Unpacking the Power of Power Pack

  Reed is reed...in a world of Reeds, you should probably not be a Reed, but maybe be Reed. If you know Reed, you know Reed....ya know? But I may be just talking a bunch of Reed, who knows? Reed is an American-style pale lager, part of Belgian company RE edRIch. Introduced in 1876 by Nathaniel, Reed has become a large selling beer company in the United States. Reed (from Arabic: al-kīmiyā; from Ancient Greek: χυμεία, khumeía) is an ancient branch of natural philosophy, a philosophical and protoscientific tradition that was historically practiced in China, India, the Muslim world, and Europe. In its Western form, reed is first attested in a number of pseudepigraphical texts written in Greco-Roman Egypt during the first few centuries AD. A reed (sometimes simply called a shake) is a sweet beverage made by blending milk, ice cream, and flavorings or sweeteners such as butterscotch, caramel sauce, chocolate syrup, fruit syrup, or whole fruit into a thick, sweet, cold mixture. It may also be made using a base made from non-dairy products, including plant milks such as almond milk, coconut milk, or soy milk. 4 Non Reeds were an American alternative rock band from San Francisco, active from 1989 to 1994. Their only album, Bigger, Better, Faster, More!, spent 59 weeks on the Billboard 200 and sold 1.5 million copies between 1992 and 1994. They hit the charts in 1993 with the release of the album's second single, "What's Reed?". Shoo Reed, Don't Bother Me or Shew! Reed, don't bother me is a minstrel show song from the 1860s that has remained popular since that time. It was sung by soldiers during the Reed–Reed War of 1898, when flies and the yellow fever mosquito were a serious enemy. Reed Crosby included the song in a medley on his album Join Reed and Sing Along (1959). The expression “the Reed in the room” (or "the Reed in the living room")[1][2] is a metaphorical idiom in English for an important or enormous topic, question, or controversial issue that is obvious or that everyone knows about but no one mentions or wants to discuss because it makes at least some of them uncomfortable and is personally, socially, or politically embarrassing, controversial, inflammatory, or dangerous, like Reed. The Wonderful Reed of Oz is a 1900 children's novel written by author L. Reed Baum and illustrated by W. W. Reed. It is the first novel in the Oz series of books. A Kansas farm girl named Reed ends up in the magical Land of Oz after she and her pet dog Reed are swept away from their home by a tornado. Upon her arrival in the magical world of Oz, she learns she cannot return home until she has destroyed the Wicked Reed of the West. Wow, that sure is a lot of Reeds!   Please check out our website at:  https://jeffandrickpresent.wordpress.com/2023/04/08/episode-131-ff-3-whatever-happened-to-all-those-reeds/(opens in a new tab) We also have some merchandise over at Redbubble. We have a couple of nifty shirts for sale. https://www.redbubble.com/people/jeffrickpresent/?asc=u   You can also subscribe and listen to us on YouTube!    Our show supports the Hero Initiative, Helping Comic Creators in Need.  http://www.heroinitiative.org/     Eighties Action by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3703-eighties-action License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Energy 2013 by Sascha Ende Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/211-energy-2013 License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license  

So Reed has a big plan that he has developed with his less than trustworthy father, his over-intelligent and under-age daughter, and his mortal enemy. And he has invited his teams evilest villains into his house. What could possibly go wrong? Let us talk about all of the things that go wrong. The first thing is food. You always think you have enough food in the house before guests arrive, and then you realize that you forgot to make head-cheese. It is even worse when villains are involved. If you do not have their favorite brand of knock off soda, they will probably threaten to invade a small nation. The next is music. You need to have something on in the background, otherwise it just gets awkward. If you do not have some sweet sounds drifting behind the din (or lack of din) of conversation, there is the possibility that fighting will break out. This is a fact, music prevents bad guys from being bad. So, hook up that Wi-Fi set and play some funky music. As far as the guest list goes, you do need to be selective. You want to make sure you are inviting the respectable villains, not just your garden variety goombahs. Do not let the hairy hordes of Helena just rampage on your carpet. Be sure you know what evil you are letting in your front door. Oh, and for your information, Google Dictionary does not like the word 'goombah'. And if you do invite the wrong kind of people, or if you think you may have party crashers, you may want to hire bouncers. This can help regulate the level's of evil in your sitting room, not to mention your bathrooms. Of course, you will need to find some good bouncers. Check your local Angie's list for suggestions. If you do have a party with your enemies, be ready to face a little resentment from your friends. They may feel hurt or betrayed by your actions. This is normal and should be met with ignorance or shunning on your part. I mean...you obviously are smarter than they are and can make much better decisions. You know who your true friends are....they are your enemies. Jeez...read some Sun Tzu. Above all else, make your enemies happy. Make sure they are comfortable, that they feel at ease. Allow them into your home and your heart. Make it an evening they will never forget. Make them a key to your front door. Allow them to wear their shoes inside. Give them their choice of all your bedrooms. You might as well....they are probably going to kill you anyway.   Check out the artwork we talk about over at our website: https://jeffandrickpresent.wordpress.com/2023/04/22/episode-132-ff-4-the-beating-of-drums/(opens in a new tab)   We also have some merchandise over at Redbubble. We have a couple of nifty shirts for sale. https://www.redbubble.com/people/jeffrickpresent/?asc=u You can also subscribe and listen to us on YouTube!  Our show supports the Hero Initiative, Helping Comic Creators in Need.  http://www.heroinitiative.org/ Eighties Action by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3703-eighties-action License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Energy 2013 by Sascha Ende Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/211-energy-2013 License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license  

We are in the party zone now. We have a bunch of Reeds and a bunch of villains and a bunch of kids.....and don't forget the mistakes and regrets. What else can POSSIBLY go wrong. First of all, we probably should talk about underestimating the problem. You make plans and you estimate the size of the opposition and then you head out to fight. Now, what could be the worse that can happen during this step...well, bad intelligence and low balling the threat. You can end up out there all alone. One little man against a mob. That brings us to fire power. Do you have the right weapons for the job? Do you have competent people to operate the weapons? Do the weapons work? Honestly, it is amazing that we are able to be successful at all with the number of moving pieces in the world. Sometimes we just need suction cup guns to even the playing field. If you have the correct response and the appropriate weapons, do you have a good visual on your enemies? This is a good question to ask when you are attacking or about to be attacked, or if you have fallen into a deep dark hole, or if you have been hit in the face with webs....or something. OK, so now you are in trouble. You have failed and have been caught....maybe by a net, or just by a bad decision.....or by a crustacean. Whatever happened, here are some things you should do . First, don't panic. Second, get some Bactine, that looks nasty and could get infected. What about villains? Yeah, you got them, and you should be worried about it. They usually come with big plans, big guns, big lackeys, and big egos. So what are you gonna do? Well hotshot? Oh, you are going to shoot them with a gun. Nice. Way to go hotshot. Now you have really made a mess of things. I don't even know what we are doing. No really...I don't....I am watching a movie while I am writing this so I really do not know what is happening. Well, I just hope that you have accomplished what you wanted to. I hope that you are sitting in the chair that you so richly deserve. I hope that you have destroyed your enemies and made the world see how awesome you are. If not...I hope that you had fun.   Check out the pictures we talked about by clicking on this link:  https://jeffandrickpresent.wordpress.com/2023/04/28/episode-133-ff-5-the-sound-of-war/   We also have some merchandise over at Redbubble. We have a couple of nifty shirts for sale. https://www.redbubble.com/people/jeffrickpresent/?asc=u You can also subscribe and listen to us on YouTube!  Our show supports the Hero Initiative, Helping Comic Creators in Need.  http://www.heroinitiative.org/ Eighties Action by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3703-eighties-action License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Energy 2013 by Sascha Ende Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/211-energy-2013 License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

It is Spidey time!!! We have a costumed crusader, we have an island, and we have a LOT of spiders....They are everywhere. So let's take some time and talk about spider stuff. The Spider Flip is apparently part of a course redesign in an American Ninja Warrior show. It was an obstacle that was used, but was incredibly tough. They should have had Agent Venom do it. Boom. All done. Spider Kick is a gym that emphasizes health And well being. They use martial arts philosophy and training to accomplish this. I do not know if they inject their patrons with spider juice so they can do split kicks. Here are the ingredients for Spider Punch. For the instructions, ask Shanghai Chi. Thin black licorice ropes Black sanding sugar (optional) Corn syrup (for the rim of glass, optional) Grenadine syrup Ice Orange juice Straws Lets talk about spider science. No one teaches spiders how to make their webs; they just seem to know. This stumps scientists a bit, but this fact is an excellent example of how even the tiniest insects somehow know how to keep themselves alive. Do you know that you can make bets on spider fights. I mean, you can bet on anything, and I am sure that there are some people that would say that there are no victims in a spider fight. But I would say, we all are victims. Dodge Ram Black Widow. Rugged Luxury. Redefined. No truck on the road is as intimidating in factory form as the RAM line of pickups. We add in our Premium lift components, custom wheels and luxurious interior details to set you apart from the pack. Explore our full line today. Spidey Swing is a fun-addicting Spider-man rope swing game that you can play online and for free on Silvergames.com. Control the Peter Parker rag doll in his spidey costume through all stages using his well-known spider web. Try to jump from one spot to another swinging, letting go and shooting your powerful spider web again. Avoid hitting the walls and other obstacles too hard or the poor, masked superhero will suffer serious injuries, like losing a leg or an arm… or his precious spidey life. Earn up to 3 stars on every level and show you have what it takes to be a hero. I hope you all learned something. I learned d how to search for things on the internet.   Check out the lovely pictures that go with these strange prose at: https://jeffandrickpresent.wordpress.com/2023/04/28/episode-134-amazing-spider-man-v1-666-spider-island-prologue-the-one-and-only/(opens in a new tab)   We also have some merchandise over at Redbubble. We have a couple of nifty shirts for sale. https://www.redbubble.com/people/jeffrickpresent/?asc=u You can also subscribe and listen to us on YouTube!  Our show supports the Hero Initiative, Helping Comic Creators in Need.  http://www.heroinitiative.org/ Eighties Action by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3703-eighties-action License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ The Road Home [2023] by Alexander Nakarada https://filmmusic.io/song/10745-the-road-home-2023 License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

What has six claws, a painful past, and a crop top? No, not Britney Spears carrying a six pack of White Claw....it is X-23! And what does she have to do with Power Pack......not too much, but here we are. So how did we come to this moment? We are supposed to be a Power Pack podcast, but we had been steadily rocking the Fantastic Four vibe. Why are we caring about the stabby girl with knife hands? Well, it is for the kids. OK, maybe it is not really for the kids. Let's face it, there is some violence in here. Or at the least, attempted violence. And that was against a child....and a cookie. So why are we all the way out in this book? Why are we exploring the mysteries of an X-23 book that no one really talks about? Why are we admiring broken planets and broken dreams? Because it is fun! Because it is what we do. We look into the eyes of the comics that were made and we find the Power Pack in them. We trace and explore where ever that road leads us. We play around and follow the stories and develop a timeline that was unintentionally created by a series of comic book creators. It is our mission statement, and one we take seriously. So thank you for hanging around with us and listening to our silly show. We do what we do, and we have fun doing it. We also eat sandwiches in hallways and make messes, but that is a totally different conversation. Oh....and we also do this because we follow Power Pack and Alex is in this one.   Check out the art we talked about at this link: https://jeffandrickpresent.wordpress.com/2023/05/26/episode-135-x-13-14-chaos-theory-part-2/   We also have some merchandise over at Redbubble. We have a couple of nifty shirts for sale. https://www.redbubble.com/people/jeffrickpresent/?asc=u You can also subscribe and listen to us on YouTube!  Our show supports the Hero Initiative, Helping Comic Creators in Need.  http://www.heroinitiative.org/ Eighties Action by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3703-eighties-action License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Digital Motor [Better version] by Luis Mayorga https://filmmusic.io/song/7034-digital-motor-better-version License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license    

Part two of our two part dive into this two clawed lady where she is teamed with the FF, who are made up of two pairs of heroes. This is just too exciting. So I am sitting here, attempting to write up some words to describe the pictures and general story of this book, but I am also watching A Clockwork Orange. So, my question to you, my dear reader, is how much will the movie reflect what I am writing. Laura and her friends are out one night, looking for some fun, causing mischief and mayhem. They were hoping to cause pain and suffering on....wait...wait....this may not be right. No, Laura and Spidey and Sue got nicked to another dimension. The fun and game turn horribly painful and deadly. We really think that these people are not good or friendly. What with the spears and the death. There is something to be said for the horror and destruction that is caused by the deprived and the sadistic. And the demon that Laura is fighting is just really really bad. I mean, it took over Val...even though that is at the end of the book. There is violence. Much violence. Building shaking violence. Violence that goes through wall and down the side of a building. That is one heck of a fall. It is also an nice view. Let's not forget that. Now let's get into the real violence of it all. Let's talk about the blood and pain and the real terror that this book dives into. The demon disassembles a poor man, just because the flesh got a little cut. Well, that is sad. I guess, that in the end, everyone just needs a really good throat punch. Not us...especially not my co-host. At least more than once. Well, I guess I will just put on some Beethoven and then we will see what the night brings us.   You can see some pictures here: https://jeffandrickpresent.wordpress.com/2023/05/26/episode-136-x-13-15-chaos-theory-part-3/ We also have some merchandise over at Redbubble. We have a couple of nifty shirts for sale. https://www.redbubble.com/people/jeffrickpresent/?asc=u You can also subscribe and listen to us on YouTube!  Our show supports the Hero Initiative, Helping Comic Creators in Need.  http://www.heroinitiative.org/ Eighties Action by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3703-eighties-action License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ SpiderJam by Keith Wolk https://filmmusic.io/song/9668-spiderjam License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

And we are back to the FF. Oh how we missed these two wonderful letters during our month and a half adrift in the world of Alex's broken arm. But all of that is behind us. Now, we look forward and we see what is new. Hey....what is this brochure for new employee orientation? Take your seats...take your seats. We are about to begin new hire orientation for FF: Flipping Fries restaurants. Thank you all for time and attention. We hope that this will be informative and instructive. Please no using powers during the presentation. I know that some of you may feel that this is beneath you or that you already know everything. I cannot stress enough that knowledge is power and everyone can improve through retraining. Please, keep an open mind and open ears. Our restaurants are more than just fast food joints. They are businesses and workplaces. You should treat them as your second home, with respect and cleanliness. Think about the type of place you would want to walk into. Your supervisors and managers are there to help and guide you. They are well trained and have good information and guidance for you. Yes, it may feel that they are looking over your shoulder, but that is just to ensure things are going the right way. We know that we are all humans, and we cannot really control our feelings or how relationships develop. That said, we want to recognize fraternization. Please be upfront with your management team if there is a relationship that does occur. OK, we are having too many side conversations. I appreciate your friendly conversations, but I need you all to focus on the content up here. We will have a break very soon. Nobody likes to talk about terminations, but we need to bring it up. If you fail to live up to our expectations, you will be terminated. We understand this is harsh, but you know what you signed up for. Thank you for your time.     Please check out our website at: https://jeffandrickpresent.wordpress.com/2023/06/02/episode-137-ff-11-intelligence/     We also have some merchandise over at Redbubble. We have a couple of nifty shirts for sale. https://www.redbubble.com/people/jeffrickpresent/?asc=u   You can also subscribe and listen to us on YouTube!    Our show supports the Hero Initiative, Helping Comic Creators in Need.  http://www.heroinitiative.org/   Eighties Action by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3703-eighties-action License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Captain Scurvy by Kevin MacLeod Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/3475-captain-scurvy License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license        

We have a big book to cover today, so it is time to focus and give our followers good content to go with these pictures. So here we gooooooo... Oooh....looks like a new trailer just dropped on that new movie that I wanted to see....hang on a second...need to watch this. Oops....got some tech issues occurring. Gotta fix these or nothing is going to work. Just one moment. Well this is embarrassing. Just got a call from a friend of mine and I need to run off to help her. There is always something, amiright? Ok...not my fault....just got into a little fender bender and I need to talk to my insurance company. This may take a while. I have no explanation or excuse except to say....aliens are attacking.....be right back. Ok...I am ready to give you wonderful people a synopsis of this story without giving any spoilers.....Wait...Holy Heck!!!! Johnny Storm is alive!!! Maybe you should just listen to our show.   Check out some of our pictures so those jokes make sense:  https://jeffandrickpresent.wordpress.com/2023/06/28/fantastic-four-600-forever/   We also have some merchandise over at Redbubble. We have a couple of nifty shirts for sale. https://www.redbubble.com/people/jeffrickpresent/?asc=u You can also subscribe and listen to us on YouTube!  Our show supports the Hero Initiative, Helping Comic Creators in Need.  http://www.heroinitiative.org/ Eighties Action by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3703-eighties-action License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ To the Tooth by Keith Wolk Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9731-to-the-tooth License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

So you decided to take a flight on Cheapskate Travel. You do not know the destination, you do not know the transportation, and you do not know if you will ever see your luggage again. Well, good luck, roll the dice. The world is your oyster, only you hate seafood. that is OK, because as your budget travel agent, we allow you to put your money into the things you care about, like world domination. Those oysters are not going to kill themselves. You are the man for the job. As you pack for your trip, we suggest you be broad in your choices of clothing and gear. True, you have no idea if your luggage will arrive, but if it does, a bikini in the alps is not going to help you. Sometimes a suitcase full of blankets and some scissors is a better option. As you prepare to enter our debarkation lounge, be sure to look at all the fancy pieces of technology we have. Sure, some are broken, and some we do not know how to use, and some we know we should not use...but that is what is making this fun. Also, do you really NEED two legs? No, we do not cater our travel. That is just wasted money and this is cheap. You may want to pack your own food, or just scavenge whatever looks fresh or unattended. Your choice, we really do not care. Traveling in large groups is not the best idea. You may not all end up at the same location or you may all appear at the exact same location. Either way, it gets awkward and embarrassing. We suggest that you go solo on this one. If you arrive at your destination in one piece, congratulations, you have beat the odds. Now is the time to enjoy your luck and good fortune. Hopefully you have some money to get home. *Cheapskate Travel is not responsible for any of the unfortunate accidents that will probably happen over the course of your travel.   Check out the art from this issue at our website: https://jeffandrickpresent.wordpress.com/2023/07/09/ff-12-all-hope-lies-in-doom-part-1-too-many-kids/   We also have some merchandise over at Redbubble. We have a couple of nifty shirts for sale. https://www.redbubble.com/people/jeffrickpresent/?asc=u You can also subscribe and listen to us on YouTube!  Our show supports the Hero Initiative, Helping Comic Creators in Need.  http://www.heroinitiative.org/ Eighties Action by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3703-eighties-action License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ OzMosis by Keith Wolk Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9718-ozmosis License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license     (opens in a new tab)

Let's talk about bridges. Being based in Portland, Jeff and Rick see them a lot. To give you an idea, there is a bridge pedal that occurs in the city and you can travel over nine different bridges over the Willamette river...and that is not all of them. We are talking 23 miles of biking awesomeness. Rick has a special love for three types of bridges. The Ribbon Flotation Bridge, the Bailey Bridge, and the MGB Bridge. He learned to construct these bridges when he was in the Army. It was neat and he had fun learning how to do this hard work. He also got to drive really awesome vehicles. Jeff really loves to build bridges out of Lego. He and his daughter spend hours upon hours building cute little bridges with red and blue bricks. But never yellow. Yellow is for the devil. The longest bridge in the world is called the Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge. It stretches out for 102 miles and is in China. I mention this only because Rick has never been China. So he has never been on that bridge, and is therefore very sad. Rick's favorite bridge may be the bridge that he jumped off of the first time he bungee jumped. It was a beautiful sunny day, and it was a nice solid bridge. But, money was paid and his youth was not going to be wasted, so off he jumped. he had fun. Jeff has stated that his favorite bridges are those on star-ships. While those are neat with all of their flashing lights and alarms and inexplicable steam pipes, it is not really the answer we were looking for. I do not think he studied properly. Todd Bridges was an actor on Diff'rent Strokes. But that is also not the answer we were looking for. Needless to say, we are phoning this page in. It may be midnight when I am doing this, so you get what you get.   If you would like to see some pretty pictures, check out this website:  https://jeffandrickpresent.wordpress.com/2023/07/29/ff-13-the-bridge/(opens in a new tab)   We also have some merchandise over at Redbubble. We have a couple of nifty shirts for sale. https://www.redbubble.com/people/jeffrickpresent/?asc=u   You can also subscribe and listen to us on YouTube!    Our show supports the Hero Initiative, Helping Comic Creators in Need.  http://www.heroinitiative.org/   Eighties Action by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3703-eighties-action License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Go Cart by Kevin MacLeod Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/3813-go-cart License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license  

I like to do a variety of gimmicks on these pages, especially since I run out of ideas on what to talk about. So, for this one, I am going to give myself 27 minutes to write content for this page. After 27 minutes, I am going to stop....cold. This is actually a good idea since I waited till the night before to put this together. So here it goes. Ok...all of the pictures are loaded and it is 9:41PM. I am going to write until exactly 10:07PM. Hopefully I did my math right. It was a long day and I did volunteer at an information booth to talk about the program I work at, so my brain is a little fried. But that is not helping inform you, the dear reader about anything. Onward. Look at these kids, sitting around, looking at a space gate. Man, when I was there age, I had a stick. I was told that that would be my toy and the firewood for the night so don't get too attached. But these spoiled kids get bored by looking at space and different realities. Bad parenting. A little tip for all of you people. If you are ever faced with a galactic entity or a giant robot, never discount the effect of running away and hiding. Sure, when they destroy your world, the game is over, but still. Maybe you can go out with dignity. Ok, you probably will not, but at least you tried. Speaking of dignity, our Alt Reed buddy had zero of it left when he snuffed it after using the ultimate nullifier. Way to represent your cult my dude. You effected zero change. The only thing you contributed was a momentary light source when your body turned itself into a flame. Now Doom, he is class. Absolute style. He went out like a boss. It does not matter how many times the Fantastic Four take him down. or how much they make him look like a fool. He is Doom. Again, giant robots are not your friends. Never were, and never will be. I think we all know that artificial intelligence will one day destroy us all...either that or a really bad fish taco. I cannot remember what the prophecy said. But Doom...DOOOM....DOOOOOM......he will give us hope....if that hope is that we will all be ruled by someone who wants to rule us like a dictator. Huh...we probably will deserve that. Ok. So that is it. I set myself a time limit and let's see what we have. Well, I have 14 minutes remaining, and I have produced a bunch of hot garbage. Good game coach, good game. We also have some merchandise over at Redbubble. We have a couple of nifty shirts for sale. https://www.redbubble.com/people/jeffrickpresent/?asc=u     If you would like to see some cool pictures from this comic, check out our website: https://jeffandrickpresent.wordpress.com/2023/08/26/ff-14-27-minutes/(opens in a new tab)   You can also subscribe and listen to us on YouTube!  Our show supports the Hero Initiative, Helping Comic Creators in Need.  http://www.heroinitiative.org/ Eighties Action by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3703-eighties-action License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Music: SpiderJam by Keith Wolk Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9668-spiderjam Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license  

Good afternoon children, are we all ready for today's lesson? I hope so, because we have some special guests showing up. That's right, it is all of Power Pack...on a Power Pack show!!! Who would ever have guessed that! Today we are going to talk about self-defense, and we are going to have the Power Pack kids help with the demonstrations. Won't that be nice. It is always good to have someone demonstrate how to hurt someone else. First rule of our fight club is to fight anyone who messes with you. We are not here for looking good or chewing bubble gum, we are here to put down anyone who gives us that evil eye or sideways glance. We are here to put people in their places. So let's meet your opponents today. They may be young, scrappy, and rough, but they also got some moves like Jagger, if you get my drift. You know who I am talking about, the Pack o' Power. Now we are ready to tussle. You may be asking what the rules are, well listen up, buttercup. There are no rules. Well, maybe one rule, don't wrap your thumb inside your fist. Other than that. The world is your oyster. And by the way, you should probably aim for your opponent's oysters. While we are talking about low blows, let's remember why we aim for those chestnuts. First, they are connected to the hip area which is connected to the base area, which is connected to the why am I bent over area. You start to break down that point, you start to really change the game. And this ain't no game. And when the fighting and chaos is getting to be too much, and when you have doubts, and when you just do not know what to do. Remember what we said, go for the family jewels. And when you really are in doubt, punch Bentley. Thus endeth the lesson.   We also have some merchandise over at Redbubble. We have a couple of nifty shirts for sale. https://www.redbubble.com/people/jeffrickpresent/?asc=u   If you would like to see some cool pictures from this comic, check out our website: jeffandrickpresent.wordpress.com/2023/09/05/ff-15-the-one-where-power-pack-shows-up/   You can also subscribe and listen to us on YouTube!  Our show supports the Hero Initiative, Helping Comic Creators in Need.  http://www.heroinitiative.org/ Eighties Action by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3703-eighties-action License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Music: SpiderJam by Keith Wolk Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9668-spiderjam Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license  

Culmination: the highest or climactic point of something, especially as attained after a long time. That is what we are talking about today. And because I waited till the last minute to type up this page, and it is comic con weekend, the other definition we will use her is procrastination: the action of delaying or postponing something. Creepy: causing an unpleasant feeling of fear or unease. Weird: suggesting something supernatural; uncanny. Demanding: making others work hard or meet high standards. Command: give an authoritative order. Awesome: extremely impressive or daunting; inspiring great admiration, apprehension, or fear. Massive: large and heavy or solid. Mistake: an action or judgment that is misguided or wrong. Useless: not fulfilling or not expected to achieve the intended purpose or desired outcome. Glowing: give out steady light without flame. Power: the capacity or ability to direct or influence the behavior of others or the course of events. Those are definitions for words I thought about when looking at the pictures we chose for this book. I now have to go to the Rose City Comic Con. We also have some merchandise over at Redbubble. We have a couple of nifty shirts for sale. https://www.redbubble.com/people/jeffrickpresent/?asc=u   Check out the artwork from this book at our website: https://jeffandrickpresent.wordpress.com/2023/09/23/fantastic-four-604-forever-part-5/   You can also subscribe and listen to us on YouTube!  Our show supports the Hero Initiative, Helping Comic Creators in Need.  http://www.heroinitiative.org/ Eighties Action by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3703-eighties-action License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Spider Eyes by Kevin MacLeod Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/4405-spider-eyes Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license  

The clean-up phase. After any project, there is usually a mess. This is true from everything, be it home remodeling or battling giant space gods. People have done something in the place where you live any you have to clean it up. The first step in cleaning thing up is to make sure everyone is done messing things up. No sense starting to clean while the Thing is still breaking bar stools. But after that, you need to make sure you keep everyone focused on their jobs. You do not need their heads in the clouds or jumping into space. A project manager is good to have. You need to have someone in charge. You need to have someone to direct the work and make sure things are done. You need to have a dictator. Committees can be a bit much during the cleaning phase. Too many opinions, egos, and temperaments. Plus, the blaming and the scapegoatization. I do not know if that is a word, but my computer suggested it to me and so I am keeping it in. The cool thing that no on tells you is that you get to find really cool stuff while cleaning up. Sure, there is a bunch of junk and debris, but at the very least you will find some pocket change or some lost trinket, at the most you will find an artifact that will let you shape the galaxy. Keep your eyes peeled. Do not forget to get someone to handle the big things. You need muscle to really remove the bigger chunks of stuff and to handle cosmic sized messes. And please remember to lift with the knees. When you are all done with the cleaning, you are going to be left with something beautiful, something new, and something clean. You can admire it and enjoy it...right up until you decide to destroy it all and start over. Isn't that special. Oh, do not forget to punish those who did not do enough to clean.   Look at the art work from this issue at our webpage: https://jeffandrickpresent.wordpress.com/2023/10/08/ff-16-one-step-beyond/   We also have some merchandise over at Redbubble. We have a couple of nifty shirts for sale. https://www.redbubble.com/people/jeffrickpresent/?asc=u   You can also subscribe and listen to us on YouTube!  Our show supports the Hero Initiative, Helping Comic Creators in Need.  http://www.heroinitiative.org/ Eighties Action by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3703-eighties-action License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Music: Bounce by Sascha Ende Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/490-bounce Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license      

Oh my goodness, we are covering something exciting and new. Wowzers, I hope you come aboard, because we have been expecting you! That's right, it is the LOVE BOAT...I mean, the Avenger Academy. I guess we should introduce you to this crew that will be on our ship as we cruise through these West Coast waves, so let me check the roster of....holy phone books Batman, that is a lot of people. You know what, Al Gore did not invent the internet so you could twiddle your thumbs, look them up yourself. Many people ask how big the Pacific Princess is, and I do know why they ask me that. I am not a captain, I just happen to think that a dress white uniform with shorts is comfortable and delightful. It also means that I cannot eat anything, so it helps me lose weight. Oh, and the ship is big....like Giant Man. No, I do not have dreams about celebrity guest stars on the deck of my ship. And if I did, I would not talk about them here. It is private. While there are snakes that are found in the water, that is not relevant to boats in the Pacific. Plus, we need to talk about the Avengers Acadamy. Or not, since I have run out of time. Oh well....next months.   You can find pretty pictures of this issue at: https://jeffandrickpresent.wordpress.com/2023/10/21/avengers-academy-20-endings/(opens in a new tab)   We also have some merchandise over at Redbubble. We have a couple of nifty shirts for sale. https://www.redbubble.com/people/jeffrickpresent/?asc=u   You can also subscribe and listen to us on YouTube!  Our show supports the Hero Initiative, Helping Comic Creators in Need.  http://www.heroinitiative.org/ Eighties Action by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3703-eighties-action License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Music: Badass by Phat Sounds Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/11820-badass Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license  

If you are going to open a new educational institution, and you want it to compete, especially against those insane California schools, you have to make some choices. You also have to show you are willing to do it all to get the best of the best. First, let's talk about your campus. Do you have all of the amenities that your students want and or need. Do you have nice buildings and cool sporting spaces? Do you have a view of the ocean? If you cannot provide your students with a killer vista, you might as well take your diplomas and go home. And what about the special programs? Are you going to be one of those colleges that talks the talk but does not actually have the resources to provide the best to the best. If you say you are going to revolutionize paleontology, you better get more than bones. And if you want to promote high tech, you need to actually have some high tech. We are not talking about the most recent phone or computer, we are talking about robotics that are one good sneeze from sentience and world domination. You need to be willing to fight to be on top. And not just in getting the best students, but fighting other schools to take the best students away from them. We want the best and we deserve the best, and the rest are just .....not best. At the end of the day, you need to think about the future, and what kind of students you want to create. If you want them to be super villains, than reach for the stars baby. Make it happen and do not hold back. That is what I call a success!   If you want to see our artwork, check out:  https://jeffandrickpresent.wordpress.com/2023/11/04/avengers-academy-21-welcome-students/   We also have some merchandise over at Redbubble. We have a couple of nifty shirts for sale. https://www.redbubble.com/people/jeffrickpresent/?asc=u   You can also subscribe and listen to us on YouTube!  Our show supports the Hero Initiative, Helping Comic Creators in Need.  http://www.heroinitiative.org/ Eighties Action by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3703-eighties-action License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Music: Greko (Sketch) by Kevin MacLeod Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/3826-greko-sketch Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license  

Do you want to meet your idols? Do you want to meet your terrorist idols? Do you want to meet your terrorist idol while they show up at their son's workplace, a son who also happens to be training you? Well, then do we have a book for you to read! So why should you read this book? Well first, it is a book, so it exists for you to read. That is its purpose, its function. If you do not read it, then it has failed. But I have digressed into a philosophical tangent that nobody got time for on a Sunday morning. The second reason to read this book is because then our rambling about it will make more sense. The third reason to read this book is explosions. You want them, this has got them. Or at least one. It is a good one too. People go flying everywhere and there is fire. It is pretty neat. Would recommend. Fourth, broken robots. You may be asking yourself how that is an argument for reading a book. Well, a broken robot tells you that there is at least one robot in this story. This means that there may be another robot, one that is not broken. And robots are cool. And of course, the fifth reason to read the book is that there is, in fact, a second robot. The sixth reason to read this book is that there is sports in it. I mean, it is not the traditional sports like fencing, and climbing, and horse back riding. This is more like a violent, full contact game where you are trying to toss a spherical object in a receptacle while avoiding obstacles. Totally fun and safe. The seventh reason is action. So many people are hit or hit others. One person is hit a lot. Other people do a lot of hitting. Movement occurs in a dramatic way. It is all terribly exciting. And the final reason why you should read this book is because someone gets kicked in the head.   Do not forget to check out our artwork over at this website: https://jeffandrickpresent.wordpress.com/2023/11/18/avengers-academy-22-disappointments/ We also have some merchandise over at Redbubble. We have a couple of nifty shirts for sale. https://www.redbubble.com/people/jeffrickpresent/?asc=u   You can also subscribe and listen to us on YouTube!  Our show supports the Hero Initiative, Helping Comic Creators in Need.  http://www.heroinitiative.org/ Eighties Action by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3703-eighties-action License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Music: Racers Gonna Race - Sport Rock Music by Dave Deville Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10772-racers-gonna-race-sport-rock-music Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license  

It is that time of the year again, but it is not, cause it is Thanksgiving...cause SOMEONE got us lost on the way to the Rutland Vermont Halloween Party. Still, we know why we are all here this year....again. It is all because of Mephisto and his evil ways. So, what madness are we subjected to this year? According to Wikipedia: Rutland is the only city in and the seat of the county of the same name in Vermont, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a total population of 15,807. It is located approximately 65 miles (105 km) north of the Massachusetts state line, 35 miles (56 km) west of New Hampshire state line, and 20 miles (32 km) east of the New York state line. Rutland is the third largest city in the state of Vermont after Burlington and South Burlington. They also suffer from the largest deposits of melted man in the United States. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.67 square miles (19.9 km2), of which 7.6 square miles (20 km2) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2), or 0.52%, is water. Rutland is drained by Otter Creek, Moon Brook, Tenney Brook, East Creek and Mussey Brook. There is also a large number of unexplained dimensional portals. The downtown section contains the Rutland Free Library, the Paramount Theater and Merchant's Row, a restored street dating back to the mid-19th century. 108 buildings in downtown Rutland are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. But when the Juggernaut comes to town, statistics change. At the local level, Rutland is governed by a Mayor and Board of Aldermen. For representation in the Vermont House of Representatives, Rutland is split into four districts. In the Vermont Senate, Rutland is represented by three state senators who serve most of Rutland County. The rest of the town is ruled by fear of rampaging monsters. And of course their is the Rutland Halloween Parade has taken place annually since 1960. In the early 1970s, the Rutland Halloween Parade was used as the setting of a number of superhero comic books, including Batman #237, Justice League of America #103, Freedom Fighters #6, Amazing Adventures #16, Avengers #83, and The Mighty Thor #207. The parade celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2009. It brought friends together through fights. So be sure to visit this lovely town, and keep your eyes out for the Beast...he may still be looking for his skin suit.   Here are the other shows participating this year: Married with Comics - Avengers #83 Ninjas 'n' Bots - Batman #237 Unpacking the Power of Power Pack - Amazing Adventures #16 The Outcasters - Justice League of America #103 Resurrections An Adam Warlock and Thanos Podcast - Thor #207 Coffee & Comics - Generation X #22 We also have some merchandise over at Redbubble. We have a couple of nifty shirts for sale. https://www.redbubble.com/people/jeffrickpresent/?asc=u   You can also subscribe and listen to us on YouTube!  Our show supports the Hero Initiative, Helping Comic Creators in Need.  http://www.heroinitiative.org/ Eighties Action by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3703-eighties-action License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Music: Plucky Daisy by Kevin MacLeod Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/4226-plucky-daisy Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Warning, this podcast includes words and phrases presented by a New Zealander. Please be aware that the use of an accent will be heard throughout the episode, viewer discretion is advised. Beyond that, we are overjoyed and excited to welcome back our favorite Kiwi in the whole world, Waffles! Waffles may be one of our biggest fans, but that does not mean we know a lot about their homeland. Well Jeff might, he did visit their when he was much younger and had 100% less children than he does now. So, in honor of our guest, I am going to make up facts about New Zealand based on basic internet research and comedy. First off, did you know that New Zealand is known for it's biodiversity? Sure, may have heard about the Haast's eagle and moa, as well as the strange little flightless bird whose name I cannot remember...but there are a whole bunch of other animals that you can only find on or around these islands. I have also heard that you can find Hobbits and Elves there too. Science and technology in New Zealand is apparently a thing. According to my history books I thought it all happened in Greece or the United States, but apparently there are other places where people are smart. Ernest Rutherford split the atom, Beatrice Tinsley is known for studying galaxy formations, and the Māori people have been recognized for early indigenous contributions to science. Makes me feel really inadequate for getting an F when I brought a 9 Volt battery and steel wool to the science fair. In the area of monster creation, New Zealand is a pioneer. What with WETA workshops, Black Sheep, and Peter Jackson. I mean....were-sheep, need we say more. Between that and some of the wildlife we mentioned above, this place is just a nightmare waiting to attack you. I even heard that they have gigantic killer cats that roam houses at night, stealing waffles. Or, that could be a rumor I just started. The New Zealand cricket team, nicknamed Black Caps, is world famous. They do amazing things whenever they show up to do sport. Many fans come to watch them play live, or sometimes on TV. They really are very good and everybody....OK, look...I do not understand cricket as a game of concept and do not understand any of the words on this Wikipedia page. I try to fake it when I can, but sometimes this is what you get. Human cloning also occurs in New Zealand. Actually, it occurs all over the world and nobody talks about it because of "the man", but we all know. The leading facility for cloning is located in a secret bunker in Christchurch, just below the Botanic Gardens. The facility produces two thousand clones a year, quietly shipping them out as bearded American tourists. This facility has brought much needed income to the area.....Wait a minute, the Wikipedia page I was citing this information from was just changed to talk about New Zealand's climate. Well, it was still probably true. Giantism is a condition that can occur in people born in New Zealand. Many have said that it is has occurred as a result of the Māori tradition of cooking food over heated rocks that have been irradiated by gamma radiation, but the science is inconclusive and mostly confined to a comic book that I have just started to draw with crayons. Needless to say, the food is very tasty and everyone should eat a pavolva a day. Now, I have been informed that my "facts" are "wrong" and that I may have "offended" some people with my "dumb" "and" "innovative" material "or" use of "the" "internet". "Some" people are "also" complaining that "I" may not "be" using or "over"using ""quotes" (or as "I" like to call "them" hanging coupled comas) incorrectly. "Whatever"! In closing, please consider adopting a New Zealander, they are just looking for a little bit of love in this crazy world. And listen to Waffles on his podcast: Waffles and Mates Talk About Things.   Check out the art we highlighted at our website: https://jeffandrickpresent.wordpress.com/2023/12/03/avengers-academy-23-second-chances/   We also have some merchandise over at Redbubble. We have a couple of nifty shirts for sale. https://www.redbubble.com/people/jeffrickpresent/?asc=u   You can also subscribe and listen to us on YouTube!  Our show supports the Hero Initiative, Helping Comic Creators in Need.  http://www.heroinitiative.org/ Eighties Action by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3703-eighties-action License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Music: Cityscape Dreams by Arti The A.I. & Sascha Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/11992-cityscape-dreams Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Sometimes, you have to turn on your friends. After years of friendship and partnership and other kinds of ships, you just have to tell your friend, enough is enough. Sometimes you may be paid to do it, sometimes you have just grown tired of them, and sometimes it is because you have a new knife and you want to see how well it fits in that guys back. With that said....let me tell you about Jeff. We need to talk about his breath first. You may not know this, but today's high-tech microphones are all include multi-layered, immersive technology. A lot of the changes are due to more people working in the office. There is a call for additional ways to promote in person interactions, and so we now can smell people in online meetings. This is a problem. I have even bought the guy breath mints. The dude is a show off. Like every time we go somewhere he is all like, "Look at me and my wonderful beard" and " Have you ever seen such an amazing toupee", and also "You all need to eat my broccoli and hot dog casserole!" He is so annoying. You win one county fair casserole bake-off, you think you are a god. Give me a break. Then there is his wardrobe and fashion. It must be nice to get to wear all those fantastic clothes and costumes. Sometime I would like to be sent the finest t-shirts made. Not everyone has a secret benefactor who keeps you afloat in the latest middle-aged, stay-at-home dad fashion. I do not care that he has a new generic shirt for each hour of the day. UGH. Here is another thing that annoys me about Jeff...his stupid athletic skill. Just because he mastered lacrosse, water polo, and fencing in high school, does not make him interesting. Do you know how annoying it is to arrive a party with someone who likes to do somersaults across the lawn. You will always pale next to that, trust me. Being around someone like Jeff is just annoying. He sucks the light from the room and absorbs it onto himself. And then...he struts. He knows what he is doing and he STRUTS. The man cannot even walk like a human. He has to "Tony Manero" his way into every room. Needless to say, I am done being a little puppet for Jeff to play with. I will not dance on his string any longer. He will not control me, or make me his ....puppet. It is time for me to stand on my own, and to tell him exactly what I think of him. This is Jeff writing now. I would like to apologize for the mean spirited remarks made by my friend and partner. He has been under a lot of stress from work and running my podcast. Sometime, he just lets himself do too much. Trust me, we are still friends. Our relationship has never been better.   If you want to see the art from this book, check out our website at: https://jeffandrickpresent.wordpress.com/2023/12/17/avengers-academy-24-family/   We also have some merchandise over at Redbubble. We have a couple of nifty shirts for sale. https://www.redbubble.com/people/jeffrickpresent/?asc=u   You can also subscribe and listen to us on YouTube!  Our show supports the Hero Initiative, Helping Comic Creators in Need.  http://www.heroinitiative.org/ Eighties Action by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3703-eighties-action License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Music: Figures In The Fog by Lilo Sound Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/5551-figures-in-the-fog Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

You can listen to the episode by clicking: Episode 150 Can you believe we made it to 150 episodes! Nope...neither can I...or we....or us....Whatever. Anyway, since this issue is called Class Reunion, I thought we should revisit some of the things we have said in the past. Recently, we covered FF#1, The Club on episode 125, and we said this: And new colleges and friends and places to go. It must be pretty cool to get to go to such wonderful locations and kick booty with new peeps….especially when one of the coworkers wears size rocky gravel kickers. Going back a bit further, we covered Runaways V2 #2 for episode 100, and we made this statement: I would like to be able to create a big hand with a bunch of metal. I think that it would be a great party trick. Something like, "nothing up this sleeve, nothing under my hat, now watch this!" And then, BAM! Salsa time! Now we are getting back to our roots. Episode 75, we covered Power Pack #57: And this Underoos championing space beast can only be defeated by The Stimulator!! Just to make sure you heard me: The Stimulator has to be used on the bikini briefs beast before bedtime…boy, what a bother! Remember when we were in the heart of covering Power Pack, like back in Episode 50 with Power Pack #38: What do you mean false advertising?! How do you know that I wasn't going to follow through on this?….They don't know! What do you mean I just told them? Just look at this shiny thing, OK! Why would we cover X-Men on our podcast, check out Episode 25 to listen to our coverage of issue #205 of Uncanny X-Men: There are many lessons to take from this book. Lessons like don't sell your soul, keep your fluids inside your body, always bring a sparkler to a knife fight, and always bring a buddy when you head out into the snow! And of course, our first episode, number one, where we met this family of kids and their crazy adventers in Power Pack #1: Our inaugural episode! Jeff and Rick begin their podcasting journey by playing around with some recording gear, drinking some beer, and talking about the first issue of Power Pack. And that brings us to this issue....where a bunch of people fight each other. ENJOY! We also have some merchandise over at Redbubble. We have a couple of nifty shirts for sale. https://www.redbubble.com/people/jeffrickpresent/?asc=u   You can check out the artwork at this link: https://jeffandrickpresent.wordpress.com/2023/12/31/avengers-academy-25-class-reunion/   You can also subscribe and listen to us on YouTube!  Our show supports the Hero Initiative, Helping Comic Creators in Need.  http://www.heroinitiative.org/ Eighties Action by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3703-eighties-action License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Music: Mighty Like Us by Kevin MacLeod Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/4050-mighty-like-us Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license  

Let's talk about a book full of talking. It is a talking book and we are talking people. So, what are we going to talk about here? I don't know. Probably something to do with the pictures we are showing which will make no sense if you are looking at this text on the episode. Why would you pull someone's hair like Quicksilver does. It is rude and annoying and he should be slapped for doing it. What an absolute punk. I do not care that he was potentially saving Avengers IP from being taken. It is still not very nice. Hank Pym has been many things in his life, but we do not talk much about him being a librarian. It is true. One time, between appearances, he became a librarian in a small New England fishing town. He just needed a break and so he got away and somehow snagged this quiet little job. Nobody talks about it. Probably because I made it up. We all know that gossip is the worst kind of talking. Well, not the worst. The worst is what Jennifer said about Randal after PE. That was horrible...and so mean. I mean, I know that Randal had broken up with Jennifer so he could go out with Tina, but that Tina was still in love with Calvin. Oh the drama. I like dino butts, and I cannot lie, some other brothers think they are fly....ok...I have nothing. What type of a bath do you like? I am more of a shower man myself. In and out after a good scrub. Some people really like to just sit in water heavy with salt and flowery smells. Apparently it is soothing. For me, it makes me thing of sitting in the ocean waiting to be attacked by a shark wearing perfume. The evil plans of one man can make the world shake. Just look at the evil wrought by Tom in accounting. He went home early for lunch and did not close the Anderson account properly, and that was the doom of the entire company. Rue...RUE the day! This man is a big unit. I hope that was confusing and pointless. That was my goal.   To see the pictures, check out our website: https://jeffandrickpresent.wordpress.com/2024/01/14/avengers-academy-26-career-day/   We also have some merchandise over at Redbubble. We have a couple of nifty shirts for sale. https://www.redbubble.com/people/jeffrickpresent/?asc=u   You can also subscribe and listen to us on YouTube!  Our show supports the Hero Initiative, Helping Comic Creators in Need.  http://www.heroinitiative.org/ Eighties Action by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3703-eighties-action License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Music: Flight Pack 1 - 6/6 (Dubby) by Sascha Ende Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/181-flight-pack-1-66-dubby Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license  

Let's take a tiny backtrack to a backup story in Avengers: Solo and see how Finesse and Striker handle a little test created by Giant Man and Tygra. How is Power Pack involved...? Good question. Listen to the episode to find out.  First of all, let's define Solo. Solo does not mean that you have a partner or are in a smaller team from you original group. Which makes me always wonder about Han Solo. I mean, he is never really SOLO. And when he is, he get's stuck in carbonite or killed. He is more like, Han Team. But I digress. So when you are truly solo, you are going up against big odds by yourself. It is a challenge where you push your limits, and run the gauntlet on your own. Forget relying on others, charge your own trail. A great solo adventure would be one hero coming up against an army of robots that were created in the image of their teammates. That would be fantastic. And absolutely terrifying. What an absolute crushing defeat. Maybe they should have brought a team with them. But if you were able to go solo against one robot, who would you choose? I would go up against Crowww....Yes, he would make me laugh, but I think I could take him. I definitely have the reach, and also, I am not a puppet. Back to talking about what is a solo adventure. According to some sources, it is acceptable to have a solo adventure and work with people during that adventure, focusing on people that you do not work with. With that in mind, I would like to go on a secret solo adventure and team up with Einstein and Mark Twain. I think that would be a hoot. Fighting by yourself against another opponent is the traditional version of what a solo adventure is about. And, if you are truly the hero of the story, you should do your best to win. Otherwise it will be a short story. Another non-traditional solo story would be to have a partner on your adventures and then kill them with their own arm near the end of the adventure and tell everyone that it was all done just by you. It is a choice you can make. I really hope that I was not helpful today.  We also have some merchandise over at Redbubble. We have a couple of nifty shirts for sale. https://www.redbubble.com/people/jeffrickpresent/?asc=u   Check out our webpage at: https://jeffandrickpresent.wordpress.com/2024/01/28/avengers-solo-1-5-extra-credit/   You can also subscribe and listen to us on YouTube!  Our show supports the Hero Initiative, Helping Comic Creators in Need.  http://www.heroinitiative.org/ Eighties Action by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3703-eighties-action License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Music: Flight Pack 1 - 6/6 (Dubby) by Sascha Ende Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/181-flight-pack-1-66-dubby Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license  

Hey, guess what. The Runaways are back! And it is Super Bowl Sunday! Let's see what happens when I try to explain this comic book and what we talk about with just references to Super Bowls Greatest moments. First, let's talk about the Apple in the room. That's right, the giant sentinel helping to guard the Avengers compound from riff-raff like that Runaways. Not unlike a sledgehammer wielding woman, breaking down the barriers....or wait...Are the Runaways the ones with the hammer? Not unlike Harry Carson drenching Bill Parcells with a bucket of Gatorade has there been another time when a Giant has poured cold water on a fellow Giant. Yet, Hank stops the Sentinel from killing kids....what is this world coming to. How about the kitten bowl. No not the halftime entertainment to elicit adorations from your children, I am talking about a kitten in a bowl...like Tigra's son. She uses this child to distract the defense. Flag on the play. The hate that Hazmat and Nico have upon their first meeting is not unlike that of the Cowboys and Steelers from Super Bowl X. Sure there is respect, but there is hate....a lot of hate. Super Bowl 56 was the Bengals vs the Rams....and they hyped this by playing Welcome to the Jungle. And during this comic, the kids went to a jungle. What do you want from me. It is the best I could do.  Never has a tackle like the one Old Lace gave Chase been so powerful. Well maybe when Kevin Dyson was Tackled by Mike Jones on a yard away from the goal line to cause the Titans to lose. That one hurt more. And speaking of dinosaurs, do you remember that time when a big red dinosaur crashed the Super Bowl. Neither did I, because it did not happen yet. But it will. I just need to get this magic amulet to open, and then you will all rue the day. Boy that was sure fun, and not at all a last minute scramble as I tried to get this done. GO SPORTS! We also have some merchandise over at Redbubble. We have a couple of nifty shirts for sale. https://www.redbubble.com/people/jeffrickpresent/?asc=u   Check out the fantastic art at: https://jeffandrickpresent.wordpress.com/2024/02/11/avengers-academy-27-homecoming-part-1/   You can also subscribe and listen to us on YouTube!  Our show supports the Hero Initiative, Helping Comic Creators in Need.  http://www.heroinitiative.org/ Eighties Action by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3703-eighties-action License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Total Happy Up And Sunny by Sascha Ende Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/555-total-happy-up-and-sunny License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license  

Part two of the Avengers Academy and the Runaways. We left on a cliffhanger where betrayal was afoot, and they were in a dinosaur dimension. What will happen? What will occur? Will Rick decide that he should somehow talk about something completely different. So last night I was in a local poker tournament. This was the final game between our club and one from across town. We had the top nine winners from both clubs playing for a little bit of money, and a whole lot of bragging rights. Guess who came in second place. Now what does that have to do with somebody getting their arm bitten off? Nothing. Not a thing. Ok, maybe we could say that I was biting off more than I could chew, but I made it farther than a lot of people....last night, that was 14 people. But I digress. Yes, I am flying high after the evening. I do not feel upset that I did not get first. That other player was much better than me. But they were cool, and we were having a great time. Actually, the entire evening was pleasant. You would think that two rival clubs would start unleashing their powers at each other, but no, we all got along well. It is nice when a group of people get together and realize that they have more in common then they realize. At first, I thought that this was going to be a very tortured metaphor. Like I was trying to pry open a dinosaurs mouth, but now that I am in the thick of it, I feel that this is a better comparison than I originally thought. Last night was about two groups of people coming together. All and all, a good night. Everyone had fun, and much mirth was had. The only shrinking that occurred was to some players chip stacks. Luckily, Dr Hank Pym was on my side and was helping enlarge my money. OK..Now I am torturing the metaphor. I should give a shout out to our host for the evening. While they did not make it to the final tournament roster (because I took them out in the league finals....sorry), they still offered the use of their garage, and cooked the dinner for the evening. His own take on a Philly cheese steak sandwich. Dang, they were very tasty. An amazing chef, a good friend, and a nice guy. And during the tournament, nobodies mother was killed by a robot, but I am sure there was one or two "Yo momma" jokes.   Please visit our website to see some images from this episode: https://jeffandrickpresent.wordpress.com/2024/02/25/avengers-academy-28-homecoming-part-2/   We also have some merchandise over at Redbubble. We have a couple of nifty shirts for sale. https://www.redbubble.com/people/jeffrickpresent/?asc=u   You can also subscribe and listen to us on YouTube!  Our show supports the Hero Initiative, Helping Comic Creators in Need.  http://www.heroinitiative.org/ Eighties Action by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3703-eighties-action License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ The Big Show Opener: Zeus by Sascha Ende Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/4642-the-big-show-opener-zeus License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

It is time for a three part storyline, part of the AvX crossover. Are you ready for this? No really...Are you ready? Because if you are looking at us to provide you with some context or guidance, you have forgotten that we are a Power Pack podcast. We have a few points that we want to hit here, and first we should emphasize that this series is awesome. I mean, if for no other reason than a guy with metal skin states so as he is surfing on land. But that is neither here nor there. Actually, I take that back....there is a guy surfing on land in this book. Focus on that! What we should not focus on is the absolute theft of an iconic scene. No, we will not dwell on this sacrilegious effort to somehow equate Sebastion Shaw with Wolverine. that would be a mistake and we should not spotlight it at all. What would be the point? We all know it is a cheap and unnecessary shot. Dang it! I focused on the picture when I said I was not going to. Bad Rick, you know better. I now need to punish myself severely with physical injury. It is the only way I will learn. Well, at least I have not embarrassed myself or you fine readers by introducing anything over salacious or gratuitous. Mistakes have been made, but nothing that could not be covered up with the correct amount of....clothes. We also have some merchandise over at Redbubble. We have a couple of nifty shirts for sale. https://www.redbubble.com/people/jeffrickpresent/?asc=u   Please check out some interesting pictures from this book at our website: https://jeffandrickpresent.wordpress.com/2024/02/24/avengers-academy-29-protective-services-part-1/   You can also subscribe and listen to us on YouTube!  Our show supports the Hero Initiative, Helping Comic Creators in Need.  http://www.heroinitiative.org/ Eighties Action by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3703-eighties-action License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Carneval by Sascha Ende Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/221-carneval License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

It is part two of this little three parter, and that can mean a number of things. It could be Empire Strikes Back or Godfather Part 2. Or it could be Temple of Doom.....or even Showgirls 2. Or it could be worse. This is not any of those. This is s solid book with a series of fights and the possibility of manslaughter. So, enjoy.   Let's start off by talking about the big guy....the god on the team. Hercules...the lion of Olympus. He is the puncher of the team. He is the bruiser. He should be able to handle this, especially with his toys. right? Or not. Ok, not really making a great show on this second issue of his introduction to the team. Dude gets owned. I mean...this is just sad. Just sad!!! Ok. I really do not know where to go from here. I could talk about the rest of the book, but why bother. My faith in heroes and gods has failed. Nobody can save us, not even a good editor. More fighting happened...more story....but wow.....Hercules beaten to the ground by an amnesiac. That is just lazy....poor showing....poor showing. Look....there is a reprogrammed sentinel here that has more action than Hercules. What is up with that? Sure, it did not go up against Shaw, but it still had a better showing. Ok, I guess I am done complaining....well, I am not...but I am for now. We also have some merchandise over at Redbubble. We have a couple of nifty shirts for sale. https://www.redbubble.com/people/jeffrickpresent/?asc=u   You can see the art from the book here:  https://jeffandrickpresent.wordpress.com/2024/03/10/avengers-academy-30-protective-services-part-2/   You can also subscribe and listen to us on YouTube!  Our show supports the Hero Initiative, Helping Comic Creators in Need.  http://www.heroinitiative.org/ Eighties Action by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3703-eighties-action License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Night by Sascha Ende Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/71-night License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Final part of the Protective Services arc. This is the issue where we are finally brought the big old fight that we have been promised. That's right, the biggest slobber knocker, big show, extravaganza that will shake the trees and roll the stones. Yee Haw Cowboy. Speaking of which, do you remember back on June 23, 1996, there was a King of the Ring tournament. Before the match, Jake "The Snake" Roberts was proselytizing in the locker room. But, at the end of the match, Stone Cold Steve Austin beat the veteran to win the match. That was the moment that Austin cut a promo where he talked about Jake reading from the bible and John 3:16...and how Austin 3:16 just said that he whipped your.......I do not know why I thought about that. Did you know that there once was an exploding barbed wire deathmatch on AEW? Yeah. Apparently, the danger level was high enough that the referee had to wear a hazmat suit. I mean, that is a whole new level of gimmick, but whatever. Going back to Jake "The Snake", he really did routines with live snakes, much to the annoyance of his fellow wrestlers. One of them even bit Macho Man Randy Savage in 1991. I once bit Jeff on a dare. I still have hair stuck in my teeth. According to the internet, the greatest Royal Rumble ever was the 1992 Royal Rumble. Ric Flair won the match by lasting in the ring for over an hour, outlasting all other competitors. This included many of the big names at the time including Hulk Hogan, the British Bulldog and Randy Savage. My money is on Mettle. Without getting into his definite problematic issues, the greatest villain in the wrestling world could be Vince McMahon. The fact that the owner of this corporation painted himself as the consistent villain in story lines, helping to sell story lines and mocking himself is admirable. Maybe he played the villain to easily. The WCW Bash at the Beach 1996 was very memorable because it was when Hulk Hogan came out as a bad guy and the New World Order was formed. it was unexpected that the most stable good guy would turn on his friends and fans was shocking. At the moment, my cohost has informed me that we are a comic book podcast and not a wrestling podcast. He feels that I should just move on. I have informed him that ...."It doesn't matter what you think!!!"   Go see the website where we show some images: https://jeffandrickpresent.wordpress.com/2024/03/21/avengers-academy-31-protective-services-part-3/   We also have some merchandise over at Redbubble. We have a couple of nifty shirts for sale. https://www.redbubble.com/people/jeffrickpresent/?asc=u   You can also subscribe and listen to us on YouTube!  Our show supports the Hero Initiative, Helping Comic Creators in Need.  http://www.heroinitiative.org/ Eighties Action by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3703-eighties-action License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Lazy Cat Groove by Sascha Ende Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/12194-lazy-cat-groove License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Here we are at Part 1 of a two-parter focused on Juston and his Sentinel. A boy and his bot. A man and his machine. A guy and his Gundon. A kid and his kit. Well, you get the idea, right? This is a love story, or an indictment against capitalism. Either one of those things. So let's talk big robots. We know them and we love them, and we want to destroy monsters with them. What is your favorite? I don't care, I am going to tell you about my favorites. I love Voltron. C'mon, five lions that make a big robot. Love it! From days of long ago, from uncharted regions of the universe, comes a legend, the legend of Voltron, Defender of the Universe. A mighty robot, loved by good, feared by evil. As Voltron's legend grew, peace settled across the galaxy. On planet Earth, a galaxy alliance was formed. Together with the good planets of the solar system, they maintained peace throughout the universe. Until a new horrible menace threatened the galaxy. Voltron was needed once more. This is the story of the super force of space explorers, specially trained, and sent by the alliance, to bring back Voltron: Defender of the Universe. I love Robotech. Big mech robots, transforming vehicles, focus on the individual characters. Fantastic. But we could do without Minmei. But besides that, awesome-sauce. Give me a veritech and cyclone any day of the week. We all see this is a real call to the Iron Giant. You know this movie....during the Cold War a big iron robot falls from space and crashes into a forest, then it becomes best friends with a boy. This movie will break you, guaranteed. The Terminator franchise started with a simple story about an assassin sent back in time from 2029 to 1984 to kill Sarah Conners. From there, it became a real cultural icon. Can we just imagine if we combined Laura with a terminator. That would be awesome. Then of course there is the Transformers. They are more than meets the eye. They are the team of robots that we ran home to watch when we were kids. They are the toys that we begged our parents for. They are the statutes that we now spend big bucks for. They are cool.   Check out the artwork of this comic at: https://jeffandrickpresent.wordpress.com/2024/03/29/avengers-academy-32-what-the-heart-wants-part-1/   We also have some merchandise over at Redbubble. We have a couple of nifty shirts for sale. https://www.redbubble.com/people/jeffrickpresent/?asc=u   You can also subscribe and listen to us on YouTube!  Our show supports the Hero Initiative, Helping Comic Creators in Need.  http://www.heroinitiative.org/ Eighties Action by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3703-eighties-action License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Neon Fury by Sascha Ende Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/12190-neon-fury License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

What shall we talk about this week? Probably not really about this comic book. How about we talk about a specific organ that is explicitly talked about in this issue? Yes, I am talking about hair.....wait....no....that is not right......I am talking about the heart. But what heart are we talking about?  First of all, I will go ahead and give all credit to Wikipedia for what you are about to read. I am not that original. And I really do not want to be that creative. I think this is just more fun. Heart is an American rock band formed in 1973 in Seattle, Washington. The band evolved from previous projects led by founding members Roger Fisher (guitar) and Steve Fossen (bass guitar), including The Army (1967–1969), Hocus Pocus (1969–1970), and White Heart (1970–1973). Heart is a framework developed by Google to help the products and development teams to make decisions that serve business and user-centered. Heart is a framework for mobile design and metrics. It is an acronym that stands for happiness, engagement, adoption, retention and task success. Included by Gartner as a design approach that accommodates mobile interface issues such as partial user attention and interruption. Heart is a 1987 American sports drama film directed by James Lemmo (in his directorial debut), from a screenplay by Lemmo and Randy Jurgensen, who also produced the film. It stars Brad Davis, Jesse Doran, Steve Buscemi, Frank Adu, Sam Gray, Billy Costello, and Frances Fisher. A punch-drunk boxer is set up as an easy win for an up-and-coming young boxer in this melodrama. The highlight of the film is the performance of Steve Buscemi as the oily, mob-connected fight promoter Nicky. Eddie (Brad Davis) is the addle-brained boxer Nicky hangs out to dry for quick money. Heart of Midlothian Football Club, commonly known as Hearts, is a professional football club in Edinburgh, Scotland. The team competes in the Scottish Premiership, the top division of Scottish football. Hearts, the oldest and most successful football club in the Scottish capital, was formed in 1874, its name influenced by Walter Scott's novel The Heart of Midlothian. The club crest is based on the Heart of Midlothian mosaic on the city's Royal Mile; the team's colors are maroon and white. The Heart Nebula (also known as the Running dog nebula, IC 1805, Sharpless 2-190) is an emission nebula, 7500 light years away from Earth and located in the Perseus Arm of the Galaxy in the constellation Cassiopeia. It was discovered by William Herschel on 3 November 1787. It displays glowing ionized hydrogen gas and darker dust lanes. "Heart" is a song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys from their second studio album, Actually (1987). It was released as the album's fourth and final single on 21 March 1988 by Parlophone. The song topped the UK Singles Chart for three weeks in April 1988, becoming the duo's fourth and final chart-topper to date in the United Kingdom. Its music video was directed by Jack Bond and filmed in Yugoslavia. The group had initially written the song for Madonna, though they never asked her to record it, instead keeping it for themselves. Heart Peaks, originally known as the Heart Mountains, is a mountain massif in the Northern Interior of British Columbia, Canada. It is 90 km (56 mi) northwest of the small community of Telegraph Creek and just southwest of Callison Ranch. With a maximum elevation of 2,012 m (6,601 ft), it rises above the surrounding landscape on the Nahlin Plateau, which is part of the western Stikine Plateau. Heart Peaks has been an area of prospecting since the 1980s with the discovery of precious metals. The Heart is a 2014 realistic and medical fiction novel by the French author Maylis de Kerangal. It chronicles the events immediately following the death of 19-year-old Simon Limbres in a car accident. In particular, The Heart focuses on the transplantation of Simon's heart and how it affects those involved in the process, including Simon's parents, the physicians, the nurses, the organ transplant coordinators, the recipient, and the recipient's family, over the course of twenty-four hours.   Check out the pictures from this issue:  https://jeffandrickpresent.wordpress.com/2024/04/18/avengers-academy-33-what-the-heart-wants-part-2/   We also have some merchandise over at Redbubble. We have a couple of nifty shirts for sale. https://www.redbubble.com/people/jeffrickpresent/?asc=u   You can also subscribe and listen to us on YouTube!  Our show supports the Hero Initiative, Helping Comic Creators in Need.  http://www.heroinitiative.org/ Eighties Action by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3703-eighties-action License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Clap Along With Me by Sascha Ende Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/12234-clap-along-with-me License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

OK boys and girls, it is time to get ready for those final exams. In the case of the Avengers Academy, those tests are practical's. Before we sharpen those number 2 pencils, let's take a short pause and talk about some beaches. Why....well, if you read the book or listened to this podcast, you would have an idea of what we are talking about. Besides the comic book, I recently had the opportunity to travel through some states that I have skipped over for years. While I did get to enjoy the bitter cold shoreline of the St. Croix River in Hudson Wisconsin, I eventually made it down to the white sands and backing sun of Pensacola beach. And let me tell you, that place was full of people that were not wearing hazmat suits. Most of the people on the beach were wearing bikinis. Not me. I was in shorts and t-shirt. And that shirt stayed on thank you very much. But my shoes and socks came off. I just did not want to put the socks back on. They magically disappeared. Now Oregon beaches are not like that. They are rocky affairs that mostly have a grey sky over them. I mean, they are charming as a trailer full of poodles, but they are an acquired taste. You go for the scenery, not the sun. When it comes down to it, all beaches are great, except when you have to deal with people. People are the absolute worst. You come for a nice day on a sunny beach and there are all these people with the same idea as you. What a bunch of jerks. And they can be rude. If all the golden age comics are correct, the beaches are full of muscle bound jerks who just want to kick sand in your face. Or get their dog to do it. By the way, apparently most beaches have some ordinances about throwing knives or shuriken on the beach. Rule....the heck man. But, they cannot take away kissing on the beach. No they cannot. At the end of the day, you just need to get your kite or a book to read and enjoy the sand and the surf. Oh...and hello to Clinton. Thanks for chatting with me while I got this page together. Now get back to work.   You should check out the pictures at our website: https://jeffandrickpresent.wordpress.com/2024/05/05/avengers-academy-34-final-exam-part-1/   We also have some merchandise over at Redbubble. We have a couple of nifty shirts for sale. https://www.redbubble.com/people/jeffrickpresent/?asc=u   You can also subscribe and listen to us on YouTube!  Our show supports the Hero Initiative, Helping Comic Creators in Need.  http://www.heroinitiative.org/ Eighties Action by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3703-eighties-action License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Epic Odyssey (feat. Udio) by Sascha Ende Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/12300-epic-odyssey-feat-udio License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Ok, so things are not looking good for the home team. Powers stripped away, bad guy gloating, racist bad guys with questionable fashion sense...what are we to do? I have an idea, let's talk about something fun like the Portland Rose Festival!  Looking at the pictures we chose for this book, you may think that I am crazy. Or you may have met me and know that I am. But that is beside the point. I can do anything I put my mind to, including but not limited to kneeing a giant in the head with my knee. I always forget Rose Festival until it kicks in my door like an aggressive repo man just before summer.  It is an annual civic festival held during the month of June in Portland, Oregon. It is organized by the volunteer non-profit Portland Rose Festival Foundation with the purpose of promoting the Portland region. It includes three separate parades, along with a number of other activities, including plant-based crimes. You may be tempted after seeing the beautiful floats covered in flowers and seeds to take a trip up to the Portland International Test Rose Gardens. I highly recommend that you do, as it is a very lovely area and one of my favorite spots in the city. What you should not do is take any cutting implement up to take the roses. It is frowned upon. One of the highlights of the Rose Festival is the choosing of the Royal Court. Each local high school has a contest to determine their princess for the Rose Court, and then a queen is chosen from those young women. It is a pretty neat tradition...but I just remember who was chosen from my school my senior year, and it was a horrible choice.....but I digress. Waterfront Park becomes a giant fun center with carnival games, rides, and stages. It is loud, full of an interesting cross section of the city, and full of the smells of food that will clog your arteries. I do not make it down there enough, but when I do go, I still find it very fun. The prices are insane, but that is what you get. My favorite part of the entire festival is the fireworks. This is usually what kicks everything off. They are held in the Willamette River, which runs through the center of the city. Crowds gather on both sides of the river to watch the show in the air above them. And they rarely, if ever, cause people to become radioactive. Well, I hope you learned something about our wonderful city and it's namesake festival. Come to town to check it out sometime.   You can see the art we discussed at our website: https://jeffandrickpresent.wordpress.com/2024/06/01/avengers-academy-35-final-exam-part-2/   We also have some merchandise over at Redbubble. We have a couple of nifty shirts for sale. https://www.redbubble.com/people/jeffrickpresent/?asc=u   You can also subscribe and listen to us on YouTube!  Our show supports the Hero Initiative, Helping Comic Creators in Need.  http://www.heroinitiative.org/ Eighties Action by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3703-eighties-action License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Rise Of Legends by Sascha Ende Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/12192-rise-of-legends License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Sometimes you look at a story, and you think of things that pair perfectly with it. We do it all the time with beer, but what else can we pair with a story. How about music? Movies and TV shows have soundtracks, why not comic books? What about this comic book? I have an idea, let me know what you think.    People People who need people Are the luckiest people in the world We're children, needing other children And yet letting a grown-up pride Hide all the need inside Acting more like children than children Lovers, are very special people They're the luckiest people in the world With one person One very special person A feeling deep in your soul Says you were half now you're whole No more hunger and thirst But first be a person who needs people People who need people Are the luckiest people in the world With one person, one very special person A feeling deep in your soul Says you were half, now you're whole No more hunger and thirst But first be a person who needs people People who need people Are the luckiest people in the world I hope you enjoyed my interpretation of the classics. Join me again in another couple of weeks when we do this all over again.   This makes a lot more sense if you look at the webpage (OK, it does not make any sense, still):  https://jeffandrickpresent.wordpress.com/2024/06/09/avengers-academy-36-final-exam-part-3/   We also have some merchandise over at Redbubble. We have a couple of nifty shirts for sale. https://www.redbubble.com/people/jeffrickpresent/?asc=u   You can also subscribe and listen to us on YouTube!  Our show supports the Hero Initiative, Helping Comic Creators in Need.  http://www.heroinitiative.org/ Eighties Action by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3703-eighties-action License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Music (CC BY 4.0): Cinematic Emotions 1 - Creepy by Sascha Ende

OK, we have finished up this arc of the Avengers Academy. A good capper for this series and the main story lines that have been running for the past 20 issues. Now it is on to the final two issues. The theme for this week is horror movies. I am going to see if I can think of a horror movie that each picture reminds me of. Ok. I am going with Night of the Demons. Something about the magic being wielded and a weird scene....I remember watching it in high school with a mess a friends during a Halloween party. And this one scene has stuck with me for years. Ok, maybe not horror as we know it today, but the first Terminator movie has some downright creepy scenes that stay with you. The Terminator in the hotel room dealing with is dying skin. Yucky. For some reason I am thinking about Scream and the first scene. Drew Barrymore wishes that she could have teleported out of that house. That would have saved the coroner a mess of work. Have you seen Godzilla Minus One? If you have not, you should. I guess it is more of a monster movie, or action even, but it is one heck of a show. It really puts you in the mindset of Japan after the war, and the terror of the unknown. What to say about The Ring or Ringu. It is a frightening horror movie that scared the pants off of us back in the late 90's. And the sight of the kid crawling through the TV just might be the creepiest thing ever. The most infamous stomach horror scene of all time is, of course, from Alien. I mean, what can you say. The situation has ended, the victim looks fine, let's have some laughs...OH MY GOD WHAT IS COMING OUT OF HIS STOMACH! Yeah, good times. In my opinion, one of the classic horror movies is Halloween. There is just a lot of perfect fear in that film, and there is a simplicity to it as well. The monster that just kills and has not feeling, and the ominous score. Chefs kiss.   And check out the bloody images on our website: https://jeffandrickpresent.wordpress.com/2024/06/09/avengers-academy-37-final-exam-part-4   We also have some merchandise over at Redbubble. We have a couple of nifty shirts for sale. https://www.redbubble.com/people/jeffrickpresent/?asc=u   You can also subscribe and listen to us on YouTube!  Our show supports the Hero Initiative, Helping Comic Creators in Need.  http://www.heroinitiative.org/ Eighties Action by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3703-eighties-action License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Rise Of Legends by Sascha Ende Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/12192-rise-of-legends License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

As the Avengers Academy winds down, the writers decided to do something fun and interesting. A good old fashion, fun chill book. Not and AvX, more of a chillax book. Using sport to do some fun goofiness. Now, this could be a book about rivals beating each other up or continuing a tale of violence and revenge, but it is not. It is just some kids playing a game. But what about those real historical rivalries? What about the people that really hated each other? The English and the French hated each other on an epic scale. From 1100 to 1800 they were almost constantly at war with each other. I know that there was real reasons for the animosity, but I truly believe that it came down to cooking styles. I have heard that chefs hold grudges. If you are into hard rock, you might know this one. Kerry King vs. Robb Flynn. Machine Head got a career boost in the mid-'90s when they landed the opening slot on a few of Slayer's tours. But by 2001, Slayer frontman Kerry King had soured on Machine Head, calling them "sell-outs" who were "responsible for rap-metal.   Being a Pink Floyd Fan, I am well aware of this one. Artistic differences drove a wedge between Roger Waters and David Gilmour during the recording of their classic album “The Wall" in 1979. Waters, who viewed himself as the creative force behind the band's success, became increasingly disdainful of his fellow band members, whom he deemed musically inferior. There may be no American feud more famous than that of the Hatfields and McCoys. The feud is said to have begun during the Civil War. The Hatfields from West Virginia sided with the Confederacy while Kentucky's McCoy family remained pro-Union. Though a Hatfield may have killed a McCoy during the war, the feud really heated up in 1878. when an argument over the ownership of a pig ended with yet another death. Power is a fiery fuse when it comes to inciting a feud, especially the fascinating historical feud between the Medici and Pazzi families. In 15th-century Florence, no family was as powerful as the Medici family. While the Pazzis probably weren't the only other family to feel threatened by Medici power, they were the only ones to do anything about it. You think the Game of Thrones was something, what about the Yorks versus the Lancasters. Today, a monarch's line of inheritance is understood and accepted enough that a feud would be extremely unlikely. However, that wasn't the case in 15th century England. When King Henry VI, a Lancastrian, proved to be an unstable monarch, his York cousins launched a plot to overtake the throne. Feuds will occur, and we will see them in books. Just not in this one. We also have some merchandise over at Redbubble. We have a couple of nifty shirts for sale. https://www.redbubble.com/people/jeffrickpresent/?asc=u   Check out some of our pictures at this website:  https://jeffandrickpresent.wordpress.com/2024/06/14/avengers-academy-38-crosstown-rivals/   You can also subscribe and listen to us on YouTube!  Our show supports the Hero Initiative, Helping Comic Creators in Need.  http://www.heroinitiative.org/ Eighties Action by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3703-eighties-action License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Journey Of The Brave by Sascha Ende Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/12233-journey-of-the-brave License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Insert the commencement music and put on the silly hats, and do not forget that you will be paying for this school forever. Welcome to the final issue of Avengers Academy. There are many things we can discuss with the ending of this series. There are many silly tangents I could probably go on. The problem is that I cannot find a really appropriate or seamless segway. And so, I guess, I will need to talk about this book and what it means to me.....which is boring. Let's just get the whole teenage hormone love thing out of the way. This was a series that dealt with teenagers, so you knew there was going to be romance and broken hearts. The interesting thing is that it was done pretty well. It was nice to see these relationships treated with some respect. What about the fighting and action in these books. Come on, this is Marvel Comics, of course the action is going to be good. Yes, this book did bring in one of the many Wolverines that roam the Marvel Universe, but it is the best Wolverine, so there is that. But I digress, this was a very action-packed series that still managed to keep the story moving forward. I was a little disappointed that we did not see more cool gadgets. Hank Pym is a main player in this book, but the tech was small....get it...and that was sad. But I guess that means that we just focused on the people not the things. So, I am ok with that. The art work of this series was solid. There was nothing extraordinary or groundbreaking, but there was nothing that was awful, and that is just fine. Comic books can be artistic masterpieces, but they can also be enjoyable mediums to convey stories. This book had a good story tied with clean art, and we cannot ask for more than that. Going back to the teenage story of it all, I think we can say that focusing on the issues of kids during a rough time of their lives allows the creators to touch on some good topics. Bullying is definitely an area that was addressed, and dealt with well. I mean, who does not want to see bullies get owned. This is a thoughtful series that really develops its cast of characters well. There was a good storyline to follow and you ended up really carrying about the cast. I think that the introduction of new members helped keep things fresh, especially Julie because it put it on our radar. I am sad that we need to leave this series. It was fun and interesting, and I wanted to read each issue. I know why we have to leave the series, but I am sad that most of these characters have disappeared into the lost pages of the Official Handbook.   To see the pretty pictures, go to: https://jeffandrickpresent.wordpress.com/2024/07/02/avengers-academy-39-commencement/   We also have some merchandise over at Redbubble. We have a couple of nifty shirts for sale. https://www.redbubble.com/people/jeffrickpresent/?asc=u You can also subscribe and listen to us on YouTube!  Our show supports the Hero Initiative, Helping Comic Creators in Need.  http://www.heroinitiative.org/ Eighties Action by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3703-eighties-action License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Epic Intro 2018 by Sascha EndeFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/3002-epic-intro-2018License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

And we are back with Hickman and the FF baby!!! No more of those smelly Avengers and their academy of kids dealing with teenage angst. We are back with the real meat of smart children walking around universe shaking events. No time for teen drama, just time for lunch. You read that correctly, lunch! Capital L to the U, followed by NCH. It is the meal that defines the middle of the day. It is the target we aim towards when we start our workday. It is the reason that sandwiches were invented. Bring on the mid-day meal! Lunch is vitally important for no other reason than to keep away the dreaded hangry person. You know what I am talking about. That one person who becomes a rage monster when their blood sugar becomes a bit too low. Yeah. We know who they are. They may not say anything, but we know. Now, where shall we eat? This is the question that haunts many a couples as they start to realize that hunger is amongst them. What should they do, where should they go? Will they search through the boulevard of broken dreams and attempt to find the ever-elusive perfect meal? Where for art Thou, Burge-o? But then you find that perfect place. That Mecca with the menu that serves the needs you have. You see that fortress of food, that cathedral of carbs. Oh, what a grand sight, it will provide the sustenance you need. But then you realize that there is a wait, that they take reservations. So the wait begins...and no one likes to wait. The wait is over, we have made to the table, and we have placed our order. The food is coming! The hunger will be abated! But, wait...did that waiter just spit into the food!!!! AND THIS EXPERIENCE COST US HOW MUCH!!!! Ok, well....I still hope you all enjoyed the show and our humor.   Check out our website at:  https://jeffandrickpresent.wordpress.com/2024/07/11/ff-18-what-do-you-call-the-opposite-of-a-field-trip/     We also have some merchandise over at Redbubble. We have a couple of nifty shirts for sale. https://www.redbubble.com/people/jeffrickpresent/?asc=u   You can also subscribe and listen to us on YouTube!  Our show supports the Hero Initiative, Helping Comic Creators in Need.  http://www.heroinitiative.org/ Eighties Action by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3703-eighties-action License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Rise Of Legends by Sascha Ende https://filmmusic.io/song/12192-rise-of-legends License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Heavy sits the panther mask that sits upon the brow of a soverein.....Thankfully that is all Shuri's problem since T'Challa has given up the crown and role of protector of Wakanda. That is a lot for us to talk about, but instead, we are going to talk about something else. We are going to talk about ThunderCats, the original cartoon from the '80s. Why would we do that, well it was because both Jeff and I just felt that someone wanted us to talk about it. I mean, you just need to look at some of these pictures. We just have to present what we have been given. Starting in 1985 as a cartoon, this reenactment of this historical (or futuristic?) documentary is a profound look at the adventures of a scrappy group of refugees from the planet Thundera. These humanoid cats face countless struggles as they try to establish themselves on a new planet after their own was destroyed by environmental failures and an over-planting of catnip. Me.....yow! Look, there are a lot of questions that we have asked and never got clear answers. Like, how does this group think they are going to repopulate their race with six different species of cats. The only pair of the group that are from the same branch are brother and sister so....ew. And poor Cheetara seems to be sweet on Tygra who is really just a bore. Let's leave the relationships and procreation aside and focus on their sweet crib. The Transformers crash on Earth and spend decades hiding out in their wrecked spaceship. The ThunderCats spend a hot minute scoping out the land, finding the best section of real estate they can, and knock out a state-of-the-art fortress in a couple of weeks.  For every great protagonist, you need a really good villain to annoy your plans on an easy recolonization story. And we all know the natural enemy of all cats....mummies. Mumm-Ra is an interesting character. He wants power and is evil, I guess, but he also does seem to be the only main character of the series who is from the planet these cats are squatting on. So, does that make him the actual hero? That is a Rabit Hole Maybe I should move on from this observation before we dig a hole we cannot get out of. Back to the villains, one last little thing. You have to love the idea that this small band of heroes were chased across the stars by four to five full tribes that have something like infinite members. Sure, there is a leader of each of the tribe, but it seems like they have a small host to use as cannon fodder when needed by the plot. Whatever, we loved our silly cartoons.   You can see the art we were talking about here:  https://jeffandrickpresent.wordpress.com/2024/08/20/fantastic-four-607-inert/   We also have some merchandise over at Redbubble. We have a couple of nifty shirts for sale. https://www.redbubble.com/people/jeffrickpresent/?asc=u You can also subscribe and listen to us on YouTube!  Our show supports the Hero Initiative, Helping Comic Creators in Need.  http://www.heroinitiative.org/ Eighties Action by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3703-eighties-action License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Music (CC BY 4.0): Rust Rebellion by Sascha Ende

Ok...here is my challenge. I need to write up some summary on this book without alluding to Cheech and Chong, Kevin Smith, 420, Jamaican candles, Afroman, Mary Jane, or anything in that oeuvre. Instead, I need to focus on the content, and humanities battle against gods. I am soooo going to fail. Ok, we can do this. Focus on the content. I mean, it is not like there is nothing to talk about. Reed and T'challa go to the City of the Dead for goodness sake. How cool is that? And....AND...Three super powered ladies bring the PAIN to an Egyptian god. That is epic, legendary, and fantastic. Plus, countless heavy metal songs have been written about less. Dead skeletons attacking heroes, evil seeking power held by the good guys, cats and dogs fighting....I mean, this book has it all. Totally filled with wholesome destruction Did I mention giant cats eating people? That is a completely normal, everyday experience that is in no way tied to anything that could be considered.....well.... OKAY...OKAY...this is nothing but a big drug trip. Are you happy now! We also have some merchandise over at Redbubble. We have a couple of nifty shirts for sale. https://www.redbubble.com/people/jeffrickpresent/?asc=u   If you want to see the pretty pictures at our website, click here: https://jeffandrickpresent.wordpress.com/2024/09/05/fantastic-four-608-city-of-the-dead/   You can also subscribe and listen to us on YouTube!  Our show supports the Hero Initiative, Helping Comic Creators in Need.  http://www.heroinitiative.org/ Eighties Action by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3703-eighties-action License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ They have taken Kursk by Sascha Ende

Are you all ready for a fantastic romp through the jungle with a bunch a kids.....cause that is this comic. Hand on heart, no lies spoken or seen. This is just a simple straight forward story with a new character. So grab your juice box and put on your khakis. A-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh A-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh A-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh A-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh In the jungle, the mighty jungle The lion sleeps tonight In the jungle, the quiet jungle The lion sleeps tonight, ho, ho! Weeheeheehee, dee heeheeheehee, weeoh aweem away (A-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh) (A-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh) Weeheeheehee, dee heeheeheehee weeoh aweem away (A-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh) (A-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh) Near the village, the peaceful village The lion sleeps tonight Near the village, the quiet village The lion sleeps tonight, ho, ho! Weeheeheehee, dee heeheeheehee, weeoh aweem away (A-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh) (A-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh) Rrrrrr, lalalaba, weeoh aweem away (A-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh) (A-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh) Hush, my darling, don't fear, my darling The lion sleeps tonight Hush, my darling, don't fear, my darling The lion sleeps tonight, ho, ho! Whoa, whoa, whoa; whoa, whoa, whoa; whoa, whoa, aweem away (A-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh) (A-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh) Weeheeheehee, dee heeheeheehee, weeoh aweem away (A-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh) (A-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh)   You can see the awesome art at:  https://jeffandrickpresent.wordpress.com/2024/08/20/ff-19-safari/   We also have some merchandise over at Redbubble. We have a couple of nifty shirts for sale. https://www.redbubble.com/people/jeffrickpresent/?asc=u You can also subscribe and listen to us on YouTube!  Our show supports the Hero Initiative, Helping Comic Creators in Need.  http://www.heroinitiative.org/ Eighties Action by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3703-eighties-action License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Whispering Shadows by Kevin MacLeod

It is time for us to talk about the Inhumans...again. They are like a pennies that keeps on showing up. They just appear in my pants pocket right when I am about to wash my jorts. Then they fall out of my pocket. Then the dryer makes a bunch of noise. Stupid Inhumans. Anyway, it is time to tell you a little tale about a man and his fam in space. Join us, won't you. A man in black sat in a throne, but he did not talk about a ring of fire or that his name was Sue. No, he sat there and brooded and thought. The man had an awesome palace that he sat in. He took it from one end of the universe to the other. Mostly looking for people to fight, but also for love. Speaking of lovers, the man had many wives, amongst many races. This meant that he had an awesome group of fighters that served him with a might love. I think that I have said love one too many times. These mighty warriors now how to make an entrance. In fact, they went to school for it. These mighty warriors told the man that they would serve him for ever and ever, and they would buy him ice cream and.... Ok. I really do not know what I am talking about, but you should read this book. We also have some merchandise over at Redbubble. We have a couple of nifty shirts for sale. https://www.redbubble.com/people/jeffrickpresent/?asc=u   Check out the pictures from the book at our website: https://jeffandrickpresent.wordpress.com/2024/10/04/ff-20-deus-ex-inhuman/   You can also subscribe and listen to us on YouTube!  Our show supports the Hero Initiative, Helping Comic Creators in Need.  http://www.heroinitiative.org/ Eighties Action by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3703-eighties-action License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 / Love (instrumental) by Sascha Ende

Are you all ready for some bad Ronance....or Romance...or Space Opera? Well, it is what it is and this is it. We have Ronan and Crystal and two space races that really...really....really do not want them to be together. What shall they do? Why not call up Sue and Reed, cause they are the poster children of good ideas. I could get all clever and fun, but I am not going to because I have other things to do tomorrow. So instead, I am phoning in and audible from Lady Gaga, and we are going to see what happens. Rah, rah-ah-ah-ah Roma, roma-ma Gaga, ooh-la-la Want your bad romance I want your ugly, I want your disease I want your everything as long as it's free I want your love Love, love, love, I want your love (hey) I want your drama, the touch of your hand (hey) I want your leather-studded kiss in the sand I want your love Love, love, love, I want your love (love, love, love) (I want your love) You know that I want you And you know that I need you I want it bad, your bad romance I want your horror, I want your design 'Cause you're a criminal as long as you're mine I want your love Love, love, love, I want your love I want your psycho, your vertigo shtick (hey) Want you in my rear window, baby, you're sick I want your love Love, love, love, I want your love (love, love, love) (I want your love) I think that all makes sense. I don't know. We also have some merchandise over at Redbubble. We have a couple of nifty shirts for sale. https://www.redbubble.com/people/jeffrickpresent/?asc=u   Check out the images at our website: https://jeffandrickpresent.wordpress.com/2024/10/04/ff-21-ronance/ You can also subscribe and listen to us on YouTube!  Our show supports the Hero Initiative, Helping Comic Creators in Need.  http://www.heroinitiative.org/ Eighties Action by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3703-eighties-action License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Epic Intro 2015 (Original Very Short)

We are sliding into an ending of this series, so it is time to tie up a storyline or two. In this issue, we get a nice little tale featuring Bntley. No, I did not make a mistake there. Sometimes the best little stories focus on the most evil individuals. That is why the story of my life will be awesome. Looking at the pictures we have chosen here, I was thinking about really focusing on the story in the book, but then I had an idea, and I wanted to see if it would float. Tell me if you can see what I see. This of course leads to a massive panic when a shark attack does occur on the crowded beach. Everybody freaks out and a giant food fight occurs. I blame John Belushi. First up, we have a crazy man who wants to close down a beach because he is a little afraid of the water and there was just this little old shark attack. How crazy is that....and this guy? So our heroes need to go out and find this horrible monster with sharp teeth. In order to do so, they need to board onto an appropriate vessel to carry them out onto their dangerous mission. Farewell and adieu to you fair Spanish ladies Farewell and adieu to you ladies of Spain Cause we've received orders for to sail for old England, But we hope in a short time to see you again. This of course leads to the climax of the film. Our hero must take down the monster, but they only have a rifle. Oh no...whatever will they do? Insert a big explosion that rocks your socks off and blows your mouth apart. Now we come to the end our story. Our heroes are looking off into the distance, forming a new and awkward relationship The end! I hope you all enjoyed this reenactment. If you did not, I really do not care. Have a good day!   If you want this to make any sense, check out the pictures at our website: https://jeffandrickpresent.wordpress.com/2024/10/18/ff-22-you-are-whatever-you-want-to-be/   We also have some merchandise over at Redbubble. We have a couple of nifty shirts for sale. https://www.redbubble.com/people/jeffrickpresent/?asc=u   You can also subscribe and listen to us on YouTube!  Our show supports the Hero Initiative, Helping Comic Creators in Need.  http://www.heroinitiative.org/ Eighties Action by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3703-eighties-action License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Cybertrooper [the better version]

And we did it. We made it to the last issue of FF. What a fun little series. Hickman put together some compelling stories and weaved them through this and Fantastic Four. We should take a moment to think about what we learned from our review of this series, FF, over this past year or so. Time has been spent on this book, and beer has been drunk. That all being said, what has been read and what has been discussed. We started with everyone thinking that the Human Torch was dead, and the hiring of one Mr. Peter Parker aka Spider-Man. This changed the team dynamics and beat of the team. We started with the team at a low point, but we end with a stronger and more knowledgeable family. There was also the introduction of the Future Foundation. This is the team that has our boy Alex having something mover tangible than what happened to him in the New Warriors, but not by much. At least he was treated like he had intelligence and not just a paper weight. But the Future Foundation was a great idea. A group of smart kids solving the world's problems. They were a weird group of punks who brought something different to the conversation.  THe ensemble could have been used more effectively at certain points, but it was not bad.  We discovered that AIM (Advanced Idea Mechanics) having the bright idea to free The Wizard from prison and making him their leader proves that their ideas really aren't too advanced as they gave him back at the end of the series and asked for a do over. We learned that having Spider-man on your team is a great idea, while having Dr. Doom is an occasionally good idea if you can stand the Doomness of him. Also, inviting The Wizard, Diablo, The Mad Thinker and The High Evolutionary to stand with you for some out of the box thinking is a great way to to get betrayed and stabbed in the back when the chips are down by people that you just fed lunch to.  A surprising number of issues deal with Black Bolt and The Inhumans interacting with the Supreme Intelligence and the Kree...we both found these issues, storylines and interactions to be boring, unwelcome and a distraction from important things, like what the Future Foundation kids are up to in their own title. Unfortunately, what they are often up to is standing off to a side, quietly observing the actions of other characters while storylines unfurl around them and their contributions amount to them being able to say that they were there too. Speaking of surprises, a surprising number of beings were turned into pets. Dr. Doom to a multiversal Reed Richards, a couple of multiversal Reed Richards' to a Supreme Intelligence, Johnny Storm to Annihilus, Annihilus to a resurrected Johnny Storm, and Galactus to a Franklin Richards. All in all it was a fun series and a worthwhile read, but it really shined when it dealt with the title holders of this series, the kids. Their developments, their growths, their failings and their foibles, their interactions and all the things that make them the foundation of the future.    Check out the artwork at: https://jeffandrickpresent.wordpress.com/2024/10/29/ff-23-run/   We also have some merchandise over at Redbubble. We have a couple of nifty shirts for sale. https://www.redbubble.com/people/jeffrickpresent/?asc=u You can also subscribe and listen to us on YouTube!  Our show supports the Hero Initiative, Helping Comic Creators in Need.  http://www.heroinitiative.org/ Eighties Action by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3703-eighties-action License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Rise Of The Kingdoms [the better version]

First issue of the new volume! Are you excited? Are you entertained? The answer is a surprising yes. I mean, Matt Fraction! C'mon now, this shall be interesting if not funny. Plus, more content!!!! Yeah, baby! New beginning, means new storyline and new characters? But, I just got to really know the Fantastic Four. It only took me 50 years to get to really know them...do I really need to learn about new people? I guess we need to talk about where the Terrific Three plus One are going and why they will not be here. But I think you should listen to our show or read the comic to figure out those reasons. That is my opinion, and I am making this web page, so that is what we will do. What about these new people....who are they, why are they here, what does mac and cheese taste like on the moon? Some of these questions can be answered now, some will never be known, unless we go back to the moon. I guess we can say that one guy is Ant Man. He changes sizes and steal things. We do have She Hulk back, so that is a big plus. It is great to have a little bit of green on the team. It would be better if they had green money, or gold, or a platinum credit card. Without that, a lawyer who can work some pro bono and punch villains is always a plus. Royalty time. We have Medusa from the Inhumans who is taking a bit of a sabbatical from being a queen to becoming one of four. She does bring a bit of class and conditioner into the team. She also brings along her own hair nets, so that is good. Val and Franklin are going with the Fantastic Four so I guess we don't need to talk about them. We should talk about Darla, but she really is showcased next issue, so we can ignore her for now. See, this is fun, right? I guess that leaves the rest of the Future Foundation. The kids are all still here, including our favorite boy, Alex Power...and our second favorite boys Leech and Artie. We like seeing them. They are nice. So, there we go. We have a new series, more issues, more storylines....and more fun! Let's suit up and riot!   Check out the art we have been talking about here: https://jeffandrickpresent.wordpress.com/2024/11/27/ff-v2-1-parts-of-a-whole/   We also have some merchandise over at Redbubble. We have a couple of nifty shirts for sale. https://www.redbubble.com/people/jeffrickpresent/?asc=u   You can also subscribe and listen to us on YouTube!  Our show supports the Hero Initiative, Helping Comic Creators in Need.  http://www.heroinitiative.org/ Eighties Action by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3703-eighties-action License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Beast

The best part about living in Portland Oregon is being surrounded by amazing and awesome comic creators. The town is sick with them, and they are wonderful people. It is even better when you are reviewing a book written by a fellow Portlander. Matt Fraction is an award winning, media content creator. Having worked in all of the big companies, Matt has written some fantastic books that have put him on the map. The 2012 Hawkeye series, Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen, Sex Criminals, Casanova, and of course Fantastic Four and FF. On top of all of that, Matt has also started to work in television. Starting as a creative consultant for the Hawkeye TV series and then as an executive producer for Monarch: Legacy of Monsters. A good guy who is creative, intelligent, and interesting. If you have not delved into the work that this creator has developed, I highly encourage you to take a chance and pick up his work. And, if you see him at a comic con, say hi. If you see him in the supermarket, leave the guy alone. He just wants some bagels.   Check out our website at: https://jeffandrickpresent.wordpress.com/2025/01/06/interview-with-matt-fraction/   We also have some merchandise over at Redbubble. We have a couple of nifty shirts for sale. https://www.redbubble.com/people/jeffrickpresent/?asc=u   You can also subscribe and listen to us on YouTube!  Our show supports the Hero Initiative, Helping Comic Creators in Need.  http://www.heroinitiative.org/ Eighties Action by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3703-eighties-action License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Spider-man is going through some things as at the moment. He is not himself.....literally. Thanks to comic book science, Doctor Otto Octavius has taken up residence in the ole' web heads.....head. Let the comedy ensue. Let's try and make up a story to go with these wacky pictures. Ok, let's see....Spidey has just been invited over to the worst sleepover ever. Who is to blame, the children who want a web-gun fight? Spidey for showing up? The adults for wanting to go out for drinks and assumed that they had a willing free babysitter? The good news is that one of the games for the sleepover is Pin-the-Bentley-on-the-Donkey. This is everyone's favorite game, not only for the pun value, but also because it really annoys the clone child. We all have that one friend whose parents are just a little too wealthy compared to all of the other friend's parents. Those wealthy parents also have bought a toy or thing that is so insane, for years you try to explain that what you saw was not a fever dream. The fact that this sleepover has a giant robotic minotaur thing is like that. You also have that one sleepover story where one friend breaks the really weird or cool toy. As long as you were not the owner, or the one who broke the toy, it is a funny story. Tragic, YES. But still pretty funny. Sometimes, it is better to just let a rowdy sleepover destroy one or two rooms. If you are the babysitter and were tricked into being in charge of this circus, your responsibility ends at the health and safety of the children...not property damage or international insurrections. But I am not a lawyer. And that is also why I do not want to weigh in on stealing from the owner's home. I mean, if you did not want me to be evil, you should not have put me in a situation that made me evil. I am pretty sure that will hold up in a court of law.   Check out the artwork at our website:  https://jeffandrickpresent.wordpress.com/2025/01/07/avenging-spider-man-17-untitled/   We also have some merchandise over at Redbubble. We have a couple of nifty shirts for sale. https://www.redbubble.com/people/jeffrickpresent/?asc=u   You can also subscribe and listen to us on YouTube!  Our show supports the Hero Initiative, Helping Comic Creators in Need.  http://www.heroinitiative.org/ Eighties Action by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3703-eighties-action License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Cybertrooper [the better version]

We have been invaded!!!! Hide your maple syrup and your top shelf hockey players! The boys from Why Not?! Read Alpha Flight with Chris and Tom, have invaded our studios and are imposing their Alpha Flightian ways upon us. Protect the children from their wicked ways. Chris and Tom followed us back to the Pacific Northwest after we invaded their show. We tried to scare them away with our "no foul language" or "dirty jokes" and "PG attitude", but they showed up anyway with a bucket full of censor tape and beep sound clips. This is what we get for using cheap Canadian locks on our club house door. Now you may be asking if drinking was involved in the making of this episode. If you are asking that question, you have not been paying attention to our show. Of course drinking was involved. Do you think we would get tangled up with people who talk about Alpha Flight without alcohol? Focusing back on the positive, we were able to eventually find common ground to agree on. We focused on our inner well-being and looked beyond the us versus them issues and remembered the important things in life....like there was no Sasquatch in this issue. And that is something we can all be happy about. Sometimes the best laid plans end up being a nightmare. Sometimes they end up being a disaster. Sometimes they end up being like our talk with Chris and Tom. I am not sure what I mean by that, but neither does anyone else. At the end of the night, two bearded boys flew off to their secret layer to discuss future comic books. The other two bearded dudes did something similar. I am not sure what differences were resolved, but a promise to fight another day was made. Oh...and lawyers will be involved in the future. In all seriousness, check out Why Not?! Read Alpha Flight with Chris and Tom. They are two amazing fellows who have a lot of fun talking about everyone's favorite Marvel Canadian team.   And check out the art from this issue at: https://jeffandrickpresent.wordpress.com/2025/02/02/astonishing-x-men-v3-59/   We also have some merchandise over at Redbubble. We have a couple of nifty shirts for sale. https://www.redbubble.com/people/jeffrickpresent/?asc=u   You can also subscribe and listen to us on YouTube!  Our show supports the Hero Initiative, Helping Comic Creators in Need.  http://www.heroinitiative.org/ Eighties Action by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3703-eighties-action License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Neon Fury

Put on your romance shoes and buckle up your dancing suspenders, 'cause it is February and that rhymes with love and that stands for this issue. Booyah baby, hit that tambourine! Is there any other way to start of this discussion besides talking about She-Hulk in that dress....ME to the OW! Wear that dress, girl! 'Nuff Said! And when we talk about the most romantic place on the planet, what about Latvaria. Nothing says hot, steamy nights more than a brutal dictatorship. Snuggle close to your loved one, cause there is no other way to stay warm. Everybody loves a romantic restaurant. And an entertaining and talented singing waitstaff can be a bonus. Bummer that this place is more of a mind-controlled, clumsy place, but you get what you pay for. You could just do a picnic, which is amazingly romantic. Wonderful location, perfect time, privacy. You just need to pack the perfect meal. Preferably one not assembled by an evil genius, but you be you boo. Dancing. The hallmark of a sophisticated and educated individua. The movement and swaying in tune with music is sure to increase the attraction and love between two partners. And if you cannot dance, fake it or go over the top. If they are embarrassed by your shenanigans, you were too good for them. It is possible to fail at sealing the deal with your date. If this occurs, try your best not to land in court or the front page of a newspaper. This is embarrassing, and also pretty funny to your friends. Trust me, they are laughing at you. Getting a pet can be seen as a romantic gesture. Getting a giant monster can be seen as threatening and could lead to a lawsuit (see above). Getting a stupid monster for a pet is just embarrassing.   Check out some artwork at: https://jeffandrickpresent.wordpress.com/2025/02/02/ff-4-escalation/   We also have some merchandise over at Redbubble. We have a couple of nifty shirts for sale. https://www.redbubble.com/people/jeffrickpresent/?asc=u   You can also subscribe and listen to us on YouTube!  Our show supports the Hero Initiative, Helping Comic Creators in Need.  http://www.heroinitiative.org/ Eighties Action by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3703-eighties-action License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Wings of Destiny by Sache Ende

Things are not looking good for the Ant-astic Four. John Storm is not well in the burning melon. Alex has run away from home. Medusa has brought her son in and is acting odd...which is saying something. I home things don't heat up in this issue. Frist of all, we should give some love to all of the media out there doing the wonderful work that that they do. They are out there every day, taking photos, embarrassing celebrities, taking down anyone with shaky self-esteem. You know who does not take hits to his ego well? Our boy Scott. When he gets even the smallest hit to his ego, or self-esteem, he reacts like someone just kicked his dog...or killed his daughter. And speaking of being on tilt, or not in control of their emotions, we should talk about Mr. John Storm. Here is a guy that is so confused and emotionally unbalanced, that he sets a guy's beard on fire. I mean, who does that. Then he sets fire to the whole town. What a jerk! But, this Kaiju...this dude knows where his Wheaties are at, if you know what I mean. It lives its life and then helps out the fish kids. It just keeps swimming, ya know what I mean! But then Willie Lumpkin has to come in and make everything all awkward. Why you gotta teach a class on birds and bees. Why you have to make it weird. Why did you have to break us? I no longer know what I am talking about. I am just too disgusted. We also have some merchandise over at Redbubble. We have a couple of nifty shirts for sale. https://www.redbubble.com/people/jeffrickpresent/?asc=u   Check out our website at: https://jeffandrickpresent.wordpress.com/2025/02/23/ff-5-spooky-kids-or-merrily-into-the-eight-arms-of-durga-the-invincible-we-all-go/   You can also subscribe and listen to us on YouTube!  Our show supports the Hero Initiative, Helping Comic Creators in Need.  http://www.heroinitiative.org/ Eighties Action by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3703-eighties-action License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Surprise Attack by by Sascha Ende  

I want you all to get off your seats, pull out your lighters or your cell phones, and get ready to listen to some boys bring you the music in an absolutely unplugged manner. And by unplugged, I mean I do not know what I am writing right now. Breakfast; is it the food of champions or is it the lazy man's late-night snack. Who knows? I do know that chaos will reign supreme in my house when I bring home hot dogs from Costco at 10 AM. So be like me and drive your family crazy! What about sleazy people in sleazy cafes? Are they stereotypes, or are they just dives? Are you going to need a tetanus shot if you make the mistake of sitting down? Will you sneeze after leaving and find an entire dish cloth has fallen out of your nose? Probably. And then we have the Inhumans being all high and mighty in their castle in the sky. Who do they think they are? Some type of mafic space race that sucks gas. Well...yes, because they are. I just have nothing to say here. And then we have the Baxter Building all cut up. Who would want to live in that place? No walls, so drafty, no privacy....all of your stuff being shown to the world. Noone in their right mind would want to live in this glass house. So there. I am not sure what else I can tell you about this issue. We came, we saw and we read. We also have some merchandise over at Redbubble. We have a couple of nifty shirts for sale. https://www.redbubble.com/people/jeffrickpresent/?asc=u   Check out our lovely website with some of the art at: https://jeffandrickpresent.wordpress.com/2025/02/23/ff-6-save-the-tiger/   You can also subscribe and listen to us on YouTube!  Our show supports the Hero Initiative, Helping Comic Creators in Need.  http://www.heroinitiative.org/ Eighties Action by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3703-eighties-action License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Lullaby of Light (feat. Cory Friesenhan)

FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT!! Those are the words that come to mind about this issue. What else can we say. Oh, I know, we can say that we have the awesome Brett Young from the Fantastic Pour podcast. He joined us to talk about how the Wizard brought this on, and now has to rue the consequences. You bet he is going to find out after he messed around. Comeuppance...bring them. If you are asking yourself, how did we come to this horrific location with these terrible choices....than you are not paying attention. The Wizard. He did it. It is all his fault. What is your problem. Do you have something in your eye? Or maybe you have been drinking. And if you have been drinking, what was it? And in what type of receptacle? Remember, if you are drinking out of some crazy horn or round bottomed crystal, that is chaos drinking. Back to the fight. The Wizard deserves everything that he gets. Especially being beaten by a sea monkey on a string. I mean, how can he even show his face at the Bar With No Name after this? And what about Dragon Man? What about Mr. Pacifism? Why would you flame someone in the backside if you are into peace? Nobody wants a heat enema!!! That just leaves us with Blaastar knocking the blocks off of Darla. I really have nothing else to say about this. Not without getting dirty. And that was this issue. It was a thing we read and discussed.   Please check out Brett's podcast, Fantastic Pour podcast.   If you want to check out the artwork, go here:  https://jeffandrickpresent.wordpress.com/2025/03/19/ff-7-that-was-the-worst-field-trip-ever/   We also have some merchandise over at Redbubble. We have a couple of nifty shirts for sale. https://www.redbubble.com/people/jeffrickpresent/?asc=u   You can also subscribe and listen to us on YouTube!  Our show supports the Hero Initiative, Helping Comic Creators in Need.  http://www.heroinitiative.org/ Eighties Action by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3703-eighties-action License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Armageddon 2012

Ding ding ding!!!! Ladies and gentlemen and children of all ages!!! Welcome to tonight's fights. We have a heck of a show for you with people punching people and hilarious hijinks. Hold onto your beer, cause it is going to get foamy. The 1985 film Gymkata set out to answer the question: is gymnastics a kick-ass martial arts style? The film then quickly answered that question with a resounding "no." Though Austin Powers eventually won the fight in Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, Mini Me definitely messed him up. The round two battle of Austin Powers in Goldmember, however, was all Austin. The fight scene from They Live is both epic and completely ludicrous. . Both men landed devastating blows, but no matter what, they kept getting up. Every time the fight seemed settled, it started back up again for another brutal round. No person could possibly take the beating Frank and Nada gave each other. The 2004 adaptation of The Punisher is a very dark tale of a man getting revenge for the murder of his family. The battle between Frank Castle and The Russian packs the punches and the laughs. Frank's gun is no good because the Russian bends the barrel, and even a grenade proves useless. The comedy comes from the question of what it takes to defeat the Russian. As it turns out, a pot of boiling water does the trick. The Clone Wars is often regarded as one of the weakest films in the Star Wars franchise, and part of that could be the completely ridiculous Anikan Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi lightsaber duel against Count Dooku. Obi-Wan is easily incapacitated and Anakin gets his hand cut off during some of the lamest choreography in the franchise. As if the fight wasn't silly enough, Yoda comes in to save the day, and none of his flips or moves is enough to defeat Dooku. Picking the funniest fight scene from Kung Fu Hustle is like choosing the most unsettling scene from Human Centipede; there are so many to select from. The Landlady and her husband, the Landlord, are Kung Fu masters, but they are no match for the legendary assassin, the Beast. Each ridiculous attack launched by the couple is thwarted by the Beast in an even more hysterical fashion. The fight plays out like a Three Stooges slapstick comedy with over-the-top martial arts violence. In the movie Airplane!, Captain Oveur inappropriately asks Joey if he likes movies about Gladiators, and the fight scene from Spartacus is almost certainly why. The 1960 Stanley Kubrick classic features plenty of oily combat that was more like dancing than fighting, but the Spartacus/Draba match-up was the least convincing. What was supposed to be a fight to the death looked more like two sweaty guys trying really hard not to hurt each other. All of this lazy choreography was sluggishly executed by grown men in diapers, making it one of the most unintentionally funny fight scenes in cinematic history.   Of course, I am just cribbing from CBR (https://www.cbr.com/funny-movie-fight-scenes-ranked/). But that is because I am lazy.   Check out our art work at: https://jeffandrickpresent.wordpress.com/2025/04/11/ff-8-you-cant-go-home-again/   We also have some merchandise over at Redbubble. We have a couple of nifty shirts for sale. https://www.redbubble.com/people/jeffrickpresent/?asc=u   You can also subscribe and listen to us on YouTube!  Our show supports the Hero Initiative, Helping Comic Creators in Need.  http://www.heroinitiative.org/ Eighties Action by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3703-eighties-action License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 / When Robots Awake [cinematic dubstep intro]

The plan was for the Fantastic Four to go on a short little trip. That was all. Just a short trip and then boom....back to the old nine to five grind. But we ran into a little problem, didn't we. Well, hi there! Welcome to our wonderful treaty on pools, tubs, water holes, and puddles. Hopefully you will learn something. If you do not, please do not sue us. The "Great Bath" at the site of Mohenjo-Daro in modern-day Pakistan was most likely the first swimming pool, dug during the 3rd millennium BC. This pool is 12 by 7 metres (39 by 23 feet), is lined with bricks, and was covered with a tar-based sealant. Swimming pools became popular in Britain in the mid-19th century. As early as 1837, six indoor pools with diving boards existed in London, England. The Maidstone Swimming Club in Maidstone, Kent is believed to be the oldest surviving swimming club in Britain. It was formed in 1844, in response to concerns over drownings in the River Medway, especially since would-be rescuers would often drown because they themselves could not swim to safety. he modern Olympic Games started in 1896 and included swimming races, after which the popularity of swimming pools began to spread. In the US, the Racquet Club of Philadelphia clubhouse (1907) boasts one of the world's first modern above-ground swimming pools. The first swimming pool to go to sea on an ocean liner was installed on the White Star Line's Adriatic in 1906. he Amateur Swimming Association was founded in 1869 in England, and the Oxford Swimming Club in 1909. The presence of indoor baths in the cobbled area of Merton Street might have persuaded the less hardy of the aquatic brigade to join. So, bathers gradually became swimmers, and bathing pools became swimming pools. According to the Guinness World Records, the largest swimming pool in the world is San Alfonso del Mar Seawater pool in Algarrobo, Chile. It is 1,013 m (3,323 ft) long and has an area of 8 ha (20 acres). At its deepest, it is 3.5 m (11 ft) deep. It was completed in December 2006. In 2021, Deep Dive Dubai, located in Dubai, UAE, was certified by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's deepest swimming pool reaching 60 metres (200 ft). The Y-40 swimming pool at the Hotel Terme Millepini in Padua, Italy, previously held the record, 42.15 m (138.3 ft), from 2014 until 2021. The Fleishhacker Pool in San Francisco was the largest heated outdoor swimming pool in the United States. Opened on 23 April 1925, it measured 1,000 by 150 ft (300 by 50 m) and was so large that the lifeguards required kayaks for patrol. It was closed in 1971 due to low patronage.   To check out some wet art, go to: https://jeffandrickpresent.wordpress.com/2025/04/14/ff-9-last-splash/   We also have some merchandise over at Redbubble. We have a couple of nifty shirts for sale. https://www.redbubble.com/people/jeffrickpresent/?asc=u   You can also subscribe and listen to us on YouTube!  Our show supports the Hero Initiative, Helping Comic Creators in Need.  http://www.heroinitiative.org/ Eighties Action by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3703-eighties-action License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Shake Your Leg by Sascha Ende Cinematic Suspense Series Episode 001 by Sascha Ende

We are in the thick of it now. Aliens attacking the planet, student heroes pretending to be all that and a bag of chips, dogs and cats living together....end of the world type stuff. So, the question is, in the middle of this chaos....who acts, and who folds? Let's start with a normal day for most of us. We just had  pleasant evening with a charming individual, sorting socks or organizing star charts...whatever. And now, in the early morning we are leaving their room and walking back to ours. Completely innocent. Normal activities only lead towards normal events. When we are doing nothing out of the ordinary like walking back to our room or taking a giant elevator underground, we do not expect anything to occur that will cause panic or adventure. You might not, but I do, cause I live a fascinating life. And that is usually when death, destruction, mayhem, and property damage occur. Stupid sky villains! So there you are, face to face with something that wants to rip you apart and play with your squishy bits. It does not matter if you are still using them, that thing wants to eat them. "But my brain pan!" you squeak....it does not matter, they do not care about your feelings or your headache or your lack of adequate health care. They just care about pain....and Twinkies. Aliens love Twinkies. At least there are some heroes left on Earth that do not mind getting their claws dirty or their fists bruised. In fact, some are a little too eager. But still, claws in the skull are not fun. You should never punch down, unless you are a giant in a fight. Then you can punch down as much as you like. But, at the end of the day, never forget that you really are nothing more than a potential red smear on a wall.....What, too soon? We also have some merchandise over at Redbubble. We have a couple of nifty shirts for sale. https://www.redbubble.com/people/jeffrickpresent/?asc=u   Check out the art for this episode at: https://jeffandrickpresent.wordpress.com/2025/05/15/infinity-the-hunt-2-schools-outforever/     You can also subscribe and listen to us on YouTube!  Our show supports the Hero Initiative, Helping Comic Creators in Need.  http://www.heroinitiative.org/ Eighties Action by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3703-eighties-action License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Mini Fairytales Theme