3.5 Stars
A quirky collection of odd bits lurking in comic book history.
Zeitgeist abounds with Super-Hip from The Adventures of Bob Hope whose weakness is Lawrence Welk music. Not sure how poor Frobisher from Doctor Who got in here; doesn't seem right. The Doctor's companion can be anything. The oddity of penguin form selection and unexplained yet hinted at sad backstory seems more tragic than regrettable. Just straight up winner for WTF goes to Elf with a Gun from The Defenders, a randomly appearing psycho who kills people and disappears, with no connection to the ongoing plot line of that issue.
There's the unexpectedly hilarious Agatha Detective Agency who partners up with Captain Future. Somehow, Captain Future's secret identity Dr. Andy Bryant gets hooked into helping his girlfriend's aunt by following a case into a Turkish Bath. The things you do for love.
Nameless in Metal Men epitomizes a big problem with women in comic books, or females. Nameless was built by Tin, a member of Metal Men who falls in love with her. Relationship develops, trauma ensues, and in the end she sacrifices herself to save them.
Then there's instances of the not quite thought through to the end before introducing the sidekick, like Comet the Super-Horse who's reincarnated from an ancient Greek centaur and can turn into a human when a comet passes through the solar system. Not a bad idea, right? Until masquerading as bronco rider Bill Starr he dates Supergirl. Hmm...yeah, Supergirl's relationship with Bill becomes problematic when he turns back into Comet. You can love your horse, but you can't love your horse.
This is one of those fun books to leaf through. I plan on giving it as a present because 1) snort-worthy, 2) interesting compilation of just odd lots.
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