AVENGERS #8 MARVEL COMICS
You know what one of the best parts of new comic movies and tv shows being announced? It is almost a guarentee that there will be some best of comic or facsimile edition of the new hot character. Which is why I get to be transported to July 9th, 1964 to rewitness the first appearance of Kang, the Conquerer! Captain America was just thawed out 4 issues ago! Hulk is long gone but will return 9 issues later as a guest! Ant Man is gone and Giant Man is in! The Winsome Wasp is still saying things like “I’ll bet he’s not bad looking under that silly headgear he’s wearing!” With the deluxe creative team of Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Dick Ayers, and Sam Rosen, this is a perfect example of what we were enjoying in the good ole days! Except now we get to read it on better paper, with brighter colors! No matter what the modivation is, classics like these need to be brought out and refresh the public of what genius came before. 10 out of 10 Grahams.
GODZILLA MONSTERS & PROTECTORS ALL HAIL THE KING #5 IDW
The end of the series provides us with a few interesting battles and Godzilla and King Caesar battle King Ghidorah. I liked some of the inventive fighting moves from King Ghidorah. However, the breaking back and forth between the fight scenes and the kids watching the battle does become a bit distracting and hurt the over all story. Erik Burnham’s story does harken back to the days when Godzilla movies were becoming more for kids and straying from him representation of the Atomic Bomb. And while Dan Schoening’s art is a great fit for the scenes with the children, I’m on the fence with his Kaiju. Although there are one or two panels of King Ceasar and King Ghidorah where he is spot one. Ending on a future plot point, after 5 issues we have an enjoyable all ages title that was fun to read but really left me wanting for some of the earlier Godzilla titles from IDW. After all is said and done, I give it a 6 out of 10 Grahams.
MIRACLEMAN THE SILVER AGE #4 MARVEL COMICS
In June of 1977, I sat down as a younger man and read through the original Howard the Duck #16. I knew I was reading something so outside of the wheelhouse that it had to be good because I couldn’t wrap my head around what I was reading. Nevertheless, I still have my original copy. This title reminds me of that feeling. I know the history of Miracleman. I know that Neil Gaiman is a maestro of the comic story. I know that Mark Buckingham’s art is very stylish and well drawn. But this is not a one read type of story. There is a lot of material to digest here. Luckily, we are also treated to a 1954 story of Young MarvelMan battling his nemesis Young NastyMan (still one of the oddest villain names ever created). This story allows the brain to cool down. I give it a 7 out of 10 Grahams.
