Chapter 17 | Page 3b: Hot Stuff

Posted on December 19, 2025 by Brad Guigar

Today’s page takes us back to Ralph’s Diner, where Captain Heroic proves—once again—that nothing rattles him… not even a surprise soup bath.

Hailey is mortified, Captain Heroic is dripping, and somewhere across the diner, Yazmine Velour is livestreaming the whole thing as heart emojis rain from the internet. It’s a small moment, but one that says a lot about who Cap really is—and why people can’t help falling for him.

Transcript

Panel 1
Hailey (distraught that she has dumped hot soup on Captain Heroic): Omigod Omigod Omigod…

Captain Heroic (turning to another person eating at the diner): Excuse me. Would you hand me a napkin, please? (The person hands him a napkin)

Panel 2

Hailey: I’m so sorry Captain Heroic, sir. I didn’t mean to — {sob}

Panel 3

Captain Heroic (handing her the napkin): Here. Please don’t cry.

Panel 4

Captain Heroic (continues): Most of my first impressions involve disintegration rays. And actual impressions. In concrete.

Panel 5

Captain Heroic: This was far more pleasant — not counting the bay leaf in my shirt.Yazmine Velour (as she livestreams the interaction from the other side of the diner, a torrent of heart emojis flow from her phone as the audience reacts): Omigod Omigod Omigod

After Dark

This week's commissioned MicroFic delivers exactly what you’d want from a pairing between Dynasty and Father Christmas.

  • Yes, he lives up to his name.

  • Yes, Dynasty knew exactly what she was doing.

  • No, the North Pole will never be the same.

I also posted the Goblin Girl MicroFic from the Monster Girl poll — and the response was so good, I might need to make these poll-powered MicroFics a recurring thing!

Preview; New Avengers #53

Posted on June 8, 2009 by Brad Guigar

New Avengers #53
 Creative team: Story by Brian Michael Bendis; art by Billy Tan & Matt Banning

Villain to Watch: Madame Masque, Brother Voodoo

Brian Michael Bendis seizes the award for Best Dialogue of the Month for the latest ish of New Avengers. In the opening pages, Spider-Woman admonishes Clint Barton to “land the damned Quinjet.”

Spider-Woman: I’m justing saying, I could have flown here faster with my web pits.

Meanwhile, Spider-man has a Moment with Luke Cage:

Spider-man: Hey, Luke, man. About that thing with me and your wife before?

Spider-man: You know. About her being in love with me in high school?

Spider-man: I swear. I did not know about this. I swear.

Spider-man: I mean she’s cute and all but…

Spider-man: But don’t you worry, man. I believe in the statues of marriage. Or the institution.

Spider-man: Yeah. The institution. I’m all about it.

Spider-man: So don’t worry about me or anything like that.

Cage, having simmered through a beautiful slow burn rendered by Tan and Banning, scowls more deeply at Web Head.

Spider-man: But you and Iron Fist broke up, right? Because I’d like to take a shot at that action.

Spider-man: Heh.

Beyond the deft comic relief, this is another title that is heating up nicely in the post-Civil-War Marvel universe. Dr. Strange is preparing the world for a new Sorcerer Supreme since he, himself had resorted to Dark Arts in the preceding conflict. The Eye of Agamotto has let loose, Green-Lantern-ring style to find a new torch-bearer. And you’ll never believe whom it found: None other than B-list baddie hero Brother Voodoo. OK, it was aiming for Daimon Hellstrom, but nobody’s perfect, right? I had fallen away from New Avengers over the past few months because I just couldn’t hang with the art. Between Bendis’ sharp dialogue and the current visual team, I’m going to have to add it to my Pull List once again.