Puck Part 39: Alpha Flight Annual #1 (1986)

Mansion Alpha attacks as Judd and the others find themselves facing a new foe as well as an old one.

I have this issue.

Everyone is more or less enjoying an evening meal at home when the mansion knocks them off their feet. Further investigation leads to Judd and Shaman being trapped in an elevator. They escape, and meet up with the rest of the team as they find Diablo in the house along with Gilded Lily. The villains escape underground, but Alpha Flight catches them in a secret cave beneath the mansion. Gilded Lily conjures up a sandstorm and Judd finds himself encased in solidifying sand. Vindicator frees him, and Judd helps knock Diablo down and keeping him subdued until R.C.M.P. officers arrive to extradite him back to the United States.

Notes of Interest:

1) Judd reads Shakespeare.

2) This is the first time Judd meets both Gilded Lily and Diablo.

WTF? Moment: It seems to me that Bill Mantlo still doesn’t know what to do with this character. He’s given Judd an origin that explains his size and the constant pain he’s in, and granted – his abilities don’t stray far into the realm of the exotic or interesting. What makes Puck so cool is his character; his ability to continue despite having to endure physical pain and social stigma. There must have been a lot Judd faced in his life in order to develop that strong a sense of self, and that would be interesting to read about. There’s also his brush with Logan that was hinted at in Alpha Flight #13. What happened there? Why not develop a villain that Judd deals with solo? A former mercenary perhaps that Judd had a falling out with in the past. How did he get the deformed ear? Byrne created a unique individual in Judd that had lots of potential in terms of depth and personality which Mantlo just hasn’t tapped thus far.