JUSTICE SOCIETY versus SANDMAN
Waking the Sandman Part Two: Night Terrors (DC)
Where: JSA #64 When: October 2004
Why: Geoff Johns How: Jerry Ordway

The Story So Far...
In the 1940s Sanderson Hawkins was adopted by wealthy socialite Wesley Dodds; also known to citizens of New York City as the crime-fighting mystery man, the Sandman! Hawkins would soon find himself involved in Dodds' clandestine operation, eventually leading to accident that would turn him into a horrible silicon monster! Dodds placed his ward in suspended animation in an effort to protect both Sandy and the world from his mistake.

Resurrected in the modern era, Hawkins is cured, and inherits the JSA Brownstone and leadership of the team in a new age. Alas, Hawkins' time for this world was brief, and when the forces of Mordru, Obisidian and Eclipso unite their powers, Sand perishes in a heroic sacrifice to protect the Earth from multiple earthquakes -- or so it seemed! Forces far beyond this dimension had other ideas, and so, Sandy Hawkins enters a state of suspend animation once more, waiting to be woken from his nightmarish dreamstate...

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Brute 5 (Super Strength)
Intelligence: Dr. Fate 4 (Tactician)
Speed: Flash 7 (Lightspeed)
Stamina: Sand 5 (Marathon)
Agility: Sand 7 (Unlimited)
Fighting Ability: Hawkgirl 6 (Warrior)
Energy Power: Dr. Fate 7 (Cosmic Power)


- The Justice Society of America are: Dr. Fate, Lyta, Flash, Stargirl, Hawkgirl, and Brainwave.

During the Golden Age of superheroes in the forties, many of the heaviest hitting heroes united to form a powerful syndicate of heroism called the Justice Society.
Among the well-known founding members were; Flash, Green Lantern, Hawkman, Sandman, The Spectre, Dr. Fate, Hourman, and the Atom.

Despite an ebb and flow through time that has seen the team maintain varying degrees of activity, they have endured to the modern day. Extending the JSA's lifespan is a new "legacy" policy which allows the inclusion of new members related to former members, by blood, or by inheretence of power.

- In the 1940s Sanderson Hawkins finds himself orphaned, his only living relative, a well-to-do woman about town, Dian Belmont. Eventually Hawkins finds himself adopted by Belmont's boyfriend, Wesley Dodds, a wealthy sociallite who secret prowls the streets as the clandestine mystery man - the Sandman!

Sandy joins Dodds in his war against crime as "the golden boy," but in an accident involving one of Dodds' experimental weapons, Sandy finds himself transformed into a horrible silicon beast after being bombarded with radioactive silica particles. Hawkins lay in stasis for decades until, in the modern era, his humanity was restored by his ward, but not without a strange twist. As a result of his ordeal Hawkins could now manipulate silicon matter, and transform his physical form into sand particles. He adds these fantastic new powers to the arsenal left to him by his mentor, adopting the crime-fighting handle: Sand!

The Math: Sand (Avg) Justice Society (Ttl) Ranking: Hawkgirl (#86)

What Went Down...
While one-half of the Justice Society makes the arduous trek deep into the Earth to find the lost body of Sand; the other half of the team, by means provided by Dr. Fate, travel into Sand's psyche, where they find themselves trapped in the plane of the Dream Dimension!

Sand attacks the Society with no apparent recollection of their identity, using his influence over the Dimension to divide the team through savage sandstorms!
Dr. Fate and Lyta find themselves unable to help their fellows as the all-too-familiar reveals the machinations at work.

The Flash finds himself separated with Brainwave, who had recently recovered from possession at the hands of Mr. Mind. The pair find themselves the first target in Sandman's strategic assault, but Brainwave is able to use his mentallist abilities to freeze the confused hero in his tracks.

Believing the JSA to be another of a series of absurd obstacle thrown against him in the Dreaming; Sand exerts his will over the dimension to overpower Brainwave's commands, summoning enough will to reach for a tiny whistle...

The whistle beckons the true architects of the Dream Dimension - Brute and Grom! The pair of creatures, known well to Dr. Fate and Lyta, have been responsible before for the imprisonment of Sandmen, all a part of their scheme to control their own piece of the Dreaming as a means of creating their own Dream King! They gladly lend their assistance to the beseiged Hawkins, who remains thoroughly under their spell.

His hand forced, the Flash is the first to retaliate, but his super-speeding efforts are for naught as the Sandman shifts his body to a particle array. He reforms, unleashing a devestating attack on the elder statesman, who he instead beleives to be little more than a villain-of-the-week!

Grom launches his disgusting body at a slightly bewildered Hector Hall, confused by the familiarity expressed by the creature. His partner, Lyta, however, remembers their ordeal in the Dream Realm quite well, as she finds herself beseiged by Brute, who also remembers. Lyta exerts her strength on the aptly named creature, while Hall blasts his opponent with magical energy, and begins to slowly recall the memories of another life.

Stargirl and Hawkgirl double team Sand with a diving assault, giving Brainwave another opportunity to sift through the fog of Hawkins' manipulated mind. While they hold him down, Hawkgirl removes her cowl in a bid to appeal to romantic feelings Sand developed during his tenure as JSA chairman. The gambit pays off.

Meanwhile, Glob recalls the tortures of the last time they programmed a hero as their own personal Sandman. Hector Hall's inherited cycle of reincarnation proved to be their undoing, earning the attention of cosmic entities like Death!
The nightmare creature enforces it's sorrow with suffocating results, as Fate succumbs to Glob's aptly oozing body.

A surprise ambush from Lyta sees Glob torn asunder!
She then turns her Amazonian fury to Brute, whose strength proves futile beneath the heel of the powerful Fury. Freed, Dr. Fate is finally able to stamp his will on the battle, condemning the two imps to a lifetime of torture in a prison of children's dreams. In doing so; Sand is freed!

The Hammer...
Brainwave is able to untangle Sandy Hawkins' mind from the web of deceit spun by Glob and Brute, putting the finishing touches on a nice Justice Society victory! For you fantasy leaguers, make a note: Flash, mostly ineffective, only picks up the assist. Awww.

Backstory: Last month we had a poll to let you choose between movies and teams. You chose movies, and we took a look at some of the characters who'll be hitting screens in feature films. With that out of the way, we're jumping into team talk! We already talked a bit about the Invaders in a sorry excuse to talk about one of my favourite books of the past few years [New Invaders #1]; and now, to balance the books, the JSA!

You might be wondering what possessed me to pick this issue as our JSA spotlight. Honestly, I was asking myself the same question when it dawned on me just how much baggage comes along with this story. See, if you somehow missed it, this isn't the first time Glob and Brute have pulled a stunt like this.
Before his most recent resurrection, Hector Hall was the manipulated guest in the Dream World, where the nightmare creatures hoped to foster their own Dream King. All of this stuff, which happened in Infinity Inc, but ties directly into Neil Gaiman's work with Morpheus, and other characters in that tangentially related mythos of the other Sandman. The goth one. Yeah...

Frankly, it's all a bit too garbled for my liking, but I foolishly thought I could combine this fight with the battle to rescue Sand's physical form, to make for a rankings super-spectacular. A double feature, however, was not to be, and you'll have to wait a while to see what happened to Powergirl, Green Lantern, and the rest of the gang.

I started by complaining about the history associated with this otherwise simple issue. I mean, really, it's a two-parter about Kirby-inspired camp in a pocket dimension. It might be a mouthful to describe, but it's a pretty simple scenario of biff, pow, and thwarting evil! Of course, here in lies the brilliance of Geoff Johns and the inherent charm of the Justice Society's far reaching history in the DC Universe.

One can almost imagine Johns holding his breath as he maticulously performs micro-surgery on the convolutions of the DC characters. He makes it look easy, as he deftly streamlines Hawkman's many histories, passes this definition on to the mortally damned Hector Hall, and skims across the surface to finish it off with a seemingly throwaway allusion to Hall's fatal past. All in a day's work, and satisfying sequential story, for Geoff Johns, master of all he surveys!

For those of you who keep tabs on the site, you'll already know he's been on top of the creator top ten for quite some time. It's a position that will only further with this review as his unassuming dominance of the site, and comics, continues.

Johns' legacy is seemingly already secured. With defining runs with Flash, JSA, Hawkman, and in particular, Green Lantern; his mark on history is secured.
Just as he has provided [re]defining moments in the lives of characters, so too has Johns had an influence over the DC Universe as a whole, putting his best foot foward with intense involvement in projects like; Infinite Crisis and 52.

This was supposed to be a discussion about the Justice Society, but with Johns, it's just so hard not to spiral off into so much more. It's this penchant for association and unfolding story that makes Johns, and DC comics right now, so very involving. As much as Countdown to Final Crisis has earnt it's share of detractors; I think we will one day look back on this era of the weekly series and regard DC's display of editorial cohesion with awe. Johns has been key to that, being perhaps the most immediately influential member of the 52-four [w/ Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, and Mark Waid].

As a guy who's been around reading comics for a fair while, one of the most fascinating elements of this evolution has been the reversal of roles.
While writers like Johns have spent the last decade and a half crafting a more engaging sense of the DC Universe, the folks across the street, who were once far better known for the Stan Lee model of asterix marketing [why was it always Thor flying overhead?..], seemed to crumble to the demands of individualized stories.

By now the horse has to be well and truly dead, but the message I constantly find myself coming back to is what I regard as perhaps the single most valuable asset of comics as a medium: the implications of longevity -- continuity!

JSA provides not only contemporary reference for the work of writers like Geoff Johns; but the very spirit of what it means to have history in the fictional realm. So few other mediums can claim to have the depth of fiction that comics do, with some of these characters' histories spanning the full sixty years!
I can understand and empathise with the negative association some have come to have about so-called "continuity," but all too often this replaces the cold indifference of fact. Absurdist theories, particularly those surrounding DC comics for some reason, have a way of permeating through the fanboy culture, and yet, even the most chic of geek finds himself ultimately counter intuitively going down a path to loving their own piece of history.

I can't pretend I'm making any kind of profound statement here, or even something you haven't heard time and time before. I just hope that this, the 400th official post on the Infinite Wars, can be one staunchly advocating the value of persistence and history.

When I started reading comics, I was looking back as much as I was looking forward. Maybe societal changes have made us lazy, but there's no reason to see the back issues as a chore. Why, a back issue is just a comic you didn't buy!

The Fight: 4 The Issue: 4.5

Boy! If that last paragraph wasn't fifties enough for you, how about a little product placement? Yes, you too can check-out the "Waking the Sandman" two-parter, as well as a whole lot more the "Lost" TPB collection. By starting your back issue journey on Amazon with the purchase links provided, you help sponsor future entries in the Infinite Wars! Which is good, because then you can sign-up to the Fantasy League, browse through the Secret Archives, and maybe make some more purchases from the Amazonian Gift Shop! Secret Wars on Infinite Earths: Cures tired blood!

IN STORES: April 02, 2008
You can probably find complete shipping list updates on most major comics sites. Consider this an opportunity to either do all your info-shopping in the one place, or get a speculative perspective on what might be worth checking out. These are untested reads. Secret Wars on Infinite Earths can offer no guarantee or endorsement of quality. These are simply titles that may be of potential interest. Some items may ship late.

The Infinite Wars now has a gift shop!
Now you'll find Amazon purchase links to hardcovers, trade paperbacks, and other collections, not only on regular entries -- but also new releases at the bottom of the Shipping List, and now a whole catalogue of potential purchases via the Infinite Wars: Amazonian Gift Shop. [Men are also welcome!] By shopping with Amazon via our purchase links, you not only find yourself a great deal, but also sponsor future entries on the Infinite Wars.


Thin and Crispy...
FEB080104 ABE SAPIEN THE DROWNING #3 (OF 5) $2.99
FEB082123 ARCHIBALD SAVES EASTER (ONE SHOT) $3.50
FEB080230 COUNTDOWN SPECIAL KAMANDI 80 PAGE GIANT $4.99
FEB082150 DEAD SPACE #2 (OF 6) $2.99
FEB080206 DETECTIVE COMICS #843 $2.99
JAN082078 JACK STAFF #15 $3.50
JAN082198 KICK ASS #2 (MR) $2.99
FEB082269 LOGAN #2 $3.99
FEB082235 MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN #38 $2.99
FEB080207 NIGHTWING #143 $2.99
FEB082159 OVERMAN #5 (OF 5) (MR) $3.50
FEB082209 SPIDER-MAN FAMILY #8 $4.99
JAN080191 TRIALS OF SHAZAM #12 (OF 12) $3.50
FEB080307 VINYL UNDERGROUND #7 (MR) $2.99

The Deep Dish...
- JAN080169 ACTION COMICS #863 $2.99
Few brandings direct my attentions elsewhere faster than the Legion of Superheroes. I think it just seems to be one of those concepts that you either do, or you don't. So, when Geoff Johns says he wants to do for the Legion what he did for Green Lantern, I can't help but regard that feat with some scepticism. While I might not be about to run out and buy-up on Legion issues; Johns proves exactly why he's the #1 ranked creator. Gary Frank is a long overdue collaborator with a strong contemporary visual, although, the roughness of inks by Jon Sibal leaves him looking like a sobre Leinil Yu. Would've liked more solid inks to go with Franks' indie fashioned boggle eyes, and a stronger graphic colour palette. Still, very solid!

- FEB082267 CABLE #2 DWS $2.99
We're a website about superhero fights.
Now, I'm far from any kind of X-phile, but my spidey-senses can't help but tingle when I see a comic apparently built around the concept of time travelling mutants with cybernetic arms. There's some other stuff in there revelant to the state of the X-Universe, but frankly, that's become one of the most disposable corners of mainstream comics, so I couldn't care less. With Ariel Olivetti bringing his over-rendered art to the series, it's all a little bit plastic, but it's worth it, because Rich tells me these days Bishop's packing cybernetic tentacles... Bizarre!

- FEB080177 COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS 4 $2.99
Forty-eight weeks later I find myself regarding this series with envious eyes. I haven't read a single issue of Countdown, and I really do wonder if it's as bad as some people wish to have me believe. I mean, as an ill-informed outsider, I see a series that's detailed some very interesting fringe events, while also fulfilling the promise to touch on the spine of the DCU. Okay, so maybe it wasn't always as crucial a series as promised, but hey... Superman-Prime's in the mix; Rayner/Troy/Todd as the Challengers is awesome; and a half-OMAC Karate Kid apparently fought Equus. [No. The guy from the team I don't like. Not Ralph Macchio...]

And hey, if you've got an issue with a guy commenting without reading the series, bow before my ominous credentials as noted by the Fortress Keeper. I don't cry non-stop like a little girl, or wear a dorky green cape and pantaloon combo, but I do occasionally notice colours.

- FEB080262 JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED #44 $2.25
It's another shipping list, which invariably means it's time to talk about the kids comics again! This time it's a spotlight on headlining Flash rogue, the Mirror Master! Serving up a variety of heroes and villains without the depressing stoicism of a modern crossover, the price really is right at $2.25. I can't personally vouch for the book, but I'd love to hear any and all comments!

- FEB082231 MARVEL SPOTLIGHT IRON MAN MOVIE $2.99
Forty-eight pages of reprint tot and nonsense - yep, it's movie season!
Iron Man starts the triple threat with his big screen debut next month and Marvel marketing has got it covered. Actually, if these things can get shilled out at cinemas, it might be the kind of thing that helps bring a few people to the comic stands. That, or everyone groans about getting homework on their way to the carpark. Hey, chin up, fanboy! The movie spotlight includes a word from comics legend - David Michelinie! Nice!

- FEB082253 PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL #18 $2.99
Hot off the heels of the 'Tigra incident(s)'; Jigsaw makes his return to the pages of a Punisher comic! It's not easy for a guy like Frank Castle to maintain any kind of arch-nemesis, mostly because they usually wind up dead pretty quick. By the power of his resillient face, Jigsaw is rivalled only by Kingpin for the covetted villain spot, and should be an exciting inclusion in PWJ. The jury's still out on whether or not Matt Fraction proves a factor in the equation of a good comic, but he's certainly a lot more enticing when he's putting a name-guest in the book!

- FEB082240 SECRET INVASION #1 (OF 8) $3.99
Vaccuum the rug, polish the silverware, put on your Sunday best! The Skrulls are coming to dinner! You'd have to have been incarcerated in the Negative Zone to have missed the hype surrounding Marvel's next line-wide event which poses the question -- who do you trust? Brian Bendis probably isn't at the top of that list; not after the equally unoriginal efforts of House of M, which retread fresh ground laid by the sequential double of Age of Apocalypse and Heroes Reborn.

Secret Invasion promises to be an equally familiar crossover, if not, a whole lot better than HoM! Multi-tasking hasn't proved to be Bendis' strong point, but if he can steer close to the hi-concept, he should be fine. There's also the fact that crossovers as involving as these tend to leave the core writer in a fair amount of bondage, so unless Quesada's goldenboy is running commando, he should be protected from himself!

And hey, it isn't all bad! [Mighty Avengers #10]

Know Your Trade...
AUG070128 BATMAN GRENDEL NEW PTG TP $19.95
FEB082312 ESSENTIAL IRON MAN TP VOL 03 $16.99
FEB082297 SECRET INVASION TP INFILTRATION $19.99
DEC070251 SHAZAM THE GREATEST STORIES EVER TOLD TP $24.99

FANTASY LEAGUE: KNOW THE ENEMY!
If you haven't already, you might like to go back to check out the April Punch-Up. There you'll find a little bit of discussion about things connected to the Fantasy League, as well as a little bit of bitching about a weak turnout. I'll stress right now that although this month's round is now underway, you should still feel massive amounts of peer pressure to sign-up!

I can't speak for the guys who've signed up, but nobody likes a cakewalk. Check out the submission guidelines and get ready to choose yourself a team!

I figure if we get another wave of folks signing up, we can do this sort of thing every now and then. Actually, for those of you intent on dominating your fellows, you can find strategic advantages in selecting your teams now that the first round has begun. The guys who've signed up early had first pick at the best characters, and while very little will change in the Infinite Wars as I continue to do my own thing, there's still going to be a tangibility about what we see unfold this month.

For those who came in late: the Infinite Wars Fantasy League is an opportunity to engage bloggers and readers alike in a bit of community competition. There are no prizes and the League requires very little involvement, drawing results from the battles featured on the site and the conclusions of the cumulative rankings (also known as the Super Stock).
If I were more tech savvy, I'd have the whole thing automated, but because I'm not, we all have to endure the embarassment of the current set-up. But come on. Don't act like you aren't playing with the superheroes over on your own blog!

Anyway, today we're here to get a look at the brave souls who've dived head-first into the first round of Infinite Wars Fantasy League action! Some describe these as hardened souls who know no fear. Others say they're just too stupid to know what they're getting themselves in for. One thing is for certain -- they're blazing a trail for interactivity on Secret Wars on Infinite Earths. Bravo!

THE GHOST WALKERS [Sponsored by Chronicle Chamber!]
Well, this is certainly a team with scale!
Characters like Spider-man and the Phantom hold the fort on the streets; Dr. Strange and Galactus have the big picture of magic and space covered; and Ms. Marvel takes care of everything else in between!

Being sponsored by Chronicle Chamber means the Phantom was a given, and since that character has enjoyed a strong entrance into Season 2008, that's a pretty reasonable inclusion on any team. As the Infinite Wars typically revolves around discussion topics and themes, there aren't a lot of characters to take away from the Phantom. Which is a good thing, too, because in case you're new to the site, there's a Spider-Boycott on!

At first glance, the inclusion of Spider-man seems like a wasted pick from the top of the crop, but there's a bigger picture to the Infinite Wars. The duration of the Boycott is currently unknown, but should it end, there's an inevitable pressure build-up that will see a flood of Spider-man entries return to the site.
Spidey, along with Ms. Marvel and Dr. Strange, have had close association with the Avengers recently, which also means solid mid-tier association. Ms. Marvel has particularly been on the rise the past few years!

THE PEOPLE'S TEAM [Sponsored by Comic Book Revolution!]
Like the previous team, you can get a sense for the sponsor wearing their predilictions on their sleeve. Rokk may be a fan of all comics, but a hint of DC bias from a guy with a Legion of Superheroes themed site is probably fair!
This team's got a real streamlined feel about it, with a lot of this characters inter-related. That might be a symptom of the DC Universe, or sign of a different strategy at work...

Rokk's clearly playing hardball with three members of the Justice League "big seven!" Flash and Wonder Woman have probably been under represented thus far in the Infinite Wars, but during the Spider-Boycott, Batman might just be the surest thing on the roster -- especially with The Dark Knight and Gotham Knight looming on the horizon! While having characters referencially clustered like this could backfire; the strategic brilliance of key DC players is that they often come to define corners of the Universe. Which means when there's a hit, there should be a strong response for The People!

THE KNIGHTS OF RIGHT [Sponsored by Comic Book Weekness!]
Another team with a bredth of representation here!
Green Arrow and Captain Marvel represent a lot of the golden age discussion swirling around the site recently; while other characters bring up the contemporary rear. The new Blue Beetle is the newest character selected in competition, which means there's a lot of modern reference, but overall a much smaller catalogue of combat to draw upon. Could go either way, there!

Once again the presence of characters prominent in multimedia is always a promising strategy. Hellboy, who has already headed up a live-action feature and several animated movies, prepares to return to the big screen with the much anticipated Guillermo Del Toro sequel! Likewise, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has been attached to talks of a Shazam-powered feature film, evening out the Captain, who has otherwise been an absentee from most core DC action.

Stephen's only Marvel inclusion, Luke Cage, rounds out with a solid pick!
The former Hero For Hire is experiencing a career high as faux-leader of the Secret Avengers; a position currently at the centre of the Marvel Universe!

THE DC ILLUMINATI [Sponsored by Where Is My Power Ring?!]
I have to admit, this might just be my favourite team!
Selection groupings might have made it difficult, but this one's the team with clearest theme, and I really quite enjoy that! This one, incase you didn't know, is modelled loosely on Marvel's team of the same name! [The Illuminati, duh!]

This team brings together some of the more obscure powerful minds of the DC Universe! Though all tangentially related, this is probably the more diverse counterpart to the Justice League themed focus group of The People's Team! Though the characters might not be as prominent in the Infinite Wars, their influence spans a larger surface, and therefore gives Doc Blu a range of options to score points with.
Steel and Jason Todd stand-out as the site favourites, but as one of the already noted 'big seven', Aquaman has already proven a rankings over achiever! The enlisted Dr. Fate in question here is Kent Nelson, and although he may be the most popular incarnation of the character, he may be overshadowed by the current iteration of the character, Hector Hall.

The Hammer...
That's the landscape of the Fantasy League, folks!
Another reminder, it's not too late to get into the thick of the action! If visualizing the make-up of the League has whipped you into a hero-adopting frenzy, then all you need to do is check out the submission guidelines. You don't need to be registered to Blogger, or even be a longtime reader, to join!

If you noticed a lot of references to the Infinite Wars, but don't understand them, then you should probably refer back to the guidelines again. Though I certainly don't intend to defer from my usual practises, the Fantasy League does depend heavily on the whims of moi, which means it's kinda open season!

That said, there are bound to be certain influences having an impact on the Infinite Wars over the next few months. Skrull paranoia will become more important to players with Marvel characters as uncertainty sweeps the Universe with Secret Invasion. Likewise, the threat of mass effect looms with DC's Final Crisis, which means there's sure to be plenty of action heading our way, along with the many feature films! We might make some unscheduled recaps throughout the months, particularly as these events influence proceedings on the site, but in the mean time, stay tuned for all the superhero smackdown of the Infinite Wars and have fun!

COMING: We follow-up on last month's secret picks for more superhero teams from the past and present; our Secret Origin of the Justice League looms; and all the usually unpredictable spotlights of the Infinite Wars!

MONTHLY PUNCH-UP #28 (April 2008)
SENTRY versus THING
Time is on No One's Side (Marvel)
Where: Mighty Avengers #10 When: May 2008
Why: Brian Bendis How: Mark Bagley

Quick Fix...
Being April Fool's Day, I debated about concocting some sort of phony fight for review. Maybe a fake DC/Marvel fight to outrage fanboys even more than Wolverine's defeat of Lobo, but really, I'm just not sure I could muster the effort.
Call me a grump, but I get a little bored with the many repetitious contrivances of April Fool "jokes."

Of course, let it never go said that I completey turned my back on a time honored tradition. Today it seemed fitting that we talk a little bit about not only a well known fool, (Brian Michael Bendis), but also a character who by design was born of hoax -- the Sentry!

Created in 2000 by Paul Jenkins and Jae Lee; the premise was startling to comics readers across the globe. Jenkins [and Lee] had claimed to have uncovered a lost character predating the 1960s pantheon of Stan Lee creations. The Sentry, as he was called, was revealed to be a pre-Fantastic Four character co-created by fictitious artist, Artie Rosen, who was said to have contributed an iconic look to a super power analagous to industry icon; Superman.

So began the effort to reinstitute The Sentry into the fabric of Marvel-reality!

Reflecting his forgotten status, the Sentry was woven into history through a collection of mini-series detailing the character's secret history with the rest of the Marvel Universe. Relationships with the Fantastic Four, Hulk, Spider-man, and other, were treated to expose hidden revelations in the Marvel canon; such as Sentry's ability to pacify the rages of the Incredible Hulk, or ensure the fortune of Daily Bugle photographer, Peter Parker.

Before too long the hoax, (which was heavily sponsored by Wizard Magazine), was consequently revealed and the character left to sit in canonical-limbo -- but it seemed the Sentry was destined to return. Flash forward four years...

It was after Avengers Disassembled that a brand new era in the franchise was about to unfold. As Brian Bendis' new formula for the Avengers was revealed, readers were once again rocked by the veiled visage of a yellow garbed, cape wearing man, who was about to explode into a universe that thought he never existed! Be they outraged, or delighted, fans were forced to pay attention to what was sure to be a radical new installment in the Marvel Universe!

A few years on, the Sentry's impact remains steadily debated.
A painfully slow start to New Avengers exposed flaws in pre-hyped marketting and continued Disassembled's aspersions of mismanagement and incompetence of Brian Bendis' part. The interruption of Civil War derailed the poorly defined asthetic of the New Avengers, but provided a new divergence in the brand that opened to a pro-registration title, and a new arc of typically bouyant sales.

Bendis is the kind of writer it's easy to be critical of.

His writing varies very little, he's responsible or attached to plenty of pitful gimmicks, is generally a little lazy when it comes pre-established characterization and fact, and gets away with all this as the goldenchild of the Marvel boysclub.
He may be a childish oaf of a man with very, very, very few redeeming qualities, but it's hard to feel any legitimate malice toward his product. As different as Bendis may be from me, like so many other comic fans, we meet on the common ground of similar references and interests. Take this issue of Mighty Avengers...

Honestly, as late as they may have been, the first issues of Mighty Avengers served up exactly the kind of thing I wish I could be reviewing on a weekly basis on the Infinite Wars. It was a return to characters I love, filtered through the retro-contemporary lense of a writer whose references are clearly that of the seventies and eighties, slanted toward a modern sensibility.
I wouldn't want to sound arrogant, but as a writer, I feel I have some things in common with Bendis, and that modern sensibility seems to be one of them. Though I was happy to make a financially strapped dismissal of Mighty Avengers, the first arc showed startling echoes of similiar concepts to my own [Eye On: Ultron], and was difficult to whole heartly ignore.

The next arc features a faulty symbiote bomb, Skrull invasion paranoid, and a throwback to the classic Iron Man/Dr. Doom time travel story, making it a must-read on visual presentation alone [seen at; Rokk's Comic Book Revolution].
[Mark] Bagley gets a worthy send off from Marvel, producing some of his finest work in the last few years! Unconventional pseudo-retro colouring, patterned with a dot matrix by Justin Ponso, compliments Bagley's work in ways the CG-heavy Ultimate Spider-man has failed to. Also at work are superior inks by Danny Miki and Allen Martinez confident lines not seen on his over-rendered USM pencils.

Battle at Castle Doomstadt results in an accidental timeshift which hurtles the Sentry, Iron Man, and Dr. Doom on a one-way trip to the past! The predicament forces an unlikely alliance between the trio who become fearful for any accidental influence their presence may have. This is arguably one of the first blackmarks against Bendis' script. Bendis at least has Doom forward the notion that men like he (and Tony Stark) have seen enough to not be phased by an ecounter with a future-self, something Doom has been faced with many times [ie; Fantastic Four #350]. Despite the flimsy courtesy; any purpose this novelty issue might have is given precedent over consistency of characterization. The Skrull invasion may yet provide an explanation for this, although, one tends to see a pattern of self-importance in Bendis' stories, along with difficulties in writing iconic characters.

Some redemption is earned when Bendis takes advantage of the device that explained Sentry's secret history away -- a mindwipe that erases the character from the collective consciousness of the Marvel Universe. Continuum carte blanche is given to the character who operates on behalf of the displaced trio, where ramifications might not be as minute as played, but relatively minimal.

Sentry is charged with finding a way into the guarded Baxter Building -- home of the Fantastic Four, and holding place of Dr. Doom's time platform, in this period.
Rattled by the displacement, an anxious Sentry struggles to maintain his mental footing, which leads to an impromptu battle between he and the Thing, who happens to be manning the FF's headquarters alone.

The Sentry prevents Thing contacting Mr. Fantastic, and swiftly sends him hurtling through the building with but a swat of his sun-powered palm!
Thing quickly tears his way through the rubble with his clock set to clobberin' time, but even the Thing's fantastic strength pales in comparison to the Sentry's ill-defined super power. Thing is unable to even rattle the invading hero!

The Sentry returns the favour with a blow that this time rockets the Thing through a Baxter Building window, into the skies above Manhattan. In a further display of his power, Sentry flies out to catch Thing, only to toss him earthbound with greater velocity! Ever the considered hero, he uses his fantastic speed to ensure the Thing's landing is clear of civilian casualty, much to the insult of the hero who is quite literally going down like a rock!

It was scenes from this fight that really encouraged me to spend a few of my leftover Easter pennies on the issue. To that end, I wasn't at all disappointed.
I'd like to think some sort of significance will come of this issue in a similar way the potentially inconsequential New Avengers: Illuminati gave us Secret Invasion. I don't know if that will happen, but even as nothing more than a novelty, this comic is curiously satisfying.

One need only browse through the Secret Archives to see issues quite like this already reviewed, albeit, actually from the time period this issue seems to be around (looking like the eighties, more than any other Marvel decade).
In the context of the site, it makes a nice companion piece to the Hulk fight [World War Hulk #5], and as a talking point, a study in comics sub-culture.

Looking at this and anticipating the upcoming Secret Invasion, I feel an ambivalence about the times we live in. It's something I feel quite often, nostalgic for 'better days', but that's a misnomer, really. Even discounting the current crop of event-heavy gimmick comics; the industry hasn't seen the kind of quality and artistry of the past decade, perhaps, ever.

I look at this comic with it's pink skies and energetic layouts, and I wonder if our sophistication has taken something away. Mark Bagley is really an absolute treat to look at here. I really cannot begin to express how enamored I am with these pages, particularly over the hyper-real subtlty of the already compared, Ultimate Spider-man. I look at that and I don't know what to think. It seems every week I delight in the throwback sense of carefree adventure found in the kid-friendly Marvel Adventures comics, and am forced to wonder if maybe I'm just like everyone else. Everyone who's found themselves glancing over crossover schedules and found themselves slumping their shoulders.

Then I read Bendis' Secret Invasion preview, and remember just how good it can be to have scope and consequence in comics.

The Fix: 5 The Issue: 5.5
Winner: The Sentry

Bendis' weaknesses are certainly on show, but I couldn't bring myself to rate the issue any lower than just shy of recommendation. Mark Bagley has not only brought this chronically-late title back from the brink, but done himself proud as a master about to embark on a journey across the street, to the "distinguished competition." As happy as I was to dismiss Mighty Avengers, I now find myself wanting to read more, and for that, I have to give all parties credit. Even if Bendis can't help but come off as a second-grade Whedon when he drops shitty references to Planet of the Apes and, of all things, Butterfly Effect... *groan*
You'll need Dr. Doom's time platform if you want to pick-up the trade of this storyarc, or, failing that, you can do us all a favour and pre-order through Amazon! By using purchase links provided on the Infinite Wars, you get us kick-backs! Also available: the first volume featuring sexy-Ultron!

---

Top Artists
#1 (+2) John Romita Jr
#2 (-1) Paul Ryan
#3 (-1) John Byrne
#4 (-) Alvin Lee
#5 (-) Jim Lee
#6 (+2) Frank Miller
#6 (-1) Rob Liefeld
#7 (-1) Tim Sale
#9 (-) Claudio Castellini
#10 (-) Phil JiminezTop Writers
#1 (-) Geoff Johns
#2 (-) Jeph Loeb
#3 (-) Judd Winick
#4 (-) Ken Siu-Chong
#5 (-) Brian Bendis
#6 (-) Mark Millar
#7 (-) Keith Giffen
#8 (-) Tom DeFalco
#9 (-) Darwyn Cooke
#10 (-) Peter DavidCreative Differences...
Last month just as I said there was nothing to talk about, scandal brokeout all over the place! Did it colour opinion of Secret Invasion, or as the old saying goes, is any publicity good publicity?

You'd have to ask David Mack, who suffered an absolute sledging after his New Avengers # cover was exposed for a very lazy trace of a magazine model. Mack is no stranger to photo-referencing, and viewers of the DVD documentary, Men Without Fear, will already know this from Mack's brief tabletop studio tour.
That said, fans were understandably rattled about the artist's approach, which he claims has a hidden artistic direction he cannot discuss due to potential spoilers. Hogwash, or not, Mack made an admirable pitch, resubmitting the cover with a new version of Echo replacing the discovered snatch.

But wait -- there's more! The Secret Invasion drama continued as Grant Morrison poked playful fun at the opposition when he was asked what sets his Final Crisis apart from the upcoming Marvel story.
Morrison remarked on a Wizard interviewer's question of comparison, "We’re going to kick their ass so hard. [Laughs] Marvel had its big year last year with Civil War, which was an amazing event and really changed the Marvel landscape. With Secret Invasion, we’ve seen the Skrull thing before. We’ve seen it in the Kree-Skrull War, again in series like the Fantastic Four. They’re kind of resting this year. [Laughs] So if you’re a Marvel fan, come over here. There’s only one book to read this summer. It’s simple." [From WizardUniverse]

The comments earned the humorless ire of Bendis, who made a vague attack on the professional quality of Final Crisis and it's scheduling. The comments made on his message board, which attracted much attention, were later retracted as a misunderstood joke. I don't know about any of you, but I think he should be banned indefinitely for starting unnecessary drama! Mmm! Stupid Americans!

Elsewhere; more positive things were going as Darwyn Cooke splashed his name all over industry outlets! The release of the animated adaptation of DC: The New Frontier earned the creator new press, and launched the phenomenal series into a medium that would garner even more attention. Cooke, accused of being lukewarm on the series, appears on the DVD in several capacities, but for those interested, iFanboy had an interesting video interview with the man of the hour.

In catching up with the Phantom, I also made a rarther startling discovery!
Site-favourite penciller, Paul Ryan, has had the reigns of the Phantom newstrip for quite some time now. So, if ever I've asked the question of where Ryan went, the answer was a lot closer than I originally thought! Nice!

No doubt a lot more went on in the lives of the creators, but these were just some of the things that caught my eye during the month. Feel free to drop any tidbits of your own in the comments, and discuss as you like!

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Spider-Boycott: 2008 Status Update...
Brand New Day rolls on as Amazing enjoys it's new three-times-monthly schedule, and reactions continue to be mixed. During the month I had a few people raise the issue of the Spider-Boycott and BND with me, giving me a first-hand glimpse of just how diverse the response has been.

I've had it pretty easy since One More Day.
The story, which amounts to some of the sloppiest and least admirable efforts in Spider-man history, was merely the precursor for a 'new' era in Spider-man that has, thus far, left me completely disinterested!

The Boycott is the result of a few different things.
I would encourage noone to under estimate the notion that this is a flimsy attempt to pick a side and try to milk them for google hits. That said, there's also the underlying principle of offense to what really should be a decision Marvel Comics is well above. The rules of fiction are what define it as good or bad, and in the on-going medium of comics, it's the magic that makes the format and characters so special.

So, while I wouldn't emplore you to drop the title if, somehow, you are actually enjoying it. I'd simply challenge exactly how true that is, and whether or not the means of arriving here were worth it, or even necessary. I don't think so.

AUG2007 #7 Amazing Spider-man #543 [106,485]
AUG2007 #43 Sensational Spider-man #40 [52,180]
AUG2007 #61 Friendly Neighborhood Spider-man #21 [44,661]

SEP2007 #2 Amazing Spider-man #544 OMD [146,215]
OCT2007 #2 Friendly Neighborhood Spider-man #22 OMD [110,405] -24.49%
NOV2007 #7 Sensational Spider-man #41 OMD [100,300] -9.15%
DEC2007 #2 Amazing Spider-man #545 OMD [124,481] +24.11%
JAN2008 #1 Amazing Spider-man #546 BND [136,109] +9.34%
JAN2008 #8 Amazing Spider-man #547 BND [108,485] -20.29%
JAN2008 #10 Amazing Spider-man #548 BND [105,122] -3.1%
FEB2008 #3 Amazing Spider-man #549 BND [101,112] -3.81%
FEB2008 #9 Amazing Spider-man #550 BND [90,874] -10.12%
FEB2008 #13 Amazing Spider-man #551 BND [88,084] -3.07%

So, does the readership agree with people like me?
Well, conclusions are difficult to draw at this stage. The title is still floating high on a sales list that suffered an industry-wide slip in estimated units sold. Likewise, at this early stage, reduction in sales are expected of any title that launched or relaunched with a hype-driven event.

That said, if we look at Brand New Day in isolation, we see a 35.28% reduction in sales over just a two month period! With the title shedding units every week, one has to wonder if this isn't a little bit rapid for a title that's taken harsh hits when measured against monthly comparisons.

As much as I've grown disinterested in discussing the subject matter of the material, the sales figures continue to be an intriguing measure of the success of the title. A rotating creator list may also play a part in fluctuating sales. The likes of Dan Slott and Steve McNiven may provide sales peaks, while lesser known creators, like infamous home movie maker, Zeb Wells, may specialize in quieter weeks. An upcoming guest-spot by Wolverine may yet prove to be the acid test for not only the success of Brand New Day, but the viability of Wolverine as a sales grabber in the contemporary direct market.

---

The 2008 Top Five...
The premise is pretty simple folks, but for those of you coming in late, let me give you the basic run down: We talk a lot of comics, we review a lot of their fights, and at the beginning of each month we take a look at who's kicking the most ass, and put the top five for the year under a microscope. Nice!

Last year, April marked the beginning of an indomitable run that saw Spider-man and Batman hold the top two spots for the rest of the year. There's a strong case for the importance of a strong first quarter but Season 2008 has already seen a lot of diversity in the rankings. I think it's safe to say contenders are definitely emerging, but at this point, it's anyone's game, and if anyone actually signs up for the Fantasy League, that might actually start to mean something!

We'll talk more about the Fantasy League a little later, but for now, brace yourself for a shuffle that's going to baffle some, and delight others. We've got some repeat offenders returning to the top five, but the debutants may be the characters who really rock the boat. The power of looming movie releases continues to be a factor, but on the Infinite Wars unpredictability has been proven as conversation topics prove king in March! Read on, oh brave one!

#1 The Phantom (new) (King Features Syndicate)
Class: [Meta] Last Opponent: [Roughnecks]
Win Percentage: [100%] Features: [3]
2006: [NR] 2007: [NR] Cumulative: [#31]

Known the world over as the ghost who walks, man who cannot die; the Phantom faces dire odds as he steps into the top spot on the Infinite Wars, a most unlikely upstart debut for season 2008!

With the exception of maybe occasional (and highly unlikely) rumors of another shot at feature film glory in 2009, the Phantom's suffering from the same thing that's plagued the character for decades. Outside the USA the character may be revered as a cultural icon, but in the US market, Moonstone's efforts licensing the character continue to slither quietly at the bottom of monthly shipping lists.

As a lifelong fan of the character, it's been my own interests in making the overdue inclusion that pushed the character into first place. Much like last month's stay by the Martian Manhunter, one would expect it to be short lived, but the Phantom isn't without his supporters. We've just linked up with Chronicle Chamber, a dedicated Phantom fansite providing certain demand for the character, and some kind words about our own exposures. Likewise, Bahlactus' call for an anniversary round of black and white Friday Night Fights provides the ideal spotlight for more of Frew's newsprint publications, making the Phantom a real darkhorse in season 2008!

#2 Batman (+1) (25) (DC)
Class: [Meta] Last Opponent: [Dr. Light]
Win Percentage: [67.86%] Features: [28]
2006: [#1] 2007: [#2] Cumulative: [#2]

The Batman casts a dark shadow over the 2008 rankings, making a move familiar to readers of the last couple of years. With the Spider-Boycott still in full swing, the only character to beat Batman to the finish line remains almost entirely absent from the site. None can underestimate the presence of Batman's soon-to-be box office rivals, Iron Man and Hulk, as they each make themselves known in March features of their own!

As the all encompassing icon from DC comics, the big news has to be the upcoming Grant Morrison storyline, titled "RIP." Rumors of the Dark Knight's untimely demise were seemingly debunked, amidst a swirl of claims DC's greatest icons would advance to the level of New Gods. The story has already been suggested by many as response to Marvel's mainstream success with the death of Captain America [Captain America #25], but with Morrison at the helm, one almost doesn't want to pledge to anything so corporately pedestrian.

Of course, also on the horizon is July's The Dark Knight, sequel to Christopher Nolan's franchise refresher, Batman Begins. The film itself suggests an argument for corporate synergy within the brand, bucking against theories of a Jason Todd, or Dick Grayson, succession plan. Either way, the would-be facts seem almost incidental as the artistic powerhouse of Nolan's hotly anticipated sequel charges onward. Accompanying it is the equally exciting Gotham Knight; an Animatrix-styled project bringing some of Japan's leading animators to the Batman.

#3 Martian Manhunter (-2) (2) (DC)
Class: [Super] Last Opponent: [Hill Street Cult]
Win Percentage: [40%] Features: [5]
2006: [NR] 2007: [#222] Cumulative: [#62]

It was fun while it lasted, but as inevitable as Batman's rise, the Martian Manhunter's stay at the top comes to a bitter end.
After a starring role in World War III and near-misses with both the Outsider and Checkmate; J'onn J'onnz has been bumped down to an off-world undercover mission disguised as Blockbuster in the pages of Salvation Run.

At times like this it's been a lifetime membership for any Justice League title that's kept the character from falling into total obscurity, but after Brad Meltzer's trend-bucking time on JLA, it could be some time off for Martian Manhunter.
It's that association that has some time still owed on the Infinite Wars to MM, via our look at the secret origins of the Justice League [Secret Origins #32], but otherwise the priority forecast looks grim. Here's looking at Trinity...

#4 Green Lantern (-2) (2) (DC)
Class: [Meta] Last Opponent: [Golden Roc]
Win Percentage: [100%] Features: [4]
2006: [NR] 2007: [#41] Cumulative: [#19]

After suffering the indignities of alcoholism, murder, madness, and some truly mind boggling continuity; the influences of men like Geoff Johns and Darwyn Cooke have ensured a Hal Jordan reneissance!

Johns single handedly absolved the character of responsibility for his crimes, using the device of a big, yellow, fear-loving bug, called Parallax. More bizarre than this entity (that quite literally made him do it) is the fact that the story, and that character's connection to the historic 'yellow weakness', was thoroughly enjoyable! So begins this new chapter in the life of the Green Lantern!

Drawing upon similar principles to Cooke's New Frontier; Johns has launched into a retelling of Hal Jordan's origins that shines a light on his life before receiving the ring from a dying Abin Sur. Despite reservations noted [March 26], early indications are the story is shaping up to not only be satisfying, but foreshadowing of events coming in the world of the Green Lanterns!

#5 Hulk (RE) (6) (Marvel)
Class: [Meta] Last Opponent: [US Military]
Win Percentage: [63.16%] Features: [19]
2006: [#6] 2007: [#10] Cumulative: [#4]

With Batman and Iron Man duking it out for blockbuster hype, you could be forgiven for forgetting Edward Norton was heading up a pseudo Hulk sequel, hitting theatres in June! Bringing up the rear, old jade jaws reminds us that he may yet be the man to beat in season 2008!

With a new Red Hulk stealing all the headlines and very little press for the film, I have to admit to under estimating the character. Puny Banner might be taking a nap after World War Hulk, but the character continues to rampage through the Infinite Wars as a cultural phenomenon. Despite being somewhat underwhelmed by early looks at the Abomination vehicle, I don't doubt that the film will probably hit big, appealing to a mainstream audience in ways Ang Lee's thrilling psycho-drama did not.

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Fantasy League Update...
Starting with a negative is never a good idea. In my experience it's particularly unfashionable amongst the comic readership to express any kind of intellectual dissatisfaction. As such, I'll refrain from grunting and groaning too much.
Suffice to say, despite flexibility in the model, submissions for the Fantasy League were few and far between. Notably absent were fellow bloggers, with whom I had hope to better engage through this pseudo-meme.
Everyone should continue to feel welcome to follow submission guidelines, because right now, it's not looking much like a competition.

Salutations to those few who have adopted a team.
Interaction with readers is all too rare. Hopefully this will add just a little extra layer of fun to those of you engaged in the Infinite Wars, particularly if I can stop sounding like a disapproving parent for five minutes... A tour of the few registered teams will precede tomorrow's shipping list, but for now: a big list!!!

Cumulative Super Stock...

USAgent summons you to join
the Super Stock Fantasy League, with
an inspiration rise in the rankings!
[New Invaders #1]1. Spider-man (-) (M)
2. Batman (-) (DC)
3. Iron Man (+1) (M)
4. Hulk (+1) (M)
5. Wolverine (-2) (M)
6. Captain America (-) (M)
7. Mr. Fantastic (-) (M)
8. Superman (-) (DC)
9. Daredevil (+3) (M)
10. Thing (-1) (M)
15. Sub-Mariner (+1) (M)
16. Ryu (-1) (C)
19. Green Lantern (-) (DC)
21. Green Arrow (-) (DC)
24. Iron Fist (-) (M)
26. Luke Cage (-) (M)
30. Dhalsim (-) (C)
31. The Phantom (new) (KFS)
32. Ken Masters (+20) (C)
34. Dr. Doom (-2) (M)
36. Flash (-2) (DC)
45. Tara (+94) (M)
47. Thin Man (+93) (M)
48. Union Jack (+90) (M)
49. Spitfire (+88) (M)
50. Scarlet Spider (-6) (M)
62. Martian Manhunter (-5) (DC)
63. Dr. Strange (-5) (Marvel)
64. USAgent (+101) (M)
68. Blazing Skull (+121) (M)
69. Aquaman (-7) (DC)
71. Wonder Woman (-7) (DC)
78. Deathstroke (-7) (DC)
97. Human Torch (new) (M)

Dan Hibiki sets the bar at a
new low, plummeting to the bottom of
the ranks with a painful defeat!
[Street Fighter Alpha Vol.1]100. Soldier (-7) (DC)
149. Superman-Prime (-3) (DC)
153. Hellboy (-3) (DH)
161. Steel Serpent (new) (M)
165. Dr. Light (-91) (DC)
172. Galactus (-4) (Marvel)
200. Captain Marvel (-3) (DC)
222. Blue Beetle (-3) (DC)
243. Ms. Marvel (-3) (Marvel)
250. Shriek (-3) (M)
287. Mrs. Arbogast (new) (M)
300. Grom (-4) (DH)
350. Echo (-4) (M)
400. Paibok (-4) (M)
450. Stone God (-4) (DC)
456. Slade (new) (M)
458. Tiger's Beautiful Daughter (new) (M)
459. Gen. Thunderbolt Ross (new) (M)
460. Maj. Glenn Talbot (new) (M)
461. Whirlwind (new) (M)
480. Masked Marvel (new) (KFS)
483. Lizard (-11) (M)
484. Taskmaster (-11) (M)
485. Zangief (-10) (C)
486. Magneto (-10) (M)
487. Dan Hibiki (-13) (C)

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The Hammer...
That's a wrap, folks! We close the chapter on yet another big month of Infinite Wars, with promise to do it all over again... Oh dear god, what have I done?

Jokes aside, if you've made it this far into the Punch-Up, I've got to emplore you to head over to the Fantasy League sign-up. If you can show that kind of commitment to reading my bullshite, then you almost certainly have the talents required to pick five characters from a list, and sit and observe as they rack up pointless, non-sensical point tallys.
Need proof of such a phenomena? Anyone who was toying with the idea of selecting The Sentry for their team just missed out on a big two hundred bonus points for his maiden victory, over the Thing! Ouch!

Ordinarily this is where we'd throw lots of love around to fellow bloggers, but I have to admit, I'm a little fed up. It's my hope that this is the kind of blog anyone can log onto to find either the fun of superhero scans, or the depthy discussion of the creative process. I like to think this is the kind of site that has a good hook, but sadly, it's failed to endear to many of my peers. I do not know why that is, but as you can imagine, blame them.
You might have noticed that our menu of links to other sites was scaled down considerably during the month. In an effort to foster traffic both ways, I'm keeping it down to folks who're linking back to us on a regular basis. Which, yes, means a couple of the hub sites are teetering on the chopping block. Fooey to you-ee! If you want to organize an exchange you can go the formality of dropping a comment (or e-mail), but otherwise, just start linking and I'll find out sooner or later...

Speaking of which, I do have to send thanks to Comic Book Weekness and Rokk's Comic Book Revolution, for their enthusiasm and involvement. No doubt they're cringing for the association right now, but shucks. I appreciate it, guys!
An even bigger thanks goes to Chronicle Chamber, where I've enjoyed getting in touch with my inner Phan. The Phantom on the site has been a long time coming, and for you guys, hopefully more content on the Infinite Wars this month!

No other major news, so if I've finished snubbing everyone, that's got to just about be everything! We'll hopefully have an opportunity to feature some more issues from this year on the site [2008], as well as more discussion and intrigue surrounding a variety of topics of interest. We'll be following up on the subject started last month [New Invaders #1] - superhero teams - as well as doing our best to revisit the secret origins of the Justice League.

- Mike Haseloff; Commanding Officer
Mike Haseloff is a little known comics writer with the fantastic ability to leap tall lists in a single bound! After having a go, Mike recently discovered he is able to type at 100 words a minute, which probably explains how he manages to make such lengthy entries into the Infinite Wars without spiralling into an episode of the Twilight Zone. To the best of his knowledge, Mike has never switched bodies with another person, although, in his younger days, he was said to resemble super saiya-jin Kramer. These days he just looks like a racist.

March Hit Count: [8386/82994] (-14%)