House of Yang # 1: Empress of Evil

Writer: Joe Gill
Artist: Sanho Kim
Publisher: Charlton Comics
Published: 1975

House of Yang was most likely created to capture some of the kung-fu mania of the mid 70s sparked by Bruce Lee. The story is set in China, year 1890. The hero Sun Yang has been away from home, fighting evilness up north. During his absence, his former master is slain, and his cousin is captured and brought to America. Sun Yang returns home to following through on some knowledge of evil being committed. Once he is home, he is greeted by the Empress of Evil, who has taken over his home. (She also looks remarkably like the Han's evil assistant Tania in Enter the Dragon.) Beyond that it's pretty much fighting and fleeing, ending with Sun Yang blowing up the ship that the Empress of Evil is on. Pretty lame....

However, there is one cool scene, where Sun Yang has to use Harmonious Hands to seriously harm some KILLER DOGS!


Shit Yeah!

Groo The Wanderer # 67: Dragon Quest

Writers: Sergio Aragones and Mark Evanier
Artist: Sergio Aragaones
Colorist: Tom Luth
Letterer: Stan Sakai
Publisher: Marvel
Published: July 1990

Groo, the wandering parody of Conan, is one of Aragones' most enduring characters. He's the brute without the brain accompanied by his loyal companion, the dog Rufferto. The two have embarked on many issues of mayhem, often ending with disastrous results.

Dragon Quest involves Groo rescuing a town by defeating a marauding dragon. Little does Groo know that the dragon is actually a town attraction, trained to put on a yearly show to generate tourism revenue. Groo, fueled by guilt, begins to formulate a plan to undo the damage he's caused, and strikes upon the idea to obtain a new dragon for the town. Unfortunately, they're aren't any grown dragons trained to put on a show. However, after visiting a dragon farm, Groo is able to earn ownership of a young dragon, which he then takes to Arba and Dakarba (reoccurring witches in the series). Groos plan is to have them magic the dragon to full size, but ever the fool, Groo is unaware of their darker scheme. The two witches comply with Groo's request, and Groo returns to the town with the now full size dragon.

Upon arriving to the town with a new dragon Groo is greeted with shouts of joy. As the show starts, the witches plan begins to unfold. Turns out Groo's dragon is not the menace the town had hoped for, but is now by sorcery, a bona fide triple threat. Observe:...hardy har har...as can be guessed, the town spectators are not too pleased and start to destroy the town.

What makes this issue stand out in my mind is Aragones ability to create endlessly unique characters, especially when spread over 2 pages. His attention to detail is outstanding. Plus he has a unique sense of humor.

Sidenote: I own only one issue of Groo by Sergio Aragones, and by strange coincidence one of the panels referenced by wikipedia to describe Groo is straight from this same issue I own. Weird.

The Goon # 8: The Vampire Dame Had to Die!

Writer/Artist: Eric Powell
Colorists: Robin Powell, Shaynne Corbette, Barry Gregory
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Published: August 2004

I've never read any of Eric Powell's The Goon before this issue, but after reading The Goon #8, I know this author to be a great person.

The story follows The Goon as he battles against a most ancient evil, the mighty vampire. Long story short, the Goon defeats the vampire. Normally I would go into detail about some of the plot elements, but I think I'm going to devote most of my attention to the first two pages of this comic, which sum up Powell's greatness.

Often whenever I read or watch something that is of mind boggling greatness I can't help but be compelled to seek out more of that greatness. This often leads me to wanting to read and watch everything created by that particular author. And once that desire is fulfilled I often will take to the internet to research more information on the creator and ask: "what is this person like who can create such greatness?" The search into the personal life and inner motivations of the author are now just as, or more, important than the work. (This mode of fascination, I believe, is the root of our culture's fascination with celebrities and biographies.)

But sometimes, purely by accident, the greatness of the author precedes the work. The Goon #8 is a perfect example of this phenomena. Because I had never read any work from Powell, I had no idea of what his work was all about. I happened to be in a comic shop that was having a massive sale, and I picked up issue 8 of the Goon on a whim. Reading the first two pages I was greeted to this:



At the time this issue's publishing Powell had just been nominated for an Eisner Award, one of comics highest honors. His 2 page, dark-stained response to this honor is a clear indication that Eric Powell is a great person of humble origins; and in my mind, regardless of how spectacular his work is, he will always be the author who opened with a poo joke. Truly, this Eric Powell is a great person.

Batman: Nevermore # 3 of 5

Writer: Len Wein
Artist: Guy Davis
Colorist: Jeromy Cox
Publisher: DC Comics
Published: August 2003

This is an Elseworlds tale where Batman is alive during Edgar Allan Poe's life time. Set in Baltimore, Poe is a reporter who is investigating the strange murders of members of The Gotham Club. During his investigation he repeatedly encounters Baltimore's most mysterious element: The Bat-Man! Poe is not sure what to think of Batman, but after being saved by him, he quickly counts him as an ally.

The third comic in the series has the mystery deepen. Poes mental and physical health is stretched to the limits. He is buried alive, knocked out and caged, and has a vivid nightmare. I'm no authority on Poe, having only gotten as far as The Raven, but Wein has crafted this tale to include many situations taken straight from Poe's writings. Issue 3 ends with Poe caged, forced to watch as Batman is splayed on a table as a razor edged pendulum swings slowly above.

Since my knowledge of Poe is based on pop culture references, I think I missed many of the more subtle nuances to this series, but overall I was fairly impressed. The artwork is dark, dreary, and foreboding. The Batman of the 1800's is believable, and Poe as a character works perfectly alongside the Dark Knight.

While I was reading the section where Poe was buried alive, my mind absently turned to the actual fear of entrapment. I've never liked enclosed spaces, having once as a kid been zipped up in a suitcase (my doing...I thought I could take it...but I couldn't). Luckily, I was able to be released, but to imagine a situation of being buried alive with no escape...well that's just horrifying.

I found a very interesting article on In Repose Blog discussing the fear of being buried alive. The section of the article that stood out most though was the methods doctors and physicians from the 17th and 18th centuries would take to ensure someone was dead. These included tobacco smoke enemas, hot pokers prodded in various orifices, nipple squeezes with pliers, and tongue yanking. Makes sense to me, if it's sensitive - poke it or squeeze it. It's that kind of logic that has consistently earned doctors the big bucks.

If a person was fearing being buried alive they could purchase a coffin with a bell system built into the grave. This would enable the wrongly dead to ring the bell if they were still alive. This same idea is the source behind building intercoms into coffins.

Now, if I was alive during this period, and I had to choose ahead of time whether I wanted to be confirmed dead, or assumed dead and buried alive, I think I would go with assumed dead. I'd rather rely on a bell to save me, than to be alive and risk the chance that I get the doctor with a penchant for poking orifices with hot metal rods. There's only so many orifices, and it would be just my luck....

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles # 21

Writers/Layouts: Kevin Eastman & Peter Laird
Pencils: Jim Lawson
Publisher: Mirage Studios
Published: May 1989

At the core of the Ninja Turtle saga is a blood feud. Stemming from Japan, Splinter's master, Hamato Yoshi, killed a fellow Foot Clan member, Oroku Nagi, to protect his beloved Tang Shen. Yoshi fled to America with Shen, but was later tracked by Oroku Saki, the brother of Nagi, now renamed Shredder and the leader of the Foot Clan. Saki ambushed Shen and Yoshi, killing them both. Splinter escapes to the sewers, and thus begins the saga of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

In the first issue, the Turtles confront Shredder on a NY rooftop, and pretty much beat him to a near fatal pulp. Shredder, not one to accept death honorably, plans on blowing up everyone on the roof with a grenade. Donatello quickly tosses his bo staff at Shredder, knocking him off the side. There's no falling into a garbage truck here though; the grenade goes off, shredding (had to :) Shredder to tiny bits. The comic ends with the Turtles surveying the damage, with Raphael tossing the left over remains of Shredder to the side. The Shredder is dead. Or is he?

No.

He's not dead. Turns out not only can the Shredder survive a garbage truck crushing, but also a grenade explosion. That's some tough shit.

Issue 21 brings closure to the blood feud between the Turtles and the Shredder. After Shredder was blown to bits, the Foot Clan gathered his remains, and through science and mysticism, they were able to use worms to reform Saki. There are 4 attempts, with 3 ending in gross mutations of the Shredder, and the fourth being the real deal. The issue has very little dialogue, but a tonne of carnage. It's like Michael Bay fused with Peter Jackson to make this comic. Arms are getting cut off, blood is splattering everywhere, machines guns are a-blazin', and buildings are exploding. Strictly on a caveman-bash-skull level, this is what good Mutated Turtles are all about!

Beyond the violence, this comic is a great finish to the blood feud. Shredder and Leonardo get into one helluva knife fight. It takes up 9 pages, with no sounds besides grunts, swords smashing, and various "Hai's!" spewed menacingly. The battle ends with Saki getting decapitated. As with all villains who return from the dead, when in doubt, take the head. Works for vampires and highlanders.

Just like the first issue, issue 21 ends with the Turtles saying goodbye to the Shredder. They take his body out to the NY harbor, set him afloat and burn his corpse. I'm not sure if they're doing this out of honor, or just following through on monster killing 101. Probably honor. Anyway, a great ending to an ancient feud.

Marvel: Double-Shot # 2 of 4

Writers: Priest, Bill Morrison
Artists: Paolo Rivera, Bill Morrison
Publisher: Marvel
Published: February 2003

Issue 2 has two great stories, the first concerning Doctor Doom, the second about the Avengers.

"Masks," the opening story has Doctor Doom enjoying a orchestral performance in Latveria Kingdom Hall. It is here that we meet a beautiful violin player, who just so happens to resemble Doom's former lover. As the story progresses, Doctor Doom introduces her to his world, past and present. He reveals of himself through, what appears to be, sincerity, but quickly blooms into masterful manipulation. In the words of Doctor Doom: "Doom is Doom. As Doom ever was."

Overall I was impressed by "Masks." The story was aloof, manipulated, and pretentious; basically everything Doctor Doom is. The artwork is painted by Rivera, and maintains an air of high class, which adds in a reverse twist to the pettiness and pretentiousness of Dr. Dooms character. In eleven pages Priest and Rivera are able to deliver a complete, haunting, portrait of one of Marvel's greatest villains.

The second installment is by Bill Morrison,entitled "The Roots of All Evil." Morrison is probably best known for his co-founding of Bongo comics, the publisher of Simpsons and Futurama comics. Of the staff for Bongo, Morrison is the best artist/writer able to capture the look and feel of the Simpsons cast.

In "Roots of All Evil" Morrison turns his Simpsons-esque sensibilites to Earths Mightest Heros - The Avengers! The story opens with Loki expressing his desire to destroy Thor. However after a conversation with the Entrantress, Loki returns to his original roots: The God of Mischief. Loki then turns his attention towards the Avengers. The tale quickly progresses to Loki pranking the Avengers. Not only has he returned to his roots, he returns to the roots of pranks: the loose salt shaker cap, flushing while others shower, the burning bag of dog crap, dye in the shower head, hair removal cream, and one of my favorites, a fly in a ice cube, but instead of a fly it's the Wasp! Oh that devious Loki!! As can be guessed, the story ends with Loki getting caught and roughed up, but it does have a little twist, but I'm not going to say.

What makes this tale stand out is the artwork. I'm not a big Avengers fan, but I am a big Simpsons fan (who isn't?), and when combined, I can't help but now enjoy the Avengers on some pseudo pop culture level. As for the story, I don't think in any Marvel publication have we witnessed a bald Thor. Even if the rest of the story was mediocre (which it's not), one bald Thor is enough to propel this story to the upper echelons of Marvel comic history.

Wolverine: Saudade

Writer: Jean-David Morvan
Artist: Philippe Bouchet
Publisher: Marvel (Max)
Published: September 2008

Wolverine: Saudade is a welcome story to the world of everyone's favorite noble savage. Here is a guy that lives in a world of pain. Pain he endures (better than all others thanks to a healing factor), and pain he brings to those who risk his wrath. Wolverine is the one to make the decisions that no one else will make, and it's Wolverine who is forever tormented by those same decisions. In many ways, he is Marvel's ultimate enigma. As can be expected, with so many facets to his character, writers and artists have leapt on the chance to explore his world. Thankfully, Jean-David Morvan and Philippe Bouchet have also taken this leap.

Morvan and Bouchet bring a new perspective to Wolverine. Instead of focusing entirely on the basic elements of Wolverine, ie. fighting, cussing, and killing, they add more human elements. Wolverine is dancing, smiling, and having a good time. Oh, he's still the beast, ready to exact vengeance when necessary, but now he's more a lover of life, quick to enjoy the finer pleasures. These small gestures make Wolverine a better character overall. He's not just the brooding kill-bot we've all come to expect. On this merit alone, this comic should be picked up.

And if the discussion above doesn't entice you to purchase this comic, let me just say, the artwork is gorgeous and detailed. Some of my favorite scenes involve the ones where Wolverine is sporting his Canadian maple leaf belt buckle.



Just beautiful...






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