EXCITING COMICS #1 ANTARCTIC PRESS COMICS
Ben Dunn, you are my new hero. The headline should read “Independent publisher gets it!” Finally, someone is producing an anthology book with a definite Golden Age flavor to it. Add in for a bonus, the fact that the title itself was an honest Golden Age title that began in 1940 and ran for 69 issues. Featuring such heroes as the Black Terror and the Liberator, the title survived 9 years only to be reborn here. The three features here all seem to share a style where its almost hard to tell what time period it is taking place. And heroes Blackjaq, the Crimson Scorpion, and Madam Mask all show promise of becoming on-going features. Really, as a purist I should point out that its a shame that the title couldn’t continue renumbering from the original series but I do understand that it has been 70 years. An excellent concept filled with interesting and entertaining stories. Well done Antarctic Press, well done! I give it a 10+ out of 10 Grahams.
BETTIE PAGE #2 DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT
This guilty pleasure remains near the top of my list. Mystery, intrigue, flying saucers, the royal family, and everyone’s favorite pin up girl all come together in a well scripted second issue. Add in some Grimm Fairy Tale style covers and you’ve got a winning combination. I’m not sure what amazes me more the winning combination of story/concept/and art or the fact the Bettie Page still fascinates us to this day. I give it a 9 out of 10 Grahams.
WONDER TWINS #1 DC/WONDER COMICS
I truly believe that only people who grew up in 1977 can really appreciate this total of what this title has to offer. I remember being totally annoyed to discover that Wendy, Marvin, and Wonder Dog had been replaced by these two alien upstarts. And truth be told, I didn’t really get over it until an issue of the SuperFriends comic explained that the two had graduated from the team’s training program and were moving forward with their studies. This is a very well done updating of the characters with a slightly off center version of the Justice League. (Any one spot El Dorado coming around the corner) This title seems to be geared toward a more early teen audience but with enough nostalgia for us old duffers. I give it a 9 out of 10 Grahams.