I'm in the middle of something, so it seems like a good time for a quick Death's Head issue! From 1989, Death's Head #5, "Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling!" Written by Simon Furman, art by John Higgins. This was an original British copy, not a reprint for a change!

This was continued from another British title, Doctor Who Magazine #140, and that link doesn't do much since it was apparently less than 50% comic by volume. Salvage pilot Keepsake returns, with his arm candy Bahlia and a vulture that may have been following him across several planets. He's intent on reclaiming some gold bullion, and his ex-wife Thea is intent on getting her cut back; so she hires the best: Death's Head! Who's really disinterested in this lot and their antics. Keepsake is himself double-crossed by the third member of their little tontine, but working together they manage to recover Bahlia and the gold.

But...Thea had promised half the gold to DH, and Keepsake promised DH half the gold if he'd push Thea out of the ship, so that's 100% to Death's Head! The vulture follows him as well, because there's probably good eating in his wake, yes? This is a slim little number, but I wonder if that's not an approach for writing Death's Head: the more elaborate or convoluted the scheme or the caper, the more DH is loudly stomping along sighing with boredom.
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It's fun when I get a book I wasn't really aware of, less fun when it makes me want an action figure that still isn't coming! From 1983, Americomics #3, featuring "Return from Pago Island!" Story and art by Rik Levins, inks by Bill Black; "To Live Again!" Plot and art by Leo J. Laney, script by Neal Stannard, inks by Bill Black; and "The Night Has a Thousand Screams" Script, layouts and letters by Bill Black, pencils by Rik Levins, inks by Willie Blyberg.

I'm not sure I had ever read an AC Comics title before, although I know they've had a long run with FemForce. They were licensing the Charlton superhero characters--or, at least Blue Beetle here--prior to DC buying them up just before Crisis on Infinite Earths. In the lead story, the Ted Kord Beetle feels like "a fill-in...a pale imitation!" when his predecessor and friend Dan Garrett returns, accusing Ted of leaving him to die on Pago Island. But just about everything in that last sentence is wrong!

In the second feature, Dan Garrett returns again, resurrected in kind of a Kirby/New Gods pastiche, and put to work at an intelligence agency. The gods pulling the strings take care of everything, although one does have to scramble on the paperwork for Dan's agency file. Dan's first mission: rescue Blue Beetle Ted Kord!

Finally there's a Shade story, a Spectre-like ghostly avenger, and seemingly an overworked one as he can't deal with all the crime and suffering in the city. Well, it was the 80's. Meanwhile, I'm probably part of a shrinking list of fans that would still like a Dan Garrett action figure--I think it's public domain, go nuts! Just be sure to mail me one.
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Whatta revoltin' development...wait, no. What's the opposite of that?

At a local Wal-Mart at the crack of early yesterday, I found the latest Marvel Legends Invisible Woman and Thing--actually, looking at the packaging in the recycling, they're "Marvel's Invisible Woman" and "Marvel's Thing." Presumably to distinguish them from anybody else's Invisible Woman and Thing. Only those two (and one of the Gamerverse Spidey's) and I think they may have been left since the aforementioned packaging wasn't completely mint. I may have hesitated for a moment before buying them; since I don't necessarily need the FF in every outfit? But I do need a Super-Skrull, so there you go.

Since Ben is huge--a right hefty package! Ladies... Um, he comes with two Skrull heads, but nothing for himself. If you have the Walgreens exclusive Thing, you could of course swap the heads and hands, but they may or may not look right for you: Walgreens Thing had a darker paint wash filling in his rocky crags and cracks; new Ben is lighter. New Ben's orange isn't consistent, either...my camera is charging, let me try a picture with my phone.

Is that weird? It may be noticeable in-hand or super macro photos, and I wonder if this means New Ben's head won't look right on the Walgreens Thing. New Ben's face is very much the Thing, but a very glum Thing. He does have a bit of a Muppet-y look to him, doesn't he?

...why did Kurt need a horsy ride? Because Ben is the effing coolest and everybody's always glad to see him, even if he isn't. Kurt's also probably mangling the name of Don Quixote's horse; but at least 60% of what I know about Don Quixote is from Don-Wan Kihotay from Star Wars #10.

Also yesterday morning, I saw some of McFarlane's new DC figures, and I wish him the best but they did nothing for me. I think somebody else has the license for smaller figures, since there was a three-and-three-quarter inch or thereabouts Batman as well; and some fairly large Iron Giant and Robby the Robot figures.

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I don't always use it here, since I like to think I keep a cheery and conversational tone; but I have a pretty good vocabulary. Crap, did I say 'pretty good'? I should have said, um, extensive? Comprehensive? Voluminous? And yet I still had to look something up from today's book! From 1990, Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme #13, "Arkon's New York Adventure" Written by Roy and Dann Thomas, art by Jackson Guice.

This was an Acts of Vengeance crossover, which is the diametrical opposite of say, a Secret Wars II crossover, in that they were predominantly superlative. (Pretty good!) We begin with Arkon the Imperion, somehow removed from his otherdimensional world of Polemachus to New York City, and throwing a tantrum in front of a movie theater. Why? Because Arkon 5 was playing, another sequel based on him, from probably third-hand accounts of his prior visits to earth. He claims "it was sworn" there would be no more of those movies--and I always assumed they were straight to video--but perhaps he should've gotten that in writing. The bystanders assume this is a publicity stunt, until Arkon starts punching them; but he's taken out of the action by the Enchantress, who has more important things for him to do. Like murdering Doctor Strange! Oh, and maybe Clea. Arkon's not sold on fighting the Enchantress's battles, until he remembers his royal spies had told her about Clea, "niece of the dread Dormammu." While she was allegedly hideous, marrying her would expand his turf, so...

Meanwhile, Clea and Stephen appear to be enjoying a quiet moment, even though he's plagued with problems: along with his younger brother returning as a vampire, this was the third straight AoV issue. Hobgoblin had attacked first, then the Enchantress and Executioner in #12, with Clea saving his ass. Oh, and I think a tell-all biography of Strange was hitting the bookstores and Baron Mordo was imprisoned in his basement, but Arkon's surprise entrance takes precedence! Arkon is surprised by Clea's beauty, which does sweeten the deal for him, as he seizes the dazed Clea. Strange follows them to Con Edison, where Arkon has inserted his "throbbing bolts"--gross--into a dynamo, which might explode if they fight with magic or those thunderbolts he carried around. Arkon declares his intent to kill Strange hand-to-hand; in a lapse of judgment Strange throws down with him, and catches a beating. Arkon was a much beefier guy than Strange, and probably had at least some super-strength, so it isn't long before Arkon beats him to death. (Plus, the damage Strange's hands took in his origin, I always expect them to shatter when he punches someone like this!)

The Enchantress arrives to check his work, as Con Ed is about to blow, but Strange rises even after they had both checked the body. Clea had tricked them, and is not impressed by Arkon in the slightest. She had less than no interest in becoming his queen; admittedly, Arkon did not seem to care if she wanted to or not either, he doesn't even seem to see her as a person. Clea notes she and Strange had "long since plighted a troth or two," which I had to look up: they had been engaged for quite some time.
The Enchantress bails, and a peeved Clea sends the churlish Arkon back where he come from: he swears to face her again on his world, and Clea whatevers that. Arkon better watch his mouth, she'll conquer his ass and make him like it. Strange thanks Clea for saving him again, and she downplays it a bit to save his feelings; but he claims to have left that part of his ego behind when he became sorcerer supreme. Together they swear to save Strange's brother, but the issue ends with an ominous 'while you were out' note. Or, at least the main story does; the remainder of the issue was "The Book of the Vishanti: The Curse of the Darkhold Part V, The Torch is Passed," part of a lengthy vampire history lesson.

I've mentioned before, some writers--Chris Claremont in X-Men Annual #3, for one--insist on portraying Arkon as handsome and noble, like Conan with lightning bolts. He's nowhere near that charming. Roy Thomas would pair him off with Thundra later, and man, she could do better. And PTOR pointed this one out way back then!
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"Drop In."

The question isn't, "Should the Punisher have a War Machine suit," the question is, "Why hasn't Frank stolen more weapons of intermediate-to-mass destruction?" The man's not restrained. I don't recall who had a story where he had the Ultimate Nullifier, but Frank would absolutely use it on a crackhouse or something.

That Frank head does not sit real well on that War Machine, unfortunately.
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I bought the first issue and read the twelfth off the racks, but I didn't read Alpha Flight regularly until later, and not for long. So, this one was new to me: from 1985, Alpha Flight #18, "How Long Will a Man Lie in the Earth 'ere He Rot?" Written and penciled by John Byrne, inks by Bob Wiacek, letters by Rick Parker.

I don't always mention the letterer, but it felt like a lot of dialogue this issue; opening with a bit of a fake-out. Heather Hudson seems to be eyeing the costume worn by her (then) late husband, Guardian; but she only has the body-stocking Canadian flag portion, not the battlesuit that actually had powers. Puck seems concerned that she was going to take her position as leader of Alpha Flight into the field; but she wasn't headed in that direction. Yet. A small editorial piece from Denny O'Neil on the letters page implies her role wasn't going to be a superhero, and she wouldn't be until after Byrne had left the book, but I wonder if she might not have eventually. Still, at this point Alpha Flight was Heather and Puck: attempting to get the team "more centralized," Heather calls Northstar, who completely blows them off. Worse, their next call, Shaman, was out of the office with a 'patient' who seemingly knew his secret identity!

Said patient was Elizabeth Twoyoungmen, Shaman's estranged daughter. 'Estranged' may not be entirely correct: after her mother was killed ten years ago, Elizabeth had lived with the neighbors and all but forgotten her father until recently when she saw a picture of him in the paper and remembered everything. Together they work a case involving a skull charged with supernatural energies, a particularly inhospitable old codger and his great-granddaughter, and nightmarish scrambled eggs! Elizabeth is impressed with her dad, who is in top form here; but she was starting to display mystic powers of her own.

The other plotline spinning this month was Snowbird's relationship with a co-worker from her secret identity, Douglas Thompson. He had declared his love for her, and she wasn't sure what to do with that; since she was only part human and neither 'Annie' nor Snowbird were her real face. Oh, and Snowbird was only six years old, even if she was fully grown and mature. That's weird. It's not going to go great for Douglas, but I'm like 60% sure Snowbird won't turn into a polar bear and maul him. Enh, maybe 50% sure...
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Three days into the year before I get a figure, what the hell...

Why, yes, I was jonesing pretty bad for a fix! But we had been holding out for these two for a while, and clearance seemed to be the time. Spider-Woman was first for $11.99, and a big chunk of the Molten Man Build-a-Figure that's probably not going to get finished here. I thought the Doppelganger was going to be the big seller out of that lot; I may have underestimated the movie Mysterio, which I'm not positive I've ever seen in person. That version of Molten Man was hardly a major character, though.

Rock Python brings our Serpent Society up to what, four? Cottonmouth, Cobra, Eel. (I could probably shore up the numbers with DCUC's Kobra and Copperhead, 'cause who'd know?) Constrictor doesn't really count since he was approached by Sidewinder's version of the group and blew them off around Captain America #310. I never got Viper either, but I think that was before Hasbro started firing on all cylinders, and they could doubtless do a better one now. I think the Society has been useful for them in making a comic character without a lot of new tooling. Diamondback is another that I'm still waiting for, that could be done reasonably well without much work; but I'd also like Anaconda, one of the Society's heavies since day one. Both of them got my votes in this year's Fwoosh Marvel Top Ten. Since I'm not having to push for a new Nightcrawler this year, I think all my picks would be new characters that had never received a figure before.
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The Fourteenth Annual, Random Happenstance, Year in Toys!

Somehow, it feels like I both just did the 2018 Year in Toys, and it was a hundred years ago. And the above picture is from before Halloween, since I was supposed to be moving things.

For new readers: For years now, I have been keeping a running total of every action figure or toy I buy. Hopefully, each entry has the figure's name, the line, the price, and where I bought it; and possibly a link to a cartoon or strip that toy was used in. (Unless that figure's unloved or unphotogenic, I guess. Or I'm lazy...) Totals will usually include postage and tax. Usually. Any prices or totals listed in parentheses were purchased with store credit or points instead of paying money, and aren't counted towards the actual total spent. This is by no means a "Best of" list or anything, just what I bought. For reference, here's links for 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, and 2006.

1-6 Marvel Legends Captain Marvel, Nick Fury, Yon-Rogg, Talos, Genis-Vell, Grey Gargoyle, $19.87 each; Transformers BotBot Venus Frogtrap, $2.97; total $133.11, Wal-Mart.

1-7 ML Everett Ross/Erik Killmonger, $21.74, Target.

1-9 Batman: Missions Riddler, $6.49, Fred Meyers.

1-10 Jurassic World Super-Colossal Tyrannosaurus Rex, $33.00, Fred Meyers.

1-17 TF BotBots Game Over, $3.49+$3.50 postage, eBay.

1-18 ML Silver Sable, $25.00, GameStop.

1-26 McFarlane Destiny 2 Cayde-6, Zavala, Ikora Rey, Titan; $5.00 each, $21.63 total, Wal-Mart.

Star Wars Black Tarkin, $13.69, Kmart.

2-1 Star Wars Black DJ, $9.24, GameStop.

2-18 DC Multiverse Bizarro, $21.93, Walgreens.

2-23 ML Cloak, Dagger, $19.99 each; Batman: Missions Bane, $12.49; total $57.63, Walgreens.

2-28 ML Elektra, Daredevil (black), $13.99 each; total $30.44, Walgreens.

3-1 ML Namor, $7.14, Kmart.

3-6 ML Infinity War Captain America, $10.22, Walgreens.

3-8 ML Mystique, $15.15, Walgreens.

3-10 ML Taskmaster, $22.99, the Comic Book Shop.

3-13 ML Sharon Carter, $8.99, Walgreens.

3-16 ML House of M Spider-Man, $15.17, Walgreens.

Star Wars Black 2 Gammorrean Guards, $14.99 each, Bespin Princess Leia, $9.99; total $42.34, Target.

Star Wars Black AT-AT Driver, $7.41, TJ Maxx.

3-20 Marvel Icons Phoenix, Nightcrawler, $36.44 shipped; Thanos BAF left leg, $11.97 shipped; eBay.

ML Scarlet Spider, $22.99+$10 shipping, total $35.89, GameStop.

3-24 Kingdom Hearts Tron/Heartless Soldier, $21.74, GameStop.

3-28 ML Nighthawk, $20.50, Wal-Mart.

3-30 ML Deadpool/Dogpool/Squirrelpool, $49.99, GameStop.

4-1 DC Multiverse Jessica Cruz, $21.61, Target.

4-7 DC Multiverse Martian Manhunter, Superman, $19.99 each; total $43.54, Target.

4-10 DC Multiverse Collect-n-Connect Clayface head/pelvis, $9.94 shipped, eBay.

4-17 S.H. Figuart Jetman: Black Condor, $24.50+$7.85 shipping, eBay.

4-21 ML Infamous Iron Man, $21.10, Walgreens.

Sometime around here: ML Captain Marvel (Starforce), $21.61, Target.

4-25 ML Hercules, $18.52, Wal-Mart.

4-28 DC Injustice 2 Superman, $10.80, TJ Maxx.

5-1 ML Beast, Gambit, $18.84 each; total $37.68, Wal-Mart.

5-3 ML Six-armed Spider-Man, $21.61, Best Buy.

5-8 Star Wars Black Hera Syndulla, $4.31, Walgreens.

Batman v. Superman Batmobile, $8.40, Shopko.

ML Blink, $16.99, Walgreens.

5-11 Toy show! Art Asylum Star Trek: the Next Generation Picard, Worf, Data, LaForge, Crusher, Klingon Worf, Borg Klingon, battle-damaged Kirk, DC Direct St. Walker, ML Stan Lee, $30.00; McFarlane Predator $5.00; Toy Biz Nightcrawler, $4.00; total $39.00.

5-17 Star Wars Black Obi-Wan, $4.32, Ross.

5-18 Star Wars Black 3 Captain Rex, $2.99 each; total $9.72, Ross.

5-21 Marvel Universe Casket of Ancient Winters, Wand of Watoomb, Zodiac Key; $5.19, eBay.

5-23 S.H. Figuarts SHF Suicide Squad Harley Quinn, $18.38, eBay.

5-25 ML Weapon X, Jubilee, Skullbuster, Forge, $22.99 each; total $99.43, GameStop.

DC Multiverse Batman Beyond, $24.99, EntertainMart.

6-14 ML Black Cat, Puma, Red Goblin, Symbiote Spider-Man, Night Thrasher, Avengers: Endgame Captain America, $18.84 each, total $122.42, Wal-Mart.

6-20 KO Hellboy, $32.66 shipped, eBay.

7-4 SW Black First Order Trooper, $9.99, Tuesday Morning.

SW Black Moloch, $12.49, Target.

7-7 SW Black General Leia, $5.99, EntertainMart.

ML Scorpion, $22.99; Power Rangers S.P.D. Shadow Ranger, $11.50; GameStop.

7-13 DC Multiverse Starfire, $24.99, EntertainMart.

7-14 SW Black Padme Amidala, Vice Admiral Holdo, $11.00 each, $23.82 total, Wal-Mart.

7-17 DC Shazam! $9.73, Wal-Mart.

7-20 ML Silver Samurai, $25.37, GameStop.

7-27 ML Grandmaster, Korg, $49.99; Dazzler, $22.99; GameStop.


8-2 ML Hela, Executioner, $49.99, Gamestop.

8-3 ML 2 Nightcrawlers, Doppleganger Spidey, Guardian, total $83.96, Dorkside Toys.

8-4 ML Nightcrawler, Beta Ray Bill, total $11.74, Amazon.

8-9 DC Multiverse Black Lightning, $8.07, Amazon.

8-10 DC Multiverse Poison Ivy, $21.61, Target.

8-14 DC Multiverse Red Hood, Red Robin, KGBeast, $19.99 each, total $64.95, Wal-Mart.

8-17 Art Asylum Star Trek: The Next Generation Picard with chair, Toy Biz ML Omega Red, DCUC White Lantern; total $13.00, Coeur d'Alene toy show.

Kingdom Hearts Tron/Heartless, $9.99; ML Talos, $9.99; total $21.60, GameStop.

DC Multiverse Alfred, $21.61, Wal-Mart.

8-24 ML Storm , $21.61, Wal-Mart.

ML Mr. Sinister, $8.70, GameStop.

8-25 Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers Pink, Blue, Black, Yellow Rangers; $5 each; Red, $14.99; total $38.10, GameStop.

DC Multiverse Batman (Dick), Katana; $19.97, total $43.39, Wal-Mart.

MMPR White Ranger, SW Black Jumptrooper, ML Living Laser; total $16.24; another GameStop.

8-28 ML Emma Frost, $21.61, Walgreens.

9-7 ML Nightcrawler, $22.99, GameStop.

9-17 ML 80th Anniversary Captain America, $16.20, Wal-Mart.

9-18 ML Nightcrawler, $21.61, Wal-Mart.

10-4 SW Black the Mandalorian, $21.61, Barnes & Noble.

10-5 Babylon 5 G'Kar, $2.99, EntertainMart.

10-13 ML X-Con Luis, Ghost, $13.00, Wal-Mart.

10-19 Mattel wrestling schlub/Paul Heyman, $2.99, EntertainMart.

McFarlane Fortnite 2 Cuddle Team Leaders, 2 Skull Troopers, $7.49 each, total $29.96, Target.

10-26 McFarlane Call of Duty Seraph, Ruin, $5.98 each, total $12.95, Target.

10-29 ML Cannonball, ($16.89), X-Force Wolverine, ($13.99), Boom-Boom, ($16.99); Amazon.

10-31 Jurassic Park Amber Collection Dr. Ian Malcolm, $24.99, GameStop.

11-1 Diamond Select Star Trek Spock, $7.76, Amazon.

11-9 Scarface, ML T'Chaka, WildC.A.T.s Void, the Dark Knight Thug, Marvel Select Ultron, Independence Day Alien, Alien Panther Alien, Movie Masters Crow; total $30.00.

11-24 Moving week catch-up! Evolve Hank, $4.99, Tuesday Morning; ML Alpha Flight box set (Northstar, Aurora, Vindicator, Puck, Shaman, Snowbird) $100.00, Amazon; SW Black Luke (Yavin ceremony), IG-11, $16.99 each, total $36.80, Best Buy.

12-4 ML War Machine Punisher, $24.99; ML Cap/Peggy Carter, $29.99; ML Family Matters box set (Magneto, Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver) $31.99; total $55.42. (Some credit was applied in there somewhere.)

12-15 Jazwares Fortnite Crackshot, $19.45, Wal-Mart.

12-21 Overwatch Tracer/McCree, $9.99, Ross.

12-22 ML New Mutant Dani Moonstar, $19.99, Walgreens; Overwatch Genji/Hanzo, $10.80; Ross.

12-24 Stargate: Atlantis Weir, $5.00, Time Bomb.

12/27 DC Multiverse Wonder Woman, Vixen, $9.99 each; Ray, $4.99; total $25.38, Target.



Total: $2472.30. 2018: $1752.31. 2017: $1968.71. 2016: $1753.72. 2015: $1895.35. 2014: $1523.25. 2013: $1101.93. 2012: $706.32. 2011: $564.71. 2010: $966.10. 2009: $558.16. 2008: $555.16. 2007: $426.00. 2006: $620.00.

The only unfun bit about these posts is that moment where my total seems like a lot--and I'm still adding up! So, up a bit from last year. Part of that could be some figures I bought to keep in package: I did buy multiple Nightcrawlers, for one; or some of the Fortnite figures I may or may not end up keeping. I also spent more on some of the Marvel Legends box sets, some of which I probably didn't have to: while I got the Magneto/Quicksilver/Scarlet Witch set marked down a bit, I possibly could've held out and got the Hela/Executioner or Alpha Flight sets for less. And I would have to dive into the numbers to confirm, but it feels like I spent more on videogame toys than previous years; even if a lot of them were at a discount.

This year saw our last purchases from both Kmart and Shopko; before they went "out o' bidniz," as my son likes to say for some reason. (He's also said that about my beloved Hastings, and I won't deny shedding a manly tear...for fifteen minutes.) I don't get a ton of figures from local grocery/stuff chain Fred Meyers, but I recently moved so I'm not there every week, and now I wonder if I'm missing anything. I think my streak of Walgreens Marvel Legends continues unbroken, even if it was a pain to get Moonstar (I just happened to find her in Montana) and I didn't like any of this year's exclusives as much as the Thing and the rest of the Fantastic Four, or Silver Surfer.

Build-A-Figures? Let's see, Kingpin, the Sentry, Killer Croc, Clayface, Wendigo, and...whatever that Darkseid/Lex Luthor S-wearing thing is supposed to be. (Technically, it's not complete: I never picked up the Gotham by Gaslight Batman with the cape and Luthor head, but I thought that Batman looked meh. If we see it cheap...) We also got the previous year's BAF's Thanos and SP//dr.

What does the future hold? I've done over a dozen of these, and I never have any goddamn idea! I would like to hold out a little on some Legends: rather than buying them for $20 immediately, seeing if they get marked down later in the year--and hopefully not sold out completely. But, I may also have my eye on some spendier offerings, like the Mezco 1:12 Moon Knight or Boss Fight Studio's Sam and Max. Whatever the next year holds, hope to see you there!
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