Vertigo Comics has recently returned to the racks--I'm quite enjoying End of Life myself--but I won't consider them back back until they start weird little mini-series like this one again. And now's the time for it, there are a ton of anthology horror books coming out now! Still, I haven't read all of this one anyway, so I still have a few to find: from 2015, Strange Sports Stories #2, cover by Dave Johnson.

DC had a six-issue Strange Sports Stories in 1973, but it's also not unlike gorillas, just something they like to do every so often. Honestly, I thought they did it more often; it was also in old, pre-Batman team-up Brave and the Bold (with the aforementioned gorillas!) but I'm thinking the sci-fi titles trotted it out as well, since I can picture the almost-clickbaity covers; probably dreamed up by an editor on a three-martini/six beer lunch and sketched on a cover by the first artist he saw back at the office. "Why is this boxing match being fought on the rings of Saturn?" "Who was the Phantom Umpire?" "What is the secret of the Alien Baseball League, and their sinister application of the infield fly rule?" "Why isn't my wife returning my calls?" "Can anyone defeat the Foosball Gorilla?" Like that.

This issue kicks off with "Skate Cynic," wherein said cynic grinds and grinds to land a new trick, only for it to immediately be copied, and he loses it so hard he spirals off the planet. (Written by Lee Loughridge, art by Nick Dragotta.) Then, it's Mike McCoy, Merchant Marine vs. "The Patchwork Palooka," as the boxer finds a derth of opponents and fights in harbor today, but an old foe may be putting something together for him...it's a fun one! Along with the alliteration, Mike McCoy legit sounds like a C-list, back-up story character like DC used to have in the day; probably less popular than Roy Raymond, TV Detective but more popular than Captain Compass. (Written by Mark Finn, art by John Lucas.)

"Not Allowed to Play Ball!" finds two young rookies getting their big try-out, but one worries that if his secret were discovered...and it of course is, but not what you'd guess. (Story and art by Tim Fish.) Finally, "Le Boules de Mal" is a rarity: how many Pétanque stories will you find in comics? Or anywhere? A spectator tells two players, of the greatest match ever thrown...against the devil. One player dismisses it as yeah, they've heard "The Devil Went Down to Georgia," but that might not have been the ending here. Read more!

I can't save this one for "The End" of the year? Aw, shoot.

Out in the garage I still have a small bin of orphan Build-a-Figure/Collect-n-Connect pieces, including several of Imperiex. Who we don't really see this time, except as a big ball of energy, at an increasingly crowded event in the DC Universe--even more crowded than this crossover event! From 2001, Action Comics #782, "Trial by Fire" Written by Joe Kelly, pencils by Kano, inks by Marlo Alquiza. (I didn't scan it, but there's a big "The End" on the cover!)

This was not-quite the big finish to the "Our Worlds At War" storyline, which is sadly probably best remembered for ending just before 9-11. So, there was some imagery of Luthor's wrecked twin towers that was just badly timed; and a lot of mourning for a bunch of characters who were killed over the course of OWaW: Aquaman, Hippolyta, Sam Lane, General Rock (if he was real) and the Kents...I think Steel and Guy Gardner both got it, too; but only some Superman regular antagonists like Massacre and Maxima stayed dead. (Justice for Maxima!) But, in this chapter, having flown through the sun to juice his powers up, Superman was headed at Imperiex like a bullet. Imperiex was already done, though, having been taken over by Brainiac-13. Back on earth, with General Zod seemingly there in an observer status, Lex Luthor was preparing to use his daughter Lena, to fire his LexCorp towers at Brainiac-13, but the computerized villain steals Lena away first, leaving Lex without a trigger for his weapon. Superman arrives, seemingly with nothing but death and destruction on his mind...

A bunch of events occur, only some of which maybe are seen in other comics: Wonder Woman helps Darkseid use Tempest (Aqualad!) and the Amazons to focus energy through Steel's "Entropy Aegis" armor, while Lex plugs Jimmy Olsen into his tower weapon. But, Imperiex appears to Superman, wanting him to destroy Warworld and Brainiac-13, so he would be released to return. Instead, Superman pushes Warworld back into position, while the Martian Manhunter co-ordinates the new plan with everyone: throwing Warworld, Brainiac-13, and Imperiex back to the big bang. Superman escapes back to the present with Lena, while Imperiex realizes the imperfection he always hated in the universe was actually himself.

With Lena seemingly de-aged back to a baby, Superman returns her to President Luthor, saying this was a second chance for him. (Which he'd doubtless blow, I have no idea what happened to that kid...) Darkseid returns home, since even Apokolips had suffered greatly giving cheap heat in battle against Imperiex. 

 I think they were trying to get across that Superman, being Superman, would have a better answer to Super-war than Super-murder; but I'm pretty sure if you get blowed up at the Big Bang you're still Super-Dead. Also, why don't we see the traditional giant hand you're not supposed to see, or Damage from Zero Hour there? The Big Bang is crowded in the DC Universe...We saw the wrap-up issue World's Finest: Our Worlds at War #1 like ten years back; but looking him up, about the only other thing Imperiex ever appeared in was the last season of the Legion of Super-Heroes cartoon. With a simplified design; that outfit was busy.

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It always strikes me as weird that "Choose Your Own Adventure" is like, a trademarked brand, since I remember reading a bunch of...well, I guess they'd be knock-offs, then. Although, some were with licensed characters: I know there were a couple Star Trek ones I'm sorry aren't in my collection now. In comics, I know they had a Lower Decks: Warp Your Own Way recently, but I'm surprised Marvel didn't go to this well more often: from 1994, What If? #63, "What If War Machine had Not Destroyed the Living Laser?" Written by Dan Slott, pencils by Manny Galan, "ink battalion" Jim Amash, Kata Kane, and Mark Stegbauer.

This tied into one of my favorite Iron Man runs, the all-too-brief second Jim Rhodes term, which would lead to him taking the mantle War Machine. Tony Stark was believed dead but actually cryogenically frozen, which was known only to a few scientists; and he had left Rhodey in charge of Stark International and Iron Man. Still, inexplicably Tony Stark kept appearing around the facility; but that was really the Living Laser! All of this came to a head in Iron Man #289 but is largely the B-plot: after it was resolved, the real Tony was revived, but furious that Tony had lied to him, Rhodey quits. (Despite my usual tag for Tony, I don't think his dickery was intentional that time: Tony thought the cryo thing was a longshot, and he would probably not ever be revived.)

The Laser had intended revenge on Stark, but with him 'dead,' Rhodey instead offers the Laser a job: he was a brilliant scientist, after all. That was just a ruse, though, for Rhodey to lure him into a trap and beam the Laser to the Andromeda galaxy; which the Laser thought was a bit much. This issue, we see three other ways this could've gone down: instead, Rhodey relents, and actually does put the Laser to work. While undeniably great in his field, the Laser has trouble working within business confines, his fellow employees aren't comfortable around him, and he knows Iron Man doesn't completely trust him, either. Overhearing a message asking for Rhodey, the Laser holographically takes his form to answer the call, and is shown the frozen Tony Stark! In shock, he reverts back to his Laser form, and Rhodey arrives as Iron Man, equally surprised. How will it play out? 

Three different endings are offered: surprisingly for this title, not a one of them is "and everybody died!" I'm thinking of a recent issue, which was largely 'what if Cyclops was a stand-up guy' that of course ends with the earth exploding. I don't know why I expected anything else there...

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Consult your local listings! Although, this first story looks like Perry Mason or something...

Also, now I'm remembering a pretty terrible horror movie...actually not remembering it, which probably explains why I think I've seen it twice; Down, also released as "The Shaft," with a killer elevator. And Naomi Watts, but don't let that sell you on it; you can watch better Naomi Watts' movies! Anyway, I don't know if the SyFy Channel still does them, but if you have an antenna H&I's annual? Semi-annual? Whatever, their Twilight Zone marathon starts today. I'm usually just trying to catch 'New' Twilight Zone episodes from the 80's; maybe some year they'll finally get the 2002-03 Forest Whitaker-hosted episodes in there...And, since I brought it up, let's look at yet another Gold Key issue! From 1975, The Twilight Zone #63; sadly, as usual, no cover credit.

In the opener, "No Perfect Crime," a little girl at the fair is gifted a power--and a terrible burden--by a fortune-teller; to see through people and know what they had done, and what they would do. She promises to only use her power for good, and grows up to become a devastatingly effective lawyer, seemingly making criminals confess at her will. Her technique does kind of seem badgering, but that's probably just shorthand for lawyer-stuff in comics, so...She gets on with a big firm, but one of the partners approaches her about a case, to maybe take it easy on a murderer who was also "an important leader in the community," as in, probably kicking back to the firm. Refusing, she knows her number was up, and is later murdered after winning her case. But, she gets the last laugh, as she had carefully taped notes with how her killer did it, the holes in his alibi, and where he would be afterwards. Well, she went out on top, at least. (Written by Himilce Novas, art by Frank Bolle.)

Next, "In Their Own Time" is one with no Rod Serling opening or closing, which probably means it was produced to slot into any of Gold Key's books like Boris Karloff Tales of Mystery or Grimm's Ghost Stories. An elderly couple finds a pair of Hong Kong "immortality statues," which start to turn them younger. The wife felt they had lived a rich full life already, but the husband is gung-ho for his thirties again: she dies peacefully in her sleep, he's killed in an atomic war instead! (Art by Jack Sparling.)

The cover story, "Going Up?" isn't so much about a killer elevator, but a mean little blackmailer that uses the security cameras for blackmail, until he starts see giant bird attacks in the elevators, that no one else sees. Sent away for a rest, he probably should've taken the stairs...or maybe jumped, instead. (Art by José Delbo.)

Finally, and appropriately so, "Last Request" finds a scurvy scallawag of a soldier, during the French Revolution, facing execution for his crimes. He asks for a second chance, and seemingly gets it, but can he change his ways? Maybe a little, although it maybe doesn't help him out much. (Art by Adolfo Buylla.) 

Huh, I'm almost never timely with this kind of post; I'm in the Zone! Hopefully a charming one where I learn a lesson and live...  

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"Stifle."

And that's a wrap for the Collector, and some of our Spider-friends! Maybe not all of them, though. I was also kind of hoping to keep Kurt in this costume for a bit, for a change coming hopefully in August...

The Hulkiverse and the Riderverse maybe aren't in regular continuity, but also feel like just a matter of time: I know there's a bunch of Venomverse stuff already. Some of those Hulks we haven't seen here before, but I bought the new Red She-Hulk a bit ago, and still haven't opened her: I really do like the old one! This is more of a space concern, but I've also bought the last two Legends Ghost Riders that came with their bikes, and haven't opened them either. The upcoming Robbie Reyes is short his Hellcharger, which will doubtless lead to still more 'Ghost Walker' jokes; but I'm looking forward to that wave and expanding Alpha Flight.

Also, if the Riderverse included not just Ghost Riders but Kamen Riders; that'd be a bit of alright! The Masked Rider there was a recent model pick-up; although I have a Shin Kamen Rider coming. I haven't actually seen Masked Rider--I believe there was an attempt to localize it, back in the Fox Kids days, that might have gone way younger and jokier than Mighty Morphin Power Rangers shows did. That didn't really seem to stick, and Kamen Rider maybe hasn't broken big in the states, but there's been a ton of versions, and some of the costumes get way out there. 

And, it's long been established, the Hulk likes beans! Like, a lot.

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That cover seems familiar somehow...

If you don't recognize it, the GCD has the answer for you! From 1990, Uncle Scrooge Adventures #19, "A Stitch in Time" Plot by Patsy Trench, script by Tom Anderson, US script by Geoffrey Blum, art by Daniel Branca. Cover by Don Rosa!

I really wish more people involved in finance or investing read Uncle Scrooge--actually, I just wish more people in general had read it, or maybe learned some of the lessons therein! Sometimes, Scrooge can make a bundle by being thrifty, inventive, and stubborn; and sometimes Scrooge can burn a ton of cash by being thrifty, inventive, and stubborn. You may guess where this one's headed, as Scrooge can't figure out how to unload a ton of silk: the market had changed to rayon and synthetics. Still, a conversation sparks an idea: Scrooge decides to use Gyro Gearloose's time machine, the TADPOLE (Temporal Axis Displacement Projectile and Ozone Layer Enhancer; of course that's a Doctor Who riff!) to go back to the middle ages and unload the silk there. Previously, the TADPOLE had run on smog, which I'm sure had been a problem when travelling to the past, so now Gyro had it converted to electricity; but it would take days to charge and because it would be carrying a load, Scrooge and the boys would only be able to stay in the past for three hours.

The sale hits a snag, since even a princely sum back then was lowballing Scrooge on the deal, so he opts out, which hurts the local king's pride, and the Ducks are chased out by guards. After returning to the present, Scrooge fumes that he should've bought the silk in medieval times and sold it now...so, maybe in 800 years, it would be worth something! Turning it around, he has Gyro recharge the TADPOLE, for a trip into the world of tomorrow, 2389! Where the silk is also not a big hit, but Scrooge's antique watch is, as he sells it for twenty million credits! They also miss the return window, so the TADPOLE returns without them, but so what? Gyro would recharge it and send it back...Except, Scrooge did not appear to take inflation into account, and was probably robbed on the watch deal: a glass of milk was twenty thousand credits, and a cheap hotel room two million for the night! Four million with shower!

Gyro charges the TADPOLE to a minimum for the trip, and finds the Ducks, wrapped in silk; which was all they had left to wear since they'd had to sell their clothes...Huh, does anybody wear proper silk anymore now? I'm not exactly stylish, although I'm remembering a pair of silk boxers I had once. Mmm, comfy! I wonder if I got tired of my butt slipping off chairs, though...

Also this issue: Scrooge tries converting to paper money and a round bin, in "Tricky Experiment," and a Carl Barks one-pager, where Scrooge helps Donald avoid making impulse purchases, with one last one. Shoot, I maybe oughta try that! Read more!

Even though posts have been going up, I haven't actually blogged anything--or even sat down with a comic, feels like--for over a week. Let's see if I remember how blog work...We'll start with a fairly recent one, that ties into a pretty old power for the Hulk, that always surprises me when it comes up. From 2025, the Incredible Hulk #27/LEG #808, "The Falling-Down Tree" Written by Phillip Kennedy Johnson, pencils by Kev Walker, inks by Cam Smith.

I'm definitely not up to speed on current Hulk continuity--I haven't even read all of Immortal Hulk--but this is a stand-alone story, mostly. Chilling in the forest, alone again as usual, the Hulk's solitude is disturbed by a small boy playing, who advises this were his woods, kinda, and did he want to be friends? Remembering recent betrayals and such, the Hulk does not, but the boy warns him to stay away from "the falling-down tree," and explains that he lives nearby, in a bus with his parents and baby sister. Sometimes Daddy gets mean, and they have to go somewhere else...

The boy continues to hang out with the Hulk, over the course of a couple weeks, and it becomes apparent the dad is both abusive and shady, involved with a thievery ring. Speaking through an animal's skull, the voice of Banner tells the Hulk he could help that kid. Sure enough, the Hulk hears a ruckus at the bus: after a shootout, the dad was pulling stakes, but the mom is reluctant to go, since she doesn't want to leave their son...buried alone, under the falling-down tree. Realizing the truth, the Hulk finds the body, then the terrified mom, left behind, finds the Hulk. She pleads for her life, as the Hulk just scowls at her.

The Hulk catches up to the fleeing dad, and over a four-page sequence just demolishes him, screaming "monster." He knew who the real monster was. Later, as the authorities arrive, the boy tells the Hulk his little sister was going to live with their grandma, but wasn't sure what he should do. The Hulk says, "there's no rules...when nobody's looking out for you." He's sorry he wasn't able to help the boy, but the boy's just glad his sister was safe, calling that "hero stuff," and opts to go with her, to teach her hero stuff too. 

 I'm not 100% positive on the issue, but I'm pretty sure the Hulk has been able to see ghosts since way back in Defenders, and that was probably just to explain why the Hulk could see Dr. Strange's astral form in some story! But, Peter David used that one maybe a couple times as well; and later writers have maybe brought that more to the forefront. If I recollect, maybe the Maestro pointed out the Hulk can see ghosts because he was afraid of his ghost dad or something...

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