Strange Academy #8 - Marvel Comics

STRANGE ACADEMY No. 8, April 2021

Featuring a marvellous guest appearance by Rocket Racoon and Groot, as well as a rib-tickling cameo by the God of Thunder, Skottie Young’s script for Issue Eight of “Strange Academy” must have delighted those readers familiar with the antics of young Harry Potter and his Hogwarts friends in J.K. Rowling’s highly popular wizarding world. Indeed, certain elements of this twenty-page periodical, such as Agatha Harkness teaching her pupils “how to perform the Illusions of Ikonn” with various degrees of success, could mistakenly be seen as having been ‘lifted’ straight out from one of the successful British author’s fantasy novels; “Yes! I did it. I have produced three copies of this… Whatever this beast is called.”

Fortunately however, this comic’s narrative doesn’t exclusively concern itself with just giving an appreciative nod to “the best-selling book series in history”, but also adds plenty more mystery as to the identity of Doctor Stephen Strange’s unseen prisoner located deep within the basement of the Sanctum Sanctorum. Emily Bright’s temptation to open the inmate’s heavily barred door is arguably palpable in this well-penned scene, especially once the young mystic arts apprentice learns the detainee has spent the past two years locked away in the dungeon’s darkness and seems to be on the verge of actually agreeing with their argument to release them.

Debatably this book’s most engaging sequence though is the college’s off-world excursion to Templo Offdom - “a planet a tragillion miles from Earth.” Just as soon as it’s revealed that the students’ field-trip will be ‘aided’ by Rocket and Groot, every reader knows their quest to find the “scribbit” responsible for eating some long-lost mystical gems is going to end very badly, and Young’s subsequent tongue-in-cheek tomfooleries simply don’t disappoint. Frantically-paced and predominantly consisting of the adolescent magic users running for their very lives from a nest of giant-sized budgerigars, this ‘laugh out loud’ pursuit is finally brought to a close thanks to Zelma Stanton teleporting the entire class from out of danger and back to the Academy’s library at the last minute.

Adding enormously to both this book’s jolly tone and more sinister shenanigans are Humberto Ramos’ excellent illustrations. The Mexican penciller’s superb sketches of the multi-beaked baby scribbits and the various supernaturally replicated animals are dreadfully cute, whilst his collaboration with colorist Edgar Delgado to portray a truly grim gaol for Strange’s captive imbues Bright’s naïve exploration of Stephen’s foreboding basement with a disconcertingly dark ambiance.

The regular cover art of "STRANGE ACADEMY" #8 by Humberto Ramos & Edgar Delgado

Rocket Racoon #6 - Marvel Comics

ROCKET RACCOON No. 6, February 2015

It is hard to imagine that this “Guardians Of The Galaxy” spin-off title would have been the best-selling comic of July 2014, and led the comic industry to one of its biggest months in history, had it been comprised of “Misfit Mechs” instead of Skottie Young’s superb opening instalment of “A Chasing Tale”. Both issues sport colourful cover illustrations by the Inkwell Award winner, and the two issues are also wonderfully written by him as well. Indeed the creative team are one and the same, with just a single difference…

This particular edition of “Rocket Raccoon” is entirely drawn by Jake Parker, and as competent a job as he does at imitating Young’s detailed yet wacky pencilling, he is just not as good. In fact his far simpler figures and less complicated art style would also seem to have given color artist Jean-Francois Beaulieu less opportunity to show off their incredible talent; as many of the panels seem devoid of the vibrant multiple hues witnessed in earlier issues.

Fortunately Young is ‘still ‘at the helm’ for writing duties and in that respect this twenty-page self-contained ‘solo’ adventure is a great success. For starters it features Cosmo, the telepathic Russian dog who acts as head of security for Knowhere. The American comic book author has also created a great temporary replacement for Rocket’s regular partner Groot, in the shape of the old military robot 01100010 01110010… otherwise known as Brute. Like the Monarch of the Planet X, the massive automaton’s speech is completely incomprehensible yet the anthropomorphic raccoon appears to understand his binary lingo perfectly, even going so far as to challenge the giant robot’s tone from time to time. Brute is also quick to wrath and when there’s a choice between one of Rocket’s ridiculously complicated plans or simply getting the pair involved in “…a crazy gun battle” the weapon of war merrily stomps straight into the fight.

Indeed many would doubtless have enjoyed a far lengthier storyline featuring the mech as the verbal interplay between the pair is thoroughly entertaining with some genuine laugh out loud moments. However such regret at the robot’s swift departure back to his home in Bots Town, on a “secret planet somewhere very secret”, does make the tale’s all too quick ending all the more poignant as a result.

Writer: Skottie Young, Artist: Jake Parker, and Color Artist: Jean-Francois Beaulieu

Rocket Racoon #5 - Marvel Comics

ROCKET RACCOON No. 5, January 2015

There’s a genuine sense of the master handing over the baton to his pupil with Issue Five of “Rocket Raccoon”, and an uneasy sense of foreboding as well. Much of this wariness stems from a single, easily missed change to the credits which top the comic book’s title page. For instead of just ‘Young * Beaulieu’, a pairing which has produced four cracking previous editions and essentially guarantees more of the same, this issue includes the additional name Parker… and it is smack bang in the middle of the line-up where the artist usually sits.

Turning the page, something which is easily done considering the unusually poor Skottie Young cover art, it is all too clear that illustrator Jake Parker is indeed ‘in the chair’ as the penciller for “Storytailer”; albeit Young still gets a co-credit as a result of sketching three pages for the story. In fact the presence of the Inkwell Award winner permeates throughout the book’s twenty pages, and not just because the American is the writer. Parker’s artwork is uncannily similar to Young’s, so much so that when the animator takes over the reins from page three it would be all too easy to miss the transition… for a handful of panels at least. As unfortunately, despite a very brave effort, Parker fails to maintain the zany yet superbly detailed artwork of his predecessor, and quickly degenerates into drawing something more akin to that seen within a Hannah-Barbera magazine than a “Marvel Worldwide” monthly.

It is clear that the Editors were equally as sceptical about the quality of Young’s replacement, despite his style so closely resembling that of the former “New Warriors” (2006) artist. Otherwise it is doubtful that they would have ensured Young’s artwork bookends the comic so cleverly. Although the switch back from Parker, whose final panels look awfully rushed and are frankly appallingly drawn, is far from smooth and inconspicuous. 

Disappointing though the majority of the artwork is, sadly the comic book’s storyline is probably even more substandard despite Young attempting something rather clever and original. Written from the perspective of the anthropomorphic raccoon’s constant companion Groot, the simple plot is based around the Guardians of the Galaxy dispatching Rocket to the ‘four corners of the universe’ in order to spring a surprise party upon him.

However as the Monarch of Planet X is the storyteller, all anyone ever says is “I am Groot.” As a result the comic is a frighteningly fast read, for without Young’s superior illustrations and acute sense for depicting screwball action, there is nothing to hold the reader’s eye as it flits from panel to panel, page after page, faster and faster, as Parker’s artwork appreciatively deteriorates.

The variant cover art of "ROCKET RACCOON" No. 5 by Jason Latour

Rocket Racoon #4 - Marvel Comics

ROCKET RACCOON No. 4, December 2014

Issue 4 of “Rocket Raccoon” surely comes with some of the strangest variant covers “Marvel Worldwide Incorporated” has ever published. For none of them encapsulate the raw energy of the concluding action to Skottie Young’s “A Chasing Tale” and only one of the three illustrations actually portrays the title character. Indeed if you didn’t know what you were looking for then the Hasbro variant cover by Alex Kropinak, complete with action figure photographs, would have you firmly believing you held an issue of “Captain America” in your hands. Whilst the retailer incentive Deadpool 75^th Anniversary cover by Kalman Andrasofszky, which depicts a wonderful homage to “Tales To Astonish” issue 13, would easily fool you into thinking that Groot was the star of the show; something particularly difficult to achieve considering that the Monarch of Planet X is blown to pieces on page three.

However, having read the first quarter of this edition, anyone purchasing the ‘Stomp Out Bullying’ variant by Pascal Campion, which shows an uninspiring illustration of Rocket and Groot chatting over lunch in a school canteen, will probably think they’ve picked the cover most representative of the comic book’s contents – as its easily the wordiest and talkiest I’ve seen writer and artist Skottie Young be. Obviously there had to be some build-up for the big reveal as to who was behind Rocket’s framing for murder, but six pages worth… and then it turns out to be “… just a rabbit.”

Fortunately the inclusion of Blackjack O’Hare, first seen in issue 271 (1982) of “Incredible Hulk”, really sparks this comic back to life as laser beams fizz, fists crack and the fur really flies. Throw in the mightily miffed Amalya, and a horde of Rocket’s other ex-girlfriends, and it is panel after panel of endless fisticuffs. All of which are zanily illustrated by Young and his unique and cartoony drawings. Indeed this has to be one of the best ‘punch-ups’ seen in a comic book, with combatants exchanging everything from double-punches and ear-jabs to ‘lite’ pokes as they literally beat one another unconscious.

Surprisingly though this fun story does end with a real sting in its tail, and one that swiftly wiped the smile from my face as I guffawed at the sheer comical carnage taking place. There’s a genuine sensitive side to the wise-cracking raccoon not often seen and Young’s portrayal of a sad lonely tearful Rocket, upset at the fact that it now appears certain he is the only one of his kind is a poignant conclusion. At least until the very last few panels that is…

Numerous variant covers to "ROCKET RACCOON" Issue 4 by Pascal Campion, Kalman Andrasofszky and Alex Kropinak

Rocket Racoon #3 - Marvel Comics

ROCKET RACCOON No. 3, November 2014

Leaping straight into the action of a large space battle Issue three of “Rocket Raccoon” would appear to have attempted to cram in as many explosions, missiles and bullets as any reader could imagine in its opening few pages. This chaotic carnage is dynamically illustrated by artist (and writer) Skottie Young, and wonderfully coloured by Jean-Francois Beaulieu.

 

Indeed the American comic book artist really produces the goods with some ‘laugh out loud’ moments, such as Rocket going ‘splat’ into his ex-girlfriend’s spaceship, a huge missile with the effigy ‘Die Rocket’ scrawled on it, and the guppy warp being especially well drawn.

 

However this isn’t a virtuoso performance by the 2013 Inkwell Award winner, as the flow of the action in this opening third of the issue doesn’t always work; certainly I was momentarily confused when in one panel Rocket was ‘stuck’ to the exterior of the bridge to Amalya’s spacecraft and then the next sat safely inside the flying car of Macho Gomez, alongside Groot.

 

There are also a couple of double-page sequences in this issue which contain little to no dialogue. Such storytelling techniques can really captivate a reader if there’s plenty going on inside the panels artistically. Unfortunately this certainly isn’t the case for Young’s illustrations depicting the end result of the guppy warp as it simply shows the large bloated space-fish spit out Macho’s car and then ‘flump’ to the ground beside the now crashed vehicle.

 

There’s also an awful lot of words to read in the final third of the comic, almost as if Scottie Young was making up for its earlier absence. As a result the confrontation and subsequent conversation between Rocket and intergalactic bad guy Funtzel is actually rather hard-going, and contains none of the humorous one-liners the writer’s earlier work contains.

 

The book does though end on a particular artistic high note, with Young drawing one of the best ‘totally dark and blacked out’ gun fight sequences I’ve seen. The pencil work of which is once again extremely well coloured by Beaulieu, with lots of dark blues for the shadows but bright yellows for when the bullets start flying.

Rocket Racoon #2 - Marvel Comics

ROCKET RACCOON No.2, October 2014

Whilst possibly not quite as action-packed throughout as the first issue, this second comic book by the superbly talented Skottie Young, easily contains far more energy-packed explosions and zany mayhem than its predecessor when it does finally get going; and it’s not as if the first few pages aren’t entertainingly fun in their own right anyway as Rocket Raccoon is interrogated by the Police before being incarcerated on Devin-9. Certainly there’s a few film/television quotes thrown about that most should recognise… or perhaps “you can’t handle the truth”?

To be honest there is little if anything to fault with Skottie Young’s storyline or pacing for this edition of “Rocket Raccoon”. There’s some genuine ‘laugh out loud moments’ as the “innocent, foul-mouthed, gun-toting, bipedal woodland creature” leads an extraordinary prison break with the help of Groot.

 The American illustrator’s artwork is equally as perfect as his writing, and exquisitely coloured by Jean-Francois Beaulieu. The highlight being the two Guardians’ “prison break montage”, a centre-pages spread that is absolutely crammed full of action, adventure and utter destruction. One can only imagine the thought that went into composing such an aMAZEing piece of art.

 

Note must once again be made of the terrific sound effects used throughout the panels depicting this adventure. Whilst there’s still the now obligatory “Zz-zap!”, “Kaa-Boom!”, “Blam” and “Zigy zapp” on display, where else can you hear “Face”, “Boom Biddy Bye Bye”, “Hold up! Wait a minute” and “They came to drop bombs”?

 

But such creativity and imagination are clearly some of Young’s strengths as he finishes the book by conjuring up the most bizarrely diverse and strangely colourful space fleet I’ve ever seen; that of the Women of the Ex-Terminators. The promise of the ensuing space battle should have any reader pre-ordering the following issue in an instant, especially as the final panel depicts a space-borne Rocket complete with bloater fish space helmet and piscine mini-gun!?!

Rocket Racoon #1 - Marvel Comics

ROCKET RACOON No. 1, September 2014

I’m something of a long-time fan of the Guardians of the Galaxy, having first encountered them back during the late Seventies when they teamed-up with the Mighty Avengers. Of course that was when I was reading the old British monthly black and white reprint magazine “Marvel Superheroes” and the Guardians consisted of the likes of Vance Astro, Captain Charlie-27, Yonda Udonta, Martinex T’Naga and Starhawk. These days the roster for the spacefaring superhero team, reimagined a few years ago by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, are somewhat different… very different in point of fact.

 

Rocket Racoon and Groot appear to be the most popular of the new Guardians, and both feature prominently in this first issue of “Rocket Racoon”, despite the comic book only being titled after the medium-sized mammal. First impressions are really good if you like the cartoony zany artwork of Skottie Young, and I do. The American comic book artist’s pencils are absolutely perfect for the animated capers of the captain of the starship Rack ’n’ Ruin and the insane gun battles the furry fellow gets involved in.

 

Equally as compelling is the beautiful ‘color art’ of Jean-Francois Beaulieu, whose red-purple hues used for the wrestling match contrast wonderfully with the green-blue colour scheme used as Rocket escapes down “a pipe full of #$@%.” The sheer amount of sound effects used in this book are both staggering and worthy of note too, as panels are packed to the point of bursting with “Bigidy! Blam!”, “Thud”, “Chud”, “Ting” and “Splosh”. There’s even the odd “Smooch”, “Fragaboom” and “Pinky Out Click”!?!

 

Skottie Young’s plot is also a good bouncing romp to begin a comic series with, and manages to include all the other Guardians in some way shape or form, whether it be avoiding “death by evil spaceships” or ‘zigapping’ a giant alien monster. The writer even seems to throw a nod to the Unlimited Class Wrestling Federation days of Mike Carlin’s time writing “The Thing” in the early Eighties, by having Groot grapple in the Bonavaglia Arena.