REVIEW: Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man # 28

Writer: Bill Marauder
Artists: Frank Miller and Frank Springer
Colorist: Mario Sen
Review: Madman

Long story short: my wife took my master ‘I-Need-These-Books’ list and invaded the geek sanctuary of my LCS, Comics Cubed, during a recent 75% off on all back issues sale. She ended up picking up 20 issues of this glorious title, and I was super excited to find this issue in the pile. The list of reasons I’ve always wanted issues #25-31 is basically limitless, but I digress . . .

The first reason is Bill Mantlo wrote it. You may recognize Mantlo from any of his many works, but for me Mantlo will always represent good things. I suppose that some people would argue that his biggest contribution would be his work on Micronauts or possibly Rom . . . but me, no sir. Mantlo’s run on Spectacular is his work for which I am most grateful, because he birthed one of my all time favorite villains in issue #25, Carrion. I love this guy but apparently the powers that be did not as they killed him off in issue #31. Good thing no one stays dead in the comics, as I first remember Carrion from the Maximum Carnage run of the 90s. I actually remember being scared of Carrion while I was reading that arc. I mean he’s a mummy-looking failed clone of Miles Warren who can turn organic matter into dust just by touching it. That’s not all he can do. He can also squash you into jelly with his super-human strength, turn almost intangible, levitate, use telepathy and telekinesis . . . just incase turning you to dust wasn’t enough. I’ve always been a fan of Carrion beyond the taint of Maximum Carnage.  

REVIEW: The Transformers: All Hail Megatron #1

Written by: Shane McCarthy
Art by: Guido Guidi
Colors by: Josh Burcham
Letters by: Neil Uyetake & Chris Mowry
Edits by: Denton J. Tipton
Review: Will Dubbeld

Truth be told, Transformers comics (or one comic in particular) were an important factor in my formative nerd years. One of the first comics in my collection was an early issue of the Marvel Transformers series featuring Spider-Man.
Already having a grasp of Spider-Man and already a fan of Transformers, because what '80s kid wasn't, this book was an eye opener. Cross-property teamups, worldbuilding, and continuity first dawned on me as I turned the pages.

I wasn't a rabid follower of Transformers comics in the years following but did keep myself abreast of their goings-on. I've picked up a few issues here and there, but there's enough content in recent years to believe IDW is competing with Marvel's X-Men for the sheer amount of ongoings, minis, spinoffs, and one-shots for a franchise. There's simply too much content for me to handle.
BUT I received the first ten issues of All Hail Megatron for free, so here we are.

The book opens with a brief, 1-page synopsis of the previous story and then almost immediately we're thrown into the carnage of a Decepticon attack.
Beautiful.

REVIEW: Kull #9

Scripter: Alan Zelenetz
Penciler: John Buscema
Inker: Mel Candido
Letterer: John Morelli
Colorist: Marie Severin
Review: Art Bee

While trudging through the dense boxes filled with the floppies of yesteryear, I comest upon a
sight unseen by mine eyes afore. Are you tired of this already? I certainly am. Though I have
never read a Kull comic before, it will more than likely never happen again. This was not one of
Marvel’s greatest accomplishments. Although I do miss buying comic books for change as in my
childhood at the local 7-Eleven, this comic was still over priced at $0.65 even for 1985.

This comic book is about a block-head of a warrior-king named Kull. In Kull #9, a lovely young
noble lady named Daphne finds a worthy challenge for Kull to fight. He offers her a choice of
jewels from the treasury, but she turns them down and practically draws a picture in crayon about
her love for him. Silly Kull completely ignores her and spits some ridiculous crap about clouded
minds to his minstrel, Ridondo . . . truly and absurd name. This minstrel has an absurd name, but
throughout the comic book I was rooting for Ridondo to knife Kull in the back and take the
throne for himself.  

REVIEW: Detective Comics #603

Writer: Alan Grant
Artist: Norm Breyfogle
Review: Will Dubbeld

Bill Finger, Frank Miller, Denny O'Neil, and scads upon scads of other talented creators have lent their skill to the Dark Knight, but none so expertly as Messrs Grant and Breyfogle.
Folks will rave about the more popular lineups, Morrison and Quietly, Snyder and Capullo, Miller and Lee . . .
Though that last one perhaps more for notoriety than popularity and as an aside I was horrendously unimpressed with Scott Snyder's writing.

Breyfogle and Grant, however, nailed it. From the Mud Pack to Tim Drake these two bled gray and blue. Batman felt like a Caped Crusader, a Dark Knight.
A Detective, for Chrissake.

'Tec 603 is unfortunately the last issue of a three-parter, and I haven't got the other 2 books in my collection. The opening scene depicts a Hindu demon-god attacking a police car with an immense axe, however, so that'll definitely grab your attention.
Demon-on-cop is only the tip of the iceberg, Bat-fans. Have you ever seen Batman fight a Vedic spirit monster?