Archie Comics Celebrates America's 250th #1

Happy 250th Birthday, America! Archie Comics Celebrates America’s 250th #1 was released this week in time for the Fourth of July. There is a total of six covers with cover A featuring Betty, Archie, Veronica, Jughead and three other friends. Here is the official summary:

"America is celebrating its 250th birthday, and who better to ring in the occasion than the beacons of Americana — Archie Andrews and all his friends and family in Riverdale! Take a walk down memory lane (no, not THAT Memory Lane), as we revisit some of the best U.S. and U.S. history stories from Archie’s 85 years!"

Cover A of Archie Comics Celebrates America's 250th #1

Cover Gallery of Archie Comics Celebrates America's 250th #1

Fantasy Friday: Red Sonja Noir: The Plunder & The Princess #1

Dynamite released Red Sonja Noir: The Plunder & The Princess #1 this week. Here is the official summary:

"The crimson-maned warrior of song and legend muscles her way into trouble once more in this all-new tale of hard-boiled Hyboria! Red Sonja sells her services and attends a wedding on the island of Zaralina – an enclave for the rich and wealthy merchant class! Events soon take a turn for the dark and nefarious as she finds herself in the middle of wedding guests, thieves, wizards and…a dragon?!"

Cover Gallery of Red Sonja Noir: The Plunder & The Princess #1

Batman Playing Cards Spades Edition

Finally, we focus on the Spades from the Batman playing cards. Once again, the classic Batman and Detective Comics covers outnumber the Batman artwork cards. Cover characters include Batman, Robin, Joker and Catwoman. My second favorite artwork card features Batman with his cowl pull back and exposing his secret identity of Bruce Wayne.

Batman Playing Cards Spades Ace to Nine

Batman Playing Cards Spades Ten to King

Batman Playing Cards Hearts Edition

The Hearts from the Batman playing cards feature classic Batman and Detective Comics covers. I was surprised to see that they included the 3-D Batman comic cover. Characters features on the covers include Batman, Robin, Joker, Riddler and Catwoman. The covers actually outnumber the artwork cards featuring Batman in different poses.

Batman Playing Cards Hearts Ace to Nine

Batman Playing Cards Hearts Ten to King

Batman Playing Cards Diamonds Edition

Today's post spotlights the Diamonds from the Batman playing cards. The classic Batman and Detective Comics covers features Batman, Robin, Green Lantern, the Atom, Manhunter, Hawkman, Penguin, Riddler, Joker, Bat-Woman and Mr. Zero (renamed Mr. Freeze later). One of the Batman artwork cards features him piloting the Batcopter and has to be my favorite in the whole deck.

Batman Playing Cards Diamonds Ace to Nice

Batman Playing Cards Diamonds Ten to King

Note: Yes, I know that some of the cards are swapped in the Ace to Nine image. I didn't notice that until after I cropping the image.

Batman Playing Cards Clubs Edition

Here are the Club cards front the Batman playing cards. The classic comic covers features issues of Batman and Detective Comics that also feature Joker, Robin, Riddler, Penguin, Two-Face, Catwoman, Poison Ivy (see if you can spot her), Killer Moth (see if you can spot him too) and Ra's al Ghul.

Batman Playing Cards Clubs Ace to Nine

Batman Playing Cards Clubs Ten to King

Superhero Sunday: Batman Playing Cards Box and Jokers

I finally got my computer and Internet problems worked out. I spent most of today getting my printer and scanner up and running again. I picked up this deck of Batman playing cards a week or two ago at the local Dollar Tree. The background of the box has a lot of blue while the back of the cards has that same blue plus the Batman logo. If you look closely, then you might be able to make out some images in that blue background. I was surprised that both of the Joker cards did not feature the Joker. The black Joker card has the Joker while the red one has Two-Face. I'm not posting all the cards in one post and will be spreading them across several posts. The playing card images are a mix of comic covers and actual artwork. No artist or copyright date is known so these might be a few years old. They are nice addition to my Batman collection as well as my playing cards collection.

Front of Batman Playing Cards Box

Back of Batman Playing Cards Box

Jokers from Batman Playing Cards

Dark Shadows 60th Anniversary

Today is the 60th Anniversary of ABC's Dark Shadows:

Dark Shadows 60th Anniversary

Computer/Internet Poblems

 I'm currently having issues with my desktop computer and Internet. So far, I can only load Facebook (none of the games load), YouTube and Blogger. I can't load any Microsoft sites, Pluto TV, SuperCityGame and other sites due to connection timed out error. I've tried several "fixes" over a dozen times each by now and I'm very frustrated. I have reset my computer to factory settings, which didn't help and lost all my programs including my printer and scanner apps. Of course, I can't access Canon's app site due to the time out error. In the meantime, Moongem Comics will not be updated until I can get this settled. I can't afford a new desktop or laptop computer at the moment.

Toy Tuesday: Hot Wheels Quick Chat 2026 Black Edition

I also picked up this Hot Wheels Quick Chat 2026 Black Edition last Tuesday at the local Walmart's. This is based on the Fisher Price Chatter toy telephone with wheels from the 1960s and 1970s (I used to have one when I was a wee lad). The normal Hot Wheels version has the red telephone while this variant has a black one. This is #3 in the Mattel subset and #49 in the mainline series.

Hot Wheels Quick Chat 2026 Black Edition

Close up of Hot Wheels Quick Chat 2026 Black Edition

Monster Monday: Hot Wheels Monster High Ghoul Mobile 2026 Black Edition

I found this Hot Wheels Monster High Ghoul Mobile 2026 Black Edition at the local Walmart's last Tuesday. It's the same as the one that I picked up in February 2024. This one is #2 of the Mattel subset and #48 in the mainline series.

Hot Wheels Monster High Ghoul Mobile 2026 Black Edition

Close up of Hot Wheels Monster High Ghoul Mobile 2026 Black Edition

Breaking News: Dynamite to Collect DC's Elvira's House of Mystery Series

DC’s 1986 ELVIRA’S HOUSE OF MYSTERY to Be Collected for the First Time is exciting news for Mistress of the Dark fans. There will be two different covers: the paperback edition will feature the cover from the first issue (see below) while the hardback edition will have the cover from the eleventh issue that Dave Stevens did. The collection is set to be released in August of 2026. Here is the official summary:

"Elvira, everyone’s favorite Mistress of the Dark, first made a splash in comics in the 1986 series Elvira’s House of Mystery, originally published by DC Comics. Now, Dynamite collects this entire series for the very first time, with Elvira acting as hostess-with-the-mostest to these chilling tales of the macabre. This series includes eye-popping covers by Dave Stevens, Brian Bolland, Bill Sienkiewicz, and Denys Cowan, stories by legendary comics creators including Robert Kanigher and others, and more! Includes all eleven issues of Elvira’s House of Mystery plus the Elvira’s Haunted Holidays Special!"

Paperback Cover of DC's Elvira's House of Mystery Collection from Dynamite

What if...? Thor #1

Marvel Comics released What if...? Thor #1 yesterday. Here is the official summary:

"WHAT IF… THOR GOT SPIDER-MAN’S SYMBIOTE SUIT? Amid the chaos, there comes a costume — but not to the hero you know! Legend has it that bonding with the symbiote suit made Thor mightier still. But what shadows lurking in the Ten Realms would take interest in such a powerful pairing?"

Cover of What If...? Thor #1 from Marvel Comics

Throwback Thursday: Tarzan Beyond #1

Alien Books released Tarzan Beyond yesterday. Here is the official summary:

"The years have been kind to the lord of the Jungle and his faithful companion Jane. They’ve grown older, wiser, and carved out a peaceful existence after decades of adventuring. But not all good things are meant to last, as their world becomes threatened when the nefarious Blackbeard the Pirate and his crew lay siege to Tarzan’s homeland in search of the secrets of immortality! Can Tarzan return to his adventuring ways and save Jane and the rest of the world from Blackbeard’s crew?"

Cover of Tarzan Beyond #1 from Alien Books

This issue starts with nice little summaries of Tazan, Jane Porter and the various exotic races:

Page 1 of Tarzan Beyond #1 from Alien Books

Women Wednesday: Supergirl Your Help in Argo City

Shadows Over Argo is the first chapter of the new Children of Krypton event now going on at DC Universe Online. The living nightmare known as Kryb has taken control of the Atlanteans in Argo. The rulers of Atlantis have called Supergirl for aid. Join her and Krypto to battle Kryb, her army and even Dex-Starr.

Children of Krypton Chapter One: Shadows Over Argo

Supergirl in Children of Krypton Chapter One: Shadows Over Argo

Toy Tuesday: Toy Story 5 Cereal

I found all four boxes of the Toy Story 5 cereal at the local Walmart's last Saturday morning. There are four different boxes featuring Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Jessie and Jessie with Smarty Pants. The artwork is cool but I'm a little disappointed that the fronts and back feature the same artwork. I would have liked the backs to have games, trivia or information about the new characters.

Front of Toy Story 5 Cereal Boxes

Here are the sides of the boxes:

Sides of the Toy Story 5 Cereal Boxes

The cereal itself is vanilla flavored loops and is not bad.