FNF (Round 2): M3 result and M4 combatants

Round 2, Match 3 results

This is another fight that was hard to call...not so much because the winner is doubt.  I just don't like the outcome.

The Veiled Avenger clearly has the advantage in hand-to-hand combat skill.  She's pretty masterful with that whip.  She's repeatedly used it to keep larger physically-imposing males at a distance--even when they're armed with pistols!  If any ever do close in on her, she's demonstrated hand-to-hand skills that are at least as formidable as Ion's.

The core problem is simply the power differential.  First, the fight takes place out doors.  Consequently, there's nothing to stop Ion from taking full advantage of his flight ability. Second, even when he closes in on the Avenger--and even if her reflexes are fast enough to lash out at him with her whip--it apparently takes quite a lot to penetrate his force-field.  Though it's never defined precisely how much, I've got to believe it's more than a bullwhip, no matter how skillfully wielded.  At the end of the day, even when the Avenger brings her A-game, I'd think Ion just wears her down.  (And the kid has demonstrated the guts to take a punch and carry on the fight, so I'd have no doubts about Ion's grit.)

Apparently, the voters agree.  It's unanimous, Ion goes to the third round!

Midnight vs. Bullets Balow: pt. 1 (Smash Comics #40)

Smash Comics # 40 (February 1943)

Midnight feature (Midnight vs. Bullets Balow)

 

This is story left me feeling like the publisher was up against a deadline and just had to crank something out.  Of course, that may not be what happened,but...well, just see for yourself.

The story begins with Wackey, Midnight, and Gabby in their secret lair puzzling over the seeming disappearance of wanted criminal "Bullets" Balow.  Exasperated with his team's failure to find any trace of Balow in eight weeks, Midnight decides to go for a quick five-minute walk.  The reader's attention is hooked, then, when our navy-behued hero returns at the appointed time with a severely-beaten Balow slung over his shoulder!

Midnight tosses the barely-conscious criminal onto an easy chair.  Balow continuously begs his stunned onlookers to, "keep her away from me!"  Meanwhile, Midnight dials the local police department, announces he's captured Balow, and casually invites officers to "come over and pick him up."

Yes, you read that right comics fans.  In the ongoing bi-polar annals of whether Midnight's crime-fighting lair and identity are secret or not (see here, here, and here for background), our daring protagonist has invited the cops to drop by without even giving them so much as a street address!


Meanwhile, Wackey and Gab are simply beside themselves begging for the story of how in the world he found Balow.   

Honestly, I don't like the way Midnight's depicted here.  He comes across as a rather paternalistic jerk.  Meanwhile, his "partners" look more like kids waiting on daddy's story-time. 

Midnight explains that after leaving the lair, he went for a drive.  As he was cruising around the mind-clearing turns of "Killer's Corner," our hero apparently dozed off and shot through a guard rail.

Rather than crashing to a fiery death, Big City's sentinel bursts through a cloud bank and into "The Land of Flight," a place which seems to be populated by men who look like Oomp Loompas, and women who only wear 40's era lingerie.

Get a load of the grin on Midnight's face!  (C'mon, man. At least make the attempt to show a little self-control.)

 Unfortunately for our hero, he doesn't get much opportunity to with the attractive denizen--whom, incidentally, we learn is named "Velvet"--because he's set upon by the Oompa Loompa Fan Boys.

Am I the only one who finds it a little strange that the "security" in the "Land of Flight" are apparently armed with nothing more than over-sized kitchen knives? 

Midnight learns that the reason for his reception is that another outsider had previously come (Guess who) and wound up marrying Robustia, the Queen of Flight.  No sooner is this revealed, however, than our hero is felled by a blow from behind with what appears to be a handgun.

Obvious question:  If the goal was to kill Midnight, why not just shoot him right off the bat?  Is this guy like the Barney Fife of the Land of Flight?  Could he not locate his one bullet?

FNF (Round 2): M2 result and M3 combatants

Round 2, Match 2 results

Despite being a fan of Cutthroat, by popular acclaim--and I honestly can't disagree--he gets his clock cleaned by the old-timer Wizard!  But really, I don't care how sharp your knife is, when you're going up against a guy who can casually swing around yard arms from a 19th century sea-going vessel, you're just out of luck.  Wizard wins!