Deadpool Volume One Issue 27

Posted by John Klein III on February 2, 2016
Posted in: Reviews, Websites. Tagged: , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Deadpool V1 27

Nightmare Specialist Dr. (Joe) Kelly

Art Therapy Dr. (Walter) McDaniel

Inkblots Dr. (Whitney) McFarland

Color Charts Dr. (Kevin) Somers

Handwriting Analysis Doc (Richard) Starkings & Comicraft

Paranoia Dr. (Matt) Idelson

Prozac Boy Dr. (Bob) Harris

Cover Dated April 1999

Joe Kelly is by far, one of my favorite Deadpool writers.  I owned all of his issues, before downsizing my collection.  I’m glad that at least one of his issues stayed in the collection.

This issue deals with the fallout of the incredible, Dead Reckoning, storyline.  In it, Deadpool had to fight Captain America so that he could kill an alien messiah so that people could have free will.  Thus, everything bad that happens – to anyone – is on him, as humans would have been walking mindless drones.  Which is a good thing, that we still have free will but it is a pretty heavy burden to carry.

The issue opens with Deadpool, screaming on Doctor Bong’s (an old enemy of Howard the Duck’s) couch.  Deadpool keeps seeing white bunnies and a brunette lady in a purple dress.  The brunette is setting up the next storyline.

Deadpool is Doctor Bong’s first patient as he has recently completed his psychology Ph.D.  So he is finally a real doctor.  Doctor Bong still postures, as it is hard to quit that old habit.

I miss this Deadpool, the one that kept making pop culture references.  Sure, the comments with Janet Reno makes the comic a tad dated but I like it.

Doctor Bong does have a suggestion that will help Deadpool’s situation.  A hero must die!

Bolivia . . . the former hacienda of a former Bolivan general formerly among the living.  I missed Montgomery, whatever happened to that guy?  It appears as if he just fades away, which is probably for the best as he had gone through some stuff.

http://comicbookdb.com/character_chron.php?ID=2396

I’m sure I read issue 81, I just don’t recall those later issues as much.

Monty doesn’t recommend Deadpool take Doctor Bong’s advice.  Deadpool’s depression is natural after making the decision that he made to save the entire world.

There is a half page ad for Avengers Forever, by Kurt Busiek and Carlos Paceco.  Such a great series!

Deadpool thinks it is a good idea as getting in a fight does help clear his head.  Deadpool calls his new lady pilot, Ilaney – who I also liked.  Deadpool had such a great supporting cast during this run.

The Next Day.  Ilaney is practicing her English – she’s Swedish, I believe or German.  Deadpool is using his image inducer.  They are in Chinatown of San Francisco.  Doctor Bong, in full costume, is also present.

Deadpool V1 27 Kitty 1

We finally get to the reason why I own this issue!  Kitty Pryde and Wolverine are guest starring!  Seeing Wolverine’s red narration boxes takes me back!  He’s inner monologuing about how smells and memories are so well tied.  Kitty and Wolverine are there to meet Black Crane, who I don’t recognize as a character.

An old lady shop keeper starts poking Wolverine with a stick.  The lady speaks in yellow dialogue balloons, so we know that is Deadpool.  S/he implies that Kitty is a prostitute and Logan is her client.  Wolverine knows it is Deadpool now.

Deadpool V1 27 Kitty 2

Wolverine doesn’t view Deadpool very highly even though he has to look up at most people.  He asks Kitty to phase the old lady, which she does and now everyone sees Deadpool.  Deadpool is embarrassed that now everyone knows about his cross-gender cross-cultural cross-age  cross-dressing!  So very funny!

This is Deadpool and Kitty’s first meeting!  I doubt she has even heard of him, before this moment.  He grossly hits on her, which disgusts her.

Wolverine doesn’t have time for this, he has that meeting to get to.  Deadpool is trying his best to get Wolverine mad, by insulting Kitty.

Deadpool V1 27 Kitty 3

Deadpool grabs Logan’s wrist, he wants to be snikt-ed so hard!  Logan isn’t taking the bait.

Deadpool knows what to do, and he shoryukens Kitty!  She goes flying!  It is now . . . ON!

Morocco.  We check in on Deadpool’s current financial backer – Alestaire Grunch, who is doing an experiment on a cat.  He gets an envelope in the mail and freaks out.

San Francisco.  Doctor Bong is having a fight with his lady friend, Barbara.  She’s not every understanding nor supportive of his new career choice.

We’re treated to an awesome double page spread, of Wolverine in full feral mode, and Deadpool in full pop cultural references mode.

Deadpool V1 27 Kitty 4

Deadpool gets the upper hand and puts a knife in Wolverine’s side.  This shakes Wolverine out of his feral state.

Kitty is slowly getting up from being sucker punched.  Doctor Bong asks her to not get involved in the fight.

Ilaney is shocked by the actions and the people that Deadpool knows, she’s starting to get excited about all of this – which is what Monty was worried would happen.  That Deadpool found this lovely and simple lady and is corrupting her.

There is an ad for Power Rangers Galaxy, for anyone keeping track of that.  I would have stopped watching by this point.  Once Amy Jo Johnson was gone and replaced with Kat who can turn into a cat, I was pretty much done.  Outside of that awesome Forever Red episode.

Wolverine and Deadpool are not able to exchange dialogue, which is all Deapdool wanted.  Plus, they keep fighting, as they are professionals.

A man says Logan’s name, startling Deadpool and he shoots the guy – the guy was Black Crane, who I definitely don’t recognize.

Bullpen Bulletins.  Comics on sale for March 3 –

Cable 67
Captain America : Sentinel of Liberty 9
Daredevil 7
Fantastic Four 17
Spider-Man : Chapter One 0
Thor 11
Uncanny X-Men 368 – Requim for an X-Man!  In the aftermath of “The Magneto War,” X-Men past and present gather at Xavier’s Institute for Higher Learning to bid a final goodbye to their fallen comrade.  By Alan Davis and Adam Kubert.
X-Men Manga 27

Wolverine checks with Black Crane, he’s going to live.  Now that his friend is okay, Wolverine starts to fight Deadpool again.

Deadpool V1 27 Kitty 5

Deadpool’s vision of the lady and the rabbits (who have been present, off and on) are now just standing around.  Deadpool asks Doctor Bong about the meaning of all of this.   Doctor Bong tells him that he is on a cusp of a breakthrough and to confront the hallucinations.

Kitty shouts to Wolverine about how she is stuck in a force field.  Doctor Bong hits the force field to silence her, and offers to give her therapy to work her daddy issues that she has with Wolverine.

Deadpool doesn’t know where to start with chatting with the hallucinations.  They started standing around when Wolverine was going on about the past so Deadpool asks for another story.

Wolverine starts talking for half of a page, all in mid leap!  Good for Ilaney for pointing out how odd that is to be able to do.  Wolverine is talking about how the past will always come back to haunt, so now Deadpool knows where to start.

Deadpool V1 27 Kitty 6

Look how great that two page spread is!

Bong hits the force field again and Kitty swears this is the last time she guest stars in a non-X-Book.  Look at Kitty getting into the fourth wall breaking fun!

Doctor Bong starts psycho-analyzing Deadpool, helping to explain what must be happening in his mind.  All of this is not correct, if I’m remembering the rest of the storyline correctly.  Deadpool is about to recognize who the lady is when . . .

Deadpool V1 27 Kitty 7

Wolverine puts all six claws into Deadpool’s back!  Doctor Bong teleports himself, Ilaney and Deadpool away.

Ilaney is worried about Deadpool but he explains that he has a healing factor.  Deadpool tells Doctor Bong not to worry about who the brunette is, she broke his heart years ago and is dead now.

Epilogue.  Atlanta, Georgia.  We see the brunette, her name is Mercedes (I recall that) and she looks like she’s been running or escaping for a while now.

Such a good issue!

Back cover ad is for The Mod Squad movie, when old shows were getting the revamped movie treatment.  I didn’t watch it and I don’t recall anyone ever seeing it.  I don’t really know the television series either, it isn’t one of those that gets brought up.  Claire Danes, Omar Epps and Giovanni Ribsi are the Mob Squad.  There was a while there, that I was watching every movie Giovanni was making.  I wasn’t seeking him out but he kept coming into films I enjoyed or saw.  Josh Brolin is also in it.

Excalibur 60

Posted by John Klein III on February 1, 2016
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Excalibur 60

Writer Scott Lobdell

Penciler Scott Kolins

Inker Jon Holdredge

Colorist Mike Thomas

Letterer Michael Higgins

Cover Dated Early January 1993

This issue picks up right where the last issue does.  With the All New All Different Excalibur (the name Kitty gave them), which consists of – Shadowcat, Meggan (in disguise), Captain America, Iron Man (but really, it is the War Machine armor, with Rhody in the suit) and Black Panther.  They are trying to defend Wakanda from Icon, who is a wooden tree, given life!  With his touch, he has turn several Wakandians into tree people.

This is such a great line up, I wish they could have their own series!

War Machine doesn’t recognize the name, Excalibur, neither does Black Panther.  Captain America recognizes Meggan, even in her new form, so he knows who she is.  He recognizes Kitty Pryde, of the X-Men but also from her current team, Excalibur.  That Captain America, he stays current!

Since his people’s lives are at stake, Black Panther surrenders his throne.  Since he has done this, willingly, the new team are powerless to do anything about it.  If they did, it would start a war!

Excalibur 60 Lockheed 1

Meggan worries about Brian Braddock, who is Captain Britain but Black Panther didn’t know that, so when Icon appeared, he placed Brian into a safety hut.  For some reason, Braddock keeps his identity secret.  Even though he doesn’t do anything, except be Captain Britain.  Also inside the hut, is Lockheed!

Braddock notices the soft mud, beneath his shoes and starts forming a plan.

Meanwhile, in London, Nightcrawler and Cerise is following the trail of The Knight Errant, who is stopping crime but in a harsh manner.  He’s an old gentleman, so I say, let him go out in style!

Excalibur 60 Lockheed 2

Braddock punches through the mud, can can rejoin the fight!  He doesn’t care that Lockheed may have swallowed some mud!

Icon’s first decision, as King of Wakanda, is to kill Excalibur’s weakness member, well the member he deems the weakest, but he chose the wrong one!  Kitty presses the trigger on the gun, and it blasts her and War Machine!  War Machine learns that she can turn ephemeral.  She brags that is only one of her gifts, she is also great at trigonometry.  In the blast, War Machine’s armor got a super upgrade.

Groot, I mean, Icon, grabs Meggan.

Excalibur 60 Lockheed 3

This upsets Jungle Man (Captain Britain, a la Tarzan, but with brown hair – from the mud), who Kitty names.  Lockheed is right behind him!  War Machine, Black Panther and even Icon, can’t believe yet another hero has arrived!  Yesterday, Wakanda had one defender and now she has seven!

Jungle Man tries to go with the name but tries to give the character a bit of a vocabulary.

 

Excalibur 60 Lockheed 4

Captain America has heard less horrible names.  To which, Jungle Man calls Cap – Star Forehead Man, which is right up there with Hulk’s Wing Head.

Jungle Man is inspired (which ruins the previous joke) to call himself, Captain Wakanda!  Which may be the fastest hero name change, in a while!  Captain Wakanda saves Meggan, who preferred the Jungle Man name.

I do like how, Icon not being familiar with superheroes, just takes it that this team is known as, Excalibur.  War Machine points out that Excalibur is a name for a sword, an English sword – so he isn’t sure why they even have that name!

Previously, Knight Errant discovered a nuclear warhead and took off.  Nightcrawler and Cerise are now talking to Inspector Thomas, about how they didn’t go after the knight, as the warhead was enough of a win.  Over at the Eden Park Nursing Home, Mr. Mason (the knight) is going back to pretending to be a feeble old man.

Wakanda.  Captain Britain thinks to himself, that he has to really understand his powers more.  He is out of his traditional suit, but he should still have his strength and flight powers but he doesn’t.

With the power upgrade, War Machine is able to shut down all of the tech-inspired guns, so now Icon is powerless.  He falls to his knees and reverts back to human.  Black Panther instantly recognizes him as, Dr. A’Kurru, a brilliant scientist.  He blames himself for his daughter’s death as she died from radiation exposure.  Which is the entire reason why all of these heroes are present, as they were at the conference to settle what to do with all of this excess radioactive waste.

Excalibur 60 Lockheed 5

Black Panther forgives the grieving father.  Kitty points out that Icon’s issue was about to be resolved, on its own so everything is okay.

Not a bad issue!

Sword Strokes, has letters from – Michael D. Krabbenholt of Maquoketa, IA / Mike Shamoto of Pearl City, HI / Matt Schrot of Newton, MA / Mr. Joey Marchese of Union, NJ and Dachelle Skipwith of Covina, CA.

Back cover ad is for the Super NES Hook game.

. . .

We kick off the Lockheed portion of the month with the last issue of Scott Lobdell’s brief run on the title, before Alan Davis and Mark Farmer take it back, which we will review in our next installment.

New Mutants Volume One Issue 34

Posted by John Klein III on January 31, 2016
Posted in: Reviews. Tagged: , , , , , . Leave a comment

New Mutants V1 34

Writer Chris Claremont

Artist Steve Leialoha

Colorist Glynis Oliver

Letterers Buhalis & Orzechowski

Cover Dated December 1985

So last issue, it looked like Magik betrayed the team to Shadow King, who is currently using Karma’s body, as a host.  Warlock isn’t happy about that.

New Mutants V1 34 Magik 1

Warlock is out to hurt Magik!  Which is silly, as Magik can defeat every member of the team, but I guess trying deserves a few points.

New Mutants V1 34 Magik 2

Magik believes that Warlock has been given some bad advice from that always-scheming S’ym.  Since this fight is happening in Limbo, the demons of the realm want to help their boss.  I could always be down for a miniseries or ongoing, of just the politics of Limbo, as I can only imagine that Magik has a slew of contacts and friends there.  Will, not anymore, since she absorbed the region, but during the classic years.

Warlock wants to attack but Dani told him never to absorb living matter, unless she told him too.  Since she is a hostage of Karma, all bets are off!

New Mutants V1 34 Magik 3

He turns two of the demons into techno-organic matter, so that he can absorb them, properly.  Magik knows that this is her fate, if Warlock has his way.  But she governs this realm, and can do anything she desires.  I like how she refers to it as “my magick is law” does she pronounce it with a very hard k?

Magik changes from her New Mutants uniform to a powder blue dress, to calm him down.  She looks so different, dressed like an innocent girl.  She tells him that she has a plan and he is important to it.  Warlock is still not trusting of her, so if he wants to kill her, she won’t stop him.  This conflict blows up his head, as they are friends.

My copy is in VF condition, which I normally don’t really notice it but this copy of the issue, has some thick inks over some words.

Warlock starts melting, so disappointed in himself.  She gives him a very encouraging pep talk and he is back together.  I do like how he keeps calling her, OnceFriend.  Like Doug is, TrueFriend, and I want to say he calls Wolfsbane, FirstFriend.

Magik opens a scrying pool, to spy on Karma.  So they must not know that she is being controlled by the Shadow King, yet.  The rest of the New Mutants and Storm, are Karma’s prisoners and puppets.

Karma has instructed Storm to humiliate her body and have her soul savaged.  Since this goes against Storm’s true nature, she starts fighting the command.  Karma brags that only Xavier can resister her commands.

Illyana feels horrible, as she herself has been made into a slave of a foul and cruel master.

I do like Karma insulting her clientele, loud enough for everyone to hear.  They may think her disgusting but her club, Pharaoh, is the hottest place to be.

Karma starts toying with Storm, stating that Storm knows Karma’s true identity, that of Xavier’s oldest, bitterest and deadliest foe.  I suppose that is up for debate, who is the biggest opponent of Xavier’s, Magneto or Shadow King?  I think as exclusively Xavier villains, the Shadow King gets the point but I feel like Storm shares him with Xavier.  Magneto is more of a team villain but so is Shadow King.

Karma King’s big goal, for the night, is to do some psychic operations, to ensure that her puppets are her’s for all time.

Cairo, twenty years ago.  So Storm must be 26 or 28, I can buy that.  We see (as does Magik and Warlock) Ororo stealing Xavier’s wallet.  Xavier stops Ororo but then Xavier is stopped by an unknown force (Shadow King).  I adore how happy Magik is, with herself, for getting a time jump correct.

Magik witnesses the great mental battle of Xavier v Amahl Farouk, the Shadow King.  I love that Leialoha doesn’t cut to the astral plane.  We see Xavier sit down, Farouk fall face first onto a table and Xavier get up.  That is how you do it!

New Mutants V1 34 Magik 4

Magik uses some sweet deduction skills, and figure out that Farouk may have physically died but may have lived on, psychically.  I do like how of the New Mutants, Magik and Warlock have the least experience with Karma, so they are having to figure out why this former team member has turn bad.

Warlock brings up the excellent point, that they should probably call the X-Men, but FriendIllyana tells him that they don’t have any time, after tonight, the stakes will be at an all time low, as Karma would permanently have control of their friends and Storm.

Is the kiss to Warlock, Magik’s first kiss?  It is on the check but still,, it should count.

Pharoh.  Shade-ma (Shadow King / Karma) tells Ororo how Shadow King survived.  Once his body was dead, he escaped onto the Astral Plane.  It took a while for him to focus, and once he did, he found Karma in a weaken form.  Shadow King’s scheme is to find another body, and leave Karma to be arrested for his crimes.  Plus, super overweight.  Shadow King plans on having Storm kill Xavier, which would be a bonus.

There is a two page ad for the NBC Saturday Morning lineup –

1985-1986
Snorks
Adventures of Gummi Bears
Smurfs
Punky Brewster
Alvin & the Chipmunks
Kidd Video
Mr. T
Spider-Man & His Amazing Friends
Plus : One to Grow On

During Shadow Karma’s big speech, Illyana interrupts, like a boss!  One can’t merely lock a door, against a teleporter.  Magik wants to be Shadow Karma’s partner.  S/he wants to seal the deal with a kiss.

New Mutants V1 34 Magik 5

Shadow Karma starts crushing Illyana’s hands. As this is happening, Illyana is teleporting the team away.  As her hands are about to be crushed, her entire body melts away.  It was never Magik, it was Warlock!  Which is pretty awesome of Claremont, as I wouldn’t have anticipated that.  Thanks to their unique abilities, Shadow Karma wouldn’t have been able to read either of Magik and Warlock’s minds, so this twist is a real surprised.

Since Magik brought the team to Limbo, she can undo any damage anyone did, as in Limbo – she rules supreme.  The team returns, super enraged and ready for a battle!  Dani makes FarouKarma (Warock’s name and it really does work!) see their worst nightmare, which is invading helicopters in Vietnam.  So Karma is in confront.

New Mutants V1 34 Magik 6

Poor Karma, wakes up, possibly in the worst situation.  Cannonbal and Sunspot are quick to think that Farouk has jumped into another body.  Wolfsbane is taken out, as she would be able to detect his presence.

Illyana shouts that Farouk must be in Storm’s body and jumps at her, with soulsword primed to strike!

The Checklist –

New Mutants 34
Squadron Supreme 4
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe 1, completely revised and up-dated!
Power Pack 17
Micronaunts 15
Alpha Flight 29
Longshot 4 – guest-starring Spider-Man and She-Hulk
Vision and Scarlet Witch 3
ROM Annual 4- Guest-starring Gladiator and the Imperial Guard, from the X-Men!
Marvel Heroes for Hope – A special event featuring the X-Men
ROM 73
Nightcrawler 2
X-Men 200 – Magneto is tried before the World Court in Paris, in this anniversary double-sized issue
X-Men / Alpha Flight 1 – Mutants united to battle the menace of Loki!  Special cross-over with the New Mutants Special 1
Secret Wars II 6 – Featuring the greatest super hero of all — The Beyonder!  With Cloak & Dagger, Power Pack, the Micronauts Thor, Power Man and Iron Fist!
New Mutants Special 1 – Up against the combined might of Loki and the Enchantress by Claremont, Art Adams and Austin!  Special cross-over with X-Men / Alpha Flight 1.
Marvel Agge 33 – A first look at X-Factor!

New Mutants V1 34 Magik 7

Magik does a classic fake out and stabs Doug!  oh Dani, she says (very loudly) that Doug is their weakest member!  That’s pretty harsh!  Pretty good plan, on Farouk’s part.  That could have been a decent What If, right there!

Storm fights DougFarouk but Karma gets to give the finishing blow.  Cool visuals, Doug v Karma, until we cut to the Astral Plane.  We get to see Karma’s original skinny body.

New Mutants V1 34 Magik 8

Shadow King escapes.  Karma freaks out, as she rather die than have him take over her body again.  Karma starts straight weeping, as she is super overweight and ashame of everything that has gone on.  The team promises to stick with her, and will get her back to normal.  Which segues us to New Mutants Special Edition, where Karma will lose all of the weight due to Loki putting her in the middle of a desert, and letting her walk it off.  That Loki, he is a good guy.

There is a house ad for Nightcrawler’s original miniseries, that is awesome, written and drawn by legend – Dave Cockrum.  The minsieries also guest stars Lockheed!

Inside back cover is for Secret Wars II 6 with its tie in issues – Thor 363, Micronauts 16, Power Man and Iron Fist 121, Power Pack 16 and Cloak and Dagger 5.

. . .

So again, long time readers know this – but today is my birthday.  I am now 34 years old today – hence the issue 34 reviews.  I’m a clever one.

Please come back tomorrow for the beginning of . . . Lockpool Month!  Or, Deadheed Month!  We are going to do both Lockheed Month and Deadpool!  Sort of like last August, when I tried to do both Big Brother and a proper Fantastic Four Event Month.  I’m hoping it all works out though.

Greatest WWE Match of All Time

Posted by John Klein III on January 30, 2016
Posted in: Uncategorized. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

Thanks to DailyMotion’s Rock Wrestling Inc for hosting the video!

Wrestlemania 21 (2005) gave us Shawn Michaels v Kurt Angle in the greatest match up of all time!  These two technicians gave us everything they had and then some!

The entire PPV was worth it just for these two fighting each other!

Groot 2

Posted by John Klein III on January 29, 2016
Posted in: Reviews. Tagged: , , , , , . Leave a comment

Groot 2

Writer Jess Loveness

Artist Brian kesinger

Letterer Jeff Eckleberry

Cover Artists Declan Shalvey & Jordie Bellaire

I bought this for the cover.  So great that Kitty, Illyana and Rachel all made the cover, if only Lockheed did too!

Groot 2 Recap

Last issue, Groot and Rocket were on their way to Earth when a bounty hunter, Eris, captured Rocket and now Groot has to get him back.

Issue opens with Grrot’s fantasy of Earth superheroes, all appearing like Groot and all speaking his language.  We see Groot inspired – Hulk, Spider-Man, Wolverine, Iceman, Falcon, Iron Man, Scarlet Witch, Cyclops, Black Panther, Howard the Duck, Thing, Doctor Strange, Elektra and Utau the Watcher.  The fantasy continues as we see – Galactus, Captain America, Thor, Human Torch, Invisible Woman, Colossus and Storm.

This series takes place prior to Secret Wars 2015.

Turns out, this sequence was brought on due to Groot getting hit by a space bus.  Groot falls off the buss and we get a flashback to how Groot and Rocket met each other.

Years ago.  These jerkwad guards are harassing Groot, as he can only say – I am Groot.  Groot has enough and fights back, and is thrown into, The Pt.  In there, is also Rocket.  They spend so much time together, that Rocket eventually learns Groot’s language.

One day, the power goes out and Rocket and Groot fight a slew of guards and escape the prison.

Groot finds a tracker that can guide him to Rocket, when he is struck by something.  Issue ends with the reveal that Silver Surfer and his female companion, Dawn Greenwood, were the ones that hit Groot.  Silver Surfer gets the fun line of “He is Groot.”

The Letters page – Looseleaf – has letters from Mason, Cathy U, Anthony B, Jose S, Kevin Dean and Paul Abramowitz.   I sent an e-mail to mheroes@marvel.com – we will see if it gets printed.

Pretty nice issue.

Gypsy Stories

Posted by John Klein III on January 28, 2016
Posted in: Websites. Tagged: . Leave a comment

So I just typed all of this for my X-Men Classic 49 review but thought it would work as a separate post.

When I was a child, I didn’t respect the whole ‘fortune teller’ gimmick and the lady probably picked up on that at the state festival.  She read a few cards, showed them to me and told me that I was going to die on August 23, 2023.  She didn’t give me the date but told me this sequence of numbers that if I did it right (the memory of the math hasn’t stuck with me like the original plot and the date has).  So that has messed me up and I want to say I was ten or eleven at the time.

My second experience with gypsies came on the last day of the Shakespearean Festival that a club I was part of went to in Phoenix.  Money was running low and we were just trying to get back to the bus.  This was circa May 2000, or right before it as I was definitely a senior at that point.  This lady tried to get my attention and to buy a chocolate covered frozen banana.  I like bananas but never been a huge chocolate fan.  Plus it was frozen, I didn’t want to deal with all that and so I turn it down.  She aggressively tried to bargain with me (not sure why it was so important to her) and I again turn her down.  Then she placed a curse on me that whenever I see a chocolate cover frozen banana, I will instantly start desiring one and my mouth will start watering.

Which just typing all of that, has made my mouth water.  It is so silly but I’ve been cursed!  The only time I’ve seen one or had it offered to me is at the Prospect Avenue Dairy Queen.  It was a sign on their drive through window.  I read the sign and my mouth starts to water.  Good thing they didn’t ask me if I wanted one!

So those two stories and Doctor Doom, are my only experience with gypsies.

What I need is a positive experience with a gypsy.

http://www.7is7.com/otto/countdown.html?year=2023&month=8&date=23&ts=24&hrs=0&min=0&sec=0&lang=en&show=YMWdhms&mode=t&cdir=down&bgcolor=%23CCFFFF&fgcolor=%23000000&title=Countdown%20To%20Death

I could not figure out a way to get it to just show up here.

Ooof, I am getting older as nine years is so much less than the 30 years I remember thinking was forever from now.  By August 23, 2023 – I would be 41 which now seems too young.

Howard the Duck Volume Five Issue 4

Posted by John Klein III on January 27, 2016
Posted in: Reviews, Websites. Tagged: , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Howard the Duck 4

Writer Chip “Stan Lee” Zdarsky

Artist Joe “Stanley Lieber” Quinones

Additional Inks Joe “The Man” Rivera

Color Artists Rico “Excelsior” Renzi & Rachelle “Face Front” Rosenberg

Letterer Travis “True Believer” Lanham

Howard the Duck 4 Recap Page

I like comics that have fun recap pages, this one makes me want to check out the previous issues.  Squirrel Girl’s recap pages are pretty fun too.  Previously, in this series – Howard the Duck took on a case where he was hired to locate a lost necklace.  He found it, somehow ended up in space with a guest appearance by Rocket.  He got back to Earth and Aunt May (that one!) ended up stealing the necklace.  This was part of a scheme the Ringmaster (of Circus of Crime fame), that involved getting the elderly to commit his crimes.  Turns out, the guy who hired Howard, was Talos the Untamed!

http://marvel.wikia.com/Talos_(Earth-616)

A character Peter David created, along with Gary Frank, way back in June 1994 in the pages of Incredible Hulk 418.

http://www.milehighcomics.com/cgi-bin/backissue.cgi?action=list&title=42172865216&publisher=MV&snumber=441&instock=1

Which is the issue that Rick Jones married Marlo during.  Mile High Comics, at the most expensive, has a copy for $7.20 or $2, if you don’t mind having dulexe edition.  The cheapest is $2.35 or $1.50, the deluxe being a lower quality so I would go with the cheaper but Fine quality but I’m not really sure what the difference between the DeluxeNews and the Special versions.

Talos has twelve appearances.

Onto the issue.  Detective Mike is also getting a recap from Howard.  It has been thirty minutes, since the previous issue.  Howard the Duck used his Duck-Fu to fight Talos.  Peter Parker is not happy that his never-dying aunt was used as a pawn.

The Next Day in New! York! Cityyyyy!  Howard is telling his friend, Tara Tam, that he is going to keep investigating the necklace.  He is going to go consort his old friend, Doctor Strange – from the cover.  I like how Editor Wil Moss (who probably don’t have time for two l’s) instructs that we look at the cover, to see who Doctor Strange is.

Greenwich Village, NYC.  Yes, it is a village inside a city, just go with it.  Wong, at Doctor Strange’s Sanctum Sanctorum, tries to cover for the good doctor, as he is busy at the moment – in a different dimension.  Howard, knowing that he can help with that, jumps into the portal.  Tara stays back, as she doesn’t like magic.

Howard using some Duck-Fu on some demons and finds Strange, at a poker game!  Strange, sometimes, makes up these elaborate tales, so that he can spend a few minutes away from Wong.

Once back, Howard takes the opportunity to use this information to tell Wong and Tara that he saved Strange’s life.  Strange, not wanting to lose his cover story or the ability to use a cover story, to have to swallow his pride and confirmed that Howard did save his life.  So funny.

Strange reveals that there is a second famous, gauntlet, the Abundant Glove.  The gems that go onto it are – Compassion / Laughter / Dance / Respect / A Second Dance Gem.  It is clearly the B-Grade hand accessory.  It is the Mark Wahlberg to Matt Damon’s Infinity Gauntlet.  Strange has found the location of the gem and the trio (minus Wong) go on a slight trip.

Soon.  Shortly.  Soonly.  The trio run into Human Torch, who gives a little background on his experience with the gem.

Howard the Duck 4 Kitty Pryde Mention

We get to the reason why I bought this issue!  Good ol’ Colossus cheating on Kitty with Zsaji, keeps paying off with my Marvel purchases.

I like how Johnny Storm refers to his shameless flirting as “Captain Kirking” but the responses from the ladies is to be disgusted.  Awesome use of ‘new continuity’ by having Deadpool being present in Secret Wars.  I thought it was just the cover blurb about the new miniseries.  That’s a fun synergy.

Also great?  That Spider-Man panel, the middle outfit is the outfit Peter Parker wore in Amazing Fantasy 15!

So great, that the present day scene takes place at the Fantastic Four’s Pier 4 headquarters.  Johnny brought the gem home and just lost it, in the move or sometime later.

Now this new group of four go to Bohemian Valhalla, where cool warriors chill.  One-bedrooms starting at $850.00, opening Fall 2015.

I do like the Human Torch thinking that the trio were the current roster for the Defenders, with Strange leading them.

The heroes get to the corner where the gem should be and a huge explosion occurs.

Issue ends with Talos the Untamed, with the Abundant Glove – fully stocked.

There is a huge back up feature, drawn by Katie Cook and colored by Heather Breckel.  It stars Howard the Duck, White Rabbit (who I feel like I just saw in another comic, not too long ago) and Ant Man.

The Letters Page, Feather Regons – has letters from – “Quack” Goettemoeller, Jack Cooper of Cardiff, Wales and Adam.  I sent a letter, we’ll see if it ever gets printed.

Ogun

Posted by John Klein III on January 26, 2016
Posted in: Uncategorized. Tagged: . Leave a comment

Kitty’s only true arch nemesis, an enemy so connected with her that she’s had three miniseries that have dealt with him.

She first met Ogun, who was one of Wolverine’s sensei back in the day – which was a Wednesday, in Kitty Pryde and Wolverine.  Which I really do enjoy the fact that she got top billing in her first miniseries and over Wolverine, that’s pretty impressive!

Then SHIELD recruits her in Kitty Pryde : Agent of SHIELD, as Ogun’s spirit is haunting one of their hellicarriers.

Kitty Pryde : Shadow and Flame – has her dealing with his clan that is trying to keep his memory alive.

He has also shown up in various issues of Wolverine – which makes sense.

So of his 23 appearances, I am only missing three of them.  Which means I own 87 percent of his appearance.

Ogun has a cult following in Shadow and Flame as well as an appearance in X-Men Legacy 2 & 3 where he also had a clan following.

I am missing the three issues of Wolverine Saga that he appearances in. Issue two is also on my wishlist. Wolverine Saga is essentially a retelling of Wolverine’s life concluding in 1989. Which sounds pretty ambitious.

Ogun is another character, clearly, that I am making a point of collecting.  Usually, he just shows up whenever Logan thinks of all of his enemies he has fought.

The only other foe of Kitty’s I can think of is Alice Tremaine, the leader of the Purity division at the University of Chicago.  I own every appearance she has made, which is only eight.  I’m missing Uncanny X-Men 449.

Deadpool’s Secret Secret Wars 2

Posted by John Klein III on January 25, 2016
Posted in: Reviews, Websites. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Deadpool's Secret Secret Wars 2

Writer Cullen Bunn

Artist Matteo Lolli

Colorist Ruth Redmond

Letterer VC’s Joe Sabino

Now.  Battleworld.  Deadpool is still under the impression that the heroes are dead.  Just then the Lizard jumps at him, as Lizard is under the impression that Deadpool may be the one who broke Wasp’s heart.  So did Deadpool get Magneto’s role from the original Secret Wars story?  Deadpool admits to Wasp using and seducing him, so that doesn’t help matters.  Deadpool ends up ripping off Lizard’s tail, which seems rather harsh.

A Few Days Earlier.  Deadpool is with the X-Men as they prepare to leave the hero’s base for Magneto’s.  We get some funny comments from Deadpool here.  Storm states that they will bear no oppression and Deadpool chimes in that they will also not oppress any bears.  Wolverine sees where this is heading and tells Deadpool that he isn’t a mutant, thus he shouldn’t be there.  Deadpool defends himself – Wolverine stabs things, so does he.  Storm has control over lightning but he can sense the electricity.  Strangely, he states that he can’t teleport like Nightcrawler, which throughout his first ongoing, he was teleporting all over the place – so maybe that came with the Joe Kelly’s legendary run?

Xavier senses Spider-Man and we get that quick fight where Spider-Man defends himself against the entire X-Men, which still seems out of place.

Brian Cronin of Comics Should Be Good, writes more about it her e-

http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2015/04/02/the-wrong-side-spider-man-vs-the-x-men/

Then keeps making fun references to it, whenever Spider-Man is featured in The Wrong Side feature –

http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/category/the-wrong-side/

or really, whenever he can bring up Spider-Man, he mentions how Spider-Man trounced the X-Men to great humorous effect.

Spider-Man runs off and Deadpool gives chase.  Spider-Man wants to find the other heroes and snitch on the defectors.

Deadpool's Secret Secret Wars 2 Lockheed 1 Shield

Spider-Man enters a room full with shields, with images of events the series, both of the past and yet to come scenarios.

We get a pretty nice Deadpool v Spider-Man fight sequence.  The fight ends with Spider-Man swinging Deadpool into the shields and he webslings away.

Deadpool grabs a shield and meets back up with Xavier and Wolverine.  Xavier has mind wiped Spider-Man, so the X-Men’s plan is okay.  Xavier senses some sort of psychic energy off of Deadpool’s sword.  We get the image of Ryan Reynolds, as Deadpool, spoofing Burt Reynolds’ pose on the carpet in front of a fireplace.

Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool spoofing Burt Reynolds

Now.  Deadpool is trying to talk sense into Lizard.  Deadpool tells Lizard that he is trying to save the Wasp, which calms Lizard down.

That Time With The Mountain.  The classic moment from Secret Wars 4, with the mountain being dropped on the heroes, including Deadpool.  Hulk is holing it up as Reed tries to make a machine to free them.  Deadpool takes on the role of angering the Hulk, which frees up Reed.

There is a fun gag about Deadpool trying to make Captain America jealous as Deadpool’s shield showed him pictures and all Cap’s shield does is be thrown.  Reed takes the machinery out of Deadpool’s shield, which Deadpool is sure that Cap must be happy about that.

Now.  Lizard tells Deadpool that Wasp fixed up Lizard’s arm, which is why he is so protective of her.

Earlier.  Zsaji, the healer, is healing She-Hulk.  She-Hulk sees that Deadpool is hurting but he is only hurting emotionally as he misses his shield.  She tells him to go get healed, which Zsaji is just finishing up with Human Torch.  She heals Deadpool, and with the cancer gone, he is handsome and mustachio.  He picks her up and proclaims his love for her.  We can see that Human Torch never got to bag her, so that probably means Colossus will not be falling for her either.

The issue ends with the shield flickering to life and showing Deadpool holding Zsaji in that classic Pieta pose.

Next issue promises to deal with Secret Wars 8 with the symbiotic black costume but on Deadpool!  of course

2015 X-Books Awards Results

Posted by John Klein III on January 24, 2016
Posted in: Lists. Tagged: . Leave a comment

WorstBlogEver announced the winners!

http://community.comicbookresources.com/showthread.php?67378-2015-X-Book-Awards-The-Results

FINAL RESULTS:

1/18/2016
Best Onomatopoeia
Winner: CRACK
Doom breaking Cyclops’ neck in Secret Wars 2015 4

Best Quote
2nd Runner-up: “I want them to see the Wolverine coming.“- X-23
1st Runner-up: “Of course i was &#$% right!” – Inferno’s Cyclops

Winner: “To me, my X-Men!“- Storm
from Extraordinary X-Men

Most Bizarre Moment (Rouge Mort Trophy)
Winner: The Utopians

Most Shocking Moment
Winner: God Doom breaks Cyclops’ neck!
Secret Wars 2015 4

Funniest Moment
Winner: Gabby the Clone saves fingers
All New Wolverine

Best Fight/Battle
2nd Runner-up: Civil War Storm vs. Civil War Iron Man
1st Runner-up: God Doom vs. Cyclops, Secret Wars 2015 4
Winner: Martha Johansson vs. Rachel Grey
Spider-Man and the X-Men

Best Death:
2nd Runner-up: Matthew Malloy, Uncanny X-Men Volume Three
1st Runner-up: Clone X-23_3PAR, All New X-Men
Winner: Cyclops

Secret Wars 2015 4

1/19/2016
Best Romance/Kiss:
Winner: Kitty Pryde and Star Lord, I voted for this one!

Best Crossover
2nd Runner-up: Last Days of . . . Magneto, I read the final issue
1st Runner-up: Black Vortex, I’m a fan
Winner: Secret Wars 2015, not enough X-Involvement (in the series proper) but it was the defining crossover of the year

Low Point of the Year
Winner: Handling of the Outgoing of Teen Iceman, All New X-Men 40

High Point of the Year
Winner: Teen Iceman comes out, All New X-Men 40

Most Missed Character
2nd Runner-up: Warpath
1st Runner-up: Banshee
Winner: Dani Moonstar, two years running now

Best Debut Character
2nd Runner-up : The Endless Summers, Siege

I was stumped for this category, I should have said Magik from Siege and Kitty Pryde from “Star Lord and Kitty Pryde”

1st Runner-up: Azimuth, Extraordinary X-Men

Winner: Bo! Who I actually voted for! Glad others thought of her too.

Breakthrough Character
Winner: Sunspot, Avengers

Best Mutant Appearing Outside an X-book
2nd Runner-up: Dazzler, A-Force
1st Runner-up: Sunspot, Avengers
Winner: Rogue, Uncanny Avengers

1/20/2016
Least Favorite Villain(s)
2nd Runner-up: Luminous, Uncanny Avengers
1st Runner-up: Mathew Malloy, Uncanny X-Men
Winner: Mystique, Wolverines

Best Villain(s)
2nd Runner-up: Magik of Inferno, so dark and twisted!
1st Runner-up: Goblyn Queen of Inferno, I would have switched these two
Winner: Mister Sinister, Secret Wars 2015, Age of Apocalypse, Inferno and A-Force (he got around)

Least Favorite Hero
2nd Runner-up: Beast
1st Runner-up: Fantomex (X-Force)
Winner: Teen Jean Grey (All New X-Men)

Best Hero
2nd Runner-up: Magneto
1st Runner-up: Magik
Winner: Storm

1/21/2016
Least Favorite Cover
2nd Runner-up: Uncanny X-Men 600 Morlock Cover, also the Paul Smith variant, which means it should be on a least favorite list!
1st Runner-up: Age of Apocalypse 4
Winner: E is for Extinction 4

I didn’t buy any of these!

Best Cover
2nd Runner-up: Storm Volume Three Issue 10
1st Runner-up: All New Wolverine 1 Hip Hop Variant
Winner: Storm Volume Three Issue 11

I also don’t own any of these!

Best One-Shot
2nd Runner-up: Guardians of the Galaxy & X-Men : Black Vortex – Omega 1
1st Runner-up: Guardians of the Galaxy & X-Men : Black Vortex – Alpha 1
Winner: Uncanny X-Men 600

Least Favorite Miniseries
2nd Runner-up: Age of Apocalypse Volume Three
1st Runner-up: Secret Wars 2015
Winner: E is for Extinction

Best Miniseries
2nd Runner-up: Siege, Volume Two – so good!
1st Runner-up: Inferno – so twisted!
Winner: X-Men 92

1/22/2016
Least Favorite Story from a Single X-Title
2nd Runner-up: Counter-Evolution – Uncanny Avengers Volume Two
1st Runner-up: The Last Will and Testament of Charles Xavier – Uncanny X-Men Volume Three
If only it was four issues and two issues of fallout, it probably would have been better
Winner: Utopians – All New X-Men
So many missed opportunities

Best Story from a Single X-Title
2nd Runner-up: Bring the Thunder – Storm Volume Three
1st Runner-up: Once and Future Juggernaut – Amazing X-Men Volume Two
Lots of fun moments!
Winner: Last Days of Magneto – Magneto Volume Three

Least Favorite Ongoing
2nd Runner-up: Spider-Man and the X-Men
The one issue I read of it, wasn’t that bad
1st Runner-up: All New X-Men Volume One
Winner: Uncanny X-Men Volume Three
Bendis lost some luster on his run, towards the end, too many place holders
Best Ongoing
2nd Runner-up: Amazing X-Men Volume Two
1st Runner-up: Storm Volume Three
Winner: Magneto Volume Three

Best Artist
2nd Runner-up: Chris Bachalo
1st Runner-up: Victor Inanez
Winner: Andrea Sorrentino

Best Writer:
2nd Runner-up: Greg Pak
1st Runner-up: Simon Spurrier
Winner: Cullen Bunn

Thanks WBE for compiling the list!