In 2021 I set a goal to post reviews here for 1,000 comics, and finished the year at 1,008 reviews. It was a stretch - - not to read that many comics, because I actually read quite a bit more. The challenge is to find and take the time to write a fair review of what I read - - but I made it. I’m up for a new year, and a new challenge. My goal for 2022 is to read and document 1,200 comics. That’s an average of 100 books per month, easy enough to check and update. Wish me luck!
# GOAL FOR FEBRUARY 09, 2022 . . . 134 comics documented
CURRENT COUNT . . . . . 117 comics documented
#103 - #107 THE ULTIMATES 2 #1 - #5 (Marvel, 2017) One of the actual good things about Marvel’s Ultimate Universe is that writers could completely ignore continuity and do outrageous things. (Except as time went on the Ultimate Universe developed its’ own continuity). I’m not as well-versed within the Ultimate U as I am the Marvel U (some might say otherwise), but to me it seems as if no writer has taken more advantage of that difference than Al Ewing. He fools around within the cosmic playground of the Ultimate U, messing with the big guns and big gods.
Here come the Ultimates, as their foes the psychic-powered Troubleshooters put it “making decisions on a cosmic scale - - risking lives, maybe risking universes, with no oversight . . .” Or are they as America Chavez says “paramedics for the multiverse . . . . It’s the paramedic’s job to get you stable. To use their expertise to keep you alive. That’s what I do. What my team does.” This team of Ultimates is Blue Marvel, Spectrum (former Captain Marvel Monica Rambeau), Black Panther, Captain Marvel and America Chavez - - the Ultimates “Squared” (my computer doesn’t make those small high numbers).
In Season One, the Ultimates Squared solved the problem of Galactus the World-Eater and helped evolve him into Galactus the Lifebringer. It’s Galactus who brings the team together again after discovering Eternity (who supposedly is the multiverse) in chains.
Reality itself is at war. The Living Tribunal declares that all things are now possible, just before Chaos and Order murder him. They then merge into their new form of law, Logos, and proceed to kill the Celestials and turn Galactus back into a hunger man. Now the Never Queen shows up, she who is all possibility. Plus, there is something even bigger and more cosmic behind the scenes pulling the strings. Whew. Not sure I can handle any more of this. FOUR STARS.
#108 ASTER: THE LAST CELESTIAL KNIGHT Volume 2, #3 (Entity, 1996)
This is notable for showcasing some of the early work of Lenil Yu, which is more than worth the bargain bin price I paid to obtain this. His lines are sharper than I have seen from him lately, perhaps because he inked his own work here. The color work from House of Maus & T-Time Producions is flawless.
Aster’s last foe, the Viking-like Dhumat and his magical hammer, has troubles of his own as an alien vessel lands on his planet under the guise of friendship. Meanwhile Aster penetrates the ionic curtain into a new world, and encounters a guardian monolith at a walled gateway. A wizard stops the battle and invites him inside to the throw-back city of Tgenap.
The wizard brings him to the throne room to meet the king, who decides Aster belongs in prison. To be continued - - - which it never was because this was the last issue published.
THREE STARS, due to the good art.
#109 AVATAR: TSU-TEY’S PATH #1 (Dark Horse, January 2019)
This story takes place within the time frame of the film Avatar. The Na’vi, blue-skinned indigenous beings living on the gas giant Polyphemus, have to content with their lifestyle being disrupted by humans with mining machines and high-tech weaponry. Plus the humans grow artificial “avatar” bodies that allow them to walk among the Na’vi.
Young male Tsu-Tey is tasked with training younger Na’vi. On an exercise they capture a human avatar, easy to recognize because he’s wearing a teeshirt and jeans instead of the native garb. Like Aster, the art here by veteran Jann Duursema is more interesting than the story.
THREE STARS.
#110 BLOODFIRE #2 (Lightning Comics, July 1993) This is the “shocking origin issue” that details how anti-terrorist team member Brian Reace is seriously wounded behind enemy lines. Near death, a military surgeon brings him back. He lost a lot of blood and unknowingly his transfusion was tainted with the H.I.V./AIDS virus. Reace threatens the doctor and demands a cure be found. An experimental drug is injected, giving Reace super-solider strength, with the unusual side effect that his blood ignites when it comes in contact with oxygen, hence the code name “Bloodfire”. For some reason, Lightning thought they needed to include a disclaimer. There’s a full page letter from the President of the American Association of blood banks explaining how the American blood supply is safe.
Lightning Comics, a small indie publisher based in Michigan, does a lot of bragging within their comic. The credits page notes how Lightning Comics “was born out of the desire to give you, the comics enthusiast, the best entertainment as well as highly sought after modern collectibles.”(This was during the height of the comics speculation market of the ’90’s, right before the crash). Unfortunately, both story and art are below average, and it’s no wonder they didn’t last long.
Later in the issue, there’s a full page bulletin boasting how Lightning “kicks butt” and “Valiant’s record beat!”, claiming that the 35,000 copies sold of Bloodfire #1 to the direct market beat what early Valiant did.
“We believe that once fans are aware of Lightning Comics and what we stand for, orders will climb to the 250,000 mark” says Steve Zskowski, Vice President. Wishful thinking.
It goes further . . . . . “Why 250,000? Because that’s the maximum number Lightning comics will print of any first printing. It’s about time that somebody put their foot down and said ‘enough’s enough!’ We refuse to flood the market with our books . . . .” Blah, blah, blah. TWO STARS.
More adventures inside the bargain boxes . . . . .
#111, #112, #113 BONE #38, #40, #42 (Cartoon Books, August 2000 - May 2001)
I think if I’m ever going to appreciate this fantasy featuring the cute cartoonish Bone cousins I’m going to need to start at the beginning instead of picking up random issues in bargain bins.
I know this is an acclaimed work that has endured and survived through self-publishing for over ten plus years. However, this may be the third attempt to get engaged with writer/artist Jeff Smith’s creation and it fails to pull me in or generate interest. Maybe I should see if the public library has Volume 1 and give it a serious read.
It doesn’t help that this story is in the middle of a long story arc when I decide to jump in. The Bone cousins have been run out of Boneville (reason unspecified), get separated and lost in an uncharted desert before reuniting and finding their way into a forested valley where they encounter the woman warrior Thorn and wondrous and terrifying creatures. This is where the story picks up.
THREE STARS. I enjoyed the shorter RASL more than this.
A quartet of random Dark Horse issues from bargain bins . . . . .
#114, #115 DOCTOR STAR & THE KINGDOM OF LOST TOMORROWS #1, #2 (Dark Horse, March-April 2018) This mini-series is a spin-off from Jeff Lemire’s acclaimed BLACK HAMMER series (which I also struggle to get involved with, despite enjoying Volume 1). There’s some good art here with an appropriate retro-look from Max Fiumara.
Scientist/astronomer Dr. James Robinson agrees to work for the federal government pre-WWII to develop a weapon from radiation energies obtained during his excursions into the Para-Zone. He develops the Para-Wand that enables him to breach the dimensional membrane and capture the stars. He becomes Doctor Star and assists the Liberty Squadron in fighting the Nazis.
He becomes so wrapped up in his adventures and continuing experiments that he neglects his family and when he diverts his attention towards them eighteen years have passed and his son is dying from cancer. Doctor Star then dedicates his energies towards saving his son. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
#116 FREAKS OF THE HEARTLAND #5 (Dark Horse, September 2004)
I had previously read Issue #1 of this depression-era horror tale of secreting away children born with monstrous defects from intolerant Midwestern small town prejudices. While I admired Steve Nile’s story and the gorgeous painted look to Greg Ruth’s art, I found it a bit slow and decided not to keep going (I’m got to watch the budget just like everyone else).
By Issue #5, an out-of-control fire raging across the plains brings the children out of hiding, while an ignorant town mob decides its’ all their fault and decides to put the creatures down.
THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
#117 THE GUILD: VORK one-shot (Dark Horse, December 2010)
I’m just not a big fan of comics based on role-playing fantasy games, probably because I don’t play Dungeons & Dragons, etc (and haven’t since last century) and feel like I’m missing the knowledge to really enjoy them.
However, this was a good one because of Felecia Day’s storyline (based on her popular Guild webcomics) that pokes fun at itself and the humorous art of Darick Robertson.
Vork is the role-playing warrior character that’s valued for his fighting abilities but disliked for his bossiness and O.C.D. tendencies. In the real world, he’s Herman the middle-aged loner and the primary care-giver of a grandfather who’s got a rambunctious streak to counter Herman’s meekness.
THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
