Right in Front of His Eyes; JSA: All Stars 6 "Out of the Shadows" Review

Geoff Johns and David Goyer seem to be somewhat selective in their memories. The '80's weren't totally terrible. Roy Thomas was doing pretty exciting things with the Justice Society in the pages of All-Star Squadron and Infinity, Inc. Dr. Charles McNider had hung up his special goggles and was replaced as Dr. Mid-Nite by Beth Chapel. Although the name may have caused some confusion. There was the classic Nurse Chapel on Star Trek; and, over in the pages of Spawn and Youngblood, there was a mercenary named Chapel. Still, the gender-bending re-imagining of Dr. Mid-Night wasn't all that bad... unless you're not a fan of flowing, puffy sleeves.

Dr. Mid-Nite may be one of those difficult, challenging characters. He is more unique as a superhero. It's hard to imagine more than one individual in an accident that causes blindness that can only be reversed or cured by corrective lenses... or the unique ability to see clearly in total darkness.

Pieter Cross is a unique individual. He suffers the very same blindness that Charles McNider does!

Cross faces almost the same personal situations that McNider does as well. He returns to his hometown of Portsmouth to reconcile with the family that faced a loss he feels responsible for. Along the way he rescues a pregnant woman from a train accident. And learns a very important personal lesson along the way. It's a great story. Stephen Sadowski and Wade Von Grawbadger provide enjoyable art for the Johns and Goyer story.

The back-up story, "Blind Spot" by Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso is just as enjoyable, focusing on McNider's misplaced trust.

Once again, these stories are great character profiles. Still, what seems to be missing is the connection to the first issue. It's vague and unclear what role The Spectre is playing in all this. It's unclear how this story ties in to what's going on with the four - possibly five - captive JSA members. If The Spectre is Legacy's captive along with Jay, Alan, Carter and Ted, how is he able to act as host and narrator to each breakout story? There's an expectation of a thread or a link that isn't there. Which is a disappointing letdown.

JSA: All Stars 6, shining a light on the darkness that Dr. Mid-Nite works in, earns three stars.

He Has All the Time in the World, JSA: All Stars 5 Review

Time.

The Spectre pulls the curtain back on Rick Tyler. Son of the legendary Rex "Tick-Tock" Tyler. Better known to the public at large as Hourman, "The Man of the Hour"! Admittedly, Miraclo is addictive. Like a steroid. Originally, it might have been conceived as a vitamin, an energy pill. However, with addictions growing, and programs like Alcoholics Anonymous among other addiction recovery programs, Miraclo (and perhaps Gingold) becomes more of a taboo. Both Tylers suffer from addiction, not just to Miraclo, but as adrenaline junkies. Hooked on the thrill of adventure and action.

Fortunately, both Rex and Rick have conquered the lust. Or have they?

An interesting development is Rick's flash-forwards - his ability to see events an hour in the future. This precognition, or perhaps foreknowledge comes in pretty handy as a crimefighter. If they weren't so disturbing and painful to witness. 

Adam DeKraker, Prentis Rollins and John Kalisz Provide the spectacle to Johns and Goyer's ongoing character profiles.

"An Hour at a Time" gives Rick Tyler the opportunity to confront his inner demons and face the monkey on his back.

The back-up story, "Conduct Unbecoming" as told by Howard Chaykin is an interesting historical period piece. Funny that Rex would be mistaken for Dr. Mid-Night or Mr. Terrific!

Once again, these stories are fine and enjoyable as stand-alone one-shots. Yet, they continue to fall short by not making any connection to the whole. There's no explanation for The Spectre's narration. There's no connection to the bad guy Legacy or the Injustice Gang. no explanation as to how this will help rescue Jay, Alan, Carter, and Ted. There's no explanation as to how The Spectre is narrating these stories if he's Legacy's captive, too.

JSA: All Stars 5, spotlighting the Hourman legacy earns three stars.

Tales of Time Present, Tales of Times Past; JSA: All Stars 4 "A Star is Born" Review

Here we go again.

The Spectre once again pulls back the curtain, this time on Courtney Whitmore, Stargirl. The latest in the very long Starman line. Thanks to James Robinson, the Starman family tree has many branches and has been very fruitful. Not just Ted Knight, but the departed David Knight, as well as the late Sylvester Pemberton, who was both the Star-Spangled Kid and Skyman, and Courtney's near predecessor Jack Knight.

Geoff Johns and David Goyer's Stargirl story is kind of a bummer. Only because Courtney's biological father is a down-on-his-luck grifter who ends up an F-list henchman for The Royal Flush Gang. He doesn't even get a cool costume. He's not even a high card. He's the "Two of Clubs". Or maybe just Number Two.

It's a pretty simple story. Courtney and Pat head off to Atlantic City. They beat up on The Royal Flush Gang, put Courtney's biological dad behind bars and have a bonding moment. It's pretty cool.

As far as the Starman family goes, this is a treat and delight. Pat and Courtney bond. The story fits into the ongoing "Father-Child" theme that Robinson established with Ted and Jack.

Even better, the back-up story is a Tale of Times Past courtesy of Robinson and Tony Harris spotlighting Ted Knight fighting Nazi spies posing as FBI Agents.

These stories are entertaining as character-profiles. Your mileage may vary, but for fans of James Robinson and Tony Harris, as well as the Ted Knight Starman connection this is definitely a highlight. Still, what's missing is a thread or shred of connection to the main narrative. All well and good, but how does this story fit into rescuing Jay, Alan, Carter, Ted and presumably The Spectre from Legacy and the Injustice Gang? That whole line seems to be forgotten in each one of these stories.

On their own and as a pair, the Stargirl and Starman stories are enjoyable. However, what's missing is the connection these stories have in the series as part of any larger picture. 

JSA: All Stars 4 earns three stars.

The Pickled Fickle Finger of Fate! JSA: All Stars 3 "Challenging Fate" Review

Once again, The Spectre draws back the curtain on another member of the Justice Society of America. The Spirit of Redemption is acting more like The Phantom Stranger or Rod Serling, host and presenter. This time, we see Hector Hall, son of Carter and Shiera Hall, one-time Silver Scarab of Infinity, Inc., now, the latest iteration of Dr. Fate.

In Salem, MA, Hector walks into a bar where he finds Nabu. Usually, Nabu is confined to the helmet of Fate. Yet, he steps out for... a beer and some peanuts. Hector is older from his Infinity, Inc. days. As the latest Dr. Fate, he is able to look around the room and see each person's ultimate... fate, how they will die and when. Both in a booth in the bar and the Tower of Fate, Nabu presents Hector with his own fate! In conflict with his father, Carter (or Katar, it's somewhat convoluted.) The original fate of Cater and Shiera is that they meet their end from Hath-Set time and time again. Yet what Nabu presents is that Hector is destined to be the end of his parents. It's a destiny that Hector will not accept and vows to change. He vows to make a future of his own.

The art by Kitson and Kalisz is nice, but it just comes down to a couple of talking heads. The story is predominantly conversation, with an interlude of action. Domestic conflict between father and son. It seems to amount to navel-gazing. 

The back-up story by Darwyn Cooke is enjoyable simply for Darwyn Cooke. He brings a horrific take to the master sorcerer. And a bit of wit and whimsy. The banter between Kent and Inza is Nick and Nora inspired. It's a fun story.

Once again, this issue and these stories are stand-alone and do not seem connected to the main narrative. They don't seem to be advancing the story set-up in the first issue. It seems that the point of the mini-series is to spotlight the legacy characters in solo stories with a comparison to the originals. These two stories are fine asides. Unfortunately, there's no Injustice Gang, there's no mortal adversary, no thread other than The Spectre.

"Challenging Fate", JSA: All Stars 3, by Geoff Johns and David Goyer leaves something to be desired. It earns three stars.

Fluff Piece JSA: All Stars 2 "Flying High" Review

 

Wow. Just... wow.

With Jay Garrick, Alan Scott, Carter Hall and Ted Grant along with The Spectre captives of "Legacy", each member of the Justice Society of America was given forty-eight hours to pull themselves together and reconcile the past the face the challenge of the present for a brighter future. That was what The Spectre told the team. It was somewhat vague if it was the actual The Spectre or Legacy posing as The Spectre.

Here, The Spirit of Redemption pulls back the curtain on Kendra Saunders. Granddaughter of Speed Saunders, great-niece of Shiera Saunders, the original Golden-Age Hawkgirl. Quickly and smoothly recapping her origin, The Spectre launches into her adventure. Rescuing her grandfather from a militia armed with anthrax that they intend to unleash on Seattle. Kendra quickly, however roughly, dispatches the militia members and rescues her grandfather. Afterward she pays a visit on a little girl that turns out to be her daughter. Pregnant at fifteen, Kendra gave Mia up for adoption. 

The Reunion seems to be healing and cleansing for Kendra. However, this is a stand-alone story that in no way connects to the main narrative. It's a fine, touching story. It's got action and great art by Phil Winslade. But that's it. 

The back-up story by Loeb and Sale is equally enjoyable. It's a hoot of hilarity. Carter helps Midway City's finest capture a trio of bank robbers. He plays cards with the police commissioner. He's late for dinner and has to warm up Shiera's cold shoulder. Still, there is absotively no connection to the previous issue.

It's all a very nice piece of filler. It's a fluff piece.

Hawkgirl in "Flying High" and Hawkman in "The Same Thing Happens Every Night" are enjoyable stories, individually and together. 

JSA: All Stars 2 earns three stars.

For Those That Follow... JSA: All Stars 1 "Legacy" Review

 

David Goyer and Geoff Johns present the Justice Society of America facing Legacy!

The Spectre pulls back the curtain. Sand is escorting The Icicle on a military transport to prison in Florida. Solomon Grundy rips open a side of the plane. Freed, The Icicle cushions the planes crash landing. The rest of the Injustice Gang is on hand, greeted by the Justice Society. The battle engages! It's all very dramatic and somewhat posing and posturing. Very quickly The Flash, Green Lantern, Hawkman and Wildcat are transported out of the battle by the bad guys. Sand is immobilized! Returning to their Manhattan headquarters, they try to deduce what the device is that paralyzed Sand and kidnapped four of their members.

The cover is awesome.

Sal Velluto's art, with Bob Almond inks and John Kalisz colors is just the very definition of eye-candy. Ken Lopez's lettering has each character's voice down and dialogue, roll call and effects are unique.

Legacy himself is pretty much a mystery and cypher at this point. Somewhat hollow and shallow. The cliffhanger sets up the master plan that will undoubtedly unfold as the story progresses.

JSA: All Stars 1, "Legacy" earns four stars.

The Final Curtain! The Last Days of the Justice Society of America Special Review

One of the few tropes or rules of comic books is that there is very rarely - if ever - a "The End". It's really The Never-Ending Story. A writer may move on from a character, or from a comic book title, and tie up as many loose ends as possible, or move characters into a different place. Changes can be undone. Deaths are not usually permanent. There really has only been five significant, permanent death in comic books: Jor-El and Lara (and most of the planet of Krypton), Thomas and Martha Wayne and Uncle Ben Parker. Those deaths are permanent mainly because they make up the core identity of Superman, Batman and Spider-Man. Bucky Barnes' death was undone as was Gwen Stacy's for the sake of Story. Comparatively, when Sir Arthur Conan Doyle reached a finishing point or boredom with Sherlock Holmes, his final solution was to throw Holmes and Moriarty off Reichenbach Falls locked in deadly combat. The hue and cry was so loud that Conan Doyle brought Holmes back from the dead.

Following the seminal, landmark, epic Crisis on Infinite Earths maxi-series, Roy Thomas was faced with the unenviable task of writing "The End" to the Justice Society of America. In consolidating its legion of super-heroes to a single Earth, with a single history and timeline, the Superman Family, Batman Family, Wonder Woman Family and Aquaman were all shifted to modern appearances and removed from The Golden Age. In-comics continuity had the Justice Society start without including Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman. Aquaman made only a few Golden Age appearances and apparently was not a part of any team until the Justice League. Oliver Queen, The Green Arrow was also erased, as was his membership in The Seven Soldiers of Victory or Law's Legionnaires.

A single Earth with The New Teen Titans, The Outsiders, Infinity Inc., Doom Patrol - a veritable host of superhero teams and characters seemed to crowd out the more geriatric Justice Society. And so, a "The End" was fashioned.

The story finds Hitler able to wield the legendary, mythical Spear of Destiny, the spear that pierced the side and heart of Christ, the Savior. He wields the spear to bring about the end of the world. He calls down from the heavens Ragnarok, or Gotterdammerung! The Justice Society, save The Spectre, Dr. Fate, Power Girl and The Star-Spangled Kid are locked in an endless loop in an alternate reality, to preserve the true reality and save the universe. It is a hard, emotional ending for fan-favorite characters.

It is evident that it is a labor of love for Roy and Dann Thomas. It is deeply and heavily researched and historically accurate to the period. David Ross and Mike Gustovich provide the art. David Cody Weiss provides the lettering. 

Thomas admits that this could have been a multi-issue series rather than a single issue one-shot. The only downside is that the art and lettering suffer from being presented on newsprint rather than on glossy paper. Weiss' lettering is muddy and the art muted in places due to production values.

It is an epilogue of sorts for Crisis on Infinite Earths in that DC Comics' founding characters are given their final curtain bow.

The Last Days of the Justice Society of America Special earns four stars.

A Veritable Treasure Trove of Invaluable Information! The All-Star Comics Illustrated Index Review!

Murray R. Ward's All-Star Comics Illustrated Index spotlighting the Justice Society of America was definitely one ambitious undertaking! A few words of his own, followed by a few words from Roy Thomas, then headlong into a veritable definitive Who's Who of the Justice Society. Secret Origins, notable adventures and appearances. All of this is a post-Crisis on Infinite Earths wrap to the Golden-Age era, Earth-2 and the classic Justice Society. Crisis on Infinite Earths erased the Golden-Age era Superman family, Batman family, Wonder Woman family and Aquaman. The sliding timeline meant that the Justice Society had already formed without these heroes. Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman were now part of the Justice League. And Wonder Woman wasn't even a founding member of the Justice League! Black Canary was a founding member of the League, and Diana joined later.

So gone were Superman, Batman and Robin, Helena Wayne as The Huntress and Wonder Woman. 

Starting with DC Special 29, from August-September of 1977, which featured the Secret Origin of the team, this illustrated index features a breakdown of the first four issues of All-Star Comics. The highlight being All Star Comics 3 from Winter 1940, the very first appearance of the classic line-up of the Justice Society.

It's incredibly detailed and researched. Very informative. Unfortunately, it also seemed to be short-lived and cancelled.

For what it is, a first issue and launch of a series it earns five stars.  

Kneel Before This Man of Steel! JSA: The Unholy Three

Elseworlds. A Jolley Roger Production. Sequel to The Liberty File.

Clark Kent reveals his true identity. As he murders Shiera Sanders. What's mind-blowing is that he turns out to be Zod! Not Kal-El. As a reckless youth on Krypton, he is about to be sentenced to The Phantom Zone, when an American scientific wormhole project draws him to Earth. Realizing his potential, he is placed with Jonathan and Martha Kent and, as he put it, indoctrinated.

Not sure if this is a continuity error or a plot hole, but in The Liberty File, it appeared as if Hitler had a Superman. Not just J'onn J'onzz drawn through a similar means as Zod was drawn to the Allies. Perhaps that was a red herring. It is an interesting turn of events. Hitler tries to use an Übermensch in world domination. The Martian Manhunter turns out to be more altruistic. The United States attempts something similar, and the tables seem to turn - the Übermensch attempts world domination! It's somewhat unclear it Zod is working alone, or if he was working with The Parasite and Steelwolf. The work seems to be similar. Zod is killing meta-human agents!

It isn't until Bruce and Rex connect with another agent, Wesley Dodds, The Sandman, and Alan Scott, The Green Lantern, that "Kent" tips his hand.

The Trigger turns out to be in Chernobyl. Realizing that Kent, The Super-Man has gone rogue, Bruce makes an emergency call: The Atom, The Hawk (Hawkman), The Huntress, Mercury (The Flash), The Tornado (The Red Tornado) and The Star (Starman). Each one relinquishes their cover to answer the summons.

What follows is a glorious, spectacular blowout mother-of-all slugfests! The Atom and Hawkman are early casualties.

Dan Jolley brings the goods as far as story. Tony Harris, Ray Snyder and JD Mettler bring all the blood and guts and gore in the art. From Zod's subtle murder of Shiera at the top, to Alan Scott, Al Pratt, Carter Hall and all the injuries that pile up with Theo Knight, Wes, Helena, Jay and the rest. It seems that superhero Ragnarok involves all the capes and cowls mounting against Kryptonians.

JSA: The Unholy Three earns four stars. 

The Dark Reflection JSA: The Unholy Three 1 Review

Elseworlds. A Jolley Roger Production. Sequel to The Liberty File.

1948. Supposed to be eight years after the events of The Liberty File. Those events were placed in 1942. That would make The Unholy Three six years instead of eight.

Dan Jolley and Tony Harris double-down in this story. They open with Sandy Hawkins being tortured by The Parasite, who is a KGB interrogator. The Parasite is teamed with Steelwolf. Meanwhile, Bruce Wayne is living the dream as The Bat back in Gotham City. He's captured Harvey Dent, who's been working with Pamela Isley and Anton Arcane. Dent is now a horrific genetic mutation, half-man, half-creature. Some kind of insectoid creature. A darker image of Two-Face. Returning to Wayne Manor, Bruce is confronted by Army General Maitland and Clark Kent. The General wants The Bat, The Clock and the Super-Man to track down "The Trigger" that The Parasite and Steelwolf are after. The trio head off to Berlin, where Parasite murders Johnny Thunder.

Bruce sends Clark off for documentation while The Bat and The Clock head off for clues. Kent encounters Shiera Sanders. Later, in costume, he catches with them and together they bring down The Parasite, who seems to have turned on his partner.

Once again Dan Jolley has crafted a dark mirror image of familiar faces. This is, once again, a mature readers story. There's a flashback sequence that explains just how unreasonably bitter and angry Terry Sloane is toward Bruce Wayne. It's chilling. Tony Harris and Ray Snyder provide the smoke and shadows, with JD Mettler providing the dark tones. Ken Lopez once again breaks it all up with fine lettering.

The Cold War is as dark a place as the World War, with the same question being, Who can you trust?

JSA: The Unholy Three 1 earns four stars.  
 

Hello, Darkness, My Old Friend... JSA: The Liberty File 2 Review

Elseworlds. A Jolley Roger Production.

1942. World War II. "Chaz" McNider, The Owl, was wounded in the explosive conflict in the previous issue. He's recuperating in hospital. There's a comment from Rex Tyler, The Clock, that McNider's codename should have been something more personal than "The Owl", being that he's such a horndog, ladies' man. McNider's convalescence is cut short by The Scarecrow, an incredibly creepy and horrific Nazi "cleaner". The Scarecrow murders McNider, then murders The Bat and The Clock's contact. During the ensuing chase and conflict. Terry Sloane's paramour is gunned down as well. Just as he was about to propose. 

Sloane revives his "fair play" costume of Mr. Terrific and joins The Bat and The Clock. They manage to overcome The Scarecrow. The trail of the Nazi Übermensch leads back to Africa. There, Bruce Wayne uses the vital piece of information to sway the alien "super man" to the Allies side. The tide of the war does turn, against Hitler and Germany.

Dan Jolley's story is definitely for fans of the Justice Society as well as the Elseworlds concept - DC's version of "What if...?" Jolley's story is also for more mature readers, and not for the squeamish. Definitely not an all-ages book. Your mileage may vary on that. Jolley does a fine job of misdirection and creating a surprise conclusion that is definitely genuine and thrilling. Tony Harris, with Ray Snyder and Matt Hollingsworth on art creates a very dark and moody atmosphere, perfect for the period piece. Tyler makes a comment about Bruce Wayne's disguises changing his hair color. It seems confusing and kind of falls flat with the shadows and dark tone of the art. Ken Lopez's lettering is enjoyable as it changes from narration to sound effects.

Overall, it's a thrilling alternate version of familiar characters. JSA: The Liberty File earns four stars.

Through the Glass More Darkly - JSA: The Liberty File Review

Elseworlds. A Jolly Roger Production.

1942. World War II. The Joker is re-imagined as Jack, The Grin. He's an underworld figure that has come upon a vital Nazi communique. He's hidden it and is in the market to sell it to the highest bidder. The Nazi's want him for it. The Allies want him for it. The Bat has been assigned to work with The Clock and The Owl. We're jumping right in, into the story as it unfolds. Apparently, Ted Grant, The Cat is dead. The Bat typically works alone. Trust issues. Charles McNider, The Owl (we might recognize him in another reality as Dr. Mid-Nite), is quite the ladies' man, or maybe, a bird dog. He jokes that he's compensating for his blindness. Rex Tyler, The Clock, is the strong man. Not so much with finesse or subtlety, like The Bat. The trio follow The Grin's trail to Africa. Until reconnecting with The Bat, Jack has been suffering from amnesia.

"Chaz" contacts singer Dinah Drake, The Canary for information on where to find Jack. They do. The three manage to get their hands on the important information. It could turn the tide of the war!

Dan Jolley story is definitely for mature readers. This is not an all-ages book. Which is the only downfall. It has everything else. Jack is written very violent and blood thirsty. The reality really doesn't seem to matter; The Joker is written as incredibly violent. It's almost gratuitous. More and more, Batman comes off as deranged and unhinged, rather than focused and determined. Tony Harris on art with Ray Snyder and Matt Hollingsworth just adds to the sinister bent of the story. Ken Lopez's lettering is enjoyable for The Bat's narration and the prompts that move the story along and the pacing.

Your mileage may vary, based on the dark grisly tone.

JSA: The Liberty File 1 earns four stars.         

Beware The Power of the Darkest Night! JLA: Age of Wonder 2 Review!

Years pass in "The Age of Wonder". Ambition grows. Barry Allen and Ted Knight, now joined by Ray Palmer as The Atom and the enigmatic Plastic Man investigate the explosion at a munitions warehouse that killed Oliver Queen, The Green Arrow. Diana, Princess of the Amazons of Themyscira, was seen escaping the blast. Urban legend The Batman advises that the League should have paid closer attention to an eyewitness. He tells them to find the woman.

As Bruce Wayne, he does. Lex Luthor now is President Wilson's secretary of defense. Diana, an emissary from a Paradise Island, is also Luthor's protege. Luthor is manipulating world events toward world war! Hal Jordan advises the British Army against the Kaiser's forces. He discovers Luthor's treason. In attempting to stop Luthor and Diana, Hal is murdered. 

What comes next is the unimaginable. The Kaiser unleashes an atomic bomb on London, leaving more than 200,000 dead, the city in ruins and uninhabitable.

The one hope is the dying General Jordan send his ring to find Clark Kent. The Super Man returns and unites the League to crush the Prussians. Batman and Diana defeat Luthor. As Luthor is executed for treason, Clark Kent forms the Justice League of Nations.

Adisakdi Tantimedh's story is truly the darkest before the dawn. Luthor's naked ambition to leave a mark and be remembered as greater than The Super Man brings a hellish world tomorrow. P. Craig Russell, Galen Showman and Dave McCaig ignite the explosive fury of Luthor's devilish machinations. It is tragic that Hal and Diana are casualties of Luthor's madness. The hope is that a brighter day rises like a phoenix from the ashes.

JLA: Age of Wonder 2 earns five stars
 

The Man of Tomorrow Can't Catch a Break! "JLA: The Age of Wonder" 1 Review

Jonathan and Martha Wayne are in Philadelphia for the 1876 Exposition. Lois Lane is there, interviewing one of Thomas Edison's top men, Lex Luthor. "The Age of Wonder" opens with Clark Kent making his debut as "The Super Man" at the Exhibition. He selflessly and generously offers his services to Edison. While most men work toward advancement for financial gain. Kent is a humanitarian and philanthropist. Persuaded by Lex Luthor, Kent, Nikola Tesla, Barry Allen and Ted Knight decide to branch off from Edison. Knight develops a power rod, becoming The Starman. Following a freak accident, Barry Allen becomes The Human Flash. With Luthor and Thomas Wayne funding, they become The Justice League of Science. When an alien wielding a Green Lantern power ring arrives on Earth and dies, Hal Jordan joins the group as The Green Lantern. 

Kent maintains his firm stance as a generous humanitarian, even when the public's greed turns noble efforts to failure. Luthor tires to make his mark with unique and singular discoveries, which bring him into direct conflict with Kent. 

Luthor manipulates Jordan to an extreme effort against The Man of Tomorrow.

Adisakdi Tantimedh's story is quite riveting, an ideal Elseworlds "What if..." tale. Unfortunately, the utopian future crumbles under human nature, ambition, avarice and greed. 

P. Craig Russell, Galen Showman and Dave McCaig capture the Industrial Revolution quite vividly and enjoyably. Bob Lappan's lettering enhances the period piece.

JLA: Age of Wonder 1 earns five stars.     

The Bloody Betrayal! Union Jack "Fate" Review

As Union Jack, Joey Chapman is mesmerized by his friend, Kenneth Crichton, who is now the new Baron Blood! It's a simple resolution to the cliffhanger of the previous issue. Almost too simple. Joey doesn't really escape the trap. Kenny takes another victim but then vanishes. The real action hero is the late Christopher. He's not really part of the coven, so without any allegiance, he can help Joey against the baroness.

Baroness Blood has set her sights on a party at Falsworth Manor. So, it's all coming together. The baroness, the vampires, the grail. Joey versus Kenny. Lady Jacqueline and her guests all in the middle!

Then comes the ultimate betrayal! The girl and the goblet! Plus, a set-up for a re-match.

Ben Raab and John Cassaday have crafted a very chilling horror story with underwear on the outside. Cassaday's art with Dave Stewart on colors along with Richard Starkings and Comicraft are pretty creeptastic in a chilling good way.

Blue is the color of the undead, friend or foe!

Union Jack, "Fate" earns four stars!
 

Bride of the Vampire: Union Jack "Faith" review

While his friend, Kenneth Crichton convalesces, Joey Chapman investigates the connection between the cadre of vampires and The Holy Grail. He visits an acquaintance at the museum who explains the history of the grail, the connection to Arthurian legend and divine and mystical properties purported to it. This acquaintance lets Joey know that the grail is on its way to New York. There's also vital information on an encrypted disk, which turns out to be a dead end.

The mystery is, Who is leading this new vampire group? The original Baron Blood was killed years ago by Captain America. And yet, he's returned!

It turns out that the baron took a bride! She's been gathering followers and even making an attempt to lure Kenny Crichton. The sheer irony - Kenny is part of the Union Jack legacy! Union Jack has been battling Baron Blood for ages. His mother, Jacqueline, was Spitfire with The Invaders during World War II!

Ben Raab and John Cassaday have woven a truly macabre thriller. This has all the elements of mystery, suspense, thriller and horror. Dave Stewart, Richard Starkings and Comicraft add all the shadows and the scary things that lurk around the corner. The story builds to a shocking cliffhanger for the final act!

Union Jack, "Faith" earns four stars.   
 

I'm an adoptive dad. 

Our adoption journey started in 2004. Cathy and I had been married for fourteen years. We'd been trying off and on - mostly off - to start a family. The reason I say "off" is because we moved around a lot. I worked in radio. I interned for a couple years at Chicago's US*99. I was an intern there at the time John "Katman" Katzbeck passed away. I'd never met him, or J. D. Spangler. I was kind of acquainted with Trish ("The Dish") Biondo. I found out she was a McAuley lady - She went to Mother McAuley in Mount Greenwood, not far from where I grew up in Evergreen Park. My grandmother and aunt lived in Mount Greenwood. I got to meet a few of the other personalities there at US*99. After a couple years, I got a gig in Rockford, as a morning show producer and stunt ("grunt") man. I was a "Wake-Up Crew Gerbil". It's better than Mancow's stuntman - "Turd"! After four years of misadventures in Rockford, we moved on to Columbus, GA to the tune of "The Gerbil Went Down to Georgia".

After four years in Georgia, we moved back north of the Mason-Dixon line to Minnesota. Twelve years at one of the two Country stations in Rochester. Cathy is a far, far better person than I. She followed me from one move to another. Not only was she able to land a new job one right after another, but she also excelled far better than I did at each new position. In the years that I worked in radio, I felt like I always had a "Black Thumb". Like Gilligan, I was stealing failure from the clutches of success. Each new job was a rousing success for Cathy. The mortgage company she worked for in Columbus had a $5,000 discrepancy that Cathy managed to completely clear in virtually no time at all. Her reward for that was a coin that she could redeem for anything. I do mean anything. We kicked it around and decided on a trip to Disneyland. In September. We had fun, but we agreed it would have been more fun with kids.

So, when we moved on for another radio job in Rochester, Cathy put her foot down through the floor. She wanted to get rid of our second car which was a U-Haul truck, stop living out of packing boxes, settle down, plant roots and start a family. So, she got us into a fertility program. That's when she was diagnosed with cancer. It was August of 2004. The doctor gave us the diagnosis on a Wednesday and scheduled surgery for two days later, on Friday. From the Fall of 2004 through December of 2010, we were in one adoption program after another, trying to find the right fit.

We finally made a connection in January of 2011. Our first child came home to us in October of 2011. Our second child came home December 7th, 2012 (Yes, "a date that shall live in inFAMY!") Our third child came home at the end of May 2014.

I'm not a procrastinator, but just the other day, I finished reading Sherrie Eldredge's "Twenty Things Adopted Kids Wish Their Adoptive Parents Knew".

I found it very informative. Not so much about International Adoption - our three were all in Ukraine. 

Adoption starts in rejection.

Eldredge writes, "...one must enter into freedom through pain." She continues that companions on that journey are, "...truth and suffering." 

The sorrow and grief of adoption goes deep down, to an individual's DNA. It runs so deep that, at times, it can be almost inexplicable.

Eldredge's book addresses how to handle and manage the unknown. How to car for the broken, hurting, rejected individual. There are things adoptive kids may not be aware of that they are going through.

If you, or someone you know, is affected in any way by adoption, this is a good book to read.

If you'd like a peak at our adoptions, you can visit us on Facebook, Cathy and Dave's Adoption Journey. 

        

Like Fingernails on a Chalkboard

"They" say, It takes all kinds to make a world... some days I wonder, Why?!

I worked in radio for twenty-one years. Just a few years shy of a "gold-watch" retirement. All of the years were in the Country format. I could have picked Rock. I grew up on Rock. I was more comfortable in the Country format. The Country rule was, if you wouldn't say it to Grandma, don't say it on the air.

I enjoyed my years in the Country format. I had a lot of fun and met a lot of the big name "A-List" performers. I got my picture taken with Shania Twain twice. I was herded through the meet-n-greet line like cattle and I did say "moo", but still...

When I started the last few years of my radio career, I worked with a morning host who did an on-air bit about "Movie Stars You Can't Stand!" Pretty self-explanatory. What movie star is like fingernails on a chalkboard? You can't watch a movie he or she is in?

His pick was Andrew McCarthy. Couldn't stand him, or Weekend at Bernie's. Okay, so it ain't Shakespeare, and it ain't Blazing Saddles or Young Frankenstein. It's sort of middle of the road. It's wacky and full of hijinks. He's not horrible in Pretty in Pink, St. Elmo's Fire, Mannequin, or Joy luck Club. Okay, so maybe Mannequin is a little creeptastic... But on the whole, McCarthy comes across as awkwardly genuine. Kinda relatable. Joe Average. 

My personal pick would be Giovanni Ribisi. I just saw him in Avatar: Fire and Ash. He's back. Every corporate or military character in the Avatar films is just blatantly d**k-headed. They are written as the worst kind of human beings. Their only purpose is to strip the planet of resources for Earth. Unobtanium. Whaling for the liquid or blood of the indigenous species. It's like Dances With Wolves in space.

But it doesn't stop there. Ribisi plays Phoebe's younger brother on Friends. The storyline there is that he falls in love and marries his teacher and then Phoebe becomes surrogate mother to their triplets. The sitcom takes a real-life issue and turns it into farce. Your mileage on that may vary, however, Ribisi just comes off as an incredibly annoying character.

Don't even get me started on his role as Nicholas Cage's younger brother in the remake of Gone in 60 Seconds. I like Christopher Eccleston and just about everyone else in the cast - except Ribisi.

Another pick would be Seth Rogan. I've tried to enjoy him in Pineapple Express... but he's just horrid in Fanboys and The Green Hornet. He was supposed to be horrible in Fanboys. He played two characters, a diehard Star Trek fan and some other character. He was obnoxious as both. That was the point. However, his take on Britt Reid was to play him like a male version of Paris Hilton. A party-boy, who experiences an awakening and becomes a caring and sincere hero as the underworld figure The Green Hornet. If the movie's failure is any indication, that just didn't work. Fan-casting the role, I would have gone with Greg Kinnear as Britt Reid. He more embodies the Van Williams vibe for the role. Yes, he was an arrogant jerk in Mystery Men, but he was convincing as an arrogant jerk. 

Those are my picks. Is there a performer that is just fingernails on a chalkboard for you?

Keep it clean and civil. Grandma may be listening...

Don't forget, you can visit me or follow me over on ComicVine as AirDave, and follow me on Facebook as Earth-Dave.

The Roddenberry Utopian Vision

There seems to be some "hue and cry" over the cancellation of Starfleet Academy. Opinions drawn over characters like Holly Hunter's among others. With fans going back and forth. There are fans saying that cancellation will make the show more popular, and other fans going back to Gene Roddenberry's "original vision" for Star Trek...

I laugh. I laugh at the "superior intellect".

Gene Roddenberry did envision a perfect, utopian future... without conflict. Which made telling Star Trek stories challenging. How do you tell a Star Trek story where everybody gets along? There has to be some conflict. There has to be some pro-versus-con (or Khan), some good-versus-evil. Some challenge.

Roddenberry's vision of the future? What actually hit the screen?

In "The Cage", Majel Barrett is first officer. That's forward thinking. There's Spock. An alien. Subordinate to Pike and possibly "Number One". It wasn't until the late '80's and into the '90's that a woman was a starship captain. It wasn't until Star Trek: Discovery that an alien was a starship captain.

When Shatner was cast and Star Trek finally launched as a series, we still see that 300 years in the future we're still objectifying women. Men wear pants. The female crew members wear skirts that barely cover their bottoms.

Aliens are either evil or dumb. Or, if they're "Vulcanian", they're arrogant jerks.

We're still yelling and pontificating in the future. There's still hate and avarice.

The point of each episode is to face that darkness we try to hide and learn and grow from it.

As progressive and forward thinking as Roddenberry was, what ended up on screen was a future that was very much a product of the times. More of a pop culture commentary of the '60's.

What's enjoyable about Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country is the dialogue that skewers the utopian vision.

The real premise of Star Trek is that even in the future, humans are still pretty much the same. It's only the technology that changes.

But that's just my two cents worth...

By all means share your thoughts in the comments. Keep it civil. Don't say anything in the comments you wouldn't say to your mother or your grandmother. Remember you can always find me on ComicVine as AirDave and on Facebook at Earth-Dave.

The Colbert Kimmel Kerfuffle

If I'm allowed to offer an opinion... yeah, I know, there are people who think opinions are like belly buttons, when they're actually something more stinky, dirty and full of - - * well, you know.

Stephen Colbert was quoted saying that the network changed the way it looked at The Late Show. There's back and forth over whether the network is cowering and cow-towing to Trump. That may be true. I think Letterman summed it up: The bottom line is the bottom line. Colbert and The Late Show are "overhead". Rule Numero Uno is: keep costs down, so money stays in the White-Collar pockets.

I liked The Colber' Repor'. I thought he and Jon Stewart were funny. I don't agree with the politics. I'm not sure I agree with Bill Maher, either. But the dialogue and the witty skewering of the news was funny.

I wondered how Stephen Colbert, best known for Political Commentary was going to transition to Entertainment Interviews. That's traditional late-night programming. Late-night programming is putting people to sleep by promoting the latest trend or fad. Riding the wave of popular culture. As a viewer, I gave Colbert a try, then life got in the way and I moved on.

I never stayed up late enough for Craig Ferguson, but in catching up on videos and reels, he seemed kind of hilarious by flipping the format and convention. Maybe, that's just me.

Kimmel is something else. He was funny. Past tense. He was funny with bits like Chewie in the audience while interviewing Harrison Ford and Tom Holland asking who Chris Pratt's favorite "Tom" was. My favorite was the faux-Friends skit he did with Jennifer Aniston and Courtney Cox. Three bits that've watched in reels or YouTube.

I think we might be able to agree that Kimmel changed his tone.

There's a surge in nostalgia for Johnny Carson. He was apparently a class act. Legend has it he never had a sitting president - or maybe even a politician in office - as a guest. He wasn't political. There's a clip circulating with Carson hosting the Oscars when Reagan was shot.

The upshot seems to be Carson didn't rage-bait at 10:30 or 11:30pm. He put people to sleep with a laugh. He entertained. As a host, he focused the spotlight on guests.

I'm not inviting a Trump-Biden debate. Go somewhere else for that. There's a difference between The Late Show, The Tonight Show and Kimmel Live! and The Daily Show and The Colbert Report. Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert were part of a Political Commentary for Comedy. Traditional late night seems to be shifting over into that area and away from their original premise. I'd say they seem to be "Jumping the Shark". There are programs that cater to the political junkie audience. Traditional late night is more of a promotional platform. Which seems to be why there's nostalgia for the golden era of Carson.

My feeling on politics is this: all candidates lie or fudge the truth. At least the ones that get elected. It's hard to get elected if you're honest. We usually pick our party and candidates like our sports teams. But again, I'm not inviting a political debate, simply because it just boils down to MY team is better than YOUR team and YOU'RE both wrong and dumb if you don't agree with ME.

But that's just my stinky, dirty two cents.