Captain's Note: It's a fifth week, so the pickin's are slim.
MAJOR PUBLISHERS
MARVEL COMICS
CAPTAIN AMERICA #14 ($4.99): Guest starring Spider-Man and Thor, with the trio calling themselves the Warriors Three. To paraphrase the late Sen. Lloyd Bentsen, I knew the Warriors Three. The Warriors Three were friends of mine. And you, sirs, are no Warriors Three. Not one of these characters is dashing, grim or voluminous!
All jokes aside, I've always liked the original Warriors Three. They fleshed the Thunder God out a bit, giving him friends he'd had since childhood, and made him less of a windbag making speeches to no one. Balder was introduced in Journey Into Mystery #85 (1962), along with Loki, Odin and Heimdall, but they were about the only Asgardians we knew by name until "Tales of Asgard" came along with issue #100 -- and even there the characters we met rarely transitioned to the main feature. So Thor often had Balder around to make speeches to, but let's face it -- he was a goody two-shoes, and kinda boring. He didn't get interesting until he was killed. Sif was introduced in 1964, but in "Tales of Asgard," and didn't become a regular member of the ensemble until Thor #136 (1967), when Jane Foster was written out as Thor's love interest.
Man, I found the whole Don Blake/Jane Foster scenario so tiresome. It was a relief when all that stuff was abandoned and Thor became a full-on, high-fantasy title. We Boomers had to suffer through years of Thor alternating between the interesting world-building on Asgard and the dull, artificial drama of Blake's life on Earth. As a reader, I didn't want to spend one second with Blake, whose "problems" were all contrived. Similarly, I thought Thor fighting Midgardian supervillains was lame (ha!), because the likes of Mr. Hyde could probably be trounced by Volstagg's children before second breakfast. But Loki, Mangog, Surter, Ulik, Karnilla ... those are some cool villains that could plausibly give Thor trouble.
So it was with great joy and interest that I met the Warriors Three in "Tales of Asgard" in Journey Into Mystery #119 (1965). They were obviously fun for Stan to write and Jack to draw (and maybe even for Vinnie Coletta to ink!), and I knew we'd see them in the main feature ere long.
And they were Asgardians, which meant strength, speed and endurance far above ordinary humans, and the Warriors Three seemed a notch above ordinary Asgardians. They were usually somewhat superfluous when compared to Thor, but they were useful in large-scale battle scenes with frost giants or Harokin or whoever, where they'd more than hold their own. Toss in Balder and Sif, and Thor had a formidable crew with which to fight, explore or just plain party. It just felt right -- and fun! -- for Thor to have some bonzo buddies to quest with, and then drink with, for eternity. Very Norse saga-ish.
Obviously, Fandral is based on actor Errol Flynn. Hogun is based on actor Charles Bronson. And Volstagg is simply Shakespeare's Falstaff, with a couple of consonant shifts. He even plays the same role, as comedy relief. None are to be found in the original Norse myths, but that just freed Stan and Jack to do whatever they wanted with them. Hogun isn't even an Asgardian -- he's from Skornheim, a mysterious kingdom in the far East of the Asgardian plane. (Bronson was of Lithuanian descent, not Asian, but that's inconsequential!)
The cinematic Thor: Ragnarok killed them off casually, which I thought was a major mistake. Not only to kill them (and every other Asgardian whose name we knew, except Loki), but to do so unceremoniously. It told me Taiki Waititi didn't read the pre-Warriors Three Journey Into Mystery/Thor, and had no idea how badly Thor needed them as supporting characters. (Without Volstagg around, for example, Thor himself has to supply the comedy relief -- as well as fill every other story niche.)
VENOM WAR: FANTASTIC FOUR #1 ($4.99): Nope.
DC COMICS
PENGUIN SPECIAL (ONE-SHOT, $5.99) collects Penguin stories from Detective Comics #58, Secret Origins Special #1, Joker's Asylum: Penguin #1, plus a new story written by Jeremy Adams and illustrated by Howard Porter showing Penguin's next moves during All In. Not to be confused with the TV series, in which Batman's Avian Adversary doesn't wear fancy clothes or affect a posh upbringing. He's a brutal, ambitious thug, Sopranos fashion, and just as interesting/appalling to watch as Tony Soprano.
POISON IVY/SWAMP THING: FERAL TREES #1 (ONE-SHOT, $5.99): The Parliament of Trees has conscripted Poison Ivy and Swamp Thing to solve a problem with feral trees. I didn't know trees could be feral, but I did know that these two have always been an all-natural (heh!) team-up waiting to happen.
Elsewhere at DC:
WONDER WOMAN: UNCOVERED #1 (ONE-SHOT, $5.99): Evidently, these collections of covers are popular enough that DC keeps making more. None for me, thanks.
ACTION COMICS #1073: I don't know that there's anything special about this particular issue, but DC sent a preview, which they don't often do any more. So here ya go.
IMAGE COMICS
IT HAPPENED ON HYDE STREET: DEVOUR (ONE-SHOT, $5.99) tells us a story involving Miss Goodbody, one of the names we saw on the Scorekeeper's tote board in Hyde Street #1. All of those names are of various permanent residents of Hyde Street, who are collecting souls for the Scorekeeper. I imagine that if this special sells well enough, the rest of those names will get specials as well, enriching the population of the main title.
But Devour isn't about Miss Goodbody (although she is the plot device around which the story turns). It's about the unrealistic expectations society puts on women to be thin, and the implication that if you aren't thin then you're worthless. It's a big issue, bigger than my brief summary, and Devour gives us three generations of women who fall prey to these expectations ... and to Miss Goodbody, in a horrifying twist ending that I didn't see coming, wrapped up as I was in the storytelling.
BTW, Pranky the Boy Scout makes a cameo as well.
“Devour speaks to the cycle of relentless self-criticism and insecurity many of us experience in relation to our bodies," writer Mark Zchut said. "Told through the horror lens, I explore the pressure to constantly strive for physical perfection that passes from one generation to the next. In collaboration with the endlessly talented Leila Leiz, and the support of the entire Ghost Machine family, I’m so grateful for how this story has come together. Leila’s dynamic artwork adds depth to each word, with her brilliant penciling and inking bringing the characters to life. Every element is further enhanced with phenomenal color by Alex Sinclair. And to top it off we are so fortunate to have none other than legends Ivan Reis and Gary Frank crafting outstanding cover art for the book. I’m so excited to finally share Devour with the world!”
“When I read Devour for the first time, I immediately knew that it was a story that I wanted to draw, not only because it's a horror story, but because the theme of obsessive dieting is something that every woman can relate to on some level," artist Leila Leiz. "Thinner is my favorite horror film. Maytal’s rich and diverse writing style treats this complex subject matter with great maturity and sensitivity, which made me rediscover the joy of drawing all over again — and Alex Sinclair’s coloring is the cherry on the top. We are surrounded by an amazing team at Ghost Machine, full of talent and passion. That is what makes make this adventure an absolute delight. This is a funny, captivating and really intense story and readers will want to devour the book leaving them with bittersweet taste.”
VIOLENT FLOWERS #2 (MR, $3.99): I don't usually review second issues, but this one fleshes out the central conflict of the story, which I was unclear about with the first issue. The various mysteries about Carnelia (why she usually lives as an old lady, why she refuses to turn anyone) aren't answered, but they are mentioned, meaning we can expect that they are plot points writer/artist Maria Llovet means to address, not just characterization quirks. Meanwhile, Llovet lays out the plot.
Last issue Nicodemo ("The Sentinel") was murdered, and Carnelia vowed revenge. Surprisingly, this issue we find out she hated the guy. I guess I shouldn't be surprised; everyone in this twisted "family" seems to hate each other with equal vigor. Which I applaud; I do think that immortals would get well and truly sick of each other, an often unaddressed aspect in stories dealing with immortality. If familiarity breeds contempt, centuries of familiarity would breed disgust, sometimes tipping over into loathing.
Anyway, we go to a party in Barcelona, which serves the twin purposes of advancing the narrative and world-building. Erzebet makes her agenda clear, which is revenge on everyone for her punishment (see last issue), but especially Carnelia. She's going to kill Carnelia's entire clan, starting with those Carnelia likes least and working her way up. Simultaneously, we learn about some of the supernatural creatures in this world, their relationships to each other and their positions in the hierarchy. All in elaborate, European, faux-historical clothing and environs, which Llovet illustrates in loving, detailed, nipple-baring, throat-biting glory.
“The upcoming issues are full of magic, bloodlust and sensuality,” said Llovet. “Buried secrets surface along with ancient dangers, and our characters must prepare for a bloody and shocking finale amidst the beautiful art nouveau roofs of Barcelona. I’m thrilled for readers to see what’s in store!”
DARK HORSE
RUTHLESS RENDER VOL. 1 GN (192 pages, $12.99): The press release says this Webtoon would appeal to "fans of One-Punch Man, Mob Psycho 100, Blood Blockade Battlefront and other action-packed horror heavy stories." Since I haven't read any of those, I can't comment. But maybe it means something to you.
"With every chapter of Ruthless Render, my goal is to deliver a roller-coaster ride of action, horror and teenage romance," writer/artist dd markk said. "This story goes beyond mere battles with monsters; it's a journey of friendship, dreams, and the courage to face and conquer our inner demons."
IDW PUBLISHING
MLP: BEST OF DISCORD #1 ($7.99): For the Bronies.
MORE COMICS
2 DUMB DINOS HC (Titan, $16.99): Don't ask me, I just work here. Here's a preview.
ARCHIE JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #355 (Archie, $9.99)
Full story
AMELIA AIERWOOD: BASIC WITCH GN (Z2 Comics, $19.99): Written by actor Emily Hampshire (Stevie on Schitt's Creek), it's the story of an oddball, marginalized witch in a family of more successful witches.
ANFIELD ROAD HC (Titan, MR, $24.99): This is a coming-of-age story set in 1989 Liverpool, where a working-class kid is torn between going to art school (with his Indian girlfriend) and remaining to care for his ailing, domineering grandmother. I don't usually care for coming-of-age stories any more -- I barely remember my own -- and I'm not keen on the art on this one. But I do like learning about other places and eras. This one informs me about the La's, the Hillsborough disaster and Findus Crispy Pancakes, so the trip wasn't wasted.
BRIAN BLOMERTH’S LILLY WAVE GN (Anthology, $35.00): Brian Blomerth has already written about the discovery of LSD (Brian Blomerth's Bicycle Day) and psilocybin mushrooms (Brian Blomerth's Mycelium Wassonii). Now he's writing about "the life, experiments, and addictions of John C. Lilly -- the man whose development of the isolation tank, controversial studies in dolphin cognition and ketamine-fueled dives into the nature of consciousness made him perhaps the most notorious researcher of the psychedelic era." If nothing else, Blomerth is consistent in subject matter.
COME FIND ME: AN AUTUMNAL OFFERING (DSTLRY, MR, $8.99) is a 56-page Halloween anthology curated by Becky Cloonan (Somna, Gotham Academy). First of what DSTLRY says will be an annual tradition. Perhaps having been conditioned by EC Comics, I welcome all horror anthologies.
DARK SHADOWS: COMPLETE NEWSPAPER STRIPS 2ND PTG HC (Hermes Press, $60.00): Comic strip alert! Say, Dark Shadows fans, was the comic strip short-lived enough that this is the whole shebang?
DEMON INSIDE #1 (Blood Moon, OF 5, MR, $4.99): Here is the entirety of the solicitation: "After a tragic accident, Eva is hunted by a terrifying demon from her past." Aside from the creators names (which I do not recognize), there's nothing else. No preview. No interviews. No trailers. You're just supposed to order on faith, I guess.
DWELLINGS: ALL HALLOWS EVE SPECIAL #1 (Oni Press, $5.99): A man who's convinced he's a vampire hunter and a woman who's convinced she's a vampire meet in what is apparently the oddball locale common to all Dwellings books. It's a bit too cartoony for me, but my tastes are not universal. Here's a CBR story and PREVIEW.
ELENA GN (Afterlight Comics, MR, $37.99): A guy whose interest in girls is restricted to dead ones meets an interesting new neighbor. It's all pretty disturbing. Here's a trailer and PREVIEW.
FABULOUS FURRY FREAK BROTHERS: HIGH TIMES & MISDEMEANORS HC (Fantagraphics, $22.99): Featuring all the color strips from High Times and Playboy. According to Fantagraphics, they're pulling a Barks Library by printing the strips comprehensively and chronologically, but releasing the volumes out of order. (Vols. 1 and 7 are left.)
GHOST ISLAND GN (Afterlight Comics, MR, $29.99): Described as "Jurassic Park with ghosts." You know what would be scarier? Dinosaur ghosts. Here's a TRAILER.
GUMAA: THE BEGINNING OF HER VOL 1 TP (Titan, 256 pages, $29.99): Wrtier/artist: Jeehyung Lee Heralding the first graphic novel written and drawn by the acclaimed South Korean artist Jeehyung Lee. Collecting the entire critically acclaimed Gumaa saga.
I've been intrigued all along by this book because of its terrific covers, but have just now got around to reading it. And it's -- interesting. I'm about a third of the way through, and it's a pretty grim story about 1984 gangsters, drugs and enforced prostitution, with one such captive escaping by killing another, and ... well, that's as far as I've gotten. I intend to finish the story, as it has my interest and the art is nice, and this all appears to be prologue anyway, with the story apparently destined to veer into H. Rider Haggard territory.
For the record, I have yet to find out what "gumaa" means. (The lead character's name is Khalita.)
HEXILES #1 (Mad Cave, OF 6, MR, $4.99): By Cullen Bunn. Six half-siblings (they have the same father, but six different mothers) attend the father's funeral. They each have an "infernal power," which means Dad was more than he seemed. The solicitation further tells me "these powers ... come at a terrible price. … And the demonic debtors have come to collect." I suppose they'll have to learn to work together and learn some Valuable Life Lessons.
JESSICA FARM HC (Fantagraphics, $29.99): Called a "horror-fantasy-psychodrama," the story takes place on a single Christmas Day, where ... things happen. Maybe. Or maybe not. Or maybe you can make more of this PREVIEW.than I did.
JOHNNY HAZARD DAILIES VOL 12 1962-1964 HC (Hermes Press, $54.99): Comics strip alert!
KAMEN RIDER KUUGA VOL 7 GN (Titan, MR, $12.99)
MESCHUGGE GN (Fairsquare Comics, MR, $24.99): This is set in a Jewish ghetto in 1905 Denmark, where a typist is recruited as an "insider" by the police to help them find a killer of Jews who is marking his victims with kabbalistic symbols. I find this fascinating. First, who knew there were Jewish ghettos in 1905 Denmark? That launches me straight into terra incognita.
MISTY 2024 SPECIAL (Rebellion / 2000AD, $12.50): I got Rebellion's Misty: 45 Years of Fear HC, and found it very hard to read. I got through the first story, of Misty pulling a Carrie on some mean-girl tormentors, but it was very slow going. I think that's because it was originally published in short, weekly installments -- more comic strip than comic book, to this American reader, accustomed to longer bursts of narrative. It made me impatient for the story to move faster. This is a one-shot, so that presumably wouldn't be a problem. But my book experience left me indifferent to Misty the character. Maybe I should revisit that book and try again -- she's basically Sabrina, and I should find that mildly entertaining.
MUD AND MADNESS #1 (Blood Moon, OF 4, MR, $4.99): Here's another Blood Moon comic book with little information. I do know it's two stories, set in World War I, and that Dracula is involved. Is there, like, a Blood Moon fan club to whom they sell enough books to stay in business, and therefore don't need to cater to comic book shops? Or maybe they originate in a different country that supports them, and they just publish reprints in the U.S.? Or somehing! If it weren't for doing these guides every week, I wouldn't even know Blood Moon exists. But they sure put out a lot of Number Ones!
PLAGUE SEEKER #1 (Bad Egg, $20.00): Bad Egg is a new company, and I can forgive them for not having a preview (or one that I can find, anyway). But they do have a trailer, which is a huge info dump:
POWER RANGERS: ACROSS THE MORPHIN GRID #1 (BOOM, $7.99): Yet another Power Rangers title, one among many. Here's a FIRST LOOK.
PS ARTBOOKS AMERICA’S GREATEST COMICS VOL 1 SOFTEE ($32.99): Finally, some Fawcett Captain Marvel reprints!
RICK AND MORTY: FINALS WEEK -- OLD MAN MORTY #1 (Oni, $5.99): Oni goes back to the well.
SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN #5 (Titan, OF 6, MR, $6.99): I haven't read the first four issues, so this was my introduction to a B&W series that I just discovered is limited.
Honestly, it felt like the old Savage Sword. I don't know how you felt about Marvel's magazine, but for me this brought back warm fuzzies. The first story is by Jason Aaron and Geof Isherwood, and stars King Conan, which took me straight back to the '70s. One of the bright spots of the '70s, I should say, because there was a lot of drek in the pop culture of that decade. That's true of all decades, of course, but the '70s always seem worse to me than other decades. Thank God for good comics, to make me forget disco and bell-bottoms.
Anyway, Aaron gives us a long, thoughtful story about Conan and a witch, which doesn't take the usual path. This is an older, wiser Conan, whose hackles presumably no longer rise in the presence of the supernatural, and discussion is had. The art, by Isherwood, fits well alongside great Conan artists like John Busecema and Neal Adams.
The second, shorter story, is set before Conan's parents are killed, and he learns some useful life lessons from his blacksmith father. The art is mediocre, but the story is worth it.
I plan to read those first four issues, and #6 when it arrives.
SECTAURS #1 (Oni Press, $4.99): Do you remember when Marvel did Sectaurs? Then you're ahead of me -- I bought the first issue in 1985, by Bill Mantlo and Mark Texeira, and promptly dropped it. I don't remember why, but evidently it was no Micronauts. Or even ROM. I wasn't alone, as the book was canceled after eight issues. So it's with incredulity that I see Oni thinking it can make a go of it. I guess we'll see.
SILICON BANDITS VOL 1 TP (Magma, $19.99): In 2089, robot-makers are fired by one of the four trillionaires who run the U.S., and rebel using the very robots they created. I'd read this if it promised to kill the trillionaires on panel in horrible ways.
SOME STRANGE DISTURBANCES: THE DEMON BRIDE GN (Headless Shakespeare, MR, $15.99): I can't find much on this one either, but it's set in the 19th century, where "past events, monsters and spirits finally collide" and features "psychic Prescott Mayfair, choral performer & theatre owner Delilah Quintin, and socialite Comtesse." It's like the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, if they were all Victorian women who graduated from liberal arts colleges.
THIMBLE THEATRE & THE PRE-POPEYE COMICS OF EC SEGAR HC (Fantagraphics, $100.00): Comic strip alert! I don't think I need to make room on my bookshelf for this, having read all the Popeyes, which I assume are Segar's best work.
TONGUES SUPPLEMENT #1 (Fantagraphics, $18.00): Two conversations between Prometheus and the eagle. (You know, the one eating his liver for eternity.) I can't even find this one on the Fantagraphics website, so now you know as much as I do.
VICTOR CROWLEY’S HATCHET HALLOWEEN TALES VI #1 (American Mythology, $4.99): Another horror anthology, one that apparently arrives annually. It has four stories, one of which depicts Hatchet killing the characters from The Goldbergs, a show I have never watched and never will.
WHO IS TAYLOR SWIFT? DLX ED HC (Penguin Workshop, $16.99): Ooh! Ooh! I know! Call on me, teacher!
WICKED WITCHES (Antarctic Press, ONE-SHOT, $4.99): A lot of "bad" girls, apparently. But not really bad, because it's not MR.
ZOMBIE MAKEOUT CLUB VOL 1-2 COLLECTORS SET (Ablaze, MR, $15.99): After a teenager commits suicide, she's resurrected in an underground lab. Like Lady Mechanika, she has a sketchy memory and sets about trying to figure out who she was. There's an "Art of" book that's currently in kickstarter mode if you're interested.
Replies
DARK SHADOWS: COMPLETE NEWSPAPER STRIPS: Say, Dark Shadows fans, was the comic strip short-lived enough that this is the whole shebang?
It was; it is.
JOHNNY HAZARD DAILIES VOL 12 1962-1964 HC: I'm curently working my way through Airboy (and assorted spin-offs) and enjoyint them greatly, to the extent I had been considering delving back into Steve Canyon again, but I may decide to read Johnny Hazard instead.
PS ARTBOOKS AMERICA’S GREATEST COMICS VOL 1 SOFTEE: Finally, some Fawcett Captain Marvel reprints!
I'm beginning to regreat my "no softee" rule.
SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN #5...
There's another "in the mouth of a dinosaur" cover for "Three of a Kind."
THIMBLE THEATRE & THE PRE-POPEYE COMICS OF EC SEGAR HC: I don't think I need to make room on my bookshelf for this, having read all the Popeyes, which I assume are Segar's best work.
You are quite correct. If you already have all of Segar's Popeye you're good to go. This is a curiosity for hard-core collectors only.
Captain Comics said:
Man, I found the whole Don Blake/Jane Foster scenario so tiresome.
The unrequited love shtick was introduced by Stan into, I think, every hero story. “Odin won’t let me marry Jane,” “the shrapnel could reach my heart at any time” and “I don’t want to stick Karen with a blind man.” Like no blind person ever married a sighted person. The worst one was Professor X mooning over presumably underage Jean Grey, “I can’t walk.” They dropped that one quickly.
Mort Weisinger started this with Superman. “If I marry Lois her life would be in danger.” (1) You don’t have to tell everybody you married her and (2) they already threaten her every day, anyway.
As for supporting characters, they always strengthened the stories, even when they didn’t know the hero’s identity. Even though Spider-man had a large supporting cast, it strengthened his stories when Daredevil and he knew each other’s identities, not unlike the Batman/Superman mutual trust.
I never understood the Thor/Jane Foster dynamic. Jane never struck me as the sort that an Asgardian God would fall that madly in love with. There was nothing overtly special about her. She wasn't spunky, annoying or determined. She was bland.
The only time that I found her appealing was when she got merged with Sif!
They killed off the Warriors Three in the movies because they didn't want to keep including them, Sif, Heimdall and the rest in the movies. The creative teams wanted their own supporting cast.
I miss the real Warriors Three as well!
THIMBLE THEATRE & THE PRE-POPEYE COMICS OF EC SEGAR HC (Fantagraphics, $100.00): Comic strip alert! I don't think I need to make room on my bookshelf for this, having read all the Popeyes, which I assume are Segar's best work.
I strongly disagree, I very much enjoyed getting to see the pre-Poipeye stuff.
I did, too, but you and I are "hard-core collectors."
WONDER WOMAN: UNCOVERED #1: Evidently, these collections of covers are popular enough that DC keeps making more. None for me, thanks.
This particular one has something of a "story" behind it (such as it is): the cast goes through publicity shots of Wonder Woman after the embassay has shut down (due to events in the regular title). It comprises recent "variant" covers. I often wish DC would print collections of just their variant covers.