Comics Review Warlock by Jim Starlin Gallery Edition

 

And I thought that Doctor Strange trade (5-11-26) I read recently was trippy. 70’s Marvel was far out, man. (I’ve looked for a Howard the Duck trade, but haven’t found one. That might be too much for me and I even grew up in the 70’s.)

I’m a little surprised I bought this. Big, oversized hardbacks are neat, but I haven’t had room for them and they seem like a waste of money, unless you really want the material and can’t get it in a cheaper format. I do have the room for them now. Thanks to throwing out a couple of old, analogue TV’s and some other stuff, I cleared out a shelf where I could put big stuff like this. I also got a small book shelf that was being tossed out at work, so I finally have a top shelf to display my samurai sword and some other nice items, and a bunch more space for some of my books that were piling up. (Actually, I’ve been on a spending spree since opening up this space. I need help.)

Size comparison.  More Thanos in the Legion of Superheroes in an upcoming review.  (Just kidding.  It's Darkseid, who actually inspired Thanos' creation.)

I’d gone to Zia Comics looking for the third issue of the Moonstar series (5-15-26) and came up empty, since I’d gone on Friday instead of Wednesday when the comic came out. (I didn’t imagine it would be that popular.) I went looking around the trade paperback section. I was about to buy a 90’s Captain America trade (which I ended up buying later anyway), when I found this Warlock volume. With their 25% discount on this $50 volume, I decided it was within my price range.

Jim Starlin is the Cosmic Guy at Marvel. He didn’t create Warlock or Captain Marvel (Mar-vell, not Carol Danvers), but he definitively put the cosmic stamp on them. Starlin did create Metamorphosis Odyssey (not the TSR RPG, Metamorphosis Alpha) and its sequel, Dreadstar, originally for Marvel’s Epic imprint and then to other publishers. All of these characters are distinct, but seem to recycle certain concepts.

I read all of Dreadstar. After reading Warlock, I can see where it came from. I’ve only read The Death of Captain Marvel graphic novel about when it came out in the 80’s, which probably wasn’t the best way to be introduced to the character. It wasn’t the epic adventure I was looking for at the time. I found out later that this was written about Starlin’s father’s death from cancer. It’s also one of the very few comic book deaths that has been permanent. Warlock and Captain Marvel do share a common arch-villain in Thanos.

In spite of Captain Marvel and Warlock’s cool-looking appearances and outer space setting, neither character caught on with most comic book readers. I’m not familiar with Captain Marvel’s adventures other than he did Hostess treat ads and was paired up with Rick Jones. (Jones is Marvel’s version of “The World’s Most Interesting Man.” He’s also been partnered with the Hulk and Captain America and, recently, Luna Snow (5-15-26).  Captain Marvel has pretty much only been remembered for dying.

Warlock, on the other hand, with his angst and metaphysical concepts, became something of a cult classic. His short run has been reprinted multiple times. It’s entirely relevant to today’s comics. If you like the various series and MCU films featuring the Infinity Stones, this is where it starts.

Warlock has a complicated origin. The first issue reprinted in this volume recounts it over the course of four pages. Confusingly, it’s not really relevant to what follows, but Starlin is aware of it when he begins chronicling the character. Suffice it to say, Adam Warlock is a powerful entity trying to find himself and a just cause to champion.

Suddenly, an unnamed space girl shows up asking for his help. What a great coincidence for this unmotivated superhero. If there’s a comic book series that deserved a gallery treatment, it’s this one. Starlin’s artwork is absolutely majestic in this enlarged treatment. I wish you could see this in person to really get the scale.

The girl is killed by her pursuers before she can explain herself. Adam uses the Soul Gem implanted in his forehead to bring her enough back to life, so that the girl can tell her tale. She’s on the run from the Universal Church that has enslaved a multitude of worlds. The power behind the Church is a creature named, The Magnus. Speaking his name is enough to summon him and Adam is assaulted. Magnus then drops the revelation that he and Warlock are “the same being!” Adam resolves to stop him.

Well, that’s issue one of the Starlin era of Warlock. Obviously, this is going to be quite a ride. We can see the easy parallel with Dreadstar, who was fighting the Instrumentality Church.  I’m not going to get into Starlin’s psychology with this, because I don’t know him. The Church’s, Lord High Papal, was also sort of Thanos-like in his looks.

With that declaration of war, Warlock ends up getting captured on a slave ship. Adam meets his soon-to-be friend, Pip the Troll. The self-serving creature is an unlikely companion for the champion of justice, but he’s necessary comedy-relief. The prisoners want Warlock to lead a rebellion, but he refuses, only to be forced to into conflict by their revolt anyway, when the crew threatens to gas them all.

Adam ends up in personal conflict with the warden, but is overmatched. In a panic, he unleashes his Soul Gem and it absorbs his opponent’s soul. Worse, Adam gets to experience the warden’s entire life by consuming him. He realizes the Gem has a will of its own. I haven’t read any of Moorcock’s Elric, but I know of it and the parallels are again obvious.

Grimmer than ever, Warlock frees the prisoners and escapes with Pip in tow to head to Homeworld, the seat of the Universal Church. He also acquires a cape, which really completes his outfit. There, the vampish (not a vampire, just kind of a classy tramp) Matriarch of the Church captures him to get him to serve her. She puts him to trial with this head creature, whom Warlock again must absorb with the Soul Gem.

Adam is sent into a Clown World hallucination. I’m sure this was a clever metaphor in the 70’s, but in this day and age, it’s right on the nose (a big, red nose). Elsewhere, Pip has made friends with Gamora, “The deadliest woman in the whole galaxy!” Together, they raid the palace to try and free Adam.

Warlock gets out of the delusion with his comrades’ help, but comes face-to-face with the Magnus himself. Adam’s first question to his future self should be, “When did I lose my great hair and end up with an Afro? Can this terrible future be changed?” Regardless of hairstyles, the Magnus summons the In-Betweener to take Warlock away to a dimension of madness that will turn him into the Magnus.

Gamora tries to stop the summoning and kill the Magnus. It’s revealed that she’s actually an assassin in the employ of Thanos. The big purple guy himself arrives to help defend Warlock from 25,000 Church troops sent to kill them all. Dude, this is the heaviest trip ever, but awesome.

“Greetings, reader.” Suddenly, we are addressed directly by Captain Marvel to explain who Thanos is. (Remember, this the 70’s. Nobody knew who Thanos was then.) I feel like this is a cheap intrusion by the Captain to promote his own magazine. Perhaps it’s just a cute way of doing an otherwise dry info dump. Given events to follow, a little comedy relief is okay.

On Thanos’ ship, he convinces Warlock that must commit suicide by entering his Time Probe before the In-Betweener arrives. Now Magnus knows that Thanos is his hidden enemy and attacks with his forces. Warlock is forced to use the Soul Gem again to end the fight.

While Thanos and Magnus fight, the In-Betweener arrives and gives Warlock five minutes to choose his fate. Adam chooses a moment in his near future and confronts himself. He uses the Soul Gem to destroy himself and thus the Magnus. With Magnus out of the way, Thanos gloats that no one will now be powerful enough to oppose him now. Warlock and Pip return to Homeworld, but now the universe has been changed without the Magnus present and the Universal Church is gone.

Our heroes have earned a break. Pip gets in trouble drinking and carousing. He runs afoul of one of Eros’ (aka Starfox, Thanos’ brother) attractive conquests for our amusement. By himself, Warlock uncovers the mystery of the Star-Thief. This is an odd episode, but the upshot is, Adam returns to earth and discovers he’s now a giant and dwarfs his home solar system. The explanation of this doesn’t make any sense and is handwaved away later, but it makes for some cool images, though.

Warlock/Starlin seems to be at somewhat loose ends after that story. Adam saves an old space prospector from some intergalactic creditors trying to repossess the prospector’s spaceship. Thanos sends Gamora off to hunt down Warlock, but is seemingly destroyed by, maybe, Drax the Destroyer. (It’s not clear who did it and this event isn’t directly followed up on.) Next, Adam encounters an alien space guru, who gives him a prophecy of his own death and that of his friends. Finally, Warlock tries to rid himself of the Soul Gem (which intriguingly tells him there are five other power gems). Adam fails, but manages to at least maintain his free will from its influence.

That was all one issue. Apparently, it was also the final issue. The next two reprinted issues are an Avengers annual and a Marvel Two-in-One annual featuring the Thing and Spider-Man. I had read these before in a Thanos-themed issue of Marvel’s short-lived digest line that was published by Archie Comics (8-29-17). I knew these were going to be in the book, but I was okay with getting them along with the stuff I hadn’t read.

I should mention that there’s a missing Warlock story in this collection, Marvel Team-up #55. It’s mentioned in the back with the other Warlock reprints. The issue didn’t involve Starlin, though. Simply, Spider-Man encounters Warlock on the Moon (?) and a couple of other cosmic entities holding power gems (Infinity Stones). It explains how Spidey knows Adam in the Two-in-One annual.

Pity there’s no feature in this book on the creation of this series. These two annuls seemed to be produced to give a fitting send off to Warlock. Unfortunately, Starlin was not able to ink his own art in these and there’s an obvious drop-off in quality. The pictures get the job done, but no more than that.

In the Avengers annual, Warlock comes upon a dying Gamora, who blames Thanos for her death (with no mention of what happened to her previously). She tells him that Thanos is planning on killing everyone and only Adam can stop him. Warlock ends her suffering with his Soul Gem.

Meanwhile, Captain Marvel and Moondragon show up at the Avengers Mansion to warn them that Thanos is leading a fleet to come and destroy earth’s sun. Warlock suddenly appears to confirm the story. (This is a bit awkward, as Warlock fought Thor in their previous meeting.) Thanos has gathered five of the other Soul Gems and only lacks Adam’s. With that, Thanos would have total power to kill everyone. (Does this all seem familiar?) Adam got this information from absorbing Gamora, who died trying to kill Thanos and stop his scheme.

The Avengers confront the armada and invade Thanos’ ship. Mar-vell and Warlock find Pip the Troll, who’s been essentially lobotomized by Thanos. Warlock absorbs him and discovers Thanos’ real plan: this has been a distraction and Thanos’ actual attack on the sun is coming from the opposite side of the sun.

The two stop Thanos’ solar attack, but Warlock is mortally wounded. Ironman and Thor arrive and drive Thanos off, but Warlock meets his foretold destiny with his previous self. Adam is absorbed into the Soul Gem. Relieved of his burdens and rejoined with his friends, Adam is, at last, at peace.

That doesn’t last long. In the next annual, Peter Parker is plagued by a dream sent to him by the telepathic Moondragon. Thanos has rallied his forces, captured the Avengers, and taken the Soul Gem from Warlock’s dead body. The cosmic forces of Order and Chaos are observing and manipulating events and hoping for the best.

Spider-Man goes to the Fantastic Four for help, but only finds the Thing. There’s no explanation as to where the other three are. (Hey, Two-in-One is the Thing’s star vehicle, okay.) Ben Grimm at least knows how to pilot a spaceship and off the two go to confront Thanos’ armada.

They invade Thanos’ ship and are captured. Thanos gloats and toys with them. Spider-Man actually briefly runs away from the fight, completely overmatched. He screws up his courage and returns to free the Avengers. A battle royale ensues, but it’s hopeless. Order and Chaos’ plan is finally revealed. A delirious Spider-Man gets ahold of the Soul Gem and breaks it. Warlock is released to fulfill his ultimate destiny. He dies a fiery death, but takes Thanos with him.

Captain Marvel gives Warlock’s eulogy and even foreshadows his own death. Adam is reunited with his friends in an afterlife. Like I said before, Mar-vell will meet a final end, though Warlock comes back to face Thanos, as the mad Titan is brought back to life later. I haven’t read those stories, but this is a good ending to at least this story.

There’s a lot of bonus material. It’s includes the rough pencils and dialogue of an unpublished Warlock issue. It was a one-off story. Nothing to get excited about. There’s a cover gallery of previous reprints. There’s some gag pages of Starlin killing off his editor. Kill off a few major characters, you get a reputation.

Yeah, this edition is awesome. If you can find any of the other reprinted editions (three or four of them? Probably more), go ahead and get any of those. It’s a testament to how well these stories were done that they’ve been reprinted so much and that they inspired even larger sequels.

Comics Review: Dollartree Comics #3

I was shopping at Dollartree and decided to see what was left of their $1.25 comics and was surprised to see a whole new display filled with comics. They were also all different than the first batch. There were maybe 30 or 40 titles and there was no screwing around this time with second tier characters; they were pretty much all Superman and Batman related. I had to restrain myself, so I just picked up four from the display and one off the rack from the previous batch.

Crisis on Infinite Earths #1

This one was from the original batch. I’d resisted it a couple of times, since I had bought the comic when it came out in the 80’s, but finally had to have it. While there are reprint volumes available (including a multi-volume reprint that includes all of the tie-ins), it’s hard to beat the issues as they were originally published.

The first issue was memorable for being a full 32-pages with no ads with a dramatic wrap-around cover. Even the inside covers were an essay by writer Marv Wolfman about the creation of this series. It certainly starts off showing the stakes. Earth-3, with its evil Justice League that had been around since the 60’s, was vaporized. A sole survivor, a baby, is sent to Earth-1.

The mysterious Monitor and his blonde assistant, Lyla, had made cameos in various DC comics for a couple of years. They were in the background servicing various villains with weapons and information. Here is the shock reveal that the Monitor has a way bigger agenda. He sends Lyla out to gather heroes and villains for the coming conflict, while he retrieves the child.

Lyla, in her Harbinger form, gathers an eclectic mix of superpowered individuals from various times ranging from WWII, the 30-th Century, and pre-history. Where else do you get Dawnstar, Firestorm, and Arion? You also get Earth-4’s Blue Beetle and Earth-2’s elder Superman. Lyla does ask the obvious question why they don’t just gather all of the Supermen and Wonder Women. Monitor wants the heroes and villains to work together. Also, it makes things interesting and shows the breath of the Crisis. (Later in the series, Lyla does just get the most powerful heroes for a strikeforce.)

There is a perfunctory attack on the group after they are brought together at Monitor’s satellite. (Later in the series, you’ll get a much grander gathering. This is just the opening act.) The unnamed enemy attacks them with shadow creatures. Heroes and villains grudgingly work together, but it takes the appearance of the Monitor himself to stop the attack.

Crisis had lots of action, but I’d say this issue was sort of padding. In fact, the whole storyline was dragged out a bit to stretch it to 12 issues, including a couple of double-sized ones. Other than announcing the Crisis, nothing big happens here, but it is an irresistible hook to the rest of the series. Just for the peak George Perez artwork alone, this one is worth having.

Batman: A Lonely Place of Dying #1

This comic was also from the 80’s. It came out a couple of years after the death of Jason Todd/Robin II. This was not Batman’s proudest era, as Robin was killed off via a 900-number phone poll. (It was close, though.) This storyline would seek to rectify that somewhat, as it would introduce Tim Drake/Robin III. This came out the same year as the Tim Burton Batman movie, which would make this comic and what came before it look somewhat dated.

As is, Drake isn’t introduced in this issue, but is a mysterious person stalking Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson and knows who their alter egos are. Meanwhile, Batman is becoming reckless and getting hurt worse than usual in his crusade fighting crime. Alfred finally has to say something, but gets no answer. Batman continues his current case with abandon, as Two-Face is back with a new scheme.

If you didn’t know what was coming, you would not be impressed with this single issue. It’s set firmly outside Batman’s current reign as the biggest superhero. Putting an Absolute Batman preview in the back definitely emphasizes that. It’s not bad, but you need the rest of it to make it interesting.

Batman/Superman: Planet Brainiac #1

As opposed to the new World’s Finest title (5-22-26), this title is from the mainline DC universe just without the classic title. This begins with Batwoman and Steel finding the Batcave wrecked and Batman and Superman missing. Flashbacks show that a computer virus turned all the defenses of the Batcave against them and nearly set off the self-destruct mechanism.

It’s Brainiac behind this. A Batman and Superman head off to the moon to investigate a lead and are captured there. Batman sends a message telling anyone finding it to not follow them. Unfortunately, the message is garbled and Batwoman and Steel take this as an invitation. What they’re going to do that the World’s Finest couldn’t do themselves, I don’t know.

This was one was fun on some level. There’s also an Absolute Superman preview, which made no sense whatsoever. As this, some of these Dollartree comics I’ve gotten show that these characters don’t need to be rebooted or reimagined. Just do good stories.

Trinity: Dark Destiny #1

That’s pretty clearly Gal Gadot on the cover as Wonder Woman. This is, I guess, another updated version of the World’s Finest title, but with Wonder Woman added. The trio is teamed up with some of DC’s supernatural squad in Zatanna, Constantine, and Deadman. The threat is decidedly paranormal.

Red Hood (that’s Jason Todd, who was dead, but got better) has been possessed by a demon. The demon is resisting attempts at extreme exorcism, so Constantine has to find a unique way to get into Heck. He has Superman hold open the demon’s mouth and jumps in. (I hope this image doesn’t stick with me too long.)

Bizzaro and Artemis enter the fight and they’re possessed, too. This trio is the Trinity’s opposite number in strength. In a flashback, it turns out they’re part of a plot by Circe and Ra’s Al Ghul, a couple of Wonder Woman’s and Batman’s arch-enemies. (Luthor walked away from this scheme. Perhaps the plan ends up falling apart because they lacked his technical expertise.) It’s a good start for the story. In the back is a short black and white Batman story. He beats up some thugs. It’s not hugely worthwhile.

Action Comics: Revenge #1

This is some heavy-duty Superman here. Don’t let the interlude where he’s with his wife, Lois, buying an apartment to raise their son in Metropolis fool you. Superman is super in this. He has a Himalayan refuge where he stores dangerous artifacts and imprisons villains.

The Superman Revenge Squad has broken out one of the inmates and retreated to Batman’s moon base. (Moon base? Damn.) And these guys are heavy hitters too: Mongul, Cyborg Superman, Metallo, and the Eradicator. They’re about as eager to throw down with each other, as they are Superman.

This almost more comic book than I can take. Unfortunately, it’s also only the introduction, but what a tease! Here’s where I almost have to demand they publish more issues of this. I have to ask, since these comics don’t have their correct numbering, if I bought the DC Universe Infinite subscription that’s advertised on the back, how would I find the next issue?

These comics were all sporting a $4 or $5 price tag on the cover (though in a bag marked $1.25). When I was at Zia Comics the other day looking over their racks, I almost picked up a couple of new comics (in addition to the trade I bought), but the prices were $5 and $6 each! I sort of noticed the last time I bought a couple of floppies (which was when I bought those World's Finest issues).  $6 is “too rich for my blood,” as the gamblers say. I could afford it, but I’m not going to.

Basically, if you want a new floppy, these Dollartree comics seem like to the way to go. However, I’m deeply ambivalent about getting more. On the one hand, I’m enjoying most of these, but they’re leaving me blue-balled since they’re just the opening of a continuing storyline. If only they were putting out more issues to complete these stories and/or putting out non-continued issues. I guess the point is to be a tease to buy the online service, but finding the follow up issues could be a bit difficult. I question DC’s strategy here. If they can sell $1.25 old comics and still make money, why not do that? This is only making new comics look really overpriced.

Baseball Journal May: Oh Say Can You See!

 

Memorial Day Weekend 5-22 to 25-26

Ugh, what a waste of a three-day weekend.    All I did was eat and spend.    Last year I was so put off that I couldn’t watch the Indy 500 or any other race that I skipped my yearly blogging tradition.    I still couldn’t watch any of the Sunday races, but I did attempt to watch the Saturday O’Rilley Series NASCAR race, but it was a somber event.   

Kyle Busch had died during the week.    You don’t expect a 41-year old to succumb to pneumonia.    I had seen his documentary, Rowdy, earlier in the year.    It was really good.    I don’t know when Kyle passed from being a villain to a respected champion for most fans, but it happened.    He had won a truck series race last week and called it, “You don’t know when you’re going to have your final win.”    Godspeed, Rowdy.

The race itself at Charlotte was less engaging with a very long rain delay.    I’d brought 5Guys burgers over to dad for lunch and the race.    Later at night, when it finally restarted, a fog had moved in and made driving absurdly dangerous, but they got the race to halfway and called it.    The next day, I was surprised they got in three-quarters of the Coca-Cola 600, before rain finally shortened it.    Earlier, the Indy 500 had the closest finish ever.    Thank goodness, I missed that.

Friday, I learned the lesson that you need to need to go on Wednesday to the comic book store if you’re looking for a new comic book.    I didn’t think Moonstar #3 would be that in demand.    (I enjoyed the first two issues.)    I ended up buying a $40 hardback of Warlock.    That was an expensive lesson (but the hardback is pretty awesome).    I found the issue was looking for anyway on a new “archive” site.    (The old one got shut down.)    This was all after I’d encountered a whole bunch of new comics at Dollartree and bought several.    I also bought and ate a small pizza from the Grounded Café.   

Sunday, instead of watching racing, I went to Walmart and was surprised to find that Archie Comics magazine I’d been looking for on the magazine rack, which they’ve all but hidden in the store.    It never showed up at Barnes & Noble, so I didn’t think I’d find it.    After a false alarm with dad that was just a misunderstanding that maybe shaved a couple of years off my life, I went to McAlister’s for a sandwich.    After, I saw the A’s play the Padres on Mexican TV.    It was a pretty entertaining, 5-2, A’s win. The play of the game was slugger Big Amish, Nick Kurtz, hitting a perfect bunt single to third to move over a runner a runner at first.    Nobody saw that one coming.     

Monday, Memorial Day, we were expecting rain, which we got.    I got dad a Pork Brisket sandwich at Arby’s for lunch.    A couple of weeks ago, he had tried the Beef Brisket one and liked it enough to try another.    I’d also tried the beef brisket and decided that Arby’s does roast beef better than barbeque and had a Beef and Cheddar sanchwich.   

On the radio, I was happy that 600am was carrying the ESPN game between the Brewers and the Cardinals.    I listened to it with dad.    Since he likes the Cardinals, I thought he’d enjoy it, but he seemed ambivalent.    I called Aunt Judy to let her know that we were listening to the game, since I assumed she was watching her Cardinals, but didn’t get a hold of her.    She probably wasn’t happy.    It was a 5-1 Brewers win.    Jacob Misiorowki got the win with 12 strikeouts and didn’t give up a hit until the sixth. He was also throwing at well over 100mph.    His first pitch was 103.

5-19-26

The Chihuahuas were back at home to play Round Rock this week.    The third inning started with a double, an inside-the-park home run, and then a triple for the pups.    This was a true inside-the-parker without an error.    The ball hit the wall and ricocheted away from the fielder. The Chihuahuas went up, 6-0, but after the fourth it was, 6-5. The game stayed close until the pups won it, 10-7.

5-20-26

Broadcaster Tim Hagerty couldn’t get the booth window open to start today’s day game against the Express.  He apologized for the missing crowd noise. In the first, the Chihuahuas loaded the bases and scored 2.    The Express loaded the bases in the second and scored all of them off a grand slam and then added some more, 6-2. In the bottom of the second, five Chihuahuas hit singles to begin the inning.  The pups tied it and took the lead, 7-6, as they batted around. The Express came back to take the lead in the fourth, 8-7.

In the seventh, down 11-7, there was Catcher’s Interference called on two pitches in a row.    The second one injured the pups’ catcher and he had to come out.  A new pitcher came in after the catcher came out, which led to two commercial breaks in a row. Meanwhile, the Rangers’ day game against the Rockies didn’t come on, which was kind of annoying since I was getting decent reception on the station for a change. I was going to be stuck with this game.

This wasn’t a good thing, as it was 15-7 Express in the ninth.    After the inning started, it was suddenly discovered that the bullpen door was open.    “How long has that been open?” asked Tim.    The wind then started kicking up. Clay Dungan, a position player, came in to pitch with the bases loaded and one out.    He walked in his first batter. What followed was 2-run double, an RBI single, a single, a hit batter, a sac fly out, a single, a 2-run double, and finally a strikeout.    That was 9 runs and a 23-7 Express win.    Thank goodness that the school kids left before the ninth and weren’t traumatized by the ending like I was.

 

With no game on at night, I decided to tune into Aggie announcer Russ Langer broadcasting the Las Vegas Aviators versus the Albuquerque Isotopes.    He gave out some Rockies trivia, since they were playing their affiliate.    I think I knew it, since it was about 90’s team.   

Later, Russ talked with his co-host about calling a minor league game in Denver at Mile High Stadium with 70k in attendance.    There was a Beach Boys concert afterward to explain the crowd for a Double-A game.    I looked the game up.    Ironically, it ended in a tie because of the curfew for the concert.    His co-host said, “I suppose we couldn’t arrange something like that today?”    Russ answered, “No, but wouldn’t it be nice?”    (That’s the name of a Beach Boys’ song, if you didn’t get the joke.)

Interestingly, they talked about the Chihuahuas game.    When the co-host gave the score, Russ asked, “What position player was pitching in the ninth?”    Wow!    This guy knows baseball.    Meanwhile at the game, the Aviators were up 5-0 in the top of the ninth, but the Isotopes came back.    The ‘topes capped off the 6-5 win with a 3-run homer.    What a dramatic turn of events!    Russ was having such a good time up to that point.

5-21-26

This time, the Chihuahuas’ manager forgot the number pitcher visits he’d had in the inning and the ump had to tell him to take the pitcher out.    Or was he stalling for time for the reliever?    Who knows?    This one turned into the Chihuahuas’ ninth extra innings game of the season.    The Round Rock Express in the tenth had runners on the corners.    They successfully executed a steal of second to draw a throw, and the runner at third broke for home and took it.    They won off of that, 5-4.

5-22-26

“This is the last time we pick some kid out of the stands to sing the Anthem.”    I don’t know what the backstory was on this, but it was the worst Anthem ever.    The kid got the giggles trying to sing it and then started shouting out the lyrics.    The on-field host tried to sell it as a great job.    There was no comment from broadcaster Tim Hagerty.    The Chihuahuas were not disturbed by this and easily beat the Express, 14-3.

5-29-29

I was busy with month end processing at work tonight, but I got in some baseball.    I started listening to a Chihuahuas game, but it didn’t seem to be their night.    (Indeed, the final was 13-8 Isotopes and probably not really that close.)    MLB’s Youtube channel offered up the first two innings of the Phillies at the Dodgers, which was being broadcast on Apple TV.    I switched over to that.    The Phillies seemed a bit overmatched from what I saw, and they lost, 4-2.

Just when I got busy at about 10:00pm, I got an excited surprise call from my dad.    This was past his bedtime, but he’d been watching the Rockies play the Giants.    The Rox were down 6-3 in the bottom of the ninth, when Hunter Goodman tied it up with a 3-run homer.    He couldn’t go to bed at that point.    Dad was rewarded, as he got to see Ezequiel Tovar hit a 2-run homer to win it for the Rockies, 8-6.    Interestingly, this was one of four walkoff home runs in the Major League Baseball that night.

5-30-26

I was over at dad’s apartment comfortably watching NCAA Tournament Softball and a sportscar race and listening to a Rangers game on the radio, when his neighbor came over and insisted we go to an early dinner at Bubba’s.    It was kind of bad timing, as the softball game was in the top of the seventh.    Tennessee was up 1-0 over Texas Tech, but the Red Raiders had the bases loaded with one out.   

Former Aggie star player, Desirae Spearman, came in as a pinch hitter.    She delivered a sac fly to shallow center.    The centerfielder had thrown out a runner at home earlier.    This time, upon review, the throw was there, but the sweep tag missed, so the game was tied.    This was a lengthy review and the neighbor was getting impatient, but the call would decide whether the game was over or not.   

At Bubba’s, as she predicted, the game was on there.    It went two extra innings before TN finally put it away with a solo home run to win, 2-1.    This wasn’t an elimination game, though.    Even better, that game finished, they switched over to the end of the Rangers against the Royals.    Bottom of the ninth, down 6-4, Joc Pederson solo homered to begin the inning.    Then, with two on in scoring position, the tying run was singled in.    Finally, Ezquiel Duran hit a shallow single and Brandon Nimmo went “Superman” and flew horizontally over the plate, just ahead of the tag to win it, 7-6.    Dad and I split a small pizza, which was excellent.    Okay, this all worked out well.