Howard The Duck #6 - A Review

Normally this is the part of the review where I'd summarize the set-up of the issue. Thankfully, I don't have to do that this time around. Howard The Duck does it for me! Yay Howard!


Mere words cannot do justice to the sheer enjoyable lunacy of this series. Ryan North and Chip Zdarsky are to be commended (or is that condemned?) for having raised the bar so high for future comic-writing smart-asses. Trying to detail all of the wonderful witty things in this comic would require me to write an encyclopedia, so I shall instead include a scan of my favorite sight-gag - Punisher with a cart-full of random guns at the same dealership Kraven The Hunter and Rocket Raccoon frequent.


All of this is ably illustrated by a top-notch art-team. That being said, you'd never know that there was a team working on this book because everything fits together so seamlessly. That's surprisingly uncommon on a book with three inkers and two colorists and well-worth praising!


If you haven't been reading Howard The Duck or The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, this Animal House crossover is just the thing to make you realize just what you've been missing. And what have you been missing? Two of the funniest comics in existence, ya goober!

Howard The Duck #2 - A Review

Trapped in a prison he never made, Howard The Duck seems doomed to be a part of The Collector's collection!  Luckily, Howard is locked up with Rocket Raccoon and the rest of The Guardians of the Galaxy are ready to spring their pal while The Collector is away on important business (i.e. attending a Con). Unluckily for Howard, they may get him killed long before he ever sees Earth again, much less gets paid for his current case!


Not surprisingly, Chip Zdarksy's script for this issue proves as hilarious as the first. Curiously, less of that humor is born of Howard himself and more from the sheer insanity of the Guardians of the Galaxy, such as Rocket's shaving a totally unnecessary treasure map into his fur. There's an equally funny back-up story where Howard is sued by Iron Fist and Power Man over the right to use the phrase "hero for hire" in his advertising.


The art team deserves just as much praise for their contributions to the book.  Rob Guillory's amazing facial expressions add to the fun of the back-up story. And Joe Quinones is to be commended for how many little sight gags he fits into every panel of the main feature.

Howard The Duck #1 - A Review

Trapped in a world he never made, Howard The Duck didn't think his life could get much worse. The public is alternatively scared and/or distrustful of him. The police think he's a trouble-maker. And the superhuman community don't have much use for him either. He can't even afford a real secretary! Still, the duck detective finally has a case he can sink his bill into. Now, if he could only get a clue...


Newcomers to Howard The Duck (i.e. everyone who only knows Howard from his cameo in Guardians of the Galaxy and that other movie we do not speak of) will be relieved that there is no cumbersome backstory to be made aware of in this first issue.  Howard is a talking duck. He's trapped on Earth. He's not happy about it. Neither are any of the stupid hairless apes who make Howard's life even more difficult. That's all you need know. A quick reference is made to there being a woman in Howard's past but the matter is quickly dropped as Howard is in no mood to discuss it.

Thankfully, for us old-timers, there are a number of references to Howard's past adventures even though this book gives him a fresh start. For instance, Howard is sharing an office building with She Hulk - an arrangement neither of them is particularly happy about, save when Howard needs someone to bail him out of jail. These nods to the past add to the humor of the issue, of which there is a considerable amount. And of course there's an obligatory first issue cameo by Spider-Man. And a training montage!


Chip Zdarsky's hilarious script is well met by the artwork of Joe Quinones and Rico Renzi.  Quinnones's style is reminiscent of Mike Allred's with simple character designs and a dynamic sense of motion between panels. His design for Howard himself is notable, being a nice compromise between Howard's film appearances and his original appearance in the comics. Ironic really, now that they don't have to worry about a Disney lawsuit...

Dallas Comic Con 2014 - ALL THE PICTURES! - Part Eight

Discord and Twilight Sparkle



Clark Kent changing into Superman.



My friend Terry Parr drew this when I asked for a picture of myself as a super librarian.
Not a bad likeness, though I think I look like Patton Oswalt playing The Doctor.


The Doctor and Marty McFly - another crossover that needs to happen.


Prince Charming, in search of a princess.


My new and improved Jack Knight (Starman) costume.


Boba of the House of El.  Combination Superman/Mandalorian armor.


Zombie Hunter  S. Thompson!
This gentleman does a good zombie comic called Stillborn.



Robin Sparkles and Poison Ivy.


Taffeta Darling as Thanos.



Move over, Hawkeye Imitative!  The hot new meme of 2014 is girls dressed as Rocket Raccoon trying to match impossible superheroine poses! (Thanks for this one, Diane!)



I didn't get a chance to ask of she was a certain character, but she rocked the chainmail.

Dallas Fan Days 2013 - Saturday, Part Two

An Ewok and a Twi'lek.  Do I really need to explain they are from Star Wars?   

Tank Girl, from the comic of the same name.   

I saw this sweet Amber Sweet from Repo! The Genetic Opera while waiting in line.  Luckily, I stumbled across her again later and she hugged me for being the only person thus far to recognize her. 

I should mention at this point for the benefit of my readers in Dallas that if you are a fan of Repo!,  Amber Does Dallas does live productions of the show on a regular basis and that tickets for a Halloween Double Feature of both Repo! and The Rocky Horror Picture Show are now available on-line. 


I also ran into this amazing Blind Mag from Repo! The Genetic Opera later in the day.    

Alice in Wonderland.   

My friend Diane as Rocket Raccoon.    

How awesome is Halo of ShoNuff Studios?  She can draw even with a bow in her hand!   

KillerQueen of IHOGeek.com as Ramona Flowers from Scott Pilgrim vs. The World.


The Fifth Doctor.  And where there's a Doctor, there's almost always a Master...  

Not THAT Master!

THIS Master is from the infamous cult B-movie "Manos" The Hands Of Fate - a film most fans of Mystery Science Theater 3000 will almost certainly be familiar with.