Spoilers for: Redcoat #7, #8, #20

Hi everyone! I am back sooner than expected, to finally give my thoughts on Redcoat #20. This was a tragically cathartic issue that picked up directly where issue #19 left off. Like all my posts, I will give my general thoughts on the issue, some major takeaways, and some speculation as to what direction the story will go in the future Furthermore, I have included the Unnamed timeline below.

Unnamed Timeline

Redcoat #20 Thoughts

Issue #20 revolves around the immediate aftermath of the events of issue #19. Personally, this issue did not reach the emotional highs of issue #19, but that is not to insinuate that the overall quality was a step down from last issue. With that being said, you can feel the anger that emanates from Simon in this issue, and I love that! Simon gets to enact his revenge on Benedict Arnold and it is a brutal affair. Simon handles Arnold like Batman does the Joker. Arnold truly played into the Joker role in this issue, with how much glee he had after murdering Simon's family.

I loved seeing Simon's actions in this issue! Even though he's a historical hero, he is anything but after the death of his family. Knowing the context behind Simon's vow to kill Arnold in issue #8 makes seeing that vow in real time in this issue all the more heartbreaking and satisfying! I'm not a parent, so I can't fathom what Simon is going through, but I would be lying if I said I didn't understand why Simon did what he did to Arnold and his lackeys.

Simon's vow to Kill Benedict Arnold in real time in Redcoat #20

The acts of brutality Simon commits shows the complexity of his character. Deep down, he is a truly good person, but even the best of us can be pushed to do the darkest things when pushed beyond their limits. Issue #7 becomes one of the better issues in this series because of this arc and I love that! Seeing why Simon is so self deprecating in 1955 makes so much more sense now that we have the bigger picture on what happened in 1909. I will be curious to see how Simon and Einstein's next interaction will go, considering that they stop interacting with each other for the next 46 years after this tragedy.

The most chilling part of this issue for me was how Arnold's smile never fades throughout the entire issue. He detests every aspect of Simon's existence and gains his most delight from seeing him suffer. Benedict Arnold, is the best villain in this franchise. I have said this before in previous posts, but Arnold sets himself apart from all other Unnamed antagonists by having a deep connection to Simon. Arnold hates everything that Simon represents, and can't fathom being bested by someone who stumbled into power. Arnold is such a small man, and an amazing portrayal of an inferiority complex. He has to make everyone around him hurt more because he chooses not to heal himself.

Arnold's last words to Simon as of 1909 in Redcoat #20

Some Takeaways Moving Forward

Simon exacts his revenge on Arnold and the men Arnold hired

Benedict Arnold and the Axe of Lies are trapped under cement

My Speculation on What's to Come from Redcoat

With more context for the tragedy of 1909, I think that next issue will show the falling out between Simon and Einstein. We know from Albert's elderly character card, and issue #7 that they stopped interacting with one another shortly after. Like in this issue and issue #19 I believe that we are in for further heartbreak as Simon will push Einstein away in his rageful grief. I suspect that this issue will have a slower pace and focus on the rapid devolvement of Simon and Einstein's friendship.

Conclusion

Redcoat #20 was a knockout issue that continues the momentum of issue #19 in a heartbreaking way. I like that Simon's revenge feels hollow. It adds another complex layer to his character and further builds on how detestable Benedict Arnold is. Thank you for taking the time to read this post! I am trying something new, with the format of my posts, by increasing the header size. Please give me your thoughts on this change, if I hear nothing, I will continue with the new format. I will be back in the near future to give my thoughts on the phenomenal issue #25 of Geiger and the excellent issue #13 of Hyde Street on r/GhostMachineComics. I would love to hear your thoughts on this issue, and all things Ghost Machine!

Spoilers for: Redcoat #7, #8, #15-19

Hi everyone! I am back sooner than expected, to finally give my thoughts on Redcoat #19. This is to date, one of my all time favorite issues within the Unnamed line of books! There is so much I want to discuss in this issue, so I won't waste anymore of your time. Like all my posts, I will give my general thoughts on the issue, some major takeaways, and some speculation as to what direction the story will go in the future Furthermore, I have included the Unnamed timeline below.

Unnamed Timeline

Redcoat #19 Thoughts

As I said before, this was one of my favorite individual issues in the Unnamed line of books and maybe one of my favorite issues of Redcoat ever! This is an issue that is chock full of tragedy. As this arc progressed we all knew that something bad was going to happen to Simons family, as alluded to in issue #7, and briefly seen in issue #8 when Simon vows to kill "him." We now know that the him he is referring to is his long time immortal rival, Benedict Arnold. In retrospect, I don't see how it could have been anyone other than Arnold.

There are many characters that hate Simon Pure for one reason or another, but no one truly detests him like Arnold. Seeing each of the people die in successive and horrific ways, in the reverse order by which Simon spoke to them last was deeply gut wrenching. Arnold is, without a shadow of doubt, the best villain in this franchise right now. He is a narrative and visual opposite to Simon in every conceivable way. This makes him an easy foil right off the bat. On a deeper level, it's evident that Arnold is a deeply envious man who is empty beyond belief. Seeing a man (Simon), who in his eyes, is beneath him not only foil his plans, but live a fulfilling life with a wife and children eats at him deeply.

What makes Arnold the best villain for me is how personally connected he is to Simon. Arnold has only appeared in two arcs and in both occasions he has gone out of his way to make Simon's life miserable. Arnold has a miniscule sense of that forces him to lash out in petty and destructive ways. He wasn't given recognition by Washington, so he betrayed the rebels in service to of England. then after finally being freed from solitude underneath the Hudson River, he tracks down Simon only to see that he moved on with his life. Arnold has lived for years upon years, and yet with his immortal lifespan, he is incapable of real change. The final panel of this issue is the perfect summation of his character.

Benedict Arnold at the end of Redcoat #19

Some Takeaways Moving Forward

Benedict Arnold has murdered various people in Simon's life, including Simon's wife and children

We now have context as to the major loss Simon went through in issue #7

My Speculation on What's to Come from Redcoat

Since we now know who Simon vows to kill as seen briefly in issue #8 it is safe to assume that Arnold finds away to escape. I think that Arnold will be saved by the Founding Fathers lackeys and whoever that mysterious man who had that mysterious ring in issue #17. My final guess is that this mysterious man will be George Washington. Given how much he has been built up, I think it would be a huge miss for him to not show up to some capacity in this arc.

The Mysterious Man in Redcoat #17

I think this makes the most sense as Washington has been built up for sometime, and even his lackeys are even proclaiming that they were on the hunt for Arnold on his command. I think it'll make the most sense considering that he has been built up for some time now. If it's not Washington, then I believe that it will be Paul Revere, but I do think it'll be unlikely that it's him.

Simon's vow to (presumably) kill Benedict Arnold in Redcoat #8

Conclusion

Redcoat #19 was an emotional gut wrenching issue that saw Simon see the greatest tragedy he has ever had to face up until this point as one of the ever-living. I thought that this was well built up and executed. As I mentioned before, we knew that something bad would happen to someone Simon cared deeply for and we saw how his time with Albert ended. Knowing that he had a family and they died because of the secret he kept from them hurts on so many levels. This is one of my all time favorite issue from this book, and from this line of comics! Thank you for taking the time to read my post! I will be back in the near future for the Ghost Machine books I normally cover! I would live to hear your thoughts on this issue and all things Ghost Machine!

Spoilers for: The Unbelievables Comic Line

Hi everyone! It has been a while, but I am back to give my thoughts on the concluding issue of The Unbelievables introduction issue, The Trillion Dollar Kid #2. This issue picks up from issue #13 of The Rocketfellers. Tommy's robot butler Sterling caught a virus in that issue, and now Tommy, Rose, Zach, and the Rocketfellers are in hot pursuit. I thought that this was a fine issue that did decent job in ending this event opener. Like with my last post, I will give my thoughts on the issue, some major takeaways within the issue, questions I have after reading the issue, and speculation as to where I think the series will go. Since there is no timeline or scoreboard, I will instead use the roadmap that has been prevalent from the past couple of issues.

The Unbelievables Road Map

The Trillion Dollar Kid #2 Thoughts

This issue was a step down for me, but still a fun read overall. This issue picks up from issue #13 of The Rocketfellers. Sterling picks up a virus that causes him to go haywire and abruptly leave the Rocketfeller residence. We now pick up from where that issue left off with Sterling breaking into Ernie V. Vanderbrook (Tommy's rival) robot factory.

I like that this issue had action to round things off. But, I did not like that the action was hard to follow on the page. This is a personal gripe I will admit. A lot of the action in this specific issue is just not good. It was hard to follow what was happening because the backgrounds look muddy and the characters often looked like smudges on a camera lens. I get it, art especially on tight monthly deadlines means that some corners will be cut, but the artwork we got in this particular issue was surprising in the worst way because in the prior issue, the artwork looked great.

An example of the Action in The Trillion Dollar Kid #2

From a narrative perspective, this issue was fine. I thought that it did a good job of wrapping up this event while also setting up the future titles we are going to get in the coming years. I think that it's a smart idea to use the established books and characters to introduce the newer characters to to the audience. Tommy was a funny POV character who I thought excelled in his role in widening the scope of this established universe. With the announcement of a Geiger show and Redcoat movie, I think that a cartoon universe for the various Unbelievables titles would be a great way to reach a wider audience! I will be interested to see how Tommy appears in later titles. I enjoyed his introduction and role in this universe quite a bit!

Some Major Takeaways Moving Forward

Tommy, The Rocketfellers, Horsnby and Halo were able to stop a corrupted Sterling from causing a robot revolution

Hornsby and Halo are on the hunt for The Deadtones, "a rock band of monsters"

Tommy believes that the reason whoever took his family was because they were looking for the Unbelievables

Ernie V. Vanderbrook was behind the virus that Sterling got

Ernie is also on the hunt for the Unbelievables and is setting his sites for the creatures on Dr. Moreau's island

Dr. Moreau has recently passed away, and now his creatures plan to meet his great grandson Max Moreau

Tommy and Sterling are heading to Chicago, Illinois in search of Jean Genie

My Speculation on What's to Come from The Trillion Dollar Kid

With the end of this initial comic event, it's clear that the next time we see Tommy will be in Jean Genie #1 which will come out some time in 2027. If I had to hazard a guess, I believe that his role in her story will be similar to what his role was in The Rocketfellers and Hornsby & Halo. If Tommy's book does not continue on its own, which appears the most likely, I speculate that he will fill the role of Nick Fury in the MCU; an important background figure whose role is to bring all of these larger than life figures together.

I could see a reality where Tommy does get a continuation in his own self title. I imagine the story would revolve around him losing most if not all of his wealth in the pursuit of his family, possibly by the hands of Ernie V. Vanderbrook. Vanderbrook looks to be the overarching antagonist for this line of comics and this is clearly not the last we will see of him, as he is also on the hunt for the Unbelievables. I think that Tommy losing his wealth would be a fun wrinkle in his story and would add a lot of interesting tension to his own title moving forward. We know that there are agents of some sort looking for The Rocketfellers as seen in their book in issue #12. Perhaps these agents are working for Ernie or for some secret government organization. Time will tell.

The Mysterious Agents at the end of The Rocketfellers #12

Conclusion

The Trillion Dollar Kid #2 was a step down in artistic quality, but another steady step in its narrative. I think that this event, "Who are the Unbelievables" was a necessary one as the Family Odyssey line was getting to be a bit stale. This event reinvigorated my interest for this line of books offered by Ghost Machine! I really like Tommy Townsend as a character, and I will happily read anything that he is in! This line of comics finally has narrative structure and looks to be building towards something big in the coming years! I will be excited to see how the coming titles will unfold after this event! Thank you for taking the time to read my post! I would love to hear your thoughts on this issue and all things Ghost Machine!

Spoilers for: Redcoat #14-19

Hi everyone! It has been a long while, but I am back to give my thoughts on Redcoat #18. This issue continues on where issue #17 left off. Since issue #19 has already been released, I will speculate on who I think the mysterious man with the Founding Fathers ring from issue #17. For the sake of this issue, I will only focus on what happens on issue #18 and not discuss what happens in issue #19 in great detail. Like all my posts, I will give my general thoughts on the issue, some major takeaways, and some speculation as to what direction the story will go in the future Furthermore, I have included the Unnamed timeline below.

The Unnamed Timeline

Redcoat #18 Thoughts

I thought that this was an alright issue that delivered on the initial plot point of Simon lying to his wife. The start and end of the issue were alright as they focused on the fall out of The Founding Fathers lackeys kidnapping Arnold and the result of that respectively. The best part of the issue was the conversation that Simon had with Margaret. He finally reveals the truth about his immortality and it was given the necessary gravity that I could have asked for.

I thought that this issue was especially good because of this interaction! I wish that the arc incorporated Margaret and her kids more into the narrative, but for what we got I have enjoyed them! Seeing this couple wrestle with their own personal conflicts was quite gripping. These are the kind of interactions that make me enjoy this book as whole. I thought that this conversation was set up and executed well. You understand where both people are coming from and why they make the decisions they do. This makes this conversation all the more heartbreaking.

Margaret Leaving Simon in Redcoat #18

The end of the issue was also well done. We get a slight action sequence which had a decent flow to it. The end of the issue being Simon reading Margaret's letter was maybe more heartbreaking than the conversation that he had with her. It was a great way to end a cathartic issue. Having read issue #19 a few weeks ago, this issue was so much more enjoyable as a result! I finally feel like we are building to a major climax and are going to see why 1909 was such a pivotal year for Simon and Albert.

Some Takeaways Moving Forward

The Founding Fathers have captured Benedict Arnold

According to one of the Found Fathers Members, they serve George Washington

Simon reveals his secret immortality to Margaret and she later takes their kids and leave him

The Founding Fathers members are looking for George Washington's Axe of Lies

Benedict tells Simon to educate himself stating, "Rise above the common man. Stand in the old house and judge like a king--"

My Speculation on What's to Come from Redcoat

As of this post, issue #19 has already dropped. With that in mind, I think that we do not have the full picture on who the man with the rig is from issue #17. I do now think that this mystery man is George Washington, and I believe that this is him making his play to draw out Simon and take out Benedict Arnold in one fell swoop. I think that it would make the most sense given the fact that we know he has been active yet covert and he seems to be keeping tabs on Simon as seen at the end of issue #14 when he talks to himself after walking through the burned remains of the White House.

Conclusion

Redcoat #18 was a solid issue that excelled on providing major character drama through a well built reveal that was masterfully set up. The actual plot progression was a bit slow, as the start and end of the issue were ostensibly the same sequence but in different locations. Thank you for taking the time to read this post! I apologize the late release of this issue, I have been busy with some great changes in my life as of late! In the future, I will be more prompt with dropping my reviews for these issues moving forward. Moving forward, I will drop posts on issue #19 of Redcoat and The Trillion Dollar Kid #2. I would love to hear your thoughts on this issue and all things Ghost Machine!

Spoilers for: Geiger (2024) #24

Hi everyone! I am back to give my thoughts on Geiger (2024) #24. This issue marks the start of the next story arc, and looks to set up a lot of interesting conflicts, that will ultimately pay of in Radioactive Revolution next year. This was a strong introductory issue that had solid action, great character insight, and a solid cliffhanger that looks to set up a major conflict culmination for issue #25. As is customary for my 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) #24 Thoughts

Issue #24 was a solid introductory issue that excelled in all of the aforementioned areas I discussed in the introduction. On Geiger's side, we pick up directly where issue #23 left off, with him and Barney fighting off the army of Junkyard Joes. One thing I liked about this fight was how it showed a clear progression in Geiger's strength. While yes, the issue does open up with him being held down, it's him being held down by multiple Joe's. In his initial book, he struggled to fight even just one. So it was a nice change of pace to see that same type of tension come back, through an increase in stakes.

Geiger being held down by Junkyard Joe Army in Geiger (2024) #24

For me, this issue succeeded in showing how each of the main players reckon with their pasts. I thoroughly enjoyed the conversation between Nate and Dr. Molotov. Both men are so haunted by their past actions they influence how they exist in the world today. For Nate, he recognizes how problematic of a person he used to be and decides to change for the better due in part to his admiration for Geiger. For Dr. Molotov, he is haunted by his part in developing the technology that would ultimately cause the Unknown War and his creation of Geiger. He differs from Nate in that he continues to allow himself to be haunted by his actions and stop himself from being able to make a difference in the present. I will be interested to see how both men develop.

The Custodian, even maimed, shows how threatening of an antagonist he is. This issue dove deeper into his motivations behind wanting to reclaim the original Joe. I can say that his stock as one of the better villains in the Unnamed universe has rose for me. He mirrors Geiger when it comes to the capacity of parenthood. He also mirrors Dr. Molotov in the relationship he has to creating a member of The Unnamed. I do hope we see more of The Custodian in this series. He is an interesting foil who I think presents a great deal of story potential as a recurring antagonist.

The Custodian talking to Geiger about the role of parents in Geiger (2024) #24

The issue then caps off with a major fight sequence. Joe, Zigzag, and Dr. Molotov have finally found Geiger, and fight their way through the horde Joes. Seeing Joe back in action like this was amazing! It's clear why he is seen as the most important machine The Custodian covets. The issue then ends with the President Griffin entering the fray meeting Geiger for the first time officially. I will be interested to see how a fight between these two will transpire!

Some Takeaways Moving Forward

Geiger can be subdued by an army of Junkyard of Joes

Dr. Molotov has fully repaired Joe by removing a failsafe presumably implanted by The Custodian

The Custodian finally reveals his deeper reasons for wanting Junkyard Joe in his custody

According to Dr. Molotov, the other Junkyard Joes aren't as resilient as the original

President Griffin meets Geiger for the first time

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

With the end of this issue, and some of the tidbits we've been given, issue #25 looks to be a major issue for Geiger. We know that Widow X will make her first official appearance in the story. We also know that this issue will serve as a prelude to the Geiger/Redcoat crossover Radioactive Revolution. With this issue being 40 pages long, I suspect that we will see a change in perspectives as the issue progresses. I think that this will make the most sense for all of the things that are promised for this major landmark issue.

We will most definitely see the fight between Geiger and President Griffin. I believe that this is where we will see what's underneath Griffin's bandages. If I had to hazard a guess as to the nature of his abilities, I think he is similar to Geiger; where Geiger is a walking nuclear bomb that utilizes fusion and fission, Griffin is like the sun only using nuclear fission. I think this makes the most for Griffin's powers mainly because he has a similar visual motif to Geiger, in having to have his powers concealed. Moreover, his power signature looks. Perhaps the reason that Griffin wants control over Geiger is because he believes that Geiger is more versatile power source, and the biggest threat to him remaking America.

President Griffin meeting Geiger at the end of Geiger (2024) #24

As things relate to Widow X, I think that the issue will cut away back to the 1990's to give us our first real look at her. I think that this would be the best way for us to get our first look at her if the story decides to cut away from the action. The most plausible way I see her getting introduced is either near the start or end of the issue. If she's seen at the start, then I will stick to my aforementioned speculation. If she's at the end, I suspect that her appearance will be that she is on the hunt for Geiger.

Conclusion

Geiger (2024) #24 was an amazing introductory arc that delivered great development to side characters and solid action sequences. We won't be getting anymore Geiger until September (fingers crossed), but I am happy where things left off. Next issue looks to be an all timer, so I am very excited to see what transpires then! Thank you for taking the time to read my post! I will be back in the near future to give my thoughts on Redcoat on here and r/GhostMachineComics and Hyde Street specifically on r/GhostMachineComics when the eventually drop on. I would love to hear your thoughts on this issue and all things Ghost Machine!

Spoilers for: Hyde Street #1-12

Hi everyone! I am back to give my thoughts on Hyde Street #12. This issue continues the Butcher of Hyde Street arc in a major way! This was an excellent issue that not only raised the stakes, provided more insight into a major mystery, but also did a solid job of continuing previous plot points. As is common with all of my other posts, I will give my thoughts on the issue, some major takeaways within the issue, questions I have after reading the issue, and speculation as to where I think the series will go. Since there is no timeline that displays the characters, I will instead utilize the Hyde Street Deliveries scoreboard from issue #1 since that gives us the best display of all of the potential denizens we will see as the series progresses. It should be noted that as of this issue, the scoreboard is not accurate.

Hyde Street Deliveries Scoreboard in Hyde Street #1 (Not Up to Date)

Hyde Street #12 Thoughts

Once again, the team working on this book found a way to top last issue in terms of overall quality! I think that this book has the best issue to issue plot progression given the delays it suffers. The book opens up with Pranky plotting to free The Butcher and then immediately cutting to The Matinee Monster and Sisterhood discussing her plan to go and find Mr. X-Ray after hearing >!The Butcher's proposition from last issue!<. I enjoyed seeing Sisterhood scheme. She is not a good person by any means, but all of this is in service of gaining freedom for her sister and herself. This shows that while she is a monster, there is still semblance of humanity within her.

Sisterhood and her Sister in Hyde Street #12

The issue then cuts back to the Monster's castle as we see Pranky make his move to free The Butcher from his captivity. We get an interesting exchange between Pranky, The Monster, and The Butcher, that was present within Sisterhood's hood own character card. The Butcher explains that>! The Matinee Monster fell in love with Sisterhood after she lied about her feelings for him, in an attempt to get him to help her trap the Butcher back in 1953!<. A cruel twist of fate for The Monster, but definitely in line for Sisterhood. This part of the issue then ends with us seeing the beginning stages of a rematch between Pranky and The Monster. While I don't mind the conversations between these characters, I must admit that I do enjoy when we get to see them in action. Ivan Reis is quite great at drawing action!

The issue then cuts back to Mr. X-Ray and Dr. Ego in Ego's office after X-Ray encountered Judy last issue. The two men debrief on what X-Ray saw. Ego vows to have Miss Dee and Doe look into Edmund Ripley>!, the supposed real name of The Scorekeeper!<. I found this exchange between these two to be quite fascinating. Even though neither of these men are detectives, they have sharp analytical minds coming to interesting conclusions about why Judy appeared >!and why Mr. X-Ray's glasses allowed him to see his daughter in the present as a child and not as an older woman!<. I will be interested to see what these two uncover as their path for the truth splits them up. The issue then transitions back to Ms. Goodbody, briefly, as a potential victim is trying to enter her store. The issue then cuts back to the fight between Pranky and The Monster. >!Pranky ends the fight by electrocuting The Monster incapacitating him long enough to free The Butcher from his prison!<.

With the Butcher now free, >!his first major act is killing Pranky!<! This was a major shock as I assumed that he was going to have larger plans for him, but I guess not. That's not to insinuate that I am disappointed with this result. This act by The Butcher shows just how much of a threat he is to not just the other residents but also to The Scorekeeper as well. >!Killing Pranky has also affected the Scorekeeper as well, with this being the first time we see him in pain!<. I will dive more into this thought later, but just know that this revelation completely changes the context as to why The Butcher was locked up in the first place.

The Scorekeeper in Pain After The Butcher of Hyde Street's Freedom in Hyde Street #12

The issue then ends off with switching perspectives between Sisterhood and Ms. Goodbody. Sisterhood begins her quest for freedom, by finding X-Ray and asking him about his daughter. For, Ms. Goodbody, >!the issue ends with The Butcher slamming Goodbody's potential victim into her store completely breaking her entrance. The final panel is that of the Butcher standing over Goodbody menacingly!<. This was such a strong way to end the issue. The Butcher is now free, and now know who he likes to go after. This issue is shaping up quite nicely. I think that we are in for an amazing run of issues, when they do eventually come out.

Major Takeaways Moving Forward

>!The Butcher of Hyde Street is free and he begun his spree by killing Pranky!<

>!Hyde Street residents can die!<

>!When a Hyde Street resident dies, The Scorekeeper becomes physically pained!<

>!Dr. Ego and Mr. X-Ray begin their hunt to figure out who Edmund Ripley is!<

>!The Butcher reveals that The Scorekeeper didn't order Sisterhood and The Monster to trap him. They did it on their own accord!<

>!With Sisterhood on her hunt for freedom seeks Mr. X-Ray and asks him about Judy!<

>!The Butcher sets his sights on Ms. Goodbody breaking into her store!<

>!The Butcher goes after residents on Hyde Street only!<

Questions I have After Reading the Issue

How did the Butcher of Hyde Street figure out how to permanently kill other residents?

Why did Sisterhood seek out The Matinee Monster instead of another resident to lock up The Butcher?

How do Nurses Dee and Doe know so much gossip about the other residents of Hyde Street?

Why does The Scorekeeper feel pain when a Hyde Street resident dies?

What is the nature behind The Scorekeeper's side of making contracts with Hyde Street residents?

Which residents did The Butcher go after?

Why does The Butcher only go after other Hyde Street residents?

Why did The Butcher decide to go after Ms. Goodbody?

My Speculation on What's to Come from Hyde Street

I ended up being right about The Butcher going after other residents! From the solicit for issue #13, it's clear that The Butcher will go after Ms. Goodbody. My guess is that he will kill her adding yet another delivery to his total. My guess is that, he goes after residents I particular because he sees himself as a hero or crusader. To further elaborate on this notion, I think that he wasn't always called The Butcher of Hyde Street, but was given that name as he decided to only go after residents as he has a distaste for how they operate.

I suspect, that the contract that The Scorekeeper makes with each of his residents has some stipulations for him as well. My guess is that he needs these deliveries to keep himself alive. I suspect that The Scorekeeper made a deal with a greater evil than himself to have dominion over Hyde Street. This deal allowed him to make lesser deals to have residents who collect souls to not only allow themselves to be free, but to also keep himself alive. When a lesser contract is broken it physically pains him as he loses out on a chance to meet his own deliveries quota.

Conclusion

Hyde Street #12 was a phenomenal issue that saw rising action and interesting insights into the greater plot of the story. I found this to be a packed issue that did an amazing job of pushing the plot forward while also keeping track of previous plot points. I deeply enjoy every issue of this book as there is always something interesting going on. I think that this is currently the best written book from a pacing standpoint and it's not very close. Thank you for taking the time to read my post! I will be back on here and r/ImageComics to give my thoughts on Redcoat and Geiger when they drop. I would love to hear your thoughts and feelings on the issue, and all things Ghost Machine!

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!