Comic Conversations: the Troyjan War

 

The Troyjan War, not to be confused the the Greek Trojan War, is a 4 part storyline that takes place in issues #413-416 of the Incredible Hulk series from the nineties.  [1993-1994 to be exact]

Our story begins in deep space, as the Troyjan known as Trauma meets with his father, the dreaded Armageddon to ask his permission to return to Earth and take the woman known as Atalanta to be his bride. The ruler of the Troyjans allows his son, but warns him not to fail.  How could he possibly fail?  Well, his heart's desire happens to be on Earth training with a certain GREEN Avenger.  Trauma and his army grabs the girl, forcing Bruce and his team to go to space and get her back.  

After Atalanta was kidnapped by Trauma and the Troyjans, the Hulk returns to the Mount where he has the Pantheon construct a ship to follow their foes into space, the Argo IV.   After final checks with Prometheus, the countdown begins and soon the Argo IV takes off into space. Achilles is confident that Atalanta is probably giving them all sorts of trouble to slow them down. As it turns out, Achilles prediction is correct as aboard the Troyjan ship, Atalanta is giving the warriors a run for their money while incapacitating their ship as well. Trauma orders his men to capture her but not to harm her as he intends to make her his bride.

While this is happening, one of the Troyjans reports back to Trauma's father, the dread Armageddon. When learning that the Pantheon is closing in on his son, Armageddon orders his warriors to stand back and watch to see how his son handles the situation.  Soon,  the Pantheon arrived and Hector, Ulysses, Cassiopeia and the Hulk try to force their way into the ship. However, they are confronted by Trauma who refuses to let them foil his plans. 

While the Hulk battles Trauma, he orders the rest of the Pantheon to break into the ship. They accomplish this thanks to Cassie's energy blasts. Meanwhile, the Hulk is prepared for most of Trauma's weapons, but when his space suit is damaged he is blasted off the ship by one of its onboard weapons only to be saved by the Silver Surfer.  Seeing the battle as lost, Trauma jumps back into his ship and orders his crew to activate the warp drive. When the ship goes into warp, the Hulk and the Silver Surfer get pulled into the warp field and dragged along for the ride, leaving Achilles and Prometheus alone in the middle of space.

The Starjammers are surprised to find the Hulk drifting in space. As they debate on if they should bring him aboard their ship, the Silver Surfer catches up and insists that they let them come aboard. Meanwhile, aboard Trauma's ship, Atalanta is still on the run from her captors but has paused because traveling through hyperspace makes her sick. While she has stopped to throw up, Trauma manages to catch up and incapacitate her. Elsewhere on the ship, Ulysses, Cassiopeia, and Hector battle it out with the Troyjan warriors. Trauma arrives with Atalanta in his arms and orders the Pantheon to stand down or she will mutilate his captive. With no other choice, Ulysses, and the others surrender.

Elsewhere in space, Lord Armageddon learns that his son Trauma has succeeded in capturing Atalanta and is now on his way back home. However, they soon detect the Starjammer and the Silver Surfer invading Troyjan space and fighting through their defenses. Intrigued to hear that the Silver Surfer is coming, Armageddon arms himself and orders his minions to prepare for a fitting welcome. As the Starjammer and the Surfer fight their way to the Troyjan star port, they are ordered by High Lord Vitto to surrender. The Hulk convinces Corsair that pretending to surrender is their best bet. It is at this time they are horrified to discover that their leader Agamemmnon made a deal with the Troyjans for the technology that had prolonged his life. In exchange, the Troyjans could then claim a tithe by means of any member of Agamemnon's family they desire.

The Hulk refuses to honor the deal and tries to attack Trauma, but is incapacitated by Armageddon's weapons. When the Silver Surfer tries to come to the Hulk's aid, Armageddon blasts the former herald of Galactus with powerful eye beams which overloaded the Silver Surfer by channeling and redirecting the Surfer's own Power Cosmic.

The Hulk then plays to Trauma's pride, mocking him for having his father intervene in all of his battles. This enrages Trauma who demands his father to free Hulk so they can fight to the finish. Armageddon concedes to his son's wishes and lets the Hulk free and the two are soon trading blows. While his son fights the Hulk, Armageddon continues to bombard the Silver Surfer with his own Power Cosmic. Cassie steps in the way, absorbing the Surfer's tremendous energies and shooting them towards Armageddon in the form of an incredibly powerful blast (whose power output is multiplied by the factor of two). As the Surfer recovers, the Hulk continues his fight with Trauma. During the fight, one of Trauma's spiked shoulder pieces gets embedded into a wall. As the two powerhouses struggle with each other, the Hulk shoves him into the wall again, impaling Trauma on his own armor. Mortally wounded, Trauma falls over and begins to bleed out.

The fight suddenly ends when Trauma cries out for his father. When everyone gathers around the dying Trauma, he asks Atalanta if he should die for his love of her. When she says he shouldn't, he releases her from her bond to him. As he dies, Trauma is cradled by his father who orders everyone to get out. When the Hulk offers his own grief, Armageddon tells Banner to save his grief for himself.

Until next time, get your READ on!

Comic Conversations: An Interview with Jon McCarthy

It is with great honor that I am able to present to you my latest interview. The interview is with comic writer Jon McCarthy.  Jon is a good friend of mine that I met through Umbrella Comics and we have been friends ever since.  Well, on the week of June 15, his most recent project hits the shelves. What is that project you ask?  It is the comic from Blood Moon Comics titled Endangered.  I really hope you enjoy this interview but more importantly, I hope you checkout the first amazing issue of Endangered.

Derf: When did you know you wanted to write comics?

Jon: I’ve always been a comic book fan, but never considered creating them myself was an option until probably the mid 2000’s. It was around that time that I began to truly learn how to tell stories. I learned screenwriting and quickly saw the correlation between writing films and comics. Both are stories told in visual mediums, so the style of writing is similar.

What was the first book you worked on?

I don’t recall the first script I wrote specifically to be a comic, but my first “published” comic work was a book titled, Hungry for Stink. It was a comedic take on zombies in New Orleans that I wrote and co-created with my best friend back in like 2009ish. We self-published that one and it sold tens of tens of copies worldwide.

How did you come up with the idea for your new book, Endangered?

I was sitting outside my house one day, zoning out, and started paying attention to some insects crawling around. The thought popped into my head, what if these things were the size of large mammals? What would THAT world be like to live in? Right after that, I started writing notes and story ideas that became this book.

I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy to read and I must say BRAVO!  I think you have a hit on your hands and from what I am seeing on social media, others believe so as well.  How does this make you feel?

First off, I want to say thank you for agreeing to check it out. It means a lot to me when people enjoy stuff I write, but it really means a lot when my peers enjoy it. In this case, I’m talking about fellow lovers of comics. I know you know your stuff with comic book history, and you’ve read a ton of books for many years, so to get a Derf endorsement really means the world to me. I’m hoping everyone else out there enjoys it and feels they got their $4 worth. Stick with us for the series, because it gets really wild in the upcoming issues, and I think you guys are really going to dig where we’re headed.

Just curious, how long does it take to write one issue?

That depends on if I’m really trying to self-edit the work, or just throw down a first draft to get it on “paper”. I usually let the story flow as it’s being written, especially this one, so I will often go back and change a scene to make it work with a new plot point I want to introduce. So to answer your question, I feel I can get a decent twenty-two page script knocked out in a few days, barring too many distractions. 

Going back to Endangered, what can we expect form each issue?  I know by reading the first issue its going to be a survival of the strongest type of scenario.  Would that be the way you would explain it?

Issue 1 really sets everything up and establishes this world that we’re telling the story in. It’s a very high stakes world where danger is everywhere back on Earth. Issue 2 is when they come back down here and are immersed into this treacherous new environment. So with each issue, the flames under our protagonist’s feet get a little hotter. My goal is to maintain, and steadily increase, the action and intensity of their experiences from issue 2 until the end of our contracted 8 issues.

I personally can see Endangered as the catalyst that starts a video game or streaming series franchise.  Have you given those areas any thought?

I really appreciate that. My goal was to set out and tell this story as a comic book. If it is loved enough that others feel it needs to also live outside the pages of the comic, that would be great. That would tell me that we’ve done something good here and that people care enough to see it live on in another form.

What is next for the great Jon McCarthy?

Well, we are in the middle of working on these future issues, so that is my main focus. My goal is tell many more of my stories in the form of comic books and I have a hard drive full of scripts and concepts that I really want to see made. Hopefully, Endangered will afford me the opportunity to do that.

What advice would you give to those out there with the dream of getting their comics published?

I would say to take you project as serious as you would want a publisher to take it. Invest the money into assembling a solid team of professionals to work on it. You have to be willing to accept criticism from trusted sources, not people who are going to tell you your work is good out of kindness. Find out what’s not good, make it as good as you possibly can, and then send it into the world. You have to understand that the comic business is a business and that publishers are there to make money. Deliver a product to them that will allow them to envision its success and you’ll be good to go. Also, you must have thick skin. There’s a lot of rejection that you’ll have to be able to swallow before your break comes. Stay focused on your goal, work hard at it, and you can do it.

Is there a site that your readers can get some Endangered merchandise?

I decided to focus most of the social media presence for Endangered on Instagram. Our page there is @endangeredcomic and we have a link tree in the bio of the page that readers can get some awesome shirts and stuff. We also do giveaways form time to time so come join us over there. To get the comic, I’d ask your readers to hit up their favorite local, or online, comic retailer and add Endangered to your pull folder. If you don’t have a pull folder, just tell the comic shop you want to subscribe to all 8 issues, that way you’re guaranteed to get a copy when the new issue comes out.

Thank you Jon for taking the time to this interview.  I know the book will do well.  Thanks again!

Make sure to pick up your copy of the First issue of Endangered next week,

Until next time, get your READ on!

Comic Conversations: Blood Stained Teeth

With a title like Blood Stained Teeth, you had to know this was a vampiric comic.  To be honest, I am like Sam from the film The Lost Boys, I really don't like horror comics.  However, my friend Phil, gave me a copy of the first issue to Blood Stained Teeth and asked me to do a review.  Well, I picked it up started reading it and when I was done, I immediately emailed Phil to add it to my folder at Umbrella Comics and Collectibles (My Local Comic Shop). It is that damn good.

The book is about a vampire known as Atticus Sloane and for the right price, he’ll make you a vampire.  Why?  Because immortality isn’t cheap and he likes to surround himself with some of the finer things in lifelike vintage record albums.  Well, it turns out that making vamps is something that natural vampires are very much against.  Especially, if the new vamps are not tethered to a master.  It brings too much attention to a society that tries its best to stay hidden.

Well, after one of Atticus Sloane's new vamps goes viral on Social Media, he is asked by the naturals to track back to all his monstrosities and end them or it will be his immortality that will come to an end.  That is how issue #1 ends.

 When I read this comic and saw who Atticus has to answer to, I immediately thought it was brilliant.  I wish I could tell you but I don't want to spoil it.  I am not traditionally a horror comic fan, but I gladly give this title a 10 out of 10 rating.  The writing and artwork are superb.  I cannot wait to see what issue #2 brings to the table.  I strongly suggest you pick up a copy.  Hell, get you a copy while celebrating Free Comic Book Day this Saturday.

Until next tike, get your READ on!

Comic Conversations: Spider-Punk #1 (2022)

Are you a fan of Spider-Man?  Are you a fan of everything PUNK?  Well, then Spider-Punk is the comic title you should be reading.  When I was first introduced to Spider-Punk, I liked him for his image.  I thought it was new and fresh as well as an interesting take on the spidey suit..  But when I read this first issue, I was blown away about how much Punk influences the book.  The artwork has that "Punk" look as well as the lettering.  Hell, even some  of the characters could be doppelgangers of some well known Punk Rock artists (You'll see what I mean later in the post).

The first issue begins with Kraven & the Hunters terrorizing the city and creating chaos in a vandalistic approach.  Along comes our heroes, Spider-Punk and Captain Anarchy, to save the day.  In the conflict that ensues, our heroes noticed that the Hunters appear to be using Osborn tech.  This should be impossible since Norman Osborn is dead.  Spider-Punk and Captain Anarchy stop the terrorizing attempts by the Hunters and report to base camp to plan their next move.

While at camp,  they meet up with another member of the band, Riot Heart aka Riri Williams.  With her help, they are able to realize that their fears were true.  Somehow, Kraven and the Hunters got their hands on Osborn Tech.  Before the could get too deep with their research, the Hunters are up to their tricks again and it is up to the Spider-Band of heroes to put a stop to them once and for all.

During the battle, Spider-Punk is separated from the group and comes across the villain that could have supplied the Hunters with the Osborn Tech.  That villain is none other than the Taskmaster.  Who, in my opinion, appears to resemble Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein from the band the Misfits.  I know I am aging myself with that comparison, but you will se what I mean.

Now for you comic collector's out there, this is a key issue you should add to  your collection.  Their are a lot of 1st appearances on this issue of characters who will be in the Spider-Verse for awhile, including this version of the Taskmaster and Kraven & the Hunters.

I give this story a 5 out of 5 rating.  It is well written as well as drawn nicely to stick with the whole Punk and Anarchy them of this world in the Spider-Verse.  I cannot wait to see what happens next.

Okay, for those of you who may not know who the Misfits are, take a look at the picture of  Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein and look to the right at the Taskmaster and tell me if you can see the influence.

Until next time,  get your READ on!

Comic Conversations: Wolverine: Patch #1

 

It's time for another round of Comic Conversations.  Today, we will go down memory lane when Logan was known as Patch and he was a silent partner with Tyger Tiger of the Princess Bar in Madripoor.  we were first introduced to this persona of Wolverine back in the late '80s. For those of you who may not been born at the time, let's look at the content page Marvel was nice enough to include in issue #1.

The first issue starts off with some suspicious activity going down in the jungle.  Which has some of the locals, human and animal, very nervous.  When you turn the page, we are in the Princess Bar,  while Patch and Archie enjoy a drink to was away their cares.  It is then they are offer a job that they cannot refuse.  What's the job?  Well, you will have to read the issue to get the full details but let's just say it might be related to what is spoking the locals.

As they are flying around and doing recon,  they discover a downed Russian plane in the jungle.  Before they could get too close, a couple of jets surround them and ask them to land on what you can see is a S.H.I.E.L.D. Hellicarrier.  It turns out the boys accidentally found themselves in a secret ops led by Nick Fury.

Well, Fury let's them go with a warning.  Like a warning is going to  stop Logan, lol.  As they fly away, Patch jumps out the plane to see what he can find.  Besides a couple of broken bones, he comes across some heavy hitters that give him a run for his money.  After an intense fight,  the two heavy hitters leave Logan for dead.  What they don't know is, Patch has a healing factor.  He had wounded one in the battle and once they are gone, he gets up and proceeds to  follow the blood trail.

What will happen next?  Well, we have to stay tuned until issue #2 to see what fate awaits Patch.  This issue has set up nicely what potentially could be the best Wolverine story in years.  Patch was always a fan favorite and bringing us a storyline that deals with an adventure in Madripoor is what we needed.

I give this issue a 4 out of 5 rating.  It would have gotten a full 5 if there was just a little more action.  There wasn't enough Slice 'N' Dice for me.

Until next time, get your READ on!

Comic Conversations: the Punisher #1 (2022)

    In efforts to add more content to my blog, I decided to create a post simply called Comic Conversations.  The posts will simply be me discussing what I think about certain topics in the world of comics.  I will mostly focus on new material, but that doesn't mean I won't go down memory lane as well.

    For my first post, I decided to focus on one of my favorite characters from the Marvel Universe and his transition into the organization known as the Hand.  If you know me, you know that the Punisher is sacred to me and I was very skeptical about the changing of the logo.  Well, after reading the first issue, it makes sense.  Let me explain.

    The first issue begins with a flashback to when the Punisher was born.  For those of you who do not know, Frank Castle became the Punisher after his family was slaughtered during a mob hit in the park.   After the flashback, we are brought to the present in a warehouse filled with soldiers (*known as the Apostles) and weapons.  Well, then the lights go out and we see dead soldiers with one left alive to answer the questions of the Punisher. Yes, the Punisher is sporting a new logo but that is because he is now known as "the Fist of the Beast" and he is simply a weapon to Punish the evil in the world.  As we see in the issue, Frank is still learning how to use a sword properly.

    Now,  I know some of you are wondering why is Frank working for the Hand?  Didn't he fight them over and over for all the murders they committed?  The answer is yes, he has fought them before but they made him an  offer he couldn't refuse.  Was it a peaceful transition at first?  Hell no, Frank is a killer of killers, so he had to take some out first.

    The members of the Hand knew they would die, but they saw it as an honor.  Because if they succeeded, the Hand of the Beast would be reborn and cleanse the world of evil.  It was the Arch-Priestess of the Hand that allowed Frank to see that they were actually on the same side.  Of course, it didn't hurt that the Hand seemed to have something he has been looking for since the day the Punisher was born.  What is that you ask?  I'm not spoiling that.  You need to read that yourself.

    I was skeptical at first, but I have to admit, I am more intrigued now to see where this is going.  The promise and gift the Hand gave Frank may be a Hand ruse or it could be real, who knows?  All I know is this is just the latest arch in the story of Frank's life.  For those of you who refuse to read the book because the Punisher skull has changed, just remember two things. First, the skull has already changed more than once and second, we know Frank's future is to become the Cosmic Ghost Rider.  SO, like I said, this is just a small part of the story that is the Punisher.

I give the first issue a 5 out of 5 rating and I look forward to the next issue.

Until next time, get your READ on!