Comic Book 245 // Batman - Reptile Rampage

Time for a quick, fun read with the kid. Visiting a classic match-up of The Batman vs. Killer Croc.

Title: Batman Classic: Reptile Rampage

Author: Katharine Turner

Illustrator: Eric A. Gordon & Steven E. Gordon

Blurb: A Gotham City hospital is being terrorized by Killer Croc, and it's up to Batman to save the day! Can the Caped Crusader clean the city sewers of this rotten reptile?

Format: 32 pages, Paperback

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Review

Surprisingly enjoyable. It's a young reader-friendly adventure, meaning it used other ways to solve the problem than straight-up violence. The piece's villain is Killer Croc, who, as you may well know, is looking for a way to reverse his affliction and cure himself. This has led to him stealing from a local hospital and gaining the attention of Batman and Robin.

Throughout the story, the duo faces dangers and problems to solve, keeping younger readers excited and on the edge of their seats. It is good to see the duo using compassion when dealing with Croc and offering to aid him (which is refused) before resorting to a more physical answer.

It was an enjoyable read, and my son had a blast. Recommend.

Comic Review 244 // Rocket Raccoon and Groot - Tall Tails

Diving into a new book for me. I truly know very little about Groot and Rocket, I haven't watched a Guardian of the Galaxy film either, so I am going in completely blind. Wish me luck!

Title: Rocket Raccoon & Groot: Tall Tails

Writing Team: Skottie Young & Nick Kocher

Illustrator: Filipe Andrade

Blurb: There’s a new criminal mastermind in the galaxy, and it’s - Rocket Raccoon?! How did this happen? Groot knows, but he’s not talking! Well, he is talking, but all he’s saying is - Oh, you know. Diabolical danger, madcap mysteries and astonishing adventure abound in tall tales of everyone’s favorite cosmic double act! Then, Rocket and Groot put the “fun” in “funeral” — but any mirth is only hiding a certain raccoon-like critter’s grief at the death of his mentor in con-artistry. And when Captain Marvel enlists her Guardians of the Galaxy pals to fight in CIVIL WAR II, surely it won’t divide these BFFs. After all, they are Groot, right? All that, plus the unbelievable Gwenpool! If you love adventure, animals, outer space and just about anything in between, this is the book for you!

COLLECTING: ROCKET RACCOON & GROOT (2016) #1-10

Format: 232 pages, Paperback

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Review

Well, I am surprised. I enjoyed this book more than expected which surprised me. The comic is split into two parts by the author, the first is written by Skottie Young, whilst the second is by Nick Kocher.

The Skottie half was light-hearted, cartoon focused. The jokes landed well enough but overall were average. I definitely preferred the Nick Kocher three-issue run. The artwork was more detailed and the story arc was a lot more interesting for me.

I am left interested in learning more, but it hasn't helped push the duo higher into my to-be-read list.

If you are Rocket and Groot fan let me know what I should read, to really get me hooked.

Comic Review 243 // Star Wars Vol.3: Rebel Jail

I've been in a Star Wars-heavy month over here. This time I found Rebel Jail at the local library and had to partake. Turns out it was the same series as last week's review.

Title: Star Wars, Vol. 3: Rebel Jail

Author: Jason Aaron & Kieron Gillen

Blurb:

The rebel crew is en route to a prison base with a very important captive. But unlucky for them, they aren't the only ones with their eyes on this prize! Plus: Meet a rebel spy at the heart of the Empire, and join him on a mission of life and death! And in another tale from the journals of Obi-Wan Kenobi, journey back to the Jedi's days of exile on Tatooine. Moisture farmer Owen Lars may have taken in young Luke, but her refused to let Ben be a part of the boy's life. Now, prepare to discover the reason why!

COLLECTING: STAR WARS 15-19, Annual #1

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Review

Kieron Gillen opens the volume with a great one-shot. All about an attempted assassination attempt on the Emperor. This was a great action piece and being set on Coruscant made it more enjoyable. This felt like a mash between old-school swashbuckling adventures and Scifi. Which is what Star Wars should be all the time. It's a great way to start the volume.

Then we hit the jailbreak arc. Something big happened in Vol.2, so I need to find that soon (sorry I am reading these in a weird ass way). But it would seem Dr. Aphra has been captured by the Rebels and is being transported under the watch of Leia to Sunspot Prison. A prison space station located dangerously close to a sun! This is a prison for the worst of the worst. Not going to be blunt here but Leia was boring, not sure if it was the way they wrote about her or if her having so much plot armour takes away the excitement. But the entire plot for the jail story was sadly very predictable. This arc is saved purely by Leinil Yu’s art.

The Han and Luke arc was comical, due to some bad gambling the Han ends up failing to secure the funds to buy supplies for the rebellion. Fearing coming back empty handed the duo end up taking a job shuttling cattle. A short story was 100% filler, but a fun little read.

Then we reach the end. With more Obi-wan adventures. It's a bit dull to be honest as we follow Obi-wan watching over Luke.

A bit of a miss for me. Some great artwork, but two of the four stories are meh at best. Good for the competitionist and die-hard fan. But glad I didn't purchase it.

Comic Review 245 // Marvel Universe: Wolverine

Had to break up the Batman comics for a bit with this Wolverine - kid-friendly collection. We found it at the library and were instantly interested. I had a quick flick through to ensure it wasn't too violent and chose to go ahead with it for this week's reading.

Title: Marvel Universe: Wolverine

Team: Fred Van Lente, Len Wein, Peter David

Blurb: Four classic all-ages Wolverine tales! Before he joined the X-Men, Wolverine was a secret agent, skilled in espionage and highly trained in combat. But when he's ordered to deal with a town being slowly covered by metal, Wolverine must use his greatest weapon to survive: his brain! Then, thrill to Wolverine's first appearance ever, as he battles the Incredible Hulk...but who or what is the Wendigo? Plus: Kitty Pryde's got a crush, and she's depending on Wolvie to help her get the hook-up. But what happens when that crush is Thor, God of Thunder? Finally: all Spider-Man has to do is follow Wolverine for one day and report what he does. What could go wrong? We're glad you asked... COLLECTING: Free Comic Book Day 2009 (Wolverine : Origin of an X-Man ), Incredible Hulk 181, Wolverine: First Class 15, Spider -Man (2010) 3

Format: 94 pages, library hardback.

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Review

Let's start with the good stuff. It is a fun, kid-friendly graphic novel. It stays focused on Wolverine throughout, which is good, as other titles have very much drifted in the past into other characters, and overall is super easy to read. The range of stories is well thought out, and the spread of themes and titles is enough to excite a younger audience and possibly hook them into reading more.

Of course, the best strip in the book is the Wendigo vs Hulk vs Wolverine. With a line-up like that, how could I pick anything else? Overall for a young reader, this is a solid B+.

As a slightly older reader, the stories are too simplified or dumbed down. Wolverine has lost his edginess in my opinion, and the drawings in some of the stories are just too basic. Very enjoyable to read to the kids but lacked the punch I want from a Wolverine book.

Got kids, grab it, read it with them and have fun. Looking for Wolverine action go elsewhere.

Cheers for reading!

Comic Review 244 // Judge Dredd: Small House by Rob Williams & Henry Flint

Nice to be back among the streets of MC-1. I originally read this back in 2019, but I never reviewed it for some reason. Why did that happen? But it gave me what little excuse was needed to re-read it. Found at my local library, so let us dive in.

Title: Judge Dredd: The Small House

Author: Rob Williams

Artist: Henry Flint

Blurb: The critically-acclaimed and fan-lauded latest Judge Dredd tale which sent shockwaves through the universe and Mark Millar called “one of the best runs ever!”

Everything is at stake and no-one is safe – in the critically-acclaimed storyline from Rob Williams and Henry Flint, Judge Dredd and his team of hand-picked allies finally takes on the nefarious Judge Smiley, Mega-City One’s behind-the-scenes manipulator – but who will be left standing at the end? And with tensions with Chief Judge Hershey at breaking point, has Dredd finally met his match?

Format: 96 pages, Paperback (buy via Amazon: Affiliate Shop - thanks for the support)

Review

As a long-time reader, you can't read a Rob Williams' Dredd story without having this feeling of building dread. He is being sneaky in his stories and hinting at something in the shadows working against Dredd and possibly MC-1, but what is it or better yet, who? This story is bringing this all to a head and seems to be finally closing this arc (maybe).

The tale begins on Titan with a survivor of an early Rob William story - Judge Sam. If you haven't read Titan, I highly recommend it, and you could say this is the beginning adventure of the arc. Judge Sam hails from Brit-Cit and is a brilliant Architect. With too much free time on Titan, Judge Sam has noticed a more like a web pattern. This web of actions across the globe all lead to MC-1 and, more importantly, to the Grand Hall of Justice. Wanting to unravel this mystery, Judge Sam requests a transfer to MC-1 and becomes a street judge hoping to discover more.

Now I don't want to ruin it with spoilers, so I must stop there with the plot. But inside this story, we get Judge Dredd, Judge Giant, SJS Judge Gerhart, Judge Sam and Wally Squad Dirty Franks working together. It's like a dream team! We also finally discover the origin story of Dirty Frank and boy it does not disappoint!

Ultimately this is a classic conspiracy tale that can be enjoyed as a stand-alone piece, but also very enjoyable to see all the loose strings tied up. The artwork, unsurprisingly, is fantastic. Henry Flint is my favourite Dredd artist of the modern line-up. He just knows what works! Backgrounds are detailed but not distracting, his characters show their age, and I wonder how he does it, but he can portray the persona of a character purely through art. The story this writer/artist combo has produced over the years has been some of my favourites in the series, and I can't wait to get more of their work soon!

There is one line you see a lot about this tale, but it sums up the conspiracy perfectly:

“There is a house, you know. A small house. And it has no doors. There is no way in and no way out. Yet someone lives there.”

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Comic Review 237 // Slaine: The Brutania Chronicles - Book 4

The penultimate graphic novel. As far as I know, there is only one more collection! How scary, no more Slaine tales. I will have to start painting the figures soon. But back to the review:

Title: Sláine: The Brutania Chronicles Book Four

Author: Pat Mills

Illustrator: Simon Davis

Blurb: Stone Killer! Albion. Celtic Warrior Sláine United the tribes of the Earth Goddess and became the first High King of Ireland, but is now a wanderer. Having journeyed to Monadh to rescue Sinead from the Drune Lords, Sláine has discovered that they have been experimenting on their own creations, much to the displeasure of the Cyths’ jailer, the Archon Yaldabaoth. Now, the Archon has awoken, and destruction will surely follow…

Format: 96 pages, Kindle Edition (Buy now via Amazon)

Review

Hmmm. There's so much I like about Sláine, but I am finding the story of his parentage to be dragging on a bit too much. The last collection dealt with his mother and set up the options of who could be Sláine's father and in this collection we finally get the answers. But boy did they drag it out!

We continue the overarcing themes of Folklore alongside the hatred of Christianity. It would seem unsurprisingly to Mills fans that he has issues with Patriarchal faiths (as we should), but it came across a bit to heavy in this title.

Overall the story wrapped up nicely and all the pieces are in place to leave Sláine  heading off into the wild. The real highlight of course is Simon Davis' artwork. It was beautiful, intriguing and had you searching out the details. The Stone Men, were brutal and I really hope we will see them in miniature form soon. Fingers crossed!

Now for a little break from Sláine before I read the final book. Maybe we should visit Judge Dredd for a bit? As always I appreciate you stopping in for the read and I hope you will consider supporting my blogging adventures by using the following links:

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Comic Review 236 // Marvel Action Spider-man: New Beginnings

You must love the library and all the great finds you can discover! This week's discovery is a Marvel Action Comic titled Spider-man: New Beginnings. Long a standing fan of the 90's cartoon, I have been trying to get into the new Spider-man series as my son loves them, so maybe the new beginning title will assist?

Title: Marvel Action: Spider-Man, Vol. 1: New Beginnings

Author: Delilah S. Dawson

Illustrator: Fico Ossio

Blurb:

A Marvelous new era begins here! Readers of all ages can get tangled up in these all new adventures of Spider-Man and his astonishing friends!

Peter Parker has thrown down with deadly villains and legendary heroes, but high school life might be his greatest challenge yet. Luckily, he has a shot at making the grade with a little help from his new friends... Miles Morales and Gwen Stacy!

Collects issues #1-3 of the comic series.

Format: 80 Pages (Buy via Amazon.ca)

Review

New beginnings were a great starting point for retraining my brain! It collects the first three issues of the series. It was also seemingly aimed at teens, so it wasn't overly simplified, which is nice. We join a Sixteen-year-old Peter Parker, who has secured an internship at 'Daily Bugle.' We discover that Peter wasn't the only one chosen, and with a room full of competition, Peter will have to bring his A-game to secure the Prize of interviewing Iron Man! After a rough introduction to the Bugle, Peter is teamed up with two other interns, Miles and Gwen. 

Now, of course, the city comes under threat, all three make reasons to leave, and soon a new Spidey team is forming! The story is rather good and enjoyable. With this being the beginning, the story is left open for me to find Volume 2. Though they seemingly found an excellent spot to stop at, you are left feeling fulfilled while needing more! I enjoy a less dark tale, and though it was aimed at teens, it was childish or brain-dulling.

Overall a terrific tale.

Comic Review 235 // Slaine: The Brutania Chronicles - Book 3

Sad to think our time with Slaine is drawing to an end. There have been some spectacular highs in the series, along with lows. But no series has divided the crowd as much as the Brutania Chronicles. I've enjoyed the pace change, but I can see how this new/older Slaine is upsetting the fans. A broken hero in a world that no longer wants him is a step away from the young heroic barbarian of the 80s. Now I remember reading this series, so I am excited to revisit it; I remember the artwork being great.

Title: Sláine: The Brutania Chronicles Book Three

Author: Pat Mills

Illustrator: Simon Davis

Blurb: UNLEASH THE BEAST!

Overpowered by the fury of the Primordial, Sláine is on the brink of defeat. 

Cyth Lord Gododin attempts to break him by summoning memories that he would rather forget… 

Confronting the demons of his past, the Celtic Hero must cut through the Drune Lord’s twisted minions and reunite with Sinead to rescue Zana, the ape-woman, one of the last remnants of humankind before they were ‘improved’ by the Cyth. As their attempts to suppress humanity fall before Sláine and his axe, the Cyth must answer to their master and jailer – the Archon Yaldabaoth!

Format: 105 pages, Kindle Edition

Buy now on Amazon 

Review

Yep, stunning artwork as I remember. Simon Davis produces some beautiful panels. I also like how the colouring of the artwork helps us to know when we are in the present vs the past. The classic sepia filter really does help. 

It was a great read and we got to rediscover Slaine and the emotions that drive him. We basically get a Slaine with depth finally. This volume continues to build on the theme of isolation that Slaine has found himself in, no family, no tribe and no Ukko. These combine together to lead us to a self-doubting Slaine alone in the world and this weakness is punished by enemies who attempt to tap into this trauma to finally break Slaine's spirit.

Cyth Lord Gododin forces Slaine to relive parts of his childhood in an attempt to manipulate the warrior, and we take a back seat and join the ride as we watch the death of Slaine's mother, and attempt to solve the mystery of who Slaines father is (lots of fun twists here). Whilst this is happening Sinead with a weakened Slaine also attempts to rescue Zana, the ape-woman. Possibly the final survivor of the pre-Cyth races of earth. But with all the death and battling an older more scary power has woken and it would seem in book four that Slaine will have to face the Archon Yaldabaoth.

Everything is now nicely set for the final volume and I for one am excited to read it.

Comic Review 234 // Slaine: The Brutania Chronicles - Book 2

I love that my joy of Slaine is upon me and I am devouring the Brutania Chronicles. Are you ready? Because I am!

Title: Sláine: The Brutania Chronicles - Book Two: Primordial

Author: Pat Mills

Illustrator: Simon Davis

Blurb: TROJAN WAR!

ALBION, IN A TIME OF LEGEND. Celtic warrior Sláine united the tribes of the Earth Goddess Danu and became the first High King of Ireland. After ruling for seven years, he travelled through time to fight for the Goddess in other eras before returning to save his people from the Fomorian sea devils. Now, having journeyed to Monadh to rescue Sinead from the Drune Lords, he must face the powerful might of the Trojan army and their superhuman warrior, the Primordial, in a battle to the death!

This thrilling continuation of The Brutania Chronicles was written by 2000 AD creator Pat Mills (Ro-Busters) and features the breathtaking, painted art of Simon Davis (Missionary Man, B.L.A.I.R. 1).

Format: 112 pages, Kindle Edition (buy now on Kindle)

Review

I really enjoyed this one. The artwork looked amazing the characters were interesting and having to learn some Celtic terms and lore was a true highlight. Good job I have google. Also for the love of all things, I hope a model of the Fishhead Drune wearing the Salmon of Knowledge becomes a real Warlord Games model in the future!

The story continuing in Albion has Slaine facing down against Slough Gododin. Gododin is the chief of the Drunes lords but also the Son of Slough Feg, meaning he has a well-rounded and thought-out back story. We actually have a revenge story that isn't just thrown together. With Slaine's link to the warping powers broken, we also have a Slaine who is broken and physically at his weakest. Add into this mix the psychological abuse Gododin is adding and we get a really meaty plot.

The plot highlight of this volume is Slaine's back story as we try to work out and discover who his real day is and how it may affect Slaine moving forwards. I don't want to give spoilers so you have to read this volume yourselves!

Now don't get me wrong, I enjoyed this title, but being book two means ultimately it is setting us up for the main action. So there is a little feeling of a lull in the story, but in no way is this bad if read correctly. Reading it all in one go is very important (if long when it is multiple volumes), if you pick this up as a stand-alone read, you will be disappointed and you are also missing the point. Read in sequence and you should not be disappointed.

Comic Review 233 // Slaine: The Brutania Chronicles - Book 1 by Pat Mills

Continuing my adventures into the Worlds of Slaine. This title is the beginning of something new. The series is called The Brutania Chronicles and is spread over four books (I believe). It is also a change in art styles as we get treated to Simon Davis's version of the world. So let us dive in.

Title: Sláine: The Brutania Chronicles - Book One

Author: Pat Mills

Illustrator: Simon Davis

Blurb: THE CELTIC WARRIOR RETURNS!

ANCIENT ALBION. Celtic barbarian warrior Sláine united the tribes of the Earth Goddess and became the first High King of Ireland. After ruling for seven years, he fought for the Goddess, travelling through time to battle her enemies before returning to save his people from the Fomorian sea devils. Now, he's crossed over onto the isle of Monadh in an attempt to rescue Sinead from the evil clutches of the Drune Lords...

This brand-new chapter in the life of Sláine is the perfect jumping-on-point for new readers as writer Pat Mills (Marshal Law) transports the Celtic warrior to the ancient world of Albion. This book also introduces the fully-painted art style of Simon Davis (Ampney Crucis) to the strip for the first time.

Format: 112 pages, Kindle Edition

Buy now via Amazon

Review

Wow, a change of pace with this title. Slaine is a changed man, older, wiser, disgruntled and grizzled. The wars and deaths have taken their toll, and now Slaine wanders Albion alone, almost a shade of his former self. This is a depressed Slaine; the world has changed, and his people have gone to a new dimension to live in peace with the Earth Goddess. The temples of old now lie abandoned and cold, many being plundered by raiders. Whilst the few Fomorians still left alive have carved out a new empire where they impose their fearsome nose tax!

It does feel like Slaine has lost his spark, finally beaten by the constant fighting and loss. He isn't the hero of old, but that makes this title interesting. He fights only when he has to; he no longer seeks out adventure. This is a true insight into what happens to the hero who lives for too long. What happens when you become broken and disenchanted by the world around you. It is an exciting direction to take Slaine, and it also feels like a point many reviewers miss.

I am a big fan of Simon Davis's work; it feels like proper fantasy artwork, which you would have seen in the 70s and early 80s. The creatures are genuinely fantastical, with a hint of realism still about them, whilst the large panel artwork keeps you focused on the story. But the problem you have is this is following on from such an epic story arc, "Invasions," that it is hard not to compare. Our heroic saviour of his people being broken and depressed will not please everyone. But this arc promises to be great and seems very fitting for the times it was written in.

Let me know your thoughts. Are you reading these as well?

By far a highlight!

Comic Review 231 // Scooby-Doo Team-up, Volume 3

2022 brought many new and exciting changes into my life, things like my Youtube channel and cutting back on drinking along with scooby-doo. I did not realize how much I had missed the cartoons until watching some with my kids. Now I find myself drawn to comics, especially crossovers. And have found them to be a wholesome series. Time for volume 3 which shows the Flash on the cover so I assume we are in for some fast action.

Title: Scooby-Doo Team-Up, Volume 3

Author: Sholly Fisch

Illustrator: Darío Brizuela

Blurb: The gang's all here! Scooby-Doo and his friends are teaming up with the most unlikely superheroes to save the world, solve mysteries and eat some Scooby Snacks!

From the ocean's depths to the heart of Africa, Scooby and the gang must investigate the deadliest threats imaginable! That is, with a bit of help from DC's greatest superheroes. The team is ready to take action and get a little help from the Flash, Aquaman, Shazam and more!

An all-ages series that collects SCOOBY-DOO TEAM-UP #13-17.

Format: 128 pages, Paperback

Buy on Amazon with my handy little link.

Review

These titles hit pretty well with their wholesome adventures. Easy reading and very light, they are great to enjoy with the kids. As an adult reading them, I like that they sometimes make fun of themselves, which is a sign of a great writing team and editor.

Overall every story had its highlights and was funny. Aquaman beat the rest, playing up to Fred not being the sharpest tool in the shed. He constantly kept trying to take off character breathing masks while underwater, much to the comedy of the reader but frustration to the characters.

The weakest story sadly goes to Scooby and his Super Dog pals; though fun to see all these characters, the story just missed the mark for me. Definitely wouldn't upset a young reader but jarred with this old man!

Overall give it a go. You are never to enjoy a comic!

 

Comic Review 227 // Spider-man Shock to the System

Does everyone love Spider-man? He seems to be one of those rare Super Heroes I have struggled to find haters for. I am sure they are out there, but for now, in this household, he is the winning hero. We found this title in our local library, and it seems to be volume five in the series but is a complete one-shot tale.

Title: Marvel Action: Spider-Man, Vol. 5: Shock to the System

Author: Brandon Easton

Artist: Fico Ossio

Blurb: Your favourite wall-crawler is back in action, and he's not alone! Middle-grade readers can get tangled up in these all-new adventures of Spider-Man and his amazing friends!

A sinister new villain appears! Miles and Gwen are preparing for the biggest test of their high school careers, but will they stay focused with the team all shaken up over their newest foe, the Shocker? And can they overcome his bad vibes with the exam putting their very futures at stake?

The Marvel Action line from IDW makes the world's most popular superheroes accessible to middle-grade readers through stories emphasizing humour and fun alongside action and super-powered heroics.

Collects issues #1-3 of Marvel Action Spider-Man Vol. Two.

Format: 144 pages, Paperback

Buy now on Amazon

Review

Feels like an age since I've seen Shocker! He always came across as a side character, easily defeated by the hero. But in this tale, Shocker is once again an actual threat. Where the heroes so to discover the villain and work out how to defeat them. I also enjoyed the fact that we see the kids using science to solve the problem rather than a straight-up fistfight. This felt I a true Spiderman story of my 80's childhood. The rest of the story deals with the kid's issues as they stumble through schoolwork and personal life issues. Pretty standard stories of a superhero teenager.

The kids loved the story, but I found it a bit disjointed at times and had to check back to make sure a page wasn't missing. Felt like a panel or two had been deleted but no effort was made to keep the flow smooth, which is weird to read through. The artwork was fine. Pretty simple but added no real worth to the story.

As I said the kids loved it which is a plus, but for me, it was average at best.

Comic Review 225 // Green Arrow: Stranded by Brendan Deneen

Continuing my kid's training in the worlds of DC and Marvel. This week we tried Green Arrow, which overall was successful but not knocking Batman or Spiderman away anytime soon. 

Title: Green Arrow: Stranded

Author: Brendan Deneen

Artist: Bell Hosalla

Buy on Amazon.ca

Blurb: Following a plane crash on a deserted island, 13-year-old Oliver Queen must learn the skills he needs to survive and to protect his injured father.

Ollie has always hated the idea of hunting, but his dad insisted they go on this trip with his business partner, Sebastian, and his son, Tyler. When Ollie fails to take a perfect shot, the teasing starts, and he wonders if his dad will ever be proud of him again.

But just when he thought their trip couldn't get any worse, their private jet is struck by lightning and Ollie awakens to find himself stranded on a deserted island, with no idea what to do or where the other passengers might be--including his dad. He has never felt less sure of who he is...or if he will be able to hang on until help arrives.

This fast-paced and suspenseful tale from writer Brendan Deneen and illustrator Bell Hosalla is sure to keep readers on the edge of their seat!

Format: 144 pages, Paperback

Review

So most of us know the Green Arrow origin story by now? So when I saw this was the telling of it, I was excited. Unfortunately, we have hit a revamping of the tale, which is not how I remember it. Turns out, after some research, the Green Arrow I know is from the Silver Age of Marvel, whilst this hints towards the Golden era with the plane crash.

The story begins with Oliver Queen and his father returning from Zimbabwe following a safari trip. Due to harsh storms, the private jet crashes on a deserted island. Here is where the biggest change happens for me, Oliver is not alone. Instead, there are other survivors. So it becomes more of a can I find help whilst surviving alone rather than a boy becoming a man under harsh conditions.

It is meant to explore the character and how these events will mould him, but I found it lacked depth and ultimately failed to hold my attention. The artwork is pretty, which definitely helped, but the story was a real mess. We get an Oliver Queen who seemingly should never become a hero, too afraid to kill a creature on one page but then kills a snake with no issue on another? Also, there is seemingly a lack of threat; at no point would you truly assume Oliver is in danger. The only real threat is going hungry.

Where is the coming-of-age tale, the survivalist, the self-taught marksman? Is this volume one of a series?

Overall give it a skip unless you can find it for free. Rather disappointed.

Comic Review 224 // Superman Adventures: Lex Luthor

Can stop picking up these titles as I find them at the library. I've never been a fan of Superman, preferring my heroes to have flaws and issues. But I enjoy Lex Luthor as a villain, so I had to try this one out. 

Title: Superman Adventures: Lex Luthor, Man of Metropolis

Comic team: Mark Millar, Dean Motter & Evan Dorkin

Buy on Amazon

Blurb: As long as Superman has flown over the skies of Metropolis, one man has always sought to take the brave hero down Lex Luthor! But why does Lex hate Superman so much? See just how devious Superman’s greatest foe is as experiments with Kryptonite run amok. And Lex isn’t just Superman’s enemy here on Earth-their rivalry will take them to Apokolips and back, as seen in this collection of stories set in the world of the Superman: The Animated Series!

Collects Superman Adventures #27, #54-55, and #65-66.

Format: Paperback

Review

Superman Adventures: Lex Luthor, Man of Metropolis, is a weird mix. It looks and feels like the old Saturday morning cartoons. The ones from the '90s or early 2000s? The Justice League era of comics. But the themes of the stories are heavy hitters; we have racism, hatred and villains beyond Lex to handle. It really delves into the very human issues that mould Lex.

Of course, the stories are Luthor-focused, but as mentioned, he is not alone. We get back up characters like Granny Goodness and Livewire, who do a great job of breaking up the tales. Overall a fine collection but definitely designed for a 10+-year-old audience.

Comic Review 222 // Slaine the Wanderer by Pat Mills

Whoops, I have fallen behind on my Slaine reading and reviewing, I allowed the library finds to distract me for too long. But no more! Today we return to Slaine.

Title: Sláine: The Wanderer

Author: Pat Mills

Art: Clint Langley

Blurb: Tir Nan Og - the Land of the Young, a mystical place of myth and legend. Celtic warrior Sláine, the first High King of Ireland and Ukko his (un) faithful dwarf sidekick encounter everything from evil magicians and demonically-possessed maidens, to the bloody roots of modern day football, as they roam their world in search of adventure.

Collects:

- The Gong Beater (Progs #1635–#1638)

- The Amber Smuggler (Progs #1662–#1665)

- The Exorcist (Progs #1709–#1712)

- The Mercenary (Progs #1713–#1714 and Prog 2011)

Format: E-Book - 112 pages

Review

As mentioned in the opener I have let too much time pass between the reviews. But what a way to come back. A stand-alone graphic novel collecting four short tales. This is the perfect way to reintroduce me to the series. All the stories are created by Pat Mills so we know what to kind of expect and the art of Clint Langley which is always crazy and epic. I expect a fun read.

It was first of great to have Ukko back, he was absent from Invasions, and I missed him, so having him back in the downtrodden sidekick role was uplifting. The opening Tale 'The Gong Beater" was a fun light-hearted tale like the old Slaine. Seeing Ukko attempting to make some fast cash by turning an Old Cyth Tower into condos. Which ultimately goes wrong when the monsters start arriving.

This seems to be the theme of the book as we have a lot of old-school Slaine adventures, with them getting in trouble and fighting their way out again. It was a great reminder of where Slaine started off with humour and tongue-in-cheek fantasy stories, which have of late been replaced with darker tales. It was also full of cameos of old favourites, like Nest and the Guledig, who were actually nice touches as it showed some of the old characters still existed (it has been feeling like most of the characters had died at this point).

Ultimately if you are a fan of Slaine's early tales you will enjoy these. If on the other hand, you started with Invasions you may be wondering what happened to the heroic Slaine and why is the stupid Dwarf here (ha). The art was good and helps bring the stories to life, but I feel like something is lacking, maybe the palette of colours was dulled down too much? Overall a great refresher to the world of Slaine and I am ready for Books of Scars.

Comic Review 218 // The Adventures of Spider-man: Radioactive

It's always a good day to read a little Spiderman! Spiderman is my son's favourite Superhero, slowly being challenged by Captain America. So to fix this unstart Cap from taking over, we read through this classic.

Title: Adventures of Spider-Man: Radioactive

Art Team: Joey Cavalieri (Text), Eric Fein (Text), Mike Pellowski (Text), Scott Proudfit (Text), Marie Severin (Illustrations), Jesse D Orozco (Illustrations), Wayne A Murray (Illustrations), Don Heck (Illustrations)

Blurb: Spider-Man takes on his classic rogues' gallery in these exciting adventures from his 1990s magazine, featuring a parade of guest stars from Captain America to the Hulk! Spidey must avoid the many arms of Doctor Octopus, but will he fall victim to Electro, Mysterio, the Scorpion and the Vulture? There's panic at the planetarium and a great train robbery to solve - but that's nothing compared to the horror of the Hobgoblin! Spidey and his old pal, the Human Torch, fly in the face of Doom, the X-Men pitch in when Magneto strikes, and Daredevil lends a hand against their mutual enemy, the Kingpin! And don't forget deadly encounters with Venom and Carnage! It's fun for the whole family in these never-before-reprinted, animated-style adventures!

Collecting: Material from Spider-Man Magazine (1994) 1-19, Spider-Man Magazine Special (1995) 1-2

Buy A Copy via Amazon

Format: Paperback, 168 pages

Review

Well, this was the perfect Spider-Man collection for younger readers. It was perfectly designed with children in mind. The dialogue is simple, and the artwork is easy to follow. Our stand-out tale was a Christmas piece where it's up to Spider-Man to save Christmas for a young boy and his out-of-work mother.

It's strange to think a lot of these came out in the 90s meaning they are all in their late 20s. It was enjoyable watching my son (3) point out characters, telling me their names and powers and the thought about how much-continued joy they bring to people really grounded me at the moment.

Ultimately collectors will enjoy these, and children will enjoy these. Random readers may not be as impressed. I recommend reading but go in with an open mind.

Comic Review 216 // Super Hero Adventures: Captain Marvel by Sholly Finch

I'm continuing my trend of library comic book reads that my children have picked.

Title: Marvel Super Hero Adventures: Captain Marvel

Author: Sholly Finch

Blurb: Carol Danvers is one of the most powerful super heroes on Earth. She's led Alpha Flight and the Avengers, and prevented more alien invasions than you can count. But she's about to hit big trouble - and even the mightiest heroes need help sometimes! These action-packed, exciting stories explore Captain Marvel teaming up with fan-favorite characters like Spider-Man and more!

COLLECTING: MARVEL SUPER HERO ADVENTURES: CAPTAIN MARVEL 1-4

 

Format: 112 pages, Paperback BUY via Amazon or support your local Library!

Review

So Captain Marvel is a character I know very little about so I was hoping to learn something with this title. Unfortunately it is instead a bunch of random short stories with the Marvel characters all drawn in the same cartoony style as the cover.

Ultimately the stories are short, fun and cute. Perfect for little ones or young readers. There is nothing new here, but it does avoid all the series themes of the graphic novels aimed at an older reader. Mainly filled with light hearted action I would say this is more comical/humorous than action packed.

But it does have some faults. Firstly Captain Marvel is missing from a lot of the stories, what gives? It's named after her. Shame to have her as the title character and not actually 100% focus on her. Maybe there isn't enough stories for her? Then the stories are painfully predictable, my five year old could see the plot ending coming, it needed some surprise ending for sure. We follow up this with the jokes, there is a lot of inside references that new fans wouldn't get or kids in general might not understand. Also some of the jokes seemed very dated like the newspaper style comics, I personally haven't bought a newspaper is so long, my kids didn't get the reference at all. And finally the lack of imagination when it came to the stories. Being predictable is one thing but I am starting to feel like I have read the same stories multiple times not, just with the characters or villains swapped out for a different one. This maybe just me as I've read a lot of comics of late.

Final thoughts for this title. Its a solid okay. Fun, but not special. A little misleading with the title, felt a little bit like a filler comic. But at the end of the day it is meant to entertain the kids, and I can confirm it did just that.

Cheers for reading.

Comic Review 215 // Avengers: The Avengers Initiative

Continuing my new series, it seems, of reading and reviewing my kid's comics. I've been struggling lately will multiple colds/flu/who knows what. It's been rough, and I have struggled to read for myself for about a month. Luckily the kids don't care (ha), and I am still reading some stories. Here is this week's offering.

Title: Marvel's The Avengers: The Avengers Initiative

Author: Fred Van Lente

Art: Ron Lim

Blurb: The perfect introduction to Marvel's The Avengers movie! All your favorite characters from the film packed into one digest! Meet the incredible cast of the Avengers Initiative: Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow and Hawkeye! The perfect introduction to Marvel's The Avengers movie! All your favorite characters from the film packed into one digest! Meet the incredible cast of the Avengers Initiative: Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow and Hawkeye! Collecting MARVEL'S THE AVENGERS: THE AVENGERS INITIATIVE, CAPTAIN AMERICA & THOR!: AVENGERS.

Format: 88 pages, Paperback (Buy via Kindle on Amazon)

Review

This was a hard one. The stories within the pages of this book are all set with the MCU but were seemingly written before most of the movies, as it is no longer canon. Luckily the kids have not seen the movies and most likely wouldn't care anyways, so for the curious collectors out there, maybe treat yourself or go buy something else.

The collection definitely has its faults. Somehow, we go from good artwork to pretty crap, which is so weird to see collected in this manner? Why Marvel you have so much money do your comics some justice. The book is three stories long, consisting of the title piece, which is a way to a quick intro to the characters (which we already know) and comes across as pure filler. Then a Captain America tale, followed by a Thor tale. Both of these were fine, but ultimately this is so middle of the road that it is dull. But this is also me as an adult reviewing it.

On the other hand, my sprogs enjoyed the adventures and pointing out the superheroes, so for their enjoyment, I would give it a 3 out of 5. As an adult, this is a 2 out of 5. I have warned you!

Comic Review 212 // Slaine: Book of Invasions Vol.3 by Pat Mills

We made it, people! Sláine: The Books Of Invasions, Vol. 3 - Odracon and Carnival by Pat Mills, the concluding part of this story arc and the exciting ending of this tale. Let's no waste time and just dive in.

Title: Sláine: The Books Of Invasions, Vol. 3 - Odracon and Carnival
Author: Pat Mills

Illustrator: Clint Langley

Blurb: Tir Nan Og is the Land of the Young, deep in Celtic myth and legend. After years of wandering, Slaine united the tribes of the Earth Goddess and became the first High King of Ireland. After defending the Goddess in other eras, he has since returned to his own time and kingdom. Now, as the Fomorians besiege the city of Tara, Slaine comes back from the Otherworld to help.

Collects:

- The Books of Invasions V: Odacon (Progs #1436–#1442)

- Carnival (Progs 2006, #1469–#1475) (less)

Get your own kindle copy from Amazon.ca

Format: Hardcover, 128 pages

Review

Slaine is returned just in time to save Tara from the Fomorians. But not all the Fomorians are killed in the action, and soon a band of warriors led by Slaine are searching the lands for the last of them. The Fomorian in question is Odacon and with aid manages to dup a village into becoming hosts for its spawn. Soon Slaine and his band are striking out against the village before burning it and the foul spawn to the ground. Here ends the arc of the Invasion tales and the lands of Ireland are purged from the Fomorians. As the final pages come to an end Slaine is left to wander in search of his son Kai, whilst Gael is crowned High King of Ireland.

A nice ending for this series. Weirdly this could have been squeezed into the last book in my opinion. But with it being only half this title we can move on to the next piece.

Carnival of Night - Slaine whilst looking for his son Kai has arrived in Albion. As he travels the lands he discovers a travelling Carnival that declares to have a collection of monsters and marvels that can not be rivalled. Well as it turns out it is managed/owned by Slaine's Dwarf ally Ukko, who managed to also recruit Kai, Slaine's son. Kai has grown and become a man, along with finding a partner in Estella, the sleepless beauty. Of course, with Slaine on the scene, the story has to have some mystery/action and soon it is discovered that a murder stalks the grounds of the Carnival. Can Kai, Slaine and Ukko discover the truth or will the show be about to end?

A great return of Ukko and the story itself was engaging, this felt very much like old-school Slaine. It was actually the highlight of the book for me. But with the end of this tale, we have another Slaine story finished.

Let me know your thoughts on this tale. Also, any suggestions on what title to read next will greatly help.

Comic Review 211 // Slaine: Book of Invasions Volume 2 by Pat Mills.

Can't leave Slaine alone for too long! He gets into trouble way too fast. This week's read is Slaine: Book of Invasions Volume 2 by Pat Mills. So sharpen your axe, and let's dive in!

Title: Sláine: The Books of Invasions, Volume 2.

Author: Pat Mills

Artist: Clint Langley

Blurb: Barbarian warrior and former High King of Ireland Sláine continues the epic battle against the fearsome sea demons, but now he finds an ally from an unexpected source. Together they must rid Tir Nan Og of the Fomorian scourge, using every means at their disposal, including calling on help from the Earth Goddess herself!

Collects:

- The Books of Invasions III: Scota (Progs 2004 and #1371–#1376)

- The Books of Invasions IV: Tara (Progs 2005 and #1420–#1425)

Format: Kindle, 100 pages

Buy Now on Amazon.ca

Review

Unsurprisingly this title swiftly follows on from Volume One. Having just defeated the first round of Formanians and Moloch, Slaine returns to Ireland to once again another invading force. As warned by Moloch, the children of Atlantis have returned and plan to take Ireland.

We are introduced to a new race of Fomorian sea demons who have to meld with a host to be able to walk on the land, and we get a genuinely fearsome-looking enemy! The leading group has taken on a host of warriors who seem noble in spirit but have no will of their own anymore. Once more battle is joined, skulls are taken, and blood is everywhere. We get action, betrayal, a love story and a lot of sadness.

The new characters are fascinating, and we start to see some new lore slipping in from outside the traditional Celtic tales. Scota, for example, brings some Egyptian folktales over with the inclusion of Atlantis. The villains also seem extra villainous, willing to sacrifice the hosts if it means a final chance at a backstab. They can also wholly reanimate injured and damaged bodies, meaning you must completely put them down to stand a chance against them! Following some brutal battles, this tale ends with the Fomorians at the Gates of the City Tara. If this city falls, so will all of Ireland!

Overall, this title has something for everyone; I enjoyed it so much. This series has definitely felt like a move away from traditional Slaine. But I don't think that is a bad thing. If Slaine were to stay the same, his stories would become repetitive and dull, so I feel the Invasion series was much needed to refreshen the series. What are your thoughts? Let me know!