Saturday Showcase: Typhoid Mary

    Today's Showcase revolves around a popular villain who has ties to the Kingpin and who has battled Spider-Man, Daredevil, the Iron Fist, as well as the Punisher and has lived to talk about it.  Her name is Mary Alice Walker but you may know her as Typhoid Mary.

    Mary first hit the shelves in Daredevil issue #254 back in May of '88.  Little was known about Mary besides the fact that she was insane and the Kingpin's deadliest assassin.  I guess that is why the first hero she tangled with was Daredevil, a constant thorn in the Kingpin's side.

First Appearance: Daredevil #254 May '88

    Earlier, I mentioned that Mary was insane.  That is because she has three personalities.  "Mary" is quiet and timid, "Typhoid Mary" is adventurous, lustful, and dangerous, and "Bloody Mary" is a brutal, sadistic killing machine.  In her origin, we see that Mary was once a lover of Matt Murdock and he "hurt" her to the point she would not let anyone hurt her again. This is why she teams with Fisk and becomes his deadliest assassin only to be foiled by her ex, Daredevil.  

    Like I said earlier, she has had some run ins with some of New York's best and has lived to tell about it.  She has also battled Wolverine and walked away (as seen in Typhoid Kiss). She has been in many Marvel games as well as cartoon appearances, but nothing compares to what Mary has in store for 2018.  First, she has a new kick ass figure from the Marvel Legends line, the Venom series.  Second, there is a major story arc that sees her return to Marvel comics in October, but Third and most importantly, she will appear on the 2nd season of Iron Fist.  It is still secretive on exactly home much Mary will play a part in Season 2, but I hope she is the bad ass on screen as she is in the comics.

Typhoid Mary Marvel Legends, Venom series

    If you want to know more about Mary, I would suggest going to the Marvel site and do some reading, especially since she is making a comeback.  Until next time unleash your inner NERD.

Typhoid Mary Marvel Page

Summer Slam 2018 - My Picks

Summer Slam 2018 

Who will win?  Well, let's see what I think.

Universal Championship: Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns

    This match promises to be a slobber knocker but I think it will end with a lot more questions than answers.  I feel Brock will lose his title, but I don't think it will be Reigns that leaves champion.  I foresee a Money In The Bank  contract cash in which will see either Braun or Owens leave as champion. 

My pick: Brock loses

Raw Women's Championship:  Alexa Bliss vs. Ronda Rousey

    This should be a fight.  Look for Alexa to try to win quickly but Ronda should be able to get the win, that is, unless Bliss gets a little help from her friends.  

My pick: Ronda becomes new champ.

Braun Strowman vs. Kevin Owens

    Kevin Owens is a fighter but he has picked the fight of his life against the Monster among Men.  However, if anyone can beat Braun, I believe it will be Owens.  The winner will leave with a Money In The Bank contract.  I also believe the winner will cash it in and leave the new Universal Champion as well.

My Pick: Owens with the win

Intercontinental Championship: Dolph Ziggler vs. Seth Rollins

    This match will be a classic but it will be Rollins undoing.  Sure Rollins has got back up in the Lunatic Fringe, but I feel the tide will remain in Ziggler's favor.

My Pick: Ziggler remains champion

SmackDown Women’s Championship (Triple Threat Match): 

Carmella vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Becky Lynch 

    Carmella's reign as Champion has come to an end.  Look for the Queen or the little lass kicker to be crowned champion once again.

My Pick: It's Becky's time!  Becky Lynch for the win.

Daniel Bryan vs. The Miz

This is the match everyone has been waiting three years to see.  Can Daniel Bryan outshine an A list superstar?  I think this match will be AWESOME!  Daniel will push Miz to the test, but the Miz will leave victorious.

My Pick: The Miz will remain awesome!

United States Championship: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Jeff Hardy

    Strong Style Vs Team Extreme.  Hardy may have what it takes to defeat his demons, but does he have enough in his take to walk away US Champion?  In my opinion, no.  Look for Shinsuke to hold nothing back to remain champion.

My Pick: Shinsuke remains your US Champion

Finn Bálor vs. Constable Baron Corbin

   I am really getting tired of Finn being picked on from the Constable.  I foresee the Demon King digging deep and conquering his gigantic nemesis.  Once he defeats Corbin, he will be placed in the pool for number one contenders for the universal championship.

My Pick:  Finn leaves victorious

Smackdown Tag Team Championship: 

The Bludgeon Brothers vs. The New Day

    The New Day may be dreaming about gold but all they are going to get is a big dose of nightmares.  They may have some momentum in the match but look for the Brothers to continue their reign of terror on Smackdown Live.

My Pick: The Bludgeon Brothers continue their reign as Tag Champs.

My Pick for Match of the Night, AJ Styles Vs Samoa Joe

WWE Championship: AJ Styles vs. Samoa Joe

    I am a huge fan of both men, but I feel it is now the time for Samoa Joe to become champion.  Joe has gotten in AJ's head and that will be the downfall to AJ's historic title reign as WWE Champion on Smackdown Live.  Look out AJ, Joe is coming for you and you cannot escape nap time.

My Pick: Samoa Joe puts AJ to sleep and become the new WWE Champion.

nXt Takeover: Brooklyn 2018 (Derf's Picks)

    Well, the time has finally come to see who wants it more at nXt Takeover.  Who will become champ?  Will the belts stay with the current champions?  Well, her is what I think.

 NXT Women’s Champion Shayna Baszler vs. Kairi Sane

   This match promisises to be a good one.  Shayna has been trying to get in Kairi's head since day one. It appears to be working a little too well.  It is a longshot but I think Kairi will get the win and Shayna will then be bumped up to RAW or SmackdownLive to raise hell there.

My Pick - It will take a miracle, but I pick Kairi Sane.

NXT North American Champion Adam Cole vs. Ricochet

    I like both of these contenders but I don't think Cole will lose the belt just quite yet. It will be a battle fought both on the ground and in the air, but Adam Cole will remain your champion.

My Pick: Adam Cole BAY BAY!

NXT Tag Team Champions Undisputed ERA vs. Moustache Mountain

    Another Undisputed Era match that will end with an Undisputed Victory.  Moustache Mountain will bring the fight, but the Undisputed Era plays for keeps and will come out on top.

My Pick: the Undisputed Era

EC3 vs. Velveteen Dream

    This could be the match of the night.  EC3 is the top 1 % and the Velveteen Dream never disappoints.  Look forward to some new moves as well as a well though and fought plan by the Dream.  This promises to be a match that will live on in nXt history.

My Pick: I like both wrestlers, but I think EC3 will just crush Velveteen's Dream.

NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa vs. Johnny Gargano (Last Man Standing Match)

   Champion Vs Contender, Brother Vs Brother, Friend Vs Foe, none of this matters to Ciampa or Gargano.  This is about vengeance, this is about power, this is about glory, this is about the nXt Championship!  Johnny wrestling would love to become the new nXt champion, but does he have what it takes to be heartless enough to defeat Ciampa?  I think it will be a well fought bout but I feel that Ciampa will be victorious.

My Pick: Ciampa remains Champ

Saturday Showcase: Jim 'the Anvil" Neidhart

February 8, 1955 – August 13, 2018

    Today I pay tribute to a big part of my childhood and how I got into wrestling.  When I was, I was attracted to the WWE because of wrestlers like Junkyard Dog, Andre the Giant, Jake the Snake, but most importantly Jim "the Anvil" Neidhart.  If you asked me who my favorite wrestler of all time was, I would simply say JYD but if you asked me what caught my eye to make me like wrestling I would say the Anvil.

    Jim had that charm that won over a crowd even when you were supposed to hate him because he was as heel.  From how good he looked supporting the Hart Pink colors to that Jokerish laugh, he had you in his pocket from the word go.

Jim "the Anvil" Neidhart

    Jim was one of the first wrestlers that proved big men can be just as athletic as the others but he would rely on his power to get the pin.  He has had many successes in his career.  He has been a champion everywhere he wrestled, but he was mostly known for being one half of one of the most dominant tag teams in WWE history, the Hart Foundation.

the Hart Foundation

   He would later become a member of the New Foundation with is other brother-in-law, Owen Hart.  Though he did not enjoy as much success as a New Foundation member, he cherished his times wrestling with Owen.

Jim"the Anvil" Neidhart and Owen "the Rocket" Hart

    Jim is also known for another great achievement with the WWE and that is his daughter Natalya.  He was proud of her wanting to pursue the family buisness and helped her tone her tools to become the wrestler she is today.  Thanks to Jim's help, the women's evolution of wrestling saw light at the end of the tunnel way before Stephanie made her historical announcements.

   Love him or hate him, Jim was respected by everyone he worked with.  He will be missed by all.  Right now, Owen, Stu, Davey Boy, and Jim are having one hell of a reunion upstairs.  Hell, knowing the Harts, they're probably setting up a squared circle in the sky and preparing to have their own Summer Slam.

Saturday Showcase: Halo

Halo takes flight.

    Today's Saturday Showcase spotlights one of my favorite comic series as a kid.  The comic was Batman and the Outsiders, and today's showcase is Halo.  No, not the video game, but one of the founding members of the Outsiders who I feel does not get enough credit.

The original Outsiders

    Halo is a super-heroine that first appeared in a special insert in The Brave and the Bold #200 (July '83), and was created by Mike W. Barr and Jim Aparo.  Halo is an individual with a strange background to say the least.  It took the death of Violet Harper that allowed Halo to exist.  Like I said, a strange background.  LoL.  After Halo's "Birth", she used her powers to help those in need.  She found a "friend" in Katana which leads to her joining the Outsiders.

Halo

    Powers & Abilities:

    Halo has the ability to fly and to create auras of different colors around herself, called halos, which have different effects:

• Red halo: Heat beams
• Orange Halo: Concussive-force beams
• Yellow Halo: Brilliant light
• Green Halo: Stasis beam
• Blue Halo: Holographic-distortion effect
• Indigo Halo: Tractor beam
• Violet Halo: Gave the sociopathic personality of Violet Harper control of the body, enabling her to use any or all of Halo's powers

the Outsiders (00's)

   Halo has lived and died more than once, but in the world of comics you cannot keep a good hero down. I look forward to seeing Halo in the future.  Hopefully, she will make a cameo on the Outsiders new series.  I suggest you pick up some old issues of Batman and the Outsiders so you can really enjoy the complexity that is Halo.  Hell, do an internet search if you want to.  Just remember, you read it here first.

Don't mess with Halo

Until next time, get your READ on!