Spider-Ham and Pig Iron

Uh oh, I just realized that I am probably going to be having some ham for Easter dinner today.  I hope posting this cover isn't bad mojo! At any rate, it would be fun to watch the funny animal heroes of Marvel and DC interact, and Peter Porker crossing paths with Peter Porkchops would be a good place to begin.

Stay tuned tomorrow for an announcement regarding changes for Super-Team: Family: The Lost Issues!

The Scarecrow and The Scarecrow

It's not really a surprise that there's more than one villain to use the scarecrow motif.  They have always been creepy structures and the concept of fear fits right in with an evil agenda.  Plus, since they have the ability to affect the minds and perceptions of others, they are characters that really allow the artists to get visually creative, whether it be in a comic book, animation or live action.  You just know these two would take Batman and Cap through some twisted dreamscapes before they eventually got the stuffing beat out of them.

Burger Masters

I don't know what I was thinking the day I made this one. I originally was just going to do a Superman/Jughead cover and it kind of grew from there.  Hopefully we have finally had our last snowstorm here in Massachusetts and I can start grilling again, looking at this cover again is making me hungry!

The Demon and The Legion of Monsters

There's something cool about certain demonic heroes from Marvel and DC because they can be used as protagonists or antagonists in any given story.  Though they might be labeled heroes, their individual motivations and dispositions often put them at odds with more straight laced crimefighters.  Put a few of them togeher in one story and the real fireworks begin.  Will they save the day or just turn on each other?  Either way, it's fun to read about!

Justice League of America And Star Trek

JJ Abrams' rebooted Star Trek was a big hit but met with mixed reaction among hard core Trek fans.  I personally really liked it, I felt the characters remained true and the time travel plot involving the original Spock made it so everything we had seen before the film was not invalidated and indeed still counts. The Star Trek: Into Darkness trailer has been released and it looks like a lot of fun and I am especially looking forward to the villainous performance by Benedict Cumberbatch, who is so great on the BBC's Sherlock. There is one complaint that I have been reading that may have a little merit... from all the footage I have seen, it seems that almost all the action takes place on Earth, rather than in space or on board the Enterprise.  I try not to judge a movie too much by it's trailer, but I hope they haven't left the Trekking out of Star Trek!

The Sandman and Dick Tracy

These are two characters that would be ripe for a live action period piece detective show.  I have often wanted to see Dick Tracy series that really takes its time with the villains (rather than cramming the entire rogues gallery into one film, as Warren Beatty did) and presents Tracy's world in a way that is fantastical but not overly cartoonish.  Sandman Mystery Theater was one of my favorite titles of the 90's and its four-issue arcs would be perfect for translation to the small screen.  With programs like Boardwalk Empire or the upcoming Los Angeles striking a chord with audiences, perhaps the time is right for the adventures of Wesley Dodds and Diane Belmont.

The Doom Patrol Vs. Doctor Doom

Now this is a battle that I would love to see.  I can see Doom setting an elaborate trap for the Fantastic Four, only to have the Doom Patrol stumble upon it first.  These characters just seem like they would naturally go together, beyond just the similar name.  Perhaps if Victor Von Doom had met Dr.Niles Caulder when he was first disfigured, he would not have gone off on the villainous path that he did.

Silver Surfer and Stargirl

I guess it really isn't surprising that Geoff Johns decided to include his creation, Stargirl, in the line up for the new Justice League of America.  Her solo title was the first place that I took notice of Johns' writing skills.  I have to wonder though, what separating her from Earth-2 will do to her back story.  Does she still have ties to The Star-Spangled Kid and Stripesy?  Do they even still exist in the New 52?  Her connection to those heroes as well as others like Jack Knight was one of the things I really enjoyed about the character, and I hope that it is somehow maintained.  I am sure that Johns will flesh out her history in the pages of JLA sooner or later, so we will find out what has and has not changed soon enough.

Aquaman and The Hulk

I'm not sure what the next step for a live action Hulk will be.  There had been plans for a Guillermo Del Toro produced TV series, which sounded cool, but I haven't read anything new concerning that in a long time.  After The Hulk's popular reception from The Avengers, a third solo movie has been rumored, but talk of a Planet Hulk storyline have already been shot down.  So, it looks like we'll probably be waiting until 2015's Avengers sequel to see old jade jaws up on the big screen again.  With Joss Whedon at the helm again, I am confident that it will be worth the wait.

And what of Aquaman?  Will a Justice League film include him, or does his undersea environment make the character to expensive and difficult to include?  I hope they find a way, because he really does deserve to be included, being a founding member of the team.  Come on, DC - don't let Marvel beat you to the punch with a Sub-Mariner movie!

Batman and Puck

I'm not so sure Puck would want this job, given the track record of other Robins.  Still, Batman has had four partners in rapid succession, what's one more?  Puck was always my favorite member of Alpha Flight, mainly because he was so different from the standard super-hero.  I liked his personality as well, Eugene Judd was a guy you always knew would have your back.  He resurfaces with the rest of his team for an Alpha Flight comic relaunch every few years, but nothing seems to stick.  They are great characters though, so I hope a creative team will find a hook with them that strikes a chord with today's readers.

Tintin and Asterix

I recently watched Stephen Spielberg's Tintin movie, and I liked it even better than the first time around.  It's a non-stop adventure that reminds me of the best that the Indiana Jones films have to offer.  Even though it wasn't a huge success in the United States, the film did well internationally, so I am looking forward t the next installment by Peter Jackson.  I really hope we can eventually see an adaptation of Destination  Moon/Explorers on the Moon, as those were my favorite Tintin tales as a kid.  I can't say that I have caught any of the Roberto Begnini and Gerard Depardieu Asterix movies.  They look like they might be fun, but aimed at very young viewers.

Green Arrow Vs. The Rocketeer

When artists like Jim Lee, Todd McFarlane and others took the comic world by storm in the 90's it really changed the landscape.  Ultra-detailed artwork with lots of little sketchy lines and a larger reliance on splash page images was the new popular look and lots of artists were recruited to deliver that style - with widely varying degrees of success.  Even some veteran artists altered their existing styles to conform with the new look.  I am glad to see comics easing out of that phase in the past several years, and mainstream comics are once again presenting a wide range of artistic sensibilities.  You can now find some really great examples of clean, crisp artwork with an economy of line and a sturdy grasp of composition and panel layout. Two of my favorite artists in this category are Chris Samnee and Marcos Martin, whose images I used here. It's great to have modern day illustrators carrying on in the footsteps of legends like Alex Toth and Steve Ditko.

Robocop Vs. Spider-Man

I'm not sure what to make of the upcoming Robocop movie reboot.  It has a decent cast, so there's a chance that it could far surpass my expectations, but I still think it is facing an uphill battle.  The original film is still held in high regard and it is going to be tough to get out from under its shadow.  Shots of the new Robocop design reveal quite a departure from the classic look - the imposing, bulky suit has been replaced with a sleek, black and frankly more generic outfit.  I hope to be pleasantly surprised by the final product, but I fear tat my reaction will be similar to when I recently saw the new version of Total Recall  - a film with some technical merit, but lacking the charm of the original, feeling like an unnecessary retread.

Catwoman and Hellcat

I'm not sure why there are so many cat-themed female characters in fiction, but there must be some underlying reason for such a common archetype. Maybe it is because cats are beautiful, graceful, mysterious and strong willed - all characteristics of a classic heroine or femme fatale.  At any rate, it's a concept that has given us a lot of cool characters, and these two are among my favorites.

Superboy and The Silver Surfer

I think one of DC's biggest mistakes was to remove the Superboy years from Superman's history. Having him have such a long career and the world being able to watch him grow up went a long way as to explaining why Superman was held as the premier and most trusted superhero in a world where there are hundreds of super beings in operation. Plus, as I have mentioned before, the Legion of Super-Heroes have never really recovered from Superboy's removal from their history.  I guess DC is trying to make up for the the lack of time as Superboy by giving us the Jeans-and-T-Shirt-Superman in Action Comics, but it just doesn't feel the same.

Hawkgirl Vs. She-Hulk

One of the best things to come out of the animated Justice League series was their treatment of Hawkgirl.  She was given more depth and personality than she ever had in the comics and I was really hoping that DC would give her a higher profile as a result.  Instead, quite the opposite has happened.  Shayera Hol was killed off (more than once) in the comics, and just when she was revived again, the New 52 came along and she is gone again.  Sure, there is a Hawkgirl in Earth-2, but it isn't Shayera.  I miss the real deal with her flowing red locks and the coolest helmet design in comics, hopefully she will show up soon.  At least She-Hulk is getting some attention again as a cast member of FF, a place she can shine without dealing the alternate She-Hulks that Marvel has introduced in the past few years.

Fowl Force

As a lover of crossovers, I am a huge fan of Who Framed Roger Rabbit.  The story and blending of animation with live action were cool, but what really got me was seeing Disney and Warner Brothers characters sharing the screen.  My very favorite scene was the piano duet between Daffy Duck and Donald Duck.  It was a blast seeing those two go up against each other, and the animators seemed to really have fun with that sequence.  Those two classic ducks have inspired many more over the years, and it wasn't hard to come up with a suitable line up for this team.

Jonah Hex and Madman

Sometimes the team ups that appealed to me most as a kid were the ones completely out of left field.  This cover features a pair of characters that have very little in common and nobody in particular was asking to see together.  That's just the thing though - put them side by side for a tale, and you will have an adventure unlike anything either of them have had before.

Firestorm and Nova

I have been following thevelopment on James Gunn's upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy film and the latest rumor is that Marvel's space cops - the Nova Corps - will be making an appearance.  That would be pretty cool to see, although I'm thinking that they will go with Sam Alexander, the new Nova.  Marvel has been giving him a push lately with his own series and appearances in the Ultimate Spider-Man cartoon.  Still, I'm and old school guy and Richard Rider is the Nova that I grew up with.  I know he's been killed off in the Marvel Universe, but I hold out hope that we will see the original bucket-head return one of these days.

Man-Bat Vs. Man-Thing

This pairing might not provide the most eloquent dialogue, but I'm thinking they would make up for that with action in this story.  It is interesting that a lot of the monster-type characters in comics seem to be able to maintain relationships with beautiful women.  I guess it says something that you never see the reverse - a female monster in comics that has a handsome boyfriend who sees past their outward appearance.

Iron Fist and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

I quite liked the TMNT CGI film from a few years ago and was sorry to hear that there would not be a sequel.  The Turtles seem to be headed for the big screen again, this time under the control of Michael Bay, with Megan Fox as April O'Neil.  I have read that Bay will be straying from the comics, giving the Turtles a more alien related origin.  I  have my doubts but I will try and reserve judgement until I see some actual footage.

The New Teen Titans Vs. Magneto

This is a scene that comic fans once might have had a chance to actually see.  After the success of  X-Men and the New Teen Titans, DC and Marvel were looking forward to future crossovers.  The first was to be JLA/Avengers and then another X-Men/Titans outing, this time illustrated by George Perez.  The JLA/Avengers project famously fell apart, and the next X-Men/Titans tale never got off the ground at all.  I imagine that Magneto would be part of the story, as the X-Men's arch foe was left out of the first outing.  DC and Marvel finally got their act together and gave us JLA/Avengers for real many years later, but The X-Men/Titans revisit is a true lost issue.

Spider-Man Vs. Two Face

I remember being so excited when I heard that Two-Face was going to be one of the villains in Batman Forever.  He's my favorite Batman villain and he had yet to make the leap to live action or animation at that point.  I was very disappointed with what wound up on screen, a Two-Face that bore very little resemblance to the comic book character.  A laughing, dancing, mugging at the camera Harvey Dent was nothing anyone needed to see.  Don't get me started on the lazy make up job, where they just painted teeth on Tommy Lee Jones' cheek.  Needless to say, I was thrilled with Christopher Nolan's version of the character.  Aaron Eckhart performed the role very well and the effects to create his scarred visage looked great.  My only real complaint was that Two Face's entire career only lasted a couple of hours.  After all the work to set up the character, he should have gotten a little more to do.

Superman and The Sub-Mariner (With Ant-Man!)

Dave Bullock has a great style that combines modern storytelling techniques with classic character design.  I especially love his take on Superman, which fits in well with Jack Kirby's groundbreaking Marvel work.  It's also a style that I would love to see put to animation - the economy of line and keen sense of body language would make for a great retro feature.

The Spectre and The Tick

These two couldn't be farther apart as far as their personalities go, but that's what exactly why it might make for a fun pairing.  Satirical comic characters can sometimes fall flat, but Ben Edlund's adventures with The Tick work exceptionally well because they come from a place of true love for the genre.  The Spectre is one of my all-time favorite characters, especially when drawn by Jim Aparo, as he is here. His thirst for vengeance is as strong as The Tick's commitment to justice, and it would be fun to see them cross paths.          

Wonder Woman Vs. The Hulk

I made this cover quite a while ago, and it had not yet been revealed that The Red She-Hulk was in fact, Betty Ross. So, now she joins Rick Jones and Thunderbolt Ross as a Hulk-type character.  It still seems strange to me that the Hulk's original supporting cast members have all been turned into reflections of him.

The Fantastic Four Vs. The Anti-Monitor

No villain has ever been too big or powerful for the Fantastic Four to face, so I think they would e a great team to go up against this crisis-inducing foe.  It has been cool to see a version of the Anti-Monitor on the soon to be late Green Lantern animated series.  I've always wanted to see an animated version of Crisis on Infinite Earths, and that's about a close as we will probably ever get.  We may indeed get to see some live action Negative Zone action in the future though, that's where I am hoping that the Fantastic Four movie reboot will take us.

Catwoman Vs. Indiana Jones

Selina Kyle and Indiana Jones have similar tastes in valuables and weaponry, so I can definitely see them crossing paths at some point.  Indy has shown a weakness for bad girls and Selina likes the rugged type so imagine there would be some chemistry between the two.  The only question is who would end up with the treasure at the story's end.

Beetlejuice Conquers The Marvel Universe

I have read that there may be a sequel to Beetlejuice one of these days and that might actually be kind of fun.  Even though decades have passed, Michael Keaton could still easily pull off the title role, given the character's appearance.  It would be a kick to see Alec Baldwin, Winona Ryder and Geena Davis reunite as well.  Hopefully this is one of those projects that actually gets off the ground rather than remaining in Development Hell.

The Secret Sisterhood

This is a group that would be interesting to read about.  Don't be fooled by their beauty, each of these characters are fierce warriors.  They have all learned to respect and adapt to the natural environment around them so I thought they would work well together.  Despite their similarities, they each have distinct personalities that would be interesting to see play off of one another.

If you haven't seen Princess Mononoke by legendary animator Hayao Miyazaki, I highly recommend it.  Actually, I recommend all of his films, his work is amazing - but Princess Mononoke is the closest to a comic book type epic and is really a must-see for any comics fan.

Legion of Super Heroes Vs. The Phoenix

This is a team up that I would have loved to have seen because it represents my favorite eras from two of the  most popular teams of my youth.  The Chris Claremont/Paul Smith run on Uncanny X-Men featured great superhero melodrama with inventive characters, menacing villains and stunning visuals.  The Brood Saga and The return of Phoenix were thrilling to read month to month.  The Legion of Super-Heroes never looked better than when George Perez would illustrate them, and his covers always made me want to read the stories within.  This was when they still had a simple continuity, before Crisis on Infinite Earths.  They never quite seemed to recover from the removal of Superboy from their history.