This is my third win this year, but I swear I'm not cheating.

I've often joked that maybe Hastings should give me a kickback, and maybe they have: Wednesday I won a variant cover Invincible Iron Man #1! Picked up a copy to read as well, and...OK, now I feel kind of bad, since I won Secret Wars #1 before and didn't really care for it, but this was only a little better. There was a bit that felt like a jab at the X-Men, which may not have been the intent, but the way Marvel's treating that franchise lately that's how it came off; and another during Tony's date that seemed out of character for him. (The latter featuring a cameo from a character I wasn't sure Tony had even met at this point, but it was drawn well at least.) I don't want to say the Iron Man movies have made the comic redundant...but man, that's how this issue feels; and that should not be the case.

The new armor design isn't really doing it for me, either...

At any rate, I did pick up some other stuff, that of course we'll get to later. And I started getting the new Omega Men, since it felt like any book DC was going to cancel probably had to have something going for it. Took me a bit to find Convergence: Batman & Robin #2 with the first part of the story, though. (It is available a few places online, but I wanted the issue as well.)
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It's an $8.95 squarebound, but I'm willing to cram it into the scanner for you.

Partly, because it's not great: from 1993, Spider-Man, Punisher, Sabretooth: Designer Genes, written by Terry Kavanagh, pencils by Scott McDaniel, inks by Keith Williams. As Spider-Man finds a number of lab animals butchered as ESU, the Punisher kills some "Canadian arsonists" that were hired to take out some homeless from an upscale construction site. Some of the homeless were also killed, torn to pieces, but possibly not by Sabretooth, who's after some genetic engineers who remind him of his time in the Weapon X program.

The Punisher is absolutely willing to murder the engineers, their backers, Sabretooth, and Spider-Man at this point. The latter is a little crankier than he usually gets: it would probably give Frank a staggering amount of satisfaction to kill Daredevil, but he never would. Spidey defends Sabretooth, even though he is a known murderer, and teams up with Punisher even though he knows Frank is getting a little trigger-happy.

This is a 64-pager with a "Silver Foil Enhanced Cover " that it absolutely didn't deserve. I wonder, if I went through it again, if there were chapter breaks (or points where they would've gone) every eight pages, since this possibly could've been commissioned as an eight-part serial for Marvel Comics Presents.
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"Shadow."

Dale called Patsy's shadow cloak--she actually did have something like that for a brief period of old Defenders comics, before wadding it up into itself--but I was going to use Satana's, and it wouldn't fit around Hellcat's hair! The Vision cloak worked well enough, though; but I couldn't tell you how often I have everything all planned out and then still have to wing it.
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Because zombies, that'd be unbelievable...

From 1997, Action Comics Annual #9, "The Magnetic Medium" Written by David Michelinie, pencils by Vince Giarrano, inks by Brett Breeding.

This was part of DC's Pulp Heroes annuals, which I know I read a few of...yeah, the Legends of the Dark Knight Annual, back in the first year of this blog! And the Aquaman Annual much later. This one was set during the electric Superman era, and features a group of armored thieves that appear to be using technology but are actually using magic. Meanwhile, a young woman joins the order of Brother Serenity, since she felt like an outcast: she had magnetic powers and strange, snake-like protrusions on her face. Of course, there's more to Serenity than meets the eye...actually, he's got an eyepatch and goatee and looks like a pirate, so he's kinda suspicious, yeah.

Still, a fun done-in-one, like most of the "Pulp Heroes" annuals. I know I have the Hitman one floating around somewhere, though...
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Today, two stories that may or may not feature Nick Fury...

Also, how is "Kill Spider-Man" not number one on Norman Osborn's list? I'm surprised it's not on there two or three times. From 2009, Dark Reign: the List: Secret Warriors #1, "Leviathan" Written by Jonathan Hickman, pencils by Ed McGuinness, inks by Tom Palmer. Fury breaks into the Sentry's tower for a little meet-up with Norman Osborn, in a case involving a deep-cover agent in the Treasury who has funneled billions to a secret organization...called Leviathan.

This issue also features John Garrett, the cyborg agent from Frank Miller and Bill Sienkiewicz's Elektra: Assassin. Always surprised when he appears: I don't think he was intended to be part of the Marvel Universe proper, let alone a recurring character, and Marvel has gotten a surprising amount of mileage out of him.

This issue also features a reprint of the Lee/Steranko classic "Today Earth Died!, featuring an alien invasion which may or may not be a nightmare. Then again, both stories this issue may or may not have the real Nick Fury, since some writers have decided that Fury, not unlike Dr. Doom, was probably a robot every time you saw him for the last several decades. (A Life Model Decoy versus Doombot story just sprang to mind, although it could well go into Spy vs. Spy territory...) Sometimes that seems like a dick move for a writer: "Fury was a LMD every story not written by me..." Read more!

Today, an inventory...er, imaginary story:

From 1984, Superman Special #2, "The Demon with a Cape!" Story by Cary Bates, art by Gil Kane.

I'm not positive this was an inventory story, but maybe: the main conceit of this "imaginary story" is that Brainiac here avoided transforming into the metallic new version, remaining the classic green-skinned alien. And...that's about it, it's a pretty standard Superman story otherwise. I say that because usually the imaginary stories go a little harder, like Superman dies or becomes a polygamist or a Canadian or something.

Brainiac has hoodwinked an alien planet into believing he was their "mystic seer," and that Superman was a demon bent on their destruction. With a satellite converting the star's orange radiation to red, Supes loses his powers, and is in pretty deep until a telepathic alien girl conspires to help him. Brainiac punches Superman up a bit, and sentences him to the "throne of agony," which has him worried for a minute. It's a fun little story with nice art, but I think they probably should've either set it...or maybe released it before Brainiac's upgrade.

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When did the Demon become a romantic lead?

So far in the New 52, I think I've seen Etrigan with more girls than Hal Jordan: Madame Xanadu in Demon Knights, Zatanna in Justice League Dark: Futures End, and here Fire, in Justice League 3000 #15, "Burning Bright!" Plot by Keith Giffen, dialog by J.M. DeMatteis, art by Howard Porter.

I really need to pick up more of this, even though this was technically the last issue: it's up to Justice League 3001 now. (When it reaches 3100, sell!) (Boo!) This issue features the cloned Justice League, Fire and Ice, a future Camelot, and the new Injustice League of Lois Lane!...I have no idea what is up with half of that, hence, need more comics.
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"Cartography."

Is "slut-shaming" usually hyphenated? I did have to look up "impugn."

The little controller Kurt's holding in a couple panels was attached to the "wire" by a little piece of putty, then Kurt took a header between takes and I'm not sure where that piece got to. A little later, though; we see an accessory Deadpool's used before, that's a colossal pain in the butt to keep on him...
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Farscape had more episodes and more comics: sick burn on you, Firefly...

Today's post is just a reminder I need to get the War for the Uncharted Territories trade, but I also need #2 of the first limited: from 2008, Farscape #1-4, "The Beginning of the End of the Beginning." Created and story by Rockne O'Bannon, script by Keith R.A. Decandido, art by Tommy Patterson.

I didn't pick these up when they came out, but I think I came to the show late, too: Set after the last episodes of the series, The Peacekeeper Wars mini-series; John Crichton and the crew of the Moya are looking for a new home to live out their lives in peace. "Peace" not being the default mode of the universe, this is proving more difficult than he'd thought. New mother Aeryn is having difficulty adjusting to her new role; and former Dominar Rygel continues his long quest to retake the throne of the Hynerian empire. That last one is probably going to cause the most trouble, especially since they've brought in a familiar face as an advisor...

It does occur to me, I have a lot of limited series where I have three issues out of four. And a lot of those were picked up at shows. Why that is, I couldn't say.
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I don't think anything like the cover occurs this issue.

Oddly, I know I only got the Julie Schwartz tribute to this issue only recently, but here's a quick look at the original: from 1967, Justice League of America #53, "Secret behind the Stolen Super-Weapons!" Written by Gardner Fox, pencils by Mike Sekowsky, inks by Sid Greene. An oddly dressed inventor has built a matter transporter, which leaves "a reasonable copy" of the original behind, "an operation made necessary by the law of the conservation of matter and energy." That specifically wouldn't work like that; but the inventor is able to steal an antique coin from the Midway City Museum, and Green Arrow's arrows, Batman's utility belt, and Wonder Woman's magic lasso! For good measure, he also has an "animator" ray that he uses to bring to life statues of the doodang, the Monster of Leeds, the Ring-Tailed Roarer, and Paul Bunyan and Babe!

Any of which seems like enough to make a ton of cash without having to steal stuff from superheroes, but the inventor seems afraid of his teleporter's side-effect, a radiation that knocks out GA, WW, Batman and Hawkman and turns them invisible! And the League can't reverse-engineer the inventor's machine, since it was stolen by mobsters, or use Hawkman's radiation-detector...if only they knew someone who had a radiation-detector like his...the Atom points out, they totally do: Hawkgirl!

Who does all the heavy lifting the rest of this story, and should've been added to the JLA immediately. And now I'm wondering if there even is a Hawkgirl, Hawkwoman in the New 52. Maybe after that new TV show...
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This one has a Mike Mignola cover...and that's about it.

From 1990, Conan the Barbarian #237, "Serpent of Dreams" Written by Michael Higgins, pencils by Gary Hartle, inks by Dan Adkins and Mike DeCarlo.

I'm not positive Conan's sales were down, or if it was just time for a new look; but in issue #232 Higgins and artist Ron Lim started a "Young Conan" storyline--that issue has a nice Higgins cover inked by Jim Lee, that was very reminiscent of classic Conan artist Barry Windsor-Smith. But Lim would leave the title on the fourth chapter out of nine, since he was penciling Captain America as the time. (And possibly a couple other books...)

This issue, after fouling up a robbery attempt, Conan's former rival and current friend Jorrma finds his head on the chopping block; but is saved by Conan. Who isn't mad or anything, why would he be? He's got a good buddy, and a hot girlfriend; which is driving Jorrma somewhat crazy with jealousy. For good measure, Jorrma also has a bizarre snake tattoo on his back that seems to have appeared from nowhere; and a mysterious witch and her demonic-looking brother plan how to use their pawn. In the middle of the night, swarms of snakes attack, and Jorrma turns into a snake-man that attacks his friends. Another rider appears and attacks Conan as well, and I'm not sure what his deal was, but he gets turned into another snake-man by Jorrma, then stabbed to death by Conan. Conan's already hacked one of Jorrma's arms off, but is about to really bring the fury, when Jorrma's power seemingly overloads and he sheds his skin, returning to normal; with no tattoo and his arm back. Jorrma's a bit freaked out, while Conan doesn't seem too worried one way or the other at this point.

Well, at least Higgins was trying something new; and avoided the trap of rehashing Robert E. Howard's stories again. Still, Jorrma's featured more centrally than Conan this ish, but it's pretty obvious he's not going to be around long...
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I'm 90% sure I got this as a freebie from my local comic shop, and I appreciate the gesture...I know I also recently got issues of Secret Service and Green Team that I haven't even brought myself to open; so this issue's climbing in the rankings already! From 2010, Justice League: Rise and Fall Special #1, "Green Arrow Unbound" Written by J.T. Krul, pencils by Diogenes Neves, Mike Mayhew, and Fabrizio Fiorentino; and inks by Mike Mayhew, Vicente Cifuentes, and Ruy Jose.

The cover by Stanley Lau is kind of a spoiler, although I'm not sure Green Arrow murdered Prometheus this issue or a previous one. It's certainly hashed out here, along with GA's motives: the devastation of Star City, maiming his former sidekick Red Arrow, and killing his granddaughter Lian. (Well, "granddaughter," Roy wasn't Ollie's kid.) Ollie shoots Prometheus in the head and leaves the body to rot in the villain's extra-dimensional hideout. Which is easily accessible by the Shade, who takes Barry and Hal there. (Hal seems shocked, but Barry seems pissed.) Someone had been there, though: someone had stolen Prometheus's computerized helmet, then put the arrow back in his head! (Unless they cut the helmet off, which seems doubtful.)

Replacement heroes Wally and Dick take down D-lister Razer, while worrying about their friend Roy. They also wonder if they're better than Roy, or just luckier. (I'm gonna go with better, since Roy was probably shooting heroin into his arm stump after this issue...)

Meanwhile, GA and Black Canary have been tracking the Electrocutioner, who GA refers to as Prometheus's "triggerman." Canary has to forcibly stop Ollie from murdering him, then realizes Ollie isn't looking for Prometheus because he already knows what happened to him. Barry and Hal confront Ollie with the body, and Ollie points out Barry had broken the Reverse-Flash's neck. Pfft, like 26, 27 years ago. And he didn't lie about it. Well, Ollie may not so much have lied as not volunteered info; but that's for a lawyer to figure out. Ollie helps himself to Prometheus's cosmic key and teleports away, with Flash proclaiming the JLA needs to find him before he kills again! Geez, Barry, settle down. I think this was setting up Green Arrow's last series before the New 52 soft reboot, but I'm not sure Ollie would suffer any consequences for killing Prometheus. Read more!

"Ready."

I think it was a Peter David comic--90% sure it was the second issue of Star Trek: The Next Generation--The Modala Imperative--where an aged McCoy remarks that if Captain Kirk had a ready room like Picard did, he would've never gone back to his quarters. Of course Pool is aping that here, but he could do worse! We'll see if I could cobble together a little model of his prior ship, the Bea Arthur, for him...

The doors Kurt puts his foot through were from a Ultimate Spider-Man Web Warriors Trickshot Showdown set, which I picked up for under four bucks and didn't put any stickers on. The doors scream Star Trek to me...
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