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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, September 12, 2005
SINISTER TALES #168 is a little different from the other Alan Class comics I've written about here. Most of those British black-and-whites reprinted Atlas/Marvel material from the late 1950s and early 1960s. This issue took its stories from Charlton...with just one tale from Atlas.
The Steve Ditko cover shown above and the issue's first four stories came from MYSTERIES OF UNEXPLORED WORLDS #4 [March, 1957]. "The Forbidden Room" is an eerily written and wonderfully drawn by Ditko tale of an impatient-for-his-inheritance nephew hastening his uncle's death by conning the older man into believing he is getting younger. There's an okay poetic justice twist at the end of the 9-page story, but Ditko's art is what makes the story great.
Even better is "Valley in the Mist," also drawn by Ditko. It has dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures that would do Al Williamson proud, a tough-guy pilot, and a scientist who can't wait to unleash his reptilian pets on "your soft decadent populace." It's crowded for its six pages, but still lots of fun.
The other two reprints from MOUW #4 - "Voices From the Dark" and "At the End of the Road" - are of the typical nondescript and nonsensical variety found in many Charlton "mystery" comics of the era. We'll not concern ourselves with them.
The next four stories were from MYSTERIES OF UNEXPLORED WORLDS #7 [February, 1958], one of the 68-pages-for-15-cents comic books Charlton published. That was a pretty good deal, but, apparently, the package didn't catch on.
"The Angry Things" is drawn by Ditko, but the tale didn't give him much to work with, save for some interesting backgrounds and a few formless spirits. It's followed by "And Life Goes On" (which opines the circularity of time in lackluster fashion), "The Talking Dog" (ghost dog saves failing marriage), and "Madman at Large" (the narrator is the madman, he just forgot that he was).
Ditko collectors take note. There are three other Ditko tales in MYSTERIES OF UNEXPLORED WORLDS #7.
SINISTER TALES #168 concludes with the three-page "Don't Turn Around" [JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #48; August, 1957]. Burglars break into a scientist's house to rob him. They get scared off by people from the past, brought to the present by the unconscious brainiac's new invention. The scientist never realizes his invention worked, smashes it to pieces, and vows to use his money and smarts to help real people from now one. It's not much of a story, but it's drawn by the legendary Bill Everett.
I'll be writing about more Alan Class comics in the very near future. Now let's see what else I have for you today.
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ANGEL
I'm three issues into ANGEL: THE CURSE [IDW; $3.99] by writer Jeff Mariotte and artist David Messina. The story is set after the end of the TV series, so, clearly, our vampire with a soul (one of two; collect the whole set] survived what I have dubbed "the finale in the alley." I'm not 100% certain who *else* survived - Spike is a good bet - but I know Nina the gorgeous werewolf is still in his life on account of she's why he's come to Romania for this limited series. I'll explain.
The nasty-as-they-come Angelus was cursed by Romania gypsies after he killed one of their daughters. He was reunited with his soul and sent on a guilt trip to end all guilt trips. Eventually, he decided to at least to make up for the countless innocents he'd slaughtered by helping other innocents. However, in what may have been the dumbest amendment to a curse ever, the gypsies made it so that if Angel ever experienced complete happiness, he would revert to being a soulless monster. What were they thinking?
So Angel and Nina are getting along pretty good except for a few nights out of every month and our hero wants to make sure this relationship doesn't go horribly wrong as in him getting too happy, going all evil, and slaying her entire family. He wants to locate the descendants of the gypsies who cursed him and convince them to change the curse ever so slightly.
Mariotte gets Angel right and that's one of the most important elements of a series like this. I "heard" the character's voice in the captions and dialogue...and it was a match for what I'd heard in the TV shows. Continuity-wise, the only quibble I have is that there *must* be stories between the end of the TV series and this one. I don't see Angel going from that climatic battle to working on getting his groove back without a couple of stops along the way. I mean, it ain't like a soldier coming home after World War II and settling down with the girl next door.
But I digress.
The gypsies are fighting a murderous warlord and the vampires allied with him. If Angel helps them - all they know is that he's a good vampire - he hopes they'll forgive him for his past acts and help him out. It's a solid premise for an entertaining story and that's what Mariotte has delivered so far...though the three issues to date could and should have been a more tightly-constructed two issues. The tale drags a bit here and there.
Messina does an acceptable job on the visual end of the books. His Angel and Angel supporting players look close enough to their TV counterparts to work for me. His storytelling is pretty good, though he should have gone with fewer head shots. The coloring is a little dark even for a comic book about a vampire, but that's an industry trend, so what are you gonna do?
Besides the comics, each issue of ANGEL: THE CURSE also has an unrelated prose story. The first issue has "Neighbors" by Joshua Hale Failkov, the second and third have "Dogs" by David M. Hurwitz. These tales aren't award-winners, but they are sufficiently creepy and well-written for me to enjoy them.
ANGEL: THE CURSE #1-3 are also not award-winners, but they are good comics. They earn a thoroughly respectable three Tonys, which could go up depending on whether or not Mariotte and Messina make with the satisfying ending to their story.
ANGEL: THE CURSE: 36 pages each, color.
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COMICS IN THE COMICS
Since there were so many other websites linking to or running the various comic strips commemorating BLONDIE's 75th anniversary, I haven't been running them here. But I got such a kick out of Dan Piraro's BIZARRO from September 4 that I made an exception for it. It might not be the last such exception.
Case in point: the BLONDIE strip from August 29.
One more today. If you saw the BLONDIE strip from September 9 in color, you saw a shocking new look for the Phantom. I don't think it works for him.
Look for more COMICS IN THE COMICS in future TOTs.
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FAN FIC
Some time ago, I expressed my dislike for fan-written fiction involving Black Lightning or, for that matter, any characters not in the public domain. I still think posting such works online is a violation of copyright and trademark laws, but I can't cite any cases where these works have caused serious harm to the holders of the copyrights and trademarks.
I'm revisiting this matter because I recently received a very heartfelt note from a comics fan who wanted to write his own Black Lightning stories...because he loves the character as I wrote him and because he hates what DC has been doing with him. Since he and I realize that DC isn't likely to publish any new Isabella-written BL stories any time soon, he wants to fill what he sees as an empty place in his comics enjoyment. I had to rethink my position after a note like that.
I won't presume to speak for other creators, but here's where I stand on Black Lightning fan fiction:
If you're going to write Black Lightning fan fiction, I don't want you to send it to me or send me links to where you have posted it online. I'm not going to comment on it. I'm not going to read it. I'm not going to publicize it. It's your thing and I want you to have fun with it, but I don't want to know about it.
I assume you want to write Black Lightning fan fiction because you love my creation. That's flattering...until you twist him into something he's not.
Jefferson Pierce is what I call a "liberal Northern Baptist." A man of faith, Jeff doesn't express his faith through bigotry. He feels God is vast enough to have created many roads to Him and it's only weak men who cling to a single so-called true path.
Jeff supports equal marriage rights for all Americans because he knows the power and value of love.
Jeff has no living blood relatives. Not a one. He couldn't possibly have had a niece with the last name of "Pierce."
Jeff is not an absentee father.
Jeff does build families around himself wherever he goes. He did it with his students and he did with the original Outsiders and he would certainly do it again.
Jeff is still in love with his ex-wife Lynn Stewart. He has never had sexual relations with another person. I think that's why those lightning bolts leak from his eyes.
It's sheer frustration.
Jeff is not a murderer.
Those are the truths about Jeff you can take to the bank and they come from the guy who knows him better than he knows himself. Accept no substitutes.
Have fun with your BL fan fiction, but stay true to who he is. Please don't try to make him your super-powered doppelganger. You might be a Republican, but he's not. You might be a bisexual, but he's not. You might want to do the wild thing with Katana or Halo or even Metamorpho, but he doesn't.
To summarize: have fun, respect my creation, and keep me out of it. I think we can all live with that.
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GODZILLA IN THE COMICS
Todd Clark and Scott Nickel's TRIPLE TAKE is a new comic strip that gives you three punch lines for the price of one. Their strip for September 6 was one of their best. For more information on and samples of TRIPLE TAKE, go here:
www.kingfeatures.com/features/comics/triple/about.htm
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TONY POLLS
Every Tuesday, I post new TONY POLLS questions for your voting entertainment. That means today's your last day to weigh in on the current questions, all of which involve the terrific JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED series on Cartoon Network.
We're asking you how often you watch the show, to choose your favorite core and supporting members, to name your favorite episode from the show's recently-completed fourth season, and how often you buy/read the comic-book version of the series. You can cast your votes by going here:
www.worldfamouscomics.com/tony/poll
Sometime after midnight, I'll post the new questions and those will remain active for a week. Watch for them there and watch for previous poll results here.
Thanks for spending a part of your day with me. I'll be back tomorrow with more stuff.
Tony Isabella
<< 09/09/2005 | 09/12/2005 | 09/13/2005 >>
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:
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