If she introduced herself to me, I would immediately blurt out "...Toast Crunch?" And get shot. And have it coming.

So I mentioned the other day that, at least in my neck of the woods, quarter bins are now usually dollar bins, or more; and twenty-five cent comics are few and far between, unless they're chewed-on, water-damaged, and/or crummy. But! My regular comic shop has been clearing some stuff from a storage unit, like those Marvel Frontier titles, a lot of various versions of Dark Horse Presents, and a bunch of Playmates Simpsons figures that are tempting me. (Rainier Wolfcastle comes with an Oscar! You understand how I need that, right?) Then the other day, they put out a box that probably was last out well over a decade prior, without bothering to retag anything, so the return of honest-to-goodness quarter comics! Some First Dreadstars I may or may not have already had, and today's book: from 2003, Cinnamon: El Ciclo #3, "Desafío" Written by Jen Van Meter, pencils by Francisco Paronzini, inks by Robert Campanella. Cover by Howard Chaykin.

I think Cinnamon first appeared in Weird Western Tales #48 back in '78, but that was set in the old west like DC's other western titles. This was a modernized version, but stayed close to the original: as a child, her marshal daddy had been shot down in a robbery, so she took to the gun--and cowboy hat, and badges used as throwing-stars--to kill the killers. Sometime after that, while not particularly old, after years of bounty-hunting and "security" work, Cinnamon seems like she's had enough; and the daughter of one of her dad's killers was now old enough to want revenge of her own. But that girl, Mace, had also been using the money from her dad's robbery--"blood money," she admits--to take care of orphans and runaways, and a lot of bad people were looking for one of them.

Cinnamon and Mace back each other up driving away thugs and gangbangers, but make arrangements to have it out at midnight regardless. Although Cinnamon didn't seem to have a lot of friends, the proprietor of a local strip club was probably one (and the girls working there idolized her) and he knows she won't draw on Mace, that this was like suicide. Still, when midnight comes, Mace refuses to let her "turn this into a sacrifice" and tells her where her money had come from, trying to goad a fight. They both draw, although we only see Mace shoot, as nearby, Mace's building was on fire... 

Paronzini's art reminds me of Eduardo Risso from 100 Bullets in places; and some of the story does as well: streetwise girl taking no guff while shooting up the place. The circle of vengeance coming back around likewise brings back the first Kill Bill. I picked up the whole series for a buck and a quarter, but that's not a strike against it; I lucked out! I'm also mildly surprised I didn't buy it before: I'll almost always buy a full run of a mini-series from the quarter bins if I find one.

Read more!

Special guest-star, Shuma-Gorath!

I'm not positive why his--her--its?--upcoming figure got renamed Gargantos--it's a rights issue since the name Shuma-Gorath at least was from a Robert E. Howard story--but I'll probably have to throw in on that. OK, he's not really in this issue, but for a quick one today, from 2023, Star Wars: the Mandalorian season 2 #3, "Chapter 11: the Heiress, adapted by Rodney Barnes, pencils by George Jeanty, inks by Karl Story. From the dollar bins, I got the below "concept art" cover by Brian Matyas, and had to scan that for the GCD.

I was going to say, issue #3, chapter 11; because Marvel, but they do have it broken out by seasons. I was a little disappointed they went with straight adaptations, and not all-new adventures; although I suspect Disney and corporate are maybe keeping a tight rein on the continuity stories for Din Djarin and Grogu. Still, "The Heiress" is a solid episode. All of these would've been collected in trades as well, I wonder how they sold? Read more!

I want a Superman "time stick" now.

I feel like everyone and their mom bought that Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez DC Style Guide but me; I have to content myself with random ads like this one! The Superman "time stick" momentarily looked like mullet-Supes, but no. Anyway, as long as we're here, let's check out the front of this one! From 1982, Batman #354, "Showdown" Written by Gerry Conway, pencils by Don Newton, inks by Alfredo Alcala.

This was maybe intentionally stepping away from the '66 TV show: Batman had just been stripped of his "special deputy" status, by crooked Mayor Hill and Commissioner Pauling. Although currently outlawed, Batman still confronts them, since he had Deadshot held prisoner--probably illegally--but Bats hoped to spook them into confessing their conspiracy with Boss Rupert Thorne. While Pauling doesn't have the stones to shoot Batman, he still triggers an alarm, and one of his loyalists, fat pig Sgt. McClosky, takes a shot at Batman leaving police headquarters. He gets five shots off as Batman tries to swing away, and Bats catches one and falls...but his body isn't found.

Meanwhile, since he had been haunted by the ghost of Hugo Strange, Boss Thorne has brought in some help: "Ghost Breaker" Dr. Thirteen! The abrasive doctor doesn't like Thorne, or even accept his money: his whole thing was, there was no such thing as ghosts, and he almost compulsively has to prove it. And he's right this time: someone had set up hologram projectors and tape recordings, to hound Thorne. Thorne thinks Pauling and Hill did it, and storms off to get his revenge, although he also plans to settle with Thirteen later.

Alfred is attending to the blindfolded and caged Deadshot, when a bleeding Batman barely makes it in; then a brief subplot with Vicki Vale receiving an anonymous "cat-call" warning her to stay away from Bruce Wayne. Later that night, Thorne is drinking at home, when Batman arrives and scowls at him, silently. Thorne doesn't quite spill all the beans, but does accidentally set his house on fire! Thorne escapes the blaze, then at City Hall confronts Hill, Pauling, and McClosky; furious over their betrayal and all the fake haunting stuff, which Hill swears he didn't know anything about. Thorne shoots Pauling, but is himself shot by McCloskey, who is then knocked out by Batman.

"Batman" then reports back in: it was Robin filling in, as Bruce was currently bedridden. While Thorne would go to jail, their conversation didn't entirely incriminate Hill; and with Deadshot still not talking, they had nothing on the mayor. Robin wonders about the ghost business, though; as a limousine drives away, with Hugo Strange softly chuckling in the back. Well, the caption box says he's softly chuckling, the art and lettering in the last panel make it look more like he's cackling his head off. I feel bad for his chauffeur; imagine driving that around all day. 

I wasn't reading regularly then, but I think this plotline had been bubbling away for a long time, so it had to be immensely satisfying seeing the conspirators turn on each other and get some measure of what was coming to them. I wonder what that's like, huh?

Read more!

Just fact-check anything Cap says this issue. Maybe double-check anything anyone says.

The actors' strike is in full-swing right now, and honestly, they're more than right to do so. The studios wanted them to take a deal where said studios could then use an actor's likeness, in perpetuity, across any thing they like, for ever. Which seemed cartoonishly evil, even back when it was a plot-point in Howard Chaykin's American Flagg! Hard Times, back in--my god, 1985? I've probably had that trade on my bookshelves for well over 30, 35 years at this point; one of my favorites ever, even if while I would go on to read a ton of Chaykin's other work, I would barely read another issue of AF! 

But, we can take a look at another Chaykin book: from 2009, Captain America Theater of War: America First! #1, story and art by Howard Chaykin, colors by Edgar Delgado.

Where to start, here...this was one of maybe seven "Theater of War" Cap one-shots, set at various times in Cap's history. Or "Cap's" history, since this was the phony 1950's commie-smasher version. He's a jingoistic ideologue and a cold fish, about as likeable as a chopping block and almost as flexible. Sure, the commies were up to shenanigans, but still. A pre-eyepatch Nick Fury guests: he hadn't quite lost sight in the war-injured eye yet, but he also knows this wasn't the original Steve Rogers, no matter what he called himself. Fury's the most personable out of anyone this issue; when was the last time that happened? Anyway, "Cap" brings down a long-term Soviet plant, a thinly-veiled version of O.G. fearmonger Joseph McCarthy himself.

 

The art, and the fashions, are exquisite; but it's like an impeccably tailored suit, out of the coursest material. I glanced at the descriptions of a couple other "Theater of War" issues, and they looked to run a bit maudlin or weepy: this one isn't, I guess I have to give it that.

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!