Earth-25: Aquawoman

 By Dana Ortega 

And thus we end 2023, and good riddance. So this is a different take on Aquaman, based more on the Golden Age versions of popular DC characters. 

Gonzo meets Gonzo

 By Guy Gilchrist 

Got this some time ago. Gonzo finds a mirror and sees only what Gonzo would see. 

Based on this old Muppet bit: 

Tina Thunder

 Art by Sam Flegal

Largely inspired by Roy Thomas and his take on Captain Marvel-Captain Thunder. If Captain Thunder was a counterpart to Captain Marvel, why not a counterpart to Mary Marvel?

Tarot Redesign: Crypt Chick

 By the Ginger Artist 

A slight redesign of Crypt Chick from Jim Balent. More zombie inspired, benefiting her dead status. 

Horror Hosts: Dr. Shock

 Can't quite recall the artist but here's Chattanooga master of scarimones-Dr. Shock and Dingbat!

Pat Savage

 From Sam Flegal

A minor character from the Doc Savage series, Pat was Doc's cousin. Only 3 official yarns, I recall, but subsequent stories would have her in larger roles.  

And a very Merry Christmas to you all, with all the blessings of the season. 

Horror Host: Sivad

 By K. Cooper Art

Yes, the Memphis host himself! One more host this month to even things out I think. 

Luna Lucha-Sailor Uranus

 From Jonathan Miller

This was the one I was waiting for when I thought of this series. Sailor Uranus as a masked wrestler-but then I thought, no. She wields Excaliber-what wrestler has a similar blade? I had thought about the Berserker, but he doesn't have the cultural impact.

Then I thought about the Sandman, and a smile broke out. 

Or, failing all of that, the Sandman as a Magical Girl protagonist. Whichever floats your boat. 

Voltron: Pidge

 

From Koolgid Girl, I think?

Yeah this time we look at the Green Lion's pilot, Pidge. 

La Santa

1st ever work of La Santa. Art by Mark Hellwig (I think? Been a while since I've seen the man, so some things are a bit fuzzy). Yes, from here the whole wrestling saga began. Below a short bio for her. 

Nickname: The Silver Lady

Age: 28

Birthday: September 23

Birthplace: Tulancingo, Hidalgo, Mexico

Height: 5 feet, 6 inches

Weight 145 lbs. 

Alignment: Face

Years wrestling: 5 years

Experience: Veteran 

Fighting style: Technician with some Powerhouse 

Favored moves: Dropkick, Suicide dive, headbutt 

Finisher: Camel Clutch 

Feds: VWA, DWF

Titles: IWGP Heavyweight title, CMLL World Heavyweight title, Stampede North American title, AWA World Heavyweight title, WCCW World Heavyweight title, VWA World Heavyweight title, VWF World Heavyweight title

Stables: The Atomic Couple

Friends: Starman, Giant Panther

Enemies: La Diabla, King Slender

Strengths: Pain tolerance, stamina, speed 

Weakness: Can't refuse a challenge

Mega Man Retrospective: Ice Man

 

Ice Man this time, from Ashley Blass? If I got the name wrong, sorry. 

Horror Hosts: The Count of Five

 Picked this up a while ago, and what may be the only bit of fanart done of the Count of Five. 

By Crystal Daughtrey

Luna Lucha-Sailor Mars

 Would have posted Sailor Mercury but sadly the piece was done so large it wouldn't fit on the scanner.

By K Silver

Daily Lanterns: Jessica Williams

 Going back to an old favorite, the Daily Lanterns! This time Jessica Williams as the Blue Lantern of Hope.

By Chris Wharton

Pro Wrestling: The Comic Chapter 4, Part 8

 Art by Frank Salinas, script by me. 

And the plot thickens! Who will La Santa face next time? What is Diabla's plan? How do they have smart phones in 1986? Answers next chapter!

The Belmont Legacy: Trevor Belmont

 Art by Luke

Brining this one back. This time we look at one of the earliest Belmonts, Trevor (or Ralph if you go with the Japanese dub). Castlevania III was the first game of the series I enjoyed, and I've a soft spot for the series and its characters. 

Haven't gotten around to playing the Lord of Shadows series, so I really can't comment on it. 

Pro Wrestling: The Comic Chapter 4, Part 7

 Art by Frank Salinas, script by me

Transformers/Marvel: Marvel Girl VS Soundwave

 From Manic Mike McElwee

Another one from the archives. Marvel Girl and Soundwave engage in a psychic duel, while the Powerdasher Drill type, Gears, and Sideswipe rush to the rescue!

Pro Wrestling: The Comic Chapter 4, Part 6

 Art by Frank Salinas, script by me

Pro Wrestling: The Comic Chapter 4, Part 5

 Art by Frank Salinas 

Pro Wrestling: The Comic Chapter 4, Part 4

 By Frank Salinas 

Fighting Crap: Outback Jack VS Eagle

 From Johnny Segura 

The Awesome Aussie VS the Baton Brit. Who will win?

Pro Wrestling: The Comic Chapter 4, Part 3

 Art by Frank Salinas 

In which our challenger is introduced, brother

Pro Wrestling: The Comic, Chapter 4 Part 2

 

The plot thickens! Who is to be the mystery opponent?

Pro Wrestling: The Comic, Chapter 4 Part 1

 Art by Frank Salinas, words and script by me

A bold new chapter as we see the progress of La Santa! Who will her next opponent be?

Friday the 13th: AJ Mason

 From Oukamocha Designs 

AJ, the Rocker Chick. Armed with a flare gun, can AJ survive Friday the 13th?

We're kicking off the art jam of 2023 on a Friday. The schedule this year will be Monday through Saturday, so please stop by. Comments and holiday wishes are appreciated. 

Ninjavember: Ninja High School Featuring Speed Racer#2

     "Traps, Turbo, & Terror!" Ninja High School Featuring Speed Racer#2 (December 1993) with credits to Mark Levine (script), Studio Madmen (art), Dan Schaefer (inks), Joseph Allen (colors), and David Lanphear (letters)

The race continues!

Yeah, turns out Captain Terror is the bad guy (who saw that one coming?) and he's working for General Liability, who in turn unleashes a giant robot on Quagmire!

Better in terms of art but Dunn's absence is sorely missed. 

Ninjavember: Ninja High School Featuring Speed Racer#1

    "Traps, Turbo, & Terror!" Ninja High School Featuring Speed Racer#1 (September 1993) with credits to Mark Levine/Ian Ward (script), William Jang/Dan Schaefer/Albert Deschesne (art), Joseph Allen (colors), and David Lanphear (letters)

Nearing the end, so let's look at one of the first crossovers NHS did. In the early 90's, NOW Comics had the rights to Speed Racer and thus we have Ninja High School meeting the cast of Speed Racer. 

This is the day of the Quagmire 1000, the biggest race ever! Such a challenge must be meet by Greg!

Yeah, Greg. In the NOW series, Speed was simply a nickname, so more often than not character called out for Greg Racer. 

As the race prep is underway, ninjas opt to steal RNC's latest laser weapon. Is the Car Acrobatic Team responsible?

The interior art, man, I'm sure these guys were nice and professional but the Speed Racer series didn't have the best visual take on the character. Manga ish but not quite so characters are left with giant heads on stick necks. 

Ninjavember: Zetraman#3

     "The Big Finito" Zetraman#3 (February 1992) with credits to Steve Ross (script), Carlos Tron (art), and Craig Miller (letters)

The Venusian Amazon's begin their final assault. Terry tried but she couldn't stop her alone...but with Aleka's help?

Also, Aleka is now Zetra Green. 

Belloma is defeated, a compromise is reached and the Zetra team welcomes two new members!

Ninjavember: Zetraman#2

    "Strike Me Pink" Zetraman#2 (October 1991) with credits to Steve Ross (script) and Carlos Tron (art)

Remember Belloma? Yeah, she's gone full megalomania destroy all planets mode. Aleka now has a choice-does she stay loyal to Venus or should she help the Earth?

All the while, Professor Steamhead has an idea-the Zetramen are the target and possible vulnerable to Belloma's wiles-so why not use a woman? Thus, Terry (AKA Robogal) is now Zetra Pink. Can she provide enough muscle to drive off the invasion?

Ninjavember: Zetraman#1

    "Venus Needs Men" Zetraman#1 (September 1991) with credits to Steve Ross (script) Ben Dunn (art), and Craig Miller (letters)

Wrapping things up this week, so let's finish it with one of the first NHS spin off-Zetraman! Based on Sun Vulcan, three average Quagmire High students get imbued with steam and turned into masked sentai heroes!

Out in space on the planet Venus, meanwhile, things are looking grim. To wit, they ran out of men and cloning tech is still decades away from being viable, so the rulers of Venus are going to need some man power (in that sense, yes) and fast. Belloma is sent oversee the operation. 

The operation isn't going to be as simple as tractor beaming some yokel farmers, no. They just need a copious amount of fluid and Belloma has her eyes set on the Zetramen. Why not aim high, right?

Aleka is a simple Amazon trooper. She agrees with the mission but she thinks Belloma may not have the right temperament for the job, but I'm sure the lady with the giant horned helmet and flowing cape behind her would be a humble servant and would never dream of say, going power mad and trying to rule two planets. 

That would just be silly.  

Ninjavember: Super Ninja High School

   "8-Bit Madness" Super Ninja High School (October 2015) with credits to Steve Ross (script) Ben Dunn (art), Alfred Perez (letters), and Doug Dlin (editor)

Slight change, as we'll be looking at one of the many miniseries/one shots that popped up over the years. This yarn takes place right after issues 28 and 29.

Basically the robotic army has been quiet...a little too quiet.

Yeah, turns out the Earthlings were right to be wary as Destructo got sent into the future, a future where things like the internet exist! He has now returned from the future to conquer the past! And yes, all of our bases now belong to them too!

Asrial and Professor Steamhead rush to the RNC HQ and give a reluctant Lendo a plan. Video games (and reference ahoy!) will save the world! Basically a network of game consoles are plugged into a Really Ornamental Bot with a Back and Forth Oscillating Top. From there, players will control their video avatars inside the game and defeat the evil robots with the power of STEAM!

A team is assembled: Mikey, Jeremy, Ricky, Sammi, and Lendo's brother Tetsuo

While they play and distract the robots, Ichi and Asrial are slipping into their base. Pity they get caught, scanned and sent into a totally not DEAD OR ALIVE beach volleyball game. 

From there, more game references (including Captain N: The Game Master) abound until Ricky comes back with the Missinggo pokemon and uses it against Destructo. 

It works awesome, but Mimi Masters has to send it back to the future and so this adventure and everyone's memories of it will be erased. 

Cute, even if the references can be a bit overwhelming at a few points. 

Ninjavember: Unmasking the Idol (1986)

Unmasking the Idol (1986), dir. Worth Keeter, Polo Players

The last ninja film for the year, why not end it on an insane vanity project?

Ninjavember: Ninja High School#50

      "Crossroads" Ninja High School#50 (January 1996) with credits to Ben Dunn (story and art), Mike Sagara (letters), and Herb Mallette (editor)

A return of the King-yes, Ben Dunn comes back in full force! 

Jeremy's birthday is fast approaching. Ichi wants to see what Asrial is doing for the party and also trying to sus out what she and Jeremy did on their trip to the planet Salusia (arch occurring over the past few issues). Ichi and Asrial almost come to blows but they manage to talk it out. 

The next day, Jeremy and Akaru head to school, making sure to visit the new family that just moved into the neighborhood. Their neighbor? Why, a perfectly normal fellow named Morgan Yfory. Yup, perfectly normal guy who just happens to look like the hero Tomorrow Man. 

Morgan, noticing the boys are heading to school, introduces his nephew Jason and orders the boy to go with them. He also makes it clear Jason is to 'blend in'. 

When Jason asks about stuff to do, Jeremy points out all the cool stuff that WOULD be there, provided the invading aliens/robots hadn't trashed everything. Jason remarks that he should fix everything. Jeremy assumes he means afterschool volunteering. Jason moves at super speed to fix everything. 

Pity he doesn't have super construction powers as the buildings fall apart almost at once. Akaru finds this funny, Jason does not. A brawl breaks out and considering the raw power we've seen, Akaru holds his own rather well, the fight only ending when Tomorrow Man shows to scold Tomorrow Boy (Jason). The sullen teen flies off, his mentor fast behind.

We see the party proper and what is Asrial's big surprise? A holo-robot. Since Jeremy's dad is still stuck in Dimension X, he can call and interact with this world via the robot. 

Rather sweet, all things considered. 

Ninjavember: Ninja High School#49

     "Monsters from Space-Part 4: Beans and Nothingness!" Ninja High School#49 (November 1995) with credits to John Marshall (script) Pat Kelley (art), Mike Sagara (letters), and Herb Mallette (editor)

And so it ends. The robots failed, Zetra Men failed, can the citizens drive the aliens away? Not a bad little arch but it really didn't do a whole heck of a lot. The Zetra Men didn't come out looking all that good, but while in their miniseries Terry went from Robogal Terry to Zetra Pink that wasn't a plot point here. 

Should also mention the last three issues had a mini story of Ichi fighting a samurai clan. 

Ninjavember: Ninja High School#48

      "Monsters from Space-Part 3: The World Will Be Saved By Beans!" Ninja High School#48 (September 1995) with credits to John Marshall (script) Matthew Lunsford (art), the Mighty Mole Cricket (letters), and Herb Mallette (editor)

We focus more on Professor Beanhead, and his bean powered robot.

Not terrible but now things are starting to feel dragged out. 

Ninjavember: Ninja High School#47

     "Monsters from Space-Part 2: The End of the World as We Know It!" Ninja High School#47 (July 1995) with credits to John Marshall (script) Matthew Lunsford (art), Mike Sagara (letters), and Herb Mallette (editor)

Picking up from last issue, the Zetra Men are back!

Then they take taken by the alien's evil steam, thus it's up to Terry and Aleka to fight the monsters!

Pretty good but the whole bringing the Zetra men back only to sideline them does seems a bit silly. 

Ninjavember: Ninja High School#46

    "Monsters from Space-Part1: Beanbrains!" Ninja High School#46 (May 1995) with credits to John Marshall (script) Matthew Lunsford (art), Mike Sagara (letters), and Herb Mallette (editor)

A return of two plots/characters. One, remember those giant monsters the Zardons unleashed? Yeah, they're still around. 

Second, Professor Beanhead is still there too. For those not in the know, Beanhead first showed up in the pornographic spoof Not Ninja High School yet somehow ended in the mainstream universe. The implications are distressing. 

The main plot, giant beans from outer space are arriving on Earth and seeking out people who could stop the monsters. What are they doing and what side are they on?

Lunsford isn't Perry but he's ok. 

Ninjavember: Ninja High School#45

   "Grudge Mismatch!" Ninja High School#45 (March 1995) with credits to Fred Perry (script) Fred Perry (art), Mike Sagara (letters), and Herb Mallette (editor)

Akaru joins the Combat Cheerleaders?

Not quite, but annual championship is fast approaching and there's not exactly a lot of people lining up to join.

Ok, Perry does a decent fill in job. 

Ninjavember: Ninja High School#44

      "Boy Meets Girl...Cobra Meets Mongoose!" Ninja High School#44 (January 1995) with credits to Fred Perry (script) Fred Perry (art), Mike Sagara (letters), and Herb Mallette (editor)

So, for whatever reason Ben Dunn stepped away for a few issues. So for this and the few others we have Fred Perry taking over. Perry created the Gold Digger series which could easily be the subject for month long review itself. 

Akaru is the focus here as he runs afoul of the Combat Cheerleaders. Not bad and Perry is different enough of an artist to make the characters his own. 

Ninjavember: Pray for Death (1985)

 Pray for Death (1985) dir. Gordon Hessler, Trans World Entertainment 

Sho Kosugi, ninjas, what else more do you need in a movie?

Ninjavember: Ninja High School Prom Forumla#2

       "Prom Pom Pom" Ninja High School Prom Formula#2 (May 1991) with credits to Ben Dunn (script) Ben Dunn (art), Robert DeJesus (inks), Joe Allen (colors), Clem Robbins (letters) and Chris Ulm (editor)

It's prom time!

Ichi, Jeremy, and Asrial go to the prom, but as they dance and socialize, Leena quietly slips in and spikes the punch. Most of the teens drink it, turning them into infants or younger! With the casts now half-size, Leena easily picks up Jeremy and takes him back to her spaceship. 

As the kids panic, Professor Steamhead arrives! He's nonplussed, taking some of the punch with him to develop a cure. He can't do it there though, no, he has to use his spaceship...which he apparently borrowed from Captain Harlock. 

On Leena's ship, however, she's cured Jeremy and makes it clear they're getting hitched. She explains why she hates Asrial and for all this, Jeremy pities her. 

When his friends arrive (and blow up her defenses), Leena throws in the towel. Before she flees, she slips something to Jeremy with instructions to give it to Asrial. As reunions are made, Jeremy does as bade and Asrial is speechless. It's the locket she gave to Leena when they were kids.

All told rather sweet. Leena gets some rather decent character development and even while comedy is the focus we get to see just how damaging holding onto old hate can be. 

Ninjavember: Ninja High School Prom Formula#1

      "Things Change" Ninja High School Prom Formula#1 (April 1991) with credits to Ben Dunn (script) Ben Dunn (art), Robert DeJesus (inks), Joe Allen (colors), Clem Robbins (letters) and Chris Ulm (editor)

Moving back to Eternity for a bit and one of the first spin-offs. 

Leena, of the Zardons, is puzzled. What baffles her is Jeremy Feeble and WHY Asrial loves him. As she ponders this, she gets a message from her father. Annoyed, she heads over to the throne room and after some comedy, gets her orders. She is to slip a chemical concoction into the water supply of a small group of Earth people, just to test the results. Does she have anyone in mind?

"Oh, yes!"

In Quagmire, Ichi makes it clear Jeremy is taking her to the prom-a ritual Asrial was unaware of; almost like someone went to efforts to make sure she didn't know about it. From there we get a flashback of Ichi arriving in Quagmire and how she's changed since she's been there. 

Then we get a flashback for Asrial and how she's changed since she's been there. 

As Jeremy and Ricky play a video game, Ichi sighs about boys being boys. Asrial counters that she's gotten far on the game they're playing. 

A lot of flashbacks and frankly a lot of rehashing of info we already know but given the time period that makes sense. We see the beginings of a new plot and setting up the characters and not much else. 

Ninjavember: Ninja High School#43

     "What Goes Around, Comes Around" Ninja High School#43 (November 1994) with credits to Herb Mallette (script) Ben Dunn (art), Mike Sagara (letters), and Herb Mallette (editor)

Sammi is mooing as she mops the floor. Her uncle knows what's wrong-it's a girl! When Sammi makes it clear it's boy, well, his reaction is a bit much (although clearly presented as wrong). 

Back at the Y Mansion, Destructo is gone! He left a note, said he going to chat with Barney. The Y-Men assemble! Except for Windstorm. Flying in the halls is a serious offense, so he's in detention. 

As Sammi bikes away, she does grumble about how unfair things are. Seeing the Y-Men flying off in their sky cycle, she opts to follow them. Barney notices them too, but he's rebuilt his junk robot. 

Barney declares himself Scrap Metal Man right after shooting down the Y-Men. Sammi makes it clear she's there to help, plus her mastery of Ramen-jitsu means she hold her own. They easily tear through his defenses and make their way inside the yard.

Destructo unveils what he has done; not sure what it is but nuclear warning sign over the front doesn't suggest anything good. Even as the Y-Men plead, Destructo points out his nature is to destroy, so something must be destroyed today. He inserts the final piece, and the room goes white...

The Y-Men and Sammi are alive! Yeah, the only one who died was Destructo. The team is sad, if only they had tried to deal with his nature of instead of trying to change it. Sammi, however, gets an idea. 

Meeting Leatherwings (now called Richard for some reason), Sammi shows up in a dress and yeah, she  makes it clear she's a woman. Richard takes it rather well and they decide that friendship would be fine. 

A good enough ending. 

Ninjavember: Ninja High School#42

    "Secrets" Ninja High School#42 (July 1994) with credits to Herb Mallette (script) Ben Dunn (art), Patrick Owsley (letters), and Herb Mallette (editor)

As Nadia of the Blue Water enjoys lunch, Sammi grouses about her lot in life. The only date she's had in town was with Ichi. Things get worse when as she has a massive order to deliver but nowhere to sit on the bus. The only bright spot she can see if ducking over to the school to see Charlie (Leatherwing) again. 

At the school, Destructo is trying to fit in. The entire Y-Men attack (in the training room to best gauge his abilities) but he easily swats them aside.

Back at the restaurant, Sammi is rushing to finish the dishes. Her uncle notices something is off and assumes it's a girl his 'nephew' is seeing. His attempt to explain the birds and the bees does not go over well. 

Sammi doesn't get a free moment until the next day. Destructo's been busy too, dreaming about missiles. The Y-Men assure him things are normal but they are starting to panic. Barney's back too, mostly having nightmares about the money Destructo could have earned him.

Sammi arrives at the school but breakfast is interrupted by Barney and his junk mecha suit. They send him packing but they assure Destructo he only left due to Destructo being busy, plus his leaving somehow tore a hole in the wall.

Yeah, they really don't want Destructo regaining his memory and being exposed to a greedy creep like Barney could have some horrible results. Professor Y is convinced they can make the robot good.

Sammi and Charlie head out for some fun and kite flying. Things go great, even romantically. Charlie knows there's something different about Sammi but before Sammi can go with a full confession, Charlie asks her to stop. 

I mean, he likes him too but just because they're both gay doesn't mean they have enough in common for a serious relationship, you know?

Sammi...takes this better than one would think and leaves. She sadly peddles back home, cursing that she finally found a guy she might be able to date and he only likes her because he thinks she's a boy. 

Later that night, Destructo is out and about. He feels bad that he missed Barney, plus maybe he can help him decipher all this visions he keeps getting.

Interesting twist, especially with Charlie and Sammi.

Ninjavember: Ninja High School#41

    "Enter: The Y-Men" Ninja High School#41 (July 1994) with credits to Herb Mallette (script) Ben Dunn (art), David Landhear (letters), and Herb Mallette (editor)

New arch

Meet Barney. Barney works at the local junkyard. The place is overflowing with all the disabled robots that got shut down. Barney chides himself, thinking what a fool he was for staying away. I mean, Professor Steamhead warned him not to mess with the robots, but does that egghead know, right?

A bulky form bursts out of the pile, screaming "I hunger!"

Nice knowing you Barney.

Sammi, meanwhile, is making a delivery. It was WAY out of town but the overall cost convinces her uncle to send her. Why not? Not like HE has to peddle all the way out there. Sammi brings the food in to a massive mansion, where a ridiculously handsome boy in a leather jacket (no shirt) greets her. 

As Sammi leaves, the young man brings the food to the rest of the mansion's occupants-THE Y-MEN!

Yes, the Y-MEN, mysterious teens with powers that set them apart from other humans! Not all like the X-Men, that would be silly!

Their special computer designed to track odd powers is going crazy, so Professor Y sends them to the local junkyard!

Leatherwing (the dude with the jacket, so named due to the giant bat wings growing out of his back) lands first and is shocked to see Sammi. 

Sammi is shocked to see the guy too. 1) his mask doesn't exactly hide his face 2) she ain't likely to forget abbs like his anytime soon.

Back to Barney-yup, still alive. So is Destructo! Only now he hungers for ramen, instead of destruction. He doesn't seem to be aware of who he is, and Barney doesn't care. This newfangled robot is his meal ticket, so everyone else can just buzz off!

Pity that Destructo thinks going with the Y-Men is a swell idea, so off they go, Sammi in tow. Back at the mansion, Leatherwing gives her the lowdown, origins and such. After a spell, Sammi leaves, but she does find herself daydreaming about the winged youth. 

As far as X-Men parodies go, it could have gone worse. The character aren't all expies of the X-Men, so that's nice. Plus we get more character development for Sammi, always a plus. 

Ninjavember: Ninja High School#40

   "Aftermath" Ninja High School#40 (June 1994) with credits to Ben Dunn(script) Ben Dunn (art), Mike Sagara (letters), and Ben Dunn (editor)

And so at long last Ninja High School returns to Antarctic Press and we see the aftermath of the war. 

Jeremy wakes up in his bed, Ichi looming over him. Seems he talks in his sleep, mostly about Asrial. Ichi isn't happy about this but we cut away. 

Akaru is enrolling in the local school, so there's that. 

Remember Count Boscoe? Yeah, he's been in the Feeble's basement this whole time and he's finally moving out. Ricky, meanwhile, is tasked to head over to the RNC HQ and pick up Tetsuo, Lendo's baby brother. It seems the younger man is moving to Quagmire and Mrs. Feeble wants her son to show him around. Ichi tells Ricky he's right to be wary, as Tetsuo is even worse than Lendo. 

So naturally Ricky figures he'll keep the pin on that grenade and hang out with his friends instead. 

We meet Francis (Mikey's younger brother), Chester (Howard's younger cousin), and Jacob. The other two get nervous, only saying their parents don't want them going near Jacob's home. Ricky brushes them off and collects their friend. 

Heading over to the school, they see Professor Steamhead chatting with Dr. Diggers (of the Gold Digger series). 

Heading over to the pool, their youthful frolic is ruined due to it being closed (giant robot stuck in the pool). Compounding their annoyance is a raging Mrs. Feeble, with Tetsuo in tow. The young Rivalsan is outwardly charming, but once Mrs. Feeble leaves?

The mask goes off and Tetsuo makes it clear he WILL regain his family honor-and if he has to kill Ricky to get it, well, them's the breaks. 

Thankfully Ricky manages to beat him, but Tetsuo makes it clear he will regain his family's honor even if it takes a lifetime. 

Good direction, drama set up. The whole Count Boscoe bit was kind of pointless in the long run, but eh, what you going to do?

Ninjavember: Ninja High School#39

  "Matters of Belief" Ninja High School#39 (August 1993) with credits to Ben Dunn(script) Ben Dunn (art), Captain Amazing Paper (Shon Howell) (inks), Tim Eldred (letters), and Mark Paniccia (editor)

Mimi is ready and willing to kill Stanley. Lilith tries to backstab her, but Mimi opts to shove a sword through her back instead. 

Stanley takes offense to this but Mimi's power is such that she easily tosses him aside. 

Lendo and Aloysious snag Jeremy and hightail it out of there. 

In Jeremy's mindscape, Father David comforts him and gives him a peptalk about faith. Jeremy wakes up in time to see Hell has been rebooted in Mimi's image. Jeremy manages to use his innate goodness to disrupt the flow of souls into Mimi's domain. This annoys her enough to send a cowed Stanley and resurrected Lilith out to destroy them. Lendo and Aloysious hold them back as Jeremy goes to talk down Mimi. 

Good fight commences, but it ends with Mimi renouncing the curse her family put on the Feeble clan. Jeremy then comes to in a hospital bed, his friends and family surrounding him. 

Mita glances down from inside her time bubble, she can't quite believe things are ending but Azland assures they are simply getting started. 

After that we get a series of epilogues. Most characters are staying around or getting spinoffs. 

This was the last issue made by Malibu and clearly reads as a final chapter. Not a bad way to end things and we do get some closure.  

Ninjavember: American Ninja (1985)

 American Ninja (1985) dir. Sam Firstenberg, Cannon Group/Golan-Globus Productions 

Ninjas and Cannon-like peanut butter and chocolate.

Ninjavember: Ninja High School#38

    "Death Perception" Ninja High School#38 (May 1993) with credits to Ben Dunn(script) Ben Dunn (art), Captain Amazing Paper (Shon Howell) (inks), Tim Eldred (letters), and Dan Danko (editor)

Lendo and Aloysius (Mimi's cat familiar) are trudging their way through Hell. The burning sand portion anyway, both sniping at each other. They both start cracking up when a shadow falls over them; pity it's a giant crab monster instead of a cloud.

Back at Mimi's torture, Jeremy is finding himself unable to do anything. Yup, even in the depths of Hell Jeremy is still a nice boy. Stanley figures he'll torture Mimi for a bit, but all female members of her family are immune to his charms. 

Pity that rule doesn't include female demons. Lillith goes to town on her with a pitchfork. This is enough to tock Mimi off to call upon the powers of her family's patron demon. It seems Stanley knew all about that, he just assumed Mimi didn't know. 

Broken free and rather annoyed, Mimi turns her full wraith on Stanley's forces. She and Lilith engage in a full knock down magic brawl. 

In a brief aside, Professor Azland finally declares his love for Mita and vows to help her find a timeline just for her. 

Back in Hell, Lilith opts to retreat. She flies back to Stanley and wow, curse his sudden but inevitable betrayal! yeah, seems he's hidden Jeremy away so he can personally drain the boy of his soul. Why? Because with such a pure soul, any demon's power would be increased enough to let them possibly rule over Hell itself! And Stanley wants himself a promotion!

Then Lendo shows up! And he's ripped!

Yeah, seems time moves in strange directions in the underworld. Lendo and Aloysious are much older, wiser, and packing some serious heat. The Mimi shows up, and boy is she pissed. She does thank Stanley for everything he put her through, so as a reward she'll kill him first. 

Darn good, although the Mita/Azland bit does sort of come out of nowhere but given the state Eternity Comics was in at the time, there is a sense that Dunn wanted to wrap things up. 

Ninjavember: Ninja High School#37

   "Fragile Innocence" Ninja High School#37 (March 1993) with credits to Ben Dunn(script) Ben Dunn (art), Captain Amazing Paper (Shon Howell) (inks), Tim Eldred (letters), and Dan Danko (editor)

Mimi and Lendo go to Hell.

Seriously, Lendo and Mimi are traveling towards a sparkling city, unaware that Lilith (the angel from last issue) and Stanley the Demon are watching them. 

Mimi and Lendo almost connect when Lilith choses this exact moment to slice at them with a magic sword, sending them flying apart. Mimi is promptly captured. 

On Earth, Selina is impressed. She actually felt Lilith's magic, so yeah, bit of a power with that one. She's still puzzled about all the fuss Jeremy seems to generate. She does decide to finally put some clothes on the kid and get him to a hospital. 

In the time stream, Professor Azland comforts Mita. It seems that not only is Mita a direct descendent of Jeremy, she specifically is the descendent of Jeremy and Ichi. Whatever is going on, the odds of them getting together is growing slimmer by the second. Therefore the Professor is finding Mita a timeline she can exist in; as it stands now if she ever pops back to Quagmire she might simply vanish or worse become altered in some way. 

Back in Hell, we see some background on Mimi. As a child, she often sought comfort from a large tree in the woods. She and her mother often need the comfort, as her stepfather Stanley is an utter bastard. 

 Mimi, bruised and crying, curls up in the tree's roots. That's when David shows up. He's a magic priest and he's finally confronting Stanley. Some magic gets tossed back and forth and yes, Stanely is Stanley the Demon. 

The fighting is going back and forth when Stanley outs David as Mimi's father before leaving. We cut to Mimi being tortured by Lilith. Stanley boasts that his banishment was a simple ruse to see how strong Mimi was. Now that Mimi is awake, Stanley opts to show Mimi his latest creation: Jeremy Feeble-Hell Lord!

Wow. Ok, so a LOT of background dumping her. So Mimi's father a priest? Assuming this isn't a trick of Hell, how did he and her mother meet? WHY did he leave? I mean, he's a magic priest-is celibacy a part of that order? 

Stanley - was he always a demon? And if you KNEW he was, why would you let the mother of your children just go off with him? And why was Stanley even married? Good visuals but the story is starting to get bogged down a pinch. 

Ninjavember: Ninja High School#36

  "Shades of Gray" Ninja High School#36 (January 1993) with credits to Ben Dunn(script) Ben Dunn (art), Shon Howell (inks), and Chris Ulm (editor)

Jeremy is dead!

He feels surprising ok though. Naked and floating through clouds, the angel that greets him seems nice too. 

Back in Quagmire, the town slowly begins to rebuild. During all this, Selina shows up, Mimi's sister incase you were wondering. She's been tracking a massive mystical source to this cute little burg but what could be producing such power has her puzzled. 

She finds the source, the Zardon's massive ship. Lendo has found it too, although his reaction is more celebratory. Massive amount of alien tech you know. 

The Zetramen wave good bye to the Earth Guardian. Howard, Mickey, and Phrank are a bit bummed that they aren't Zetramen anymore, but Steamhead is confident he can restore their power. In the meantime, Zetra Pink and Green can pick up the slack.

(Seen in the Zetreaman mini series, Pink is Terry and Green is Alexa, an Amazon from Venus)

Mita, meanwhile, isn't feeling quite herself. In fact she's starting to fade away, which isn't good for Jeremy's state of being. Thankfully Professor Azland and May show up a time bubble and whisk her away. 

Asrial mourns Nanny, finally collasping into Ichi's arms. 

Lendo stumbles upon Mimi and gets sucked inside the ship. She coldly greets Selina. They find the source of Selina's odd reading-Jeremy! He's not dead, yet, but he's enveloped in a soul sucking energy that is draining everything from him. 

Mimi isn't having this and decides to go into Hell itself to rescue Jeremy. Selina finds this most amusing and has her take Lendo with her, offically to act as a tether to Earth, in reality she just found him annoying. Mimi and Lendo plument towards Hell itself as a familar pair of eyes watch them descend...

Good; Howell does a good job on the pencils and we get both a good ending to the alien invasion and a nice setup. Who saw them going Hell as the next story step?

Ninjavember: Ninja High School#35

     "The Politics of War" Ninja High School#35 (January 1993) with credits to Ben Dunn(script) Ben Dunn (art), Clem Robins (letters), and Chris Ulm (editor)

Leena is thrown into a cell. She gives a grand speech on how she'll overcome this, only to met with applause by Jeremy and Ichi. It was a good speech after all. 

Leena and Asrial have it out, but even after all of this the Salusain can't bring herself to hate her. Leena is utterly baffled by this statement. Priest Olmos interrupts, boasting that they have overridden the Zardon monsters and plan to unleash even more on Earth. 

Mostly because they are jerks. 

As Olmos and General Targon gloat, they welcome too very familiar looking fellows claiming to be caterers...

Back on Earth, the fight with the latest monster isn't going well. RX2 and ZetraRobo are barely holding their own. Mimi interjects, claiming the writing she and Steamhead have been researching are instructions for a weapon to save the Earth!

RX2 stays behind to buy the Zetramen time. He lasts a while but the robot is finally brought down. The Zetramen arrive at the mountain Mimi directed and plunge their sword into the earth. Whatever was supposed to happen doesn't go smooth as the monster turns its full fury onto them. We see the robot's head being flung away from the resulting explosion. 

At the Feeble house, Akaru is teaching Ricky the proper use of a boomerang when Zetra men crash land in the backyard. Even worse, their Zetra Powers are gone!

Back on the ship, Leena stares down a firing squad. Despite everyone's best effort, she is shot, dying in Asrial's arms. Before anyone can die, however, Kalen makes the save! Yeah, it was him and Nestle as the caterers. They manage to flee but Jeremy slips away in the confusion.

Back on Earth, remember what the Zetra men did? Yeah, turns out the weapon was NOT Godzilla! As the kaiju tears apart the monster, Olmos and Targon have a falling out. Jeremy is shot in the fighting. 

Darn good and the death of Leena was rather shocking. Handled in a good way, not too over the top or gratuitous.   

Ninjavember: Ninja High School#34

         "Countdown to Armageddon" Ninja High School#34 (October 1992) with credits to Ben Dunn/Alan R. Nepomuceno (script) Ben Dunn (art), Clem Robins (letters), and Chris Ulm (editor)

The Invasion is on!

Jeremy, Ichi, and Asrial run into Dog Supreme. Things go great, at least until they take off running and hit him with some throwing stars. By now, Dog Supreme figures they aren't troopers and he definitely isn't a soda from the commissary. 

So, our heroes get captured. On Earth, the RX-2 (Not Mazinger Z) finally defeats NOT Gamera with the help of the Super 2 (souped up jet) but when more monsters attack, Zetarobo makes the scene! Which is great, because NOT King Ghidorah shows up!

Leena, meanwhile, flashes back to Ninja High School: Prom Formula and muses on her past failures. She also hates failure. She opts to take a nap. Priest Olmos and General Targon decide this is the best time to stage their coup, right after blasting the now powerless Dog Supreme out of the nearest airlock!

The action moves a bit fast, but this was needed to hurry things along. Actual characterization for Leena besides 'EVIL ALIEN', and a duel attraction to Asrial and Jeremy for the time period was a bold choice. 

Ninjavember: Ninja High School#33

        "D-Day, Today!" Ninja High School#33 (May 1992) with credits to Ben Dunn/Alan R. Nepomuceno (script) Ben Dunn (art), Clem Robins (letters), and Chris Ulm (editor)

The Star Wars Issue

Akaru, now living in a treehouse in the Feeble's backyard, is brought up to speed. Jeremy and Ichi were nice enough to leave a note, basically they were sneaking aboard Asrial's ship. 

A ship that is now being towed via tractor beam into the NOT Death Star. General Targon easily captures them, unaware of the stowaways. He and Priest Olmos oversee the princess and the three man squad being led off. 

From there, Jeremy and Ichi steal some NOT stromtrooper armor and sneak their way to the detention cells. There's mischeif afoot though, as both Targon and Olmos are plotting against the ship's commander, Leena and her servant Dog Supreme, with plans to rule BOTH Salusia and Zarbon.  

Both of whom are onboard.

While this is going on, NOT Gamera is attacking Earth! Lendo mobilizes the full force of the RNC. They hold their own, but thankfully NOT Mazinger Z shows up! The pilot, Joe, is having some trouble since his grandfather can't remember how everything works. 

We also learn Ichi won't kill a man for no reason. She has no issues kicking him in the junk however. They manage to find Asrial, but they promptly run into a tea time having Dog Supreme. 

Funny, fast paced certainly and even the references aren't totally overboard.  

Ninjavember: Ninja High School#32

       "Destiny" Ninja High School#32 (March 1992) with credits to Ben Dunn/Alan R. Nepomuceno (script) Ben Dunn (art), Clem Robins (letters), and Chris Ulm (editor)

The Past

Here we see Kalen, Asrial's older half-brother. He isn't held in high esteem by their father, who actually orders him not to refer him as father, since his mother wasn't the queen. Kalen's in hot water, as it has come to the King's attention that he was seen passing info to a Zardon!

A charge Kalen readily admits, and why shouldn't he? The man was a friend, a free trader, plus he has no allegiance to the Zardon Empire. The King argues that doesn't matter. Kalen sticks to his convictions and leaves.

The Present 

Kalen, now a freebooter, grouses that his cookies are stale. Nestle (who totally isn't Alf) apologizes but what with the war on supplies are getting harder to find. Speaking of the war, they find a message and things have gotten worse. Seems the Zardons are about to unleash giant monsters on the Salusians. His musings about the horrors of war are interrupted when a Salusian general offers him a contract to escort a certain princess across space back home. 

Back on Earth, things are happening. Professor Steamhead checks out what may be a prophecy on a cave wall. The Galaxy Guardians may be reactivated again (at least one old and possibly crazy scientist thinks so, his grandson Joe thinks he's just gone nuts) and NOT Gamera attacks the Earth Defense League's latest ship. 

Asrial meets with Captain Jaka and at length agrees to return home. She bids Jeremy and Ichi a fond farewell, although the figures watching the ship leave turn out to be dummies...

As the ship streaks through space, a Zardon cruiser captures them. Asrial is now a prisoner of the Zardon Empire!

Good but a bit breakneck pace, isn't it? Heck of a lot of stuff happening and more stuff being set up. 

Ninjavember: Nine Deaths of the Ninja (1985)

  Nine Deaths of the Ninja (1985), dir. Emmett Alston, Crown International Pictures 

Kicking off another tradition, so every Friday this month will be a different ninja film, and boy. 

Ninjavember: Ninja High School#31

      "Rivalry and War" Ninja High School#31 (February 1992) with credits to Ben Dunn (script/art), Clem Robins (letters), and Chris Ulm (editor)

And the fight concludes. Akaru stays in the lead for most of the fight; Jeremy tries (logic, battle suit from Asrial, even good old fashioned fisticuffs) but comes up short every time. He does finally win, however mostly by some herbal enhancement from a Salusian fruit drink. 

The main drive is the plot/triangle between Asrial, Itchi and Jeremy. Akaru does add a new twist but even in the story for every step forward he makes with Itchi he goes back three. 

Pretty good and the story wraps up fairly well and we have yet another addition to the cast. Akaru is interesting, so far at least, and he does give Jeremy some legit challenge in the romance department. Of course this isn't the end of drama, as Captain Jaka gets word from the Salusian Empire-Princess Asrial must be returned ASAP! 

Ninjavember: Ninja High School#30

     "Long Distance Bottle" Ninja High School#30 (January 1992) with credits to Ben Dunn (script/art), Clem Robins (letters), and Chris Ulm (editor)

New issue and a new character!

Folks at the beach are startled by the arrival of Akaru Kaiju. He crashes into the beach on the back on his sea monster Sigmund. He's looking for Quagmire, USA and he won't be stopped!

He soon arrives in town-his mission? Find Itchy Koo! Why? Marriage, of course!

Yeah, seems some years ago, Itchy wrote a message and like the man Sting sung, tossed the message in a bottle into the ocean.

Akaru found the bottle as a boy, inbetween exploring the island he grew up on and being ignored by his father, an Imperial Navy officer shipwrecked on the island. Mostly he mediates as he stares out over the ocean and curses it for wrecking him there. 

Of course, his son doesn't seem to have any trouble getting to other lands. 

Akaru easily tracks down Itchy and proposes. She naturally has some issues with his method although Jeremy waffling between her and Asrial does raises him in her eyes. That isn't good enough though and one sleeping powder later, Akaru has carried her off!

Not bad, although I'm told Akaru is a wholesale transplant from Future Boy Conan. Honestly he comes across more Tarzan-ish to me. The whole 'Japanese military officer doesn't know the war is over' was getting a bit long in the tooth by the 90's though. 

Ninjavember: Ninja High School#29

    "Droids and Disputes" Ninja High School#29 (December 1991) with credits to Herb Mallette (script), Ben Dunn (art), Robert DeJesus (inks), Clem Robins (letters), and Chris Ulm (editor)

And we see the conclusion of the robot uprising. 

The robots, assembled and overwhelming, offer a deal to the humans. All the robots want is to live, so they will leave in peace. The catch is they will take everything inorganic and the humans can keep the organic stuff. The Sore Losers think this is pretty reasonable, but Jeremy points out humanity can't survive without metal, plus water and air are little more than chemical compounds. 

The attack goes poorly, despite some help from a tricked traffic light. The Zetramen do a bit better but not good enough. Thankfully Professor Steamhead has an idea-a sleeper virus. Seriously, it will make the robots tired and sleepy. 

The Sore Losers encounter NOT C-3PO and R2D2. Poor devils never had a chance. Sammi fares a bit better, fighting NOT Machine Man. 

Our heroes rush the robot's base, but Asrial can't bring herself to shoot Nanny but it's Jeremy who saves the day. Yeah, defeats the giant super computer with logic. Rather shocked at that.

Horror 2023 Countdown: Bruiser (2000)

Bruiser (2000), dir. George A. Romero, Le Studio Canal+/Barenholtz Productions/Romero-Grunwald Productions 

So another year ends, each closing of the door seemingly being the last but before we go, how about some George Romero?

Horror 2023 Countdown: Existenz (1999)

Existenz (1999), dir. David Cronenburg, The Movie Channel/Natural Nylon/Telefilm Canda/Serendipity Point Films 

Nearing the end, so let's take a trip into body horror land with the Candian master, Cronenburg.

Horror 2023 Countdown: Night Terrors (1993)

Night Terrors (1993), dir. Tobe Hooper, Global Pictures/Golan-Globus Productions 

Lord, Tobe Hooper just couldn't catch a break, could he?

Horror 2023 Countdown: The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988)

The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988), dir. Wes Craven, Universal Pictures 

So Wes Craven has more or less climbed his way back to the top after some hits. What would his take on zombies be?

Horror 2023 Countdown: Memoirs of an Invisible Man (1992)

Memoirs of an Invisible Man (1992), dir. John Carpenter, Le Studio Canal+/Regency Enterprises/Alcor Films/Cornelius Productions 

John Carpenter's big 90's debut and he brings us history's greatest monster. 

Horror 2023 Countdown: Burying the Ex (2014)

Burying the Ex (2014), dir. Joe Dante, Voltage Pictures/Elevated Productions/Act 4 Entertainment/Scooty Woop Entertainment/Armitage Entertainment

Ah, Joe Dante. Never has a man's career been filled with so many ups and downs. This would be his last feature film and the last horror film he would, as of 2023, direct. 

Horror 2023 Countdown: The Wasp Woman (1959)

The Wasp Woman (1959), dir. Roger Corman, the Filmgroup/Santa Cruz Productions 

We're finally ending the 1950's portion of Corman's filmography. Corman was the kind of guy who could get diamonds out of the dumbest coal and yeah, this isn't the best overall film but when you look at the themes? Shockingly good and even relevant today.

Horror 2023 Countdown: The Night Walker (1964)

The Night Walker (1964), dir. William Castle, William Castle Productions 

A William Castle film that doesn't have a gimmick? Will wonders never cease?

Horror 2023 Countdown: Lifeboat (1944)

Lifeboat (1944), dir. Alfred Hitchcock, 20th Century Fox

Moving into the director section, we see Alfred Hitchcock and one of his underrated films.

Horror 2023 Countdown: I Was a Teenage Werewolf (1957)

I was a Teenage Werewolf (1957), dir. Gene Fowler, Jr. Sunset Productions 

Ending our lookback at werewolves so why not end it on a good one? This was the film that convinced American International Pictures that teens were a viable market for horror flicks, so you lay both the good and bad on this one's feet. 

Horror 2023 Countdown: The Werewolf (1956)

The Werewolf (1956), dir. Fred F. Sears, Sam Katzman Productions 

Horror was changing by the 1950s. Crumbling castles and spooky crypts gave way to UFOs and atomic menaces. So seeing an honest to god monster warms the cockles I'll tell you.

Horror 2023 Countdown: Cry of the Werewolf (1944)

Cry of the Werewolf (1944), dir. Henry Levin, Columbia Pictures 

Columbia was never really a huge player in the horror genre, but they did dabble a bit. 

Horror 2023 Countdown: The Undying Monster (1942)

The Undying Monster (1942), dir. John Braham, Twentieth Century Fox 

By the 1940s, horror was pretty much Universal's domain, but that doesn't mean other studios couldn't try their hands. 

Horror 2023 Countdown: The Mad Monster (1942)

The Mad Monster (1942), dir. Sam Field, Producers Releasing Corporation 

Moving into the 1940s, and we see actual proper werewolves making a proper splash. The Werewolf of London had come out a few years earlier, but Universal's the Wolf Man the year prior had been such a hit, the boys on Poverty Row figured why not do a wolf pic on their own?

Horror 2023 Countdown: The Face at the Window (1939)

The Face at the Window (1939), dir. George King, George King Productions 

Moving into our special lookback, this year we focus on a particular favorite of mine, werewolves!

Horror 2023 Countdown: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2022)

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2022), dir. David Blue Garcia, Legendary Pictures/Exurbia Films/Bad Hombre

So it's come to this, a Netflix release. 

Horror 2023 Countdown: Maniac Cop (1987)

Maniac Cop (1987), dir. William Lustig, Sharpiro-Glickenhaus Productions 

William Lustig AND Larry Cohen together? With Bruce Campbell and Tom Atkins?

Horror 2023 Countdown: Silent Night, Deadly Night 2 (1987)

Silent Night, Deadly Night 2 (1987) dir. Lee Harry, Lawrence Applebaum Productions 

Sometimes a film that comes around that sets the standard and raises the bar; and then sometimes a film that comes around that just has enough screwy sense to at least make a meme.

Horror 2023 Countdown: Halloween (2018)

Halloween (2018) dir. David Gordon Green, Miramax/Blumhouse Productions/Trancas International Films/Rough House Pictures 

Moving into the slasher section, why not start off with a reboot? This takes a bold stance, removing everything, and I do mean everything, save the 1978 original.

Horror 2023 Countdown: The Vengeance of She (1968)

The Vengeance of She (1968), dir. Cliff Owen, Hammer Films-Seven Arts

1965's She was a hit, why not a sequel?

Horror 2023 Countdown: One Million Years, BC (1966)

One Million Years, BC (1966) dir. Don Caffery, Hammer Arts Productions-Seven Arts

For a period of time, along side gangsters, pirates, monsters and the like, there were caveman films. A sort of proto peplum, they usually had a bunch of fairly good looking people in furs running around a desert. If there was a good budget you might even get some dinosaurs, although most of the time they would your average lizards with junk glued on them. 

Horror 2023 Countdown: Rasputin the Mad Monk (1966)

 Rasputin the Mad Monk (1966), dir. Don Sharp, Hammer Film Productions-Seven Arts

Hammer was still riding high, so why not do an epic?