Missing in Action

Han Solo & Chewbacca #1

Marvel Comics' current Star Wars comic book series (Marvel Comics' volume 3; volume 4 overall if you include Dark Horse Comics' one-time series) takes place following the events of 1980's The Empire Strikes Back.  As we all know, Han Solo was frozen in carbonite at the end of the film and isn't rescued from the carbonite's deep freeze until 1983's The Return of the Jedi.  Therefore, he is MIA in this Star Wars comic series.  Charles Soule is a fantastic writer and has added Lando to the familiar cast, but no one is really a good replacement for the beloved character Han Solo. 

Finally, two years later, Marvel Comics gives us Han Solo and Chewbacca, exploring the adventures of these two best friends.  The comic book series takes place between the events of the 2018's Solo: A Star Wars Story and 1977's Star Wars: A New Hope, the original film.  Unfortunately, it's only a ten-issue limited series.  It's longer than the 5-issue Obi-Wan Kenobi or Yoda individual comic book series, so maybe they're testing out its popularity and it will come back as a regular series.  

I've been purchasing each issue in the Han Solo and Chewbacca series every month as they're released.  I was waiting until I had all ten issues before I started reading them.  I had just gotten issue #9, so I decided to start reading them, figuring by the time I read through them (in addition to the other comic book series I read), #10 would be released.  I read issue #1 through issue #9 back to back, non-stop.  I was completely absorbed into this backstory written by Marc Guggenheim.  Now I cannot wait until issue #10 is released so I can see how the story ends.  

Han Solo & Chewbacca #2

Along the way, we see such familiar characters as Jabba the Hutt, Bib Fortuna, Greedo, and Maz Kanata.  It gives readers a greater understanding of their background and connections to Han Solo and Chewbacca.  When Han shoots Greedo in Star Wars: A New Hope, we now understand what in their history ticks Han off so much about Greedo.  When an older Han (played by Harrison Ford) runs into Maz in 2015's Star Wars: The Force Awakens, we now know how they know each other from the past.    

I don't want to give away much of the exciting storyline, but I will say that it is currently one of my favorite comic book series, and I will be sad to see it come to an end.  Here's hoping Marvel recognizes its potential and continues giving us more of Han and Chewie's adventures written by Guggenheim.  After all, Darth Vader has his own ongoing series.  Even Doctor Aphra has her own ongoing series, and she's never been in a Star Wars film.  (Sorry, not a fan.)  

Silky Smooth

What do you get when you cross Spider-Man with the Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt?  You get Silk.

Marvel Comics' Silk has become one of my favorite series.  It's unique and offers some character development that a lot of series don't.  Besides fighting crime, there's the mystery of Silk's life in a bunker, adjusting to life outside the bunker, where her family is now, and her weird sexual connection to Peter Parker.  She's Asian, too, which gives some diversity to Marvel's superhero line-up.

The art seems a bit too cartoonish, but it's a well-written series.  Check it out!

Teen Titans vs. Champions

With the two Teen Titans series set in the New 52 Universe that truly sucked (not to mention the even worse Ravagers spin-off), I had hopes that the latest Teen Titans series set in DC's Rebirth would return to its New Teen Titans roots, or would at least resemble Geoff Johns' fantastic 2003 series.  I've read the Teen Titans: Rebirth #1 issue, and I'm disappointed to report that it doesn't get much better, folks.

Gone are Bunker, the new Power Girl, Wonder Girl (?), and Superboy, with additions of Starfire, the new Kid Flash, and Damian replacing Tim as the Robin on the team, but it still doesn't have that spark or character chemistry that the 1980s or 2003 series had.  Everyone just seemed bratty with shitty dialogue, just like the New 52 Teen Titans.  This was DC's big opportunity to do something great (again) with the Teen Titans...and they sadly fucked it up (again).

At the same time, I also read (and compared) the first issue of Marvel's new Champions series, which features teenage versions of Avengers characters.  Champions captured the spirit of the original 1960s, 1980s, and 2000s Teen Titans (and TV's Young Justice) that DC's "Rebirth" of the Teen Titans should have.  Fed up with the adult Avengers, the teenage Ms. Marvel, Totally Awesome Hulk, time-traveling Cyclops, Miles Morales' Spider-Man (boy?), Nova, and Vision's daughter Viv, form their own team.  The dialogue isn't cheesy or forced, and the first issue provides a great banding together of members.

Because the Teen Titans were always my favorite growing up, I hate to admit that in the contest of Teen Titans vs. Champions, Champions wins hands down.

Josie and the Pussyvampires

I previously wrote about my dislike for the new Afterlife with Archie series when it first debuted.  After reading a couple of issues, I dropped it.

I picked up the standalone issue of Afterlife with Archie #10 because it featured a spooky rendition of Josie and the Pussycats, and I have a lifelong affinity for them that stems from my childhood when I watched their fabulous short-lived cartoon series.  I have to admit that I. FREAKING. LOVED. IT.

The premise is that Josie and the Pussycats are vampires who have been hit musical successes (in their own way) in every decade, but then they fade into obscurity before reinventing themselves the next decade.  This fascinated me, and I loved the issue.  My only disappointment is that this was a one-off issue, and I don't think there are plans to incorporate them into the regular series' storyline.

I'm still not reading Afterlife with Archie every month, but if they ever bring back Josie and the Pussycats (or give them their own series that could take place in any decade), I definitely will.

Putting the "Super" in Superman

While I loved the first two Superman movies from the 1970s/80s, as well as the Super Friends Saturday morning cartoon series and its spin-offs, as a kid, I was never that crazy about reading the Superman comic books.  Week after week in the 80s, I'd visit my local comic book store.  Superman comics, including Action Comics and DC Comics Presents, never entered the rotation, with the exception of the occasional issue that guest-starred another character I liked.  That was, until John Byrne came onboard in 1986.  At that point, I was already a huge fan of his work on the X-Men, Fantastic Four, and Alpha Flight.  He made Superman interesting and more relatable for me.  That is to say, he gave him more human qualities, developed his personality, and gave him better storylines.  Meanwhile, George Perez was doing the same for Wonder Woman for me.  

Cut to 2008. I began reading Superman again and followed him up through his "Grounded" storyline until the long-running series ended with the events of Flashpoint.  Then DC Comics announced the New 52 and that Superman would feature George Perez and Nicola Scott.  I was intrigued.  I think they're both extremely talented.  Sadly, neither of them lasted on the title for very long, and Superman's storyline in the New 52 was obviously dictated from high above.  Still, I continued reading through many writer and artist changes, I guess out of some sort of weird obligation.  Then Geoff Johns finally took over the writing reigns with #32.  A-Ha!  Maybe now it will get better.  Along with him, he brought artist John Romita Jr.  I'm not sure what the craze is about his art.  The characters look so stiff and, many times, unlifelike.  Naturally, Johns didn't last long on the book; he's got way too many other obligations.  Then it was announced that Gene Luen Yang was coming onboard as writer with #41.  Who?  Never heard of him.  The Superman comics piled up while I read other series.  Then I finally sat down to read a few months' worth.  The writing was fantastic.  I had to flip back to see who it was.  Gene Luen Yang.  Wow.  Still never heard of him, but thought his writing was the best I've seen on this latest Superman series.  Now if only they'd bring back Nicola Scott on art chores.

On my drive home last night, I was listening to NPR.  (Yes, I know.  It makes me feel old, too.)  A segment came on about a Gene Yang.  It was talking about him being named the National Ambassador for Young People's Literature.  I thought, could this be the same Gene Yang?   When I got home, I Googled him to find out.  Sure enough, it was.  Wow.  Congratulations, and well-deserved.  I guess I'm not the only one impressed with his talent.  I hope Yang remains a permanent fixture in the DC Universe.  They need all the help they can get with the stale comics they've produced in the New 52 and beyond.  I hope they realize that it's not all about action, action, action and churning out boring, elongated stories just to later sell in graphic novel format.  Comics, too, can (and should) have character development (and aging).