Fantastic Four #14

   So finally the person behind the downfall of the Fantastic Four has been revealed.

   Guess what? It's Mopee.

   (Not really.)

   But there are similarities.

   For those lucky enough to have missed the story, Mopee was an other-dimensional character who popped up in a Silver Age issue of The Flash (#167) and claimed he had given the speedster his superpowers.

   It was a story so hated by fans that it was never mentioned again (outside of comedy bits in Ambush Bug).

   We're treading on the same ground here, as the mysterious villain claims to have been around since before the team was created (his motivation for hating the team is not very convincing) and he implies that he is responsible for some of the team's past struggles.

   Maybe so, maybe not. But if it turns out he's telling the truth, don't be surprised if this story fades away just like Mopee.

   But this may be unfair - writer James Robinson still has one more issue to wrap this story up convincingly. But so far - aside from Leonard Kirk's excellent art - this incarnation of the team has been a huge disappointment so far.

Grade: C+

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Bad Times: Book Two: Blood Red Tide

   Comic fans have been following Chuck Dixon's hard-hitting work for decades, as he's written everything from Batman to the Punisher, Airboy and G. I. Joe (among dozens of other titles).

   These days he's kept busy with the excellent Wimterworld - but he's also made his mark writing novels, including a new series that fits right in to his bare knuckles approach.

    The Bad Times series is a terrific combination of science fiction, historical adventure and modern military action all rolled into one fast-paced novel. 

   The first book (Cannibal Gold) established the rules of time-travel for an odd mix of scientists, engineers and former Soldiers. 

   Now cut off from their sponsor, the team must carve its own path in the world, and that begins with a journey to the Mediterranean and a hunt for a long-lost treasure. 

   That search lands the team in the middle of a different kind of warfare and a desperate fight for survival. 

   The story features some shocking twists and turns along the way and makes smart use of its premise. 

   One of the many things I like about the series is (perversely enough) that the modern-day explorers / fighters keep underestimating their ancestors. Considering the unforgiving world  of those bygone days, we should give them a little more credit - and this series spells that out in spades. 

   A heck of a fun ride - part science fiction, part Punisher, part Conan! 

   I can’t wait to read the third volume!

Grade: A

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Superman #37

   Merry Christmas!

   Hope you're having a great holiday, dear reader (whichever holiday you prefer to observe)!

   Just a reminder that on Dec. 31 I'll be sharing my "Top Ten Comics for 2014" list, and you're welcome to send in your own rundown.

   Just email them to us at this address: Chuckscomicoftheday@gmail.com - or you can send in a comment via the link at the bottom of each post.

   Now, back to our regularly scheduled post:

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   Give credit to writer Geoff Johns and artists John Romita, Jr. and Klaus Janson - they've devised a suitably oversized story to kick off their run on Superman.

   It revolves around the Man of Steel's encounter with another super-man - an earth man named Ulyssess who was sent to another world as an infant, where he gained powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men.

  For several issues the two have become friends, but now the real goal behind Ulysses' mission has been revealed, and for all his power, it may be beyond Superman's abilities to stop.

   They're operating on a big scale here, with the lives of millions of people - and a planet's existence - hanging in the balance.

   It's all in Romita's wheelhouse, as he channels Kirby and Buscema - you'll see titans collide and cities crumble.

   And it's good to see a Superman who's trying to save everyone - unlike the character in a certain recent movie I could name.

   (Sorry, couldn't resist the easy shot.)

Grade: A-

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The Classics - The Avengers #7

   While Stan Lee and Jack Kirby were creative forces of nature, sometimes they stumbled a bit.

   But even those issues can make an impression.

   This issue of Avengers from 1964 is a great example. After several killer issues in the series, this comic was loaded with improbable events.

   For example:

   - The Avengers suspend Iron Man's membership for a week because he failed to respond to a recent call from the team.

   - Odin punishes the Executioner and the Enchantress by exiling them to Earth (yep, they'll cause no problems there). Thanks, All-Father!

   - They join forces with Baron Zemo to form the second version of the Masters of Evil. The Executioner somehow disguises himself as a Baron Strucker lookalike, but somehow manages to hide his 7-foot-tall frame behind a mask.

   - Cap travels to the Amazon, fights Zemo's army, they flies back to New York while hanging on the outside of Zemo's aircraft. What a guy!

   - Thor falls for the oldest trick in the book, and the Enchantress casts a spell that turns him against his teammates.

   And that was the scene that made such an impact on 8-year-old me. Caught in the spell, Thor imagines Iron Man, Cap, Giant-Man and the Wasp as horrible, nightmarish villains. It was a scary image!

   What follows is a raw battle between Thor and his teammates - and young me wondered how they were going to stand against a fighting mad Asgardian!

   The wrap-up to the story is as silly and convenient as the rest of the issue - but I love this comic!

   Perhaps it was the fight between former allies (one of the first such fights I had seen), perhaps it was the great Kirby art (here inked by the excellent Chic Stone), perhaps it was the clever bits of business scattered throughout (Cap training with a group of professional wrestlers is a lot of fun), and perhaps it was Cap's amazing battle with an army in the Amazon.

   It's a bit slim on the story side, with the usual fantastic dialogue by Stan - but it's still a beloved issues of The Avengers (at least by me) because of the impact it had on my young mind.

   Just further proof that, while they can't all be winners, with the right craftsmanship, seasoned pros can move past the weaknesses of a story and keep your attention focused on the series, instead of an individual issue.

Grade: B

______________  

 

 

'Twas the New Comics Day Before Christmas...

   Everyone ready for the holiday? (As usual, I finished my shopping last night. I also started my shopping last night.) 

   Here's what I picked up at the comics shop today:

- New Avengers #28 - Friend against friend against friend.

- Daredevil #11 - The return of the Stunt-Master?

- Doc Savage Specisl #1 - Pat Savage strikes back!

- Flash #37 - Mass murder!

- Invaders #13 - A cosmic history lessons - and a mystery.

- She-Hulk #11 - Time for a brawl.

- Superman #37 - The secret behind the Great World.

- All-New X-Men Annual #1 - More adventures in time travel.

- Uncanny X-Men #29 - The unstoppable mutant.

   And that's it!

Cap Stone #1

   I tend to admire comics that take an original approach to a story - and this one does that in spades.

   Cap Stone is the story of superhero Captain Stone. He's gone missing, and no one knows what happened to him.

   The thing is, he's also missing in this comic. Instead, it follows the story of a young woman who lives a strange, solitary (and somewhat disturbing) existence.

   She recounts her story, including her odd relationship with her father (who has some less-than-legal side interests) and her reasons for dropping off the grid.

   But as to how she's connected to Cap - well, you'll have to uncover that on your own.

   Writers Christina McCormack and Liam Sharp have crafted a twisty,  disturbing but compelling story here, and you'll be hard pressed to keep from turning up for the next chapter. (By the way, this comic is not one for kids.)

   The art is also by Sharp, and it's an interesting style, very reminiscent of Bill Sienkiewicz's paintings, with stylized art images next to unique characterizations.

   There aren't too many comics around that offer a truly unique vision. Here's one now!

Grade: A-

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Batman #37

   I really want to like this issue.

   It's loaded with great art by Greg Capullo and Danny Miki. It features the return of the Joker, who has somehow managed to overcome the loss of his face (he hasn't looked as good in quite a few years, actually). He's unleashed a scheme of mass destruction on Gotham City, and even Batman seems overwhelmed by the task at hand.

   So what's not to like? Well...

   It all comes down to the story,  and it bothers me that it makes no sense. I know, it's part of the Joker's scheme - but at some level, it has to have an element of logic and the real world.

   So we start with Batman paralyzed and forced to witness Gotham's citizens infected by a version of the Joker virus that makes them all go insane. Commissioner Gordan is helping coordinated an attempt to find a cure, but he must face the Joker alone. Or does he?

   Batman confronts his oldest foe - or does he? The nightmares are mixed in with the nightmarish reality and it's difficult to tell what's real and what's hallucination.

   All of which makes it difficult to really care about the story. If anything can happen, does anything matter? What is the Joker's scheme and how does he manage to create so many bio-weapons? Since he was able to enslave the Justice League, is there anything he can't do?

   Like too many stories these days, it all feels like fan fiction, where the rules don't apply and anything goes, no matter how outrageous.

  We expect a it more self-restraint (and real world logic) in the Dark Knight's adventures.

Grade: B

----------------------

All-New X-Men #34

   We know that Brian Michael Bendis is the master of decompressed stories (in other words, taking a story and stretching it over numerous issues), and the current story certainly qualifies.

   It seems to be taking forever to make any progress on the story - but that's because each issue has to cover each member of the team. The original X-Men team members (and X-23) have been separated (mostly) and sent into the Ultimate universe, where they discover a world that's very different - but with some amazing similarities.

   It's fun to see each hero - Iceman, the Beast, Marvel Girl, the Angel and X-23 - fight for their lives, face deadly foes and discover unexpected allies.

   It's true, the story is moving at a snail's pace - but it is a lot of fun to see the team deal with this strange new world.

   The art by Mahmud Asrar is excellent, with an intense double-page splash driving home the alien nature of this new world.

   The question is, how long can this story continue? At the rate it's moving, it could be six months before the team gets back together. Of course, as long as each issue is as much fun as this one, you won't find many readers who'll complain.

Grade: A-

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Shadow Show #2

   Fans often refer to the classic "A-B-C's" of science fiction - meaning the authors "Asimov - Bradbury - Clarke."

   All three were groundbreaking giants of the industry and they (and many more) deserve much more credit than they typically receive.

   That's why I'm glad to see this series from IDW. Shadow Show features comic adaptations of stories written to honor the memory of (and work by) Ray Bradbury.

   This issue features two stories - the first written by Neil Gaiman and adapted by writer Mort Castle and artist Maria Frohlich. It feels like a story by Bradbury, with its evocative imagery and heart-rending depiction of a man who is losing touch with the world.

   It includes touchstones to numerous stories, concepts and characters by Bradbury - an elegant tale.

   The second story is by writer Audrey Niffennegger (adapted by the author) with art by Eddie Campbell. It's a sad, subtle story about a daughter and her father on what may be their final trip together - a Bradbury-like story of life, the decisions we make and the impermanence of time.

   I like this series a lot - and anything that honors the master and brings more readers to his work is great in my book.

Grade: A-

-----------------------

Sandman Overture #4

   Ho-hum, another terrific issue of Sandman Overture, the prequel to the classic series.

   Written by Neil Gaiman with art by J. H. Williams III, it's another mind-bending chapter following Dream (with two companions) in his search for the answer to a mystery - an answer that involves living stars and a curse of madness.

   At the same time, we see a meeting between the title character and... well, that would be telling. But longtime readers will be shocked (and then another character is referenced to compound that)!

   It takes some patience to follow this series - they're averaging about four months between issues - but boy howdy, is it worth the wait.

   The artwork is just stunning - each page looks like it should be hanging in a gallery somewhere.

   Look, if you're familiar with the series, you know what to expect - terrific storytelling, a mind-bending story and great art.

   And if you're not familiar with the Sandman stories, what great stories you have ahead of you!

   Highly recommended!

Grade: A

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The Multiversity: Thunderworld Adventures #1

   We're rapidly approaching the end of the year when I pick my favorite comics for 2014 - but don't be surprised when you see this issue in the top 10 (heck, it may be #1)!

   In The Multiversity, writer Grant Morrison has been exploring the potential in DC's 52 (count 'em, 52) alternate universes, and the adventures so far have been mostly serious, deep and dark affairs.

   But with Thunderworld Adventures, he rips off the pretension of modern comics and offers up an adventure that is imaginative, exciting and just plain fun.

   Here we find the classic Captain Marvel (that's right, he goes by his proper name, not "Shazam"). It's the hero as he should be - updated into a modern superhero, tackling an overpowering menace with intelligence and humor.

   The issue begins with the wizard Shazam under attack by the evil scientist Sivana, who has joined forces with an army of familiar-looking villains. Toss in a super-powered Sivana family, the Marvel family, lots of villains and a threat to reality (plus some fun with time travel) and you get a fresh, fantastic story.

   Add in the powerful and fresh art by Cameron Stewart, and you have a captivating, not-to-be-missed comic.

   Stacked on the shelf alongside the usual tomes of grim and gruesome antics, it's like a blast of fresh air - a fun, hope-filled adventure starring honest-to-goodness heroes.

   Why can't this be a monthly title? The comics industry - and each fan - needs this in the worst way.

Grade: A

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The Classics - Avengers #5

   A couple of years ago I reviewed Avengers #3, the first issue of the series I saw - and one that made this comic an instant favorite.

   At the end of that story, they teased that the next issue would feature the return of Captain America!

   I remember thinking, "Who the heck is Captain America?"

   At 8 years old, I knew nothing about comics history, and less about a character whose last appearance was around the time I was born (not counting an imposter who appeared in an issue of Strange Tales I missed.)

   To compound the problem, I never saw that fourth issue (although I read a reprint of it years later) - the next issue of The Avengers I saw was #5 (published in 1964). Thankfully, it quickly brought the reader up to speed on the team's newest member.

   It was immediately obvious that there was something special about Cap - a normal man in top physical condition, armed only with a shield that served as both a defensive and offensive weapon.

   Thrown onto a team with Thor, Iron Man, Giant-Man and the Wasp, he immediately stood out as a true hero - both in his courage in facing incredible odds, and in smaller ways.

   For example, in this issue the team faces the Lava Men, a lost race of what seems to be humans made out of volcanic rock, each with incredible powers. At one point Cap is wrapped up in bands of volcanic rock. Iron Man uses his repulsor rays to free Cap, but warns that it will be painful. As he blasts the rock, Iron Man thinks, "What a man! He's taking the full force of my electronic repulsors without a whimper!" No magic hammers, no armor, no growing powers - Cap was just a tough hombre!

   The issue includes the menace of the Living Rock, which threatens the entire planet - but to deal with it, the team had to fight an army of Lava Men - and the Incredible Hulk!

   Crafted by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the issue was an instant classic. It was another action-packed issue, and I discovered a new favorite hero to add to my "must buy" list!

   And this kind of thing was a monthly event at Marvel. What a deal!

Grade: A

------------------------------

New Comic Book Day!

   Here's what I picked up at the comics shop today:

- Batman #37 - The Joker returns!

- Fantastic Four #14 - The answer at last!

- Guardians of the Galaxy #22 - Venom problems.

- Justice, Inc. #5 - Looking for revenge.

- Justice League #37 - Tackling a powerhouse.

- Magnus #9 - Taking the fight to the top.

- Multiversity Thunderworld #1 - Say the magic word, Billy.

- Ragnarok #3 - A thunder god looking for answers.

- Sandman Overture #4 - Wild and wonderful.

- Shadow Show #2 - More Gaiman, this time honoring Ray Bradbury.

- Wonder Woman #37 - Well, that last page should fire people up.

- All-New X-Men #34 - Making friends and enemies in the Ultimate universe.

   And that's it!

Batgirl #37

   So my first reaction to this cover was: that's not a very practical new costume for Batgirl.

    Yep, it's a bedazzled batsuit for Babs.

    Thankfully, it's not Babs. It's an imposter, and the issue follows the attempts by the real Batgirl to track down and unmask the "new" Batgirl who's stolen her image - and may just destroy her identity.

   It's a terrific issue - the best of the "new" Batgirl so far. A little dark and edgy, but ultimately uplifting and defining - and adding a wicked new mystery for Batgirl to solve.

   The art by Babs Tarr is fresh and energetic, and a great match for the story by Cameron Stewart and Brenden Fletcher.

    I admit I wasn't too sure about this "new look" for the series, but so far it's been very successful.

   Here's hoping for more of the same!

Grade: A-

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Lola XOXO #5 (of 6)

   There are quite a few books around that are set in a dystopic future (I suppose a utopian future might be a bit dull), but most of them go for an over-the-top approach - zombies, alien invaders, that sort of thing.

   It's a credit to the Lola XOXO mini-series that it deals with the real world - so you have groups of outlaws using horses, guns and mercenaries to control trade routes.

   Into that setting we throw Lola, a (rare) kind-hearted but tough woman in search of her long-missing parents.

   A virtual prisoner of the Wasteland Trading Company, she finds a secret that may bring her to the end of her quest - but can she save her friends who face slavery (or worse)?

   The art by Siya Oum (who also writes the series) is terrific, with a wonderful classic style and real-world grit about it.

   Aside from the female protagonist, this is a unique series from Aspen and stands apart from the rest of the line. The next issue wraps up the opening storyline - here's hoping Oum can stick the landing.

Grade: B+

------------------

Thor #3

   The biggest weakness of the original version of Thor was his dependence on his Uru hammer. If he was out of contact with Mjolnir for more than 60 seconds, he'd revert to his mortal identity of Dr. Don Blake.

   That idea was ditched decades ago - but now it's back, as the new female version of Thor finds when she's separated from the hammer and left to face a small army of Frost Giants.

   It makes for a fun (if vicious) romp as she deals with that and the machinations of Malekith, the Dark Elf.

   We still don't have a clue about her true identity, so the stories have been all about action - but presumably at some point we'll have to get some kind of personal side to the character.

   If not, it's going to get monotonous pretty fast.

   But so far, this series has been a lot more fun than I expected.

Grade: A-

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The Avengers #39

   We know that Marvel has had a lot of fun over the years with heroes fighting other heroes.

   Sometimes it's because of a misunderstanding, sometimes they're working at cross purposes, and sometimes it's just because the writer thought it would be fun (or stupid) to have two groups of heroes beating up on each other (I'm looking at you, Civil War).

   You might think the ongoing story in The Avengers and The New Avengers is just another example of that, as two teams - Steve Roger's "Corporate Avengers" and Reed Richard's "Illuminati New Avengers" are spending a lot of time and energy chasing each other, each convinced they're doing the right thing.

   After several issues of cat-and-mouse games, here we get down to some serious fisticuffs, as powerhouses clash.

   We also get to see a serious intellect at work, as Reed puts his plan into action. He knows he can't win - but is there a way he can avoid losing?

   It's a thoughtful, clever script by Jonathan Hickman and amazing, over-the-top artwork by Mike Deodato.

   Best of all, it's a fight between Marvel heroes unlike any other. Hard to believe, I know.

Grade: A-

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Bitch Planet #1

   I occasionally pick up comics on a whim (as I trust most of you do), and this one was hard to resist.

   From the cover (and a quick flip through its pages), Bitch World looked like a "B" movie-inspired, grindhouse-like action-packed science fiction adventure.

   And some of that is true - but it's also a "smack you over the head" pro-feminist tract.

   It's something of a mixed bag, frankly. The story by Kelly Sue DeConnick gives us a setting where female criminals are sent to a grim prison world where they are... well, not treated well.

   The only time we see men in the issue is when they're behind the scenes manipulating events or casually wielding control over women. Subtle it's not.

   For the women - well, it's a brutal life. They're used, discarded, abused, forced to fight for every scrap of life or dignity.

   So that translates to lots of tension, some terrific action scenes and a few surprise twists. (Oh, and this isn't a comic for kids, as the title should indicate - it includes violence, nudity and bad language.)

   The art by Valentine De Landro is quite good - intense and unsettling, edgy and emotional.

   This series obviously isn't for everyone - but the first issue is setting up a dark, adult series that promises lots of surprises along the way.

   Grade: B+

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Guardians of the Galaxy Annual #1

   This may look like just another Guardians of the Galaxy Annual, but it's actually a love letter to artist Jim Steranko.

    Written by Brian Michael Bendis, the story features the Guardians, guest stars Captain Marvel and Venom, and a guest appearance by Nick Fury and his Agents of SHIELD.

    The two groups team up to battle an invading horde of Skrulls - but there's a lot of mystery at work here, and things are not as they seem.

   But the real star of the issue is artist Frank Cho, who fills the pages with stunning tributes to the amazing work of Steranko (right down to a splash page that recreates one of the most legendary covers ever).

   Cho's a terrific artist, of course, and one of the few who can create work that's at least in the same neighborhood with Steranko's.

   The story's mighty thin (and could actually be viewed as an indictment of comic books in general), but the art and the sheer fun of the story make it worthwhile.

   A gift for any longtime fans.

Grade: A

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The Classics - Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos #35

   Early in its run, the war comic Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos (how I love that title) broke the rules - in the second issue, one of the Commandos - Junior Juniper - was killed in combat.

   As far as I know, he's never been brought back from the dead, making him the exception to the rule.

   You might expect a higher death rate, but aside from hordes of German soldiers, there were very few deaths in this title - and no other Howlers were cut down until this issue.

   Written by Roy Thomas (and he earned his pay - there's a ton of wordage in this issue. It was the style at the time), this is a rare continued story for this comic.

   In the previous issue the Howlers were captured, with only Nick Fury escaping - so it's time for a rescue.

   His team is being moved to Berlin to allow Adolf Hitler to supervise the death of the squad, so Fury must rush to their rescue, aided by his ally / enemy, Sgt. Bull McGivney (the verbal sparring between the two was always entertaining).

   The team is also aided by Eric Koenig, a German who has decided to fight against the Nazis - no doubt an effort to show that not all Germans were monsters. What follows is a far-fetched action romp, with the usual over-the-top dialogue.

   But what sets this issue apart (aside from the face-to-face encounter with Hitler) is that a Howler is actually injured seriously and spends quite some time out of action.

   It was a shocking turn of events, and it cleared the way for the addition of a new Howler - a great way to infuse some new dynamics into the team.

   The art for the issue is by Dick Ayers and John Tartaglione, and they do a terrific job squeezing all those characters and all that action and story into a single issue - this would take at least six issues worth of modern comics to cover.

   I love this series - it's loaded with action, great characters and tons of humor. It may seem like an odd combination for a comic about war, but it was a formula that worked to perfection.

   (By the way, I trust that I'm not the only one disappointed about the fact that the Howlers weren't part of the recent war movie named Fury. At least they were in the first Captain America movie.)

Grade: A-

---------------------------

New Comics Day

here's what I picked up at the comics shop today:

 

- Astro City #18 - A cover swiped from today's headlines (and yesterday's Green Lantern).

 

- Avengers #39 - Continuing the countdown to Armageddon.

 

- Batgirl #37 - Now bedazzled?

 

- Bitch World #1 - With that title, how could I pass it up?

 

- Guardians of the Galaxy Annual #1 - Frank Cho artwork? I'm there.

 

- Little Nemo in Slumberland #3 - The art on this has been stunning.

 

- Rocket Raccoon #6 - Working for a living!

 

- Sirens #3 - George Perez artwork? I'm there.

 

- Thor #3 - Fighting Ice Giants with no hammer.

 

- Winterworld #5 - Never get into a foot race with a giant bear.

 

- Uncanny X-Men Annual #1 - Adventures in time.

 

   And that's it!

Gotham by Midnight #1 and Earth 2 #29

    Hey, it’s guest review time! Here are reviews by my pal Bruce Rosenberger, giving us a look at two DC titles: 

Gotham by Midnight #1 

   I love Ben Templesmith's art so I wanted to pick up the first issue to see if this one has any promise. 

   Ray Fawkes is the writer and while the name seems familiar, I can't place him. Storywise, I can't say I'm overly impressed as it’s a device I've seen before, many times, as the Internal Affairs Officer visits the Special Task Force offices to investigate and close them down as he's sure it's a waste of money. 

   The members of the Detailed Case Task Force, led by Jim Corrigan, are going to show him their value by taking him along on an investigation. So far I'll give it passing marks.

Grade: B 

----------------

Earth 2 #29 

   After 11 issues the story involving Darkseid and Apokolips has been brought to a close. 

   Issue 28 contained a few short stories by various teams about various characters. 

   Issue 29 seems to be another story arc starting and it features the Earth 2 versions of Dick Grayson and Barbara Gordon. It's not written or drawn by Tom Taylor or pencilled by Nicola Scott but you wouldn't know. Trevor Scott's inking makes it look the same. (I was a fan of Nicola Scott on her last book but not so much on this one, and I think that's due to heavy handed inking by Trevor Scott.) 

   The story seems to take us right back to where we started with Tom Taylor so that's a bit frustrating, and at the end of this issue says that it's continued in the weekly mini-series Earth 2: World's End #9. 

   Can't say I was a big fan of the issue, although the two-page ad for Multiversity by Grant Morrison might just bump it up a point!

Grade: C+

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Hulk #9

   While I generally object when heroes are converted to villain status (see Superior Spider-Man and Superior Iron Man), I have to admit that I've been enjoying the Doc Green version of the Hulk.

   One reason for that is because he's being played as the smartest, uh, guy in the room - a super-intelligent force working a mysterious agenda. But is he a force for evil - or a higher good that we can't see yet?

   The issue starts with an unusual crossover with the Uncanny X-Men (specifically Kitty Pryde and Magik), but quickly moves to a cat-and-mouse game between "Doc" and Bruce Banner - and it all seems to be leading to a dark and deadly future.

   The dialogue is sharp, the story moves along fast and it's very clever. Kudos to writer Gerry Duggan for his work on this series.

   The art is excellent as always - Mark Bagley and Drew Hennessy seem inspired by the story, with terrific art and powerful layouts.

   The beauty of the Hulk's adventures is that there's a lot of leeway with the character - he can be "dumb" Hulk, smart Hulk or anything in between. This creative team is making the most of that potential.

   Highly recommended!

Grade: A-

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Gotham Academy #3

   As mentioned in previous reviews, I'm not sure what to make of this series.

   Gotham Academy is a series that seems to be aimed at female readers, and that's great - but it also seems like a mystery / juvenile adventure series that should appeal to any reader.

   But here we are, three months into the series and we still don't know much about the lead characters (Olive Silverlock and her clever friend Maps) or, frankly, what kind of story we're dealing with here.

   Is it supernatural? Superhero? Scooby-Doo mystery? I admit I'm not sure, and my patience is wearing thin.

   I think the series has great potential - certainly the art by Karl Kerschi is original and a lot of fun - but the story by Becky Cloonan and Brenden Fletcher needs to give us a reason to hang around.

   A little mystery is a great thing, but this series is nothing but mystery. We need a little more to go on.

   Of course, the fact is, this series is aimed at younger readers, and they're probably loving it.

   But for this geezer, I need a little help to keep me rolling back for more.

Grade: B

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Angela: Asgard's Assassin #1

   So here's the problem with Angela: she's Marvel's version of Wonder Woman.

   The characters don't actually have much in common as heroes, outside of their fighting skills - but what they do have in common is a lack of personality.

   As writer Beau Smith once said, you should be able to ask yourself, what kind of music does this character have on his or her iPod? With both of those characters, who knows?

   That's because neither one has much of a personality, and both of their backstories are a bit of a mess.

   For Angela, there's still time to sort that out - but the efforts so far have fallen short.

   Originally created by Neil Gaiman, Angela first appeared in the Marvel Universe a couple of years ago, and all we know about her is that she's strong, nearly invulnerable, skilled with weapons (swords and knives), and she's from a world / land / dimension known as Heven.

    A recent mini-series explaind that she's actually the daughter of Odin, sister to Thor and Loki - but she was brought up to hate Asgardians (Heven being the realm of mercenary, amoral "angels"). So she doesn't really fit in anywhere.

   This issue is all about action, as we see Angela fighting a small army to protect an infant - but given her feelings about Asgard and its inhabitants, it's hard to see how we get to the part where she's an assassin for Asgard. Or perhaps she's meant to assassinate Asgard?

   Like I said, it's a bit confusing.

   The art is quite good, with most of it provided by the interesting team of Phil Jimenez and the legendary Tom Palmer.

   I'd love to see this series succeed - Marvel can always use more strong female characters - but they need to figure out who Angela is and why we should care about her.

   Give her a song list, for starters.

Grade: B

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Hellboy and the B.P.R.D. #1 (of 5)

   Here's an ingenious idea - an ongoing mini-series focusing on the life of young Hellboy.

   Each year (for however long the series runs) they'll look at another year in the life of the monster-fighting hero, starting with the year he first started going out on assignments - 1952.

   Written by Hellboy creator Mike Mignola and John Arcudi, the issue sets up the adventure to come, as we meet the members of the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense (B.P.R.D.).

   Given his mysterious origins and apparent connection to Hell itself (not to mention his youth), the team is mostly hesitant to bring Hellboy along on the mission.

   But when an mysterious event brings them to South America to investigate, they decide it's time to start his training.

   The issue is loaded with mystery and menace, but it moves slow as it spends the issue moving everyone into position.

   The art is by Alex Maleev, and it's excellent - moody, intense and spooky. This is the kind of stuff he was born to draw.

    I do have one small quibble - they show Hellboy smoking. He may look like an adult, but he's actually only 8 years old - hardly old enough for that pastime.

   But maybe I'm overthinking this.

Grade: A-

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Thanos vs. the Hulk #1 (of 4)

   I was prepared to pass this issue by, since on the surface it seems like a standard slugfest - Marvel's strongest mortal against one of its most formidable villains (and one who is the central big bad guy in Marvel's movies). It sounded like a four-issue series that would be mighty thin.

   Then I saw the name of the writer and artist - Jim Starlin - and I picked it up.

   Starlin, of course, is the creator of Thanos and the guy who put the "cosmic" in Marvel's '70s comics (especially Captain Marvel and Warlock). He also created Gamora, Pip the Troll and the Infinity Gauntlet.

   The trick with the series is figuring out when it takes place. It apparently falls between the last Hulk series (that had Banner working for SHIELD, with the Hulk only having limited intelligence - not the super-smart "Doc Green" character now at the center of his adventures. It also takes place before the recent Thanos graphic novel.

   It's nice to see that Starlin is as sharp as ever - both in his art, which combines strange aliens, humorous encounters and menacing villains, and in his storytelling. The issue starts with the kidnapping of the Hulk by Pip (honest!), all tied to a major threat arising in the Negative Zone.

   Pip hopes to make amends by rescuing the Hulk, but to do that he'll have to turn to his deadly former ally - Thanos.

   The first issue is all set-up (with scarcely a punch thrown), but it's setting up a heck of a battle - and a crazy cast - for the rest of the series.

   It's great to see Starlin back in action, especially since he's one of the few who writes Thanos properly - he always manages the proper mix of menace, intelligence and dark humor.

   Hopefully the upcoming movies will do as well!

Grade: A-

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The Classics - Adventure Comics #340 and #341

    Of all the early adventures of the Legion of Super-Heroes, one of the stories that most affected me was the two-part battle between the Legion and Computo.

    The big bad in the story was a creation of Legionnaire Brainiac-5, and it started as a typical "computer develops sentience and becomes a homicidal maniac" tale - but it was a menace with a surprising edge to it.

   In 1966 the battles between the forces of good and evil were generally civilized affairs (at least at DC Comics), with no real sense of danger - but this story was different.

   Computo (basically a giant ambulatory computer with smake-like arms) quickly built an army of giant robots, kidnapped top scientists and Legionnaires (after taking away the powers of most of the heroes), and threatened death if the rest of the Legion opposed its plans. And more than a threat, it carried out its promise, killing one of the hostage scientists.

   That kind of thing simply didn't happen - and then another even more shocking death was added in on the final page!

   The second half of the story in issue 341 keeps the pressure on, with a dizzying series of plots, stunts and creative schemes involving a mad attack by Colossal Boy, a bizarre new member of the team (sorta), and unleashing what may be an even greater menace to save the day.

   All tied together with the terrific art of Hall of Famer Curt Swan, it was a story that stood head and shoulders above most of DC's fare - a surprisingly mature and intense story with high stakes and lots of surprising twists - and it had repercussions into the future of the team.

    The scans of the covers that accompany this article were grabbed off the Internet - my own copies of these comics are amazingly ratty, having been "read" within an inch of their lives - just another sign of how much i loved this story!

   The Legion has always had a strong fan base, but it was stories like this that transformed the team from supporting characters for Superboy into a series that could carry on without the broad shoulders of the Superman family.

Grade: A

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New Comics Day

   Here's what I picked up at the comics shop today:

- Angela: Asgard's Assassin #1 - Setting a new course.

- Gotham Academy #3 - Teaming up.

- Guardians 3000 #3 - What has Stark done now?

- Hellboy and the BPRD #1 - The early days.

- Hulk #9 - Can Kitty save the Hulk?

- Star-Lord #6 - That is one crazy date.

- Thanos vs Hulk #1 - Hey, Jim Starlin is writing and drawing it - so I'm there.

  And that's it! 

Justice, Inc. #4

   OK, I admit I had to look at the cover twice before I "got" it - the mobster in the front is actually the Avenger in disguise - a slap to the face has revealed his disguise. A surprisingly subtle cover by Alex Ross (who tends to go for the big and blustery instead) - but you should know that this scene appears nowhere inside the issue.

   Anyway, this comic features what seems to be an all-out battle between the three members of Justice, Inc. - Doc Savage, The Shadow and The Avenger - as they face two (or is it three?) of their deadliest opponents - John Sunlight, the Voodoo Master and a mysterious and unidentified third member. (if any)

   But it really isn't much of a fight - it's more of a flight - which is pretty disappointing, since these three heroes should be incredibly formidable (even if they're at the beginning of their respective careers).

   The story by Michael Uslan is all set-up, as it lays the groundwork for the final confrontation. The artwork by Giovanni Timpano is quite good, with strong character designs and clever layouts.

   I'm a mark for these pulp heroes, so I give this series lots of leeway for the occasional issue that's a bit off - but here's hoping the next issue is more on-target for this unlikely trio.

Grade: B

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Elfquest: The Final Quest #6

   The ElfQuest series has become a complex mythology in its own right, with a vast cast of compelling characters.

   If you're a new reader, jumping in here would be tough sledding. You're going to be hit with so many character and concepts that you'll have a tough time sorting them out.

   Heck, I've been reading the series practically since it started (a few issues were out before I caught on), and I struggle in places.

   But for those who know the story (and new collections of those earlier issues are on the way), this is a terrific series.

   This issue is all about regrouping and setting the stage for the upcoming final conflict between humans and elves. Having just survived a near-fatal encounter, Cutter and his people must decide whether to fight or flee - so they consult with each other and with ancestors from the other side of the veil.

   As always, the art by Wendy Pini is wonderful, walking the line between lush environmental settings, fantasy creations and heroic ideals.

    The series is an impressive work of art and well worth the investment of time required. Highly recommended!

Grade: A-

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