kudosmyhero

[kudosmyhero]

Giant-Size Defenders (vol. 1) #3: Games Godlings Play!

Read Date: June 17, 2023 Cover Date: January 1975 ● Writer: Steve Gerber ◦ Jim Starlin ◦ Len Wein ● Penciler: Jim Starlin ● Inker: Dan Adkins ◦ Don Newton ◦ Jim Mooney ● Colorist: Glynis Wein ● Letterer: Charlotte Jetter ● Editor: Roy Thomas ●

**HERE BE SPOILERS: Skip ahead to the fan art/podcast to avoid spoilers

Reactions As I Read: ● heheh, Nighthawk curtails any chance for further misunderstanding or argument. I like it. usually there’s a page or two of fight before the person can get a word in edgewise to explain themselves ● ok well that went off the deep end ● dude… prose?? that’s… kinda cool, actually

● this is OS Star Trek worthy ● I love that Valkyrie’s steed’s name is Aragorn ● erm… what a way to go, for someone whose senses are so heightened that cheap sheets hurt his skin ● jeez, ch 3 was dark ● 👏👏👏

Synopsis: The Defenders and Daredevil are selected by the Grandmaster and the Prime Mover to participate in their latest game, in which the Grandmaster pits them against beings from different eras and planets selected by the Prime Mover to do battle. The winner get's Earth as their prize.

Pitting two of Grandmaster's champions against at least one of those of the Prime Mover, the Defenders still manage to win, even though some of their numbers are killed in the battle. However, when the Grandmaster wins, he revives those who were killed. Having lost, the Prime Mover shorts out of breaks down and the Grandmaster prepares to take ownership of the Earth. However, Daredevil challenges him to a coin toss, to which Daredevil wins thanks to his heightened senses. Losing it all, the Grandmaster returns the Defenders to Earth, and leaving all alone… Until next time that is..

(https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Giant-Size_Defenders_Vol_1_3)

Fan Art: Daredevil TV Show by deralbi

Accompanying Podcast: ● Joshua and Jamie Do Daredevil - episode 19

#marvel #marvel comics #my marvel read #podcast recommendation #podcast - joshua and jamie do daredevil #comics #comic books #daredevil #matt murdock #fan art #fanart

[kudosmyhero]

Daredevil (vol. 1) #120: And a HYDRA New Year!

Read Date: June 17, 2023 Cover Date: April 1975 ● Writer: Tony Isabella ● Penciler: William Robert Brown ● Inker: Vince Colletta ● Colorist: Petra Goldberg ● Letterer: Ray Holloway ● Editor: Len Wein ●

**HERE BE SPOILERS: Skip ahead to the fan art/podcast to avoid spoilers

Reactions As I Read: ● O_O

● yo, Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. ● do you always insult potential new recruits, Nick? ● 👏👏👏

Synopsis: When Matt Murdock goes to meet the Black Widow and Ivan at the airport, he has to change into Daredevil and go into action to take down a group of terrorists that have appeared with guns a-blazing. Daredevil manages to defeat the attackers with the aid of the Black Widow and Ivan. Reunited, the two lovers quickly depart, leaving Ivan to explain the situation to the police.

On the rooftop of Matt Murdock's apartment, the Black Widow and Daredevil talk about their relationship. Natasha expresses the fact that she used to be so independent, and that she has become less and less independent since teaming up with Daredevil. Suddenly, to break up the tension of their conversation, Daredevil swings into his apartment and reveals that he has gotten Natasha a dress to attend a special New Year's Eve Party in.

Natasha is furious to find out that it's a party being hosted by Foggy Nelson, whom she is still angry at for putting her on trial on trumped-up murder charges. She is about to leave when Matt convinces her to stay. Foggy attempts to warm things between he and Natasha. However, this attempt is cut short when the party is crashed by agents of Hydra who are led by a man named El Jaguar.

Matt slips away and changes into Daredevil to battle El Jaguar and his men, whom he learns have come to kidnap Foggy. Although he is injured in the fight, Daredevil manages to gain the upper hand against El Jaguar, who is beaten to the point where he is fleeing the scene. Before Daredevil can go after him, he is stopped by Nick Fury who arrives with a team of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents. Learning that the Jaguar got away, Daredevil is told by Fury that the reason why Hydra is after Foggy Nelson is because S.H.I.E.L.D. is seeking to recruit him into their fold.

(https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Daredevil_Vol_1_120)

Fan Art: Daredevil by omertunc

Accompanying Podcast: ● Joshua and Jamie Do Daredevil - episode 19

#marvel #marvel comics #my marvel read #podcast recommendation #podcast - joshua and jamie do daredevil #comics #comic books #daredevil #matt murdock #fan art #fanart

[kudosmyhero]

Daredevil (vol. 1) #119: They're Tearing Down Fogwell's Gym!

Read Date: June 16, 2023 Cover Date: March 1975 ● Writer: Tony Isabella ● Penciler: William Robert Brown ● Inker: Don Heck ● Colorist: Stan Goldberg ● Letterer: Dave Hunt ● Editor: Len Wein ●

**HERE BE SPOILERS: Skip ahead to the fan art/podcast to avoid spoilers

Reactions As I Read: ● heh, he keeps subway tokens in his billy club. ya know… I ain’t even mad

● I wonder when Karen will make her comeback ● a precursor to Catholicism being a big part of Matt’s character? ● 👏👏👏👏

Synopsis: Daredevil is excited at the prospect of the Black Widow coming to New York for the New Year, finally having settled her debts in San Fransisco since their last encounter four months prior. Taking the subway, Daredevil soon arrives at the District Attorney's office and changes into his civilian guise of Matt Murdock. There he finds that Foggy's sister Candace is leaving to be the star witness in a Senate subcommittee looking into the Sallis papers and is leaving that day. Matt is then told by Foggy that he got a call from Pop Fenton, the owner of Fogwell's Gym.

There he meets with Fenton and learns that he is not training fighters professionally and has been given a grant to re-open the gym as a neighborhood sports center to provide exercise and training to young children in the hopes of dealing with youth crime and violence. He also learns that "Kid" Gawaine has given up boxing and become a priest after he was saved by Daredevil. They explain that they need the help of a lawyer, and explain to them that a young man that has started coming to the gym named Juan Aponte. They explain that the small boxer wants to fight in heavyweight matches and has sought out othe help of Dr. Jakkelburr. Jakkelburr, they explain was the coroner who performed the autopsy on one time Iron Man villain the Crusher and learned a means of duplicating the process. In recreating the treatment in Juan, it begun to work however a side effect has effected Juan's temperament explosively. They have since refused to let him fight until a legitimate doctor has had a chance to look at him.

As Matt is explaining the possibility of getting a restraining order they are attacked by Juan with Jakkelburr and some thugs in tow. Murdock is tossed into the locker room while they force the others to allow Juan to fight in tonight's heavyweight match. Left alone, Matt changes into Daredevil and arrives just as Juan has mutated into a gigantic creature similar in appearance to the original Crusher.

As the new Crusher goes into a rampage, Daredevil tries his best to fight him off, however his strength proves to be too strong. However, when the fight causes a wall to crumble down and potentially crush Pop and Father Gawaine to death, the Crusher shields them from the rock fall. After Daredevil finishes rounding up Jakkelburr and his men, he checks on Juan, who has reverted back to his human form. Juan apologizes for his rampage, telling them that he wanted to be a heavyweight champ, not some punk kid and dies in Pop's arms.

(https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Daredevil_Vol_1_119)

Fan Art: Daredevil by p1xer

Accompanying Podcast: ● Joshua and Jamie Do Daredevil - episode 19

#marvel #marvel comics #my marvel read #podcast recommendation #podcast - joshua and jamie do daredevil #comics #comic books #daredevil #matt murdock #fan art #fanart

[kudosmyhero]

Daredevil (vol. 1) #118: Circus Spelled Sideways Is Death!

Read Date: June 16, 2023 Cover Date: February 1975 ● Writer: Gerry Conway ● Penciler: Don Heck ● Inker: Vince Colletta ● Colorist: Petra Goldberg ● Letterer: Karen Popcock ● Editor: Roy Thomas ●

**HERE BE SPOILERS: Skip ahead to the fan art/podcast to avoid spoilers

Reactions As I Read: ● “dudes”! my earliest coming across this word. 1975 ● I just love that one of DD’s gimmicks is to just bean someone in the face with his club. I wish they showed it happening more!

● also letting some panels remain text-free to let the art speak for itself

● 👏👏👏👏

Synopsis: Daredevil is swinging through New York City when he spots two costumed crooks trying to rob an armored car. As he easily knocks the crooks out and leaves the scene for the police to collect the criminals, he is unaware that the entire battle has been filmed. The film is taken to the Ringmaster, the leader of the Circus of Crime, who believes that Daredevil will be a threat to his plans to rob all of New York City. With his new agent, Blackwing he gathers the Circus of Crime and orders them to go out and eliminate Daredevil once and for all.

The Man Without Fear meanwhile has returned to the District Attorney's office and changed back into his civilian guise of Matt Murdock. Meeting with Foggy Nelson, he finds his friend has become slightly embittered over the fact that for all the thanks he's gotten for being the D.A. for New York City is to get shot by some crook. Their conversation is cut short when they are attacked by Princess Python and the Great Gambonnos, who saw Daredevil enter the building.

During the scuffle, Matt slips away and changes into Daredevil and fights off the attackers. During the fight, he is bound by Princess Python's snake. In order to free himself, Daredevil is forced to push the snake's head onto Princess Python's electro-prod, killing the snake instantly. Not wanting to be caught with Daredevil at that moment, the three crooks make a break for it. As Foggy enters the room Matt has quickly changed back into his civilian guise. Foggy then goes over some notes about the Circus of Crime, and how he is suspicious of the fact that they have been acting almost too straight since their release and the addition of their new member of Blackwing. When Foggy mentions that they will be making a televised appearance at Shae Stadium, Matt rushes off as Daredevil before Foggy even notices that Matt has left the room.

As the Man Without Fear rushes to the stadium, the Ringmaster initiates his plans: Hypnotizing everyone in the stadium and watching from home, Blackwing sends out his trained bats across the city to steal from those who have been effected by the Ringmaster's hypno-disc. Daredevil arrives shortly after and makes short work of the Circus of Crime, easily smashing their operation. When it's all over, the police come to collect the Ringmaster, and Daredevil realizes that Blackwing is missing among the group. With the Circus of Crime in police custody, Daredevil leaves them to return the stolen money to it's rightful owners.

(https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Daredevil_Vol_1_118)

Fan Art: Daredevil (Netflix) by erlanarya

Accompanying Podcast: ● Joshua and Jamie Do Daredevil - episode 19

#marvel #marvel comics #my marvel read #podcast recommendation #podcast - joshua and jamie do daredevil #comics #comic books #daredevil #matt murdock #fan art #fanart

[kudosmyhero]

Daredevil (vol. 1) #117: Mind Tap!

Read Date: June 14, 2023 Cover Date: January 1975 ● Writer: Chris Claremont ◦ Steve Gerber ● Penciler: William Robert Brown ● Inker: Vince Colletta ● Colorist: Petra Goldberg ● Letterer: Dave Hunt ● Editor: Roy Thomas ●

**HERE BE SPOILERS: Skip ahead to the fan art/podcast to avoid spoilers

Reactions As I Read: ● attagirl ● ok, who is this silhouetted stranger who just kicked Natasha’s ass?

● Shanna! ● but Tasha, you spent your fortune on that house for you and Matt to live in (and it ended up being a rental??) so Matt owes you ● 👏👏👏👏

Synopsis: With Daredevil and the Black Widow as his prisoners, the Owl is planning on stealing Daredevil's mind. Explaining it to the Black Widow, the Owl is hooking up Daredevil to an absorption machine that will drain Daredevil's mind leaving him a mindless husk. The Black Widow manages to break free of her restraints and blasts the machines with a widows bite, destroying it and saving Daredevil's life.

As Natasha fights off an army of the Owl's men she holds her own until the Owl threatens to kill Daredevil unless she surrenders. With no other choice the Black Widow stops fighting and agrees to do the Owl's bidding in order to his bidding. He promises to let Daredevil go if she carries out a single task for him. As the Owl is briefing the Widow on her mission Ivan goes to police headquarters and speaks with Paul Carson to see if he has heard anything about Natasha recently. Paul agrees to go along with Ivan to look for the Black Widow.

That night the Black Widow carries out the Owl plot to kidnap a woman from a nearby condo, the identity and reasons of which the Black Widow has not been told. Attempting to capture the woman, Natasha finds herself up for quite the fight, when the lights are turned on she is shocked to find that the woman she has been sent to kidnap is none other than Shanna the She-Devil.

While in New York, Candace Nelson is excited that the government is opening in inquiry into the Sallis Papers and that she has been named a star witness. Foggy is less than impressed because she broke the law and got away with it, and despite her good intentions he feels that nobody is above the law.

Back in San Francisco, Ivan and Paul spot Black Widow swinging across the city with Shanna and decide to follow them. The two women are working together to free Daredevil, so when they arrive at the Owl's laid, Shanna pretends to be knocked out while the Black Widow brings her in. The Owl does not suspect this, nor is he aware of how Shanna recently gained super-human abilities since he recently got out of prison. So when Shanna springs an attack the Owl is caught off guard.

Although they free Daredevil, the Owl unleashes a blinding gas, which naturally has no effect on Daredevil because he is already blind. He attacks the Owl head on, however the crook attempts to make an escape, leaving Daredevil to defeat him on the streets with relative ease, even without his Billy-Club.

After having a new Billy-Club built for him by Ivan, Daredevil and Black Widow meet on the Golden Gate Bridge, where Daredevil asks Black Widow to come back with him to New York. She declines his offer, wanting to be able to make her own and not wanting to have to rely on him to support her. Daredevil accepts this and the two depart with a kiss.

(https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Daredevil_Vol_1_117)

Fan Art: Black Widow and Daredevil by RichardCox

Accompanying Podcast: ● Joshua and Jamie Do Daredevil - episode 19

#marvel #marvel comics #my marvel read #podcast recommendation #podcast - joshua and jamie do daredevil #comics #comic books #daredevil #matt murdock #fan art #fanart

[kudosmyhero]

Daredevil (vol. 1) #116: Two Flew Over the Owl's Nest!

Read Date: June 16, 2023 Cover Date: December 1974 ● Writer: Steve Gerber ● Penciler: Gene Colan ● Inker: Vince Colletta ● Colorist: Petra Goldberg ● Letterer: John Costanza ● Editor: Roy Thomas ●

**HERE BE SPOILERS: Skip ahead to the fan art/podcast to avoid spoilers

Reactions As I Read: ● oo, I like when Lawyer!Matt has issue with the actions of Vigilante!Daredevil. it’s an interesting dichotomy that I think should be explored more. I’m really early in DD’s career at this point, though, so I’ll hazard a guess that it has indeed been covered in depth at some point

● I almost forgot that the Owl is in this issue! ● I ain’t even mad that Matt is back in San Francisco ● 👏👏👏👏

Synopsis: With his Billy-Club destroyed, Daredevil rushes back to his New York hotel room with a grappling hook and some rope. There he finds Foggy and explains that he was mugged and the crooks even stole his Billy-Club in order to cover for his secret identity. As he is trying to explain to Candace and Foggy that the Death-Stalker is seemingly dead and the evidence regarding Operation: Sulfer have been destroyed, Matt gets a call from the Black Widow. When he asks if he can call back, the Widow angrily hangs up the phone without explaining what the emergency is.

A few days later after Matt Murdock has arranged to have the charges against Candace Nelson dropped, Daredevil travels back to San Francisco to see what the problem with Black Widow is. Returning to her former mansion home, he finds that she has been evicted and that new tenants have taken over.

Deciding to head over to police headquarters to see if Paul Carson knows where Natasha is, Daredevil stops to bust a group of crooks. When one of them grabs a little girl and holds her at gun point, Daredevil is hard pressed to do anything when suddenly the Black Widow drops out of the air and knocks the gunman out. With all the crooks kayoed, Daredevil and Black Widow embrace. This lets their guard down long enough for one of the crooks to make a break for it. Daredevil is unable to track him due to the noise from the gathered crowd.

The crook enters his employers secret hideout, who turns out to be Daredevil's old foe the Owl. The Owl kills his lackey and decides to deal with Daredevil before continuing his criminal operations in San Francisco. As Daredevil and the Black Widow are talking about her current financial woes when they are attacked by the Owl and a helicopter full of his gun toting henchmen.

During the fight Daredevil is scratched by the Owl's ring which is laced with a fast acting poison which makes Daredevil and easy defeat. When the Black Widow attempts to defend herself she is grazed across the forehead with a bullet shot from the helicopter and is knocked out as well. With both heroes unconscious the Owl has them loaded up in his chopper so that he can deal with them as he sees fit.

(https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Daredevil_Vol_1_116)

Fan Art: The Owl (Leland Owlsley) render by Egg84

Accompanying Podcast: ● Joshua and Jamie Do Daredevil - episode 19

#marvel #marvel comics #my marvel read #podcast recommendation #joshua and jamie do daredevil #comics #comic books #daredevil #matt murdock #fan art #fanart

[kudosmyhero]

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (vol. 1) #21: Return to New York, book three

Read Date: June 16, 2023 Cover Date: May 1989 ● Writer: Kevin Eastman ◦ Peter Laird ● Pencils: Peter Laird ● Inks: Kevin Eastman ● Letterer: Steve Lavigne ●

**HERE BE SPOILERS: Skip ahead to the fan art/podcast to avoid spoilers

Reactions As I Read:

● this issue feels like Netflix Daredevil in places. I love it. ● can’t kill Shredder though. lose a point for that. ● 👏👏👏👏

Synopsis: A battle erupts between the Shredder Elite and the Turtles. As things intensify, Raphael decides that he can't afford to waste time fighting underlings and heads off to find the Shredder—much to Leonardo's chagrin, "We… must… stay together!"

Raphael leaves his brothers to battle the Elite and heads deeper into the complex, where he's ambushed by four experienced ninja.

Leonardo drops his four-armed opponent and heads off to pursue his hot-headed brother. Leo arrives just in time to save Raph, who is wounded and about to be skewered.

"You are a fool!" Leo screams once he's taken out the Foot.

"I know…" Raphael admits, "Almost a dead one. Can't help it… don't think… have no control. Splinter always said so… you know what this means to us… life or death!"

"We will not fail!" declares Leonardo.

"You brother," Raph replies, "You must not fail! I'll find Don and Mike… and together we'll come to you… get him!"

Meanwhile, things are not going well for Donatello and Michelangelo, who are still facing two Shredder Elite and a bevy of gun-toting Foot Ninja. Fortunately Mike, wielding Don's dropped Bō, manages to take out both Elite with one well aimed strategy.

Leonardo continues on into the Foot's headquarters, in search for the Shredder. Finally pausing outside a door…

Don and Mike are pinned down by gunfire and hiding behind some crates. Mike pulls out his shuriken and says "Make each one count!" Raphael arrives but laments the poor tactical position that his siblings are trapped in.

Leonardo enters the door and emerges onto the rooftop of the building. The Shredder is there.

"Leonardo… I've been waiting a long time." notes the enemy.

"Too long," adds Leo, "Three years ago I saw you die—why do you haunt us?"

The Shredder explains that, through ancient practices, the Foot were able to take the pieces of his body that were blown to bits in issue #1 and bring him back to life by utilizing a type of worm that learns from and grows into what it eats. These worms form a colony of cells that mutate into an individual. The Shredder Elite were the first three experiments with the worms, and on the fourth attempt, the Clan allowed the worms to feed on Saki himself, thus reincarnating him… his lust for vengeance and his hatred for the turtles stronger than before. After explaining his return, Shredder removes his armor and stands poised for battle, two katana in hand.

Back in the dock area, Mike and Don are down to their final throwing star. As Mike launches the small projectile, he and Don spot Raphael arriving in an odd, four-armed vehicle, which scatters the Foot.

On the rooftop, Leonardo and Shredder begin their monumental battle.

Don asks where Leo is and Raph tells him he's busy. Raphael then grabs a rocket launcher and fires it into a tower, releasing a torrent of deadly chemicals.

The Shredder has taken the upper hand in his battle with Leonardo. Saki gets a vicious kick in that sends Leo sprawling to the ground, where he sits stunned and defeated. As Shredder prepares to deliver the killing blow, the roof splits open under the strain of the chemicals that Raph has unleashed. The damage knocks the villain off his feet, giving Leonardo the opportunity to stand. He and Shredder are now separated by the rift in the rooftop, but both charge.

Raph's strategy has worked, and the three brothers head off to find Leonardo. They meet more Foot on the way and quickly dispatch them. Raph finds a doorway, but when he opens it a massive explosion rocks the building on its foundations, stunning the turtles. "The building," Mike stammers, "It's gonna—"

Cut to a dramatic double page spread, where we see Leonardo and the Shredder passing one another in mid-air. There is a hair-thin line separating Shredder's head from his shoulders.

A gigantic explosion blows a massive hole into the roof of the bank, shattering all windows and sending a huge fireball into the sky.

Fade into the sewers. A figure is walking in the shadows, carrying something. The secret doorway to the turtles' lair opens, revealing a mourning Mike, Don and Raph, who look up in surprise.

"Leo…" Mike begins.

Leo stands in the doorway, holding a body that's wrapped in a tarp.

"Oroku Saki… the Shredder… is dead." announces Leonardo.

"It's finished." Mike adds.

"Our destiny is complete." remarks Don.

"Honor is restored." Raphael states.

"We have… one final task…" finishes Leo.

On the final double page spread, we see the four brothers standing by the harbor. Beneath them, the body of the Shredder is burning on a floating funeral pyre.

(https://turtlepedia.fandom.com/wiki/Return_to_New_York,_book_three)

Fan Art: The Shredder by TamplierPainter

Accompanying Podcast: ● Shellheads - episode 23

#mirage #mirage comics #my other read #tmnt #teenage mutant ninja turtles #comics #comic books #fan art #fanart #shellheads #podcast recommendation

[kudosmyhero]

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (vol. 1) #20: Return to New York, book two

Read Date: June 16, 2023 Cover Date: April 1989 ● Writer: Kevin Eastman ◦ Peter Laird ● Pencils: Jim Lawson ● Inks: Eric Talbot ● Letterer: Steve Lavigne ●

**HERE BE SPOILERS: Skip ahead to the fan art/podcast to avoid spoilers

Reactions As I Read: ● Jim Lawson and Eric Talbot really knocked it outta the park with the art

● 👏👏👏👏

Synopsis: We learn that the Triceraton warrior is named Zog, who has somehow managed to survive the destruction of the T.C.R.I. building in issue #7. Zog is not in good shape, however. The Earth's atmosphere is slowly eating away at his mind, driving him insane and making him sick. The alien's misfortune is good luck for the turtles, as Raphael has managed to convince Zog that they're on the same team. Zog thinks that Raph is his Triceraton Commander Zoraph and that the other turtles are aliens out to help the Triceraton Republic take control of the planet. Raphael convinces Zog that the Foot are their enemy, so the Triceraton is an eager and willing soldier against the Shredder and his Foot Clan.

Zog leads the turtles to a spot in the sewers and begins to stomp his huge foot on the ground. With little trouble, the gigantic warrior manages to smash a hole into the floor and he drops through into a control room being operated by the Foot. The turtles follow and quickly take charge of the room and the computers within. Donatello scans the Foot's database and discovers that the entire block is a front for Foot Headquarters. After briefly studying the schematics of the fortress, the protagonists hatch a plan of attack.

The turtles and Zog cut their way into the fortress, which is disguised as a huge bank. Don has arranged for the computers to set off false security alarms, to cover their tracks. As the team makes their way to where they believe the Shredder is hiding, they lose their bearings and make a wrong turn, entering a practice room full of Foot. A brief fight breaks out and Zog cuts down a large amount of Foot Ninja with his rifle.

Don apologizes for the wrong turn and the boys head into a loading dock. They find some more Foot working and another brief battle erupts. The team commandeer a truck from the dock and race further into the fortress. Almost immediately they're met by gun-toting Foot soldiers and a firefight breaks out. Donatello crashes the truck and the turtles and Zog leap out to engage the Foot in hand to hand combat. Zog is a killing machine, but he's wounded numerous times in the skirmish. Thanks to Zog's efforts, the turtles are win another quick victory. After the battle, the Triceraton stumbles down a hallway, rallying the turtles to follow him… unfortunately the giant alien has too much of a lead on the turtles and he enters a deadly room alone, where he is cut to pieces by a shadowy figure that appears to be the Shredder.

The turtles finally catch up to where Zog was heading, but they find their comrade dead on the floor, horribly mutilated. As the turtles mourn the loss of their unlikely ally, Michelangelo looks up and gasps, "Leo… choke… look!"

On the final double page spread we get our first look at Shredder's Elite Guard: three monstrously mutated ninja warriors decked out in Shredder's gear!

(https://turtlepedia.fandom.com/wiki/Return_to_New_York,_book_two)

Fan Art: TMNT2012 S3 E25-Rocksteady Triceraton by GiuseppeDiRosso

Accompanying Podcast: ● Shellheads - episode 23

#mirage #mirage comics #my other read #tmnt #teenage mutant ninja turtles #comics #comic books #fan art #fanart #shellheads #podcast recommendation

[kudosmyhero]

Detective Comics (vol. 1) #649: Malled

Read Date: June 16, 2023 Cover Date: September 1992 ● Writer: Chuck Dixon ● Penciler: Tom Lyle ● Inker: Scott Hanna ● Colorist: Adrienne Roy ● Letterer: John Costanza ● Editor: Dennis O'Neil ◦ Scott Peterson ●

**HERE BE SPOILERS: Skip ahead to the fan art/podcast to avoid spoilers

Reactions As I Read: ● I really love the mood of the late evening sky behind Gotham here

● aww, back in the early 90s when malls were a much bigger deal than they are now ● 👏👏👏

Synopsis: Batman accepts the Spoiler's information on Cluemaster's Labor Day heist, but refuses to let her fight alongside himself and Robin, as he trusts neither her (lack of) experience nor her motives. Spoiler is told to go home, but as soon as the Dynamic Duo are out of sight, heads for the Castleland Park mall herself.

At midnight, Cluemaster and his gang put their plans into motion and attempt to steal the millions of dollars collected by the mall's charity telethon. Batman and Robin quickly interrupt the heist and subdue several of Cluemaster's men, but Cluemaster's getaway helicopter arrives in time to take him, his remaining henchmen, and the loot into the air. Before Batman can catch up to Cluemaster, the Spoiler descends on the helicopter and beats down the rest of Cluemaster's men.

Furious, Cluemaster grabs the Spoiler and tries to use her as a hostage against Batman. Batman warns Cluemaster against this, and reveals that the Spoiler is none other than Cluemaster's daughter. A shocked Cluemaster unmasks Stephanie, who takes advantage of his distraction and wraps a chain around his throat. Stephanie then attempts to strangle her father to death for his mistreatment of her, but is convinced to spare him by Batman.

As Stephanie's mask blows away in the wind, police helicopters begin to close in, bringing the Cluemaster's "ultimate heist" to a whimpering close.

(https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Detective_Comics_Vol_1_649)

Fan Art: Spoiler Alert by KALeeds218

Accompanying Podcast: ● Everyone Loves the Drake - episode 23

#dc #dc comics #my dc read #podcast recommendation #comics #comic books #fan art #fanart #detective comics #everyone loves the drake

[kudosmyhero]

Detective Comics (vol. 1) #648: Let the Puzzlement Fit the Crime

Read Date: June 14, 2023 Cover Date: August 1992 ● Writer: Chuck Dixon ● Penciler: Tom Lyle ● Inker: Scott Hanna ● Colorist: Adrienne Roy ● Letterer: John Costanza ● Editor: Dennis O'Neil ◦ Scott Peterson ●

**HERE BE SPOILERS: Skip ahead to the fan art/podcast to avoid spoilers

Reactions As I Read: ● beautiful cover art again ● perspective shot!

● 👏👏👏👏

Synopsis: From the recent string of clues, Batman and the police become certain that Arthur Brown has in fact returned to the mantle of the Cluemaster. Batman, wanting to reduce some of the political pressure on Commissioner Gordon, stays on the sidelines while the police raid Brown's apartment by themselves. Unfortunately, Brown has already vacated the apartment, leaving nothing but a bomb - attached to Cutter's corpse - inside.

While the police deal with the bomb, Robin sees a stranger in a hooded cloak fleeing the scene, and gives chase. He eventually catches up to and unmasks the stranger, only to find a teenage girl. Robin is stunned by this, allowing the girl to strike him in the face with a brick and escape. Ultimately, the apartment bomb fails to kill anyone, but Cluemaster still judges it a success, as the authorities will now believe him dead. His ultimate heist, set for the Labor Day weekend, remains on-schedule.

Some time later, Commissioner Gordon is forced to meet with Armand Krol, who is all-but guaranteed to become Gotham's next mayor. Despite his campaign rhetoric, Krol promises to keep Gordon as police commissioner - but only as a liaison to Batman. Meanwhile, Robin investigates the young woman who'd struck him, and eventually determines that she is none other than Stephanie Brown, Cluemaster's daughter. Upon meeting Stephanie, however, Robin learns that she despises her father, and seeks to ruin him by any means necessary.

Impressed, Robin brings Stephanie to meet Batman. Stephanie, now calling her costumed identity "the Spoiler", tells Batman what she'd managed to eavesdrop from her father: a heist is to take place at the Castleland Park mall, around eleven o' clock, with millions in charity money as the prize.

(https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Detective_Comics_Vol_1_648)

Fan Art: Spoiler (Stephanie Brown) by phil-cho

Accompanying Podcast: ● Everyone Loves the Drake - episode 23

#dc #dc comics #my dc read #podcast recommendation #comics #comic books #fan art #fanart #detective comics #everyone loves the drake

[kudosmyhero]

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (vol. 1) #19: Return to New York, book one

Read Date: June 16, 2023 Cover Date: March 1989 ● Writer: Kevin Eastman ◦ Peter Laird ● Pencils: Jim Lawson ● Inks: Peter Laird ● Letterer: Steve Lavigne ●

**HERE BE SPOILERS: Skip ahead to the fan art/podcast to avoid spoilers

Reactions As I Read: ● let’s see if they get back on track with this issue ● duuuude they’ve been there a year? also yes, it looks like the story is back on track! ● oooo Leo’s pissed!

● 👏👏👏👏👏

Synopsis: The issue opens with a double page spread of Raphael lying unconscious in the sewer. The camera zooms in on a New York Times newspaper that's lying on the ground, and we see that it's dated December 23. The image of the Times fades into an image of The Gazette, dated December 19, where we see Raph, Michelangelo and Donatello holed up in the Jones Farm barn in Northampton, Massachusetts. Raph is angry and shouts, "I can't stand it anymore!" The unhappy turtle is tired of hiding in Massachusetts and blames Leonardo for all their troubles. Raph states that Leo is afraid to go back to New York and settle their feud with the Shredder and the Foot. As Raph is arguing with Mike and Don, Leo comes in, and he's none too happy about Raph's complaints. Leonardo tells Raph that they will go back to New York, "I'll say when… and then, we go as a team." As Leo makes his case, he lays his bokken on Raph's shoulder… not a wise choice.

A fight erupts between the two brothers. Leo manages to get the upper hand and pins Raph to the ground, but Raphael grabs the bokken and frees himself from Leonardo's grasp. Raph then picks up Leo and throws him through a wall. As Leo lies stunned, Mike tries to stop Raph. "Don't even think about it, Mike! See ya around!" Raphael snarls as he storms out.

We then cut back to the sewers of New York City, where we see a squad of Foot Ninja on patrol. The Shredder's minions are approaching the spot where Raph was lying at the start of this issue. However, as the soldiers pass, we discover that Raphael was merely sleeping and he's managed to avoid being spotted. Raph is itching for a fight, so he attacks the Shredder's minions and a long battle takes place. Raphael is victorious, even though he was greatly outnumbered. As the lone ninja investigates another tunnel, he finds something totally unexpected.

Up on the streets of New York, we see three figures. Leo, Mike and Don have made it back to the City. We see another discarded paper and learn that it's now December 25. The three brothers head back to their lair and find Raphael waiting for them. "Welcome home," Raph states, "I knew you'd show up sooner or later. I have a plan… and a little help."

From behind a curtain, the huge form of a Triceraton warrior emerges…

(https://turtlepedia.fandom.com/wiki/Return_to_New_York,_book_one)

Fan Art: Teenage Mutant Ninja Toitulls!! by MinohKim

Accompanying Podcast: ● Shellheads - episode 23

#mirage #mirage comics #my other read #tmnt #teenage mutant ninja turtles #comics #comic books #fan art #fanart #shellheads #podcast recommendation

[kudosmyhero]

The Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 3) #12: Anywhere but Here

Read Date: June 14, 2023 Cover Date: March 2015 ● Writer: Dan Slott ● Penciler: Giuseppe Camuncoli ● Inker: Cam Smith ● Colorist: Justin Ponsor ● Letterer: Chris Eliopoulos ● Editor: Nick Lowe ◦ Devin Lewis ◦ Ellie Pyle ●

**HERE BE SPOILERS: Skip ahead to the fan art/podcast to avoid spoilers

Reactions As I Read: ● even though we only got Spider-Monkey's death in silhouette, it's still horrific! ugh. I'm … past ready for this arc to end. it's starting to feel like an excuse for Spidey snuff at this point. ● heh, Silk webbing herself up in a hazmat suit

● Jurassic Park Avenue. heh. good one, Spider-Gwen! ● I've suspected for a while that the Master Weaver will turn out to be another Spider-Man ● at least it feels like we got a decent chunk of forward momentum ● 👏👏👏

Synopsis: On Earth-13, Solus and Morlun have reclaimed the Scion, Benjy Parker. The Spider-Totems surround both Inheritors and Spider-Punk says they are screwed. Otto shuts him up and tells him that killing Captain Universe might have weakened him and it might be their only chance to attack their leader. May protests since Morlun has her brother but the Spider-Totems charge at Solus, who mocks them for thinking him weakened while he had consumed the greatest life force of that dimension and never felt more alive, killing the Prince of Arachne and Arachnosaurus easily as Morlun tells the Master Weaver to spin him a way home. May tries to stop him but Morlun punches her away and goes through the portal with the crying Benjy, much to May's horror. Spider-UK calls Spidey and tells him that they lost the Safe Zone. He tells him that they are coming but had to do some stops and Uk asks him where he has been. Then Peter, Gwen, Anya, Mangaverse Spider-Man and Spider-Man J arrive, and Anya and Gwen tell him that they were in three different Japans. UK asks why and Peter tells him they got a strong reading on a totem and then opens a portal to Takuya Yamashiro, the Spider-Man of Earth-51778… who happens to have a giant robot: Leopardon, which Takuya charges against Solus.

The Inheritor is unimpressed and with the Enigma Force he absorbed overpowers Leopardon. He rips its arm off before it can counter attack while UK tells them that they have to pull back. May tells him that they have to stop Solus, who knows where her brother is. They open the portal and Otto congratulates Peter for making a choice like leaving a man behind for the rest. Peter tells him that he has a plan and swears to May that they will find Benjy but that it's not safe there anymore. As they leave, Solus tells him that it's not safe anywhere.

Meanwhile, Silk has arrived to Earth-3145 on her run from Brix and Bora. The radioactive air starts to affect her and the Inheritor twins arrive. When Brix steps out of the portal, he screams in pain as radiation is lethal to his kind and Bora gets him out. Realizing that the irradiated world hurts them more than her, Silk decides to take it. She covers herself in webbing and realizes she knows where to go.

The Spider-Army arrives on Earth-8847, which is full of prehistoric animals. Spider-Man says he transported them randomly since the Inheritors won't know where they are if they don't know themselves, until they find a new safe zone. Otto tells him that he has cost them his base, their refuge and both Leopardon and Supaidāman. The latter, however, appears from a portal and tells them that he escaped at the cost of Leopardon. Mangaverse Spider-Man and Spider-Man J console him in Japanese and tell him that he is not alone. Spidey tries to talk to May but she tells him that she is done listening to them and that there's only one real Spider-Man, her dad, and he is dead. Peter then gets a call from Spider-Woman, who has infiltrated the Inheritors' house by impersonating her Earth-001 counterpart. She tells him that she had to change devices with Silk after she damaged hers and doesn't have enough charge to talk for long or to make a portal big enough for her. Spider-Man asks her if she needs one of them to come for her but she tells him that she is good and that her Earth-001 counterpart is part of the Inheritors' help. Peter comments that it is very convenient and the Master Weaver comments that it's almost like if it were planned as part a grand design. Peter loses her signal and contacts Miles and asks him how the recruitment is going. He responds that he has no words as he, 67's Spider-Man and Earth-12041's Peter were joined by a cowboy Spider-Man, Mini Marvel's Spider-man, an unknown Spider-Man and a sentient Spider-Mobile. The Spider-Mobile tells him to open the portal as Earth-12041's Peter calls them the Web Warriors, much to Miles' annoyance.

Peter calls Miguel and Lady Spider at Earth-928 as they dissect Daemos' corpse while he is trapped by Alchemax. Miguel tells him that if the Inheritors have a weakness, they will find it and that they have discovered more of their cloning process. Before he can tell him more, Jennix cuts the transmission from Earth-802 and tells Peter that he can hear everything that they have been saying. Jennix explains that they have been moving and speaking across the dimensional threads of the Great Web and his family mastered this centuries ago. Peter asks him why would he show his hand and Jennix tells him that watching them has been amusing but he can't have them share tactical info. He sends Verna their coordinates and she arrives with her Hounds Rhino, Ox and Hammerhead. The Spiders battle the Hounds as Verna wounds Spider-Girl (Betty Brant), to Sp//dr's horror.

In Loomworld, Earth-001, the Master Weaver tells Jessica that Solus has forced him to reveal skeins that are yet to come, knowledge that has helped them gain dominion of reality, but small acts of rebellion, seemingly insignificant threads he altered when no one was looking, can change the design, like that very moment and Spider-Woman's counterpart, all made so that he can give her a set of prophecies. These contain all they need to know of the Other, the Bride and the Scion and something else. The Master Weaver tells her that his master's plan is to do more than kill all the Spiders and to hurry as they approach. Morlun gives Benjy to Brix and Bora, causing the latter to protest. Morlun mocks their failure to catch the Bride and tells them to hold the Scion. He salutes Jessica, who transported away the scrolls the Weaver gave her.

At Earth-8847, Peter receives the scrolls during the fight attached to Spider-Woman's teleporter. Otto and Anya ask him what's their next move and Silk calls him. She tells him to get to Earth-3145 before Jennix blocks her. Peter opens the portal and they follow when they notice that Verna won't get near it. In Earth-3145, Otto tells Anna to give him an atmosphere reading and she tells him that the radiation is extremely toxic. Otto screams at Peter for bringing them there but Spider-Man India notices webbed arrows left by Cindy. They follow the trail to Earth-3145's Sims Tower. They go to the bunker of the tower and Peter tells them that it's designed to hide them form the Inheritors. Inside they found Silk, who tells them the Earth-3145's spider-totem was already in there when she got there. The totem is then revealed to be Uncle Ben.

(https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Amazing_Spider-Man_Vol_3_12)

Fan Art: Spider-Gwen by SanyLebedev

Accompanying Podcast: ● Amazing Spider-Talk - episode 12

#marvel #marvel comics #my marvel read #podcast recommendation #comics #peter parker #spider-man #comic books #fan art #fanart #amazing spider-talk

[kudosmyhero]

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (vol. 1) #18: The Shell of the Dragon

Read Date: June 12, 2023 Cover Date: February 1989 ● Writer: Kevin Eastman ◦ Mark Bode ● Pencils: Mark Bode ● Inks: Kevin Eastman ◦ Eric Talbot ● Letterer: Steve Lavigne ●

**HERE BE SPOILERS: Skip ahead to the fan art/podcast to avoid spoilers

Reactions As I Read:

● I really have no interest in these filler issues. they’re awful. ● 👏

Synopsis: As the story begins, we find several criminals discussing their control over the local restaurants. Beancurd, an underling, gloats that all of the eateries in the city are now using the villains' cut-rate spices and frozen foods when his boss, Gorko, angrily interjects that they control all but one… and Gorko wants to mend this situation. Beancurd states the he has a plan to remove this "thorn" from their garden when he's interrupted by a creature that is caged behind the men. It frantically grasps at some spice on the table that the men are seated at. Gorko elbows the beast in the face and knocks it senseless. Another underling asks the warlord what the animal is, and Gorko explains that it was once a man named Fong, now transformed. "A casualty of eating the All Spice -choke- straight out of da can!" the mobster growls derisively.

Cut to the harbor, where the turtles are arriving in a boat. The turtles are hungry and a local boy agrees to take them to the best take out restaurant in the city in exchange for some egg rolls. The turtles agree and the child leads them to Hu-Shang's place. As the lad goes in to pick up the food, a car arrives out front and a group of punks jump out, exclaiming that this is the place that Beancurd ordered them to trash.

The hoodlums begin tagging the front window of the place as the turtles watch with little concern—until the boy emerges from the restaurant with the food and a punk slaps him on the head, causing the kid to drop the food. Now that their ally and food have been assaulted, the Turtles leap into action and kick the gang's collective butt. The punks pile back into their car and escape. As the vehicle zooms away we see a young man standing in the street, decked out in white, wearing shades and brandishing a hobo stick.

As the turtles wonder what the conflict is all about, an old man comes out of the restaurant and cries over being vandalized yet again. The man in white, Chang Lee, approaches and tells his uncle that he has come to visit. Hu-Shang tells Chang that he is pleased to see him and is grateful for his friends help, when Chang explains that the Turtles are new friends to both of them. Lee then invites the turtles into the restaurant so they can be honored guests. The turtles are only too happy to oblige.

The turtles feast for an hour and offer their compliments to Lee and his Uncle "Rocky." Lee explains that his uncle makes the healthiest food around when the doors slam open and Beancurd arrives with more thugs in tow. Hu-Shang greets the men and asks them what they want now, and the crook demands that the restaurant begin using the All Spice. Hu-Shang states that he prides himself on "serving only the finest, freshest, most wholesome foods available" and refuses. Beancurd threatens to burn the restaurant down and a fight breaks out. Chang defeats the mob and they leave, vowing vengeance.

Beancurd reports Hu-Shang's refusal to use the All Spice to Gorko and also tells him of the strange ninjas that the old man has working for him. Gorko decides that he'll have to hire a "true destruction machine" to take care of the troublemakers.

We then cut to an imposing building and find within it a huge man named Buff, who is beginning a work-out while dozens of admirers watch him. Once his training is finished, Buff lounges as his female admirers fawn over him. Buff orders his lunch, but much to the behemoth's dismay, the cook brings him a cooked turtle. Buff freaks out and has a flashback that reveals how he was traumatized by turtles as a baby. Buff screams "I hate turtles!" and smashes the plate out of the server's hands and then destroys a wall in a fit of rage.

Meanwhile, the turtles have left the restaurant and head to their hotel, which turns out to be a dive. In the morning the Turtles decide to head over to Hu-Shang's place for a bite to eat, but when they arrive they find that the eatery has been set on fire. Chang is there and states that it had to have been Beancurd who set the fire. Chang had taken his Uncle to visit his brother for a few days, and when he got back he found the fire blazing. Chang and the turtles put out the flames and rebuild the restaurant for Hu-Shang. After their work is done, the boys head out to repay Gorko for his treachery.

The Turtles and Chang arrive at Gorko's place and kick the shell out of all those who oppose them. As Chang is facing off with Gorko, Buff arrives and immediately bursts into another fit of rage when he spots the turtles. As the turtles prepare to fight the enraged hulk, Chang stops them and tells them this is a family matter and he must settle the score himself. Lee fights Buff and manages to win, although it's a hard won victory. The turtles grab Beancurd and Gorko and tie them up. The two criminals beg for mercy and Leo says, "We've got plans for you slimes!"

On the final page of the tale, we see the turtles and Chang dining with Hu-Shang at his restaurant. Buff is now the busboy, Gorko is a walking billboard advertising the restaurant and Beancurd is the "mop master."

(https://turtlepedia.fandom.com/wiki/The_Shell_of_the_Dragon)

Fan Art: TMNT Winner! by Fihuli

Accompanying Podcast: ● Shellheads - episode 23

#mirage #mirage comics #my other read #tmnt #teenage mutant ninja turtles #comics #comic books #fan art #fanart #shellheads #podcast recommendation

[kudosmyhero]

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (vol. 1) #17: Distractions

Read Date: June 12, 2023 Cover Date: November 1988 ● Writer: Kevin Eastman ◦ Eric Talbot ● Pencils: Eric Talbot ● Inks: Eric Talbot ● Letterer: Steve Lavigne ●

**HERE BE SPOILERS: Skip ahead to the fan art/podcast to avoid spoilers

Reactions As I Read:

● art is good. story is meh. the very last page just managed to pull it up a bit in my rating ● 👏👏

Synopsis: The story opens back in feudal Japanese days with Michelangelo setting up a campfire in the woods. An old man and his two children are surprised to meet Mike, but after introductions are made, they all share supper. The man is Toshiro, his young son is named Sakai and his teenage daughter is Tai. They explain that they're going to Kyoto to meet their cousins because it is unsafe to stay in their province. Michelangelo tells them that he is searching for his brothers, as they were separated when they first arrived here. The family thanks Mike for his hospitality, but explain that their journey is long and so they must be off. As the people depart, Mike douses his fire and decides that he too should be on his way. Mikey then hears horses approaching at a fast clip and moves to investigate. Mike spots the family just as they're confronted by the rider, Tachi, and his men.

Tachi screams at Lord Toshiro that he was a fool to flee and that the daimyō has ordered his death. The lead horsemen then orders his men to kill the old man and boy, and claims the girl as his own. Before anyone moves, Michelangelo bursts onto the scene and takes out the henchmen on horseback.

While Mike is fighting the others, Tachi scoops up Tai and tells the heroic terrapin that his interference will cost him his life. Before riding off, the man states that Tai will be his bride and he will return to kill Toshiro.

After Tachi has escaped with Tai, Lord Toshiro explains that the abductor is Daimyō Orkai's son, and that his daughter is being forced to marry him. The marriage would end Toshiro's rule over the realm and give Tachi complete control of the land, giving him twice as much farmland and people to exploit. Michelangelo decides that he cannot allow this injustice to take place and sets off to rescue Tai.

Mike manages to get into the daimyō's encampment and rescue Tai, but he has to fight numerous battles along the way. Eventually we discover that the daimyō is an evil sorcerer. After multiple skirmishes with various adversaries, Mike is victorious in the final conflict with Tachi. Lord Toshiro arrives with an army of farmers to reclaim his throne, and he banishes the wicked Orkai from the land. Princess Tai asks Mike to stay with them, but Mikey insists that he must leave to find his brothers. The lone ninja walks off alone as a sad Princess Tai watches.

On the final page we find out that this whole story was being written by Michelangelo in his journal. Mikey scratches his head and turns to his pet cat and asks, "Well, that's the story so far. What do you think, Klunk—too corny?"

(https://turtlepedia.fandom.com/wiki/Distractions)

Fan Art: Totally Tubular Teenage Turtle by CoranKizerStone

Accompanying Podcast: ● Shellheads - episode 23

#mirage #mirage comics #my other read #tmnt #teenage mutant ninja turtles #comics #comic books #fan art #fanart #shellheads #podcast recommendation

[kudosmyhero]

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (vol. 1) #16: A Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Story

Read Date: June 12, 2023 Cover Date: July 1988 ● Writer: Mark Martin ● Pencils: Mark Martin ● Inks: Mark Martin ● Letterer: Steve Lavigne ●

**HERE BE SPOILERS: Skip ahead to the fan art/podcast to avoid spoilers

Reactions As I Read: ● flying tackle glomp

● where the fuck is this story going ● the fan letters are gonna rake this one over the coals ● 👏

Synopsis: The story begins with a little girl sitting on a box who talks to the reader. She begins by saying, "Let me tell you a story."

The girl explains that she has a time machine and that she has to thank the turtles for their help, but she must hurry as the time machine only has about 2 hours before it relocates.

The girl then enters the time machine (which is nothing more than a big white cube on the outside, but is filled with all kinds of apparatus on the inside) and engages its engines, which warp reality. "I hate this part," she says.

Cut to the streets of a city, where a drug addict has just stolen an old lady's purse. The woman's little dog is in pursuit of thief, but he meets up with the turtles before the dog can bite his ankle. The junkie throws the purse at Michelangelo and flees. Raphael admonishes Mike for blowing their cover, but Mikey states that no one will believe a word the crook says. Raph than asks Mike how he'll get the purse back to the lady without compromising their identities, and that's where the little dog comes in handy. Mikey gives the pooch the purse and the dog runs back to his master in victory.

Suddenly the time machine appears in the alley. The little girl pokes her head out and sees Leonardo, who she leaps on and hugs his neck. Leonardo warns the girl to mind his pair of katana and to be more careful who she leaps on. The girl says "You don't know who I am yet, do you?" Leo is bewildered and goes to fetch his brothers.

The little girl sends the reader off to shop for books for about an hour. Leo and the others appear in the room cautiously, wary of any further hug attacks. The girl says that she came back to thank them, just as the time machine begins to act up. The lass quickly hugs each turtle in thanks and gets back into the box, which warps reality once again. The box takes off and moments later a new box lands in the same spot, with a profound "Ouch!" resounding from within. The Turtles recognize the girl's voice and wonder what's going on.

The box opens and a head pokes out, revealing the time traveler—who no longer looks like a little girl, but a bug-eyed mutant. Everyone screams.

After brief confusion, the time traveler tells her story to the Turtles. Her father, Bobby, wanted to be in the cola business but had to give up his dreams when his wife, Manda, became pregnant. The soda business was only losing the couple money, and with a baby on the way, Bobby had to start making money to support the family. So the inventor takes a job with the Maximegamulticorp Capitalist Conglomerates Research Center (MMMCCC), and begins working on an "intelligence boosterizer" formula. While at work, Bobby worries about the use of the concoction and his proximity to dangerous chemicals, radiation and other phenomena. His co-worker reassures him and tells him that they'll be getting raises next week, which keeps Bobby going.

The time traveler then explains that while she was developing in her mother's womb, she began to assimilate her parent's thoughts and understand the world far better than her mother could. She also became aware that she was a genetic misfit, and once she was born, people would be frightened of her appearance… so when her mother finally gave birth, the traveler ran away. The mutant girl knew that her parents couldn't cope with a super-intelligent mutant baby, and she feared what the government would do to her (dissection). So the traveler escaped the hospital and set up a secret lab of her own. She had monitored her parents lives for awhile, but the guilt of having a mutant baby had wrecked Bobby and Manda's lives, so the traveler stopped keeping tabs on them as it was too depressing. Eventually the time traveler devised a plan—she built a time machine that would allow her to travel back in time and convince her father to not take the job from MMMCCC, thus allowing her to be born as a normal little girl.

The time traveler asks the turtles to help her on the mission, and the guys debate the problems with disrupting the time line. As the turtles discuss the theoretical problems, the traveler runs off. The turtles set off in pursuit and eventually arrive at a house. The boys barge in to find a shocked Bobby and Manda, who are speechless and immobile. The turtles are tongue-tied at first, but thanks to some quick thinking, they pose as employees of MMMCCC and welcome Bobby to the company. Bobby and Manda remain in shock as the turtles head out.

As the guys are descending a stairway pondering if their ruse will work, they come to the conclusion that it will, as they've already met the traveler in the form of a normal little girl. The guys get back to where the time machine is and are greeted by the traveler, who now looks like a mix of the little girl and her former mutant self (not a pretty sight). As the girl continues to mutate, she bids the turtles farewell and climbs back into the box. Reality warps once again. "I hate this part!" the turtles exclaim.

Cut to a kitchen, where we see the little girl getting some cola out of her refrigerator. She spots the reader but shows no recognition, in fact she accuses you of being a stowaway and states that you'll have to go back as soon as possible. She then remembers that she has a test tomorrow and that she has to study—which excites her because she's getting her normal memories back. Apparently all went well with the time travel scheme.

"Ring my bell!" the girl exclaims, "I'm turning into me! You just will not be-leev what I did today…"

The little girl pulls up a box, sits down and says "Let me tell you a story."

What goes around comes around.

(https://turtlepedia.fandom.com/wiki/A_Teenage_Mutant_Ninja_Turtles_Story)

Fan Art: Raphael and Casey Jones by Khary Randolph by AshcanAllstars

Accompanying Podcast: ● Shellheads - episode 23

#mirage #mirage comics #my other read #tmnt #teenage mutant ninja turtles #comics #comic books #fan art #fanart #shellheads #podcast recommendation

[kudosmyhero]

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (vol. 1) #15: Dome Doom!

Read Date: June 10, 2023 Cover Date: August 1988 ● Writer: Peter Laird ● Pencils: Peter Laird ● Inks: Jim Lawson ● Letterer: Steve Lavigne ●

**HERE BE SPOILERS: Skip ahead to the fan art/podcast to avoid spoilers

Reactions As I Read: ● Daredevil name drop <3 ● heh, a sort of Dr. Doom name drop, too ● weird

● I’m reading some of the letters from fans. scathing! apparently I’m not alone in my “meh” feelings toward recent issues. one person writes, “The stories are slowly falling apart. Space-age, monster, future topics are not for the turtles. The Turtles belong on the streets.” agreed! later there is a pretty good smack-down of a karen named Bonnie ● 👏👏

Synopsis: This issue opens with Casey Jones, Raphael and Michelangelo checking out the comic books at Steve's Comics shop in Northampton, Massachusetts. As the guys search for cheap back issues, the store is attacked by weird little robots that crash through the front window brandishing maces. Raph, Mike and Casey start bashing the bogus 'bots as the shop's diminutive, long haired stock boy morphs into a costumed hero and joins the fray. Mikey smashes a robot and it flies into the forehead of the store's proprietor, an old gentleman named Stainless Steve… fortunately Steve has a forehead made of metal, so the head-on collision didn't affect him.

Once the robots are defeated, a holograph is projected from one of them. The image is of an ugly little man with a clear dome on the top of his head which reveals his brain. He announces that his name is Doctor Dome and that this attack on the Justice Force is but "a minor harbinger of the calamity to follow!" and then he laughs maniacally before the robot explodes and the projection is lost.

Mike, Raph and Casey are confused, so Stainless Steve explains the situation. Apparently the Justice Force is a retired group of superheroes and Dome is their old adversary. The appearance of the villain is as much of a surprise to Steve as it is to Raph, Mike and Casey. Stainless Steve uses an old J.F. communicator to signal the rest of the team, which consists of Stainless Steve, Metal Head (the stock boy), Captain Deadbolt, Zippy Lad, Joey Lastic the Rubberband and Battling Bernice.

Cut to Doctor Dome's headquarters where he's gloating over Steve falling into his hands and reuniting the Justice Force in Northampton. When they all arrive, Dome will "achieve his ultimate goal!"

Steve takes Mike, Raph, Donatello, Leonardo and Casey to his huge house out in the suburbs to introduce them to the Justice Force. The Turtles have offered their assistance in defeating Doctor Dome and his mechanical minions. As the group arrives at the front door, Steve remarks that he hadn't left it unlocked… but it is now. Everyone prepares for battle. Our heroes burst through the doors and are met by a costumed man in a wheelchair. "Zippy!" exclaims Metal Head as he rushes to hug his old friend. Joey Elastic is also there and the old timers explain how the years of wear and tear have taken a toll on their bodies and abilities, but they're still rarin' to go. We find out that Captain Deadbolt is missing and then the guys hear something on the roof. When Leo opens an attic window to find out what's going on, he's greeted by the sight of dozens of little robots, all armed with medieval weaponry. Leo and Casey get busy fighting the robots on the roof, while the others battle the invading machines downstairs. Our heroes win the skirmish in quick fashion, but are greeted on the front lawn by Doctor Dome in a giant robot that he dubs the Domebot.

Just then Battling Bernice shows up and kicks the giant mechanical beast in the knee, shattering it and causing the machine to collapse. Bernice then kicks out the windshield of the robot and drags Doctor Dome out. As BB holds Dome up by the collar and demands to know why the little villain is doing this, he explains that he wanted to bring her out of hiding, as he's been in love with her for 25 years and needed to see her again.

Bernice states that she isn't the original Battling Bernice, but her daughter, Ananda. Ananda tells Dome that her mother passed away 3 years ago, and that he has ruined his life by allowing her mother's rejection of him to turn him into a villain (apparently Dome had been a member of the Justice Force until he had a falling out with Bernice). As Ananda chastises Doctor Dome, Stainless Steve interrupts and offers the villain a chance for redemption—Steve asks Dome to move into his estate, where they can try to heal old wounds. Doctor Dome agrees.

Later, we see Raph and Mike on the porch of the farmhouse. Mike is reading an old Justice Force comic while Raph ponders how long the truce will last.

"Good question, Raph," Mike ponders, "I'd say they've got a 50/50 chance… time heals all wounds, right? Right?"

Raph stands in silence.

(https://turtlepedia.fandom.com/wiki/Dome_Doom!)

Fan Art: TMNT fan art 20 by Rcaptain

Accompanying Podcast: ● Shellheads - episode 23

#mirage #mirage comics #my other read #tmnt #teenage mutant ninja turtles #comics #comic books #fan art #fanart #shellheads #podcast recommendation

[kudosmyhero]

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (vol. 1) #14: The Unmentionables

Read Date: June 10, 2023 Cover Date: May 1988 ● Writer: Kevin Eastman ● Pencils: Kevin Eastman ● Inks: Kevin Eastman ◦ Eric Talbot ● Letterer: Steve Lavigne ●

**HERE BE SPOILERS: Skip ahead to the fan art/podcast to avoid spoilers

Reactions As I Read: ● li’l Mirage Studios cameo ● was it only in the cartoon that April was a journalist? she’s a waitress here

● quite a number of spelling errors in this issue ● lotsa spelling errors. not sure if that's on the writer (Eastman) or the letterer (Lavigne) ● 👏👏

Synopsis: Casey Jones is patrolling the sleepy streets of Northampton, Massachusetts looking for some crimes to prevent. Northampton is nothing like New York City, however, so the mighty Casey is occupying his spare time as a vigilante by narrating events as if he were Mike Hammer. Jones is a little homesick for the Big Apple, but he's also reminiscing about the good times he had in this town as a kid with his cousin Sid. As Casey walks familiar ground, he passes by Louie's Variety store and is stunned by what he sees… the brass cow that once served as a rooftop landmark for the business has been stolen! Jones is enraged and gets to work on the case right away.

As Casey interviews Louie for details, a local cop walks in and assures the shopkeeper that the theft was probably just a college prank and that the cow will show up soon. Casey gets angry about the police officer's base attitude, which only angers the cop, who tells Jones to "Butt out—pronto!" Casey storms off, vowing to find the cow.

The following morning, we find April frantically getting ready for work and asking where Casey is. Just then Casey walks through the door, icicles hanging from his hat and chin. Jones moans that he's been out all night looking for "the great cow" and collapses. Fortunately it's nothing serious, and Casey tries to explain about the theft, but April is running late and hurries off to work.

Cut to the Blue Bonnet Diner, where April is waiting tables. As Ms. O'Neil is going through her stubs, she overhears two men plotting something about a cow. One of the men slaps the other and tells him that if he has any info he should leave it at the front desk of Hotel Northampton, room 213. April is suspicious and tries to remember where she heard about a cow earlier in the day when she sees the newspaper headlines—the top story is about the missing cow!

Back at the farm house, Casey is trying to get the disinterested Turtles to help him when April calls. O'Neil tells Jones about the conversation she overheard, but unfortunately the man who slapped his partner overhears April's phone conversation and becomes alarmed. Casey takes down the hotel information and slams the phone down in his excitement over having a lead. April is unhappy because she wanted to go along.

Casey gets to the hotel and tries to get the woman at the front desk to tell him who's in room 213, but all he manages to do is get thrown out of the joint. As Jones sits on the stoop outside wondering what to do next, April arrives. April thinks she can have better luck getting the information, and she goes inside. As Fate would have it, just as O'Neil gets into the lobby, the slapping man (whose name is Howard) walks through with another fellow. April overhears the two making plans. Apparently Howard works for the older Texan man and they are making elaborate plans for a graduation party.

Later that night, April, Casey and the turtles arrive at the parking lot of the Hotel Northampton. Casey has asked the turtles to search room 213, and while the guys aren't happy about doing it, they agree. Jones and O'Neil crash the posh graduation party inside.

The Turtles find a bunch of paperwork and photographs of the Texan, Howard and the Brass Cow—however, they also discover they're in room 215—the wrong place!

As April is prowling the party looking for clues, she's spotted by Howard. O'Neil darts out into the lobby, where she's accosted by three men, Mikal Smengie and his brothers Luka and Luka. Unfortunately April has stumbled into a rendezvous between the Smengie Brothers and the Texan… a ten million dollar meeting that they all want to keep secret. Howard gags April and tells the Brothers to take her with them. Howard also give Mikal a briefcase full of money and an address. The Texan complains about loose ends and Howard says that he'll take care of things.

Back in the hotel room, the turtles decide that this case is too complicated and the police need to be notified. As they head out, they see April being kidnapped. The guys scramble down to the parking lot, but they're too late to stop the van holding their friend from escaping. The Turtles pile into their truck and head off to chase the van.

Casey goes into a rest room inside the hotel to gather his thoughts. He sits on top of a toilet in an empty stall as two guys come in. Jones overhears the two talking about a "prize cow" at Norman Whitty's place on Route 116. After the men leave, Casey dashes out to the parking lot to get his truck so he can investigate… except the truck is gone! Undaunted, Casey hails a cab.

Meanwhile the Turtles have followed the van to an old garage in the woods. Inside are the three brothers carrying weapons, a bound April and a well wrapped cow. As April berates her captors and warns them that she has friends, the Turtles burst in and kick the shell outta the Smengies. Once the Brothers are tied to a post, the Turtles interrogate them. The men talk to one another in Slovakian, which angers Raph and he threatens them. Under duress, Mikal explains that the brass cow was stolen from his family by their other brother Louie before the revolution. They've returned to steal the brass cow back and to sell it to Mr. Cudworth, who collects antique cows. April finds the story dubious, as ten million dollars is involved. Raph gets even angrier and decides to bash the cow to bits. Mikal then panics and exclaims that the cow is solid gold, and that they had stolen it before the revolution so that the new dictator wouldn't be able to use its wealth. They now want to sell it and share the wealth with their people.

Leo is suspicious, but he wants to see how things will play out before calling the police. In particular, Leonardo is interested in the Texan's role in these events. Leo hatches a plan that will allow them to get the real story.

Back at the hotel, the Texan receives a phone call from Leonardo, who tells the rich man that the deal goes down tonight and that they want an additional 5 million dollars. This does not please the Texan but he gathers up his forces and heads out.

Meanwhile, Casey has arrived at Norman's place on Route 116 in the taxi. Casey is jubilant about finding the cow and heads into the barn with glee—only to discover that the cow inside is real! Just then, Norman shows up with a shotgun and yells at Casey to get away from his prize winning heifer. Jones fast talks his way out of things and piles back into the cab, ordering the very unhappy driver to take him back to the hotel.

Back at the Smengie garage, the Turtles are all decked out in trench coats and firearms, awaiting their meeting with the Texan. The men show up and the Turtles demand the money. Howard asks where the Smengie Brothers are and the Texan demands to see the cow. Mike unwraps the cow only to reveal that it's a fake! As tempers flare, the Smengies crash through the garage door in a flatbed truck, with the real "brass" cow chained to the bed. A short fire fight erupts between the Texan's men and the Turtles, but the millionaire and his henchmen take off to chase the Smengies. The turtles pile into their own truck and bolt out in hot pursuit.

As the Smengie's truck barrels down the road, they pass Casey's cab. Jones grabs the wheel of the car and spins it around. The driver is scared to death and Casey screams at him to "follow that cow!" The cab gains on the truck and Casey jumps out onto the hood of the taxi and leaps onto the cow. Jones causes Mikal to crash the vehicle into a ditch and shouts, "You pukes are under arrest!"

Just then the Texan shows up, and Howard yells, "Correction! You're all under arrest!" As the millionaire wonders what's going on, Howard explains that he's an undercover secret service agent. It turns out that the Texan (whose name isn't Cudworth, it's actually Emil Bruzeniak) is in the business of buying and selling stolen national treasures. Howard has been working for Bruzeniak for two years, waiting to build enough evidence to bust him. Howard calls in his backup and two helicopters appear. The turtles and April arrive on the scene. The turtles bail out of the truck as April drives up to see what's going on.

When April arrives, Howard wants to hear why she and Casey are involved in the case. Jones explains everything in long detail and Howard demands to talk to the four men who helped April escape. April tells the secret agent that her allies wish to remain anonymous and pleads that they all be let go, as everything turned out fine. The agent begrudgingly admits that Casey and April helped solve the case and agrees to forget about their friends' involvement, filing it under "unmentionables." Casey and April walk off arm in arm as the criminals are lead off in handcuffs.

The turtles have witnessed everything from the safety of the woods.

"That's us, huh guys," Leo quips, "the Unmentionables."

"Ain't it the truth." adds Mikey.

(https://turtlepedia.fandom.com/wiki/The_Unmentionables)

Fan Art: Early-Morning Food Fight by Fihuli

Accompanying Podcast: ● Shellheads - episode 23

#mirage #mirage comics #my other read #tmnt #teenage mutant ninja turtles #comics #comic books #fan art #fanart #shellheads #podcast recommendation