Subject: TOOT for 1/3/07: Mickey Mouse: "Blotman Returns" | Author | Messages | 
Tony Isabella
Posts: 1710
 | Posted: 1/3/2007 5:10:06 AM | TONY’S OTHER ONLINE TIPS
for Wednesday, January 3, 2007
The Walt Disney comics from Gemstone Publishing rarely disappoint me, but that was not the case with WALT DISNEY’S MICKEY MOUSE AND BLOTMAN IN BLOTMAN RETURNS [$5.99]. The good was outweighed by the not-so-good, as much as I might have hoped otherwise.
The good included Noel Van Horn’s cover with earthy color by Rick Keene. The piece promised action and danger as Mickey again teamed with the other-dimensional Blotman to thwart the latest scheme of the evil Doc Stat.
“Blotman” is the good mirror image of the Phantom Blot, though his super-hero moves are strictly of the Batman variety. He’s also his world’s much smarter and much more capable counterpart to Mickey’s pal Goofy. Fittingly, Blotman’s sidekick is the good, but somewhat rough counterpart to Mickey. On Mickey’s world, Doc Static is a leading scientist working to benefit mankind. On Blotman’s world, Doc Stat is a criminal mastermind.
The 39-page “Blotman Returns” by writers Pat and Carol McGreal with art by Joaquin Canizares Sanchez is a lackluster super-hero tale of the sort we sometimes saw in the sanitized ‘60s. One hero mistakes another for a villain. The real villain impersonates his twin. A hero impersonates another hero to foil the villain. Therein lies my problem; the tale is filled with so many “borrowings” from those old stories that it is utterly predictable from the get-go. Though the Sanchez visuals are filled with energy, they are in service of a script lacking dramatic tension and any truly humorous moments.
Much better was “Now Museum, Now You Don’t,” the 7-page Super Goof yarn backing up the lead story. A less-than-savvy entrepreneur has opened up a Super Goof museum, but his enterprise lacks sufficient treasures to attract any visitors. Super Goof tries to assist his greatest fan and some welcome hilarity ensues. The tale’s original writer is unknown, but the art’s by the great Jack Bradbury and the rewritten dialogue is by Joe Torcivia.
Alas, Super Goof can’t save this issue. The best score I can give WALT DISNEY’S MICKEY MOUSE AND BLOTMAN IN BLOTMAN RETURNS is an unfortunate two out of five Tonys.
Look for another TOOT on Friday.
Tony Isabella
P.O. Box 1502
Medina, OH 44258
© 2007 Tony Isabella
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