TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES CORRECTED AND WE ARE BACK ON LINE WITH YOU!!!!!!!
RETURN TO SKULL ISLAND #1 TITAN COMICS
Having the story start out with Kong going head-to-head with a giant squid was a smart idea. Calling the giant squid, the Kraken was not the most original idea. Writer Simon Furman’s story is nothing new as outsiders wreak havoc on Skull Island for their own needs and upset the natural balance. The local inhabitants are, of course po’d. It’s more of the same except for an under current of Lord of the Flies going on. As always, Artist Christopher Jones proves he is an excellent choice for the art duties. With Colorist Charlie Kirchoff proving an excellent knowledge of the green side of the color wheel. And am I the only who gets a weird 1960’s cartoon King Kong cartoon vibe, here? I mean, dad, son, girl, and a dog trapped on Skull island? Sound familiar … right? Not bad, but not great. 7 out of 10 Grahams.
BATMAN GOTHAM BY GASLIGHT A LEAGUE FOR JUSTICE #1
Like any Elseworld saga from 1989, the original Gaslight story was a unique take pitting a fresh Batman against Jack the Ripper. This along with it’s follow up Master of the Future did a good enough job to green light for dozens of Elseworld sagas. Since then, more and more newly interpreted characters have hopped on the Gaslight bandwagon. Adam Strange as a Green Lantern, a version of Superman whose costume is actually pretty cool, a warrior princess Wonder Woman (eh, not so great), and apparently a Black Lightning and Cyborg (not thrilled.) We know that there will be the inevitable team up by the end forming a version of the JLA. However, the story is still very interesting. An interesting change of pace. 8 out of 10 Grahams.
ARCHIE MEETS JAY & SILENT BOB #1 ARCHIE COMICS
Yeah, I know! Really? I did not think they’d be able to pull this off at all! But be warned this is no Archie comic you have experienced before! (And I’ve read the Archie meets Punisher cross-over!) Somehow, Archie and the gang manage to keep their purity among the foul mouth antics and s3xual inuendo thrown about the panel by the Quick Stop gang. Plus, the underlying sorrow of Dante’s death still hangs low in the atmosphere. And kudos to Kevin Smith for getting the put out with an Archie Comics logo on it. A well-written story with excellent representation in the characters’ art. Just don’t let your kids read it! 9 out of 10 Grahams.
TRINITY DAUGHTER OF WONDER WOMAN #2 DC COMICS
Another issue to play on you heart strings as Lizzie meets the Jason Todd RobIn and puppy love begins to blossom. And yes, that was a wonderful bit of word play as we are on the hunt for Robin-Corgi. This is a hard storyline to wrap your head around. While not officially made for a underage audience, it definitely has a silly side to it. After all these years of universe shattering crises and reboots that seem to lead us nowhere, it is a nice change of pace to have something basic that every one can enjoy. 8 out of 10 Grahams.