"Split."

Bit of a transitional one here, I think. We'll see if the Eye of Agamotto meant anything later...maybe! But, you probably remember in Avengers: Infinity War, Strange tells Ebony Maw "You'll find a dead man's spell very hard to break." Would killing him have tied the Eye to him somehow? Or was Strange bluffing? I felt like it was at least some bluff; like Strange at best could've maybe held up the works there. (And of course, it might not work like that in the 616 proper.)

Also, Death's Head did not originate on earth; at least not according to the Marvel Database. I figure he was created for something, but decided "no thanks" and split instead, for the lucrative and rewarding field of freelancing. Why DH needs the money, uh...I feel like he drinks. Maybe not like Machine Man, but still. He can't be spending all his money on capes...  

The overall effect is like Wanda declined a Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Award.

It's weird that Marvel decided they should name a title after their in-universe Necronomicon, and it's weirder that for copyright reasons they're probably going to publish something under that title every so often from now on: there were a bunch in 2021-2022. It's maybe weirdest that thanks to the movies, it's not completely inconceivable that someone might have heard of it! This issue, probably not so much. From 1993, Darkhold: Pages From the Book of Sins #7, "Day of Infamy" Written by Chris Cooper, pencils by Rurik Tyler, inks by Bud LaRosa.

A fairly typical Marvel-misunderstanding brawl between the "Darkhold Redeemers" and Modred the Mystic versus the Scarlet Witch, Agatha Harkness, and Doctor Strange; gets out of hand when they are dive bombed by Japanese Zeros, as in the attack on Pearl Harbor. (Which they point out later, wasn't near Maui!) Wanda stops one of the Zeros, which explodes into a torrent of slime--excuse me, "mnemonic ectoplasm." As Harkness explains how the goo resonates with the human mind and could be potentially limitless, Modred tells them good luck with that, and moves to bail. Strange then tells him he can't, he's under contract; or rather geas. Strange had tricked him: while Modred was bleeding, he swore at Strange that he wouldn't "leave this soil 'till I'm driven hence in defeat!" This is what trash-talking gets you.

The series regulars, the "Darkhold Redeemers"--Montesi, Buchanan, and Professor Hastings--try to find the Darkhold page presumably at the heart of the problem; while Wanda hits the ectoplasm with a hex, that could have an unpredictable effect. Modred goes for a drastic solution, then: if the volcano on Maui were to blow, and everyone on the island were dead, the ectoplasm wouldn't have any memories to react off of, and problem solved!

The Redeemers find an old man, a soldier who was bitter that after all the death he had seen, now the Japanese "were taking over!" Confronted by the horror he was causing, he reins it back in, remembering the dwarf that gave him the Darkhold page, who I don't think the Redeemers had seen before. He dies, and the slime recedes. Presumably, Strange takes care of the volcano, and now the heroes realize the Redeemers were on the side of good...if untrained, largely powerless, and completely outgunned. Still held by the geas, Modred is left trapped on Maui--oh, my heart bleeds--while Strange acknowledges he would probably figure out how to free himself sooner or later. And on the flight home, Buchanan claims to have an idea, how to gather up all the loose pages of the Darkhold, in one fell swoop...I have my doubts. Buchanan was very much the Scully of the group, so I'm not sure where he's going there, and the next issue-box teases "Betrayal, part one!" Modred didn't count, so there were only three characters, and one betrays the others? Feels too early in the game for that, too. 

We've seen horror stuff from Rurik Tyler before; but I remember him mostly for What The--?! strips. Still, Darkhold fell into the same trap as Warheads: starting with an artist with a really distinctive look, then losing them almost immediately.

A Joker what's funny? Must be so many universes away.

I was having another of those "geez, did I even read any comics last week?" moments; just long enough to not feel great about it. Then I remembered, oh yeah, didn't I read like all of the 1997 and 1998 Tangent Comics? Like 18 comics in one sitting? I think their version of the Flash was the breakout; and it's a fun book to be sure: a girl born in space with a ton of light powers, has wacky hijinks with her stage-manager of a mom and her dad working for the eeeeeeevil secret-government conspiracy trying to capture her but repeatedly failing in slapstick fashion. (The conspiracy stuff is gloomy and dead-serious across the rest of the Tangent titles, except for her dad!) I liked this one better, although it may or may not have more jokes: from 1997, Tangent Comics/the Joker #1, "Laugh 'till it Hurts!" Written by Karl Kesel, pencils by Matt Haley, inks by Tom Simmons. 

The Tangent Universe was pretty divergent from our world or the usual DCU, since Cuba and Florida were destroyed in a worst-case version of the Cuban Missile Crisis. 35 years later, New Atlantis was a thriving metropolis (not that one!) built out of Atlanta; and now home to new cop John Keel, and mysterious vigilante the Joker. Joker seems to be giving Keel the business, but lures him into giving chase, only to instead find midget mobster Doll Man and his thugs tied up and ready for jail.

Not letting it go, Keel tries to get background on the Joker, and from reporter Lori Lemaris he gets a couple of rumored origins for her, that probably aren't even close. He also tries Higher Atlantis University, where we meet meek Mary Marvel, mocked by a classmate as "girl of a thousand gimmicks." Then, wannabe cult leader Brother Power tries to preach the gospel of the Joker, who is not having it; and shuts down her prospective followers by asking them to follow her, as she leaps off a building.

Keel gets jumped by the Joker, and wakes up in a virtual reality nightmare, part-Joker, part family history: although he had been following orders, his father had been the soldier that launched the missile strike that destroyed Cuba and Florida. After the bomb goes up, Keel comes out of it, in Madame Xanadu's "VR-cade." But, when he catches up to the Joker, he thinks she might have inadvertently revealed her true origin: she was probably the child of survivors of the missile strike, who would have been severely irradiated. They're then interrupted by Doll Man's girlfriend and muscle, Big Barda!

In the end, Keel thinks he maybe understands the Joker, but also knows nothing; and the reader doesn't yet either! There's a brief peek at Joker's hideout, with masks that resemble Lori Lemaris, Mary Marvel, and Madame Xanadu; implying she was all of them. Which would make for a busy day! (No spoilers, but the sequel seemingly backpedals on that.) 

The Tangent Universe was maybe DC's only fifth-week event that they ever revisited; and they still show up here and there. I don't know if this Joker is used much, though; since her cheerful anarchy is now 100% Harley Quinn's schtick, and Kesel has his own Impossible Jones too. (It's great, grab it if you see it!)  

Try a silent page, yes?

I'm out today, or I guess tonight when I usually write these, so why not a Death's Head page? We saw the original issue some time back, but this is from the reprint: from 1993, the Incomplete Death's Head #6, reprinting 1989's Death's Head #5, "Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling!" Written by Simon Furman, art by John Higgins.

This would have been after Death's Head II had taken over, and the brief framing sequence finds him speed-running through the original's memories, which seemed to involve punching them again. (Maybe written by Dan Abnett, maybe art by Simon Coleby.)

From the monkeys on the cover, I was sure this was going to adapt a different story.

I had an eye appointment the other day, and had my pupils dilated for a bit, so I wandered around the mall until I felt like driving. Which got me this book! Haruki Murakami Manga Stories, volume 2, adapted by Jean-Christophe Deveney and PMGL. 

Haruki Murakami is one of my favorite writers; although if you asked me what any one of his novels was about, it's tough to break down. Although, with the three monkeys on the cover of this one, I thought it was going to adapt this brief sequence from The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle. 

 Shoot, there's two more volumes of this; I'll have to keep an eye out.

"Ergonomic."

I know Marvel has a TVA book out now, but I haven't really glanced at it: I believe it featured Spider-Gwen, Captain Carter, and a Gambit variant. I wonder if they snuck Judge Dredd-pastiche Justice Peace in there too. (Throw Justice Peace into a wave with Spawn-alike Nightwatch; shots fired!)  

My dad (who has a mustache somewhere between Mobius and Ned Flanders!) used to have a kneeling chair for his back; something I've considered but that I don't seem to find at Office Depot or anything? It also feels like that should be cheaper than a regular chair but somehow isn't. 

"Pantheon" is apparently one of those names everybody gets a shot at.

I'm more familiar with the Marvel version from Peter David's Hulk run, but DC took a run at it first: from 1983, World's Finest #296, "The Pantheon, Part 1: A World Upheaval!" Written by David Anthony Kraft, co-plotted by Ron Fontes, pencils by Ross Andru, inks by Mike DeCarlo. Cover by Ross Andru and Klaus Janson.

Huh, we blogged the previous issue last year, and snarkily hoped the last couple years of this title weren't all about how Superman and Batman weren't bestest friends anymore. No, this was an era where they didn't hang out together and didn't say they were friends all the time, but have to note how much they still appreciate each other all the time. Much more natural-sounding, absolutely. This was a more Batman-centric issue, and the start of a three parter; mostly setting up the new threat of the Pantheon. They seem like techie, action-figure ready thugs at the start; but are being changed by exposure to, or possibly huffing on, "the warm glow of the living diamond."

Not even once, kids!

Batman spots the crew, robbing the Metropolitan Museum; but has to let them go in order to save a shot guard. Later, Superman has a similar fix: still unseen, the Pantheon attack an airport, shoot up the place, and steal a plane. Supes is stopped from pursuing them, since he has to get the wounded to the hospital. Not yet realizing they were on the same case, Batman works the clues, while Superman has to contain earthquake damage, which is escalating to the point that he wonders if earth was going the way of Krypton. Batman discovers, the gang was going to Mount Ossa in Africa; but they were a step ahead: they allow themselves, to be forced to land by the local government, then kill everyone that gets in their way. Batman gives chase, but the jungle seems different, almost primeval; and Bats even thinks he might have seen a brontosaurus. He then fights several of the new Pantheon, who now seem to have a more finished, inhuman look. Batman is knocked out, while on the other side of the world, Superman discovers bizarre, diamond-like roots... 

This almost feels like a good start; but I think this run had a lot of one-off or short-term villains. Good on them for not just trotting out the usuals, but these new baddies may have gained less traction than your typical Firestorm villain. I don't think there was even a Suicide Squad member in the bunch!

Let's see: we blogged #287 in 2019, #290 in 2011, #291 in 2014, and #289 today! Yeah, that makes sense. From 1979, Thor #289, "Look Homeward, Asgardian!" Written and edited by Roy Thomas, pencils by Keith Pollard, inks by Chic Stone.

This feels like the middle of the Eternals storyline, but it would go on, on-and-off, to Thor #300, a book I would need some kind of grant, stipend, large cash prize to even consider blogging. Lot going on in that one, probably too much. Still, here Thor has confronted the Celestial "One-Above-All," who like most Celestials doesn't seem to deign to talk to him, but shows him an image of Odin seemingly bending the knee to Arishem. Thor calls it treachery, but wants to know if Odin has sold out somehow. Instead, Thor and Hero, the Forgotten One, are teleported back to Olympia and the Eternals. (Sersi appears, to utter the epithet "by all the sailors I ever turned into swine!") Zuras, head Eternal, is furious at the reveal of the Forgotten One; calling him traitor. Thor rises to defend him, as manipulated by the Celestials; and it looks like it's going to come to blows before Makkari reveals Sprite's involvement, from Eternals #13...two years earlier? Thor also makes a comment about not tolerating tyrants, and Zuras realizes he's not mad at him...Thena and Ikaris present opposing views to Zuras, who decides to pair 'Hero' and Sprite together, to sort of account for each other.

The Eternals were gathering in numbers, to form the Uni-Mind and face the Celestials. Thor doesn't think even that has a chance, and asks for time to find another option: he's given a day, the time it would take for the other Eternals to arrive. Meanwhile, Odin stops by Mount Olympus, and briefly scuffles with some Titans before facing Zeus. Hercules doesn't want anything to do with Odin, since he knew Thor had been exiled from Asgard for standing up to the Celestials; but Odin proposes an alliance "...to smash any and all who would strive to save Midgard from death and destruction!" Was the All-Father turning heel? Back in Asgard, Balder was still in a deathlike state, as part of a "false Ragnarok" Odin had engineered to stave off the real thing; so there was maybe more evidence against him there. (Herc's mustache appears to have been left off that last panel there!) 

Thor arrives on the Bifrost, but is turned away at the gates of Asgard: even Sif tries to hold him off, since Odin had said he couldn't re-enter Asgard until he returned. Thor is a little steamed at that; like the gathered gods were being condescending. Crying, Sif activates the Destroyer, putting her spirit in it, which gives Thor pause. He's beaten and thrown off the Rainbow Bridge, hurtling towards earth, as Arishem glances upward, judging... 

Gods forbid I ever read this thing in order; with a little luck we'll probably see another chapter sometime in the next five or eight years. Still, a pretty massive cast this issue, and there would be even more characters later, then the plot really goes off the rails around #296 or so with the Ring of Nibelung stuff.

The GCD tagged this one with "Keywords: introspection; loneliness; misery." And maybe some jokes? Somewhere? From 1977, Howard the Duck Human #19, "Howard the Human!" Written and edited by Steve Gerber, pencils by Gene Colan, inks by Klaus Janson.

The usually-miserable Howard was more so than usual today, because Beverly had been forced to marry Dr. Bong in order to spare his life, and oh yeah, Bong's "Evolvo-chamber" had turned him into a nondescript schlubb of a human! The GCD notes think human-Howard resembles Harvey Bullock, but I'd say Howard looks younger and more hapless, so...Depressed and wandering the streets, he finds a fiver; which of course leads to problems. He's accosted by drunken artist "Mad Dog" for a cup of coffee, then Mad Dog demolishes the restaurant that won't serve his smelly hide. Howard opts to split, but is joined by a young woman, who seems to be trying to ditch her date, while he fights Mad Dog.

Although Howard's duck-self tells him to get outta there, he's unable to get away from Amy, who drags him back to her apartment. Her date Elton had been a former co-worker, and she describes him as "thinking (she) was his mind," but she felt she had her hands full thinking for herself. Howard crashes out on her couch, although it appears Amy slept there with him; but when Elton storms in, they're surprised to find Howard was a duck again! Howard himself doesn't realize until he was in the shower and too short to reach the brush, and wonders if...whatever happened last night, got the adrenalin going and changed him. But, no time to ponder that, as Dr. Bong appears, to finish him...to be continued!

There's a few on the last couple pages, but really not as many jokes as you'd maybe expect.

I had mentioned this one a few times, but surprisingly didn't blog it until now! From 1993, Untamed #1, "Wounds of Equal People" Story and art by Neil Hansen.

This was part of a fairly big push at the time, Epic's "Heavy Hitters" of creator-owned limited series. We've seen Lawdog a few times; I think that was the only ongoing series of the lot, and it didn't even last long. I really liked Mike Baron's Feud and Spyke, and Howard Chaykin's Midnight Men, but I wouldn't have recognized Neil Hansen's name, even if I had maybe seen his work in Savage Sword of Conan and Badger, where he occasionally used the name "Spyder." He's got a great visceral style for action, but while I don't think he had a lot of writing credits, he comes out swinging here.

In a not-too-distant future, supercop Tokudane "Dane" Kuchiyama is sent from Japan to San Diego, to help stop the rise of a Yakuza breakaway gang, the Kosansui. Dane is partnered up with wildman Griffin Palmer, recently returned to active duty after the death of his wife in a car crash. Griffin gets a tip from one of his usual informants, which turns into a trap and sets up a solid fight scene; then later he murders the hell out of said informant. Meanwhile, Dane is visited by a strange woman, who claims to be Griffin's late wife: she further claims to have been kept in a safe house, but is seemingly as afraid of Griffin as of anything else. Before Dane can get more info out of her, Griffin calls; and when she tries to leave, the front door of his apartment explodes!

The next day, Dane plays his cards close to the vest, not mentioning that Griffin's wife had been there when his place was bombed. They get into a car chase after some cop-killers, which Dane stops short with a "hardened C-4 throwing star," but that causes a massive pile-up. Dane wakes up on the sidewalk, having been pulled from a burning car by Griffin... 

I don't know if this is a hidden gem, but it's three solid issues I still really like. If you see it in the cheap bins, it's well worth grabbing for a read.