Fantasy Friday: Dungeons & Dragons: Total Party Killers #1

Dark Horse Comics released Dungeons & Dragons: Total Party Killers earlier this week. Here is the official summary:

"The wizard Custos has died, and his lair lies ripe for the taking! As adventurers raid the lair for treasure, the monsters enthralled by Custos in life must protect his domain even after his death. That is, unless the creatures can trick someone into releasing them! Thus, a lycanthrope, gelatinous cube, mind flayer, death knight, and baby beholder form their own adventuring party to win their freedom in a hostile world!"

Cover A of Dungeons & Dragons: Total Party Killers #1 from Dark Horse Comics

T-shirt Thursday: Catherine's Superman T-shirt

Catherine is a reader of Moongem Comics. She emailed me this picture of her in her Superman t-shirt. Thanks, Catherine, and I hope that you are having a super day.

Catherine's Superman T-shirt

 

Women Wednesday: What if...? Jessica Jones #1

Marvel released What If...? Jessica Jones #1 a few weeks ago. Here is the official summary:

"WHAT IF…JESSICA JONES WAS BITTEN BY THE RADIOACTIVE SPIDER? Teenage Super-Hero Sensation SPIDER-GIRL is retired. Surly and eternally miffed bartender JESSICA JONES wants nothing more than to leave that part of her life and the traumas that came with it firmly behind her. But when a ghost from her past comes back to haunt her, she finds herself unable to leave well enough alone. Has the GREEN GOBLIN returned? And if so, is an out-of-shape ex-super hero enough to stop him?"

Cover of What If...? Jessica Jones #1 from Marvel

Toy Tuesday: Funko Kinder Joy Stranger Things Demogorgon Zipper Clip

I picked up four more of the Funko Kinder Joy Stranger Things eggs a few weeks ago. The only new one I got was this Demogorgon zipper Clip. A lot of people of calling it a paperclip because of the flexible protuding clip sticking up out of the top. It makes a very poor paper clip and I'm not sure how well it actually works on a zipper. It can stand up on it's own and is only 1 1/2" tall.

Side A of Funko Kinder Joy Stranger Things VC275 Insert

Side B of Funko Kinder Joy Stranger Things VC275 Insert

Front of Funko Kinder Joy Stranger Things Demogorgon Zipper Clip

Back of Funko Kinder Joy Stranger Things Demogorgon Zipper Clip

Marvel Monday: Avengers: Doomsday Official Trailer

The official trailer for Marvel's Avengers: Doomsday is here:

Monster Monday: Absolute Green Arrow #3

DC Comics released Absolute Green Arrow #3 last week. Here is the official summary:

"DINAH ON THE TRAIL OF THE GREEN ARROW KILLER! After the horrifying events of last issue, Dinah must capture the Green Arrow Killer as she finally finds Oliver Queen’s protege Roy Harper. But as the killer’s attacks intensify and Dinah discovers the unsettling effect they’re having on Star City, Harper’s trail takes her on a journey darker and more twisted than she ever imagined."

Cover of Absolute Green Arrow #3 from DC Comics

Superhero Sunday: Space Ghost Annual #1

Dynamite released Space Ghost Annual #1 last week. Here is the official summary:

"An all-new SPACE GHOST ANNUAL is here! As Space Ghost and the Twins mourn their recent losses, they find themselves trying to stop a dangerous heist pulled by the master thief known as Magnus and his mysterious, reality-warping alien! Can they discover the deadly secret behind Magnus’s mind-bending crime spree before it’s too late, or will the enigmatic alien bring untold destruction to the galaxy? And can Space Ghost forgive himself before the next deadly menace arrives to threaten the galaxy?"

Cover of Space Ghost Annual #1 from Dynamite Comics

Update on Moongem Comics

There's a reason why Moongem Comics was not updated much this past week. I've been dealing with a bout of stomach flu since last Tuesday (no, it's not the lettuce flu). I slept the better part of three days away. I'm still not one hundred percent better. I was also still dealing with network adapter issues. I'm not totally sure that issue is not totally solved either and I can't afford a new computer. I'm hoping to get some posts in for next week.

Monster Monday: Vampyrates #1

Boom released Vampyrates #1 last week. Here is the official summary:

"Through the darkness of the thousand-year eclipse they sail, seeking adventure, treasure — and blood! In a world ruled by vampires, Empress Nira of the Night Isles has always cared more for sword-fighting and carousing than ruling. But when she escapes a vicious coup by stowing aboard VMS Abyss, a pirate ship run by the mysterious Captain Akeyo, she gets more than she can handle of both. She must rise through the ranks of the Vampyrates from lowly swab to queen of the Sea of Night — so the oceans will run red with her vengeance! "

Cover of Vampyrates #1 from Book

Marvel Comics Heroes Playing Cards Spades Edition

Finally, the spades from the Marvel Comics Heroes playing cards features Hulk, Punisher, Doctor Strange, Thor, Black Panther, Iron Fist, Daredevil, Lockjaw (from the Inhumans), Iron Man, Black Widow (two cards), Spider-Man and Captain America. Black Widow is the only woman that got two cards in this deck. Seeing a card with Lockjaw makes me want a deck of playing cards devoted just to the Inhumans.

Marvel Comics Heroes Playing Cards Ace to Nine

Marvel Comics Heroes Playing Cards Ten to King

Marvel Comics Heroes Playing Cards Hearts Edition

The hearts from the Marvel Comics Heroes playing cards include Thor, Spider-Man, Medusa (from the Inhumans), Doctor Strange, Hawkeye, Falcon (two cards), Ghost Rider, Captain America (two cards), Luke Cage, Hulk and Black Widow. Seems unfair to the two women that Falcon and Captain America have two cards each while they only get one card each. To be honest, hearts should have had more cards with women on them. Come to think of it, the backs of the playing cards should have had at least one woman included (Black Widow gets my vote).

Marvel Comics Heroes Playing Cards Ace to Nine

Marvel Comics Heroes Playing Cards Ten to King

Marvel Comics Heroes Playing Cards Diamonds Edition

The diamonds from the Marvel Comics PLaying Cards features Spider-Man (two cards), Hawkeye, Iron Man, Luke Cage, Karnak, Nova, Hulk, She-Hulk, Falcon, Black Bolt, Spider-Woman and Thor. I was surprised to see two of the Inhumans, Karnak and Black Bolt, included (shame that Medusa wasn't).

Marvel Comics Heroes Playing Cards Diamonds Ace to Nine

Marvel Comics Heroes Playing Cards Diamonds Ten to King

Marvel Comics Heroes Playing Cards Clubs Edition

The clubs from the Marvel Comics Heroes playing cards features Iron Man, Black Widow, Ghost Rider (two cards), Hawkeye, Spider-Woman, She-Hulk, Captain America, Luke Cage, Nova, Falcon, Daredevil and Hulk

Marvel Comics Heroes Playing Cards Clubs Ace to NIne

Marvel Comics Heroes Playing Cards Clubs Ten to King

Marvel Comics Heroes Playing Cards Box and Jokers

I picked up a deck of Marvel Comics Heroes playing cards a few weeks ago. The front of the box features Hulk, Spider-Man, Luke Cage, Iron Man and Captain America.

Front of Marvel Comics Heroes Playing Cards

The back of the box shows Captain America on the eight of hearts, Hulk on the king of spades plus the back of a card.

Back of Marvel Comics Heroes Playing Cards

Iron Fist is the black joker while Black Panther is the red joker (odd choices there).

Jokers from Marvel Comics Heroes Playing Cards

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.

Monster Monday: The Deadman #1

DC Comics released The Deadman last week. Here is the official summary:

"The Deadman enters the Next Level! In the millisecond following his murder, the soul of shifty circus aerialist Boston Brand was commandeered by the goddess Rama Kushna, who deputized the erstwhile performer’s ghost with a sacred spectral assignment: the Custodian of All Souls! Now Brand floats — begrudgingly — through this bluegreen purgatory we call Earth, upholding the Laws of Spiritual Math and protecting humanity from evil — even if they can’t see or hear him. Open up to this new era of DC’s most lively deceased superhero — the Deadman — in a story about life, death, and everything in between… replete with paranormal activity, possessions, and a profusion of other poignant peculiarities."

Cover of The Deadman #1 from DC Comics

Superhero Sunday: Batman #10

DC Comics released Batman #10 last week. Here is the official summary:

"ONE DARK NIGHT CAN’T KEEP THE BATMAN DOWN! The GCPD’s Operation Peregine struck a deep blow to the heart of the Bat-Family. But while Savage and his TUCOs celebrate their victory, Batman is about to set the record straight. He knows how to take a punch. He knows how to get back up. And he’s about to show Vandal Savage, the Minotaur, and anyone else who threatens Gotham City exactly what they’re messing with. Superstars Matt Fraction and Jorge Jiménez continue their triumphant run with the best character in comics!"

Cover of Batman #10 from DC Comics

Gotham police officer James Gordon and Commissioner Vandal Savage eye each other:

Page 5 of Batman #10 from DC Comics