many years ago to stay away from multi-issue, crossover epics like this. I just don’t want to devote that much of my comics budget to super-hero comics. Those of you who enjoy these long-playing tales should definitely check this out. It looks to be better than your average fare. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
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