TOP O' THE WEEK
MR. TERRIFIC: YEAR ONE #1 (OF 6, $3.99) is by TV writer Al Letson (Monarch: Legacy of Monsters) and British Fantasy Award- winning artist Valentine De Landro (Black Manta, Bitch Planet). Like Terry Sloane, the Golden Age Mr. Terrific, Michael Holt begins his career with the intent to commit suicide. (Sloane because he was so good at everything he was bored, Holt because his wife and daughter died in a car wreck.) That's not exactly an inspiring origin story, but I'm hoping they'll turn Holt into a breakout character. If they do, the DCU as a whole will benefit.
"I was really focused on bringing Michael's life to a full-circle moment," Letson said. "I don’t want to give too much away, but I wanted the stories about Mr. Terrific and the wider DC Universe to build to a moment where looking back at Michael’s past was necessary to understand the present."
CROSSOVERS
"ONE WORLD UNDER DOOM"
AVENGERS #26 (MARVEL, $3.99) is by Jed MacKay and Andrea Broccardo. The Masters of Evil take over Avengers HQ, because not only are criminals a cowardly and superstitious lot, they also tend to repeat themselves.
DOOM’S DIVISION #3 (OF 5, MARVEL, $3.99) is by Yoon Ha Lee and Minkyu Jung. The Tiger Division battle among themselves. Who do they think they are, the X-Men? But it's nice to see that not all of them will immediately bend the knee. I wish more people in our world would have that kind of courage.
"LORE WAR"
STAR TREK: LORE WAR — SHAX’S WORST DAY #1 ($5.99) is by Ryan North and Derek Charm. It's a Shax standalone story, done in the style of Star Trek: Lower Decks (which I appreciate).
"WE ARE YESTERDAY"
JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED #7 (DC COMICS, $3.99) is by Mark Waid and Travis Moore. Part 5 of 6. I've FINALLY gotten the first three parts from Westfield, and will read them this weekend. I expect nothing but greatness.
MORE ITEMS OF INTEREST
DARK HONOR #1 (OF 5, $3.99) is written by Ethan Sacks (Star Wars: Bounty Hunters, Old Man Hawkeye), K.S. Bruce and Brian DeCubellis. Art, color and covers are by Fico Ossio (Black Lightning, No One Left To Fight), David Messina (Ultimate Spiderman, 3 Keys), Gabriel Guzman (Lady Earth, Predator), Jamal Igle (Molly Danger, The Wrong Earth) and Raciel Avila. It's about the Mob trying to protect itself from a new killer during the pandemic. That sounds like a story where the reader can exult in every murder, since they're all killers anyway. Here are the creators describing it:
"Dark Honor was born in the earliest days of COVID-19 in New York," Brian DeCubellis said. "As we wrapped filming Trust in March of 2020, the city was shutting down, and we wanted to capture that surreal moment. Inspired by neo-noir crime films, we created Rain, a street-savvy hero, and the Hundred Warriors, with Grigor embodying COVID — a relentless, unexpected killer."
"Dark Honor may be fiction, but its backdrop is real — the empty streets, released prisoners, and desperate scrambles for survival, as an unknown disaster hits New York," K.S. Bruce said. Initially written as a screenplay, it felt too raw for film. But with Ethan Sacks’ adaptation, Chris Ryall’s expertise, and an incredible creative team, we’re honored to bring this story to comics."
"Once I heard K.S. and Brian's incredible pitch, I knew I wanted to be a part of bringing Dark Honor to comics readers," said co-writer Ethan Sacks. "They had me at 'Hello' — or more accurately, at a modern crime story set in New York City during the earliest and deadliest weeks of the COVID-19 epidemic. Having covered the damage COVID-19 did to my city in 2020 as a journalist for NBC News, it's been a creative boon to now tackle that place and time as a comic book writer. And with a murderers' row of talented artists — Fico Ossio, Dave Messina, Jamal Igle and Gabriel Guzman — it’s only fitting for a book about a row between murderers."
DETECTIVE KAIJU #1 (OF 4, MASSIVE, MR, $4.99) is Michael Calero and Kit Wallis. The intro says it's from "the fan-favorite series Quested," which I've never heard of. Anyway, it's a Sam Spade-type detective noir where the protagonitst is a kaiju. The art doesn't look like it's for me, but I think the idea is pretty funny. Here's a PREVIEW on Instagram.
GIANT-SIZE X-MEN #1 (MARVEL, $4.99) is by Collin Kelly, Adam Kubert and various. I don't mind revisiting classic X-Men stories, which are some of my favorite comics. But I sure hope putting Kamala Khan in all of them isn't a permanent retcon. Do not mess with happy memories, Marvel! There are five in this series (although they'll all be numbered #1), so we'll probably have to wait until the end to see how bad the damage is. I've ordered them, so I'll report as they arrive. Oh, there's also a backup story titled Revelations, about "the X-Man that never was." That's all I know so far.
“No hype: every issue of GIANT-SIZE is here to blow your mind and break your heart,” Lanzing and Kelly said. “Mutantkind is the grandest, most sprawling canvas in the Marvel canon—moreover, it’s the one the Hivemind’s been arguing and geeking out about since we were teenagers at our local comic shop. Now, alongside the absolute legend Adam Kubert and three more of the best artists in the industry, we’re posed to completely wreck and reassemble the history of the X — with our favorite hero Kamala Khan front and center. It’s an honor, a joy, and a huge responsibility. Free Comic Book Day is just a taste. What comes next will be marvelous.”
GODDAMN TRAGEDY #1 (ONE-SHOT, MR, ONI PRESS, 48 PAGES, $6.99) is by Chris Condon (Ultimate Wolverine, That Texas Blood) and Shawn Kuruneru (Fishflies) I can't tell if this is a weird Western, a cannibal Western, a survival Western or what. But I'm pretty sure most of the people in this story, who are traveling west in a Conestoga wagon in 1846, aren't going to make it out alive.
PALE KNIGHT #1 (OF 6, MR, MAD CAVE, $4.99) is by Peter Milligan and Val Rodrigues. A knight returns to England in 1349, during the Black Plague. He calls to God to save his son, but Death answers instead—and the knight cuts a deal. You can always count on Milligan (Enigma, Shade the Changing Man) to bring the weird. And I love period pieces. If I see it at my LCS (which I admit is unlikely), I’ll give it a try.
YUCATAN 1512 TP (DARK HORSE, $19.99) is by Alex Vede. This original graphic novel tells the tale of a Spanish deserter and a Mayan boy on the run from conquistadors in the eponymous peninsula in 1512. It wouldn’t be much of a story without monstrous warriors from a hidden indigenous city now, would it?
I like period pieces, and I like the art in this preview. I believe I’ll book a trip to Mexico in my head pretty soon.
GOLDEN AGE OF REPRINTS
ABSOLUTE SUPERMAN: RED SON HC (DC COMICS, $100.00) is by Mark Millar and various. I have looked for years for a hardback collection of this story in vain. I began to believe it never had been collected in hardback, and wondered if maybe Mark Millar had a deal with DC that made it unprofitable to publish in an expensive format. Well, it's here now, and I'm going to get it on my bookshelf pronto. It's by Millar, so it's built around scenes meant to shock, but the premise is valid.
ALL NEW COLLECTOR'S EDITION #58: SUPERMAN VS SHAZAM FACSIMILE EDITION ($14.99) is by Gerry Conway, Rich Buckler and Gick Giordano. If this was HC, I might get it. I have the original, and like with all Treasuries, I worry that there's too much pull on the spine. I don't need another saddle-stitched version.
GIANT-SIZE MARVEL OMNIBUS (MARVEL, $150.00) is by various. I own and have read all the comics in the "Giant-Size " line Marvel launched in 1974, so I don't really need this on my bookshelf. But I kinda want it, just for the nostalgia factor. Thre's the famous All-New, All-Different Giant-Size X-Men #1, of course, and you can't read 1970s Avengers without Giant-Size Avengers #1-4 (with the "Cosmic Madonna" storyline). There's the hilariously named Giant-Size Man-Thing. (How did NO ONE notice the double entendre? Or did they notice, snicker, and publish it anyway?) Giant-Size Super-Stars #1 featured a Hulk-Thing fight wherein Rich Buckler re-drew the Hulk-Thing combat sequence in Fantastic Four #25, but switched the characters, much to my amazed (and a bit appalled) eyeballs. Speaking of which, Giant-Size Super-Stars #1 became Giant-Size Fantastic Four with issue #2. Giant-Size Chillers featuring the Curse of Dracula became Giant-Size Dracula with issue #2. Giant-Size Creatures featuring Werewolf #1 became Giant-Size Werewolf with issue #2. But Giant-Size Super-Heroes #1 (featuring Spider-Man) simply started over as Giant-Size Spider-Man #1 with the second issue. Why? How? Who knows? And don't let me forget to mention Giant-Size Super-Villain Team-Up #1, not only for having the most hyphens of any comic book title, but because the first issue uses a framing sequence and reprints to explore the history between Namor and Doom — a bit choppy and unconvincing, but interesting.
This book collects Giant-Size Super-Stars #1, Giant-Size Fantastic Four #2-5, Giant-Size Super-Heroes #1, Giant-Size Spider-Man #1, 4-5, Giant-Size Chillers featuring the Curse of Dracula #1, Giant-Size Dracula #2-5, Giant-Size Creatures featuring Werewolf #1, Giant-Size Werewolf #2-5, Giant-Size Defenders #1-5, Giant-Size Avengers #1-4, Giant-Size Man-Thing #1-5, Giant-Size Chillers #1-3, Giant-Size Super-Villain Team-Up #1-2, Giant-Size X-Men #1 and Giant-Size Invaders #1. The available covers above are from Giant-Size X-Men #1 by Dave Cockrum (splash page, I think), Giant-Size Super-Villain Team-Up #2 by Gil Kane and Giant-Size Spider-Man #1 by John Romita Sr.
GIANT-SIZE X-MEN TRIBUTE TO WEIN & COCKRUM TP (MARVEL, $29.99) is by various. If you haven't had enough of Giant-Size X-Men #1 yet, here's a reprint, with each reprinted page also re-drawn by a different artist. I can't imagine why I'd want this, but maybe others have been secretly pining for it.
JAMES BOND 007: YOUR COLD, COLD HEART HC SGN ED ($49.99): I've been waiting for this: The first 007 collection written by Garth Ennis. But it's an expensive signed edition. I can wait until I see a cheaper version, because I don't give a flip about autographs.
JENNY SPARKS TP (MR, DC COMICS, $19.99) is by Tom King and Jeff Spokes. Here's another Tom King story I know nothing about. (Heck, I thought the character was dead — necessarily, being the "Spirit of the 20th Centry," which has ended.) Has anyone read this and want to chime in? And whatever happened to Jenny Quantum?
MICHAEL MOORCOCK LIBRARY VOL 1: ELRIC — BALANCE LOST HC (MR, TITAN, $29.99): This Library series lifts from all sorts of places, and just when I think, "Oh, that's neat, Imma get that," it turns out to be something I bought it in comic book form decades ago. Not this time. This is reprinted from a 2011 BOOM series that I've never read. If I can remember to order it on InStockTrades, I will.
STATIC: SEASON ONE TP (DC COMPACT COMICS EDITION, $9.99) is by Vita Ayala and Nikolas Draper-Ivey. Here's one of those compact books we hear are flying off the shelves. Couldn't happen to a better character.
SUPERMAN: SECRET ORIGIN TP (DC COMICS, $19.99) is by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank. I seem to remember reading this and not being impressed. But I may be thinking of a different story — there was a slew of Superman "origin" stories there for a while, including ones by Mark Waid and Kurt Busiek. Anybody remember if this is any good? Maybe they'll all get reprinted this year to remind me which was which.
WONDER WOMAN BY GREG RUCKA OMNIBUS HC (DC COMICS, $125.00) is by Greg Rucka and various. This is one of my favorite WW runs.
MORE COMICS
ABSOLUTE MARTIAN MANHUNTER #3 (OF 12, DC COMICS, $4.99) is by Deniz Camp and Javier Rodriguez. Things are progressing as I thought they would, which is not a complaint, because the execution is so good. Our new friend isn't a manhunter, he's a mindhunter (which I'm sure will change to bring him in line with the copyrighted name). He isn't a physical being (yet), but is possessing John Jones. And he's not even Martian — he's just using that as a metaphor for "alien." One interesting thing is that John Jones' new perception of the world, thanks to an alien living in his brain, is being referred to as Martian Vision. That made me laugh. Well done, Mr. Camp!
ABSOLUTE WONDER WOMAN #8 ($4.99) is by Kelly Thompson and Hayden Sherman. This is still my favorite Absolute book. Last issue Diana took on Hades to obtain her mother's freedom, winning by wits as much as strength (and we learned that Persephone is a secret ally). Pomegranate seeds played a vital role, rewarding all of us who voraciously read Edith Hamilton back in high school. Bit by bit we're finding out more about the state of godly affairs in this world, and none of it's pretty.
ARCHIE JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #361 (ARCHIE COMIC PUBLICATIONS, 192 PAGES, $9.99) includes a new story starring Kardak, which is interesting.
Classic story by Frank Doyle and Harry Lucey.
BATMAN #160 (DC COMICS, $4.99) is by Jeph Loeb, Jim Lee and Scott Williams. I'm not reading Hush 2 — sorry, "H2SH" — but DC sent me a bunch of art, so here ya go.
DONE WITH DEMONS (SILVER SPROCKET, $12.99) is by Dora Grents. "The mayor of Hell, a reclusive grandma, and her tiny dog try to coexist."
FELIX THE CAT TP (ROCKETSHIP, $14.99): All-new adventures by Mike Federali and Tracy Yardley.
FUTURE IS ****** #1 (MR, REKCAH, $13.37): Rekcah is "hacker" backwards. Ha ha.
GREEN LANTERN #23 ($4.99) is by Jeremy Adams and Xermanico. The Spectre wants Hal Jordan to take the job back. He won't, of course — he's the star of the book, which is titled Green Lantern. But I am glad to see The Spectre still exists in the post-Dawn of DC continuity. Now do something with him, DC!
HOWL #5 (OF 5, MR, AHOY, $3.99 is by Alisa Kwitney and Mauricet. I've loved the retro feel of this book, and I think this issue's cover is — well, not quite an homage, but a reference, to Chamber of Chills #19 (September 1953).
MOMMY BLOG (ONE-SHOT, MR, IMAGE, $5.99) is by Marguerite Bennett (Witchblade, Animosity) and artist Eleonora Carlini (Captain Marvel, Vicarious). "Real Housewives meets Fatal Attraction in this disturbing domestic thriller perfect for fans of ... Lady Killer." I don't mind me a good black comedy.
"If readers want something funny, cruel, scathing, and just a damn good time, MOMMY BLOG is for them," said Bennett.
Carlini added: "Drawing from Marguerite’s script was stimulating and fun. I loved Astrid from the very first pages—there’s something about her that I feel speaks to every woman. I could relate to her, both in the pain she keeps silent and the anger she expresses. I believe readers will love her too."
ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #17 (MARVEL, $4.99) is by Jonathan Hickman and Marco Checchetto. So there's an Absolute Sinister Six. But there's also Richard Parker in the black suit. I can't escape Venom anywhere in the multiverse, can I?
UNIVERSAL MONSTERS: THE MUMMY #3 (OF 4, IMAGE, $4.99) is by Faith Erin Hicks. I like the protagonist Hicks has developed, who is the reincarnation of the ancient Egyptian chick The Mummy had the hots for when he was alive, and she's now a voice in her descendant's brain (always fun). Of course, The Mummy still has the hots for her, and he's already been revived (and gone on a murderous spree) so buckle up.
VOID RIVALS #19 (IMAGE, $3.99) is by Robert Kirkman (Invincible, The Walking Dead) and Conor Hughes (White Ash, The Game). This is "a standalone Skuxxoid epic," and no, I don't what a Skuxxoid is.
WHAT IF…? DONALD DUCK BECAME IRON MAN #1 is by Luca Barbieri & Steve Behling. Art: Donald Soffritti. Instead of Tony Stark being captured by the Viet Cong and becoming Iron Man, Donald Duck is captured by the Beagle Boys and becomes Iron Duck. I had no idea he was an engineering genius!
Replies
The Masters of Evil take over Avengers HQ, because not only are criminals a cowardly and superstitious lot, they also tend to repeat themselves.
...as does Marvel's creative staff.
I don't mind revisiting classic X-Men stories... [but] do not mess with happy memories, Marvel!
Remember All-New X-Men? (Neither does anybody else.)
GIANT-SIZE MARVEL OMNIBUS - I don't really need this on my bookshelf. But I kinda want it, just for the nostalgia factor.
I felt the same way when I first saw it solicited. But I ultimately decided not to pre-order it, not only because I have all the originals, but I also have almost all of them reprinted in their respective omnibus series. Here's the question I always ask myself before pre-ordering (or when culling books from my shelves: "If I ever read this series again, which format am I going to read?"
JENNY SPARKS TP - Has anyone read this and want to chime in?
We had a big 'ol discussion about Jenny Sparks (the character) when the individual issues were first solicited. You may not know anything about this story, but you're comments were instrumental in my decision to purchase the series. FWIW, I like pretty much everything Tom King has written, and I liked this mini-series as well.
SUPERMAN: SECRET ORIGIN TP - Anybody remember if this is any good?
Bob took a pretty in-depth look at it in 2009.
WONDER WOMAN BY GREG RUCKA OMNIBUS HC - This is one of my favorite WW runs.
Really? I do not remember much about it. (I did not pre-order it.)
I'm not reading Hush 2...
I liked the original... that is, the one that goes...
Hush, hush
I thought I heard her calling my name
Hush, hush
She broke my heart but I love her just the same
GREEN LANTERN #23 - The Spectre wants Hal Jordan to take the job back... But I am glad to see The Spectre still exists in the post-Dawn of DC continuity.
I'm surprised that Hal Jordan's tenure as the Spectre is still in continuity. (Not on Earth-J )
HOWL #5 - I think this issue's cover is — well, not quite an homage, but a reference, to Chamber of Chills #19
Oh, yeah... I can see that. The Howl cover was inspired by it, I'd say.
WHAT IF…? DONALD DUCK BECAME IRON MAN #1
Derivative of...
Bob took a pretty in-depth look at it in 2009.
Wiow. I have no memory of that thread, or of the comics themselves.
I should have specified. That thread was written by the pre-Flashpoint Bob, and you are the post-Rebirth Bob. That's why you don't remeber it. Your earlier self, sadly, is no longer in continuity.
I'm surprised that Hal Jordan's tenure as the Spectre is still in continuity. (Not on Earth-J )
I wouldn't nind if the whole "Emerald Twilight" thing was erased from continuity. I do think they've erased Hal killing anybody, but don't quote me on that.
I should have specified. That thread was written by the pre-Flashpoint Bob, and you are the post-Rebirth Bob. That's why you don't remeber it. Your earlier self, sadly, is no longer in continuity.
I fear that this is true of me as well. I can't name the number of times you've mentioned a discussion I"ve been involved in that I don't remember. My opinions are ephemeral things, I guess, dependent on transitory factors of the day.
In all honesty, "Emerald Twilight" (which happened in late 1993/early 1994) does not even fit the continuity that existed back in 1995, let alone the Hal-as-Spectre period (late 1999 to late 2004), and the later was always meant to be endured rather than believed in, as a stepping stone for retconning/healing some of the damage from Emerald Twilight. The whole exercise played very fast and loose with its own continuity, because editorial wanted very badly to say that Kyle Rayner was a remarkable hero despite what was actually shown on the page.
These days people don't even know or bother whether Hal was Parallax or instead possessed by the Parallax entity. I figure most readers who cared left the boat decades ago.
I can't name the number of times you've mentioned a discussion I"ve been involved in that I don't remember.
Hang on tight because I'm about to do it again.
I do think they've erased Hal killing anybody, but don't quote me on that.
If they have (and I wouldn't doubt it), the fact that he did kill the entire GLC (or close to it) was itself a "retcon" (in the popular, not literal, sense of the term).
"How Many GLs Did Hal Jordan Kill?" I say TEN total.
But, as Luis points out, the whole distasteful episode "does not even fit the continuity that existed back in 1995" let alone the Hal-as-Spectre period" today's continuity.
It's a moot point, best forgotten.
The whole exercise played very fast and loose with its own continuity, because editorial wanted very badly to say that Kyle Rayner was a remarkable hero despite what was actually shown on the page.
That is my feeling exactly. I know there are Kyle Rayner fans, for whom he is THEIR Green Lantern, but I never saw him do anything to deserve their praise.
These days people don't even know or bother whether Hal was Parallax or instead possessed by the Parallax entity. I figure most readers who cared left the boat decades ago.
Agreed. Hard to believe, but "Emerald Twilight" was 30 years (and multple reboots) ago.
It's a moot point, best forgotten.
Probably so. Green Lantern was one of my favorites as a boy, but "Twilight" soured me on Hal Jordan a bit. I know it's moot, but that lingers, no matter how many times DC tells me (in-story) that Hal is regarded as the greatest GL of all time. John Stewart is probably Green Lantern easiest to think of as the most admirable, and should, at this point, be the "main" one. But if you do that, what do you do with Hal? Can't kill him, can't turn him evil. The only alternative is the one they studiously avoid: Write him well.