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.

Puck Part 64: Avengers #322 (Early-September, 1990)

Puck gets caught in the blast as the nuclear sub explodes…but he goes down swinging.

I have this issue.

Judd succeeds in getting the British sailors out of the captured submarine when the Atlanteans attack again. He helps some of the locals of to safety before joining the battle. He catches up with Crimson Dynamo, Quasar and Madison Jefferies as they surround Tyrak on the dock when the sub explodes.

Notes of Interest: 

1) We’re reminded of Judd’s knowledge of Shakespeare as he quotes Hamlet when the attack begins.

2) Judd implies that his near-indestructibility prevents him from getting tired.

WTF? Moment: I’m glad Nicieza brought back the Shakespeare. It was a classy touch to the character that’s been missing for a while.

WTF? Moment #2: So Judd’s now an indestructible object that can bounce around presumable forever without getting tired? That’s a little too much like his namesake…and a little too much like another Marvel character known for SPEEDing around bouncing into things like a BALL…for my taste, but hey – he quotes the Bard!

Puck Part 61: Alpha Flight #90 (November, 1990)

Puck is reunited with Alpha Flight and Heather…only to be one-upped by another long-lost Alphan.

I have this issue.

Judd helps his rescuers (Shaman, Talisman, Sasquatch and Aurora) fight the Master’s Remnant Men. Talisman finds the spell that stops them in Shaman’s medicine bag, costing her dearly, and they all rematerialize outside the Black Hills of South Dakota as the Master escapes. They take her back to a Canadian hospital for treatment, and it is there in the waiting room that Judd is reunited with Heather. His affection and happiness is short-lived, as another Alphan enters the room – James MacDonald Hudson.

Notes of Interest:

1) Judd was naked after breaking out of Master’s container last issue. The sudden appearance of his costume here is thanks to Talisman’s mystic abilities.

2) This is the first Judd hears of Hudson’s return.

3) Judd is officially reinstated as a member of Alpha Flight.

WTF? Moment: Was it just me, or was there a nice little play on words between Judd and Talisman as they mentioned his uniform? It felt to me as if Nicieza was channeling the playfulness between these characters from back in Alpha Flight #23 when Judd first started training her in physical combat.

WTF? Moment #2: Having Judd hold Heather’s head as they hugged was a nice touch. In that one panel, Bair manages to convey the deep affection Judd has for her without any sign of the obsession Mantlo had him suffer through.

WTF? Moment #3: There is some genuine shock on Judd’s face as Hudson enters the room. My hope is that this is just the shock of seeing his dead friend walking around again, and not some plant to re-spark the horrible storyline of Judd’s pining for Heather. We are SO done with that!

WTF? Moment #4: The hospital that Judd and the others take Talisman to? Yeah, it’s Ottawa General, the same hospital Judd was kidnapped from AND where Judd uncovered that drug trafficking ring while recuperating from Marrina’s attack. W…T…F…? Is that like the only hospital in Canada?

Puck Part 58: Alpha Flight #87 (August, 1990)

Clues are found regarding Puck’s disappearance.

I have this issue.

Shaman, Aurora, Sasquatch and Talisman return to Ottawa General Hospital to find Judd. They’re told he was discharged, but it turns out that he was kept under sedation and kidnapped.

Notes of Interest:

1) Judd was taken from the hospital weeks before his fellow Alphans arrive looking for him.

2) He was still sedated when he was taken out of the hospital.

WTF? Moment: Another writer makes an attempt to bring Puck back. Maybe Nicieza will have better luck?