Hero Hotline #2 (1989)

Hero Hotline #2 (May, 1989)
Writer & Colorist - Bob Rozakis
Artist - Stephen DeStefano
Inker - Kurt Schaffenberger
Letter - John Costanza
Editor - Brian Augustyn
Cover Price: $1.75

So impressed was I with the Hero Hotline, I decided to check in on their next issue.  It's funny when you have books in your collection for years and years... just sitting there, unread.  Just acting like collection fodder... or collection flavor, I suppose.  This is just another one of those reasons I started blogging.  It gave me a productive excuse (which, perhaps I needed) to dive head-first into my boxes.

An unexpected bonus... I'm actually remembering a lot more of what I read... which, before now, I never realized was a problem.  I often think about books I like, or dislike... and I cannot put into words why I feel that way... or even remember parts of the stories that made me feel that way.  Suppose that's just one of the disadvantages to trying to think about a million things at once... yeah, that's what I'll go with.  Makes me sound smarter than I am!

Now, let's try not to become too transfixed on Mister Muscle's perky bottom on the cover (you just looked, didn't you?), and see what lurks inside!

--

Note: If you need to catch up, check out my Review/Discussion of Hero Hotline #1 here.

It is the next day at the Hero Hotline, and our young friend Hot Shot is being escorted in by his dear mother.  She is upset that her son has been put on the night shift.  Why, a superhero could get hurt working at night, don'tcha know?  The Coordinator reminds her that her little boy is both legally an adult and contractually obligated to work whatever shift the Hotline requires.

My main man, Voice-Over is reconnoitering with his buddy Invisible Fred over his Martian stakeout the night before.  Fred unfortunately has some bad news... it turns out he fell asleep (or, ya know... doesn't exist, and is just V-O throwing his voice...) and missed the entire thing.  This morning, the old woman under his protection had vanished.  Voice-Over is ordered by the Coordinator to find her.

We observe Diamondette studying for an Anatomy exam.  A piece of her background I neglected to include in my previous review is that Diamondette is a Med-School student.  As she studies, a report of a school bus hijacking is reported on the television news.  It turns out Microwavabelle's three children just so happen to be on board.  'Belle is chomping at the bit to get to the scene, however, is told not to interfere by the Coordinator.  He feels the appearance of superheros may cause the situation to escalate.

Voice-Over and Fred arrive at the old woman's house to check for clues.  Everything seems normal... boring, even... until, under an easy chair cushion V-O finds an alien ray gun!

Back at the bus, the hijackers begin making their demands.  Diamondette and SOOZ do their best to comfort Microwavabelle.  A call comes through for Stretch, it's his favorite (read: absolute least favorite) kind of call... a cat stuck in a tree.  The guy with the stretchy powers always gets stuck pulling kitties outta trees.  He phones his daughter, Eloise and tries to postpone their lunch plans as SOOZ pushes him out the door.

The abusive husband (who we now know as Mr. Bartoli) from the previous issue arrives at HQ.  He is both bandaged and lawyered up.  Bartoli's lawyer, Mr. Schuster announces that they will be pressing charges against Mister Muscle and the Hero Hotline for damages.  Upon hearing this, Mister Muscle does what any defendant would do... oils up!

Stretch arrives at the scene of the missing cat.  It turns out this cat chose to get stuck in a tree... on a block absolutely jammed full of trees.  What's worse, the Tubby (from Little Lulu) lookalike who called in the ticket hasn't the foggiest idea which tree the kitty ran up.  Stretch calls in to see if Private-Eyes can give an assist, P.I's however is just about to head out on a trouble call himself... in search of a lost will.  A call he will attend to as soon as he finishes examining Miss Boulder's... er, upper respiratory system.

Microwave Mom can finally stands no more... she heads out to the site of the hijacking.  When her absence is discovered, SOOZ assembles and orders the rest of the team to the school bus.

'Belle has a brief standoff with the hijackers, who are now threatening physical violence to one of her own children.  She 'waves the knife he is brandishing, causing him to drop it.  Even unarmed, he poses a threat.  He cinches in a tight headlock on Microwave Mom's daughter.

The team arrives and instantly makes their presence felt.  Diamondette uses her diamond-strong hands and slices the bus open.  Mister Muscle follows up by turning that slice into a large hole.  The other hijacker threatens to detonate a grenade.  Luckily, Private-Eyes is present to inform the team that the grenade she's wielding is in fact, a fake.

In the confusion, Microwave Mom fires a 'wave bolt into the first hijacker's gut causing him to release her daughter.  Mister Muscle crushes the fake grenade along with the hand that was holding it.  Diamondette then slices the first hijacker's gun in half.  The police intervene and take control of the situation.

Back at the tree-lined road, Stretch is now calling his daughter to cancel lunch... and try to make dinner plans.  Those plans would also fall through, as he continues seeking the cat into the night.  Finally, Tubby realizes that his cat was asleep in a box the whole time.  Stretch freaks out and runs off as... hey, a Little Lulu lookalike joins Tubby.

Private-Eyes finally arrives to the great will-search, and is led to a room almost packed to the ceiling with paper-filled boxes.  Any small talk Private-Eyes attempts is brushed off by the couple.  They are only interested in finding their Grandfather's will.  Finally, it is located... much to the couple's chagrin, the Grandfather decided to leave them... his collection of important papers.

Microwavabelle and her children arrive back at Hero Hotline HQ.  Moments later, Voice-Over (and Fred) enter the scene, alien ray gun in tow.  Belle's son instantly recognizes the "ray gun" as a Captain Zingaroo Space Blaster... a toy.  Shocked, and embarrassed V-O (annnnd Fred) bolt out of the office to resume their search.

--

I'm still digging this.  Hero Hotline has proved to be a ton more fun than I was expecting.  In this part, we begin to flesh out some of the players.  Much of the information which was relegated to the "character bios" that closed out in issue #1 are now being peppered into the narrative.

We see Microwavabelle as a mother to her actual children, and not her teammates.  Her emotional outbursts throughout are just what one would expect from a mother whose children are in any sort of danger.  At one point she reflects back to having lost her husband... that would certainly compound her feelings of dread and urgency in this situation.

We get a brief look into Hot Shot's home life.  He may technically be an adult, however, from even his small part in this issue, we can see that he is not quite equipped to be one.  His mother still "babies" him, and it appears as though he treats this job as a 16-year old would treat an after school job at McDonald's.

Diamondette is that person you would see when you were working a crappy part-time job.  They would have their school books with them, and they wouldn't ordinarily socialize with the group.  They were the ones that wanted more for their lives than a menial entry-level gig, but knew they needed some way to support themselves while continuing their education.  I've seen that person... hell, I currently am that person.

Stretch's story is broadened a bit.  We now know he has a daughter with whom he is having trouble connecting.  We can tell that he wants this job at the Hotline to be more than what it is.  He's is sickened at the thought of being relegated to "cat rescue" guy... but, he performs to the best of his abilities... for one reason or another.

Upcoming plot threads are hinted at quite handily.  The pending lawsuit from Mr. Bartoli is surely something that will be revisited.  The wedding of Private-Eyes to Miss Boulder may also pan out in the remaining issues.  We still haven't seen the Coordinator yet, either.  Will be present himself?  Speaking of people we "haven't seen", we will have the continuing story of Fred and Voice-Over as they hunt for their client.

A lot of stuff to look forward to... and (without nit-picks) not a single complaint.  I'm looking forward to seeing how this one plays out.  Still recommended, definitely check this series out.!

--
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Heckler #1 (1992)

Heckler #1 (September, 1992)
"Our First Issue!"
Plot & Pencils - Keith Giffen
Script - Tom & Mary Bierbaum
Inks - Malcolm Jones III
Letters - Bob Pinaha
Colors - Tom McCraw
Editor - Kevin Dooley
Cover Price: $1.25

The Heckler is another one of those "clothes make the hero" books for me.  Just look at that costume... This book is begging to be bought and read.  So much so, that I nabbed this off the rack with absolutely no idea what I was in for.  As I've mentioned time and again, I (with very few exceptions) did not read DC in my youth.  So, for this to make me part with my hard(ly)-earned lunch money, it had to be special... plus, ya know... it was a number one.  That's gotta be good for something, no?

This book was so special I actually bought it twice!  During my great collection audit of 2010, I came to the tragic conclusion that this issue had somehow, during the last two-decades grown feet and escaped.  Hell, if there's any book that could actually grow feet... my money's on this one.

I bought a replacement copy, and... and it hurts me to say this, I paid $3.00 for it.  Such a humbling experience for a cheap-o bin aficionado, to be sure... but, I actually felt kind of itchy knowing that this was missing from my library.  Sometimes ya gotta do what ya gotta do.

Was it worth the double-dip?  Let's find out...

--

Now... how does one synopsize The Heckler?  Hrmm...

We open at a donut shop.  The owner and waitress are making conversation.  They discuss not having already seen one of their regulars, Stu Mosley.  There is a lot of background conversations going on at the same time offering the reader a look into the culture of the Beach District of Delta City.  Stu arrives and orders his usual.  He leaves, and takes the newly purchased donuts to Sgt. McDougal.  He passes a newsstand, and picks up the morning paper.  The cover story is related to the Heckler's snaring of King Mambo.

We shift uptown where the flamboyant face-painted organized crime lord Boss Glitter is brooding over Mambo's arrest.  He decides to assign Mambo's "turf" to another subordinate, El Gusano.  Gusano is none to pleased having to take over the Beach District, already having his hands full with the South Side of Delta City.  Glitter cheerfully informs him that this was not up for debate, and Gusano sheepishly obliges.

We join a semi-literate man in his attempt at writing a letter.  While he writes, some information comes over his computer.  Information that will prove most helpful to Stu, apparently.

Stu is part-owner of a Delta City greasy spoon called "Eats"... you wouldn't know that, as the sign-maker instead put up a sign that reads "Fats".  He is arguing with the sign people as his business partner, Britt arrives.  It is implied (if not said outright) that Britt is something of an absentee partner.  He does not hang around long... he takes some files, and leaves.

We now observe El Gusano performing his first Beach District shakedown.  He collects protection money from a local shop, and sounds shockingly reasonable about it.  Gusano appears to have the ability to tunnel through the Earth.  He emerges and retreats through the ground.  We follow him back to his apartment where he is informed that "The Nose" has been "nosing around".  He instantly knows that the Heckler has him in his sights.  He must plan their pending confrontation to ensure his best chance of survival.

Back at Fats... er Eats, Stu is talking with an overweight Elvis impersonator about Gusano's whereabouts.  Later we join Stu with the semi-literate fellow from earlier... it is here that it is revealed that Stu is in fact, the Heckler.  He decides the time is right to strike.

The Heckler heads into the night, only to find the way to El Gusano illuminated by neon signs.  To rattle Gusano's cage, the Heckler decides to call him and ask for directions instead... from the man's own car-phone!  This throws Gusano into a rampage, he tunnels through to the Heckler's location, destroying his own car in the process.

The eventually meet, and the Heckler gets punched through a nearby wall.  Gusano flees via tunneling, and Heck' gives chase.  The pursuit ultimately leads to an amusement park... and somewhere in the fracas, it became Gusano who was doing the chasing.  The Big Heck climbs all the way up a flight of steps leading to a super-slide.

As Gusano approaches, Heck pounces.  Gusano falls down the super-slide and picks up such speed that he winds up tunneling as soon as he hits the ground.  He ultimately winds up by the water, beaten and battered.

As Heck basks in his victory, we overhear Johnny Gearshift's morning radio show.  He discusses the Heckler's altercation with El Gusano and questions whether our man is a... "Hero or Menace"... Now, I'm sure I've heard that somewhere before...

--

That was perhaps the most taxing synopsis I've ever written.  This book has a lot of stuff going on in it... but, as I say... is it any good?

Oh, absolutely.  This is a fine book, and people should definitely check it out.  It's strange, offbeat, and at times hard to follow... but still most definitely worth a read.

The writing is quite good.  We get a decent feel for this nook of Delta City via conversations we overhear.  This feels like a grimy yet somewhat charming burg.  Each citizen seems to have some measure of... for lack of a better term, insanity.  From the Heckler himself, to Boss Glitter, to our Elvis impersonating friend, these are strange individuals... damaged, even.  We get just a small taste (just enough, really) of all these outlandish characters and personalities... really whetting the reader's appetite for more.

Keith Giffen's art here is not as clean as his Legion work, though not as manic and terrifying as Hex, or even his work on Trencher for Image Comics.  For the most part, I could follow the action.  Briefly during the Heckler/Gusano tussle I did lose my place, but otherwise I have no real complaints.  This kind of art fits this kind of story like a glove.  I get such strange deja vu from Ted McKeever's Metropol reading this... it's really something that should be experienced.  It's unfortunate (though, not surprising) that it only lasted six issues.

Every page (minus the first) is a straight up nine-panel grid.  This makes for very "busy" and potentially overwhelming looking pages.  I sometimes had to look away for a moment before diving back in.  The Bierbaums and Giffen absolutely pack each and every page/panel full of content.  There is a lot to follow here!

No digital, no collected edition... so, if you are so inclined... this is a single-issue endeavor.  It's well-worth cover price, though of late (at least locally) this entire series has been surfacing in the cheap-o's.  Keep an eye out, you won't be sorry... or, maybe you will be.  Mileage may vary.  But, ya know... read it.  Or don't... but do.

--

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Fury of Firestorm #1 (1982)

Fury of Firestorm #1 (June, 1982)
"Day of the Bison"
Writer - Gerry Conway
Artist - Pat Broderick
Inker - Rodin Rodriguez
Letterer - John Costanza
Colorist - Gene D'Angelo
Editor - Len Wein
Cover Price: $0.60

You ever go through your collection and come across a book you never knew you had?

Up until about a week ago, I honestly had no idea that I owned this issue.  I was going through my collection spreadsheet like any insane individual would do, and this issue just jumped out at me.  Did I really have (Fury of) Firestorm #1?  I'd remember something like that!  Well, upstairs I went, where I had to shuffle a half dozen boxes to find the one my Firestorm books were in... and, well I'll be damned... I did have it!

During my read-thru prior to the review, the entire story was familiar... so, I must have read it before, right?  Was it worth reading again?  Let's find out.

--

We open with a beautiful shot of the New York City skyline with Firestorm towering over the skyscrapers.  Firestorm is trying to nap on a cloud as Professor Stein rags on him a bit.  Ronnie manages to fall asleep and in so doing shuts off his nuclear powers causing him to plummet toward the street.  Narrowly avoiding certain doom, Ronnie adjusts his molecular structure causing him to slip straight through the concrete.

As Firestorm emerges from under the street he is observed by a pair of officers.  They begin rattling his chain, however, he takes off before they can read him the riot act.  Firestorm lands about five miles away in a residential neighborhood.  It is there that Ronnie Raymond and Professor Martin Stein emerge from the Firestorm matrix.

The next morning, Ronnie is awakened by both his alarm clock and his father.  Ronnie is a student and star athlete attending Bradley High.  He scrambles to get up and narrowly avoids missing his bus.

Our scene shifts to the apartment of high school teacher, John Ravenhair.  He is living with his more traditional great-grandfather, who will only address him as Black-Cloud-in-Morning.  The morning paper has a piece on Indian antiquities that had recently been donated to the New York Museum of Natural History, including those of the Bison Cult.  The two men share a contentious conversation over John's apparent adaptation away from their heritage.

John takes his leave, however not before acknowledging that his grandfather does not look well and agreeing to wear a talisman from their Bison Cult.

We shift to Bradley High as the buses arrive.  Ronnie notices that his girlfriend Doreen is hanging around with all around jerk-face Cliff Carmichael.  Cliff is a dweeby thing with glasses and some sweet muttonchops.  The two scuffle a bit before Mr. Ravenhair steps in to break up the fracas.

We join Professor Stein dictating recent events into a tape recorder.  This is a great way to bring readers up to speed on the Firestorm origin story and escapades of the short-lived (1978) pre-DC Implosion volume of this title.  Following our recap, the Professor decides that perhaps it would be wise to erase the tape for all parties concerned.  Such a great way to include this expositional dialogue.

We now join Mr. Ravenhair's great-grandfather in the park.  He is crafting a circle in the grass out of a ashy white powder to pray within, when a pair of thugs see him as a easy pickings.

We pop over to the museum which just so happens to be hosting a Bradley High field trip.  Ronnie reconciles with Doreen and all is going well until Martin Van Buren... err, Cliff Carmichael slips a frog down Ronnie's shirt.  To make matters worse, he claims that Ronnie just may be... infected with cooties.  Hey Cliff... the jerk store called...

In our next scene, we begin to observe Mr. Ravenhair acting a bit strangely.  He excuses himself to the washroom.  His great-grandfather is concocting a sort of spell to help John see the "white man's world" the way he does... make him become Black-Cloud-in-Morning once more.  In the restroom, John gives himself a good splash of cold water.  When his eyes meet his reflection in the mirror, he is shocked to see his great-grandfather's face looking back at him.

At the park, the thugs wallop John's grandfather in hopes of procuring a score.  Having already accomplished his task, the old man slumps over, dead.  As he passes into the next world, John Ravenhair becomes no more... only Black Cloud remains!

Ronnie watches on as Black Cloud wreaks havoc inside the museum.  He begins the fusion transformation into Firestorm.  Feeling that the transformation is pending, Professor Stein must excuse himself from a project meeting at Concordance Research.  Firestorm flashes into action.

Black Cloud comes across the sacred Bison Clan Headdress and frees it from its glass casing.  Suddenly rolling clouds of smoke fill the museum.  When the smoke finally dissipates, one man is standing... No longer John Ravenhair... not even Black Cloud in Morning... No, he is Black Bison.

Bison exacts eight shades of hell upon his former students until Firestorm makes his presence known.  Even he proves no match for Black Bison as a lightning strike puts him on his back.  Black Bison reanimates a white horse and proceeds to flee... not before reanimating several of nature's predators.  Ronnie handily neutralizes their threat through use of his nuclear blast and some brute strength.

Ronnie gives chase to Black Bison, and along the way gives Carmichael a taste of his own medicine.  Despite his best efforts, Black Bison manages to get away.

We now observe a meeting between Senator Walter Reilly and his his daughter Lorraine.  They share some niceties before heading into a restaurant to share a meal.  It is revealed that Black Bison had been watching.  He states that Reilly had stolen something from his people... and now he will know how it feels to lose... and we are [to be continued...]

--

Ehh, not bad as first issues go.  Oh, what am I saying... this was a great issue!

Full disclosure, I do not have much history with or attachment to this character... however, this was a lot of fun.  I've often heard Firestorm compared to Marvel's Spider-Man... I gotta say... yeah, I kinda see that.  It is, however, as though Flash Thompson got bitten by the spider, and Peter Parker was the jerkwad bully.  I can't take credit for that observation, as I'm sure I'd heard it before... and it is ever so true.

This is a very Marvel type of book, and it really works for this type of character and this kind of setting.  Ronnie's not perfect... he's a kid, and he acts like one.  His voice is somewhere between child and adult, which is just the way a high school student would and should sound.  The characterization all throughout was wonderful... even in ol' Muttonchops.  Though, I gotta say, he's kinda like what I picture a younger Terry Long to be... yeesh.

The art is phenomenal.  I mentioned in my Captain Atom review by high regard for Pat Broderick.  I say now, as I did then... he is one of my top artists of the 1980's.  It was partly his engaging art work that facilitated my head-first dive from being a Marvel only fella into the wonderful world of DC Comics in the 1980's.

Overall... can't think of a single complaint.  I'm sure if I thought hard enough I'd find something to nitpick... but when you're dealing with something this good... this fun... why would I?  Highly recommended.  It's on DC Digital (along with several issues of the series), I cannot locate a collected edition... which kind of surprises me.  Any which way you can get your hands on this one, do it!

--

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--

Apropos of nothing... if my math is right, today marks my fiftieth day in a row blogging on this here site... so, (doing my best Dave Coulier... doing his best Bill Murray) I got that goin' for me....

Thanks for reading, if'n ya do!

Stanley and his Monster #1 (1993)

Stanley and His Monster #1 (February, 1993)
"How to Build a Tree Fort"
Writer & Penciller - Phil Foglio
Inker - Chuck Fiala
Inking Assist - Jim Aparo & Dennis Janke
Letterer - John Costanza
Colorist - Robbie Busch
Editor - Paul Kupperberg
Cover Price: $1.50

Here's one that's been in the collection for awhile.  My first exposure to Stanley and his Monster was during the Kevin Smith/Phil Hester "Quiver" story line in Green Arrow.  I haven't read that in quite awhile (since original publication, if I'm being honest), but I remember them (at least the monster) being portrayed as quite dark.  I came across this mini series some time later, and nabbed it thinking I would get more of the same... If the cover didn't make it obvious enough, this story kinda goes another way.

From Green Arrow (vol.3) #9 (Dec. 2001)
Words: Kevin Smith - Art: Phil Hester

And so, this issue has laid unread in the library ever since... far too long, if you ask me.  Let's take a look at this early-nineties spine-tickling oddity and see if it's worth having...

--

We open in Hell.  A pair of angels are taking inventory of the demons, and find that there's one missing, one that is currently on Earth... Now, who could that be?

On Earth, Stanley and his Monster are rummaging through his attic.  In between admiring the styles of the seventies, they come across a book.  It is the Heterodyne Boys Big Book of Fun, and in it you can find the plans to build just about anything.  Of particular interest to the boys is the tree fort.  The Heterodyne Boys are apparently a Phil Foglio creation that was originally a spoof of turn of the twentieth century adventure books.  More on the Boys can be found here.

Stanley is called away for dinner, and he leaves his Monster in the attic to dine on a stack of most delicious National Geographic magazines.  During dinner Stanley asks his parents about the Heterodyne Boys.  He is given a brief explanation, and is advised that the most sought after Heterodyne Boys book wasn't a novel... but a how-to book!  Stanley accidentally-on purpose spills his milk, and while his mother scrambles to clean it up, sneaks off to his room to plan.

Stanley and his Monster think of how helpful a tree fort may be, even concocting a story wherein they assist Batman in capturing the Joker!

Later on, the boys find the perfect location for their tree fort.  It is on an overprotective older fella's property, so it may be a hard sell.  Stanley thinks quick, and asks the "old guy" if he could become the tree's official caretaker.  The man kinda digs the idea.  Stanley goes a step further, suggesting that he build his own office in the tree.  Now the man is on to Stan's plan... and he ain't too happy.  When the man realizes that Stanley will be utilizing the Heterodyne Boys book to build from, he changes his mind.  Stanley can build his fort, as long as the old man can check out the plans on how to build a zeppelin.

That night, Stanley dreams about how fantastic his tree fort will be, even going so far as having Superman and the Justice League show up to use his clubhouse!

Just look at that Blue Beetle!

The next day, Stanley and his Monster realize they will need wood to build their fort.  Stan sees a Mr. Fixit nearby (with a... curious, "Pound It Out!" ball cap).  Initially the Fixit man turns down Stan's request for lumber, however, changes his mind when he sees the coveted how-to book.  He gives Stanley all of his excess lumber in exchange for a peek at the books plans on how to build a suspension bridge.  The Monster makes quick work of hauling the lumber away... when the Fixit man expresses surprise, Stanley tells him there are plans for a forklift in the book as well.

Next up, our duo need tools.  Stanley swipes his dad's tools, which all still look new.  I suppose Mr. Stanley isn't too handy around the house.

That night, Stanley dreams about how helpful the tree fort will be.  He imagines the "Invasion of the Space Dinosaurs vs. The Armageddon War of the Gods Crises Crossover" occurring, and his family being safe and sound in the tree fort.  The Sandman shows up in the dream to berate Stanley for exceeding his dream special effects budget!

Finally, the tree fort is done.  Stanley decides that before they can really call it done, they're going to have to spend the night.  Stanley concocts creative ways in which to procure the supplies he needs.

C'mon Stanley... No love for Hourman?
I expected better of you...

Night falls, and our guys are hanging out in the fort.  In a touching scene the two express their friendship toward one another.  Suddenly, a thunderstorm rolls in.  Lucky for the boys, the fort was built so well that the roof doesn't leak.

As the rain continues, the Monster begins to exhibit some feral behaviors which concerns him.  They hear a noise outside... scared, Stanley asks who's there.  Why, it's Stanley's mother... who came to bring him home.  It is dangerous to be in a tree during a thunderstorm, after all.

She informs Stanley that the Heterodyne Boys book was in fact her's (Stanley assumed the books belonged to his father).  She continues, telling Stanley she is proud of his industrious nature.  As the two leave, Stanley's mother asks where he got those "shaggy red pillows".

The Monster is now all alone in the tree fort.  He is greeted by a rhyming demon named Nyx (from across the river Styx, natch) presumably sent to Earth to drag our Monster back to Hell... and we are [to be continued...]

Following our main story there is a two-page text piece that touches on the origins of Stanley and His Monster.

--

One of the unspoken goals of this humble blog was to find offbeat oddities in DC lore that are/were actually fun.  So often I feel that "comics" gets almost embarrassed to be comics, and as such endeavor toward more serious and less fantastic fare.  Books like Stanley and His Monster certainly fall into the "fun" category... but, is it any good?

Yes.  It's good.

This was a very nice opening chapter to this miniseries.  We are introduced to the cast and are given a vague threat.  The cliffhanger was solid and makes one curious about how this will all play out.  The dialogue is great.  Stanley speaks like a young boy would.  Being able to observe Stanley's dreams was also a treat.

The art... Well, full disclosure... I never really dug Phil Foglio's art.  During the era in which this was published, I was almost trained to expect hyper and excessive line work as a part of my comics diet.  That having been said, the art does fit the story well, and I must say that I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.

I'm glad a series like this existed during the extreme age of comics (when I picked this up, I was surprised at the cover date... thought for sure this was late-80's at latest)... hell, I wish more like it existed now.  In closing I suppose after reading this, I now prefer my Stanley and his Monster to be more this:

... and less, this:

From Green Arrow (vol.3) #8 (Nov, 2001)
Words: Kevin Smith - Art: Phil Hester

Hard to give a proper recommendation for this one, as it's (and I fear I'm sounding like a broken record at this point) buck-'n-below bin fare... maybe as far up as cover price, though I wouldn't go much higher than that.  It doesn't appear to have ever been collected or released digitally... however, if you come across it and have a quarter or two burning a hole in your pocket, you can do far worse.

--

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