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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, June 9, 2008
On this date in 1909, Alice Huyler Ramsey left Manhattan to begin the 3,800-mile journey to San Francisco that would, 59 days later, make her the first woman to drive across the United States. The 22-year-old housewife and mother from Hackensack, New Jersey, a graduate of Vassar College, traveled with two older sisters-in-law and another female friend, none of whom drove.
Cheered by the waiting crowd, her green Maxwell arrived in San Francisco on August 10. During the next 66 years, she would drive across the country another thirty times. She moved to California in her later years and, in 1961, wrote Veil, Duster, and Tire Iron, a book about her first cross-country drive. She passed away in 1983, but, in 2000, became the first woman inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame.
Dr. Richard Anderson, a Pacific Northwest antique car buff, and his 34-year old daughter Emily, have dedicated themselves to restoring a 1909 Maxwell and then recreating "Alice's Drive" on the event's 100th anniversary next year. Emily will do the driving and be joined by three female friends. For the latest on the Andersons and their quest, go to:
http://aliceramsey.org/adventure
Now tell me...what other comics column brings you cool stuff like this?
******
ADDENDUM
We also have a trio of comics creators birthdays to celebrate today, starting with Bob Bolling, whose Little Archie comics are much loved by several generations of comic-book readers. He's 80 years old today.
George Perez was born on this date in 1954. He's drawn every major character at DC and Marvel Comics, and dozens - probably hundreds - more from other outfits. Early in his career, he penciled one of my own favorite scripts: "War Toy" in Unknown Worlds of Science Fiction #2.
Born in 1956, Tim Eldred is the creator, writer, and artist of the way cool Grease Monkey, a graphic novel that was named "a best book for young adults" by the American Library Association in 2007.
You can learn more about Grease Monkey here:
www.greasemonkeybook.com Tim went to Japan a year ago has given me permission to run his multi-part trip journal in TOT. I'll be bringing it to you as soon as I can find the time to edit it and find some illustrations and photos to go with it.
Happy birthday to all these fine gentleman. I wish them the happiest of days and many more great years to come.
******
COVERT VAMPIRIC OPERATIONS
CVO is a top-secret American strike force that deals with supernatural threats to our nation. What makes them different from our other forces is that its field operatives are...vampires. Yes, it's a cheesy concept, but, as the many hours your Tipster spends watching Sci-Fi Channel movies will confirm, I dearly love monster cheese. IDW has published a number of CVO limited series and one-shots, but CVO: Covert Vampiric Operations: African Blood [$17.99] is my first experience with the series.
An Ethiopian arms dealer is selling mystical artifacts and the CVO is sent to seize and/or destroy them. Written by El Torres, African Blood could've used a bit of "What Has Gone Before" info for the new reader, but that's not a major problem. It didn't take long for me to pick up most of what I needed to know to enjoy the story.
Cross is the leader of the mission's six-vampire team. Even for the undead, this guy is especially grim and sullen. It was in Ethiopia that his life was saved by a friend and where Cross was unable to return that favor. Additionally, Cross grieves for his dead family, just as his wife and son, who are very much alive, grieve for him. The government told Cross they were dead and told his family Cross died in a terrorist attack.
Further complicating the mission are the arms dealer's army of "low cost African vampires" that do his bidding and his ace in the hole. John Noble, the man who saved Cross, has been turned into a vampire completely under the control of the arms dealer.
The story moves along at an exciting pace. Though Torres doesn't get to spend a lot of time with all of the characters, he does well with Cross and a few others. The arms dealer is nicely villainous and his vampires are pretty frightening. There are enough moments of jeopardy and peril to keep things interesting and even a satisfying conclusion. That last has become increasingly important in these times of DC and Marvel super-hero stories that never actually end.
Visually, artist Luis Czerniawski and colorist Fran Gamboa deliver respectable efforts. There are a few awkward faces and poses from the former and some muddy sequences from the latter, but, overall, it's a decent-looking book.
CVO: Covert Vampiric Operations: African Blood earns three out of five Tonys.
******
MOON CHILD
One of the biggest perils of my DC Challenge - my plan to read a month's worth of comic books from DC and its various imprints - is that my first issue of a title might be several issues into the title's run. That also holds true for some of the non-DC comics I am reading of late.
As you will see in this week's reviews.
Reiko Shimizu's Moon Child Volume Ten [CMX; $9.99] gives readers two helpful pages of character-based "in previous volumes" information at the start of the book. Which gave me a head start on finding many of those characters downright creepy...and not in a good way. Several characters are human-looking male "mermaids" who may or may not change their sex so they can lay eggs and then die after being fertilized by the mermaids who remain male. One of these characters was a 10-year-old boy who turned into a beautiful woman who can, apparently, blow stuff up with her mind. She's in love with a male mermaid who, apparently, was more in love with her younger male self. See what I mean about "downright creepy...and not in a good way?"
There are some compelling emotional moments in this book and Shimizu's dream-like, wispy art makes the most of them. Sometimes you can feel their pain, such as when an older human woman realizes she's being used by the male mermaid she loves. Other times, such as when a male mermaid begs another male mermaid to fertilize him if he changes into a female, it's clumsy enough to make the late Ed Wood blush.
There are also truly scary moments, such as when the now-adult Benjamin and the male dancer she loves, agonize over the belief her uncontrollable power was the cause of the space shuttle Challenger exploding. The evil machinations of Gil Owen/Teruto, a mermaid who has possessed the body of one of the wealthiest men on our planet, are also frightening.
Moon Child certainly ventures into some very different and interesting territory, but the dancer pining over the 10-year-old boy was a deal-breaker for me. The book is rated "T" for teens and does warns of suggestive situations, but I think that rating is perhaps too mild. If I factor in my discomfort - and, just to make things clear, I'm okay with the gender-change and same-sex romance elements of the story - the best score I can give this volume is a half-hearted two out of five Tonys.
******
MADMAN ATOMIC COMICS
Sometimes I get lucky. Madman Atomic Comics #8 [Image; $2.99] is the first Madman comic book I've ever read and it started with an entertaining and informative 13-page recap of what has gone before. Written and drawn by creator Mike Allred, the tale brought me right up to speed on the character and left me wanting to read the earlier issues.
"Find a Penny, Pick It Up", the other story in this issue, was an amusing, complete-unto-itself adventure by writer J.L. Allred and layout artist Nick Dragotta with Mike Allred doing the finished art. A penny made of the other-dimensional transferium is missing, causing strange changes to the hapless citizens who come across it. The coloring and separations for both stories are by Laura Allred with Nate Piekos handling the lettering.
Rounding out the issue are pin-ups, a lively letters column, and a tribute to the late Dave Stevens. That's very good bang for your bucks and earns this issue four out of five Tonys.
******
TONY POLLS
Every Tuesday, I post new Tony Polls questions for your balloting entertainment. Today is your last chance to vote on the current questions, which came from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror Films nominations for their 34th Annual Saturn Awards. Those awards will be given out on June 24. I'm asking you to vote on the eight Saturn Awards categories that honor television actors, actresses, and series.
You can make your choices at:
www.worldfamouscomics.com/tony/poll
New poll questions will be posted tomorrow.
Thanks for spending a part of your day with me. I'll be back tomorrow with more stuff.
Tony Isabella
<< 06/06/2008 | 06/09/2008 | 06/10/2008 >>
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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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