Review- DEAD MAN LOGAN VOL. 1: SINS OF THE FATHER, RELAY VOL. 1: REALITY DENIED, Questprobe #1-3 and Marvel Fanfare #33, THE MAGIC ORDER VOL. 1

DEAD MAN LOGAN VOL. 1: SINS OF THE FATHER (Marvel, First Printing, 2019; Softcover)

Collects Dead Man Logan #1-6 (cover dates January-June, 2019)

Good stuff that should have just been more issues of Old Man Logan. But hey kids, a new #1! I am trying to not bag on the industry, but these endless relaunches seem to be a case of diminishing returns and jumping off points for older readers without a mass influx of new readers. We are at a point where we should just go to cover dates instead of issue numbers.

RELAY VOL. 1: REALITY DENIED (Aftershock, First Printing, April, 2019; Softcover)

Collects Relay #0-5 (cover dates May, 2018- April, 2019)

Brilliant stuff. There has been no news of any more issues, which stinks. Let's hope that we'll see more sooner than later.

Questprobe #1-3 and Marvel Fanfare #33 (Marvel, cover dates August, 1984- January, 1987)

Computers were for nerds in 1984. My family being able to afford a computer in 1984 was as far fetched as my family being able to afford a rocket ship. Plus, what on Earth could we possibly need a computer for? The old world is pretty funny in retrospect.

I bought issue 2 off of the spinner rack in October of 1984. I still say that it was intended to be issue 97 of Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man and was recut at the last minute to include the Chief Examiner. Go back and reread it, you'll see what I mean. The portions that tie in are almost entirely on separate pages and seem spliced in. Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #97 was essentially an inventory story with little ongoing subplots. Questprobe #2 was way more tied into the current series with the supporting cast featured. Marvel Fanfare #33 was intended to be the fourth issue but was cancelled when the computer company who made the video game went bankrupt. It was released a couple of years later in that inventory story clearing house series.

THE MAGIC ORDER VOL. 1 (Image, First Printing, 2019; Softcover)

Collects The Magic Order #1-6 (cover dates June, 2018- February, 2019)

Magic seems to have been reduced from childhood fantasy to the dustbins of history. Children, with their home computers and surround sound television, no longer have a need for magic. Magicians used to be a popular thing at kids' birthday parties. Technology has killed magic.

This was good enough for me to buy a Volume 2 if or when it happens. I still like magicians and all that jazz.

Reviews: ANT-MAN/ GIANT-MAN EPIC COLLECTION VOL 1: THE MAN IN THE ANT HILL, WOLVERINE: OLD MAN LOGAN VOL. 10: END OF THE WORLD, CRIME PATROL ANNUAL VOL. 2, FANTASTIC FOUR BY JOHN BYRNE OMNIBUS VOL. 2

There is no longer a void for this blog to fill. Talking about binding, paper, and restoration is now the norm, not the exception. My work is done in that regard. There are endless YouTube reviews, message boards, etc. I will pop in with pellet reviews. Consider this the “how I spent my summer vacation” book report.

ANT-MAN/ GIANT-MAN EPIC COLLECTION VOL. 1: THE MAN IN THE ANT HILL (Marvel, First Printing, 2015; Softcover)

Collects the Ant-Man/Giant-Man stories from Tales To Astonish #27, 35-59 (cover dates January, 1962- September, 1964)

While this is one of the “lesser” titles of the Silver Age, it was still a lot of fun to read. Readers with modern sensibilities will dislike the “you're just a girl, Wasp” vibe to some of the earlier stories, but this was a pre-women's lib era. I have a soft spot for Egghead and The Human Top. Seeing Ant-Man transition into Giant-Man was pretty cool.

WOLVERINE: OLD MAN LOGAN VOL. 10: END OF THE WORLD (Marvel, First Printing, 2018; Softcover)

Note: Book actually released in 2019.

Collects Old Man Logan #46-50 and Old Man Logan Annual #1 (cover dates October-December, 2018)

Good stuff, although it was pointless to end the series here. Rebooted numberings lose readers in the long run.

CRIME PATROL ANNUAL VOL. 2 (Gemstone, 2000; Softcover)

Collects Crime Patrol #12-16 (cover dates June-July, 1949- February-March, 1950)

EC remains the gold standard for comic books, even here in the “Pre-Trend” era collected here. The first steps toward EC becoming a Horror comic company happened here, with the introduction of The Crypt Keeper in a handful of stories until the final issue, which was basically the first issue of The Crypt Of Terror. Within a few issues that title would change into the more familiar Tales From The Crypt.

Gemstone used some pretty kick ass glue. This book is almost 20 years old and doesn't even creak when you open it.

FANTASTIC FOUR BY JOHN BYRNE OMNIBUS VOL. 2 (Marvel, First Printing, 2013; Hardcover)

Collects Fantastic Four #261-295, Fantastic Four Annual #18, 19, Alpha Flight #4, Avengers Annual #14, Thing #10, 19, and material from Epic Illustrated #26-34, Thing #7, What If? #36, and What The--?! #2, 10 (cover dates November, 1983- January, 1991)

1984 and 1985 were the zenith of western civilization. The spinner racks at 7-11 were filled with gold month in and month out. I thought that it would last forever, as children tend to do. Little did 10-11-12 year old me know that this was the second golden age of Marvel, and arguably the last time that every single title was hitting high marks at the same time. John Byrne remains a favorite of mine, and this stuff still holds up decades later. Hard to pinpoint a favorite issue, but #276 was one I read several times on the Christmas break from school in 1984.

Review- WOLVERINE: OLD MAN LOGAN VOL. 9- THE HUNTER AND THE HUNTED

WOLVERINE: OLD MAN LOGAN VOL. 9- THE HUNTER AND THE HUNTED (Marvel, First Printing, 2018; Softcover)

Collects Old Man Logan #41-45 (cover dates August- October, 2018)

Writer: Ed Brisson

Artists: Francesco Manna (#41-42) and Juan E. Ferreyra (#43-45)

Colorists: Carlos Lopez (#41-42) and Juan E. Ferreyra (#43-45)

This volume consists of two stories over five issues rather than a bloated six part arc. Things move fast, make their point, and we all move forward. I like it. The first two issues collected here show Old Man Logan take on Kraven The Hunter. Come to think of it, it really doesn't make sense why Kraven had never hunted the greatest animal of them all, does it? It's a match up that is so obvious that you smack your head wondering why nobody had ever done it before.

The rest of the book shows OML's rematch with Bullseye. As much as I enjoyed the more cerebral era of this title early on, I have to admit that the more straight up superhero fare is great fun. Seeing an older Wolverine realizing the limitations of age unfortunately rings more true with me with each passing day. Like Old Man Logan, my prime is in my rearview mirror. And like Old Man Logan, I'm also too damn stubborn to fold.

The OCD zone- This is the part where I go into tactile sensations and materials used in physical media. Those with heart conditions, high blood pressure, or women who are pregnant should exit my blog at their earliest convenience, as their safety cannot be guaranteed beyond this point.

Paper stock: The semi-glossy coated stock Marvel uses is getting thinner and thinner as time goes on. I get it, rising paper costs, diminishing demand for paper, etc, but I can still grumble about it.

Binding: Perfect bound trade paperback.

Cardstock cover notes: Laminated cardstock. The cardstock Marvel uses is also thinner these days, although it helps to make the book sit in your hand like a fat periodical, so it's not all bad.

Review- WOLVERINE: OLD MAN LOGAN VOL. 8- TO KILL FOR

WOLVERINE: OLD MAN LOGAN VOL. 8- TO KILL FOR (Marvel, First Printing, 2018; Softcover)

Collects Old Man Logan #36-40 (cover dates May- July, 2018)

Writers: Ed Brisson

Artists: Dalibor Talajic and Ibraim Roberson (#39, 40)

Colorists: Carlos Lopez

My quick take: Some folks enjoyed Lemire's heady run more than Brisson's grounded mainstream superhero take. I dug the heck out of seeing Old Man Logan taking on Bullseye, so for my money all is still well with this title...even though it has since been cancelled.

The OCD zone- This is the part where I go into tactile sensations and materials used in physical media. Those with heart conditions, high blood pressure, or women who are pregnant should exit my blog at their earliest convenience, as their safety cannot be guaranteed beyond this point.

Paper stock: Thin coated stock with a slight sheen.

Binding: Perfect bound trade paperback. This book is so thin that it almost feels like a giant periodical.

Cardstock cover notes: Laminated cardstock cover.

Review- WOLVERINE- OLD MAN LOGAN VOL. 7: SCARLET SAMURAI

WOLVERINE- OLD MAN LOGAN VOL. 7: SCARLET SAMURAI (Marvel, First Printing, 2018; Softcover)

Collects Old Man Logan #31-35 (cover dates January- April, 2018)

Writer: Ed Brisson

Artists: Mike Deodato and Ibraim Roberson

Colorists: Frank Martin and Carlos Lopez

This title continues to surprise me. Maybe it's because this series is an anomaly in terms of continuity. While we are in the main Marvel Universe, Old Man Logan is actually Wolverine from an alternate future timeline, so his past and future are irrelevant to the jigsaw puzzle that is the Marvel Universe (or 616 as the kids like to call it).

Brisson's run is nowhere near as heady or trippy as Jeff Lemire's timeslip rollercoaster ride, being more rooted in traditional superhero fare. Gorgon has gotten his hands on Regenix, an experimental pharmaceutical drug that can regenerate body parts. Gorgon wants it to give to the ninja clan The Hand so that he has an unstoppable army.

You get lots of ninja carnage and bloodshed this time out. This is certainly not all ages reading, but kids today probably play video games with more violence than this. This is a pretty straightforward superhero adventure and was just what the doctor ordered.

I am a big fan Deodato's panel layouts, as he takes what are actually widescreen panels and chops them up into three parts, forcing you to stop moving on each. It tricks the eye into thinking it's a camera pan. It's a neat trick. Roberson steps in and the series doesn't miss a boat. I am still digging what is going on so I will come back for Volume 8.

Junk Food For Thought rating: 4.5 out of 5.

The OCD zone- This is the part where I go into tactile sensations and materials used in physical media. Those with heart conditions, high blood pressure, or women who are pregnant should exit my blog at their earliest convenience, as their safety cannot be guaranteed beyond this point.

Paper stock: Glossy coated stock. It's a bit on the thin side.

Binding: Perfect bound trade paperback. This book is pretty thin and feels like a big fat periodical.

Cardstock cover notes: Laminated cardstock cover.

Review- WOLVERINE- OLD MAN LOGAN VOL. 6: DAYS OF ANGER

WOLVERINE- OLD MAN LOGAN VOL. 6: DAYS OF ANGER (Marvel, First Printing, 2018; Softcover)

Collects Old Man Logan #25-30 (cover dates August, 2017- January, 2018)

Writers: Ed Brisson

Artists: Mike Deodato Jr.

Colorists: Frank Martin

We have a new creative team and a completely different feel and direction this time out, as Old Man Logan's timeslip flashback/future memories become less relevant to the current story and more of a simple backstory stopgap. This is a fast-paced read and is more straightforward and accessible than the Lemire run. If you have read the original Old Man Logan story you could jump straight into this and not be lost.

Maestro and the Hulk Gang have journeyed from Old Man Logan's dystopian future to the “real” Marvel Universe (616 for the kids out there in Internet land). Maestro, an alternate timeline Bruce Banner Hulk from yet another continuity than the main Marvel Universe (616) or OML's timeline(807128), has a plan to wipe out the puny humans once and for all.

This arc sheds more light on Old Man Hawkeye (that would be Hawkeye 807128 for those keeping score at home) and helps set things up for OMH's new series. I will check that one out because I hate my money and need more books to pile on top of my backlog. Why, god, why???

This was my favorite arc since the original Millar/McNiven one. While Ed Brisson is an unknown quantity to me and Mike Deodato Jr. is a god. There is plenty of action and bone-crunching violence to sink your teeth into. While this not all ages reading by any stretch, this is some great stuff and is worth your time.

Junk Food For Thought rating: 4.25 out of 5.

The OCD zone- This is the part where I go into tactile sensations and materials of physical media. Those with heart conditions, high blood pressure, or women who are pregnant should exit my blog at their earliest convenience, as their safety cannot be guaranteed beyond this point.

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

Binding: Perfect bound trade paperback.

Cardstock cover notes: Laminated cardstock cover.

Review- WOLVERINE- OLD MAN LOGAN VOL. 5: PAST LIVES

WOLVERINE- OLD MAN LOGAN VOL. 5: PAST LIVES (Marvel, First Printing, 2017; Softcover)

Collects Old Man Logan #19-24 (cover dates May- July, 2017)

Writer: Jeff Lemire

Artist: Filipe Andrade, Andrea Sorrentino (covers), and Eric Nguyen

Colorist: Jordan Boyd and Andres Jose Mossa

Lemire seems to enjoy his time displacement and time shifts. Indeed, it has been the hallmark of his entire run on this title. Old Man Logan is a man not only out of time but of his own timeline.

This time out Old Man Logan makes a deal with Asmodeus to get back to his future to correct a mistake that he left behind. This is one of those “deals with the devil” kind of things. Logan is given an amulet which will get him from point a to b. Unfortunately for Logan, Asmodeus flings him through his entire past, where we get a sort of greatest hits of Logan's life as he has to relive battles with the Hulk and Wendigo, the Weapon X program, Madripoor, etc. The spell lasts only four days, giving this a sense of urgency.

The end of this arc is the main problem with modern day comic writers. They try to wrap up their run in such a way as to make it almost seem like the end of the series. While the Bronze Age method of leaving endless loose plotlines dangling for the new guy to wrap up before heading on their journey isn't necessarily any better, it did give the reader a true sense of continuity. One could use this book as a jumping off point for the series.

Lemire wraps up his 24 issue run with a bow. The artwork is not to my liking here at all. Your mileage may vary. I'll be interested to see what happens in Volume 6, due out this month.

Junk Food For Thought rating: 3.75 out of 5.

The OCD zone- Thin 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.

Review- WOLVERINE- OLD MAN LOGAN VOL. 4: OLD MONSTERS

WOLVERINE- OLD MAN LOGAN VOL. 4: OLD MONSTERS (Marvel, First Printing, 2017; Softcover)

Collects Old Man Logan #14-18 (cover dates January- April, 2017)

Writer: Jeff Lemire

Artists: Felipe Andrade (#14, 15) and Andrea Sorrentino

Colorist: Jordie Bellaire (#14, 15) and Marcelo Maiolo

What happened? Everything was moving along just fine until now. Issues 14 and 15 were abysmal dreck. The new Howling Commandos are a pathetic retread of DC's Creature Commandos. Felipe Andrade's artwork in this two issue arc left me cold.

It was more than the art that soured me on those two issues. Lemire's writing seems like it went off of the track there too. Jubille and vampires? Come on, man. It felt like Lemire had a dartboard of random plotlines and then had to patch them all together.

Fortunately #16 is right back on track like nothing ever happened in #14 and 15. Logan is still trying to right the wrongs of the past, only something goes wrong and he realizes that he needs to right the wrongs of a future yet to occur in his alternate future timeline. Lots of timeshifts, dreams, nightmares, and hallucinations make this a game of leapfrog for the reader, trying to leap from one lily pad to the next to keep up with what is really happening and what Old Man Logan thinks is really happening. It's honestly a lot of fun. The book ends on a note where you just know it's going to take an even bigger jump.

This can become a great risk. Jumping works so long as you firmly know where you are going. When you are merely jumping to avoid something or get away to the next point then the potential for catastrophe is great. Let's see what Lemire can pull off in Volume 5...

Junk Food For Thought rating: 3 out of 5.

The OCD zone-

Paper stock: Thin 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.