Review Date: Friday, July 11, 2014
Here in Bongo Congo
Good King
Leonardo's wrist injury is healing nicely enough to
let him type comfortably again, so we can get back to
our usual review load of four comic book reviews this
week! So let's get right to it and see how the
following four new-issue comic books stack-up against
each other: |
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Gail Simone: Writer
Nicolas Daniel Selma: Pencils
Juan Gedeon: Inks
Michael Atiyeh: Colors
Dark Horse Comics is currently publishing a new
Tomb Raider comic book title, starring the well-known and very
popular Lara Croft adventurer character from the well-known video game
series and movie franchise. The movies starred Angelina Jolie in the
title role and remains the highest-grossing movie series based on a video
game. The new comic series is scripted by A-list veteran Gail Simone with
pencils by Nicolas Daniel Selma, inks by Juan Gedeon and colors by Michael
Atiyeh.
Issue #1 centers on Lara and some adventure team
colleagues struggling with the emotional aftermath of a disastrous island
adventure (I assume featured in the latest video game series), in which
most of her team died before rescue or escape. While coping with her own
nightmares as well as her female colleague Sam's post-island trauma, Lara
receives a desperate plea for help from team member Jonah, a stoic Maori
tribesman. Lara travels to the southwest desert and confronts a terrified
and seemingly delusional Jonah, who cryptically warns of a
pending apocalyptic disaster which the team
has supposedly unwittingly unleashed on the human race with its
return from the island. The issue ends in a dramatic bridge to issue #2,
as part of the prophecy seems to come true when a nearby dam
bursts, drowning Jonah with Lara barely surviving the flood.
I greatly enjoyed the first two Town Raider movies
back in the day and wanted to see how this comic book version compared to the
movie interpretation. The comic book is very different both in plotline
and storyverse structure, but it does stand on its own as a solid and
entertaining comic book read. Writer Gail Simone was charged with providing a
plot with a very different personality style for Lara. The omnipotent,
seemingly superhero-like adventuress is replaced here with a Lara who's more
real-world human, basically a 21-year-old young woman with the decision-making
flaws and personal conflicts of a normal human being. This is more of a Peter
Parker-style Lara Croft, with the same human-side relatability for the reader,
thus drawing us more into empathizing with the story situation and identifying
with the characters.
A few key positive elements further add to the
quality of this new series. First and foremost is A-list writer Gail
Simone's top-notch script, brimming with her signature style of providing
quality dramatic dialogue and believable emotional situations. The scenes
in which Jonah sacrifices himself to the floodwaters over Lara's protests
in order to save her life are classic Gail Simone at her
scriptwriting best and as such alone are worth reading issue #1. A
hats-off is also due to the art team, which provides an effective minimalist
style of penciling and colors reminiscent of popular comic artist Phil Noto.
My one constructive criticism is that this premier
issue could use a brief introductory narrative to orient the newbie reader
(like myself) to the current world of the Tomb Raider franchise. I wasn't able
to determine on my own whether or not the traumatic island misadventure
referenced throughout the issue is based either on the current video game or a
previous limited-edition comic book series, and Wikipedia was no help in clarifying
the matter. But the storytelling and visual presentation are so strong
and entertaining that this lack of backstory clarity doesn't diminish the
reading enjoyment.
So all-in-all, a positive review recommendation is
well-deserved for this new addition to the wide inventory of
previously-published Lara Croft/Tomb Raider comic book titles. The new
Tomb Raider series is definitely an enjoyable keeper for both newcomers and
dedicated Lara Croft/Tomb Raider fans alike!
Bravest Warriors (Impossibear
Special) #1
Publisher: Kaboom!
Various Writers & Artists
The Kaboom! kids-oriented imprint of Boom! Studios
has published a Bravest Warriors over-sized one-shot special issue
starring the character Impossibear in five new stories. For the
uninitiated, Bravest Warriors is based on the animated television series that
features a team of four teenaged heroes-for-hire who, along with semi-cuddly
friends such as Impossibear and Catbug, zip around the universe saving
adorable, cuddly aliens from harm. The series is the creation of acclaimed
Adventure Time creator Pendleton Ward. The five tales in this one-shot
special are the creation of various writers and artists.
This special issue kicks-off with a story entitled
"Drop The Beat," in which Impossibear strives to overcome numerous
interruptions from the Bravest Warriors cast in order to listen to his latest
music purchase in peace. "Impossi-Bagel" revolves around a
bagel-oriented beach picnic gone awry, while "Save Us" portrays Impossibear
and Catbug sending the Bravest Warriors off on a fake adventure so that the
pair can indulge in some sleazy partying. The plottheme of "Night
Trap" is roommates filching each other's food from their shared
refrigerator, while "Whiz Biz" centers on Impossibear interacting
with an alien fish culture that abhors peeing in their own ocean (I kid you
not!).
Going into this read, I was marginally aware of
many critics praising this storyverse, along with its companion
title Adventure Time, for its surprisingly effective literary
quality. A New Yorker Magazine article this past year positively
analyzed Adventure Time as if it was an American literary classic. After
reading these five stories, I can see why the praise is well-deserved.
Each tale is constructed with a balanced blend of kid-reader entertainment
and adult-level inside humor and social commentary. The result
is a very fresh and original cast of characters and story situations that
carve-out a high quality and very unique niche in the current comic book
and animated television industries.
Two particular positive elements deserve a review
shout-out. The first is the personality of Impossibear himself, constructed as
a grouchy aging teddy-bear-with-a-hidden-warm-heart. Picture character
actor Wilfred Brimley as an animated bear and you get the picture.
Secondly, an acknowledgement is well-deserved for the guts of the various
creative teams to feature some very adult issues and themes in a tasteful and
positive manner. I won't be a spoiler and identify any in particular,
suffice to say that I can see why the animated series has received several
prestigious award nominations for this storytelling approach.
So in sum, a positive review recommendation is
well-deserved for this very unique and entertaining comic book series that
works for readers of all ages. And if you're a Bravest Warriors newbie
like me, this particular one-shot Impossibear Special is a great place to
initially dip your reading toe into the Bravest Warriors publishing storyverse.
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Jim Zub: Writer
Filipe Andrade: Art
Jean-Francois Beaulieu: Colors
Marvel Comics recently published issue #1 of a new
comic book series entitled Figment. The series is apparently a crossover
from a Disney theme park experience. The new title is scripted by Jim Zub
with art by Filipe Andrade and colors by Jean-Francois Beaulieu. Four
"Walt Disney Imagineers" are also listed in the creative team
credits.
The series seems to be a storyverse mash-up
between Steampunk fiction and a Disney tiny flying cartoon dragon character
named Figment. Issue #1 is the kick-off installment of a multi-issue storyarc
entitled "Journey Into Imagination." The year and setting are
1910 London, where we're quickly introduced to Victorian scientist Blarion
Mercurial, who labors unappreciated at The Academy Scientifica-Lucidus.
While his assignment is cheap energy research, Blarion's pet project/passion is
a big steampunk device he's created, with which he hopes to "harness the
mind's energy." Long story short, the machine taps into a childhood memory
and voila, a tiny Disney-style talking dragon appears from said memory.
The issue ends in a dramatic bridge to next month's issue #2, as the experiment
also creates a space/time rift, which appears to toss Blarion and Figment into
a far-off, wondrous magical land.
I'm giving this comic book a mixed, albeit
thumbs-up average quality review. For younger readers, its a fun new
series featuring a Disney talking dragon who will no doubt have many
entertaining adventures in upcoming issues within that strange faraway land.
But for adult readers, I doubt if this comic book series can hold the attention
of, or provide reading satisfaction for the average full-grown fanboy or
fangirl. It just feels too cutesy-Disney with the tiny talking
dragon. Secondly, the Steampunk/Disney mash-up just doesn't work for me
as a baby boomer reader. The two styles of storyverse feel much too
incompatible and jarring as a fictional combination.
Third, this series badly needs a brief front-page
narrative that explains just where the heck in the Disney theme park culture
this dragon fits. I had no idea if the steampunk story element is also a Disney
product or an addition to the Figment franchise for this comic book series. It
would add a lot to the reading experience to provide a full understanding of
the nature of this comic book series. So all-in-all, a mixed
recommendation: by all means, this comic book is a fun and interesting read for
young and teen readers, but adults most likely would find it a bit too childish
and kiddy-oriented for the average adult reading palate.
Guardians Of The Galaxy: Galaxy's
Most Wanted #1
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Will Corona Pilgrim: Writer
Andrea Di Vito: Art
Laura Villari: Colors
In coordination with this summer's anticipated
Guardians Of The Galaxy movie, Marvel Comics recently published issue #1 of a
comic book entitled Guardians Of The Galaxy: Galaxy's Most Wanted. For the
uninitiated, the title refers to a group of space-faring adventurers. The team
was originally created by Arnold Drake and Gene Colan in the 1960's and
revived/revised by Marvel in 2008. The current comic book is written by
Will Corona Pilgrim with art by Andrea Di Vito and colors by Laura Villari.
The issue #1 tale features two of the current team
members, the sentient, trigger-happy raccoon named Rocket Raccoon and the
large, tree-like team member known as Groot. The plot is very simple and
fast-moving: when the pair try their hands at bounty-hunting at a spaceport,
the table is turned when a hunted criminal puts-out a fake bounty on Rocket
Raccoon. Hijinks ensue as our duo deal with the immense manhunt of Rocket
Raccoon, before eventually everything is straightened out and our boys get on
with their lives.
This comic book deserves an average-quality
positive review recommendation. On the plus side, its a decent
introduction for new readers to meet two of the Guardians members, and the
shoot'em up Spaceport antics have a fun and entertaining action
quality. However, I was surprised with the overly
simplistic and thin plotline. And I quickly tired of Groot endlessly repeating
his only uttered line, "I am Groot!" every time that he was required
to speak. With the summer movie in the offing, I did expect a storyline
that featured the entire team. And its also unclear as to whether or not this
comic book is a one-shot title or the start of a new monthly series (I suspect
its a one-shot). But for all I know, there are other Guardians titles out there
that promote the wider team and connect more to the upcoming film.
As a final review comment, the main feature story
is followed by two reprint tales from old issues of Thor, featuring traditional
Guardians players from their first 1960's-onward formation. So all-in-all,
readers will certainly get their money's worth in checking out this very
affordable three-story issue featuring Marvel's latest heroes to hit the silver
screen!
Contest Winner Announcement!!!
For the first time in a very long time, we didn't
have a winner for our latest contest, which challenged readers to tell us in
the running gag on The Late, Late Show With Craig Ferguson, what does Craig
claim his show is called when broadcast in Japan. The correct answer is
"Super Happy Fun Time Hour With Robot And Old Man!" Perhaps it
was just too obscure a question for readers to find. But it was worth a
try!
New Contest Challenge!!!
The Bongo Congo Panel Of Contest Judges realize
that all good Boston sports fans are in the summer doldrums right now with our
Red Sox dwelling in the cellar of the American League East
Division standings. Our other three major sports teams are also in
the midst of annual off-season re-building efforts. So your contest
challenge this week is to e-mail us at Gordon_A@msn.com
no later than Wednesday, July 23 and give us a suggestion of a
personnel move that you think any one of our four Boston teams-the
Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics or Bruins-should make to improve their team. You
could recommend one or more trades, acquisitions, etc. Just pitch to us a
player or players that you'd like to see added to one of the teams or traded
away to strengthen the team's chances . Who knows, maybe the team will
use your idea! Please note that our $10.00 first prize 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 a great two mid-summer humidity and comic book
reading weeks and see you again on Friday, July 25
Here In Bongo Congo! |
|