Puck Part WTF?: Marvel Comics Presents #99 (March, 1992)

Having completed my review of Puck’s appearances I give you this issue, an undeniable W...T...F. Marvel Comics Presents (while an unofficial Wolverine title) had up to four stories per issue, each about eight pages long, which usually featured obscure and lesser-used characters such as Woodgod, Zombie and Captain Ultra so Marvel wouldn’t lose publication rights.

Occasionally, there was a more popular character featured in a story that broadened his or her development - a “lost tale” of sorts showing a different side of their personality or bringing up a previously unexplored (read: dropped) plot point that was unable to be published elsewhere.

Judd appears in this issue along with Arcade, and I’m a big fan of heroes being pitted against villains outside their comfort zone. What could have been an interesting story with Judd going toe-to-toe against a new enemy using images, memories and people from a part of Puck’s past never seen before was instead yet another “oh the angst I feel for Heather is letting loose the demon I’ve kept inside of me for decades” yawn-inspiring yarn. The twist here is that Arcade knew about the demon and planned to control it, only it went after Arcade too and Judd had to take it back in to save Arcade’s sorry a$$.

Notes of Interest:

Seriously?

WTF? Moment: This whole story is one giant WTF? moment. Adding more pain to this cluster is the fact that Judd’s demon is named Razer. Not Razar, or Razaar, or Black Razaar. W…T…F???

Puck Part 84: Alpha Flight #106 (March, 1992)

Puck learns some personal information about a fellow Alphan and gets reacquainted with an old friend.

I have this issue.

Judd attends a debriefing with “Core Alpha” in a waiting room at Toronto General Hospital as Jean-Paul awaits news of an infant girl he found in a garbage can. They learn the child is dying from AIDS, and the team spends the next three weeks talking to the public about the disease.

Judd catches up with Northstar, who’s still at the hospital, and convinces him to take a break and try to get some food and rest when they hear something crash in the infant’s room. Judd gets there in time to recognize the man standing over the child just before Jean-Paul carries the stranger out into the night.

The next morning, Judd is with Northstar and the stranger when the doctor tells them the infant is close to death, and watches as Jean-Paul holds her as she passes.

Jean-Paul later holds a press conference announcing to the world that he’s gay. Judd is seen with the rest of Alpha Flight in a newspaper article covering the story.

Notes of Interest:

1) Judd knows the Canadian super-hero named Major Mapleleaf, calling him by his first name – Louis.

2) It seems Judd smokes cigars.

3) He appears uncomfortable in hospitals, which makes sense considering his past dealings with them.

4) Judd – like the rest of Alpha Flight – doesn’t seem bothered in the least by Jean-Paul’s revelation.

WTF? Moment: I know this story came out in 1992, but has it ever been okay to smoke in a hospital? I don’t see Judd as that callous, despite his low comfort level.

WTF? Moment #2: This issue is all about Jean-Paul and his coming out of the closet, and if you go back and read every issue he’s in, you can see that’s where Byrne, Mantlo and the others were leading. It’s important to note that Judd stands by his teammate, despite Jean-Paul being a quick-tempered pompous jerk at times. This speaks volumes of Judd’s character, as well as that of everyone else on the team.

Puck Part 83: Alpha Flight #105 (February, 1992)

It’s Madison Jefferies’ bachelor party, and Puck is there to take part in the celebration.

I have this issue.

Judd is with Colin, Walter, Jean-Paul and Kyle as they celebrate Madison’s impending wedding at a local Toronto bar. But it’s also Christmas Eve, and when someone tries to rob the bar they learn that the thief was only planning to borrow the money because his landlord raised the rent on his family’s home. The Alpha males decide to help him, and Judd, Walter and Colin visit the landlord and ‘convince’ him to sell them the house.

Notes of Interest:

1) Judd has known Jean-Paul for six years as of this issue.

2) The bar they are at is called Corky’s, and is the same bar Judd was a bouncer at when he received the Alpha Flight call signal back in Alpha Flight #1.

3) Apparently, John Byrne hangs out at Corky’s too.

4) Judd reveals to Corky and others that he’s Puck of Alpha Flight and nobody believes him…not even Byrne.

WTF? Moment: Judd’s over seventy years old at this point and comments that the thief’s story is the most tragic thing he’s seen on a Christmas Eve. Really? I know it was summer when he was in battle in Spain with Hemingway, but surely something tragic happened either to him or around him during Christmas time as he traveled the globe. Plus – wasn’t he in prison at some point?

WTF? Moment #2: Having Judd storm off after Corky asked him for an 8x10 of Guardian was funny. It would have been even funnier if Judd brought in a pic of Mac from his Guardian days – a Byrne pin-up perhaps?

Puck Part 82: Alpha Flight #104 (January, 1992)

Puck is officially given a new title, a new position…and a new costume.

I have this issue.

Judd is on the roof of Department H headquarters talking to Dr. Knapp as Windshear finishes giving the press a tour of the facilities. The rest of the team - Guardian, Weapon Omega, Sasquatch, Diamond Lil, Madison and Northstar - return from their covert mission against Diablo, and Judd notices something wrong with Jean-Paul, who shouts out that his sister is alive as he speeds off. Judd and the others catch up with him in the sub-basement of the complex, where they find Aurora a prisoner in Headlok’s cell. They all witness her breaking free of Headlok’s control and “setting [Headlok] free”.

A week later, Judd is with Guardian, Weapon Omega, Sasquatch, Northstar and Windshear as they discuss Aurora’s supposed disappearance, the team’s new costumes, and Weapon Omega’s membership when Madison and Lil reveal they are resigning from the team to get married. Aurora shows up and tells everyone that she’s rejoining the group, and Judd tells Heather that with Windshear as a desk jockey and himself as a trouble-shooter, Aurora’s going to be needed for there to be five members to the team.

Notes of Interest:

1) As of this issue, Judd becomes a supportive member of the team and the official line-up of what Judd calls “Core Alpha” are Guardian, Northstar, Weapon Omega, Aurora and Sasquatch.

2) This is the first time Judd has seen Aurora since he heard about his fellow Alphan’s disappearance back in Alpha Flight #98.

3) Judd learns that Weapon Omega is really Wild Child.

WTF? Moment: The only problem I have here affects Judd indirectly, and that is the costumes. I prefer the original X-Men/New Mutants approach to a team look: Everyone has the same look while they learn and train, and get their own unique looks once they graduate. You never see the Avengers or the Uncanny X-Men in identical costumes. Granted, these outfits are reminiscent of Guardian’s original look, and it can be seen as a tribute to Mac’s ultimate sacrifice, but I think it would have been better to see Beta Flight trainees wearing these suits, thus sending a stronger message about Mac’s dream.

Puck Part 81: Alpha Flight #103 (December, 1991)

Puck witnesses Windshear’s first public appearance as acting chairperson of Alpha Flight.

I have this issue.

Windshear appears on the television show Canada A.M. and is bombarded with accusations of mishandling the Consortium incident and causing massive damage in Toronto. Judd looks on from behind the cameras, acknowledging that this sort of thing was outside his comfort zone. Windshear makes a comment that can be seen as throwing Heather (as team leader) under the bus, and Judd realizes that he new face of the team is gonna need some pointers.

Notes of Interest:

1) While Judd isn’t comfortable being interviewed on camera, he understands the need to appear unified in the public eye.

WTF? Moment: I guess the meeting with DeFalco didn’t go so well since Judd’s still confined to a single page of the issue.

WTF? Moment #2: Why Lobdell didn’t have Judd hop a plane to help fight Diablo is beyond me. This is a guy who fought against the Great Beasts, remember? A few elementals would be child’s play.

WTF? Moment #3: If the plan is to make Judd work more “behind the scenes” of the team and help maintain public support and government funding, I’d be happy with that. He’s been around long enough to justify keeping an eye on watchdogs, giving Windshear some wisdom and maybe even training some future Beta members…just GET there already!

Puck Part 80: Alpha Flight #102 (November, 1991)

Puck accepts role of Chief Administrator after Mac’s death, only to abdicate the position to Windshear.

I have this issue.

That’s it. That’s all he does this entire issue.

Notes of Interest:

1) No real character development…at all.

WTF? Moment: Where to start…I thought the idea of Judd honoring Mac’s memory by accepting the Chief Administrator gig was great. There’s at least four issues of sub-plot there as he grew (get it?) into the job. As for his choosing to abdicate to Windshear, that was again a great idea that made sense for the character – because let’s face it Judd is more of a do-er than a planner – but it should have happened after Judd at least tried to make it work. I suspect that Lobdell initially pitched it as a longer story arc that was cut down by Editor Bobbie Chase to one page.

WTF? Moment #2: One page? AGAIN? We don’t even know where he’s going as he cartwheels out the door. Is he heading to the “top secret” location the team left for to lend a hand?  Is he getting a pizza? Most likely, he’s on his way to the Marvel Bullpen to have a sit-down with DeFalco.

Puck Part 79: Spider-Man #12 (July, 1991)

Puck and Sasquatch make a cameo as Spider-Man and Wolverine investigate three dead bodies outside a small Canadian town.

I have this issue.

Sasquatch reads a newspaper article regarding the dead bodies found mangled in the woods and it mentions his name in the headline. Judd calms him down and tells him that Logan would find the real killer and clear his name.

Notes of Interest:

1) No real character development this issue.

WTF? Moment: It’s kinda cool to see Judd in a Spider-Man comic, but this cameo feels like it was thrown in just because the story takes place in Canada and Logan’s involved. It would have been better if he helped track down the killer. Since the victims were young boys and the suspected killer is some kind of wild animal, maybe Judd could have gone undercover as another young boy to lure the animal into a trap? Then again…maybe not.

Puck Part 78: The Infinity Gauntlet #2 (August, 1991)

Puck makes an appearance in The Infinity Gauntlet…by disappearing.

I have this issue.

Judd is among the heroes who have disappeared as Thanos attempts to woo Death.

Notes of Interest:

1) Judd’s disappearance isn’t depicted in this issue, but he’s shown on panel (and cover) as one of the many who have vanished.

WTF? Moment: If there was any single event that proved how Marvel viewed Alpha Flight and its many members, this was it. Not only was Judd written out of this story, but every single member of the team. Really, Starlin? You couldn’t have kept one Alphan around?

Puck Part 77: Alpha Flight #101 (October, 1991)

Puck pays his respects at James MacDonald Hudson’s funeral along with the rest of Alpha Flight.

I have this issue.

Judd is with Heather at Mac’s grave and she tells him that Mac’s death has affected her differently this time. He returns with her and the rest of the team, in uniform, for the funeral service. Later on, Diamond Lil has her biopsy, and Judd is there when she learns her cyst is benign.

Notes of Interest:

1) The initial scene at the gravesite is reminiscent of Byrne’s depiction waaay back in Alpha Flight #13 - down to what they’re wearing.

2) Judd is moved to tears during the service.

WTF? Moment: Now for something completely absurd – Judd’s reaction to the news of Lil’s cyst. He’s drawn like a little boy who’s been told he can have some ice cream rather than someone who just heard some terrific news concerning the health of a fellow Alphan. Tom Morgan’s work isn’t terrible, but most of Marvel’s titles developed a Liefeld-esque quality to them around this time, Alpha Flight included, – which leads me to…

WTF? Moment #2: While this issue didn’t mark the end of my collecting days for Alpha Flight, it did mark the beginning of the end.

Puck Part 76: Alpha Flight #100 (September, 1991)

Puck is among those left behind to make a final stand against the oncoming Consortium assault fleet.

I have this issue.

Judd, Captain America, She-Hulk, Diamond Lil, Black Widow, Northstar and Sasquatch face an alien invasion in Toronto. Being nearly invulnerable, Judd is chosen by Cap as one of the heroes to act as a shield while they fall back to a metro station to regroup and formulate a plan. The station is destroyed before the team can reach it, but they make it to an underground tunnel, and Cap tells them the only way to end this is to infiltrate and destroy the Consortium mother ship.

She-Hulk, Lil and Sasquatch act as a diversion on Earth while Judd and the others commandeer a Consortium craft. Judd uses the ship’s translation programs to communicate to the mother ship that their ship is leaking radiation and needs extensive repairs… buying them time and the opportunity to land unobserved.

The four heroes split up, with Judd and Black Widow taking over the communication systems and ordering the fleet to return to the mother ship. Cap and Northstar succeed in setting the ship to go to warp, and the four of them return to Earth just as the team sent to fight Galactus returns…without Vindicator.

Notes of Interest:

1) We learn that Judd knows Japanese.

2) It seems Judd has a history with Black Widow, fighting on opposing sides in the Tonkin Gulf in 1967.

3) Black Widow knows Judd’s first name is Eugene.

WTF? Moment: I love the fact that Judd’s past includes Black Widow. It’s little things like this that make reading comics such fun.

WTF? Moment #2: So Natasha knows Eugene’s name? Was it because of their previous work, or did she just read it in the Avengers’ files? Plus - he doesn’t seem fazed by it. Does he know her name too?

WTF? Moment #3: I know this is nit-picking, but we see Judd, Widow and Cap on the stolen craft all sitting separately with their backs to each other looking out separate windows, so it’s hard to tell who’s piloting the thing as they approach the mother ship. Maybe they all are?

Puck Part 75: Alpha Flight #99 (August, 1991)

Puck helps out his fellow Alphans and the Avengers as the alien army continues to invade downtown Toronto.

I have this issue.

Judd learns that Her had helped overthrow the dictatorship of a distant planet. The Consortium saw that as a breach of contract and held Her responsible. She fled to Earth in search of help to protect the species she freed, but the Consortium followed, and wants Her to surrender.

Problems arise when Vindicator suddenly teleports half of the gathered heroes away…including Her. Judd is left behind with Captain America, Sasquatch, Northstar, Diamond Lil, Black Widow and She-Hulk as the Consortium see this as yet another breach of contract and launch a full scale “take-over” of Earth.

Notes of Interest:

1) This marks the first meeting between Judd and Her.

2) Judd also meets Black Widow for the first time.

3) Not much character development here, but it becomes clear that he’s waaaay out of his league because…

WTF? Moment: …he has a momentary lapse of bladder control? Really? Mister “I ran with the bulls and sat with Hemingway and had close encounters with mysticism and was a bad-a$$ soldier of fortune before any of these Alpha Flight ‘whipper-snappers’ were born” goes and wets himself? That has to be a joke. To be fair, he has had minimal experience with alien races…except for Marrina and Her…and may have difficulty grasping existence beyond our solar system. However, he has NO problem dealing with gods, demi-gods, demons, spirits, curses, old friends who come back from the dead, unplanned time travel, planned time travel, talking androids or creatures capable of living underwater.

Can you imagine his response if he was included in the group that found themselves facing Galactus? He may have had a bowel movement.

Puck Part 74: Alpha Flight #98 (July, 1991)

Puck faces an alien invasion in downtown Toronto.

I have this issue.

Her has arrived on Earth, and an alien armada of various races arrives to collect…Her. Judd is called to action after the first wave lands, meeting with Sasquatch and Windshear at the docking bay of their new HQ. He contacts Shaman, who’s in the diagnostics lab with Diamond Lil, Persuasion, Witchfire, Laura Dean and her parents, requesting back-up. Shaman tells him they’re on their way, but only Lil arrives – saying Laura has awakened from her coma and teleported everyone else away.

They head downtown, and Judd is left to land the shuttle as Lil, Sasquatch and Windshear bail out to attack the invading army. As the heavy hitters do their thing, Judd directs civilians into a metro station to get them safely out of the way. He regroups with Sasquatch, Northstar and Guardian to prepare for the next wave of ships when the invaders are met with the timely arrival of (wait for it) the Avengers.

Notes of Interest:

1) Judd’s piloting skills appear again.

2) He makes a passing reference to both Salvador Dali and the running of the bulls.

WTF? Moment: Where the heck was he last issue? There’s no mention of him in Alpha Flight #97, and no mention here of where he’s been. Maybe he was checking his old haunts in Toronto. If he were, wouldn't he have reacted to the giant explosion and reported to Alpha HQ? If he were hanging out at headquarters, wouldn't he have been prepared to go much sooner? My guess is that Heather told him to "stand by", thinking he’s really not really equipped for alien invasions. While this is true, his experience with war (Spain circa 1937) sure would come in handy, wouldn't it?

Puck Part 73: Alpha Flight #96 (May, 1991)

Puck aids in a rescue mission on an oil tanker…much to The Master’s delight.

I have this issue.

A tanker carrying millions of gallons of oil has run aground in Queen Maude Bay. It’s on fire, and leaking oil into the bay. Judd arrives with Box, Guardian, Windshear and Diamond Lil to help where they can. Box locates a life sign deep within the vessel and Judd joins the group as they fight through the fires to get to the wounded crew member. They find him and Judd helps bring him out.

Notes of Interest:

1) Not much character development here, but The Master confirms using Scramble’s DNA on Judd.

WTF? Moment: Judd overhears Madison and Lil discuss her impending biopsy. I’m sure whatever feelings Judd may have had for Lil are over and done with, but that must have been awkward to listen to.

WTF? Moment #2: It’s nice to see a little comic relief (pun intended) without going overboard. It shows the comfort level developing between characters and how the new line-up is working out.  

WTF? Moment #3: While the other main storyline this issue has The Master becoming a major Alpha Flight enemy once more, we get his story in flashbacks and see a panel dating back to his encounter with Judd from Alpha Flight #16. Don’t you just love continuity?

Puck Part 72: Alpha Flight #95 (April, 1991)

Puck finally returns to the group as decisions are made.

I have this issue.

The new headquarters are completed and Judd’s hitting the gym with Heather and Kara (remember her?). The two seasoned Alphans remind Persuasion that while a solid member of Beta Flight, she’s still too inexperienced to join Alpha. Later on, Judd’s in the conference room as Heather determines the official team roster, Aurora resigns from Alpha Flight and Diamond Lil reveals that she may have breast cancer.

Notes of Interest:

1) Judd is officially a member of Alpha Flight.

2) He’s continuing his role as team trainer by preparing to show Persuasion some new moves.

WTF? Moment: I’m a little surprised at Judd’s lack of reaction in the conference room. No signs of concern for Aurora - a teammate since Alpha Flight #1, or Lil – a teammate from his Beta days? Maybe he plans to talk to each of them privately later on.

WTF? Moment #2: The last time we saw Judd train anyone was when he was with Elizabeth back in Alpha Flight #23, and there was some MAJOR flirting going on. I don’t think Judd would actively hit on Kara, a minor, but who on the team isn’t a minor compared to him?

Puck Part 71: Alpha Flight #94 (March, 1991)

Puck returns to the team just in time…to watch some construction.

I have this issue.

Judd is in Toronto along with Diamond Lil and Madison Jefferies as they oversee construction of the team’s new headquarters. They have finished for the day and agree to meet in an hour for dinner.

Notes of Interest:

1) Judd and the others are staying at a hotel while the headquarters are being built.

2) He’s aware of the relationship between Madison and Lil.

WTF? Moment: This story must take place after Judd returns from his adventure in Wolverine since he missed the entire mission with Headlok, but…

WTF? Moment #2: …there’s no mention of his time-travelling at all. I guess what happens in 1937 stays in 1937.

WTF? Moment #3: If I’m not mistaken, Judd used to live in Toronto back when he was promoted to Alpha Flight in issue #1. While it wouldn’t surprise me that his old apartment was rented out, he could still have enough connections to get them their own place, but chances are Ottawa’s footing the hotel bill here so I’ll let it go.

WTF? Moment #4: Judd appears in all of one page. I guess it makes sense since he just got back from his (time) trip and all, but still…

Puck Part 70: Wolverine #37 (March, 1991)

Puck returns to the present and makes some stops along the way.

I have this issue.

Still wounded from a bomb attack in Wolverine #36, Judd is being carried by Ernest Hemingway and another member of Inez’s Resistance Party over a mountain pass to seek medical attention at a Republican Army field hospital. Logan, meanwhile, is in the middle of a fight with Lady Deathstrike when the time vortex that brought them to 1937 Spain appears again and threatens to take the two combatants back to the present.

Judd suddenly bolts from his stretcher shouting at Logan not to leave him behind, and runs back up the pass. He catches up to Logan, still battling Lady Deathstrike, and they all wind up on an aircraft carrier in the South Pacific the day Lady Deathstrike’s father crashes onto it during World War II. The trio then find themselves in New York at Christmas in the mid-eighties when Logan first fought Lady Deathstrike in Uncanny X-Men #204 as Judd becomes small again. He follows the fighters as they fall off a pier into the East River, only to surface with Logan back in Vancouver Harbor where it all began. The duo climb into their boat and Judd reaches down to save his photo (last seen in Wolverine #35) from getting wet, only this time the picture includes himself, sitting next to Inez, sitting next to Ernest…sitting next to Logan.

Notes of Interest:

1) Judd tells Logan he remembers being hit by a Legion Kondor bomb while in Spain in1937, causing things to get hazy after that. However, he recalls that Inez told him he jumped off a stretcher and disappeared into the Spanish mountains for three days before wandering into a Republican Army field hospital.

2) Judd still has no memory of seeing Logan during that time, despite holding the photo in his hand.

3) It seems that Judd became a dwarf after the beginning of World War II.

WTF? Moment: Okay…where to start. I have no idea how Judd could go from a bloody mess full of bomb shrapnel and in desperate need of medical care to jumping out of a stretcher screaming and running up a hill. Was he healed? Was he bleeding all over himself as he ran? The presence of the time vortex might have had something to do with it – but the vortex deals with time. Did it somehow take Judd back to just before the bomb was dropped? If so, it didn’t do any sort of short-range time jump with Logan or Lady Deathstrike, and they were much closer to it than he was. How did he even know the vortex was there?

WTF? Moment #2: Judd’s height. In Wolverine #35, he went from 3’6” to seven feet tall and nobody noticed. Here, he reverted back to his dwarfish frame and Hama made the point to have Judd mention it. I guess Hama was making up for his mistake, but he made an interesting point:

Back in Alpha Flight #32, we learned that Judd heard about the Black Blade of Bagdad in 1939. While it’s never mentioned exactly how long it took him to find it, that issue could be read to say that he found it pretty quickly – call it a year – and had imprisoned Razaar by late 1940. If true, that would have happened before the U.S. got involved in World War II, meaning that by the time Lady Deathstrike’s father crashed onto the American aircraft carrier, Judd would have been a dwarf. Therefore, when he found himself on the carrier at that moment thanks to the vortex, Judd would have lost his height then.

But that didn’t happen.

Judd lost his height while the three of them were time-travelling through New York in the mid-eighties. This tells us that Judd spent several years looking for the Blade, maybe the entire length of the War. Therefore, Judd definitely became a dwarf sometime after October, 1944 – when Japanese pilots began Kamikaze suicide attacks.

WTF? Moment #3: Time travel is tricky to write about, period. It was neat to have Judd comment on his memories while they were in Spain, but his injury and subsequent memory issues were poorly handled. How could Judd remember the bomb, but not Logan’s presence before the bomb? What about the time vortex? Judd has no recollection of that either? What about Inez, Hemingway and the others? Did they continue to the camp and Judd just stumbled there afterwards? But, if Judd was no longer with them, and he was the reason they were taking the pass in the first place, why didn’t they just go back the way they came and help Logan out?

WTF? Moment #4: I noticed that Judd was completely healed by the time they reached the aircraft carrier. How did this happen? Does time…truly…heal all wounds?

.

Puck Part 69: Wolverine #36 (February, 1991)

Things look bad for Puck, and Logan is left behind.

I have this issue.

Judd is with Logan, Ernest Hemingway and Hemingway’s lady-friend Inez as they continue into the Spanish mountains when they come to a roadblock. Judd helps them shoot their way through, but their car crashes into a café. They end up walking the rest of the way only to find that there are two Partisans left after an early morning gunfight.

A Nazi pilot sees the smoke of their campfire and starts a strafing run. Judd starts to free the horses when he’s hit, and is badly wounded. As a result, everyone decides to take him through a pass over the mountain to the other side, where doctors are stationed with the Republican army.

They make it part way when they’re ambushed by Nazis and Lady Deathstrike. Logan lets everyone else continue on with Judd, while he takes care of the oncoming soldiers...his way.

Notes of Interest:

1) This is the first time we see Judd use a handgun.

WTF? Moment: Judd is essentially a secondary character this issue, it is Wolverine after all.

WTF? Moment #2: That crack Judd makes about having more guts than sense “when you’re short and ugly” – could he be talking about himself as well as Logan?

Puck Part 68: Wolverine #35 (January, 1991)

We catch a glimpse of Puck’s pre-Alpha Flight days with Hemmingway in Spain.

I have this issue.

Judd’s spending some time away from Alpha Flight, filling in for a friend as a bouncer at a Vancouver bar. Judd kicks out a local named Freight-Train when Logan shows up, and Judd introduces him to Bambi Bolinsky, the regular bouncer who’s wounded at the moment. The two friends talk for a bit when Freight-Train comes back with two buddies, but Logan chases them away with his own unique spin on “Split the Fly”.

The next day, Judd and Logan are out fishing and talking about old times, old poets and old writers. Judd hands Logan a copy of “For Whom the Bell Tolls” and out drops a photo of Judd when he was younger and taller and sitting next to “Papa” and a woman Logan recognizes as Inez. Judd’s surprised that Logan knew her name, and tells him the picture was taken in Northern Spain in April, 1937. Judd asks Logan if he was there at the time, and Logan says he can’t remember. Next thing they know, Lady Deathstrike shows up on the boat out of nowhere and the three of them get sucked into a time vortex that takes them back to - Northern Spain, April, 1937...in the middle of a bullring…in the middle of a bullfight.

Apparently this is the same bullfight Judd originally entered and won and history repeats itself here, with Ernest and Inez in the audience. Judd asks to spare the bull’s life when a Nazi Stuka Dive-Bomber comes in and perforates the beast in an air raid. Hemingway tells them they’re in Guernica, and Judd tells Logan that everything is happening as he remembers it, except for Logan’s presence. The legendary writer offers to take both men with him and Inez into the Spanish mountains to join Inez’s Partisean Band, which they accept. As the four drive away, Judd mentions how happy he is that he’s just had two of his most cherished wishes come true.

Notes of Interest:

1) We get to see the infamous bullfight John Byrne mentioned waaay back in Alpha Flight #15.

2) It seems Judd likes to fish.

3) We are reminded how well read Judd is, not just with Hemmingway but also with Robert Frost and other poets.

WTF? Moment: Back in Alpha Flight #15, Byrne mentioned that Judd had trained to become a bullfighter while in Spain with Hemingway. Byrne also noted that Judd won a bullfight “despite his size”. I love how Hama made it so that it wasn’t the dwarf Judd that we all expected (and Byrne intended to be) in the bullfight, but the overly tall Judd that must have been, given the history Mantlo gave the character. This was a great touch. However…

WTF? Moment #2: ...For some reason, the time vortex not only sent Judd into the past, but made him the height he was at the time. Umm…okay, not exactly sure how that could have happened. Plus, no mention of it is made by anyone. Not Logan, now significantly shorter that Judd, or Judd himself. I can dismiss Judd’s lack of awareness since he’s deep in personal history with the bullfight and the air raid and all, but Logan should have noticed that his friend is suddenly about a foot taller than him.

WTF? Moment #3: I find it interesting that Judd likes to fish, considering all the water-related storylines he’s had with the Avengers, Marrina, Namor and the Master.

WTF? Moment #4: While it’s cool to learn that Guernica is later made famous in a painting by Pablo Picasso, it has nothing to do with the story and feels like Hama just threw that fact in.

WTF? Moment #5: This is a nit-pick. Why would Judd call revisiting his past "cherished wishes that came true"? Wouldn’t he call them cherished memories that he relived?

Puck Part 67: Alpha Flight #91 (December, 1990)

Puck and the rest of Alpha Flight are used as pawns by Doctor Doom.

I have this issue.

Judd is with Northstar, Diamond Lil, Box and Vindicator as they bust up a deliver of high-tech weapons being smuggled into Canada by a group calling themselves the Latverian Liberation Front. The smugglers are stopped, but burst into flames before they can be questioned. Doctor Doom then arrives in Canada to trade his country’s technology for access to clean water because the Latverian water supply has been contaminated…and requests Alpha Flight as protection. Judd is among the Alphans chosen to go with Doom to Parliament when another group of LLF members appear and attack Doom. Judd helps take them down, and learns that there is more to Doom’s plans than meets the eye. Doom vanishes, and official talks between Latveria and Canada cease.

Notes of Interest:

1) Judd gets thrown “fastball special”-like by Lil for the first time.

2) This issue is the first meeting between Judd and Doctor Doom.

WTF? Moment: Nicieza brings back Judd’s connection with Hemmingway with a rather small off-handed remark.

WTF? Moment #2: Isn’t it great to see Judd’s uniform with pants? I know he’s had them for a while now, but it really is a better look than the one with the shorts and the hairy legs. Just sayin’…

Puck Part 66: Avengers #324 (Early-October, 1990)

Puck and the others do what they can to escape Shaman’s pouch alive.

I have this issue.

A major battle takes place between the heavy hitters from the Avengers, the People’s Protectorate and Alpha Flight against the Combine. Judd is among those who stay behind and look after the civilians and injured Atlanteans. A plan is formed to have the remaining terrorists convince Combine to do the right thing and absorb the radiation so everyone can return to reality safely. It works, and Judd returns safely with all but the terrorists, who end up joining the Combine.

Notes of Interest:

1) It seems Judd doesn’t have any problem following Cap’s orders.

2) Judd knows that the battle with the Combine is beyond his power level and is fine with it. He also reminds us that he’s reached a state of invulnerability, which he uses to protect Fantasma.

WTF? Moment: Why the heck wasn’t Judd part of the first Secret Wars? His easy-going style and overall coolness would have made that great story better. Plus, I would have LOVED to have seen more with him and Cap since they get along quite well here.

WTF? Moment #2: His little speech at the end felt out of place. I agree with what Nicieza’s saying, and of all the characters he could have given that speech to Judd was the best choice, but the whole ‘owing our children a world where they can create their own ideals’ thing seemed silly.