(EDITOR’S NOTE: Paint Monk’s Library, in collaboration with the enthusiastic staff over at the Into the Knight Podcast, is tackling the Moon Knight chronology! Each week we’ll take an in-depth look at the Fist Of Khonshu in a series of reviews, all in order of character appearance! These reviews will appear on Monday each week until we’ve covered them all, or until the enthusiastic Loonies get too exhausted to write. Whichever comes first!)
By JUSTIN OSGOOD – Guest Writer
I like to think that Moon Knight’s experience with The Defenders in this issue prepared the Fist of Khonshu for what would happen years down the road when he joins the West Coast Avengers. If one needed some kind of a “primer” for working with a team of super-powered individuals, fighting alongside the Defenders in their prime isn’t a bad place to start!
On another level, it would have been nice to see Moon Knight working with Nighthawk again: the literal Batman pastiche of the Marvel Universe teaming up with what some would describe as the “symbolic” Batman pastiche – but I am one of the Moon Knight fans who jettisoned the Moon Knight-Batman comparisons to the rubbish heap years ago. Marc Spector is so much more complex than that, as we would soon discover…
Review: Defenders #50
A furious Hulk tears into Scorpio’s new android Zodiac, and within moments he is joined by Moon Knight, Hellcat, and Valkyrie. In a nearby chamber, Nighthawk’s strength is doubled by the quickly-fading dusk, and he is able to break free of his constraints, quickly joining his allies in combat.
The LMD Zodiac gives the Defenders little in the way of trouble, especially considering the rage of the Hulk, and the team is able to make short work of most of them. Scorpio, having left the battle to ascertain the reason behind the disappearance of a handful of his LMDs, is sent into a hysterical rage when he discovers that they perished upon their “birth” – including Virgo, who was intended to be his lover. Unable to recover from this disappointment, he sequesters himself in his chamber with the Nick Fury LMD and commits suicide after listening to a recording of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”.
Moon Knight was the one to utter the immortal line upon finding Scorpio’s body – “Too bad! But who’ll miss a MANIAC like Scorpio, anyway?”
CAPSULE REVIEW: My introduction to the Zodiac was in the three-issue story which appeared in West Coast Avengers a few years after this story, so it was nice to see this LMD incarnation of the group appear in their original forms. Unfortunately, they weren’t the most effective team to face this group of Defenders, and their performance is a little lackluster. Poor Hellcat is the only one who really has any trouble with them, as she takes few scrapes during her claw-to-claw duel with Leo.
Moon Knight doesn’t really contribute much to the battle, and he is flying around the chamber during the majority of it with his wing-cape, but there is a great moment where he and Nighthawk grab the rampaging Aries and send him crashing into a pile of electronic junk. He also gets to contribute the aforementioned closing line upon finding the corpse of Scorpio, which admittedly made me laugh the first time I read it.
David Kraft’s writing is fine for the most part, but there are a couple of exchanges which are absolutely cringe-worthy:
Moon Knight: “Cut me some slack, you slimy headed stooge!”
Taurus: “NO WAY! Come back down here, darn you! I wanna poke some holes in you!”
Dialogue in Defenders #50
And if that one isn’t bad enough, there’s always this one.
Valkyrie: “I will warn but once, my feline friend – the Valkyrie does not fool around!”
Leo: “I don’t believe you really said that, babe! Those are big words for a beautiful babe!”
Dialogue in Defenders #50
Yikes.
Keith Giffen inked his own art for this issue, and I actually like it better than the previous issue. He is still fully channeling Jack Kirby here, and it works very well for the theme of this story and the battle royale between the Defenders and the LMD Zodiac. There were some panels that looked a little clunky, but overall everything looked great and a particular highlight was Hellcat’s fluid, ferocious battle with Leo.
Overall, this was a nice wrap-up to the “Who Remembers Scorpio?” story, but personally I don’t consider this Defenders run to be a highlight of Moon Knight’s early history. It’s nice for what it is – an early way for Marvel to introduce Moon Knight to a larger audience and include him in the constantly-rotating roster of characters in the Defenders.
But it looked somewhat like he was hastily thrown in, and on the whole it seemed to me like he wasn’t really a good fit for this group. I have to doubt his judgment at one point when he thinks to himself, “I’m a free agent – a temporary part of this non-team only by circumstance – but if I ever did decide to join a supergroup – it would be THIS ONE!”
“THE DEADLY TRAP IS SPRUNG AS “INTO THE CRUCIBLE” CONTINUES! CONAN, equipped with only his strength and wits, must survive the deadly traps of the Great Crucible! With a cadre of contestants against him, and only a local boy named DELIAN to translate, can anyone or any THING be trusted?! Who is really playing who…? “
By BOB FREEMAN – Paint Monk’s Library Writer
Can we just get the negative out of the way first so I can enjoy waxing over what a fun comic this is? Do you mind? I absolutely loathe the standard cover for this issue. Understand, I am a E.M. Gist fan. His paintings, from classic Universal Monsters to Kolchak, Planet of the Apes, and more, all showcase brilliant work. But his Conan? Nope. Not working for me, even a little bit. Of course, my comic shop didn’t have the Tommy Lee Edwards variant cover, but it was only marginally better anyway.
What matters, though, is what comes after the cover, and here we get nineteen pages of well-executed storytelling from everyone on board.
I mentioned Jim Zub’s roleplaying roots being on display in my review of Part 1 of “Into the Crucible”. Part 2 is no different. I have described the story as Tomb of Horrors meets the Hyborian Age and that application still applies.
As a storyteller, Zub has a great sense of pacing and throughout this story line he is proving to be adept at building tension and suspense as well.
At the heart, “Into the Crucible” is proving to be a bit of a detective story hidden within a Murder Dungeon module from early TSR. Marginally reminiscent of Howard’s The God in the Bowl in that, there too, we had a similar genre-bending, and with a young Conan to boot.
D&D’s Tomb of Horrors meets The Hyborian Age in Zub and Antonio’s latest outing.
That may be my favorite aspect of Zub’s take, in that Conan is obviously quite young and new to the world outside of his Cimmerian homeland. It takes a deft hand to pull off that kind of characterization and Zub is nailing it.
As for the art, Roge Antonio’s style is well suited for this adventure. His facial expressions are very animate and articulate. He also has a great sense for movement and the art is narrative, telling the story admirably without the need of exposition.
Israel Silva’s colors are a great compliment to Antonio’s expert line work, with the warm colors and murky tones playing off one another to add to the overall composition.
The spirit in Conan the Barbarian #14 is clearly not Acererak.
On the surface, the story is simple, but the team has done a great job of adding layers and depth, with the most obvious example being the threat of an assassin their midst. I have a sense for who it is, but I’ll not spoil it for the rest of you.
The journey’s the thing, and this has been a thrilling one thus far. It certainly took my mind of COVID-19 for a bit.
Speaking if which, I hope you’re all staying safe out there. As long as we’re social distancing, what better way to pass the time than immersing one’s self in some Conan comics? Believe me, it’s how I am spending a lot of my time, to be sure.
Conan #14, Part 2 of “Into the Crucible” is well worth the price of admission. I would gladly toss it 8.5 skulls of my enemies.
“An all-new series, spinning out of the smash-hit RED SONJA title written by MARK RUSSELL! In order to become queen, Sonja The Red had to defeat an evil emperor. But that emperor had a son. And that son will do ANYTHING to exact his revenge…even if it means embracing horrible magics he does not understand. Don’t miss out on this series that will affect the Sonja series for years to come! By MARK RUSSELL (Red Sonja, Year Of The Villain), BRYCE INGMAN (Edgar Allen Poe’s Snifter Of Terror) and CRAIG ROUSSEAU (The Flash).”
By BOB FREEMAN – Paint Monk’s Library Writer
Calling Red Sonja a “smash hit” is a bit disingenuous. The book is moving about 10,000 copies a month, and that’s with 5 variant covers per issue. It’s a good comic, however, and I wish more people were reading it. And while I didn’t love this spin-off out of the gate, I realize it will affect the main series and so I’ll happily read along to see where they take it.
In a nutshell, Killing Red Sonja is following right on the heels of issue 12 of Mark Russell’s Red Sonja series, where we find the Boy-Emperor Cyril on a quest for vengeance — intent on avenging the death of his father, Emperor Dragan, at the hands of Sonja the Red following the betrayal of Minnas of Aquilonia.
Overall, the story is well-written, if not necessarily to my tastes. While Russell co-plotted the issue, I think it is safe to say that the lion’s share of the writing was left up to Bryce Ingman.
There are a handful of characters, with Cyril taking center stage. He is clearly the most defined, but the cast is well developed, full of diverse, albeit over-the-top, personalities.
The writing and art put one in mind of a child’s story, with primitive illustrations and an almost fairytale-like narrative. Not that this is a bad thing. I have no problem with the stylistic choices at all — except it seems completely out of place in a story about Howard’s Hyborian Age.
There are just too many fantasy elements in this issue as far as I’m concerned. I have always preferred a more grounded approach to the world. Fantastical elements are sure to enter the picture, but they need to be a rare event, not an ever-present component as we find here.
Still, I’m not turned off enough to turn away. Ingman’s pacing is spot on, and words and pictures are positively in sync.
I’d give the first issue of Killing Red Sonja a solid 5 skulls of my enemies. It’s not terrible, but talking pigs and pampered Boy-Kings are not what I’m looking for in my Hyborian Age adventures.
“Conan saves yet another damsel in rags, only to discover she is an old lover, now hideously deformed. Claiming that Conan must take her to “the valley,” the barbarian looks down to see that he, too, is now covered in boils, afflicted by the pestilence that has claimed his former paramour. Can our barbarian find a cure for this mysterious affliction?”
(EDITOR’S NOTE: Welcome to The Classic Conan Countdown, a series of reviews focusing on the original 275 issues of Marvel Comics’ Conan the Barbarian, which were published from 1970 to 1993. This is a review of Conan the Barbarian (Vol. 1) #118.)
By BOB FREEMAN — Paint Monk’s Library Writer
I am a huge J.M DeMatteis fan. His work on titles such as The Defenders, Justice League, House of Mystery, Captain America, and the short-livedAbadazad really stand out and should be counted among some of the best work in the business. He is a gifted storyteller, without doubt, but for me, his Conan never felt right. It seems I wasn’t the only one —
“Some months into my run on the book, editor Louise Jones let me know that John had been rumbling and grumbling about Conan’s direction. I was still relatively new to the comic book business—Conan was my first, full-length monthly assignment—and the last thing I wanted to do was displease a man whose work I profoundly respected and admired. I called John up, we had a short and, as I recall, somewhat uncomfortable talk—I was completely intimidated—during which he outlined all the elements he thought were essential to a great Conan story. “
J.M. DeMatteis
DeMatteis wrote Conan the Barbarian from issue #118-#130, eventually driving Big John off the book altogether and setting up some rather bleak times for fans of the Cimmerian, at least by my account.
At a time when my love for Conan was at its all-time high, I walked away from the Conan the Barbarian series, focusing solely on Savage Sword, which, to be honest, had always been the superior format.
Moving forward on reviews of Conan, I will be reading many of these for the very first time.
REVIEW: Conan the Barbarian (Vol. 1) #118
Conan rides up on a large, heavily cloaked man attacking an unarmed woman. The Cimmerian intercedes on the woman’s behalf, disarming the man and pushing him away from his intended victim. The man claims he was only trying to save others but now must save himself. He draws a dagger and plunges it into his own heart.
The cloaked woman thanks the Cimmerian but collapses at his feet, bemoaning that she never should have left “the valley”. Conan puts her on his horse and rides into a small town. The townspeople run in fear from him, casting rocks as they keep their distance.
Conan finally corners one of the townspeople, demanding answers. The terrified man draws attention to Conan’s hands which are covered in boils. The Cimmerian checks his appearance in a nearby water barrel and he discovers the boils have spread to his face.
The woman he saved apologizes, calling the barbarian by name. Lowering her hood, she reveals that she is an old love interest of Conan’s, Jenna, from his days as a thief in the city of Shadizar the Wicked (Conan the Barbarian #6). Jenna is covered in boils as well, far more than the Cimmerian. She tells him it will only get worse, and that they must go to “the valley.”
After traveling to the valley, Conan espies dozens of those infected, all cloaked in rags and chanting in a strange, alien tongue. One of them runs off, proclaiming his fealty to some wizard in the mountains.
Jenna then shares her tale, of being sold into slavery and eventually being brought to the valley to be inflicted like the others. All those infected are transformed into hideously deformed figures who go through a religious conversion in which they recognize the wizard Myya L’rrasleff as their god.
Conan sets out to confront this wizard, fighting his way past a “rock-thing” and harpy before entering Myya L’rrasleff’s cavernous lair.
Inside, Conan and Jenna espy dozens of the transformed, reveling in the worship of their wizard god. Jenna rushes forward, proclaiming her devotion and conversion.
As Conan hacks his way through the throng, Jenna is led away by Myya L’rrasleff who reveals to her a large black jewel. From it Jenna receives a vision of how the wizard came to this world in exile from another planet, bound to transform this world into a mirror of that from which he came. The black jewel rejects Jenna, however, for her conversion was faked. As the wizard attacks her, Conan storms into the room.
In a grueling battle, Conan gains the upper hand despite having his life force slowly drained away. The Cimmerian hurls the alien wizard into the black jewel, destroying both. As he and Jenna escape the collapse, they revert to normal, the boils fading away and Jenna is beautiful once more.
CAPSULE REVIEW: This story was better than I remembered, helped by some terrific artwork by Buscema and Chan. There are a few typos throughout. Marvel Editorial was really slipping a bit here, but nothing overly offensive.
The story is interesting enough and fits nicely into the canon. It was smart to have a call back to earlier adventures tying DeMatteis’ run to that which had come before.
It ensures the reader is not in for a jolt to the overall story’s continuity. Yes, the writer has changed, but the vision remains the same. We’ll see how long that lasts.
As I rate this issue, I wonder how much influence the current Conan titles are influencing my opinions?
I declare this issue worthy of 7 out of 10 Skulls of My Enemies.
“INTO THE CRUCIBLE AS THE MARCH TO KHITAI BEGINS! Conan has faced many foes since leaving Cimmeria, but the greatest challenge lies ahead! A perfect jumping-on point for new readers as Conan finds himself in a city in the mystical Uttara Kuru, further on the eastern border than the young barbarian has ever traveled. And with the new city comes new dangers! Unfamiliar with the language, Conan inadvertently agrees to be the latest entrant to the Great Crucible. The people of the city support their foreign champion…but what deadly traps does the Crucible hold, and what will Conan sacrifice to overcome his ordeal? Writer JIM ZUB (SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN, AVENGERS: NO ROAD HOME) and artist ROGÊ ANTONIO (CONAN 2099, X-MEN RED) lead Conan on an all-new journey, as we begin a new era for CONAN THE BARBARIAN into undiscovered country!”
By BOB FREEMAN – Paint Monk’s Library Writer
Here we are, at long last. With Aaron and Asrar’s arc behind us, we welcome a new creative team to Marvel’s flagship Conan title — Jim Zub and Rogê Antônio. Both are talented creators, but then, so were Aaron and Asrar. Will this pair breathe new life into what has largely been a disappointing reunion between the House of Ideas and Howard’s Cimmerian?
Let’s find out, shall we?
The cover is not a promising start. There is skill there, but E. M. Gist’s Conan is too stiff. The anatomy looks off to me. The sword is at an odd angle for the Cimmerian’s hands. His face is brutish — almost Hulk-like. And the hair is unnatural. I don’t like it. Unfortunately, my comic shop didn’t have the alternate cover by Toni Infante which I find much more appealing. Of course, searching the internet, that cover variant appears to be selling for $15, so I guess I’ll pass.
But one should not judge a book by its cover artist, so let’s see what Zub and Antônio have for us.
Part one of Into the Crucible, “The People’s Champion”, begins with some solid prose from Jim Zub and Rogê Antônio’s art is solid enough. It’s a tad more cartoonish than I generally prefer, but there’s good energy from the illustration, coupled with interesting and varied facial expressions.
So far, so good.
The lettering from Travis Lanham is consistent and non-invasive, while Israel Silva’s coloring is warm and inviting. Silva really enhances the art and takes some of the edges off, creating a pleasurable experience.
As for the story itself, I am intrigued. Tackling a young Conan, slightly more than 15 years of age, he’s brash and over-confident, and easily duped by his being in a foreign land and not understanding the native tongue. It’s a great set-up, and the inclusion of an interpreter helps keep the story grounded.
Once we find Conan inside the Crucible itself, he is in his element. Conan has always been a character with great instincts and quick reactions, so placing him in a death-trap, D&D-esque dungeon is a slick move on Zub’s part, considering his background in roleplaying games. He gets to synthesize the character’s strengths with his own.
I enjoyed the issue, but it certainly seemed to fly by far too fast. The March issue won’t get here soon enough.
I give this issue 8.5 skulls of my enemies. Zub and Antônio are off to a great start. Highly recommended.
I should point out, a firmer editorial hand would be nice. Some of the punctuation is a little dodgy at times, and being an Oxford Comma man, well, the lack of one on the title/credits page had my nape hairs on end.
Also, the lack of a prose tale waiting at the back of the book was met with a touch of disappointment. I had become accustomed to capping off the comic with some fresh Hyborian pastiche, even if the quality of such varied greatly.
I guess my end-cap will be reading some of Scott Oden’s latest Grimnir novel — Twilight of the Gods.
“Conan finds himself in a mysterious ziggurat. A woman accuses him of violating the temple of Hanuman, but all is not as it seems. Writing blobs, seductive wenches, and visions of the past are not quite what they appear to be. Can the barbarian defeat Mullah-Kajar and his power of illusion?”
(EDITOR’S NOTE: Welcome to The Classic Conan Countdown, a series of reviews focusing on the original 275 issues of Marvel Comics’ Conan the Barbarian, which were published from 1970 to 1993. This is a review of Conan the Barbarian (Vol. 1) #117.)
By ANDY MAGLOTHIN – Paint Monk’s Library Writer
High Priest Mullah-Kajar overthrew the Turanian satrap forcing him into exile – but he holds the Turanian ambassador and his wife hostage inside a great ziggurat. Two of Mullah-Kajar’s guards are inside the entrance, discussing these recent actions and hear something in the hallway. They decide to take a look in the hall and are attacked and killed by Conan.
Conan makes his way through the ziggurat until he finds a great room with a robed figure standing atop a staircase, swinging a censer. As Conan approaches, he asks the robed figure to point him in the direction of the prisoners, but the mysterious figure will not answer. Conan rips off the robes, revealing a scantly clad, dark-haired woman. She curses Conan for desecrating the sacred temple of Hanuman. The curse causes Conan to see the mirror of his soul, which can potentially drive him mad.
Conan’s eyes close against his will and experiences a vision of an endless hallway with walls and ceiling featuring celestial bodies and multiple doors. In the distance, Conan can see the woman running from door to door and he gives chase. Conan sees a vision of himself from weeks ago speaking with the warlord of Turan as they made an agreement for Conan to rescue the hostages. Conan’s next vision was that of the battlefield in Cimmeria where he was born including his mother holding him as a newborn. The vision quickly turns to a nightmare as his mother’s teeth become sharp and arms transform into tentacles. Conan grabs the woman’s arm stopping the visions. Conan focuses back on the mission and wants her to guide him to the captives but before they start moving, Conan blindfolds her hoping to prevent her from putting him under a spell again.
The woman guides Conan to a door and reveals two monstrous blobs with tentacles primed for the attack. If their appearance wasn’t bad enough, Conan experiences overwhelming negative emotions emitted from the creatures. Conan savagely pushes aside his fear and other emotions to defeat the monsters.
Thinking she tricked him, Conan turns his rage to the woman. She reveals he was not actually fighting monsters, but slaughtered the Turanian Ambassador and his wife. He cannot believe they’re dead and potentially taking 10,000 gold pieces out of his payment. Conan grabs the woman stating she’s coming with him to take out Mullah-Kajar when the truth is revealed – there is no woman….it was Mullah-Kajar the entire time.
Mullah-Kajar casts another spell causing Conan to see visions of the cosmic hallway where demons from his childhood nightmares spill out of the doors. Conan begins to hack away proclaiming he will not succumb to the sorcerer’s spells. Mullah-Kajar’s spell causes Conan to view him as death raising a dagger for a final blow to the Cimmerian. Using his great strength, Conan grasps Mullah-Kajar’s wrist forcing him to stab himself in the chest. With his dying efforts, Mullah-Kajar causes Conan to see him as various people from his past: Red Sonja, his mother and Yag-Kosha before showing himself as a skeleton and fading to dust.
CAPSULE REVIEW: Penciled and inked by John Buscema, the cover features Conan battling a monster with a blindfolded woman in the background. Providing a hint of the action within the issue, Conan’s struggle against the enormous green monster is captured in this image. The monster’s color is a combination of greens and yellows giving a slimy appearance compared to the texture of the stone walls surrounding the characters. No word balloons, just a small title and the logo….a very effective, no frills approach fitting for our favorite Cimmerian.
Larry Hama wrote this issue, but I noticed no drop in quality. There are enough twists and action to keep one engaged in the story. Hama provides enough concise information to update anyone who might have missed the previous issue, but not so much it bores long time readers. Hama’s narrative of the ziggurat, Conan’s emotions, and the illusions paint a page turning psychological roller-coaster. His description of Conan’s will to overcome Mullah-Kajar’s influence is intense and serves as a testament to Conan’s physical and mental strength
I always focus on the Buscema / Chan team’s artwork and this issue provides another example of their talents. Look at the details on the ziggurat, monsters, facial expressions etc. They provide depth and gritty detail to the overlying narrative allowing the reader to submerse him / herself in the Hyborian age. Along with Chan’s shading, the coloring work of George Roussos also assists with setting tones and intensity of scenes. Look at the first image of Mullah-Kajar’s influence over Conan then the subsequent scene of the eternal hallway. The other illusions provide the same intensity with the monsters from Conan’s childhood nightmares. I really enjoy the ending where Conan’s view of Mullah-Kajar changes to multiple characters from Conan’s past then he disintegrates….or did he?
It features one of the few Conan issues written by Larry Hama and more sorcery than other issues, this should be a staple of any Conan fan’s collection.
On a scale of 1-10, I give it 7.5 Aquilonian Luna.
(EDITOR’S NOTE: Paint Monk’s Library, in collaboration with the enthusiastic staff over at the Into the Knight Podcast, are tackling the Moon Knight chronology! Each week we’ll take an in-depth look at the Fist Of Khonshu in a series of reviews, all in order of character appearance! These reviews will appear on Monday each week until we’ve covered them all, or until the enthusiastic Moonies get too exhausted to write. Whichever comes first!)
By REYNALDO G. – Guest Writer
There’s a lot to like about this issue as it is chock full of story; but one can also say that the comic is also bogged down by the writer’s indulgences, and that is painfully apparent from the first few pages of this issue.
I initially balked at the lengthy dialogue between Zodiac and Nick Fury – which opens the issue – and found myself rolling my eyes at the lack of room which writers David Kraft and Don McGregor give to the artists. From the get-go, the visual medium of the comic takes a back seat (the VERY back seat of a long, long bus!) as Kraft and McGregor have characters expound on their innermost thoughts and feelings, all the while drawing out a rather lengthy exposition for a fairly simple plot.
The saving grace for the writing though, comes from a technique which was used for the previous issue, and that is a variety of dramas set around the main plot.
Review: Defenders (Vol. 1) #48
Nick Fury stands before Scorpio, who also happens to be his brother. Scorpio’s initial plan to engage with Kyle Richmond, aka Nighthawk, was thwarted by the Defenders and so it was that Nick Fury sought to abduct Jack Norriss as a contingency plan. Although Norriss’ abduction by Fury was stopped by Moon Knight (as seen in The Defenders Issue #47), Fury’s cunning allowed him to manipulate the situation and trick The Defenders into handing Jack Norriss over to SHIELD. With Scorpio’s master plan not yet revealed and the two brothers waiting for Jack Norriss to be delivered, there’s nothing left to do but pick up some beer for their impending hostage!
At Avengers’ mansion, the Defenders, alongside Moon Knight and Wonder Man, are still picking up the pieces from their unfortunate confrontation in the last issue. Wonder Man is worried about the state of the mansion while Jack Norriss and Valkyrie exchange words a smoldering undercurrent.
Jack is still resentful towards Valkyrie for taking over his wife’s body and Valkyrie can’t help but feel responsible in some way. All are still reeling at the message they had received from Nick Fury only moments ago, demanding that Jack Norriss be handed over to SHIELD. As Fury arrives to pick up Jack Norriss, Moon Knight makes a stealthy exit with the others. Fury’s behaviour towards Norriss and his suspicious manner spell trouble for Norriss, and he soon catches wind that he’s found himself in more trouble than originally thought!
We briefly see the Incredible Hulk lurking in Central Park amongst the shadows. He’s bored and a little fed up with humans so he ponders how he can have some fun. Nothing more is shown here, as it teases events to come in future issues.
As quickly as Hulk’s cameo comes, it goes. We see Valkyrie and Hellcat astride Aragorn (Valkyrie’s flying steed) discussing the recent events with Jack Norriss. Valkyrie is disillusioned and feels slightly betrayed at the harsh words Jack recently hurled towards her. Hellcat reassures Valkyrie that she understands what she’s going through, as they fly back towards the Defenders’ headquarters.
It’s not long before they return and there they meet Nighthawk, who has startling news for them. He received a phone call earlier notifying him that Scorpio has abducted Jack Norriss shortly after he was handed over to Nick Fury and this angers Valkyrie, who cries that they have been deceived once again. Nighthawk mentions that Norriss is being held for ransom and demands $500,000. Nighthawk makes the arrangement and prepares to take the ransom money to the drop-off himself.
Meanwhile, Jack Norriss is brought before Scorpio by Nick Fury and amidst offers of beer and grandstanding, Scorpio finally reveals to Jack Norriss his devious creation – it’s the Zodiac Chamber! Constructed alongside Nick Fury, the Chamber is a theatre of genetics and creates a new life form each month for Scorpio to control at will.
It’s here that we see the return of our favourite hero, Moon Knight. He has in fact been trailing Nick Fury ever since Fury came to collect Jack and now Moon Knight finds himself on the roof of Scorpio’s lair.
Unfortunately, Scorpio’s security entraps Moon Knight and he finds himself in a chamber soon to be sealed and filled with water. Scorpio tosses Moon Knight a can of beer and with that decides to call it a night. Jack screams protest at Moon Knight’s apparent fate but Scorpio and Fury are non-plussed at the situation. They ignore Jack’s protests and head for bed.
As dawn rises, Kyle Richmond prepares for the exchange and we see at Scorpio’s lair that amazingly Moon Knight has escaped his death trap. It matters not, as Scorpio has a meeting with Nighthawk. He departs and shortly afterward, he has perched high atop a monument with Nighthawk swooping in to make the exchange.
He hurls the bag of cash at Scorpio and demands Jack Norriss’ release, but like every villain, Scorpio isn’t forthcoming and we soon hear of his actual plan. The $500,000 was just a ruse – Scorpio’s real intent is to abduct Nighthawk himself. To Nighthawk’s surprise, Scorpio knows his secret identity and with this information Scorpio plans to gain the entire Richmond fortune. With his Zodiac key he ensnares Nighthawk and they both teleport away towards their destiny – and for us the reader…towards the next exciting issue!
THOUGHTS: The main plot again centers around Jack Norriss and Nick Fury’s pursuit of him. The issue reveals from the outset that Fury is colluding with the main villain, Zodiac (who also happens to be his brother, Jake). Zodiac wants to dominate the world with a new breed of artifical life – clones based on each Zodiac sign.
These beings are to be the salvation of the world, in effect making Zodiac himself the self-proclaimed saviour. Although the plan by Zodiac to dominate the world is tenuous at best, it forms the main thrust for the issue with the Zodiac Chamber forming the ‘big reveal’. Concurrent to this plot, we see references to a previous arc, of Valkyrie actually being the physical body of Jack’s wife with the mind of the Asgardian within. This forms a dramatic dynamic between the two, and presents an inner turmoil for Valkyrie when Norriss spurns her affection and blames Valkyrie for ‘taking’ his wife.
There’s a small interlude with the Incredible Hulk too (I guess the writers wanted to still remind the readers that the Hulk was not forgotten in The Defenders!) in which we see him introspectively ruminating the purpose of his being. For all it’s absurdity, the Hulk almost appears to be going through a mid-life crisis. There’s a small allusion to Hellcat’s own problems, similar to Valkyrie, and to cap it all off, we see Kyle Hammond a.k.a Nighthawk, sulking in Defenders Headquarters about his own romantic exploits! You might also be wondering what of our Fist of Khonshu, Moon Knight too – well, he at least gets to see some action later on and at least is written in a very entertaining way (which I will get to, don’t you worry!)
Though all very soap opera-ish, it still proves to be quite entertaining and is a good foil to the more comic book action which the book inevitably leans on for the climax. Mention must be also made to the absurd which pervades issue #48. Similar to some qualities found in issue #47, the writers here are not adverse to write in elements which leave the reader scratching their heads. It would appear that Kraft and McGregor love their beer (in particular Schlitz beer) as they have Zodiac offering it to both Jack and Moon Knight…and he even asks Nick Fury to drop by the liquor store after he’s collected Jack! Truth be told I found this highly amusing – the mundane beverage juxtaposed with the machinations of a super villain…it doesn’t get much better than that.
Whether or not Zodiac is meant to come off as a comical character with his love of beer is unclear, but it’s furthered by an exchange with himself and Jack, whereby Zodiac reiterates that although Jack is a guest, he’s not to be getting his bed for the night and so Norriss is relegated to the floor. Again, a minor point which the writers needn’t dwell upon but they do and so we perceive Zodiac as an awkward, socially inept individual.
There’s also the matter of Jack Norriss…what is his purpose exactly? From what first appears to be an intricate scheme by S.H.I.E.L.D to nab Norriss for the information in his head, it is revealed that Zodiac is behind the abduction for the mere want of ransom. Nighthawk inevitably makes the ‘drop’ and attempts to thwart the ransom demand by Zodiac, but regardless of the cliffhanger at the end, I was left thinking… “all that for just holding Jack Norriss for ransom?” It all seems a little weak for such a build-up of Jack’s character.
So what of Moon Knight? How has he fared in this issue and how has he been portrayed? Put simply, Moon Knight is consistently shown as mysterious and highly capable. He disappears early on, once the Avengers hand Norriss over to Fury, and Wonder Man seems surprised that Moon Knight apparently vanishes suddenly. At the end of the issue, Moon Knight is caught in Zodiac’s trap, but still appears cool, calm and collected…with beer in hand.
Art-wise, there is a lot to like about this issue as the exposition of Zodiac’s plan with the Zodiac Chamber allows it to boldly go where Steve Ditko paved the way. Psychedelic images crackling with energy and color immerse the panels most notably with Zodiac and this augments the overall enjoyment of the issue. As mentioned earlier, the art is stifled when there is just too much of the script doing the explanation – early on in the issue, the conversation between Nick Fury and Zodiac is stagnant as there is not much for the artwork to do, except have the figures postulate and squirm around the huge word balloons. Multiple panels to a page also do not help the cause and for those who read modern-day comics from the likes of Tom King and Brian Michael Bendis, there’s a far cry of how the nine-panel grid is utilized to full effect, compared to its rather clunky use here, with images squashed in amid the dialogue.
There is one panel that particularly struck me and I thought was quite innovative. As Moon Knight is held captive in the pit made by Zodiac, it is portrayed as a blue print in an architectural section, which I thought was rather nifty. It’s only one panel, mind you, and could easily be overlooked, but I enjoyed the brief liberal experiment by Giffen & Green (the penciler and inker) and it’s not something you see often.
Overall, Defenders #48 is a consistent continuation of the saga which began in the issue prior, and it still holds all the styles and hallmarks of the decade in which it is written.
CAPSULE REVIEW: Defenders #48 is weighed down by a lopsided relationship between dialogue and artwork. The art is unable to breathe under the weighted word balloons which work too hard to elaborate on the exposition of the story.
Far too much dialogue throughout the issue makes the pages awkward.
The writing itself is slightly more chaotic than the previous issue, with many plot points introduced to elevate the drama. Certain pay-offs such as the ultimate reason for Norriss being abducted, are anti-climatic; however the absurdity introduced in the story (re: Zodiac’s love for beer and his awkward hospitality) is fun to read.
Moon Knight is given much more to do here, and he’s still very much seen as the outsider, with many of the heroes not knowing how to interact with the White Knight. Moon Knight goes out on his own and finds himself captive by Zodiac and by thrusting Moon Knight directly in the action, this would be cause for any Moon Knight fan to smile with glee. Moon Knight appears to have a greater part in the overall story, and this along with the decent portrayal of the character, makes the writers of this issue worthy of handling the character.
“A NEW STORY ARC BEGINS! Year Two of MARK RUSSELL’s epic tale kicks off here, joined by artist BOB Q (Captain America, Fantastic Four). In this issue: Sonja The Red has won. Now comes the impossible part…”
By BOB FREEMAN – Paint Monk’s Library Writer
While Shadizar relishes in the death of their despotic ruler, Emperor Dragan, Queen Sonja debates with her counsel how Hyrkania is to survive in the wake of their victory. With little food, their only hope is to receive aid from neighboring Khitai. Of course, therein lies a pretty big problem.
As we followed Sonja’s mentorship with the Khitian War Master in flashback over the previous twelve issues, we are now introduced to his fall at the hand of the crown prince, learning that Sonja was framed for the murder of her mentor and of the Emperor, allowing for the prince to assume the throne.
Sonja is the only one who knows the truth, and now, after passing through bandit infested mountains, she ends up on the doorstep of her most hated enemy.
CAPSULE REVIEW: Mark Russell is an excellent storyteller. His plots are politically charged without losing any of the small moments that add respites of levity and, sometimes, tenderness to the narrative. Not an easy task. While he continues to lean into camp, there is still enough meat and bone to satiate your cravings for Hyborian Age adventure. It continues to be superior to Marvel’s current treatments of Conan, unfortunately. Not that I am unhappy for Sonja’s success, but that Conan cannot even compare is a sad state of affairs. Hopefully, Jim Zub will right that ship with his run.
Sonja has a lot going for it. In addition to the competent writing, I really enjoy Dearbhla Kelly’s colors. They’re very moody and enhance Bob Q’s artwork, improving what I feel can be sometimes inconsistent line weight from the illustrator. Who knows, maybe that’s by design?
(Dynamite’s Red Sonja) continues to be superior to Marvel’s current treatments of Conan, unfortunately. Not that I am unhappy for Sonja’s success, but that Conan cannot even compare is a sad state of affairs.
Paint Monk’s Library Writer Bob Freeman (from this review)
The overall package is certainly entertaining enough. While not reaching the brilliance of early Marvel’s treatment, or even that of Walter Giovanni during his run with Gail Simone, the creative team is competently keeping Sonja alive (if not well).
Red Sonja is a solid book. It deserves a wider readership. I would herald the book based on the cover art, and its virtual parade of brilliant variants, alone, but thankfully they’re producing admirable content between the covers, adding to the history of one of comicdom’s best characters.
I honor this book with 7 out of 10 skulls of my enemies. Long may Sonja reign.
“In Marvel’s first Conan outing in over a decade without legendary scribe Roy Thomas, we encounter a tale of Conan as a desert captive. Rasto, a wandering nomad, has captured the Cimmerian and intends to sell him at the slave market in Shadizar. But our barbarian’s captivity will not last long…”
(EDITOR’S NOTE: Welcome to The Classic Conan Countdown, a series of reviews focusing on the original 275 issues of Marvel Comics’ Conan the Barbarian, which were published from 1970 to 1993. This is a review of Conan the Barbarian (Vol. 1) #116.)
By WALLY MONK – Paint Monk’s Library Editor
One would think that the absence of fantasy’s most prominent comic book writer would have warranted some fanfare (or perhaps a eulogy) from Marvel Comics at the time. Instead, the first issue where Roy Thomas is not at the writing helm has an interesting – and rather unusual – history.
The story, written by Len Wein and J.M. DeMatteis, was originally part of a book and record set by Power Records in 1976. The company put out a large number of these, which include a comic book and a 45 RPM record, telling kids “It’s fun to read as you hear! The ACTION comes alive!”
Conan the Barbarian #116 and the Book-And-Record Set from which it was adapted.
Conan wasn’t the only comic book character to get the book-and-record treatment. Other properties included Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, (Tomb of) Dracula, Space: 1999, Frankenstein, Man-Thing, Star Trek, Justice League of America and Batman.
Some major changes were made to the comic book; pages 1-3 were added and drawn by John Buscema. Pages 4-22 were taken from the book and record set and were drawn by Buscema and Neal Adams.
“The Crawler in the Mists!” wasn’t the only Conan story to receive the book-and-record treatment. A larger 33 1/2 RPM album (pictured above) was made containing FOUR classic Conan stories, with Crawler included. For those of you who enjoy reading comics with commentary, I’ve included the videos below to all of the stories on YouTube (full audio.) Engage your inner child, dig Conan the Barbarian #116 out of your long box, and follow along!
REVIEW: Conan the Barbarian (Vol. 1) #116
This tale begins with an all too familiar scene – Conan is on his horse riding through the desert, when the horse is spooked by a venomous snake lying in wait in the sand. As the horse throws Conan, the viper bites him, and we’re treated to a full page of Conan trying to suck the venom from the wound to no avail – the Cimmerian collapses and all fades to black.
Conan awakens on the back of a camel, chained to a wiry man named Rasto. When Conan inquires where he is going, Rasto informs him that Conan is his slave. He’s bound for the market in Shadizar, City of the Wicked, where Conan will bring a tidy sum on the slave block. Whatever in the world made this tiny little man think that chaining himself to Conan was a bright idea remains to be seen.
Rasto’s plan – obviously – turns out to be not so sharp as Conan yanks the merchant off his horse and makes short work of the remaining caravan members. Soon, it’s Conan and Rasto (whom Conan calls “little worm”) wandering through the desert on the back of a lone camel. The merchant tells Conan that he’ll be on his way once he’s freed from the chain that binds the two together – but Conan says the only way is to take off Rasto’s wrist. The merchant, of course, declines Conan’s generous offer.
They finally arrive at a city called Kamalla, where Conan inquires of a local villager where he might find a blacksmith to break apart the chain which binds him to Rasto. The villager tells him to leave the city while he still can.
As the duo continues making their way through the city, they find doors slammed and windows being closed as they ride through town. Conan eventually decides to bed down for the night in the town square, since no one offers to open their doors to the Cimmerian and his companion.
Conan is jerked awake in the middle of the night by a monstrous force and the screaming of Rasto, who has been grabbed by what seems to be a giant slug! Rasto is pulled away from Conan with so much force that the chain binding them is snapped in two, like thread.
As Conan tries to fight the giant slug, it slithers off into darkness and rising mists which begin to fill the town. Soon, Conan loses sight of the creature, but another takes its place, attacking the barbarian.
Conan wastes no time, attacking the second slug-beast with his sword, only to discover the slug’s hide is as hard as a diamond! Finding a loose column, Conan manages to force the monolith down on top of the creature, ending its life.
With the second slug dead, Conan follows the sound of shuffling and Rasto’s voice, only to find the old merchant held in the slug’s embrace. As Conan moves to the attack, Rasto calls out that the Cimmerian mustn’t harm the creature, as he doesn’t understand what it is doing.
Conan, confused, continues to attack, but is interrupted by a voice thundering in his mind, paralyzing him where he stands. The slug is a wizard named M’Najj, a great sorcerer from another dimension. The slug Conan slew was his mate. Apparently, the two traveled to Hyboria from their own dimension, taking the old and infirm of Kamallah to repopulate their own dimension. There, the humans were given new and peaceful lives. Conan watches as Rasto is sent to this dimension, and sees the merchant with a new, healthy body, approaching a paradise of which he could only dream.
M’Najj tells the troubled Conan that since he is a barbaric, dangerous creature, he has no room in this new world. Sadly, the barbarian rides, “leaving the gates of paradise and the city in the desert far behind him.”
CAPSULE REVIEW: This was a good issue, and the record that accompanied the earlier release is of high quality. I’d recommend picking up the book-and-record version if you can. While many old themes are borrowed for this issue, it’s certainly clear that Conan would remain a viable hero for Marvel, despite the change in writing teams.
The art remains good, and if you weren’t a regular reader, you probably wouldn’t notice many changes.
On a scale of 1-10, I’d rate this issue a 7.5. On eBay, copies of this issue (the regular series) were available for less than $10. Copies of the book and record set ranged from $9.99 to $24.99 depending on condition.
(EDITOR’S NOTE: Paint Monk’s Library, in collaboration with the enthusiastic staff over at the Into the Knight Podcast, are tackling the Moon Knight chronology! Each week we’ll take an in-depth look at the Fist Of Khonshu in a series of reviews, all in order of character appearance! These reviews will appear on Monday each week until we’ve covered them all, or until the enthusiastic Moonies get too exhausted to write. Whichever comes first!)
By REYNALDO G. – Guest Writer
This issue brings Moon Knight in contact with the greater Marvel Universe and sees the start of the Fist of Khonshu functioning as a potential team member.
Solid writing and multiple story threads make this enjoyable and engaging throughout, with the added satisfaction of seeing those threads come together towards the end of the story.
Although dialogue and behaviors of the characters are somewhat dated by today’s standards, a willingness to suspend disbelief enables this issue to remain entertaining, if only to satiate those readers curious in wanting to read some Bronze Age-era comics.
This is a very different Moon Knight from what we are familiar with today, but there are many traits seen here (the lone wolf aspect, distrust of others, a dislike of authority) that make up what we love about the character.
REVIEW: Defenders (Vol. 1) #47
Valkyrie and Hellcat leave Hulk and Nighthawk at the Defenders Headquarters, as Hellcat hitches a ride with Valkyrie to the Avengers’ mansion for unfinished business.
Hulk, slightly confused at his team members’ departure, chooses to be alone and leaves Nighthawk to his own devices. With the recent events at Defenders’ HQ, Nighthawk welcomes the opportunity to wind down on his own and runs himself a warm bath, settling down with the newspaper.
Meanwhile, across town in New Jersey, Nick Fury and his S.H.I.E.L.D operatives appear to carry out the abduction of an unknown man. Little do they know that they are being watched from high above – by none other than Moon Knight!
The lunar Avatar of Vengeance springs into action, disabling Fury’s men, but he’s met with a greater challenge when facing Nick Fury himself. The two heroes trade blows, but it’s Moon Knight who gains the upper hand. As Fury’s men regain their feet, they are met by Jack Norriss – the would-be abductee – who joins Moon Knight in battling his captors. Nick Fury, as always, has a plan and when all looks lost, Fury deploys a smoke bomb, allowing himself and S.H.I.E.L.D to escape.
As all of this is happening, in Greenwich Village at one Sanctum Sanctorum, Valkyrie visits Clea in Doctor Strange’s absence. Clea assists Valkyrie with a new wardrobe, granting her a new and improved costume.
While Valkyrie settles into her new threads, Hellcat is back at Avengers Mansion hoping to catch her fellow heroes there. Instead, she stumbles upon Simon Williams, AKA Wonder Man, and not knowing that he has recently joined the Avengers, she mistakes him for an intruder and sets about to detain him. The fight is short but before Hellcat is knocked unconscious by falling debris, she realizes Wonder Man is not the enemy.
As we turn our attention back to Moon Knight and Jack Norriss, it’s not long before they reach the Sanctum Sanctorum. Jack knows Doctor Strange and the Defenders, and he pleads with Valkyrie (still there with Clea) for help.
Jack has been wanted by S.H.I.E.L.D for sensitive information regarding a presidential candidate, however, Jack was reluctant to cooperate, as it places his friend Doctor Strange at risk. Moon Knight concurs with Jack about S.H.I.E.L.D’s failed abduction attempt and so Valkyrie, Moon Knight and Jack head to Avengers Headquarters to seek help and have some light shed on S.H.I.E.L.D’s actions.
Moon Knight and company arrive at Avengers headquarters, just in time to see Wonder Man break free of the fallen debris and Hellcat lying unconscious at his feet. Valkyrie and Moon Knight burst in and attack the hapless Wonder Man who responds in kind.
Just as Wonder Man starts to get the upper hand, Hellcat regains consciousness and screams for them all to stop, explaining that Wonder Man saved her life from the debris that came down on them both. But before they can all put their differences completely aside, a message comes in over the monitors – it’s Nick Fury, and he wants Jack Norriss!
CAPSULE REVIEW:Defenders #47 is something of a milestone for Moon Knight in that it is here that we see for the first time Marc Spector interact more with the rest of the Marvel Universe. Not only do we get the likes of The Defenders and S.H.I.E.L.D, but the big hitters – The Avengers – also feature in this action packed ‘70s romp.
Essentially, Moon Knight forms one of the three main threads which make up the issue and eventually weave together by the last page. Valkyrie heads over to visit Clea at the Sanctum Sanctorum; Moon Knight encounters S.H.I.E.L.D and the pivotal character of the arc, Jack Norriss, while Hellcat ventures to Avengers Mansion, only to go toe-to-toe with Wonder Man over a deceptively simple misunderstanding.
John Warner does really well in keeping a good pace to the issue and allows the sub-plots to unfold and take their time. It’s due to the considerate writing that we get a substantial appearance by Moon Knight – our White Knight begins where he left off in Marvel Spotlight as a lone wolf, but finds himself an unofficial member of The Defenders before long!
Focusing on the Moon Knight-centric sub-plot of The Defenders #47, we are introduced to the Fist of Khonshu as he intervenes with what appears to be a shady abduction. Warner makes a statement here by having Moon Knight disregard the fact that Nick Fury and his accomplices are part of a sanctioned government division. What we know of Moon Knight thus far is that he is a mercenary-for-hire (see his first appearance in Werewolf by Night #32) who eventually turns over a new leaf to pursue the fight for justice. The fact that here, we see Moon Knight disregard S.H.I.E.L.D is initially surprising, however what it does make clear is the notion that Moon Knight is more of a rogue-ish character – one who would spurn authority for the name of justice – in essence, a vigilante.
This trait is an interesting one as it creates a unique dynamic within The Defenders group. Although they all are heroes in the conventional sense, Moon Knight is constantly seen as an outsider (which is still prevalent today). Their opposing values come to a head at the climax of the issue when Valkyrie, Hellcat and Moon Knight are faced with an ultimatum by Nick Fury to hand over Jack Norriss.
Apart from setting up this dilemma and masterfully crafting the Valkyrie/Hellcat/Moon Knight threads into one larger plot with greater stakes, Warner infuses the issue with playful and light banter which is symptomatic of the comic books during the mid to late ‘70s. Trivial domesticity which you’d never see much in today’s comic books show Nighthawk unwinding at The Defenders Headquarters because – well, because he can. A soothing hot tub and thoughts on how to meet a nice lady are capped off with Nighthawk’s surprisingly very “meta” thoughts on how superheroes are only for the comics…and the newspaper he wants to read only has Doonesbury! Although Warner pens a deft touch with his writing here, it’s countered with his dialogue between Nick Fury and Moon Knight later on, which borders on school yard and juvenile banter.
When the writing does fall short (and again, much of it is due to how stories were written at the time) it’s where conflict arises from simple misunderstandings.
Moon Knight attacks S.H.I.E.L.D in order to save Jack Norriss but did it ever occur to him to ask the question, “Why is S.H.I.E.L.D taking this man in?” Surely, there would be some semblance of a reason why S.H.I.E.L.D would need to detain him. Let’s not forget too, that Moon Knight also has no idea who Norriss is – he could well be a criminal or super villain for all we know!
Secondly, the misunderstanding between Hellcat and Wonder Man was at times frustrating to read. A simple explanation form Wonder Man could have saved a lot of broken equipment and property damage to Avengers’ mansion.
Finally, this review would not be complete without making mention of the artwork. The art by Keith Griffen and Klaus Janson was a pleasure. Each page was well-utilized with well thought out panel layouts and the artwork never looked underdrawn or lacking in any way. The action scenes were fluid and energetic – carrying on from Don Perlin and Bill Sienkiewicz’s work, Moon Knight is rendered as proficiently agile and dexterous, and his classic costume (complete with cape attachments at the wrists) is quite at home still in this era. The action towards the end of the issue at Avengers’ mansion is fast-paced and enthralling with both Griffen and Janson leading the eye masterfully with Hellcat, Wonder Man and Moon Knight’s movements between panels – it’s almost like a ballet on the page.
Overall, as far as setup issues go (this being part one of a new arc), Warner, Kraft and Slifer manage to go beyond the immediate requirement of setting up the story. By setting multiple threads in motion, they ensure The Defenders #47 is a worthy issue which could well be an enjoyable issue to read by itself, even if you don’t bother to see how the arc ends.
The dynamics of Moon Knight within the team are interesting as The Defenders so far don’t really know what to make of him and the packed ensemble of The Defenders, S.H.I.E.L.D and the Avengers make this a worthwhile read for a diverse range of comic book fans.
Do you enjoy Robert E. Howard's classic Cimmerian in comic book form? Join Paint Monk's Library bloggers, as we review all 275 issues of Marvel's original Conan the Barbarian series. New installments added regularly!
Popular Posts
REVIEW: OAR #2 Renews, Refreshes An RPG Classic
(EDITOR’S NOTE: Welcome to Musings from the Monk, a semi-regular column written by the chief archivist and comic nut who organizes Paint Monk’s Library ...
Moon Knight Squares Off with The Sun King
REVIEW: MOON KNIGHT #193 (Written by Max Bemis with art by Jacen Burrows)
When the avatars of the sun and the moon get ready ...
Do you enjoy surfing through comic book bargain bins? Join the Paint Monk as he discovers discounted treasures at comic book stores throughout the Midwest.
English
Arabic
Chinese (Simplified)
Dutch
French
German
Italian
Portuguese
Russian
Spanish
March 24th, 2020 
