MY LOVE AFFAIR WITH COMIC BOOKS Chapter 19

FIFTEEN BOOKS!!!
After two weeks of pretty light stuff, we get fifteen books! Sheesh! Okay, some of these are going to be pretty brief. I'm not writing War And Peace here.
Again many thanks to Fanfare for the great service we always get there.
Ready?
I'm not.
Let's go.

INVADER ZIM #20

An issue of Zim and Gir binge watching a stupid cartoon? How can that be funny? Trust me, it's laugh out loud hilarious.

UNCANNY AVENGERS #24

Since I am not partaking in the newest event at Marvel all I know is a black dome full of monsters has enveloped New York with our team inside. Minus Quicksilver who can't breach the dome. The artwork is awesome and the story works. It's The Avengers doing what they do best...saving mankind.

THE UNBEATABLE SQUIRREL GIRL #21

It's boys night out with Koi Boy, Chipmunk Hunk and Brain Drain. They have to keep New York safe while Squirrel Girl is away. I love Brain Drain, he is so funny. A great issue.

HULK #

After last issue I decided this book needed a chance and I'm glad I took it. Jen is coming to terms with her new incarnation of her gamma personality and Hellcat is always a welcome presence. Probably the most original Hulk book to ever come out of Marvel.

GENERATION X #3

Face is attacked and the team has to reluctantly use their powers to find out what is attacking mutants in Central Park. This is a good foundation issue of the book and I love that I have no idea who most of these people are.

BLACK PANTHER AND THE CREW #3

A little chatty and Hydra manages to make an appearance, but an interesting component in what has become a six issue mini series.

PREDATOR VS JUDGE DREDD VS ALIENS #4

This book took forever, right. Yeah, but it's Dredd being Dredd and he does what he always does...save the day. Even if he's not happy having to work with Predators.

WONDER WOMAN #24

They have all returned from Themyscria and it isn't all that happy. Dr. Cale has lost her daughter forever. Diana has lost her mother and her people for all time and Cheetah knows that if she wants to remain in her feral form forever she must kill Dr. Cale. It's a great ending, in a downer kind of way, but it works. The last words that Wonder Woman speaks to Dr. Cale are simply brutal.

SCOOBY APOCALYPSE #14

Scrappy Doo catches up to the gang and demands Velma to fix him before he loses his intelligence forever. The monster horde all seem to be heading somewhere and when they get there...we will have to wait until next issue. This was a good issue with a really awesome cliff hanger.

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #8

The team goes to a Savage Land kind of place and rescue a man raised by monsters. Comes across as a Tarzan kind of thing and they bring him to civilization which is exactly what he wanted all along. Good book, a set up for the next issue, which is fine. We get a little character development slipped into the pages, but not a lot.

THE FLASH #24

While The Flash and Green Lantern finish off Multiplex, Reverse Flash destroys Kid Flash and takes Iris to the future. I like how the art work reminds me of Carmine Infantino. And one of the artists first name is Carmine. Small world.

BUG! THE ADVENTURES OF FORAGER #2

Bug is back in WWII and has heroic company in the form of the original Sandman with his sidekick Sandy and the original Blue Beetle as they fight a madman bent on world domination. No, not Hitler.  The Losers come along for the ride in what is really the most fun I've had in a DC book in a while.

BATGIRL AND THE BIRDS OF PREY #11

The girls think that their new Oracle has sold them out, but he is working with The Calculator who desperately needs their help to save his family. Plays like Oracle's origin story and it's pretty good.

GODSHAPER #3

We get some insight on how each person gets their own God and we get to the point where the mystery of Bud may just be revealed. Because a God without a worshipper should be gone from this mortal coil and he isn't.

COMIC BOOK OF THE WEEK

JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS #26

I had to give this one to this book. It's over and it's sad, but they ended well. Now, after the last issue of Coady and The Creepies comes out this week all we have is Josie and the Pussycats. This has been a great book and it ends on a high note like last weeks Misfits did.
I'll still miss it.



Okay, that's it. Hope there's something in here you liked. Go read a comic book. I hope next week isn't this intense.
Seeya!

MY LOVE AFFAIR WITH COMIC BOOKS Chapter 18

So, another tiny week. I bought a new book that shall not be mentioned here (GWAR) that I thought would be good. It wasn't. Remember Fanfare is the place if you live in Kalamazoo or surrounding areas to get all your comics.
This was kind of a thin week.
Here we go.

ALL NEW GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #3

This felt like a fill in issue. Also, it came out pretty fast. The artwork is cool, but it feels off from the last two issues. If you love Gamora there is some cool stuff in here. The idea that the Soul Gem never really lets you go is super creepy.

BLACK BOLT #2

This is such a great book! Black Bolt is figuring out his new environment and his capacity to speak without destroying. He is sent to the arena to fight and shows them all why he is the king. I just know they're going to cancel this book on me. Come on people! Buy this damned book already! We need the numbers to get this up there so I can have it for a long time.

IRON FIST #4

The battle continues and after an honorable battle with The Rabbit, two others decide to attack at once. Yeah, this is Iron Fist remember? It ain't your comic book. This continues to read like a crazy Kung Fu flick and I love it. Not a fan of the cover though.

AQUAMAN #24

Apparently, next issue we go monthly and get a price hike. Yeah, I don;t care. This is one of the best Rebirth comics out there. The people of Atlantis are done with the surface world and with Aquaman being their king, but he's ready to fight to keep his throne. Even if Mera doesn't want to be there anymore and is ready to start a new life with him. The ending is a bit of a shocker, but I'm sure he'll be fine. Right?

GREEN ARROW #24

The Arrow Team are fighting the Horsemen while Oliver takes out there leader. He also realizes that to save the city he defends he needs to surrender to the law to make it all right. This book is my other favorite from the Rebirth and the artwork is just gorgeous. It looks like a painting. Also, I now know what happens if Black Canary screams point blank into the face of a giant. It is not pretty, but it made me laugh.



BOOK OF THE WEEK

THE MISFITS #5

We say goodbye to the girls whose songs are better with this issue. They have reformed and have a new label to get their music out there and, in the process, have become a better group of friends as well. This is done, JEM is almost finished. There is mention of a crossover mini series this summer, but I heard something about it having a sci fi bent to it and I'm not sure how I feel about this. Last year I had four books that were of fictional girl bands. Soon, it will just be Josie and the Pussycats. Figures that the ones that did it the best and the longest would still be here when the smoke clears. Good bye Misfits.

Okay, six books for the week. Kind of small when you figure it's usually in the 13-14 range. But, there are a lot of books that are just done and nothing has replaced them as of yet. I will be buying an Image book in the near future.

Here's why;



You know you want it. See you next week.

MY LOVE AFFAIR WITH COMIC BOOKS Chapter 17

SO, yeah...missed a week. Oh well, that makes for a double column this week, right? And to make sure it goes well, there were only six books this week. That might be a record low. One of the guys at Fanfare mentioned that it was because there are five Wednesday in May. I had no idea.
Anyway, here are the reviews and stayed tuned at the bottom for the book of the week...times two!

P.S. Some of these might be brief. There are a lot of them.

MOON GIRL AND DEVIL DINOSAUR #19

Yeah, Girl-Moon, daughter of Ego, The Living Planet has arrived! It seems to me that this has been promised for a while. Add Devil Dinosaur in space with his own cool space suit and this is a winner. Also, Doom Bot must stay in the book forever now.

SECRET WARRIORS #2

A double dose of Devil Dinosaur? Yes, please. Throw in the monster version of Howling Commandos complete with Man-Thing and we have a great issue...again. And Daisy's dad shows up and he's a pain in the, well, you know.

\BLUE BEETLE #9

Jaimie Reyes in the old school Beetle suit for the win. Add in the craziness of OMAC and the return of Dr. Fate and this is one of those DC books that works in its own little corner of the universe and Giffen lets his freak flag fly. So good.

WONDER WOMAN #23

THE TRUTH conclusion. We get it all wrapped up and it all makes perfect sense. This is the greatest Wonder Woman story ever.  It's a little sad, but it works really well.

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #7

Does anyone except for me remember Terrorsmith? Or the Bloodlines Annuals that DC put out forever ago? Well, I do and seeing one of those monsters and it's spawn back in DC made me smile. This is a pretty deep cut for a new book and I always rejoice when they neverv forget their long, layered history. If this is the plan for this book then I look forward to every issue.

I AM GROOT #1

Sure, this is one of Martha's books, but I read it too. I thought it was an interesting way to separate Groot from the rest of the team and put him in a really bizarre situation. It's mostly a set up issue and that is okay. It will be interesting to see how it develops.

ALL NEW GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #2

The gang is charged with breaking into the vaults of The Collector and retrieving a priceless artifact for The Grandmaster. Yeah, good luck with that. It's a heist of epic proportions and if it can go wrong, you know it will. Also, who is growing a forest of Groot. A nice book that keeps the logistics of the film team and gives us more.

GENERATION X #

I had no idea the book was bi monthly? Hurray! I don;t have to wait. Our new team is being attacked by The Purifiers and they are armed to the teeth. Also the new school is located in Central Park so there are civilians to protect while the mutants try not to get fried in the process. Jubilee explains that they are there to learn to fit in. Not with the X-Men, but just the world at large. The whole concept is to be acceptable to the human race. Might work, probably won't.

HULK #6

This was going to be my last issue of this book. It just seemed like a slow burn that would never ignite.
Then it did.
Jennifer is a new beast that can take care of itself and she's pretty happy with the outcome. Now my curiosity is piqued so, I will be around for a while. Good job comic book. You win the money.

JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS #7

The girls are playing a awards show, but in their heart of hearts they want to go to a local band show and play in a field with a bunch of passionate musicians. They decide what is right and leave after they play their song and before they win an award. A good book.

DOCTOR WHO #13

The Captain Jack mystery of his missing memories continues and whne he starts piecing things together with the help of Rose and The Doctor he may not like what he finds. This would be such a great show. I wish they could do a missing years style of show with Eccelston back as The Doctor. Oh well, we still have the comic.

THE FLASH #23

It's Barry's birthday and Hal Jordan shows up for the party just as Multiplex attacks because he is in love with Iris. Such a classic plot for this book and it is so much fun to read. They just need to stop killing Eobard Thawne. You know that's never going to stick, right?



BOOK(S) OF THE WEEK

INFAMOUS IRON MAN #8

This book has always been weird. Now Ironheart comes to tell Doom to stop being Iron Man and you know he's not going to listen to that. The evil Reed Richards tries to convince Ben Grimm he is the real deal and that Ben needs to kill Doom. Oh, yeah, Doom manages to be swept away to somewhere that Tony Stark looks like Dr. Strange.
It consistently delivers a great story of a rocky road to redemption and along the way we might even get the Fantastic Four back in the pages of a Marvel comic book and that would be such a wonderful thing.

WONDER WOMAN ANNUAL #1

Before I started back in the DC Universe there was a book called Sensation Comics starring Wonder Woman. They were one and dones and they were magnificent and I have them all. I was sad when they cancelled the book, but then Rebirth happened and I was back on the Wonder Woman bandwagon.
This annual gives us four stories that show us the most important part of Wonder Woman. She is there to save us all. Not fight, but she will if she needs to. She is there to make sure that we are safe. The story with the kaiju is sweet and the one with King Shark will bring a tear to your eye. This is all that is great in Wonder Woman in a neat little package. The best annual I have read all year.

There ya go folks. Sorry for missing a week, but you do get an extra long column this way. I expect that next week will also be a beast of a week, but that's just because so many extraordinary books are coming out.

Seeya then and be sure to go to a comic book shop and get something to read. There is so much to choose from.