Mutant X #1

Written by: Howard Mackie

Art by: Tom Raney and Andrew Pepoy

Let me start this review by saying a few things about my comic book buying habits. Here are some things I look for in a title from either Marvel or DC:

1) Does the title have a beginning, middle, and ending?

2)Did one person write from issue one to the final issue?

3) Do I need to read any other series to understand what is going on in this title?

4) Is the title set in a alternate reality (non Earth 1 or Earth 616, depending)?

5) Can I make a check list?

So according to this set of rigorous tests Mutant X is a perfect title for me to collect. It's set in an alternate reality - if fact it is the only title to take place in this alternate reality. It consists of 32 issues and 3 annuals, all written by Howard Mackie. When I was collecting this series, I had a checklist (I like checklist more than any sane person should - I keep a spreadsheet of my comics with a pie graph showing publisher distribution). It has a beginning, middle and end. One thing to note about possible flaws in the test - there is no gauge for quality, either in art or story.

So, on to Mutant X #1. It opes with Havok (Alex Summers) falling through a starry background, talking about remembering dying. We then cut to a fight scene between a group called the Six (consisting of Havok, Madelyn Pryor, the Brute, Iceman, the Fallen, and Bloodstorm) and some Sentinels. They fight, the Six gets the upper hand, and one of the Sentinels tries to blow away Madelyn; Havok jumps in the way and takes the blast - this sends him into a river where the two Havoks merge.

Havok awakes, see these twisted versions of his friends and freaks out. The Fallen clock him and we cut to the Six's hideout. A long, drawn out section takes place explaining all the characters. Havok and Madelyn are married and have a son, Scotty. The Brute is Hank McCoy - but a dull witted, reptilian version, as his experiments took another direction on this world. The Fallen is Warren Worthington III, but instead of metal wings, his are now bat-like and he breaths fire. Iceman can't turn off his ice. Bloodstorm is Ororo Munroe who never got over Dracula's bite. Long story short, Havok decides to run with this to see who is behind the tinkering of reality.

We learn that in this world the Six are heroes and mutants and humans live in peace. Nick Fury and SHEILD are fighters for humanity - and have taken Havok and Madelyn's kid hostage at the Statue of Liberty. The team takes off and fight Fury and friends. Madelyn mentions the Goblin Queen (SPOILER) and the team is able to save Scotty. The book ends with Scotty confronting Havok - saying "You're not my real father."

Wow. What an issue; packed with information and very little plot, which is a bit generic, but the characters are the real focal point. Like a fun house mirror. The art is standard fare for marvel in the late 90's - nothing ground breaking, lots of odd poses.

The whole reason I picked up this series is Havok. I hate Cyclops with a passion and a solo book about his underachieving brother is perfect for me. And Scott Summer is dead in this reality. Awesome.

This is a book that appeals to my sweet tooth and I am kind o ashamed to say I love this title. More reviews to come. Until tomorrow - happy reading.

Sandman Mystery Theatre #4

Written by: Matt Wagner

Art by: Guy Davis

The trail that leads to the Tarantula's web gets shorter and shorter; but how many bodies will the Sandman find there?

This issue is the last in this story arc and wraps up the tale quite nicely. Clues lead Wesley to the Goldman residence where he finds Catherine and Celia chained up and at death's door. A veiled figure shows up (who has been making periodic appearances through this arc) and the two fight. The Sandman gases her and she goes down. This turns out to be Al Goldman's wife.

The Tarantula shows up, black hood and all, and our titular hero and his first rival clash. No one really gets an upper hand and the Tarantula is eventually electrocuted by a stray wire. He turns out to be Al Goldman's son, Roger.

Both Celia and Catherine survive their ordeal and the plot is summed up over dinner. Roger was pissed about being written out of the will, the wife was pissed about Al's mistress (Catherine) so they teamed up to try to squeeze daddy for money. Families are fun, aren't they?

Well, that wraps up this issue. Guy Davis has developed a visual style that remains both stunning and haunting on this title - like nothing I've ever seen before. And Matt Wagner can write one hell of a mystery.

Until tomorrow - happy reading.

Sandman Mystery Theatre #3

Written by: Matt Moore

Art by: Guy Davis

Terror still stalks the streets as the Tarantula's kidnapping spree continues.

This issue opens with Detective Burke investigating an abandoned warehouse - and who should turn up but the Sandman. They fight; Burke gets gassed and Wesley takes a shot to the head. Back at the Dodd's residence, Dian comes calling in the dead of the night. She and Wes talk - a joke is made and she leave.

Cut to more torture scenes (the art is awesomely gruesome).

Wes finds out the accountant who hid assets for the out of business milk company and interrogates him. He find out that the current owner is the son of none other that known bootlegger and all around not-so-nice guy, Al Goldman. Burke shows up too late - throws down his hat - everyone laughs.

The story then moves into the Goldman house where we see that Al and his daughter, Celia, are more than just father and daughter.

The issue closes with Celia being kidnapped by the Tarantula.

This is another fine chapter in this series. I was thinking on the drive home today about what it was that drew me to this series in the first place. I know right off the bat it had something to o with Matt Wagner. I love his story telling . It's always so tight. This series, so far, has been plotted a lot like a Raymond Chandler novel. Good stuff. Guy Davies continues to add his very distinct style to this title. It feels scratchy, like old film.

Busy at home, sorry I missed a couple days. Wedding bells and all. Well, until next time - happy reading.

Sandman Mystery Theatre #2

Written by: Matt Wagner

Art by: Guy Davis

It's 1938 and a Tarantula still stalks the streets of New York City.

Last issue ended with Dian walking in on our titular hero in the ladies room (he was listening to a conversation between the police chief and the district attorney) - the Sandman spins her around and jumps out the window. Startled, Dian emerges in time to hear her father say that they recovered a body, a victim of the Tarantula. Dian volunteers to ID the body and we cut to the morgue - turns out this isn't her friend Catherine.

Insert torture scene - and Wesley just happens to be outside of the police station to offer Dian a ride home. Cut to scene with Al Goldman (known bootlegger) and his daughter; she says to daddy "You know I only have eyes for you" while rubbing on him. Something isn't right at the Goldman house.

Lt. Burke is looking to question Catherine's cab driver, but on the way up to his apartment Burke notices something outside the window. He opens said window and in pours a cloud of green smoke. Nighty night. The Sandman proceeds to question the cabbie. Burke wakes to find the cabbie passed out.

Dian and Wesley have dinner. Burke finds out that a delivery truck at the kidnap scene belongs to a company that has been out of business for 5 years, meanwhile another woman is kidnapped. The issue ends with some more torture of Catherine.

I enjoyed this issue. Not a lot of action, but the mystery is shaping up. This is one of the more cerebral titles I've read - it keeps the mind sharp. Matt is a very good mystery writer. Guy's art fits perfectly. Has a very real quality to it, like an old photograph pulled from a box in your grandfather's attic.

Lots of questions still to be answered in the first story arc of this title. I know there is a trade out there - so go buy it. Until tomorrow - happy reading.

Sandman Mystery Theatre #1

Written by: Matt Wagner

Art by: Guy Davis

Imagine, if you will, it's 1938 in New York - prohibition was lifted 5 years ago, jazz clubs are everywhere, Action Comics #1 just came out - and a man calling himself the Tarantula is kidnapping young girls. Who will save the city with a blend of wit, sleeping gas and...origami? That's right, the Sandman will.

In this first issue of Sandman Mystery Theatre, the key players in the drama are introduced: Wesley Dodds (a rich, aloof spectacle-wearing introvert), Lawrence Belmont (district attorney) and Dian Belmont (well-off socialite daughter of Lawrence). The issue begins with Dian and her friend Catherine having drinks at a club in Harlem; they stay out all night and share a cab home. What Dian doesn't know is that her father had a rather strange visitor that same night - the Sandman.

Dian and Lawrence head to a library fund raiser and meet up with Wesley, who is newly returned to New york after the death of his father. Dian is intrigued with Wesley's non-interest in her. Before they really have a chance to talk, Lawrence tells Dian they need to leave -Catherine has been kidnapped.

Insert scene of impaled girl on fire escape and...

...Wesley heads home, cuts to scenes of a tucked in doll, weird science experiments and then to the police station. Here, Dian waits for her father and any word on her friend Catherine. Some clumsy cop spills coffee on her and she heads to the lady's room where she comes face to face with the Sandman.

To be continued...

I really like this series. Matt Wagner is a great writer; he knows how to build the suspense. That's where the charm of this series comes form. There and Guy Davis's artwork - it's kind of inked sketches. Not polished at all, no huge muscles or big boobs - just realistic people and realistic gore. This is a horror / mystery book dressed as a superhero book; all together a nice blend of the genres.

The first half of this series is really easy to find - it gets a but tougher past issue 36 (that's where my collection ends...for now). More on this series as the days go by. Until tomorrow - happy reading.

Tom Strong #12

Written by: Alan Moore

Art by: Chris Sprouse

So, the end of last issue found Tom Strong and Tom 'Doc' Strange orbiting Terra Obscura. They gawk, open jawed, at an alien monstrosity boring into the surface of the planet. What do the two strongest and smartest men in the ABC universe do?

They call in reinforcements.

'Doc' leases the hypersaucer to save his fellow S.M.A.S.H members get out of the time loop orbit they've stuck in and Tom brings everyone up to speed. The heroes have been in stasis for 30 years and have no clue what is going on. One of their own, the Terror, fell in combat against the alien and Tom has the tough job of letting the Terror's side-kick know about his mentor's death. Here we learn of the Terror's final project: a digitized version of himself contained in hard light projectors.

With a newly revived Terror in tow, S.M.A.S.H heads toward the South Pole to take on the alien. The Terror is able to enter the alien's brain and drive him into the sun.

This is a satisfying ending to a nice story - a bit heavy handed on the secondary characters, but it does give a feel that there is more to come from the world of Terra Obscura. Chris's art is perfect, as usual. Though Tom and 'Doc' look very similar, there isn't a panel where I couldn't tell them apart. And the reappearance of the Terror is one of the best panels on the series.

I think this is a good stopping point for Tom Strong - we'll revisit him again. Who knows what I'll feel like reading tomorrow. Until I decide - happy reading.

Tom Strong #11

Written by: Alan Moore

Art by: Chris Sprouse

After a couple of anthology issues, Tom Strong is back with an issue (or 2) long story about a distant planet that resembles our own - but things there aren't quite the way they should be.

The issue opens with a meteor crash; Tom is on the scene and quickly finds out it's no meteor that crash in the center of Millennium City - it's Tom Strange (Terra Obscura's version of Tom Strong). Tom Strange, or Doc as he likes to be called, ran across the entire Milky Way to reach Earth and Tom Strong because his home is in danger. Apparently, a meteor hit Terra Obscura in its formative years that housed a giant alien being. It attacked Terra Obcura and S.M.A.S.H ( the Society of Major American Science Heroes) was defeated. Doc escaped and ran for 30 years to get help.

Tom and Doc suit up the Hypersaucer and head for Terra Obscura; along the way Tom talks about "ghost particles" and Golden Age comics. They finally reach Doc's world and find the fallen Science Heroes trapped in orbit and the invader mining away at the South Pole.

To be continued...

Now this is a comic book adventure. Alan Moore asks the reader to let him take the reigns and is treated to one heck of a ride. No guns, no anti-heroes, no multi-part, dollar sucking crossovers. Just science fiction pulp at its best. Chris's art is stunning as always. This issue and the one that follows put Tom Strong on my list of all time favorite comic series. This story is like fresh squeezed orange juice - pulpy and refreshing.

Go buy it - until tomorrow, happy reading.