The movie was a dud... but that doesn't mean they isn't some life still left in the Borderlands... at least in graphic novel form.

If you've played Borderlands 2, Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, or Borderlands 3, you're probably familiar with Tiny Tina, the emotionally unstable and morally ambiguous fourteen-year-old who loves to make things go BOOM! When not blowing shit up, Tina also enjoys a lively game of Bunkers and Badasses, Pandora's equivalent to Dungeons & Dragons.

I got my first taste of Science Ninja Team Gatchaman in the late 1970s when Sandy Frank Entertainment imported the Japanese anime to the U.S. in a version known as Battle of the Planets (BOTP). The show, along with Star Wars and Battlestar Galactica, was a staple of my childhood science fiction diet.

While Sandy Frank sapped the original 1972 anime of its edge, BOTP worked well for American audiences and was a huge overnight success. As an eleven-year old, I was fascinated by the show even though the storylines seemed choppy, confusing or contradictory. What I didn't know at the time was that the eighty-five BOTP episodes were cobbled together from 105 Gatchaman episodes... and nothing ran in the order in which it was created.

Since Gatchaman was a serial, with interlocking storylines and recurring characters, there were tremendous gaps in continuity when it became BOTP. To gloss over these plot holes, Sandy Frank inserted some crudely animated segments with a robotic character called 7-Zark-7, who looked a little like R2-D2's inbred cousin. 7-Zark-7 provided both connecting exposition and comedic relief as the original anime was very serious and sometimes downright grim. To be fair, I don't know that the original show would've have been shown in the U.S. in the late 70s without these alterations.

For example, the second episode of Gatchaman, entitled "Demonic Aircraft Carrier," was retooled into a BOTP episode called "Rescue the Astronauts." The story starts with an Apollo-era space module splashing down in the ocean. It is quickly captured by Galactor (in BOTP, these are the evil minions of the truly evil Zoltar from the planet Spectra) and taken to an underwater base. The Galactor commander is after the "Earth Compact System," which contains the locations of valuable natural resources including uranium. 

Uranium and nuclear power are a recurring theme in Gatchaman as they are in lots of Japanese science fiction. No one suffered more than the Japanese at the dawn of the nuclear age, and the atom is dually-represented as a source of unlimited energy and horrible destruction. This also underscores Gatchaman's emphasis on serious world issues such as dwindling natural resources, protecting the environment, loss, war, violence, and tyranny. In BOTP, almost all of these themes are either gone or heavily diluted.

For this particular episode, Sandy Frank's people altered the plot into a simple rescue mission where the astronauts have been abducted because they have telemetry about Zoltar's hidden bases. But there's a problem with the Gatchaman source material... The astronauts don't survive. In fact, their bodies are displayed before Ken (renamed Mark in BOTP), who thinks they are still alive and surrenders in order to secure their release. Once Ken is in custody, the Galactor thugs let the bodies fall to the floor.

"Even corpses are useful sometimes," the Galactor Commander chuckles.

Ken recoils and mutters, "How awful..."

You said it, Ken. But then again, later in this same episode, you savagely beat the Commander until his tells you the location of Earth Compact System... So, you know, don't be a total hypocrite. 

Can you imagine any of that running on a children's show in America in 1978?

Because BOTP had to be kid-friendly, the astronauts also had to survive. The dialogue is reworked. We never see any dead bodies. We never see an actual rescue but Mark later informs the team that the astronauts are recovering in sick bay.

Now the Science Ninja Team is back in comic book form from Mad Cave Studios. Gatchaman was reintroduced to American audiences during Free Comic Book Day this past May with an ongoing core series, a series of one-shots focusing on solo missions, and a miniseries focusing on villains.

Learn more about this series here.

OTHER GATCHAMAN GOODS:
Funko Pops: Ken Washio  |  Joe Asakura  |  Jun

SYNOPSIS: While Dick connects with the ghost of his past, Nightwing takes to the streets to defend his honor. But how can he be in two places at once? And what shocking revelation does Dick learn when confronted with the truth behind his parents' deaths? The Heartless saga continues in the penultimate chapter of this celebrated run!

If you've been following along with the adventures of Dick Grayson, you know he's been having some issues. He was framed by Heartless so the people of Bludhaven think Dick himself was the serial killer. Even worse, the superhero without any superpowers has lost his most valuable asset — his fearlessness when it comes to heights. Desperate to reclaim this gift, and avoid a meaningless prosecution, he heads off to Tibet to get his groove back with the help of the very amusing Deadman.

While some of Dick's fear is chemical — Heartless poisoned him with a fear toxin — so much more of it is psychological. After all, Dick has always had a little more than his fair share of survivor's guilt after watching his parents plummet to their death and then discovering they were murdered. As he, with Deadman's help, slowly identifies the roots of his paralyzing fear, Dick is also about to make an unbelievable discovery about what actually happened at Haly's Circus the night his parents died. Don't worry, I'm not going to tell you what it was. 

This has been a slow burn storyline for the past two years and we're finally getting to the final chapters. I can't wait to see how it all goes down and how Nightwing — along with Oracle, Batman, the Bat Fam, and the Titans — finally unmask Heartless.

A great book with the stylish and starkly beautiful artwork of Bruno Redondo.  

RELATED: Comics Collections  |  Nightwing Collection  |  Batman Collection  |  Nightwing, Batman and Adoption Problems  | Nightwing Annual 2024 Revisits an Old Love

Next month, The Joker takes his unique brand of madness and mayhem on a world tour, with Joker: The World, a 184-page hardcover anthology. 

Like DC’s bestselling and critically acclaimed Batman: The World, this can’t-miss anthology will feature Joker stories by creative teams representing 13 different countries, including renowned storytellers such as Geoff Johns, Satoshi Miyagawa, David Rubin, German Peralta, Alvaro Fong Varela, Jason Fabok, and others. With stories tailored to the authentic style, tone, and cultural sensibilities of different nations around the world, Joker: The World highlights how DC’s most popular super-villain has inspired chaos on a global scale. 

What does The Joker do when on holiday in Spain? How has he inspired others to follow in his footsteps, creating Joker duplicates in Germany and Turkey? How does a Joker in Cameroon find inspiration? Only the top writers and artists from each country can provide the answers, in unique stories celebrating one of the most compelling characters in pop culture. 

PREORDER FOR SEPTEMBER 17, 2024, SHIP DATE  >>

RELATED: Batman Collection  |  Comics Collections  |  Nightwing Collection

Frank Herbert's Dune was originally published six decades ago, but this timeless science fiction series continues to enthrall and amaze new fans.  This epic science-fiction masterpiece is set in the far future amidst a sprawling feudal interstellar society. It tells the story of Paul Atreides as he and his family accept control of the desert planet Arrakis only to be brutally betrayed and drawn into an interstellar war.

Now the story is being transformed into a graphic novel series, with the third book, The Prophet, released in July 2024. 

Dune: Graphic Novel: Book 1 
Dune: Graphic Novel: Book 2, Muad'dib
Dune: Graphic Novel: Book 3, The Prophet

​RELATED: Science Fiction YA

Before Watchmen, Alan Moore made his debut in the U.S. comic book industry with the revitalization of the horror comic book The Swamp Thing. His deconstruction of the classic monster stretched the creative boundaries of the medium and became one of the most spectacular series in comic book history. With modern-day issues explored against a backdrop of horror, The Swamp Thing stories became commentaries on environmental, political, and social issues, unflinching in their relevance. 

Created out of the Swamp by a freak accident, Swamp Thing is an elemental creature who uses the forces of nature and wisdom of the plant kingdom to fight the polluted world's self-destruction. Alan Moore took the Swamp Thing to new heights in the 1980s with his unique narrative approach. His provocative and groundbreaking writing, combined with masterly artwork by some of the medium's top artists, made Swamp Thing one of the great comics of the late twentieth century. 

The first volume begins with the story "The Anatomy Lesson," a haunting origin story that reshapes Swamp Thing mythology with terrifying revelations that begin a journey of discovery and adventure that will take him across the stars and beyond. 

In this second volume, The Swamp Thing says goodbye to the illusion of his own humanity after learning that he is 100% plant, meets a crew of benevolent alien invaders inspired by the classic comic strip Pogo (also set in the swamp), and consummates his relationship with Abigail Arcane as only he could. 

The third volume is brimming with visceral horrors including underwater vampires, a werewolf with an unusual curse, the hideous madman called Nukeface. Best of all, this volume features the comics debut of John Constantine, Hellblazer, who launches Swamp Thing on a voyage of self-discovery that will take him from the darkest corners of America to the roots of his own long-hidden heritage. 

Volume four brings Swamp Thing's quest for self-discovery with the mystic John Constantine to its shattering conclusion. A harbinger of doom has been released with the sole charge of waking an evil beyond comprehension, and Swamp Thing, John Constantine, Deadman, The Phantom Stranger, Etrigan the Demon, The Spectre and other masters of the occult must unite against the dark forces that threaten to eradicate Heaven's light. 

The fifth volume begins as Swamp Thing returns from his sojourn to hell, only to learn that his girlfriend Abby is being persecuted for their "unnatural relations." When she skips town for Gotham City, he follows and runs afoul of Batman, Lex Luthor, and the Gotham City Police Department. 

The sixth and final volume collects Moore's entire run, reprinting issues #57-64 and features the classic stories "Loving the Alien" and All Flesh is Grass."

PURCHASE: All the groundbreaking Saga of the Swamp Thing graphic novels by Alan Moore, the writer of Watchmen and V for Vendetta, in a gorgeous slipcase box set!

They say you shouldn't trust a person who doesn't like animals. I'm not qualified to psychologically unpack the validity of that saying, but it's probably valid enough to be a guideline even if you don't make it a hard and fast rule.

At the very least, someone's probably a shit-poor superhero if they're not willing to see the value in non-human life. Enter the Super-Pets — the non-human, supercharged companions for the likes of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, etc. Probably the first of these was Krypto, Superman's high-powered dog first introduced by DC Comics in 1955. One of the newest is Haley, Dick Grayson's (Nightwing) three-legged puppy who was introduced in May 2021. Haley can't fly or shot heat rays out of her eyes, but she is quite adorable and maybe ready for a promotion? 

In Super-Pets Special: Bitedentity Crisis #1, Haley finds herself to be a fish out of water when she arrives on Kent Farm and meets Krypto. As the big-city mutt tries to adjust to country living, she's shocked when Krypto introduces her to a kennel of courageous critters awaiting her!

This one-shot also features miscellaneous stories dealing with the dark side of the dog bed and the many pets of Damian Wayne, famous animal lover and people hater.

This comic  is only available through comic book stores, but if you want more about the Super Pets check out these book titles:

DC Super Pets: Character Encyclopedia

DC League of Super-Pets (DC League of Super-Pets Movie)

DC Super-Pets Origin Stories

DC League of Super-Pets: The Great Mxy-Up

Battle of the Super-Pets

DC League of Super-Pets: The Official Activity Book

Tails of the Super-Pets 

How to Draw DC Super-Pets Manga!

RELATED: Comics Collections  |  Nightwing Collection  |  Nightwing, Batman and Adoption Problems

Synopsis: All hell comes to the Hill…literally! Jason Todd has gone up against his fair share of monsters and paranormal creatures in his time, but he’s never gone up against anything quite like the demonic creatures that have been unleashed in the streets of his new hometown. Literal monsters roam the city, metaphorical monsters pull the strings in the shadows, and they all have Red Hood in their sights!

I'm really enjoying this Red Hood series where Jason Todd is still trying to find his place in the world — out for under the Dark Knight's shadow. Having been unsuccessful at killing Todd and The Hill Watch Group members, crime boss Demetrius Korlee, Jr. reaches out to Killer Croc for help. He's put in touch with Leonard H. Kreckk, a new personality in the DC Universe.

An unassuming, soda-swilling lump of a man, he seems popular with all his neighbors but will ultimately go down in history as one of those murderers no one suspected because he was just "so ordinary." You see, Kreckk has the ability to manifest psychic monsters in his sleep, and with a little concentration can send them off to kill the right person, for a price. 

The monsters begin to pick off The Watch group members and finally end up at Jason's apartment door where he and Dana have to fight for their lives. 

The issue ends with a cliffhanger as Batman — who's been watching the events unfolding in The Hill but hanging back — finally makes his "official" appearance. 

RELATED: Jason Todd / Red Hood Fans  |  Comics Collections  |  Batman Collection  |  Nightwing Collection

SYNOPSIS: Return to the thrilling world of high-stakes, competitive fencing, with a brand new story featuring the beloved cast of characters from the original hit series. Are Seiji and Jesse really through?

The rumors around Halverton, the prestigious fencing training camp, have spread like wildfire, but it's not long before a mystery fencer arrives-one who may finally pose a threat to the #1 spot. Will Seiji's unquenchable quest for rivalry take Nicholas' place? Where will his loyalty lie?

​And, when Seiji gets an up close and personal look into Nicholas' past and determination against adversity while preparing for the difficult road ahead and the State Championships, he'll have to confront a tempting thought... are they on... a date? 

The thing I always enjoy about the Fence books is the relationships between the diverse and highly-driven students. Volume 6 was more problematic for me because of how much time it spent explaining the rules of fencing. We really didn't get into the good stuff until about half-way through the book. The most interesting parts were the dual romantic triangles being formed between Harvard-Aiden-Marcel and Nicholas-Seiji-Jesse. Both are long overdue, as Harvard and Aiden are close but just won't take the romantic plunge, and Nicholas and Seiji have spent most of the last six volumes fighting with each other. 

We'll see where Volume 7 takes us...

PAST ISSUES:  Volume 1  |  Volume 2  |  Volume 3  |  Volume 4:Rivals  |  Volume 5: Rise  |  Volume 6: Redemption

​NOVELS:  Fence: Disarmed  |  Fence: Striking Distance

​RELATED: Comics Collections  |  LGBTQ YA  |  Queer Royalty Stories Book List  |  YA LGBTQ Book List  |  ​Swoony Vampires and Gay Love in the Greek Islands

With Blockbuster off the table, the crime families all head to Bludhaven in an attempt to claim the city as their own...including Tony Zucco himself! Since his "daughter" Melinda Zucco is currently the mayor — and definitely not secretly working with Nightwing to take down crime bosses — it should be easy, right?!

The Leap collects the exciting tales from Nightwing's adventures #98-100 and Nightwing 2022 Annual. This includes an appearance from Nite-Mite — that's right, that meddling Nite-Mite booped himself over from the fifth dimension to offer some of his meddlesome "help." 

PURCHASE>>

RELATED:  Dick Grayson / Nightwing Fans  | Comics Collections  |  Nightwing Collection  |  Nightwing, Batman and Adoption Problems