Review- John Carpenter's Tales Of Science Fiction: Vault #1-3

John Carpenter's Tales Of Science Fiction: Vault #1-3 (Storm King, cover dates July- September, 2017)

Writer: James Ninness (series created by John Carpenter and Sandy King)

Artist: Andres Esparza

Colorist: Sergio Martinez

John Carpenter's latest comic book creation is an ongoing science fiction series, albeit with a Horror bent a la The Thing. While it is easy to pass this series off as an Alien meets The Thing riff, one would be missing the point and the punchline of this series if they did that. While the aforementioned movies are certainly reference points here they are not what this series is all about.

I try not to spoil books when I review them or give blow by blow book report style reviews. I'll try to touch on a few points and let you decide if it's something you might like. The crew of the Gaia are your standard rag tag bunch seen in these types of movies, with the dynamics of distrust and politics that you would find in any group of people. The Gaia encounters an unknown ship and decides to board it. We've all seen this before and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that something is wrong from the word go.

With the recent discovery of a new black hole so close to our solar system, this series was better timed than even the creators could have hoped for. Black holes are a huge mystery that we are only scratching the surface of understanding. It's here that we have the springboard for the Vault series. I'm not giving away anything else other than we are not alone and it's only a matter of time before unforeseen circumstances lead to unintended consequences for mankind.

I've read these three issues as they came out and again once the series was completed, and it works better as a whole story than as individual parts. Some comics series are like that. While I primarily read collected editions I do buy all Storm King stuff in singles first. At three issues I can't imagine this being collected as a stand alone book. It will likely be compiled with one of the other Tales Of Science Fiction series down the road. The next one is Vortex and issue 1 is out now.

Junk Food For Thought rating: 4 out of 5.

Review- STUDS TERKEL'S WORKING

STUDS TERKEL'S WORKING (The New Press, First Printing, 2009; Softcover)

Original Graphic Novel

Writers: Studs Terkel, adapted by Harvey Pekar with additional adaptations by Sharon Rudhal, Peter Kuper, Sabrina Jones, Lance Tooks, Danny Fingeroth, and Gary Dumm

Artists: Sharon Rudhal, Anne Timmons, Dylan A.T. Miner, Peter Kuper, Sabrina Jones, Joan Reilly, Peter Gullerud, Ryan Insana, Lance Tooks, Bob Hall, Terry LaBan, Pablo G. Callejo, Emily Nemens, Nick Thorkelson, and Gary Dumm

Studs Terkel's Working is a fascinating look at what people do for a living. Or more accurately, what we used to do for a living. The original novel was published in 1972, and the field of labor has changed dramatically in the past 45 years. That said, many of these jobs still exist, although the attitudes against people who are employed in these fields is much different than it was at the time that the original book was published.

For example, people once looked up to teachers and factory workers. Now they are frowned upon because of unions. In the decades since the original work was published, labor has become anti-people and more pro-company. Technology and our society as a whole has dehumanized us all, to the point where we are all cogs in machines pressed to produce. Every worker is more efficient than ever and yet is valued less than before by companies.

This book is based on interviews that were done with people in various professions. Mailman, teacher, farm worker, and even prostitutes. It is that tale, Hooker, that is the most riveting in the book. While nearly all of the tales mention the downfalls and changes within the profession, it is this one which is the most disturbing.

Pekar adapted 12 of the 28 short stories that comprise this graphic novel, so it is not a true Pekar book, but most of the stories are well done. I got a kick out of seeing 1980s Marvel veterans Danny Fingeroth and Bob Hall team up for a few stories here. Most of the people who worked on this book are unknown quantities to me.

Harvey Pekar is the everyman, and he is hands down the man for the job of putting the polish on these tales. Pekar is the type of guy who no longer exists. A guy who just wants to get by, with no delusions of grandeur about becoming a CEO or someone important. He gets what is really important about life, and that is regular people who do regular work.

Junk Food For Thought rating: 4 out of 5.

The OCD zone- Library books are fascinating science experiments in the workmanship of the materials used to make these books.

Paper stock: Matte uncoated stock.

Binding: Perfect bound trade paperback.

Cardstock cover notes: Cardstock has a matte coating and a 1/3 length fold over on the inside of the front and back covers, giving an added heft and durability to the cover.

Review- ALL-STAR BATMAN VOL. 1: MY OWN WORST ENEMY

ALL-STAR BATMAN VOL. 1: MY OWN WORST ENEMY (DC, First Printing, 2017; Hardcover)

Collects All Star Batman #1-5 (cover dates October, 2016- February, 2017)

Writer: Scott Snyder

Artists: John Romita Jr. and Danny Miki (My Own Worst Enemy main story) and Declan Shalvey (The Cursed Wheel back-up story)

Colorists: Dean White (My Own Worst Enemy main story) and Jordie Bellaire (The Cursed Wheel back-up story)

My son checked this out from the library and wanted to read it with me. I liked Scott Snyder's Swamp Thing run and am a huge fan of John Romita, Jr., plus I get to read comics with my son. It's a can't lose scenario!

Two-Face has Batman on the run against the clock, with the KGBeast (now known as The Beast) hot on their tail. JRJr really shines in the bonecrushing fist fight sequences. I still can't get over John Romita Jr. defecting to DC after decades with Marvel. I wonder if it was money or if it was simply boredom. He has handled every single Marvel property at one time or another and might have just felt that it was time to move on.

My only dislike about the My Own Worst Enemy story is the ret-con aspect of the flashback. I'm not sure if that facet really added anything to the overall story, even with the end result of it coming full circle. It likely flew in the face of some continuity established somewhere since 1939 and it did the story a disservice by tying it to the “then” instead of the “now”.

The Cursed Wheel was awesome, a story about a demented serial killer that Batman's new partner Duke manages to stop because he was able to piece together the clues faster than Batman. It is a dark story done at a PG-13 level. It was incredible.

This whole book was fantastic. I will freely admit that I have a double standard when it comes to DC. Their continuity doesn't have to make any sense to me since they have rebooted and ret-conned things so many times that I am not even sure if they have a definitive continuity. With that in mind I am free to read and enjoy anything that they release as it's own thing, with no thought or concern as to where it fits into the puzzle that makes up the big picture. Marvel's continuity was once as tight as a drum and I have never forgiven them for running it off of the rails.

My 10 year old son's take: I think that it was great. It was brilliant. The art was well drawn, the storyline was good. I liked that it all revolved around Two-Face. I disliked the little bit of swearing. (Note: The swearing was mostly in @#$%$% form.) It was the best Batman comic I've ever read. It was really well done.

This is so good that I am considering buying it. It's not like I will ever have to time to read it again, but it's so good that I would like to think that I'll be able to someday.

Junk Food For Thought rating: 5 out of 5.

The OCD zone- Library books are fascinating science experiments in the workmanship of the materials used to make these books. I'll be lucky to find enough time to read all of my books once, so I am not sure why I would consider buying more.

Paper stock: Good weight coated glossy stock.

Binding: Perfect binding.

Dustjacket and Hardback cover notes: The dustjacket is in a Brodart sleeve and taped to the hardback. Difficult to evaluate on these library books. 

Review- ALL STAR COMICS ARCHIVES VOL. 5

ALL STAR COMICS ARCHIVES VOL. 5 (DC, First Printing, 1999; Hardcover)

Collects All Star Comics #19-23 (cover dates Winter, 1943- Winter, 1944)

Writers: Gardner Fox and Sheldon Mayer (co-plotter) with Jack Kirby (some Sandman rewrites)

Artists: Joe Gallagher, Stan Aschmeier, Joe Simon, Jack Kirby, Bernard Baily, Joe Gallagher, Sheldon Moldoff, Joe Kubert, Cliff Young, Steve Brodie, and Frank Harry

The novelty of reading scarce and expensive old comics has long since worn off for me after nearly fifteen years into the golden age of collected editions. We fans have been spoiled rotten by the embarrassment of riches shoveled at us in all directions in any number of formats. Since the novelty is gone, we are left with two avenues with which to judge these works. One is reading these comics in a purely academic sense, weighing their historical significance against other comics of the day. The other is how does it read through modern eyes in 2017. Modern meaning my middle-aged eyes, for what it's worth, but eyes that have still never read these comic books before.

With that in mind we jump in to this sixth volume in the line (there was a Vol. 0). The award winning formula of the day is still intact. The team starts each issue with a meeting and are suddenly presented with a challenge or mystery of some sort which requires the team to split up in order to tackle the problem more efficiently. This formula is used in every issue. While this might seem tedious or monotonous to a modern day fan, bear in mind that these comics were read primarily by children and that many people didn't buy every single issue of every title back then.

At this point The Justice Society Of America is Hawkman, Johnny Thunder (and his Thunderbolt), The Spectre, Sandman (the second, crappier version), Star Man, The Atom, Doctor Fate, Dr. Mid-Nite, and their secretary, Wonder Woman. Yes, that's right, the second most powerful member of the team is left behind to take notes. Societal mores being what they were, I guess that this appealed to the kids of the 1940s.

#20 finds the team fighting their first true super villain, The Monster. While they have fought costumed foes before, this is the first one with augmented abilities. The story in #21 would have done nothing but create multiple divergent timelines rather than solve the problem that the team faced. I wonder how the DC continuity experts have worked that one out. The Psycho-Pirate proved to be a worthwhile nemesis in issue 23.

This was a moderately entertaining read. The stories have no plot twists and the endings are telegraphed a mile away, but these were aimed at children over 70 years ago. It's easy to criticize the lack of sophistication in the writing or artwork here in 2017. This stuff is still important and worthy of your attention. If it weren't for The Justice Society Of America we would never have gotten The Justice League of America for Stan Lee to rip off with The Avengers.

Junk Food For Thought rating: 3.5 out of 5.

The OCD zone- The following are omitted from this book:

On Silver Wings, a half page text story from #19.

Fuller Phun And Archibald Club one page gag strip from #20.

Fat And Slat one page gag strip from #21 and 22.

Who's Who In Whoville one page gag strip from #23.

Pervia Problem, one page text story from #23.

Why were these omitted? DC's collected editions department has little method to their madness.

Linework and Color restoration: Off-white matte coated stock with a slight sheen.

Binding: Smyth sewn binding. It's a little tight but loosens as you read it.

Dustjacket and Hardback cover notes: Thick laminated dustjacket. Casewrap has faux leather grain with foil stamping. 

Review- GREEN LANTERN: SECTOR 2814 VOL. 2

GREEN LANTERN: SECTOR 2814 VOL. 2 (DC, First Printing, 2013; Softcover)

Collects Green Lantern #182, 183, 185-193 (main stories only) (cover dates November, 1984- October, 1985)

Writer: Len Wein (#182, 183, 185, 186), Paul Kupperberg (#187), and Steve Englehart (#188-193)

Artists: Dave Gibbons (Penciler, #182, 183, 185, 186), Bill Willingham (Penciler, #187), and Joe Staton (#188-193) with Inking by Mark Farmer, Mike DeCarlo, Rich Rankin, and Bruce Patterson

1984 and 1985 are “my” golden age of comics. I turned 11 and 12 in those years and many of my fondest comic memories come from that time. I was a Marvelite back then and I wouldn't have been caught dead reading anything from the Distinguished Competition. Everyone, and by everyone I mean my two comic reading friends and I, knew that DC sucked. More fool me. This is every bit as good as anything that Marvel was producing during this time period.

Indeed, Marvel alumni Len Wein and Steve Englehart capably handle this long running story of Hal Jordan quitting the Green Lantern Corps and him wrestling with his new life as a civilian while the new Green Lantern, John Stewart, learns the ropes. Stewart is from Detroit, which is awesome because no Marvel superhero was from Detroit back in 1984-85. I would have loved that as a kid.

Dave Gibbons' brilliant art is replicated as closely as possible by his replacement art team, Joe Staton and Bruce Patterson. Only my brand loyalty of the day kept me away from this comic. In all honesty I could barely afford the comics that I read at that time, so it's probably for the best that I was unwilling to read anything else.

My only gripe is the awful resolution to the Predator nemesis. Seriously? This is hackneyed, stoned '70s-style plot twisting at it's worst. I expected better from Englehart. He picks up and carries on well enough afterward, so I am looking forward to finally reading the third and final volume in this line of trades.

Junk Food For Thought rating: 4.5 out of 5.

The OCD zone- #184 was omitted because it was a reprint of Issue 59. The back-up stories are collected in a separate line of trades. DC's collected editions department has never made much sense to me.

Linework and Color restoration: The linework is excellent. At first glance it appears that some lines are dropped but a closer inspection against the original comic books reveals that what often appears to be thicker lines is really a gnashing of the plates and that there were thinner lines.

While the original color palette is faithfully maintained across the three issues that I did comparisons with it is the gradient shades used to soften the blends that stick out to my eye. Is it that big of a deal? The color blend is correct, only the method DC used at this time is not authentic to the era. The gradients give an airbrushed appearance to the edge of the blend, whereas when these are recolored “by hand” on a computer you get more authentic looking blends. Your OCD mileage may vary, I just list this (and in all honesty do this blog) to inform fellow fans on the good, the bad, and the ugly of collected editions.

Paper stock: Bright white glossy stock. Not optimal for material with flat coloring but I prefer it to the cheap paper which DC used to pass off on books of vintage material. They have since phased this paper out.

Binding: Perfect bound trade paperback.

Cardstock cover notes: Laminated cardstock cover. 

Review- WOLVERINE- OLD MAN LOGAN VOL. 2: BORDERTOWN

WOLVERINE- OLD MAN LOGAN VOL. 2: BORDERTOWN (Marvel, Second Printing, 2017; Softcover)

Collects Old Man Logan #5-8 and Uncanny X-Men #205 (cover dates May, 1986- September, 2016)

Writers: Jeff Lemire and Chris Claremont (Uncanny X-Men #205)

Artists: Andrea Sorrentino and Barry Windsor-Smith (Uncanny X-Men #205)

Colorists: Marcelo Maiolo and Barry Windsor-Smith (Uncanny X-Men #205)

Old Man Logan's quest to keep his future from happening is making it apparent that this has either become a divergent timeline or that he arrived in a different timeline to begin with. The date where the heroes were killed by a united villain front has come and gone. Logan encounters his wife from his timeline, Maureen, only she's still a child. What could have been creepy was instead quickly turned into another of Logan's personal tragedies.

Old Man Logan heads to the great white north to get away from it all, only to be hunted by Lady Deathstrike and The Reavers. It's kind of weird to see how important Deathstrike has become to the Wolverine mythos. Old Man Shaw moment: I was buying those issues of Alpha Flight and Uncanny X-Men when she was introduced and didn't think that she was anything special as a 12-going-on-13 year old kid.

Logan also encounters the teenage Jean Grey/Marvel Girl/Phoenix from yet another alternate timeline since, like Wolverine, she is dead in this current continuity. This sentence shows why modern Marvel sucks. Wolverine is dead (for now), and Jean Grey is also dead (also for now, since she is returning judging by the current cycle of December solicits), so alternate timeline versions are brought in, both from different points in their life (Jean Grey from an alternate past where she is a teenager, and Logan from 50 years in the future of his timeline). It's the cheesiest aspects of Silver Age DC and beneath the dignity of the House Of Ideas.

I am enjoying this series in spite of that criticism. I read this title almost as it's own universe. This is 1980s Wolverine, only decades older fed up with it all. I am also decades older from the halcyon days of the 1980s and equally fed up with it all. This is the superhero version of Grumpy Old Men. Both Old Man Logan and I feel out of touch with the modern world through no fault of our own. The world has a way of changing around you. Like Old Man Logan, I am not prepared to give up on life without a fight. Screw with me and I'll pop my claws too, metaphorically speaking of course since I don't have claws.

The padding factor of Volume 1 in this line of trades continues, with Uncanny X-Men #205 added to bolster the page count. At least this issue is related to the events in this arc, with the first encounter of Wolverine and Lady Deathstrike. I can reread '80s X-Men a thousand times. Indeed, I have.

So far so good with this series. I will continue on my journey with this title. Will Old Man Logan find the peace which has eluded him his whole life? Will I ever quit buying comic books? Old Man Logan and Old Man Shaw are both too stubborn to know when to quit, so the answer is likely no to both questions, but let's find out together.

Junk Food For Thought rating: 4 out of 5.

The OCD zone- I am surprised that this book received a second printing, as Marvel typically allows material to go out of print so that it can be repurposed in Omnibus hardcovers and, once those go out of print, fat Complete Collection trades.

Paper stock: Fair weight coated stock with a slight sheen.

Binding: Perfect bound trade paperback. This book is on the thin side and feels like a fat periodical.

Cardstock cover notes: Laminated cardstock.