I feel like there were better issues of this series; darned if I've blogged any, though.

There's a stretch of the series, starting maybe around #20, with Jackson 'Butch' Guice covers, that are sharp and will really get your hopes up, since I don't think they were great issues either. Maybe a Butch cover would've helped here, but maybe not. From 1992, Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #37, "Who Killed the Changelings?" Written by Scott Lobdell, pencils by M.C. Wyman, inks by Don Hudson.

I thought this was maybe a fill-in, but it's basically killing time before next issue started "The Cold War of Nick Fury", which we've discussed before: oddly, Lobdell had written a few issues of this, would be out for a second, then back in. Fury is taking new Super-Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. Psi-Borg to check out the Changelings, only to find they've all been murdered except for Woodgod. (Who we've also seen before here, I had to update the tag for him!) We see one die: the blue one with the fin on his head, and hey, wasn't he a centaur back in Incredible Hulk #252? Looked like he had people legs there.

The government forces of Trinity Base, had apparently had budget cuts and decided to phase out their animal-man monstrosity studies; and since Nick wasn't currently director of S.H.I.E.L.D. they don't recognize his authority. Fury tries to keep Woodgod from murdering the murderers; probably less out of any moral compunction, than the fear of political blowback on Woodgod. Fury 'kills' Woodgod, and with new director Dum Dum Dugan, swears to shut Trinity Base and its shifty commanders down. Then, Fury takes Woodgod out to the woods and lets him go: Fury knew he was smarter than anyone would've thought, and figured he'd get it together someday. Yeah, all his friends dead and alone in the woods? He'll be fine.

But, for good measure, "The Cold War of Nick Fury" starts here, with a prologue! (Written by Eliot Brown and Bob Sharp, pencils by M.C. Wyman, inks by Don Hudson.) Wrapping up a session in the gym, Fury gets a flash message, to go to Washington D.C. and debrief about O.S.S. and C.I.A. missions, which were years prior. Nick blows it off, not just because he doesn't think it's important, but the Amazing Colossal Man was on cable tonight! The MST3K version premiered just a year prior; there's a not-zero chance Fury was going to watch that! Unfortunately, he gets stopped by government agents, who had the foresight to clear several guns out of Nick's car first. No movie tonight... Read more!

"The End" Week: Black Cat #10!

Not picking on Jed MacKay, this was just next in the pile! From 2021, Black Cat #10, "Infinity Score, part 3" Written by Jed MacKay, art by C.F. Villa, color art by Brian Reber. I had this variant, that wasn't in the GCD, by Ema Lupacchino and Brian Reber.

Although this was the last issue of this series, it wasn't the end of the storyline: it would wrap up in Giant-Size Black Cat #1: Felicia was after the Infinity Stones, which were currently embedded in people, giving them powers, even if she didn't think much of them. Nick Fury was after her, as well as Nighthawk this issue: not the classic, but the new one from Coulson and Mephisto's Squadron Supreme! Nighthawk remembered the Heroes Reborn universe (not that one, the other one...man, comics sometimes) and Felicia from it. He tries to sway her, to bring back what he considered a better world; maybe with them as a couple? But, Nighthawk also uses the past tense, when talking about her mom, so no deal. (Which is weird, because Felicia is such a daddy's girl; I don't think I knew she had contact with her mom. I thought at best it was like Daredevil's mom, if not Bambi's...)

Fury isn't quite trying to murder Felicia--yet--but absolutely can't have those two working together, since he didn't want to "wake up living in the United States of Nighthawk or some damn thing." But, she's saved by Odessa, who I had not seen before: she forces Fury off with a rocket launcher. Odessa appears to be part of some guild, presumably thieves'? I don't know if it's the same thieves' guild seen in Gambit books, either. She's breaking some rules to help Felicia, who's trying to stall for time, that Odessa will probably cave and give to her; but there was at least one other miscreant with an Infinity Stone out there...(Odessa also seemed to have ninjas, who drop back for her and Felicia's conversation, like they did not want in on that drama!)

This wasn't bad, although not as good as Felicia's current book! After this series, I think she had multiple ones with Mary Jane, as Jackpot or just herself. Read more!

I don't see why Julian's so mad there's no "Father Christmas," it's not like he was told there's no Santa Claus.

We mentioned this issue not long ago, and it's entirely possible this was her best selling issue! And she spends a good chunk of it gagged and bound, but everyone was probably here for cover-boy Cable. From 1992, Motormouth & Killpower #7, "Return to Sender" Written by Graham Marks, pencils by Edmund Perryman, inks by Cam Smith and Bambos Georgiou.

Both of the regular leads spend most of this issue captured: Motormouth gets grabbed by the Bad Boys, and trussed up with a gag to counter her vocal powers; while Killpower had been caught by his old handler-slash-"mother" Mrs. Mullarky. Killpower's escape attempt fails, as two members of the Mys-Tech board knock him out; but Motormouth gets away in a walk after a boss removes her gag to question her, and she screams the flesh right off his skull! Neither of those plotlines get as much page space, as Nick Fury's latest attempt to get information out of Mys-Tech, with a ringer: Cable! Who's working his own mission, one he says he couldn't even explain to X-Force. Fury, Cable, and cyborg Badhand sneak into Mys-Tech Central: Cable doesn't want the other two to find out what he was up to, but also had someone on the inside.

Cable and Badhand end up scuffling with "Bysshe," who may have been a "grade-A whacko" and from another dimension, or both, but had powerful energy zaps. Cable beats her with a mirror, probably because they were running out of pages, and recovers "the Clavis Key," which had previously been brought back by the Warheads, but no one may have realized its power. It's implied Cable had been ordered, by someone, to return it; but we don't see that here. Nor do we see Fury's infiltration, but maybe that's for next time; although Motormouth was probably going in to get Killpower, and that seems like a lot of people in and out of Mys-Tech's base of power! Read more!

It's not really a random MCP issue if it's the next MCP issue, is it.

I mentioned picking this one up the last time we flipped through an MCP, and figured we'd get to it in 2027. So, we're ahead of schedule, anyway! From 1994, Marvel Comics Presents #157, cover by Colin MacNeil.

I also thought the front cover had the bar code? Maybe not, judging from the text on the letters column on the inside cover, since a letter is continued on the other side; so maybe the Fury side is the front? "Jury of Your Peers" is an eight-pager, with Fury infiltrating a HYDRA base, to rescue agents captured by the sadistic "Number 16." With the Helicarrier bombing the base, it looks like Fury is trapped in the bad guy's dungeon...all according to plan? (Written by Mariano Nicieza, pencils by Kris Renkewitz, inks by Brad Vancata.)

The Namorita Kymaera serial continues with "Mother May I." Dehydrated and weakened, Kymaera has at least figured out she's on a sub, so hasn't given up yet; despite being grabbed by a guy in a powered armor with really weird tentacles. Seriously, like two launching from the nipple area and one from the gut; it's weird placement. (Story and pencils by Ed Lazellari, inks by Joe Rosas.) The Vengeance serial "Altered Spirits" also continues, as Michael Badilino wakes up in a homeless shelter, which comes as a relief: maybe all that stuff about being Bizarro-Ghost Rider was just a dream? Yeah, no such luck; and he realizes he's going to have to take his power back from Phantome, who's on a rampage, and memorably melts a guy's face off his skull, for holding her up in traffic. I feel like they were trying to work the formula to maybe add a female Ghost Rider-type, but she wouldn't stick. Also, Badilino helps restrain a homeless guy screaming "I am Kirok!" Hey, who among us... (Written by Chris Cooper, breakdowns by Reggie Jones, finishes by Fred Harper.)

Finally, the Shang-Chi serial also continues; as Shang discovers the "Midnight Slasher" that kidnapped his girl Leiko, was an old foe, Lazarus. It must suck in the MCU to meet and/or fight somebody named "Lazarus" because it all but guarantees they're going to come back after their "death," doesn't it? (Written by Karl Bollers, pencils by Cary Nord, inks by Bambos Georgio.)

Man, I wish I could find my Vengeance Marvel Legend figure: he's one of the very few from the Toy Biz days to not have gotten a re-do since! Read more!

Midtown High must've had a helluva Home Ec. class, if Peter and Flash can both knock out costumes.

It doesn't necessarily follow that Flash's costume design would be so close to Peter's, though. From 2018, What If? Spider-Man #1, "What If Flash Thompson had become Spider-Man?" Written by Gerry Conway, pencils by Diego Olortegui, inks by Walden Wong.

I might as well be wishing for a pony here, but I wish What If? still had regular numbering, instead of a big pile of #1's or event-related mini-series. This particular issue was after, um, whatever mini-series where the original Nick Fury got sent to live on a farm upstate was made "the Unseen," to live on the moon and bear witness like the Watcher used to; which included What If? hosting duties again. (It was Original Sin, and the numbering on that one looks a mess.) Oddly enough, Marvel had done a version of Spider-Flash before, in What If? #76: Peter takes a bit more hands-on approach to deal with him there, and that was the last issue of that series with Uatu hosting.

The trigger event of Flash attending a certain science fair, leads to him getting the powers, at least two deaths, and a lot of excessive force: Flash wasn't a scientist, so his Spider-Man doesn't seem to have webs. Still, he seems more accepted as a hero, in large part by the endorsement of J.Jonah Jameson, despite the fact that Flash had not saved JJJ's son John. (It's unclear if Flash had tried and failed, or wasn't there.) Peter Parker was still taking pictures of Spider-Man, since he needed the money for Aunt May's blood cancer treatment. But, when the isotope needed for that is stolen by the Master Planner, Peter follows a tracker he had placed on Spider-Man, to Flash's trailer-park home, and discovers Flash's secret. Flash does not take it well, as he had a lot of resentment towards "smart guys" turning people against him, and lashes out, killing Peter with one punch.

Stunned, Flash tries to redeem himself by tracking down the Master Planner and getting the isotope; but long-time readers would remember, the Master Planner was Doctor Octopus! Flash takes out a load-bearing pillar in the fight, setting up the traditional "Spidey lifts heavy stuff" moment, but not by overcoming self-doubt like Peter had to, but by acknowledging he was not a hero, and would have to make amends. In the end, Aunt May is saved, if devastated at the news that Peter was dead; and Flash turns himself in to face the music. (I feel like Flash wouldn't really defend himself, but probably wouldn't serve a lot of time: the government or S.H.I.E.L.D. or something would put him to work.) Read more!

I wasn't regularly reading the title at the time, but I'm pretty sure I noticed the glaring absence of John Byrne in Fantastic Four #296. (Also, Jim Shooter plot? Was that necessary, or him getting in on the anniversary cash?) And now I wonder how much Byrne had checked out by this issue for the Superman books: from 1986, Fantastic Four #290, "Risk" Written and penciled by John Byrne, inks by Al Gordon.

We're back in the Negative Zone today, as Annihilus has beaten--or at least knocked down--three of the FF; before having to deal with the betrayal of Blastaar. I'm thinking Marvel Two-in-One #75, but those guys had double-crossed each other multiple times by this point already, right? Sue gives some backstory to newbie She-Hulk, before trying to save Reed, but she can't: he had been sucked into the Zone while in a S.H.I.E.L.D. battlesuit, and was still positive matter in the negative universe: if he touched anything, it would be a massive explosion!

The team had some back-up, in the form of Nick Fury, who warns them of the arrival of Blastaar's people and their fleet; which Annihilus immediately turns on. They had figured Blastaar would turn on them, and had a weapon to defuse him; so they could invade earth without him, but Annihilus drives them back with his Cosmic Control Rod. Annihilus takes off, and Reed tries to go after him, only to be stopped by Sue's force-field: she knew Reed intended to sacrifice himself to stop Annihilus. Reed argues, there was no way around it: billions could die if Annihilus made it to their universe. Sue sadly lets him go.

While Nick and the team follow in a Quinjet-looking ship, Byrne goes with tell rather than show, as Reed transmits back his final message. Well, Byrne does draw Sue going through it, and the Quinjet returns through the distortion zone, back to our universe...but at what cost? (Even though he was about to die, Reed still notes: "...Annihilus seems to be yelling something...I can't read his lips...")

They return to the S.H.I.E.L.D. space station--the really boxy old one they had!--and Fury orders scans for Reed. Sue is not optimistic: assuming he wasn't completely blown apart, how long could he survive in space? A tech in a doofy helmet relays the findings: nothing. With only one small anomaly, what appeared to be a weather balloon...seems kinda obvious, but Sue says they have to accept Reed's death. (She's very obviously in shock, and kind of knows it; like she'd probably keep it together until she had to tell Franklin.) Nick gives the three a ride back to earth in his flying car, but on the approach to New York City, doesn't pick up the usual homing signal, or see the usual skyline--because they've somehow returned to 1936! An odd cliffhanger, but one that puts what's left of the team into a situation they would usually need Reed to take care of. Read more!

Ha, I was going to go on a tirade, about how I have a garage full of books, but there are still some I've lost that I miss, and then looked it up and I had picked it up again! So instead of seeing Psyklop, we get the Mandarin today; all part of my process. From 1977, Marvel Super-Heroes #62, reprinting 1968's Incredible Hulk #108, "Monster Triumphant!" Written by Stan Lee, pencils by Herby (Herb!) Trimpe, finishes by John Severin.

I keep complaining that the Hulk's reprint book here didn't reprint Hulk #144, a Doctor Doom smackdown I love; but maybe they skipped it because plot-wise it's pretty similiar to this one. The Mandarin brainwashes the Hulk, to use as a weapon; Nick Fury and his Russian counterpart Yuri Brevlov race to stop the Mandarin before he sets off a nuclear war. They manage to hold off the Mandarin until the Hulk returns, having shaken off the control; although the Hulk recognizes Yuri as having tried to kill him before as well, which doesn't improve his disposition any. Fury and Yuri--yeah, let's not do that, Fury and Brevlov--manage to escape, as the Hulk picks up the Mandarin's castle by a corner, to smash it.

The reprint is missing a couple pages, but not bad. Still, feels like a plot that would get some re-use there. Read more!

"Sorehead."

It's been a long time, but I swear the Super-Skrull and probably Paibok needed power broadcast or transmitted to them; at least in early appearances. I can't remember if that was a plot point in the Secret Invasion comic, since everything I've read from that keeps falling out of my head?

And, this Squadron is different than the one from the James Robinson series a couple years back; which featured Namor getting his head punched off but he was brought back before the end of the series by the repentant team. No, this Squadron is probably the most recent, but we'll get into that more later.

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"Schlubby."

I'm usually further ahead than this--in fact, I have other storylines with a couple strips done--but this Squadron one I'm barely ahead of the chains. I don't have it super planned out, I'm kind of seeing where it goes. In fact, I didn't think the other Squadron members were going to show up here; Blur may have had his own ideas. His own terrible ideas. 

I also don't like how "Super-Skrull" has become a generic; for me there's one proper Super-Skrull, Kl'rt, with the Fantastic Four powers. He's had a storied career, a jobber's jobber, to use the wrestling parlance. Then there's Paibok the 'Power Skrull,' who pretty obviously seems like they needed a new Skrull for the role of "total dick" because Kl'rt had almost managed to chip out some character development over the years. Anyway, here we've got the Marvel Select Super-Skrull, who was pretty cheap at the Disney Store still as I type this. Didn't love the alternate head on that one, but maybe it'll do something for you.

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"Training."

Huh, it is training camp season for baseball types! Maybe you'll luck out and not get see-through pants. 

I thought about it for about three seconds, and of course it was Peter David on dialogue, for Secret Origins #32, featuring the Justice League of America, and a sequence where Hal Jordan tries a few exclamations before settling on "Great Guardians!" I will occasionally yell "sweet Smurfberry crunch" in exasperation, but probably not as often as...other words. Like Ralphie and my own kids, Talos is probably exposed to profanity on a near-constant basis, although in Talos's case I suspect it's directed at him at least sometimes.  

Also, this helpful post points out that yeet is the opposite of yoink, which might help you: you yoink something off of somebody else's plate, you yeet something out a window. If yeet had been in use back in what, 2005, when the Sentry yeets Carnage into the sun; that would've absolutely been the end of the character.  

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