DOPPELGANGER versus CAPTAIN AMERICA
Dark Dawn (Marvel comics)
Where: Captain America #408 When: October 1992
Why: Mark Gruenwald How: Rik Levins

The story so far...
The deadly Nightshade teams with Dredmund, lord of the werewolves, in a sinister scheme to turn the people ofMassachusetts into werewolves -- including the super-soldier himself, Captain America!

Fortunately for him the combined might of he, Man-Wolf John Jameson, Wolfsbane, Wolverine and others sees the day saved, but before Cap can be cured of his lycanthropy there's another shocking surprise in store!

Unbenknownst to he, a secret war is being waged by the evil spirit of Adam Warlock, Magus! Creating sinister doppelgangers of Earth's greatest heroes, Magus sends his shadows out to do battle with their counterparts.
Suffering fatigue of battle and Nightshade's cure, can Cap defeat his dastardly doppelganger, or is it curtains for America's greatest warrior?

Previous Form:
Captain America (#6): Victories over Wolverine, Baron Zemo, Punisher & Mr. Hyde.
Doppelganger: The Magus-born Spidey doppelganger endured beyond Infinity War to defeat Spider-man.

Tale of the tape...
Strength: Captain America 3 (Athlete)
Intelligence: Captain America 4 (Tactician)
Speed: Captain America 4 (Olympian)
Stamina: Captain America 5 (Marathon Man)
Agility: Captain America 4 (Gymnast)
Fighting Ability: Captain America 6 (Warrior)
Energy Powers: Captain America 2 (Projectile)


Okay, I'm really tired, and evil-clone month isn't nearly as exciting as it sounds.
Actually, for those who look back on the nineties with contemporary chagrin, that probably isn't news. It was nice enough for the time, if a little awkward, but lordy, I'm tired, running a little lazy on point, and this just isn't a hook.

So, anyway, as you can see, I've cheaped out on mugshots and rather than poll the doppelganger's strengths I've just served you up the ratings as we see them for Captain America. If you want a reference point to debate the accuracy of these rarely discussed ratings, you can check yourself into school and hunt down the patented scientifically proven Haseloff tape system.

As for the business, well, yeah... Captain America, who has spent the best part of a few months turned into a werewolf, wraps things up by demanding a cure. Werewolf Cap... fighting an evil clone with a jagged (John Walker-esque) shield and a fangy grin... I just... I'm at a loss for words, ten-to-midnight.

Good triumphs over evil. No one sees an evil Captain America on a cover and expects for even a second that he's going to win. Especially not when it's an Infinity War tie-in. It's a little bit ridiculous, a little bit fun.

The Pick: Captain America

What went down...
With the lycanthrop cure administered and effective on John Jameson, Cap lies on Nighshade's table and prepares to receive it himself. Unlucky for him, a mysterious evil doppelganger appears out of thin air!

The evil Captain swats Jameson, sending him sprawling into Nightshade.

The move bumps her hand holding the syringe that contains the cure formula, prodding it by accident into the true Captain America. Despite the unexpected prick, Cap is able to sweep Nightshade off her feet, narrowly avoiding the spike prongs of the dark clone's shield.

Suffering the effects of not only the battle of the wolves, but also now the reversing effects of the serum, Cap goes on the defensive. He's able to defend against the airborne spike-edged shielf of his dark mirror image, but weakened, cannot avoid deflecting it into the path of his allies!

Moonhunter pulls back the recently cured John Jameson, just narrowly avoiding a decapatating meeting between human flesh and mystery metal!

Attending the badly wounded Dredmund, Dr. Druid watches on as the evil Magus clone throttles the weakened Cap-Wolf as he begins to revert into his human form.

Though unable to intervene, the occult Dr. Druid is able to inform Captain America's curiosity, revealing that the evil doppelganger exibits no living energies or human traits -- a mere manifestation of evil!

The news is liberating to the Captain who, as a werewolf, has grappled with the darkness of the animalistic brutality that the transformation incurred. Ever unwilling in this sophisticated age to take a life, the Captain more freely launches his assault against the lifeless mirror image.

With the last of his energy, Captain America launches his legs into the air with the strength of a super-soldier! The move vaults the dark clone into the air, where he finds the blade of his own spike-edged shield that had buried itself in the adjacent wall after being deflected.

The spikes buried into the base of it's skull, the evil Captain America fades away like a ghostly apparition -- as though it were never even there!
"Mondo Spookioso," indeed, Moonhunter!

The hammer...
Proving you can accept no substitutes -- Captain America!

This is, of course, part of the on-going Monday series of posts featuring the villains from the Marvel Ultimate Alliance videogame, still available and expanding across multiple platforms.

Gamers will recall the latter stages of the game where they encounter dark versions of the playable characters in a world reenvisioned by a near omnipotent Dr. Doom. Though not traditional villains, it gives us a chance to take a look at some of the obscure, less important battles featuring heroes from the games, tackling evil versions of other heroes.

With recent entries, [Legends #1], we've been talking a bit about crossovers and their origins, with events like the featured Legends, and the similarities between more recent events like Infinite Crisis. We didn't really bridge out of that into the positives and negatives of crossover events, but I think it's safe to say this particular issue of Captain America is a great example of how an obtuse editorial mandate can really interrupt in a negative way.

No disrespect to Gruenwald, who I was surprised to find hasn't been featured in the Infinite Wars until now, but yeesh. Not many books come to mind where an event has so awkwardly been crammed into a story, and if you scroll back up to the tape and examine the featured panel, you might be able to appreciate that.

I mean, that is literally the extent of the introduction.
The issue opens with a fairly clunky, but no doubt appropriate conclusion to a storyarc that has run over a few issues of Cap, and then absolutely out of nowhere this trailing conclusion is assaulted, conceptually and fictionally, by the presence of this borish, wacky off-shoot from a story that's presumably happening in a galaxy far, far away from Massachussets.

I'm actually going to give Infinity War tie-ins a bit of credit.
As you'll see over the course of this month - because we're not done with them - they're actually a nice enough, one-off bit of fun, and this issue's third-page "suddenly" doesn't do the high concept of evil doppelgangers justice. It just really paints a glaringly obvious picture of how this kind of intrusive editorial storytelling can go horribly wrong.

It reads like Captain America had reached a crossroads. There's an on-going effort to connect this cosmic event to the powers that are going to be involved.
Captain America is one of those key moving parts, in what will eventually unfold into a weird, paranoia driven precursor to the Civil War scenarios, so you want to enlighten readers to that connection. You want to give them a taste of what's to come, but it seems to be done at the expense of a solid ending to a previous story, which perhaps already had it's own shakey merits to begin with.

I'm not going to presume that anything was forced on Gruenwald, but it's a familiar enough name to think this isn't wholely representative of the quality of work that Mark G is capable of. To his credit, he manages to put a slightly better slant on his product with two back-up stories, one in particular that features Crossbones that is tittilating in it's villainous simplicity.

It's a quirky back-up we'll probably see in a quick fix sometime in the future, that features just a scene and vibe almost reminiscent of a seventies martial arts exploitation movie, or something. It's almost a little bit Van Damme-classic.

It's interesting to note that the Nightshade character, who is arrested and taken away by The Jury, has most recently resurfaced as a member of MODOK's 11 in the recent Super Villain Team-Up revamp. You're not getting a lot of backstory out of this entry, but I like to think we can always be a referencial touchstone for you to seek out, and familiarize yourself with all things superhero.

I can't say a lot more about this issue specifically.
It probably represents one of the periods where Captain America was most lacking direction. Cap-Wolf represents substantially less a fond memory than would-be action figure changes like Cosmic-Spidey or Frog-Thor. I think we should be thankful that the character was able to really find purpose and stature worthy of the sixty-years of service, before his untimely assassination in a story that was debatably a spin-off from Civil War. [Captain America #25]

I think even those tired of the Civil War conflict would have to agree, it represents a creatively fruitful and superior model for the crossover story. A method that unfolds organically to reshape the conceptual foundation for the world in which the characters operate, rather than forcing obscure reference onto a story.

The Fight: 3 The Issue: 3.5

[Not at all a great representation of the Infinity War storyline, or the character. From a housekeeping perspective, we've filled in a missing year in our reference tags for the nineties. Yay! Now I need to get some damned sleep...]
NOTE: No stats for Moonhunter, Jameson or Nightshade, who are essentially bystanders. An assist for Dr. Druid on the basis of crucial intelligence.

QUICK FIX DOUBLE FEATURE: Longshots
DARK CLAW versus RA'S-A-POCALYPSE
Face To Face (Amalgam)
Where: Dark Claw Adventures #1 When: June 1997
Why: Ty Templeton How: Ty Templeton & Rick Burchett

Quick Fix...
I mentioned in the Punch-Up that there was a Ra's Al Ghul related entry I was originally interested in, and I also mentioned a little Two-In-One action coming. Hopefully you've been able to surmise that this entry answers both of those references.

I found myself flicking through this particular issue because, tangentially stemming from all the Al Ghul talk, I started thinking about Ra's-A-Pocalypse; the composite character that borrows elements from Marvel's Apocalypse character, and marries them with the DC character [hence Amalgam].

The resulting character is, though hardly elaborated on, a delicious little conceptual of a Darwinism-extremist. In this case there are trace elements of themes specifically explored in episodes of the Batman animated series, which provides half of the inspiration for this issue's adventure format.

In a lot of ways this is perfect fodder for the quick fix.
Though not always the focus, the underlying statistical analysis of the fighting effectiveness of characters remains an intriguing and unique spine for our little website.

From that perspective, why should a character be penalised for gaining a swift victory? Thus, we open ourselves up to the prospect of quick fixes throughout the month, rather than containing the multitude of mini-massacres to the first of the month.

Here, in a brief flashback sequence, the lethal Lady Talia recalls two years previous, when last she saw her father.
In the desert, Ra's-A-Pocalypse does battle with Dark Claw, intending to return to civilization with a deadly virus that will weed the fit from the weak.

Poisoned by an unseen scorpion, Dark Claw finds himself seemingly defeated by Ra's, who believes the desert has, much as it did during his harsh childhood, fostered his ultimate ascention. He leaves Dark Claw and his daughter behind, taking off in a private plan with his guard Ubuwong.

With his healing factor enabling a speedy recovery from the battle, Dark Claw finds himself in a most difficult position. Left with crates of super weapons, he feels forced to shoot Ra's-A-Pocalypse's plane down, unable to allow him the opportunity to destroy humanity.

Regrettably, he gains the final victory, but in the moment of impact he destroys one enemy to give birth to another. The legacy of Ra's lives on through his daughter. She burns bunch of her body searching desperately through the flaming wreckage of the shotdown plane, never able to find the remains of her wiley father. Thus, she replaces her broken body with cybernetic adamantium enhancements, and begins a fruitless quest for revenge.

There's something very naff about taking two of the most over-exposed characters in comics, and smooshing them together to make another. A character who shares the contrivances of his predecessors to positively stink of 'hey, this is COOL! Love it!' Even so, it's almost impossible to resist the lure of the Bat-Wolverine, and honestly, with an issue this good, it's even easy to defend.

The DC vs Marvel event continues to be one of the most viewed entries on the site here, and with an inter-company formula that is intriguing to so many, this book actually manages to live up to it in a way even the versus mini didn't.

Reading like one of the best episodes of the Batman animated series, this is the kind of series that I'd like to read on a regular basis. It quite effectively takes so much of what makes Wolverine and Batman so great, drawing on influences broad enough to include a Carrie Kelly inspired Jubilee that's probably better than either/or.

So solid a read is Dark Claw Adventures #1, that there's still at least another quick fix and a full feature contained within, so on that note, I might just wrap it up here and leave the elaborating to another time.

The Fix: 4.5 The Issue: 6
Winner: Dark Claw

[An immensly fun read, but by no means one for the history books.
Packs a hefty punch; telling an infinitely approachable story about a character that barely even exists, fleshes the concept out, and even throws in a handful of action scenes for good measure!]


DEADSHOT versus FLASH
"Once Upon A Time...!" (DC)
Where: Legends #1 When: November 1986
Why: John Ostrander & Len Wein How: John Byrne

Quick Fix...
So, all this talk about Ryan Reynolds as the Flash kinda did rub off afterall, and since I had the issue handy, I figured it would be as good a time as any to take a look at one of the many other battles contained within.

Something the Quick Fix Double Feature is going to be especially good for is going back to check out material from features already lodged in the Infinite Wars.

The first issue of Legends features not just Captain Marvel [as seen in the September Punch-Up], but also a range of other characters, many being groomed for roles in new series. In a lot of ways Legends is very much the prototype for the Infinite Crisis/52/Countdown marketting model.
On it's own merits it's a solid, if abbreviated, account of events in the new look DC Universe. On closer inspection it expands from it's six-issue core to unfold into a twenty-two issue story that branches off into the Bat and Superman titles, but also does well to launch books and post-Crisis characters like Wonder Woman, the Giffen/DeMatteis Justice League, and the Suicide Squad.

Having adopted the mantle of Flash in honor of his deceased uncle during the events of Crisis on Infinite Earths; Wally West zooms into action in the pages of Legends, ready for action as a growing hero of his own.

Streaking his way to Wall Street, the Flash shows up in Manhattan to foil some sort of heist being perpetrated by Gotham local, Deadshot!
The crackshot mercenary warns the scarlet speedster from interfering, firing a spray of bullets at the closing hero with his wrist-mounted gun.

Though limited a fraction more than his mentor, Wally West proves to be a force to be reckoned with! Using his super speed to slap Deadshot's bullets away with a steel pipe, the speedster is soon upon the scope-eyed villain.

Moving faster than Deadshot can react, the Flash throws his fist like a speeding missile!
With his super metabolism churning through his energy, the Flash lands a well timed fist, putting Deadshot out for the count before he himself could succumb to the effects of a glycemic meltdown.

The Flash soon finds himself assaulted with a barrage of questions from the surrounding rambunctious New Yorkers that were witness to his victory. Feeling the effects of a blast from the Anti-Monitor that cured him of a life threatening disease at the cost of his stamina and top-speed, West opts to do what he does best and run, rather than confront the unscrupulous questions of the public.

Still able to move at the speed of sound, the Flash drops Deadshot off with the police (where he is destined for much bigger things), before dropping by Titans Tower for a chat with his junior fellows.

We missed out on a lot of the discussion surrounding the Flash most recently, particularly regarding the fate suffered by Bart Allen, then current Flash.
Having disappeared into the Speed Force during the events of Infinite Crisis, Wally West left a void similar to Barry Allen, that was fulfilled in much the same way by the ascension of another Kid-Flash, formerly Impulse.

In a lot of ways the sudden halt of the Flash familial line seems to speak volumes about the current state of superhero comics. The illusion of forward momentum that made the medium such an attractive one thirty years ago, seems to be peeling away as we become voluntarily stagnant in the interest of preserving icons like Batman and Superman.

With those checkpoints established, it seems the world in which they operate is secure enough to sponsor the return of characters like Hal Jordan, who had progressed considerably right through to the nineties. Likewise, characters like Wally West, who has been operating as the Flash for two decades now, seem to be all but guaranteed their place far into the future.

Not that we should be calling for blood just yet. After all, Barry Allen was the Flash for a full thirty years before he bit the big one saving the universe! We probably owe Wally West at least another ten before we start chain-smoking through today's heroes.

Characters like the Flash and Green Lantern bring up a lot of talk about who "my" character is. They personify the rare tradition of legacy in superheroes, exibiting multiple generations of characters that mirror generations of readers.

As a youngster with little or not concept of the industry, I spent a lot of my time reading back issues, so regardless of my placement in time I was most familiar with the Barry Allen Flash. Even so, I think time has been good to the Wally West character, and he's more than earned the position of my Flash.

I don't know if I'd have been ready for the passing of the torch on a permanent basis, but I do know that it's disappointing that the prospect of that forward moment, or even the spark of a unique young character like Impulse, had to be stomped out.

The Fix: 4 The Issue: 6
Winner: Flash

[A simpler time, or the beginning of the end? Legends is a fantastically fun read, if a little ominous to those who would grow tired of the crossover some twenty years later. I got this (and the subsequent two issues) in three-comic bargain bags well over a decade ago, so frankly, I don't care!]

MONTHLY PUNCH-UP #21 (September 2007)
CAPTAIN MARVEL versus MACRO-MAN
"Once Upon A Time...!" (DC)
Where: Legends #1 When: November 1986
Why: John Ostrander & Len Wein How: John Byrne

Quick Fix...
From one Ostrander [Suicide Squad #2], to another!
I guess we're loitering around the eighties a bit more than usual on the Infinite Wars, but with good reason!

I did have something else in mind for this month's quick fix, but it occurred to me that it might have come across [Hawkman #24] that I was anti-Captain Marvel, too busy being caught up in Black Adam hype.
Okay, so maybe I am caught up in Black Adam hype, but that doesn't mean I can't Shazam with boy Billy! Red and yellow is A-OK with me, chief!

Here we have, so I'm told, Captain Marvel's first DC appearance after the reboot event, Crisis on Infinite Earths, which gave DC the opportunity to arrange their house in order, under the pretense of streamlining and starting over.

Like a Civil War some twenty years later; Legends would bring together characters of varying status within the DC Universe, and put them under a microscope of cynicism and mistrust of the superhero element. Of course, why anyone would feel the need to cast a net of cynicism over stories about a pre-pubescent host of a politically charged talkshow, escapes me. [Wink, wink]

Captain Marvel finds himself an unwitting pawn in a game played on the cosmic scale. Darkseid has solicited the aid of Glorious Godfrey and Doctor Bedlam to begin Operation: Humiliate! Under the guise of social commentator, G. Gordon Godfrey, Darkseid's agents on Earth undermine the public trust in heroes, and sets about creating a maelstrom of social unrest surrounding Earth's heroes.

When the lights go out on the set of Billy Batson's talkshow, he sneaks away to let out the mighty cry -- SHAZAM! -- that turns him into the barrel chested symbol of good, Captain Marvel! Flying out into the light of day, he discovers the towering menace of the golden suited Macro-Man on a wanton path of destruction.

With the power of Hercules in his stead, Cap taps the giant menace on the shoulder, only to greet him with an uppercut that sends him aiborne!
In this new world, Marvel is still coming to terms with his fantastic new powers, startled by the godly strength housed within his mighty form.

He follows to the top of the building where Macro-Man came to land, but much to his dismay he is greeted by a giant-sized dismissive backhanded fist!

Cap makes a hard landing on the building rooftop, finding himself piledriven through it by the following fist of the gigantic Macro-Man. He pushes Captain Marvel along a destructive path, forcing the inhabitants of the building to flee.

Unable to free himself of the giant's grip, Captain Marvel decides to make a strategic change back into his pint-sized alter-ego, hoping to wiggle free with a smaller frame.

Calling upon the mighty lightning bolt of the Wizard Shazam, Billy Batson bares witness to a shocking scene! The bolt, though successful in changing him, strikes the super-sized Macro-Man and sets him aflame!

A living towering inferno, Macro-Man stumbles around amongst the wreckage he caused, until finally falling from the roof to a fatal conclusion on the ground below.

Billy Batson, unfamiliar with the immense power he has been granted, is shaken by his actions, unaware that the fatal strike came not from his lightning bolt, but the dastardly actions of Darkseid! With this dark act, the villainous Darkseid reaches across space to sway Batson in favour of Godfrey's anti-superhero stance, believing first-had that unchecked superpowers exist for the worse.

Obviously Batson got over it, and continued to super into the present, where, as seen in Hawkman, he has since been characterized as having a more personalized interaction with the intelligence and powers of the gods he represents. Brainwave, in Black Reign, described it quite literally as chattering voices, which presumably would've known their powers well enough to inform young Batson of his innocence in this particular case.

It's an interesting situation to play out, though. I think it was certainly a positive attempt to position Captain Marvel in the contemporary setting of the late eighties, which was certainly building on the feet of clay models popularized at the time [Watchmen, Dark Knight Returns]. I actually kinda enjoy the notion of a Captain Marvel affected by modern times, but I think there's a strong validity to the popular argument that "Shazam" is probably best represented as a voice of fantasy and wholesome simplicity.

I'm particularly pleased to hear Captain Marvel mentioned at the heart of the initiative to revamp the Johnny DC kid's line of comics. I really think this is one of those no-brainer moments, even though I would question the monetary success of the project. It's clearly going to come down to the appeal the project has with adults, although, these will presumably be afforded the luxury of existing Johnny DC titles, which regularly dip well below the cancellation line in the direct market. I'll certainly be watching that development with interest.

In wrapping up, it's another case of the past reflecting the future.
I've had a recurring discussion with various people about their disinterest and boredom with superhero comics as they are today. We can see how they're repetitive, but I think it's at least worth acknowledging that no matter how simple a Civil War issue was, it is representative of the developing genesis of these ideas, and certainly the craft involved.

Like the life we live in, these themes of distrust and fear of abstract nouns will continue to permeate through the social consciousness as long as they benefit one man's agenda, or carry any factual justification. We can't fight it, maybe as a creative community we should feel comfortable with embracing it, but likewise, maybe we should steer it away from Captain Marvel and the family-Shazam.

Captain Marvel and murder plots? May be a see-no-evil situation...

The Fix: 4.5 The Issue: 6
Winner: Captain Marvel (w/ Darkseid)

The Top Five...
#1 Spider-man (-) (13) (Marvel)
Class: [Meta] Last Opponent: [Galactus]
Win Percentage: [71.43%] Features: [28]
Season 2006: [#2] Current Ranking: [#1]

With four months to go of Infinite Wars Season 2007, the top five starts to heat up as the coveted year-end number one spot becomes the all important goal! Eight weeks and holding: Spider-man.

Spidey seems to be the indominatable force, and with some big shake-ups coming up - including a streamlined three-times weekly single title and some superstar creators on board - things aren't slowing down!

Spider-man Family remains one of my favourite reads, and is arguably the best value for money you can get off shelves, from Marvel or DC. And if 2006 was anything to go by, the dominant character has a great chance to hold it out!

#2 Batman (-) (19) (DC)
Class: [Meta] Last Opponent: [Ra's Al Ghul]
Win Percentage: [83.33%] Features: [18]
Season 2006: [#1] Current Ranking: [#2]

A clean segue to Batman, who like Spidey, dominated 2006.
Things haven't slowed down at all for the Dark Knight, who bridges the gap between the top spot and the rest of the pack.

The comics suffered a slump for my tastes, but big things are stirring for Batman, including a new initiative to bring Ra's Al Ghul back to the land of the living. Not only that, but with The Dark Knight now less than a year away, we can be sure to see plenty of Batmania in the lead-up.

I don't know if Batman's had a strong enough year to be the guy to topple Spidey, but if you're betting at home, he's the odds favourite. He was our top character last year, but things have become much more active in the Infinite Wars in 2007, and it may have become a younger character's game!

#3 Black Adam (-) (4) (DC)
Class: [Super] Last Opponent: [Captain Marvel]
Win Percentage: [100%] Features: [5]
Season 2006: [#n/a] Current Ranking: [#11]

Black Adam narrowly avoids elimination from the top five with a solid, if contrived, victory over arch-nemesis, Captain Marvel. He comes into the five for a fourth week, the most unlikely inclusion.

Without a doubt one of DC's most valuable players in 2007, Black Adam might be losing steam heading toward 2008. With 52 now well and truly behind us, Adam is easing into a starring mini-series with mixed reviews. Likewise, the follow-up to the weekly series that made him famous (again), Countdown, seems to be rolling along at a shakey pace, with Adam enjoying a smaller role.

I've enjoyed the character a great deal, and like Daredevil last year, he's probably the sentimental favourite. I don't know if I have the materials to sponsor his position, but it's still good odds that Black Adam's stock will tick somewhere around the top ten come the end of the season.

#4 Wolverine (+1) (13) (Marvel)
Class: [Meta] Last Opponent: [Galactus]
Win Percentage: [47.62%] Features: [21]
Season 2006: [#4] Current Ranking: [#4]

With frustrating endurance of a mutant healing factor, Wolverine not only avoids elimination from the top five, but moves up a spot, sharing in the success of the Marvel Zombies mega-entry.

The X-Offices will be abuzz with the various Endangered Species and Messiah Complex crossover events happening. I don't really know a whole lot about any of them, and I can't say I have any interest. Wolverine as a stock remains connected to me mostly through the dangling interest of New Avengers.

Still, never say never! A sudden Sabretooth-craving turned into a string of X-hits for the Infinite Wars last month. There's every chance something will steer me in the direction of the claw wielding Canuck. But I wouldn't count on it.

#5 Iron Man (RE) (8) (Marvel)
Class: [Super] Last Opponent: [Galactus]
Win Percentage: [62.5%] Features: [16]
Season 2006: [#3] Current Ranking: [#3]

Another one to salvage a win from the Marvel Zombies entry. Iron Man bumps Captain America out of contention for the top five, proving to serendipitously be an absolute prick.

Positioned at the very top of the Marvel universe, things feel like they're slowing down for Tony Stark. Of course, there's no way that can be right, because like Batman, a major motion picture is on the horizon, and beating out Ra's, the Mandarin made his return recently in the solo-title. So things are looking good.

Looming crossovers keep the character simmering, and I pass yellow and gold comics of interest every time I flick through any longbox. It's impossible to make any kind of call for certain, but this might be a temporary dip for the Iron Man stock, before he shoots back to prominence in 2008. A solid investment!

Super Stock...
1. Spider-man (-) (M)
2. Batman (-) (DC)
3. Iron Man (-) (M)
4. Wolverine (-) (M)
5. Hulk (+4) (M)
6. Captain America (-1) (M)
7. Mr. Fantastic (+3) (M)
8. Venom [Symbiote] (-2) (M)
11. Black Adam (-) (DC)
12. Invisible Woman (+4) (M)
13. Human Torch (+1) (M)
15. Thing (+6) (M)
16. Thor (-3) (M)
19. Luke Cage (+77) (M)
20. Wasp (-2) (M)
22. Silver Surfer (+16) (M)
26. Kitty Pryde (+20) (M)
27. Yellowjacket [Hank Pym] (+21) (M)
31. Rogue (+18) (M)
35. Batroc (+55) (M)
36. Flash [Barry Allen] (+44) (DC)
37. Storm (-6) (M)
38. Iron Fist (+55) (M)
39. Angel (-8) (M)
41. Deadpool (-16) (M)
50. Hawkman (-7) (DC)
53. Dr. Doom (-1) (M)
57. Nova (+110) (M)
58. Lyja (+113) (M)
66. Deadshot (DC)
96. Burnout (Wildstorm)
97. Maul (Wildstorm)
98. Jean Grey (-1) (M)
100. Scarlet Witch (-2) (M)
118. Mr. Hyde (-29) (M)
119. The Wrecker (+171) (M)
123. Jubilee (+76) (M)
124. Hawkeye (-30) (M)
125. Professor X (-30) (M)
126. Venom [Mac Gargan] (-9) (M)
127. She-Hulk (-9) (M)
128. Super-Skrull (-14) (M)
150. Penance (-10) (M)
180. Gladiator (new) (M)
194. Angel Salvadore (new) (M)
195. Black Panther (new) (M)
197. Colleen Wing (new) (M)
198. Dazzler (new) (M)
199. Dr. Octopus (new) (M)
200. Stilt-Man (new) (M)
201. Brainwave (new) (DC)
202. Green Lantern [Kyle Rayner] (-30) (DC)
209. Green Goblin [Norman Osborn] (+74) (M)
210. Moleman (-) (M)
250. [Black] Goliath (-29) (M)
300. Electro (-29) (M)
324. Captain Cold (new) (DC)
325. Sasquatch (new) (M)
326. Annihilus (new) (M)
327. Defile (new) (Wildstorm)
328. Constrictor (new) (M)
329. Mr. Sinister (new) (M)
330. Paibok [Power-Skrull] (new) (M)
331. Ra's Al Ghul (new) (M)
332. Galactus (new) (M)
333. Manticore (new) (DC)
334. Captain Marvel (-161) (DC)
335. Sabretooth (new) (M)
339. Rhino (-27) (M)
347. Attuma (-37) (M)
348. Azraeuz (-37) (DC)
349. Brick (-36) (DC)
350. Lizard (-36) (M)
351. Magneto (-36) (M)


#34 Thor (Marvel)
Class: [Super] Last Opponent: [Hulk]
Win Percentage: [36.36%] Features: [11]
Season 2006: [#10] Current Ranking: [#16]

He's been dead for a few years, but when you're the Norse God of thunder, that's no big thing. Having survived Ragnarok, Thor's back, and he's been quietly going about his business reestablishing Asgard on land he purchased in Oklahoma -- that is, until now.

Donald Blake, Thor's former alter-ego, has returned to existence, freed from the void in which he was trapped until Thor broke the cycle of the Furies. Heeding Blake's words, all Thor wants to do is find his fellows, scattered in hiding across Earth, and reestablish the Asgardian guard -- but Iron Man has other ideas.

In the upcoming Thor #3 it looks like Tony Stark's about to get his, finally having to answer for the treachery committed in Thor's name with the cybernetic clone that killed Black Goliath. Of course, Stark has the audacity to be the one to initiate proceedings, approaching Thor with the 'sign-or-fight' ultimatum.

It might be a while before it's reflected accurately in the Infinite Wars, but we enjoyed featuring Thor in the Heroes Reborn features, and now that he's officially back in action, Thor is open for business once more.

#224 Ra's Al Ghul (DC)
Class: [Meta] Last Opponent: [Batman]
Win Percentage: [0%] Features: [1]
Season 2006: [#n/a] Current Ranking: [#331]

Features in the Infinite Wars have been all Marvel lately, and I have to admit, when it's come to selecting a subject of interest the last couple of months, it's been difficult. I mean, it's not like DC are making huge announcements left and right, and pushing returns of potential A-list characters and movie franchises, like Thor -- right?

Well, okay, in that respect, maybe we should've talked about Flash, because he is making headlines for rumors of Ryan Reynolds stepping up for a JLA movie.
Then again, that's not really what it's about, and I think that's a huge compliment to DC comics right now. They aren't grabbing the headlines Marvel are, but that might just be because they're busy keeping their eyes on the ball.

Ra's Al Ghul is heading back to life in the Bat-books, and that's exciting!
It was a Ra's related quick fix that narrowly missed out with the last minute switch-out of interest in Captain Marvel. It's a return of a very similar scale (and timeframe) as Thor, but somehow it's staying under the radar, and flicking through upcoming issues of titles like Countdown, maybe that's because DC are finally exibiting the kind of investment in their second-tier properties that a fan would ask for. Of particular excitement? Karate-Kid meets Equus! Insane!

The hammer...
Whoof! That's all she wrote, finally!
A quick glance to the clock reveals I'm running late, but you know what? I'm not gonna apologise because we're positively oozing content over the past few months, continuing the white-knuckled pace that's seen something like four-times the content of Secret Wars on Infinite Earths-classic.

All that, plus we've got to get one last mention in of the BrokenFrontier.com review for The Kirby Martin Inquest #1, which is available online at Nite Lite Theatre via ComixPress. You can follow the details and get yourself a full-sized comic (barely any ads!) for the low, low small press price of $2.99.

People actually have been buying, so if that doesn't guilt you into making the purchase, I'll put a little humanity into it and just say that I'd greatly appreciate it. It's probably a more fulfilling way to continue to fund the on-going adventures of the Infinite Wars than a PayPal donation -- but hey! Since you bring it up, feel free to throw lavish amounts of cash at me out of nothing more than the goodness of your hearts!

It's been a big month and with any luck we'll keep up some of that pace moving through September. I've already got some picks in mind, and maybe even a little something new up my sleeve. Something of a two-in-one, you might say.
Plus, we're finally nearing the end of our Monday Marvel Ultimate Alliance features, which showcase the villains of the super-fun video game. This month is all about evil doppelgangers, so it's a bit of a deviation from the norm in that respect, before we wrap up the business end of things next month with DOOM!

I must send shout-outs to When Fangirls Attack and Bahlactus, who have each been kind enough to help raise awareness about the Infinite Wars. Their respective initiatives certainly helped us reach some of our own quotas, I must say.

I forgot to mention during the month that I'd finally gotten around to adding another rather appropriate name game. It should probably be something a bit more clever, like four minutes, but for the time being you've got a whole TEN minutes to scratch your head over the multidue of members of the Fantastic Four. If you've been watching closely this month, you'll have picked up some of the more obscure members, particularly a certain pair of one-issue members who should arguably be excluded under some kind of alternate reality rule.

I'm not quite sure where I'm going with any of this, my brain is positively fried from overload, and the fun doesn't stop. I'm hard at work on KMI #2 through the lettering and design stage with some groovy work from Chris Fason [Hero Happy Hour], and as always pencils and inks from the good Pedro Cruz.

Pedro and I have been talking about co-creating something together that's based on one of the daily sketches he's been posting (and that I'm posting for him while he's away). I won't tell you which one, but that should let your imagination run wild. I will say, it's a much more fun and fantasy based project than KMI, and will hopefully dazzle in a whole new and exciting and funky way.

I'm going to wrap it up before it becomes any more like a glorified commercial here, and try to steer things back in time for the next entry. As always, be encouraged to drop a comment to ask/demand/querey anything that comes to mind, and get the word out there. Talk a little about the Infinite Wars. Wear your battle badge with pride, and use us like the reference-site filthy whoring whores of Hoggoth we are!

And if you're with Marvel or DC, put in a good word for me...

August Hit Count: [4458/30915] (+240)

DEADSHOT versus MANTICORE
Trial By Fire (DC comics)
Where: Suicide Squad #2 When: June 1987
Why: John Ostrander How: Luke McDonnell

The story so far...
They're a group of despicable, ruthless, back-stabbing criminals -- and they're going to save the world in ways the heroes wouldn't touch. Or at least, that's the plan, when this ragtag group are sent into situations best described as: suicidal.

Headed up by Amanda Waller; the team are sent into the field for their first mission to infiltrate the headquarters of the terrorist group aptly named The Jihad, and use the intelligence gathered to systematically take them apart -- by any means.

The only problem with this team is that they're expendable, untrustworthy, and all too aware of their situation. Heading into Northern Qurac, there's a traitor in their midsts, and they'll gladly sell the team out if it means surviving!

Previous Form:
Deadshot, Manticore: Both making their Infinite Wars debut.

Tale of the tape...
Strength: Manticore 5 (Super Strength)
Intelligence: Deadshot 4 (Tactician)
Speed: Manticore 4 (Olympian)
Stamina: Manticore 5 (Marathon Man)
Agility: Draw 3 (Acrobat)
Fighting Ability: Deadshot 4 (Trained Fighter)
Energy Powers: Deadshot 3 (Explosives)


It might come as a shock, but this is actually the only issue of Suicide Squad I knowingly own. It's something of an abberation in my humble collection, and Captain Boomerang, Deadshot and Bronze King aside, I have little or no knowledge or affiliation for these characters.

That probably isn't such a big problem in the case of Manticore, as, well, put bluntly, he isn't long for this world. That might constitute a spoiler in other parts of the world, but if you haven't noticed, we're not usually terribly concerned by things that trivial. That, and I don't really care about dwelling or savoring details concerning the Suicide Squad.

So, Deadshot is an expert marksman and wears a funky costume that has in-built metallic underpants. He probably doesn't have the greatest depth perception when it comes to moving around a room, but if you point him in the right direction, that scopey thing (over the eye that isn't covered by metal mask) probably gives him the ultimate edge for sharp-shooting.

Manticore is a heavily armored cybernetic crazy man-monster.
Thinking back to the monsters and mythology I absorbed as a youngster during the very period this comic entered my posession, I dare say he has a tail, probably ready to do all kinds of nasty things.

The stats are open to interpretation, as these are two very different specimens.
On the one hand, Deadshot represents the consumate assassin, literally making his name on accuracy. If there's a weakness, he should be able to hit it.

On the other hand, Manticore is everything Deadshot isn't.
Strong, fast, brutal, powerful, Greek... He's got all the tools to take a Deadshot down, barring perhaps grasp of the tactical. Which is what will lead us to suggest Deadshot is the logical victor. As is the case in this issue, he would presumably opt for some sort of ambush or sneak attack, coming equipped well enough to fend off any misfortunes.

The Math: A draw
The Pick: Deadshot (There's a reason you don't know who Manticore is)

What went down...
With extensive intelligence on the threat and habits of The Jihad's members; Deadshot is practically spoon fed his opponent, with a direct teleport link to Manticore's elevator shaft lair.

The sleeping Manticore's keen senses detect the presence of the wall-clinging assassin. Deadshot tests the waters, flicking stones down at his unwitting, super-enhanced target.

Springing to life, Manticore makes eye-contact with the red-garbed Suicide Squader. Approaching the situation with a non-chalant tact, Deadshot ponders what holds an elevator in place -- finding the suitable cable to shoot out to turn the device from practical mode of vertical transporation into a plummeting weight of death!

Working against plan, Manticore leaps to meet the descending weight, using his reinforced super-body to smash through the base of the elevator, emerging through the top with a graceful flip.

Enticed by the challenge, Deadshot descends to meet his target head-on.

Deadshot fires off a few rounds from his wrist-mount gun with little or no effect to the menacing, man-beast. As Manticore continues to stalk through the fire, Deadshot ups the anti, firing rounds from both wrists.

Manticore's armour holds up, allowing him to stalk right up to Deadshot and take him down with a brutish strangling grip.
His superior strength pins Deadshot to the ground, prompting him to test whether or not the terror soldier's face is armoured.

It is not.

Despite a close call, Deadshot proves the validity of his name.
Not that Manticore is unworthy of the name, he's just... dead.

The hammer...
Your "win" in his debut appearance -- Deadshot!
I'm sure, once upon a time, I had some kind of varying quip to make the above declaration, but somewhere amidst all the stat-droning and ranting, it's been lost. If you happen to stumble across it, maybe you could let me know. It was last seen heading toward India with a lady in a red hat and matching trenchcoat. Like Scotsmen, no one is certain whether she's wearing anything under there, or not.

Some house keeping first up: Mugshots.
To add a bit of colour to the site we have those cute little avatars for all the characters that help you identify those you don't know by name, and instantly find out who won the fight when you scroll down to the bottom of the page.

Unlike the covers and panels, which are almost exclusively hand selected and scanned by my goodself; the mugshots are usually pinched from the internet.
Of course, these days that's easier said than done, today case-in-point.

Manticore you can forgive. Alive or dead, he isn't making any major appearances today, or any time soon, I imagine. No one expects to be able to find pin-ups, covers or scans out there that give us a clear look at his adorable little face.
Deadshot, on the other hand, has headed up series, including recent starring roles in Villains United and Secret Six series, written by the inimitable Gail "Fridge Suit Iron Man is HOT" Simone.

Yet, somehow, by some bizarre twist of fate, the best I can google up is tiny little images of a first issue cover so small: you couldn't even wallpaper Hank Pym's luxury condo, built out of lint and splinters from Wasp's underwear draw (which is incidentally also the condo's location).

If I can get any message out there, it's that you people need to start investing more time in artwork that reads like a character model. I want to see cheekbones, people. Cheekbones!

It's been a long month. I'm kinda tired. I did mention I'm not terribly connected to Suicide Squad, so there's a minimal amount of discussion here. As much a fan as I have been of Checkmate, the Suicide Squad and their appearances didn't exactly turn them into world wide phenomenons.

I've never really been into the self-aware fandom that I think has surrounded the property. It's legitimate enough not to be tongue-in-cheek, but there's something inherently silly about the approach of it all, that just doesn't quite sell as solidly as some other premises built around basic political concepts.

So, why include it? I think there was something I wanted to talk about, but after a month of some of the most lengthy and regular posts -- and continued work on writing/lettering/designing/sketching comics -- I'm tired and forgetful. Also, I cut my dirty golden locks, so I may have lost some of my powers...

Hopefully I'll snap out of it in time for tomorrow's punch-up!
Maybe Bahlactus will be the one to help me out of the fog of exhaustian, because he's bringing a twenty-hit combo of links to blogs featuring all things smackdown. Plenty of stuff in there, and even the occasional discussion!

And don't forget to check out the Broken Frontier review of The Kirby Martin Inquest #1. Once you're done with that, you can scoot over to Nite Lite Theatre dot com, and buy yourself a copy for the utterly affordable price of $2.99 -- it is a full-sized regular comic (not a mini-comic), so it's well worth the money!

The series is drawn by the ever-patient Pedro Cruz, who has a blog where I'm posting his art for him while he's away on a dangerous crusade on the planet Richard-97. You should check out his doodles and let him know what you think.

I've got to go tally up all the new stats from this month, and maybe even get some sleep some time. I've also been commissioned to assassinate Norman Osborn, but don't worry guys, I've got priorities.

The Fight: 3 The Issue: 4.5
[A solid story with an intriguing premise, but for some reason, a book I've just never been hooked on. Great seeing a criminal element treated to a developing agenda, but not the most intriguing new villains to hit 1987.]

BLACK ADAM versus CAPTAIN MARVEL
Black Reign (DC comics)
Where: Hawkman #24 When: Late March 2004
Why: Geoff Johns How: Rags Morales

The story so far...
Having attempted to prove his redemption through serving with the Justice Society of America; Black Adam soon comes to realise that the effective betterment of the persecuted will not be achieved through the good intentions of the Golden Age heroes.

Gathering a band of the willing and likeminded, Adam sets about righting the wrongs of his time with the JSA, fighting and executing his way to his homeland of Kahndaq.

With the aid of his fellows; many connected to the Justice Society themselves; Adam wages a coup against the oppresive rulers of the once proud and ancient Middle Easter country. Their militia no match for brute super strength, Adam liberates the Kahndaqi people, who are none too happy when the JSA, led by Hawkman, come to interfere in the rule of their new hero.

Previous Form:
Black Adam (#13): Undefeated over Four Horseman of Apokalips, Freedom Force & Psycho-Pirate.
Captain Marvel (#201): Mixed results in battles with Thor, and an Eclipso posessed Superman.

Tale of the tape...
Strength: Draw 6 (Invincible)
Intelligence: Captain Marvel 5 (Professor)
Speed: Draw 5 (Super Speed)
Stamina: Draw 6 (Generator)
Agility: Black Adam 3 (Athlete)
Fighting Ability: Black Adam 7 (Born Fighter)
Energy Powers: Draw 3 (Explosives)


Most recently it was Sabretooth/Wolverine [Wolverine #50], and arguably again with Batman/Ra's Al Ghul [Batman Begins]. The clash of arch-nemesis'. The inevitable blows waged by hero and villain, described-so conversely through the perspective of each character's eyes, a thin line seperating their differences.

While Black Adam has shot to the top as one of the most improved players to come out of DC's year-long 52, his heroic counterpart, Captain Marvel, has suffered the squalor of low priority mini-series, and loyalist interests. Not even the lofty intervention of Bone's Jeff Smith was enough to breathe the life that Judd Winick's contemporary revamp probably should have.

So, what does any of this have to do with the fighting potential and prospective chances of winning a battle? Well, if that's all this section were about, we'd run even shorter on discussion than we ordinarily do; but of course, it also does have a lot to do with our protagonist's predicament -- for you see!...

Yes! Captain Marvel, despite a massive power boost and long overdue starring role in a mini-series, struggles to endure in the contemporary market in the way his elf-eared, windows peaked, black and gold counterpart does.

There are a lot of fair theories about why that is. They do, afterall, describe luck as the process of motivation meeting opportunity, but then again, how many on-going series have They starred in recently? I think there's a direct link with the character's distinct potentials that has contributed to one success: The killer instinct and drama of good pathos.

Black Adam beats out his SHAZAM-ing sucessor in the tape for the simple reason that he has evolved to be a fully realised warrior, with no qualms about turning his strength to tasks such as face removal, one-way heart transplants, and drawing and halving of evil doers.

Captain Marvel; a character who reached even greater heights in his time than the massively successful Superman, in many ways, represents the Golden Age more than any other character. I mean, you've got old timers who had an edge that made their transition into the more violent and conflicted contemporary landscape simple. Batman, The Phantom, Hawkman... The list is much longer than I would have you believe, here.

Other characters were fantastical enough, or had enduring successors that allowed their torch to be carried to a time where they were out of the picture long enough to be interesting prospects again. Many of the JSA elite fall under that category, and it's to an extent applicable to Adam cum Captain Marvel.

[Captain] Marvel; despite the best efforts of a Winick or an Ostrander; cannot seem to escape the obscured view of his squinted eyes. Eyes that view the world through the refracted rosie glow of his big red chest.
He's a character that represents what is referred to as a "simpler" time, and therefore suffers the characterization of grinning, dim-witted stupidity -- despite possessing the mighty wisdom of Solomon.

Black Adam has the killer instinct, and he knows how to use it, and despite hovering above and blow the strength level of Cap, is the safe bet that reflects the times in which we live.

The Math: Black Adam (Super Class)
The Pick: Black Adam (Because it isn't forty years ago...)

What went down...
Upon entering Kahndaq airspace, the JSA find themselves in a freefall as their plane is ripped asunder by a sneak attack launched by Black Adam! Most of the super powered heroes find ways to land, each finding their own antagonised welcome at the hands of the Kahndaqi people, but Captain Marvel stays behind with an injured Wildcat to search for survivors in trouble.

Black Adam, orchestrating the containment of those he has dubbed invader, employs the aid of Brainwave to prepare to face his Shazam powered counterpart, Captain Marvel.

Content to find no bodies amongst the wreckage, Marvel is shocked when Wildcat is knocked out with a piece of the plane. He becomes aware of the unceremonious entrance of his fallen arch-nemesis, suffering a similar fate as he's swatted acrosh the crash site by Black Adam.

The Captain recovers with the stamina of Atlas, striking Adam furiously with a solid left. Black Adam, with his own impressive strengths, returns the favour with an uppercut that tosses Marvel airborne until he lands in nearby ruins.

Marvel joins Black Adam in the sky, the two coming to blows with explosive results. Every strike echoes with thundering booms no doubt heard across the land, the magical energies bursting from their bodies in sparks of lightning.

Marvel presses the advantage, riding Black Adam through rubble and wreckage face-first into the ground he so viciously claimed as his own.

Having mocked Marvel's perception of the modern world, Adam rises from the crater created by their impact to taunts concerning his strategic alliances.
With bitter efficiency, Adam makes psychic contact with the waiting Brainwave, giving the order to act upon his "lock" on Captain Marvel.

Having telepathically maneuvered his way around Solomon and the other influences in Marvel's mind; Brainwave forces the hero to utter the magic keyword that calls down the lightning of the wizard Shazam, and transforms him back into his pubescent alter-ego, Billy Batson!

With the cold determination to do whatever is necessary to pursue his goals, Black Adam raises his hand in the air and strikes Batson with a swift backhand. The boy is knocked through the air, helpless against the super strength provided by the sun god, Amon.

Adam's attack not only puts the punctuation on a strategic assault on one of the JSA's most powerful allies, but also comes with the bitter verbal slap to the Wizard from whom each man derives his fantastic power. Adam declaring, "The wizard abandons you, Billy. Just as he did me."

Victorious, Adam learns from the psychic of Batson's growing affections for Stargirl. As a future contingency, he orders the capture of the girl, playing a card all too personally recognisable to the dark monarch, whose own beloved was once lost in battle.

The hammer...
Your win, and still undefeated 2007 MVP -- Black Adam!

I mention MVP, because if you've been with us over the past eight months, you'll be familiar with the previous entries that have sponsored Black Adam into our 2007 top five rankings.

With the last entry [Marvel Zombies #5] looking to turn the top rankings into a Civil War promotional shot, it seemed like as good a time as any to revisit the slowly fading anti-hero, whose recent rise to prominence has been pretty well documented, with the exclusion of the beginning of that path.

To really get the full picture we should ideally go further back still, to earlier in the rebooted JSA series where Black Adam made his return, and gained membership to the Justice Society, before slipping from their views. It was in tiny background scenes that Adam's indescretions were detailed, as he gathered and led his band of allies against foes like Kobra.

These actions culminate in full-fledged war waged on Kahndaq in the pages of the Hawkman/JSA crossover - Black Reign. It's here, as already described in the recap, that Adam swiftly takes control of the nation, and as we would see through the end of this story, remains in power to the chagrin of the JSA.

Through Infinite Crisis we then saw Adam's story continue, as he threw in with the mounting powers of the Secret Society of Supervillains. Much like a Dr. Doom styled figure, his motives were largely in the interests of the betterment and protection of his nation. He proves an unwitting pawn in Alexander Luthor's plot to power a device that will allow him to control and reshape the multiverse as he desires it.

Adam aids in the defeat of vital characters like The Ray [Infinite Crisis #1], but is eventually revealed as a potential target himself. When The Society betray him, needing a Shazam powered here, Black Adam turns readily on the mob of evil, brutally defying the empathic influence of Psycho-Pirate [Infinite Crisis #6].
Black Adam continues to battle on the side of angels until the ultimate defeat of the alternate Luthor, before returning to his duties in Kahndaq.

Resuming his political duties, Adam swiftly deals with villainous elements attempting to trade through Kahndaq. His public execution of villains becomes the international catalyst of fear and loathing, while prompting criminal element Intergang to attempt to buy his favour with a female offering.
Adam deals with Intergang harshly, while becoming romantically involved with the girl, who is eventually slain by the incursion of a new Monster Society [52 #44], funded by the neighbouring nation of Bialya, and created by Dr. Sivana and the Intergang employed scientists of Oolong Island.

Azraeuz, the only surviving horseman of the Monster Society, escapes to Bialya, where the government is abandoned by their villainous allies in the wake of Black Adam's arrival.

Furious and suspicious of everyone, Adam devolves into a rage that sees him slaughtering Bialya's government, and millions of their innocent citizens in the pursuit of Azraeuz. Though the mass casualties empower the horseman of death further, Azraeuz is ultimately defeated and tortured by Adam [52 #45].

Methodically pursuing those responsible for the deaths of his adopted family, Adam immediately travels to Oolong Island off of the intelligence gained from Azraeuz. There, he is surprisingly defeated by the super-sciences of the sinister thinktank. Before he can be auctioned off as a living weapon, the Justice Society are able to intervene, freeing him with the unsuccesful intent to take him into custody.

With Adam's bloodlust explicitly crossing the line from harsh justice, to intolerable genocide; the heroes and political powers of various nations are maneuvered into position for the events of World War III. Though inter-political turmoil slows the process, the American heroes of the Justice League and Society eventually defeat Black Adam. Though unable to strip Adam of his powers, it is with the aid of several other mystics that Captain Marvel returns Adam to his human alter-ego of Teth-Adam, and changes his magic trigger word before he can again utter the cry of "Shazam!"

If you're reading Countdown or the just released mini-series, Black Adam: Dark Age, you'll know that he has since discovered his new word - sorry - and has taken refuge in the Kahndaq embassy in Gotham City, where he has corrupted Mary Marvel.

It looks like post-52 Black Adam's path is more explicitly evil, which I think is a real shame. The character, whose bitter pathos made him one of the most exciting new stars of DC's lineup, was something I regard as quite refreshing and global, responsible for pushing him away from the stagnant disappointments of the developing Shazam branding [discussed in the tape].

As a Sub-Mariner/Dr. Doom style monarch, Black Adam had the opportunity to stand out as something more than many other heroes or villains in the DC Universe. Keeping his motivations more ambiguous and personalized (like the best Dr. Doom stories) meant the character could become broadly relevent, interacting with political agencies like the currently superb Checkmate, but also other superheroic and villainous elements that would cross his path.

Projecting their solicitations quite far into the future, we can see DC comics alluding to a return to more straight evil for Black Adam in the pages of JLA. The cover to issue #13 suggests a renewed association with much the same collective that turned against him in the Society, this time operating under the branding of a new Injustice League.

It's too soon to scowl the turn of events too certainly, but it seems like a potentially disappointing downward turn for the character in the final quarter of 2007. A bitter conclusion to what has otherwise been the culmination of a story that began small, but was brilliantly steered into the spotlight and beyond, largely by original contributor Geoff Johns, who made his name on titles like JSA and Hawkman, and with this story, Black Reign.

It was here, having received this issues personally from Johns, that I certainly became hooked as a fan not only of these characters in the modern age, but of his competence as a writer accepting of things oft dismissed. A writer who brought Black Adam to the prominence he now seems to be leaving behind.

With that, we wrap up our informative slant on this particular conclusion.
The DC Nation, whom I know is still watching, should take some faith out of this. It seemes, dare I speak too soon, that there are a couple of DC entries coming our way in the Infinite Wars, as our discussion spins out of the Batman Begins review. I'll probably see you again Friday, before the September punch-up.

Remember to check out the smashing review of The Kirby Martin Inquest at the reputable review site, BrokenFrontier.com. If you haven't already, you should think about heading over to Nite Lite Theatre, and picking yourself up a copy via online purchase through the good people at ComixPress! Cheers!

The Fight: 5 The Issue: 6
[An absolutely brilliant storyarc, best read in it's entirety. Hardcore superhero fun filtered through the pastiche of contemporary political concepts. The first major step into the modern rise of Black Adam as a neo-political conqueror. A must-read for fans of the character, particularly out of the pages of fifty-two.]

MARVEL ZOMBIES versus GALACTUS
Marvel Zombies Conclusion (Marvel comics)
Where: Marvel Zombies #5 When: June 2006
Why: Robert Kirkman How: Sean Phillips

The story so far...
Earth 2419: A frightening twisted version of the Marvel Universe, infected by the decay of an alien virus that turns all infected into decomposing, viracious zombies.

With the Earth's population decimated by the super powered zombies, food supplies begin to run low.
Failing to follow their zombified Fantastic Four into a parallel universe, the zombies finish the last active snack, Magneto, before the heavens present a miracle.

His arrival affected by unknown elements of this universe, the Silver Surfer shows up in present-day to assess the viability of the Earth for consumption by his master -- Galactus: Devourer of Worlds.

The Surfer's defeat paves the wave for the wrath of Galactus, but the devourer who knows no satisfactions appears to have met his match. Having ingested portions of the Silver Surfer's cosmically powered carcass, the Marvel Zombies have absorbed his cosmic power, and prepare to turn it against it's master!

Previous Form:
Marvel Zombies [#5]: Victories over Magneto and the Silver Surfer.
Galactus: Making his first appearance in the Infinite Wars.

Tale of the tape...
Strength: Galactus 7 (Omnipotent)
Intelligence: Galactus 7 (Infinite Wisdom)
Speed: Spider-man 4 (Olympian)
Stamina: Galactus 7 (Unstoppable)
Agility: Super-Skrull 6 (Rubber)
Fighting Ability: Sabretooth 7 (Born Fighter)
Energy Powers: Galactus 7 (Solar Power)


Okay, we should probably clarify the mass of characters interacting in this particular fight. Actually, we have a bit of a unique situation, given that there's a distinctly seperate fight in the middle of this one. We're going to conclude that the battle against Galactus is a singular fight in this particular saga, and leave the in-fighting between the two factions interesting in G-man to another day.

There are two groups who do battle with Galactus.
While the "heroes" are figuring out how to use the defeated Silver Surfer's cosmic energy [Marvel Zombies #3] against Galactus, the zombified villains of this world emerge to take their own shot at the world devourer buffet on offer.

The villains are, in no particular order: Super-Skrull, Green Goblin, Dr. Octopus, Stilt-man, Juggernaut, Rhino, Sabretooth, Venom, Dr. Doom, Red Skull and the Moleman.

Conversely, we welcome back many of the core zombie heroes from previous issues; Colonel America, Hulk, Luke Cage, Iron Man, Spider-man, Wolverine, and the brains behind the development of the weapon that harnesses the deceased Surfer's power, Giant-Man aka Hank Pym.

Though far from peak conditioning, this collective of heroes and villains is one impressive unit by any standard. Decomposition may undermine their physical strengths, but never the less, the challenge of the likes of Super-Skrull, Dr. Doom, Venom and the strategic assist from Hank Pym makes for a compelling argument. Then again, they are up against Galactus.

The world devourer represents one of the most powerful active presences in the Marvel Universe. His wealth of cosmic energy has spawned many herald off-springs, while still sponsoring his own space faring reputation built on the destruction and consumption of worlds. This is no guy to sneeze at!

Though made famous for a retreat, it should be noted that the Fantastic Four's defeat of Galactus in his first appearance was more of an agreed upon treaty than any kind of combative triumph for the FF. Such is the power of Galactus, that he has the luxury of living a life bound by his own strict rules, and not the whims of defeat in battle.

Though defeat is feasible (re; Annihilation), the zombie weaknesses of this mass is the most glaring factor undermining their potential for victory. On their best day, the combined minds of Dr. Doom and Hank Pym might represent hope, but otherwise, they stand ready to be mowed down by cosmic energy.

The Math: Marvel Zombies (Total) Galactus (Average)
The Pick: Galactus (Cosmic Class)

What went down...
Having returned from a strategic retreat, the Marvel Zombies gain the attentions of the world devouring Galactus with a massive burst of cosmic energy harvested from the Silver Surfer's broken body, and focused through a weaponized cannon.

Various villains, having engaged Galactus in straight combat similar to the heroes' previous efforts, spill as the blasted Galactus begins to lurch and fall to the earth.

Flat on the mat, Galactus is left in a more vulnerable position for the earth-bound villains to make their frenzied attack -- but the heroes, whose efforts toppled the mighty cosmic warrior, intervene to stake their claim to the fresh meat.

After a drawn out fight that sees the destruction of the villains, and the loss of Colonel America, the cosmic powered Marvel Zombies turn their attentions back to Galactus.

Having recovered from the previous attack, Galactus crackles with power cosmic, rueing the futile efforts to defy his might.

Stunned that Galactus survived the two focused beams of energy fired from Pym's cannon, Spider-man and the other cosmic powered Marvel Zombies regroup to take the fight back to the originator of the power cosmic.

The heroes launch a savage physical attack, pinning the devourer to the Earth as he spews cosmic energy like a massive battery.

The enhanced zombe heroes rip and tear at Galactus' perceived armor, finding the apparent evidence of the flesh and meat they so desire.

Unrelenting, the heroes pursue their attack, giving the cumbersome Galactus no opportunity to stay their efforts. Like a man being eaten alive by ants, Galactus has no choice but to lie and accept his fate -- death on Earth.

Like a pack of pirhanas, the zombies tear Galactus apart, devouring him and subsequently absorbing all his cosmic energies have to offer. It is a feast the likes of which has not been seen for quite some time. Bloody victory, is theirs.

The hammer...
With full bellies and even more power, the Marvel Zombies find themselves victorious once again, against overwhelming odds.

While I think we could question the validity of the victory, you cannot deny the result. Which I guess provides us an immediate segue into the contemplative discussion usually housed in this final section of our regular posts.

I have a fairly general complaint about this series, which manages to blanket much of the action, and conceptual development in this series.
The numbers, the lists, the tape. You've seen my work. I like to process things like simplistic, mathematical formulas. The idea of creating a tangential universe is ripe ground for this kind of thought process, and it's the lack of consideration in it's development that is the source of my disappointment.

Recent additions to the Marvel Zombies branding have revealed the process by which the plague spread through the community. While we were privvy to interesting and cute methods; like zombie Mystique posing as Scarlet Witch to infect the otherwise inaccessible Quicksilver; it essentially spent very little time on the numerical spread of the infection, content with vague specifics that alluded to widspread infection. Consideration for characters with unique defenses and counter abilities were largely overlooked -- we mentioned this in a previous entry, featuring Wolverine under threat of vampirism. [Blade #5]

During the original mini-series, and this issue in particular, we then have similar glossing of points, like the very nature of Galactus. There's a shakey relationship between Galactus as an abstract anomoly, and a physical threat to worlds.

The theory is that Galactus appears however a subject perceives him on an individual basis. Presumably this means there is more to Galactus than a giant man, and certainly more than the purple mini-skirt and tricked out pope-hat.
So, as cute and clever as it is to have the insatiable hunger of the zombies satisfied by the famous world devourer -- it undermines the unique nature of Galactus as a cosmic manifestation.

In some vague twist of fate, I've always liked the notion of Galactus existing as a sentient cloud, something like an autonomous gas giant. I would use the Stephen Soderbergh Solaris remake as a prime example, but it bares startling resemblence to the teased Galactus in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.
As a true manifestation, it is nicely conceivable that a cloud of formless sentience could be perceived as many different things, including the familiar Kirby designed character we know and love.

Ultimately, Marvel Zombies represents the hook fairly well.
Continuing to be a source of revenue for Marvel comics, the concept overstays it's welcome, reflecting the kitschy fascination with broad thematic archetypes that has clogged internet humor and cutesy comics. It's big, broad, dumb fun, that potentially overstays it's welcome, even at five simple issues.

With several one-shots, a crossover mini-series, a current crossover arc in Black Panther, and an upcoming sequel mini that parodies Marvel's Civil War, Marvel proves one fascinating thing: Zombies can be defeated by destroying the brain, severing the head, or hammering them into the ground.

Believe me, if there's something we know, it's hammers.

It's not all negative though. Though underhanded, it is a genuine compliment when I say this is dumb fun. It's maybe just a little dumber than World War Hulk, featuring far fewer moving parts, but a similar penchant for big superhero battles. Magneto, Silver Surfer and Galactus each provide the sparring opposition, while there's also an underlying story about Black Panther and the surviving Acolytes, who return from space at the end of the series.

This does nicely to leave the thread which is ultimately picked up in the current Fantastic Four-centric arc in Black Panther.

The zombie hunger is recharacterized, as Galactus gives way to the collective Galacti. Having absorbed his energies through consumption, the zombie survivors take to the spaceways, seeking out planets to quite literally devour, putting a more personal touch on Galactus' old job.

Having slipped into this parallel universe; Black Panther and the current FF find themselves face-to-face with the zombie Galacti in the current story. However unlikely, this actually serves to be perhaps the most impressive use of the device since Mark Millar's original introduction in Ultimate Fantastic Four.

Speaking of hammers, I once again find myself hunched over keyboard in the dark of the AM, losing my train of thought in a maelstrom of words and critical analysis. Fitting then that I should be the subject of such scrutiny!

The Broken Frontier's Bart Croonenborghs has the special honour of being the first out of the gates on the KMI front. His review of The Kirby Martin Inquest #1 [availble online @ nitelitetheatre.com] proves to be an astute and receptive look at the series, with a pleasantly polite outlook.

A few misconceptions aside (the book's timeframe, and format), it's a good opportunity to test the water if you've been as yet undecided about your purchase of the title. Particularly useful for the Infinite Wars faithful, who might have misconceptions about my range as a writer.
Although, even if this somehow doesn't tickle your fancy, I'd emplore you to support independent comics by buying it anyway. You can always use it to line your bird cage, or wrap around a back with a threatening message written on the bold white of the mask picture on the cover.

Before we close, it would be remiss of me not to get in the obvious dig about the Marvel Zombies cover, which was no doubt comissioned with glee by editor-in-chief, Joe Quesada.

See what I did there?...

The Fight: 3.5 The Issue: 4.5
[A fun concept, perpetuating Robert Kirkman's association with zombies, and slightly mediocre writing for Marvel properties. A concept that overstayed it's welcome, it might be a matter of choosing this, or the Evil Dead crossover.]