Text Play: Pokémon Xenoverse #25

Hello, and welcome back to the Eldiw region! This is entry number 25 in my Text Play of Pokémon Xenoverse! 

Now, as is tradition, I wish to warn you of something. I will be spoiling this game. 

As such, I highly recommend that you play the game for yourself before you read these Text Plays. You can download the game for yourself here. Now with that out of the way, let's do this!

Last time, we traveled through the haunted Wild Bull Saloon and captured an angry wild Pokémon called Hangead. With that taken care of, we can concentrate on battling Caspar, Westar City's resident gym leader/prison warden. 

As is tradition, I wanted to prepare a new team of Pokémon to face the man. As usual, my strategy is to use type advantages against him. Since Caspar is a Ghost-type specialist, I wanted to look up what types were strong against Ghost. Evidently, Ghost is weak against Dark...and Ghost. 

Yeah, that amazes me, too. I think that is the only time that happens when it comes to Pokémon types. I mean, you wouldn't exactly have an easy time defeating a Charizard with Fire-type attacks, unless the Fire-type you're using is of a much higher level. I mean, there are plenty of type advantages I understand. For example, Fire is strong against Steel and Grass. Fire can burn and even melt metal, and it can toast grass. Makes sense. Water being strong against Fire. Water can be used to put out fire. Makes sense. Grass being strong against Water. Grass absorbs water to help it grow. Makes sense. Grass and Water being strong against Rock. Water and plant roots can help erode rocks. Makes sense. Rock being strong against Flying. You hit a flying bird with a rock, and it's going to come down. Makes sense.

Sorry. Basically, I get why certain types are strong or weak against others. But Ghost being weak to itself? It's so bizarre to me. I mean, I do understand for the purposes of balance, it would be really unfair for a type to have no weaknesses. But I just can't understand how Ghost is weak against itself. I mean, do ghosts scare themselves? I mean, I am also confused by it being weak to Dark-type attacks. Are ghosts scared of the dark? Don't they like to wander around in the dark? I'm getting off topic.  

Well, I looked Caspar up in the Xenoverse Wiki...yes, this game has a wiki. Practically everything has a wiki these days. His team consists of Lampent (Ghost/Fire), Palossand (Ghost/Ground), Scarphasmo (Ghost/Psychic), and he is also packing a Xenoverse-native Pokémon: X Cacturne (Ghost/Grass). I wonder where the Gym Leaders get those?

Considering we've seen the crazy warpzones leading to the Xenoverse in the past, it can be assumed they find them there. But that aside, it's time to do a bit of team-building.  

This led me to do a lot of thinking about which Pokémon to keep from my regular team. I did consider keeping my Pelipper to counter Lampent, but I dare not use it to counter Palossand. That's because Palossand has the ability Water Compaction, which causes its Defense stat to rise when it is hit by a Water-type attack. Phantump would be handy against Palossand. Thing is, Phantump is also part-Ghost. Which makes it vulnerable to Caspar's Dark-type Pokémon. I don't have any Grass/Dark Pokemon...but I do have a Cacnea in Box 6. At level 32, it evolves into a Cacturne...which is Grass/Dark. Okay, we're in business!

I switched out Phantump for Cacnea. I also switched out my Palossand for Chikaboo from Box 6. Yeah, Chikaboo isn't a powerful Pokemon, and neither is its evolved form: Peckabone. However, I do have a Dusk Stone, which allows it to evolve into the powerhouse Rexquiem. 

To counter Lampent, I wanted a Water/Dark-type. I had to use Ikarium H to fly all the way back to Darkhole Island. We first went there waaaaay back in entry #2. I neglected to fish a lot, and they have Carvanha there, which are Water/Dark. 

That's a failing on my end. That's 100% my fault. I went back and caught me a Carvanha. It's at a low level, which means lots of grinding. But that's alright. It'll make for a much stronger Sharpedo.

I also wanted to make an adjustment to Cacnea. You see, I caught it at Level 25, and it knows the attacks Sand Attack, Needle Arm, Feint Attack, and Ingrain. I went to Memo the Move Relearner in the Pokémon Center (he's always there. In every single one. Does the dude follow us around?), and I asked him to help remember some of Cacnea's old moves. I kept Feint Attack as it's a Dark-type move (And since Cacnea is part-Dark, it gets bonus damage). But then I found myself...at an impasse.

Huh. I should use Cacnea more in "official" Pokémon games. Has a nice move pool. I wanted it to re-remember Poison Sting, as that could be handy. I also wanted it to have a diverse array of attacks. I wanted to replace Sand Attack (I never use it), and Ingrain (you can't switch a Pokémon that uses this attack out), but I found myself at an impasse. Remember, Pokémon can only learn four moves at a time. I wanted to arm it with Poison Sting, Leech Seed, and Absorb. But I didn't want to replace Needle Arm. In the end, I decided to just teach it Poison Sting and Absorb. I do like Leech Seed (I've used it a lot in the past), but against a Gym leader, I want to be able to hit his Pokémon hard. Absorb can help with that, while restoring some HP to Cacnea. I also had Memo re-teach Chickaboo Peck, replacing Fake Tears.

I got started with the grinding. Since Caspar's Pokémon are around Level 37-40, my goal is to get my team to around levels 40-45. It's a bit high, but I do want to have a bit more of a level advantage. The grinding will be worth it. The grinding and grinding and grinding and grinding...

Sorry. I also decided to explore some more of Westar City. I started grinding at a rectangular patch of grass near the exit of the Steelix Gorge. It's a great place to grind up Pokemon. That patch has Miltank. They give lots of XP wen beaten, and you can also get Moomoo Milk from them. Moomoo Milk is a Potion-like medicine that restores 100 HP per use. Every city should have a place like this where you can grind up Pokemon before a Gym Battle. I love this.

I also took the opportunity to explore a bit more of Westar City. I went to the left of the patch of grass I was grinding at, and found this lady near a well. 

She gives me some Fresh Water. You know lady, some other people may need that water, too. I mean, this is a desert. 

Anyway, if you notice, there's also an item box in the screenshot. It's hard to see, but it's just beyond the left. It contains a Dusk Ball. I believe it's a PokéBall that works best at night.  

And that's where we'll have to stop for the month, I'm afraid. I do apologize for how short this entry is. I haven't had as much time to work on this game as I hoped, and I wanted to maintain my regular schedule of putting up these entries on the last day of the month. I do want to go through the Caspar Gym next time, so maybe that will happen. Wish me luck! 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:

(S.S. Meteor)
- Carvanha
(Westar City)
- Peckabone (evolved from Chickaboo)
- Rexquiem (evolved from Peckabone)
- Murkrow
- Cacturne (evolved from Cacnea)
- Sharpedo (evolved from Carvanha)

Out the Window

Hey there! Here's another short story for you to enjoy from my brain, inspired by another album cover.

Art by Ioannis, 1999

Out the Window

Keiko Watanabe loved looking out the window at the city this time of year. The dark blue clouds against the purple skies of Tornax V had always been a treat for her eyes, as far back as her childhood.

She grew up on this world, a descendant of the original Earth-born colonists. Humans were the first intelligent life to come to this planet, this world having none beforehand. But that was the general policy of Earth colonization. Doing so on worlds that had other sapient life forms was strictly forbidden. The Earth had learned from its mistakes of the past.

Hard to believe we managed to accomplish all this in only three hundred years. Keiko thought. In the center of her view was a trio of tall skyscrapers, piercing through the clouds like an earring through an earlobe. The big building blocked some of the light from the moon behind it, making it almost look like a big slab of black granite. Small colored lights started to turn on

The building's internal lights came in a variety of colors. Keiko found herself imagining what the people in those buildings were doing in those buildings. After all, there was a variety of things they could be doing. Holding parties, doing some work, just chilling out and watching the holovision. Maybe even some of them were doing the same thing she was, just looking out at the sky, enjoying the view.

It was something the young woman enjoyed doing. After a busy day at work, she enjoyed watching the sunsets here. It helped her relax.

Keiko sipped some tea from the cup in her hands. She savored the taste of the warm liquid before swallowing it. She heard a ringing. The woman turned and walked towards the door of her apartment. Keiko peeked through the door's small hole. It showed a neatly-dressed man with blue skin and green eyes. She smiled and pressed a yellow button next to the door. A small screen above the button displayed the word “Unlocked” in yellow letters. She then pressed a green button. The word “Open” appeared on the screen in green letters, and the door slid open.

“Hey, Worg.” She greeted with a smile.

“Hey there, Keiko.” Worg greeted back, a smile on his own face. “You doing anything at the moment?”

“Just enjoying the sunset.”

“That's nice. Hey, guess what?” Worg asked.

“What?”

“You know about Yorfun?” Keiko nodded in response to Worg's question. “He just got promoted.”

Keiko lit up. “Oh, that's awesome! I'm so happy for him! He earned that promotion.”

“Yes, he's holding a celebratory party at his apartment.” Worg informed. “He'd love to have you come by. I know you like to just, what's the term you Earthers use? Chill?” Keiko nodded. “Yes, chill. I know you like to 'chill' out in your apartment and watch the sunsets, but Yorfun would love to have you there...”

Why not? Keiko smiled. Mom always said I should go out more. “Sure. Just let me get changed.”

Puzzle Day!

 Today is Puzzle Day!

Princess Peach Showtime! Transformation Trailer, My Thoughts

Let's look at the trailer!

Aw, yeah! Ninja Peach! Ninja Peach rules!

(terminator thumbs up)

I'm guessing her gimmick is that she can infiltrate and ambush enemies. I mean, that is a very ninja thing.

(shrug)

I think a cool thing in this game is if you can mix and match abilities to do things. For example, the Detective costume can let Peach discover hidden secrets, and then she can switch to the Ninja costume to infiltrate the level and get to the secrets. It's just a thought. 

And I admit, Cowgirl Peach is pretty cool. Her gimmick is clearly muscle. She can use her lasso to grab enemies and toss them around like they are balls of crunched-up paper. I would have thought that she could also hit enemies with a bit of slapping iron, if you know what I mean.

(smirk)

Get your mind out of the gutter. I mean by shooting them. Cowboys are famous for being able to be quick on the draw. At least in TV shows and movies. 

Monkey Man Trailer, My Thoughts

In India, there is a man. A man known only as, well, "Kid". Kid is on a very well-worn mission: revenge. He wants payback against a powerful, greedy figure. A figure who destroyed his family. During his journey, he will gain another moniker...the Monkey Man. The Monkey Man will be played by British actor Dev Patel. This film is also his directorial debut (not to mention he developed the story of the film), and it's produced by Jordan Peele. It was originally intended to be distributed by Netflix, but Peele obtained it under his Monkeypaw Productions banner. And since Monkeypaw has a distribution deal with Universal Pictures, well...there you go. They'll be the ones putting it in theaters. Let's look at the trailer!

Oh geez, Kid! What did you do last night?! Must've been one wild party!

It makes sense that he'd fight under the persona of the monkey. In Indian myth, Hanuman is seen as a symbol of defiance against oppression. And he's often portrayed...as a monkey.

Janitors are important, folks. Show them respect.

Aww, cute doggy.

That is an ugly vehicle, dude. And your jokes suck, too. 

I see Patel went to the John Wick school of fight filming.

He always hated those fish. Really. He really hated those fish. Despised those fish. 

Yeah, turns out the Kid forgot that they replaced the glass window with plastic last week.

WE GOT A BRAWL!

"Besides, we're not even related!"

Oh man, good thing he ducked that!

AND A BEAUTIFUL DROPKICK TO...THIS GUY FROM THE KID!

"Aw come on, you guys! Now my mask is going to stink!"

I'm ready for a fight!

Aw, man! That dude got faced!

And he just had his hair cut the way he likes it, too!

I admit, I want to see this movie! It looks like it will be a blast! I think it will be one of those movies that you watch when you want to have a good time. And I think that's what I'll have watching this movie. 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!

Wolfpack #1 (August 1988)

Earlier in the month, I took a look at the obscure 1987 graphic novel called Wolfpack. It told the tale of a group of teenagers from the South Bronx who were being trained to fight an ancient evil organization known as the Nine. Following up from the GN would be a twelve-issue maxiseries. In past years, I have dedicated a month to looking at each issue of a maxiseries. Crisis on Infinite Earths, Squadron Supreme, The Eternals, etc. In 2024, we're doing something a little different. Those stories told grand tales of powerful beings being taxed in various ways. This time, we're not dealing with a group of heroes who are trying to fight a secret war, save the multiverse, or trying to run a ruined world. Here, we're dealing with the adventures of a group of teenagers who are just trying to survive a rough city while dealing with an ancient threat. This is Wolfpack #1. 

The cover is a Kyle Baker piece. It depicts our titular heroes against a wall, trying to avoid getting shot at. I do think it's a bit more dynamic than a standard pin-up cover would be, but the gunmen have terrible aim. Also, I admit, I'm a bit mixed on Baker's art. I don't know why, but I've always found it rather...off. I wish I could describe it better.

"Crusade"
Writer: Larry Hama
Penciler: Ron Wilson
Inker: Kyle Baker
Colorist: Max Scheele
Letterer: Joe Rosen
Editors: Ann Nocenti, Terry Kavanagh
Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco

The story begins with Slippery Sam standing on a roof, staring out at the South Bronx. He wonders what happened to Mr. Mack, the team's mentor. 

“Okay, now how do I get down from here?!”

The young escape artist finds himself at a bit of a crossroads. As far as he knows, Mack up and vanished. Was it one of his final lessons to the group? No, it was because he was killed in the Graphic Novel. You are aware of this, right Sam?

This helps provide a recap of who the Wolfpack are and what their deal is. As you all know, each of the teenage Pack were recruited for having extraordinary skills. Sharon was fast. Real fast. Slag was strong. Rafael was an extraordinary martial artist. Wheels had a cunning mind. And Sam himself had a knack for slipping in and out of places. Mr. Mack nurtured and honed those skills for the purpose of fighting the ancient evil known as the Nine. Sam believes Mack is still out there, and he's hoping he is right...but lately, he's not so sure about it. Well, he is dead, Sam.

The scene then shifts to Horace Harding High School, the school the members of the Pack attend. One kid is attempting to give a book report. Another student named Lupo is woken up from his time in Dreamland and asks to go to the bathroom. He gets teased for it, as he's seen as a spaced-out flake. Sharon shows some compassion for Lupo, calling out a purple-mohawked student for teasing him. Purple Mohawk mocks Sharon's heritage (Sharon is Afro-Vietnamese), and Rafael decides this punk needs a punch in the mouth. And this causes a big ol' classroom brawl.

Thankfully, Slag and Dean Simpson arrive to calm things down. Their presence gets the class into their seats. Wheels rolls up, saying that there's an emergency.

The class runs to see what is going on. Good news, the emergency is over. Bad news...it leads to a casualty.

Remember Lupo from a little earlier? Yeah, that's him under that tarp. A Mr. Dupont, a gym teacher, finds a crack pipe. Evidently, the now-late Mr. Lupo revealing that Lupo had been doing some drugs. Inspector Cassidy rolls up and takes the pipe, as it is now evidence. Dupont asks if anyone has any idea where Lupo got the drugs that killed him. A girl named Marcella points out that nobody dies from smoking crack. Another student named Hector remarks that Marcella seems to be...quite knowledgeable on the subject. He insinuates that maybe she provided the crack that killed Lupo.

It's here that Sam walks up, all clean-cut and neat, calling Hector out for his accusations. Cassidy spots the Pack's resident escape artist. He points out that Sam may be free thanks to the disappearance of Lamarr Battle (Battle got burned up and taken away by the Nine in the graphic novel), but that doesn't mean he's innocent. Dupont reminds him that Sam isn't guilty, either. Sam's kept his nose clean since then, and that counts in Dupont's book. After the whole scene breaks up, Sam calls for a meeting of the Wolfpack. Usual time, usual place. 

That night, the group meets up. Sam takes command, pointing out that Lupo's death is the latest in a long string of deaths, all caused by drugs. The group debate what to do, and ultimately decide to bust the dealers. Slag and Rafael are up. The next day, the two try to make a buy, but no one is selling. To them, anyway. 

Why didn't it work? Well, Sam lays down a little truth. Members of a subculture know their own. They could easily tell that Rafael and Slag do not fit in. I wouldn't exactly call drug users a "subculture", Sam. Either way, there is another way to get information. Wheels Wolinski has got that covered. How, you may be asking? Well, we have to look into the school cafeteria.

"Awww, mystery meat AGAIN?!"

Wheels pretends to fall asleep next to a table where some of the druggies are sitting at. They continue talking business, thinking that Wheels, being asleep, isn't going to do anything. And even if he wasn't, well...kid's disabled. What's he gonna do? However, just because Wheels can't use his legs does not mean he can't use his brain. And he took full advantage of their prejudicial attitudes regarding him to learn when a big deal is going down. 

He's learned that a man named Paco is dealing out of an old playground in the projects. He's not a big-time dealer, but the Pack could lean on him to find his source. The planning is interrupted by another commotion, one coming from the school's basketball court.

Drugs have ended another young life. Slag realizes the girl is Marcella, who appeared earlier in the comic. Cassidy tries to lecture the kids, but one is not hearing it. He thinks Cassidy is a hypocrite. He's a cop lecturing kids on staying on the straight and narrow, yet cops get paid off, brutalize kids, and even commit criminal acts themselves. As far as he's concerned, the kids who died lucked out...because they don't have to live in the South Bronx anymore. Sadly, he's not really wrong. How many stories have come out about the bad behavior of cops over the years? It's perfectly understandable that some of these kids would view Cassidy as hypocritical. 

That night, Sharon has dinner with her father. He talks about how Sharon's mother was a great cook. sadly, she passed away three years earlier. It clearly still has hit the two hard. You see, Sharon's mom and dad met in Vietnam. He blames himself for her death, his dialogue implying that she died from cancer caused by defoliants that American soldiers sprayed during the war. Stuff like Agent Orange, for example. Sharon suggests that he find something to occupy his mind, maybe get a job. 

It's not that he doesn't want one, it's just that nobody wants to hire him. He's seen as a crazy old veteran. He thinks even Sharon sees him as an insane burnout. Sharon points out that half the kids in her school don't even know where their dads are. She goes out, and he asks if she's seeing that Puerto Rican kid (meaning Rafael). She just looks at him and leaves...with Rafael.

At the playground, a drug dealer named Paco is counting some money he got after making some sales.

However, as the saying goes, a fool and his money is soon parted. ☝ Sharon shows that with her super-speed.

"My money now, fatboy!"

Paco is grabbed by the rest of the Wolfpack and dragged up to a bridge. He is dangled over the edge, and this gets him in a talking mood. Thanks to the information the ever-helpful Paco, the group goes to a house in another area of the Bronx.

"Hey, pizza is here!"

Wheels rings the bell, pretending to have been attacked and injured, needing an ambulance and the police. The occupants agree to let him in, if only to avoid attracting attention. Besides, they can always shut him up inside. Sharon and Rafael cover the back of the house and take care of the man in the kitchen. Sam sneaks in upstairs, but unknowingly triggers an electronic tripwire. 

"Frickin' travelin' salesmen!"

The Wolfpack make their way through the house, wanting the head honcho. They find themselves in a nursery.

"I think we screwed up here, guys."

Things just got more complicated. The head honcho has his family in the attic with him. He is convinced the Wolfpack are a rival drug business. But he won't listen to them. He also has the house wired with explosives...and they are about to blow.

The Pack can't make time to rescue the head honcho's family, they have to leave now!

They manage to get out of the house before it all goes kablooie.

The Wolfpack's first solo adventure ended up a disaster. But tomorrow is another day. On said day, a drug deal is going down in the high school's boys' bathroom. Slag catches it, and the man doing the dealing: Hector, the student who threw barbs about the now-deceased Marcella earlier. He was the one who peddled the killer crack to Lupo and Marcella. He claims he had a good reason, to get people to finally see how big a problem drugs were. Hector has gone crazy.

That night, the Wolfpack meet on a rooftop. Hector's gone to the state hospital. He supposedly will never get out, but who knows? The Wolfpack debate their actions that day. It leaves them wondering if they were no better than Hector. Sharon believes they are. After all, the Wolfpack weren't out to kill anyone. Like Hector, they wanted to stop the drugs from killing their fellow students. Hector was willing to kill, they weren't. The house explosion wasn't their fault. The Pack's only mistake was they rushed in. They didn't make sure they had all the facts first. They didn't kill those kids. However, the kids are still dead, so there's not really much to celebrate as far as they're concerned. 

I think this comic does do a good job setting up the tone of the maxiseries. I also liked the shades of gray going through this book. One thing I found interesting was that even though Rafael Vega was the main character of the GN, this comic seems to want to set up Sam as the leader of the Wolfpack. I think that makes sense. Sam was established to be Mack's first recruit and trained by him the longest. He also is the one to advise Sam and Slag, as well as presumably authorized their little raid. 

I also liked the peek into Sharon's home life. You get the impression that she had to mature faster than other kids because of her situation. It can be implied that she has to provide the support due to her mother dying and her father not having much going for him. Another thing I liked was the debate at the end. Personally, I think the Pack were better than Hector. He clearly was crazy, not caring if he got other people killed. Yes, the Wolfpack's raid on that drug house caused innocent deaths, but the Pack weren't out to kill anyone, and unlike Hector, they struggle with it. They all wanted to clean up their neighborhood, but Hector became a monster in the process. I also finally have to give a shout out to Ron Wilson's art. It has this rough, gritty feel to it that fits the tone and milieu of the book. 

If you want to read this for yourself, I recommend tracking down the 2018 trade paperback Wolfpack: The Complete Collection. 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 Secret Society of Supervillains #1 (June 1976)

It's been said that heroes are only as great as the villains they fight. While that statement can be debated, what is true is that many supervillains have become very popular in their own right. The universe of DC Comics has its fair share of iconic villains. Lex Luthor. The Joker. The Cheetah. And since heroes often join up to combat evil, who's to say that villains can't join forces as a form of fighting back? 

Gerry Conway conceived the Secret Society as an "evil" Justice League. He drew inspiration from another group of villains in the DCU: The Flash's Rogues Gallery. The "evil Justice League" concept got one big obstacle from the start: DC editorial. Many editors of DC's books at the time were very "possessive" of the villains in their books, which prevented Conway from using many of DC's more famous villains like the aforementioned Luthor and Joker. Conway was forced to delve through back issues in search of more lesser-known bad guys to use in the series. 

How did this group of ne'er-do-wells get together, you may ask. Who and why were they brought together? Let's find out in Secret Society of Supervillains #1!

The cover is an Ernie Chan piece. It's pretty awesome, depicting the titular villainous group tossing some robots meant to resemble the Justice League. The dialogue implies this was part of a plan to strike at the real League. A dry run. However, the actual issue is not quite like that. You'll see what I mean.

"Attend--Or Die!"
Writer: Gerry Conway
Penciler: Pablo Marcos
Inker: Bob Smith
Colorist: Unknown
Letterer: Unknown
Editor: Gerry Conway
Executive Editor: Unknown

The story begins in New York City. The City that Never Sleeps has a pair of rather...unusual visitors in the form of two of the Flash's Rogues: Captain Cold and Mirror Master I/Sam Scudder. The two Rogues are doing what they do best: a bit of robbery. 

Cops in New York City HATE cosplayers.

The two use their respective weapons to escape New York's Finest. They're grumbling over their ill-gotten gains in a Bowery hotel when they get an invitation...in the form of a rock being thrown through their window with a note attached to it.

We then switch scenes to Gorilla City, located in Africa. Another Flash rogue is making his escape: Gorilla Grodd.

Just call him the Kool-Aid Gorilla! HEY GRODD!

He had been locked up since the events of Super-Team Family #3 (March 1976). But now, the rogue telepath is free! Nothing can stop him now! ...and then he vanishes. The Batman villain known as Copperhead manages to escape his prison cell in Upstate New York thanks to an accomplice. He is also given an invitation. The next day, another figure arrives on Earth, this one from the depths of space: Green Lantern villain Sinestro. He himself was also given an invitation. Using his ring to disguise himself as an Earthman, he makes his way to San Francisco, where he finds his destination.

It also has wi-fi.

Once inside, Sinestro is greeted by a French woman named Camille. She guides him to an elevator. It will take him to the lounge, where the "others" are waiting for him. After he goes in, Camille presses a jewel hanging around her neck, revealing she is another Green Lantern villain: Star Sapphire. Sinestro arrives at the lounge, where he sees more villains.

"I take it you're also here for the convention?"

Meet Flash villain Captain Boomerang, Hawkman villain Shadow Thief, and JSA villain The Wizard from Earth-Two (remember, this is a Pre-Crisis on Infinite Earths story). Catwoman is supposedly there as well, but she is not seen on-panel. The new Star Sapphire introduces herself. Sinestro knows she's new because he met the first Star Sapphire in Green Lantern #74 (January 1970). And then the Justice League bust in.

"Alright, Justice League! Wedgie them all!"

The group of villains engage the League, but Captain Cold notices something is up. He points out that heroes love talking and serving up banter while fighting villains like himself, but these ones seem very quiet. Mirror Master also notices something weird is going on thanks to the Flash seemingly trying to just punch him instead of using some super-speed trick. Grodd smashes Superman and discovers that he is a robot. In fact, the League are all robots.

Cold is naturally left confused by this, but their host reveals himself. 

"My other costume is in the wash."

This is Paul Kirk, aka the original Manhunter. Well, a clone of his, anyways. The original Paul Kirk died in Adventure Comics #443 (November 1974) taking down a group called the Council. However, the Council did create several clones of Kirk. One of them went on to join the group called the Power Company as Kirk DePaul.

Kirk has brought these criminals together because he believes they have a bond: greed. For money, for power, that kind of thing. Cold thinks there's a catch to this group. After all, there's always a catch. Cold's suspicion turns out to be correct, as there is one. 

The group has an unrevealed financier, and each of the villains are going to have to prove they're worth funding. The first two will be Grodd and Copperhead. 

The two fly out to a lighthouse in San Francisco Bay. It turns out that the lighthouse is hiding a secret government lab. Grodd distracts the guards while Copperhead infiltrates the hidden base. The snake-like supervillain and finds his target: A sphere of solid plutonium.

"I'd better be careful. The radiation could make me into a Hulk or something." 

Copperhead easily gets the sphere and heads for the boat. However, one of the downed guards is able to shoot him in the shoulder. This causes the villain to drop the sphere into the ocean. Now it's radioactive! That can't be good!

Grodd leaves the injured Copperhead behind in the ocean. 

So much for honor among thieves. When he returns, the rogue gorilla reports that Copperhead betrayed him. Manhunter's not worried about it, as Copperhead's silence can be secured. Captain Cold asks what's next, the unveiling of their benefactor? The story ends with the Manhunter responding only with silence. A silence that promises that all will be revealed. 

I have to admit, a team of supervillains is an interesting idea. I think it has a lot of potential. Not just with giving spotlight to lesser-known supervillains, but also to give more character development and perhaps deepen the motivations of the cast a bit more. I do find it interesting that most of the cast are from Flash and Green Lantern's rogues galleries. But that does make sense in the case of Grodd, Cold, and Mirror Master, as the Flash's Rogues Gallery inspired this very concept. I do wish we could have gotten some other heroes' villains, though. I would have loved to have seen Angle Man join this group, for example.

If you want to read this for yourself, I recommend tracking down the 2013 trade paperback The Secret Society of Supervillains Vol. 1. 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!