COMIC COMMENTARY
Modern Material
All-New Wolverine Annual #1: One of the few replacement/generational characters from Marvel that I felt added, rather than subtracted from the Marvel Universe, Laura, the "All-New" Wolverine from the title, is joined by the worst, Spider-Gwen, and the issue is poorer for it. A cross-dimensional caper, because Spider-Gwen has to brought into the 616 every chance they get (its a rule, doncha know) that doesn't make sense. I mean I understood the plot, it just seemed a pointless run around. There are also examples of good and bad editorial material in here. At the recap/premise page, it explictly points out the this annual takes place
before Civil War II. Who cares? Nothing happens of note inthis issue, and nothing of note is happening in Civil War II that affects these two characters. The villain of the piece is enacting a revenge plot because they are related to someone the "original"Wolverine killed. When? Why? Here would have been the time to include a good, old-fashioned Editor's Note. You know, "See Super Spandex-Guy #12 --Editor". I don't understand why today, at a time when digitally and in trades the back catalog is more available than it has ever been that this isn't used more. One of the best digital features that never came to be was when an early digital platform (now defunct) talked about turning all those old editor notes into links that navigated your collection or prompted an impulse buy.
Amazing Spider-Man #17: Spider-Man continues to investigate NuLife and an ally gets in trouble. Once again trying to avoid spoilers. A good issue. Its another one that could have also benefited from some Editor Notes or stronger editing. I *think* the events of this issue overlap with issue #16, but the transitions aren't very clear. I like where this appears to be heading, but I have to ask, with the particular people involved to date, as the evil cabal grows, how likely are a majority of Spider-Man's villains likely to find out his secret identity?
Astonishing Ant-Man #11: Not necessarily filler, but an epilogue to the last arc that sets up the next as Scott finishes his narration relating how he ended up back in prison (I presume that's not a spoiler since it was part of the narrative framework from the first issue). This is only a Civil War II tie-in because it gets mentioned in an off-hand manner in a conversation.
Golden Age Greats
All-American Comics #41: Not a bad issue, but nothing particularly stands-out. The Golden Age Green Lantern helps an indian tribe realize they are being duped in a story that would be offensive today. There is a funny bit where Doiby realizing the Indians don't really know what Green Lantern looks like, stalls for time and bluffs wearing a version of Green Lantern's costume. Hop Harrigan gets hazed by his commanding officer (yeah, I didn't know that kind of thing was allowed in the military). Sargon the Sorcerer prevents an assassination attempt with shaving razors and shears. Sargon is probably the most inventive strip in the series at this point, with his power to command whatever he's touched, he uses inanimate objects in visually interesting ways, but they aren't portrayed an anthropomorphic cartoon creations like they are in the Zatara strip in Action. In the Atom strip he stops some saboteurs from blowing up a plant. They work for the Black Dragon Society which will feature again in All-Star and be used to good effect by Roy Thomas in All-Star Squadron.
Silver Age Spotlight
Daredevil #17: Spidey and Daredevil continue to antagonize each other before teaming-up to prevent the Masked Marauder from stealing the fuel-plans for an experimental engine. What I liked this issue: Spidey assuming that Foggy was Daredevil, Daredevil bating and using Jonah to his own ends, the reaction of General Motors to Jonah's new special, and the solid that Daredevil does Spider-Man. This is the start of the Spider-Man/Daredevil friendship. When everyone jumps to the conclusion that Spider-Man is up to know good, Daredevil takes the time to correct everyone and give Spider-Man credit for the bust. The first meeting between Spider-Man and Daredevil is referenced several times (in Amazing Spider-Man #16...cause you know, editor's notes). The Romita art sings. This title has sparkled since he took over, and you can tell this is a Spider-Man try-out as Spider-Man, Jonah, and May all make appearances. It fills like Stan wanted to see how Romita would do with different key members of Spider-Man's cast. The only negative was the over-wrought dialog about the Foggy, Karen, Matt love triangle. It was like someone hit the slow-motion button on the book, every time it was focused on.
MOVIE MADNESS
Blazing Saddles: We lost one of the greats last week, which prompted my wife to put on Blazing Saddles since he had never seen it. The film is a wonderful satire of the Western genre and on race, but it is extremely shocking when watched through the cultural sensitivity lens of 2016. This was covered wonderfully on the Film and Water Podcast
click here to download. I'll just mention some of my favorite parts:
- There must be legal precedent....Here it is Hanley vs. United States, Hanley 7, United States nothing!
- Sorry sir, I'm all booked until Monday.
- Well if you must pry. I must, I must
- The b!t@h was creating the candygram! And I bet they won't give me credit for them either.
- All of the fourth wall breaking. Everyone points out the cinema and backlot scene, but Bart talks to the camera throughout the film.
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