Munsonisms!

Friday Night Fights- Uppercut!: Round 12 - OLD SCHOOL!!!!!

2007-09-07T12:50:00.000-07:00

For this, the last round of FNF - Uppercut, I went for a true battle royale scene from a truly OLD SCHOOL!!!! creation. Now for you young'uns out there, back in the 70's and early 80's Marvel used to publish comics in Magazine Format, perhaps the most popular of which was Savage Sword of Conan(Gotta get me more of those... but that's a whole other story) When the Hulk hit big on TV screens everywhere in the 70's, Marvel answered by publishing the Hulk Comic Magazine, from which my final round entry comes from...... I bring to you THE HULK VERSUS THE EXOSKELETON ENHANCED STRONGMAN BRUNO!!!!

So, basically, Bruno is a circus strongman who was bullied alot when he was a kid and as an adult he wants the means to destroy the person he sees as the ultimate bully..... THE HULK. He seeks out a scientist who fits him with an exoskeleton battle suit of sorts and he seeks out the green behemoth. He finds him roaming around a football stadium (who knew Hulk was a fan of the sport of kings!), and the BATTLE IS JOINED!!!!

I ask you, have you ever seen the Hulk demolish a man like that before?!?!?!?! ONLY IN FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS BABY!!!!! (and who knew Hulk used slang like " 'cuz "..... maybe Hulk is not just the strongest one there is, but also the hippest one there is!)

*Bahlactus shows no fear in the ring (but I fear I may not be able to wait two whole weeks until the next title fight), so check out his greatness and all the other entrants at: Always Bet on Bahlactus.

Friday Night Fights- Uppercut!: Round 11 - OLD SCHOOL!!!!!

2007-08-31T16:52:00.000-07:00

So, this week's OLD SCHOOL entry continues my recent trend of Salutes to the finest team-up comic known to man.... Marvel Two-In-One! I was going to save this particular entry for a knock-out blow in round 12, but like most good fighters... I DON"T WAIT UNTIL THE LAST ROUND TO LAUNCH THE FIGHTING FRENZY!!! This entry comes from the immortal issue #50 of MTIO, which dares to ask the question "What happens when the ever lovin' blue eyed Thing fights... the ever lovin' blue eyed Thing?!?!?!!?"

Modern Thing lays waste to the O.L.G. (Original Lumpy Gangsta') Thing!!!!!

*Bahlactus knows who brings the noise and who brings the funk every Friday, so check out his greatness and all the other entrants at: Always Bet on Bahlactus.

Friday Night Fights - Uppercut!: Round 10 - OLD SCH...... (well not quite)

2007-08-24T09:37:00.000-07:00

So, In honor of my latest un-healthy comic book man-crush on the ever lovin' blue eyed Thing I present this image from the best damn NEW SCHOOL (that feels just a little bit OLD SCHOOL)!!!! project available from Marvel right now...... you guessed it World War Hulk!

I think the Hulk may just be missing a few fillings after that punch!

*Bahlactus makes all the little hairs on the back of the internet's neck stand up every friday night, so check out his greatness and all the other entrants at: Always Bet on Bahlactus.

Programming note - Milestone Mondays

2007-08-22T08:18:00.001-07:00

Okay folks, this post should really have been on monday, but it's been busy here at Munson Central! While details will have to wait for at least a weak, I can tell you now is that Milestone Mondays is on hold until September 10th! Why will be clear once things become a little firmer here at Munsonisms, and let me tell you big things are in store for my little corner of the comics bloggerverse! I will still be throwing punches in Friday Night Fights for the next couple of weeks, so don't worry about missing my entries (I know you were all worried). More details will come in the next week or so, but be assured BIG THINGS ARE HAPPENING!!!!!

Friday Night Fights- Uppercut!: Round 9 - OLD SCHOOL!!!!!

2007-08-17T15:31:00.000-07:00

This week is round 9, we're heading for the final round fast fight fans! Munsonisms brings an OLD SCHOOL!!! fight scene from the pages of Boris the Bear #1, as the official Mascot of Munsonisms lays the smackdown on the black & white glut of the 1980's!

The Furball of Justice triumphs, and even manages to have a little dinner!

*Bahlactus brings word of the coming armageddon that can only be delayed by cosmic combat so check out his greatness and all the other entrants at: Always Bet on Bahlactus.

Munson's Milestone Mondays

2007-08-11T06:45:00.001-07:00

As a long time comic book reader, I like when a continuing series offers it's readers what has been come to known as a "Jumping-On issue". This type of issue brings new people to the dance, but also throws in some new nuggets that the old readers will appreciate as well. With this I bring you Icon # 8!

This issue tells the tale of Icon's final attempt to convince Rocket of his true origins, that he is an alien from another planet that is a couple hundred years old. Rocket visits Icon at his home, where her mind wanders to the events of the past few issues.... how she met the man who she would call Icon and how they became partners. Dwayne McDuffie and M.D. Bright (the best & most consistent of all Milestone creative teams I.M.O.) bring the new and old reader a 17 page "greatest hits" from the first 7 issues of Icon. But they don't just rehash everything, they add a few new elements to the story, particularly when Icon tells of the crash that destroyed his space liner. DMZ(from Blood Syndicate) was one of the occupants of the ship, and is described by Icon as being what earthlings would call a Police Officer. This is just another of the little things that Milestone brings to the table, they love to show the parts of their universe that are interwoven together.

Now we come to the proof that Rocket wants, Icon shows her his life pod from the ship that he landed in. Here is where we get the best quote of the issue straight from the mouth of Rocket: " I think I just figured out how a black man could be a conservative republican.... You ARE from Outer Space!" Icon goes over the features of the Lifepod, and confides in Rocket about his life before he became a proverbial "fish out of water". He was part of a utopian society called the Collective, where most of his people were scientists or philosophers. His profession was somewhat different, he was a mediator- a settler of disputes among his people. His current life as a lawyer on earth makes sense to Rocket knowing this. He tells Rocket of how he has had to fake his own death, returning as his "son" several times.

She is writing all of this information in her journal on the Paris Island bridge, and she realizes that his life has spanned the breadth of the African-American experience. He has seen so much, and must know so much, and she can learn so much from him being his partner. This realization really has been a long time coming, and it is yet another turning point in our new heroes' partnership/ mentorship. While she is writing on the bridge she is visited by one of the residents of Paris Island.... the issue comes to a close as the fiery menace known as Holocaust "introduces" himself to Rocket. Why he is there will be answered in the next issue which is a part of the company wide crossover that has been hinted at for many months in the pages of Milestone comics (and even in this very column).... THE SHADOW WAR!!!

The Icon crew did a really good job of setting the table for this crossover, as they produced an issue that would be accessible to people who hadn't read it before in anticipation of picking up some of them who want to get into the books before the big event starts. We will be covering the start of that crossover in two big weeks with a special series of columns! Next week we cover Hardware # 10, and I will have some great news and more details regarding THE SHADOW WAR!!!

Friday Night Fights- Uppercut!: Round 8 - OLD SCHOOL!!!!!

2007-08-10T13:15:00.000-07:00

My Benjamin J. Grimm man-crush continues this week, as my OLD SCHOOL!!!! entry for round 8 brings a smackdown of epic proportions (with a little Capt. America thrown in for good measure). From the pages of Marvel Two-In-One # 4, I give you...... BADOON BATTLE!!!!

Man, Cap is being such a wuss, Benjy has already uttered his immortal battle cry which means the Thing already has a plan worked out to get rid of these future punks....

See.... plan thought of, plan put in motion! (what a great plan too, break every bone in their bodies... maybe if Cap remembered this plan during Civil War things would have turned out a little different for him!) But like the panel says, there's still some hideous growling noise to deal with!

Now that's how you throw a punch in Friday Night Fights PUNKS!!!!! You hit your opponent so hard you get a WHAMO sound effect in the panel! Try and top that, I dare you!!!!

*Bahlactus is the all-being of the fighting world to so check out his greatness and all the other entrants at: Always Bet on Bahlactus.

Munson's Milestone Mondays!

2007-08-04T09:20:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the now exclusive home to Milestone Mondays! Bahlactus has told me to get off my duff and post these on my own blog so today we begin the weekly madness by covering the conclusion of the Commando X storyline in Static # 7! This issue finishes off the racially charged three-part storyline with a bang! When we last left Static, he had successfully deduced Commando X’s secret ID via an old public access TV show (Malcolm’s 10) he remembered seeing once. His plan is simple: go to X’s “headquarters” (his apartment) as Virgil Hawkins…. eager young apprentice to X’s “cause”, gain his trust, and learn all his plans so that he can save the day. However, unbeknownst to Static, X’s plans are set so far in motion that he has a half-hour to stop his latest bomb threat- City Hall.

Static does manage to stop the City Hall bombing, using the electrical current entering the building to draw extra power to shove the bomb high above the city where it can detonate with no damage to Dakota. He arrives home to find his parents waiting for him. He is confronted by them about the “Malcolm’s 10” TV program he was doing research on. They want to talk to him about the racist messages that X is preaching in the show, and what Virgil thinks about them.

Here is where the true thrust of this storyline lies, as for the past three issues, while X has been bombing the hell out of Dakota, Virgil and his friends have engaged in a debate about the nature of racism and whether Commando X was right to use terrorism as a way to get his point across. Robert Washington III and J.P. Leon craft an excellent 5 page sequence here that show Virgil and his parents and his best friend Frieda and her parents (who are Jewish) discussing racism and it’s effects on both Jewish people, and African Americans. This frank discussion about race brings all the other character debates from the previous issues to a head, and Washington does an excellent job showing the characters working through a very controversial subject. It’s a subject that you know has been discussed before in many a household in America, but not one that has taken place in a Comic Book before. They both convince their children that yes, there are oppressed people in the world and that this is due to many things that are beyond their control. The only thing they can do is not buy into the racism, and cause others to be hurt. They also tell the kids that even the oppressed can become part of the problem if they choose to use terror and violence as a means to an end. The one important thing that both sets of parents impart to their children is that “Am I doing the right thing” in regards to racism and oppression is a question that they hope they ask themselves over and over again.

Realizing that they are in the same boat, Frieda and Virgil call each other to talk about what they have learned and through this discussion they realize where Commando X may strike next. There is a local morning talk show that is hosted by a white female and black male called Ebony / Ice and Virgil has another hunch that the next morning’s show may be their last. He goes to the TV station where sure enough X is hard at work planting a bomb. He puts his plan into action and takes off to fight X, guiding a kite with one hand and a spool of wire in another. The kite contains a Camcorder strapped to it that has been recording his fight with X and the banter about his crimes that took place during it. The wire is guided by Static’s electric power to tie up X with his hands behind his back so that he cannot free himself. Static adds the tapes of “Malcolm’s 10”, copies of the letters to the media X has sent that he gathered earlier in the issue, and the fight tape to a packet that he leaves along with X for the cops so that he will pay for his crimes against the people of Dakota.

Static ends the issue a little wiser then he began it, he was triumphant over Commando X in two ways. He physically stopped his bombing of the city of Dakota, and he refused to accept that the racially charged rhetoric of X as being a valid point of view. Both victories are ones that Static should take pride in. Join me here next week for a look at Icon #8!

Friday Night Fights- Uppercut!: Round 7 - OLD SCHOOL!!!!!

2007-08-03T14:48:00.000-07:00

This week's OLD SCHOOL!! entry poses another age - old comic book question...... If you're an alien from another planet that doesn't know how to speak the local language and you decide to pick a fight with Benajmin J. Grimm, what is the outcome going to be?????

The answer is: STREET PIZZA!!!!! (the above image of The Thing beating the hell out of Wundaar is courtesy Marvel Two-In-One #2...... a title that is sorely missed by myself and maybe one other person)

*Bahlactus compels me to fight so check him and all the other Cash Money Main Eventers at: Always Bet on Bahlactus.

Friday Night Fights- Uppercut!: Round 6 - OLD SCHOOL!!!!!

2007-07-27T18:56:00.000-07:00

This week's OLD SCHOOL question..... who wins in a fight between Thing and Man Thing???

Friday Night Fights Fans win that's who!!!!! Mrs. Grimm's baby boy done punched a hole in that muck encrusted Man Thing!!!!! (Of course you know that Ben Grimm = Bad ASS!)

*Blame the Urban Devourer of Worlds and Prize Fighters at: Always Bet on Bahlactus.

Friday Night Fights- Uppercut!: Round 5 - OLD SCHOOL!!!!!

2007-07-20T14:21:00.000-07:00

What do you get when you put Thanos and his plans for death on a galactic scale in a room with The Avengers, Spider-Man, and the ever-lovin' blue eyed Thing? You get what I like to call.... Pig-Pile on the mad god Thanos!

Of course, any good fight usually comes down to the heaviest hitters taking on the Big Bad!

Now that is an OLD SCHOOL! combination that will rock Friday Night Fights to it's very core! Check back next week for more OLD SCHOOL!!!! goodness, until then check out the other fighters of Round 5, and tell the urban devourer of worlds that Munson sent ya!

(images courtsey of Marvel Two-In-One annual #2..... in case you were wondering)

Munson's Milestone Mondays

2007-07-12T18:06:00.001-07:00

This week’s entry from the Milestone universe is Icon #7, an issue of some importance as it represents a true turning point in the lives of Icon and Rocket. In the story entitled “The Moment of Truth” Dwayne McDuffie (aided by co-writer for this issue Erica Helene) and artist M.D. Bright bring us a very good jumping on issue for new readers. At the end of the last issue, Icon promised to tell Rocket his true origin. He tells her that he is truly a “brother from another planet”, as he crashed on Earth after his starliner exploded and he landed in a cotton field in the southern United States. His life-pod altered his DNA to match the first life-form that came in contact with his ship, a plantation slave. Upon hearing this Rocket is skeptical, particularly since slavery had been outlawed a “bazillion years ago” and Icon looks like he is 40. What Icon tells her next causes her skepticism to turn to outrage, as he tells her that his pod crashed in 1839… 150 years earlier.

Rocket has heard enough, and tells the hero that she basically helped to invent that she doesn’t believe his story. She wanted the truth, and what she believes to be a web of lies. She stalks off telling Icon that she always thought she could trust him, but she sees that she can only trust herself.

In reality, it appears that Rocket lashes out at his story for one very important reason, her difficulty in dealing with the fact that she recently found out she was pregnant. Rocket has shown that despite her propensity to jump into any situation head first, she is a very intelligent girl that under normal circumstances would have listened to more of Icon’s explanation. However, with her personal life becoming so topsy-turvy her judgment has become a little murky at best. She tells herself it must be due to the hormones, but the reader knows that she simply cannot deal with the truth of Icon’s words yet. She realizes she has enough “crazy” in her life dealing with the child growing inside of her, and she must deal with that situation first before dealing with the fantastic details of her super-powered partner’s origins.

She sets out to do just that, she realizes she has to make a choice and heads to a Dakota health clinic for advice. What comes next is 15 pages of introspection that takes us into the thoughts of a pregnant teenager as she comes to grips with what her future may be like. McDuffie and Helene bring us into Raquel’s head as she deals with the positives and negatives of her situation. She thinks of her own child hood and of her mother who works two jobs and goes to school at night due to the fact that she had Raquel at such a young age. She thinks of her future with a child, and how she wouldn’t be able to raise it properly because she wouldn’t be able to finish school. Her short-lived super-hero career would also be at an end. I truly cannot sum up the power that is held on these pages, as between both words and art the reader is drawn into Raquel’s dilemma of having the child or terminating the pregnancy. Her doctor proves to be an able sounding board for most of these fears, and she comes to grips with her decision that she thinks she has finally made.

Raquel goes to see Icon, intending to ask him for money that she wants to use for an abortion. She does not intend to tell Icon what the money is for. Instead of immediately agreeing with her demand, he wants to discuss her pregnancy with her. Not to tell her what she should do, but rather to talk to her about the way that she feels about her situation.

He tells her a story of his wife, an earth woman named Estelle that was long since dead, and how she once surprised him with the knowledge that she was pregnant. Due to his alien nature, they thought this to be impossible. Icon used his life-pod’s scanners to determine if there would be any danger in carrying the baby to term for mother or child. The odds of his genetic matrix and an earth woman’s reproductive system producing a healthy baby were nil, and the odds were even higher that Estelle would die from the ordeal. Icon finishes his story by telling Raquel they knew they had to terminate the pregnancy and despite being for the best, they would always carry the pain of that decision in their hearts. What comes next is one of the most powerful final pages of any comic I have read:

This issue moved me in so many ways. You truly feel the agony of the decision that Raquel has to make come through the pages. This is not just a simple super-hero comic, and I have said this before about Icon in previous Columns, but it really is shown in this story. This book begins to come into it’s own starting with this issue, as McDuffie and Bright really show that Icon is not the book about the “Black Superman” of the Dakotaverse. Icon is something totally different, mainly due to his partner. In seven issues McDuffie has shaped Raquel/Rocket into one of the most fully developed comic characters I have ever had the pleasure of reading. The last page of the issue shows some great symbolism as she gets off her childhood swing, and steps into adulthood. McDuffie also shows that she is wise beyond her years, and shows it in her explanation to Icon about her decision. She knows what she must do, and much like her convincing Augustus Freeman to become Icon, sets out to accomplish it. I look forward to re-reading her journey, and look forward to bringing you those stories in future Milestone Monday columns. Next week (I promise) we will look at the next issue of Blood Syndicate, join me then!

*originally published over at Always Bet on Bahlactus

Friday Night Fights- Uppercut!: Round 4 - OLD SCHOOL!!!!!

2007-07-12T17:00:00.001-07:00

Don't the Metal Men know that Metamorpho brings the pain of the Periodic table to the ring when he fights.... silly robots, Friday Night Fights does not brook stupidity!

Check back next week for more OLD SCHOOL! goodness, until then, enjoy round 4!

Friday Night Fights- Uppercut!: Round 3 - OLD SCHOOL!!!!!

2007-07-06T14:19:00.000-07:00

In honor of Thor making his triumphant return to the Marvel Universe this past wednesday, this edition of OLD SCHOOL brings the god of thunder as you have never seen him before......

Your eyes are not deceiving you, Thor goes power mad as he attempts to destroy the United Nations! This cannot be... what would cause the god of thunder to act so irrationally? The answer my friends is simple... Loki, with the help of Mephisto, has taken over Thor's body (does that make him LoThor??)while trapping Thor's spirit in the body of his evil brother. Loki decides to run amok on Midgard, ruining the noble god's good name in his attempts to use his brother's powers to take over the world.

The Warriors Three and Sif attempt to free Thor's spirit from Mephisto's clutches so it leaves Balder to attempt to stop LoThor's evil plans. Of course, Balder gets the business end of Mjolnir in this confrontation!

The norse gods succeed in freeing the real god of thunder, and he uses Loki's own powers against LoThor in a classic confrontation pitting might against magic! LoThor tries brute strength to defeat his brother.....
In the end this battle is won not by the strength of LoThor's mighty muscles, but by the intelligence shown by Thor! Thor uses LoThor's own rage aginst him as he taunts him into hurling Mjolnir at him, and therein lies Thor's one chance....

Good triumphs over evil with the power of what John Rambo once said was "the greatest weapon known to mankind"... the power of the mind!* Check back next week for more OLD SCHOOL!!! goodness, until then check out the other fighters of Round 3, and tell the urban devourer of worlds that Munson sent ya!.

* don't believe me, just check out Rambo 2 folks... it's a movie line that lives in infamy!

Friday Night Fights- Uppercut!: Round 2 - OLD SCHOOL!!!!!

2007-06-29T14:49:00.000-07:00

With World War Hulk in full swing, and with this week's release of the WWH: X-Men miniseries, my OLD SCHOOL! contribution to the cosmic throwdown that is FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS! takes a look back at the first meeting between Xavier's pupils and 'ol Jade Jaws! So without further ado.... HERE COMES THE PAIN!!!!!:

This issue begtins with the X-Men gathered around Prof. Xavier's bedside, as he has succumbed to "the strain of his hard-won victory over the star-spawned Z'NOX!" (Yes the "Prof. Xavier is down so what do we do now" card was in use even back then!) Marvel Girl uses her limited telepathy to delve into Xavier's mind to find out who can help his condition. The answer is.... you guessed it... THE HULK.... or more accurately his alter ego of Bruce Banner. They take off to find him after seeing a news story of the jade giant's last location and that's when the battle begins!

Marvel Girl manages to cause the Hulk to revert to Bruce Banner, who tells the X-Men that there is a device to help their mentor in one of his old hidden Labs. Of course the Army shows up led by Major Glenn Talbot, and Banner Hulks out and the X-men fight him yet again!

In the end, Angel swoops in and gets the device out of the lab, and they save Prof. Xavier so that they can all fight for Mutant equality in the Marvel Universe. Only the wonderful readers were going to be denied the pleasure of reading these adventures, as this little missive from the editors showed up in the letters page:

The X-Men won their battle with the Hulk, but lost the ultimate comic book battle! Yup, the last issue of X-Men, hard to believe that in the day of mutliple mutant books, that the X-Men were felled by low sales!

*More OLD SCHOOL! madness next week, until then: worship the Urban Master of the Power Cosmic and the other FNF combatants of Round 2.

Friday Night Fights- Uppercut!: Round 1 - OLD SCHOOL!!!!!

2007-06-22T13:56:00.000-07:00

Before Civil War...... in an age of innocence.... there was.....

Now admittedly, the plot was that the Chameleon ( the lamest Spidey villain of all time ) had stolen Cap's identity causing a serious "Identity Crisis" when Iron Man faced off against the real Cap:

Of course, the villain does eventually screw up, and Cap and Iron Man make up and take him down, and in the end we have an "after-school special with Iron Man" moment:

Methinks Marvel read this story before the 800 lb. gorilla known as Civil War made it's debut, but they didn't learn anything from the friendly "I learned something about myself today" ending.... I think they only learned what was written on the cover blurb:

They really should have stuck that on the cover to Civil War #1, then I wouldn't feel so cheated!

*Bahlactus started it all over again at: Always Bet on Bahlactus.

Friday Night Fights! (WWBBD vol.3)

2007-06-01T17:29:00.000-07:00

You're faced with a baseball diamond filled with gang members who want to take over the city and you know you're the only one to stop them..... what do you do?

Take a page from the Blue Beetle team-up handbook and get your pal Vic Sage (The REAL Question) to help you kick some gang-banger ASS!

*Yeah I know I missed last weeks fight, so sue me! I just hope Bahlactus lets me get a punch in for Round 12: Always Bet on Bahlactus.

Friday Night Fights! (WWBBD vol.2!)

2007-05-18T16:09:00.000-07:00

You're face to face with a guy who has no love for upper body wear, and apparently chews anabolic steroids for breakfast, what do you do? If you're Blue Beetle and The Question you use speed as your weapon as you engage in Tag Team action against the danger that is....... Slab?????

Who's house???? Charlton Action Heroes House!!!!!!

(Time for a Charlton earth series DC..... don't let me down!)

*Blame the power cosmic.... He brings the noise..... while I bring the funk! Always Bet on Bahlactus.

WWBBD (A.K.A. What Would Blue Beetle Do?) vol.1

2007-05-18T14:00:00.000-07:00

Let's say you're face to face with some multi-colored super-villains who have taken hair advice from Ronald McDonald, and tips on super-villain banter from the Creeper...... what do you do?

You follow the example of Ted Kord.... The Blue Beetle.... and kick some some ass!

( More proof that Blue Beetle rules!)

Munson's Milestone Mondays

2007-05-14T06:24:00.000-07:00

This week we cover Hardware #9, which represents a first for the Milestone Universe…. their first fill-in issue. The story begins with Curtis Metcalf being told by Alva to start studying Hardware and devise a way to stop him. Of course this will prove to be difficult as Curtis is Hardware, but Curtis thinks he can string him along. Alva offers Curtis some help in stopping his arch-nemesis, in the form of a brilliant cybernetic scientist by the name of Tiffany Evans. Tiffany is a striking young lady, who reminds Curtis of what he was before finding out the truth about Alva’s illegal business deals. She is an optimist, looking to impress her new boss, and shows it by attacking the “Hardware problem” with gusto. Curtis spends a lot of the issue being condescending towards Tiffany due to her gender and her beauty, and trying to sneak little sabotages into their work that won’t be detected as to stop Alva’s plan to destroy Hardware.

Both of these actions draw Alva’s ire, as he easily discovers Curtis’ manipulative behavior. While he doesn’t know the motives behind them, he tells Curtis in no uncertain terms to stop being incompetent and get the job done or he will sue him blind for breach of contract. Curtis realizes he needs to do his work, forget his chauvinism, and do what Alva wants to. Tiffany beats him to the punch by coming up with her own solution; to counteract Hardware’s brute strength and technological weapons, she will create her own set of armor that would be fuel-efficient and more maneuverable. Better still, she will wear it herself! Alva loves the idea and pushes for the creation of the new armor so that Tiffany can become the newest armor covered hero in the Milestone Universe….. Technique.

Technique is unveiled when a night shipment of “equipment” is due at Dakota Airport from Columbia. Hardware shows to stop the shipment and runs into Technique, who promptly kicks Hardware’s butt. Hardware does manage to strike back, and tries to finish off Technique by using his armor to “hack” her operating system. Technique was prepared for this, as her studying hardware’s previous battles prepared her for this “finishing move”. She programmed her armor to send a virus into Hardware’s armor causing it to fire its thrusters and then shut down. Hardware plummets to the ground, and barely manages a manual override to save his life. The issue closes with Tiffany finding a note from Curtis that congratulates her for her success against Hardware, and apologizes for treating her like a “girl”. He tells her he would see her in a week as he would be “home sick” (by sick Curtis means recovering from wounds and bruises from a super-hero battle).

In terms of quality, this issue wasn’t the greatest (fill-in’s rarely are). I had a few problem’s with guest writer Brian McDonald’s, mainly due to Curtis’ chauvinism towards Tiffany. Curtis has always been someone to abhor any sort of discrimination, even going so far as to get upset when Alva calls him “boy”, so why would he treat Tiffany in such a way? This small script flaw drives most of the action for the issue, which is why I find it a little bothersome. Arvell Jones’s art is saved by Denys Cowan’s inking this issue, and while it provides a consistent look to the book, it’s not as good as when Cowan goes it alone. In the plus column this issue did introduce a new foil/ally in Hardware’s war against Alva. Tiffany/Technique could be an interesting addition to the cast of Hardware, and has potential as a love interest for Curtis and an enemy for Hardware. Let’s hope she sticks around beyond this initial introduction.

That’s it for this week folks, join us next week as we cover Icon #7!

Friday Night Fights!!!

2007-05-11T16:17:00.000-07:00

(Ted Kord shows these punks who the one true (sorry Jaime) Blue Beetle really is!)

*Blame the power cosmic.... He brings the noise..... while I bring the funk! Always Bet on Bahlactus.

Friday Night Fights!!!!

2007-05-04T20:08:00.000-07:00

(52 is now over, and with the new mutli/megaverse out there... you just know Ted Kord is out there somewhere.... fighting the good fight!)

*Blame the power cosmic.... I am just a lowly herald! Always Bet on Bahlactus.

Munson's Milestone Mondays - 4/30/07

2007-05-01T07:05:00.000-07:00

Storylines converge, secrets are revealed, and destinies are fulfilled in this weeks Milestone offering, Blood Syndicate #8. From the cover you can tell that Kwai makes her debut in this issue, as Nina Lam finally succumbs to the transformation her body has been undergoing over the last 3 issues. She will factor into the battle that dominates this issue as the Syndicate face off with the Demon Fox.

This issue opens where the last left off, the Demon Fox has attacked Wise Son on Syndicate turf and the team is left leaderless as they face their attacker. The gang use teamwork to take on the Fox, but this vengeful spirit splits their numbers and takes them out one by one. The Fox does this not just by physically beating the Syndicate, but also by using her powers to make each member face their own inner demons and/or secrets they have been hiding from the each other. This seems to be the way that the Fox feeds from her victims, by causing them pain and “sucking” their inner turmoil into her, making her more powerful.

The secrets that the Fox tortures the Syndicate with are huge reveals that Ivan Velez has hinted at in previous issues. Brickhouse gets all of her memories back at once, causing another one of her seizures to take her out of the battle. Third Rail is confronted by the memory of his late father, whose death he was apparently responsible for. DMZ is crippled by the realization that “she” will never come back for him, despite his nightly ritual of signaling for “her” atop the Syndicate’s HQ. Fade provides a very large meal for the Fox as she forced him to realize that he cannot hide the one thing he wants no one else to ever know about him, that he is a closeted homosexual. Boogeyman and Flashback are taken out of the battle by their simple fear of the Fox herself. Masquerade is the final member to fall as he has what the Fox terms “the prize for biggest secret of them all…. how wonderfully perverse.” The reader is not shown this secret, as it is left for another issue’s discovery.

The Fox has fulfilled the pact she made with John Wing, as the Syndicate has been defeated and humiliated. She kills Wing once he releases her from his service, just as Kwai arrives at the Factory. Kwai was drawn there by the presence of the Fox, as their lives and appearances in the real world appear to be linked. One “sister” cannot be called forth without the other “sister” being awakened as well. The issue wraps with the Fox forcing Kwai to realize that she cannot defeat her at this time, as she has grown stronger from her battle with the Syndicate and she is newly reborn. The Fox tells Kwai that she should save her strength to save “anyone she has left alive”, and it looks like Fade could truly use her help as the last panel shows him becoming completely transparent… in effect “fading away” as Flashback cries for help.

This issue was the big payoff to the “Demon Fox” storyline, and it paid off huge. Ivan Velez really packed this issue with some big reveals and big action scenes, and the reader is left wanting more. The secrets laid bare by the Fox will be fodder for future storylines for sure, and I particularly look forward to the Masquerade’s “big reveal”. Crisscross’ artwork just makes this issue shine, as he conveys each character’s emotions in the fight so well. This is particularly apparent when the Fox reveals Fade’s sexuality against his will. The pain and anguish on Fade’s face as his secret is laid bare is so expressive, the reader truly feels just how much and how long he has fought this side of himself. This creative team took this storyline and made what could have been just another uber-violent 90’s team book into a character driven action comic that keeps the reader interested what comes next.

Next week we will take a look at Hardware #9, so join me then for more Milestone memories!

Munson's Milestone Mondays - 4/23/07

2007-05-01T07:02:00.000-07:00

And we’re back folks! Milestone Monday’s has returned, did you miss me? Well, I certainly missed you guys, so let’s get down with Static # 6. This issue is part 2 of the Commando X storyline, and as you may remember from last issue, Static was facing off with X as he tried to bomb a peace rally. Static obviously saves the crowd (he wouldn’t be a hero if he didn’t) and also gains some knowledge about Commando X. It seems that Commando X, in typical villain fashion, reveals a little bit too much about himself as he fights and escapes from Static….. he spouts off his real name and also reveals that he has tried to use the news media to convey his manifesto in the past. He goes so far as to say which newspapers he wrote letters to, and which local access cable station he broadcasted on until they yanked him from the airwaves. Much like the villains who go on to be defeated because they couldn’t keep their yaps shut, this mistake will bite X in the proverbial butt!
Static takes these little nuggets of information, and using his brain, turns them to gold. He plays the detective and tracks down copies of the letters he wrote to Dakota newspapers, and also hits the public access channel for copies of the Malcolm’s 10 TV show. Static shows he is truly a hero who, like Robert Washington said in issue 1, will be using his brains to solve problems more that just blast away with his powers. He deduces a couple of moves that X plans to make by “getting inside” his opponents head, as he takes an episode that rails against the cops to mean that he will plan to bomb the downtown police headquarters. Sure enough that instinct turns out to be correct, as Static stops some bombs shaped like cops from going off and once again saves the day.
The tapes also give away X’s location, as the production company that made the show is located in an apartment building nearby. Static decides to find out just what the connection between the company and X is, and goes to the apartment building where he comes face to face with Commando X himself. Static, realizing he needs to stop the bombs X may have already planted, plays the role of sympathizer to X’s cause. It works as X takes him into his apartment and as our issue ends, X begins to share his plans with Static. What will Static do with this information, and can he stop X’s bombs while being right there with him? We will surely find out in our next issue.
This issue not only showed Static using his brains to help solve crime, but also in his personal life as well. He manages to bury the hatchet with Daisy (the girl he made a date with but forgot about) and also resolves the friendly debate between he and his friends about the merits of X’s message. This comic continues to prove that it is a different sort of book, it’s not just about super-hero action, it’s about people. I look forward to seeing the trials of Virgil and his friends, as much as I look forward to seeing Static in action. Robert Washington and J.P. Leon truly created a book before it’s time. I really think with the popularity of Bendis’ Ultimate Spidey, that this book could really flourish in this ear of comics. (DC… wakeup my friends, it’s not too late!)
Short but sweet this week my friends, tune in next week for more Milestone goodness!

Friday Night Fights!!! -

2007-04-27T16:23:00.000-07:00

In one week, you too will believe a Spider can break box-office records!

*Once again Bahlactus is to blame for the first punch at Always Bet on Bahlactus.

Tales from the ABYSS - Hidden Stinker/ Hidden GEM!

2007-04-13T18:15:00.000-07:00

Yes it's time once again to venture into THE ABYSS for this weeks HIDDEN STINKER & HIDDEN GEM!!!!!!

To start, let's look at this week's GEM....... SCOUT #1

This series was so damn good it wasn't even funny, telling the tale of Emmanuel Santana as he wages war on the government he used to serve so that he may destroy four legendary Beasts. Crazy stuff happens in this series folks, so if you haven't read it before I highly suggest it. (I am going to start re-reading it myself!)

This week's STINKER doesn't even come from THE ABYSS, it is a loan from my fellow comics enthusiast Aaron..... World Championship Wrestling #1

No your eyes don't deceive you, this was a comic put out by MARVEL in 1992, and it was about the now defunct wrestling organization WCW. This book is so bad it's almost good..... ALMOST. Aaron lent me 1-4 and I have to wonder just who in the hell at Marvel thought this book would be a good idea. You'd think that the comic would be about the WCW wrestlers fighting evil do-ers wouldn't you? Nope, someone in their infinite wisdom thought that translating wrestling matches into a comic book story would make for good reading.... they thought wrong. Just look at this page and you be the judge (The captions are the two announcers as they "call" the match, just so you know)

WOW, riveting stuff! And to think there's 22 pages of that! Luckily this is one STINKER that won't contaminate the rest of my collection, as I will return these to their rightful owner.

Check back next week for more TALES FROM THE ABYSS!

Friday Night Fights!!!

2007-04-13T18:04:00.000-07:00

Nothing says Friday Night Fights like a handicap match with twin sisters!
(Don't feel too bad about Nightwing taking a shot to the chin.... you know he will have these girls swooning in no time...... after all, he is the James T. Kirk of the Dc Universe)

*Once again Bahlactus is to blame for the first punch at Always Bet on Bahlactus.

Tales from the ABYSS - Hidden Stinker/ Hidden GEM!

2007-04-05T17:38:00.000-07:00

Hello my friends, it is time for another tale from THE ABYSS! First up is the stinker for this week, which I found while putting away all the independent mini-series I have purchased over the last year. Not even the artwork of my comic book man crush George Perez can save this one from being THE HIDDEN STINKER OF THE WEEK!

Look at the names on the cover folks, and you will see why this is a textbook example of creators "phoning it in". I couldn't describe the concept of this book if I tried, the story is so convoluted and horrible, so I will just move on.

This week's Hidden Gem was found in the same box as the stinker, and yet it doesn't suffer from their common storage. Check out the covers of a little known mini-series from Kitchen Sink Press that I absolutely loved back when it came out in 1990: WORLD"S WORST COMICS AWARDS!

This mini series celebrated the best of the worst in comics history with such categories as worst male costume, worst team, and in the final issue counted down the ten worst comics of all time (number one was Skateman from Pacific Comics... much like Ibots #1 not even Neal Adams artwork could save that one). They also divulged such facts as when Superboy lost his virginity (DC Super Stars #16 for those interested) and what respected comic professionals had letters published in truly terrible comics. But the real reason I loved this series was that they let the readers vote for the award for Worst Comic of 1990. In a landslide victory, Spider-Man #1 (advantageous powers and all) took home the award. I highly recommend trying to find these comics, they are truly a HIDDEN GEM in my collection. Tune in next week for more STINKERS and GEMS!

Munson's Milestone Mondays

2007-04-03T06:18:00.001-07:00

This week’s Milestone comic is Icon #6, the continuation of the throwdown between Icon and the Blood Syndicate. This issue throws Rocket into the mix, as she comes to Icon’s “rescue” by taking on the Syndicate. There is a step-by-step formula that the typical super-hero team follows, and Dwayne McDuffie and M.D. Bright utilize it in this issue:

Step 1- Heroes meet
Step 2- Heroes fight
Step 3- Heroes talk
Step 4- Heroes leave with a newfound respect for each other.

Step 1 & 2 happen immediately as Rocket takes on the Syndicate. They are impressed with her powers and her bravado, and she holds her own against their toughest members. Icon halts their fight by displaying a heretofore-unknown power, some kind of “light fist”, and tells the syndicate that they can fight or they discuss their differences like men. He takes things right to Step 3 at this point, as he wants to get back to his original purpose in seeking out the Syndicate, to get the truth behind the Big Bang.

Before getting down to brass tacks with Wise Son, he takes DMZ aside. The silent member of the Syndicate seems taken aback by this confrontation, especially when Icon speaks some sort of alien language to him. Icon recognized DMZ in the last issue, and this is expanded on in this scene. Icon tells DMZ that he is stranded too, and that perhaps they should pool their efforts. DMZ appears shocked at first (kudos to Bright for conveying this with a full-face mask on DMZ) and agrees with Icon, then flies off. This conversation leaves the Syndicate, Rocket, and the readers with just one question, “what was that all about?” McDuffie leaves the answers for another issue, as Icon gets back to business.

Icon and the Syndicate get deep into Step 3, as they discuss their differing philosophies in regards to justice for the people behind the Big Bang. Icon believes that Truth leads to true justice, and that if people stand and fight to reveal the truth that injustice will never stand. Icon reveals a little bit of his background, admitting that he is a lot older than he seems as he uses historical events of the last two hundred years to illustrate his point. The Syndicate believes that justice doesn’t exist for people like them and that they must always fight to keep what is theirs- their turf. It is here that Rocket, as she once did with Icon, plays the role of the eye opener. She takes this confrontation right to Step 4, as she challenges Wise son with the following question/statement: “You already GOT your turf. You ran the cops off, all the other gangs, the dopers. Paris Island is YOURS. SO what are you going to do with it?”

Step 4 is now reached between the two groups, as Wise Son realizes that Dakota’s dynamic duo has given him something to think about. The heroes have their newfound respect, and all the team-up bases have been covered. We will see the fruits of this confrontation from the Syndicate’s view grow in their own book, but our resident heroes have their own opinions. Icon realizes that he leaves the gang with no more answers than when he started his search, but feels he and Rocket may have accomplished a greater good (by challenging the Syndicate’s M.O.) and vows to continue his investigation into the Big-Bang.

Rocket also realizes that she has seen and heard a lot in this confrontation that she does not understand. What she is positive about is that she knows next to nothing about her partner Icon, and wants to know the truth behind his origins. The issue ends with Rocket demanding the truth, and Icon promising to tell her everything….. next issue of course!

Despite the fact that this issue was very formulaic, it was nonetheless an entertaining read. I liked the interaction between the characters, and it looks like Icon really gave the Syndicate something to think about. I really look forward to seeing the connection with DMZ get fleshed out, and also want to see Rocket’s reaction to Icon’s origins. While the reader has already seen some details, his arrival on Earth for one, I think there may be quite a bit more to our hero’s story. Knowing Dwayne McDuffie’s penchant for surprises, there may be some interesting tidbits in the next issue.

Those revelations will wait for another column though, as next week we cover the next issue of STATIC! Until then, MAKE MINE MILESTONE!

*originally published over at Always Bet on Bahlactus

Friday Night Fights!!!

2007-03-30T17:20:00.000-07:00

This is what is known in the fight biz as a combination..... here's the jab....

(Spider-Ham, Spider-Ham, Does whatever a piggy can)

Followed by the uppercut!

(Hulk Bunny is the new Easter Bunny, bringing radioactive eggs to all the good little boys and girls)

*Once again Bahlactus is to blame for the first punch at Always Bet on Bahlactus.

Tales from THE ABYSS - the first hidden Stinker

2007-03-29T12:21:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I showed you THE ABYSS, today I share the first of many comics that I have found in THE ABYSS that I should never have purchased. These questionable purchases will be heretofore known as the Stinkers! Not every collection can be all gems folks, and these entries will prove it!

The first Stinker defies description, it's one of those comics that I didn't even realize I owned and upon reading the utterly forgettable tale I realized why. Here is the Stinker in all it's glory:

What can you say about a comic whose only redeeming quality is Dale Keown artwork?!?!? I will tell you that I hope to god I purchased this in a fifty cent bin at a con, 'cause full price for this Stinker would be too much!

Luckily, my collection contains it's fair share of Gems as well, which I will share from time to time to offset the smell of the Stinkers. I am off to continue the clean-up, let me know if there are any stinkers in your collections and maybe we can compare the "body counts"

Tales from THE ABYSS!

2007-03-28T14:28:00.001-07:00

So here's the thing, I have ALOT of comics. SO many that I have a bedroom devoted strictly to the 160 plus long boxes I have amassed over the years (thank you EBay). That's alot of comics true believers! Now over the years I have kept things very organized, adding new issues to boxes about once a month. However, that changed after the wife and I moved into our new house. But I got a little lazy a few months after the move, and that has extended to now. Fifteen months later, and the comic book room has become what I now affectionately call THE ABYSS! Now I am working on putting these comics away, and from time to time I will show you some of the comics I put away, some I may have read..... some I may not have read. (Some I may even be ashamed to own!) To start my journey, I wanted to show you just what we are dealing with when I say fifteen months of comics.

Here is the long view of the room, note the comics stacked on top of the long boxes to the right... we'll come back to them later. The comfy chair pictured in the center just makes it that much harder to put comics away. It sucks me in with it's power to make me lazy enough to do no sorting.

Here is the first stack of long boxes, they are the first things you see when the door opens. The comics stacked on top are the beginnings of THE ABYSS.

Then the stacks just continue, and THE ABYSS JUST GETS LARGER!!!!

These two pictures show the view of the left side of the room, the stacks are higher... which can only mean that THE ABYSS HAS BECOME THE ULTIMATE POWER IN THE UNIVERSE! (Or at least the Munsonverse)

As you can well imagine, navigating the stacks of long boxes and comics in THE ABYSS is no simple task. It requires a person to possess nerves of steel, and the eyes of a hawk. I will attempt to be that person, so that I may share with you comics that may not have seen the light of day in some time as I bring you Tales from THE ABYSS! Check back tomorrow for the first discovery, it's one of those books I am quite ashamed to even admit I own!

Munson's Milestone Mondays

2007-03-26T02:57:00.000-07:00

Welcome to another fun filled installment of the phenomenon that has become Milestone Mondays. This week we cover Hardware #8, the issue that delves into the psyche of our titular hero. This issue seems to be designed to give both the reader and Hardware himself insights into his methods and mission. The insight is provided through Curtis Metcalf’s dreams. He dreams of himself as Hardware and the various people he has killed in pursuit of his vendetta against his boss Edwin Alva. Both his victims confront him, and a business suited version of him, as his subconscious attempts to deal with the guilt he is not allowing himself to feel for his acts of violence.

“Business Curtis” takes Hardware on four journeys intent on getting him to “Wake up” and admit he can be a better hero and a better man. The first journey lies in examining his past, including his relationships with his parents and Alva. The second takes him to school, more specifically a class in African American studies taught by the admitted “will – they – or won’t – they?” love interest of the book Barraki Young. The third journey brings him to the set of the “Opra” show (yes they leave the H off of her name so that they wouldn’t get sued, but you know who it is anyway), where the women who have loved him confront him about the wall around his heart. The fourth journey brings him to church, where a preacher tells him of his wrongs (in full on sermon mode), and what he must do to right them.

Hardware is finally left with just “Business Curtis”, as they hash out what they have both learned about each other. Hardware accepts the fact that his armor cannot be so strong that he forgets the person that he really is, and “Business Curtis” accepts the fact that he cannot continue to fight himself. The two personalities realize that they have thrown their tantrum, and it is time to “wake up” and move on.

Curtis then ends the issue by literally doing just that. His subconscious has shown him the way; he can no longer let his anger rule his actions. He knows he can never undo what he has done in his vendetta against Alva, but he can live up to the ideals his parents and others have instilled in him. He can be better, and so can Hardware. He realizes that his mission was at first about vengeance, but now it will be about justice.

This issue is one heck of a trip for the reader, as Dwayne McDuffie takes us on the subconscious highway that is Hardware’s mind. He brings so many interesting things to the script, including the African American studies class that compares the contemporary superhero origin and it’s antecedents in the traditional African trickster tale. I loved the two sides of Curtis’ personalities, business suit and “The Man in the Shell”, as they bounced off of each other all issue. Their interactions show the internal struggle that one man puts himself through as a means of bringing his true feelings to the surface.

JJ Birch is the guest penciller for this issue, and he does a great job. He brings some great images to the table; including having “Business Curtis” sit on a log cabin porch, ALA Uncle Remus, as he begins the journey into his past. It’s also pretty wild to see a baby Curtis in the Hardware armor during the same journey. His artwork seems to me to be a perfect fit for this kind of story, as it is much cleaner and softer than that of regular artist Denys Cowan, who tends to be very angular and gritty.

This issue is custom built to be a good jump on point for the new reader. It shows where the title character has been and sets up the next phase in Hardware’s life as he attempts to continue his mission of bringing Alva to justice. Join me next week as we continue our look back at Milestone comics and look at Icon # 6.

*originally published over at Always Bet on Bahlactus

Friday Night Fights!!!

2007-03-23T18:17:00.000-07:00

Everybody was Kung-Fu Fighting!

*Blame Bahlactus he threw the first punch over at Always Bet on Bahlactus.

Munson's Milestone Mondays

2007-03-19T13:35:00.000-07:00

Munson's Milestone Mondays*

3-19-07

This week we look at Blood Syndicate #7, entitled “Enter the Fox”. This issue crams a lot into its 22 pages. John Wing, leader of the Demon Fox Tong, has sacrificed his wife to “give birth” to the Demon Fox. The Demon Fox seems to be a demon with a Genie/Ifrit like caveat; he must do the bidding of the person who calls him forth. John Wing wants the total destruction of the Blood Syndicate so that he may save face with the other members of the Tong. The Fox agrees, and plans go into motion.

Meanwhile the Syndicate spends more time at their Factory home, as they begin to heal the wounds that their first leader’s (Tech-9) death caused. The gang does some bonding, and learns a lot more about each other’s personal lives. Brickhouse remembers her real name (Marta) while having another one of her seizures. “Seizures” is a bit tame of a description, as when she starts to convulse, her room ends up looking like a demilitarized zone. Later in the issue, Wise Son’s younger brother & Sister show up at the factory, wondering why their big Bro hasn’t shown up at home recently. The site of a little girl pulling a red wagon laying a verbal smackdown on Brickhouse and Dogg is worth the price of the book alone. Just look at this panel and I dare you not to smile!

The book ends with the Demon Fox, disguised in human form as a hot Asian female, rushing to the factory begging for help. Wise Son asks who is after her, when “she” stabs him in the forehead with a mystical object that appears to suck the life from him. The Fox stands revealed to the Syndicate ready to rumble, as their leader’s shriveled up body falls to the ground, seemingly lifeless. Needless to say this issue is “To Be Continued”

Ivan Velez & ChrisCross have formed a formidable team on this book, as their co-operative efforts changed this series for the better. Based on the first few issues, which were chock full of fisticuffs; I was ready to write this book off as just another action book. This makes for a “fun” book to read, but not anything to write home about. Since issue 5, this opinion has changed for me. Velez seems to have realized that you can have all the slam-bang death defying action you want, but without characters that you care about it’s just page filling (ala some early 90’s Image books). Velez has fleshed out his creations, giving them personalities beyond the rage they feel about the “Big Bang”. Now the readers can feel a connection to the Syndicate that goes beyond merely liking when they bust some heads.

Velez also has started to work with one of my favorite devices in comic book storytelling- the subplot. Quite a few get advanced in this issue, as future members of the gang are shown again (the water lady who seems to be stalking Wise Son, and the teenage Asian girl who will become Kwai), while a former member by the name of Templo and the controversy that surrounded him are brought up by Fade and Third Rail. Velez lays some good foundations for future storylines; this along with the strong characterization will keep me coming back for more.

ChrisCross has really cemented the look of this book. I am a big fan of his current stuff, and since this was his first published work (that I know of) it’s fun to look back at. This issue shows another leap forward in quality, as his storytelling abilities start to show some improvement. He shows his greatest strength in his facial expressions, as you can just feel the warmth and humor shining through the pages when the Syndicate and Wise’s siblings interact.

I remember this book being my second favorite Milestone book back in the day, Static being the best, and this issue reminded me why. With the showdown with the Demon Fox coming up, I am psyched to get to the next book. That will wait for another Monday though, as next week we look at another Milestone classic. Join me then!

*originally published over at Always Bet on Bahlactus

Favorite Childhood Memories

2007-03-16T15:06:00.000-07:00

So my buddy Clarence put up a new DYKC? podcast at his site doyouknowclarence.com about childhood memories, and asked his peeps what their favorite childhood memories are. Here is my response:

My two favorite childhood memories are:

1) Going to dinner every Saturday night with my parents at a restaurant called the Village Cafe. It was an Italian restaurant that just rocked, and my grandfather would always be sitting at the end of the bar in the place drinking a Narraganset out of the can. We used to walk there from our house every Saturday (it may not have been every Saturday, but much like the pink milk it sure seems like it was) and then walk back. I miss how simple things were back then, when walking with your family to eat out was the highlight of your weekend.

2) When I was playing little league in my first year, I was a piss poor batter. I remember going like 0 for a million! (Admittedly it was only the first three games of the season, but is there anything more sad for an 8 or 9 year old then swinging a big metal bat and tasting nothing but air?) My dad was an umpire in the league, and he was due to umpire our fourth game of the season. I batted third, and first time up hit a grounder to short that I thought for sure would get me on base..... no chance as I thrown out.
Second time up I got a meatball across the plate and killed it into deep center field. I just stood there, and watched the ball. Meanwhile, my Dad is behind the plate and he whipped off his face mask and pushed me and screamed "RUN JEFFREY RUN!!!!" I looked back at him and he was smiling and crying at the same time, giving up all sense of calling the game to appreciate his oldest son's first hit. I totally could have had a triple for that shot, but standing there like a dufus resulted in a double. That was my only hit of the game, and I went on to be a much better hitter through my four or five year baseball career, but I won't ever forget that one!

If this post made you smile and feel all nostalgic; then check out his site, listen to his words, and get down with the knowledge. Tell him Munson sent you.

Panels that will live in Infamy - Surfer Madness

2007-03-15T13:29:00.000-07:00

Wow, does anybody else want to know how galactic glaze tastes on donuts? Maybe a cinnamon bun?

(from Star Masters #3 back in 1996, written by Mark Gruenwald... who really should have known better!)

Munson's Milestone Mondays

2007-03-12T02:45:00.000-07:00

Munson’s Milestone Mondays*

03-11-07

There is a lot going on in the world of comics as the convention season has begun, and a Marvel icon has paid the ultimate price! Here at Stately Munson Manor, it’s business as usual as its time once again to talk Milestone comics! Today we will cover Static # 5!

In this issue, Static deals with many threats in this issue, from a possible first date (which he doesn’t even remember making) to the terrorist actions of a man with a message. Robert Washington deftly intertwines these two problems in his script so that we see both action of the superhero and the personal kind. Virgil’s first problem is with a girl by the name of Daisy who has a huge crush on him (much like the one he has on Frieda). In typical Virgil fashion, he steps all over his tongue and his dating life does not really get fixed in this issue.

Static’s “big bad” for this first part of a multipart storyline is Commando X, a militant black man who is trying to spread his pro-black/ anti-white message by bombing various locales in Dakota. He believes that by inciting race riots, and planting bombs in places like Jewish temples (because as some of Virgil’s friends say “they control all the money”) and the like that he will get the black community behind him. This plan is thwarted by Static at first, as he disperses a riot at the Jewish temple while simultaneously agreeing to join some local leaders at a peace rally later in the week. However, Commando X takes things to a whole new level when he bombs Virgil’s school, while classes are taking place!

Luckily no one is killed or even seriously injured, but this action cements a feeling among the community, and is represented in a well scripted moment among Virgil and his friends. Commando X may have a point about some racist tendencies still existing; however his method of communicating with the masses leaves a lot to be desired! Static is resolved to use his influence as a hero to speak at a peace rally. Commando X, in typical villain fashion, arrives to squash the rally with more of his rhetoric and Static and he face off. The issue ends with a cliffhanger as Commando X tosses bombs into the crowd at the rally, daring Static to try and save them all!

This issue really hits home with its subject matter, as our post 9/11 world has had its own share of terrorist bombings establishing a climate of fear in many cities. Dakota appears to be a city at the mercy of a man with a message that will do anything to get it heard. I find it a little weird to read an issue with this kind of plot, as I read newspaper and web articles about men and women with different messages than Commando X using bombs as their means of communication. Hard to believe this issue came out 13 or so years ago, it would have also served as a good commentary on our current life and times if it were published today.

As stated, there is a good two page sequence that shows Virgil and his friends after the school bombing where they debate the merits of Commando X’s message. They speak of racism and equality and their dialogue just feels so real. I may be a white male, not used to any sort of oppression or racism, but I can relate to the reactions of Virgil and his friends. I like to think that racism does not permeate our society as it has done before, but it does still exist. When it does rear its ugly head; I, like Virgil and his friends, hope people would choose a peaceful means of resolution. Washington gets this message come across through his dialogue on these pages, and throughout this issue. J.P. Leon does his usual bang-up job on the art chores, and really gets the emotions of Dakota’s citizens across as they deal with a situation that is rapidly spiraling out of control.

Static is a Milestone comic that continues to impress, and I look forward to part 2 of this storyline. I hope that Static not only physically whoops Commando X’s ass, but helps him realize his methods are just plain wrong. Next week we will cover another Milestone memory so join me then!

*originally published over at Always Bet on Bahlactus

Random Thought of the Day

2007-02-09T08:18:00.000-08:00

The Boston Red Sox begin their quest for another championship as pitchers and catchers report to spring training in 6 days!

I can't wait for another baseball season!

Why I Like Pro Wrestling...... (and You Should Too ???)

2007-02-06T10:01:00.000-08:00

So, I have a confession to make to you all............

I like pro wrestling.

Wait.... that's not entirely correct... I actually LOVE pro wrestling. I watch the shows every week, I get the pay-per-views(well not all of them), I read the autobiographies and the tell all insider books. I troll the websites dedicated to wrestling rumors, I play the video games and make myself the WWE champion (which is way too cool for words), I have even bought a t-shirt or ten back in the day. I love me some pro wrestling.

Now why do I watch wrestling you may ask? How did I come to sup at the table of the WWF(E), WCW, TNA, NWA and others? To get to that answer I'll start at the beginning.

I know precisely when I started watching it as my earliest wrestling memories are of watching the various WWF cable shows with my Grandfather. He loved wrestling, and we'd watch such wrestlers as Tony Garea and Rick Martel, Superfly Jimmy Snuka and the then WWF Champion Bob Backlund. I never went out of my own way to watch it though, but if he had it on, I remember not being able to tear myself away. Two guys beating each other up in the squared circle. I was captivated.

Casual viewing became a thing of the past because of one man, and one singular event. That man was Hulk Hogan and that event was the first Wrestlemania. I was hooked after that, I never missed Superstars of Wrestling on Saturday afternoons or All-American Wrestling on Sunday morning. What was great was my Dad and younger brother got roped in too, so it became a real "male-bonding" activity for the three of us. We would go see the WWF when they came to town, usually at the Cumberland County Civic Center (in wonderful Portland, Maine). I remember sitting with my Dad and brother once back in 1985 or 1986 when Hogan was due to wrestle the Big Boss Man and actually feeling my heart leaping from my chest when his entrance music hit. I can also honestly say that I had never heard, nor seen since, an ovation quite like the one that greeted Hogan when he came to the ring. I think my eardrums actually popped!

My fondest memory from that era, one I still talk about to this day in fact, is sitting through a five hour taping of Superstars of Wrestling on a Tuesday night in 1987. That was an amazing thing to watch, and it's when I truly began to see a little bit behind the curtain as 5 weeks worth of shows played out before me. I would know what was going to happen to my favorite wrestlers before anyone else would, the idea fairly blew my mind! For the wrestling enthusiasts who may be reading this, that night was truly a watershed moment in the sport as those shows detailed Macho Man Randy Savage becoming the Macho King (complete with coronation even!), as well as Andre the Giant's feud with the Ultimate Warrior which lead to Andre to becoming the "Ultimate" Giant. The night ended at 12:00 midnight with the Macho Man versus Hulk Hogan, and that match alone was worth the price of admission. Five hours of atomic elbows, dives off the top ropes, all wrapped up with a boot to the face and a leg drop. What a night!

Now while I truly loved the physicality of wrestling, what really got me hooked was the story-lines. Whether it was a wrestler jealous of another's success, or a manager turning on a wrestler, or the ultimate evil wrestler versus the ultimate hero, it was the stories that pulled me back week after week. They still pull me in to this day, although they are sometimes a little harder to swallow at the age of 35 than they were at the age of 10.

In reality these elements can all be summed up with one phrase, and it is my Mantra that I give to people when they ask me why I have continued to watch wrestling all these years:

Soap Opera with Muscles

Yup, that's it, Wrestling is without a doubt the male soap opera. Continuing stories about men and women with some headlocks thrown in for good measure. And it honestly hasn't changed that much since I was a kid. The women are A LOT better looking than the ones that wrestled back in the 1970's and 1980's and the guys are a little more willing to put life and limb on the line with some of the moves; but overall there's still bad guys and good guys fighting for the title. (Hell even Ric Flair and Hulk Hogan - sometimes -are still around.)

So when I turn on the boob tube (20 years later) and watch wrestling (WWE or TNA) now, I still feel like that kid who sat on a Tuesday night with his Dad and brother watching the spectacle of sports entertainment unfurl before him.

Now I know that wrestling is not everyone's cup of tea, and that's fine and dandy. (that's why the question marks are there in the title of the post) But from time to time I'll share some stories with you all about the wonders of the squared circle, both past and present (Boy do I have some great stories about seeing these guys live). Maybe I'll suck you in enough to want to check out a show or two, and who knows you might just be joining me in watching Wrestlemania come March. I'll save you a seat!

Friendly Reminder

2007-02-05T06:41:00.000-08:00

Just a quick reminder that my latest Milestone Monday's column is up at Always Bet on Bahlactus ( http://bahlactus.com ) ! Go check out my recap of Static #4, tell Bahlactus that Munson compelled you to read it!

Why I Like Tv Shows..... And You Should Too!

2007-02-04T14:15:00.000-08:00

Yes, it's time once again to listen to the Munson, as I talk about the wonders of the idiot box!!! I have a huge love for television shows, and there is no time like the present to be a fan of television. In the past 10 years I can honestly say there has been more good than bad on the boob tube. What I plan to do is take a weekly look at some of the TV shows I like, and share my opinions (both good and bad) with you.... my faithful little Munsonites!

To start, I'll just give you an idea of the TV shows that I watch on a regular basis:

Battlestar Galactica
Desperate Housewives
Prison Break
24
Heroes
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
What About Brian
House, M.D.
Boston Legal
Lost
Smallville
Supernatural
Grey's Anatomy
Mythbusters

How do I keep up with these shows you may ask??? I thank the gods of technology everyday for the advent of the DVR/ TIVO! It's the only way I could watch all of these shows, mainly because a lot of them are on at the same time. Now if you look at this list of shows, you really notice that there seems to be a general pattern of serialized shows. There is one that may just jump right out at you though. That show is Mythbusters, which my wife and I discovered (no pun intended since it is on the Discovery channel) and just can't stop watching.

Mythbusters has easily become my favorite show right now, and that is why I wanted to discuss this show for the inaugural TV column. If you haven't watched the show, the premise is that two special effects experts, Adam Savage and Jaime Hyneman, subject urban myths/ legends (such as answering your cell phone while pumping gas causing a person to explode from the sparks produced by the cell phone) to scientific tests to see if they could really happen or not. These guys are crazy, and will try anything in the name of science. They really go all out, going so far as to simulate a plane crash to test whether "assuming the crash position" would really kill you. One of my favorite episodes was on again recently, and it was entitled "Bulletproof Water". The guys decided to test how far you had to dive under water to survive a hail of gunfire, and they used some a large array of weapons and bullets to test the myth. The results were shocking, and lets just say water is pretty tough on bullets! I cannot recommend this show enough, it is so entertaining and fun to watch. It is on every Wednesday at 9pm and it replays at various times during the week, go to http://www.discoverychannel.com/ for a schedule. While you are there, feel free to check out the message boards and post a myth you might want to see busted on a future show. You never know, your suggestion just might be used!

As for the rest of the shows, here are some brief thoughts:

Lost comes back on wednesday and I am really looking forward to that show's return. Let's hope we get some payoff to some storylines soon!

Studio 60 has really improved since Aaron Sorkin turned a corner and gone from spotlighting the machinations of the show, to focusing a little bit more on the relationships between the main characters. I really think this show has a lot of potential, mainly because there is not a bad actor on the show and Sorkin has a knack for writing relationships (god do I miss Sports Night). I'd like to see it survive another season, but who knows.

Battlestar Galactica has a great storyline going right now involving the final 5 cylons, and we sadly said goodbye to Lucy Lawless' character. D'anna took an interesting turn in her quest for knowledge, and got a look at the faces of the final 5 cylons. What you have to wonder is whose face did she recognize? Maybe we'll get a big reveal later this season.

Like I said earlier, there is no better time to be a fan of TV then now. There is something for everyone out there and most of it is well written and in some cases well planned. Let's discuss!

Why I Like Comics...... and You Should Too!

2007-02-02T07:00:00.000-08:00

Hey there folks, welcome to the beginning of the all new Munsonisms!!! Today I begin my weekly look at the various pieces of the pop culture pie by taking a look at the big 'ol stack of comics I purchased this past Wednesday. Let's get this ball a rolling:

52 week 39 - this book continues to impress the heck out of me! I have not been disappointed yet, and with all the talk of WW3 and rumors of a possible sequel series it's a great time to be a DCU junkie (which I most certainly am). Much like everybody else who has a theory about where certain things are heading, I too have a theory I'd like to throw out there. Mister Mind keeps being mentioned here and there as having disappeared, now wouldn't it be crazy if Skeets was actually being piloted by Mister Mind. It would explain why he all of a sudden is all little mister killing robot, and would be just the crazy thing that Grant Morrison would come up with (as it has been written that he just spat out in a story meeting that he said to the group "what if Skeets was a villain" and the story got turned on it's head). This could be possible as Sivana was experimenting on him in some sort of time particle experiment, so what if the particles of time shot him into the future???? Something to think about I believe, no one would expect it (except me of course).
Daredevil # 93 - this book hasn't skipped a beat since Brubaker & Lark took over, and this issue sets up a great new status-quo for your favorite blind lawyer. Brubaker manages to wrap up everything about the secret ID reveal in a nice package, with the Kingpin as the ribbon and the ending of the book (which I will not reveal) as the bow on top! Lots of goings on in this issue, and even though it was the final part of a story arc, it really does serve as a good jump on point for a new reader. I dig this book big time!
X-men #195 - one word: Bleh
Chronicles of Wormwood #1 - from the mind of Garth Ennis comes the story of the Antichrist in New York City. He has a pet Bunny who talks and uses the Internet, his best friend is a mind addled Jesus Christ, he bangs Joan of Arc on the side, and is a Cable TV executive. Check this one out folks, it has serious potential
Ultimate FF # 38 - goddamn this book sure is purty! Pasqual Ferry kicks serious buttocks in the art department ( I can't believe this is the guy who drew Superboy back in the day!) Last part of the God War story arc gives us the Ultimate Cosmic Cube! Pretty cool developments, and I really like what Mike Carey has done with this book (especially making Thanos).
Ultimate Civil War: Spider-Ham - bad humor folks, punch lines you could see coming a mile away. I did find the first two pages very funny, flash backs to "My powers..... advantageous" jumped right into my head.
Teen Titans #43 - I am gonna miss Geoff Johns & Tony Daniel when they leave this book. New Teen Titans was the very first comic I collected on a regular basis starting back in 1982, so any Titans book gets me all warm and fuzzy (yes even the Dan Jurgens series). I like this issue (duh) mainly because it takes a step to explain why Batgirl has been crazy killer League of Assassins girl lately. Titans East looks like an interesting group, I wonder if Sun-Girl is Inferno (remember her from L.S.H. back in the day?) and she is just p.o.'d she is stranded in this time period? I am looking forward to this last storyline from these two, and they couldn't have picked a better successor than Adam Beechen (JLU is a very underrated book IMO)
Black Panther #24 - I have never wanted a storyline to come to a close quicker than Civil War. February 21st cannot come quick enough! We all know Iron Man is gonna come out on top of this one, let's just get to life after the cross-over already folks! That being said since the whole wedding thing, this book has gotten monumentally better. It's coming close to matching the Priest series in my mind, and that's as good a compliment as I can give Reg Hudlin.
Here are some quickies - Blue Beetle was a fun read with a nice Kirby-like cover.... Hawkgirl is getting stale real quick-like (why Hawkman disappeared from this book is beyond me, experimentation in titles is one thing, but this book wasn't broke)....Annihilation finally concluded and man did they get through a lot of stuff in this issue( I hope I am not alone in wanting a Star-Lord to become Iron-Fist to Nova's Luke Cage in the new series due from Marvel.... These two characters scream buddy book!) and I look forward to seeing more cosmic stories from Marvel this year!

That's about it for this Friday folks, tune in Monday for my first Why I Like Television..... and You Should Too column! Also remember every Monday I drop the world famous (if you don't believe me just ask Bahlactus) Munson's Milestone Monday's column over at www.bahlactus.com! WOW, what are the Munsonites going to do???? Will Monday's be just too much Munson for the world???? We'll all just have to see won't we!

Munsonisms 3 - It's tuesday, it's 9:40 do you know where your Munsonites are??

2006-12-05T18:43:00.000-08:00

Hey there ( I say to no one in particular)
J to the Munson here, just sending out a reminder that www.bahlactus.com has the newest MMM column up, you all should check it out and enjoy!
Also on the movie front, the wife and I just got done watching "Accepted", a goofy film about a kid that creates a college because he gets accepted nowhere else and then a ton of people get accepted to the fictional college via the fake website he creates with a buddy to snow his parents. (Sorry for the run on sentence) Not too bad a film, not exactly a huge brain buster of a movie, but funny mainly for the scenes in which Lewis Black appears as the person the kids hire as the dean of the school. Justin Long, who you may remember as Warren Cheswick from the extremely funny show "Ed" about the bowling alley lawyer( actually he owned a bowling alley and he was lawyer..... that's a little wink to the 5 or so other people that watched the show) starred in it and was pretty funny. I bring this guy up because he is actually co starring as Bruce Willis' partner in the new Die Hard movie that is due sometime in the near future. Yeah that struck me as a little weird too, but who knows maybe he is the plucky comic relief like Guy Fleegman in Galaxy Quest. SO that's enough pop culture references for one night I think!
For those wondering, the Christmas party was a great success, and unlike last year no snowmen were molested! (long story, better left for another posting wherein I reveal deep dark secrets of parties past... and boy do I have some stories) But I am going to head off to bed now, so goodnight my little Munsonites! TTFN

Munsonisms 2 - I'm Famous Bitches!!!!!!

2006-12-02T12:46:00.000-08:00

Oh it was just a matter of time wasn't it before the world saw the greatness that is the Munson! So you all know how I mentioned my column at www.Bahlactus.com in my first post right? Well apparently a little someone over at Newsarama noticed my column and gave it a shout out! Check it here http://blog.newsarama.com/2006/12/01/munsons-milestone-mondays ! Newsarama has been around in one form or another since the mid 90's and let me tell you I check the website like a true fanboy at least 4 - 5 times a day (wait a second, I probably shouldn't have admitted that...... ah well too late now), so to see my name in their blog section was a genuine thrill. So just remember to check the column out on mondays and tell Bahlactus I sent you!

In other news, tonight is the night of my big annual christmas party, and I will be sure to break it down for you Munsonites who were not in attendance tomorrow! Maybe I'll even figure out a way to get some pictures up, but the picture above was me and the wife from last years big bash. I think that was right before my buddies decided to throw a whole bunch of shots of various items into my beer. Bad hangover the next day my friends, very bad! Well, gotta go buy beer for the shindig so just remember to keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for cigars! (or is that supposed to be stars?)

Munsonisms 1 - everything old is new again!

2006-11-29T14:36:00.000-08:00

Hola!
Well, a long, long time ago I started a blog and never used it at all. That all changes starting now as the Internet needs to prepare itself for the onslaught of ideas that are Munsonisms! What are Munsonisms you may ask? Well they are just like the header says, random thoughts from me! They can range from what I am watching on TV, to what Comics I have read this week, to what I had for lunch.... it depends solely upon my mood. So come back here for some insight into the various things that reside in my brain. It won't hurt I promise, and along the way you just might learn something! Maybe something you didn't know, and you'll be the better for it because knowing is half the battle...... and that's one for you to grow on! (god the 80's were great for PSA catch phrases don't you think?) While I am here I might as well clue all you little Munsonites out there to a weekly column I am doing for my buddy Bahlactus' web site at www.bahlactus.com! It is put up every Monday and is called (what else) Munson's Milestone Mondays! Every week I will cover some comics published by a wonderful little defunct comic imprint called Milestone Comics, and all the explanation about the genesis of the column is in the super secret origin first post. Check it out won't you??? Well that is all for tonight as it is Wednesday and I am off to kick some butt in the new Raw vs. Smackdown 2007 game for PS2 and prepare for my weekly sojourn to Comicazi (www.comicazi.com) for comics and dinner with the gang. Tonight we go to Spike's Junkyard Dogs, home of the best damn Hot Dogs in history (www.spikesjunkyarddogs.com check them out if you live in the Boston area you will not be sorry!) I'll be talking at you!