Silver Surfer #54 (Early September 1991)

The Silver Surfer. The silver-skinned sentinel of the spaceways. Once an astronomer named Norrin Radd, his life would be changed forever when the Eater of Worlds, Galactus, came to his homeworld of Zenn-La. He saved his world by agreeing to be the world-eater's herald. With that, Galactus granted him some of his Power Cosmic, transforming him into a silver-skinned surfer with vast cosmic power.

Co-created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, and debuting in Fantastic Four #48 (March 1966), the Surfer would go on to be one of Lee's favorite co-creations. He would write his first solo series in 1968, which became regarded as one of Lee's best and introspective works. The solo would end after 18 issues, but the Surfer would continue to appear in various adventures, even being a former member of the Defenders. His second series, which this comic is from, launched in 1987, and went on to last for almost 150 issues, ending in 1998.

This series would get itself a bit of a boost in 1991, as issues #51-59 tied into the Infinity Gauntlet storyline. Those comics are collected in the Silver Surfer Epic Collection The Infinity Gauntlet. I got the scans from that trade. I love the Epic Collection line. I'm trying to get as many as I can.

The cover is a bit basic, but it's well-drawn. It's basically the Silver Surfer fighting the Rhino. It's pretty much exactly what happens in this comic. A simple cover for a simple story. Rather appropriate.

"Cages"
Writer: Ron Marz
Penciler: Ron Lim
Inker: Tom Christopher
Letterer: Ken Bruzenak
Colorist: Tom Vincent
Editor: Craig Anderson
Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco

The story begins with Doctor Strange telling a group of other superheroes, including Richard Rider in his "Kid Nova" gear, that they have a bit of a problem.

Evidently, the Hulk, being the Hulk, has decided he wants nothing to do with helping the other heroes because he's angry at the Avengers. He's the Hulk, being angry is his thing. I knew it was a tie-in with Infinity Gauntlet, so I grabbed my trade of it so I could figure out when exactly this issue took place. And from what I could tell, it took place during Infinity Gauntlet #3. Sorry about the tangent, just trying to get the continuity straight. Back to the story!

Unnoticed by the other heroes, the Silver Surfer walks away quietly, thinking about how this is a bad omen. He also thinks about when he thought he had killed Thanos back in Silver Surfer #38, but it turned out be a ruse by the Mad Titan.

I like the touch of the Surfer glancing at a picture of the original Avengers.

He considers that maybe if he had actually killed Thanos, this whole crisis could have been averted. The Surfer has long considered himself a "champion of life", as he liked to put it and he did feel shame when he thought that Thanos had died by his hand. However, he wonders if maybe he was justified when he thought he had killed the Mad Titan. His thoughts then turn to the current crisis, and he realizes he's going to need a clear head to deal with Thanos becoming a god.

As such, he decides to take a flight on his surfboard. He flies around over New York City, and the Surfer isn't too fond of the city. He thinks of it as an "ugly growth of concrete and steel", but his flight takes him to Central Park. The former Norrin Radd thinks here would be a fine place to think, as he's found peace and calm in nature in the past.

Silver Surfer looks at a fallen tree, and thinks about how Thanos was able to wreak such destruction so casually. He then looks at a mourning man and realizes that as much as the park was destroyed...the human cost was even worse. In an attempt to impress Death, Thanos casually killed half the population of the universe. It let to trillions of deaths on Earth. Surfer decides for now that even though he can't heal the motional wounds, he may be able to help repair the park a little bit. In the process, he amusingly encounters a penguin.

The penguin just looks at the Surfer and waddles away, Surfer remarking that he's not very familiar with all of Earth's creatures. You'd think that in the time he's spent on Earth thanks to Galactus's exile and his time with the Defenders, somebody would have told him about penguins. Although to be fair, it probably just never came up. Surfer vows to learn more about life on Earth, thinking maybe after the crisis, Doctor Strange could help with that. He heard a scream about animals on the loose. A man runs by him, screaming at everyone to save themselves. The Surfer wonders what has got the man all freaked out, and then he sees a tiger.

The Surfer may not be completely knowledgeable about Earth's fauna, but he does have the idea that a tiger should not be allowed to roam free in a city full of people. He investigates and finds a tiger enclosure. The Surfer realizes that he's at a zoo. Yes, Central Park does have a zoo. Interestingly, the Surfer remarks that back on his native Zenn-La, zoos had been abolished. He then realizes that the animals in their holding pens were deliberately set free. It's not long until he finds the perpetrator.

Yup, it's the Rhino, mainly known as a part of the Amazing Spider-Man's rogues gallery, although he has also occasionally tangled with the Incredible Hulk. The Surfer sees Rhino unlocking a tiger cage, and demands to know what he is doing. Rhino explains that he's doing so because the end of the world is coming. He's been locked up quite a few times in his life, and he wanted to give the animals a bit of freedom before the end hits. Surfer tries to explain that the universe is in danger, but there are heroes gathering to stop the danger and save the world. He asks for Rhino's help in getting the animals back, but Rhino decides basically turns down the offer in his classic manner.

Yup, Mighty Punch to the Surfer's silver-sheened jaw. Surfer tries to avoid a fight, but Rhino would rather throw punches. Surer tries to explain that he's a being with cosmic power, whereas Rhino is just a very tough guy with a very tough suit. The Rhino does not care, and shows the Surfer one thing.

Even a being armed with the Power Cosmic and able to surf the spaceways without suffering any of the negative exposure to the vacuum is not immune to getting speared into a lake. As a fan of wrestling, I had Joey Styles screaming "OH MY GOD!" in my head when I read this.

Rhino and the Surfer tussle in a lake, and the big villain tries to strangle/drown the Surfer. However, that doesn't work. You see, the Silver Surfer doesn't need to breathe. And he makes that clear to Rhino.

You would think at this point, the Rhino would consider that maybe he's punching way above his weight class with this one. But the big lug doesn't seem to get it. Surfer warns him he'll only get hurt if he keeps trying to fight him, but Rhino does not care. He's going to gore the Surfer good and show him those horns he wears aren't fancy decorations.

I love this cluster of panels. They really give an idea of the Rhino charging closer and closer to the Surfer, the Rhino's rage and intent, and Surfer's lack of fear over this as...well, he's faced threats that would turn the Rhino's suit white with fear. The Surfer shows his power by easily stopping the villain.

One hand. Just one hand. That's all it took to stop the Rhino, a villain who has tangled with The Hulk. The Surfer is fed up with Rhino's antics, and decides to give him a Power Cosmic-charged Mighty Punch to the face. However, the Rhino's jaw is saved by the sound of a gunshot. The two decide to check it out, and Rhino is shocked by what he sees.

A policeman had seen a tiger running around, and shot it in a panic. The Rhino is furious and wants to beat the officer to a pulp. The Surfer stops him from doing so, saying that this was Rhino's fault. His foolhardiness led to the tiger getting shot. He stated his desire to free the animals led to them getting endangered, as he just let them loose in a place that was not meant for them. However, the zoo's pens were meant and designed for them, a place where they could be safe.

Rhino kneels over the injured tiger in remorse, saying he didn't mean for this to happen. He just didn't want them to spend the end of the world in a cage. The Surfer does agree that they do deserve to be free, but that isn't meant to be here. They need to be somewhere safe. They need to be back in their pens. Using the Power Cosmic, the Surfer heals the injured tiger, and asks the Rhino to help him repair the damage he did to the zoo. The Rhino reluctantly agrees.

The Rhino helps repair the damage he caused without incident, but he still feels what he's doing isn't right. He feels that there was no point to all this as Thanos is bringing the world to an end. Surfer tries to reassure him that Thanos will bring about his own downfall and the world will be saved. He suggests that Rhino join the heroes, as his strength would be a help against Thanos, and considering much of the superhero community are among the people whom Thanos has made vanish. Rhino turns it down, saying he'll keep an eye on things in the city.

The Surfer understands, and heads out. He hopes that he and the Rhino meet again under better circumstances, but they both think they doubt that. The Surfer returns to the heroes' gathering area, feeling renewed, only to hear a new voice.

Yup, it's the Hulk. Evidently, while the Surfer was having his little donnybrook with the Rhino, the Hulk had changed his mind and decided to help the heroes battle Thanos.

This was a good issue. I had to admit, I was left a little confused as to how this brawl with the Rhino helped clear the Surfer's mind. It's not a bad issue, though. It's was nice seeing another, more empathetic side of the Rhino. One can understand his actions, and the good intention behind them. He believed the world was doomed, and he just wanted to give some animals one last taste of freedom before the end. Maybe that's what did it.

I like to think that the Surfer convincing the Rhino to help him repair the zoo and put the animal back in their cages was his way to trying to being some optimism to the Rhino, trying to reassure him the world will not end, and the heroes will triumph in the end. That, and letting a bunch of wild animals loose in a city that is already freaking out over half its citizens vanishing is not the best of ideas. I have no complaints about Ron Lim's art, it's great work. 

I also have one other complaint about this comic, but it's not one you can really hold against this story. From what I figured, this comic takes place during Infinity Gauntlet #3, but there's a bit of a continuity mishap. You see, this comic states that Hulk had changed his mind and arrived at Avengers HQ before the Surfer returned from his adventure with the Rhino. But in the Infinity Gauntlet miniseries itself...

Silver Surfer is shown to be in the room when Hulk does arrive. I don't know if it was an art goof, or there was some miscommunication between Jim Starlin (who wrote the main IG mini) and Ron Marz, but it's something I noticed and wanted to point out. It's not a strike against Silver Surfer #54 at all, it's still a good comic. And I just wanted to show a panel drawn by George Perez. Who doesn't love George Perez art on things?

Next time, we're going to the DC Universe, as the Flash battles the new Doctor Alchemy...

Happy Labor Day!

Happy Labor Day, everyone!

What is Labor Day, you ask? Well, the American Labor Day is celebrated on the first Monday in September, which is when Canada also celebrates their own Labor Day. It marks the end of the summer, and it's a federal holiday here. It also means a three-day weekend.

What is Labor Day? Well, it's basically to honor and celebrate the working person, the people who work hard to build, to heal, to create, and to feed. A day to express gratitude to the worker and remember their contributions to the country.

So, how did Labor Day get started? Well, in the late 19th century, the growth of trade unions and labor movements led to a call to celebrate the working person. In 1887, Oregon became the first U.S. State to declare Labor Day a public holiday. 29 other states would do the same by the time 1894 rolled around, in which Labor Day became a federal holiday, signed into law by President Grover Cleveland. You can learn more about the history of Labor Day here.

The labor movement is the reason we have a minimum wage, Social Security, a 40-hour work week, Medicare, and even family leave. So when you celebrate this day, think about this...and thank a working person.

Captain America #314 (February 1986)

Once a month for the past year, I looked at an issue of the maxi-series that was considered Mark Gruenwald's magnum opus, Squadron Supreme, which explored what may have happened if a Justice League-esque supergroup decided to not just fight crime, but actively fix the world. But did you know it had a crossover with the main Marvel Universe? Yes, it did! You see, at the time of writing Squadron Supreme, Gruenwald was also writing Captain America's book, and it did make sense for the two books to interact in some way, and thus, this tie-in was born. So, let's dig into Captain America #314, and see how this contributes to the Squadron Supreme's epic tale!

The cover is epic. Seriously, look at this thing! We got Cap and Nighthawk fighting Mink, Pinball, and Remnant on a giant typewriter. One can get a bit of a Dick Sprang Batman vibe from the cover, which makes sense as the Earth-712 Nighthawk was meant to be a pastiche of the Dark Knight. Paul Neary turns in some fine work on this cover.

On another note, it's kind of appropriate that I look at a Captain America comic this week. This week saw the celebration of what would have been the 100th birthday of the legendary Sultan of Sequential Art, Jack "The King" Kirby. Since Cap is a co-creation of Kirby's, it's actually some nice serendipity there. It's also the 100th entry I wrote on this blog this year. More serendipity! Awesome!

"Asylum"
Writer: Mark Gruenwald
Penciler: Paul Neary
Inker: Dennis Janke
Letterer: Diana Albers
Colorist: Ken Feduniewicz
Editor: Mike Carlin
Editor-in-Chief: Jim Shooter

The story begins with Nighthawk arriving at a place called the Temple of Contemplation, home of Professor Imam, the Wizard Supreme.

Professor Imam is Earth-712's main mystical defender, much like Doctor Strange is in the mainstream Marvel Universe. The Marvel Appendix has theorized that he also may be an homage to Dr. Fate. Imam has been expecting Nighthawk, and knows why he is there. Nighthawk wants his help in facing the Squadron, but Imam can't. You see, he has very little magical power left, and must conserve it so he can train his successor in 443 years. Yeah, that's not going to happen. Trust me on this.

Nighthawk feared this, as Imam had vanished years ago, and it took him months to find. So that's what Nighthawk's been up to. He then has another idea: can Imam transport him to Earth-616 so he can get help from there? Imam agrees to this, and puts a spell on Nighthawk that will take him to the main Marvel Earth. He has 12 hours to get help, before it pulls him back home.

The spell works, taking Nighthawk into somewhere rather awkward.

In the classic superhero tradition, he and Cap get into a bit of a tussle, but Cap is able to put an end to it. Nighthawk introduces himself as Kyle Richmond, but Cap says he can't be as the 616-Kyle Richmond died in Defenders #106. He pulls off his mask to convince Cap...a mask that still revealed his whole face. Okay. Cap still needs more proof, so Kyle recounts the Avengers' previous enouncters with the Squadron Supreme in Avengers #85, 147, and 148. Cap doesn't remember Nighthawk among their ranks, but Richmond explains that he at the time was retired from crimefighting for the less hazardous world of US politics.

Nighthawk has explained that he's come to Earth-616 to get some help. He tells Cap about how his world got devastated by the Overmind, and then the Squadron decided to not only help rebuild, but make it a Utopia. However, Nighthawk feared that it would result in a world ruled by a Squadron dictatorship. Cap decides to call an emergency meeting of the Avengers.

The Avengers of the time arrive: The Dane Whitman Black Knight, Hercules, the Wasp, the Monica Rambeau Captain Marvel, and Mr. Fantastic and the Invisible Woman of the Fantastic Four, who were visiting.

The heroes have various ideas over what should be done. Hercules, ever eager for adventure, is all too for going to Earth-712 and fighting the Squadron. Dane Whitman is reminded of the Vision's attempt to do so in Avengers #238-254. I think he's referring to his being incorporated into the supercomputer known as ISAAC. Monica is uncomfortable with doing this, as she feels it's out of the Avengers' jurisdiction. Wasp is in agreement.

Dane Whitman reminds Wasp of some kerfuffle with the Skrulls in Avengers #259-261, saying that was not much different than what Nighthawk was asking. Captain America is against this as well, feeling that the Avengers have no right to change governments they don't like. Reed contributes that the Fantastic Four did get involved with fighting a dictator in another dimension in Fantastic Four #272-273, but there was a personal reason for it. Reed suggests they turn down Nighthawk's plea. I love the nods to previous issues like this. Really helps show the idea that these characters have grown and been shaped by their experiences in those adventures. It's a real shame the Big Two (especially DC), don't treat continuity like this anymore.

Utimately, the Avengers decide they have to turn down Nighthawk's plea. Cap goes to tell him the news, as he feels he was responsible for that. He tells Nighthawk the news. The Night Protector asks about the Defenders, but they've disbanded. Nighthawk goes to look up some other superhuman teams, like the West Coast Avengers, Alpha Flight, and the X-Men, while Cap goes to check the hotline he had going at the time. Yes, at the time, Cap had a hotline where people across America could call if they needed help.

Cap is given a call of sighting s of a man flying around on a magic carpet, and Nighthawk comes along, realizing it sounds like one of his old foes. The two heroes go to the scene of one of the sightings, a theater. A witness explains that three people on a flying carpet appeared out of nowhere, and flew out like a Bat out of Hell. Nighthawk finds some animal hair, and notices it also smells of perfume. It's a calling card of another one of his old enemies: The Mink. Cap gets ready to leave, but notices Nighthawk has vanished.

Cap realizes that he has an appointment to keep as Steve Rogers, and while he heads there, he contemplates the Avengers' decision to not help Nighthawk free his world.

This kind of thing was a regular part of Gruenwald's Cap work, exploring what was the right thing to do. To me, it's one of the things that makes his run a great one. A regular theme of his work was doing the right thing, regardless of personal cost, and such a philosophy made him a good fit for Cap.

Cap arrives at the building Marvel Comics is housed at. Yes, in the Marvel Universe, there is a Marvel Comics. Their comics were authorized retellings of the heroes' adventures. Very meta. And at the time, Steve was working as an artist for them.

Nighthawk is searching for Remnant and Mink, and as Cap is contemplating whether it was okay for the Avengers to turn down Nighthawk's plea for help, the Night Defender himself is wondering maybe he was hasty himself in asking for their help. He figures that the Avengers have plenty to deal with in their own world, maybe asking them to help was too much to ask.

Steve Rogers arrives at his apartment in Brooklyn Heights, and his greeted by his then-girlfriend, Bernie Rosenthal. Bernie has some great news for him.

Yup, Bernie's got some her LSAT scores back, and she did well enough to go to any law school that she desires. Yay for Bernie! Steve, naturally, is very proud of his best gal, and she says the two of them should go out and celebrate. Steve fills her in on the whole thing with Nighthawk, but Bernie asks where will this end. Cap is already dealing with problems all over the country, now he's jumping around to other dimensions? The issue is tabled as Cap gets a call about a sighting of Nighthawk. He suits up and heads out, leaving Bernie to think about how hard dating a superhero is.

And where is Nighthawk?

He's in Manhattan, checking out the Magic Carpet nightclub. Nighthawk thinks it would make sense for his old enemies to be there. Mink is fond of the jetset places, and Remnant, in the vein of old Silver Age supervillains, likes any place that has a carpet theme. Nighthawk finds himself considering a terrifying possibility: What if Mink and Remnant had been B-Modded by the Squadron Supreme, and were sent here to go after him?

Despite this possibility, Nighthawk goes to the club to investigate. Mink, Remnant, and Pinball are there, and they flee when they see the Night Defender. Pinball inflates his suit, and takes on Nighthawk, but he's able to use Pinball as a trampoline to get at Remnant's flying carpet. He's able to grab it with a grappling hook, but Mink attempts to cut it off with her claws. The carpet ends up flying them into a building that has a warehouse filled with oversize props. Yup. Nighthawk takes the two villains on.

Heh heh, poor Pinball. Mink blasts Nighthawk with her Mink-Stink, and prepares to slice him with her claws. However, Cap arrives and demands the four of them surrender. Mink tries to slash at Nighthawk, but the 712-born hero barely dodges it, and falls through the massive typewriter's keyboard, as it's made of cardboard. Remnant and Pinball take Captain America on. Pinball tries to roll over Cap, but he's able to use his Mighty Shield to send Pinball rolling back, slamming into Remnant. Nighthawk is able to free himself.

Ha ha, That bit is funny. Poor Pinball is a real punching bag in this issue. He can't get a break. It's even funnier because Cap doesn't even look right at him when he tosses his shield. Nighthawk calls for Mink to come down, and she agrees, figuring that she wouldn't be much of a match for Cap. She leaps down and the two heroes catch her. Nighthawk remarks that Mink was pretty gutsy to take that leap. She then explains that she didn't trust Nighthawk to catch her...but she did trust Cap to do so.

Outside, the three explain to Cap why they came to Earth-616. Remnant recalls the events of Squadron Supreme #6, and he tells Cap the Squadron are using the B-Mod to brainwash people like him. Remnant admits he's demented, but he doesn't want to lose his free will. Mink pleads with Cap to grant them asylum. Pinball says they'll accept being put in a mental hospital, even prison, as long as they get to stay on Earth-616.

Cap ponders this, as well as explains a major problem. It would be the humane thing to grant asylum to them, but the problem is...they'd be non-persons on Earth-616 because they come from another universe. As such, Cap can't guarantee that they'd get humane treatment from any government. Also, what if the Squadron discovers the three of them are on Earth-616 and tries to come get them? Cap can't guarantee Earth-616 will be safe for them as a result.

He does propose another solution: Join forces with Nighthawk and Cap to find more allies and take down the Squadron. Nighthawk agrees, but tells Cap that he had come to a realization. He feels now that perhaps maybe he had no right to involve Earth-616 in this. Mink, Pinball, and Remnant agree to this, as they feel it may be the only option they have. Just then, Professor Imam's magic spell wears off, and the four Earth-712 natives are transported back home.

The comic ends with Captain America hoping that things work out for them on their Earth, and maybe Cap did get to help after all, by convincing the three extradimensional villains to take up the good fight against the Squadron's tyranny.

This was a very fun comic. It was also a pretty good tie-in, as it helped fill in a gap in the mini-series narrative: Where did Nighthawk go? It also got to function as a basic fun team-up story, Cap and Nighthawk fighting some villains. Paul Neary turns him some good art, although it is a bit wonky in certain panels. Despite this, it was minor and nothing was hurt. The fight in the giant props warehouse felt like a 1980s take on a Dick Sprang Silver Age Batman story, which fits as this Nighthawk is a pastiche of Batman. I imagine that was what Gruenwald wanted to do with this story, give us a little something fun with some Earth-712 characters to balance out the darker main Squadron Supreme story a little bit.

Next time, we take a look at an adventure of the Silver Surfer, as in the midst of the Infinity Gauntlet crisis, he deals with the Rhino...

Street Fighter V Menat Reveal, My Thoughts

Street Fighter V's roster has grown again! And this time, it includes what I think is the series' first Egyptian character. Say hello to Menat!

When I first heard her, I thought she may have had a connection to Rose. She does talk about destiny and fate, things the tarot card-reading Rose deals with as well. She also seems to use a crystal ball in battle, which is kind of cool. I wonder if she'll have a unique mechanic like Kolin and F.A.N.G. have.

I wonder if that's her theme in the background. It's pretty neat.

She seems to employ dancing quite a bit in her moveset, which makes sense. Her name is another name for the Egyptian goddess Hathor, and one of the things she was a goddess of was dance. There's also a bit of a cat-like quality to her, which also makes sense. The ancient Egyptians loved their cats.

I can't really analyze her fighting style, as I know jack squat about fighting games. The only fighting games I ever really played were Street Fighter II and the Smash Bros. series. But she does seem to have some cool moves.

I like her. I think she's cute. Hope people take to her.

Squadron Supreme #8 (April 1986)

Welcome back to Earth-712! Every month, we've watched the Squadron Supreme, the World's Mightiest Heroes, attempt to bring their shattered world from the brink. Through it all, we saw tragedy and triumph. So, let's see how things are going for our heroes, shall we?

Previously on Squadron Supreme: Nighthawk attempts to recruit Master Menace to help him take on the Squadron, and Master Menace was like, "Nope. I'll beat 'em on my own." Menace then summons an alternate universe Hyperion to infiltrate and tear down the Squadron from within. However, the alternate Hyperion renegs when he falls for Zarda, secretly killing her elderly husband.

The cover is really awesome. It features two Hyperions fighting in front of what looks like a ruined Mount Rushmore, the Squadron reacting to this in shock. The cover promises a battle between the two Hyperions...and it will be to the death. Boy, do we get that here.

"The Clash"
Writer: Mark Gruenwald
Penciller: Bob Hall
Inker: Sam DeLa Rosa
Letterer: Rick Parker
Colorist: "Max" Scheele
Editor: Ralph Macchio
Editor-in-Chief: Jim Shooter

The story begins with the Whizzer running through a city.

We also get a bit of a glimpse of his origins. Stanley Stewart was once an ordinary mail carrier, who liked to jog. One night, he ran through a strange fog, and he discovered that he could run faster and farther than any mortal man. He had decided to become a costumed crimefighter, and had originally intended to become the Boomer, but his wife said that name was stupid. So, he became the Whizzer. And he wears a yellow costume. Yes, make the jokes. I'm guessing that particular joke isn't a thing on Earth-712.

Stewart is enjoying himself, as his work lately hasn't really been giving him time to just go running for fun. However, his day of fun would be interrupted. On the other side of town, two of his old enemies are robbing a bank.

Meet Rustler and Bollix. I've heard theories that they were supposed to be nods to Terra-Man and Sportsmaster. The police can't catch them because they have the forcefield belts (remember those?) that protect them from harm. Whizzer tries to help, but the belts manage to knock him back, too. Whizzer cleverly finds a way around that.

Yup, he decides to dribble them like basketballs to the police station. I love comics. They get locked up, bragging that with their forcefields, they can't be touched...nor can they be B-Modded. However, Whizzer reminds them of something. Turns out after 96 hours of constant use, the forcefield belts' power source burns out. Also...they can't touch anything outside the forcefields...like food.

Speaking of the force belts, the scene switches to one of the new factories for manufacturing them. Tom Thumb and Shape are about to go to lunch when the Whizzer tells thumb about his misadventure. We then check in on Blue Eagle and Quagmire. Quagmire flirts with a female employee, and Blue Eagle gets really mad about that.

Quagmire tries to defend himself, saying that because of the B-Modding he was forced to undergo, he can't do anything wrong anymore even if he wanted to. He eats a fist from Blue Eagle. Quagmire taunts him about it, and Eagle angrily flies off. While in the air, he thinks about his actions and realized that he's been distracted about Lady Lark being B-Modded and quitting the Squadron, and it's made him much more tense. Yeah, he totally has a thing for her.

When he flies back, he learned there was an accident at the factory. A vat of highly concentrated tranquilizer gas got accidentally punctured, and Quagmire got thirty people out by himself. Unfortunately, he also took a massive dosage of the gas...and he's not looking good. A horrified Blue Eagle blames himself for this and takes Quagmire to the hospital.

At the hospital complex in Squadron City, Dr. Decibel is examining Arcanna. He's confused by this, as Arcanna doesn't seem pregnant to him. She's not showing.

Yeah. Arcanna wants to remain on active duty, so she hid her pregnancy from the Squadron. She hated being treated like "spun glass" when she had her last child. Uh, Arcanna, maybe the reason the Squadron took you off active duty during your last pregnancy is because maybe they were afraid you'd get hurt fighting a supervillain and end up suffering a miscarriage or something? I'm just saying, that possibility is preventable. Despite this, Dr. Decibel is ordered by Arcanna to keep it quiet, and due to his B-Modding, Decibel must obey.

The scene then shifts to Hyperion, Doctor Spectrum, and Lamprey heading towards Squadron City. The three had just done some crisis intervention, and Hype is in a great mood. He zips ahead, and Spectrum notes that Hyperion moved on Zarda quicker than this. Lamprey mentally notes something. Due to the nature of his energy-siphoning powers, he can sense energy, and he noticed that Hyperion's is a bit off. However, he can't say anything. The Squadron believes the Hyperion they're working with is the real one, and as a result, he can't voice his suspicions.

Hyperion arrives at Squadron City, and he and Zarda have a bit of a romantic moment, briefly interrupted by Foxfire. But unbeknownst to them, they are being watched.

Yup. The real Hyperion is trapped outside the timestream, which looks like he's trapped in an infinite-sized cloud. Man, the Bleed is rather...misty. After recapping how he got there, and his attempts to break out, he sees someone in the endless mists.

Yup, it's Hyperion's old enemy Master Menace, who fled here after his plan, which he recounts to Hyperion because comics, went wrong. He's been trying to go back, but his armor is working fine. He realizes he needs a power source. The two realize they'll have to work together. Menace agrees as long as the Squadron leaves him alone. Hyperion can't promise that, so they go their separate ways. Later, Hyperion tells Menace he'll agree to the terms on one condition: Menace does nothing to interfere with them or the Utopia Program. Basically, we'll leave you alone if you leave us alone. Menace gives his word as a criminal. Hyperion fires his atomic vision at an induction coil on Menace's armor, and the two are able to return to Earth-712.

The two materialize over Menace's lab/castle. Yup, he owns a castle. I bet the inside's like a technological Wonderland. Hyperion drops him and flies off.

The funny part? Menace's armor is able to protect him from a fall even from a very high height. Hyperion was being a little troll. But to be fair, Menace did try to leave without him, so...yeah. Hyperion streaks towards Squadron City, vowing to make the fake Hyperion pay for what he has done.

In Squadron City, the team are having a meeting over Quagmire. Dr. Decibel reports that Quagmire is in a very deep coma, and treatment isn't helping him very much. Tom Thumb offers to start work developing an anti-toxin. And the meeting gets crashed.

712-Hyperion bursts in, demanding to see the 616-Hyperion outside, much to the shock of the Squadron. That is an epic entrance right there. 712-Hyperion decks 616-Hyperion with a Mighty Punch, sending him flying outside. 712-Hype explains about the imposter, then flies after him after warning the Squadron to stay out of his way. Zarda is horrified by this, and orders the Squadron to go after the Hyperions.

During the chase, Lamprey points out that he sensed that the energies 616-Hyperion had were off. He wasn't able to say anything because his B-Modding prevented him from doing anything that would betray a Squadron member...including revealing one was an infiltrator.

The two Hyperions brawl in the sky, their blows being described a like claps of thunder, ad producing sparks that light up the sky. Their brawl takes them to Mount Rushmore, or as it's called on Earth-712, Presidents' Mountain.

I just noticed something. The real life Mount Rushmore has the heads of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. But the Earth-712 version seems to have the heads of what looks like Benjamin Franklin and I think John F. Kennedy in the place of Jefferson and Roosevelt. Must've been some interesting alt-history going on in this world. Anyway, the battle between the two Hyperions devastates the landmark, reducing it to rubble.

Yes, that is 616-Hyperion holding up a giant stone nose. I love comics so much. The nose proves to be an ineffective weapon...mainly because it's made of stone and thus cannot produce excess snot, which would have at least helped with the gross-out factor. The two Hyperions then decide to do their own take on the Dragon Ball franchise's beam wars with their atomic vision.

The fireball created by their beams starts edging closer and closer to one of the Hyperions as the Squadron arrives. 616-Hyperion starts ranting that he is better than 712, screaming that he'll never give up, that he'd rather die than let 712 bet him. The atomic fireball heads right for 616, and it goes off. A furious 712-Hype goes up to 616 and starts laying Mighty Punch after Mighty Punch on his weakened counterpart.

A horrified Zarda orders Lamprey to drain 712-Hype's energy so he'll stop, but Lamprey can't. Due to his B-Modding, he can't use his powers on a Squadron member. Doctor Spectrum tries to hold him back with his Power Prism, but it's taking a LOT of effort on his part. Zarda is able to get 712-Hyperion to back off. The usage of his atomic vision has messed up his eyes, as he's only able to see spots. He explains that 616-Hyperion murdered Howard Shelton.

Zarda cradles 616-Hyperion, who is dying from the wounds he received in the battle. Blinded and in pain, he confesses his crimes to her. He admits that he did kill Howard Shelton and begs her forgiveness. With his dying breath, he tells her that he did genuinely love her. The comic ends with 712-Hyperion injured, and a sobbing Princess Power holding the liquefying corpse of 616-Hyperion in her arms.

This issue was really good. It helped subtly show more of the horrors of B-Modding the former Institute of Evil. Dr. Decibel couldn't speak up to prevent Arcanna from deliberately putting her unborn child in danger simply because she doesn't want to be treated like glass, nor could Lamprey expose the fake Hyperion early, possibly preventing the destruction of Presidents Mountain. The B-Mod device was created as form of reformation, and despite Tom Thumb's reassurances, it does strip the free will of its recipients to some degree. Amphibian was a prophet, and Nighthawk's fears were further founded.

It also gave an idea of just how devastating a battle between two beings as powerful as Hyperion could actually get. Keep in mind, Hyperion is a pastiche of Superman. You can pretty much assume that he is the most powerful being on Earth-712. Could you imagine what would happen if the two Hyperions ended up duking it out in a populated area? Man of Steel gave us an idea of what could happen.

Bob Hall returns for this issue, and his art game is really upped here. It looks so much better than the early issues he did. It's also a bit frustrating for two reasons: Where was this Bob Hall in those earlier issues, and why can't this mini keep a consistent artist? Otherwise that, the art was fantastic, and it was really nice to look at.

Next time, we leave Earth-712, and return to the mainstream Marvel Universe, where Captain America finds himself dealing with the crisis on Earth-712 as well as we ask the question: "Where did Nighthawk go?"...

Kirby 25th Anniversary Trailer, My Thoughts

Kirby. Since 1992, the little pink puffball from the planet Popstar has been protecting the universe using his ability to suck enemies up like a vacuum cleaner and use their powers. Created by Masahiro Sakurai, who would also go on to help create the Super Smash Bros. series, Kirby is one of Nintendo's most popular franchises, having a game on practically every console and handheld they put out, from the NES to the 3DS.

And this year, he's turning the big 2-5. Yup, Kirby is celebrating his Silver Jubilee, and Nintendo and HAL are celebrating by putting out this little trailer.

The trailer basically is a look at Kirby's glimpse of his history, a look at the many games he has appeared in during his long adventures.

I have to admit, my experience with the Kirby series is rather...limited. The only Kirby game I played was Nightmare in Dream Land for the GBA, which was a remake of the original NES game Kirby's Adventure. I remember really enjoying that game, and it was also incredibly easy. It was a lot of fun, though. I also played a demo of Planet Robobot, and it was rather enjoyable.

I'll have to be honest, I don't have a lot to say about this trailer. It is a neat trailer, though. It was cool seeing just how many games Kirby has been in and how the character's adventures have evolved over the years. I wonder if there's a celebratory game in the works. Game Freak put out Sun and Moon for the Pokémon franchise's 20th, I wonder if Nintendo and HAL have something like this in the works for Kirby. One can hope.

Marvel vs Capcom Story Mode Trailer #2

After many long years, the Marvel vs. Capcom series is making a comeback! With Infinite on the way, a new story mode trailer is released! And here it is!

The trailer starts with Jedah Dohma from the Darkstalkers series proclaiming that it's time for the "dark kingdom" to rise. Is he talking about Makai? Because that's the kingdom he's from, and the one he wants to restore to order. And he's got a symbiote monster.

Hey, is that Spider-Man? Awesome. But I thought that he was killed off in Spider-Verse. Maybe he found a way to return.

Hey, Ghost Rider's back, too! Awesome! He and Morrigan are ready to take Dohma on...and Dohma is counting on feeling everyone's suffering. Oh-kay...

Hey, appearance by Dr. Light! It would be cool to see him and X interact.

I don't get why people are whining about the graphics. I think they're just mad that the game doesn't look like Injustice 2. But in my opinion, I don't think that graphic style would fit this game. ANd I think people just like to whine for the sake of whining.

And with the Infinity Gems, you can bet Thanos would be involved.

Cap and Iron Man facing off again. Man, they have a thing for that, don't they? Tony, not the time for this.

Ooh, MODOK and Nemesis. MODOK had some funny intro lines in the last game, hope he gets some zingers here.

I hope we get a face-off between Thanos and Dohma.

X and Zero don't know how to fistbump.

Heroes fighting giant symbiote monster. Awesome.

This game sounds like it'll be a lot of fun. Hope it comes to the Switch...