Pop Culture Chronicles

Pull List / Reviews July 2011, part 2

My previous post listed the DC comics on my current pull list. Here is what I'm reading from Marvel:

Marvel 

All-Winners Squad: Band of Heroes # 1-2- This 8-part limited series is set in World War II, so it's right up my retro alley. A group of super-powered heroes join the army and are led into battle by Captain America. These include Timely heroes The Young Avenger, Invisible Man, Merzah the Mystic, and others.

Even Slow Motion Jones returns. He was the African-American sidekick of the Whizzer back in the Golden Age. He previously appeared in the first issues of USA Comics and All Winners Comics in 1941. In those days Slo-Mo was a racial caricature, but is now re-introduced as an intelligent super-speedster, faster than the Whizzer himself. His re-introduction is handled much like that of Whitewash Jones, renamed "Washington Carver Jones" in The Young Allies 70th Anniversary Special published in 2009. The Golden Age appearances of these African-American heroes are explained as the fictitious comic portrayals they really were, effectively striking the earlier versions from Marvel continuity. 

The new All-Winners story is told in retrospect by the alter ego of the Young Avenger, now in his 90s. He explains how Timely Comics was employed by the U.S. military to write fictional propaganda about his army buddies. The latest issue has a scene taking place in Martin Goodman's office as he sends for his nephew, Stanley. So cool! I love this series.  

FF # 1-6- I heard great things about Jonathan Hickman's run on the Fantastic Four, but I didn't want to jump into the middle of something I knew nothing about. So with the first issue of FF I thought this might be a good jumping on place. I wasn't completely up to speed with the threads that had apparently carried over from the Fantastic Four series, but I was piecing things together through the first five issues. I was especially sold on the Steve Epting art in the first three issues. I love it when artists draw people who look real. Epting's versions of Spiderman and Susan Richards is how these characters should always be drawn. By the fourth issue, however, it seemed that Barry Kitson had taken over the art chores. I wasn't as crazy about his art, but it's been growing on me. 

So along comes issue number 6. What? The FF doesn't even appear in this issue. It centers on an alien race called the Krees and the Inhumans who descend from a segment of the primitve homo sapien population of earth gentically engineered by the Krees. When the Inhuman city Attilan was attacked by the Krees, led by Ronan the Accuser, the Krees were defeated by Inhuman leader, Black Bolt who subsequently became ruler of the Krees. Black Bolt has since died, but FF # 6 is the precursor to his return. 

What this has to do with the current storyline is that Attilan is one of the four cities among whom four Reed Richards of alternate earths are trying to incite war which will (somehow) enable them to return to their own dimensions. The Future Foundation (FF) has assembled the most intelligent of the Fantastic Four's enemies in an effort to stop the Reeds.  

Issue 6 has yet another artist, Greg Tocchini. I wish this series would settle on an artist for the sake of consistency. According to Marvel's website, I can look forward to Steve Epting's return in issue # 8, but only for one issue since # 9 lists Daniel Acuna as the artist. The revolving door of artists is driving me crazy, as did the major departure of storyline in issue # 6. But I'm giving this title every chance before I give up and drop it. The characterization and dialogue are indeed above average.                     

Free Comic Book Day 2011

Saturday, May 7 was this year's annual Free Comic Book Day. Publishers provide dealers with free promotional comics to give away. This allows readers to sample various companies, characters, and titles before deciding where to invest their entertainment dollars.

Some of the free books offered are simply glorified commercials without any real story or just a partial story that is continued to the regular comic series. But each year there are a few books that provide a decent self-contained story along with the commercial. This year's Captain America/Thor team-up was especially good as the two were thrown back in time to Camelot. I wonder why Marvel chose Captain America and Thor? Could that have anything to do with this year's movie offerings? Marvel is still the greatest when it comes to All Ages stories that are really for all ages and not simply juvenile. DC's Young Justice/Batman: Brave and the Bold also had some decent self-contained stories. The Batman story was a good short story teaming Batman with Flash as the opinions of society's upper crust are contrasted with the real Bruce Wayne.

The comic shop we patronized for FCBD this year really went all out. There were people in costume (most notably Green Lantern & Batwoman), a sketch artist, and photographs with the life-size Spiderman statue. A long table with free super-hero buttons and numerous FCBD offerings allowed patrons to choose up to five titles each. And this comic shop did not stamp the covers with their store name, although there is a place for it. I love it when the covers aren't stamped. Every serious collector knows better than to desecrate a comic in that manner. This shop even had a sidewalk sale with dollar comics and free coffee. I'm impressed! It was like a mini-convention.

In addition to my five free titles (which also included Green Lantern, The Misadventures of Adam West, and Amazing Spiderman) I also had to raid the dollar boxes resulting in a fairly good stack. These included one-shots of Batman and Captain America, the Superman: Last Family of Krypton series, and the Amazing Spiderman issues with the "One Moment in Time" story arc. So FCBD was a real event for our family this year. Thanks to those comic shop proprietors who go the extra mile.       

Captain America Adventure Serial

I just bought a VHS of the old Captain America adventure serial for $1.00 at a garage sale. I watched the first episode last night. I had seen several episodes as a child when our local PBS affiliate would air old adventure serials on Saturday nights. I didn't remember much about it though.

Captain America was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby for Timely (now Marvel) comics in 1940. Weakling Steve Rogers volunteers for an experimental super serum which transforms him into the powerful and muscular Captain America. He spends the war fighting Nazis. The first issue of Captain America Comics, while dated 1941, was actually published one year before America entered World War II. Cap was retired by Marvel when super heroes went out of vogue, but he was revived in the 60s when Rogers, who had been in suspended animation, was thawed out. 

The serial was the first time a Marvel/Timely superhero had appeared in any medium outside the comics. It is good for nostalgia and maybe one of the best serials of its era. But it is glaringly inconsistent with the comic version. Absent from the movie is Cap's trademark shield. Instead he carries a gun, which seems very odd. The origin story and alter ego is also changed. Cap is a district attorney named Grant Gardner in the serial. While the serial was released during the war (1944) Cap strangely enough doesn't fight any Nazis. 

Of course the forthcoming Captain America: The First Avenger will be more true to the comic origin. Other live action versions have included two 1979 and 1980 TV movies starring Reb Brown. The 1990 movie was the most faithful to the comics in many respects, but was panned by critics. I still haven't got around to that one, but I am looking forward to the latest movie incarnation of Captain America.      

Invaders Now (review)

Well, I'm back and this time hoping to post more frequently. Summer was busy. I'll start with a review of a comic that just came out last week: Invaders Now # 1 (of a five part series).

This is a great follow-up to the 12-part Avengers/Invaders and the 8-part The Torch. The comics should be read in the following order for the right chronology: Avengers/ Invaders; The Torch; Invaders Now.

Alex Ross is back again for co-plotting and covers which makes this a Marvel / Dynamite collaboration since Ross is exclusively contracted to the later. As usual, his covers are stunning. I'll miss the interior art of Sandowski and Berkenkotter (from the previous series), who I believe drew the definitive Torch (Jim Hammond) and Toro. But the art by Reis isn't too bad.

The writing has been consistently good on all the above mentioned series. It doesn't hurt that the original Vision is back to keep things moving. He is a foreboding presence who appears to be confident and in control.

An up-side to the first issue of Invaders Now is character development. I love it when comics show multi-dimensional characterization as opposed to an entire issue of fights and explosions. I especially liked the conversation between Bucky and Thomas as they walked down the urban streets sharing impressions of how things have changed since the 40s era from which they came. This is too important for a good writer to ignore and still have any sense of realism at all. Christos Gage is a good writer.  

The scene in which the young mutants are asking Jim Hammond (the original Human Torch) about Hitler is priceless. Hammond's response is not predictable, but is believeable. The creative team has not let us forget that this is a World War II team now brought together for a threat from the past that only they are equipped to handle. 

The roll call includes Steve Rogers, the new Captain America (originally Bucky), Human Torch, Toro, the Sub-Mariner, and British members Spitfire and Union Jack (Joseph Chapman). The series is off to a good start and promises not to disappoint. 

Rating: A  

Pull List and Reviews (June 2010)

Here is a list of my current subscriptions and what I thought of some newer issues:

DC

Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne This book picks up where the concluding issue of Final Crisis left off, with Bruce Wayne stranded in the caveman days. Now he makes his way forward through time toward the 21st century in this six-parter. In issue two he stopped off for an adventure involving some witch hunting Puritans, and he is moving on to a pirate's life for one issue, and then to the old west. It's interesting to see the bat-guy in all these different historical settings. History is retro.

Interestingly, Bruce has amnesia, yet his resourceful instincts aren't lacking. He is being pursued through time by Superman, Rip Hunter, Green Lantern, and Booster Gold. They have to somehow intercept Bruce before he unknowingly serves as Darkseid's weapon to destroy the 21st century, whatever all that means. I'm still not clear what Bruce was doing near the end of time unless maybe he was trying to pinpoint a position in time in order to return there and save an accused witch from hanging. Who knows? I don't totally get it, but I think I'm supposed to buy a zillion cross-overs before I do, including the forthcoming Time Masters: Vanishing Point mini-series, and several issues of Batman and Robin. It's all about marketing, but I'm not taking the bait.   

On the positive side, the cover art by Andy Kubert is exceptional. The Sprouse and Story art team did a great job on the first issue, but the Frazer Irving interior on the second didn't do much for me. I don't care for what I call the "sketchy" look, but I suppose it works well for the 17th century mood. For super heroes though, Iriving is not my favorite. In all, I would grade this series a B- but it does have potential.

JSA All-Stars The Johnny Sorrow story arc finally concluded and with some very interesting plot twists. Now we know why he appeared to be in love with Stargirl. It's great to see Atom-Smasher back with a JSA-related team. It will be interesting to see Al and Courtney's relationship develop, assuming it will. Romantic tension is good for a series. We need more of a human element in today's comics.  

I won't be missing Magog or Damage at all. I'm not sure why some characters with no JSA links to their origin are even on this team (i.e, Lightning, King Chimera, Judo-master). I wouldn't mind if they took a hike and Power Girl, Cyclone, Hour-Man, Sand, and Stargirl were returned to the mainline team. But these characters are why I keep reading. I don't care for the art though. While I don't know the lingo to be a good art critic, the lines just seem jagged and choppy to me. My grade: B-

Justice Society of America It's twenty years into the future and the neo-Nazi fourth reich has taken over America. All super heroes have been stripped of their powers. It's the day of Batman's execution in a prison camp where several heroes are incarcerated and Mr. Terrific, Clark Kent, and others are plotting their great escape. 

I LOVE this book! But what's going on? Is this someone's dream, the future of an alternate reality or parallel earth, or a failure that the JSA will travel back in time to "fix"? The next issue (#39) should be concluding this arc since the JSA-JLA crossover is coming up. So I'll be buying both titles for a while. 

This series has made Bill Willingham one of my favorite writers. The art team of Jesus Merino and Jesse Delperdang is outstanding. My grade: A 

DCU: Legacies This ten-part series which retells the history of the DC Universe is off to a great start. What could be better than a Len Wein story with the art team of Kubert and Kubert? Paul Lincoln narrates the start of the Golden Age with an appearance by Crimson Avenger and an exciting team-up of Sandman and the Atom who prove themselves to be heroic in character as well as in braun. A backup story features the Spectre and Dr. Fate with art by J. G. Jones. I like the way Inza was incorporated into the story and the art has a definite retro feel. My grade: A 

Marvel

The Torch This series concludes with its final issue in early June. Will the Torch survive and why does Thomas Raymond have the Horton cells? One of the highlights of this series for me was to see the original Torch and Toro team up with the Johnny Storm Human Torch for one issue (# 5). I can't wait for the conclusion. My grade: A+ 

Captain America: 1940s Newspaper Strip. This forthcoming 3-part series by Karl Kesel explores the newspaper strip that never was. With a story reflective of a 40s newspaper strip, I'm hoping for an age appropriate story that I can share with my kids. I'm also hoping for a fun read. 

Dynamite

Project Superpowers, Chapter Two I continue to read this, but I'm a little behind. My grade: B+  

Creative Talents: Roy Thomas

In this new category of posts I'll be blogging about some of my favorite creative talents in comics through the years. I'll begin with one of my favorite writers of all time.

Roy Thomas- I first began reading Thomas when he was writing The Invaders for Marvel back in the 70s. Having always been a fan of nostalgia, even as a child, the World War II setting intrigued me. Plus, I love Captain America and the Human Torch. As a fourth grader I picked up my first issue and wondered what Johnny Storm was doing back in World War II. Then I discovered that wasn't Johnny Storm at all, but that Storm was not the original Torch.  

Reading this comic sparked my interest in all things World War II. I am by no means an expert, but Thomas, by integrating his vast knowledge of war history with comic history, has inspired me to learn more about both. I plan to get the trade collections of this series soon.  

Thomas later did All-Star Squadron for DC, in which his knowledge of war history was brought to bear upon DC's Golden Age heroes. Add retroactive continuity to the mix as Thomas filled in the historical gaps of DC's history and I was hooked. Thomas solved such mysteries as why some JSAers dropped out for a time during the Golden Age and why the original members have aged at a much slower rate than normal. Thomas added narrative reasoning to what originally might have been publisher expediency. 

Infinity Inc. and Jonni Thunder were a couple of other Thomas titles that I loved in the 80s. He was also responsible for adapting Conan the Barbarian and Red Sonja for comics. He has written nearly every notable character for Marvel and DC including some classic story-lines like the Avengers' Kree-Skrull War. 

Most recently, I hear that Thomas has been adapting classic literature for the Marvel Illustrated series. He is also editor of the comic fanzine Alter Ego, from TwoMorrows Publishing which focuses on Golden and Silver Age comics. The May and June issues will be Earth-Two companions. Thomas will be writing volumes for TwoMorrow's new series "American Comic Book Chronicles." He is one of the major comic historians of our time.  

Pull List and Reviews (Feb. 09)

For the first time in years, or possibly ever, I am reading more Marvel Comics than DC Comics. I wonder what that means? My DC pull list includes the two remaining issues of Final Crisis: Legion of Three Worlds and Justice Society of America (the only ongoing title I read). Here's what I've read lately:

Age of the Sentry # 5 - This series continues to be a lot of fun and kid-friendly enough to share with my son. It's a great combination of nostalgia, laughs, and adventure. This issue features a hilarious spoof of the Legion of Superheroes. We meet such characters as Blob Boy, Charlie-27, and the Duplicate Gentlemen. The editor's note referencing Marvel Mystery Comics # 616 is an obvious parody of the number designating the Marvel Earth in the Marvel/DC crossovers. Other subtle spoofs include the mention of Sun Girl the 52nd and Sentry's reference to a "multiverse of possibilities."  

The fake ad for Marvel fruit pies is a blast from my past when superheroes moonlighted for Hostess. I almost hope these Silver Age spoofs will go beyond the designated six issues, but I'll save some money if they don't. 

Avengers / Invaders # 8- Only four issues to go in this excellent limited series. The story is captivating. The art of Sadowski & Berkenkotter is great! The Human Torch never looked so real. The interaction between the two Captain Americas and between the new Cap and Bucky are priceless. And I just learned that there was a Golden Age Vision. A great read! The issue is a pivotal turning point as some of our heroes journey back to the 1940s. It will be interesting to see where the story goes from here and whether time will be thrown out of kilter. 

Captain America: Theater of War - America The Beautiful - The third installment in this series of one-shots and the best so far. A moving and well written World War II story in which Captain America keeps a promise made to a young soldier at Normandy decades earlier. Highly recommended.        

Marvels: Eye of the Camera - A sequel to Marvels in which photo-journalist Phil Sheldon produces a sequel to his Marvels. But time could be running out as Sheldon faces a personal crisis while defending Captain America and others in the midst of theirs. 

More pull list and reviews soon.