Pick of the Brown Bag
September 25, 2019
by
Ray Tate
Welcome to the Pick of the Brown Bag. If you need just a thumbs up/thumbs down type of review, the tweets are already up and running: #PickoftheBrownBag. This week I look at Batgirl, Detective Comics, Ghost-Spider, Gods and Gears, John Carter Warlord of Mars Attacks, Margo Intergalactic Garbage Collector, Marvel Team-Up, Omni, Red Hood, Red Sonja and Vampirella Meet Betty and Veronica, Scooby-Doo Team-Up and The Wolverine Annual.
Spare me your Carnage crossovers. Give me more Acts of Evil annuals. These one-shots are based on the premise of selecting a hero, boiling her down to her essence and pitting her against an unfamiliar villain. No current continuity to worry about. I love it. Ms. Marvel vs Super-Skrull, Moon Knight vs. Kang the Conqueror, Spider-Gwen vs. Arcade, She-Hulk vs Bullseye. Now from Doctor Who’s Jody Houser, Wolverine vs. Morgan Le Fay.
The story begins in Wolverine’s present day, where we get a sudden Spider-Man and Wolverine team-up.
Oooo. Could this be the machinations of Omega Level Mutant Wind-X? Doesn't matter. The duo make short work of the collector figurines. No high fives though. Wolverine heads off in a huff because "he's got places to be." Specifically, a senior living home.
This is not going to be like the Peggy Carter and Captain America reunion in 1970s Avengers comics.
I remember reading a Chris Claremont and/or John Byrne interview before Marvel established Wolverine's immortality. One or both of the talents always intended for Wolverine to be older than he looked. Perhaps not eternal.
They planned a story where Captain America recognized him as an ally from World War II. So even if I never read the whole business pertaining to Wolverine's longevity, I get it and accept it as a modification on the basic premise.
They planned a story where Captain America recognized him as an ally from World War II. So even if I never read the whole business pertaining to Wolverine's longevity, I get it and accept it as a modification on the basic premise.
Wolverine seeks to atone for a mistake he made years ago. The lion’s share of the tale occurs in the 1950s in the hey day of motion pictures. Logan sparks a romance with budding young actress Celia.
She finds fame and fortune, but her ambition leads to a ruthless change in character. She breaks up with Logan. Broken hearted, he simply finds construction work at the studio. So he can still be close to her.
If Logan were a normal human being I would say that he stalked Celia, but Logan isn't. I suspect his eternal nature gives him a skewed sense of time. As the story continues, Celia lures Logan to what appears to be one of those backroom Hollywood Satanic cults that conspiracy nuts always talk about, but it's much worse than that.
If Logan were a normal human being I would say that he stalked Celia, but Logan isn't. I suspect his eternal nature gives him a skewed sense of time. As the story continues, Celia lures Logan to what appears to be one of those backroom Hollywood Satanic cults that conspiracy nuts always talk about, but it's much worse than that.
The Wolverine Annual is elegant and straightforward with a several good twists. Houser benefit from an underplayed visual narrative by Geraldo Borges, Marcio Menyz and Miroslav Mrva.
The quiet scenes build up to an explosive climax even better than what's on the cover. If you’re a fan of either/both Wolverine or/and Morgan Le Fay you won’t be disappointed.
The quiet scenes build up to an explosive climax even better than what's on the cover. If you’re a fan of either/both Wolverine or/and Morgan Le Fay you won’t be disappointed.
Ghost-Spider starts out as a average day in the life of Gwen Stacy alias Spider-Gwen alias Spider-Woman. J. Jonah Jameson springing his son is the first ripple.
Yup. No use protecting the secret. He was all over the covers anyhow. Man-Wolf went real bad in Gwen's universe. Whereas John Jameson was the innocent victim of a parasitic gem turning him into the Man-Wolf. Here, he’s an articulate lycanthrope with eyes on crime.
The running gag in Spider-Gwen and Ghost Spider is that web-slingers temporarily lose their powers when making dimensional hops. This power-loss shouldn't be a shock to Gwen.
Gwen's powers began just as Into the Spiderverse detailed. Bitten by a radioactive spider she gained all the complement abilities of an arachnid. She lost those talents and started using a drug to mimic her original gamut. That wasn't an acceptable solution, but she soon found a gestalt Symbiote that bonded with her. Now they grant her the webs of the spider.
As you can see this is a very laid back issue of Ghost Spider, but don't you worry. It's not all about making new friends and fitting into college on another earth. It's also about hitting bad people and a special guest villain who makes a startling entrance juiced to the fullest by artist Takeshi Miyazawa.
Ms. Marvel and Captain Marvel teamed up to suss out a technology thief. It turned out to be Walter Lawson dressed in Kree uniform. Lawson intends to lure the Kree to earth in order to wreak his vengeance. Captain Marvel is down with that. Ms. Marvel not so much.
Marvel Team-Up is simply bad. I’ve already discussed the number one reason. Walter Lawson. Even if I accept Lawson at his word, which let me be perfectly clear, I do not, Carol lacks a reason to trust this lunatic. She cultivated a friendship with Captain Mar-Vell. Emotions don't just turn on a dime. Carol also should have no beef with the Kree. The Kree never did anything to Carol Danvers to warrant her resentment.
Marvel Team-Up is simply bad. I’ve already discussed the number one reason. Walter Lawson. Even if I accept Lawson at his word, which let me be perfectly clear, I do not, Carol lacks a reason to trust this lunatic. She cultivated a friendship with Captain Mar-Vell. Emotions don't just turn on a dime. Carol also should have no beef with the Kree. The Kree never did anything to Carol Danvers to warrant her resentment.
Wait, says you. Are you mad? Not at all. This is not cinematic Carol Danvers. She was never betrayed by the Kree. I don’t think she ever set foot on either Kree home world.
Only a handful of Kree meant to do Carol harm. In a pivotal issue of Ms. Marvel, the Supreme Intelligence sends Ronan the Accuser to abduct Carol Danvers. She’s what he’s been looking for forever; the solution to Kree evolutionary stagnation. The Intelligence is a sentient A.I. that’s above the Kree. Ronan is his thug. Lots of people dislike Ronan the Accuser, but they don't blame the Kree for him. Dr. Minerva is also causing trouble in Kelly Thompson's run of Captain Marvel, but Dr. Minerva is a mad scientist. She doesn't represent the norm of the Kree. Your average Kree is like your average Roman soldier. Bellicose? Sure. Unreasonable? Dependent on the individual.
I would give McElroy credit for creating a branch of Kree seeking to preserve fair judicial conduct, but they're more of a plot device to artificially contrast Lawson's obsession and fan the flames of Carol's newfound prejudice. McElroy is far more focused on dismantling the legacy of Captain Mar-Vell and demonstrating his poor understanding of Kree history, biology and gadgetry.
I would give McElroy credit for creating a branch of Kree seeking to preserve fair judicial conduct, but they're more of a plot device to artificially contrast Lawson's obsession and fan the flames of Carol's newfound prejudice. McElroy is far more focused on dismantling the legacy of Captain Mar-Vell and demonstrating his poor understanding of Kree history, biology and gadgetry.
Mar-Vell became super powered via his experiences and technology not through native Kree ability. For example, a character named Eon gifted Cosmic Awareness to Mar-Vell.
The Psyche-Magnetron rebuilt Carol Danvers based on this template of Captain Mar-Vell. First it metamorphosed Carol into a human/Kree amalgam. I would say hybrid, but that’s not biologically accurate. Despite being a Kree/human amalgam, Carol at this stage possessed no powers.
Carol still incubated. In fact, Carol didn’t know she was Ms. Marvel. She believed she experienced blackouts. In reality, the Psyche-Magnetron used Nega-Energy to teleport and fit a costume it designed for her.
The costume duplicated the powers she would eventually possess. The Nega-Energy also broke the Ms. Marvel personality from Carol until she could fully accept her dual selves.
Even so, Carol is more than Kree and more than human. Using the Nega-Energy siphoned from the Nega Bands, the machine made her into a female counterpart of Captain Mar-Vell. So Carol is more powerful than a Kree. She is more powerful than Captain Mar-Vell when he first arrived on earth.
Carol still incubated. In fact, Carol didn’t know she was Ms. Marvel. She believed she experienced blackouts. In reality, the Psyche-Magnetron used Nega-Energy to teleport and fit a costume it designed for her.
The costume duplicated the powers she would eventually possess. The Nega-Energy also broke the Ms. Marvel personality from Carol until she could fully accept her dual selves.
Even so, Carol is more than Kree and more than human. Using the Nega-Energy siphoned from the Nega Bands, the machine made her into a female counterpart of Captain Mar-Vell. So Carol is more powerful than a Kree. She is more powerful than Captain Mar-Vell when he first arrived on earth.
Lawson rebuilds a Psyche-Magnetron. A dubious claim. He envisions using it to nullify Kree powers, including those of Carol Danvers. The machine however can’t simply strip away the powers another model catalyzed. It doesn’t/can’t work that way. It's not magic. It's advanced technology.
Even though the Psyche-Magnetron fulfills the user's dreams, it still must adhere to reality. The best it could do is begin the process of recreating Carol as a full human. Carol would still be Captain Marvel for the interim. She would gradually lose her abilities. She would likely still have the strength of a female weightlifter, the stamina of an Olympian. As to the Kree. The machine should not affect them at all. They are in fact already human. Albeit blue. On earth, the lower gravity gives them an edge. If it did work, If you used the machine to alter their physiognomy, you would simply create an army of extremely skilled warriors that can't lift a half a ton or so but can do five hundred quite nicely. You would have to reshape them into ectomorphs. It just gets overly complicated. Suffice to say. It can't be done even if you write it to be so.
The fact of the matter is that this entire story serves only two purposes: to destroy the heroism of Captain Mar-Vell and to strip Carol Danvers’ of her intellect.
Double threat writer/artist Jim Whiting introduces Margo the Intergalactic Trash Collector. Now to be sure, this is not a new concept.
My beloved Quark broke the ground, but it's definitely not an oft-used concept. Margo furthermore enjoys an unlimited special effects budget represented by illustration that's a cross between Kirby and Tank Girl.
Margo works for IWM, Intergalactic Waste Management. We first find Margo in dire-straits.
Margo's intelligence, coolness and skill saves the day. This is what I'd hoped the comic book would be. First don't knock custodians. They clean up after us efficiently and mostly behind the scenes. I expected that a future trash collector would have future knowledge, and Margo Intergalactic Trash Collector doesn't disappoint. She's a pilot. She's an engineer. She's a woman with agency.
A future custodian that traveled through time and space could easily rule this world, but that's not what we're aiming for here. Whiting's book is pure pulp science fiction.
The brush with death and inundation of outdated parts inspires Margo to seek shore leave. She uses her mother's influence to sway her commander's opinion about the holiday, or so she thinks.
That "No Return Directive" is gong to cause Margo a lot of problems. Our mystery blob resembles the Imperious Leader from classic Battlestar Galactica. Good thing as far as I'm concerned. I generally like updated nostalgia.
The nefarious schemes befit men of power, and you realize that Margo isn't really a comedy like Quark. There are funny bits, but this is more adventurous.
Still under the impression that she really is on shore leave, Margo takes on the hottest new club in the universe. To say she's disappointed is an understatement.
The Commander however positioned her there to meet an alien she refers to as the dwarf. Real name Porthos. At first she thinks he's hitting on her. The fellow however has dishonorable intentions.
That was a very nice depiction of sleight of hand. You also don't expect it from what appears to be a clumsy looking alien with thick fingers.
The device the dwarf pockets leads to he and Margo becoming pawns in a chess game played by their terrible bosses and a fundamentalist cult that worships Glom. You see that White Trees? You can make up names that sound good and carry weight to them.
The conflict leads to Margo displaying her action-chops, but a surprise encounter with a seemingly innocuous device culminates in an unfortunate event.
Believe it or not, Whiting still has more in store for the reader. The device Porthos the Dwarf planted in Margo's cloak, isn't a McGuffin. Its nature fuels the last act.
My beloved Quark broke the ground, but it's definitely not an oft-used concept. Margo furthermore enjoys an unlimited special effects budget represented by illustration that's a cross between Kirby and Tank Girl.
Margo works for IWM, Intergalactic Waste Management. We first find Margo in dire-straits.
Margo's intelligence, coolness and skill saves the day. This is what I'd hoped the comic book would be. First don't knock custodians. They clean up after us efficiently and mostly behind the scenes. I expected that a future trash collector would have future knowledge, and Margo Intergalactic Trash Collector doesn't disappoint. She's a pilot. She's an engineer. She's a woman with agency.
A future custodian that traveled through time and space could easily rule this world, but that's not what we're aiming for here. Whiting's book is pure pulp science fiction.
The brush with death and inundation of outdated parts inspires Margo to seek shore leave. She uses her mother's influence to sway her commander's opinion about the holiday, or so she thinks.
That "No Return Directive" is gong to cause Margo a lot of problems. Our mystery blob resembles the Imperious Leader from classic Battlestar Galactica. Good thing as far as I'm concerned. I generally like updated nostalgia.
The nefarious schemes befit men of power, and you realize that Margo isn't really a comedy like Quark. There are funny bits, but this is more adventurous.
Still under the impression that she really is on shore leave, Margo takes on the hottest new club in the universe. To say she's disappointed is an understatement.
The Commander however positioned her there to meet an alien she refers to as the dwarf. Real name Porthos. At first she thinks he's hitting on her. The fellow however has dishonorable intentions.
That was a very nice depiction of sleight of hand. You also don't expect it from what appears to be a clumsy looking alien with thick fingers.
The device the dwarf pockets leads to he and Margo becoming pawns in a chess game played by their terrible bosses and a fundamentalist cult that worships Glom. You see that White Trees? You can make up names that sound good and carry weight to them.
The conflict leads to Margo displaying her action-chops, but a surprise encounter with a seemingly innocuous device culminates in an unfortunate event.
Believe it or not, Whiting still has more in store for the reader. The device Porthos the Dwarf planted in Margo's cloak, isn't a McGuffin. Its nature fuels the last act.
Betty and Veronica investigate murders in Riverdale. During their snooping, they bump into Vampirella and Red Sonja who became interested due to the apparent Cult of Chaos involvement. And the loss of innocent life. Amy Chu presents Vampirella and Red Sonja as white hat heroes. Weird white hat heroes, but white hats nonetheless.
Betty asked third tier Archie Comics character Dilton to help her with some research. That's when somebody turned out Dilton's lights.
In this issue, Chu reveals the true culprit behind the murders, and if you've been paying attention, you'll know whodunnit. The murders' connection to Archie Comics is harder to dope out. Not due to the unfamiliarity with the brand but in the very sneaky way Chu hid the clues.
If the mystery elements fail to float your boat, you may enjoy Chu's characterization of the star quartet. Betty and Veronica are affectionate toward Dilton.
They actually care about him and remind the reader that these aren't just bodies falling to the ground but their friends and acquaintances.
Alternately Vampirella and Red Sonja are the professionals. They're the Avengers, out to rid Riverdale of the scourge. They set about guarding Dilton who naturally becomes bait. Chu can't help but put in more clues during the fight.
Vampirella is an alien vampire. What can be as fast as she? Yet, the Cult doesn't appear to match what we know of the Chaos worshippers, nor do they harbor the strength and stamina of creatures. What indeed.
Betty asked third tier Archie Comics character Dilton to help her with some research. That's when somebody turned out Dilton's lights.
In this issue, Chu reveals the true culprit behind the murders, and if you've been paying attention, you'll know whodunnit. The murders' connection to Archie Comics is harder to dope out. Not due to the unfamiliarity with the brand but in the very sneaky way Chu hid the clues.
If the mystery elements fail to float your boat, you may enjoy Chu's characterization of the star quartet. Betty and Veronica are affectionate toward Dilton.
They actually care about him and remind the reader that these aren't just bodies falling to the ground but their friends and acquaintances.
Alternately Vampirella and Red Sonja are the professionals. They're the Avengers, out to rid Riverdale of the scourge. They set about guarding Dilton who naturally becomes bait. Chu can't help but put in more clues during the fight.
Vampirella is an alien vampire. What can be as fast as she? Yet, the Cult doesn't appear to match what we know of the Chaos worshippers, nor do they harbor the strength and stamina of creatures. What indeed.
The second issue of Omni is lot less hectic and Sherlock. It's the issue that starts to carve out the central character's uniqueness. A cartoon explains the gist for people who missed the premier, and then we get to Dr. Cecilia Cobbina, her assistant Mae, and innocent victim of the Ignition Antony.
That's no lie. Though the police take Antony into custody, Cecilia makes a series of incremental moves adding up to consensus comprehension. Whereas the premiere of Omni was rather po-faced, this issue lightens up. Devin Grayson finds comedy in the strategy Cecilia uses and the fact that she's tight-lipped about her plans.
Another moment of comedy occurs when Cecilia begins to think more things out rapid fire but in the process totally ignores Mae. Mae believes Cecilia has evolved beyond her, but she's not insensitive to Mae's feelings. She's just overwhelmed by the data of her mind.
That's no lie. Though the police take Antony into custody, Cecilia makes a series of incremental moves adding up to consensus comprehension. Whereas the premiere of Omni was rather po-faced, this issue lightens up. Devin Grayson finds comedy in the strategy Cecilia uses and the fact that she's tight-lipped about her plans.
Another moment of comedy occurs when Cecilia begins to think more things out rapid fire but in the process totally ignores Mae. Mae believes Cecilia has evolved beyond her, but she's not insensitive to Mae's feelings. She's just overwhelmed by the data of her mind.
Batgirl is a mess. New kid on the block Cecil Castelucci attempts to touch every ball in the air that the Powers That Be are juggling. With the exception of Doomsday Clock. Because nobody knows if and when that story will end, nor can they guess if there will be any ramifications.
This is mostly a Year of the Villain storyline. Lex Luthor is teleporting here and there to give villains gifts. These gifts will either grant them their greatest desires or beef them up to fight their nemeses. Sometimes both.
Everybody knows that Babs Gordon assumed the identity Oracle when she was crippled for twenty-five years real time. As Oracle Babs dug up information for superheroes. That’s it. So, for the life of me, I can’t figure out why she’’s trying to restore the Oracle Program. The scene does though give us her best green-eyed moment.
Yeah. I hate the green eyes on Babs. Already said. Anyway. Babs was Oracle. If she created a program, it was just a database and an avatar. It wasn’t A.I. sentient or otherwise.
Everybody knows that Babs Gordon assumed the identity Oracle when she was crippled for twenty-five years real time. As Oracle Babs dug up information for superheroes. That’s it. So, for the life of me, I can’t figure out why she’’s trying to restore the Oracle Program. The scene does though give us her best green-eyed moment.
Yeah. I hate the green eyes on Babs. Already said. Anyway. Babs was Oracle. If she created a program, it was just a database and an avatar. It wasn’t A.I. sentient or otherwise.
Okay. So let's just really grasp at straws. Maybe somebody created an android. Let's say Doc Magnus. Because that's what he does.
He abandons the droid... for some reason. Another person comes along, finds the android and downloads Babs' database into the robot. Let's say...Frankly. I'm coming up blank on this one.
Then Luthor comes along and imbued sentience to the droid. I think that he thinks Oracle was always this thing. That just about works. In the slimmest confluence of all possibilities.
He abandons the droid... for some reason. Another person comes along, finds the android and downloads Babs' database into the robot. Let's say...Frankly. I'm coming up blank on this one.
TBD
Then Luthor comes along and imbued sentience to the droid. I think that he thinks Oracle was always this thing. That just about works. In the slimmest confluence of all possibilities.
Also annoying, ripping off Person of Interest. Person of Interest is light years ahead of this dreck, and I shouldn't be connecting this perfect show to faulty wiring. But yeah, Oracle runs multiple simulations, like The Machine, in which she combats crimefighters.
If she knows she’s a crimefighting robot, why can’t she dope out not to hurt crimefighters? Why does she ally with people she recognized as criminals? So many questions. No answers.
In other parts of Batgirl, Castelluci positions Jason Bard to be the love interest, with Babs commenting on "his nice eyes."
The square from the1960s returned to modern times in Batman Eternal, which is canonical to Batgirl. Let me remind you what happened.
Jason Bard obsessed over the death of his red-headed partner/lover in Detroit. He framed Commissioner Gordon for gross negligence thereby confining him to prison. He assumed Commissioner Gordon's role then outlawed the Batman Family. He attempted to kill Batman, blowing up the Batmobile in the process. Jason celebrated the death of Batman by trying to talk his way into Vicki Vale's skirt. Bullock and the rest of the cops left in disgust.
The surprisingly spry dead Batman punched Jason in the face, just like Vicki Vale predicted.
What a prize. This nice-eyed piece of shit wannabe Batman killer.
Last but not least, for the rotting cherry on top, Castelluci mentions the Batman Who Laughed business that's going to make most of DC's comic books unreadable in the months ahead. Batgirl is one of the stupidest things I've read in awhile.
The square from the1960s returned to modern times in Batman Eternal, which is canonical to Batgirl. Let me remind you what happened.
Jason Bard obsessed over the death of his red-headed partner/lover in Detroit. He framed Commissioner Gordon for gross negligence thereby confining him to prison. He assumed Commissioner Gordon's role then outlawed the Batman Family. He attempted to kill Batman, blowing up the Batmobile in the process. Jason celebrated the death of Batman by trying to talk his way into Vicki Vale's skirt. Bullock and the rest of the cops left in disgust.
The surprisingly spry dead Batman punched Jason in the face, just like Vicki Vale predicted.
What a prize. This nice-eyed piece of shit wannabe Batman killer.
Last but not least, for the rotting cherry on top, Castelluci mentions the Batman Who Laughed business that's going to make most of DC's comic books unreadable in the months ahead. Batgirl is one of the stupidest things I've read in awhile.
Lex Luthor contacted the Red Hood to become teacher to future super-villains. Little does Luthor know that the Red Hood is a ruse. The Red Hood is Jason Todd former Robin to Batman. Jason simply wants to make certain that these kids live through their growing pains. Also along for the ride Scott Lobdell’s and Kenneth Rocafort’s creation Dr. Shay Veritas.
The story pits the kids against Doomsday Jr. Because these kids are super-villains in training, Rocafort’s emphasizes their nightmarish aspects.
Rocafort got a lot of online heat due to his style of illustrating Starfire, but this should settle matters about his skills.
Rocafort got a lot of online heat due to his style of illustrating Starfire, but this should settle matters about his skills.
Nothing sexy or exploitative about that.
The very first Scooby-Doo team-op that’s actually canonical to Scooby-Doo Where Are You occurred with Batman and Robin. A pair of skeletons were scaring people. These turned out to be the Joker and the Penguin. They were looking for buried loot or something. Not exactly a murderous affair, but it’s a kids show.
The final issue of Scooby-Doo Team-Up celebrates the event with a fiftieth anniversary hosted by Bat-Mite and Scooby-Mite. The number and anniversary reflects the run of Scooby-Doo Team-Up not the actual date of the broadcast.
Writer Sholly Fisch and artist Dario Brizuela introduced Batman as the first co-star in the book. It’s a nice elliptical idea that the concept of partnering Scooby and the Gang with celebrities and icons began with Batman and Robin, and they end on the partnership with Batman and Robin.
The story begins with the Dynamic Duo battling a goofy villain that’s actually from the silly 1950s era of the Caped Crusaders.
The villain seems to get the better of our heroes but he didn’t expect the involvement of Freddie and Mystery Inc.
Neither did Batman, who in a call back to the last season of Super-Friends, chastises Robin.
Needless to say, Robin is innocent of the infarction, but before they can debate, Elseworld Batmen show up.
Followed by Elseworld Scoobies.
It's a shame that Dario Brizuela doesn't contribute to the issue, but Scott Jeralds does a good job of capturing all the myriad versions of the cast.
I do wish that DC sprang for an extra larger size for the comic book to better the detail. The photography her is often too small.
The celebration continues with the ultimate foe. Not Moriarty. Somebody far, far worse.
He as well though isn't what he seems, and I don't just mean the manifestation of Bat-Mite's and Scooby-Mite's 5th Dimension advanced science. The final issue of Scooby-Doo Team-Up is a delight for Batman and Scooby-Doo fans, especially those that sampled every incarnation of Scooby-Doo even the bad ones; when Scooby-Doo was bad it was very bad.
I do wish that DC sprang for an extra larger size for the comic book to better the detail. The photography her is often too small.
The celebration continues with the ultimate foe. Not Moriarty. Somebody far, far worse.
He as well though isn't what he seems, and I don't just mean the manifestation of Bat-Mite's and Scooby-Mite's 5th Dimension advanced science. The final issue of Scooby-Doo Team-Up is a delight for Batman and Scooby-Doo fans, especially those that sampled every incarnation of Scooby-Doo even the bad ones; when Scooby-Doo was bad it was very bad.
After what seems like a lifetime of cover teases, Mr. Freeze takes his place as the main villain in Detective Comics.
The story begins like Batman Sub-Zero. Mr. Freeze attempts to revive his frozen wife Nora by kidnapping women. These women unlike Barbara Gordon aren’t meant to be donators of body parts.
Though the story ties in with Year of the Villain, it's links are slight. Luthor gifted Mr. Freeze with a means of thawing Nora. Freeze however doesn't trust Luthor and seeks to test the miracle before risking Nora's life.
Though Mr. Freeze kills more women than a giallo does, he does not actually hate women. He’s obsessed with bringing Nora back from the brink of death. If he had emotions, he might express remorse for in what his mind must be done. I’m presuming that this version of Mr. Freeze is in fact identical to the creation in Batman the Animated Series.
Though Mr. Freeze kills more women than a giallo does, he does not actually hate women. He’s obsessed with bringing Nora back from the brink of death. If he had emotions, he might express remorse for in what his mind must be done. I’m presuming that this version of Mr. Freeze is in fact identical to the creation in Batman the Animated Series.
Peter Tomasi on the other hand generates that animosity in Mr. Freeze’s men. They have no excuse for their actions.
One of the victims gets away, and her escape attracts the attention of Batman.
Freeze chastises the man who made the fateful decision and sends the others back to finish the job. Mr. Freeze cannot afford loose ends. Although a good tactician, Mr. Freeze's arrogance trips him up with this bad strategy. Freeze's error allows for a dynamite cliffhanger by Doug Mahnke, Jaime Mendoza and David Baron.
The idea of mixing hocus-pocus and Eliot Ness is a mad original idea. Still if you would have told me it would work this well, I wouldn’t have believed you. Yet Tommy Gun Wizards does just that.
Reflecting real history, Eliot Ness declares war on Al Capone and the mob. Unlike history, Ness and his crew of Untouchables fight the import of magic and the sorcerers that use arcane knowledge. Also unlike history, Eliot Ness is a wizard.
The story begins before the Volstead Act banned magic. A sorceress named Candice arrives to entice men and women to the wonders of fantasy. She takes a young man to the Curtain Room.
There we encounter Eliot Ness. He’s just having a little Lick, the stuff that empowers the magic. Candice reveals where the Lick originates, and fantasy becomes horrific.
This is where Eliot Ness becomes an enemy of magic. The story skips ahead to an Untouchables raid of a corrupt church. Eliot is late to the party, but he knows how to make an entrance.
A lot of people believe Eliot Ness to be an exaggerated figure, and he’d probably be the first to agree with you, but Ness was the real deal. So watching him act like an action hero makes perfect sense. This however is only round one.
Al Capone uses magic to lord over Ness and the Untouchables. It’s the kind of showy nonsense you expect from Capone. With the festivities announced, the guests arrive.
It’s the Untouchables vs. magical super-villains. This is not a one-sided fight. Even without Eliot Ness magic user at the fore.
Writer Jeff Parker presents a quantum state planet in which the observer John Carter determines the nature of the world. It doesn’t actually matter what happens to it. In the premiere issue, the Mars Attacks Moon Heads, as the opposition refers to them, destroyed life on Mars and forced Deja Thoris, the Princess of Mars, to engage a spoilsport ploy thereby ending the Moon Head threat and her life in the process. John Carter however returned to earth. Delighted by the progressive attitudes of the modern world. Obviously pre-Trump.
The planet however isn’t bound to John Carter’s whims. When in modern times humans send a Martian probe, the Moon Heads appears and attack on earth. The observer creates the situation on Mars. Perhaps in times of high anxiety the observer snaps Mars to the vicious quantum state where Moon Heads rule. Perhaps we expect to be slaughtered. Perhaps it’s only a comic book with a neat little idea. The concept however is astounding and ties into the consequences of the Crisis on Infinite Earths.
Barsoom returns with the arrival of John Carter. The Moon Heads by and large disappear. However, think about this. The entire history of Barsoom rewrites. Just like the earths of DC comics. The earth is at least 4.5 billion years old. Mars 4.6. These fictional planets when reborn are reborn with ancient history intact. That means the rebirths rewrite billions of years of history. It’s an impossible, yet fascinating concept.
In addition to the science fiction questioning, other factors favor John Carter Warlord of Mars Attacks. The adherence to Edgar Rice Burroughs esoterica such as the hilariously, creative foreshadowed return of John Carter’s pet.
The rousing appearance of Tars Tarkas John Carter’s loyal comrade and the precursor to Chewbacca the Wookie.
As well as the puberty inducing Deja’s Thoris.
Dean Kotz also provdes the illustration for Ryan Winn's entertaining mashup from Alterna Comics.
Gods and Gears combines Racer X.
In a fantasy setting, with giant mushrooms and precocious tykes.
The enemy, or at least the seem to be enemy, are refugees from Planet of the Apes.
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