Mark's Epic Blog of Randomness

 By Mark Rodriguez It looks like this yeah there's a subsect of Free Comic Book Day called Comics Giveaway Day, as we see some of the books this year have that logo on them instead of the FCBD one. For a good while now, the He-Man license has been passed from DC to Dark Horse. Based on the cover, it looks like this one will be based more on the original toyline than anything else. This book is good timing as there's a new He-Man live action move on the horizon. "Telling Tales" opens at a social gathering in Eternos City, just a bit outside the walls of the Eternos Palace. Some women are scouting for potential suitors and one of them, named Emirelle, has struck up a conversation with Prince Adam. Emirelle was telling the prince a story about a milk maid, and now wants to hear about some of his tales of living in the palace and visiting different lands. Adam says he's a master story teller and has just the tale for her. Prince Adam tells the story of when Hordak an...

 By Mark Rodriguez We hit up Third Eye for their 'Free Comic Book Month'. There will be different free comics every Saturday, and if we make it for every week of May, we can choose from several free graphic novels. We also went to VAComicCon and got ourselves some interesting looking indie comics and comic collected volumes.    Jubilee Deadly Reunion # 1- Jubilee runs into some family issues. This mini was supposed to come out last week (April 29th) but it was pushed back a week for some reason. I am trying to cut down on comics in my pullbox and I told Wendy in an off-hand comment that 'I wouldn't be getting any new series unless... i dunno.. Jubilee gets her own series', and here we go. I see you, Marvel. Ghost Machine The Official Handbook # 2- Wendy picked this up. She hasn't grabbed a Ghost Machine book in a while.  Batgirl # 16-   Cassandra's adventures continue. Batman # 9- Based on what I heard, something bad happens to classic Barbara Gordon. Cas...

 By Mark Rodriguez One of the comics I always look forward to every year for Free Comic Book Day is whatever Street Fighter comic Udon will throw at us. This time around we look at Ryu as he faces several opponents in his past, present and future! Let's check it out!  "Lost in Thought" opens with Ryu meditating by a waterfall. He focuses his mind and controls his breathing until it feels like the world stops around him. Ryu has an out of body experience as he ponders on how he fights to better himself and surpass his limits. He asks himself about the meaning of strength. Is it to throw the strongest punch or land the swiftest kick? He wonders if his fighting style, Ansatsuken, is the the source of his strength or if it comes from somewhere else. Just then, Ken leaps in to attack him with his hurricane kick, only this is the younger long-ponytail version of his friend. Ryu looks around and finds himself back at Gouken's dojo. He remembers this day and this fight. Ken ...

 By Mark Rodriguez The Mad Gear gang has kidnapped the Mayor's daughter Jessica to try to buy his services. The mayor Mike Haggar and his friends Cody and Guy decided to take matters into their own hands and started a rampage against the Mad Gears. After a run in with Edi E and Lucia, they were informed where to find Bred, who drove off with Jessica. Meanwhile Bred had already dumps Jessica off at the main hideout of the leader of the Mad Gear gang!    "Breakdown" opens with Bred showing off his new car to Abigail and naming all its features. Abigail says it's a tiny car and asks why he didn't get a truck. Bred says trucks are for work, while cars are a symbol. As Bred goes on and on about his car, Abigail is grabbed and pulled aside. Bred turns to see Abigail knocked out. Cody asks Bred to tell him where he took Jessica or they'll beat up his best friend. Bred says he barely likes Abigail. Cody says he meant his other best friend. Cody, Guy and Haggar smash ...

 By Mark Rodriguez So we got some extra books here and there and while it's not a crazy amount, it would have made the previous entries too long. Here are some cool classic issues we got that weren't part of Free Comic Book Day or the regular pullbox.    Gen 13 Bootleg # 4- We found this one at Bargain Books. It's a thrift store with a small comic book section with longboxes full of random indie stuff. Wendy visited once when the store was just opening so this is a return several years later to see how it is now that it's fully established. I figured I might as well grab this one for a reasonable price before I start tracking down the other issues. Mirage Leonardo # 1- This is it, and I'm lucky I only got it for 10 bucks. It's the original Leonardo issue 1 in which he was attacked by the Foot and then thrown through the window of April's Second Time Around shop. This epic scene has been re-created by the 90's live action movie (though they switched Leo...

 By Mark Rodriguez The last time we went over the comics we got as part of the Free Comic Book Day promotion. Now we take a look at the regular pullbox comics we got from Third Eye and Alpha Comics. Let's check it out.   Spider-Man and Superman # 1- The Marvel and DC crossover continues. Similar to the Deadpool/Batman one, we first had Superman and Spider-Man and now we're having it the other way around. Web of Venom # 1- Another symbiote has appeared, but this is not the current MJ Venom. Who is this guy?  Venom # 256-   The Death Spiral story continues! This is Part 6. The Amazing Spider-Man # 27- Part 8 of the Death Spiral story as Carnage takes center stage! Venom # 257- Part 9 of the Death Spiral story.  Logan Black, White & Blood # 4- More stories of Logan throughout different points of his long bloody life.  Tomb Raider Sacred Treasures # 4- The fourth part of this mini-series. Hopefully she'll get more to come! Or an ongoing? Batgirl #...

 By Mark Rodriguez This time the haul was so huge, we're gonna split this up between what we got as part of the Free Comic Book Day, the regular pullbox stuff and the extra comics we got through our travels for free comics. This year we went for some new stores, so we discovered Richmond Comix and Black Dog Comics. When it comes to the Free Comic Book Day related comics, this is probably the most we've gotten.   Street Fighter Forever # 0- Ryu faces opponents from past, present and future. Street Fighter Forever # 0 Review   Megaman Showdown Special # 1- It's Protoman VS Bass! This was the only one that wasn't at Third Eye Comics, but we were able to snag a copy at Richmond Comix. But wow, the place was super busy and there a long line to get into this extra room in the back where they were keeping the Free Comic Book Day issues. Masters of the Universe/Dungeons & Dragons-   This seems to be closer to the original action figure line than the current comic ...