Mothra: Queen of the Monsters #1 Review!

A post-apocalyptic future with the defeat of Mothra in Mothra: Queen of the Monsters #1, but there is always hope that sisters, Emi and Mira, can save her! Mothra is one of the unique Kaiju clashing against Godzilla in Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964), before spinning out of her own movie, Mothra (1961). She was the only Kaiju to get a hit song “Song of Mothra” from the duo, The Peanuts. The Kaiju spun off to her own film trilogy that started with Rebirth of Mothra (1996). She had feathery anntenae instead of the floppy anttennae which is the form that is in this comic. Godzilla: Final Wars (2004) was Mothra's last appearancde in Godzilla films. Mothra even made into the MonsterVerse with Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019). The cover by interior artist, Matt Frank, has a large image of Mothra, a tiny version above her, and the faces of the two sisters turned away, with a circular silhouetted image of the two fairies. 

The alternate cover is by Sophie Campbell, the writer of the issue. The first issue is by the creative team of Sophie Campbell and Matt Frank. Campbell was the artist for IDW’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and wrote the title until #150 (2024). She provides two pages of artwork in the comic. The art is by Matt Frank who wrote and was the artist for Godzilla Rivals vs. Spacegodzilla #0 (2023). It begins with a large image of a Kaiju battle while the narrator says she hates Mothra! A red ant Kaiju, shades of Them! (1954), slams Mothra into a building, people are running from the battle and jets streak overhead. Terrific Kaiju chaos in one scene! The narrator, Mira, says Mothra “changed everything” for herself and her sister, Emi. We see them in red sweaters each held by their parents hands, nice perspective from the sisters’ pov. An explosion of dust and rubble knock her away. 

A closeup of the new Kaiju, Antra, with Mothra. Then, Mira is stunned holding the hand of her father crushed under wreckage! This makes me think of lil’ Mako in Pacific Rim (2013) and gives the emotional cost of the Kaiju battles. The battle resolves to Mira, tiny, looking upwards at the fight among the ruins. Mothra is pinned by Antra and its spawn begins swarming her. Mira says she she heard Mothra was Queen of the Monsters. A closeup of the drone’s fangs and then Mira’s eyes. The Antra drones begin feeding on Mothra! Then, a fade to black. It is “fifteen years later”, a shelf of stone figures has Mothra, to the side is Godzilla. The figure is knocked over by Mira, a young adult now, with a slingshot. She wears a white t-shirt, gloves, and her hair is in a ponytail. At the edge of her room is part of a poster for Jem and the Holograms, the 80’s cartoon, Campbell was the artist for the IDW comic! 

Mira leaves her home that is inside the skull of an Antra! She makes her way through the ruined city to find a can of goods at nearly empty shelves and escapes the Antra drones. She looks down at the dessicated remains of Mothra and blames her again. Mira is outside of her home with a campfire and she is approached by a figure with a backpack. Under the backpack flap are two glowing eyes and they have a conversation about telling everything to Mira. The cloaked figure approaches her and then pulls back the hood to reveal it is Emi! She hugs her sister and then tells her that she wants Mira to meet two beings. We see the glowing eyes of Mothra’s priestesses called Shobijin or the Cosmos in the film series. They have glowing eyes and the Mothra antennae, a new look for the fairies. Plus, their dialogue is in red word balloons, and I like the tangled points for them. 

This moves to a flashback filled with light colors; blues and pinks. Emi explains that they rescued her from Mothra’s battle with Antra. They call her “One who sings” and trained her. Emi wears a red priestess outfit. They were weak with the death of Mothra, but Emi has helped them with a song to start a new cycle for Mothra! They explain that Antra was created by the Earth, but went berserk, the priestesses say it is like an attack on its own immune system. Then, we see the body of Mothra bleeding from her wounds. The priestesses say that Mothra usually leaves an egg behind at the end of her life, but not this time, which will end the Earth! This returns to the dreary post-apocalypse with Emi happy that she had a magical dream that her sister was alive. She has white tatoos on her face and body, an interesting way to separate the sisters. 

They went to her because she has power like Emi and both of them can finish the song. Mira is not impressed and takes Emi away to speak in private. She has been surviving on her own. Emi says she thought Mira was dead and would have come after her even without Mothra. She says that things will get worse if Mira doesn’t help them. An Antra drone with a black-like coloration crawls above Emi! It starts to threaten them and Emi insists that they need the priestesses. Mira slips past the drone’s snapping jaws to find them. She collects the priestesses as the Antra drone crashes into the makeshift home. Mira sends a nail from her slingshot into the drone. She runs away, nice silhouette, as Mira pulls Emi away. They manage to hide from the Kaiju. Mira wonders what happen if she agrees and the priestesses say they will go back in time to find a Mothra egg! Emi is excited and wonders if they use the magic to save their parents, this is something like the Masters of the Universe (1987) film, Mira agrees to help. 

Eli has brought similar “sacred priestess garments” for her sister who doesn’t want to walk around without pants! Emi draws a circle and symbols, the priestesess say they will begin the song and the sisters will repeat the lyrics. Candles are lit with the priesttesses next to Emi. Mira joins sitting in the other direction. We get another Sophie Campbell page with the song lyrics with the sisters singing in prayer, the priestesses with a graphic design of the moth, and a portal opening. The sisters in silhouette enter and then we get a stunning two page spread in the “prehistoric era”! Mira and Emi overlook the vista, here is greenry, red Rodan-like pterandon flying, a winding river, and a crater of a volcano. Below it are some pterosarus soaring over the forest, reddish brontosaur-like dinos like Titanosaurus, and a spiky Anguirus-like beastie. An incredible lost world! Is there a Godzillasaurus down there? Mothra: Queen of the Monsters #1 has Kaiju battles, a post-apocalyptic world, and now dinosaurs all in a story of two sisters! 

Five Songs out of Five!   

#MothraQueenOfTheMonsters, #SophieCampbell, #MattFrank, #Mira, #Emi, #Priestesses, #MothraGemini, #Antra 

Aquaman #1 Review!

The status quo for Aquaman is broken in Aquaman #1 as he has new powers and is on a quest to find Mera, his daughter, and people! “The Rising Tide” is by Jeremy Adams with art by John Timms. Adams is also the co-writer of another All In title, Green Lantern Corps #1. Timms was the artist for Infinite Frontier #0 (2021). All In is the relaunch of DC titles that started with the All In Special (2024), “Alpha.” The flip book, “Omega”, also started the Absolute Universe. The regular cover by Timms has Aquaman with the hydrokinetic sword atop a shark that is apparently biting his symbol that also forms the background! There is a recap of what we know of Aquaman in a series of long panels. His birth with parents, Atlanna, and Thomas Curry standing by a lighthouse. Great artwork by Timms. 

Then, as a hero as he pulls an ocean liner with chains around him. It also has him as lover, with Mera, one of the early superhero romances since her introduction in Aquaman #11 (1963). He had married her recently in Aquaman #61 (2020). Then, we see him as king sitting on his throne with crown. A closeup of Aquaman’s blazing eyes with the narration that this is the story of the Dark Tide and Arthur Curry, the identity of Aquaman! This explodes to a two page title page that has Aquaman swinging his hydrokinetic sword against a tentacled kaiju beast. It looks like the face of Davy Jones from Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006). Aquaman is given the identity as the God Killer! This must be some unknown sea god threatening the world. Then, we get the “One year before” as part of the smoke trailing from a jet. 

The flight from Metropolis is crashing for some unknown reason and the pilot gives the mayday. The jet streaks over the Coast Guard boat, Neptune, as the captain races after it for rescue operations. Then, he cancels the orders after what he sees through his binoculars. We have a large panel of Aquaman leapsing from the sea above the Neptune, bearded, he does look like a seasoned hero. Arthur’s narration notes he’s back. A red haired woman looks out of the passenger window as Aquaman lands on the plane. Mera is there as he activates his new hydrokinesis, water powers. She is his mentor in teaching how to use the power that she had once owned. The power of the heroes was taken in the Absolute Power arc in 2024. 

Their powers got switched at the end of it. Aquaman having water powers reminds me of Just Imagine: Aquaman #1 (2002) by Stan Lee that had Ramon Raymond made of water! There is another two page spread as Aquaman lifts up the ocean water to lift the entire jet! Very cinematic, we have the jet with pilots foreshortened, Aquaman and Mera on top of it, and the burning engines sending up a cloud of smoke. The tsunami with the jet nears the cabin of the Neptune, the other officer panics, but the captain calmly orders the recovery of passengers. We see the plane now at rest wtih lifeboats taking on passengers with whales and orcas around it controlled I’m assuming by Mera’s new powers. The captain waves at Aquaman before he plunges into the sea. 

Next, swe get him swimming with Mera to Atlantis, this is a very techno look to the ancient city, less Little Mermaid. One of the Kingsguard greets hium and says that Jackson Hyde wants to see him. Jackson Hyde was introduced in comics in Brightest Day #4 (2010). The character, Kaldur’ahm, was Aqualad in the animated show, Young Justice. He first appeared as Aquaman in Future State: Aquaman #1 (2021). Arthur was made king again after the conflict with Amanda Waller in Absolute Power. Jackson mentions finding a “strange pearl.” The mysterious pearl, the Ocean Orb, first appeared in Flashpoint Beyond #1 (2022) used by Emperor Aquaman. He mentions that Garth says it is magical. This is Garth, the former Aqualad, introduced in Adventure Comics #269 (1960). He became the sorceror, Tempest, in Tempest #2 (1996). 

Jackson says he has a “bad feeling about it”, foreshadowing!, but Arthur says he can bring it up especially if he is in a meeting. He has at his side his infant daughter, Andrina, who later takes the name Andy. The first appearance of Aquawoman, Andy Curry, from the Future State world was in Generations Shattered #1 (2021). This complicated, interweaving of multiple issues and titles is kept going with the All In, main DC universe, which is all removed with call backs to the original characters in Absolute universe which I find refreshing. Still, Adams is able to keep the narrative going with just mentions of past events.  Next, we have Arthur as king settling disputes about seaweed farms and sharks intruding on boundaries, which is unusual after the disruption of Absolute Power. Tempest shows Aquaman, Mera, and Jackson the Ocean Orb. Then, it is back to arguments until Arthur is warned about trouble! 

We get a splash page of a monstrous demon made of water striking a building at Daytona, Florida. Good use of splash pages to make the comic dynamic while also keeping the rest of the narrative going without tiny panels. Aquaman leaps at the creature noting he had taken on a similar creature. Aquaman faced the water creature, The Flood, in The Drowned Earth storyline and it debuted in Justice League #8 (2018). It parts around his attack and then slams him flying toward a building! A little funny scene as an elderly couple finds Aquaman splattered in their bathroom. He leaps back into the battle. Again, he is struck to the beach, then Aquaman uses his hydrokinetic powers to contain the monster. A great circular panel as Aquaman separates the water creature from the sea and into a swirling mass. Then, it fades away, until Aquaman hears Mera’s voice calling his name! He races across the sea at his fastest speed, with his hydrokinesis, he could probably supersonic underwater speed, but a bright light bursts in front of him. 

Bubbles rise from Arthur’s startled facxe, Atlantis is gone, the city is missing almost down to its foundations. He turns and sees the Ocean Orb humming. At the Justicxe League Watchtower, Aquaman teleports in, and asks for Batman. The satellite was established in Justice League of America #78 (1970), but this is the new watchtower after Absolute Power. Firestorm answers that he is in the lab. Also, there in the background is Adam Strange with Black Canary talking to Steel. In the lab, Zatanna is using her magic to study the Ocean Orb as Aquaman explains what happened to Wonder Woman and Batman. Zatanna says to them that the pearl is “very ancient”, but can’t read it. She says it is hidden from magic, and says she found a “similar vibration.” At the location, Batman and Wonder Woman follow in a sub, kinda of cameos, they find a ringed gate encrusted with coral. Aquaman finds the pearl is glowing and humming again. The gate opens and Wonder Woman encourages Aquaman to enter it and find his people! The mystery may have some connection to the greater events of the All In universe! Aquaman #1 tests Arthur with his hydrokinetic powers that he may need to find Atlantis, Mera, and all of the people he has known! 

Four Hydrokinetic Swords out of Five! 

#Aquaman, #TheRisingTide, #JeremyAdams, #JohnTimms, #AthurCurry, #Atlanna, #ThomasCurry, #Mera, #JacksonHyde, #Tempest, #AndrinaCurry, #Batman, #WonderWoman, #Zatanna 

Star Wars: Unlimited Pack Opening and New Card Possiblities!

 Star Wars: Unlimited booster packs are surprises, pack after pack, and are ready to play with a few packs! In this case, it was my fourth pack of Spark of Rebellion, $4.99, the first set. The name comes from the 2014 two-part movie that was the premiere of Star Wars: Rebels; FC-RSoE. This has been named the Rebellion Era, Fantasy Flight Games has the board game, Star Wars: Rebellion (2016). So I think a perfect name for a set. The Star Wars: Unlimited booster pack has 16 cards with several levels of rarity starting with 9 common cards. It starts out with a leader, in this case, “Boba Fett: Collecting the Bounty”, 4/7, with art by French Carlomagno. He is standing guard outside of his ship. Fett has the ability, with his attack if an enemy is destroyed, ready 2 Resources, the bounty! The Base card was “Command Center: Death Star” wth 30 HPs. If you are going to have an Imperial base, you gotta have the Death Star! 

The units are basically soldiers with some features. The “Underworld Thug” card, 2/3, is a Hyperspace card. This is the special card that has full bleed art, the card artwork by Felipe Goncalves, does not have borders covering the artwork. I like the Nikto holding a Force Pike. Also part of the commons is “Chewbacca: Loyal Companion”, 3/6. Not the strongest attack compared to other soldier units, where’s the “Let the Wookie Win” card, with a +2/0? “Overwhelming Barrage” part of the 3 Uncommon cards, it gives a unit +2/+2 and then divides the damage to enemy units! You can clear out an opponent’s arena or weaken even their strongest unit! Next, “Sabine Wren: Explosive Artist”, 2/3, she looks like in Star Wars: Rebels with great art by Rebecca Farrow. She has the ability that 3 aspects like Rebel or Mandalorian, she can’t be attacked! On Sabine’s attack, she can gives 1 damage to unit or base, very explosive! 

Star Wars: Unlimited cards from a pack of Spark of Rebellion! 

It is great to have familiar characters like Chewbacca and Sabine in a pack. Then, there is “Agent Kallus: Seeking the Rebels”, 4/4, he is the 1 Rare Card. Kallus has Ambush, so he doesn’t come in Exhausted. He doesn’t have the aspect, Imperial Security Bureau, or Spy. The ISB was a concept from Star Wars: The Roelplaying Game (1987). Lastly, there was the “Chewbacca: Loyal Companion” card as a foil! Normally, I do not like foils, but as a bonus, it is great. So with a Leader and Base, you can build a deck, it also gives you the choice between different Leaders and Bases. Other games, require you to buy a Starter Deck, $34.99, or dozens of packs to build a playable deck. This makes the game playable and affordable. The starter decks feature 10 exclusive cards so if you want them and with all starters, want the range of two decks, 110 cards, counters, rules, playmats and deck boxes.  

 The biggest omission from the game is that there is no “Jek Porkins” or even “Porkins Manuever” card! Unusual with the Jump to Lightspeed set. It is unusual that there is no Bacta card, I imagine the game effect would be return character card from discard to hand. No “Chewbacca’s Bowcaster”? The other iconic Weapon is the “Thermal Detonator”, discard to discard a non-Leader unit. Where’s the “Blue Milk” card? Heal 1 HP? I would like to see an “Ondaconda Farr” card, Padme’s Rodian colleague, there should be an additonal diplomatic strategy in the game. Palpatine was playing that political game along with manipulating the Clone Wars. I hope there are The Ones from Mortis, a Location?, from the arc in season three of the Clone Wars.  Including The Son, The Daughter, and The Father cards with the “Mortis Dagger” Upgrade. They are from the “Overlords”, “Altar of Mortis”, and “Ghosts of Mortis” (2011) episodes, GL-CW15-17. Another arc is from The Lost Missions, season six with "Voices" (2014), GL-CW11. A “Voice of Qui-Gon Jinn”, Jedi is exhausted. Another Dagobah Location. Also, a “Qui-Gon Jinn: Force Ghost” card, gives a Jedi a Shield. A “Cave of Evil” Location, find Sith from deck to put in hand. 

The second episode of the arc is “Destiny”, GL-CW6/12. First, a "Wellspring of Life" Location, search deck for a Jedi card. “Five Force Priestesses”, gives a Shield to a Jedi. “Dark Side Shadow of Yoda”!, when defeated it gives Yoda an Experience token! “Valley of Extinction” Location, search discard for a Jedi card, if that Jedi is not defeated another Jedi gets -3/-3. “Sacrifice”; GL-CW6/13. I can see a “Morband” Location, with the keyword, Sith, maybe a game rule of searching for a “Dun moch”, domination of spirit, card which exhausts a Jedi! Then, a “Vision of Darth Bane” card which gives a Jedi -1/-1! Also a “Vision of Sifo-Dyas”, who exhausts a Sith! A “Sith Alchemy” card to capture a Jedi until a Sith is defeated! Some additions to the game; Teek from Ewoks: Battle for Endor EC-E2, he has yet to enter the current canon. I like the Hoojibs from the Star Wars comic. They are mentioned in Star Wars: Outlaws and current appearance as the Star Wars Adventures Annual 2021. Star Wars: Unlimited has great cards even from a single pack, high collectibility and game play, plus the potential for incredible cards in the future! 

#StarWarsUnlimited, #StarWarsRebels, #BobaFettCollectingTheBounty, #FrenchCarlomagno, #CommandCenterDeathStar, #UnderworldThug, #ChewbaccaLoyalCompanion, #OverwhelmingBarrage, #SabineWrenExplosiveArtist, #RebeccaFarrow, #AgentKallusSeekeingTheRebels, 

#JekPorkins, #PorkinsManeuver, #Bacta, #ChewbaccasBowcaster, #ThermalDetonator, #BlueMilk, #OndacondaFarr, #TheOnes, #TheSon, #TheDaughter, #TheFather, #MortisDagger, #Voices, #AltarOfMortis, #GhostsOfMortis, #Destiny, #WellspringOfLife, #FiveForcePriestesses, #DarkSideShadowOfYoda, #ValleyOfExtinction, #Sacrifice, #Morband, #DunMoch, #VisionOfDarthBane, #VisionOfSifoDyas, #SithAcademy, #Teek, #EwoksBattleForEndor, #Hoojibs 

Lorcana: Archazia’s Island at Downtown Disney!

The latest Lorcana set has dropped and there is a mighty change at the Downtown Disney store! It was on May 20 of last year that Ursula’s Return dropped for hobby stores. It was the fourth set that culminated the first arc for Lorcana which began with The First Chapter on August 18, 2023. At Pin Traders, the store that supplies Lorcana at Downtown Disney, early in the morning, the line extended from the security station. Then, it was a walk around the corner to Pin Traders, and the queue then wrapped in taped lines, but had filled up. The line continued across the other side next to the Lego Store and lasted about two hours! Next, it was about a half hour for the Pin Traders side and the product was running out! 

Pin Traders for the release of Archazia’s Island at Downtown Disney, author’s photo. 

The following set, Shimmering Skies, then released on August 9th during the Ultimate Disney Fan Event! The Lorcana booth had such crowds that the hallway of the convention center was blocked off! After a wait, I did get a wristband to return to the booth. Then, another line, but before entering the booth, we were given the promo, “Mickey Mouse - Playful Sorceror”, Enchanted so great effects for the card, and a large pin! At the booth was the new Shimmering Skies sets and the Disney Lorcana D23 Collection Box Set with the “Oswald - The Lucky Rabbit” card from the next set! I had other events to attend so I did not go to the release of Azurite Sea on November 15th. So today was interesting that there was not a line of people at the security station only two fans. Also, there wasn’t a massive queue at Pin Traders, about six and this became just a walk up about an hour later. 

I had seen photos of Lorcana sets at game stores and I had heard that the company, Ravensburger, was able to get enough product for distribution. So it was great to see playmats and all of the sets at Pin Traders. The characters have reached Archazia's Island, they find the "ancient Illumineer" called the Owl of the Azurite Sea, and find more secrets of Lorcana! The promo was an “Anna: Braving the Storm” card from Ursula’s Return that had a space for signing! This card was with any purchase, but ran out some time in the day. The new mechanic was Dual Ink that meshes with the starter decks like Ruby/Sapphire and Amethyst/Steel. One of the Dual Inks card, Amber/Emerald, “Lady - Miss Park Avenue.” She has the ability, “Something Wonderful”, once played 2 character cards that cost 2 or less Ink can return from your discard to your hand! I like the new characters from Lady and the Tramp (1955), The Aristocats (1970), and Bolt (2008). I’m still waiting on The Three Caballeros, The Black Cauldron (1985), and Adventures of the Gummi Bears! 

The Anna: Braving the Storm promo card! 

New items are the Coils, pieces of armor that are found with our Illumineer characters; Martin, Shanzay, and Venturo. We don’t have them as character cards yet! One of them is “The Amethyst Coil”, when a card goes into your inkwell, you can move 1 damage to another character, ouch! The puzzle cards are also great since they now feature story cards on the reverse with two puzzles! Lorcana continues to provide some great card art including “Isabela Madrigal: In the Moment” by Cesar Vergara. It has Isabela from Encanto (2021) in her purple dress with vines and petal flying, incredible colors and art! The Illumineer’s  Trove, $49.99, has the storage box (always handy to keep your cards!), eight booster packs, a spin-dial counter that features Bolt, 6 dividers with artwork, and six dice. Archazia’s Island Gift Set, $29.99, has another card box about half the size of the Illumineer’s Trove box. It has a glimmer foil promo of “Lilo: Escape Artist” from Azurite Sea. There are five booster packs from the past sets so you can give them as gifts if you already have the cards. The wide release of Archazia's Island is on March 21st. Another great set!   

#ArchaziasIsland, #Lorcana, #Ravensburger, #PinTraders, #DowntownDisney, #TheFirstChapter, #UrsulasReturn, #ShimmeringSkies, #UltimateDisneyFanEvent, #MickeyMousePlayfulSorceror, #DisneyLorcanaD23CollectionBoxSet, #OswaldTheLuckyRabbit, #AnnaBravingTheStorm, 

#DualInk, #LadyMissParkAvenue, #LadyAndTheTramp, #TheAristocats, #Bolt, #TheThreeCaballeros, #TheBlackCauldron, #AdventuresOfTheGummiBears, #Martin, #Shanzay, #Venturo, #TheAmethystCoil, #IsabelaMadrigalInTheMoment, #CesarVergara, #IllumineersTrove, #ArchaziasIslandGiftSet

The New Gods #3 Review!

The New Gods #3 is a shift in narrative as we get the guest artist and regular artist switch with the invasion of Apokalips! Last issue, we were introduced to the brutal Karok Ator, who was in the Breach-Beyond Expanse. Now, Apokalips is about to fall to his legions! It is a surreal cover by Nimit Malavia of Karok Ator around a design of a robot that has the look of the Mesoamerican crystal skulls! Below it is the painful face of Mantis! “Starcatcher” is by Ram V with Riccardo Federici providing the art for the chronicler sequence and Evan Cagle the present day artwork! Federici has turned in elaborate artwork, painted, and of the style of the Heavy Metal magazine. His pages following Karok Ator is like what Federici captured in The Warworld Saga with part 10 in Action Comics #1045 (2022). It was turning Mogul into an unimaginable threat and expanding Warworld into a gladitorial dystopia. 

A closeup of Karok in his three lensed helmet is seen as he orders the sferstrom from his ship. The Chronicler was created by the Source to tell of the dying Multiverses. The black mass hurtles in the sky above Apokalips and it sends out spiky rays. This moves to a two page spread of a battle with thick cross hatching for shadows as Mantis in yellow and green armor leaps in with blades. He faces a burly, armored solder of Karok Ator has a massive sword and gun. In a cosmic vista, is Metron looking away in his Mobius Chair. A purple caped, armored being with flaming head, the Chronicler mentions Metron’s plans. He is the narrator of The New Gods and that the fated end of the Absolute Universe is not just in the prophecy! Its first appearance was in Dark Nights: Death Metal Rise of the New God #1 (2020). He says in closeup he has seen Kali Yuga, the fourth and last age in Hindu works. 

Then, we see Metron’s closeup as he says The Chronicler doesn’t know how it will end and he recounts how it started. He speaks about the ending of the Second World to Rakh Na Rokh, an interesting variation of Ragnarok, Kirby hinted that it was what led to the Fourth World. The artwork almost touches on the familiar, but becomes surreal as the writing. Metron is the only familiar character in this unknown section of the DC Universe. The Chronicler relates the refugees from the war and three “sibling-gods”; a hooded Nyctar, a bizarre creature with headdress branches from her head, Arbor Struta, and an almost mummified Parzurem. In the ruins of a battlefield, Arbor Struta examines a clawed hand of dust sensing life. She has a flowing, blue-green cape. Her name, “Arbor”, “a shelter of vines”, also makes me think of the Sprite at the”Firebird Suite - 1919 Version”, in Fantasia 2000 (1999). 

She is the “god of fortuante winds and promised lands.” The towering Arbor Struta leads her children. Then, we see a closeup of the youngest, the hooded Nyctar who has yellow eyes, blue skin, and six arms. The “god of Pathrinders and explorers” leads his people. The Chronicler explains that worlds were discovered by Nyctar who also had Arbor Struta’s people join him. He adds that Nyctar’s ambition would work against him. The Chronicler shifts the narrative to Parzurem, “god of implements, invention, and industry.” The spiky flaps of this god seen has he hammers an anvil in a forge of giant cogs. In his armor, above his workers on a cliff edge, Parzurem sees the “Island ships of Kolen” and other ships around it. Next we see the techno-shell of a planet, called “Zurem-Uon” but it became the Machynoterum. The planet of Karok Ator! A closeup of his mouthless face, The Chronicler speculates that Parzurem may have forseen that he would wake in the Third World. 

He is regarding some black globe in his claws, The Chronicler says he was no longer a god, but is important with the Fourth World. Then, The Chronicler notes that the downfall was when Nyctar and his Pathfinders traveled to “the edges of all knowing.” We see the purple robe of Nyctar facing a black sphere within one of his machines. We see him say, “A darkness with a desire of its own?” Uh-oh, we saw with Krona that led to the anti-matter universe in Crisis on Infinite Earths #7 (1985)! This corrupts him and his followers. We see Nyctar bringing down Arbor Struta and make bloody work with a blade. Then, we see the gaunt Nyctar with his four arms on a throne. He became a cannibal from his sister and became the god of “scavengers and purgers.” His followers are called the Nyctari. Then, we have the workshop of Parzurem with the god of invention kneeling before Nyctar. He refuses to make war machines and so is bound with the molten metal of his own forge! We see a closeup of the masked Nyctar and then the dark threads piercing the white sphere now covered with black patches like a puzzlebox. 

Thankfully, we get an interlude from the dark narrative, back with Evan Cagle art of a closeup of another inventor, Oberon. His first appearance was in Mister Miracle #1 (1971). He was the short human who was an assistant to Mister Miracle. The character is interesting, in animation he has the dark eyebrows that hints at Jack Kirby’s look! Here he just looks like a wizened, elderly man, a little goofy. Oberon is soldering one of his work, lit in blue by the iron. Behind him is Big Barda and Mister Miracle with baby Kamal. Oberon says he knew Scott Free would be involved that morning. This is at Oberon’s two story ranch house outside of Las Vegas Bay. He pulls up his goggles to look a lil’ Kamal. Oberon makes a jab at Barda for trying to make Mister Miracle a family man. She threatens him, but he brushes this off, very foolish. Oberon has a grandoise gesture. 

He reveals his latest invention, the Escape-A-Tron, that he built with the help of the Justice League. Oberon says it will bring Mister Miracle there from any trap. This will be handy later. Oberon shows that the device picked up a source signature that was from Kamal. Barda and Scott worry about Oberon joining them and he tells them that  he will take care of their baby, Liv. We return to Zurem-Uon and The Chronicler says that Parzurem split is mind into “two arguments”; Moder and Paeter, “mother” in Polish and other European languages, and “pater”, means father in Latin. Moder, called a pyxis, a vessel, travels to the destruction of Urgrund, the Second World. This goes to the orbit of Galactica and becomes New Genesis. Moder seems to be Mother Box, but the shattering that led to New Genesis also split into Apokolips. 

The Paester Pyxis searches until it finds an “infant planet” in the farthest corner. It looks like the nose cose of a rocket and starts to streak to this world which The Chronicler says would be inert for an age. Then, the capsule opens and the early humans watch it. The Chronicler says the figure stepping out was Prometheus, the god of Greek myth, and Pitahmaha, who is an imporant part of the Hindu epic, the Mahabharata. He has a beard, red streaks on his face, and carries a staff. Then, takes faces from various beliefs, The Chronicler says they were all “the father of the world.” Very interesting since this is similar to Jack Kirby’s Marvel title, The Eternals. This shifts across the world from Gobekli Tepe, in what has become the country of Turkey, the Paeter had his sigil carved into works like the owl, in Teotihuacan, a valley in Mexico, there is structure built to “look on him on the day of the Summer Soltice”, it looks like the Pyramid of the Sun. This seems like The Eternals (2021) film. 

There are children who ask him for stories about the three gods. We see him walk in a chamber, thinking about the “brief existences” of the humans and thought, “What would it be like to die?” He looks out to the Great Pyramids and wonders about the fate of humans from Nyctari. This shifts across the world from Gobekli Tepe, in what has become the country of Turkey, the Paeter had his sigil carved into works like the owl, in Teotihuacan, a valley in Mexico, there is structure built to “look on him on the day of the Summer Soltice”, it looks like the Pyramid of the Sun. This seems like The Eternals (2021) film. There are children who ask him for stories about the three gods. We see him walk in a chamber, thinking about the “brief existences” of the humans and thought, “What would it be like to die?” 

He looks out to the Great Pyramids and wonders about the fate of humans from Nyctari. Paeter breaks his vow and is at a forge making “an aegis and spear all in one.” His hands over a strange device and then hid it. The Chronicler notes that he gave “his final breath” to connect the weapon to The Source. From his hand, a black mist that slips into the mouth of a child, Kamal!, his brow and mouth covered with symbols. Then, he wanders from the chola temple, The Chronicler says he will rise when needed, “a new god.” This also feels a bit like The Fifth Element (1997). Then, he fades into the wind as Kiran discovers Kamal, this was seen last issue. I wonder if this weapon is what Darkseid was searching for with the Anti-Life Equation. The New Gods #3 goes deep into the tale that eventually leads to Kamal, it is bold in world building and art, darkness with a little hope at the end! 

Four Mobius Chairs out of Five! 

#Starcatcher, #RamV, #RiccardoFedrici, #EvanCagle, #TheChronicler, #Metron, #NimitMalavia, #KarokAtor, #ArborStruta, #Parzurem, #Nyctar, #Moder, #Paeter, #Oberon, #MisterMiracle, #BigBarda, #Kamal 

 

Absolute Wonder Woman #5 Review!

The first arc of Absolute Wonder Woman concludes in a epic fashion that is centered on Diana as daughter to Circe, her mother, her transformation, and Steve Trevor’s heroism.  The cover by Hayden Sherman has Wonder Woman serene in what seems like the belly of the beast, The Tetracide, with her Nemesis lasso crackling like a lightning bolt around her! Stunning variant cover of Diana's face by Carla Cohen! Part 5 of “The Last Amazon” is by Kelly Thompson and Sherman. Wonder Woman’s Athena Blade, now nearly the size of the Tetracide, but it has halted its move to Gateway City. This is covered on the news program, The Gate. Wonder Woman looks up at the blade and it shrinks in size, tossing down to her hand! Then, we get a closeup of her face, eyes red, ready for battle! 

Jet fighters launch missiles at the beast and one explodes, then the Tetracide roars sending three of the misisles back to the city! Wonder Woman flies towards them casting her spell, she does three bolts of magic towards the missiles, great action pose, can’t wait for an action figure if you make one of her. They hit, but only two are diverted! The last missile streaks towards Gateway City! Large panel of Pegasus breathing fire to destroy the missile. She flies towards the jet fighter, talking to a pilot and saying not to do that, fire missles, again, he agrees! Wonder Woman floats above The Tetracide in the sky. Flashback to a beach of the Wild Isle, Circe is talking to her daughter over a campfire. She has prepared a rope glowing green. She reassures Diana that her future will be “glorious.” 

The object is named by Circe Θυσία, seen in Greek script, which Diana says means “sacrifice.” Circe explains that it will “hold anything” and transform anything, what it holds will shape the transformation. A series of panels shows Circe waiting by the fire. This is bathed in green and red, always stunning colors by Jordie Bellaire. A winged demon, a harpy, slams Diana down with her giant axe. I like the twists on mythology in these creatures. A guardian stopping her from leaving hell? Diana appears with the lasso. She winds the lasso around the creature’s neck. She compliments her mother’s transmogrification. Then, says it was cruel. Circe stands up, she looks almost like a flapper from the Jazz Age lit in red by the fire, and says that there are things that will try to kill her before she makes friends. 

Circe walks away and then means the cruelty to a giant white female, a goddess, in white with armor and clawed helmet. Diana hands the Θυσία over to her. and she says to Diana that mother may not see the cruelty in her magic. Diana hands her the Then, she admits that since Circe knows the future, she may think Diana may need a cruel weapon. The goddess pulls the Θυσία, it almost seems like the threads of Fate. This is a strange interesting encounter. Diana consulting with a goddess figure changes the nature of her stay in hell. I also like the inhuman, glowing form with no face look, not the classic beautiful form in Greek myths, possibly their true form. Diana is struggling with her disagreement with her mother as the goddess tosses the Θυσία down to her. A close up of the goddesses face. She says that the lasso is her mother, made with “love and pain.” She adds that Diana believes in Circe’s transformation. Fascinating, it is the daughter who could redeem her mother in her exile. 

Closeup of the Θυσία, as Diana sees her mother in their home. She asks for forgiveness and says that Circe is the “greatest sorceress to ever live”, she learned from her. Diana says that her mother is “self-made” through pain and Circe holds her daughter’s chin and says “later, by love.” Great mother daughter moment! Diana tells Circe that she would not have made the Θυσία, beacuse she was limited in vision, then we get an excellent closeup of the two holding the lasso. Above The Tetracide, Wonder Woman descends with the Θυσία, in front of The Tetracide with its side split apart. Pegasus flies above it and Wonder Woman thanks him. Wonder Woman begins to wind the Θυσία around her arm saying she has to become, “she who is both terrible and tragic.” I spoiled it by turning the pages! 

She begins to transform, her eyes glowing, then growing massive, scaled. The next page reveals a large panel of Diana becoming Medusa! A kaiju sized Medusa with snake-like body similar to the Medusa from the brilliant Ray Harryhausen Clash of the Titans (1981)! The design is incredible scaled, almost armored chest, claws, and snake tail. She says “none that see my face shall live” as her snakes hiss. This is a great nod to that film, “a titan against a titan!”, plus her connection to the comics, first appearing in Wonder Woman #153 (1964). The most memorable encounter for me was in Wonder Woman #210 (2004), the conclusion of “Stoned”, when Wonder Woman blinded herself with the snake’s venom to defeat Medusa! This Medusa transformation exceeds that issue! 

Barbara, Steve, Gia, and Etta Candy watch the confrontation on television. It is Barbara who recognizes that Diana has become Medusa. She mentions the mythological origin and also that it is unclear how it happened, the comics have different origins, and then we see the curse. We see Medusa hiss and The Tetracide’s screech, it’s eyes bulge. An extreme closeup of an eye as it sees Medusa! Barbara explains that whoever sees Medua turns to stone! The towering Tetracide is petrified! On television, Barbara notes that Diana has not transformed back with the death of The Tetracide. Etta says that transformed, Diana can’t remember who she was, Steve tears off a strip of cloth from his shirt and says friends remind you who you are. Wow. Steve turns to Etta and says that Diana cut off her arm so he could leave hell. A red colored outside as Steve blindfolds himself. 

The Medusa, Diana transformed, rampages through the streets of Gateway City. Steve, tiny, talks to her as she hisses, she covers her ears. He reminds her of cutting off her arm for him. He says she is Diana of the Wild Isle, just like she said before her transformation! He holds up his hand to her chin, just like Circe!, and says she is “daughter of Circe” Incredible scene that just reflects the ealrier parts of the comic! Diana’s face partially emerges! Green mist as Steve continues, “Diana, the last of the Amazons.” This moment puts these stories as one of the top Wonder Woman stories for me. Plus, I love dialogue that echoes the title! Wonder Woman has returned and they hug. Diana tell him, “One good man can save the world.” There is a reason why Steve left hell. He asks if it is over and Wonder Woman tells him, “Almost.” She flies up and in a large panel across two pages, Wonder Woman smashes apart the petrified The Tetracide! 

She descends thanking all of the goddesses in prayer. This really separates this Wonder Woman from all other versions. A classic Greek hero, not just a superhero. She finishes with Athena for her cruelty, that word again, that made Medusa. Pegasus trots up to her. Her friends circle around her and Barbara asks how did she know it would work. Diana says Medusa was a "cruel fate" from a goddess loved by her. She tells them that everyone including gods can be "twisted with hate." I think this is a theme running through the comic. She thanks them, Wonder Woman is about to leave, and then a flaming, glowing hand reaches up to drag her down! Cliffhanger! How did Diana herself escape hell? I think it is Circe who sacrificed herself, possibly just her magic, to free her daughter. If anyone has a question of why Wonder Woman is a great character or wonders if there is an excellent Wonder Woman story, I would hand them these Absolute Wonder Woman comics! A great finish to "The Last Amazon" that spotlights the best of these Absolute versions of the Wonder Woman characters in Absolute Wonder Woman #5 and Wonder Woman's finest battle! 

Five+ Athena Blades out of Five! 

#AbsoluteWonderWoman, #TheLastAmazon, #KellyThompson, #HaydenSherman, #JordieBellaire, #Diana, #Pegasus, #Circe, #SteveTrevor, #BarbaraMinerva, #EttaCandy, #GiaCandy, #TheTetracide