It tooks all the way until “Phases of the Moon” for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons comic to deliver my favorite storyline, but the Forgotten Realms line did it in its second story. That said, while I enjoy “The Dragonreach Saga” for its main story, the real thing that gets me to latch onto this tale as something wonderful comes in its B-plot.
Let’s dive into a tale of dragons, villainy, and…mid-wifery?
Continue reading “Comics & Quests: The Dragonreach Saga”
The Joker is one of the most interesting characters in comics. He somehow positioned himself as the evil counterpart to Batman, despite there being no obvious connection between bats and clowns. Over the years he’s been a precision killer, a laughingstock, and a mass murderer. With so many stories featuring him from so many different perspectives, the quality of his villainy and stories often oscillates between great and terrible.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at the Joker’s history, how he became so iconic, and why I now try to avoid reading any stories he appears in.
Continue reading “Supervillain Evolutions: The Joker”
Criminals are a superstitious and cowardly lot, so my disguise must be able to strike terror into their hearts. I must be a creature of the night, black, terrible…
A seemingly perfect counterbalance to Superman, Batman first appeared in 1939 in Detective Comics #27. A creation of Bob Kane and Bill Finger, Batman was dark and brooding where Superman was colorful and bright, fallible where Superman was seemingly invincible. He perfectly defined the other side of costumed superheroes, becoming the archetype of the highly competent yet still mortal vigilante.
Along with Superman and Wonder Woman, Batman forms DC Comics’ “Big Three,” the most recognizable and longest-lasting comic book icons in history. That recognition doesn’t give him immunity to people mucking around with the core concept of who the character is, though.
Continue reading “Superhero Evolutions: Batman”
Tabletop RPGs can tell many different stories. The Advanced Dungeons & Dragons comic book presented a group of adventurers who took the tried and true track of living at an inn and facing whatever perils came through the city of Waterdeep. But the Forgotten Realms is a huge place, and not all adventurers stick to one locale. About a year after that first Realms-based comic hit store shelves, a second title emerged. Labeled Forgotten Realms, it followed a new group of adventurers who ranged quite a bit farther than the city of Waterdeep.
Continue reading “Comics & Quests: The Hand of Vaprak”
I wish serialized comics sometimes took a breather. After a major event like World War Hulk, described last time, the Hulk could have stood to stay on ice for a few years before going back to monthly stories. The time off could have allowed that cataclysmic story to resonate a bit. Instead, it became just another big event, and the Hulk was on the loose and rampaging around soon afterward. But this time, he wouldn’t do it alone.
Continue reading “Superhero Evolutions: The Incredible Hulk, part five”
I first saw “Sirena, Empress of Evil” as an adult with an adult’s sensibilities. “Evil is as Evil Does,” however, is a Green Lantern episode of Superfriends that I watched and liked as a kid.
What I remember from watching this as a kid: being super excited to finally see Green Lantern get a solo adventure, seeing him face off against another energy-slinging villain named Evil Star, and being generally jazzed about the short but sweet battle between the two foes.
What did I get upon re-watching this as an adult? Read on to find out.
Continue reading “Those Blasted Superfriends: Evil is as Evil Does”
The Advanced Dungeons & Dragons comic series lasted for 36 issues and one annual, but I would argue that the main story of the series ends with issue #22, which concludes the “Phases of the Moon” story. Not that the comic shouldn’t have continued after that–as we will see, there are certainly some more fun stories to tell–but after this story all the plot hooks that appeared back in “The Gathering” get largely wrapped up.
The actual storytelling in “Phases of the Moon” is messy and has a few plot holes that go unexplained. Nonetheless, it’s probably my favorite story in this series because it deals with my favorite character of the bunch: the innkeeper Luna.
Continue reading “Comics & Quests: Phases of the Moon”
Of all the bad shows I loved as a kid, none were dearer to my heart than Superfriends. It was where I learned to loved Green Lantern, he of the cool costume and even cooler power ring. Nowadays, I recognize it as very schlocky, basically thrown together because folks figured any bright lights and weird noises could keep school-aged children entertained.
In my case, they were right.
Looking back at Superfriends, it’s like McDonald’s food: terrible, but I still get a craving for it every now and then. Thus, I am happy to share my thoughts and commentary about certain episodes, beginning with my favorite Superfriend Green Lantern taking on Sirena, the so-called Empress of Evil.
Continue reading “Those Blasted Superfriends: Sirena, Empress of Evil”
I spent a good long time complaining about how “Spell Games” misused Vajra, who should have been the protagonist of that story. The next tale in the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons comic line, “The Ostus Legacy,” deals with the other heroine in our rotating cast, Kyriani. Like Vajra, Kyriani has some issues because she is a product of a 90s pop culture view on female characters. Ultimately, though, I feel that “The Ostus Legacy” comes to a stronger conclusion and gives Kyriani more agency than “Spell Games” did for Vajra.
And, if I’m wrong, at least “The Ostus Legacy” is two issues shorter.
Continue reading “Comics & Quests: The Ostus Legacy”
On the whole, I really like the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons comic. There are nonetheless a few things about it that I find grating, and almost all of them are on display in “Spell Games.”
Continue reading “Comics & Quests: Spell Games”
Babbling Brooks 