This specifically doesn't count; and yet, here we are!

I did check a couple stores and more than a few bins, to see if I lucked into another iteration of Avengers #23: Bendis had one in 2012, Hickman in 2014 that looks like the new issue of 'Infinity,', and course there were stacks of variants and spin-offs: West Coast, New, Academy, Savage, Spotlight, Uncanny...the point is just that comics numbering is largely a nightmare and probably a hindrance to new readers. But, we've got one more issue, partly because I think I've bought it more than once and keep forgetting! From 1994, Avengers Annual #23, "Strangers on an Astral Plane" Written by Roy Thomas, art by John Buscema.

Yes, it's a riff on the Hitchcock classic Strangers on a Train, albeit in a bit more forced way. Pluto and Loki bump into each other, on a distant astral plane: Pluto was currently forbidden by Zeus from leaving Hades, while Loki was trapped in Mephisto's hell, yet they seem to be out for a little constitutional. And, Loki suggests, maybe they can help each other out: Loki could bump off Hercules, while Pluto wacked Thor. They would be able to look innocent; or at least set up alibis ahead of time. Back at Avengers' Mansion, it's two of the main activities we usually see there: training and brooding! Hercules and Captain America are both distracted and gloomy today. There's probably a board for it somewhere, like you see at daycares or animal sanctuaries.

In Hades, Loki frees the Titan Typhon, who should just be happy to get away from the torture, but wanted revenge against Herc and the Avengers for beating him way back in Avengers #50; also by Roy and John! Loki also frees some other Titans, partly because they jumped him, but also because Hercules would probably have back-up. He maybe didn't have to worry; since when the Titans attack Herc at a fancy restaurant, Herc refrains from calling the Avengers, but his ID card is activated in the fight. The Avengers don't arrive in time, as the Titans escape with the captured Herc, for a quick trip back to Hades, to dip Herc in the waters of the river Lethe, which brings forgetfulness! (This memory loss for Herc was a plot point in the MST3K favorite Hercules Unchained! Although I don't recall if the Lethe was mentioned by name.) Not remembering otherwise, Hercules is easily convinced that Typhon was his pal, and they all had been wrongly sent to Hades by Zeus, which is close enough to crap Zeus actually had done to Herc that it seems true. Sneaking up Mount Olympus, Typhon recovers his axe from a mystic brazier which then goes out, reducing the Olympic pantheon to mere intangible wisps.

The Avengers currently had Thunderstrike on the roster, and while he wasn't as adept at transporting to other realms as Thor, he's able to (eventually) get the team to Olympus: the team had figured Typhon might want to kill Hercules in front of Zeus, and Cap recognizes this as being not unlike Typhon's last appearance. While the Avengers fight the other Titans, it's down to Cap--who was at a low point, the "Fighting Chance" storyline where the Super-Soldier Serum was breaking down in his system. Cap goads Herc with comments about his dead wife and kids, which led to Herc having to complete his Twelve Labors to redeem himself, and in remembering, Herc diverts a river, washing Cap headfirst into a wall. Herc goes after him, intent on maybe showing him how he strangled the Nemean Lion, but the water of Olympus returns his memories. Hercules then rescues Cap, and together they start in on Typhon; with Cap passing his axe to the other Avengers to relight the brazier; even though Typhon reverts to a more horrible tentacled version in the fight.

With the Titans defeated and Zeus and the other Olympians restored, Typhon is questioned but refuses to talk; and Pluto has been chilling with his wife Persephone, innocent as a baby lamb. Still, now Pluto has to make arrangements to re-imprison the Titans...and kill Thor. That would be in Thor Annual #19, which I'm pretty sure wasn't the best. Also this issue: Giant-Man and Vision in "Master of his own Density," story and art by Al Milgrom. An AI "Glitch" that looks like a more articulate Kremzeek tries to take over the Vision. In a training session, Giant-Man realizes the Vision was getting dumber every time he tried to change his density, until Glitch takes over. But Glitch may end up in his own trap...

I went back to add the Pluto/Persephone panel, since it was a very Buscema panel, and great! And I did like to see Herc's concern and honestly, affection, for Cap: like Thor, Herc seems to just like Cap more than the other Avengers usually do. Read more!

This month, Thor picks a fight with his buddy's dad.

I think I've read several issues of this series from the dollar bins, but maybe none in order. Still, we'll see if this one does anything for us: from 2024, Immortal Thor #14, "The Wheel" Written by Al Ewing, art by Janeth Bazaldúa Nava. Cover by Alex Ross.

This issue opens with a flashback to the mythical origin of Zeus: his mother, Rhea, had gone to the earth-mother Gaea for help. Namely, how to keep the Titan Cronus, from eating her son Zeus? Gaea substitutes a magic rock, for Rhea to feed to Cronus in Zeus's stead, then gets kind of creepy and grabby: she considers if Zeus could be useful, in the future, was he the one...? She decides no, but maybe he could be a final test for that chosen one.

Millenia later, Thor and Hercules find the resurrected Zeus, in a dark dimension of endless night. He had been killed by Nyx, who seemed to have a lot of power there, but she, like the rest of them, was seemingly trapped in that dimension by a rune of Loki's. (Actually, although he may have used it, I don't think it was Loki's rune.) Loki was currently appearing as a younger man, and shows up with Athena, who seems to have gone a bit dark and spacey, filled with "the wisdom beyond wisdom." They give Thor some clues about his current test, before Zeus returns, now partnered up with Nyx, and intent on killing Loki--and incidentally, Thor, Herc, and even Athena--then getting out to start a new race of gods. Still, his vaunted thunderbolts can't even reach Thor: he was currently the All-Father, and could turn the bolts away. Herc notices, that seemed to dismay Loki...

Zeus gets angrier and angrier, as Thor feigns boredom batting away the bolts. But, Hercules realizes, the test was to "take it like a god!" Thor takes on Zeus, hand to hand, and catches about a million volts, but stays in there. Herc turns his attention to Nyx, forgiving her, in an attempt to free them both from an endless cycle of vengeance. He also points out, a realm of eternal night, maybe actually was a good home for her? Nyx realizes, yeah, she could do something there, for herself (and probably without Zeus...) and sends one of her calmer-seeming kids, Hypnos, to go with Hercules back to the "old world." But Zeus and Thor's fight continues: Loki says, his trial wasn't over.

Despite Zeus hitting him with everything, Thor is unhurt: in fact, he's taking in Zeus's power, leaving him smaller and weak, and finally collapsing. Thor now had the power of Odin and Zeus...as well as the mark of the wheel. To be continued! 

I would have to read more of this series in one sitting to be sure, but I wonder if Ewing wasn't trying to see, if the old cycles like Ragnarok couldn't be broken. Can you learn from them, if you have to keep reliving them?

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I may not have realized the glory of the Charleston Chew back then.

I thought I had one of these already--OK, maybe I do, but I don't think I mailed in wrappers for it. From 1993, the Avengers Collector's Edition #1, "Vibrant Alchemy!" Written by Pat Garrahy, pencils by Mike Gustovich, inks by Tom Palmer.

There were maybe a lot of these in the 90's, and I already realize I'm wrong in the title: I do have a few of the 1992 Marvel Collector's Edition, "brought to you by Charleston Chew!" Man, do I miss crap like that, mailing in wrappers or points. They aren't essential or anything, but this one at least looks like an Avengers comic proper, thanks to the Tom Palmer inks. And, it also ties into a classic and some modern continuity; as the Avengers fly out to Wakanda, where the Black Panther...is either engaged, or it's his anniversary? It's not clear, as his girl is already referred to as a queen, and it's not Storm, this was well before that. The team is asked to check their weapons, which I don't think ever happens, but it's just Cap's shield and the Black Knight's photonic sword; and it's so they can be immediately jumped by Diablo and the Masters of Alchemy. The latter had been the "Elements of Doom" in Avengers #188, and they were looking to add vibranium to their number. One of T'challa's men, Baru, sacrifices himself for his queen, to make up for "his failures" in or around Deathlok #25: he gets turned into Vibranium, but seemingly retains his personality; opting to stay that way to serve his people, possibly against his king's wishes. I'm guessing he's not seen again, but who knows?

This issue also features Taylor Madison, Hercules's serious girlfriend there for a bit: spoiler alert, that doesn't end swell. Read more!

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.

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I have to wonder how many Punisher fans stuck around after this issue, if any.

It's a little weird for that lot, I think. From 1993, Quasar #42, "The White Room" Written by Mark Gruenwald, pencils by Andy Smith, inks by Ralph Cabrera.

Quasar was still dead, after Infinity War, and Thanos had released a copy of Marvel Boy--now calling himself Blue Marvel to serve as a pawn. (I don't know that Gruenwald had a great handle on Thanos; and I'm not 100% sure what Thanos allegedly even wanted Blue Marvel to do. In fact, that maybe was the Magus's duplicate Thanos.) Blue Marvel had quantum bands like Quasar, but was childish, petulant, and just an all-around jerk. I'm not sure I've ever read old Marvel Boy comics--there weren't a lot of them--but I wonder, was he a jerk in those? I know he'd eventually be updated into "the Uranian," and be more alien and weird than just a brat. Anyway, Blue Marvel had fought Captain Marvel (Monica Rambeau) and here fights Hercules, Black Knight, and the Eric Masterson Thor. He does manage to get a shot in on Thor, knocking his helmet crooked so he couldn't see out of it, predating the classic Black Canary twists the Flash's mask from JLA: Year One. He then nearly gets choked out by Captain Marvel, and has to quantum-jump away.

Meanwhile, Quasar himself was in the White Room, seated at a long table, with various other Protectors of the Universe from the past. The other Protectors did not seem to have a concensus on what exactly the White Room was: heaven? A trophy room? Purgatory? Storage? Not particularly spirtually inclined, Quasar believes this to be "a crazy hallucination in the dimension of manifestations," which he had visited in an earlier issue, and was where abstract beings took shapes to appear in this universe. The other Protectors think, there might have been somebody else in that seat before him...

Then, we get to our big guest-star, the Punisher, gunning down some nobodies. He is approached by Blue Marvel, who's impressed that he kills people, without powers, and wants to learn from him. Frank isn't interested, so Blue Marvel tries a more battle-ready 90's look, with a helmet and guns. And in another subplot, on the planet Scadam--from the computer game tie-in Questprobe--Kayla Ballantine, Quasar's girlfriend, destroys the malevolent Black Fleet with the Star Brand. 

Back in the White Room, Quasar is arguing against reincarnation, claiming it didn't make sense from an administrative viewpoint: it would take too much energy to figure out what souls should be brought back as what. He's then approached by the spirit of his original mentor, Eon; who wants Quasar to kill him, saying that would free him...and lessen his own guilt. Quasar doesn't seem to be buying it, and wants to free himself without killing. Next, he's visited by the "Angel of Vengeance," who appears as a more-chiseled version of himself; Quasar's pretty sure that's still Eon, and isn't into vengeance anyway.

On earth, the Punisher finds himself surrounded by a SWAT team--either they had staked out the nobodies he killed, or Blue Marvel delayed him too long, but Frank was kicking himself. Blue Marvel opts to prove himself to the Punisher, by using his bands to just wreck the cops, in about three panels. Frank isn't impressed, and tells him if any cops were killed, he'd be coming for him next. He turns his back on him, and Blue Marvel considers killing him, but is interrupted by Thanos, who tells him someone was trying to free Quasar: stop that. Teleported to the White Room, Blue Marvel blasts the "Angel of Vengeance" apart, then turns his gun on Quasar...to be continued?

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Any other artist, I would bet Hercules got a simplified costume two issues later.

From 1977, Hercules Unbound #11, "The Dark Side of the Gods" Written by Cary Bates, art by Walter Simonson.

Oof, previous issues of this series had José Luis García-López and Wally Wood, but it barely made it to 12 issues? Also, this is a quarter-bin copy, but I have two reprints of it on the shelves; Showcase Presents the Great Disaster (the Amazon listing doesn't think it's there; I checked, it is!) and the 1989 the Art of Walter Simonson. As you might guess from the former book, this was set during DC's "Great Disaster" period, a vague number of years post-World War III, and the Atomic Knights guest-star here, helping Herc forge his new outfit, before they inadvertently destroy one of Detroit's "Big Three" factories. The GCD mentions, in the previous issue where the Atomic Knights appear there were tie-ins to OMAC continuity, which would lead to Kamandi: men could still talk at this point, so the "Great Disaster" might have actually been yet to come! (Or, this might have gotten bumped to another alternate earth besides that presumably got wiped in Crisis on Infinite Earths, 'cause that's fun.)

At the start of this series, Hercules had been found by the blind boy Kevin, chained to a rock in the Mediterranean for centuries. Herc had gotten free, although wasn't entirely sure how he had done so then, or maybe why he'd been chained up in the first place. Still, he had some adventures with Kevin, his dog Basil, and a young woman named Jennifer; but those appeared to be coming to an end. By the end of this issue, Jennifer was dead, Kevin had some weird power, and the gods in Olympus finally get through with a message, imploring Hercules to "destroy the deadly scourge" while he was able. Kevin tears off at Jennifer's funeral, stealing their flying wing transport, although Herc is able to leap aboard in time to go with him, back to the island he had been chained to; where Kevin is seemingly unmasked--as Ares! Who was planning to release the "Anti-Gods," which doesn't sound great: think "Skin of Evil," there would be more than a bit of exposition in the next, final issue.

I did like the stylised representations of the gods; I don't know if that had been established earlier in the series, or if Simonson just threw that in. Read more!

So the other day I got my pre-order in for the Marvel Legends Crystal and Lockjaw, and I also had some credit that I put towards the slightly marked down Sersi and Black Knight set. Sersi looks great, although it's a shame she probably won't get her classic green outfit look; while Black Knight looks like an angry dork, like his helmet and/or his codpiece are too tight. (The former, probably; the latter, unlikely.) Still, I didn't really read Avengers regularly, for the long stretch they were basically the leads; but conveniently enough, the quarter bin provides one from that era: from 1992, Avengers #354, "The Conqueror Worm" Written by Len Kaminski, pencils by M.C. Wyman, inks by Steve Alexandrov and Ariane Lenshoek.

The issue opens with a disclaimer: "We strongly advise that anyone with a heart condition, or who is easily upset, put this issue of Avengers back on the rack right now." And break up your collection? The Grim Reaper has played the old Legion of the Unliving card, a plotline used so often it actually has its own trade paperback! It boils down to, let's take a bunch of dead bad guys and throw them at the Avengers again; which opens another can of worms when somebody gets brought back later and maybe wasn't dead at the time: are these really the spirits of who they're supposed to be, or just demons or whatever playing the part? The latter explanation kinda sucks the air out of the concept, though: it'd diminish any emotional stakes.

I was going to say it was a sign of the times, but it actually seems a bit early: this time around, the Legion guys are more cadaverous and zombie-like, and seem largely intent on eating their foes. The injured Black Knight isn't doing great against three originals: Black Knight, Baron Zemo, and Red Guardian; even though he had a goddamn light saber--excuse me, "photonic sword"--and should be cutting those corpses into mulch. (Also, the Red Guardian bites right though BK's chainmail pants!) Vision is faring better, while Hercules gets pounded by Count Nefaria and...I don't know if that's a generic demon, or a deep-fried Stegron the Dinosaur Man. (He had a weird head and tail, but maybe lacked Stegron's sibilance; probably not him.) Crystal and Sersi can't seem to stop their respective foes: Sersi has Nebulon the Celestial Man, who is able to reverse her molecular transformations. The Vision makes his way to the Grim Reaper, who is watching all this via a magic flame and cackling like crazy. This was the white, emotionless Vision; so he couldn't fear the Reaper, as it were; but instead points out his illogical reasoning: the Avengers didn't murder him, the Reaper had killed himself. The Reaper is surprised to remember this, but doing so breaks his hold on the Legion, which immediately turns on him. Seriously, they make great time, it takes the Avengers another page to get there, and they do so in time to see a giant creepy hand with eyes grab the Reaper. That's one of the old Nameless Ones we've seen mentioned before, this one's named Lloigoroth...hey, wait a minute!

The Avengers are returned to earth, and head out for coffee. Next month, the book's regular creative team would be back, as the Proctor storyline continued. Despite the disclaimer, that felt like a pretty tame issue? It's not that I'm jaded or hardened inside; I don't think it would've hit harder in '92 either. I don't know if I'd recommend that Legion of the Unliving trade--even the Busiek/Perez story is alright, but I still don't think the dead Avengers used in that one were 'real.' Get Avengers Annual #16, though: it's the second of a two-parter, but reads just fine on its own, it's great! (Well, it's well-done fun; it's not Maus or anything, you know what I mean.) Read more!

I got the Walgreens exclusive Baron Zemo last week, because it was basically free after getting too many shots, but also to keep my streak of Walgreens figures going. Then, conveniently enough, I picked up what I thought was a spare copy of this one, but now I'm not positve I had read it! From 1986, Avengers #273, "Rites of Conquest!" Written by Roger Stern, breakdowns by John Buscema, finishes by Tom Palmer. This was the one with the Black Knight on the 25th anniversary bordered cover! 

This seems like a fun opening, but with troubling undertones: Hercules is playing to the crowds at a local bar, when a barfly needles him about "takin' orders from a dame," current Avengers chairwoman the Wasp. Said barfly gets thrown out a window and nearly hit by a truck, before Herc realizes his error and saves him; but he needn't have rushed: the barfly was actually the Wrecker! Not unlike Juggernaut, readers wouldn't recognize him unmasked in a bar. He had been gathering information, wearing a wire designed by the villainous Yellowjacket: 9 out of 10 superhero costumes look better on a girl, but that might be the exception. Or maybe I'm just sour, since I want the Yellowjacket suit! Wrecker and Yellowjacket report in, to Moonstone, who wasn't supposed to be monitoring: Baron Zemo had other work for her, and knew she'd be a troublemaker. But he needed her, because he needed the paranoid Darkforce user Blackout as a counter for one of the Avengers' mightiest, Captain Marvel. Zemo's Masters of Evil was an exercise in herding cats: he has Piledriver start a fight with Mr. Hyde, then surreptitiously sedates Hyde to make it seem like he was in the driver's seat to Moonstone. 

Since Herc had let slip that Namor had left the team, Zemo tips that to the news, prompting a reporter to ambush Jan at a charity gala with questions about his departure. The cocky Paladin swoops in to 'save' her, much to the Black Knight's chagrin. (He may have had a crush on Jan, although I don't think that would go much longer.) Zemo also gets word that Captain America was in Florida, and Whirlwind is sent to intercept him. (Setting up Cap #324, a pretty fun issue with a pretty lasting upgrade for Whirlwind.) Calling a meeting, we see Zemo has put together a solid roster of hitters. Moonstone suggests, perhaps a leader should be elected: Zemo turns Blackout on her, since he had Fixer duplicate the tech she used to control him. Still, Zemo knows Moonstone's power was useful; he just had to keep her in her place. 

That night, the Masters attack Avengers Mansion: they had arranged for Hercules to be distracted with a date, so only Jarvis was in, and the Mansion is taken easily. Phase one complete...This would of course be collected later as "Under Siege," running through #277: a highwater point for the book, and things would get much worse for the heroes before they got better.  

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Hmm, it's taken us 15 years, to blog 3 consecutive issues of Thor.

Starting with #236 in 2007, then #237 three years later. Moreover, we brought up Kamo Tharn (or Tharnn) a bit ago, and I'm sure you've been clamoring to see his first appearance...I don't care, we're doing this anyway. From 1975, Thor #235, "Who Lurks Beyond the Labyrinth!" Written by Gerry Conway, pencils by John Buscema, inks by Joe Sinnott. 

Y'know, when Thor gets stuck in the rain, he's only got himself to blame, right? Actually, he's moping, since Jane Foster was fading fast. Losing his temper, he knocks a chunk off the side of the roof, then has to finesse his hammer to save people from the falling debris. He's not the only one in a sour mood, though, as the returning Absorbing Man was trying--and largely failing--to keep a low profile, so he could put his master plan against Thor into action. (OK, it's a plan, you have to give him that much.)

Thor meets with Odin's Vizier--I feel like he should have a name other than 'Vizier,' but not sure he's ever given one--to discuss Jane's plight: she's seemingly lost a chunk of her soul, the will to live, something. The only hope is hopeless, as the Vizier has sent Hercules and Sif across the universe, in search of the Runestaff of Kamo Tharnn. After fighting through his ape-like guards, they find...what appears to be a blind hobo squatting in a library. There's something more to him, though; as he uses the Runestaff to deafen Herc! But, the staff's blasts aren't enough to keep him down, and he and Sif return to earth with the staff; only to find Thor was fighting the Absorbing Man, who had gotten close enough to touch Mjolnir and imitate its power. Hercules wants to join the fray, but Sif worries Kamo Tharnn could track them down, and they need to use the staff and save Jane now...

While Tharnn's story seems pretty wrapped up in #335, he has turned up since, since he somehow gets Elder of the Universe status. Somehow. I want to say he's in Englehart's Silver Surfer, but had to check: he wasn't one of the Elders bodied by Thanos in Thanos Quest. Also this issue: a John Severin Sgt. Fury Marvel Value Stamp and a Statement of Ownership, Management, and Circulation: Paid circulation, actual number of copies of single issue published nearest to filing date, 230,311.

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Seller's remorse, paid for multiple times.

I was going to say a few years ago, but I guess it was more like 25 or so, when I lived in Missoula I spent a few weekends selling comics in the park. I would just load up my car with a few boxes, head out, and set up a little sign and table and everything. I had remarkably few customers, but it was a pleasant way to while away an afternoon reading comics. Some of the few I recall selling were today's books, which a girl bought because of the shiny covers! I didn't pay full price when I got them, and I don't think I paid full price the four or five times I've bought them since...from 1993, Avengers #363, "A Gathering of Hate" Written by Bob Harras, pencils by Steve Epting, inks by Tom Palmer. I was pretty sure I sold Avengers #366 as well, but we had already blogged that one, so maybe not.

The Avengers had been fighting the Gatherers for some issues now, and today their prisoner, an alternate-earth Vision, leads them to their hidden mountain hideout. Hercules gives the alt-Vision a thump upside the head for his lip, which doesn't sit well with Captain America, but I don't think he had been there the whole time: the Gatherers' plot had been going for over a year at that point, and their usual method was to kill their own alternate-reality counterparts and take their places. Although the team had taken their lumps earlier, this time they were prepared, starting with some seriously ugly headgear to protect them from Cassandra's psionic attacks. Herc roughs up "overgrown porcine miscreant" Sloth, while Black Knight was prepared for a rematch with Magdalene. While the team is able to rescue their captured Vision--now with new brighter colors!--they are then faced by the Gatherers' leader, Proctor. Who always reminds me of X-Men bad guy Exodus: I think they both debuted about the same time, and were both guys with long black hair and glowy eyes, but that was about it. Except maybe Epting/Palmer drew Exodus in a crossover maybe, maybe that's what does it.

Proctor is furious when he sees the Black Knight, as he can see in the Knight's eyes that he had "melded" with his Eternal teammate Sersi. Vision dryly chimes in that Proctor claimed to be Sersi's husband, which sets him on a tirade about being her soulmate and how she had to die. The Knight is thrown aside, and Cap picks the wrong time to critique his battlefield performance, and the Knight turns on him! Although briefly taken aback, the Black Widow stuns the Knight, and Proctor tells him that's just the beginning of his madness, if Sersi isn't killed. He claimed Sersi had killed his timeline's Avengers and destroyed that earth, the sole survivor being (presumably, besides himself and that Sersi) Ute, a Watcher. Our world's usual Watcher Uatu makes a brief appearance, to shed a tear for his brain-damaged colleague, and to suggest if power corrupts Proctor is a sterling example of it.

Although Proctor had killed the Gatherers' Vision to shut him up, Hercules calls him out for attempting to murder one of their own, a version of the Swordsman. He and Magdalene were a couple, or getting there, but Proctor wanted him gone since he couldn't stand to lose the only woman "to make me forget my pain" since Sersi. Proctor starts his base's self-destruct, then controls the Black Knight into stabbing him with his energy sword: I'm not sure why, it wasn't fatal or anything. While the Avengers (and Magdalene, I believe) escape, the Watcher warns them Proctor's danger is not over. Meanwhile, back in New York, Henry Pym has two jobs: stabilize the injured alt-Swordsman in stasis, and maybe check if Sersi is insane. She seems reasonable enough, but when some homicide detectives show up with some questions, they end up at the bottom of the river, seemingly turned to stone! Admittedly, that looks bad.

I just bought another dollar copy of this in the last month or so, but I know my box of Avengers comics is handy. Let's see...Huh, I was sure I was going to find at least one other copy of this. Maybe I'm not as organized as I thought, but even that wasn't very organized.
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So when we looked at Clayface a couple weeks back, I mentioned how great it would be not to have to (yeah, like they were holding a gun to my head) buy any more Mattel Superman figures. I didn't even make it two weeks without buying another one, although in my defense he was severely discounted and a blunt instrument of destruction. Oh, and he continues our tradition of buying figures from games I don't play! From Injustice 2, Superman platinum edition. Well, he's metal, maybe not platinum, though.

Because I can be cheap as hell, I held out until he was down to ten bucks at a TJ Maxx; but I feel like he was way more expensive at some point. Hmm, he may have been $30 at GameStop; and I almost thought he was an exclusive. Or exclusive for a while? There was also an Injustice 2 Batman, with ears that are probably stabbing hazards, and a full-face mask that probably makes more sense but doesn't look right to me. In the same vein, this is a modified Superman-suit, with gloves, fancy raised elements but not the texturing of a lot of uniforms lately, and a headpiece with chinstrap. (I never think Cap looks right with a chinstrap, either.)

Superman's face is a little too plain: he shouldn't be craggy or weathered, but there's not much going on there. Also, like every other Mattel Superman, he can't look up for a proper flying pose; just up far enough to stare into the middle distance. Cloth cape though, all the better for throwing! I wonder how many teeth this bad boy chipped...oh, like kids play with toys anymore.

And we're not getting a lot of pictures here, because the battery for my camera is not holding much of a charge, so I'm going to have to pick up another this weekend. (My ancient camera stays, though!) And we did get Marvel Legends Hercules, Beast, and Gambit recently! Pretty great. Although, wanna hear something weird? I was at a Wal-Mart the other day, and I swear somebody stole a Living Laser! Left the Thanos torso, even. So weird. Have a good weekend!

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I'm always going to prefer a comic that tries to do too much; as opposed to one written for the trade; but today's book maybe tries way too much--and for less than a buck! From 1996, Avengers Unplugged #4, "The Old Ball and Chain" Written by Glenn Herdling, pencils by John Statema, inks by Scott Koblish.

She-Hulk is late for work, but on her way in recognizes her old foe Titania--even unmasked and in a wedding dress! Surprisingly, there really isn't a big glamour shot of her dress this entire issue; too much other stuff going on. She-Hulk gets bounced by a horde of super-villains, but calls in the Avengers, who arrive pretty quickly.

Most of the rest of the issue is the current Avengers roster versus groups of villains, who seem to use more teamwork than the heroes today: Crystal is stopped by Volcana, Hydro-Man, and the Molecule Man. (And it's mentioned in passing, Volcana and the Molecule Man had broken up.) Hercules catches another beating from the Wrecking Crew--not as bad as the one that put him in a coma in Avengers #274. Screaming Mimi, Angar the Screamer, and Klaw shoot down Deathcry. Stilt-Man, the Wizard, and Mr. Hyde bring down Giant-Man and the Black Widow, but they're in a hurry to get back to the ceremony: the wedding of the Absorbing Man and Titania!

The Vision nearly stops the wedding--not even waiting for the "if anyone objects" part!--and shrugs off the Wrecker; before the Absorbing Man uses the diamond from the ring to change form and clobber him. He does shatter his wrecking ball, though, and takes Thunderball's after an obligatory "ball 'n chain" joke. Still, when the Avengers smash in a wall and realize it's a wedding and not a crime, they leave almost immediately after, seemingly out of embarrassment. She-Hulk points out there's probably warrants for about everyone there; but Giant-Man tells her to file the paperwork, maybe they would be back after Titania and Absorbing Man were on their honeymoon.

I had thought those two were already married when we checked out Thunderstrike #16, but nope. The Absorbing Man had been intermittently trying to go straight; which I don't think Titania was necessarily onboard with. Well, it wouldn't stick, anyway. This was one of the few ninety-nine cent comics I can think of that had important continuity; but it still bit off more than it could chew.
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Today's issue was bagged with the Code: Blue cover showing, otherwise I might not have thought to grab it. From 1995, Thunderstrike #16, featuring "Grudge Match!" Plot and script by Tom DeFalco, plot and pencils by Ron Frenz, finishes by Al Milgrom; and "Krask Force" Written by Roy Thomas, co-plotted by R.J.M. Lofficier, pencils by Larry Alexander and Grant Miehm, and inks by Charles Barnett.

The lead story was mainly about a long awaited rematch between Titania and She-Hulk. Although Titania and her man Crusher "Absorbing Man" Creel were on parole and supposedly trying to go straight, her loss against She-Hulk haunted her. Crusher reaches out to Thunderstrike, to contact She-Hulk and arrange the bout; although Thunderstrike had his own problems, like trying to keep tabs on super-powered alien Stellaris. They meet at the Delacorte Theater, but agree to let Thunderstrike use his hammer mace to transport them to Nevada, in order to lessen the property damage. Except Stellaris crashes the party, and Crusher assumes it's a trap, then all bets are off.

Stellaris makes things worse by zapping the Absorbing Man, although later he's unable to take her "too different too alien!" power. Meanwhile, while Titania was stronger than She-Hulk to begin with (at least that's what She-Hulk thinks, and may not always be the case) this time she had stacked the deck, with "sonic field enhancers" making her ten times stronger. Except she's not any smarter: She-Hulk maneuvers her into punching a rock wall and getting stuck, then punches Titania over the horizon line. Actually, that's not quite right: on the next page, Titania lands right on Thunderstrike's head! You had the whole desert to launch her, She-Hulk, c'mon.

The back-up "Double Feature" features Code: Blue, the SWAT team called in for super-powered threats in DeFalco and Frenz's books. They haven't been used as much outside of that, but the Marvel wiki mentioned them arresting Shocker and Speed Demon, and I wonder if that wasn't in Superior Foes of Spider-Man somewhere. But I mainly bought this issue because it featured the armored Daredevil on the cover, and I wanted to see how said armor fared under another artist's pencils. And...enh. The shoulder pads don't look great. Oddly, since this story features armored DD, he wasn't a lawyer at that time; but there is a ton of legalese in this story! Foggy Nelson and Code: Blue's Lt. Stone are giving a deposition, in a lawsuit against the city, brought by the law firm of Krask & Krask. (They argue that the city may have acted negligently, by sending Code: Blue instead of actual super-heroes to deal with a rampaging Doombot; and may have a point...) The depo is interrupted by the return of daddy Krask, an obscure villain from Thor #172, now an energy-being!

Meanwhile, at a press conference, the mayor (a bland and generic one, but better him than Giuliani) announces the disbanding of Code: Blue; because Thor and Thunderstrike work for free, it wasn't cost-effective, etc. Then with Krask threatening to wipe out all of Wall Street's computer data, the mayor's assistant tries to call in the Avengers, and gets Hercules, who doesn't give a goat's crap what happens to computers. Over a barrel, the mayor reinstates Code: Blue; who, with Daredevil and a squad of bean-counting civil servants, force Krask onto a CD; and the Krask brothers are forced to take a settlement for a measly half a million. Aw, too bad!
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