Review of Adventures of Superman #15 by Ron Marz, Evan Shaner andMatthew Wilson

Adventures of Superman #15 features a surprise guest-appearance of a beloved, animated character.  The creative team of Ron Marz, Evan "Doc" Shaner and Matthew Wilson bring to readers their version of.....

What's Fun About This Book

As a first-timer coming to this book, I really enjoyed reading this Superman.  The book brings to print a more classic version that is distinct from the Superman of the New 52.  Adventures of Superman #15 collects chapters 43—45 of the digital first comic available through DC Comics app and Comixology.

As one can see from the beautiful cover drawn and colored by Evan Shaner and Matthew Wilson respectively, Metropolis awaits in awesome terror threat of a strange visitor.  I enjoyed how Shaner positioned its shadow to loom over the crowd.  Even if I didn't know beforehand who this strange visitor would be, the shadow provides clues for anyone familiar with the silhouette.  It was a treat to see him interpreted into these pages.  Wilson distinguished the Man of Steel from the rest of the crowd to provide, perhaps, a foreshadowing of Kal-El's connection with the stranger.

The strange visitor arrived with a BOOM!  This was one of my favorite panels from the book.  I would be remiss to spoil his identity in this review.  Trust that the creative team brought him into the world of Superman in a big way.   If he wasn't already presented on the cover of the book, I would feel a little guilty revealing him here.  I loved Evan Shaner's art and again Matthew Wilson's colors were fantastic.  Plenty of action to go around as Superman went toe-to-toe with the visitor whom Kal-El discovered was of Kryptonian design.  In fact, he learns that he was built by his father Jor-El.  The personal connection Superman made here would turn out to be a bittersweet one by story's end.  However, from start to finish Ron Marz shaped a quick narrative packed with action and emotion.  

What's Not Fun

I think we can rule out a meteor...

I really had no problems with Adventures of Superman #15.  There was lots of fun to go around.  If I had one complaint it would be my uncertainty about revealing who appears in this book.  If you haven't figured it out by now, then perhaps you are less than familiar with the Brad Bird movie The Iron Giant.  Check it out.  For more hints, scroll down.

The Punch-Line

Adventures of Superman #15 reminded me of the power and beauty of storytelling in this medium.  It was fun, and it captured the essence of one aspect of what it means to be Superman.  Buying this book was worth its weight in printed words and colored pages.

Review of Star Spangled War Stories #1 featuring the Premiere of G.I.Zombie

Jimmy Palmiotti, Justin Gray and Scott Hampton craft mature themes for a more adult-oriented DC comic that feels more like a Vertigo book than one from the New 52 with the premiere of G.I. Zombie.

What's Fun About This Book

Zombies are never really all that fun.  They're not.  They represent so much of what is wrong about the human condition: both the living and the dead.  Whether you're George Romero, "The Walking Dead," or half a dozen bandwagoners trying to replicate a tried and true horror trope, "zombies are the new black."  However, every so often a writer or creative team comes along to do something different in the genre that makes it fresh.  Jimmy Palmiotti, Justin Gray, and Scott Hampton do just that with Star Spangled War Stories #1 featuring the premiere of G.I. Zombie.

From here on out I will refer to this book as SSWS #1 or G.I. Zombie.  Issue no. 1 introduces us to the two main characters: Carmen King aka Tiff and Jared aka G.I. Zombie.  Later on we discover that both are agents from the Department of Defense.  Their mission is to infiltrate the gang to whom readers are also introduced in the beginning.  Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray really pulled a "gotcha" on me when I first picked up this book to read.  I won't spoil it here, but they wind an interesting twist in the events spilling out of their introduction.  

The tone of G.I. Zombie feels like something out of "Roadhouse" or "Sons of Anarchy."  Scott Hampton's art and colors is the right fit for a book like this with lots of gray and dusty, dark tones.  As I continued to read, I automatically associated G.I. Zombie with the likes of Deadpool (w/o a mask).  The creative team also thought this through.  The titular anti-hero does not regenerate his body parts.  However, he does have an interesting skill for self-repair, which demonstrates his durabililty.  This is what makes G.I. Zombie somewhat unique.  He works for the "good guys."  He's partnered with another agent like Mulder and Scully.  He's full of mystery, which I'm sure will be fleshed out in later issues.

What's Not Fun

I got skills.  Special skills.

First of all, G.I. Zombie is a book unlike a number of other comics in the New 52.  It really should be a Vertigo book in my opinion.  The mature themes and adult-orientation of the narrative makes for an awkward set-up as a New 52 addition.  Secondly, though it's not as gruesome as some other books are from Image, Darkhorse or other independents, SSWS #1 is still pretty violent.  As I read on, I was relieved that Carmen seemed to possess a good, moral alignment.  She questions whether what they are doing is right.  She even displays the doubts and fears associated with partnering with a zombie.  How weird is that?

However, the moral alignment of her partner Jared aka G.I. Zombie is another question.  Though he works for the Department of Defense as an agent, and it seems as though he bleeds red, white and blue; he's still a zombie.  We get to see him do what zombies naturally do.  This is the unfortunate dilemma for the guy that get's it in the end.  Though this man's death will seem justified in some readers eyes, the complication here is that a family has lost one of its members.  I can imagine that they'll need to navigate the trauma (and the other-world absurdity) of what they witnessed.  Who would even believe them? The authorities?  So, how will the creative team show how Jared comes to terms with his actions and moral alignment?

The Punch-Line

SSWS #1 featuring G.I. Zombie is not a comic book for kids.  Though it's rated Teen Plus, the whole zombie craze in pop culture may lure younger readers simply with the word "ZOMBIE" scrawled across the cover.  Darwyn Cookes' cover, by the way, was great.  The story was also great, but gruesome.  However, this book should be published under the Vertigo imprint since it explores mature themes.

A Review of Transformers vs. G.I. Joe #1 by creators Tom Scioli andJohn Barber

IDW's Transformers vs. G.I. Joe #1 is a fun hodge-podge of 80's toy nostalgia not to be taken seriously.  Tom Scioli's creative work and imagination should be for what he accomplishes with this book.

What's Fun About This Book

Going in, I expected Transformers vs. G.I. Joe #1 to be something that it wasn't:  faithful.  As I read the first few pages of it, I became a little annoyed.  The art was fine enough in Tom Scioli's signature style (check out his American Barbarian); but I thought to myself, "The dialogue is all wrong."  I avoided reading earlier previews and other reviews this week so that I could give this book a chance.  A calculated risk.  Then I remembered that there was a zero issue published for Free Comic Book Day.  So I stopped reading, went to Comixology and downloaded a free copy.  As I read, my initial feelings didn't automatically go away.  Major Bludd a terror-poet? Snake Eyes talking?  Scarlet playing with Duke's affections (ok, somewhat true)?  What's going on here?  Then I realized what this book was.  

Imagine yourself as a child of the 80's with a box full of Transformers and G.I. Joes.  Now pretend that you've constructed one, huge imaginary sandbox in which to play with them.  There you have at it.  An open-world, toy warfare before there were open-betas.  This is essentially what Transformers vs. G.I. Joe is in my opinion.  It doesn't have to remain faithful.  It doesn't have to make sense.  All Tom Scioli and John Barber want readers to do is sit back, relax, suspend belief and become a kid again.  As kids, our imaginations are not bound to any rules or editors.   As a kid of the 80's, I surely did not follow a script when it came to world-building and role-play with my action figures.  It didn't matter.  I could always have Thunder-Cracker attack a fortified base made of toilet paper rolls full of Joes like Quick Kick, Gung Ho and Snow Job without continuity problems.  I could even throw in a random Dr. Doom or Storm Trooper for good measure.  That was the life of any kid who had toys and an active imagination.  We learned that with Toy Story and with Winnie the Pooh before that.

This book is outrageous on purpose.  Eventually I began to read the narration in the voice of Jean Shepherd of "A Christmas Story" fame.  He narrated much of the movie as an adult Ralphie if you remember.  Transformers vs. G.I. Joe #1 finally took hold of me and made me go, "Hey...wait a sec!  Did that just happen?"  It began to tickle me very much.  The dialogue was so outlandish that I had to do a double-take.  It parodied so many things that made the cartoons, comics and toys such a part of 1980's past-time.  Humorous, but sacrilegious to any hardcore fan of the original stories and continuity, Scioli has madeTransformers vs. G.I. Joe into an adult's, toybox dream.  There's plenty of action and homage to the action figures.  If you notice, Scioli's designs are similar to the figures and play-sets themselves.  Even the poses of the characters are akin to those employed for the figures.  Cartoonish?  Yes.  But remember: this is a book that knows what it is.  Still don't believe me?  Even Hasbro laughed at itself in a parody produced for YouTube in anticipation of the G.I. Joe movie released a few years ago. Scioli and Barber do the same, and seemingly so with IDW's, Larry Hama's and Hasbro's permission (but don't quote me on that).

Tomax and Xamot look down the barrels of a fist full of Joes.

What's Not So Fun

Siegfried--Roy--Drop 'em or get dropped.

If I had only one concern it would be that Roadblock did not use end rhyme in his dialogue.  Was this purposeful too?  Major Bludd as a terror-poet (as discovered in the zero issue) was funny, but how and why?  I haven't mentioned much about the Transformes themselves.  The only robot that speaks is Ravage, which seemed awkward.  Again, I had to look at this book through a different lens as described above.  If I were a kid an wanted my robot-panther to speak, darn it, it would speak.  Anyone who is a hardcore fan of the original Larry Hama stories would cringe and for that this book is cringe-worthy.  Readers have to look beyond the yellowing pages (yes faux-pulp) and take the vision for what it  is:  pure fun.

The Punch-Line

Transformers vs. G.I. Joe #1 is a weird romp down memory lane and not your daddy's Autobot.  The editors at IDW gave Tom Scioli plenty of creative space to have at it with these tried and true characters. One can tell he's having fun.  Kudos!

A Review of Storm #1 by creators Greg Pak, Victor Ibañez and RuthRedmond

Storm #1 by the creative team of Greg Pak, Victor Ibañez and Ruth Redmond marks the first time the X-Woman leads her own solo series.

What's Fun About This Book

I enjoyed reading Storm #1 for many reasons.  This book marks what hopes to be a long run led by writer Greg Pak.  Storm is such a great character on which to take a risk because she has broad appeal and an even broader audience through the X-Men movie franchise; she's recognized now in pop culture; she's led the X-Men through various incarnations of the team; and she's a strong, African-American (Kenyan) female super-hero who deserves to lead her own series.  Moreover, Storm #1 really attempts to restore the X-Men meta-narrative of social justice without glossing over real-world issues at home and abroad.

"So thank you"

Storm was one of the first black female super-heroes in mainstream comics.  She was introduced by Len Wein and Dave Cockrum in Giant-Size X-Men #1 in the 1970's.  In a way, that issue of the X-Men set the standard for all things, All-New in Marvel Comics publishing.  The readers hadn't seen a new issue of X-Men in years since the Roy Thomas run.  All there was were the reprints of issues from the 1960's run by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.  Heck, they weren't even "Uncanny" until the Chris Claremont run that came after Giant-Size X-Men #1.  Not only was Storm a mutant; she was black.  She was also from Kenya (a backstory actually established later by Claremont), which added a twist.  Yes exotic perhaps, but all of the new characters were from different countries:  Nightcrawler (Germany), Colossus (Russia), Banshee (Ireland), Sunfire (Japan), Thunderbird (Native American) and of course Wolverine (Australia...er...I mean...Canada).  Darn it Hugh Jackman!

Of the X-Men who appeared in Giant-Size X-Men #1, four currently lead their own solo series: Wolverine (of course), Cyclops (finally), Nightcrawler (wow) and of course Storm.  Storm joins Captain Marvel, Elektra, Black Widow and She-Hulk in female-led, on-going series in the All-New Marvel Now.  The girl is in good company.  So her comic book history is one rich with narrative and appeal.  This shows up in the pages of her first issue.

I really like the way Victor Ibañez drew her costume.  It pays homage to the original one she wore in Giant-Size X-Men #1 and throughout her early days.  He also tones down the sexual overtones without totally making her ridiculous.  He simply dresses her in tight-pants.  The waist-cape Storm wears also pays homage to the original, which is cool.  She certainly demonstrates why she's the Windrider.  Overall, the artwork was great.  Ruth Redmond's colors were also fantastic.  She did a good job of depicting different shades of darker skinned people.

The story in this first issue was also good.  Ororo Munroe glides between escape and the tensions of home, which drive home issues of community and interaction in it.  Does she go it alone, or does she find solace in the skies? Can she call any place "home" where she is not welcomed?  Much of this is expressed in a short, but very poignant exchange between her and a student at the school nicknamed "Creep."  Storm is called on by Beast to address some acting out behavior by the student.  At first she reflectively listens to the student rant, attempting to enter the problem-solving process with her.  However, Creep insults Storm's dignity.  Instead of staying in control, she loses it and goes off and away.  She knew better as the adult, but she let Creep push her button.  Boy have I been there.  Creep represents a type of student whom I'm familiar with at the therapeutic day school where I work.  I really identified with this because I too am an educator who works with at-risk youth.  The demands of reaching young people, to supply them with the tools to succeed when it seems like the world is against you, are a real-world challege I and many other teachers face every day.  Oftentimes it only takes one mistake to momentarily lose a kid.  But these young people are resilient.  Often they are ready to forgive when we as educators level with them, own our own stuff, challenege them to do the same, do good repair, love them and still manage to challenge their thinking.  They are looking for their place in the world, who they are and how to navigate it.  Greg Pak hit the nail on the head with this issue, and I hope he continues to explore it.

What's Not So Fun

Kill that mutie!

The fact of the matter is, when one is dealing with serious issues and thought-provoking narratives, there is not a lot of room for levity.  I think an attempt at this was tried in the dialogue between Beast and Storm.  However, causing an international incident somewhat trumps the fun-factor when the issues hit close to home.  As noble as the task was of protecting the people of Santo Marco from its own government, did Storm have jurisdiction?  Rhetorical question.  She justifiably threw jurisdiction to the wind, but what will be the ramifications of this action?  Injecting humor into a book that may see few moments of it will need to be purposeful.  Humor will need to be narrative-driven and character-focused if Team Pak is to write Storm in character.

The Punch-Line

Don't mess with Storm.  Nuff' said.  I guess the joke was on the military of Santo Marco.  Don't think that justice will take a back seat to bigotry with Storm involved.  And a touching end to her first issue: she and Creep worked it out.  Great job Team Pak!

A Review of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #36

Leonardo and Splinter are at strategic odds.  Which enemy is priority? After events in previous issues, will the Turtles and their allies decide to strike at Shredder and his Foot Clan or plan an attack against Kraang's Technodrome?  Meanwhile, both will have to contend with a new incarnation of Rat-King!

What's Fun About This Book

In my opinion, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #36 is by far one of the best single issues of a comic book that I've read this year.  You have a good jumping on point for many new readers.  You have an origin story of sorts.  There are plenty of tense moments; and for those readers who enjoy horror, there's something for you to!  The creative team of Eastman, Waltz, Santolouco, Torres and Pattison do an awesome job telling this story.  It's self-contained and it left me wanting more of its antagonist, the newly re-imagined Rat-King.

I really like this version of Rat-King.  Eastman and Waltz have taken a classic TMNT villain and transformed him into what may turn out to be one of the most excitingly unique comic book villains to come along in recent years.  He is a trickster of sorts as well as a boogeyman in this newest incarnation.  He exists.  He doesn't exist.  Is he a phantom?  An uran legend?  Is he immortal?  What's even more interesting is the fact that he just may be a character of fairy-tale myth.  I won't spoil it here, but it's an interesting take.  It's also, in my estimate, possible that the Rat-King was responsible for the Black Plague.  Am I reading too much into this?  Anyway, the villain seems to be a malevolent being set on orchestrating his next move in what can be described as an ultimate game of world domination.

What Delviry is this?

The art on this book was beautiful! Mateus Santolouco characterizations were fantastic, and he continues to wow me.  Mark Torres and Cory Smith also lent a hand on several pages.  Particularly, it was Torres who created the pages featuring the fairy tale legend, adding more myth to the Rat-King as an immortal.  What stood out to me the most in this issue, however, were Ronda Pattinson's colors.   Her palette worked for an issue calling for dark and shadow.  The colors really drew me into the story.  Only three characters show up for the bulk of this issue, and each stood out against the sewer backdrops.  Pattinson's work also added to the horror element of the issue.  Rat-King is truly a sinister force with whom the Turtles will have to contend.  Kudos!

What's Not So Fun

The "why now" question arises for me regarding this issue.  Why does Rat-King reveal himself now?  What is his ultimate end-game?  I like the fact that he knew little about Leonardo and Splinter.  However, he kept mentioning a sister, a possible rival of his whom the Turtles may already be familiar.  Who will it turn out to be?  Will it be Leonardo's "mother?"  Or was the Rat-King playing mind tricks on the "father and son" duo?

Much has been explored about the father-son dynamic in the comic book over the span of TMNT's history.  This is particularly true of Leonardo and Raphael.  Where Raph has struggled with family, Leonardo has struggle with duty and honor.  As the "good son," Leonardo has at times been portrayed as self-righteous and holier-than-thou.  The notions behind patriarchal fealty for him seems to be crumbling, especially on the heels of previous events.  He respects Master Splinter, but he seems to be at odds with him.  The Rat-King capitalized on this weakness.  Will this tension between them weaken an already fragile relationship?  Only time will tell.

The Rat-King bids you "Adieu!"

The Punch-Line

...I will not forget you.

Nor will I forget this issue.  Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #36 was a fun exploration of the fears fathers and sons share in their mutual relationships.  "Have I done my best to raise and protect my children/family?"  "Have I done what I can to make my parents proud of me?"  These are real-world questions that I hope the series will continue to ask and to resolve with some real-world solutions.  All-in-all, this issue was a fun read and I'm looking forward to seeing more of the Rat-King.

Fun Picks For This Week, Wednesday July 9, 2014

Fun Picks For This Week: Daredevil #5, Spider-Man 2099 #1 and The Superior Foes of Spider-Man #13