First Day at L.A. Comic Con!

 The L.A. Comic Con has returned to the Los Angeles Convention Center and it was a full day! I eventually picked up my badge at Hall B, security had me going in all directions, now with badge, I walked back to South Hall. There was a queue to enter the hall and this time volunteers had us line up side by side. One con goer said he bought his ticket yesterday, surprising with the size of this con, another came from Brooklyn for her first convention! This day I planned for comic books and cosplayers. I saw comic book artist, Chuck Patton, who had great artwork of Darkseid and Orion! More of his work can be found at his page: https://www.artofchuckpatton.com/ 

Rosario Dawson at the main stage of L.A. Comic Con, author’s photo.

The cosplayers were at the opposite side of the hall from Artist’s Alley. Joanie Brosas had at her table, two new comics with her cosplay covers; Red Sonja #13 and Vampirella: Dark Reflections #5. Both characters crossed over in a 2019-2020 limited series! At the main stage was actress Rosario Dawson who was interviewed about Ahsoka and her other work. Dawson mentioned that she felt like Ahsoka when she put her contact lenses in. She was asked about Josie and the Pussycats (2001) where she played bassist, Valerie Brown. Dawson said that the music still runs in her head like the song, “Spin Around” when she was changing a tire. 

I returned to Artist’s Alley and saw Mitch Gerards, the artist for Mister Miracle and Sheriff of Babylon, both with writer, Tom King. I also got to see Mirka Andolfo. Her artwork, prints, and sketchbooks are at: https://www.mirkaandolfo.com. There were actually two Back to the Future model DeLoreans on the show floor. One was for Universal Fanfest Nights. This takes place on April 25 to May 18th next year. It opens the Universal Studios Hollywood park to several experiences with Star Trek, Back to the Future, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Dungeons & Dragons, One Piece, and Jujutsu Kaisen. This is similar to Halloween Horror Nights. There was a captain’s chair for Star Trek. I mentioned it would be great just to screen Back to the Future: The Ride. 

The DeLorean photo op for Back to the Future: The Musical, Pantages Theatre booth, photo by the author. 

The other DeLorean was at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre which celebrates the DeLorean photo op for Back to the Future: The Musical which runs from November 5th to December 1st, then two Tony Award winning costumes from Wicked, which will open on December 4th and run to February 2nd. Also, banners from Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, next year, February 15th to June 22nd. At the Stranger Comics booth was some new comics, Tales of Asunda: Niobe #1 and Defiant: The Story Robert Smalls, the artwork for Defiant was impressive, historically researched, it has that look every panel. A Defiant presentation will be at the booth tomorrow at 3 p.m. There was so much to do, art, movies, actors, artists, and cosplayers at L.A. Comic Con and it continues this weekend!  

#LAComicCon, #ChuckPatton, #JoanieBrosas, #RedSonja, #VampirellaDarkReflections, #RosarioDawson, #Ahsoka, #JosieAndThePussycats, #MitchGerards, #MirkaAndolfo, #UniversalFanFestNights, #HollywoodPantagesTheatre, #BackToTheFutureTheMusical, #Wicked, #HarryPotterAndTheCursedChild, #StrangerComics, #TalesOfAsundaNiobe, #DefiantTheStoryOfRobertSmalls. 

Agatha All Along, Episode Four, Review!

The fourth episode of Agatha All Along is intense and gets closer to the mysteries set up by the show! Re:cap - Episode 3; the first trail involves Jennifer Kale brewing a potion. It takes place at a summer beach house where we get the wooden symbol on the door of moon phases which the Teen explains as the water phase. Drowning was one of the ways to kill a witch. They each face nightmares from their past, drinking poisoned wine, Alice saw her mother, Lorna, who was famous for singing the Ballad. Lorna says Alice’s mother died and she is next, a curse that reminds me of what is said to be like Bruce Lee. Jennifer sees a vision of a doctor trying to drown her. The coven puts together the potion ingredients for an antidote, but Jennifer says she’s forgetting something bound by “him.” They have a minute. Agatha says she always hated her, but says she left her alone, she adds, “They can take your power, but they can’t take your knowledge.”

Strangely, Agatha is perfect as a leader here. Kudos to Hahn for her bit of acting here. Jennifer suddenly remembers that they need the “blood of the unpoisoned.” Agatha takes a kitchen knife and slices the palm of the Teen! The swirling potion turns blue and the coven takes glasses to drink the antidote. It doesn’t go down easy, but they see the timer continuing, suddenly remembering Mrs. Hart. Alice gives to the potion to Mrs. Hart. Then, an oven door clangs open, Lilia says her friend had a bad experience with ovens. The ocean that was held back by the windows suddenly starts to pour into the kitchen! Alice tries to move Mrs. Hart and gets help from the Teen and Agatha. The Teen, Agatha, and lastly Alice slide into the oven. The oven door closes and the witches slide down a tunnel with the glowing trees and mushrooms of the Road. A tunnel like at the end of The Goonies (1985) and they slam into each other in a pile! Lilia says they made it through the first test. 

The Teen says Sharon is dead! Agatha asks, “Who’s Sharon?” and the others turn to her. The series is very clever, weaving in the stories of all of the characters as we go down the Witches Road. In this case, it is Alice’s turn, in “If I Can’t Reach You/Let My Song Teach You.” This episode is directed by Rachel Goldberg who also directed last episode. It is written by Giovanna Sarquis, a new writer for these episodes, she is also the writer of the “Paradise Lost” episode of Griselda. Agatha is staring solemnly at the body of Sharon Hart. The Teen is digging up a grave. Alice says her mother didn’t die on The Road and instead didn’t in a hotel fire while on tour. Jennifer asks why she is with them. Alice says her mother told her the Road would save her. Agatha is ready to continue on The Witches Road. The Teen and Alice dig up the grave.  I don't think this is final end for Mrs. Hart and really the Westview residents, we may see more of them as we get to the Agatha's trial. She was buried on the Witches Road so I don't know if this means she will be a spirit of some kind on the Road.  

Alice confesses that she was angry and didn’t want to believe in the Road to stay that way. Lilia says that now that she knows, Alice is sad, and adds that “Sad is better than angry.” LuPone acting shines with just a few lines. Lilia brings up all of the myths about witches. Agatha sits by the Teen’s side when he wakes up in a tent of branches. He asks if she places the sigil on him. Agatha says no and then adds she doesn’t know since it would also work on the witch who cast it. She says it has to be destroyed and this will happen, “when they are no longer needed” so at the end of the Road. She may have cast the spell to stop any reminders of her son? A quiet moment until he asks what happened to her son. Then, Agatha leaves him. Jennifer says they have an incomplete coven. Agatha says the Ballad says “coven two” and Jennifer corrects her, “coven true.” 

They leave it to Alice who asks Agatha how many witches left her with her. Agatha holds up one finger. They start to blame each other for Mrs. Hart’s death and Teen says it is all of their fault. Agatha makes the suggestion that they summon a Green Witch. She says they are all witches without a coven. Teen takes out his spell book, the note book he was carrying, and in a line Agatha chants in Latin. There is an outline of a body cleared of flowers. Lilia says what quality they want and some fires ignite. The fires are blown out and then suddenly a body pulls from the ground! Snapping sounds which end with Rio Vidal appearing. Agatha is held back from attacking her. Alice asks Vidal if she is a Green Witch. Rio replies in a demonic voice that she is “the Green Witch.” I think it is the demon Blackheart that was an enemy of Ghost Rider. Agatha probably didn’t want to summon it after getting angry at her Rio form.  

Lilia, Alice, and Jennifer wonder about Rio, Alice is conflicted saying that she doesn’t know if she hates Rio or wants her phone number! Funny! Jennifer agrees. They find another house in front of them, a cabin in the woods, Alice tries to walk away from it. Agatha tries to catch up to her and they find the same cabin in whatever direction they walk! A waving moon is overhead and also on the door. Teen says it is fire phase! Burning at the stake is another death for witches, a classic one! Inside they find themselves totally in 70’s glamrock gear, Agatha has a sexy black vest with gold pants. In fact all of the witches look great, unfortunately, Lilia has some dark make-up. I like Jennifer’s garland and white dress. The costume designs by Daniel Selon are fantastic. Rio slides up to Agatha, but she is told no. Lilia sees paintings of witches burning. Jennifer sees masks of Oni, Japanese demons. Alice sees a photo of her mother. 

Then, a screech of music comes on! Teen was playing a record, the record jacket has “Play Me” which he holds up, Alice is seen in the circular gap.  Agatha points out that the record is playing backwards. We get a spinning overhead shot matched with the record. Agatha smashes the record player. A metronome ticks away. This splits into a three shot with the Teen, Alice, and Agatha. Clever camera work in this ep. Alice says she feels lighter. Like air?, another element. Lilia suddenly starts sizzling and falls on the floor! Alice takes Rio’s dagger and carves a protection circle around Lilia. Then, she is free from that curse. Lilia says the only way to end a curse is to face it and turns to Alice. Next, Jennifer burns and Alice carves another circle. The Teen points out a burnt mark on Jennifer’s shoulder. Lilia pulls her scarf to show her similar mark. 

There’s a strange sound which Rio says is the curse. Alice tries to put together the broken pieces of her mother’s record. She blames herself for not keeping a job and not saving her mother. Then, she shows her scar on her shoulder which she forced herself to think it was a birthmark. Her mother also had them! She blames herself for not keeping a job and not saving her mother. Then, she shows her scar on her shoulder which she forced herself to think it was a birthmark. Her mother also had them! Alice is half-lit by a hellish, red light. Jennifer realizes that she has a “generational curse.” The Teen is lifted up and thrown through the window of the control booth! I think Agatha is the Mother, Teen I think is the Maiden in a way (the spirit of Wanda Maxim?), and possibly Rio is the Crone in her true form. Agatha checks on him and Jennifer asks about him still in the circle. 

Agatha’s plan is to play Lorna’s Ballad, a jam session!, they aren’t dressed up for a party. Rio, now on the drums, answers Agatha’s question about Lorna’s intention, to save Alice. Agatha goes to Alice saying that she is directionless because someone is playing the song she hates. A protection spell. The Teen says he can play guitar. Agatha insists Jennifer play bass. Lilia has found her instrument, zils, finger cymbals! Agatha takes the lead singer mic and wants Alice to play piano to save all of them. The recording reels in the control booth start to record. Alice start to play. This is the best use of a song as part of a story. Agatha starts to burn, but the song goes on. Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez really know how to make a song that is central to a show and fits as diagetic music, within the show. 

The paintings behind Alice start to burn. The fire is around the room, the best pyro for this concert, the moonlight blue fades into glaring red! The Teen is cut by a spike on his guitar, but keeps playing. Everyone is singing to bring the house down! Alice has a solo singing the lyrics of the episode title. Then, she sees in the rafters a female demon (Jade Quon) with wings! Alice is stunned seeing the curse and stops playing. She is ready to face the Demon and says, “I can kill it.” Back at the piano, her singing ignites a fire under the Demon! Alice sings, “I’ll see you at the end.”

The Demon vanishes and moves as a blur to burn Alice’s shoulder as she sings. The others are stunned. Then, the Demon burns up behind Alice! 

The fires snuff out and the metronome stops. Alice has conquered her demons for this time. The moonlight blue returns as spotlights. Alice’s piano lid opens and she sees the exit isnide, steps down. Then, Teen collapses with his side bleeding! They return to the Witches Road and place Teen on a  stone slab. Jennifer pulls out the guitar spike. She realizes that she needs “water and moonlight.” Alice scoops up water in a hat from a pool bathed by the moon. Jennifer takes the hat and speaks in Latin. She pours the water over Teen’s wounds. It heals like the wound was never there like Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989). Lilia is impressed at Jennifer’s work. Agatha looks at Rio. Agatha All Along continues to impress with its writing and characters, including bringing back Rio, and rocking out in 70’s glamrock style! 

Five Lockets out of Five! 

#AgathaAllAlong, #IfICantReachYou, #LetMySongTeachYou, #RachelGoldberg, #GiovannaSarquis, #KathrynHahn, #JoeLocke, #AubreyPlaza, #AliAhn, #SasheerZamata, #PattiLuPone, #JadeQuon 

The Ark, “Fortunate”, Season 2 Finale, review!

Season two of The Ark . Re:cap - “It Will Be Over Soon”; The Ark is finally reaching its destination, Trappist-B. The journey had started with the Ark-1 damaged escaping the destruction of Proxima-B. Lt. Sharon Garnet becomes captain. From Ark-3, Kimi Joma joins security, as well as Dr. Marsh, still the cost was the life of Cat Brandice! Ark-3 leaves for Proxima-B, but Ark-1 finds travel complicated. On the planet, Raynick-J, they find rogue clones, including a clone of Spencer Lane, Ian! A fight ends the life of Spencer, but his clone organ saves the life of Captain Zed Avega. Dr. Marsh suffers from his brain implant and Felix Strickland took a MX chip from him. William Trust says was from a mind control project! On the approach to Trappist-B, Felix is contacted by his daughter, Katheryn, whom he thought had died and is now is held hostage! 

Felix follows the orders of the kidnapper and volunteers to spacewalk with Trust. Garnet finds a tape recorder in a storage locker from Ark-2. She meets with the others in the ready room and plays the tape recorder. In a closet away from recording device, Garnet has understood Felix tapping Morse code and he reveals the blackmail. She has him go along with the kidnapper’s plan. The kidnapper demands that Felix cut their tethers on the spacewalk. A person who wants Felix and Trust to die. Felix was the bodyguard who protected Trust on Earth, was this is the assassin who shot at Trust, but Felix took the bullet? This was revealed in Season 1’s “eVery Single Person Matters” (2023). Suited up, Felix uses hand signals since Trust’s comm isn’t working, and then cuts his tether! Then, he pushes Trust into space! Felix attaches his tether and leaps off the ship. 

Eva reports that the airlock reads two people. Brice activates the NEPS engines. This pulls the ship away from Trust and Felix! A closeup of the blackmailer who watches Trust and Felix in space. He contacts someone,  says that he will take back the girl(?), and cuts off the signal. Eva notes this and Garnet has the signal locked out from the ship. Felix struggles to get a hold of Trust and then points out EF-2 behind the Ark-1! Garnet smiles as she tells that they can speak freely, the plan came together. Alicia walks in the bridge with Ian. Garnet explains to Alicia the plan with Felix cutting Trust’s comm so he couldn’t call for help. Also, the sensors were rigged to show they were on ship. Eva looped the feed on the side of the ship so it would hide the EF ship! Ian and Brice sent an EVA backpack with the message! 

THE ARK -- “Fortunate” --  STACEY READ, CHRISTIE BURKE, RICHARD FLEESHMAN, REECE RITCHIE --  Photo by: Aleksandar Letic/Ark TV Holdings, Inc./SYFY.

Garnet gets the screen from EF-2 with Felix and an angry Trust who said he played Hamlet at the New Old Globe Theatre! Felix wants to find the origin of the blackmailer’s signal to find his daughter! Garnet privately talks to Ian to thank him and apologize for her behavior. Alicia has tracked the signal to Trappist-1B! “Fortunate” is directed by series co-creator, Jonathan Glassner!, his first episode! He directed two episodes of The Outpost, season 2! John-Paul Nickel is the writer who also wrote two episodes for season 2 and co-wrote two eps with Glassner. The two ships head to Trappist. At the ready room, Garnet welcomes Felix and Trust. The suspect for Trust is Evelyn Maddox from Ark-15. Felix wants to find his daughter on the planet. Alicia has a plan with Eva, a way to track the signal. Sasha announces that they have arrived at the planet. 

The crew looks at the four Arks above the planet that was planned for colonization. Garnet compliments Trust. A shuttle descends to the planet, they land at the colony, next to a canyon. The landing shakes Garnet. A new planet, but still dangerous with the blackmailer. Brice climbs up the ladder and in the rear compartment is Felix who has his own search. Blue skies. Wow. This impressive since all of the time on the ship. The landing team is Brice, Ian, Dr. Kabir, Garnet, and Kimi. Strangely, they seem to have no problem on planet after being years in space. They are impressed at the colony, but it is too perfect, no welcoming commitee for Arks? A woman, Vesna Ilic (Tamara Aleksic) greets Garnet and says that they have been on planet for 22 months and a week. Aleksic played Janya in season 4 of The Outpost. They all make introductions. She realizes that Ian is a clone. Ves welcomes them. They notice children playing and Ves explains that Ark-8 had civilians. She says Maddox died in an accident. Too easy an explanation. An assassination blamed by Brice and Ian like for Felix and Trust. 

Felix walks into a module following a signal and sees children pass. He sees a man, Branko (Adnan Haskovic) and holds a security baton to the bearded man. Haskovic appeared in the sci fi adaptation, Snowpiercer (2013). Felix finds on Branko's log that he has not communicated with anyone in space. Felix shocks the man. He goes to a mess hall and sees a girl he thinks is Katheryn. He is taken by security when Branko points him out. On ship, Dr. Marsh sees Kelly in her cell and tells her the news that her mother died. Kimi, Brice, and Dr. Kabir love the food, Kimi is recognized by Gabby, a civilian horticulturist. She explains that Ms. Maddox died in a “tragic accident.” They are suddenly overwhelmed by others. At the Home Base I office, Ves says there is an election every cycle. Garnet wonders why they haven’t searched for other ships. Ves gets notified about the trouble with the crew. Suddenly, armed guards appear. Ian sees a woman lying against a bulkhead who keeps repeating, “We are so fortunate.” She is taken away by guards. 

THE ARK -- “Fortunate” -- SAMANTHA GLASSNER, JADRAN MALKOVICH --  Photo by: Aleksandar Letic/Ark TV Holdings, Inc./SYFY.

Ian tries to follow, it is a med bay of some kind, he watches as the woman is injected by Evelyn Maddox (Jelena Stupljanin)!  The mind control hinted at with Dr. Marsh? Maddox has control over all of the colony? At the landing pad, good effects, Ian reaches the shuttle and finds the crew is surprisingly happy. Garnet says, “We’re all fortunate to be here.” This feels like it would an entire episode. The shuttle attaches to the Ark-1. Ian tries to talk to Eva, but Brice hugs her, and they are taken away. Ian finds Alicia at the observation deck. He tells her that there is a problem. Kabir happily has sub-dernal implants and knocks him down to inject Dr. Marsh. Jelena pins down Kabir and Marsh injects her. The trio all have injectors. Alicia knows about the implant and Trust believes Maddox perfected it. Eva joins them having gone to medical, but she has been converted too! Garnet announces a medical exam for all crew members! Again, this feels all rushed and would take up another episode. 

They knock at the cabin of Angus and meet with Trust who was playing chess with him. Trust wonders about a kill switch. Angus mentions microscopic nanites in Kelly's blood. Ian tells Kelly about her mother with Felix. They need the WD controller in Garnet’s cabin. Ian sees Alicia and Angus who say they are “Fortunate to be here.” Alicia has a fork ready to escape the locked door. Ian meets with Garnet. She knocks back Kelly. Garnet fights with Ian. Trust activates Kelly’s implants and she catches Garnet's hand. Ian has the needle. Brice, Eva, and the others bang on the door. Garnet headbutts Kelly and they are overwhelmed by the possessed crew. Mind control has always been a creepy sci fi staple since Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956). Garnet has the injector on Ian, but then drops her head. The others follow. Garnet realizes what happened and throws away the injector. 

Garnet is ready with the others to take on Maddox and free everyone! First time that Sharon Garnet has turned vengeful! A sudden change from controlling everyone on the ship to suddenly independent which seems like it would take two episodes. A bit rushed. Kelly takes the controller.  

On Trappist, the group, Brice, Garnet, Ian, Kimi, and Kabir, are ready to use the kill switch. Brice takes out the security baton and Garnet says “No, they’re victims.” Suddenly, they drop their heads and Ian tells them to spread out. The solution is too fast, just show up and the kill switch works? They see Ves who apologizes to Garnet. Felix can’t find his daughter. On the shuttle is Maddox. She has Kathryn! Maddox communicates with an unknown person and then behind her is Kelly! She tells Kathryn she’s a “friend.” Maddox says they were fighting for control. She says that she made them happy. 

THE ARK -- “Fortunate” -- RICHARD FLEESHMAN, TIANA UPCHEVA --  Photo by: Aleksandar Letic/Ark TV Holdings, Inc./SYFY.

Kelly activates her implants and sends Kathryn to the back of the shuttle. She grabs her mother’s neck and leaves her fate to Captain Garnet. Maddox takes out a knife and Kelly snaps her neck! Yes! There are tears on Kelly as she asks how to land the shuttle. Felix stands as Kelly has his daughter! Such happiness as father and daughter finally hug! Ves makes an announcement that Ark-1 has saved Home . She brings up the counsel of each of the Arks. Garnet refuses to be in charge of the Ark-1 crew. She wants to go find the other ships to bring them to Trappist. Garnet asks for a dcrew. Sahsa volunteers as well as others. 

Garnet nominates Felix Strickland to represent Ark-1. Eva is happy about the “new civilzation” with Brice. He wants to leave on Ark-1, but they will have shorleave. Angus is happy at the Home Base horticulturists. Alicia tells him that she will be Chief Science Officer. Alicia is sad at leaving Angus and they kiss. Kabir talks with Marsh, she says they are fortunate to be there, and they laugh. She kisses him! Kabir says she is staying on Home Base and he says he is also staying! They kiss again. Ark-1, Kimi gives the crew list, Ian asks for permission to board. She assigns him to head of life support. Brice gets the home base message. Felix, Kabir, and Eva who has a log of ships. Trust joins them and says that Ark-1 has been upgraded. Angus runs in to tell Alicia to be safe. 

They are headed to Ross to find if there is a colony. Brice gives the countdown to FTL. Alicia says it is amazing. The long range communications from Ark-15 so they can reach Ross-128B. Garnet attempts to contact them. No response. They wonder if there is survivors. A garbled communciation. The man says “Do not come to Ross!” Yellow suits, Angus is checkign soil samples, he digs with a shovel, and pulls up a sign. A tablet of strange writing, he hopes it doesn’t read, “No trespassing.” The entire Trappist-1B scenes should have unfolded over an entire season. I think it would be satsifying just ending with Maddox being behind the takeover. Expectations for another season: parallel narratives with the Ark-1 and Trappist-1B.  A great wrap up for The Ark, they reached a stable colony world, the adventures continue with finding more survivors, and the potential of some danger on Trappist-1B! 

Four Compression Suits out of Five! 

#TheArk, #Fortunate, #JonathanGlassner, #JohnPaulNickel, #ChristieBurke, #ReeceRitchie, #RichardFleeshman, #TianaUpcheva, #StaceyRead, #SamanthaGlassner, #JadranMalkovich, #RyanAdams, #PaulLeonardMurray, #DianaBermudez, #TamaraRadovanovic, #MilosCvetkovic, #JessicaYemi, #TamaraAleksic, #JelenaStupljanin, #AdanHaskovic 

  

Godzilla: Monster Island Summer Camp GN Review!

Summer has finished, but there is still time to pick up the Godzilla: Monster Island Summer Camp graphic novel! The creative team, writer, Rosie Knight, and artist, Oliver Ono, both worked on Godzilla Rivals: Battra for IDW Publishing. They have crafted the perfect graphic novel for young readers, grades 4-7 is the target audience, and all lovers of manga and kaiju! The cover promises fun with Minilla carrying a basket of fruit with three girls from the summer camp. Colorful green skies with a touch of manga and just fun artwork by Ono. This instantly brings back his appearance in Godzilla’s Revenge (1969) which was geared specifically for kids. Zelda is a young girl who likes sketching with the ambition to be a cartoonist. Could this be more relatable to all comics fans? 

She sketches in her book drawing her mother who inspired her with comics and manga. Zelda is taking a bus that is leaving the city which has some futurisistic buildings. She is heading to camp which she hopes is an arts camp. Her mom worked hard to give her the birthday surprise of summer camp. The bus suddenly comes to a stop and the camp counselor announces that everyone has to give up cell phones and hurry into the camp. Zelda is trying to pick up all of her scattered art supplies when the counselor reveals that More Inc. is a sports camp! They have taken over last year to make a high tech sports camp, no time for crafts, it has a “military-level obstacle course”!

Zelda walks with a cane and she is assigned to the Oak cabin. She meets her roommates, Weezy with orange pony tails, and Rumiko with a bucket hat. I wonder if Rumiko is named after manga legend, Rumiko Takahashi. Zelda asks if they knew it was a sports camp and Weezy says no. The interior of the cabin looks like a Studio Ghibli design, very comfortable with potted plants and a stained glass window of a leaf. Rumiko loves sports, but Weezy wanted to paint, she also has a bionic arm(!). Zelda loves the arm. I love the cyber future and also the relatable summer camp experience. Rumiko offers to do the sports for them. They start to talk about comics when the counselor sends them to the mess hall. At their table, Rumiko talks about her interest in cryptozoology, including monsters like Mothman. I like the sketchy fellow campers in the background. 

This is again interrupted by the head counselor, who introduces himself, Jack, and the others, Dane and Morgan. Jack says that they have to follow what they say, ends the meal, and sends them off for a night run! He has them wear neon vests, but Zelda is defiant in doing any laps. I like the face off of the three friends next to three counselors. Jack then notes that only one of them can return to the cabin. Zelda says Weezy can go back to her paints. Jack says Rumiko has to do laps three times and she loves it! Zelda goes her own way alone, she parts a tree branch, and sees a cliffside cave by a lake! She enters the cave which is filled with crystals and stone bridges. Zelda walks up to a fountain of water when a pudgy paw pulls her in! This leads to a splash page of yellow skies, pink and purple palm trees, and Minilla! 

Zelda follows Minilla into the palm tree forest, but her cane snaps, I feel her frustration. She sees Minilla try to hide by a tree branch. Zelda explains that she needs help with her broken cane. She introduces herself, then ends up sketching herself with the cane, Minilla nods his head. He brings her to a statue by a waterfall and snaps off a stone cane that almost looks like a plumber’s pipe. She takes the cane and suddenly unleashes some kind of power! Donald Blake was transformed into Thor by his cane in the comics. Minilla roars and the scepter allows her to understand him! His thoughts show her via her sketchbook that this is Monster Island, three “strange men” appeared, and the monsters went missing, only to return changed. Zelda of course has adventures with her new friend, eventually the other girls, and they encounter some of the best kaiju! One kaiju interests Ororo, Rumiko’s friend, the King of the Monsters! Godzilla: Monster Island Summer Camp is fun, highly recommended, a story for kids and kids at heart, and a great kaiju tale! 

Five Sketchbooks out of Five! 

#GodzillaMonsterIslandSummerCamp, #RosieKnight, #OliverOno, #Zelda, #Weezy, #Rumiko, #Ororo, #Jack, #Dane, #Morgan, #Godzilla, #Kamacuras, #Ebirah