Articles for February, 2017

Jewelry for nerds, an action-figure Twitter feed, and a video game that’s worth the effort – A.V. Club (blog)

A.V. Club (blog)

Jewelry for nerds, an action-figure Twitter feed, and a video game that's worth the effort
A.V. Club (blog)
I'm late to the party on this one, but I've become obsessed with this Japanese Twitter account called @suekichiii. It's full of little four-panel comics made using high-end action figures, the kind with lots of articulation and even switchable heads ...

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Mexico warns of tariffs, spurns U.S. aid under review by Trump
By Frank Jack Daniel MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - An emboldened Mexico hardened its opposition to President Donald Trump on Friday by saying it would retaliate if the United States imposed a border tax and that it can afford to lose financial aid that migh...
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Follow the History of the Hulk Pt. 51

For over 50 years, the Incredible Hulk has been smashing his way through the Marvel Universe and into the hearts of fans. Whether you’ve discovered the tale of Bruce Banner and his other self through comics, TV, or film, get the whole story here…

The Hulk joined the Avengers on a mission to Mars in AVENGERS #1 to confront the terraforming of the planet by an alien called Ex Nihilo and his associates. The green giant found himself mentally subjugated by an alien woman named Abyss, who pitted him against Thor. In AVENGERS #2, the controlled Hulk watched as Ex Nihilo examined his captives, while on Earth, Captain America assembled a new team to rescue the heroes.

The Hulk fought the powerful Hyperion on Mars in AVENGERS #3, but Abyss freed him from her control when Captain Universe intervened and made a deal with Ex Nihilo. Back on Earth, Bruce Banner made a deal of his own with S.H.I.E.L.D. in INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK #1 for his services and those of his emerald-hued alter ego.

Iron Man took exception to Hulk’s new role in INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK #2, but the jade giant kept on smashing for S.H.I.E.L.D. in INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK #3 when he took on A.I.M. and the Quintronic Man over a volcano. The Hulk joined with the Avengers once again in AVENGERS #5 to aid the Shi’ar Empire versus an alien armada on the run from a cosmic menace.

Banner sent The Hulk off with S.H.I.E.L.D. agents to recover an item from lost Lemuria in INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK #4, and clashed with the Atlantean warlord Attuma over it in INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK #5. After a so-called “white event” in AVENGERS #7, Hulk helped his teammates track down Starbrand. When the new hero’s powers activated in AVENGERS #8, he threw the green behemoth into orbit, prompting Captain Marvel to save him by pushing Hulk back down to Earth and smashing into his opponent.

Indestructible Hulk (2012) #1

Indestructible Hulk (2012) #1

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Banner led a team of his S.H.I.E.L.D. lab assistants through a portal to fabled Jotunheim in INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK #6 where they met with Frost Giants and the mighty Thor. The thunder god teamed with Hulk to fight the giants in INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK #7, and bid him a farewell in INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK #8 after the fight ended.

Starbrand returned to fight Earth’s Mightiest Heroes in AVENGERS #9, but Hulk and the others turned their attention to Ex Nihilo’s sentience bombs landing all over the planet. Bruce Banner traveled to Canada in AVENGERS #10 and encountered a strange effect there from a bomb that “evolved” him temporarily into his future self as The Maestro.

Daredevil lent a helping hand to Hulk in INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK #9 and stopped him from killing a criminal. Together, the blind hero and the jade giant tracked arms dealers back to Baron Zemo in INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK #10, but Hulk suffered blindness from one of the villain’s weapons before being saved by the Man Without Fear. Later, The Hulk investigated an accident with a S.H.I.E.L.D. time portal in INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK #11, a situation that set him on an adventure through time with Western heroes in INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK #12 and the Black Knight in old Camelot in INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK #13. Eventually, in order to save all of time itself, he journeyed back to his own origins at the gamma bomb site in INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK #14.

Captain America enlisted Banner to work on the problem of the rampant evolution brought on by Ex Nihilo’s devices in AVENGERS #14. Unfortunately, the stress of it all forced the scientist to Hulk-out in AVENGERS #16. Afterward, he joined with the Avengers to bring the alien and his crew over to the heroes’ side in AVENGERS #17 to present a joint force to leave Earth in INFINITY #1 to confront the approaching Builder fleet in outer space.

The Avengers suffered defeat from the Builders in AVENGERS #18, but they rallied in INFINITY #2 to cause some damage to Builder ships. The Hulk in particular smashed his way through a supposed “world killer” in INFINITY #3 and fought Thanos’ lackey Black Dwarf in AVENGERS #22. Following the destruction, the Avengers headed back to Earth in INFINITY #5 when they heard news of Thanos’ invasion of their home world.

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Unleash the Beasts: Hypno-Creature

With so many classic creatures on the loose in Monsters Unleashed, we turn to their earlier adventures thanks to Marvel Unlimited.

Stumbling into a strange, subterranean and possibly alien environment would be a lot for anyone to handle. John Cummings dealt with it in relative stride in the pages of a 1961 Stan Lee and Jack Kirby story in TALES OF SUSPENSE #23.

In his younger days, the man recounted his generally curious nature. He’d ask anyone about anything they worked on, including some men digging a hole in the street. When they brushed him off, John got even more curious and watched them from a building.

To his surprise, one of the men disappeared before his eyes. Compelled to find out what happened, John climbed down into the hole himself and soon found himself disappearing.

Molecularly transported somewhere else, John’s body now existed in two dimensions instead of the usual three. Unperturbed by his flattened form, the intrepid young man kept looking around and soon discovered that he’d stumbled upon a 2D city hidden underground.

Johnny soon learned that the workmen from above were actually disguised 2D beings and that they planned on invading the 3D world. An alarm sounded alerting the flat folks that someone had bad thoughts, sending John running. That’s when they unleashed the Hypno-Creature.

Originally hand-held, the Hypno-Creature grew to monstrous sizes after the tube around its neck was broken and it breathed in certain fumes. Moments later, it took off after John into the Valley of Crystal.

Seemingly trapped and about to fall prey to the beast’s blast, John grabbed a nearby crystal and reflected the Hypno-Blast back at his pursuer. The youth ordered the Hypno-Creature to attack his masters, regained his extra dimension, scrambled back to the surface, commandeered a steamroller. and closed up the hole crushing the trans-dimensional machine in the process.

After he had taken care of business, a cop came over and told Cummings that he’d probably get sued by the company that dug the hole in the first place, but John just smiled knowing that it wouldn’t really be a problem.

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Brazil's Carnival begins with parades, parties but no mayor

Brazil's Carnival begins with parades, parties but no mayorRIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Revelers across Brazil began Carnival celebrations on Friday, taking to the streets to dance, drink beer and spirits, and blow off steam at a time of economic angst and fury with politicians over a sprawling corruption scandal.


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Flashback Friday: Elektra

Every Friday we use the powers of Marvel Unlimited to look back at the very first appearance of a major character, place or object that made waves this week.

As ELEKTRA #1 bets our favorite Sai-wielding assassin’s life in a Vegas-set adventure by Matt Owens and Juan Cabal this week, it’s the best time possible to roll back the tape and check out her debut.

Created as part of Frank Miller’s epic DAREDEVIL run, Elektra first appeared in 1981’s issue #168. The writer and artist put the basics of her relationship with the Man Without Fear right on the cover in a blurb that read: “Once he loved her…now she is his most deadly enemy!”

While looking for information, Daredevil ran into some punks who preferred fisticuffs to communication. As he handled them, Elektra watched from her perch on a nearby power line. As she worried that the Man Without Fear’s presence could “ruin everything,” he completely missed her presence because of the fight.

A moment later, the warrior woman threw the handle-end of her Sai into the back of Daredevil’s head and proceeded to beat up our hero’s quarry in an effort to get the same intel. Just before passing out from injuries sustained, Matt Murdock recognized Elektra.

While unconscious, Matt’s mind drifted back to meeting the woman known as Elektra Natchios back when he and Foggy Nelson attended Columbia. They literally ran into the young lady, her father, and their body guards, which gave the future Daredevil a chance to take in her scent.

Daredevil (1964) #168

Daredevil (1964) #168

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Later, Matt used a paper airplane and less-than-subtle subterfuge to distract the bodyguard so he could briefly converse with Elektra and pass her a rose. After she said she didn’t want to go out with him, Matt spilled the beans on his secret origin, explaining his heightened senses.

The play worked and the two had a year of happiness in college. That all ended when some terrorists held Elektra and her father at gunpoint and Matt’s attempt at diffusing the situation inadvertently led to Mr. Natchios’ death. She didn’t stick around long after that, returning to Europe and a life that would eventually shape her into one of the world’s foremost assassins.

Eventually Daredevil recovered and made it to the docks in time to help save Elektra from some of the men she tried to pump for info. Before leaving, he kissed her and she knew the masked man’s true identity.

Elektra stuck around for a while, but eventually wound up on the wrong end of her own Sai thanks to an attack by Bullseye in DAREDEVIL #181. Far from her last appearance, the master of combat has spent time as the head of the Hand, a Thunderbolt and even an Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Flash Forward

Much to her chagrin, Elektra fell to the invaders during Secret Invasion. As seen in MIGHTY AVENGERS #16, the assassin nearly defeated an entire squad of shapeshifters, but lost in battle to a Super Skrull sporting a combination of Invisible Woman and Colossus’ abilities called Pagon. This is the Skrull who then took over the Hand and sacrificed itself in battle with the Avengers to let the heroes know they’d been infiltrated. That story actually set off the invasion in NEW AVENGERS #31 when the dead “Elektra” turned green and Skrully. Upon escaping from her initial captors, Elektra and others found themselves incarcerated by S.H.I.E.L.D. and its follow-up organization H.A.M.M.E.R., run by Norman Osborn. Being one of the most dangerous people on the planet, though, she eventually broke out and got back to her life as can be seen in DARK REIGN: ELEKTRA.

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Panther Nation: Lil B The BasedGod

In addition to now being part of the Black Panther family, you were already an avid Marvel fan way before you got involved with this project. What comics got you hooked?

I mean, of course you know, X-Men—biggest X-Men fan. I was planning on getting a tattoo of Carnage actually, who is one of my favorite characters. One, because of how well he’s drawn.  But, you know what definitely got me…X-Men. I like X-Force. I think that’s what kept me going. X-Men, X-Force, stuff like that.

Say you could have one super-power, what would it be?

I think Storm has the dope-est power, being able to fly and shoot the thunder and lightning. I think I was always a big fan of Storm when it really came down to it.

Is there a particular Marvel hero you like or relate to the most?

I really like Nightcrawler. He can crawl around and disappear and stuff like that. I’m surprised no one likes Nightcrawler. Everybody always goes with Cyclops or something.

Switching gears to hip-hop, who are some of your biggest musical influences?

Musically, some of my biggest influences…pretty much rap music as a whole. I really appreciate and love thinking about pioneers in rap music and the folks in NYC, so I really just want to appreciate all them and everybody: jazz, and rock and roll, just everybody that had a part of hip-hop. That’s what I’m really inspired by, people that gave us the ability to make beats and the metronome, and whoever gave us the ability to create sound from scratch in an MPC. That’s who I really love and am inspired by because they’re giving me the opportunity to express myself and be an individual.

What do you consider your proudest musical achievements in your own career?

Well, I would say right now my proudest achievement is what’s coming: Black Ken mixtape produced and composed solely by the BasedGod. This is going to be my best work. I feel like my career starts now. I feel like nothing is compared to what’s coming. I’m creating new sounds from scratch and actually creating my own sound patches, not doing samples, I’m actually acquiring sound, recording live sound. For Black Ken, let me give you an example: I have some bass drums that I have created in Berkley, CA, and I won’t tell you from what but when Black Ken comes out I’ll be more specific like where this bass drum comes from or these sounds, etc.

It’s about to be real “Marvel”-lous. This is about to be my best work. I learned, I took this whole year to sit back and learn a new bit of music theory to define my skills as a musician and I hit a new breakthrough in production and been working with the BasedGod. It’s about to be a wrap. I just tweeted out, around maybe 2010 or 2009, I let the world know I’m going to be a freshman in the XXL Magazine and the next year I did that. So I let the people know just today (and this is a BLACK PANTHER first exclusive news break that I’m breaking with y’all), I let the world know that I will be getting a Grammy so that’s next on the play and I’m standing by that.

I know it can seem crazy but, like, if I would have told you [then] what I would be doing [now]…it would have seemed crazy. If I would have told you back then that I’m going to be lecturing at Carnegie Mellon, it might have sounded a little more crazy and then some.

It’s 100% true. I don’t really like to say too much. But I know it’s coming.

Finally, what up-and-coming artists do you think could be the next big thing?

I’m learning everything…Lil Yachty, Lil Uzi Vert, these folks that are being extremely positive. D.R.A.M., Mac Miller, Clams Casino, Keyboard Kid…and the BasedGod is going to have a huge breakthrough in 2017 production-wise. Oh yeah, big fan of A$AP Rocky and what he’s doing. I got love for Soulja Boy… still my brother, still got love for him. The Pack, got love for them, too. But Lil B, man, the BasedGod. It’s about to be a real serious year for me; nothing will compare to what’s coming. For myself, nothing I’ve ever done will compare to now, sonically, just everything. A lot of people believe in me and I gotta do this for y’all.

Interview by Chris Robinson

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Ultimates: Troublemakers

The Ultimates cannot do what they do without gaining the attention of others. As seen way back in ULTIMATES #12, some of those people have command of a pretty powerful team of individuals, the Troubleshooters.

When we found ULTIMATES 2 writer Al Ewing, he proved nice enough to tell us all about the ‘Shooters, including their counterparts from a New Universe gone by.

Who are the Troubleshooters?

“When the world’s ultimate super team was working in concert with the government, their cosmic-scale activities were tolerated; now the thought of what they could do is making the NSA very nervous indeed,” Ewing reveals. “Their solution? Send in the Troubleshooters, a group of ‘psychic soldiers’ tasked with monitoring high-powered super-teams and dealing with any potential issues. They’ve already engaged the Ultimates in combat, but how much of a threat are they against the people who took down Thanos?”

Jim Tensen (New Universe counterpart: John Tensen, aka Justice)

“An ex-member of the mysterious First Eternity Battalion, James Tensen is the world’s foremost expert on the Psi-Force—a quasi-magical psychic energy field that can be manifested in different ways,” recalls the writer. “In Tensen’s case, it takes the form of a ‘sword’—a powerful blast of energy that even Captain Marvel can’t absorb—and a ‘shield’—a force screen that’s as impervious as his subconscious wants it to be.

“While he sees himself as a ‘warrior of Spring’—a personal pop-philosophy he taught in seminars before he was recruited—his work with the Troubleshooters has taken him outside his comfort zone,” Ewing continues. “Can he still call himself a ‘Justice Warrior’ when he’s fighting America Chavez?”

Kathy Ling (New Universe counterpart: Kathy Ling, aka Shockwave and Codename: Spitfire)

“Kathy Ling’s Psi-Force manifests as ‘techno-telekinesis,’ the ability to interface with complex machinery using the power of her mind,” explains the writer. “That makes her the only human on the planet who can pilot the ‘Codename: Spitfire’ psychic-powered armor. It’s already beaten the Black Panther’s Kimoyo system; can it defeat the man underneath?”

Dionne McQuaid (New Universe counterpart: Dionne McQuaid, aka Indigo)

“Dionne McQuaid uses the Psi-Force to turn her emotions into solid purple thought-forms, what she calls her ‘Mood Indigo,’ Ewing says. “She’s cool under pressure, but in combat she can let herself go and manifest massive tentacle monsters growing right out of her psyche, with enough punch to slam even Captain Marvel into the mat.”

Terry Jessup (New Universe counterpart: Tyrone Jessup, aka Voyager)

“A suave ex-SAS member, Jessup—callsign ‘Network’—is perhaps the most connected to the Psi-Force of any of the Troubleshooters,” argues the writer. “That’s because, after a top-secret attempt by a skunkworks facility to duplicate the White Event, he’s been transformed into pure, living thought.

“Without the limits of a physical body, Terry is the ultimate spy; as fleeting as a thought, and able to create psychic constructs in enemy minds that seem as solid as objective reality. By travelling through the collective unconscious, Terry can travel vast distances at faster-than-light speeds—but does that make him faster than Monica Rambeau?”

Simon Rodstvow (New Universe counterpart: Rodstvow of the Medusa Web)

“Simon Rodstvow was the first Troubleshooter recruited by the NSA and the one about whom the least is known,” states the writer. “The only team member not connected in some way to the Psi-Force, Rodstvow gets his powers–a terrifying mastery of cosmic energies, and a portal ability that echoes America’s own–from an unknown source. He’s a thoroughly nasty character, a brutal thug who worships strength above all, but is he even human? The Blue Marvel is maybe the only hero who can stand up to him long enough to find out.”

Philip Nelson Vogt (New Universe counterpart: Philip Nolan Voigt, aka Overshadow)

“The enigmatic ‘Man in the Shadows’ leads the Troubleshooters from his dusty, old-fashioned office,” Ewing describes. “Readers don’t know much about him yet, but I can reveal here that he was also once a First Eternity Battalion member, serving alongside Jim Tensen and he has his own strange connection to the Psi-Force. Unlike his New Universe counterpart, there’s a relatively decent man inside Philip Vogt, but does that mean he has what it takes to face Galactus and live?”

Track the Troubleshooters’ next move in ULTIMATES 2 #5 by Al Ewing and Travel Foreman, out March 22!

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CBS Will Have No Doubt After All & Takes Drama Off the Schedule After 2 Episodes
That was fast! After airing just two episodes, CBS is taking Doubt off of its schedule, and could be done with the legal drama. Next week, its timeslot (Wednesdays at 10 p.m.) will be...
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U.S. seeks extradition of ex-Guatemala officials on drug charges

U.S. seeks extradition of ex-Guatemala officials on drug chargesThe United States will request the extradition of former Guatemalan Vice President Roxana Baldetti and a former cabinet minister on drug trafficking charges, the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala said on Friday. Baldetti has been imprisoned in Guatemala since 2015 on charges of leading a network that defrauded the government of the Central American country along with former president Otto Pérez Molina, who has also been arrested and is awaiting trial.


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