Review- THE STUFF OF LEGEND BOOK 1: THE DARK

THE STUFF OF LEGEND BOOK 1: THE DARK (Th3rd World Studios/ Villard Books, Third Printing, 2010; Softcover)

Collects The Stuff Of Legend Volume One: The Dark Books 1, 2 (cover dates 2009)

Writer: Mike Raicht and Brian Smith

Artist: Charles Paul Wilson III

Colorists: John Conkling and Michael DeVito

This is one of those independent titles that I have sampled via various Free Comic Book Day comics but have never gotten around to buying. My local library has a fairly impressive graphic novel section, and I noticed that they had all four of these books available. I figured hey, the stuff I've read was good, the price is right, and the only thing that it will cost me is my time.

I liked this. It didn't knock my socks off but I found the concept to be polished and the artwork has a nice feeling to it. It's a fast read, which is fine because the story is light and doesn't require a lot of exposition. The setting of 1944 doesn't make a whole lot of sense, at least not yet. Maybe they did this because the toys all look old. Kids today have licensed characters as far as the eye can see. Time will tell why it is set in 1944 instead of today.

If Chronicles Of Narnia and Toy Story had a baby, it would be The Stuff Of Legend. This is all-ages reading that should appeal to even the most sophisticated comic book reader. It's smart, slick, and accessible.

Junk Food For Thought rating: 4 out of 5.

The OCD zone- The dimensions of this book are a landscape format.

Paper stock: Acid free coated stock. The indicia states that this is acid free paper. I now wonder about the acid content of the paper in the rest of my collected editions. While there are cheap, easy ways to check for things like OBAs, there are no real easy ways to test the acid levels in paper. Just when you thought that you were going to be getting a good night's sleep...

Binding: Sewn binding in a softcover. While this generally makes me happy, the problem with sewn binding in a softcover is that it is not glued to a cloth super. The signatures are just glued into place, and as you can see from this picture, this is a big problem. I would think that perfect binding might be preferable to this, as it is easily repaired with library glue. Repairing this binding could be tricky. Please note that this is a library copy and has been checked out by dozens and dozens of folks and has been read more times than anyone's personal copy likely would be.

Cardstock cover notes: Matte finish. It is surprisingly scuff free, doubly impressive seeing as this is a library copy. 

Review- Free Comic Book Day Offerings Part Five

Free Comic Book Day Offerings Part Five

Free Comic Book Day: The Stuff Of Legend (Th3rdworld Studios, cover date 2016)

I have always found this concept to be interesting and have wanted to read more, but time and money haven't allowed me to do so. Fortunately for me my son has shown me the joy of checking out books from the library. I have checked out the first volume in the series and am looking forward to reading it.

Junk Food For Thought rating: 4 out of 5.

Mix Tape 2016 (Devil's Due/ First Comics, cover date 2016)

Like the title states, this is a sampler of different titles. Mercy Sparx and Badger are both readable yet not very memorable. Squarriors is fascinating, though. Beautifully drawn, cleverly written, it is something that is worth a second look. How To Dragon Your Train is amusing and well done.

Junk Food For Thought rating: 3 out of 5.

FCBD: March (Top Shelf, cover date, 2016)

I have heard much buzz about this comic, which is the story of the Civil Rights movement. It is a powerful story presented in black and white. Comic books are every bit as legitimate an art form as music, literature, and the cinema. Like those artforms, comics are capable of being anything under the sun. March uses the strengths of this unique medium (pictures and words) to great effect and delivers a read that is as powerful as the real life message that inspired it. 

Junk Food For Thought rating: 4.75 out of 5.

Free Comic Book Day: The Phantom (Hermes Press, cover date 2016)

This is a sampling of Jim Aparo's brilliant take on the character from 1970. Hermes' restoration is a bit off. They should either do full blown, frame up restoration or cleaned up raw scans. Their hybrid approach doesn't work for me. My OCD homeskillet Ferjo Byroy owns all of these Phantom Archives and strip books. Maybe someday I will borrow them from him.

Junk Food For Thought rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Worlds Of Aspen 2016 #1 (Aspen Comics, cover date May, 2016)

This is slick and polished and enjoyable enough...just not enough for me to plunk down money and buy.

Junk Food For Thought rating: 2.75 out of 5.

Assassin's Creed: Free Comic Book Day (Titan Comics, cover date May, 2016)

I know nothing about the video game, as I don't play video games. That aside, this is good stuff as a comic book. Everything works, the art is good, and the hook is strong. I have no idea how this relates to the game if at all, but as a comic book I liked it.

Junk Food For Thought rating: 4 out of 5.

Avatarex: Free Comic Book Day Special Preview (Graphic India, cover date 2016)

Grant Morrison is prolific, that's for sure. He bounces from stuff like Batman to creator owned stuff and everywhere in between. Avatarex reminds me of Atomika for some reason, only with more mainstream friendly artwork. The other story in this book is a preview of 18 Days, another heady, larger than life concept. Both of these concepts are interesting, but not interesting enough to get me to open my wallet.

Junk Food For Thought rating: 3.5 out of 5. 

Review- FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 2013 offerings Part the First

FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 2013 offerings Part the First

Note: Free Comic Book Day will be referred to as FCBD from here on out.

Superman: The Last Son of Krypton FCBD Special Edition No. 1 (DC, cover date July, 2013)

Writers: Geoff Johns and Richard Donner

Artist: Adam Kubert

Colorist: Dave Stewart

This was an okay read. I have never been a fan of Kubert's artwork. This doesn't make me want to pick up a new Superman comic book or anything.

Junk Food For Thought rating: 2.75 out of 5. 

Finding Gossamyr/ The Stuff of Legend (Th3rd World Studios, cover date 2013)

Writers: David A. Rodriguez (FG) and Mike Raicht and Brian Smith (TSoL)

Artists: Sarah Ellerton (FG) and Charles Paul Wilson III (TSoL)

Colorists: Dave Stewart (FG) and Jon Conkling and Michael DeVito (TSoL)

The Stuff of Legend is an intriguing concept, so much so that I am wrestling with buying the Omnibus hardcover. Kill me.

Finding Gossamyr will appeal to all ages but is not my cup of tea. It is well done for what it is, and I admire the craftsmanship even if the material isn't to my liking.

Junk Food For Thought rating: 3 out of 5. 

FCBD: Mass Effect/ R.I.P.D. and The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys (Dark Horse, cover date May, 2013)

Writers: Mac Walters (ME), Jeremy Barlow (ME and R.I.P.D.), and Gerard Way and Shaun Simon (TTLotFK)

Artists: Garry Brown (ME), Tony Parker (R.I.P.D.), and Becky Cloonan (TTLotFK)

Colorists: Michael Atiyeh (ME), Michelle Madson (R.I.P.D.), and Dan Jackson (TTLotFK)

Dark Horse gives us a three-for-one in this year's FCBD offering. Mass Effect is a decent enough concept but doesn't really grab me. R.I.P.D. is something that requires a closer look, as the writing and artwork are both extremely well done. And anything that that My Chemical Romance douchebag touches should be avoided at all costs. Way was brought up on '90s cheese comics, and it has informed his comic book value system. Pass.

Junk Food For Thought rating: 2.75 out of 5. 

FCBD 2013: Judge Dredd Classics (IDW, cover date May, 2013)

Writers: John Wagner and Joe Collins

Artist: Brian Bolland

Colorist: Charlie Kirchoff

IDW has been coloring old black and white Judge Dredd strips from England's 2000 A.D. and releasing them in artist-centric hardcover collections. This book compiles the classic introduction of Judge Death from 2000 A.D. Progs. 52-57 and some Walter the Wobot throwaways from Progs. 149-151. This is a great re-re-read, although the color doesn't add anything in my opinion. Still, the modern coloring may help to attract new readers, so it does serve a purpose. The original black and white versions are available in the Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files trade paperbacks for you purists out there.

Junk Food For Thought rating: 4.75 out of 5. 

Brother Bedlam No. 1 (Image, cover date August, 2006)

Writer: Shannon Eric Denton

Artist: Matt Jacobs

Colorists: Eric Spikes and David Polston

Sometimes stores give away their deadweight inventory on FCBD along with their FCBD offerings. This floppy is one such book. I have a rule that if I buy it I have to read it. That rule, fortunately, does not apply to FCBD offerings. This was unreadable. I couldn't make it more than a page or two. Pure garbage.

Junk Food For Thought rating: 0 out of 5. 

The Defenders No. 1 (Marvel, cover date February, 2012)

Writer: Matt Fraction

Artists: Terry and Rachel Dodson

Colorists: Sonia Oback

Another deadweight store inventory FCBD special. I normally enjoy Matt Fraction's writing, but this was borderline fan fiction. (In a Beavis and Butthead voice) Huh-huh huh-huh, hey Beavis, wouldn't it be cool if superheroes slept around? A-huh-huh huh-huh. Yeah Butthead, that would be cool. Boing-oing-oing-oing-oing!! Stuff like this makes me embarrassed to read mainstream superhero comics. This isn't sophisticated, “adult” writing, it is adolescent cheese.

Junk Food For Thought rating: 2 out of 5.

I will have lots more FCBD reviews over the next week or so. I spent the entire day hitting various comic shops in the Detroit area.