Tuesday, April 1, 2025

TFtember: Scrapper

Scrapper 


Kicking this off with another Construction. This month we look at Scrapper, the right leg of Devastator.

The toy, formerly a Diaclone Construction Vehicle No. 3, might have the most basic transforming action of the subset. Basically, just flip his legs out and lift up his scoop and you're ready.  Like the others, he was reissued in yellow over in Europe and that's about it. 


He did come with a giant wing that doubled as a breastplate, so there's that. 


His file card paints him in a grim light. He's modest and would rather focus on his main love, building. Of course, he prefers to use vanquished Autobots as the building material in his work so yeah, a bit morbid. His official job is demolition.

The comic, however, and much like the rest of his Constructicon brethren, he was part of the crowd and but really didn't do much on an individual basis.  

The cartoon, where he was voiced by Michael Bell, had the same issues as his other green bros. He just has different origins. Played a large part in the early episodes but after the movie just slowly drifted into a background character.

Overall, an important part for Devestator but in grand tapestry of things a minor character. 

Sunday, March 23, 2025

Re-writting the Book: Xanta Claus

 Woof


Ok, so 1995. In Your House 5: Season's Beatings saw the debut of Xanta Claus. Hailing from the South Pole, Xanta made a point to steal presents from all the good boys and girls. With the Million Dollar Man as his manager, Xanta officially racked up one win on a jobber.


The problems are a bit obvious. A Santa themed wrestler might do well in December, but Feb.? Oct.?

I supposed I would make it clear that Xanta can only work in the month of December. Might even make an angle about it. Like he's unstoppable December 1st through the 25th, but on December 31st he loses to Barry Horowitz. 

Pure comedy but that isn't awful. If you timed him right and with the right scenario, I bet the audience would tolerate him. 



Friday, March 21, 2025

Re-Writing the Book: The Run-In Man

 WWF, 1991


Ed Leslie had finally hit a good gimmick as Brutus "the Barber" Beefcake but a freak parasailing accident almost killed him. 


Sufficient to say, the man was in no condition to wrestle. When your face is held together with wire, it would be a bad idea to get in a position where you might get hit. 

So, officially Brutus was home. Unofficially, you don't wrestle you don't get paid. 

So, the Run-In Man (Man with No Face and also the Mariner for some reason) started running after matches and attacking the heels after they won the match. How would I handle it?


More or less the same at the start. The Man runs in, beats up Earthquake, Rick Martel, etc. Fans support him, the heels are freaked out. Jimmy Hart goes on Prime Time Wrestling and offers a bounty. Bobby Heenan, however, just starts calling out Brutus Beefcake. 

Naturally there is pushback to this. "Brutus is hurt, he couldn't"

Then the Man starts attacking before the matches. Oh, he's helping the faces still but now he beats them with a steel chair during the match; thus giving them a DQ win.

This builds throughout the summer. Jack Tunney, sick of the rule breaking, hires a new enforcer, Sid Justice.

When the Ultimate Warrior is attacked, he listens to the Brain. Is Brutus behind these attacks? Brutus comes back to the ring, but a blackout happens. When the lights come on, Warrior is busted up pretty bad. 

Hulk Hogan confronts his best friend, who swears his innocence. Sid Justice decides to put Brutus in the main event at SummerSlam with Hogan and Warrior ve the Triangle of Terror. 

The Run In Man attacks during the match, but it turns out it's really Mr. Perfect!

Attacking Hogan directly? Could lose, but making him think his best friend had turned on him? Perfect. 






Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Updates and such

2025-sucking just as much as 2024 did.

Not the best way to open, but here's a slight view of upcoming works.

TFtember (in April): A lookback at the Transformers 

May: Superstars the comic.

June Bugs: Bugs Bunny Rides Again

July: UWF Returns + Shark Week

August: Aroma of Troma 

September: TFtember (more Transformers)

October: Horror hosts and horror reviews 

December: Art jam, but it may lesser than in previous years. 

Friday, February 28, 2025

Bring on the Bad Guys: "Easy" Eddie Edwards

Real name: Eddie Edwards

First appearance: All-Star Comics#6 (August-September 1941)

Abilities: Failure to pick up sarcasm 

Worst act: Attempted murder, counterfeiting

Created by: Gardner Fox (script), Stan Asch (pencils)


And so we end another feature here. 

#6 is a bit notable, as this is where the Flash goes from JSA member to honorary one and Johnny Thunder takes his place. 

The first chapter sets up, but since there's no real villain I opted out of giving that a separate entry. Johnny Thunder is given a chance to join the JSA but he must capture a real arch enemy of justice!

It's a snipe hunt. The 'villain' is an old kook who prints up stories about all the crimes he got away with. Johnny finds him easy enough, but Mr. Edwards takes notice and assumes the old timey nut is the real deal and thus would have a fortune or two squirreled away. 

The JSA set him right. 


Thursday, February 27, 2025

Bring on the Bad Guys: The Professor

 Real name: Unrevealed 

First appearance: All-Star Comics#5 (June-July 1941)

Abilities: SCIENCE!

Worst act: Blackmail, assault 

Created by: Gardner Fox (script), Irwin Hasen (pencils)

The Professor is the seventh agent. His mission? Take out the Green Lantern


Well, at least their expectations are a bit more manageable this time. Mr. X, figuring that since Green Lantern controls light, he'll use light to destroy him! He opts to blackmail the city by blowing up some buildings first, just to show them he's serious. 

The Professor shows up and knocks out GL via electricity. Which is quite surprising, as I thought he was only vulnerable to wood. The Professor also manages to make things invisible. GL manages to wake up and remember his ring can do pretty much anything he wants and he takes the Professor and his gang out with zero issue. 

The story wraps up after this and Mr. X gets taken out with minium effort. 

Wednesday, February 26, 2025

Bring on the Bad Guys: Gang of Gamblers

Real names: Baretti, the rest unrevealed 

First appearance: All-Star Comics#5 (June-July 1941)

Abilities: Gambling 

Worst act: Attempted assault

Created by: Gardner Fox (script), Bernard Baily (pencils)

The Gang of Gamblers are the sixth agents. Their mission? Take out the Spectre


Ye cats, did Mr. X just hate these guys outright?


The Gang has a brilliant idea-they will run several crooked games and make it look like the Spectre is a crook. 

I know I've said this before this month, but the ideas seem to be running a bit low at this point. The Spectre is taken for a ride and shot, which would be a huge problem if he wasn't already dead. 

Shockingly, the Spectre manages to round up with the gang without horribly killing all of them. I guess he felt sorry for them?