Defenders #116 (February 1983)

Love. Exciting and new. Come aboard, we're expecting you...sorry about that. But love is an interesting thing. It can inspire. It can blind. It can redeem someone, but also drive another to madness. And like regular folks, superheroes are far from immune to the power of love. Marvel's resident "non-team", the Defenders (a group I have talked about before here), know it all too well. So, as a belated Valentine's Day gift, let's take a look at Defenders #116!

The cover is really cool. It focuses on a brazier, and the flames of it summarizes what the book is about, albeit Daimon and Patsy are a bit exaggerated. And the shadows on Gargoyle's face does make him look like he has some...disturbing intentions.

"Two by Two"
Writer: J.M. DeMatteis
Penciler: Don Perlin
Inkers: Diverse Hands, Mike Mignola
Colorist: George Roussos
Letterer: Janice Chiang
Editor: Al Milgrom
Editor-In-Chief: Jim Shooter

The story begins with Doctor Strange staring at the flames of a brazier.

I think if he keeps doing that, he's going to end up blind. He's visited by the Overmind, who sensed that Strange is in a bit of emotional turmoil. They sensed that Strange is feeling a bit down and lonely. The Sorcerer Supreme admits that he is feeling a bit down. He's thinking of his beloved Clea. After the events of Doctor Strange #55 (October 1982), she is no longer at his side. Strange may be the one of the greatest and most powerful sorcerers in the world, but he is still a man. A man who yearns for love. The Overmind sympathizes, as they were once six human minds now merged and residing in an alien body (It's a long story). The Overmind also remembers that unrequited love may be hard, but it can be just as hard for those who are together. The alien gestalt demonstrates this by using the "Cauldron of the Cosmos" to call forth a vision of yesterday.

In their brownstone, the Defenders have returned from a massive adventure on Earth-S, the home of the Squadron Supreme. The events of that story would lead up to the big Squadron Supreme miniseries I examined last year. Hulk and Silver Surfer have already left. The Vision and the Scarlet Witch are saying goodbye to them.

The two want to head back home to New Jersey, as they have plans to live a "normal" life away from superheroics. Perhaps even start a family. Yeah, that's going to end well. Dolly, the Defenders' housekeeper, remarks that they are a lovely couple. Isaac Christians, the Gargoyle, agrees and remarks that Dolly must've been an even more beautiful woman in her youth, which makes her blush.

Hank McCoy, the Beast, is eager for some chow, but his girlfriend Vera Cantor is not. She and Hank have not had any real alone time in weeks, and she is not waiting anymore. She drags him away. Bruunhilde the Valkyrie asks if Namor is leaving as well, and he is. He's been away from Atlantis for a while, and his people need him. I'm hoping the Atlantean government had something in place for situations like this. Val wants to accompany him there as the trip back there can be rather long. Namor actually agrees to it. She and Namor fly off on her winged horse named Aragorn.

But its not all goodbyes. One member is coming back. A taxi pulls up to the brownstone, and the driver asks if he just saw Namor and Val fly off on Aragorn. The fare jokes about Namor's pointed ears. The woman heads inside.

Yup, it's Patricia "Patsy" Walker, aka Hellcat. She had been out finding herself and reuniting with her father. Dolly and Gargoyle are overjoyed to the point of tears. Daimon Hellstrom's reaction is more reserved, but he's no less happy to see her back. Strange is annoyed by seeing this, as he has no idea what the point of this exercise is. Overmind explains that new love may be born, but no birth is without pain, as he shows with Beast and Vera Cantor.

The two just had some falafel, and Hank is hoping to get down to some serious eating. Vera grumbles that Hank knows nothing about being serious. She says that Hank has become nothing more than a clown, in her own words: "The Steve Martin of the super-hero set!" Hank counters that life was made for living. Things are complicated further when a group of fangirls spot the Beast and go crazy over him. It's a shame it's not like this anymore with Beast.

Beast eagerly goes to greet them, much to Vera's consternation. She stomps away, with Beast pursuing her, wondering what her deal is. He sees that she is in tears. Hank explains that he's the way he is because it helps him keep his sanity through the crazy life he has as a superhero.

This is actually a pretty clever way to explain Hank's various personality changes over the years. Hank has always had an obvious mutation, whether it was the ape-like body with the big hands and feet, or the blue fur, or the later cat-like form, Hank has always been the most obvious mutant of the original five X-Men, and it would have an effect on the self-esteem. Hank admits that after he got the blue fur, he needed to create a new mask, going from the brainy Hank McCoy Vera knew in the past to the party-hardy happy-go-lucky Hank of the Avengers. He admits sometimes, he has no idea who he is. Vera tells him she can help him...if he wants her to. They share a kiss. Vera mistakenly thinks he agreed, but his silence is of uncertainty and fear.

The scene shifts again to the ocean, with Namor and Valkyrie flying over it with Aragorn. Namor is...actually happy for once. It's been a while since he allowed himself the simple joys of laughter and camaderie. You'd think he'd have found some of that with his fellow Defenders. Valkyrie agrees with the King of Atlantis. Namor then dives to the ocean. Brunnhilde doffs her battle costume (conveniently wearing a pink short dress underneath), and dives in afterwards. The two then happily swim together, and then share a kiss. Namor then pushes her away and leaps out of the water.

Val wonders what was wrong. Namor feels what they did was not right. He's never really gotten over the death of his beloved Lady Dorma in Sub-Mariner #37 (May 1971), and he also is esssentially married to his kingdom. That is one bride that will never leave him. Val tells him he can't close off his heart forever. She does have a point, Namor. The Sub-Mariner appreciates her concern, but tells her not to worry about it. As he dives into the water, he tells Val he has a path to follow, and he must walk it alone. Val is left confused. She may be a goddess, but even the gods know little of love. The brazier changes scenes again, this time to focus on Daimon Hellstrom and Patsy Walker.

Patsy is telling Daimon about her father she just recently reunited with. Daimon is happy for her. She also tells him she plans to write a book. The two head to a cake shop, and the redheaded ex-gymnast and superheroine is in the mood for a tasty sweet treat. Daimon wants to talk to Patsy, but she's too interested in deciding what sweet treat to snack on. Having had enough, the Son of Satan transforms into his superhero garb and drags Patsy out.

I can't help but wonder, what does Damian do when it's cold outside? He's not wearing a shirt. DOes he get cold? Anyway, he takes to the air with his trident and explains he wants to talk to her privately. Patsy angrily squirms out of his grip and uses her gymnastic skills to land on a rooftop. She confronts Daimon, and he explains that he didn't mean any harm, but he just wanted to be alone with her for a while. Patsy admits that she was trying to avoid talking to Daimon about...them. The two had been attracted to each other he rejoined the Defenders in Defenders #92 (February 1981).

He had confessed his love to Patsy, but then got taken to Hell in Defenders #100 (October 1981). Patsy missed Daimon, but he managed to come back in Defenders #105 (March 1982), having also finally triumphed over his inner demons due to his half-demonic heritage. Patsy then herself realized that in order to have a relationship with Daimon, she had to conquer her own inner demons. She had to find herself, because she had wondered about her own heritage. You see, there was a time when she thought she herself was a daughter of the Devil. Which would have made her...Daimon's half-sister.

Yeah. Thankfully, Defenders #111 (September 1982) shot that down, and she found her biological father. Thank God. She then notices that Daimon is crying. Daimon explained that Patsy was his first taste of love, something he has rarely experienced. Patsy's love made him feel like a man for the first time in his life. Patsy admits that she doesn't know if she herself can love him. Daimon screams in rage and flies off.

Strange asks Overmind what the point was of all this, as it seems that all the alien gestalt is showing that all love is doomed to failure. Overmind claims that every man must walk the path of love in their own way. He suggest another image in the brazier, going back to the Gargoyle and Dolly. Dolly is making some cookies, and Gargoyle is eager to eat another one. She asks what he thinks of Daimon Hellstrom. Gargoyle admits that Hellstrom is a man that can't really be summed up in a few words.

Dolly sees Patsy as a daughter, and she admits that she as concerns about him. She feels that a man like Daimon is not someone she needs in her life as she's getting things together. She also admits he scares her a bit. Which makes sense, he is the son of the Devil. Gargoyle asks if he scares Dolly. He doesn't, because she can see his good heart underneath his monsterous. Let's remember folks, this was a man who sold his soul to a group of demons, and he was given his gargoyle body to act as their agent. Yeah, he did it to save the town his family founded, but...yeah. He did that.

Dolly hopes she didn't offend him, but Isaac reassures her he's comfortable as he is. He says that it is nice for him to have someone closer to his own age to talk to. He loves his fellow Defenders (even thinking of them as the children he never had back when he was human), but bridging the gap between himself and the much younger members can be exhausting at times. He hugs Dolly, thanking her for caring and being here for him.

He then says that at his age, he came to a bit of an epiphany. The kind of love that Strange is pining for can become...unimportant. Gargoyle himself was never married, but he noticed something about all the successful marriages he witnessed in his time...they were friends first. Passion, lust...they come and go like the tides. But the love borne from friendship...that can last forever. Strange ponders this as the flames on the magic brazier die down.

He then magically opens his door, and the Sorcerer Supreme and the Overmind fly off. At the Defenders' brownstone, Isaac, Betsy, Hank, Val, and Dolly are listening to some of Gargoyle's war stories when the Beast notices something at the window. The group head there and see this.

Gargoyle is overjoyed by the fireworks display, as it reminds him of the Fourth of July fireworks when he was a boy. Wait, Gargoyle is a veteran of World War I. If we assume he was 18 when he signed up to serve, he would have had to have lived his boyhood in the 1900s. Were firework displays on the Fourth of July a thing back then? Well, fireworks did exist back then, the Chinese invented them in the 7th century to ward off evil spirits. I did some checking, and the first Fourth of July celebration in 1777 did have a fireworks display, so it's surprisingly plausible.

A colorful comet erupts from the fireworks, and heads for the brownstone. The heroes duck, and the comet hits, revealing Doctor Strange and the Overmind. Never let it be said that Strange has no flair for the dramatic. The story ends with Strange explaining the reason he was there.

Yup, Strange wanted to spend some time with some people that he loved: His friends and fellow Defenders.

This issue was really good. It's nice seeing a quieter issue like this, focusing more on the characters themselves. And such an issue makes perfect sense after a big epic storyline like the group's adventure with the Squadron Supreme. I do like that there's a variety of reasons for their troubles, like Namor's still not letting go of Dorma, and Hank's struggle with who he is. I also liked the showing that love can come in many forms, and just because you don't have a significant other in your life, does not mean you are not loved. Strange may not have his romance with Clea, but he still has the love of his fellow Defenders. It's rather touching.

This era of Defenders, in my experience, is criminally underrated. I think it's a massive shame no one talks about this era of Defenders very much. It was so unique from anything else being put out by the Big Two at the time. I hope this helps brings more attention to it, because it deserves to be lauded. If you are interested in reading it for yourself, Marvel has released two Epic Collections covering some of this era: The Six-Fingered Hand Saga and Ashes, Ashes... A third, The New Defenders, will be out in August.

I hope you all enjoyed this rather admittedly belated Valentine's Day gift. Next time, we stick with the Defenders...well, one of them, as we take a look at the beginning of Namor the Sub-Mariner's 1990s adventures...

Bayonetta 1 & 2 Switch Overview Trailer, My Thoughts

Bayonetta. A highly-acclaimed pair of action hack-and-slash games, focused on a titular character, an Umbra Witch named Bayonetta who wields a set of four guns and magic to fight angels and monsters. A third game has been announced for the Nintendo Switch. But that's not all. Both the first two games are coming to the Switch, and here's the overview trailer for it.

The trailer basically is what it says it is. It gives an overview of the first two games in the series. I think this is a good idea. It's a great way to play catch-up for fans of the series in preparation for Bayonetta 3. Also, new fans can get a taste of what these games are about.

BIG EPIC CHORAL MUSIC.

Heh heh, climax.

The first game borrowed from Dante's Divine Comedy. The angels and the demons in this game look...frickin' weird.

We all have our talents. Bayonetta's is inflicting pain.

So, the Switch port will employ touch controls, huh? I wonder how those will be deployed.

If you like Amiibos, this game has got bonuses for you. I only have one: An 8-bit-style Mario I got with my Wii U. It came with Super Mario Maker built right in. I love that game.

I think those costumes for Bayo were DLC in the Wii U version.

Hey, you can kill monsters with a friend! That's nice.

Well, this is pretty neat. I've never played any of the games (my only experience with Bayo was playing as her in the last Smash Bros. game), but it is a good way to catch up if you are curious.

Crisis on Infinite Earths #2 (May 1985)

The Crisis on Infinite Earths rages on! Yes, a mysterious force of evil has committed itself to the cause of wiping out the entire DC Multiverse. And the only ones that can stop it are a gathered group of heroes and villains. Can they stop this threat? Let's find out!

Previously on Crisis on Infinite Earths: A mysterious white wall is consuming Earths, including the Earth of the Crime Syndicate. The only survivor is a baby boy named Alexander, the son of that world's Lex Luthor. Under the orders of a mysterious master, a woman called Harbinger gathers a group of heroes and villains to combat an equally mysterious threat. They battle some Shadow Demons, and Harbinger's master reveals himself: The Monitor.

And with that out of the way, let's look at Crisis on Infinite Earths #2!

The cover is pretty neat. It depicts a giant Shadow Demon looming over members of the Harbinger Group (and Kamandi, too!) on one of the Monitor's technological towers. It's a cool image, despite the fact that not all of the Harbinger Group members are in this issue.

"Time and Time Again!"
Writers: Marv Wolfman, Len Wein, Robert Greenberger
Penciler: George Perez
Inker: Dick Giordano
Colorist: Anthony Tollin
Letterer: John Constanza
Editor: Marv Wolfman

The story beings with Anthro, the First Boy. The young caveman spots a threat to his people's village. There's a mammoth stampede on the way to do some trampling. As such, Anthro decides to do something about it.

He's gonna ride the lead mammoth like a boss. But the mammoths really don't care, and they continue on their way. After some spear-jabbing, he is able to get the lead mammoth to turn, and the mammoths turn with it, saving the village. Anthro is so thrilled with himself he doesn't look ahead, and he gets a conk on the head from a tree branch that knocks him off the mammoth. He keeps that up, he'll also be the first death from CTE. Anyway, Anthro gets up and sees something shocking.

A futuristic shining city, in the middle of the Stone Age? Something funny is going on here... He summons the rest of his tribe to check it out, but when they arrive, the future city is gone. And the mammoth stampede is gone, too. Embra, Anthro's wife, think he's just suffering from an effect of his knocking his head. The First Boy got the First Concussion. Anthro decides its not worth wondering about and heads back to the village.

The scene shifts to the 30th century. Several members of the Legion of Super-Heroes are investigating Dawnstar's disappearance. Brainiac 5 alerts the Legionnaires of a disturbance in a place called "Plaza Square". He's hoping it's just a joke.

Nope, it's not a dream, not a joke, not an imaginary story. The stampede of mammoths did some time-travelling! The Science Police get ready to shoot down the prehistoric animals, but Phantom Girl stops them, saying the Legion have this handled. Wildfire blasts at the herd to confuse them, then Chameleon Boy leads them away in the form of a mammoth. Colossal Boy gets big, and gets ready to grab the herd, but they vanish. Brainiac 5 calls in with an urgent alert. The mystery of the mammoths and Dawnstar are going to have to wait. His computers have detected a wall of anti-matter heading for the Earth. And it's powerful enough to consume the universe.

The scene shifts again. The time: the then-present of 1985. The place: A mansion on Earth-One. Particularly, the mansion of J. Standish III. Now deceased.

The Joker has just made sure the old man went out with a smile. The Clown Prince of Crime wanted Standish's copyrights to a bunch of silent comedy movies. If he owned the copyrights, and underwent a computerized colorization progress, they'd be worth a cool 26 million dollars. I don't know, Joker. Wouldn't altering films like that reduce their value? Batman smashes his way in through the window, and gives the clown a Mighty Punch. Joker blasts the Dark Knight with a flower containing a foam that acts like glue, causing Batman to be pinned to the ground. The Joker is about to finish the Bat off when he spots something strange.

Barry Allen, the Flash, screaming for help. He looks clearly haggard, and thinned out. His costume is practically hanging on to him. Someone get him a sandwich with lots of meat in it. Batman notes that Barry had vanished in Flash #350 (October 1985). He takes advantage of Joker being distracted and gets something out of his handy-dandy utility belt. Joker exclaims that this ain't Central City, and Flash isn't welcome here. He tries to fire at the haggard Flash, but Batman disarms him with a batarang.

Flash looks around, screaming for his wife Iris and insisting the world around him is dying. Joker flees, and Batman asks Flash where he is. Much to the Caped Crusader's horror, Barry Allen just says the world is dying and pleads for help while disintegrating into dust right in front of his eyes.

Back at the Monitor's satellite, he is briefing the gathered Harbinger Group on the big crisis. A wall of antimatter is consuming universes left and right, and it already has destroyed a thousand of them, the latest being Earth-Three. Firestorm demands to know why he's been secretly selling weapons over the past year. A tired Monitor promises to explain everything. An infuriated Psimon (he tried to buy weapons from the Monitor, but got turned down) tries to blast Monitor, but he easily stops it with a protective forcefield.

Lyla notices that the Monitor is unusually weakened. He whispers to her that he's growing weaker because his foe is getting stronger, and he's going to need Harbinger by his side. She agrees, but feels a strange growing hatred for him, undoubtedly an effect from the Shadow Demon overtaking one of her duplicates in the last issue. Earth-2 Superman suggests they hear him out. The Monitor explains that he is linked with all matter, and he is growing weaker because the anti-matter is destroying everything. He explains this group is the initial force in his plan to save the remaining worlds.

Harbinger explains that there are five towers placed in crucial points in time that can halt the anti-matter wave. The group need to protect those towers from the Monitor's mysterious enemy and his Shadow Demons. Arion senses the growing darkness in Harbinger and is spooked by it. She sends them on their way, then heads out to contact the Monitor's enemy, her thoughts indicating she is not doing this of her own free will.

The scene next shifts to Oa, at the center of the Earth-One universe. The Guardians of the Universe, the bosses of the Green Lantern Corps, have discovered the anti-matter wave. This confuses them, as they should have detected it earlier. The Guardians decide to summon the entire Corps, but even then, they still fear this universe will fall. A strange voice declares that the Corps will not stand in their way, and a massive blast of green energy erupts from the Central Power Battery, knocking the Guardians into next week. Not literally, figuratively.

In Earth-One Metropolis. Superman flies towards the Daily Planet, noting that Batman's summons had something he never heard before from the Dark Knight: Fear. Superman lands, and Batman tells him about his encounter with the Flash. The Fastest Man Alive had vanished after his trial, and no one knows where he went. Pariah then suddenly appears in front of the World's Finest, and pleads for their help, but then vanishes.

I love the layout of those panels. It's a regular Perez trick. I can see the character moving in my mind's eye as my actual eyes go across the panels. It's pretty cool. Batman notes that Flash was screaming about the world dying too, and it leaves him dumbfounded.

The scene shifts again, to a destroyed world. A post-apocalyptic hell called...the Great Disaster.

Kamandi, the Last Boy on Earth, is investigating this strange tower. A Shadow Demon emerges from the tower, cutting the rope Kamandi is using to climb the tower. He falls seemingly to his doom, but is saved by the Earth-2 Superman. Their exchange pays a nod to Kamandi #29 (May 1975), in which Kamandi found Superman's costume. The E-2 Supes isn't alone, though. He's got King Solovar and Dawnstar with him. Kamandi does briefly confuse Solovar with one of the villainous gorillas of "Czar Simian", but the king of Gorilla City reassures him that it's not the case.

A group of Shadow Demons erupt from the tower. Dawnstar attacks one, noting these ones seem much weaker than the ones the Harbinger Group encountered in Monitor's satellite. One grabs Kamandi's shoulder and burns it, but Solovar saves him. The Demons flee, and Dawnstar offers to track them down. Solovar nixes it, reminding her that the mission is to protect the mechanical tower, and pursuing them would leave it defenseless. Solovar fears that greater danger is coming, and poor Kamandi just wants to know what is going on here.

Back t the Monitor's satellite, Lyla is checking on the baby Alexander Luthor, Jr. The Monitor wants the baby brought to him, but she's not quite able to bring the baby to him.

Yup, the last child of Earth-3 has done a bit of growing up. I'm thinking it's that starfield on him. That can't be healthy. We next go to ancient Atlantis. Arion, Psycho-Pirate, and Obsidian are observing the tower...that was planted smack-dab in the middle of the city. Yeah, nice work, Monitor. I bet you made life miserable for a lot of people there. Psycho-Pirate is overjoyed at all the emotions there. Arion basically tells him if he tries anything...Arion's response will not be a nice one.

Psycho-Pirate senses terror, and he spots Pariah nearby, wanting to know where he is. The Pirate tells him he's in Atlantis, and unable to resist any longer, the Pirate makes the purple-haired time-jumper laugh. He gets some magic to the back from Arion for his trouble. Pirate uses his powers to make the sorcerer and the Atlanteans terrified. Arion tries to fight back, but his fears are affecting his spell-casting ability. Obsidian saves him by concealing him in his shadow forms. If the Pirate can't see faces, his powers are useless. Before he can do anything more, the Pirate vanishes in a beam of pink light. Huh. I guess Linkara was right. Too much pink energy is dangerous.

The Psycho-Pirate was taken to a black void, where a voice tells him he is needed. The emotion-manipulator demands the new voice show their face, but gets his face erased in response.

The voice taunts the Pirate, saying that without an outlet, the emotions he's holding will tear him apart. The voice gives the Pirate his face back, demanding an answer. The Psycho-Pirate agrees. His loss is not unnoticed by the Monitor and Harbinger. His powers were needed to combat the Monitor's enemy. Lyla suggests recruiting Raven of the New Teen Titans. However, the Monitor can't find her. If you read Terror of Trigon, you probably would know why Raven is apparently missing. He then says it's time for plan B. He wants the file on the new Dr. Light, because it's time to create her.

Back in Atlantis, Pariah explains he was originally from the first Earth that fell to the anti-matter wave. He explains that his presence means that disaster is about to hit. Arion is disbelieving, as the Monitor's tower is meant to prevent that. One Atlantean points at the sky. The anti-matter wave is coming. The Earth's lifespans is only hours. Obsidian screams that the Monitor lied.

In his satellite, the Monitor observes the antimatter wave heading for Earth-One. This is a big problem for him, as he hasn't yet finished arranging for the creation of the new Dr. Light. Also, he's weakening due to the antimatter wave consuming all matter. Lyla reports this to the Monitor's enemy, but the enemy is not worry, as the Monitor has failed to stop tem before, and the enemy's strength grows with every Earth consumed. The story ends with Lyla in conflict, as her better nature fights against the enemy's growing control over her.

This issue is pretty darn good. The main thing I love about it is that it gives an idea of the epic scope of the DC Universe, from Anthro in prehistoric times, the ancient Atlantis of Arion's time, the modern Heroic Age with Superman and Batman, the postapocalyptic madness of Kamandi's world, and the bright sci-fi future of the Legion of Super-Heroes. Lyla's turn to evil is interesting, as it's clear she's being forced to work against the Monitor unwillingly. It's rather heartbreaking, as the story makes clear that the Monitor was like a father to her and she clearly loves him. The scene with Anthro fighting the mammoths was a nice one, as it allowed for just a nice little touch of humor.

As for the art...well, it's George Perez. He can't do bad artwork even if he wanted to. Even his weaker works like I-Bots (You can watch a review of that here) are still great to look at. His using of layouts really enhances the storytelling, and it's just a treat for the eyes.

Next time, I'm going to give a VERY belated Valentine's Day gift, as the Defenders deal with issues of the heart...  

Mega Man Legacy Collection 1 & 2 Switch Trailer, My Thoughts

The Mega Man series, back in the day (and still is), one of Capcom's most beloved series of games. The titular robotic Blue Bomber was practically Capcom's mascot. The original NES series would be regarded as one of the best, and most difficult games, on the system that saved the video game industry. And the games are coming to the Switch in special packs! Let's look at the trailer!

I love the bit with the 8-bit and 16-bit incarnations of Mega Man running towards each other under the Capcom logo. It's like they're running up to each other, asking if they're ready to kick Wily butt, then teleport into action.

I know they released the first Mega Man Legacy Collection for the 3DS in the past. The trailer says there will be new features. I do hope that means there will be more new features than the 3DS version. Personally, I'd think it would have been really cool to see the original six get enhanced remakes. Improved graphics (Because who would NOT want to play these games with 16-bit-style graphics), maybe the addition of an "easy mode", that kind of thing.

I like the rewind feature, though. I imagine that would really reduce the frustration level. I'm sure some retrogamers will grumble about it, but for me, I think it's a welcome feature for people who want to try the series, but is intimidated by the difficulty, like me. I'm hoping that's not the only new feature.

Legacy 2 collects Mega Man 7-10. Basically, Mega Man 7 originally for the SNES, and Mega Man 8 originally for the PlayStation, and the retro NES-styled 9 and 10. This will be the first time Legacy Collection 2 will be released on a platform that can be played on the go, as it was originally for PS4, Xbox One, and the PC. That's really cool. I'm happy they can be played on the go. Who doesn't love being able to play games on the go?

I think the Challenge Mode is really neat. Will provide a fun extra for veteran Mega Man players.

The Sound Mode is another cool feature. I know the Mega Man series' music is popular, so being able to kick back with it would be fun.

The Museum Mode is the one that really fascinates me. I love that this feature will give behind-the-scenes look on the history and the development of these games. I love that kind of stuff, and it gives me a great appreciation of the people who worked hard to make these games.

Well, this seems pretty darn cool. I hope Switch owners who've never played the Mega Man games give it a try and have some fun.

Skyscraper Trailer, My Thoughts

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is a machine. Seriously, the man is some kind of machine. Not only does he have a film based on the classic arcade game Rampage on the way, and now this movie. Let's look at the trailer for Skyscraper!

The trailer begins with the Rock getting ready for something. We next see him with what looks like a bunch of Army guys.

Wait, his character is FBI? Since when do FBI guys dress like they were in the freakin' Army?

His character is an amputee. I'm guessing the Army guys bit was flashing back to how he lost his leg. And hey, Neve Campbell! Nice to see her in things again.

Yeah, that's totally not a supervillain lair.

I get the feeling this film was originally intended to be a remake of Die Hard. This makes me think of Die Hard, only I'm betting the bad guys may be actual terrorists this time.

MIGHTY LEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAP.

Well, this seems...interesting, despite the Die Hard vibes. I think it might be one of those films that will be good if you're just looking to enjoy something silly fun for a couple of hours. And that's not necessarily a bad thing.

Text Play: Pokemon Mega Adventure #1

I am a Pokémon fan. I have been one since Red and Blue first came out twenty years ago. In recent years, I discovered Pokémon fan games thanks to Linkara's Let's Play of the Pokémon fan game Pokémon Omicron.

One of the games I've been playing is Pokémon Mega Adventure. As such, I thought it would be neat to document my journey through the region in the game, which can be downloaded here. I was inspired by J. Michael Shearer's Text Play blog entries. I highly recommend them, especially if you are a fan of Final Fantasy. So, with all that out of the way, let's begin the journey through Pokémon Mega Adventure!

I admit, I'm not going to start completely from the beginning, as I had been playing for about three hours of the game or so, and I'm getting ready for the first gym. The game started in the classic Pokémon way, with Professor Oak introducing himself, and you getting your first Pokémon. The choices were the original Kanto three: Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle.  I chose Bulbasaur, because I did so in Red back in the day. I named him Biollantus. I really want to watch that movie.

There is one thing I want to point out. On the way from the starting town (Okimira Town) to Kagawa City, this was how many Pokémon I managed to encounter and catch.

And here's my current party.

Yeah. That's a lot of Pokémon. And thanks to the Mystery Gift, I got all three Alola starters, too. Catching a Bidoof and Buneary was a bit of a pain. The first time I encountered a Bidoof, I got a critical hit when I really did not want one. You see, the journey from the starting town to Kagawa City is...an adventure in of itself. I passed through two routes, and the Corrda Forest. And in the Corrda Forest, there was a little tree, where if you played Gold and Silver...

The apricorns take me back. In Gold and Silver, certain trees provided an apricorn every day, and one could take it to a person who could make it into a special Pokéball for you. Different colors made different balls, and I guess that feature is coming back in this game. That's neat. Evidently, according to the man there, a "Mr. Kurt" on Route 3 can make them into Pokéballs. Well, it's nice to see that back.

There's an area full of lakes on the way, but fishing there so far has revealed no Pokemon. Maybe I just need a better rod. There are Surskit floating on the lakes, though. They have to be artificial lakes, because they are rectangular. Perfectly rectangular.

One cool thing about this game is that a player can see Pokemon actually running around on the grassy areas in places. Like, literally see them running around. It's really cool, and it also helps give a preview of what you could catch there. I love it.

As for my plans for the game, well...take on the Kagawa Gym. I already beat the other Trainers, and now just the leader himself. He appears to specialize in Rock-types. I have a Popplio and Rowlet, they could be a big help to my Bulbasaur and Azurill...

Xeodrifter Trailer, My Thoughts

I once said the Nintendo Switch will probably have one of the strongest libraries in video game history. Not just because of the first-party games and the ports, but also the indie games coming to the system. And another one is here. Say hello to Xeodrifter.

The trailer begins with a spaceship coming to a planet. I'm guessing it went to the red planet because it has that awesome diner. Yeah, the Freon Fries and the Betelgeuse Burgers there are to die for, especially when you wash them down with a cool Cesium Chocolate Shake.

I like the soundtrack. It's like the Metroid series soundtrack and retro new wave had a baby.

Our astronaut player character is fighting a...monster? Robot? Monster robot? It's a big cubic thing with a laser-shooting eyeball on it. I'm guessing that's what happens when one lets tofu get moldy. I wouldn't know, I never had tofu.

Does the astronaut turn into a submarine when he jumps in the water? How does that work? Is the astronaut a Transformer?

Evidently Piranha Plants have found their way to this game. They are weeds, alright. With teeth.

Ooh, you can jump into the background. That's neat. I imagine that is done to maybe solve some puzzles.

I have to admit, I like the general look of the game. It feels like an 8-bit Metroidvania game on steroids.

This game looks like a ton of fun!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!

This day is a day to celebrate romance. It's celebrated all over the world, but it's not considered a public holiday anywhere. So, for those who have a significant other, enjoy this day. And for those who do not, just know this: You are loved, too.

Cage #2 (May 1992)

Since this month is Black History Month, I thought it would be nice to return to Luke Cage's 1990s series for this week's review. I looked at the first issue last year, and looking back...maybe I was a bit harsh on it. So maybe the second issue is going to be better.

So, back when we last looked at Cage's series, he got himself a bit of a deal going with the Chicago Spectator. Basically, they advertise his services as a Hero for Hire, and they get exclusive coverage rights. Meanwhile, a new villain: the lipstick-wearing diamond-nailed classics-quoting Hardcore has plans for Cage.

And with all of that, let's take a look at Cage #2!

The cover is pretty neat. It focuses on Luke fighting a robot. His facial expression is pretty understandable, considering the robot is firing a laser at him. Luke Cage may be invulnerable, but I can imagine taking a laser to the face would still hurt like heck. And if you look carefully at the corner, you can see another guy getting the Homer Simpson treatment.

"Creative Hate"
Writer: Marcus McLaurin
Pencils: Dwayne Turner
Inker: Chris Ivy
Letterer: Chris Eliopolous
Colorist: Mike Thomas
Editor: Kelly Corvese
Editor-In-Chief: Tom DeFalco

Our story begins with Luke Cage...getting socked so hard he is sent flying.

Where is he supposed to be, a silo? Or maybe a very odd stadium. The stadium idea makes more sense, as in a bunch of text boxes, it's revealed that Cage was given what was thought to be a simple job: Bodyguarding. But instead of protecting Whitney Houston, he's protecting a popular new rapper called MC Large. Large is a bit of a controversial figure, hence the need for a superhuman bodyguard. I bet right now, he's wishing he was protecting Whitney Houston. Heh heh, 1992 joke.

There had been bomb threats which led to the cancellation of Large's last two attempts at holding a show. Man, some people really take their dislike of his music too far. The threats were all talk, but this time, someone was willing to put some action into them, hence the robot. With a cartoony angry face on it. I love comics.

Heh heh, I loved In Living Color too, Cage.

Mickey Hamilton, the photographer for the Spectator, is watching this with MC Large (wielding a 'black bat', but the art makes it look more like a police baton), his manager Kurt Lockley, and some kid called "Troop" (I'm thinking he either wanted to be a Boy Scout or was a fan of Goof Troop). Troop wants to help out, but Mick advises him to stay in the skybox.

The robot, calling itself Hammer, tries to blast Cage, but our hero has steel-hard skin, and all it does is annoy him. Hammer decides that this brawl was pointless, and takes off like a rocket. However, if the show goes on, he will return. Cage is all "No, you get back here and take your beating", and leaps at the robot. He smashes the robot's gyro-stabilizers, making it lose control and veer all over the place.

Troop runs out to help. However, Cage has it handled. And he's made another discovery. The Hammer is not a robot.

It's a racist teenager in a mech suit. MC Large gives him a punch to the mouth. I like MC Large. His music may not be my cup of tea, but I can respect a man who enthusiastically punches racists. Cage stops him, but Large gets in his face, calling the Hero for Hire a hypocrite. Lockley isn't surprised. Large's music shocks people, but it sells records. And some, like the racist teenager, don't like what he's saying in the music. Lockley states if the cops get this guy, the show will be cancelled.

Lockley convinces Cage to basically...keep an eye on the kid so MC Large can perform, and then he can be turned in to the cops afterwards. Micky tries to convince Cage otherwise, but Cage reminds him that he follows his own rules, and agrees to sit on this for a while.

The scene then shifts to the previous night at the Spectator's building. It's security is being checked by a private investigator, one Dakota North. And she finds a pretty big hole in the security.

North pulls a gun, but the intruder throws a shuriken while complimenting her skill. The shuriken hits North in the arm, and she shoots at him. He's able to dodge her and flee from a helicopter, while quoting Lord Byron's 1815 work Hebrew Melodies. North checks the files the intruder was looking for. There was a breach, but North says that some of Cage's information is undocumented. And that info could be very dangerous. However, she is being listened to. In the helicopter, the intruder unmasks while listening in, revealing that it's Hardcore! Hardcore is the master of strategy! I love Hardcore. I hope he appears in the Luke Cage Netflix series in all his lipstick-and-diamond-wearing classics-quoting glory.

Back to the concert, Cage has tied up the wannabe Hitler Youth (Hope he remembered to take the kid OUT of the suit before doing so), and is moving some big speakers. He and Micky are discussing Cage's dad. You see, Hamilton knew Cage's dad, and It has annoyed Cage a bit. Cage's dad died thinking Cage was a criminal...until this series would reveal his father was actually still alive.

Micky and Cage argue a bit about his dad, but MC Large butts in. Large feels that Cage is a sellout. Cage warns him that he's becoming no different from the racist white armored kid. Cage crushes Large's baton, saying that even though  he's his own side, he is not Large's enemy.

In a hidden compound, it's revealed the kid was from a group of men which is called The Hammer, originally formed from Cameron Hodge's anti-mutant organization called The Right. I love this little detail right here, showing subtle connections to the rest of the Marvel Universe. The Hammer have decided to some expanding. This group is not just going after mutants, but anyone else they consider "subversive". Which basically means anyone who isn't straight and white. Yup, I'm gonna enjoy seeing Cage beat these guys down.

It's time for the big show! MC Large is performing, and Cage isn't a fan. I've always imagined him to be a rhythm and blues head myself. Lockley hints that Large isn't as bad as his public persona makes people think. Troop states the same, saying that Large helped him out and got him off the streets.

And...dang it, Cage! How long have you been doing this?! Why did you not take the kid out of that armor?! The kid easily breaks his handcuffs, because Cage decided to be stupid. As the little racist does this, Troop explains that MC Large had grown up alone on the streets, and was a former criminal. However, he met Mr. Lockley, and the manager was able to help Large find a less destructive channel for his anger through hip-hop.

The armored kid then grabs Troop and holds him hostage. Nice work, Cage. You had to let the kid stay in the suit, didn't you? However, despite the fact that he's in metal armor, Troop is able to break free and hit him with a judo throw that would make James T. Kirk proud. The kid runs his big racist mouth, screaming that Hammer is not some super-villain codename, it's the name of a group. And that's their cue.

Yes, their armor suits have cartoony angry faces on them. I know, it makes me laugh, too. Cage leaps into action, and does what he does best: Kick some bad guy butt. MC Large grabs another black bat (I'm betting he has a bunch of them in case of things like this), and has plans of his own in mind. Cage struggles with the flying Hammer members, turning the stadium into a warzone.

The armored kid calls out for one of the Hammers, but the commotion makes him hard to hear. The lead Hammer blasts at Cage with his armor's weapons, and chokes him like he's Homer choking out Bart. The lead hammer, named Ralphie, thinks Cage killed his brother, the armored kid. They spot the kid, and MC Large is about to smash his head like a melon with his bat. Both Cage and Ralphie are horrified by this. Ralphie's armor is still blasting, and it makes a big boom.

Cage and Ralphie end up working together to save the kid (named Donny), and MC Large. They get to the ground, and thankfully, they'll be alright. However, despite Ralphie being grateful to Cage for saving his and Donny's lives, he still sees Cage as an enemy. Thus, he still tries to kill him.  Donny is not a very intelligent man. Troop tries to whack Ralphie with the bat, but it does no good. This kid was able to judo flip Donny in his armor earlier, but not do any good against this guy now? I'm guessing he hasn't gotten his special meter filled back up yet.

Cage grabs Ralphie's fist and sends him to Dreamland with a Mighty Punch. The chaos does result in the concert getting cancelled, but Lockley is optimistic. It's a setback, not the end. He also comes to the realization that maybe he and MC Large are not the best people to keep an eye on young Troop. How did he end up with them, anyway? Troop refuses, saying he can handle himself. Cage reminds him of something Troop himself said earlier: "Only so much one can take alone".  He then heads up to take Troop back to Chicago to find some family.

Three figures head up towards the Spectator's lobby. They meet a security guard who checks the three out.

Three bad dudes here. Tombstone, superhuman mob enforcer and sparring partner of Spider-Man. Nitro, explosive maniac who helped bring about the death of the first Captain Marvel: the Kree warrior Mar-Vell. And...I'm calling him Shemp, I have no idea who he is. Hang on one second. *reads ahead in the trade* Okay, he's called Kickback, and he has big feet. Which he can kick really hard with. The guard pulls a gun on them, but the bulletproof Tombstone gives the guard a blast to the face from his shotgun in response.

He reveals the three are a new team: The Untouchables. Somewhere, Eliot Ness is facepalming really hard. Kickback kicks down a window, even though they could have just used a door. Nitro stays behind. Ana Medina sees this from a hall, just as Nitro lives up to his codename.

Kaboom. The story ends with a literal bang.

This story is...alright. It's not terrible. We get to see Luke Cage kick some racist butts, so that's a plus. This issue is certainly an interesting one because in a way, it's a bit of a snapshot of its time. MC Large to me, makes me think of gangsta rap artists like N.W.A. (who were gaining popularity at the time), and I can imagine his music was talking about his own life in the hood, like theirs did. His music is regarded as highly controversial, much like real-life gangsta rap was. The story is trying to deliver a message that I think is important: When you fight hate, you can't let that make you into a monster yourself. So kudos for that. As I said, it's not a terrible story, and it is cool to see Luke Cage beating up racists.

The art is decent. There certainly would be worse art becoming prominent in comics. One aspect that does make me chuckle is the way that Turner drew lower jaws when some characters' mouths were open. It's almost...cartoony for a lack of better words. It's kind of funny.

See what I mean? It's funny stuff. Next time, we return to the DC Universe, as the Crisis on Infinite Earths rages on...

Dragon Quest Builders Launch Trailer, My Thoughts

I love video games. I love RPGs. One of my favorite series of RPGs is Dragon Quest. I am not kidding. Final Fantasy may be the big RPG series here in America, but there is a growing fanbase here for Dragon Quest. That makes me happy, as this series brought RPGs to consoles, whereas beforehand, they originally were played on computers. I own six of the games for my DS and 3DS: IV, V, VI, IX, and the 3DS remakes of VII and VIII. And I can't wait for XI to come to the states. :)

I also have played a little bit of Minecraft, and I remember enjoying it. But what if I told you there was a game that essentially combined Dragon Quest and Minecraft? Well, there is. The game is called Dragon Quest Builders. Originally released for the PS4 in 2016, it's now come to the Switch. Here's the launch trailer!

I love the announcer's voice. He sounds so enthusiastic.

The game does look really good. I love the idea of playing this on the go. I do hope this game lets you go nuts with building stuff.

So, we're playing in a version of Alefgard. which was the setting of the very first Dragon Quest game. The Dragonlord, the villain of that game, has won here and devastated the land. And it's up to you, the Builder, to restore the land back to its former glory.

I love how the Builder is introduced, and the look on his face is awesome. It's like, "I'm going to build the HELL out of this place." I hope there's a degree of customization for the Builder. Such a feature would really help with immersion, as the player could imagine they are the Builder.

Hey, Builder got a hovercar. I bet that will be handy.

Naturally, in Alefgard, you gotta beat up some monsters.

WOW, YOU CAN WALK AROUND ON AN AREA THAT OOKS LIKE THE NES ALEFGARD! THAT IS SO COOL!

Aww, the Builder riding a Sabercat. And Sabercats look adorable in the game's art style.

Looks like you can choose the gender of the Builder and customize their appearance. That's a great feature.

Carve an emoji into a mountainside. Heh heh.

I gotta get the demo for my Switch. This game looks like it will be fun. I can't wait to get it!

Venom Teaser, My Thoughts

Something new is coming to the comic book film world. Something dangerous. Something lethal. Something poisonous. The comic book movie world is getting itself a taste...of Venom.

Since 2007, there has been attempts to get the sinister symbiote his own solo film, after the character appeared in Spider-Man 3. And now, after 11 years, it looks like it may actually happen. Let's take a look at the teaser trailer.

The teaser begins with...a view of a lake? No, it's a painting in a hospital. Some guy is getting an MRI. Take care of your brain, kids. It's the only one you got.

So, we get a view of San Francisco next. Which makes sense. You see, in the comics, Venom spent some time in San Francisco as a "Lethal Protector" of the homeless there.

Get a glimpse of a woman. I think that's Ann Weying. She was the first female Venom. She's dead now.

So I'm assuming something happens and Eddie Brock ends up in a hospital.

And there's a tease of a black bubbling thing that I am assuming is the Venom symbiote. That has to be.

I think Tom Hardy had some LSD before taking his MRI, and he's now having a bad trip.

Yeah, I'm not sure what to think of this film. It's...kind of weird to me that they are trying to do a film focusing on Venom that doesn't have any connection to Spider-Man. It feels wrong to me. I have heard that this film is "adjunct" to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Basically, Sony considers it part of the MCU, but Marvel Studios does not. This trailer does feel a bit generic. We don't even get any teasing of Venom itself.

Legion of Super-Heroes #290 (August 1982)

In the 30th Century, Earth has become a world at peace. A technologically-advanced paradise where science and reason reign, and things such as poverty and prejudice have become a thing of the past. Despite this, a world like this still needs heroes to protect it. And that is where the Legion of Super-Heroes come in.

First appearing in Adventure Comics #247 (April 1958), the Legion were a team of heroes set in the future of the DC Universe, closely associated with the Superman mythos, particularly Superboy and Supergirl.

In 1977, Paul Levitz, a fan of the Legion, became the chronicler of their adventures. His 1977-1979 and 1981-1989 runs with the futuristic heroes became regarded as classics that brought the group a new level of quality and popularity to the group.

Over the years, the group would be rebooted several times. In The Lightning Saga, a 2007 crossover between the Justice Society and the Justice League in their books, a version of the Legion based on the classic version was reintroduced to DC continuity, which also restored Superman's time as Superboy to DC continuity. Yeah, DC's been constantly rewriting their continuity since 1985. People complain about Marvel's relaunches, but MARVEL HAS NEVER REBOOTED THEIR WHOLE UNIVERSE EVERY FEW YEARS AND THEN DID A HALF-ASSED JOB KEEPING EVERYTHING STRAIGHT.

In recent years, the Legion has sadly become dormant. Last appearing in Justice League United in 2015, the Legion in any form has not been seen since...well, in the comics anyway. The Legion has appeared in other media. Members of the group have appeared in Superman: The Animated Series, Smallville, the Supergirl television series, alluded to in The Flash's TV series, and even had their own cartoon in 2006. Considering these have helped keep the Legion in the public eye, it may only be a matter of time before the Legion make a comic book comeback. After all, Phantom Girl is going to be a member of DC's Fantastic Four, I mean, The Terrifics. This might be a sign.

But for now, let's look at the beginning of one of the Legion's greatest stories, The Great Darkness Saga. Let's dig into Legion of Super-Heroes #290!

The cover is a Keith Giffen and Frank Giacoia piece, and it's pretty cool. It depicts one of the Servants of Darkness (Who doesn't resemble any of the Servants in the actual comic) marching over the title of the story in the rubble. Nice touch there. One question, though. Is his body reflecting the Legion floating in space, or is his body a void which the Legion are trapped in. It has to be the latter, as the background is solid white.

"Great Darkness Saga, Chapter One: And the Servant Shall be a Sign..."
Writer: Paul Levitz
Penciler: Keith Giffen
Inker: Larry Mahlstedt
Colorist: Carl Gafford
Letterer: John Constanza
Editor: Laurie Sutton
Executive Editor: Joe Orlando

The story begins with members of the Legion (Superboy, Wildfire, Cosmic Boy, Phantom Girl, and the Jacques Foccart Invisible Kid), floating down towards a fire.

Poor Jacques. Yeah, he's rather new to the Legion life, and the flight ring still gets his stomach going.

The fire has hit a place in "Mega-California" called the Museum of the Mystic Arts. You can probably guess what they show off. Interestingly, this comic reveals that a thousand years in the past, it was known as "The Magic Castle". Yeah, you'd think a place that has many magical artifacts all lumped together would be a big-time target for supervillains looking to get some power quick.

The group arrive, but the Science Police and the Pyro-Nullifier Team (Firefighters) have got it handled. Jacques gushes over getting to hang out with the legendary Superboy, but Superboy is also honored to be working with Jacques. Wildfire thinks this was an attack by Validus, but Superboy notes the wreckage is too thorough and systematic to be Validus. Not to mention there's no traces of ozone, which his mental lightning leaves behind.

The Science Policeman explains that nothing was taken and nobody was attacked. The policeman theorizes the culprit was looking for something here, but couldn't find it. However, the curator, one Antonio Stefanacci, explains he knows exactly what the perpetrators of this attack were here for.

Yeah, magic really does a great job at keeping you youthful. Just ask Doctor Strange here. And evidently Stephen also decided to try out the Wolverine hairstyle. Ehhhhh, I don't think it fits him. Anyway, the Strange cosplayer explains to the Legion the wand is made of "Mentachem", a powerful material with mastery of the natural elements. It's the most powerful item in the museum. He then notes that it's getting darker. And the reason shows itself: A man-monster in a gray cape and a triangular chest symbol.

Jacques tells the Science Policeman that he and his men must evacuate in French. You know, according to Star Trek: The Next Generation, French had become an obscure language in the 24th century. Nice to see it made a comeback in the 30th. Superboy and Wildfire charge the monster, but it's able to swat the Boy of Steel away like a bug. Cosmic Boy attacks, but gets a dose of freeze breath for his trouble.

The creature then tries to attack Phantom Girl, but she passes through him. However, she ends up feeling very cold, making her pass out. Wildfire keeps trying to fight the monster, but he's not having much effect. Superboy is able to get the curator and Invisible Kid away, but the curator drops the wand, allowing the creature to catch it. The creature cries out to a mysterious master, and this "master" summons a portal, allowing the creature to escape.

The scene then shifts to Legion HQ. A flying tour bus is outside the HQ, observing the damage to the building thanks to a battle with a villain called Computo. Blok, a Legionnaire who is a essentially a living rock, asks Brainiac 5 if he should be concerned about it. Brainiac 5 reassures him that they're just tourists. He then leaves to check on another Legionnaire, Matter Eater Lad. Matter Eater Lad had recently saved the universe by eating a powerful device called the Miracle Machine, but it cost him his sanity.

Elsewhere, Timber Wolf is talking to Chameleon Boy. Wolf is furious with him, because Chameleon Boy dragged a group of Legionnaires into some espionage activities against an alien race called the Khunds. As a result, there is now the threat of war between them and the United Planets. Chameleon Boy realizes his mistake, and asks that it be enough, as nobody got hurt. Wolf's like, "Nah, get outta here and never come back." He then awkwardly runs into Saturn Girl.

Back to our first group of Legionnaires, they're headed to London. In the 30th century, London has become essentially a suburb of the massive city called Europolis. So much for Brexit, huh? Cosmic Boy explains that the curator of the magic museum told him there was a crime wave of magical artifacts that had been stolen. One object that hadn't been taken yet was Excalibur, the legendary sword. And it's at the Tower of London. The group arrive, landing near some tourists.

Yeah, and you thought people getting a celebrity's hair was weird. Wildfire and Cosmic Boy head inside, only for the door to explode into little pieces. Cosmic Boy is sent flying, but tries to use his powers to keep the rubble away from the civilians. A furious Wildfire flies back into the building, wanting to throw some hands. Phantom Girl and Superboy deal with the civilians, while Invisble Kid joins Wildfire. He sneaks inside, and finds the culprit.

Big-Head here is able to protect himself from Wildfire's blasts. Invisible Kid tries to sneak the sword away, but Big-Head is able to expose him with a powerful flash of light. He then blasts Invisible Kid, and gets the sword. Wildfire hits him with an energy-charged punch, and it's able to hurt the creature. Wildfire looks at the yellow energy around his fist and wonders why that worked on the monster. Big-Head taunts Wildfire as he flees through a portal, saying that the darkness is coming.

Back to Legion Headquarters! In their medical facility, Doctor Gym'll, the Legion's doctor, is examining Lightning Lad. I like Gym'll, he reminds me a lot of Dr. McCoy from the original Star Trek series. He had been acting strangely these last few weeks, which led to him collapsing that morning. Gym'll diagnoses the problem as severe electrical dysfunction of his brain. The cause is unknown as this time. Element Lad heads out to get Saturn Girl.

Timber Wolf and Saturn Girl do some talking about their relationship troubles. They had been recently found on an asteroid embracing, which led to some problems with their significant others, respectively Light Lass and Lightning Lad...who are twin siblings. Yeah, the Legion was a soap opera with superpowers. Element Lad comes in and tells Saturn Girl that Lightning Lad needs her. she heads to him. Timber Wolf wonders if Element Lad will get the job of leading the Legion in the next election. Element Lad is unsure, but at least he's going after something Lightning Lad gave up voluntarily. Uh, E-Lad? Lightning Lad clearly has some brain issues right now, maybe "Voluntary" is not the best word.

In an unknown region of space, Big-Head presents Excalibur to his mysterious master.

The master, in that outfit, absorbs the power of the sword and the mentachem wand, presumably to increase his own. Back in London, Cosmic Boy's Legion group, well...regroup. Invisible Kid suggests that they follow the monsters back to where they came from...and he volunteers to do so. Superboy is warning that it would be a rough first mission for him, but Invisible Kid counters by reminding that his power allows him to disappear and follow the monsters. Wildfire decides to go tell Brainiac 5 to look for any other powerful magical artifacts that have gone missing.

Later, the group head to the planet Talok VIII, particularly the Institute of Parapsychological Phenomenon. The group also brought another Legionnaire with them: Shadow Lass, who is native to the planet. She remarks that the last time she visited this place, it was on a class trip. She is also surprised that Brainiac 5 had heard of the object they are protecting, a big green sphere called the Orb of Orthanax. I'm guessing it was some big secret on Talok VIII.

The room gets engulfed in darkness...and Shadow Lass isn't causing it. A new monster, this one clearly a female, goes for the Orb.

The She-Creature blasts Wildfire and goes for the Orb, but Cosmic Boy is able to use his magnetic powers to keep it away from her. Superboy gives the She-Creature a blast of freeze breath, and the orb lands in the hands of Phantom Girl. Wildfire and Superboy blast the tar out of the She-Creature, but she has some backup.

This new monster flies in on what looks like some strange harness thing with handlebars. The new monster blasts Phantom Girl with some "Astro-Force" and grabs the orb. He flees to a portal, but Cosmic Boy tries to block it with some debris. He fails. The She-Creature tries to flee towards the portal, but Invisible Kid shoulder-tackles her away from the portal as it closes up. She then is knocked senseless by Superboy. The Legion lost the Orb, but they got a prisoner. Hopefully, she'll come with some answers.

Later at Legion HQ, Element Lad has called some other Legionnaires together. He wants to schedule the election of Legion leader...and put his name in the running. Blok wonders why he wants to do this, and Element Lad explains that he's served three terms as deputy leader, and filled in for Lightning Lad. He likes the leadership job, but wants to earn it. The Legion is his home, mainly because his homeworld was destroyed, and this group is the only family he has left. However, Element Lad is going to have some competition.

Yup, Dream Girl and Ultra Boy are also throwing their names into the hat. Sorry about the panel getting all stretched. My tablet scanner hates me sometimes. Anyway, the conversation is interrupted by Superboy and his Legion team arriving with the She-Creature in dreamland. The group gets a call from President of Earth Marte Allon. She's the mother of the Legionnaire Gim Allon, aka Colossal Boy. She tells them that Chameleon Boy's treason trial is tomorrow if they'd like to attend it.

Superboy and Shadow Lass take the She-Creature to get locked up. Shadow Lass admits that seeing the creature gives her goosebumps, like she should know the monster. Superboy admits he had the same feeling when he fought the creature with the cape and chest symbol. Nearby, a young girl lies in stasis. This is Danielle Foccart, the younger sister of the Invisible Kid. She was the host body of the malevolent AI known as Computo, and she's in stasis until Brainiac 5 can find a cure for her. The readouts that monitor her are going wild. The servant's presence is causing her to have nightmares, much to the shock of Superboy and Shadow Lass.

In an unknown area of space, the harness-riding monster presents the master with the Orb of Orthanax. The master eagerly absorbs its power. The master now feels it is time. He has gotten all the power he needs, and now it's time to meet his destiny: A destiny of darkness ruling the universe. A destiny of all life being his slaves, a destiny of never ending pain and suffering. The story ends with him saying has had enough of this world, and vanishes.

This opening chapter was pretty good. It set up an interesting mystery. One of the things that the Legion is known for is massive cast, and you get the idea of that here. With such a big cast, there would be multiple storylines going on, and this comic really touches on them. Blok's struggles with certain phrasing, the fallout of Chameleon Boy's rogue actions, even on Danielle Foccart's being kept in stasis from Computo. The only storyline that got me confused was the whole Timber Wolf/Saturn Girl thing. I didn't quite get what was going on. Otherwise that, I can't complain. Keith Giffen also turns in some good artwork. His art style had not quite evolved into the style that he is more famous for yet, so it is neat to see where he started from.

Next time, in honor of Black History Month, we'll take a look at an issue of Luke Cage...