Reviews- LEONARD STARR'S MARY PERKINS ON STAGE VOL. 2 and MAGIC WIND VOL. 4: THE BEAST

 LEONARD STARR'S MARY PERKINS ON STAGE VOL. 2 (Classic Comics Press, 2007; Softcover)

Collects the Mary Perkins On Stage strips originally published on January 12, 1958- April 19, 1959

Writer and Artist: Leonard Starr

This is where more and more of my comic buying dollar is going to these days: the classic comic strip. Characterization is king, with story being the center of attention. Starr makes every single character believable and makes you care what happens to them whether you like them or not. Starr's beautiful artwork is heavy on the photo realism while not relying on Photoshop. In other words, pure craftmanship. If gimmicks and crossovers bore you then come and join me over here. You may like what you find.

Junk Food For Thought rating: 5 out of 5.

The OCD zone

Linework/ restoration: Excellent, with many strips taken from proof sheets.

Paper stock: Uncoated stock.

Binding: Perfect bound trade paperback.

Cardstock cover notes: Slightly glossy coating.

MAGIC WIND VOL. 4: THE BEAST (Epicenter, 2014; Softcover)

Collects Magic Wind #4 (cover date October, 1997)

Writer: Gianfranco Manfredi

Artist: Pasquale Frisenda

Colorist: Laura Piazza

Italian comics are a new thing for us Americans, as the English language translations have just started creeping over here during the past couple of years. They are a more violent, more mature outing than our spandex-clad superhero comics. Epicenter has been licensing the newly colored versions from the European market for the English speaking world with fresh translations...albeit with several typos along the way. Good stuff regardless.

Junk Food For Thought rating: 4 out of 5.

The OCD zone

Paper stock: Glossy coated stock.

Binding: Sewn binding.

Cardstock cover notes: Matte coating which had a scuff or two by the time that I was done with it, and I handle my books gingerly. 

Review- MAGIC WIND VOL. 3: LADY CHARITY

MAGIC WIND VOL. 3: LADY CHARITY (Epicenter, 2013; Softcover)

Note: Book actually released in 2014

Collects Magic Wind No. 3 (originally published in black and white as Magico Vento #3 in Italy in September, 1997)

Writer: Gianfranco Manfrdi

Artist: Jose Ortiz

Colorist: Elisa Moriconi

Willie Richards, a.k.a Poe, the shamed Chicago newspaper reporter on the run who has befriended Magic Wind, decides to go back home from the west to report his story. Unfortunately for him his enemies are many, including the publisher of the newspaper. Poe encounters a seemingly altruistic group of underground reporters who supposedly use their findings to put pressure on power players in order to keep them in place. Amelia Sinclair, a.k.a. Lady Charity, is a wealthy well-to-do who is the head of this group. Things are not always what they seem, and Poe again blunders into trouble. Poe, a non-believer in the magic of the Native Americans, is once again saved by it. Poe is more of the focus of this book than Magic Wind. 

Jose Ortiz is no stranger to fans of '70s comics. The work that he did on various DC Comics and Warren Magazines like Creepy and Eerie are just the tip of the iceberg of his body of work, though. He was a truly global comic artist, working for the US, UK, and European comic industries independent of one another. He passed away only a few months ago.

These fully colored English language translations of Magic Wind can't come out fast enough for my tastes. While European fans have read the entire 100 plus book run, we English speaking folk are getting one every few months.

Junk Food For Thought rating: 5 out of 5.

The OCD zone- The print quality of this book leaves something to be desired. There is a powdery feel to some of the pages. Indeed, my fingertips have a black film on them after reading this entire book, not unlike after I read a newspaper. Since this book was made in China lord only knows what bizarre chemical compound they used to make the ink. Lead paint chips? Broken asbestos tiles? Mercury from recalled thermometers? Industrial heavy metal waste?

DVD-style Extras included in this book: The original European cover is included inside.

Paper rating: 5 out of 5. The paper itself is of super heavy weight. It is the ink which is weird feeling.

Binding rating: 4 out of 5. Sewn binding on a trade paperback always makes me smile. There are 6 stitches per signature. The binding is stiff, making this a two-fisted read.

Cardstock cover coating rating: 5 out of 5. Dull matte finish, resistant to scuffs.

InStockTrades never received this book for reasons unknown, but Volume 2 is still available!

Review- MAGIC WIND VOL. 2: CLAWS

MAGIC WIND VOL. 2: CLAWS (Epicenter, 2013; Softcover)

Collects Magic Wind No. 2 (cover date August, 1997)

Writer: Gianfranco Manfredi

Artists: Giuseppe Barbati and Bruno Ramella

Colorist: Sergio Algozzino

When a giant eagle swoops down and steals a child from the Sioux, it is up to the white man that the tribe has accepted as one of their own, Magic Wind, to try and right things. The tribe is in disarray, with everyone blaming one another. This is a story about betrayal on a very human level, but it is the mystical and supernatural elements which add spice to the proceedings.

We see Magic Wind and Poe become a sort of Sherlock Holmes and Watson type pair of sleuth/adventurers this time out, with Poe becoming more of the comic relief. I really enjoyed the werewolf aspect, even though I always thought of werewolves as more of a European thing. In any case, this was great and I am in for volume 3. 

These roughly 100 page “issues” were originally issued in Italy in the European album format. There are 123 of these released to date overseas, but they are in black and white while the North American English language translations are being presented in color for the very first time. We are now 2 down, with only 121 more to go!

Junk Food For Thought rating: 4.5 out of 5.

The OCD zone- Epicenter makes really nice books.

DVD-style Extras included in this book: None.

Paper rating: 5 out of 5. Beautiful, thick glossy 105 pound paper stock.

Binding rating: 4.5 out of 5. I heart sewn bindings on softcovers.

Cardstock cover coating rating: 4 out of 5. The cover has that dull matte finish coating which seems to be all the rage with the kids these days. I'm not crazy about it myself. Having said that, this dull matte coating is of the scuff resistant variety, so we will just have to chalk this up to being not my cup of tea.

Buy MAGIC WIND VOL. 2: CLAWS at InStockTrades!

Review- MAGIC WIND VOL. 1: FORT GHOST

MAGIC WIND VOL. 1: FORT GHOST (Epicenter, 2013; Softcover)

Collects Magico Vento No. 1 (cover date September, 1997)

Writer: Gianfranco Manfredi

Artist: Jose Oritz

Colorist: Sergio Algozzino

We are living in an era of global comic books. Technology has raised awareness of European works like this, and publishers like Humanoids have been translating their works for the English speaking world. Epicenter Comics have translated this Italian fan favorite with plans to do the entire run of original graphic novels. While this was labeled Number 1 it is not a single issue periodical; comics is Europe are typically published in albums, this one having 94 pages of story. Also unlike their American counterparts, they have no set schedule, with months and sometimes years passing between editions. There are 131 issues in this series, with Volume 2 already solicited for a September release.

This is a Horror-tinged Western. The material has been freshly colored, as it was originally published in black and white. The purist in me would love to see it as it was originally released, but the fan in me is loving this beautifully colored version. 

The gist: A Native American in the Dakota Territory has had a vision, a vision which has led him to discover a critically injured Wasicun man (white people) amongst a train wreckage. The man has amnesia, and Lame Horse told him his name is Magic Wind. The scene shifts to Chicago, three years after the accident. Willy Richards, known as Poe due to his resemblance to Edgar Allen Poe, is a political journalist who has uncovered some crooked dealings involving real estate speculation. Howard Hogan was, shall we say, well informed of the planned train routes and bought land for nothing, selling it when it was at it's peak before the military changed their bases, and leaving people broke owners of ghost towns.

Poe keeps digging, and his publisher threatens to kill the story. He journeys to Mugby Junction, one of the ghost towns ruined by Hogan's dealings, in pursuit of the story. It is on the train ride that he encounters Magic Wind. Once they reach town, they encounter Scully at the Blue Hotel...and this is as far as I will go with my synopsis for fear of ruining things for you. 

There are some true Horror elements here. Jose Oritz's artwork is great, coming off like Joe Kubert in his prime. This feels like an amped up, slightly more sophisticated Silver Age/Bronze Age DC Horror/Mystery type comic, and I love it. If the quality is maintained at this level for the entire series then I will be in for all 131 volumes. It's only money, right?

Junk Food For Thought rating: 4.75 out of 5.

The OCD zone- Epicenter makes high quality trade paperbacks/ graphic novels. My only gripe is on page 68, shown below. Note the two black ink splotches on panels 1, 3, and 6. I am uncertain if this defect effects the entire run due to a production error or if I am just the lucky recipient of a printer error. If it is the latter, well, it happens. If it is the former, then it sucks. 

Paper rating: 5 out of 5. Incredibly thick glossy coated stock. It has that glorious toxic Chinese ink and paper aroma that I love to huff.

Binding rating: 4.5 out of 5. Sewn binding on a softcover? Yes, please!

Cardstock cover coating rating: 4.5 out of 5. The cover has a dull matte finish coating. While I prefer the lamination that Marvel and DC use on their trade paperbacks, this is extremely scuff resistant, a rarity for this type of coating.

Buy MAGIC WIND VOL. 1: FORT GHOST TP/GN at InStockTrades!