This Week in Comics 2-19-25
My pull list for February 19, 2025 & Game Night!
This week I hoped would be a regular week, but I was still getting over whatever crud I had the week before. It ended up with me skipping out on a Tuesday game night in hopes that I would be better for the Wednesday game night I was hosting (GCB2Y3Y). I went to Curling in the morning and by the afternoon I was suffering from a sinus headache. Not sure if it had something to do with new glasses, something I ate, or the leftover bits from being sick.
For game night I had reserved my local pizza place’s back room for geocachers (and anyone interested) to come and play. I brought the games and set up a few then, let people pick what they wanted for the rest of the available titles. I knew there were going to be some kids there so I set up some quick and easy games for them to start with- ones I knew worked during my recess time as a teacher.
Oshi - Victory Conditions: Get seven points. You move pieces on the board horizontally or vertically and push the opponents pieces off the board.
Quadefy - Victory Conditions: be the last person to place a piece on the board. Two players are have the same number of pieces and build within the confines of a cube one piece at a time. Whoever can place the last playable piece wins.
Battle Sheep - Victory Conditions: Have the most pasture land covered by your sheep. Players start by placing pieces on the table to create a pasture. Therefore the board is different each time it is played. Next you place two stacks of your color sheep onto the edge of the board. When it is your turn you move your stack in a straight line leaving at least 1 sheep where you started. You go around the table until no one can move anymore sheep. Sheep not only take up a space, but also block movement through that hex.
Gobblet - Victory Conditions: Connect Four. Players put pieces of different sizes on the board to create a straight line. You can also move pieces. Oh, and larger pieces can “Gobble” smaller pieces.
Shut the Box - Victory Conditions: Shut all the flaps, covering the numbers. This is an oldie but a goodie. I actually have my grandmother’s copy, that I played as a kid. You roll two dice. Look at the row of numbers 1-9 and flip the cover on numbers that would equal the total. Example: I roll a 7. I can cover up 7, or 2 & 5, or 3 & 4, or 1 & 6. Once numbers are covered they can no longer be used. There are multiple ways of playing and this is one where the rules usually get changed. Two players might alternate turns, or one player plays it through and the next player tries to get more n umbers during their turn.
I wanted to play, but my head was killing me. I used adrenaline to help teach the kids present the games and then sat sipping on lemonade and chatting with everyone else playing. Some played Munchkin (which needs more that two people) other tried out “Melee & Wizard” from Steve Jackson’s The Fantasy Trip… Which I did not have character sheets to paper and pencil ready for them. The switched to learning Warhammer Quest.
We’ll be trying it again March 19th so hopefully I’ll be feeling better by then.
My Comics:
Flash Gordon #6 - Let’s See Flash and Robot Zarkov are with Ming and have landed at his secret Safe House. Unfortunately, we are talking about Ming the Merciless and he has a history of not being too trustworthy. We discover what has exactly happened to the plant Mongo after the “Unraveled” hit. For those who don’t remember Ming had this ultimate weapon pointed to Earth and in a lot ditch attempt to save Earth it ends up pointing at Mongo, and things happen. Remember the 1980’s film where Mongo’s kingdoms were pretty much all floating around a gravity well in space? Yup that about sums it up. Then Robot Zarkov goes a bit…
Titans #20 - Love is in the air… OK actually it’s Raven’s powers going a bit haywire with the help of the bad guy, hiding in the shadows. Will the Titans be able to save the day hopefully figure out what is going on?
Amazing Spider-Man #68 - I’m done trying to figure this out- it’s kind of like Gang War or whatever the arc with vampires in it… Does Peter get out of his funk and save the day? At what cost?
Doom Academy #1 - You know each company has their own unique universe changing all encompassing stories. With DC it was “Absolute Power” where Amanda Waller takes over the world. In Marvel it’s “One World Under Doom” in which Dr. Doom… well, takes over the world. It’s like the marketing guys from each company have lunch together before meeting with the writers to come up a big event. We’ve had Zombies, we’ve had Vampires, we’ve had… you name it with subtle changes, but pretty much the same story- one in the Marvel universe the other in the DC universe. Frankly neither universe does it well.
Dr. Doom is now the Sorcerer Supreme and therefore the Strange Academy has been moved to Latveria and some of the cast from Strange Academy are there to continue their studies. We learn some of the differences in how each school was run (think Hogwarts vs. Durmstrang). I’m curious as the mystery of two missing students unfolds- hopefully this won’t be another 8 Deaths of Spider-Man 🙄
Star Trek #29 - I’m always concerned with artwork shifts in comics. Many times that is the first subtle indication that the title is soon to be cancelled. In this case it may just be because of the story, but… I’ve warned you.
The Sisko has led Bajor into a golden age and now he attempts to gain entrance into the Wormhole (Celestial Temple) in the hopes that his universe- destroyed by Lore can be brought back. hmmm…
Ultimate Wolverine #2 - “I'm the best there is at what I do, but what I do best isn't very nice.” Wolverine (aka the Ultimate Universe’s Winter Soldier) is put to the test to see if he really is as good as his PR people say.
Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #3 - Spider-man finishes his fight with Silvermane’s thugs and goes on to make improvements to his gear in hopes that the rematch won’t go the same way. Also- Peter tries out for football at his new school. Lesson- don’t try to secretly use spider powers to get to class on time when the football coach is in the hallway. He also learns about who he’s up against has he tries to get Midtown High rebuilt- hint: Silvermane isn’t keen on that idea.
Oh man, I had no idea you were feeling bad! You’re a good actor. LOL Hopefully it has passed. We had a great time and are looking forward to 3/19!