Robert Loren Fleming

Ambush Bug is probably one of the most beloved obscure characters in the DC universe. This wisecracking, teleporting villain-turned-hero is the meta cultural critic of comic books, irritating heroes and readers alike as he does his best to make it in a medium that never really wanted him. It's great to have the complete run of Ambush Bug appearances in one place - from his DC Presents origins to his own mini-series - but as is the double-edged sword that is the Showcase Presents series, these are all reprinted in black-and-white on cheap, flimsy paper.… (altro)

Initially, a goofy teleporting villain dressed as a green bug, Ambush Bug came to embody the silliness inherent in super-hero comics. From 1982-1992, creator [a:Keith Giffen|10305|Geoff Johns|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1235508544p2/10305.jpg] and scripter [a:Robert Loren Fleming|238629|Robert Loren Fleming|http://www.goodreads.com/images/nophoto/nophoto-U-50x66.jpg], through their proxy Ambush Bug, parodied nearly every corner of the DC publishing empire. The lunacy ran roughshod through two eponymous mini-series, two specials, and several other DC comics. For the first time, Showcase Presents Ambush Bug collects these hilarious, metafictional adventures.… (altro)

USA, New York, Ca 1980
Rigmanden Thomas M. Considine giver $500000 til Rocklin Instituttet, så professor Philips Keith kan lave videnskabelige undersøgelser af magi. Forfatteren Guy Roberts får $100000 hvis han vil være uvildigt vidne til eksperimenterne. Hans pen er løbet tør, så han siger ja. Det trækker også at professorens assistent, doktor Lily Ross, er billedskøn og render nøgen rundt under ritualerne.
Keith har oversat de gamle besværgelser til kemi og brugt år på at få dem til at virke. Ved en fejl kommer han dog til at påkalde djævelen i stedet for en drakonibus. Med nød og næppe når de at få hevet i et håndtag, så djævelen bliver spærret inde. De lukker laboratoriet og tager en tænkepause til næste dag. Eller rettere Keith tager sig en hård aften i byen, for han er blevet besat af djævelen. Et spark i skridtet og et skvæt vievand får ende på den besættelse. De prøver at slå djævelen i hjælp med giftgas og med vand, men uden held.
Så bliver Lily besat, men Guy er på vagt og laver en rendyrket djævleuddrivelse. Men djævelen er der jo stadig, så han går selv ind i kampen. Han fremmaner varulve, ånder, marer, efritter, zombier, gengangere, drauger med mere. Og til sidst får han provokeret Djævelen til at gå for vidt.

Han vinder kampen mod djævelen, men gad vide om han kan finde ud af at skrive bagefter?… (altro)

Number 3 in the ongoing 'Big Book of..' Comic anthologies, the Big Book of Urban Legends, contains just over 200 single page comics by different artists. Each comic depicts a well known urban legend. Legends are placed in tenuous groupings 'ghosts', 'auto-mobiles', 'Wild Kingdom', 'caught in the act', 'crimes and misdemeanour's' etc, and this is possibly the best way to organise such an eclectic selection of stories.
Printed in oversize format (slightly larger than A4 in the paperback version), this is a solid collection with a wide array of art from over 220 different artists. If you want a light comical read - for the tall tales people are prepared to believe is quite humorous - then this is one of the stronger anthologies from the 'Big Book series'.

Easy to read in one sitting, or to dip in and out of I really enjoyed it. I could easily see myself giving it as a gift to a non-comic reader to show them what else the comic / graphical novel format can do beyond mainstream superheroes.… (altro)