Wishlist - items added

One of the things I really want...

What is it about this thing?

It was everywhere back before I owned a Blu-ray player, and I do have the DVD, but I can't find it in stores...even used...and online it costs over $20.

WTF?

I'd expect there to be more of them kicking around if Marvel/Disney was planning on re-issuing it post-Avengers, but I haven't seen any news of such a thing happening.

I'm also adding The Incredible Hulk Blu-ray to my list,

but this is less than $20...even with the second "digital copy" disc.

Well, Christmas is just around the corner...

Puck Part 24: Alpha Flight #29 (December, 1985)

Puck faces off against the Hulk, and must decide whether or not to remain an Alphan.

I have this issue.

The Hulk finds himself in Bochs’ lab at Alpha Headquarters, goes berserk and badly damages Box. Judd distracts Hulk long enough for Mr. Jefferies to repair him, but Hulk escapes and tears through downtown Vancouver. Judd and the team chase after him and get soundly beaten. Hulk heads South into the U. S., and Gary Cody shows up offering Heather official government funding from newly reformed Department H. Heather poses the offer to the team, and Judd says yes.

Notes of Interest:

1) This issue takes place immediately after both Alpha Flight #28 and The Incredible Hulk #313.

2) Judd holds his own against Hulk. Sure, he gets thrown around a bit, but he survives.

WTF? Moment: This is Bill Mantlo’s first issue writing Puck, and he does a decent job. Judd’s concerns for Heather’s safety are present without putting him in needless jeopardy – like pushing her out of the way of falling debris for example. In fact, it’s his feelings for her that drive him to attack rather than defend.

WTF? Moment #2: This is also Mike Mignola’s first issue drawing Judd. I guess I’m so used to how Byrne drew him that it’s hard for me to like Mantlo’s version. His shortness seems over-emphasized, and did he start bench pressing Buicks between issues?

WTF? Moment #3: Of course Judd’s going to stay with the team…if for no other reason than another chance to “pop one” on ol’ Gary.

Puck Part 23: The Incredible Hulk #313 (November, 1985)

Puck helps bring the Hulk back to Earth 616.

I have this issue.

This issue tells how Hulk returns to Earth from his perspective. We see Judd in the final panel, reacting to the Hulk appearing in their headquarters.

Notes of Interest:

1)  No character development here, but this issue takes place during - and ends at roughly the same moment as - Alpha Flight #28.

WTF? Moment: I guess it was a good thing Judd kept his costume on, eh?

My Thoughts On Captain America...The Movie

Okay. So a while back I explained my opinions on the Thor movie and how it would connect to the Marvel Movie Universe. I’ve thought it through, and figured how to do the same thing with Captain America:

First the plot – the first act would be about Steve Rogers, growing up in New York in the thirties, enlisting in the army, getting selected for the ‘Super-Soldier’ program (that is mentioned in Incredible Hulk) and ends with Steve completing the process and getting the new body. Act 2 would be about his army days, sneaking around, being an inspirational leader on the battlefield, meeting Bucky and having him learn Steve’s secret identity, and would end with Cap being defeated and/or captured by the Red Skull. The final act would be Steve’s victory against the Red Skull, defeating whatever Nazi plans he had, and the movie would end with Cap (and Bucky) continuing the never-ending battle for victory in WWII.

So basically, it’s the plot of the 4-part The Adventures of Captain America mini by Fabian Nicieza and Kevin Maguire from 1991/1992.


But the major difference is in the post credits…

There’s a shot of a newspaper headline dated at least a year after the movie takes place, but still during World War II, that reads: CAPTAIN AMERICA MISSING!!! Then we see darkness, but obviously underwater. Lights are shining from around and behind the camera into the water in front of us. Then we see an iceberg, with a familiar shield encased in it, and an arm, and the rest of Cap’s body. Coming into frame, on either side, we see the sources of the lights – Iron Man’s glove, and Thor’s hammer…

That’s it. That’s all you need. The movie itself connects to The Incredible Hulk, and the post credits connect to Iron Man, Iron Man 2 and Thor.

Done deal.

My Thoughts On Thor...The Movie

I saw Iron Man 2 last week (which is FANTASTIC by the way), and know how Marvel managed to connect it with Thor, the next installment of the Marvel Movie Universe.

Here’s my question: How will Marvel connect Thor with the previous two movies (Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk)?

Here’s my answer…

The explosion of the Arc Reactor – which was a unique achievement that has never existed before, and therefore no one could predict the ramifications of its detonation – was somehow noticed by the gods of Asgard. Either it woke them out of some form of suspended animation, or brought them back into existence, or just made them aware of the power humans now have and they feel threatened. This would cause some of the gods, most likely Tyr and Loki, to want to attack humanity in self defense. They would enlist the Frost Giants, Dark Elves, trolls and others as their army. Other Asgardians, including Odin, Thor, Balder, Sif, Valkyrie and the Warriors Three, would try to stop them, believing that humanity should be left alone. The resulting battle, with humanity at stake, causes the tremendous storm we see in The Incredible Hulk.

But how does this explain the presence of Thor’s hammer at the end of Iron Man 2?

Instead of Odin sending Thor to Earth to learn humility (as it was in the comics), Thor winds up on Earth during the battle, and forgets everything about his Asgardian self. It could be from an injury, or it could be from a spell cast on him by Loki. While the rest of the movie deals with Thor recovering from the injury/spell and rediscovering himself, the battle ends with Loki’s forces victorious, and preparing to invade Earth…

Now I have to figure out how to connect this with the Captain America movie.