Return of the Jedi # 2

Adapted: Archie Goodwin
Story: George Lucas
Art: Al Williamson & Carlos Garzon
Publisher: Marvel
Published: November 1983

Ever seen Star Wars: Return of the Jedi? Well heres's the comic version condensed into 4 parts. It has a cool cover and awesome artwork. Good enough for me.

The Bitter Truth: Star Trek destroys Star Wars...then again if Star Trek had more light sabers...oh...now it's complicated...

UPDATE: June 13 2010 Al Williamson passed away. RIP - your work is a testament to spectacular craftsmanship.

Red Sonja # 2

Writer: Bruce Jones
Artist: Frank Thorne
Publisher: Marvel
Published: January 1976


Ladies Night!

Every Monday I'll post a comic that features a lady, and to kick things off, the one and only Red Sonja.

Red Sonja made a vow that she would never submit to any man who could not best her in fair combat. Issue # 2 has Red Sonja being tracked by a merciless killer who will stop at nothing to retrieve an item she possesses. The tracker has killed anyone she has come into contact with and poisoned the water streams, forcing Red Sonja to near death. As she lays beside her dead horse, dehydrated and defeated, the tracker stalks forth and is about to deal the final stroke. Is this the end of Red Sonja?

Nope! 'Cause it's Ladies Night. And the feeling's right! Oh yes it's ladies night! Oh what a night (oh what a night)!

Patsy Walker # 78

Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Al Hartley
Publisher: Atlas Comics
Published: August 1958

Following up on yesterdays comic, here's the original Patsy Walker, before she was powered up by Marvel. This issue has a series of short tales which mostly involve harmless hi-jinks, teenage romance, and one page gags, and a 2 page word only romance story. The stories are pretty similar to Archie Comics (which Hartley would later go on to illustrate).

What I found most interesting about this comic was the fashion credits. In certain panels, a fashion design of one the characters would be given credit to a fan. For instance, on page one, Hedy's outfit is credited to Cheryl Branham of Tyson, Florida and on the same page, Patsy's outfit is credited to Norma Arsenault of Port Dalhousie, Ontario. I don't know why, but this intrigues me. I wonder what Norma and Cheryl are up to these days? Do they still own this issue? Was it a point of pride in their lives, or did it disappear from memory over the years? This comic was published in 1958, so if they were, say 14 when they designed Pasty and Hedy's clothes, they'd be 65 years old now. Holy Moly!

Patsy Walker Hellcat # 1 of 5

Writer: Kathryn Immonen
Artist: David Lafuente
Publisher: Marvel
Published: September 2008

It's not common that I come across a writer that I like and also just happens to be female. It's not that I don't like female writers, but it's that there seems to be so few female writers, especially in the superhero genre. Its a shame that there are so few female comic writers...but thankfully Kathryn has entered the scene. She has a unique voice that she is a able to channel into Patsy Walker the HELLCAT!

Patsy Walker is a runway model by profession and a superhero by choice. The new mini series has Patsy charged by Tony Stark to be the superhero representative for Alaska. Once in Alaska, she immediately chances into mystical adventure.

Ok, so now you know what's happening, but what makes this story tick is Patsy's snappy script and heartfelt superficiality. She kinda reminds me of Alicia Silverstone from Clueless, but with kick ass super-strength. Also, the artwork by Lafuente is awesome, but don't take my word for it...

The Preposterous Voyages of IronHide Tom

Writer/Artist: Joel Priddy
Publisher: Ad House Books
Published: May 2006

This was another one of those Free Comic Book Day comics given out every year. It also happens to be one of my favorite comics of all time. That added with it being free, makes this the Ultimo Supreme 4 Dragon Fists of Destined Destruction Comic! (I just read Wolverine: Manifest Destiny and watched Kung-Fu Panda, so yeah...)

The Preposterous Voyages of IronHide Tom comic is as if The Adventures of Baron Munchausen was rewritten into comic book form. IronHide Tom is the child of a sailor and a typhoon, who spends his life going on adventures. He has been bait for fishing vessels, lands on a giant egg that gives birth to a massive bird, visits mer-people under the sea, becomes a slave to a witch, is swallowed by a serpent, offends a storm god, becomes caught between amorous Kraken and so on; oh, and this is only half the of the story!

Now, for all you comic obsessed fans out there, IronHide Tom is indeed a one of a kind find, and I wish you luck on your voyage to find this gem. Hopefully it'll be a preposterous voyage.


IronHide Tom in Spat From The Sea



Amorous Kraken

Robin Year One # 1 of 4

Writers: Chuck Dixon & Scott Beatty
Artist: Javier Pulido
Publisher: DC
Published: 2000

So here's the deal: I've never liked Robin being included in the Batman mythos. I understand why he was included, and I understand his importance in the Batman universe, but I just didn't go out of my way to actually read up on the guy. My interest in the character didn't start developing until I read Paul Pope's Teenage Sidekick, and when Jason Todd kicked the bucket. Today I took the bold step to actually read a strictly Robin story, and hard as it is to believe, I actually enjoyed it. The art is snappy, the script straightforward, and the story a mix of horrifying adultness and lost youth.

The story follows Batman and Robin as they attempt to track ten missing girls. The girls have been kidnapped by the Mad Hatter who intends to sell them to a sleazy foreign diplomat. The girls are dressed to look like Alice from Alice in Wonderland, which is a book of changes, ranging from physical changes to emotional state changes. Robin himself is a child in transition. He lives the life of a boy, but he is essentially an adult, choosing to tackle the worst aspects of life alongside Batman. In this issue he rescues a fellow classmate from being sold into slavery (or worst). It doesn't get more adult that that. Anyway, enough rattling on. I just want to say I got more respect for the character. Oh, and Alfred rocks in this series! Peas out!

Pacific Presents...The Rocketeer and The Missing Man # 1

Writers/Artists: Dave Stevens, Steve Ditko
Publisher: Pacific Comics
Published: October 1982

Betty Page has died.

I chose today's comic strictly because it has a character named Betty inspired by the late Betty Page. I don't have too much to say about Page beyond that she was the quintessential cheesecake pinup and devout Christian. She was the enigma of the modeling world and contrary to folks perception of her as a nudist/bondage queen, her visual legacy is almost 90% because of her facial expressiveness and trademark bangs.

With Betty Page it all comes down to her face and her animated expressions. It's like she doesn't take herself too seriously, which is probably more attractive than the thousands of cover models who pout and sneer that plaster our supermarket shelves. (My girlfriend told me that the Olsen twins say "prune" every time they get their photo taken, just so they'll have that whole pouting thing going on. Too funny! Do it - "Prune")

Today's issue has two stories in one. The Rocketeer by Dave Stevens and The Missing Man by Steve Ditko. The Rocketeer has our main hero Cliff, battling German spies who are trying to capture the rocket pack. It also stars Betty, the lady love of Cliff, who just so happens to look like her namesake. If you've seen the Disney movie of the Rocketeer than you'll pretty much know how this story goes. On a sad note, Dave Stevens has also passed on a few months back, and I like to think that he and Betty are having a nice day at the beach, where ever they are.

The Missing Man is a bizarre tale of this dude who is, well its hard to describe, so just check the images. He's a crime fighter trying to take down a crime lord King (imagine that, a crime fighter fighting a crime lord). King has this weird lady he recruited called Queen Bee who can emit musical notes that drive her victims crazy. She also has some killer bangs, but unlike Betty Page, she can kill with her deadly humming. Another bizarre tale from Ditko, sure to amaze and confuse us for all time to come.

Here's to lace and bangs. RIP Betty Page.

RoboCop # 1

Writer: Frank Miller, Steven Grant
Artist: Juan Jose Ryp
Publisher: Avatar Press
Published: July 2003

R is for aRibaderchi to criminal scum.

This was Frank Miller's story for the sequel to RoboCop. Like most things in Hollywood it fell through. HOWEVER, us comic folk are left with this adapted version. Initial thoughts: "Gee willikers is RoboCop violent!"

Issue one sets the stage. The cops are on strike, and the media is having a field day reporting on the chaos of the city. The commercials are super-sexed advertisements for a world that doesn't exist. The commercials kinda remind me of Total Recall or Running Man, where the reality on TV is a glossed up illusion, and real life is far from. The city is going to hell, and only the most dedicated cops are on patrol. One of those dedicated cops is RoboCop, and he ain't taking no shit, strike or no strike. Issue one has him rescuing a kidnapped girl, and then storming an illegal child slave ring. The issue ends with RoboCop being forced to choose between killing himself or having a child die in his stead.

Deep stuff. Sort of.

Strictly on a first issue read only, I can see the Millerisms spring forth: city gone horribly bad, lone figure who holds back the darkness, and the self-obsessed media who reports on the madness. If anyone knows Miller, these same themes are straight out of Dark Knight Returns. The only difference I can tell is that the scenes of violence are extremely more graphic, kids as victims are amped, and the level of sex appeal is increased, (but not in a titillating manner - more the overly exaggerated manner to highlight how silly it all is). Overall, I would only recommend this series for Miller or RoboCop fans, of folks who just like it when things go boom, splat, and "IT'S FUCKING ROBOCOP! SHIT, WE'RE FUCKED!"
Next time pay your fine!

Quasar # 10

Writer: Mark Gruenwald
Artist: Mike Manley
Colorist: Paul Becton
Publisher: Marvel
Published: May 1990

Q is for the Cosmic Avenger! Quasar.

Quasar is like a cosmic dude. He has bands about his wrist that lets him emit cosmic energy, which he can manipulate and control. He is on a quest to stalk down all the threats to Eon, who is a giant floating head with a big eye where its eye would normally be. I know, bizarre.

Issue 10 has Quasar tying up Halflife (an illegal extraterresital) with her own hip high leather boots. Later Quasar is kidnapped in his sleep by two Kree scientists who want to exploit the power in his bands for their mass eugenics program to save the Kree empire. Dr. Minerva, the female scientist was originally sent to Earth to mate with Captain Mar-vell, because the Kree people had hit a genetic dead end. She failed at her task (due to Mar-vell's death), was later made super via a radiation ray, and then she met her fellow Kree scientist. The issue ends with Quasar escaping his captors, and along the way rescuing her Kree partner who had been sucked in space after a battle gone awry with Quasar. Quasar wishes them luck in mating. THE END.

Less than inspiring, I know, but it had some neat artwork, and it did involve mating for the good of the Kree population.

For the greater good!

Peter Rabbit 3-D

Writer/Artist: Harrison Cady
Publisher: Eternity Comics
Published: April 1990

P is for perplexed at how difficult it is to find 3-D glasses in Peterborough! I found this 3-D comic of Peter Rabbit in a 25 cent bin, and instantly knew it was going to be awesome (which it is), but it didn't come with 3-D glasses. At first, I visited Michaels (a chain art supply store) to get the material to make my own, but was told, not politely either, they didn't carry red or blue film. I then went to a few toy and book stores and was told no as well. Damn, I thought! What kinda world do we live in where a guy can't get his 3-D on!

I eventually ended up finding them in the same bin that I found the Peter Rabbit issue. They were included in a special 3-D Wildcats/X-Men crossover issue, illustrated by Adam Hughes. Now, considering how difficult it was to find them, I'm never going to give them up. (Click the link - you know what it is and you know you want to!) Much to my disappointment, they don't really work with the 3rd Rock From the Sun 3-D episodes. I think for that type of 3-D I need the clear type lenses. Thus the search begins again!

Apparently, Peter Rabbit didn't just come from the mind of Beatrix Potter. Another Peter Rabbit existed who was more of a trickster, unlike his coat-less counterpart. This Peter Rabbit was created by Thornton Burgess in 1914 and was later adapted to newspaper format by Harrison Cady.

The 3-D version is just that, reprints of the old Sunday strips, but this time in 3-D! Now, most kids think that 3-D is lame, what with all the special effects of the howizts an' whatszits, but this comic really benifits from it. It's almost like Peter Rabbit is leaping off the page! (Had too...)

One particularly funny tale has Peter Rabbit reading up a book called "How to become a Detective." After reading it he becomes inspired to sleuth out some crimes. He ends up following two suspicious characters, a turtle and snail. They seem to be poking something in a tree. Peter, deciding he has caught them in a crime, jumps out and exclaims: "Villains, I've got you at last." At this point, the turtle orders the snail to hide in his shell as he is going to "swat her." By "her" he means a hornets nest! Peter ends up being stung all over as the turtle and snail watch peacefully in their shells. Now, I can't even begin to tell you how awesome that is, but let's just say: "Awesome" - and in 3-D!

Pigeons From Hell # 1 of 4

Writer: Joe R. Lansdale
Artist: Nathan Fox
Colorist: Dave Stewart
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Published: April 2008

Following on the tail feathers of yesterday's post, I thought the comic adaptation of Robert E. Howard's short story, Pigeons From Hell, would be a perfect fit for the day before HALLOWEEN!!!!

The Blassenville sisters, with some friends, are on their way to see an old family house they inherited. Upon entering the house the group find a mass mound of dead pigeons. The group then leaves the house in a hurry, but things don't go quite their way...the pigeon shit is about to hit the fan, as it were.

This is a great series, and not just because of the fantastic story by Howard, or the awesome adaption skills of Lansdale, but because of Nathan Fox's involvement. Now here is a guy that delivers when it comes to images of eeriness and gore. His style reminds me of Paul Pope, but with more lines. Fox's use of color is outstanding as well. This is an artist definitely to watch.

1 DAY TO HALLOWEEN!