Super Bomberman R Trailer, My Thoughts

There are a ton of games coming for the Switch, and so many of them look really good. One of them is the newest entry in one of gaming's longest-running franchises: Bomberman! Yup, the series is celebrating its 33rd anniversary, and Konami is bringing it roaring back to life with Super Bomberman R!

Now, I have to admit, my experience with the Bomberman series is rather...limited. I only played (and own) two games in the entire series, Generations and Jetters for Gamecube. I rented them in my local video store, and I remember enjoying them. I do own the games, I believe I bought them when the store was selling them off to make room for the Wii games. I haven't played either of them in a while. Anyway, let's talk about this one.

The footage looks amazing, showing classic Bomberman gameplay, and the graphics look incredible. The trailer ends up promising a story mode that can be played cooperatively with a friend. That's pretty neat. I wonder if the second player can drop in and out anytime they want. That would be a nice handy feature.

The game also shows one of the bosses, a metal crab thing with a cannon for a claw. That's pretty cool. I like that boss.

I do like that the classic 8-player Battle Mode is in the game. I'm sure that's something that will make a lot of retrogamers smile.

The teaser gets a narration about the rising of the eight Bomberman brothers. I think it means the player characters, and I wonder will each "brother" have different abilities? Would be a good way to increase playability, and welcome different play styles in Battle Mode. It also gives us another glimpse of I think will be another boss monster: A turtle/castle thing with drills for feet. I dig it.

The trailer ends with a cute little bit of animation. The classic Bomberman attempts to rally his "brothers", but they'd rather just hang out and do random things, like play with toy cars, nap on the couch, and in Red's case, kick a dummy. Although, I can't help but notice something. Two of the Bombermen I think are intended to be female: the blue one with the bow and skirt and the pink one with the heart. If that's the case, shouldn't it be "Bomberman Brothers and Sisters"? I'm guessing just saying "Bomberman Brothers" is punchier.

This looks like a neat game! I'll add this to my list of potential titles for the Switch!

3rd Anniversary!

Hello, readers! Today is my birthday today! 33 years old, and the blog is celebrating it's third birthday as well! Yup, I started this blog on my 30th birthday.

I started this blog mainly because I just felt like writing a blog. I was inspired by the likes of Linkara and his webshow Atop the Fourth Wall, and the now-defunct Dave's Long Box. Shame that blog went down, that blog was awesome.

I can't believe it has been three years since I started writing on this blog. I guess the old saying is true, "Time flies when you are having fun". And I have had a ton of fun writing this blog.

What are the plans for the future? Well, mainly just keep doing what I do. I'm working on a review of a late-80s Superman story, got some more game and movie trailer to talk about, and maybe I'll start writing some more movie reviews. Been a while since I did that, considering I have not been to the theater in a long time. Still, I do have a big collection of flicks, maybe I can review some older movies. I have a ton of those.

Thanks for three years of fun, and here's to many more!

Happy April Fools' Day!

Happy April Fools' Day, everyone!

The "holiday" does have some interesting and complex origins. Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales was the first to associate April 1st and foolishness, but this may be due to a printing mistake. You can read more about those origins right here.

It's a holiday that has been recognized around the world, and has been very popular since at least the 19th century, but it's not an official holiday anywhere. It's day that is traditionally celebrated by mainly playing pranks, and revealing the prank by shouting "April Fool"!

So, what should you do today? Well, play a fun prank on your friends!

Have a great April Fools' Day, and be VERY careful what you read on the Internet today.

Marvel Premiere #15 (May 1974)

Daniel "Danny" Rand was a man. Just a flesh-and-blood man. He didn't have alien heritage, he wasn't a super-soldier, he didn't have an encounter with a radioactive spider or was given a trinket by a space cop. He was just a man. But he was a man with skills. Growing up in a mystical city allowed him to become one of the deadliest men on Earth. His mastery of martial arts also had a bit of a boost. He plunged his fists into the burning heart of a dragon, allowing him to charge his fists with chi, allowing him to punch hard enough to level a mountain. Danny Rand was a man on a mission. He would avenge his parents' death. And he would do it with a fist of iron...

Yup! We're going to take a look at the first appearance of the Iron Fist. Created by Roy Thomas and Gil Kane, Thomas was inspired to create the character after seeing a pre-Bruce Lee kung fu film that had a scene with a 'ceremony of the Iron Fist' in it., as well as drawing inspiration from a Golden Age superhero known as Amazing Man.

Over the next four decades, Fist would have many adventures, most notably being a Hero for Hire alongside his best friend Luke Cage. Like Fist, Cage was created to capitalize on the popularity on a film genre: Blaxploitation. In my opinion, the Fist/Cage Heroes for Hire title was genius because it allowed the two characters to become much more three-dimensional, allowing them to retain their popularity and fanbase long after the film crazes that inspired them fell out of fashion. Rand has died, been resurrected, he's been an Avenger, he's going to be a Defender, and he even recently discovered he was just the latest in a long line of Iron Fists, an Immortal Weapon.

With that, let's take a look at his humble beginnings.

The cover is a pretty neat one. Iron Fist beating down some men in gis. Fist's pose is bit funny, though. It looks like he was firing a backhand and a high-kick at the same time. We do get to see his chi-charged fist, though. Which is good, as that's why he's called Iron Fist in the first place.

"The Fury of Iron Fist"
Writer: Roy Thomas
Penciler: Gil Kane
Inker: Dick Giordano
Colorist: Glynis Wein
Letterer: L.P. Gregory
Editor: Roy Thomas

The issue begins with Iron Fist facing off against a group of attackers, a bunch of heads around him.

Evidently, Randy Orton is not the only one who hears voices in his head. A group of men in green hoods are watching the face-off. Iron Fist assumes a stance.

And the attackers...well, attack. Iron Fist is able to show his stuff. Fist walks his way through the attackers, using kicks and punches given fancy names like "The Blow of the Hammer" and "The Sword Hand" and "The Elephant Kick". During the fight, Fist looks up at the green-hooded council, and hopes for some approval from one of them.

The man give no expression...mainly because he has a mask over his face. But I can imagine him thinking, "Rand, you ain't done! Finish kicking those butts!" With a renewed fury, Fist returns to his thrashing of his opponents. After he's done handing the men a beating. Iron Fist turns to the council and states that he has prevailed in "The Challenge of the Many", and now he is ready to face "The Challenge of the One". Yu-Ti, one of the green-hooded men, asks him to do some contemplation on how he got to where he is. Basically, he's saying Iron Fist should remember his origin tale for the audience.

Danny Rand then thinks back, back to when he was a small boy. When he was in the Himalayas on a journey with his parents Wendell and Heather Rand, as well as Wendell's business partner, Harold Meachum...

Wendell is looking for the legendary land of K'un Lun, a Shangri-La-esque land hidden in the Himalayas. You know, I just realized something. The Inhuman city of Attilan was in the Himalayas for a while. I wonder if K'un Lun and Attilan ended up neighbors.

The narration states that Wendell appeared out of nowhere about ten years before this flashback, becoming a sudden entrepreneur with some mysterious funding. Is this a hint he himself went to K'un Lun? If so, why is he going back there?

Anyway, little Danny takes a wrong step and ends up falling over a gorge, causing his parents to fall with him. The rope that held them together snapped, which allowed Heather and Danny to tumble away on to a ledge. Wendell is left hanging over the gorge. Wendell tells Harold to throw another rope to Danny and Heather. Harold has another idea.

Harold, using his spiked boots, stomps on Wendell's hand, causing him to careen down the gorge. This is witnessed by a horrified Heather and Danny. Harold is proud of what he's done, saying now that their company is now his, and he gets a rock to the face. It was revealed the rock was thrown by Heather.

Harold pleads Heather to stop as, well, he has a bit of a thing for her. Yeah, way to impress her by killing her husband right in front of her. And she herself may have died, so...yeah. Way to go, Harry.

Meachum asks Heather to come with him. Heather, enraged, tells him that she'd rather risk dying of frostbite than go anywhere with him. Heather should've let Harold rescue her and Danny, then figured out some way to go from there. But Meachum, being a evil jerk, decides to let her and Danny freeze to death on the ledge. She encourages Danny to save his strength, and prepare for a climb. The flashback ends in the present, where Danny announces he is ready for the Challenge of the One. His next opponent is revealed...

Shu-Hu! The man with fists like thunderbolts! Shu-Hu! His punches have shattered mountains! Shu-Hu! The silent destroyer! Shu-Hu! The purveyor of fine beatdowns since 1968! And he's single, ladies.

Shu-Hu and Danny bow and begin their fight. Shu-Hu no-sells Iron Fist's attacks, and backhands him into a wall, but Danny's training allows him to avoid becoming a splat on it. Taking advantage, Shu-Hu takes the offense, beating Iron Fist down like he owed Shu-Hu some money. Danny finds himself flashing back again.

Heather and Danny manage to climb up the mountain and they decide to go forward.

I have to give kudos to the Rands here. They are a tough bunch. they managed to, without equipment or supplies, climb their way up a mountain and get this far. However, they're weakened, and there are wolves after them.

A miracle occurs. The two find a bridge. They don't know where it came from, but the wolves bearing own on them give them no choice but to cross it. The wolves pause for a moment, but Heather knows the bridge won't stop them, so she runs at the wolves.

A horrified Danny watches Heather get torn to shreds by the wolves, and runs back towards her, but the monks at the other end stop the boy and take him in, bringing him to K'un Lun. The flashback ends with Iron Fist back in the present, asking who Shu-Hu is, as he is so able to take him down so easily.

In response, Shu-Hu fires daggers from his hand. Literally fires them from his hand. One hits Iron Fist in the shoulder, and he hears his mother's voice. The issue doesn't say what he hears her saying, but I imagine it's some form of encouragement. Fist pulls the blade out, and the pain seems to make hi go berserk and find his second wind.

He attacks Shu-Hu with fury, nailing him with kicks and elbow strikes, but the big man won't go down. Fist then lets himself grow calm, so he can deploy his ultimate weapon. He calls upon his chi and will, and draws it to his fist, until it becomes...like unto a thing of iron.

His fist charged with chi, glowing like the sun, Daniel Rand, the Iron Fist, nails Shu-Hu in the kisser with one mighty blow.

Shu-Hu turned out to be a robot. Yup, they have robots in K'un Lun, too. Wonder where they got it from. And who maintains it?!

Danny stands before the green-robed council, and states that he is ready for the final challenge: The Challenge of Oneself. He is bloody, but unbowed, and he is ready. The August Personage of Jade, one of the council, agrees that the right to take the challenge is his: The right to choose between immortality...and death. Not much of a choice, who wouldn't choose immortality over death?

You know, I wonder something. Since it has been established Danny Rand is only the latest in a long line of Iron Fists, I wonder if any of the previous ones had been through tests like this to show their worthiness? I'd love to see how Orson Randall or Wu Ao-Shi dealt with trials like these.

This origin story was...pretty enjoyable. The last comic I reviewed that was essentially a large flashback was Marvel Fanfare #10, and I have to admit, the two comics do share a similar structure: A little bit of action dominated by flashback.

However, I think that works better here than in the Marvel Fanfare issue. It works better here because this is the first appearance of Iron Fist, so it is perfectly fine to use flashbacks this much to explain how Danny Rand got to K'un Lun and give us glimpses of the place he has called home for the last ten years, which can be further explored in future issues. The flashbacks also help plant seed for future storylines, particularly Rand's desire for vengeance against Harold Meachum. Gil Kane does some fine artwork on this one.

Next time, in honor of the release of Kong: Skull Island, I thought I'd take a look at a comic that featured a giant ape. So, join me as we look at Superman shedding some Tears for Titano...

Spider-Man: Homecoming Trailer #2

Not much longer now! Not much longer until the Webhead's first solo MCU adventure hits the big screen! I gave my thoughts on the last trailer, and now a new one has dropped!

The trailer begins with Peter Parker putting on the suit. The suit's features appear to be more than just the mechanical eyes that allow the mask to be expressive. It can automatically fit to Parker's body. Wonder how it does that?

It his funny seeing Tony Stark growing exasperated with Peter's eagerness with joining the Avengers. It's nice to see that the big brawl he went through in Civil War didn't dampen his spirits. It was pretty funny seeing him swing into the swimming pool.

I have heard that the fat Asian kid that Peter is friends with might be Ganke, but we hear Peter say "No, Ned, no." Yeah, it's not Ganke, folks. It's Ned Leeds. Ned's pretty funny. And I thought it was so cool seeing that video showing "Captain America's Fitness Challenge." And it was pretty funny seeing him try on the mask. "Badass..."

I have to admit, this is an interesting take on Adrian Toomes/The Vulture. This Adrian appears to see himself as a bit of a Robin Hood/social crusader-type. He's striking out against the rich. I love the Vulture's design here, especially the talons. His interactions with Spidey are rather interesting. It seems that maybe Vulture may know about his associations with Stark, and is trying to get him to turn against him.

And we get a preview of the Shocker. Nice to see the Shocker make his debut.

The bit with Spidey and Iron Man saving the boat that got blown in half was AWESOME! I also liked the little attempt at a pep talk by Stark. Shows how much he's grown and changed since the first Iron Man movie.

I have to admit, this trailer has got me excited. I can't wait to see this movie! It's going to be so much fun!

Justice League Trailer, My Thoughts

It's here, it's here! The World's Greatest Heroes are finally getting to make their big-screen debut! And the trailer has finally dropped!

The trailer begins with a man getting ready to mount a horse in the snow. Because nothing screams epic action and the Justice League like a man practicing his equestrian skills. :P

The man rides his horse as a voiceover, Ben Affleck's Batman, remarking that they have to be ready, and that there's not much time left. The horse pulls up to a cliff overlooking some sort of...outpost? The rider pulls back his parka and goggles to reveal...Ben Affleck's Batman. This version of Bruce Wayne has some bizarre hobbies.

We then get a brief cut of a man in his apartment, and a box glowing and morphing. We then briefly get a shot of what I think is a parademon...or Tony Stark wearing that goofy Iron Man armor from the 90s. You know, the Heroes Reborn one with the pipes on it?

Yeah, that one. And yes, that was an actual armor Iron Man wore.

We get a brief glimpse of Jason Momoa as Arthur Curry/Aquaman. We rescues a sailor, takes him to a bar, dups him on a table, takes a beer, and tells then to put it on the sailor's tab. Okay, I like him already. I hope he's the fun guy of the team. The DCEU desperately needs a fun guy. I hope he yells out "OUTRAGEOUS" at least once.

Next, we meet Cyborg, portrayed by Ray Fisher, who is shown...blowing up a tank. Is it just me, or do Wonder Woman and Batman sound really bored when they're describing these people? Like they could just not care less? Look, I get that Wonder Woman is from a group of warrior-scholarly women from an Ancient Greece-esque island, and Bruce Wayne is one of the richest men in the DC Universe, but they're talking about an actual cyborg and the King of Atlantis. Can't they at least PRETEND to be impressed?!

Is it just me o does Cyborg's CGI seem a bit...wonky? I'm not one of those people who complain endlessly about CGI in movies, but I can't help but think here that maybe the CGI could've been better-done here.

Next, we meet Barry Allen, the Flash...not played by Grant Gustin, but by Ezra Miller. We get to see him running...and I think the Flash costume in this movie looks a little...overly-designed. It's got brighter red than the TV suit, which is good, but it doesn't need the black.

We get a neat scene with Barry catching the batarang. That's pretty cool.

We then see Batman swing down and toss something at a Parademon, I think...geez, they couldn't bother to try and make them resemble Kirby's designs a little bit? And then we see the rest of the League fighting more Parademons, Aquaman impaling a couple.

That bit with Barry and Bruce was pretty funny. Nice to see they're starting to realize it's okay to have a little humor in a superhero flick.

We then next see a mash-mash of scenes, set to a cover of the Beatles' "Come Together": Arthur doing something with water, Mera appearing (She's probably just a cameo), Lois Lane cameo, Barry visiting dad in jail, Victor Stone playing football in slow motion, Linkara getting his YouTube account back, and the Batmobile.

There is a nice allusion to the Bat-family with Gordon telling Batman that it's nice to see him working with people again. And Aquaman saying he digs that Batman dresses like a Bat. Yeah, he's totally going to be the fun guy.

Honestly, I am...rather mixed when it comes to my thoughts about this movie. Much like the Avengers, the Justice League is one of my favorite superteams, and I really want this film to be good. However, the DCEU's track record has filled me with worry. Man of Steel has gotten mixed reviews, Batman v Superman was a critical disaster, and Suicide Squad got mixed reviews. What I'm worried about is that this film will end up an action-filled overly-packed mess. I do want to be optimistic, and I do hope this and Wonder Woman are at least enjoyable. These heroes deserve that.

Justice League #1 (May 1987)

In the late 1980s, The DC Universe flew into an upheaval. Crisis on Infinite Earths had destroyed DC's vast Multiverse, and amalgamated the five remaining alternate Earths into one brand-spanking new DC Earth, with aspects and characters from the five Earths all now co-existing, with characters and histories altered to fit.

With this, DC decided to relaunch the Justice League title, and editor Andy Helfer, in response to Keith Giffen's numerous pleas, put him on the book alongside J.M. DeMatteis, and a hotshot young artist named Kevin Maguire. It was a risky combination, but it would pay off. The 1987 Justice League relaunch would be the genesis of one of the most beloved incarnations of the superteam through its now-50-year history: The Justice League International.

So, how did this incarnation come about? Let's find out!

The cover has become rather iconic, parodied and homaged by other artists and companies over the years. Interestingly, these days, this League is thought of as a group of "B-List" heroes, but back in 1987, this roster was a big deal. Keep in mind, Crisis was still rather recent, and some of these characters were originally from other worlds. Dr. Fate came from Earth-2. Captain Marvel came from Earth-S. Blue Beetle was from Earth-4 (The Charlton Heroes). Dr. Light was created during Crisis. This team was meant to show the variety of heroes from various worlds were now all together. This was a big deal, and the cover was a great symbol of that unification of the five worlds that survived Crisis. Well, most of them, anyway.

"Born Again"
Writers: Keith Giffen (Plot/Breakdowns), J.M. DeMatteis (Script)
Pencils: Kevin Maguire
Inker: Terry Austin
Colorist: Gene D'Angelo
Letter: Bob Lappan
Editor: Andy Helfer

The issue begins with Guy Gardner, who had become a Green Lantern again during Crisis on Infinite Earths, sitting alone in a room, mentally practicing his declaration of intent to lead the new Justice League.

Guy notices someone is teleporting in. And it's Black Canary, wearing a...rather goofy outfit.

She and Gardner share some banter, Canary showing her disdain for Gardner's arrogance, and the teleporter activates again, revealing more new arrivals.

It's the Scott Free Mister Miracle and his manager Oberon! Oberon is thrilled with the idea of Miracle joining the League, as it will increase Mister Miracle's profile. Oberon tries to introduce himself to Guy, but GL just makes a joke about him being one of the Seven Dwarves. Canary remarks that out of the entire Green Lantern Corps, they get stuck with "Rambo with a Ring".

Captain Marvel arrives, and remarks that there is a crowd of reporters outside. Mister Miracle remarks that it's not unexpected. A new Justice League team forming would be big news.

We next meet the Ted Kord Blue Beetle and Martian Manhunter. J'onn J'onzz is rather cynical about the press, viewing them as wolves. Ted thinks that J'onn is being a bit overly grim, but J'onn remarks that he does not know him or what he has endured.

J'onn sadly looks at images of four members of the previous Detroit-era League: The Hank Heywood Steel, Gypsy, Vixen, and Vibe. During an attack by Professor Ivo, Vibe and Steel were killed, and during the Legends miniseries, Gypsy, Vixen, and Elongated Man quit, which effectively disbanded the League. These four heroes are shown on the screens for another reason: They were essentially young heroes, introduced at a time when the League was revamped to take advantage of the popularity of superhero teams that focused on heroes in their late teens/early 20s, like Marvel's X-Men, and DC's own New Teen Titans. J'onn led this version of the League after Aquaman quit, so it makes sense that he would be hurting after all of that.

Guy Gardner calls the team to order. In Washington DC, we are introduced to a certain successful businessman: Maxwell Lord IV. He's watching a bunch of televisions...how is he able to focus on one of them? He is scribbling the Justice League's name on a legal pad, and he scratches out "America". Lord seems to be inspired by what he's watching.

Back with the League, Canary and Guy are having a...bit of a disagreement. Canary is disgusted with Guy's lack of respect for the League's rules and traditions, and Guy is furious that Canary refuses to acknowledge that he's in charge. Can't really blame her on this one, Guy put himself in charge.

Oberon tells Guy to apologize to Canary, but Guy uses a construct of a brush to literally brush him off. J'onn tries to break it up. Guy's not having it, and uses his ring on him. Captain Marvel tries to get Guy to calm down and try to work in harmony with the others, but Guy mocks him. Oberon tries to tackle Guy, but Guy tosses him into Mr. Miracle.

Batman and Dr. Fate arrive. It's revealed that Dr. Fate suggested that the League be regrouped, but he is surprised that Bats is also there. They hear a crash.

Yup, a big ol' brawl broke out! It's Guy Gardner vs. The Justice League! Who will take home the DCW World Championship?! Place your bets, folks! Place your bets! Sadly, Dr. Fate and Batman are not fight fans. Fate offers to break it up with his magic, but Batman insists on handling it himself.

I love the panel layout here. The detail is really good, too. The League getting out of the way as Batman walks across the room. Kevin McGuire's expressive character work really shines here with Batman's growl and Guy instantly submitting to his order. With Guy quieted down, Batman calls the meeting to order.

You know, some people like to blame Grant Morrison for the whole "Bat-God" thing, but I think that this comic shows that it was not exactly new. To be fair, in this case, I think it was played more for laughs. And it is genuinely funny here.

Batman reads the charter, and then he suggest that since this League incarnation is rather new and filled with people who never really worked together before, the team maintains a low profile before they go public. This way, the team would have an opportunity to get to know each other and learn to work together better.

Canary grumbles about being put on monitor duty, but Batman tells her they need someone on that at all times. Evidently, Canary drew the short stick on that. Guy grumbles about Batman, but Mister Miracle comments that he is Mother Teresa compared to Guy. Guy tells him he'll beat Miracle like a government mule for that (BAH GAWD ALMIGHTY, KING), but Bats catches him.

In the United Nations building in New York City, Kimiyo Hoshi, aka the Japanese scientist/doctor/superheroine known as Doctor Light, is fiddling with a signal device in the ladies' room, trying to get it to stop beeping.

Ahh, late-80s technology. Nowadays, the Justice League would have a special app for that. It's also kind of funny to see the normally proud and arrogant Dr. Light actually pleading with the gizmo to shut off. Frustrated with the device's unwillingness to shut off, she shoves it in her purse in an attempt to muffle it. A flashback reveals that a mysterious person found her and offered her membership in the new Justice League.

Hoshi then encounters a group of terrorists, who drag her into the main assembly area and sit her down, but not before she was able to secretly activate the signal device. The League get the signal, and Guy is all to eager to leap into action.

Batman, however, has a plan. Because of course he does. This was well before Morrison-era JLA, folks. He orders Captain Marvel and Dr. Fate to fly ahead, but stay out of sight. The others will be following in Ted Kord's Bug. A news broadcast reveals that the lead terrorist has a special bomb grafted to his chest. If his heart stops beating, it goes off. Miracle believes it may go off.

The group makes a plan. Batman tells Guy Gardner to use his ring to seal off the building, much to his chagrin. In the UN, the lead terrorist is ranting about speaking for the forgotten ad how there is so much pain and misery on the planet, my God, this guy should write monologues for Final Fantasy villains. Doctor Light sits and thinks about what the man is saying, but determines he needs to be stopped. Problem is, she can't really do anything with risking lives, much to her frustration.

Captain Marvel, Martian Manhunter, and Black Canary are taking out the terrorists, while Beetle is using the Bug's systems to hack into their walkie-talkies and keep up the illusion that everything is fine.

J'onn, ever the Swiss Army Knife of superheroes, uses his power to turn invisible to find Doctor Light, and whispers some instructions to her. Batman swings down and gives the lead terrorist a bit of a fright.

Heh heh, I like Batman saying "Boo". I know everyone likes to portray him as this super-serious paranoid lunatic ultra-awesome buttkicking machine, but I do like to think that there's still this part of him that has some fun scaring criminals.

Upon J'onn's command, Doctor Light creates a MASSIVE flash of light, which allows Guy Gardner to swing in and give the terrorists a good bricking.

Doctor Light dispatches her captor with an elbow to the gut. The lead terrorist yells and rants at Batman, who just orders everyone to evacuate the room will staring at the man. Guy is furious, wanting to rip his lungs out (At the time, Green Lantern power rings did not allow lethal force), but Batman tells him to shut up and follow the orders of the Bat-God.

Batman just stares at the terrorist, causing him to rant and scream that he's there to test his faith. The lead terrorist grabs his gun...

He then shoots himself in the head, but the bomb does not go off. The news covers this, revealing that the terrorists were members of various radical groups. The leader was a drifter and former mental patient named John Charles Collins, who was not connected to any such radical groups.

Maxwell Lord watches this, and remarks it was a real shame that Collins shot himself, and that his bomb went off.

Too bad Mr. Collins didn't have the firing pin. Yeah, I think I can get exactly why they ended up retconning Maxwell Lord as a real villain around Infinite Crisis. I mean, look what he did here. He took advantage of a mentally ill man and a bunch of radicals, and nearly got people killed. Maxwell Lord is a royal jerk.

This was a great issue. It set up the interpersonal relationship, an had lots of funny moments. Some may take a dislike of Kevin Maguire's art, and I can see why. Everyone's faces are full of lines, and at times, for some reson, I can't help but think that everyone looks like they're made of clay. However, I don't mind it so much, as his art is very expressive. This issue was a fun one, and if you find it, as well as the rest of the JLI era in back issues or trade form, pick it up.

Next time, in honor of his Netflix series dropping, we'll take a look at the origins of one of Marvel's premier martial artists, the man who punches with the power of a dragon. Yup, we'll take a look back at the chi-powered-punching origin of the Immortal Iron Fist!