Burgers, with a side of Hope and Vengeance

So I guess it's time to get you all off the edge of your seats, after I challenged you with a "somehow this has something to do with comics" picture from last week. At least I'm assuming you're all on the edge of seat and so caught up in the mystery, that you didn't have time to post any guesses.

Either that, or no one read the post and I'm sitting here talking to myself. The glass is half full today, so we'll go with the former.

First, a refresher of the picture that I posted.

Any last guesses? Nobody knows the significance of this burger joint?

Let me set the stage. Over the last couple of months, there's been quite a bit of action happening across the United States in the pages of Green Lantern. The Predator in Las Vegas, Nevada...Larfleeze in North Branch, Minnesota...and the Hope entity making it's presence known in Livonia, Michigan.

Now Livonia just happens to be this random blogger's home town, so that was kinda nifty seeing my home town get a little shout out in Green Lantern #56. Then, a couple of issues later, Geoff Johns and Dough Mahnke delve a little deeper into my neck of the woods.

I've eaten at that Bates Hamburger joint, and that same Bates is the one from the picture.

I know that Geoff Johns is from the Metro Detroit area (Clarkston, I think?) and that he went to Michigan State University, so I guess it's not completely out of the realm of possibility that he's eaten there too. Alas, I probaly never shared a barstool with him, as my Bates Burger joint of choice was about 10-12 miles away in Garden City. This Bates was always a little to "clean" for my liking. There's probably something to be said for cleanliness, however, as my old burger stand was demolished a good ten years ago and this one's still standing.

Before we get to picking the next random book to review, here's a bonus pic for you that was referenced in the very next panel from Green Lantern #58.

I'm sure there are a ton of dumpsters in Warren, Michigan, but I imagine this one's representative enough.

With that out of the way, let's get to picking a new book to review. Take it away Randomizer...

...and that book is West Coast Avengers #23 from August 1987, published by Marvel Comics!

So for all of you that have been reading Hawkeye & Mockingbird--

Anyone? Anyone? Is this thing on?

Once again, I guess it's just me.

Anyway...one of the big plot lines in the recently cancelled series was a callback to the time when Mockingbird was trapped in the old west and was "taken advantage of" by Phantom Rider. Extracting her vengeance, she lets him fall to his death during their final showdown.

This issue just happens to be the very issue where that confrontation takes place. A very appropriate pick, if not a couple of months late. The Randomizer usually is more prescient with its timing, but it's been years since I've read this issue so I'll let it slide. Especially now that I'll be able to enjoy this issue after revisiting the topic so thoroughly over the last six months.

See you in a day or two for the review.