"Hairless."

I know Howard referred to humans as "hairless apes" a lot in his series, but does that raise the question, were there apes on Duckworld? Had Howard seen them before ending up on earth? Or did he learn that comparison afterwards? Not really sure about that. It shows up in his brief magazine run, but we don't see Duckworld very often; and what we do see of it doesn't exactly make it seem like a utopia any more than here does.

For good measure, in another of Marvel's black-and-white mags from about the same time, we get a Nightcrawler duck and Vanisher rat, from Bizarre Adventures #27! Art by Dave Cockrum. Read more!

I didn't think I backed that much stuff on Kickstarter--although, I have to put in the annual Rifftrax pledge for some shorts or something--but then I checked, and um, there were like three more books than I'd thought still coming! Blighter, Alter Ego, and Shelly Bond's Fast Times in Comic Book Editing; the latter of which might be shipping soonish. But, I had recently received the latest Impossible Jones book from Karl Kesel and David Hahn! Cover by Bill Sienkiewicz!

Kesel has had fun runs on Superboy and Fantastic Four (he should've been given that title for a longer run!) but puts it all into his own characters here: the titular Jones is a former crook caught in a traditionally origin-type accident that gives her weird powers and the opportunity to escape her old life. She's not entirely straight-and-narrow, and it's pretty obviously going to bite her in the ass someday, especially when she tries to have things both ways, like with her Christmas-themed crook buddy Holly Daze. When good guy Polecat shows up to bust Holly, can Jones get her friend out of trouble, while still keeping her newfound rep? And that's only the start of her troubles...

They're putting a lot into the packages here, not only with prints, stickers, and an Impossible Jones pin; but also two back-up stories with two-tone vigilante Even Steven by Gail Simone and David Hawhn and Alex Segura and Dan Schkade! The only thing that's not good about this is that they should be on like #28 of a couple hundred issue run by now, since Kesel plots the book like he's in for the long haul. Me too! This issue hasn't yet, but some Impossible Jones has been available in stores, so grab it if you see it. And the new Kickstarter campaign just started, too! Read more!

Mmm, that's good comics!

Damn good stuff, but I'm not sure where you could read it right this very second! From 2022-2023, Weird Work #1-3, written by Jordan Thomas, art by Shaky Kane.

I got three issues, some prints, and a coaster for backing the third issue on Kickstarter, but this didn't appear to be available on Burnt Barn Comics now. I'm hoping it gets a domestic printing from Image or something later, because it's good stuff! The hook is basically L.A. Confidential in a world like Futurama, but that might be underselling it: the plot is nice and twisty, and Shaky Kane draws everything weird. I just got it in the mail this afternoon and tore right through it. Super recommended!

Come to think of it, I think I have another Kickstarter package, that I should've torn into earlier, but I was looking to see if I got a digital copy. Well, either way, we'll get to that next!

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This won't fit in the scanner, but luckily we had a random issue too.

My local shop has been clearancing a bunch of stuff they don't want to move again...insuring that I'll be the one that has to move it. Hmm. From 2005, Robo-Hunter: Day of the Droids, reprinting from 1980's 2000 AD and Tornado #152-#174 and 2000 AD #259-#265, written by John Wagner (as T.B. Grover) and Alan Grant, art by Ian Gibson.

I've read most of this before, but it's nice to have in one place. It's a longer serial than I'd remembered, 23 progs! (We saw a piece of one, some time back!) This collection also features "The Beast of Blackheart Manor" in which Sam Slade moves to Brit-Cit, followed by his self-appointed "assistant" Hoagy; and solves a murder mystery that I'm positive includes cannibalism that gets glossed over in the end. I've never been one for meat "pies" but that'll put you right off them...

For good measure, we've got a Quality reprint: from 1987, Sam Slade, Robo-Hunter #4, "The Filby Case, parts 4-7" From 2000 AD #269-#272, written by Alan Grant, art by Ian Gibson and Dominic Regan. Despite a broken ankle, Slade's still on the case to find Ronald the Random Robot, who appears to have randomly developed psychic powers that everyone wants, but he's joined the Robo Goonie cult. As has the undercover Hoagy, who is too dumb to remember he did that because he was undercover.

Also this issue: an early Ro-Busters tale from 2000 AD and Starlord #100, "To the Death!" Written by Pat Mills, art by Dave Gibbons. Gentle giant Charlie savagely defends his city against the demolition robots the Terra-Meks. In a scene like a really dark Bob the Builder, the damaged Tyranno-Mek helps destroy himself as to not hold up his teammates Roadroller and Excavator from their work schedule. Since these robots dwarfed the bulldozer Mek-Quake, he wisely/cravenly ducks out, while the money-men plot to pin the blame for all this on Charlie...I seem to recall this one ends happier than most Ro-Busters stories, though. Read more!

Yeah, maybe wait for a second print.

I found a random issue in the quarter bin, but just ordered a full set of this, since I wanted Ryan Dunlavey's My Bullshit #1: from 2021, the Comic Book History of Animation #5, written by Fred Van Lente, art by Ryan Dunlavey.

This issue was the conclusion, spanning from around 1972 to the present, with a focus on an overview of computer animation. And it's always nice to see LUPIN THE 3RD; although it's dismaying to hear that Castle of Cagliostro wasn't a bigger hit. Also, I know I've seen Grave of the Fireflies but not My Neighbor Totoro; but I can't believe those were released as a double-feature!

So I read the last issue first, but that's OK. And My Bullshit #1 will probably get a second print if Dunlavey does another issue, so you may have to hold out for that; but I'll mention it if it's good! Read more!

"Sweetness."

I know I'm thinking this because I just watched "Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose" the other day, but by god Peter Boyle would've been a great voice for Howard the Duck. This strip is less because I just read a bunch of Howard the Duck, than just having his figure handy from the Khonshu wave and wanting to use him somewhere; but he mentions something that will tie back to the main plot later, promise.

I could be completely wrong about this, but I feel like the hook for a Howard book now would less wacky nonsense stuff like space carrots or Dr. Bong, more him just dealing with the current insanity of the world. Crap, I just had an idea for Dr. Bong getting into the highly lucrative field of celebrity image rehabilitation; taking B-listers from being shamed for bad behavior to new heights through weaponized apologies and 'woke-shaming.' Ugh, too real. 

Unlike Howard, I haven't worked three weeks straight; but I do traditionally try to avoid taking any sick or vacation time first quarter. This might be a holdover to my dad, who wasn't really responsible for this but it's fun to pretend he was: when I was a kid, our "spring break" was basically a four-day weekend over Easter, because regardless of when Easter was that's still usually basically winter in Montana. (Dad was a principal back then; he wasn't really in charge of scheduling like that, but would've made a recommendation.) That said, this week (as I type this) has felt like 90 hours long and I feel plenty due for a day to stare into space and do nothing. 

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If Hasbro had any stones, I'd have a Nightwatch action figure already.

Extra points if he comes with a board-with-nail-in-it accessory. We're coming in pretty cold to this, his second-to-last issue: from 1995, Nightwatch #11, "Down to Earth" Written by Terry Kavanagh, pencils by Roy Burdine, inks by Abraham Madison

I knew about two things about this character going in: Nightwatch really, really looks like Spawn, minus a logo and some chains; and there may have been a much later story with him retconning a lot of the character, possibly a scorched-earth approach to keep him from returning. This issue, the hero considers time-travelling to help his younger self, but is forced to save Manhattan from a falling satellite, with the aid of what I'm assuming was usually his bad guy, Deathbringer. Who might be an older version of a younger supporting character here? Together they save the city, but Nightwatch is seemingly no more...

I'm not sure if I remembered Nightwatch was Black; which also feels like it's from Spawn. Cardiac also guest-stars--which means both heroes were Black but wore completely concealing costumes--but the supporting cast mostly was as well; which I don't think Marvel was always great about. And I should appreciate McFarlane figures for making a go of it for so long: obviously somebody likes them, even if they leave me cold--but sometimes his characters feel a little knock-offy. I don't think Marvel or Hasbro has felt the urge to knock back; but Nightwatch would be the way to do it. Read more!

Even though I jumped off when Lost Light ended and the continuity rebooted, I still kind of need to get a copy of Fate of Cybertron, the last issue of IDW's Transformers publishing, which ran various series from 2005 to 2022. I think that's the last one, maybe: as so often happens, the numbering gets a bit iffy after a while. Today's book was from very close to that end, though: From 2022, Transformers: War's End #1, written by Brian Ruckley, art by Jack Lawrence, inks by Matt Froese. 

As occasionally happens, since they had reams of characters to choose from, this one opens with a small band of Autobots not particularly familiar to me; which always feels like the opening of a horror movie that ends badly. Despite a number of other things going on, they've been tasked with investigating Cybertron's Sonic Canyons, watching out for the return of Exarchon. He was a relatively new character, but felt like he was taking the role Shockwave might've before: a new party entering the field, as a possible spoiler. And Exarchon has Shockwave on his side, by promising him all the science; while his other potential recruit Skywarp decides he's heard that sales pitch before, and bails. 

I kinda think the previous continuity took a more nuanced approach to Megatron, whereas he was more just the bad guy again here; but by this point in the series he was really close to taking all of Cybertron. For what that was worth, since the planet was crawling with rust worms and Insecticons; but he was so close and not about to let Exarchon step on his moment. Old soldier Cyclonus warns the Decepticons, largely because he doesn't think he can kill Exarchon himself, since he had the ability to impose his "spark" over others and taking them over. Soundwave and Starscream are forced to agree they might need to do something there; with Starscream framing it as a politically savvy move: be the noble leader that stopped the foreign threat of Exarchon, whether or not it actually existed... 

Meanwhile, the Autobot crew--which includes the obscure yet distinctive Zetar, a guy with a drill on his head--had been chased all over the place, but could now be cornered by Deathsaurus. Which is a terrible name, feels like that should be "Deathasaurus."

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Well, this'll definitely fall under the "scanproof books" tag; but it's one I remember seeing the house ads for, and didn't think I'd ever happen across. From 1989, Demon Knight: A Grimjack Graphic Novel, written by John Ostrander, art by Flint Henry. Cover by Keith Parkinson. 

The extradimensional city Cynosure is having a bit of a temporal crisis, which doesn't really seem like a job for Grimjack, but in a pinch, man. His current incarnation, James Twilley, gets sent back to the Demon Wars, which might give him a second chance to save his lost love Rhian and her world Pdwyr from being betrayed to the demons. Or, is this just another opportunity for the universe to kick him in the teeth and going to end in him losing her again...? No spoilers, but c'mon, this was Grimjack. 

This was an 8.5" x 11" book, kinda the same format as the old Marvel Graphic Novels, and it feels like forever since I had read a book in that style! Glad to have it.

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Could've used this a month or two ago.

The cover makes it seem like it's going to be a very Moonstone issue; but there was a bunch of other stuff going down, too. From 2007, Thunderbolts #109, "Beyond Redemption" Written by Fabian Nicieza, pencils by Tom Grummett, inks by Gary Erskine. (Weirdly, there was another Thunderbolts issue with the same title, from the same writer; #56 from 2001!)

This was the post-game for the Zemo vs. Grandmaster storyline, which left Zemo MIA and several Thunderbolts in bad shape. Songbird was trapped in the "archival records" of the shattered moonstone, fighting past users of the weapon, and forced to work with her long-time teammate/frenemy Moonstone to get them both out. "Frenemy" isn't quite right; they really don't like each other, as they confront each other and visions of Zemo and Hawkeye: they all were huge influences on each other, but maybe not in the best ways. The Radioactive Man also appears in this plotline, although he's more interested in saving Songbird, and seems to dislike Moonstone.

Original T-Bolts Abe "M.A.C.H. whatever" Jenkins and Erik "Atlas" Josten were on the way out: the M.A.C.H. suit had been trashed, leaving Abe powerless; while Erik had grown extra-huge to save the earth last time, and was stuck at that size and unconscious. Blizzard and Smuggler were also out, their respective suits also destroyed; while Speed Demon was injured in an earlier issue and might've run off, and Joystick was sent back to the Negative Zone prison for siding with Zemo. Fixer might have been offered a different government job, so the Thunderbolts appear to be down to Songbird, Moonstone, Radioactive Man, and Swordsman; in time for new writer Warren Ellis next issue. I've had a hard time reading Ellis the last few years, but can't recall if I dug his run on this book: Norman Osborn, Bullseye, and the Mac Gargan Venom were coming, for better or worse. Read more!

"Exceptionally."

Featuring possibly my shoddiest prop yet, but is it weird we haven't had a Ringmaster figure yet...no, hearing it out loud, no, not surprising at all. I'm serious about the nine-volt though, as you can see in the diagram from the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #15, the Book of Weapons, Hardware, and Paraphernalia.

That hat (and Peter David!) are largely responsible for the smart 90's Hulk, the persona that would later be called "the Professor." Banner's multiple personalities were allegedly integrated, but that may have been backpedaled later, under the explanation that maybe a hypnotic hat maybe isn't going to solve all your problems. (Guys would rather stare at the hat than go to therapy...)

I don't know if we've ever seen Moonstone and Ringmaster actually interact, but with their shared interest in therapy--or short-cuts to same--it made sense. As did the return of one of Moonstone's former teammates, the Radioactive Man. I had to look, I don't think they were ever on the Masters of Evil at the same time, but they were on the Thunderbolts more than once. The Radioactive Man--or, Chen Lu, since Radioactive Man makes me think "Up and atom!"--actually went after Moon Knight during Civil War, and he and Karla also faced him in Punisher #15 (#243) and thereabouts. They appear to be mutually griping about their boss Zemo having lost the reality knob at that point; but maybe weren't as close as I'd thought...

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