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Post by thwhtguardian on Dec 20, 2022 19:17:32 GMT -5
On the Eighth day there was Koshchei and Baba Yaga  Hellboy: Darkness Calls 2007, Dark Horse Some people might say that Vladimir Putin or Joseph Stalin were the most evil dudes Russia has ever produced but even they were known to cry for their mommies when they had nightmares about the Russian terrors known as Koshchei the Deathless and Baba Yaga.
Yup, it just wouldn't be a Classic Comics Christmas List by yours truly if it didn't include at least one entry by Mike Mignola and this year this is it. Although most of his big villain team ups from Hellboy's universe happen towards the end of the run I think that even were the likes of Rasputin and the Red Witch eligible I still would have went with these two as the dynamic of their open hatred of each other made for such fun reading. On top of that the use of traditional Russian folklore (which I wasn't all that familiar with before this story) made for an educational read as well and an excellent adventure.
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Post by Icctrombone on Dec 20, 2022 20:13:37 GMT -5
#5- Black Widow & Hawkeye Well played. |
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Post by Icctrombone on Dec 20, 2022 20:18:01 GMT -5
First, let's all remember what the Grand Dictator said - 'Keep in mind that these are your personal favorites, not what you or anyone else considers the best' Or even, you know, good. At all. #5 - The Black Flame and her Weird Three Adventure Comics #400 Sekowsy won me over with his Wonder Woman Mod ,Karate /Emma Peel run. I would definitely buy a collected edition of his Supergirl work. |
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Post by Rob Allen on Dec 20, 2022 23:13:59 GMT -5
I've caught up!
#5 The Circus of Crime
Another group that has seen a lot of love this year. I first encountered them in the Spider-Man issue where they ditched the Ringmaster and elected the Clown as their new leader. Soon after that, I got Marvel Tales Annual #2, which reprinted the group's first appearance. Like the Enforcers and the Terrible Trio, they're too much for most people but not super enough to survive in a world with Hulks, Spider-Men and Avengers.
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Post by foxley on Dec 21, 2022 1:53:32 GMT -5
First, let's all remember what the Grand Dictator said - 'Keep in mind that these are your personal favorites, not what you or anyone else considers the best' Or even, you know, good. At all. #5 - The Black Flame and her Weird Three Adventure Comics #400 So yes, this is (perversely) one of my favorite super-villain groupings. Try not to judge me too harshly. No judgement from the guy who put the only team-up between Terra-Man and the Penguin on his list.  |
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Post by Slam_Bradley on Dec 21, 2022 16:02:07 GMT -5
In which I actually catch up with my comments that have inexplicably become a tradition. Let's see who I can offend this time.
The Sandman and Blastaar - This a cool choice. I've read this book, though it's been a long time. I've always liked Sandman. Blastaar...not so much. But neat.
The Joker and the Penguin - I know I've read this but, again, it's been oh so long. I mean the team-up is a no-brainer.
Deathstroke and Terra - It's a bold choice, Cotton, let's see how it works out. I had actually quite NTT before this point. I know I have since read all of NTT up through (at least) #50. But it's been a long time. I will just say this...it really disturbs me to see Deathstroke having been rehabilitated from this to the extent that he got a long-running solo series. Yeah he was an anti-hero in a time that Punisher was a "hero." Don't care. Dude was not only complicit in the corruption and death of a young girl but was pretty clearly a chomo. So...yeah. Which is not to say this isn't a valid choice.
The Snake Men - Yeah. He's messing with me.
Kang and Rama-Tut - Rama Tut, he's my favorite honky. Rama Tut, buried with his donkey. Sorry. I know I've read this. I need to read it again. Sigh.
J. Jonah Jameson and Professor Spencer Smythe - This is pretty brilliant. I've always said (well not always, but since I've been older) that J. Jonah Jameson is Spidey's arch-nemesis. This is exhibit A.
A Terrible Trio of Trolls-Bert, William, and Tom - Cool. I listened to the audio book of The Hobbit fairly recently. It's a fun little children's story.
Lord Hikiji and Lord Hebi - I've tried to get in to Usagi. I always get distracte....ooooo something shiny.
Black Widow & Hawkeye - A solid choice. If a bit kooky.
Dr. Doom and the Sub-Mariner - I mean it says it right there on the cover. It's even Giant-Sized. Like that man's thing. And a comic cover would never lie to us. Right? Right?
Homunculi - I know nothing about manga. Like...a knowledge hole you could drive the Yamato through.
MENTALLO AND THE FIXER - I know I've read this. I know I got nothing.
The Black Flame and her Weird Three - Poor Supergirl may hold the record for the highest number of truly horrible comic book series'.
Koshchei and Baba Yaga - I keep trying to read Hellboy. And my mind keeps wandering. Sigh.
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Post by Jeddak on Dec 21, 2022 16:32:28 GMT -5
First, let's all remember what the Grand Dictator said - 'Keep in mind that these are your personal favorites, not what you or anyone else considers the best' Or even, you know, good. At all. #5 - The Black Flame and her Weird Three Adventure Comics #400 Sekowsy won me over with his Wonder Woman Mod ,Karate /Emma Peel run. I would definitely buy a collected edition of his Supergirl work. Sekowsky's mod Diana is still my favorite Wonder Woman run. His Supergirl was, um, not as successful. |
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Post by Icctrombone on Dec 21, 2022 16:56:05 GMT -5
Sekowsy won me over with his Wonder Woman Mod ,Karate /Emma Peel run. I would definitely buy a collected edition of his Supergirl work. Sekowsky's mod Diana is still my favorite Wonder Woman run. His Supergirl was, um, not as successful. Bummer. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 21, 2022 17:27:36 GMT -5
Deathstroke and Terra - It's a bold choice, Cotton, let's see how it works out. I had actually quite NTT before this point. I know I have since read all of NTT up through (at least) #50. But it's been a long time. I will just say this...it really disturbs me to see Deathstroke having been rehabilitated from this to the extent that he got a long-running solo series. Yeah he was an anti-hero in a time that Punisher was a "hero." Don't care. Dude was not only complicit in the corruption and death of a young girl but was pretty clearly a chomo. So...yeah. Which is not to say this isn't a valid choice. The scope of this choice was the original Judas Contract, so definitely keep it in bounds there (I have no idea on any rehabilitiation, I don't read any of that later material). And yeah, Deathstroke was HORRIBLE in this, just to be clear, you're not supposed to walk away feeling some admiration for the guy (if you're human, his acts make you want to vomit), hence my comments in the write-up. No, as I said before, this choice was based on quality of storytelling, with a groundbreaking tragic reveal making it (to quote my original words) "the most heart-breaking of villain teams". |
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Post by Slam_Bradley on Dec 21, 2022 17:35:38 GMT -5
Deathstroke and Terra - It's a bold choice, Cotton, let's see how it works out. I had actually quite NTT before this point. I know I have since read all of NTT up through (at least) #50. But it's been a long time. I will just say this...it really disturbs me to see Deathstroke having been rehabilitated from this to the extent that he got a long-running solo series. Yeah he was an anti-hero in a time that Punisher was a "hero." Don't care. Dude was not only complicit in the corruption and death of a young girl but was pretty clearly a chomo. So...yeah. Which is not to say this isn't a valid choice. The scope of this choice was the original Judas Contract, so definitely keep it in bounds there (I have no idea on any rehabilitiation, I don't read any of that later material). And yeah, Deathstroke was HORRIBLE in this, just to be clear, you're not supposed to walk away feeling some admiration for the guy (if you're human, his acts make you want to vomit), hence my comments in the write-up. No, as I said before, this choice was based on quality of storytelling, with a groundbreaking tragic reveal making it (to quote my original words) "the most heart-breaking of villain teams". Trust me, I'm not taking umbrage with you or the choice. I absolutely get it. I do take umbrage with the rehabilitation of the character that saw him get a series as a titular hero that lasted 40 issues and spawned multiple other series' and mini-series. Perfectly valid and reasonable choice. And he is truly a villain in every sense of the word. |
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Post by Paste Pot Paul on Dec 22, 2022 23:53:52 GMT -5
8. The Fatal Five Any time, any era, the Fatal Five are just about perfect. Big Brain, check (not even going there with the literal big brain of Validus) The Muscle, check Cool-Ass weapon, oh hells yeah Destructo Hand of DOOM, yup Emerald Princess loving killer eye, fer shure Of course I also cant pass up on some Curt Swan/George Klein goodness
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Crimebuster
CCF Podcast Guru
Making comics!
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Post by Crimebuster on Dec 24, 2022 14:37:59 GMT -5
5. The Triumvirate of Terror 5. The Legion of the UnlivingThey've appeared on other people's lists already. Just one problem: everyone else picked the wrong version! No, the best version was in Avengers Annual #16. This is one of my favorite stories form when I was a kid. The Avengers all die! In fact, many of them commit suicide in order to go to Death's Realm to face The Grandmaster. You see, he's imprisoned Death, and has a new game: the Avengers vs. the Legion of the Unliving, for the fate of the entire universe! What follows is a gruesome sequence where all the Avengers die trying to defuse grandmaster's universe-destroying bombs, except for Hawkeye and Captain America. Then the grandmaster reveals a twist in the rules: that was just Round 1, and now the two survivors have to face the Legion of the Unliving again - which now includes all of their recently-deceased friends! It's a great character moment, where Cap is like "we have to find a way to do it no matter what the odds!" while Hawkeye thinks, this is impossible. So he decides to cheat! He convinces Grandmaster to play a game of chance to decide the fate of the universe, and then he cheats to make sure the good guys win, which shocks Cap. Oh, and all of the fight sequences in this issue are handled by different, weird art teams, which make it a visual feast. One sequence for instance has the odd team of John Romita Jr on pencils with Bill Sienkiewicz inks. It's great stuff!   |
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Post by Icctrombone on Dec 25, 2022 11:47:40 GMT -5
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Post by Icctrombone on Dec 25, 2022 11:51:59 GMT -5
#5 – J. Jonah Jameson and Professor Spencer Smythe (and his Spider-Slayers)As seen in Amazing Spider-Man #25, #58 and #105–106 (1964, 1968 and 1972) It's my opinion that JJJ is Spidey's worse enemy, and should have done jail time for his actions over the years. |
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Post by Slam_Bradley on Dec 25, 2022 11:54:26 GMT -5
#5 – J. Jonah Jameson and Professor Spencer Smythe (and his Spider-Slayers)As seen in Amazing Spider-Man #25, #58 and #105–106 (1964, 1968 and 1972) It's my opinion that JJJ is Spidey's worse enemy, and should have done jail time for his actions over the years. This is the correct answer. |
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