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Post by MrElijah on Oct 1, 2018 16:10:51 GMT -5
Man, the original T-Bolts runs was something. Moonstone was such a manipulating bitch.
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Post by BrodietheSlayer on Oct 2, 2018 0:53:23 GMT -5
I love Mike Ploog's art. Wish he did more comic work. It does definitely work for this period and type of comic.
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Post by BrodietheSlayer on Oct 2, 2018 0:54:40 GMT -5
Man, the original T-Bolts runs was something. Moonstone was such a manipulating bitch. Yes, yes, she was. One of the many reasons I wished I would have had at least up to issue 25, to see how things developed, and the crazy swerves that happen along the way. Good series.
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Ultimo Gallos
Grimlock
Dreams SUCK!Nightmares live FOREVER!
Posts: 14,471
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Post by Ultimo Gallos on Oct 2, 2018 1:14:36 GMT -5
I love Mike Ploog's art. Wish he did more comic work. It does definitely work for this period and type of comic. Around that time he also had good runs on Marvel's Frankenstein and Fear/Man-thing run.
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Post by BrodietheSlayer on Oct 2, 2018 1:21:58 GMT -5
Marvel Spotlight #6"Angels From Hell"Cover Date: October, 1972 Writer: Gary Friedrich (Script) Artist: Mike Ploog Featured Character(s): The Ghost Rider Villain/s: Satan & Satan's Servants (Curly (Impersonating Crash Simpson), Animal, Baby Jack, and others) Guest Star/s: Roxanne Simpson & The NYPD Official Plot:While roaming the streets at night, Ghost Rider is confronted and later chased by a group of bikers called Satan's Saints. With no option but to fight them, the Ghost Rider easily defeats them, however their leader a man named Curly offers Ghost Rider membership in the club, needing a place to stay for the night, Ghost Rider agrees. At the Satan's Saints' hideout, Ghost Rider is mesmerized into telling Curly how he became the Ghost Rider. After recounting the events that led to his current predicament, Ghost Rider passes out. Curly prepares a sacrifice and summons Satan, who reveals Curly to be the reincarnation of Crash Simpson, who has promised to bring the soul of Johnny Blaze in order to be restored to life. However, this proves impossible as Roxanne Simpson's pure love for Johnny prevents the ritual from commencing. Satan orders Crash to take the soul of his daughter, before changing him back into Curly and leaving. Changing back into Johnny Blaze in the morning, Johnny returns to the arena where Roxanne's next show is taking place and promises her that he will tell her what's going on before falling asleep. He wakes up at night when he once more transforms into the Ghost Rider. Curly is there waiting for him to "warn" him that Satan's Saints are going to attack the show and try to kidnap Roxanne. Rushing into the show, Ghost Rider thwarts the attempt (which the audience believes is part of the show) and afterwords decides that he is too much of a danger to Roxanne and leaves. Left alone with Curly, Roxanne is knocked out and Curly picks up her unconscious body to begin the sacrifice ritual. Brodie's View: So, despite this being the (#6's issue of MARVEL SPOTLIGHT (which is exactly what you would expect it to be from the title), this is the second issue where it relates the main character of this run, The Ghost Rider (Johnny Blaze version). We continue the story of Blaze kind of being on the run from the entity he sold his soul to, Satan, who as we'll see for the first chunk of this run, does whatever he/it can to get that soul once and for all. The idea is that Blaze was half cursed, hence, why he only transforms into the Ghost Rider at night, but as we'll later learn, he was actually bonded to a demon known as Zarathos, a Spirit of Vengeance, so to speak. This information being revealed will eventually change the relationship between Blaze and Zarathos, and really the whole crux of the Ghost Rider character. However, this is the early days of this character, so, we'll take most of what happens on face value, as it relates to continuity. The Ghost Rider ends up falling in with a biker gang known as Satan's Servants, which, should be kind of a dead giveaway, but GR/Blaze is feeling out of sorts somewhat, so, goes along with everything. The leader of the gang, Curly, ends up kind of befriending GR/Blaze, or at least enough to get GR's origin story recapped, for those that might have missed it. However, as this is happening, Curly is hypnotizing GR, and after our flame headed hero is unconscious, Curly reveals himself to truly be Satan's Servant, and changes his appearance to resemble the man Blaze regarded as a Father, Crash Simpson. However, Curly and Satan's plan soon hits a glitch, as since Crash's daughter Roxanne interfered in Satan's getting Johnny's soul last issue, it kind of created a sort of protective spell over said soul, at least as long as Roxanne lives. This leaves the apparent Crash Simpson agreeing to help Satan rid himself of Roxanne by way of sacrifice. He orders the biker gang to kidnap Roxy at the Crash Simpson/Johnny Blaze Motorcycle show, where she is performing. This leads to GR riding ( ) in to save her, and after a bunch of stunts that just happen as GR is chasing one of the riders. However, the audience doesn't know that, so, they end up going ape shit, as they think it's part of the show. This will means some good things for Blaze for a short time, but that will come later. The important part is that Blaze/GR admits that his even being in her proximity puts her in danger, but in reality it's his very existence, as, as soon as he leaves, Curly/Crash catches her and hypnotizes her into unconsciousness. In the next review, we'll see if this person that thinks he's Crash Simpson is able to kill his own daughter, and we'll see if Satan is able to get either soul. GRADE: B
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Post by BrodietheSlayer on Nov 10, 2018 2:15:37 GMT -5
Marvel Spotlight #7"Die, Die, My Daughter!"Cover Date: December, 1972 Writer: Gary Friedrich (Script) Artist: Mike Ploog Featured Character(s): The Ghost Rider Villain/s: Satan & Satan's Servants (Curly (Impersonating Crash Simpson), Animal, Baby Jack, and others) Guest Star/s: Roxanne Simpson Bart Slade, & The NYPD Official Plot:With Roxanne as his unconscious victim, Curly attempts to sacrifice her to Satan, who stops him citing that in order to be reincarnated Curly will have to sacrifice Roxanne at a Satanic church, and so leaves Madison Square Gardens with Roxanne in his arms. Meanwhile, the Ghost Rider is chased by the cops and manages to escape them without any incident, and decides to rest in a graveyard. While at a Satanic church, Curly turns Roxanne over to Satan's followers in preparation of the sacrifice to their master. The next morning Johnny wakes up and returns to the Gardens to find that Roxanne is nowhere to be found. Having to preform a show, he finishes to find that Roxanne still has not turned up. Learning that she left with Curly from Slade, Johnny waits until night to seek him out as Ghost Rider. He confronts Satan's Saints, who tell Ghost Rider the location of the church. Arriving just in time to stop Curly before he can sacrifice Roxanne to Satan, Satan intervenes changing Curly back into Crash Simpson, and ordering him to kill Ghost Rider. Brodie's View: We get (mostly) the Johnny Blaze/Ghost Rider end of the build in our upcoming fight between the Ghost Rider and the man transformed by Satan into looking like Crash Simpson, Johnny Blaze's sort of adopted father, and the late father of his main squeeze, Roxanne Simpson. Of course, it's Old Scratch pulling all the strings here, as he manipulates "Crash" (also known as Curly in a former probably closer to this Ex Person's actual form) into trying to sacrifice Roxy in His Name. Of course, Johnny/GR doesn't put this together until near the end of the issue, as we see his going back and actually performing the motorcycle show before realizing that Roxy had been kidnapped. During this, we are introduced to a member of the traveling show, Bart Slade (who has a crush on Roxy as well, which, I'm assuming, will lead to something down the road), who is the one that informs Johnny that Roxy left with the traitorous Curly. Of course, once night comes (as Johnny can still only transform at night; this will change), Ghost Rider finds out where Curly is keeping Roxy, and he arrives just as Curly is about to do the deed. Satan transforms Curly into looking like Crash Simpson, which, of course, will increase Johnny's torment about having to fight his Ex "Step" Dad. This was a decent issue that did what it needed to do, although, I have a feeling that at the time, Curly was meant to be Crash, and this was all only retconned (or Xorn'ed) into being a totally different person later. Still, there was a lot of set up for this battle. In the next issue, we will see that fight, while also transitioning into yet another story. GRADE: B
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Post by Joe Neglia on Nov 10, 2018 2:23:40 GMT -5
In issue #100, one of the West Coast Avengers/Avengers West Coast did indeed die, and it was Hawkeye's on again/off again love interest, Mockingbird, who is trapped in Hell after the WCA fight Mephisto in its/his realm. That information is important, as it leads to this short story that came right after. In it, Hawkeye goes to Bobbi's grave, and thinks back to the little adventure that led to their getting the compound that would later serve as their HQ. This story takes place previous to #1 of the mini, of course, so, it is still just Clint and Bobbi, who is sent by Bill Foster to the home of Ex Silent Movie Star, Moira Brandon, who is interested in giving her home to a team of super heroes, as they achieved more than she ever felt she did, simply duo to their selfless heroics. She takes them down to her basement, which is kind of a shrine to her movie career. However, it's a setup, as the two Avengers are being led into a trap by an old Hawkeye baddie (yes, he did have a few ), Crossfire. However, Crossfire, being kind of a sucky rich guy turned villain, only succeeds in shooting Bobbi in the shoulder. This gives Moira the courage she lacked from the get go, and she helps Hawkeye and Mockingbird take Crossfire down, but the effort was too much for her, and she dies in their arms. The ending sees Hawkeye talking about the final cost of what they set in motion after that, and walking away from her grave (don't worry, she'd eventually be back ). The AVENGERS WEST COAST series would end a few issues after that, with Iron Man withdrawing the remains of the team off to form the short lived (and VERY 90's) FORCE WORKS. However, most of the team would eventually come back to the Avengers by 95, as other silliness would begin. ( ) However, we won't be covering that, but we'll next be talking about the first trade of a team that would spring up when some more silliness would happen to The Avengers (and the Fantastic Four and others) in 1996. GRADE: B Whenever you see a list of all regular-continuity Avengers members and see the name "Moira Brandon" listed among them, this is why. Hawkeye made her an official founding member of the West Coast branch for her actions.
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Post by BrodietheSlayer on Nov 23, 2018 3:58:23 GMT -5
Marvel Spotlight #8"The Hordes of Hell"Cover Date: February, 1973 Writer: Gary Friedrich Artist: Mike Ploog Featured Character(s): The Ghost Rider Villain/s: Satan, Snake Dance, & Curly (Impersonating Crash Simpson) Guest Star/s: Roxanne Simpson, Sam Silvercloud, Casey Miller, & Bart Slade Official Plot:Forced to fight a duel against his adoptive father Crash Simpson, Ghost Rider and Crash are transported to Hell to battle each other. However, when Ghost Rider gains the upper hand, Satan sends demons to help Crash win the fight. When it comes to delivering the killer blow, Crash cannot do it, and Satan sends a demon to kill them both. Crash sacrifices himself to kill the demon, and Ghost Rider leaves his body with a robed figure who is apparently against Satan. Returning to the Earth dimension, Johnny changes back to normal and the two return to their troupe where Slade has begrudgingly prepared for their next gig in Arizona. Arriving there, Johnny greets his guide Sam Silvercloud, who suddenly pulls a gun on him. Silvercloud wants to prevent Johnny's show for fear that the celebrity attention would make the location of his gorge stunt -- a location Silvercloud's tribe is negotiating to get back from the government -- a tourist hot spot instead. When Johnny refuses to cancel his gig to jump over Copperhead Canyon, Silvercloud leaves Johnny in the desert. Riding back into town, Johnny fights Silvercloud until they are stopped by Snake Dance, who tells Johnny to leave. While distracted, Silvercloud sabotages Johnny's motorcycle. That night, changing into Ghost Rider, Johnny returns to the town and fights Snake Dance and his "Snake Men", when Snake Dance transforms into a giant snake and chases after Ghost Rider, Ghost Rider jumps over the canyon. However, reaching 100 mph causes his motorcycle to explode sending Ghost Rider falling into the canyon instead. Brodie's View: We get the battle set up last issue, apparently between Johnny Blaze and his adopted father, Crash Simpson (really a man named Curly, who has been transformed by Satan into looking like Simpson), which doesn't last long, as Curly ends up joining up with the Ghost Rider against various demons and monsters, as the two try to escape from Hell. However, only the Rider escapes, as Curly sacrifices himself to save Blaze. A mysterious robed figure (who will pop up here and there for the next while) then briefly helps Blaze recover, and after that....we're on to our next story ( ) (Jeez, what is it with the 70's and the loose flow of stories from one issue to the next....it made sense with HOWARD THE DUCK, but here, it just comes off like the writer got bored with the story he set up and decided to just abruptly end it and move on to the next thing). Anyways, the next story involves Johnny trying to do a major jump over a Canyon that happens to sit on Native American land. Needless to say, the tribe occupying that land (who are all presented as being either evil or easily led) isn't too happy about that. This leads us to our major threat (well, other than Satan) in this issue, Snake Dance, a massively powerful Medicine Man, who appears to unleash powerful magics against The Ghost Rider, causing the flaming rider to apparently fall to his death (as Snake Dance blows up his motorcycle) into the very Canyon he was planning to jump. We also get some more lead up to the eventual betrayal that one of the workers of the Simpson/Blaze Daredevil Show, Bart Slade (who secretly lusts after Roxanne Simpson, Johnny's main squeeze), will commit on Blaze, but once again, that's a story for another time. For now, I'll say that this issue was decent, but I was kind of salty that they ended the whole Curly/Satan deal so quickly, as there had been a good 2-3 issue set up for it. Anyways, in the next issue, we'll see Round Two between Ghost Rider and Snake Dance, as well as some badly depicted Native American characters. Fun, fun, fun. GRADE: B-
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Ultimo Gallos
Grimlock
Dreams SUCK!Nightmares live FOREVER!
Posts: 14,471
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Post by Ultimo Gallos on Nov 23, 2018 12:20:30 GMT -5
I was missing reading these sir. Glad to see a new one.
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Post by BrodietheSlayer on Dec 7, 2018 3:21:22 GMT -5
So, I hate to do this, but my schedule right now really doesn't allow for me to do a long run like the one I was trying to do. Besides, I'll be honest with you....I wasn't really feeling this one. Love me some Ghost Rider, but his book doesn't really get good until the last part of it. So, instead, I'm just gonna do some short spurt runs for a while, at least until I get more time to do another long run. This run will be on a cheap trade I picked up recently. One based on a character who originally was created for the SPIDER-MAN AND HIS AMAZING FRIEND cartoon, but was eventually introduced in the actual Marvel Universe as well, and went on to become a New Warrior, Avenger, and X-Man....Ms. Angelica Jones, AKA FIRESTAR!
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Post by BrodietheSlayer on Dec 7, 2018 3:21:53 GMT -5
Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends #1"The Triumph of The Green Goblin!"Cover Date: December, 1981 Writer: Dennis Marks (Based on the script from the 1st episode of the show) Artist: Dan Spiegle Featured Character(s): Spider-Man, Firestar, & Iceman Villain/s: The Green Goblin (Norman Osborn) Guest Star/s: Aunt May, Ms. Lion, & Norma Osborn Official Plot:
The Green Goblin returns and plans to turn New York into a place deserted with Goblin people. So he kidnaps his own niece, Mona Osborn and wants to demonstrate his serum on her. Now Spider-Man, Iceman, and Firestar has to team-up to defeat the Green Goblin before it's too late. Brodie's View: So, this is a One Shot capitalizing on the then quite popular Saturday Morning Cartoon series, SPIDER-MAN AND HIS AMAZING FRIENDS, and this issue is basically a comic book version of the first episode of that series. This issue is officially the first comic book appearance of Firestar, although, our next review will be her first appearance in the 616 Universe. The story pretty much does follow the plot and dialogue from that episodes, although writer Dennis Marks does get to improvise when it comes to providing thought bubbles to some of the characters (even cutesy dog, Ms. Lion), which is pretty cool for the human characters, but unnecessary for the dog. There is also a very school age approach to the writing, as Marvel was obviously trying to attract young readers who may have gotten their first Marvel exposure due to the cartoon. Other than that, the story is pretty much what was described above. We do get Spidey and the gang (including Norman Osborne's niece, Norma Osborn ( ), who is paired up with Iceman) going to a costume dance of some sort, where most everyone is dressed up as superheroes, which is kind of cool, as it allows the artist to basically throw in a bunch of Marvel characters without actually having to use them. The Goblin is, of course, defeated in a way that causes Norman to once again go back to his normal personality, and the status quo is re-established at the end of the story, as the cartoon never really had episode spanning storylines. In the next review, which will be a repeat of an earlier review, that will defenitely not be the case, as Firestar will make her first full appearance in a comic book that had a SHIT TON of subplots going on....Always. GRADE: B-
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Post by BrodietheSlayer on Dec 8, 2018 3:52:09 GMT -5
Uncanny X-Men #193"Warhunt 2" Cover Date: May, 1985 Writer: Chris Claremont Artist: John Romita Jr. Team: Wolverine, Nightcrawler, Kitty Pryde/Shadowcat, Colossus, Rachel Summers, & Rogue (Storm---On Leave)(Charles Xaiver) Villain/s: The Hellions (Empath, Roulette, Thunderbird, & Firestar), Nimrod, SecBots Guest Stars: The Morlocks, The New Mutants (Cypher, Mirage, & Cannonball), Sean Cassidy, Storm, and Lockheed Official Plot: Muir Island: Retired X-Man Sean Cassidy is out for his regular jog that he's been going on since he lost the use of his mutant powers. On this night however, Thunderbird has come to the island and knocks him out. Thunderbird blames Sean for the death of his brother John, the original Thunderbird and knocks the former Banshee out. Meanwhile, in the United States, Charles Xavier wakes up to find himself in the private quarters of Callisto following a beating at the hands of an anti-mutant mob. Xavier has difficulty remembering the events leading up to his attack and has no recollection of his attackers. He is disturbed by the change of clothing that Callisto has provided for him, but is grateful that her minion the Healer was able to save his life even though he was on the brink of death. Xavier is surprised at the sheer size of the Alley where the Morlocks call home and learns that it stretches all over Manhattan and even reaches as far as his own school. When discussing the leadership of the Morlocks, Callisto explains that while Storm has no powers she maintains leadership of the Morlocks and Callisto cannot challenge her until her powers return. Xavier tries to convince Callisto to bring the Morlocks out from hiding; however the conversation is cut short when Sunder arrives with the dead children of the Morlock known as Annalee. Furious, Callisto points out that this is why the Morlocks do not live on the surface, and warns that if the humans want a race war then the Morlocks are willing to give them one. Later, in the Rocky Mountains near the NORAD missile command center, Thunderbird is going over the remaining wreckage where his brother died many months earlier and vows to make Xavier pay for sending his brother to his death. He is joined by his fellow Hellions, Empath and Roulette. Thunderbird is upset that they have come as he wishes to deal with the X-Men by himself. However, they are not without reinforcements as Empath has brought along the newest Hellion, Angelica Jones, known as Firestar, whom he has been keeping enthralled with his empathic abilities much to Roulette's chagrin. At the X-Mansion, the X-Men and the New Mutants are in a training session. After playing a game of tag, they recreate a simulation of the New Mutants recent episode on the Dyson Sphere owned by Lila Cheney. Their training session ends when Professor Xavier returns with Callisto. Seeing Xavier in the tattered clothing of a Morlock gives the X-Men and the junior New Mutants a good laugh, especially Cannonball who was given grief from the Professor for purposely dressing in a similar fashion. While on a cruise ship in the mid-Atlantic, Storm is well on her way back to her native Africa so that she can sort out where to go next in her life now that she is without her mutant abilities. She is visited by an apparent vision of her mother and wonders if she really saw it or not and if she is following her destiny. Back at the Xavier estate, the Professor tries to relax in the bath after his ordeal, and finds that even after being healed by the Morlocks healer, he is still very sore after his beating. He is called down to the War Room of the mansion where the X-Men are receiving a video call from Thunderbird who tells them that he has taken Banshee prisoner and he intends to kill him in 24 hours in revenge. He explains to them that he has hidden Sean somewhere in Cheyenne Mountain and for the X-Men to try and find them. The X-Men quickly mobilize and Xavier attempts to establish a psychic rapport, he finds that he has difficulty and gets Rachel to form one for them. When Shadowcat uses her phasing powers to get herself inside the NORAD facility, it allows Nightcrawler the telepathic "view" needed to teleport in there without hurting himself. Nightcrawler then smuggles Colossus, Rogue, Rachel and Wolverine into the facility, however it wears him out. He goes one more time to report back to the Professor. Returning back to his friends, the Professor is left alone to monitor things with the Blackbird's portable Cerebro unit. Discovered by the Hellions, the Professor is caught off guard when Roulette tosses one of her discs into the cock pit causing electrical damage that causes feedback into Xavier's brain. In enters Empath who uses his powers to send Lockheed fleeing in terror and then he matches his empathic power against Xavier's telepathy. When Empath bites off more than he can chew, Roulette knocks Xavier out with knock out has. This is immediately detected by Rachel who tells the others. Shadowcat goes back to the Blackbird and finds that the Professor knocked out and the equipment trashed. When Nightcrawler asks Rachel to use her telepathic powers to track Sean down, she cannot bring herself to do it as it brings back horrifying memories as her time as a hound and collapses into a ball. Instead, Shadowcat uses her phasing powers so that she and Wolverine can search the facility to try and find Sean. Meanwhile, Nightcrawler teleports Rogue out of the facility to look after the Professor while he, Colossus and Rachel try to move on. In the War Room of NORAD, Empath has used his powers to gain access and he, Firestar and Roulette have grown bored with the lack of action. Empath uses his powers to tip security off to the X-Men's presence and has them send out their SecBots to neutralize all intruders. While Empath brags to Firestar, Roulette walks off to try to do something herself to make the White Queen proud of her. Wolverine and Shadowcat manage to find Sean chained to one of the shock absorbers that protects the secret facility. There Wolverine is attacked by Thunderbird, who is at first no match for Wolverine's superior fighting skills. However, Thunderbird has prepared for this and the room begins pumping with gas. Shadowcat quickly gets Sean to safety, however when she goes back to help Wolverine the gas knocks her out and she falls through to floor in her solid state knocking her out. With Wolverine distracted over Kitty's well being, Thunderbird takes advantage of the situation by landing a powerful punch. Leaving the room before the gas can affect him; Thunderbird is shocked to see Wolverine go back for Shadowcat when he expected him to abandon his comrade like he believed was done with his brother John. Thunderbird realizes that he cannot leave the two X-Men behind to die in such a dishonorable way and drags them out of the room to safety. Placing gas masks on their faces, Thunderbird rushes off hoping to get revenge against Xavier. Elsewhere in the complex, the SecBots find Colossus, Rachel and Nightcrawler, prompting Nightcrawler to bring Rogue back to join the fight. As Nightcrawler, Colossus and Rogue fight off the robots, Rachel is still in an emotional breakdown, unable to break out of her fetal position to fight back. As they are distracted, Firestar smashes through the room, pulling Colossus outside with her. The SecBots capture Nightcrawler and down Rogue. The two mutants are about to be executed when Nightcrawler teleports free and knocks out the commanding officers who have arrived on the scene. With Colossus high in the air and succumbing to Firestar's microwave powers, Rogue comes to his rescue as the girl struggles with the waning effects of Empath's powers. Rogue knocks the girl out with ease and carries her and Colossus back down to the ground. Meanwhile, Nightcrawler is fighting off those under Empath's thrall when Thunderbird appears and gives Empath trouble for interfering in his revenge plot. Shadowcat sneaks in and pulls Empath through the floor and he passes out when Wolverine threatens him with his claws. This causes everyone to snap out of it and attack Nightcrawler whom they shoot at with extreme prejudice as he is trying to capture Roulette. He manages to avoid injury by slipping into a heating duct. Meanwhile, Thunderbird continues to make his way out of the facility to get back at Professor X and manages to avoid getting caught by Shadowcat. Before Kitty and Wolverine can go after him, they are found by guards and another SecBot. While elsewhere, Rogue and Colossus attempt to convince Rachel to fight with them, but she cannot bring herself to use her powers. Rogue, getting sick of Rachel's weakness in a dangerous situation tells her to touch her bare hands so that she can absorb Rachel's telepathic powers and use them instead. Nightcrawler arrives and convinces Rachel to use her powers to locate Wolverine and Shadowcat so he can teleport to their location. Rogue then leaves with the unconscious Firestar to bring her back to the Professor. Professor X, meanwhile, has revived from being knocked out to find Thunderbird standing over him. The Native American warrior accuses Xavier for being responsible for his brother’s death. However, Xavier explains that his brother’s death was an accident and that he was telepathically linked with his brother at the time of his death. Unwilling to believe Xavier, Thunderbird raises his knife to stab Xavier to death but falters and gives up, finding that he cannot bring himself to kill a man that he is not entirely sure was responsible for his brother’s death. With the battle over, the X-Men take the Hellions back to their headquarters where they learn from their news that the X-Men were being blamed for the "attack" on NORAD. Rogue surprises Kitty by finding Lockheed and bringing him back, and Thunderbird decides to go back to his teammates in the Massachusetts Academy, duty bound to stay by his comrade’s side. Xavier asks what Angelica wants to do; Angelica explains that she too must return to the White Queen. Xavier departs and wishes the two young mutants the very best. While later at the Rodriguez house hold in New York City, the Rodriguez family is preparing dinner for their new tenant, a "man" named Nimrod, in reality a super powerful Sentinel from the future sent back in time. Using the computer belonging to Jamie's son, Nimrod accesses Federal defense and law enforcement databases. Overhearing a news broadcast about the Juggernaut being sighted and that the X-Men are now wanted felons, Nimrod decides to make the destruction of both threats its primary objective. Brodie's View: Happy 100th Issue, All New, All Different X-Men. Hope you survive......uh, never mind. Actually, this was the supposed 100th issue (not counting Annuals and various other crossovers, but assumingly counting GIANT SIZED X-MEN as an issue), and being that Krakoa is still space debris somewhere, Chris Claremont decided to focus this story on the New X-Men's 2nd adventure, and the moment of one of their greatest failures (The Death of Thunderbird), and wrap this story around that. You see, Thunderbird had a brother, and he would blame the X-Men and Charles Xaiver specifically for his death. He would join The Hellfire Club's Hellions, and wait for his moment to exact revenge on the people he felt were responsible for his brother's death (spurned on, I'm sure, by The White Queen, who also had no love loss for Xaiver and his students). Finally, Thunderbird 2 (James Proudstar) attacks and kidnaps Sean Cassidy (The former Banshee), and with the help of a few of the other Hellions (Empath, Roulette, and Firestar, who we'll get to in a second), takes over the NORAD missile command center (the site Count Nefaria and his Ani-Men tried to take over in UXM #94-95, and the place where the original Thunderbird died), and basically lures the X-Men to the site in order to orchestrate a one on one meeting with Xaiver, and to kill him. He actually does get his way, as the team is too distracted by both the other Hellions and the NORAD crew, who are manipulated into thinking the X-Men are breaking into NORAD (which, is kind of true, but they're there to stop the real bad guys.....however, the NORAD people have no way of knowing that). However, upon talking to Xaiver, James finds he can't go through with it, and ends the Hellion's mission with nothing other than the X-Men's reputation being truly harmed (At least in the eyes of the U.S Government, who had already been looking at the team with distrustful eyes. This had grown worse when Rogue joined their ranks). As for James Proudstar, he would eventually leave the Hellions, and walk a better path; first joining up with X-Force, and then eventually becoming an X-Man himself, taking the name Warpath. Speaking of people who would eventually become X-Men, this issue is also the Marvel introduction of Firestar, who had previously only existed in the SPIDER-MAN AND HIS AMAZING FRIENDS cartoon, which she was created specifically for. Like James Proudstar, Firestar would not stay long in the Hellions (In fact, she has a limited series of her own around this time, which shows her time in the Hellions with more detail, as well as the moment she decides to leave the group and strike out on her own), and is basically only involved in villainy in this issue due to being mentally manipulated by Empath. After leaving the Hellions, she joins up with a group of rag tag heroes known as The New Warriors, which would include the man she would fall in love with, Marvel Boy/Justice. The two would later join the Avengers, and have a pretty decent stint there during Kurt Busick's kick ass run. Later, she would become a full fledged X-Man (and yes, someone would eventually have her, Ice Man, and Spider-Man team up), which kind of brings things full circle. In addition to all of that, and the main events of the story (but no less important), we have the follow up to Charles Xaiver getting attacked at the end of the last issue. He awakens to find himself being tended to by the Morlocks, who have kind of fully transitioned into being allies of the team (Which Callisto states is because she is waiting for Storm to regain her powers, so, she can face Storm in another duel, and win her position back, but I have a feeling that's only a half truth, and Callisto has grown to respect both Storm and the X-Men). He goes back to the Mansion dressed in Morlock attire (this makes him look like he came from an S&M club, which gets giggles from the New Mutants), and is seemingly okay, but we see in his private moments that he is pretty far from okay. This would increase as we start to head towards #200, and a result of his worsening condition is a huge change to the status quo of the team. Last, but certainly not least, we check in on the robot NIMROD, who has disguised himself to (somewhat) look like a normal human, and is living with the man that he saved at the end of #191, Jamie Rodriquez (and his family). However, we see that he has detected that The Juggernaut has returned to New York City, and he is bound and determined to do his duty and eliminate the "Unstoppable" hulk of a man. In the next review, he will certainly try, and he will also try to eliminate the X-Men when they are forced to come to Juggie's aid. Actually, next will be the four part mini series that gave Firestar her origin story, but will also intersect with the issue/story above.GRADE: B+
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Post by BrodietheSlayer on Dec 10, 2018 2:35:11 GMT -5
Firestar #1"Mark of the Mutants" Cover Date: March, 1986 Writer: Tom DeFalco Artist: Mary Wilshire Featured Character(s): Firestar Villain/s: The White Queen (Emma Frost) Guest Stars: Bartholomew Jones, Grandma Jones (Dies), Cassie Sandusky, Martha, Eve, Phil, Chuck Belson, Joyce, Peggy, Mr. Slattery, Pum'kin the Cat, The X-Men (Professor X, Nightcrawler, & Shadowcat), & The New Mutants (Cannonball, Wolfsbane, Sunspot, & Mirage) Official Plot: Thirteen year-old Angelica Jones is attending her new high school and experiencing normal teenage problems until the uncontrolled manifestation her mutant powers to generate microwaves causes strange mishaps that alienates her from her friends. Her grandmother had encouraged her, suggesting that the "M" mark on her palm meant she possessed exceptional talents, but when she passes away Angelica is left with only her father, who is terrifed of her blosoming powers. Both Professor Xavier's Cerebro and the White Queen's Multivac pick up on the appearance of this new mutant, and it's Emma Frost that reaches the Jones household first, offering Angelica a place to learn how to control her powers among others like her at the Massachusetts Academy. Brodie's View: Now, since Firestar has been introduced twice, we finally get her origin story in this mini series, which would be released a year after her first 616 appearance. This issues takes place somewhere between the events of UNCANNY X-MEN #168 and 180, which means that over the next few issues, we'll work our way up to the last review's UXM #193...and beyond. This introduces Angelica Jones and her small family (well, the main family she has), her down on his luck father, and her loving grandmother, who at the beginning of this issue tells young Angelica that the M mark on her hand makes her special. By the end of this issue we'll know she was right (well, if we didn't know already), but sadly, she won't be alive to see it, as she passes from a heart attack about midway through the story. Writer Tom DeFalco (who does a good job working within the world Chris Claremont was pretty much running entirely at this point in time) definitely piles on the misery for Angelica, as, starting at a new school, she is repeatedly bullied by a group of mean girls who just plain don't like her, in addition to her grandmother dying. All of this stress is causing the manifestation of her mutant powers, which makes things even worse for Angelica, as mutant hate is kind of at one of its highest point during this period. This leads us to the undercurrent of this story, as both Charles Xaiver and Emma Frost start to notice her powers manifesting, and behind the scenes, we see a race between the two forces (as Xaiver wants her for his New Mutants, and Frost, who of course represents the Hellfire Club, wants her for her own group of students, The Hellions) trying to recruit Angelica. As the issue ends, we find that Emma winds up reaching her first, which means that Angelica will be joining Frost at the Massachusetts Academy ( ). Needless to say, in the next issue we'll pick up with the next chapter (this is a 4 part story) of this story, as Angelica will start to hone her powers, as well as be manipulated by the mind games of the White Queen. GRADE: B+
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Ultimo Gallos
Grimlock
Dreams SUCK!Nightmares live FOREVER!
Posts: 14,471
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Post by Ultimo Gallos on Dec 10, 2018 3:32:30 GMT -5
Uncanny X-Men #193"Warhunt 2" Cover Date: May, 1985 Writer: Chris Claremont Artist: John Romita Jr. GRADE: B+ I started reading Uncanny with issue 129. But issue 193 was the first issue I got when I subscribed. Anyone else ever subscribe to comics back then? When you got each issue mailed to you,at first in a Brown paper sleeve. Then later on in cheap polybags. For me this was one of the last great issues of Uncanny. But I have always said that Uncanny went downhill fast after issue 200. Huge fan of Thunderbird II and love that he is being used on The Gifted. Now I gotta track down the trade you are reviewing. Just so I can finally read the final issue of the Firestar mini series.
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Post by BrodietheSlayer on Dec 10, 2018 3:42:18 GMT -5
Uncanny X-Men #193"Warhunt 2" Cover Date: May, 1985 Writer: Chris Claremont Artist: John Romita Jr. GRADE: B+ I started reading Uncanny with issue 129. But issue 193 was the first issue I got when I subscribed. Anyone else ever subscribe to comics back then? When you got each issue mailed to you,at first in a Brown paper sleeve. Then later on in cheap polybags. For me this was one of the last great issues of Uncanny. But I have always said that Uncanny went downhill fast after issue 200. Huge fan of Thunderbird II and love that he is being used on The Gifted. Now I gotta track down the trade you are reviewing. Just so I can finally read the final issue of the Firestar mini series. I found it at Books A Million for $9.97. They're starting to do stuff with used trades, which is why I got it for a deal. It has the issues I reviewed recently, the rest of the Limited Series, a multi part story from MARVEL COMICS PRRESENTS, and a couple other odds and ends. Like you, I mainly wanted the Limited Series, but the other stuff was a fun bonus.
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Post by BrodietheSlayer on Dec 11, 2018 4:32:29 GMT -5
Firestar #2"The Players and the Pawn" Cover Date: April, 1986 Writer: Tom DeFalco Artist: Mary Wilshire Featured Character(s): Firestar Villain/s: The White Queen (Emma Frost) Guest Stars: Randall Chase, The Hellions (Catseye, Empath, Jetstream, Roulette, Tarot, & Thunderbird/Warpath), The New Mutants (Cannonball, Magik, Magma, Mirage, & Wolfsbane), The X-Men (Professor X, Nightcrawler, Colossus, Wolverine, & Storm), Sebastian Shaw, & Butter Rum the Horse (Dies) Official Plot: Fourteen-year-old Angelica Jones is adjusting to her life as a student at the Massachusetts Academy. She's been assigned a personal bodyguard, Randall, a Hellfire Club henchman that has misgivings about how his boss does business, but has to watch what he thinks around her as she's a telepath. Angelica particularly enjoys her time at the Academy's stables, where she's befriended a horse named Butter Rum. Frost has convinced Angelica to always wear a bracelet that she doesn't know is actually a "hallucinator" designed to make her see what Frost wants her to see. When Angelica is brought to the Academy's equivalent of the Danger Room for tests of her abilities, she's made to see images of the X-Men in the form of threats that she has to confront. Even though she currently refuses to hurt anyone with her powers, one particular Wolverine robot is rigged to explode in front of her so she thinks she caused it. Frost continues train Angelica, developing her powers, as well as gaslighting her, using the hallucinator to give her nightmares about the X-Men, aiming to groom her into a perfect assassin for the Hellfire Club. One night, a school dance is arranged at the Academy that Frost invites the New Mutants to attend. Despite their distrust of the White Queen, the X-Men allow it and the night starts off well. Angelica and Sam Guthrie hit it off and she even experiences her first kiss with him. Unfortunately, that's when the White Queen strikes, sending a telepathic message to make her worry that she's endangering the boy's life, and when she runs to the stables, they're rigged to catch fire and Butter Rum dies thanks to Emma telepathically stopping his heart. Angelica is traumatized, thinking her powers and her lack of control over them are responsible. Brodie's View: Issue two, which takes place in the period between NEW MUTANTS #17 and UNCANNY X-MEN #193, concerns the early part of Angelica Jones' (who gains the Firestar code name in this issue) training at the White Queen's Massachusetts Academy, which isn't really that much of a happy one. Of course, a lot of this is by design, as Emma Frost wishes to train Angelica into eventually becoming an assassin for The Hellfire Club, and her manipulation of Angelica is pretty masterful in its cruelty. However, at least in this issue, it's pretty damn effective, as Frost uses her mental powers to slowly break down Angelica's inhibitions as it relates to using her powers to harm people (and not so subtly start to see Hellfire Club enemies, The X-Men, as enemies; at one point, Angelica seemingly uses her powers to destroy a robot version of Wolverine....hence the cover). Frost does offer Angelica moments of happiness (a horse named Butter Rum that Angelica often rides, as well as allowing her to have her first kiss with New Mutant, Cannonball, as Frost had arranged a mixed dance with both Massachusetts Academy and Xaiver's students), but she also takes those moments of happiness away (scaring Angelica away from Sam, for fear that she would hurt him with her powers, and then making it appear as Angelica killed Butter Rum with her powers). The point of this making it seem that Emma is the only one Angelica can trust and count on, which, of course, Frost will continue to manipulate. However, Frost's arrogance causes her to miss little things that may end up costing The White Queen her homegrown assassin. For one, the Hellfire Club bodyguard she assigns to keep an eye on Angelica, Randall Chase, starts to feel bad about his part in Frost's plan. Also, by allowing Angelica to form ties with Cannonball, it kind of disproves Frost's manipulation that Xaiver's students are monsters out to hurt/kill her. UXM #193, which takes place between this issue and the next, will also add to that, and we'll see the fall out from that in the next issue. However, it won't stop Frost in her mission of making Firestar a killer for her and her "partner in crime," Sebastian Shaw's Hellfire Club, as we'll see The White Queen try to use Angelica to take out a rival within the club, Selene, The Black Queen(!!!) GRADE: B
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Post by BrodietheSlayer on Dec 12, 2018 3:21:41 GMT -5
Firestar #3"This Lady Kills!" Cover Date: May, 1986 Writer: Tom DeFalco Artist: Mary Wilshire Featured Character(s): Firestar Villain/s: The White Queen (Emma Frost) Guest Stars: Randall Chase, The Hellions (Catseye, Empath, Jetstream, & Roulette) The Hellfire Club (Sebastian Shaw & Selene (The Black Queen)), Bartholomew Jones, Bruno Stein, & Pum'kin the Cat Official Plot: Fifteen year-old Angelica Jones has just had her first confrontation with the X-Men as Firestar. She's been made to see things aren't quite as they seem, but she remains loyal to Ms. Frost. The White Queen continues to try to twist her into an assassin, but the Black King has a new particular target in mind, the new Black Queen, Selene. After a brief trip to her hometown to find her father is still uneasy around her, knowing she's a mutant, Angelica is at the airport to head back to Massachusetts when another of Frost's scenarios comes into play. A man with a boom box bumps into her and the boom box explodes, making it look like she caused it. Other Hellfire agents in the crowd begin to accuse her of being a dangerous mutant, whipping up a riot. Angelica is forced to use her powers to defend herself and her father, ultimately severely burning one of the undercover agents attacking them. As this is happening, Angelica's bodyguard Randall notices the signs of the White Queen's manipulations and has more and more misgivings about what they're doing to his charge. Brodie's View: We're finally up to "current," as this issue takes place after UXM #193, and we do deal with a bit of fallout from this, at least on the Hellfire Club side of things. However, The White Queen (Emma Frost) doesn't look at that situation as any kind of a fallback; far from it, as she feels that this event more strengthened her hold over her main objective, Angelica Jones, and throughout this issue, we see Frost continue to manipulate Angelica into being the assassin she's been trying to mold her into since the end of Issue #1. We also learn who is intended to be Angelica's first target, the newest member of the Hellfire Club, (although, one few of the other Inner Circle want there, as they fear she will try to make a major power grab at some point) The Black Queen, and a near immortal mutant/witch hybrid, Selene. First things first, though, as Frost continues to manipulate Angelica into hating not only members of the X-Men, but human-kind as well. The first being through nightmares and visions, but she actually uses Angelica taking a trip home to see her father as an attempt to drive her to use her powers to hurt someone. This happens (and is lovingly depicted on the fantastic cover by Arthur Adams) as Angelica is about to head home after not having a great reunion with her Dad (who fears her mutant abilities as well), as undercover Hellfire Club agents end up causing a major incident at the airport, which leads to her and her father being attacked by an angry mob. The second causes her to lash out with her microwave energy powers, severely injuring one of the undercover agents. However, once again, Frost's arrogance in doing this leaves a little opening for her entire plan to unravel, and that is due to her bodyguard, Randall Chase, who has come to quite like young Angelica, and knows what Frost is trying to do. We'll see all of this come to a head in the next issue, which is the last issue of the mini series (but not the end of our Firestar related reviews). Needless to say, we'll see if Angelica Jones becomes the assassin Emma Frost has been working to trying to create, or if the White Queen's plans don't end up blowing up in her face, both figuratively and literally. GRADE: B
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SmashTV
Dennis Stamp
Big Money, Big Prizes, I Love It!
The Excellence of Allocation
Posts: 4,490
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Post by SmashTV on Dec 12, 2018 15:00:43 GMT -5
My colleagues and I were invited to another team's Christmas bash this afternoon. My own team is like a mini family with banter, backup and a rowdy spirit, and while wee didn't know the team who'd invited us, it was suggested that it'd 'look good' if we attended. I'm a Civil Servant and have been to some great bashes and poor bashes in my time there, and had an inkling that this one would fall into the latter category.
God was I right...
Everyone stood in their group with no interaction between the teams, there was no music, no soft drinks, fruit juice, sparkling wine (which I don't drink) and NO BEER! I lasted all of 25 minutes before sloping off early (my boss had already done a runner some five minutes before). Our own bash is on Friday, and already I know that, even at its lowest point, it can't be any worse than today's effort.
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Post by BrodietheSlayer on Dec 13, 2018 1:23:05 GMT -5
Yeah, I totally agree that Chris Claremont would have probably done a better job with the writing, but DeFalco does a good job playing in Claremont's "playground." I used to not think much of DeFalco, but he kind of won me over with his work on MARVEL TWO IN ONE.
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Post by BrodietheSlayer on Dec 13, 2018 3:21:46 GMT -5
Firestar #4"Now Strikes the Assassin!" Cover Date: June, 1986 Writer: Tom DeFalco Artist: Mary Wilshire Featured Character(s): Firestar Villain/s: The White Queen (Emma Frost) Guest Stars: Randall Chase, The Hellions (Roulette), The Hellfire Club (Sebastian Shaw & Selene (The Black Queen)), Bartholomew Jones, & Bruno Stein Official Plot: The White Queen's gaslighting of Angelica Jones has shifted from making her hate the X-Men and being prepared to harm others with her powers towards making the Black Queen her target. Her agents forge an assassination attempt that she blames on Selene. As Firestar continues to trust Ms. Frost above anything, she's driven to protect her. Angelica's bodyguard, Randall, doesn't like how she's being manipulated. While he's trying to think of how to even confront his telepathic employer, she decides he's outlived his usefullness and has him attacked and held prisoner by his fellow agents. The next day, Frost tells Angelica that Randall was killed by a mole implanted by the Black Queen. This pushes Angelica over the edge and she offers to use her powers to protect Ms. Frost during the dance a few nights later at the Hellfire Club where Selene will be in attendance. The night of the dance, everything is set up and Angelica is steeling herself to meet her fate and calls her father one last time to tell her she loves him. Then Randall, having escaped his captors but getting fatally shot in the process, staggers his way to Angelica to tell her the truth about Emma Frost with his dying breath. Anguished, she tears off the bracelet Frost gave her. When Frost receives the news that something has gone wrong, she abandons the dance and returns to the Academy's underground complex, where Firestar is wreaking havoc. Emma had spent years convincing Angelica that she had no control over her powers, making her dependent. Now that she sees clearly, Firestar shows she has all the control and defeats the White Queen and her agents. With her tormentor cornered, Firestar pays Emma back for all the smoke and mirrors with a trick of her own, momentarily making Emma think she's burned her face with the heat from her hand. With that, Firestar makes the White Queen promise to leave her alone and demolishes her undergound complex as a departing gift. Angelica Jones then returns home to her father, who is grateful that she's giving him a second chance. She looks towards the future and mastering her powers on her own. Brodie's View: With this, the last issue of this Limited Series, we finally come up to true "current," as we jump ahead a year to 1986. We also pick up where we ended, as Emma Frost (The White Queen of the Hellfire Club) continues to train Angelica Jones (Firestar), and hone her as an assassin for the Hellfire Club. Of course, now all her efforts are going towards sending Angelica on a collision course with Selene, the Black Queen of the Club. We see examples of this manipulation in an "assassination attempt" on Frost's life at the beginning of the issue, and then the "killing" of her bodyguard and friend, Randall Chase, both supposedly done by Selene's personal agents. However, Frost makes a huge mistake for the second one, as she leaves Chase alive and held hostage in a nearby barn. He breaks free, and manages to tell Angelica the truth before actually dying. The rest of this issue sees a pissed off Firestar turning her now well honed powers on Emma Frost herself, and basically forcing the White Queen into leaving her alone, before destroying her underground lair. We then see Angelica reunited with her father, who has come to accept her as a mutant, but we also get the tease that Emma might eventually come after Angelica and her father for revenge. Before I get further into that, I will say that this was a pretty solid little mini that definitely did a decent job and providing a back story for a character who had only existed as a cartoon creation before 1985. The writing, by Tom DeFalco, was pretty solid, and the artwork, by Mary Wilshire, while not spectacular, was certainly not bad, and was decent enough for this side story. In the next issue, we'll be jumping on to an anthology series that Marvel created in the late 80's, MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS, which allowed for short stories on various characters. This multi part story will, of course, feature Firestar, and will kind of pick up as Emma Frost does decide to try and get her revenge against her former student. This will lead to our "Amazing Friend" having to battle another X-MEN enemy/ies for her future....if she has one by the time this story is over. GRADE: B
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