Starbolts #674: The Journey to Rock Bottom

Hail!

    This week we learn all about how Crazy Steve started on his journey from being a down on his luck hero to supervillain. All it took was a master manipulator like the Director and a pretty face. You probably have another thing coming if you think Natalia is to be trusted. Newsflash. She isn't. She likely has an ulterior motive here now that she's pregnant with Steve's child. This whole plot of theirs reeks of eugenics and you can bet that it would go over well with our heroes.

    The Director plans on creating a race of perfect humans and is starting with the former Iron Eagle. Meanwhile the current and more well-liked one just had his "Captain America" moment in front of Guardians Mansion. I think the cops are pleased but are mad that they're clearly outgunned by the army of robots who have swarmed the city.

    One thing to note is that Aquita's sonic scream seems to work fine with the shield in place. That has nothing to do with her telepathic abilities. That power comes from the gods who made her an avatar. So, why aren't M'anta's powers working since he is an avatar, too? Well, he's a lot closer to whatever has been driving the Aquans for a loop. Once that's out of business, I'm sure both Aquita and M'anta will be perfectly fine. I hope.

    Crazy Steve has certainly hit a low point here. Though, perhaps the Director is equally to blame. The man did take advantage of him at his lowest point. Most of his friends are dead. Apollo left for Mount Olympus. He's got no one and the guy swooped in like a vulture with his femme fatale assistant. Yeah, it doesn't take much to believe she doesn't have his best interests at heart.

See ya next time!

Starbolts #673: Metahumans in Disguise

 Hail!

    The Starbolts are finally getting closer and closer to the mansion! Hopefully, they'll soon be able to free their friends, M'anta Kevin, TK and Kaori. They've been held captive by Crazy Steve since Starbolts #671. We'll be catching up with them next comic. I have a feeling there's a method to the bots' madness. They don't like biological lifeforms. So, they're doing what they can to detain them. What if they set their sights on the former Iron Eagle? Time will tell.

    I admit I do like Marcus and Crystal flirting while on the mission. Sure lives are in danger but it's well within their character. They still get down to business when the situation calls for it and that's exactly what Marcus did. Running around NYC and getting five bots to fall into a trap is pretty cool. Though, don't expect Crystal to return to her southern accent. I think she's fine as is.

    At least we're now getting close to whatever has been causing Aquita to lose her telepathic abilities. Once that's out of business, I'm sure there'll be hell to pay. Here's hoping our heroes find the others in time and stop Steve from doing his new organization's bidding. We'll be finding more about them next week, too. How did Steve get roped into this organization? What do they want with our heroes? All of this will be revealed soon!

Stay tuned! See ya next time!

Starbolts #672: Sentinels in New York

 Hail! 

    The Sentinels have taken Manhattan and now it's up to the Starbolts to save the day. With a team of Jack, Crystal, Firaxil, Marcus and Aquita, you can bet Steve is going to have his hands full. Though, I wonder what could be preventing the Aquan princess from sensing people around her...Hmm,...That is a mystery indeed. ;)

    Marcus and Crystal were definitely in the sewers of Boston once way back in Starbolts #370.  That was a fun adventure. Crystal was cursed by the witch Zarantha and it took the ancient being known as "The Green Monster" to break the spell. Zarantha trued to prevent her from feeling true love and it was something neither she nor her new boyfriend (at the time) Marcus could live with. So, they sought out the Green Monster and she saved her life. I'm thinking someday she and Marcus might revisit TGM. Let's just hope she moved out of the sewers and somewhere less foul smelling.

    You've got to feel a little bad for Steve in his scene this week. His friends are gone and now an organization is using his old friend's armor as a type of foot soldier for their army. Who are they? They obviously know about the Starbolts. That and other mysteries will be solved very soon. I plan on revealing just how Steve got caught up in this mess. 

Look for some more action soon! See ya next time!

Starbolts #671: Night of the Sentinels

 

 Hail! 

    I think I'd have to agree with M'anta's assessment here. There is absolutely no way for Steve to come back from this. This is now the second time he went off the deep end and threatened our heroes. The first time was the story arc that lasted from Starbolts #240 to Starbolts #275. To be fair his last bout with the darkness was brought on by the evil Jade Skull possessing his body. That's not what's happening here. Nope. A new organization managed to take a hold of the former Iron Eagle and shifted his already weakened mind to their way of thinking. It's a shame. It really is. A once decorated hero is now cuckoo for Coco Puffs.

    Who this mysterious organization remains a mystery and will be a mystery for some time. Sufficed it to say they capitalized on the evil organization void left by Terra Nova. Once they were out of the picture, other organizations were now able to come out of the shadows. Whoever they are, they'll have to deal with the Starbolts. Let's hope our heroes can put this new group out of business because not only have they turned a good man against them, they've co-opted a dead man's technology and used it to create an army of Sentinels.

    This week's title comes from the first episode of the 1992 classic X-Men cartoon that ran from 1992 to 1997 on Fox Kids. I totally watched it and I will definitely be watching the sequel show, X-Men '97 on Disney + when it streams on March 20th. I so can't wait for that show. It should be epic!

    As far as this week's comic goes, it looks like Norad is fine after being spared by the robots. Let's hope help arrives. I don't think the Starbolts will be pleased with Steve and his army of robots. Stay tuned for next week's comic "Sentinels in New York". 

See ya then!

Starbolts #670: Dropping the Truth Train

 

 Hail! 

    I haven't really decided where the Vault is per se. But, it is a nice prison for criminals with superpowers regardless of wealth and prestige. If you do a crime and you happen to have superpowers, you're usually sent there. That's the place where criminals who try to take over the world go. Super-powered henchmen like Tornado and the rest of the Legion go someplace else. That's why he was able to get out when he did. The Vault is home to some seriously tough baddies who are now far from society. Ruby will have one friend there at least. Though, I don't think she'd be too happy to see her.

    After this trial, I think that Mr. Stevens will be facing a lot of questions and will potentially be disbarred after allowing his client to manipulate him like that. It's a good thing the judge wasn't so easily swayed. Then again, I don't think Ruby would've risked using her powers on the judge when there are so many Starbolts around. That wouldn't be a good look and would probably make her look bad. So, she played it smart for now. It's just too bad the evidence was so strong. She had no case and ended up wasting everyone's time with her crocodile tears.

    In any event, the trial is over and now the Starbolts can focus on trying to find Iron Eagle. We'll be catching up with M'anta's team next comic and then deal with that whole mess. I get the feeling they'll be needing Jack's help after all. Now that the trial is over, Jack is free to resume his Iron Eagle duties and bring Steve in. Let's home he comes quietly. Nah. We know he won't.

   See ya next time!