Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Comic Cover of the Week (1/1/2020)


Comic Cover of the Week

Thor #1 (Collage Variant)

MARVEL

Cover Art by Mr. Garcin

Derf's Picks of the Week (January 1, 2020)



New Year, New Decade, New Comics...'Nuff Said

DARK HORSE

GRENDEL DEVILS ODYSSEY #3 (OF 8)

DC COMICS

ACTION COMICS #1018
BATMAN BEYOND #39
DETECTIVE COMICS #1018
FLASH #85
HARLEY QUINN #69
JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #18
MARTIAN MANHUNTER #11 (OF 12)
TERRIFICS #23

IDW

GI JOE #4
TRANSFORMERS #15

MARVEL

DAREDEVIL #16
DOCTOR DOOM #4
HAWKEYE: FREEFALL #1
PUNISHER SOVIET #3 (OF 6) (MR)
STAR WARS #1
TAROT #1
THOR #1
WEB OF BLACK WIDOW #5 (OF 5)
X-MEN #4 

Happy New Year!

Until next time, get your READ on!

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Comic Cover of the Week (12/11/19)

Comic Cover of the Week

Fantastic Four #17 (2020 Variant)

MARVEL

Cover Art by Khoi Pham

Comic Picks of the Week

Detective Comics #1017
    It's the 2nd week of December and there are a lot of great comics coming your way.  So, kick back, relax, and look for the titles that you'll want to read by the fireplace this Christmas.

DARK HORSE

ALIENS VS PREDATOR THICKER THAN BLOOD #1 (OF 4)

DC COMICS

BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS #8
BATMAN CURSE OF THE WHITE KNIGHT #5 (OF 8)
BATMANS GRAVE #3 (OF 12)
DARK KNIGHT RETURNS THE GOLDEN CHILD #1
DETECTIVE COMICS #1017
FLASH #84
HARLEY QUINN & POISON IVY #4 (OF 6)
HARLEY QUINN VILLAIN OF THE YEAR #1
JUSTICE LEAGUE ODYSSEY #16
OCEAN MASTER YEAR OF THE VILLAIN #1
TALES FROM THE DARK MULTIVERSE THE JUDAS CONTRACT #1
WONDER TWINS #10 (OF 12)

DYNAMITE

KISS ZOMBIES #2

MARVEL

ANNIHILATION SCOURGE BETA RAY BILL #1
ANNIHILATION SCOURGE SILVER SURFER #1
DOOM 2099 #1
FALLEN ANGELS #3
FANTASTIC FOUR #17
GHOST RIDER #3
MORBIUS #2
NEW MUTANTS #3
PUNISHER SOVIET #2 (OF 6) (MR)
SPIDER-MAN 2099 #1
STAR WARS TARGET VADER #6 (OF 6)
SYMBIOTE SPIDER-MAN ALIEN REALITY #1 (OF 5)


    Well, that is all I have for this week.  I hope you saw some goodies for yourself, but I also hope you saw some goodies that you will share with others this holiday season.

Until next time, get your READ on!

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

Comic Cover of the Week

Comic Cover of the Week

X-Men #3 (Comic Mint Variant)

MARVEL

Cover Art by Shannon Maer

Comic Picks of the Week

 Venom 2099 #1
    Ah, it's the first week of December which means stores will be crowded and everybody wants everything.  One thing you have to look forward to is while your mother is shopping at Bed, Bath, & Beyond you get to be at your local comic retailer waiting to receive the call that she is ready to be picked up.  What?  I am not the only person who Christmas shops like this am I?  Oh well, let's look at my picks for the first week of December.


BOOM!
JIM HENSON DARK CRYSTAL AGE RESISTANCE #3
POWER RANGERS TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES #1

DC COMICS
BATMAN #84
BATMAN UNIVERSE #6 (OF 6)
DEATHSTROKE #50
GREEN LANTERN BLACKSTARS #2 (OF 3)
INFECTED DEATHBRINGER #1
JUSTICE LEAGUE #37 

IDW
TMNT SHREDDER IN HELL #5
USAGI YOJIMBO #7

IMAGE
SPAWN #303

MARVEL
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #35
ANNIHILATION SCOURGE FANTASTIC FOUR #1
ANNIHILATION SCOURGE NOVA #1
CONAN SERPENT WAR #1 (OF 4)
DOCTOR DOOM #3
EXCALIBUR #3 
GHOST RIDER 2099 #1
MARAUDERS #3
SAVAGE AVENGERS #8
THOR WORTHY #1
VENOM 2099 #1
X-MEN #3 

Well, there you have it folks.  My list for the first week of December. 

 Did you see anything that you may want under your tree?

Until next time, get your READ on!

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Comic Cover of the Week (11/27/19)


Comic Cover of the Week

Punisher 2099 #1 Variant (2019)

MARVEL

Cover Art by Ron Lim

Derf's Picks of the Week (2019 Thanksgiving Edition)

Transformers Galaxies #3
    This week is the Thanksgiving Edition of my Picks of the Week.  What am I thankful for?  Well, New Comics for starters.  I am especially thankful for all the 2099 titles being released from MARVEL.  Enough chit chat, let's get to my picks.

DC COMICS
BATMAN BEYOND #38
BATMAN CREATURE OF THE NIGHT #4 (OF 4)
BATMAN VS RAS AL GHUL #3 (OF 6)
DETECTIVE COMICS #1016
FLASH #83
JOHN CONSTANTINE HELLBLAZER #1 (MR)
JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #17
TALES FROM THE DARK MULTIVERSE INFINITE CRISIS #1
TERRIFICS #22

IDW

TRANSFORMERS GALAXIES #3

MARVEL

CONAN 2099 #1
FALLEN ANGELS #2 
FANTASTIC FOUR NEGATIVE ZONE #1
NEW MUTANTS #2 
PUNISHER 2099 #1
SCREAM CURSE OF CARNAGE #1
VENOM #20
X-FORCE #2

Well, that is all of my picks for this week.I hope you found something you can GOBBLE up and enjoy.

Until next time, get your READ on!

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Comic Cover of the Week (11/20/19)

Comic Cover of the Week

Batman, White Knight Presents VON FREEZE

DC Comics

Cover Art by Sean Murphy

Derf's Picks of the Week

2099 Alpha #1 (Bogdanovic Variant)
Here are my picks for the week of November 20, 2019.

BOOM!
ONCE & FUTURE #4 (OF 6)

DARK HORSE
MASK I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE MASK #2 (OF 4) 

DC COMICS
AQUAMAN #54 
BATMAN #83 
BATMAN WHITE KNIGHT PRESENTS VON FREEZE #1
FLASH FORWARD #3 (OF 6)
HE MAN AND THE MASTERS OF THE MULTIVERSE #1 (OF 6)
INFECTED SCARAB #1
JUSTICE LEAGUE #36
QUESTION THE DEATHS OF VIC SAGE #1 (OF 4) (MR)

MARVEL
2099 ALPHA #1
ABSOLUTE CARNAGE #5 (OF 5)
ABSOLUTE CARNAGE CAPTAIN MARVEL #1
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #34
ANNIHILATION SCOURGE ALPHA #1
DEADPOOL #1
EXCALIBUR #2 
FANTASTIC FOUR 2099 #1
PUNISHER KILL KREW #5 (OF 5)
SPIDER-VERSE #2 (OF 6)
STAR WARS #75

VALIANT
BLOODSHOT (2019) #3 
RAI (2019) #1
ROKU #2 (OF 4)

Until next time, get your READ on!

Cosplay of the Week

Cosplay of the Week

Vampirella #5

Week of November 20, 2019

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Comic Cover of the Week

Comic Cover of the Week

X-men #2 (2099 Variant)

MARVEL

Cover Art by Ron Lim

Derf's Picks of the Week (11/13/19)

Tea Time with the Mad Hatter
    Baby it's cold outside!  So, why go out?  Stay in and read some comics again and again.  Here are my picks for the week of November 13, 2019.

BOOM!
FOLKLORDS #1 (OF 5)

DARK HORSE
ELFQUEST STARGAZERS HUNT #1 (OF 6)

DC COMICS
BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS #7
BATMANS GRAVE #2 (OF 12)
CATWOMAN #17 
DETECTIVE COMICS #1015
EVENT LEVIATHAN #6 (OF 6)
FAR SECTOR #1 (OF 12) (MR)
FLASH #82 
HARLEY QUINN & POISON IVY #3 (OF 6)
JUSTICE LEAGUE ODYSSEY #15
TALES FROM THE DARK MULTIVERSE BLACKEST NIGHT #1

IDW
USAGI YOJIMBO 35TH ANNIVERSARY #6

MARVEL
FALLEN ANGELS #1 
MARVEL TALES DOCTOR STRANGE #1
MORBIUS #1
PUNISHER SOVIET #1 (OF 6) (MR)
STAR WARS #74
STAR WARS JEDI FALLEN ORDER DARK TEMPLE #4 (OF 5)
STAR WARS TARGET VADER #5 (OF 6)
X-MEN #2

I believe this she hold me until it gets a little warmer outside.

Until next time, get your READ on!

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Comic Cover of the Week (November 6, 2019)


Comic Cover of the Week

Deathstroke #49 (Variant)

DC Comics

Cover Art by Skan

Derf's Picks of the Week

Daredevil 2099

    It's the return of Derf's Picks of the Week right here on Derf's Domain.  The site Somewhatnerdy that I used to write for is calling it quits and will start purging in January.  So, if you want to catch some of my old interviews, you might want to head over there soon.  With that said, let's see what comics I picked for this week shall we?


DARK HORSE
CRONE #1 (OF 5)
GRENDEL DEVILS ODYSSEY #2 (MR)

DC COMICS
BATMAN #82
BATMAN UNIVERSE #5 (OF 6)
DEATHSTROKE #49
GREEN LANTERN BLACKSTARS #1 (OF 3)
INFECTED KING SHAZAM #1
JUSTICE LEAGUE #35
WONDER TWINS #9 (OF 12)

DYNAMITE
KISS ZOMBIES #1

IDW
TRANSFORMERS #14 

IMAGE
SPAWN #302

MARVEL
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #33 
DOCTOR DOOM #2
FANTASTIC FOUR #16
GHOST RIDER #2
NEW MUTANTS #1 
SPIDER-MAN & VENOM DOUBLE TROUBLE #1 (OF 4)
X-FORCE #1

YONDU #1 (OF 5)

Not a bad list if I do say so myself.  I hope you saw something you will enjoy.

Until next time, get your READ on!

Saturday, October 12, 2019

Saturday Showcase: El Fuerte

El Fuerte
    I am a huge fan of the Up Up Down Down  YouTube channel presented by Xavier Woods from the NEW DAY!!! and WWE.  Anyway, I was binge watching Miz and Mrs. and they were having a Street Fighter tournament.  Well, being the gamer that I am, I decided to get out my copy of Street Fighter IV and just have some fun.  Well, today I decided to play as characters I never played as before and I picked El Fuerte.  I immediately fell in love with the character and I know who I will play as from now on.  If El Fuerte is available, then he is my guy that will lead me to victory. 

    I was playing Street Fighter today and I thought to myself that El Fuerte will make a great post for my Saturday Showcase and here we are.  Let's dive in and dig up some more on this talented luchador.

El Fuerte Vs Rufus

    El Fuerte is a video game character from the Street Fighter series, first appearing in Street Fighter IV. He is a Mexican luchador and chef, traveling the world in an effort to perfect his lucha libre skills and hone his cooking abilities.

    El Fuerte is a short, but very muscular, Mexican man. He dresses in typical luchador uniform with black elbow pads on his arms and a gold sash on his waist. He wears short, white tights buttoned up to his thighs, with three blue stars on his rear. El Fuerte also wears white, laced, wrestling boots with golden soles. His mask follows the pattern of the rest of his outfit, being white with gold trim and having three blue stars on his forehead.

Rainbow Mika and El Fuerte
    El Fuerte is a hyper, easily excitable fighter who constantly thinks out loud about new recipes even during a fight. Maybe that is why I like him so much.  He frequently seeks inspiration from other fighters he meets because of their various origins across the globe, much to the annoyance of some, but to the amusement of others. His cooking has mixed results. In the games, he frequently whips up unusual combinations after becoming overexcited from all the ingredients he gathered while abroad.

    Hopefully, he will continue to be a mainstay in the world of Street Fighter, that way I will always have my favorite character to kick ass with!  This has been my Saturday Showcase post for the week.  I hope you enjoyed this article.

Until next time, get your GAME on!

Victory Dance

Saturday, October 5, 2019

Hell in a Cell: My Picks


    This year's Hell in A Cell promises to be a festival of horrors with the Fiend Vs Seth Rollins.  For some reason, there is only 4 matches on the card at this moment.  I am sure more will be added later and if that is the case, I will add my pucks for them as well.  Let's just start off with what we do know.

Smackdown Live's Women's Championship Match
Bayley Vs Charlotte Flair

    Charlotte has earned the right to battle against Bayley for her Women's title.  In a fair fight, I give this match to the Queen, however I look for the Boss to interfere.  Of course, if Sasha wrestles first, she won't be able to help her friend because the Man will leave her beaten and bruised.  Either way, I feel Charlotte will come out with the "W", but will the belt change hands is yet to be seen.

Team Roman Vs Team Rowan
Roman Reigns and Daniel Bryan Vs Eric Rowan and Luke Harper

    Roman wants revenge for the attacks backstage.  Daniel wants retribution for being made to look like a fool.  Rowan and Harper just want to "bludgeon" everyone who doubts them.  If this was a battle of brute force Team Rowan would win hands down.  With that said, Team Roman has a good chance of winning with Daniel's in ring skills alone.  It would not surprise me if this match is filled with all kinds of brutality and trickery, but I feel Roman and Daniel will get what they want in the end.

Raw Women's Championship Match
the Man Vs the Boss

    Sasha came back and feels that Blue has made her better than ever,  Well, Becky aka the Man is going to make her wish Blue wasn't her color. By the end of the night, Sasha is going to be black and blue all over from the beating the Man has in store.  The only way Sasha will get the upper hand is if she gets help but even then the MAN will still walk out the CHAMP.

Universal Championship Match
Bray"the Fiend" Wyatt Vs Seth "the Beastslayer" Rollins

    The Fiend has his mind set on revenge, but is the Fiend after the title or just wants to put a hurting on the Beastslayer.  You see, the Fiend never forgives and Seth and Bray have clashed many times before and most of them were just battles and not title opportunities.  With that said, I feel the Fiend may overdue the violence and make it almost impossible to get the title.  I also look for others that the fiend has attacked to try to get involved in this match-up.  If all goes according to plan, you would think the Fiend will come out on top but I am sure the Architect may have some plans of his own to keep the title.  In this match, I believe both will walk away winners.  I think Seth will remain champ, however, I feel the Fiend will get his pound of flesh to satisfy his thirst for blood lust.


Lost in Space Season 2 Official Trailer

Saturday Showcase: Zero (Mutant Liberation Front)

Can't touch this
    Not much is known about the character named Zero from the MLF (Mutant Liberation Front).  What we do know is Zero was created 2000 years in the future by the Askani as a prototype for the Ambient-energy Damping Automated peacekeeping Mechanisms (ADAMs). Zero was damaged and found by the mutant tyrant, Stryfe, who opposed the Askani. Stryfe reactivated Zero, leaving it mute and obedient. Zero would become Stryfe's most trusted ally. When Stryfe's armies were defeated, Stryfe and Zero fled, travelling back in time to the late 20th century.

Saved by Zero
    It is in the 20th century where Stryfe gathered a group of mutants and formed the terrorist organisation known as the Mutant Liberation Front. Stryfe's new team fought against Cable and the New Mutants and X-Force. During the X-Cutioner's Song, Stryfe was defeated on the Moon and Zero disappeared and was deactivated.  Leaving the secrets of Stryfe unknown to the world...but would those secrets remain hidden?

    This wouldn't be the end of Zero.  He would be reactivated later by a group of Mercs (including Deadpool) looking for the ultimate weapon.  This weapon was Zero.  Zero was now capable of speech and following his original programming: peace-keeping. It scanned its surroundings for any object and person who were a threat to peace on Earth and eliminated Slayback. He was about to eliminate Deadpool as well, but Deadpool convinced Zero that he had potential for good. Zero gave Deadpool the benefit and left.

Allies til the End?
    Zero went on to try to become more human.   His new goal was to achieve full sentience and become "alive". It sensed the potential to be alive in the techno-organic being known as Douglock and gave it independence from the Phalanx. Zero set out to teach Douglock about his new existence, but Zero was now hunted by killer androids, programmed by Stryfe to destroy Zero in case of his death. Zero and Douglock were assisted by Excalibur and together they tried to deactivate the androids from Stryfe's secret base below the Pentagon. Here, Zero realized that he had become sentient and also the reason why Stryfe wanted him killed: locked within his data banks, Zero had all the secrets of the Legacy Virus, Stryfe's final "gift" to the world. This revelation activated Zero's self-destruct sequence and the killer androids in Stryfe's base. 

    Shadowcat managed to remove the self-destruction device, but Zero realized that his sentience was a cruel joke and that Stryfe had programmed him to think it was alive. Zero sacrificed itself to protect Excalibur, Douglock, and a family of innocents from the base's self-destruction.   In Zero's last few moments on Earth, Zero transferred all of its memories to Douglock. So while its body is destroyed, the data that made up Zero's mind is still contained within the mind of Douglock.

the MLF
Powers:

  • Teleportation: Zero is capable of opening gateways linking to places spatially without having to traverse the space between.
  • Tracking: Zero can find a needle in a haystack so if you are trying to get away, you got no chance
  • Intellect: Zero is a highly sophisticated android with an intelligence to match.  His data banks make it almost impossible to out think or out maneuver him.  
First Appearance:
  • New Mutants #86 (Feb 1990)
  • Created by Rob Liefeld and Louise Jones Simonson
  • Published by MARVEL
ZERO

Until next time, get your READ on!

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Hidden Gems: the Haunting of Helena

the "Tooth Fairy"
I was scrolling through the horror section on Amazon Prime and came across a chilling movie poster for a film called The Haunting of Helena.  I thought to myself, what the heck and pressed watch now.  I did not think that this was a film that I would have gotten so involved in from the very beginning.

The story follows a single mother, Sophia,  just trying to raise her daughter, Helena, in Italy.  Everything seems fine until Helena loses her first tooth.  It appears this simple process of growing up awakened a tortured soul who Helena calls the Tooth Fairy.

As the story progresses, you get more involved with the history of the area as well as the story about what exactly happened in Sophia's house.  It turns out that there is little that she can do to help her daughter or herself from escaping the "Fairy's Grasp".

Are you okay Sophia?

Then suddenly there appears to be a way to stop the "Fairy" and Sophia is willing to take the chance to save Helena.  There is only one thing wrong with this "simple" solution, it may cause more harm than good.


That is all I am going to say about that.  I want you to be as pleasantly surprised as I was.  I give this film a strong 8 out of 10 rating.  Christian Bisceglia sure knows how to write one damn good screen play and his directing skills brought this film to life the way it was intended to be.

Theatrical Poster

Background Information:

The Haunting of Helena (also known as Fairy Tale in other countries) is a 2012 Italian supernatural horror film, written and directed by Christian Bisceglia and filmed in Italy. The film stars Harriet MacMasters-Green and Sabrina Jolie Perez.

Until next time, get your BOO on!


Saturday Showcase: Low-Light

G.I. Joe Night Spotter Code Name: Low-Light
One of my favorite toys as a kid was G.I. Joe and one of my favorite Joes was  Low-Light.  Low-Light is a  character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toy line, comic books and animated series. He served as the G.I. Joe Team's Infantryman and debuted in 1986.

Low-Light as seen in the popular G.I. Joe cartoon series
ORIGIN:

His real name is Cooper G. MacBride, and his rank is that of Staff Sergeant E-6. Low-Light was born in Crosby, North Dakota.

As a child, Low-Light was afraid of the dark, timid with wild animals, and shy of loud noises, until one hunting expedition with his father. He lost his way in the impenetrable darkness, and was found three weeks later, with his flashlight, .22 rifle, and a grin from ear to ear. Ten years later, he was an instructor at the Army Marksmanship Program in Fort Benning and a self-taught expert on image intensification.

Breaking Through Cobra's Defenses
Affiliation:  G.I. Joe

Specialty:

  • Infantryman
  • Night Spotter (1986, 1989)
  • Night Fighter (1991)
  • Dinosaur Night Spotter (1993)
  • Night Survivalist (2001)
  • Night Spotter (2006)
  • S.W.A.T. Sharpshooter (2008)
  • Night Spotter (2011)


File Name:  MacBride, Cooper G.

Birth Place: Crosby, ND (1986)
                    Crosby, NM (1993 only)

Rank:  E-6 (Staff Sergeant)

Primary MOS:

  • Infantry

Secondary MOS:

  • Marksmanship Instructor (1986)
  • Sharpshooter (1991)

Subgroups:

  • Slaughter's Marauders
I got you in my sights!

Until next time, Yo Joe!

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Who's Who: Crazy Quilt


Saturday Showcase: Crazy Quilt (Paul Dekker)

Blinded by the Light
Greetings fellow Bat-Fans,

As you already know, today is Batman Day.  It is this reason, and this reason alone, that I have decided to focus my Saturday Showcase on a villain that most of you may not even know exists.  Who is this minion of evil?  Well, it's none other than Crazy Quilt.

You will bow to my will
There are several versions of the villain known as Crazy Quilt.  The original Crazy Quilt was created by Jack Kirby and first appeared in issue #15 of the Boy Commandos series by DC Comics.  The version I am concentrating on is the Paul Dekker version that was created by Dick Dillin and later touched up by the legendary Jack Kirby.

The origin of the first two Crazy Quilt's are intertwined to the point it is hard to separate.  What is known is that he was blinded by a gunshot wound, so he volunteers for an experimental procedure that restores his vision, but is unfortunately left unable to see anything but bright colors.
In his second published appearance, this is combined with a special helmet that emits bright colored lights, enabling him to see under most circumstances.

Crazy Quilt's sight is restored briefly for a time after he kidnaps a surgeon to assist him. Batman and Robin intervene. In self-defense, Robin reflects the madman's light beams back into his newly restored eyes. Unintentionally, Quilt is permanently blinded. Obsessing over his young adversary, he becomes one of the few bat-villains to hate Robin more than his mentor.

The Man Who Stole His Eyes
Crazy-Quilt has a helmet that allows him to hypnotize his victims using flashing lights of various colors. It can also project lethal laser beams, blinding lights, and functions as artificial eyes since his own eyes no longer function.  The lenses feed their input signal straight into his brain.

JUST THE FACTS:
Name:Crazy Quilt
Publisher: DC Comics
First Appearance: Blackhawks #180
Created by:
Pre-Crisis version: Dick Dillin
        Post-Crisis version: Jack Kirby
Alter Ego: Paul Dekker
Abilities:
        Mind-controlling helmet that projects lethal laser beams and blinding lights and has artificial eyes.

All Hail the King!
Until next time, get your READ on!

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Hidden Gems: No One Lives

No One Lives
    I am starting a post that I will call Hidden Gems.  This will be where I will discuss things that may have been around for years, but are new to me.  For example, today's feature.  I was surfing on Amazon Prime and came across the film No One Lives.

    What caught my eye to the film is the fact that it stars Brodus Clay and was produced by WWE Studios.  So, with my attention caught, I read the blurb about what the film was about and I thought this could be interesting.  So, I pressed play and my mind was blown!

    The story starts with a girl running for her life only to be captured...but by who.  Then we see a couple driving away from their past and looking forward to a new beginning.  They run into some local scum and then the film jumps up 10 notches.

    I am not going to tell you too much because I want you to discover this Hidden Gem.  If you saw it already, you know what I mean. I had no idea that the film would be this good.  I understand that it was originally met with mixed reviews but I proudly give this film 10 out of 10 stars.  Hopefully, I can find some more films from this writer because I am sure they are just as good.


CAST:

  • Luke Evans as Driver
  • Laura Ramsey as Betty
  • Adelaide Clemens as Emma
  • Lee Tergesen as Hoag
  • Brodus Clay as Ethan
  • Derek Magyar as Flynn
  • America Olivo as Tamara
  • Beau Knapp as Denny
  • Lindsey Shaw as Amber


  • Written by: David Lawrence Cohen

    Originally Released: May 10, 2013

    Saturday Showcase: Warlock

    Warlock
        Marvel's Contest of Champions inspired last week's post, but it also inspired this week's post.   The arrival of Sunspot and Warlock in the game brought back memories from my childhood reading the New Mutants adventures from Marvel Comics.  
        Warlock is a member of the alien Technarchy, a race of mechanical organisms that survive by infecting living creatures with the "techno-organic" transmode virus, before draining the life energy or "lifeglow" of the infected organism. Unlike others of his race, Warlock possesses a distinctive degree of compassion, and as a result was dubbed a mutant in spirit; It was later discovered that he is in fact a mutant of his race even though he has yet to display any abilities beyond those natural to the Technarch. 
        He is the son of the Technarch ruler who has battled the New Mutants and the X-Men. Warlock served as a member of the original New Mutants for much of that group's existence, and became the best friend of his teammate Cypher aka Doug Ramsey.

    New Mutants
        Cypher and Warlock fought many battles together.  He considered Doug family.  Doug's death at the hands of the Ani-Mator devastated Warlock, leading him to go so far as to steal Doug's body. With the help of the rest of the New Mutants, he came to terms with Doug's death (and returned his friend's body to the rightful place).

        Shortly after the event known as Inferno, Warlock was kidnapped from the grounds of the X-Mansion, along with his friends Rictor, Boom Boom and Wolfsbane, and ended up on the island nation of Genosha which was ruled by Cameron Hodge. Warlock was killed in an attempt by Hodge to steal his powers.  The news of his death was broadcast worldwide, a public relations disaster for Genosha since the world believed Warlock to be a "normal" human mutant. Wolfsbane asked Boom Boom to put Warlock's ashes on Doug's grave.  It is this act that eventually led to the arrival of Douglock, but that is a post for another day.

    Warlock
    First Appearance:

    The New Mutants #18 (August 1984)

    Created by:
            Chris Claremont & Bill Sienkiewicz

    Team Affiliations:
            X-Men
            New Mutants
            Fallen Angels
            Excalibur
            X-Factor
            Phalanx

    Abilities:
    Shape-shifting
            Can turn organic objects and beings into techno-organic matter
            Can drain the life energy from techno-organic matter

    Doug aka Cypher and Warlock to the Rescue

    Until next time, get your READ on!