2016 Comic Challenge 246 Afterlife with Archie #10

TITLE-Afterlife with Archie #10
PUBLISHER-Archie

I knew it would happen,that finally a crappy issue of this series would come out. And what a pile of crap this one is.

Instead of continuing on the main story,the one we are lucky if we get 2 issues of a year,we get what really feels like a fill in issue.

Before the zombie outbreak a reporter is out west interviewing Josie of Josie and the Pussycats. The rest of the issue a 3rd rate hack of the highly over-rated Interview with  the Vampire book from Anne Rice.

The art was great as always,but really there was no need for this issue. Not when we are lucky to get 3 or so a year.

Afterlife with Archie #10 gets a borrow.

2016 Comic Challenge 245 The Walking Dead #158

TITLE-The Walking Dead #158
PUBLISHER-Image

Part 2 of the Whisperers war is out.Gabriel is on lookout when he falls,loses his rifle and breaks his ankle. So he is left hanging there as a herd of walkers and Whisperers go by. One of the more gruesome deaths in this comic in a long ass time.

Out on the frontlines Dwight has a line of troops ready. Negan is with them but unarmed. Then the herd gets to them. Thanks to some flanking manuevers and Negan's quick thinking most of them manage to escape.

But it looks like this war has just begun. Like pretty much every month Kirkman and Adlard have me gladly forking over right at 4 bucks for my fix.

The Walking Dead #158 gets a buy.

2016 Comic Challenge 244 Jughead #09

TITLE-Jughead #09
PUBLISHER-Archie Comics

After 8 issues we get a new writer Ryan North. The story starts off with the gang heading to Pop's. And out front is a lady dressed as a burger helping drum up business for Pop's Chok-o-lot shop.

Jughead falls in love with Burgergirl. And over the course of a few weeks gets to know her. Oddly our titular lead agrees to go out on a date with her.

So he goes to the rest of the gang asked for dating advice. Not surprisingly Betty Cooper gives the best advice.

Jughead shows up for his date and we are all shocked when Burgergirl turns out to be Sabrina the teenage witch.

No idea how long this story will be. But it has me already since Sabrina is in the story. I do wonder overall how these revamping of classic comics are working out for Archie. I see way more talk online about Archie's stuff that I have in decades.But at least at my local comic shop they only order one copy of any Archie title that isn't Sonic or Afterlife.

Jughead #09 gets a buy.

2016 Comic Challenge 243 Old Man Logan #10

TITLE-Old Man Logan #10
PUBLISHER-Marvel

So in the present Logan is stuck in the bottom of a deep well. One one of the Silent Order,who are monks not Ninjas like I said before,armed with a bow and arrows at the top.

In the present we get Logan making his way to the top of the well. Where as in the past,which is the future for us but Logan's past,him and Maureen get captured by the Silent Order. And Logan reveals some of his powers to Maureen.

This is one of the best Marvel titles I have read in a very long time. Lemire has so far managed to stay true to the original Old Man Logan story,while filling in gaps.

Old Man Logan #10 gets a buy.

2016 Comic Challenge 242 Old Man Logan #09

TITLE-Old Man Logan #09
PUBLISHER-Marvel

Logan is using the old Patch alias and trying to find Lady Deathstrike. He gets double crossed and ends up massacring a huge amount of guys.He does get a clue as to where Deathstrike might be hiding and heads to what  turns out to be a ghost village.

Then spread through out the issue we get glimpses in Logan's past. Seems while on the run years ago he ended up in Japan. In a ghost town and ran into an order of what I assume are ninjas. Of course the same thing happens in the present day part of the comic.

Lemire has managed to keep this title interesting for 9 issues so far. I am hoping he has a long run that stays of this quality.

Old Man Logan #09 gets a buy.

2016 Comic Challenge 241 Rocket Raccoon #3

TITLE-Rocket Raccoon #03
PUBLISHER-Marvel

Back in the 80s Marvel started doing 4 issue mini series for what seemed like every character they owned.At the time I wondered why all of the sudden and for only IIRC was 3 years this happened. From what I can find out it was Marvel's way to try to get a bigger market share as a defense against all the new indy comics that were gaining in  popularity.

Anyways Rocket Raccoon at the time was kind of obscure. He had appeared a few times before this. Seems like this mini happened mostly cause Mike Mignola really wanted to do something with Rocket and Marvel wanted more stuff from Mignola.

Now I did read all four issues back in the early 90s,back when lots of those Marvel minis were moved to the quarter bins. But I do not remember much about it. This issue works ok I guess as a standalone. The art is really the main reason to track this down. I am guessing since the mega rise in profile of Rocket Raccoon this formerly cheap mini might not be in the cheap bins anymore.

Rocket Raccoon #03 gets a buy.

2016 Comic Challenge 240 Adventure Comics #463

TITLE-Adventure Comics #463
PUBLISHER-DC Comics

Look at that line up on the cover. Flash,Wonder Woman,DEADMAN!!!,Aquaman,Dr Fate!!!!,Powergirl!!!! and Jay Garrick Flash. FUck that is beautiful.Then the added bonus of this being 68 pages and NO ADS COVER TO COVER!! And all for a buck. Makes me miss the early days of my comic collecting habit. Not that in 79 would I have spent a buck on a comic. Hell no! My weekly allowance was only a buck. I could get 2 comics for that price.

For years I had heard of Spanish Trail Books in Gautier MS. But never knew where it was located.Then right at 10 years ago I was in Biloxi going to have lunch with an Aunt who worked at a bank in downtown Biloxi. On the ride there I saw that there was a Spanish Trail Books right down the street from the bank. So after eating I came back and went inside to see what all they had. After meeting and talking to the owner for a bit she tells me "Most of the comics are in the back room. Go on  back and take a look." I go look and there is 20 longboxes of Silver and Bronze age DC and Marvel stuff.Most of it in great shape. But no prices. I asked her about the prices and got told "I have no clue what he wants for them just make an offer." Knowing I couldn't afford any of that stuff I was happy when I found a box of reader copies of piles of late 70s and early 80s stuff.Having had loved Adventure Comics,thanks to reading it during it's digest days as a kid,I grabbed this issue. Having no idea what it was worth I figure offering her 3 bucks was decent and she would more than likely want at least 5 for it,which I was willing to pay. I bring it up to the counter. She looks at it "How about cover price?" I happily hand her the buck and head out. Planning on coming back anytime I was in the area. Sadly not long after that the entire store got fire and smoke damage and closed down.

Honestly the stories and art are pretty standard late 70s DC. By that time DC was actually producing some superhero stuff I enjoyed reading. The JSA and Deadman stories are the best in the issue. I might be a bit biased but the Aquaman story is the worst.

Adventure Comics #463 gets a borrow.

2016 Comic Challenge 239 The Survivalist Chronicles #03

TITLE-The Survivalist Chronicles #03
PUBLISHER-Survival Art Press

Yep another issue of the series that drips 80s,The Survivalist Chronicles.Our titular band of survivors has made a deal with the local tribe.Plus they have added a doctor to their group. So things are looking up.

At the same time a bunch of Russian paratroopers are dropped into the same area. So now we got the US military,the bounty hunters and the Russians all in the area and ready to kill.

I really hope there is an issue #04 and I can find it. Cause this is getting pretty interesting.

The Survivalist Chronicles #03 gets a Borrow!

2016 Comic Challenge 238 The Survivalist Chronicles #02

TITLE-The Survivalist Chronicles #02
PUBLISHER-Survival Art Press

Never heard of this title,the company or anyone involved in it before.But honestly that is what I look for when I am digging through cheap bins. Those titles that have been forgotten.

I read the first issue a few days ago. And while it was fresh in my memory,the first few pages of this issue do a good job of catching you up if you missed the first issue.

Set after a nuclear attack happens on the continental US shores,this comic is about ,duh,a band of survivalists. Who with their families have moved way out in the woods.

In this issue ,after having found a new home last issue,they discover they aren't alone in the valley. A tribe of Native Americans live in the valley and want these newcomers gone.

We also find out that what is left of the US government has sent a huge group of bounty hunters up into the woods to flush out anyone in that area.

Ronald F. Ledwell does the art and writing. The art is nice. Black and white,except for the covers,and has a moody feel.The story isn't bad. There is a lot of dialogue to read. Plus I am pretty sure this comic is a bit longer than the normal 20 to 22 page comic that was coming out in 1981.

I am guessing since this was coming out when the direct market was still tiny is a main reason why I have never heard of this series. I am gonna see if there is any issues of this series that I don't have. Oh almost forgot,there is a few ads in the issue for other titles from Survival Art Press.One is for a title called Waffen SS,I am guessing it is a WWII title.And another for In Country Nam. Gonna try to track down at least an issue of both series to try them out.

The Survivalist Chronicles #02 gets a borrow.

2016 Comic Challenge 237 Buried Terror #01

TITLE-Buried Terror #01
PUBLISHER-NEC Comics

While NEC is mostly known for publishing all the various Tick comics,they also for awhile had a line of pre-code horror reprint titles. Buried Terror was one of the last of this line.

Thankfully the interior art is much better than that cover. Sure it's horrible,but it just looks like something a bored fanboy would doodle in 7th grade study hall.

Now all these stories in Buried Terror are reprinted in b/w. Which to me isn't a big deal,but I know it can be a issue with some comic fans.The first story is Curse Castle.Which is drawn by the amazing Bob Powell.I discovered Bob Powell through all those various pre-code reprint titles that Eclipse was putting out in the 80s. The story is nothing special,but the art makes up for that.

Up next is Fog was my Shroud.A post Nuke story.The art is thought to be done by Robert Webb. A name I do not know. It is a decent sci fi horror story from the latter years before the Code took over.

Webb supposedly does the next story,In a Lonely Place. Which is decent. A bit short but decent.

The final story is Happily Dead. Which takes a neat twist on the living dead gimmick.

But my favorite part of the issues is the many pages on the history of Ajax comics. Thanks to the Digital Comics Museum I have gotten into the Ajax pre-code horror stuff.This article is well written and full of info.

Buried Terror #01 gets a BUY!