Cap's Comics - Disney Kingdoms Seekers of the Weird #5

It is the final battle!  The Wardens of the Museum of the Weird face off against Despoina and the Shadow Society hoping to free the Reaper King from the Coffin Clock.  And the Keep kids are stuck in the middle as they hope to free their parents and save the world.  Will Uncle Roland prove to be a hero that the kids can trust?  This questions and more are answered in the final action-packed issue of Brandon Seifert's and Karl Moline's final issue from this new Disney comic line. 

Brian Crosby Imagineer Variant Cover

As an issue, I felt Disney Kingdoms Seekers of the Weird was somewhat typical for a final story arc comic issue, a fast resolve.  That happens in most comic stories as setup often takes much of the artist and writer's time.  I was satisfied with the ending, how characters were handled and felt it was consistent with the entire five issue run.  In my house the continued use of the lacrosse stick is very popular!  Overall, Siefert gave his title a successful and satisfying ending.

I want to see more of this.  I mean this in two ways.  First, I do not like horror but I love comic books.  And I feel like there is not enough all ages comics.  This really is a horror comic that both adults and kids can enjoy.  There are monsters and demons but it is not so scary that neither the Between Tween or I had trouble sleeping.  And it was something we both could read together.  My local comic shop guy thought it was really cool I was sharing a comic with one of my children.  The Tween reads this title because of the Disney angle, superhero titles generally are not enjoyed by this youngster.   Second, I want more of this story.  Yes, we know more Disney Kingdoms are on the way.  And that is great.  But I do feel like another mini-series story could be told about the Keep kids and their family.  An Uncle Roland prequel could also be cool.  I just worry that the sales drops, typical with any comic, could hurt the future of the franchise.  Of course, it is with the collected edition Marvel will make its money.

And crazy idea here, please sell this in the parks.  Use the Haunted Mansions to get kids interested in comics!

Crazy right?

Next month Figment #1!

Cap's Comics - Disney Kindgoms Seekers of the Weird #4

Melody and Maxwell Keep are in the final stage of assembling the living room and summoning the Coffin Clock.  But once they get the clock, they will have to consider the consequences of surrendering the Clock to the Shadow Society.  Would releasing horror upon the Earth be an appropriate price for regaining their parents.  To complete the living room, the kids use new toys (weapons) given to them by Uncle Roland.  The issue sets up a battle between the Keeps, the Wardens and the Shadow Society.  As the concluding battle starts the Keep kids wonder who they can trust!

Crosby Imagineer Variant Cover

As a villain group, I find myself really interested in the Shadow Society.  There name fits their methods.  They actually use shadows as armor, making them untouchable while they are in shadow.  I loved it because it seems really Peter Pan like.  Additionally, the looks of the Wardens are very cool and varied as drawn by Karl Moline. 

The big question I have as we creep to the conclusion is would I like to see more.  The answer is a resounding yes.  I do feel like Brandon Seifert's story is coming to a satisfying conclusion.  But with that being said I do feel like I would enjoy more stories of the Keep kids in the future.  So after the next Disney Kingdoms series comes to an end I would love to see a sequel mini-series to tell more stories of the kids in this world.  And the Between Kids would line up to read it too.  And honestly, we really need more all-ages comics that adults can enjoy.  So I hope Disney decides to move forward with more chapters of this family as they interact with Walt Disney's unbuilt attraction. 

Cap's Comics - Disney Kingdoms: Seekers of the Weird #3

In Disney Kingdoms: Seekers of the Weird #3 the stakes get big.  We discover with the kids Melody and Maxwell Keep that the lives of their parents are not the only thing at stake.  In fact their adventure within the Museum of the Weird has global consequences.  The Coffin Clock that they must seek to get their parents back is more than just a clock.  It is in fact a key to unleashing incredible evil across the face of the Earth.  Which means the duo will find unexpected allies and unintended enemies in their quest to find the Clock.  And Uncle Roland's motivations begin to come into doubt.  And being just kids, the two must decide how badly they want to save their parents if the consequences are beyond their family.

You know, they have done a real nice job giving us an all-ages comic and a scary one.  The mummy like Husks are scary.  And the Mushroom People that the kids are chased by in this story are somewhat creepy.  But none of it is so scary that I would not hand my oldest this comic.  In fact I will tomorrow.  In many ways it is like the Haunted Mansion.  You can safely scared (and I hate scary).  So I do have to applaud what has been done here since it does feel very much like the spirit of Walt Disney in what Brandon Seifert has scripted.

The art does change in this issue.  Filipe Andrade takes over as artist.  And the art change is something one instantly picks up on.  I personally prefer that artists stay consistent in arcs or in this case a mini-series.  But after a few pages I was more worried about the kids than an art change-up.  And the art may have helped set the scary feel with images that are less photo-realistic.

Variant Cover

Really Disney Kingdoms: Seekers of the Weird has setup a little quest story.  And after issue three I feel like I know the stakes and the requirements of failing (and possibly succeeding).  And it is the kind of story I feel like I can had the Between Tween without fear.  And the fact that Melody is brandishing a lacrosse stick as a weapon is a bonus (the Between Tween is however completely disgusted with Maxwell and I wonder if this issue will help his stock).  I am enjoying this tale as an all-ages story I can share with a youngster and talk about all month long until the next issue hits the shelves.  And I expect like last month this is exactly what will happen! 

Cap's Comics - Disney Kingdoms: Seekers of the Weird #2

As Disney Kingdoms: Seekers of the Weird #2 opens, our heroes Melody and Maxwell have weird problems.  First, their parents have been kidnapped.  And if that is not bad enough their first meeting with mysterious Uncle Roland ends with him losing his legs.  Now Roland mentors the two youngster as they seek the Coffin Clock within the Museum of the Weird.  The two discover that the clock is wanted by the Shadow Society who kidnapped their parents.  And the kids learn that the Museum is the domain of the Wardens, who stored magical items within.  To save their parents the two must find the first ingredient to recovering the clock, a chair with a face!

Cover B Incentive Cover Variant

When the Between Tween read the first issue, the response I got was I am confused.  When the Tween finished the second issue I was told that one should not have to wait a month and every issue should be collected together for one reading.  A day later, I was told that this was the Tween's favorite comic of all time.  I will admit, the fact this story has a young female who plays lacrosse scores a lot of points in the Between House.  And if one of the goals of this series to is get young people to read comics, Disney and Marvel are succeeding by giving us something different that superheroes.

Crosby Imagineer Variant

As a comic fan I am enjoying this story.  In this issue we get into the action and the setup is minimized with much of our background setting complete in the first issue.  The story is horror, but  not so terrifying a young person cannot enjoy it.  You know like a certain mansion!  As a Disney fan I will admit what has impressed me is what Brandon Siefert has built upon the bones of the concept that Walt Disney and Rolly Crump developed.  In this case they provide us an entire mythology about who runs the Museum in the Wardens, its purpose and who are their enemies.  And I will admit this is the sort of mythology that can be used in a (wink wink) future series.

Based on the reaction here in Betweenland this weird concept, a comic built on an unbuilt attraction is working.  And I smile ear to ear upon the news issue #1 is getting a second printing!  Hopefully this is a sign of good things to come!

Cap's Comics - Disney Kingdoms: Seekers of the Weird #1

I, like many other Disney fans, have been waiting patiently for Disney Kingdoms: Seekers of the Weird for months now.  I love comics, I love Disney, this could almost be as good as peanut butter and chocolate together.  And I would love for this comic title to be a hit, give us a new way to put Imagineering concepts into other platforms, and maybe get Marvel comics into the parks.  So yeah, I want this story to be good too while achieving all these goals.  

As the story opens we meet siblings Melody and Maxwell in New Orleans, very fitting since the Haunted Mansion is in New Orleans Square.  The siblings are very different with Melody being athletic and likely popular and Maxwell being brainy.  They go home to their parents' curio shop, "Keep It Weird" and their parents ask they to watch the store as they complete some work.  That work leads to mom and dad being kidnapped by a supernatural power, the kids meeting their long-lost uncle Roland, and being set on a quest to save their parents. And all of this revolves around something called the Museum of the Weird, which somehow is connected to "Keep It Weird."    

Del Mundo Teaser Variant

Overall, I enjoyed this issue #1.  Honestly, first issues can often be a mixed bag for me.  And this is especially true with stories that have to introduce not just a problem but an entire cast.  I stayed engaged, learned who my favorite characters would be, and saw enough classic Rolly Crump designs on the page to keep me reading.  My interest was kept, which shocked me since this what I would call an all-ages comic.  Since all-ages books often have to satisfy several age groups, they often do not fully satisfy any especially the adult in the room.  But again I think the tie-in to Disney history and the promise of more kept me eager to turn the page.  I did approve the issue for the Between Tween to read (there are a lot of comics I read that do not get this thumbs up).  The review I got back was that it was good but weird.  And the Tween really liked Melody because they share a passion for lacrosse.  

Crosby Imagineer Variant

Being the Disney fan I am  it was Uncle Roland, designed after Imagineer and creator of the original Museum of the Weird Rolly Crump, that I wanted to see on the page. Having read and heard his words, knowing that there is some eccentric to him, I thought the portrayal was respectful and fitting. In effect, writer Brandon Seifert has taken Crump and transformed him into an action hero of his own design.  To me Uncle Roland was a combination of steam punk swashbuckler scoundrel.  I think Crump would enjoy being described in real life in this way.  And I really enjoyed Karl Moline's representation of this hero and I want to see more of.  Honestly, I could see Uncle Roland in other solo adventures (fingers crossed).  

Crump Variant

  

Disney Kingdoms: Seekers of the Weird is full of fun for Disney fans.  We get to see Crump designs that we have seen concept art for like Candleman and the Gypsy Cart, but have not seen in a story. And Uncle Roland as a concept is irresistible.  This really is a unique and interesting way to see ideas that have not been included in stories before in a new way.  And I really want Disney to continue this trend with their Marvel brand.  And I like the fact that this is a title that I can share with my kids.  It is also quite a thrill to read the names of Imagineers in the credits, and the story of how Marvel and Imagineering came together on this title in the back is a fun tale if you have not heard it yet.  

With issue #1 ending on a cliffhanger I have a few questions that I look forward to having answered (at least partially) next month.  And I look forward to joining Melody and Maxwell as they explore the Museum of the Weird. This sort of title shows how having Marvel in the Disney family not just adds great content to Disney, but can aid Disney in bringing already developed content into the hands of fans.