"Expected."

We started "Seasonal Affective D'spayre" back in October; I don't think the despair has let up in the slightest, but here we are. Personally, I often wonder if I have depression, or just everything just suck? Like, I don't have depression, I've got late-stage capitalism.

Tony refers to the "get-along shirt" Gwen put him and Captain America in, in Gwenpool Strikes Back! #5: I thought he was more put-out about it, but he seemed to have a sense of humor about the whole thing, like enjoying seeing other people like the Hulk punched in the face. (Steve does not see the humor in any of Gwen's shenanigans there!) (Written by Leah Williams, art by David Baldeon, color art by Jesus Aburtov & Guru-eFX.) Gwenpool is crazy powerful that whole series, as well as a bit crazy because she thinks her story was coming to an end. Nope! You may notice, though, her figure doesn't have her usual phone, since I dropped it on the second shot and have yet to find it again... 

Next week, um, we conclude the She-Hulk/Hawkeye storyline from last September! Which I interrupted because I was more interested in the D'spayre one. But, H noticed something about Amadeus Cho, that will come up next week...

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"Wahoo."

Gwenpool! Yes, Gwenpool was always intended to show for the wrap-up of "Seasonal Affective D'spayre," but since this went on (and on...) we didn't get to here, until after the new Gwenpool series was announced. That was after the teaser, of the dug-up grave of Gwen Stacy; who appears to have returned as a Wolverine-like killer. I don't know why either. This could just be for shock value, or maybe they're going somewhere with this. Spider-Man guest-stars, and I'm not sure fans are loving the current run of books there either. Then again, Jeff the Land Shark guests too, and everybody loves him from the Marvel Rivals game, if not just because. 

 We've seen that one cop before too: it's the Joseph Gordon-Levitt Mattel Movie Masters GCPD Blake figure. Who seems to get jerkier every time he shows up here. Huh.

Man, I haven't seen the Exorcist in a bit. But, like Gwen says, I don't have an exterior shot for the bar!

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"Dealing."

I think the last thing Gwenpool was in involved Julie Power and setting Gwen up as kind of an asexual icon; but I'm positive she's not going to get to play any sort of role in the current Fall of Krakoa stuff, since that feels pretty serious for a modern comic and won't have any space for about the funnest character in recent memory. Ooh, actually, the last thing I remember seeing her in was the trade for the 2020 Kelly Thompson Deadpool series, where a teary Gwen kinda knows she's being written out and wants to make sure Jeff the land shark has a good home, so gives him to Pool. It's meta-depressing, and while I love Jeff I'm not sure I'm thrilled that he's more popular than Gwen now. (That whole run was interesting, but also felt like they thought they were going to have all the time in the world for plots, and instead a new direction and writer started after maybe ten issues.) Anyway, I miss that weird little girl; I don't miss the pink and yellow fills!

Dogpool doesn't get any lines, but he's basically intended to sit on the back of Deadpool's scooter, and not much else. Lady Deadpool didn't have a ton of range, either: in Gwen's last panel, I had been trying to get Lady petting Dogpool in there, but no dice. Still, I can't believe Marvel hasn't got Deadpool Corps rings out there: just feels like an easy lay-up for Marvel.

Also, conveniently enough, Gwen's robot staff was actually from a NYC comic shop: I got  the Nacelle Company's Robo Force Maxx Steel and Wrecker from Forbidden Planet NYC for a song! I wasn't overly familiar with the old Robo Force line, but these are nice figures with weird suction cup feet. They feel like they were made by fans of the old toys, for fans.

Speaking of for fans, the Ciegrimites are of course from Bob Layton's Hercules, still pound-for-pound one of the most entertaining mini-series Marvel ever did. They were little snail guys, brewers and distillers, and I kinda feel like a lot of the universe would rally to their defense when they need it.

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Finally, a superhero outfit that would show off my legs!

We saw the mighty Ultron banner some time back, and today we hoist high the Jolly Gwen! From 2017, the Unbelievable Gwenpool #10, written by Christopher Hastings, art by Gurihiru, cover by David Lopez.

Gwenpool rallies to save her merc friends (including Batroc!) from the squid-headed alien Teuthidans, but she has to make a number of sacrifices: she loses their base, pisses off rogue Doombot "Vinnie," and in deploying her army of henchmen, the "Poole Boys," her tailor Ronnie informs her that used up all the pink fabric, so she won't be getting pants anytime soon. But, while her friends are saved, they know they're now too hot to get hired by anybody, and have to disband. Even her ghost friend Cecil has to take off, to see his family; leaving Gwen alone, and feeling self-destructive...

This is a fluffy little marshmallow of an issue, wrapping up the current plotline and setting Gwen up on her own for a bit. I also feel like Harley Quinn did a similar bit to the Poole Boys, but can't recall if it was before or after. It's also fun to see Batroc not be a jerk, for a sec. Read more!

"Gwenshelf."

Oddly, I'm not sure Gwen would be an Essential or Showcase collector: I think they predate her by a few years, and I suspect she would be a digital girl. But, I love them, and wish I had bought more of them when they were first coming out. I just bought the Adam Strange Showcase off of eBay, so there are still a few floating around. My local comic shop still has a few in stock, which I grab on occasion.  I need to sit down and update my list, since it sucks to see some in the wild and struggle to remember which volumes of Thor I have; and here are the lists of DC Showcases and Marvel Essentials.

Gwen's shelf, though, is actually mine; my most recent craft nonsense project! It's a 1/12 version of one of my own bookshelves. I have um, like four of the same, inexpensive mass-market particle board shelves; all crammed about as full as I can get them. (I strongly suspect some, if not all of the shelves; will have to be replaced the next time I move. They hold up fine where they are, but aren't the most durable things.) For a change, I didn't have to work completely from scratch; there was a very nice instructional video that pointed me in the right direction, but I didn't like the corners and resorted to my chosen medium, black duct tape!

Hmm, I think I left a big open strip there, because I was going to scan some of the smaller zines that are usually on that shelf: we got a Jhonen Vasquez Fillerbunny, but I missed scanning Evan Dorkin's Milk & Cheese: the Special Edition. But all the books, not unlike the actual Showcases and Essentials, are filled with newsprint, hacked out of the local free weekly and bound up with tape. So, you could arrange or even (gasp!) organize the shelf, but can't flip through them. Still wish I remembered where I put Essential Frankenstein; and I'm almost positive I've read Showcase: the War that Time Forgot but I can't recollect if I just got it out of the library or something. Mileage may vary, but the more oddball collections are probably the hardest to find but the ones to get. 

Satana turning a spell on Gwenpool, is the equivalent of cocking a loaded gun. Just to show she means business...Do Gwen's powers work like this? I thought so, but I could be wrong, and it could change at any point anyway. 

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"Deviant."

If you didn't watch it right away, there were deals to be had on Marvel Legends Eternals figures: I picked up two Kro figures for the price of one on Amazon now. I can't recall if he was a bit expensive for a 'deluxe' figure or not, but he was maybe cheaper than some? Maybe, maybe not. 

More importantly, it's the triumphant return of the most dynamic of duos, Timmy and Franklin! Hmm, not unlike...a figure showing up tomorrow, Franklin is on the shortlist of Toy Biz Legends that Hasbro hasn't remade. 

Reagan's Raiders was an actual comic somebody expected people to pay money for; but I don't know if it was a bad parody, or just bad. I don't think it's on the highlight reel for Dick Ayers or Rich Buckler.  

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