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 . . . . . . .
#264 CONAN THE BARBARIAN FREE COMIC BOOK DAY by Jim Zub and Jonas Scharf (Titan Comics, May 04 2024) This features the prelude to the “Battle of the Black Stone”, the first multi-part Conan story under the Titan Comics imprint. It will begin in the SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN #4 magazine and then move to CONAN: BATTLE OF THE BLACK STONE #1.
Is it any good? Well, the art sure is. The story is interesting but a bit too short to be sure. Conan is in Aquilonia and in fierce battle to halt an unusual onslaught by Picts into their land, led by a monstrous giant.
After winning the battle, Conan spots a black stone necklace with a strange sigil on the giant. This sends him into a panic. At the same time, several of Robert E. Howard’s lesser-known fictional characters from different time periods also find the sigil in unusual places. I’m guessing the upcoming epic will also feature their encounters with the black stone. There’s a text piece in the back sharing some minor details about each of these characters.
I’m curious to see what else Titan will do with the Conan character and may have to check this out. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
#265 FLASH GORDON #0 by Jeremy Adams and Will Conrad (Mad Cave Studios, FCBD 2024) The space adventurer created as a newspaper comic strip in 1934 has seen many iterations and never seems to completely go away. There’s a lot to like in this pulp-era character. The art in this latest version is eye-catching and rivals original writer/artist Alex Raymond.
Synopsis: “It’s a race against time as Flash Gordon, Dale, and Doctor Zarkov try to stop the villainous MING THE MERCILESS from using the UNRAVELLER, a device that can unwind an object to their subatomic structure in one apocalyptic burst of energy. Can Flash save Earth once again, or will Ming finally get the upper hand and change the course of the universe forever?”
Of course, we all know the answer to that, and Ming’s plan is foiled thanks to a variation on the Trojan Horse. As portrayed here, Ming and his minions appear more alien than I’ve seen in previous versions. This is a good beginning. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
#266 THE WORLDS OF JAMES TYNION IV by James Tynion IV with art by Werther Dell’Edera, Eryk Donovan, and Michael Dialynas (Boom! Studios, FCBD 2024)
This collection of excerpts serves as a showcase for the classic horror series Tynion has done for Boom! as well as a testimonial to the creative genius behind the stories.
For those unfamiliar with Tyrion’s original horror tales, whoever they may be, this is a great introduction. These selections give just enough of the story to indicate the plots as well as tease. Here’s hoping comic shops are stocked up on Volume One of these titles: SOMETHING IS KILLING THE CHILDREN, MEMETIC, and THE WOODS. I have read two of these and maybe should check out THE WOODS next time. FOUR STARS.
#267 JONAH HEX #67 by Michael Fleisher and Dick Ayers (DC Comics, December 1982) Fleisher had a long run on the first volume of Jonah Hex stories, and his work is consistently good. If you like western comics with a sometimes supernatural twist, this is the place. (My favorite is the Joe R. Lansdale/Tim Truman version. Now, that is the very definition of weird western!)
In “Deadman’s Hand!” Mr. Croy is a gunslinger/cardshark who was part of the renegade calvary scouts who years before stole an Army payroll and were responsible for the death of Hex’s fiancee Cassie. When Jonah Hex shows up in town, Croy tries to sniper-shoot him through the window of his hotel room but mistakenly strikes a woman who was wearing Hex’s hat. The chase is on and Hex eventually catches up to Croy, who draws his weapon first but still loses the gunfight. THREE AND ONE-QUARTER STARS.
#268 JONAH HEX #70 by Michael Fleisher and Dick Ayers (DC Comics, March 1983) I liked this story even more, as there is quite a bit more going on. Sadly, it’s not concluded in this issue and I don’t have #71 in my small collection of Jonah Hex.
In “The Mountain of Manitou” the last member of the robbers mentioned in #67 is now a prominent small-town businessman and has regrets about what happened. He decides to seek out Jonah Hex and confess, willing to accept punishment.
He runs into Hex and current companion Emma, but in an unexpected way. The son of the businessman wants to inherit his father’s fortune and hires some gunmen to ambush him. Hex gets caught in the middle, and rescues him but not before escaping by rope down a cliff face and getting swept downstream by fierce river currents.
They take shelter in a cave where a tribe of secretive Indian warriors led by Chief Manitou plot revenge on the white men by blowing up a dam and flooding a town, leaving the captive and bound Hex and company behind with a single guard. They manage to get free, but the hired gunmen show up as the issue ends. THREE AND THREE-QUARTER STARS.
#269 - #273 CHEW, VOLUME EIGHT: FAMILY RECIPES by John Layman and Rob Guillory (Image Comics, March 2014) Wow, ten years ago! I continue to be entertained by this wacky blend of crime and dark (sometimes morbid) humor with equally engaging and humorous art full of little surprises hidden within the panels.
While we await the inevitable and previously forecasted showdown between John Chu and the semi-vampiric collector/consumer of people with weird food abilities, Layman slow-walks towards it - almost like teasing us - - but continues to features such fascinating subplots.
The title of this story arc is spot-on, as Volume 8 showcases other family members in addition to John Chu. We get a flashback to sister Toni and an early encounter with organized crime (funny), a previous situation where Tony helps out brother Chow (also funny), a flashback to Tony’s early days dating his now deceased wife (funny, yeah), his daughter its featured in several side stories (also funny), Mason Savoy is back in a Supermax Food Prison (funny, ditto), and because Tony has run out of dead Toni toe (you heard that right) and her warning/advice to him, he has to eat some mushroom/fungi plant and mix with some psychedelic toad-like things to continue his conversations with her ectoplasmic form and exhibits some stoned-out behavior (not funny - hilarious!)
Not as dark as the previous two volumes. I really don’t mind the delay in what may end up being the final battle in the final volume. FOUR STARS.
#274 BLOOD HUNT/UNCANNY X-MEN FREE COMIC BOOK DAY (Marvel, May 04 2024) This is my second exposure to a preview of BLOOD HUNT, and I’m happy to return (as long as it’s free). If you don’t already know this by now, a multitude of vampires are coming out of the shadows of the Marvel Universe. The preview here by Jed MacKay and Sara Pichelli focuses on four separate scenes of 2-3 pages that help provide a teaser and overview of the series.
Spider-Man runs into Doctor Dark wielding a form of Darkforce. The Fantastic Four investigate as Reed Richards believes there’s been a breach in the Darkforce Dimension. Daredevil tries to break up a street invasion by a horde of vampires. Brielle Brooks, the daughter of Blade, is fighting vampires when she runs into . . . Dracula.
I do like the idea of the explicit red band edition of BLOOD HUNT, and Jason at Captain Blue Hen is an enthusiastic salesperson for this series. Still, I’m not feeling it, and grateful for the opportunity to sample this.
The UNCANNY X-MEN preview by Gail Simone and David Marquez doesn’t try to cover as much ground, and benefits from keeping things simpler. Jubilee returns to the former Xavier’s School only to find it enclosed by walls and security guards. She has an encounter with some mutant-hating spoiled rich teens at a diner, which prompts her to reconsider the offer from Wolverine to put the old band back together. Meanwhile, the new folks in control at the Xavier School have a special captive in Inmate X and become aware of Jubilee’s nearness to their encampment.
A good FCBD issue because it previews upcoming series, creates curiosity, and builds interest. If you’re only able to follow one of these, I suggest you go with UNCANNY X-MEN. THREE STARS OVERALL.
#275 ULTIMATE UNIVERSE/SPIDER-MAN FREE COMIC BOOK DAY (Marvel, May 04 2024) There are three previews in this FCBD title: a prelude to the upcoming Return Of The Green Goblin in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #50 (Zeb Wells & Ryan Stegman); a prologue to the new ULTIMATES series (Deniz Camp & Juan Frigeri); and a scene from VENOM WARS (Al Ewing & Iban Coello)coming this summer.
Somebody is trying to warn Peter Parker of an impending threat and uses Chucky Cheese-inspired robots to get his attention, but this just results in another bad dating experience for Peter when Spider-Man has to make an appearance which causes his date to think a cowardly selfish Peter bolted on her. Also, Norman Osborn knows a little too much about what might be going on.
Some of the Ultimates (Captain America, Doctor Doom, Iron Lad) are exploring a secret storage facility that seems to contain several corpses of super-heroes. They are looking for a certain figure, but run into agents of H.A.N.D. (a bunch of lookalikes in suits that resemble some extras from the Matrix films). In the battle’s aftermath they manage to rescue “Jim”, who appears to be the Human Torch of Earth-6160.
An absent Eddie Brock returns to the present and wants his symbiote back. VENOM WAR is a quick 3-page preview of the upcoming title which will pit father against son.
I was curious about these titles, but really didn’t want to have to purchase all these first issues to find out if I wanted to read the full stories. I’m grateful that my F.O.M.O. anxiety has been sedated by these samples.
If I had to pick one of these to follow, I’d suggest THE ULTIMATES.
THREE STARS OVERALL.
#276 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #49 by Zeb Wells and John Romita Jr (Marvel, July 2024) Synopsis:
The world has been draped in eternal night, ushering in the era of the vampire. Without fear of the sunrise, vampires across the globe have taken their place as the rightful apex predators of Earth and the never-ending feeding frenzy is on. The streets of New York City have descended into utter chaos as vampires hunt down its millions of citizens. Can Spider-Man make a difference, or is he just an amped-up juice box in the making?
A BLOOD HUNT TIE-IN!
Vampires are running rampant through New York City and while the Avengers are caught in the middle, someone has to take care of the citizens of the Big Apple. That person? Yep, Spider-Man. But if only it were that simple. Things never are and this issue leads directly into Spider-Man's larger role in BLOOD HUNT!
I was expecting the lead-in to Issue #50 here and the return of the Green Goblin. Instead, this is the lead-in to AMAZING SPIDER-MAN: BLOOD HUNT #1. I ended up liking this better than the two previews I had previously read.
The answer to the question that asks can Spider-Man make a difference? - - - Yes, he can. What I especially liked about this issue is the humanity in this dire situation. Zeb Wells brings it home by making it personal as regards two characters. Maybe the strongest issue I’ve read from him so far. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
#277 JONNY QUEST FREE COMIC BOOK DAY (Dynamite Entertainment, May 4, 2024) This is another ancient cartoon character kept alive over the decades by various comics publishers who try to make it click. I don’t think there are enough senior citizens who remember Jonny Quest, let alone still read comics (I feel I”m in that minority here). Will Dynamite be able to find a new audience for this?
As a young lad, I can remember being glued to the television set on Friday evenings in 1964-1965 to watch the science-fiction, action-adventures of JONNY QUEST on the ABC network. It was a bold departure from standard Hanna-Barbera animated funny animal cartoons, and actually featured some pretty scary monsters (for that time). Fun fact: Jonny Quest was created and designed by comics legend Doug Wildey.
As much as I enjoyed this character in my youth, I don’t think there’s enough here to keep me engaged now. This FCBD title also previews THUNDERCATS and SPACE GHOST (which I wrote about earlier). BTW, Thundercats is a bit younger than the other two titles, and may be remembered by more readers of this post. THREE STARS.
#278 X-MEN ’97 #1 by Steve Foxe and Salva Espin (Marvel, second printing) Synopsis:
THE OFFICIAL PRELUDE TO THE HOTLY ANTICIPATED DISNEY+ SHOW! The X-Men are back - and the '90s have never looked better! In this official prelude to the upcoming X-Men '97, created in collaboration with the showrunners, discover what Storm, Jubilee, Wolverine and the rest of the beloved '90s X-Men cast have been up to in the time before their return! Startling revelations here lead directly into the hotly anticipated new series - don't miss out!
I haven’t watched the new X-Men ’97 series on Disney+ yet, but my son watched the old episodes in their entirety before getting to the 2024 series. He says the animation is better, and the series is grittier and more violent than the old version.
These are the X-Men from my past, and the team members that I remember fondly. There is a cartoony look to the art here, and I suspect that its deliberate in order to tie it into the Disney series.
Magneto is back (via a Danger Room exercise). Jean Grey has a secret she needs to have a confidential discussion with Scott about. Cyclops and Wolverine are back to feuding. Dazzler is in danger from the Friends of Humanity, who disrupt a concert performance. Mr. Sinister is lurking in the background and putting a new team of foes together.
I’ve got no quibbles with the complexity of this story and the way it is portrayed. Still, I’m just not feeling it. Maybe I’m just too much older and the once magic of the X-Men books doesn’t grab me the same way. If you remember the old team and the old books, you should check this out and decide for yourself. Meanwhile, I’m going to make a point to watch the new show on Disney+. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
#279 - #280 FLASH ANNUAL 2024 by Simon Spurrier with art by Scott Koblish, Amancay Nahuelpan, George Kambadais, Tom Derenick (DC Comics, June 2024) I should have known better than to dive into a Simon Spurrier script without a proper introduction. But, I’d heard good things about his run on FLASH and figured an annual with a complete story would be a good way to check it out. It’s that stupid F.O.M.O. that gets me mixed up like this.
Here, through the good graces of the Speed Force and a missing-in-action Wally Wood we get glimpses of various dimensions of odd shapes and sizes (one is even based solely on math!). Adding to the confusion this issue is illustrated by four different artists with four distinctly different ways of presenting the story. When I finished the issue, I felt like I’d taken a psychedelic trip without benefit of drugs or hallucinogens.
Wally is stranded in the Speed Force and has morphed into a godlike appearance and powers. Various members of the Flash family try to enter the same space within the Speed Force to rescue him and get blocked by various members of the Rogues. Conclusions? I’d be hard pressed to come up with any coherent explanations. Plus, the story doesn’t end here but continues in THE FLASH #9. THREE STARS.
#281 HELLBOY/STRANGER THINGS FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 2024 (Dark Horse Comics, May 04 2024) In “The Fortune Teller” Mike Mignola and Mark Laszlo present a tight, original story that will probably end up being my favorite of this year’s FCBD. Hellboy investigates why a missing twenty-two year old female, whose dead body is found much later, seems to have aged another 70 years.
His query takes him to a nearby fortune teller whose skills are not a hoax and reveals an even bigger threat.
“Deliver Me From Evil” is a Stranger Things story by Derek Fridolfs and Jonathan Case that didn’t work for me. I thought it was tedious. During a pizza delivery the driver gets company from a friend and they trade outrageous horror/fantasy stories that suspiciously seem made up. That’s the whole plot. The story ends when the pizza us is delivered, FOUR STARS HELLBOY, TWO STARS STRANGER THINGS.
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