11 Dystopian Novels To Prepare You For Donald Trump's Presidency

11 Dystopian Novels To Prepare You For Donald Trump's Presidency: In just over two months, America will be governed by President Donald Trump. And less than two weeks after the election, it already feels like we...

The No Event Comic Review #6

Arrow Trade Paperback

As with any anthology, you get a mixed bag with contributors of various skills. This collection, however is too little of the good and too much of the bad.

All of the stories in this collection are stand alone 8 page tales. It comes as no surprise that the best stories are by Mike Grell, author of Green Arrow: The Longbow Hunters and 80 issues (plus 2 Annuals) of the monthly comic between February 1988 through November 1993.

The worst of the stories simply rehash events disclosed in the TV. Much like the inaccurately named BEFORE WATCHMEN, these tales simply show stories we already know from the point of view of different characters or dramatizing stories that were told concisely by characters and didn't need to be shown in an 8-page comic.

The problem with the good stories is that at 8-pages, they are to shallow to really enjoy. What you get is the hint of a good story, then it is done. I think that the reader would have been better served if these stories were expanded and then released 8 pages at a time. With any luck, once the series is over, DC will continue the series in comic book form, much like they have done with Smallville.

Instead of spending money on this collection, I would recommend purchasing the Green Arrow comics by Mike Grell, including the rerelease of Longbow Hunters, as these greatly influenced the look and feel of the current TV show. I would also recommend reading Green Arrow: Year One by Andy Diggle and Jock, which has a new cover to tie it in with the show.

The No Event Comic Review #3

It’s a six-pack of reviews, starting with:

Lone Ranger and Tonto #2




The second in this stand-alone sub series, I cannot recommend this and the regular Lone Ranger series enough. If you are a fan of the original radio or TV series or if you prefer something closer to the spaghetti westerns, there is something here for you. The series reads like the Clayton Moore shows directed by Sergio Leone. The wholesome character of the Lone Ranger still works against the backdrop of the grim and gritty Wild West.


The Phantom Annual #2


After a long hiatus, Moonstone seems to be back with a vengeance, releasing this annual before the relaunch of the main series and the introduction of a concurrent second series.
This annual serves as an opportunity to introduce the Lee Falk created magician Mandrake in a enjoyable action story with beautiful art by Samicler Goncalves.




Zorro #10

Matt Wagner is obviously a fan of both the Isabel Allende and Johnston McCulley Zorro Novels. After retelling the origin of Zorro as depicted in Allende’s ZORRO he is now tackling the retelling of McCulley’s MARK OF ZORRO (aka THE CURSE OF CAPISTRANO). I have long been a fan of Wagner’s storytelling and he does not disappoint with this series.
If you have never read any Zorro tales before you should pick up this series as well as the novels it is based on. The only complaint I have about this title is that it took artist Francesco Francavilla away from the Zorro inspired Black Coat (from Ape Entertainment).

Moon Knight #10









I have been a fan of Moon Knight since the first ongoing series. After a few failed attempts (Fist of Khonshu, Marc Spector Moon Knight) the folks at Marvel have got him back on his dark, psychotic path once again. With this issue we are introduced to a new story arc that has our Cowled Crusader escaping the insanity of the endless event comics by retreating to Mexico. After decades of being nothing more than the cab driving, information gathering aspect of the character, the identity of Jake Lockley finally comes to the forefront in this arc that brings Moon Knight back into the company of his long time ally The Punisher.

Secret Six #6

Gail Simone does not get the credit she deserves as a writer of superhero fiction. If you need any proof of that pick up Secret Six (or the earlier tales in Villains United & the Secret Six limited series). In the vein of crime dramas such as Heat or The Shield, we have protagonists who are on the wrong side of the law but still exhibit a teamwork and loyalty (to an extent) that is found in the hero teams.
The great thing about the Secret Six is that no one is safe. This issue proves that anyone on the team is expendable and they can go when least expected. Great writing and genuine plot twists make Secret Six a must read.

Vigilante #2

I have to admit; I never have been a fan of Garth Ennis and lament for the days when The Punisher was written by Mike Baron and Steven Grant. I suppose that is why I have quickly become a fan of Vigilante. Marv Wolfman has crafted a character that has a mature level of violence without being “for mature readers.” No adolescent gross outs, no over-the-top brutality, just a solid action story with a gun wielding, vengeance seeking costumed hero that reminds me why this sort of hero was so popular in the 70’s and 80’s. It is my hope that this series will inspire DC to collect the original Adrian Chase Vigilante tales in a trade format.

The No Event Comic Review #5

Review of Shazam! Graphic Novel by DC Comics

First some disclosure. I am not a fan of the New 52 at DC. I think for the most part they are stripping away the heroic aspects of some of the greatest super-heroes the world has known. I approached this collection with some trepidation, Shazam (Captain Marvel) was one of my first super-heroes. I watched the Shazam! tv show every Saturday from September 7, 1974 through October 6, 1976. I loved Billy Batson traveling with his teacher Mentor. (Side note, why was Mentor never brought to the comics? It seems like this character from Greek mythology would fit in as a teacher to the fledgling Shazam). I read the comics published by DC in the 1970's and I was drawn to the character because it was about a young boy who transformed into a god-like man but remained Billy Batson.

Billy was a homeless boy who was chosen by the wizard Shazam to possess the power of gods (Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles, Mercury). But through it all, Billy was a good person. His homelessness, the loss of his parents, the power given to him, none of that changed the fact that Billy was pure of heart. A rare trait yes, but not fictional.

Then comes the New 52. Here Billy is an awful brat who scams his way into a foster home (Geoff Johns apparently has now idea how the foster system works, by the way). He is a rotten kid who we are told has the potential for good. I actually almost gave up on the book at this point.

I'm glad I didn't. Despite the rocky start the book really picks up once the villain Black Adam is introduced. Geoff Johns may not know about the foster care system, but he does know about comics. When faced with the adversity of Black Adam, the good kid Billy that I used to admire appeared on the pages. Additionally, Johns brings in characters like Dr. Shivana, Tawky Tawny, the Seven Deadly Sins, Ibac, and...well I won't give away the ending. Also introduced are Mary Marvel, Captain Marvel Jr. and the Lieutenant Marvels*, although none of them are actually called this.

As i said, I started out hating what Johns did with this character, and honestly, the book does not start out well. But I promise you, stick with it and it pays off in the end. I hope that DC shows some wisdom and continues the stories introduced here. If this is your first experience with Shazam, I urge you to seek out some of the older Shazam stories (particularly The Power of Shazam series by Jerry Ordway. Unfortunately, this series has never been collected in a trade paper format, which is criminal.

*When he was originally created in 1939, it was suggested by the creators that Captain Marvel have six Lieutenant Marvels, each possessing an aspect of SHAZAM. This idea did not see print but in 1941 three Lieutenant Marvels were introduced, each possessing the same powers as Captain Marvel. In this story Billy shares his powers with his foster siblings. Each seems to also possess unique powers but it is not clear if these powers are related to the characteristics of the anagram Shazam.

Dynamite Comic's Masks Volume 1

Let me start with a quick disclaimer. The target audience for this book is me. For years I have been a fan of Golden Age radio shows like The Shadow and The Green Hornet, pulp novels like The Shadow and The Spider, and Zorro, as well as movie serials featuring masked heroes, many whom are found in this graphic novel.

Dynamite has done a wonderful job of tying these various characters into a single story line without overburdening the reader with origins, hero vs. hero fights or contrived ways to tie all the heroes together. Instead, we are treated to different heroes teaming up in smaller groups to fight a common enemy.

The action begins in 1030's New York where the Green Hornet has perused a Chicago mobster to New York. Soon the Green Hornet and Kato are teaming up with The Shadow and The Spider to combat the plans of the newly elected mayor. It seems he has begun recruiting low to mid level gangsters onto the police department and begins making tyrannical laws that leave the citizens of the Big Apple defenseless against the machinations of the mystery man behind the mayor.

Elsewhere, Rafael Vega a descendant of Don Diego de la Vega aka Zorro is arrested while trying to find work as an illustrator, he is defended by Tony Quinn. In the only origin stories in the book we see how Quinn is blinded by battery acid while helping Vega escape an execution only to discover he can still see in the dark, Donning a costume he becomes the Black Bat. Vega similarly takes advantage of a masquerade shop to resurrect his his ancestors persona of Zorro.

Finally, we have another pairing of Jethro Dumont, publicly known as the criminologist and Tibetan Buddhist The Green Lama with Marla Drake, one of the earliest female super-heroes know as Miss Fury. Later the team is completed with the super strong and invulnerable Black Terror.

While many of these characters may be unfamiliar to today's audience they became the inspiration for almost every super-hero making his or her way to the big screen these days. The artwork in this book is amazing, the writing is first rate and the story has more than a few overtones of modern America with news stories of private military companies operating in the U.S. outside the law (e.g. Blackwater in New Orleans after hurricane Katrina or the overreaching surveillance being conducted by private firms).

If you are not familiar with these characters, or you want to read more of their solo adventures, Dynamite has (or had) solo adventures of all the characters excluding the Green Lama. Readers may also want to read the Project Superpowers by Dynamite to get a better grounding in the many public domain super-heroes the company has resurrected under the creative guidance of artist Alex Ross.

While this may not be familiar territory for every reader, the limited and self-contained nature of the story keeps it accessible for those who are new to these heroes and makes a great love note to fans of the Golden Age like myself.

I give Masks, Volume 1, 4 out of 5 stars.

Green Hornet; Blood Ties 1&2

Are you a fan of the William Dozier Green Hornet series? Do you wish someone would do a good crime story based on this version? Then you need to be picking up Green Hornet: Blood Ties.

A four-part mini-series from Dynamite Entertainment, Blood Ties serves as a prequel to Kevin Smith’s Green Hornet and Kevin Smith’s Kato. Taking place 20 year’s before the events of the main series, the Hornet and Kato have been operating in Century City for over four years and the mobs are on their last leg. Tony & Joe are two of the last five family bosses. Tony is dying and his hotheaded son is due to take over. Joe is looking to retire but knows that Tony Jr. will be bad for the business he’s spent his life building.

Meanwhile, Yakuza boss, Oni Juuma is looking to avoid the law in Japan so he moves his operations to Century City. As a buy in he offers the other Japanese boss his services in removing the Green Hornet.

As in any good crime drama, it is the criminals that move the story along, as the protagonist is in the business of tracking down the villains. The Hornet and Kato are brutal enough to sell their roles as the people the mob pays for protection. They are sneaky, smart and dangerous. This is a very believable portrayal of the characters, which are essentially deep undercover operators with absolutely no back up.

The story is by Ande Praks, who also writes the Kato title for the Kevin Smith version. He does a great job of tying together stories of father/son relationships with a street level crime story. One complaint: the time jumps, The story starts with “Some Twenty Years Ago” followed by the narration “Over Four Years Now,” later we are introduced to Tony & Joe with the tile “Thirty Five Years Earlier” I kept wondering which starting point we’re starting from and just what year this is all taking place. It’s a minor gripe, but acts as a speed bump for me each time I read it. I just wish they’d give me dates.

The art is by Johnny Desjardins and fits the nourish feel of the story. Again I have a small gripe, while his art if good, there is not enough detail on his characters making them look like variations of the same person. I doubt, however, that Desjardins’ work has reached its pinnacle yet and he is definitely a talent to keep an eye on.

One final complaint, there are a few instances where the word balloons are going to the worn characters. While this doesn’t ruin a story, it always stands out as something that should have been caught before it went to print.

That said, this is probably the best Green Hornet story out there right now. This is high praise considering the enormous talent that is Matt Wagner is doing the definitive golden age Green Hornet story with Green Hornet Year One. But that is another review.

Rating 4 out of 5 Stars

I'm ending my hermitage and restarting my blog, not that anyone cares. But I needed a bridging post after such a long absence.