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?  

REVIEW: Black Condor issue #1 & 2

Writer: Brian Augustyn
Artist: Rags Morales
Colors: Eric Kachelhofer
Review: Madman

A few years back I came across some issues of Black Condor in a lowly, yellowed long box at this local large consignment-type dirt mall I frequent from time to time (same place I found Iron Fist #11 for less then two bucks). I snatched them up for the simple fact that I’d never heard of the Black Condor, as I don’t frequent the DCU much, and I dig characters that dress as birds and fly around. Not sure why, really, I just do. Adrian Toomes…big fan. Sam Wilson…big fan (The movie version is fantastic. Good on you Anthony Mackie). Hawkman (one of the few DC characters I follow) and Archangel (meh on Angel) . . . I’m on board.

Sooooo yeah, Black Condor, why not? I never actually read said rescued Black Condor books, I just bagged them and threw them in the box with my meager DC comic collection, promptly forgetting about them until recently when I stumbled across issues 1 & 2 in a 50¢ box at the local funny book convention. Was it fate?

REVIEW: Flash #84

Story: Mark Waid
Pencils: Barry Kitson, Ian Akin, Jose Marzan, Jr., and Ken Branch
Colorist: Gina Going
Review: Art Bee

During my school days (yes, I am showing my age here) there was a neat sensation called “Pogs”. This was not only a hobby but a game as well. You collected Pogs with various themes and characters on them, and then to play, you and someone else would stack Pogs in a single stack and use a “Slammer” to slam the stack. Any Pogs that land on the ground face up are yours to keep.

When I opened the pages of Flash #84, a scene featuring Wally West and a couple of kids playing greeted me and sent me back to my school days playing this game. The good ol’ days . . .

I’m back.

Believe it or not, this is the first Flash comic book I have read. Honestly I have had a hard time in my life getting onboard with a hero whose power is to run away. In spite of that, this comic was very enjoyable. The artwork was crisp, clean, and consistent despite having four artists working on it. It was not obvious there were this many working on it by reading the book. Today, how much variation is there when several artists collaborate on an issue? The recent ones I have seen are drastically different in style. The only reason I can think of for this is standards. Marvel and DC used to have standards for their comics and characters. Today, not so much. Marvel and DC treat their intellectual properties as whores and pimp them out to anyone to work with.

REVIEW: The Crew #1

Writer: Christopher Priest 
Artist: Joe Bennett
Review: Will Dubbeld

LUUUUUUKE CAAAAAAGE!
. . . does not appear in this book.
On a sugar-high caused by the hype surrounding Netflix's Luke Cage series, I dug out some Dollar Box issues of Christopher Priest's The Crew thinking Mr. Cage appeared within.

 I was mistaken.

 The Crew features James 'War Machine' Rhodes in the spotlight, not 1/2 of Heroes for Hire. I expected Cage to show up with every page turn, but closed the book disappointed and had to consult the Internet before learning he didn't appear in the series whatsoever. 

 I was not, however, disappointed with what I did find in The Crew.

 The framework of Christopher Priest's first issue deals with the murder of Rhodey's sister and his investigation into the circumstances and individuals involved. At the book's opening, we find the former Iron Man bankrupt and hocking watches and old Starktech before hightailing to New York City to identify his sister's body.