#dec_20_2014

Good morning, campers:

The December edition of “What Comics Dee is Going to Babble About” is brought to you by: snow. There’s something about frozen precipitation falling from the sky that makes me want to clap my hands in glee, run outdoors and play.

Today however, I clap my hands in glee, make some hot cocoa in my newly gifted Darth Vader mug and read comics. And there’s quite a good list of comic series to choose from:

For the Marvel fan: 

Marvel Universe Avengers Assemble Season Two (Marvel) - Hello Red Skull, my old friend… if you’ve seen the TV show, the comic has a similiar, more modern, slightly snarky/ sarcastic tone than the Avengers of previous assemblies. Thor, Captain America, Hulk and Iron Man are friendly jerks to each other, but when you mess with them, they actually make a semi-cohesive and functional team. Kid-friendly for the most part, as the super-hero violence is tame enough for any parent that let their kids watch recent Marvel movies. 

For the DC/ Vertigo fan:

Kitchen (from Vertigo) -  This sassy 1970’s story about mobsters’ wives stepping up to run “business” while the mobsters are in the slammer has serious chops. Imminent threats include the rolling blackouts in the eponymous Hell’s Kitchen, and that time period in New York before the City got cleaned up (see Son of Sam, etc). Somewhere between the feel of “Charlie’s [EXPLETIVE DELETED] Angels” and “The Untouchables”, this is an interesting read.  

For the indie comic fan:

Fade Out (Image) - You know those wicked alcohol-induced bender mornings, where you wake up and say some equivalent of “Where am I / how’d I get in this inexplicable situation?” Me neither. Poor Charlie is trying to piece together everything, and the worst part is that it involves a wrong-place, wrong-time situation and a dead Hollywood starlet.    

For the horror comic fan:

Wytches (Image) - The Salem Witch trials were a tragedy, considering that mass hysteria killed so many innocent people. These are not the witches in this comic, however. These wytches are the wickedly smart, cunning, savage creatures of the dark that are spoken of in whispers and legends. 

For the kids (and kids at heart):

Edward Scissorhands (IDW) - This homage to a favorite movie is done with love, made obvious by the change in story focus (young granddaughter), while having the mystery, gothic appeal and alienation that Tim Burton does so well. Nostalgic fans and newly inducted fans of Edward Scissorhands will appreciate the story for the quirky wonder that it is and always has been.

For you, avid subscribers: Seriously, I’d pick up the Comic Shop News #1435 and Winter Special 2015, even if just to check out comics that are coming down the pipeline in the new year. You might find something unexpected and intriguing walking among the comics.

Check back in with me around New Year’s Eve, and I’ll have more to say, I’m sure. 

Happy holidays from all of us!