Solo # 7: Michael Allred

Writers: Mike Allred, Lee Allred
Artist: Mike Allred
Colorist: Laura Allred
Publisher: DC
Published: December 2005

It's been a while since my last Comix 365 post...so I thought I would kick start it with another spectacular stupendous stellar Solo issue from decadent DC! And which artist you may wonder is DC displaying? Well if you haven't read the title or looked at the cover image, then rejoice and hollar aloud: MIKE ALLRED!

If you don't know who Mike Allred is, then please take your head out of the muck and wake up (NOW). Mike Allred has worked on such hits as X-Statix, Deadgirl, and his own acclaimed Madman series. His style is sleek, poppy, dynamic, and with the Laura Allred coloring, his work is all the more awesome.

Anyway, enough Allred worship...this ain't no Perez Hilton-esque blog...

Solo # 7 has Allred focusing his whimsy on the DC universe. There are 7 chapters, with 5 complete stories. The first story 'An Hour with Hourman' has our hero battling a case of the highs and lows of being a superhero who derives his powers from a pill. The second story 'Doom Patrol vs. Teen Titans' involves a case of Doom Patrol having to deal with vitality of youth, which is even more pronounced when the youths in question are the Teen Titans! Thirdly, Batman A-Go-Go is a throwback to the swinging, care free 60s where Batman realizes that 'times are a changing'. Fourthly, 'Fourth World Wager' involves Mister Miracle taking up a wager of even he may not be able to escape from. Finally 'Comic Book Clubhouse' is a wordless, visual odyssey involving comic book heroes meeting the kids who draw them.

This was a great Solo issue, that was even more fun reading the second time around. Allred has an innocent playfulness with a sly nod to seriousness shining through his work. In my mind, the highlight tales were Fourth World Wager and Batman A-Go-Go. Mister Miracle taking up a challenge of escape, with Orion concocting the trap was probably one of the funniest moments in this issue. As for Batman I really dug the light, shiny optimism turned sour Lee Allred breathed into the Batman A-Go-Go tale. Mike and Laura's art was all the more exemplary as they turned Batman from the brooding hero of today back to the swinging, goody two shoes of the 60s.

As a side note, if you google this Solo issue and you see a cover of Batman, don't be fooled to look for an actual copy with that image. I looked for years at various comic shops for this cover, and not once did I find it. Turns out it was never printed...I guess due to legal likeness issues of Batman looking like Adam West they had to scrap it. Oh well, thank heavens to the internet preserving a digital copy...

Anyway, see you next time: Same Bat Time. Same Bat Blog!

Challengers of the Unknown # 82

Writer: Gerry Conway
Artist: Mike Nasser
Publisher: DC
Published: August 1977

The Challengers of the Unknown are Red Ryan, Rocky Davis, 'The Prof' Haley, Ace Morgan, and together they CHALLENGE THE UNKNOWN! Issue #82 has the Prof Haley dying. He has some weird sickness that is inside him, and the only cure is in Perdition, PA. This town earlier had a visit by the Swamp Thing who levied some justice on an unspeakable evil.




Too bad it lived on!

The 3 remaining Challengers and Miss Robbins, travel to Perdition, only to be beset by this lurking evil as the town is under the beasts commands, and this beast demands sacrifice!


The issue ends with Miss Robbins being served to the evil beast! Behold it's tentacle gruesomeness!


Behold a good time with the Super Friends!

Justice League: The New Frontier

Writer: Darwyn Cooke
Artists: Darwyn Cooke, David Bullock, J. Bone
Publisher: DC
Published: May 2008

J is for the main course consisting of steak (medium rare) with a side order of JUSTICE! Justice may be blind, but even she can't deny the sweet smell of a steak grilled to succulent satisfaction...ummm....

This issue of Justice League was released just before the DC DVD, Justice League: The New Frontier, hit the stands. It is comprised of three short stories revolving around Cooke's interpretation of DC's Silver Age heroes.

The first tale has a battle between Batman and Superman, with Wonder Woman breaking them up. It covers the first meeting between Batman and Superman. Supes has been ordered to take down Batman, and being the boy scout he is, he plans to, even without Wonder Woman's help. So when the big day comes and Superman makes his assault, he's a little unprepared for what Batman has in store for him. As usual. When will Superman learn?

The second tale is about Robin and Kid Flash taking down some dragster thugs and communists.

Finally, the last tale is about Wonder Woman. This is by far the best tale of the bunch. It has Wonder Woman living up to her standard of the ultimate Feminist Hero. Wonder Woman is enraged at the sexist views that pervade America. She exclaims that if equality won't stand on it's own, then she will enforce it. This leads to her and Black Canary infiltrating a newly opened 'bunny club' in Gotham.

Now, I hate to give away too much of this tale, but I just have to add that it involves a burning breast plate that fueled an ideology that lit America on fire in the 60s. Aw forget it, I'm going to attach the image. This is one of those tales that has to be shared, because I don't imagine it'll go into reprint. Also, props to J. Bone for making Wonder Woman a little more curvy than usual. It really suits her. And props to Darwyn Cooke for being the only artist (that I know of) for having the male genitalia to draw Wonder Woman taller/broader than DC's big boys. As he says, she is Amazonian after all.

Superman & Batman vs. Vampires & Werewolves # 1 of 6

Writer: Kevin VanHook
Artist: Tom Mandrake
Colorist: Nathan Eyring
Publisher: DC
Published: October 2008

Okay, here's a Halloween treat to keep the ultimate geek gushing. DC's biggest names, Supes and Bats, battling histories greatest monsters, vampires and werewolves. If Hitler was thrown in as surprise villain, this series would be the greatest thing next to Lord of the Rings vs. The Matrix Trilogy. But I digress....

Issue begins with a gruesome half eaten dead body falling from the sky. Batman and a mysterious Marius Dimeter are on the scene, and they both have their suspicions as to who did the deed. Dimeter dissolves into a wall, and Batman is left to continue his search for answers. Meanwhile, Wonder Woman is quick on the scene to beat the crap out of a vampire, (alright, now, this comic is definitely one tier below geek masterpiece - Bats, Supes, vamps, werewolves, AND Wonder Woman - and all for $2.99!) Without ruining anymore of the story, all I can say is that Batman is doing some crime solving, while the vampires and werewolves are up to some shady dealings.


All in all, this looks to be a cheesy series, but hopefully, the end payoff will be worth it.

3 DAYS TO HALLOWEEN!