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West Coast Wednesdays: West Coast Avengers Vol. 2, #13

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Posted by Christian A. Dumais on December 29, 2010 at 4:04 pm

West Coast Avengers, Vol. 2, Issue 13 (October 1986)

WEST COAST CREDITS!

Writer: Steve Englehart

Breakdowns: Al Milgrom

Finishes: Joe Sinnott

WEST COAST SUMMARY!

On a floating rock ten miles above Earth, the team is trapped by Graviton and his allies, Quantum and Halflife. It’s up to Tigra to save the day, but in order to do that, she’ll have to overcome her cat side and become ordinary Greer Nelson. Meanwhile, Hank Pym’s investigation into locating Master Pandemonium catches the attention of a demon.

WEST COAST THOUGHTS!

There’s a lot of monologuing going on here. Graviton is getting his revenge from the last time the West Coast Avengers took him down. And because Englehart is writing, this means this is a wonderful opportunity to provide some flashbacks.

Why Graviton just doesn’t kill everyone is beyond me. He’s extremely powerful and even Wonder Man shouldn’t be a problem for him. But he keeps everyone alive, with Iron Man and Wonder Man stuck to the ground, and Hawkeye and Mockingbird in some kind of electric jail cell. He keeps Tigra on a leash, however. Graviton, who understands Tigra’s inability to control herself in catform, keeps Tigra close so he can make out with her in front of her friends (see below).

Graviton gets it wrong, of course! If I was Graviton, I would’ve made out with Hawkeye instead. You know, to show everyone who’s boss!

Tigra is conflicted, especially when her cat-self is attracted to Graviton’s power (“I could end up a goddess!”). So when the opportunity presents itself, she transforms to plain old Greer Nelson to keep things simple. But without her cat powers, she’s essentially a woman running around in a bikini on a rock ten miles above the Earth.

No matter. Luckily there’s a stupid guard she can knock out and steal his uniform. From there, through the magic of gossip, she manages to turn Quantum and Halflife against one another. They start fighting and all hell breaks loose, allowing the team to break free and save the day.

At the end, Greer tells the team that she’s going to remain human most of the time and turn into Tigra when she has to. And now that she knows how easy it is to lose herself, she’ll have to stay extra alert. Which is like saying, now that I know how easy it is to become addicted to this cocaine, I’ll have to be extra alert when I snort some more later.

The issue ends with Pym being stalked by a demon as he explains that the team is needed in Kansas City. Why? Well, for that answer, it looks like we’ll have to jump ship and check out Avengers Annual #15 next.

WEST BOAST OR ROAST?

Boast. Not bad, though the Tigra stuff is starting to get ridiculous. If Hawkeye was half the leader, he’d send her packing until she had her issues sorted out.

WEST COAST SCENE (OF THE WEEK)!

Legal nerd says, “I think you mean: slandered her!”

DRUNK HULK’S TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS!

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Posted by Christian A. Dumais on December 24, 2010 at 6:00 pm

In case you’ve missed it on Twitter, here is the complete “The Twelve Days of Christmas” as done by Drunk Hulk. I hope you enjoy it and that you all have a wonderful holiday with your friends and family.

ON ONE DAY OF CHRISTMAS! TRUE LOVE SEND PARTRIDGE IN PEAR TREE! UNLESS THAT SOME KIND EUPHEMISM! DRUNK HULK NO IMPRESS!

ON TWO DAY OF CHRISTMAS! TRUE LOVE SEND TWO TURTLE DOVE! DRUNK HULK NO WANT THIS GENETIC NIGHTMARE! WHAT NEXT! LIZARD PARROT!

ON THREE DAY OF CHRISTMAS! TRUE LOVE SEND THREE FRENCH HEN! REALLY?! WHILE YOU AT IT! SEND DRUNK HULK FRENCH HERPES!

ON FOUR DAY OF CHRISTMAS! TRUE LOVE SEND FOUR CALL BIRD! THIS BIRD THING KIND OF CREEPY! YOU CONFUSE DRUNK HULK WITH DRUNK AUDUBON!

ON FIVE DAY OF CHRISTMAS! TRUE LOVE SEND FIVE GOLD RING! GREAT! ONE FOR EACH FINGER! THIS MUST BE WHAT IT LIKE TO DATE MR T!

ON SIX DAY OF CHRISTMAS! TRUE LOVE SEND SIX GOOSE LAYING! REALLY! DID SOME BIRD STORE HAVE GO OUT OF BUSINESS SALE!

ON SEVEN DAY OF CHRISTMAS! TRUE LOVE SEND SEVEN SWAN! GIVE DRUNK HULK MOMENT! DRUNK HULK GOT TWO BIRD FOR YOU TOO!

ON EIGHT DAY OF CHRISTMAS! TRUE LOVE SEND EIGHT MAID MILKING! DRUNK HULK NO SURE THAT EVEN LEGAL!

ON NINE DAY OF CHRISTMAS! TRUE LOVE SEND NINE LADY DANCING! FINALLY SOMETHING DRUNK HULK LIKE! NOW SELL STUPID BIRD FOR TIP MONEY!

ON TEN DAY OF CHRISTMAS! TRUE LOVE SEND TEN LORD LEAPING! WORLD GOT ENOUGH PROBLEM WITH ONE! NOW THERE NINE! AND LEAPING! THAT CAN NO BE GOOD!

ON ELEVEN DAY OF CHRISTMAS! TRUE LOVE SEND ELEVEN PIPER PIPING! WOW! YOU MANAGE GET DRUNK HULK MISSING STUPID BIRD GIFT! CHRISTMAS MIRACLE!

ON TWELVE DAY OF CHRISTMAS! TRUE LOVE SEND TWELVE DRUMMER DRUMMING! THINK IT TIME TO SEE OTHER PEOPLES! IT NO DRUNK HULK! IT YOU TOTALLY YOU!

Depending on my schedule next week, this may or may not be the last Drunk Hulk material posted here for 2010. In the event that this is the last, thank you all so much for making Drunk Hulk an enormous success. There are a lot of exciting possibilities in store for DH in 2011 and none of it would be possible without your support. DRUNK HULK THANK!

West Coast Wednesdays: West Coast Avengers Vol. 2, #12

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Posted by Christian A. Dumais on December 22, 2010 at 4:35 pm

West Coast Avengers, Vol. 2, Issue 12 (September 1986)

WEST COAST CREDITS!

Writer: Steve Englehart

Pencils: Al Milgrom

Inks: Joe Sinnott

WEST COAST SUMMARY!

Wonder Man introduces his new look to the team, and Hawkeye and Mockingbird use this opportunity to show off their new costumes too. Tigra still has some issues to deal with. And the team goes up against Quantum, Halflife and Zzzax…but are they a front for someone more sinister?

WEST COAST THOUGHTS!

Wonder Man’s new outfit is awful. Like I said from the very first West Coast Wednesday, he goes from one bad fashion choice to another. I’m not sure what they were thinking with green, yellow and red. It’s just painful. If I were to ever write a comic book with Wonder Man, I’d do a retcon where I explained that Wonder Man’s costumes were the result of a series of lost bets.

Luckily the changes for Hawkeye and Mockingbird aren’t as dramatic, though I never cared for Mockingbird without pants. With Tigra wearing a bikini and now Mockingbird wearing what amounts to a one piece bathing suit, things aren’t looking so good for the females on this team.

Tigra is still wrestling with her two souls and it’s clearly a problem, but Englehart writes her in a way that makes her look more ridiculous than torn. For instance, within three pages, Tigra goes from seducing Wonder Man to Iron Man to finally making out with Hank Pym.

The issue’s big fight is really nothing new, though Quantum, Halflife and Zzzax are different enough to keep things interesting. But the last page reveal makes it all worth it as Graviton – the original mini-series’ big bad – returns. Hopefully things will really pick up in the next issue.

WEST BOAST OR ROAST?

Boast. Yeah, I like it. Not crazy about the Tigra stuff, but the villains here were a change of pace for the book.

WEST COAST SCENE (OF THE WEEK)!

West Coast Translator:

The Business = “Substitute teaching”

Look my age = “Dumber than ever before”

Real Avenger = “What were you thinking?”

Expert Opinion = “the opinion of a drunk”

Uh = “Butt, not penis”

West Coast Wednesdays: West Coast Avengers Vol. 2, #11

6

Posted by Christian A. Dumais on December 15, 2010 at 3:57 pm

West Coast Avengers, Vol. 2, Issue 11 (August 1986)

WEST COAST CREDITS!

Writer: Steve Englehart

Breakdowns: Al Milgrom

Finisher: Joe Sinnott

WEST COAST SUMMARY!

Mockingbird, Hawkeye and Iron Man pay a visit to Nick Fury, which naturally leads to a fight with S.H.I.E.L.D. agents. Later, the three are attacked by Razorfist, Zaran and Shockwave for yet another fight. Meanwhile, Hank Pym is seeking out information about Master Pandemonium.

WEST COAST THOUGHTS!

Again we have flashbacks, this time to recap Mockingbird’s origin. The writing here is heavy on the exposition and everyone is talking like they just met each other for the first time.

The conversation between Nick Fury and Iron Man is particularly grating, especially when Tony still has his secret identity here. So Tony is referred to as “Iron Man’s boss” even though it should be more than obvious to someone like Fury who’s wearing the armor.

The fight with the agents is obviously just a way to fill up some pages, and it would seem that way with the fight with Razorfist, Zaran and Shockwave if it weren’t for the issue’s final panel which reveals that the villains were hired by S.H.I.E.L.D. That said, this information isn’t meant to be particularly meaningful for this series, but rather to interest readers to pick up the S.H.I.E.L.D. mini-series which was coming out later. Once again, the storyline for WCA has been hijacked to facilitate yet another series that won’t benefit the book in the long run.

If this were a television show, this would be the budget saving episode they make before the grand finale. In other words, this was 22 pages of wheel spinning.

Booooo, West Coast Avengers! Booooo!

WEST BOAST OR ROAST?

Roast. Not sure what the point of this issue was except to remind us that Mockingbird used to work for S.H.I.E.L.D. Not impressed with this one at all.

WEST COAST SCENE (OF THE WEEK)!

Because being second means being the first loser…

West Coast Wednesdays: West Coast Avengers Vol. 2, #9

2

Posted by Christian A. Dumais on December 1, 2010 at 4:46 pm

West Coast Avengers, Vol. 2, Issue 9 (June 1986)

WEST COAST CREDITS!

Writer: Steve Englehart

Breakdowns: Al Milgrom

Finisher: Joe Sinnott

WEST COAST SUMMARY!

This it it! The confrontation with Master Pandemonium that’s been six issues in the making.

WEST COAST THOUGHTS!

Mockingbird goes undercover as a possessed-by-a-demon-Shooting Star from the Rangers to meet with Master Pandemonium with the intent for the team to swoop in when she gives the signal. However, the plan turns sour when Master P whisks her away to his hideaway (I’m sorry, it’s “just–a place I enjoy!”).

We haven’t seen Mockingbird undercover since issue 4 of the original mini-series when she pretended to be a bartender for an overcomplicated plot to catch Graviton. This plan is a little more daring, especially since she’s pretending to be a creature pretending to be a person. Something I’m sure S.H.I.E.L.D. trained her for.

We get Master P’s origin in convenient flashback form and it’s pretty intense. After a car crash leaves Master P upside down and without an arm, Mephisto appears and undoes his marriage…actually, no, but he does appear. And Master P agrees to give him his soul in order to save his life, and Mephisto rips an arm off a demon and then puts said arm on Master P. Mephisto being Mephisto then decides why just stop with one arm. Like I said, it’s surprisingly intense and carries a lot more weight than origins like, say, the Blank.

The team finally finds Master P and Undercover Mockingbird, but Master P’s lair was designed by a James Bond villain and has convenient traps. But it’s just a way to fill up some pages. What’s important is that Tigra gets to Master P and has to make the decision on whether to kill him or not in order to become human again. And it looks like she was going to do it, but he gets away instead. So this is something that’ll have to be resolved later.

The big news for this issue is that the Thing finally joins the team at the end, which leads to some interesting reactions (see below).

WEST BOAST OR ROAST?

Boast. Not bad. Master P’s origin was a definite highlight to an otherwise light issue.

WEST COAST SCENE (OF THE WEEK)!

Tony Stark is a dick…

For my friend John, on his birthday…

3

Posted by Christian A. Dumais on November 25, 2010 at 11:54 am

John Polo is my oldest friend. We’ve been friends since 1987 when he sat by me on the school bus taking us home from middle school. He was this skinny kid with dark eyes and a sharp nose, and he had a loud laugh that caused his whole body to shake. I remember getting his phone number (which is still rattling in my head today) so we could hang out on the weekend. We read the same comic books and liked the same music. In the summer we went to the movies and wandered around aimlessly through the neighborhood in search of anything that would qualify as adventure. He taught me the shortest distance between two points is a straight line, so wouldn’t it be easier to cut through the neighbors’ yards to get there faster? John was the best friend a kid like me could have had.

My favorite memory with John is from 1993. We were two college freshmen on a road trip through Florida. We went from Tampa to Gainesville to Tallahassee and then back again. Hardly an epic journey, but it might as well had been the world to us. We had just left some friends from the University of Florida to visit more friends at Florida State University. The windows were rolled down as we pushed northward on I-75. John had his radio on the dashboard of my trusty Ford Festiva and we must’ve listened to Pearl Jam’s Ten about a hundred times already. The music was as loud as the radio could handle. John had started growing his hair long and I remember the way it flapped all over the place. We didn’t talk much during this leg of the trip. I can’t speak for him, but for me it was because this excursion was solidifying the simple fact that life was about to change for both of us. We were eighteen, just two kids still stuck in the past with no idea of what the future held. But we were best friends, every song on the radio was the soundtrack to our lives, and there was nothing we couldn’t accomplish.

John was the guy who convinced me to go to England with him in March of 1997. This holiday was more complicated than our Florida road trip. While I had talked about going to Europe, I was always too scared. And John was the one who pushed me out of my comfort zone and made it look easy. I followed his lead on the trip and it ended up being exciting, scary and life changing. At one point near the end of the trip, we were on a train and I said, “I could live over here,” and John, always supportive, said, “You should do it, man.” His lack of hesitation made me feel brave and strong.

I remember saying goodbye to John when I eventually moved to Philadelphia. I remember saying goodbye to John when we met for a day in Washington. I remember saying goodbye to John when he left for South America for six months. I remember saying goodbye to John when I moved to Poland. Every goodbye feeling more final than the last, because as you get older, goodbyes become heavier.

We live six time zones apart these days. And I miss him. I’m thinking of him now because while today is Thanksgiving, it’s also his birthday, and it’s important to write this stuff down.

Happy Birthday, John. I love you, man. I wish I could be there, and I hope we get to see each other again sooner rather than later.

West Coast Wednesdays: West Coast Avengers Vol. 2, #8

1

Posted by Christian A. Dumais on November 24, 2010 at 4:02 pm

West Coast Avengers, Vol. 2, Issue 8 (May 1986)

WEST COAST CREDITS!

Writer: Steve Englehart

Breakdowns: Al Milgrom

Finisher: Joe Sinnott

WEST COAST SUMMARY!

The team returns from their visit to Cat Land. Wonder Man brings them up to speed about his victory over Ultron. Mockingbird and Hawkeye fight it out, as married couples do with weapons, because she doesn’t like the way he’s ignoring Firestar. Speaking of Firestar, she calls upon her old team, the Rangers, to visit the compound. But things are not what they seem, as they have been possessed by one of Master Pandemonium’s demons.

WEST COAST THOUGHTS!

Firebird is proving to be more annoying than anything else. I appreciate the attempt at a Hispanic superhero – especially for 1986 – but between her visions and her praying, she’s a character that’s too reactionary to do much with.

The team seem pretty torn up about Pym’s mourning of Ultron Mark 12. And Iron Man, who is only shown from afar, is the one to console Pym in his time of need. If previous issues are any indication, Tony is probably mentioning how he hooked up with Pym’s ex-wife. Still though, it would’ve been nice to have at least one member of the team scratching their head at the idea of Pym upset over the loss of a robotic son.

It’s interesting that Mockingbird and Hawkeye simply can’t have a discussion about their problems. In this case, Mockingbird is annoyed that he ignores Firebird’s efforts to join the team and focuses only on the Thing. This is perfectly reasonable. However, like most disagreements in the Marvel universe, they resort to physical fighting. It’s also interesting that Mockingbird lunges for Hawkeye, he throws her off with his feet, and then they’re both immediately going for their weapons, with Hawkeye SHOOTING AN ARROW AT HER! He manages to shoot two arrows at her before she KNEECAPS HIM WITH HER BATONS! He fires off one more, tackles her, and they start making out.

Argument over.

There’s probably a lot of metaphorical sexual stuff going on, but really, do we need to go into this here?

We do?

All right, but it’s important to establish the – WAIT A MINUTE! I’M NOT FALLING FOR THIS ONE AGAIN!

The issue’s big fight is between the West Coast Avengers and the Rangers. Luckily, there’s no misunderstanding going on here, but rather, the Rangers are possessed. The demon is connected to Master Pandemonium, so this side story with Firebird actually connects with the larger story and puts Tigra closer to making her decision on whether to kill Master P or not. I’ll give Englehart credit for keeping all the plates spinning even when it doesn’t look like he’s spinning.

WEST BOAST OR ROAST?

Boast. Yeah, I’m on board with this. This book is cooking with gas now.

WEST COAST SCENE (OF THE WEEK)!

All the Thing ever wanted was for a female teammate to give him a massage. That’s not creepy at all…

New Fiction: “Your Turn” by Christian A. Dumais

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Posted by Christian A. Dumais on November 19, 2010 at 5:15 pm

Paul Hutchington’s suit was perfectly pressed, his forty-six year old face groomed, smelling good. His office was organized and neat with nothing on his desk, the computer behind him turned off, the tower and monitor cold to the touch. Later in the afternoon, when the sun is falling to the west, he’ll see dust floating in the air like drifting galaxies. When that happens, he’ll close the blinds so the dust won’t distract him, just as he’s done nearly every day for the last eighteen years.

There was a quick knock before Jimmy McGooken opened the door. He held his faded red cap in both hands near his groin. “You wanted to see me?”

Hutchington stiffened in his chair and placed his hands on his desk. “Yes,” he said, “I need you to see what Teddy’s up to.”

“Sure thing,” Jimmy said.

Hutchington coughed. “In the basement.”

“Oh,” Jimmy said, dropping his cap to the floor and reaching down for it.

“I know,” Hutchington said soberly. His instinct was to smile when he spoke to his employees, even when he was handing down bad news; it behooved him to be so somber despite the circumstances.

“I heard you sent Andy down – that true?”

Hutchington shook his head slowly and stopped himself. “It was Teddy who went after him, Jim. Like I told him, get to the button, press it and find Andy and the rest.”

Jimmy nodded, thinking Andy must’ve been the one sent down to find Tony Ackerman, who was sent down to find Luke Beaumont, who was sent down to find Ed Crabapple. There were others before Ed, but they worked in a different department and Jimmy didn’t know their names.

All of this started when Alexander De Graff, one of the general managers, decided to inspect the basement and press the button everyone but him knew not to press. Those who were close by heard the ancient doors unlock, the victorious cries of the things escaping, quickly followed by De Graff’s screams. So far the problem had been isolated to the basement for whatever reason and it was widely believed all would return to normal if the button was pressed again.

Jimmy was thinking about these things, but more importantly, he was wondering if his brother Andy was alive, and if he’d see him again either way. And this button, would pressing it again make a difference? His mouth betrayed his fears by ignoring them, and he said, “I’ve been meaning to ask where you get your suits.”

Hutchington smiled, relieved by the change of subject and enjoying the smile while it lasted, even though he knew Jimmy was stalling. “Couldn’t say. The wife orders them for me. I put on whatever’s in the closet.”

“She’s got a good eye then.”

“That she does. I’ll tell her you said so.”

“Please do. Thanks.”

The room was quiet again. Jimmy wasn’t moving. Hutchington was impatient for him to leave. Hutchington opened the top left drawer and removed a stack of paper. He straightened the papers, tapping the stack on his empty desk. He did it just to look like he was doing something.

Jimmy said, “I don’t know if I can do this.”

“You can, Jim,” Hutchington said, trying to ignore Jimmy’s shaking legs, his pants moving like drapes covering an open window. “I need you to do this.”

“What if it can’t be done?”

“It can.” Hutchington adjusted the confidence in his voice. “It has to.”

“I don’t know.”

“Listen, sooner or later that button’s got to be pushed and then we can get back to doing what we do.”

“Those things – I – I’m scared,” Jimmy said, a tear falling off his chin. “Not afraid to say it.”

“Neither am I.” Hutchington wouldn’t look at Jimmy’s face anymore. He heard or imagined hearing the tear landing on the wooden floor like a lonely raindrop. “Go get your brother, Jim.”

Jimmy turned for the door. He opened it and paused, his feet shuffling. Hutchington exhaled, not wanting to hear another word from Jimmy’s mouth, not wanting to hear a repeat of what the previous eighteen men had said, not counting the first two men because they didn’t know what was waiting for them down there. For a long moment, it did look like Jimmy was going to speak, but instead he wiped his face with the back of his hand and left the room, his cap returning to his head. The door closed quietly behind him.

The clock on the wall ticked closer to five, the noise sounding like a man clicking his tongue mockingly. It was Friday. Next week Hutchington might have to consider hiring new people. He pressed his thumb and index finger to the bridge of his nose, feeling a headache coming on. He wondered what the wife was cooking for dinner, wondering if maybe she’d surprise him with his favorite.

This has been “Your Turn”, written by Christian A. Dumais

West Coast Wednesdays: West Coast Avengers Vol. 2, #7

1

Posted by Christian A. Dumais on November 17, 2010 at 4:37 pm

West Coast Avengers, Vol. 2, Issue 7 (April 1986)

WEST COAST CREDITS!

Writer: Steve Englehart

Layouts: Al Milgrom

Art: Joe Sinnott

WEST COAST SUMMARY!

The team parties it up with the cat people while Hank Pym comes face to face with not one, but two Ultrons. It’s up to Wonder Man to save Pym from being killed by his own creation.

WEST COAST THOUGHTS!

Once again Al Milgrom takes a step back and does the layouts, and it’s Joe Sinnott who comes in to do the art. Sinnott’s style mirrors Milgrom (he’s inked Milgrom’s work before), and after last month’s art by Kyle Baker, it’s a bit disappointing.

Surprisingly, the Tigra story that dominated the last issue is more of an afterthought here. Hawkeye and the Thing have yet another fight over him being on the team, and Firebird gets all mopey in the background about not being considered for the team. Other than that, there’s nothing going on here but wheel spinning.

The majority of the book is devoted to Pym and whether Ultron Mark 12 is really good now. Unfortunately for both of them, Ultron Mark 11 is back and he’s still evil.

Through flashbacks, we learn how Ultron Mark 11 returned after his stint in Secret Wars. This is the one time where flashbacks are used effectively, but I wish they had been spread out through previous issues instead of being dumped here. This way, when Ultron does contact Pym, readers are left wondering which Ultron it is. Or maybe that would have been too confusing for 1986 readers. I don’t know.

Wonder Man really shines here when he’s taking down Ultron. Unfortunately, to get to that point, readers have to get through two pages of Simon in Hollywood. When the action kicks in, it’s pretty good though. And while the whole dynamic of Pym as father and Ultron as son is silly, Englehart finds just the right amount of pathos to make it work without it becoming maudlin.

WEST BOAST OR ROAST?

Boast. Yeah, I’m on board with this. This book is cooking with gas now.

WEST COAST SCENE (OF THE WEEK)!

Wonder Man learns from all his mistakes, except his fashion choices…

West Coast Wednesdays: West Coast Avengers Vol. 2, #6

3

Posted by Christian A. Dumais on November 10, 2010 at 4:53 pm

West Coast Avengers, Vol. 2, Issue 6 (March 1986)

WEST COAST CREDITS!

Writer: Steve Englehart

Layouts: Al Milgrom

Art: Kyle Baker

WEST COAST SUMMARY!

The team, working with Dr Morbius, is trying to free Tigra of her cat-curse, even though Tigra isn’t exactly sure if that’s what she wants. Wonder Man gets a part in a big Hollywood blockbuster (with Arnold Schwarzburger) as the public continues to adore him. With Iron Man healing from his wounds from last issue, Firebird and the Thing help out the team as they visit “The Land Within”. Pym meets with Ultron who wants to be a good robot now. And returned with her cat people, Tigra comes to a decision.

WEST COAST THOUGHTS!

The first thing that needs to be pointed out is that the usual penciler Al Milgrom does only the layouts for this issue, and the art is by, of all people, the great Kyle Baker. To say that the art is a huge leap forward is an understatement. Milgrom, as I’ve said before, is good, but it lacks a certain spark. Baker, on the other hand, really delivers with a lot of nice little touches.

That said, this issue brings back the overuse of flashbacks to tell the story especially in terms of feeding readers Tigra’s history. Also, the cat people part of the story isn’t really my cup of tea. In fact, it goes too far into furry fandom territory for my liking. The only points I can give it is how Englehart manages to connect the plot to the lingering Master Pandemonium storyline, as Tigra agrees to find the villain and kill him in order to be free of her curse.

Wonder Man’s storyline looks like a poor excuse to poke some fun at Hollywood, but much like how Mockingbird and Hawkeye’s banter feels like it’s being written by someone who’s not married, the movie stuff feels like it’s written by someone who knows nothing about Hollywood. And, really, Arnold Schwarzburger? How is it that it’s okay to name drop Johnny Carson, but not Arnold Schwarzenegger?

The Thing continues to be used in the book to good effect and Hawkeye’s tenaciousness about him being on the team is also used well. Firebird is slowly coming into her own, and her desire to prove herself to the team is a nice touch.

Finally, Hank Pym’s meeting with Ultron shows some promise, but it’s so inherently silly that I’m waiting to see where it goes next before I judge it too harshly.

WEST BOAST OR ROAST?

Boast for Baker’s art. Roast for the disjointed story. One step forward, one step back…

WEST COAST SCENE (OF THE WEEK)!

I’m sure that’s not what she meant, Tigra…