Mycomicshop's Comic Blog

Greetings from the Odinson,

It’s funny how urban legends and myths come to be.  Most people know they are not real, but there are so many who believe wholeheartedly that these things do exist.  Batman is so good at what he does, that half of the residents of Gotham City don’t believe he actually exists.  Even the media can’t help but perpetuate these ridiculous stories by reporting on them from time to time.  By now everyone has seen the viral video of Leprechaun sightings in Alabama on the web (if not, it’s isn’t hard to find).  Growing up in Azle, Texas, a small town roughly 15 miles west of Ft. Worth, every Halloween I would see reports on the news about the notorious Goatman of Lake Worth.  This creature is said to be half man and half goat.  As ridiculous as it sounds I’m not making this up.  Every year the news reports on it, and has been since the late ‘60s, early ‘70s.  How does stuff like this get started?

Along the border of Mexico and Texas, another strange and mysterious beast has become more and more prominent with each passing year.  I am, of course, referring to the Chupacabra, the infamous goat sucker.  Farms and rural residents with livestock have been plagued by this elusive beast for years.  This diminutive little vampire is said to be a cross between a kangaroo and a big lizard, with some canine qualities.  The beast is said to attack in the middle of the night leaving livestock and house pets dead and completely drained of blood.  With so many reports and eye witnesses, how has this little devil not been brought to justice?

This cryptozoology (animals that some people believe exist but are not recognized by the science community) is nothing new.  From the half-man, half-bull minotaur of ancient Greece to the sphinx in Egypt to the great Thunderbird of the Native Americans, these legendary creatures have always been a fascination of mankind’s.  Throughout man’s history there have been sightings and alleged encounters with creatures like unicorns, mermaids, and dragons.  Could these creatures possibly have existed?  Maybe some of these creatures are just leftovers from a bygone era when dinosaurs walked the earth.  Maybe they are just colorful explanations by ancient man to describe things they did not quite understand yet like the Komodo, giant saltwater croc or the Great White.  Those things are scary now, let alone two-thousand years ago when all most people had for protection was a long stick with a pointy end on it.  The giant squid was once thought to be a myth, but we know now that it actually exists in the dark depths of the vast ocean.  So could the Chupacabra just be an as yet undiscovered species of the animal kingdom?  Perhaps it’s a hybrid like the African Okapi, a strange creature that looks like a cross between a zebra and a giraffe.   

One of the most famous legendary creatures is the Loch Ness Monster.  Nessie is said to reside in the deep cold waters of Loch Ness located in the Highlands of Scotland.  Since the 1930s hundreds of eyewitnesses have reported seeing the creature and some have even taken photographs.  Though the scientific community simply shrugs these reports off as hoaxes and tall tales, there must be something to the legend for it to take such a hold on the human consciousness.  The beast is said to have an elongated neck and as it swims near the surface of the lake, large humps running down its back can be seen sticking out of the water.  Many believe it is a dinosaur that somehow survived extinction.   

Without a doubt, one of the most famous of these legendary creatures is known to reside in the great northwest region of the United States.  In the Himalayan Mountains it is known as the Yeti, or more affectionately as the Abominable Snowman.  To our neighbors up north in Canada it is called Sasquatch.  But most people in North America know this beast by the name Bigfoot.  This creature is said to be anywhere from seven to eight feet tall, covered in hair and have the resemblance of a man crossed with an ape or bear.  Everybody has heard stories about Bigfoot.  There is even the infamous Patterson-Gimlin film which actually catches the beast in motion.  Many believe this film to be a hoax, that it’s just a man in an ape suit, while others believe it to be the real deal.  There have been many, many shows made and studies conducted trying to prove the existence of this creature.  I’ve even seen one where a group of scientists and engineers break down the Patterson-Gimlin film and prove that the beast on the film could not possibly be a man in a suit.  Of all the creatures in cryptozoology, Bigfoot is easily one of the most polarizing.  Most people believe that there is no such thing as Bigfoot, but to some who believe they’ve actually encountered the beast, nobody can convince them that it doesn’t exist.     

So from the Goatman of Lake Worth to the Leprechaun sightings in Alabama to the legend of Bigfoot, how is it that these myths and legends get started?  There must be some kind of truth, if only a little, to them or they would not be so prevalent in the mainstream consciousness.  Are all these cryptids simply a product of overactive imaginations, or are they just species of the animal kingdom waiting to be discovered?  

This is Odinson bidding thee farewell     

Greetings from the Odinson,

Last week’s big brawls (see Fight Night 2012 with the Odinson) were legendary, so the Odinson decided to keep the ball rolling.  This week however I will not be looking at match ups I hope to one day see.  No, this week I will revisit heavyweight championship fights that actually happened, and fanboys and girls everywhere rejoiced.

The Wolf Man vs. Dracula vs. Frankenstein’s Monster – From the 1930s through the 1950s, nothing dominated Big Screen horror like the Universal Monsters.  Dark lonely outsiders that lived on the fringe of society, some misunderstood and feared for being different, some truly evil and feared for their diabolical intentions, and some simply supernatural creatures of the night stalking human prey.  Names like the Mummy, the Bride of Frankenstein, the Invisible Man, and the Creature from the Black Lagoon terrorized mankind on the Silver Screen and in the movie aisles and became macabre legendary stars.  But none shine brighter then the Big Three – Dracula, Frankenstein’s Monster, and the Wolf Man.  These were the Captain America, Iron Man, and Thor of their universe, and they got along about as well as fire and water.  In films like Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man, House of Frankenstein, House of Dracula, and Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, these icons of terror clashed over and over again.  The plots usually revolved around Larry Talbot, the man cursed with lycanthropy, seeking a cure.  Meanwhile, the sinister Count Dracula is always plotting and scheming from the shadows and the Monster smashes his way through the tale like the force of nature he is.  WINNER: Dracula.  As the film The Monster Squad reveals, in the end, all the Universal Monsters, sooner or later, come under control and are slaves to the power of the Lord of Vampires.        

King Kong vs. Godzilla – I never understood how this battle was ever possible.  Kong is 50 feet tall, while Godzilla stands over 30 stories high (that’s around 300 feet tall).  Wouldn’t this battle last about as long as Godzilla vs. Bambi (a humorous scene from Godzilla 1985)?  Nevertheless, this heavyweight championship bout did happen in 1963 in the classic film King Kong vs. Godzilla.  Now, the movie ignores their size difference by making them equal in stature (why let a little thing like facts ruin a good time).  Kong is, without a doubt, physically powerful.  If a normal gorilla has roughly the strength of ten men, then extrapolating this would give the mighty Kong immeasurable strength.  However, Godzilla is the veteran of a hundred battles against foes with superior strength and power.  Kong has savagery and brute force on his side, and apparently the ability to conduct electricity (yeah, I thought that was weird too).  Godzilla’s thick hide allows him to take monstrous amounts of damage before showing signs of slowing down.  Plus, his tail can smash skyscrapers into rubble.  And on top of that he can shoot forth atomic fire from his mouth that can pulverize just about anything.  This film was released in both Japan and America, and I’m told with two different endings.  I’ve only ever seen the America version where it is King Kong that proves victorious – kind of, but…  WINNER:  Godzilla.  Sorry, Kong.  You are definitely the King of Skull Island, but Godzilla is the King of All Monsters!  

Freddy vs. Jason – Jason Voorhees is the unstoppable mass murderer that stalks the woods surrounding Crystal Lake.  Freddy Krueger is the child murderer from Elm Street that met a fiery end but returned even more terrifying as the master of nightmares.  Jason wears a hockey mask that bears the scares of past battles and wields a machete with deadly might.  Freddy’s skin is horribly scarred from fire giving him an even more sinister look and his weapon of choice is a glove with four razor sharp blades on the end of each finger.  For the entire decade of the ‘80s these two were, without a doubt, the masters of horror.  But, after years of killing, Jason finally met own his end and was sent to hell.  Long after the original children of Elm Street were dealt with, the next generation forgot who Freddy Krueger was, thus robbing him of his nightmarish power.  Wanting that power back, Freddy opens the gates of hell and unleashes Jason back into the world to strike fear in the hearts of the children of Elm Street.  His plan begins to work for with each death the fear rises and Freddy’s powers begin to return.  However, Jason is a force of nature and cannot be controlled, so when the Killer of Crystal Lake starts to off would be victims intended for Freddy himself, the two horror icons head toward an unavoidable showdown.  Bottom line, if the fight takes place in the dream world, Freddy wins.  He is the master of nightmares after all.  But if the tussle goes down in the physical world, Jason will stand victorious.  Though Freddy is obviously smarter, Jason is an unstoppable juggernaut.  What follows is the bloodiest battle ever seen on the Big Screen.  Even Wolverine and Sabretooth cannot believe their eyes when they see the carnage these two monsters unleash on each other.  WINNER: Jason.  The film’s ending may be ambiguous, but for me, Jason Voorhees will always be the Heavyweight Champion of Horror.        

Aliens vs. Predator - It’s the showdown every movie fan has wanted to see since that final scene aboard the Predator’s ship in Predator 2 revealed a trophy case displaying the skull of a Xenomorph.  One is the galaxy’s ultimate survivor, and the other is the galaxy’s ultimate hunter.  Xenomorphs impregnate victims with their alien embryo which upon maturation bursts from the host’s chest and rapidly grows into adulthood.  They are a lot like giant ants with workers, soldiers, and a queen, but they are far deadlier than any mere insect.  Their claws can rip a man limb-from-limb, their razor-tipped tail can strike with lightning fast accuracy, and within their elongated skulls, behind jagged saliva-soaked jaws, resides a second mandible that can extend and strike at prey from a distance.  The deadliest thing about this alien creature is its blood.  It’s concentrated acid, so that even if it is killed, it can still take those around it down with it.  The Predator is a seven-foot bipedal beast with super human agility and strength.  It is armed with an array of high tech weapons.  Blades, spears, and swords of unknown metal are also favorites of this creature.  Its helmet allows it to see in any spectrum and its laser-guided shoulder-cannon can cut most foes right in half.  But one of the Predator’s most useful assets is its personal cloaking device which allows this universal hunter to blend in with almost any surroundings.  This is a hard one to call.  Especially since numbers always play a big part in these battles.  A Xenomorph Queen is physically far more powerful than a Predator.  Even a warrior class Xenomorph has proven superior in a one-on-one tussle.  But the Predators are a warrior race and highly skilled in the arts of war.  But the Aliens have the numbers.  WINNER: Predator.  The Aliens may be physically superior to the galaxy’s most notorious hunters, but the Predators all have a personal nuclear detonator.  Even in defeat the Predator wins, for if he falls in battle, this sore loser will take out every living creature within a half mile radius.         

This is Odinson bidding thee farewell     

Greetings from the Odinson,

Ding, ding!  It’s time once again for that time-honored tradition when the Odinson thinks about the super heroes he’d love to see duke it out for the heavy weight championship belt.  It’s time once again for Fight Night!  Every comic fan has done this.  They’ve sat around with friends, or gathered at the local comic shop, or simply pondered “who would win?”  Here are some showdowns the Odinson would love to see come to fruition.

The SilverHawks vs. G-Force – The SilverHawks are a group of cyborg space cops that patrol the galaxy and protect the innocent from the monstrous gangster Mon-star and his gang of mutants and monsters.  G-Force is a team of teen super ninjas that protect planet Earth from the invading alien legions of Spectra and their diabolical war machines capable of mass destructions.  Led by the quick-thinking Quicksilver, each member of the SilverHawks is cybernetically enhanced (i.e. super strength and speed) and they shoot lasers from their shoulders and their metallic bodies protect them from harm.  The kids of G-Force are highly skilled in martial arts and possess super human agility.  They also pilot very diverse and individually powerful vehicles.  But nothing is more powerful than their main all purpose aircraft – the Phoenix, which can transform into a fiery bird of prey.  WINNER:  G-Force.  The SilverHawks are physically tough and Bluegrass can play some tasty riffs on his guitar, but between G-Force’s tornado attack and the power of the Phoenix, the silvery heroes just come up a little short.   

ThunderCats vs. The Masters of the Universe – The ThunderCats are a small group of feline humanoids and the last survivors of the doomed planet Thundera.  The Masters of the Universe are a group of warriors, monsters, and wizards locked in an eternal struggle for control of Castle Grayskull, an ancient citadel on the far off world of Eternia and said to hold the secrets of the universe.  The ThunderCats are led by the brave Lion-O, a born leader with great strength, super agility, and armed with the mystical Sword of Omens.  His companions include the stealthy Tygra, the super strong Panthro, the super fast Cheetara, the mischievous WilyKit and Kat, the worrisome Snarf, and the wise ghost Jaga.  The Masters are led by He-Man, a great warrior with unparalleled super human strength and armed with the magical Power Sword.  His allies include the mighty Battle Cat, the weapons master Man-at-Arms, the fearless Teela, the hard-headed Ram Man, the high-flying Stratos, and the bumbling little wizard Orko.  The ThunderCats fight for survival on the mysterious world known as Third Earth against the Mutants of Plun-Darr, the pirates Hammerhand and the Berserkers, and the ogre-mage Mumm-Ra, the Ever-Living.  The Masters of the Universe defend the secrets of Castle Grayskull from the evil warlock Skeletor and his horde of mutants, monsters and witches.  WINNER:  The Masters of the Universe.  The ThunderCats are cool, but the Masters of the Universe are an all time classic.  Besides, they don’t call He-Man the most powerful man in the universe for nothing.    

Voltron vs. the Megazord – Notice how I specifically said Voltron vs. the Megazord.  That’s because the Voltron Force, though highly trained and skilled space explorers, would just get rolled by the physically superior Power Rangers.  But put these teams in their giant robots and let’s see what happens.  Voltron is a mighty robot comprised of five large robotic lions.  Voltron defends the universe from the ever advancing alien forces and gigantic Robo-Beast of Planet Doom.  The Megazord is a mighty robot comprised of robot dinosaurs and protects planet Earth from the mutants, giant monsters, and evil machinations of Rita Repulsa and her consort Lord Zedd.  Voltron’s greatest weapon is the invincible Blazing Sword.  The Megazord’s greatest weapon is the Power Sword.  WINNER:  Voltron.  Nothing beats the original.

Hellboy vs. the Thing – This is, without a doubt, the most intriguing battle on this list.  Two tough-as-nails, working class monsters duking it out for the belt.  Hellboy is the prophesized “Beast of the Apocalypse.”  However, he is more likely to just have a beer, chomp on a cigar and pound on some evil doers.  Ben Grimm was a pilot and astronaut before an ill-fated outer space flight through some cosmic rays transformed him into a rock-skinned Thing.  Hellboy hunts down monsters and investigates the supernatural with the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense.  The Thing, alongside the other members of the Fantastic Four, explores worlds and dimensions undreamed of and protects the Marvel Universe from the most diabolical and dangerous threats the multiverse has to offer.  Hellboy has super human strength and is highly resistant to harm and injury.  Fire cannot harm him at all.  He is armed with an array of supernatural gadgets and weapons and an over-sized hand cannon.  The Thing’s super strength has few rivals and he is as tough as they come.  Bullets, fire, and explosions do little more to him than scratch an itch.  Aunt Petunia’s favorite nephew has been known to stand toe-to-toe with the Incredible Hulk.  Hellboy also possesses the Right Hand of Doom, an oversized rocky hand said to unlock the secrets to the End of Days.  The Thing possesses one of the best battle cries in comics – “It’s Clobbering Time!”  WINNER: Thing.  Hellboy is as tough as they come, but the ever-lovin’ blue-eyed Thing is the toughest blue collar monster in comics.  

Now those were some good brawls.  Somebody call Damage Control because the collateral damage is going to be epic!  

This is Odinson bidding thee farewell     

Greetings from the Odinson,

With League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, writer Alan Moore and artist Kevin O’Neill took the idea of a band of heroes and gave it a unique twist.  At the turn of the century (the late 19th Century to be exact), Mina Murray (Harker), a young woman that faced the horrors of Dracula and survived, was recruited by Campion Bond, a representative of the British government and grandfather to none other than James Bond, to assemble a team of unique individuals to stop a madman from starting a war that could destroy the Empire.  This strong-willed young woman assembled Allan Quartermain, a renowned Big Game hunter and professional adventurer; Captain Nemo and his amazing submarine the Nautilus; Dr. Jekyll, a mild-mannered man who consumes a potion and transforms into the monstrous Mr. Hyde; and Hawley Griffin, the notorious Invisible Man.  Together, this League of Extraordinary Gentlemen faces the sinister machinations of Fu Manchu, the diabolical Professor Moriarty, the horrors of the Island of Doctor Moreau, and the apocalyptic War of the Worlds.  One of the really neat aspects of Moore and O’Neill’s tale is that he establishes that there have been other Leagues in the past, and with his epic tale LOEG: Century, throughout the 20th Century. 

As established in Moore’s yarn, a new team is formed every few years.  But something happens in LOEG: Century Vol. 2 which takes place in 1969 that leaves a huge gap between the events of this volume and the events of Vol. 3, which picks up in the year 2009.  That leaves a 40-year gap.  Somebody had to be picking up the slack in that time.  There had to be a League of Extraordinary Gentlemen to stand against the forces of darkness and protect all mankind from the bad guys.  This got the Odinson wondering, who could be members of such an eclectic group of outsiders and heroes.  I think I just might have the answer…

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen of the 1970s:

Steve Austin – Steve Austin is a test pilot that is left on the verge of death after an experimental aircraft he was piloting crashes.  OSI, a government sponsored organization, using super science rebuilds Austin’s destroyed body.  They make him stronger, faster, better.  His right arm, both legs, and one of his eyes are all replaced with robot parts.  Steve Austin becomes the worlds first Bionic Man, a cyborg with superhuman strength, speed and a mechanical eye with telescopic and microscopic vision.   

Jamie Sommers – Jamie Sommers was a professional tennis player who after a skydiving accident is left on the verge of death.  Steve Austin calls on OSI to save her life.  Both of her legs, an arm, and an ear are replaced with cybernetic implants.  Sommers is transformed into the Bionic Woman.  Like Austin, she possesses superhuman strength in her bionic arm, but her bionic legs allow her to run even faster than her male counterpart.  Her new ear allows her to hear great distances and she can even hear whispered conversations happening in another room.  Jamie Sommers and Steve Austin eventually marry and together the Six Million Dollar Man and the Bionic Woman are an unstoppable force for good.    

Bigfoot and Wildboy – Bigfoot is the towering legendary monster of the great northwest, an enigmatic beast with superhuman strength and a lumbering lope of up to 50 mph.  Wildboy is an expert hunter with near superhuman level agility and a master with a sling and knife.  Together, Bigfoot and Wildboy roam the woodlands and mountains of the great northwest righting wrongs and protecting the innocent.  NOTE: The pics I used for these two are not the actual Bigfoot and Wildboy heroes I’m talking about, but the pics beautifully illustrate what they look like.     

Kojak – Kojak is a tough-as-nails New York City police detective with a knack for catching the bad guy and a fondness for lollipops.  A dark sense of humor and tough love attitude, Kojak is willing to do whatever it takes to clean up the mean city streets.  Other names on this list provide the muscle while Kojak brings years of detective experience and street smarts to the table.  Plus, he can always ease the tension of the group with a disarming smile and by delivering his catch phrase “Who loves ya, baby?”

The 4th Doctor – The Doctor is a Time Lord that, along with his companions, travels through space and time in the TARDIS and protects the innocent against the worst threats the universe has to offer.  Through the power of regeneration, the Doctor is ostensibly immortal.  Each incarnation retains all the knowledge of the previous but possesses a new face and new quirks to his personality.  The 4th Doctor is instantly recognizable by his long flowing scarf and head of glorious curly hair.  With superhuman level intelligence and a knack for beating impossible odds, the Doctor brings with him a bag of unique tricks to this League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.  Not to mention, killer hero theme music.  

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen of the 1980s:

The A-Team – These Vietnam vets were arrested for a crime they did not commit, but they escaped.  Now they venture across America from coast to coast trying to stay one step ahead of their military pursuers and using their special forces training to help the oppressed and downtrodden.  B.A. Baracus is the driver and the muscle, Captain “Howling Mad” Murdock is the mechanic and pilot, Faceman is the smooth-talking “face” of the group and a lady’s man, and Hannibal Smith is the brains.  If you want a job done, you want the best.  You want the A-Team.  “I love it when a plan comes together.”  

Manimal – Dr Jonathan Chase is a shape-shifter with the ability to transform himself into any animal he chooses.  He uses his amazing power to help the police solve crimes.  His favorite animal forms to take, and who could blame him, are that of a high-flying majestic eagle and that of a sleek deadly and powerful black panther.  Chase’s ability can bring a unique aspect never before seen in the ranks of the League. 

Street Hawk – Jesse Mach is an ex-motorcycle cop who is chosen to test an all terrain motorcycle armed with machine guns and gadgets and able to obtain speeds in excess of 300 mph.  Alongside his partner Norman Tuttle, the man who designed the super bike, Mach fights crime as the mysterious hero known as Street Hawk.  Mach brings police training and a versatile weapon against injustice to the table and would be a valuable asset to this League.  NOTE: Knight Rider would have also been a good choice, but I’ve always like Street Hawk better.      

Airwolf – With more firepower than Blue Thunder, Airwolf is the premiere attack super helicopter and is piloted by Captain Hawke.  Airwolf often flies covert operations for the mysterious government organization known as the FIRM.  Problem is, the FIRM is just as likely to try and steal Airwolf back from Hawke as they are to provide useful Intel and support for missions.  Armed with high caliber machine guns, missiles, bombs, and high-tech gadgets, this super-copter brings to the table a kind of firepower the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen have never seen.   

MacGyver – MacGyver is a super intelligent troubleshooter with a knack for using any and every tool and item at his disposal to get the job done.  This is the guy that can use a paperclip, some scotch tape, and bubblegum to disarm a nuclear device and save the day.  His ingenious inventive exploits are so legendary that “MacGyver” or “MacGyvering” has become a universal word meaning to get a job done using whatever is available.  Kind of an anomaly next to other action heroes of his time, Mac does not use guns and instead prefers to find a peaceful solution to problems.  But if the situation arises where the team’s back is to the wall, and time is running out, MacGyver is the guy that will figure out a way to solve the problem. 

The Fifth Doctor – As a Time Lord, it should come as no surprise that the Doctor would also be involved in this incarnation of the League.  With his signature Panama hat and spectacles (glasses that he doesn’t really need but he thinks they make him look smart) the Fifth Doctor approaches his adventuring with a bit more whimsical charm than some of his past incarnations.  Probably his most unusual bit of fashion is the celery stalk he sometimes pins to his shirt.  As whimsical as this incarnation of the Doctor may be, make no mistake, with a brilliant mind and the miracle that is the TARDIS at his disposal, the Doctor will always be a force to be reckoned with.   

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen of the New Millennium:

Buffy Summers – With precognitive dreams and superhuman strength and speed to rival the Children of the Night, Buffy Summers is the Chosen One.  Buffy is the Vampire Slayer and together with her friends and allies she protects mankind from the forces of darkness.  Buffy and the Scoobies of Sunnydale are the first and last line of defense against whatever the Hellmouth can spit into the world.  

Angel – Angel is the vampire with a soul.  For over a century, as the monster known as Angelus, he terrorized mankind and cut a swath of death and destruction from one side of the Old World to the other.  That was until the day he was cursed by Gypsies to have a soul.  Now Angel walks the earth tormented by the guilt of all the horrible deeds he committed while he was still a soulless monster.  Angel, together with the rest of his allies at Angel Investigations, battles the forces of darkness and tries desperately to atone for his past sins.  Angel and Buffy are star-crossed lovers meant to be together but must forever be apart, for if Angel experiences one moment of true happiness, he will lose his soul and the monster that dwells within him will return to the world.

Spike – Spike is the other vampire with a soul.  Once known as William the Bloody, Spike was a cohort of Angelus and, along with Darla and the insane Drusilla, they were the most feared coven of vampires in the Old World.  During his time as a creature of darkness, Spike actually killed two slayers.  But he could never best Buffy.  His desire to kill his third slayer turned into an obsession, an obsession that eventually gave way to true love.  So in love with the slayer was Spike that he endured an excruciating trial by fire to regain his soul.  He endured the pain, for Buffy made him want to be a better man.  Though he is not as smart as Angel, Spike is every bit as powerful. And what he lacks in brains, he more than makes up for in passion and raw animal ferocity.  Considering their history together, seeing Buffy, Angel and Spike forced to interact on the same team for a common cause would be worth the price of admission alone.  Just check out the classic episode Lovers Walk from BtVS Season 3 to see what I mean.

M.A.N.T.I.S. – Dr. Miles Hawkins is a wealthy man that is shot in the spine and paralyzed from the waist down.  Wanting to fight the corruption and criminal element that caused his situation, Hawkins uses his vast resources to create an exoskeleton that not only grants him the ability to walk but it increases his strength, speed and agility tenfold.  Now he patrols the back alleys and rooftops as the masked crime-fighter known as M.A.N.T.I.S. (Mechanically Augmented Neuro Transmitter Interception System).  Not only does he have the power suit, but M.A.N.T.I.S. is also armed with enough weapons, gadgets, and high tech vehicles to make Batman turn green with envy.

Duncan MacLeod – Duncan MacLeod of the Clan MacLeod is over four hundred years old.  He is an immortal and he cannot die.  He is a fierce warrior and an expert in armed and unarmed combat.  With a sword, he has no rival.  MacLeod has wandered the earth for centuries, engaged in mortal combat with other immortals.  The winner takes the other’s head, and with it, his power.  All the immortals must fight until there is only one left.  The last immortal standing will win the prize, untold power.  In the end, there can be only one.  Duncan is from an alternate reality of the Highlander Universe where he is the ultimate force for justice rather than his clansman Connor MacLeod.  He has centuries of knowledge and experience at his disposal and he’s a cunning warrior.  He would make an invaluable addition to any group of heroes.  

The Tenth Doctor – Once again the Doctor would heed the call to arms.  This incarnation of the Doctor has the whimsical charm of the Fifth Doctor and the passion of the Fourth Doctor.  Armed with his Sonic Screwdriver, a universal tool for any situation, the Tenth Doctor sets a bar of action, adventure and pathos so high that all other Doctors past and future will be judged by it.  With his intelligence, his technology, and his charm, no League of Extraordinary Gentlemen would be complete without the Doctor leading the charge.  

Now that these brave men and women have kept the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen torch burning for the last few decades, the immortal beauty Mina Murray and her colleagues in the pages of LOEG: Century Vol. 3 “2009” can get back to work saving the world.  

This is Odinson bidding thee farewell