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Theron Reads Comics @theronscomics.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

Kid Reaper...What. The. F...?

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Reposted by Theron Reads Comics

Theron Reads Comics @theronscomics.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

Quasar being whipped 39 times is likely a reference to ancient Jewish tradition. Deuteronomy 25:3 commanded that a judge not impose more than 40 lashes. It became tradition to only whip someone 39 times so as to avoid breaking the law. Also, some weird, dark, almost funny defiance from Quasar.

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Theron Reads Comics @theronscomics.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

A talk with Quasar's dead father. Maybe part of Eon's energy. Maybe not. Either way, the two of them resolve their issues.

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Theron Reads Comics @theronscomics.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

Quasar's friends were captured in the previous issue. One of them is actually Moondragon.

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Theron Reads Comics @theronscomics.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

Quasar was pretty convinced there was nothing beyond death in the previous issue. Is there? Isn't there? Gruenwald certainly runinates on the idea in this issue. This is a nice "only people who have done it truly know" type conversation. Also, hints of the upcoming Infinity Gauntlet.

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Reposted by Theron Reads Comics

Theron Reads Comics @theronscomics.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

This isn't weird, gruesome, and vaguely sexual all at once. No, it definitely isn't.

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Reposted by Theron Reads Comics

Theron Reads Comics @theronscomics.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

Deathurge was created by Mark Gruenwald, Ralph Macchio, and Ron Wilson. Who and what he is is very vague. At times, he seems to work for Maelstrom, but it's more for Deathurge's own purposes. He once served Oblivion, who factors into Maelstrom's story here. Also, he is a special kind of cruel.

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Theron Reads Comics @theronscomics.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

This page is one of my favorite examples of good lettering. It's not flashy. But Chiang makes this insanely long internal monologue flow organically. Your eye tracks it effortlessly, like the gentle curves of a slow-moving river. And it carefully avoids the most detailed portions of Capullo's art.

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Theron Reads Comics @theronscomics.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

The prologue just keeps prologue-ing.

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Theron Reads Comics @theronscomics.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

Quasar #22 Holy $#!+ this is a dark comic. Just...so very dark. And the first issue of Quasar I ever read. As a kid. Which, when you see what's in it, is kind of crazy. The cover sure ain't lying. #MorningComics

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Theron Reads Comics @theronscomics.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

What is good, everybody! Say it ain't so, Lois! One of several covers Quesada did for the Eclipso: The Darkness Within crossover. #ShakeYourCLZ

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Theron Reads Comics @theronscomics.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

I think you've discovered a new emotional spectrum.

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Theron Reads Comics @theronscomics.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

Whether that's a result of him not being paired well with inkers and colorists or simply a change in his own style, I won't claim to know for sure. For my money, it's the latter. From my first exposure to his art in the 90s, I have found my appreciation for it steadily diminshing over time. 2/2

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Theron Reads Comics @theronscomics.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

I'm not going to speak to legacy while he's still working. For me, I think his ability to create character expression both through facial details and body language and thus convey emotion has deteriorated. 1/

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Theron Reads Comics @theronscomics.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

I am not a fan of it for #1000. I do think the ink and color treatment is very interesting. You don't often see a painted type look with JRjr penciled stuff. But to listen to it, you'd think this one cover was making or breaking his legacy.

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Theron Reads Comics @theronscomics.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

The JRjr cover discourse is such a fantastic example of social media's inability to have nuance.

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Theron Reads Comics @theronscomics.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

I know! I had to dig deep to find this one. Pretty obscure.

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Theron Reads Comics @theronscomics.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

30 Days of Favorite Splash Pages Superman #75

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Theron Reads Comics @theronscomics.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

I think Savage Avengers was the first of your work I came upon (that or your Fantastic Four issues). Amazing series. I definitely spent some time hoping the stars would align and another run might happen.

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Theron Reads Comics @theronscomics.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

And I'd argue they find perfect consumers in people who are envious of things others achieve and want to bullshit their way to that position...hence AI generated "art."

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Theron Reads Comics @theronscomics.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

It's the weekend, so I'll do a thing.

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Theron Reads Comics @theronscomics.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

Best Marvel run atm I'd say either Fantastic Four or the repeatedly relaunching MacKay Moon Knight runs. North's take on Fantastic Four makes good use of the family dynamic and is very creative with the plots. Moon Knight is very character oriented.

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Theron Reads Comics @theronscomics.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

On that count I think we're agreeing but using different language. The editors picked the destination that they personally wanted, seemingly because they preferred the Spider-Man they grew up with, and smashed a square peg into a round hole until they got to that destination.

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Theron Reads Comics @theronscomics.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

It was a flawed idea to begin with, the execution was a disaster, and it's become a constant reminder that the book isn't as good as it used to be. 3/3

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Theron Reads Comics @theronscomics.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

The current situation is a constant, 20 year reminder that they are better written together than apart. And now it just seems to have turned into a selfish refusal to change because the architects behind it don't want to be proven wrong. 2/

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Theron Reads Comics @theronscomics.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

I'm definitely not arguing with you on whether or not that premise was bad. But looking at it from the POV that Quesada & co were gonna do it anyway, I think just think it could only have worked one way. 1/

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Theron Reads Comics @theronscomics.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

Lol. I haven't been looking yet. The last time I picked up variant covers was way back with ASM #800, and I swore I'd never spend extra on variants again. So much for that.

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Theron Reads Comics @theronscomics.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

Every interaction the characters have is a reminder that they were undeniably better as a couple (and MJ was written much better back then). I think her permanent absence would also have solved the supporting cast issue by forcing writers to create a different dynamic for Peter's civilian life. 2/2

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Theron Reads Comics @theronscomics.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

The bias is certainly correct. The will they/won't they is always a trainwreck because it emphasizes how non-organic their separation is. I'm pro-marriage, but I've always contended that if the goal was a single Peter, MJ had to be permanently removed from the series. 1/

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Theron Reads Comics @theronscomics.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

It's made even stranger by the fact (or at least strong suggestion) that Spider-Man is currently made by people obsessed with the pre-marriage status quo they preferred. Even in that case, Peter had a hell of a supporting cast. It's just bizarre. 2/2

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Theron Reads Comics @theronscomics.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

It's hard to push back on your argument because it's been pretty true since OMD. The weird thing is, though, it isn't logical. Removing MJ affects Peter, but shouldn't impact whether other friends and coworkers exist (and they often seem not to). 1/

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Theron Reads Comics @theronscomics.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

I think in that case, I agree with your point about the May obsession. But I think MJ's absence is not the sole reason. Peter has no supporting cast left that he can express any emotion with. Kelly has jettisoned what little was left of it (and made it a joke in the process). It's May or bust.

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Theron Reads Comics @theronscomics.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

In recent years, this has been going on since Beyond (though in that case, it was May *and* Ben). Ben Reilly lost those memories and suddenly became incapable of being a good guy (despite all the memories he would have retained of doing good and being good).

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Theron Reads Comics @theronscomics.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

I'm not really a fan of either cover. They feel like they could be any ol' issue. If I decide to pick up Amazing Spider-Man #1000, I'm definitely going to be hunting for a different variant.

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Theron Reads Comics @theronscomics.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

I'm currently talking about a somewhat bizarre Quasar arc he wrote. Body parts get chopped off. It's really fun.

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Theron Reads Comics @theronscomics.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

That's what I hear from a lot of my long-time DC fan friends.

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Theron Reads Comics @theronscomics.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

Mad Cave has such consistent good quality. I review as many of their first issues as I can, and there have been very, very few that I thought were misses.

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Theron Reads Comics @theronscomics.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

As someone who had never been much of a DC reader, I loved New 52. It was an easy way to check out new characters and get in on the ground floor. I picked up every #1 from that first batch.

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Theron Reads Comics @theronscomics.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

I have found in books and tv shows (not sure if this is workable in a comic because so many characters are probably unkillable) that I like it when someone you assume is destined to make it to the end is killed. Even if it's an arbitrary death. It sets a tone for me that *no one* is safe.

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Theron Reads Comics @theronscomics.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

Page of the Day Youngblood Strikefile #1

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Theron Reads Comics @theronscomics.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

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Theron Reads Comics @theronscomics.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

A talk with Quasar's dead father. Maybe part of Eon's energy. Maybe not. Either way, the two of them resolve their issues.

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Theron Reads Comics @theronscomics.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

Quasar's friends were captured in the previous issue. One of them is actually Moondragon.

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Theron Reads Comics @theronscomics.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

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Theron Reads Comics @theronscomics.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

This isn't weird, gruesome, and vaguely sexual all at once. No, it definitely isn't.

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