MONTHLY PUNCH-UP #40 (April 2009)
Hussah! Another month completed!

Over the past month you might have noticed the Infinite Wars stripped back to the bare essentials. It also can't have escaped your notice that the dates of our posts are quite a bit behind the times we're making them. Such is the bizarre anomoloy that sees us fighting against time itself -- all in an effort to bring the battles of superheroes back to the present! The sacred tradition of Friday Fight Night (the original) remains intact to ensure competition is consistent, while we strip back everything else [bar the archival shipping lists] to skip time like a school girl splashing puddles on a rainy day. Pigtails, and all.

A big shout out, as always, goes to the loyal readers whose insatiable bloodlust will not be sastified even by the removal of burly aliens' tongues! You are a credit to us all, and your loyalty goes much appreciated. As does the wise spending of those of you taking advantage of the convenience and savings offered by various Amazon links on the website. That's just good business!

Being that we're a bit less than a month behind right this moment, I can tell you with great certainty that we've got an exciting card of superhero smackdown for you in April! Continuing the tradition of the year, we're wheeling out some of the best fights of each week, delivering blows from Marvel and DC's latest hits!

We also eagerly anticipate the opportunity to get back stuck into some new articles, like a list that was compiled last month of the thirty most significant characters in the American superhero industry. I'm sure the list will shock and revile, but until we're back on track, that'll just have to wait! LEARN A VIRTUE!

While a conceited effort has been made to keep this Punch-Up modest, we've got a range of interesting subjects ahead. As always, Rankings updates will provide sports-like statistical entertainment, while we also have a little bit of speculation based on the coming releases, and some discussion about sales. If there's something missing, as always, you should be encouraged to drop a comment.

During those long lonesome nights where the tapping of the keyboard is the only sound to keep me company, it would be nice to have something to keep me warm at night. Be sure to sign-up to the RSS feed, follow via Blogger, add the site to your favourites, link and discuss entries on your own blog or message board, and just generally spread the word. Then make sure all of those people you send this way buy things, because papa really needs a new bag. Whatever that means.

Other than that, just generally stay tuned.
Cheers!

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Wall Street War Journal: Market Analysis...
"Amazing" Sales Fig.
November 2007:
#545 124481 (-1.2%)
December 2008:
#581 64961 (-47.81%)
January 2009:
#582 59932 (-7.74%)
#583 352953 (+588.92%)
#584 63754 (-81.954%)
February 2009:
[#583 148805 #1/300]
#585 60286 (-5.44%)
#586 59521 (-1.27%)
#587 60118 (+1.00%)
Month End: (-5.70%)Spidey's adventures this month continue to slide into sales decline, but it's interesting to make several observations straight of the bat. Most notably is the fact that Amazing finished February at #1 in the sales figures, riding the President Obama gravy train home with a massive second-print of issue #583, featuring an Obama cover.

It's a pretty spectacular achievement, but it might reiterate a fickle nature to the comics readership as it exists today. Presumably sales stem from a surge of interest from irregular readers, as well as, perhaps, a collectors market that's stemmed not just from comics, but other avenues.

Also of note from February is the fact that, while decline continued to the month-end, the series actually finished the month above the year's beginning figure. What does that mean? Well, not much, really. You can crunch the numbers to prove anything, but for a title featuring one of the most successful characters in history, it's not a terribly impressive number. Although, in the current direct market climate, it's still good enough to finish the month controlling ranks sixteen through eighteen.

The month in Spider-man finally had opportunity to overlap with the Infinite Wars with issue #585. Brand New Day contribution, Menace, had the captive attentions of Amazing readers as her secret origins were finally revealed over the course of several issues. Sales boosts on #587 accompanied the shock arrest of Spidey and his subsequent incarceration -- a plotline quickly resolved through an unsurprising guest appearance by Matt Murdock, but still an interesting hook.

As you might have seen in the shipping list, or recent reviews, I've been happy to put the "Spider-Boycott" behind us as Amazing finds a vastly improved balance of components, new and old. Menace, despite being extremely derivative of the oft retreaded [Green] Goblin character, is a welcome addition to the Spidey lethal foes, while the return of classic elements, such as the Spot, reinvests in an audience that has failed to grow with the mainstream success of the films. I can't say I'm particularly interested in the well conceived prospect of Harry Osborn as the "American Son", (bouncing off of Norman's ascension as Iron Patriot in the Dark Reign shuffle) but Dr. Octopus lies on the horizon to make up for that. Ultimately, that's just personal tastes, and I actually expect the storyline to be part of a positive flowing perspective in the series.

... MK Tournament: Winner Gets Franchise?
The saga of Midway Entertainment and the Mortal Kombat franchise continues to twist and wind as elaborately as any beat 'em up plot line. The promise of two more MK games entering production for the bankrupt company was quickly followed by strong rumors suggesting the MK development team might look to disconnect from the financially troubled publisher. This thought, not surprisingly, led to speculation about where the franchise might end up in relation to it's creative team, should Midway agree to sell their cash cow.

Now, [in April], DC Universe parent company, Warner Brothers, has entered the arena as a prominent prospect for purchasing the brand away from Midway. This would add an extra layer to the cross promotional blitz of Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe, which suffered, presumably due to Midway's declining position.

As someone who is as big a fan of the intellectual property, as I am the games, I can't help but salivate at the prospect of WB making better use of the characters and trademarks in other fields. Sure, games are conceivably an important part of the tradition of the games, but a comic series tie-in was sorely absent from the release of the DC Justice League-feuelled crossover game. Intriguing!

... The Phantom: Sci-Fi Hooded Justice?
As the "SyFy" channel pushes forward on it's Phantom project, the picture becomes increasingly grim. Cynical expectations were met when the channel released concept art for their character, the twenty-second Phantom to King Features better known twenty-first.

Forthcoming in their intentions to take the hero out of his jungle home, to reposition him as an urban New York vigilante; SyFy have reaffirmed their modernist approach, revealing artwork of a hi-tech bodyarmored hero with a hood, rather than the well known cowl that helped define the superhero genre as we know it. In a twist of irony, this modern Phantom appears to share much in common with the conceits of Batman introduced through Batman Begins, flipping the chain of reference that saw the Lee Falk creation contribute to inspiring Bob Kane's original 1939 Dark Knight.

While the Phantom franchise has arguably been long overdue an induction of promised succession through generations, this heavy deviation from the established facts of the character can only inspire cynical contempt in fans. This typical Hollywood revamp reminds international fans of the positives that have come from America's relative ignorance to one of their oldest comic book characters, the hero who predates Superman and the famous mystery men of the Golden Age.

---

Season 2009: Top Five Update...
Here on the Infinite Wars we like to play a little game of rank and review.
At the heart of the site is a series of reviews that recap the battles that embody the superhero universes as we know them. By tallying these results, we shuffle stats in the pursuit of the knowledge of who truly is the greatest hero of all.

Breaking up the cumulative grind are our yearly rankings, which give us the opportunity to observe the success of characters each year. Season 2009 is now well under way, and unlike previous years, has shown particular reflection on the grind of weekly releases. Feature fights have been diverse and intriguing!

#1 Alpha Lantern Kraken (-) (2) (DC)
Battles: [3] Last Opponent: [Batman]
Win Percentage: [100%] Cumulative: [#49]
2006: [DNR] 2007: [DNR] 2008: [#121]

Hangover from our belated Final Crisis spotlight -- Kraken enjoys a second month at the top after turning on her fellow Lanterns during the event, under the influenced of Granny Goodness. Despite being proven less than incorruptable, it seems the Alpha Lanterns remain active in the build-up to Blackest Night. Kraken has thus far been absent from the War of Light, but if I'm not mistaken, her current status remains uncertain.

It seems a given that Season 2009 will no end with Kraken in the top spot, but as we draw ever closer to the official July launch of Blackest Night, the relevance of the Green Lantern Corps continues to forecast dominance for the group. If not Kraken, it could very well be the Corpsman she framed, Hal Jordan, who ascends to the top of the Infinite Wars rankings.

#2 Batman (-) (37) (DC)
Battles: [43] Last Opponent: [Kraken]
Win Percentage: [72.1%] Cumulative: [#1]
2006: [#1] 2007: [#2] 2008: [#1]

Batman holds second spot, despite being uncharacteristically grounded from competition in the Infinite Wars.
While the character remains in constant print thanks to titles such as Superman/Batman, Trinity, and Batman Confidential, he remains in canonical limbo after succumbing to the "Omega Sanction" at the conclusion of Final Crisis.

Not since primary school has Saturday morning been as significant to me as it is now with the airing of Batman: The Brave and the Bold. The delightful cartoon contributes another point of consistent relevance for the timeless character, despite his apparent disappearance to the characters of the DC Universe. Also representing the character in the crossmedia arena is Batman: Arkham Asylum, the much-hyped video game coming soon with a story by Paul Dini, and voices supplied by various members of the cast of the 1990's animated series.

To the sport of the Infinite Wars, we know that Batman simply won't have the dominance he's had in previous years. That said, as we chip further into 2009, we're also seeing a trend that has left the competition wide open to any character who should rise to prominence. Battle for the Cowl promises the ascension of another character, perhaps Dick Grayson, into the mantle, but if any kind of confrontation between student and mentor should occur, Batman might yet swoop in at the end of the year to seize dominance. At the same time, Silver Age icons like Hal Jordan and Barry Allen seem like the names to beat.

#3 Flash (-) (3) (DC)
Battles: [4] Last Opponent: [Wood King]
Win Percentage: [100%] Cumulative: [#29]
2006: [DNR] 2007: [#38] 2008: [#63]

Speaking of the heroes to beat -- Barry Allen's surprise return in the pages of Final Crisis finally gets a follow-up! Flash: Rebirth officially gets under way this month, setting the classic hero up for a position at the very top of the ranks come the end of 2009.

What's in store for the speedster upon his return remains to be seen, but he is running headlong into a Blackest Night that will see the resonating return of several other deceased heroes who are much less fortunate than he. Along with Green Lantern, he has to be the money favourite to take 2009, but that might rest on the Infinite Wars' ability to remain financially focused on now.

#4 Sonny Sumo (-) (2) (DC)
Battles: [1] Last Opponent: [Megayakuza]
Win Percentage: [100%] Cumulative: [#145]
2006: [DNR] 2007: [DNR] 2008: [DNR]

More leftovers from the excitement of Final Crisis, I can only ask a question in reference to our #4 -- where in time is Sonny Sumo?!

Arguably the most exciting find of 2008, the obscure Forever People character inspired the imaginations of thousands of readers counting down the Final Crisis. Unfortunately, some of the controversy of the story's winding narrative and layout experiments came to envelope any and all attention. In the debate, Sonny Sumo seems to have slipped through the cracks, just like he did to arrive in our time.

The Final Crisis Aftermath comes down in May with the release of four six-issue mini-series. Escape, Dance, Ink, and Run!, all follow the exploits of some of the lesser known characters that were featured in Final Crisis, including Grant Morrison's pop-enfused Japanese Forever People-inspired youth heroes, the Super Young Team (who star in Dance). With any luck, Sonny Sumo will find his way into that particular series, because it would simply be a travesty for the character to return to the obscurity from whence he came. Given that the title will be written by Morrison pal and receptive conceptualist, Joe Casey, here's hoping!

#5 Kung Lao (-) (3) (Midway)
Features: [1] Last Opponent: [Shang Tsung]
Win Percentage: [100%] Cumulative: [#245]
2006: [DNR] 2007: [DNR] 2008: [DNR]

With a growing list of contenders forming an orderly line behind the little known historic predecessor to his MKII counterpart, it seems this might be the "Great" Kung Lao's last hurrah.

Mortal Kombat featured prominently on the Infinite Wars in 2008, including interviews with creative staff involved in the production of Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe. That literal comics crossover provided a strong path, but as any reader will have seen, I myself am a dedicated fan of the franchise. Maligned for it's deep rooting in unadmirable trends from the 1990's; MK possesses far more moxy than it's given credit for.

The success of characters that finished the year in our Top Ten ranks might look like a black mark against Season 2008, and Kung Lao's persistence in our 2009 ranks reiterates that. I hope, however, that rather than looking like fish out of water, this can be a testament to the canon and characters of the franchise.
I would be terribly disappointed if Mortal Kombat were to end with the whimper that MKvsDC wound up being. These characters really would be at home in a comic book series. As the writer/publisher behind Nite Lite Theatre, I've often dreamed of the opportunity to realise a sequential version of the MK canon, and while it's very unlikely that I will be in a position to achieve that, I'd take some solace in the thought that MK might get such a treatment through DC.

As tumultuous a ride as it's been for the franchise, I really think fans deserve another game. A game that lives up to the expectations that are so often left unfulfiled. It seems achievements are restricted to specific areas unique to a release, and often that's been attributed to a rushed production. MKvsDC itself suffered from a drastically undersized cast, disappointing story, and underwhelming presentation. If MK does find a home elsewhere, it would be nice to see someone foster the opportunity for a rebirth akin to 2002's Deadly Alliance, albeit with a production time less abbreviated.

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POINTS
[277/2402]
[036/0857]
[019/0188]
[005/0511]
[005/0437]
[003/1476]
[002/1484]
[000/1745]
[000/1740]
[000/1740]
[000/1740]
[000/1533]
[000/1530]
[000/1378]
[000/1176]
[000/1094]
[000/0882]
[000/0205]
[-02/1575]
[-02/1540]
[-03/1885]
[-03/1166]
[-03/0846]
[-04/1988]
[-05/1961]
[-07/1413]
[-07/1086]
[-08/1386]
[-09/1865]TEAMS
#1 (+18) Sinestro Corps
#2 (--) Justice League
#3 (+2) Secret Avengers
#4 (+12) Justice Society
#5 (-1) Green Lantern Corps
#6 (+21) Shadaloo
#7 (-6) Dark Illuminati
#8 (-1) Birds of Prey
#9 (-1) Shadow Cabinet
#10 (-1) Thunderbolts
#11 (-1) Super Young Team
#12 (--) Shadowpact
#13 (-2) Guardians of the Galaxy
#14 (-13) Interpol
#15 (-9) MI:13
#16 (-2) Outsiders
#17 (new) The Titans
#18 (-3) Fantastic Four
#19 (new) Teen Titans
#20 (+6) Uncanny X-Men
#21 (-18) Legion of Superheroes
#22 (-2) Dark Avengers
#23 (-6) Astonishing X-Men
#24 (-3) X-Force
#25 (-7) Secret Six
#26 (-1) Special Forces
#27 (-4) Earthrealm Defenders
#28 (-6) Mighty Avengers
#29 (-5) Lady Liberators2009 Fantasy League...
For those who came in late: last year various readers drafted characters into a fanatsy league team which accumulated points based on features on the site, and spotlights in the weekly shipping list.

This year, rather than subject actual human beings to the soul crushing inconsistency of our statistics, we're using teams inspired by the comics themselves! The company's print groups battle it out for our amusement month to month in this highly pointless game.

Month three hands victory to overall Fantasy League leader - the Sinestro Corps! The Yellow fear Lanterns are front and centre in the War of Light that pits Green Lantern stalwarts against several armies of newly emerging Corps, each representing different emotive responses on the colour spectrum. Internal struggle in the Yellow group saw Mongul dominate his counterpart to secure victory for the overall team. This clash no doubt will be a part of the events yet to unfold, as well as point-grabbing squabbles that will inevitably be sponsored by Sinestro's arrival on the planet Daxam, ready to oppose Mongul in his conquest of the Sinestro Corps and collection of rings.

The Justice League and Secret Avengers reaffirm themselves as power players as they charge up the rankings, building atop heavy costs incurred by high ranking players. Last week's representative JLA trades give them an overall score boost to go along with a solid second-ranking response mined from a quiet month.

Moderate losses were the dominant reaction to March's modest card of 2009 battles. As the Infinite Wars dip one month behind, the trimmings have been cut in an effort to bring the site back up to date. This has meant a simple schedule of Friday fights that offer sparse shifts in the cumulative rankings.

This month we only see cause for a single trade, based upon the revelation that Fatality has defected to the love wielding violet light of the Star Sapphires, relinquishing her yellow Sinetro ring. March inductee, Arkillo, replaces her.
In coming months we can expect a reshuffle of the Justice League (based on a new line-up in a spin-off mini-series), and the induction of the Black Lanterns. That particular group already counts Superman, Martian Manhunter, Aquaman, and possibly Superboy, among their number, but will need five figures to round a team. Presumably those reveals will come closer to the July Blackest Night series.

Substitutions & Additions:
Sinestro Corps: Fatality (out) Arkillo (in) [Ttl: 2422]

This year, the basic set-up is a little different.
Teams start with an allowance of 3515 points; five times value of the top ranked character. Five characters suitable to the team are drafted at a cost derived from their cumulative ranking at the end of Season 2008. 720 characters, means #1 is worth 720pts, working downward to #715, valued at 1pt. This new rule not only offers an immediate reflection of value, but handicaps league leaders.
This year, unranked characters will cost 355pts, a fraction over mid-range.

Subsequent points are awarded based on results throughout the month.
25pts for a win, 7pts for an assist, 5pts for a loss, and 10pts for a draw.
Additional bonuses of 5pts are awarded for spotlights in the shipping list, and other articles sporradically featured throughout the site. As with last year; the final contributor to monthly scores is the cumulative super stock, which will provide literal additions and substractions to reflect the movement in ranking.

Due to the ever changing landscape of superheroics, and characters who hold membership with multiple groups, we will attempt to maintain a delicate balance between accuracy and suitability. Again encouraging some sense of interactivity, it is strongly encouraged for readers to use the comments section to suggest appropriate trades, and/or the inclusion of new teams.

To make the Fantasy League more managable, there may be a culling process in the future months, that eliminates some teams. Once again, be encouraged to make your thoughts on the subject known in the comments section.

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Super Stock: Cumulative Rankings...
For those coming in late: the Infinite Wars was founded on a concept of reviewing superhero comics through the battles displayed within.
Results are tallied to form both annual rankings, and a cumulative tally.
These rankings bare no concrete value, but provide fun with lists and statistics on the site. The following reflects the months changes in the cumulative ranks.

MONGUL
Year One: [1995]
Season 2009: [#14]
Last Opponent: [Arkillo]
The Sinestro Corps War was one of the highlights of 2007. Now, Blackest Night promises to reinspire the invigorated franchise in ways reminiscent of it's Rebirth revival. Mongul plays an intriguing role by struggling for control of the Sinestro Corps, which saw him recently dominate rival Corpsman, Arkillo! Shooting up the ranks, Mongul is a villain to watch in 2009!

WONDER WOMAN
Year One: [1941]
Season 2009: [#13]
Last Opponent: [Cheetah]
Wonder Woman proves her power with an impressive win over arch-nemesis and Infinite Wars favourite villain, Cheetah, reiterating her value to DC's powerful franchise Trinity. WW continues to face overwhelming odds as the gods themselves war over the Amazon's fates!

GREEN LANTERN
Year One: [1959]
Season 2009: [#28]
Last Opponent: [Wood King]
Hal Jordan is one to watch in 2009 as the Green Lantern franchise continues to build toward the exciting July event of the Blackest Night. It's Prelude is already contructing a War of Light between the various coloured factions, while Hal Jordan struggles with a persona that is attracting the attentions of each emotive Corps on the spectrum. Will he be saviour, or when the Black Lanterns rise, is his fate sealed?

NIGHTWING
Year One: [1940]
Season 2009: [#20]
Last Opponent: [Hush]
The former Boy Wonder is the favourite to walk away as a new Batman after Battle for the Cowl. Nightwing has had a rough time of it in the three-issue mini, but that struggle seems likely to be the acid test for a hero who destined to succeed his mentor. Bruce Wayne sits coiled for a return sometime in the future, but with several titles launching in place of the traditional Batman, 2009 might be Nightwing's time to strike!

SUB-MARINER
Year One: [1939]
Season 2009: [NR]
Last Opponent: [Nazi Party]
Marvel's 70th anniversary celebrations have unleashed the Prince of the Deep on a Marvel Universe in the grip of a Dark Reign. Sub-Mariner defected from the Illuminati to recall his Supervillain Team-Up days by joining up with "the Cabal" -- a group loyal to Norman Osborn, and containing fellow monarch, Dr. Doom. Despite this dark acquaintance, Namor remains an active hero, appearing in a multitude of titles, including upcoming stories featuring a "Dark X-Men." The classic Golden Age anti-hero is more present than ever, and could be the dark horse of '09!1. Batman (-) (DC)
2. Spider-man (-) (M)
3. Iron Man (-) (M)
4. Superman (-) (DC)
5. Hulk (-) (M)
6. Wolverine (-) (M)
7. Captain America (-) (M)
8. Mr. Fantastic (-) (M)
9. Daredevil (-) (M)
10. Thing (-) (M)
13. Wonder Woman (+2) (DC)
14. Luke Cage (-1) (M)
16. Sub-Mariner (-) (M)
17. Ryu (-) (C)
19. Flash (-) (DC)
21. Shang Tsung (-) (Mid)
27. Green Lantern (-) (DC)
28. Nightwing (-) (DC)
29. Flash (-) (DC)
30. Phantom (-) (KFS)
32. Martian Manhunter (-) (DC)
33. Green Lantern (-) (DC)
40. Robin (-) (DC)
41. Black Canary (-) (DC)
45. Captain America (-) (M)
50. Ken Masters (-) (C)
53. Aquaman (-) (DC)
55. Red Hood (-) (DC)
59. Dr. Doom (-) (M)
68. Green Lantern (-) (DC)
73. Powergirl (-) (DC)
84. Green Lantern (-) (DC)
93. Dr. Strange (-) (M)
100. Bullseye (-) (M)
107. Flash (-) (DC)
127. Black Mask (-) (DC)
136. Ganthet (-) (DC)
137. Sayd (-) (DC)
150. Tally Man (-) (DC)
157. General Zod (-) (DC)
177. Superman (-) (DC)
179. The Hood (-) (M)
186. Jin Kazama (-) (N)
200. Apocalypse (-) (M)
208. Green Lantern (-) (DC)
217. Green Lantern (-) (DC)
227. Green Lantern (-) (DC)
249. Rorschach (new) (DC)
250. Colossus (-1) (M)
264. Sinestro (-1) (DC)
266. Superboy (-1) (DC)
294. Mongul (+252) (DC)
298. Spider-man (-2) (M)
300. Scarecrow (-2) (DC)
310. Solomon Grundy (-2) (DC)
319. Cheetah (-3) (DC)
341. Spot (new) (M)
350. Granny Goodness (-3) (DC)
400. Squire (-3) (DC)
423. Lady Bullseye (new) (M)
430. Vulture (-4) (M)
450. Hyena (-4) (DC)
500. Shrinking Violet (-3) (DC)
510. Harry Osborn (-3) (M)
550. Hammer (-2) (DC)
564. Black Hand (-2) (DC)
600. Nighthawk (-2) (M)
650. Li Mei (-2) (Mid)
678. Rulk (-2) (M)
682. Moloch (new) (DC)
683. Arkillo (new) (DC)
684. Sabretooth (-4) (M)
690. Bane (-4) (DC)
700. Jocasta (-4) (M)
709. Kingpin (-248) (M)
713. Iron Patriot (-5) (M)
716. Zangief (-5) (C)
717. Quicksilver (-5) (M)
718. Magneto (-5) (M)
719. Dan Hibiki (-5) (C)
720. Lizard (-5) (M)

---

- Mike Haseloff; War Monger-in-Chief
You're a true warrior, Alex!

February Hit Count: [12328/210883]* (-2.77%)
* Hitcount reflects some content dated February.

SPIDER-MAN versus THE SPOT
Marked (Marvel)
Where: Amazing Spider-man #589 When: May 2009
Why: Fred Van Lente How: Paulo Siqueira

The Story So Far...
Recruited into a crack team assembled to penetrate the domain of the Infinicide; the Spot ultimately betrayed his employer, MODOK, to serve the interests of The Mandarin! In an ironic twist of fate, Spot's capacity for treachery led Mandarin to use his mystic rings to entrap Spot in one of his own black portals, preventing another betrayal.

Thrust into the subspacial realm of the dark dimension without his intending, the Spot was trapped, unable to locate any viable point of exit. Lost in a maze of black portals, Dr. Jonathan Ohnn was driven to the brink of madness by his predicament. Unsuccessful in his attepts to make contact with others in the criminal fraternity, his only saving grace became the hope of being reunited with his son.

The father's goal was enough to finally lead him to freedom, but his return to the world led to the grim discovery that his son was now in a coma. After learning of the Russian mob's responsibility in his son's accident, the still unstable villain now turned his determination to exacting vengeance upon the guilty.

While the Spot hunts the hitmen who accidentally struck down his son; Peter Parker struggles to protect his Aunt May, whose charitable organization for the homeless has become the victim of the Russian mobster's protection racket.
With their paths on a collision course, Spot and Spider-man clash once again!

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Spider-man 5 (Superhuman)
Intelligence: Draw 5 (Professor)
Speed: Spider-man 4 (Olympian)
Stamina: Spider-man 5 (Cat-like)
Agility: Spider-man 5 (Average)
Fighting Ability: Spider-man 3 (Street Wise)
Energy Power: Draw 2 (Projectiles)


- A bite from a radioactive spider should have killed highschool nerd, Peter Parker, but instead it would irradiate his own blood, granting him extraordinary powers.

After turning to a life of profit, Peter is inspired to use his gifts for the greater good when his decision to allow a burglar to escape leads to the murder of his adopted parent and uncle, Ben Parker. Ben's sage-like advice, "with great power comes great responsibility", becomes a mantra for Parker as he becomes Spider-man!

Over the years his exploits as Spidey earn him a multitude of powerful enemies. Among his most lethal foes are: Green Goblin, Dr. Octopus, Vulture, Chameleon, Kingpin, Jackal, Kraven the Hunter, Venom, Carnage, Sandman, Rhino, Lizard, Electro, and many more. Fortunately for Spidey, he finds himself in good stead with as many heroes as he does villains, eventuating in official membership with Captain America's Avengers, later known as the Secret Avengers.

Spider-man possesses the proportional strength, speed, and agility of a spider. Adding to his arsenal is a precognitive spider-sense that warns him of pending danger. Self-made mechanical webshooters round out Spidey's abilities, allowing him to ensnare opponents in a variety of modes; travel through the city by web-line; and form basic constructs based on the available quantities of his own formula of web-fluid.

- Working as a scientist for Wilson Fisk, Dr. Jonathan Ohnn fell upon a fate that would transform him forever. Whilst researching the radiations that facilitate the powers of Cloak, Ohnn accidentally replicated them, only to become bonded with the energies of an alternate form of interdimensional perception when a blackout threatened to negate his results. Covered in white and black, the scientist would become The Spot, launching himself into villainous infamy with the ability to use his black spots as portals to transport himself, or others, through space.

Math: Spider-man Ranking: Spider-man (#2)

What Went Down...
On a barge in Red Hook, the Spot slices and chokes his way through the members of rival mobs, killing toward the man responsible for his son's coma. When a black portal opens before Dmitri Ivankov, the Russian mobster stands alone.

Too slow to save the other crooks, Spidey swings in to save Ivankov with a kick that knocks the Spot from his hovering portal. Spidey follows with a strong right hook, but before he can tangle further with his foe, he vanishes through a portal!

Ivankov begs for Spider-man's protection, but when the hero offers an ultimatum that depends on his testifying against fellow underworld figures, the mobster scoffs the web-slinger. Trusting Spidey's better nature, the mobster successfully banks on being saved despite his resistance, but his assumptions depend on the wall crawler's ability to anticipate an opponent capable of evading his spider-sense through interdimensional travel!

Spot returns, emerging suddenly from a portal on the very wall Spider-man is climbing! With a simple hook, he sends the mobster hurtling helplessly into a fatal descent, but leaps after him to ensure a grim finish.

When Spidey plucks the criminal out of the Spot's reaches, the villain unleashes a multi-pronged assault, throwing a barrage of punches and kicks directly at Spidey through a series of "spot" portals. After securing Ivankov, Spider-man is able to catch one of the Spot's punches, only to be dragged into the dimensional pocket realm by his white and black assailant!

Concerned by the new lethal approach of the Legion of Loser alumnist, Spidey looks for a knock-out blow, but instead finds himself on the receiving end!

Staggered by his own punch, Spidey stumbles backward into a portal that sends him falling back into the real world. Landing on his back, Spider-man watches Spot emerge from a portal to capture Ivankov, but is quick enough to spring back to life to intervene - plucking the web-shackled mobster out of the air!

With the proportionate strength of a spider, Spider-man punches through a hull door to see daylight, but is caught in one of the Spot's materializing portals just as he attempts to leap to freedom! Disoriented, he loses Ivankov whilst slinging a web to stabalize himself. It's enough for Spot to capitalize!

The villain tosses the mobster into another portal that opens in the clouds high above the space needle in Seattle! Another last minute sling of a web saves Ivankov from certain doom, the web-line snagging him blind, by the foot!

Steadfast in his dedication to saving a life, Spider-man webs himself to the Russian with a declaration of his dedication. Finally the mute Spot pauses, reaching into one of his spots to extract a package addressed to his son!
With that, the villain retreats as suddenly as he had attacked, leaving Spider-man to seek justice by his terms instead. Spidey delivers the package, a treasured copy of Treasure Island gifted from father, to son, long ago.

The Hammer...
It was a hard fought battle, but in the end, the conclusion leads me to believe this can only be described as a draw. Not a bad result, given Spot's spotted past. Haw!

Despite the team only appearing in a single issue of Spectacular Spider-man [#246]; the Spot has come to be best known as a member of the Legion of Losers.
Yes, he's one of those villains. Ripe for mockery because he has a silly name and persona; I wonder if this might not be down to unfair press. I mean, come on, look at some of the greatest villains in comic history!... Okay, maybe not. It was, however, a bit of a thrill to come across a stand-alone issue that focused on the character's exploits.

A sense of imbalance was among the most disappointing qualities of the recent Brand New Day revamp of the Spidey-universe. While this fresh start was supposed to open new doors for the classic hero, it ultimately became an uncomfortable weekly wrestle between ham-fisted new villains, and heavy references to famous periods of the past.

Fortunately, a year later, Amazing Spider-man seems to have fully adjusted to the new status quo. Granted, we don't really ever seem to be seeing anything that couldn't have been done with Mary-Jane still in the picture, but the spider-marriage is as much a non-issue to the quality of stories, as it is an affront to the forty years of Spider-man history. Ahem.

Shift based tenure for creative teams means there's notable difference in approach to each story, even if the overall direction of the series is guarded by a brainstrust of influences. After jumping back in with Marc Guggenheim (and John Romita Jr) with relative success [#585], I couldn't help but notice the differences in approach to Spider-man/Peter Parker. I don't know if "subtle" is a word I'd use to describe Guggenheim's version, but the Van Lente script features dialogue that doesn't quite feel right for the famed quipster.
A lengthy running gag referring to Christian Bale's performance as Batman stood out as particularly puzzling. As much as popculture references have come to be part of the Spider-man lexicon, it was a series of sequences that didn't feel at all motivated by the scenes, or quite in line the humor of the character.

The cat and mouse of the fight was a great chance to explore the Spot's powers, and definitely points to some solid plotting. I hope these appearances can begin a larger role for the Spot, reminding us how deadly a villain he could be if ever motivated to rise above his own petty character flaws. As a fan of the old idea of an urban criminal eco-system, I even like the idea of just knowing the Spot might be hanging around, ready to clash or team-up with other forces in NYC.

Paulo Siqueira brings a different kind of energy to Spider-man than Romita, not quite as refined, but pleasantly reminiscent of Todd McFarlane in both the design of his Spider-man, and the sequences of action. It's the kind of throwback that I wouldn't want to see on a regular basis, but can really enjoy in short bursts.

In the bigger picture, most will now know all about J. Jonah Jameson's victory in the New York City mayoral battle. In a concept that very well should've happened long ago, Spidey's biggest detractor enters a position of power which promises to set up a variety of obstacles, some apparently including Mac Gargan!
I'll be looking very forward to that, as well as the appearance of more of those classic Spidey villains, which is something we've been promised in 2009.

The Fight: 4 The Issue: 4
Winner: Draw

Amazing Spider-man is published three times weekly, but alas, there is not yet any trade collection of this very recent issue. You'll find plenty of other trades, however, in the Infinite Wars Amazonian Gift Shoppe, where collections featuring most issues reviewed in the Secret Archives are waiting to be purchased. By using Amazon links provided on the site, you help sponsor future reviews!

SHIPPING LIST: MARCH 25, 2009
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.

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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.

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The Independents...
JAN092389 AMBER ATOMS #2 $3.50
NOV082224 AMERICAN JESUS TP VOL 01 CHOSEN (MR) $9.99
JAN094060 CAPED #1 (OF 4) $3.99
JAN094123 DEATH DEFYING DEVIL #4 $3.50
DEC084168 PHANTOM GHOST WHO WALKS #1 SY BARRY CVR $3.99
JAN092404 SPAWN #190 $2.95
JAN094473 STREET FIGHTER II TURBO #5 CRUZ CVR A $3.95
FEB094404 TICK THE COMPLETE EDLUND TP (O/A) $35.00
JAN090109 UMBRELLA ACADEMY DALLAS #5 (OF 6) $2.99
JAN090103 USAGI YOJIMBO #119 $3.50

The Corporates...
JAN092492 AVENGERS INITIATIVE FEATURING REPTIL #1 $3.99
JAN090182 BATMAN BATTLE FOR THE COWL COMMISSIONER GORDON #1 $2.99
JAN092500 CAPTAIN AMERICA #48 $2.99
JAN092471 DARK REIGN ELEKTRA #1 (OF 5) DKR $3.99
JAN092512 IMMORTAL IRON FIST #24 $2.99
JAN092483 INCREDIBLE HERCULES #127 DKR $2.99
JAN090284 MADAME XANADU #9 (MR) $2.99
JAN098011 PLANETARY #1 SPECIAL EDITION $1.00
JAN090190 SUPERMAN #686 $2.99
JAN092490 WAR MACHINE #4 DKR $2.99
JAN090219 WONDER WOMAN #30 $2.99
JAN092540 X-FORCE CABLE MESSIAH WAR PROLOGUE XMW $3.99

The Spotlight...
- JAN092462 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #589 $2.99
2009 has given us an opportunity to put the atrocity of One More Day behind us, and begin the healing process. Fortunately for us, this hasn't been a one-way street. Over the past six months, or more, Marvel's Spider-Offices have clearly been revising the formula to reincorporate many familiar faces into the pages of Amazing, without necessarily retreading previous ground. Our last taste was #585, and with the return of Spot, #589 will very probably be our next! Legendary loser? Don't be ridiculous! The Spot might look a little ridiculous, but he's a lethal foe in the traditional sense!

- JAN090240 BATMAN THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #3 $2.50
For the first time in years I have a reason to be up with the sun on Saturday mornings! Batman: The Brave and the Bold has all the hallmarks of something utterly offensive to the modern Batman fan, and yet, with it's quirky references, no holds barred guest stars, and genuine enthusiasm for the source material, it's impossible to resist it's charms! a Golden Age garbed Green Arrow has proven to be an enjoyable regular on the show, and I have no reason to doubt that at $2.50, their adventures couldn't be just as enjoyable in print!

- JAN092503 DAREDEVIL #117 $2.99
After last issue's framing of the Kingpin's state of mind, you'd be some kind of madman not to want to see what happens when he finds his way back to New York City! Lady Bullseye and the Hand have intended to stoke the fire of Wilson Fisk's rage, they have instead created an unholy union that will seek to destroy them! The Kingpin and Daredevil are fighting on the same side as Ed Brubaker brings his tenure on the series to an end with the promise of a shock ending before the hand over to Andy Diggle!

- JAN090205 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #31 $2.99
Several months after it's exciting conclusion, the aftermath of Final Crisis finally promises to be acknowledged in the pages of another book! Following on from Mary Marvel's appearances in recent issues of JSA; JLA tackles issues regarding the team's losses, most notably the apparent death of Batman. The unrelated expected departure of Superman for New Krypton also creeps in, along plans for an upcoming proactive League led by Hal Jordan and steered by the writing hand of James Robinson. It's unfortunate to see the team book in disarray again, so soon, but I find myself appreciating some of the metatextual references creeping in!

- JAN092464 NEW AVENGERS #51 DKR $3.99
With another pesky crossover out of the way, Bendis resumes his conceited effort to elevate The Hood to a higher status as a villain. This time the fall guy is Dr. Strange, who has been stripped of his title as Sorcerer Supreme due to various indiscretions over recent years. Dabbling in the dark arts (ie; during World War Hulk) have led him to relinquish the role, and now he's searching out a fitting heir to the throne. The Hood, Wiccan, Dr. Doom, Brother Voodoo, Scarlet Witch, Ghost Rider? Who will it be? I'm sure we'll find out after a few issues of dullard distraction...
At $3.99, you might wait for the actual conclusion.

- JAN090185 ORACLE #1 (OF 3) $2.99
Part of me really wants to assume this is going to be a great little mini-series, but with so many titles spawning out of the Battle for the Cowl era of Batman, I'm not sure I can do it. $2.99 is the right price for anyone braver than me. Oracle has been one of the most interesting characters in DC comics over the past few years, and I miss reading her supporting role in the various Bat-books (or JLA). Honestly, though, I'd probably rather have Birds of Prey back in action, than invest in a solo book. Fingers crossed she doesn't miraculously regain the use of her legs, and/or an inclination to be Batgirl.

READ THE PREVIEW - VISIT THE SITE - BUY THE COMIC
Know Your Trade...
NOV082224 AMERICAN JESUS TP VOL 01 CHOSEN (MR) $9.99
JAN092582 AVENGERS PREM HC HAWKEYE $24.99
DEC080158 CHECKMATE CHIMERA TP $17.99
JAN092604 DAREDEVIL TP LADY BULLSEYE $16.99
NOV080175 FLASH ARCHIVES HC VOL 05 $49.99
JAN092573 IMMORTAL IRON FIST PREM HC VOL 04 MORTAL IRON FIST $19.99
JAN092568 MMW X-MEN TP VOL 01 $24.99
JAN092584 OFF HB MARVEL UNIV A TO Z PREM HC VOL 07 $24.99
DEC080186 SECRET HISTORY OF THE AUTHORITY HAWKSMOOR TP $19.99
DEC080165 SHOWCASE PRESENTS AMBUSH BUG TP VOL 01 $16.99
DEC082276 TED MCKEEVER LIBRARY HC VOL 03 METROPOL $39.99
FEB094404 TICK THE COMPLETE EDLUND TP (O/A) $35.00

MONGUL versus ARKILLO
Emerald Eclipse: Part Two (DC)
Where: Green Lantern Corps #34 When: May 2009
Why: Peter J Tomasi How: Patrick Gleason

The Story So Far...
With the resurrection of the fallen Green Lantern, Hal Jordan, a new era began for the intergalactic Corps. Absolved of his crimes by the reveal of a fear mongering entity called Parallax, Jordan resumed his role as champion of willpower, once again wielding the green ring.

Alongside the Corps' return came the arrival of Sinestro from obscurity. As vengeful as ever, the fallen Lantern once again sought to bedevil his nemesis with the yellow ring he obtained during his exile in the anti-matter universe of Qward. However, his latest defeat would lead Sinestro to recruit others to his cause, resulting in the creation of a yellow fear-wielding Corps that was the Green's opposite -- the Sinestro Corps!

Programmed to seek fitting candidates who inspire fear in each sector, the yellow rings spread across the galaxy just as the green had. The character of those who would deserve position amongst the Sinestro Corps is very different, however. The vile and sinister congregate to Sinestro's cause, but the one called Mongul seeks only personal gain from the ring and it's limitless power. With a Qwardian ring obtained from a dying Sinestro Corpsman, he marches against the Sinestro Corps, demanding all follow him, or surrender their lives and rings. One patron refuses his rule, however, and so it is that on the planet Daxam, Arkillo fights!

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Mongul 6 (Invincible)
Intelligence: Mongul 4 (Tactician)
Speed: Draw 3 (Athlete)
Stamina: Draw 6 (Generator)
Agility: Draw 2 (Average)
Fighting Ability: Mongul 6 (Martial Artist)
Energy Power: Draw 7 (Cosmic)


- The son of a being from the planet Arkymandryte, Mongul is the inheritor of his father's name and legacy upon his death. Despite his father's death coming about as a result of his Earthbound machinations; Mongul's first appearance on the planet comes about during the incursion of a powerful entropic being called Imperiex. In an effort to strike back at the creature that destroyed his artificial kingdom of Warworld, Mongul trains and teams with his father's arch-nemesis, Superman.

After appearing to perish in the Our Worlds at War saga, Mongul returned to Sector 2814 to menace the Justice League in the debris of their satellite watchtower, this time as an enemy.
After killing his sister to eradicate all weakness in himself, Mongul came in to possession of a yellow Qwardian power ring after finishing an agent of the Sinestro Corps.
Wielding a ring of Sector 2811, Mongul begins a quest to collect multiple rings as his own, forcing any Corpsman he encounters to serve him, or die. The limitless powers of the fear rings compliment his own impressive invulnerability, strength, ability to channel concussive force, and mobility via teleportation.

- From the jungles of the planet Coristeel, Arkillo is the Sinestro Corpsman of Sector 674. The carnivorous powerhouse that once ruled the jungle was among Sinestro's first recruits into his Yellow Lantern Corps of fear.
Serving as a drill instructor to potential members of the Corps, Arkillo is among the most senior members under the group's founder. He wields his yellow ring and innate super strength to crush the spirits of those who refuse to know fear.

Math: Draw Ranking: Mongul (#547)

What Went Down...
On the planet Daxam; Mongul powers through the streets sending much smaller citizens scattering to their deaths as he pursues his foe, Arkillo, reeling from the force of his blow. Structures collapse beneath the powerhouse as he toppls, but even as Mongul delivers a devestating right hand to his falling opponent, Arkillo is plotting his next move!

Having reached out to a nearby flagpole during his fall, Arkillo clutches the broken off metal shaft. In his hands, it becomes a deadly weapon as he drives the pointed edge through Mongul's gut!

Though the wound might have finished any mere mortal, Mongul persist to shunt his attacker with an elbow to the head. The protruding impalement repeats it's purpose, allowing Mongul to stake himself to Arkillo like a giant Sinestro Corps shaslick! Joined at the hip, the pair tumble from their pedistal above Daxam!

Arkillo gnashes his jaws over his foe's head during the fall, while Mongul does his best to battle back and mount a defensive. The pole slips from their bodies as they careen amongst debris, before reaching a stop at the base of a mountain.

With a small army of Sinestro Corps onlookers gathering at the base, Arkillo rises above his nemesis. With the Sinestro Corps symbol of fear glowing from his ring, it seems the trainer from Sector 674 is victorious. Mongul rises, however, to disprove this assessment, taking a toppled Arkillo by the maw to rip the tongue from his large fanged mouth!

Bleeding profusely, Arkillo inadvertently kneels before Mongul, who clutches his bloodied tongue in one hand and asks for any other challengers to step forward.
By Arkillo's own terms he kneels before the monster he must recognise as the new leader of the Sinestro Corps, but somewhere across the gulf of space, the Corps' titular leader approaches to confront Mongul.

The Hammer...
With bloody results, we too must recognise Mongul, registering an impressive victory over an intriguing new induction into the Infinite Wars, in Arkillo.

Y'know, you might as well acknowledge Green Lantern Corps as an exciting new prospect introduced to the site, as well. The series, running alongside Geoff Johns' headlining work on Green Lantern, has proven itself to be far more than a simple tie-in to plot threads developing in the main book.

That's not to discount the relationship between GLC and events in the flagship book, of course.
In fact, in coming weeks, we're about to witness Geoff Johns tagging his popular antagonist, Sinestro, over to Peter Tomasi, in the interest of tackling the rising plot of leadership in the Sinestro Corps.

It's been storylines like these that have not only proven the value of a second Lantern title, but also gone lengths to greatly enhance the aspect ratio of an epic tale with a July deadline.

Geoff Johns' expansive model for a 'War of Light' arguably began with the first appearance of the Sinestro Corps, and subsequent event of the Sinestro Corps War. Since then, unveiling a procession of colourful Lanterns has been the writer's chief objective, lacing the prophecy created by Alan Moore, into retroactive, and
current, continuities that surround the sci-fi space-heroics of the Green Lantern.

With only a year-and-a-half to establish a universe of content before the forecast deadline of Blackest Night, most Johns pages have been focused primarily on checking off details, characters, and skinny moments of characterization. If there's a criticism of his exciting work, it's that so much of it has come abruptly.
GL Corps lightens the load, taking time to develop necessary plot threads, while also just lending a much larger context to the existence of creations and ideas that will be relevant to both the War of Light, and Blackest Night.

As an alternative, I'm almost inclined to say Green Lantern Corps is actually the better book. Without the preoccupation of a large goal, the series has been able to play with these concepts benefitting from work done elsewhere. This particular issue doesn't just feature Mongul, Arkillo, and the Sinestro Corps predicament, but also touches beautifully on Sodam Yat, Kyle Rayner, Soranik Natu, Kilowog, Guy Gardner, the new GL laws, and the GL prison. It's a beautifully balanced piece of writing that makes great economic use of writer/reader shorthand, and the expansive mythology we're all coming to understand. It has so much more personality for this, too, in ways that Geoff Johns' important work just hasn't seemed to allow for.

If we're going to pit the two books against one and other, I have to say the visuals of Green Lantern Corps are far more delicious than anything we've seen in the title book in quite some time. Ivan Reis is wonderfully efficient, but Patrick Gleason delivers a confident line with enough style to make it distinct, even though this is very much a mainstream superhero book. Rebecca Buchman (and Christian Alamy) deserve heaps of praise for their solid blacks on inks, while Randy Mayor provides colours incredibly complimentary to the work. In it's deviations to quieter moments (like a bathroom scene between Rayner and Natu), you could almost mistake this for an independent romance comic.

Reading both GL books in the lead up to Blackest Night is probably ideal.
Free Comic Book Day draws ever nearer and I don't doubt that every reader is going to want to get their hands on thirty-two pages of free, original comic book that sews the seeds for the mega event that's coming! While the event probably won't require you to have read everything before it, the image will be that much more vivid, and really, what are you reading right now that's better?

As a companion, I'm sure GL Corps is a deliciously minty refreshment.
Not only will it cleanse your palate after gorging on the construction materials of the Johns book, but it also promises it's own significant details. Just as it seems increasingly likely that Hal Jordan will find a way to channel the powers of all the spectrum as a super-duper White Lantern, so too does there seem to be a dark variant growing in Mongul. Though he currently possesses only multiple yellow rings, there is the promise of green and red, yet to come!

Will he be part of the ultimate solution to the War of Light/Blackest Night, or is he the evil Yin to Hal Jordan's triumphant Yang? It furthers the same metaphorical literal devices that are making each Corps instantly intriguing regardless of depth of characterization that accompanies their membership.

The Fight: 5 The Issue: 5.5
Winner: Mongul

This chapter of the Prelude to Blackest Night, Emerald Eclipse, is still underway, but if you're keen to get in on the War of Light, then you can preorder the hardcore edition through Amazon. You'll also find other great stories on offer in the Infinite Wars Amazonian Gift Shoppe, featuring collected editions of many issues reviewed in the Secret Archives, including those detailing the Sinestro Corps War! By using purchase links provided, you sponsor future entries, and Green light!