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Friday, April 27, 2012

Comic Reviews 4/27/12



REVIEWS

The comics reviewed are chosen by David not by That's Entertainment management
or staff. The opinions expressed are his alone. If you have an opposing view you
are welcome to respond to David directly by Email at the address above.

Title: THE SHADOW
Issue Number: 1
Title Arc: The Fire of Creation
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
Creator: Walter B. Gibson
Writer: Garth Ennis
Artist: Aaron Campbell
Colors: Carlos Lopez
Letters: Rob Steen
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Crime Drama



Probably one of the most recognizable characters from the pulp era is the
Shadow. He is basically a man of mystery whose real name is Lamont Cranston. He
is recognizable as the Shadow with a wide brimmed hat, a scarf over his mouth
and nose, a trench coat and his dual pistols. Unlike the Comic Code approved
comics in later decades he was a ruthless killer of evil men. This comic
recaptures the style of those stories adding the visual dimension as only comics
can. In fact the art team does a fantastic job. There are a few different
settings that vary in composition, background and action. All are handled well
from a retelling of the horrors of the Japanese occupation of China, to a
waterfront scene where the Shadow confronts and engages a group of thugs
protecting the men he really is after to more civilized settings in a hotel
lobby conversation among Lamont and others discussing his help with intelligence
work against Japanese operatives.  The main plot explores his interactions with
these government operatives, them not knowing about his nocturnal activities.
The other subplot involves his relation with the beautiful miss Margo Lane who
knows his secret. There conversation is used to further reveal his efforts and
touches on a bit of the mystery of how he knows things and his commitment to his
mission. The plot is moving slowly laying the groundwork for what is to come.
This first issue is more about fleshing out the main characters and setting the
stage for later. I think it is a solid start of what appears to be a worthy
adaptation of a classic character.

Title: RESIDENT ALIEN
Issue Number: 0 (of 3)
Publisher: Dark Horse
Creators: Peter Hogan & Steve Parkhouse
Writer: Peter Hogan
Artist: Steve Parkhouse
Price (USD): $3.50
Release Date: NOW ON SALE   
Genre: Science Fiction/Crime






This is another story first introduced in DARK HORSE PRESENTS. In fact this
"zero" issue reprints the parts serialized in DHP #4-6. It is a fascinating
premise executed very nicely. Dr. Harry Vanderspeigler lives a reclusive
lifestyle in a cabin on a lake far from the small town of Patience. He only goes
to town for supplies when he needs them. His privacy is about to be shattered
though when the police chief shows up with a request that he examine the body of
a murder victim in town. Normally that would be the job of the town's doctor but
he happens to be the victim. With those facts you would think that this is not
anything unusual. However, the other bit of information we are shown is that
Harry is actually an alien who has been stranded on our planet. Though his face
and skin do not look human he is able to mask his appearance through his mental
powers to nearly any human. The odds are very tiny it would not work on anyone
he meets. So we have a peaceful visitor who is just biding his time and trying
to avoid any contact with humans until he can return home. Due to circumstances
he will be forced to change all that resulting in a great deal of contact with
lots of people when the replacement doctor is delayed in coming to town. Add the
circumstances of the murder and we can surmise that he will become deeply
involved in that mystery as well. And the specific mention that his power may
not work on one out of a million people makes us wonder if that one person will
just happen to be in this town. I like the comic on different levels. The
premise of Harry's circumstance and how he originally coped is interesting as is
his gradual acceptance of the changes to the point of enjoying the companionship
he had avoided. The murder mystery is growing slowly with hints of a previous
murder covered up and a cliffhanger last panel that brings that plot to the
forefront as the driving force of the comic. The art is very appealing. The two
creators work well in melding script and images to compliment each other. If you
have been reading DHP you will know this already. If not, pick up this comic and
see if you agree.

Title: RESET
Issue Number: 1 (OF 4)
Publisher: Dark Horse
Creator: Peter Bagge
Price (USD): $3.50
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Black & White Humor
Mature - Comics on the Edge







Peter Bagge is one of those independent cartoonists that have a very
recognizable style. His characters have abnormally long and curved arms. It's as
if everyone has stretching powers like Mr. Fantastic. It is very unique. The
composition is well thought out and each person is distinguishable from the
others. His subject matter can often be far out and the characters more often
are on the fringe of society due to mental problems or just plain unsavory
morally. Anyway, this story starts out in a different way. This is about a has
been semi-celebrity named Guy Krause. It starts in a court-ordered DUI class in
Los Angeles. Right from the start we see that Guy has a big chip on his shoulder
and though he is a has been comic he feels he is being singled out by the
teacher for humiliation because of his celebrity status. This scene just serves
to introduce the character and set up a meeting with a researcher named Angela
Minor. She approaches him with a proposition. She is consulting for a tech firm
that is developing a virtual reality game of a very different sort. She offers
Guy the opportunity to use it to relive his life. They have programmed the
machine with information they have gathered about his life - a task a lot easier
due to his former celebrity status. Since he needs the money badly he agrees to
participate. That is the premise of the plot and the significance of the title
has to do with a special feature of the machine. The way it works is that it
starts at a specific point in Guy's life and moves forward. Once it starts he
will be immersed in scenes from his life and the only way to escape it is to
press a button built into an armrest - a reset button. It does not pause the
action it resets it to the original starting point. In Guy's case the starting
point is the day of his high school graduation. He is standing with the class in
cap and gown and the girl nest to him suddenly calls him a spaz. This upsets Guy
and he immediately hits the rest button. The idea of continuing on after a most
humiliating experience is bad enough but if he wants to stay with the program
and collect his money he will have to start again at that same moment. He tries
to move on and even has a scene in a TV show lined up by his agent but
predictably that falls through and when he realizes he needs money badly he
heads back to the reality machine. That is where we get into the meat of the
plot. It really is an interesting premise. As Guy learns to deal with the
situation at the reset point he learns he is rebuilding his own reality. That is
he can interact with people in his past and depending on how he does that he can
change the outcome. It is also clear that Angela has not told all about why they
chose him or the extent of the research they are conducting. It gets more
interesting the more you read. For one Guy's character is over the top with his
self-delusions and lashing out at others based on those perceptions. There is
something about the whole thing that draws you into it. I did not expect much
from this comic but ended up getting more than I expected. I think this one is
fascinating.

Title: BLOODSTRIKE
Issue Number: 26
Publisher: Image
Creator: Rob Liefeld
Writer: Tim Seeley
Artist: Francesco Caston
Letters: Crank!
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero





Here is yet another Rob Liefeld cancelled series that is picking up where it
left off with the numbering continuing rather than using a new #1. Bloodstrike
is Cabbot Stone, a clandestine operative with skills in espionage, firearms and
hand-to-hand combat. He has enhanced strength, speed, reaction time, resilience
and endurance. But he is also special because he has been resurrected from the
dead. You could say he is an undead black ops agent for the U.S. government.
Although this is issue 26 it is structured to introduce new readers to
Bloodstrike and his cohorts. It is done with parallel plots running through the
issue. One is set about a month ago with Cabbot back at headquarters having a
session with a female therapist while being monitored by the people in charge of
Operation: Bloodstrike who are concerned that he may not be psychologically
ready to head up another Bloodstrike team. Those sessions reveal Stones past
life including a rough childhood. He also seems to be a loner - no wife or
children and past teammates he claims where not really friends just coworkers.
He had an abusive father and a bullying brother, which steeled his resolve to be
someone better that would do good for others. The other plot thread is in the
present, as we follow Bloodstrike on his current mission against Cybernet's
cybernetic soldiers, lots of them. This shows us his skill and determination and
ability to continue on despite major injury. The scenes back at headquarters,
both in the present and the past, are much more revealing. We see that you don't
have to be a field operative to be vicious, even kill to gain your objective.
The last panel indicates what is in store next for the operation. It seems to be
a recurring theme with the early Image creators to feature some sort of black
ops team as main characters. This one is more interesting because it deals with
the thoughts and emotions of the main character. While there is a fair bit of
combat action the inter-department intrigue is more fascinating. Seeley has put
out a decent script and Caston is a good artist in every detail - much better
than Liefeld who created the character. I enjoyed this comic and skeptics with
preconceptions of what Bloodstrike was like before might want to take a look at
this revival.

Title: WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN
Issue Number: 9
Title Story: Day of the Phoenix, Dark Night of the Soul
Title Arc: Avengers vs. X-Men
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Jason Aaron
Artist: Chris Bachalo
Inkers: Tim Townsend, Jaime Mendoza & Al Vey
Colors: Chris Bachalo
Letters: Chris Eliopoulos
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero


Since this title is tied in with the AVENGERS vs. X-MEN event I thought it would
be a good time to revisit without needing to know much about the story since
issue #1. It has a rather peculiar star set on the Planet Sin. It actually shows
a variety of alien beings watching a large monitor following the progress of the
Phoenix Force and betting on which planet will be wiped out next. It is a brief
segment to remind the readers what the driving theme is in the AvX event and how
irresistibly powerful the Phoenix Force is. With that out of the way we look in
on the Jean Grey School as Captain America comes to visit shortly after Hank and
Logan have themselves learned of the menace approaching from space. But since
this is a book about the next generation of mutant students much time is spent
on those various characters, especially Quentin and Rachel who both suffer some
form of telepathic seizure. They both have connections to the Phoenix force and
muttered "it's coming" before passing out. By the end of the issue Logan calls
together the entire faculty to fill them in on what is approaching and the
reason for Captain America's visit. The Beast will head into space with a team
of Avengers to try and stop the Phoenix. Meanwhile Wolverine reveals where he
will stand in the coming conflict between the two premiere Marvel teams. There
is also a couple of brief scenes form the Shi'ar Throneworld indicating they too
will become involved. Aaron does a good job weaving this ongoing title into the
plot of the major event while still focusing on all the characters that make
this a diverse comic. Wolverine's dilemma is a little over-hyped in my opinion
prior to this issue because once you read it you understand Logan's need to
think long and hard and come to the only conclusion that makes sense for him.
Because it is a crossover issue it does include elements of the event while
advancing issues some of the characters from prior issues. In the context of
just reading the AVX issues I found this tie-in helpful but not essential, as it
should be.

Title: THE DEFENDERS
Issue Number: 5
Title Story: Namor: The 99 Daughters of Pontus
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Matt Fraction
Artist: Mitch Breitweiser
Colors: Mitch & Bettie Breitweiser
Letters: Clayton Cowles
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero




I have not read this title since the first issue and decided to see what is
happening since then. There is a short recap on the title page that helps us get
caught up. The Defenders had previously found a strange machine buried under
Wundagore Mountain. They discovered it had the ability to warp reality. Now
Namor has notified the others that an excavation team in Atlantis has uncovered
a tomb with the shape of that same machine carved into its door. The other
carvings on the outside are in a long dead language dating back before the
fragmentation of Pangea. And speaking of that, on most of the pages of the book
there are what appear to be phrases written in undecipherable ruins positioned
outside the panel borders at the bottom of the page. This is not explained
anywhere and it is clearly not in the standard placement to be either dialogue
or editorial text. So what is it, and why is it there?  I am not intrigued by it
and if Fraction provides some kind of translation key in a later issue I won't
be going back to decipher it. I think it is a dumb idea. I can understand
untranslated dialogue or text within the panels for story purposes but this
seems to be something else. The main plot has our heroes breaking into the vault
to find a dead giant, assumed to be Pontus from a panel in the title page, who
has been stabbed through the chest by a vessel. Later the vessel is determined
to be the actual Nautilus and perhaps contains the body of Captain Nemo. This is
used to tie in a connection between Nemo and Namor's mother as we get strong
hints in flashback sequences. They also find close to a hundred large eggs that
burst open and emit female warriors with squid-like heads who immediately
attack. While Namor manages to handle this first assault we see that it is far
from over. And by the way, these new beings speak that same strange language. So
we are left with a bit of a mystery to unravel as well as maybe some revealing
facts about Namor's origins. In the end Danny Rand is entertaining Misty Knight
when the next plot comes crashing into their lives. I did not find this issue as
entertaining as the first. For one thing the art is not appealing to me at all.
In most cases the line work is ill defined. A strong inker would improve the
look tremendously. Most of the characters get their time to shine so Fraction
balances the team concept well. The mystery language and how it is used also
turn me off. The main story is ok but I would have to get into the next few
issues to judge how good that is. So I would say this one is a toss up and you
will have to decide for yourself.

                                    *****
TRIVIA CONTEST!!!!     WIN REAL PRIZES!!!!!


If you think you know the answer to the trivia question send your guess via
Email to me at ComicBkNet@aol.com and you could win the prize. The first six
correct answers will be assigned a number and a roll of the dice will determine
the winner. You should put your real name in your message so we know who you
are. Prizes must be claimed at our store within 30 days of winning. The prize
will be a $10 credit slip, which will be redeemable for merchandise at regular
retail or in-store ongoing specials only.  Only one prize per person will be
allowed per every 4 weeks. I will be the sole judge of the correct answer even
if more than one answer could be correct. Submit only one answer per Email
please but guess as often as you like.

Last week's trivia question:
Jennifer Connelly played the romantic lead in THE HULK. She also starred in a
film adaptation of what other comic book?

Jennifer co-starred in THE ROCKETEER. The winner this time is Chris Begley.

Here is your no prize question:
How many spikes are there in the Statue of Liberty's crown?

The seven spikes on the Statue of Liberty's crown represent the seven seas and
continents of the world.

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
Early on, Todd McFarlane had guest creators work on SPAWN.  Most of these were
writers and Todd still did the art.  Which was the first non-Todd team to
actually write and pencil an issue of SPAWN?


Here is your no prize question:
What is considered the most successful entertainment event in history?


Folks, you never know who among the readers is knowledgeable about the question
so don't hesitate to send in an answer - even days after it appears.

Friday, April 20, 2012

Comic Reviews 4/20/12

REVIEWS

The comics reviewed are chosen by David not by That's Entertainment management
or staff. The opinions expressed are his alone. If you have an opposing view you
are welcome to respond to David directly by Email at the address above.


Title: THE SECRET SERVICE
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Marvel/Icon
Co-plotter: Matthew Vaughn
Writer: Mark Millar
Artist: Dave Gibbons
Colors: Angus McKie
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Spy Thriller





The Service mentioned in the title is not the people who protect the President
of the United States among their other duties. This is about Her Majesty's
Secret Service. In fact the opening scene is much like the start of a James Bond
movie. Movie star Mark Hamill has been kidnapped and is being held by the bad
guys in a chalet in Switzerland. Apparently he is going to be taken to the
Middle East for some unknown reason. We don't find out the details of this plot
though as four well placed headshots take care of the kidnappers on guard. An
MI6 agent has mounted a rescue and soon the two are speeding away on a
snowmobile being chased by more bad guys on skis. As I said, it's like something
out of James Bond. You may have seen this segment as a preview in other Mark
Millar comics but for those who have not I won't spoil the outcome. The only
clue we get is a reference one of the bad guys makes to a Doctor Arnold. Later
as a different agent is having dinner in London we learn that in all six cast or
crew members from STAR WARS, four from DOCTOR WHO, eight from BATTLESTAR
GALACTICA and five from STAR TREK have recently been kidnapped. This agent, Jack
London (heh, heh), is being put on the case. However, his attention for the rest
of the issue will be focused on his nephew. It seems he lives in a flat with his
mother and her abusive boyfriend. The scene we are shown as they entertain
friends clues us in on the fact that this is not a healthy environment for Gary
or his younger brother. We conclude Gary's disdain for his mother's lifestyle is
a major cause of his own delinquent activity. He does not think much about Uncle
Jack either, not knowing he is really a government spy. As the first issue
concludes it appears that things are about to change dramatically for Gary and
just maybe we can get back to the case involving the celebrity kidnappings. This
is a very entertaining first issue. It has some adventure laced with dark humor
and involves both the professional and personal life of a secret agent. The art
is very appealing. McKie does a splendid job coloring Gibbons strong art. The
characters are interesting and the two plots have elements fleshed out enough to
make us want more. Try it and see if you agree.

Title: SECRET
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: Teeth, with which to eat
Publisher: Image
Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Artist: Ryan Bodenheim
Colors: Michael Garland
Letters: Rus Wooton
Price (USD): $3.50
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Crime Drama




This script is well thought out, as you would expect from Jonathan Hickman. It
begins with a home invasion by a masked assailant. Despite high security he
manages to get the drop on the man alone in the house and before long has him
naked and tied to a chair. But this is not about money or revenge. The demand is
for access to the victim's office computer. That serves to introduce us to the
victim relaying the incident to his friend at another firm. It so happens that
friend is on the way to a company meeting with representatives of an Industrial
Espionage organization. It is that meeting that proves most interesting to the
readers. Mr. Miller of Steadfast is not just there to deliver results on their
latest assignment but to warn the company of their own failings. Well Mr. Miller
is told about the home invasion and agrees to talk to the victim, Mr. Dunn,
about it. After some hard negotiations Dunn agrees to hire Steadfast to catch
the people behind his torture, threats to his family and invasion into his
company's sensitive database. But the real kicker is the scene back in Miller's
office later. There is also a short interlude involving Miller's business
partner who is on business in London. That really does not fit with what the
rest of the book is about and adds a lot of mystery to the story. The art is
very interesting with frequent shifts in color overtones depending on the scene.
It is really very unique and adds a special look to the finished product. The
stark cover photo does not begin to hint at what this is about, though teeth do
play an important role in the plot, so in this case do not judge the book by the
cover. The inside is worth reading.

Title: MARVEL UNIVERSE AVENGERS EARTH'S MIGHTIEST HEROES
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: Enter the Mandarin
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Christopher Yost
Artist: Chris Jones
Inker: Victor Olazaba
Colors: Sotocolor
Letters: Clayton Cowles
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero/TV Adaptation
All Ages


Cartoon adaptations of comics can be hit or miss for me. One of the one I
enjoyed last year was the first season of AVENGERS EARHT'S MIGHTIEST HEROES on
Disney XD. It maintained the essence of most of the characters with plots that
were as engaging as the comics without being dumbed down for a younger crowd.
This year it is part of the Marvel Universe block on that channel in conjunction
with ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN. By contrast the USM cartoon has a lot of sight gag
asides and has the Peter Parker Spider-Man drafted into S.H.I.E.L.D. and working
with White Tiger, Nova, and teen versions of Luke Cage and Iron Fist. It is fun
entertainment but is not written with the same goal as the AVENGERS segment.
This comic remains true to the cartoon counterpart and features Captain America,
Thor, Iron Man, Hulk, Black Panther, Hawkeye, Ant Man and the Wasp - the last
two I am hoping will eventually make it into the Avengers movie series as the
others have. Like the cartoons these Avengers face threats from major villains
and in this chapter it is the Mandarin who has control of a dragon wrecking
havoc in New York. Thor is off to Asgard in this issue but we know the rest have
enough firepower, strategy and teamwork to prevail in the end. In the back up
story, written by Yost with art by Adam DeKraker and Terry Pallot, Agent Coulson
is briefing Acting Director Maria Hill on the S.H.I.E.L.D. FILES on the
Avengers. This is basically a recap of season one of the cartoon series and hits
all the highlights including stories involving the Leader, a breakout of
hundreds of villains, MODOC, Baron Zemo and the Masters of Evil, Kang, Ultron
and Hydra. While it is not really a story by itself it helps bring new readers
who have not seen the first season up to speed on this version of the Avengers.
One other feature included in this issue is called The Fury Files. This is a
regular feature on the ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN cartoon series and uses images from
the show as adapted by Chris Eliopoulos. It is a run down on the origin, powers
and history of one of Spider-Man's amazing friends. In this case it features the
cartoon version of Iron Fist. This segment has nothing to do with the Avengers
and is included as filler under the MARVEL UNIVERSE banner of the title. As a
whole this comic adaptation hits the ground running. I am hoping the next issue
will have a longer Avengers story now that the recap has been done. This would
be a perfect comic for younger readers who may become interested in the team
with the debut of the movie only a couple of weeks away. Fans of the cartoon
show will not be disappointed.

Title: '68 SCARS
Issue Number: 1 (of 4)
Title Story: So We Sailed Up To the Sun
Publisher: Image
Writer: Mark Kidwell
Artist: Nat Jones
Colors: Jay Fotos
Letters: Jason Arthur
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Zombie/War
Mature Readers - Comics on the Edge



The Viet Nam war was horrific enough. Now imagine if at some point zombies were
introduced into the mix. That is the premise of the first mini-series of this
ongoing title, '68. I decided to sample the second arc of the series wherein the
problem has become worse and surprisingly is not isolated to that war torn
country. In fact the opening scene is set in Chinatown in New York City where
Chuen Ji and Faye are holding up in their market as zombies roam the streets.
Their story serves as bookends to the main event and adds a small bit of humor
to the rather intense plot set in country. At this point a major stronghold of
US forces is at Tan Son Nhat Airport in Saigon. Major Andrew Swan commands the
forces there but the action is mostly focused on two other units. The first
features a helicopter rescue by two crewmen calling themselves the Sioux nation,
due to their Native American Heritage. The lone survivor was down to clubbing
the assaulting zombies when they pluck him to freedom. Due to their low fuel and
lack of ammo they are not able to offer assistance to those under attack in an
outlying bunker at the airport. That incident serves to define the character of
the commanding Major when he is told of the situation. The other subplot take
place on the Mekong Delta as a team on a riverboat is speeding to rescue a seal
team in need of extraction. The straight-laced lieutenant tasked with the rescue
mission is appalled by the hot-dogging of the Navy crew who has unorthodox
methods of eliminating zombies they meet along the way. Their story will
continue as they learn that they are most likely heading into a trap. There is a
strong feel of realism in the script based on just the strictly military aspects
of the stories and the many works in the past on the Viet Nam War. While the
zombie aspect is not just secondary it appears to be just another element of
danger at this point. The significance of the story title becomes evident by the
end of the book. Nat Jones does a great job on the art and even throws in a
small homage to Bernie Wrightson is you look close enough. This title succeeds
as an interesting war story and works in the zombie element so as not to
overwhelm the human story being told. It is no wonder this series is continuing
as a series.

Title: BATMAN: ARKHAM UNHINGED
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: Inside Job
Publisher: DC
Creator: Based on a teleplay by Marly Halpen-Graser
Writers: Marly Halpern-Graser, Paul Crocker & Sefton Hill
Artist: Mike S. Miller
Colors: Gabe Eltaeb
Letters: Travis Lanham
Cover Artist: Dave Wilkins
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero/Video Game Adaptation



I have no idea if this comic has any resemblance to the video game ARKHAM CITY
beyond the basic premise. It is however a very good Batman story. In this
version of Gotham the new mayor, Quincy Sharp, former Arkham Asylum Warden,
closed that institution. In its stead he ordered the construction of Arkham
City, cordoned off from the rest of Gotham as a place to house former inmates of
Arkham and Blackgate Prison. He put Dr. Hugo Strange in charge of running Arkham
City. At this point he has rounded up and incarcerated nearly all of Gotham's
most dangerous felons. The only two major criminals still at large are Cat Woman
and Two Face though we know that his sites are also set on Batman. All of this
information is provided to the reader via a television program being watched by
Selena as she dresses for her nighttime activities. The impetus of the plot
comes from a phone call from Two Face informing Cat Woman that she is about to
go down. Sure enough the authorities come to call and she is nearly caught
except for a timely rescue by a certain caped crusader. It is not that she is
ungrateful but Strange's men have looted her safe and she means to get back her
stuff. The final showdown takes place in Arkham Mansion as both Selena and
Harvey Dent seek the blue prints for the secrets to where Hugo Strange is hiding
the ill gotten gains. There is some good action and a not unexpected outcome. I
enjoyed the plot as it is pretty clear right away what is happening and why. It
moves forward at a steady pace and leaves us with a good break point for the
next chapter. I particularly enjoyed Miller's art, which is clean and sharp
including the brilliant coloring by Eltaeb. You don't have to be a gamer to
enjoy this story and since it is a different continuity it is easy to get into
from the first page. Well done!

Title: AMERICA'S GOT POWERS
Issue Number: 1 (of 6)
Publisher: Image
Script: Jonathan Ross
Story: Jonathan Ross & Bryan Hitch
Artist: Bryan Hitch
Inkers: Andrew Currie & Paul Neary
Colors: Paul Mounts
Letters: Chris Eliopoulos
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero



The premise of this series is not a new one. I can think of at least three very
popular series in the past that started under similar circumstances. In this
case there was an event at a point seventeen years in the past in San Francisco.
A large crystal appeared in the sky and eventually landed in Golden Gate Park.
After that it glowed very brightly for a brief time and then went dark as a
stone. What happened next was significant. Every pregnant woman within a five-
mile radius suddenly gave birth. It did not matter how pregnant they were the
babies arrived suddenly, painlessly and successfully. Every single one of those
new babies got a gift, a talent, a power. Moving forward in time we learn from
pieces here and there that the government has taken control of all the powered
teens. There is even mention of "powers" riots in the past. The authorities have
engaged scientists to study the powered children to find out why they were
changed at birth, and even whether it is possible to remove the powers. As a
cover for their action they have built an enormous arena that houses an annual
reality show named, you guessed it, "America's Got Powers." Twenty of the
"stoneheads" as they are referred to in slang, are placed in the arena for a
series of contests. Some are eliminated along the way and a final battle of
power determines the winner and newest member of the world's only sanctioned
super hero group, Power Generation. So far there are four. In the last season
finale the apparent winner, Bobby Watts, suddenly collapsed and died. As we move
to the present we focus in on his twin brother, Tommy, who is the only power
baby that apparently received no powers at all. Since he was born among the rest
he is technically classified in their group but has more freedom. He actually
works in the gift shop in the arena where the newest season, possible the last,
of AGP is about to begin. Behind the scenes it seems some changes have been made
to the games. The unforeseen fatality notwithstanding, they have decided to amp
up the robotic opponents to deadly force levels and are allowing contestants to
cut loose as well. This sound like a recipe for disaster. We learn the head
scientist involved in the project is being pushed out in favor of the military
for being too sympathetic toward the powered kids. The highlight of the story
comes when the games begin and we see the consequences that the loosening of the
rules of engagement. Tommy will become very critical to the plot from this point
on. I really enjoyed this comic right from the start. The art team turns in a
top-notch job in every panel. The explanatory material is handled well from an
Internet styled new story with a comment section following it and a couple of
flashback sequences to set the premise. As the plot moves forward the major
characters are developed well and brought together through a series of events
leading to a dynamic conclusion. All this is jammed into 44 story pages for only
$3! I will definitely be staying with this one to the end.

                                    *****
TRIVIA CONTEST!!!!     WIN REAL PRIZES!!!!!


If you think you know the answer to the trivia question send your guess via
Email to me at ComicBkNet@aol.com and you could win the prize. The first six
correct answers will be assigned a number and a roll of the dice will determine
the winner. You should put your real name in your message so we know who you
are. Prizes must be claimed at our store within 30 days of winning. The prize
will be a $10 credit slip, which will be redeemable for merchandise at regular
retail or in-store ongoing specials only.  Only one prize per person will be
allowed per every 4 weeks. I will be the sole judge of the correct answer even
if more than one answer could be correct. Submit only one answer per Email
please but guess as often as you like.

Last week's trivia question:
What Title and issue number marked the first appearance of Captain Universe?


Captain Universe first appeared in THE MICRONAUTS first series, issue #8. Winner
by the dice roll is Christian Mock. I also would like to say hi to his son
Logan. I hope we see you both on FREE COMIC BOOK DAY!

Here was your no prize question:
Who was the first Postmaster General under the United States Constitution?


Trick Question! It was Samuel Osgood! On September 26, 1783, George Washington
appointed Samuel Osgood of Massachusetts as the first Postmaster General under
the Constitution. Benjamin Franklin was appointed Postmaster General, the first
appointed under the Continental Congress, not under the Constitution.

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
Jennifer Connelly played the romantic lead in THE HULK. She also starred in a
film adaptation of what other comic book?


Here is your no prize question:
How many spikes are there in the Statue of Liberty's crown?


Folks, you never know who among the readers is knowledgeable about the question
so don't hesitate to send in an answer - even days after it appears.

Friday, April 13, 2012

Comic Reviews 4/13/12

REVIEWS

The comics reviewed are chosen by David not by That's Entertainment management
or staff. The opinions expressed are his alone. If you have an opposing view you
are welcome to respond to David directly by Email at the address above.


Title: AVENGERS VS X-MEN
Issue Number: 1 (of 12)
Title Story: Round 1
Publisher: Marvel
Story: Jason Aaron, Brian Michael Bendis, Ed Brubaker, Jonathan Hickman & Matt
Fraction
Script: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: John Romita Jr.
Inker: Scott Hanna
Colors: Laura Martin
Letters: Chris Eliopoulos
Cover Artist: Jim Cheung & Justin Ponsor
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

There are two things to take away from this first chapter of the big Marvel
event: Cyclops drew first and something is going on with Hope Summers. While the
cover is the classic face off of opposing sides the actual clash will not happen
until next time or in some crossover issue between now and then perhaps. What
does happen is the lead up wherein the opening shot is fired. The actual
beginning of the issue starts far off in space. It is not overtly stated if this
is in real time or sometime in the past but it clearly shows the awesome power
of the Phoenix first as another planet is devastated by that power. Speaking of
warning shots the arrival of a member of the Nova Corps at first appears to be
just that with the Avengers barely able to avert a disaster when he arrives. If
you read many Marvel comics you may have seen the preview excerpted from this
issue with Captain America and Iron Man briefing the National Security Counsel
on the approach of the Phoenix Force, which they are now tracking by its unique
energy signature. The other scenes are in Utopia that serves to further
delineate Scott's relationship with Hope and his expectations for her future.
This is hardly a pleasant exchange and its climax is the reason that Captain
America comes knocking. It is no secret that Scott feels hope can save his kind,
even restore it, with the Phoenix Force should it come while Cap wants to take
her into protective custody while others under his command race to stop the
Phoenix Force before it reaches Earth. So much of this issue sets up these
circumstances and features a lot of male posturing between these two leaders
before things get out of hand. And speaking of getting out of hand, what IS
going on with Hope? Something is not right, especially with Phoenix so far away
still. I am sure we will see that element develop very slowly over several
issues before it is explained. The best part of the art is Laura Martin's
coloring. JRJR does ok but I am not as found of his facial art on these
characters as I am from other artists. The coloring though, especially on the
space segments is spectacular. As a bonus you can download a special app to your
smart phone called the Marvel Augmented Reality App to add another dimension to
the experience. And of course they have included the code for a free digital
copy as well. So far I give it a B+ for plot and execution. I did not find it as
exciting as all the hype so far but that may change quickly. We'll see.


Title: SUPREME
Issue Number: 63
Title Story: Revelations
Publisher: Image
Creator: Rob Liefeld
Writer: Alan Moore
Artists: Erik Larsen & Cory Hamscher
Colors: Steve Oliff
Letters: Chris Eliopoulos
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero



Fans of Alan Moore's super hero comics will be delighted that Image is finally
finishing off his run on Liefeld's SUPREME, hence the numbering continuing from
where the series left off when it was suspended. It may be a little confusing
for some who have not read the previous issues (hit those back issue bins!) but
Once you get into it you will find a decent story. It starts with a comic book
drawn by Supreme's alter ego, Ethan Crane. In that comic called OMNIMAN the
Supreme analog is in another dimension with other versions of himself. As the
Rabbit Omniman, Rabbit Resolve explains they are previous versions of the hero
before being "revised". This catches the attention of the current or new Dax who
knows of just such a dimension called Daxia, where other versions of his evil
self reside. This gives him a grand idea about how to finally defeat Supreme and
soon he is off to Daxia to bring it to fruition. Meanwhile in Supreme's citadel,
his Fortress of Solitude, Diana Dane, his girlfriend is about to meet Suprema,
Supreme's sister. Diana was left alone when our hero flew off to an emergency.
As the book progresses we see the relationships between the three develop
unaware of what Dax is about to unleash on Earth. I like this story because it
is full of interesting characters, dozens of them. From the imaginary Omniverse
to the very real Daxia the entertainment value never stops with interesting
interactions and unique interpretations of heroes and villains. In the end it is
the growing relationship between Supreme and Diana that may be heading toward an
end we just can't see. This is not Superman and Lois so anything can happen.
Erik Larsen is the right choice to handle all these characters, as readers of
Savage Dragon would attest. The rest of the crew does an admirable job pulling
it all together. I am staying with it to the end.

Title: DANGER CLUB
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Image
Writer: Landry Q. Walker
Artist: Eric Jones
Colors: Michael "Rusty" Drake
Letters: Richard Starkings & Jimmy Betancourt
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero





The premise of this comic is straightforward. Three months ago the world's
greatest heroes were summoned to space to fight the ultimate evil. The universe
was in deadly peril. They never came back. What they left behind where all the
sidekicks and progeny and a lot of bad guys. The story picks up with three young
heroes planning their move against another teen with powers. Apollo is probably
now the most powerful person left behind. He has decided to consolidate as many
of the others under his leadership. Those who choose not to follow are being
dealt with. He has gathered all who will come to an arena for a series of
battles. The strongest will be invited to join him. The rest better stay out of
his way. He looks for allegiance and worship. The Danger Club trio is led by Kid
Vigilante - a sort of Robin character. Backing him up are Jack, Fearless, with
his weapons and Ivan the teen Magician. Kid Vigilante's plan is straightforward
if not foolhardy. He will challenge the invulnerable Apollo while the others
hold off Apollo's allies. Cut off the head and the army will scatter. Well he
has a coupe of tricks up his sleeve, not the least of which is Yoshimi and her
robot who are off on a mission to the moon. This opening issue introduces the
characters in fine fashion. It highlights their resolve and considerable
experience despite their age. This group has not compromised their ideals in the
absence of the heroes everyone in the world looked up to. They are out to prove
that there is a right way and a wrong way to fill the gap left behind and plan
to lead by example. The characterization is good and the artwork stands out as
well. If our heroes live through this encounter can they unite those willing to
live by the hero code? The bigger question is can they prevail against the
ultimate evil if it indeed wiped out all their mentors?  That remains to be
seen.

Title: FANBOYS VS ZOMBIES
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Boom! Studios
Creator: Ben Silverman & Jimmy Fox
Writer: Sam Humphries
Artist: Jerry Gaylord
Inker: Penelope Gaylord
Colors: Nolan Woodard
Letters: Ed "The Duke" Dukeshire
Cover Artist: Various
Price (USD): $1.00
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Horror/Humor


I am always glad to see a first issue offered for only a dollar. It is worthy to
continue it will make money in the long run so why not expand the initial
audience with a bargain introduction? The setting is the San Diego Comi-Con. The
central players are the self-named Wrecking Crew - four fan boys and a fan girl
who planned long ago to meet here on the first day every year. Each has followed
different paths, some more successfully than others. Rob blew his relationship
with Jenna and works in a video store. Kyle is the jerk of the crew and is not
on good terms with Rob. He is also one of Jenna's exes.  He plans to humiliate
Rob in front of the crowd. Burger is the fat guy that everyone likes. Jenna is
hanging out with I-Mac who is the hunk, but not very smooth. He thinks he has a
chance with her but that is not what is going on. A series of scenes reveals
what we need to know about how this group interacts. And then in the second half
the zombies attack. Where did they come from? Why are they invading Comic-Con?
Is this a country or even worldwide epidemic? Who knows? Who cares? There is
murder and mayhem as the action ensues and of course the most unlikely turn out
to be the most heroic. While this is not really an original premise - a group of
people with strained relationships among themselves pull together against a
common threat - the characters make it interesting for the time being. The art
team handles it very well and the script flows naturally with appropriate humor
along the way. I wouldn't call any of these "fanboys" stereotypes. By that I
mean they are more like the fans I know - regular people who share their
hobbies. The story could go anywhere at this point and so far it is a fun ride.

Title: HELL YEAH
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Image
Title Story: The World They Made
Title Arc: Last Days On Earth
Creator: Keatinge & Szymanowicz
Writer: Joe Keatinge
Artist: Andre Szymanowicz
Colors: Jason Lewis
Letters: Douglas E. Sherwood
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero


This Image comic is already up to its second issue but I decided to begin with
the first issue to get it from the beginning. First my hat is off to the editor
who decided to do the inside front cover this way. Below the logo is the boldly
lettered, "PREVIOUSLY." and below that is just empty white space and lots of it.
This is the first issue, there is no previously so why not show that? I liked
it. The main character is Benjamin Day, the son of a combat veteran.  He is
enrolled in Kurtzberg University an elite school for brilliant students with
powers. His story is somewhat of a mystery. When his father was in the Mid East
war he was taken prisoner. It looked like he would be executed but he was saved
by the sudden appearance of a band of super heroes. They not only ended the war
but also changed the world. Twenty years later life has improved for everyone on
the planet. Some people are even being born with powers. Ben is very strong for
example. He is also constantly in trouble for getting into fights off campus.
His girl friend Sarah tries to coach him into better behavior but the person
with the most influence on his life is his mother, mysteriously never seen on
panel. His parents are keeping something secret from him. He also has a tattoo
of a barcode on the back of his neck that just appeared overnight. The really
strange thing occurs at the end of the book when three females, apparently with
powers of their own, appear on campus to deliver an ominous message and yet
another mystery. This is one of those stories that give minimal information
about the main plot to start, opting to spend time on developing the characters
and setting the scene for what is to come. Just from the little bits revealed so
far I could tell there will be a lot of exposition in the future. It is not a
bad comic and the art team does a better than average job so far. If they get
into the meat of it next time this title could take off. I just might pick up
the second issue right away to see what develops.

Title: SUPERBIA
Issue Number: 2
Publisher: Boom! Studios
Creator: Grace Randolph
Writer: Grace Randolph
Artist: Russell Dauterman
Colors: Gabriel Cassata
Letters: Steve Wands
Cover Artist: Peter V. Nguyen
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

There is no series recap at the beginning of this issue. I reviewed the first
issue when it came out. While it seemed interesting it has a lot of characters
it what appears to be more of a soap opera than a super hero story. But then as
a professional writer often said on the message boards comics really are very
much like soap operas, especially the ongoing titles not written in short arcs
for the trade paperback market. In this case a bunch of heroes all live in the
same suburban neighborhood especially constructed for the privacy and safety of
their families. The newest recruit is Rob, a sort of super soldier and sidekick
of the field leader Mike who is bedridden though it appears he is slowly being
poisoned. In fact every one of the families has its secrets. The Batman analogue
was caught by his wife while he was embracing his sidekick. The female Amazon
warrior is tough on her daughter and barely acknowledges her son. The Superman
analogue, Sovereign, is shacking up with a former female villain and so on. It
really has the soap opera elements. But now the team is going out on a mission
that everyone, even the families, feels is a trap. Robots are attacking the UN.
The key to moving the underlying plot appears to be Rob's wife Eve. She is a
nurse who not only sees things differently than others but is also disliked by
Mike's wife for her own reasons. In fact almost the entire issue show Eve
interacting with the different families at one time or another. This issue has a
major confrontation and a secret revealed among two of the kids. It is moving
along with a pace but is structured to be read from the start. So if you haven't
tried it yet start with the first issue. I am still undecided if this comic will
be worth staying for the payoff. But I recently read it has been changed from a
mini-series to an ongoing so I guess it is doing well. You will have to decide
on your own.

                                    *****
TRIVIA CONTEST!!!!     WIN REAL PRIZES!!!!!


If you think you know the answer to the trivia question send your guess via
Email to me at ComicBkNet@aol.com and you could win the prize. The first six
correct answers will be assigned a number and a roll of the dice will determine
the winner. You should put your real name in your message so we know who you
are. Prizes must be claimed at our store within 30 days of winning. The prize
will be a $10 credit slip, which will be redeemable for merchandise at regular
retail or in-store ongoing specials only.  Only one prize per person will be
allowed per every 4 weeks. I will be the sole judge of the correct answer even
if more than one answer could be correct. Submit only one answer per Email
please but guess as often as you like.

Last week's trivia question:
In what best-selling comic series did the Nobel Prize-winning chemist Chaim
Rosenzweig appear?
The series is the LEFT BEHIND graphic novels. The winner this time is Gregory
Goding.

Here was your no prize question:
Tom Hanks' "Bosom Buddy" Peter Scolari had a cameo as a celebrity in a film
written and directed by Hanks. Can you name the movie?


The movie was "That Thing You Do". Later when Steven Spielberg was making
"Saving Private Ryan" he put Hanks in charge of the boot camp the actors had to
endure before filming began. When Hanks said he did not think he could manage
Steven told him to just do that thing you do.

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
What Title and issue number marked the first appearance of Captain Universe?


Here is your no prize question:
Who was the first Postmaster General under the United States Constitution?


Folks, you never know who among the readers is knowledgeable about the question
so don't hesitate to send in an answer - even days after it appears.

Friday, April 6, 2012

Comic Reviews 4/6/12

REVIEWS

The comics reviewed are chosen by David not by That's Entertainment management
or staff. The opinions expressed are his alone. If you have an opposing view you
are welcome to respond to David directly by Email at the address above.

Title: DOROTHY OF OZ PREQUEL
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: IDW
Title Story: The Jester and the Magic Scepter
Writer: Denton J. Tipton
Artist: Blair Shedd
Colors: Joana Lafuente
Letters: Neil Uyetake
Cover Artist: Eric Shanower
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Fantasy
ALL AGES


I've noticed some new OZ based books from IDW but had not sampled them. When I
saw this first issue of a new series I decided to take the plunge. The story
here is set in the Land of Oz and the time is after Dorothy has already returned
to Kansas leaving the Lion, Scarecrow and Tin Man in their new positions of
authority. This is labeled a prequel because shortly after Dorothy returned to
Kansas she was transported back to Oz. This story will tell what happened in Oz
while she was gone and what made her return necessary. As we all know from the
classic movie, if not the book itself, Dorothy and her friends defeated the
Wicked Witch and brought her broom back to Oz at the request of the Wizard. But
what has happened since then at the witch's castle?  What are all those flying
monkeys up to? Well they are pretty much acting like monkeys now until the heir
to the property, the witch's brother the Jester, makes an unorthodox entrance to
proclaim himself their new master. He of course has a master plan as well. He
plans to gain his sister's power through the use of her broomstick and spell
book and then he can begin his conquest of Oz. The story spends a fair amount of
time split between the Jester and the trio in Emerald City. The guys are
clueless as to what is about to happen and who is behind it. We get to see just
what the Jester can do after he captures the mayor of Munchkin Land. This
promises to be a fun comic that can be enjoyed by all. The art is delightful and
the script is well crafted. There is a fair amount of humor sprinkled about the
pages to keep things from getting too dark. Since it only relies on your
knowledge of the original story it is a perfect place to jump on to see how IDW
handles this material. I think it is worth your time.

Title: STAR TREK
Issue Number: 7
Title Arc: Vulcan's Vengeance
Publisher: IDW
Creator: Gene Roddenberry
Writer: Mike Johnson
Artist: Joe Phillips
Colors: John Rauch
Letters: Neil Uyetake
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Science Fiction



I sampled the first issue of this ongoing series a while back. It features the
cast from the latest movie and is set in the time after the events of the movie.
We have the characters of the original series but they are now in an altered
timeline. In the movie a man named Nero was responsible for the destruction of
Vulcan. Spock had come back from the far future and now is stranded in the time
when he was first assigned to the Enterprise. He, his younger counterpart, and
the few Vulcans that were off planet at the time are now the only survivors of
the Vulcan race. The first arc had the Enterprise crew dealing with a problem
that was first seen on the original television series. This issue begins a new
arc and as you can guess from the title deals more directly with the aftermath
of the movie. The Enterprise is called to duty after a subspace relay has gone
offline. These relays are used to transmit communications among the fleet and
the loss of one creates a dead zone where transmissions will take much longer to
reach other ships or Starfleet. The disabling of the relay is part of a master
plan involving Romulans. Agents have stolen the blueprints of Nero's ship, the
Narada, from the Klingons. It is clear whichever race can reverse engineer the
technology of that ship from the future will have a major advantage over its
enemies. But that is not all they are after. As we saw in the movie Vulcan was
destroyed by something called Red Matter. Unknown to Starfleet someone has been
mining the remains of Vulcan, now just little bits of matter floating in space,
to retrieve whatever remains of the Red Matter. If the Romulans get their hands
on enough of it they will have the ultimate weapon. Remnants of Nero's crew have
survived and as the Enterprise approaches they are nearing their goal. The
choice Kirk is left with at the end of the chapter is whether to pursue the
captured Vulcan vessel now commandeered by Nero's men into the Neutral Zone or
to go light years out of the way to be able to communicate with Starfleet for
instructions. I think you know what Kirk will decide. But the kicker is the
Vulcan "hostage" on the captured ship. Wait until you see who it is. I enjoyed
this story very much. The artists' rendition of the characters are pretty good
likenesses of the actors from the movie. It is a solid plot and has some action
and intrigue as well. If you want to check out this new ongoing series this
issue is the right place to start.

Title: GHOST RIDER
Issue Number: 9 (FINAL ISSUE)
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Rob Williams
Artists: Lee Garbett & Emanuela Lupacchino
Inker: Guillermo Ortega
Colors: Rob Schwager
Letters: Clayton Cowles
Cover Artist: Blankas
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Anti-hero



I have not been following the exploits of Ghost Rider lately and figured I would
see if this comic would explain what has been going on during its short run and
maybe give a hint as to what is next. Fortunately there is a pretty good recap
text at the beginning to bring us up to speed. Ghost Rider is known as the
Spirit of Vengeance. It has existed to cull the sinful and bring retribution to
the guilty. The spirit does this while bonded to a human host. In the past that
host was stunt rider Johnny Blaze. Recently the spirit was passed on from Johnny
to a young girl named Alejandra. She had been raised by a man named Adam who
sought to use the Spirit as a weapon to free humanity from sin. Blaze helped
free her from Adam's control but as Ghost Rider she had fried the souls of an
entire village in South America. The son of Mephisto, Blackheart, offered to
restore those souls if she would join him in bringing Hell to Earth. Of course
devils lie and once he betrayed her she has a new mission - to drag those souls
out of hell herself. As the final chapter opens she is on her quest. Realizing
she will need even more power than she already has to stage a frontal assault on
Hell she learns that Adam is still alive. He is THE Adam, the first man, and
since her motives are in line with what he had planned all along he helps her
become the most powerful Ghost Rider ever. But if she is successful and Hell
ceases to exist, what will become of the rest of creation? That is the dilemma
discussed by the now normal Johnny Blaze and Doctor Strange. Strange plans to
track her down and stop her, calling in the Avengers if need be but Blaze has
plans of his own. The rest of the book involves Alejandra's attack on Hell and
her battle with Mephisto culminating in the events that will seal her fate and
that of Johnny Blaze. I must admit this story is easy to get into and
interesting, even for a casual fan of the character. It has a rich background
that is understandable and though the title is ending sooner than intended the
creators wrap up this part of Ghost Rider's legacy nicely leaving threads for
future stories that are sure to come elsewhere. The art team does a super job as
well indicating their dedication to the effort. I was pleasantly surprised with
this comic.

Title: THE NEW DEADWARDIANS
Issue Number: 1 (of 8)
Publisher: DC/Vertigo
Writer: Dan Abnett
Artist: I.N.J. Culbard
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Horror
Mature - Comics on the Edge







This mini-series is set in London in 1910, but a very different London than
ours. The lead character is Chief Inspector George Suttle of Scotland Yard. He
is what they call a Murder Detective; in fact he is the only one. In this
version of England things have changed quite drastically. You see, George is a
vampire. But vampires are more civilized now. They take a cure, which sates
their bloodlust and with proper sunscreen and clothing can function in the
sunlight. They are no longer a threat to society. They even have their fangs
filed down periodically to appear more normal. The real threat to the living is
zombies. The best the living and the willing vampires can do is keep them fenced
in and contained in areas called Zone B. Even those who are bitten by a zombie
can be saved if they are given the cure soon enough. This is demonstrated when a
zombie somehow manages to break into Suttle's home early in the morning killing
the cook and infecting one of the maids. After destroying the zombie and calling
the local Bobbies Suttle takes her to the clinic for the cure as it is time for
his own monthly treatment. These sequences serve to introduce us to the
situation we find the city in - referred to the Deadwardian Age. In the
background we learn of protests concerning the Zone B policy, which may play
into the story later. But the main plot appears to revolve around a naked body
found near Parliament. It is a puzzle that will carry the plot forward. The man
was a vampire but if he was murdered there are not any signs of how he could
have been murdered. The usual vampire lore holds true here. To kill a vampire
you must impale the heart, cut off the head or incinerate the body. So how was
this vampire killed?  It is a fascinating plot and the script makes it
interesting all the way through. I really like Culbard's art. It is clean and
distinct and colored admirably. As an aside there is no splash page or creator
credits except on the cover, which is more unusual in a Vertigo book where the
creators hold the copyrights. Probably an oversight. This is a good series that
is visually pleasing and easy to read. I recommend it.

Title: BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT
Issue Number: 7
Title Story: The Final Curtain
Publisher: DC
Creator: Bob Kane
Plot: Paul Jenkins & David Finch
Writer: Paul Jenkins
Artist: David Finch
Inker: Richard Friend
Colors: Jeremy Cox
Letters: Sal Cipriano
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

This is another one of the New 52 I had not yet sampled and it turns out this
issue is the end of a story arc involving Bane. It opens up right in the middle
of a battle between Batman and Bane. It seems Bane is more amped up than ever. A
new Venom derivative makes him smarter and infinitely stronger than ever. Batman
would never survive a toe-to-toe battle so he must find a weakness and exploit
it. The action takes place in and around a lighthouse on the shore where Poison
Ivy, now a member of the Birds of Prey, is being held captive. As he releases
her from her tube during a lull in the battle we learn Batman has a small sample
of what might be an antidote to Venom. Ivy explains that Batman must get Bane to
swallow it if it is to work. It is an interesting dilemma - he has to get up
close and personal to the man who once broke his back in order to defeat him. In
a sub plot the Flash had been infected with a toxin by Bane and has been running
at supersonic speed for a day to attempt to destroy the toxin with his hyper
metabolism. Superman is along to monitor his progress and this has left Batman
on his own. If Flash can rid himself of the poison he may have enough time to
help Batman at the last minute. It turns out this was a perfect issue to sample.
It is the wrap up of the story and the past detail is not needed to see how we
got to this point. There is another character, a female called the White Rabbit.
She has a special connection to another woman named Jai, someone that Bruce has
been seeing. It is this connection between the two females that will prove very
interesting for the Caped Crusader in the future. As I said the story flows
nicely with no confusion for new readers. The art is spectacular in every aspect
as well. It appears this first arc is a decent way to read a Batman story of top
quality before all the titles get involved in a major crossover story involving
most of the Batman related titles.

Title: AVENGERS VS X-MEN
Issue Number: 0
Title Story: Prologue
Publisher: Marvel
Writers: Brian Michael Bendis & Jason Aaron
Artist: Frank Cho
Colors: Jason Keith
Letters: Chris Eliopoulos
Variant Cover Artist: Stephanie Hans
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero



This is the prelude to the much-hyped crossover in the Marvel Universe. While we
don't get into the conflict itself this issue we are introduced to the two main
characters it revolves around - Wanda Maximoff, the Scarlet Witch and Hope
Summers the so-called Mutant Messiah. Marvel has assigned a top-notch art team
in Cho and Keith. The visual scope and finishes are terrific from beginning to
end. The book is divided into two stories with Bendis writing the Scarlet Witch
story and Aaron on the Hope story. I pointed out long ago that Wanda was finally
coming back from exile in the pages of THE CHILDREN'S CRUSADE. The question of
how different heroes felt about her after the whole M-Day thing was explored in
that series ending with her on her own rather than taken away either by the
Avengers or the X-Men. In this prologue she decides to take on MODOK and A.I.M.
as they attempt to assassinate a former A.I.M. scientist who is on his way to
the Pentagon to reveal all. Wanda wants to get back into the hero gig and prove
to herself she still can do some good. The timely intervention by Ms. Marvel and
Spider-Woman wraps things up. At Ms. Marvel's insistence the three head back to
Avengers mansion where Wanda will learn just what her status is with certain
team members. In the Hope story the setting is the left coast in and near
Utopia, the home of most of the world's surviving mutants. It starts with the
sequence that has been the backup in nearly every Marvel comic for the last
month. Hope has been sneaking out at night to go into San Francisco. She is
going on patrol to catch bad guys. Thing is she has been more than catching
them. Cyclops confronts her about the perps being severely beaten and how her
destiny is for a much higher purpose - blah, blah, blah. The previously unseen
segment follows her on one such mission. Well, this tale sets up that whole
conflict - Scott wants to protect her to ensure the fate of all mutants but she
knows her role will be determined by what is on the way to Earth right now - the
Phoenix Force. Will she save them all or destroy the world?  That is the
question. So with this short prologue to the series we are still left wondering
if the major conflict between the Avengers and the X-Men will be about Wanda,
Hope or both. We won't have to wait long as the first (er.. number 1) issue will
be on the racks before you get a chance to read this review!

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TRIVIA CONTEST!!!!     WIN REAL PRIZES!!!!!


If you think you know the answer to the trivia question send your guess via
Email to me at ComicBkNet@aol.com and you could win the prize. The first six
correct answers will be assigned a number and a roll of the dice will determine
the winner. You should put your real name in your message so we know who you
are. Prizes must be claimed at our store within 30 days of winning. The prize
will be a $10 credit slip, which will be redeemable for merchandise at regular
retail or in-store ongoing specials only.  Only one prize per person will be
allowed per every 4 weeks. I will be the sole judge of the correct answer even
if more than one answer could be correct. Submit only one answer per Email
please but guess as often as you like.

Last week's trivia question:
Legion is the son of Charles Xavier. 
In what title did he make his first appearance?


David Heller, aka LEGION (Xavier and Gabrielle Heller's love child), first
appeared in NEW MUTANTS. The winner this time is Mike Dooley.

Here was your no prize question:
What president delivered the first presidential address on radio?


Despite his reputation as a quiet and even reclusive politician, Calvin Coolidge
made use of the new medium of radio and made radio history several times while
President. On Dec. 6, 1923, the first presidential address was broadcast on the
radio. President Calvin Coolidge delivered what is now known as the State of the
Union address to a joint session of Congress. Gregory Goding wins the no prize.

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
In what best-selling comic series did the Nobel Prize-winning chemist Chaim
Rosenzweig appear?

Here is your no prize question:
Tom Hanks' "Bosom Buddy" Peter Scolari had a cameo as a celebrity in a film
written and directed by Hanks. Can you name the movie?


Folks, you never know who among the readers is knowledgeable about the question
so don't hesitate to send in an answer - even days after it appears.