COMICS READING FOR JUNE: “Keep It Civil – Captain America vs Iron Man (Part 2)”

* NOW WITH STAR RATINGS (ala Wrestling Observer Newsletter PPV reports) *

NEW! HOW I RATE THE COMICS VIA THE GRANT MORRISON SCALE

*****     All-Star Superman, We3

****      New X-Men (the early issues), Batman Inc., Batman And Robin, Dare, Arkham Asylum

***        Zenith, Seven Soldiers

**         Final Crisis, Flex Mentallo

*           Marvel Boy

DUD (or lower) Nameless, later New X-Men and any of his hippy-dippy, pseudo-mystical crap

1.-4. Marvel Adventures: The Avengers/Hulk (Marvel, 2011) ****

- originally published in Super Heroes #9-12 (Marvel, 2011)

Writers: Paul Tobin (#9-11) and Mike Raicht (#12)/Artists: various

5.-12. Earth’s Mightiest Avengers II #1-8 (Marvel, 2007) ***¼

Writer: Joe Casey/Artists: Will Rosado and Tom Palmer (interiors); Dave Johnson (covers)

13.-18. What If... #3, 4, 20, 25, 29, 32 (Marvel, 1977-82) ***

Writers/Artists: various

19. What If Special (Marvel, 1988) ***¼

Writer: Peter Gillis/Artists: Steve Ditko and Pat Redding

20.-28. What If...? Vol. 2 #1, #5, (Marvel, 1989-99) ***

Writers/Artists: various

Most of these yarns are kinda tedious as they hinge on “key moments” to events that weren’t particularly key in the Marvel scheme of things. “What If...The Avengers Lost The Evolutionary War?” or “What If...The Avengers Battled The Carnage Cosmic?” And the creative teams are lacklustre to say the least. The only two stand-out issues among this lot (for two very different reasons) are #29 (What If...Captain America Had Formed The Avengers”) – written by the odious George Caragonne and filled to the brim with tasteless racism – and the surprisingly fun #41 (“What If...The Avengers Had Fought Galactus”) – with Kirby-esque artwork by Jim Valentino and Sam DeLarosa and a reimagined tale where the Avengers and The Watcher throw down with Galactus rather than the Fantastic Four (Fantastic Four #48-50). If only more of these tales had #41’s joy and passion.

29.-31. Marvel Universe Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes #1-3 (Marvel, 2012) ***½

Writer: Christopher Yost/Artists: various

32.-36. Avengers Assemble #1-3, 6, 8 (Marvel, 2012) ****

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis/Artists: Mark Bagley and Danny Miki

37. The Avengers Movie Festival (ACP Magazines, 2012) ***

- featuring an Avengers tale from Marvel (Writer: Fred Van Lene/Artist: Ron Lim

38. Marvel Two-in-One #75 (Marvel, 1981) ***

Writer: Tom DeFalco/Artists: Alan Kupperberg and Chic Stone

39. Avengers Classic #1 (Marvel, 2007) ****

- featuring Avengers #1 (Marvel, 1963)

The Avengers #1: Writer: Stan Lee/Artists: Jack Kirby and Dick Ayers

“Some Assembly Required”: Writer: Dwayne McDuffie/Artist; Michael Avon Oeming

“The Real Origin Of The Avengers”: Writer: Stan Lee/Artist: Kevin Maguire

Cover: Art Adams

40. The Avengers #6 (Marvel, 1964, 2006) ***½

- reprinted as part of Marvel Legends Mojo Series

Writer: Stan Lee/Artist: Jack Kirby and Chic Stone

41. Civil War II #1 (Marvel, 2016) ****

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis/Artist: David Marquez

This was surprisingly good.

42. Steve Rogers: Captain America #1 (Marvel, 2016) ****

Writer: Nick Spencer/Artist: Jesus Saiz

Apart from the “shock” final page, I really enjoyed the start of this new series. Smartly written, beautifully drawn and with a very timely storyline about terror organisations targeting disenfranchised young men (with Hydra replacing ISIS as the bad guys).

I’m sure the “Cap is a Hydra sleeper agent” storyline was always meant to have a twist. However, I was amused by the public outcry, followed by Marvel’s denials that it was an imaginary tale or a mind control issue, followed by further public outcry – only for it to be revealed in #2 that Cap has indeed been given false memories by “sentient Cosmic Cube” Kobik (don’t ask). So either Marvel lied in the media to build interest in the new Cap title or……or someone at Disney got upset and put their foot down and had things changed pretty damn quickly. Either way, I’m intrigued to see where this storyline is going. If the writing and artwork stays strong, I might be tempted to buy this arc as a graphic novel when it comes out.

43. All New Captain America #1 (Marvel, 2015) ****

- this is the Secret Wars/Marvel Legends 3¾ inch toy version published in 2016

Writer: Rick Remender/Artist: Stuart Immonen.

OTHER STUFF

44. The Complete Iron Outlaw (The Sunday Observer and The Sunday Review, 1970-71) ****

Writer: Fysh Rutherford/Artist: Greg McAlpine (aka “Greg and Grae”)

I first read about this short-lived weekly comic strip in John Ryan’s excellent book, Panel By Panel. Finding the full run on Fysh’s website (www.fiysh.com.au/iron-outlaw-comic-strip), I immediately downloaded them and printed them out. While the Neal Adams-style artwork is a joy by itself, it’s the storyline that I found most fascinating. The biting critique of Australia’s bogan ways and off-hand racism and xenophobia puts Iron Outlaw in Barry McKenzie territory. In fact, one could say it makes a fine companion piece. While the strip – about a Melbourne bloke called Gary who finds Ned Kelly’s helmet and assumes the role as Australia’s No. 1 superhero – starts off as a parody of the worst excesses of bombastic Marvel comics of the 1970s, it eventually takes a darker direction when Iron Outlaw decides to right all the wrongs in Australia by becoming dictator. The strip ends on a brutal note with his “wog” girlfriend Steel Sheila in a concentration camp and sobbing, “Geez! I never knew Gary was like that!” Savage stuff.

45. Ice Cream & Sadness: More Comics From Cyanide & Happiness (itBooks, 2010) ****

Writers/Artists: Kris, Rob, Matt and Dave

46. Happy End (Actus Independent Comics, 2002) ***½

Writers/Artists: various

47.-52. Jacked (Vertigo, 2016) ****

- originally published in Jacked #1-6 (Vertigo, 2015-16)

Writer: Eric Kripke/Artists: John Higgins (interior) and Glenn Fabry (covers)

53. Penny Dreadful #1 (Titan, 2016) *

Writers: Krysty Wilson-Cairns, Andrew Hinderaker and Chris King/Artist: Louie de Martinis

54.-58. Black Science Vol. 4: Godworld (Image, 2016) ****

- originally published in Black Science #17-21 (Image, 2015-16)

Writer: Rick Remender/Artist: Matteo Scalera

Finally, this series is really coming together. A strong volume in this wild reimagining of Lost In Space.

59. Manhattan Projects #1 (Image, 2012) ***¾

Writer: Jonathan Hickman/Artist: Nick Pitarra

What if the Manhattan Project had actually been multiple projects exploring a wide range of mind-bending, death-dealing concepts. What if its boss, Robert Oppenheimer, was in reality his serial killer twin brother, who’d earlier murdered and EATEN the real Robert and assumed his place. From these two insane conceits, Hickman weaves a startling tale that I never gave the time of day to, but I think I may have to now check out the first couple of trades. Pitarra’s art seems a bit Chris Burnham/Frank Quitely, which is a good thing. I didn’t like Hickman and Pitarra’s previous collaboration for Image, The Red Wing, but I’m definitely gonna check out Manhattan Projects.

60.-62. Timely Comics: Moon Girl And Devil Dinosaur #1 (Marvel, 2016) **¾

- originally published in Moon Girl And Devil Dinosaur #1-3 (Marvel, 2015-16)

Writers: Brandon Montclare and Amy Reeder/Artist: Natacha Bustos (interior); Amy Reeder (cover)

63.-65. Timely Comics: Doctor Strange #1 (Marvel, 2016) ****

- originally published in Doctor Strange #1-3 (Marvel, 2015-16)

Writer: Jason Aaron/Artist: Chris Bachalo

66.-68. Timely Comics: Drax #1 (Marvel, 2016) ***¾

- originally published in Drax #1-3 (Marvel, 2015-16)

Writer: CM Punk and Cullen Bunn/Artist: Scott Hepburn

69. The Beast Of Chicago by Rick Geary (NBM Comics Lit, 2003) ****

The horrific true story of the “first serial killer” HH Holmes and his hotel of horror. A fascinating, morbid red by a true great of the comics world.

70. Crites’ Colouring Book by Tom Crites (Headpress, 2016) *****

My review HERE. http://jackkingkirby.blogspot.com.au/2016/06/book-review-crites-coloring-book.html

71.-76. They’re Not Like Us: Us Against You (Image, 2016) ***¾

- originally published in They’re Not Like Us #7-12 (Image, 2016)

Writer: Eric Stephenson/Artist: Simon Gane

77.-78. The Sandman: Overture #2-3 (Vertigo, 2014) ****

Writer: Neil Gaiman/Artist: JH Williams III

79. FCBD: ROM/Action Man #0 (IDW, 2016) ***

Writers/Artists: various

80.-85. Outcast Vol. 3: This Little Light (Image, 2016) ****

- originally published in Outcast #13-18 (Image, 2016)

Writer: Robert Kirkman/Artist: Paul Azaceta

86.-87. Dream Police #8, 10 (Image, 2016) ***¼

Writer: J. Michael Straczynski/Artist: Sid Kotian

88. Howard the Duck Newspaper Strips Vol. 2 (Marvel, 1977) ***

- originally published as single strips from Aug. 1-Oct. 2, 1977

Writer: Steve Gerber/Artist: Gene Colan

Howard and Bev take on the Entropists, doom cultists who want to put the world out of its memory. Not as strong as the first arc, but it has its amusing moments.

89. Shattuck (Fantagraphics, 2016) ****

Writer: Wallace Wood/Artists: Wallace Wood and assistants

 Obscure Wally Wood work indeed.

90. The Wonderful World Of Barry McKenzie (Sun Books, 1972) ***

- originally published in Private Eye, 1968

Writer: Barry Humphries/Artist: Nicholas Garland

I’ve seen both Barry McKenzie films but I’d never read the famed English comic strip until I came across this collection in a second-hand bookshop in Mogo on the NSW south coast. Clearly it was very popular at the time as this is a 1972 reprint of a book initially printed in 1968 and subsequently reprinted several times. The one thing that strikes me is how much Humphries despises both the English and Australians in equal measure. I enjoyed the strip for the most part, although I grew tired of the endless loop of  drinking, chundering, Aussie gormlessness and cynical negativity. It probably worked better when it was read as a weekly strip. Still, an historical curiosity.

91. Silver Surfer #15 (Marvel, 2016) ***½

Writer: Dan Slott/Artist: Michael Allred

92. FCBD: Love And Rockets (Fantagraphics, 2016) ***½

Writers/Artists; Jaime and Gilbet Hernandez

93.-96. Stray Bullets: Sunshine And Roses #12-15 (Image, 2016) *****

Writer/Artist: David Lapham

AUSSIE MINI-COMIX

97. Little Mouse: A 24-Hour Comic (self-published, 2015) *

Writer/Artist: Laura Renfrew

Yep, this definitely feels like it was written and drawn in a day. Utter shit.

98. Baristasaurus (self-published, 20??) ***½

Writer/Artist: Campbell Whyte

99. Brothers (self-published, 2014) ***¼

Writer/Artist: Andrew Fulton

100. Pond Scum (self-published, 2013) ***½

Writer/Artist: Neil Sanders

These were all sent to me last year as part of an Aussie mini-comix promotion. Some were good, some were bad, but a few were amazing.