GODZILLA VS THE AVENGERS #1 MARVEL COMICS
I need to thank the creative team for reminding me why I hated the 2005 New Avengers comic. While individually, I like these characters, they are not a team. They were not back then and they aren’t now. And as writer David F. Walker shows, they were no match for Godzilla. This is by far the silliest and most pointless of the crossovers from Marvel yet. Told mainly in flashback as the New Avengers try to explain what happened when they intervened in the battle between Godzilla and Fin Fang Foom. The battle scenes are brief at best and prove that the once mighty Fin Fang Foom is no challenge for Godzilla. While there is some humor here, it doesn’t spotlight Godzilla. He’s basically there to smack Fin Fang Foom with his tail. Not even a knock off Jet Jaguar can boost this one up. 4 out of 10 Grahams.
DC FINEST METAMORPHO THE ELEMENT MAN TPB
Once again, the good folks at DC Comics’ Finest Division tickles our taste for nostalgia with the man of elements and all his wacky world. With the genius talents of Ramona Fradon, Bob Haney, and Sal Trapani, Rex Mason’s transformation into Metamorpho starts us out on a tragic tale of betrayal and greed and then straight into a ludicrous world of the rich, the primeval, and the downright odd. Watch as Metamorpho refuses a JLA membership, joins forces with the Metal Men, faces down Bat-Hulk (No that is not a typo!), and meets the Doll You’ll Dig, Element Girl! Introduced in the pages of Brave & the Bold #57 (1964), Metamorpho continues to return time and again. With a new version appearring in the newest Superman movie. But here in these early pages do we discover what have sustained his popularity. I can’t say enough about these adventures. 9 out of 10 Grahams.
WONDER WOMAN #22 DC COMICS
In August of 1963, writer Robert Kanigher introduced us to the Academy of Arch-Villains in the pages of Wonder Woman #141. And one of the villains up for the Golden WW Award was Mouse Man! With no back story or secret identity Mouse Man was simply Mouse Man, arch-nemesis of Wonder Woman. He would make two more minor appearances in Wonder Woman’s original title (#143 & #171) before fading away. Occasionally showing up for brief cameos here and there. And now, he’s back and on the cover no less! And while he has apparently lost his shrinking powers, he now controls mice. And I’m cool with that cause, he can also make giant mice. But while I am gleefully rolling around the room like Scooby-Doo after a Scooby Snack, we must not forget the elephant in the room and that is Tom King’s story. Because while watching giant cute mice destroy Washington, the underlying story of Steve and Diana relationship is heartwarming. Socially awkward, the two are a joy to watch as they come to deal with the morning after. And while they know they had fun, they don’t know what to do next. Steve quickly realizes that Diana doesn’t need him to come to her rescue and Diana fears that Steve might not want to continue to hang out. The perfect aperitif to transition into the next storyline. And with a little nod to the current world, the backroom forces in the capital start working on getting Mouse Man a Presidential Pardon as he was simply “… a confused young man, trying to do his duty.” 9 out of 10 Grahams.