Comics Party

A Celebratory Review Blog

[comicsparty]

The Midas Flesh - vol 1 (#1-4)

written by Ryan North, art by Shelli Paroline and Braden Lamb

Okay, so this is a comic about three adventurers who travel to the unknown planet Earth which is made of solid gold in order to find the weapon there to defeat the evil Federation which conquered their home planets.

This is fabulous. The characters are fantastic. Our heroes are Captain Joey (and she’s a lady!), pilot and museum studies grad Fatima, and engineer Cooper the dinosaur. They are in a bit over their heads, but they are so wonderful in their interactions together, and I’m excited to read more of this. (The second volume is out now, I believe!)

The art is super cute, too. And the story starts getting way more complex way fast, with questions of morality and sad backstories, and I have no idea where the story is going to go at large, but it certainly has a very promising start.

HIGHLY recommended! (Now if only there were tons of Joey/Fatima fic out there for me to read! Or OT3 fic!)

[comicsparty]

Gunnerkrigg Court - Chapter 10: Doctor Disaster

by Tom Siddell. Read for free online here

Summary: The class spends their once-a-month class with Doctor Disaster. Their mission? Save the moon.

Thoughts: This is awesome!!! It's playing at an old sci-fi b movie, with death rays and no color and everyone with randomly dyed hair and implausible evil aliens, and it's just all around duper fun! A really nice breather from the super serious plotty issues.

Worth Reading? Yes! Although it doesn’t seem super relevant to the plot if you were doing a plot only read through, but it’s REALLY FUN.

[comicsparty]

Devil Dinosaur #9 - Final Issue

by Jack Kirby (image source/full info here)

Summary: Devil gets sent to a different universe.

Thoughts: Jurassic Park a little bit? Devil runs around a small 1978 Nevada town, gets shot at, finally gets back home. It’s cute and fun.

Worth Reading? For Devil’s romp through 616, it’s actually the best issue of the lot.

[comicsparty]

Runaways vol 3 #6

Written by Terry Moore, Pencils by Humberto Ramos (image source/full info here)

Summary: Things come to a head when civilians are put at risk and the Runaways and the Majesdanians find a truce. However, the Majesdanians still demand Karolina.

Thoughts: XAAAAVIIIIIIN!!!!! Okay, this issue was ACE and it made me cry! I have no words, it was just super all-around awesome. We don't get to see Victor, Molly, and Klara do much, but Nico, Karolina, and Xavin shine, and I'm all for that. Plus Macy's Spider-man balloon cameo!

Worth Reading? IF YOU WANT TO CRY LIKE ME, YES. Well, yes anyway, because it was great. I MEAN, WE CAN TALK ABOUT ALL HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS AND CHOICES AND HOW THAT SHOULD ALL GO DOWN IN REAL LIFE SOME OTHER TIME, this was still great with the emotional impact.

[comicsparty]

Devil Dinosaur #8

by Jack Kirby (image source/full info here)

Summary: Devil almost gets caught by some dinosaur riders

Thoughts: Eh. Moon-boy finds his people are alive, and they ultimately help Devil escape the people who want to catch and own Devil.

Worth Reading? Well, there’s nothing super gross about it. We’ve returned to just the general silliness this series started with.

[comicsparty]

Gunnerkrigg Court - Chapter 9: Questions and Answers

by Tom Siddell. Read for free online here

Summary: Annie and Kat talk about how Kat saved her, and Annie approaches Mr. Eglamore about Robot.

Thoughts: Questions and answers? Well, we got one answer. Though a little morbid, that's SO COOL that Annie got to learn all those languages and history and customs from those death spirits and gods. Also she was SUPER cute as a little girl. Mr. Eglamore is a little annoying in this, because he has to Adult and not tell Annie anything. And the tree arm thing??? Creeeeeeeeeeepy.

Worth Reading? Yes. This is definitely a more muted and sombre issue, but still ace.

[comicsparty]

Devil Dinosaur #7

by Jack Kirby (image source/full info here)

Summary: Eev, Stone-Hand, and White-Hair get captured by a “tree” remnant of the invaders, and Devil and Moon-Boy are reunited.

Thoughts: I mean, it’s hilarious the implication that this is the origin of the Adam and Eve story, and the tree is actually the evil one (in THIS universe, since it’s not 616), and the Devil is the good guy, and the reunion between Devil and Moon-boy is kinda of sweet. But uh, basically Eev is just like… hanging with Stone-Hand now… even though he assaulted her… and he’s a big asshole… and rapist… so like…. uh… there’s that. Plus White-Hair dies…

Worth Reading? I mean, if you’re still reading it after last issue?? But like… not really. No. It’s not. Not with how Stone-Hand gets rewarded for his actions against Eev in this issue...

[comicsparty]

Runaways vol 3 #5

Written by Terry Moore, Pencils by Humberto Ramos (image source/full info here)

Summary: The Runaways face off against the Majesdanians once again.

Thoughts: I knew Chase was the kind of guy who ruins everything. But this is cool because the team is back together! It's funny and cute and dramatic all at once, with little things like the lack of health care (wouldn't be an issue if this country was a bit different, maybe one day...) while running away from the Majesdanians. The action was a little easier to follow than issue 2, so that was a plus.

Worth Reading? THINGS ARE HEATING UP, DEFINITELY.

[comicsparty]

Devil Dinosaur #6

by Jack Kirby (image source/full info here)

Summary: Devil and the two men find a woman while Moon-boy escapes the destruction of the invaders.

Thoughts: Well, uh, mixed bag here at best... Surprisingly sad, what with Devil thinking Moon-boy is dead, and Moon-boy missing Devil. Eev seems awesome. However, Stone-Hand forces himself on her… and uh, well… >.> Just. No. Um. Frankly, this is just. It’s terrible. Not fun terrible. Just terrible. Because surprise!rape is exactly what I want in what was supposed to be a stupid, but entertaining comic?

Worth Reading? No. Don’t. Stay away. Really.

Content notes: violence towards women/sexual assault/rape

[comicsparty]

Gunnerkrigg Court - Chapter 8: Broken Glass and Other Things

by Tom Siddell. Read for free online here

Summary: Annie lands safely with the help of the birds, meets some new and old friends, and gets found.

Thoughts: Curiouser and curiouser!!! The mysteries are only growing. The two little fairies are adorable, and I'm so glad Shadow 2 was not bad after all! Did Annie meet Muut before? Did he come to collect her mother? And then there's the mysterious spectre, who knows what she's on about. BUT MOST IMPORTANT IS KAT TO THE RESCUE, HER AND ANNIE'S FRIENDSHIP IS SO AMAZING AND LOVELY AND PERFECT, I'm jealous.

Worth Reading? NEED YOU ASK?

[comicsparty]

Devil Dinosaur #5

by Jack Kirby (image source/full info here)

Summary: Devil uses giant ants to defeat the aliens.

Thoughts: Ok, if Jack Kirby could do off the wall inaccuracy and cliche ridden stuff, why can't I? That's what I'm getting from this. Make silly little stories where dinosaurs and people use giant bugs to take down robotic alien invaders. Do it. Next time anyone tells you your story lacks believability, just to point to this, laugh, and say you don't give a fuck.

Worth Reading? Sure, if you respect/have fun with off-the-wall stories like this.

[comicsparty]

Gunnerkrigg Court - Chapter 7: Of Old and New

by Tom Siddell. Read for free online here

Summary: Annie finds out more about her parents (as well as Kat's parents), and then, she sees Robot on the bridge, but something isn't right.

Thoughts: Plooot and backstory!!! Loooove triangles!!! Reynardine being gross!!! The rooobot!!!! The shadow!! Not so benign now, nooo!!! Mr. Eglamore being a little creepy...? I don't know what to think!! CLIFFHANGER!!! *rolls around in agony*

Worth Reading? WHY ARE YOU TALKING TO ME, I AM IN DISTRESS, THINGS ARE GETTING SUPER SERIOUS.

[comicsparty]

Devil Dinosaur #4

by Jack Kirby (image source/full info here)

Summary: Invaders come from the sky, destroy the land, and seemingly defeat Devil, while Moon-boy is captured.

Thoughts: Comics are seriously kinky, because Moon-boy has some suspension bondage experience in this one. Aside from that, looks like we're finally getting friendlies other than Moon-boy, and I really like the art of the leviathan creature in Moon-boy's dream.

Worth Reading? Seems like things are starting to pick up.

[comicsparty]

Runaways vol 3 #4

Written by Terry Moore, Pencils by Humberto Ramos (image source/full info here)

Summary: The Runaways try to figure out a way to break Nico's spell.

Thoughts: "We need a guinea pig. Where is Chase?" Xavin wins, everyone else go home. Also snot traps are grooosssss. Okay, maybe it's not SNOT, but I'm with Molly in that it looks like it.

Worth Reading? Yes, things are going to go down soon! Don’t you want to see how it goes?

[comicsparty]

Gunnerkrigg Court - Chapter 6: A Handful of Dirt

by Tom Siddell. Read for free online here

Summary: Kat takes Annie to an artificial habitat with a delicious cherry tree. They have fun, and Annie lets go of some held back emotions.

Thoughts: Oh, this was so sweet and sad. Their friendship (and okay, I ship it like crazy, b/c that's how I roll) is so beautiful and sweet. It's wonderful seeing Annie much less reserved and being far more free and loose rather than her reserved self. A really lovely chapter. Close and intimate friendship stories are so good.

Worth Reading? MOST DEFINITELY A MUST.

[comicsparty]

Runaways vol 3 #3

Written by Terry Moore, Pencils by Humberto Ramos (image source/full info here)

Summary: The Runaways can't agree on how to deal with the Majesdanians, and their prisoner is no help. Nico figures out some of their problems might be because of her magic.

Thoughts: I like seeing them doing their own thing. Xavin hanging out with the other rich adults is great. Val is eeevil, which we always knew, but now we sort of know how. Klara is adorable with her smile even as she says she'll never get used to this world, she still clearly enjoys it. Molly is amaaazing. Nico officially wins Mom status in this, too.

Worth Reading? Definitely!

[comicsparty]

Devil Dinosaur #3

by Jack Kirby (image source/full info here)

Summary: A giant enters the valley and attacks the locals.

Thoughts: This could have been really cute. It was kind of cute with the kid and his dad, but Moon-boy called Devil names, and the giant kid was obnoxious, and so it didn't quite meet my requirements for adorable. The last few pages are definitely the best.

Worth Reading? So-so.