"Captured."

Kurt and Elektra probably didn't want to do "get help" with Dragon Man, he could throw them too hard... 

Because I'm not particularly organized, I know there's some Dragon Man parts--like his little glasses--still in his box. I'm not convinced he needs them, though.

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This isn't a news site, but you probably heard that Sam Kieth passed away over the weekend. The next day I dug this one out, and while he only did the cover, I maybe should've tried it earlier. From 2002, (the Craptacular) B-Sides #1, featuring "Points of Interest" Written by Brian David-Marshall, art by Brett Weldele; and "Graduation Day" Written by Brian David-Marshall, pencils by ChrisCross, inks by Caesar.

Along with the Kieth cover, two other somewhat surprising credits: the book was "Bill Jemas presents: Stan Lee presenting" which feels weird? Like Jemas was involved in trying something different, but, uh, this series would only run three issues, so...Don't let that put you off, though; as the characters were designed by Evan Dorkin! This was set in the Marvel universe, but at Raven's Perch, NJ; which still featured multiple familiar staples like Kree, Skrulls, a Silvermane...part of the Fantastic Four also make a brief appearance, setting up something for later. The leads were three super-powered youngsters: Fateball, Jughandle, and Mize. They were all basically aimless troublemakers, but a local huckster approaches them with a pitch, for a local super-hero team: "You'll be the X-Force of Raven's Perch!" The kids are dumb enough to think 'sure, why not,' especially since he worked at a bar and was getting them beer...

The threesome had another friend, Feeva, who on the night of their graduation, took them on what seemed like a wild goose chase to find "the Nazi Sleeper of New Jersey," which they do; which leads to a fight with a bunch of little "Piney" monsters. But, they then find out this had been Feeva's final exam to join something called the Pegasus Institute. (Presumably, related to the Project: Pegasus of old Marvel Two-in-One stories.) Feelings are hurt, as you would expect. I found the first two issues of this in an actual, twenty-five cent quarterbin Sunday; but finding that third issue might be a hassle. Read more!

I hope that title refers to an arrow, not...anything else.

I'm having scanner issues today, so I'm not sure when we'll see this post, but OK! (Actually, this'll make Monday; all I needed was a new cord! How the scanner outlasted the cord, well, whatever.) From 1992, Arrow #1, "Shaft of Steel, Heart of Stone" Written by Roland Mann, pencils by Lee Moder, inks by Deodato Filmo.

This probably isn't the Arrow you're thinking of: this was Rick Palmer, a.k.a. Arrow of the Protectors. I mainly remember them for a gimmick "forcebeam hole" cover for a death-of-a-hero issue; but they were Malibu's revamp of Centaur Publications characters that had lapsed into public domain. It's tough to say why he got his own one-shot, though: Arrow seems like a jerk, and hits not one but two civilians with friendly fire here, killing a kid. Later, he also puts four arrows in his bad guy's arm, telling her he was "through playing." (I might be reading too deeply into it, but whenever Arrow might almost be on the verge of showing remorse or feeling guilt, his inferiority complex kicks in like 'you think you're better than me?' and keeps that at bay.)

Sadly, while they seemed to be doing well enough for several spin-offs, the Protectors books were apparently later phased out in favor of Malibu's Ultraverse. Somewhat surprisingly, Arrow #1 doesn't get a gimmick cover: it came up on BlueSky the other day; there had been an issue of the Ferret shaped like the character's head! I'm almost positive I grabbed one of those from the quarter bins, wonder where I put it...? Anyway, I don't have many of the Protectors titles, but I got this issue in a lot, when I bought most of the rest of the Mighty Magnor, which had also been from Malibu. Read more!

Aw, man, Death's bookshelves are better organized than mine.

Another batch of shorts today, from 1980, Weird War Tales #91. Cover by Joe Kubert. Intro page by Romeo Tanghal.

"The Fire Down Below" is set a dark period of American history: firebombing Japan towards the end of WW II. (It was arguably excessive: Japan was by and large done by that point, although its leadership might not have thrown in the towel yet.) A gung-ho and unsympathetic pilot butts heads with his pacifist navigator, but both die after they bomb a young Japanese boy, who had survived an earlier firebombing and had developed firestarting powers of his own. (Sunfire?) No one learns anything, and the narrator Death is like, yeah, that'll happen. (Written by J.M. DeMatteis, art by Ernesto Patricio.)

"The Miracle of the Catacombs" is slightly more cheery; as a band of Italian soldiers have about had it with the war and their Nazi "allies." They're about to surrender to the Allies, when the Nazis stop and then turn on them. The Italians escape into the catacombs, with one staying behind to cover their retreat. He looks like a goner, but is saved by the rising Roman skeletons, who slaughter the Nazis, ala Tombs of the Blind Dead, except friendlier and chattier. (Written by Robert Bernstein, art by Dick Ayers and Dan Adkins.)

I had to stick in Wikipedia for this next one, as it's a six-page speedrun of Harold Godwinson, last crowned Anglo-Saxon king of England. Spoiler alert: his reign would not be a long one. ("Conquer or Die!" Written by Bob Haney, art by Tom Sutton.)

The issue closes with a future war story, post-nuclear apocalypse; which felt almost like a fair accompli, a done deal then. In this one, radioactive mutants were "2nd Class Citizens," forced to fight by cruel, Roman-centurion looking thugs. But this batch plots against the overseer, through his unborn son...who's born a mutant, you see it coming, yeah. (Written by Paul Kupperberg, art by Dick Ayers and John Celardo.) Read more!

Me too, random subway guy, me too.

The Demolisher's arm on the cover reminds me of something--it's basically a big gun with a knife stuck to it. Also, now I'm annoyed that I have a mess of Deathlok figures, but they don't have modifications like that! I oughta at least get them some ratty cloaks or something. From 1994, Deathlok #32, "Cyberstrike, part 2 of 4: Into the Past" Written by Gregory Wright, pencils by Kevin Kobasic, inks by Greg Adams.

We mentioned this one years ago, when we looked at the last issue, the conclusion of this storyline. Now I've got two of the four issues of "Cyberstrike," and the Captain America issues this is running in the background of; and I still don't have a firm grip on what's happening. The cyborg formerly from the future, formerly known as Deathlok, now the Demolisher, was working with Timestream to alter their future, starting with killing Cap and the clone of Luther Manning. The Demolisher isn't really sure about this, but his future does suck pretty bad, so...They are stopped by the present Deathlok Michael Collins, shirtless future redemption-seeker Godwulf, and big Marine cyborg Siege. Lot of cyborg scrum this issue, Cap's mission goes on uninterrupted (in the distant past of 1983, hence the Return of the Jedi poster seen in the subway!) and the issue ends with several characters sent to maybe an even worse future.

Last time we also mentioned the USPS Statement of Ownership: "C. Total Paid and/or requested Circulation (sum of 10B1 and 10B2): Average no. copies each issue during preceding 12 months: 106,938. Actual no. copies single issue nearest to filing date: 54,385." The book was running out the clock at this point, I'm afraid; even though Wright would use the Demolisher again in Daredevil #336. Read more!

"Seriously."

I don't think most people are even aware of the Scarlet Spider, in the Marvel Universe; and Kaine probably is only known by true-crime fans...and the hardest of hardened criminals. Stories about him would spread in prisons and bars, as well as speculation: what happened to that guy? Why isn't he running NYC, for that matter?

Also, moderate tirade here: if the Marvel Universe had Kalshi, there's no way Hypno-Hustler would ever collect. Isn't there another "bet on anything" app, too? They both suck. And they both feel like total scams, even if most of the bets are nickel-and-dime longshots, 'cause the only people that seem to be cashing in have inside knowledge. Too bad this county doesn't have like a justice department or anything to investigate that kinda thing. Anyway, avoid the gambling bug!  

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I feel the same way about Batman comics sometimes, Bruce, but I keep coming back too.

Batman, being a detective in the past: Hmm, this millionaire was murdered, in a locked room! But how...my only clue, is this broken saxophone reed! Batman, being a detective in the present: 147 people have just been murdered, and now I have to crack this international terrorist ring before they destroy London! I'm only slightly exaggerating, and I feel like I'm going to seem way harder on this book than I may actually be: from 2021, Batman: the Detective #1, written by Tom Taylor, art by Andy Kubert. This is the fancy 1-in-25 retailer exclusive Riccardo Federici cover, but we're still cramming it in the scanner!

This isn't in regular continuity, but it may have taken me a while to realize it. It opens with a group of terrorists, in white Batman cowls, blowing up a plane; telling the victims this was Batman's fault. The terrorists bail out, with the current Knight of England still trying to fight them, and she's hurt on the landing and then shot. Back in Gotham, an older, and less suave than usual Batman wonders, what has he actually accomplished? Has he stopped crime, made Gotham safer, or even made it a better place to live? No, no, and um, no. He felt he had saved people, individuals, and that was about it. There is a page of Bruce, leaving Wayne Manor, and wondering if he would ever return; that I thought was from current, Alfred-less continuity. Bruce is stubbled and his haircut seems almost military, a far cry from his jet-setting playboy look! But you get the feeling he spends about zero time as 'Bruce,' so...

Investigating the plane crash, Batman is joined by the current Squire, who asks him to check on the Knight: not just question her about what happened, see how she was. They are interrupted by the now-monstrous Gentleman Ghost, who's there to eat the fear of the recently dead, and maybe Batman's as well. He instead gets punched out, which does impress the Squire; as Bats tells the Knight later. But, the cowled terrorists--Equilibrium, one says--attack the hospital, after the Knight. They're tough enough to give Batman pause, although he manages to snare one to shake answers out of later; but Batman does discover something when cross-referencing the list of victims: they had all previously been rescued by Batman. Someone was undoing his work... 

 A good chunk of the rest of the series, is seemingly a redemption arc for Henri Ducard, one of Bruce's trainers, and not the most upstanding of them. We saw him in his debut in Detective Comics #599, midway through 'Blind Justice.' He seemed less ethically gray there, more of a straight baddie: here, Taylor portrays him as maybe occasionally offing somebody, that probably had it coming, which of course wouldn't sit well with Batman either. Ducard does maybe teach Batman something else here, though: manhunting doesn't have to be a solo gig, networking is important! Still, I never love how the stakes in these things has been raised and raised and raised: a mere murder isn't enough anymore, we have to have a planeful just to get things started.

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