Thanks. I think you're right. Looks like my memory betrayed me. It was taken over I think by Keith something and Rick Remender. 

I just read that a few months back and agree with you.

His Dr Strange was very good as well.

I'll have to check out some of his Dr. Strange works. I didn't know he worked on that character.

Gen13 #2

2.50 USD/3.40 CAD @ March 1994

Story: Jim Lee & Brandon Choi
Pencils: J. Scott Campbell
Inks: Alex Garner
Colors: Joe Chiodo
Letters: Chris Eliopoulos
Editor: Bill Kaplan

Synopsis: We join Caitlin Fairchild and her friends (Roxy Spaulding, Grunge Chang, Sarah Rainmaker, Bobby Lane, and Tom Hallinan) on the run from the armed security of the Death Valley Compound where they were "in training." Tom stopped running and zapped the soldier pursuing them, killing the ones in the lead craft in the process. He told the young ones, what good is it to have powers if they don't use it. Bobby Lane then flamed on like the Human Torch and flew and attacked the remaining pursuing crafts. He melted bullets that were about to hit him, and fired laser fire from his eyes. Fairchild joined the melee and hurled a large piece of rock she ripped from the side of a mountain, downing another pursuing craft in the process. One of the crafts landed and soldiers disembarked, and shot a "tangler" gun at Roxy, Grunge, and Rainmaker, hitting Roxy in the process and ensnaring her in a Thanksgiving-like turkey truss. Rainmaker bought time and caused a sandstorm to swallow up the disembarked soldiers. But a soldier made it close to her and was about to shoot her dead with her gun, and she was suddenly lifted in the air and dropped. Roxy's powers manifest and it prevented Sarah Rainmaker from getting killed. One of the soldiers was still alive and he was picked up by Bobby Lane. Fairchild was the voice of reason, saying that a prisoner is okay, but they need to get out of the area. And as they made their escape, there was nagging complaint from Grunge, and Tom Callahan suggesting the problem they are in was caused by Fairchild. At which Fairchild posted him against the side of the mountain, responding it wasn't her fault. Then she went into a flashback sequence on what happened and how they came to be in their current situation. She had the transformation, and she along with Roxy and Grunge ran away from the room they broke into as they were pursued by soldiers and a bloodthirsty Nicole. Fairchild ripped a wall but was surprised to find they were miles up on the side of a cliff. They were cornered. Then above the soldiers and Nicole, Bobby Lane burned through the ceiling wall and along with Tom and Rainmaker, "flew" outside thanks to Bobby Lane's floating them via thermal updraft. And they brought Fairchild, Grunge, and Roxy with them. Upon landing quite some distance away, Fairchild got her trademark green uni-bathing suit costume from Tom as her clothing was in tatters thanks in part to her growing in size as an Amazon. And then they are in the current time as Tom Callahan argued that he knew about the Gen Experiment and that they were all products of Gen positive parents and that they were all being used as lab rats. He convinced Rainmaker and Bobby to make a break for it. Fairchild told them they have to run and report this to the authorities. Tom said they have to stand up to them or they'll be hunted by the government for the rest of their lives. And the group sided with Tom Callahan, with the exception of Fairchild. They all went back to the Death Valley Compound. Grunge, whose powers haven't manifested, confided in Roxy, that he has a bad feeling about Tom Callahan.

Back in the Death Valley Compound, Ivana and Nicole talked about Matthew and his plans to have the group in a stressful battle scenario for them to manifest their powers. They looked at the viewscreen, and see Tom Hallinan leading the youngsters inside the Death Valley Compound. Tom apparently is Matthew, Nicole's brother, who is also known as Threshold. The kids are heading to a trap to be recaptured by I.O.'s Sci-Tech division headed by Ivana. Ivana told Nicole to give the order to Matthew. And as the former escapees were in the tunnel. "Tom" suddenly reverted back looking like Matthew, and the group gasped in horror. Threshold zapped all of them, falling unconscious to the ground. Roxy uttered to herself why they didn't listen to Fairchild before losing consciousness. Nicole went up to her brother impressed by his capturing the escapees. He told her it was easy like taking candy from a baby.

The next morning Fairchild is trying to stay in the shadows keeping cool from the sun. She was woken up from a very bad dream. It felt real. She felt Roxy in pain, and saw that Tom was really Matt, and that the group was captured because of the trap set up for them. She went back to the wreckage from the day before and picked up an assault weapon. Then she was ready to go back to the Death Valley Compound to rescue her friends.

Comments: In just a month after its initial issue, the cover price jumped by approximately 22 percent in price. This issue marked the first appearance of Sarah Rainmaker who will be an integral part of the team. There isn't much back story about her so far. In the heat of the battle Roxy's powers has manifested. The only one without power so far is Grunge. Eventually, it will manifest in the upcoming issues. We also get the introduction of Fairchild's costume and signature look.

That aside, Image has definitely went on a direction that Marvel and DC has not. Namely, more adult oriented themes. There were suggestions from siblings Matthew and Nicole's interaction that it comes across as having taboo relationship between the two, especially on the part of Nicole. That was highly unexpected and disturbing. At the same time, Grunge is portrayed as one of those high school guys whose mind seems to always be on sex. Apparently that is the demographic that this comic book series is going after with the style of art and sexual innuendo suggestions. If you cast that aside, it is a pretty good adventure story with escape, revenge, betrayal, and rescue all intertwined to make one rollicking action adventure story.

West Coast Avengers v1 #3

0.75 USD @ November 1984

"Taking Care of Business"

Writer: Roger Stern
Penciler: Bob Hall
Inker: Brett Breeding
Letterer: Rick Parker
Colorist: Julianna Ferriter
Editor: Mark Gruenwald
Editor-in-Chief: Jim Shooter

Synopsis: We join the story with Iron Man and Wonder Man cleaning up a massive snow storm in the highways of Pasadena. In another part of the city, Hawkeye, Mockingbird, and Tigra are stopping and apprehending criminal looters who are taking advantage of stores vacated because of the massive snow storm. Afterwards, the team meets up and re-groups by the landmark, the Hollywood sign atop the hills. The team agrees on having a barbeque and they went off their way to do their errands. Iron Man and Tigra went off together with Tigra asking him about something bothering Wonder Man, since Tony knows Wonder Man. Tigra was surprised that the man behind the armor was not Tony Stark.

Not too far away, in the Santa Monica mountains, the villain known as Graviton, who recently escaped the interdimensional void where Thor placed him, is contemplating his next move. His private thoughts was interrupted by the villain, Blank. He let Graviton know how much the Avengers problem is really weighing on his mind, and Graviton put him in his placed as an underling, and not to worry about the Avengers problem. Graviton tells his underling they have to move stealthily and quickly, and at the same time gloats.

Near the West Coast Avengers compound, Tigra and Wonder Man are at the beach and talking. Tigra revealed her amulet that can turn her into a normal looking person. The two talk more and at the end, arm interlinked they walked back to the Avengers compound, and later that day headed out to a jazz club. Unfortunately, inside the jazz club, there was damage and two people who looked like they were beaten up. Wonder Man and Tigra assisted them, and the reclusive superhero known as The Shroud appeared. The two beaten civilians are his friends. Wonder Man offered to help, but was declined by The Shroud citing he didn't want it to be known that he was working with The Avengers. Wonder Man told him not to worry.

Later that night, at some party in L.A., The Shroud and a disguised Wonder Man showed up with Tigra outside being the back up. The two heroes inside came across The Blank. Wonder Man attacked The Blank, with Tigra bursting in to attack the villain as well. On the double doors across the room, Graviton emerged and made his presence known. A concerned Wonder Man told Tigra to move back, knowing how dangerous and powerful Graviton is. Graviton immediately went on the offensive and used his powers to ground Wonder Man, then proceeded to shake and bake the entire room to prevent The Shroud from getting the better of him. Meanwhile, The Blank begged his boss to help him as the Avengers still has him on hold. Graviton tried to free Blank, while Wonder Man rejoined the melee. Graviton used his immense powers to hurl the Avengers, except Wonder man, and The Blank far away all the way to the Pacific Ocean.

At the Avengers compound, Hawkeye hosts a barbeque but only two other Avengers are present, his wife and Iron Man. They're wondering what happened to the other two, but Hawkeye has confidence that Tigra and Wonder Man can handle themselves, and if there's a problem they would have sent out an emergency beacon. Back at the now finished party in L.A. Graviton still using his powers, has kept Wonder Man fully submerged in the swimming pool of the compound.

Comments: The issue is remarkable in its simplicity. Eight scenes, and each one moves the story forward. I miss this kind of storytelling. Jim Rhodes uneasiness in revealing that it's not Tony Stark behind the armor shows his no-confidence in his team mates regarding accepting him as Iron Man. I hope this doesn't cause a problem in the future. This was published in the mid 80's and there is still traces of that classic supervillain cliché of gloating and laughing. Awesome.

I really thought Songbird was going to take off as a character after Busiek's original run, but it never really happened.