Bastion Announcement Trailer, My Thoughts

In 2011, Supergiant Games developed and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment published a game called Bastion. An action-RPG, it told the tale of a character known only as "the Kid", who fought monsters on isometric-viewed pieces of a world destroyed by an event called "The Calamity". The goal? To reach a place of safety called the Bastion, while learning of what caused "The Calamity" in the first place.

The game has been heavily praised for its music, story, and graphics. However, its gameplay has received mixed reviews. Despite this, the game has reached numerous systems over the years, from PCs to X-Box One, and even on Linux. I myself played it on the 360. I remember enjoying it, but I think I lost interest. It's been a long time. Now, it's coming to the Nintendo Switch. Let's take a look!

Is the announcer trying to sound like a cowboy Morgan Freeman?

Heh heh, that animation was pretty cool.

That is a big teardrop thing.

Ah, I enjoyed slicing up and shooting monsters.

Was that a rifle?

DEATH FROM ABOVE!

Don't you just hate it when a barrier suddenly appears when you're fleeing from a floating platform's collapse. I know I do. It's like fate wants to kill you.

I've enjoyed Bastion on the X-Box 360, so I may get this for the Switch. I do hope this game has some special new stuff for this port, like extra levels, weapons, that kind of thing. I wouldn't mind if it didn't, just it would make great incentive for those who've played this game in the past to get this port. I can't wait for it.

Streets of Rage 4 Reveal Trailer, My Thoughts

In 1991, Sega published a beat-em-up game for the Sega Genesis called Streets of Rage (known as Bare Knuckle in Japan). It focused on a trio of ex-cops who quit the force to save their city from being drowned in a swamp of corruption by a crime lord known only as Mr. X. The game would be critically acclaimed, especially for its soundtrack. Composer Yuzo Koshiro was inspired by electronic dance music for the soundtrack, but also drew influences from contemporary R&B and hip-hop.

The game would have two sequels on the Sega Genesis, the second in 1992, and the third in 1994. But since then, things have been rather quiet on the series' front. There were attempts to bring the series to the Saturn and later the Dreamcast, but they never materialized. Fans had stepped in, creating various mods and fan games, but officially, Streets of Rage appeared to be a dead franchise.

Until now. French gaming company DotEmu, who specialize in the adaptation and porting of classic games to current consoles and mobile devices, have announced that they are working on a brand-new official game in the series: Streets of Rage 4. There's a reveal trailer out, so let's take a look!

So far, I'm liking what I'm seeing. I will admit, I've never played the SoR games, but it's got my attention.

Heh heh, welcome back, Axel. Love his new look.

I would so love a Streets of Rage animated series in this style. Maybe we can get Netflix and DreamWorks on it? They did do an awesome new take on Voltron...

And of course, where you have Axel, you have to have Blaze Fielding. Love her new look, too.

The music is a bit more heavy metal-esque than I would have expected for this series. I do like it, I'm just surprised.

So, this henchwoman has an...electric snake. Or is that an electric eel? A snake-eel hybrid? Hey, cyborgs exist in the Streets of Rage universe, animal hybrids can, too.

BAAAAARE KNUCKLE!

So, it seems like Axel and Blaze may be the playable characters based on this? Makes me wonder if we'll get a third or fourth character option to play as, considering the previous three games always had a trio or quartet of characters to choose from. Maybe it'll be a surprise.

This looks like it will be a ton of fun. I have played Double Dragon Neon and the original Final Fight, so it looks like this will be a ton of fun. I hope it comes to Switch!

Crisis on Infinite Earths #8 (November 1985)

The Crisis on Infinite Earths rages on! In the last issue, we said goodbye to the original Supergirl, Kara Zor-El. She had sacrificed her life to stop the Anti-Monitor from bringing about the destruction of the five remaining Earths in the original DC Multiverse. But she will not be the only hero to meet her end in this miniseries. Yes, this miniseries is also known for the death of Barry Allen, the Flash of the Silver Age. So, how did he go out? Let's find out by looking at Crisis on Infinite Earths #8!

 

The cover is awesome. We got Barry Allen standing defiantly against the Anti-Monitor, a knocked cold Psycho-Pirate in his hand. The angle really shows how big and imposing the universe-destroying madman...mad-machine? ...is. It also reminds me of the film poster of For Your Eyes Only, one of my favorite Bond movies.

Yeah, it's the UK poster, but still, see what I mean?

"A Flash of the Lightning!"
Writer: Marv Wolfman
Penciller: George Perez
Inker: Jerry Ordway
Colorist: Anthony Tollin
Editors: Len Wein, Marv Wolfman, Robert Greenberger

The story begins on...or rather, inside the Anti-Monitor's ship. Inside, the Psycho-Pirate is terrified. He fears the Anti-Monitor will kill him because his powers burned out when the anti-matter tyrant needed them (last issue, the Anti-Monitor ordered the Psycho-Pirate to use his powers to make the heroes who were attacking his citadel his slaves. The Pirate wasn't able to do it because when his powers were amplified to induce panic in the people of the remaining Earths, they got burned out). In his fear, he's ranting and raving to an...unwitting audience.

The Pirate admits to Flash that he hopes that the explosion that killed Supergirl also took the Anti-Monitor out. He also noted the irony that he's feeling all this fear and anxiety...and he can't use it. But contrary to the villain's hope, the Anti-Monitor lives. And he's got himself a new look.

I have to admit, I get the new design here. It's much more sleek than the original appearance. I love the Anti-Monitor's original look, but let's be fair. It's complicated, and extremely intricate. It's something only George Perez can do regularly. This new design is sleeker, and presumably, easier to draw. Reminds me of something Erik Larsen said. He basically said that when you design a costume, you have to keep in mind people will be drawing it over and over again. I can see this design being easier on the artists than the original. Also, I like the design. Very sleek.

But enough ranting about art design, let's get back to the story! The Anti-Monitor plans to head back to Qward, where from there, he will destroy the Earths. The Pirate is grateful that the Anti-Monitor will let him live, but the Anti-Monitor reminds him the only reason the Pirate isn't dead is because he still could have a use for the emotion-manipulator, and he can't exactly get another one at the moment.

On the hellish world of Apokolips, Darkseid's resident scientist Desaad has spotted the Anti-Monitor's ship. He wonders what can be done to stop him, but Darkseid has already taken some precautions. He has had Apokolips cloaked from the anti-matter monster's notice. The tyrant is perfectly content to let the heroes and the Anti-Monitor duke it out. If the heroes win, then the status quo will be maintained. If they lose? Well, that means the Anti-Monitor will be weakened, so it will be easier for Darkseid to finish him off.

Whereas Apokolips is willing to chill out and wait to see what happens next, Oa is not so willing. The merging has stopped, which has somehow freed the Guardians of the Universe from the state they were in in the last issue. Katma Tui is wondering why the Green Lantern Corps weren't called in to fight. Arisia agrees, as the Guardians had to have known about this whole craziness with the Anti-Monitor. They admit they knew of something crazy going down, but they had no idea of the extent of it. The Guardians argue amongst themselves about what should have been done, hinting at a potential split down the line.

In the 30th century on Earth-1, Brainiac 5 is hard at work, trying to find a way to repair the damage to the five Earths. The other Legionnaires know Brainiac 5 is pushing himself so hard because of Supergirl's death. You see, the brainy Legionnaire had a long-going thing for the Maid of Might, and considering the character at this point already had a history of being a bit mentally unstable...yeah. The other Legionnaires have every right to be concerned.

In Earth-1's then-present, the heroine known as Firehawk is visiting Firestorm in Pittsburgh.

She wanted to know what was up between him and Killer Frost. However, Firestorm gets a call. It's Vixen, and she's found the scientist known as T.O. Morrow. The three heroes, alongside the Martian Manhunter, take the criminal inventor to the old Justice League Satellite, now abandoned and in disrepair. Despite this, there are still-functioning areas of the satellite. So, why is Morrow being taken there?

The Teen Titans' Cyborg and the Atom are examining the body of the Red Tornado. They're trying to repair him, but they find his android body way too advanced for them. Considering that T.O. Morrow was the android's original creator, they figured that he may be able to help. The Atom, using a special pair of camera-goggles, shows what he sees on his journey through the inside of the Red Tornado.

Morrow is shocked. The Anti-Monitor had altered the Tornado's insides, making him something completely different from the original android he built years ago. He has no idea what he even is looking at, much less how to approach fixing him. The John Stewart Green Lantern flies out to Los Angeles, and picks up the Blue Devil, taking him to the Satellite. The Devil wonders why they want him, as he's not a scientist. He's reminded he built the original bio-suit. Yeah, the Blue Devil was originally a man in a suit, but thanks to a demon, he got turned into an actual demon. Ain't comics great?

The Blue Devil observes Morrow take off the Red Tornado's head. The demon notes that the insides of the android are glowing. He then realizes something is going on. The Atom leaps out of the robot, screaming that the robot's insides are going crazy.

Yup, the Anti-Monitor booby-trapped the Red Tornado, causing the hero to explode in a firestorm. Speaking of Firestorm, he notes that Firehawk is missing. She's alright, but her costume is busted up. Luckily, she has molecular reconstruction powers, so she can make a new one.

Yeah, this bit was only an excuse to give a minor character a new suit. T.O. Morrow tries to flee for his life, with the Blue Devil after him. Morrow vanishes, leaving the Devil confused. The former stuntman spots a space warp, and it pulls him in. He finds himself on a spaceship operated by the Omega Men. After the events of Omega Men #31 (October 1985), the Vega system thinks the Omegas are dead...and this warp may ensure that reports of their deaths will not be greatly exaggerated. The warp is causing the ship to disintegrate, leaving the Blue Devil to wonder how he's going to get out of this mess. You'll have to read Blue Devil #18 (November 1985) to find out how. Back in the anti-matter universe, the Anti-Monitor is overseeing some construction.

What is it that he's building? Well, it's a cannon. A big ol' cannon. Yup, he's going to use this thing to literally blow the five remaining Earths away. Meanwhile, the Psycho-Pirate has come to visit the Flash. His powers are starting to return, and he wants to have some fun with the Scarlet Speedster, who is trapped in some Jello glue goop. He tries to use his powers on the Fastest Man Alive, but Barry Allen is having none of it. He breaks out of his...Jello glue goop, and gives the Pirate a Mighty Punch, and he has one for his Thunderer guard, too.

The Pirate tries to make Barry afraid of him again, but the forensics expert manages to resist it and give the Pirate another Mighty Punch. And another. And another. And another. And one more just for the heck of it. The emotion-manipulator pleads for his life, and Barry tells him that he's got a little scheme going, and the Pirate is going to help him. What's the plan?

Well, Barry plans to use the Psycho-Pirate's powers to make the Anti-Monitor's Qwardian Thunderers to turn on the cosmic cyborg and attack him.

With the Thunderers raining their bolts on the Anti-Monitor, Flash turns to the anti-matter cannon. The Psycho-Pirate pleads for Flash's help, but he only gets another Mighty Punch. As far as the Flash is concerned, Psycho-Pirate deserves it if the Anti-Monitor kills him. He was willing to join up with a being that killed uncountable amounts of people with no remorse, and the five Earths were next on his hit list. Barry vibrates inside the cannon.

Barry discovers that the cannon's power source is concentrated anti-matter. He can feel himself weakening somehow. I have no idea. He has to destroy the cannon, and there's only one way a Flash can do it.

Barry Allen begins to run.

He runs, faster and faster, despite his growing weaker. His legs are feeling like lead, but still, he runs. He thinks about his parents. He thinks about his wife Iris. He thinks about his friends and loved ones, like Fiona Webb, Wally West, Dexter Myles, Ralph and Sue Dibny, Hal Jordan...he knows he's dying, but still...he runs. He runs, despite the pain he is in.

The Anti-Monitor endures the assault of the Weaponers of Qward, getting his armor damaged in the process. He manages to fight them off. The cosmic cyborg witnesses the cannon over-loading, Flash's running is causing the cannon to overload, the anti-matter energy inside being forced inside the machine.

Faster and faster Barry Allen runs. He is in pain, and his body is slowly disintegrating. His speed is so great, he starts flashing through points in time, seeing Kid Flash, and the Joker and Batman (from issue 2), and he screams for help. Barry keeps running as his body wears away, leaving an empty costume. His running is not in vain, as to the horror of the Anti-Monitor, his cannon explodes into a useless pile of wrecked metal and rubble.

From a meta-perspective, Barry Allen dying in Crisis on Infinite Earths made a bit of poetic sense. It was a Barry Allen story, "Flash of Two Worlds", that introduced the DC Multiverse. And it is appropriate that his final adventure be in the story that ends the DC Multiverse. The Anti-Monitor takes the destruction of his cannon rather well. He takes the destruction of his cannon so well that he vows to make the humans suffer. He takes it so well that he absorbs the energy of the worlds of his universe, killing everyone on them. What does he plan to do with that energy? Well, do a bit of time-travelling.

The scene then shifts to Earth-1, particularly Challenger Mountain, home of the Challengers of the Unknown: Kyle "Ace" Morgan, Matthew "Red" Ryan, Leslie "Rocky" Davis", Professor Walter Mark "Prof" Haley, and June Robbins. Evidently, they could not be bothered to come up with a nickname for her. The Challengers were essentially a group of four men who miraculously survived a plane crash. This event convinced them they were living on "borrowed time", so they banded together to have adventures. They first appeared in 1957. Yeah. June Robbins, who was an archaeologist and computer expert, would later join the group.

The five Challengers are monitoring some subspace readings Superman asked them to take a look at. They're a bit nervous about this new threat, as even thought they've managed to cheat death despite "living on borrowed time", they usually had some idea what they were facing. Evidently, none of the superheroes who were in the anti-matter universe bothered to tell these guys anything. "Prof" Haley picks up a noise on his equipment. It's a scream. But it's not a normal scream. It's a scream that seems to permeate the entire universe. It's a scream that gives the Challengers agony as lightning cracks in the sky. What could create a scream like this?

The Spectre, that's who. The embodiment of God's Wrath, screaming in frustration and protest. The Spectre is one of the most powerful beings in the entire DC Multiverse. Despite having near god-like power, even he is helpless against this crisis of multiversal proportions. The story has an epitaph to Barry Allen, the man who brought in the Silver Age of Comics in a streak of red and gold, including a quote from Scottish poet William Knox's 1824 poem "Mortality".

Oh why should the spirit of mortal be proud?

Like a fast-flittering meteor, a fast flying cloud

A flash of the lightning, a break of the wave

He passes from life to his rest in the grave.

A rather appropriate stanza for a man known for being fast. In fact, the title of the issue is from the poem as well.

This comic is really good. The obvious highlight is Barry Allen's death. It's powerful, and he went out like the hero he was. This was why fans viewed Barry as the savior of the DC Universe, and one of the reasons why his return to life in Final Crisis was so controversial among the DC fanbase. As I said earlier, his death in this miniseries is appropriate, especially from a meta-perspective. Who better to give his life to save the remainder of the DC Multiverse, than the man who discovered it in the first place?

Fun fact, Marv Wolfman did include a hidden way to bring Barry back to life if another author wanted to do so.

Of course, George Perez turns in some fantastic art. I think Jerry Ordway's inks go very well with his pencils, like Terry Austin's inking complimented Byrne's pencils in X-Men. The usage of panels in Barry's death is very clever, the position and size helping sell the idea of Barry withering to dust. I do have one question, though. How did Barry know this would destroy the cannon? How did he know his running around the cannon's core would cause the energy storied in the cannon to make it explode? It's a minor nitpick, but it's just something I felt I had to point out.

Next time, gather around the Justice League satellite, kids! In a follow-up to my most popular blog entry ever, we shall finally hear Reena's Tale...

Final Score Trailer, My Thoughts

What do you get when you take Drax the Destroyer, James Bond, and Volstagg, drop them onto an English soccer field, and basically pay whole-plot homage to the 1995 Jean-Claude Van Damme film Sudden Impact? Well, you get Final Score, of course! Let's take a look at the trailer for this upcoming flick starring Dave Bautista, Pierce Brosnan, and Ray Stevenson!

Ah, nothing like a nice game of soccer with the niece. Lovely bit of family bonding.

Why do the bad guys always strike during the tie-breaker?! Let them finish the game, dagnabit!

So, Dave Bautista has to kill bearded Pierce Brosnan in 90 minutes, or the stadium goes boom. I've heard this film be described as "Die Hard on a football pitch", but this is clearly soccer's answer to Sudden Impact. Seriously.

Could have sworn that dude was Sean Connery. That would have been awesome. Two James Bonds in one movie. That would have been epic.

I don't think Drax there is nervous about killing dudes. He did kill a spaceship.

Dude, there's a reason why we do not allow people to ride inside! Do you want to run over somebody?! Because that's how you run over somebody!

Fire extinguisher to the face! That dude's modeling career is over.

"Kill 'em All." Didn't know he was a Metallica fan. And that's kind of what you'd expect the hero in a movie like this to do. And does Dave Bautista sound...off in those scenes? Like he was dubbed? Sounds like it to me.

HOW DO YOU SHAKE OFF A FRYING PAN TO THE JAW?!

So, while these terrorists are holding the stadium hostage, the soccer players are deciding to just play a game anyway? I've heard of the British thing for keeping calm and carrying on, but...wow.

Yeah, I'm not exactly expecting this to be groundbreaking in any way. I'm hoping this ends up being some mindless fun. I can imagine that's all I can hope for in a movie like this. It have a good cast, so maybe that'll help.

Text Play: Pokemon Mega Adventure #12

Welcome to the 12th entry in my journey through the Akiba region! Let's play some Pokémon Mega Adventure!

Grinding, grinding, and grinding. Been doing a lot of grinding for this Gym battle. Got my Sandshrew to evolve into Sandslash, so that's pretty cool. And so, I am so ready to take on Volkner. This is the team I plan to bring in.

Deino is a Dragon-type, which is resistant to Electric, from what I understand. My Grovyle and Ivysaur are Grass, which is also resistant to Electric attacks. Biollantus, my Ivysaur, is also packing Posion Powder and Leech Seed, so it can wear Volkner's Pokémon down. I still am mixed about Butterfree. Yeah, it's being part-Flying makes it vulnerable to Electric attacks, but it is fast, and it is packing Sleep Powder. Hopefully, I can put Volkner's Pokémon to sleep and whack them with Psybeam before it wakes up.

But my big guns against him? Harvina and Amy, my Drillbur and Sandslash. Harvina knows Dig, and Amy knows Magnitude, two Ground attacks that can do some damage. Also, being Ground-type makes it immune to Electric-type attacks. Alright, let's do this!

When I got into the Gym, I reached Volkner's area, and I noticed something.

 

What're these isolated areas with the cops and Electrodes for? Were they meant to be rooms where you could battle them? What if those cops need to go eat or use the bathroom? How do they get out? Anyway, enough dawdling. Time to fight Volkner!

Heh heh, he thinks he's so cool. He starts out with a Zebstrika. It manages to paralyze Deino, but Deino hits it hard with Crunch. Volkner then uses a Super Potion to heal the Zebstrika. Despite this, Deino's Crunch takes it down. It took a beating, so I switch Deino out. Volkner brings out Electabuzz, and I respond with Harvina the Drillbur. Harvina's dig takes Electabuzz down with one blow. So, I decide to keep her out for Volkner's final Pokémon. His last Pokémon is a Manectric, and he as another surprise.

Yeah, it can Mega Evolve. Mega Manectric is kind of funny-looking. I get the impression that mane is rather stiff and impedes its head movement. Anyway, Drillbur wrecks it. So much for Mega Evolution being a major power-up. And with that, I earned the Boruto Badge. The Badge allows Pokémon to use Strength in the map. And I also got TM57: Charge Beam. Four badges down, four more to go. When I leave the Gym, I'm greeted by a Pidgeot, and it's got a letter for me.

I am curious as to why this badge is called the "Boruto" badge. Honestly, the only "Boruto" I knew of was connected to Naruto, the anime/manga franchise. Luckily, Wikitonary came to my rescue. It turns out "Boruto" is a loanword to Japanese from English. "Boruto" means bolt or volt, and this was the badge from a Gym that specialized in electric-type Pokémon. Heh heh. Clever.

It's from Red, as in the player character from the original Red and Blue. He's waiting for me in a place called Fairy City. I think he's waiting for me in Floroma Town. Yeah, this game needed a proofreader, because he said something about a "Flomola Town". With my next destination set, I decided to check my map to find Fairy City. And it turns out I was in error. There is an actual "Flomola Town".

Why does this game have two towns that have similar names? Anyway, I have to go back through Tsukachiga City and go north. Fairy City is at the end of what is the biggest bridge of the Akiba Region. It's known as the Windflow Bridge. What a name. While at the end, I encounter...

Is that...Is that Looker? Yeah, it is him! He heard about my whupping Team Prime's butt at the Power Plant, and he wants my help. Evidently, the whupping I handed them was so bad, they had been laying low. Looker thinks they're up to something in Fairy City, and he wants my help to investigate it. Since I'm heading there anyway, I agreed to do so. Kill two birds with one stone.

At the foot of the bridge, I found a couple of bikers having a battle. The bridge itself looks like a giant road, and it's rainy. Very rainy. During my journey across the bridge, I saw this gathering.

It's a bunch of performing Budew. Neat. This bridge also has its fair share of Pokémon, mainly birds like Pidgey, Pidove, and Ducklett. There are also some trainers to battle if you want to power your Pokémon up. I added one, a sailor, to my Pokégear. The bridge ends with a pair of Trainers doing a Pokémon battle. One of them tells me Red is waiting for me in the Stones Laboratory. I'm guessing the place researches the various stones Pokémon use for various things, mainly evolution.

After that, she summons her Altair to take her home, and she vanishes. Weird. And who was that girl, anyway? A friend of Red's? Anyway, I've finally arrived in Fairy City, the "most popular city in the Akiba Region". ...How did it get that nickname? What makes it so popular?

Upon arrival, I meet a scientist who is an assistant to a Professor Hase. He's looking for someone with a Pokédex. I imagine that can't be hard to find. There are lots of trainers out there, and you'd think Pokédexes would be standard equipment for a trainer. He needs some help, and I reluctantly agree.

I decided to do some exploring before meeting Red, and I found that Fairy City has its own Game Corner, the Pokémon world equivalent of a casino. I'm guessing that's why Fairy City is so popular, despite the city being rainier than Seattle. I also learned that many Gym Leaders live here as well. Huh. You'd think Gym Leaders would reside in or near the towns their Gyms are in. Makes commutes easier.

 I went to the Stones Institute, and I got a Pixie Stone. The scientist who gave it to me said they have no idea what it is, and thinks it's useless. I'm assuming this Stone has something to do with Fairy-types and evolution. Maybe I can evolve an Eevee into Sylveon with it Red says he has an item for me, but he has to battle me for it. Alright, let's go! But WAIT! To face him, I have to beat Mary, Fairy City's gym leader.

Who's Mary, you ask? She was the little girl I encountered earlier on Windflow Bridge. She lives in town, so I have to go see her at her home first. Explains how she knew who I was. And they let a little girl be a Gym Leader?! How does that work? Aren't there rules against that kind of thing?! Where are her parents?! You know, I should not be surprised. In a world where children are allowed to travel around a region without any supervision capturing and training potentially dangerous monsters, of course they can be gym leaders.

And here is where I think we'll stop for now. Join me next time as we explore around the City, and maybe hope for some winnings at the Game Corner! You know, maybe Team Prime is up to something at the Game Corner. Illicit gambling would be a good funding source for them. And I can imagine there may be something at the Stones Institute they'd find valuable. Who knows? Maybe we'll find out next time!

Pokémon Obtained:

Sandslash (evolved from Sandshrew)

Windflow Bridge

- Ducklett

Diablo III Eternal Collection Announcement, My Thoughts

In 1996, Blizzard Entertainment released a little game called Diablo. It was a hack-and-slash action-RPG for computers in which you played the role of a hero, who tries to travel through a dungeon underneath the town of Tristram to face the titular character, the Lord of Terror who reigns over Hell. The game was given critical acclaim and sold over 2.5 million units, which led to two sequels: 2000's Diablo II, and 2012's Diablo III. The series has sold nearly 25 million copies worldwide, and is considered some of the greatest games ever made.

My first exposure to the series was the third game for the X-Box 360. I enjoyed it, but found the massive dungeons a bit of a slog. The games have not just come to PCs, but also to consoles, mainly the X-Box and PlayStation lines. But now, Diablo III is busting its way into a Nintendo console for the first time, and here's the announcement for it!

Ah, a typical day at Nintendo headquarters. Where the video gaming magic is made!

Oh hi, Reggie! Is your body ready for this game?

I have no idea who this guy is.

Reggie's got a present, huh? Hope it's a nice scarf or something. Or a lightsaber. That would be sweet.

Oh, Mike Morholme is the CEO of Blizzard. That makes sense.

Hey, it makes sense they'd want the Diablo series to come to the Switch. Imagine slaughtering demons on the go.

I like that they included the expansions this game had. Maybe we can hope they'll make a new expansion for this port as well? I don't mind if they don't, it's great having the complete game on the go already.

Oh dear, Diablo ate Reggie.

Never let it be said angels have no flair for the dramatic or for style.

Wow, this looks amazing!

Slay demons with your friends! What better way to bond with people than killing monsters?

And some exclusive items, huh? Looks like we'll get a bit of a Legend of Zelda crossover. I think we're getting a Triforce-themed ring, a Cucco, and what looks like a suit of armor based on Ganondorf. Hope these items have some sweet bonuses.

I already have the X-Box 360 version, but I think I'll pick this version up too, so I can play it on the go.

Adventures of Superman #466 (May 1990)

Back in the day, the Big Two of comic books (Marvel and DC) were known for homaging each other in various ways. The most notable of these homages was during Halloween, when both companies would do stories set in Rutland, Vermont. You see, every year, Rutland holds a special Halloween parade, in which people mostly dress up as superheroes. It was started by the late Tom Fagan, who was a local writer and comic book fan. It would be used as a setting for several Marvel and DC stories in the 1970s.

Another way they paid homage to each other was by creating pastiches. One of the most notable pastiches was Marvel's Squadron Supreme, who were essentially an homage to the Justice League. I looked at their 12-issue mini-series last year. DC also did homages to Marvel characters. One example is the one we'll look at here. So join me as we take a look at Superman battling a twisted take on the Fantastic Four in Adventures of Superman #466!

The cover is awesome. You got the Man of Steel battling two of the "Fantastic Four". What I love is the "Invisible Woman" of the bunch is all like, "Oh my God, watch it, you rockbrained idiot! You nearly trampled me!", while the "Mr. Fantastic" of the four is all like, "What is going on? Why are we fighting Superman?" It's a great cover, I love it.

"The Limits of Power"
Writer: Dan Jurgens
Artists: Dan Jurgens (Layouts), Dick Giordano (Finished Art, credited as "Sludd" Giordano)
Inker: Dick Giordano
Colorist: Glenn Whitmore
Editors: Jon Peterson, Mike Carlin

The story begins at a NASA control center in Houston, Texas. They're monitoring the space shuttle Excalibur as it attempts a problematic reentry.

On the reentry, the crew of four astronauts are exposed to bizarre radiation. Sound familiar? The shuttle explodes and crashes into a wooded area. Two of the astronauts, a man named Hank Henshaw and a woman named Terri, find each other. The dialogue suggests they are a husband and wife team. The two are alright, but Terry notices Hank's hair is now completely white. Hank asks about the other two astronauts, man named Jim Garrison and Steven...I'm giving him the surname "Tempest", because why not? If we're going to rip-off the FF, let's go all out. Steven calls out for help, as the radiation caused him to...get a new look.

Hank theorizes that the radiation mutated Steven Tempest, causing the destruction of his original body...and the creation of a new body composed of radiation. Steven freaks out, worried that he's going to die. Terri realizes Jim is missing. They quickly find him, and much like Steven Tempest, Jim Garrison is not a human being anymore.

Yeah, this...Thing, for lack of a better term, is no cantankerous idol of millions with a speech pattern like Jimmy Durante. Instead, much like Steven, his body was destroyed. Instead of forming a new one out of the radiation itself, his new body was formed from the ground and spaceship wreckage around him. And unlike Steven, he's in constant pain.

Hank reminds the crew they were experimenting with radiation out in space when they ran into trouble. Propriety demands they return to NASA, but they're too far away. Metropolis is closer, and since the experiments were also funded by Lexcorp, they should go there. How Hank knows where they are and that Metropolis is closer is beyond me. Steven discovers that he can use his new energy powers to create platforms, and he uses this ability to transport the others there. Terri wonders if this is the right thing. Hank assures them that it is. Jim needs help as he is clearly in agony, and unbeknownst to the others, Hank suffers from radiation sickness.

In the Big Apricot, Lois Lane is getting a visit from her sister Lucy. Lucy is teasing her older sister about making dinner for Clark. Clark Kent arrives, and Lucy takes that as her cue to leave. As she heads out, she thinks about looking up Jimmy Olsen again. The doorbell rings, and Lois goes to the door, thinking it must be Lucy. Lucy tends to be a bit forgetful with her keys. But it's not Lucy, it's Perry and Alice White. Perry has arrived to give some papers for Lois to study, presumably for a story she's working on.

Alice is rather icy towards Clark, as she felt Clark stabbed Perry in the back. You see, Clark had taken an editorial position for a while at Newstime, a competitor magazine. He then quit and returned to the Daily Planet, and Alice felt Clark's taking that job was a metaphorical finger to Perry as Perry White was the one who found Clark and made him into the reporter he is today. Geez, Alice! If Clark was being offered a better job, why not take it?!

Meanwhile, in a park, two men are meeting. These men? Morgan Edge, alleged criminal. Bruno "Ugly" Mannheim, head of Intergang. If you ever watched Superman: The Animated Series, you may be familiar with Mannheim (voiced by Bruce Weitz) and Intergang. They're basically an organized crime syndicate that uses technology from Apokolips. Mannheim assures that Edge's legal troubles at the time will handle themselves...provided he stay out of trouble. Edge says he needs no help, but Mannheim intimidates him and states that Edge had better stay away from Daily Planet reporter Cat Grant. If he does, he'll be alright.

Steven Tempest unknowingly flies over this scene as he and the rest of the Excalibur crew fly into Metropolis. Terri notices that Hank doesn't look well. Hank admits this, and wonders if he'll create a new body, much like Steve and Jim. But now's not the time for thinking. The astronauts arrive at Lexcorp's front door, and the overeager guard basically tells them, "get out or I'll blast you." Hank pleads to let them use the lab. The guard is alerted that they are contaminated by radiation. The guard panics and calls for some heavier backup.

Perry White gets a tip about the astronauts arriving in Lexcorp, and asks Lois to check it out. Clark will stay behind and watch the dinner. Clark agrees. When the others leave, he decides to go investigate himself. After all, this sounds like a job for Superman. Superman arrives, and sees the astronauts brawl with some armored Lexcorp guards.

In typical Superman style, the Man of Steel tries to calm everyone down and figure out what is going on here, although he does think that if they are angry at Luthor, they may have a darn good reason. Steven thinks Superman is about to be blasted by one of the guards. He tries to fight back, but accidentally hits Superman. It's not helped by Jim hurling another guard at Superman. Steven loses it and starts blasting everyone. Superman uses one of the guards' battle suits to contain him. Garrison then smacks the Metropolis Marvel with a lamppost. However, Hank Henshaw is able to calm everyone down and explain himself.

Henshaw explains they were doing some experiments in space, but then they got hit with some unusually intense solar flares. Superman realizes that some days earlier, he destroyed a Kryptonian artifact called The Eradicator into the Sun [In Adventures of Superman #465 (April 1990)]. It leads him to wonder if maybe he's at fault for this. Was that the reason those solar flares hit? Either way, Superman pledges to help in any way he can.

Elsewhere in Metropolis, one Cat Grant (you may know her from the Supergirl live-action series) gets a visitor.

Meet Jose Delgado, the Gangbuster. He was on his way to tell Lois he was rooming at the local "Y" for a while, but he also has some news for Cat. You see, established earlier, Morgan Edge is on trial for his connections to Intergang. Cat was one of the people who exposed him, so her ex-husband fears that they will target her. As such, he hired Jose to be her bodyguard. Cat is not too happy about this, but Jose reminds her that Intergang are bad news. Both she and her son Adam are in danger, so he's sticking to her. Besides, he already spent the money Cat's ex paid him, so he might as well do the job.

Back at the Lexcorp labs, Henshaw is having some frustrations. He's running out of time. Terri's starting to fade into another dimension, Garrison is in agony, and he has no idea what to do to help them. Henshaw himself...doesn't look so good.

Hot dang, he looks bad. His skin is melting off, and he has no time to rest. He looks like the next hot new horror monster. You know, I think this is what happened to Jim and Steven, but Henshaw's just undergoing the process much more slowly. Superman suggests they ask STAR Labs for help. Luthor is not there to help, and the Man of Steel is no scientist. Man, he could use that Pre-Crisis super-intelligence right now. Henshaw angrily refuses, saying only he can find the answer.

Terri starts to fade away, and Steven breaks out of his improvised warsuit prison, more powerful than ever. He flies into the sky, ranting about how powerful he is and that he can do anything. Superman pursues him into space, but is having trouble keeping up. Yeah, at this time, there was an effort to instill limits to Superman's power. Steven flies towards the sun, ranting that he hears it calling to him, wanting to join with him. He ends up getting torn to shreds...somehow.

Superman realizes the other three astronauts still need help, so he flies back down to the Lexcorp lab, thinking maybe he can get the JLA or Titans to help...but he's too late. Henshaw is almost a skeleton. He's still holding on, though. But for not much longer. With his dying words, he pleads for Superman to save Terri, as it's too late for him or Jim. He tries to tell him how to save Terri, but dies before he can finish. Superman notices that he can barely see Terri. She's almost finished being transported to the other dimension.

Jim is able to point out a radiation chamber. Superman deduces that Hank must've been trying to use that equipment to save himself, Jim, and Terri. Yeah, because adding more radiation will help. Terri gets in the chamber by going through the door. Meanwhile, the pain-addled and teary-eyed Jim heads towards an MRI booth.

Henshaw's plan ends up working, and the radiation restores Terri to normal. With that problem solved, Superman and Terri race to find Jim and see if it's still possible to help him. Henshaw may have thought there was no way, but Superman is not the type to give up on helping someone. They do find Mr. Garrison...what's left of him.

As shown in the panel, Jim basically the MRI booth to commit suicide. He was so in pain that he must have felt that it was the only option he had left. Terri is heartbroken. Her husband and two comrades are dead. Where can she go from there? Personally, I can imagine that she is still employed by NASA or Lexcorp, so I can imagine that, after a mental break to deal with all of this, of course, they can still give her something to do. Superman vows to help all he can. He blames himself for this, as he thinks that his throwing the Eradicator into the sun caused the solar flare that helped make this whole mess.

Terri indicated that could not have been possible because...the solar flare that caused this mess occurred yesterday morning. Superman did toss the Kryptonian artifact into the sun the same day...but he did it during the afternoon, so he couldn't have caused it. Yeah, minor error there. According to Superman earlier in the book, he tossed the Eradicator several days earlier. It was just a tragic accident. Superman takes Terri to a hospital. After this, he heads home.

Back in his apartment, Superman is back in his guise as Clark Kent. He uses a bit of heat vision to finish the soufflé that Lois was making earlier to perfection. Lois arrives, and she wants to tell him about some happenings at Lexcorp. Lois, are you talking about that battle earlier? Because Clark was there. As Superman. I'm assuming that she stumbled on something else.

You see, earlier in the issue, Clark had wanted to talk to Lois about their relationship. Earlier in the story, Clark had wanted to say something to her, but Lois wasn't interested. She wasn't a fan of the word "relationship", and she just wanted to see where things went with them at this point. The whole experience with the astronauts reminded Clark that life can be shorter than one thinks. Lois may want to let their relationship proceed at its own pace, but sometimes you have to give things a push, to take a chance. If it fails, at least the attempt was made. Lois is confused by what Clark means, but he explains by kissing her. Lois returns the kiss.

The story ends with Jose Delgado witnessing this and walking away.

This was actually a pretty good issue. As a "done-in-one" issue, it was very enjoyable. The Superman creative team, paying homage to the Fantastic Four, with tragic results. Honestly, I would have loved seeing these four stick around for a while, perhaps even try to be heroes alongside Superman, but the radiation slowly driving them mad. But I get why it's a done-in-one, and it's a very enjoyable one.

Jurgens and Giordano make quite the good art team in this book. The characters are very expressive. Also, I love their designs for the transformations for Steve and Jim. They're very reminiscent of the Human Torch and the Thing, but also have something original about them. Like they were pastiches that had the potential to evolve into original characters in their own right.

This story would introduce Hank Henshaw, would become one of Superman's biggest headaches later on. But wait, didn't he die here? Well, not exactly. His body disintegrated, but his mind survived. He became a disembodied consciousness that had the ability to build new bodies out of mechanical parts. He used this power to possess the "birthing matrix" that rocketed the baby Kal-El to Earth. Configuring it into a rocketship, he would use it to explore the cosmos. He would learn of Superman's tossing the Eradicator into the sun. This, combined with the time in space, would cause Henshaw to develop a hatred of Superman, and a desire for revenge against the Man of Steel. After Superman died battling Doomsday, Henshaw saw an opportunity to make Superman pay for the loss of his crew. He would use his powers to become one of the four impersonators of Superman that showed up afterwards. It was here that Hank would be in his most recognizable form: The Cyborg Superman.

Hank Henshaw would also be associated with Green Lantern, particularly the Hal Jordan incarnation. As part of his scheme of revenge against Superman, Henshaw would destroy Hal's hometown of Coast City. This tragedy would eventually drive Hal to go insane and become Parallax, leading to the rise of Kyle Rayner as the (at the time) sole Green Lantern. Green Lantern: Rebirth retconned this by saying that Parallax was an entity of living fear that took advantage of Hal's grief to possess him.

Interestingly, Superman would team up with the actual Fantastic Four in a 1999 crossover. Appropriately enough, Hank Henshaw was one of the villains of that crossover. I have that one, and I just may take a look at it one day for this blog.

I love this era of Superman, and I don't think it's talked about very much. It's a real shame. In my opinion, late 80s-90s era Superman was a hidden Golden Age for the character. Fun stories and great art. If you can find some of it, get it. This issue has been collected in trade form, particularly in the 2013 trade Superman: Dark Knight Over Metropolis. It has a team-up story that would make a great story to look at on Halloween...

Next time, the Crisis on Infinite Earths rages on, and we see the fall of another major hero...

Next Up Hero Launch Trailer, My Thoughts

In August, Aspyr Media published a dungeon-crawler game created by an indie studio called Digital Continue. The game was called Next Up Hero. It focused on a group of heroes with various talents and abilities fighting monsters. If one hero died, the next up could call up that dead hero as a computer-controlled "echo" to help them fight. The game was originally published for Steam, X-Box One, and the PlayStation 4. But now, it's also coming to the Nintendo Switch, joining its rather impressive library of indie games. Let's take a look at the trailer for it!

Dungeon Maker 5000, huh? Man, those RPG Maker guys are really branching out. I gotta admit, I am intrigued at the idea of making your own dungeons.

Heh heh, the kid is like your stereotypical gamer, always going for the hard mode.

I admit,  I do like the look of the game. Very colorful.

Heh heh, in this game, when it's said death cannot stop a hero from bringing justice, they mean it.

Hey, co-op play! I wonder if this is new for the Switch version.

So, one of your fellow heroes is down. What do you do? Do you try and retreat to get them help? Nope, MAKE THE GAME HARDER.

Well, this looks like a ton of fun. I hope it has a demo, so I can give it a try. But still, it looks like a real blast to play.

500th Post!

Well, it had to happen, and it came sooner than I thought! My 500th post!

Yeah, I have to admit, like my 300th post, I was surprised I reached this far already. I want to thank everyone who has been reading and enjoying my blog over the past four years. I have had a ton of fun writing for it over the years, and I hope you all have had a wonderful time reading the silliness I put on here.

So, what do I have planned for the future with this blog? Well, I do plan to work on this month's review of an issue of Crisis on Infinite Earths. Also, I am working on a new entry in my Text Play of Pokémon Mega Adventure. Also, remember my review of Justice League #221 (December 1983) from May 2016? It was one of the most popular entries I have ever written. It's the only blog entry to have over 10,000 hits...and counting. People really love catgirls, huh? Well, I finally managed to obtain the next two issues that completed this storyline, so expect a follow-up to that entry soon. I cannot wait for that one, as I have things to say about that storyline.

I'm not really someone who plans heavily ahead with this blog, but after I cover Crisis on Infinite Earths, I do want to spend 2019 looking over another 12-issue mini-series. Which one...well...it's a Secret...

I also am working on a new entry in my Text Play of Pokémon Mega Adventure, so that is still going. So yeah, I got quite a few things going here. This blog is far from dead.

Again, thank you to everyone who has read and enjoyed this blog for the past 500 posts. Here's to 500 more, hopefully!

Fantastic Four #286 (January 1986)

Back in January, I took a look at Avengers #263 (January 1986). It was the first part of a three-part story that had the goal of bringing back Jean Grey, one of the original five X-Men, who had seemingly died as a result of the Dark Phoenix Saga storyline. This three part story is also unique because it was set over three books: Avengers, Fantastic Four, and the first issue of a book that would make its debut: X-Factor. We have looked at the first part of this story, now let's take a look at the second part, as Marvel's First Family witnesses the rebirth of the Phoenix!

The cover is pretty awesome. You have Jean front and center, and the Fantastic Four recoiling from her. It gives the impression that Jean is imposing and frightening. It makes sense, considering Jean was believed to have been the Dark Phoenix at the time.

"Like a Phoenix!"
Writers: John Byrne, Chris Claremont
Pencilers: John Byrne, Jackson Guice
Inker: Terry Austin
Colorist: Glynis Oliver
Letterer: John Workman
Editor: Michael Carlin
Editor-in-Chief: Jim Shooter

The story begins with the FF returning home from an adventure in space. This comes from the events of Fantastic Four Annual #19 (November 1985), where they and the Avengers failed to stop a bomb from going off that stripped the Skrulls of their species' ability to shapeshift. They got that power back, as Secret Invasion clearly showed. The Avengers returned to Earth, but the FF decided to play "Star Trek" and do some space exploration for a while.

She-Hulk remarks that with all the detours that the group has taken, she had wondered if the FF would ever return home. Yeah, at the time, the Sensational She-Hulk had joined the Fantastic Four, as the Thing had opted to stay on Battleworld after the events of the first Secret Wars. The two of them attempt to land their craft at JFK International Airport, but they're told to divert to La Guardia instead. The air traffic controller explains an incident happened, but the Avengers had it handled.

Since Avengers Mansion doesn't have a landing place for their craft, they'll have to land at La Guardia and take a taxi. Heh heh, keep in mind, the Fantastic Four are famous celebrities. The idea of them having to call a taxi to get to the headquarters of another team of superheroes is hilarious to me. In case you're wondering, the FF have been staying at Avengers Mansion at this point because their old headquarters, the Baxter Building, was destroyed by Kristoff Vernard in Fantastic Four #278 (May 1985). The group arrive and Cap recounts the events of Avengers #263 to him. He then shows Reed the cocoon.

The thing is now inert, showing no measurable activity. Reed reaches out to touch the coffin, but like others in the past, is sent flying. Good thing Sue is there with her forcefields. He suggests Sue use her powers to make invisible things visible to give everyone a look at what is in that thing. Sue warns there may be nothing in there at all. As she tries to use that power, she notes she feels a resistance, like something is fighting it. But Sue is able to reveal what is in the pod.

Yeah, if you read Avengers #263, you'd know it was Jean in there. Nobody recognizes her, which makes more sense than you think. The Fantastic Four encountered the X-Men for the first time in Fantastic Four #28 (July 1964). During that time, the X-Men were wearing their original costumes, which included masks. The two groups would meet again during the events of X-Men: The Hidden Years #8-9 (July-August 2000), but Jean still had a mask as part of her costume. Captain America worked with Jean during the events of Captain America #172-174 (April-June 1974), battling the original Secret Empire. If you want to learn more about the original Secret Empire storyline, I reviewed the climax of that storyline right here. None of the heroes at that point ever saw Jean unmasked, so it does make sense they have no idea who she is.

Johnny Storm, bored with the idea of waiting around while Reed does research, decides to go out on a date. She-Hulk agrees, as she wants to catch up with her beloved Wyatt Wingfoot. Despite this, She-Hulk admits she does find Hercules rather impressive. The next morning, Jarvis arrives to give them some breakfast, and Reed realizes they've spent the last eight hours at this mystery without  break.

The time wasn't a complete waste, though. Reed managed to lock on to Jean's brainwaves, and he thinks she may be in a form of suspended animation. As for the pod's defensive energies, Jean's unconscious mind is the reason for them. Jarvis surmises that maybe she has superpowers. Remember, none of the heroes here have ever seen Jean Grey unmasked. They have no idea she was in the X-Men. Reed is going to try and wake her up, using a "gentle bio-radiant stimulation of her conscious mind". That's when the craziness starts. First it's Jarvis's coffee, and then it's give Sue Storm-Richards one heck of a wake-up call.

Sue realizes Reed did something in the lab again, and she'd better get down there. In the lab, Cap, Hercules, and Reed are been sent flying around, but it's not the pod. It's Jean herself. Reed activates a device that causes the pod to break apart, releasing Jean Grey.

The original X-Men member is back, still thinking she is dealing with the events of X-Men #98-100 (April-August 1976). She is confused when she realizes she's not at Steven Lang's SHIELD satellite, and Lang himself isn't there. Reed explains who he is and she's in Avengers Mansion. Jean isn't convinced. After all, last time she saw the Fantastic Four, they wore blue costumes, not black ones. The FF's suits were turned black due to the properties of the Negative Zone causing an inversion of their costumes' colors when they came back to Earth from it in Fantastic Four #256 (July 1983). Reed tells her he'll explain if she puts him and the other heroes down.

Jean refuses, believing that they're robotic duplicates. At the time, Jean had just had an encounter with the X-Sentinels, robotic duplicates of the original X-Men created by Steven Lang. If he could create robotic simulacrums of the X-Men, he could do ones based on other heroes, too. She's knocked to the ground by an invisible battering ram. Jean tries to attack the arriving Sue, but her powers do not work on the First Family of Superheroes' matriarch. Sue explains that her powers are working, it's just her forcefields are able to cancel them out somehow. Taking advantage, she traps Jean in a force bubble, and the other three heroes fall to the ground. With that, Jean gives up.

Reed realizes that Jean is Marvel Girl of the original X-Men. Jean demands to know why Lang is doing this. She will not beg. She will not grovel. She is an X-Man, and she is stronger than that. Cap explains that Marvel Girl vanished years ago. Reed orders Sue to drop her forcefield, saying they can convince her they are the real deal by putting themselves at her mercy. Jean is left confused...and very tired.

Jarvis gives her a chair so she can rest, and offers her some tea. Jean is very confused, and recalls the last things she can remember, the Sentinel attack on Christmas Eve, Steven Lang's attempt to kill her, the battle with the X-Sentinels, her seemingly sacrificing herself to help get the other X-Men back to Earth, that kind of thing. She knows something else happened, but can't remember. Reed does recall that Sentinel attack, and Cap claims the government disavowing any knowledge or support of Lang's little genocide attempt.

Sue points out that none of it explains how Jean ended up in the bottom of Jamaica Bay. She suggests that Reed try the Bio-Stimulator again, but Reed refuses. He said he would not have used it in the first place if he knew Jean had mental powers. To use it again could give her permanent brain damage. I'm guessing people with mental powers have some sort of sensitivity to the system or something like that, I have no idea.

Jean suggests they take her to Professor Xavier, as he may be able to help her. He's one of the most powerful telepaths on Earth. If he can't help her find her lost memories, no one can. She needs the X-Men. Cap says that is not such a good idea right now. Recently, after an attack by the superhuman Nazi twins known as Fenris, Xavier got badly hurt. Evidently, his injuries were so severe he needed to go to space to heal. As such, he handed over the Xavier Institute to Magneto. Jean takes it well.

Sue confirms it, having seen the X-Men and Magneto work together during the first Secret Wars. Jean is shocked and horrified. The change seems to be a bit much for her. It's kind of understandable. She's lost several years, and her old friends have seemingly joined up with their oldest and greatest enemy. She begs the heroes to take her to her parents' home.

Reed advises against this, saying that he has no idea about her family's status, and they may not take her suddenly being around after seemingly being dead for years. Sue tells Reed that Jean is on the verge of a nervous breakdown, and she needs people she loves and trusts around her right now. She can empathize, as she's still dealing with the mental trauma of the Psycho-Man's emotional assault on her in Fantastic Four #280-282 (July-September 1985). Jean needs familiarity in some form. Reed relents. Hercules agrees to come along, as he feels it is ignoble to ignore a woman in need. Cap agrees to come along as well, but he has to check something first.

Some time later, Reed, Sue, and Hercules take Jean to her family's home in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York. Yes, it's a real place. However, Sue only keeps getting an answering machine. Hercules notes the door appears to be locked. So, he deals with this problem the only way he knows how.

Hercules in the 80s tended to be a bit of a lunkhead. Jean tells him off and shows a key hidden under a fake rock. The group go in, and Hercules find a odd-looking little crystal ball with Jean's image in it. When he picks up the ball, he ends up getting...feelings. He feels Jean's essence, everything she is in it. Reed realizes the ball is a "holempathic matrix crystal", an advanced device that transmits a person's essence upon touch, a very intimate device. This was given to Jean's family by Lilandra, Queen of the Shi'Ar in X-Men #138 (October 1980). Why they didn't take it with them when they clearly moved out is anyone's guess.

However, the Grey family's forgetfulness is a benefit for Jean. Reed suggests that Jean touch it, as it may help fill in the blanks of her memory. Jean Grey is naturally a bit frightened to take the device. Back at Avengers Mansion, Captain America is trying to do some research on Jean, but he's drawing a blank. He then realizes she was in the X-Men...with the Beast! And Beast was an Avenger himself once! Cap then recalls a file Henry McCoy made about Jean. He basically recaps the Phoenix and Dark Phoenix Sagas, expressing that if Phoenix were to return, humanity could be doomed.

Jean is scared of what the crystal will reveal, but Reed assures her that she is strong enough to handle it. She is one of the original five X-Men, after all. Jean, feeling reassured by Reed's words, touches the alien device. Reed, Sue, and Hercules find themselves in the memories of the crystal, silent observers. The device replays Jean's sacrifice to save the X-Men from re-entry...but something else happened. A weakened Jean, dying from radiation poisoning, starts seeing a strange light and hearing an equally odd celestial music, like the stars themselves are singing a soothing song to her.

She refuses to quit, as Scott and the X-Men need her to get the shuttle safely to Earth. A being of pure light approaches her.

Reed theorizes Jean was visited by some energy being while she was dying in the shuttle. Hercules notices that everything has seemingly paused, which Reed believes is the energy being causing time to go still somehow. The being explains that she has come in response to Jean's need for aid. The being wonders how Jean is able to endure the radiation like this, and Jean remarks she is too stubborn to quit, and she wants to save the X-Men...especially Scott "Cyclops" Summers. The being explains that it is "the Universe", basically some kind of cosmic being. She came to help. Jean wants her to save the X-Men...and admittedly, she's scared of dying. The being tells her she can help...but at a price. The energy being touches Jean, and this happens.

Bit of an error there, as the Phoenix is shown wearing the red Dark Phoenix costume whereas when "Jean" first re-emerged as Phoenix, she wore a green costume. But there is an explanation for it. More on that later. Jean faints from this. Reed theorizes that Jean gave the Phoenix her essence, while the Phoenix provided the cocoon as essentially a healing tank for her body so she could recover from the radiation poisoning. Phoenix forced itself to believe it was truly Jean. This thing leaves Jean confused. How can she be sure of who she is? Is she Jean Grey, original X-Man...or is she Phoenix, the being that got drunk and corrupted by her power and destroyed a planet full of innocent beings? Captain America arrives, thinking he can help answer that.

Cap believes the being that crashed the shuttle was Phoenix, believing it was Jean, but was actually a being of pure evil. But Jean was able to stop it. Reed recalls the being knew the risks of taking a human form. Jean fears that her humanity turned the Phoenix evil, maybe it somehow drove it insane. Cap believes that the being's power rebelling against Jean's will caused it. When the Phoenix took Jean's place, it duplicated her down to the atom, imitated her so perfectly even a telepath like Charles Xavier didn't notice. Sue sums it up: She gave the Phoenix humanity. She gave it a soul. Phoenix willing to kill itself on the Moon rather than let it rampage again, and to Cap, it shows the power of the human spirit, that it can triumph even over the cosmic-level power of the Phoenix.

I love Jean's face in this panel. I know it's supposed to be relief, but I can't help but imagine that she's also fangirling out a bit about Captain America talking to her. Next comes the epilogue. Jean is staying at Avengers Mansion in the meantime. She's decided to save contacting her family and friends until she can figure out a better way to explain her return to them. She's also dealing with her telepathic power being damaged. The story ends with Reed Richards picking up the phone and making a call. As for who Reed is calling? Well, you'll have to read X-Factor #1 to find out!

This comic was...perfectly fine. Admittedly though, I do find the attempt to explain and differentiate the Pheonix from Jean is a bit awkward, but there is a reason for that. You see, Jim Shooter had ordered a last-minute change to the ending of this comic. Chris Claremont and Jackson Guice had stepped in to provide the new ending.

John Byrne's original ending had established that the Phoenix being was always malicious. The reason why it acted as Jean for so long was because in an attempt to stop Phoenix, Jean telepathically transmitted all her memories into the being. The changes from this version Shooter ordered angered Byrne, and he demanded his name be taken off the comic's credits. It does make the book a bit disjointed as a result. If you want to see some of the original Byrne pages, I'm sure Google has them, and they've also been reprinted in X-Factor Epic Collection Vol. 1: Genesis and Apocalypse.

Some may find the callback to previous stories a bit of a slog. Me, though? I love it. I love when previous stories are called back to and built on. It gives the feeling that these events had an impact and that they mattered. I love continuity and history. I love the callbacks.

Both Guice and Byrne turn in some great art. Byrne is in his prime here, and admittedly, I didn't notice Guice's different style at first. I thought it was Byrne at first.

Do I recommend reading this? Well, for the historical value at the very least, I say so. It was a controversial moment at the time, as some fans felt bring Jean back weakened the impact of the Dark Phoenix Saga. This story would also lead to further retcons and reinterpretations of the relationship between Jean Grey and the Phoenix Force, making things more confusing. To me, this is a forebearer to how confusing and crazy the X-Books will get continuity-wise in the future.

Next time, we travel to the DC Universe, as Superman deals with a certain..."fantastic" foursome...