Vampire Tales Vol 1

Title: Vampire Tales Vol 1





ISBN: 9780785146445

Price: $19.99

Publisher/Year: Marvel, 2010

Artist: John Romita JR., Pablo Marcos, Rich Buckler, Jesus Blasco, Esteban Maroto, Winslow Mortimer, Vicente Alcazar, Carlos Garzon

Writer: Gerry Conway, Ron Goulart, Don McGregor, Steve Gerber, Gardner F. Fox, Roy Thomas

Collects: Vampire Tales #1-3



Rating: 3/5



Vampires prowl the dark and the innocents are not the only victims.  In the dark, killers like Morbius and Satana the Devil’s Daughter push the boundaries of what is a hero…The nights are not safe!



Vampire Tales Volume 1 collects the Marvel magazine Vampire Tales which was part of the horror wave in the 1970s.  Like many of Marvel’s magazines the comic burned out quickly but had an interesting run.  The series is collected in three volumes, but uncollected in an all reprint Vampire Tales Annual #1 that contained the stories “The Praying Mantis Principal” (Vampire Tales #2) and “The Kiss of Death” (Vampire Tales #3) among other stories.



I’m a sucker for anthology series.  Vampire Tales is no exception.  I actually prefer the shorter more EC style of stories in the volume than the longer comic based volumes surrounding Morbius and Satana.  The short volumes are like little Twilight Zone episodes…almost all with predictable zingers, but they are still fun.  It is also good to see that Marvel kept in the articles (though dated) that talk of vampires and vampire films.



The Marvel magazines tried to be more edgy and darker than Marvel’s regular series.  This means for the most part, prostitutes, pimps, drug users, and other “dark” figures of the world instead of the lighter world of comics (the magazines weren’t regulated by the Comic Code).  They also as a result boast some great art and cover art.  The magazines were black-and-white but here, they also reprint the great colored covers.



The series does introduce Satana in Vampire Tales #2.  It is a short story simply called “Satana” and Satana is presented as more of a succubus than a vampire (Vampire Tales often strayed from the vampire theme).  Satana was created as a type of ying-yang to her brother the Son of Satan (Daimon Hellstrom).  While the Son of Satan rejected their father’s darkness, Satana embraced it…though she never really got to shine or develop since her limited appears were few and far between.



Vampire Tales Volume 1 wasn’t a big sell and can often be found at discount prices.  That is a shame since it probably hinders other Marvel magazines from receiving this nice treatment.  Tales of the Zombie was already collected in an Essential volume and Dracula Lives and The Hulk also found its way to other collections, but it would be great to see Deadly Hands of Kung Fu or Monsters Unleashed get full printing.

Ultimate Comics Spider-Man Vol. 1: The World According to Peter Parker

Title: Ultimate Comics Spider-Man Vol. 1: The World According to Peter Parker




ISBN: 9780785140115

Price: $24.99

Publisher/Year: Marvel, 2010

Artist: David Lafuente

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis

Collects: Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #1-6



Rating: 4/5



Marvel Comics, the long standing and beloved purveyor of superheroes and wonderment for countless generations founded the Ultimate line — an attempt to free characters like the Hulk, Deadpool, and others, from decades of continuity but more importantly to redirect them to a whole new, modern, and fresh start for the readers to experience. The Ultimate Comics line prospered but by very definition of prospering over time became not ‘new’ anymore.



And so, it was decided that the line would be relaunched. For Spider-Man comics, it went from being Ultimate Spider-Man to Ultimate Comics Spider-Man.



Ultimate Comics Spider-Man Vol.1: The World According to Peter Parker opens a fresh new read for Spider-Man fans. It picks up the aftermath of Ultimatum and entirely jumpstarts the current situation Peter is in. It also changes the way Spider-Man fanatics see Peter’s life and gives them a brand new excitement, a whole bunch of brand new characters, and a brand new story to follow and to keep track of.



It has been six months since the Ultimatum wave laid New York and a new chapter in the life of the teenage webslinger unfolds. The Daily Bugle is no more, the Kingpin has been assassinated, Parker works as a cashier at Burger Frog, Midtown High has another superhero roaming the halls, and surprisingly the people of New York adores Spider-Man and not think of him as a masked vigilante. Even the cops are asking for his autograph! Very unalike to the N.Y.P.D. cops who shot Parker on his leg in the 2012 film The Amazing Spider-Man.



But it’s not only how smooth Parker’s life is heading that is featured in this debut volume but also the rough paths he has to take and discover. His got some issues too: a new girlfriend earning all kinds of drama from the old one, Aunt May turning her modest Forest Hills home into a boarding house for wayward youths and an “electrifying” Mysterio causing havoc in the city and troubles for Spider-Man.



When Aunt May took Johnny Storm a.k.a. the Human Torch in their house, everything was not as it seems to be and definitely not normal for a normal house to shelter homeless teen superheroes. Parker even questions the whole super-friends-living-under-one-roof thing that he thinks will be suspicious to the neighbors. When it comes to doing the chores, Johnny doesn’t even do chores and plans to do the “Peter Parker/Spider-Man” thing which is to get a secret identity and go to school unnoticed while having a black hairdo. It was successful except for one person– MJ who instantly realized it was Johnny. Even when he spoke with an accent.



Kitty Pride and Bobby Drake (Iceman) were also accepted in the house and became part of the odd family. They too changed their get-ups and pretended to be Peter’s cousins. They all now go to the same school where Peter goes to.



What I like about this relaunch of a Spider-Man storyline is its abundance of realism especially to the headmaster of Parker’s school who had an issue with accusing Parker as Spider-Man before for the sole reason that he sees Spider-Man as a danger not only to the institute but also to the safety of the students. Centrally to the safety of the students. Even though most people see the webcrawler as a hero, he is still a bringer of fear and death because when he do heroic stuff, evil follows him wherever he goes. Even in school.



The comic brought realization that villains never stop at one point. They continue to do evil threatening everyone around Peter. Friends, family. Everyone. The villain in this book is at first I thought to be Electro (Ultimate) because of his static appearance but it was not-the-typical Mysterio who wears a green astrosuit but a sleek black leather outfit with his head ghastly blue.



One more epic matter in this new storyline is the mysterious hooded vigilante sweeping off crime before Peter could even retaliate. The cops give the glory to Spider-Man who had only just came to the crime scene where the hooded man finished off the criminals. In the end of the comic book, it was revealed who the mysterious man really is. Peter doesn’t yet know that he personally knows who the mystery cloaked man is. The coming volumes will surely be a thrilling adventure!

X-Factor: Life and Death Matters

Title: X-Factor: Life and Death Matters




ISBN: 9780785126232

Price: $19.99

Publisher/Year: Marvel, 2007

Artist: Ariel Olivetti, Dennis Calero, Renato Arlem, Roy Allen Martinez

Writer: Peter David

Collects: X-Factor #7-12



Rating: 3/5



This volume ties in with Marvel’s Civil War project, although were it not for the odd snippet of dialogue and the reproduced covers saying so, there would be little indication. It’s obviously not an event that greatly interested writer Peter David, and X-Factor’s participation is merely tangential, although a point of view is established. Their primary concern is the ongoing interference of the Tryp Foundation.



David particularly enjoys the narrative possibilities supplied by Layla Miller, the girl who knows stuff, primarily the relatively short term future. He frequently supplies her with oblique snippets of dialogue that only reveal their meaning several pages later. This could become tiresome, but David is clever enough not to over-play the game, yet for almost one entire chapter he has her sitting on the stoop passing a few well chosen words to those in the area. In another chapter she drops a complete bomb.



Other cast members are equally well developed, with Madrox learning elements of his past, Siryn refusing to process information most would consider traumatic and Monet for once being only the second most insufferably arrogant character featured. That’s because Quicksilver also drops by. A colleague of some current X-Factor members in a former incarnation of the team, he’s now able to restore powers to mutants who’ve had them removed, although not always with the desired consequences.



The dialogue is so crisp and the interaction so enjoyable that it matters little that there’s minimal traditional superhero action, although when it occurs, it resonates. Even revealing that a shocking and unpredictable ending comes from nowhere, yet is completely consistent, won’t make it any easier to see coming.



One tiresome aspect of both this book and the series as a whole is the seeming unwillingness of any artist to commit to more than a handful of chapters. It’s not that the artistic styles of Renato Arlem, Dennis Calero, Roy Allen Martinez and Ariel Olivetti are completely incompatible, but four artists for a mere six chapters? Really? The series continues with Many Lives of Madrox.

Grendel: The Devil Inside

Title: Grendel: The Devil Inside





ISBN: 9781569716045

Price: $12.95

Publisher/Year: Dark Horse, 2004

Artist: Bernie Mireault

Writer: Matt Wagner

Collects: Grendel: The Devil Inside #1-3



Rating: 3/5



Grendel is a character who comes close to defying description. He's inhabited a number of people over time, and the only constants through these stories are his psychosis and distinctive mask. In this chapter of Wagner's multi-generational saga, Grendel possesses a down-on-his-luck stage manager in a near-future New York, and pushes him into a murder spree.



This tale, which originally appeared as a three-part miniseries in 1987, is a product of its time. Wagner's oblique script seemed daring and naturalistic then, but now comes off as coy. Similarly, some of his narrative techniques seemed groundbreaking at the time (e.g., the narrative captions displayed as handwritten journal entries), but now feel quaintly similar to contemporary works like Frank Miller's Batman: Year One and Alan Moore's Watchmen . Mireault's art ages better (with the exception of his design for the police detective, who sports a Flock of Seagulls haircut), retaining its "underground comix" edge and conveying a sense of a desolate, urban environment without sacrificing clean lines or clear storytelling.



Given Wagner's reluctance to resort to straightforward exposition, this isn't a book for casual readers, who will likely miss some of the resonance that Grendel aficionados will find rewarding. However, longtime fans will welcome this reprint of one of the more innovative chapters in Wagner's 50-plus–part saga.

Ghost Rider: Danny Ketch Classic Vol 1

Title: Ghost Rider: Danny Ketch Classic Vol 1




ISBN: 9780785145424

Price: $29.99

Publisher/Year: Marvel, 2010

Artist: Mark Texeria, Larry Stroman, Javier Saltares, Chris Marrinan, Ron Wagner, James Palmiotti, Mark McKenna

Writer: Howard Mackie, Roy Thomas, Dann Thomas

Collects: Ghost Rider #11-20, Dr. Strange #28



Rating: 3/5



Ghost Rider continues to be a hot ’90s commodity at this point. The series really was taking off in its run and back issues were hard to come by.  I can remember paying $10 for number #1 (which was high for the time) and now it is possible to find it in the dollar bins at some comic book stores. A special glow-in-the-dark cover for Ghost Rider (2) #15 also became a big hit for fans and collectors.



Ghost Rider is faced with a new threat when he is found by Johnny Blaze, the original Ghost Rider. As Blaze tries to determine Ghost Rider’s real intentions, Ghost Rider battles the likes of Nightmare, Zodiak, Snowblind, Hobgoblin, Reverend Styge, and Suicide with the help of Spider-Man and Dr. Strange.



The stories in this volume calm down a bit and find more focus from the first ten issues of Ghost Rider volume 2 which were collected in Ghost Rider: Danny Ketch Classic 1. The arrival of Johnny Blaze as sort of a sidekick in Ghost Rider (2) #13 really does help the series in this string of issues by Ghost Rider having to prove he’s not Zarathos to Blaze. Blaze also signals the downfall of the Ghost Rider series which occurs in the next ten issues with the introduction of the Midnight Sons which really complicated the plot and added a lot of elements that turned off fans, but for here Blaze does work.



The villains in this volume still are kind of creature of the month with Ghost Rider facing off against name villains Nightmare and Mephisto, but introducing Snowblind and Suicide which never really caught on. Ghost Rider quest to capture Zodiak ended in issue #20 but the evil Deathwatch and Blackout are no shows (which is a bit weird if Mackie was trying to develop them as major players). Hobgoblin does fit with Ghost Rider style wise but mostly just feels like a reason for another crossover for Spider-Man.



The Danny Ketch Ghost Rider is definitely a product of the 1990s. He isn’t very relevant today and it is almost more fun to go back and read these issues to see how much comics have changed in a couple of decades. What once was “cool” is now “lame” but soon it might be retro and then everyone is happy…I just don’t think it is retro quite yet…but bring on Darkhawk and Sleepwalker!

End of an era

This week, I made the decision that I have been struggling with for quite some time.



For many, this would have been a very easy decision to make... considering all the information. For me, it was an exhausting debate that has taken almost a year to decide.



In 2009, I learned that IDW was reviving G.I. Joe with a new comic book series. I felt the call back to purchasing new comics.

I went to my LCS, Tony's Kingdom of Comics & Collectibles and signed-up for a subscription box.

I started with the bare minimum of titles, but that grew soon. I learned that Lady Death was coming back to comics, so I had to add that to my list. In 2010, IDW started G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero right where Marvel had left off. Since this was the title that brought me into comics in the first place, it was the flagship of my entire subscription.

Over the years I added and subtracted so many title from my list. There are some titles that I read the trades for now that I really wished I had jumped on when they began coming out in single issues. There are also many titles that sit in my collection that I lament every buying.



While my individual issue collection continued to grow, I occasionally realized that I wasn't even reading the comics I would buy. I would pick them up, enter them into my database, and then house them in one of the several long boxes I have. And I got caught-up into buying variant covers for so long. I got obsessed with the collecting.



Since beginning this blog, I have grown my collection of trades. Some titles I never thought I would ever own, and many that I'm glad I picked-up. I don't feel that obsessive over my trade collecting, and I do read every single one before it is shelved. In this way, I feel that it is a more healthy habit of collecting.



So that brings us to Wednesday, January 17, 2018. New comic book day.



I pick-up the books that are in my box, and I let Tony know that I will no longer be collecting new issues.



I had made a promise to myself last year that once I had completed my Marvel collection of G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, I would stop buying new comics. The last issue I needed, #154... I found on eBay in the United Kingdom. It was in excellent condition, and the price was lower than anything I could find in the United States.



My collecting habit started with issue #50, and ended with issue #154. I see the poetry in that.












I want to thank Tony Grove for being the best LCS owner I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. This isn't a goodbye... this is a see you again soon. I'll be back for trades and the occasional Funko Pop, you can bet on that.

2018 Outlook and Insight

As we're getting closer to the end of 2017 and the beginning of 2018, I'm thinking about the future and the past. These thoughts bring me to my writing now. We'll start with the future first.



Today, I was updating the layout of my blog when I realized just how many comic events are happening in the PNW in 2018. Here's the list:

These are all posted in chronological order for 2018. It will be the 2nd year for Walker Stalker Con and Oregon Coast Comic Con (which was Northwest Comic Con in 2017). I am so looking forward to going to Image Expo finally now that they've moved to Portland. Also, freshman year for the I Like Comic Con event should be incredibly fun. They've already announced Jim Steranko as the artist guest of honor. Every event should be awesome! And just to think that only a handful of years ago, there was only Emerald City Comic Con, Portland Comic Book Show and Stumptown Comic Fest.



As I've mentioned before, my plans are to promote my non-profit this year at Oregon Coast Comic Con and Rose City Comic Con at the very least. Comic Book Covers 4 Cancer is confirmed for Oregon Coast Comic Con, but I haven't hear back about Rose City yet. If not Rose City, then hopefully EUCON will have me.



2017 has been good to me in the fact that I've come closer to completing my G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Marvel collection. The Holy Grail from this year in the elusive issue # 155; the final issue from Marvel.

When I received this issue, I started to think about my future in collecting; which also turned to thoughts about my previous dreams and aspirations.



Since my early 20's, I've always dreamed of having a combination comic book and game store. Something that genuinely catered to both the gaming and comic book communities. I envisioned a space large enough to have rooms for private gaming, tables for CCG and miniature game events, shelves for trades and graphic novels and several tables with long boxes full of back issues.



There was even a time that I was considering a location that would allow for land with area for LARP events. this was back when there was a large enough LARP presence in Salem to warrant such a space. After about 20 years with the Camarilla/Mind's Eye Society, I know how valuable decent LARP gaming space is around here.



But now I can't imagine trying such a venture, especially with the news that there are so many comic shops that have gone out of business over the past couple of years. I've also noticed that the gaming store that I go to in town has been steadily decreasing the amount of inventory on hand. I'm sure that this is due to the fact that they don't want their assets tied-up in so much inventory that just sits on the shelves. The last time I went in for a specific book for a game I'm interested in, the response was "We can always order it for you." As much as I want to support local small business, I go into a store for a specific purpose and prefer to walk out with the item I came in for. If I wanted to wait, I can order it online somewhere.



I will always prefer physical copies of books, comics and trades over a digital copy. Unfortunately, I must be a dying breed of people. Another unfortunate item is that I'm running out of room to store everything I collect.



I currently have 12 long boxes and 5 short boxes full of comic books. I also have 4 bookshelves full of trades and gaming books. Most of my Funko Pop collection are in about 20+ 12 gallon storage totes in our garage.



An this makes me think about how reasonable it is to continue to collect so many things. I still read the trades and am a semi-active gamer, but the comic books get put away in the boxes, barely ever thought about. What makes matters worse is that the hard drive to my laptop crashed back in September, and I was unable to recover the database that I had all my comics inventoried in. Now, I have to inventory the entire collection again. I have figured-out which software I'm going to use to take on this task, but I still question about continuing to get new issues that I'll probably never read.



I seriously considering giving-up collecting new comics after I have the rest of my G.I. Joe collection completed. G.I. Joe started the obsession, it makes sense that it should end it as well.
















The final 4 issues I need. I would also love for Larry Hama to come back to the PNW to have him sign a few more issues in my collection... especially that #155.



No matter what I decided to do with my personal comic book collecting habits, I will continue to collect, read and review trades. I have a small stack to go through to actually write the reviews for, and I'll be going through it over the remaining weeks of 2017 and get them ready for 2018.