Shawn Lucas is the self identified "Noob of All Trades". He is married and the father of three boys, two of whom help with their own podcast every couple of months. Raised on Atari, Nintendo, and Sega, he enjoys all games and will play all of them to the best of his ability, which is often average at best. Currently, he is most interested in Magic, Heroclix, and other games that he can play with Chris and his sons.
Theater brought some amazing people into our lives. Unfortunately, it took us a few years to realize just how amazing. But, we made up for it over the last few years. Two years in a row, we met them for trick or treating. Last year, we hung out with them for a Halloween party, too. Then, this year, early on during break Christine invited them over to our place for what we hope to be the start of a new tradition. I’m calling it Annual Game Night 2025.
They brought snacks; crackers and cheese, spinach dip, veggies, etc. We provided our own dip (buffalo chicken) and I made chicken sliders and beef sliders. Great food, good discussion, Some controversy when the topic of musicals came up. But, I left the room and came into the living room to hang with some of the kids. One worked on a puzzle while another commented how cool the corner of our couch was. Kids find joy in the simplest things sometimes.
Blockbuster (The Game)
We finally settled enough for several people to suggest starting a game. We offered about a dozen different games and our guests brought a dozen of their own. Ambitious, to be sure. Initially, we tried to play a phone game that supposedly could be cast to the television, but that technology failed. Then someone saw the Blockbuster game and suggested we play that.
Those that know me know my love for the old video store. I watched the documentary about the last store. It almost inspired me to drive to Oregon to visit them. Instead, as Christine mentioned a couple of times during the game, I paid $10 to walk through the Blockbuster Experience at comic con. Everyone else asked me how I liked it. I said, I’d do it again without hesitation. Cool experience and the right kind of nostalgia.
We played two teams of 8, which went surprisingly well. The only snags came when some of the kids didn’t know some of the movies. But, we helped them through and it made the game even more fun in my opinion. Oh, also, the games took so long that we didn’t have time enough for any of the other games. Hence, my “ambitious” comment earlier.
The Verdict
Every January, we try to highlight new games. While I haven’t updated the header yet, I want to keep things going on the page after all the momentum I built during break. Also, I wanted to talk about how much fun the Annual Game Night 2025 was and how much we want to do it again. Stay tuned for more thought on the actual game this weekend.
As we drove home from the Lego Fan Fest in Worcester, I noticed we were close to That’s Entertainment. I asked the boys if they wanted to stop. They sure did. And this is about a trip That’s E (December 2024). Well, mostly. I picked up a couple of other books to fill in recent runs. I also left far too much on the shelves. Post Christmas budgeting and all. But, I haven’t posted in almost a week and I want to keep my momentum going. Enjoy my thoughts on these two books.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Nation 1 and 2
Writer: Tom Waltz, Artist: Vincenzo Frederici
Quick Synopsis and Thoughts: This series features Raph’s journey in the fallout after issue 150. As to be expected, he hops on his motorcycle and just goes. However, something from his past detours him to Area 51. As usual, he’s faced with the possibility that he bit off more than he can chew in his life away from the turtles. They also check in with Casey Jones in another story.
A few months ago I wrote about a third TMNT comic after the reboot. While I couldn’t find it at the time, I found it during a trip to That’s E (December 2024). I’m glad that I did. I read recently that someone thinks the turtles can challenge some of the big boys for readers. I agree that, so far, they’ve done a good job with the new books. My verdict: Good.
Violator 1 – 4 (of 6)
Writer: Marc Andreyko, Artist: Various.
Quick Synopsis and Thoughts: The true (?) story of the Violator’s origins from the birth in hell through various historical tragedies on earth.
Overall, a fun take on the character that I normally don’t give a second chance in the main title. I like the unreliable narrator angle and that it ties into actual events in history. I hope we get more titles like this in the new year. My verdict: Good
The Verdict
Two decent comics that I’m glad I chose. I wasn’t expecting much from Violator, but it pleasantly surprised me. And, TMNT seems to be taking a page from Uncle Todd’s book. They expanded the “universe” so to speak, but they’re taking it piece by piece.
This article might be a little half baked. I just came up with the idea a couple of days ago. Also, I generally don’t do resolutions as a rule. But I threw it on the calendar to keep me updating the page on a regular basis. The momentum of the new year always carries me to at least April, so hopefully that happens again. Now, finally sitting down to write it, I came up with a couple of things to discuss. So, in no particular order, I present my 2024 gamer resolutions.
Resolution 1 – Clear the Backlog (Some)
As I understand, resolutions need to be realistic and attainable in order to be effective. Since I only have one year and my backlog consists of a pile of shame for ever console as well as buy and forget purchases on Steam, I want to set the goal at five games taken off the list. Top of this list is Hades. I’ve been slowly working my way through this game for the better part of 4 years. I now have new found inspiration from the fact that I started and finished the story of Pikmin 3 in less than a week. Having my own Switch definitely helps with this one. While a recent addition, I think that I can finish Spider-Man no problem because I’m obsessed. It just becomes a race if I can do it before Aiden. Probably not. Lastly, I don’t think I ever finished Diablo III and I know for a fact I never finished any of the Fallout series.
Chris recommended you. Liam bought you for Christmas. I owe it to them both to finally finish you.
Is a game really part of your backlog if you just bought it? Philosophical questions like this are part of the reason I never finish a game.
Oh, Skyrim. You were there for me when I was an unemployed stay at home dad. Now that I’m working, I let you sit on the shelf and collect dust. Oh, cruel fates for us both.
2 – Stream or Share Gaming Content
This one keeps coming up every so often. As part of my desire to try to build a community around the page, I want to stream and make the YouTube page more active. Every now and then, I find ways to accomplish this for a time, but it always falls to the wayside as one of the first things to go when things get busy. Maybe with this resolution guiding me, I can actually make it happen this year.
3 – Support Indie Developers
This one wont’ be a problem. I love exploring new games by smaller companies. Initially it started from the games that Humble Bundle provided. However, I like the games so much that I often search for them first on Steam when I need something new to play. A game for two to five dollars that brings me hours or days of entertainment is worth the price every single time.
4 – Explore Gaming History
While we love our history here at 2 Generations Gaming, we rarely focus exclusively on that. Maybe in August, our anniversary, we can set aside some time to look at the history of all different types of games. The Retroid Pocket makes that easy for video games. Reddit and other search engines can bring me back to the golden ages of different tabletop games as well.
5 – Introduce Friends and Family to Games
I make no secret about my desire to introduce my family to Dungeons and Dragons. I tried once, but failed miserable. Then I tried to come up with ways to make it better, but the interest waned. Quinn and I played a couple of sessions and that was fun. But, I really just want to have a monthly session with them for an ongoing campaign.
I also wrote recently that both Chris and Christine showed interest in Warhammer. I need more experience with that to show anyone else how to play. But, I suppose we could play through the tutorials together and learn at the same time. The family that plays together stays together.
The Verdict
I think I have a good list to 2024 gamer resolutions here. Something for every aspect of my gaming life. What about all of you out there? Do you have any 2024 gamer resolutions to take into the new year?
Having missed out on the Krakoa era, I went overboard on the Marvel mutants. I have 7 different titles for X-Books December 2024. And, when I went to That’s Entertainment after the Lego Fest in Worcester, I looked at 3 or 4 other titles and considered picking them up. I might have even pulled the trigger on Psylocke. She was always my favorite growing up. What can I tell you? I have a soft spot for the B-listers that fight their way to the A-list.
Exceptional X-Men 3
Writer: Eve Ewing, Artist: Carmen Carnero
Quick Synopsis and Thoughts: Kitty wants nothing to do with the X-Men. Nope, not at all. She needs a break after all that went down. Please, stop trying to rope her into forming a new X-Team with brand new mutants. Especially you, Emma Frost. Do you need some discouragement from my fists? Emma and Kitty face off and Kitty ends up as foster Mom to Axo, Bronze, and Melee. But, what’s this? At the end, an Ice Man appears as the cavalry. I wonder what his name is.
This book is tons of fun right now. It reads very much like Rainbow Rowell’s She Hulk. Can a big city X-girl really have it all? Probably not, but it’s fun to watch her try. If they’re thinking about rebooting the title, either Ewing or Gronbekk should be on the short list. My verdict: Good.
Nyx 4 and 5
Writers: Collin Kelly, Jackson Lanzing, Artists: Enid Balam, Francesco Mortarino
Quick Synopsis and Thoughts: The Nyxers work hard to find their places in the post Krakoa mutant landscape. This is made more complicated by The Quiet Council and the Peacekeepers. Also, just the hustle and bustle of New York City. If they can make it there, they can make it anywhere.
Kelly and Lanzing breathe life into a new band of misfits that become a family. While this one doesn’t deal with an intergalactic threat that was once part of the family, they still have quite a bit that keeps them on their toes. Like Exceptional, I like the personal touches on this title. Let the other X-Men fight the Avengers. Some of us need to help less fortunate mutants. My verdict: Good.
Quick Synposis and Thoughts: Phoenix continues to deal with the fallout and the assassins sent after her. All while contending with her role as the Phoenix and what that means to her and others. On the last page, the big man himself reveals that he wants to take over the council and then, of course, all of creation.
Of the new X-Books, this isn’t one of my favorites. Having already told you that I like the personal stories in NYX and Exceptional, this one spans the galaxy and galactic threats. I guess I’m in my “relatable comic book heroes” era. My verdict: Decent.
Psylocke 1 and 2
Writer: Alyssa Wong, Artist: Vincenzo Carratu
Quick Synopsis and Thoughts: Psylocke brings her brutal energy and assassin training to the X-Men. They decide that those methods are too extreme and kick her off the team. With no support, she finds herself in a familiar position. She will need to survive on her own. No problem there.
I don’t know how I feel about this new iteration of Psylocke. She feels a little too much like Wolverine in her mannerisms and attitude. But, I’ll give the book a chance. Because I like the writing and art. More often than not, things tend to work out. My verdict: Decent
The Uncanny X-Men 5 and 6 (Legacy 705 and 706)
Writer: Gail Simone, Artist: Javier Garron
Quick Synopsis and Thoughts: The finale to the Red Wave story where they face a supernatural threat that reveals a secret that threatens to tear the young team apart. But, Rogue manages to keep them together and starts a new school in her home state. That leads to a whole slew of other potential problems.
Gail Simone nicely balances the human and superhuman in her characters. Where I normally might not enjoy this title because of the huge paranormal threat, she follows it up with a story that we can all relate to. School sucks. I know. My verdict: Great
X-Force 5 (Legacy 295)
Writer: Geoffrey Thorne, Artist: Marcus To
Quick Synopsis and Thoughts: All hell breaks loose in this one. The Avengers show up to deal with the Nuklo threat. That leads to an all out melee that is then broken up by The Phoenix. A team member dies and another quits the team, questioning Forge’s humanity and leadership. To be fair, it deserves questioning.
All I have to say is, “Wow.” And, I’ll add a “Holy shit.” So much went down in this book. But, Thorne handled it all well. I never cared all that much for X-Force growing up, but I like this team. The dynamic between the characters is phenomenal. The story felt disjointed at first, but all came together in this issue. Plus, Forge is just so brutally efficient as a leader. Harsh. My verdict: Great.
X-Men 7 (Legacy 307)
Writer: Jed MacKay, Artist: Netho Diaz
Quick Synopsis and Thoughts: We open on Scott’s Alaska camp during the Iron Night. He mopes as only Scott can while discussing recent events with Magneto. A Sentinel descends on the town and they fight it together. Magneto gets in the killing blow. The issue ends with Beat getting abducted during a phone call.
MacKay’s X-Men is taking some time to get going. I suppose it makes sense give the massive aftermath they are dealing with. But, it’s still a little frustrating that the main title lags behind all of the others when it comes to story and character development. Oh well, I have a feeling he will turn it around sooner rather than later. My verdict: Decent.
The Verdict (X-Books December 2024)
So many books to read and review. As you saw, I picked up Psylocke at the comic book store. a pleasant surprise to go with some other great books from my DCBS order of X-Books December 2024. Strange that the main title is probably the slowest right now, but that won’t be true for long.
As often happens in the family, many of the gifts this year involved games and gaming. I purchased an Atari 7800+ for myself that Christine suggested that I put aside for Christmas. I wondered if the boys would even care about it. Surprisingly, they all said, “Cool!” when they saw it. However, it remains in the box. That’s because Aiden went above and beyond this Christmas. He bought us all a PS5 with the Spider-Man games and Minecraft. While we start there, those aren’t the only gaming gifts 2024.
Atari 7800+
I finally caved to the pressure and nostalgia a few months ago. I saw that Atari advertised the 7800+ with a new game and controllers for a good price. I thought, why the hell not? I bought all those cartridges when I bought the Retron emulator. Plus, the 2600 and 7800 have a robust homebrew scene. And, we all know how I feel about the guys over at Audacity games. It felt like a no brainer. I played some of the Bentley’s game to test it out but, like I said, it remains in the box for now still under the tree.
Sony Playstation 5
I wanted to play these games since they released 6 years ago. Then, Insomniac came out with a second one and that reignited the fire. I guess it finally registered with Aiden because he purchased a Playstation 5 for all of us for Christmas with these games. We have all been taking turns playing through the game and watching each other play the game. Numerous times, we’ve said, I love playing this game. Aiden, the other day, said, I’m obsessed with this game. It truly is remarkable. The same way that the Arkham games made you feel like Batman, this one puts you in the Spider Suit and that’s something I’ve wanted my whole life. This one is going to get a ton of play. Hell, I even invited Chris over for some Madden or NHL soon.
Retroid Pocket
I can’t remember how I discovered this little gem. But, it immediately caught my eye and I ordered one. I played it a few times, even using it to capture game play footage for the YouTube channel and some articles. Then, I showed Liam that it emulated GameCube games. He more or less commandeered it. But, that’s okay. Because I have a problem, I just ordered another one for myself that should be arriving sometime this week. I also, for some reason, threw in one of the minis to my order. Hey, I told you. I have a problem.
Nintendo Switch Lite
Probably the console that received the most play from me during this vacation is my Switch. I swapped out Hades a couple of weeks ago for Pikmin 3. I played that up to the final level in the game this week and hope to beat it in the next day or two. After that, I plan to focus on Hades to finish that one out.
The Verdict
Some great gaming gifts 2024 for the 2 Generations Gaming family. Plenty to take me into January and the “New Year, New Games” theme. I hope you all received the gifts you wanted this year and that they bring much joy in the year to come. We will be here multiple times a week to talk about the games we enjoy.
Thanks to the number of X-Books I ordered, The Incredible Hulk reaching a milestone issue, and writing a separate article for the two Ultimate titles that arrived, I only have 4 titles to review for Marvel Comics December 2024. Two of them have two issues each, though, so a total of six books in the queue. A far cry from a few months ago, but much more manageable as a group.
Amazing Spider-Man 61 and 62 (Legacy 955 and 956)
Writer: Joe Kelly, Artist: Ed McGuinness.
Quick Synopsis and Thoughts: Strange surrendered the power of the Sorcerer Supreme to Doom in an attempt to save the world. He uses that power to pick Spidey as his champion in a fight against supernatural enemies. This results in a new magical suit and powers plus eight lives with which to accomplish the task. As the title of the arc suggests, he’s two for two on using up those lives in the battles. Pretty gruesome deaths, too.
You all know that I took a long hiatus from ASM. I just couldn’t do it anymore. I hated everything that Zeb Wells did with the character. They made up for it by bringing Kelly on to right the ship with classic Spidey artist, Ed McGuinness. So far, the pace and tone of the title is much better and I think I’m going to be okay with Spidey going forward. My verdict: Good
The Avengers 20 (Legacy 786)
Writer: Jed MacKay, Artist: Farid Karami
Quick Synopsis and Thoughts: This issue follows up on the story of Black Panther in the alternate dimension. He fights to free the prisoners from that prison as the rest of the team works on the outside to keep Doom at bay. This issue focuses completely on his story and ends with a question from T’Challa about his potential future.
I enjoyed this issue quite a bit. I think it’s my favorite Avengers issue since the first story line. What’s funny is that it’s essentially a Black Panther solo story. But, it’s the kind of Panther story that I prefer. On the ground (admittedly in an alternate dimension) fighting for the liberation of others. My verdict: Good
Captain America 14 and 15 (Legacy 764 and 765)
Writer: JMS, Artists: Carlos Magno and Jesus Sais
Quick Thoughts and Synopsis: In the shadow of the madness of his previous adventure, Cap teams up with two other former Avengers for this next one. They embark on the mission that, as others have promised (or threatened) will bring them together or tear them apart. The first stop is a small town in Oklahoma where they learn of Thor’s shame experienced there. They fight against Dark Asgard to save the soul of the town and it may prove to be too much after all.
I wrote that the previous adventure felt too supernatural for a Captain America story. This one continues that trend, so I guess JMS is just bringing that corner of the Marvel Comics into Captain America. It makes more sense with Thor on his side, but still feels a little weird. Normally I like weird. I just think the imbalance of real life tempers my enjoyment some. My verdict: Decent.
The Immortal Thor 17 (Legacy 778)
Writer: Al Ewing, Artist: Jan Bazaldua
Quick Synopsis and Thoughts: The past again catches up with the Thunder God. Four gods, called into being by his enemies, stalk Thor. While he could defeat them individually, their mutual hatred and ability to work together might finally do him in and end his reign already. However, he defeats them. Enchantress comes to him and they go back to meet his son, Magni.
I normally love everything Ewing does. His Hulk remains my favorite version of the character ever. Then, he brought Venom some semblance of sanity before the whole Knull nonsense. His Thor, though, confuses me. I never entirely understood the Roxxon beginning of the story, then things started to come together and now he throws us another curveball with Magni. I hold out hope that he’ll bring all these threads together. Right now, though, I’m confused. My verdict: Decent.
The Verdict
Marvel Comics December 2024 is a mixed bag. I’m glad Spidey’s back. The Avengers Black Panther story was great. Cap and Thor feel like both writers are taking too many liberties right now with the characters and stories. But, they’re still mostly enjoyable, so I’ll forgive them for now.
Recent events inspired me to open my laptop again. One, Aiden bought a PS5 for Christmas. Yesterday, Quinn booted up Minecraft. Once he finished, Aiden showed off his realm. So, I decided to load up Minecraft on the laptop and see if I could join his realm. I ran into some technical difficulties that I hope to troubleshoot today and try again. In spite of all that, I also loaded up Steam. I went looking for Skyrim. You may remember that I once spent 80 hours in a week playing Skyrim. That caused me to evaluate my life and prioritize going outside. Regardless, that’s one of the reasons that Steam is a Gift 2024.
A Revolution in Gaming Distribution
I know some disagree (including our very own Blonde here at 2 Generations Gaming), and I see their point, that digital downloads represent a positive development in gaming. For better or worse, though, Steam led the charge into digital downloads as the standard. No installation media or load times. Simply download the client and purchase and install the games.
Not my downloads.
Then, load a game and play to your heart’s content. The client also allows for cloud based saves and automatic updates. Most often, the game updates in the background or during off peak hours to ensure that you never miss any play time due to an unexpected update. One complaint is that sometimes you wonder where and why the update happened. Street Fighter games that are 30 years old suddenly receive an update? WTF?
The Power of a Growing Library
Since I bought the laptop that runs Steam almost a decade ago, I check there first when a game releases. We rarely purchase new consoles (other than the PS5 this year) when they release. But, having access to Steam and the games there makes the risk of FOMO almost nil. Truly, Steam is a gift 2024.
The real charm of Steam, though, is the access to the independent titles that keep me entertained for hours on end. Whether part of a Humble Bundle or random encounter, I always give these titles a try. More often that not, they deliver. Plus, you feel good about supporting an individual or small group of programmers. They are needed for a healthy and thriving community.
Community and Connection
Speaking of that community, Steam offers many ways to connect with your fellow gamer. Each game has a page where you share screenshots and stories. You build a friends list where they share their games and exploits with you and you with them.
Aside from the story, what brings me back to gaming is the community. Back when I first started my adult video game career, I found World of Warcraft. I still stay in touch with some of the people that I met on that game. I never met a single one of them in real life, but I consider them all friends and even family in some cases.
I experienced nothing like that from Steam so far. However, in supporting the independent programmers, I received some correspondence to try a new game or review a movie or television show they produced. I know that I’m not unique in that. But, it still feels good to be included.
Steam Sales, Mods, and the Workshop
One of my friends first alerted me to the famous Steam sales that happen several times a year. I rarely take advantage of them as much as I do the Humble Bundles. Nevertheless, I peruse them and drool at the prices for games that I want to buy. They figured out a way to keep your attention focused on them and that’s half the battle.
They also accomplish that with the Workshop. Even without the resources to program your own game, you still have an impact on that game through the development of mods. Mods have been a part of my gaming experience since DOOM. Then, in the time of The Sims, I got obsessed. I downloaded every furniture set and add on that I found useful.
While I haven’t used many mods inside of Steam, I appreciate what people created. Hell, some of them have even created essentially new games using the technology.
I really want to play this one.
The Verdict
I think I made the case for Steam is a gift 2024. From the top games to indy favorites. A growing community of like minded gamers (sound familiar?) and regular sales. Plus, that community gives you more through mods they developed.
When I saw the announcement of the new Ultimate Marvel line, I cringed. I remember the first time when they completely lost the thread. A couple of times, they removed my comments from social media reminding them about the cannibalistic Hulk and incestuous Maximoff twins. Then, a few months ago, for some reason, I picked up a couple of the Ultimate titles. I heard good things about the books. If I’m being honest, though, I didn’t enjoy the stories all that much. However, from the looks of it, I put Ultimates and Ultimate Spider-Man on my DCBS list. So, I set aside this Ultimate Marvel December 2024 article to try to see if i can find something to like about the books.
The Ultimates 6
Writer: Deniz Camp, Artist: Juan Frigeri
Quick Synopsis and Thoughts: This issue sees the Ultimates team up to try to take down the Hulk. They figure a little prison rules will hopefully help them defeat the Maker. As you might expect, things go very wrong for them. Very, very wrong indeed.
I actually liked this issue. Either they improved the quality of the story or I’m feeling more generous today. Obviously, both can be true. I guess I’ll find out next month which it more true. I will say that I like this version of Ultimate Hulk better than the sociopath that they wrote last time. He reminds me of Smart Hulk and that’s always a fun version of the character. My verdict: Good.
Ultimate Spider-Man 11
Writer: Johnathon Hickman, Guest Artist: David Messina
Quick Synopsis and Thoughts: Pete reaches out to Norman to try to smooth things over, it looks like. Not sure what happened, but there’s some tension there. He then receives quite the ass kicking from Mr. Negative and his henchmen. That brings him back home while Mr. Negative debriefs Kingpin. Black Cat gets introduced and Peter ends the issue talking things out with Uncle Ben.
Wow. Quite a bit happens in this issue. But, it doesn’t feel too busy or overworked. Hickman spends just enough time on each story to give you some information while leaving you wanting more. I definitely liked this issue and now I can’t wait to (a) read next month’s issue and (b) pick up the back issues. My verdict: Great.
The Verdict
Much better than the issues I read earlier in both series. I don’t think I’ll pick up the other Ultimate titles right now. Okay, I lied. I added both Ultimate Black Panther and Ultimate X-Men to the pull list for next month. Ultimate Marvel December 2024 sold me on the line for now.
Of the three main gaming genres, I paid the least attention to this one in 2024. Aiden, again, stole the XBox to put in his room so that he could play Minecraft again. He also commandeered my laptop for the same purpose. So, I mostly used that laptop to update my USFL Distant Replay page. The other laptops, I installed various Linux distributions and used them in my coding exercises. Our 2024 look back on PC/Console might seem lacking.
And, so, the majority of my console experience this year came as a result of my new Nintendo Switch and Retroid Pocket emulator. Both technically mobile devices. Nevertheless, I plan to bring you an actual article later in the week. So, I want to set the scene with this one. Join me on the eve of Christmas for opportunities missed.
Train Sim World
The other day, during an impromptu family movie night, we watched The Polar Express. This brought up two things. One, I think the boys want to go to the train show at the Big E this year. Second, it reminded me of this game. After returning from Germany, I became obsessed with this game and the Euro Truck Simulator. I even considered trying to put together a weekly train/truck Tuesday stream. I mean, there’s still time, but I need to load up the games again and figure out the best routes to run for optimal scenery and fun.
Console of Christmas Past
Earlier in the year, they suckered me into ordering an Atari 7800+. I say that, but I willingly placed the order and eagerly anticipated the arrival. Upon that arrival, I immediately plugged it in and played the included game. My wife saw and asked, “Is that for Liam?” I hadn’t considered that, but now it sits under the tree as a present for the boys from 1982. Naturally, I’m including myself as one of the boys.
Minecraft
Every year, during Christmas break, I pick up Minecraft again to see what new things they introduced to the game. Sometimes, I also play it during other breaks and summer. A few years ago, I loaded the game full of mods and went nuts. Last year, I built out a massive farm in front of my dwelling. Stay tuned to see what happens this year.
The Verdict
Our 2024 look back at PC/console reads more like a wish list. That’s okay, though, because that’s what the holidays and end of the year are all about. So, in that spirit, Happy Christmas to you and yours. Can’t believe I’ve been talking to myself on the internet for over 10 years. Here’s to at least 10 more.
You know we like a nice round number around here. From Detective Comics and Action Comics 1000 to Spawn 300, all of those issues received special treatment from the 2 Generations Gaming crew. I thought I might miss The Incredible Hulk 800 because of a lapse in ordering from DCBS, but that fear was unfounded.
Instead, the book arrived with this month’s comics. Along with a couple of unexpected Ultimate marvel books, that gives me four different Marvel articles this month. Crazy how that all works out. But, a good problem to have.
The Incredible Hulk 800 Synopsis and Thoughts
Writer: Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Artist: Nic Klein
With Hulk incapacitated, Charlie faces off against the Eldest. Convinced of its superiority and that Hulk is sufficiently out, the Eldest taunts Charlie. As often happens in these showdowns, the Eldest overplays its hand. Charlie assumes the form of Lycanna and takes out the other skinwalkers. This gives Hulk the distraction necessary to break free. The Eldest will not take this lying down and now Banner will have to deal with the aftermath.
A cool, but slightly anticlimactic showdown between Hulk and the Eldest. I know it’s not done, but it all just happened so fast. Granted, PKJ spent the better part of the last few issues building up to this, so I forgive him for the quick conclusion to this particular part of the arc. Also, he telegraphed Charlie’s transformation some, but I applaud the effort. Nice touch. Besides, the conclusion provided just enough of a cliffhanger to keep me wanting more next time around. My verdict: Great.
The Other Stories
Greg Pak gives us a classic team up story with Cho and Hulk that leads to Banner again trying to convince Cho that he’s a monster through and through. Cho refuses to believe it. He vows to Hulk and Banner that they’ll never truly be alone. You all know that I love Greg Pak and his take on both Hulk and Cho. While typical of his stories, I think he wrote it to introduce new readers to Cho’s character and he succeeded in getting the main point across. My verdict: Good.
Then comes a She-Hulk story written by Torunn Gronbekk. I know what you all think I’m going to say here. A She-Hulk story without Rainbow Rowell? Why even bother? And, yes, I admit that was my first reaction. However, even though I never enjoyed Gronbekk’s Venom, I love her Catwoman and liked this version of She-Hulk very much. A supernatural story complete with slightly creepy little girl that retains all the fun that Rowell wrote into the title. My verdict: Good.
Finally, Benjamin Percy delivers a Red Hulk story. It gives us all of the anger and violence of the character as Ross infiltrates a terrorist cell and executes the leader. This gains the attention of Doom, who wishes to form an alliance with Ross. This all sets up for Planet Doom or whatever they plan for 2025. Of all the Hulks, I like Red the least. You probably surmised that from my synopsis. In any case, I liked this story fine. My verdict: Decent.
The Verdict
The Incredible Hulk 800 delivers on what we expect from milestone issues lately. A compelling continuation of the current story. Plus, a few mini stories of varying quality. I liked all of the ones in this issue.
