Michael Hancock
@personofcon.bsky.social
Phd haver and UWaterloo English instructor. Interested in games, digital media, comic books, and gamebooks. He/him
That's it for this week! Expect more What If and more Aquaman, for a very long time!
December 8, 2025 at 5:12 AM
That's it for this week! Expect more What If and more Aquaman, for a very long time!
Here's a fun loopdeloop for a battle cruiser in issue 10.
And land animals turned to sea animals in #12. ...Ok, maybe there is some weird stuff.
And land animals turned to sea animals in #12. ...Ok, maybe there is some weird stuff.
December 8, 2025 at 5:12 AM
Here's a fun loopdeloop for a battle cruiser in issue 10.
And land animals turned to sea animals in #12. ...Ok, maybe there is some weird stuff.
And land animals turned to sea animals in #12. ...Ok, maybe there is some weird stuff.
It's really weird to be back in a silver age story, especially after so much time in Vertigo. So far it's... pretty meh. For the most part, there's some visual highlights, but the stories just aren't as weird as the Superman and Supergirl heights. Hopefully that'll change.
December 8, 2025 at 5:12 AM
It's really weird to be back in a silver age story, especially after so much time in Vertigo. So far it's... pretty meh. For the most part, there's some visual highlights, but the stories just aren't as weird as the Superman and Supergirl heights. Hopefully that'll change.
And then we're back in the sixties, with issues 10-15 of Aquaman. The issues before 10 are on the service too, but I accidentally set the series to list in alphabetical order over age, so I missed it on first glance.
December 8, 2025 at 5:12 AM
And then we're back in the sixties, with issues 10-15 of Aquaman. The issues before 10 are on the service too, but I accidentally set the series to list in alphabetical order over age, so I missed it on first glance.
The second story has Detective Chimp hitching a ride from a man who just killed someone and is desperately trying to hide it. It's a really fun noir story of bluffs and cold reading. And the last is the Monkey Prince vs. the Ultra-Humanite. Bless.
December 8, 2025 at 5:12 AM
The second story has Detective Chimp hitching a ride from a man who just killed someone and is desperately trying to hide it. It's a really fun noir story of bluffs and cold reading. And the last is the Monkey Prince vs. the Ultra-Humanite. Bless.
The next thing on the DC alphabetical order was the 2024 Ape-Ril special, and I loved this a lot. All of the DC ape characters, hero and villain, teamed up. It's silly and fun and it's always nice to see Detective Chimp. The first story has Master Mallah stealing monkey paws in order to make wishes.
December 8, 2025 at 5:12 AM
The next thing on the DC alphabetical order was the 2024 Ape-Ril special, and I loved this a lot. All of the DC ape characters, hero and villain, teamed up. It's silly and fun and it's always nice to see Detective Chimp. The first story has Master Mallah stealing monkey paws in order to make wishes.
To me, it hints at some sort of resurrection plan that never happened. All in all, though, I have to give Lemire a lot of credit for this run. It fit what was done previously with the character and it got that the center to Buddy is maybe less the animals than tragedy and family.
December 8, 2025 at 5:12 AM
To me, it hints at some sort of resurrection plan that never happened. All in all, though, I have to give Lemire a lot of credit for this run. It fit what was done previously with the character and it got that the center to Buddy is maybe less the animals than tragedy and family.
I get the sense that Lemire had to wrap things up fairly quickly; the last issue has Maxine recall the plot as a children's story, including seeing Cliff again when they all died, but Cliff is depicted with a winged woman I don't think we've seen before.
December 8, 2025 at 5:12 AM
I get the sense that Lemire had to wrap things up fairly quickly; the last issue has Maxine recall the plot as a children's story, including seeing Cliff again when they all died, but Cliff is depicted with a winged woman I don't think we've seen before.
Over at DC, I read Animal Man 25-29, the Ape-Ril Special oneshot, and Aquaman 10-15. Animal Man sees the end of the Lemire run, and I took zero snapshots, which means nothing in particular stood out. I liked it, and I appreciated that Lemire drew oart of the last issue himself.
December 8, 2025 at 5:12 AM
Over at DC, I read Animal Man 25-29, the Ape-Ril Special oneshot, and Aquaman 10-15. Animal Man sees the end of the Lemire run, and I took zero snapshots, which means nothing in particular stood out. I liked it, and I appreciated that Lemire drew oart of the last issue himself.
29: What if The Avengers Defeated Everybody? by Steven Grant ,Alan Kupperberg and Al Gordon. Apparently this is based on an Avengers Annual. Rama-Tut is doing shenanigans to stop superheroes from happening, and the original Avengers are surprisingly effective at helping him do that.
December 8, 2025 at 5:12 AM
29: What if The Avengers Defeated Everybody? by Steven Grant ,Alan Kupperberg and Al Gordon. Apparently this is based on an Avengers Annual. Rama-Tut is doing shenanigans to stop superheroes from happening, and the original Avengers are surprisingly effective at helping him do that.
The answer is the Ghost Rider attempts to murder the pope, and I'll give the story props for high stakes.
December 8, 2025 at 5:12 AM
The answer is the Ghost Rider attempts to murder the pope, and I'll give the story props for high stakes.
The back up (on the cover, though inside, it gets more pages) is what if Ghost Rider were separated from Johnny Blaze, though a more accurate title is what if Ghost Rider was stolen by a wizard.
December 8, 2025 at 5:12 AM
The back up (on the cover, though inside, it gets more pages) is what if Ghost Rider were separated from Johnny Blaze, though a more accurate title is what if Ghost Rider was stolen by a wizard.
28: What if Matt Murdock became an Agent of Shield, by Mike Barr, Frank Miller and Klaus Janson. Basically, things turn out exactly the same, only his dad is seized by HYDRA instead of dying in the ring, and Matt rescues him.
December 8, 2025 at 5:12 AM
28: What if Matt Murdock became an Agent of Shield, by Mike Barr, Frank Miller and Klaus Janson. Basically, things turn out exactly the same, only his dad is seized by HYDRA instead of dying in the ring, and Matt rescues him.
27: What if Phoenix had not died? by Mary Jo Duffy and Jerry Bingham. She'd tell everyone she could control the power, then succumb to it little by little until she kills her friends and the planet. The big turn in the story, where she kills Kitty Pryde, is surprising and chilling.
December 8, 2025 at 5:12 AM
27: What if Phoenix had not died? by Mary Jo Duffy and Jerry Bingham. She'd tell everyone she could control the power, then succumb to it little by little until she kills her friends and the planet. The big turn in the story, where she kills Kitty Pryde, is surprising and chilling.
There's also a back up, What if the Man-Thing had regained Ted Sallis' Brain? by Steven Grant and Herb Trimpe. A: he'd try to seize control of the Nexus, and it would create a new mindless champion to stop him.
December 8, 2025 at 5:12 AM
There's also a back up, What if the Man-Thing had regained Ted Sallis' Brain? by Steven Grant and Herb Trimpe. A: he'd try to seize control of the Nexus, and it would create a new mindless champion to stop him.
26: What if Captain America Had Been Elected President? by Mike Barr and Her Trimpe and Mike Esposito. Answer: he dies early in a sucker fight against the Red Skull. But there are some nice visuals along the way.
December 8, 2025 at 5:12 AM
26: What if Captain America Had Been Elected President? by Mike Barr and Her Trimpe and Mike Esposito. Answer: he dies early in a sucker fight against the Red Skull. But there are some nice visuals along the way.
25:What if Thor and the Avengers battled the Gods? by Peter Gillis and Rick Buckler. Thor and Odin fall out over Jane marrying Thor, so they go to war. Eventually, they stop, but with Thor's resolution to leave Asgard forever. Story's ok, but the art is the real sell.
December 8, 2025 at 5:12 AM
25:What if Thor and the Avengers battled the Gods? by Peter Gillis and Rick Buckler. Thor and Odin fall out over Jane marrying Thor, so they go to war. Eventually, they stop, but with Thor's resolution to leave Asgard forever. Story's ok, but the art is the real sell.
He bring the fight to Green Goblin, who decides to reveal Peter's identity to the world, and he ends up wanted and on the run. Goblin's actions feel a little disconnected from the rescue so it doesn't totally work. I guess if had succeeded in killing Gwen, he would have been happy not going as far?
December 8, 2025 at 5:12 AM
He bring the fight to Green Goblin, who decides to reveal Peter's identity to the world, and he ends up wanted and on the run. Goblin's actions feel a little disconnected from the rescue so it doesn't totally work. I guess if had succeeded in killing Gwen, he would have been happy not going as far?
24: What if Spider-Man Saved Gwen Stacey, byTony Isabella and Gil Kane anf Frank Glacoia. The set up and rescue takes 16 pages, at the end of which Peter reveals his identity to a rescued Gwen.
December 8, 2025 at 5:12 AM
24: What if Spider-Man Saved Gwen Stacey, byTony Isabella and Gil Kane anf Frank Glacoia. The set up and rescue takes 16 pages, at the end of which Peter reveals his identity to a rescued Gwen.
23: What If The Hulk Had Become a Barbarian? by Peter Gillis and Herbe Trimpe. Basically they go back to Jarella's realm, free it from evil beings and live happy lives.
December 8, 2025 at 5:12 AM
23: What If The Hulk Had Become a Barbarian? by Peter Gillis and Herbe Trimpe. Basically they go back to Jarella's realm, free it from evil beings and live happy lives.
Also, each What If issue begins with the Watcher explaining the premise and the basic event that led to this issue. Usually, it's just him appearing. This time, kudos to Kida--the Watcher splashpage goes hard.
December 8, 2025 at 5:12 AM
Also, each What If issue begins with the Watcher explaining the premise and the basic event that led to this issue. Usually, it's just him appearing. This time, kudos to Kida--the Watcher splashpage goes hard.
Again, the series seems at its best when it focuses on small scale tragedies over sweeping cause and effect.
December 8, 2025 at 5:12 AM
Again, the series seems at its best when it focuses on small scale tragedies over sweeping cause and effect.
Specifically, he takes Doom's bride, and says Doom has to choose between saving her or taking his place. And Doom succumbs to his fatal flaw--he's a hero, but a prideful one. "The world must not be deprived of Doom!"
December 8, 2025 at 5:12 AM
Specifically, he takes Doom's bride, and says Doom has to choose between saving her or taking his place. And Doom succumbs to his fatal flaw--he's a hero, but a prideful one. "The world must not be deprived of Doom!"
#22. What if Doom was a hero? by Don Glut and Fred Kida. Rather than dismiss Reed's warning about his experiment, Doom listens, and perfects it. He rescues his mother from hell, takes over Latveria, and marries his sweetheart. But Mephisto, smarting from the loss of his mother, takes revenge.
December 8, 2025 at 5:12 AM
#22. What if Doom was a hero? by Don Glut and Fred Kida. Rather than dismiss Reed's warning about his experiment, Doom listens, and perfects it. He rescues his mother from hell, takes over Latveria, and marries his sweetheart. But Mephisto, smarting from the loss of his mother, takes revenge.
Another interesting story; it essentially posits the FF collapses without Sue, or at least, if she leaves in a way that leaves Reed feeling angry or diminished. By Bill Mantlo and Gene Colan.
December 8, 2025 at 5:12 AM
Another interesting story; it essentially posits the FF collapses without Sue, or at least, if she leaves in a way that leaves Reed feeling angry or diminished. By Bill Mantlo and Gene Colan.