2016 Comic Challenge 282 What If? Volume 02 #16

TITLE-What If volume 02 #16
PUBLISHER-Marvel

Ahh I so love What If. So it is a title I will grab anytime I find issues for cheap. Got this one at the local comic shop.It had been put into the cheap bins. So while digging through stacks of mid 90s glut stuff I found not only this issue but a small stack of Conan I didn't own.

The story starts off back during Uncanny X-men #137. While the X-men are fighting the Imperial Guard,to decide to fate of Jean "Phoenix" Grey. This happens on the part of the moon that the Watcher lives in. So during that original story Wolverine fell into a dimensional door and thanks to the Watcher breaking his code,Wolvie made it back and managed to get Jean back in charge of her body long enough for her to kill herself.

But in another world,Wolverine fell through a door on the moon and ended up back in the time of Conan the Barbarian. So that is the premise for this issue.

Wolvie and Conan of course meet up and have a battle,can't have some Marvel heroes meet up for the first time without them fighting can we?

After the battle Wolvie joins up with Conan and Red Sonja and they have an adventure. A pretty decent one to be honest.

Then at the end of the adventure Conan falls into a wizard's pool,which transports him back to the modern day,well the modern day of Uncanny #137,and since Wolvie isn't there to get Jean to take control of her body from the Phoenix Force,well Jean goes full on Phoenix Force and it looks like that world is doomed.

I have never heard of any of the creative team. But from what I have heard What If was used a bunch of the time as tryouts for new talent.Got Glenn Herdling doing the story.Gary Kwapisz on pencils. Ian Akin on inks. Yep no one I have heard of before.

What If volume 02 #16 gets a buy.

2016 Comic Challenge 281 Ghostly Tales #147

TITLE-Ghostly Tales #147
PUBLISHER-Charlton

Pretty sure I grabbed this at an auction almost 10 years ago. Grabbed it back then cause I was pretty sure from a quick glance that the cover was by Steve Ditko. And I was right. By this time,cover date March 1981,Ghostly Tales was pretty much all reprints. The cover is from issue 118. And the interior stories seem to be reprinted from issue 116.

We get three stories. Up first  is one written by Joe Gil and Sanho Kim handles the pencils and inks. It is serviceable and that is about it.The middle story has no credited writer,but the pencils and inks are by Steve Ditko. For that alone it is worth buying this comic.The final story has Joe Gil back writing.Then Bill Fraccio doing pencils and inks.

Outside of the Ditko cover and story this isn't anything special. But for those two things alone it is worth grabbing if you find it cheap. Sadly over the past 5 years I have seen the prices on all Charlton comics go up a bit.

Ghostly Tales #147 gets a Buy!

2016 Comic Challenge 280 Graphic Classics H.P.Lovecraft

TITLE-Graphic Classics H.P.Lovecraft Revised Second Edition
PUBLISHER-Eureka Productions

Look at that cover! When I saw that cover I couldn't pass up this collection. Then I glanced at the list of talent on the bottom of the cover,saw Richard Corben and I knew I had to have this.

I first discovered the Graphic Classics series at my local library. I had been getting lots of comic trades thru inter-library loan,so the head librarian decided to order a few to see if there was enough interest to have some on the shelves. She ordered 3 or 4 volumes of the Graphic Classics line. Where they take classic,and also public domain,stories and make them into comics. I had read and enjoyed a horror collection and one of Poe stories so seeing there was one for Lovecraft I had to order it.

Under that stunning Giorgio Comolo cover,which I must assume is what Mr Comolo thinks Cthulu looks like,is 7 of Lovecraft's tales. Each drawn by different artists.The three that really stand out are.
The Shadow over Innsmouth which is adapted by Alex Burrows and beautifully drawn by Simon Gane.Dreams in the Witch House,adapted by Rich Rainey and Pedro Lopez handles the art chores.Then the best piece in the book,Herbert West:Reanimator.Tom Pomplun hands adapting Lovecraft's serial to the comic form. It is broken up into 4 chapters with a different artist doing each chapter. So you got people like Richard Corben,Rick Geary,J.B.Bonivert and Mark A.Nelson doing the art.

Really if you love Lovecraft and love comics this is a nice and affordable addition to your collection. This Revised second edition claims to have 75 new pages. So that is nice.

Graphic Classics H.P.Lovecraft Revised Second Edition gets a BUY!

2016 Comic Challenge 279 Hate #12

TITLE-Hate #12
PUBLISHER-Fantagraphics Books

Yeah I know should have done this issue before the last review. But they were not in order in my comic box.

In this issue Buddy and Lisa,his crazy girlfriend,decide to buy a table at a convention. And we get Bagge's satire and loving tribute to 90s comic cons. Back before they got invaded by pop culture people and it was 30 bucks to take a pic with your own camera.

The main plot is Buddy trying to get Lisa to use her status as female at a con to sell more stuff. And well since it is Lisa it doesn't work. Then Buddy runs into his nemesis Yahtze,yeah that is the guy's nickname. Yahtze is your normal early 90s bootleg VHS dealer at a con. Piles and piles of horror and cult movies that at the time hadn't gotten a legit release on any home media. So why Yahtze and Buddy are trying to show how macho they are Lisa sneaks over and steals a few shopping bags full of Yahtze's more than likely over priced tapes.  Of course once Buddy and his lady get home they settle down to watch some of these tapes,when Yahtze shows up demanding money. Lisa grabs a bat and lets her inner crazy out and in the process destroys all the tapes. So Yahtze leaves,swearing revenge,and Buddy is bummed out. Until they find that one tape didn't get destroyed so they lay down on the mattress on the floor to watch some old 60s movie.

Bagge as you can tell had been to many cons. And gets all the great parts and all the crappy parts exactly right.

Hate #12 gets a Buy!

2016 Comic Challenge 278 Hate #13

TITLE-Hate #13
PUBLISHER-Fantagraphics Books

Ahhhh Hate,the perfect 90s indy comic.Peter Bagge,who wrote and drew Hate,had a way of being about 2 years ahead of mainstream pop culture back then. And being in my teens then early 20s during the 30 issue run of this title I was the perfect audience for Bagge's extremely funny and somethings thought provoking series.

On the cover we got the lead,Buddy Bradley,as a voodoo doll. And the guy holding the doll is Buddy's ex-roommate George Cecil Hamilton the Third.Who if I recall correctly hadn't appeared in Hate in at least a year or two,at the time Hate came out 4 to 5 times a year.

Buddy learns that George has kind of slandered Buddy in the newest issue of his zine. So Buddy tracks him down to find out why. And learns that George is now living with a wealthy woman. Who takes care of George and pays to publish his zine.

Now I know that Hate is very much linked to the decade it came out in. I wonder sometimes how much appeal it would have to someone who didn't live thru the late 80s thru the 90s. I am sure lots of the jokes and references will go over anyone who wasn't around then's head.

Hate #13 gets a Buy!

2016 Comic Challenge 277 Nevada #01

TITLE-Nevada #01
PUBLISHER-Vertigo an imprint of DC Comics

Look at that cover. You got the Vegas lights,and Egyptian themed dancing girl and a fucking ostrich.When I walked into Lynn's Comics in Nederland Texas back in the spring of 98 and saw the cover I knew I was gonna buy it. Then I look close,Steve Gerber is the writer. And Gerber is a writer that should be mentioned whenever people are talking about the best comic writers of all time. But sadly that rarely happens. Honestly before reading this issue I knew nothing about the cover artist and interior penciler Phil Winslade.I do love his art.

The story is fairly simple. A Vegas showgirl,who has a pet ostrich,is the only thing that can prevent the end of the world. Someone is killing people in Vegas in really weird ways.

For me the back story to this series is as good if not better than the series. Back when Gerber was writing Howard the Duck he got way behind on his deadline. So one issue of Howard was just huge blocks of text with various artists doing pictures to go along with theses walls of text. One page had a Vegas showgirl an ostrich and an evil lamp all fighting.The story is for years Neil Gaiman begged Gerber to tell him more of the story of the showgirl,lamp and ostrich.So right at 20 years later we got the 6 issue Nevada series from Vertigo.

Anyways if you like Gerber grab a trade of this series.I doubt it is that expensive,and it is worth it for the art alone.

Nevada gets a buy.

2016 Comic Challenge 276 Star Wars Droids #06

TITLE-Star Wars Droids #06
PUBLISHER-Star Comics an imprint of Marvel

In 86 Marvel's kid's line started up two Star Wars titles,Ewoks and Droids. Both of which seemed to be based on the cartoons of the same names.Years ago I found the above pictured issue in a cheap bin. I think I paid a buck.

It is the first part of a 3 parter. Which ended up being the final story arch in the Marvel Droids comic.In this arch we get the story of New Hope,but this time told from the POV of C-3PO and R2-D2.

This first issue is the only issue I have read of this comic.It isn't bad. Ernie Colon does the pencils,Marie Severin handles the inks and Dave Manak mans the writing.

Star Wars Droids #06 gets a borrow.

2016 Comic Challenge 275 Peter Parker The Spectacular Spider-Man #27

TITLE-Peter Parker the Spectacular Spider-Man #27
PUBLISHER-Marvel

This beat but complete comic is one that I just kind of lucked into.Right at 10 years ago I was at a local auction,one that never had comics. And a guy tosses up 5 stacks of comics. Asking $5 for each stack. Each stack was about 40 issues but looked to mostly be 90s glut crap from Marvel and DC.No one was bidding so he dropped it to 3 a stack,no bids so asked for an offer. I said I give him 10 bucks for all 5 stacks and after some back and forth paid 13 bucks for what ended up being about 250 comics. In that stack of lots of glut crap was this issue.

So what makes this issue stand out from any other late 70s Marvel Spidey comic? Besides that really neat Dave Cockrum and Al Milgrom cover? Lets check the interior credits.

Hmm Bill Mantlo is the writer,and who is this as guest penciler? Frank Miller.... Yep so this has a cover date of Feb 78,which means it more than likely hit the stands in late 77. Which makes it the first time Frank Miller drew Daredevil!

I had heard of this issue for years. And even owned it 2 times before. But never read it. Mostly cause of fear of damaging it and I had gotten copies planning on selling them later on for a profit. But with the shape this copy is in,which even in this beat up shape checking the big two online retailers of comics it is still worth a few bucks,I finally read it.

Well after after almost 30 years of hype it doesn't live up to it. Sure it is kick ass to see early Miller art on not only Daredevil but also Spider-Man. And Mantlo does a decent job with the story. But for the price this issue sells for ,unless you luck out and get a beat up copy,it really isn't worth getting.

Peter Parker The Spectacular Spider-Man #27 gets a Borrow.

2016 Comic Challenge 274 Southern Bastards #15

TITLE-Southern Bastards #15
PUBLISHER-Image

Picking up after the end of the last story,the Running Rebs are trying to deal with their devastating loss last issue.

One of the coach's guys offers to take a few of the players over to an opposing teams home,beat the fuck out of him and make it look like a robbery. Coach turns this down,proving my point that in small southern towns High School Football on Friday night is the true Sabbath.

The Rebs think they are ready for their next game. Then get their asses handed to them again. So Coach makes a call and seems the "robbery" plan is in motion.

On the other side we keep seeing Roberta in the background all over the issue. At the end when Coach grabs Roberta's father's old stick it looks like next issue will start with a fight.

The delay this time thankfully wasn't that long. Art and story are as great as they have always been.

Southern Bastards #15 gets a Buy!

2016 Comic Challenge 273 Code Name Danger #02

Never heard of this comic before finding it.Seems it was a bi-monthly title from Lodestone Publishing. Who I only know cause they published an issue or two of Evangeline.

We start off finding out an elaborate hoax behind the hijacking of the QEII.And some guy,no clue who he is suppose to be is asked to recapture the boat,free the hostages and capture the enemies alive.

Our lead,I am again assuming this ,gets chewed out by some blonde lady cause the day of the mission is also tennis night. But then she quickly gets un-mad and leads him to a double page spread of what I assume is screens. Each with people that could go on the mission to free the QEII.

They pick out the team,with the lady complaining about some guy with electromagnetic powers. Paul Makor,our lead I finally learn his name, goes and gets the plans for the QEII.While off in Toronto we get to finally meet Captain Energy. Who is the previous mentioned person with electromagnetic powers. Paul shows up to recruit him for the mission and the Captain agrees.

The rest of the team gets recruited and they go and sneak on the shit. The rest of the issue deals with the mission and the fall out when the New York Post reveals the hijacking was a hoax.

I am thinking I got this for 50 cents at a junkstore a few towns over. And for that price it was worth it.Kyle Baker does the pencils and inks. And they look good. One thing that kind of hurt this comic was it was very very dialogue heavy. Plus pretty much every recruitment sequence was the same.

Code Name Danger #02 gets a borrow.

2016 Comic Challenge 272 Tales from the Darkside #03

TITLE-Tales from the Darkside #03
PUBLISHER-IDW

Seems now with the chip in his head our lead has his evil side released. And this is causing all kind of problems in the lab.

After a bit he is imprisoned in a giant black Rubic's Cube. Which no one can get into.

The scientist leading the experiment realize that they have released something awful into the world.

So at least now I know who the guy that appeared quickly in issue 4 is. Seems he has released "The darkside" to the world and I am guessing the rest of the series will deal with that.

Tales from the Darkside #3 gets a borrow.

2016 Comic Challenge 271 The Shield #04

TITLE-The Shield #04
PUBLISHER-Dark Circle Comics/Archie

Well after a year,and 4 issues the first story is wrapped up. The Shield is now wanted for what happened in the last issue.

She also finds out more about her origin. And her ties to a man that has gotten influence over the President. So while she is sneaking into the White House,her friend is dressed up in the Shield outfit and out in front of the White House with all the protesters.

Shield defeats the villain and all seems right. But who knows. Hopefully if we get more issues they will come out on time instead of all the delays.

The Shield #04 gets a borrow.

2016 Comic Challenge 270 The Walking Dead #160

TITLE-The Walking Dead #160
PUBLISHER-Image

We are over halfway thru with the Whisperer War story. Our heroes front line has split up. Disguised as Whisperers hidden into the oncoming herd.

Back at Maggie's kingdom it looks good. Then flaming arrows start raining in over the walls. And a herd of zombies is at the gates.

The art and story keep me coming back every month. One of the few titles I just can't wait on the trade for.

The Walking Dead #160 gets a buy.

2016 Comic Challenge 269 Vampirella Blood Lust Book 02

TITLE-Vampirella Blood Lust Book Two
PUBLISHER-Harris Comics

By the time this Vampi mini series hit I was almost out of comics. I had read scattered issues of her old series from Warren. The b/w magazine sized comics that came out in the 60s and 70s.Then years back I found a place online that sold random lots of comics by the pound. 10lbs of comics,no duplicates and before shipping  it was like 20 bucks,I made an order and weeks later got 10lbs of comics. Which included a huge stack of random issues of Vampi from Harris.They kind  of got shuffled to the bottom of my ever growing read pile.

Then last month for Halloween I wanted to only review horror comics the entire month. Dug out 6 issues I could find  of the Harris era Vampirella series and read them. Took the pics and wrote out the reviews. Then before I could post them my main laptop shit the bed. I managed to save the pics of all of them and a few of the reviews. So yeah this review and the next 5 that involve Vampi were written,partially written back in October.

That Joe Jusko cover is what drew me to this issue. Then I open it and see he painted the entire issue.And that mid 90s Jame Robinson wrote it. Vampi has died and traveled to Drakulon,which is now Lilith's  section of hell.Teaming up with a very changed Adam Van Helsing,Vampi must restart the river of blood and try to take out her mother.

Now I haven't read that much of the Harris Vampi before now,but this feels more like it is the last chapter in the long running Warren version of Vampirella.When it is explained how Adam ended up in Hell I was pleasantly surprised and remembered something like that being mentioned years ago in an Warren issue.

Vampirella Blood Lust Book Two gets  Buy.

2016 Comic Challenge 268 Jessica Jones #01

TITLE-Jessica Jones #01
PUBLISHER-Marvel

Yeah I know my hatred of Bendis is fairly well known. But Alias,besides that horrible last few issues,was the best thing he has done since coming to Marvel. So I took a chance on what seems to be a proper follow up to Alias.

Going into this I don't know much of what happened to Jessica Jones since the end of Alias. I have heard she had a kid and married Luke Cage. Maybe even was a member of the Avengers. But I have kind of given up on most Marvel comics for right at 20 years now.

The art is gorgeous. Pretty sure this is the same person that did the art in Alias. And all the little nods to the usually Marvel universe are nice. But it is the dialogue and story that  caught my attention and has me eager the read the next issue.

Jessica Jones #01 gets a buy.

2016 Comic Challenge 267 The Shield #03

TITLE-The Shield #03
PUBLISHER-Dark Circle/Archie

Yeah sadly like most of Archie's titles this one is majorly late. So late that I have pretty much forgotten what happened in the first two issues.

In this one our titular heroine is in Russia to take on what appears to be a biker gang. Plus we get flashbacks to what I must assume is her past. But these seem to be happening back in the Revolutionary War.

The story is ok. The art is nice. But with the lateness my interest in this title has majorly fallen. Maybe Archie should have done this as a series of mini series. And waited until say 4 issues were complete before soliciting them.

The Shield #03 gets a borrow.

2016 Comic Challenge 266 Black Hood Season 2 #01

TITLE-The Black Hood Season 02 #01
PUBLISHER-Dark Circle Comics/Archie Comics

After what felt like a year,it was really 3 or so months,a new issue of The Black Hood is out.I have been praising this book to the geek Heavens since the first issue came out what a year ago. Thankfully this time we were told in advance that there would be a few months between issues.I like how they are doing the season mode of comics. Really I rather get 6 to 8 damn good comics then a break and another batch of 6 to 8 issues,than the standard 12 issues,one every month.

Duane Swierczynski is back as the writer.Greg Scott is the new artist.Who's art is similar enough to the previous main artist,sorry I am blanking on their name. Plus colorist Kelly Fitzpatrick's work takes the coloring from season 1 and makes it a bit more crayon like. Now that sounds like it would be a bad thing,but it really isn't.

Our lead has made his way across the country to California. Vowing to never kill again he ends up living with the homeless on the beach in some sun-drenched town.Seems on his trip acoss he donned a hood and stopped some criminals.And now out on the west coast he stops the so called Shotgun Twins from killing a man in a car on a hillside road.

After taking care of the twins,remember the Hood won't kill anymore,he settles in for a night of sleep with the rest of the homeless.We get a short bit about how here he is accepted,no questions are asked. Plus with-in hours of his arrival he was given a pack with basic survival items and some food.

Well the Shotgun Twins attack on the driver of the car had two reasons for happening. First off the driver did indeed do what he was accused of. But it was also to draw out the Hood.Someone connected the the mob in Phillie has been tracking our titular hero.

The issue ends with the mob guy going thru the homeless offering them food. He comes up to the Hood,offers the food that is turned down.Then draws a gun on the Hood as we get two be continued.

Come on people if you love Batman,Punisher,Daredevil,hell pretty much any street level hero read this damn book. Pretty sure Dark Cirle has all of Season 1 out in trades.

The Black Hood Season 02 #01 gets a BUY!

2016 Comic Challenge 265 Huntress #01

TITLE-Huntress #01
PUBLISHER-DC Comics

Huntress is a heroine I have enjoyed since back when she was still the daughter of Batman and Catwoman on Earth 2. This is a fairly recent mini series,2011 and 2012 I think. Got Paul Levitz writing and Marcus To on pencils.

Huntress is in Italy to fight mobsters that are trafficking women and full automatic weapons. After rescuing the women ,she talks to her contact and sets out to work  her way up the criminal chain.

This worked well for the first issue of a  6 issue mini series. Gave me enough that I want to read more. But set it up where this can all easily be wrapped up in 6 issues.

Huntress #01 gets a borrow.

2016 Comic Challenge 264 Dark Knight III the Master Race #06

TITLE Dark Knight III The Master Race #06
PUBLISHER-DC Comics

After many months we get another  chapter in the third DK from Frank Miller.Well kinda from him. Frank Miller&Brian Azzarello get story credit. And for this issue,pretty sure the previous ones were drawn by Frank,is by Andy Kubert.

The green kryptonite rain has taken out most of the Kandorians. With only the daughter of Superman and Wonder Woman being not effected by it.

Batman of course planned this all out. And has piles of Sons of the  Bat troops all over to attack the now depowered Kandorians.

The Kandorians take a retreat.But on their way out the leader shots a percise bolt of heat vision,which hits Batman's heart. So as this part of the main story ends Batman has died.

The backup story has Carrie Kelly fighting the daughter of Supes and Wonder Woman. Then Wonder Woman shows up,the daughter manages to break the Golden lasso. While this was not a bad read,I would have been happier with 10 more pages of the main story instead.

Between the long waits between the issues,and yes I know none of Miller's DK stuff has been known to come out on time,and then after the wait getting maybe 22 pages of the main story plus 15 pages of a back up story. Instead of say 28 to 30 pages of the main story and no back up. Yeah I know I should have waited until it came out in a TPB. But this is one of the few titles I have to go get as soon as a new issue is hot.

Dark Knight III The Master Race #06 gets a borrow

2016 Comic Challenge 263 The Killing Joke

TITLE-The Killing Joke Deluxe edition
PUBLISHER-DC Comics

I am assuming if you are reading this you have read The Killing Joke. If not go track down a copy and read it. It is one of the best Joker stories ever told.

I read it for the first time when it came out over 20 years ago. Pretty sure it was the first time I saw Brian Bolland's art. And was one of the earliest things I read from Alan Moore. But even on that first reading something about the ending didn't work for me. And it wasn't until months later at Gulf Coast Comics that I heard the argument on if Batman kills Joker at the end.I think he does. And from the original script pages it seems like Moore wanted you to wonder if that is what happens.

Now it is time for the complaints. This Deluxe Edition well Bolland has went back and not only recolored the entire story,but also did some touch up the art. I didn't notice any changes in the art,but the coloring to me looks bad. I know this is the original artist's going back and changing it. And it is how he has always wanted it to look. But my eyes are use to the old coloring and they to me gave it a nice dark look that this story needs. This new coloring makes it a bit too bright.

My other complaint is DC's need to add bonus stuff to the collection. An intro and afterword are nice,but to me the Bolland story from the old Batman Black and White mini series wasn't needed. Sure it looked nice in color for the first time. But it feels more like DC adding a few small things so they can charge more for what was originally a $4 prestige format comic.

The Killing Joke Deluxe Edition gets a borrow.

2016 Comic Challenge 262 Archie Meets Ramoes

TITLE-Archie Meets Ramones #01
PUBLISHER-Archie

After producing lots of great comics,even if half of them never come out on time,Archie made a comic that I had to have.One that odds are good I will even buy more than one copy of,mostly cause I love a few of the variant covers.

First off let me get my nitpicking complaints out of the way. The comic is titled Archie meets Ramones,it should be Archie meets THE Ramones. Secondly most of the issue supposedly takes place before their first album came out,a few months before,but there is a few songs and references to songs that came out years later.

The story is pretty simple. Archie and his band bombed at the battle of the bands. They are arguing and all but Archie leaves. Sabrina shows up and gives Archie a copy of The Ramones first album. He plays it and it wisks all of the band back to NYC back in 1976.

Thru a bunch of screwball comedy like antics The Archies meet the Ramones. Get sent on a scavenger hunt. And end up winning a battle of the bands at CBGB's,by playing I don't wanna go down in the basement.

Now  I am biased as fuck. I love Archie and The Ramones are  my favorite bands. So your mileage may vary.

Archie meets Ramones gets a BUY!

2016 Comic Challenge 261 CyberRad #03

TITLE-CyberRad #03
PUBLISHER-Continuity Comics

Our lead,CyberRad,fights a few robots and learns he is a robot like human. While all this is going on we get filled in on a bit of backstory to our lead's love interest. Plus a few small clues to CyberRad's past,like that his name is Simon.

Neal Adams gets credit for plot and layouts.Peter Stone gets the scripting credit.Then Richard Bennett handles the penciling and inking job. Finally Neal Adams' son Cory does the colors. The colors are good,not as good as they would get at Continuity later on in the 90s. The art looks good and has a nice flow to it.

Unlike the some Continuity Comics stuff I have read,this one made sense even with me jumping into it with the 3rd issue. I do own the next two issues in this volume of CyberRad.Might read them soon.

CyberRad #03 gets a buy.

2016 Comic Challenge 260 Earth 4 #02

TITLE-Earth 4 #02
Publisher-Continuity Comics

No real clue where in the Deathwatch 2000 crossover this issue falls. Mostly cause I haven't read much of the Deathwatch 2000 crossover. Really outside of Crazyman I haven't read much from Continuity. I remember seeing them on every newstand in the late 80s and early 90s. But they were always priced way higher than the stuff from Archie,Marvel and DC. So I never bought them. But now that I find them for a buck or less I have been slowly building up a nice stack of random issues from various Continuity series.

Earth 4 are a team of elementals. Urth is a rock looking guy that is somehow now infected with radiation. Him and the rest of the team are at a nuclear power plant that has started melting down. They somehow stop it,really I had no clue what was going on half the time.Between the nice looking but very low on story telling style art and the feeling that I just got dropped into part 20 of a 24 part movie serial.

Aron Weisenfeld handles the pencils.Richard Bennett does the inks,and Tom Roberts does the color. The color was always so good at Continuity. So bright and not muddy like the color at the big 2.The art is pretty but has a bunch of flaws that I bet are cause of the lack of experience from the penciler and inker.

On the other side,Neal Adams gets credited for plot.Peter Stone gets story credit. I do wonder if this issue would make anymore sense after reading the previous issues and crossovers cause of Deathwatch 2000.

For the 50 cents to a buck I paid for the issue...it was worth that price for the art and that super busy cover.

Earth 4 #02 gets a borrow.