Text Play: Pokémon Xenoverse #20

Hello, and welcome back to the Eldiw region! This is a special occasion! This is entry number twenty in my Text Play of Pokémon Xenoverse!

That's right! The big 2-0. I want to thank everyone who has read and enjoyed these Text Plays. I have had a ton of fun making these things over the last year. It's helped motivate me to keep going through this game. And as usual, I want to warn you, I will be spoiling this game.

I highly recommend you play the game for yourself before reading this Text Play. You can do so here. And now with that out of the way, let's do this!

Last time, we ended up facing an angry X Rapidash thanks to this Cruella DeVil-wannabe named Dahlia. I wonder if that name is a reference to the Black Dahlia. Ah, I can puzzle over that later. We engaged her...and got our butts handed to us. Yeah. Ouch.

If we get knocked out here, we wake up at the Porygon Center we passed by in the last entry. Yeah, I'm going to have to put in quite a bit of work if we're going to have to get past this big ol' obstacle. I had to do something I thought I'd never have to do in this game: consult its wiki. I did look through it in the past (purely out of curiosity), but it was pretty threadbare. Nowadays, it's really grown.

That threadbareness was why I avoided using it until now. I guess more people have been playing this game than I thought. The X Rapidash's wiki entry revealed that it was a Flying-type...well, at least, in its normal form. But in its "Thunderstorm" form, as I like to call it (the wiki calls it the "Storm" form), it also becomes Electric. Which means that we have a problem. 

You see, normally Electric is weak to Ground. But since X Rapidash is also part Flying, Ground-type attacks are useless against it. It never can be easy.

However, there is hope. The Flying-type is weak against Rock. And, it being part-Flying also means that it's potentially vulnerable to Electric-type attacks. A part-Electric Pokemon that is vulnerable to Electric-type attacks. That's irony for you.

It can also be hurt by Ice and Sound-type attacks. Which means, it's time to play every Pokémon trainer's favorite game show: Adjust! Your! Team! 

So, who from my current team stays, and who goes? 

Masgot

I'm going to have to put Masgot on the bench for now. Masgot is a Bug/Fighting-type Pokémon. And X Rapidash is resistant to Bug and Fighting-type attacks. It does know Dig, which is a Ground-type attack. However, since X Rapidash's Thunderstorm Form is part-Flying, it won't be any bit helpful against that angry unicorn.

Phantump

Like Masgot, I'll have to bench Phantump, too. X Rapidash is also resistant to Grass-type attacks. It's a shame. One strategy I like to use in this game is hitting an opposing Pokémon with Phantump's Leech Seed to help constantly wear it down. X Rapidash is fast, and I don't think Phantump will get the chance to give it the Leech Seed treatment before it gets taken to the cleaners. A shame, really.

I mean, thanks to this game, as well as Sun and Moon, I've have grown rather fond of this Pokémon. But sadly, it won't be any help here.  

Pelipper

Yeah, this guy is going to have to be benched, too. Pelipper is Water/Flying, which makes it especially vulnerable to X Rapidash's Electric-type attacks. 

Sandygast

Sandygast is going to have to go, too. It is partially Ground-type, which would allow it to easily handle Electric-type attacks. However, it doesn't know any Rock-type attacks. So, it has to be benched, too. It's a shame, as I've grown rather fond of this little grudge-animated pile of sand. 

I decided to keep Harrowk, as it's Electric/Flying. Might make it more able to withstand X Rapidash's attacks. I also decided to keep Trishout as it's been a real beast on this journey.

Looking through all the Pokémon I have captured over this adventure so far, I have found some options.

 Onix, Bergmite, and Cubchoo may be good choices to fight that X Rapidash. Onix is Rock/Ground, and it knows some Rock-type attacks. I might also bring back Bremand, too. It's Electric/Sound. I did consider bringing in the X Garvantula (It's part-Ice, and it knows Icy Wind), but it's also part-Bug. I also considered Aron. It's Steel/Rock, and it knows Rock Tomb. As well as Roggenrola. After all, it's Rock-type, and it knows Smack Down (a Rock-type move that knocks down Flying-type Pokémon, making them vulnerable to Ground). I would be a good set-up move.

I decided against Roggenrola because of how it reaches its full evolution to Boldore. Shuckle is Bug/Rock. Didn't want to take a chance because of its bug-type. It's also why I decided against using Vroombug. Its attack Rev Up sounds like a handy Sound-type move (60 Damage, 100% accuracy, and the speed increases), but I felt it wasn't worth the risk of bringing in a Bug-type.

Ultimately, I decided to bring in Bremand (the Electric/Sound variant) from Box 1, Bergmite and Onix from Box 2, and Aron from Box 4. And now comes the hard part: the grinding.

While grinding, I discovered something neat. If you battle and defeat Vroombugs, you may get some Spare Parts. What do Spare Parts do? Well...I have no idea. The game's description of them isn't exactly helpful. All the item screen says about them is what they are (a kit of spare parts for racing vehicles), and that a certain Pokémon loves them. Yeah, not really helpful there, guys.

Luckily, the game's wiki came to the rescue. The Spare Parts are basically an evolutionary item, much like the Elemental Stones or the various Upgrades. Man, I have one for Phantump, I've got to use it in the future. I also hope to find an Upgrade for Graveler so I can get a Golem. I like Golems, Golems rule. They're one of my favorite Pokémon. Anyway, Vroombug uses the Spare Parts to evolve into its next form: Skravroom.

Right, right, right. Anyway, I decided to run around the Sunflare Canyon, and battle some wild Pokémon to grind my team up. While there, I encountered this cowgirl named Jessie.

A cowgirl named Jessie. I wonder if this is a Toy Story reference.

1st Pokemon: Rapidash (Lv. 35) - Defeated by Trishout.

We go downwards from her, and there's another cowboy trainer we fight...named Woody.

Okay, this is a deliberate Toy Story reference! He even looks like Woody from the films!

1st Pokemon: Ekans (Lv. 33) - Defeated by Trishout.
2nd Pokemon: Elgyem (Lv. 34) - Defeated by Trishout.

Nearby Woody is an item box.

It contains a Star Piece. You can sell it at a shop if you need some extra cash quickly. Below that is a lake. As you can see, we'd have to cross the lake. However, we don't have the game's equivalent of Surf, so we can't cross the lake yet. But if you remember the last entry, there's a way around, so it's not a major inconvenience. 

And i think that's where we'll stop for this month. I am sorry that not much happened here, but I have a lot of grinding to do, and I did not get as much time to play this game as I had hoped. This was all I could do before reaching my monthly deadline. So, again, I apologize. Hopefully, next time, I'll have my new team up to fighting strength, and ready to whoop Dahlia! Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, show it off! Take care of yourselves and each other! Stay safe, stay healthy, stay home, wash your hands often, wear a mask, and get your vaccine/booster! See you next time! 

Pokemon Obtained:
(Sunflare Canyon)
- Chikaboo
- Vullaby

Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons Launch Trailer, My Thoughts

Since the 1980s, the Double Dragon franchise has been beloved by fans of beat-em-ups. This is the series that ignited the Golden Age of beat-em-ups. And now, Arc System Works has a new game in the franchise that is...a little different. Let's look at the trailer!

I'm actually surprised the Double Dragon series has not tried a roguelike beat-'em-up like this before. I would like them to try doing a fighting game again. They did in the past with Double Dragon V: The Shadow Falls for the SNES, Genesis, and Atari Jaguar. That game got mixed reviews. I think Arc System Works (the current owners of the IP) could do a good fighting game.

I like the graphics of this game. It's appropriate that a game in a franchise that ushered in a "Golden Age" of beat-em-ups that it have a 16-bit style. I love that style. I can never get tired of it.

This Marian likes her guns. I would not be surprised if she's this game's Tackleberry. 

Hey, Linda Lash is playable! And her appearance is a nod to her NES look! Nice nod there.

Hot Dog KO! Mmm...hot dog...

I like all the different characters. I can imagine that naturally, they would all play differently. Find the one that works for you!

Wait, is that Anubis? Things got so bad in Metro City that of the Helioptians had to intercede?!

A. BO. BO.

I like the idea of earning money by fighting. And using said money to unlock upgrades and stuff. It's a great motivation to keep playing the game.

And the rendition of the iconic theme is A+!

Well, consider this game another addition to my Switch library. This game looks like it will be a ton of fun. I enjoyed Double Dragon Neon, so I think I'll enjoy this game, too. Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, show it off! Take care of yourselves, and each other! Stay safe, stay healthy, stay home, wash your hands often, wear a mask, and get your vaccine/booster! See you next time!

The Saga of the Original Human Torch #2 (May 1990)

The Marvel Universe has a long history of superheroes and supervillains. And one of the earliest of Marvel's superheroes is James Hammond, the Original Human Torch.

Jim Hammond has blazed his way through this blog before. Back in November of last year, I took a look at the first issue of his first mini-series: The Saga of the Original Human Torch. The mini-series was a retelling of his life up until 1990, when he had been revived and joined up with the West Coast Avengers...even though his body had also been used to build the Vision. Yeah, that was confusing. To see how that got cleared up, check out my review of Avengers Forever #8 right here. 

When we last left off in this miniseries, Jim Hammond angrily flew off, unknowingly leaving the home of Phineas Horton to burn. So, where do we go from here? What happened next to the man credited for igniting the Age of Marvels? Let's find out in The Saga of the Original Human Torch #2!

The cover is a Rich Buckler and Danny Bulanadi piece. It basically depicts the Original Human Torch and his partner Toro kicking Nazi butts. And that's always awesome.

"The World on Fire!"
Writer: Roy Thomas
Penciler: Rich Buckler
Inker: Dan Bulanadi
Letterer: Janice Chiang
Colorist: Bob Sharen
Editors: Ralph Macchio, Mike Rockwitz
Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco

The story begins with our man Jimmy flying through the sky, like a blazing comet shooting past the stars. It's September 1939, and the press is decrying about this strange "Human Torch". 

“…where did all these newspapers come from?! I am confused and scared!”

The Torch needs to hide. He can shut off his flames, but he still can't walk around in his red bodysuit. He needs some proper threads. As such, he sneaks into a clothing store and steals some clothes.

Thanks to his donning a sharp suit and equally sharp fedora hat, people on the street don't give him a second look. He finds some money on a sidewalk and uses it to buy a newspaper. He learns that Horton survived the fire the Torch unintentionally caused when he left his home.

The Torch is relieved to hear that Horton is alright, but still decides that he doesn't want anything more to do with the man. After all, Horton only saw Jim as a steppingstone to fortune and fame. He then finds himself hungry. 

Yeah, it's funny that a being presumed to be an artificial life form needs to eat. I think it's been explained that Hammond is a being created with artificial organs, but then why make him a stomach? Eh, it's a Golden Age hero, comes with the territory. 

Anyway, Jim has some money left over, so he buys himself a hot dog. Mmmm...hot dog...

Jim's enjoyment of the meat is interrupted by a thief making off with a woman's purse. Jim is about to do his fiery thing, but a cop takes care of it. This gives Jim a bit of inspiration.

Sometime later, he's managed to acquire the human identity of James "Jim" Hammond (he picked the name from a phone book), and has become a rookie cop himself. On his first night on the beat, he encounters some bank robbers. He goes after them, but ends up activating his powers, scaring them into surrendering.

“Oh God, fire! Doctor says I'm not supposed to be on fire!”

Jim flies off, thinking about how the criminals quivered in his presence. It gives him a bit of inspiration as to how to serve man more directly. He goes to visit his boss, Chief John C. Wilson. It's then that a certain female officer walks into the room.

“Call me…Lt. Obvious!”

Yup, it's Betty Dean, a woman who will be an important part of another Golden Age legend: Namor the Sub-Mariner. Anyway, it's then revealed that Wilson had his eye on the android ever since he and Horton met the commissioner in the last issue. Jim wants to continue being a police officer, using his powers to help catch criminals. Amazingly, Wilson is cool with it. A few days later, Jim Hammond flies to Queensboro to the home of a pair of scientists named Fred and Nora Raymond. They are experts on asbestos and radium, respectively. 

“HERE I COME TO SAVE THE DAYYYY…and burn down the house. Oops.”

They're being accosted by a villainess known as the Asbestos Lady. The Torch easily takes down her men, but is forced to let her get away to save the Raymonds' home from his own flames. Ahhh, don't worry about her, Jimmy. The mesothelioma will take her out in a few years. The two show Jim their sleeping son Thomas...who, unknown to the Torch, has a strange immunity to heat and fire. At the time, the Torch was unaware they were both dying from exposure to the substances they had expertise in. Not long afterwards, the Torch had his infamous fight with the Sub-Mariner in New York City.

“TORCH HUNGRY! TORCH WANT FISH STICKS!”

His meeting with the Raymonds, as well as his battle with Namor, caused Jim to realize how lonely he truly was. At least Namor had his fellow Atlanteans. As far as Jim knew, he was the only one of his kind, no peers or even family. Well...somewhat. This leads him to reunite with Professor Horton, his creator and "father of sorts". The two talk, and Horton reveals that Fred Raymond was once an associate of his. Raymond left because of failing health, which Horton feared was connected to his experiments with asbestos. Later on, the Raymonds died. Not because of their illnesses, but because of a train wreck the Asbestos Lady caused.

Weeks later, Jim hears on the radio about a fire-eating boy called Toro at a circus. This leads Jim to believe young Thomas may have survived the wreck. And if Jim figured it out, the Asbestos Lady could, too. She tries to kill him with a gas truck filled with water, but he escapes and captures her. The Torch then flies to the circus.

Tommy Raymond learned the hard way that trying to cosplay as the Human Torch is a BAD idea.

Toro finds himself bursting into flame around Jim but isn't sure why. The flames aren't hurting him, though. He can shut the flames off, but it doesn't explain anything. Jim asks the owner of the circus how Toro ended up under his care. His circus had seen the wreck, and two of his workers found and rescued the boy. Jim offers to help Toro understand his powers...and the boy is all for it.

Jim manages to arrange to be Toro's legal guardian, and the two fight crime together. It's eventually discovered that the Torch's presence acted like a catalyst, activating dormant powers within Toro. It would eventually be established in All-New Invaders #8 (2014) that Toro was a dormant Inhuman. Now that I think about it, why was he called Toro? In Spanish and Italian, "toro" means "bull". What does that have to do with fire?

Anyway, the two fought saboteurs, gangsters, and even the Sub-Mariner again. But in the background, the Second World War raged in Europe. On December 7, 1941, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, bringing the United States into the war. 

The Torch and Toro would do their part, becoming members of the wartime superteam known as the Invaders. 

“Alright boys, let’s beat up that swastika!”

During those years, Hammond and Toro fought the Nazis, and villains like Master Man, U-Man, and Warrior Woman. On April 1945, the Invaders are summoned to a hidden chamber in Big Ben to hear a sobering announcement.

"Well, that messes up the plans for the pizza party."

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt is dead. But there's still a war on, and the Invaders still have jobs to do. The group's British members, Spitfire and Union Jack have been sent to guard Churchill. Roosevelt died a natural death, but the Allies don't want any chances taken. Namor is assigned to the Pacific, to help with dealing with the Kamikaze planes. Cap and Bucky are to watch over a drone plane base...

And the Torch/Toro combo have a very important assignment. The Russians are smashing their way through Berlin, and the two are assigned to grab Hitler so he can be tried as a war criminal. The two fly into Germany, where they blast some Nazi planes out of the sky...and get a nasty surprise.

"Oh, God! The pilot is drunk!"

Yup, they have a jet, presumably a "Salamander". Jim stops the plane by flying into the jet and drawing the flames from it into his body. The tactic succeeds in making the jet plane stall and drop out of the sky like a rock...but it knocks Jimmy himself for a loop.

Thank goodness for Toro! He's able to rescue his partner, and the story ends with the two flying deeper into Berlin. 

I did enjoy this comic, but I frankly don't have a lot to say about it. It's basically a glorified recap episode. It was pretty cool seeing Jim take down the jet plane at the end, though. I do think that it's also cool seeing Hammond's adventures in the 30s and 40s being retold in a more "modern" way. Roy Thomas's love of the character and the era shines, that's for sure. 

I did find one interesting continuity error here. You see, this story claims that Cap and Bucky were sent on that fateful mission to guard the drone plane (the one what would presumably kill Bucky and put Cap in suspended animation for decades), but according to Captain America Annual #13 (1994), at the time that the Torch and Toro were going to grab Hitler, Captain America had underwent a mission alongside the Patriot and the Spirit of '76 into Berlin to find Hitler's strongbox. Now, that story was released about four years later, so maybe Roy forgot, or editorial didn't catch it. I personally would have had Cap and Bucky's mission be set after Cap's in the Annual. 

And then there's Rich Buckler's art. I can't really explain it, but to me, it has this Golden Age vibe that fits the era.

If you want to read this yourself, I recommend tracking down the 2014 trade paperback Sub-Mariner and the Original Human Torch. Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, show it off! Take care of yourselves and each other! Stay safe, stay healthy, stay home, wash your hands often, wear a mask, and get your vaccine/booster! See you next time!

International Dog Day!

Today is International Dog Day!

I hope you spend this say hugging your beloved woofer!

Ahsoka Trailer, My Thoughts

In 2008, the animated film Star Wars: The Clone Wars debuted a teenage Jedi Padawan named Ahsoka Tano. She was named in homage to Indian king Ashoka the Great. The padawan to Anakin Skywalker (the future Darth Vader), the character was disliked by fans at first, but eventually became a fan favorite. She would go on to appear in the follow-up animated series, the sequel series Star Wars Rebels, and even make a vocal cameo in The Rise of Skywalker, voiced by Ashley Eckstein. She would even get her own novel. 

She would make the jump to live-action in the second season of The Mandalorian, portrayed by Rosario Dawson. Dawson had expressed interest in playing Tano, and would reprise the role in The Book of Boba Fett. And now, Ahsoka is getting her own miniseries on Disney+, with Dawson stepping back into the role. Let's look at the trailer!

🎵 "Flyin' along in mah spaceship!" 🎵

War is inevitable? Well, that'll be true with that attitude!

Aw, come on! Those troopers had two days left before they could retire!

"The Force is drunk again."

Thrawn is back?! As someone who enjoyed Timothy Zahn's Thrawn Trilogy, this gets me excited!

RIP, Ray Stephenson.

Hera and Chopper! and Sabine! I've got to watch Rebels some time.

Well, this looks like a fun series. I've been enjoying Andor, so I think this will be fun as well. I never watched Rebels, so I hope that this show doesn't leave me too lost about the characters from that show coming here. Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, show it off! Take care of yourselves and each other! Stay safe, stay healthy, stay home, wash your hands often, wear a mask, and get your vaccine/booster! See you next time!

Legends of the Dark Knight #16 (March 1991)

Batman is one of DC Comics's most famous, arguably the most famous superhero in its fictional universe. The character is regarded as one of its "Trinity" alongside Superman and Wonder Woman, its "Big Three" superheroes. Each of the three represent different aspects of the DCU. Superman represents the cosmic, the science fiction aspect due to his being an alien refugee dedicated to protecting the planet that took him in. Wonder Woman represents the fantasy aspect, the Amazon with ties to Greek mythology who fights monsters. And Batman represents the human aspect, the detective of peak mind and body who solves crimes.

Unlike the Kryptonian Superman and the Amazonian Wonder Woman, Bruce Wayne is human. He's a man who has great athletic abilities and one of the most brilliant minds on Earth, but he is still human. He has limitations that Superman and Wonder Woman do not have. And as a result, he is more prone to failure. Early in his career, one such failure drove the Dark Knight to try and prevent another one. This is the beginning of Batman's first encounter with the super-steroid known as Venom. This is Legends of the Dark Knight #16.

The cover is a Jose Luis Garcia Lopez piece. It depicts Batman holding a lantern as he's walking through a sewer. It's a well-drawn cover, if a bit basic. It looks like it should be a poster. It would be a nice poster though, don't get me wrong. I would hang this up on my wall. 

"Venom: Part 1"
Writer: Dennis O'Neil
Pencilers: Trevor von Eeden, Russell Braun
Inker: Jose Luis Garcia Lopez
Colorist: Steve Oliff
Letterer: Willie Schubert
Editors: Andrew Helfer, Kevin Dooley
Executive Editor: Dick Giordano

The story begins with the Dark Knight trudging through a sewer. He isn't doing this because the man is bored, but because he is on a mission. The Caped Crusader is looking for someone. And he hears the voice of the person he is looking for. 

The little girl's name is Sissy Porter (yeah, I think they likely meant Cissy, like singer Cissy Houston). The girl is tied up, and water is coming up fast.

The girl is behind some very big rocks. Batman promises to get her out as he tries to move the rocks. However, the rocks are very big. Big, and heavy. As the water keeps rising, Batman desperately tries to move the rocks away. However, the last rock he needs to move is a big one. Too big for even him to move. Sadly, little Sissy Porter ends up drowning. As he returns to his home, Batman is naturally broken up about it. He was able to track the girl down, trace the kidnapper...all for seeming naught. 

Alfred points out that even Batman is going to fail. After all, the Batman is many things, but he is still only human. The butler suggests Bruce let him launder his costume. After all, he was just in a sewer, and he can not be smelling good.

But the Gotham Guardian still has one piece of business to take care of: giving his condolences...and his apologies to her father: pharmacologist Randolph Carter. Carter's reaction to his daughter's death is rather...bizarre. He claims that it's a shame his daughter died, but then tries to be optimistic about it, saying that bad things could still happen to her if she lived. Batman asks exactly what her kidnapper/killer was after. The kidnapper didn't want money. They wanted some little pills.

These are Carter's magnum opus, pills designed to enhance human potential. He offers one to Batman, saying that maybe if he had one, maybe Sissy would still be alive. However, Bruce isn't interested. The Dark Knight then senses that Carter's got a guest. However, it's four in the morning, Carter lives alone, and he's not expecting any guests. Batman shoves him into the next room as a man shoots his way into the room. Batman easily knocks the killer into dreamland with a Mighty Punch. He tells Carter to call the cops, as this is likely one of the kidnappers. He then jumps out a window and lands on the other kidnapper's, truck as it races off. 

The rain is pounding down, and the roof of the truck is smooth, making it very hard for Batman to keep a grip on the vehicle. The driver wildly swerving the truck is not helping. Eventually, the van hits a pole, causing the Caped Crusader to slip off, and he is left in the mud on his butt. A frustrated Bruce Wayne returns home and opens the grandfather clock that functions as the entrance to the Batcave. Alfred notes that it's set on the exact time his parents died. This makes the Englishman realize he's tormenting himself. He comes down and sees Bruce preparing to lift a heavy barbell.

Bruce calculated that the heavy chunk of cement he was unable to move weighed around 630 lbs. That's how much weight he put on the barbell. He tries to lift it, only to tear his shoulder. 

Alfred recommends he sees a doctor, but Bruce just wants the car. The two head back to where Bruce fell off the van. Bruce finds traces of the van's paint on the pole. He examines the paint under a microscope to identify the brand of paint that was used. He then makes some calls to various body shops in Gotham to see who uses that particular brand. Bruce then visits the shops and bribes the owners to let him look at their records. He also makes some calls to the pre-Two-Face Harvey Dent, who was the District Attorney at the time. Dent told him that one of the names of the body shop's customers has a record, including being suspected of kidnapping. Bruce wants to pay him a visit. 

Alfred advises against it. Bruce has a wounded shoulder, and he's been going nonstop for 96 hours. Yeah, Bruce has been going nonstop for four days. He's barely able to function as Bruce, much less Batman. Dude, get a doctor for that shoulder and go to bed.

Bruce refuses, as he is clearly still very haunted by Sissy Porter's death. He couldn't save her...but he can catch the men who kidnapped her. Alfred thinks Bruce's obsessive nature is pushing him too far, and he threatens to resign. Batman heads out anyway. Inside his apartment, the two men talk about things. Carter strangely didn't press charges, so the kidnapper got to walk free. The driver grumbles that he could have taken Batman. Batman climbs in, telling them they will confess their actions to Gordon and Dent. The driver thinks he can take on the Dark Knight, and thanks to his injured shoulder, the driver has a fighting chance. 

Bruce is tired and hurt, which allows the two men to easily beat the tar out of him. The two are able to literally punch Bruce out the window.

Ooh, he's going to be picking glass shards out of himself for a week. The kidnappers want to finish him off, but a figure orders them not to. After all, it's not time yet.

Later, Bruce has a very trippy dream.

Yeah, no more pepperoni and ham pizza before bed for you, Bruce. He wakes up back in Wayne Manor, clearly feeling a lot better. Alfred explained he took Bruce to a doctor, claiming that he fell from a hot air balloon...and landed on a table full of cheese blintzes. Although, saying "cheese blintzes" is a bit redundant as blintzes traditionally have a cheese filling...mmm...cheese...

Bruce gets out of bed and puts on his Batman costume, much to Alfred's consternation. However, Bruce isn't going to find some trouble. He needs to go see a man. Who? Randolph Carter, of course. 

Carter is not surprised to see the Dark Knight. And he knows what the vigilante wants. Carter gives him one of his pills, saying it will help Bruce stay in top shape. Just take one a day. Bruce takes a pill, and Carter gives him an envelope containing a month's supply. 

Bruce heads back to the cave, and he doesn't feel any sort of worry. After all, he just put a strange new substance in his body. He didn't even examine the pill or ask what was in it. That should worry him. He tries to lift the 630-pound bar again. And this time, he succeeds. Afterwards, he goes to find the two kidnappers for a little rematch. 

He finds the two men hanging out at a bar. Batman easily tosses one of them into a table. The bigger one, the driver, is feeling cocky. He was able to take the Gotham Guardian on once, he can easily do it again, right?

Wrong is an understatement. Bruce has had some time to rest and heal up...not to mention Randolph Carter's little wonder pill enhancing his strength. Bruce easily knocks the big man out and tosses him through a window. The story ends with the Caped Crusader looking over his handiwork...and letting out a shriek-like laugh of triumph.

I did enjoy this comic. Now, I can imagine that some may ask why Batman is taking his failure so hard, but keep in mind, this story is set rather early in the Dark Knight's superhero career. This story is telling the tale of Batman's first major failure to save someone. I can imagine this would have brought back all the feelings of powerlessness and helplessness he felt when his parents were killed. 

Von Eeden, Braun, and Russell are a very formidable artwork team. I love the final product of their work. Great storytelling and work on the facial expressions. 

If you want to read this for yourself, I recommend tracking down the 2012 trade paperback Batman: Venom. Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, show it off! Take care of yourselves and each other! Stay safe, stay healthy, stay home, wash your hands often, wear a mask, and get your vaccine/booster! See you next time!