Looney Tunes (1994 Series) #200

July 13, 2011

Title: Hole in Wonderful; Soccer Blocker; Tee For Two

Writers: Bill Manthey, Sam Agro
Pencils: Walter Carzon, David Alvarez, Pablo Zamboni
Inks: Horacio Ottolini, Mike DeCarlo
Colorist: Heroic Age, David Tanguay
Letterer: Dezi Sienty, Ryan Cline, Mike Sellers
Cover: Scott Gross
Editors: Chynna Clugston-Flores, Joan Hilty, Rachel Gluckstern
Publisher: DC Comics/Johnny DC

As much as I love the classic Looney Tunes characters, I don’t often buy the comic book. Their particular brand of insanity is really difficult to capture in comic book form, so I only get it when I have a specific reason to. Issue #200 of the current series, I thought, would be a good reason. Unfortunately, while the comics I got was perfectly acceptable as an issue of Looney Tunes, it wasn’t really anything special enough to mark such an anniversary.

Instead, we got what appears to be an all-sports issue, beginning with “Hole in Wonderful.” Here, we see Bugs Bunny wrapped up in a golf match with his Scottish nemesis, McTavish. Although the Scots invented golf, they didn’t have to deal with Bugs. His idea of miniature golf includes the use of pool bumpers, baseball pitching machines, and drag racers, leaving poor McTavish worn to the nub.

In “Soccer Blocker,” a group of Bugs’ more monstrous foes – including Witch Hazel and Gossamer – lure him into a trap with the promise of an international soccer festival. From here, things are predictable enough – Bugs winds up playing his part to the hilt, pitting the villains against one another while he waltzes to victory. This is probably the strongest story in the book, and the one that most completely captures the feeling of the cartoons. It’s always fun to see Bugs outwitting his foes, especially when he gets to use goofy disguises and maximum frustration.

The book returns to golf in the final story, “Tee For Two.” This time out, it’s Foghorn Leghorn who gets the spotlight. Foghorn has constructed his own backyard golf course, but when he tees off, he finds himself caught in one trap after another (and these traps are more of the “booby” variety, not the expected water traps.) This one isn’t bad – it plays with the old Foghorn Leghorn formula, but not in a way that’s disrespectful or untrue to the character.

If I was picking up this comic because I wanted sports-themed cartoons, I’d be very happy. I just wish they’d done a little more to mark 200 issues. Heck, come September, this will be DC’s second longest-running comic, after Hellblazer. You’d think that would be worth something.

Rating: 7/10

Doctor Who: The Forgotten #3

November 22, 2008

Doctor Who: The Forgotten #3 (IDW Publishing)
By Tony Lee & Stefano Martino

The Doctor continues his journey through his own past this issue. Martha explores the museum, while the Doctor finds a new memory triggered by a bag of Jelly Babies. Longtime fans grasp the significance immediately, of course, but seeing the current Doctor explore perhaps his most iconic incarnation is a lot of fun. My complaint about the previous issue was that I didn’t think the villain was developed enough. Tony Lee is beginning to address that. While we still don’t get much, we get a little more, and we see the character becoming more fleshed out. Martha has a little more to do here as well, and we get more into the past of the Time Lords themselves. I was disappointed at Pia Guerra‘s absence from this issue, but Stefano Martino did a fine job with the various characters represented herein. It was a really strong issue, and one that’s bringing this series in the right direction.
Rating: 4/5

Young Avengers Presents #2

February 26, 2008

Quick Rating: Average
Title: Young Avengers Presents Hulkling
Rating: T+

Hulkling seeks out his father – the back-from-the-dead Captain Marvel.

Writer: Brian Reed
Art: Harvey Tolibao
Colors: Jay David Ramos
Letters: Cory Petit
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Cover Art: Jim Cheung
Publisher: Marvel Comics

Stunned by the news that Captain Marvel has returned from the dead, Hulkling seeks out the man he believes to be his father for a little heart-to-heart.

This miniseries is really perplexing to me. Like last issue, this issue isn’t really about the Young Avenger in the spotlight, but rather just a chance to show his reaction to current events in the life of his father/mentor/model. It doesn’t really advance or shed new light on this character – in fact, it would probably fit better as an addendum to the Captain Marvel series than a Young Avengers book. It’s kind of dull, and although there is a little promise about exploring the potential relationship between the two characters, that potential is pretty much shattered by the end.

Harvey Tolibao does some decent artwork here, and Jay David Ramos’s colors are great. The book is nice and vibrant, and dressing Teddy in Captain Marvel’s colors in his human form is a nice touch.

Overall, though, this book fits in with just about everything else in Captain Marvel’s “resurrection” thus far – dull and meaningless.

Rating: 5/10