Guardians of the Galaxy Volume Four Issue 5

Posted by John Klein III on August 12, 2016
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Guardians of the Galaxy V4 5

Writer Brian Michael Bendis

Artist Valerio Schiti

Color Artist Richard Isanove

Letterer VC’s Cory Petit

Cover by Arthur Adams & Jason Keith

Guardians of the Galaxy V4 5 StarKat 01 A Guardians of the Galaxy V4 5 StarKat 01 B

Spartax.  The capital city will probably never be the same again, after Hala’s visit.

Guardians of the Galaxy V4 5 StarKat 02

Yotat is monologuing.  The Guardians are knocked out.  Their fight with Hala has required that they take a little nap.

Quill finally wakes up first, asking that Yotat not kill his friends.  It is the least he can do.  Quill asks Yotat to wait to kill them, until after Spartax is safe.  Grudge matches can wait, after all.

Yotat points out how Spartax, supposedly a big deal in the universe, should have had neighboring planets coming to aid them, by now.  No one respects Spartax, with Quill on the throne.

Quill really wasn’t begging, he was distracting.  Agent Venom attacks from behind while Rocket has a new gun to try out.

Guardians of the Galaxy V4 5 StarKat 03

That is a great top panel, the team having their second wind.  Quill is trying to help Drax up, but Drax doesn’t want the help.  Pryde isn’t impressed with Drax turning down help.

Rocket checks in on Groot, who is in little pieces.  Drax punches Yotat, to his dumb face!

Guardians of the Galaxy V4 5 StarKat 04

Quill starts trying to help the survivors.  One lady isn’t pleased that her king allowed this nonsense to happen.  Pryde tries to defend him but the couple runs away.  Drax continues punching.  Grimm is helping children get to safety.  Good ol’ Grimm!

Yotat, is good at taking a beating but has had enough and turns the tables on Drax.

Guardians of the Galaxy V4 5 StarKat 05

Luckily, Drax is on the same team with Grimm (who I really enjoy reading about on a monthly basis) as Grimm punches Yotat off his feet.  Drax gets in on the handicap match.

Quill and Pryde are happy to see reinforcements are on their way.

Agent Venom takes away Yotat’s weapon.

Now that they have a pause, Quill wants to know Yotat’s story so Pryde indulges.  I do want more Quill-less stories of the missing eight months.

Guardians of the Galaxy V4 5 StarKat 06

Knowhere.  The Edge of the Universe.  Located Inside the Decapitated Head of a Celestial.  Three Months Ago.  Kitty Pryde Narrated Flashback.  Historically, she is an unreliable narrator.  (I’m not so sure about that).

They were there to get supplies and show Grimm what it is like to be a Guardian.

Pryde has been forced to take showers with steam instead of water, which probably makes sense on a ragtag ship.  Grimm sort of likes the steam, Pryde can understand.

Guardians of the Galaxy V4 5 StarKat 07

Pryde calls Yotat a gangster.  He’s fine with trafficking of lower species as long as he gets a cut.  Yotat is trying to choke out a nice green person but Pryde phases the person to safety.

Back to the Present.  Drax side kicks Yotat.  I see Groot standing there, so maybe he lost pieces but isn’t completely in pieces.  Grimm wants his turn but Rocket pulls seniority.  I do like a main villain that the entire team needs to work together to take out, instead of a group of villains versus a group of heroes.  Easier to focus, I suppose.

Guardians of the Galaxy V4 5 StarKat 08

Back to the Flashback.  We are introduced to the Knowhere Corps.  I recognize Moon Dragon, Micronaut’s Bug and Cosmo the Dog.  The green lady and bald guy, I need to be told who they are.  I like how Moon Dragon’s costume upgrade is that her shoulders are covered – somehow.

The Knowhere Corps take over the fight and arrest Yotat.  Moon Dragon, who is wearing a brown cape, invites the Guardians to dinner.

Grimm refers to the Knowhere Corps as “space cops” which apparently, he must be doing a lot lately as Rocket says he doesn’t need to prefix everything with “space.”  Yotat swears to get his revenge on Drax and his friends.

Pryde wishes she let Drax finish off Yotat, as he is clearly a horrible person.

Guardians of the Galaxy V4 5 StarKat 09

Flashback Over.  Grimm gives us all a “It’s Clobbering Time!!!” and Drax joins in with a sweet kick.  Drax isn’t a fan of the sweet catchphrase.  Grimm promises that the battlecry will grow on Drax.

The Royal Guard, finally, arrives to get Quill to safety.  Quill can’t believe that they wait until two threats are taken care of, before getting him off the battlefield.  Quill wants Yotat to be arrested, and he wants Hala to be arrested too.

Quill and Pryde turn to where Hala should be, still stuck in the ground, but she’s no longer there.  Few have survived being phased through the ground.  I know Thor was able to do it.  Quill wants Hala found, and now!

Guardians of the Galaxy V4 5 StarKat 10

We catch up with Hala, who is dragging her body through the city, leaving so much blood behind her.

Quill and Pryde find Gamora, who Pryde has so much respect for.  I can’t wait to get scenes of these two dames together!

Quill demands a medic for Gamora.

Later.  Gamora wakes up in a hospital room, with baby tree Groot at her bedside.  I like these two together.

Guardians of the Galaxy V4 5 StarKat 11

Quill is being told that he is no longer going to be President.  He doesn’t quite pick up on that, so Pryde has to explain it to him.  I guess that means we are never going to get Queen Pryde, like I always wanted.  I do like Quill calling them jerks.

Guardians of the Galaxy V4 5 StarKat 12

Pryde phases Quill and herself through the wall, outside and to the ground.  I don’t like how the green consult hates on Pryde, screw that jerk!

Look how happy the team is in that middle panel!  Gosh, I really do enjoy this creative team and this entire team!  I miss enjoying a monthly title like this.

Grimm makes an awesome Hichhiker’s Guide to the Universe, but he’s the only Earth person who gets the reference.  I like to think that Pryde got it.  Thompson and Quill don’t get the reference, they don’t read.

The Negative Zone.  We’re Full Circle.  It’s Just Rock-Solid Storytelling.  The Brood Queen took no effort in having Spartax denounce their king.  Annihilus is very impress.

The Guardians are back to being outlaws.

Next issue promises to focus on Pryde and Quill!  Which makes me pretty happy!

Howard the Duck Volume Six Issue 4

Posted by John Klein III on August 11, 2016
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Howard the Duck V6 4

Writer Chip Zdarsky

Penciler, Colorist Joe Quinones

Inkers Joe Rivera with Rick Magyar

Letterer Travis Lanham

Cover Artists Joe Quinones & Kevin Wada

Helpful editor note stating that this issue takes place before Ultimates (volume four or five, right?) as in that issue, Galactus gets a reverse makeover and becomes a being of rebirth.

One Year Ago.  Two scientists, Roberta and Mister Wiebe are observers with a giant telescope.  He’s interested in looking for life in the universe.  I like Roberta, she points out how often Earth is invaded by aliens.  There definitely is life out there beyond the stars.  Through the telescope lens, Roberta sees Galactus.  There is an editor note stating that this is from Unbeatable Squirrel Girl Volume One Issue 4.

Now.  The title was this issue was “Fowl Movement!” but they changed it to “Duck! Duck! Loose!” as the other one was too silly.

Howard is trying to convince The Stranger to free him, as Howard makes a terrible prisoner.  Stranger wants to speed up the process of using Howard to open portals as Stranger knows people are going to try to either rescue Howard or steal him for themselves.

The new Herald of Galactus, Scout, has come for Howard.  I imagine this is Roberta.  Stranger has eaten free-range asteroids with Galactus.  Stranger dismisses Scout, with a wave.  Roberta grabs Howard and surfs out of there.

Once they have gone a distance, Scout stops talking like a cosmic Stan Lee character, which she was pretending to do, as it felt like the thing to do.  Howard makes it super clear that he isn’t a cosmic person.  He just keeps ending up in these cosmic situations.  Fun little comment box of the writer saying he’s sorry.

Scout offers Howard to Galactus, but he is tired of all of these pursuits of Scout’s.  Galactus goes on to say that Scout is not his herald.

Once Scout has explained that Howard is the Living Nexus of Realities so she can open portals to a vast number of planets that Galactus can dine on.  This intrigues Galactus.  Howard stands up for himself and Galactus is tempted to to make Howard his new herald.  This upsets Scout.

Just then, Silver Suffer arrives.  Howard isn’t a gift to be given away.  Galactus points out that Dawn isn’t around, she doesn’t like the world devourer.  Roberta tells Surfer that she is a huge fan, which catches him off guard.  .  Surfer asks how she got some of his power.

Five Months Ago.  Roberta, who’s nickname is Scout, meets Alicia Masters.  Roberta finds a small statue that Alicia made from a speck of Silver Surfer’s power, that she shaped into Ben Grimm.  The page ends with Roberta hitting Alicia with the statue, from behind, to her head!

Howard the Duck V6 4 StarKitty 1

We finally get to a page where we see Scout’s character design.

Roberta, wisely, just hints that she found the power – somewhere.  All she wants to do is help, she thought she could cure Galactus’ hunger.  Surfer understands Scout’s earth based desire to help but one can’t give people away like items.  Howard appreciates the slick nudist for standing up for him.  Howard also misses his pantless days.  Which that line made me realize that he is wearing shorts.

We finally get to the reason why I’m buying this issue and the next one.  Kitty Pryde and the Guardians are getting closer to Howard’s location.  Linda is with them.  Kitty takes note of Galactus, but Grimm isn’t that concern.  Rocket points out that others are also in pursuit of Howard.

Galactus silences his two chrome guests.  Galactus will study Howard and see if he is capable of opening portals.  Grimm arrives, surprising Surfer.  Grimm wants to take Howard and leave.  Surfer likes the idea of Galactus being gone, and no more massive amount of deaths.  Grimm lays down the facts about how Reed use to say that Galactus is a balancing force.  Without Galactus, things would get worst.

The writer, Chip Zdarsky, wants to know what happened to Reed Richards – he hasn’t been told how Secret Wars 2015 ended.

There is an ad for the Deadpool game’s rerelease, now on PS4 and XBox One.

Galactus is fired upon by a Kree fool and he turns his attention and shoots his laser eyes, destroying the silly ship.

Groot is holding onto Grimm, but he wants Groot to stop, so he can reach out and grab Howard.

Meanwhile, we see Silver Surfer . . . surfing away with Howard.  Surfer is going to find Howard a safe place to hide.  In case they get separated, Surfer gives Howard a piece of the Power Cosmic.

Howard the Duck V6 4 StarKitty 2

As Howard is trying to use to the cosmic surfboard, he goes straight through a space ship.

We see Kitty’s butt there, in that panel.  So that counts!  Don’t worry, she appears properly in the issue too.

Tara can’t believe this team doesn’t have a telepath, one would think that is a mandatory requirement.

Grimm puts on a space helmet and he is going old fashion with his approach.  He opens the hatch and just shouts at a passing Howard.  He didn’t need to shout, with the power cosmic, Howard hears pretty well.

Howard the Duck V6 4 StarKitty 3

Tara and Howard hug, they both have had quite the day.

We get to see Pryde’s butt again, it is an interesting angle to take.  Pryde asks if Howard is always like this, Tara says that he isn’t typically so naked and shiny.

The ships engines are dead but Howard is powering their ship with the surfboard.

Howard the Duck V6 4 StarKitty 4

Quinones finally draws Pryde properly.

This must be the first time Pryde and Howard have met, as they don’t know each other.  He thinks, very funnily, that this is Quill, but now a woman.  Pryde quickly recaps how Quill is out and she’s replacing him and the team hasn’t been happier.

So funny the exchanges of Agent Venom, Pryde and Rocket.  No one knows how Rocket became leader but they are living with it.

Howard is sending them straight for Collecton, one would think The Collector would have a better name for his house.  Tara can’t believe that they are heading into danger.  Howard, having a sad revelation that he will always be chased and will always get caught up in weirdness.

Tara doesn’t know who Bev is.  Howard refers to Beverly in the past tense, so I would like to know what happened there with her and Howard.

Now that they are minutes away, Howard gets dragged away by a green chord.

Issue ends with Howard vs The Collector!

Feather Regions, letters from – Jason Greenly of Champaign, IL / John Rule of Manchester, England / Steve McSheffrey / Osvaldo Oyola of The Middle Spaces.

I would send an e-mail but I’m crazy behind on my current books as I was way late in getting the May special issues I wanted to cover out.

2016 Summer Olympics

Posted by John Klein III on August 10, 2016
Posted in: Websites. Tagged: . Leave a comment

2016 Olympics Rio

We have been really enjoying watching the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.  Everything has been running smoothly, from what we can see on the NBC Sports app on the Roku.  I like that app has the Primetime Special and the Overnight Special so we can catch up with those and we have access to full events.

Like I do with every Olympics, I like to track the countries that only have the one Olympian.  Amazingly, only one country has sent the one athlete.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuvalu_at_the_2016_Summer_Olympics

Tuvalu has sent Etimoni Timuari for the Men’s 100 Metres.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etimoni_Timuani

He should be competing sometime between August 13 and August 16.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athletics_at_the_2016_Summer_Olympics_%E2%80%93_Men%27s_100_metres

The good folks at Wikipedia are pretty great about updating it as it happens so I’ll probably edit this post to write his official time.  Here’s hoping he does very well!

I’ve checked and apparently I’ve never had a visitor from Tuvalu so I had to look them up, as I try to read up on any countries that I’m not that familiar with.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuvalu

There are a few countries that have only sent two or three athletes as well.

Etimoni Timuani Tuvalu 2016 Rio Oympics

Come August 13th, I’ll be definitely thinking of Etimoni Timuari, who is amazing for even making it to the biggest stage there is for sports.

Thanks for the below link

https://onegoalbog.com/2016/07/30/tuvalu-the-smallest-delegation-for-olympics-2016/

for the image and for stating that there are 20 countries with three or fewer athletes presenting them.  I was going to count them but I wanted to find a current image of Etimoni Timuari and I’m glad I’m not the only one featuring him.  I suppose it is an easy concept to write about but I like to cheer for other countries besides America, especially the smaller ones that could be overlooked at the big event.

Edit with Results :

On August 13th, Etimoni Timuari ran the Men’s 100m with a time of 11.81 – which is like a thousand times faster than I could do it.  He ran in the third heat, and came in seventh, so unfortunately he did not advance.  But he represented the great nation of Tuvalu very well.  Great job out there, good sir!

Extraordinary X-Men 6

Posted by John Klein III on August 9, 2016
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Extraordinary X-Men 6

Writer Jeff Lemire

Artist Victor Ibanez

Color Artist Jay David Ramos

Letterer VC’s Joe Caramagna

Since Bachalo has to skip every other arc, we are treated to Victor Ibbanez’s art.

Extraordinary X-Men 6 Magik 1

Cerebra has dropped the X-Men off in a mysterious location.  We know it must be dangerous if Illyana is excited about the prospects of the place.

Extraordinary X-Men 6 Magik 2a Extraordinary X-Men 6 Magik 2b

Iceman has named the threat, Rhinosaurs!  WeirdWorld is one crazy place.

Colossus is trying to get into the fun with Old Man Logan, but the older man isn’t giving in.

X-Haven.  Five Hours Earlier.  Old Man Logan is enjoying real beer but Iceman doesn’t know if he should be drinking in front of the students.  Which is silly as the students are living in a demon infested realm.  The two are with Storm, Forge and Teen Jean as they look in on Colossus talking to Nightcrawler.  Forge reveals that he was able to reattach Kurt’s tail but his mind isn’t back yet.  Jean hasn’t invaded Kurt’s mind, which is crazy mature of her.  Storm wants to try the friendship route with Colossus, first.  Kurt looks so haggard.  Tired and haggard.

Anole, Glob Herman and Ernst arrive to see how beloved X-Man, Nightcrawler, is dong.  Glob greets Jean but she walks away, Old Man Logan has his non-transparent eyes on Glob.  Colossus comes out of the room and tells Storm that Kurt is completely lost.  Storm recommends he give up on his oldest friend and take on a new student to watch over.  Seems overly harsh to me.

Extraordinary X-Men 6 Magik 3

This segues us to Illyana guiding a new student.  Magik is checking on Sapna, the Demon Whisperer.  Her parents are a tad scared of her, which comes at the price of having powers that help you commune with demons.  It isn’t a family friendly power.  Her parents are gone now, as bigots are not allowed at X-Haven, I hope.  Illyana can relate to Sapna, as their powers could put them in the evil category but they rise above that noise.

Extraordinary X-Men 6 Magik 4

Illyana gets to make a pretty nice speech, telling Sapna that she is a hero not a damned person.  Sapna has a friend in Illyana but also an awesome new demon pet she named, Boogers.  He’s snotty, which could be overly cute but I sort of dig it.  This sets up repeating what Sapna’s power is.  Magik teleports the three of them to Limbo proper, which Sapna feels pretty comfortable with.

Extraordinary X-Men 6 Magik 5

I really like Illyana making a new friend, she’s due for another one.  Plus, her other friend is guarding the universe so they are not keeping in touch as much these days.

Sapna apparently can see the doors to the other realms.  Illyana is the master of this realm but not the others – which this would be pretty great if this series broadens Magik’s power base.

Extraordinary X-Men 6 Magik 6

Weirdworld.  Now.  Magik is still having a blast.  She wants to come back, which I would totally buy an issue of that series, if she appeared in an issue.

Colossus, who clearly has been wanting to throw Old Man Logan, for a while.  I can see him constantly bringing it up in situations that don’t quite match.  It really is the only thing the two have in common.

Extraordinary X-Men 6 Magik 7

Old Man Logan finally gives in and I imagine gets a headache and a nose bleed.  They have been fighting blue fellas.

Two Hours Ago.  Ernst, Martha, Anole and Glob are not pleased.  Colossus tells them to shape up but seriously, there are not malls and they only have the school buildings.  Unless they want to venture out into Limbo but that doesn’t seem like a good idea.  Especially with Anole, who probably hates being in Limbo as a constant reminder of how he lost his one arm.  They want to go on real missions, so Colossus is going to start training them.

If they want to go on the Search and Rescue missions, they need to be properly trained.  Iceman arrives, wanting to talk to Anole.  As the two gay characters would have to have a moment.  Where is Northstar at, these days?

Anole has heard of Teen Bobby coming out of the closest but he hasn’t heard about adult Iceman’s coming out.  Iceman came out to his younger self and teen Jean but now he’s telling Anole.  Anole is so comfortable with who he is, so it makes sense.  I do like the younger Anole helping the older Iceman – hopefully future scenes don’t feel forced.

Extraordinary X-Men 6 Magik 8

Sapna can feel the energies of the realms on the other side of the portals.  Some are good but more are bad, real bad.  Magik wants to enlist Doctor Strange, another series I would like to own more issues of.  Storm breaks up the momentum by summoning the X-Men.

I want to learn more about these other realms.  Could this branch out to a Magik ongoing?  That would be great.

Extraordinary X-Men 6 Magik 9

Now.  Old Man Logan smells smoke.

Extraordinary X-Men 6 Magik 10

Iceman isn’t thrilled to be facing fire – he’s fine with Rhinosaurs and goblins.

Extraordinary X-Men 6 One Hour Ago

One Hour Ago.  Storm is explaining how a plane from Asia got lost and landed in Weirdworld.  Old Man Logan has heard of this place.  Jean isn’t on the mission, as she is going to help Kurt.  Storm and Jean are going to do that ol’ enter the brain trick – which is typically fun.  Old Man Logan isn’t thrilled with all of Iceman’s elderly jokes.  He’s probably wishing he can slice into him but he knows he won’t stop at just Iceman.

Does Old Man Logan and Miles Morales know what happened during Secret Wars 2015?  They have to answer that question eventually, right?

Storm pulls Old Man Logan aside.  Storm doesn’t want Forge to hear the conversation and tells him to leave.  Storm not so subtly tells Forge that they are not going to be like how they use to be.  Storm knows who they are going after and warns Old Man Logan.  This person is very dangerous and sided with Cyclops when Cyclops did the thing that he did that got himself killed.

Extraordinary X-Men 6 Magik 11

Storm won’t turn any mutants away but she won’t trust any of them, blindly.  That mutant is . . . Sunfire!  Who Wolverine was a teammate alongside with during his tenure on Uncanny Avengers.

Storm pretty much tells Old Man Logan to kill Sunfire, if he steps out of line, he is to end Sunfire.  Which seems cruel, as Old Man Logan is super worried about murdering mutants and downward spiraling into a murder train of mutants.

Next issue’s cover hints at Nightcrawler crying – which makes me sad.

Big Brother 18 : Episode 22 – August 7, 2016

Posted by John Klein III on August 8, 2016
Posted in: Reality Television. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

Who is the new HoH?  Who is nominated?  Who receives America’s Care Package?

Da’vonne is Da’gonne!

HoH.  They are spinning around on discs, and are not allowed to sit. Zakiyah is upset that she was in the dark about getting rid of Da’vonne.  Michelle was also in the dark, so she’s concern about not being in the loop.

Day 49.  The boyz have made the Executives alliance.  Victor is the CEO.  Paulie is the Director of Social Affairs.  Corey is Chief Event Coordinator.  James is Chief of Operations.  Paul is Chief Friendship Operator.

Internet Trolls show up to the HoH comp, which is super scary!

James falls first.  He’s beaten up by the Internet trolls.

Bridgette is down second.  They are the first two of three people who will be Have Nots.

They were down before the eleven minute mark!  Which is sad!

Corey is third and final Have Not.

24 minutes.  Michelle threw up!  So many times!  Don’t fall onto it!  She then drops and keeps throwing up!  She keeps crying and she threw up pizza.

Funny hashtags.  #Grossmance #ConsiderASalad #CryBabies #ZingBait may be my favorite

41 Minutes.  Nicole fell, not into the vomit!

55 Minutes.  Paulie, Victor, Natalie and Zakiyah – the final four! Zakiyah tries to make deals with everyone.  Victor isn’t going to honor any deals as he was voted out 9 to 1.  Paulie drops soon after.  He only wanted to wait out Zakiyah. Zakiyah sees right through his scheme.

Victor and Natalie are suppose to last a while.  One Hour, Five Minutes.  Natalie starts losing control and Victor looks like he can do this so much longer.

Paul asks who gave birth to her and Natalie answers her mother did.  Natalie makes a deal with Victor to be safe.  So silly to make a deal with anyone in these types of competitions as the winner would have won it on their own.  Why give in?

One Hour, Thirty Seven Minutes.

One Hour, Forty Minutes, Natalie drops and Victor gets on top of her and takes the beating from the Internet Trolls.  Hopefully the vomit has dried by that time.

Victor is HoH!

Zakiyah is crying, she can only trust Michelle.  She doesn’t trust Paulie.  My wife just informed me that Paulie and Zakiyah had sex after this and that they have been doing it for a while now.

Spy Girls don’t even know that they are now a small branch off of the Executives.

Victor tells Paul that Da’vonne told him that he will be the target for a double eviction. Paul wants Michelle and Natalie to be nominated.

Paulie is okay with having Zakiyah being nominated, James wouldn’t do that to Natalie. I hope.

Nicole hashes it out with Michelle, who trusted Nicole.

Paulie lies to Zakiyah that he didn’t purposely fall right after her.  He’s trying to make sure he still gets laid in the Jury House.

Victor proposes a Final Three with PP.  The Three BroMingos.  The Board are options.  Paul is okay with it as long as PP are the Final Two.

Michelle doesn’t want James to wear her jacket, as he got a hole in something last time.  James tries to work things out Michelle, she’s sad she wasn’t in the loop about the votes.

Is Rachel the only emotional player to actually win this game?  I can’t think of any other cryers who won the game.

Care Package.

James got to eliminate two votes! He got some underwear, socks and sunglasses, too. Weird he had to read it to the whole house. He got cookies too!

Nominations.

Victor has nominated . . . Zakiyah and Michelle!  I wouldn’t miss either of them.  I guess I want Michelle gone more.

Victor has crazy rhymes and I think he wants some sexual attention from Zakiyah, if I’m understanding him correctly.  He gives the two ladies some beads and Michelle starts crying.  Again.

Michelle is the worst super fan.  Sometimes they don’t make for good players.

Astonishing X-Men : Dangerous Motion Comic DVD

Posted by John Klein III on August 7, 2016
Posted in: Film. Tagged: , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Astonishing-X-Men-Dangerous-DVD-post

While rewatching this DVD, I noticed something.  It does a great job of crediting Joss Whedon and John Cassaday, as it should – it doesn’t mention Laura Martin, at all.

That got me thinking about how Chris Eliopoulos gets completely screwed with these DVDs.  Since the dialogue and sound effects are now spoken or heard, does he not get anything from the success of the comic, that made these motion comic DVDs possible?  Does anyone know?  It isn’t right that these two don’t get any credit, but to shut out Eliopoulos completely?  That is not cool.

I commented on how I thought Kitty did the least amount in this arc, out of the four.  I was pleasantly surprised that Kitty probably does just about the same amount here as the other arcs.

Kitty and Lockheed get spotlighted when all the psychics are taken, but these two can still communicate via their empathic ability.

Kitty first confronts the Danger Room, pre new body.

Kitty names Danger.

Kitty saves the team on Genosha from the initial blast from the giant Sentinel that originally killed everyone on the island.

Kitty gets to experience her first fastball special.  Also, a major wedgie.

Plus, other situations.  I really like the motion comic but the credit business bothered me.

 

Howard the Duck Volume Six Issue 3

Posted by John Klein III on August 6, 2016
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Howard the Duck V6 3

Writer Chip Zdarsky

Penciler, Colorist Joe Quinones

Inker Joe Rivera

Lettterer Travis Lanham

I haven’t read an issue of Howard the Duck’s previous volume’s fourth issue.  I thought I had checked on Marvel Comics Database when this issue first came out and didn’t see Kitty listed as a character.  Then at Hastings, I remembered the Guardians were going to appear in this title and I thought I might as well check the last page of this issue to see if they were teased, at all.

What I found was a Gwenpool back-up feature, so now I’ve read an appearance of that character BUT the important thing was that the last page of Howard’s main story, was a real winner.  Glad I double checked, but now I’m worried that I may have missed some appearances of Kitty Pryde.

Howard the Duck V6 3 Recap

Here is what has been happening in the title, thus far.  Linda, a female duck like how Howard is a male duck and Shocket (a female Rocket Raccoon) are on an adventure.  The recap page implies that these two dames have a sad origin story.  These two ladies are after Howard.  Apparently he and Rocket caused these two ladies to be on the other side of the universe and now they are after him.   Also, Howard is now the living Nexus of all Realities, which I have to wonder what that means for Man-Thing.  Nice reference to co-creator, Steve Gerber, at the end.

The issue opens with Howard the Duck, riding a cosmic surf board and cast in all chrome – like from the cover.  He’s worried that the universe is after him.

One week earlier, the majestic swamps of Citrusville, FL.  Shocket and Linda have guns aimed at Howard and his female companion, Tara.  Tara implies she is a superhero now, with a fun editor note stating that we can expect to see the “Captain Tara, the Last Avenger” film in 2032.

Shocket shoots Tara, which Linda isn’t happy with that choice.  Linda is about to touch Howard, to plead with him to come with them but Shocket tells her to not to touch him.  They are not sure what could happen.

Somehow, the Wizard (of Frightful Four fame) arrives and takes Howard hostage.  As he touches Howard, there is a flash of light and the Wizard is gone.  Howard freaks out, as he believes he has absorbed the Wizard.  Linda explains the situation.  Howard can now teleport people, or they can teleport him.

Howard asks who Linda is, she says that it is a long story.  An awesome editorial note hips us that this happened in issue two.  Not the previous issue two but the one from the previous volume but not the original volume from 1976 but the early 2015 volume not the late 2015 volume (which this one is, technically).  Which is a fun jab at how silly relaunching this title, as often as Marvel has done.

Actually I got my asterisks backwards.  Linda references how Howard and Rocket were prisoners of the Collector, which was from the early 2015 volume and Linda and Shocket’s story is found in the previous issue of this volume.

Linda, thankfully, explains the situation.  Linda and Shocket are gender-altered clones that the Collector made, so that they would mate with Howard and Rocket (respectfully, I assume) so that their species will continue.  Linda and Shocket, traveled back in time to avoid the Collector’s schemes but here they are now.  I did check and I didn’t see any previous issues of this series at Hastings.  I like Tara pausing the story so that she can process this.  A lot has happened over two pages.

Linda and Shocket want Howard’s help to free the Collector’s other prisoners.  Tara isn’t sure about the plan but Howard is still haunted by the prisoners.  This wasn’t referenced in the later issue that I read.

The four of them are flying towards the Collector.  Tara is excited about being in space.  Howard isn’t that impressed, as space is full of nothing.  Shocket takes offense to his attitude as space is their home.  They have been on the run, for so long.  Linda can’t wait to have a home and not just be on the run.  She’s pretty excited about owning a couch that isn’t connected to a ship.  So the two ladies match the personalities of their male counterparts.

Their ship, the Thundertrek, gets bombarded by one of the Collector’s ships.  Right after that, a Skrull ship comes on top of them.  Howard blames his involvement as to why everyone is after them.  This gives Linda an idea.

Shocket expects that they are able to track Howard’s new cosmic signature.  Linda knows that the other crews are only after Howard.

Tara keeps wanting to contact Doctor Weird (I imagine she really means, Doctor Strange, close enough!) to separate Howard from the Nexus of Realities.

Howard starts getting into flux, as the people on the ships are trying to teleport Howard off of them.  This gives Howard an idea.

Howard is teleported to the bigger ship, that belongs to the Stranger.  Neither one is impressed with the other.  Howard wants answers from the Stranger.  People want Howard as instead of using fancy technology (that could be chancy) Howard is a done-in-one trip.  You think of the location, Howard makes it happen – super simple.  Strange further explains that Howard has the ability to create new universes as well.

Stranger, as a scientist, would love to create a new universe that he can study and be a “god scientist” of.  Howard agrees to be the gateway to this new universe, he only wants his friends to be set free.  Stranger doesn’t like Howard having friends, that could be distracting, so Stranger blows up their ship.

Five minutes earlier, elsewhere.  Tara, Linda and Shocket are teleported into a cargo bay.  They are not sure where they are, they only know that Howard sent them someplace that they can get help at.  They turn a corner to see . . .

Howard the Duck V6 3 Kitty Pryde

The Guardians of the Galaxy!  This is the first part of three issues guest starring the Guardians!

Feather Regions, no letters but some fun plugs and segues.  This is written by Wil Moss, who is a Kitty Pryde fanboy so now I follow him on Twitter.  @Wil_Moss, good guy.

Mostly the page has promotions for Gwenpool and her special that is coming out.

Then we got the final back-up that teams up Gwenpool and Howard the Duck.

Ms. Poole if You’re Nasty
Part Three of Three

Writer Christopher Hastings

Artist Danilo S. Beyruth

Color Artist Tamra Bonvillain

Letterer Travis Lantham

Issue opens with Howard giving Black Cat a box.  Then the next page, starts the tale of how he got the box.

Howard and Gwenpool are crash landing into a Hydra base.  Gwenpool, who seems more like Deadpool than Gwen Stacy – so a lady Deadpool who shows off her legs – something that Spider-Gwen doesn’t do in her costume, she’s covered from head to toe.  Howard is also in a Deadpool-esque story.

There is a female head of Hydra, who isn’t Viper.  She is working on that classic villain scheme of creating a disease and providing the cure afterwards.

Apparently, Gwenpool sold Hydra the disease and now is trying to get it back.  I could have really used a recap page PLUS a page of what Gwenpool’s deal is.

Gwenpool calls the lady, Madame Hydra, but that isn’t her name.  She and Viper are brunettes (though I always prefer Viper as a green haired beauty) but they are not the same person.  Gwenpool references that she read an old Nick Fury story involving Madame Hydra’s weakness which reminds me that I believe Gwenpool is from our reality, somehow in a comic book – probably Marvel’s way of explaining her ability to fourth wall breakage.

Gwenpool grabs the box and drinks the virus.  NotViper tells everyone to evacuate.

Howard stops NotViper by throwing a table at her.  Gwenpool thought the guy, who was affected by the virus, and that he had super-mumps.  She was vaccinated for mumps in her universe, so she thought she wouldn’t have to worry about it.  Howard shouts at her that they have the mumps vaccine in the Marvel Universe too.  Just then, the effects of the virus hit Gwenpool.  Lady Hydra offers the cure, so that she doesn’t get sick and Gwenpool injects herself with it.

The Present.  Black Cat as the box but now the people who first sold it to her want it back.  I take it, there has been several double crosses here.  They offer Felicia double the money and she takes the new deal.

Turns out, it wasn’t the person who sold Black Cat the virus but Gwenpool in disguise.

A decent nine page story, I’m sure I’m suppose to wikipedia “Gwenpool” and I may one day but not today.

I’m super excited about the next two issues of this title though, I can’t wait!

Big Brother 18 : Episode 21 – August 4, 2016

Posted by John Klein III on August 5, 2016
Posted in: Reality Television. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

Who goes home, Da’vonne or Bridgette?  Does one of them have a round trip ticket back into the house?  If not, they become the first member of the jury.  Who wins HoH?

Because of the Live Feeds, we already know who went home as it was an endurance competition.  We also already know who HoH is.

I sort of forgot about the round trip ticket.

Live Show is Day 51.  Julie Chen said PP so slowly.

Veto Ceremony was Day 48.  Da’vonne is not happy to be on the block.  I’m not going to miss Da’vonne, at all.

Paulie tells Bridgette that the only votes for her to leave should come from Michelle and Zakiyah.

Paul makes a “no pun intended” with Bridgette burning bridges that I didn’t get at first.

Corey gets out of the hammock and Nicole falls onto the back of her neck.

Natalie leaves the bathroom and Michelle, Da’vonne and Zakiyah start talking game.  Natalie comes back into the bathroom and is asked how she is going to vote.  Bridgette is one of her friends in the house but she isn’t certain.

James doesn’t want to vote for Da’vonne to leave but he also doesn’t want her in the house.  Corey has crazy eyes!

They are talking about Double Eviction #Oops indeed!  Da’vonne comes in and they try to include her in the conversation.  James mistakenly says that Bridgette will be an option but why would she be if Da’vonne is still in the house.  Da’vonne instantly knows that there is a plot to get her out of the house.  Now Da’vonne is forcing people to have awkward conversations with her.

Natalie does look great in that orange top.  Even with that face cream on.

Production goes to Paul’s home, he isn’t necessarily our boy. Julie Chen says that Paul is a momma’s boy.  His parents’ house looks like a mini-White House!  I sort of love his father, they are friendship.

Julie Chen announces that whoever goes home, will be part of the Jury.

Speeches.  Bridgette reminds people that she had an alliance with Frank, giving him a super big shoutout.  Da’vonne mentions all of her family and friends.  She’s hoping no one is voting her out.

The Votes. 

Paulie – Da’vonne (he shaved!)
Zakiyah – Bridgette
Nicole – Da’vonne
Michelle – Bridgette (who still uses Frenemy?)
Victor – Da’vonne
Corey – Da’vonne
James – Da’vonne
It is official, Da’vonne is gone!
Natalie – Da’vonne

We haven’t had a vote like this i a while.

6-2, Da’vonne is gone – she knew once she heard the numbers.  Back to back Vets evicted.  Da’vonne whispered something long in Victor’s ear.  She tells Julie Chen that she told Victor that he’s the target of a double eviction.

Da’vonne doesn’t have the round trip ticket.

HoH is the endurance comp where they stand on a tiny platform and are swung around the backyard, it is a Big Brother Endurance Classic.

It will come down to Natalie and Victor and Victor wins it!

 

Big Brother 18 : Episode 20 – August 3, 2016

Posted by John Klein III on August 4, 2016
Posted in: Reality Television, Websites. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

Who wins Veto?  Will they use the Power of Veto?  Who will be the replacement nominee?

I’ve heard the news of Big Brother 19, like the new Star Trek series, will be completely on All Access.  We do know that it is going to be only ten weeks (down from twelve or the thirteen weeks).  That is pretty much is everything we know about the upcoming season.  Oh and it starts almost as soon as this season ends.  I’m not sure if I’m going to be covering it like I’m covering this season.  That seems like a lot of Big Brother posts to me.  To be honest, I don’t really have that many special posts planned, so I have an open blogging agenda so I could very well review season 19.  November may be tight, with my planned Doctor Strange Month and my Wedding Anniversary posts but July was tight and we got through that one.  I can make it work.

The last thing we do know is that next summer, Big Brother 20 will be on broadcast television, like a traditional season.

Hey, this episode came on like thirty minutes early!  That’s terrific!  Apparently there will be fights this episode, as tempers rise.

Did Michelle just punch Paul in the back, while crying?  If she was a man, Production would have kicked her out of there!

Da’vonne wasn’t aware that Paulie was going to be a pawn.  PP is becoming quite the duo! Zakiyah calls Paulie a homie, that seems like an odd choice for a showmance partner.

Bridgette is leaderless so Da’vonne tries to take her under her wing.  Bridgette is fully aware of Da’vonne’s scheme.

Paul tells Bridgette the plan, if Veto is used, Da’vonne is being backdoored.

The boyz are in the spa, having a great time in their undies.  Nicole comes out, she had a dream about Derrick.  The boyz start teasing her.  She tells them that Derrick’s wife was there too, so it is even sexier!  Cody was in the dream too!  The boyz are – James, Victor, Corey and Paulie.  Zakiyah was not impress with the boyz’ reaction.

The houseguests are talking about room assignments.  Zakiyah and Paulie have been sleeping in the same bed, until Paul won HoH.  Looks like their showmance may be done.  She tries to talk to him but he is pretty dismissive of her.

Michelle states that the showmance partners have hanged.  Michelle is now with Zakiyah and Paulie is with Paul.  Paul wants Paulie to keep Zakiyah happy so she doesn’t try to blow up everyone’s game.  She knows a lot.

Paul and Zakiyah get real.  It is odd that PP are sleeping in the same bed, right?  Paulie is concentrating on Veto, as he’s a nominee.  Zakiyah isn’t happy that they are being so uncomfortable with each other.  Look at Zakiyah getting television time!  She starts to cry so they are not being productive and walks away.

My wife thinks that Paulie needs to go as he’s a big arse dick with a small dick, most likely.

Paul has put shaving cream in someone’s cup.  That cup belonged to Michelle, I guess she drank from it.  Michelle kidney punched Paul!  Michelle starts crying as she left a bruise.  #SadMeech

Is Michelle going to pull an Audrey?  She doesn’t want to be seen as mean, but he is HoH and it is before Veto so it isn’t timing.

Veto Players.

Paul – Corey
Paulie – House Guest Choice – Victor
Bridgette – Natalie (Spy Girls!)

PP. Friendship.  Plan is still on. Da’vonne joins them as it probably isn’t a good idea to let these two keep talking to just each other.  She’s worried that she’s going to get back doored.  Like usual, she walks into a conversation, talks a quick game and leaves.

Corey is wearing Tiffany’s glasses, they should give those back to her!  How did she not take those with her?

Nicole, Corey and Paulie want to put Da’vonne up.  Paulie wants to put Zakiyah up, as she is drama! The plan is to get rid of Da’vonne first.

Kevin James doing television again seems like a major step back, right?

Veto Comp.

Nicole is the host.  It is a track lane theme.

There will be five races, this is the one James did decently at but Austin won – from last year.  They have to wait until they see “Go” and have to hit the button.  Let’s hope this is better than last season when people kept falling off the starting buttons.

Corey – Bridgette  – Victor – Paulie – Natalie – Paul

Race One : Corey is out first, as he falls over.  He won track.
Race Two : Paulie wins, as they all waited until GO.  Bridgette is out!
Race Three : Paulie wins and Natalie is way behind!  She’s out.
Race Four : Paulie wins again. Paul is out!
Race Five : Victor v Paulie –   Paulie wins it!

Paul is a big Sound of Music fan – I’m not.  He apparently is rather quick in the bedroom too.

Victor’s hair is in pigtails, as he’s super confident.

Da’vonne wants Nicole to be the replacement nominee but she’s the only one.

Zakiyah tries to make up to Paulie, the Veto winner.  Paul confirms with Bridgette that Da’vonne is the target.  Paulie makes a giant mistake of telling Zakiyah that Paul is going to put up Da’vonne!  That isn’t going to work out well for them.  Zakiyah thinks that the target really is Bridgette then they need to get Paul out.  Wow, she is way out of the loop.  She’s most likely jealous of PP.  Paulie is going to tell Paul and I bet Zakiyah is going to tell Da’vonne.

Looks like we have a giant boy alliance (of course) with Natalie being the sole gal in it.  Paul may want to get Zakiyah out.

Production isn’t revealing what the Care Package will be but they revealed it last week.

http://www.cbs.com/shows/big_brother/americas-care-package/

My wife says that I should be a full service blogger and reveal what the Care Package is.  Turns out, the above website has all five weeks already revealed.

Week One – Never Not Pass
Week Two – Eliminate Two Eviction Votes
Week Three – Super Safety (the House Guest is safe but has to wear a “Super Safety” costume for the week)
Week Four – Co-HoH (gets all the perks of being HoH AND gets to pick one of the nominees)
Week Five – BB Bribe (gets $5,000.00 to give to a second house guest, for one action, for this one week)

The website even has More Info on each of the Care Packages.

Da’vonne comes to the HoH room to talk to Paul, who is committing to getting rid of her. He’s trying to sell Da’vonne on her being the replacement nominee.

Veto Meeting. 

Paulie uses the Veto on himself.  Paul nominations . . . Da’vonne!  She be going home!

. . .

My sister-in-law, Teri Cole, passed away this morning.  It has been a very hard day.

Uncanny X-Cast 180

Posted by John Klein III on August 3, 2016
Posted in: Podcasts. Tagged: . Leave a comment

http://www.uncannyxcast.com/main/2016/7/14/episode-180-rachel-summers-process-server-from-phoenix.html

Rob and Brian aired my tenth voicemail!  Also, I was given the honor of the episode title!  That’s pretty awesome!

My voicemail is from the 43 minute mark to 44:22, with the discussion picking up from there and ending around 45:30.

Such a great episode!

The Uncanny X-Cast turns ten years old in August, I have to leave another voicemail, thanking them for ten uncanny years!