Extreme bad guy Gyphon just set out to destroy Atlantis, El Dorado, (heck, the world as we know it even!) Gina was teleported away to parts unknown, and everyone else is stuck with the task of taking down an unbeatable giant.
Gina awakens in a cave, naked beside a buff librarian named Kahn. They... get acquainted, and he invites her to his place, Shangri-La.
Meanwhile, our heroes enter the Pool of Legends to stop Armageddon, the evil giant, from its inside. They are Tanis, Garen, Ace, Stripe, and Penny. Upon entering into Armageddon, they are faced with its inner defenses. A scrap happens and the good guys win. They head in further to find its power source.
In Atlantis, Britanny (Cheetah), Mesha, Tark, and Princess Tyr try to find Gina via the Pool of Legends. Mesha and Brit talk, first about the elf's relationship with Tark, then about Brit and Gina's history. Good background here.
Back to Shangri-La, and we find Gina entranced with the Library of Time that the place is famous for. It holds all of the world's books from past to future. Kahn's job is to find these books and decipher them. Gina checks out books ranging from the secrets of life to the uncensored Karma Sutra. In one she finds Gyphon's signature. Kahn says that once, Gyphon tried to take over the Library but failed. Accidentally, Kahn's ruler was teleported to the astral rifts where she was lost forever. Her name was Empress Lynn. Kahn then suggests that Gina and himself go back to his place. (What a mover, eh?)
Down in Armageddon's bowels (I always wanted to say that), the group learn that the giant is being powered by El Dorado's mystical artifacts. They then get into the long-lasting rivalry between Gina and Penny. Humorous history here. Armageddon has a movement, (heh), and begins its advance towards Atlantis. The group wisely send a message back to the Pool of Legends before they get sucked into the giant's blast furnace.
At the Pool, Tyr announces Gina's location. As Britanny and Mesha take a look, they see a lot of moaning and groaning. They surmise that Gina is safe, and put their attention into the retrieval of Stripe and the gang.
Gina and Kahn take a breather, and as they both leave the room, Empress Lynn (and her new friend/computer, Subtracto) enters fresh from four years in the astral rifts. She tells Subtracto to scram while she hops under Kahn's covers, waiting to embrace him. Gina is the one to enter though, and a very, very funny misunderstanding occurs. Lynn challenges Gina to a contest for Kahn, and Gina accepts, but she gets to choose the contest. Gina gives a hard question, to which Lynn appoints Subtracto her champion. He nails it. Lynn then challenges Gina to a scrap. Gina has no option but to accept.
At the Pool of Legends, everyone arrives safe and sound. Brit decides to take off after Gina.
The scene is on the Library's roof. (Actually, it's Japan; specifically, Ryu's stage from "Street Fighter II".) Gina (dressed like Ryu) faces Lynn, who gives Gina a full minute of free punches. She doesn't land any of them as Lynn dances around her while taunting who she is and what her teenage years must've been like. Since Gina gets quite offended, we can assume that it's all true. Finally, Gina concedes defeat, but Lynn wants a piece of her. She winds up her fist... and WHACK!!
Lynn finds her hand in Britanny's fist. Brit and Gina reunite, then Brit (who is appointed Gina's champion) goes to town on Lynn. Lynn manages to blind Britanny before getting snot-kicked. Then Lynn concedes, but immediately threatens Gina over Kahn's safety should she ever hurt him.
Gina and Cheetah head back to the Library of Time where they say goodbye to Kahn. Then it's back to the Pool of Legends in Atlantis where they meet up with everyone else, but not before Gina mentions that she found a way to stop the giant. They arrive just as Gyphon, presumed dead, makes an announcement. (A funny scene too.) He says that Atlantis has 'till the next day's end to surrender, or else. And that's where this one ends...
This was a really good issue. (Sorry if I gave away a lot, but the scenery just kept flipping back and forth. I swear that I didn't give away the good parts.)
The artwork is well done, with minimal confusion in small areas. Characters are the same, but the hidden treasure lies in the facial expressions of them. For example, Kahn in the cave, Ace with the goofy mask, "The Cheetah", Gina and her books, Gina meets Lynn!!...
The story, unfortunately, sucks. Luckily, it's fairly lost what with all of the flashbacks and substories. This is a great issue for setting up several continuations later in the series. (The Pink Avenger, Empress Lynn, and Gina vs. Penny.) Also, the banter is excellent, as usual. My faves are the fight scene in Armageddon and the announcement at the end.
This issue does well for many reasons, mostly because of Mr. Perry's realization of the Gold Digger future. One cannot grow many leaves off of a trunk. One must first grow the branches, then the leaves. (Or something... just don't mind me, eh?) ^_^
(out of four.)
The Black Lagoon - a 50s monster movie
F. J. Whoopie - ??? Prof. Steamhead - from Ninja High School, a frequenter of Shangri-La
The Temple of Fear - quite similar to a scene from "Raiders of the Lost Ark"
Huge Gulp - a 7-11 product (mm-mmm good!)
Shangri-La's roof - Ryu's stage from "Street Fighter II" video game
"Why for you want to hurt my wittle fwend?" - from a Warner Bros. cartoon (???)
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