Malibu Mondays: Star Trek Deep Space Nine #1

"And now for something completely different...." as the saying goes.  Deep Space Nine you wonder?  Yes, if I also remember correctly, Malibu Comics received the license to produce the first of the DS9 comics stories.  I had to get this at Heroes Convention this year.  I have a confession that might anger any of you who are of different opinions when it come to Star Trek, but here it is, DS9 was the best series.  Captain Sisko is the best Captain.  The entire franchise is best viewed through the DS9 portal to the Star Trek Universe.

Those of you still reading and not screaming how Kirk is best, or Picard, or Janeway, can just accept that buying this was a guilty pleasure in my quest for the Malibu Comics lines.  I did open this poly bagged issue and will be putting the poster that came with it up in my building where my Comics live.  I know for some that is bad, but I believe in reading my comics.  So I opened a bagged book and devalued it.

This is a great start to the comic.  All the characters are there and have really cool looks.  Even O'Brian's wife along with Jake and Nog are present.  Seeing Odo shift into a rat and jump in goop that had covered Quark was awesome.  The entire story just took me back to those early episodes.  It was outstanding.  I picked up another one and will do a write up on it, but it just seemed right to begin with issue #1.

BDS

Malibu Mondays: Siren Special #1

I bought this comic on Friday at Heroes Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina and read it that night in the hotel.  I noticed that Randy Green did the cover.  I carried it back Saturday hoping to get it signed, but sadly for me, his kid had a baseball tournament and he was only there on Friday.  Just a side story.  Now on to talking about the comic.

If you have never read a single Malibu comic or have no clue about Siren and Shuriken, then please do not just grab this out of a back issue box and read it as a way to jump into this comicbook world.  You will be very lost.  I kind of know about Siren and I was lost.  It helps that I have the run except for the first issue of The All New Exiles.  I at least know the whys and hows of Juggernaut and the reason Siren is sent after Shuriken. I get that maybe the end of this has something to do with Ultraforce.  Everything else is just a patchwork.

Siren is given an origin.  She is brought back from her stay in the Marvel Universe I guess.  It really is just a guess.  I think Siren is neat and here we get some cool uses of powers, but truthfully I never do really understand her origin completely.  The action in the story is really cool and the art top notch.  It is a good grab for my collecting of all the Malibu Universe.  Just wonder if I will collect enough to see the big picture of where this "special" fits into the larger scheme of things?

BDS

Malibu Monday: Prime #1 Volume 2

Yes, that does say the Sensational Spider-Prime on the cover.  Makes sense for the time period.  Malibu is now under Marvel's ownership and all new characters in the Marvel Universe had to have so tangent Spider-Man appearances.  This would be a very confusing issue then and now for a casual reader.  I am scant on issues of Prime in my new Ultraverse collecting group.  I do understand that this comes directly off the big Infinity/Black September event that combined the two companies.  So we have Spider-Prime.

Kevin is our Spider-Prime.  Knowing that he is really Prime helps because there is also Prime in this comicbook.  So that could be confusing.  I think that this was one of the things that hurt the Ultraverse.  They were just shoehorned in and seems to never really have a chance at succeeding.  The entire story is weird and confusing.  Not really lighting a fire for the few issues that might follow.

Still, this is partly why I am collecting these books.  There are some interesting things in gathering the remnants of what could have been a great company had they been able to become powerful enough to compete with the big two.  Still, if you are looking to start a Prime collection, begin with Volume 1.

BDS

Malibu Monday: Firearm #4 (Break-Thru Issue)

Before I discuss the comicbook issue I want to rant a bit on computer systems being too intuitive.  Last Friday I mentioned how I went and Goggled covers for my posts.  It is lazy in some ways, but I just see it simpler than moving crap off my scanner and then scanning a cover when someone out on the interwebs has already done it.  So tonight I plan on getting an early start and I Google this issue.  It comes up and I click on "images" and get shown only guns.  Seems old Google shortened my search words to just "Firearm" and I had no comicbook covers.  After multiple attempts to get images of this cover up I gave up and scanned the sucker.  It is just weird what the interwebs does sometimes.

Now this is the only issue of Firearm I currently own.  I bought it because it ties into the Break-Thru event that Malibu had running throughout there titles.  I do know that this book was heavily marketed in-house by the company.  Every issue I have of other Ultraverse titles carry all kinds of advertising promoting this brand.  Still, to be honest I know nothing about the character really.  I gather from the issue he works as a private investigator, has a love of guns, is a tough guy, and hard to kill.  Apparently he is a non-powered character in a world of Ultra-powered characters.

The plot is a carry over from the previous issue where we can gather that the old story stand by of hunting people down for sport is used.  It is the aftermath and our protagonist is looking for some payback and maybe to save his client.  Seems that when you are captured by these Ultra-huntsmen you get served up as the main course of their after hunt banquet.  Kind of creepy.  The internal dialogue confirms our thoughts on the subject.

There is plenty of action and some cool moments in this issue.  The only Brek-Thru moment is the showing of the gal that is lighting up the sky.  That is the total connection.  Pretty cheap in a way.  Imagine you are a completest and you decide you must buy all these books, then you get FIREARM.  No real connection.  This was par for the course back then.  They hoped to snag new readers after they checked a book out.  Still the names James Robinson and Cully Hammer jump off the page of credits.  They are industry standard bearers and here they are in an Ultraverse book.  Reminds us that the big two never did have the monopoly on good stories.

BDS

Malibu Mondays: Hard Case #1

So I am changing up our Mondays here at "Let's Blog Comics" and it starts tonight.  Since I want to fill in some Mantra issues I am starting Malibu Mondays to substitute for Mantra Mondays.  I know I have had problems on the Monday posts and I am working on it.  I give you our first Malibu Monday with HARD CASE #1.

It is 1993 and comics has seen the gluttony of special gimmick covers and really shocking events to push a speculator market.  A new company starts that promises quality over the flash and empty glitter.  Malibu Comics debuts the Ultraverse.  It is a place where those with powers are called Ultras and Hard Case #1 is part of the first group of books to come out.  It is different for the times.

We open to a massacre.  Our cover hero is standing at ground zero for the event that stopped his acting heroically for real.  Tom Hawke was part of a group called The Squad.  This weird thing that kind of looks like an alien from the "Aliens" movies is ripping the group to shreds.  A sacrifice and long leap later we get the tragic news and see the grief of our Hero Hard Case.  

Next we see he has taken to play acting his heroics as a movie star.  You can guess that something happens to draw him back to being a hero, its a comic about a superhero after all.  The hook is gruesome, but is what one might expect in real life.  That is something Malibu wanted to get back to in comics, the relateable feel of the characters.  I liked this start and will try and complete the series.  I started over Labor Day with some Hard Case purchases.

I picked this issue up at a local flea market in a used book sellers booth.  It was just mixed in with some random books.  It was in a sleeve and in nice condition.  I paid the $1 and walked away with this very plan for Malibu Mondays in mind.  I will give you a tip.  Malibu Comics is a great group to hunt for out in the world.  There are many around flea markets and similar events.  Rarely are the prices inflated like these people tend to do with Marvel and DC.  I mean they get a price guide and think there poor condition is worth what a mint sold for, give me a break.  So Malibu can be collected most times for a dollar or less.  These are good books to start with in my opinion.  You can check here for the books and see if any trip your fancy.  

BDS

Mantra Monday: Mantra #19

"IT'S ALMOST FUNNY.  AFTER MONTHS OF LIVING AS EDEN BLAKE, I FINALLY TRANSFER MY MIND INTO A MALE BODY, GIVING EDEN HER BODY BACK -- AND LETTING US BE TOGETHER.  NO SOONER DOES THAT HAPPEN THAN EDEN BECOMES NINE MONTHS PREGNANT OVERNIGHT AND GIVES BIRTH TO OUR BABY GIRL, WHO'S MYSTICALLY AGED HERSELF INTO MY WORST ENEMY -- NERCROMANTRA.  I'LL LAUGH LATER."

That explanation by Lukasz in the opening page of issue #19 is all you need to understand what is happening.  I did not give away the identity of Necromantra as the attacker from last issue because it was too god of a surprise.  It also leads into a weird territory about just how Thanasi escaped death on the Godwheel.  Seems the coward fled to the next egg in Eden's womb to hide figuring that her and Lukasz would find a way to survive.  The he just waited for nature to happen and then accelerated the process.  Born a she now without the ability to body hop any more.

I have thought about Marinna a bit over the years of reading this story.  I have come to the conclusion that this really was Thanasi born and not the guy pushing the unborn soul out.  It makes sense when you read this issue as Necromantra takes Eden and little Evie hostage to drain their magic.  The child born from Eden and Lukasz already would have a genetic magical makeup.

Big battle in this issue.  It is sad in so many ways.  The resolution between two friends now turned father and daughter is rough enough, but this fight will see one hero sacrifice to ensure that there is a Mantra.  Pinnacle provides a good counter balance and asks the question at the end that makes one want to cry.  Another cliffhanger and I will not spoil it.

I do not have the next couple of issues.  So not sure what next Monday will bring.

BDS

Mantra Monday: Mantra #18

This is the all romance edition of Mantra.  Looking at the cover I bet you readers can guess what romance leads to in the end.  We begin with Lukasz and Eden's triumphant return from the Godwheel Mini Series.  They appear in the middle of the lab owned by J. D. Hunt and are surrounded by Aladdin Troopers.  It is a lopsided escape as Eden is still spastic with her magic abilities.  In fact that bugs me a bit.  They kind of make her an airhead.  They escape and are now aware it is New Year's Eve and they get some clothes and a hotel room.  After dancing the night away the two fall into each others arms and fade to black.  Let your imagination guess what they did.

When they wake up they get a shock.  Eden is suddenly very pregnant.  They are frantic and shocked and happy.  Still, they need help.  Luckily Pinnacle (Penny) from last issue survived her death at the hands of Necro Mantra.  She now has her own lab and freedom.  Of course she helps them out and we soon get a strange delivery.  After the little girl is born and named Marinna after Lukasz's long dead wife all seems well.

The problem is that this is a magical pregnancy that went to term in a matter of days.  I am not going to spoil the surprise until the next post.  Let me just say that the old foe is not so dead and gone as we thought.  Big fight coming.

BDS

Godwheel Mini-Series by Malibu Comics

 This is the first of the ultimate plan when there is a completed run of a series.  I want to have all the images link to the posts here on the Blog so there is a quick reference for people.  I decided to start with the Ultraverse Godwheel series.  I will have these series listed on the sidebar area as well.  That is the hope and the goal with things like the Mantra and Mutant X runs.  Sorry for those who have read each post consecutively each day.  If you stumbled upon this post through a search, then enjoy.

BDS

Flashback Friday: Godwheel #3

We conclude the week with the end of the Godwheel Mini-Series from Malibu Comics.  As I said, I felt this story was advanced to use as a start to the Marvelication of the Ultraverse.  This is the issue that Thor will at last appear and that all this fighting over the Crucible of Life will conclude.  It is a satisfying end and doesn't let off the accelerator as we speed along to the end.

When we stopped there was one team and one item left on the quest for power.  Lukasz and Warstrike had teamed up to find the Crystal Crown and by doing so stop Argus in his quest to return to ultimate godhood.  It was no surprise to the reader that Necro Mantra would be the one that they would face.  Why they were surprised was funny in a way as they should have realized it would come down to that match up.

The battle is strange and at one point Eden Blake takes control back from Thanasi.  While the romantic angst is playing out Warstrike finds and dons the Crystal Crown.  It activates his pre-cognative abilities and he sees the Earth drowning in blood as people are mutilated around a throne.  Warstrike sees himself on the throne and he is served by Necro Mantra.  This vision melts his mind.  In the end Necro Mantra retrieves the Crystal Crown.

I could bore you with the action, but I will instead hit the high points.  The Crucible of Life is activated.  Pressure stumbles out as we find out she has been replaced by Rune during the Quest.  Boneyard might be dead.  Necro Mantra betrayed Argus.  Argus outsmarts her by using Primevil.  Millions of tiny Lord Pumpkins.  Big old fight.

Rune attacks Necro Mantra and Thanasi flees leaving Eden Blake as Mantra.  Mantra plays a big role as it is her magical interference that brings Thor over.  Of course with Thor rallying the Ultra Heroes the day is won and we get a extra crossover as Loki slips into the Ultraverse unseen.  It is here that I felt maybe new Ultra character would be used if the buyout had never happened.  Maybe even Ogma being returned and the start of an area where secrets of the Ultraverse would be told and the battle between Rex Mundi and The Alternate brought in.

Over all this is a great read.  Having knowledge of the Ultraverse would help, but is not necessary to enjoy.  It is too bad that months from now Marvel will beging a round of lay offs and budget cutting that will destroy the Ultraverse as if Argus had won this battle.

BDS

Godwheel #2

This is the bridge issue of this mini series.  I call it that because we are at the point where much must occur to cross into the climax and final confrontation.  Here is where the fight to gain the three items of power begins in earnest.  The items are The Windsword, Roc's Egg, and crystal crown.  In issue #2 here we will see the acquisition of the sword and egg.

I wish I had more knowledge of the characters from the FREEX comic.  I would be more understanding about Feline, Cayman, Flygirl, and especially Pressure who acts very strange according to Cayman.  Not knowing her I would think this Valerie is a smart and knowledgeable woman.  We watch her understand the science on this godyacht and even how to operate these systems at first glance.  Later she seems cold and uncaring.

We also have more distrust of Boneyard.  Knowing him it is clear that they should not trust the guy.  What we have in terms of action is division into teams to retrieve the items and Argus waiting to see where they go and sending his operatives there.  Cayman, Feline, and Pressure go after the Windsword and face off against Primevil.  It is here that we watch Cayman get swallowed and being digested by Primevil.  His teammate Pressure stands there and watches him being killed.  The shock comes as Feline takes the Windsword and chops Primevil's head off and frees Cayman.  Now Cayman looks less like a human crocodile and more like a man that has portions that look like a crocodile.  Feline has bonded with the sword and Pressure seems very unhappy.

The next team is Flygirl and Hardcase.  The ship makes a great new costume for Hardcase and it helps us not have to look at his still messed up appearance after the battle he had in his book with the MN-E thing that is a bane to all the Ultraverse.  Flygirl hits on him and it is used I think to make us sympathetic for her later.  Lord Pumpkin arrives and he fights off both and even "kills" Flygirl.  I do not know for sure if she is dead, but from here own she is no longer with the rest of the group.  Hardcase freezes up seeing her "die" and suffers flashbacks to others he has lost in battle.  Lord Pumpkin attacks and is using the Roc's Egg to finish Hardcase off when Argus brings him back.

For his betrayal Lord Pumpkin gets his pumpkin smashed and all that is left is his candle.  Two objects found, one in the Crucible of Life.  The crucible is what will give power to the one who collects all the items.  All this and the war is explained by the simulation of Ogma as the heroes and Boneyard travel to the Godwheel.  Lots of explanation about the Godwheel and what will happen if Argus succeeds.

Lukaz and Warstrike are the third team and we all know who they will face next issue, right?  Necro Mantra is up and these are two guys that care for Eden Blake who is trapped in the body that Thanasi now controls.  The question is, will Warstrike kill Mantra to stop Necro Mantra?  Will Lukasz let him?  Still so questions left as we go toward the final issue and the climax of the series.

BDS

Godwheel #1

So when we last left the series from Malibu Comics known as Godwheel, Necro Mantra had volunteered to kill all the other Ultras and serve Argus.  They flirt some and we have Thanasi show off the Necro Mantra powers and that he can be a better woman than Lukasz.  The magic sort of impresses Argus.  The thing is he needs three to collect the items of power.  So Necro Mantra is given leave to choose her allies.  Of course the first thing she does is pick Lord Pumpkin because every team needs a suit wearing Jack O Lantern.  Then we get the shock of the moment as she blast the Prime husk and gives it life.She names him Primevil.  All looks lost for the frozen heroes as death is to be there fate.

Now comes the fighting.  She Pressure was knocked out and not frozen.  She awakens in the nick of time to blast Argus and that causes him to lose concentration.  We have another free for all until a leader steps forward, Boneyard.  Yes, I was shocked as well.  Being a Mantra collector I figured he would weasel his way to Team Argus, but he decides that the heroes are the team to eventually betray.  This does help get some focus for the group.  Hardcase gets a wicked punch in that floors Argus and the heroes flee.  We also learn that Argus is losing power fast.

So the group is fleeing and really have no clue until Lukasz steps out of the shadows.  The soul of Eden Blake is shown with a relieved face.  Seems Necro Mantra teleported instead of disintegrating Lukasz.  Maybe Eden had a bit to do with that happening.  So the thing is that Lukasz found a ship.  It is alive and it was the Pleasure Space Yacht of Ogma named Zumas.  Poor old Pressure gets tossed and beaten all the time here and even has rocks fall on her before making it to the ship.  They fly off with a computer sim of Ogma telling them the need of finding the relics.  Ogma was the head god of these gods who killed each other.  He also shows us the Godwheel.

Thor has his first cameo as he is not fully shown.  It was cheesy and probably just some Marvel suit wanting a Marvel character in there somehow since Thor is being advertised all over for this series.  Next comes the team ups and the search for the items.

BDS

Godwheel #0

Following the last installment of Mantra Monday is the Ultraverse Mini-Series called Godwheel.  It begins as many Ultraverse titles had characters disappear at the end of a story.  More on that in a bit.  I am going to state an opinion I have about this series.  it is purely speculation on my part and I have no idea if it is even close to the truth of the events that surround the story.

My opinion is that Godwheel was not suppose to have happened this quick in the growth of Malibu Comic's Ultraverse.  This is the origins of a comicbook Universe laid bare and a place you could change direction with characters and even jumpstart the Ultraverse with new characters.  I believe that the buyout by Marvel Comics brought this origin tale forward and it then became the way Marvel would try and market their characters through this purchase.

It just feels forced in so many ways.  Like it was rushed.  The reason for speculating that it is the origin of the Ultraverse comes from the pages included in the series that explains out the characters and the Godwheel.  It looks like a blueprint that writers would have had to know the origins, but never tell us until many years down the road.  Near the end when Marvel puts a footprint in the Ultraverse you can easily imagine a different outcome using characters unique and new.

So what was Godwheel?  Basically you have a Supergod who is dying.  He comes home to find it in ruins and the other gods dead and gone.  Three items of power have been scattered across this massive cosmos spinning wheel where vast geography and beings make up a place where power comes from.  This Supergod is named Argus.  He has been followed by the creepy Ultra Rune and a fight between them gives Argus the ability to use the gems that Rune had to see and call forth beings of power to find the items.  He just brings them to this place called Vahdala.

He brings a very beat up Hardcase, Lord Pumpkin, Boneyard, Warstrike, four of the Freex (Feline, Flygirl, Pressure, and Cayman), Prime and Mantra.  The problem is he does not get Prime, but a Prime husk that is frozen to keep it viable.  Mantra is not Mantra as we know from Mantra #17, it is Necro Mantra.  Of course Lukasz in his new male body is brought as well because of him being Mantra.

Basically those with grudges begin beating the stuffing out of each other.  Necro Mantra strikes Lukasz and seems to disintegrate him.  Lord Pumpkin and Boneyard have a history.  Throw in Warstrike being confused by Necro Mantra and you can see that this is a great confusing battle.  It is until Argus freezes them all, except Necro Mantra.  In the end she, the male Thanasi, flirts and schemes her way into his good graces.  She even declares that as a show of loyalty she will kill the rest of the Ultras.

This is a very action packed start to a mini that will redefine the Ultraverse.  As I said, it feels rushed.  Stay tuned for the next issue of Godwheel.

BDS   


#Ultraverse  #Godwheel  #Mantra

Mantra Mondays: Mantra #17

Welcome back to Mantra.  We take up where we left by looking at issue #17.  It is not strange that things would take a fast pace in the Ultraverse.  In fact I wish there were a way to have DVD type commentary about the stories of certain companies and the comics they produced.  I have mulled it over and think that this story gets made because of the buying and merger of Malibu Comics by Marvel Comics.  See, I think that maybe there was to be a longer build up to what happens in this issue and the mini-series that starts directly at the end of this story. 

We get a great deal of story in this one issue.  Lukasz infiltrates Aladdin's hidden depths to find information that will lead him to freeing his soul and Eden's from the same body.  They have fallen in love and now want to be together, but we still get that old song and dance of Lukasz wanting to be a man again.  It is fun watching Mantra use stealth by way of her powers.

The funeral for Uncle Moe, the nearly dead senior that Mantra trapped Thanasi inside, and it reveals that maybe Thanasi is not gone.  We quickly get to something good.  Lukasz spending time with the kids and we find out it is Christmas time as well.  It is good to have him being a mom and enjoying it.  Plus Eden can enjoy her kids.  Little Evie reminds us that she knows her mommy is Mantra before the two who share one body are off to find J.D. Hunt.

Hunt is one of the Ultraverse's standard villain and Ultra creator.  He made Electrocutie of the Strangers and we see her replacement as Mantra battles Pinnacle (Penny).  She appears as a new bimbo made to order for Hunt, but she is an Ultra and the fight is cool and the magic mixing with science gives us a great outcome.  After Hunt is being mind controlled there is a great scene that does not translate well in comic form of Penny walking Hunt into a wall.

Male body made and it looks like Lukasz and Eden can find happiness.  Enter Thanasi.  A man that is very comfortable taking a female form.  Little back and forth before we have both the newly self named Necro Mantra and Lukasz disappearing.  That is where Godwheel begins.  Many other Ultra books have similar disappearing tales that leads us to this explanation in a way of the origins of the Ultraverse.

The question really needing to be asked is what has happened to Eden Blake?

BDS

Not feeling the Flashback Today

I have a few comics that I could throw up as a Flashback Friday, but its been a rough week and I don't feel very creative and would probably be really bland.  I probably will do a Black Panther comic soon as for two years now that has been a keyword in searches.  Be smart to help bring people in I guess.  

If all goes as planned you should see a return of Mantra Mondays this Monday and then the four issues of the Godwheel mini that accompanied Marvel's takeover/buyout of Malibu Comics.  I am at that point in Mantra's book and it would be neat.  

On The Malibu front I have recently increased the Hardcase series by ten issues and the Strangers and Solution are in good standing as well.  I am not sure how far I am going with this collecting of Malibu Comics.  Should I just stay small and go for a few titles or go big and aim for the entire Library of Malibu?

Anyway, I am tired and felt bad all week I am gonna sign off.  Thank you to everyone who reads this silly little Blog of mine.  I appreciate it more than you know.

BDS

Flashback Friday: Foxfire #1 (Ultra Gold Limited Edition)

Foxfire #1 Ultra Gold Limited Edition

This was a pleasant surprise when I purchased a four package discount groupings of comics.  The reason was that it contained a DC Flashpoint Batman issue that came in at a cost of $1.  Inside hidden from view was this souped up variant of Malibu Comics Foxfire #1.  Those that follow this blog know I have been buying the old Malibu Comics since starting with Mantra and now adding The Strangers and The Solution.  Finding this was just a neat addition.

Some comments on the book as a product to start this post.  It is from after the purchasing of Malibu Comics by Marvel Comics.  This was a time when Marvel was buying properties like Malibu and the different trading card companies.  They were becoming a giant on a hunger binge that would soon overextend them as a business.  Right off the bat I know that there will not be many of these issues around.  The other noticeable aspect is the muscular body presented on the cover.  It is eye catching, but thankfully she looks tamer inside the pages that has a story and is not just cheesecake.  The souped up cover was just a factor of that time period in comics.  Books were made glittery and shiny for the speculator market that snatched up bunches of books for over-priced resale.

As a story this is a nice start.  We get a cool opening with our heroine.  She tells a cop one part of her background while we see the complete images as background art.  It leads right into her powering up and slowly revealing powers.  There is a sewer expedition that has a fight scene and a guest star in the form of one of the First Ultraverse characters, Sludge.  It ends with a cliffhanger promising Ultraforce (Malibu's super team) including the crossed-over Black Knight from Marvel's Avengers.

It is sad to read this issue knowing that it will fall to an abrupt end as Marvel just let the Ultraverse stop and become consigned to Limbo.  It is one thing you have to give credit to DC for in how they handled mergers and buyouts.  DC has worked to incorporate the characters of the many companies they ate into the modern era.  Marvel ate a company and then the characters just disappeared.  Foxfire will be one of these.  She is short lived, but this first issue showed much promise.

BDS

Comicbook Rescue Project: Ultraforce Spider-Man #1B

     I forgot to list this one when I wrote my big Comicbook Rescue Project (CRP) post.  It was in the Living Room where I had laid it down after reading the book.  I have been picking up back issues of Malibu Comics of late as those who read this blog know through the Mantra Mondays posts.  So I saw this one and bought it while at the Flea Market.

     Before I discuss this title I need to make sure you understand that Spider-Man is the Clone Ben Riley and the Green Goblin is whoever that was back then that had taken the mantle and used it as a Good Guy.  So this is not the time period I was loving Spidey in this book.  I also need to get this out of the way.  Spidey's webbing ignores the laws of physics in here as well when it flies down a wall and then makes a 90 degree turn.  What is that about?

     The plot is that a group of some creepy aliens are trying to instigate a war between the two worlds.  A future Prime comes back and convinces Ghoul that he will be dissected and tortured as many itty bitty pieces.  Oh, and Ultraforce has a traitor.  The individual that will kill every Ultra is this new Green Goblin.  Makes no sense I know, but it is what they used as a plot device.  Soon Ultraforce is heading to Marvel Earth to kill the Green Goblin.  Fights occur, misunderstandings explained, team ups, and the distrust is still brewing.  Mucho action to be read in the book.  Especially once you suspend disbelief and just read it as an adventure.

     Not really an ending.  This book had to be part of others that like it probably ended with a  "The End?" tag.  This was all part of Marvel throwing a bone to Malibu fans before just jettisoning the entire line.  I forgot to mention.  The Avengers Black Knight is a member of Ultraforce.  Kooky stuff when Marvel tried to fold these characters into their Universe.  Nice read, but it was not really worth the $3.95 it cost back in the day.

BDS

Mantra Mondays: Mantra #16

It is the issue I have been waiting for.  Lukaz has finally grown an attitude of caring and compassion for Eden's family.  It took his falling in love with Eden's soul which is in her body he still inhabits.  We end this issue as we finished the last.  Mantra is saying good-bye to Kevin, aka Prime, after failing to get a new male body.  So now it is back home and see where the family is and how they are doing as mom has been away for who knows how long.

The problem is that as Mantra returns home and is accidentally discovered by little Evie she learns that Eden is already there.  What?!?!  Yes, Eden Blake has been creepily coveting the Love of those around her and soon a mystery must be solved.  Lukasz is for the first time the stand up guy the reader has sought since the beginning of the series.  No whining about the female body, although he still is wanting out and Eden in charge so they can be together.  Instead he is out to discover what is happening and protecting Eden's loved ones.

It all leads to that weird construct from Issue #3 Kismet Deadly and then an appearance of Thanasi, the Knight who betrayed Archimage.  He takes over Gus, Eden's ex-husband who is about to remarry the faux Eden.  It ends up a great action story that has one person learning Mantra is Eden.  It is one of the best issues of the series.

BDS

Mantra Monday: Mantra #15

We are at the end of the mission of freedom for Archimage.  You see last issue of Mantra, Boneyard tricked Mantra and she took the Sword of Fangs and sliced his head right off.  The man that Lukasz had pinned all his hopes of being a man again now lays dead at her feet.  The spirit of Eden Blake attempts to speak wisdom to him, but the rage and mindless anger just explodes.  Notch and company get eviscerated and maimed as they attack and Boneyard has slipped away and soon Mantra heads back to the Malibu Universe Earth.

Now you would think that Lukasz would focus on checking on Eden's kids.  He professes to love her and so he is concerned right?  Nope.  Mantra heads to see the young man that is the hero Prime.  Kevin is eager to help her and we learn Topaz ending up on Earth after disappearing during the Archimage Quest.  They are off to check on the whereabouts of the Doctor that is responsible for creating the Prime and other bodies.  So Lukasz is wanting a male body still.

The look-alike Eden is heading to the alter with Eden's ex-husband Gus.  All seems happy with the Blake family.  Something has to be off.  We know that Lukasz is Eden right?  Just some weird stuff ahead for Mantra.  It is the beginning of a bit of a new road.  Boneyard is going to be gone for a long while and we will see more of Mantra as an agent of Aladdin and the family life.  That is a welcome change.  There will be more acceptance coming for Lukasz as well.  This starts him in that direction.

I like the series better going forward.  It is more of what I would want in this title based on the issues I have collected.

BDS

Mantra Mondays: Mantra #13

Mantra Monday makes its return!  It has been a bit since the last installment of Mantra Mondays.  It was Giant Size Mantra #1 where Mantra ends up in the dimension that Boneyard dwells and terrorizes in part, just not the correct part of the planet.  Instead she ends up having to fight Topaz and then saves the women of Gwendor securing an alliance.  The beginning of Mantra's quest to take the fight to Boneyard has her being outfitted with a high tech mystical armor.  Topaz and a group of the warrior women are with her as they set out.  Soon the men of Neros ask to go as well to make up for the man in their company that worked with Boneyard and attacked Gwendor.  We end up with a jumpy group of men and women who normally only see each other when they are so full of lust they cannot do anything but reproduce.

Lukas still whines, but a bit less.  He is too busy trying not to be called Lady Mantra.  The remaining wife of Boneyard attacks and Topaz is hit with a mystical bolt and disappears.  She is thought dead.  Mantra takes over.  She has an army now and the fight is moving to Boneyard.  I will not say much more.  This is a good read with action and less male trapped in a female body whining.

There is a strange happening with little Evie.  She visits a nice old lady and soon she has an amulet that she wishes upon for her Mommy's return.  The odd thing is that Eden Blake shows up.  But, wait, Eden has been talking to Lukas on the Soulscape when he dreams.  So who is the woman that is with Evie and Gus?

Resolutions are coming soon in the original plotlines.  

BDS

Mantra Mondays: Giant Size Mantra vs. Topaz #1

I figure Malibu is getting ready to introduce Topaz as part of Ultraforce with this Giant Size issue that interrupts the regular Mantra series.  This is coming off the crossover with the Strangers just an issue before.  It is also the day and age when gimmick covers and special editions were running amok all over the landscape.  Still, this is one of the better issues of Mantra in any form up to this point in the Malibu Ultraverse.

Lukasz is beginning to dream of a woman that any reader has already realized is Eden Blake.  In true form the dullard is instantly stricken by technically his own form.  It really adds a new element to the story and plot.  We also are getting more of Lukasz the mother.  He is a crap mother.  Little Evie cries her eyes out after what he does in this book.  I really get upset at him sometimes still over his callous emotions towards the children of the woman who's body he stole.  Still, it will set up an interesting development in later issues.

We find out that the armor and the Sword of Fangs were stolen from the land of Gwendor, an all female society.  They are kinda like technologically advanced Amazons.  The big difference is that the Valley that divides the area is also a divider between Gwendor and the City of Neros, a society of men.  Once a yearly cycle they all get in the valley and have this great madness where apparently children are conceived.  Otherwise they are very suspicious of each other and have a tortured peace.

Typical comicbook fare as Mantra fights first the Nerosians, then is sent to Gwendor, challenged by Topaz for the Sword of Fangs, and then helps protect the Gwendorians as a rogue group of Nerosians attack.  So all this leads to Lukasz losing the costume I prefer to a techno armor the Gwendorians make for him (next issue of Mantra).  Then the quest for Boneyard begins.  Many cool action scenes and less whining by Lukasz makes this a fun and good read.   This is a really well done book with nice artwork by Mark Heike.  I really like the way he draws the characters throughout.

So this is the Archimage Quest part Four and the next issue of Mantra resolves somethings that have been dangling since the very first issue.  Be here for the next Mantra Mondays for all the twists and turns.

BDS