Thursday, May 27, 2004

Daredevil – Born Again | Comics

Karen Page has sold out the secret identity of her former lover Matt Murdock and now Kingpin is hell-bent on destroying the life of Daredevil.

To pursue an acting career, Karen Page had left her job of secretary at Nelson & Murdock law offices. She did find success in Hollywood for a brief time but then reduced to be a porn star and a heroin junkie. Suffering from existential crisis and desperation, she hits the lowest point where she sells the secret identity of Daredevil for a shot of heroin.

This information eventually reaches to Wilson Fisk AKA Kingpin, who orders his assistant James Wesley to track down anyone who handled the information or even knows about it while he verifies its authenticity. The drug dealer whom Karen sold the secrets to is killed but she narrowly escaped with her life and heads back to New York City.

Matt Murdock wakes up in his own apartment completely unaware of these developments and then finds out that IRS has been auditing his tax files and froze his bank accounts. The next thing he knows is that he has been accused to bribe a witness for lying in a previous case and is testified by an honest to God cop, Lieutenant Nicholas Manolis.

Later at that night, he confronts Manolis as Daredevil in his house but instead of talking, the former attacked him and he leaves. Manolis then called Fisk and Matt learns of it from a little eavesdropping from the roof. Apparently, the guy has his son in hospital who needs immediate treatment and that is how he gets owned by the Kingpin.

Murdock's current girlfriend Glorianna O'Breen moved in to the apartment of his best friend and law partner Foggy Nelson after her house was vandalized. He is later called by Matt to work his case before the court hearing and he is prohibited to practice law.

daredevil born again marvel comics
Daredevil – Born Again | Comics

All of these incidents made Matt Murdock more depressed and then his apartment blows up right in front of him. His destroyed costume is the only thing from the wreckage that helped him piece together all the recent mishaps that took place in his life and it could only be an perfectly elaborated plan executed by his biggest rival; the Kingpin.

Investigative journalist Ben Urich of The Daily Bugle learns of the criminal charges brought against Matt and since his buddy refused to share his problem, he talks to his boss J. Jonah Jameson about Murdock's innocence and wants a piece to write on him.

Meanwhile, on the brink of his sanity, Mathew took a train to face the lord of crime once and for all to settle scores and get his life back. When Matt reached in his office, he engaged the Kingpin in a brutal beat down but got knocked over in the end only to later find himself strapped in a stolen taxi cab, drowning in the East River.

He struggles his way back to Hell's Kitchen and finds his way to his father's gym, where he finally collapses from exhaustion and is found by Sister Maggie, who also happens to be his mother. She took her to the local church and nursed him back to health.

In Mexico, Karen desperately tries to get back to New York to warn Matt about her betrayal and hitched a ride with a pervert named Paulo Scorcese, who saved her from the assassins Kingpin sent to kill her and took sexual favors in exchange.

Manolis opens up to Ben Urich about his involvement in framing Matt Murdock when his son died after surgery, which caused him to end up in a hospital bed and Ben to break his hand by one of Fisk's employee. When Manolis tries to reach Urich again, he was strangled to death as Ben was on line, goading him into continue his investigation.

After getting back to his feet, Matt starts preparing him again for getting back to vigilantism to reclaim his life. Kingpin got worried and hired a deranged psychopath to pose as Daredevil and kill Nelson. Then he released an unstable super soldier Nuke on Hell's Kitchen which caused Captain America and The Avengers to interfere.

daredevil costume matt murdock marvel comics
The Devil You Know

For more information on Daredevil – Born Again storyline, you can check out these links below.

Daredevil – Born Again (Comics) Wikipedia

Daredevil – Born Again (Comics) Marvel Wikia

Here is your links to buy “Daredevil – Born Again" from Marvel Comics in issues on Amazon.

Daredevil 226

Daredevil 227

Daredevil 228

Daredevil 229

Daredevil 230

Daredevil 231

Daredevil 232

Daredevil 233

Here is your links to buy “Daredevil – Born Again" from Marvel Comics on Amazon.

Daredevil – Born Again (Softcover)

Daredevil – Born Again (Hardcover)

During his long run on the first volume of Daredevil monthly ongoing series, writer Frank Miller (The Dark Knight Returns, The Dark Knight Strikes Again) came up with the idea of "Born Again" storyline, which he worked with artist David Mazzucchelli (Batman – Year One, Superman and Batman – World's Funnest) from issues #226-233.

When the story was later reprinted into a graphic novel, it became a phenomenon in comic-book history as well as one of the best stories written on the blind superhero so far. Moving aside from typical fighting with super villains, the plotline uses a variety of Christian symbolism and portrays the rise and fall of Matt Murdock in rough situations.

daredevil vs nuke marvel comics
God and Country

This best-seller book from Marvel Comics has later served as source material for Season 3 of Marvel's Daredevil web television series on Netflix in 2018, where Wilson Fisk uses the information of Daredevil's secret identity against him to destroy his career, reputation, social life and threatened his friends.

Supporting characters like Felix Manning, James Wesley, Melvin Potter and Sister Maggie showed up throughout the arc and a super-villain named Nuke made his debut within the plot. Reference of events regarding Karen Page from this story will be brought up later in "Guardian Devil" storyline and will add more depth to that.
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Wednesday, May 12, 2004

Parallax | Comics

Signifying the living embodiment of fear, Parallax is a demonic entity who exists from the very beginning of time. Not only the parasitic creature can sense fear in any living organism and can control individuals with fear, it is able to ruin entire civilizations by creating massive paranoia among the populace.

parallax dc comics
Parallax | Comics

On Maltus, the homeworld of the Guardians of the Universe, Parallax was conserved ages ago and then he was taken from there and the Guardians locked him up with the energy of willpower in the Central Power Battery on Oa. Lying dormant within the Power Battery for over a billion years, Parallax waited for the right time for his release.

For the greater good, its existence was kept a secret to everyone and it weakened the green power rings against the color yellow. Because of this particular reason, the being is also referred as "The Yellow Impurity" of the green rings and the Guardians were more selective while recruiting new members for Green Lantern Corps; looking for great willpower among them to master the ring against yellow.

Then along came Sinestro, who gone from a Green Lantern to an enemy of the Corps. His imprisonment inside the Oan Battery awakens Parallax and the parasite took over Hal Jordan. However, Jordan was eventually able to break free of its influence and reborn afterwards (Green Lantern – Rebirth) as well as the creature itself. Later Green Lantern Kyle Rayner also become Parallax's host during Sinestro Corps War and joined the newly formed Corps as a herald of Anti-Monitor.

For more information on Parallax comics series, you can check out these links below.

Parallax (Comics) Wikipedia

Parallax (Comics) DC Wikia

parallax dc universe
The Living Fear

Here is your links for "Parallax" comics from DC Comics.

Green Lantern – Emerald Twilight

Green Lantern – Emerald Twilight, New Dawn

Zero Hour – Crises In Time

The Final Night

Green Lantern – Rebirth (Softcover)

Green Lantern – Rebirth (Hardcover)

Absolute Green Lantern – Rebirth

Green Lantern – The Sinestro Corps Wars Vol 01

Green Lantern – Tales of the Sinestro Corps

Green Lantern – The Sinestro Corps Wars Vol 02

Absolute Green Lantern – The Sinestro Corps Wars

Green Lantern – Blackest Night

Green Lantern – Brightest Day


Green Lantern – War of the Green Lanterns

Considered as one of the most feared enemy in DC ComicsGreen Lantern mythology, Parallax implicates the personification of fear, which was created by Ron Marz, Darryl Banks, Geoff Johns (52, Infinite Crisis) and Ethan Van Sciver (The Flash – Rebirth, Impulse) in 1994. Although the creature was first introduced on the pages of Green Lantern issue #50 of the third monthly ongoing volume, Parallax’s detailed backstory was first shown to the "Agent Orange" storyline.

green lantern parallax
Kyle Rayner Becomes Parallax

Following that, Parallax reborn in Blackest Night, continued its rampage by possessing The Flash in Brightest Day and later ascending on War of the Green Lanterns. Aside from his solo misadventures in many comic books, it became a part of the Sinestro Corps as well aside several other villains holding vendetta against the Green Lantern Corps. The villain also was the major antagonist in the 2011 live-action Green Lantern movie starring Ryan Reynolds.
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Monday, April 26, 2004

Bane | Comics

A tactical genius with extensive combat expertise and sheer brute force at his disposal as a result of a super-steroid called Venom; Bane is one of the most formidable foes who Batman has ever came across in his crime-fighting career. Grown into harsh surroundings of Peña Duro prison in Santa Prisca, he was a being born and molded by darkness that feared nothing.

He was subjected to an experimental drug known as Venom and not only did he survived, he became insanely strong. Bane is a unique combination of brains with brawns, which makes him deadlier than most of The Dark Knight's other enemies.

Vengeance of Bane
Most of his early years from childhood were spent within the walls of Peña Duro prison of Santa Prisca. He was serving prison time off his father's life sentence along with his mother until the day she died. Young Bane witnessed his mother being thrown off to shark-infested waters around that prison as her funeral by prison guards.

The boy started developing both mentally and physically by reading a lot of books and working out at gym. He committed his first murder at the age of eight and gained respect from his fellow inmates very soon.

Growing up, he earned loyal companionship of Bird, Trogg and a physician named Zombie, who recognized potential of his strength and intelligence. He grew quite a reputation around Peña Duro that even their warden became concerned and placed him put him in solitary confinement for a decade.

Yet he didn't break and then a scientific research team took him as their test subject to run experiments on him. Though no has survived the process before, Bane came out alive and stronger with an addictive super-steroid Venom in his system.

bane dc comics
Bane | Comics

Broken Bat
With a desire to conquer Gotham City and destroy its protector Batman, he escaped Peña Duro with several of his friends. He heard stories about The Dark Knight and how Gotham was ruled by his fear among criminals. He engaged in a brawl with menacing villain Killer Croc and defeated him to test his strength.

His duel with Croc left the latter with two broken arms. Then to test his opponent, he doused The Riddler with Venom and turning him into a hulking version of himself to become both physical and mental challenge for Batman.

In his attempt to keep his target occupied, he then released the maniacs like Joker, Scarecrow, Mad Hatter, Ventriloquist, Firefly, Two-Face and Zsasz from Arkham Asylum, which took Batman months to round up.

When he found Robin trying to follow him, he captured the boy wonder but a surprising intervention from Killer Croc seeking vengeance on Bane saved him. Finally he got into Wayne Manor after figuring out his secret identity and literally broke Batman's back to usher Knightfall by leaving him paraplegic.

Knightquest
Right after he took down The Dark Knight, Bane took care of major gangs in Gotham and even offered Catwoman to join, which she refused. Soon, he realized that there was another Batman in town and sends his men to check out who that is.

In Bruce Wayne's absence, Jean-Paul Valley has taken the mantle and found Bane but their fight was interrupted. Pumping venom into his system, he confronted Jean-Paul who came wearing an armored Batsuit. They struggled with each other for some time, only for the former to be defeated and getting captured before being taken away to Blackgate Penitentiary.

Legacy
For several months, he remained catatonic in Blackgate until the night Bruce Wayne finally recovered and returned as Batman. He recovered his addiction to Venom, served his time and then left Gotham looking for his father. According to a lead from the priest of Peña Duro, Bane went Rome searching but met with Talia al Ghul instead, who introduced him to her father Ra's al Ghul.

The international eco-terrorist was so impressed with his talents that he even chose to make him as his heir. They launched an outbreak of Apocalypse Virus on Gotham and he had a rematch with Batman, who came out victorious this time.

Infinite Crisis
Years after, Bane returned to Santa Prisca to find out a new variation of Venom is now being distributed to public. After destroying everyone and everything related to the drug, he came to know that its formula was taken from a strength enhancing pill called Miraclo, created by chemist Rex Tyler who was the original Hourman and a member of both Justice Society of America and All-Star Squadron. When the battle of Metropolis broke in, he was there with other villains and killed Judomaster by breaking his back with his signature move.

One Year Later
When the crisis on Earth was finally over, he came looking for Rex Tyler for his involvement in creation of Miraclo, which then led to the making of Venom. As he broke in and starts manhandling Rex, his son Rick Tyler arrives to the scene after seeing Bane coming after his father in time vision.

He claimed that he was forcibly hooked on with Venom once again by Santa Prisca mob and is sent after Rex Tyler's formula. When he was completely assured of having no documents of that formula exists anywhere, he making on the father-son duo.

For more information on Bane comics series, you can check out these links below.

Bane (Comics) Wikipedia

Bane (Comics) DC Wikia

bane vs rick tyler hourman battle
The Hourman Connection

Here is your links to buy "Bane” comics from DC Comics on Amazon.

Batman – Bane

Batman Vs. Bane

Batman – Knightfall Vol 01 – Broken Bat

Batman – Knightfall Vol 02 – Knightquest

Batman – Legacy

Batman – No Man's Land Vol 03

Infinite Crisis

Infinite Crisis Companion

JLA – Salvation Run

Secret Six Vol 01 – Villains United

Secret Six – The Darkest House

Secret Six Vol 02 – Money and Murder

Secret Six Vol 03 – Cat's Cradle

Secret Six Vol 04 – Caution to the Wind

Secret Six – Depths

Secret Six – The Reptile Brain

Breaking his way into the fictional world of DC Universe in 1993, Bane was created by writer Chuck Dixon (Batgirl – Year One, Birds of Prey) and Doug Moench (Batman & Dracula – Red Rain, Batman Vs. Predator II – Bloodmatch) with artist Graham Nolan (The Joker – Devil's Advocate, The Phantom).

Though much of his back-story remains unclear to audience and his foes, he became a very prominent character after he literally "Broke the Bat" in his debut story-arc Knightfall and this infamous act is depicted in various other medias like Batman – Arkham series of video games and several other animated TV Shows over years. This has become a signature-move for him and he actually repeated this act with few other characters as well.

bane dark knight rises
Bane of Evil

Even in the live-action Batman film The Dark Knight Rises (2012), actor Tom Hardy played Bane's character and staged this infamous act on screen. After that, mainstream media became aware of his ruthlessness and soon this character has been stepping out of comic-book pages too often than he used to.

When "Flashpoint" crossover event has introduced The New 52 timeline, Bane also re-emerged with a brand-new origin story that is quite similar to the post-crisis era but also picked up many other characters to develop more depth in his role. It delved deeper into his past after DC Rebirth shook things up for Prime Earth and a darker back-story was unfolded.
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Tuesday, April 20, 2004

Apocalypse | Comics

Born and abandoned at birth, the freakish gray-skinned boy En Sabah Nur was found and taken by Baal, leader of a nomadic group called the Sandstormers with them. He was raised by them in the unforgiving desert with “Survival of the Fittest” philosophy and this idea had shaped his morals as he grew up to be the one he is today.

apocalypse x men
Apocalypse | Comics

His entire clan was captured by the Grand Vizier Ozymandias and he ended up being killed for rebellion. It was the first time when his mutant power was discovered when he was revived by it. He forced the then ruling Egyptian Pharaoh Rama-Tut to retreat and turned Ozymandias as his slave in a stone-like form. Thus the new era of "The First One" has begun.

Over the century-wide period of time, he appeared in various civilizations, being worshiped by many cultures as Death-God, died and re-generated but he focused on conquering world. He got his hands on an abandoned spaceship of the Celestials and the key to unlock its technology becomes his obsession. He eventually finds it in time-traveling mutant Cable which follows to a fatal consequence for him. Nur resurfaced again in the modern century and was opposed by X-Factor and X-Men.

In time, he recruited Angel, Gambit and Wolverine as Horsemen of Death. Once he also abducted Hulk to be Horseman War. Namor, the Submariner has battled him on one occasion and following his choosing of "The Twelve" met his untimely demise. During "World War Hate" he manifested through Evan Sabahnur and fought The Avengers.

For more information on Apocalypse comics series, you can check out these links below.

Apocalypse (Comics) Wikipedia

Apocalypse (Comics) Marvel Wikia

x men apocalypse
Survival of The Fittest

Here is your links for "Apocalypse" comics from Marvel Comics.

The Rise of Apocalypse

X-Men – Apocalypse/Dracula

Essential X-Factor Vol 01

Essential X-Factor Vol 02

The Evolutionary War

X-Men – Books of Askani

Wolverine – The Jungle Adventure

X-Men – The Fall of the Mutants (Softcover)

X-Men – The Fall of the Mutants (Hardcover)

X-Men – Wrath of Apocalypse

X-Men – X-Cutioner's Song

X-Men – Age of Apocalypse Prelude

X-Men – Legionquest

X-Men – Dawn of The Age of Apocalypse

X-Calibre

X-Men – Age of Apocalypse – The Complete Epic Book 01

X-Men – Age of Apocalypse – The Complete Epic Book 02

X-Men – Age of Apocalypse – The Complete Epic Book 03

X-Men – Age of Apocalypse – The Complete Epic Book 04

X-Men – The Age of Apocalypse Omnibus

X-Men – Age of Apocalypse Omnibus Companion

X-Men vs. Apocalypse Vol 01 – The Twelve

X-Men vs. Apocalypse Vol 02 – Ages of Apocalypse

X-Men – The Blood of Apocalypse

Uncanny X-Force – The Apocalypse Solution

Uncanny X-Force – The Dark Angel Saga, Book 01

Uncanny X-Force – The Dark Angel Saga, Book 02

Uncanny Avengers – The Apocalypse Twins

Avengers & X-Men – Axis (Softcover)

Avengers & X-Men – Axis (Hardcover)

One of the most powerful super-villains of the comic-book world, Apocalypse is a Marvel Comics character who mostly appears to the X-Titles frequently released by the company. Created by writer Louise Simonson and artist Jackson Guice, Apocalypse was first introduced in the 5th issue from the first monthly ongoing volume of X-Factor in 1986.

apocalypse marvel comics
Apocalypse Upon Avengers

Since then he became an arch-enemy for the mutant superhero teams, making appearances in crossover events like Fall of the Mutants, The Evolutionary War, X-Cutioner's Song, Age of Apocalypse, Onslaught Saga and The Twelve as the character has since evolved into an asset of the publication. Apocalypse had previously appeared in a few animated TV Series and in 2016, he’s about to debut in the cinema with the release of “X-Men – Apocalypse” with Oscar Isaac portraying him.
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