IF IT’S WEDNESDAY, THIS MUST BE COMICS!

KC Carlson & friend

KC Carlson & friend


A KC COLUMN by KC Carlson

Here are just a few things worth looking for on today’s comic racks! (And if you don’t see them… ASK!)

The Complete Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck Volume 1

The Complete Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck Volume 1


The Complete Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck Volume 1 (Fantagraphics Books) — The Man, the Myth, the Mallard! The Definitive Collection, prepared under the watchful eye of cartoonist Don Rosa!

From his shoeshine stand as a plucky young lad to his globe-spanning quests for long-lost treasures as an adult, Uncle Scrooge McDuck has lived a life of legend ― a legend founded by Scrooge’s creator Carl Barks and rocketed to new heights by Don Rosa in his signature series,“The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck!” Now you can read all 12 chapters of Rosa’s internationally acclaimed and Eisner Award–winning series, completely and meticulously restored under Rosa’s own supervision. Join Scrooge, a very young Donald Duck, the Beagle Boys, Flintheart Glomgold, and more for Scrooge’s epic life story, with plenty of guest stars along the way, including P.T. Barnum, Buffalo Bill, Geronimo, Jesse James, Jack London, Czar Nicholas II of Russia, Annie Oakley, Robert Peary, and President Theodore Roosevelt!

Full-color illustrations throughout. 230 pages. I love reading these tales. Like Barks, you can always count on Don Rosa for epic Duck Adventures!

Scooby Apocalypse #36

Scooby Apocalypse #36


Scooby Apocalypse #36 (DC Comics) — Series finale! It’s the end of the road for the Mystery Machine! With their mall headquarters destroyed, Daphne, Shaggy, Velma, Scooby-Doo, and, yes, Scrappy-Doo prepare for their final battle with the Nanite King. Will the resurrected Fred Jones be the key to humanity’s redemption — or its annihilation? (Nanite King? Fred Jones resurrected? Humanity’s Redemption? In a Scooby-Doo comic? Obviously, I got way behind on reading this…)

And in the final chapter of the backup Atom Ant epic, all of our guest stars vote on who gets to join the Justice League! (Ooo, Ooo… Quick Draw McGraw!!! Oh please oh please oh please…) Writers: Heath Corson, J. M. DeMatteis. Artists: Patrick Olliffe, Tom Palmer, and Gus Vazquez. Cover by Olliffe & Palmer.

War of the Realms: Journey Into Mystery #1

War of the Realms: Journey Into Mystery #1


War of the Realms: Journey Into Mystery #1 (of 5) — I don’t know what to say about this one… All I really know about it is that “writer” Clint McElroy is a pal of Beau Smith (always a dubious connection), and I assume that Justin McElroy is some sort of clone. (Nah, not really. They’re a well-known podcasting family with a huge range of shows on all kinds of cool topics.) Art is by Andre Araujo, Valerio Schiti, and David Curiel, and I’ve never met any of them. (Yet!) In the actual comic, Earth is at war, besieged by an army of Frost Giants, Trolls, and Fire Goblins — and the mighty Thor is nowhere to be found! But could it be that the key to turning the tide is… Thor’s baby sister? (Let me guess… she’s got a Uru pacifier that she throws at people’s heads when she’s crabby!) Spider-Man (Miles Morales), Hawkeye (Kate Bishop), Wonder Man, and Balder the Brave also appear, so that the baby sister has plenty of targets! Good thinking, Marvel!!!

Rocky and Bullwinkle Present: The Best of Boris and Natasha #1

Rocky and Bullwinkle Present: The Best of Boris and Natasha #1


Rocky and Bullwinkle Present: The Best of Boris and Natasha #1 (American Mythology Productions)Those no-goodniks Boris and Natasha have somehow gotten their own comic book, and Rocky and Bullwinkle have been pushed aside for at least 32 pages! They’ve been causing trouble for “Moose and Squirrel” for almost 50 years! (My, how time flies by!) Two covers are available, both by Al Kilgore. The second is a Limited (just 350 copies) Edition Retro Animation cover. Hokey Smokes!

Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen by Jack Kirby

Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen by Jack Kirby


Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen by Jack KirbyMike Royer and Vince Colletta inked. Mark Evanier and Steve Sherman did something… EVERYTHING ELSE: Jack Kirby! Westfield’s own Robert (Bob) Greenberger wrote about this series a few months back, so go check it out! Go ahead! We’ll wait…

This new collection of these famous/infamous comics collects the still weirdly titled Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen #133-139 and #141-148. (#140 was a reprint.) At the time, this was oddly radical stuff from a Kirby that we mostly knew from co-creating the Marvel Universe (with Stan Lee and Steve Ditko). There was much mirth when it was announced that Jack had his pick of prime DC characters and took Jimmy Olsen over things like Batman or Justice League of America. It all seemed to work out in the end, however, because before long Kirby gifted DC with New Gods, The Forever People, and Mister Miracle — and later on The Demon, OMAC, Kamandi, and others — most all of them concepts that still exist today!

The intricately conceived “Fourth World” begins here, introducing Kirby fans to concepts like Darkseid, Morgan Edge, the new Newsboy Legion, and Intergang, as Jimmy Olsen (and ultimately the entire DC Universe) scrambles to deal with a changing world, hordes of clones, and more! Plus, are you ready for… Goody Rickles?! (I wasn’t ready then… still not ready now… did the world need an inept villainous clone of insult comedian Don?) This volume clocks in at a massive 376 pages of Kirby Klassics!

Detective Comics #1001

Detective Comics #1001


Detective Comics #1001 (DC Comics) — After 1,000 issues, you’d think Batman could finally catch a break… but no: as a new era dawns, he’s facing the most dangerous threat of his career! The Arkham Knight has arrived in Gotham City with an entire round table of deadly allies, and their first encounter will leave Batman shaken to his core! Written by Peter J. Tomasi with art and cover by Brad Walker and Andrew Hennessy.

Symbiote Spider-Man #1

Symbiote Spider-Man #1


Symbiote Spider-Man #1 (of 5) (Marvel Comics) — Set during the original “Black Suit Saga” (aka Venom), writer Peter David and artists Iban Coello and Greg Land investigate what happened BEFORE Peter Parker discovered the black suit’s sinister secret! Symbiote Spider-Man is an all-new five-part tale that pits the wall-crawling wonder against that most mystifying of menaces…Mysterio! (Gotta love a guy who’s been wearing a fish bowl on his head for over 50 years. Ooo… the smell…)

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KC CARLSON: Other things I have too many of besides comic books: Power Pop CDs, books about pop music history, unmatched socks, aches and pains, empty ham bins (excellent for storing and sorting LEGO), LEGO sets, doubts about ALL our politicians, lists, hair, t-shirts I never wear anymore but won’t throw out (See also: Converse All-Star Chuck Taylors), dust, … I could go on and on, but hopefully Roger won’t let me….

WESTFIELD COMICS is not responsible for the stupid things that KC says. Especially that thing that really irritated you. Really, Vince? 7.5 hours long? Plus, a two-hour pre-show? NXT ended on time — and was a much better show!