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Post by starskyhutch76 on Apr 9, 2018 21:03:11 GMT
Maybe she ended up on Gemworld and Amethyst wil find her. lol.
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Post by johnreiter902 on Apr 10, 2018 20:22:57 GMT
Personally, I miss Nightwing and Starfire being a couple and on the team. Nightwing and Batwoman are a couple, and both members of the Gotham Knights (in fact, by this point, their wedding has probably happened, since it was supposed to be New Years Eve 1988). Maybe we could see some of that romance sometime.
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Post by johnreiter902 on Apr 10, 2018 20:24:51 GMT
Maybe she ended up on Gemworld and Amethyst will find her. lol. That would be great! We haven't seen anything of Amethyst since 1985, and I liked her stories. I'm sure Dark Opal hasn't been resting on his laurels these last three years. I also hold out hope for a romance between Amethyst and Carnelian.
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Post by DocQuantum on Apr 10, 2018 20:29:18 GMT
I know Starsky was joking, but it’s a good idea anyway!
With characters like Amethyst, I think it would be good to see a big story every once in a while, like one of those classic children’s series like Narnia or Oz. (Though if anyone wanted to do an ongoing series, I’d have no objection.)
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Post by starskyhutch76 on Apr 15, 2018 3:48:06 GMT
DC missed a real opportunity with Amethyst. It was perfect for licensing for cartoons and toys for girls who could have then been drawn to the books. When we hit the DC trade table at Ollie's Bargain Outlet, I got the Amethyst Showcase for my daughter and she said, "Dad, this is amazing!"
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Post by starskyhutch76 on Apr 15, 2018 3:50:51 GMT
Metropolis
The entity currently plaguing Metropolis had been called many names over the years: Ananse, Coyote, Loki, Bampana, Puck, Crow and many others. The one he went by these days was much harder to pronounce: Mr. Mzxyptlk. He was currently floating in midair while at the same time doubled over with laughter.
In the heart of Metropolis’ Schuster Square, a 30 foot version of this year’s hottest toy, Tickle Me Beebo, was terrorizing the city. The perimeter was lined with a ring of police cars. Behind then kneeled police officers with their guns aimed at the blue furry overly adorable blue furry monster.
Three men from the Metropolis Metahuman crimes division stepped forward, clad in battle armor stepped forward. “Don’t move, Beebo!” one of them exclaimed in a voice amplified by the suit’s sound system.
Beebo suddenly ran forward eagerly. “Beebo wants a hug!”
The three men screamed in horror as Beebo scooped them up in a bear hug. Their armor shorted out under the pressure and they fell to the ground unconscious and immobile.
Mzxyptlk hooted with laughter. “Oh, Mxy! You’ve outdone yourself this time. If only the big blue boy scout were here to appreciate it!”
Mzxyptlk had been one of the many villains recruited by Neron to wreck havoc upon the world. Unlike the others, he refused to make a deal. He had lived long enough to know the perils of trying to bargain with a malevolent entity. Heck, there were quite a few who considered HIM one. No, he would gladly do this one pro-bono. Consider it a favor from one all-powerful being to another, he told him, Besides, it would be fun and this time, Super-stooge would be too busy to stop him.
“Hey, are you Pixeldik?” a voice suddenly said from behind him.
“What did you call me?” Mzxyptlk exclaimed, turning around irately.
“Pixeldik,” a scrawny guy said, looking at him. Somehow, he managed to look even more outlandish than the fifth dimensional imp. He was dressed in a full body spandex bug costume complete with antennae. Over it, he was wearing a Hawaiian shirt and Bermuda shorts.
“Who the heck are you supposed to be?” the imp said, stalking forward, pushing his derby down on his forehead to try and look more menacing.
“Ambush Bug,” the scrawny bug guy said. “I’m in the Justice League reserve. More like the reserve’s reserve, to be honest….”
“They sent YOU to deal with ME?” Mzxyptlk exclaimed, sounding insulted.
“Well, everyone’s really busy right now,” Ambush Bug said. He looked at the piece of paper in his hand. “So are you Pixeldik?”
“What the hell is that paper you keep looking at?” the imp shouted.
“Your JLA villain file. It says right here… Mr. Pixeldik. Fifth dimensional imp. Master of trickery, mayhem, and…”
“Gimme that!” Mxyptlk said, yanking it out of his hand.
His eyes grew wide in outrage. “You liar! It doesn’t say Pixeldik! It says Kltpyxzm!” He rolled his eyes and sighed in frustration. “Aw cr…” with a puff of smoke, he disappeared, exiled back to the fifth dimension for another 90 days.
In the background, the giant Beebo said, “uh oh!” as he exploded in a cloud of blue fur.
“What a maroon,” Ambush Bug said, wadding up the fake file and tossing it over his shoulder as he walked away.
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Post by DocQuantum on Apr 15, 2018 8:24:53 GMT
Classic Ambush Bug. Thanks for the chapter! You write teh humor well.
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Post by johnreiter902 on Apr 15, 2018 18:37:20 GMT
That was absolutely FANTASTIC! It is such a classic moment for both of them. Poor Mxyzptlk. Every day, in every way, his reputation gets crushed more and more (even this is nothing compared to the defeat I am going to hand him one of these days soon). Well done!
I have one question. What is the exact month this is taking place again? Based on my chronology of All Mxyed Up's visits, he has had three appearances since the story "All Mxyed Up." In the months of February, May, and August of 1988.
I assume Mxyzptlk meant he was mistaken for those trickster gods, since I believe they have been generally treated as separate entities on Earth-One.
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Post by DocQuantum on Apr 15, 2018 18:43:16 GMT
It is early July, 1988. But I'm editing a story that has a Mxy appearance that takes place sometime between February and April of 1988, so probably Mxy last returned to the Fifth Dimension no later than April. Just like when he ran for Mayor way, way back, he may have stayed for a longer period of time. So, unless Mxy appeared in another story set during that time, I'd like to reserve his first 1988 appearance as a longer one, allowing him to return again for this short visit in July, 1988.
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Post by starskyhutch76 on Apr 16, 2018 3:11:59 GMT
Thanks, guys! I just wish I could have found a way for Mzxytptlk to say, "You're dethpicable."
Past civilizations probably did mistake Mzxy for their trickster god even if there was a real version out there.
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Post by DocQuantum on Apr 16, 2018 5:01:43 GMT
It's possible, though I'd be more inclined to say those were Mxy's ancestors, one of which has already been seen to have impersonated Merlin the Magician in the 6th century AD.
Remember, as the young Master Mxyzptlk, he began tormenting Superboy while he was still living with his parents, Fuzastl and Tindsa. And one of his direct descendants would battle the Legion of Super-Heroes in the 30th century, while another ended up joining the Adult Legion.
We could get into a philosophical argument about the nature of the Fifth Dimension and whether what we've been shown is really true in the strictest sense of the word, and whether a Fifth Dimensional being is bound by time -- he probably wouldn't be -- but I prefer keeping things relatively simple. So we could just leave it up to the reader to decide.
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Post by jonclark on Apr 17, 2018 16:25:12 GMT
It's possible, though I'd be more inclined to say those were Mxy's ancestors, one of which has already been seen to have impersonated Merlin the Magician in the 6th century AD. Remember, as the young Master Mxyzptlk, he began tormenting Superboy while he was still living with his parents, Fuzastl and Tindsa. And one of his direct descendants would battle the Legion of Super-Heroes in the 30th century, while another ended up joining the Adult Legion. We could get into a philosophical argument about the nature of the Fifth Dimension and whether what we've been shown is really true in the strictest sense of the word, and whether a Fifth Dimensional being is bound by time -- he probably wouldn't be -- but I prefer keeping things relatively simple. So we could just leave it up to the reader to decide. Well Mxy does seem to age a bit more than Superman. He seems a bit more immature than Superboy in his early Superboy appearances but visually appears at least a decade older than Superman in his adult appearances. Maybe he could have spent some time between his youth and his first Superman encounter playing at being a mythological being. And I can't see most gods of Mischief objecting to having an imposter with Mxy talents muddying the waters as opposed to those gods who might resent anyone stealing their identities.
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Post by DocQuantum on Apr 18, 2018 4:36:27 GMT
The Grimoire Academy of Applied Knowledge, Grim Island:
"Begone, Morgaine le Fey! You are not welcome here!" shouted Gareth Gallowglass, striding forward in the midst of the teachers lined up against her. Moments later, the visiting instructor Jason Blood also arrived, but held himself back; he wanted to see how the teachers would fare against her before he unleashed his inner demon.
"I want to know what is so special about this school that two of my enemies have come here in as many days, fool," spat the ancient sorceress, referring not only to Blood, but to the old man claiming to be her bastard son, Mordred. Magical energy blasted from her hand, hitting a shield that the one-eyed Gallowglass had erected just in the nick of time.
"There are many things special about this school, and its business is none of yours, old crone!" said Christopher Drake, his sword aflame as he attacked Morgaine le Fey.
"You dare attack me, dhampyr? You should be the first to join me in wiping out these fools!" cried Morgaine as her hand caught Drake's sword, and she threw the half-vampire teacher as easily as if he were a mortal.
Seeing the son he had raised as his own thrown across the hall, an enraged Simon Belmont cracked his whip. "No one does that to my son without paying for it, witch!" he yelled, cracking his whip against the sorceress again and again.
Jason Blood had seen enough; it was time to end this battle before anyone else was hurt. His eyes took on a shadowy vacant look as he crouched down and began to recite the transmogrifying spell.
"CHANGE! CHANGE, O' FORM OF MAN! RELEASE THE MIGHT FROM FLESHY MIRE! BOIL THE BLOOD IN HEART OF FIRE! GONE! GONE! THE FORM OF MAN! RISE, THE DEMON ETRIGAN!"
The Grimoire Academy teachers all moved instinctively, making way for Merlin's beast now summoned into their midst. The yellow-hued demon clad in red, with small horns and pointed ears remained crouching like an animal on the floor, his eyes glowing red as an unearthly sound began within him. With a shock of horror, all those around him realized what it was: Etrigan was laughing.
"HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!"
The demon Etrigan rose, making quick movements to and fro as if sniffing the air around him. Even Morgaine le Fey flinched as he darted toward her for a moment, only to turn around. Although all were aware that the wizard Merlin had bound the demon to Jason Blood in order to combat evil, all knew that the demon's innate instincts were utterly wicked. And now, even though he had been summoned to battle the ancient sorceress, he seemed captivated by something in the air.
"What is this?" said Etrigan, an unholy grin breaking upon his confused face. Sniffing around like a dog, he regarded the one-eyed Mr. Gallowglass and said, "The very air smells of a witch's cauldron, seer! Has Hell been emptied, and are all the devils here?"
"That is no business of yours, demon," replied the headmaster, and thrust one arm in Morgaine le Fey's direction. "Your ancient enemy is before you! Fight her!"
"Demons and spirits in the air around me -- and Merlin's grip does seem looser now," Etrigan continued, ignoring Gallowglass. "Could enslaved Etrigan be thus freed? My gut tells me yes, but how?"
"The demon is useless to us!" bellowed Baron Weirwulf, his bushy black beard shaking as he summoned eldritch powers of his own. "We must attack the witch all at once!"
"My, my, my, what an interesting turn of events!" cackled Morgaine le Fey as she prepared herself for the renewed battle against these foolish mortals, and not Merlin's prize demon as she'd feared. She really did owe Neron her thanks for freeing her from the cage of rock her body had become after the Philosopher's Stone had been turned against her. (*) She had been a soulless husk in the form of a stone statue in Jason Blood's apartment for years until Neron gave her freedom once again. But she had no intention of ever leaving her soul to anyone.
[(*) Editor's note: See "There's a Demon Born Every Minute," Batman Family #17 (April-May, 1978)]
Continued in The Books of Magic: No Rest for the Wicked
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Post by johnreiter902 on Apr 18, 2018 13:55:25 GMT
Excellent explanation for le Fey's return from Batman Family #17. It was nice to see Grimoira Academy again after all this time.
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Post by DocQuantum on Apr 19, 2018 8:05:41 GMT
The Amazon rainforest, Brazil:
Blood gushed down thorny vines onto the dark loam on the floor of the Amazon rainforest, flowing into the source of the River Tefé. Already the thick vines were beginning to die and wilt, releasing their burden of the many lifeless husks that had once been indigenous tribesmen, fiercely loyal guardians of the gods of the rainforest.
The sweltering, hot jungle that was sometimes a green paradise had been made a green hell as the musky scents of the rainforest mixed with the iron smell of human blood flowing from the thorn-pierced bodies above.
Sinister figures strode forward thus unchallenged toward an ancient grove of trees, bent on seizing power that had never been meant for them.
The ancient Druid, whose flesh had long ago become petrified wood, thrust his staff at the entrance to the grove. The figure shouted, as if issuing a war-cry, "Upon this ground I, Blackbriar Thorn, the rightful king of the wood, declare the overthrow of the Parliament of Trees! (*) Upon this ground we will build a new government, one that acknowledges the superiority and the supremacy of the Green over all other life!
[(*) Editor's note: See "The Resurgence of Blackbriar Thorn," DC Comics Presents #66 (February, 1984).]
"Upon this ground we hereby found not a feeble parliament that merely waits and wilts impassively as meat-creatures hack and chop down our brothers. Nay, on this day we erect a green dominion whose roots will spread across this entire Earth until all shall bow 'neath the branches of our Darkwood Empire!"
Next to the ancient Druid, the former Pamela Isley, now known only as Poison Ivy, smiled as she stretched out her arm, turning it as she admired the pretty shade of green that her skin had taken on. Thanks to Neron, she had finally become one with the beloved plants she'd long admired and fought for. The huge wooden figure next to her, known only as Redwood, did nothing but watch with deadened eyes for the subtlest signal to destroy any who would threaten his mistress.
On the other side of the Druid stood the massive Solomon Grundy, who looked uncomfortable with the green-hued skin he now found himself in when he'd been awoken after a long sleep in Florida, only to find himself surrounded by cultists called the Grundies, who worshiped him as their Emissary. (*) He tried in vain to wipe it off in an attempt to reveal the chalk-white dead flesh he'd grown used to. Next to him Jason Woodrue, known variously as the Plant-Master and the Floronic Man, beamed with pride that he had been deemed worthy to usher in this new era. If Blackbriar Thorn was regent of the Darkwood Empire, then Woodrue would be his viceroy.
[(*) Editor's note: See Swamp Thing: Reversal of Fortune, Epilogue: Lords of the Wood.]
Behind the others were the reconstituted Goldenrod, a trail of pollen in his wake. The transformed plant creature who had formerly been an ordinary man named Fred Delmar scratched his itchy yellow skin and leafy scalp as he glanced around nervously and wondered how he had been brought back from near-nonexistence after discorporating his own body into pollen. (*)
[(*) Editor's note: See "Golden Boy," The Fury of Firestorm #19 (January, 1984).]
A British villainess calling herself Eglantine followed, having long, curly brown hair and wearing a revealing costume consisting of little more than leaves. She was an old enemy of Godiva, a long-time member of the Global Guardians. (*) The Wild Rose, as she was also known, was more than a little annoyed at having to share the spotlight with Poison Ivy, whom she saw as a latecomer to the world of plant-based villains. After all, hadn't Poison Ivy mostly been known for her use of poisons until very recently? Growing vines and thorns moved alongside her protectively; her pretties as she called them were under her complete control.
[(*) Editor's note: See Justice League of America: Times Past, 1983: When Comes the Conqueror, Chapter 2: Doomsday Device.]
Nearby walked the green-and-yellow-costumed criminal Green Thumb, who knew he was in over his head in this crowd, but was nevertheless unwilling to turn down such an opportunity after only ever battling a handful of super-heroes once a few years ago in the parallel world he'd come from, known as Earth-1A. (*) Using his ability to control plants, the red-haired, green-masked led an army of discontented walking trees gathered from enchanted forests all over the world. If these had any thoughts at all, they were thoughts of hatred for all those that lived.
[(*) Editor's note: See "How Green Was My Gotham," The Super Friends #42 (March, 1981); for the story of how Green Thumb ended up on Earth-One, see the not-yet-published Justice League of America: With Friends Like These.]
Green Thumb looked up as a shadow passed silently over him, and as he shielded his eyes to see what had caused it, a purple high-heeled boot struck his forehead. Knocked out, and the alien mask he wore that enabled him to control plants now shattered, Fargo Keyes' control over the dark wood army was gone. The walking trees with gnarled branches and hateful eyes stopped shambling forward and looked around in a daze.
Several other figures began walking out from the shadowy grove of trees toward the would-be conquerors.
"Who dares?" cried Blackbriar Thorn, raising his arms to command the elements. At once, a gust of wind picked up, quickly turning into a whirlwind that filled the air with leaves.
As the wind died down, eight figures could be seen. Black Orchid, the flying woman in the flowery purple costume, landed lightly next to twin sisters Mayflower, dressed in a Pilgrim outfit, and Blossom, an heavenly beauty who wore nothing over her lavender-pink petal-like skin except for a few flower blossoms for modesty's sake. Animal Man, a blond man wearing an orange and blue outfit stood next to Rima the Jungle Girl, a frail-looking girl with white hair who wore a silken dress, and Rata, a young woman in a costume of flame-red leaves who was known in her native New Zealand as a passionate defender of nature. The English mystic John Constantine, his safari-type clothing soaked with sweat, walked before the tall, green erl-king who had once been the man named Alec Holland but who was now known as the Swamp Thing.
"I hope you weren't thinkin' of visiting the Parliament without an invitation, gents," said Constantine. "You really should've called first."
At the Druid's defiant cry, the war to defend the Parliament of Trees began.
As Blackbriar Thorn summoned the winds against his foes, Woodrue and Poison Ivy commanded the dark wood army to rush against their army. But at Rima's cry, a pride of jaguars rushed out of the forest to halt the walking trees in their tracks.
Animal Man, commanding the strength of an elephant, slammed against Solomon Grundy, who struck back in anger. Black Orchid flew at high speed to strike Redwood off its feet before slamming him with multiple punches that indented and splintered his wooden frame. She was no flower creature, despite some tales told about her origins, but she still admired the vegetable kingdom and would fight for peace in the woods.
Mayflower and Blossom began striking against their father, Woodrue, along with Poison Ivy, who was still green in her own control over plant life. Nearby, John Constantine fended off a poisonous attack by Goldenrod, Rata was pitting her plant-based powers against Eglantine the Wild Rose's own control over plant life, and Green Thumb struggled to rise to his feet after being trampled by a walking tree.
Swamp Thing struck Blackbriar Thorn again and again, but it was no use. The wood elemental was clearly outmatched in a physical battle, and the two-thousand-year-old Druid laughed as he raked scars from the Swamp Thing's green flesh. Raising his arms, the ancient sorcerer grew thick thorns from the earth below, trapping his foe within before turning to address his acolytes.
"Behold your erl-king!" laughed Blackbriar Thorn. "This one you call Swamp Thing is a most feeble foe, indeed! Why, he cannot even control the very plants that ensnare him thus!"
It was true. The Swamp Thing struggled fiercely, but even with the great might of his elemental form, he was unable to break free.
"Dost thou wish to be freed, 'erl-king'?" said the Druid. "Then let thy wish be granted!"
At that, the thorny vines contracted around Swamp Thing's body, causing green fluids to gush from deep gouges all over, as if he were nothing but a dishrag being wrung out. As if to add insult to injury, the thorns then split the body violently apart down the middle and threw both halves to the ground.
A chill passed through Constantine and all the others he'd gathered for this battle. Could the Swamp Thing really be dead? Even if they won the battle now, was the war already lost?
"The erl-king is dead!" shouted Blackbriar Thorn, raising his arms. "Long live the true king -- nay, the god of the Darkwood Empire!"
The storm grew in intensity then, knocking Constantine, Rima, and the shambling Green Thumb off their feet, and felling animal and enchanted tree alike. With renewed vigor, Grundy and Redwood attacked Animal Man and Black Orchid, even as Woodrue, Poison Ivy, and Eglantine gained the upper hand over Mayflower, Blossom, and Rata, and Goldenrod crept menacingly toward Rima the Jungle Girl.
And then it happened. It was nothing but a rumble at first, but then the unmistakable vibrations of a minor earthquake could be felt from the rainforest floor, as it rose up, knocking everyone except the flying Black Orchid off their feet.
The newly constructed gargantuan body of the Swamp Thing was giving Blackbriar Thorn a demonstration of the true power of generations of erl-kings that was his by right, and he was angry.
"YOU... DARE...?" The voice was low and like thunder, but could be felt as much as heard as the ground vibrated with every syllable of every word. "YOU... BLACKBRIAR THORN... ARE NOTHING BUT... A PRETENDER... A TAWDRY STAGE MAGICIAN... YOUR CHEAP PARLOR TRICKS... ARE NO THREAT TO... THE PARLIAMENT OF TREES."
The ancient Druid roared in anger as, one by one, the army of walking trees bowed in awe before the erl-king, recognizing the Swamp Thing as their one, true ruler. Raising his arms, he brought down lightning to strike the ground again and again, ineffectually. Finally, he found himself aloft as the Black Orchid picked him up and took him into the air.
The enraged Blackbriar Thorn continued to rant about his impending godhood even as he summoned lightning in an attempt to strike the flying woman in purple, but to no avail. All he managed to do was to expel even more of his earth-given power, until none was left. A final lightning strike was all that was needed to blast the pretender to the throne into nothing but sawdust.
"Whew! I hope I don't have to do that again anytime soon," muttered Black Orchid, dusting herself off. "I'll be pulling splinters from my costume for weeks!"
As she soared back down to the ground, which was already settling back to normal, she looked around to find that the Druid's acolytes had already fled, while the enchanted trees had remained only to pledge oaths of fealty to the erl-king.
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