The Saga Begins

John Byrne's Next Men 0-30
Dark Horse Comics
John Byrne, writer and artist
***mature content warning***

John Byrne's Next Men initially saw print as four short vignettes in the pages of Dark Horse Presents in the early 1990s. The anthology title offered Byrne the chance to slowly introduce some of the players who would be key to his series, and the four pieces were collected together in a JBNM 0 issue for those who had missed the initial printings. Many readers expected a typical superhero story (if one can gauge by the letters printed in the first few issues of the title), but Byrne was telling a story that fit more comfortably into the science fiction realm. To be sure, JBNM makes use of many superhero themes; in fact, I would be willing to say that the series could not exist in this form without story-telling tools familiar to superhero fans. But to call JBNM a superhero comic is to ignore so much more of what is going on.

The first issue of JBNM came out in January 1992 and obviously had some readers scratching their heads as the action clearly starts "already in progress" and even an inside-front-cover "The story so far" synopsis leaves many questions unanswered. In a move of brilliance, Byrne and/or Dark Horse must have anticipated the confusion as the 0 issue was published the very next month.

The title characters in JBNM are five young people ranging in age from mid-teens to early-20s. Jasmine, Bethany, Nathan, Jack and Danny all live in an idyllic environment they call "the Greenery." Occasionally, newborns appear in the Greenery, so there are younger children present, but they aren't the focus of the story. There have also been older youths before these central five. At random times, older children in the Greenery might start to display special abilities. Not long after that happens, each in turn has "faded" from the Greenery to be replaced by a stone marker in a field. This is the only life these five young people have ever known until Jack unexpectedly "wakes up" to find himself and the others hooked into some kind of machinery in the "real" world.

Before we ever meet these five youths, readers are introduced to U.S. Sen. Aldus Hilltop, the financial backer behind the secretive Project Next Men. Hilltop and his lead scientists are trying to end the genetics project and destroy all evidence of its existence before they are discovered by federal investigators. We also meet one of those investigators, Tony (short for Antonia) Murcheson, who already knows some of Hilltop's secrets and is determined to expose his crimes. Murcheson finds the five awakened youths, and she tries to help them escape before Hilltop can have his research facility destroyed.

Along the way, Murcheson's charges discover they have some fantastic new mutations here in the real world. Danny can run at incredible speeds, but in the course of a day, his legs bulk up to look like those of a bodybuilder, not a 15-year-old like the rest of his body. Jack is incredibly strong, but finds he has lost the ability to control that strength; he can't touch anything without crushing it. Nathan can see long distances and wavelengths of light others cannot, but his eyes take on a hideous, large, blackened appearance. Bethany is invulnerable to any harm to the point that a single strand of her hair can slice through iron, but she has lost the sense of touch. Only Jasmine has no visible side effect to go along with her new acrobatic prowess. But despite being identified in the story as the oldest of the Next Men, she seems to be the most naive and child-like in her behavior. Maybe that's just my interpretation and not something Byrne intended, but otherwise, it seems odd that she would have no "curse" to go along with her "gifts."

Other characters figure prominently in the Next Men story as it progresses through these first issues. Willis Ducummen, or "Control," is the leader of the federal investigators trying to expose Hilltop's misdeeds. Sathanas is the true brains behind Hilltop's schemes. Ben Horowitz is the publisher of Dollar Comics, a master showman who introduces the Next Men to the world as real-life superheroes. Sandy Tolliver is a young artist at Dollar Comics who takes an interest in the Next Men's plight as they are hunted and reviled by the public.

A number of subplots are also introduced along the way and later brought into the story proper. JBNM No. 7 introduces a backup story titled M4, which continues until issue No. 23 when that storyline is brought into the overall narrative. M4 refers to an android designated M-IV or Mark Ivey. Mark and Hilltop's former secretary and lover, Amanda Watson, run into each other and try to figure out who or what Mark must "get away" from. Later, a time traveler named Thomas Kirkland shows up and claims he has come back from the year 2115 to prevent an attack on the president of the United States that will set in motion a chain of events centered on the Next Men that will lead to the extinction of most of humanity.

Believe it or not, all of these various plot threads tie together into a climax in JBNM No. 30 which looks to have dire consequences for our heroes. Except the series ended on that cliffhanger. The book was released more or less monthly at first. After a point, each new story arc was released monthly, with small breaks in publishing between arcs. The letters page in issue No. 30 starts off with an explanation by Byrne that he will be taking a hiatus and that he has a definite end game in mind for the series. But fans would end up having to wait quite some time before being offered an ending to this series.

I did not read this initial run of JBNM when it was originally published. I don't even remember being aware of the series in the early '90s, despite the fact that I was in college and paying regular visits to my then-local comic book shop. Some time after all 31 issues had been released, however, I became aware of the series and was curious about it. So, I managed to get my hands on the first 19 issues of the series (0-18) read them and enjoyed them. So I kept watch for more issues to continue the tale.

Fast forward several years. The four-issue Faith arc beginning in issue No. 19 was one I could never find in single issues, but I'd finally managed to get the Faith trade collection and single issues for Nos. 23-30. At about the same time, I'd managed to fill in holes from several other series in my collection and had decided I wanted to go back and re-read every comic in my collection in order of publication. (I was crazy to attempt it, I now realize, and I did not complete the task, although I stuck with the effort for several years.) The important point here is, I opted to wait to read the rest of these JBNM issues until I reached the 1990s in my collection. So, this is the first time I have read the second half of JBNM Volume 1.

All in all, I have to say this is a very entertaining and satisfying narrative, although Byrne's deliberately slow pacing would have been maddening on a monthly -- and later less than monthly -- basis. This story is built with secrets within secrets -- many kept from the readers as well as the characters -- and quite a few twists and surprises, even for the writer. For instance, it is clear from the letters pages that many followers of the series guessed at a secret relationship between Sathanas and one of the other characters in the story. It seemed an obvious connection to me early on as well. But then the text piece in issue No. 30 explains that the readers' guesses were a surprise to Byrne. He had not intended the relationship readers were so certain of, but it made so much sense to Byrne after the fact, that he incorporated that into the story.

Come back next time for the (eventual) return of JBNM.

Finally A Chance For Peace

The Walking Dead tpb Vol. 16: A Larger World (Collects issue Nos. 91-96)
Image Comics
Robert Kirkman, writer
Charlie Adlard and Cliff Rathburn, artists

Things are settling down somewhat in the walled community just outside of Washington, D.C., as the residents there come to accept Rick Grimes as their new leader. However, another winter has set in and supplies are running dangerously low. Larger groups are being sent farther and farther away in an attempt to find food, medicines and other necessities. In their world, it has now been two years since the zombie apocalypse began, so even canned foods are becoming scarce, and what does still remain is fast approaching or already past its intended expiration date.

While confronting these challenges, the community must face another surprise: a lone scout approaching their enclave. The newcomer, Paul "Jesus" Monroe, is armed and a very capable fighter. He claims to represent a community of more than 200 survivors on the other side of Washington who are interested in establishing trade with other communities, but Rick and company have learned not to take such scouts at face value. Eventually, Jesus manages to convince Rick to come back with him, talk to their leader, and see what is what in the Hilltop community.

Of course, once Rick gets to Hilltop, things are not exactly as Jesus said they would be, but Rick still sees potential in forming an odd sort of partnership with this new group. Now he just has to convince his people to go along with the bargain.

Another great installment in this ongoing series. One almost believes that a true, new beginning might just be possible for these people. Of course, having said that, this IS still an ongoing series and as we near issue No. 100, you just know something major has got to be waiting in the wings to mess that dream up.

The Divergences Begin To Grow

Star Trek Ongoing 9-10
IDW Publishing
Mike Johnson, writer
Stephen Molinar, artist
Roberto Orci, creative consultant

Previous issues of this series set in the rebooted "Star Trek" film universe have given readers mostly familiar retellings of adventures from the original television show. For instance, "Where No Man Has Gone Before" is the original series' second pilot episode wherein a crew member and close friend of Captain Kirk's mysteriously develops god-like powers and tries to take over the starship. An entire character critical to the plot of the original series episode was completely removed for the comic version set in the rebooted universe, but much of the rest of story plays out the same. Another story arc from the comic is based on the episode "The Galileo Seven," and similarly, events unfold in the comic a bit differently than in the television episode, but the overall story progresses much the same.

These two issues of the comic series, however, present a drastically different version of the original series episode "The Return of the Archons." And beginning with these two issues, advanced solicitation information began playing up the fact that this series is not only considered canon within the rebooted movie universe, but the comic series is being created with input and oversight from Roberto Orci, connected with the film franchise.

The Archons from the title of the episode and the comic arc refers to the crew of the Federation starship Archon, which disappeared near Beta III 100 years in the past. In the episode, the Enterprise is on a mission to discover what happened to that crew. In the comic, the very existence of the Archon is believed to be just a rumor told to cadets at Starfleet Academy, and Kirk, coincidentally finding his crew in the vicinity of Beta III, decides to snoop a little to satisfy his own curiosity. What the crew finds on Beta III in the comic is very similar to the conditions from the television show, but the source of those conditions and the Enterprise crew's response to them is very different. Both a prologue, which seems to have little connection at first to the overall story presented in these two issues, and an epilogue, which is the direct result of the events in these issues, seem to point to a clandestine group within Starfleet Command. That is a plot point which may or may not play a factor in the upcoming sequel to the first J.J. Abrams Trek film.

Who Are The Others And Why Do They Make Arthur So Angry?

Aquaman 7-9
DC Comics
Geoff Johns, writer
Ivan Reis and Joe Prado, artists

We're back around to this wonderful title today for the first three chapters of The Others arc. As "off" as Johns' portrayal of the Justice League feels to me right now, he is firing on all thrusters on this title, and Reis and Prado are turning in some truly marvelous artwork that just makes me smile. I will be sad to see this art team leave this title in a few months, but they definitely deserve to go on to bigger and better things if they can't stay here.

About the story: We start off seeing the vile evilness that is Black Manta hunting down and killing people, especially an Iranian woman who has visions of the future. After those brutal scenes, we switch to Aquaman and Mera going to consult with Dr. Shin about the Atlantean relic Aquaman found during the Trench story arc. Shin is the world's foremost authority on myths and lore concerning Atlantis, but he also has some ties to Manta that make Shin's and Aquaman's relationship strained. Talk of the Atlantean relic is interrupted, however, with the sudden arrival of a panther and its mistress, Ya'Wara, bringing news to Aquaman of the Seer's death at the hands of Black Manta.

It seems that both of these two women, the Seer and Ya'Wara, along with Aquaman and three others formed a team of sorts named the Others before the formation of the Justice League. (On a side note, it seems that some of the DCnU timeline is very muddled, even for chief creative officer Johns. Some of the flashback information provided in this arc takes place six years ago, which would place those events just one year before the formation of the League. Yet other events, chiefly Aquaman's time with the Others, are revealed to have happened one year after the events which were six years ago. Unless Aquaman helped form the League almost immediately after spending a fairly short amount of time as one of the Others, these time clues are not going to line up correctly.)

Getting back to the story, Manta is hunting down and slaying all of the members of the Others, presumably ending with a final confrontation between himself and Aquaman. While Ya'Wara and Aquaman go off in search of the other members and Manta, Mera stays with Shin and learns what she can about these events in Aquaman's life before her arrival. The reader, along with Mera, learns that when Aquaman began displaying signs of his powers, his human father, Tom Curry, took him to Dr. Shin, who helped the boy master his abilities. Shin also learned what he could from the pair about Atlantis and tried to cash in on that knowledge. We also learn that Aquaman blames Black Manta for his father's death. Tom Curry died of a heart attack while intervening on his son's behalf during a fight between Manta and Aquaman. Out of revenge, Aquaman killed Manta's father!

We are getting quite a grisly picture of the younger Aquaman through the course of this arc, which is an interesting contrast with the more calm man he was depicted as in the first issue of this series, walking away silently as he did from the taunts and jeers of some of the people in the crowd. There has also been no mention so far in this series about Aquaman and Mera's son, Arthur Jr., who was slain as a child by Black Manta in the previous DC Universe. We're not yet sure if that is still a part of the character's continuity in the DCnU, but the part about the deaths of both men's fathers certainly adds deep roots to the animosity these two antagonists have always felt for each other.

It Feels Like The Curtain Is Already Coming Down

Winter Soldier 5-6
Marvel Comics
Ed Brubaker, writer
Butch Guice and Michael Lark, artists

I talked about the first couple issues of this series here. That first issue especially made this seem like a great series continuing on the best from Brubaker's Captain America run. While the first arc, which continued through issue No. 5, was good, it wasn't quite as great as I'd hoped overall. The first arc revolves around some contemporary Marvel villains -- including the Red Ghost and his super gorillas -- reviving three Soviet sleeper agents trained during the Cold War by the Winter Soldier and using them to attack Victor von Doom. Naturally, S.H.I.E.L.D. pairs the Winter Soldier with the Black Widow to shut the scheme down.

As this first arc is winding down, we are reminded that there were three former Soviet sleeper agents, but only two are taking part in the Dr. Doom plot. Issue No. 6 answers the question of what happened to the third sleeper agent for both the readers and our heroes, while nicely setting up the next arc.

This title seems like it will end with issue No. 13, the conclusion of its third upcoming arc, and the departure of Brubaker from both Captain America and this book. As I said at the start of this post, the first arc wasn't bad -- it brought back some of the espionage elements that I very much enjoyed from the pages of Captain America and uses characters I enjoy reading about. But it is almost like Brubaker's enthusiasm for the title is already winding down. As great as his contributions to the legacy of these characters, maybe the time is right for Brubaker to be leaving these titles now.

World-Hopping Ladies

Worlds' Finest 1-2
DC Comics
Paul Levitz, writer
George Perez and Kevin Maguire, artists

This is a companion book, of sorts, to Earth 2, which we discussed last time. On Earth 2 five years ago, Superman, Wonder Woman and Batman died repelling an invasion from the forces of Darkseid. Supergirl, Superman's younger cousin, and Robin, Batman's daughter, are powerless to prevent their mentors' deaths, and in the aftermath of that epic battle, they pursue what they believe to be one of Darkseid's minions, being swept into what may or may not have been a Boom tube, the means of traveling between dimensions for those from Apokolips.

The two teenage girls awaken on the main DCnU Earth shortly after the newly formed Justice League fights back a similar invasion, and the pair has no idea how to return to their own world. Robin, Helena Wayne, uses her training to secure the pair some money through Wayne Enterprise funding, and the two decide to keep their true identities secret, not knowing who on this new world they can trust. Supergirl takes on the civilian name Karen Starr and secretly uses her powers and smarts to amass a small fortune, which she is using to back scientists with theories about alternate dimensions and how to travel between them. Helena uses a variety of aliases as a civilian and continues to fight crime under the name Huntress.

Keeping with the other DCnU titles, it is now five years after the pair's arrival on this world. Karen and Helena are dining together, catching up as they frequently do, at a restaurant in Tokyo. They are in this city at Karen's request, as she has a promising piece of trans-dimensional tech she wants to show Helena, but the meal is interrupted when the research facility is attacked. Karen and Helena arrive to find the tech destroyed and an irradiated man wrecking what is left of the facility. Helena changes to Huntress, and Karen reveals her new costumed identity of Power Girl, and the two women pursue their quarry, whose attire Helena notices bears a striking resemblance to that of the Apokoliptian uniforms the invading parademons wore back on Earth 2.

As with the Earth 2 title, I'm liking this story so far, and I'm along for the ride for at least a little while. Keep up the great work, all!

Speaking Of Alternate Earths

Earth 2 1-2
DC Comics
James Robinson, writer
Nicola Scott, artist

Just a few days ago I discussed Action Comics No. 9, which took place entirely on a parallel Earth -- specifically Earth 23. Yes, longtime DC fans, the multiverse is back, and with this title, we have the return of Earth 2. But don't look herein for a rehash of the exploits of the Justice Society or other Golden-Age heroes, at least not like you might expect if you are familiar with their original tales. Don't forget, this is still the DCnU.

Teases before this series debut let readers know that some catastrophe befell this Earth in the past, robbing it of its greatest heroes. Just as the main DCnU's age of heroes began with the formation of the Justice League to fight off an invasion from Apokolips five years ago, this universe suffered from a similar invasion by the forces of Darkseid. While in the main DCnU, several heroes had been secretly operating for some time independently and came together to successfully oppose the invasion, on Earth 2, only five heroes that we know of existed: Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman and Robin and Superman's cousin, Supergirl. The three older heroes did what they could while trying to keep the junior pair out of harm's way, for the most part. But this "Trinity of Wonders" was not as effective in repelling the invasion as the larger group in the main universe. The world's human armies came together and fought as a single unit, and the brilliant tactical mind of Batman eventually devised a plan that stood a chance of success, but the three adult heroes died in the execution of that plan. (For more on the fate of Supergirl and Robin, come back next time.)

The ravaged Earth 2 tried to rebuild over the next five years without its heroes, always watchful that the forces of Apokolips might return to try again. A new, even darker threat to humanity is predicted, thus creating a need for a new age of heroes. Robinson seems to be taking his time establishing this new age of heroes as by the end of the second issue, we only have two definite heroes making their first appearances. The last of the old gods, the dying Mercury, appears to bestow his speed on a directionless young man named Jay Garrick. Jay doesn't so much take on the name of the Flash once he has his powers as the name is given to him by the first people he saves, a pair of civilians being attacked by rats mutated into monsters as an after-effect of the Apokolips invasion. Toward the end of this second issue, the new Flash literally runs into a winged woman I assume will be Hawkgirl or Hawkwoman. She is not named in this brief appearance nor are we given any history of the character, but she seems to have been expecting Flash's arrival.

A great deal of time has also been spent on developing the character of Alan Scott, a newsman who will become this world's Green Lantern, but as yet, he has no powers. The only other appearances by anyone with any powers in the present day scenes are Michael Holt and Terry Sloane. Michael Holt was the modern-day Mr. Terrific before the New 52 reboot. I did not pick up the title prior to this, but Mr. Terrific, starring Michael Holt, was also one of the initial 52 series that launched the DCnU in late 2011. That series ended after eight issues, but I'm guessing it ended with Holt mysteriously disappearing from the main DCnU Earth, since he mysteriously appears in the middle of Earth 2's Manhattan and isn't quite sure where he is. Upon his appearance, he is confronted by a man, again someone who seemed to expect his arrival, who introduces himself as Terry Sloane. Terry Sloane was the secret identity of the Golden-Age Mr. Terrific in the old DCU, but rather than being an ally as I expected, Sloane quickly attacks Holt, saying that Mr. Terrific is the only person who could stop his plans.

I'm trying to keep my pull list considerably shorter these days and be more picky about what I spend my money on now that I'm a father, but I'm going to stick around and see how this title plays out for at least a few months. I'm definitely intrigued right now. Oh, and I just love that Nicola Scott art!

Perhaps I Spoke Too Soon

Green Arrow 9
DC Comics
Ann Nocenti, writer
Harvey Tolibao, artist

I defended the DCnU version of Green Arrow here based on the first story arc; I thought it was a different but still good take on the character and especially enjoyed the technology-junkie, celebrity-craving villains. The next arc had some slight changes in the creative department, and those changes seemed a little for the worse because the story seemed a little lacking, as discussed here. But further creative changes were coming, I said with hope in my heart.

Frequent readers on this blog may have noticed that I haven't reviewed the title since. I'm still buying and reading the title as I enjoy the character, but I'm not liking the latest creative changes at all. The art used to be crisp and clean, and the covers, like the one from this issue by Howard Porter, still are. But the interior artwork on this title is less crisp, very sketchy and often hard to follow. Mostly the art is inconsistent as in one panel Green Arrow will seem to be standing on his feet like a normal human being, but then the next panel will make him look like maybe his knees are double-jointed and he's actually standing on his calves -- either that or his feet and/or boots have inexplicably stretched beyond recognition.

And the plot isn't much better, IMHO. I get that a new writer might mean a change in direction, but a wholesale change in characterization is a bit much. Green Arrow likes the ladies, I get that. Sometimes he even likes ladies who are dangerous. But this plot has him attacked by and then shacking up with three blondes, ending up in Alaska and presumed dead, losing control of his companies as a result of his disappearance, meeting the blondes' whacked-out dad, the mastermind behind the genetic engineering plot that spawned the three blondes and several animal-monstrosity hybrids, and the plot meanders between fight scenes and bedroom scenes for four issues, all the while making the supposed hero of the tale out to be a stupid, careless jerk.

As I said, I've still been buying and reading this title, and I already have the next few issues ordered, but I am NOT enjoying this title. So I'm not going to order this one in the future unless there is yet another creative change. The cost just isn't worth it for a book I'm not enjoying in the HOPE that it might get better.

It's Completely Out Of Left Field -- Yet It Works

Action Comics 9
DC Comics
Grant Morrison, writer
Gene Ha, artist

The history of Krypton from Action Comics No. 5 seemed a little out of place on my first read until I realized the entire thing was being narrated by the rocket in which baby Kal-el arrived on Earth, and that the rocket is "speaking" to Superman when he discovers it while he's escaping from military custody. The story presented in Action Comics No. 9, "The Curse of Superman," seems to have no connection to the unfolding events early in Superman's public life. In fact, the entire tale takes place in another dimension on another Earth -- Earth 23 of the multiverse.

On Earth 23, Superman is a black man. Through flashbacks, we learn that his biological parents, Jorel (no hyphen) and Lara save him from Krypton's destruction by rocketing him to Earth. This Superman's Kryptonian name is Kalel, also without a hyphen, and his secret identity, the name his adoptive Earth parents give him is Calvin Ellis, and that he has recently been elected president of the United States without revealing his dual identity to his Earth's denizens.

The issue opens with Superman in the middle of a battle with Lex Luthor (no obvious differences here from the Lex readers are more familiar with) when they are interrupted by the sudden appearance of three dimensional travelers.

Two of the three travelers are struck down as they appear and the third is left to explain that their pursuer is an evil version of Superman. In their own universe, these three people thought up the idea of a Superman and wanted to make the concept a reality using a machine they had created that could temporarily give ideas solid form. They needed financial backing to improve upon their device, giving their creations permanence, but the ideals of Superman were corrupted along the way by their financial backers. It is this corrupted version of Superman that is tracking them through various alternate universes, slaying other versions of Superman along the way.

It isn't hard to see how Morrison has used this story to introduce the idea of alternate universes to Earth 23's Superman, and how that might be used in the future to bring this Superman into the main DC Universe where most of "our" Superman's stories take place. But there is not a single trace of anyone from that main DCU in this issue. There are also several interesting questions raised about this universe's Superman also being the leader of the U.S. For instance, he is an alien, not even human, therefore not legally able to hold the office of president without committing fraud. But also, any actions he takes in a foreign nation as a superhero also involve covert U.S. action by nature of his being the president. Many of these questions are raised by the Earth 23 version of Wonder Woman, who makes a brief appearance in this issue along with other members of this Earth's Justice League. Whether these questions and characters will be explored again in these pages or perhaps the long promised Multiversity saga from Morrison and DC, or even if they will be addressed again at all, remains to be seen.

Despite that uncertainty, this was another solid issue of this title.

Showing Some Golden Age Love

Showcase Presents All-Star Squadron tpb
(Collects the first 18 issues of the 1980s series, the first annual
and the preview story from Justice League of America 193 which started things off)
DC Comics
Roy Thomas, writer
various artists

The All-Star Squadron is a group of heroes brought together by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in the days before the United States entered what would become known as World War II. According to the story Roy Thomas crafted, the U.S. government had heard rumors of some kind of sneak attack planned for Dec. 7, 1941. FDR wanted to gather all of the members of the Justice Society of America (a roster made up of most of the A-list heroes DC published at the time, and a group formed in part at the suggestion of FDR himself), as well as any other masked mystery men (and women) of the time who were not part of the JSA, and have them help defend the nation against the threat of attack.

Unfortunately, most of the heroes of the JSA are unavailable to answer FDR's call. The villainous Degaton, a time-traveling villain from 1947, has chosen the sneak attack by the Japanese on Pearl Harbor as cover for one of his own schemes, and has captured most of the JSA -- Superman, Batman and Robin, the Spectre, Dr. Fate, Green Lantern, the Flash, Sandman, Johnny Thunder, Starman and even the future member-to-be, Wonder Woman.

Only Hawkman, Dr. Mid-Nite and the Atom evaded capture by Degaton, but the trio also received FDR's summons too late to prevent the Pearl Harbor attack. The three are joined by Robotman, the Shining Knight, Plastic Man, Johnny Quick, Liberty Belle and later Hawkgirl and Firebrand to form the All-Star Squadron, rescue the trapped JSA and defend the home front during the bulk of the war.

Roy Thomas is a master at crafting stories that expand upon past continuity without wiping away anything from previously published stories. The original tales of the Justice Society were published in the 1940s when World War II was unfolding for real. These tales of the All-Star Squadron, written in the 1980s occur between the adventures published prior.

And I absolutely love these Showcase collections. They are an economical way to experience older series without the time and expense of hunting down countless back issues. To keep the costs low, these reprints are on (relatively) cheaper newsprint rather than the more expensive papers used in today's comics and trades, and they are printed in black and white, much like Marvel Comics' Essentials reprint series. To offset the absence of color, they collect many more issues per volume for a huge, 500-plus page phone-book sized amount of comics greatness. I hope the format sticks around although neither DC nor Marvel have been producing as many of these volumes of late.

I Love It When Series Come Together

Green Hornet: Year One tpb Vol. 2: The Biggest of All Game
Dynamite Entertainment
Matt Wagner, writer
Aaron Campbell, artist

Matt Wagner has crafted a truly incredible origin story with this yearlong epic. Much like his work with that other great pulp hero for Dynamite -- Zorro -- Wagner dances between the childhood, formative years of his two heroes and their first year operating as masked vigilantes. In this case, the two heroes are Britt Reid -- the Green Hornet -- and Hayashi Kato -- the Hornet's aide, Kato. Their respective stories begin in 1921 half the world away from each other and culminate in their debut and early successes as crimefighters in 1938 Chicago taking down the notorious crime boss, "Skid" Caruso.

Obviously, I've also read the first trade collection of this series, The Green Hornet: Year One Vol. 1: The Sting Of Justice, but I read that volume before I started posting these reviews once again. Both volumes together tell the complete tale of the origin and debut of this dynamic pair. I've never tried Kevin Smith's more modern take on the Green Hornet legend, an ongoing series also published by Dynamite. Smith's comic writing can be a bit uneven for my tastes -- some things I've really liked; other things I've hated. But I was drawn to the Year One nature of this series, and I was NOT disappointed.

Wagner weaves in historical tidbits to help add credence and believability to his narrative. He also provides a staggering amount of detail that I believe is wholly original to his narrative about how Reid and Kato meet each other and join forces. What's more, Wagner's Green Hornet is not infallible. Reid is not perfect, making mistakes along the way; and while he has the heart of a crusader from an early age, he learns his hand-to-hand fighting abilities from the much more physically adept Kato, and gets some engineering help designing his signature Hornet's Sting gun and the Black Beauty from an old friend of his father.

Aaron Campbell deserves kudos for adding to the story by creating such visually accurate depictions of the vehicles, weapons and technology of the 1920s and 1930s. Both these graphic novels feel like watching a well researched period film or documentary of the times.

These two trades make an excellent standalone epic of the origins of the Green Hornet and Kato. But one other factor that enhances my own appreciation of these tales is how well they fit into the narrative of other Green Hornet tales I've read. I reviewed the first 14 issues of Now Comics' Green Hornet series here. That series traced the evolution of the Green Hornet from Britt Reid to his modern-day successor. When that series focused on Britt Reid's Hornet career, however, it chose to depict his final case. Therefore, nothing in those comics contradicts what can be found in these with just a few minor date discrepancies, making them nice companion pieces in my collection.

The Problem Is: Tomorrow Never Seemed To Get Here

The Twelve 1-12
Marvel Comics
J. Michael Straczynski, writer
Chris Weston, artist

This was one of those great, unfinished tales for a couple years. The complete title was The Twelve: A Thrilling Novel of Tomorrow, and I began to wonder if the story would ever be completed because as the old saying goes, tomorrow never seems to get here; it's always today.

The title centers around 12 costumed adventurers active during World War II in the pages of various Timely Comics publications, Timely being the precursor of modern-day Marvel Comics. Some of the characters had no powers whatsoever -- like the Phantom Reporter, Mister E and the Blue Blade. Others had supernatural powers and abilities -- like the Witness, the Laughing Mask and the Black Widow. Some had fantastic powers like Captain Wonder, Rockman and Fiery Mask. But all of them, along with several other colorful heroes, were present in the closing days of the war, when these 12 heroes fell into a secret Nazi trap.

The goal of the Nazis was to try to capture some of the Allies' heroes and dissect them. That plan didn't work out so well for this particular band of Germans, but these 12 heroes were still taken out of commission, being placed in cryogenic suspension and then forgotten until modern times when a construction project unearths their hidden storage area.

The rest of this story highlights the differences between the modern world and the world of the 1940s these heroes left behind, and how these heroes are left to cope and adjust to their unfamiliar surroundings.

Weston's art is crisp and clean and works well depicting both the war-era scenes at the beginning of the story and the contemporary action. He gives each character a distinctive look that allows the reader to instantly know which character from this large cast is in any given panel at a glance, even when they are not in costume.

And Straczynski has crafted a wonderful character-driven tale that presents several mysteries along the way.

I was intrigued by the idea of this series when it was first solicited in early 2008. The first issue published was a 0 issue, which included some preview pages from the story, as well as a couple reprints of Golden Age tales featuring a couple of the characters from the story. Somehow, I missed it at the time, but I've recently learned that there was also a 1/2 issue which included more preview pages and more Golden Age reprints. Then the series proper was released, issues 1-8, ending with a circulation date of December 2008 for that eighth issue.

And then nothing.

There were a number of rumors about why the delay, and as time went on, several promises of the series returning, but nothing panned out until spring and summer 2012 when the last four issues of the title were completed and released. I am happy to say that, despite the long wait, the conclusion to this tale did NOT disappoint. If you've never read this story, or worse, if you started it and gave up waiting for the end, do yourself a favor and seek these issues out. Or, if you prefer, there are trades of the series, as well as a hardcover collection.

Bittersweet Reading

Captain America (2011) 10
Marvel Comics
Ed Brubaker, writer
Alan Davis, artist

I have thoroughly enjoyed Ed Brubaker's run on this title. I came in late during the first Winter Soldier arc and had to seek out copies of the first few issues wherever I could find them. (Thankfully, I wasn't coming in too late to the party, and a local comic shop in my area, Hawg Head Comics, was able to get me set up with what I'd missed; thanks, Mike!)

Anyway, I've been with Brubaker since the beginnings of the rehabilitation of Bucky, the death and replacement of Cap, the return of Cap, the maskless Steve Rogers, the short period of time when Cap and Bucky shared the mantle, and now finally these wonderful arcs with rotating artists as the one, true Cap again wears the star-spangled uniform alone.

The bulk of Brubaker's run has also had more of an espionage feel to it that suits Captain America just as much as being a superhero because he is a soldier. Paired with Nick Fury, Sharon Carter and S.H.I.E.L.D., Cap's adventures should have more of a spy feel to them. Now with this most recent relaunch of the title, Brubaker has brought things full circle, making the Cap stories without Bucky, Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. more straight superhero adventuring. Cap works well in both settings, especially with Brubaker at the helm.

This issue brings the most recent arc, Powerless, to a close as Cap, Sharon and the Falcon finally defeat the new Queen Hydra and Machinesmith, restoring Cap back to full power and overcoming the effects of the madbombs the villains were using on the populace. The ongoing plot running through all 10 issues of this relaunch so far involves a former World War II ally of Cap's turned villain named Bravo. Bravo is a time-displaced hero much like Cap, but rather than spending the intervening years in suspended animation as Cap did, Bravo was helplessly stuck in another dimension. He blames Cap for that situation and is back trying to wreak revenge on the Avenger.

All of this makes for thoroughly enjoyable reading, as I said before, so why "bittersweet?" Because I know that in less than 10 more issues, Brubaker's run will be coming to a close. I will miss this title once he is no longer at the helm, and each wonderful new issue brings that end that much closer.

There's No Denying The Man Can Draw

Batman: Odyssey 1-6/Batman: Odyssey 2 1-7
DC Comics
Neal Adams, writer and artists

I was very eager to get my hands on this series when it was first announced. This was to be the triumphant return of one of the great Batman artists with his vision of the definitive Batman story. Neal Adams and Jim Aparo are probably the two most easily recognizable and iconic Batman artists out there. I already own all three hardcover volumes of Batman Illustrated by Neal Adams, so here was my chance to add a new Bat-tale to my collection by this luminary in the field.

And, of course, the art does NOT disappoint. Adams' Batman is muscled and powerful while retaining a realistic athletic appearance. His layouts allow the eye to easily follow the action across the page, and his graphic storytelling is also spot on. This story is rather complex, so it might be hard to literally follow everything without words, using just the pictures alone, but Adams' panels are not hard to figure out.

As I said, the story is pretty complex, epic even, taking Batman on a true odyssey that stretches the imagination. In fact, this story would almost have to be called an Elseworlds tale because of its scope. The epic moves from Gotham City to a number of underground, hidden societies and incorporates gnomes, trolls, dinosaurs, ancient godlings, henchmen and giant bats -- not your everyday Batman fare! At least not since the late golden age or early silver age!

The main villains of the story are Ra's al-Ghul (naturally, since Adams is the character's co-creator) and Ra's' son, the Sensei, the leader of the League of Assassins. It also involves a handful of other DC characters including Deadman, another character Adams is known for illustrating. Some of the lofty concepts the tale is woven around include Batman's staunch refusal to ever kill his adversaries and his aversion to guns. Another central concept is the theory that Ra's al-Ghul is really the only villain Batman ever faces, that many of the other famous Gotham rogues are merely obstacles occasionally thrown in the Dark Knight's path by Ra's to keep Batman occupied and less likely to uncover other, more sinister plots. This theory helps explain how so many of these rogues are locked in a revolving door of scheming, capture and escape, as well as playing off Batman's refusal to kill his opponents.

Like some of Adams' scientific theories, this story is deep and takes a little effort to unravel completely, but again, it is a very imaginative and highly entertaining journey.

Side note: One more reason this tale would likely be considered an Elseworlds story by most readers is a guest appearance by one of my favorite characters -- Aquaman, or at least, I believe that's Aquaman even though I don't recall anyone else ever drawing him even remotely this way before.

Back To The Basics

Daredevil by Mark Waid tpb Vol. 1 (collecting issues 1-6)
Marvel Comics
Mark Waid, writer
Paolo Rivera and Marcos Martin, artists

I'd heard good things about the Mark Waid-helmed relaunch of Daredevil and decided to try out the first trade collection when it arrived. Now that I have, I can honestly say that it is NOT the best thing I've ever read, but it was a very fun and entertaining read.

That's saying a lot for a character who had gone down such a dark path of late. I'd read and enjoyed a lot of Brian Michael Bendis' run with the character, and continued to follow the title and enjoy it through Ed Brubaker's run, but then Andy Diggle took over, and it was just getting too dark for my tastes, and I dropped the book. That's why I didn't sample the Waid issues when they first came out. I didn't know about his new direction and had simply had enough dark.

Waid's run on DD is NOT dark. He explains this in-story as being Matt Murdock's answer to all of the dark craziness in his life of late. The character is making a conscious effort to lighten up and have some fun with life. That's not to say Daredevil is a funny, comedy style book now. Not really when the first arc involves the sound villain Klaw trying to resolidify his body by possessing DD. Also not when DD takes on all of the major criminal organizations in the Marvel Universe at once in the second arc. There is real threat and real danger here. But the Man Without Fear is choosing to face these threats with a smile on his face and an appreciation for being alive when he triumphs, as we all know he ultimately will.

I hear Waid's take on the character has been so successful that he plans to use the same approach to writing a relaunched Hulk title later this year. Comics that are fun to read ... I may just have to get on board for that trend!

A Fun Little Romp With The Promise Of More

All-Ghouls School tpb
IDW Publishing
Marc Sumerak, writer
David Bryant, artist

This series focuses on pretty, popular and smart high school sophomore Becca Norman who, through no fault of her own, ends up with the blame in a major cheating scandal during finals. This leaves Becca with a choice: take an "F" and repeat her sophomore year beginning in the fall or attend a summer make-up term at spooky Darkmoor Academy. Darkmoor is the town's answer to a haunted house, and many monstrous rumors surround the place and its pupils.

Becca decides to try Darkmoor, reasoning that it can't be as bad as its reputation, only to learn that the campus is indeed populated by female, teenage versions of monsters. Needless to say, Becca doesn't immediately fit in, especially with the headmaster's daughter, Elle Diablo, who is quite used to reigning over the other students. Fortunately, Becca also makes a new friend, Wendy, at the school so she doesn't have to face things solo.

This was a fun read illustrated in a cartoony, whimsical style that makes me think it could easily be adapted into an animated series or feature, so if either Sumerak or Bryant are reading, get on that! The series also ends in such a way that the door is left open for more installments while still giving readers a satisfying ending. Give it a try!

Ask And Ye Shall Receive

Star Trek Ongoing 7-8
IDW Publishing
Mike Johnson, writer
Joe Phillips, artist

I have enjoyed most of IDW's Star Trek comics, including this run picking up from J.J. Abrams rebooted "Trek" universe film. Prior to these two issues, this title had retooled scenarios from the classic original "Star Trek" series, showing how familiar events have transpired slightly differently in this new timeline. While I have very much enjoyed these not-quite familiar tales, I dared to wish that the creators involved might also try their hands at some completely original adventures along the way.

Johnson and Phillips have expertly done just that with these two issues, crafting a tale that spins directly out of events depicted in the 2009 Abrams film. This tale, titled "Vulcan's Vengeance," was an enjoyable, completely original read that still felt true to the rebooted characters and situations, which couldn't have happened without the destruction of the planet Vulcan in the film at the hands of Nero. There were a couple of story twists involving Spock on a covert mission that didn't fool me for a minute, but the overall mystery behind the identities of the story's villains caught me completely by surprise.

Further adding to my enjoyment of this series is learning that Roberto Orci, one of the chief architects behind the reboot along with Abrams, is serving as a creative consultant on the comic series. Upcoming issues of the comic will help set up the plot for the sequel to the 2009 film, and the events depicted in these issues are considered canon for the rebooted movie continuity. That is something that almost no comics, novels or other media version of Star Trek have ever achieved before.

If you are a "Trek" fan and aren't picking these up, do yourself a favor and seek them out, either in trade or single issue form.

I Thought Bats Was Acting More Sane In The DCnU

Nightwing 7-8
DC Comics
Kyle Higgins, writer
Eddy Barrows and Geraldo Borges, artists

These two issues of Nightwing bring the initial story arc to its conclusion, but also serve to springboard from there, tying Nightwing more closely to the “parent” title and setting up Nightwing’s role in the Court of Owls Bat-verse crossover.

We learn why Saiko believes Dick Grayson is the “fiercest killer in all of Gotham” and what has motivated him to stage this elaborate bid for revenge. Issue No. 7 brings Saiko’s threat to an end and continues to fill in the blanks for Saiko’s motivations through a visit to the Batcave. All of this serves to give a very personal reason for Nightwing to be included in the Court of Owls crossover because his family is a part of the conspiracy. Then issue No. 8 serves as a prelude for the Court of Owls crossover pitting Nightwing against one of the Talons, the Court’s assassins.

This book is still providing straight-on action and adventure with a Nightwing/Dick Grayson character I can still recognize and enjoy. My only complaint about these issues is the characterization of Batman/Bruce Wayne.

Admittedly, I have stayed away from the main Bat titles, and so I have no first-hand knowledge of Bruce’s DCnU characterization outside of Justice League. My understanding from things I’ve read online and backed up by Batman’s depictions in Justice League are that he is a more grounded individual now. He’s still a driven avenger, master detective and brilliant strategist, but he’s not quite the standoffish loner some writers in the last few decades have written him to be. That’s an improvement in my opinion. But his portrayal in this Nightwing cameo is of a secretive, angry, anti-social individual who trusts no one but himself. If that depiction by Kyle Higgins is not accurate with the other Bat-books, then an editor should have corrected it or encouraged Higgins to better explain why it was an accurate portrayal. Since that didn’t happen, I’m left feeling more glad than ever that I’m not buying Batman, Detective or any of the other Batman-focused books.

Justification For Shooting First And Asking Questions Later

Star Trek/Legion of Super-Heroes 1-6
IDW Publishing/DC Comics
Chris Roberson, writer
Jeffrey Moy, artist

It's just a given when two unrelated teams of good guys meet in the pages of some crossover comic: There will be a misunderstanding that leads them to fight before everyone involved realizes that they are all good guys and they finally join forces to defeat the real bad guys. The exact reasoning or setup behind the misunderstanding varies from story to story; some are better and some are weaker.

Bringing two completely different properties like the original crew of the starship Enterprise and the Legion of Super-Heroes seems like it should be an entertaining mash-up. Not only are each of these groups of people from different realities and genres, they are from different times, as well. The original "Star Trek" is set in the 23rd century, while the Legionnaires are from the 30th. Bringing both together involves enough manipulation that each group could be forgiven for not immediately knowing who the good guys and bad guys are in what they are being confronted with. However, I took issue with the fact that when these two teams find each other, it is clearly the Enterprise crew "throwing the first punch." Once the misunderstanding is resolved, Kirk offers an explanation for his actions, and some others might disagree, but I think the rationalization offered is out of character for Jim Kirk.

Once all of the good guys are friends and join forces, there is what might be another slight continuity gaffe in the pages of this crossover. As the two teams are attacked by an amalgamation of the Fatal Five and several menacing aliens opposed to the United Federation of Planets, Lt. Nyota Uhura from the Enterprise compares one of the combined villains to her Orion roommate from Starfleet Academy. Now the rebooted Lt. Uhura in the J.J. Abrams "Star Trek" film was shown to have an Orion roommate at the Academy, but I don't know that this is canon for the Nichelle Nichols classic version of Uhura, and it is indeed the classic versions of these Star Trek characters who appear to be in this story. Of course, there is also nothing in the classic Trek canon to contradict Uhura having an Orion roommate, so maybe that isn't a change in the Abrams film, but just the way things always were. So, I guess I'm being nit-picky with that observation.

Remove those two things, and this was a fun series throwing these two sets of characters together. The interior art by Moy is very nice. And to further bump up the art scale, covers for the series were illustrated by Phil Jimenez and longtime Legion artist Mike Grell, among others.

All in all, this was a fun series making great use of the histories from both properties to craft a new tale well worth reading.

I'm Curious Enough To Stick With It

Saga 1-2
Image Comics
Brian K. Vaughan, writer
Fiona Staples, artist

The advance artwork for this series caught my eye; the description of what the series would be and Vaughan's name made me decide to give it a try. Both of those facts are somewhat off for different reasons.

I know Vaughan to be a popular writer and I have purchased a few books by him, but haven't actually read many of them yet. I bought and read the first trade collection for Y: The Last Man and liked it enough to want to buy the subsequent trades, but since the story was designed to have a definite end, I opted to wait to read any more until I had them all, and since just haven't made the time yet. I also bought Pride of Baghdad based on Vaughan's reputation and advance solicitation material, but have yet to read the graphic novel. So, I'm really just hoping I'll agree with other folks that he is a good writer.

As for the eye-catching art that first drew my attention, now that I've seen the first few installments of the monthly title, my reaction to the art is uneven. I very much like Staples' depictions of the main characters, Alana, Marko and Hazel. The other recurring characters we've seen so far are also drawn well and consistent, their features not fluctuating from panel to panel making them less than recognizable at times. Even the backgrounds and landscape panels are beautifully rendered. It's more some of the creatures and fantastical elements in Saga which can sometimes seem a tad uneven. Relative sizes fluctuate a bit or a gigantic creature just really doesn't look quite plausible, in some way. It's hard to describe, really. I don't hate the art at all, but sometimes it seems just a bit "off."

The plot so far hinges on a war between two species that has spread out across the known galaxy. Alana was a soldier on one side and Marko a soldier on the other. The two met when Marko was captured and Alana was assigned to be his jailer. Apparently, they fell in love and ran away from the fighting, or tried to. Despite being on the run, the pair has obviously gotten married somewhere along the way, and both factions in the war are trying to recapture the couple for treason. That's the back story.

The series opens with the introduction of Hazel, the child of Alana and Marko, who is born on the first few pages of the story. Moments after Hazel's birth, the new family is surrounded by some of Alana's former comrades. Obviously, they manage to escape or this would have been a very short-lived series, but before Alana, Marko and Hazel can obtain a ship and leave the planet they are on, they find themselves in the middle of the shifting front lines of battle and pursued by bounty hunters hired by Marko's people.

I immediately liked this couple and their newborn, and I'm curious where their story will take them. Maybe that's because my wife and I had our own first child just about a year ago. Whatever the reason, I'm definitely going to stick around for a while to see where Vaughan and Staples take things.

Exactly What I Expected -- Delightful!

Fairest 1-2
DC Vertigo
Bill Willingham, writer
Phil Jimenez, artist

I've read a number of underwhelming books in the past week. I'm not going to name-drop them here as that would serve no constructive purpose and there's more than enough animosity in our little hobby on the "Internets" anyway. I won't even say that any of these books were bad, as I did finish them all instead of dropping them unfinished in disgust. They just weren't as good as I'd hoped when, in some cases, I specifically sought out these particular story arcs and bought titles or issues I might not have otherwise purchased.

That wasn't the case for this newest offshoot from the Fables title by Willingham et al. In fact, although some time has passed, this story begins directly from events in the main Fables title.

The title, Fairest, refers to the beautifully illustrated women who populate the Fables stories from Snow White to Rose Red to Cinderella to Rapunzel to Belle to Briar Rose, to name just a few. In fact, Briar Rose -- Sleeping Beauty, if you don't already know -- is the central character in this first arc, but the story actually begins with a young man named Ali Baba, prince of thieves.

Ali finds himself in the middle of the charred ruins of the Adversary's former Imperial City, looking to loot anything of value left behind. What he finds is a bejeweled bottle that holds not a genie but a "lowly little bottle imp." The imp, it seems, doesn't possess a great deal of magic for granting wishes, but rather has the ability to secure knowledge: he "knows" things. The imp/comedy relief sidekick tells Ali that he only needs to awaken a sleeping princess to get the untold riches and wealth he craves.

For anyone not familiar with the main Fables book, a long-running story theme dealt with these Fable-folk being driven from their native magical lands by an Adversary who seized control of everything and created a vast empire. In a large war between the denizens of Fabletown and the Adversary, the true power behind the Emperor was captured and most of his minions were defeated. The plan included taking out much of the Imperial City with a sneak attack making use of Briar Rose's unique curse: She was smuggled into the city and put to sleep. As anyone who knows the story of Sleeping Beauty knows, once Briar Rose was put to sleep, everyone within the sphere of her curse's influence also fell asleep. Thus were many of the Adversary's most powerful lieutenants caught off-guard and removed from the battle.

So naturally, once Ali Baba finds the sleeping Briar Rose and awakens her with a kiss, she isn't the only one to wake up, and the trio (don't forget the bottle imp) must contend with some mighty annoyed villains, not least of which is the Ice Queen.

This book, like the main Fables title, is a fun read filled with exotic locales, high adventure, smart writing and let's don't forget gorgeous art. Rumor has it that this title will feature different art teams for each of its different story arcs. Who better to kick the series off than with two artists known for drawing beautiful women: Phil Jimenez on interiors and Adam Hughes on covers.

Kudos, gentlemen!

Don't Call Her Aquawoman

Aquaman 6
DC Comics
Geoff Johns, writer
Joe Prado and Ivan Reis, artists

This issue is a solo Mera story focusing on her activities while Aquaman had the solo adventure depicted in issue No. 5, and boy, was she busy. Mera steps out alone to get some dog food for the couple's new companion and finds herself immediately exposed to the dregs of humanity. First, she runs into a lecherous store manager. Then, that leads to a confrontation with the police who are both condescending and aggressive toward the former queen of Atlantis. While battling the officers who refused to listen to her explanations, Mera overhears a call for backup on their radios. She cleverly defuses her own situation and intervenes in a deadly domestic dispute, none of which redeems humanity in Mera's eyes. That moment comes when one person who witnessed the initial altercation between Mera and the store manager performs a simple act of kindness for Mera and offers a hand in friendship. The issue finishes up with Mera arriving back home shortly after Aquaman's return at the end of the previous issue, and the pair are set to investigate the mystery he uncovered in his own adventure.

Interspersed within the contemporary Mera story are some key flashback scenes to her DCnU history. As revealed in the earlier Brightest Day series, Mera's history has been subtly altered. She no longer came innocently from another dimension filled with water-dwelling inhabitants, but instead was sent here to kill Aquaman. She ultimately fell in love with the aquatic hero and betrayed her mission. These flashbacks reveal more of that back story and change in attitude.

All in all, a well-done, done-in-one tale well worth the time and cost. Kudos, gentlemen!

Shades Of Pufnstuf

Fables 114
DC Vertigo
Bill Willingham, writer
Mark Buckingham, artist

You have to be of a certain age and know who Sid and Marty Krofft are to "get" the header for this post, I imagine, but the main point is a young child is led astray by an evil boat in disguise.

I haven't talked much about Fables in this most recent tour of the blogosphere, but that doesn't mean I'm not enjoying the book. Month-in and month-out, it is a joy to read, and I bow before Willingham and his illustrators for their creation of this universe. It's just a book I enjoy after this much time, though, and I don't often stop to think about why or try to put the enjoyment into words. I decided to give it a try with this issue, however, since it is the beginning of a new arc, and while Fables arcs tend to run far and wide of the main story most of the time, this one will center on the Wolf family, some of my favorite characters.

For those not familiar with this series, it involves any and all fairy tale and folklore characters you've ever heard of. They are all real and living in secret in our "mundane" world. Most have come to live among the "mundies," as they refer to normal humans, because of a fierce adversary who long ago drove most of them from their traditional homelands. That adversary was revealed and dealt with among many other tales in the first 100 issues of this series. The Wolf family sprang from the courtship and union of Bigby Wolf (the Big Bad Wolf, a werewolf descended from the North Wind, hence his prowess at blowing things down) and Snow White (her name is a little more readily recognizable). These two started off as co-workers in the Fabletown administration, but they didn't really like each other much. Their love story, a fan favorite of the series, evolved over time and has led to a litter of seven children -- three girls and four boys.

It's always fun to drop in on the Wolf family and see their adventures, especially with the addition of the children, six of whom inherited the ability to fly from their grandfather, the North Wind, and the ability to transform into wolf cubs from their father. These six -- Winter, Blossom, Therese, Connor, Ambrose and Dare -- all appear human most of the time. But what of the seventh, you ask? Ghost is aptly named as he is invisible, as all gusts of wind are. Their antics are always fun to read.

The current story arc beginning in this issue is titled Cubs in Toyland, so one can assume the destination the absconding boat has in mind for its passenger. And by the use of the plural form of "cub" in the title, one can further assume that the one child abducted will soon be joined by at least some of her siblings. But this introductory installment concerns itself with a toy boat cajoling young Therese to find some water in which they can play together. Once Therese finds some non-frozen water in the winter landscape near her home, however, the boat grows to a size which can carry her and sets off. Despite its new size, the boat itself still looks quite toy-like, but its reflection in the water looks much more sinister.

All of this happens against a backdrop of other snippets to keep other story lines advancing. For instance, Bigby and daughter Winter are not at home with the rest of the Wolf clan. Recently, the North Wind died and fate has decreed that one of Snow and Bigby's children is destined to be the new North Wind. While Ghost might seem an obvious choice, few people outside his family know of Ghost's existence, since he's invisible. It seems Winter is the one destined to be the new North Wind, as decided in a previous arc. Winter is being trained for her new role by her grandfather's servants, and Bigby has gone along to protect his daughter as she is only 9 years old. We also spend a few pages checking in with the majority of the denizens of Fabletown, who are trying to reclaim their secret neighborhood in the middle of New York City, an area that was recently lost to them in a battle with an entity know as Mr. Dark. If you've never read an issue, most of this background will mean very little, but this series has such wide appeal, I have little doubt most readers who find the basic premise even a tad interesting would enjoy catching up on the story through the various trade collections available.

"From The Pages Of ..."

Winter Soldier 1-2
Marvel Comics
Ed Brubaker, writer
Butch Guice, artist

Ed Brubaker accomplished a great many things with his incredible run on Captain America (A run which is just wrapping up with Brubaker's departure after scripting Cap's adventures for eight years.), but if you wanted to sum that run up in just a few words, those words would have to be: Brubaker brought back Bucky.

Yes, it's true Brubaker's run also saw Steve Rogers -- Captain America -- killed, but we all knew Steve would be back, and sure enough, he is. But Brubaker's run took one of the pillars of comics continuity, the fact that Cap's World War II partner, Bucky Barnes, was dead, and changed that reality. Through the course of the first 20 issues of Brubaker's run, we learned that the Soviets recovered Bucky's body, reanimated it, replaced the broken parts with cybernetics, and reprogrammed Bucky's brain to make him the ultimate assassin. They renamed him the Winter Soldier and kept him in suspended animation, reviving him only briefly for specific missions over the years. Few people left alive had glimpsed the Winter Soldier in the intervening decades, thus the assassin's true identity was not known.

Brubaker wove a narrative wherein Cap discovers the true identity of the Winter Soldier and sets out to rescue his former partner. He succeeds in not only finding Bucky and freeing him from his controllers, but also in restoring Bucky's memory of his true identity and all of the crimes he committed as the Winter Soldier. As if that weren't enough to deal with for the former sidekick, it isn't long after these events that the Red Skull and his agents appear to have succeeded in slaying Captain America, and Bucky must also deal with that grief.

For a time after Steve Rogers' death, Bucky picked up the shield and mask and became Captain America, not so much because he felt worthy to do so but more to keep someone else from doing so and disgracing the memory of his friend. While serving as the new Cap, Bucky and several other heroes learned that Steve Rogers was not dead, but merely "dislodged in time" (Just go with it, or better yet, pick up the issues and read 'em; they're good stuff!). They rescue him and for a very brief time, there were two Captain Americas in the Marvel Universe.

Now, Bucky has again adopted the name Winter Soldier, but this time he's working to make up for the things he did while under Soviet control. These first two issues read very much like some of the better issues of Captain America under Brubaker's hand. Even the artwork is similar as Butch Guice was one of the frequent Cap artists during Brubaker's run. Along with Bucky is the Black Widow, another former Soviet operative now working with America's forces. This book reads like a natural continuation of what Brubaker started, and I imagine it will continue to do so as long as he helms the adventures.

Let The Main Event Commence

Nightwing 6
DC Comics
Kyle Higgins, writer
Eddy Barrows and Geraldo Borges, artists

I made a few comments about Nightwing No. 5 being mostly a departure from the main story of Nightwing and Saiko and Haly's Circus and Raya and Dick. This issue solidifies that feeling about issue No. 5 since most trades collect an average of six issues for one complete story arc. Rather than bringing this arc to a conclusion, this issue serves as the climax before the finale, spending most of its time bringing Nightwing to the awareness of Saiko's real identity and some of his motivations, but only bringing about the final attack in the final closing pages. That likely means the next issue will be a slam-bang all-fight issue.

That's not to say that this issue is unnecessary. Without it, we readers wouldn't have seen how Nightwing puts together some of the few clues he has at this point. And even more importantly, we get what I think are some pretty big hints as to how things will ultimately wrap up with Nightwing triumphant.

*** POSSIBLE MAJOR SPOILER ALERT ***

Normally I try not to reveal major spoilers, but this issue's plot makes it a little hard to avoid. Throughout this arc we have learned that Raya was a childhood friend of Dick Grayson's, and likely, if Dick's parents hadn't been murdered prompting Dick to leave the circus and become the ward of the Batman, then these two would have grown up to be a couple. The pair have rekindled that budding romance since Dick has rejoined the circus while trying to solve this mystery. Last issue, it was revealed that Raya is a willing collaborator with the character we now know is Saiko, so she is setting Dick up for all that is to come. This issue, we see that Raya is beginning to have some second thoughts about carrying out Saiko's plan for revenge against Dick.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I think Raya will ultimately change sides and end up helping Nightwing defeat Saiko. That's not an original idea, so maybe Higgins is merely setting his readers up for a plot twist, but I feel strongly that Raya will be redeemed by the end of this tale, despite the fact I doubt she will be a long-term, recurring character in the book beyond this arc.

Time will tell.

" ... And If You're Not Careful, You Might Learn Something Before It's Done"

Walt Disney's Donald Duck: "Lost in the Andes" (The Complete Carl Barks Disney Library) hardcover
Fantagraphic Books
Carl Barks, writer/artist

This is a nice book featuring a number of Donald Duck stories of varying lengths and boundless imagination. The title story, "Lost in the Andes," takes Donald and his three nephews -- Huey, Duey and Louie -- to South America in search of the source of square eggs. Subsequent stories pit the Disney Ducks against a Christmas-hating wicked witch, running from a genuine Voodoo zombie named Bombie, and racing against Donald's cousin, the ever-lucky Gladstone Gander, to be the first to find a ship-wrecked Uncle Scrooge McDuck. And those are just the novel-length stories included.

More than just a collection of funny stories appropriate for all ages, however, this tome includes a brief history of Carl Barks' career, before, during and after his time with Walt Disney Studios. It also lists the original publication information for each of the stories included, as well as background information on the times and trends in which the stories were written. That can be useful knowledge considering most of these stories were written in the early 1950s and much has changed in America since that time.

I don't know if I will spend the money on each of these volumes as I would likely never have a full set anyway. The reasons behind that are twofold: First, I would be much more likely to buy the Donald Duck collections than the Uncle Scrooge collections. Nothing against Scrooge McDuck. I have some collections already of stories featuring him, most of them by Barks. I just prefer Donald. And second, Barks has such an enormous amount of Duck stories to his credit, that I doubt I could ever afford to own all of them anyway. He crafted so many tales -- some single-page gags, some 10-page stories and many more book-length adventures -- that his career with the Disney Ducks spans almost a quarter-century and countless narratives.

I'm Sensing A Trend Here

The Manara Library Vol. 2 hardcover
Dark Horse Books
Hugo Pratt and Mino Milani, writers
Milo Manara, artist
***mature content warning***

This volume, like the first one, contains a pair of stories; and once again, I liked one selection more than the other. I'm not sure how many of these volumes Dark Horse plans on producing (although I've recently read online that nine volumes are planned), but they are a bit costly if I am going to continue to only really like half of each hardcover.

The first selection in this second volume is "El Gaucho," an historical fiction set in Buenos Aires in the summer of 1806, when the British invaded Argentina. The story follows a young British drummer aboard one of the invading ships and tells of his fictional adventures during those real events. I've never been a history buff, but I enjoy a good story. This is a good story, but it felt a bit disjointed as portions of the young man's time in Argentina are skipped over. In the story's defense, I read the lengthy tale in several sittings, and this made it a bit hard to follow the narrative at times, and therefore hard to really get into the story.

The second selection in this volume is a series of 10 "trials" wherein Manara and Milani present the historical facts of a famous person's life as if they were defending their actions before a jury in a courtroom, hence the title, "Trial By Jury." The premise is that the facts of the person's life and actions will be related "impartially and faithfully" and that "the readers will serve as the jury, and render judgment according to their own understanding of the case, tempered by their compassion."

No final verdict is clearly reached in the narrative of each case, because it is up to the reader to decide the validity or unjustness of each person's actions. The defendants in the series include figures such as George Armstrong Custer, Attila the Hun, Alfred Nobel, Maximilien Robespierre and Julius Oppenheimer.

Both selections in this volume rely greatly on the inclusion of historical facts, and in all honesty, some installments of "Trial By Jury" were of more interest to me than others, but this piece was definitely the better of the two, in my opinion. Its combination of prose and illustrated segments helped to ease the reader through what was intended to not always be a linear account of the events related. I'm not sure that the "trials" changed my mind on my previous ideas about each of the historical figures presented, but these tales did serve to teach me some things about history I did not previously know. Not bad for a comic book.

More Cliches Burst

Aquaman 5
DC Comics
Geoff Johns, writer
Ivan Reis and Joe Prado, artists

This issue starts out smack in the middle of another derisive dismissal of Aquaman as a hero: What good is he without water? Our hero is falling from the sky only to crash land alone in the middle of the desert. What's a water-based hero to do now?!?

Flashbacks are used to fill us in on how Aquaman came to find himself in this dire situation. Military scientists have discovered an Atlantean artifact and call in Aquaman to answer some questions about it. Armored individuals show up to take the artifact, Aquaman gives chase, and ends up falling out of their airship during battle. While trying to survive on sheer determination alone, Aquaman recovers the artifact and discovers many more questions related to Atlantis and its history, before being rescued by a military helicopter.

All this ends with a teaser for a Mera solo story next issue.

Fun stuff!

Pull It Together, Guys, You're Running Out Of Arc

Justice League 5
DC Comics
Geoff Johns, writer
Jim Lee, artist
 

Again, some nice moments in this book, but the "team" of heroes still isn't working together as an efficient unit, although they do finally make a bit of progress toward that goal, and there is only one issue left before this story wraps up. They better get it together in a hurry!

So what happens in this issue? Superman gets captured and the rest are knocked senseless repeatedly. Blowhard Green Lantern gets his arm broken after challenging Darkseid directly and alone, but continues to slug away at the threat. Batman steps in to try to redirect GL's rage into a more productive strategy, that of rallying all of the heroes into working together while he, Batman, sets out alone to free Superman. That doesn't seem too different from the old DCU -- Batman touting the benefits of working as a team to others, but stubbornly going it alone himself.

What IS different about his approach in the DCnU is his method in convincing GL to calm down and work with the others. Bruce actually talks to Hal somewhat as an equal, appealing to his sense of duty and purpose, even unmasking to prove his point.

Aquaman, Cyborg, Flash and Wonder Woman don't get much to do in this issue, but hopefully that will change in the slugfest the next issue must be in order to wrap this conflict up.

Curiouser And Curiouser

Rachel Rising 5
Abstract Studio
Terry Moore, writer and artist

There's not a great deal of advancement in Rachel's story in this issue. She speaks with her best friend, and we find out more details of what little Rachel remembers about being buried alive and escaping from the shallow grave. Beyond that, there is just a rather shocking announcement about Rachel from a new character, and since this character is a new one, we the readers have no real basis for knowing how valid this person's declaration might ultimately prove to be.

However, we do get some more insight into the little girl whose entire family just met tragic ends, either at the hands of the mysteriously silent woman who witnessed Rachel's "resurrection," or at the hands of the little girl taking cues from the silent woman. First off, we get a name for the little girl -- Zoe Mann. Zoe is in the hands of child protective services following her family's deaths in a house fire. A genuinely well-meaning social worker arranges to have a couple of "old reliable" foster parents take charge of Zoe until something more permanent can be arranged. The silent woman apparently reveals to Zoe that this couple, the Boyles, are not quite on the up and up, especially the husband who has a history of child abuse. When Mr. Boyle threatens Zoe, the silent woman intervenes, quite effectively protecting Zoe. And we have more evidence that the silent woman is not visible to everyone.

One more tidbit on this silent woman: I've read some online reviews that refer to her as also being Rachel or another aspect of Rachel. I don't think we have been given enough information at this point to rule anything definitively as fact or nonsense. But I will say that Rachel and the silent woman are drawn so that they certainly don't look like the same person. I did not get the impression that they are one and the same on my own. Hopefully, time will tell.

It's Not Bad, But It's Not The Original

Lord of the Jungle 1-2
Dynamite Entertainment
Arvid Nelson, writer
Roberto Castro, artist

This series is starting out by retelling the origin of Tarzan, adapting the novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs. The first issue focuses on Lord and Lady Greystoke, how they came to be stranded in the jungles of Africa and how they died, leaving behind their only son to be adopted by Kala, a female ape whose own child has just been killed. The second issue moves things along to the point that Jane Porter, her father and their other companions come to be marooned in the same spot several years later.

I usually find that comic adaptations of works first created in other media usually pale compared to the originals, be they movies or books or something else. Take the characters and treat them faithfully while telling new, original tales that continue their respective stories, and I'm right there with you. But retelling what has been done before tends to feel simply like a retelling. If I want to revisit the original novel or film or show, I can do that. I don't need someone to try to re-create it for me.

Again, these issues aren't bad, they just aren't as great as I'd hoped they'd be. I'm left hoping they wrap up the retelling quickly and move on to something original before I lose interest completely.