Category: Independent Publishers (Comic Books & Graphic Novels)

Written by Alex Ross & Jim Krueger 

Art by Stephen Sadowski; Douglas Klauba; Carlos Paul; Inlight Studio; Debora Carita; & Simon Bowland

Original Cover Art & Collected Edition Cover Art by Alex Ross

SUMMARY:

Released in May 2009 by Dynamite Entertainment, this 264-page paperback compiles the inaugural # 0 and the first seven issues of Project Superpowers.  Elderly recluse (and ex-World War II super-hero) Bruce “Fighting Yank” Carter III is prodded into action by an ethereal American flag.  It’s up to Carter to undo a grave sin he committed sixty years before by stalking and imprisoning virtually all of his fellow super-heroes inside Pandora’s Box.  Compelled by his own ghostly ancestor, Carter had rationalized his friends’ eternal captivity would neutralize the world’s permeating evils.      

With help from the Green Lama, Carter finds that now destroying Pandora’s Box (it resembles an urn) has unleashed a new chaotic age on Earth.  Suffering varying degrees of bewilderment, mutated heroes resurface scattered across the globe.  By freeing his old friends, Carter senses they represent the world’s last hope against technological tyranny that has wreaked havoc for decades without opposition.  Deploying some of Carter’s treacherous ex-allies, the ominous council known as The Supremacy has its own shadowy agenda re: Earth’s future that necessitates these Golden Age heroes be destroyed once and for all.   

Notes: This title was first printed as a hardcover in December 2008.  Entitled “Chapter Two,” the thirteen-issue sequel was divided and released as two separate volumes between 2009 and 2010.  Further, there have been multiple mini-series/spin-offs and sequels. 

REVIEW:

Masterfully repackaging Golden Age characters in the public domain, co-writers Alex Ross & Jim Krueger conjure up a super-hero opus worthy of DC, Marvel, and Image Comics.  With the urn’s prisoners mutated by their half-century ordeal, characters, such as Death-Defying Devil, Mr. Face, Masquerade, Samson, and The Black Terror, convey intriguing counterparts to Marvel’s Invaders and DC’s Justice Society/All-Star Squadron.  Further, the central sub-lot re: the Yank’s  redemption is well-played in terms of propelling this epic’s narrative.

As new characters are unleashed each issue, Ross & Krueger enjoy a welcome sense of unpredictability in playing out their plot twists.  In that sense, one might think that Project Superpowers reiterates themes seen in Alan Moore’s Watchmen, Marvel’s mid-80’s Squadron Supreme, and James Robinson’s DC Elseworlds: The Golden Age.  In a brilliant stroke of realism, having both sides of the global conflict resort to the self-appointed savior card by appealing to the world’s masses through television speaks to the fickleness of public perception.  

The downside is that their scripting weakens late in the game and/or becomes unnecessarily repetitive – i.e. how could an elderly and badly wounded Yank single-handedly rout a horde of atomically-powered henchmen?  Afterwards, how many confrontations do readers really need between Yank, the American Spirit, and his cursed ancestor?  In the worst instance, the climactic battle loses credibility – logically, there should be casualties on both sides in a dramatic last stand – without them, the storytelling fails readers.  Ross & Krueger, despite all their great ideas, should have tightened their script’s bolts at this juncture more effectively, so the finish line packs more of a wallop. Hence, some poignancy would have been appreciated at this stage of the Ross-Krueger epic.    

While Ross focuses on strong co-writing and top-caliber cover visuals, the project’s interior art team should be commended for consistently strong imagery.  Exemplifying classiness, the use of gore (as in the F-Troop sequences) isn’t sensationalized in a shallow ‘ain’t it cool?’ manner – it’s handled surprisingly better than the industry norm.  Delivering a first-class epic read, Project Superpowers, Chapter 1 gradually becomes addictive in the best possible way.      

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

Dynamite Entertainment President Nick Barrucci offers a brief foreword.  Ross acknowledges a personal friend, Don Strueber, as the likeness for the elderly Yank.  A table of contents lists the smorgasbord of bonus features:

• Two full-page alternate covers by artists Michael Turner & Peter Steigerwaldt;
• The Fighting Yank’s full-page War Journal entries by Alex Ross & Inlight Studio, separately consisting of:

• Fighting Yank; The Green Lama; The American Spirit (note: look for Captain America’s silhouette cameo);  Black Terror; and The Death-Defying Devil; 
• Dynamic Man & The Dynamic Family; The Mighty Samson; Masquerade; Pyroman; & The Flame; 
• Police Corp; The Arrow; The Crusaders; The Scarab; The Owl; Mr. Face; Hydro; The Target; & F-Troop.
• Golden Age characters reference guide by Ross & Inlight Studio (note: many characters wait  until Chapter 2);

• Character sketches, designs, & concept art by Ross, Stephen Sadowski, & Dou Klauba; 
• Brief teasers for spin-offs starring Black Terror, Death-Defying Devil, & Masquerade.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 9 Stars

Written by George Gladir; Frank Doyle; & Bob Bolling  

Art by Dan DeCarlo; Bob Bolling; Stan Goldberg; Rudy Lapick; Vince DeCarlo; Bill Yoshida; Marty Epp; Barry Grossman; Dexter Taylor; Bob Smith; Jack Morelli; & Digikore Studios

Cover Art by Dan DeCarlo & Dexter Taylor

SUMMARY:

Released by Archie Comics in 2017, this 304-page archival paperback showcases Sabrina the Teenage Witch; Josie & The Pussycats; & Little Archies.  Though specific publication dates aren’t provided, all these stories clearly go back decades.  Notably, there is a brief disclaimer re: how some of the outdated story material could be construed as socially insensitive.

The fourteen Sabrina’s are: “Presenting Sabrina the Teenage Witch;” “Witch Pitch;” “Sister Sorceress;” “Tennis Menace;” “Double Trouble;” “Strange Love (guest-starring Veronica & Archie);” “An Uncle’s Monkey;” “Witch Fulfillment;” “A Brew Stew;” “Carnival Capers;” “True to Type;” “Plant Life;” “Witchkit Warning;” and “The Nose Knows.”  

The eighteen Josie’s (from her pre-Pussycats solo title) and Josie & The Pussycats stories are: “A Gym Dandy;” “Neat Workers;” “Muscle Hustle;” “Track Down;” “Footlight Follies;” “The Bright Side;” “Show Biz Blues;” “It’s Curtain Time;” “Sweater Girls;” “A Bad Sport;” “Native Nuisance;” “Force Feed;” “Off to a Good Start;” “Take Me to Your Leader;” “Please Take Note;” “Sing a Song of Sixpence” (guest-starring Veronica); “Club Crisis;” and “The Image.”  Note: Of them, only the last tale credits the retitled series officially as Josie & The Pussycats.  

The nine Little Archie’s are: “Little Archie;” “The Flash;” “The Big Loser;” “On Mars;” “Lawbreaker;” “The Strange Case of Mystery Map;” Little Archie’s “Joke Page;” “The Super Sleuth;” and “The New Kid.” 

REVIEW:

Chalk it up to quantity over quality, as, unsurprisingly, lightweight nostalgia goes only so far.  Out of forty stories and a so-called ‘joke page,’ only Veronica Lodge’s amusing guest spot in a Josie & The Pussycats tale bears a second look.  The bland Sabrina and Josie & The Pussycats collections offer at best some innocent reading.  Their appeal, however, is geared strictly towards undemanding fans. 

Little Archie ages the worst – despite good intentions, these painfully unfunny tales struggle to be readable.  The first sample – Little Archie plays ‘married’ with Veronica & interloper Betty – spells out clichéd elementary school kids, but its sexist spoofing is hardly endearing.  The same applies to Little Archie’s mystery map caper where it more closely resembles a wanna-be Jonny Quest plot than kiddie Riverdale.  Amidst these middling tales, Little Archie isn’t cute, no matter if the kids are drawn that way.  In the end, this book’s best asset lies with the top-notch production values, including the original artwork being nicely refreshed.  Ink alone, unfortunately, doesn’t hide the ultra-tedious storytelling filling up Archie’s Big Book: Magic, Music & Mischief.  

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

There’s a table of contents.  Each of the three sections has a single-page introduction explaining the general context.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 3 Stars

Written by Dan Parent

Illustrated by Dan Parent; Rich Koslowski; Jack Morelli; & Digikore Studios

SUMMARY:

Published by Archie Comic Publications in 2014, this 104-page paperback reprints 2011’s Archie # 631-634.  It’s also Vol. 22 of the Archie & Friends All-Stars Series.  Attending a Josie & The Pussycats concert with his friends, Archie Andrews becomes smitten with Pussycats guitarist Valerie Brown.  Betty Cooper and Veronica Lodge wistfully observe their beloved Archie move on from them.  Valerie’s younger brother, Trev, is also introduced. 

Meanwhile, Valerie wistfully ponders her destiny with Archie at the mythical Memory Lane, as other alternate fates play out for The Archies and Josie & The Pussycats.  Cameos include Cheryl Blossom and Sabrina the Teenage Witch.    

REVIEW:

From start to finish, writer-artist Dan Parent delivers a gem.  What could have been a passable variant of the ‘Archie Marries Betty/Archie Marries Veronica’ concept exceeds both of these predecessors.  In large part, Parent’s excellent writing and consistently likable artwork matches the exuberance of Valerie & Archie’s whirlwind chemistry.  Even better is seeing this Archie decisively committed vs. still contemplating his what-if’s with Betty and/or Veronica.   

Endearing Archie & Valerie as a plausible couple, Parent’s game plan meets every expectation, including fun sub-plots for Veronica, Betty, and newcomer Trev.  While Jughead, Reggie, Josie, and Melody receive minimal ‘screen time,’ Parent enjoyably links the various Archie teen franchises together to add some further depth.  Yet, this storyline’s MVP is unquestionably Valerie, as she excels in a worthy spotlight anchoring the storyline’s narrative.   Archie: A Rock ‘N’ Romance delivers a wonderful what-if for fans balancing humor, poignancy, and romance, with an appreciated dash of realism.  

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

There’s a two-page pencil sketchbook. 

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 8 Stars

Note: For additional reading, there’s Archie # 608-609.  This Josie & The Pussycats cross-over previews Archie & Valerie’s romantic chemistry,  as their two bands team up for a tour.

Written by Mike Gallagher

Art by Dave Manak; Jon D’Agostino; Vickie Williams; & Barry Grossman

Cover Art by Fernando Ruiz; Jon D’Agostino; & Rosario “Tito” Peña

SUMMARY:

Released by Archie Comics in 2011, this 128-page paperback reprints tales from 2000-2001 belonging to Sabrina Spellman’s young cartoon counterpart.  The primary characters are a middle school-aged Sabrina; her Aunts Hilda and Zelda; Salem the Cat; Harvey Kinkle; and über-wealthy brat Gem Stone.  There’s only a few sporadic hints re: issue numbers – specifically, some of the included material is from Issues # 3 and # 8.  

First up is “Do-Do’s and Don’ts-Don’ts,” as a good-intentioned Sabrina resorts to magic trying to save fifty acres of Greendale forest from development. In the two-part “Bully for You,” Harvey is accidently empowered with martial arts expertise by a worried Sabrina’s dream before he takes down a school bully.  Sabrina & Salem try baking cookies with magical help in “One Smart Cookie!”  Salem is up for parole in “An Incomplete Sentence,” which means his skeptical parole officer must interview his host family: The Spellmans.  “You Had to Be There!” has Salem & Sabrina haplessly field-tripping to research her school report on rain forests.  Despite Gem Stone’s sabotage to try snaring Harvey, Sabrina appears in triplicate at the school dance in “I Go to Trio.”   The single-page “Cheer Up!” has Salem ‘helping’ his best friend practice for cheerleader try-outs.

Sabrina’s aunts want her to get a summer job in “On the Job.”  Getting a week’s respite as a human, Salem plays cowboy on a dude ranch in “Kitty Slicker.” In “Kind of a Dragon!,” has Sabrina’s new pet dragon creating trouble in the Spellman household.  Sabrina and her Aunt Zelda hit the gym in “Weight for Me!”  Gem Stone, courtesy of “Sand Dollar$,” schemes to best Sabrina in a local sandcastle-building contest.  A slimy con artist swipes the Spellmans’ Spookie jar in “A Jarring Experience.”  Betty & Veronica are Sabrina’s comic book idols, as they provide her some relationship advice re: winning Harvey’s heart in “It’s in the Cards.”  Accompanying Sabrina on a door-to-door errand, Salem faces a banshee’s long-awaited payback in “It’s a Scream.”   

On Halloween, the Spooky Jar gets tested re: how well he can scare somebody in “You Have Already Be an Halloweener!”  The last story, “The Thing’s the Play!,” has thirteen visual anomalies for readers to find, as the Spellman girls (not to mention, Gem Stone) are trying out for a local theater production of Macbeth.                       

REVIEW:

For its intended young audience, this collection sparkles just barely enough to make for a cute read.  The kiddie hijinks are probably one-and-done for most elementary school kids, but the artwork looks remarkably fresh.  While skimping on the cover images is a minor complaint, this colorful package (including the extras) is still relatively good for its price.  

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

Possibly one cover image is included.  Uncle Quigley’s answer sheet explains the thirteen visual goofs in the ‘what’s wrong with this story?’ puzzle.  A five-page black-and-white character/background reference guide reveals how the art team maintains Sabrina’s visual continuity. 

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 4½ Stars