90s Comics, 90s DC, DC Comics, Uncategorized

Character Eradication (Part 2 of 3)

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Well, after a near-lethal bout with the flu, (At least that’s what it felt like!) your loyal Symbifan has returned with more 90’s DC Comics goodness! So sit back, grab a can of Surge and some 3D Doritos, and enjoy a trip back through time with the 2nd issue of “The Eradicator” miniseries from 1996!

The strange but beautiful woman welcomed him home. She welcomed him to Krypton! She speaks to him of her love for him, of how long she has waited for him. She tries to caress his face. Instinctively, he turns from this embrace. She turns, seemingly hurt. She then states that she understands his apprehension. He is corrupted after all. Though they are both programs, are they not meant to be happy? Programs? What does she mean by this? Meanwhile, in the Bronx, the police have arrived on scene to take statements of the destruction caused by the Eradicator to the Connors’ building. The police attempt to talk to Sarah, David’s soon-to-be ex-wife about the whole ordeal, but they are interrupted by the youngest child’s outburst. This wasn’t some supervillain attack, this was his father! Wasn’t it? Sarah comforts her upset and confused son. But as she does so, even she must wonder herself. (Are we all just gonna ignore the fact that her name’s Sarah Connor? Like from the sci-fi classic film, “The Terminator”?! Hahaha! Awesome! Simply awesome. God, I’m a nerd. Moving on…..)

The woman continues. She states that yes, they are programs, like this beautiful “Krypton” that they stand in at this very moment. She says how the ancient kryptonian, Kem-L, created him to house all that was once Krypton within his memory banks when he was but a simple computer that was discovered within a crashed and abandoned starship. She was created soon after to house all of Krypton’s vast mythologies. But he was also given the mission to eradicate all that would threaten Krypton. Hence his name. She was named Faora, after Kem-L’s beloved grandmother. (I think Faora lost in the Badass Name Contest. Just sayin’.) The Eradicator lashes out at his surroundings in anger and frustration with an energy blast! He quickly apologizes but flies off to clear his head. If he was no more than a program, was David Connor truly dead and gone? Is he really nothing but an echo of a human soul?

Faora follows him. She tells him that her intent was never to hurt him, but free him with the truth. He is a program that absorbs essences like information. This happened with his alien creator, the Cleric, next was Superman, and now David Conner. He is only the Eradicator. No more, no less. Just then, the voice from earlier once again invades his mind! It speaks of truths. But before the Eradicator can reply, Faora cries out in pain! She seems to faint and begin plummeting to the planet below! The Eradicator quickly comes to her rescue. Catching her, she looks into his confused red eyes and whispers how her energies are not what they once were. She will not function for much longer. Now panicked, he offers her some of his power to sustain her. She agrees that this seems possible. Then, without hesitation, he kisses her, passing his energy into her! (Gives the term “sparks fly” a whole new meaning with this kiss, huh? Seriously though, he’s married. For shame! Or is he? I’m so confused!)

Suddenly, Faora latches onto the Eradicator and holds him still while she begins sucking all of the power within him into herself! But before he perishes, he swings with a mighty fist, knocking her away from his weakened body! Rising from a crater, she tells the Eradicator how pathetic he is and how she only sought to free him of his corruption! (Jeez! Just because the guy doesn’t wanna suck face anymore? I tell ya, some women are just born crazy!) Again the Eradicator hears the voice. It tells him to see the madness in her words! That’s when the crystalline orbs above Faora’s pet creatures heads begin to reveal an image. Faora cries out in outrage and the orbs crash together!The voice becomes louder as it begins to explain itself.

The voice was of the true creator of the Eradicator device, the Cleric. His people were a people of peace and harmony and they lived happily until they began to run out of the resources they needed to live. So the Cleric created devices he called the All. These computer-like machines would absorb all of the knowledge of their homeworld and take it to the stars, in search of other worlds that the Cleric’s race could colonize. They were overjoyed when they found such a world. It was called Krypton. But the Kryptonians were less than hospitable to alien races! They rounded up the males, females, children, and even rebel members of their own race and burnt their bodies until nothing remained! One of their number, a man named Kem-L, seized the All and reprogrammed it to want to preserve all that made up Krypton and to protect its ways even if that meant killing. The All was renamed the Eradicator and all memory of this “Great Purge” was erased from Kryptonian history. (Whoa! Kryptonians sound like monsters! They even make comic book movie fans look tame!) The Eradicator dropped to his knees, defeated emotionally at last.

Looking up, he cried out in anguish that he’s a monster. But the voice of the Cleric denied this. He was created as a peaceful tool. Only the evil of Kem-L had corrupted him. He had no choice. Faora roared at the Cleric. He was twisting the truth! She was the only way to help his fractured mind. Only she knew the way. But the Eradicator had had enough. He blasted Faora away from him. He then rose and approached her fallen form. Did she not feel remorse? Regret? She replied in anger that she did not. Kem-L was right in what he did. He was right! He? That’s when the mask of illusion fell and Faora became his true self, Kem-L! (Ewww! Gross! The Eradicator frenched an old dude!) The Eradicator stood stunned! The realm around them then reveals a world of floating, charred bones! Kem-L stated that the Eradicator had somehow evolved past being a simple program. This wasn’t fair! Kem-L should be the one that’s a living, breathing being! He is the savior of the true Krypton after all! He will take the Eradicator’s power for himself and live once more!

The Eradicator tries to attack the madman, but using the power he has already absorbed, he reforms easily and begins to draw the very essence from the Eradicator! Suddenly, inspiration hits. The Eradicator shouts that if he wants what he has contained within his physical form so badly, then take only what Kem-L created! Take all of the pain, the rage, and the fear! Take all of it! He’s done holding it for him. Kem-L’s program explodes! The Cleric then appears. What is the Eradicator to do now, he asks. The Cleric replies that now that he knows the truth, he is free to do what he wishes. His heart is the key. The two embrace before the vision of the Cleric fades away. With newfound hope, the Eradicator looks to the Earth as it becomes visible through the program. He then flies off to begin his life anew. (Awww! That’s sweet. See, there’s hope out there even for a Kryptonian killing program. Maybe there’s hope for Earth politicians as well? Nah!)

But what’s this? It seems our tale isn’t over quite yet. Energy crackles inside the program world, drawing the bones together as a being is formed from them! Kem-L completes his new, monstrous body and vows aloud that he will have all of the Eradicator’s power yet! He will live again!

To be concluded…..

Dedicated to my unborn grandson/granddaughter! That’s right! Your loyal Symbifan is gonna officially be an even older fart! I’m gonna be a grandfather! Congratulations to my son, James Miller, and his girlfriend, Abby Slifer!

90s Comics, 90s DC, Uncategorized

Character Eradication (part 1 of 3)

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And you thought Spider-Man went through some radical changes over in Marvel! But in the case of Spidey, it’s usually only his costume that’s altered. With the Eradicator, he has been completely revamped so many times, even a superfan like me can hardly keep track. (That’s saying alot. I’ve been obsessed with this character since 1993!) He’s been: A small computer-like device, a deadly vigilante with Superman’s DNA, been possessed by a human mind, and even transformed into a titanic armored form of the Fortress of Solitude itself! See what I mean? DC has absolutely no idea which direction they want to go with this character! Anyway, I thought it was high time that someone wrote an article dedicated to the only Eradicator comic series where he’s the star. To finally give him the respect that he deserves. Enjoy my look back at “Eradicator” #1 of 3, Unspokenites!

Energy crackled from the Eradicator’s eyes as power blasted from his clenched fists. The strange city lies in ruins. The buildings were smoking husks. He heard a deafening voice commanding him in his head. It wanted him to annihilate the beings close to him that were different. It wanted him to kill! As a human-looking crowd urged him onwards, he denied these mental commands with a roar! He wouldn’t hurt these creatures! Peering again at the aliens’ frightened faces, they suddenly transformed into the faces of his human side’s wife and children! He then felt himself restrained by powerful arms. He was commanded by a strong voice to stop all of this! Opening his eyes, the Eradicator saw Superman holding him down! They were in a crater in the middle of a large street in the city of Metropolis! Had he done all of this? Was he alone responsible for this destruction? (Superman has to have one of those parent-like voices that, when he yells at you, you instantly feel guilty. Even if you didn’t do anything really terrible. If it was my brother and I, we would have definitely warranted the stern “daddy voice” Yup. We were bad boys. Hehehehe!)

The Eradicator admitted to Superman that he’d been having realistic visions that were confusing him and forcing him to act out violently. Superman replied that with his power, something had to be done. It was time they sought outside help. Soon, the Eradicator rested inside of a large tube as a scientist looked over readings from her computer. He and Superman had gone to the scientific research facility known as ST.A.R. Labs. As the female scientist studied the readouts, the Eradicator grew agitated. The mind that now possessed this powerful body had been a human scientist that worked here in life after all. She looked to the Man of Steel and replied to his concerned look that though the Eradicator was way more advanced tha she was used to studying, she could see a type of flaw in his sophisticated DNA. But before she could continue, Superman was suddenly called away to help with an emergency in New Jersey. (Isn’t that the way? Something’s wrong with you and the doctor talks to everyone in the room but you. Rude much? Of course, I’m a hypochondriac and they’re probably sick of explaining to me how my splinter isn’t going to poison my blood.)

As the Eradicator awaited further tests upon his being, he thought back. He was once a scientist named David Connor. After the Eradicator had been seemingly fatally wounded in the battle against the Cyborg Superman, his complex body was delivered to him for further examination. Connor became obsessed with discovering just how the Kryptonian killing machine ticked. After all, throwing himself into his work took his mind off of his failing marriage and the cancer slowly killing him. That was before the accident. A power surge caused a large explosion in the lab and David’s mind was somehow combined with the powerful body of the Eradicator! His sickly corpse was left behind, forcing others to assume that David Connor was dead. As the new Eradicator, he became an anti-hero. Heroic, but lethal all at the same time. He finally felt right. Like this was his fate. But now it seemed as if something was wrong with his new body as well. (Are we all caught up now, kiddies? Good. Don’t feel too bad about Doctor Connor. He had two sons that he let believe he was dead so he could be a superhero with no attachments. Yep. A total ass…..Damn, he was cool!)

The scientist that had been examining him told Connor that they had somewhat isolated his problem within the core of his body. With a few months of research, she was confident that her and her colleagues could cure him. This angered David. Months?! He expressed his outrage verbally, but was stopped short when another attack hit his mind! He was in chains. A man stood over him, yelling at him about the purity of Krypton and how he and these other alien beings deserved their fate! The man then fired a device at the creatures, disintegrating them completely! David cried out in outrage, and energy flowed through his body! As he powered up on this alien world, he was in actuality doing so in the lab on Earth! The scientists fled for their very lives! But the Eradicator saw none of this. To him, he was facing a sadistic killer in front of him! (Oh yeah. Me thinks the Eradicator needs some of the fantastic pills that I take for delusions. At least he’d be too sleepy to freak out and accidentally hurt people. I know it helps me when I feel the need to power up with godlike energy in anger. Hmmm. Maybe I should up my dosage…..)

The man spoke about how the Eradicator had forced his hand in executing these beings! He went on about the purity of Krypton, and how alien filth must be eradicated from their world! So said Kem-L! Where did David hear that name before? Where? And then he awoke from this vision. The rubble of the once state-of-the-art facility was everywhere! Through a steel door, he could hear frightened humans whisper as they hid from his rampage. The Eradicator tore it from its hinges. He asked if they were unharmed. Terrified, they emerged and brushed themselves off. The female scientist from earlier spoke of this only being a setback. She’d still help him. With a faraway look in his crimson eyes, he denied her. He knew where he’d get the help he needed. Blasting a hole in the ceiling, he flew off. (Whew! I’d have to change my shorts after that encounter! What? Accidents happen to the best of us. God, I feel old beyond my years.)

As he rocketed through the air, Connor pondered just how he would go about destroying himself. He weighed his very limited options. Perhaps he could merely leave this world behind. Yes. That was the answer. But first, there were those he’d like to say his goodbyes to. Onward he flew, with renewed purpose. He touched down in Kansas. Smallville to be more specific. The Eradicator approached an old tree that he remembered. In the bark, initials were carved inside of a heart: “CK + LL”. That seemed right. His first love, Lana Lang. The light from a flashlight from behind broke his concentration. It was her. Lana. But she seemed confused when he turned and she saw his face. There was no recognition in her eyes. He spoke to her of his love for her and how much he missed her. But she only grew more confused. Wait. This was wrong. He quickly apologized to her and flew away. Lana stood in the cold air, fear in her eyes. (What’s with Superman and the initials: “LL”? What’s his fascination with that letter in general? Lana Lang, Lois Lane, Lex Luthor. Wait! That’s who the Eradicator went there to see! His first love was Lex Luthor! I’m a genius!)

The Eradicator flew through the air at unbelievable speed! He let loose with a blood-curdling cry as he flew through a mountain that was in his path! As this was going on, someone far away stood, looking at this scene on a screen with a smile. Meanwhile, in the Bronx, David Connor’s two boys watched a violent television show while their mother scolded them. There was a sudden knock on the door. The boys ran to the visitor after their mother opened the door. They exclaimed in joy to see this man as he handed them a bag of fried foods to snack on. (I’d instantly love this guy too if he handed me over a bag of fried snacks! So, I’m cheap. Sue me.) The mother, Maria, looked on with a pleased smile. But at that moment, another person looked upon this scene from across the rooftops. He looked on in jealous rage! How dare they look to this other man in such a manner? How dare they show him such affection?! The Eradicator narrowed his red eyes and moved with lightning speed. He burst through the wall to his children and soon-to-be ex-wife’s new home! Hovering with his arms crossed, he stared at all of them with contempt as they cowered there in the rubble!

The man then does the unthinkable. He actually moves to attack the Eradicator! But as he does so, he yells in outrage about how this monster before him murdered David and he won’t let him hurt his sister and nephews! The Eradicator is stunned. This man is Maria’s brother? David doesn’t remember him at all. Shouldn’t he? Before he can think about his actions, he fires his heat vision to protect himself. He doesn’t hurt anyone, but Maria immediately moves in to protect her children. Connor speaks then about their failed marriage in anger. This not only confuses the woman, but angers her enough to slap the Eradicator! He’s not David! David is dead! The smallest of the two boys runs to him then, clutching his leg. Is he really his father? David begins to answer that yes he is, but he stops himself. Instead he doubles over, clutching his head! (Someone call a Kryptonian exorcist! We’ve gotta live one here!) An inner voice pushes him to kill! He denies it with every fiber of his being! The voice then whispers for him to come home. David whispers one word in response, yes.

Smashing through the small apartment wall, he flies like a man possessed. He flies away from all of his confusion, all of his pain. His youngest child asks his mother if that really was his father. She doesn’t answer. He finally come crashing down in what appears to be the arctic. The voice continues to push him onward. He will find peace soon. This was never his world. Reject it. Come home. The Eradicator accepts the voice at last. And as he does so, a door of light opens near him. The voice beckons to him. As he steps in, the pain leaves him. He looks up to a new, female voice. A woman stands there with strange beasts as her companions. She smiles as she welcomes him home…..home to Krypton!

To be continued…..

Dedicated to my brother, Eric James Miller. Although we’ve been through some hard times, you’ll always be my first best friend. I love you.

90s Comics, 90s Marvel, Uncategorized

Dark Liaisons (part 4 of 4)

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Greetings and salutations, Legions of the Unspoken! Your loyal Symbifan has returned as promised and with the final part of my look back at one of my favorite storylines from the 90’s, “Spirits of Venom”! (This exciting finale was originally published in “Spirits of Vengeance” #6) As we begin, I must ask you all a very serious question: Have you ever wanted to see the inside of Venom’s fanged and drooling mouth? No? Too bad! Hahaha!

(Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Ugh! You just know he has an alien form of gingivitis in there.) Venom roars at Ghost Rider in rage! How dare he aid Spider-Man in escaping his grasp? Now the Spirit of Vengeance will suffer in the wall-crawler’s place! Venom leaps at the Rider, ready to tear him to shreds! Ghost Rider attempts to speak reasonably to the symbiotic villain. Spider-Man was helping the innocent people be free of the evil minions of Deathwatch. And doesn’t Venom often preach about saving innocents? This only added to Venom’s anger! The Rider knew nothing of him and what the Spider did to him! Venom then uses his superior strength to toss Ghost Rider across the sewers tunnel and into a concrete wall! He then picks up the Rider’s fallen chain and lunges!

Venom pins Ghost Rider to the ground, forcing the supernatural chain into his mouth and tightening it! This effectively traps the Spirit of Vengeance underneath the drooling symbiote! As Venom roars curses, Ghost Rider has had enough! He unleashes the most feared of his powers, the Penance Stare! By peering into an enemy’s eyes, the Rider can force them to feel all of the pain that they’ve inflicted upon others! Most scream in absolute terror at this disturbing skill. (I want this power! Except I want others to feel my utter annoyance. I would punish all who work at my local Walmart! Self checkout, be damned!) But what’s this? Something’s wrong. A type of unknown feedback harms both Venom and the hellish Rider! An explosion of mystical fire hurls Venom away and rocks Ghost Rider’s body!

Venom, though still reeling from the blast, pulls himself to his feet first. Ghost Rider lies very still. He seems unconscious. Venom, angered at the pain he just felt, approaches to finish his foe! But as he moves to do so, he suddenly finds a hellfire shotgun pressed to the back of his skull! Blaze won’t allow the murder of his partner. But the symbiote sends a tendril backwards, blocking the trigger from being pulled! As Venom laughs, sure of his victory, Blaze instead slams a long blade into Venom’s shoulder! Blaze is backhanded some distance for this outrage! But before any of the three can continue their brawl, the very ground seems to swallow them as the eerie Deathspawn pull them downwards! (Anyone else sick of these Deathspawn interrupting the superhero fights in this story? These guys are more annoying than Girl Scouts when it’s that time of year to sell their damn cookies. Making me feel all guilty as I walk on by. What was I talking about? Not sure, but I suddenly crave cookies.)

Aboveground, Spider-Man has contacted the authorities to take the unconscious Hobgoblin into custody. As an armored Guardsman lands and cuffs the goblin, Spidey also reports that Venom is free at this very moment right beneath their feet. In fact, this is where he himself must return. He has to help his allies. The Guardsman gets on his radio and orders a containment squad for Venom just as the web-slinger disappears back into the dark and murky sewers. Johnny Blaze, Ghost Rider, and Venom are trapped, held against their will by two of Deathwatch’s main goons, Hag and Troll! This evil twosome were even more powerful than the numerous Deathspawn! (So important to the storyline, that I completely forgot that they even existed until just now. But hey, it’s not like I wrote three whole articles, not even mentioning them. Pardon my nervous laugh…..heehee.) It seems that the trio will be used as offerings to Deathwatch when he arises from the land of the dead! Just as Blaze scoffs at this plan, the Deathspawn suddenly enter Deathwatch’s still form! He then sits straight up and turns his gaze to the captives!

As Hag and Troll egg on their dark master, Deathwatch slowly reaches for Johnny Blaze! He will feed upon his life-force and be whole once more! But just before his fingertips touch Blaze’s cheek, a strand of webbing pulls Deathwatch’s hand away. Everyone present looks and they see Spider-Man standing there, Blaze’s hellfire shotgun held at the ready! Hag and Troll ignore Spidey as he warns them with the weapon as they rush him! For a moment, Spider-Man contemplates actually using the enchanted gun. But instead, he throws it to its owner. Blaze uses it to free Ghost Rider and himself. (Look at Spidey in the pic above! Who knew that the web-slinger could look so gangsta?!) As Ghost Rider tackles Deathwatch, Blaze aims the weapon towards Spider-Man and his two attackers. He can’t fire or he’ll hit the hero for sure! That’s when inspiration hits. He looks to the captive Venom. He would go through anyone to make it to his arch-nemesis. Blaze hopes he won’t live to regret this. He frees the symbiote!

Venom wastes zero time in swinging towards his hated enemy! And as predicted, he does in fact tear through Hag, Troll, and numerous Deathspawn to try and reach Spider-Man! At that moment, the Deathspawn try to flee Deathwatch’s battered form! This cannot be allowed, or this madness will start over again! No. They must be contained! Ghost Rider encircles the villain with his chain as Blaze ignites it with a hellfire blast! The result is a type of cage, keeping the Deathspawn from escaping! Seeing their beloved master fall, Hag and Troll try to flee! But Johnny Blaze expected this. He knocks both to the ground, holding them at gunpoint! (Wow! No wonder I forgot Hag and Troll until now. They were beyond pointless to the story. Yeah. I’ll keep telling myself that. No screw up here, folks…..) Badly weakened, the creatures begin to fall one by one. It all seems to be over until Spider-Man hears a familiar growl coming from behind him. Venom won’t be denied his prize!

But before Venom can spring, a blast from a sonic disruptor rifle knocks him back! Countless armored Guardsmen enter the sewers and begin taking control of the situation. Venom is quickly contained. Demogoblin is found lurking about elsewhere in the sewers and is captured as well. Doppelganger was never located. (Seriously! The writer just completely forgot about him!) As for Hag, Troll, and Deathwatch, they are taken prisoner by Blaze and Ghost Rider to be deliver to the mystic, Dr. Strange. Spider-Man thanks the two as they mount their bikes. But all three of the heroes know that as long as evil runs rampant, this will hardly be their last meeting.

End.

Dedicated to my beloved Renee for our seventeenth anniversary. I have always and will always love you. Thank you for making this big comic book nerd’s heart feel whole.

The Gimmick Era Has Never Been Covered So Well.