Rand Bellavia takes a look at his growing longbox, and reflects on comics released in April 2017.

Flintstones 10: Buyer’s Remorse

writer: Mark Russell

artist: Steve Pugh

colorist: Chris Churckry

letterer: Dave Sharpe

Another thoughtful comic from Mark Russell.  This month: The Flintstones go to the movies!

Fred and Barney become rather interested in cinema once they learn that the newest movie to hit bedrock is about “women baring themselves.”  While they’re at the show, Wilma has a bad experience at the “Pleisto Scene” art gallery:

But Werner Herzrock is moved by Wilma’s work.  Also, Lizard People!

Werner hires Wilma to be his art director, and has some good counsel regarding artists and imposter syndrome.

Ever the voice of reason, Fred continues to speak out against the war with the Lizard People.

God Country 4

words: Donny Cates

art: Geoff Shaw

colors: Jason Wordie

letters and design: John J. Hill

Donny Cates checks in with his story about an old man and a giant talking sword.  I mean, there’s more to it than that, but that’s all you really need to know.  As this issue begins, Emmett is looking for his missing granddaughter.

Meanwhile, his son and daughter-in-law are hiding in their basement from zombies, as one does.

Amidst all the fantastic visuals and glorious fight-scenes, this quiet moment is remarkable.

This is a great example of how tragedy and trauma can force two people to opposite extremes, and how both options can make perfect sense.

Also, zombies!  Don’t forget about the zombies.

But no worries.  Emmett and Valofax save the day.

Superman 20: Black Dawn chapter 1

story: Patrick Gleason and Peter J. Tomasi

pencils: Patrick Gleason

inks: Mick Gray

colors: John Kalisz

letters: Rob Leigh

Clark, Lois, and Jon Kent are settling in for the night, when they hear a noise in the barn.  It would have been funny if Clark and Jon sent Lois to check it out, but then we wouldn’t have gotten this Frank Miller inspired panel of an all black Superman with his cape and chest insignia somehow fully lit.

Also, Batman!  Lois insists they share dessert together.

The scene unfolds exactly as you might expect:  Clark is nice.  Bruce is running tests.  Lois is a boss.  Jon drinks milk…

But about those tests…

If it’s not biological, Bruce thinks it’s down to either bad parenting or something more sinister.  Not surprisingly, Lois doesn’t think it’s bad parenting, and Clark rejects both options, giving us a classic Superman moment.

Undeterred, Bruce continues the interrogation.

Is it the milk?  (It’s the milk.)

World Reader 1: The Stars Before Us

creator and writer: Jeff Loveness

artist: Juan Doe

letterer: Rachel Deering

Jeff Loveness began to worm his way into my heart with this Aftershock series.  This is the story of Sarah, an astronaut with a decidedly non-scientific mission.

In Star Trek, the universe is lousy with sentient life and we boldly seek it out.  In Firefly, we are alone as we explore the universe in search of suitable places to live.  In World Reader, we’re similarly alone but only because all other sentient life is dead, and we’re desperate to find out what the hell happened.

And this is where Sarah comes in.  (And also probably why Captain Fields hates her.)

Sarah reaches out and finds the spirit of a child.  She seems surprised to find only this child, the implication being that she is used to encountering the spirits of many departed souls.

The child’s story is sadly familiar.  Something bad is coming.

It’s an old story.  One that we all know and fear, now more then ever — certainly more then when this was written.

This explains why they is no more life on this planet, but it doesn’t explain where the other spirits are.

Also, this guy!

Well, that doesn’t look good.  And it’s not who (or what) you might think.  But whoever it is, we’re all in trouble.

Other Comics I Read from April 2017

• Aliens: Defiance 11
• All-New Wolverine 19
• Amazing Spider-Man 26
• Archie 19
• Avengers 6
• Batman 20, 21
• Batwoman 2
• Bitch Planet 10
• Black Hammer 8
• Black Road 9
• Britannia: We Who Are About to Die 1
• Bullseye 3
• Champions 7
• Clean Room 18
• Daredevil 19
• Descender 21
• Detective Comics 954, 955
• Doctor Strange 19
• Faith 10
• Flintstones 10
• Generation Zero 9
• God Country 4
• Guardians of the Galaxy 19
• Hawkeye 5
• I Hate Fairyland 12
• Infamous Iron Man 7
• Injection 12
• Invincible 135
• Invincible Iron Man 6
• Iron Fist 2
• Jessica Jones 7
• Kill or Be Killed 8
• Kingpin 3
• Little Archie 1
• Mighty Thor 18
• Moon Knight 13
• Ms. Marvel 17
• Ninjak 26
• Nova 5
• Occupy Avengers 6
• Old Guard 3
• Old Man Logan 21, 22
• Planetoid: Praxis 3
• Plastic 1
• Power Man and Iron Fist 15
• Redneck 1
• Rock Candy Mountain 1
• Rocket Raccoon 5
• Royal City 2
• Savage Things 2
• Sex Criminals 18
• Spider-Man 15
• Star-Lord 6
• Super Powers 6
• Super Sons 3
• Superman 20, 21
• Thanos 6
• They’re Not Like Us 15
• Totally Awesome Hulk 18
• Walking Dead 166
• Weapon X 1, 2
• Wild Storm 3
• Wonder Woman 20, 21