ALTERNATE REALITY, serving Chicago comic fandom since 1978  That's over 40 years of service!                                                                                                    We started at the Comicbook Emporium in February of 1978, Five & Dime Comics from 1983 to 1994 and Alternate Reality ever since, thats over 40 years of serving Chicago South Side Comic Fandom                                                                   SAVINGS! SERVICE! SELECTION! HISTORY! We have it all!

 HEADS UP FOR THE WEEK OF: 070807

BOOK OF THE WEEK: FALLEN SON: IRON MAN
Comic Review by: Mike Kurnat
Writer: Jeph Loeb
Artist: John Cassaday
Publisher: Marvel Comics
 MSRP: $2.99,

Alternate Reality Price: $2.54 (That's 15% OFF, All This Week!)
"A rather touching tale by Jeph Loeb who gives us the story of Cap’s funeral and burial."
A rather touching tale by Jeph Loeb who gives us the story of Cap’s funeral and burial. At the funeral, Tony Stark stands to give a speech, most likely the eulogy, but he can’t even get started. He chokes out a few lines and exits stage right. The Falcon takes over duties and pays a mighty fine tribute. A tribute that acts as a mini biography of Steve Rogers’ career which is wonderfully punctuated by some fantastic art work by John Cassaday. We are treated to some detailed splash pages that not only wow the eyes but also act as a break point for Falcon’s speech so he can go onto the next achievement. Loeb’s choices are very fascinating in this issue. It’s Fallen Son: Iron Man, but Stark only appears briefly in the beginning and again in the end. It shows the great grief in the beginning and respect Stark had and the friendship he will miss in the end when he finally lays his fellow Avenger to rest. Something, I thought broke up the moments was the crowd chatter that we are allowed in  on. It fit the character’s personalities but still seemed to take me out of the experience of being at the funeral and listening to Falcon point out groups of people that were influenced or touched by Rogers. The end did snap you back into the reality of what is happening and who is in the casket when Namor agrees to bury Cap in an undisclosed place. Namor even says that he is only doing this because of who it is for. Very recommended.

FANTASTIC FOUR AND POWER PACK #1
 a Marvel Comics mini series
Comic Review by: Jim "Good Old JR" Rutkowski
Release Date: 070507

Marvel’s latest attempt to keep the Power Pack concept alive, fails to connect on virtually all creative levels. This is another case of a writer trying to reach a young audience through, what he thinks, is hip dialogue. Unfortunately, it ends up sounding like a writer trying to write hip dialogue. The premise has the Pack in school trying there best to blend in and finding it to be easier said then done. They learn the obligatory valuable lesson when Franklin Richards joins the school. Through Franklin, the rest of the super kids realize the difficulties of being the social standouts. This is tired material that even kids will be bored with. The art is anime inspired, which seems to be the standard in most kids comics these days. But there just is not enough here to entertain even the smallest of children. Not recommended.
MSRP: $2.99, Alternate Reality Price: $2.54 (That's 15% OFF, All This Week!)
 If you're in Grade School are you a Good Grades Club member? If not join today and get in-store discounts on all your purchases foe each of the "A's" & "B's" on your report card!
ROUND UP…
Countdown #44
So much background rumblings in this issue make it another lackluster issue. The most important things happening, like the Flash dying, aren’t even happening in this series and it’s importance is waning fast. Mary Marvel is zapped to Billy and they have a confrontation about Mary taking Black Adam’s powers, the Trickster and Piper talk about the Flash, Olson get’s beat up and then shows another super power and the Monitor is recruiting Forerunner. There you go, that’s the issue. Oh, and Holly Robinson is shacking up with some Amazon’s. Come on DC let’s get this baby into 2nd gear already.

Marvel Zombies Army of Darkness #5 of 5
Ash, Scarlet Witch and Dr. Doom seem to be the only ones left and they have hunkered down in Castle Doom. Meh. Not really all that enthused by the whole thing. Some good one liners from Ash and a look at a Marvel Universe of Werewolves instead of Zombies are the highlights of this one. Get it if you are a big fan of either the Zombie U or Army of Darkness.

The New Avengers and The Transformers #1
The Decepticons are using a device to pit two nations against each other in the hope that they will destroy each other and not put up a fight when they invade for the energon rich planet earth. The Avengers infiltrate the facility holding the device and they start to argue amongst themselves. We are left with the Autobots recognizing the problem and trying to tell the Avengers to leave and let them do their work. The Avengers don’t like to be bossed around apparently and decide to attack the Autobots. Let’s see where this ends up before casting judgment but for now, let’s call it ok.

New Warriors #2
A media storm surrounds the New Warriors while they recruit new members and sway public opinion. Tony Stark, not being to happy about the rebels, uses the media to try and recruit these Warriors to his side with the agreement that all their chargers would be dropped. I really liked this book and will be following from here out. Thumb way up.

Runaways #27
The kids are trapped in 1907 and while trying to fit in are forced to use there powers while trying to save people from a fire. Oddly enough, they are spotted by someone looking for what they call “Wonders” which are the mutants of the time. He then tries to sell them. A rather descent premise decently executed.

Thor #1
The mighty Thor makes a triumphant return in the great state of Oklahoma? It’s true, but before that he gets some much needed encouragement and reassurance from Donald Blake that he is needed. He than is mobbed by demons and grabs the hammer to once again take on the power of the thunder god. Very good stuff, not a whole lot to write about, but I’m sure there will be soon.

"COMICBOOKMAN"		 Reviews are based on the Sneak Peek titles sent out by Marvel (Image & DC no longer sends them out). It's not everything that's shipping for the week, but it is a real good cross-section of this weeks releases.

All Books/Characters pictured herein are © Copyright 2007 by their respective owners. No rights given or implied by Alternate Reality, Incorporated.

Reviews © 2007 Alternate Reality, Inc.

OTHER REVIEWS...
RASSLIN' REVIEW

Pay Per Views and House Shows, we layeth the Smaketh- Down on both!

KIDS REVIEWS

Dozen's of kid friendly titles arrive every week and we review the one that stands out.
AT THE MOVIES

Every week we give you our opinion on what's playing at the cinema.

RETURN TO TOP