Katana and Valkyrie

 

Katana is better at wielding a sword, but Valkyrie has Asgardian strength to back her up.  This would be an interesting match up.  But just why would Brunnhilde want The Soultaker in the first place?

Metamorpho Vs. The Super Skrull in: "Pliable Rivals!"

These two first battled in STF #4761, in a more Silver-Age style cover.  I thought that round two could have more of a Bronze Age feel.  Another month or so and we will finally get to see Rex Mason in live screen action!

 

Tintin and The Phantom Stranger

 

There's nothing like a crisply detailed mystery to make for an entertaining afternoon of reading.  I'd like to see what kinds of secrets that this pairing could uncover together.

Falcon and Wildcat

 

These two heroes are used to more down to Earth, street level villains, so they might be over their heads when dealing with a cosmic entity like The Stranger.  I wouldn't count them out, though!

Superbaby and Spaceman Spiff

 

Don't consider it a retcon, maybe we were only part of the story.  This tale just fills in all of the missing parts - at least in Calvin's imagination...

Hawk & Dove and The Beast

 

I liked the fact that after their transformations into non-human forms, characters like Hank McCoy and Ben Grimm decided to lean into it and just wear trunks as their entire costume - they weren't hiding thier new appearances from the world!  It's too bad the movies aren't following suit, with Hank in his lab coat and now a fully suited Thing in Fantastic Four: First Steps.  Even The Hulk is completely dressed these days!

Aquaman and The Hulk in: "Hulk Splash!"

 

Aquaman and the Hulk first met way back in STF #344, and I thought that it was high time for them to cross paths again.  Especially when I realized that I had missed out on using such an obvious story title!

Spy Smasher Vs. James Bond

 

I guess it was only a matter of time before the Smasher faced off against the most famous spy of them all.  This confrontation is bound to leave him shaken, if not stirred.

The X-Men Vs. Batman's Villains

 

I feel that this would be an interesting series of match-ups, worthy of 100 pages.  Do you think the children of the atom have what it takes to defeat Gotham's most infamous foes? 

Here's a look at the full size versions of this issue's features: 

Superman and Dragnet

 

Before I cut the cable cord, I would have a few shows that I would often watch in the morning while working on new covers.  One was Dragnet, which played on MeTV early on weekdays.  I thought it might be fun to put TV's first live action superhero alongside the no-nonsense law enforcement stars of that classic series.

Coming tomorrow: STF #4800!

Man-Bat and Doctor Strange in "No Escape From Castle Mordo!"

 

This is another example of a cover that required the removal and patching of portions before any new images could be added to it.  Here is a look at the behind the scenes progress:

Man-Bat and Dr. Strange Previously met in STF#2993 and STF #2833...

Cheetah Vs. Kraven the Hunter

 

Could their savagery in battle lead to passion for one another?  Stranger things have happened.

Zatara Vs. Loki

 

I am guessing that Loki will play a pivotal role in Avengers: Doomsday.  Not only because of Tom Hiddleston's popularity in the role, but also because of where we last saw the character.  Loki was placed in charge of keeping all of the timelines intact, and I'm betting that that will play a factor in whatever multiversal shenanigans Doom is planning. Who knows - with the movie delayed we now have a lot more time to speculate.

Skyrocket and The Invaders

 

DC Comics may have forgotten about Skyrocket, but I haven't.  She's too cool of a character to keep on the shelf.  Hopefully they will realize her worth and create a comic that can present her further adventures.

Iron Man Vs. Solomon Grundy

 

A man whose technology has him living on borrowed time versus a menace with a body chemistry that will not let him stay dead.  Yes, this could make for an interesting match up.

Starman and Space Ghost

 

A couple of cosmos inspired heroes stumbling upon a mystery on the Transformers homeworld is just the kind of set up to catch my attention when perusing the new comics rack. I think this one would have definitely made it into the buy pile.

Captain Marvel and The Doom Patrol

 

I was kind of indifferent about The High Evolutionary when he would show up in a comic.  He was another otherworldly villain with an odd design.  Now that I  have watched him as the main antagonist in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, I see him and think, "Ooh, I really hate that guy!"

Mar-Vell first met the Doom Patrol in STF #4505...

Daredevil and Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law

 

Harvey Birdman met up with plenty of other heroes on his late night show.  It's too bad that Marvel characters were off limits, because having Daredevil show up would have seemed natural.  Oh well, that's what this blog is for, presenting the team ups that should have happened already!

The IMProbables in: "Quarreling With Q!"

 

I wondered who could be a foil for a team as powerful as The IMProbables, and then it dawned on me.  Q has been long overdue for an appearance on this blog, and this seemed like a perfect opportunity to use him.  This issue would be 22 pages of pure chaos!

Human Torch and Cyborg

 

In this, his 10th appearance, Mr. Universe proves that a truce with him was never going to last.  Let's hope that Victor and Johnny can turn STF's signature villain back before he returns to full power!