Mark's Epic Blog of Randomness

By Mark Rodriguez Seems almost every comic book in my pull box got a new issue (or two) since March 22nd. Even so, I missed out on a few issues. I had to go hunting over at Stories and some just sold out. We also got stuff in the mail and store wide sales, so let's check them out. Marvel Rivals # 1 Based on the hit video game that put Overwatch in its place. I don't have a PS5 and I'm not that good at these type of games, but let's check out the comic book version.  Black Canary Best of the Best # 5 I'll have to get back to this one. All-New Venom # 5  Finally the big reveal of who the All-New Venom is! Sadly I'll have to track down issue 4 first. It was sold out, so I'll have to seek it out before I can dig into this one. Batman # 158 Hush 2 This is it. The sequel and return of Hush, the summer event for Batman.  Psylocke # 6 The story continues, I will eventually get back to this one. TMNT/Naruto # 2 I thought I already got this one, I'll have to doubl...

 By Mark Rodriguez Originally written on Monday, February 17, 2014. Keep in mind, these were our thoughts as they were back in 2013 when the show was new and was written shortly after seeing the episodes after their initial broadcast. At the time we had zero way of knowing what to expect. In this episode the Turtles face their greatest fears, thanks to mutant mushrooms that hit people with fear spores. It's an interesting episode and the characters' fears lead to some interesting cameos of forgotten story lines. The episode opens with April and Casey sitting on a bench. April tells him its nice to have someone to talk to about the Turtles, especially since her dad was now mutated into a bat. With the coast clear, April and Casey head for the sewers. Casey complains about how gross they are and April tells him she had to live there for a time. Aprils asks Casey why he wears the hockey mask if the Turtles already know who he is (which I find to be a very dumb question....) and he...

 By Mark Rodriguez Originally written on Sunday, February 9, 2014. Keep in mind, these were our thoughts as they were back in 2013 when the show was new and was written shortly after seeing the episodes after their initial broadcast. At the time we had zero way of knowing what to expect.  This episode adds another piece to the Kraang puzzle and also deals heavily with April wishing she was 'just another one of the guys' when it comes to being a ninja and able to keep up with them. Let's see what happens.   The episode opens up with the Turtles doing their usual rooftop romp, but this time with April running along. Even though the Turtles do this often, April is already pretty tired. Leo says they usually do this for two hours, and Raph says it took them 15 years to get this good. As April and the Turtles talk, they are being photographed and April soon detects a guy hiding in the shadows. The Turtles and April give chase. As the man gets away, the Turtles follow with thei...

 By Mark Rodriguez  The mystery continues to determine which one of the four suspects, Robbie Robertson, Rick Jones, Luke Cage or Madame Masque is the All-New Venom. When Doctor Fortissimo, his AIM soldiers and Chance gather at one of Madame Masque's known hideouts, Venom appears. Chance shoots Venom in the face, leaving a gaping hole. Dylan Brock is watching and says that rules out Luke Cage. What happens next? The story continues as Chance stares at Venom that has a huge bullet hole where his face should be. Chance says he made a bet with either Taskmaster or Black Ant on whether or not it was Luke Cage wearing the symbiote. They have a similar height and similar build and he figures Cage missed the hero life. If Venom was Cage, the bullet would have bounced off his head instead of going all the way through, so the human host must be shorter. Now he guesses it might really be Madame Masque under the symbiote.  Dylan watches through the window and says it might be Masque...

By Mark Rodriguez This time around the Turtles hit the ballpark, along with Casey Jones. Not only that but Tempestra returns to cause more trouble. Let's see what happens. "A Strike Most Foul" opens with April O'Neil reporting on the baseball championship game, this time being between both local teams, the Insomniacs and the Quints. As April covers this, Casey Jones is watching from his apartment (and we finally see him without his mask on) as he roots for the Quints. Likewise in the Turtle's Lair, Raphael is rooting for the Insomniacs as Michaelangelo watches on. April describes how the city is excited as both teams are playing for the championship rather than just clashing during the season. Just then the TV goes to static. Just then Tempestra cuts in and describes how important the game is for all the advertisers, tourism and casinos in Vegas that plan to show the game. She threatens to cancel the game with hurricanes unless the city 'makes it rain' in...

 By Mark Rodriguez Back in 2003, Dreamwave got the rights to make a comic based on the new Ninja Turtles cartoon at the time. The first few issues adapted the cartoon episodes until they started going with original stories. Rather than adapt them outright, Dreamwave chose to show the stories from the point of view of a certain character. In this one we take a look at things from Baxter Stockman's perspective. "Attack of the Mousers" starts with Baxter narrating about how in life there's always a woman trying to get to you and take what is most valuable. Baxter says he knows since he's 'been there, done that'. As he narrates, he oversees how his Mousers break into a bank vault and steal all the valuables.  Baxter remembers his high school days as he accidentally bumps into a large dude named Tom. He says hi to his girlfriend April and Tom shoves him against a locker. April says Tom is always cranky before a big game and Tom says humiliating a geek always c...