Month: January 2021

Written by Ron Marz

Art by Sami Basri; Jessica Kholinne; & Jared K. Fletcher

Cover Art by Sami Basri & Sunny Gho

SUMMARY:

Published by DC Comics for November 2011, this WildCATS spin-off and New 52-launched series opener is entitled “Keeping Secrets.”  At the tawdry Voodoo Lounge, covert Black Razor agents Fallon and Evans conduct surveillance on sultry stripper Priscilla “Voodoo” Kitaen. 

Before returning to her hotel room, a disgusted Fallon easily dispatches four underage punks who try hassling her.  Backstage, Priscilla chats with her fellow female employees before fulfilling a request for a client’s ‘private dance.’  As Priscilla seductively strips, undercover client Evans discloses that the covert Black Razors have already deduced that she is an alien shape-shifting spy.  The smarmy agent’s effort to induce a nearly-nude Priscilla’s surrender ends in bloodshed. 

Assuming her victim’s identity, Priscilla initiates an escape plan.                 

REVIEW:

Considering the entire issue occurs at a strip joint, one can readily guess why Voodoo # 1 is virtually semi-porn.  Though the artwork (including a spot-on cover image) is high-caliber, writer Ron Marz’s sleazy script hardly does justice to Jim Lee’s alluring WildCATS character.  Its premise is a hybrid of Striptease meets Species.    

In fairness, shifting sultry Voodoo into a noir-like femme fatale has some intriguing potential.  The problem is that the gratuitous depiction of her occupation comes off so overtly sexist.  Even if Priscilla’s dressing room dialogue, for instance, with her fellow strippers is plausible enough, too much time is fixated on panels ogling her partially-dressed peers.  Instead of over-playing the tawdry visuals, a capable writer like Marz should made this Priscilla Kitaen more of an actual anti-heroine than a horror schlock male fantasy.  

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

There are single-page interviews with The Savage Hawkman creative team (writer Tony Daniel & artist Philip Tan) and The Fury of Firestorm: Nuclear Men (co-writer Ethan Van Sciver & artist Vildiray Cinar).  DC Editor-in-Chief Bob Harras offer a single-page “DC All Access” look at the fourth week of New 52.      

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                2 Stars

Written by Keith Champagne

Art by Pat Olliffe; Drew Geraci; Ken Lopez; & Hi-Fi

Cover Art by Ethan Van Sciver & Moose Baumann

SUMMARY:

Released by DC Comics for June 2007, it’s the opener for a four-part mini-series spin-off from DC’s 52 weekly series. Devastated by the deaths of his beloved wife, Isis, and his brother-in-law, Black Adam has vengefully annihilated millions of innocent lives in Bialya.  As Earth experiences worldwide breakouts of chaos above and below water, Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, and Wally West’s Flash are absent on extended personal sabbaticals. 

Challenging Black Adam first is an overwhelmed Martian Manhunter.  Father Time’s rocket pack forces are next up. Jason Rusch desperately summons Lorraine Reilly/Firehawk to join forces as Firestorm to intercept a runaway aircraft carrier Black Adam has flung overseas towards New York City.  Elsewhere in New York is a renegade Nightwing impersonator, who gleefully robs crooks. 

With Black Adam pushing East towards China and possibly Russia, DC’s heroes, including the Justice Society, The Marvel Family, and The Doom Patrol, are moving into position as more defensive waves.          

REVIEW:

Although his story revels in implied carnage and a few instances of snarky profanity, writer Keith Champagne plausibly depicts Black Adam’s bloody and seemingly unstoppable rampage as an extension of 52. 

The dialogue generally works, particularly the exchanges between Lorraine Reilly/Firehawk and Jason Rusch (i.e. ‘how you can miss hitting an aircraft carrier?’).  It’s a cheat, however, that the creative team chooses not to reveal what Firestorm actually does with this massive naval ship (or the personnel aboard), short of padding its impact in a deluge of snow. 

At least, this opener’s artwork is above-average, as it’s consistent with 52’s visual style.  Book One’s best selling point is frankly its well-played cover image.  World War III # 1 (or Book One), overall, makes a relatively good read, but it’s not necessarily a keeper.          

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

Dan DiDio explains the rationale behind this mini-series in a “DC Nation” column.  The four-issue cover montage is revealed.  Thumbnail cover reveals include Birds of Prey # 105; Flash (Bart Allen): The Fastest Man Alive # 11; 52 # 50; and World War III # 2.    

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                    6½ Stars

Written by (See Credits Below)

Art by (See Credits Below)

Cover Art by Neal Adams

SUMMARY:

Re-released by DC Comics in 2004, it’s the DC 100-Page Super Spectacular # 6 from 1971.  The lead-off reprint is a Silver Age two-parter by writer Gardner Fox and the art team of Mike Sekowsky; Bernard Sachs; and Gaspar Saladino.  From Justice League of America # 21 (August 1963), “Crisis on Earth-One” has the Justice League interact with the Justice Society of Earth-Two for the first time.  The conclusion is Justice League of America # 22 (September 1963) — as “Crisis on Earth-Two,” pits both super-teams against villains from both their Earths.

Written by creator Jerry Siegel and with art from Bernard Baily is the Spectre’s untitled Golden Age tale tussle against fellow ghost, Zor, from More Fun Comics # 55 (May 1940).  From Adventure Comics # 190 (1953), with no script credit and art by Ralph Mayo, it’s “Stand In for 100 Convicts.” Johnny Quick must ingeniously hide a potential prison break-out while making sure that justice is done.  From Action Comics # 146 (1950) by writer Joe Samachson and artist Dan Berry, the Golden Age Vigilante and his teen sidekick, Stuff, are in a caper entitled “The Galleon in the Desert.” 

Created in the 1940’s (but unpublished until 1971) is “Crime Wore a Costume.”  With help from writer Robert Kanigher and artist J. Chester Kozlak, the Justice Society’s Wildcat battles the original Huntress and her gang.   The last tale is courtesy of The Brave and the Bold (June-July 1961), as the Silver Age Hawkman & Hawkgirl encounter some “Strange Spells of the Sorcerer.” 

REVIEW:

Give DC Comics credit for digging deep into the archives and re-releasing one of its most endearing reprint collections.  Its vintage wraparound cover alone is practically worth the price of admission.  Still, this reprint festival’s entertainment value is the nostalgia of exploring some obscure and hard-to-find DC tales.  Packaged with the classic first JLA-JSA cross-over, this comic is a real treat for old-school comic book fans.   

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

There’s a checklist spread throughout the book listing characters and their first appearances (the comic issue and the year of publication).  There’s also a character key on the inside back cover identifying all 34 DC all-star heroes decorating the cover from front to back.  

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                   8 Stars

“ The X-Files”  Written by Doug Moench. Art by Brian Denham & Carlos Badilla. Cover Art by Brian Denham & Kelsey Shannon

“ Killapalooza # 1” Preview  Written by Adam Beechen. Art by Trevor Hairsine; Wes Abbott; & Jonny Rench. Cover Art Preview by Trevor Hairsine & Jonny Rench

SUMMARY:

Published by DC’s WildStorm Productions for June 2009, this 32-page issue is split between a 23-page “X-Files” story and an 8-page preview of Killapalooza # 1 for a six-part mini-series.  In the concluding “Dante’s Muse, Part II: Netherworld,” FBI Special Agent Fox Mulder and a kidnapping victim are trapped deep beneath South Dakota’s Badlands.  Their sole hope of survival fleeing from subterranean cannibal demons dubbed ‘The Pale People’ is a suspected serial killer.  The culprit’s dark secret is exposed, as FBI Agent Dana Scully and a local sheriff search for a missing Mulder. 

Sampling Killapalooza # 1, its title is “A-One-Two-Three-Four!”  At a hotel in Trieste, Italy, the Clap commando squad engage foreign terrorists in a bloody firefight.  On the late night flight out, the team has multiple arguments simultaneously re: its cover as a touring rock band.

REVIEW:

Veteran writer Doug Moench pens an okay “X-Files” script, but its icky substance is forgettable.  The art squad’s likenesses of actors Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny deserve applause, particularly as they’re better than what appears on the unremarkable cover image.  Yet, the story’s other sci-fi/horror visuals range from reasonably good to downright kiddie-cartoonish.  It’s a bizarre mishmash for whatever reason, making this “X-Files” tale imminently skippable. 

As for Killapalooza, the high concept of a high-tech, black ops commando unit posing as a nasty rock band might merit some potential.  Yet, per the eight pages seen here, neither the profane scripting nor the crummy visuals suggest anything of value.  The best compliment is that the worst profanities are bleeped out.  Suffice to say, this zero appeal preview is merely an excuse for ultra-violent carnage and plenty of foul-mouthed banter.   

What’s head-shaking is why WildStorm/DC didn’t bother with a parental advisory label.

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

The last page is Jim Lee’s “The Storm Front” column, including a list of WildStorm issues released that month.  

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                   3½ Stars