The Simpsons Futurama Crossover Crisis II #2 closes out the second crossover between the Springfield and Planet Express worlds. For those who missed out on the first issue, it does a pretty good job of bringing up the major plot points. Namely, fictional characters -- and this would include the Simpsons -- have broken through into the real world. There is a sneaky use of a deus ex machina to clean up the whole mess of the situation which turns out to be some good clean fun.

Freedom Force #3 continues to blaze on through at their break neck pace. If last issue's mob of characters wasn't enough, there are even more new faces and costumes to be had this time around. Liberty Lad tackles the letters pages and it's all like one of those Amalgam comics of a few years ago. The energy is just sheer and the speed is near obliterating. And where is the time for a rest and chance to develop characters? Nowhere. Yet despite this, why then is there a compelling want for the fourth issue?

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So here's a reprint collection from Slave Labor Graphics that grabs the nads of the original Marvel Comics run. This volume features the first four issues of Bill & Ted's Excellent Comic Book along with the Bogus Journey adaptation.

The characters look vaguely like their movie counterparts of Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter, George Carlin et al. Probably for the best as it is rather madcap lunacy on air. At first it would read like an avalance of "dude," "excellent" and out of nowhere air guitar solos. Get to the end of the little book and it's like just the right amount. Not too much, not too little, just Wyld Stallyns right.

Enthusiastic jokes and all don't rise above the high brow and spend it in the middle. The compact size -- talking digest here -- make reading the panels close to the spine a worrying effort. Luckily, there are no centre crash splash pages to warrant that much of a split.

On occasion, lines suffer from fraying, disconnected on the transfer from archival prints with what might have been lifted direct off the original comics themselves. The clarity in the inked pages still hold up well despite the fade away here and there. On the whole it's just shy of being a most triumphant effort, though it totally is in keeping with the spirit of the two movies and their characters.

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One chapter left on the third Strangers in Paradise pocket book. A twisty yarn that started off oh so simple and sweet. Diving toward the end it was certainly not that kind of bore. Events went balls out of its mind midway through and the characters are growing and learning, a strange feeling, a welcome change to the reading. This is good stuff. Really seeing that connection with the people. Emotional as they are.

The final chapter was tackled on the train. A dreary place which for the past few weeks has been very conducive to sleep. Very. Staying awake is pretty hard when there are people eyeing off that slim spot on the seats.

A location and scene wherein a stranger sits down on the left and opens up an issue of The Phantom to read. From the look of the weight, it wasn't the recently released monster issue. More on the side of a regular fat one. Still, it was odd to experience this. Sure bet he didn't know what comic was on his right.

There is no train of sense.

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