#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 may be the highest rated (per Comics Roundup) debut title from the Ghost Machine imprint so far, based on numerous reviews that I’ve scanned. That makes me happy for both writer Peter Tomasi (an under-recognized writer) and artist Francis Manapul (also deserving of more attention).
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.
#792 - #794 MARVEL MUST-HAVES, December 2024 Sure, it’s shameless promotion. Sure, it’s a tease to only get a portion of the full story. But, these monthly free comics (yes, free!) from Marvel provide a no-risk opportunity to read the beginning of, or part of, an essential storyline. If your comics shop offers these, pick them up. They allow you to read and decide for yourself if the story is indeed a “must-have.”
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 mention that because if you don’t know these characters you’re not going to get as much help/information as you might expect from a debut issue. Lemire seems to assume that readers know these characters. That’s a shame, because there are a ton of them crammed into this story.
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.
#797 THE HEXILES #1 by Cullen Bunn and Joe Bocardo (Mad Cave Studios, November 2024) Publisher’s synopsis:
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.
#798 - #801 LITTLE BLACK BOOK trade paperback by Jeff McComsey and Felipe Cunha (Artists,Writers & Artisans (AWA), September 2024)
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.
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