Review Date: Thursday, October 31, 2013
Here in Bongo Congo
Good King Leonardo has declared that we review a wide
variety of comic book titles this week, so let's get
right to it and see how these new issues stack-up
against each other: |
Publisher: Archie Comics
Publications, Inc.
Ian Flynn: Writer
Ryan Jampole: Pencils
Gary Martin: Inks
Matt Herms: Colors
Archie Comics is the publisher of the Mega Man
comic book title, which features the anime-style hero featured since 1987 in a
very popular Nintendo video game from Capcom. For the uninitiated
(including non-video-gamer me), our hero is a good-guy android who fights bad
robots while wielding a cannon weapon attached to his arm. Other
significant characters in the Mega Man storyverse include his scientist
creator/father Dr. Light, bad-guy Scientist Dr. Wily, Mega-Man's robot sister
Roll and his renegade android brother Break Man a.k.a. Blue. The comic
book series is scripted by Ian Flynn with pencils by Ryan Jampole, inks by Gary
Martin and colors by Matt Herms.
Issue #28 features an ongoing multi-issue
story segment entitled "The Return: Prelude To Ra Moon" which
alternates two connected sub-plots. Our first storythread features fast
action, as Mega Man and his Robot Master sidekick buddies battle the evil Break
Man. Our hero has no idea that Break Man is actually his missing brother
Blue. When his robot sister Roll discovers the truth and intercedes she's
accidentally badly wounded, leading to a further escalation in the heated
battle.
Our second subplot features the evil Dr. Wily
engaged in his own battle-to-the-death against his own out-of-control robotic sidekick.
We learn via an extended flashback that the sidekick is actually an
ancient alien device that had carefully manipulated Dr. Wily into a scenario
that will lead to the end of mankind and its accompanying robots. The two
subplots build to a dramatic bridge to next month's issue, as the alien device
initiates its long-held plan, sending an electromagnetic pulse around the world
that disables (for the time being, at least) all forms of electronics including
the robotic Mega Man along with his friends and foes.
When I selected this comic for review, I expected
to read a children's-level story based on a kid's video game. As such, I
was very pleasantly surprised to discover a very sophisticated,
well-constructed plot clearly written for the enjoyment of both teen and adult
readers. The story is very entertaining, with detailed, often complex
dialogue and story elements usually only seen in the more dramatic mainstream
superhero comics books. This storyline could easily have been presented
within any DC or Marvel Comics storyverse and been just as effective and
enjoyable a read. In the Mega Man storyverse, it adds a depth of story
structure that's usually lacking in comic books based upon video game
characters.
Two additional positive elements of this comic book
are worth noting. The first is the interesting soap
opera-style dynamic among Mega Man's family members, including the story
twist of Break Man's secret identity as Mega Man's long-lost brother
Blue. Secondly, this issue follows the usual Archie Comics marketing
strategy of including in the comic book lots of interesting
catalogue-style promos and ads for other Mega Man reading products. Most
interesting is the ad for a new Sonic The Hedgehog/Mega Man crossover event
graphic novel series, with Volume 1 currently available for the very reasonable
sale price of $8.99.
So whether you're a Mega Man newbie like me
or an already-devoted fan of the android hero and his friends, its well-worth
your comic book reading time to add this very entertaining and unexpectedly
sophisticated video game-based series to your ever-growing new issues comic
book reading pile!
Publisher: Image Comics/Joe's Comics
J. Michael Straczynski: Writer
Tom Mandrake: Art
Image Comics in partnership with the new start-up
creator-owned comics publisher Joe's Comics has published the first two issues
of a new series entitled Sidekick. The concept of this series is to focus
on the reaI world-style trials and tribulations of washed-up superhero sidekick
Flyboy. I backtracked to last month's issue #1 in order to get a
feel for this series from its start. The new title is scripted by A-list
writer J. Michael Straczynski with art by Tom Mandrake.
The issue #1 story segment kicks-off the concept of
this gritty storyverse. We're quickly introduced to the superhero
partneship of Sol City's main hero The Red Cowl and his sidekick Flyboy.
When The Red Cowl is assassinated by an unknown sniper, Flyboy's life
spirrals out-of-control into bankruptcy and unemployment. The second half
of the issue #1 plot depicts his efforts to regain some professional
credibility as he botches both superheroing on his own and desperately trying
to regain employment as any hero's faithful sidekick. The premier issue
storyline ends on a dramatic bridge to issue #2 with a shocking reveal that The
Red Cowl faked his death and is living in secret tropical luxury.
While there are a few bright spots in this new
title, they're not enough to escape the weight of failure that drags this title
down into a negative review recommendation. On the plus side,
the unpopular attitude held by the Sol City populace to the
minor role of sidekicks in this storyverse is interesting, as is
the character of Melody, the sexy assistant to our duo who seems
positioned to play a growing and interesting role as either ally
or foe to Flyboy in upcoming issues.
The most glaring misstep of this new title is
writer Straczynski's D-list quality script, which tanks on two counts.
First, he provides the story characters with dull dialogue and frankly boring
story sequences, the result of which provides nothing new or creative to the
idea of the put-upon, under-appreciated hero sidekick story concept. The
second misstep is Straczynski's decision to replace narrative quality with
hacky shock value. True to his back-of-the-issue editorial promise to drag
Flyboy "deeper into madness, mayhem and depravity" than most comic
sidekicks experience, he focuses mostly on the sleazy aspects of Flyboy's
struggle as opposed to plot quality. The overall result is an amateurish,
non-entertaining, whiny mess of a story idea.
Given the amazingly high quality of Straczynski's previous
award-winning work at DC and Marvel Comics, including his iconic run on
both DC's The Brave & The Bold and Superman titles, its
doubly-disappointing to witness this failure of a non-entertaining comic book
from his efforts. However, it just confirms my oft-expressed opinion that
the creator-owned comic book publishing efforts of even the best writers are
usually flat, dull D-list quality products skating on the thin ice of the
creator's previously-achieved high reputation. Think about it: if the
indie comic book concept was any good, wouldn't a big publisher snap it up for
big bucks, versus passing on the dreck concept, thus leaving the creator to
peddle the piece of junk on his or her own for a few meager sales?
I look forward to the day that this regular
pattern is countered with a new trend of small creator-owned titles producing a
regular pattern of high quality and entertainment. But until that tide
turns, my review advice is to stay away from such non-entertaining
creator-owned title failures such as Sidekick and enjoy the mainstream high
quality products of writer Straczynski and his fellow comic book
creators. At the very least, this particular creator-owned alternative product
by such a renowned writer isn't worth the reading effort.
Publisher: Image Comics
Ed Brubaker: Writer
Steve Epting: Art
Elizabeth Breitweiser: Colors
Image Comics has a new espionage
thriller-themed comic book title out on the new issues shelves entitled
"Velvet." This series is set in the 1970's and presents a fresh
take on the James Bond-style spy thriller by focusing on that high stakes
spycraft world from the perspective of Velvet Templeton, the office secretary
for the director of the super-secret British government spy agency ARC-7.
The new series reunites the renowned A-list creative team of writer Ed Brubaker
and artist Steve Epting, with colors provided by Elizabeth Breitweiser.
Issue #1 kicks-off a multi-issue story arc entitled
"Before The Living End" by presenting two interweaving
sub-plots. One storythread fleshes-out the background of Velvet
herself; while in the 1973 main storysetting she's the mild-mannered spy
director's secretary, it's clear that she's sharper than most of the agency's
stable of suave male spies and clearly has more extensive
previous spy experience that will no doubt be revealed in upcoming
issues. The second sub-plot presents the main plotline, that of a
mysterious anonymous killer who is knocking-off retired ARC-7 spies, each of
whom has a previous romantic history with Velvet. Those personal feelings lead
Velvet to conduct her own secret investigation of the incidents. The
issue ends in a dramatic and high-action story bridge to issue #2 as Velvet
is discovered by the ARC-7 investigators at the latest murder scene,
leading to a major fight scene as she's mistakenly branded as the killer.
This new title succeeds as an entertaining addition
to the spy thriller comic book genre for several reasons. First, its a
very fresh and intriguing idea to present the 1970's male-dominated James
Bond-style spy world from the perspective of a woman. Veteran writer Ed
Brubaker is skilled enough to credibly flesh-out Velvet's personality as a
better-than-the-males spy who dominates this book from start-to-finish with an
interesting personality and action-oriented skilled fighter.
Secondly, Brubaker is smart enough to set this series in the 1970's, the
perfect timeframe for a James Bond-style spy tale. The glitter and
elegance of those classic Bond-era spy story settings illuminate this tale in a
way that a 2013 story setting would never have allowed.
The third major plus for this new title is the
reuniting of creative master Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting. Brubaker's
writing skills and Epting's visual stylings perfectly complement each other
like two naturally-conencted parts of a whole, producing a spy noir story
product that has as cinematic a feel as possible within the comic book
format. Once in awhile I comment that the comic book being reviewed is
perfect for adaptation to the television screen. In this instance, I can
see Velvet as absolutely perfect for not only t.v. adaption but also for a
series of movies similar to the James Bond movie series.
So all-in-all, this latest Brubaker-Epting
collaboration delivers for spy thriller entertainmnet, great story scripting
and fantastic spy noir art visuals, all adding-up to a very well-deserved
thumbs-up positive review recommendation for All Good Readers to add this spy
thriller to their ever-growing new issues comic book reading piles!
Marvel: Now What?! (One-Shot)
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Various Writers & Artists
Marvel has new one-shot satire comic book out
entitled "Marvel: Now What?!" This appropriately-titled
issue is a send-up of the current "Marvel: Now!" rebranding of
the company's publishing inventory that began last October in follow-up to the
conclusion of the Avengers versus X-Men mega-event. A wide range of
writers and artists take turns creating the eight featured stories, which
range from one-page to 5 pages in length.
All eight tales feature humor that
self-satirizes the standard Marvel storyverse characters and history.
"The Puppet's Master" is the longest story, a 5-page tale in which
the villain Dr. Octopus tries life as a t.v. talent show contestant. Three
tales are one-page wonders featuring the cartoon comedians Elliott and Wyatt,
who make wacky observations on the inherent weirdness inhabiting certain
corners of the Marvel storyverse. A wide range of Marvel characters are
represented in this issue, including the X-Men, Avengers, Fantastic Four and
The Watcher. The story lay-out is bookended by a humorous prelude
and concluding commentary on the focus of comics marketing on younger versus
older readers.
I enjoyed this one-shot collection very much and
was pleased to find no real duds among the inventory, with the weakest
stories being at least average in quality and entertainment value, while
several tales rose above the herd with exceptional quality.
Three of these vignettes stood-out for my taste as real gems.
"Cap-Fished" is a hilarious four-page take on the internet
Catfish dating scam, as a hapless Captain America looks for internet love and
ends-up with The Red Skull as his Catfish scammer (yeesh!).
"Ladies Who Brunch" is a three-page beauty of a funny
tale starring She-Hulk, Sue Storm, The Wasp and Thor, chockfull of sharp
humor on the theme of gender inequality in the superhero community. The
concluding tale is the perfect bookend to this collection; entitled
"Intervention," its a sharply satirical Watcher tale that balances
very funny observations about the role of The Watchers in the Marvel
universe with some sharp and accurate humor about psychological
therapy.
All of these short tales feature a detail of
narrative and depth of conversation among the characters that's rarely seen in
such brief little story riffs. This effort by the various creative
teams really pays-off in major humor dividends, the overall result of which is
a very comprehensive humorous riff on All-Things-Marvel. I would love to
see more of this style of self-deprecating humor from both Marvel and DC,
either in a regular monthly series or at least a mini-series (note to DC: why
not meet the challenge of Marvel: Now What?! with your own funny take on The
New 52?). But in the meantime, this one-shot is here in all its wacky
glory for us to enjoy right now. So get on down to That's Entertainment
and read this eight-story answer to the big question: Marvel, Now What?!
Contest Winner Announcement!!!
Our current contest offered-up a baseball trivia
challenge, asking you to identify the third oldest Major League Baseball
(MLB) stadium in America, after the two well-known oldest venues of
Fenway Park (our Boston Red Sox) and Wrigley Field (Chicago Cubs). We
received several correct answers, so via a roll-of-the-dice our contest winner
is (drumroll, please...) David McBarron, who correctly identified
Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles as our third-oldest park. From a historic
preservation point-of-view its kind of depressing that a 1962 ballpark is the
third-oldest active field remaining in The Grand Olde Game, but that's the
reality of it. So congratulations to David who wins our first prize
$10.00 gift certificate to That's Entertainment!
New Contest Challenge Announcement!!!
The Bongo Congo Panel Of Contest Judges have
decreed that we cleanse our trivia palate this week with a world
history/geography contest question. So your challenge is to e-mail us at Gordon_A@msn.com no later than Wednesday,
November 13 with the correct answer to the following question: we all know
that Washington, D.C. is named after the first U.S. President George
Washington. What is the only capital of a foreign country also named after
a U.S. President? Correctly identify the name of that foreign capital city and
its country and you could be our next contest winner! As always, in the event
of multiple correct entries, our contest winner will be selected via
a roll-of-the-dice. Please note that our first prize $10.00 gift
certificate to That's Entertainment is redeemable for regular retail
merchandise or in-store, ongoing specials, only.
That's all for
now, so have two great POST-WORLD SERIES RED SOX
VICTORY CELEBRATION WEEKS (CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2013
WORLD CHAMPION RED SOX!!!) and comic book reading
weeks and see you again on Friday, November 15 Here In
Bongo Congo! |
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