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

Flintstones 11: The Neighborhood Association

writer: Mark Russell
artist: Steve Pugh
colorist: Chris Churckry
letterer: Dave Sharpe

It’s Fred’s birthday!  Barney gets him a huge, gaudy statue of the two of them as a present!  Hipsters are gentrifying Bedrock!

Also, Gazoo is called onto the carpet.

Gazoo soon learns what most of us already knew:  the work of the Neighborhood Association is not necessarily in the best interests of the neighborhood.

The Neighborhood Association tries to explain how blowing up planets is a win-win.

But don’t worry.  The Neighborhood Association doesn’t just destroy planets willy-nilly.  They’re totally data-driven:

Back in Bedrock, we learn that Fred has at least one thing in common with the hipsters.

And the Hipsters, as you might expect, aren’t very good at taking no for answer.

But good news!  It turns out that Barney hates the statue as well, so it all ends well there.  (Presuming the Neighborhood Association doesn’t blow up the Earth, of course.)

Speaking of which, the results are in!

So how did Earth pass the test?  Gazoo cheated!

Moon Knight 14: Death and Birth part 5

writer: Jeff Lemire
artist: Greg Smallwood
color artist: Jordie Bellaire
letterer: VC’s Cory Petit

In a nice bit of synchronicity, the Disney+ Moon Knight mini-series completed exactly five years after the Jeff Lemire and Greg Smallwood’s comic that was so influential on the story and visuals, so I get to talk about this issue while the TV series is still fresh in your minds.

We open with Marc Spector yet again dying in the desert.  (It’s his thing.)

In the original Moon Knight concept, Moon Knight did not have dissociative identity disorder (DID).  Steven and Jake were merely secret identities that allowed Marc to better do the work of Moon Knight:  Marc Spector was a reformed mercenary, Steven Grant a millionaire playboy, and Jake Lockley an inner-city cab driver.  The first Moon Knight comic series (published in 1980) was often compared to Batman, and with good reason:  Marc Spector is Batman, Steven Grant is Bruce Wayne, and Jake Lockley is Matches Malone.  No DID required.

Most of this issue is about Moon Knight getting his act together for a final confrontation with Khonshu.

The newly integrated Moon Knight identifies Khonshu as the root (or at least the proof) of his mental illness.  DID or not (and even if Steven and Jake are merely secret identities) the fact that Marc holds frequent conversations with a dude with a bird skull for a head should probably be of some concern to him.

Moon Knight realizes that making peace with himself and with his mental illness doesn’t require him to make peace with Khonshu.  Coming to terms with DID doesn’t mean that one has to remain in the service of the Egyptian God of Vengeance.

But does he?  Really?

They can all be okay.  They can all be Moon Knight.  They don’t need Khonshu.

Moon Knight is going to be okay.  At least until another writer takes over the book, which should be… oh, look at that.  Next issue Max Bemis takes over and begins the “Crazy Runs in the Family” story arc.  Good luck with that, Moony.

Walking Dead 167: A Certain Doom

creator, writer: Robert Kirkman
penciler, cover: Charlie Adlard
inker: Stefano Gaudiano
gray tones: Cliff Rathburn
letterer: Rus Wooton

This issue: Everybody Dies!  Okay, not everybody.  Just Andrea.

Carl enters, and we get a scene reminiscent of Mar-Vell’s deathbed reunion with Rick Jones in The Death of Captain Marvel graphic novel.

In the comic, Rick and Andrea are lovers, while Rick and Michonne remain good friends.

Also, Michonne and Ezekiel were a couple.  And Ezekiel was killed by Alpha.

So, after Michonne’s little pep talk, Rick reveals that he’s grappling with survivor’s guilt and a messiah complex.

Even on her death bed, Andrea manages to get some solid points in.

While this is undeniably a sad issue, it is one filled with many genuinely tender moments.

Also, Andrea dies, and then Rick crawls into bed with her corpse and she (rather predictably) turns into a zombie and tries to eat him because he can’t bear to shoot her, but — for whatever reason — Rick has no problem stabbing her in the head.  It’s a good issue.   You should check it out.

And it ends with this apology from Robert Kirkman.

Other Comics I Read from May 2017

• All-New Wolverine 20
• Amazing Spider-Man 27
• Archie 20
• Archies One Shot 1
• Avengers 7
• Batman 22, 23
• Batwoman 3
• Black Bolt 1
• Black Hammer 9
• Black Road 10
• Britannia: We Who Are About to Die 2
• Bullseye 4
• Champions 8
• Daredevil 20
• Detective Comics 956, 957
• East of West 33
• Faith 11
• The Fix 9
• God Country 5
• Hawkeye 6
• Infamous Iron Man 8
• Invincible 136
• Invincible Iron Man 7
• Iron Fist 3
• Jessica Jones 8
• Justice League/Power Rangers 4
• Kill or Be Killed 9
• Kingpin 4
• Luke Cage 1
• Mighty Thor 19
• Ms. Marvel 18
• Nova 6
• Occupy Avengers 7
• Old Guard 4
• Old Man Logan 23, 24
• Planetoid: Praxis 4
• Plastic 2
• Postal 20
• Powers 8
• Rebels: These Free and Independent States 3
• Redneck 2
• Rock Candy Mountain 2
• Royal City 3
• Saga 43
• Savage Things 3
• Secret Warriors 1, 2
• Sex Criminals 19
• Spider-Man 16
• Spread 21
• Star Lord Annual 1
• Super Sons 4
• Superman 22, 23
• Thanos 7
• Totally Awesome Hulk 19
• Weapon X 3
• Wild Storm 4
• Wonder Woman 22, 23, Annual 1