This 1933 hardcover found at a book sale seemed like a sure winner. Published by the Junior Literary Guild, an early book club for children with many titles I admire, and a glance through found many excellent illustrations by Illingworth. I thought it well worth reading. Sadly, the writing by Akers is quite bad. It hardly seems worth detailing the many ways in which it’s bad, but let’s just say Dwight Akers was not an author well suited to this kind of fantasy, and probably not well suited to writing for kids at all. The book is full of sappy off-putting verse, most of which I skipped, and the remaining story of three boys, a talking mule, and anthropomorphic animals of all kinds, has many faults, but the most annoying is, it’s written down to the audience, not from the heart, but in the spirit of, “here’s a funny, cute thing for the kiddies.” Akers wrote a few other books that were not fantasy, and those may have been better, I don’t know. If I ever see one I will not look at it.

The illustrations, though are excellent, and kept me at least skimming the story and turning the pages. I’ve looked up Leslie Gilbert Illingworth (1902-1979), and he was a prolific political cartoonist for British papers. THIS site has over 4,000 of them. He seems to have illustrated only a few books. How he came to do so for this mess of a story is a mystery.

You’re not likely to find this long out of print tome, but if you see it, enjoy the illustrations, which are highly recommended, but do not read the book.

Image © DC Comics, Inc.

Another big crossover thing is about to begin, but this issue is still entertaining and does not feel like part of a story with things missing. Despero is on the JL satellite and looking for the “real” Justice League, but finding only the newbies, who are definitely not ready for his kind of power, size and anger. Despite that, Element Woman, Firestorm and The Atom team up and work together well to deal with him as best they can, which essentially means staying alive first, calling for backup second, and generally keeping their cool and thinking fast. Help arrives from an unexpected quarter to drag Despero off, but by that time the satellite itself is in big trouble. Meanwhile, Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman are still dealing with the revelations of last issue about the secret suitcases in The Batcave designed to deal with each JL member in the event of their going rogue. Great art by Zander Cannon, Gene Ha, Andres Guinaldo and Joe Prado.

In the Shazam backup, we learn more about the origins of Black Adam as he confronts Billy Batson and friends in their very vulnerable human forms. This story has been more fun than I expected, and will wrap up next issue. The usual excellent and consistent art by Gary Frank, who does it all himself every month. Yes, it’s a backup, and not so many pages, but Gary’s still to be commended on all counts.

Recommended.

Image © DC Comics, Inc.

Francis Manapul is back on the art this issue, and I couldn’t be happier. In fact, since Brian Buccellato colors and both of them co-write, only the letterer is needed to complete the story. There can’t be many DC comics with as few as three creators doing the work these days, and letterer Carlos M. Mangual does a fine job, too.

Barry Allen is still picking up the pieces of his life interrupted by previous adventures, and moving in with his girlfriend, Patty, is on the agenda. That brings up the issue of each of their parents, and some nice character development. Barry’s job has changed, too, he’s back in the Police Crime Lab, but relegated to the basement, sorting unsolved cases. More good character stuff there. The action erupts quickly when one of the small group of people trapped in the Speed Force needs help, and Barry soon finds out some things he didn’t know about all of that group, as well as an unusual device back in his basement office. A nice setup for next issue ensues. Well written, fabulously warm and inviting art, great action and even better character acting, and all looking effortless and perfect.

Highly recommended.

Image © Caitlín R. Kiernan and Dark Horse Comics, cover art by Greg Ruth.

Kiernan and Steve Lieber’s “Alabaster” is cover featured, and I’m still liking this tale of ghosts and trickery a lot. One technical problem I noticed this time is the resolution of the art is too low, making the lettering look like it’s running together in many places, and a little hard to read. I don’t recall this on previous chapters. It’s less obvious on the art.

Oeming’s “The Victories” is pretty a pretty entertaining approach to superheroes, though so far they aren’t doing well with their terrorist opponent.

I don’t quite follow “Journeymen.” It’s a trickster story with a monster and a box full of important stuff that turns out to be…well, that would spoil it. Some interesting moments, but I’m not quite sure what’s going on, and the captioned internal dialogue is distracting.

I’ve already written about “The Day The Saucers Came” by Neil Gaiman and Paul Chadwick HERE. The story, or poem really, is light weight but entertaining. The art is great. The lettering is my favorite part, the first new lettering by Gaspar Saladino to see print in many years.

I’m continuing to enjoy “Station to Station” by Bechko and Hardman, a tale of science gone very wrong and Lovecraftian monsters.

“Beneath The Ice” is a new serial by Simon Roy and Jason Wordie. Have you ever had one of those dreams where you’re crawling in a tunnel, and it keeps getting smaller and smaller…? Here it is.

The new “X” by Swierczynski and Nguyen is not my cup of tea, an ultra-violent vigilante fighting mob types. The preview ends with this issue.

“Villain House” by Shannon Wheeler is a funny look at two villains in jail for good reason: they’re classic losers locked in co-dependent misery.

“Finder” is appealing to me again, as the delivery man finally meets his employers while stuck in a very dangerous place.

Lots to like this time, highly recommended.

Image © DC Comics, Inc.

This issue is remarkable in several ways beyond its story and art. First, it’s the finale of not only the current GL crossover, but the culmination of several past ones all written or created by writer Geoff Johns. Second, it’s Geoff’s swan song on the title. It’s impossible to miss this fact because, instead of ad pages, the book has many pages full of tribute quotes to Geoff from the famous and familiar, people who worked with him and/or admire his writing. I’m all for that, but placing these throughout the story was distracting, they should have been at the end.

As a story, it’s very appealing. Hal Jordan is finally back on the scene, confronting the First Lantern and Sinestro. All the GLs from all the spinoff books are there with their own bits of wrap-up and action to do. There are happy reunions, well-resolved plot threads, a cast of thousands, and an emotionally satisfying conclusion. Most of the art is pencilled by Doug Mahnke with his usual excellence, and with the other regular GL artists filling in the rest. there’s a wonderful double gatefold spread to finish the story, so essentially a four page spread of all the colors of Lanterns in flight. Good stuff. Kudo’s to Geoff on a fine nine years of work on the Lanterns. I haven’t loved every minute, but overall it’s been a great ride.

Recommended.