Defenders UK (Izzy World) (Free-on-line)

The world of comics fandom is not just restricted to independents there other places one can find the work of committed fans whose work is worth having a look at. One fan in particular always produces a worthwhile read. His comics are unofficial tie-ins to the world of Marvel with lots of British fictional figures from Captain Mainwaring, The Doctor to Tommy Cooper suddenly popping up.

So far Izzy has produced five issues which I'll leave links for at the end of the post but there really is only one place to start..the first issue as illustrated above! 

In a space station orbiting Earth 616 we meet our cast. Cobweb, Legion, and  a certain Doctor as it appears one of these Defenders has a connection to Gallifrey, a theme that will re-occur during this series as the various different fictional realities are mashed up. It appears that Cobweb is a mutant experiment of who she calls the Butchers of Rassilon and owes her life to the (fourth incarnation) of the Doctor.

Sadly legion whose powers are the ability to summon his sselves from different times has only a little time to go before he ceases to be. Can he be saved? Who is this temporal vistor and we meet Widget along with others that will appear in future issues.

Izzy produces competent artwork and the world he creates with hsi excellent script is a fanboys dream. 

Since this is free on line you can catch up with the story here: Defenders UK #1

Rating: 5 Star effort from a true fan of the genre!

The other issues can be found via the following links:

Defenders UK #2

Defenders UK #3

Defenders UK Special Edition

Defenders UK #4

And coming up.....

Torchwood: The Red List (Big Finish Audio)

 

Having been intrigued and then impressed by the last Torchwood audio release featuring a Sontaran and his cat in a caravan park the news that Sophie Aldred as an adult Ace or Mrs McShane as she is known now in the following adventure sent me straight to the Big Finish website for a copy.

The Red List arrived yesterday and was my early night bedtime listening. Torchwood agent Mt Colchester arrives in an unnamed country though probably supposed to be somewhere in Central or South America given the Spanish background. He's there at the invite of "El Persidente and despite his exemption is placed in a quarantine hotel much to his displeasure.

And so the scene is set with his only company being a one channel TV broadcasting propaganda and Manuel who comes to fix things and deliver his seemingly awful meals. Complaining seems to get him nowhere even though this country is being invaded by aliens. 

It's not long before our man from Torchwood starts breaking the rules and wandering on to the balcony meets Mrs McAShane. Things go swimmingly until Colchester reveals he is from Torchwood. That's not all something is dreadfully wrong with their surroundings. How can they stop an alien invasion from the confines of their hotel rooms?

Photo: Wiki: image was scanned by Khaosworks

A reasonable story but my enjoyment was enhanced by the presence of one of my favourite companions who first appeared in the under-rated seventh Doctors adventures. Her appearances as Ace in numerous audio stories with Sylvester McCoy shows how good this incarnation and duo can be.

Rating: 4 Stars

Available from: www.bigfinish.com

The 77 Annual 2021

 

The 77 was my introduction to the world of independent comics which frankly was long overdue and I have enjoyed the journey through the first six issues. It's clear that both the contributors and editorial team have improved over time and this annual with it's high production values makes the price of entry more than worth it.

The first issue of The 77 was fun but had faults which have been gradually ironed out and I've always seen this as the best independent anthology on the indie scene recommending that people do pick up a copy as I don't think they will be disappointed. This annual which also has the advantage of containing all complete stories shows what fans, amateurs and semi-professionals can achieve.

This is of course an anthology title and contains a whole variety of genres, writing and art styles which means that there should be something for everyone in it's 140 pages. The annual starts with a couple of amusing en-trays which parody the world of comics and themselves a wee bit and I did rather like The Recruit by Christoff RDGZ with excellent art from DamienEd. 

Next up is one of my favourite strips from The 77 with Dave Heeley's Division 77 in Merry Christmas Mr Shard  with art from Ade Hughes plus one of those "how to make" features we got in the old days! This is followed by a second science fiction feature The Cell which is gradually introducing the reader to a dystopian future none of us would ever want to live in.

Other stories that caught me eye were the done in one "chiller" House Wins, The Monster In You, and my absolute favourite character in The 77 Penny Pentagram in Just One Day. Guys she deserves a book of her own. Just saying.

There's plenty more to read and make sure if you see "the demon in the corner of your eye" as you are warned....

With actual fan art, pinups of variant covers, games and some humour strips this will make a fine present to find under a comic fans tree. Although not really an "all-ages" publication I'd have been happy with it as a kid having read both Creepy and Vampirella back then.... we were not so mollycoddled back then and rightly so!

Rating: 5 Stars: (Highly Recommended)

Available from: the77comic.bigcartel.com

Batman/Superman: The Authority Special (DC)

 

Following "straight on" from the Superman & The Authority mini-series is this oversized one shot which brings Batman onto the scene as he looks for allies for a mission that the JLA have said no to. Bruce is not impressed at the line-up commenting that "half of them are not even on our side" a reference to The Enchantress and Manchester Black. 

Superman however defends his choice of team who are to take up the fight to liberate War World from Mongul. Batman needs allies to face the threat of The Empire Of Shadows that the reader is introduced to in the opening pages.

This is an inter-dimensional threat from the broken Dark Multiverse in the form of the Al Ghul's who have captured someone capable of jumping universes and this will lead them to Earth Zero where the multiverse  itself stems from and to the others beyond. Bats wishes to free this individual to prevent an invasion.

The key needed is The Enchantress who can get them both there and back. There are a variety of artists on this book with Ben Templesmith providing the peculiar art to illustrate the broken universe where things not only are different but look different and adds to the atmosphere of the story.

This is how comics should be written and is a great and entertaining read. 

Rating: 5 Stars Plus (Highly Recommended)

Superman/The Authority (Mini-Series) (DC)

 

One of my favourite superhero teams was the comparatively short-lived Authority. The original series kicked off by Warren Ellis set up some great stories and alongside Planetary gave a high level of super-powered entertainment on a level above so much of the rest. Sadly since then it's been downhill despite attempts to revive the team.

Seeing Superman and The Authority solicited in what seemed to be a "team-up" book was a book I really couldn't miss. However as I quickly learned this story and the world it is set in is not the DC Universe I'm used to exactly and as for the Authority....... 

The story starts off with a nod to the early sixties which time-wise doesn't make sense even if in the "Silver Age" comics Kal El did actually meet Kennedy. A switch to a raid on Manchester Black's run down flat in South London brings back a member of The Elite who were an entertaining diversion some years ago. However a  slowly de-powering Superman has to help fix Black or he becomes permanently disabled.

Superman needs his help and as The criminals from the Phantom Zone attack Manchester Black finally decides to take the side of the Angels. The duo then go out to build a new team they call "The Authority" though only Midnighter and Apollo are actually original members.

The others who are recruited are much more of a surprise and the tale brings back old enemies. Overall an interesting story though peppered with pronoun references which will either amuse or annoy depending on which side of the debate the reader takes. 

Grant Morrison has always been an bit of an enigma in both his writing and beliefs. He claims to be a magician and now has suddenly announced he's "non-binary" as seems to be one of the attention seeking trends these days. That's his prerogative and though I remain a fan of his work it's my right to have a different opinion

Personally this along with Superman's son suddenly becoming a political activist as well as bi-sexual to collect "Brownie Points" from the supposed "woke" is a wee bit disconcerting. Whilst comics do need to have real world backgrounds and story-lines some things don't always work. Super-heroes should always put themselves outside of politics concentrating on fighting both criminals and otherworldly threats.

Overall the story is better read as a whole rather than in single issue format and is a worthwhile purchase which leads to more but no spoilers from me.

Now available as a collected hardback edition.

Rating: 4.5 Stars (Recommended)

Archie & Friends: Christmas Calamity (One Shot/Archie Comics)

 

I know it's only mid-November but this Archie Christmas comic arrived through the post today and I couldn't resist reading and reviewing this straight away. Archie is the archetypal American teenager involved in the longest love triangle in comic book history. Longer than even the Lois/Lana/Superman entanglement!

Archie's adventures have been ongoing since the early forties and he's never grown up just changed his image to suit the period the comics were published in. I read a few as a kid and they were much better than DC's attempts to copy the genre with Binky and Scooter. 

Archie has never been big in the UK though with the Riverdale TV series his more adult adventures have caught an audience including this household. I'm waiting for series 5 to be available through Amazon. Can't wait.

This comic however is the "classic" Archie and friends more cartoon funnies than serious drama and contains several stories though only one new one Christmas Calamity which sees the return of Jingles who's antics have put Christmas at risk. There's fun to be had with Veronica's Christmas list, Cherry Blossom's decorations and even a Hot Dog adventure!

Great fun for kids young and old.

Rating: 4 Stars

Stingray: Operation Icecap (Audio/Anderson Entertainment)

 

Anderson Entertainment have finally released their latest audio adventure, the first to feature Stingray and her crew in a brand new story. This 4 CD set was actually seriously delayed from it's original release date but more than worth the wait as it joins my growing collection of dramatised audio plays.

Stingray was originally broadcast on ITV way back in 1964 and lasted for 39 episodes until mid 1965. This was also the first British TV series to be made in colour so that it could be aimed at the US market These programmes were often repeated and well loved by my generation. 

The adventures of the submarine Stingray and her crew Troy Tempest and "Phones" along with their passenger the beautiful Mariner took part in the deep oceans of the world where there threats from various undersea races including the vicious dictator Titan and his Amphibians who threatened the surface world with their fish like craft.

This latest adventure takes us to the bottom of the world where after discovering a strange craft at the bottom of the sea start looking for what might be an ancient civilisation underneath the ice. I thought at first Atlantis but the writers invite us to consider a hole to the centre of the Earth. Was that a deliberate "red herring"? 

At 210 minutes this is a long story that far exceeds the old half-hour format but is well worth the time taken to listen to bringing back memories of childhood days with the return of Agent X-2-0 and his nefarious spying on the World Aquanaut Security Patrol WASP) which makes for double danger as Troy, Phones Mariner and stowaway Atlanta.

The crew go to the Antarctic but face attempts to "dissuade" them from continuing their quest both on land and at sea but even cut off from being able to contact Marineville the expedition enters the world beneath the ice. What wonders and indeed dangers will they find?

This is also available as a book.

Rating 5 Stars

Available from: shop.gerryanderson.com

Judge Dredd Megazine #438 (Rebellion) plus a new prog!

 

The latest issue of the Megazine sees all the current story lines come to a close as the Meg gears up for the Christmas issue and a jumping on point for new readers. There is the usual though "done in one" Judge Dredd adventure which sees a couple of aliens trash some old buildings claiming to be the planets new owners. There's even a nod to Hitchikers with mention of an interplanetary by-pass but otherwise old Joe does indeed have a problem on his hands....

There's also a one-off Tales From The Black Museum story, Double Jeopardy which brings together an ageing Judge and a total misanthropist together for a possible deal over some new technology which leads to betrayal and double crossing all round.  

Other than that Angelic comes to a satisfying ending with hopefully more to come in the future though hopefully this will see the final ending of The Returners with them not returning again. Please. Finishing off the issue is the amusing and unexpected end to the current Devlin Waugh story-line. Has he really beaten the Devil, the Morning-Star and great deceiver himself?

The Christmas issue sees the welcome return of Lawless plus Surfer, Death Cap and Diamond Dogs III. All that plus Judge Dredd himself is ..The Saviour? 

Alsio Out this Wednesday is the latest Prog with all the on-going stories plus a return to the world of Sinster Dexter. Plus the letters page debates the "Regened" issues. I have to say the last one was somewhat disappointing which is why I didn't bother reviewing it. Still comics need new readers and if that's the way to get them on board then so be it. 

 

Dead By Dawn Halloween 2021 (Scar Comics)

 

On a whim I decided to pick up a copy of Dead By Dawn which I had noticed on Kickstarter but hadn't gone for it. My copy arrived yesterday a little late for Halloween but that doesn't really matter with horror comics.

Apparently this title has been around before but it's only over the last couple of years I've taken any notice on the Independent comics scene with titles like The 77, Sentinel and Plainer Jane amongst others. On opening this is obviously a well produced and thought out comic containing ten stories.

And next comes the usual disclaimer on anthology titles. I rarely like every story in such titles either for the story itself or sometimes poor art. This is especially a problem with non-professional comics however this genre does have some gems which is why I keep coming back for more.

First up is  Dosed by Brox which is nicely done with an interesting twist, one I didn't see coming. If you are wondering why I kept that short it's because all these stories are just four pages long so I really don't want to give any spoilers. This is followed by Cold by Mike Powell and Stephen Daly about a man and a waitress that I just knew he shouldn't trust!

Two good stories so far and then joined by a Middle Ages themed tale The Laughter of King John which has a ending you can sort of guess at but is far more horrible than you can ever imagine.....

Thumbs up so far when we reach Promises an entertaining if not too original tale. It's here that I noticed something was wrong with my copy. There were two pages that made no sense followed by a science fiction tale Home which would fit in any title like DC's Mystery In Space or Charlton's Space Adventures those long lost sci-fi anthologies that I used to love in my younger days.

Sadly the next two tales didn't too much for me though don't let that put you off. Finally I got to read Bird Brain which is entertainingly sick. Skipping over the next story we reach the full version of the two pager I had come across earlier. It's obvious my copy wasn't bound properly and there was a second printing of Home and a couple of other pages.

Over all I would have said this was a well produced title and I'm sure most copies are fine so I'm not going to penalise the publishers for the problems with my copy. Overall I'd say worth buying. Five stories get the Thumbs up Two thumbs down and three were a wee bit "meh". However I would try this title again. I often felt that way about big publishers anthologies which also sometimes printed stuff I wasn't keen on. 

Rating: 3 Stars

Available from: theshift.store/independent-creators

Chilling Adventures In Sorcery #1 (One Shot/Archie Horror)

 

Archie has been producing an interesting line of horror comics featuring tgheir well known characters in different situations and guises. Archie has face Zombies as Riverdale was over-run and even confronted the Predator twice. Veronica has become a Vampire and Jughead a Zombie and a Werewolf. The Blossom twins are even competing to be the anti-christ. All great stuff.

In addition Sabrina has been revived revamped, returned to "normal" and has a new nemesis in Madam Satan courtesy of the TV series I believe (though I've not seen this) who has already been given a one-shot of her own and appears in the first story of this revived comic albeit for now a "one shot".

There are three stories all sort of inter-connected with an outcome that amusingly ties into the first story which sees our Archie as The Ferryman on the River Styx as Madam Satan seeks her escape from hell. Jughead gets a look-in and the fate of our femme fatale is the subject of the apocalyptic ending.

Overall mildly entertaining and amusing read. 

Rating 3 Stars

Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures (Volume One/Panini)

In lieu of a "Marvel Select" edition this month Panini have issued the first volume of a series of Star Wars adventures licensed by Disney and oddly produced by IDW publishing rather than Marvel. Even stranger is that this is a new on-going series and the second volume is not yet complete at the time of writing though depending on the frequency of this new project should be available for publication soon. 

This first volume reprints the first five issues of the IDW series and takes place in a time well before the Skywalker saga that is at the centre of Star Wars. The action takes us to the far corner of the galaxy and sees Yoda lead a band of inexperienced padawans to Trymant IV which is under attack by the Nihil who appear to be a band of marauders who are on a mission to retrieve an ancient artefact.

Roentgen the central two characters Zeen Mrala and Krix Kamarat who like a pair of star-crossed lovers from Romeo & Juliet end up being separated by warring houses. Zeen has a secret she has hidden all her life and it's this that will separate the two on different sides of this conflict.

Overall the story is rather messy and assumes a lot of the reader though there is the occasional guide. There are so many characters it's difficult to remember who is who other than the main half dozen. The artwork which is not bad but I would have thought more suited to fantasy rather than science fiction, competent but not adding to the cosmic appeal of the Star Wars Universe.

There will obviously to be a second volume of this series unless sales really don't justify it and I'll be in the market to see how this turns out. However of all the major science fiction franchises I generally find Star Wars doesn't quite translate well into comics. Star Trek does and Doctor Who can do but when I've tried Star Wars comics I haven't stuck with them for long.

Titan did start a monthly Star Wars comic based on the Dark Horse line but it didn't take which surprised me. Maybe these oversized "bookazines" as Panini markets them are the answer, though frankly I'd have chosen something from Marvel rather than this but then it's younger set of heroes may appeal to younger readers.

Rating: 3 stars (Average)

Marvel Universe: X-Men #8 (Panini)

 

A little later than usual I finally got around to reading the latest issue of Marvel Universe: X-Men which is one of the best comics on the British market and having long ago actually given up on Marvel's Merry Mutants that is a big turn around for me. These comics are a solid read and frankly with five US editions packed into each issue a real bargain.

At the moment the comic has veered away from the main X-Men story line taking us through the British orientated Excalibur then The Marauders (which turned out to be a lot more interesting than I thought it would be to now introducing X-Force.

The X Force story takes the reader back to the world of human prejudice against the mutants. Partially out of fear but also clear racism. Secret societies with masks updated from the old-fashioned Klansmen outfits but the same old hate plus blood tests which leads to the exposure of Domino spying on these extremists.

From here we go through a tale of subterfuge, subversion and sneak attacks which lead to the death of a major character. Not sure how permanent that will be given the resurrection facilities but this time the X-Men are not hopeful.

Next up is the continuation of The Marauders with Kitty pride hard at on the high seas. There's an unexpected rescue, exposure of bigotry, international crime and yet another possible death which will not be resolved for a while as the story-line is to be continued..

However this will not be in the next issue as The Marauders are replaced by the New Mutants a group I have never bothered with . It didn't appeal so I'll have to keep an open mind on this addition to the line up. X-Force is continuing but I have to ask the obvious question:

When will we return to the main X-Men story?

Rating: 5 Stars

Batman Secret Files: Peacekeeper-01 (DC)

 

Back in the sixties the now long defunct Chartlon Comics produced what they called their "Line of Action Heroes" which saw them create several new characters, revamp one and revive an Captain Atom since the mid sixties were the era of the superhero genre.

DC had added to and expanded their line-up but this was also the time Mighty Marvel was being established by Stan Lee his Co-creators Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko and many others. Even Archie comics was getting in on the act with it's short lived "Mighty Comics line. Then there was Tower Comics with its T.H.U.N.D.E.R Agents.

Charlton already had Captain Atom a Steve Ditko creation from earlier in the sixties with a very typically "Cold War" theme that was common at the time. Ditko who had fallen out with Stan Lee was back with Charlton where he rebooted the Blue Beetle and created The Question who was very much a controversial "hero" who with his Ayn Rand influenced philosophy left a criminal to die in the sewers at the end of his only book length story.

There was also Peter cannon Thunderbolt, Judo Master and the Peacemaker. These characters as many will know were originally to be used by Alan Moore in his Watchmen series but since they were to be killed off DC decided otherwise and all but Thunderbolt were brought into the DC Universe. 

Moore used the Charlton heroes as the blueprints for his characters and The Question became Rorschach, Blue Beetle Nite Owl and Peace Maker Edward Blake amongst others.

Of all the Charlton heroes Peacemaker was my least favourite and has never really found a role in the DC Universe until perhaps now. This Secret Files ties in to the massive Fear State crossover going on in Gotham across the Batman line of comics but it's not difficult to pick up Peacemaker's predicament.

In-between current events the reader is entreated to the new back story for the Peacemaker which is neither particularly original or that good if I'm to be honest. Although it's difficult to judge this revamp from one story I wasn't that impressed.

Frankly unless you are either a Batman crossover completist or die hard Charlton collector this isn't really worth bothering with.

Rating: 1 Star 

Batman: Guardian of the Night #7 (Panini)

 

My trip to WHSmiths was unsuccessful for the second week running. I have already had to order the latest issue of Marvel Universe: X-Men by post (which arrived this morning) but was unable to pick up The Amazing Spider-Man due out yesterday. Hopefully it will arrive next week. All down to distribution problems being experienced in a lot of places.

As a result I chose to pick up the latest issue of their sole DC title Batman: Guardian Of the Night which has reached it's seventh edition. I had avoided this until now as the second feature was Batman: Universe which I purchased as a hardback collected edition during the lock-down. A worth while story if you haven't read it. 

That's now finished and the second feature is a reprint of Batman/Superman #7 featuring Ras-al-Ghul, Zod and the dead citizens of Kandor. Not having kept up with regualr DC comics I wasn't aware that Kandor had been wiped out. I have to say this looks like it might be a promising story so I'll stick with it.

Of course there was a problem with the main Batman feature for a first time reader as this is you might have guessed part seven of Dark Designs. It's not too difficult to pick upon at least part of the plot and since it features an entirely new villain I'll be back for the next issue. The comic also introduces the Joker's new beau Punchline who I had already come across in one of the Batman collected editions I purchased not to long ago. 

A but sad that Panini only publishes one DC comic. I'd like a Justice League comic but I guess given the fact Titan gave up the DC licence shows the market is not yet there more's the pity. Still they haven't published an Avengers comic either so one day....

Rating 4 Stars

Doctorwho: The Lost Resort and Other Stories (Big Finish/Audio)

 

This box set featuring Peter Davision was actually released back in September but I only just decided to pick it up in lieu of the fact there are no longer "Monthly Adventures" series to collect. These box sets are a bit more expensive and as a result I've had to cut back on collecting these.

This latest set is pretty good value as I discovered since unlike all the others it actually has four instead of three CD's. However I am sure I paid far less than they are currently charging on their website. It appears the first story The Lost Resort may have been originally planned as one of the monthly releases and is a traditional four parter. This sees the Doctor and his companions Nissa and Tegan arrive on what appears to be a peaceful hospital planetoid. Of course being Doctor Who it's far from peaceful.

Photo: By This image was screencaptured and cropped by Alan-WK Fair use,

The team find themselves in a world of ghosts, lost voices a multi-bodied android intelligence and the Count who is far from being either honourable or even nice. There's even an appearnace from Adric. How is that even possible?  Traditional run of the mill Doctor Who but not a story I'd be in a hurry to listen to again.

Next up and thankfully confined to one CD in two parts is one of those "historical" type stories that always bored me to tears. The Perils Of Nellie Bly set around a journalist trying to beat the fictional Jules Verne 80 Days around the World adventure is something I will never bother listening to again.

The redeeming story from this box set is Nightmare of the Daleks. Set on a rig built on a water-world the workers are having nightmares in their sleeping pods about "robots". Some never wake and others die. What is going on and what sacrifice will the Doctor and his companions Tegan, Nissa and Mark have to make to beat these evil creatures? A good story with a sad ending.

There are plenty of better Big Finish releases to purchase so if your budget is limited avoid this one.

Rating 2 Stars

Ant #1 (Image Comics)

 

A little later than expected but the first issue of the re-launched Ant series is here and under new ownership with writer Eric Larsen creator of Savage Dragon. This will be the fourth attempt to give life to a character originally created by Mario Gully when he was in prison for robbery.

The first four issue series was published by Arcana Studios way back in 2004. I'm not quite sure why I chose to pick up this small press series but I was glad I did since the imaginary super-hero in a young girls mind provided an interesting back story for a "real" series which then appeared as an on-going series from Image comics. It lasted 11 issues and just petered out which was a shame but then lots of characters don't always make it. 

I also discovered (which will teach me for not paying attention) that Eric Larsen published the 12th and final part of the old series back in June. Guess I'll have to try and track down a copy as it's the only Ant comic I don't have!

Ant was just one of several characters I liked and have disappeared over the years. It's just the nature of comic book publishing. However Ant suddenly reappeared for a new series from Big City comics but that more "mature readers" effort was dropped after just three editions.

Mario Gully sold the rights for Ant to Eric Larsen and here we are with a fourth and I hope more successful attempt to give this character an outing. The hero is a young black girl Hannah Washington. This first issue presents her origin story and shows a lot of promise for the future. I certainly wish Eric luck with this.

Rating: 5 Stars (Recommended)