Geek Truth Bookshelf: Urshurak (1979) by the Brothers Hildebrandt!

 Urshurak is a fantasy novel worldbuilding from all of the interests of the art team of the Brothers Hildebrandt. It was intended to be a multi-media project by the creative team, the Brothers Hildebrandt; Tim and Greg Hildebrandt. The book was written by Jerry Nichols. This was in 1979 which was formative for me with Star Wars (1977) which the Brothers Hildebrandt painted an iconic movie poster, The Hobbit (1977) was a tv movie and The Lord of Rings (1978) was an animated film by Ralph Bakshi, the Brothers Hildebrandt were known for their Lord of the Rings calendars, and Wonder Woman was on tv screens from 1976 to 1979. I still knew that animation was great, but I always wanted live action. I read the novel of Star Wars so it was the closest to visualizing the film off screen and in many ways Urshurak was the first novel that I read and swayed me to fantasy worlds. 

The novel has been said to copy Lord of the Rings, but it is a shallow comparison since there is submarines, Atlantean-like Fire Crystal lasers, funny, hairy creatures, different cultures like Amazons, Vikings, and a character of African descent. In other words, a blend of influences for the Hildebrandts. They rendered these in beautiful black and white illustrations as well as full color paintings in the book. The cover features the characters; White Elf prince, Aliwon, flanked by Hugh the archer, the leaders of their people, the Azmurian Ali Ben Kara, and the Viking-like Tark-Volmar. In the foreground is the beautiful Amazon, Zyra, the Gwarpy, Oolu, and two of the Dwarf warriors, Evrawk and Erbin. Behind them is the epic siege of the Elf city, Cryslandon. There is of course the world map that has the mega contient of Urshurak. 

Then, an illustrated page of the prophecy telling about the Day of Fulfillment. It begins in the Forest of Delvinor, an area in the south western part of Urshurak, there are illustrations for each chapter that just has me racing to see the image from the pages and onto the next chapter! A full page of black and white art shows an archer running from a cabin built from a hill in a forest. The man is Hugh Oxhine who has left behind the graves of his wife, Marya, and children! The comparisons to Aragorn fall short since he is a widower and a common man. He is driven by revenge to chase after the killers and goes without eating and sleeping. The touch of tragedy at the beginning sets the stage of this world. Hugh’s chase leads to the giant Trocalas trees and then to a waterfall. The murderers are creatures, humanoid rats we later find out are known as Blegons. 

He finds them in a battle with two Dwarfs (Nichols uses the traditional spelling), Evrawk and Erbin, along with a youthful Elf. Hugh takes out a few with his arrows, but then has to rush into the battle with his knife.  One of the Blegons bites the shoulder of the Elf. Hugh defeats several of the rat creatures and the others retreat. He is joined by the Dwarfs with red hair who ask him to carry the wounded Elf. Hugh worries about letting his family’s killers escape, but his stronger sense goes to help carry the Elf. Hugh rushes though wounded and exhausted and eventually collapses. He wakens to find the Elf placed on a unicorn! Erbin is the Dwarf who acts as a leader thanking Hugh and telling him that there is a place of safety and rest in Mowdra. Hugh turns aside his revenge to follow the Dwarfs. This makes me think of Inigo Montoya in Princess Bride, the 1987 movie was based on the 1973 novel by William Goldman. 

Hugh finds himself at Mowdra with a castle-like tower and he sees the wizardly Elgan. A chapter on Elgan tells his back story which is like Merlin. He watches as Elgan heals the young Elf whom Hugh learns is Prince Aliwon, Bearer of the Light. In the room is Elf’s love interest, Gwynn, his twin cousins, Glenden and Ianen. There is also Erbin and Evrawk, and another person. This is the hairy Oolu, a Gwarpy who is funny, gentle and connected to animals. He makes me think of Gurgi in Lloyd Alexander’s The Book of Three (1964). The half-animal person may be connected to Enkidu from the Epic of Gilgamesh. Elgan introduces everyone and Hugh tells his story of hunting while his family was killed. Hugh, himself, is Vandorian, a practical people who keep to themselves. Most important is Aliwon is from the White Elves of Alfandel, Hugh had thought that all of the royal heirs were destroyed, but Aliwon was hidden in secret. A bit like Aragorn in Lord of the Rings. 

#Urshurak, #BrothersHildebrandt, #GregHildebrandt, #TimHildebrandt, #JerryNichols, #HughOxine, #Aliwon, #Evrawk, #Erbin, #Oolu, #Gwynn, #Glenden, #Ianen, #Elgan, #Zyra, #TarVolmar, #AliBenKara, #Rogmun, #Gorta, #Torgon 

Wicked: Part I Review!

Wicked is an entertaining musical journey of Cynthia Errivo’s scorned Elphaba and her rivalry and friendship with Ariana Grande’s perky Galinda! The movie is based on the Tony Award winning 2003 musical which had music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz. He is known for the musical Godspell (1971) and also lyrcist for animated films like Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996) which was made into a musical in 1999. I have not seen the musical yet, but have my ticket for next month. 

In turn, the musical was based on the book, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (1995) by Gregory Maguire. It was the first novel of The Wicked Years books. The film is directed by Jon M. Chu who also directed In the Heights (2021) which I consider one of the best movie musicals. It is written by Winnie Holzman, she wrote the book of the musical, she also wrote episodes of the music series, Roadies. Her co-writer, Dana Fox, wrote Cruella (2021). The movie runs two hours and forty minutes which is longer than the entire musical. 

It opens with the circular window, the pool of the dissolved Wicked Witch, and her hat. A flying monkey shatters the window and flies away. This moves to Munchkin Village, the Munchkins are not short. The Munchkins realize that the Wicked Witch is dead and start to celebrate. Landing in her pink bubble and chair is Glinda played by Ariana Grande-Butera. Grande is funny at her desperate for recognition woman. Grande is of course known as a pop icon, she appeared on Hairspray Live! (2016), and known for the Nickelodeon sitcom, Victorious. Glinda notices the posters warning about the Wicked Witch and confirms her death. 

Everyone sings, "No One Mourns the Wicked." Glinda says, “Let me tell you the whole story.” On a ruined stone bridge, a rider heads to waterfalls, great design. We get the overture and walking to the Emerald City are four familar figures; a girl, her dog, and friends! Glinda sings “No One Mourns the Wicked” where we get the governor of Flexspar Thropp (Andy Nyman) and his wife, Melena Thropp (Courtney-Mae Briggs). Nyman was Sir James Hobbs-Coddington in Jungle Cruise (2021). Mae-Briggs voiced Jade in Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix, an animated series in 2023. 

There is a green elixir that is part of an affair with Melena and a salesman. She has a baby and the knives and tools fly up to the roof. The baby has green skin and Flexspar says. “Take it away!” The result of the elixir? Elphaba is taken into the care of the bear nanny, Dulcibear (voiced by Sharon D. Clarke), sweet bear? She gets a baby sister, Nessarose, and later told by Flexspar to watch over her. Young Elphaba (Karis Musongole) is outside with Young Nessarose (Cesily Collette Taylor), she is in her wheelchair. 

Munchkinland kids start taunting Elphaba and this makes Nessarose cry. Elphaba, frustrated, balls her fists and rocks begin shaking and then fly towards the kids. Flexspar sees Nessarose crying and blames Elphaba. Munchkinland needs a better parenting program starting with the governor. What goes around comes around, zero sympathy for the Munchkins. Glinda has the pop-up book, Story of Oz, and then we get an effigy of the Wicked Witch to burn. Glinda is asked by a Munchkin girl if it was true that she was friends with the witch. She says, "Our paths did cross in school." 

There is multi-colored goldfish that swim underneath sail boats before we get the title, the Part I shown, but not in any adverts. The boats pass underneath the school sign, Galinda (Grande) is awed by it, and the students arrive at the landing bay of Shiz University. A bit like Harry Potter and Hogwarts. Shiz University is in the city of Shiz in Gillikin, the northern part of Oz. Galinda says goodbye to her parents and wears a pink suit while the other students were dark blue school uniforms. A chorus greets the new students with “Dear Old Shiz" and Galinda joins them. 

Next to her is fellow students, Pfannee (Bowen Yang) and Shenshen (Bronwyn James). Yang is known for SNL and appeared as himself in the comedy, Good Burger 2 (2023). James has played Fanny Lambert in the drama, Harlots. Another student introduces himself to Galinda as Boq (Ethan Slater) from Munchkinland. The lead role was played by Slater in The SpongeBob Musical: Live on Stage! Boq's last name may hint at his fate. He has a crush on Galinda, but is just clueless that his interest is not returned. This leads to the entrance of Elphaba (Erivo) and the students part as she walks up. Erivo is an accomplished singer, winning the Tony and Grammy for the Broadway revival of The Color Purple, and she played Harriet Tubman in Harriet (2019).  

#Wicked, #JonMChu, #WinnieHolzman, #DanaFox, #StephenSchwartz, #GregoryMaguire, #CynthiaErivo, #ArianaGrandeButera, #JonathanBailey, #MichelleYeoh, #JeffGoldblum, #MarissaBode, #EthanSlater, #BowenYang, #BronwynJames, #PeterDinklage, #KealaSettle, #AndyNyman, #CourtneyMaeBriggs, #KarisMusongole, #CesilyColletteTaylor, #SharonDClarke

Re:tro Re:view - Knights vs. Samurai #1!

The clash of feudal cultures with a touch of fantasy begins in Knights Vs. Samurai #1! The Spike documentary series, Deadliest Warrior, had such match ups of warriors and historical figures using science, computers, and effects. Though there were no knights vs. samurai battles in an episode. The creative team is David Dastmalchian and Fede Mele. Dastmalchian also wrote the Headless Horseman comic with Leah Kilpatrick. Mele has provided art for Spawn covers including Sam and Twitch: Case Files #7. Todd McFarlane is the creative director. The consultant is Theresa Matsuura who hosts the Uncanny Japan podcast. The cover of the first issue by Raymond Gay has the helmets of a knight and samurai facing each toher over a fierce battle of warriors and a dragon breathing fire! 

A closeup of eyes, a young knight, Charles Ward, carries a battle axe. There was a Charles Dexter Ward, who was a H.P. Lovecraft character. A dragon with a snake head and wings is latched onto a ship! He swings at the monster which is mocked by his brother, Bennett, hanging from a rope with his longsword. Bennett calls Charles “little brother” though he was born two minutes before him. He swings and slashes at the reptile’s cheek. In shadow, Bennett leaps to slay the dragon. Charles tosses his axe, a blur, then it buries into the creature’s neck! The dragon roars and then rears back. A nice merge of dragonslaying and a clipper ship out of sailing adventures. Bennett is about to say it was a good throw, then he is skewered by the beast’s tail! In an insert panel, a shocked face of Charles. The dragon sinks underneath the ship. Charles tries to reach out for his brother, but he falls over the bow into the sea. He wakes up screaming at the memory. 

Charles is in a cabin in the day. He is met by Sir Robert Jarrow, the commander of the royal army, and dresses to meet the duke. Charles has been knighted, he takes a staff which he strikes against poles, as they walk into the city. He doesn’t want awards for killing the dragon, Persa. The commander warns Charles about saying the duke only wants the glory. There is a young boy that looks at them. Next, a closeup of the duke’s laughing face. There is a pantomime showing a knight fighting a dragon which is set in front of dinner tables. A scene that seems like it is out of A Knight's Tale (2001). This is a renactment of the battle of the duke. A closeup of Emma, the woman sitting next to Charles. The duke announces that they have suffered from dragons, but the last dragon of the Northern sea was destroyed. Cheers go up. He knights and dubs Sir Charles the Dragon Butcher! 

The ceremony is interrupted by a man held by two knights. He is scrawny and the duke recognizes him as Baggi. The duke calls for doctors and then for Baggi to be brought to the counsel hall. Afterwards, Emma says to Charles that he had just come back from his expedition. Sir Robert then takes Charles to the counsel hall. It is a dark hall with trophies of a dragon head, a lion head, and the bed with Baggi attended by the doctors. The duke greets Sir Charles and tells him in confidence about a mission to send missioaries to the east. We see demons attack them, the duke describes them as a barbarians, and says that they enslave men and women. The samurai wore Men-yoroi masks like the helmet seen on the cover to look like oni to give strength. The duke’s advisor, Baggi, survived, and now he wants Charles to defeat the enemy so he can bring in missionaries. On 1549, the Portuguese Catholics first arrived in Japan. 

Charles accepts the mission. At sunset, he consoles Emma and says she wil be in charge of the building of their home. He promises to return before the first Autumn leaf falls. Charles says he has love for her and hatred of dragons. Emma says they’re extinct. A very quiet scene as we see the couple embrace in shadow as the sun sets. The next day, a massive ship is at port, Sir Robert says the captain, Morcart, is a pirate. They will follow the path set by Baggi, sailing in Norse waters to the Kara Sea (part of the Arctic Ocean), and finally to the “Devil’s Island.” The name given by the missionaries. A giant hauls a crate above him. Baggi is the guide, he is escorted to the ship by the duke, Charles asks the duke if Baggi is in any condition for a voyage. The duke says Baggi will bring the missionaries once Devil’s Island is conquered. The duke promises that his manor will be finished when Charles returns. 

He cheers on the Dragon Butcher, but then we see the tears on Emma’s face. The captain, Morcart, warns the crew that they can swim back. Charles says that Sir Robert had selected the crew. Morcart asserts that it is his ship, then has Charles make his announcement. Charles makes a speech that their mission will be fast, then they can return to their families, and also that Captain Morcart’s orders are to be followed. After the speech, the German knight, Wulfhelm, mocks it. Charles is defended by the giant, Mundric, interesting character, not many giant characters since Fezzic in Princess Bride (1987). Also coming to his defense is the lady knight, Ayleth, very cool, a knight like Brienne of Tarth from Game of Thrones. Charles tells them to be on the lookout for sea beasts and also to learn from the pirates since they may have a smaller crew! Morcart says that Wulfhelm and Baggi are the duke’s “untouchables.”  

#KnightsVsSamurai, #DavidDastmalchian, #FedeMele, #ToddMcFarlane, #TheresaMatsuura, #RaymondGay, #SirCharles, #DragonButcher, #Emma, #SirRobertJarrow, #Duke, #Baggi, # 

Singularity and Defiant: The Story of Robert Smalls #1 Signings!

There were two signings today at the EyeForSound gallery for Singularity, a multi-media project, and at the Golden Apple Store was Defiant: The Story of Robert Smalls #1. The Singularity signing had composer, Bear McCreary, and Serj Tankian from System of a Down. The entrance of EyeForSound features the Kavat Cafe with coffee drinks. On the walls was the exhibition, I Got Pictures On My Wall by Greg Watermann, which prints of System of a Down band members from Ozzfest in San Diego, the world tour in Moscow, and the Sick New World Festival in Las Vegas. These large prints are for sale. 

Bear McCreary and Serj Tankian at the Singularity signing, EyeForSound, author’s photo. 

Some of the merch sold was the book by Serj Tankian, Down with the System, System of a Down t-shirts and CDs, and the Bear McCreary project, Singularity. Information about the EyeForSound gallery is at: https://www.eyeforsound.com/ The Singularity merch had a vinyl record, graphic novel, and CD. The original rock concept album feaures Slash, Tankian, Rufus Wainwright, and many more collaborators. There is also a concert experience. Singularity is a bold endeavor by Bear McCreary and Mat Groom. It is about Blue Eyes, who moves from life to life in different forms. 

He finds a mysterious, golden woman who appears in brief lives. Surreal with touches of Robert Heinlein’s Stranger in a Strange Land (1961). The gallery features an outdoor patio area with comfortable chairs and tables. The signing was limited with groups at different times. McCreary and Tankian who were first rate gentlemen and took photos with everyone. The album and graphic novel are available now. Details about the Singularity can be found at: https://bearmccreary.com/thesingularity/ I had mentioned the Defiant: The Story of Robert Smalls #1 at the Stranger Comics booth at L.A. Comic Con on October 5th. 

Rob Edwards, writer of Defiant: The Story of Robert Smalls #1, Golden Apple, photo by the author. 

The first issue hit comic stores on November 13th. The second issue has a release date of December 4th so remember to put it on your pull list! It was interesting to go to Golden Apple since they always have copies from their previous signings. I also saw an actor for a popular sitcom at the signing. There were variant covers available at L.A. Comic Con. Today there was the regular cover by Caanan White and also a textless cover. Stranger Comics offered many trades of the Asunda titles from The Untamed to Tales of Asunda. 

Attending the signing was writer, Rob Edwards, artist Darrell May, Stranger Comics president, Sebastian A. Jones, and also executive producer Marvin Jones III. I was kinda surprised to see Jones III known as a rapper, he also played Tobias Whale on the Black Lightning show, and voiced Tombstone in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)! Golden Apple has a 45th anniversary celebration next Saturday, November 23rd, with signings, food, and more! Check out: https://goldenapplecomics.com/ An incredible day of music, comics, and meeting some talented and friendly people!   

#EyeForSound, #Singularity, #MatGroom, #Slash, #RufusWainwright, #BearMcCreary, #SerjTankian, #SystemOfADown, #GoldenApple, #DefiantTheStoryOfRobertSmalls, #RobEdwards, #DarrellMay, #SebastianAJones, #MarvinJonesIII. 

Re:tro Re:view - Primer GN and #1!

Primer is a fun read and a great superhero to join the ranks of the DC Universe! I’ve always thought that the comic industry needs young reader titles that appeal to adults and kids. The closest I think is Power Pack, which had four young, sibling superheroes. It continued with the limited series, Power Pack: Into the Storm by original creators, Louise Simonson and June Brigman. Primer was a 2020 graphic novel targeted for young adults. In May, the chapters were made into a limited series. It is an interesting reversal of printing the comic after the trade paperback. In September, a three issue limited series, Primer: Clashing Colors, was released. Primer made a cameo in Teen Titans Academy #8 (2022) and joined the team in the final issue #15 (2022). 

Primer is the perfect title connected to paint, a layer to protect paint and also the literary term for an introduction to a subject, in this case, superheroes and comics! I think it is the perfect comic for young readers, non-comic readers, and veteran comic fans. Primer, “Primary Colors”, is by the writing team of Jennifer Muro and Thomas Krajewski and the art is by Gretel Lusky. Muro is the writer for Star Wars: Forces of Destiny. Krajewski has written for The Snoopy Show. Lusky is an animation character designer who has worked on Ian : A Moving Story (2018). Check out her artwork at https://gretlusky.com/ 

The cover of the graphic novel and first issue by Lusky has Primer, smiling and splattered with colors, spray can in hand, splotches of dripping color in the background, and spray cans by her boots. In a splash page, a woman in glasses, as well as other citizens give the classic Superman intro, “Look! Up in the sky!” A funny intro for a superhero book. It is actually a plane, a jet airliner with engines on fire! This also a nod to the first outing of Superman in the 1978 movie. An insert panel shows the pilots in panic. In her apartment window is Ashley Rayburn, 13 year old hero, holding her pink wig. 

Then, she takes out tubes of paint; Fire, Strength, and Invulnerability. Multiple powers are fun, Dial H for Hero, had ordinary people gain powers by using a magical dial. We find later that she has a total of 33 super powers! Another splash page as Primer leaps off her building to catch the plane. This page has creator credits in the first issue. Her leap gets her to crunch the fuselage of the jet. It hurtles towards a bridge and Ashley wonders what she will do with fire powers. She struggles to lift the jet with her right hand and then with her left hand unleashes a fire blast. The blast strikes the bay under the bridge and counters the jet’s fall! Clever. I like a hero that has work out using powers. 

She propels the jet with her fire power and over the head of the citizens. A mother wonders who is the superhero and her daughter shouts, “Rainbow Dash!” The My Little Pony pegasus! Primer has brought the airliner over the airport. She uses her boots to slow the plane’s descent. The jet races towards an unloaded plane! The two jets touch with a fuuny sound effect. Then, a splash page of Primer holding up the jet as she tells a startled baggage worker that he can grow up to be strong as a girl, funny! This flashes back three weeks to the building of a foster home at night. Ashley suddenly wakens shouting, “Dad! No!” An interesting memory that will have to be explored. Ashley sneaks out of the window and at a tunnel, begins spray painting by moonlight. 

Five Body Paints out of Five! 

#Primer, #PrimaryColors, #JenniferMuro, #ThomasKrajewski, #GretelLusky, #AshleyRayburn, #KitchNolan, #YukaNolan, #Luke, #MrsBoyd, #CalStrack 

Absolute Wonder Woman #1 Review!

Absolute Wonder Woman #1 has Diana as the last Amazon from hell who stand in the way of demons taking the Earth! All In has a dark comic book universe with a twist on classic characters. This was in the All In special #1 by Joshua Williamson and Scott Snyder. It divided into “Alpha” with art by Daniel Sampere and Dan Mora. It is the story of the Justice League becoming Justice League Unlimited, a nod to the 2004-2006 animated series. The flip book has “Omega” with art by Wes Craig which is the story of Darkseid leading to the creation of the Absolute universe. 

The special introduced the Absolute heroes and their series has launched including Absolute Wonder Woman with the series by Kelly Thompson and Hayden Sherman. “The Last Amazon Part 1” is by Thompson and Sherman. Thompson is also the writer of the latest Birds of Prey series. Sherman’s art is also found in the “Arkham Academy” stories running in Batman: Urban Legends. Sherman provides the cover, Wonder Woman in her Absolute outfit, right arm with red tatoos, black armored left arm, with a Wonder Woman symbol and tiara, but upgraded like the fantasy series, Dark Knights of Steel with black fur coat mixed with the 1986 Dark Knight Returns. She rides a skeletal pegasus with red eyes flying over a city like Taarna from Heavy Metal (1981).  

The comic kicks off with a large panel of Gateway City, a city in California that was a base for Wonder Woman. It is a vision of a city by the bay with a pier extending from buildings blooming from hills, the detail and fine lines look like Kevin O’Neill art. The setting sun in an orange sky gives a pinkish sheen with light purple waters. Incredible work by colorist Jordie Bellaire. I also like the sights for the advert of Moulton Cove, Wonder Woman creator, William Moulton Marston, a partially covered mention for what looks like Gail, a tip of the cap to Gail Simone! This is disrupted by a screech! This has knocked down reporter, Allan, and his cameraman. 

The camera points to the pyramid-like object, a sinister, Hellraiser thing, hanging over the blue sky and beach! Allan reports about the object’s appearance when red creatures start to swarm from it! People start to run from the demonic, pterodactyl-like beasties called Harbingers. One red-haired woman with glasses covers her ears, then looks up, nice insert panels. This is a helmeted warrior with red pony tail riding the skeletal pegasus, Wonder Woman! She tears free her sword the size of Guts’ blade from the Berserk manga! I think this uniform is screaming out to be cosplayed. The panels sweep with Wonder Woman’s sword that slices through the demons! They shriek and begin flying after her. Then, she leaps off the hellish pegasus. She cuts through more of the Harbingers and the narration describes the princess. 

Wonder Woman lands taking off her helmet to take the demons’ blood to wipe across her eyes. A contrast to the gifts given to the princess; “Beauty. Grace. Compassion.” She crosses her black gauntlets and unleashes an almost eye scorching blast, white and pink that fills up the page! The signature move of Wonder Woman in the films called by Gal Gadot, the "Boosh!" This is the other gift, “the darkest of magicks”! It leads to a two page title and credit list, epic! We get “Years ago. The Wild Isle of Hell. Prison of the Great Sorceress Circe.” The long time foe of Wonder Woman was introduced in Wonder Woman #37 (1949)! Circe narrates that she was a ruler of the island, Aeaea, which was where she encountered Odysseus. Good mix of myth and superhero like George Perez’s run. The Wild Isle is in darkness as Circe begins to mold earth. 

Then, it seems like the sun shines, but it is presence of Apollo, the sun god. He holds a grey bundle and Circe rejects his command to kneel. Her hands and forearm are covered with the red clay like blood. He hands her the bundle which has a baby girl with blue eyes. He says she is Diana, Princess of Themyscira, and the last of the Amazons. Apollo says Zeus took her from them as punishment for crimes against the gods. I like the use of the original clay origin with the Zeus part from the Brian Azzarello run. I would like this origin in any future movies. Apollo says that Diana may never reunite with the Amazons that are exiled by Zeus for an eternity. Lastly, Apollo says, closeup of his over exposed face, that Circe can never say the word “Amazon.” He asks her to say it, but the word is distorted like the sigil in Agatha All Along. 

The sun god leaves unconcerned if Diana dies in hell. Circe is careless with the baby and her narration is that she is not a mother. A snake, like a channel of lava, slithers up to the rocky depression that holds Diana! Circe just watches as the serpent opens its fangs. It is is held by the baby and tossed away! This is a great echo of Hercules’ infancy where he strangled snakes sent by Hera. Circe is intrigued. She stirs a cauldron as baby Diana sees a red lizard. A series of panels as it blasts flames at Diana, she holds the beastie, then tells it “Nono” before taking as a plaything. The next pages showing Diana growing up in hell has Circe’s cave with cauldron. She starts to walk, Circe bathes her with a magical rain cloud, Diana plays with the snake, demonlings, and a tiny skeletal horse. Circe’s narration notes “How you fall in love with a child is by raising it.” 

Circe tucks in Diana opposite her bedding. The empty cave soon fills with shelves, candles, and books. She teaches Diana to read, answers her questions (addressed as mother!), and shows her magic. The cave has plants as decorations, the candles start to light up the walls, and then as a girl, asks her about a lost word. Circe summons a Cerebrus-like beast with a scorpion tail to challenge the teen girl Diana They practice magic. A dead Harbinger is found. Circe’s narration repeats the raising the child saying and then adds, “But letting them go is how you prove your love.” Brilliant writing that works with the clever panel layout and designs. This moves back to Gateway City where Wonder Woman sends Pegasus to patrol the perimeter while demon bodies carpet the ground! 

She walks up to a soldier and then orders him to evacuate the civilians. Her eyes have a demonic fire. Wonder Woman says the demons are just stunned. She falls under the shadow of a Kaiju-sized demon, Harbinger Prime, but she defies it with the Earth under her protection. She tells it she has the Athena Blade. Harbinger Prime has a split bill, three globes inside its black eyes, and it opens its Cthulhu-like maw. Wonder Woman holds back its roar behind the Athena Blade and sends Pegasus to burn it. She takes hold of its leg casting a spell, but Harbinger Prime blasts her with its eyes. Wonder Woman recovers as the Harbinger Prime commands its demons to rise. The demons shriek past her and in some inset panels Wonder Woman moves away from the demon takings its eye blast! She crosses her gauntlets and this sends the blast back at Harbinger Prime! It unleashes another blast that expodes, this sends Wonder Woman skittering across the beach. Absolute Wonder Woman #1 is an impressive comic with demons, myth, and a blend of different versions into one powerful Wonder Woman! 

Five Athena Blades out of Five! 

#AbsoluteWonderWoman,  #TheLastAmazon, #KellyThompson, #HaydenSherman, #WonderWoman, #Diana, #Pegasus, #Circe, #Apollo, #HarbingerPrime, #AllIn, #JoshuaWilliamson, #ScottSnyder, #Alpha, #DanielSampere, #DanMora, #JusticeLeagueUnlimited, #Omega, #WesCraig,    

Frankenstein Starring Boris Karloff GN Signing!

Today was the signing of the Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein: Starring Boris Karloff graphic novel at Dark Delicacies! There was a number of the creative team for the graphic novel that attended, Story Adaptation and artist, Kerry Gamill, Art by El Garing, Script Adaptation, Robert Napton, and Executive Consultant, Sara Karloff. It is a stunning adaptation that has captured the Mary Shelley novel and the 1931 James Whale film that starred Boris Karloff. Thiis will be available on November 12th. 

Sara Karloff, Robert Napton, El Garing, and Kerry Gamill at the Dark Delicacies signing of the Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein: Starring Boris Karloff graphic novel!, photo by the author.

The other graphic novel, Bram’s Stoker’s Dracula: Starring Bela Lugosi is available now to order, also highly recommended, by Gamill, El Garing, and Napton. They are part of the Legendary Comics Classic Monsters series. Also, it is always great to walk around Dark Delicacies and look at the books, magazines, toys, and other goods including the 30th anniversary t-shirt! 

       Toothsome’s Ozitavely Pink & Green Shake, delicious!, author's photo.

It was also an opportunity to stop by CityWalk. There was some Wicked merch at the Universal Studio Store; sweaters, shirts, and hats with Wicked and Shizz University logos. The website mentions that the costumes from the film would be at Universal Cinema starting November 7th, but I didn’t see them from the lobby. The special offering was aviable at Toothsome’s Chocolate Emporium. I was able to try Toothsome’s Ozitavely Pink & Green Shake. It is a strawberry and key lime milkshake with pink and green whipped topping. Plus, Strawberry and Oreo crumbs and a white chocolate disk with the Wicked logo. Very delicious.

#MaryShelleysFrankenstinStarringBorisKarloff, #KerryGamill, #ElGaring, #RobertNapton, #SaraKarloff, #BramStokersDraculaStarringBelaLugosi, #DarkDelicacies, #CityWalk, #Wicked, #UniversalStudioStore, #ToothsomesChocolateEmporium, #OzitavelyPinkAndGreenShake