#808 - #811 RED ZONE trade paperback by Cullen Bunn and Mike Deodato Jr. (Artists, Writers, Artisans/AWA, August 2023)
When the Moscow extraction of a Russian defector goes sideways with the U.S. armed task force taken out, the sole survivor is the middle-aged professor of Russian and Slavic culture they brought along for his knowledge of the area, having lived there in the past. Besides, the middle-aged Russian ballerina who is defecting (and is a valuable asset to U.S. intelligence) requested he accompany the extraction team.
When he's left alone, we learn that he is a former spy and all his experience and skills are being reactivated as he struggles to escape from the country. Once the word gets out, all his former foes and comrades are on the hunt to get long-overdue retribution.
Fast-paced like an action thriller should be, this is enhanced by the dynamic photo-realistic art. Like all great B-movie escapist entertainment, this is pleasing while in the moment and instantly forgettable. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
#812 - #817 JUSTICE INC trade paperback by Michael Uslan and Giovanni Timpano (Dynamite Entertainment, 2015)
Another action/adventure story that is better than average, but not quite at the level of a Four Star Rating.
Combining three iconic properties from the days of pulp magazine fiction and keeping them true to the character and spirit of the original, and also keeping them from stumbling over each other is no small task. A simple solution would be to follow the pulp outline and write a formulaic story.
Writer Michael Uslan doesn't take the simple route, and this is better for it. He actually finds a way to link all three of these characters together in a logical fashion, tweaking the background material enough to have Richard Benson become The Avenger at the prompting (and later training/mentoring) of both Doc Savage and The Shadow.
The plot is not simple either, with a wormhole in time and a device invented by Doc Savage (with assistance/encouragement from Albert Einstein and Tesla - even a cameo from H.G. Wells). The Universal Quantum Machine (UQM) is capable of changing the world, so it becomes an object of interest to maniacal power brokers like mesmerist The Voodoo Master (a nemesis of The Shadow) and high intellect/scientist John Sunlight (a Doc Savage foe). Shadow, Savage, and Avenger combine forces to form Justice, Inc and work together to keep the UQM safe from dangerous hands.
The art by Giovanni Timpano provides a detailed pulp adventure atmosphere to everything. Covers by Alex Ross are up to his usual fantastic standards. A fun read. (Contains the six-issue mini-series)
THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
#818 WEST COAST AVENGERS #1 by Gerry Duggan and Danny Kim (Marvel, January 2025) Do we really need another Avengers title? Any bets on how long this one will last?
The difference here is that this new team, assembled by Rhodey/War Machine with an assist by Tony Stark/Iron Man, is like a rehab house/probation for former villains seeking to reform. Doesn’t that seem like The Thunderbolts?
Those former inmates include Blue Bolt, who already screws up in Issue #1 and . . . wait for it . . . . Ultron! So far, he seems to be in sync with the mission and doing the right things. But, does anyone think he’s not going to turn to his old ways in some future issue? Already, by the end of this one he looks to be working behind the scenes - - unless that is just another Ultron construct and not the same one on the team.
Who are the good guys in this group? There’s War Machine and Iron Man and Spider-Woman, who has her doubts about this working out and seems to already have one foot out the door. Before the issue ends, Tony Stark is already trying to recruit Firestar.
The combatants this issue are the Sovereign Sons , an alt-right extreme group who excel at taking civilians hostage and demanding the U.S. government recognize them as an independent nation.
This looks to be a title with a lot of interpersonal confrontations and discord among the team members, sprinkled with some touches of humor that feel really out of place. Maybe what you were looking for? THREE STARS.
#819 THE ROCKETFELLERS #2 by Peter Tomasi and Francis Manapul (Image Comics /Ghost Machine, December 2024) Good timing with this one, being a Christmas issue focused on the family out of time, the Rocketfellers, as they decide at the last minute to purchase a live pine tree to decorate for the holiday. Daughter Rae freaks out when the tree-seller starts chopping one down for them. In her 25th century timeline it is against the law to cut trees.
So, genius dad and bioengineer Roland takes a cutting from that tree, adds his science-based magic, and rapidly grows a Christmas tree for their home. The problem is it keeps growing and busts through the roof.
A family-oriented, funny and warm issue with the threat of being found out by Cronex headhunter is delayed for at least one issue, as he dispatches drones to the four corners of the various Ghost Machine universes to search for their distinct heat signatures.
This title is beginning to find it’s legs with Issue #2 but I’m still walking away. I just wanted to give this a second chance. Not for me, but maybe for you. THREE AND ONE-QUARTER STARS.
#820 THE NEW GODS #1 by Ram V and Evan Cagle (DC Comics, February 2025)
The big pitch:
“RAM V AND EVAN CAGLE RESHAPE THE MYTHOLOGY OF THE DCU! An old god has died, and the reverberations of his passing are felt across the universe, setting forth the soldiers of an intergalactic army and awakening the latent powers of a mysterious child on Earth. But this has all been foreseen--prophesized by the Source and fed as enigmatic images to its agent, Metron. Now, as Metron brings word of this cosmos-shattering prediction to the residents of New Genesis and Apokolips, both worlds are thrown into chaos and conflict. On Earth, Scott Free and Barda find themselves unaware of this incoming chaos while consumed with their most daunting task.”
The cool-looking art by Evan Cagle may save this for a while, but the story by the usually-dependable Ram V was convoluted and too abstract in places. In summary, I was bored. TWO AND ONE-HALF STARS.
#821-#822 HELLO DARKNESS #5 by various creators (Boom! Studios, November 2024) An uneven issue, at least for me, as I did not enjoy these stories as much as previous issues. There does seem to be a central theme here - - - be careful if you stray off the known path.
My favorite this issue, and the most colorful and visually pleasing is “The Butterfly Field” by Jeremy Bastian and Ivan Qiu, a story told entirely without words.
Werther Dell’edera tampered with his art style (and, I don’t like it — too sketchy) for Part Three of “Something Is Killing The Children: A Monster Hunter Walks Into A Bar” written by James Tynion. This is a super-slow burn of a story, as the fabled monster hunter keeps sitting in the bar and hearing another new story about something wrong in the local town.
Second favorite story was “Shutter” by Sarah Gailey and Liana Kangas about how far one might go for love, even when the other partner appears to have caught something contagious. “The Search” by Sarah Anderson, just three pages long, looks like a children’s book in art and text. A young girl who lost her brother in the woods learns it’s best not to listen to his voice every time she returns.
The problem with “The War, Part Five” by Garth Ennis and Becky Cloonan is that it’s hard to remember the characters and their situations from month to month as the story flips back and forth between a quartet of them. The couple with the pregnant mother hide out in the countryside in a secluded cabin, until they find out they are no longer isolated. This has been another slow burn of a story. We still don’t have all the details about the alleged world war that set things in motion. THREE AND ONE-QUARTER STARS OVERALL.
#823 - #824 DREAD THE HALLS one-shot anthology edited by Jordan Hart and Chris Ryall (Image Comics, December 2024) Cover by Maria Wolf
If you only have time to read a quick elevator pitch on this book, here it is: Creative Christmas Dread. Extra points for that creativity. There are no slasher Santa stories in here, as you might expect. The editors also put some effort into separating the stories with title pages done in Christmas red and green colors, Christmas-like fonts, and gingerbread wallpaper as a background. It helps maintain the theme and atmosphere. More creativity points. Four stories. All fun. All brilliantly illustrated.
Here’s what to look forward to:
Four distinctly different Christmas horror tales, in tribute to a Victorian tradition (per the afterword by Jordan Hart). I’m impressed by the overall presentation and award extra style points, elevating this to a FIVE-STAR rating.
#825 - #829 THE INCREDIBLE HULK #1 - #5 by Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Nic Klein (Marvel, August - December 2023) I’ve always preferred the monster version of The Hulk versus the super-hero version. The fifty issue run of IMMORTAL HULK is my favorite volume of the character, with Al Ewing focusing on the horror elements for most of the time. It ended with a sci-fi twist and concluded with Banner closing the Green Door.
This series utilizes that plot element from IMMORTAL HULK. Closing the Green Door has opened the gates for a slew of giant monsters to return. Issue #1 sets the stage as an ancient evil is uncovered during an Iraq tomb excavation that definitely foreshadows a meeting to come.
Philip Kennedy Johnson takes things in the horror direction, with the Hulk as the monster within Bruce Banner - who is barely keeping him under control as both fight for command. It’s such a struggle that Banner has to go on the run again in order to protect the rest of the world.
In the remote area of Estill County, Kentucky Banner has his hands full with the FBI in pursuit after a diner incident. A teenage runaway girl named Charlie, who has some latent (possibly inherited) uncontrollable powers of her own, wants to partner with The Hulk. Meanwhile a U.S.-based horror called The Eldest / Mother of Horrors has called about all monsters to arise and hunt down The Hulk.
What I love most is the internal battle between Bruce Banner and The Hulk for control of his form and mental dominance. The Hulk here is the Hulk of old, a powerful and savage figure, simple-minded but cunning enough to carry on and keep Banner subdued. Young runaway Charlie is still hanging around, but Hulk wants her to leave. Charlie wins over Hulk when she mimics his speech patterns and attitudes. Quite the team-up.
Together they beat down the creature, a giant crab-like entity dwelling in the swamps. Yep, another Lovecraft-influenced monster.
Johnson’s run on THE INCREDIBLE HULK (Volume 6) lasted twenty issues. As much as I appreciated his version of the Hulk, I’d already grown tired of the episodic monster-of-the-month and didn’t pursue reading any further. THREE AND ONE-QUARTER STARS.
#830 - #832 SHIVER SUSPENSTORIES one-shot (Oni-Lion Forge Publishing / EC Comics, December 2024) This is a devilishly good holiday-themed anthology with five original stories and a classic reprint from EC’s THE VAULT OF HORROR #26 (1952).
An ornate carved Christmas ornament, made in Prague and in possession of a woman from her youth all the way to her declining years, is magical and intervenes on her behalf one fateful Christmas. (“The Last Ornament” by Jason Aaron and Kano).
“Ghost In The Machine” by Ben H. Winters and Peter Krause is a clever spin on Charles Dickens “A Christmas Carol” in a twisty tale involving an obsessed inventor of time travel who has no time for Christmas celebration.
“Red As Any Blood” by Jay Stephens and David Lapham details an impoverished single mother who wishes for something to give her ailing young son, and ends up shop-lifting a silver Christmas bell from a department store. This does not turn out well.
My favorite story is “Curse Of The Magi” by George North and Caitlin Yarsky, a devilish spin on the classic “Gift Of The Magi” by O. Henry.
The reprint is “Two Of A Kind” written and illustrated by Johnny Craig. What happens when a vampire and a ghoul start dating each other? How can they resist the temptation to eat their partner?
A very merry collection, and one that I will return to for a re-read upon Christmas season 2025. FIVE STARS.
#833 GEIGER #1 by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank (Image Comics / Ghost Machine, April 2024) I enjoyed the first Geiger mini-series (2021) enough to pre-order GEIGER 2024 and start saving issues for a later read. Now, it’s time to get to some of them.
Some of this debut story was previewed in the earlier GHOST MACHINE one-shot, but it’s worth a repeat. Twenty-five years from now (2049), Tariq Geiger is suffering from cancer. When the Unknown War occurs, Tariq is caught in the fallout and becomes The Glowing Man. His family was not as lucky, and did not survive. Geiger is a nomad, walking the irradiated desert and punishing evildoers.
After he saves a small town from a predatory gang, Geiger has to leave when the citizens fear that proximity to him will make them seriously ill. He’s being shadowed/followed by Nate the Nuclear Knight, who left the Las Vegas King due to his brutal ways. Nate idolizes Gieger and considers him a savior.
Gieger has been ignoring Nate but after they end up saving each other after an Army attack, Nate finally earns his attention. But his story of someone else like Geiger who also glowed but was cured doesn’t persuade Geiger to accept him. However, when Geiger prevents Nate from committing suicide, they become a team.
A good beginning. The art and colors by Gary Frank and Brad Anderson are pure eye-candy. FOUR STARS.
TRUE GRETCH: WHAT I’VE LEARNED ABOUT LIFE, LEADERSHIP, AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN by Gretchen Whitmer (Simon & Schuster, July 2024) Hardcover, 176 pages. ISBN # 9781668072318
Synopsis on the Goodreads website . . . . .
From trailblazing Michigan governor and rising Democratic star Gretchen Whitmer comes an unconventionally honest, personal, and funny account of her remarkable life and career, full of insights that guided her through a global pandemic, showdowns with high-profile bullies, and even a kidnapping and assassination plot.
When Gretchen Whitmer was growing up, her beloved grandmother Nino taught her that you can always find something good in other people. “Even the meanest person might have pretty eyes,” she would say. Nino’s words persuaded Whitmer to look for the good in any person or situation—just one of many colorful personal experiences that have shaped her political vision. (And, as Whitmer writes, one that resonated more than another piece of advice her grandmother offered, to “never part your hair in the middle.”)
In this candid and inspiring book, Whitmer reveals the principles and instincts that have shaped her extraordinary career, from her early days as a lawyer and legislator and her 2018 election as governor of Michigan, to her bold and innovative actions as she led the state through a series of unprecedented crises. Her motto in politics, she writes, is to “get shit done.”
Whitmer shares the lessons in resilience that steered her through some of the most challenging events in Michigan’s history, such as the Covid-19 pandemic, a five-hundred-year flood, the rise of domestic terrorism, and the fierce fight to protect reproductive rights.
Along the way, she tells stories about the outsize characters in her family, her lifelong clumsy streak, the wild comments she’s heard on the campaign trail, her self-deprecating social media campaigns (including her star turn as a talking potato with lipstick), and the slyly funny tactics she deploys to neutralize her opponents.
Written with Whitmer’s trademark sense of humor and straight-shooting style, True Gretch is not only a compelling account of her remarkable journey, but also a blueprint for anyone who wants to make a difference in their community, their country, or the world. It is a testament to the power of humor, perseverance, and compassion in the face of darkness.
My Four-Star Review on the Goodreads website . . . . .
Gretchen Whitmer has a plain folks story-telling ability that helps make this a worthwhile read.
I believe her to be a heartfelt, sincere, and often humble politician - - and that is rare in today's divisive, never-admit-to-mistakes/never-admit-you-are-wrong politics. I wish there were more administrators in government like her - - looking out for others, and doing the right thing for the people. I'm glad that we can still find some elected officials who are admirably dedicated to their duty in current politics.
Whitmer reveals parts of her history as life lessons and shares what she's learned. The chapter headings tell it all:
1) Don't Let The Bullies Get You Down - 2) Never Give Up - 3) Learn To Listen - 4) Surround Yourself With Great People, and Don't Be Afraid To Ask For Help - 5) Take Nothing Personally - 6) Run Toward The Fire - 7) - Seek To Understand - 8) You'll Never Regret Being kind - 9) Own Your Screwups, and Forgive Others Theirs - 10) Be A Happy Warrior.
#791 THE ROCKETFELLERS #1 by Peter J. Tomasi and Francis Manapul (Image Comics/Ghost Machine, November 2024) Synopsis on the Comics Roundup website . . . . .
Series Premiere. A new cosmic time-travel adventure from the minds of Peter J. Tomasi (Batman and Robin, Super Sons) and Francis Manapul (Flash, Clear)! In the picture-perfect 25th century, the Rocketfeller family, living a disconnected and emotionally distant existence, discover a terrible secret: in their hands is the fate of humanity. Hunted down, the Rocketfellers enlist in the Time Zone Protection Program and escape to present-day Earth. If they can't find a way to trust each other in this strange "ancient" world of today, they and our future will perish!
This is the first of two titles (the other HORNSBY & HALO, also by Tomasi) in what’s being called the “Family Odysseys” division of the four Ghost Machine universes. “Heart, Heroics, Humor” is the subheading. Heart, for sure (a family on the run). Heroics, yes (and sacrifice). Humor, not as much as the other two, and more of the cute, family kind.
There’s a lot going on in this debut issue, and that may cause some confusion as to what this title is really going to be about and the direction from this point on. Family drama and or family humor - - I’m not so sure.
There’s a pretty dramatic moment in the opening where a family member doesn’t survive the escape from the future to present day. Also, the story skips forward to one year after at a Rockefeller barbecue for their neighborhood. Seems like a missed opportunity for Tomasi to detail the family adjustments to the limited technology and social mores by being a family out of time. That could make for a lot of family melodrama and humor. Maybe that will be addressed in flashbacks in future issues.
However, as much as I wanted to like this (I admire Tomasi) - - it failed to interest or engage me. Hate to be a dissenter, but this isn’t for me. THREE AND ONE-QUARTER STARS.
There are three separate stories in this edition. HULK #3 by Jeph Loeb & Ed McGuinness (now, that’s a cool creative team) previews the classic
confrontation between Green and Red Hulks. It’s a sneak peak at the current HULK MODERN ERA EPIC COLLECTION: WHO IS THE RED HULK? Trade Paperback, and just ahead of the release of the upcoming February 20125 Captain America/Sam Wilson film which will feature Red Hulk. It’s not a must-have for me, but I bet diehard Hulk fans will be excited for this collection.
DAREDEVIL #227 by Frank Miller & David Mazzuchelli is a reprint of the classic DD story of decades ago where Kingpin learns the secret identity of Matt Murdock and makes his life a living hell, driving him into bankruptcy and shame. Also just in time for the February 2024 release of the Marvel Premiere Collection of DAREDEVIL/BORN AGAIN by Miller and Mazzuchelli. Not to mention the announcement of DAREDEVIL: SEASON THREE on Disney+ with original cast members returning. This would be a must-have for me, if I hadn’t read it all those years ago.
SPIDER-GWEN: THE GHOST SPIDER #1 by Stephanie Phillips and Federica Mancin showcases the relocation of Gwen Stacy from Earth 65 to Earth 616, where she’s supposed to keep a low profile but finds it almost impossible. Now, Kraven the Hunter is after her (how did he find out she was on Earth 616?) I like Stephanie Phillips. She brings a lot of heart and empathy to her super-hero characters, but this still seems too formulaic for me to consider it a must-have.
I’m grateful for the chance to make a risk-free decision about these storylines. Overall, FOUR STARS for value.
#795 - #796 JSA #1 - #2 by Jeff Lemire and Diego Olortegui (DC Comics, January-February 2025) “Ragnarok, Parts 1 & 2” Generally, I have preferred the JSA to the JLA; although I don’t hang around either version/volume very long.
I started reading the recent Geoff Johns JSA maxi-series but didn’t finish it. I don’t see Huntress here, so I don’t think Lemire is picking up where Johns left off. I also started reading the ABSOLUTE POWER min-series but didn’t finish it. I think this JSA is a continuation of what happens after Absolute Power; at least that’s what seems to be indicated here.
I picked this up because of Jeff Lemire, who I admire more for his original creations than his licensed super-hero work. However, he brings a
plain folks, small town, slice-of-life ambience to everything that he writes. His best work in the superhero realm (in my opinion) is his New 52 runs on SUPERBOY and ANIMAL MAN.
With a bigger cast of characters, it’s harder to get as personal. You can see the seeds/threads being planted with a lot of internal disagreement about how to conduct the current JSA, a seeming disrespect by the new guard for the older veteran members, even a lovers spat within the team.
If you’re going to check this out, I recommend you read both issues and then turn around and read them again, more slowly. Things don’t play out in the proper sequence, with very little notice when scenes change settings and the time of occurrence.
A recent flurry of activity from Kobra has the younger JSA members debating strategy while the real threat is from the Injustice Society and a mole/imposter within the JSA team. Members get injured and hospitalized. Teams get split up. Some are trapped within the Tower Of Fate, which the younger Dr. Fate is struggling to find a way out while the original Flash (Jay Garrett), original Hawkman, and first Green Lantern try to fend off a monstrous horde. Good art throughout. THREE AND ONE-QUARTER STARS.
Jamison Kreel is dead. Six of his children from six mothers are attending the funeral of a father they never met. Each of the children possesses a different infernal power. These powers, though, come at a terrible price...a price Jamison Kreel has placed upon the heads of his offspring. And the demonic debtors have come to collect.
That is a very succinct summary, and gives an indication of what kind of story this might be without giving too much away. Bunn knows how to layer on the suspense and dread, and the art is just so creepy that it adds shivers to the proceedings. There are actually seven children when the story begins, but only six when the issue ends. That’s not a good sign - - not for the characters, but for those who enjoy edgy horror it might be a sign of more to come. FOUR STARS.
With LITTLE BLACK BOOK writer Jeff McComsey (a resident of Lancaster, PA and formerly my neighborhood in Oxford) takes his story-telling ability to the next level. He's earning a reputation as a good source for tight, compelling crime comics with heart. He also writes in a cinematic style that makes for a fast-paced, page turner. I can imagine both this mini-series (four issues in the original format) as well as THE FOURTH MAN being made into appealing film adaptations. McComsey also manages to pair up with some good artists who know how to bring his crime tales to life. The character work by artist Felipe Cunha is excellent, and his concise panel style really make the action scenes pop.
McComsey sums up this engaging story best in the afterword of the trade paperback edition: "Fatherhood is on the mind of Cole Mayer and his pregnant wife Tess when they are suddenly the beneficiaries of a new house in Arizona. The house has been left to Cole by his recently deceased father. It's a big upgrade from their cramped trailer that's getting dangerously close to bursting on account of the new baby stuff.
The problem is Cole hasn't seen or heard from his father in 20 years. He's got some strong feelings about accepting this "inheritance" but ultimately signs the paperwork, and moves him and Tess into the house. While fixing a leak in his new home, Cole finds something left by his estranged late father in the crawlspace: a little black book.
Cole and Tess quickly realize the names and addresses inside aren't business relations but killers, thieves, and crooked lawyers. Cole and Tess are good people with a bad thing in their possession. What they choose to do with it and why is what this story is all about."
Without giving too much of the story away, Cole ends up contacting one of the numbers in the book when a hazardous situation occurs and he needs quick assistance. That quickly escalates into alerting some bad hombres who want to retrieve the black book. In the process, Cole and family face some life-threatening situations while he learns more about his father's legacy.
What follows is plenty of action, suspense and thrills with a satisfactory and heart-warming conclusion. FIVE STARS.
#802 - #807 DEATH COMES FOR THE TOYMAKER graphic novel by Dakota Brown and Ryan Cody (Magma Comix, November 2024)
While the names of Santa Claus, Kris Kringle, etc. are never mentioned in this graphic novel ("The Toymaker" is as close as it comes) I still consider this an inventive spin on the story of Santa Claus, the naughty and nice lists, and how he manages to not only cover the entire globe in a single night but also how he manages to squeeze down chimneys.
Writer Dakota Brown incorporates Mesopotamian mythology into the story and establishes "The Toymaker" as the Sumerian king Gilgamesh. It seems that Gilgamesh sought immortality but the gods declined until they relented provided certain conditions were met: that Gilgamesh would become the holiday gift giver and visit children all over the world on a special night (not mentioned as "Christmas" either, by the way). The art by Ryan Cody is appealing and will remind readers of young adult fantasy graphic novels of various styles (TinTin, etc).
Before he can begin his task, Gilgamesh loses the one thing that grants him immortality. Desperate, he makes a deal with Death (the Grim Reaper), a former associate also assigned a special task by the gods. Death can postpone Gilgamesh's final day (thereby getting his immortality back) provided Gilgamesh does a task for Death. So the gift-giving day becomes a vacation day for Death. While Santa is dispatching gifts based on his naughty and nice lists, he also carries a list of ready-to-harvest souls and picks them up for Death on his day off.
After centuries of doing this Gilgamesh is unhappy with that relationship and schemes to put an end to Death, thereby freeing him of the contract. The story of how he attempts to do that is interspersed with flashback scenes of key moments in the lives of both.
Unfamiliar with Babylonian myth, I found this a fascinating blend of drama, politics among the gods, fantasy and horror, with a splash of humor. FOUR STARS.
