Category: DVD

Written by (See Credits Below)

Art by (See Credits Below)

Cover Art by Jason Ho; Derek Fridolfs; & Nathan Kane

SUMMARY:

Published by Bongo Entertainment, Inc., this 30-page comic offers four stand-alone stories:

“Lisa the Clown.”  Writer: John Zakour.  Art: Phil Ortiz; Mike DeCarlo; Karen Bates; & Nathan Kane (10 pages).  Krusty the Clown is suddenly taken ill, so his producer choses Lisa Simpson as his on-air replacement.  Despite increasingly boring efforts to educate Krusty’s young studio audience, Lisa is encouraged by the producer to keep up the good work.  Bart smells a rat and calls in the cops.

“Bored Walk.” Writer: Terry Delegeane.  Art: Phil Ortiz; Mike DeCarlo; Art Villanueva; & Karen Bates (9 pages).  In a Bart Simpson tale, he finds ways to score some free air conditioning on a sweltering day.

“Feets of Fury.” Writer: Dean Rankine.  Art: Dean Rankine & Karen Bates (2 pages).  Milhouse imagines payback against three toughs targeting his lunch money by using kung-fu.

“Hillbilly Abductshun.” Writer Shane Houghton.  Art: John Delaney; Andrew Pepoy; Nathan Hamill; & Karen Bates (7 pages). In a bungled alien invasion, two creatures from the planet Rigel VII think twice re: their attempted abduction of sixty-four hillbillies.

REVIEW:

Though the artwork is spot-on, the entertainment value is purely subjective.  Case in point: “Feets of Fury” isn’t funny; it’s just pathetic.  Pushing offensive rural stereotyping, “Hillybilly Abductshun” lamely spoofs alien invasion movies.  “Bored Walk” at least offers a few chuckles.  As for “Lisa the Clown,” the premise could be a decent TV episode, but there isn’t nearly enough humor.  Curiously, neither Homer Simpson nor baby Maggie appear in either of the two Simpsons tales.  At most, this comic is an okay read.        

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

None.  

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:           3½ Stars

Written by Peter David

Art by Johnny Desjardins; Mohan; & Taylor Esposito

Cover Art by Aaron Lopresti (Cover A – seen below]

SUMMARY:

Published by Dynamite Entertainment for early 2018, it’s the opener for a six-part mini-series (also available in a complete trade paperback form).  In this untitled standard-length issue, the 1978 Battlestar Galactica fleet, due to an interdimensional wormhole, literally collides with the Galactica reboot fleet.  Upon separating the two vessels, Admiral Adama communicates with Commander Adama.  The 1978 fleet sends their Adama; Captain Apollo; and Lt. Starbuck to meet the other Adama; the other Apollo; Saul Tigh; and their President.  Amidst lingering suspicions, an initially hostile stand-off leads to a truce between the two vessels.  Amidst their awkward co-existence, yet another Battlestar enters the wormhole.   

Note: The other cover art teams are: Johnny Desjardins & Mohan (Cover B); either Roberto Castro & Alex Guimaráes or Michael Adams (Cover C); either Michael Adams or Roberto Castro & Alex Guimaráes (Cover D); Aaron Lopresti (Covers E and G); and Johnny Desjardins (Cover F).  Dynamite contradicts itself as to the art team credits re: Covers C & D.

REVIEW:

Despite an excessive (and frankly ridiculous) reliance on Galactica’s ‘f-word’ equivalent, writer Peter David conjures up an intriguing crossover ripe with creative possibilities.  In a neat homage to late actor Richard Hatch, the sequence of Captain Apollo inevitably meeting Tom Zarek is an inspired twist, as is actor Dirk Benedict’s Starbuck finally meeting his female counterpart.  Impressively supporting David’s storyline, the inspired artwork by Johnny Desjardins and Mohan even ensures that the actor likenesses are mostly spot-on.  For fans of either Galactica incarnation, this issue delivers an entertaining must-read.       

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

There is a single-page “Dynamite Dispatch,” which includes a cover reveal for BSG vs. BSG # 3.  The issue’s last page is a gallery depicting its various cover images (A to G).  

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                8 Stars

Written by Rob Liefeld & Robert Napton

Art by Hector Gomez; Quantum FX; & Kurt Hathaway

Cover Art by (Uncredited)

SUMMARY:

Published by Maximum Press for August 1996, this four-part mini-series is next in line after these prior mini-series: The War of Eden; The Enemy Within; and Apollo’s Journey. Evidently living up to the story’s title, it would be the last Battlestar Galactica adaptation by Maximum. 

Several years since the 1978-79 ABC TV series have lapsed.  The makeshift colonial fleet has at last found Earth, as Adam and Eve are their new allies.  In the past year, Adama has died and Starbuck is presumed dead.  With an imminent Cylon invasion enhanced by Count Iblis, the mystical Seraphs urge Commander Apollo to commence an evacuation of Earth.  Leading the Cylon onslaught is Baltar, who has a fleet of at least one hundred base ships at his command.  Despite Commander Cain’s protests, the Galactica coordinates Earth’s evacuation.  Reflecting Galactica 1980, Starbuck’s fate is glimpsed.  Baltar’s attack decimates what’s left of the Galactica’s fleet.  With humanity now facing extinction, Apollo makes a fateful decision. 

REVIEW:

Rob Liefeld and Karl Alstaetter are credited for ‘updating’ character and ship designs because Maximum Press’ licensing deal evidently didn’t include the actor likenesses.  That’s why it’s jarring how these rebooted characters don’t even vaguely resemble their TV counterparts.  The unsurprising outcome is this Galactica’s human cast appear awfully generic (i.e. their body shapes are essentially the same; minimal facial expressions; etc.), as only the briefly-seen Cylons retain their distinctive look.  Even the ethereal Seraphs are utterly unrecognizable in this incarnation, as they mimic the Kryptonians briefly seen in Christopher Reeve’s first Superman movie.  As for this story’s portrayal of  ‘Adam & Eve,’ the less said the better.

Despite a good faith effort at storyline continuity, Journey’s End’s ambitious plot is really too contrived for its own good.  More so, Maximum’s adaptation clearly fall short of better efforts by other companies, i.e. Dynamite Entertainment. 

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

A summary-to-date of Maximum Press’ Battlestar Galactica is included.  There is a single-page letters-and-answers column.  

BRIAN’S 10-STAR RATING:                     4 Stars

Written by Paul Ruditis

Art by Derek Baron; Dan Haberkorn; Carol Wood; Dave Hoover; & David Seidman

Cover Art ‘A” by Al Rio & Jose Cano. Cover Art ‘B’ by David Seidman

SUMMARY:

Released in June 2010 by Zenescope Entertainment Inc., this 29-page prologue (also known as The Sourcebook) is a Charmed overview setting up a comic book sequel.  Written in the archaic text style of the show’s “Book of Shadows,” the central Halliwell characters and pertinent magical spells are introduced.  A series glossary and yearly summaries of the show’s eight seasons are also offered.  The issue ends with a four-page sneak preview of Charmed # 1, as Piper Halliwell and her three young children encounter some monstrous mischief in the family kitchen.  Zenescope’s adaptation is effectively ‘Season 9,’ set eighteen months after the TV series finale.

REVIEW:

Though this issue is mostly text, Charmed # 0 is an excellent briefing.  The four-page series preview demonstrates that Issue # 1 is reasonably well-illustrated and makes a good faith effort recreating the original TV series’ ambiance.  Further, this resource (including artist David Seidman’s stylish Cover B incorporating head shots of actresses Holly Marie Combs; Alyssa Milano; and Rose McGowan) makes a nice keepsake for loyal fans.  In the text, cast photos include Shannen Doherty; Julian McMahon; Finola Hughes; and Kaley Cuoco, along with a series of classy sketched renditions of various characters and scenes.  The only downside for younger fans is Zenescope’s sleazy back cover advertisement for its website depicting a scantily-clad sorceress.

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

Both covers appear as thumbnail images on the inside front cover.  The fifteen TV episodes from which text for the ‘Book of Shadows’ are also identified on the same page.

BRIAN’S 10-STAR RATING:                              8 Stars

Co-Written by Paul Ruditis & Raven Gregory

Art by Dave Hoover; Milen Parvanou; & Jim Campbell

Cover Art ‘B’ by David Seidman

SUMMARY:

Entitled “No Rest for the Wicca,” it was released for August 2010 by Zenescope Entertainment Inc.  Paige Halliwell’s journal entry provides a brief introduction.  Piper and Phoebe attend their friend Brittany’s funeral, only to discover that her corpse has aged into an old woman – just as she was ten years before when the Charmed Ones saved her from the demonic Javna.  At the local high school, Paige finds a reluctant new male recruit for the Magic School.  In the hellish underworld, serial killer couple Neena & Hogan answer to an unknown evil spirit, as they are methodically killing off the innocents the Charmed Ones previously saved.   

REVIEW:

In spite of an intriguing storyline worthy of the TV series, this issue’s middling dialogue is too simplistic.  Still, the co-writers do a serviceable job getting their plot across to readers.  Benefiting from the main cast’s likenesses, the glossy, watercolor-like visuals also do their job well enough.  Overall, Charmed # 2 represents a solid start for Zenescope’s adaptation.  There’s enough potential here for fans to consider coming back for more.   

Parental Note: Including the back cover, this issue’s last several pages are Zenescope-related ads depicting scantily-clad women hovering between cheesecake/”good girl” artwork and soft porn.  It’s a sleazy contrast to the company’s tasteful Charmed adaptation.  

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

All three covers appear as thumbnail images on the first page.  Cover A’s wraparound design is by Greg Horn.  The 2010 limited-edition Fan Expo exclusive cover’s artist isn’t identified. 

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                     7 Stars