Outsiders (vol.3) #18 (2005)

Outsiders (vol.3) #18 (January, 2005)
"Most Wanted, Part 2"
Story - Judd Winick
Art - Carlos D'Anda
Colors - Sno-Cone
Letters - Phil Balsman
Associate Editor - Tom Palmer, Jr.
Editor - Eddie Berganza
Cover Price: $2.50

Well, yesterday we were promised an appearance by John Walsh of America's Most Wanted... and that's just what we got... a single panel featuring the man himself.  Kind of a letdown, don't you think?

So, let's keep with the Outsiders and see just what they do with their newfound pal.

--

We open on some grainy CCTV footage of the store where a young girl named Janet Milo had been abducted three months prior.  The Outsiders (and John Walsh) watch intently as a suspicious-looking individual keeps wandering into the scene.  They eventually deduce that he most likely took the girl out of the area inside a duffel bag.  Dick and John also note that the likely baddie happened to touch the counter... leading them to wonder if there might be a way to pick up any prints.

Walsh isn't terribly excited, as the counter has likely been wiped clean thousands of times since... to which, Roy informs him that their technology is a bit better than that of the Police.  Waitasec!  Just last issue Jade said that this was a job the Police should be able to attend to without the Outsiders!  What kinda crap is this?!

Some time passes, and the Outsiders are able to nab twelve-hundred prints from that counter.  They call into Walsh, who suggests they cross-reference those prints with the known pedophile database... which, c'mon now, did they really need John Walsh to tell them that?  Either way, they find a match... a Martin Andrews.

When Grace hears the news... well, she's just annoyed that it isn't the fella who abducted her... Tanner.  With a name, however, John Walsh is able to do his America's Most Wanted thang, and at least try and nyoink this Andrews off the street.  The Outsiders watch the program... and are not entirely comfortable working "within the system".  I mean, they're talking like they're X-Force or something... Black-Ops... they're the freaking Outsiders, they were originally founded by Batman, they're mostly graduated Teen Titans... gimme a break with that "outside the system" spoo.

We shift over to Grace's... rather gross bedroom, where she's also watching America's Most Wanted... but I can't say for certain if it's the same episode.  This time, John Walsh is revealing that Janet Milo has been found and returned to her family... so, it's almost gotta be "next week's show" right?  I guess that could've been clearer.  Roy asks Grace how she's doing (and it seems like they're not in her disheveled bedroom anymore)... but it's clear she ain't doin' all that hot.

Later, Walsh calls in to Outsiders leader, Jade.  He informs her that since the show aired, they've received thousands of calls about that Martin Andrews... but one in particular stood out to him.  One said that he was seen talking to a fella named... Tanner!  Now, I'm not sure if the art is supposed to be conveying any particular disinterest in Jade's eyes... but, she doesn't look all that "into" it.  Maybe I'm just projecting.

Anyhoo, we move on and the Outsiders (I keep wanting to type "Titans") are on the prowl.  They head in the direction of Walsh's tip, and use Indigo to do some scanning.  It isn't long before the come across a bunker holding 83 child slaves!

It's not long before the police show up... and the children are taken away to safety.  Roy's super jazzed that they made a difference... but Grace still feels like they're in an uphill battle.  To her mind, all they've done is close down a single franchise in Tanner's conglomerate.

One of the goons who was guarding the bunker getting hauled away recognizes Harper from his time using.  The goon uses his one phone call to give Tanner a buzz and let him know what went down... and give a little insight into Roy's private life.  He also mentions the "wicked tall Asian chick" called Grace who was with him... which, as you might imagine, gives Tanner a bit of a pause.

Tanner hangs up on the goon, and makes a call... to get a "job" done.  Tanner, by the way, has both a mustache and a mullet.  Worth mentioning?  Ehh, it's too late now.

We shift scenes over to Roy... and that disgusting Dorito crumb he has on his chin, who is talking to Dick on the phone.  They're discussing Grace's anger, and the justification of it... it is confirmed here that during Grace's time with Tanner she was raped.  Roy cuts the call short so he can go relieve the nanny and be with his daughter.

As he approaches his apartment door, it's clear that it's been tampered with.  He kicks it open, to find the nanny (I'm guessing) shot dead... Lian's been taken, and there's a message scrawled on the wall.  It's the New Didio-DCU... ain't no stomaching us now!

--

Okay, this wasn't great... but it also wasn't bad.

Right off the bat... last issue, there was only one drawing of John Walsh... and boy howdy, did it look like they labored over the damn thing to make it look like him.  This time around?  Not so much.  It just looked like any random middle-aged fella.  I think when you're entire hook is the John Walsh/America's Most Wanted connection... you might wanna do a bit better with the likeness.

The "meat" of the story might've been a little bit on the convenient side... but, I mean... if we were to interject reality into this, it would be a never-ending story.  There are always going to be abducted kids (and people in general) who are in need of discovery and safety.  That's sort of the problem exploring these kind of themes.  Maybe that's why Jade was so adamant an a-hole last issue?  She just didn't want her team to become pigeonholed!  Now it all makes sense!  No, no it still doesn't.

I gotta say, this was a ringing endorsement for the America's Most Wanted program... which, I mean... if probably the point.  No harm, no foul... the show is very important, and has done a helluva lot of good.  The whole thing was convenient... but forgivable.

Let's talk gore!  I feel like a lot of DC fans (myself included) see the launch of this book and Teen Titans (vol.3) as the real "start" of the Dan DiDio DCU.  With his arrival came a darkening... Impulse gets kneecapped right off the bat over in Titans... the whole Sue Dibny thing happens in Identity Crisis... and here we have a nanny getting his brains splattered all over Roy's apartment.

The Impulse and Sue beats... while I didn't really dig 'em, they at least served the story.  They led to something.  This?  This just feels gratuitous.  I don't feel like we needed to see this.  Not that I'm averse to violence, but this just feels... I dunno, almost embarrassing.  This is the kind of thing that people who don't read comics think comic books are full of... and judge those of us who do read them accordingly.  All I'm saying is, sometimes less is more.  Leave something to our imagination.

Overall... like I said, not a bad issue.  A little convenient... but, can't get all that mad at it.  We'll wrap this bugger up tomorrow.

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Outsiders (vol.3) #17 (2004)

Outsiders (vol.3) #17 (December, 2004)
"Most Wanted, Part 1"
Story - Judd Winick
Art - Carlos D'Anda
Colors - Sno-Cone
Letters - Jared K. Fletcher
Associate Editor - Tom Palmer, Jr.
Editor - Eddie Berganza
Cover Price: $2.50

Well, there's a cover that just jumps off the shelves atcha, don't it?

--

We open with a scene that doesn't even feel like it belongs in this issue... Nightwing is relieved of his duties as leader of the Outsiders.  He isn't kicked off the team, or anything... they just don't want him to lead them.  A later chat, which also feels kind of out of place, between Roy and Kori reveals that Jade will be taking over.  Roy then storms off to do... something.  Not sure what it is, but it looks like the Outsiders are uneasy about it.

We jump ahead three weeks later, and join Grace and Shift (Shift was that gaseous-looking character we were all led to think was Metamorpho).  They are stomping around a storage facility looking for a weapons cache... and, wouldn'tcha know it... they find one!  They wind up getting attacked by the baddies... but are able to overcome the odds off-panel.

Feild-Commander Jade calls in to get their "twenty", and learns that all's quiet on whateverthehell front they're currently on.  Then, Grace sees a light coming from a door she hadn't noticed.  She approaches, crushes the door into scrap... and finds, a room full of children strapped to beds!

As if that wasn't shocking enough, Grace notices that they all bare a particular brand on their lower-backs.

We jump ahead six days, and rejoin Roy who is feeding Lian some... either pancakes or dry toast.  Gotta say, Lian's got some of the worst dialogue here.  It feels like an attempt toward Bendis-speak, but it falls completely flat.  I mean, she refers to a classmate as a "big stupid head".  Is this real life?  Do kids really say that... or is that what people think kids say?  Was "poopy head" a step too far?  Anyhoo, Roy receives a call from Jade, who is concerned because Grace didn't show up to that day's briefing.

The order of business... and this is important for my upcoming complaint... the Penguin is moving one of those drugs that gives the user superpowers that showed up in like every superhero book during the mid-2000's (hell, even today!).  Just remember that Jade has led the team on a weapons bust and a drug bust since taking over leadership.

We shift scenes to join Grace... who is beating the holy hell out of, well, some dude.  She's looking for answers on the branded kids... unfortunately, before she can get any... that "some dude" passes out.  At this point, Roy shows up on the scene... and boy howdy has that Dorito crumb on his chin grown!  Grace spills the beans about the kids... to which, Roy comments that Grace herself has the same brand on her lower back!

Grace share her origin... her time as a child slave.  She explains that she would be strapped to a bed in between "rentals" to folks who would have their way with her.  Lucky for her, her powers manifested when she was around twelve... but the others didn't get such a break.  I want you to remember this bit too.  Grace was abused until her powers manifested.  We'll come back to this in the very next scene.

We shift ahead to Grace informing the rest of the Outsiders of both her findings, and her past.  And, get this... Jade thumbs her nose at the idea!  Jade feels like the Outsiders are "better suited for the bigger picture".  That they should leave things like child sex-slaves to the police or firefighters!  Okay... here comes.  Since Jade took over leadership of the Outsiders... they've done a weapons bust... and a drug bust.  Those are part of "the bigger picture"?!  Those are "too big" for the police?!  What the hell has happened to Jade?!

Grace continues to plead her case... to which, Jade responds "It's not what we do."  Putting aside that the Outsiders just used their "abilities" to stop a weapons shipment and an inner-city drug-run... let's look at Jade for a moment.  We know she's a victim (or at least a target) of sexual abuse... and we know that, like Grace, it was only due to her powers manifesting that she was able to get away.  What's more... Jade was able to get revenge on her abuser!  And here she is poo-pooing Grace's opportunity?!  The hell?

At this point Dick, who has been hanging out off to the side, decides to finally interject.  He sides with Grace... he think this child slaves situation needs to be brought to the light.  Which makes me wonder... was Jade okay with not even reporting this?  Who in hell put her in charge?  More importantly, why is she being written so ridiculously out of character?

Starfire inquires as to what Dick means... should they call the police?  Well, no... not exactly.  Dick suggests (as if the cover didn't spoil it) that they turn to America's Most Wanted.  Shift thinks it's a silly idea... and so, Dick pleads his case.  He thinks John Walsh might be the best guy to have on their side... as his life's mission has become protecting children.  Plus, this would get more eyes on the situation than just going to the police.  Sounds like a good idea to me... it's almost like Dick should be leading this team or something!

Anyhoo, we wrap up with the big reveal... the Outsiders visit John Walsh.

--

Okay, now it's pretty easy to look at this cover... give it a giggle, and just dismiss it as a PSA or "very special issue"... but, you really get the feeling like their hearts were in the right place.

It seems almost unfair to look at this as a "comic book" and judge it like we would any random issue of Superman... but, that's kinda what we do here.  I feel like, had this come out in the 80's or 90's, it would've been one of those one-shot freebies they'd send to schools or something... so it's kinda weird seeing it as just the next issue of Outsiders.

From the nuts and bolts, it does kinda feel like this story might've been "shoe-horned" in.  If we look at the opening bit... it really doesn't look like it "fits".  It's as though there was another story that was supposed to stem from that, but we wind up with this story instead.

Let's talk characterization... in particular, Jade.  What the hell, guys?  Is she so far up her own ass as team leader that she's forgotten just what it is that heroes do?  Child sex slaves is somehow the "small stuff" they shouldn't sweat?  I mean, in a perfect world, the police could deal with the Joker without help from Batman... hell, in a perfect world, there'd be no Joker, but I think you get my point.

The mid-2000's were a time rife with characters being written out of character in order to facilitate whatever story the writer wants to tell.  I mean, this was the same year Civil War (the less terrible one) came out over at Marvel, where Mark Millar and company drove that last stake into the heart of true characterization.  I feel like the way Jade is being written... so aloof and dismissive, should get her immediately removed from leadership... if not the team altogether.

You get the impression that Winick thought this all up in the shower one day... and had to find a way to keep lobbing easy "pitches" that he could then knock out of the park.  Unfortunately, it just doesn't work.  Jade as the contrarian here... is not only out of character, but it's also freaking pointless!  Why not have her on board with the hunt for Tanner?  Why not play up her inexperience as a team leader to know how to go about doing it efficiently?  You'd still get Nightwing offering his two-cents, and the America's Most Wanted tie-in.

As a comic book, I have some problems with it.  With that said, I still feel like Winick and Company had their hearts in the right place when they put this together... so, ya know... no harm, no foul.  The art here is... inconsistent.  Not bad, but the character models change a bit from page to page... panel to panel even.  It looks like Jade must be taking some bad-ass biotin here, because her hair gets one hell of a growth-spurt about halfway through the book.  Though, in fairness... three weeks had passed.

Overall... is this a book you need in your collection?  Well, for the novelty of a John Walsh photo-cover... sure, why not?  It's probably the best John Walsh photo-cover of a comic book you're going to find.  If you're a John Walsh completionist, it should go without saying that you need this book.  The man himself has one hell of a story... he's turned his own personal tragedy into something incredible.  For the story of this comic... well, it's an important subject... but the way they get to it is kind of maddening.  This issue is available digitally.

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Titans (vol.3) #20 (2018)

Titans (vol.3) #20 (April, 2018)
"Titans Apart, Part One"
Writer - Dan Abnett
Penciller - Paul Pelletier
Inker - Andrew Hennessy
Colorist - Adriano Lucas
Letterer - Carlos M. Mangual
Assistant Editor - Dave Wielgosz
Editor - Alex Antone
Group Editor - Brian Cunningham
Cover Price: $3.99

For folks who might not know... or care, I review the most recent volume of Teen Titans (that's volume six) over at Weird Science DC Comics... and lemme tell ya, folks... it's a boring book.  I can't say that it's objectively "bad", but... nothing happens!

This week, I reviewed the final issue of the volume (#19... on shelves today), and was baffled at how little forward momentum had occurred over the past 1-2 years in the title.  Every issue/arc was predicated on a Titan either joining... or quitting... or rejoining... or being given the boot!  Other than that... nothing happens!

So... it might go without saying (though, I'll say it anyway)... I'm a little gun-shy on the post-Rebirth Titans books.  And so, the sister title, Titans, has just been stacking up in my "maybe I ought to get around and read this" pile.  So... let's do it!

--

We open with Roy Harper, all by his lonesome trying to take on some Intergang Enforcers.  It looks as though he's about to bite it, when his old friend... older lover, Cheshire arrives on the scene to bail his poor butt out of trouble.  Together they're able to take down the baddies, and make a clean-ish getaway.

We follow them to a (presumably) nearby Noodle Shop, where they do a little catching up.  I'm going to guess that Lian Harper (that's Roy and Cheshire's daughter) was never a "thing" post-Flashpoint/Rebirth... otherwise, I'm pretty sure she'd at least get a passing mention.  Roy and Cheshire were definitely lovers though.  He fills her in on the Titans dissolution... and his would-be plans for the future.  Cheshire suggests they work together on taking down the Intergang Cartels... but questions Roy's ability not to fall back into "the pit" of using, if he's so close to drugs.

Later, Roy checks in with Donna... who is being held on the Justice League Satellite due to her having... I wanna say, a split-personality gimmick going on?  She turns into "Troia", which to me is that gaudily-dressed short-haired version of herself... but apparently that's something altogether different.  He tells her that he's going to go radio-silent for awhile... which causes her a fair amount of distress.  Wonder Woman pops in with a tray-full of grub... and they have a strange and sorta contentious chat.

We shift over to Keystone City where Dick Grayson is helping Wally West (the real one) move into his new digs.  They talk about how their lives will be moving in different directions now that the Justice League put the kibosh on their collective.  I didn't know the Justice League had like full-on legislative power, but I guess they do!  They even question whether or not they should be hanging out... out of costume!  What kind of madness is this?  Not a good look for the League.

We rejoin Roy and Cheshire who are infiltrating an Intergang Cartel.  The baddies are synthesizing the drug "Bliss" off of an original compound.  Intergang goes down easily... and the goods are gotten.

We follow Roy and Cheshire back to his place... where she persuades him into sleeping with her.  In fairness, Roy doesn't take all that much in the way of prodding in order to head to the bedroom.

We shift ahead a bit, to find a groggy... maybe stoned... Roy stumble out of his (now empty) bed.  He wonders if he "gave in" and used.  In the living room, he sees that the "Bliss" sample (along with Cheshire) is gone.

We wrap up with Cheshire giving the goods to Monsieur Mallah and the Brain... who thankfully weren't in bed themselves!

--

I tell ya what... after reading "Nothing Happening" Teen Titans, this book is like a breath of fresh air!  The story may not be exactly what I'm looking for, but... I can't argue that there is, in actuality, a story here!

From the moment I saw this cover in the solicitations, I kinda had that knot in my stomach.  I figured "well, they gave it a try... but it didn't quite work out".  This was (outside of the Superman books) what I wanted most out of Rebirth.  I wanted the Titans... my Titans... back.  If you flip through the archives here, I gave an impassioned plea when I reviewed Titans (vol.3) #5... it was probably the most boring book I'd read in years... and I was able to synopsize the entire issue in less than five minutes.  I listed my complaints and observations... and wrote that, even five months in, I feared for this book's longevity.

And here we are.  I can't say it's all this book's fault, however.  DC does feel like it's in a bit of an upheaval at the moment.  We've had crazy delays on things like Dark Knights: Metal... and currently with Doomsday Clock.  The Justice League books are up in the air... everyone needs to stop and gawk at the incoming Bendis... and the Titans, well... they're just collateral damage.

Luckily for us, what we get here isn't half bad.

Like I said above... I'm not sure if Lian Harper was ever a thing that happened.  I mean, if she did (and if Justice League: Cry for Justice happened)... she's long dead at this point (Convergence: Titans notwithstanding), but still... I feel like she'd warrant a mention.  I think we can guess that she never born in this timeline.

Sticking with Cheshire... I really dig how calculated she is here.  Like every line she spoke was planned out.  Expressing interest in Roy's life by asking where the Titans were.  On the surface it looks like she's genuinely concerned... but in reality, she's just trying to see how easy a "mark" Roy's going to be.

I think my only real "complaint" is, I'm left unsure as to whether or not Roy relapsed.  It's sort of implied... but, isn't made crystal clear.  It might just be Cheshire messing with his head.  I guess the answer might be in the next issue.

The art comes from one of my favorites, Paul Pelletier.  Just love this guy's work!  He's always been one of those artists that I try and follow when he takes on new gigs... and I'm definitely jazzed to see him here.

Overall... this is a promising start to the arc that will wrap up this volume.  I try and keep away from solicits (because they might as well be called "spoilers for what's going to happen in three months' time)... so, I couldn't say what (if anything) the future holds for this property.  I can say, however, that this one is worth a read.

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Lenticular Whoziwhatsit:

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Manhunter (vol.2) #1 (1994)

Manhunter (vol.2) #1 (November, 1994)
"True Fiction"
Writer - Steven Grant
Artist - Vince Giarrano
Letterer - Clem Robins
Colorist - Adrienne Roy
Editor - Archie Goodwin
Cover Price: $1.95

No man escapes the... well, you know.

Today we're going to take a look at a book... that, if you ask me, was kinduva "blink and you'll miss it".  A volume of Manhunter that I sometimes forget even existed!

That being said... it's also a volume of Manhunter that I've never read!  Let's remedy that... at least for the first issue (not counting the zero ish), right now!

--

We open on our titular (though not yet named as such) Manhunter.  His head is full of some sorta purple prose... but it's also confused.  There's something about how these captions are written, where in a knee-jerk kinda way, I really wanna hate it... yet, I don't.  He's on the (wild) hunt for Doctor Malig (which might be a bit on the nose) because he needs his help to deal with a mythical Wild Huntsman... when he runs afoul of the motorcycle riding Butcher Boys.

They fight for a bit... and in a panel that I find funny, though I'm not sure it was meant to be, Manhunter tricks the baddies into firing on an over-sized curtain.  Gotta wonder if that's a sort of commentary on how silly the extra-long capes of the day were.  Nah, I'm probably thinking too hard.  Made me chuckle regardless though!

Manhunter then steals their wheels... and bursts out a window.  Speeding toward the city, the Butcher Boys are unable to keep up.  And so, they report back to their "boss", Goodish... who is apparently also keeping tabs on this Dr. Malig.

Suddenly, Manhunter bursts in through the window (this man has clearly never heard of a door)... he then beats up the Butcher Boys, and holds a pistol up to Goodish's head.  The baddie tells his men to stand down, because he and "Bloodmoney" here are going to negotiate.

Our man(hunter) is confused... he doesn't know who or what a "bloodmoney" is... and neither do I!  Goodish explains that he mistook him for a creep calling himself Bloodmoney... then unwittingly names our hero "Manhunter".  We learn that Malig is up to his eyeballs in debt... which is why this "Bloodmoney" fella is after him.  Manhunter and Goodish decide to put their differences aside in the interest of getting Malig out of this jam.

After hands are shook, Manhunter leaves to make a phone call.  He's checking in on a woman... perhaps one that he loves (the narrative captions can't quite make up their mind) who is in a bad way having been somehow affected by that Wild Huntsman.

We stick with Chase (Lawler, the Manhunter) as he slinks around the dirty city.  He winds up at Petrucchio's jazz club, where he chats up an old friend about trying to track down some "big deal" bookies.

His old pal hands him a guitar and tells him if he wants the info, he's gotta "play to pay".  And so, Chase takes to the stage and cranks out some blues tunes.  We can assume that his buddy gave him the line on the bookie he was looking for post-performance, because...

... next thing we know, Manhunter is attacking the biggest bookie in town!  This is Sammy Oberlin, and he's the guy who... well, let's be honest here, only wants what Dr. Malig owes him.  Sure, bookies might be a bit shady... but, a bet's a bet, right?  Well, Manhunter doesn't seem to think so... he grabs Sammy by the throat.

Then... Bloodmoney shows up... looking nothing like Manhunter.  Well, I guess they have a matching color scheme... but the costumes look completely different.  They fight for a bit, with Chase maintaining the upper hand.  Bloodmoney calls for a cease-fire (and cease-punching) to tell Manhunter that they'll forgive Dr. Malig's debts if he just walks away now.

Chase knows a good deal when he hears it... and also can't see a trap when it's right in front of him, so he accepts.  Oberlin asks Bloodmoney what he's planning... to which, BM says he just shifted Malig's debt onto their new masked friend... and interest is accruing.  Doesn't seem the smartest thing to burden an unknown masked man with debt.  I wonder if I can somehow use that to write off my student loans.

We wrap up with Manhunter finally visiting Dr. Malig.  Malig claims to have seen him beating up Bloodmoney, and asks where he learned to fight.  It doesn't take him long to deduce that Chase might've "found" the Wild Huntsman... and also, might have a piece of the Huntsman in him as well.

He suggests that Chase now has a lust for killing.  To prove otherwise, Manhunter violently grabs him by the collar and shouts in his face.  That'll learn 'im.  We close out with Manhunter questioning what he is becoming.

--

Hey, this feels like an Image book... and I'm not just saying that because our leading man sorta resembles... ya know, that guy.  And, don't get me wrong... I know saying something feels "like an Image book" is usually some really damning "praise", but that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it!

This was a pretty good issue.  It's so weird seeing Vince Giarrano's work here, especially if you know the kind of art he's putting out nowadays.  The fella is phenomenal.

Our new Manhunter is a very means-to-an-end kinda dude.  He's pretty quick to grab someone by their throat... and doesn't really seem to give violence a second thought.  Now, if that doesn't scream "90's!", right?  But here's the thing... there's this nebulous Wild Huntsman who might be causing Chase to act this way.  It sort of lampshades the entire deal... and I feel like, at least for now, that's good enough.

Early on, I mentioned the sorta cringy captions... they're really the sort of thing I should hate, but I don't.  They give us pretty good insight as to what's going on inside Chase's muddled mind.  He's literally editing his thoughts to best serve his goal.  It's an interesting approach to storytelling... and I can't say that I've really ever seen anything quite like it.

Gotta say, the whole "beating up the bookie" thing kinda bugs me.  I guess it works in a "shades of gray" sort of way... where Lawler isn't exactly a good or bad guy... just a guy who needs something done.  I guess it's just that a "bookie" lives in that gray area as well... not a good or bad guy... just a guy who makes lopsided "deals".  I guess that just feeds into the world Grant and Giarrano are building... people using other people to get what they want.  I suppose it works.

Before we go... I suppose we ought to mention Manhunter's costume, right?  Do we have to?  I mean, it's a really cool design... but it's almost certainly based on, ya know.  Either way... he looks cool, and I suppose it's sorta-kinda got it's own thing going to separate it from, that other guy.

Overall, not half-bad!  I was expecting to dislike this (or just not care) from the get-go, but found myself having a halfway decent time with it.  If you come across this on the cheap, it might be worth a look.  This issue is not yet available online (only #0 is)... but it shouldn't be a tough... nor wild, "hunt" in the bins.

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