A Review of Super Secret Crisis War! #1

It's super!  It's secret!  It's a crisis!  It's a war!  It's a Super Secret Crisis War!  IDW and Cartoon Network unite many of it's tried and true properties in a spoof on the comic book "Crossover Event."

What's Fun About This Book

Super Secret Crisis War! is a six-part, crossover event beginning with "Super Secret Crisis War #1," which also leads into a series of one-shots featuring other Cartoon Network characters.  As advertised, it will be "6 Months of Cosmic Crossover Calamity!"  Issue no. 1 did not disappoint.  It was a fun, quick read; and was also worth my time.  I really enjoyed the writing as well as the art.  There is actually a Cover A (featuring the heroes) and a Cover B (featuring the villains) that when one puts them together side-by-side they show the ensuing battle between the two factions.  In many ways, Super Secret Crisis War! pays homage to the multiple stories and tropes found in event books across publishers and comic book history, especially the Big Two.  At the same time, it accomplishes what IDW and Cartoon Network set out to do for its fans and that's bring many of their fan-favorite characters together into the same universe and do so in a big way.

The notion of pulling together cartoon characters from varied universes on the same cable network channel is genius, but not original.  This sounds like an oxymoron so let me explain.  The genius here is that IDW and Cartoon Network (with the help of a creative team that includes veteran Louise Simonson and artist Derek Charm) have taken what has been an exhausted trope in comic books (particularly by the Big Two) and have crafted a well thought out, hilarious take on the "crossover gimmick..." er... I mean "...event."  We've got Samurai Jack.  Ben 10.  The Power Puff Girls.  Dexter from Dexter's Laboratory.  Ed, Edd N' Eddy. Wait a minute.  Ed, Edd N' Eddy?  Yes, and I was amused by how they were brought into this conflict.  There's a lesson to be learned here about scrap metal, jawbreakers and the misadventure associated between the two.  Moreover, we've got each hero's respective arch-nemeses of arcane assignments arranging a sinister, synchronous plot to silence each of them and conquer their worlds.  Whew!  That was a mouth-full.

If you enjoy comic books and have enjoyed watching these cartoons on Cartoon Network in the past or perhaps currently, then you'll really enjoy this book.  Simonson really captured each character's voice in her writing.  It figures because she's also a fan of them herself, having fell in love with the cartoons earlier on.  The title is poignant and hilarious in and of itself.  Todd Rowker over at Longbox Heroes has mentioned a true-legend on past podcasts of how in the 80's a certain comic book company surveyed kids to find out what words got their attention the most.  More often than not the two words that got kids attention the most were "secret" and "war;" thus followed a certain event book from that certain comic book company.  Fast-forward 30 years and we've got perhaps four of those words on the cover of one book!  Comic gold!

What's Not So Fun

Not sure is this book will be accessible to readers unfamiliar with the characters.  Overall, that's unneccessary.  A good book is a good book, and kids will love it.  There was a nostalgia factor involved for me that helped push the sale of this book.  There was a time when I actually watched many of these cartoons, especially Dexter's Laboratory.  Will I go out and pay money for the one-shots?  Probably not.  I'm not as invested in the other characters because I haven't watched the shows.  Johnny Bravo is the exception.  Does this mean that others won't see this book as a launch pad for watching the cartoons in syndication or rotation on the network?  No it doesn't.  It's good, market advertising and IDW/Cartoon Network knows this.  I would have loved to see I Am Weasel along with The Justice Friends in this book.  Perhaps including Major Glory, The Infraggable Krunk, and Valhallen from the latter would have caused some major problems with a certain comic book company.  Oh well.

The Punch-Line

Super Secret Crisis War! is the start of a good thing.  It's fun, witty and action-filled.  The book is kid-friendly, and the art is fantastic!  Perhaps I'll check out IDW's current run of Samurai Jack as a result of reading issue no. 1 of an excellent crossover event.

Comics Oughta Be Fun Episode 2

In this week's episode of Comics Oughta Be Fun we jump 32 years into the past to a time when two powerhouse publishing companies thought it would be cool to have their properties momentarily share the same universe.  Those companies would be Marvel and DC, and their collaboration would be "Marvel and DC Present #1: The Uncanny X-Men and The New Teen Titans."  Creators galore, recognized by now as pillars in comic-dom, would grace this unlikely pairing of superhero team books: Chris Claremont, Walt Simonson, Terry Austin, Louise Jones, Jim Shooter, Len Wein, Glynis Wein and letterer Tom Orzechowski.

What's Fun About This Book

What's fun about this book is the very unlikelihood of the X-Men and the Teen Titans meeting in a shared universe.  "Nuff' said," the old generalisimo might say.  The fact that Wolverine would some day go toe-to-toe with Deathstroke the Terminator was yesterday's foregone conclusion wasn't it?  Wasn't this encounter always inevitable?  Not so today in my opinion.

It's not likely that comic book lovers will have a team-up quite the same way this one was touted to be.  With movie deals and license agreements, legal battles over pay-for-hire and rights to characters, the likelihood of this ever happening again in the near future seems slim.  Today, there are more independent and mainstream publishing houses in addition to self-published and digital works than ever before, which is good for everyone.  But once upon a time when their was simply the Big Two. Their monopoly on comics at the time made books like this one possible as the flux capacitor did for time-travel.  That's what's also fun about this book: it's uniqueness.  It's one-of-a-kind.

The Dark Duo of Darkseid and Dark Phoenix

Yeah.  That's right.  I wrote it.  Darkseid and Dark Phoenix.  The New God seeks to fulfill a dream, which includes conquering the universe (which of course all power hungry, malevolent beings seek to do, but I digress).  To do so he makes a pact with the Mobius Chair-bound, time-jumping Metron (i.e. Professor X in cosplay — just kidding).  He wishes to breach the Wall, a barrier to the Source that even the Promethean Giants were unable to breach.  In exchange Metron gives Darkseid a device that he in turn will use to tap into the minds of the X-Men; his soul purpose: to ferret out any and all memories of the Dark Phoenix of whom he believes holds to key to his quest for dominion.  In essence, Darkseid seeks to lure the X-Men into a trap with the goal of siphoning off any residual, psychic energy that might help him summon the Dark Phoenix to his employ.  He hires Deathstroke the Terminator to assist him in tracking them down.

Meanwhile, Raven of the Teen Titans becomes aware of the nightmarish threat of its eminent return. Her premonition resounds to startling terror, awakening Starfire to come to her aid.  In so doing, the Tamaran princess realizes who the source of the omen is and warns the team of the "end of all things."  This juncture is what also makes this book a fun book.  

Claremont and crew portrayed the cosmic threat of the Dark Phoenix as one that threatened a shared universe.  For example, Starfire shares with a gathered team how it was Lilandra of the Shi'ar Empire who contacted all of the "star-faring races," warning them of the destructive power of the "chaos-bringer."  This was done without a lot of explanation or dimensional rifts or other gimmicks.  This was accomplished before "Crisis on Infinite Earths."  The creative team was given permission to take a risk and simply imagine,"What if these characters existed in the same world?"

What's Not So Fun

What's not to love about a book that features properties from competing companies.  It's like Coke and Pepsi in a duet of effervescent flavor. Though not a quick read, was worth it's weight of $2.00 in 1982.  However, the un-fun thing about a book like this is as I said, "It may never happen again."  This book may be the end-of-the-line for one-shot collaborations between the Big Two in our day and age.  There won't be an animated version of this book.  I would personally love for there to be one.  Warner Bros. Entertainment and Marvel Studios (Disney) would have to come to a monumental agreement to make that happen.  I imagine video game licensing of the likes of "Lego: Marvel and DC Presents."  I can dream can't I?  This is no foregone conclusion.

The Punch-Line

"Marvel and DC Presents: The Uncanny X-Men and the New Teen Titans" is a special book that holds a special place in my heart.  I was a book I'd always wanted to get, but could never find or afford at collector's prices 25 years ago.  I remember finding it a few years later for like $10 or $15 dollars some where, and I declared, "Score!"  The wrap-around cover art of Walt Simonson and Terry Austin is beautiful (Dark Phoenix seems to be throwing up gang signs — LOL).  Both Metron and Prof. X could take turns sitting in the Mobius Chair.  Starfire doesn't get enough of kissing Colossus to Kitty Pryde's dismay.  And was that a pre-Crisis, Avengers vs. X-Men Easter egg in the form of a Phoenix-force wielding Cyclops?

FIN

A Review of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time #1

"Turtle Power!" IDW sends the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles back in time for its romping revival of a classic TMNT video game.  Utroms, dinosaurs and a time-jumping misfit spell hilarious hijinks for your favorite, green "heroes-in-a-half-shell."

What's Fun About This Book

It's the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in colorful flare, and that's what's fun about this book.  The creative team of Paul Allor (writer), Ross Campbell (artist), Bill Crabtree on colors and Shawn Lee on letters do the turtles right.  I write this not as a TMNT aficionado or as a super-fan, but as a guy who grew up with TMNT as a kid: watching the cartoons, collecting the action figures.  So when I read in the solicits that IDW was publishing "Turtles in Time," my heart skipped a beat.  Wasn't that a video game?  Didn't TV attempt to produce something akin to that in syndicated animation?  I was on board the moment I finally saw this book sitting on the shelf at my local comic shop.  I am not disappointed.

Admittedly, I haven't read any of the recent TMNT stories being told down at IDW.  So I'm not really abreast of all things Turtles.  With a new movie around the corner and feel-good reviews of the comics, I thought "Turtles in Time" would provide a great jumping on point for me.  David Peterson of "Mouse Guard" fame effectively drew me into the story with his marvelous cover art shown above.  The synopsis on the inside cover provided me with enough information about events that occurred in other books, which led to their time-crisis, without having read any of them.  Then, BOOM! That full-page spread captured my attention like a knuckle sandwich to the jaw.

The art is colorful.  I've never seen TMNT drawn quite like this before.  They were almost cartoonish in a good way.  The Turtles actually looked, dare I say, "cute."  Some might ask, "How can you say that about Raphael, Michaelangelo, Leonardo and Raphael? Cute?"  Yeah, cute...with their no-nose, unlike-Michael-Bay's upcoming version.  There were some tender moments, especially when Raphael reflects on family.  Writer Paul Allor did a wonderful job portraying each one's own personality.  We see Donatello's sciency-self come out; Raph's kick-butt and ask questions later attitude; Leonardo's honor and Mikey's wild and crazy ideas that often make matters worse. 

This creative team has sold me on collecting this book.  It's humorous, light-hearted and action-filled.  I simply love the art of "Turtles in Time."  Kudos to Campbell, Crabtree and Lee.  The soft color palette stood in stark contrast to the old black-and-whites of past TMNT books.  

What's Not So Fun

I have nothing negative to say about this book.  Though I did get a little emotional in parts of this issue.  Should a book like this one really tug at a dude's heart-strings as "Turtles in Time" did to mine?

The Punch-Line

This book made me feel good about the Turtles again in a way that I hadn't in 20 years.  It's also kid-friendly, which is really cool.  I wouldn't feel awkward about recommending this book to an eight year old bring comics for the first time.  I recommend "Turtles in Time" to the eight year old in all of us who remember a time when TMNT meant much, much more.  I give Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time #1 four out of four stars.

A Review of Secret Avengers #4

It's round two against the cybiote-killing-machine, THE FURY,  and it will take a covert team including Hawkeye and Nick Fury to take it down.  To take it down in a Chinatown. Plus, M.O.D.O.K. and Director Hill debrief over coffee and cheesecake.

What's Fun About This Book

The creative team of Ales Kot, Michael Walsh, Matthew Wilson (on colors) and Tradd Moore (cover) have something special in their hands with "Secret Avengers."  I took a risk on this book when I first pulled it off the shelf, but I laughed so hard while reading the first issue that I promptly added it to my subscription list at my local shop.  The book is well-crafted. It's a team book, and I enjoy reading team books.  It's an action comedy.  Consider this: Agent Coulson, Nick Fury, Black Widow, Spider-Woman, Hawkeye, Director Maria Hill and M.O.D.O.K. — Yes...M.O.D.O.K. The very thought of a clandestine, rag-tag group of misfits equal fun.  And comics oughta be fun, right?  Secret Avengers #4 is no less.

I AM SCIENCE. I AM M.O.D.O.K.

M.O.D.O.K. adds a dimension to this book that a different Secret Avengers book without him would lack.  Half of it is comedic relief.  But the other half is an intriguing role with SHIELD that makes me more interested in the character and his development in ways I've never been before.  The whole mad scientist, former terrorist and killing machine himself (hence the acronym — Mental/Mobile/Mechanized Organism Designed Only for Killing) working to stop another killing machine built to exterminate all life is an interesting premise in and of itself.  The working relationship that he and Director Hill share is crazy, but it works in a Pinky and the Brain kind of way.  No disrespect to Hill.  She's definitely no Pinky.  We see more aspects of this relationship fleshed out in this issue.  Plus, the Lair of Mad Science is such a great tribute to such a large ego.

Overall, the issue was good.  Plenty of one-liners and great dialogue between the characters, especially where M.O.D.O.K. was involved.  I'm really enjoying Michael Walsh's and Matthew Wilson's work on the artistic end of the story-telling.

What's Not So Fun

I miss Black Widow, Spider-Woman and Agent Coulson.  Their mission concluded in issue no. 3.  I still trying to figure out Nick Fury's part in the team.  I'm more moored to the original Silver Age Nick Fury and the Marvel Cinematic Universe's "Ultimate" take on the character.  However, the Nick Fury as presented here seems less of a straight man and more anxiety-prone shell of his former self.  Will he turn out to be a life model decoy?  One final note; the agents who accompanied our heroes on the mission may as well have been "red shrts."  If you know what I mean.

The Punch-Line

Secret Avengers #4 makes me realize how much this comic is actually a SHIELD book than an Avengers book.  What's fun about this is the fact that any self-respectable Avenger would have a problem with M.O.D.O.K. having a part in it.  But even that's a secret.  Secrets are meant to be uncovered.

A Review of Swamp Thing #32

A rogue monster of the Green is ravaging the Seven Seas, and it's up to Swamp Thing to figure out how to stop it before Aquaman puts both it and him down!

What's Fun About This Book

Who could pass up a showdown between the Avatar of the Green and the King of the Seven Seas?  Swamp Thing #32 will definitely be one of my favorite issues of creators Charles Soule and Jesus Saiz.  Their run on this book has yielded a lot of great storytelling and otherworldly visuals.  What I love most about this book is the limitless directions Swamp Thing can be taken in terms of character development and broader mythos.

The appearance of Aquaman in this issue (as well as Swampy's in Aquaman #31) hint at future entanglement between the two heroes.  Both are "kings" and protectors of their domains.  Both of their positions as agents of those domains are threatened by outside and inner forces.  Both have much to learn about that agency and their places in the world.  They are not enemies, Swamp Thing assured Aquaman; but surely they are not friends as he responded to the green leviathan.  I can't wait to see how this plays out over time.  Overall, this issue was a fun read.  I loved the seaweed and kelp look Jesus Saiz adopted for our underwater plant-hero.  Charles Soule made a nice reference, in my opinion, to Marvel Comics' Man-Thing in what seemed to be a slight dis toward their supernatural creature of the muck.  And yes there's a long storied history behind the origins of both green men that I won't go into detail here.  Look it up (smile).

What's Not So Fun

Evolution.  I know.  I know.  Evolution?  Whatchu talkin' 'bout Willis?  The long debate between evolutionists and creationists can make reading a fun book like this one problematic for some reader who find it hard to subscribe to the theories tossed around in it.  I'm a fan of Genesis 1:1.  If you read my other reviews in the link provide in the side-bar, you may discover more of what I'm talking about.  I believe it's okay to have dialogue on opposing viewpoints.  I believe it's good to have healthy discussion which can yield empathy for the holders of said viewpoints.  Oftentimes I cringe when I hear things like billions of years or how the plants were here before mankind.  However, I understand how all this adds to the mythos of Swamp Thing and its ever-widening scope.  I've got to hand to Charles Soule, though, for not being preachy, but allowing the action to drive the story rather than lectures.

The Punch-Line

For what could have been a big joke for readers encountering Swamp Thing and Aquaman in the same pages, issue #32 was not a bad book.  Like I said before, this issue may turn out to be one of my favorites, and I'm glad I've been aboard for the ride.

A Review of Batman '66 Meets the Green Hornet

Can the quasi-quartet of Smith, Garman, Templeton and Ross qualify the sticky reunion of our terrific tetrad?  Find out in this fun, first issue as Batman and Robin team-up with Green Hornet and Kato.

What's Fun About This Book

I started reading Batman '66 last week with the purchase of the Vol. 1 hardcover graphic novel.  I'd heard great things about it over the course of the year.  I'd taken notice of it when Batman '66 initially published as a Digital First through Comixology.  The creators on that book have done a great job capturing the essence the Batman (the "Adam West" Batman) many of us grew up knowing before the Frank Millers and Neal Adamses of the world brought seriousness to the Dark Knight.  So when I heard that DC and Dynamite Entertainment were partnering to expand on the television show by bringing back the team-up of Batman, Robin, Green Hornet and Kato, I immediately jumped aboard.  

I remembered watching those TV episodes in re-runs as a kid and how much fun they were.  Heck, if you caught me sitting down on a Saturday afternoon here in the Chicago area, you just might find me watching some good ole' "Batman" on one of the local stations.  The Batman TV series introduced me to the Green Hornet and Kato over 30 years ago.  So with the success of Batman '66 over at DC, should this team-up prompt Dynamite to publish another Green Hornet book as a nod to its 60's foray on to television?  I say yes, even if it were a simple, four issue mini-series.  That would be fun.

I believe the creative team on this book has a comic book gem in their hands.  The dialogue was funny.  The writing altogether was reminiscent of the old television series.  I really enjoyed the art as well.  The story made me laugh aloud.  To be honest, after reading just the first issue, I'd be okay if this limited series became an on-going book ala DC's The Brave and the Bold.

What's Not So Fun

The character of Kato in many circles is problematic because so many stories from the past only reinforced stereotypes about Asians, including notions of noble servitude and knowing kung fu.  How do post-modern writers honor these characters (Tonto for instance), making them strong partners and/or leaders rather than punch-lines or footnotes?

The Punch-line

Batman '66 Meets the Green Hornet no. 1 is a book less concerned with the tortured souls and teenage angst that pervades the medium.  Though the narrative is basic, the story is campy fun.  This is a book I could recommend to a young reader without any huge concerns about graphic violence.  Plus, the cover is cool!  Does anyone want a new Alex Ross poster?  I do!

Comics Oughta Be Fun Episode 1

Welcome to Wednesday Comix where reading comics "oughta be fun."  Wednesday Comix is a weekly blog highlighting my favorite reads of the week and other misadventures in life and faith.  I've always been a dreamer.  A "Day-Dream Believer" if you may.  Comic books and super-heroes have certainly been an important part of that journey.  Comic book icon #StanLee frequently called his readers "True Believers," his way of addressing and encouraging fans, who'd momentarily suspended disbelief, to dream the impossible.  And just like the "flux capacitor," comic books made travel across time, space and dimension possible; if only in my dreams.  So again: welcome and enjoy the journey.

from Solar: Man of the Atom no. 2 | Frank J. Barbiere & Joe Bennett (Dynamite Entertainment)