Ever come back from vacation and feel like you needed a vacation?...well, yeah. Coming back raring for work would be weirder. Anyway, I'm lazy, so out today! I had these up on Bluesky.

That Superman and Superman-Robot #4 (Gary!) are from the basic line, I think SpinMasters? If you see an Engineer, grab her, and then work backwards if you wanna build Gary. Hawkgirl might be tougher to get too; unless you have to spend a little more than the $7.99 they started at.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps figures are both taller and sharper, although they're three times more expensive than the basic Superman ones. I wasn't sure if I was going to get them, but bought the Silver Surfer figure first, then found the Four all at once, which I couldn't skip. Also, I might've swiped some of that joke: didn't Johnny ask where Ben's ears went in the first Fox FF? Anyway. Have a good weekend! Read more!

Not like that! Well, actually, this time yes, I guess.

 

Tomorrow's the Lilac City Comicon again! And as usual, I don't have a plan in my head! Usually I'm there just to grab cheap comics, but this year guests include the voice of Squidward, Rodger Bumpass; and from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Nana Visitor! I like that. 

Anyway, the Youngest needed some laptop repairs, and I thought I should put in some OT for that and whatever I want tomorrow, so I've done little except work and sleep all week. We'll see if it pays off later, so have a good weekend!

Read more!

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.) Read more!

I'm now up to 12 volumes, and 3 action figures!

Because this is my busy season at work, I've been putting in overtime--it'll probably cover my action figure budget for the year, so I shouldn't complain, but I do! Oh, god, how I do. I'm tired, and barely had time to read anything last week. But, I did read another volume of Chainsaw Man, which has been great! Volume 12 was the start of a new storyline, Chainsaw's not in a large chunk of it, and it's still great! I don't know how intentional it is, but it kind of flips the usual superhero "protect their secret identity at all costs" trope on its head, and closes with a pretty perfect encapsulation of that Firefly meme where he's just dumbstruck with the terribleness of somebody's idea, in this case Denji's.

Malreynolds Firefly GIFfrom Malreynolds GIFs

Then, when I was out getting groceries, I found the latest Chainsaw Man figure marked down, and I'm not made outta stone. Extra arms and face pieces!

How often are people worried about looking dumb, when sometimes the stuff that sounds the dumbest is actually the coolest? Hopefully, I'll get to watch the anime sometime. Although, at first listen, isn't the opening to his theme there the first bars in Fugazi's "Waiting Room"? Read more!

Like Reading Rainbow, if the host was lazier and way more potty-mouthed.

I swear I did other stuff on vacation besides read...um, wait, it'll come back to me...I sat in a lake a bit? No, I used to read a ton, but have fallen off, partly because books can be expensive, and partly because at home I spent too much time dicking about on the computer or with action figures. Really quick: Neal Stephenson's Seveneves is undoubtedly the longest of the pile, and I thought would take forever, but it reads like butter. Really good, although I feel like the second half, after a big time jump, could've got a few more pages. Miss Morgan's Book Brigade might not seem like my usual reading fare, but it was written by a high school friend; and was damn good! In World War I, a librarian goes to France, and among other things, changes the way the whole country would see libraries. (Something we could use in this country again; we're kinda takin' libraries for granted! I oughta use mine more, but I like hording books...)

I had to stop midway through this, to put in my DVD of John Dies at the End, but it's on PlutoTV as well. I had read What The Hell Did I Just Read a couple months ago, and have to pick up Jason Pargin's other two books in that series. Ursula K. Le Guin's the Lathe of Heaven might seem old hat with the alternate realities/timelines, but did it first, with a common theme: probably anything you're interested in changing, will have a domino effect of other, unexpected changes. Chainsaw Man is a relatively recent manga, and I picked up the first volume free when I got Lupin III World's Most Wanted. The Lupin one had a different cover than I see online, and reads rather like Spy vs. Spy: not a lot of continuity. Still, I liked Chainsaw Man enough to buy the next volume, and his action figure!

My microwave died, so I had to get a new one yesterday, but I did find the McFarlane Ambush Bug (and Cheeks!) while out! And I'll probably kick myself later for paying close to full price for the WWE Lucha Low Rider, but I'm kind of supporting them in the hopes of getting an in-scale panel van one of these years.

  Tool of the Trade isn't my favorite Joe Haldeman, but it wasn't bad; and Quarry's Climax from Max Allan Collins is a violent, fun read as well; but more later.

Read more!

Well, at least the kid wasn't turned into cubes.

Cover for 2018's Infinity Countdown: Champions #2 by Clayton Crain. I feel like Rich has given Thanos a good fight in the past--better than his showing in Infinity Gauntlet #4--but this issue, while the Champions manage to beat the Chitauri Warbringer, Ironheart gets her suit destroyed by Thanos, then Sam gets his suit taken away by the Nova Corps. So, the cover's a bit of a lie. 

I know I got this one for a buck at EntertainMart, and they are probably having another sale now! This is why the mountains of comics lying around never get smaller...Have a good weekend!

Read more!

Somewhat counter-intuitively, for me anyway; I didn't get a bunch of toys at the Lilac City Comicon but did get a fair pile of comics: the to-be-blogged pile has been good and restocked. The only figure purchase was a Re:Action Rocketeer on the cheap; which I'd put on the wall except the failure rate for the stupid little wall-sticky hooks has been pretty unencouraging. Later for that.

I did get a copy of Impossible Jones #1 signed by David Hahn! I've been getting those through their Kickstarters, so that was neat. Other than that, I think I got most of Dynamite's Lone Ranger for my dad; if I can just remember where I put the rest of them! Remind me later: putting something anywhere "so I'll find it later" might as well be burying it in the backyard. Read more!

I don't know that I have any jokes for Zabu; I just wanted him!

Super behind schedule all week, and tomorrow is the Lilac City Comicon! I had time to put Zabu together, though. We'll check back next week, and see what we get. Have a good weekend! Read more!

I've probably watched a month of baseball this week; I don't remember this, but...

From 1970, DC Special #9, reprinting "Challenge of the Headless Baseball Team!" from 1962's Brave and the Bold #45, written by Gardner Fox, pencils by Carmine Infantino, inks by Joe Giella.

No secret, but I've been out of office all this week. We'll be back to closer to our usual nonsense next week, so have a good weekend!

Read more!

Elektra's now DD, Kurt's going to be Spidey, and Natasha's going to be Venom? So much for "just be yourself."

Not if you can be Daredevil, though! I went out of my way to grab her early, and immediately had to pop off her head: I almost thought the scarf was going to be attached. I wish I had more time to play with her, but I have to mow my lawn here shortly--a chore I've avoided for several years now and am not looking forward to; but my landlords apparently proclaimed it must be done and conveniently forgot they used to do it. I'm super irritated, if you couldn't guess. The lawn's been nothing but weeds for like two years. 

One quick one here, then take the rest of the day off, and have a good weekend!

Read more!

This may be the most relatable any New Universe villain got. Possibly the most relatable any New Universe character got.

From 1987, Justice #13, "Drug of Choice" Written by Gerry Conway, pencils by Tom Grindberg, inks by Tom Morgan.

Ah, time zones: do I talk to anyone in mine? Some days it doesn't feel like it! And I grew up in Mountain time, and I have vivid memories of CBS ads for specials, cartoons and such, that would always say something like 9:00 Eastern, 6:00 Pacific; and I would have no goddamn idea when A Charlie Brown Christmas was on and I would get all furrow-browed and sad. So I feel this guy, here.

Is this the one panel from Justice that made an impression with me? Just about, since they kept retconning the damn book! The first issue is perfectly readable, alien warrior, stranger in a strange land jazz; the next several from Steve Englehart turn up the fantasy elements. There's an issue or three in there with Keith Giffen art too, including one where the above villain eschews using a phone and just uses his hand--and creepy, demonic-looking breath--instead. The book had like six writers in about 15 issues, and #15 is a massive retcon. (I had to try and look: have I never bitched about this? In 16 years of blogging?) The New Universe was supposed to be "the world outside your window" and not have overt fantasy elements like other worlds and mystic knights, so the whole thing was the hero, affected by a reality warping villain, tripping balls for about a year and a half. His costume also changed to an inexplicable purple number with a lightning bolt--I liked the old design--and his white hair was no longer punk rock, but aging dad. Feh. Of course, I would read later issues, because I was a fan of Peter David, but even he could only do so much. (It's also weird that Justice survived the culling of half the New Universe around the one year mark, then was asked to continue so changed.)

Anyway, if you look in the quarter bins, like at all, ever; you'll probably see some Justice issues. You may even be tempted, but resist! They'll just hurt you in the end. I was flush with cash and comics were cheap if you subscribed, and I was getting Psi-Force, Justice, and D.P.7 in the mail, maybe ten issues before they were all finally put down. D.P.7 may still hold up, but the rest, doubtful. This is why I have almost an allergic reaction every time somebody tries to bring back the Star Brand in Avengers: I was OK with Gruenwald doing it once in Quasar, and that was it.

Read more!

Finally, some comics that aren't taking up space around here!

I do enjoy Humble Bundle, as they've given me access to a ton of books over the years: over the last seven years (!) I've gotten long stretches of Transformers, Star Trek, and Dungeons & Dragons comics, among many others. The most recent Bundle: from Titan Comics, including more Star Trek and a ton of Robotech; but what sold this one was Peter Milligan's take on The Prisoner. Come to think of it, my Prisoner action figure from Wandering Planet should be coming soon. 

As of right this second...I have no idea what I'm doing for the next two weeks. And then the month after that. But the Lilac City Comicon returns October 2-3! If you're in the neighborhood, say hi; I'm the guy in the mask buying all the cheap comics.

Read more!

Maybe this interview is full of secrets for the last episode? Probably not, but you never know!

The conclusion of WandaVision is on today, so I'm turning off everything to avoid spoilers! (Unless I accidentally wake up at four in the morning; which I think I actually did for the last episode of  the Mandalorian...) So, why not enjoy this interview with Steve Englehart on his Vision and the Scarlet Witch limited from Marvel Age #29? Especially since I randomly found it over the weekend while looking for something else...

.

For good measure, and because of course I'd post this, a clip from the same issue of Dave Cockrum's Nightcrawler #1!

Read more!

Just throwing this out there today.

Nextwave is love, kids; and the world could use a helluva lot more of that today. From 2006, Nextwave: Agents of H.A.T.E. #4, written by Warren Ellis, pencils by Stuart Immonen, inks by Wade von Grawbadger.
Read more!

Taking a day, but we learned something!

Randomly taking a day off from work, which doesn't necessitate a day of from blog, yet here we are! Still, we did, also by random chance, find our friend Rattletrap in an episode of Ninja Sentai Kakuranger on Pluto TV's Tokushoutsu! He's really the Black Shogunzord, or Giant Beast General Black Gammer. The chestpiece looks a little different but his little face is unmistakable. Yay!

(Aside: I've mentioned that I watch a lot of Tokushoutsu, and I love it. I do wish I could opt out of some of Pluto TV's ads, since there are a couple for conservative news channels that are repugnant garbage. The amount of right-wing talking points I'm interested in hearing is less than none. You can say I'm in my little echo chamber or whatever; I absolutely do not care.)

I had a nice walk yesterday, and am hoping for the same today: all the best for you, and back Monday!

Read more!

"(Don't) Ride the Lightning."

I posted this one on Twitter some time back, and was really hoping to see something like this in the big CW Crisis crossover. It's a good one to fill-in a day I may be out, so have fun!
Read more!

The move continues, and while it's not quite to the point that I regret every single life choice that brought me to here, I can see it from here. Luckily, I have all of the next week off! There will still be a few posts, maybe more if Comcast gets me hooked up right away. (The installation charge they hit me with is a load of a load, since I'm bringing all my own equipment and hooking it up; all they're doing is flipping a switch and starting billing.) See you then!

Read more!

The majority of my comics are at my new house, even if I am not; so a bit of a loss as to posting today. Tomorrow is the Spokane Toy Show--I did not see a ton of toys at the last little Coeur d'Alene Comicon, possibly because this was coming up. I also have this coming Monday off, although I do have a post scheduled for it; and the week after off completely to finish this move.

I usually find something I lost or forgot I had every time I move, and so far this time I've found an in-package Gwenpool, and the Dark Knight Batman and Gotham City Thug: I might open the Thug, and Gwen might go on the wall with a few other carded figures. And I found (just on a different shelf than I'd been looking for it) my DC Special Blue Ribbon Digest with the Doom Patrol.

I'll take a picture when I'm all set up, but hopefully before Thanksgiving I'll have started in on the couple of shelves worth of fun stuff I had set aside for after moving: several models and Lego kits, a stack of novels, and more than a few comics and trades. Soon.
Read more!

I thought this Frank Miller piece was from Hero Illustrated, but now I'm not sure. This would've been from around 1994, when Elektra returned in Daredevil, even though Frank still very much thought of the character as his. I don't think he had anything good to say about Netflix's version of her, and I wonder if he got so much as a thank you for the ill-fated Elektra movie. Maybe he wouldn't want his name on that one, but I don't think they threw any money his way, either.

I had been looking for this in my garage for a while, and found it while getting ready to move. So, I'll schedule this one for during said move! Back in a few, hopefully.

Read more!

"Pickup."

I am honestly not sure if Deadpool or Nightcrawler have met Adam Warlock in continuity. I'm also mildly surprised, after Deadpool's Secret Secret Wars Marvel hasn't gone on with Deadpool's Infinite Infinity Wars or such.
Read more!