Even though there aren’t really a lot of comics I read, I still always check out Graham Cracker Comics website every week to see what’s new. The other week “X-Babies” caught my eye and I just couldn’t resist picking up a copy because really, who doesn’t love superheroes as babies?

I found out that this wasn’t the X-Babies’ first appearance. They originally appeared in Uncanny X-Men #12. This appearance is included in the first issue of X-Babies, but frankly the illustrations were so bad I couldn’t bring myself to read their original origins.

But X-Babies, now that is a great comic. The premise is that the X-Babies are characters on a television show. Essentially, they are being held captive by Mojo. They accidentally stumble upon evidence of other shows being aired, including one featuring younger versions of themselves. They aren’t going to stand for this, and fighting ensues.

A show where younger versions of the X-Babies learn about the merits of eating healthy.

The comic has a ton of great features – dinosaurs, outer space, babies. It was thoroughly entertaining, and well illustrated. I will definitely be picking up the next issue.

A few weeks ago Josh and I picked up a bunch of old Star Trek comics (more about that later). The oldest of them dates back to 1984.

One of the things I love about them are the ads. All of them have a form to fill out for a comic book subscription. Most of them also have ads for comic book conventions around the country. Then there are some with mail away offers for kids or get rich quick schemes.

But the thing that I like best are the old video game ads. This Return of the Jedi ad comes from the February 1984 issue. The game is for the Atari 2600 (and soon available for Intellivision).

I’ve been sitting on this one for a little while now, but I think its time to share:

Barack the Barbarian is one of many prezploitation comics that have popped up in our local comic book store since President Obama took office. It seems to me like one of those novelties that is somewhat amusing on the surface but just feels weird if you dig very deep. From the summary:

In the distant future the story of Barack Obama has become a little… distorted. According to THE MADDOWIAN CHRONICLES he was the one destined to save the great republic of America and dethrone the overpaid despots of the time. Join Barack, Sorceress Hilaria, her demi-god trickster husband Biil, Overlord Boosh and Chainknee of the Elephant Kingdom. Who can the lone barbarian trust, if anyone?

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for political satire, but I get the feeling that things like these can easily be misconstrued and suddenly become the hot topic in a hotel conference room shouting match between angry, middle-aged imbeciles and a congressperson.

If anything, Barack the Barbarian makes me pine for the days before I was aware Sarah Palin was a human being.