TMNT: Mutants Unleashed Launch Trailer, My Thoughts

If there is one other medium that the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles has made their name in besides animation, it's video games. The high-kicking reptiles have graced arcades and home consoles since the 1980s, from the era of the NES to today. Heck, they even got a pinball table. And many of their games have naturally been in the fighting/beat 'em up genres. Makes sense, since marital arts is a regular thing in various incarnations.

The latest TMNT game, Mutants Unleashed, is set in the universe of the movie Mutant Mayhem. I've watched it on Amazon Prime, and it was really good. 👍 Developed by Aheartfulofgames and published by British company Outright Games, this game is set after the events of that movie, with our heroes finding themselves having to deal with a new wave of mutants rampaging in the city. Let's look at the trailer!

Yeah, a glowing pink tunnel is nothing good.

"Leatherhead gonna dine on turtle soup!" Mmm, soup...

Man, Bebop's acting like they messed with his boombox.

That mantis girl is going to get a LOT of fanart.

Bebop also found that he lost his favorite Beanie Baby.

Considering everything lately, I think there's something in the air making us all crazy.

That one scene with Leo makes me worry something bad will happen to someone they care about.

I love their helmets look like those beer can helmets. You know the ones.

Yeah, those ones. 

Were those mutant bees?

Ooh, skin packs. Neat. I'd love to play with the 1987 cartoon skins. I think it would have been cool for them to have skins based on the 2003 cartoon. I loved that one.

Well, this game looks like it will be a lot of fun to play. I enjoy a good beat 'em up on occasion, and this seems like a great way to kill some time and relax a bit. Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, show it off! Take care of yourselves and each other! See you next time!

Veterans' Day

Today is Veterans' Day.

I just want to say thank you to everyone who has ever served or is serving now. You are appreciated and loved. Thank you very much.

Justice League International #15 (July 1988)

Back in March 2022, I took a look at Justice League International #14 (June 1988). I had figured that since I had looked at an issue of Aquaman last week, why not stay in the DCU for a while? After all, I may be a Marvel head at heart, I am a big fan of DC, too. Funny enough, I chose this comic at random. I did not intend to follow up on a previous review. But this coincidence was a nice one. And I love the JLI, so that was even better! So, let's take a look at Justice League International #15!

The cover is a Steve Leialoha piece. I love it. This cover is awesome. It depicts Manga Khan front and center showing a hologram of the Earth. Behind him are screens showing the JLI and G'nort doing what they can, while Khan is throwing a sales pitch. You can have the Earth, and all for one low price: the lives of the JLI. It makes him look like a menacing supervillain, while subtly showing that he's ultimately a salesman. 

"Gnort and South"
Writers: Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis
Pencilers: Steve Leialoha
Inkers: Al Gordon
Colorist: Gene D'Angelo
Letterer: Bob Lappan
Editor: Andrew Helfer
Executive Editor: Dick Giordano

The story begins with Lord Manga witnessing the Cluster being attacked. He demands that his robotic assistant L-Ron tell him who would dare do this. L-Ron tells him it's a Green Lantern Corpsman. The Corpsman is not the member that is assigned to this sector of space. This means either this Lantern has gone Cowboy Cop...or is a complete blithering idiot. And considering that this is the JLI we're talking about, which do you think it is? 

L-Ron tries to assure Manga that everything is fine, and this one GL isn't going to cause any real harm. And considering which GL it is...

"All I did was ask for a cup of sugar!"

Yeah, I can see why they're not worried. For those not in the know, this is G'nort. He's not really the brightest of beings, but he does have a loyal streak and he has a hero's heart. G'nort manages to destroy Khan's ship's cloaking shield. And the ship's main power unit. Khan realizes he needs to up the timetable. Time to attack Earth!

Oberon notices the League's sensors picking up the fleet on the way to attack. The readings are so intense, they literally blow out the power monitor.

"Blasted cheap monitors! Last time I shop in a back alley!"

Oberon calls in the troops. The Justice League are here to save the day!

Mr. Miracle is able to track the surge to the Australian Outback. Booster wishes that Guy Gardner is with them, as they could use his power. Beatriz da Costa, aka the Green Flame, points out that she and Tora Olafsdottir, aka Icemaiden, can back them up. Thye may be on probation (they're not full League members yet), but they can still help. Out in space, the Martian Manhunter, Rocket Red, and Captain Atom are on a STAR Labs shuttle. They intend to keep the fleet from reaching Earth. Yeah, three superheroes and a space shuttle. That'll stop a fleet.

Meanwhile on Earth, the League arrives in Australia and find this big complex waiting for them.

"You guys think this place has a McDonalds? I'm hungry."

The heroes get attacked by one of Khan's armored troops. Meanwhile, out in space, the three Leaguers are trying to fight the fleet. Captain Atom is especially having trouble. Thing is, they're fighting an army. Captain Atom is a soldier, so he has to think like a soldier. That gives him an idea.

He suggests that the debris from the battle can be used to their advantage. Since he and J'onn both have superhuman strength, they can use it to batter the Cluster's fighter craft. A nice bit of psychological warfare. Make them think they're going up against something they can't stop.

I can imagine that they can also use chunks of debris as cover. The Martian is skeptical, but since nobody has any better ideas, he's going with it. A fighter manages to get a bead on the two, but G'nort makes the save.

"Eat THAT, Batman!"

Back on Earth, the rest of the League are battling two of Manga Khan's troopers. 

Scott notes that the future Fire and Ice have been pretty helpful, but the team could use some more muscle as Gardner isn't with them, not to mention as shown earlierm J'onn, Captain Atom, and Rocket Red are in space. He thinks his beloved wife Barda would fit the bill. After all, she's a powerhouse herself: Super strong, very durable, skilled hand-to-hand combatant, she got power armor and her Mega-Rod weapon. But now is not the time to think about recruiting, it's time for Mr. Miracle to do what he does best: work a miracle. Scott makes his way inside the complex, one of the big troopers chasing him in. This allows the others to worry about his twin. 

And the superhero bubble was about to burst.

I'm sure they'll be fine. So, how's the Space Crew doing?

"You messed with the wrong guy! I'm a champion at Asteroids!"

They're doing fine. G'nort, despite his reputation for incompetence, is actually shown to be pretty helpful. The remaining fighter craft retreat, confusing J'onn. After all, there's still a lot of ships. Manga Khan's forces could still overwhelm the planet. But the reason is simple: this operation is no longer profitable. Remember, Lord Manga Khan is an intergalactic trader. He's a businessman. Continuing the fight with the League likely will cause him to have to spend more on ships, pilots, etc. And he likely would not be able to recoup those costs with this operation. So, yeah. Time to write off the losses and get out of here.

Naturally, on Earth, the big trooper trying to take down Booster Gold, Blue Beetle, Green Flame, and Ice Maiden also returns to the complex in Australia. There's one problem: Mr. Miracle is still inside. And the complex is leaving.

"Did they think we were Jehovah's Witnesses?"

Naturally, the League has to tell his wife Barda about this. And of course, she is not a happy camper about it. After all, he said he'd do the dishes tonight. She grabs her armor, and it's time for the League to go rescue him. Later on, the League are heading out to get Scott. Well, some of them. Booster Gold, Blue Beetle, Green Flame, and Ice Maiden are left to mind the store, as it were. As they converse, they wonder where Guy is off to. The story ends with that question answered.

"No Guy, I will not tell Booster my hobo soup recipe."

Yeah, turns out he's in Gotham, looking for Batman. 

I enjoyed this issue, but then again, I freakin' love the JLI. I know that some may find the heroes' endless bantering a bit annoying, I can understand that. I always saw this banter as basically similar to the sarcastic humor that we see characters use in police dramas. It's a way of dealing with the craziness of the job. Superheroing is dangerous work, after all. But I love the bantering between Manga Khan and L-Ron the robot. It's honestly one of the funniest aspects of the book. It's like Manga Khan wants to play the "dramatic supervillain", but he can't quite pull it off. 

I also do like the portrayal of G'nort here. Many like to emphasize his goofier characteristics, like his supposed stupidity and incompetence, but he does show some skills in Green Lantern ringslinging. Which should make sense. G'nort may have gotten into the Green Lantern Corps due to a family connection (wouldn't be the first time. Look at Arisia Rrab, who comes from a whole family of GLs), but he wouldn't have been allowed to stay in the Corps if he did not demonstrate some skills and brains. He certainly had the willpower to be a GL.

While Kevin Maguire is considered the artist associated with the JLI, Steve Leialoha does pencil duties here, like he did with the last issue. I do enjoy his art here. As i said with the last issue, his has that cartoony vibe and his characters are expressive, which helps sell the comedy. It is a bit scratchier and less "realistic" than Maguire, but it's fine. It works. 

If you want to read this for yourself, I recommend tracking down the 2008 trade paperback Justice League International Vol. 3. Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, show it off! Take care of yourselves and each other! See you next time! 

World Jellyfish Day

Today is World Jellyfish Day!

Jellyfish are invertebrate marine animals. Most of them are free-swimming critters, but some do get anchored to the seabed by stalks. Jellyfish are known for their body shapes. Their main bodies resemble an open umbrella (it's called a bell), and their trailing tentacles. 

Jellyfish can be found in waters all over the world. Most of them live in saltwater environments, but there are some that live in fresh water. 

Jellyfish are among the oldest multi-organed animals. Fossil records have indicated that they have been around for 500 million years, possibly 700 million. Speaking of fossilization, jellyfish fossils are rare because they have no hard body parts like bones or teeth. 

Jellyfish's bodies are comprised mainly of water, and most species have no brain, lungs, heart, or central nervous system. Well, they don't really need them. Jellyfish breathe by oxygen diffusing through their epidermis, which also contains their non-centralized "nerve nets".

Do jellyfish eat? Of course they do! They're carnivorous, believe it or not. Their diets include plankton, small fish, crustaceans, fish eggs, larva, and some jellyfish even eat other jellyfish. There are omnivorous jellyfish, like the Aglaura hemistoma.

Aquaman #2 (September 1994)

Back in...2019 (My goodness, that's a long time), I took a look at the first issue of Aquaman's fifth ongoing series. It was the beginning of a rather influential era for DC Comics' resident King of the Seven Seas. It's been a while since ol' Arthur Curry graced this blog, and I figured that I should let him take the spotlight again this week. As for what issue to showcase, well, why not the second issue of Peter David's run? Let's look at Aquaman #2!

The cover is a Martin Egeland, Brad Vancata, and Tom McCraw piece. It's really good, if a bit spoilery. It depicts Aquaman's hand being submerged and consumed, presumably thanks to the villain of the last issue. 

"Single Wet Female"
Writer: Peter David
Penciler: Martin Egeland
Inker: Brad Vancata
Colorist: Tom McCraw
Letterer: Dan Nakrosis
Editors: Kevin Dooley, Eddie Berganza
Executive Editor: Jenette Kahn

The story begins with our man Arthur, and Dolphin ending up at a table with Charybdis and a ladyfriend of his.

The lady is named Scylla. Get it? Scylla and Charybdis?

Arthur gets the reference, which Scylla finds impressive. Charybdis asks if Dolphin has anything to add, and she does. In the form of spitting in his face. Both Orin and Dolphin are still trussed up, Charybdis explaining that the devices they're in are meant to drain the two of their powers. So, how is Aqualad doing? 

Yeah, he's alright. Anyway, Charybdis explains why he wants Aquaman's power. He wants it so he can easily get to all of the sunken nuclear submarines around the world. Dolphin's powers have been helpful until now, but the fact that her power was given to her by aliens makes it much harder for him to get them. Since Artie is an Earthman (yes, half-Atlantean, but that's still part of Earth), Charybdis should have an easier time absorbing his powers. Once he gets to these submarines, he plans to detonate them, using their radioactive materials to poison the oceans. Arthur naturally points out that what he's doing...makes no sense.

Yeah. If the Earth's oceans are poisoned, Charybdis is screwed too because he lives on Earth! It doesn't bother him. After all, he and Scylla live in a world of terror. The two of them were the world's premier freelance terrorists, willing to work for anyone with money and a cause. That was...until late last year. Charybdis angrily turns to Scylla, saying he trusted her to blow up a mosque. She was an expert, and the bomb should not have gone off in her hands. Scylla says that enough is enough. She wore the outfit and played along, but she now wants to go home. However, Charybdis is not hearing it.

So, yeah. The "Scylla" we've seen here was not the actual Scylla, as she presumably accidentally blew herself up. Aquaman breaks out and tries to attack Charybdis but gets a tranq dart to the chest for his troubles. So, how's Aqualad doing?

He's still fine. But seriously, he was saved by this mysterious mermaid right here. He thinks she is the late Tula, who died in the Crisis on Infinite Earths. The woman tells him where Aquaman is, and that "Cron One-Eye" will lead him to his mentor. She then leaves, which gets Garth all confused. A pack of sharks arrive, and the leader has one eye. Say hello to Cron One-Eye, everyone! 

Back in Charybdis's base, he puts a mouse in a tank full of piranha fish, hoping he can command the fish to not eat the mouse. It goes as well as you think.

Charybdis is enraged and confused. He has Aquaman's powers. He should have been able to command the fish. Why didn't they obey him? Arthur explains that's not how his power works.

He can talk to sea creatures. He can plead with them. He can bargain with them. He can make suggestions with them. And sometimes they'll obey him if he gives a command. But in general, sea creatures are independent beings with minds of their own. Pirahna are proof of that. Pirahna fish pretty much have only one thought in their minds a lot: EAT EAT EAT EAT EAT NOM NOM NOM NOM NOM NOM FOOD FOOD FOOD FOOD EVERYTHING IS FOOD. Mmm...food...

This is demonstrated with Aqualad and the dolphins. Wait, weren't they supposed to be sharks earlier? Anyway, Charybdis grabs Dolphin and threatens to put her face in the piranha tank unless Arthur teaches him how to use the power to command sea life. Arthur tries to get it through the terrorist's thick head that there is nothing to teach. However, Dolphin is saved by Aqualad's getting a whale to break a hole open in the base. Arthur busts free of his apparatus and attacks Charybdis as the base starts to flood. The terrorist escapes him and heads to his armory. After all, he must have something in there that can blow a hole in the King of Atlantis. But someone is waiting for him.

“Candygram!”

Remember, this is the 90s. In the 90s, a superhero never had problem finding a big crazy-looking gun if they need one. Thing is, Garth is not really used to handling guns, especially big 90s over-the-top guns. As such, he ends up blowing up the armory. 

But it's alright. Garth, Arthur, and Dolphin manage to escape...and so does Charybdis. He flees to some nearby land, and laments how things had gone so wrong. Things never were disastrous when Scylla was around. Arthur finds him and the two brawl. 

Arthur lays a beating on the terrorist, mocking him as a pathetic misogynistic creep, a joke who isn't a tough or clever as he thinks he is. The two struggle, Charybdis claiming that he's what the world made him...as he shoves one of Arthur's hands into the water, the piranhas chomping down on it. Charybdis ends up getting shot in the chest by Dolphin.

Nice little echo there. Earlier in the issue after shooting Scylla, Charybdis remarks to Dolphin "Women. Can't live with 'em". Despite this, he charges at her. Arthur trips him up and he falls into the river, the piranhas chowing down on him. Dolphin goes to check on the injured Arthur...

Yeah. A little ointment and band aids aren't going to fix that. 

I enjoyed this issue. Charybdis isn't a character with a lot of depth. He's basically just a jerkoff misogynist, but it works here. I got a good chuckle from the call-back line between him and Dolphin. I also got a nice laugh out of Garth accidentally blowing up the armory. I like it when superhero stories inject a bit of humor here and there. The genre is inherently silly, so lean into it a bit. I do have to give a shout out to Marty Egeland and Brad Vancata. Their (repectively) pencils and inking work does fit into some of the 90s tropes of superhero art of the era, but outside of the big gun, it's much more...restrained for lack of a better word.  

If you want to read this for yourself, I recommend tracking down the 2018 trade paperback Aquaman by Peter David: Book One. Thanks for reading this blog entry! See you next time!

Day of the Dead

Today is a Day of the Dead.

No, it is not a George Romero horror movie. Day of the Dead, or Dia de los Muertos, is a Mexican multi-day holiday that is traditionally celebrated in the first two days of November. 

It's a day for families to gather together to remember loved ones that have passed away. These celebrations can take a festive tone. Families on this day will build alters called ofrendas. These ofrendas will often be decorated with the honored dead's favorite foods and drinks. Family members will also visit the graves of lost loved ones and leave said foods as gifts for them. The deceased are also honored with calaveras and marigold flowers. These have become a symbol for the holiday, much like holly for Christmas, or turkeys for Thanksgiving.

Happy Diwali!

 Happy Diwali!

What is Diwali, you may ask yourselves. Well, Diwali (aka Dewali, Devali, and Deepavali) is the Hindu festival of lights. While it is primarily celebrated by Hindu people, it's also celebrated by practitioners of Jainism, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Muslims in India. Diwali is the celebration of victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil. 

Appropriate for a time known as the "festival of lights", it's celebrated by lighting diyas, a kind of oil lamp. Candles and lanterns are also lit at homes and temples, and fireworks are fired off.  Among Hindus, a ritual oil bath is had at dawn on every day of Diwali. Yeah, it's a five-day festival. Usually, Diwali falls around mid-September to mid-November. Basically, it's celebrated at the end of the summer harvest. 

Homes are decorated with long strips of fabric called jhalars, and the floors are decorated with rangoli designs. The festival is also centered around family. It's a time for family to get together, do some bonding, and remember departed ancestors. Families enjoy feasts and have desserts called mithai.

Towns and cities organize events, parades, and dance performances to celebrate Diwali. It also holds religious significance to Indians, as the holiday is associated with Lakshmi (goddess of prosperity), Ganesha (god of wisdom), and Rama (one of the supreme beings of Hindu myth). Various places in India have rituals that connect the holiday to various other gods and goddesses.

So, yeah. If you wondered what Diwali was about, hope this gives you a basic idea of it. 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!

November

Today is the first of November!

I hope your November is a good one. It started off sadly for me due to the loss of one of my beloved cats. Hopefully, things will be better.