Micronauts Monday 5/12/2014

Hey there, Donist World denizens. Welcome back to Micronauts Monday, where I talk about my longtime favorite comic book series The Micronauts. You'll get a summary of the issue, my remembered reaction/experience with the comic book as a kid, and my thoughts as an adult after rereading the issues over the past week. The Micronauts is the book that introduced me to the wonderful world of comic book addiction. The sad thing about this amazing series is--as I explained in the first post here--is that if you haven't read the comics, doing so is going to be a bit of a hunt, since reprinting rights are firmly wedged into a Prometheus Pit of a printing-rights purgatory. But don't despair, it can be done, you can find them. Mycomicshop.com has most of the main series for a fairly inexpensive price. If you want to dip your toe into the glory that is the Microverse before committing to a hunt for individual issues, then you could also check out the five "Special Editions," which I believe had two or three issues included in each. Or, better yet, if you have an opportunity to do some longbox diving into the $.50-$1.00 bins at your LCS, then I'm sure you can find many issues there. My only caution here is that the story has a tremendous narrative that builds over the course of the series, one that deserves to be read in order, but that said, any Micronauts is good Micronauts! 

Here we are, denizens. Face to face. A couple of silver…ugh, no, criminy, ack. Now I’ll have that dang song in my head all day. Let’s begin again…and we are here. We have reached the end of the first volume of The Micronauts, which is a whopping 59 issues of predominantly amazing storytelling (Bill Mantlo) and gorgeous art (Michael Golden, Pat Broderick, Butch Guice). I still have a couple annuals (you already know those make me nervous) and X-Men and the Micronauts (which I just noticed fall between issues 57 and 58) from the first volume to check out over the next couple weeks, at which point I will probably sum up both my younger and current thoughts of the first volume; if you’ve been following these posts, then you should already have a good idea of what I think of this series. After that, I will look at the second volume which is called Micronauts the New Voyages, which I remember as something that befuddled the bejesus out of Young Donist’s poor, itty-bitty mind, but let’s see how an adult handles that series. Anyhow, let’s wrap up the series proper…

Micronauts Monday

***Possible Spoilers Below***

The Micronauts #58

The Micronauts # 58 - Written by Bill Mantlo, penciled by Butch Guice, inked by Kelly Jones, lettered by Janice Chiang, colored by Bob Sharen, edited by Ralph Macchio, published by Marvel Comics. This issue takes place after the events of the four issue X-Men and the Micronauts mini-series. The Micronauts are once again leaving Earth for the Microverse, only this time it is without the Bioship, and it is Fireflyte and her song that transports thems. Unfortunately for the diminutive Enigma Force fairy, it will be a one way ticket. It is a treacherous, life-threatening ride, but it is nothing compared to what awaits our heroes back on the ruins of Homeworld. Baron Karza’s madness will end this day.

Young Donist - Holy spit! Just look at that cover will ya! I saw this and nearly peed my pants. Commander Rann holding Baron Karza’s head/helmet, yet no one looks overly happy about the victory?! Needless to say, when I got home from Andromeda Comics, I rushed to my quite place, took a deep breath, exhaled, and cracked the cover. I somewhat remember the X-Men and the Micronauts mini as having come out on a bizarre schedule that messed with the timing of this issue, but that was fine by me, I had The Micronauts #58, and that was all that mattered. The page 2–3 double-page spread blew me away, but I was strongly wishing someone would get Commander Rann’s shaggy-ace face a Bic shaver or something, but I pushed that thought aside. What followed were many pages of the Micronauts discussing how horrible Baron Karza is, and how he needed to be stopped. I soon began to worry that there would not be enough time to wrap up the story, that the cover had mislead me, but I pushed on. Finally, though, at around the half-way mark, we find Karza with a bunch of cool-looking monster guys. Then they fight as Karza observes from the sideline. But the fight essentially lasted for only one double-page spread; needless to say, I was bummed. Only Karza remained and my hopes rose as Mari led the charge against him. I cheered as Acroyear crushed the madman’s steel hands, and excited beyond belief I turned the page to find the villain…dead. The fight to once again end Karza’s madness, a battle that kicked off in the exemplary issue #50, wrapped up over three pages?!?! What?!?! What followed was nine pages of talking, and talking, and some more talking—although to be fair, it was cool to see the Homeworld refugees return to confirm the end of Karza’s reign. Are you kidding me?!

 On top of my disappointment with this rush-to-the-conclusion issue, there were plenty of unresolved plot points that I was curious about. What happened to all of Karza’s dog soldiers? Why build up Lady Coral to be a potential badass, only to have the Micronauts find her right before the moment of her death? On the subject of Lady Coral, the person the Micros refer to as Lady Coral looked nothing like her, but instead looked more like the woman D’ark, the leader of the dog soldiers who appeared to be a potential major player in the Microverse after the events of issue 57. Argh! Everything seemed so…so…so rushed. This was not the ending I wanted, but it is the ending I got, and there were some rather cool moments, with the Mari scene completely wowing me. I was relieved, however, that The Micronauts was going to be continuing, and I was greatly hopeful that what was to come would be great. This issue did have some cool, albeit painfully brief, moments, and Young Donist returned to this issue many times to revisit those 10 pages of battle that he wished had been at least 30. RECOMMENDED!

Current Donist - First off, I’m wishing I had read the X-Men and the Micronauts mini first to see if there are some answers to the questions that my younger self had; somehow I doubt it. After reading this issue and the past three or four before it, it seemed like Mantlo was setting up some grand events, whether it was Lady Coral striking back, D’ark having her time in the spotlight to plague the heroes, or what have you. What about the inmate allies from the prison planet and their vow to oppose Karza? Acroyear’s son? Cilicia? For that matter, where were all of Karza’s troops? Sure he was spread thin by sending them all throughout the universe, but wouldn’t he have called them home to protect his power now that he was no longer immortal? Speaking of Karza, what happened to Degrayde, his plotting chief scientist? It seemed as if the creators were building for that guy to usurp Karza’s power? Who knows? My guess is that either the editors pulled Mantlo off the book, or that he quit, but I will have to do a bit of digging on the ol’ interwebs to see if I can find out. Needless to say, the story wrapped up, but it felt extremely forced and unsatisfying. I guess this is why Young Donist had forgotten how it all went down; it just didn’t grab me like how 85%+ of the series as a whole had.

Still, like when I was younger, there are moments that are cool—I still have a “thang” for Mari—and the art is great, especially on the spreads and the image of Karza catching Mari’s sword. I also appreciate the wordier areas of the book, as well as the many moments of reflection, but I just can’t shake the feeling that this book was prematurely halted. Perhaps sales were declining and the powers-that-be decided a reboot with a new number one was the way to go, which is sad. What’s even more weird is the fact that issue 57 was a monstrous 48 pages with hints of ultra-groovy stuff to come, while Mantlo and Guice’s final issue was a rushed 31 pages that tossed all those new storylines out the door. Still, at least Mantlo’s 58 straight issues of life-changing material had an ending, and regardless of the reason(s) for abruptly ending with this issue, it was still an enjoyable read. RECOMMENDED!

The Micronauts #59

The Micronauts # 59 - Written by Peter B. Gillis, penciled by Kelly Jones, inked by Bruce Patterson, lettered by Janice Chiang, colored by Bob Sharen, edited by Ralph Macchio, published by Marvel Comics. In this exciting final issue of the first volume of The Micronauts, our heroes…talk.

Young Donist - Ummmm…what the heck is this? Last issues cover promised a battle to end all battles that did indeed see the battle end, only far too quickly for my liking. Now we have a shriveled looking Acroyear lounging in his bathrobe, Bug chomping snail loaf in his tightie-purplies, Huntarr cast so far into shadow that his orange hide almost vanishes into the darkness, Mari in her usual outfit, and Rann looking even more obnoxiously bearded. Barf. Not recommended.

Current Donist - <yawn> What time is it? Oh, 7:30 PM already? Wow…feels way later. All kidding aside, I was not thrilled by this issue at all. I like a couple of the little stories just fine, but by the end, I’m hoping that things turn around for the next chapter—I do remember Young Donist having problems with what is to come, though. We’ll see. Thus volume one ends with a whimper. I don’t hate this issue, I just can’t recommended it.


So, uhhhhh, I guess that’s it? 58 is not the ending I would want for this series, and 59 is…I don’t know what that is quite yet, but I will see when I get to volume two. Again, though, I still have the annuals to talk about, as well as X-Men and the Micronauts mini which I kind of remember as something that had Young Donist practically foaming at the mouth in excitement, yet that ended up confusing the heck out of the youngster; we will find out soon enough. Thank you for reading and thank you for sticking around for my looks at each of the issues in this overall phenomenal series. If you have any comments about the book, then please post a comment; I’d love to hear from my fellow Micronauts enthusiasts.

While writing this entry, I listened to Natalia Clavier’s beautiful “Nectar.”  Clavier sings on albums by Thievery Corporation and Federico Aubelle, which you should also check out.

Micronauts Monday 5/12/2014

Friday Slice of Heaven, Slice Into the Woods 5/9/2014

(Sung to the tune of Blossom Dearie’s version of “The Say It’s Spring”)


When I was young I lived in a world of dreams
Comic books filled with super villain schemes
Though now I’m much more grown up
I fear that I must own up
To the fact that I still have love
For heavenly books that thrill ’cuz

This Sixth Gun thing
Sends chills down my spine, now, baby
The Wake gives spring
To my step with monsters maybe
Rex, Zombie Killer, too

I say hooray!
Swamp Thing drives me full on crazy
Hooray, I say!
Satellite Sam stockings, oh baby
Heavenly, I'm tellin’ you


Hello there, denizens, and welcome to Donist World. As ever, I am joined by our CFO Obie (my friends’ Boston terrier) and our lovely marketing director/administrative assistant/party planner/InDesign specialists Tulip (my dog, Obie’s sister). This week has been absolutely nuts as I begin to wrap up my graphic design projects and I kind of think that Obie had something to do with my frustration this week. You see, I was having brutal problems getting some buttons and animations to work in InDesign and I lost two days to the void of the program. Every time I stepped away from the computer something would go wrong. Then I found some duck-flavored kibble crumbs on my keyboard… I think Obie is operating under the belief that a distracted CEO (me) gives him free rein of the office (my mom’s basement). He continues to maintain our standing as a Fortune 320,000 company (I’m cool with this), but he’s more focused on developing his MBDM (management by dungeon mastering) technique so—I assume—he can break away from his duties here at Donist World and hit the infinitely more lucrative consulting/mentoring/self-help circuit. Unfortunately for Obie, he has yet to realize that the contract he signed with Donist World clearly states that anything created/developed either on or off company time is hereto owned by Donist World, which means me. My thinking is to let him run with his idea so long as he fulfills his other duties, since a distracted Obie is a good thing for my sanity. Plus I don’t really think this MBDM fad has any legs—I’m sick of constantly failing my “saving throws” throughout the day and being told that my “wisdom” scores could use some fine tuning. Anyhow, while I submit my finally-working project, have a look at this week’s…

Friday Slice of Heaven

***Possible Spoilers Below***

The Sixth Gun #40

The Sixth Gun #40 - Written by Cullen Bunn, illustrated by Brian Hurtt, colored by Bill Crabtree, lettered by Crank!, designed by Keith Wood, edited by Charlie Chu, published by Oni Press. Am I correct in saying that the ever-amazing The Sixth Gun is wrapping up with issue #50? I believe I read that somewhere ages ago, but given the current momentum of the story and the events of this issue, it looks like 50 is correct. This is sad, denizens, as Bunn and Hurtt’s tremendous supernatural Western is something I look forward to spending some time with every month(ish). Just like meeting the person of your dreams right before you ship off for that once-in-a-lifetime candy-taster job at Willy Wonka, let’s not think about the looming despair-ridden day it all ends, but instead enjoy the good times to be had.

Things aren’t looking good for Drake, Becky, and Nidawi. Asher, Gord, and Nahuel are dead, Kirby was taken, and now Jesup and his entourage of serpent men mean to put what’s left of our heroes six feet under as well. To make matters worse, Nidawi is bleeding to death, but the severed—yet living—shrunken head of Screaming Crow (how often do you get to write a sentence like that?) has a plan to save the woman. As the battle of the Six commences, and Jesup gains control of another gun, Becky has an insane plan.

I read this book in record time. As much as I wished to savor every panel of Hurtt’s lovely art, the story demanded I whip through as each oh no, I can’t believe they did that, and what’s gonna happen next?! moment compelled me on. This issue kept the action going, all while moving the story forward with Screaming Crow taking charge, and with Becky using the power of her gun to travel back in time to consult with a dead character. The fight between Drake and Jesup has been building for a while and when it finally happens, Drake loses one of the six guns, bringing the end of the world that much closer. Then comes Becky’s decision that initially made me question the creators’ decision, but when I thought about what happened (sorry not gonna spoil today) it all made sense. By the end, I was all smiles—although I was a smiling nervous wreck.

For the first two trades worth of the series, my one gripe was I wanted to see Becky take the initiative and to start making decisions. This has not been a problem for quite some time now, as she clearly has grown, knows what she wants, and no longer has a problem doing what she feels is best. Drake continues to be a mystery, and I still hope to someday see a bit more of Drake’s past revealed before the three remaining guns in his possession alter him forever. The characterization and dialogue are solid, with each character clearly having their own voice. Hurtt’s artwork is as beautiful as ever, and whether he is depicting tense action, drama, or rich character designs his storytelling is always flawless. Crabtree’s colors always push the emotions of Hurtt’s imagery, but the green-glowing Jesup and the time-traveling Becky standout brilliantly in this issue. 

I am thankful that The Sixth Gun came in on time this week—the shipments to my LCS containing “S” titles get delayed often <pffft>—but that just means the wait for #41 is going to be all the more brutal, denizens. Ugh. I love this series and I am going to be very sad when it comes to an end; at least we still have about a year to go. Not only that, we also can look forward to another prequel, this one titled The Sixth Gun: Days of the Dead, which covers Jesup and Brother Roberto. The Sixth Gun is gem of a comic every comic book fan should be reading. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Swamp Thing #31

Swamp Thing #31 - Written by Charles Soule, layouts by Jesus Saiz, finishes by Javi Pina, colored by Matthew Wilson, published by DC Comics. As I have said in many of my past reviews of Swamp Thing, both the character and the book itself have been instrumental in my lifelong love of comics. I started with the Wein and Wrightson books as a young boy, and those Alan Moore issues…dang, those Alan Moore issues…blew me away and remain on my “Top Ten Comic Book Series Of All Time” list. Since then, there were some decent attempts at the character, but nothing really grabbed me. Then Snyder and Paquette came along and brought me back in. I love the idea of the Green, the Red, and the Rot, and since Soule has taken over I have been enjoying his run, but it is this issue’s introduction of the Grey that made me sit back and go “Wow!”

Alec Holland, the Swamp Thing, has been duped into the body of a human, a human that is rapidly burning out, and when it does, so will pass Alec. His avatar body has been taken by a corporation bent on using it for the diabolical means of profit masquerading as an effort to benefit mankind. Unfortunately for Alec, he has no idea who has his body, what they are doing with it, or where it is located. Not only that, the beautiful woman known as Miki has revealed that she is an avatar of the Mycos, or rather of fungi, the Grey, and Miki has been burning through human bodies for centuries when she abandoned her avatar form, which is being kept at the temple of the Sureen. If Alec is to save his life, without taking anyone else’s, then he will have to think quickly and not reveal the revulsion he feels at the trail of dead Miki has left in her wake.

Holy cow! As I said above, I have liked Swamp Thing for quite some time, but this issue made me love the series once again. The idea of the Green, the Red, and the Rot was cool back when the new 52 started up, but Soule handled the introduction of the Grey in such a unique and interesting way that I accepted this new force not just without hesitation, but with enthusiasm. Not only do we get this new character, Miki, who I like immensely, we also get to see exactly just how cool the body of the avatar of the Grey actually is thanks to Saiz. The fact that the creators bring an evil corporation into the mix, only deepens my love of this issue as we see just how far a handful o’ d_bags will go to increase market share and profits. A great story and beautiful art…what more could any comic fan ask for? Well…I have something…

As much as I loved this issue, there is one thing that makes me nervous, and that one thing appears on the final splash page: Aquaman. Now, nothing against Aquaman—I have not been reading his book, but have heard it is good—but as I have said from the beginning of this relaunch, I wish this book was still under Vertigo. There, I said it again. The guest-appearance/crossover into other titles is something I almost always find off-putting, and I can’t help but wonder how much more successful the whole “Rot World” storyline would have been had there been no other super heroes gumming up the works. I also see the guest-appearance/crossover as something of a portent of doom for the titles I enjoy—remember how great I, Vampire was before Batman showed up? Now we have Aquaman appearing, and we are directed to another title to get the whole story. I could be jumping the gun here, maybe the story will be awesome; we’ll just have to see. Again, I wish Swamp Thing was still under the protective embrace of Vertigo, but despite the groan-inducing interruption of a guest-appearance/crossover/event this issue comes VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

The Wake #8

The Wake #8 - Written by Scott Snyder, illustrated by Sean Murphy, colored by Matt Hollingsworth, lettered by Jared K. Fletcher, published by Vertigo Comics, a DC Comics imprint. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, I liked the first half of this book quite a bit, but this second half is even better. This continues to be the case for the third-to-the-last issue of this incredible adventure comic. As we delve even further into a tiny corner of this immense world—which the creators have no prayer of exploring to my satisfaction over the final two issues—we witness even more fascinating creatures, characters, and locales. Oh how I want to set up as a squatter in Snyder and Murphy’s insane “Argo 3” and stay there forever and ever and ever…

Leward has been saved from the rampaging mers! Or rather, she’s been captured by “Outliers,” pirates who roam the seas despite the mers, and who are rumored to be cannibals and consorts of the creatures. Not only that, Captain Mary of the Argo 3, a vessel shaped like a gigantic mer, has a pet pink mer that he unleashes on her. When she comes to from the creatures’s venom, Leeward discovers her intel on the Outliers might not be all that accurate. Unfortunately for all, Governess Vivienne of the Arm—an authoritative police force—are after Leeward and all who have spoken with the girl, and they now know where to find her. 

Snyder and Murphy deliver yet another outstanding issue of The Wake, and in its wake (see what I did there?) they bring a whole host of new questions and curiosities. I instantly fell in love with the character of Captain Mary, Walleye (the pink, toothless mer), the bizarre Argo 3, Gabby the robotic parrot, and their briefly-seen home. There is so much happening in this issue, and there is a hint of a bigger purpose to the mers regarding their lack of attention to those who explore the lands beneath the waves as opposed to exploiting them. To be fair, I have to admit to being confused on a few pages as to what was actually happening within the dialog, but that’s okay. My slight confusion aside, I am torn between my desire to reach the end of this fantastic story and wanting to stay in this fascinating world for years to come. Everyone should be reading this comic. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Rex Zombie Killer #4

Rex, Zombie Killer #4 - Written by Rob Anderson, illustrated by Dafu Yu, colored by Juan Romera, lettered and designed by E.T. Dollman, edited by Paul Allor, published by Big Dog Ink. Not just dogs and cats living together, but apes, monkeys, and squirrels as well. Throw into that mix a world filled with innumerable “rotters” and the few remaining humans as lead by one power-mad military man, and you have the bones of the excellent Rex, Zombie Killer. 

Rex and his crew have made the perilous journey to Las Vegas where they band of animals were promised to find a “safe place,” which they find. Unfortunately, the “safe place” is not quite move-in-ready. Rex failed to mention that his human and the “safe place” are under the military control of the cruel Major. Thankfully, Rex has a plan to seize control of the military base, but the plan has a lot of moving parts and the looming zombie menace adds a degree of unpredictability that can ruin everything. It’s The Incredible Journey meets The Walking Dead as our fine-furry friends risk it all for safety in a most unsafe world in this exciting conclusion to Rex, Zombie Killer.

There is no “easing” into this issue as you are thrown immediately into the action, and the tension of the story only relaxes in a few flashback moments until the very end. Animals act heroically and some even die, but it is not the zombies that are the biggest threat to the animals. Anderson continues to provide a unique voice to each of the many characters in this exciting mini-series, and the dialogue and story are compelling from beginning to end. However, it is the characterization of Rex, Buttercup, Snowball, Kenji, Brutus and the rest that pulled me in with the original one-shot and those characters kept me reading through to the story’s conclusion. *Super-minor spoiler—that one panel of Buttercup in the sniper’s scope…let’s just say I would have mutinied if the scene played out in any other way. No one messes with Buttercup!*

Yu’s artwork somehow manages to look even better than each stellar issue as he conveys all of the key dramatic moments through the animals’ expressions, and his storytelling glides the eye from panel to panel, page to page. The double-page spread in this issue is something you just have to see, and Romera’s beautiful coloring and rendering make those pages even more stunning. 

As for the ending, the story wraps up wonderfully with all of the major questions answered, but I will say I wasn’t ready to leave the creators’ world quite yet…but whatchagonnado. I’m not sure if Anderson and Yu will someday return to Rex, Zombie Killer or not—I should ask them—but there is room to see what happens now that the animals have achieved their “safe place.” I’m also curious as to how the zombie-killer crew deals with their losses and the fact that Rex was not completely honest with them throughout the mini-series; time will tell if we get more Rex in the future. For now, you can find the one-shot on Comixology, and the entire limited series at mycomicshop.com or at the Big Dog Ink website. As a final thought, I have to go on record and say I still disagree with the creators about their views on squirrels, and view the idea of those animals organizing as a portent of doom, but despite that notion, both this issue and the series as a whole come HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! 

Satellite Sam #8

Satellite Sam #8 - Written by Matt Fraction, illustrated by Howard Chaykin, lettering Ken Bruzenak, digital production by Jed Dougherty, designed by Drew Gill, edited by Thomas K, published by Image Comics. I love this title. There are no superheroes, no monsters, no mustache-twirling villain…heck, there aren’t really any “heroes” at all in this series. But that’s okay. I have plenty of comics with costumed individuals pummeling the bejesus out of one another. What you have with Satellite Sam is a slow-burn period piece of a murder mystery that is brilliantly written and gorgeously illustrated—man, I LOVE the costuming in this book, and boy, oh boy, those stockings…

Italian TV actress Maria Melato gets a glimpse back to her rough past in war-torn Italy, and it is no wonder she beat the holy hell out of the man who still has not fulfilled his promise to marry her. Michael (the new star of Satellite Sam after his father was found dead in a secret apartment with loads of girly Polaroids) watches some of his father’s old film reels, but when he stumbles upon a particular reel that is NOT fit for broadcast, he begins to see how his father’s debaucherous proclivities might have gone too far. Finally, a Tijuana bible upsets Satellite Sam co-star Clint Haygood and Christmas parties are rarely any fun. 

As I’ve said before, I love reading Satellite Sam in issues, but reading in larger chunks might be the way to go in order to keep up with the large cast of characters involved in this tiny television studio; you can get the first five issues in this trade that retails for $9.99. Fraction’s dialogue on this compelling crime drama is impeccably written, and Chaykin’s art work, whether delivering the drama or showcasing the incredibly stylishly-dressed cast, is something that must be seen. This is not a book you read when you are tired or distracted. No. You need to pour yourself a rye on the rocks, or if you don’t drink, a coffee black as the devil’s soul, put on some mellow jazz music, retreat to the lounge room, and immerse yourself in this brilliant comic. If you are a fan of Mad Men, then this one is a no-brainer. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Slice Into the Woods

Still No Undertow #3 For this Donist - Oh well. I’ll be happy if it shows up next week, as I think Batman is the only book set to appear in my pull. We’ll see.

Friday Slice of Heaven, Slice Into the Woods 5/9/2014

Micronauts Monday 5/5/2014

Hey there, Donist World denizens. Welcome back to Micronauts Monday, where I talk about my longtime favorite comic book series The Micronauts. You'll get a summary of the issue, my remembered reaction/experience with the comic book as a kid, and my thoughts as an adult after rereading the issues over the past week. The Micronauts is the book that introduced me to the wonderful world of comic book addiction. The sad thing about this amazing series is--as I explained in the first post here--is that if you haven't read the comics, doing so is going to be a bit of a hunt, since reprinting rights are firmly wedged into a Prometheus Pit of a printing-rights purgatory. But don't despair, it can be done, you can find them. Mycomicshop.com has most of the main series for a fairly inexpensive price. If you want to dip your toe into the glory that is the Microverse before committing to a hunt for individual issues, then you could also check out the five "Special Editions," which I believe had two or three issues included in each. Or, better yet, if you have an opportunity to do some longbox diving into the $.50-$1.00 bins at your LCS, then I'm sure you can find many issues there. My only caution here is that the story has a tremendous narrative that builds over the course of the series, one that deserves to be read in order, but that said, any Micronauts is good Micronauts! 

I can’t believe it, denizens. I feel like I just started this “Micronauts Monday” thing, and now we’re practically at the end of the first volume. Crazy, but I’ve had a blast revisiting this series as both my younger and current selves. Never fear, though, even after next week’s installment wraps up the first volume, we will still have a couple annuals <oh boy>, X-Men and the Micronauts, and Micronauts the New Voyages to check out. But that’s the future. This week, however, let’s start with an issue that tweaked Young Donist and messed with his fragile little mind in all sorts of ways. Let’s check out “Huntarr Hunts Alone” as seen in issue #55!

Micronauts Monday

***Possible Spoilers Below***

The Micronauts #55

The Micronauts # 55 - Written by Bill Mantlo, penciled by Butch Guice, inked by Kelly Jones, lettered by Janice Chiang, colored by Bob Sharen, edited by Ralph Macchio, published by Marvel Comics. *Hey! I warned there might be spoilers, and boy howdy here they come!* Princess Mari has had it with her lover, Commander Rann, and his meditations, his chanting, his patchouli-incense burning time spent listening to Fireflyte’s mystic song. Enough’s enough. Mari has found the friendship, the camaraderie, the compassion, the touch of someone else…her teammate Bug. As the two dress and discuss their next move against the despotic Baron Karza, Commander Rann’s meditations have once again brought him to the Temple of Time, where he will plead with the Time Travelers to loan him the use of the Enigma Force to finally end Karza’s madness; he is surprised to find another traveler already conversing with the nigh-omnipotent beings. Back on the Bioship, Huntarr is missing from the fold as he has gone on a solo mission to find his family, and hopefully a link to regaining his humanity—he will not like what he finds.

Young Donist - <blargle…pfffffftttttt> (That is the sound of green-flavored Hi-C spraying out of my nose.) “Marionette? Bug? Dressed in the nakeds! Did they…did they…have THE SEX?! What about Commander Rann? Sure, he’s a hippy now—what girl wants that?—but he’s Mari’s boyfriend for cripes sake! I mean, Bug is cool—really cool, actually—but Mari and Rann are girlfriend and boyfriend?! Does this mean they are getting a divorce like Mom and Dad did? What is THE SEX? The Playboy magazines I have seen never prepared me for this…” Remember, denizens, I was twelve when I first read this issue, so there were some gaps in both my knowledge and experience, which is shocking, I know; despite what you think, I have to admit that I was no Pootie Tang. After these rather saucy three pages, despite my excitement to see Huntarr whupping ace, I went outside to sit on the back stairs to contemplate and…dare I say…meditate on what I had just witnessed in the pages of my favorite comic. As I sat there, watching a crow steal my dog Tippy’s Gravy Train kibble and dip it in the water bowl to soften it, I just could not understand what I had just read. There was a level of sexiness on those pages that managed to surpass most everything I had seen in those Playboy magazines, an intimacy that I had only seen in a handful of movies, but those movies did not have characters to whom I was so devoted, who I loved so deeply. My meditations went on for an eternity…they were the longest five minutes of my life. I went back in the house after the crow screamed at me; I had 27 pages of additional abuse waiting for me inside.

Oh boy, here we go. The next few pages of Rann approaching the Temple of Time to find a fellow pilgrim there shocked me, but not as much as the reveal that it was Baron Karza himself, and the Time Travelers were actually listening to him. Then we cut to Acroyear fighting holograms until Shaitan his deceased, evil brother, and Cilicia, his former wife who now hates him, appear and practically kill him because his tortured soul won’t allow him to fight back. Put it this way, I almost went back outside to meditate for another minute or two. Thankfully, the next page showed Huntarr transformed into the shape of a rocket and soaring through the Microverse on his way back to Homeworld. This is where things get rough again. I’m not talking about the awesome moments of Huntarr trashing the bejesus out of Karza’s forces, or his impressive transformations, but the flashback of his screwed up youth before he became a living weapon, and more traumatically the reunion with his mother. When Huntarr goes to his childhood home, which has fallen to ruin, he actually finds his mother; he wishes he hadn’t. The once beautiful woman is now hideous after being experimented upon. After a quick hug and an apology to her son, she tells Huntarr that his little sister is part of Karza’s breeding program; she then stabs herself in the stomach with a knife. Dude! Three minutes of meditation on the back stairs.

Back inside the house, I pick up at page 18, after Huntarr has blown his old home to kingdom come. I am happy to see Lady Coral watching the destruction with interest, but I am more thrilled to see Huntarr annihilating every dog soldier he comes across, and he even transforms into a spider thing and a crude simulacrum of a dog soldier as he infiltrates the “Nursery” and lays waste to even more dog soldiers. After the disturbing craziness of the first half of the book, I cheered louder than usual to release my pent up uneasiness, but then I get to the page with hundreds of babies crawling around the floor of the Nursery. Then Huntarr finds his sister who is completely out of her mind. As for what happens next…I’m not going to spoil that other than to say it trumped everything else that came before it in this issue. Back outside to meditate, this time for five whole minutes. I will say…in all seriousness…Guice’s imagery of Huntarr’s mother and sister gave me troubled dreams, if not a few all-out nightmares. This issue messed me up, denizens, but that in no way means I did not like it. Heck, the opposite is true, I simply loved this issue, especially Huntarr kicking butt, and those racy images of Mari and Bug...hubba hubba. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Current Donist - I’m going to keep it brief here. I love love love this issue. Sure, in 1986 Batman the Dark Knight Returns, brought about an industry-wide change in the way comic book stories are told, but The Micronauts was dealing with some mighty dark subject matter back in 1983; the characters were just not as widely known. This issue is heavy, even for an adult, but there is so much going on with the story and with Huntarr’s development as a character that 30 pages of uninterrupted material is barely enough to contain it all. The pacing is nothing to sneeze at either, as those first three pages that troubled me so much as a kid show Mari, wearing only a sheet, talking to someone off-panel. The reveal that Bug is the one sharing her bed is startling, but makes sense given what the characters have been through. I will say that Guice turns the sexiness of these panels “up to 11,” and he gives us some fantastic character acting as well. The brief Commander Rann and Karza bit is cool, but the story with Huntarr is pure horror/sci-fi that I will return to when I want to see how to put a character through their paces, and how to properly tell a tale of personal tragedy. Both Mantlo’s dialogue as well as the situations are amazing, and Guice’s art is beyond gorgeous throughout. While I sneak another peek at the oh-so-sexy Mari getting dressed as Bug and his six-pack (crap…I need to go for a run and lay off the beers) lounges in the bed, just know that this is yet another exemplary issue. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

The Micronauts #56

The Micronauts #56 - Written by Bill Mantlo, penciled by Butch Guice, inked by Kelly Jones and Sam Grainger, lettered by Janice Chiang, colored by Bob Sharen, edited by Bob Harras, published by Marvel Comics. If the Micronauts are to take down Baron Karza, then they are going to need more troops. With the inhabitants of Homeworld already under Karza’s iron heel, and the Acroyear race on the sidelines, Bug suggests recruiting his people. It’s off to the paradise world of Kaliklak. When the Bioship arrives, the Micronauts find the planet under siege by an infestation of devouring battle beetles that threaten to kill the unborn queen (remember, Bug’s Queen Esmera died back in the monumental issue #28!). The problem with this, and Karza is fully aware, is that only a queen reproduces, and there is only one queen; if that queen dies, so does the inhabitants of Kaliklak. Meanwhile, Commander Rann and Baron Karza once again go to the Temple of Time, where the two enemies are given what they want, which turns out to be different than they had hoped.

Young Donist - <phew!> No need to go outside and meditate after reading this one, although Mari and Rann ending the issue with a kiss as Bug cheers was a bit…confusing. This issue is all about the Micronauts beating the heck out of a bunch of giant beetles and fighting their way to save the unhatched Kaliklak queen. At the height of his evil, Karza willingly becomes human, and what’s better than that? Why, Bug and the Micronauts riding giant, domesticated Battle Bats! After the seriousness of last issue, I was thankful for the rollicking adventure found within these pages. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Current Donist - There’s not much to say about this issue. I loved it as much as I did back when I was twelve and for most all of the same reasons. I love that we get to return to Kaliklak, only with Guice’s lovely lines to give the paradise planet the look it deserves; just have a look at the pages 8–9 double-page spread of Bug, Huntarr, Mari, and Acroyear gazing upon the red planet in wonder, and you will see what I mean. *also, what does it mean when a letterer (I’m assuming) misspells their own name in the credits?* It was also cool to see that Jasmine, Bug’s dead lady love, has a younger sister, Treefern, who’s all growed up and giving Mari something to be jealous about. It’s also crazy to see Karza attain godhood, only to reject it because he would no longer have cause to be an evil a_hole…he likes being an evil a_hole. This issue is fun, moves the story forward in an unexpected direction, and is every bit as enjoyable as it was when I was a kid. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

The Micronauts #57

The Micronauts #57 - Written by Bill Mantlo, penciled by Butch Guice, inked by Kelly Jones and Sam Grainger, lettered by Rick Parker, colored by Bob Sharen, edited by Ralph Macchio, published by Marvel Comics. 48-page spectacular! On the world of Never-Summer, a tribe of humanoid wolverines battle a rival tribe of humanoid beavers for the scarce food on their snow-covered lands. Unbeknownst to them, Baron Karza seeks to annihilate an entire world with a giant magnifying glass in hopes of forcing the feistier planets to step into line. Meanwhile, Commander Rann has rejoined “his” Micronauts, but does not understand “his” team’s more ruthless ways. When Mari and “her” Micronauts hear of Karza’s diabolical scheme they rush to help despite Commander Rann’s protests. In the end, a great leader will be the one to sway the course of battle on a world that has forgotten summer.

Young Donist - I was beyond thrilled to have 48 pages of my favorite comic and was totally fine with the <sob, I miss those days> $1.00 cover price at the time. I enjoyed the book, but did not understand why this tribesman received so many pages as opposed to my heroes. Still, I appreciated the character’s ultimate roll in the story, and I understood his tragic fate, but I wanted more pages of the Micronauts themselves. RECOMMENDED!

Current Donist - I like this story more now, than I did as a kid, and I recognize that the clash of the wolverine tribes and the beaver tribes was a story Mantlo was excited to tell.That said, this issue does seem a bit off in the storytelling, but I ultimately enjoyed finding out more about Ojeeg the hunter of Never-Summer, and his roll within his tribe and his role in publicly crushing Karza’s insane demonstration. Heck, Ojeeg even manages to bring to a world the hope of a life they had forgotten so many years ago.

This issue did have some problems and points of confusion that I have to point out. At times the art seems a bit disjointed, but that could be because of the size of this monstrous issue and the demands of producing 48 pages in bi-monthly schedule; I believe Guice had other books going at the time as well. On the technical side, I understand the desire to use light-blue text on white caption boxes to give that winter vibe, but this decision lowered readability quite a bit, and those important parts of the story were at times taxing to read. The other odd thing is that Karza changes into a centaur while fighting the Micronauts, which is odd in that I thought he was now human…perhaps he retained some of the changes he made to himself. Still, this is a great issue and one worth checking out. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!


There you have it. I know I ran long talking about issue 55, but man did that book affect me as a kid, and to be honest, it still messes me up as an adult. Anyhow, next week is it. Issue 58 ends Mantlo’s tremendous run, and is Guice’s final issue as well. Issue 59 will mark the end of the first volume and will transition to Micronauts the New Voyages, which confounded the heck out of my Young Donist mind, so I'm curious to see what I think of it today. That said, aside from one image, I really don’t remember how issue 58 ends, but I’ll tell you this denizens, I know what I’m reading this evening.

While writing this entry, I listened to Federico Aubelle’s first two albums “Gran Hotel Buenos Aires” and “Panamericana” each of which are a beautiful blend of Flamenco guitar and electronic music. Check them out if you have a chance.

Micronauts Monday 5/5/2014

Friday Slice of Heaven, Slice Into the Woods 5/2/2014

(Sung to the tune of David Bowie’s “Modern Love”)


Hot dang there’s so many
I know some books to read
Get it done

Black Science rocks the socks
Rachel Rising melts my brain
So you’re twirling in the wind
But no need for you to cry
Books to try, to buy

Southern Bastards’s life
Deadly Class, Chew really charm
Come on out of the dark rain
There’s no need for you to cry
Books to try, to buy

Tellin’ ya the comics yer
Gonna love


Welcome back to Donist World, denizens! I’m your host, Donist, and I’m joined as ever by our CFO Obie (my friends’ Boston terrier), and by our marketing director/ administrative assistant/ party planner/ 7th level mage Tulip (my dog, Obie’s sister). This week, I am relieved to learn that Obie is no longer attempting to out-source/off-shore my position (i.e. fire my butt). Unfortunately, he has taken up a new quest to improve our Fortune 320,000 company standing by implementing a new business model here at Donist World; he calls it the MBDM model. What is the MBDM management style you ask? <sigh> Simply, it is Management By Dungeon Master. I should probably clarify that this is NOT referring to the “Dungeon” down on lower-lower-State Street, but rather good ol’ Advanced Dungeons and Dragons-style Dungeon Mastering. In fact, I just got out of a three-hour meeting where Obie explained to Tulip, Amy the intern (my wife), and I that he is now the CFO/DM of the company and that we all best be making our saving throws if we wish to succeed here at Donist World. I explained that “DM” also means “district manager” and that his new title might end up confusing future investors. His response was spit a Wilson tennis ball at my head as he barked a shrill, "Lightning Bolt!" Let’s just say he rolled a 20 and leave it at that—man, my forehead hurts. Regardless, I need to write him up for pummeling me with a tennis ball, while explaining that he should be working on raising his charisma stats before he takes on any sort of Dungeon Master position here at the company. <sigh> Anyhow, while I deal with this new development, take a gander at this all-Indie…

Friday Slice of Heaven

***Possible Spoilers Below***

Black Science #6

Black Science #6 - Written by Rick Remender, illustrated by Matteo Scalera, painted by Dean White, lettered by Rus Wooton, edited by Sebastian Girner, published by Image Comics. The thing that struck me the most about the first issue of this amazing series was that from the moment I opened the cover, I felt like I had jumped from my spot on a tranquil beach into a speeding roller coaster car. Not only that, once on the ride, I had to frantically buckle myself in, pull down the safety bar, and keep my arms and hands inside the car at all times as the story launched into some sharp turns and a few loop-the-loops to boot; I love that issue because of this. Enough of the metaphors and clichés, though, just know that the series begins with action and that action carries you through to the end of the book. Now, issues two through five have action, yet nowhere near the levels of the first, but the concluding chapter for the first arc once again thrusts you into the adventure for the entire issue, right before it—okay, back to metaphors—punches you in the stomach right as you attempt to catch your breath. Boy howdy…I was not expecting what happened at all!

Grant has finally had it with Kadir. Having learned last issue that Kadir was the one who sabotaged the Pillar, Grant blames the man for their world jumping plight and the deaths of some of his team members. Although Kadir is a monumental a_hole, he had his reasons; some of them were even quite valid. It’s too late to reflect on that now, as Grant and Kadir plummet into a frozen volcano as scores of fire-eyed science monkeys (yes, I can’t believe I just said that either) gaze at the intruders in confusion. It’s a battle to the death as the two humans fright both each other and the odd monkeys, but the clock is ticking before the next jump; what they find in the depths of a secret laboratory will shock them to their core.

<wheez> Hold on a second, denizens. <huff><puff><huff> Let me just catch my breath. Okay, this issue is gnarly. Not only do we start with action that flows beautifully from beginning to end, the creators share key character moments with some of the secondary cast, throw in a crazy revelation about one particular monkey, and slap us with an event that I can barely keep myself from spoiling—trust me, it’s monumental. Criminy! As much as I wanted to stay and see all this world has to offer with these…altered…monkeys, the clock running down alongside the manic fight-flight-fight-flight pacing of the story gave me a momentary glimpse into the weird I was craving. More than that, I was more desperate to see how things turned out with Grant and Kadir, than I was to see even more of the monkeys, the plants, and—sorry, not gonna spoil things this time. Just know that the strength of the creators’ craft kept me focused on two men having an argument, as opposed to the unbelievably insane things going on around them; this is not an easy thing to do.

Every aspect of this issue works, whether it is Remender’s thought captions, dialogue, and the aforementioned pacing. Scalera’s acting and storytelling is even stronger than in previous issues, which is mind boggling, and White’s painting brings in all of the stunning blues and magentas that captured my attention back in the first issue. Us lucky readers get a tremendous story that will elicit gasps, and that is guaranteed to leave you saying, “Holy smokes…I can’t believe the creators did that…or that…or THAT.” All I know, is that it will be a long painful wait until issue seven drops in July. If you have not been reading Black Science—go to your room without supper—then I’m certain a trade will be appearing in the near future. Black Science is a action-packed, rip-roarin’ comic that is not to be missed. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Rachel Rising #25

Rachel Rising #25 - Everythinged by Terry Moore, published by Abstract Studio. I love this series. I love this creator. If anyone says I don’t…well, them’s fightin’ words, denizens. Rachel Rising wrapped its first main arc last month and let me tell you, it was heavenly. Moore’s issue 24, aside from giving me some future nightmare-inducing imagery, wrapped up much of the storylines centering around Lilith. This does not mean there’s nothing left to tell going forward. The opposite is true; there are even more mysteries surrounding Rachel, her friends, and the town of Manson. We still do not know who killed Rachel, or the nitty-gritty details concerning Zoe, or what’s up with Malus, but now we learn a recent life-changing event might not be what it seemed.

We skip forward in time as the plagues brought about by Lilith dissipate. Snow melts. Rats die. A ravaged town takes a breath. Aunt Johnny is back in her body, and up and...well, she’s still pretty broken from the car wreck, but Rachel, courtesy of Bryn Erin, might be able to do something about that. Zoe has some fun with the rats—fun which disturbs Rachel and Jet to no end. Things seem to be back to normal, provided one doesn’t consider the fact that the two women laughing it up in the kitchen have been dead a few times, another had been poisoned only to have her soul put into a dog, and a little girl’s body contains the spirit of a killer. Aside from that, Manson is back to being a normal, sleepy, little town. But not for long. Rachel makes a discovery about the group’s recent poisoning, and no one is going to like what she has found…well, Zoe might…

Rachel Rising continues to be a great read, and this is in spite of the fact that this issue is considered by Moore to be a jumping on point for new readers. But you owe it to yourself to read the dang-amazing first 24 issues, which are available over four trades…trust me, denizens, you’ll thank me for this. Yes, I can see jumping on at this point, and Moore cleverly hides the exposition to bring newbies up to speed—a very hard thing to do—but there are so many beautiful, haunting, humorous, and suspenseful character and story moments worthy of your time, that you really should not skip those first 24 issues. Amy the intern (my wife) will have hammered through all four trades within two weeks—this is with barely any time in her schedule—and she is loving every moment of the book. I remember all the moments Moore’s series made me gasp out loud, and listening to Amy read this book, with each “Oh my God,” “Not Aunt Johnny, I love Aunt Johnny,” “This is freaking me out,” and “I love this book” tells me that, yup, she kind of likes Rachel Rising, too; this is coming from someone who does not generally like horror. Don’t miss out on experiencing this series from the beginning is all I’m saying.

Anyhow, this issue brings all the charm that keeps me loving these characters, while introducing a new twist that gave me a What?! No way! moment and an eagerness to see what happens next. Sure, we skipped over how Rachel found the dog that harnessed Aunt Johnny’s soul, and how the soul was returned to her vacant body, but that’s okay, there’s a new concern that the poisoning might not have occurred exactly how they believed. The moments with the twisted Zoe smoking a cigar and disposing of the rats, although completely messed up, had me rolling with laughter as I appreciated every line of the gorgeous art and every line of brilliant dialogue. The story, the art, the subtle character acting make Rachel Rising one of the best books on the stand, and one that rises to the top of my read pile with every new issue. This is as “creator owned” as it gets, and I encourage everyone to give this monumental series a read. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!


Other Heavenly Items:

Southern Bastards #1

Southern Bastards #1 - Written by Jason Aaron, art and color by Jason Latour, lettered by Jared K. Fletcher, color assist by Rico Renzi, edited by Sebastian Girner, published by Image Comics. Image pulls out yet another stellar #1 offering with Southern Bastards, only this time from Jason Aaron, on his first creator-owned project, and Jason Latour. Unlike the fantastic host of comics released from Image over the past two years, you will not find aliens, magical weapons, supernatural creatures, robots, time travel, irradiated teens, capes, or any sort of kaiju. Nope. This comic is set around characters and situations that could possibly exist. We’re talking about a facet of reality here, which is all sorts of terrifying. Yes, denizens, we’re talking about the deep, deep South, and it ain’t pretty.

After far too many years, Earl Tubb has returned to Craw County, Alabama to pack up his deceased father’s house, now that his Uncle Buhl is in a nursing home. It’s been decades since he left, right after his father was killed performing his duty as sheriff. Apparently, Earl ain’t been gone long enough. Within hours Earl has had a run in with a wicked former classmate who has got himself into all sorts of trouble, trouble that looks to envelop Earl in its voracity.

It’s only the first issue, and the creators have pulled me in for the ride. We only get brief glimpses into the character of Earl, and Dusty for that matter, but it’s too early to fall in love with any of the characters as of yet; I’m guessing that will come in time. What attracts me to this solid first issue is the setting, the hints of past events, and the current hierarchies that all look to collide with Earl now that he has returned to the place he never wished to see again. Aaron’s dialogue and characterization are wonderful and Latour’s art/colors are striking, whether he is drawing a full-page splash of a dog taking a dump on a lawn, or depicting an uncomfortable conversation at the local BBQ—which looks to be a major location in the future.

I have no idea what “fried pie” is, but dang if I don't want one; that is a separate matter. Thus far, all I know is Earl looks to be sticking around Craw County for more than three days, and given this intriguing start to the series, I know I’ll be back next month to see what this “Boss” character is all about. If issue one of Southern Bastards is any indication of what’s to come, I would suggest picking up this book immediately before it vanishes from the shelf, as it looks to be something special. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Chew #41

Chew #41 - Written and lettered by John Layman, illustrated and colored by Rob Guillory, color assists by Taylor Wells, published by Image Comics. Okay, I already mentioned there might be spoilers up near the top of the page, and yup…spoilers. Tony and Amelia got hitched in Vegas, baby! Not only that, after the major bust Tony and Colby intentionally made while trippin’ balls on chog-basted space fruit has garnered them a certain sense of notoriety. Unfortunately for their director, Applebee, chief director Lamode is also there and the man doesn’t like Applebee all that much. Poor Applebee. He’s inconsolable, but that just means it’s time for liquid courage. Finally, after foiling a plot by the Collector, Tony and Amelia discover that love is most definitely in the air.

<sniffle> I’m cryin’, denizens. Not out of sadness, and not out of joy—I am happy for Tony and Amelia, though—but from laughing from the first page to the last. Every panel of every page has something clever or crude, blatant or hidden and it all brings a smile to my face. If you’ve been reading FSoH/SitW for any length of time, then you know that I love this series and have since I first set eyes on issue one. The characters and the story are wacky, they are just out there, man, but above all they are compelling. As often as the series plays events for laughs, there are those few moments that are terribly sad, like when a loved character dies, and you feel so very sorry for those who survive as their grief envelops them. Then the laughs come, and you are once again rooting for the hero to right the wrongs.

As I say with every issue of Chew I review, you will not find anything like this book on the stands. It is unique, it is gross, it is fantastic, and if you have not been reading this remarkable achievement from Layman and Guillory, then you have really missed the boat. Never fear, you can pick up the trades, or better yet buy the hard cover Omnivore Editions…like the ones I bought! After 42 issues (including the must-own Secret Agent Poyo Special!), I begin to run out of new things to say about this great comic book series, but that’s okay. My work is done just so long as a new reader decides to give Chew a shot. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Deadly Class #4

Deadly Class #4 - Written by Rick Remender, illustrated by Wes Craig, colored by Lee Loughridge, lettered by Rus Wooton, edited by Sebastian Girner, published by Image Comics. Hey kids, don’t try this at home. Actually, don’t try any of this at home, out of your home, or at anyone else’s home. I ain’t just talkin’ about all the rampant drug use in this issue, I’m also talking about becoming assassins. Just. Don’t. Do. It. Also, kids, don’t go to Vegas; don’t even think about going to that den of sin. Stay home, stay in school—NOT one for assassins, mind you—get some kind of pet like a fish. Most of all kids, never go to a Grateful Dead show, or whatever it is for passes for one these days; no good will ever come of it.

Deadly Class continues to be an enjoyable and well-told tale, as Marcus continues to make one bad decision after another, namely risking being caught escaping from his punishment by his assassin school administrators, and doing a crapload of drugs. This is not my usual bag, as I’ve endured being around morons on drugs far too many times in my life, but here’s the thing: I’ve know people like Marcus, Willie, Saya, and the rest—minus the assassinating, of course. Given the time period and the kids involved, I can completely see them digging themselves into deeper and deeper trouble, as they head to Vegas after a quick stop at a Grateful Dead show. The question isn’t “Why would they do all of this?” but more accurately "Why wouldn’t they do all this?”

After reading Remender’s heartfelt note at the end of the first issue, I have a sneaking suspicion that some/much of this issue stems from personal experience. Remender continues to deliver amazing dialogue and phenomenal character development moments. Craig’s art takes the gorgeous, dynamic storytelling of the first three issues and adds in plenty of psychedelics to drive home the (altered)state of Marcus’s mind at the key moments. Craig’s standout pages are when Marcus—who is trippin’ balls—and his crew arrive in Vegas. Much of the impact is expertly hammered home through Loughridge’s amazing colors that are both beautiful and horrifying; it’s a miracle Marcus isn’t permanently driven mad over the experience. By the end of the issue, you have a shining example of what happens when all of the creators are perfectly in tune with the story being told.

Deadly Class is yet another amazing Image Comics offering. If you are fine with a book about teenage assassins and are cool with rampant teen drug use depicted in an all-too-realistic manner, then this is the book for you. Especially after this issue, Deadly Class is The Breakfast Club meets the early years of Gross Pointe Blank meets Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. If any of those movies or the subject matter scare you, then this might not be the book for you; I’m also shocked you read my posts. If you like those movies, and you are a fan of expertly crafted comic book stories, then this is a comic you can’t afford to miss. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Slice Into the Woods

Still No Freaking Undertow #3 - What a revoltin’ development, I tell youse. 

Friday Slice of Heaven, Slice Into the Woods 5/2/2014