Puzzle Notes

Greetings once again! I suppose you're all wondering why I, a person with a cat in my lap, have called you here tonight. Well, I'll tell you: it's to gently suggest that you solve this very good cryptic by one of our faves, Doug Peterson! Doug's been in love with puzzles since he was a kid and has been making them for about 20 years. Cryptics are his favorite, and he's thrilled that they seem to be taking off with American solvers. His other interests? Honestly, he doesn't get out much, and he thinks way too much about comic books, as evidenced by a couple of clues in this puzzle. Follow him at @xworddoug to read a tweet every once in a blue moon. He'll probably write one to hype this puzzle!

Cheers, and happy solving --

-- Francis (and the AVCX Cryptic crew)