JOE KUBERT 100 YEARS A LIFE IN COVERS DC COMICS
What better way to celebrate the life and times of an artistic talent than with a look back at some of his finest cover work. And while his art style could be used for just about any character (like Superman or Hawkman), it can’t be argued that it was his work in the War and Western comic titles that really stood out. Even if the soldier was a gorilla! And his generic western covers featuring just nameless cowboys really stand out. Along with his attention to small details like the pricing of drinks and steaks from the cover od Super DC Giant #14. As well as the strange animal groups from the pages of Kamandi. And while this tribute covers only a smattering of his work, it does show off his range and shows he was all over the DC universe during those days.A stunning look back at the good old days of comics. 10 out of 10 Grahams.
DC SPECIAL #5 FACSIMILE EDITION DC COMICS
While we are on the subject of celebrating the work of Joe Kubert, this facsimile edition is the perfect example. An early celebration of Kubert’s art from 1969. Whether it involved Hawkman and Hawkgirl swooping down from the skies or the trials of a young native american brave trying to regain his honor, the stories featured here showed that his interior pages were equal to his covers. And even back in the day when I bought this issue fresh from the newsstand, the brief day in the life of the artist story made this issue a must have. A comical look at the homelife of the Kubert family with a very important message for the readers. It’s no wonder that this Polish-born artist would find his name attached to a very prestigous art school. His backround is an amazing tale of just what could happen back in the early days of comics. Scoring an position as a working comic artist at the age of 12 and then finding himself as an unofficial apprenticeship at MLJ. The story gives us a look at the Kubert family that would produce such future professionals as his sons Adam and Andy, his granddaughter Emma, and his other granddaughter, Katie. Looking into Kubery in the world of comics becomes a game of seven degrees of Kevin Bacon. But with all that going for it, it was the fact that characters such as Johnny Quick, Sargon the Sorcerer, Cave Carson, and the Vigilante that demaned my attention back then. Only to find a two page spread of heroes Kubert had worked on including Doctor Fate, Wildcat, and the Guardian. Along with an ad for his new series (at the time) of Firehair. And once you add in one of DC’s Fact File pages featuring the Seven Soldiers of Victory, some Tootdie Roll ads, and a Staurday moring cartoon ad featuring Penelope Pitstop and the Monkees cartoons and you have the total package. The man himself may be gone but his mere presence casts a long shadow. 10 out of 10 Grahams.
PANCHO VILLA MONSTER HUNTER #1 AMP COMICS
Put a historical figure into a out of place situation and I’m in. Anybody remember the Rough Riders mini-series from Aftershock? How about Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter? So why not Pancho Villa? And writer Hector Rodriguez III drops us into Mexico in 1913, not wasting anytime. And whether he fighting for the revolution of hunting down the demons who killed his sister, Villa and his associates, he looks good doing it thanks to Ariel Medel art. And in-between the fighting, we are introduced to a dark underground with plans for Mexico’s future. With a cameo by Dr. Frankenstein and one of his creatures, the whole of the story is wondefully original. I look forward to issue #2. It looks like AMP has struck gold again after their Greatest American Hero reboot comic. They seem to be collecting a great selection of titles and I congradulate them. 9 out of 10 Grahams.
SPECIAL BONUS REVIEW!
FURIOUS AND FAT CAT #1 POWER TO IMAGE PRODUCTIONS
Based on the animated YouTube series, the characters crossover into a new medium. And as followers of the series know, it’s not for kids but it is for readers who want to remember their old friends who didn’t see eye to eye but still have each others’ backs. Even if they are making things worse. Furious has returned to Chicago and has moved in with his pal, Fat Cat. And this first issue has the ever cool and suave Furious tries to help out with Fat Cat with the ladies. With the help not turning out at all well. Taking dates to a video arcade, where Fat Cat’s competitive nature at video games sends his date out of the arcade in tears. Then a trip to a baseball game at Northside Field ends in disaster over a caught ball. What is interesting to see is the odd yet charming relationship between the two friends. Furious believes he’s helping but is simply putting Fat Cat in awkward situations. And Fat Cat isn’t willing to comprimise his way of life. He says it best himself when he points out ‘I had to show her, I’m the Master of my Domain’. This is a perfect example of friends trying to hard to help one another but failing spectacularly. Most important about this first issue is that it stays true to the source material. This is due to the fact that the creative team of K.L. Reeves and Pierre Sutton Jr. And I know this as I got the opportunity to meet artist Pierre Sutton Jr last weekend at the Graham Crackers Comics in Schaumburg. With a mild R rating both the comic and the YouTube series are worth checking out. 8 out of 10 Grahams.