Mark's Epic Blog of Randomness

 By Mark Rodriguez This time around all the comics I ordered from Hipcomic arrived in two batches. I love those 99 cent live auctions. I can find some real goodies. There was only I kinda had to fight for but I got the rest of them for a dollar each.    Kitty Pryde and Wolverine # 2, 3 and 6- I believe I already got issues 1, 4 and 5 from previous auctions thanks to Infinity Comics. Thanks to Mark's Comics, I now have all 6 issues!   A second round of comics hit the mail thanks to Hipcomic and their live auctions!  Wolverine # 60- Shiva VS Sabertooth!! With Wolverine caught in the middle! Wolverine # 61- The story continues with Shiva, Wolverine and Jubilee!  Wolverine # 93- All I needed to see was Wolverine VS Juggernaut on the cover to snag this one! X-Men '92 # 1- I knew I wasn't going crazy. Way before the X-Men 97 series and comic, someone at Marvel had their own 'what if the old 90's series continued' idea. Here's the first X-Men 90's revival ...

 By Mark Rodriguez Over the years the Street Fighter characters have had several crossovers with the like of G.I Joe and the Ninja Turtles. Usually the World Warriors are more in character when Udon is behind the wheel, such as their several Street Fighter and Darkstalkers crossovers. Let's see how things go with this new crossover story. I may not know the Valiant Universe characters but I do know the Street Fighters. "Weapons" opens with Bloodshot, traveling along Northeastern Uganda, armed with a big knife and a bigger gun. He monologues that he usually travels the globe while being in the service of an army or organization, or both. In this case he is here because he wants to be, following a lead. Bloodshot swats a mosquito off her shoulder. He crushes it and eats it, saying its better off this way. His nanite-infused blood would taken the insect over. He checks his gun and has Cammy in his sights.  Elsewhere, Delta Red agent Cammy is scaling a mountain. She is in sea...

 By Mark Rodriguez The original Playmates toy line 80's cartoon had so many action figures that not all of them made it to the show. So far we got to see Ace Duck (who only got a short cameo in the cartoon, not a full episode), Scratch (as a member of the Pantheon), and Panda Khan. This issue brings in Wyrm, as well as bringing back Scumbug and Muckman and Joe Eyeball. Let's check it out.   "A Wyrm and The Muck"  opens with the Turtles arriving at a warehouse and starting to climb alongside it, courtesy of Michaelagelo's grappling hook. Raphael says it's the third time that April used the panic button Donatello installed on her Turtle Comm. He's not saying they should stop rescuing her but they should give her a book on risk management. The Turtles find April tied to a chair. Leonardo says it's a trap and Raphael says he knows but they should go down there and see what's going on. A voice calls out and Raphael takes a moment to remember that it...

 By Mark Rodriguez This time we hit Alpha Comics as we catch up some classic reprints, run into a cool crossover I didn't know was already out, and more Spider-Man stuff. I also got that one comic I was waiting for in the mail courtesy of Hipcomic and Mark's Comics.      Saturday Morning TMNT Adventures # 39 - Scumbug returns with Wyrm on his side. The Turtles bring in Muckman to help. Wyrm was another action figure character that never made it to the classic cartoon, so here is his shot as this series is winding down. Street Fighter VS The Valiant Universe # 1- A crossover I heard about but didn't know it would be out now. A very random crossover. I wonder how the SF crew will be characterized since it seems Udon isn't involved. Cammy starts things off by going up against Bloodshot.  Spider-Man Brand New Day # 2- Spider-Man's new adventures continue. Spider-Man Long Way Home # 2- Hmmm so The Punisher and The Hulk are in this one. Sounds very familiar.  ...

By Mark Rodriguez I went to Third Eye for our weekly picks and this time some comics even grabbed Wendy's interest. It seems the comic shop is taking longer than expected to renovate. It looks no different than it did since the last time we visited. I also got two cool comics in the mail courtesy of Hipcomics and Mark's Comics.    TMNT 300th Issue Special- We got two copies, the regular one and a special variant in a polybag that we will probably never open. We have doubts on the '300 issues' thing because even with all the specials and the reboot... the IDW series hasn't hit 300. Street Fighter Swimsuit Special 2026- Um, sure why not? Captain Marvel Dark Past # 4- Captain Marvel continues to dig up her past as a previous mission from her Miss Marvel days returns to haunt her.  Gambit Wanted # 1- Gambit got a solo story. Wendy is a big Gambit fan. Instant buy.   Aladdin # 1- I guess Dynamite Comics decided to make a series based on the popular movies. Wendy ...

 By Mark Rodriguez Hun was introduced as Shredder's right-hand man as well as the leader of the Purple Dragons in the 2003 TMNT cartoon. He became a bit of a breakout character, making appearances in other cartoons and comics. There was a version of Hun in the 2012 cartoon (though he looked more like Bruce Lee) and he has appeared in the Mirage comics and IDW comics. Now he's been brought into this 80's cartoon comic series. If anyone was ever curious how Hun would have worked in the 80's cartoon show... I guess this is it.    "Here they be (Purple) Dragons" opens as the Turtles head to the Channel Six building as April called them for an S.O.S. They follow April to her office and find Casey Jones looking all banged up. Raphael asks him if he was trying to stop a bus from jaywalking. Casey tells him that the Purple Dragons got him. Raph says Casey mentioned them before, being his arch-enemies but also being small-timers. Casey explains that was out on patrol ...

 By Mark Rodriguez While the 80's cartoon led to Turtlemania in the 80's, it also served as a vehicle to promote the Playmates toyline. Characters like Chrome Dome, Slash, Mondo Gecko, Metalhead and many others had action figures and they would appear on the show. Likewise vehicles like the Cheapskates, Footskis the Sewer Tubes, and Retrocatapult would make cartoon appearances just in time for them to hit the toy aisles. However with Playmates bringing in more and more characters, not everybody made it to the cartoon, the Archie comics or videogames. Panda Khan was one such character that never made past his action figure and re-releases. Until now. Let's check it out.   "Black and White and Rad all over" opens with Irma being mugged and wondering why there isn't a ninja around to rescue her whenever  she's  in trouble. The thief is low enough to even want to steal her pastrami sandwich. Just then someone leaps out from the shadows to rescue her. Later on...