FAIRY TALE TEAM-UP ROBYN HOOD & GRETEL #1
I have always been a fan of team-up comics. Brave & the Bold, DC Comics Presents, Marvel Two In One, etc. Because back in the day, the idea of a shared universe was not as prevalent as it is now. So characters popping up in each others titles was a real novelty. So even in today’s world, I’m willing to check out any book with the word(s) team-up in it. And this new one from Zenescope follows in that tradition. When a mysterious orphanage keeps racking up numerous adoptions with no sign of the children afterwards, the mystery comes across Smitty’s desk, Robyn Hood springs into action. Fortunately for her, it also attracks Gretel. who suspects a witch feasting off the youth of orphan children is on the prowl. And even with Robyn turning elderly by the witch’s first attack, the women manage to bring the fight back to her with the help of some friends from the Underground. A good traditional tale steeped in folklore. And the best part is that at the end, both heroes go their seperate ways. No mini-series, no monthly future team ups which is how a good team up book should end. And by the look at the cover for issue 2, it appears that Robyn will be our main teamer upper. Hopefully, she can keep up in the tradition of Batman, Superman, Spider-Man, and The Thing. 8 out of 10 Grahams.
BRAVE & THE BOLD #54 FACSIMILE EDITION DC COMICS
Another reminder of what a great time the 1960’s were for comics. Before Batman had become the main host of the title, DC’s Brave & the Bold was used more as a showcase for new characters and ideas. And after a long run of up and coming characters, the title had decided to become a team-up book. Just prior to this issue the Flash and the Atom, Aquaman and Hawkman, and Green Arrow and the Martian Manhunter had all partnered up to battle evil. And so when writer Bob Hanley teamed up with artist Bruno Premiani and inker Sheldon Moldoff to tell the story of teen super-hero sidekicks coming together, it was bound to be a success. Not even being called the Teen Titans yet, the kids got the blessings of their mentors (also giving cameos to Batman, Aquaman, and the Flash) to go to a meeting of the Hatton Corners Teen Club. And while the tale is straight out of the Pied Piper, the teen heroes come together to defeat the one-shot villain Mr. Twister. Good clean fun with a focas on teens that was a big deal back then. 9 out of 10 Grahams.
COUNT CROWLEY MEDIOCRE MIDNIGHT MONSTER HUNTER #3 DARK HORSE COMICS
We really need to think about shortening some of these comic titles. Since I just got watching writer David Dastmalchian’s film Late Night With the Devil (Great flick by the way!) I decided to see what he could do with a comic story. And apparently, he can do a lot. Now remember that we are three quarters of the way through this mini-series but there is a legacy monster hunter story mixed with the real life exploits of a local television station, a mad scientist creating a harem of the undead for a rich client, a halloween backstory that actually could teach the Halloween movie creators a thing our two about great backstory, alcoholic recovery, and just so much more. And with a Lukas Ketner cover that shows he must have seen his share of Kari-Kum of Hollywood Spookshows, this is a title steeped in all things cheesy horror by people who love the genre. 9 out of 10 Grahams.
LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK PLANET OF THE APES
In my day, we had Little Big Books that gave us heroes, movie adaptations, and classic tales. Then came Golden Books that were more geared to school subjects like different branches of science. And for the younger readers, there was Little Golden Books with their odd size and hard front and back covers. But the truth is that if 5 year old me would have seen this in the Kroch’s and Brentano’s, it would not been able to be removed from my hands. And even now, I am amazed at how spoton the story is with the obvious omissions that would need to be made for a kids book. This is a magnificent adaptation of the classic film. I give it an 9 out of 10 Grahams.