Superman Batman Public Enemies

 

TITLE-Superman Batman Public Enemies

SOURCE-Warner Premiere DVD

Now I have never read the comic series this  film is based on. Never really been a big Superman fan. And Batman is one I like but depends  on the creative team.

A meteor is heading to Earth,Lex Luthor is President of the USA. Using manipulated footage Luther convinces the US citizens that Superman murdered Mentallo. Leading to a pile of heroes hunting for Superman and Batman. All while Luthor is up to something and this meteor is not that far from hitting Earth.

I love how the animation style used in the film looks like a tweeked version of the Timmverse style. The voice work is well done. And the film isn't too long. 

What I really enjoyed is how many lesser known heroes get to appear. Black Lightning,Captain Atom,Nightshade and so many others get appearances. Then you got Power Girl in a major role. With a sly joke about her best known feature when her,Batman and Superman have to goto a 13  year old genius to stop the Kryptonite meteor from hitting Earth.

I know there is a sequel. Which deals with what was in that meteor. Had that part spoiled for me already. Will track that sequel down soon.

Superman Batman Public Enemies gets a B-

Arak Son of Thunder Issue 1

 

TITLE-Arak Son of Thunder #1

SOURCE-DC Comics

Back in what I guess is the summer of 1981 this oddball comic came out. Now I was a kid back then and by 81 all I wanted from Comix was superheroes and horror. So that cover made me think this was another Conan the Barbarian ripoff from DC. I skipped it. Many times over the decades since I have found big runs of Arak in the cheap bins and just flipped past them. Then back in the spring was at a big annual community yardsale. One guy had a pile of longboxes. Got issue 1 for a buck. And few weeks back as I ate dinner I read this and now am on a quest to get the rest of the run.

Arak is a Native American. Who is found in a boat by some Vikings. He gots adopted by one of them and grows up to be one of their fiercest warriors. While on a raid on a monestary Arak rebels against a very cruel Viking and we get a small hint at where this series is going. The issue ends with Arak fighting a giant sea serpent.

Created by Roy Thomas and Ernie Colon Arak was as I figured when I was a kid another attempt by DC to get some of the Conan  audience Marvel had. First appearing in an issue of Warlord,which is a series I need to write about one day,Arak lasted a few years and from what I have seen is a good series that cause it wasn't a superhero comic when that was the big thing,has been forgotten.

Arak Son of Thunder issue 1 gets a B+

Swamp Thing by Rick Veitch Vol 1 Wild Things TPB

 

TITLE-Swamp Thing Vol1 Wild Thing

SOURCE-DC TPB

Oh yessss after years the start of the run of Rick Veitch writing and penciling Swamp Thing is back in TPB form.  This is a series I was reading back as it came out. Was one of the reasons I made sure each month to get to the comic shop.

After the stint out in space during Alan Moore's run the Parliment of Trees has started creating a new Earth Elemental. And Swamp Thing is in charge of finding it a host. 

Lots of set up for the future issues. And like the Moore run,Veitch takes some older forgotten DC characters and brings them back updated for the modern world of the 80s.

The art,with Alfredo Alcala on the inks,is amazing. With the Moore run the writing was amazing and so was the art. This time the story is just damn good,which on my scale is a bit below amazing. Now part of that might be this is the start of Veitch's run and stuff that felt dropped to me might get picked up in the next volume.

Swamp Thing By Rick Veitch vol 1 Wild Things gets a B.

Supergirl Being Super OGN

 

TITLE-Supergirl Being Super

SOURCE-DC Original Graphic Novel

I rarely read superhero comics from Marvel or DC anymore. Too many of them are so tied into other titles I feel like I need to read 10 comics to understand 1 that I want to read. But when I find Original Graphic Novels for cheap I will grab them.

About 2 months ago at the local library I found  this Supergirl OGN for sale. Was a former Library book. The books for sale is a name your price type thing. I just give them a buck for each book I grab.

Kara is a teenage girl. Enjoying her years in high school. She is part of the basketball team. Along with one of her best friends. And her other best friend is the studious but rebellious one.

See Kara was found in the field in  a spaceship. The couple that found her adopted her and been  raising her. And Kara has powers. She can fly, she is strong and nothing seems to hurt her.

Then weird stuff starts happening. Kara's coach gives her and her two best friends new watches. That are suppose to track their pulse and other things. But Kara and the rebellious friend are suspicious of these gifts.

Then an earthquake hits. Kara's basketball friend falls in the now open gap. Kara tries to save her using her powers but her powers fail. And we see that the coach runs a nearby secret lab. 

At this lab is another person like Kara. He is a Kryptonian that was sent to Earth to investigate it. He got captured and this lab has been running experiments on him to see if there is a way to use him and his powers as a fuel source.

This other alien talks Kara into going with him to raid the lab. We get a great fight. And by the end Kara realizes that while she might be Kryptonian by genetics she is an Earthling.

Well written and you can tell it is aimed at teens and young adults. It captures the feelings we all had as teens. That we didn't fit in. And nothing made sense. Mariko Tamaki is the writer and seems she is a New York Times best selling author.

The art is well done. My only complaint is the modern coloring done by computers hides some of the pencil and ink work. But I am slowly getting use to this new coloring but still not a big fan. Joelle Jones is the artist and is someone I will look for more of their work.

When I grabbed this the plan was read it whenever and then put it up for sale. Figuring at a buck I could ask 5 bucks and make a nice profit. Like a week after I bought Supergirl Being Super I pulled it out . Figuring I would read a few pages each night while eating dinner. Gotten into the habit of standing at the bar in the kitchen when I eat dinner. Usually got some music playing and I read a comic. I read while eating that night. Quickly cleaned the kitchen and did the dishes then went back to reading. Only reason I didn't finish this OGN that night was I had to be up early the next day.

I love how this works for any reader. You do not have to know about Supergirl or the DC universe for the story to make sense. But if you are knowledgable about either there is plenty of Easter Eggs through out the novel.

Supergirl Being Super gets a B.

Scooby Doo & Batman The Brave and the Bold DVD

 

TITLE-Scooby Doo & Batman The Brave and the Bold
SOURCE-WB DVD

Back when Brave and the Bold was airing I worked the night it aired. Would record it and when I got home  at 8am the next morning sit and watch it before going to bed. Fun show that combined the silliness of the Batman66 tv show with a great selection guest stars. Can't hate a show that produced at least 4 Plastic Man Figures.

In 2018 I saw this got released. Normally with these Scooby Doo movies I wait a year and find a used copy for a few bucks. This one I paid the full retail price.

Mystery Inc is trying to solve a mystery about a ghostly puppetmaster. When they do and learn the puppet master is Martian Manhunter and the puppet is Detective Chimp we learn this was a test. To see if Mystery Inc is good enough to join this mystery solving team Batman has formed. And what a team,the Question,Plastic Man,Black Canery,Aquaman and the previously mentioned Detective Chimp and Johnn Jozz.

Batman has 1 unsolved mystery from early in his career. And this film is about how him and the Scooby Gang solve this mystery.

Loaded with cameos and references that the comic fans and older Scooby fan will love. My favorite is the gang being told to goto the "Corner of Spears and Ruby." 

Now I haven't watched this since I got it 6 years ago. And until 10 minutes from the ending I had forgotten who the big bad was. The Crimson Cowl,who I nicknamed Red Booger,is a interesting attempt at creating a new Batman Rogue. At least I think he is new.

Good animation,good voice acting and with this being a tiny bit over 70s minutes a good length. Extras are the 2 episodes of the New Scooby Doo Movies show with Batman and Robin.

Scooby Doo & Batman The Brave & The Bold gets a B+

Wonder Woman DVD

 

TITLE-Wonder Woman

SOURCE-Double Feature WB DVD

Years back when Wonder Woman came out I skipped it. Lots of it having to do with me just not enjoying most DC movies.

But yea part of it is I have never been a huge Wonder Woman fan. As a kid growing up in the 70s I saw her on Superfriends and the live action Linda Carter TV show. But when I would find her comic it was eitheer issues from the Kung fu era or she was fighting the dumbest villains ever.

Really it wasn't until her revamp after Crisis on Infinite Earths by George Perez that I really enjoyed Wonder Woman in comics. 

Add in how she was portrayed in the Justice League and then JLU sequel series I was a small fan.

Set back during World War 1 this movie from my memory of it shows Wonder Woman's origin as it was back in the pre-Crisis days.

Born from clay on Paradise Island. Heads to man's land after Steve Trevor lands on the island during WW1. And becomes Diana Prince.

What this film does so well is takes that basic story that I had been told in 8 pages in a reprint and makes it a fully fleshed out movie with 3 acts. And this was 2 hours 20 somethng minutes and didn't feel padded or bloated like most other capeshit films.

Our leads are all great in their roles. Gal is a believable Wonder Woman. I was worried cause she isn't as big as say Linda Carter was. But she makes it work. The guy playing Steve is good. Balancing comedy and heroism. And Ares oh so damn good.

Great battle scenes. The one with Wonder Woman jumping out of a trench and just runniing full force at a machine gun nest is so well shot,edited and everything.

Hearing the sequel isn't nearly as good. Got it on this DVD pack with the first one cheap.

Wonder Woman gets a B+

Shazam Fury of the Gods DVD

 

TITLE-Shazam Fury of the Gods

SOURCE-WB DVD

Never noticed back then but in the late 70s when I was a young kid DC was pushing Captain Marvel,AKA Shazam now,hard. Live action SatAM show. Cartoon,new comic,piles of merch. And it never seemed to work.

Then a few years ago a Shazam film came out and like I do with so many of these capestuff movies I buy it let it sit on my shelf for a long time then watch it. Loved it and when I found the second film cheap not that long ago I grabbed it.

Got told "Go find us a Marvel movie we haven't seen off the comic book movie shelf". Grabbed Shazam Fury of the Gods cause well they are the MARVEL family.

Billy and the rest of the Marvel family still living with their foster family. Helen Mirren and Lucy Liu show up in Greece and get the wizards staff from the first film. Get the wizard to repair it and put a bubble up around the city.

While this is going on Freddy is trying to impress the new girl at school,who turns out to be the sister of Helen and Lucy. Mary Marvel is about to head off to college and the rest of the Marvel Family has their various issues.

Seems the three sisters are the Daughters of Atlas. And are trying to take over the mortal world. 

Big battles ,decent FX work,a cool looking dragon. And we are lead to believe Billy has died. But a cameo from another DC Heroine saves the day.

Yea this ain't nearly as good as the first film. Not sure what is missing. Story,acting and FX work are all good. Also it is LONG. Like at least 20 minutes longer than needed. 

Shazam Fury of the Gods gets a C+

Teen Titans Go Vol 1 Party,Party TPB

 

TITLE-Teen Titans Go VOL Party,Party
SOURCE-DC TPB

Yea I know the cartoon is hated. I saw it here and there and it was ok at best. This tpb supposedly reprints the first 6 isssues of the Teen Titans Go comics series.

You get a pile of 4 to 8 page stories. Imagine the old Archie digests but the stories got a slight superhero bend to them. And you will get cameos from people like Red Bee and Darkseid.

The art ? It looks like the cartoon so it works. The stories? They aren't bad. Lots of pop culture references. Like the story about the team going on a America's Got Talent like show,and facing the Brotherhood of Evil.

Or the really well done Slumber Party story. Starfire,Raven,Jynx and Bumblebee are having a slumber party. The guys all get sent out. And wacky hijynx happen.

Never would have bought this for cover price. 13 bucks when you factor in sales tax. The buck or so I paid is about what it was worth to me.

Cause these short stories made perfect reading material for when eating or when on the throne.

Teen Titans Go Vol 1 Party,Party gets a C+

The New Adventures of Batman The Complete Collection Blu Ray

TITLE-The New Adventures of Batman Complete Collection

SOURCE-Warner Brothers Blu Ray

I would have loved to been a kid in the past 20 years. When you got a new comic movie or tv show almost every month. Back in the mid to late 70s I was lucky if every 5 years we got a new cartoon. Which is why when this Batman cartoon debuted in the late 70s I was there every Saturday to see it. Loving Bat Mite and wondering why Bat Mite wasn't appearing in Superfriends on ABC.

Then the show stopped airing and I just forgot about it. Sometime in the late 80s had just got in my new CBG issue,Comic Buyers Guide,and in the classifieds saw someone selling COLLECTOR copies of this series on VHS. Not wanting to take a chance I passed.

Then I found this blu ray set cheap. And found the show is mixed bag to me know. It has the goofy plots of the Batman 66 tv show,which makes sense with Adam West and Burt Ward voicing Batman and Robin in this. 

Thinking this has to be the first Batgirl in animation. She is decent  in here. And very much like her Batman 66 portrayal.

With only 16 episodes they didnt go through that much of Batman's rogues gallery. You get Joker of course,and Penguin. Mr Freeze,who is one that became bigger thanks to BTAS. And a odd costume for Catwoman that I only remember seeing on this show.

As  a kid seeing this once a week and not having much else that was comic book related ot watch I loved it. Now seeing all 16 episodes over a weekend and it's flaws are very much there in your face often.

The prints used look and sound good. Only extra is a 18 minute short titled The Dark Knight Revisited. I think I have seen this before on another set. You get the same talking heads you got on all the Batman the Animated Series BTS extras on those releases.

The New Adventures of Batman Complete Collection Blu ray gets a C-.

 

Lego Justice League Attack of the Legion of Doom

TITLE-Lego Justice League Attack of the Legion of Doom

SOURCE-WB DVD

Late last year while grabbing sharpies and snacks for a indie show at Dollar Tree I spotted a stack of DVDs. This one came with a lego figure of the Trickster. So figured $1.25 for a figure and a dvd I would take the chance.

And like lots of DVDs I buy it sat in the unwatched pile for months. Then the other day was told "Find something goofy to watch before dinner." This was the first thing I thought of.

The Justice League has a new threat. Like in the Superfriends cartoon I loved as a kid it is a grouping of all the big villains. THE LEGION OF DOOM! and they even have thier Darth Vader helmet looking HQ.

This somewhat plays out like 3 connected episodes of a Lego Justice League tv show. With every 24 minutes a conflict being resolved and we get more clues as to why this one General is so against Aliens.

Decently animated and with a pile of inside jokes for the grownups watching,this turned out to be a decent way to pass an hour and a half. 

Only extra is a 20 or so minute look at the foley work done for the movie. At first I figured I might watch 4 minutes of this then skip the rest. Nope it kept my attention it's full run.

Not sure I would have paid the 15 or so bucks this sold for when it came out. But for barely over a buck and I got a Tricker Lego figure,who is on a shelf in the kitchen above one of the two freezers,this was worth seeing.

No clue if this is one of the DC animated movies on MAX. If not check your local Dollar Tree for a copy.

Lego Justice League Attack of the Legion of Doom gets a B-.
 

Constantine VOL 2

 

TITLE-Constatine VOL 2 Blight

PUBLISHER-DC Comics

While I have read a pile of Hellblazer,I have never read any of the John Constantine that came out after that long running ended.

This TPB collects the second batch of 6 issues from what is pretty much VOL 2 of Hellblazer.

JL Dark,the magic based JLA team,is all missing. Mister E is going and killing ever magic user on Earth. Absorbing their powers. And he is coming after Constantine next.

Being a Hellblazer comic of course while managing to survive this attack John also gets screwed. Now in debt to the daughter of Sargon the Sorcerer. Plus Constantine is no closer to finding where Zartana has disappeared too.

That is the first 2 issues of this trade. With the following 5 covering the Forever Evil event. 

John makes a backup JL Dark,which is Swamp thing,Nightmare Nurse and Phantom Stranger. They head to the outskirts of Heaven to maybe get help. 

The Spectre and Zurial stop John from entering Heaven. After meeting up with God,who appears as a Scotty Dog,John figured out what he has to do next.

Someone from John's past has been putting all this in motion. John now knows where Zartana is and what he has to do.

And while John and the rag tag team manage to defeat the evil mastermind it seems like once again John Constantine has to sacrifice to get the victory.

The writing was way better than I expected. This being connected to the proper DC universe I knew it might be toned down from what I got use to in the Hellblazer run. Really it didn't feel that much different than a story from that run.

The art,covers and interiors,were all nice to look at. Lots more bright colors than I am use to in a Constantine comic. And still it was good. 

Constantine Blight TPB gets a B+

Blue Beetle Graduation Day TPB

 

TITLE-Blue Beetle Graduation Day

FORMAT-Trade Paperback

Back earlier in 2023 I heard a Blue Beetle movie was coming out. Then heard it wasn't gonna be Ted Kord as Beetle and I figured ok I will just wait till the film hits streaming to watch it. Cause while I have been told the current Blue Beetle(Jaime Reyes) is a unique take on this generational hero I rather not pay 12 bucks for a ticket to a movie with a version of a hero I am not use to.

Then not long before the film came out I was in Walmart,one of the major drawbacks of living outside a small town is there isn't many places to shop. And in the book section I saw the TPB pictured up above. A TPB that reprints the 6 issue long Blue Beetle Graduation Day mini series. And included a HUGE pull out poster. With it only being 15 bucks for the TPB I took a chance. IE I bought it tossed it onto the "To Read one day" pile and forgot about it.

Not many months into 2023 my mother let me know she didn't feel like she should drive anymore. Which means when she has to go see her doctors I now drive her. No biggie. Back in September she had an appointment to see one of her many doctors,nothing major just a check up to make sure her meds were working. Knowing that usually waiting rooms have nothing worth reading and if there is a TV it is tuned into a News channel when I have to drive Mom to an appointment I will load a few podcasts up onto my tablet and bring a comic book hardcover/TPB/OGN with me to read.

This day I over slept. Got up and instead of having an hour or so to get ready I had 20 minutes. Instead of my normal going through my unread pile and narrowing it down to 2 or 3 books I just grabbed the first TPB that caught my eye.

Get her to her appointment 10 minutes early. Sit down put on the newest episode of The Movie Graveyard podcast and started reading my first Jaime Reyes Blue Beetle comic.

In what felt like 10 minutes,turned out to be closer to an hour,Mom was done and I still had 2 issues to read. And as soon as I got home I made lunch and sat down and finished this TPB.

Now sure I knew the basics of Jaime becoming the new BB. And I have always enjoyed how DC has different generations of a hero. Like how there has been what 4 or 5 official Robins so far. As a kid and teen I had read the second Blue Beetle,TeD Kord,in his own series then his time in the Justice League. This 6 issue collection does a good job  of not only explaining Jaime and his family but also showing what makes Jaime different from the two previous Blue Beetles.

Jaime is suppose to be at his high school graduation,nope he is off fighting a super villain. And in this battle which only lasts a few pages the writer,Josh Trujillo, gives a good glimpse into Jaime's personality. For me he reminds me of how Stan Lee wrote Peter Parker for those first 50 issues.

After defeating the villain Reyes heads off to his graduation. Here is a minor complaint I have about this mini series. Jaime Reyes and his family speak Spanish  in this comic. Cool. But we are not given a translation. Yea I took 2 years of Spanish in high school. Like with any skill if you don't use it often you lose your ability in it. And after halfway learning Spanish I didn't use that skill for so long the only Spanish I remember is all lucha libre terms. 

And this is why in an hour I only got 4 issues read. I was having to stop get my phone and use Google Translate to find out what was being said. Normally the average comic from DC or Marvel I can read an issue in 4 to 7 minutes tops. This one was taking me much longer cause of having to pause to translate.

Reyes family hates him being in danger cause of his powers. Which are supplied by a Scarab. And Jamie is sent off to live with family in another town for the summer. Plus Superman meets up with Jaime and after a talk we are given the impression that Jaime is more powerful than he knows.

These 6 issues do what they are suppose to do. Introduce us to this new Blue Beetle. Give us various future story ideas. And if what I have read about the Blue Beetle movie is true these 6 issues were changed a bit and that is what the film is based on.

Adrian Gutierrez hands the pencils and now he is a name I will look out for. The art is a neat mixture of manga style with modern Capeshit style. 

This collection also did what I am assuming they wanted it to do. Give the people that see the Blue Beetle a easy entry into the Blue Beetle comics.  Cause that is an issue with Comic Book Movies. Think about it this way,say you see a few of the X-men films and now want to read the comics. Where do you start with X-men? And having read the X-titles for over a decade straight I can't think of a great starting point. Blue Beetle Graduation Day TPB is that great starting point. 

After finishing this TPB I went and added the next one to my wishlist. Planning on one day ordering it.

Blue Beetle Graduation Day TPB gets a C+. 

SGT Rock vs The Army of the Dead

 

TITLE-DC Horror SGT. Rock VS The Army of the Dead

FORMAT-Hardcover

Over the past 4 years I have re-discovered my love for the War genre of comic books. I have a circuit of thrifts/junkstores/pawn shops/antique malls I hit up a few times a month. At one at the booth where I normally find comics and dvds cheap I saw a huge stack of late 70s/early 80s Charlton War comics. Grabbed an issue with a Vietnam War cover. 

Then as sometimes happens that comic sat unread for over a year. Late one night when I couldn't sleep I did what I have always done if it is late and I can't sleep. I grabbed a stack of unread comics and sat at the bar in my kitchen listening to music and reading. 

After reading that Charton war comic,Battlefield Action, I went and set my clock. I wanted to get up and be back at that Antique Mall as soon as it opened. Knowing that odds are good most of those war comics are still there.

3 hours of sleep and I am off ot Vendors,yes the Antique Mall I wrote about close to 10 years ago. Go straight to the booth and not only is those Charlton War books there but so is a nice stack of DC War titles.  And seeing a cover of Sgt Rock I had a memory flash back on me.

When I was a kid on my mother's side I was the only grandchild for right at 6 years. Usually once a month my parents would drop me off at my Grandparents' home on Friday and I would stay there until Sunday or Monday. And every Sunday after Church Grandpa would drop Grannie off at the house then him and I would walk to a local newstand. Grandpa would grab the local Sunday paper and the New Orleans Sunday paper. Tell me "Grab you some comics." Which I quickly learned grab 3 bucks worth of  comics,and back then that was 4 to 6 comics. And Grandpa would grab either a SSgt Rock or GI Combat comic. If there was none of those he would grab whatever Charlton War comic was available and had a WWII story.

Sure as a kid I knew Grandpa had served in the  navy. But I really had no clue that this World War II I was reading about was the time when Grandpa served.

Once back to the house,while Grannie made us lunch Grandpa would read his comic and newspapers. Then he would have me read him at least a story or two out of whatever comic Grandpa got.

So I am standing in Vendors,head full of memories of my now dead Grandpa. I bought every war comic in the bin. And since I have learned how much fun these comics could be.

In early 2023 I heard about how Bruce "Ash from Evil Dead" Campbell was writing a Sgt Rock mini series for DC. Thought it was odd that an actor mostly known for horror&comedy was writing a war comic. Then saw this mini series would be part of the DC Horror line.

With the mini series being 6 issues and the average comic now priced at almost 5 bucks an issue I decided to wait till this mini came out as a TPB. I love horror and love SGT Rock. But wasn't ready to drop 30 bucks to read a story. Not when I knew the TPB would be 20 bucks.

Skip ahead to a few days after Xmas 2023.Flush with Amazon giftcards,and wanting comics to read I saw that not only was SGt Rock vs the army  of the dead was out in collected form but also Amazon had the hardcover for cheap. Thinking it was 12 bucks shipped. Ordered it along with a pile of other TPBs.

Been after dinner a few nights a week sitting at the bar listening to a podcast or music and reading a tpb/hardcover/OGN out of my huge unread stack. The day Sgt Rock came to the house I was reading it while having dinner.

Under that gorgeous Gary Frank cover to issue 1 this tale starts. Nearing the end of the war Germany is losing. Low on supplies and troops Adolph Hitler has one last hope. One of his scientist thinks he has come up with a way to reanimate the dead.

After some US soldiers encounter these Zombie Nazis the comic gets going. Sgt Rock and Easy Company are stuck with a boring duty. When Rock gets a message telling him they are needed for a top secret mission he is ready.

In this first issue Bruce Campbell shows he is a Sgt Rock fan. This series is made for the older audience. Which means we get an unrestricted war book. And Bruce uses this to give us the SGT Rock that was always hinted at in the old series.

Rock and Easy get outfitted with top of the line weapons and gear. Then are told what they have to do. They gotta go deep behind enemy lines And do whatever it takes to destroy the Nazi Zombies and how they are being created.

Issues 2,3,4&5 are just jam packed with action. Pages full of Easy Company doing what they do best. Killing Nazis! With issue 6 containing what we have all been waiting for. A fight that anyone that has ever read any SGT Rock before has wanted to see. Sgt Rock vs Hitler during the last days of World War II.

The twist is this Adolph Hitler has been injected with the serum that reanimates the dead. Yep Zombie Hitler vs SGT Rock!!

Of course SGT Rock wins. Hitler dies. Skip ahead and Rock is in the hospital recovering. Where we get a hint that we might get another SGT Rock mini series. 

Yea the story is damn good,the art is really good. And let me speak on the art a bit. The main covers,this series had a pile of variant covers,are by Gary Frank. An  artist I have enjoyed since the 90s. The interiors are by Eduardo Risso. Eduardo's art is nice. Has this dark feel to it that works well with the horror story.  My only real complaint about this hardcover is I do wish Gary Frank had did the interior art.

Being a hardcover I was expecting this to have some extras. Which it does. The art above is one of the variant covers. And a pile of variant covers are reprinted after the main story. Another extra and I have noticed DC does this often,is under the dust jacket on the front cover is an Army Sgt's rank patch. Little small things like this make this Hardcover stand out.

If you like horror comics grab this and read it. If you like war comics grab this and read it. 

DC Horror SGT Rock vs The Army of the Dead Hardcover gets a B+

Lobo Portrait of a Victim

 

TITLE-Lobo Portrait of a Victim

PUBLISHER-DC Comics

Oh Lobo. DC's 90s era bad boy. For about 5 years Lobo was huge. He had a monthly title some mini series and a pile of one shots. There was even a 16 bit video  game  made for Lobo,that never got an official release.

He is a intergalactic bounty Hunter. Lobo loves to  drink booze bang woman and kill people.

Back when Lobo was at his  peak  of popularity I read a few issues. But by 93 when this one shot hit the stands,I was too busy buying  piles of indies comics to bother with some "capeshit" from DC.

Like most Lobo comics the story is simple. A husband is tired of his screechign wife and screaming kids. So he goes to join some of his old buddies for a night  out on the town.

They happen to stumble into a bar where Lobo is drinking. And Lobo joins them for their poker game.

Of course stuff keeps happening which angers Lobo. And causes Lobo to attack the dudes his playing cards with.

The late Alan Grant is the writer,and he wrote a pile of  90s Lobo stuff. Val Semieks does the pencils.

I am guessing Lobo made DC a pile of money during the 90s comic boom. Like this one shot,cover price is $1.50. By 93 most comics were a buck or $1.25. DC knew  the diehard Lobo fans would pay whatever for a new Lobo Book. 

Hell I remember DC putting out a TPB collection. IIRC it was 3 trades,one contained the first Lobo Mini series. The second trade contained the second Lobo mini series. Then that third trade,which has never been reprinted,contains THe Wit and Wisdom of Lobo. This is a 80 to 100 page TPB that is full of blank pages. Cause hell it is  Lobo there is no Wit and Wisdom.

Lobo Portrait of a Victim gets a B+

2017 Comic Challenge 215 Dark Knight The Master Race #08

TITLE-Dark Knight III The Master Race #08
PUBLISHER-DC Comics

Almost at the end,one more issue,and this issue is mostly building towards that final issue.

Batman,fresh from the Lazurus pit is reunited with Carrie Kelly. And during this Wonder Woman and the Amazons prepare for the Kryptonians attack.

Honestly the main part of this issue is kind of boring. Nothing much happens. The art is nice and I get that the writers are trying to build up for the final issue.

The back up story isn't much better.It happens a bit ago and Batman and Carrie meet up with the female commissioner.

As I have said a few times before I should have waited until this series was over and bought the trade.

Dark Knight III The Master Race #08 gets a borrow.

2016 Comic Challenge 293 Dark Knight III The Master Race #07

TITLE-Dark Knight III The Master Race #07
PUBLISHER-DC Comics

Batman is dead and Superman is rushing him off somewhere. I do love how Miller sees Superman,all powerful but boring and in the end not nearly effective as he should be.

Back in Gotham,Carrie Kelly finds out Bruce is dead. Ends up meeting with the Commissioner on the roof of the Gotham Police HQ. After a lengthily discussion on if what all just happened was worth it,Carrie is says it is the Commissioner seems to think it wasn't,Kelly leaves. To bury the dead,but as a parting line makes sure the police know she will provide them with a new bat signal.

We go back to Superman with the now dead Batman. They enter a cave and Superman tosses Batman  into what I am assuming is a Lazurus Pit. Cause a younger and alive Bruce Wayne comes out of it.

The daughter of Superman and Wonder Woman,this girl's name will not stick in my memory,is recovering with the rest of the surviving Kandorians. Gets told to go get her brother.

She arrives on Paradise Island. Manages to see and talk to her baby brother,before her mother shows up. The daughter thinks cause she has a surprise army of Kandorians waiting on her word she is good to go. But Diana has gathered an massive army of Amazons.

And so ends the main part of the book. Like every other issue we get a shorter back up story. Spotlighting someone that doesn't get much attention in the main story. This time it is Hal Jordan. In the main story we see a man all bundled up crossing a desert. Turns out it is Hal and he is searching for his ring. Gotta love that Miller drew all of this back up.

Dark Knight III The Master Race #07 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.

31 Days of Horror 2016 Day 25 Swamp Thing

Title-Swamp Thing
Source-Uncut first release MGM DVD

Yeah I know the cover above isn't the cover on the DVD,but it looks so much better. I got lucky 6 years ago and got the uncut first release of the film for $5. The first DVD release in the States was of the R rated cut,which mostly got the R cause of a few instances of nudity. Some parent complained,cause the back of the DVD case said PG.

Alec Holland is a scientist way out in the swamps of Louisiana. And he is working on a top secret new chemical. He finishes it about the time Alice Cable comes to visit. When Anton Arcane shows up. He wants the formula. A fight breaks out and Alec ends up covered in the new chemical and out in the swamp. And it is assumed he has died.

But he didn't. He comes back as the plant creature Swamp Thing. The rest of the film is Arcane trying to capture Swamp Thing,and Swamp Thing and Alice falling in love.

Now I remember this film kind of bombing,but it did good enough to get a sequel years later, Then a TV series that lasted 3 or 4 years on USA. One good thing that came out of this film was with a Swamp Thing film in theaters DC wanted a Swamp Thing comic on the stands. So the Saga of Swamp Thing title started. Which in a bit less than 2 years later got taken over by Alan Moore and became one of the best comics to come out from the big 2 in the 80s.

Swamp Thing gets a B-