Science Dog Special #2

June 3, 2011

Writer: Robert Kirkman
Pencils: Cory Walker
Inks: Cory Walker
Colorist: Dave Stewart & Chris Chuckry
Letterer: Rus Wooton
Cover: Cory Walker
Editor: Sina Grace              
Publisher: Image Comics/Skybound

Science Dog, Robert Kirkman and Cory Walker’s labor of love, returns in a second special that wraps up his first adventure. In the midst of a plot by his arch-enemy, Science Dog is abducted by a group of aliens who need his help to solve a fuel crisis. It takes SD longer to solve the problem than expected, though, and when he returns to Earth, he finds a war-torn wasteland. This is the sort of story we see a lot in comic books and science fiction. Something goes terribly wrong, so the hero decides to travel back in time to fix it. As he often does, though, Robert Kirkman has found a surprising twist to put on the story. Things aren’t as easy to fix as they usually are in stories of this nature, and we see Science Dog get trapped in a particularly heartbreaking loop. I won’t lie – for such fun and (essentially) goofy concept, Kirkman goes to some dark places here, and we get an ending that’s bittersweet at best. And damned if it doesn’t work. Cory Walker does his thing nicely – with the time-travelling Science Dog he finds some nice, subtle ways to differentiate between one and the other, not just in the length of his chin-fur, but in the way the character carries himself and the expressions on his face. It’s more subtle and, certainly, far more effective. Wonderful book, and I hope this isn’t the last we see of Science Dog.

Rating: 8/10

Fantastic Four #553

January 29, 2008

Quick Rating: Excellent
Title: Epilogue Part Three: The End
Rating: A

Dr. Doom pits the Fantastic Four against… the Fantastic Four!

Writer: Dwayne McDuffie
Pencils: Paul Pelletier
Inks: Rick Magyar
Colors: Wil Quintana
Letters: Rus Wooton
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Cover Art: Michael Turner
Publisher: Marvel Comics

Dr. Doom has come back in time to prevent Reed Richards from destroying the world… a claim that the Fantastic Four isn’t too keen to hear. Then, a different FF from the future appears, there to take back Doom – until the Reed of the present decides maybe he should hear his arch-foe’s warning.

I could absolutely weep that this is McDuffie’s last issue, because although the “New” Fantastic Four arc fluttered at the end (a fluttering I’m fairly certain was caused by editorial interference), with this arc he has absolutely, 100 percent, without a doubt proven that he gets it. He gets the Fantastic Four. He knows these characters, he understands who they are and what makes them unique and what makes them one of the greatest creations in comic book history. The ending of this issue caused a swelling in my chest that I haven’t felt since the Mark Waid issue when they brought Ben back from the dead.

Seriously. Liked it that much.

Y’know what else is good? Paul Pelletier? I feel like I’m cheating him by using the same phrase to describe him every time I review one of his books, but I don’t know how else to say it. He does some of the best science fiction-based superheroes in comics. Lots of action, lots of energy, lots of cool tech and not four, but eight great-lookin’ heroes.

Loved this issue. LOVED it.

Too bad it’s over.

Rating: 10

Uncle Scrooge #344

July 30, 2005

Quick Rating: Very Good
Title: Fishpond Frenzy and Other Stories

Something is fishy when Magica makes a play for Scrooge’s number-one dime.

Writers: Paul Halas, Marco Rota, Janet Gilbert, Terry Laban & Carl Barks
Art: Marco Rota, Manrique, Romano Scarpa, Tino Santanach & Carl Barks
Colors: Egmont, Scott Rockwell, Pamela Rambo, Marie Javins & Summer Hinton
Letters: Willie Schubert, Jon Babcock & Susie Lee
Editor: Arnold T. Blumberg
Cover Art: Marco Rota & Susan Daigle-Leach
Publisher: Gemstone Comics

This month’s collection of Uncle Scrooge tales is a nice little assortment. There’s nothing mindblowing, but every story is above average and entertaining in its own right.

First up is “Fishpond Frenzy” by Paul Halas and Marco Rota. Scrooge attempts to breed a new species of fish to win a Koi Pond contest with a $10,000 cash prize, but when a ravenous pike makes its way into the pond, Magica sees the perfect distraction to go after his number-one dime. It’s a good story, only upset a little by a last panel that lapses into the cheesy.

Next is “Beagles, Boys and a Bin” by Janet Gilbert and Manrique. The Beagle Boys use a perfume that smells like money to lure Scrooge into a trap and begin a raid on his money bin. Now the only ones who can save his fortune are his great-nephews, Huey, Dewey and Louie – with a little help from the Junior Woodchuck Guidebook. This is really a starring vehicle for the nephews, which is fine with me – this is the kind of story where they really shine.

“All You Need is Love” by Terry Laban and the late European superstar artist Romano Scarpa is actually my favorite story this issue. Scrooge’s admirer Brigitta MacBride is dismayed when he begins spending time with a diamond heiress. When she decides to try to become friends with her rival, though, she worries that Scrooge may be in danger. Scarpa is one of the few duck artists (along with William Van Horn, Don Rosa and Carl Barks) that has a really unique style all his own, and it’s a great one that will be missed.

Gilbert and Tino Santanach bring us this issue’s Gyro Gearloose tale, “Big Helper.” Gyro and Little Helper (his light-bulb headed assistant) are dismayed when another inventor and his “Big Helper” steal the show at the Duckburg Invention Convention, leading Gyro to try to improve on his own assistant. But some things, he learns, are perfect just the way they are.

Finally we have a lesser-reprinted Carl Barks story, “The Cattle King” (originally published in Uncle Scrooge #69, May 1967). Scrooge brings his nephews off to his ranch in Longhorn Valley to teach them the cattle business. Things get hairy when one of his old enemies from the McViper clan shows up and tries to rustle his herd, and again, it’s up to the nephews to save the day. It’s a dandy little comedy/western.

Overall, this is a highly satisfying issue, one that would be perfect to sit down and share with your kids.

Rating: 8/10