Cramped: Justice League of America: The Lightning Saga

Review:

Justice League. Justice Society. Legion of Super-Heroes. Three of the biggest teams in the DC universe, possibly in all of comics. Not only for their A-List credentials and history, but also for the sheer number of members. And dozens of these heroes, from different comics eras and - in DC continuity - different centuries, make appearances in this massive cross-over event.

The plot centers on an attempt by a group of seven Legion members to travel back from the 31st century to present day, in order to resurrect a dead hero. But things go awry, they get separated and mentally affected by the process. Can they clear their minds, reunite and complete the mission? Will the Justice League of America and Justice Society of Anerica allow it, or stop them?

The story alternates between the two ongoing series, and writers Brad Meltzer (JLA) and Geoff Johns (JSA) do a solid job passing the narrative back and forth, slowly revealing and unpacking the true scope of Brainiac 5's grand plan.

Art duties are handled by Ed Benes and an assortment of other pencillers, with occasionally pronounced differences in style. Fernando Pasarin's lines and colors in chapter two, for example, are reminiscent of the Silver Age heyday of some of these heroes, while in Ed Benes' work the women are all smoking-hot, calling to mind the body lines and clothing cuts of the 1990s-era books.

But the most astounding artwork in this collection is Gene Ha's beautifully claustrophobic and disorienting rendering of Vixen and Red Arrow trapped and buried in rubble in Brad Meltzer's "Wells" standalone tale. A (literally) breath-taking story, both visually and in the strong characterizations and overwhelming sense of fear and regret throughout. Powerful!

Description:

#1 New York Times best-selling novelist Brad Meltzer joins forces with legendary comics writer Geoff Johns for this incredible graphic novel bringing together the DC Universe's top super-teams!   

Two of DCs biggest crews of superheroes--the Justice League of America, featuring Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and more--and the Justice Society of America, including Hawkman, Wildcat and others join forces in this stunning graphic novel! The JLA has discovered that several members of the Legion of Super-Heroes from the 31st century are in the present. With the help of the JSA, Superman and his team must track down all seven Legionnaires to discover why these heroes of the future have traveled back in time!

Collects: Justice League of America #0 and #8-12 and Justice Society of America #5-6

Authors: Brad Meltzer, Geoff Johns
Artists: Ed Benes, Gene Ha, Fernando Pasarin
Published By: DC Comics
Published When: Jan. 27 2009
Parental Rating: Teen
ISBN: 978-1401218690
Pages: 224 pages

Swimming Through the Decades: Aquaman: A Celebration of 75 Years

Review:

This handsome hard cover book gathers in one sweeping retrospective some of the key moments in Aquaman's first 75 years. From his first appearance in More Fun Comics #73 (1941) to a regular run as backup stories, leading to his first ongoing solo series in 1962 (issue #1 reprinted here), to multiple reboots, including the classic issue #2 of Peter David's run in the 1990s (in which Aquaman loses his hand), to the Geoff Johns reboot in 2011, it's all here.

His marriage to Mera, significantly the first DC Comics hero to wed, well before Superman or Batman, is here too. As is the reboot of Justice League, in which Aquaman shows his leadership chops in reconstructing a new team based in Detroit - leadership that would come naturally to a King of Atlantis but that was rarely shown so clearly.

There have been so many writers and artists who have taken on the Aquaman challenge through the years, and the best are represented here. What's missing are any of the cartoons and TV appearances which had an outsized influence in baking into the popular imagination some of the more ridiculous and embarrassing traits.

Talks to fish? Settled with maximum dismissiveness by Geoff Johns and his reboot.

Weak? see almost any of the representations of the past 30 years.

In reading this handsome edition, we are left with the clear sense of the strength, both physical and of character of this hero. We also see the strong pattern of outsider exclusion - this character never seems to fit into either world, not on land and not even in Atlantis.

Sure, Aqualad and Aquawoman are here too, but the camp is acknowledged in passing, before moving on to the depths of greatness this character, this half-demigod, this ruler of Atlantis, has grown into since.

Description:

Though often overshadowed or overlooked, Aquaman is among the greatest and most enduring characters in the DC Universe. The King of Atlantis is one of the few Golden Age characters to survive into the present day. He’s also a founding member of the Justice League, the first DC hero to start a family and soon will star in his own big-screen franchise.

From the lighthearted swashbuckling adventures of Aquaman’s early decades, through the loss of his son (not to mention his hand), to his modern reinvention as a formidable master of the sea, this collection provides a crash course in more than seven decades of DC history!

AQUAMAN: A CELEBRATION OF 75 YEARS collects 400 pages of the iconic hero’s finest moments—from his first appearance by Mort Weisinger and creator Paul Norris to his modern-day adventures—and features the work of such comics superstars as Geoff Johns, Ivan Reis, Jim Aparo, Steve Skeates, Peter David, Ramona Fradon, Paul Levitz, Nick Cardy and more.

Collects: More Fun Comics #73, 89; Adventure Comics #120, #174, #220, #260, #266, #269, #444, #452, #475; Aquaman (1962) #1, #18, #40; Justice League of America Annual #2; Aquaman (1986) #3; Aquaman (1991) #2, #34; Aquaman (1994) #4, #17; and Aquaman (2011) #1, #43

Authors: Various
Artists: Various
Published By: DC Comics
Published When: Oct. 25 2016
Parental Rating: Teen
ISBN: 978-1401264468
Pages: 400 pages

You Do Know We're Just Pretending, Right? Avengers vs X-Men: Avengers Academy

 

Review:

The 2012 Marvel war between the Avengers and the X-Men does not only affect and impact those seasoned warriors. In these pages, it spills over to the next generation. But when the power and politics of the combatants collides with the idealism and passions of youth, lines become blurred, allegiances are challenged. Can these powerful kids find a way forward?

There are ties to historical realities (e.g. Japanese internment camps during the second World War) and to deep questions of ethics and morality, free will, or age of adult responsibility. These elements show author Christos Gage's writing chops. He weaves these threads in and out of the main storyline, keeping them from gettig tangled. All while keeping the overall tone light and fun. Delightful!

Pencillers Tom Grummett (#29-31) and Timothy Green (#32-33) keep things tense and confrontational. And they work in lots of skin. The teen heroes show off their young and fit bodies. The mighty Hercules gives a lesson while teaching in the nude. Tigra does battle in her tiny bikini. But it's in portraying the emotional range where these two artists shine. Emma Frost's intense focus, now a further step removed from her humanity. Hazmat's masked anxiety. Juston's tears. X-23's childlike eyes. So many strong artistic moments.

In the end, the teen X-Men, held "for their safety" against their will at Avengers Academy, engage the young Avengers in a performative, fake fight, then leave to choose on their own whether to join the bigger fight or not, and on which side. This is a delightful tie-in to the larger war.

Description:

As Avengers vs. X-Men unfolds, the teenage mutants from Generation Hope and Utopia arrive at Avengers Academy...but as guests or prisoners? And have the Academy students switched sides in the war with the mutants? When Sebastian Shaw strikes, it may not matter! Then: the Phoenix-powered X-Men come for the school's Sentinel! Who will take a stand?

Collects: Avengers Academy #29-33

Authors: Christos Gage, Rick Remender
Artists: Tom Grummet, Timothy Green
Published By: Marvel 
Published When: Jan. 1 2013
Parental Rating: Teen+
ISBN: 978-0785165811
Pages: 184 pages

No Leftovers: Crazy Food Truck (Manga) Volume 3

Front cover of Crazy Food Truck volume 3

 Back cover of Crazy Food Truck volume 3. 

Why does each back cover show flying fish in the desert? 

Review:

Even the best of meals must come to an end. When the fine food, exquisite desserts and drinks are over, eating more would be gluttonous. So it is with Crazy Food Truck. This third and final book brings the adventures of Gordon and Arisa to a firm, final and tragically satisfying end.

This final course of food truck dining begins with a bang. Gordon reassembles the core of his old military unit for an assault on Towata to rescue the captured Arisa. With the retired General's strategic brilliance and determination, Kyle's courage and quick-thinking adaptability, Dylan's mechanical wizardry all stirred in, they pull it off! 

A shocking direct frontal assault succeeds. And in the process, they reveal Towata's secret ancient treasure that they have so zealously guarded for generations: giant eels! The revelation evokes hilarious responses - and ultimately the long-delayed and delicious sushi!

The rest of Book Three fills in the remaining back stories - the great war; Gordon's role in winning it, followed by faking his own death rather than become a senior leader; the origins of Arisa; the dedication of VALD to either retrieve or destroy her.

It all builds to a fantastically violent final confrontation and tragic end for our heroes Gordon and Arisa. But their joy in embracing the beauty of life, even in death, and their own happiness makes for a satisfying end, no bitter after-taste in this tale!

As always, Rokurou Ogaki tells a brisk and crisp story, delightfully seasoned by his art - in turns gory, desolate, sexy, silly, always beautiful. An expert blending of flavors in this tasty tale.

And a special thanks to Amanda Haley and Jennifer Leblanc who handled the translation and adaptation into English of this wonderfully entertaining series.

Description:

Zero customers, a naked young lady, and an armed militia—it’s just another postapocalyptic day for this food truck owner!

The owner of a food truck in a postapocalyptic world nearly runs over a naked girl sleeping in the middle of the desert. When he gives her a lift, he inadvertently takes on her baggage too—an armed militia hot on her trail…and her even more problematic appetite. If one doesn’t take him out, the other surely will!

Arisa’s been kidnapped, and it’s up to her sister Myna, Gordon, and his one-time subordinates Kyle and Dylan to rescue her. But when certain physical changes begin to take place within Arisa, the journey takes a sudden turn. It’s the final volume in this crazy food truck road trip full of postapocalyptic cooking, violent mayhem, and the search for freedom!

Collects: Chapters #11-16

Authors: Rokurou Ogaki
Artists: Rokurou Ogaki
Published By: VIZ Media 
Published When: March 21 2023
Parental Rating: Mature
ISBN: 978-1974735976
Pages: 200 pages

Main Course: Crazy Food Truck (Manga) Volume 2

 

Front cover of Crazy Food Truck volume 2

Back cover of Crazy Food Truck volume 2

Review:

Book two of this delightful series dives deeper into the desert wasteland, its bizarre creatures and delicious ways to prepare and eat them.

Gordon and his mysterious, gorgeous and hungry young companion Arisa continue their travels and adventures in his mobile food truck. Their miraculous escape from Kyle and his militia squad at the end of Book 1 is explained in brief flashback, giving us more insight into Arisa's origin in a secret military project, and loads of violence, in the process.

But that conflict is then placed on the back burner. More desert adventures await! Gordon and Arisa find a desert sauna and experience the joys of steamy heat followed by icy dips. And desert crabs. Always more food.

The cactus snails, with valuable pearls found in the ones with a left-curling shell, also make for a tasty dish. That is, if they can survive the homicidal academic researcher looking to claim the valuable pearls for himself.

Carnivorous trees that use water to lure their prey in the desert wasteland.

Camel Pigs that make excellent bacon.

It is a delightfully imagined and vividly rendered world, drawn with beauty and care by Rokurou Ogaki. Sure, there are lots of standard Manga shortcuts and cartoonish asides, but the land, the characters, the animals and especially the food are drawn with a master's loving touch.

By the end of Book 2 our food truck denizens are after sushi - but where to find fish in a desert wasteland? That quest leads them into conflict with the independent state of Towata, which captures Arisa, setting up an intense Book three.

Bring on the final course!

Description:

Zero customers, a naked young lady, and an armed militia—it’s just another postapocalyptic day for this food truck owner!

The owner of a food truck in a postapocalyptic world nearly runs over a naked girl sleeping in the middle of the desert. When he gives her a lift, he inadvertently takes on her baggage too—an armed militia hot on her trail…and her even more problematic appetite. If one doesn’t take him out, the other surely will!

Gordon, a middle-aged cook, and Arisa, his wild-woman companion, are still freewheeling their way through the desert on their food truck journey. Fueled by good grub, it’s a sauna for the soul. Meanwhile, Gordon’s former subordinate Kyle finds himself a new companion of his own—Arisa’s younger sister Myna! It’s time to put the pedal to the metal on this crazy food truck road trip!

Collects: Chapters #5-10

Authors: Rokurou Ogaki
Artists: Rokurou Ogaki
Published By: VIZ Media
Published When: Sept. 20 2022
Parental Rating: Mature
ISBN: 978-1974730124
Pages: 200 pages