Speedball #1 (September 1988)

In the mid-1980s, Tom DeFalco and Ron Frenz had developed a teenage superhero character named Ricochet for Marvel's New Universe line. However, the idea never really went beyond a proposal. Instead, it was suggested that they use this new character in the mainstream Marvel Universe. In Ricochet's place, DeFalco and Frenz developed the New Universe title known as Kickers, Inc.

In 1987, DeFalco would become Marvel Comics' editor-in-chief, replacing Jim Shooter. He set up a committee of editors led by the late Mark Gruenwald to oversee idea for new titles. DeFalco included his Ricochet idea, but changed the new hero's name to "The Bouncer". "The Bouncer" was approved, but the editors felt the name kind of...stunk. As such, the name was changed to Speedball, the Masked Marvel. DeFalco had no creators attached to the idea, so who could they get for this new character?

Enter Steve Ditko. He was already highly regarded as a legend in the comic industry by the late 1980s. After all, he helped give the world Spider-Man and Doctor Strange. He had returned to freelancing for Marvel in the late 70s, after working stints in DC Comics and Charlton. It was with them he showed his imagination further by introducing the Ted Kord Blue Beetle, the Creeper, the Question, and the original Hawk and Dove, among other characters. Upon his return to the House of Ideas, he picked up credits on titles like Machine Man, Micronauts, and ROM.

DeFalco and Ditko had crossed paths already, having worked together on Machine Man. It would be Ditko that would design Speedball, as well as his own little corner of the Marvel Universe: Springdale. DeFalco was unable to do regular writing duties on the title, as his workload was rather heavy. Remember, he was doing editor-in-chief duties and writing Thor.

Roger Stern would be brought in, thanks to editor Howard Mackie. They had worked together on the Avengers' book in the past. Stern was reluctant, as his plate was pretty full at the time. He had been writing two series for another company as well as a weekly comic strip. He also was about to work on a Doctor Strange graphic novel. But he was told that he'd get to work with Steve Ditko. Stern was a fan of is, so he found some time. And that's how this comic came to be. So, did the debut of Speedball bounce its way to the top, or was it destined to fall flat? Let's find out in my look at Speedball #1!

The cover is a Ditko and Jackson Guice piece. And it looks pretty good. You got Speedball leaping into action, ready to bounce the bad guys into jail. That dude shooting must've graduated from the Imperial Stormtrooper Marksmanship Academy, though.

"Speedball, the Masked Marvel!"
Writers: Roger Stern, Steve Ditko (Stern for script, Ditko for plot)
Penciler: Steve Ditko
Inker: Jackson Guice
Colorist: Tom Vinceny
Letterer: Jack Morelli
Editor: Bob Mackie, Terry Kavanaugh
Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco

The story begins with a plane flying over Springdale, Connecticut.

The passenger is a man named Mr. Roarke. He's not too happy to be returning to this little burg, as he grew up there...and did some jail time there, too. You see, there was an old man named Hammond who had his own castle in town. Yeah, a castle. It's the Marvel Universe, it's not that strange. Roarke was trying to bust in as he thought that like in medieval times, there was treasure kept inside. Which shows Roarke is an idiot. Ever since then, he's been wanting a bit of payback on the people who put him in jail.

One of the men who did so was one Justin Baldwin, district attorney. We join Mr. Baldwin negotiating a plea deal with a career criminal's lawyer...by throwing said lawyer right out of his office. He laments the idea of cutting plea deals, but it's a necessary thing for the sake of justice. However, this time, he knows that he can put a criminal away without a plea deal. So, that brightens his mood a bit.

Roarke's plane flies over the Hammond Research Center next, where a woman is giving a lecture about the importance of art.

This is Madeline Baldwin (nee Naylor). She was a stage actress once upon a time, but she's now a teacher. She laments that Justin couldn't be there, as she thinks he obsesses over the law a bit overmuch. Roarke's plane flies over Springdale High School, where the man himself thinks about how much he hated it there. To him, high school was almost as bad as prison, with the teachers and all that.

We focus on some boys playing what looks like rugby, but our hero is not among them. One Robert "Robbie" Baldwin is walking by. The boys invite him to play with them, but he refuses, claiming he doesn't feel so good. The boys are confused by this. Robbie's always been rather fearless. Maybe he was just bummed he didn't make the varsity team? Turns out Robbie has a lot on his mind lately.

You see, he has...a power inside of him. A power he has trouble controlling. He feels it churning inside of him like a shaken bottle of soda. The slightest bump could cause him to unleash it, making him a potential danger to everyone around him. And that's not all on his mind.

He feels like his parents are pulling him in different directions. They both want him to follow in their footsteps, he feels like they don't listen to him, typical dramatic teenager stuff. As such, he's afraid to tell them about his incredible new power.

Roarke's plane lands in an airfield, where he meets a man named Jenks. Jenks has managed to obtain some firepower. All the weaponry they need for Roarke's plan. We go back to Robbie, who is walking in a park. He thinks about Doctor Benson, the man he works part time for. He's got his power on his mind, and wants to talk to Benson about it, as he thinks Benson could be trusted. However, Robbie fears his assistants would make Robbie into a guinea pig. As he's walking, a group of bums are staggering by. They need money. They notice Robbie and think "Hey, that kid may have some money. Let's get him to give us his money."

They trick Robbie into thinking one of them got hurt and needs help. But when they try to beat him down, they get a heck of a surprise.

"Oh man, the special brownies are kicking in!"

Robbie's lightshow and bouncing around the tunnel give the bums a good fright, and they flee for their lives. The bums encounter a cop in the park. They consider telling him what they saw, but they figured he'd never believe them. Considering this is the Marvel Universe and all, I would not be so sure about that, guys. In the Baldwin house, Roarke and Jenks watch Justin and Madeline arrive. The two then argue over their plans for Robbie's future. Again, both of them want him to follow in their footsteps. Their argument is cut short when Roarke has them at gunpoint.

Robbie spots Roarke and Jenks and panics. He falls down a cliff, triggering his powers.

"Here comes BUBBLEFACE!"

Baldwin is able to use his new powers to save his parents, but he's clumsy. You see, Robbie was so worried about keeping his powers secret that he never tried practicing with them. Despite this, he is able to dispatch the criminals. The fight creates a big commotion, which draws a crowd. After knocking Roarke and Jenks for a loop, the Masked Marvel bounces away. He's able to find a quiet hidden place to change back to plain ol' Robbie Baldwin.

He returns to his parents, where he discovers they're now arguing about this mysterious new superhero. Madeline is in awe of him, seeing him as a real hero. But Justin is more suspicious of Speedball. He's clearly a vigilante, and he is not a fan of vigilantes. Taking the law into their own hands and all that. It leads Justin and Madeline to debate the mysterious Masked Marvel. The next day, the town is all abuzz over their mysterious new superhero, which makes Robbie miserable. He feels under more pressure than ever to hide his powers.

We got something special with this comic: A second story! How did Robbie Baldwin get his powers in the first place? Let's find out!

"The Origin of a Masked Marvel"
Writers: Roger Stern, Steve Ditko (Stern for script, Ditko for plot)
Penciler: Steve Ditko
Inker: Jackson Guice
Colorist: Tom Vinceny
Letterer: Jack Morelli
Editor: Bob Mackie, Terry Kavanaugh
Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco

The story begins with a bunch of men putting on some masks.

"We're gonna be the best scary monsters EVER!"

That mask on the right is definitely a Ditko thing. They're planning to do a little robbing. You see, some rare metals have arrived at a place that has very little security. Huh. You'd think a place that is preparing to receive some rare metals would have some security for it.

A van containing said metals is heading towards the Hammond Research Lab. It's there we meet Robbie Baldwin. He works there part time. He nearly gets tripped up by Niels, a cat owned by Dr. Benson. Benson tells Robbie he can leave after he finishes cleaning up. Fun fact, Niels the Cat is named after Danish physicist Niels Bohr. Cool, huh? Who says comics can't be educational?

Robbie is eager to finish his work, as he wants to see an experiment that Benson and his assistants are undertaking. He stays out of sight as the men perform their experiment. They're trying to tap energy from an alternate dimension...and it appears they have succeeded.

"Behold, gentlemen! We've just accessed the banana dimension!"

As prone to happen in stories like this, something has gone wrong. The energy beam goes wild, and Robbie gets bathed in the extradimensional bubbles. He goes to wash it off as Benson as his assistants are able to shut down the equipment. Nothing was damaged, and they hope no one got directly exposed to the beam. Robbie goes to the washroom, and he discovers the energy has changed him.

"Oh my God, I got hit by a makeover ray!"

It's given him a fancy new suit, complete with identity-hiding mask. It's even altered his hairstyle and voice to make him less recognizable. It's almost as if his destiny has been laid out in front of him. Robbie panics and flees to the roof, terrified of what he thinks the scientists will do to him if they find out he secretly watched their experiment...not to mention been morphed into a superhero. He tries to remove his suit, but it seems to be stuck, like it's become part of his body.

It's at this point in which the masked gang arrive. They make their way to the roof and spot the future New Warrior.

"Uh, hi. Is there a bathroom here?"

They toss him off the roof, but it's at that moment that Robbie discovers that the extradimensional energy he was exposed to has given him more than a fancy new suit and makeover. It's given him power. The power to...bounce. Yup, Robbie's body creates energy bubbles that allow him to bounce off the ground instead of being a splotchy mess on the ground. Robbie starts bouncing around, knocking around the criminals. They can't even get a grip on him.

One of the criminals is able to punch him, but to Robbie, it feels like he was hit by a pillow. Another one is able to get out a gun and fire at the young superhuman, but the sound of sirens is heard. The masked men try to shoot at Robbie, but their aim sucks. The criminals are forced to flee, but they vow revenge on the mysterious new hero. As this goes down, Robbie is left wondering what happened to him.

However, it won't come to be. They race away in their van at high speed, and end up in a fiery crash, likely killing them all.

The cops discover the wreck and go to the lab. They head up to the roof, as the robbers may have left some evidence behind. The scientists claim that they were in a soundproofed chamber, so they had no idea anything was going down. So...who called the cops? They didn't hear Robbie scuffling with the criminals, so who called the cops?

The cops find Robbie, who luckily managed to return to his normal appearance. One of them, a man named Al, is suspicious of Robbie. After all, what was he doing on the roof? But the scientists stick up for him and let Robbie go home. Upon his return home, Robbie thinks fearfully about his powers. He punches a locker and finds himself bouncing around again, transforming into his Speedball form. He vows to keep it a secret until he can find a way to control it...if it can be controlled.

"I feel like I'm trapped in a pinball table."

This comic was not bad. It does have a very Silver Age vibe with the multiple stories and the involvement of Steve Ditko. There is, like I showed in my review of Firestorm: The Nuclear Man #1, a clear attempt to duplicate the Peter Parker formula: the relatable teenager who gets superpowers. It's understandable why they would try to repeat it. Spider-Man showed that formula can be a major success, so why not try again? That formula helped create characters that still endure today, like the original Nova (Richard Rider), the Kamala Khan Ms. Marvel, even the latest Spider-Man: Miles Morales.

The origin does have a pretty big plot hole when it comes to the cops' arrival. Again, if the scientists were in a soundproof chamber, how would they have heard the brawl between Robbie and the criminals? Who called the cops? Robbie didn't, as he didn't have access to a phone. And the scientists didn't, as they were in a soundproof chamber. So who called the cops?

One thing I did like was the idea that Robbie's parents have seemingly opposing occupations, and both wanting him to follow in their footsteps. It can make for some interesting drama. What I would have liked to have seen in this is that Robbie has potential talent both as an artist and as a potential lawyer. It could show that he's inherited the best aspects from both his parents, and it would reinforce why both parents want him to follow them in their respective fields.

A great arc for Robbie would have him discovering he wouldn't have to choose. He could do both law and have artistic pursuits. Look at Charles Soule, for example. He's an attorney, and he's also a writer. He wrote both Daredevil, She-Hulk (Appropriate as both characters are lawyers), and Star Wars comics.

This comic does have its awkwardness, but as a first issue, it does do its job. We get introduced to Robbie Baldwin, see him get his powers, and get introduced to the drama surrounding his life. I did also like that Robbie has trouble controlling his powers at first. It makes sense that he'd need to get the hang of his new abilities. And Ditko turns in some decent artwork. It does have a bit of a cartoony flair to it.

Speedball's series was short-lived, only ten issues. He would seemingly fall into obscurity...until the New Warriors came along. Robbie would be revived as part of that team, and would remain a member in good standing for many years, joining various incarnations of the Warriors. He would be a prominent part of the Civil War storyline, where he would undergo a change in powers and identity as Penance. However, the Avengers Academy title would see Baldwin's powers change back to their classic form and his return to the Speedball identity, as well as getting a new costume. He would last be seen as a member of the New Warriors during the short-lived (sadly as it was really good) fifth volume of the New Warriors title. The first issue of that title was the very first comic review I wrote...all the way back in 2014. Wow, does time fly. Hopefully, wherever Baldwin is now, he's happy and having some fun adventures of his own.

If you want to read this for yourself, I recommend hunting down the 2019 trade paperback Speedball: The Masked Marvel. It collects all ten issues of his original solo series, as well as his appearances in the late-80s anthology title Marvel Comics Presents. Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you enjoyed it, spread it around! See you next time, when the Secret Wars rage on...

Sparklite Launch Trailer, My Thoughts

In a land known as Geodia, the ore known as Sparklite is literally the lifeblood of the world. The people of this land found a way to use the substance as a renewable power source. However, there is a darker side to this special ore. It can be consumed. Once consumed, it can grant great power...at a price.

A man known as "The Baron" wants the Sparklite for himself. As such, he has planned to hoard it all for himself. His plan has devastated the environment of Geodia, causing animals to mutate into monsters, and rotting the plant life. It's up to you as a mechanic named Ada to stop the mad Baron and save Geodia in Merge Games's Sparklite! Let's take a look at the launch trailer!

Don't you just hate it when your ship goes bonkers on you and crashes?

Always good to help someone in need. In a video game world, that can pay off big time. You might end up getting a hero you need.

So far, I love the general look of the game.

I'm getting Legend of Zelda vibes here. Which is not a bad thing at all. Link to the Past is one of my favorite Zelda games ever.

I get the feeling there's going to be some environmental protection themes to this game, which is also not a bad thing at all. It makes sense, considering the story. And considering the whole thing about climate change

This logging boss looks epic. The saw blades and the potential throwing of logs, ha ha.

This whole game looks amazing. I love the graphical style. It feels like a modern take on the top-down action-adventure game.

I also like that this game seems to be "modern" in the aspect you can build and use things like guns. In my experience, with games like this, they seem to want to stay in a fantastical medieval era. Great to see the developers were not afraid to get a bit futuristic here.

I imagine Ada collects the Sparklite to make gear.

I wonder what the reward is for helping people. In the game, you rescue people to build a place called "The Refuge". I hope that means Ada gets rewarded with better equipment and buffs.

I want this game. It looks so neat and a lot of fun. I can't wait to add this to my Switch library!

Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, please spread it around! See you next time!

Scoob! Trailer, My Thoughts

In 1969, the Hanna-Barbera animated series Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! hit television screens. Created by writers Joe Ruby and Ken Spears, the series told the tale of four young mystery solvers and their dog, the titular Scooby-Doo, who would travel around and solve mysteries: The general formula would be that the kids split up to gather clues, encounter a seemingly-supernatural antagonist, only for them to be revealed as mundane criminals.

The series only originally broadcast for a couple of years, but it would end up spawning a franchise comprised of various animated series, films (both animated and live-action), video games, and even comic books.

The Mystery Inc. gang have graced the silver screen in the past, and now they're coming back to it. This time, the series is getting a film reboot, and it might be setting up a new Hanna-Barbera Cinematic Universe. Let's take a look at the trailer for Scoob!

You know, I can get why some are criticizing Will Forte as the voice of Shaggy in this. Shaggy's voice is rather iconic. I guess it will be an adjustment for me.

That ship looks like Dirk Dastardly's car in Wacky Races.

Does that mean he's going to be the villain?

Always the thing to do when you meet a strange animal: offer them some of your sandwich.

Awww, that's cute.

Daphne dressed as Wonder Woman. The joke is that both Scooby-Doo and DC Comics are owned by Warner Bros. In fact, Scooby and the gang have adventured alongside DC's superheroes several times in the past, most notably Batman and Robin. The knight and judge costumes fit Fred and Velma too for some reason.

Oh man, Shaggy and Scooby as the Blue Falcon and Dynomutt. That's just great.

I wonder if this part with the young Mystery Inc. gang will pay homage to A Pup Named Scooby-Doo.

You know, this trailer is pretty interesting, as it doesn't really hint as what this film is really about. I get the idea that we'll be seeing the origins of Mystery Inc. based on the scenes with the kid versions of the gang. And we might also be meeting Blue Falcon. But besides that, your guess is as good as mine. The new voices for the gang may take some getting used to, as well. I may give this flick a shot. Yeah.

Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, spread it around! See you next time!

Text Play: Pokemon Zeta #3

Hello, and welcome back to the Vesryn region! This is my third entry in my Text Play of Pokémon Zeta!

As I said before, I will be spoiling this game, so if you want to play it for yourself, you can find links to download the game right here. And with that, let's begin!

Last time, we traveled to Superior City, did a couple of side quests, and earned the Discipline Badge by defeating Devon, the city's Gym leader. He specialized in Fighting-type Pokémon. And with that, we can move on to Route 302. Well, not quite. I still have a little bit of business in Superior City to take care of. Remember last time where I showed where the Dolly was?

Yup, right there. I still have to grab it. The woman laments that she needs the HM Strength to get the item there. Well, no need to fear. I have the HM! I taught it to my Machop that I caught in that very cave. Once I have him move that big rock, the Dolly is mine. So, no need for that Strength HM, ha ha ha! ...wait, so what was the point of teaching Strength to Machop, then? I feel like I just wasted my time.

The tunnel to Route 302 has a guard in it. He explains that it leads south to Onega Town. Much like Superior City is named after the American Lake Superior, Onega Town is named after Lake Onega in Russia. He warns me to be careful, as Team Olympus was spotted there. Really? Looks like I can get some payback.

Well, I'm getting ahead of myself. I actually have to get my butt to town first. Route 302 is the first time in the game we'll get game-exclusive Pokémon. The reason Pokémon games tend to come out in pairs is because each game will have certain Pokémon unique to each game. To get them all, you have to trade with someone who has the counterpart game. It's a way to encourage social interaction (as well as increase sales of both versions if you're being cynical). In Zeta, we can get Ponyta and Poochyena. In Omicron, this route is home to Purrloin and Blitzle. I really could use that electric horse. Ah, well. I still can get Shinx. And I like Shinx. Shinx is awesome.

Look at Shinx! Ain't it cute?

It's also the first route where we'll find certain Pokémon at certain times of day. Yup, like in Gold and Silver, some Pokémon are only available at certain times of the day. On this route, for example, you can encounter Clefairy and Gastly only at night. I'm honestly a bit mixed on this. On one hand, it does encourage you to play at different times if you're looking for different Pokémon. On the other, you have to wait until a certain time for a certain Pokémon to appear. If you want to catch them all, it can be inconvenient.

I do want to take an opportunity to also talk about another thing about this game I don't like. You see, in all Pokémon games, if you beat a wild Pokémon, the Pokémon that participated in the battle and did not faint get experience points. Those experience points go towards making your Pokémon stronger. It's the classic RPG trope. Starting in Generation VI (Pokémon X, Y, Omega Ruby, and Alpha Sapphire), Pokémon can also get experience points if a wild Pokémon they're fighting gets captured. This was a good thing as it helped cut down on grinding a little bit.

Traveling down the Route, I found this guy with blue hair, looking like he came right out of an anime.

He's busy appreciating the beauty of the region. I don't blame him. Vesryn is a pretty place. He spots me and says I remind him of someone he knew. Maybe another trainer he knew. He remarks that Vesryn is a haven for Legendary Pokémon. Well, there was that monument to Ho-Oh in Superior Town...

He warns me to not get 'corrupted' by the Legendary Pokémon. I wonder what he means by that? He thinks I'll have enough trouble on my own already. Well, considering how Pokémon games tend to work, I'll likely cross paths with Team Olympus. Is that what he meant? He wishes me a nice day, then he takes his leave. Okay, then. Also, see that fisherman in the screenshot? He gave me an Old Rod. Nice! I can start fishing now!

Now that I got the Old Rod, I can talk about a little feature of this game that I really like. You can register certain items in this game to certain keys on the keyboard. You can literally use certain items at the push of a button.

I registered it to 'Q' because eh, why not?

One of the trainers you can battle in Route 302 is actually a breeder. She points out there's a Daycare Center around here. A Daycare Center is where you can place a Pokémon that needs to be leveled up a bit...or if you want to breed some Pokémon. Another reason I've been enjoying this game is because of the character dialogue. I'm serious, some of the trainers' dialogue is hilarious.

I never imagined I'd see McDonalds mentioned in a Pokémon game. But that's the fun of fan games, you can do some stuff Game Freak can't. Even funnier? This trainer here? He calls himself "Supa Hot Fire"! He thinks he's a rapper! It's great! And after you beat him, he admits he's no rapper! I love this game!

Route 302 leads straight to Route 303. Remember that Pokémon Day-Care Center that breeder mentioned? Here it is!

The men who run it are a happily married couple. That's...that's just awesome. If I can get a Ditto in this game, I'll have to come back here. If I can breed my Dustox with it, I might be able to get a Wurmple that will evolve into Silcoon, and then Beautifly. I think I mentioned that I hate Wurmple in a previous entry. Nearby the Pokémon Daycare is a cave.

This cave leads to a place called the Midnight Way. Behind the entrance there is a Super Potion. I'd pick it up. It can come in handy. Midnight Way is a cave that leads towards a building called the Midnight Mansion. The garden maze in front of it and the cave are good places to catch more Pokémon. That's about it, really. There's a Team Asgard grunt guarding the mansion's front door, and he won't battle you. We'll have to go back here later on. Funny enough, it's always raining at the Midnight Mansion. It's a never-ending thunderstorm there.

Seriously, it never stops raining there. It's weird. How does that work?! Is there something in the house affecting the weather? Is it haunted? It could be haunted. One of the trainers I battled on this route claimed the mansion was possessed. Also a word of warning, near the Midnight Way is a Psychic trainer who has a Kadabra that can pack a punch. At the end of the route is a bridge. And next to the entrance to Onega Town is a Berry Patch.

You can get a pair of Oran and Rawst Berries there. I like growing berries. It takes more time, but you save money on Potions and various other healing items. If only I had a watering can...

Our character's rival Jake is waiting to battle us at the entrance. Friggin' Jake and his swag... He brags about having two badges already, saying the Gyms here are terrible. Maybe he'll make his own gym one day. Dude, just because those Gyms were easy for you, it doesn't mean they were terrible.

He also says he wants to make his own gym. Yeah sure, pal. He says he'll run it out of a mansion and hand out Swag Badges. Hahahahahaha! Yeah, like the League will allow that, buddy. They'll laugh you all the way out of the region! I think he needs a bit of humbling. As such, it is time to battle.

Here's how the battle against Jake went for me:
1st Pokémon: Charmander (Lv. 14) - Easily defeated by Seadra
2nd Pokémon: Horsea (Lv. 16) - Easily defeated by Bulbasaur

Jake just grumbles and lets me by afterwards. I think I wounded his fragile ego a bit. Good. And with that, I have arrived in Onega Town.

Onega is a nice little town. When you arrive, there's a Pokémon Center right near the entrance. A clever bit of building placement if you ask me. There's quite a lot of wild Pokémon and Trainers on the previous two routes (not to mention Midnight Way and the front hedge maze of the Midnight Mansion), so having the Center here feels like you're finally getting relief at last. Nearby the Pokémon Center is a man with a Diglett who makes a joke about being so hip, all his Pokémon are underground!

Ohhhh, the punnage...it huuuuurts...

It's something I love about this fan game, the funny NPC dialogue. One Psychic I battled on Route 303 grumbled that I ruined her chakras. Heh heh.

Talking to the people here can reveal some interesting stuff. According to an old lady here, it's believed that the Pokémon known as Shaymin once lived here. Hmmm, between Shaymin possibly living in Onega in the past, and Zarivar Town having a shrine to Ho-Oh, I get the feeling that towns having a connection to Legendary Pokémon is going to be a thing in this game.

I learned from a kid here that the local Gym Leader here is named Gideon. Apparently, he was a former actor who became a Gym Leader after he suffered an on-set injury. I wonder what kind of injury he got that would make him give up acting. Anyway, he's a specialist in Grass-type Pokémon... which makes me really glad I picked a Magby as my starter. I also learned from another man that he was a bit mopey because of the loss of his acting career. Again, what kind of injury would have to make him give up acting?

Nearby the Pokémon Center is the entrance to the Safari Zone. Yeah, we get to see this game's version of the Safari Zone early on! Well, one of them. Yeah, there are multiple Safari Zones in this game.

I admit, I am rather mixed on the Safari Zone idea. On one hand, I think it's a nice way to change up the gameplay a little bit. On the other, how it works always frustrates me. You can't weaken the Pokémon before trying to catch it, and whether you manage to catch a Pokémon or not depends on chance. It can be pretty annoying. But enough of my griping. Let's move on. There's a small mountain right nearby that has a cave.

The item there is a Pokégear. This takes me back. I first remember this from Pokémon Platinum. Right now, all I got in this thing is a map, but I'm sure that I can get upgrades that can give this thing new features. I tried to enter the cave, but I was stopped by some unknown thing that told me that I still had things to do in Onega Town. Huh.

Above this mountainous area is a big ol' Berry Patch.

Once I get my paws on a watering can, I have got to come back here. This looks a great area to grow some Berries. Above it, you may notice a couple of trees. Those hide the entrance to a Hidden Grotto. Yup, in this fangame, there are hidden Grottos around where we can get an item or try to catch a Pokémon.

Wandering around the Berry patch is a woman with a microphone. She'll want to ask you some questions about your journey so far. Mainly about the battle against Devon in Superior City. How the battle against Devon went, his toughest Pokémon, and opinion on whether he was a good Gym Leader or not. I said it wasn't overly difficult, his Riolu was the toughest Pokémon (mainly because Devon kept healing it), and I thought he was a good Gym Leader (Never heard anything to suggest he wasn't). After this survey, she tells me she plans to take my answers back to "HQ", and gives me a Great Ball.

There is one major thing to do here besides the Gym: Check out the Onega Town Museum! I heard they have some great exhibits there!

Huh. What're those two guys doing there? Well, they're not guards, they're Team Olympus goons. They're obviously not very bright ones, as they outright tell me that they're out stealing some artifacts from the museum.

Yes, they are that stupid. Inside, there are some grunts that need to be cleared out. Pawniard seems to be a popular Pokémon with them. I've also encountered users of Karrablast and Shelmet. Shelmet. Heh heh. I don't know why, but that name amuses me. Shelmet. In case you're wondering, this is a Shelmet.

Shelmet is native to the Unova region, being a Generation V Pokémon. It first appeared in Pokémon Black and White. It has a rather unique form of evolution. It has to be traded with another Pokémon called Karrablast to evolve into Accelgor. Pokémon evolving through trade is not new (It's how you can get Alakazam, Golem, Gengar, and Machamp in Gen I), but requiring a specific Pokémon to trade with is odd. I don't think there are any other Pokémon with this unique relationship.

Anyway, I made my way through the museum, beating the guards down in Pokémon battles. One proclaims they were invincible. Dude, my Pokémon just wrecked your comrades' Pokémon! Did you not see that?! I eventually found this bunch hanging around.

I think it's pretty obvious that they're some Team Olympus bigwigs. Especially eyepatch guy. They spot me and Olympus Commander Athena wants a piece of me. Bring it on! Her Pokémon went as such:

- 1st Pokémon: Hoothoot (Lv. 15) - Easily defeated by Luxray.
- 2nd Pokémon: Riolu (Lv. 16) - Defeated by Pidgey and Butterfree
- 3rd Pokémon: Beldum (Lv. 18) - Easily defeated by Magmar.

Eyepatch Guy isn't really angry about my easily beating Athena. That's because he's already got what they came to the museum for in the first place: The Time Caller. It's an artifact that supposedly allows time travel. Still, Eyepatch Guy wants us to watch them use the Caller to catch a legendary Pokémon. He sees me as worthy to watch, as I easily defeated Athena.

He commands his Pokémon Sableye to use the Caller. Remember when we were told that this town had a connection to Shaymin? Well, the Caller was used to summon said Pokémon in its Sky Forme. Eyepatch Guy is able to catch the legendary Pokémon with a Master Ball. He then warns me not to cross his path again, as Shaymin will only be the first legendary Pokémon Team Olympus will get. They likely have multiple Master Balls, making it much easier for them. Thanks, Missingno. glitch. Thanks a lot.

Well, I can't worry about that now. At least the Museum was cleaned out. Team Olympus likely won't be bothering the place again any time soon. I still have a Gym to get through, and I just may check out that first Safari Zone.

Speaking of the Gym, learning about Gideon had gotten me thinking about what Pokémon I want to use to face him. Grass is vulnerable to five other types: Poison, Fire, Bug, Ice, and Flying. And considering all the Pokémon I've gotten so far (I've gotten over 50 at this point), I've got some options here. Magmar is an obvious keep on the team, as he's a Fire-type. The only other Fire-type I have is my Ponyta, so he could be some useful backup for Magmar. My Pidgey knows Gust, so she would be helpful as well. So would Butterfree. It's Bug/Flying, and it knows Gust. Elemental advantage. Dustox is another good Pokémon I can bring back to this team to fight Gideon. It's Bug/Poison, and it knows Gust and Poison Sting.

As for Flying-types, I got some choices. I got a Ledyba, who is Bug/Flying. Thing is, it's at a low level, and I have no Flying-type TMs. Unfortunately, I don't think it can learn any Flying-type attacks on its own. I also got a Murkrow. It's Dark/Flying, and it knows Peck. I have a Starly, which can learn Wing Attack. And finally, I have a Hoothoot, which can learn Peck. There's also Hoppip, but I don't think he can learn any Flying-type attacks.

Poor Tula the Seadra would be out, as she's a Water-type, and she knows no Ice attacks. My Bulbasaur may not be much help, as it's Grass itself. It knows Poison Powder. I don't think that my Luxio would do much damage as it's Electric. Ultimately, I went with a team of Magmar, Pidgey, Starly, Butterfree, Ponyta, and Dustox.

I think that's enough to take down Gideon. I have to do a bit of grinding, but it's no big deal. After clearing out the Onega Museum, there's something really cool to do. Below the museum, there is a house. The inside is creepy, and a chill permeates it. It's like something malevolent inside.

Examining the TV reveals that a Rotom lives in the house. You have to be careful, as if you beat this Rotom, that's it. No respawning. If you want a Rotom now, this is your only shot. Fail to catch it here, you'll have to wait until later in the game to try again. No pressure, is all I'm saying. It asks you if it knows who it is, and you should answer "Rotom". Because that's what it is. It then says that it can't let us leave the house alive.

Man, this thing is malicious. I think we'd better catch or defeat it before it ends up killing someone. It took a few tries, but I was able to catch it. I hope it doesn't go wacky if I need it on my team. I named my new Pokémon O'Rourke. Get it? Theyyy're heeeere... If you return to the house with Rotom, you get a surprise.

Yup, you can change Rotom's form here! Rotom is one of a few Pokémon that has the ability to change forms. Rotom in its default form is Electric/Ghost. But its form changes make it a mix of other types, as well as changes its appearance:

- Heat Rotom looks like an oven and is Electric/Fire
- Wash Rotom looks like a washing machine and is Electric/Water
- Frost Rotom looks like a refridgerator and is Electric/Ice
- Mow Rotom looks like a lawn mower and is Electric/Grass
- Fan Rotom looks like an electric fan and is Electric/Flying

Pretty neat, huh? I don't think it has much effect on the moveset of Rotom, though. Which is a shame.

I think we'll stop here for now. I have to prepare for Gideon. Wish me luck!

One thing I am amazed by is the sheer variety of Pokémon available early on. No joke. Onega is the second major city in the game, and on the way I have encountered about sixty Pokémon already. Yeah, there are a lot of species of Pokémon, so that's not exactly surprising. But what I was impressed with was that the Pokémon that have appeared have represented multiple generations of Pokémon games. It is a great way to homage the history of the franchise.

So far, Team Olympus seems to me like a standard villain team for Pokémon. Hopefully, their interest in legendaries will lead to something interesting.

Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, spread it around! See you next time!

Pokémon Obtained
(Nagarex Forest)
- Ferroseed
- Hoppip

(Wonder Cave)
- Onix

(Route 302)
- Ponyta
- Magikarp
- Bulbasaur
- Poochyena
- Clefairy
- Gastly
- Shinx
- Qwilfish

(Route 303)
- Patrat
- Abra
- Luxio (evolved from Shinx)
- Seadra (evolved from Horsea)
- Drowzee
- Ivysaur (evolved from Bulbsaur)
- Magmar (evolved from Magby)
- Goldeen
- Spoink

(Midnight Way)
- Nosepass
- Gible

(Midnight Mansion)
- Murkrow
- Munna
- Zorua
- Stunky

(Onega Town)
- Rotom

NWA Powerrr Episode 5, My Thoughts

It's that time again! It's time to rejoin the usual gang of crazies in the National Wrestling Alliance for episode 5 of NWA Powerrr! I highly suggest you watch the show before reading this. And if you want to get caught up, you can do so here. Let's feel the Powerrr!

Recap time!

Ha ha, that tweet is funny.

Calm down, Eli.

Time to start rockin' like Dokken! Get it! Dokken did the theme song. Dokken rules.

Hotlanta, baby!

Heh heh, Colt "Boom-Boom" Cabana. This is who I think of when I hear Boom-Boom. Cabana is a former NWA champion himself, I believe.

Heh heh, Captain Morgan. Got some of the Captain in you, Aron?

They're booing YOU, ya idjit! :P

That looks like a very short script. Is it for a commercial?

Ooh, this game sounds fun! And it's for the Switch?! Even better!

Match #1 - The Dawsons vs. Mims and Kingsley

Mims and Kingsley. I think these guys are new. Hope they have their affairs in order.

Quick little tag match. Hope that Mims/Kingsley duo get another match down the line.

Looks like the Dawsons are not the only team that want tag gold. Here comes Homicide and Eddie Kingston, aka Outlawz Inc.!

Hey, Dawsons! You beat the Outlawz last week! You could do it again and get a title shot! What do ya need to think about?!

You can't help but feel for Tim Storm a bit.

Match #2 - Ashley Vox vs. Thunder Rosa

I like Ashley Vox. Good to see her again. And I am eager to see Thunder Rosa wrestle for the first time.

For God's sake, Cornette...

Good match, made Thunder Rosa look like a monster.

Looks like they're setting something up with Rosa and Marti Belle. And why does Rosa get some sonic accompaniment?!

Thunder Rosa doesn't care! She'll fight everyone!

Well, THAT just happened!

This vignette is weird.

Match #3 - Aron Stevens vs. Ricky Starks (2-out-of-3 Falls Match)

Aron's trunks are...unfortunately colored.

Wow, Ricky Starks got the first fall right out of the bat!

Ha ha, Orange Santa Claus. He must be a Syracuse fan.

Aron really should have kept his eyes on Starks. And picked a different color for his trunks.

Man, I like Ricky Starks. That was a fun match!

Main event time! Cabana has Mr. Anderson with him, and James Storm has got Eli Drake watching his back.

Match #4 - NWA National Championship Match - James Storm (c) vs. Colt Cabana

I really hope that National Championship belt gets a redesign. It's kind of goofy-looking to me.

Some barricades would not hurt there, guys.

Got a bit of chaos at ringside! I love that Anderson just doesn't do anything when Kamille gets in his face.

And we got a new National Champ! Congrats, Colt!

Huh. Looks like the Cowboy may want a piece of Anderson after this.

Looks like the Dawsons have decided! They want that fight with the Outlawz, and they want it now!

We got a fight!

Ha ha, The Wild Cards got bowled over!

And now we got the Rock 'n' Roll Express showing up! Amazing those guys are still doing this after all these years.

Looks like the Outlawz don't have to worry about losing their tag title shot any time soon, ha ha. And they got the Rock 'n' Roll Express showing them love, too.

This was a fun episode! We got a title change, some great action, and some potential plots set up! Can't wait for the next episode!

Veterans' Day

On this day in the United States we celebrate Veterans' Day.

On this day, like I did last year, I want to give a bit of a primer on the history of this day and what it means to me.

Well, on this day in 1918, an armistice was signed between the Allies and the Central Powers of Germany, which is credited for ending World War I. In later years, this day would be celebrated as Armistice Day. It would be made an official holiday in 1938.

In 1945, a man named Raymond Weeks, a veteran of World War II, had the idea that Armistice Day should be expanded to celebrate veterans of WWII as well. He had support for General, and future President, Dwight D. Eisenhower. In 1947, he held the first celebration in Alabama. He continued to do so until his death in 1985.

In 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower would sign into law a bill that would formally establish Veterans Day. For a brief time in the 1970s, Veterans Day was moved to the fourth Monday of October. It would get moved back to November 11 in 1978.

Several members of my family have served in the Armed Forces in the past. My father is a former Air Force man. My late grandfather and grand-uncle served in WWII. I know that Veterans' Day is a day to honor living veterans, but I do think about my grandfather and great-uncle on this day. If you have a person who served in your life, give them a hug, tell them you love them, and thank them for their service.

Ghostbusters: The Video Game Remastered Launch Trailer, My Thoughts

In 2009, Ghostbusters: The Video Game was released for Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, Wii, PlayStation Portable, and the Wii. The game was set around Thanksgiving in 1991, a couple of years after the events of the film Ghostbusters II. The game had all the original Ghostbusters reprise their roles: Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, and the late Harold Ramis. Other cast members from the films also appeared in the games, including William Atherton and Annie Potts.

Notably, the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Windows versions would be known as the "Realistic Versions" of the game because of their using character models that looked more like...well, real people. The Wii, PlayStation 2, and PlayStation Portable version would be known as the "Stylized Versions" due to them having cartoonier graphics.

In the game, you play as a new member of the Ghostbuster team who helps test new ghost-eliminating technology as some of the old enemies of the Ghostbusters make their comeback. The game would be a critical success, but was mainly criticized for its length. The Windows version would get more mixed reviews due to lack of multiplayer and problems with its DRM. The game would go on to sell a million copies.

Last month, a Remastered version of the game, based on the "Realistic Version" has come out for Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and the Nintendo Switch. Let's take a look!

Oooh, the game looks good already! I have this game for the Xbox 360, and it was a lot of fun. Not to mention it was awesome hearing the original four Ghostbusters one more time. Man, I miss Harold Ramis...

I love that song so much. Who ya gonna call?!

Yeah, that tombstone's going to leave a mark on that Ectomobile.

Ha ha, that ghost just took a proton stream to the FACE!

Stay Puft doing its best kaiju impression. I know everyone is excited for the upcoming Godzilla vs. Kong, but I want to see Stay Puft jump into that brawl.

God, shooting ghosts was so fun in this game! I'm happy it's come to the Switch. It can be played on the go now!

Man, some of those ghosts are ugly little spuds, aren't they?

As I said earlier, it was great hearing the original Ghostbuster team one last time.

Oh, this was awesome! I loved this game on the Xbox 360, and I am so happy that it's come to the Nintendo Switch! I can play it on the go! Yahoo! If you're a fan of Ghostbusters, get this game! It is so much fun!

Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, spread it around! Se you next time!