In 2021 I’d like to cross over the 1,000 comics review barrier, meaning reviews that I (Mike Clarke a.k.a. pghhead) contribute to the blog. That’s what this odyssey is about, beginning January 01, 2021. Wish me luck . . . . .
#385 - #386 DEPARTMENT OF TRUTH #3 - #4 (Image, November 2020) I’m glad I’m reading this in small doses. Issues #1 & #2 really hooked me with its premise. I had to know more.
Chapter Three: Black And White - - - Issue #3 turns a corner for me, and makes this an even more powerful book with the ability to provoke meaningful thoughts and conversation as well as influence opinions. I’m not saying that is the goal or mission of this title. I really don’t know. It’s a solid testimony to the writing abilities of James Tynion IV that this just seems part of a very compelling longer story, and not a deliberate or preachy message. Issue #3 was a gut-punch.
My former job included quite a bit of travel and long work days. To wind down and clear my mind, I would read for 30 minutes or so just before turning out the lights to sleep: magazines, or a chapter or two of a novel, or comics. I still do this in retirement. I happened to read this just before bedtime last night, and that was a mistake: restless sleep.
The text provides the punch; the visuals enhance the impact: “The image of the classroom door riddled with bullet holes was shown by every cable news channel for weeks. She had heard the gunshots herself, on a message from her son.”
“Him crying, begging for her to come save him. She had listened over and over to the bullets as they ripped her son’s life away, and this sweating hog of a man was saying it hadn’t happened? That it was a hoax?”
Soon after Mary Todd begins to receive threats, then violence against her property, forcing her to move into a gated community. Then a disturbing piece of evidence, possibly fake, is shoved under her door and she begins to unravel, doubting even herself. Into the picture steps Department of Truth agents Ruth and new recruit Cole to steal the evidence. Ugh. It just doesn’t feel right, but it sure feels real as a similar incident actually happened years back but the horror remains forefront today (the elementary school killings and the right-wing conspiracy theories that it was staged - - not the theft of evidence in the story.) FIVE STARS.
Chapter Four: The Eyes In The Walls - - - Cole’s indoctrination into the Department of Truth continues in Issue #4 with elderly director Lee Harvey Oswald. “What we combat. The most dangerous thing in the world is a simple story.”
“That’s what keeps most conspiracies from catching on with the general public - - they are too convoluted. Convolution is our friend. It helps fracture belief so it doesn’t coalesce in any one stable form and become truth.”
Thanks to hidden cameras, Oswald, Cole and Ruby eavesdrop on a conversation between newspaper reporters in the next room. They are discussing information recently obtained in twelve envelopes that reveal the actions of a secret ruling power intend on influencing world events from 1961 to the present. Wild, crazy stuff. Here’s hoping none of the wacky right-wing media pundits are reading this comic. Tynion’s just given them fodder for their bullshit cannons. And, they’re just twisted enough to drink it down like Kool-Aid. We’ll know if some of this nonsense starts to be broadcast. Kudos to Tynion for dreaming this up.
Sorry to keep including quotes and making this review extra lengthy, but you have to admire the carefully chosen words and statements expressed by the characters in this comic. The truth will out but sometimes the media helps fuel the fire, accidentally becoming a subservient tool for the conspiracy. Tynion makes that point in the final exchange between the two reporters, as one states:
“Someone is trying to write a new history, and someone else is trying to stop them from writing it, and I think it’s been happening for a long time. . . . . But I know that if we tried to out them, these bits of evidence would get out into the wild, and people would find them and they’d grow in power. . . . And that would sell a hell of a lot of newspapers, as we went down the rabbit hole. But even by reporting all of it as false, we’d be putting it in the world, and making it real."
And then Cole gets the chance to “prove that you have the balls to do what needs to be done.” Brilliant. And awful. FIVE STARS.
#387 FUTURE STATE: SUPERMAN OF METROPOLIS #1 (DC, March 2021)
I bought several of the Future State issues to see if I wanted to follow any of the mini-series. Nothing really impressed me. Overall the stories seemed pretty standard superhero storytelling, with the new South American version of FUTURE STATE: WONDER WOMAN being the best that I read. However, I did pick up the Batman mini-series and haven’t gotten to them yet; so we’ll see.
Just to be fair, I gave SUPERMAN OF METROPOLIS another read.
Three short stories, all continued, in the debut issue, with the featured Superman story the best of the bunch. To protect Metropolis, Superman (Jon Kent, now grown up in his early 20’s I guess) shrinks the city just like big Supes did with the bottle city of Kandor. The back-up stories are Mister Miracle and The Guardian, both adequate but not engaging me. TWO AND ONE-HALF STARS.
#388 HAUNT #1 (Image, 2009) I bought this when it first came out, liked it enough to wait for a trade paperback - - and then kind of just forgot about it. HAUNT didn’t have a very long run, as the book never seemed to find it’s audience. That’s too bad. On second reading, there is a lot of promise in this debut issue.
The project was the effort of a superstar team, with Robert Kirkman and Todd McFarlane creating the character, Kirkman writing the story, Ryan Ottley providing the pencils with inks by McFarlane, colors by FCO Plascencia and letters by RIchard Starkings. It’s a good looking book.
Catholic priest Father Dan is pretty unhappy, just going through the motions of his vocation, mainly serving to hear the confessions of his mercenary/hitman brother Kurt. It’s not a friendly relationship.
After Kurt is killed on assignment, his ghost continues to question and trouble brother Dan. When Father Dan’s life is threatened, Kurt tries to save him and transfers some supernatural powers to his brother. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
Denis is apparently a wandering vagrant who suffers from vivid, unreal dreams where he gets into scuffles and trouble all while realizing that he’s experiencing a dream - or is he? He even mentions
to others that he’s dreaming, and they are just figments of his imagination - so have at it: a deer driving a jeep; a thirsty well-dressed salmon he meets in a bar; a six-armed assailant; an eye-patched sheriff of Nowhere with a deputy daughter with mouse ears; giant iguanas, etc.
It’s all presented in an amusing manner, but the hook fails to sink here. THREE STARS.
However, it becomes apparent after Issue #2 that this is a wide-ranging epic that is building slowly, layer by layer. I’m just not sure readers will be patient enough to wait for the payout.
There’s an explosion in Manhattan from Issue #1 that may have been the prelude to the fury from the sky that happens in a Siancong city. The land of Siancong keeps cropping up, but is it a mystical nation on another continent or does it have several branches or boroughs in Manhattan? In Issue #1, Captain America visited a future version of the nation.
The Punisher, Thing, Human Torch, The Terrible Tinkerer, Black Cat and Aero are here to keep things grounded in the Marvel U.
More of Kevin Schumer is revealed here. He’s a big super-hero aficionado (wears a Spider-Man tee) and uses a lot of recycled technology (Zodiac star-blazer, jetpack, Chameleon Circuit) Last issue he was giving tours of NYC in an old Fantastic-Car. This issue he’s using the invisibility gadget and a repurposed Goblin Glider to get around, It helps that his uncle is the Tinkerer. I’m slowly warming up to this guy.
The “strands and patterns” alluded to in the title are the work of new (villain?) Threadneedle who’s observing everything from the sidelines and obviously weaving this plot, although he says to his biker assistant Ace that he “doesn’t select the strands, just guide the pattern as it forms. THe pattern must always weave itself.”
Threadneedle is also keeping an eye on things in the city of Thoat Nhin, Siancong where former S.H.I.E.L.D. agent May is helping local intelligence choke off drug operations (among other things). She witnesses a battle between villain Powderkeg (in a suit he may have borrowed from old school Power Man) and Aero.
Aero’s wind powers keeps him from sweating nitroglycerin, which provides his explosive punch. Realizing that she’s made him ineffective, the bulky dim-witted Powderkeg utters the funniest line of the issue: “Aw, no. Tell me I’m not gonna get beat by a chick who shares a name with a candy bar . . .”
Hopefully, I’ve given you enough information to decide if you want to explore this title and decide for yourself. I do believe I’ll come back for Issue #3, and then we’ll see. TWO AND ONE-HALF STARS.
Not everyone appreciates the sometimes blocky art style of John Romita Jr., but I’m a fan. His work is great here, and reminds me of his solo three-issue crime series at Image, THE GREY AREA. Dan Abnett wrote this, and it’s fast-paced escapist action.
Honor Guest (sounds like a bestowed title more than an actual name) is a former League of Assassins member six years removed and settled into family life with husband and two young kids.
A huge goon assaults her in a super-market parking lot, causing her to use her powers (the Zone of Silence) again. She gets home to find Talia Al Ghul waiting for her, warning that there’s a power struggle within the Leviathan organization and her retired status won’t keep her out of the conflict. THREE STARS.
No horror inside, but this is an interesting story of future space exploration with dynamic art, especially on the planetscapes, making for a promising debut issue. (Six issues planned, I believe.)
It begins with survival on Mars, a colony dependent on ice mining while the Ministry of Exploration prepares for a new voyage beyond the planets orbiting the Sun in search of an Earth-like world. All other missions have failed, including the one that took Hellener (“Hellz”) Drake’s mother away from the family. The Ministry’s best candidate to lead the new mission is Hellener, based on his bravery that saved the members of an aborted mission on Phobos two years prior. Naturally, he’s conflicted but it doesn’t look like he has a choice.
This is one to watch. This isn’t a unique or totally original idea, but whether it succeeds depends on presentation. So far, so good. FOUR STARS.
#393 UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY #1 (Image, 2019) I think this is my third time around with Issue #1, as I’m getting ready to dive into my stockpile of back issues for a longer read.
There’s some brilliant world-building going on within the creation of Scott Snyder and Charles Soule’s, good character development, and a near-perfect introductory issue. The art is pure dynamite. I love the double-page spread where the heliocarrier of visitors to the isolated USA comes through the clouds and views the great barrier wall for the first time.
It’s the future. The USA sealed itself off from the rest of the world 30 years ago. The rest of the planet is split between two powers, the Euro-Afrique Alliance and the Pan-Asiatic Prosperity Zone. A new plague called Sky is killing the population. It’s deadly enough that some government’s have given up and crop-dust cities with poison gas. It kills the virus and everyone else breathing it in.
Sam Elgin, representing the U.S. (Uncle Sam?) contacts the two alliances, promising a cure for Sky subject to negotiations. A crew of seven is dispatched to enter the USA, and shot down by rocket upon arrival. They are rescued by a cloaked man, who reveals himself to be Sam Elgin - who also claims to know nothing about a cure or allowing a mission to pass through the wall. FIVE STARS.
It’s also become apparent by this point that Everard Blackthorne, the determined Sheriff of Nottingham, is the main character. There’s more of his background revealed in this issue, which portrays him as a commoner who made a drunken mistake, sought sanctuary with the Church and was duped into enlisting in The Crusades. Rather than break him, he rose in importance and renown.
Now the Church, especially Friar Tuck again, stands in his way between the law and Alan Dale, the only suspect that can provide revealing information. It doesn’t turn out well. Maid Marian, the conniving politician, gives insider information to Hood. But can he be trusted to follow through with her request, or pursue his own demented mission? Good stuff. FOUR STARS.
#395 ROBIN #1 (DC, June 2021) At the hands of writer Peter Tomasi, Damien/Robin became more than a two-dimensional character, both admirable and infuriating at the same time. Joshua Williamson takes over the writing chores here, and does a commendable job on Issue #1 - but the verdict is still out.
The independent-minded Damien takes his bad ass attitude into an unsanctioned fight ring against the King Snake, and earns his ticket to Lazarus Island and the fight tourney there. He didn’t know that these were death matches. Is he ready for the fury of Flatline?
The asides, flashbacks, and scenes with Batman and other family members made this more than a pure action comic. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
#396 STRAY DOGS #1 (Image, February 2021)
I skimmed through Issue #1 on the comic shop shelves and decided it was a little too cartoony for my tastes and passed on it. Then I saw the homage cover to Silence Of The Lambs and bought it anyway.
This turns out to be a pretty good book, especially if you’re a dog-lover(which I am). So, is the stranger who has a soft spot for stray dogs and provides them a warm home just a kind-hearted soul or the murderer that one of the new arrivals accuses him of?
While I liked the story, I’m really surprised by the amount of attention this title is getting - even selling out and in demand.It didn’t feel that special to me. I picked up the rest of the issues, just so I can satisfy my own curiosity.
THREE STARS.
#397 STAR WARS: WAR OF THE BOUNTY HUNTERS #1 (Marvel, August 2021)
I love the main cover art, which is poster-worthy. It’s also great to see some new work from illustrator Luke Ross, and colorist Neeraj Menon puts a lighter touch on the drawings that make them appear quite different from the Ross style.
I enjoyed this, but it’s a bit anti-climatic for me - even though I’ll pick up the rest of this series. We all know in Star Wars canon that Bobba Fett delivers the carbon-encased body of Han Solo to Jabba the Hut.
So whatever happens here has to end in that result.
Charles Soule does a fine job on the story set-up, but can they really milk this for five preludes, five main issues, plus 24 tie-in/crossover issues?
The high point for me is the first comics appearance of Lady Qi’Ra from the SOLO movie. THREE STARS.
#398 BASILISK #1 (Boom!, June 2021)
Cullen Bunn is so good at writing Southern-flavored horror tales. First HARROW COUNTY, then BONE PARISH, and now BASILISK - - all different, but sharing the Southern settings.
I’m digging both story and art here. Very creepy. Matt’s already said a lot about this book, so I’m going to reserve further comment until after I have a few more issues of this under my belt. Can’t wait!
FOUR STARS.
#399 MARVEL’S VOICES #1 (January 2021) Another in a series of tribute compilations that provide testimony to the diversity of themes within Marvel Comics — different races, genders, even a smattering of religion, politics, and personal philosophy. DC is also now releasing similar-themed issues. Good timing for Pride Month.
If you support diversity within the comics medium, as I do, then pick up this issue. However, this seems a little bit like preaching to the choir — anyone who’s been reading Marvel for the last decade or more already knows this. I’m also wondering if these books will reach the intended audience. They could be a useful tool to get the attention of newer and younger readers. So, if you have a friend or acquaintance who’s wondered about the diversity in modern comics, why not pass your copy onto them after you’re finished with it?
This particular issue has some interesting text pieces, my favorite being the short piece by writer Don McGregor. As for the stories, I’m not going to be too critical as it’s difficult to tell a compelling story in just one or two pages. Some succeed, though: “Race” (4 pages); “Death” (2 pages); “Punishment” (1 page); and “Back To Madripoor” (6 pages). THREE STARS.
#400 BLOOD, SKULLS, AND CHROME #1 (Second Sight Publishing, June 2021)
Sex and drugs and rock ’n roll and . . . crime. This fills a missing niche in comics genres: biker drama. It’s good for its’ type, especially if you’re a fan of the Sons of Anarchy and Mayans television series.
The Steel Knights motorcycle club of Sondel, Texas just lost their contract to transport meth for the Mexican cartel to a rival gang. Two headstrong members defy their leader and retaliate, killing a middle man for the cartel. The leader of the Steel Knights is tired of the biker life, unhappy, and worried that the club is going in the wrong direction.
Now that local law enforcement has found the body, things are going to heat up for both gangs.
Good, fluid fast-paced story with interesting art from a creative team that is brand-new to me. Worth checking out. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
