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Spoilers for: Geiger (2024) #23

Hi everyone! I am back to give my thoughts on Geiger (2024) #23. This issue marks the end of "The Norther: Dead America" arc. This is a slower issue that had a dynamic beginning and end. As you have all come to expect, I will give my thoughts on the issue, some major takeaways moving forward, and some speculation as to where I think the story will go. Below, is the Unnamed timeline that is a common feature in all of its titles.

Unnamed Timeline

Geiger (2024) #23 Thoughts

I thought that this was an alright issue in a vacuum. After reading it with the prior issues before, I found this ending to be somewhat lackluster. The reason I say this is because the bulk of this issue (and arc overall) exist to set up plot points we won't see for years. I'm sure by the time we do see those plot points happen, I will look back at this issue and arc with much more reverence, but as things stand right now we're getting more set up than payoff. This wouldn't be an issue if the books would come out on time, but they don't which is why this is an issue I am bringing up now. With that being said, I find it frustrating to wait 2-3 months for an issue that doesn't do much to payoff questions that were set up in previous issues in the arc.

The issue starts off with Geiger returning to some point before 2030. This is the first time in 25 years since Geiger has seen his family alive so the emotions were high for him. I felt as though the artwork in this section of the issue was so well done. You can truly see how deeply Geiger feels for his family in this sequence. It becomes all the more heartbreaking when he is quickly ripped away from.

Geiger Embracing his Family in an alternate Past in Geiger (2024) #23

I am curious as to if he was dropped into an alternate 2030 or the prime 2030? We haven't gotten many flashbacks to Geiger's past, but I would be shocked if a future issue doesn't flashback to Tracy, Marcus, and Violet talking to 2030 Geiger about seeing a bald version of himself drop out of the sky, cry in their arms, and then get sucked back into the sky. This is a future plot point that I am sure will be touched upon in the far future. As Geiger returns back to 2050 within the D.H.P. office, he and The Northerner receive a call from The Northerner's handler, Mrs. Freeman.

Much of what she has to say is similar to what The Northerner said in previous issues. She differs from The Northerner in the sense that she is clearly operating under a much larger picture than our heroes. To me, she's like the M to The Northerner's James Bond. We do get to learn what the name of the group The Cobbler belongs to, The Restoration Guild. I will discuss more about this group later. Geiger threatens Mrs. Freeman leaves with Barney. The issue then closes with Geiger getting ambushed by an army of Junkyard Joes. They overpower him and Barney and as the issues ends with Geiger coming face to face with The Custodian. A solid way to end the issue and arc!

Some Takeaways Moving Forward

Geiger and The Northerner make it to the D.H.P. office and speak with Mrs. Freeman

The Restoration Guild is the group The Cobbler belongs to

According to Mrs. Freeman, there are still temporal issues in the Civil War

According to Mrs. Freeman, The Restoration Guild's temporal interference is limited to the Civil War

There is someone who works in the D.H.P. who went out of their way to send the Time Tank to help Geiger, The Northerner, and Barney on their quest

The Northerner has been sent out 2050 to some time presumably during the Civil War

What happens in the future can also, mysteriously affect the past as well. See image below:

Mrs. Freeman's phone being affected by Geiger in Geiger (2024) #23

My Speculation on What's to Come from Geiger (2024)

With this issue in the books, I find the future of Geiger to be quite interesting! We know from various press releases, that issue #25 will be a major giant-sized issue that introduces us to Widow-X, alongside a prelude to the Geiger/Redcoat in Radioactive Revolution. Issue #24 looks to be a Joe specific issue. My guess is that we will finally see Joe escape this catatonic state and begin looking for Geiger. We will see Joe come to blows with his robotic brethren and ultimately put a stop to The Custodian. I think it would be the most poetic to have him taken down by the other Joe's.

Conclusion

Geiger (2024) #23 was a solid albeit tame ending to what has been a fun but short arc. The major exposition that we got is mostly a repeat of what The Northerner had told Geiger at the start of the arc, but we did get some interesting plot points. As a concluding issue to the arc, I was disappointed knowing that the major reveal was more or less a repeat of information we got earlier in the arc. A lot of my frustration comes from having to wait extended periods of time for each issue to drop. I wouldn't complain as much as I am had the issues come out from month to month, but it's clear that this issue will not subside anytime soon. That aside, this was yet another fun issue that moved the plot along, albeit slowly.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post! I will be back on r/GhostMachineComics in the near future to give my thoughts on Hyde Street #12. I will also be back on here to give my thoughts on Redcoat #18. In the future, would you like for me to cover the Unnamed issues in smaller individual issue posts like I've been doing, or would you like for me to cover them in larger arc posts? I've been going back and forth on the idea. I would love to get everyone's input! If I receive no word, I will continue to do the shorter issue to issue posts!

Spoilers for: Geiger (2024) #19 and #22, and Junkyard Joe #6

Hi everyone! It's been a while, but I am back to give my thoughts on Geiger (2024) #22. This is the penultimate issue of this story arc. This was a solid issue that had great callbacks to previous issues and awesome story set up for future issues! As is common in all my other posts, I will give my thoughts on the issue, some major takeaways moving forward, and some speculation as to where I think the story will go. Below, is the Unnamed timeline that is a common feature in all of its titles.

Unnamed Timeline

Geiger (2024) #22 Thoughts

I enjoyed this issue! It succeeded in showing how much bigger the world of the Unnamed has become with the re-introduction of the St. Louis Strays. I liked seeing Geiger, Barney, and The Northerner interact with this group. Like Geiger, Ash has made her impact on America as well, and it's nice to see the consequences of characters actions. Through Geiger's eyes, we see how the Unknown War has shaped the lives of these children for the worse. Through Geiger's eyes, we see how these children have survived on their own. They prioritize weaponry and munitions over books and toys.

It's a shame that they were born into such an unforgiving time. Luckily, Geiger's parental instincts kick in and he provides a respite for the children through reading to them. The heart of these books is that each of these American myths were regular people who had families they care deeply for. I love seeing Geiger be a father. It's the most integral aspect of his character as a whole.

Geiger Reading to the Strays in Geiger (2024) #22

The major highlight of this issue was getting our first bits of dialogue from Widow X. From various interviews (and the Ghost Machine Handbook) we know that she will be making her first appearance in issue #25 later this fall. I will be deeply interested to see how Ms. Hollow interacts with Geiger once she enters the narrative properly.

Widow X's first dialogue in Geiger (2024) #22

The final section of this issue sees Geiger, The Northerner, and Barney on their last stretch towards the Department of Historical Preservation. During this travel sequence, we get another great dialogue exchange between Geiger and North. In the short time that we have seen these two together, they have shown an amazing repour with one another. While Geiger is still skeptical of North, he has warmed up to him a little. This is best shown in their banter the two have. I will dive more into the details of this exchange in the next section. As our band of heroes make it to the D.H.P. they are all suddenly time dropped to different points in time. We only see where Geiger ends up-- which is sometime before The Unknown War in front of his wife and Children on their home in Boulder City Nevada. This is the best cliffhanger yet!

Some Takeaways Moving Forward

Geiger, The Northerner, and Barney come into contact with the St. Louis Strays

Widow X makes her first dialogue appearance in the word of The Unnamed

Widow X is aware of the trap that Geiger, The Northerner, and Barney are about to fall into

Widow X seems to have some sort of astral/temporal telepathy ability that allows her to speak to someone across time and space

Widow X wants The Northerner to look for her on August 36th

According to The Northerner from the D.H.P. he had kids and a wife in an alternate timeline

Geiger, The Northerner, and Barney are all time dropped into different points in time and space

Geiger is time dropped into his home in front of his alive wife and children sometime before The Unknown War

My Speculation on What's to Come from Geiger (2024)

After this issue, I think it's more than evident that we will see who the arc antagonist is. If I had to make a guess, I would put my money on The Cobbler. Though, I would not be surprised if it is another member in The Cobbler's group, because we know that he is not working alone. I suspect that we won't see Geiger and company reunite from sometime as issue #24 looks to focus on Junkyard Joe and his encounter with his brothers with redcoat having plot relevance as well.

I think that issue #25 will see Geiger and Barney return to 2050 through the help of Widow X. The Northerner will be time dropped somewhere else for another adventure most likely with Redcoat. This experience will change Geiger and give him the new goal of trying to fix the past. This will cause him and Widow X to try and find The Northerner so that they can try and stop the Cobbler and his group of rogue time travelers.

Conclusion

Geiger (2024) #22 was a solid continuation to what has been the best arc in this run to date! This issue succeeded in not only showing the heart and soul of this franchise, but also widening the scope of the world these characters inhabit. I loved that we got a breadcrumb to Widow X. She is looking to be yet another interesting character in this narrative. Thank you for reading my post!  I will be back on r/GhostMachineComics in the near future to give my thoughts on Hyde Street #12 when it drops. I will also be back on here to give my thoughts on Geiger (2024) #23 after it releases. I would to hear your thoughts and feelings on this issue and all things Ghost Machine!