Jin Juan is a fearless street tough from Sham Shui Po, one of Hong Kong's poorest areas. It seemed like Jin Juan was headed nowhere until he found out about the ancient art Wing Chun. Under the tutelage of one of China's best masters, Jin Juan seeks to bring honor the to Fang Dan Martial Arts School by winning the upcoming Southeast Asia Open Martial Arts Tournament. But life on the mean streets Hong Kong can be tough - Jin Juan has to deal with the triad, and gangs like the Ghost Daggers who have taken notice of Jin Juan's martial prowess. All that, along with the loss of Jin Juan's father, and more recently, his beloved uncle, are pushing Jin Juan's coping skills to the limit - he has even begun to have strange dreams of flying, dreams in which powerful, shadowy figures ponder the future of the cosmos, and the balance of the Wu Xing, the Five Elements that rule the universe. When Jin Juan learns that his uncle has left him an inheritance, he prepares to take a trip to America, to NYC, to claim it; however, the Golden Daggers have different plans for him...And so do the shadowy figures from his dreams who are not only real, but they believe that Jin Juan will emerge as a major player in the future of the entire cosmos!
Fabrice Sapolsky and Fred Pham Chuong pen this love letter to the Chinese martial arts action flicks of the 70's and 80s, "Intertwined!" "Intertwined" #1 is a kung fu flick in comic book form, following the same cliched, but oh-so-fun formulas of those great films that those of us over forty loved as kids. Gone are the days of Bruce Lee, Jimmy Wang Yu, and Angela Mao (well we still have Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung), but these days are alive in well in this fun little action-packed comic that features those familiar flavors of Eastern philosophies that many absorbed in the golden age of the kung-fu flick. While Sapolsky and Pham Chuong give us a great protagonist beginning his kung-fu quest, Verónica R. López gives sketchy, kinetic pencils that may seem a bit amateurish, but they communicate action very well, even explosively at times. López's art works well for this book. This comic is not for everyone, but if you are a fan of Hong Kong action cinema, you will probably dig "Intertwined." I do.
RATING: 8 out of 10.
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Bonnie Black's life, like most lives, has been touched by beauty and marred by tragedy. Now in her very late 70's, after a stroke, she convalesces in a hospital struggling with the impending end of her life. As she reflects on her life - the love she once found, and the tragic way she lost it; the happiness of having a child, and the heartbreaking deaths of her parents - Bonnie is at a loss to find meaning in her life, she cannot find the faith to quit herself like a woman and die with dignity like that of her lifelong best friend who passed six months ago. But when Bonnie has her final stroke, she surrenders expecting life to just end, expecting the world to just go dark like flicking off a light switch. Instead, she awakens, reborn young, strong, and beautiful in a savage, fantastic new world named Adystria where humans are locked in a fierce battle with the ruler of a horrific place called the Dark Lands. And that's not all, the humans believe that Bonnie is the savior that they have been waiting for to turn the tide of the battle. Is Bonnie really the protector of the oppressed tribes of Adystria, or is this a fever dream, a collapsing reality created by a dying human mind?
Mark Millar has done it again. With "Reborn" #1, he has managed to create a protagonist so compelling and an origin story so full of depth and meaning that the reader is simply mesmerized long before Bonnie Black enters the wondrous world of Adystria as "the protector." As Bonnie struggles to accept the coming end of her life, Millar retools her end to make it a new beginning, a captivating origin story. Millar's writing is tight here, it explores some tender themes, and some mortifying fears that humans experience, fears that augment as one reaches the tipping point of life, the point where one realizes that there are fewer days of life ahead than there are behind. Faith, hope, perseverance, fear, and the big questions that hit all thinking people at some time in their lives: Do we even matter on a planetary or universal scale? Do our lives really mean anything?. Millar handles this all deftly in "Reborn" #1, and he is backed up by Greg Capullo and his magnificent pencils which give us big, busy, cinematic panels, expressive faces, and classic sci-fi action all in one magnificent book. Reborn is just top notch. Go get it. You'll be glad you did.
RATING: 10 out of 10. "Reborn" #1 is a revelation.
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"Deadman: Dark Mansion of Forbidden Love" #1 from DC Comics -
Berenice's boyfriend Nathan has inherited a centuries-old mansion, Glencourt Manor, from his deceased uncle, prompting his and Berenice's move from their cozy apartment in the city into the foreboding mansion far into the countryside. Nathan is an author working feverishly to get his next book complete in the quiet solitude of the dusty manor-house, Berenice has decided to be an antique dealer; in fact, that is how she has met her only friend in the area, Sam, a transgender person with whom Berenice has a found a deep connection. What both Nathan and Sam don't know is that Berenice has a secret, a secret that would usually keep her away from old places, places where death has most certainly taken place. Berenice can see spirits, she can communicate with them. All her life she has suffered this terrible burden, eventually choosing to ignore the presence of the dead so that they won't be alerted to her ability, leaving her to lead some semblance of a normal life. Unfortunately, Berenice's quiet little life is turned on its head when Deadman shows up on her doorstep. Boston Brand, Deadman, has come to Glencourt Manor to fight a dark force inhabiting the house. Somehow, Deadman is trapped inside the home, unable to leave until he destroys the dark force, and he'll need Berenice's help - but the last thing Berenice wants to do is be involved in fighting ghosts. Can they work together to clear the house, and save themselves from the rising darkness that inhabits it? And why is Deadman unable to possess Berenice's friend, Sam? Is there more to them than meets the eye? Can Deadman ever hope to escape this dark, dark mansion?
Sarah Vaughn pens the story in "Deadman: Dark Mansion of Forbidden Love" #1, and it is absolutely riveting. Vaughn has scribed a captivating new gothic romance story, a story like those made famous in the 1950s, 60s and 70's by wonderful authors like Phyllis A. Whitney, and Joan Aiken. Gothic romance stories included elements of the supernatural and themes of death and romance. DC tried to tap into the genre's mostly female readership in the early 1970s when it launched "Dark Mansion of Forbidden Love"- a great, but hugely unsuccessful, endeavor. However, Vaughn breathes life into the genre, populating the story with interesting characters that possess real depth, and as an added benefit for the guys, Deadman gets tossed into the mix, and you get a multi-faceted story that can suck in any reader. Does Berenice love Nathan, or Sam, or both? Is Deadman a possible new love for her being that he can connect with her on the most intimate level? What has caused the awakening of the malignant entity, and who is the beautiful ghostly apparition that has appeared screaming in horror? This book just has it all - action, romance, horror, the supernatural - I love it. Add in Lan Medina's dainty, gorgeous, Nick Cardy-like pencils that showcase the expert use of light and shadow, and José Villarubia's masterful colors, and you have a well-written book that also looks better than 95% of the books being published today. I cannot wait to see where this book is headed!
RATING: 10 out of 10. "Deadman: Dark Mansion of Forbidden Love" #1 proves that DC has a little something for everyone. Sure, at $5.99, this comic will hit your pocket a bit hard - but it is a prestige format book, and a labor of love, and it absolutely shows.
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By day Donald Duck is a not-so-mild-mannered caretaker of Ducklair Tower, property of his filthy rich uncle, Scrooge McDuck. But, by night, Donald is someone else...He is something else...He is...The Duck Avenger, masked do-gooder and protector of the city of Duckberg! With the aid of his super-powerful A.I., One, The Duck Avenger uses his amazing crime-fighting skills to defend Duckberg and give crime a black eye. But this time, Donald just might be way out of his league. When a seemingly unstoppable new foe, The Red Raider, causes mayhem in Duckberg, The Duck Avenger springs into action to clean Red Raider's clock...But he only ends up getting his own clock cleaned. Why? Because Red Raider OWNS the clock...He can travel through time! How can The Duck Avenger hope to catch a criminal with time on his side? The Duck Avenger gets help along the way from a lovely reporter named Lyla. But who is she really? Why does she know so much about The Red Raider...And HOW does she know The Duck Avenger's secret identity?! Return to Duckberg and find out! Journey with The Duck Avenger!!
Italian writers, Alessandro Sisti and Ezio Sisto drum up lots of action and lots of guffaws in "Duck Avenger" #1 from IDW and Disney. Although this story is technically a reprint (it was first printed in Italy in 1996), that doesn't take away from the pure Disney fun that fills this super-sized book. Fans of the Donald Duck-verse in comics will enjoy a return to their childhood, as well as those who were just fans of the TV show, "Duck Tales" back in the 1980s. Donald Duck has been quite a big deal in Europe for decades and so has his alter-ego, The Duck Avenger. So, it looks like, after a few false starts, Americans are finally getting a taste of the European awesomeness that we have missed out on. Artist Claudio Sciarrone's pencils are gorgeous, wacky and very busy. Lots of work went into this book, and it shows. Disney Italia's saturated colors over Sciarrone's pencils make this book lots of fun for the eyes to enjoy. Are you going to find any deep ideas or characters explorations in this book? Nope. Will you find a super-hero adventure with some resemblances to classic Disney romps with familiar, well-loved characters, along with dated pop culture references (Car 54, anyone?), and classic Disney yucks? Absolutely. If you are a Disney fan, I think you'll love this book. I sure did.
CAVEAT: While it does have elements of a classic Disney story, it also feels like a semi-serious super-hero story with Donald as a pretty dogged and competent protagonist, instead of a lovable, nincompoop who needs anger-management classes. Remember, this is not Carl Barks' Donald Duck-verse. If you're interested, you can find out about the history of The Duck Avenger here.
RATING: 8 out of 10. I had a lot of fun reading this book.
HEADS UP: "Duck Tales" is set to return to TV in 2017!!
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"Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency: The Salmon of Doubt" #1 from IDW -
Dirk Gently is back to solve another case...Holistically, of course. You see, Dirk doesn't concern himself with trivial things like fingerprints, and following clues to catch his culprits. Oh, pshaw - how utterly boring. Dirk is guided by the universe's invisible hand, choosing to count on the interconnectedness of all things to guide him to the resolution of his cases. It may seem weird to go traipsing all willy-nilly after tangential connections in random ways to solve a crime, but Dirk always gets his man, or woman...person. Well, you get it. However, Dirk's new case is quite different from any other that he's had before. Why? Because Dirk is his OWN CLIENT! It seems that Dirk's memories are being lost; no, he's not forgetting, rather he seems to be remembering extra occurrences that never happened. There seems to be some trouble with time! So, Dirk and his lovely assistant, nurse Sally Mills, hop the first thing smoking to Cambridge to his old alma mater to find an old colleague with an active time-travel device so that he can get tot the bottom of his morphing memory malaise. But things start to go pear-shaped when Sally's feelings for Dirk surface in an untimely manner, and Dirk's cat, Berenice is kidnapped by a jovial abomination. With his cat missing, a grumbly assistant in tow, and a time-traveling colleague that is a nuttier than a Payday, can Dirk Gently ever hope to solve his most baffling case yet?!
Arvind Ethan David and Ilias Kyriazis are back again to give us their take on Doug Adams' iconic character, Dirk Gently. David is, once again, right on the money with the tone and pace for a Dirk Gently adventure. This first issue is so much fun to read - you'll get many hearty chuckles sifting through Dirk's zany thoughts in the caption boxes...Until you realize that Dirk is starting to win you over and make sense to you - and you might begin to question your own sanity. Dirk is such a great character because he takes himself very seriously while seeming to avoid taking himself, or the cases, very seriously at all. Yet, he never fails to get the job done, while being totally random and seemingly oblivious to how detecting actually works. Arvind Ethan David gives us great insight into Dirk's inner-workings in the caption boxes and weaves dialogue which appears whimsical and flighty but still manages to help the reader to understand the characters and their motivations while advancing the story forward, backward, or wherever David wants the reader to go. Ilias Kyriazis' art is even better than in "A Spoon Too Short" - he keeps the art pretty, cartoony, and uncomplicated. Kyriazis' pencils, coupled with Charlie Kirchoff's rich colors make this one gorgeous book. After the awesomeness of "A Spoon Too Short," I am very excited to see where "A Salmon of Doubt" takes me. Through someone's tampering with time, it looks like Dirk is about to get some serious retcons that will explain his new appearance, and walk us into what's been happening on the new, hit BBC America series, "Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency." Here is a taste:
FUN FACT: This isn't the first Dirk Gently TV series. The first series starred Stephen Mangan, and it was an absolute hoot. I have no idea why on Earth it was canceled. Here's the trailer:
RATING: 9 out of 10. "Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency: The Salmon of Doubt" #1 is a lot of zany, tangential fun.
RATING for The New TV Show: 9 out of 10. The show is frantic, quirky entertainment.
RATING for The 2012 TV Show: 8.5 out of 10. Mangan was a revelation as Dirk Gently.
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The verdict is in..."Doctor Strange" is a HIT!! I took my wife and daughter to see the film in 3D, and it was a revelation. To me, this was one of the best of all the Marvel films so far, on par with my favorites: "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" and Black Panther. It was quite an experience; the acting had great depth, and I wasn't constantly barraged with a string of endless humorous quips which distracted me from the deep, and well-written story.
But who is Doctor Strange? Created by the brilliant Steve Ditko and Stan Lee, Doctor Strange made his first appearance in "Strange Tales" #110 in 1963. Doctor Strange really showcased Ditko's creative genius, with his busy panels and imaginative, psychedelic style:
In this example, you can see what I was talking about. Note the "Ditko Sparkles." Similar to the "Kirby Krackle," the "Ditko Sparkles" could be considered one of Ditko's signature moves. The first time I ever saw it was in the pages of Space Adventures in the flight-wake of Ditko's powerhouse superhero, Captain Atom.
Unfortunately, I sold this Strange Tales #110, like an idiot, for one-third of its value a few years ago - yes, it still stings - but I do have these:
These are my copies of "Doctor Strange" #169, which actually can be considered "Doctor Strange" vol 1, #1 since it is the first issue of his first solo title and ongoing series. It was published in 1968, several years after Doctor Strange's debut in ST #110, and well after Steve Ditko had moved on from Marvel. It would have been great to have Mr. Ditko pencil the first issue that kicked off his creation's very first solo title. While Doctor Strange's origin was initially given in ST #115, Doctor Strange #169 extended and deepened that origin to explosively start Doctor Strange's solo title. Just as in the film, Doctor Stephen Strange is a beyond brilliant, but self-absorbed, neurosurgeon who nearly destroys his hands in a terrible car accident. After bankrupting himself on treatments to restore his hands and return to the great surgeon he once was, he overhears two sailors, newly returned from Singapore, speak about someone called "The Ancient One," a mysterious, and possibly fictitious figure, who has the power to cure any ailment or injury. After a difficult quest to find the Ancient One, Dr. Strange finally finds him...And he also finds that The Ancient One's disciple, Mordo, is actually plotting to work in league with the mighty mystical monster, Dormammu, to destroy The Ancient One. After trying to save The Ancient One, Strange realizes that there are far greater battles to be fought against the powers of darkness, and he asks to be The Ancient One's new disciple, starting himself down the path that leads to his assuming the mantle of...The Sorcerer Supreme! This is an exceptional retelling of Strange's origin written by Roy Thomas, and penciled by Dan Adkins. The origin is given as a flashback, while Strange is resting in The Ancient One's retreat in the Himalayas.
You can read this treasure online here. You're welcome. :-)
Even though I may have lost my first, best Doctor Strange key issue, I still have a few others that you might find to be pretty cool - ALL with those amazing Ditko pencils! Check it:
I have a well-read copy of "Strange Tales" #123, published in 1964! This comic features the first appearance of The Beetle, and the first battle between Doctor Strange and Loki!
I also have a well-read copy of "Strange Tales" #126, published in 1964! This book is an important one in Ditko's and Lee's mythology of Doctor Strange. It features the first appearance of Doctor Strange's love-interest, Clea, Sorceress Supreme of the Dark Dimension. This comic also features the very first appearance of the Dark Dimension and...The Dread Dormammu!!
Here is my lovely copy of "Doctor Strange" vol 2, #1 published in 1974 with a stunning cover by Frank Brunner. This comic features the first appearance of Agamotto's Dimension, and Doctor Strange's enemy, Silver Dagger.
I have been a fan of Doctor Strange for a very long time, and I was sure glad to see him make his first appearance on the big screen! Here are a few more Strange goodies from my collection:
I have two Doctor Strange action figures. The first is the Marvel Select version from 2015. The second is from Toy Biz's 2005 Galactus Series - I think this one looks more Ditko-esque. You can see them unboxed, and elaborated upon here:
(The 2005 version can be found at 2 mins and 53 secs into the video. The 2015 version can be found at 5 mins and 40 secs into the video.)
On to the fun facts!!
FUN FACT 1 - Marvel made a deal in 1968 that allowed them to print more titles, so Doctor Strange got his own title, continuing the numbering from "Strange Tales" which ceased production. However, "Strange Tales" would be revived in the 1970s, also starting with #169, featuring the first appearance of Jericho Drumm / Brother Voodoo / Doctor Voodoo, who would also become Earth's Sorcerer Supreme one day.
FUN FACT 2 - In Loki's first battle with Doctor Strange in ST #123, Loki proved more skilled at magic and nearly killed Strange. If Loki had not feared Thor's arrival, Strange would have been a dead man.
FUN FACT 3 - 2016's "Doctor Strange" movie is not Doctor Strange's first live-action appearance. In 1978, CBS produced a movie that was so bad, it was REALLY good. Doctor Strange was a psychiatrist, rather than a neurosurgeon. I have it in my movie collection:
FUN FACT 4 - The Latin term, "sanctum sanctorum" is a translation of the biblical "Holy of Holies" which points to the most sacred place in ancient Israel's Tabernacle. In Marvel Comics, it refers to Doctor Strange's dwelling located on a supernatural nexus, making it a place of super-concentrated spiritual energies. It is located at 177A Bleeker Street in NYC's Greenwich Village neighborhood. The address is based on an apartment where Roy Thomas and Gary Friedrich were once roommates.
FUN FACT 5 - In the film, "Doctor Strange," there are three sanctums: one in New York, one in London, and one in Hong Kong. Together they form a mystical shield to defend Earth against interdimensional threats...Which begs the question: Who is protecting everything south of The Equator, or doesn't it merit protecting? One would also think that a sanctum would be in places like India, Egypt or somewhere in the Middle East, where the most ancient civilizations sprang up, which is probably where the most ancient, powerful magic would be. Hong Kong? It looks like Marvel and DC are really doing their best to expand into Chinese markets.
CONFUSING FACT - "Doctor Strange" stars the lovely Rachel McAdams as Dr. Christine Palmer. In the comics, Christine Palmer IS NOT a doctor, she is a nurse. In fact, she was one of the three protagonists of the comic series, Night Nurse. Inversely, Claire Temple, portrayed by the sultry Rosario Dawson, IS a doctor in Marvel Comics, but she has been featured in "Marvel's Daredevil" and "Marvel's Luke Cage" as a nurse. Marvel weirdness.
FUN FACT 6: In "Doctor Strange" #169, Doctor Strange is seen smoking for the first and only time.
FUN FACT 7: Dan Adkins, the artist on "Doctor Strange" #169 apprenticed under the great, tragic Wally Wood. Adkins is primarily known as comics' greatest swipe-artist, which is a shame because he was actually a magnificent artist. Who taught Adkins to swipe? Why...Wally Wood did! Wally Wood once wrote a note to himself that read, "Never draw anything you can copy, never copy anything you can trace, never trace anything you can cut and paste-up."
FUN FACT 8: Steve Ditko sometimes created similar characters for different companies (and all of them were lots of fun). For Charlton, he helped create the mythology for Dr. Graves, a very interesting character similar in some ways to Doctor Strange. Dr. Graves was so awesome, that he soon got his own title that ran for over seventy issues and won the prestigious Alley Award in 1967 for Best Fantasy / Science-Fiction / Supernatural title. And yes, I do have Dr. Graves' first appearance and the first issue of his series in my collection. Didja even have to ask? He also created The Question, which is very similar to his character, Mr. A, and He created The Destructor for ATLAS-SEABOARD, who in some ways is reminiscent of Spider-Man.
FUN FACT 9: Linda Carter, also known as Night Nurse, healer to the super-heroes, was once romantically linked to Doctor Strange.
Doctor Strange is one of Ditko's most iconic, most-loved creations. It showcased his wild imagination, and trippy, psychedelic-inspired pencils. Ditko's creative genius will live on forever in mystical, magical, mythical adventures of Doctor Strange!!
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IN LOVING MEMORY OF STEVE DITKO (1927-2018)
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Morris Sackett is one of the best ballers that the game has ever seen. Nearly single-handedly, he has taken his pro-basketball team, the New York Stride, to new heights - he's brought home five championship trophies, and he's earned the coveted Most Valuable Player Award five consecutive years running. Morris is the best of the best; he knows it, he owns it. He's got no time for doubts, no time for haters, no time for worrying about what others think. He's too busy winning, looking good and dating the FINEST pop star on the planet, T-Fleek. But Morris' world is suddenly shattered when he is engulfed in the Terrigen Mists that the Inhuman king, Black Bolt, loosed upon the world. To his horror, Morris succumbs to Terrigenesis. He emerges from his cocoon changed, a monstrous vision to all who loved and once worshiped him. Seeking to escape containment, Morris plunges to his death from his hospital room window, or so he thinks. He finds that he can inhabit the body and minds of others, merging, becoming one with them, sharing their hopes, their dreams, their knowledge and...Their pain. Morris' body-to-body odyssey begins as he seeks to find his way back to his father, the only one who will understand, the only one on whom he can rely. But when Morris jumps into the body of a troubled teen named Beto, he begins a journey that will end with a young man's death, and begin anew with the birth of a hero.
From writer Geoffrey Thorne, and artist, Khary Randolph, comes "Mosaic" #1, an introduction to the most original, exciting character that Marvel has produced in quite some time. Thorne nails this origin story, giving us a protagonist, Morris Sackett, that is interesting and attractive well before he emerges from Terrigenesis with his cool new powers. He's got it all: money, fame and the woman all men would kill to have; however, at his core, Morris is a bit lonely. He is aloof, in a class by himself, alone - how ironic that he gains a power set that forces him to merge with other people and be caged by their limitations. But Morris doesn't just merge with people physically; he merges with them down at the core of their very being - he feels what they feel, knows what they know. His identity intertwines with theirs fully. It's really a quite beautiful thought, but also quite frightening. To be fully one with another person is an attractive thought until the idea of losing your own personal identity rears its ugly head. Morris is fighting to maintain his identity, fighting to get back to his father, fighting to return to the life he once knew. If this character is handled correctly, we could see some of the most touching and endearing stories that the superhero genre has ever seen. Imagine a superhero comic in which every issue takes us on a new journey as our hero inhabits a new host. The possibilities are endless! Khary Randolph's pencils are moody and a bit cartoony, with a little urban razzle-dazzle to them. This book is just pure fire. I adore it. Sign me up for Mosaic. This might be the shot in the arm that my pull-list needs.
RATING: A wildly enthusiastic 10 out of 10! Mosaic is must-read material!
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