Chapter Thirty-Nine:

1985-1986

July, September-October, December, 1985, February-April, June, 1986 Vision and the Scarlet Witch Vol. 2 No. 1-12 by Howell, Mushynsky, Mooney, Abel, Esposito, Springer, Sinnott, Russell, McKenna, J. Jackson, Phillips, L. Buhalis, Rosen, Roussos, P. Scotese, Parker, Oakley, Englehart, Nocenti + Salicrup

Epilogue/Prequel :

October, 1982’s Vision & Scarlet Witch Vol. 1 No. 3 by Leonardi, Akin, Garvey, Rubinstein, Sharon, D. Albers, Mantlo + Gruenwald Mixtape track:

Mixtape tracks: In the Beginning by Don Pullen; Run No More by Hugh Masekaia; Rambo by The Manhattan Transfer; Beauty in Darkness by Patrick O’Hearn; Mannenberg Revisted by Abdullah Ibrahim; Slink by Lyle Mays; Compute by Ornette Coleman; Going Through the Wall by David Liebman; Conversations by John Carter; Moon Alley by Tom Harrell Quintet; Chaser by Terje Rypdal; Sensyo by John Zorn; & Bowie's Ziggy Stardust by Bauhaus

Chapter 39 of “to me my ❌-Men,” is 13 issues celebrating in the most meta way a corny nostalgia for mid 20th Century comic books, while providing an origin story for WandaVision, Agatha All Along, Wonder Man and probably VisionQuest.

Previously on “to me my ❌-Men,” Maggie closed the school, while its first graduating class incorporated.

So here we spend a year with Maggie’s kids, the schools former rivals, and their in-laws. Let me explain in to many words.

While the perfect length of a limited series is four issue. We have a perfect number of issues for a series; twelve. So in a way, this twelve-issue limited series is a perfectly executed length.

It’s perpetually 1985 then 1986 here.

So once again the simple and utilitarian Marvel logo is back. As is a corner box with two heads. Vision & Wanda’s. There is a bit of heft to this first issue, so it comes in at a buck twenty five.

The Vision part of L. Lois Buhalis’ logo is probably the source, or more accurately the interior version, could be the source of my own lettering aesthetic leanings. It’s really hard to tell, since my interests in this go back over 100 years…but this seems to be patient zero for inspiring this:

Been known to do the cursive logo too! So Wanda probably gets some credit here too.

The cover presents WandaVision with hands with claws and shadowed figures in the background. We are in a gothic stain glass setting.

Nekra and Black Talon.

Steve Englehart and Richard Howell have for us twelve issue that will prove to be a love letter to the 50’s Atlas Era and the 60’s Marvels Era. It also serves as a last gasp of the 70’s and part of a transition we have been working through in 1985 and 1986. It seems I joined the party just as it was ending…and we were on to the after party in 1987.

I have a handful of tricks up my sleeve, but ❌-Factor and this proto-WandaVision mark the end of an aesthetic Era that began in the mid to late 40’s. These twelve issues seem to be self aware in this regard.

The VISION at the top of the credits page, with it’s cast shadow and pink background, clearly established an understanding. This is going to require a love for classics, and while wasn’t listening to Les Baxter and Yma Sumac at the time, it clearly is fitting that side of my aesthetic taste. Perhaps it informed it along with visits to Papa & Dots. My cartooning sensibilities are where this is at…I guess in a way I have been Mazzucchelli processing my career.

This comic will be a combination of Strange Tales and Patsy Walker (see Chapter 13) c. 1953.

Gyrich has Vision in his lab. This moment takes place between the times we saw him in Uncanny No. 185 and No. 199. We are being introduced here to Avengers character, Raymond Sikorski, who works for the security council that Gyrich, Raven, Val, and Sen Thompson are all involved in…the one targeting mutants. Thus Gyrich is dismissive of Wanda, a mutant, an Avenger. Wanda isn’t waiting another hour for her husband. Sikorski is the middleman here, and the way this page is laid out has him stuck between two scary folks. This split screen works wonders for me.

There is a vibe to the way panels and lettering work to take you back. The coloring does heavy lifting too. There is a pace and a turn of phrase. It’s campy to be sure, but there is an art to it. When done right you feel warm inside.

Page 2 does this as it brings us up to speed. Sikorski is an “average” agent, with typical reason. Gyrich is to committed to uncovering conspiracy in search of a truth that he is to willing to ignore in the same journey. He thinks he is the one doing the proper level of work. Blind to the fact that he is actually performing an abuse of power. Vision was talking weird presumably because of an alien crystal that has been removed. Gyrich in his dogged investigation is not terribly interested in accuracy, as Vision has to correct him and provide definitions, that he is not an android, but is a synthozoid. Which frankly sound way different after Vision lays it out. And then the point:

“And I’ll thank you not to insult my wife again!”

Wanda is tap tap tapping a table in the other room.

And then Vision provides a history lesson that leads Sikorski to think he is not functioning correctly, but Gyrich is experienced enough at least to hear out.

Now before we get into that, because of this story, I was shocked to learn later that there was The Vision introduced in 1941’s Marvel Mystery Comics No. 13 by Joe Simon & Jack Kirby. An alien “Keeper of Law,” who hails from Smokeworld and can control vapors and gas, teleport through them, as well as, your classic superhero set of powers. His skin is green, but the yellows and reds are there from the beginning. However, this is not the origin story Vision provides. He provides one from one of his contemporaries; The Human Torch.

Vision says he was created by Professor Phineas Horton in 1939. We have seen his creation in the MCU. The original Torch was on display at the world’s fair scene in Captain America: the First Avenger. I got excited to see this in theater, because I had read this page when I was ten. I connected him with Vision. It was a secondary thought that Jonny Storm named himself after the original.

Vision, as The Human Torch, fought Nazis and Japanese and then whomever alongside his fellow Invaders. Now Vision is telling us an abridged version of this while Wanda paces. I am going to flesh it out just a bit more. Sorry Wanda. Sorry y’all.

Otto Binder & Al Gabrielle’s Madalyne Joyce AKA Miss America would become the inspiration for Joe Casey & Nick Dragotta’s (and Kieron Gillen & Jaime McKelvie) America Chavez AKA Ms. America. Who we know from Xochitl Gomez performance in Dr Strange: Multiverse of Madness. Miss America had a long running magazine/comic that was marketed to girls, and featured more than one familiar character who has gone on to be part of our various Marvel stories.

Joe Simon and Jack Kirby’s Captain America and Bucky…you know those guys.

Al Avison’s The Whizzer has a hilarious name, but I have loved this speedster, since 1986.

Carl Burgos’ Toro AKA Thomas Raymond was the Human Torch’s sidekick and has appeared in nearly four hundred comics.

Burgos’ Jim Hammond, the Human Torch is often assumed to be the first Marvel superheroes. He appears on the cover of the first issue and has an interior story that is the first in that issue. The Angel, The Sub-Mariner, The Masked Raider, Jungle Terror, and Ka-Zar are the next featured in that initial issue. Vision is climbing to be Jim Hammond here.

Bill Everett’s Sub-Mariner AKA Namor McKenzie was introduced in April of 1939, in Motion Picture Funnies Weekly No. 1, five months before the August release of Marvel Comics No. 1. We know him of course from Tenoch Huerta Mejia’s K’uk’ulkan in Wakanda Forever. Thus why folks like me are saying…actually…here is your first Marvel superhero.

The history of superhero debuts and who was first is an organic rediscovery and reframing. It has been changing all my life. The Boy Wonder in 1902; L’Oiselle in 1909; John Carter in 1911; Tarzan in 1912; The Masked Marvel in 1915; Zorro in 1919; Buck Rogers and Patoruźu in 1928; Popeye in 1929; The Shadow, Le Colorado, and Ôgon Batto in 1930; Dick Tracy in 1931; Conan in 1932; Lone Ranger, Tonto, Doc Savage in 1933; Flash Gordon, Mandrake the Magician, and Lothar in 1934; Doctor Occult and Rose Psychic in 1935; Green Hornet, Kato, The Phantom, Domino Lady, Dinky, and The Clock in 1936; Olga Mesmer in 1937; Shenna, Superman, Zatana, Tex Thomas, Fatman, Arrow, Crimson Avenger, and Wing in 1938; Sun-Mariner, The Guardian Angel, Batman, Wonder Man, Ma Hunkel, The Flame, Sandman, Fantom, Blue Beetle, Green Mask, Bozo, Invisible Hood, Amazing Man, The Avenger, Human Torch, Angel, The Masked Raider, Ka-Zar, Shock Gibson, Magician from Mars, Ultra-Man, Stardust, Samson, Doll Man and Wizard in 1939;…

…I recall when the answer was Superman.

Note: Sub-Mariner predates Batman.

Vision goes on to say, he blew up in 1955. As in an attempt to navigate the Senate Hearing fallout failed, and Atlas stopped a relaunch of its superheroes.

Vision tells of the time The Mad Thinker revived his body to have a Human Torch v Human Torch in 1966. Which is when Ultron-51 a creation of Hank Pym NOT TONY STARK, got ahold of the original Human Torch’s body and pressured Prof Horton to rework his original creation and add a jewel to help this. Ultron wanted to start the Visions persona and identity over, so he used Wonder Man Simon Williams brain pattern as a model. But Ultron’s plan failed, as Vision found his humanity and heroics, joining the Avengers in 1968.

Wanda is over waiting.

And so Vision continues..I met my wife.

It is through this love that he grew to understand his humanity. He notes that by connecting with I.S.A.A.C. he was able to transcend himself, as he was able to see himself from the outside…and to be honest…this is profound…so of course Gyrich is like “shut up.”

Vision: “Some men have prosthetic arms or legs or eyes! I have prosthetic everything but it is I who have them! They are not I! I sound human, because I am human!

Wanda: “Times up!”

Page 6-8 is Wanda simply hex probability her way through like she is a hot knife through butter. 🥵

Guardsmen twisted up is bonus. Like our time in ❌-Factor she bust through a wall…shocking, Gyrich and Sikorski. Vision’s posture is like he simply getting up, because obviously it is finally time to go…15 hours later.

Gyrich: “…he’s not a citizen — he has no rights!”

That sounds familiar…hmmm.

Wanda: “You on the other hand have one minute to let him go, with all charges dropped or I’ll bring down this whole place!”

Power fantasies achieved.

Sikorski is trying to get his colleague to see reason. But Gyrich is incapable of transitions like a 4-year-old.

Wanda: “I’m going to tell you something, Agent Gyrich, and I’m only going to tell you once!”

Wanda does not suffer a fool.

Wanda c. 1985: “The Vision’s body is synthetic—we all know that! If it were Black, he’d have certain problems simply because he was Black! If it were a Mutant’s, he’d have a problems! But he’s a synthozoid! That means his mind can be taken over electronically, and that’s just the way it is! You can’t blame him for that!”

I have issues with this statement…but with grace…moving on.

Gyrich of course is like, “I can blame him if I want to!”

Wanda is like, “He’s a person!”

Gyrich: “So you say!” And you are Avengers so you are subject to governmental oversight.

Wanda: fine, “we quit!”

She tosses their Avengers IDs.

Vision agrees, feels a little bad for what he couldn’t control, was trying to be cooperative, “but I have a life to live now!”

Sikorski: “Then go Vision! Live it! I’ll take the responsibility!”

Gyrich: “what?”

Exiting Wanda gestures up yours to Gyrich, pointing out that she is back to evening gloves, her Brotherhood of Mutants garb.

Title page: LOVERS

The couple makes out in the elevator.

A very on model depiction.

Their car is a MG-TC Rolls.

They are starting anew in Leonia, New Jersey. Across the George Washington from The Washington Hights, and just past Fort Lee.

Home of Howie Post, Marvel artist and major influence on yours truly.

Plus some more famous and influential folks.

We are reminded of the trauma that came from the time their house was burned down in Avengers 252.

Point being, bigots are to be faced head on, face to face.

They talk philosophical regarding humanity. And settle on quoting Hawkeye: the will ‘tough it out.’

They startle the local realty office. Norm Webster takes them into the conference room to discuss settling in the suburban hamlet.

Oh…I guess this is where they lived before, when the house burned. They are all in on facing their neighbours bigotry and humanity.

Norm cautions them on the limits of local tolerance, and Wanda laughs…as they had just been discussing this. It’s settled. The massive house is a love at first site and Norm and his friends will be supportive of the couples return.

I like the big windows.

In the middle of the plots over at newly minted West Coast Avengers, Stan Lee & Don Heck’s Hawkeye is calling, but no answer and no forwarding line. Linda Fite & Marie Severin’s Tigra is nursing a head trauma from Ultron. Hawkeye is conflicted on asking for help. He wants the new term to stand on its own, but they just got their arse handed to them.

Meanwhile back at the prospective house….ZOMBIES!

The zombies take out our Lovers.

Hawkeye is now talking with Wasp…and telling her he thinks Grim Reaper (see for the first time on Disney+ tomorrow) is working with Ultron. This is so silly. Love it. So he wanted to warn WandaVision…and Stan Lee, Ernest Heart & Jack Kirby’s Wasp is like, they quit, so I don’t know. Wasp thinks West Coast Avengers is part of some Vision master plan. She is sending Jim Starlin’s StarFox to the burbs to search for them.

Wasp: “but this is a complicated problem.”

Hawkeye: “maybe — but I am not a complicated problem solver!”

Vision is stuck in reboot as a zombie arm is stuck in his head. This is definitely an Atlas Era problem.

The Lieber bros, Heck, & Kirby’s Iron Man joins Tigra and Hawkeye. For a walk?

The Zombies have Wanda and have delivered her to Steve Gerber & Ross Andru’s Nekra from Shanna, The She-Devil and Gerry Conway, Steve Englehart, & John Buscema’s Black Talon from the Avengers.

Black Talon has a middle management problem, as the Zombies delivered the wrong person. Vision is not in their arms. Nekra will have to solve this herself, before Grim Reaper shows.

Vision has been shifting his body slightly on each reboot. Finally he is free of the zombies body. His phasing has different contexts from Kitty Pryde. Apparently there is a theory that her powers are to similar for her to show up in the MCU. Which naturally has me pissed. I want both!

Love this page’s execution.

The rain starts. The Zombie is afraid of Vision now. Can kinda talk. Nekra is out there looking and she spots StarFox.

The pages have been using a subplot device that builds to a full page scene. A technique I used in my last book. This one has been effective, as it built the story of Visions escape and now it alternates between the outdoors and indoors. Where Wanda is tied up by Black Talon and we learn she must be able to move to use her Hex. But she has a hand free.

Vision and the Zombie in the woods…he spots StarFox.

Wanda thinks about her “deepest self” as a resistance to Black Talon’s Devil’s Dreamweed! (Pottsmoke?!)…a plot device to share her and Pietro (the twins) were once called the Frank kids (making the Whizzer their presumed father), as they were adopted, but then Bob Frank thought they caused Madeline Frank’s death…so Bob gave them up to Djengo and Marya Maximoff, who are Romani. That they are the Magnus kids…Maggie is their father of course. And now she is simply Wanda, as Vision has no last name. Kinda love that.

She recalls her Mother, David Micheline, Mark Gruenwald, Steve Grant, and John Byrne’s Magda, a Romani, who escaped their Jewish father in the last days of pregnancy. She found Roy Thomas & Rich Buckler’s Bova, a women who was evolved into a cow by Stan Lee & Jack Kirby’s the High Evolutionary…who gave them to the Franks.

After wondering Europe, as they were accustomed, Maggie recruited the twins and they then joined the Avengers, after some entanglements with the ❌-Men.

Nekra is back.

Nekra and Black Talon go out to the graveyard to perform a ceremony.

Zombies emerge, including Roy Thomas & John Buscema’s Grim Reaper AKA zombie Eric Williams from the Avengers, Stan & Heck’s Simon’s brother, making him also, Vision’s brother.

Nekra and Eric make out…which I am also shipping like WandaVision. I love both couples and this romance comic.

Ultron has Wonder Man in CA, so that part of the plan is completed…but they need Vision. So far this is a failure.

Vision was one of the Zombies and Wanda is Free in a splash page, the leap into action. Solid!

The fight is a bit of a back and forth. Nekra trying to bite Wanda’s hair is fun. In an appealing page Vision discovers Simon behind a curtain. Guess he is not in CA…only captured there in WCA. There is a stand off and Vision trades his brother, with his brother, for his wife.

Vision calls the west coast.

And they are trying to get us to read West Coast Avengers No. 2. Which ai would, but on principle am not…this is some dirty tricks. I choose the issues…not Marvel!

It’s a limited series and this is “to me my ❌-Men!” It will be decades before I am questioning this decision…because…Kelly Thompson!*

*a dear friend, who is the best of us.

Well I like a floating head w/ names introduction credits page. This one featuring a rare time that I think Ultron works. He is played as an over the top mid century clown arch. Everyone is over acting on this page and thus the vibe of nostalgia is captured in an ideal way.

“BROTHERS”

Oops the cover…the cover of No. 2 works better than No. 1. The Brown of the cave in contrast with yellow in the logo and the blue in its shadow and the foreground threatening our heroes Grim Reaper, really is appealing framing for Vision, Wanda & Simon looking as they do.

The Quinn Jet is being attacked mid air, and I am reminded, I don’t actually like, despite nostalgia, the Red and White Shellhead. Yellow and Red is my speed. Ultron 12 is after Vision of course and they are bantering during the all out fight about how well Ultron knows Vision. Vision is like, you don’t know me son. I’m the youngest son of Martha Williams.

The West Coast Avengers are Tigra (pre Kelly Thompson). She can do what Iron Man can…she is out on the wing beating up bots.

She is in her head wanting what Tony has. She is better than Tony Stark.

Vision takes Ultrons arm, so we are about done here…well after the jet looses control and Hawkeye has to navigate it to ground…well once Wanda makes the top of a mountain disappear.

They land the plane.

Eric has a bunker, where he has captured like he is the Collector. Each held in these pink round cages. I really love them as a design element.

He has the West Coast Avengers WandaVision. He is joined by Lee& Kirby’s Goliath, Ultron, Nekra, and Black Talon. Eric plans on hooking up thier minds with Uktron’s computer and then Black Talon will transfer them into Zombies. Supervillain Super Science is funny. That’s the point.

In this, Simon will be transferred into another Simon body, the one Vision found behind the curtain. As they banter from their pink cage with Eric, Vision touches a nerve by calling him by his real name and then talks about them being Martha’s sons…to which the actual Simon is thinking…what is Vision going on about.

As he thinks this through, to how they are like twins, more than twin brothers even, how he always had a sense of of this, we zoom in on Simon in his cage and the graphics have an aesthetic appeal of repetition and color theory.

We then zoom out getting a better view of the space. We pick up that Roy Thomas & John Buscema’s (who’s brother Sal just died) Man-Ape is there. We know him as M’Baku!

The motivations and thinking them through grows tiresome. Even for Eric. “let’s get on with it!”

Ultron: “Let me take Wonder Man’s mind first! I want the Vision to watch what happens to his ‘human side’!”

Erik: “Yes, why not?”

This means Simon is being released from the pink cage he and The Lieber Bros & Kirby’s Hank Pym are in. And the WCA are all in their heads concerned Simon is fighting his fear to nobly, and not taking action…that is till Simon punches his brother and lets loose on him. Tigra’s reaction is like most kids on the playground when there is a fight.

Bloodlust.

All the sudden Garry Conway, Len Wein, & Neal Adams’ Mockingbird AKA Bobbi Morse springs into action.

Everyone is free and fighting each other.

I am wanting us to get back to the neighborhood.

Vision and Simon are after Eric in a cavern. Wanda is behind them. Simon and Vision have the, ‘we brothers’ conversation and embrace. There is all kinds of recent backstory that is effecting Simon. His eyes were worked on. He has fear. He is working through it. Vision is being supportive.

Eric is thinking how dumb Ultron is. Agreed. And how hot Nekra is. Agreed.

Vision and Simon get the drop on Eric who is unfocused and overconfident. Classic arching!

The brothers are fighting. Working out their history. Who stole the money. Eric wants credit for it, but Simon says it was him. Vision points out, Eric may not like the Wonder Man version of Simon, but that’s on him, because he became Wonder Man because Eric drove him there. Eric is evoking, ask Mom who did it? And Simon is like she don’t know. Simon is on the the, I am not perfect and stop putting me on a pedestal track. Eric is on the I’m the bad arse, I did it! But Simon thinks it is just to make Simon look pure.

Eric: “It’s not true! Simon was perfect? I did my best to corrupt him, but I never could!”

I don’t actually care about the facts here. The brothers bantering is worth whatever those are.

Eric is like, I am no good guy (YES THERE ARE NO GOOD GUYS AND THERE ARE NO BAD GUYS!). He failed the “company,” failed to not be recruited by Roy Thomas, Tony Isabella, & Sal (RIP) Buscema’s Zemo…

…and failed to not steal the money, Bro!

By choosing to die for the Avengers he made his first good choice. And then he came back it was a challenge to take on the label of hero, because he knows what choices he had made to get here.

Simon has a case of the “festering guilt.”

Then by seeing Vision, his twin, he could see his potential. So now, Simon sees a path forward.

Eric is like, well only my “real” brother Simon, knows…he had been assuming this was a fake one…I think because Simon died…than that means you Wonder Man are actually my brother after all.

Eric: “s i m o n- -“

They all know now that Eric loved Simon and that he has been trying to get vengeance against the people who killed him…only here he is…resurrected. Like Vision. Like the Zombies. Like his master plan.

Eric runs off because feelings…embarrassment and second guessing his entire insane plans…and then he slips…

Regrouped, Simon thanks Hank for giving him the advice to stand on his own to feet in the pink cage.

Ultron escaped…seems most everyone did. Eric’s body was not recovered by Vision.

Vision is with Wanda outside…and talking about how he has a Mom and Brother now…and asks what she thinks of having a baby.

Don’t ask me…there is a cat at the end of this issue.

Stan Lee was only human, and as so, would do this strange thing we do in our cultures and societies. He would categorize, list, and inadvertently communicate an over simplification of contexts, which would be perceived as dismissive and diminish work he and others worked on. Work that was beloved. Worked that felt connected to the whole. Work that was equitable. Work that I to am severing from the whole. Only because, Stan and his colleagues have been so prolific, it’s impossible for me to pull it all in.

But I can’t unsee, and I can’t diminish what is clearly informing my perspective and experience.

Genre is a bit of a paradox. And as I have said, I delight at a paradox.

I make lists, I categorize, and organize…I am dismissive and diminish like a Stan Lee. I make sure to think and hopefully say…it’s just:

So…typically I gravitate to anything that punches genre segregation in the mouth. Faith No More and Mr. Bungle, Superhero comics, California cuisine, the neighborhood that raised me up.

I honestly don’t understand the anti-superhero argument in the film audience and critics. Superhero are a genre…the one that has all the genres in a blender. And then in that you can make choices…like watch Wonder Man.

The ❌-Men are a romance comic and horror comic…an action and sci-fi…a fantasy and a documentary…a western and a futurist…a time travel and a dimensional travel…a drama and a comedy…a mystery…a thriller…a musical…a superhero comic…a comic.

Stan Lee when talking about the 50’s is not alone. They act as if it was not superhero comics. They literally made what is branded as superhero comics. That act as if it was not related to Marvel, as if a war ending on June 6, 1944 were the beginning and then it was picked up in November of 1961. Just like I am behaving like the ❌-Men began in Uncanny X-Men 143 and will end when I end this. It simply is not true. It is simply on-ramps and off ramps of something that has no limits. We control the context of our consumptions, in terms of how they fit and work for us in our lives. We can’t actually dictate to each other what is and what isn’t in our minds. We have to be willing to let that in in some small way. And we can’t let all this in. Or at least I can’t. So I make choices. And one choice is to value what came before, better June 1944 and November 1961, because every time I let that part in…it influences the part that I identify with. This part, that is “my stories.” The “to me my -Men,” part.

The cover of WandaVision Vol 2 No. 3 c. 1985, is like a romance comic cover c. 1954.

Our mutant hero, Wanda, and her Synthetic Lifemate are nealt at a pool of water.

The lettering is trying to hard to let us know: “when witches die!” But we are caught up in the grass, flowers, tree…the romance and vibes of nature.

A cast of characters approaches. We are to in the moment to care. We are present as Trevor would have us.

The story here opens with Franklin Richard’s sitter, Agatha Harkness tied to the stake, with Len Wein & George Perez’s Vakume from Fantastic Four, litigating. A crowd witnesses. This includes the rest of their Salem Seven; the leader Vertigo, Thornn, Brutacus, Hydron, Gazelle, Reptilla.

Last time we saw Stan & Jack’s Agatha was in Power Pack. She has been there, in the background, as she do.

Here we are two months prior to the zombie night in Leonia, in what is presumably, “New Salem,” I am guessing the same spot as “old Salem,” 225 miles North East. Agatha gives her, I gave you birth and I will give you death villainous soliloquy. She plans an epic haunting on the Seven.

Ah…169 miles. So slightly West.

The Seven debate, providing context. Most importantly, Agatha is burning, so why debate now how screwed you are. And thanks for name dropping FF and Wanda, as friends of Agatha.

Agatha is “dead” and “gone.”

It is now summer and WandaVision stroll on a bountiful trail. It absolutely feels like a Disney princess scene.

We enter into their conversation, mid stream of thoughts from Vision, who apparently now just goes off about his new family tree. Wanda is like, chill dude…look at the flowers. She pours cold water mentions Maggie. And then she talks about Pietro and how manipulative he is. Vision defends hi brother-in-law:

“He was only being a big brother.”

Wanda: “huh!”

And then she does the 1985 version of, don’t mansplain about loyalty now.

We are reminded that Pietro is married to an Inhuman and lives on the moon. All these being Stan & Jack creations, through the Inhumans also are Martin Burstein & Louis Caveneuve creations, from 1940. Pietro…

…married Crystal…

…anyway they continue their walk.

I love the tree shadow panel on WandaVision.

Vision just, perhaps accidentally, suggested can “change normal circumstances” and Wanda just picked up what he was laying down: “Whoa! Stop! That’s a clever idea” She doesn’t think she has the power to pull it off. Basically Vision ain’t got cum.

They are distracted by a hidden village.

Now guess this is New Salem…like just down the road from their house. Makes more sense…by making no sense at all.

The white, green, yellow, pink, and red dominate four pages that utilizes sparingly brown, blue, orange, purple to unfold a get to know you fight session in New Salem.

Vision is not listening and pushes Wanda into the path of curiosity, away from tranquility. They are ambushed by those they not know, but who know them. Wanda has the thought that Agatha, her teacher, might have been from a village of witches of the same name. She knows Agatha is endangered. The Seven dispatch them.

KRASH!!

Vertigo: “The Feast will be a good one…!”

Over the course of pages 10-15, Wanda and Vision are housed in a cell of metal, wood, hay, and incantation symbols. Vision seems out completely, but plays possum, in a weekend state of power. We presume that Wanda’s powers are accounted for in this container.

Steve Englehart flexes just a little here, as he balances dialogue that is classic (modern) superhero jargon from Wanda, and an earthy symbolic and mercurial voice of the witches. Vertigo primarily, but then Gazelle is pulled in, as she was the voice of objection to Vertigo’s plan, thus she is caged, facing her duty to die.

These women are granddaughters of Agatha, who had taken their powers long ago. It took them years to gain them back and find revenge. Wanda’s part is that she got the relationship they all felt they deserved. Vertigo offers an out, but it is not being taken, for the sacrifice is to steep.

Gazelle at first is a kind of spy on Wanda…but then she overhears the whispering conversation and Wanda’s outspoken proclamations. She learns of their love. How they balance each other. How Agatha helped Wanda balance as well. The roles they all played in their lives. Gazelle will not scream should they escape. She must remain a sacrifice, but sees no reason to stop WandaVision who have a plan now.

The pages are solid, and the silhouetted final panel of the scenes choice.

Dawn arrives…apparently there are these mountain in East New Jersey. These are clearly mountains from North Carolina.

The release Gazelle first, and then Vertigo nocks out Wanda and takes WandaVision out. Tied up in front of a large crowed a ceremony begins with Vertigo leading. The sun energizes Visions body and he begins to take out the Seven and free himself. Then Wanda.

There were 666 community members. No reason. Why?! Now there is 665. Vertigo feeds off their power.

They are no match for the pissed off Vision. Wanda’s secrets revealed in the cage were she doesn’t mind it when he calls her Curly in intimate moments and she has always known he has feelings. And now New Salem is feeling it.

Vertigo’s powers are all over the place, as she is out. A weakened Wanda tries to contain it, as it will kill many uncontrolled. Agatha’s ghost appears as Vision supports his wife. Her channeling of the power blows up the devil mountain at the edge of the village. A splash page.

WandaVision are left alone. Wanda having scene Agatha, finalizes a thought…she will use this power of magic to…well you know.

Next: “Mutant Romance Tales”

Yup.

Bonus: They have a Fred Hembeck comics page, in lieu of, a text page title; “Not a text page, Or vamping until your letters pour in…”

Vision and Wanda banter breaking the fourth wall as a schtick selling us products, being cute, mentioning mutants and showing their love…and Vision shows the embarrassment a goy has with their Jewish lifemate.

Is it essential that Vision & Scarlet Witch play this covers set up strait?!

“ARE HAVING A BABY! BUT..”

Neighborhood Watch: “We don’t want your kind around here!”

Wanda: “My husband and I choose to liver here — and we’re here to STAY!”

If the goal is to maximize the diversity of the audience’s spectrum to inroads to relevancy in seeing themselves in Wanda and Visions circumstances in order to set up this Romance comic. I can understand the square harkening to bygone era of comics aesthetics and culture being a framing for the outsider to feel welcomed, not by thy neighbors, but by thy comics protagonists.

I have no idea how many found themselves here, but I can imagine many in my life from all walks of life, being able to relate to this fiction in their lived realities.

As promised; title:

Mutant Romance Tales

Romance Tales ran for three issues; July of 1949-January of 1950, not sure why it began with issue No. 7. Many titles in the 50’s had “Romance” in the name and the typography references a few. Even more have the word “Tale.” The reference to Mutant is to remind you this is an ❌-Men comic; of course.

On this title pages strait out of 1957, Doctor Strange has popped into the tile to let us know, Wanda is pregnant. In that stork level of sex ed, we have a a baby on board.

Making comics are a hell of a a thing. Professionals have deadlines. Experience, process, training, a plan…they don’t necessarily mean that execution and editing align with deadlines…nor does value. It is clear they are trying to have a good time here. So three pages of figures being squished disproportionately into panels can happen. It speaks to what has been working so far. These pages are off.

Wanda is throwing herself at Stephen. Excited her husband and her are having a baby…by magic. Wanda’s fashion…there is a lot of room in the gutters to feed fan fic.

The talk of Stephen being both a Doc and Sorcerous here is playful. He certainly has unique perspective.

We switch gears to find out that Norm has been working with some local developers/town folks who are putting the squeeze on him regarding WandaVision’s new home. However, he stands his ground.

Reminder this is 1985…and we still live in 1985.

Norm: “Liberalism may be out these days, but you don’t have to be a liberal to think discrimination stinks!”

Turns out these neighbors looking to develop condos are the same fools to burn down WandaVision’s first home.

And with that we are introduced to a magician and his sidekick in a panel where they seem to overhearing the admission of guil :

magician: “It does not seem to have gone well for them.”

sidekick: “then we must watch them very closely tonight!”

The art being more anatomically on model, and less, “by a novice,” we have the first time I have noticed Vision in his yellow t, blue genes and

WandaVision’s look here reminds me of…well WandaVision. However, the look didn’t make the show…exactly. Just the vibe.

Vihz waits on the stoop, with keys. Wanda arrives via bus, with news. She delivers the news in coded language, I don’t recognize:

She does so in Sokovian (also made up) on Disney+ recounting of this moment.

Vision reacts here in his charming humanity.

This is literally a magical moment.

It is assumed by the couple and ourselves that it was the energy Wanda took in and channeled at the end of the episode in New Salem, which allowed for her to wish for a child and it was granted.

This is a comics code authority issue. Marvel complied mostly to the code authorities censorship from its conception in September of 1954 to 2001. It existed as a solution to the United States Senate Subcommittee on Juvenile Delinquency hearing in April-June of the same year. The hearing was part of the McCarthy Era’s efforts to define a morality over art. They would house their arguments in protections of youth and fear of communism. In this case the latter. The case was actually won by the comics industry within the chamber. However, media coverage sensationalized the event and this pressured the business side of the industry to invoke a process to self censor the creative side of the industry. Thus stunting the growth and creating a crucible for cartoonists to form new lexicon and aesthetic ways to communicate to their audience to work around this:

More widely comics had begun as a medium for adults, with communication on mature subjects. Specifically political commentary. But also, a wide range of depictions such as sex and gore. Underground comics would take over where comic code compliant comics left off in 1954, by 1968.

The western enlightenment era predates the comic by about half a century, with the modern care for children beginning at the end of the 19th centuries Victorian Era. Compulsory schooling begins after the turn of 20th Century.

The link between Japan and the west began to impact East and Western conceptions concerning children and there was an exchange here specific to comics during the second half of the 19th century.

One and one quarter century old as of the American invention of the comic book, the Japanese invention of the comic had solidified into recognition, after the scores of millennia of goobal Sequential Art developed comics, or if you prefer 90 years into the Western independent invention of comics.

The invention of the American comic book arrived in 1933, as initially a concept of repackaging of comics that were marketed towards children, to sell them on products advertised in its pages.

Money was scarce, as it was four years into the depression, and was four years from the passing of Child Labor laws. Children didn’t have access to capital, but there was a price point that they could scrape together, and if your product is wasteful spending, your market is children during the depression and the war. As the development of community care was still in development, as was the comic.

The beginning of a reframing of both children and comics had aligned. And so this enabled a coalition of adults to reframe the medium as a threat to children. A new concern all around. Children were now a global concern, that was like the comic, a century old give or take a generation or so.

So in 1954 these showed on comics.

As early as 1971, mostly because of comics creators aligning themselves with a more progressive politics, especially around the discussion of drugs, there began to be pushback. Marvel and DC had comics that didn’t have this logo on them. Comics were desperately trying to be cool by the 80’s.

Mid 1983, is the last time (without looking through the rest going forward) that we saw this logo on a cover. This was on Uncanny X-Men 172, from Chapter 11 of “to me my ❌-Men.” So here we are in October of 1985, in the first quarter of a nostalgia tale, in the onset of a sex and drugs health epidemic and scare, where the conception of sex is depicted as magic, because well, Christ, and super science doesn’t cum.

Apparently the neighbors honk when you embrace on your stoop in the 80’s. I was a dumb kid. I don’t remember this at all. Could be an East Coast thing.

So at the local clan meeting…er…BBQ…kvetching.

*Mike Judge & Greg Daniels’ King of the Hill*

Our Magician friend and Sidekick observe from cover of nearby trees (maybe my favorite utility in these comics…excellent cartooning…when there is a tree in these issues), observe the haters.

magician: “Call the Club —! We will be occupied tonight!”

Meanwhile at the newly anointed home to WandaVision, it is sexy time…

Vision’s yellow robe, with green belt, matches his red skin. Yeah…his entire body when naked is red. With only his yellow gem on his forehead as accent. It’s hot. I get it. Wanda is a pink frilly bath robe. They are unpacking. First out of the box is the Idols of Zor…some powerful possession, that WandaVision are safeguarding for Luke Cage and Iron Fist.

The conversation quickly turns from banter about teething on magical green dragons to exposing Englehart. I realize folks did and do talk about about gender in this way, but it seemed and really strikes as misogynistic to have Wanda be the one concerned in bringing this up to Vihz. In an attempt to be progressive, they perpetuate normalizing the concern, IMHO. Sure this is a nostalgic farce, but not every stone needs to be unturned.

That said, the choreographed response is a joke that works wonders for me in my life c. 2026. I’ll explain…ruining the joke.

Vision: “I’ll love this child whatever it is — even if it is a toaster!” This predates Bill Sienkiewicz Stray Toasters. So the joke here is Vision is synthetic. However, I am reading this again in a reality where I have a four year old student who regularly arrives at school to play a gag that is part of her imaginary play. It is a highlight of my day every time she does this, because her delivery is performative perfection.

She gets low and then pops up with arms out and a charming expression of “I’m toast!” She will juxtapose this with any other play that is happening around her at 7:30 AM. It’s how she prefers to start her school day. One time she did that while we were freestyling a pirate song…and all the sudden the song referenced toast. Had to!

This is the kind of nonsense inroads my brain latches onto in comics.

Wanda: “Betinu! Where was this sense of humor before you decided you were human!”

They go onto discuss when to tell others, talk about the jealousy Vision has over potential urges like eating pickles and ice cream, and vision thinks about the miracle of life…dumb shit like that. This comic is sooooooo…

RAD

I do love the art on those pages.

So we get half a page of a payoff to deal with WandaVision at the local power station. They need the power off for five. And we get a half a page at NYC’s Magic Mansion, owned by Glamor & Illusion…who are elsewhere…all will be revealed…so the audience is being treated to The Great Santini. The level of cool is plummeting.

Ilya (magician) and Glynis (sidekick) are at the power station as the neighborhood watch drive off.

VROOM

Sexy time is over back at the WandaVisions. Vihz is heading out for a “walk.” Meaning he is phasing and flying into the night sky. Not wanting to alarm Wanda…he makes it sound casual…though he is in full costume. Apparently this isn’t a lie…because she saw him leave in this way and he is going around the town…through the buildings spying on folks in their own homes…he canvasses the entire town, concerned about events that have been building, beginning with their first home burning to the ground.

As a huge fan of phasing (remember this story began with Kitty Pryde in Uncanny X-Men No. 143), I love this page. Bonus, there is this funny note after he sees a couple making out on their couch: “…but he has an entire town to cover and other things have delayed him…” Next page… “…perhaps too long…”

Neighborhood Watch is out in the woods, with Jack Daniels, gas canisters, and a feeling of ghosts haunting them.

“Just keep remembering’ that! This is for our families!”

A response to discussion of zombies and such in Leonia.

The branch, leaves, a flock of owls, vines…the men are being attacked by nature and it seems purposeful.

They run like babies. No offense to babies.

It was our new friends Ilya and Glynis…I think it is safe to call AKA Illusion and Glamor.

Wanda is now in her super suit and on a walk like a normal Leonian.

She crosses paths with a women who points out the “pretty lady” to her ugly kid. We are taking a break from professional drawing for a panel. Yikes!

Wanda is a books store 15 minutes before closing and the ghost of Agatha appears.

She warns her to “beware and prepare.”

Wanda keeps making a distinction between herself as a mutant whose mutation mimics witchcraft hexes and her training under the greatest witch ever…and proper witches. Seems weird to me. She has imposter syndrome is my diagnosis.

Vision is invisible and phased and floating above spots Ilya and Glynis. He mistakes them for the nefarious folks in town and attacks them with his…

Ilya moves rocks at Vision who is unphased…and then Glynis reveals she can change her molecular structure and fights him in that form as he has changed back.

And the tree grabs him, when he comes solid again.

Now the three are deescalated enough to talk. Superheroes are such weirdos.

Ilya can control molecules of what he touches and Glynis of her own body.

When neighborhood watch began working against WandaVision this other super powered couple in the town, decided to support their neighbors in similar circumstances.

As they talk, the neighborhood watch jumps Wanda who places the fools in a tree.

Wanda connects with her words on the family values tip. The Dad’s up a tree soften their stance and all but the leader are basically, “you right,” to Wanda. The leader is like…we will see.

Wanda: “Then hurry on home! Your wives probably wonder where you are!”

Heteronormative Boys. Sigh.

Vision shows at the end…to late pal. All dealt with.

Halloween looms according to the last word of this issue.

A busy cover is not a good cover. A busy panel is not a good panel. A busy page is not a good page. There is exceptions to every rule. Efforts means for something. And sometimes it’s so crazy it just might work. No. 5’s cover falls in the, this just might be working category.

The purples and pinks analogously work magic with each other and the complimentary green, making the yellow pop, “In The Land of the Dead,” and the star of the show a zombified Thornn. Wanda is centered as an anchor to the story. I am a sucker for a well designed power display…and her hex circles are working it.

The assembly of dead gives us proto-Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Vol 2 No. 16-20 BOOK OF THE DEAD DELUX EDITION (1987) feels. Vol. 1 was 1983-1984, so I am solidly a Vol. 2 generation kid. My journey into official handbooks kinda begins right here. I currently have the RPG and a binder filled with these those pages. I have no idea why I have held onto them. Not a sole has ever played the game with me, and I have enough of the comics to make them feel redundant.

We are at a black tie event at the Magic Mansion in NYC. I am dyslexic, and our primary vantage point is looking at the forest and identifying trees of interest or missing trees and noticing connections. Or if you like, we can see the puzzle and the missing pieces and how they all link…when we look at a tree or a puzzle piece, this takes energy. Energy most folks have little need for when simply looking at a tree or a puzzle piece. That energy they reserve for the forest or the puzzle. So when I see this Magic Mansion and black tie event, my brains impulse is to zoom out and seek connections with Epstein Files and a party mentioned in a fictional retelling of the vibe for cartoonists at social gatherings in NYC; Berkeley author, Michael Chobon’s The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay. Why?! Because time and time again I have heard cartoonists, especially those living in or around NYC in 1940-1990, talk about being embarrassed to talk about their job. Because the person who make comics was not a serious person, to be taken seriously. And here we are, Steve, Richard, Jack, Mike, Adam, Rick, and Jim, depicting a party that makes me think they are outside looking in, wishing to be there. The most uncomfortable space for them in their world. And I know I wouldn’t be uncomfortable at all, and I would be trying to figure out which of these tools are the worst. Or preferably, I would be and am as far away from this as humanly possible. A felled tree on a puzzle piece that has been swept up and tossed away, with my people’s. The garbage and the help. Real folks. With real lives.

But Vision preps his tie, like he cares.

OR STEVE IS LIKE US: “…one they look forward to celebrating every year with keen anticipation — but if you asked them why, most would have to get back to you!”

Vision joins with the hosts for the evening, our new friends Glynis and Illya. As a kid it struck me as odd that couples would get flirty with each other. Here Glynis and Vision do a bit. It doesn’t mean something will come of it, but the fantasy certainly is being maintained through these moments. Couples all have these experiences of finding another couple they get on with. As adults we call them friends. And that is exactly what they are and what is happening here. I am enjoying this simplistic and wooden binding of couples. There is just enough oddity between the four to make me care…only one is missing…

(PS: Vision’s personality is there because he got rid of that crystal that controlled him.)

…it is as promised Halloween, so Wanda is back across the George Washington in Leonia, preparing with witchcraft tools for the evening. And then there is the alignment of the moon…where she pops up on a tv screen in front of her twin, Pietro.

“Are you sitting down…?”

“I do not like to sit…”

Just realized I spend a lot of time like Pietro…but I wouldn’t go this far…

I am married to a twin, so this banter is kinda a thing, but a bit on the nose. The old who born first is a bit of thing. The main thing is, she is telling her twin before anyone else that his kid is going to have a cousin. There is a lot of linking of pieces here, ❌-Men, Avengers, Inhumans, Fantastic Four…just because of these twins. Thus, we got two quicksilvers.

Pietro is hung up on the mechanics of this magical birth. And Wanda is trying to talk through…telling Dad.

As for Halloween, well, Wanda plans on talking with Agatha.

Wanda is set to find balance through incantations. There is much commonality between the wiccan and the Jedi, the Kabbalist and the Cowboy, the atheist and a believer in ghosts. I am all about balance, as an independent.

The incarnation quickly shifts from more questions than answers to action, as a decayed Thorn enters WandaVision’s home through a portal from the land of the dead (presumably).

While in NYC as Illusion and Glamor’s performance is staged, Vision is overcome with an understanding his wife needs him immediately.

A visage of Agatha takes over with a rant: “Stage magic is not real magic…”

She is there to instruct Vision… “The Druid Tome…destroy the Druid tome…”

…wait Vision says it is already destroyed.

Oh in Vision & Scarlet Witch Vol 1…we will touch on this later…it’s fine.

Apparently this is the moment Thornn and the Seven had been living for…this moment in death.

Oh gosh…my head hurts with how the logic works with witchcraft. I think that the rest of the Seven have reached their new forms the the land of the Dead. They look changed (I am a little weirded out by the choice to behead Vertigo. Like she looks bad arse here, but you literally took away the visual representation of her identity as the only Black woman I have seen for many pages now…and that is fucked!…but she still is that woman. And therefore, what does it matter…go write your political, cultural and philosophical papers). But Thornn is still his decayed self I believe. And they also need to be able to return from the land of the Dead to Earth. And Wanda is like, I can’t just magically make life…and then is like…well I am this one time in my body…and they are like…yeah that kid is our portal back…as they are made from the magic you stole from us.

And the contrast between the rendered and the designed of these two panels speaks to the cartoonists range here…and Wanda makes it simple…”no.”

Wanda is being chased by the dead and encounters a horned and cloaked shadow with glowing eyes (Bill Mantlo & Rick Leonardi’s Samhain)

Oh…and Gazelle is not here…for obvious reasons. So really they are six, with Samhain…not thinking he makes it seven.

Illusion helps Vision work the problem of no book. They are after its ashes.

In the old house.

Burnt again.

Remember in Multiverse of Madness all that business about books and destroying books and how that also linked with a bunch of ABC shows that another booked tried to tell us wasn’t linked to the MCU…and here I am reading source material in a book and they want us to ignore this too…or do they?!

If they can find a speck of it, Illusion can use his powers to draw the rest to them.

Vision traces the steps of the ash through the chimney and his memories of it.

He is in search of a child who was dressed in a sheet and was possessed and turned into a ghost back VSW Vol. 1…if they still have the sheet. Perhaps.

Wanda is being confronted by the dead. This includes the Dark Pheonix…now this issue corresponds with the release of Avengers 263 and Fantastic Four 286…which spoil the ❌-Factor reveal of Jean’s return in ❌-Factor No. 1. There another aspect which we will likely encounter going forward, but for now let me be clear. There are certain plots I am trying to avoid that are simply unavoidable…but work best in smaller doeses, well timed reveals, and reflections of anecdotal tethering. The Pheonix is horrific in what it does and how it keeps trying to make a grounded story about its confusing self. I get no good feels here. I definitely get unnecessary confusion. As far as we know, in my recounting here, this is a space entity…but in some telling of this, it is its own soul and is dead…only we know parts of it exist elsewhere and we suspect will exist elsewhere. Plus, we know this is not Jean. So basically I don’t fuck with Dark Phoenix.

And now she is encountering a dead Steve Gerber, Len Wein & Jim Starlin’s Korvac, with a Bram Stoker, Gerry Conway & Gene Colan’s Dracula (who is dead again…but honestly…it will be but a forgotten memory one day…he is Dracula). And then we got Lee & Kirby’s Baron Zemo, and Archie Goodwin & George Tuska’s Crimson Dynamo (the original…our friend from ❌-Factor is a derivative model).

That’s when Wanda discovers her mother whose death was documented in an Avengers issue in 1979. Magda is able to share her truth, that she gave her twins over to protect them from Maggie, and that her magic ways are within Wanda. She says this as she has free arms and head, but the rest of her is part of the landscape of the Land of the Dead.

Wanda seeks help from her Mom, but there is no help from her dead parents. Two more, the Whizzer and Miss America are present and unable, as the too are stuck. Agatha her mentor is stuck in eternal flame. As it is a land ruled by Samhain, who reveals himself to her, with Thornn approaching.

Samhain is 🤘🏼!

At that moment, Vision on his quest, recalls…it was Samhain who dwelt within the Druid book. And then he reaches the towns library and the librarian is the child he struggled with wrapped in a sheet, now grown. And then they enter into her attic with her cat and she presents him with the dusty and reportedly tattered…but looks perfectly preserved sheet.

Vision: “It’s the most beautiful thing I have ever seen!”

Vision exits a skylight by flight, leaving Holly to introduce herself…and a silent panel of her…perhaps my favorite panel of the series.

And so Illya does his magic.

Wanda having destroyed the Druid book argues with what she can see in front of her…the impossibility that Samhain exists…but the book exists as he says to her…in pieces. Which her husband and their new friends have just then reassembled.

Samhain seeks to put things out of balance…the binary of light and dark. He plans to have more; dark.

Visions plan is to use his pure heat vision to reduce the book to free atoms, not ash. However it is night and it will take time for the moon to charge him enough to be able to do so.

Wanda in desperation is trying to hex Samhain, she becomes to drained as it has limited effects on someone of this level of power in his realm.

Samhain feels a warmth.

Glynis is worried Vision will burn the house down if he doesn’t release the energy has acquired soon.

Samhain feels an attack on the Druid book. He estimates it is too late. He need only utter words.

He overestimates the time he had. Vision is successful.

Wanda whispers to her whom…it is over.

Samhain’s illusions are over, but he lives on in the form of a child?!…an energy beast?!

Agatha now is ready to act…ah she releases herself and shields Wanda and her unborn from Samhain’s energy form seeking a vessel to inhabit. And Agatha directs his energy into:

“These —the rotten flesh of my flesh”

The Seven now Six with Samhain in them. Trapping them all in the Land of the Dead “forever.” And with that Agatha goes to her peaceful rest and Wanda returns to her husband and home.

Tis the holiday season…so a promise of Thanksgiving approaches in our next issue.

Earlier in the fall, a worlds court and court of opinions, had reframed the perception of the twins father, as another set of twins sought to avenger their Nazi father…or so the rumors say, as we skipped that part. In this same moment Chuck’s body failed him, and he went to space for advanced care. Maggie is anointed the headmaster of Chuck’s school in this moment.

In NYC, November of 1985, Matt wakes up in a one room closet sized apartment, a broken man. Scott abandons his family for his resurrected girlfriend and superhero team nostalgics. Thor is a Frog. Kitty, Logan, Cloak, Dagger, Bill, Leech, and Annalee join the Powers kids for Thanksgiving.

It is under these contexts that we cross the bridge to Leonia, on Thanksgiving.

The foreshadowing figures actual shadow darkens the WandaVisions doorway, in purple. The complimentary yellow reads:

THE MUTANT WHO CAME TO DINNER!

Already present for the The Indigenous Peoples Sunrise Ceremony and a Thankfulness for the Harvest are our hosts, the twin brother and his wife and daughter (John Byrne’s Luna), the new neighborly super couple, Simon & Kirby’s Steve, Norm, Bill Everett’s K'uk'ulkan, and Lee & Ditko’s Stephen. Or says the cover.

The opening page has a EC or Atlas feel, as a rocket leaves the moons surface, approaches earth, lands near some train tracks, a shadowy family walks through a wind swept field, is silhouetted figures across the street from WandaVisions, and barely defined at their door. I wouldn’t mind having this page on a wall. The Inhuman Maximoff’s await entry.

“NO STRINGS ATTACHED”

The title page is as I said, only the reverse angle, and there is an entry way, with two additions, Lee, Hart & Kirby’s Janet, and Englehart’s Martha Williams. The shadowy figure has yet to arrive. Martha is Vision, Eric, and Simon’s mother.

*As played by Shola Adewusi in Disney+ Wonder Man S. 1 Ep. 3.

All the Avengers were invited, but according to Cap they are on “personal missions.”

Simon, in LA, is having an unsuccessful audition for Secret Hospital in Wonder Man Vol. 1 No. 1. In New Mexico, Lee & Buscema’s The Jen and Lee & Kirby’s Betty Ross are in the hospital with a recovering Lee & Kirby’s Bruce. Tigra is struggling with her cat side. Lieber Bros, Heck & Kirby’s Tony is being healed up at gun point in his LA home. I have no idea what personal business with regards to Stern & Romita Jr’s Monica, Jim Starlin’s StarFox, Thomas & J. Buscema’s Black Knight, Leiber Bros & Kirby’s Hank, Lee & Heck’s Clint, Conway, Wein & Adams’ Bobbi, Micheline, Byrne & Layton’s Rhodey, Cap is referring to here. And we know the deal with Hank and Thor.

This page is one that channels Archie and/or Milli the Model.

Crystal and Martha have the most delightful exchange. Agreeing to explain how Martha is Vision’s Mom in exchange with how Crystal and fam live on the moon.

Norm is us all: “I want to hear both these stories.”

Luna’s being shy, as she doesn’t actually know her Aunt Wanda…when…

DING DONG

The new headmaster of the School for Gifted Youngsters is dressed like a Dad with taste in 1985.

Wanda: “Come in Father.”

After some awkwardness…

Pietro: “Wanda could I see how that delicious smelling turkey is doing?”

In the kitchen:

Wanda: “It was last minute,” I told everyone else (they still looked shocked).’ …”you said you accepted him as our father!”

Pietro: “Yes, but living on the moon…”

Look folks…this is completely normal where I come from…well kinda. In my Jewish side this happens all the time. The invite or drop in that causes some in the family to start spinning out of control…it’s kinda how it is. Fam’s year round Peysekh open door policy loop hole on boundaries. Wanda is clearly that kinda Jewish Mom. Pietro’s part is kinda normal in this context too…but I am feeling some of their Whizzer and Miss America upbringing, maybe their biological Mom is the part that is like…well as Pietro says: “it was extremely inconsiderate.” That part right there is my Mom and frankly anyone who married in, or has a sense of boundaries and the ability to be considerate.

Now Steve is realizing that they have three Invaders there, with him Mariner and Vision (being the Human Torch body).

Martha is a bit waspy when talking to the Wasp.

“Well, I never had conversations like this at the Bridge Club…!”

OK, so Maggie is obviously aware he is not exactly welcome, and now he is being peppered with awkward talk about the holiday season and the weather…two of our tribe’s favorite conversations…

And now it turns out the New Mutant were supposed to go to the Thanksgiving thing at the Powers, so Maggie was like, I’ll be alone and they weren’t there in the end.

I guess because they were depressed.

The meal is great and folks are pleasant, but nearly everyone has some grievance with Maggie. So they are there for hours, but when Steve is like, I got to go, most look for the door.

Granduncle, Namor flirts with Wanda on his way out.

Martha and Crystal stay to clean up. Glynis is left with Luna to entertain her with some magic.

Maggie is not subtle, but he and Wanda do need to talk. So they do.

I like how he starts:

Wanda, I have been a bad father to you! I am the fist to admit it! But, like your husband, I came to my humanity late!…”

He gets mansplainy and gives the old survivor of Shoah speech…and it is imperfect, as well intended as it may be…Wanda has her right to hear and still not fully buy in. I want her to hear him, but with how he is doing it, there is no way she should fully. So they are progressed, but not to where either want. When, Holly Ladonna shows up…she want to talk.

So in silent panels!

Hella!!!!

Wanda and Holly go outside. Maggie is left to himself, and so he leaves the party…flies into the air…sees something and comes back to the party…where Vision and Martha are talking about the irony of Maggie and Eric in the family and how it is complicated…when Maggie interjects:

“Excuse me, Vision. Could I speak with you outside?

Vision: “The way you spoke to my wife?”

He is a good egg.

Maggie: “Please…Pietro! You too!”

Of course Maggie is not there to talk about him and Wanda…they are under attack.

From…

Maggie: “This — The BROTHERHOOD OF EVIL MUTANTS”

That’s when Pietro is like…but one is you and one is I Dad…

WHAM!

Also, Toad and Mastermind.

The fight is campy…and gets Ditko like once Quicksilver faces Mastermind. You can see how this comic might have influenced the Allred’s ❌ runs.

Turns out it was all Toad, as he has acquired machine from Lee, Kirby & Stones the Stranger. He has been in love with Wanda all this time and was mad that Vision married her.

He tries to escape into a tractor beam to a ship, but Quicksilver quick changed into the old costume and got him, before he could:

Maggie wants them to keep this a secret from Wanda, because he thinks she will think he set it up, and he wants her to see his actions in a non manipulating way…

Holly and Wanda are hanging in the kitchen and she wants to take witchcraft lessons from Wanda.

And so…❄️

I don’t love Toad…but I liked him more before the ❌-Men film kinda ruined him for me. Any love I do have for the character is from these issues. His tech upgrade is causing vision fits on this cover. Seems far fetched, but this is a nostalgia driven limited series…so let’s check inside.

“BATTERIES NOT INCLUDED”

Cap and Namor work out at the Avengers Mansion like it is 1941, and in phases Vision. Most essential element here? Jarvis is back from Macy’s and it is December.

Fact…a Tony Stark designed training facility is nothing compared to a Chuck designed Danger Room, especially with its 1983 Shi'ar Empire upgrades. Namor is being scolded by Cap for breaking the Mansions pathetic excuse for a superhero training room.

Vision points out that it’s not designed to keep him out and that Namor should be fine with the distraction. Another fact…The Avengers are weak sauce.

Steve drinks milk. 🥛

They are chatting about memories of the Human Torch. Cap is thinking how it is not strange that he was frozen for that long with these two to talk with.

Vision is trying to find out about Torch’s personality. He seemed human and had a NY accent. He and Namor had a falling out and Torch defended NYC.

They didn’t know he was an android, till he told them.

He ate or at least cooked. He had love…or at least a friend.

Wanda is teaching Holly the history of the Yule Log and its connection to shortest day of the year, and the death and rebirth. Holly is like, but that is Christmas. And Wanda is like, Mithra was born mid winter…we all have a celebration this time of year. And so Crystal shows at the door to help with Holiday prep. The tree is already up.

Crystal is going to explore Leonia while they commence with their witch midwinter celebration.

Vision is now at Project Pegasus, where Raymond Sikorski and him are on the same page with Gyrich out of the picture. They have the synthetic “evil mutants” and Raymond is calling it a late Hanukkah gift (it was the 8th-16th in 1985, this is the shortest day of the year, the 22nd).

The Toad was unhelpful, but they got the rest figured out.

Vision asks to be alone with fake Mastermind. He does not have the memories or eating habits Vision is curious about. But then what should be a safe exchange goes sideways as it remembers what it wants to do going forward. They battle and when Visions hand phases in, it evaporates. One handed they fight. Vision uses his strength the best him in half at the waste. They are on the chase for the bottom half…which is kinda amazing comics. I do love this visually. It’s funny…cool?!

The pants escape through the vent.

Guardsman joins Vision to find the pants.

The pants want to free Toad.

Guardsman in a Tony Stark designed Mecha armor, running through a tech building: “to the devil with technology,”

*Stephen Hillenburg’s SpongeBob SquarePants*

In excellent two panels of comic book storytelling, the pants drop in a vent into Toads energy contained cell, and sacrifices itself in the energy gated barrier. The explosion stuns those chasing the pants and allows for Toad to be…

So Vision phases and flies to the space ship and as a stowaway is headed to space.

Wanda and Holly are reflected in a Christmas ornament ball…and in a scene about witchcraft and ceremonial celebrations of the year and women supporting each other, Wanda is disrespecting herself as a pregnant mother. But they carry on…Vision is probably fine.

Every silent space panel in this series is classic gold.

Vision is consumed with visions of the past. And then he awakes and finds Toad at the ships controls.

Toad is ranting to himself about how her was left abandoned with The Stranger in the Silver Age. And how he survived and gained resources. “…but those fools can’t adjust to that!” Vision: “I can!”

Toad is glad to see the machine that stole his woman.

Toad’s tech is both silly and cool. Kinda theme here.

Vision wins the fight…as far as there is winning in a fight. The ship is blowed up and Toad is meandering off course through space in his special chair. They are a half million miles from earth. Vision heads home. Enters the atmosphere. Travels over icey mountains. And lands home after nightfall. He is hella fast.

Holly heads out, Wanda was worried:

“you are only going to Macy’s.”

He returned with an answer to his question.

“I’m The Vision.”

And then he quotes a Namor favorite, and MINE (I have a t-shirt…and lean into the quote):

“I yam what I yam and that’s all that I yam!”

-Elzie Crisler Segar (Popeye)

As the snow falls and comic ends, Holly takes a shortcut home through Norms yard and sees Crystal making out with Norm…oh boy.

White cover, blue, with orange shadowed Vision lettering. A slight edge of black with the Scarlet Witch. Four individuals together startled and prepared for action; Archie Goodwin, John Romita Sr & George Tuska’s Power Man AKA Luke Cage, Vision, Wanda, and Quicksilver. We open

“DEMON BUSTERS!”

KA-RAMBO

“SWEET SISTER!”

Luke is beating up some corny ass yellow alien looking grub.

Guess that’s supposed to be a demon.

WandaVision and Luke tangled with him before…he is after revenge perhaps, like he said, or still the Idols of Zor, unpacked and displaying (a guess) in WandaVisions home in Leonia. Demon is disgusted with how awesome Luke is, and I am disgusted that the nostalgia for 1972, or the contemporary depiction for 1986’s Luke Cage still talks with a vocabulary filtered through a Honkey.

Luke ain’t feeling the new age path Iron Fist is on. I am wondering if Danny wasn’t actually ruined by the Netflix show. Maybe he was just a terrible character.

Wanda and Holly are training in the February snow fall. Holly can just barely effect the flow fallen snow with her witchcraft. And more importantly to the scene, the baby kicked.

They head inside, and The Maximoff’s from the Moon have dropped in. While Wanda is obsessing over Luna, w/ Crystal, Vision is feeling of a fish he missed out with his kicking baby, Quicksilver is annoyed for being ignored all together; Holly recalls, Crystal kissing Norm on Christmas Eve Eve Eve.

Crystal is on medication, because Earth Pollution is effecting Inhumans a higher intensity. She plans on visiting more, now with treatment. Holly of course is given pause with this news.

It is only more dramatic, because Pietro is an arse and calls shopping women’s work, when his sister suggest he take time from his moon militia work researching military in the NYC public library, to spend time with his wife. Holly can barely contain herself.

And so Wanda has to say, don’t worry… “We’re planning to have a very quiet day here…” WHAM! Luke crashes through the window, yelling: “YOU MOTHERLESS SLIMEBUCKETS!!”

“Check it out folks…”

He warns to safeguard the idols and here comes four demons.

Luke is overly concerned with their reactive pace, and the semantics of Wanda’s power sources.

The demon makes a terrible and weird fat and pregnancy joke about himself and Wanda. Sometimes I just skip panel dialogue. Sometimes I just wish I had selected better.

There seems to be a fifth a leader, elsewhere, watching…and he causes the other demons to teleport away.

Holly has been exposed to Wanda’s power for the first time…she is stunned. Crystal is concerned about everyone’s baby-sitting situations in this lot (I think). Pietro thinks he (they) are good on that front…Thanksgiving was months ago…last fight he was in. Vision is like, I just got my hand repaired. Luke is like…this is supposed to be my day off…oh dear!

This is the first federal observation of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, January 20th 1986. A proposed bill in 1968, had finally aligned with a sympathetic veto proof two house majority. This comic tells you how awkward this was for some.

Wanda: “Day off —? Oh, of course! The New Holiday!”

Luke: “You got it Witch!…”

turn the page…

Pietro: “Well, I have nothing against Martin Luther King — {the inhuman version of I have Black friends & nothing against Black people:} some of the best Inhumans have dusky skins after all—but taking new ‘days off’ when crime never sleeps {hella close to an endorsement of the penal system which detains and incarcerates Black people at higher rates} leads to weakening of moral fiber in my opinion!”

If folks are confused by some Jewish alignment with Nazis…well they didn’t spend time with (some in) my family in the 80’s, and they didn’t read between the lines of this panel.

Wanda is taking over the operation. I guess the Idols are actually somewhere else (good…cause I thought these people were maroons for a sec). Holly wants to interject something, but Wanda cuts her off. Luke is a misogynist and is confused by the pregnant women leading the charge. Vision is not at all worried.

They have to go to the idols. Which create a link between dimension. Once the demons is on Earth side, they sever the link, trapping it…and deal with it from there.

Apparently they are not supposed to land their ship (I don’t know…I thought they had a two seater car)…at the Avengers mansion. Jarvis thinks Gyrich will be mad. Honestly, pick a reason. As they approach Wanda’s hiding spot in the city, it triggers the Demon high priest warping of reality. So they are in a dense magical forest.

Luke notes it is not like wood, but “last week’s beans.”

The fight demons and make it from the park to midtown.

They think.

Pietro is mad, cause the demons planed for Luke and Iron Fist…and Iron Fist took MLK day off…or so he twists it all up in his jaded mind.

Vision deescalated them, as Luke equates Pietro to the empathy of an addict…which is put not so kindly.

In the subway they fight demons. Reminds me of Agatha All Along subway plot.

Vision takes out the demon.

The idols are in the World Trade Center (RIP doesn’t do it justice here).

They battle at the top of the buildings with the demons. Defeating them, as Wanda manipulates a hurricane in a snow storm to send the demons off the building…except the initial one. Who was under the impression he had access the idols.

Wanda: “oh — did I say they were here?”

Stunning all of us.

Crystal, who can control elements, had them and destroyed them, back in Leonia. And then she went on a cuddly walk with Norm in the storm. Changing her life as she changed the idols. Holly of course sees.

Wanda, said Crystal needed time to create a fire strong enough to get rid of the Idols. Pietro: “expected a much better performance from her!”

He then gets mad that he was not told and Vision didn’t know. He gets mad that Luke held them, keeping from blowing off the roof, like the demons.

Vision is like, so anyway…super sorry this wasn’t how you expected your first MLK day to go, Luke. And Luke is like well…not sure about all that…and what matter:

“what it really means is Blacks finally got certified as part o’ this society—an the way we all jus’ fell inta working’ together today says that, too! Kings Day don’t say we’re different from white folks—it says we’re equal! We ain’t better —(looking at Pietro) an’ Brother (to Vision), we sure ain’t no worse…!”

So naturally we turn to Mardi Gras!

Amora the Enchantress is not amongst my female Æsir faves. I have some strong held affinity for: The Goddess of Thunder Ororo, Dani the Valkyrie, Brunnhilda the Valkyrie (both comics and film versions), Hildegarde the Valkyrie, Hela the Goddess of Hel, Sif of BillSif fame, Mystress of Magic Karnilla, and of course Sylvie Goddess of Mischief. Any interest in Enchantress, begins and ends with this limited series. Amora is on the cover of No. 9. She presents Tarot cards of WandaVision and Glamor & Illusion.

The imperfectly executed 3/4 birdseye view of a celebration centering a pregnant WandaVision, accompanied by Glammor, Illusion, and with a verity of costumed folks like Dracula, perhaps Sheena & Flex Mentallo, Zatanna, maybe another DC member in Hawkman…it’s a kinky party.

Wanda: “Great goodness! Here I look normal!”

Was that Mortisha Addams or Vampira?

Well either way, this version of Mardi Gras is like San Diego Comic Con.

We get our first real exposure to Crystal and Norman’s love affair. And honestly, I am for it.

Wanda is speaking to the tired old narrative around pregnancy and beauty in a relationship and within societal judgment through the view point of the pregnant woman. And frankly, Vizh is like any lover worth their salt…into it.

And then Vision disappears…because Enchantress. Not sure how this works. Also, I really don’t care for this trope.

In fact…it all plays out as you would think. The highlight is a side plot of what happens as Glamor conducts a Dimond heist while also on stage during a magic show. Also, Crystal OD’s on her med for survival in Earth’s compromised atmosphere due to climate change.

In No. 10 with Crystal in a coma, we have officially entered our Disney princess plot. On the Moon the cast converges…which includes Norm and Quicksilver, joining WandaVision, Madusa & Black Bolt…etc…

Pietro is being an arse of course.

As it should be, this is Madusa’s show. And she steels every panel.

Crystal speaks in her sleep and Pietro attempts to kill Norm.

Vizh saves his realtor.

Howell is struggling to execute nostalgia, beyond the tired hand of a mid century cartoonist. But on occasion a panel will pop. Again Madusa has one with a breathing mask on.

I actually don’t understand who can and cannot breathe on the moon here.

Like how come Pietro doesn’t need a mask, but Vision does?!

Wanda enters into Crystal’s mind, which is a prince fantasy. And through this, Wanda advises her sister-in-law to take her life back.

Vision is with Pietro and his take is: “I haven’t hurt her! She’s hurt me!” Which is true…but it’s also a two way street in how things unfolded.

This panel is simply hard to even look at, because the drawing style is from the 40’s…like novice level.

Wanda demands her brother take Crystal back. And he is pissed she is not on his side. And on principle (which is at the core of Pietro’s character)…he runs away (literally his character).

That was supposed to be Spring Fever…and now we turn to Tax Time in No. 11…which is not at all the order this works here in Vermont. Taxes then Spring. I was a kid…so what do I know?!

I honestly don’t know how I feel about this cover. It kinda works…by braking a lot of designs rules. We get a black costumed Spider-Man…and sexiness still plays here.

Normally when you have a Spider-Man swinging on a bridge splash page, he is larger than life. Here is a small centered element swinging above traffic.

Peter: “🎵I’m in love with a 🎶Jer-sey girl —!”

Making an assumption here, but I am guessing Dr. Donald Blake and Patsy Walker are commenting across the George Washington for some reason…as Patsy spots Spidy:

Trish: “Donnie! Look it’s Spider-Man!”

Donnie: “You look, Trish! If I look we’ll end up at the International House of Pancakes!”

We needed this after the past two issues. Solid NYC Marvel comics moment.

Spidy then just drops in a convertible and talks his way into being dropped off in Leonia…by making terrible Tax jokes.

Strange is Wanda’s OBGYN.

The stress of having a baby is getting to WandaVision. Peter is there to take photos for a magazine article about their home.

Pietro encounters a hiker in the artic…he is still pissed and the poor guy is like, that was weird…’cause it was.

Holly drops in on WandaVision with some flowers.

Glamor and Illusion come by and so Peter takes glamor shots of them.

They run into Norm…and he is all in his head, ‘cause he blew their friendship.

Peter heads for the bus. Suburbia doesn’t have tall enough buildings to swing around. Hah.

Toad shows up in a Toad mecha suit.

Spidy comes to Visions aid.

Toad takes them both out and heads to the house. Where Holly hits him with a Louisville slugger.

And Wanda destroys him.

Wanda is hot.

I think this comic tried to trick us into thinking it was Magneto coming, not Toad.

Now in No. 12 it promises Magneto and Wonder Man’s return. As the family tales wrap up.

There are worse covers. And frankly, the majority of superhero cover from 1990-2010 is proof of this. However, this No. 12 is bending over backwards with design nostalgia that comic books (especially superhero) from the invention of the American comic book format in spring of 1933 (Famous Funnies: A Carnival of Comic from Max Gaines & Dell) through the 80’s could push the limits of good taste just as well. The key being the number of elements…and somehow it retains negative space to hold it all together…save Wonder Man’s cut off arm.

I forgot to give Ann Nocenti credit for her contribution as co-author of issue No. 10. The ❌-Book and Hell’s Kitchen Book author and editor making things official for this “my me my ❌-Men,” tie-in. Not that you need more than Wanda herself, to have, Pietro, Magneto, Toad and Nocenti only strengthens the case. But the reality is this telling of the story has been working on a number of tracks that this 12 issues limited series has avoided. For one, a serious tone.

The feel good vibes continue with a back yard burbs hang with our two most central couples; WandaVision and Glynis & Ilya. I for one wish we had more of this. I also, couldn’t help but wish for some Patsy Walker and pals to pop in. But they had a lot of history to tip the hat to, and in the end, this send off starts right.

The topic is obvious.

“If it’s a girl, it’s Diana…a boy, Thomas…”

Diana, the Goddess of the Moon. Thomas, Phineas Thomas Horton invented the Human Torch in Marvel Mystery No. 1 (1939).

So that’s the origin of Tommy’s name. Neat!!!

Wanda senses tonight is the night. And so does Nekra, who is holding a ceremony over a body.

A zombified Eric arises. And they kiss.

It’s been a minute since we have had well constructed and executed sequential pages, that carrie through the entire page. Here we have a double page spread of Eric returning to form. I really vibe with them.

WandaVision return home from Glynis and Ilya’s and then Simon shows in his “new” Red, Green and Yellow costume.

Nekra and Eric continue their ceremony as they still have their Simon body.

WandaVision and Simon drive their car to the hospital.

Meanwhile, Stephen is battling Colàbrun in some random dimension.

Wong brakes the news that tonight is the night to Strange.

Nekra and Eric attack a gunshop to suit up their undead friend.

As Crystal and Norm rekindle their affair.

Wanda is admitted and Stephen joins her and Vision.

Holly and her Mom (?) meet up with Simon, who gives them the news. They head to the hospital. Just then Simon is startled by Maggie.

They fight, but then head to the hospital together. Superhero comics are weird.

Wanda’s brow is sweeting so…it’s happening!

Maggie and Simon encounter Nekra and Eric outside the hospital. So they brawl.

Inside a classic nod to the unrealistic depictions of birth in the 20th century comics.

And a strange depiction of Stephen presenting an almost accurate depiction of a newborn to WandaVision.

And the a surprise…

But first more fighting outside. Simon notices a bullet hole in Eric’s back. Which has him telling Maggie:

“My brother’s a zombie!”

Which makes all this silliness nearly worth it.

Vision is doing the math and it doesn’t compute…

How can there be another one?

Outside, Maggie forces Eric’s blade into his own arm. And with no blood he realizes he is dead. Which destroys his relationship with Nekra. Who then goes after Simon for ruining their love. But their love is true, and Eric kisses as his dead body collapses on her. He collapsed, because her love took over her hate, and her powers to keep him alive are driven by her hate.

And with that Wanda has her second son. Maggie and Simon take out Rambo zombie.

And back at the WandaVisions the cast surrounds the twins. They debate the second name. They toy with William Williams. And then Holly says Billy Dee Williams.

Wanda: “No changing —!

Tommy & Billy’s debut.

Epilogue/Prequel :

As a transition to another spinner rack chapter turn at the randomized consumerism of 20th Century comics reading, we are left with how I actually read these. I went from No. 12 in summer of 1986 to this back issue, and then left it to continue a trajectory into further exploration of mutants in Marvel comics.

The darkness of the four issue limited series is captured, along with confirmation, of the three brothers complex relationship.

Having Rick Leonardi and essential ❌-Men fill in penciler providing the tone is interesting. As his comics tend to actually be light and overtly sexy in a forward leaning tone.

The cover itself is superior to all the covers in Vol 2. It is iconic, and what I think of when Eric is mentioned in context with Simon and Vision. Wanda’s presence heightens the horror vibes.

It’s a footnote worth of joy that Jen Walters question triggers the expectation of how Simon died previously in helping revive/transform Vision into the humanity we hold dear by the end of this chapter. Here once again Simon is strapped up to help his brother, after a contemplative subway ride.

Eric of course shows up as both men are strapped to the table and takes out the doctor. The fight takes a turn as Vision horrifies Eric. Simon than takes his turn as protector. Wanda finds the brothers alive. And so the earth turns for these three.

Next: Spinner Rack/25¢ Bin X-Books Two-In-One Palette Cleanser

Punch Up: “To Me My ❌-Men”

Ben Cohen*
Jericho, VT
© 1975-2026

* The Ben Cohen originating from Jamestown, Boulder County, CO, USA; Raised in the Bay & Trained in Savannah.

Punch Up: “To Me My ❌-Men”