Crisis on Infinite Earths #6 (September 1985)

The Crisis on Infinite Earths rages on! We're now at the halfway point, baby! So, let's go back to the collapsing Multiverse and find how our heroes survive this latest peril! Several Earths have been saved...but it's only temporary. They're threatening to come together in a rather...explosive manner. How can the heroes of the Multiverse stop this? Let's find out by going through Crisis on Infinite Earths #6!

The cover is incredible. It is admittedly rather basic, just a close-up of the Anti-Monitor's face. However, what I do love about it is that, well, it is a clear Perez piece, but the close-up really helps sell the idea the Anti-Monitor is an inhuman monster. The eyes are just two points of light, nothing human about them. It's mostly cybernetic, just humanoid enough to seem like it was human, but it never truly was.

"3 Earths! 3 Deaths!"
Writer: Marv Wolfman
Penciler: George Perez
Inker: Jerry Ordway
Colorist: Anthony Tollin
Letterer: John Constanza
Editor: Robert Greenberger, Len Wein, Marv Wolfman
Executive Editor: Dick Giordano

The story begins with the Anti-Monitor crowing over his seeming triumph, the Psycho-Pirate pleading with the cyborg rogue to give him a world to play with.

However, due to the Pirate not concentrating on Barry Allen, the emotional manipulator's power over the Scarlet Speedster is weakening. After insulting the supervillain, the Anti-Monitor grants his wish...in a way. There are still three Earths left. And the Monitor's champions are being sent to protect them. As such, the Anti-Monitor enhances the powers of the Psycho-Pirate, allowing him to emotionally manipulate everyone on the three remaining Earths.

Back at the Monitor's satellite...wait! Wasn't that blown up in the last issue?! Just hang on, folks. The heroes inside are freaking out, and they are trying to keep it together. Pariah then notices he's vanishing again...because there's a bigger danger coming elsewhere. As he disappears, he screams out, wondering why the Monitor made him like this. Alexander Luthor tells Harbinger that he'll have to use his "matter/anti-matter energy" to save them.

Harbinger is terrified by this, as she is still dealing with the guilt over killing the Monitor against her will. She fears Alex will die as a result of this, and she doesn't want his death on her conscience. She flies off, a plan of her own forming in her mind. She spots Alexander Luthor preparing to use his energies to bring the other three remaining Earths into the netherverse that was once the Monitor.

She blasts the sole survivor of Earth-Three, then flies off. he heads for something described as a mechanical womb. While there, she unleashes all the powers contained within her mind...as the satellite explodes.

On Earth-Two, the Al Pratt Atom takes the injured Wildcat to a bed. Wildcat laments how useless he feels. The earth is dying, and all he had was just his fists to fight. What good was a pair of fists against a dying world? Al reminds him that the Ted Grant he knew was not a quitter, he fought to survive in a rough world. Al saw Ted as a bit of an inspiration, and implores Ted not to quit. Unbeknownst to either of the veteran heroes, one Yolanda Montez is observing them, using her metahuman powers to cling to the wall outside. She comes to a determination. This won't be the end of the Wildcat, as future issues of the Infinity Inc. title will show.

Back on Earth-One, Lex Luthor finds himself in a tornado, I think. After the events of Superman #413 (November 1985), the evil genius finds himself on board a certain skull-themed ship.

Luthor doesn't recognize the strange robot, but the robot explains he's Brainiac. In Action Comics #544 (June 1983), Brainiac lost his Silver Age appearance and rebuilt a new robotic body for himself. The new appearance for him was designed by Ed Hannigan. The robotic Brainiac has been compared to The Terminator, but Brainiac's robotic body actually came first. Sadly, this redesign would not last very long thanks to this storyline causing a complete reboot of the Superman mythos. More on that in the future.

Doctor Light, Starfire, Steel, Northwind, and the Earth-2 Hawkman find themselves on Earth-X, an earth where World War II was still raging. The group of heroes spot something strange.

The heroes don't have time to puzzle over why there's a giant Harbinger in the sky, as a new problem arises. A group of people are running towards the anti-matter wall slowly eating the world, as if they made a mass suicide pact. Northwind flies down to try and stop them, but notices their eyes are glassy...like they're being mind-controlled. He gets ambushed by a group of panicky Freedom Fighters. The other heroes rush in, especially Earth-2 Hawkman.

He knew the Freedom Fighters, as they were originally from his Earth, but gets punched by Black Condor, who screams he's going to kill them all. Starfire blasts away the Condor. Dr. Light puts up a light wall to stop the people from running into the anti-matter wall, although the Japanese scientist is grumbling about it, thinking that since these people have gone insane, they should be left to rot. She gets blasted by The Ray, but is saved by Hawkman.

In the anti-matter universe, it's revealed the Psycho-Pirate is being forced to use his enhanced powers to make the people on the three worlds go crazy. And he's in pain from it. Be careful what you wish for.

Another group of heroes (Katana, the Jay Garrick Flash, Martian Manhunter, Blok, and Azrael) find themselves on Earth-4, and spot the ghostly Harbinger in the air. Blok spots Blue Beetle's Bug flying nearby, and Azrael takes off to check it out, unnerved by the craft. Jay sees the Bug glowing somewhere and yells at Azrael to get away. The warning is no good as the winged amnesiac gets hit by a mysterious force. It's Captain Atom, who flies down to engage the heroes.

Yup, Earth-4 is the home of the heroes that originally came from Charlton Comics. DC acquired them from the struggling Charlton in 1983. The company would end up defunct by 1986. Captain Atom and Blue Beetle are convinced that the arrived heroes are here to destroy their world. Blok gets attacked by Peacemaker and Nightshade. Katana tries to convince them that they're actually here to help, but gets ambushed by Judomaster. Azrael spots someone racing to the anti-matter wall, and Jay Garrick intercepts them and punches them out. Who was it? One Peter Cannon, aka Thunderbolt.

On board the Bug, Blue Beetle and the Question realize something is filling them with terror, forcing them to fight the heroes, but they can't overcome it. Slight bit of Nightmare Fuel there for you. Imagine knowing that you're acting out of terror, a terror you know that is not yours.

Aquaman, Tula, Aqualad, and Lori Lemaris head for their underwater homes, respectively Atlantis and Tritonis. However, due to Earths 1 and 2 slowly merging, the two underwater cities have vanished. Aquaman is shocked, and sheds some tears. He was hoping to find Mera. After the events of Justice League of America #242-243 (September-October 1985), and the Aquaman miniseries (Likely the 1986 miniseries, but I can't be sure), Arthur was hoping to fix up his marriage problems with Mera, but now...he may not be able to. But he's not going to give up. He will find her.

Aquaman's old enemies, the Oceam Master and Black Manta notice this, and remark things will get much worse for the King of the Seas. Unnoticed by the two villains, Dolphin has spotted them. She goes to warn Arthur, but they vanish, terrifying the mysterious woman.

The scene then shifts to Earth-S, the home of the Marvel Family. Beast Boy has ended up eating a wall as an elephant, barely missing Black Canary. Supergirl checks on the animal shapeshifter, who has a monster headache. It's revealed that Captain Marvel is the one who tossed Beast Boy like a ragdoll, and he's fighting mad.

Supergirl tries to get Marvel to stop fighting, as they aren't enemies. But Captain Marvel is convinced she and the other heroes with her are out to destroy this world, and he will not let that happen. Black Canary realizes that something is affecting the Big Red Cheese's mind, filling him with rage. She sees a barrier made of crystal keeping people from running into the anti-matter wall. The barrier's creator? The Titans' own little crystal-spinner, Kole. She spots Harbinger floating in the air and wonders what is going on.

The Earth-1 Wonder Woman tries to stop Mary Marvel with her lasso, but gets wrecked by Captain Marvel Jr. However, the Black Canary gives them a sonic scream for their trouble while a snake Beast Boy tries to constrict Captain Marvel.

Back on Earth-X, The Hank Heywood III Steel knocks away a group of people, yelling that if they want their Earth to die so badly, maybe the heroes should just let it happen. An enraged Uncle Sam tries to punch Steel, but Steel is a cyborg, so he has a metal jaw. Katana is fighting Judomaster, but she senses he's fighting out of fear. To his own horror, Blue Beetle notices that his Bug has stopped moving...thanks to J'onn J'onzz and Blok. The stony Legionnaire thinks that the Psycho-Pirate is behind this craziness. But more craziness is coming.

The three remaining universes are moving, being taken somewhere else. Harbinger's plan is revealed. She's taking the three surviving Earths and bringing them into the void that was the Monitor.

Harbinger gets engulfed in white...and Lyla wakes up on an asteroid, wondering if she did it. Alex Luthor said it was is worth it, and he tells her she did it, sacrificing her Harbinger powers to do it. Lyla was expecting to die. She hoped that her saving throw to Earths 4, X, and S would end up killing her, as a way of atonement for her killing the Monitor. Lyla, that wasn't your fault. The Anti-Monitor made you do it. Despite Lyla's action, the Earths are still merging, only instead of three Earths combining, they now have five. Either way, it has to be addressed, and soon. Because, again, Earths merge together, kaboom.

Yeah. Like that. But Alex and Lyla have another problem they need to take care of first: ...how the heck do they get off of this rock? On Earth-2, A group of heroes (Johnny Quick, Power Girl, and the Alan Scott Green Lantern) are pursuing a group of villains (Per Degaton, Star Sapphire, Deathbolt), but the three malefactors vanish before their eyes. Something else is going down, and Alan Scott does not like it. Probably those darned kids on his lawn again. Elsewhere, Ted Grant is having a peaceful sedative-induced nap, a much-needed break from the chaos outside and his own pain-wracked body. A figure stands over Ted, saying that the world still needs the Wildcat.

On their rock, Alex Luthor takes a seat, wondering what he can do now. The Monitor's satellite is basically dust, the Monitor himself is dead, and so will the five remaining worlds. Lyla reminds him to have some faith. The Monitor said he had a destiny to fulfill. The story ends with the figure standing over Ted climbing up to the top of a building, revealing...

Yolanda Montez, the new Wildcat.

This comic is...not bad, but I can't help but feel that it stands better as part of the larger Crisis arc than a story on its own, much like the last issue. Another thing I don't get is why Yolanda Montez has to keep her superpowers a secret from Ted Grant. I mean, Ted has worked with the JSA for decades at this point. And quite a few of them have superpowers. Why would he be bothered by Yolanda having powers? Her debuting as the new Wildcat is cool, but it also feels rather pointless as she hardly plays a key role in the Crisis story as a whole. Much like the last issue, there is a ton of action, which is kind of cool as well.

The artwork is excellent. It's George Perez, of course. Some of the panels do come off as a bit Ordway-esque in appearance to me, no doubt due to Jerry Ordway himself inking Perez's pencils.

See what I mean there? Wonder Woman there looks more like Ordway drew her than Perez did. Anyway, I do recommend getting this issue, but I suggest getting the trade instead. This issue is much more enjoyable being read as part of a bigger story than on its own.

Next time, in honor of this mini-series, we take a look at a team-up between the Justice League of America and the Justice Society of America...

Text Play: Pokemon Mega Adventure #10

Welcome to the Akiba Region! It's time for the tenth entry in my Text Play through the fan game called Mega Adventure!

Last time, we got ready to take on Team Prime at the Power Plant, but first, to get some supplies. Can't take on Team Prime without being prepared. Luckily for us, Sunnyvall City has a large department store.

Nice, huh? Reminds me of Celadon City's big store in Red and Blue. I think the Pikachu and Raichu are meant to be kind of like greeters, they say hello and welcome you in. I do hope the store takes good care of them. It looks like it could certainly afford to. Anyway, time to go inside and take a look.

The first floor is the service counter. A nice lady welcomes you to the store. Maybe the Pikachu and Raichu outside are store security? And look what you can find here.

Pay phones! Actual pay phones! Wow! You don't really see those in many places anymore. That is pretty cool.

Second floor! Trainer's Market! You need potions? Pokéballs? Escape Ropes? Repels? You go here.

Third floor! TV Game Shop! This floor sells Technical Machines. For those who are new to the Pokémon franchise, Technical Machines, or TMs for short, are devices (often resembling CDs or DVDs) that can be used to teach Pokémon certain moves or techniques they can't learn by naturally leveling up. When they were first introduced, they were one-use only, but nowadays, they are reusable.

Hey, there's an NES there. Neat. Would have been cool if there were various Nintendo consoles there, like an SNES or an N64. Or a Gamecube.

Fourth floor! Wise Man Gifts! Buy someone you love a nice gift! Or a nice evolution stone if you have a Pokémon that needs one to evolve.

Fifth floor! Drugstore! This is where you can buy special things to increase your Pokémon's stats, like Attack, Defense, and HP. And it's still all expensive as all get out.

Finally, there's the rooftop. There, you can find vending machines to buy drinks that work like Potions. You know, the Fresh Water, the Lemonade, that kind of thing. And that's the mall. I picked up some Pokéballs and Potions.

Outside the city is the Power Plant. Let's get going. On the way there, I spotted May with a Team Prime member.

Yeah, she just laideth a Poke-Smackethdown on the Team Prime grunt. Team Prime has been holding the plant for 3 days...but they don't seem to be doing anything. She says she'll sneak into the Power Plant...and races off faster than a cheetah on cocaine. Yeah, she's that fast. In front of the Power Plant is a grass patch. I don't think there's any Pokémon in it. There are also a couple Team Prime members guarding the place. They cannot be avoided. How did May sneak in?! Double Battle time!

They brought out a Gible and a Bagon. My Ivysaur and Butterfree hit them both with the one-two Leech Seed/Sleep Powder combo. I swiched Ivysaur out with Geodude, because I wanted to get that one some experience points. Gible fell quick, but one of the grunts brought out a Dratini. Geodude took down Bagon, and an Axew took its place. But that went down, too. Time to enter the plant!

Upon entry, I saw Brandon. He told me I have to destroy the "Power Machine" here. ...you mean the generators, right? He's going to head "upstair" to help May. Yeah, this game could have used some proofreading in the dialogue. Before he heads "upstair", he gives me a Trap Device. It detects traps. Evidently, the Power Plant is full of traps. Quite an unusual little form of security, but you have to keep in mind one thing: Not many regions in the Pokémon universe actually have cops. For some reason, my player character assumes Brandon invented it. For all he knows, Brandon may have gotten it from a genius somewhere.

Fought and beat a wild Voltorb in the Plant. I bet the Plant attracts many an Electric type.

One of the Team Prime grunts I fought in the plant wailed that she was pathetic. Well, she is for joining Team Prime, but as a trainer, she was alright. Her Magnemite put up a good fight against my Geodude, so that's something. I fought my way through the plant, and reached the generator.

I'm guessing they're after the generator. And evidently, I'm not the only one in the Akiba region who has an Alolan Pokémon.

Yeah, that's a Jangmo-o, straight from Alola. How did this guy get one?! Anyway, the final two Grunts had a Voltorb and a Magnemite. Geodude wrecked them. They then brought out Swablu and Trapinch. They took down Geodude, but it did some damage, and Torracat was able to pick up the slack.

We discovered a Rotom was the source of the trouble, so we have to battle it. Good thing I got more Pokéballs. I caught it on the second try, with an Ultra Ball. It did manage to wreck my Pokémon on the way. And catching it deactivated the trap areas? Sweet. While exploring one of the trap areas, I encountered this guy who started talking about Zapdos.

Turns out that he's he the Gym Leader here. explains why the Gym here is closed up. His name is Volkner, and he and Zapdos are kind of tight. How he managed to befriend a Legendary Bird is beyond me. And yes, it's not hard to guess what type he specializes in. His Gym is near a power plant, and he's buddies with a Legendary Bird known for being quite shocking. He heads upstairs, saying he'll go first. Okay...

I decided to hold off on going upstairs for a minute. I was not finished exploring. The other trap area just had some angry Team Prime members guarding something.

No battles, just yelling at me to get out. So, I went upstairs and WHOA!

May, what did you DO to annoy all these Pokémon?! May just beat the Salamence, and she runs off, leaving me behind. Hey, maybe next time, May, you could bring me with you when you're chasing off after Brendan! Sheesh. After another battle with a Team Prime member, my Geodude became a Graveler! Yay! And I found some chaos!

May tells me Brendan could use a hand. Alrighty then. But he tells me that "Voltis" could use some help. You mean "Volkner", right? That's who you're talking about? This game needs more proofreading. I found him taking on the Team Prime admin at the head of this mission: Celestial. Yes, that is his name. I was able to beat him, but evidently, we were too late.

They needed the Power Plant to charge up their "Energy Bomb". He vanishes before anyone could grab him and get some answers. Oh dear... But at least he and Team Prime are gone and the Power Plant is no longer in their grip. Volkner reveals that Zapdos was the provider of power for the Plant. Again, I wonder how on Earth they got a Legendary Bird for this. Maybe Zapdos agreed to this. Volkner gives me a Shiny Charm. Well, that's nice of him.

Volkner says he's got to make sure the Plant is clear and safe before he can reopen the Gym. That makes sense, and it's fine. I can wait. After I leave the Plant, I get a call from Brendan. He wishes me luck facing Volkner. Thanks, man! He also says he and I presume May are going to Dragnar City. See him there, I guess. Wait, we were just in the Plant together? Why is he telling me now?!

And now there are cops outside the Plant. WHERE WERE YOU GUYS?! Oh yeah, cops in the Pokémon world are useless. Well, I think we can end this entry here. I have to get a team ready for Volkner when he opens his Gym up. Wish me luck!

Pokémon Obtained:
(Eleton Path)
- Plusle

(Power Plant)
- Deino

Creed II Trailer

In 2015, Warner Bros. released the film Creed. The seventh film in the Rocky series, it focused on Adonis Creed, the son of former Rocky foe Apollo Creed, portrayed by Michael B. Jordan. The film received much critical acclaim, and Sylvester Stallone got nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the Academy Awards. Creed is getting something that has become a regular trope of the Rocky series: A sequel. And here's the trailer!

Down goes Creed! Down goes Creed! He's been taking a beating, Mean Gene! Wait, wrong sport.

Yeah, he's been knocked loopy, he's going to need a minute or two.

Oh, dear. Creed's got a new opponent. Hope it ain't a steroid-enhanced Russian. We all know what happened to his dad after facing one of those in Rocky IV...

HE DOESN'T WANT YOU TO DIE, YOU IDIOT. YOUR DAD DIED IN HIS ARMS.

Wait, who is this guy that Adonis is going to fight OH GOD HIS NAME IS DRAGO. THE NAME "DRAGO" IS ON HIS ROBE.

Yeah, Creed is not going to make it out of this in one piece. Rocky was never the same after fighting Ivan, so we can expect Adonis won't come out of this the same man he was when he steps into that ring.

Man, I really gotta watch Creed. I heard it was really good, and I was excited to see it. Once I do, I'll give this a view.

Sonic Mania Plus Announcement Trailer, My Thoughts

In June of last year, I gave my thoughts on the announcement of SEGA's Sonic Mania, Sonic the Hedgehog's Nintendo Switch debut. It sold over a million units. Critics had praised the game for its faithfulness to the original Sega Genesis (Mega Drive in Europe) Sonic Trilogy, but it was given some criticism for lack of any real originality (Eight of the game's twelve levels are redesigns of levels from the original Sonic Trilogy).

Well, the fan and critical praise must have inspired Sega to pump this game up a bit more. As such, they announced Sonic Mania Plus, an expansion of Sonic Mania. Yeah, I'm late on this, and I am sorry. Anyway, here's the trailer!

Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles are three happenin' animal dudes who are going to take this here elevator to adventure. Hey! Who's messing with the doors?!

Hey, it's Mighty the Armadillo and Ray the Flying Squirrel! Wait, who are these guys? Well, Mighty and Ray come from the 1993 arcade game SegaSonic the Hedgehog. It was an arcade game that was released only in Japan, and it had never been ported or released anywhere. Mighty would go on to appear in the 1995 Sega 32X game Knuckles' Chaotix, a spin-off of the Sonic series. The Choatix (mainly Vector the Crocodile, Charmy Bee, and Espio the Chameleon) would go on to appear in other Sonic games, but Mighty would be left behind and forgotten.

I like Ray and Mighty appearing as just pencil lines. It's rather symbolic. It's like their falling into obscurity has caused them to "fade away" into their current state. A little bit of character in there, too. Ray is happy to see Sonic again, and Mighty is like "What the deal, man!? You forgot about us!"

I love that Sonic takes a moment to recognize them, then offers them a chance to join him, Tails, and Knuckles. You'd think Knuckles would recognize Mighty, considering they were in a game together, but Knuckles has been shown to be a bit dim, so...yeah.

The little detail of the color returning to Mighty upon taking Sonic's hand is a great touch. Again, more symbolism can be seen here. Mighty and Ray are been given spotlight again for the first time in decades, so they're revitalized.

I do hope this update gives out more original zones. From what I heard, the game does need more new zones. I want to see the game makers go nuts and make some crazy new zones.

Mighty can slam into the ground really hard. I wonder how that can be useful. Maybe in a situation where he needs to clear out a lot of enemies? Or if you need some spikes broken. ;)

Ray can glide endlessly. I fear that has some game-breaking potential. He could potentially make some zones a breeze by just flying over everything.

Hey, Knuckles remembered Mighty after all!

I have wanted to play this game, having played the original Sonic games growing up, but considering this expansion...I think I will pick it up as soon as I can. I've never played a game with Mighty and Ray in it, so I am admittedly curious as to what they can do.

Thor #384 (October 1987)

Like many other characters in comics, Thor has had legacies. Others besides the son of Odin himself have picked up and wielded the mighty hammer Mjolnir and have used it to smite evildoers in the name of justice and right. Beta Ray Bill, Red Norvell, Eric Masterson, and most recently, Jane Foster have all been part of this great group. I gave a bit of a history of Mjolnir's holders here, but keep in mind, it was written before it was revealed that Jane Foster would be the then-new Thor. As such, it's a bit out of date.

Today, we're going to take a look at another person to hold Mjolnir. This person is unusual because...he is a wielder who is mostly not part of Marvel's mainstream continuity. He comes from a dark future ruled by corporate fascism. A world that needed a hero. And he would find himself in that role. His name is Dargo Ktor, and he will find himself in an extraordinary adventure. And with that out of the way, let's take a look at Thor #384!

The cover is well-done, although it does spoil Dargo's Thor look. But it does sell the idea that this Thor tale is going to be something...a little different. The people standing around him with their fists in the air help give the idea that this Thor is an inspiring figure, someone who they can rally around. Which is rather true to the story. The whole "Beginning of a Whole New Era" thing isn't quite right to me, as Dargo isn't the new "official" Thor.

"Who Shall Be Worthy?"
Writer: Tom DeFalco
Penciler: Ron Frenz
Inker: Brett Breeding
Letterer: Diana Albers
Colorist: "Max" Scheele
Editor: Ralph Macchio
Editor-in-Chief: Jim Shooter

The story begins with two young people hiding in some rubble. The time: September, 2537. The place: Queens, New York. The people: Dargo Ktor and his galpal, Salla.

They're hiding from a "Corp Tracker", and it's been the fifth one the duo had to dodge this night. Salla is confused by this, as the "Corp" are rarely out in such force like this. Dargo reminds her that the "Corp" is cracking down on people who cut their curfew. Salla pulls Dargo to an old subway station entrance, reminding him the ceremony is about to start. A guard lets them in, but much to Salla's chagrin, the ceremony has already started.

The two of them put on their capes and winged headbands and join the rest of the crowd as the ceremony starts. Salla believes they have finally found someone who is worthy, but Dargo is more cynical. Everyone who has tried to prove themselves worthy has failed in the past, so why should this time be any different?

The man at the podium starts pontificating. Next to him stands an object under a tarp. Long ago, heroes walked the Earth and protected it, before the "corporation" took over. They were mighty. They were proud. They were powerful. And the one who towered over them all was The Mighty Thor, but like his fellow heroes...he is gone. Vanished, and nobody knows how or why. But it's believed that he shall return one day. And when he does, he will fight to help the people regain their freedom from the corporation. And he shall reclaim his weapon of choice...

Mighty Mjolnir, stuck to a piece of rubble like Excalibur in the stone. The leader calls for a volunteer to try and lift the hammer. One man volunteers, stating he is the strongest man in his "dorm-block". The other Thorites start praying...except for Dargo, who thinks it's all a waste of time. The man strains with all his might, but the hammer moves not an inch. Salla laments this. How long must they wait for someone worthy?

As she and Dargo head home, Dargo tries to get her to see that nothing is going to change. Even if someone is able to lift the hammer, it won't do a thing to help anyone. Besides, as far as Dargo is concerned, Thor is a fairy tale. There are no heroes coming to save the day. If the people want so badly to be free from the corporation, they'll have to fight for it themselves. Salla wishes Dargo had more faith, as it could move mountains...and all they want is a hammer, myth or not. The two part ways.

The next day, one of the corporation's heads is flipping out in rage. Turns out this "Thor cult" is causing employees to break curfew, which prevents them from getting sleep. This means they come to work tired, so they can't work at their best. As a result, the corporation is losing money. The chairman wants these cultists destroyed. In his desperation, he calls in a specialist. The specialist guarantees that he will get rid of this cult. He's so confident that he can get rid of the Thorites he forgoes the usual fee.

If you know your Thor mythos, it's pretty obvious who this guy is. At a factory complex, Salla and Dargo get word of another gathering tonight. Dargo is reluctant to go, as the corporation's trackers will be out in full force, as the Chairman wants the Thorites dead. He wants them dead! He wants their families dead! He wants their homes burned to the ground! Man, I love The Untouchables. Salla isn't worried, as she has her faith to protect her. Dargo decides to come along, in case Salla's faith doesn't do what she hopes it does. That night, a group of savage monsters arrive in the city...led by an old evil.

Yup, Loki is back, and it's not hard to figure out what he is after. Loki's horde finds the Thorites' meeting place and attack. The battle is more of a massacre, as the Thorites are only human, trying to fight off bigger, stronger Asgardian monsters. Dargo is able to get Salla to safety, but the young man needs a weapon. Out of desperation, he reaches for the only thing that he can get to: Mjolnir itself. Unlike the others who have tried, Dargo is worthy, and is bathed in light. He undergoes an incredible transformation.

Dargo Ktor, welcome to a noble group. Dargo is shocked, as he has essentially become Thor. He instinctively twirls the hammer over his head, creating a powerful tornado. The meterological event is able to send the monsters flying away. Dargo asks if everyone is alright. The surviving Thorites swarm him in joy! He has returned! Thor has returned! Dargo is shocked by this, and also enraged. He uses his newfound power to scatter the Thorites, angrily yelling that he's not going to fight their battle against the corporation for them, and flies off.

He heads back towards his apartment so he can think and figure things out. The young man notices that Mjolnir appears to be trying to pull him somewhere, like the hammer itself has somewhere it needs to be at. Dargo wonders if maybe the hammer is trying to escape its grip because it somehow knows he's not its rightful owner. But Dargo knows how to take care of that. He taps the hammer on the ground, and is changed back to normal. He goes to rest, his mind pondering this newfound development.

The next day, Dargo's workplace is awash with excited whispers, as the seeming return of Thor has created a resurgence of hope. Salla is especially overjoyed, as she thinks Thor will save the day. Dargo tries to get her "back to Earth" by saying that this Thor might not be the real thing. She says it doesn't matter. Thor is a symbol. He represents freedom and hope to the Thorites. Dargo remarks that Thor could get them all killed. Salla tells him death is better than corporate slavery, but Dargo is not too sure.

The chairman is losing it. Production is down, and there's the feeling of revolution in the air. The chairman is ranting about how a revolt will cost him lots of revenue. The specialist reassures the chairman that he's got everything under control. If a revolution does hit, he's got the resources to crush it completely. 

Days pass, and talk of revolution increases. Tensions are mounting. The mysterious return of Thor has got the workers going wild. Dargo Ktor thinks it's all insane. He feels that the corporation cannot be defeated, even by Thor. He tries to convince his fellow workers not to march against the corporation, saying it's too dangerous. The other workers believe Thor will protect them. And if he doesn't? Then they'll die standing like men. Dargo can't bring himself to go with them. The march goes on. Salla wonders where Dargo is, but is told he's cowering under his bed. The marchers then get a visit from the corporation's security forces.

The marchers fight the corporation's security. Dargo Ktor can hear the sounds of fighting and screaming. The noise hits him hard, leaving him wondering why they didn't listen to him. He comes to the realization that he has to stop the slaughter. Mjolnir judged him worthy of using the power of Thor, and Dargo realized that he has to show his worth and put a stop the massacre.

Outside, between the Asgardian monsters and the corporation's security forces, the protestors are getting slaughtered. They need a hero, and they will get one.

Dargo flies into action and lays a royal Asgardian-style smackdown on the villains, easily destroying the corporation's security vehicles and wrecking the skulls of the monsters. However, Dargo is finding himself facing their boss: Tyrus the Terrible, King of the Rock Trolls.

His ambush causes Dargo to drop Mjolnir. Tyrus easily beats down Dargo, taunting him about lacking Thor's fighting experience and his not being the real Thor. Dargo manages to fight back, demanding to know where Thor is. Tyrus reveals that Thor is trapped somewhere far away, and cannot free himself without Mjolnir. Which is why Loki is after it, to ensure it can never be returned to him. Dargo goes for the hammer, Tyrus taunting him that mortals should never interfere in the affairs of gods. Dargo blasts Tyrus with Mjolnir, saying gods shouldn't interfere in mortal affairs, either.

Thanks to Mjolnir, Dargo is able to get back the advantage. His and Tyrus's brawl cause them to fall into the ground below. All seems silent, but Dargo frees himself from the rubble. Back in the corporation's headquarters, the Chairman is freaking out. The rioting workers have evidently managed to cause so much damage that he's now bankrupt. Wow. They work quick. The Chairman is ranting, blaming the specialist for not doing his job, and is threatening to sue. The specialist has had enough, and blows up the office.

Yeah, the specialist was obviously Loki. The general look of the man and the green-and-yellow clothing made it really clear. The rioting workers see the building explode, and think that one of them managed to kill the Chairman. They declare victory. Dargo looks at Mjolnir. He considers using its power to seize control, but decides against it, as this power is not meant for mortal men. Besides, there's someone who needs the hammer more than he does. He uses Mjolnir to open a portal to another dimension. Dargo tosses Mjolnir in the portal, telling it to return to its true master.

Dargo returns to his regular human form, hoping that Mjolnir and Thor gets reunited. Loki senses this and loses it. He gathers his remaining demon horde and vanishes. You'd think someone would have noticed him around. Anyway, Dargo and Salla reunite, and Salla notes something. With the corporation being destroyed, what will come of them and their people now? The story ends with the people looking at the remains of the corporation's building.

The people are feeling optimistic. They have a second chance. Maybe this time, they'll learn from their mistakes and prove themselves truly worthy.

This tale was rather enjoyable. It was a fun little one-shot story that dealt with a dark future that seems sadly rather plausible these days. Dargo Ktor is an interesting choice to wield Mjolnir, a cynical young man thoroughly crushed and believing there is no hope. Ultimately, he does manage to prove he is worthy by discovering his inner hero. I do think the change was rather quick, but considering this was a one-shot story with a standard comic length, I don't think it could be avoided. It does wrap up a bit neatly, as I doubt the megacorp that Dargo and the rebels were fighting was the only one out there. Still, that's not the point of the story. It's meant to be a tale of hope and the fight for freedom. And it's an enjoyable one.

Ron Frenz turns in some excellent art here. Normally, during his run on Thor, he used to ape Jack Kirby's art style, using Kirby-esque poses and all of that. We don't see that here, but considering this is not the original Thor, I think it's fin he's using a style more his own. Although personally, I'd love to see him draw the Jane Foster Thor in that Kirby-esque style he used during this run.

As I said before, this run on Thor, in my opinion, is criminally underrated. I highly recommend tracking it down. Did Dargo ever appear again? Well, yes. He would appear again in Thor Annual #16 (1991), which was part of the Korvac Quest crossover. He then appeared in Thor #440-441 (November-Late December 1991), which led up to the 1993 Thor Corps miniseries. However, he hasn't really been seen since then, I think. Dargo Ktor wasn't around very long, but he was an interesting Thor, and I hope he reappears in the future.

I also can't help but wonder if this story inspired the whole Marvel 2099 line in a way. That world was ruled by corporations, and it also had a Thor-worshipping cult...Maybe Dargo should have been the Thor of the 2099 universe.

Next time, we return to the DC Universe, as the Crisis on Infinite Earths rages on...

Escape Plan 2 Trailer

In 2013, Summit Entertainment released the film Escape Plan, the first film ever to have 80s action movie legends Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone as co-leads. The film starred Stallone as Ray Breslin, a structural engineer who is put in the world's most secure prison, and must enlist the aid of fellow inmate Emil Rottmeyer (Schwarzenegger) to...well, escape. The film didn't do very well in the American box office, but was quite popular in Asia and Europe. It also received mixed reviews from critics. I never saw it myself, so I can't give my own opinion on it. Although, honestly, I did want to buy it when it came to DVD.

The film is now getting a sequel: Escape Plan 2. Of course. No Electric Boogaloo? Ah, well. Here's the trailer.

Hey, Ray! Nice to see you're doing well after the last movie. I get the feeling you're going to ignore your own advice there.

Man, Dave Bautista is in everything these days. Does he have Multiple Man's power so he can do, like, ten movies at once?

BANG BANG! BANG BANG BANG! SHOOTY SHOOT!

So, one of Ray's men is missing. And he was taken by a gun-toting Skeletor, it looks like.

They're calling it Hades because Alcatraz is taken.

So, this prison has an octagon in it? Do the UFC hold events for the prisoners there?

So, it's like The Prisoner? They want information?

If the Scorpions song "The Zoo" is not on the soundtrack, I will be very disappointed. It's a great song that needs more exposure. And Scorpions are just great. Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden did an awesome cover, too.

That would be one scary dentist's chair.

Sly Stallone is 71 years old. The fact that he's still kicking butts in movies at that age is head-tilting yet awesome at the same time.

"It's bad to be back." Ahhhhhh, bad cheesy pun.

This movie seems like one of those movies that's hardly meant to be Oscar bait or something that comments on humanity in some deep meaningful way. It seems like one of those films that you can just turn off your brain and enjoy for a couple of hours. And there's nothing wrong with that. I'd give this a look. I'd better go track down the first one...

How to Train Your Dragon 3 Trailer, My Thoughts

In 2010, DreamWorks Animation released the film How to Train Your Dragon, inspired by a series of British children's books by Cressida Cowell. It told the tale of a spindly teenage Viking named Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, the son of the chieftain of the village of Berk. His attempt to hunt a dragon ends up causing him to befriend it, and the two end up saving their village and causing the Berk natives to rethink the creatures they feared and hated. 2014 saw the sequel, How to Train Your Dragon 2. In this one, Hiccup reunited with his long-lost mother and fought a mad conqueror.

How to Train Your Dragon has become a big franchise for DreamWorks, with short films, games, and a television series that lasted two seasons on Cartoon Network, but got four more on Netflix: DreamWorks Dragons: Riders/Defenders of Berk/Race to the Edge.

And now, the third and final film in the Dragons trilogy is coming: The Hidden World. And here's the trailer for it!

Ah, I like the flashback to the first movie. Really helps show how Hiccup and Toothless's relationship evolved over the years.

Hiccup's narration contrasts this. At the time of the flashbacks, dragons were numerous, many different species. But now...they seem to all be gone.

Hiccup is a Viking, so it makes sense he finally tries to grow out an epic Viking beard. Works for him.

Heh heh, dragon in the soup. But it's awesome showing Berk reaching this point. People and dragons living in harmony. Hiccup made one fine chieftain. Stoick the Vast would be proud.

Hey, Toothless found a lady friend. About time he got some romance in his life.

Nice work, Hiccup.

So, the Light Fury's flames can be portals. That's pretty handy.

That dragon world looks incredible.

And we meet the villain. He's packing an armada. That is one big armada.

So, this guy is the reason why Toothless is the last of the Night Furies, huh? Yeah, he's totally going to get a fiery sword where the sun don't shine.

Ha ha, Toothless's mating dance. It's so silly.

Well, this looks like it will be a fun movie. I loved the last two Dragons movies, and this looks like it will be an epic ending to the Trilogy. Can't wait for it!

Wreck-It Ralph 2 Trailer, My Thoughts

About four months ago, I looked at the teaser for the sequel for the 52nd film in the Disney Animated Canon, Wreck-It Ralph. I loved the movie, and I was really excited to learn it got a sequel. Well, a proper sequel, not those direct-to-video sequels that some of those earlier Disney movies like Aladdin, Pocahontas, The Little Mermaid, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame got. Ralph is going to meet the Internet, and we're going to join him for the ride! Let's take a look at the trailer!

Ah, the Fix-It Felix arcade cabinet. Where it all started. You know, I am kind of curious. Was there a Fix-It Felix Senior? There had to be as there's a Junior. Or maybe it was done just to sound cool.

...you'd think that they'd spare a room in the big apartment building for Vanellope to stay in when she comes to visit. I mean, it's a big building. I get she and Ralph are friends and all, and she's a guest, but it doesn't seem quite right she's sleeping on a pile of bricks next to a stump. Seems wrong to me.

And she's sill a bit glitchy. I'm assuming that was leftover damage to her code when King Candy sabotaged the game's programming in the last movie that nobody's been able to fix.

Oh, Ralph. You poor naïve thing. You're going to hate the Internet after a while. Especially if you find the YouTube comments section.

I have to admit, I like the movie's visualization of the Internet as this gigantic city.

If you're wondering how Disney managed to get Amazon's permission to use their logo...it's Disney. Enough said.

Heh heh, the birds are Twitter.

I think I just saw a Super Mushroom from Super Mario Bros. there.

Heh heh, the search bar. That purple guy looks like he'd fit right in a 1960s cartoon. And that is pretty accurate of a search bar.

Hey, that's neat! Old-school Disney Princesses in 3D. Made the transition well.

Look at that. The Muppets, Star Wars, Marvel, and Pixar. Disney owns those.

Don't be afraid, Vanellope! Stormtroopers can't shoot straight!

Whoa! Cinderella is hardcore!

You know, Elsa would fit right in a Marvel comic. She has a tragic origin, and has actual superpowers.

Dang it Aurora, stop touching cursed pointy things!

Heh heh, Disney making fun of itself.

I wonder who that character is.

Oh, I can't wait for Thanksgiving. This movie is going to be a lot of fun. I loved the first Wreck-It Ralph, and this looks like it will be an epic sequel.

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day, everyone!

To all those with fathers and stepfathers, and the mothers who have to do double duty, I want to wish you a wonderful day today!

Celebrated on the third Sunday in June, Father's Day had a couple of parts to its origin. One of the origins of the tradition was from a memorial service for a group of miners who died in an accident in Monongah, West Virginia in 1907.

In 1910, Sonora Smart Dodd, daughter of a Civil War veteran, founded Father's Day in Spokane, Washington. She was inspired to find it by a sermon about Mother's Day. She wanted there to be a companion celebration for fathers and fatherhood. She originally intended it to be on June 5, her father's birthday. However, a celebration was unable to be prepared in time, so it became the third Sunday in June.

The celebration was not a big success at first, but Dodd would not give up. She had help from various trade groups, like men's retailers. It would lead the holiday to be derided at first as just a stunt to rack up sales, but the trade groups got the last laugh as the holiday ended up growing in popularity.

In 1966, President Lyndon Johnson would declare the third Sunday in June as Father's Day. In 1972, President Richard Nixon would sign an official Father's Day into law. You can find out more about its history right here.

Today, I treated my dad to dinner at the Chinese buffet in town. It was wonderful. The ham was really good.

Happy Father's Day, everyone. Families should be together to celebrate it, no matter where they came from.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Trailer, My Thoughts

In 2011, a new Spider-Man spun his webs for the first time: Miles Morales. First appearing in Ultimate Fallout #4 (August 2011), Miles was the new Spider-Man of the Ultimate Marvel Universe after the death of that world's Peter Parker. His adventures would be praised, and the character would be quite popular. He would actually become so popular, that when the Ultimate Universe was destroyed in 2015's Secret Wars event, Marvel would bring him to the mainline Marvel Universe, and he's been a part of it ever since, having adventures on his own and occasionally teaming up with the adult Peter Parker of the main MU.

Miles himself would go on to appear in toys, and cartoons. The character would also be given a nod to as well in the MCU, as a minor criminal that Spidey catches is revealed to be Aaron Davis, who is Miles's uncle. In a nice bit of serendipity, Davis was played by Donald Glover, who was one of the inspirations behind Miles.

In 2015, an animated film focusing on Miles as Spider-Man was announced, which I looked at the teaser for here. But now, there's a full-blown trailer for the film, which will be released in December. Let's take a look!

I love how the film looks already. The animation style is incredible.

I also like Miles himself already, and I also already like Shameik Moore's voice. It feels like it fits him.

Poor Miles. A parent can be embarrassing, but even worse when they're a cop.

Wow. The Green Goblin there is huge. Norman Osborn really needs to cut back on the steroids. I can't imagine how a man that bulky can move at all.

I like the little detail of Peter and Miles's Spider-Senses reacting to each other.

The usage of comic panels there looks really cool.

You know, when I first heard they were bringing Miles to the main Marvel Universe, I was hoping that we'd see Peter take a mentor role to Miles. This was...not quite what I had in mind. But gotta show no matter what the universe, Peter has his Parker luck.

Well, to be fair Miles, he may not be able to impart much on keeping your life together, but you'll get plenty of web-swinging tips from him.

Peter's right, Miles. You can only be you. Both of you can be Spider-Man, just in different ways.

That bit of Miles leaping off the skyscraper is incredible. And I get the feeling his hoodie Spidey suit will be a popular look.

And we may see both Spider-Men fighting the Prowler, most likely the Aaron Davis one, considering Miles is the focus here.

Little flash of Miles using his power to turn invisible. Nice.

I wonder if Jefferson Davis would regret that speech if he knew Miles was Spider-Man.

Heh heh, having a cop parent can be real embarrassing, Miles. But don't feel bad, you still got superpowers.

HOLY COW SPIDER-GWEN!

Well, this seems like it will be a fun film. My only complaint about the trailer isn't that it doesn't seem to hint in anyway what this big multiversal threat is as Miles mentions parallel universes a few times. Maybe it's the Steroid Goblin? I'm not sure. The trailer emphasizes Peter and Miles's interactions, and that was the big strength. It's great seeing the veteran hero impart some wisdom to his younger legacy. This film seems like it will be a lot of fun, and as a Spider-Fan, I cannot skip this!

Green Lantern #7 (July-August 1961)

In 1959, DC Comics put out a little comic on the newsstands: Showcase #22 (October 1959). It was an all-new all-different Green Lantern. The original Green Lantern, Alan Scott, was an engineer who got his powers from a ring and magic lantern. After the success of the new Flash, Barry Allen, Julius Schwartz wanted to revamp another hero for the then-modern 1950s. Drawing upon his owen love of science fiction, and no doubt the Space Race that was big news at the time (The Russians kicked it off with the launch of Sputnik only a couple of years earlier), he enlisted to of his regular team, writer John Broome and artist Gil Kane, to modernize the character.

The reconceived the Green Lantern as Harold "Hal" Jordan, a cocky test pilot who is inducted to the Green Lantern Corps, a group of interstellar police officers who fight criminals throughout the universe. They use a special ring that allows a Corpsman to use their willpower to create constructs of green energy. The concept has been compared to E.E. Smith's Lensman series, although Schwartz has denied any connection. The Lensman series has been homaged in later stories focusing on the Corps, mainly through the GLs named Arisia and Eddore.

Hal would be a stalwart of the DCU for decades, being one of the original founders of the Justice League, and a member for many years. He would retire for a while, sitting out Crisis on Infinite Earths, but would ringsling again. In 1993, in his grief over the destruction of Coast City in the Reign of the Supermen storyline Hal lost his mind, decimate the Green Lantern Corps, and become the villainous Parallax in the controversial Emerald Twilight storyline, with Kyle Rayner being the sole Green Lantern for some years.

He would become the main villain in the Zero Hour crossover, but Hal would redeem himself by giving his life to save the world and reignite the sun in the Final Night crossover, which would lead to him becoming the Spectre, picking up that mantle from Jim Corrigan during the Day of Judgment storyline.

In 2004, Hal Jordan would be restored to life and made a Green Lantern again in Green Lantern: Rebirth. This would also signal the return of not just Hal, but the Green Lantern Corps. His origin story would be revamped, and ever since, Hal has shined his emerald light in the name of justice.

So, with all of that out of the way, let's take a look at Green Lantern #7!

The cover is pretty cool. It depicts Hal Jordan blasting people with his power ring, turning them invisible. He's thinking about this being the only way to prevent a disaster.

"The Day 100,000 People Vanished!"
Writer: John Broome
Penciler: Gil Kane
Inker: Joe Giella
Letterer: Gaspar Saladino
Colorist: Unknown
Editor: Julius Schwartz

The story begins with a full-page shot of Hal Jordan flying through a city. Nothing unusual...well, for the lack of people. The story begins properly in the morning in Valdale, an average American city. People are hustling and bustling, starting their day. But this ordinary day will take an odd turn.

An aurora-esque light pattern is in the sky, a thunderclap is heard, and the people just...vanish. Literally just...vanish. This city, in the blink of an eye, has become a ghost town. Hal Jordan flies back to Ferris Air, completely baffled. His confidant and friend, Thomas "Tom" Kalmaku, asks if he found anything. Hal scanned the area thoroughly with his power ring, but it revealed no clues. The ringslinger then realized something.

The disapperances happened shortly after 9 AM, and Hal was supposed to be there to help open a "Boys Settlement House", a sort of place where the less fortunate could live. I can imagine he was meant to be there as Green Lantern. Hal was working another case so he couldn't make the ceremony, but it was lucky that he had to cancel. Tom realizes how lucky Hal was. If he had made it, he'd be among the people in Valdale that vanished. Hal seems to blank out for a bit, but the feeling fades quickly.

However, it turns out that his "astral self" was summoned to Oa, a planet in the center of the universe, and the home of the Guardians of the Universe. They summoned him because there's a great emergency. This summoning is kind of weird since it seems like the Guardians don't want to interfere with Hal's life, but it does confuse me. Did they create an energy duplicate of Hal to talk to him? Why not just speak to him through his ring on Earth?

Anyway, the Guardians explain that generally, Lanterns are picked after careful testing. It's hilarious because they are saying this to Hal Jordan, who was literally given a power ring by his dying predecessor. But despite this so-called testing, a bad apple can find it way in. One of them was Sinestro, the GL of sector 1417, which contained his homeworld of Korugar. You'd think the man's name alone would make someone think that he might not be the best of people.

Sinestro was good at his job. He turned out to be a darn fine Green Lantern, but the power he now had in his possession started to corrupt him. He built himself a headquarters that was opulent. People went to him for help with their problems, but he would only help people would could give him interesting adventures, much like Sherlock Holmes would only take cases that interested him.

Eventually, he made himself into Korugar's tyrannical ruler, and the Guardians had had enough of his antics. The Guardians bring him back to Oa, and strip him of his ring and power battery. They then punish him by exiling him to the world of Qward, in a universe based on anti-matter. And with that, they thought the matter was settled. But Sinestro found a way to continue being a menace to the universe. The Guardians show Hal footage of him on Qward, giving a speech to the Weaponers of the world.

Sinestro has developed a teleportation device powerful enough to transport entire cities from the matter universe. Using "super-radar", he has discovered that Green Lantern is due to appear in Valdale. He will use the teleporter to transport the city (with GL in it), to Qward. ...if Sinestro can track Green Lantern, why not just transport him when he's gone out in civilian clothes or something?

Back on Earth, Hal recovers from his dizzy spell (presumably the Guardians returning his "astral self" to him), and flies off. Hal heads to Coast City, his hometown. His ring detects a sealed aperture, an opening that allows one to go to Qward. Hal then develops a plan. He uses his ring to turn everyone in Coast City invisible. He's doing this to get the attention of Sinestro. You know, a simpler way could have been just for Hal to fly out in the middle of the desert and yell out jokes about Sinestro's mother into the air. Sinestro's "super radar" would pick him up anyway. I think modern Hal would do this.

Hal's plan, crazy as it is, actually does work. The Emerald Warrior is transported to the anti-matter universe, and the people of Coast City are visible again. Upon his arrival, the Weaponers of Qward attack him, but a green forcefield kept Hal safe. Sinestro demands that he surrender, or else he will destroy Valdale and everyone in it. Hal agrees, not wanting to risk the lives of everyone in the city. Hal thinks that he didn't consider Sinestro would hold the city hostage. Evidently, Hal being portrayed as an idiot is nothing new.

Hal demands that he will not surrender until Sinestro agrees to return the city and its people to Earth safe and sound again. Sinestro surprisingly agrees and returns the city and its people to Earth. Hal keeps his end of the bargain and allows Sinestro to place him in a bubble of yellow energy. Keep in mind, at this point, Sinestro did not have his yellow ring yet.

Being a former GL himself, Sinestro knows that the rings will only work as long as they are charged. So, they'll simply wait for the ring's charge to wear off...which will happen at 6:00. With Hal's ring dead, the Weaponers can finish him off. The Weaponers say they'll make Sinestro a chieftain for this, and he quite likes the idea. Hal has to get out, but how? He then notices something. His ring has been picking up atomic vibrations from the clock. The test pilot gets an idea.

The hour has come. The energy bubble releases a seemingly powerless Hal. Sinestro fires an energy gun at him, but Hal has a surprise for him.

Yup. Hal nails Sinestro in the mouth with a green beam. Nowadays, Hal would do it with a good ol' fashioned Air Force fist. Hal likes punching people. Sinestro is shocked by this, as Hal's charge should have worn out. Hal explains that he realized that even though his ring could not break the yellow bubble, the bubble was not airtight. He also realized the vibrations that his ring was picking up came from the clock...an atomic clock. The Emerald Gladiator was able to use his ring to send carbon dioxide molecules from his breath to the clock, making the clock run fast by speeding up the atomic mechanism. With that Hal gets the villains all wet thanks to a big green tidal wave.

Sinestro taunts Hal by reminding him that GLs are not allowed to kill, and since the Guardians already exiled him here, there's nothing else Hal can do. The test pilot traps the tyrant in a bubble, and heads for home. You know, Hal, all they would have to do to break that bubble is to paint a pin yellow and poke it. Hal makes it back to the matter universe with only seconds of ring-power left.

The story ends with Green Lantern making it to the rescheduled opening ceremony, telling the young boys there that good will always triumph over evil.

Yeah, this story does have a lot of problems. How Hal escapes is rather silly. There was no way his plan should have worked, power ring or otherwise. It's also a bit complicated to me. I'm not sure why. Also, why didn't the Guardians just contact Hal through his ring? Why do that weird astral projection stuff? Just because they can? I don't get it. Despite all of that, this still is really an important story because it introduces Sinestro, a character that would become rather important to the GL mythos, especially in recent years. Notice that he's missing something? Yeah, he didn't get his yellow ring yet. That won't be until issue nine. So, I would recommend reading it for the historical importance, and if you are a big GL fan. But I think it's not the best GL story out there.

Gil Kane's art here looks much different from the art he did in DC Comics Presents Annual #3. His figures are sleeker, and there's less lines on the faces. Of course, this was 1961, and the 1984 Annual featured art from an older Kane whose art style clearly had evolved since then. It is neat to see how his art had changed in the intervening 23 years. I do like the figures of 80s Kane, but I think his 60s work is much cleaner and lacks the excess lines.

This comic also has another story that focused on Tom Kalmaku, but it was not included in the trade. If I can find it, I'll include it in an update.

I got the scans from this story from the 2008 trade paperback Green Lantern: In Brightest Day, which collected a set of Green Lantern tales chosen by Geoff Johns. It has some great stories in it, if you find it, get it. One of my personal favorites in it is Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill's "Tygers".

Next time, we travel to a dark corporate-ruled future where the wage slaves hope for a hero with a hammer...and a young man named Dargo Ktor must answer the call and become the Thor that world needs...

LEGO Movie 2 Trailer

In 2014, Warner Bros. Pictures unleashed The LEGO Movie. It received much critical praise and made nearly $470 million at the box office. It also won several awards, and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song ("Everything is Awesome"). It also got a couple of spin-off movies: The LEGO Batman Movie, and The LEGO Ninjago Movie. In 2019, the film is going to get a proper sequel: Lego Movie 2: The Second Part. And here's the trailer!

Is this a nod to Mad Max/Planet of the Apes? Because the Statue of Liberty makes me think of Apes.

Oh my God. Those maniacs! They unleashed Taco Tuesday! YOU ABSOLUTE MADMEN! HOW COULD YOU?!

Wow. The LEGO world has turned into a postapocalyptic hellhole that would make George Miller proud, and Emmet is still Emmet.

Wait...did those Duplo figures from the last movie cause this?!

Emmet is really in denial, huh? I get he wants to be optimistic and make the best of a bad situation, but sheesh!

Heh heh, "Intergalactic" by the Beastie Boys. Look up the music video for it. It's awesome.

Heart Bomb. I've heard of killing with kindness, but that is just taking it to an insane new level.

Emmet, you are not helping with the turn signals.

Meet Sweet Mayhem, the villain of the piece. She looks cool.

Heh heh, Batman got stickered.

Chris Pratt is going back to space. Can we count this as Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3?

To be fair, Wyldstyle, that is mighty impressive.

Well, this seems like fun. I loved the original LEGO Movie, so I can't wait to see what happens next to our heroes!