Flashback Friday: The Incredible Hulk #250

I had been reading issues I picked up over the summer as I awaited the cash flow problems to subside and allow for new comics to read.  It brought this old gem back into my hands.  It is a strange combination when the Silver Surfer is paired with any Marvel Hero that is Earth-bound, but especially the Hulk.

This is a time when the Silver Surfer is trapped on Earth.  An invisible cosmic barrier prevents him from leaving.  It is the punishment he received from Galactus for siding against him when the Earth was on the menu.  It also provides the plot for this issue.  The Surfer seeks to add the gamma power of the Hulk to his own power cosmic to escape and soar the spaceways once more.

Bruce Banner has found peace though.  His own heroic actions placed him with a loving woman and her daughter.  Over time he has fallen in love and the Hulk has been away.  All that is at risk if he helps the Surfer, or is it?  It seems that the Surfer is able to cure Bruce and for that he is willing to gamma power the Silver Surfer.

All is set up for tradgedy.  How could it not when you have two of the most tragic characters in the Marvel Universe?  The twists and turns that occur is what makes this an excellent story.  You feel for both men as decisions are made and life is returned to a status quo neither of them wanted.  This is a great issue of The Incredible Hulk.

BDS

Flashback Fridays: The Micronauts #41

Here is an example of an impulse buy from me.  I do not collect Micronauts and paid $1.00 for this issue at the local Antiques store.  The dealer booth I found this comic in has a regular stack that I look through and think "I wish I could get that price for that issue I have."  The key in my decision to buy was one factor, I do collect Doctor Doom appearances.  These are my weakness, the stories are usually cool and interesting.  

One thing that really stands out when you read this comicbook is that you READ this comicbook.  Unlike the issues of comics today this book is filled with text along with the art.  There is something nice about that fact.  It seems lost in today's market.  Maybe a $3 and $4 price would seem less costly if there were more meat in today's books to chew on.

The team of miniature freedom fighters are in trapped exile at this point in there adventures.  Much hardship has befallen them and they appear to have just come from a conflict with the Fantastic Four.  They does lead them to the American based Castle of Dr. Doom in upstate New York.  They are trying to get shrunk back down to the Microverse so they can continue the fight against ruling class of the Microverse.  Hence the traveling to Castle Doom on the word of Ben Grimm (The Thing).

It is in the Castle that they find a miniature town wit scared people.  Freedom Fighters at the core they are ready to confront a small Doctor Doom.  It all comes from a team up that had Phillip Masters (The Puppet Master) end up Mayor and then overthrown by a Doom Robot.  The story is really neat, although it never leads to escape for the Micronauts.  It is still worth the dollar I paid.  Really this book could have been part of my Comicbook Rescue Project.

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 #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

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

Ramblings and the West Coast Avengers

 I apologize for missing Mutant X Mondays for the past coupla weeks.  Been just one of those life things.  I was kinda sick feeling last night and really only felt like doing small stuff after running errands earlier in the day.  I didn't even turn the computer on yesterday.  I am noticing people coming to the Blog and I want to say thank you.  Even though comments are not made, it is nice to see that there are page views on a daily basis.  I will try and keep content fresh.  Just know that sometimes life and health will get in the way.

As I have said, I really want to one day have all these collected posts on series runs.  One that now I can add to try and do is the West Coast Avengers, or as later known, the Avengers West Coast.  I love the Avengers in general.  The thing is that there has always been something about the West Coasters that appealed to me.  It has had most of my favorite Avengers on the team at one point or another.  That is a big plus for them.  They also were kinda like a soap opera.  The Avengers had drama, but the adventures were first and foremost.  West Coast had drama and the Adventures were many times tied to that drama.  I liked that I think.

One problem I have had in recent years is buying duplicate issues.  I realize now that I can stop doing that.  I took the box last night and went through adding the one outstanding issue it seemed I needed and have a bunch of issues for the yard sale box.  I own the complete issue run excluding a few Annuals. I didn't realize that until last night as I was sorting through.  It is cool to add another series to the completed list.

This group of Avengers was always the fun group in my opinion.  They had turmoil, but that didn't stop them from having fun.  There were dates and love affairs combined with rivalries and fights.  Redemption was a central point of this group as well.  Disgraced and fallen heroes were brought back to heroic form in this book.  If you want to collect back issues of Avengers but feel overwhelmed at the number of the Original series I suggest you collect this book.  It has 102 issues and is easily accessible in fifty cent and dollar boxes at both Flea Markets and Comic Shops.  As you read you will see some of the great names in the creators list of credits.  This would be a good book to collect a run of for reading enjoyment.  You can also add the short run title Force Works to the collecting as it is what came after the team disbanded in Issue #102.  I have all of those as well.

BDS

 

Flashback Friday: The Might Thor #353

Walt Simonson is by far the Master of Thor Comics.  His Art and Story drived this character from epic adventure to the most absurd situations.  One thing he always brought what that EPIC and IMMORTAL feel of Thor and the world he came from.  This issue is proof of that statement.  It is the culmination of a massive tale pulled from the Norse Mythology and crafted with the Marvel Universe as backdrop.  The Demon Lord Surtur has sought to light his Twilight Sword in the Eternal Flame so he can set the Universe ablaze.  It has built over multiple issues.  This tale is not unlike a great symphony with this as the climax of each note and instrument.

I dare say that an issue like this will never be seen again.  The current comicbook creators lack the ability to tell a story like this in an issue.  "The Finale Of The Surtur Saga" is across the book.  It is well and truly finished in these pages.  Today it would take five issues or more just to tell what this lone comic does.  There would not be the dialogue and really probably not be as good.

The action is almost more than the pages can hold.  We have Avengers, Asgardians, and others lead by Beta Ray Bill fighting hordes of Demons on Earth.  Johnny Storm is helping a man try and repair the Cask of Ancient Winters while battling Frost Giants and fairies.  Then there is the Battle Royal with Odin and his sons Thor and Loki battling Surtur in Asgard.  That is a tremendous fight that showcases the powers and skills of each warrior.  This is the ultimate in what Marvel was when it valued story and respected the reader.  This entire Saga is one great read, but the end is also a great stand alone.  Plus, BETA RAY BILL people.

BDS

Mutant X Mondays: Mutant X #10 & #11

 I decided to combine this week's edition and give you two issues of Mutant X.  I gave you a tease last issue so as to not really give the cliffhanger away, but as the cover shows it is Magneto and the X-Men that have come home in this alternate dimension.  Magneto is majestic on the last page of issue 9 as he tells us a little boy asked him to come and get his father.  He is no less a force as we see him stand up to the Goblin Queen in the opening pages of issue 10.

She retreats before what appears to be a strong and commanding Magneto.  We learn later that Polaris is propping up his powers with her own.  It is just her and her Dad, Magneto that saved Alex.  This deviates from the 616 Marvel Universe as there Polaris was deemed to not be Magneto's daughter.  Still Alex is faced with the image of the woman from his reality that he loves still and the man that for years he has held as an enemy prepared to take him home to his not really my son Scotty.

Oh if that were the case.  You see the Goblin Queen has now truly been able to combine the demonic life forces within her Sentinels and a light show of that power leads the trio into a trap.  Even a demonic version of the futuristic Sentinel Nimrod appears.  All would seem lost if not for the arrival of the X-Men.  Roll call is as follows; Mystique, Rogue, Nightcrawler, Quicksilver, and rounded out by the already present Polaris.  Soon Havok blasts all foes and they all escape and live to fight another day.  Or just read Issue 11 already and see what happens next.

This is a Scotty Summers issue.  It starts with him watching everyone discussing his Mom and what to do.  Soon we have Bloodstorm abducting him.  I am sure if she had not her vampiric powers Electra would have killed her.  That is one skilled nanny little Scotty has.  In the between pages we get a glimpse of Madelyne Pryor as she seems to be trying to gain the advantage over the Goblin Entity.  It is a neat concept here having this opposite to the Phoenix Force.  It is pure evil and soon we watch it consume Maddie once more, but it strikes a note of foreshadowing.

We watch as Brute comes to see Scotty and because his mind is simple maybe it is why he is the first to fight off the Goblin Queen's mind control.  Soon he is trying to get Scotty free and becomes barbecue under The Fallen's flames.  The Fallen reveals that he is operating under his own mind and tries to kill Scotty.  Iceman and Bloodstorm become clear head long enough to aid Scotty.  The Maddie appears and The Fallen is in for a world of hurt.  That is when the strange happens.  Maddie hugs her boy and sends Brute away with him before we get full Goblin Queen again.  This leads us up to a milestone issue 12 of the series.

BDS

How Do You Promote What You Don't Read

I very much have this question in mind of late.  It is something that is causing me to feel like I come off as a "Comicbook Elite" when I talk with someone about Marvel's movies.  I walked completely away from all current Marvel titles around 2007 because of the "One More Day" story in Spider-Man's books.  I thought for a long time that Marvel was going away from character driven stories to a more here is a story and let us make a character we want fit the story way of making comics.  I suffered through Civil War and then watched Spidey betray all Aunt May and Uncle Ben taught him.  I held on to one title, Nova.  That ended as the crossover event driven model began to dominate and Nova was sucked into that as well.  So I stopped reading any current Marvel.

In fact I remember reading and even listening to Joe Quesada say at HeroesCon that if I (readers) didn't like the current stories that there were plenty of back issues we could read.  I took his suggestion.  I now read plenty of DC and have my smaller press companies, but my loyalty to Marvel was broken.  The few people who know me online can attest that this was a big break for me.  Still, it brings me to my current situation.  When people know you are a comicbook collector and love comics they want to discuss the current mainstream stuff with you.  I am having problems saying no I have not seen Wolverine and not becoming Comic Book Guy from the Simpsons in qualifying why I have not seen a movie.

Even though I dislike what and where Marvel is going I do not want their films to tank as Wolverine has in terms of the market for his film compared to the first in his franchise.  I want it to help lead people to the real stories.  If people like that type of story and they start buying books it is good for the industry in my opinion.  So how do I support the industry and not support Marvel?  It is difficult.  The shear size of the behemoth that is Marvel dominates the comicbook pop culture landscape.  So I feel bad when I seem wishy washy on support to really non-comicbook fans who are trying to connect.

There is no real answer.  I just have to try and not dampen the person's interest while relaying that I am not currently reading a bunch of current Marvel.  Be polite and just steer the conversation to what they liked.  That works well.  You do not sound arrogant and along the way you can put little nuggets into the conversation by letting them know which is a long time character and which is a new for the movie character.

As for skipping Flashback Friday, well, nothing jumped out as a book to put up last Friday.  I also had given you posts during the week.  I thought letting the Greg Rucka book stay up a bit longer was better.  I hope to have Mutant Monday up today.  The pic I found and used reminded me of something I did in college.  It was the Wall O' Marvel.  I stuck Marvel trading cards on my wall and had what looked like a giant poster.  It was cool and a nice time consuming project when I was bored.

BDS

Mutant X Mondays: Mutant X #9

Back from his adventure protecting the Nexus of all Realities, Havok finds himself once again running from the jacked up Demon-Sentinels in New York.  This leads to him being swallowed by the pavement and joining the Resistance.  Not really joining, but at least accepting there invitation to hide.  It is nice that Ben Grimm will remain true to character and join up with the Mole Man even in an alternate reality.  The Resistance has been formed by the underground duo of Mole Man and Callisto.  They make an interesting match up.

Seems that the Underground as they call it has been slipping people away from the surface.  All are living in this big pit and slowly being removed to other parts of the world.  All Havok cares about now is getting home to his little boy Scotty and the hot Nanny Electra that is taking care of him.  Why the rush?  The last phone conversation was not a good one.  Something strange happened on the other end of the line.  It sets up the great cliffhanger to come.

Really this is the last issue with the Goblin Queen before it gets a bit repetitive in plot.  We have a great betrayal in this issue.  There is a horrific scarring of one character.  Ben Grimm threatens to kill Havok numerous times if he is a traitor.  Just a good roller coaster ride of an issue.  That last page is so good.  The comment made after the show of power was outstanding.

Soon we will have multiple battles with the rest of the mind controlled Six and The Fallen.  Reed Richards has been ordered to build something and use the Presidency to hasten the job.  Goblin Queen is becoming a bit of a tiresome adversary.  There is a payoff at the end of this ride, but from here on things become static.

BDS

Mutant X Monday: Mutant X 1999 Annual

The Goblin Queen has taken control of New York and the President of the United States.  She controls a hybrid Sentinel/Demon army and wants to rule the Universe.  Of course her dimensionally switched husband Havok stands in her way.  He was falling and remembers dying, but this time he remains in this alternate Universe and is pulled out of the Hudson River by the Avenger Stingray.  That was cool enough for me.  I always liked that underused character.  We have a female Yellow Jacket and that rounds out the Avengers that we know are surviving under the Goblin Queen's rule.  At least as independently thinking people.

This is an action issue that serves to accelerate a story that will drag on a bit in the monthly installments.  Havok will team up with three Avengers, Doc Sampson being included) to track down the reason that Doctor Strange is missing and the Goblin Queen wants a parcel of land in Louisiana.  The battle there reveals some cool things about this Marvel Universe.  Doctor Strange has a BIG secret that revolves around the Man-Thing and the Nexus of all Realities.  Havok will be really interested in that secret.  Nick Fury and his crazy army is under the command of the Goblin Queen.  We get some great fighting.  Just cool.

A side story is the introduction of a character called Vendetta.  Before we here a name one would think that this is the alternate version of Daredevil.  Not so as the version of Firestar lets us know his name.  They team up and end up in Washington D.C.  Vendetta uses some mind powers on the Prez and we end up with a cliffhanger of Reed Richards being the new President of the United States.  That guy is rotten and in the monthly issue that follows the story along we see that played out.

There is a statement that the foursome of Doctor Strange, Yellow Jacket, Stingray, and the green Doc Savage will become The Defenders of this Marvel Alternate Reality.  It really is a cool Annual.

BDS  

Mutant X Monday: Mutant X #8

Mutant X Mondays are back.  I am sticking with Mutant X over Mantra right now because I am missing only one issue and two annuals in completing the entire run.  I want to do this entire run look at books on here and really have the goal I always wanted when reviewing, being a place someone could look up and find out about comicbook series.

I feel a refresher might be in order to remind readers about this book.  Havok, of the main 616 Marvel Universe has fallen from seeming death into an alternate reality where he has replaced the Havok of that world.  This is a book that would be the love child of DC's Elseworlds and Marvel's What If?  that can explain how it reads.  People and things are different from what we know as continuity of the Marvel Universe.  One thing is that Havok was apparently a real jerk.  He leads the world's foremost team of heroes, The Six.  They are The Fallen (Warren Worthington or Angel), The Brute (Beast, kinda), Iceman, Bloodstorm (Storm as a Vampire), Havok's wife Madelyne Pryor rounded out by our misplaced mutant.  He has a child named Scotty and that catches things up.

When last we discussed the book Madelyne had become the Goblin Queen and begun taking over things.  She had usurped the Six and Havok grabbed Scotty and his nanny Electra and high-tailed it away from them.  They go to the X-Mansion and we meet Cerebro.  In this world Cerebro is an artificial A.I. and helps Havok find out how far the Goblin Queen has gone.  She has the White House for one thing.  She also has perverted the Sentinels and they are a mix of magic and science now.  oh, she has taken over New York as well.

Havok of course confronts her after sneaking and being discovered in New York.  He fights the Six and the Goblin Queen is his to kill.  Can he?  Well, he ends this issue like he started the series, remembering that he is falling.  It becomes a standard plot device to end the story or create tension in the series.

One big stand out here is the art of Cary Nord.  He had a great run on Mutant X.  You might know his current work on X-O Manowar.

BDS

Flashback Friday: Red Sonja She-Devil with a Sword #6

It is another Flashback Friday brought to you by the Fifty Cent buys I made on Free Comic Book Day (FCBD).  I decided to pick up Red Sonja last year because it is another book from Marvel that I see frequently at flea markets and in back issues boxes.  This issue was very cover intense.  There is a great deal going on.  It draws one's eye to it immediately.  Of course it was a quick grab for me.  

This book puts the word fantasy to shame.  It is a strange mix of wild backgrounds and weird creatures as this wild story unfolds.  There is a tower and a missing Prince.  Sonja ends up being captured and then escaping her captors in a strange way.  She stumbles across this giantess lashed to the wall and tries to free her.  Little insect creatures attack and soon we learn what fate these insects have for Red Sonja.

A big ogre type dude announces that she is to be the new queen, this is who the giantess is, special food is forced upon Sonja and it becomes an even crazier story from here own out.  Cannot say much more or I will tell the entire story.

Issue #6 was a good buy as it is the end of a saga that had been happening.  You can read this book and have closure.  The other Red Sonja I bought was the start of a story and now one I hope to find out what happens in its following issues.  Pure fantasy and swordplay describes this great old school Marvel book.

BDS

Iron Man 3 at 9 PM

I know, I used an image from the Avengers movie promos last year, eh, still awesome.  Anyway, I am going to a special showing in about three hours to see one of my favorites group of characters.  I am not thrilled with the Iron Patriot armor, but overall I am looking forward to the film.  It has been a well done franchise.  Downey Jr. and Paltrow are just awesome and I am excited to see the Mandarin's rings in action.

It has been a rough month for me emotionally and I need a bit of escapism as the roller coaster does not appear to be stopping anytime soon.  Iron Man is one of the best characters ever thought up and this seems like a great way to start the summer movie season.

BDS 

Flashback Friday: The Spectacular Spider-Man #196

"The Death of Vermin"

Some background is due on this book.  A man we know has what could best be called an old home place.  The house id now used to store feed and farm items.  The family was cleaning out the place a bit and the man gave me a few comics from the place.  They were in really good condition considering that mice or other stuff could have attacked the books.  This one was part of re-reading those books this week.

Now Vermin is best described as a Rat version of DC's Man-Bat in my opinion.  Different origins, but similar mindsets are shared.  Vermin is a character I read in a few Spidey titles around this period.  Spectacular was not one I collected from the shop so I was not familiar with this story.  The characters I was acquainted with however.  Dr. Kafka is one that would play a role in helping Spidey as he had dealings with disturbed patients.  Here is the seed for her institute that I would read about in AMAZING.  Baron Zemo is the big bad.  He has made people become these hideous experiments, Vermin being one.

Vermin at times is mindless and at other times almost aware.  That is the case here.  We get a great look at Zemo's insanity and need to understand humanity and heroes.  He even takes Spidey's mask and wears it near the end.  The ultimate victory and the "death" are well devised.  It really is a strong finish to what might be a great three part story.  I will probably keep an eye out for issues #194 & #195.

All in all a great read.  Not sure what the status is in the current Marvel U. for Vermin, because I do not purchase any new titles from Marvel.  Vermin might be leading the Avengers the way they have been going recently.  That is why Flashback Fridays are important.  I hope to lead you to a better day of Marvel, where heroes were not so disregarded in their characterization.

BDS  

Flashback Friday: Marvel Fanfare #8

            I just picked this comic up the other day.  A new store called Five Below has opened in a nearby city and it is what it claims, everything is $5 or below.  This comicbook was part of a bundle that sold for $4 and contained four comics.  I picked up the DCnU Justice League #8 in this bundle.  Some will be given as Trick or Treat treats.  I saved on cover price as this book sold for $1.50 back in 1983.  There must have just been a price increase as the inside cover has a tongue and cheek apology/explanation as to why it was increased.  Better paper seems the main selling point, also the need to pay to get top notch writers and artist.  Whatever, not my concern as it was bought as a back issue.

            The book contains two stories.  The first is a tale of the Master of the Mystic Arts.  It starts out with a man named Jim Mandarin and his love Meredith.  They are a nice couple that seems ordinary enough, even if she is painting Jim as the true Doctor Strange atop a medieval stallion.  Soon Jim is checking out a new book he bought.  He tries to do a spell and thinks nothing happens.  It becomes all too clear that he has succeeded in summoning something and it captures him and they both disappear.

            That is when Meredith heads to find Doctor Strange.  It is interesting seeing her seek out the Sanctum of Dr. Strange.  If her plight was not so serious it would almost be comical.  She does arrive and the adventure begins.  Strange, Meredith and Wong end up drawn into a different dimension where Jim is the servant of an evil force of darkness.  It is even more powerful then Dr. Strange.  Thanks to Meredith the man she loves breaks free of the Darkness and she is able to bring her painting to life.  Dr. Strange combines Jim and himself to make a dual person that can face the Darkness.

            Jim had been turned away by Dr. Strange.  After this battle he begins to reconsider his decision.  All and all this is a nice little story.

            The second story is the beginning of what we all know as The Jungle Book.  Written by Rudyard Kipling and popularized by Disney, this is a familiar tale.  Gil Kane writes and draws the tale.  It really is beautiful.  This covers the initial finding and adoption of Mowgli by the Wolf Pack.  It is cool seeing realistic animals in the roles.  The society they have created is cool as well.  This is a great back-up piece.

A cool bit of art wraps up this comicbook.  It is a Bill Sienkiewicz portfolio that includes the following; Dazzler, Doctor Strange (conjuring a vampire bunny?), Hulk, Shanna the She-Devil, and Thor.  Thor as the goofiest smile on his face and I really dislike that pic.  These are really neat, plus they ran short a few pages so we get this instead.  Still, would have been upset paying full price and having six pages of filler.

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

Flashback Fridays: The Ballad Of Beta Ray Bill TPB

     I found this Trade Paper Back at HeroesCon, at my own Comic Shop's booth.  It was well worth the five bucks I paid for it.  I have had one of the issues of this story for a long time.  It is the part where Odin creates the new Hammer Stormbreaker for Beta Ray Bill.  This is a cool old school Marvel tale brought to us by the excellent Walter Simonson.  His art and story are what I grew up on as a comicbook reader.  This was Thor in all the majesty and golden realm glamor.

     It starts with a threat from the stars and Nick Fury abducting Dr. Donald Blake to get Thor.  Soon Thor is enlisted to aid Fury and company.  From the initial investigation in space a battle in happening as a crash occurs and the alien craft now lies on Earth.  Thor meets  the craft's champion and in battle the Hammer of Thor changes the alien Beta Ray Bill.  A summons by Odin brings Bill to Asgard and strands Donald Blake on Earth unable to become Thor.


     This book has everything.  The Lady Sif plays a big part in this story and even a romance blossoms for her.  Odin plays a major part by realizing the honor of Bill and the dire need of his people in a space convoy.  These demons are chasing them after decimating the home planet.  Everyone except Bill is placed in suspended animation.  Beta Ray Bill is genetically changed and forever separated from his people, yet he is there to protect them.  All this leads to a great test of Thor and Bill as Odin decides if Mjolnir can belong to Bill through his twice defeat of Thor.  It is a great fight that shows the good being that Bill is as an living being.


     Events are foreshadowed here for a major Asgardian battle with a creature of their mythology.  It is also the start of another Loki  scheme that will play out to the heart break of the Lady Sif in some ways.  She is great here.  She even takes on a quest for Odin while Bill and Thor are laid up from their battle to decide who gets the Hammer.  Odin however has another idea.  When Sif wins her challenge, Odin is granted the making of a second Hammer.  The Dwarves fire up the metal works and Odin provides the power and Stormbreaker is created.  Now there are two beings with the power of Thor.  They take off in Thor's chariot pulled by his two rams.  I kid you not.  That is how Sif, Bill, and Thor take off to battle.

     Soon Bill's ship Skuttlebutt finds Sif fighting hordes of demons and the two make a desperate stand to protect the convey.  Bill and Thor travel to Bill' planet to find a portal has been created out of the planet and these demons are flowing from it.  It is a cool fight and way to win the battle.  This is just a great and well told story.  So many twist and turns while laying the groundwork for future stories.  You also read this book.  Lots of words.  It is really one of the classic stories and classic styles of Marvel back when it was just an amazing place to visit.

     This was a great buy at HeroesCon.

BDS

Mutant X Mondays: (Double Feature) Mutant X # 6 & Mutant X #7

MUTANT X #6

     I wanted to catch up a bit and decided that I should give you two issues today.  It works because the focus of the book focuses from here own out around the rise of the Goblin Queen.  Madelyne has become possessed it seems, at least we are hoping that is the case.  She is seen as the powerful evil Queen and then in glimpses we see the loving mother of little Scotty.  She has manipulated the Brute into taking the fall for her murder of the Green Goblin and Man-Spider.  Now the world is having tension around the Mutant issue that had been settled in this Universe.

     This issue is wordy and moves the plot along, but is is quick and disjointed.  It does show us some old Marvel mainstays like Matt Murdock (lawyer), Bullseye, Electra (Nanny extraordinaire!), and an alive Man-Spider (Spider-Man).  What we see is how the Goblin Queen can humble the haughty Fallen (Warren Worthington III) and bring him under control.  It shows how brutal this character can be.  That will lead into what follows in the expanding story.  Her evil even brings about the Brute speaking as Dr. McCoy and asking to be executed as a murderer.

 

 MUTANT X #7

    What?  Last issue we had the Brute ask to be executed.  We open here to Alex, Scotty, and Electra in a convertible cruising down a desert highway.  This is standard in this book, pulling a time shift and letting the reader fill in the gaps, but this one seems too much.  When collecting the issues like I am and have it makes you wonder about the continuity.  Still, it is a cool issue.

     One can see that Electra and Alex are forming a bond.  We also can tell the depth of Electra's devotion as protector of little Scotty.  Some awesome artwork is shown here when Electra has to throw down, but I am ahead of the story.  What we get is a shifting tale of Havok on the run and the rest of the Six facing an enemy of great power.  Bloodstorm is taken down easily by we will learn is the Goblin Queen.  As Iceman enters the scene and tries to aid Bloodstorm, she claims that there is an evil stronger than we the readers suspect.  She urges Bobby to run and warn Havok for the sake of every soul on Earth.  He doesn't and soon there is a group of Five waiting to be Six again.

     Yes, I said Five.  Apparently Havok and Electra saw Hank be executed and yet he is alive and sent by the Goblin Queen for Scotty.  The employees of the Diner the trio stop at turn into demons and then hordes of demons attack.  That was the fight scene I mentioned earlier.  Brute doesn't take Scotty, but reminds Alex what happened the last time someone tried to take Scotty from her.  This is something that happened before our Alex landed in this Universe.  It is also the time and place that Madelyne made the deal that has now come to be her undoing as payment comes due.  She is now controlled by the Goblin Queen and the world is in big trouble.  I will say, the explanation of what the Goblin Queen is makes one really like this alternate world.

BDS

Heroes Con 2012 Saturday Pictures