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Reviews and commentary by Tony Isabella
"America's Most Beloved Comic-Book Writer & Columnist"
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TONY'S ONLINE TIPS
for Monday, May 2, 2005
If I ever get serious about collecting comic books instead of simply amassing them in hap-hazard fashion, and if my finances ever improve to cover more than the month-to-month bills, two college-bound teenagers, and various home repairs/renovations/improvements, I'd definitely go for a complete collection of KONGA, the wild and sometimes wacky Charlton Comics series starring the giant ape from the 1961 monster movie of the same name. That said ape died in the film proved no impediment for Charlton writer Joe Gill; Konga was back for KONGA #2. I've never read that issue - I don't know if it starred a "new" Konga or if the old one got better - but it led to string of just over two dozen Konga comic books, many of them drawn by the great Steve Ditko.
KONGA #7 [July, 1962] lacks credits, but Ditko is indisputably the artist of "Konga Meets the Creatures From Beyond Space" and the script for the 20-page adventure bears all the characteristics of Gill's full-speed-ahead writing style. It starts with a recap of the previous issue - these early issues of Konga had a very strong continuity - and then follows Konga on his quest for a place where he can live in peace. This time, instead of men disrupting Konga's harmony, it's extraterrestrial plant-men.
The story doesn't offer much in the way of surprising turns, but Gill's attention to detail, such as showing Konga's diet as the ape makes his way to the issue's secluded island setting, is quite remarkable, and the writer includes sympathetic human characters to connect readers more fully to the unfolding events. Ditko's art is masterful: clear storytelling, distinctive characters, and exciting action. The issue's cover is actually an interior page, something "thrifty" Charlton did often.
Backing up the lead feature is a two-page text story, an out-of-place single-page comics tribute to Oliver Hazard Perry, and a three-page lecture on "Lost Worlds," which, like the lead, is drawn by Ditko. That adds up to 26 pages; 12 cents could buy a lot more comic back in the day.
This copy of the issue, graded very good with a small chip out of the right edge of the cover, came into my eager hands via one of Randy Gipson's eBay auctions. I paid $12 for the comic and another $2.95 for shipping.
Gipson is one of my favorite sellers; he always has terrific stuff, grades fairly, and provides exemplary service in packaging his wares and sending them out. If you would like to check out his auctions, his ID is "rgipson05".
Look for more of my "eBay adventures" in future TOTs. Because I need all the tax deductions I can get.
******
DONALD DUCK AND FRIENDS
DONALD DUCK AND FRIENDS #327 [Gemstone; $2.95] presents three complete stories for just under three bucks and that's a good deal in today's marketplace. The issue starts off with Carl Barks' 1944 "Kite Weather" in which a cocksure Donald schemes to out-do his nephews in a high-flying competition. While the story does show its age, it's still a funny tale that imparts a few morals without being too heavy-handed about it.
Guest-star Mickey Mouse investigates "Mysteries of Ancient Egypt" in an amusing adventure by writer Don Markstein and artist Jaspen Lund Madsen. As he often does, Markstein even works a few comments about comics and comics art into his script. Presenting a Mickey story makes for welcome variety in this title, especially when it's a story as good as this one.
The issue's third and final story is the biggest in terms of sheer imagination and magnitude. You'll be surprised to learn the identity of "The Giant From Outer Space" in Gorm Transgaard's story - impressively drawn by Marcal Abella Bresco - but what will likely stay with you are the wild scenarios he depicts.
DONALD DUCK AND FRIENDS #327 picks up an impressive four out of five Tonys. As always, you'll find a concise explanation of the TOT reviewing scale elsewhere on this page.
******
TONY POLLS
Every Tuesday, more or less, we post new questions on our TONY POLLS page. The most recently completed balloting centered on the long-running STAR TREK franchise...
Star Trek: Enterprise has been canceled and the franchise will be on hiatus. How long do you think Paramount should wait before launching a new Star Trek series?
FIVE YEARS.....43.58%
Two years.....26.26%
One year.....11.73%
Forever.....11.73%
Ten years.....6.70%
I voted for five years. Two years risks putting development in the hands of the current creative administration who have not, in my opinion, done well by Star Trek.
Who should run a new Star Trek series?
J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI.....23.26%
Peter David.....20.93%
Joss Whedon.....12.79%
Harlan Ellison.....8.72%
Quentin Tarantino.....4.65%
Rich Berman/Brandon Bragga.....4.07%
Jerry Bruckheimer.....4.07%
J.J. Abrams.....2.33%
Aaron Sorkin.....2.33%
David Cassidy.....1.74%
Chris Carter.....1.74%
Dick Wolf.....1.74%
Kevin Smith.....1.16%
Steven Bochco.....0.58%
David E. Kelley.....0.58%
James Cameron.....0%
Mark Cherry.....0%
George Lucas.....0%
Frank Miller.....0%
Other.....9.30%
This was a tough call. While I would certainly watch a Star Trek series helmed by Straczynski or Whedon, we've seen their great science fiction and horror shows. I'd want something different in a new Trek series. Carter and Lucas have had their epics and were unable to sustain their quality.
I love Harlan Ellison like a favorite uncle, so I'd never wish the grind of a weekly series on him. Peter David and Frank Miller would be interesting choices, as would Bochco, Bruckheimer, Cherry, and Wolf. I thought long and hard about Kelley - whose LAKE PLACID is a terrific monster movie - and Sorkin, who could probably give us some interesting takes on future politics.
Ultimately, I voted for DAVID CASSIDY...because I'm an idiot. You see, I had really meant to put AMERICAN GOTHIC creator *Shaun* Cassidy on my list of choices. The 1995 series was good and creepy fun; I think it would be intriguing to see what Cassidy could have done with the Star Trek franchise.
I also erred by not including MANNY COTO on the list. By all accounts, Coto has done some good work on this, the final season of ENTERPRISE, and deserved to be there. He did receive a few write-in votes, but I think he would have placed high if he had been on the actual list.
Which of these concepts would you most like to see used in a new Star Trek series?
CAPTAIN SULU.....26.35%
Starfleet Academy.....24.55%
Cogley For the Defense.....8.38%
Law and Order: Special Vulcans Unit.....6.59%
Riker and Wife.....4.79%
Morn.....3.59%
Queer Eye for the Android Guy.....3.59%
Mudd In Your Eye.....2.99%
C.S.I. Bajor.....2.40%
Kahless: The Legendary Journeys.....2.40%
Neutral Zone.....2.40%
Survivor: Cestus III.....2.40%
Celebrity Fizzbin Showdown.....1.80%
Everybody Loves Romulans.....1.80%
Turnabout Commander.....1.80%
299 Simple Rules For Dating Ferengi.....1.20%
Bashir's Anatomy.....1.20%
Federation Idol.....0.60%
I Love Lwaxana.....0.60%
Keeler and Kirk.....0.60%
Most of the choices were good-natured jokes, but I did include serious options as well. I didn't vote for "Captain Sulu" because, as much as I enjoy actor George Takei's work, I'm not convinced his character can support a series. I also didn't vote for "Starfleet Academy" because I think TV already has enough angst-ridden teens and 20-somethings.
I *did* vote for COGLEY FOR THE DEFENSE and not solely because Bob Ingersoll and I wrote a novel starring the character. I would like to see something new from a Trek series and the combination of courtroom drama and science fiction adventure has a strong appeal for me. Besides, if Paramount did this one, Bob and I might get to write some more Sam Cogley novels.
I did have one other serious idea for a Star Trek series, but I'm saving it for when there's a chance I could actually make some money from it. It would be very different from anything else that has been done with Star Trek and might not appeal to every devotee of the franchise, but I think I could get a lot of terrific stories from my concept. Have my people call your people.
There was also one non-Trek topic included with this batch of TONY POLLS questions...
Which one of these items would you most like to see reviewed in TONY'S ONLINE TIPS?
CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS.....45.03%
Art of George Tuska.....12.58%
Back Issue #9.....7.28%
Queen & Country - Operation: Saddlebags.....5.30%
Art of Greg Horn Vol. 1.....4.64%
Essential Tomb of Dracula Vol. 4.....4.64%
Dr. Blink: Superhero Shrink #1.....3.97%
Dork Tower #30.....3.31%
Hopeless Savages: The Dusted Bunnies.....3.31%
The Long Haul.....1.99%
PS238 #10.....1.99%
The Bloodline Chronicles.....1.32%
Nodwick #27.....1.32%
Wobblies!.....1.32%
Little Star #1.....0.66%
Love as a Foreign Language Volume 2.....0.66%
Shuck The Sulfurstar #1.....0.66%
Living Life Inside The Lines.....0%
Othello: Volume 3.....0%
The Wallflower: Volume 3.....0%
I began reading Marv Wolfman's CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS novel this weekend, so you can expect a review of it this month...or as soon as Marv's check clears. You'll see some of the other choices reviewed as well.
What you won't see from me is a review of that ESSENTIAL TOMB OF DRACULA volume on account of it reprints four of the stories I wrote for Marvel's DRACULA LIVES mag. But I wouldn't be adverse to running a guest review of it. If anyone has the book and wants to review it for TOT, e-mail me and I'll give you the go-ahead or let you know that someone else has already claimed dibs on it.
The above "review" question will be the last such question for the immediate future. I have many past winners and reader requests to get through first. However, this shouldn't stop you from making review requests. I'll do my best to include them - along with the stuff you didn't ask for, but which I think you should know about - in upcoming editions of TOT.
Moving along...
Today will be your last full day to vote on our current TONY POLLS questions, all of which concern the Eisners and other comics industry awards. Sometime after midnight tonight, those questions will be taken down and, sometime tomorrow, a new batch of questions will be posted. You can cast your votes at:
www.worldfamouscomics.com/tony/poll
Thanks for spending a part of your day with me. I'll be back tomorrow with more stuff.
Tony Isabella
<< 05/01/2005 | 05/02/2005 | 05/03/2005 >>
Discuss this column with me at my Message Board. Also, read Heroes and Villains: Real and Imagined.
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THE "TONY" SCALE
ZERO: Burn your money before buying any comic receiving this rating. It doesn't *necessarily* mean there's absolutely nothing of value here - though it *could* - but whatever value it might possess shrinks into insignificance before its overall awfulness.
ONE: Buy something else. Maybe I found something which wasn't completely dreadful in the item, but not enough for me to recommend it when there are better comics available. I only want what's best for you, my children.
TWO: Basic judgment call. I found some value, but not enough to recommend it. My review should give you enough info to decide if you want to take a chance on it. Are you feeling lucky today, punk? Well, are you?
THREE: This denotes something I find perfectly respectable. There are better books out there, but I wouldn't regret buying this item. Based on my review, you should be able to determine if it's of interest to you. Let the Force guide you.
FOUR: I recommend anything earning this rating. Unless you don't like the genre, subject matter, or past work of the creators, I believe you'll enjoy this item. Isn't it uncanny how I can look right into your soul that way?
FIVE: Anything getting this rating is among the best comicdom has to offer. You should buy/read this, even if the genre/subject matter doesn't appeal to you. It's for your own good. Me, I live for comics and books this good...but not in a pathetic "Comic-Book Guy" sort of way.
Please send material you would like me to review to:
Tony's Online Tips
840 Damon Drive
Medina, OH 44256
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