Saturday, May 9, 2020

Mort the Dead Teenager #1 (1993)


Mort the Dead Teenager #1 (December, 1993)
"2 Young 2 Die 4-Ever!" ~or~ "Death on the Babylon Express"
Writer - Larry Hama
Art/Letters/Colors - Gary Hallgren
Edits - Bobbie Chase & Rob Tokar
Chief - Tom DeFalco
Cover Price: $1.75

It's Saturday morning... so, let's keep things light... by, uh... talking about a dead kid?

Now, I never refer to myself as anything other than a "fakeass" comics historian... but, I gotta say, it's not often I happen across something in the bins that causes me to do a double-take... especially when it's something from my comics collecting "wheelhouse".

A few months back I was flipping through the cheapo's at a Half-Price Books, when I came across... this.  Mort the Dead Teenager?  Is this real?  Oh yes, it's all too real.  I swore I'd heard the name before... though, I probably just dismissed it as some sort of an online forum gag... sort of like Street Poet Ray (which also actually exists... and is something I've spoken a great deal about elsewhere!) I grabbed it simply for the novelty of owning something called "Mort the Dead Teenager", and without ever thinking I'd be discussing it here.  Welp, Marvel May delivers again!

Let's do it.

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We open with one'a those old-fashioned Silver-Agey spoilery splash pages... and it's sort of in the modern-day meme format of "record-scratch: yes, that's me... you're probably wondering how I got into this mess".  Mort is being thrown from the wreckage of a crash with a train.  The embodiment of (teen) Death is driving the choo-choo.  So, how did he get into this mess?  Well, it all started ten minutes ago at the nearby Konvenience Korner.  Mort Graves (oy), pulls up in his father's nearly-nearly restored Studebaker to show off, and hopefully impress a girl named Kimberley.  His loser friends saunter up to admire the ride, but are interrupted by a big bully named... Maureen, who pulls up on her hog.


As Mort's friends drool over Maureen, Kimberley finally arrives in the back of a convertible full'a cool girls.  Mort begins to sweat, and decides it's now time to make his move.  And so, he absolutely douses himself with like a half gallon of aftershave.


Just then, Todd from Beavis and Butthead swings into to the lot, and more or less scoops up dear sweet Kimberley.  Mort, as you might imagine, ain't happy... and so, he challenges Todd to a race... a "contest of speed", even!


Mort watches in utter disappointment as Kimberley makes a meal outta Todd's lower lip... and, I'll admit, this is wildly unpleasant to observe.


Before we know it, the flag's dropped... and we're off to the races.  Todd zips through a railroad crossing... and, well... Mort's not quite so lucky.  He'd have jammed on the brakes... if only he remembered that the brakes were one of the things his father hadn't yet restored.  Whoops.


Next thing we know, Mort's in Hell... well, the Netherworld, but it looks pretty Hellish.  Anyhoo, Mort doesn't know what just happened, and so, Teen-Death has been tasked with filling him in.


He also introduces our boy to "real" Death... who, despite this story actually happening on Marvel Earth-616... isn't that gal that Thanos is obsessed with.  Instead, it's just some generic skeleton... who, in the name of "progress" has upgraded his reaping methodology by using a big ol' thresher rather than the ol' sickle.


Mort then asks if he's going to the "Bad Place" or the "Good Place".  Hmm... I didn't know people actually referred to Heaven and Hell like that.  Teen Death informs our lad that "The Good Place" is closed for repairs... and so, he has no other choice but to suspend Mort in Limbo.  So, he'll either be reincarnated as a roach, or be sent back home... to haunt!  He hopes for the latter...


... and, the latter is what he gets!  With a "Pop", Mort Graves arrives on the stoop of his Mistake Beach, Long Island, New York home.  He wanders inside, and... his family home is quite the sight.  I try not to judge, and my idea of "home decor" is a wall of longboxes... but, this place is pretty gross.  He peeps himself out in a (beer-branded) mirror... and notices he's looking pretty pale.  Upon spying a line around his neck he investigates... only to find that his head is no longer permanently attached to his body!  His Sister, Cyndi enters the scene... and, get this: she can see him.  Also, get this: she doesn't really care!


We learn that the rest of Mort's family are at the boy's "No Frills Funeral"... and she's headed out to make time with some dude to help grope... er, "cope" with her grief.


She boots Mort outta the house, and he winds up face down in the mud.  From the Earth, he hears a voice... it's Teen-Death.  Mort gets dragged underground, and gets a bit of the skinny n the "Haunting Business".  Seems if he holds his (non-existent?) breath, he can turn invisible.  Well, that's a pain in the ass, innit?


From here, we arrive at Mort's funeral... and, it's a sorry little affair.  The poor teen is being buried in a cardboard casket... and, making matters worse, it's raining.  Mort notices that neither of his loser friends bothered to show up to pay their final respects.


Here we meet the rest of Mort's family... and, they're kind of the worst.  None of them seem all that bothered by the death of Mort... and, seem to be thanking their lucky stars that it was Mort who bit it, and not the daughter, Cyndi.  Mort's sopping wet cardboard casket is "lowered" into the ground with a "splat".


Just then... Kimberley shows up, tossing a single rose into the plot... and revealing that she loves Mort, and wishes she could've felt his warmth.


She doesn't get to finish this thought, however, as Maureen the Motor-bully zips in to toss a six-pack into the plot, before tearfully riding away.


Back home, Mort decides to "haunt" his family... basically by letting them know he's still sorta-kinda there.  Get this... the Graves family... don't really care!  They're more worried about whether or not they're going to have to feed and clean up after Mort.  Dude would'a probably been better off had be been brought back as a roach.


Mort also learns here that he'd signed all of his Earthly possessions over to his shyster brother, Kyle... as collateral for some butt-rock concert tickets.  Well, since Mort's dead, it stands to reason he won't be able to pay down his debt... and so, everything he owned now belongs to Kyle.  On the plus side, this jogs Mort's memory a bit, and he realizes the butt-rock concert is tonight... which is why neither of his loser friends bothered to show up at his funeral.


And so, he head to the butt-rock show... where Mort's loser friends are leaving the venue, headed to the parking lot to meet with two "outrageous babes" they'd talked into making time with them.  I tell ya what, this panel might be a bit too big, because... it's like I'm there with them, and it stinks in here.


Mort follows his friends to their car... and overhears them chatting about their dead pal.  They're... duh... happy he's gone, and even happier that they got his tickets to the butt-rock show.  The two "outrageous babes" show up... and, woof.


One'a them mentions that it feels like she's sitting on a bowling ball... but, it's actually Mort's head.


The "babes" run away, leaving Mort with his cold-shower needing (well, any sort of shower would probably benefit these two) loser friends.


--

So... this sure was something, wasn't it?

I'm... actually not all that sure how I feel about it.  I didn't love it... but, it also wasn't bad or anything.  It was just kind of "there".  Felt sort of in the vein of, I dunno... Ren and Stimpy?  The art kinda felt like it was trying to walk the line of cartoon and... ugly cartoon?  Like that "90's ugly", ya know?  Really not a style I'm overly fond of... but, it fits the tone of the story well enough.

The story... it's, alright, I guess.  It reminds me a bit of Haunting: Starring Polterguy for the Sega Genesis.  Which also struck me as "90's ugly" back in the long ago... and also starred a dead kid with 'tude.


As for the characters.  Well, you ever walk passed someone in the aisle of a store (pre-pandemic) and instinctively hold your breath so you don't unwittingly inhale any of their funk?  Is it just me who does that?!  Either way, that's every character in this book.  Everybody here is gross... and you wouldn't want 'em near ya.  Even just flipping through the thing, I've got the stink of casino carpet stuck in my nose.

Overall... I don't know where this is headed, and... ya know what?  I'm okay with that.  I'm not going to break my back tracking down the latter 3/4ths of this mini-series, and wouldn't tell you to either.  It's neat as a novelty... but, that's about it.

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Friday, May 8, 2020

Omega the Unknown #1 (1975)


Omega the Unknown #1 (March, 1975)
"Omega the Unknown!"
Writers/Creators - Steve Gerber & Mary Skrenes
Art - Jim Mooney
Letters - John Costanza
Colors - Petra Goldberg
Edits - Marv Wolfman
Cover Price: $0.25

Hey everybody... don't have much of a pre-ramble today.

We're going to be looking at the first issue of Omega the Unknown, which was the book I chose to begin my ReMarvel podcast series with last Fall.  ReMarvel was my attempt at rediscovering some of my favorite Marvel stories... after many years away... and I felt like Omega was a fun place to start that journey.

If you're familiar with my audio-exploits (which I highly doubt anybody is), you'll know that the story that goes along with Omega will be filled with personal anecdotes and tangents.  I "discovered" this book during a very tumultuous time in my life... and, as such, can't help but to equate it with that wibbly-wobbly time.

Here's a link to the show in case anyone's interested (which... yeah, I know... you ain't):



Let's get into it!

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We open with the scene of a man clad in dark blue with red trim and cape is engaged in battle with a small army of robots.  There is an odd, uncertain narration accompanying this scene… it’s unclear who’s voice this is.  The man wrecks havoc on these robots, before ultimately destroying them with a blast from his hands.  Before the blast erupts, we can see that they sort form the “omega” symbol on his palms.


After blasting, he drops to his knees… exhausted.  A previously unseen robot approaches to take advantage of the situation, and winds up shooting our man in the back with a ray-gun of sorts
He screams in agony!


… which segues into our next scene!  A young boy sits up in his bed, also crying out as though he’s in pain.  His parents enter the room to check on him, and address him as James Michael
When asked if he can remember what his dream was about, the boy says he cannot.  He can only remember the “feeling”... cold, desolation… We learn that this family, the Starlings, lives up in the mountains… and to this point, James Michael has never *really* interacted with other children.  He’s met a few, but wasn’t all that impressed.  Tell me about it!


That situation is all about to change, however, because the kid’s going to be shipped into the city to attend school there.  In fact, this scene is occurring at a motel near New York City... and, he’s not taking this change all that well.  I can relate.  The next morning, the Starlings pack up at the motel and head toward their destination.
James Michael still ain’t digging this.  His parents try and psyche him up.


As they’re coming around a bend in the road, James Michael calmly suggests that his mother brace herself… because there’s going to be a collision.  Just then, a truck veers right for them!


It nails them head on, pushing the car off the road… and off the side of a nearby cliff!


Hearing his mother’s voice, James Michael comes to… he follows her voice and discovers her… severed robotic head?!  She warns him not to listen to the voices… as they’re the only thing that can harm him.  Then… the head melts into slag!


As James Michael attempts to make sense out of the situation, whispers begin to arise in the back of his head… those whispers become roars, and he’s suddenly seeing some really psychedelic stuff!  This is interrupted by the arrival of onlookers and passersby to check on the wreck... James Michael begins to panic.


Back to the big guy… our “hero” is shackled to a wall via energy beam restraints.  He looks on as a battle rages between those robots… well, they look like robots… and humans… well, they look like humans.  He is able to break free of his bindings, and launched into action… wrecking the bots.  He steals a rocket and shoots off into orbit.  As he draws further and further away from the planet, he is enveloped in darkness.


Which segues beautifully into the darkened hospital room of James Michael Starling!  He calmly asks a nurse if he was in a coma… she confirms that he was.  He’s at the Barrow Clinic in New York… so, it looks like he made it to the city after all!  He asks why he’s been restrained… she tells him it’s to keep him safe in case he begins thrashing.  He reminds her… calmly, that he’s not currently thrashing, and asks that the restraints be removed.  He also… calmly informs her that if he can’t untense his muscles pretty soon, he might just begin to panic.


The nurse calls in Dr. Thomas Barrow to evaluate the creepily calm boy.  After a brief introduction, the Doc is impressed with JM’s vocabulary.  James Michael tells him he’s been home-schooled.  The Doc asks where “home” is for the boy, to which he calmly replies that he doesn’t have one anymore… because, ya know, mom and dad are dead.  When asked “when?” they died, JM responds with “this morning”.


We learn that he was actually in a coma for a month!  The doc asks how he feels about losing his parents... and he calmly replies “They were good to me.”  He then lets it slip that the only thing he has to fear are the voices... whiiiiich makes the Doc’s ears perk up a bit.
This reaction kind of freaks the boy out… but the Doctor apologizes for overreacting, and everything gets smoothed over.


James Michael asks if he still has to go to school… to which, the nurse laughs… this is the first “normal boy” reaction she’s seen out of him yet.  The nurse gives him a sedative… and he asks her to explain the chemical composition of the pills… ay yai yai.  The Doc lights up his pipe, and tries wrapping his head around everything concerning this boy.  So fascinated is he, that he wants to keep him at the clinic to learn more about his situation.  Unfortunately, James Michael doesn’t have any money… and the Clinic’s board of directors isn’t keen on doing charity… so, the lad’ll likely be on the street before long.


In the meantime, however, he instructs the nurse, Ms. Hart to “pump” the kid for information... and so, over the next few weeks she does just that.  Well, she tries to anyway, this kid ain’t making a peep.


At the next Board of Directors meeting, Dr. Barrows makes his pitch to keep the boy at the clinic.  They tell him to cough up the $500 a week himself if he’s so interested.  Since the Doc ain’t willing to part with the funds, he and Nurse Hart move on to Plan B, which is: Ruth the Nurse and her roommate, Amber will take the boy home with them


While still at the clinic, Amber discovers James Michael playing chess… and they briefly talk about playing games against yourself… some real weird dual-personality chatter here.  Amber says sometimes “the voices” get into her head… to which, the boy perks up not realizing that she isn't referring to anything "specific".
Ruth enters the scene and informs the “punk” that he’s coming home with them.  He’s surprised… but, is cool to go along for the ride… after all, it beats being shipped off to the “funny farm”.


Later, James Michael gets settled in bed… however, before he can fall asleep… one of those robot-looking dudes from the other world busts through his window!  The creature “scans” JM with a sort of eyebeam to confirm he’s the right target... and although he’s not the right size… the bot is fine killing him anyway.


Just then… the “hero” arrives, and engages in battle with the bot!
After a lengthy, and room destroying tussle, the hero lets off an omega blast to destroy the baddie.  He smiles at the boy, collects the bot-body, and leaves!


... Just as Dr. Barrows bursts into the room!  He checks on the boy… who now has smoke rising from his hands.  Upon further investigation, it looks like the boy has the Greek letter “omega” imprinted on his palms…


--

What a weird and wonderful first issue!

Now, the first time I laid eyes on Omega the Unknown, it was the Jonathan Lethem/Farel Dalrymple version from 2008...


... which, doesn't really look anything like a Marvel comic, does it?  I was totally taken aback by the weirdness... and, upon picking up the first issue, was completely hooked by the premise... even though, I hadn't the foggiest idea quite what it was!

As I do, I started to research the character... and was pretty surprised to learn that this was a Bronze Age fella... created by Steve Gerber!  I was also kind of surprised (though, I probably shouldn't have been!) by the fact that Gerber was... ticked off that Marvel was "reimagining" one of "his" characters.  He didn't take too kindly to some "outsider" coming into comics and playing with "his" toys... and he made that abundantly clear on a web-site... Omega the Unknown-dot-com, which sadly no longer exists.  All the site said was "Omega the Unknown was created by Steve Gerber and Mary Skrenes".  That was literally it.  Just a black background... and that line of text.  Weird... just like this comic.

I decided to learn all I could about the Gerber "take" on the character... which led me to this original 70's run.  Now, if we were to compare the two takes... which, at present, I'm ill-equipped to do (it's been awhile since I read through either series to completion), I wanna say there were plenty of similarities... but, also... enough differences to make the two feel like their "own thing", ya know?  This '08 Lethem series wasn't like a straight-retelling of Gerber's '75.

Whatever the case... I enjoyed them both.  I almost started a project comparing the two... but, realized that it would have, at best, very limited appeal.  Sometimes I can be self-aware... thank heavens.

Let's go ahead and talk about this issue.

It's... really "in your face", innit?  Very cerebral... and visceral... just really has a way of getting under your skin.  It's a haunting story... that, you'll likely be left thinking about for the rest of the day.  Least that's how I received it (even on subsequent rereads).  It's very dark... and, uncomfortable.

Like, the way James Michael's story begins... we don't get to see him in his "natural habitat".  We meet him at a point of upheaval in his life... in a motel, on the way to a school he doesn't want to go to.  Any semblance of a "real life" is missing.  It leaves the reader kind of nebulously "along for the ride", ya know?  We don't get any touchstone for J.M., which is difficult.  We don't know much of anything about him.  It's a very different way to start a story.

But, it's that discomfort that fuels this book.  We don't get any feelings of "home" or "family".  We're sort of passively receiving all of the information... but, only the information Gerber and Skrenes want us to have.  They're building a mystery... on several fronts.  I don't wanna say that this is "ahead of its time", as I wasn't a living nor breathing human back in 1975, and so I lack the proper context to do so... but, to me... this feels sort of head-and-shoulders above many mainstream comics of the day, insofar as its depth, and I dunno, "headiness".

The scene where James Michael's mother.....'s head tells him to protect himself from "the voices"?  Horrifying, wunnit?  Just from a visual... and visceral standpoint... that's a mind-screwy bit, innit?  J.M. going from watching his mother's head melt away... to full-blown psychedelia... what a visual!  Amazing storytelling from all involved.  Does it make sense?  No... not yet, anyway... but, damned if I don't wanna know what happens next!

Nurse Ruth and her Roomie taking James Michael in... is a bit convenient... and makes me wonder just what sort of paperwork went into (even temporarily) adopting a weird child back in the mid-70's... but, it keeps the story moving forward, so we'll allow it.

Then... there's Omega.  These were always the parts of the story that, comparably speaking, sort of bored me.  It was the sort of "grounding" of this book into the superhero realm... for better or worse.  I mean, for this story to "work", we can't have one without the other... so, we gotta allow it.  I will say, however, that these bits were the least strong... and, I have a sneaking suspicion that might've been by design.

Overall... should you check out Omega the Unknown?  And if so, which version?  I hate being "that guy"... but, my answer is "Yes."  Read it... read 'em both.  As has become the cliche of these Marvel posts... I know neither diddly nor squat about Marvel Unlimited... but, for all I know, this book/these books are up there.  I'll advocate for Omega the Unknown 'til the cows come home!  This one's worth the effort.

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(Not yet the) Letters Page (with a Marvel Value Stamp):


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Bullpen Bulletins & Interesting Ads:


Thursday, May 7, 2020

X-Factor #42 (1989)


X-Factor #42 (July, 1989)
"All that Glitters..."
Writer - Louise Simonson
Pencils - Arthur Adams
Inks - Allen Milgrom
Letters - Joe Rosen
Colors - Tom Vincent
Edits - Bob Harras
Chief - Tom DeFalco
Cover Price: $1.00

Well, we've come this far... why not take a day to finish up Our Alchemical Romance?

--


We open in the Troll Tunnels, and X-Factor is still all chained up.  The baddies reveal their plan that, with the use of Thomas Jones' alchemical powers, they can destroy the British economy... and, ultimately drive everyone out of the country, reclaiming it as their own.  Sounds like an air-tight plan, dunnit?  Anyhoo, the Troll Associates, who are named Phy, Phay, Phee, Phough, and Phumm (not that I can tell 'em apart), work out their plan... two will remain with the prisoners, the other three will start turning things to gold with Thomas.  Worth noting, these Trolls are annoying.  The Trolls that stayed behind spot Baby Cable!  The one called Phumm (I think) shape-shifts into a dinosaur and goes to crush the tot, but the Cablet protects himself with a telekinetic bubble.


Jean starts to stir and knocks some of the baddies over with her TK abilities... after which, X-Factor makes short work of their bindings.  I mean, they're still super-powered mutants, right?  It's not like they've been inhibited or anything.  We get two or so pages of X-Factor bustin' loose.


Meanwhile, we join the rest of the Trolls (and Thomas), as they're reaching the Tower of London via magic carpet.  They want Thomas to turn the White Tower, which is apparently the oldest part of the Tower of London... to gold.  Tower, tower, tower.  I don't think I've ever typed that word as many times as right now.  Anyhoo... Thomas isn't so sure.  Suddenly a dog arrives on the scene, and starts yippin'.  One of the Trolls... slashes the dog's throat?  Oh, c'mon, flag on the play... I didn't wanna see that.  If I rated things on a numerical scale, this scene would've just cost this issue an entire point.


Thomas uses his alchemical powers to transmute the dying and suffering dog into gold.  The Trolls are oddly tickled... and decide, perhaps the Tower of London ain't important enough a place to turn to gold... and so, they set their sights on Buckingham Palace.  Hey, there's a place even I've heard of!  Thing is, he's not to transmute the building... but, the actual Royal Family!


The Palace Guards do their damnedest to hold off the Trolls... but, I mean... they're Trolls.  Do guns even work on them?  (No, they don't).  Suddenly the Police show up, and flash the baddies with their headlights.  This causes the Trolls a fair amount of pain... and does not go unnoticed by young Thomas.


The Trolls go to flee... and it's at this point that X-Factor arrives on the scene.  A fight ensues over the course of several pages, finally ending with the Trolls running back to the tunnels... and not a minute too soon, ya see... the Sun's just about risen.  X-Factor continues their pursuit, and Thomas is able to inform them that the Trolls' weakness is... Sunlight!


And so, another fight breaks out.  Iceman attempts to block off the Trolls' path with a wall of ice... but, it barely slows the bad guys down.  At this point, Thomas actually considers using his newly-minted alchemical powers to... turn the Trolls into gold.  He quickly dismisses this notion, almost equating it to murder... as there's no way he'd ever be able to return them to flesh and bone.


As the chase continues, Thomas calls out to X-Factor, revealing their current location (they're actually very close to his house... just, ya know, underground).  He asks Cyclops to smash a hole in the ceiling of the tunnel to let some sunshine in... and so, ZAPT!  Unfortunately for the good guys... it's just another rainy London day... ain't no Sun in the sky right now!


The Troll Associates are soon reunited in full... so, those two that X-Factor gave the slip earlier on, are back in the picture.  The Trolls decide that... maybe the best way to get this alchemical kid to do their bidding would be to, well... threaten his mum.  And so, they nab her!  If Thomas doesn't turn all the things to gold... they're going to flick her head clean off her shoulders.


Thomas is outta luck.  He's kind of run out of choices here... and so, he mulls it over.  He equates the Trolls to terrorists... who have no qualms about threatening and endangering innocents.  And so, he does what he'd thought about doing earlier this issue... he... turns (two of) the Trolls to gold!  Not sure where the other three got off to, but... I'm glad they're gone regardless.


After this, Thomas vows to the Golden Trolls that he'll become a Molecular Biochemist, and one day return them to flesh and blood.  Well, whatever helps ya sleep at night, Tom.


X-Factor and the Joneses decide to drop the Troll Figures in Hyde Park... but, before leaving, Thomas transmutes the gold into lead... ya know, this way they won't be so enticing to thieves.  Beast offers the kid a spot at their School for Mutants... but, Thomas turns 'em down... he's set on going to University so he might eventually bring the bad guys back to "life".  Ah, what could'a been!


We wrap up with X-Factor heading back to their Ship... and a teaser that there's about to be a kidnaping (with one p?).  The Judgment War is upon us!


--

Well...

I definitely don't have quite the same "soft spot" for this issue as I did for the first half of the story.  Frankly, I feel like we paid a bit too much attention to the darn Trolls here... and, boy... weren't they just a bit on the annoying side?  Eesh.

That said, I suppose I can be a bit more objective about this issue... and the story, than I was yesterday.  What we have here feels like... I don't wanna say "filler", but it's definitely doesn't feel like "must reading", ya know?  Gotta wonder if they already had the upcoming Judgment War plotted out, and wanted to end it in the milestone 50th issue of X-Factor... and, maybe this two-parter was more a "means to an end" than anything that absolutely needed telling.  I mean, it did give us an extra issue of Art Adams... which, might make the whole thing worthwhile... but, I think, as a story, this probably could've been tightened up, and told in one.

Let's talk Thomas.  We see that he realizes that actions have consequences.  He's got this unbelievable power to tinker with the chemical makeup of... anything, living or otherwise!  He knows that, if he were to turn the Trolls to gold... it'd very likely be a one-way trip... and, as such, really has to be pushed to his limit before he does so.  I thought this was pretty cool... and added a bit of nuance to his character, as well as direction for the future.

Though... just a few pages before he begrudgingly turns the Trolls to gold, he does tell X-Factor that sunlight will "destroy" the bad guys... so, maybe he's not really above killing... just as long as he ain't the one actually doing it?  Whattayagonnado?

Overall... as much as I had a hard time remaining objective about the first half of this story... this one, I dunno... kinda felt a bit sloggy.  The Trolls were almost aggressively annoying... and, I'd be fine never seeing them again.  I do wonder if there were some sort of jargon in the fine-print of the Mutant Registration Contest, where "Alchemy" (which he's never referred to as) couldn't become a regular featured character?  I remember something similar went down in the pages of Thunderbolts in the late-90's with the character Charcoal (who was the winner of a contest run for Marvel in Wizard Magazine, if I'm remembering right)... it got pretty sticky, if I recall.  So, maybe Alchemy couldn't (legally?) ever be more than what he was here?  I dunno... I ain't a lawyer, and I'm one'a the few guys on the Internet who won't pretend he is either!

Overall... I think if you read this two-parter in one "go", you'd really enjoy it.  In going through it one-per-day, I feel like the "seams" show a bit more.  So, I don't not recommend this... but, if you do decide to check out the dazzling debut of Alchemy, I'd suggest you hit up both issues at once.  And, uh... did I mention... Art Adams!

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Bonus Book??? (No, not really...)


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Letters Page:


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Interesting Ads:


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Podcast Plugs (you've already stopped scrolling at this point!):

Today I dropped the latest episode of the show named after this site, in which I discuss our recent visit with Leonard the Duck!



Also, this week...

Morituri Mondays, Episode 18!



From Claremont to Claremont: An X-Men Podcast, Episode 2!

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