This issue is devoted to an unused chapter of a little known Marvel miniseries called Questprobe. In this never before published tale, the X-Men have become allies with Magneto and are enjoying themselves while Magento moves his stuff from a raised Atlantis to become the headmaster of Xavier’s School for Gifted Mutants.
Did I miss something? I’m not used to Magento being a good guy and clearly this takes place during a period of X-Men history in which I’ve not read- YET!
The story is classic Chris Claremont. The art is pretty good for late 80s Marvel. But, because of certain plot points to which I am not familiar with, like the good Magneto, it wasn’t my favorite X-Men story.
However, it was good enough to add all three issues of Questprobe to my wish list. I really do want to know how that story line ends.
Worth Consuming.

Art Baltazar does it again with the preview of his latest DC Kid’s book Superman Family Adventures. Just like Tiny Titans, it’s cleverly written for kids, but offers lots of Easter eggs for grown-ups. It’s like a Disney movie, offering a little bit for the kids AND their parents.
There are also two very good short stories about Cartoon Network’s Young Justice and Green Lantern: The Animated Series. The art is spot on to their respective shows and the plots are quite good.
Worth Consuming.

Part 2 of the Captain America/ Yellow Claw story finishes with an explosive finale. When it’s up to a guy named Leapfrog to save you, you’d better have some good contigency plans. Just wait till you see the calvary assembled to come to Capt’s rescue.
The back-up feature is a little preachy, when Vision of the Avengers decides to avenge a homeless woman murdered in cold blood. It’s a rather touching tale, but it’s also a story with a morale and a view on how to help America’s homeless problem.
Both feature really good storytelling and art.
Worth Consuming.

For a TV show that hasn’t aired a new episode in 40 years nor been in reruns since the late 80s, I’m not sure why reprints of My Favorite Martian were chosen as a Free Comic Book Day 2012 selection- even if Hyperion Press is releasing the comics in a hardbound form. (Ok- to be honest, I’m not sure why My Favorite Martian needed to be reprinted period.)
The stories were bad and sometimes the art was spot on of a young Bill Bixby and Ray Walston. It’s classic Gold Key movie/tv tie-in. It was a pleasant surprise. But, I’m not gonna run out to my local comic shop and buy the collected edition either.
But, if you are a fan of the series or you love old 60s sitcoms, this series could be right up your alley.
Worth Consuming.

Into Darkness hits a little close to home with the acts of terrorism conducted by Benedict Cumberbatch’s character. Even more relavent is how Starfleet has become like our government when the long range torpedoes developed to kill Cumberatch are like the drones of today. What right does any government have to kill someone, even a known terrorist without a trail? It’s a question that not only Spock asks in the film, but the average Joe on the streets in the 21st century.
Besides being preachy, a few scenes seem like they were made only for being added to a video game- or to make the 3D version more exciting. But, those action scenes are too far fetched and not needed, really.
The acting is great. Abrams did a fantastic job getting actors who look and act like those of the Original series. I must admit, I liked the first Star Trek a little bit better, but in no way did this film not leave me wanting a 3rd film, either.
I am waiting for the director’s cut, because several actors are listed in the credits that do not appear in the film, like Chris Helmworth’s George Kirk and whoever Heather Langenkamp of Nightmare on Elm Street fame played.
Worth Consuming.

Captain America is teamed with a biazarre “superhero” named Leapfrog in an attempt to stop a visiting guru from being assassinated by Yellow Claw.
It’s a really weird story. Leapfrog’s like a poor man’s Ambush Bug. Completely bizarre, minus the trans-dimensional powers.
The better parts of the tale involve Capt. by himself. The pairing of him with Leapfrog is like a bad buddy cop movie.
There is also two other tales involving Doctor Strange and Daredevil. They’re good, just not really memorable.
Worth Consuming, but just barely.

Fanfare #30 is devoted to a Moon Knight story that feels like a Swamp Thing crossover. When Marc Spector tries to flee the effects of a Full Moon eclipse, he goes on a vacation. Only, mother nature, literally, is also feeling the effects of the eclipse and is going loco.
This just seems like a plot Alan Moore would’ve done during his Swamp Thing run. It’s a really good story, the supporting characters are interesting, and the art is very well done. I just keep expecting Swamp Thing to pop out at any moment.
Worth Consuming.

Another in Fanfare’s “Experimental” comics series. In the John Byrne Hulk tale, the Green Machine is summoned to a medicine and somehow lured into a trap with a siamese twins-type pair of villains. The catch is that each page is a single panel and so narration, dialogue, and art must operate extra hard to tale a cohesive story with so little room to work.
Then, we’ve got a Captain America tale that squeezes in as many panels as possible. Why, there’s panels inside of panels. It make for a massively fast-paced read. However, with all that space being used hyper-efficiently, the writer spends very little time making the supporting characters very interesting.
A novel concept that is enjoyable, though not without faults. That’s why these stories are experiments and not masterpieces.
Worth Consuming.

I’ve never really been a fan of Alpha Flight. I know Wolverine was once a member and it takes place in Canada. But, aside from those pluses, I’ve just never really liked this distant cousin of the X-Men.
This Fanfare is devoted to an Alpha Flight story that was meant to become a Marvel Graphic Novel, but never saw the green light. It focuses on the checkered past of Northstar. However, it’s about his role as a member of a Canadian terrorist cell and not his controversial life-style choice.
The art is classic Marvel Graphic Novel quality. Lots of watercolors and straight pen-lines. The cast of extras is spanding and it’s a little hard keeping them straight when their names are A, B, C and 1, 2, 3.
Not the worst thing I ever read. But, just not my thing.