Derf's Picks of the Week (November 22, 2023)

What are you thankful for this year?

As always,  I'm thankful for new comics!

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DARK HORSE

Lunar Lodge #1

Mortal Terror #1

Star Wars: Hyperspace Stories #11

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DC COMICS

Batman: Off-World #1

Batman / Superman: World's Finest #21

Catwoman #59

Green Lantern: War Journal #3

Harley Quinn: Black + White + Redder #5

Hawkgirl #5

Jay Garrick: The Flash #2

Justice League vs. Godzilla vs. Kong #2

Justice Society of America #7

Superman #8

Wonder Woman #3

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IDW

Brynmore #5

Star Trek #14

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin (Reissue) #3

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IMAGE

Gunslinger Spawn #26

Hack / Slash: Back to School #2

The Holy Roller #1

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MARVEL

The Amazing Spider-Man #38

Avengers Inc. #3

Captain Marvel #2

Carnage #1

Daredevil: Black Armor #1

The Incredible Hulk #6

Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars: Battleworld #1

Moon Knight: City of the Dead #5

Star Wars: Bounty Hunters #40

Star Wars: Dark Droids - D-Squad #3

Uncanny Spider-Man #4

Wolverine #39

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Until next time, get your READ on!

&

Happy Thanksgiving!

Derf's Picks of the Week (November 15, 2023)

(Thanos destroys War Machine)

 

Please forgive me about my absences as of late.

Being going through a lot of personal & health issues.

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DC COMICS

Detective Comics #1077

Green Lantern #5

Outsiders #1

Speed Force #1

Superman: Lost #8

Wesley Dodds: The Sandman #2

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IDW

Dungeons & Dragons: Fortune Finder #1

Godzilla Rivals: vs. Mechagodzilla #1

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin (Reissue) #2

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IMAGE

Geiger: Ground Zero #1

A Haunted Girl #2

Killadelphia #31

Spawn #347

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MARVEL

Alien #1

Capwolf & The Howling Commandos #2

Daredevil #3

Dark X-Men #4

Deadpool: Seven Slaughters #1

Fantastic Four #13

Ghost Rider #20

The Immortal Thor #4

Spine-Tingling Spider-Man #2

Star Wars: Dark Droids #4

Star Wars: Doctor Aphra #38

Star Wars: The Mandalorian Season 2 #6

Star Wars: Return of the Jedi – The 40th Anniversary Covers by Chris Sprouse #1

Star Wars: Visions - Peach Momoko #1

Superior Spider-Man #1

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SKYBOUND

G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #1: Larry Hama Cut

G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #301

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Until next time, get your READ on!

Derf's Picks of the Week (November 1, 2023)

 

New Month, New Week, New Comic Book Day

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BOOM!

Ghostlore #6

The Space Between #1

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DARK HORSE

Masters of the Universe: Forge of Destiny #3

Star Wars: Hyperspace Stories #10

Stranger Things : The Voyage #1

Usagi Yojimbo: Ice and Snow #2

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DC COMICS

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom Special #1

Batman / Catwoman: The Gotham War – Scorched Earth #1

Detective Comics #1076

Return of Superman 30th Anniversary Special #1

Supergirl Special #1

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DYNAMITE

Alice Cooper #2

Gargoyles: Dark Ages #4

Savage Red Sonja #1

Vampirella: Dead Flowers #2

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IDW

Godzilla: Here There Be Dragons #5

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds - The Scorpius Run #3

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IMAGE

King Spawn #27

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MARVEL

The Avengers #7

Doctor Strange #9

Magneto #4

Spider-Boy #1

Star Wars #40

Ultimate Universe #1

Venom #27

White Widow #1

X-Men #28

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Until next time, get your READ on!

Saturday Showcase: Killer Shrike

Just who is the Killer Shrike?  Just one of the coolest villains to challenge heroes such as Spider-Man and Moon Knight.  In my opinion, he is highly underrated and should be a Marvel Legends or Funko Pop! figure by now.   That is why I chose the Killer Shrike as my return to my posts known as Saturday Showcase.

Simon Maddicks was born in Williamsburg, Virginia. He began his career as a soldier in the United States Army. After that, he was selected to be a special agent of the Roxxon Oil Company.  Maddicks became a mercenary and professional criminal, more specifically a special agent in covert operations. He underwent extensive conditioning which increased his human abilities. He also underwent surgery that implanted a miniature anti-gravity generator in his spine. Roxxon gave him  his super-villain costume and the codename "Killer Shrike".

The Killer Shrike has had his fair share of encounters with a variety of super heroes and villains, but he has never really reached his full potential.  He is always stopped and captured.  Hell, sometimes he ends up in a hospital. {*As seen in The Sensational She-Hulk #27,  Dr. Jay}

Powers & Abilities

Extensive conditioning and surgery by Brand Corporation scientists enhanced Simon Maddicks's strength and other physical abilities. He is capable of flight by means of a surgically implanted anti-gravity generator at the base of his spine, activated by a neural link.

Besides that, he has extensive training and experience in hand-to-hand combat and martial arts, and proficiency with hand weapons including guns and knives.

Killer Shrike wears body armor, an armored suit made of an insulated steel alloy mesh capable of protecting him from flight turbulence and small caliber weapons fire. His major weapons system is the twin power-blasters worn on his wrists, with titanium talons capable of slashing flesh, wood, cinderblock, and light metals, and of discharging high-frequency electrical bolts.

Publication Information

Publisher: Marvel Comics

First Appearance:  The Rampaging Hulk #1 (Jan. 1977)

Created by John Warner & John Buscema

 

Alter Ego: Simon Maddicks

Notable Aliases:  Harold Simmons

Team Affiliations

• Brand Corporation
• Masters of Evil
• Roxxon Oil Company
• Sinister Six
• Thunderbolts
• United States Air Force
• United States Army

I hope you enjoyed this brief history lesson on the Killer Shrike.

Until next time, get your READ on!

My Predictions: WWE Fastlane (2023)

This year's Fastlane PPV promises to be a great show.  

Each match is a Banger!  

Let's see how my predictions will fair today.

First, we have the LWO Vs Lashley and the Street Profits.  This promises to be a good match but injuries have plagued the LWO.  Who did Rey call exactly to help them out?  Was it Carlito? Chavo? Dragon Lee?. Whoever Rey gets will provide an entertaining match that much I am sure of but I think the newly formed Hurt Business will be too much to handle.

Winner: Hurt Business 2.0

Next, we have a women's triple threat match for the women's championship.  I believe that Damage Control will try to help Iyo keep her belt, but that could hurt her in the long run.  I believe Asuka should win the match, but I am loyal to the Empress so I am kind of biased.  Don't be surprised if Kairi Sane shows up to offer her support.  Who knows, even jade Cargill might appear and make her presence known.  This will be an entertaining match, but I think the odds are in Iyo's favor.

Winner:  Iyo Sky

The third match I would like to discuss is the match up for the Heavyweight Championship.  Rollins Vs Nakamura has been the Feud that the WWE has needed for a long time. They work well together and this new version of Nakamura is refreshing. They are allowing Shinsuke to finally be the talent that he always has been. The WWE universe is starting to get the taste of what it was to be a Nakamura fan in his New Japan glory days.  I hope Nakamura gets the win, nothing against Rollins mind you.  It's just that they have overlooked Nakamura on too many occasions since he was brought up from nXt. Oh, this will be a battle but I think Shinsuke needs to win tonight because this might be the last chance he gets while Rollins holds the title.

Winner: Nakamura

Now we shall take a look at the Bloodline Vs Cena & LA Knight. We all know that the Bloodline is spreading themselves thin by getting into situations they shouldn't.  I mean, the Tribal Chief takes a well deserved break and he cannot enjoy it because Jimmy is acting like he is the right hand.   Well, Jimmy, the right hand of the tribal chief  was and will always be Main Event Jey Uso.  So, you let your actions get in some heat with Styles, Knight and Cena.  Okay, so they took care of Styles for the moment but they still have a momentum train heading their way.  If the Bloodline win, it will be due to some outside help from the  Judgement Day or maybe the Tribal Chief himself.  All I know is, this feud will not end at Fastlane. Expect this feud to carry on to Survivor Series.

Winner: the Team of LA Knight & John Cena

Our final match is for the Tag Titles.  We have the Judgement Day Vs the team of Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso. Jey and Cody have been tag champs before, but as a team they don't have the history that Finn and Priest have.  Plus, they don't have the numbers. So, I expect some great action but I also expect the other members of the judgement day to get involved.  If Rhea gets involved, look for Jade to come out and shoot her shot.  Not only would she be helping Cody, but she would launch herself to the number one contender spot for the Women's championship.  I am looking forward to this clash of champions, but I already know my boys from the Judgement Day will walk out on top.

Winner: the Judgement Day