A weekend reading review…because sometimes Pastors need a break from heavy reading also. Haven’t posted these in a while but need a mental break after staying up till 5 AM today to finish up a sermon outline.
Francesco Francavilla. The Black Beetle: Kara Bocek. Milwaukie, OR: Dark Horse Comics, September 6th 2017. 56 pp.
5 out of 5
Purchase: Amazon
Looking for a fun comic short comic story of caped heroes taking place in the 1940s? You might like this adventure! About a year ago I read the first work on the Black Beetle titled The Black Beetle No Way Out. I almost didn’t read it as I thought it would be cheesy and plus in real life I don’t like Beetles. But the work impressed me very much. Which is why I picked up this work that was also written and drawn by Francesco Francavilla, an Italian graphic novel artist and writer.
In this story the Black Beetle leaves his stomping ground of Colt City for Instanbul. He’s gone on steamship to this historic city to pick up an ancient weapon that he’s been searching for a long time. He uses the alias of Tom Sawyer to go around but it seems like evil forces have been tipped off of his arrival and purposes. It’s an adventure as soon as he gets off the ship to the very last page!
I love the colors and the artwork that captures a dark (but appropriate) mood and vintage feel. There’s also a noir detective like feel to the story and art work. It makes for a fun adventure! It makes me sad to hear that the publisher Dark Horse discontinued the Black Beetle comic book series because both works were quite a treat. In fact The Black Beetle: Kara Bocek while it ended appropriately it did feel it had a lot of potential of many more issues if not even several volumes ahead of it. But for now I highly recommend the two work of the Black Beetle and even if there won’t be any more future comics of this superhero I will be paying attention for works by this artist.
Death of Margo Lane
Matt Wagner. Death of Margo Lane. Runnemede, NJ: Dynamite Entertainment, November 8th 2016. 128 pp.
5 out of 5
Purchase: Amazon Kindle| Amazon Paperback
One of the oldest superheroes from the pulp age till today is the Shadow. In this modern retelling of the Shadow you see that the character the Shadow is timeless and still fun for a whole new generation to read of his adventures. In this graphic novel there is a personal twists since it involves Margo, a long time undercover agent of the Shadow and lover of Lamont Cranston, the public persona of the person who is the Shadow. While this is an adventure story that’s filled with action it is also in some sense a tragic love story of sorts but without this becoming a sappy romance novel (I imagine most guys reading comics aren’t looking for that).
In this book we see the Shadow having to find out the source of much crime and evil in the form of a mysterious nemesis name The Red Empress. Part mystery, part crime fighting and action thriller, this story has many twists and turns and excitement. I couldn’t put this story down. I also like the travels that the Shadow takes to do his investigation of trying to figure out what’s going on. This takes him to Asia in places like China and on a sea voyage and back to New York City. Once back in New York the Shadow tries to save a kidnapped heiress which was a set-up to ambush the Shadow by Chinese Tong criminal elements. The Shadow is stuck in a cage but manage to break free though Margo goes into the building where he was at in order to rescue him. However the building caught on fire and explode. Readers are led to believe along with the Shadow that Margo died in the chaos. But did she really die? No matter in light of what happen this means The Shadow is on a war path against the Red Empress and all her secret criminal syndicates. The Shadow has the help of his own networks of agents from all walks of life and some of these are interesting characters in their own right. With some of their help our main hero goes out to find out the identity of who is behind the Red Empress and it heads to a shocking conclusion!
I wished more young people knew more about the Shadow because he’s really cool. Seems like my generation and younger aren’t familiar with a character that directly influenced the invention of the character “Batman.” Yet I think he’s cooler than Batman (and I love Batman!). The publisher Dynamite Entertainment has to be commended for printing this and also selecting good story tellers for this run of the Shadow and other recent stories about the Shadow.
I enjoyed the illustrations in this book. The 1920s and 30s feel is prominent from the outfits the character wear and also the cars, technology, building and manners. I absolutely loved it! This is “noir” plus superhero crime fighting mystery in panel form!
Never heard of the Black Beetles. I looked it up and read that in this story he fights against Nazis!
It’s Black Beetle not Black Beetles lol. Yes he fights Nazis who want the weapon. I think it’s fun and you will like it with the historical feel of the times!
Yes Black Beetle. I’m use to writing “s” for names, can you tell with my name?
TO WRITE IS TO SHARE LIFE THAT SHOUTS A BIRTH OF AN IDEA THAT A YOUNG, OLD OR A LONLY SOUL CAN HOLD FOR A LIFE TIME ARE JUST 0NE MOMENT. THANK YOU .
Amen! Greatest thing we can share is God’s love for sinners by sending Christ to die for our sins!
Thanks for the two entertaining reviews! Glad you were able to finally get around to reviewing some comics. I never thought about it before, but I can certainly see how Batman was inspired by the Shadow. I googled it and there are several articles about how the Batman creators borrowed/plagiarized from the Shadow.
The copy of “No Way Out” with the Black Beetle that I placed on hold at our library is still showing as “on hold” so it was obviously stolen. I borrowed a 2008 LSH graphic novel from the library that I briefly started three weeks ago. Need to start over and finish.
Have you read any of the Shadow or heard the radio show as a kid? Is this a new generation LSH you read or Silver Age LSH?
I was vaguely familiar with Orson Welles’ radio rendition of The Shadow only because “Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men?” was such an iconic part of American culture, but I’ve never actually listened to a full-length recording. This LSH graphic novel I borrowed was written in 2008 and features Superman rather than Superboy.
Sleeping at 5 AM? Wow, that’s late and hard work of a Pastor!
I hope you get a good day off!
When I was in Spain, at 10:00 pm (I forget which day of the week) I used to turn down all the lights, light my pipe, and listen to “The Shadow” on Armed Forces Radio. Wish they would bring back radio shows like that.
Awesome! The comics are a lot of fun and I think I learn about it first being a radio show from you! I think you will enjoy the one volume where the Shadow went to Spain!
Sounds cool! Yeah, there were lots of radio shows before television. Matter of fact some television shows had their start in radio. “The Shadow” was the one I remember most, but there were also “The Lone Ranger”, “Superman”, “The Green Hornet”, and “Tarzan”; as well as quiz shows, soap operas, variety shows, situation comedies and children’s shows. The 20’s through the 40’s really was the golden age of radio. It was before my time, but Armed Forces Radio broadcast them when I was overseas.