BATMAN SUPERMAN 2021 ANNUAL DC COMICS
One last look at the amazing worlds created by writer Gene Luen Yang and artist Paul Pelletier with help from inker Mick Grey and everyone’s favorite colorist Hi-Fi! Inspired by one of the most annoying yet interesting gimmicks in comics, this year’s annual is a flipbook and contains two seperate yet connected stories that merge in the center. Filled with little easter eggs, magnificent characterizations and outstanding imager, this is a wonderful last call before moving onto a new storyline. I’m just annoyed that we didn’t get a guest cameo by the 1941 Republic Pictures version of Captain Mar … oh, right … Shazam! that was hinted at in the final moments of the last regular issue. Still grabbing a 9 out of 10 Grahams.
BLOOM #3 HERO TOMORROW COMICS
Awaking in the wilderness, Ram is confronted with the apparent fact that the weirdness of issue two didn’t really happen. But that’s just when creator Ted Sikora turns the tale all around and quickly makes the reader start treating this story like an ink blot test. Are we lost in the woods with an attractive model we dressed up like a super-villainess? Or is there something more sinister going on here? And what happened at Woodstock? The tale is turning dark and with only one issue left, it’s leaving the reader wondering which road we’re going to take. This is really a story that makes the reader think. And honestly, that’s not a bad thing at all. I give it an 8 out of 10 Grahams.
AQUAMAN 80TH ANNIVERSARY 100 PAGE SUPER SPECTACULAR DC COMICS
Dingblast it! I was so looking forward to this little tribute issue. Now everyone knows I’m a sucker for any 100 pager but throw in cover choices by Ramona Fradon for the 1950’s and Michael Cho for the 1940’s (By the way Michael, just a side note, Aquaman’s original gloves were yellow), how could I not be bouncing up and down for my copy. And with past anniversary issues featuring short stories of the character’s Golden Age counterparts, I tore through this issue looking for Aquaman’s bubble helmeted father rummaging through the abandon palaces of what he believed to be Atlantis but it was not to be. And while writer Shawn Aldridge and artist Tom Derenick did a wonderful job of revisting the 1960’s Aquaman (along with AquaBeast!), this one spent more time focasing on the different versions of Aqualad than giving us a full look at Aquaman’s history. While definately worth reading, I can’t hide my disappointment. I give it a 7 out of 10 Grahams.
BACK ISSUE MAGAZINE #130 TWOMORROWS PUBLISHING
Having lived though these years, I have a tendancy to read Alter Ego magazine more than Back Issue. But occasionally, Back Issue offers up some really fond memories that I can’t help but scoop it up. I mean, how can you not feel a bit nostalgic about a time in comic history that Superman or Captain Marvel didn’t need their cosmic powers to defeat villainy. Simply by throwing a selection of Hostess Fruit Pies at the most evil villains would stop them dead in their tracks. MMMM-MM! While both DC and Marvel had quite the roster of promos and gimmicks, DC’s always seemed to jump out at me during those times. The DC Hotline phone number! How could you not face Mom & Dad’s wraith upon seeing the phone bill knowing that on the other end of the phone might be Denny O’Neil or Gerry Conway or Al Milgrom?! The DC Super-Stars Societies … I mean how could you chose just one?! These were great times and while reading this brought back tons of fond memories. It also made we want to shed a tear as I doubt these things will ever come back. Trivia contest, which 1 flavor of Hostess Fruit Pies have I never tasted? The answer will amaze you! I give this a 10 out of 10 Grahams.
