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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 Friday, June 6, 2008
Today is the anniversary of D-Day, June 6, 1944. The Normandy operation was the largest single-day invasion in history. Over 130,000 troops were landed on the beaches, supported by almost 200,000 Allied naval and merchant navy personnel. The casualties were high, the march through Europe and to Berlin would be long and hard, but this date marked the beginning of the end for Germany's Third Reich. TOT remembers and honors the soldiers who gave their lives to turn back the Nazi tide of tyranny.
The events of the day have often been visited in war comics like Sgt. Fury Annual #2 [June, 1966]. "A Day of Thunder" was written by Roy Thomas with art by Dick Ayers (pencils) and John Tartaglione (inks).
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THE CANDY BOMBERS
Looking for an absorbing "summer book" to enjoy on vacation? I can't think of a better one than The Candy Bombers: The Untold Story of the Berlin Airlift and America's Finest Hour by Andrei Cherny [Putnam; $29.95]. It is an absolutely fascinating history of a political crisis that suddenly became a humanitarian effort which not only inspired a former foe to embrace democracy, but also showed Americans a path that embraced our better angels as we made our way through the beginning of the Cold War. That we would stray from that path on numerous occasions does not diminish the triumph of this particular story.
Cherny's hefty tome - around 550 pages before you get to the notes and such - begins in the spring of 1945 with Americans posed to enter devastated Berlin from one side and the Russians from the other. Neither side has much love for the defeated Germans at that point. One side will eventually transcend politics and, in doing so, achieve a victory of hearts and minds. The other, well, let's say Cherny leaves his readers with little doubt the villains of the piece are the Communists and, in truth, makes a convincing case for that viewpoint.
In amazing detail, Cheney describes a Berlin divided amongst its four conquerors and the difficulty of reaching accords between the Western allies and the Communists. Embolden by their superior numbers on the ground and the perceived war-weariness of the United States, the Russians bully their way through the city and make it their own. When the allies and the West Berliners prove less than compliant - the courage of the impoverished Germans is thrilling - the Reds block all land transports from entering the western parts of the city. They intend to freeze and starve the West Berliners into submission. Out of frustration with meaningless negotiations, out of an unwillingness to back down from this challenge, and, in time, out of humanitarianism, the United States launches what will eventually become the largest, most successful airlift operation in the history of the world.
But the meat of The Candy Bombers is Cherny's cast of characters, real-life people who struggle, not always successfully, with their own devils. President Harry Truman, by all predictions, a lame duck commander-in-chief dealing with a situation that could plunge the world into a new war. General Lucius Clay, the American military governor, working tirelessly to fulfill the duties of the post he never wanted. Poor doomed James Forrestal, the secretary of defense, whose warnings about Communism proved to be right, but who paid a terrible price for his convictions. William Turner, the man who made the Berlin Airlift work and never received the acclaim he so richly deserved. And the wonderful Gail Halvorsen, the pilot who started tying bags of candy to handkerchief chutes and dropping them to the children who gathered outside the airport destination of the airlift planes. When The Candy Bombers is made into a big-budget movie - and, if Hollywood has a lick of sense, that'll be soon - the role of "Hal" Halvorsen is the one that actors will covet above all others.
The Candy Bombers is the best non-fiction book I have read this millennium. It's a terrific tale, told fully and simply, filled with military and political intrigues, infused with enormous heart and humanity.
It earns the full five out of five Tonys.
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MADAME MIRAGE
I did a random forage through my piles of unread comic books and came up with Madame Mirage #3-5 [Top Cow; $2.99 each], the series created and written by Paul Dini with art by Kenneth Rocafort. I'd read the first issues and liked them, but felt there was something missing. That something was jeopardy. I never felt the mysterious Madame Mirage was ever in actual peril during those issues. Dini has finally turned that around.
In the world of Madame Mirage, technology created super-heroes and villains twisted that technology to their own ends. The heroes ended up outlaws and were imprisoned while the super-villains went underground, many of them working for Aggressive Solutions, Inc., a trouble-shooting corporation that is, beneath the surface, a more sinister enterprise. Our lady vigilante is out to bring down the villains and not at all shy about using lethal force to accomplish her goal.
Madam Mirage #3 is a perfect place to start reading the series; it reveals the secret and surprising origin of the heroine. Issue #4 pits her against more competent and far more dangerous opponents than she had faced previously. By the end of issue #5, we have ample reason to be concerned for her survival. It would be a disservice to the series and any new readers by revealing any more of what occurs in these issues.
Dini's writing isn't as stunning as either his best animation or comic-book work, but it's still first-rate. Rocafort's art and storytelling aren't quite up to the writing, but still quite nice. That adds up to a series worth checking out.
Madame Mirage #3-5 earn a perfectly respectable three out of five Tonys. I'm sticking with this title.
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LIGHTNING ROUND REVIEWS
The second and third issues of '76 were the best of the rest of the comic books I read for today's reviews. Each issue of this limited series features a 12-page chapter of its two strips: "Jackie Karma" by B. Clay Moore with artist Ed Tadem, and "Cool" by Seth Peck with Tigh Walker. The first recalls the kung fu flicks that took the country by storm in the 1970s; the second is a gritty tale of bounty hunters, drug dealers, and strippers.
"Jackie Karma" has a legendary martial arts warrior returning to the streets to take on an old enemy whose flooding New York City with a deadly new narcotic while the bail recovery agents of "Cool" deal with an ex-porn star turned hitman. The writing is very good with each chapter of the stories giving enough background to keep a new reader in the loop. The black-and-white art suits and tells the stories very well. Like the debut issue of the series, these two issues each earn an impressive four Tonys.
The Authority: Prime #6 [Wildstorm; $2.99] is the final issue of a six-issue series that doesn't come to an satisfying end. Yes, Wildstorm has been contaminated by "DC Universe Never-Ending Story Disease." That this story doesn't actually end is one of the few things of which I can be certain as a nasty, supremely powerful villain kicks the asses of the Authority until someone figures out how to kill him...except that it turns out they haven't killed him. This comic book desperately needed a "what has gone before" page, especially since the uncharacteristically uninspired Christos Gage writing doesn't offer so much as a leg up to a new reader. Darick Robertson's art is equally uninspired. The issue virtually screams "move along, move along, nothing to see here." I'm being kind to give it even one out of five Tonys.
I reviewed the first issue of the Metal Men limited series by writer/artist Duncan Rouleau here:
http://tinyurl.com/3s3m75
The issue received no Tonys whatsoever. I disliked it so much that I skipped the next five issues. Then, because of this stupid "DC Challenge" wherein I vowed to read and review a month's worth comics from DC and its various imprint, I read Metal Men #7 [DC; $2.99]. Oh, the pain.
The only good thing I could possibly say about this issue is that it brings us an issue closer to the merciful end of the eight-issue series. Except that you and I both know that this travesty won't end. It'll just be continued in some other lame DCU series. It also gets no Tonys whatsoever...and that's a much higher score than it deserves.
My pain diminishes but slightly with Midnighter #17 and #18 [Wildstorm; $2.99 each]. About as new reader unfriendly as a super-hero comic book can get, the first issue is a mostly silent battle between the title protagonist and an impersonator who kicks his ass and steals his identity so that said impersonator can go to the headquarters of the Authority in the next issue and kick their asses. Until one of the Authority figures out how to send him back to Earth where, presumably, the real Midnighter will either kick the impersonator's ass or get his ass kicked again. It's hard to believe Keith Giffen wrote a story this tiresome. These two issues earn one Tony each.
Thanks for spending a part of your day with me. Have a happy and safe weekend.
I'll be back on Monday with more stuff.
Tony Isabella
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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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