Here In Bongo Congo
Good King Leonardo has decreed that we review for this holiday
week a wide-ranging variety of comic book titles, so let's see how these
different genre tales stack-up against each other:
Buffy The Vampire Slayer #3
Dark Horse Comics is up to issue #3 of its comic
book title based upon the very popular former Buffy The Vampire Slayer
television series, which starred Sarah Michelle Geller as "The Slayer," that
once-in-a-generation teenaged expert in killing all things vampire. The comic
is listed as "Season 9," which I assume means that there have been eight
previous published series of this title. The current series is scripted by
Andrew Chambliss with pencils by George Jeanty, inks by Dexter Vines and colors
by Michelle Madsen.
The current issue features part three of a
multi-issue story arc entitled "Freefall." An inside-the-front-cover
narrative summarizes the story to-date: Buffy and friends are living post-high
school in San Francisco. Apparently, while the destruction of something called
"the seed" has ceased the introduction of new magic on Earth, there are still
plenty of vampires and other weirdies already in existence to battle and slay.
The main plot of issue #3 centers on Buffy trying to help a young man who
exhibits mysterious electrical powers that slay vampires. Via flashback, we
learn how his powers came to be as an accidental offshoot of being involved with
some local vampires. Without being a detail spoiler, the plot builds to a very
dramatic twist at issue's end, as Buffy's newfound friend turns-out to be a very
dangerous enemy rather than a supposed ally.
Fortunately, this latest Buffy series avoids the
double pitfalls of clunky script and wooden, television charicature artwork that
I always worry about whenever a t.v. series-based comic book hits the new issues
shelves. The art team makes the wise choice here of developing their
own unique visual style that balances some basic facial resemblance from the
television characters with a stand-alone, alternate comic book art style.
Writer Andrew Chambliss takes advantage of this clean approach with a fresh
story that doesn't just re-hash the t.v. show in comic book format. The plot is
new, interesting and all-around entertaining, with a nice blend of action and
talking head strategizing about the supernatural situation that Buffy and
friends are dealing with. The result is a fun new production of this young
adult vampire series that is updated enough to successfully entertain fans
of the modern-day Twilight series vampire craze, while still hanging on to its
own worthwhile identity.
Justice League Dark #1
In addition to a re-booting of the main Justice
League title, DC has added a "Justice League Dark" title under the umbrella of
its "The New 52" remodeling-of-the-company event. The concept here is to create
an additional Justice League team consisting of some of the more dark
magic and occult-oriented DC superheros, including Deadman, Madame Xanadu,
Zatanna, John Constantine and Shade, The Changing Man. The new series is
scripted by writer Peter Milligan with art by Mikel Janin and colors by Ulises
Arreola. Although the first three issues are currently on the That's
Entertainment new issues shelves, I decided to read and review issue #1 to get a
good idea of this new series from the start.
Issue#1 kicks-off a multi-issue story arc entitled
"In The Dark" with a Part One installment titled "Imaginary Women." Two
sub-plots interweave within our premier tale. A very brief storythread
introduces June Moone, a dazed and confused wanderer who quickly discovers that
dozens of replicas of herself are being killed as they wander around on a nearby
city highway. The story quickly turns to the main plothread of the new Justice
League Dark members slowly assembling as each reacts in-kind to a growing threat
from the evil Enchantress. By issue's end, the story has progressed to the
point where the mysterious June Moone has connected with Deadman, while the
Enchantress's magical powers have overwhelmed the mainstream DC universe
superheroes to the point where Madame Xanadu realizes its up to her dark
magic/occult DC universe colleagues to save the world in a war against the
seemingly invincible Enchantress.
I enjoyed this new comic book title for a few
reasons. First and foremost, I loved the idea of a new Justice League team that
doesn't just rotate-in some new faces, but instead builds the team based upon
the fresh idea (for DC, at least) of an occult-oriented team of heroes. It
makes for an interesting premise of only magic being able to save the world from
evil, versus the traditional superhero talent of brawn (Superman, etc.) combined
with brains (our old friend Batman). Secondly, this concept allows Madame
Xanadu to quickly return to the forefront of a monthly DC title after the
wrap-up last year of the very popular and high quality Matt Wagner-created
Madame Xanadu stand-alone series. And finally, the creative team gives us both
high quality artwork and a strong story concept; I'm looking forward to learning
more about the mysterious young woman whose multiple copies are all getting
killed on that nearby highway. No doubt, that storythread will somehow prove
crucial to the upcoming Justice League Dark versus Enchantress battle that's
shaping-up with the fate of the human race at stake.
So a definite thumbs-up positive review
recommendation to check-out this fresh take on all good things Justice League,
featuring a very original and entertaining line-up of alternative dark magic and
occult DC superheros!
S.H.I.E.L.D. #3
Marvel Comics is up to issue #3 of a new SHIELD
comic book title. The comic book is written by A-lister Jonathan Hickman,
renowned for his stellar run that's been ongoing for a few years now on Marvel's
Fantastic Four title, with art by Dustin Weaver and colors by Sonia Oback.
Issue #3 is the latest installment of a multi-issue story arc entitled "The Fall." A page one narrative sums-up the tale to-date, detaling a power struggle that's ongoing for the leadership of SHIELD, which is described as an ancient secret organization that's been protecting humankind since ancient days. The power struggle seems to be occuring amongst famous figures from various historical eras who were involved in SHIELD and are somehow co-existing in the present day, such as Leonardo da Vinci, Isaac Newton and Michelangelo. Somehow these folk are interacting with familiar Marvel characters such as Shield agents Howard Stark and Nathaniel Richards. Beyond that page one story summary, we're exposed to 18 full pages of a wordless, silent battle within a city setting among all types of exotic characters, followed by two pages in which a few of the folk finally (and very briefly) speak, deciding to follow a few of the combatants who have fled into the future.
I know that it sounds like a dramatic exaggeration,
but its the honest review truth: this is the most confusing issue of a comic
book that I have ever read in my entire life. The creative team's well-meaning
decision to roll the creative dice and give us a silent movie of a comic book
comes-up snake eyes, here, in two respects. First, there's just no way to
incorporate any plot progression into 18 pages of buildings blowing-up around a
bunch of unnamed characters. And secondly, its an insult to all faithful comic
book readers to give us absolutely no story plot to read, either with or without
dialogue; the full-length "buildings are silently blowing up" panel-after-panel
lay-out is purely meaningless and empty filler, for which Marvel should be
ashamed of taking hard-earned money from its loyal fanbase.
So a disappointing thumbs-down review
recommendation for this empty-between-the-covers monthly comic book issue. But
if you're a blindly loyal SHIELD fan or Marvel fan and insist on giving this
comic a read, my advice is to read only the last page as a set-up to next
month's presumably normal dialogue-driven story segment. Riffling through the
18 silent pages will only result in you expending 45 seconds of your life which
could be put to more worthwhile reading use.
Speed Racer #1
Allegory Media has recently released issue #1 of a
4-issue limited series title that pays homage to the 1960's television cartoon
series Speed Racer. The Japanese manga-style series starred (naturally) young
racecar driver Speed Racer, who had many adventures on and off the racetrack
along with his many support characters who included Speed's mechanic father
Pops, girlfriend Trixie, younger brother Spritle, Sparky the mechanic and of
course, Chim-Chim the monkey! The new comic book is scripted by Tommy Yune with
art by Robby Musso, inks by Lee Kohse and colors by James Rochelle.
The multi-issue story arc is entitled "Circle Of
Vengeance" and throws our hero Speed smack in the midst of the professional
racing world's cutthroat competition and intrigue. Prior to a major upcoming
race in St. Moritz, Switerland, Speed is challenged to a personal dual race by
Snake Oiler, star of a world-famous acrobatic car team. After wrecking his
famous Mach 5 racer in the challenge and nearly getting himself killed, its up
to Speed and his friends and family to race the clock to repair the Mach 5,
upgrade it to have a fighting chance of beating his high tech challengers and
finally making it on-time to the starting line of the big race. Issue #1 ends
in a dramatic bridge to next month's installment as a supervillain-style bad guy
racer prepares to cause havoc at the start of the race.
The fun of the baby boom-era Speed Racer cartoon
television series was its well-balanced mix of high quality adventure
tales offset with an entertaining dose of campiness and humor. I'm pleased to
report that the same successful blend of story elements is front and center in
this new comic book title, combined with a few new storytelling elements. The
first is a sense of intrigue added to the tale beyond the racetrack action, in
the form of a mystery regarding Speed's girlfriend Trixie. In this new comic,
she apparently has access to mysterious wealth, infusing an interesting air of
mystery into her storyline. Secondly, writer Tommy Yune adds some comic book
narrative depth to the world of Speed Racer, via an extended flashback in
mid-issue that fills-in for Speed Racer fans Pop Racer's personal life a
generation earlier, well before his marriage and Speed's birth. It all adds
extra layers of storytelling to the fictional world of Speed Racer, well-beyond
the limited structure of the old television series.
So whether you're a fan of the old cartoon show
like me or a newcomer to the world of Speed Racer's action-adventures, I think
you'll have a very entertaining time reading this excellent new comic book
series. So a positive thumbs-up recommendation for this comic book and in the
words of the television show's well-known theme song, Go Speed Racer, Go!
Contest Winner Announcement!!!
Our current contest has a holiday season theme,
challenging you to tell us your favorite way of celebrating that
holiday-of-holidays from the Seinfeld show, not Christmas, Hannukah or Kwanzaa,
but Frank Costanza's wacky self-invented holiday of Festivus, or as Frank called
it "Festivus, the holiday for the rest of us!" And our contest winner is
(drumroll, please)...Erin O'Connor, who informs us that her favorite Festivus
tradition is the well-known Festivus "airing of personal grievances." In Erin's
own words, she describes her own Festivus celebration as she throws on some Cee
Lo Green background music and everyone has "a jolly time telling the family how
they disappointed us over the year. Just like Frank Costanza, everyone has to
start with: I've got a lot of problems with you people, and now you're going to
hear about it!" A memorable (yeesh!) Festivus gathering indeed, that would warm
Frank Costanza's wacky heart! Congratulations to Erin who wins the first prize
$10.00 gift certificate to That's Entertainment!
New Contest Announcement!!!
Our new contest challenges you to e-mail us at Gordon_A@msn.com with the correct answer to
the following movie trivia question: Who is the only top votegetter/winner of
the Oscar for Best Actor who was denied the award, which was subsequently
awarded to the second place votegetter? Here's a hint: there's a best-selling
biography out right now about this winner who was unjustly denied his Best Actor
Oscar. As always, in the event of multiple correct entries, our winner of the
contest first prize $10.00 gift certificate to That's Entertainment will be
selected via a roll of the dice from among the correct entries.
That's all for now, so have two great comic book
reading weeks along with a Very Happy New Year and see you again on Friday,
January 6, 2012 Here In Bongo Congo!
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