Baseball Journal May: The Dirty Sodas

5-1-26

It was a team record for the Isotopes and the Chihuahuas for most runs scored and most runs given up.    Unfortunately, the pups came up on the wrong of the 26-8 ‘topes win.    It got out of hand early and just got worse.  The Isotopes batted around in two innings.    Chihuahuas’ pitching gave up 13 walks and 4 wild pitches (though 3 of those were by one pitcher).    Albuquerque fans might have enjoyed the game more with it hadn’t been 40-degrees there by the end.    The remaining fans were chanting, “Fireworks!” to conclude the Friday night game.    (This was just an opening act for the Aggies final baseball game a couple of weeks later.)        

5-2-26

The Chihuahuas had a 5-run lead early, but the Isotopes came roaring back.    They batted around again in consecutive innings and scored 7 runs in each for a 19-7 win.    The pups are in a bit of a pitching rut.    The Isotopes are doing surprisingly well this season, especially for a Rockies affiliate.

5-5-26

Ooops.    The Chihuahuas began a home series against the Rainiers.    Tacoma came back from being down 7-1 with a 5-run eighth.    It was 9-9 in the bottom of the ninth with 2 Chihuahuas on.    The Tacoma manager accidentally went out twice to visit the same pitcher.    As per the rules, he had to change pitchers immediately and brought in someone with no warmup.    The pitcher walked first batter to load the bases, but got a strikeout to end the inning and send it to extras.   

The Chihuahuas won it, 10-9, in the tenth on a wild pitch, after a sacrifice moved over the automatic runner.    That was the pups’ seventh extra innings game out of 34 games.    I seem to remember a couple of years ago, the Chihuahuas didn’t play an extra innings game for like half a season.    (I have no way of going back and finding that stat.)       

In MLB news, I’m still not getting to watch MLB games, but in further depressing news, Tarik Skubal is now out with an injury.    The Tigers’ season is already slipping away from injuries.    The good news is that the division is very bad and Skubal should be back soon (so he can be traded the Dodgers for two bags of Cheetos and really depress me).   

5-6-26

It was a day game in El Paso with the Chihuahuas and the Rainiers with a bunch school kids present.    There were 6,900 in attendance.    The little dogs gave up 4 in the top of first and 2 more in the third.  In the bottom of the third, Samad Taylor homered or did he?    Broadcaster Tim Hagerty initially called the ball that hit the wall as in play.    Taylor was doing a home run trot and was tagged when the ball was thrown back in.   

None of the umpires signaled home run, but conferenced and awarded him the run.    This was a reversal, so the Tacoma manager was incensed.    The kids were cheering.   
Tim checked the replay and seemed unconvinced, but let it go since it helped the Chihuahuas.    Pablo Reyes followed with a no-doubt homer.   

In the fourth, Jose Miranda hit a 420’ home run two-run homer.    With two on, Taylor hit a bunt inside-the-park home run.  The throw from the catcher to first on the sacrifice went into right field.    Taylor blew through a stop sign to score and give the pups the lead, 7-6.    Reyes followed this with a 2-run homer.    Tim was surprised by it going over the fence, so the wind must have taken it.    Rainiers got the first out on the ninth batter of the inning, but it was 9-6 Chihuahuas.

The Rainiers promptly tied it in the fifth.    Triple-A had implemented ABS check swing challenges.    Tim was eagerly awaiting the first check swing challenge.    He was practically begging for it.    The balls kept flying out.  In the eighth, the Rainiers took the lead on a solo homer, 10-9.

The pups tied it in the bottom of the eighth with Rodolfo Duran doubling in pinch runner, Clay Dungan.    They took the lead on a Mason McCoy RBI single with 2 outs.    There were still a few kids there watching and cheering, though most of them had to leave earlier.  Chihuahuas win, 11-10.   

5-7-26

The Yankees hit 2 triples in the first inning of a day game against the Rangers I was listening to. It was a 9-2 loss for the Rangers, though Yanks lost Jasson Dominguez, after he after he hit the wall going for a catch in the first.    He held on to the ball.

Later at night, the Chihuahuas were playing the Rainiers.    In the eighth, Nick Schnell thrown out at home on near inside the park homer. Broadcaster Tim Hagerty was hysterical during the game call. The throw came in from the from the EP bullpen mound, which is on the field. The Chihuahuas would win, 4-1, for their third win in a row.

5-8-26

The Rainiers turned 4 double plays in 5 innings?   I was only sort of listening, as the Chihuahuas were getting blown out in the game.    In the sixth, Jase Bowen hit a 462’ home run over the green seats and out of the stadium, but it was still 9-1.    I got to watch the instant video highlight on Gameday.    I think that’s a new feature.    Jase homered a second time in the eighth, but it was still 12-2.    A Rainier grand slam later made it, 17-2, which was the final score.    Clay Dungan, a position player, came in to pitch after that for his first pitching appearance.    He got a flyball out to end that inning.

5-10-26

The Chihuahuas won another extra innings game over the Rainiers, 7-6.    The big news, though, is that broadcaster Tim Hagerty finally got his first check swing challenge.    It’s not just that ABS was making the call, but for this to work they had to actually define a check swing strike.  The bat has to be at a 45-degree angle to the baseline for it to be called.    I was listening to this by chance in dad’s car, after we’d had lunch at Arby’s to try their new barbecue sandwich.    (They should stick to roast beef and curly fries.)

Back at dad’s apartment, we were watching a Savannah Bananas game.  At one point, the home plate ump had chopsticks and was eating lunch between pitches.    He was pushing eggrolls through his mask.    These guys put on a pretty good show.

5-12-26

“For the first time in baseball history, the fans have convinced the umpires to call a balk.”    Tim Hagerty’s call might have been a little hyperbolic, but it did happen in the Chihuahuas’ first game against the Salt Lake City Bees.    The Chihuahuas lost the game, 11-4.    The Utah crowd sounded pretty happy to see a win from their last place team.

5-13-26

The Salt Lake City Bees were playing as their alternate identities, the “Dirty Sodas.”    It’s a soda mixed with creamer and fruit flavors.    It’s what you get in a “dry” state like Utah when you order a mixed drink.    I’m not tired of weird minor league baseball team names yet.       

My other interest in the game was that former Aggie, Sammy Natera, was pitching for the Bees.    He played for Mexico in the WBC, along with Nick Gonzales and the Joey Ortiz.    It was an Aggie-heavy team.    Natera pitched 2 innings with 4 strikeouts, 2 hits, and no runs.    He got the win, as the Dirty Sodas won, 12-4.    The Chihuahuas had been leading 4-1, but gave up 7 unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth.    (Natera made another appearance on Saturday and did well again.) 

 

5-15-26

“He’s saying some bad words!” Tim Hagerty reported on a player disagreeing with an umpire at a Chihuahuas game.    Before the game, Tim and the Sportstalk guys had been talking about Banana Ball playing in El Paso while the pups were away.    I suddenly remembered that Banana Ball streams on Youtube, and I quickly found the game (and sort of abandoned the Chihuahuas).   

It was the Texas Tailgators playing the Firefighters.    (Shouldn’t it be “Firemen,” since its all guys?)    It was a full house at Southwest University Park with 10k in attendance.    One of the Tailgators was wearing a Chihuahuas jersey.    I think he was a former player.    It was a fun event.    The Tailgators were grilling in front of their dugout.    There was a ninja umpire first base umpire.    Two of the players were in a Lego building competition during the game.    Maybe the highlight was the hot salsa dance off.    A 77-year old won by taking his shirt off and whipping it around.

5-17-26

It was Rivalry Weekend in the MLB.    I discovered that MLB.TV was finally doing a free weekend and I was missing it.    Or was I?    I ended up listening to some of the Rangers and the Astros.    I saw the Dodgers and Angels on Mexican TV (while listening to the Chihuahuas game on the radio).    Finally, I was surprised to find NBC broadcasting a Sunday night game between the Padres and the Mariners.    (Okay, not all of the rivalries are natural.)    None of these games were all that great, but I was happy to get plenty of baseball today.   

NM State Aggies vs FIU Panthers Baseball 5-16-26

 

We’ll take a minute to go over what happened to Aggie Softball at the C-USA Tournament before we recount Aggie Baseball’s final games.   The Aggies were the #5 seed.    They beat Sam Houston, 3-0, as Kendal Lunar homered twice and Tamara Carranza also homered to account for all of the scoring.    Catcher Madi Bachman was listed as the starter, but Faith Aragon pitched all 7 frames with 11 strikeouts.   

The Aggies lost to Delaware, 11-7, in their next game.    Bachman was in this game and hit a grand slam, Devin Elam went 3 for 3 with an RBI.    Faith and Zantelle Rodriguez split the pitching duties and the runs given up.    I guess the Blue Hens got the final say after the teams’ bad blood in their previous game (4-26-26).

The Aggies bowed out of the tournament after their next game against LA Tech with a 3-1 loss.    They left it all on the field though, as the game took 11 innings!    Bless her heart, Faith pitched all 11 innings with 11 strikeouts.    Skye Johnson provided the final Aggie run of the season.    At 27-27 overall and 16-11 in conference, congratulations to Aggie Softball.    Finishing at .500 overall and over .500 in conference, you guys were the best Aggie team this year.     (Men’s Basketball was .500 overall, but under that in conference.)  

Back to Aggie Baseball, events have not gone well.    They had an 8-6 loss to Arizona.    The Aggies did score 5 in the ninth to make it interesting.    Camden Kaufman was 3 for 4 with an RBI and Aidan Taclas had a 2-run double.

Next, the team visited my Aunt Judy in Springfield, Missouri to play MO State.    All three games in the series were set for 11:00am CST, even the Friday game, which still had over 600 in attendance.    The morning games did not agree with the Aggies, as they lost all three.    It was a 14-8 loss in Game 1.    Aiden Lombardi went 3 for 4 with 2 RBI’s from a home run.    The Aggies lost the next game, 9-1.    Jack Turner took the loss, as he gave up 7 runs in 5 innings.    They dropped the final game, 7-6.    They never led, but made it a 1-run game in the ninth.    Taclas was the standout going 3 for 5 with 2 RBI’s.    The Aggies did accumulate 4 hit by pitches in the game.

Back in New Mexico and playing in Albuquerque, the Lobos beat Aggies, 12-6, on Tuesday.    The game was being streamed on the Lobos’ website.    Unfortunately, I only remembered the game in time to watch the ninth.    The Aggies committed 3 errors, which accounted for 7 of the Lobos’ 12 runs.    Asa Briggs got hung with 4 unearned runs.    Aggie pitching did allow 9 walks.    Easton Rulli had a good game going 2 for 4 with a 3-run homer.    The Aggies at least went 3 and 1 in the Rio Grande Rivalry.

The Aggies began their final series against FIU on Thursday.    It was a 17-12 loss.    FIU was 0-12 in conference road games until this win.    It was 15-6 FIU, until the Aggies had a 6-run eighth, but that was as close as they got.    All five Aggie pitchers gave up multiple runs.    Steve Solorzano had a great game going 2 for 5, had 4 RBI’s off a grand slam, and stole home.    Taclas went 2 for 3 with 2 RBI’s from a homer.    There were over 700 there for the weekday night game.

On Friday, the Aggies had a 6-5 win.    It was a close one.    There was a 5-run third for the Aggies and they led most of the way, but the Panthers came back and had a 2-run inside-the-park homer in the ninth to get it to one.    Turner got the win with 6 scoreless innings.    Dylan Weekly got the save with 2 and 2/3 innings of work, while only giving up that 2-run homer.    Solorzano was 3 for 5 with an RBI, Aiden Lombardi was 3 for 3 with an RBI, and Boston Vest doubled in 2 runs.    (I heard a rumor at work that Solo is on his way to Arizona next year, by the way.)

I was listening to the Tigers and Blue Jays on the radio Saturday morning.    The game was tied late at 1 off of 2 solo home runs.    I went to collect my neighbor, Monty, for the game.    I had told him that the time on the game had changed to 2:00pm yesterday, but he’d only remembered the original 11:00am time and had made other plans.     

I kept listening to the MLB game on the way over.    I’d hoped the Tigers would win it in the ninth, but that didn’t happen, so I brought in a portable radio to keep listening.    The Pan Am Center parking lot was full for Graduation Day.    I think game had been pushed back to accommodate graduation, but I’m not sure.     

It was hot and sunny.    It was 89-degrees to start and got hotter.    A stiff breeze blew over stadium.    This was the first time it’s been hot this season for a game I was going to.    I’d had leftover pizza for lunch and was too full for corn-in-a-cup.    I missed it for the whole season.    

I got lousy reception on my radio in the stands.    The Jays scored in the tenth and won it, 2-1.    Bah, humbug.    There was a Senior Ceremony before game recognizing the 10 seniors on the team.    I noticed the team photographer was wearing a throwback Randy Johnson Diamondbacks jersey.    Looked cool.    The umpires huddled up in prayer before the game.    It was a light crowd, at 431, but they were enthusiastic.    I was seated with Fan Michael, as usual.    His sister, Esther, joined us.    I didn’t see the Reese family there.    Michael said there was a big party that Nellie was going to later.    Nothing was out of the ordinary to this point.

They’re unreal aren’t they?    I had no idea what I was walking into here today.    I never exactly lost the scorecards.    The scoring in this was reasonably straightforward, but I certainly ran out of space in places.    There were a couple of scoring variances in places that made it hard to add up, especially when you’re dealing with large numbers.

JT Price started for the Aggies and the FIU Panthers started early with a 3-run homer in the first.    Jonatan Clough punched right back in the bottom with a triple into the right field corner.    Aidan Taclas cashed him in on a groundout.    3-1 FIU.    There was a friendly couple behind us.    Michael got a souvenir hat for the lady.    It was a nice hat and I passed up several opportunities to get one.    I just couldn’t justify another hat when I have a crate full.

Price got the first two outs in the top of the second.    Aiden Lombardi at third battled the sun and a clear blue sky to get a foul fly for the second out. After a walk, Mario Trivella was hit for the second inning in a row and hard this time. Lombardi made a heroic effort on an infield single, but Cooper Rasmussen beat it out to load the bases.    Andrew Ildefonso then drove in 2 with a single and then another single drove in a third run.    6-1 FIU.

The Panther backup catcher warmed up the pitcher, while the starter got ready.    They head knocked heads when exchanging positions.    Boston Vest began the bottom of the second by getting plunked.    He set the program record for getting hit by pitches during this series.    Lombardi brought him in with a double.    Dane Woodcook singled Lombardi in.    There was a near double play, but the ball to first was thrown away.    The Aggies weren’t able capitalize further.    6-3 FIU.

The FIU Seniors were recognized before the top of the third.    The PA got a tip of the cap from a Panther player.    Jaden Davis came in to pitch in the third.    He worked a scoreless 1-2-3 third inning.    For what was to come, this inning was an accomplishment.     

Steve Solorzano singled to begin the bottom of the third.    Easton Rulli skipped a ball past third base and the two runners hustled to take an extra base.    Vest was hit for the second inning in a row to load the bases.    That “Hit Me” sign he wears really works.    Lombardi came up and dropped a bunt in front of the pitcher.    Solo flew into home just ahead of a glove flip from the pitcher to the catcher.    6-4 FIU.    Cole Cleveland in center made a play on a shallow flyball and then threw out Rulli at the plate to end the inning.

I saw a kid in the crowd wearing a Texas Tailgators t-shirt.    El Paso was hosting Banana Ball games this weekend.    I got to watch one of them on Youtube on Friday.    From seeing the crowd, they do some brisk merchandise business.   

Trey Reese arrived and brought drama with him.    His daughter, Nellie, was not invited to a senior party at the country club. This brought about some angry e-mails from her mom, Robin, to Athletic Director Fields, who was here for the Senior Ceremony, and others.    Soon enough, Nellie was on the guest list, but the slight hadn’t been forgotten.    This doesn’t sound like a big deal, but Trey and Robin were taking this deadly seriously.    Trey wasn’t blaming Coach Jordan for this, but he thought the coach would be gone soon.     

Enough gossip.    Davis gave up two doubles in the top of the fourth, which scored a run to make it, 7-4 FIU.    To start the bottom, Woodcook hit an infield popup that dropped in between five fielders for a gift double.    Camden Kaufman walked, before Solorzano singled in a run.   

Taclas was next called out on a check swing, which was called by the second base ump behind the pitcher.    The crowd was not happy with that.    I mentioned that Triple-A is now using ABS on check swings.    Trey was surprised about that.    Vest cleared the bases with a double and got the crowd up.    Rasmussen snatched a low liner at third to end the inning, but the Aggies were up, 8-7.

A few of the Volleyball girls were here, the ones with Baseball player boyfriends.    They looked so pretty.    Michael and I were invited into the Diamond Club by Trey for drinks.    “I’d take a cold cup of piss right now,” I said, as I was sweltering in the heat. “Let’s see if they have water before you ask for that,” Trey said wisely.    (I did get a cup of water.)    I missed a couple of outs, which was too bad, as it was Davis working another 1-2-3 inning.    I didn’t realize how precious this was at the time.

I stayed for the bottom of the fifth.    It wasn’t a great view, much like when the club was situated down the other baseline (4-10-22).  I was standing at a table next to the field and still with no shade.    (There was a pavilion there, but it was full, as were the tables with umbrellas.)    Going back for more water, I met the guy that runs the place.    There wasn’t any food out there and the alcohol drinks weren’t free.    I don’t know if they had any sodas.    Let’s just say, this place isn’t exactly selling itself.    

Bryce Campbell doubled to start the bottom of the fifth.    A pair of sacrifices brought him in.    Clough painted the right field line for another double.    I finally got to see it go into the corner, which I can’t see from the stands.    (Actually, ump’s call was a little questionable.)    Solo doubled again down the right field line and that was definitely fair.    Clough scored to make it, 10-7 Aggies.    Rulli struck out to end the inning, but I have to mention his epic at bat fouling off pitch-after-pitch.

Graduate Connor Wylde started the top of the sixth.    He hit the first batter.    Clough made a great diving catch for the first out.    Coach Angier came out and got him for Carson Timmons, who struck out the next two batters to end the inning.    In retrospect, this might have been the turning point of the game for the worse.    Wylde probably should have finished the inning.    The Coach seemed committed to letting all of the seniors play, which would have disastrous results.           

The bottom of the sixth brought out a new FIU pitcher.    One of his warm up pitches went straight to the backstop, which brought out jeers from the crowd.    It was foreshadowing.    Vest was walked to start the inning and two wild pitches moved him over to third.    Campbell brought him on a groundout.    11-7 Aggies.    It was all looking good.

The top of seventh and I can’t do it.    I can’t do all of the details.    Let’s just hit the total button here: 11 runs (there wasn’t enough space on the scoreboard to show it), 10 hits, 16 batters, 4 pitchers. Timmons gave up four-straight hits to begin the inning, which culminated in a grand slam by Cole Cleveland over the batter’s eye.    I think I’ve only seen two other shots go over the batter’s eye.   

Vest went ole’ on a grounder next, but no error.    Woodcook took a bad foul tip off his hand.    It really must have hurt, as he was shaking out his hand for about a minute, but he stayed in.    The first out of the inning was on the ninth batter.    Worse, it was a badly executed attempt by Solo to get a double play that only got one.    The Volleyball girls left.    “Tsk.    Baseball boys losing.    Volleyball girls out,” they said walking by.    (They came back later.    Did they have to go to the bathroom together?) By the time the inning finally, blessedly, ended, the crowd was completely deflated.    The PA did the Stretch, but then there was silence afterward.    18-11 FIU.

The Aggies did come back in the bottom of the seventh.    A walk, a hit batter, and an error from short that pulled the first baseman off the bag, loaded the bases with no outs. After a strikeout, there was an attempted double play.    The ball went to second, but the fielder dropped it.    The umps conferenced.    It was ruled an out and that the fielder lost it on the transfer.    The crowd was unruly, but that did score a run.    After a pitching change and another walk to load the bases, Lombardi was hit.    That drove in a second run to make it, 18-13 FIU.   

The top of the eighth began with a single, a walk, a pitching change, and then an FIU 3-run homer by Ildefonso.    The Panther dugout didn’t even seem to care about it.    There wasn’t any big celebration.    A solo homer followed along with another pitching change.    It was be another 4-pitcher inning with 6 more runs scored.    Rulli slammed into the wall in right field to get the final out.    24-13 FIU.   

We were in run rule territory which would have finally ended the game, but it was not to be.    FIU did not help themselves here with 2 walks, 3 wild pitches, 2 errors, and a hit batter.    At one point, the FIU Coach gave the pitcher an angry talk we could hear in the stands.    Aidan Cohall at first fell down catching a foul to finally end the inning.    The Aggies came up with 6 runs, as they batted around.    24-19 FIU.

By the top of the ninth, I’d now seen everything.    After Asa Briggs gave up a walk and a double, Kaufman, the second baseman, came in to pitch.    The Aggies were out of available pitchers, but at least all the seniors got in (ugh). Camden walked his first batter.    When he got his first strike, there was a cheer from the crowd.    They went wild when he got a strikeout. Unfortunately, things came back down to earth as 5 consecutive batters got on after. A chant went up from the crowd.    I was mishearing it at first, but figured out they were saying, “We want Solo!”    Solorzano was a pitcher when he started here, but his arm is apparently permanently on the shelf.    Six more runs and it was, 30-19 FIU.           

Solo, #15, started the bottom of the ninth.    A guy yelled, “Take us to the Promised Land, One-Five!”    You can’t buy that kind of support.    Solo doubled.    By this point, I’d suddenly noticed that the Aggies had scored in every preceding inning.    I was not surprised when Taclas jacked out a two-run homer.    I immediately began ranting to Michael, “They’ve scored in every inning!    Why are they losing!”    After that final outburst, the game finally, at last, definitely, ended.    FIU wins 30-21.    

Let’s examine this.    The Aggies scored in every inning.    Do you know how hard it is to score in 9 straight innings of a ballgame?    It basically never happens, even in blowouts.    The Panthers committed 4 errors and the Aggies played clean.    The Panthers also came into this series winless in 12 conference road games.    All that and the Aggies weren’t even close.   

Further, FIU scored 1 run over 4 innings, so they scored 29 runs over 5 innings.    The Aggies batted around in 1 inning; the Panthers did that for 3 consecutive innings.    There were 51 total runs in the game.    Don’t credit this to good hitting.    Today was batting practice level pitching.    There were 18 pitchers used in this game (well, 17 pitchers, 1 position player) and only 2 were not scored upon for a total of 2/3 of an inning.       

This was a bad team versus a terrible team.    The Aggies should have swept this series, but instead might end up as the butt of a joke on Sports Center for this game.    They’ve already been made a joke of this week.    On the Clay and Buck political talkshow, a Missouri senator talking about NCAA rules mentioned that Arkansas had cut their Men’s and Women’s Tennis teams.    He said, “They’re in the SEC.    They’re not New Mexico State.”    Nine teams make the C-USA Baseball tournament.    That’s not a high bar.    Heads need to roll.

Gameballs?    After that rant?    Obviously, the Panthers did well hitting today.    I’ll highlight two.    Andrew Ildefonso did particularly well going 5 for 7 with 9 RBI’s (!) and 2 home runs.    On the other end, Cole Cleveland went 1 for 6.    That 1 was a grand slam home run.    It was that kind of day for FIU.   

The Aggies did pretty well hitting, too.    Steve Solorzano, possibly in his final game as an Aggie, went 4 for 7 with 2 RBI’s.    Aidan Taclas was 2 for 4 with 4 RBI’s and a home run.    Boston Vest was 2 for 3 with 3 RBI’s.    Aidan Lombardi was 1 for 4, but worked out 4 RBI’s.    That’s lots of hustle and on defense, as well.    I will single out one pitcher today.    Jaden Davis worked 3 innings and gave up 1 run.    That was a masterpiece by comparison to everyone else.         

      

In spite of the 8 hit batters, the teams did line up and shake hands.    As the FIU guys lined up, they tossed their gloves to the dugout.    (Is that a Little League tradition?)    I helped Michael take his signed souvenir posters to hand out to the players and said, “Goodbye.”    I found Trey and Robin and ranted to them about the game and said my farewells there.    There were a couple of AggieVision guys talking in the bathroom.    They were horrified by the game and its length, but pleased with their coverage for the day.

If the game had been quick, I might have just gone home, still full from lunch.    Four and a half hours later in the heat, I had my appetite back and wanted something to drink and some ice cream to cool off with.    I flirted with going to McDonald’s, but didn’t think I could take the disappointment if their ice cream machine was down.    A Chik-fil-a sandwich sounded better than a burger anyway.    Unfortunately, it was a bit of a disappointing meal, much like the season.    Dad called and wondered why I wasn’t home and if there were extra innings.    “Nope,” I said, “Care to guess the score?”    

I do plan on coming back for Baseball next year and the Crimson and White Volleyball Scrimmage, but at $10 a game, there won’t be many for me.    This will end with them charging for parking.    The other sports I’m done with, unless I get a free ticket.    All of the teams were .500 or worse.    I’ve got no reason to expect better from any of the Aggie Sports next year.   

Comics Review: Darkness, Flash, Luna, and Moonstar

I’ve picked up a few random comics at Zia Comics lately. I think I got these mostly in lieu of buying $40 trade paperbacks. I’m glad there are at least a few new comics coming out now that I’m interested in.

The Darkness #3

This one is kind of evil. I mean, it’s unsettling in an unpleasant and not really entertaining way. A mobster commanding some cute and some scary-looking tentacle demons against his enemies isn’t exactly a heroic setting. As the story moves forward, the good guys and bad guys will likely be better defined, but not here.

Somewhat less said about this the better, storywise. I don’t know what the difference is between this rebooted series and the original is. It seems about the same. Marc Silvestri is the writer on the comic, not the artist, though the art is very good. It is un-inked. The pencils are directly colored over. It’s good, but looks unfinished. I wish I’d found a Witchblade comic, instead. At least, she’s a cop with a supernatural entity attached to her and she’s easier to root for.

Flash Gordon #0 New Worlds to Conquer Prologue

The cover sold me on this. In the premise, essentially Flash Gordon takes off to Mongo and overthrows Ming there. He then makes the mistake of returning to a post-modern earth. He’s a hero, but soon shuffled off into a military bureaucracy to train recruits and stay out of the limelight. Being Flash, he can’t stay out of trouble though and leads his students on an unauthorized mission.

There’s a very strange dichotomy in this comic where Flash is absolutely classic Flash, but everyone else is, unfortunately, all too modern. It’s a bit humiliating watching Flash Gordon dealing with basically HR people and Gen Alpha kids. Still, he’s smart and doesn’t waiver in his convictions.

Free Comic Book Day was supposed to have an issue of this series available. I would have got it, if I’d had the opportunity. The publisher also produces a Flash Gordon on Mongo series. I think I’d probably be more interested in that, but this wasn’t too bad. This company, Mad Cave, also produces comics of The Phantom, Gatchaman, and Speed Racer.

Moonstar #1 and #2

I am a fan of this character (7-1-25 New Mutants and 6-15-25 X-Force), but I am surprised to see a solo series starring Dani Moonstar. This seems like a mini-series, but it’s not indicated anywhere. This follows up on a Magik solo series storyline, which is somewhat summarized in the opening two pages. (I’m kind of sorry I missed that, because I’m a fan of that character, too.)

Dani is paired with her Pegasus, Brightwind, and returns home to be with her parents. However, her former teammates from the Society of the Eternal Dawn track her down and ask for her help. This is awkward, since she helped bring down their organization. Regardless, they need her help in finding a lost artifact that’s causing mass murders.

In nearby Boulder, Colorado, an immortal Viking, Kyron, is using the sword to create an army of undead. Dani’s status as a Valkyrie gives her some special insight in combating this threat. As such, one of her comrades sacrifices herself to allow the other one, Kian, to save Dani, so she can continue the fight.

Next issue, Dani and Kian go to a lost tomb in China following a lead. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Dani in a romantic relationship. It’s still not happening here, as her and Kian are constantly sniping at each other, but there’s some emotional tension. Kyron is there and Dani has to fight a spirit form of her departed grandfather. He makes off with another artifact and takes Dani’s soul, as well!

Well, I have to get the next issue. (Especially since they shut down the “archive” site I was reading new comics off of.) There’s all sorts of stuff going on in the story that relates to other X-Men stories, but I could follow along well enough. The artwork is kind of anime-inspired. Dani’s normally never drawn cute, but with those big eyes, she is here. I appreciate that the writer, Ashley Allen, also seems to be a real fan of the character and kept the continuity with Dani’s personality and backstory. I didn’t appreciate the $5 price tag, but I really enjoyed these, so I’ll make an effort to get the next issue.

Luna Snow World Tour #1

I nearly forgot about buying this one on a previous trip. After I read it, the comic immediately went on display, instead of the review pile. I absolutely got this for the retro-disco cover with Dazzler. It’s too ketch to resist. This is a variant cover and Dazzler, regrettably, isn’t in the book.

I don’t know much about this character’s history, but Marvel is publishing a comic book about her because she’s in the popular Marvel Rivals computer game. (From my watching, Cloak and Dagger are popular characters in game, so expect a revival of them.) From the intro, Luna Snow is an ice-powered superhero and a K-pop star. (She predates K-pop Demon Hunters, by the way.)

In recent continuity, she was working for Emperor Doom, but then turned on him. She starts her comeback tour and is immediately confronted with the consequences of her actions. Some of the crowd is angry that she was allied with Doom. Some of crowd liked Doom’s rule and mad she turned on him. 

A riot ensues, but no problem. A new singer, Vibe, shows up and pacifies the crowd.

Luna is suddenly completely unpopular, while Vibe cleans up. Vibe’s doing a little too well and Luna is suspicious. Fellow superheroes, Sunfire and Wave, share Luna’s concerns and join with her, as kaiju show up at a Vibe concert in the Philippines. They have to fend them off.

Rick Jones, the Marvel Comics version of Jimmy Olsen, joins the group at the next concert in New York City. Vibe’s manager is revealed to be Starfox, former Avenger and brother of Thanos. He’s using his powers of Eros to spread love in an angry world and offers to make Luna his new avatar. She refuses and, ironically, Vibe is the one to drive Starfox off. The heroes’ reward for freeing the crowd from this supernatural manipulation is getting booed off stage. Luna and the others are okay with this result.

You know, I kind of loved this. The artwork is again cute and anime-inspired. There are not huge stakes in this, it’s almost a silly little story. Yet, there’s some actual deep themes present. Luna is having to deal with being famous and being manipulated. She’s also taking fallout for backing one side and then another. The public no longer trusts her either way. What’s interesting was the ending. There was no neat resolution; she’s still an outcast. The character just became interesting with new possibilities.

If Marvel was doing more thoughtful and sincere comics like Luna Snow and Moonstar, I’d be more inclined to buy more new comics. Unfortunately, these are outliers. I feel lucky I ran into these.