IRON MAN/HELLCAT ANNUAL #1 MARVEL COMICS
Wow! This one is a bit of a trip. Revisiting many previous plot points in the life and times of Patsy Walker, this little one shot seems to be laying groundwork for future plans with the character but that’s the problem here. Ever since her first appearance in Miss America Magazine #2 (1944), updating her has been a bit of a hodge-podge. A teen comedy-romantic star, inheriting the Cat costume from Greer Nelson, becoming a Defender, possessed by demons, becoming an Avenger, etc., etc. Christopher Cantwell’s story tries to keep us on an even keel but we’ve got way too much baggage being dragged around here. Another haunted house owned by her mother, an old friend being brought to hell, Daimon Hellstorm’s cameo role. Throw in new mind reading powers and a Tony Stark refused marriage proposal and this turns into a stew with too many ingredients and not enough sauce. Sure it tastes fine but does have a tendancy to stick in the back of your throat. A good attempt but unless this developes into a new series, this is just one of those weird one-shots. I give it a 6 out of 10 Grahams.
BEST OF GODZILLA ONE-SHOT IDW COMICS
This is a nice little one-shot that might have been more effective a few years back when the stories being reprinted here were actually running. What this book does do however is highlight the well done stories that IDW has come up with since getting the rights to the characters from Toho. With stories from their Legends series, Godzilla in Hell series, Rage across Time series, and Rulers of the Earth series, IDW has up to know brought together some of the most talented creative teams to show that they can make the studio proud. Can’t wait to see what IDW puts out next. I give this an 8 out of 10 Grahams.
AND WHILE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT REPRINTING GIANT CREATURES … IT’S A SPECIAL WAYBACK WEDNESDAY!
KONGA’S REVENGE #1 (1968) CHARLTON COMICS
Who remembers the classic 1961 British-American film, Konga? Well, the good folks at Charlton did and scooped up the property and quickly started up a series with the King Kong knockoff. Konga originally started in his own series which lasted 23 issue plus a “Fantastic Giants” special that some list as issue #24 from 1961 to 1965. Now, here’s where things get a little wonkie. In 1962, Charlton also released a special edition issue called The Return of Konga #1. This issue would generate a new second title called Konga’s Revenge. The Konga’s Revenge title starts with issue #2 and lasted only until #3. However, in 1968, Charlton decided to reprint issue #3 as Konga’s Revenge Volume 2 #1. Now, once your heads stop spinning, all you need to know is this is good clean giant ape fun. The stories are completely off base, Konga’s size changes from page to page, and no one is really afraid of this giant creature. Best part is that early issues feature the art of Steve Ditko pre-Spider-Man. What more can you ask for? I give it a 9 out of 10 Grahams.
