Here
In Bongo Congo
Good King Leonardo has found a nice variety of new comic book issues this week on the That's Entertainment new issues shelves, so let's get right to it and see how these comic books stack-up against each other:
Good King Leonardo has found a nice variety of new comic book issues this week on the That's Entertainment new issues shelves, so let's get right to it and see how these comic books stack-up against each other:
ElfQuest: The Final Quest #1
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Wendy Pini & Richard Pini:
Writers
Wendy Pini: Art
Sonny Strait: Colors
Dark Horse Comics has just released issue #1 in the
latest incarnation of the well-known ElfQuest comic book title. For the
uninitiated, ElfQuest is the cult-hit fantasy comic book series that features
(naturally!) a tribe of elves on a primitive Earth-like world, searching for
their ancestral home-land. The group co-exists within their tribe with a
pack of companion wolves that they often ride, hence the elves are sometimes
referred to in the series as Wolf Riders. The series began in 1978
as the product of married creators Wendy and Richard Pini and has had
a very devoted fan following since then as it moved through various comic book
publishers, including the Pini's own Warp Graphics, Marvel, DC and now Dark
Horse Comics. The Pini's are joined in the current production by colorist
Sonny Strait.
Issue #1 kicks-off a multi-issue story arc entitled
"The Final Quest." The plot quickly introduces a wide range of main
character elves along with their wolves and initially focuses on a portion of
the tribe happily embarking on a long-overdue traditional hunt. The hunt
takes a dramatic turn as the group is met by Lehrigen, an elderly dying human
referred to as a former ally of the tribe. The group next confronts a
marauding band of human warriors intent on destroying the elves' forest
home. After an intense intial skirmish with the human invaders, the issue
ends with Lehrigen and the elves commiting to work together to further oppose
this growing threat.
I was a fan of the initial 1970's Warp graphics
debut of ElfQuest and admittedly haven't read a single issue of any subsequent
runs of the title. So it was fun to revisit this acclaimed fantasy series
and double the fun to enjoy this well-constructed latest version of the
series. The visual presentation of the series is integral to this
particular comic book storyverse and artist Wendy Pini along with colorist
Sonny Strait provide an A-list quality visual style. The Pini's story is
solid, too. I particularly was impressed with a sub-plot portraying tension
between a few of the elves and the human Lehrigen; there's a lot of unfinished
business implied among these wary folks, which lends a layer of distrust and
wariness among the reunited former allies. It should be interesting to
see how this tension plays-out in upcoming story segments.
My one constructive criticism of issue #1 is
a decision by the Pini's to cram a huge amount of individual tribe members into
the kick-off issue story segment. Notice I haven't named one individual elf in
the above story summary. That's because there are too many of them each
briefly shoved forward for a brief few story panels before the next elf takes
center stage. Hard-core ElfQuest fans might enjoy this cavalcade of stars
but for the newbie or casual reader, its somewhat confusing and
jarring. But hopefully, the series will settle-down in the next few issues
and not feel as overcrowded as issue #1.
On a final review note, there are two fun and
interesting back-of-the-book features in this issue, the first being an
analysis of evolving ElfQuest cover stylings over the years and the second
presenting a neat article about dialogue font in the series. Lettering font
sounds like a boring topic, but writer Nate Piekos actually does provides a fun
piece on the topic. So in sum, this latest revival of ElfQuest deserves a
positive thumbs-up review recommendation as an enjoyable and entertaining read
for old and new fans alike!
Disney Kingdoms: Seekers Of The Weird
#1
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Brandon Seifert: Writer
Karl Moline: Pencils
Rick Magyar: Inks
Jean-Francois Beaulieu: Colors
Marvel Comics recently published issue #1 of a new occult-themed series entitled "Disney Kingdoms: Seekers Of The Weird." The new title is based upon an interesting Disney historical footnote: apparently back in the 1960's Walt Disney and his staff designer Rolly Crump completed plans for a Museum Of The Weird, which was never constructed within the Disney theme park system. This comic book reimagines that basic concept within a new action-adventure story series. The title is scripted by Brandon Seifert with pencils by Karl Moline, inks by Rick Magyar and colors by Jean-Francois Beaulieu.
The plot is set in New Orleans and stars Melody and Maxwell, two high school-aged siblings who live with their parents in an apartment above "Keep It Weird," the family's curio shop that sells all sorts of weird/occult merchandise. Picture the occult shop from the later years of the "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" t.v. series and you get the picture. When a casting spell goes awry and the duo's parents are sucked into another spooky dimension, their long-lost Uncle Roland appears to help, revealing that the store is actually a portal into a huge-scaled Museum Of The Weird. Its soon revealed that other-dimensional demons are holding the kid's parents hostage in exchange for a museum artifact called the coffin clock. Without being a detail spoiler, the issue ends in a very dramatic bridge as the family efforts to find the coffin clock along the museum artifacts go horribly awry, possibly killing Uncle Roland and leaving Mel and Max to try to figure-out their next move on their own.
This a very unique and entertaining new addition to the genre of occult-based
comic book adventuring that has several solid features to it. The first
is the fun connection to the old Disney theme park concept of a Museum Of The
Weird. The details of the Museum are very similar to the real-world
Ripley's Believe It Or Not Museum in Atlantic City, New Jersey, with a layer of
occult spookiness thrown-in. Mix-in the New Orleans story setting and
this holds the potential for some interesting upcoming story segments.
Secondly, writer Brandon Seifert does a great job in developing colorful
and credible personalities for each of the main story characters that
include the studious and reserved Max, adventurous and athletic Mel, their
eccentric parents and Uncle Roland. Roland is particularly interesting,
portrayed as a pirate-like swashbuckling adventurer who is a veteran of
many occult adventures. I truly hope that he's still alive after the
unresolved cliffhanger ending to issue #1. Third, the artwork is of
a very appropriate style, with a television animation flair that well-suits the
action-adventure theme of the comic book series.
Finally, I was impressed by the tone of this particular occult adventuring
storyverse. Unlike many modern occult series, the dark theme here is more
subtle and not steeped in gore and heavy violence. True to its Disney
roots, this new series is truly designed for readers of all ages in the style
of a Disney television show or movie. And it does work as a credible
entertainment for all ages of readers; kids can identify with the young
adventurers Max and Mel, while adult readers will be very entertained by the
rich details of the creative occult elements that appear throughout the story
action.
So all-in-all, a positive review recommendation is well-deserved for this
revival of an interesting 1960's Disney Kingdom idea into a fresh 2013 creative
concept in the form of an excellent new comic book action-adventure series.
The Flash #27
Publisher: D.C. Comics
Brian Buccellato: Writer
Patrick Zircher: Art
Matt Hollingsworth: Colors
The current version of DC's The Flash comic book title is up to issue
#27. The series stars DC's well-known "scarlet speedster," who
in his civilian identity is Central City police forensic analyst Barry
Allen. In 2009, DC restored Barry Allen as the identity of The
Flash, after a few years of other fictional folk wearing the cowl of the
speedster, including Barry's former Kid Flash sidekick, Wally
West. One of the ongoing storythreads of The Flash comics these days is
Barry's attempt to solve the mysterious murder of his mother. The current
storyline is written by Brian Buccellato with art by Patrick Zircher and
colors by Matt Hollingsworth.
Issue #27 kicks-off a new multi-issue storyarc entitled "History
Lessons." The plot begins with a brief flashback to an old 19th-century
murder from the early days of Central City. Shifting back to the
present, a street battle between The Flash and two supervillains ends in
a cave-in that reveals a cache of old human remains. When police conclude
its the work of a now-imprisoned serial killer, Barry/The Flash has his doubts
and follows a trail of clues both in his civilian police investigator role and
in his guise as The Flash. The trail includes an extended scene of
high drama as The Flash confronts the imprisoned serial killer and tangles with
an imprisoned supervillain housed in the same cellblock as the suspect.
Finally, the story segment ends in a dramatic cliffhanger set in a local cemetery,
as The Flash both discovers an odd clue to the mystery and is simultaneously
attacked by what seems to be a ghost connected to the opening scene's 19th
century historic murder.
The basic plot and presentation of this latest Flash issue is entertaining and
fits well within the long lineage of varied stylings of The Flash, for at least
three reasons. First, there's a nice character balance in the presentation as
Barry equally alternates between his civilian police identity and superhero
persona in pursuing the murder mystery. Secondly, I was particularly
impressed with the art team's visual style; it can be an artistic challenge to
present the hyper-speed elements of The Flash's activities, but in this case
artists Patrick Zircher and Matt Hollingsworth rise to the occasion. Their
speedster scenes are frankly exceptional, conveying a wonderful sense of
superspeed motion to the appropriate story panels. Third, subplot
of the 19th century flashback murder adds an interesting extra element to
the storyline. While only briefly introduced in issue #27, it promises to
play a larger role in the plot as the multi-issue storyline continues to
unfold.
The last time that I reviewed a Flash comic book was a few years ago, when DC
had Barry Allen is flux, trying to adjust his basic storyverse with changes to
the backstory of his usual support characters, including that of his wife
Iris. Its important to note that apparently a lot of those
changes took root in this title. Barry's wife Iris is no longer in the
picture; I have no idea if she's dead, divorced or DC just conveniently erased
her from The Flash storyverse, but she's gone and Barry now has a police
investigator girlfriend named Patty. Barry's dad is also in prison.
While the reason isn't clear in issue #27, it looks to me like he was wrongly
convicted of Barry's mom's death, which could add a sense of motivation to
Barry's search for the real killer.
So in sum, the latest issue of The Flash confirms that DC seems to have
succeeded in providing a worthwhile upgrade to the world of The
Flash. The updated and revised character structure seems to work well and
the creative team effectively uses that new storyverse structure to
deliver an enjoyable and intriguing first segment of a multi-issue murder
mystery tale, one that's well-worth the attention of all good fanboys and
fangirls.
Ms. Marvel #1
Publisher: Marvel Comics
G. Willow Wilson: Writer
Adrian Alphona: Art
Ian Herring: Colors
Marvel Comics recently released issue #1 of a much-anticipated new version
of Ms. Marvel. The re-boot of Ms. Marvel with a new character in the title
role is in follow-up to the July 2012 re-tooling of the traditional
Carol Danvers/Ms. Marvel character into "Captain Marvel," as she
replaced Marvel Comics' original now-deceased Captain Marvel character. I gave
a negative review to the Ms. Marvel/Captain Marvel overhaul (a trainwreck of a
re-boot, in my opinion), so I was very eager to check-out this new incarnation
of Ms. Marvel to see how it does or doesn't fill the shoes of the old-school
Ms. Marvel title. The new series is scripted by A-list writer G. Willow Wilson
with art by Adrian Alphona and colors by Ian Herring.
Issue #1 is the origin tale of our new Ms. Marvel, who is 16-year-old New
Jersey teenager Kamala Khan. The first two-thirds of the plot introduces
Kamala's life situation. We meet her Pakistani immigrant family along
with her best friend Nakia ("Kiki"), male friend Bruno and the
"cool kids" at Kamala's high school, an inner clique of jocks
and beauty queens to whom, like any typical high school kid, Kamala is both
attracted to emulate and repelled by their oafish behavior at the same
time. Kamala struggles to balance conforming to her parents expected good
girl behavior with the desire to rebel and "party like its 1999."
This conflict peaks mid-point in the story, when she sneaks out of the
house one evening to attend the proverbial high school "kegger in the
woods."
After some typical high school social pecking order drama occurs at the
party, Kamala heads home and here's where the Ms. Marvel plotline takes over
for the final third of the storyline. After a mysterious fog envelops her
route home causing her to pass-out, Kamala awakens on the street to be confronted
by the mystical force of "Faith," which appears in the
familiar guises of Kamala's favorite Marvel heroes, those of Ms.
Marvel, Captain America and Iron Man. Speaking for the group, Ms.
Marvel/Faith explains that Kamala's life is at a crossroads, whereupon Kamala
and the mystical presence have a discussion about the conflicting desires in
Kamala's life. When our teened heroine wishes outloud that she
was Ms. Marvel, the mystical Ms. Marvel figure announces that Kamala is
about to "get the kind of total reboot most people only dream about,"
but warns that its not going to turn out the way that Kamala thinks this
fantasy will. Without spoiling any details, the issue concludes with a
two-page scene in which Kamala morphs into a teen-aged blonde, masked and
costumed version of Ms. Marvel.
G. Willow Wilson is a comic book and general fiction writer/journalist of
Muslim faith acclaimed for her Middle East and Muslim cultural-based themes in
such works as her acclaimed graphic novel Cairo and her World Fantasy
Award-winning novel Alif The Unseen, as well as previous comic titles such as
Air (DC's Vertigo Imprint). Here, she mixes her well-honed writing skills
and Muslim cultural interest together to provide an exceptional
reinterpretation of the Ms. Marvel comic book character. Too often, a
reboot of any comic book character fails as either a wooden recasting of the
familiar storyverse or straying just too far afield from the traits that made
the original storyverse so popular to begin with. That unfortunately for
me was the case with the off-putting reboot awhile ago of the traditional Ms.
Marvel into the Captain Marvel persona.
Wilson completely avoids that trap, with a wonderful mix of old and new in the
personage of Kamala Khan. The girl has many of the same self-doubts and
personal issues of her predecessor Carol Danvers along with the new issue of
being a teenaged Pakistani immigrant in the strange new land of New
Jersey. Wilson hits a home run in providing a rich and wonderful variety
of support characters in this title, all ably portraying aspects of the
overarching and conflicting theme Kamal's life, that of balancing her
heritage against the deceptive siren song of 21st century American pop
culture. Its not only very relevant to the melting pot theme of American
immigrant life, but provides for a very engrossing and absorbing
read. Mix all this in with the superhero element of the tale and we
end-up with a wonderfully entertaining new take on Ms. Marvel to add to the previous
interpretations of this Marvel superheroine.
I can't end this review without commenting on the parallels of this re-boot to
two other well-creafted fictional standards. The first is the original
Silver Age version of Peter Parker/Spiderman, whose teenaged angst and high
school situation are closely mirrored in this re-boot. And the second is
the 2002 British hit movie "Bend It Like Beckham," which also
brought the same type of warmth and introspection that Willow brings to this take
on immigrant life in a strange new land. So don't just take my word for
it, get on down to That's Entertainment and get a copy to read for yourself of
this very entertaining and high quality new spin on the further adventures of
Ms. Marvel!
Contest
Winner Announcement!!!
Our latest contest took advantage of our current 2014 Winter Olympics fever,
challenging you to pitch to us what Olympic sport you're most looking forward
to watching. And our winner is (drumroll, please)...Erin O'Connor, who
tells us that she's been really looking forward to checking-out the sport of
Skeleton at the Sochi Winter Olympics. Eric writes "I was first
intrigued by the name, but then the fact that they ride a small sled down a
frozen track while lying face down is what sold me." This is opposed
to Luge, in which the sled rider lies face-up on the sled. We're also pleased
to report that last Friday evening, American female athlete Noelle Pikus-Pace
won the silver medal in Women's Skeleton! So congratulations to Erin, who wins
our $10.00 first prize gift certificate to That's Entertainment!
And on a final Winter Olympics note, my fellow That's Entertainment reviewer
Dave LeBlanc reports that his favorite Winter Olympics sport is Curling,
because in Dave's own words, in what other sport can you participate and also
drink a beer at the same time?!
New
Contest Announcement!!!
For some strange reason, the Bongo Congo Panel Of Contest Judges has suddenly
contracted robot fever and has decreed that we offer-up a robot trivia contest
question. So your latest challenge is to e-mail us at Gordon_A@msn.com no later than Wednesday,
March 5 with the answer to the following question: What was the actual name of
the robot on the famous 1960's science fiction television series "Lost In
Space"? That's right, while the character was often just referred to
as "Robot" on most episodes, it actually did have a formal
name. As always, in the event of multiple correct entries, the winner of
our $10.00 first prize gift cetrificate to That's Entertainment will be
selected via a roll of the dice. Please note that our $10.00 first prize
gift certificate to That's Entertainment is redeemable for regular retail
merchandise or in-store, ongoing specials, only.
That's all for now, so have two great Major League Baseball Spring Training
(Welcome Back, Red Sox!) and comic book reading weeks and see you again on
Friday, March 7 Here In Bongo Congo!
