The Shadow and Doctor Who

I recently watched Day of the Doctor, the 50th anniversary episode of Doctor Who, and I thought is was a lot of fun.  Having three incarnations of the Time Lord (John Hurt, Matt Smith and David Tennant) all interacting with one another was a pleasure to see, and any episode that features Daleks is a favorite of mine.  The best part for me was the last 15 minutes or so, which featured some great problem solving as well as a surprise that long time Who fans like myself really appreciated.  That's as much detail as I will go into though, I don't want to spoil it for anyone that hasn't had the pleasure of watching it yet.

Wolverine Vs. Snake Eyes

I saw a recent unused scene that was featured as an extra on the Blu-Ray release of The Wolverine.  It showed Logan being given a box to open up, and inside is the classic Wolverine costume from the comics.  Now, I am not sure how that would look with someone wearing it, but it definitely looks cool right there.  Sadly, it seems that this was just included as a nod to the fans, and we shouldn't expect to see Logan suiting up any time soon.  I'd love to see them try to give it a shot, though.

The Lizard and Killer Croc in "Rise of the Reptiles!"

I featured these two together before in a more modern cover, and I wanted to try for a more Bronze Age vibe this time out.  Rumors are that The Lizard will make a return to the Amazing Spider-Man franchise as a member of the Sinister Six.  Here's hoping they go for the creature in human clothing look rather than the giant gila monster that we saw in his first appearance.  The Ditko design is just so much cooler.  Killer Croc may not be able to anchor a Batman film as the primary villain, but I think that he could still be successfully translated to screen as a partner/pawn of someone like Hugo Strange.

Captain America and Batman in "The Hills Have Eyes!"

It has been reported that Director Kevin Smith has seen an image of Ben Affleck in the new Batman outfit for the 2015 summer blockbuster and was very impressed, saying it is something that fans will love and has never been seen on film before.  Given his friendship with Affleck, I take his enthusiasm with a grain of salt, but I do have hope that Zach Snyder will give us something closer to the comics than the all-black body armor look that we have seen for so long now.  My real hope is that we will see some way to include the white eyes look from comics and animation, I loved it when Bale's Batman had the sonar lenses to briefly achieve that appearance.  Rumors are that the costume will look somewhat like Lee Bermejo's take on it in Batman: Noel, so I don't think I am going to get my wish there.

Catwoman and The Black Widow

I'm looking forward to Black Widow's role in next summers' Captain America: The Winter Soldier.  Even though this will be Scarlett Johansson's third film outing as the super spy, I have a feeling it will be the first time the character will really have a chance to shine.  I liked her in Iron Man 2, but she didn't have much screen time.  She was utilized much better in The Avengers, but was still overshadowed by so many heavy hitters.  The next Captain America film promises to follow the excellent Ed Brubaker comics, with a more down to Earth feel than The Avengers had.  I liked how the Black Widow was handled in those stories, so I am optimistic about the film adaptation.

Batman and Sherlock Holmes

These two shared a story in Detective Comics #572, and I have always wanted to see them together again.  It's great to see Sherlock Holmes getting so mach attention these days.  I enjoyed the Robert Downey Jr. films, they were fun if a bit splashy for Holmes.  Elementary has grown on me as well, an interesting spin on the Watson/Holmes story.  My favorite current Holmes incarnation is on the BBC's Sherlock.  Benedict Cumberbatch is perfect in the role of a modern-day Sherlock Holmes.  Still, no actor has ever topped Jeremy Brett in my mind when it comes to playing the world's most famous sleuth.

Green Arrow and Daredevil

Both of these guys have reputations as street level heroes who will fight for the common man, but there is something else they are both known for.  Namely, a weakness for the ladies.  Whether it's Daredevil's questionable taste in girlfriends or Green Arrow's wandering eye, these two seem to get in as much trouble with the opposite sex as they do their arch enemies.  For some reason, I think there would be friction between them if they met, especially if there were beautiful women around.

Professor X and Captain Picard

I remember seeing ads for the then upcoming Star Trek: The Next Generation with a bald, British actor assuming the captain's chair, and being surprised that this guy was the heir to Shatner's throne.  Once I started watching the show, I saw what the producers must have and Patrick Stewart quickly won me over.  He really elevated the series with his acting abilities, and  had some truly stand out episodes.  The series finale, "All Good Things...", is one of my favorites, mainly due to his performance as a time-jumping Picard.  When Stewart was cast as Professor X, it was one of the few times that the fans and movie makers were in complete sync - everyone thought he would be perfect for the role, and he did not disappoint.  I'm really looking forward to him taking one more crack at Charles Xavier in X-Men: Days of Future Past.

Morbius Vs. Man-Bat in "Blood of the Bride!"

I have been a fan of Man-Bat for years, but I never know quite what I am going to get when he makes a new appearance.  I prefer him as a misunderstood hero, but he is just as likely to be used as the antagonist in a story.  All too often I find him to be treated as little more than a mindless animal, or being used as a pawn in some other villain's plot.  I wish poor old Kirk Langstrom would get a little more respect.

Green Lantern and The Jack of Hearts

I can't believe that it has taken me so long to feature Jack of hearts on a cover.  I've been a fan of this B-list (C-list?) Marvel character ever since his first appearances.  I still fondly remember his self-titled Mini-Series back in 1984 with the great George Freeman artwork.  His costume is crazy and busy, but I have always liked it.  I'll bet it is a pain to draw and maybe that has been a factor in how infrequently he has been used over the years. I know he was killed off when Brian Michael Bendis first took over the Avengers, but I lost track of if his story continued after that.  I think he got better eventually?

Omaha the Cat Dancer and Bill the Cat

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Berke Breathed's Bloom County was a must read comic strip for me back in the day.  I loved his character designs and his truly warped sense of humor spoke to me.  Bill the Cat reminded me of more than one unrefined feline that I had known, so he was a favorite of mine.  I can't say I ever picked up a copy of Omaha the Cat Dancer, but I from what I saw of it remember thinking that the artwork was a notch above most of the adults-only comics that were around.

Firestorm and The Human Torch

Flaming hair, puffy sleeves, pointed shoulders and an asymmetrical symbol - Firestorm's look is crazy but for some reason it always worked for me.  He definitely stood out among the other DC heroes back in the 80's.  The Original Human Torch and Toro, on the other hand, have incredibly simple looks that are equally as effective.  The flamed human appearance is so cool that they don't even need facial features!  Toro does look a little goofy when flamed off, though - I'm not sure why Jim Hammond gets to wear a full red suit but he is stuck with boots and a pair of shorts.

Boba Fett Vs. Captain America

There has apparently been some changes behind the scenes  in regard to the scripting duties for Star Wars Episode 7.  While sometimes that can be a worrying sign, maybe here that will not be the case.  Lawrnece Kasdan has been brought in to work with JJ Abrams on the story, and it is hard to argue about his credentials.  Kasdan was co-screenwriter for The Empire Strikes Back, so he knows his way around an entertaining Star Wars tale.  Here's hoping he can recapture some of the magic from what many consider to be the best sequel ever made.

Deadpool Vs. Deathstroke

While I have always regarded Deathstroke to be a Teen Titans villain first and foremost, I don't mind how he has been worked into Oliver Queen's back story on Arrow. His mask looks pretty cool on the show as well, hopefully we will see more of him as the series progresses.

There have  been talks of a Ryan Reynolds-starring Deadpool movie for years, but nothing ever seems to come of it.  I do think that Reynolds is a better fit for Deadpool than Green Lantern, so I wouldn't mind seeing that project finally get off the ground.

Mystique and Captain Marvel

I am glad that Mystique's profile has risen so much as a result of her appearances in the various X-Men films. I would like to see her look a little closer to her comic book counterpart, though.  Look, I have no problem watching either Rebecca Romjin or Jennifer Lawrence wearing nothing but blue scales and body paint, and I hate to complain about that artistic choice - but still the fan in me would like to see her don the traditional white dress and gloves just once.  With the time-bending aspects of X-Men: Days of Future Past, maybe there's a chance that will happen.

Superman and Iron Man (The Movie!)

Rumors about Batman Vs. Superman are swirling, and that's not surprising with such a long-awaited screen pairing.  But what if Superman had been allowed to team up with another hero when he first appeared in the movies?  If I was an producer with unlimited resources back in the day, it might look something like this.

Nightcrawler and Hellboy

I first became a fan of John Cassiday's art with his work on The Authority.  That series showcased his ability to depict photo-realistic wide scale scenes of action and destruction and characters that are at once grounded and heroic looking.  I have enjoyed his work on various Characters like Batman, Captain America and The X-Men, and it's always a treat to see him tackle a new project.

Amanda Waller and The Hulk

DC's New 52 reboot made a lot of changes to their long standing characters. One of the more puzzling decisions to me was to transform Amanda Waller into a hard-bodied action hero with supermodel good looks.  Was anyone complaining that Waller didn't fit the standard comic heroine mold?  I thought her appearance, along with her personalitry and position of power in the DCU were what made her a unique and interesting character.  That version worked well on Justice League Unlimited, after all.  I think that changing her physique just makes her a little more generic.

Hourman and Spider-Man

There has been a lot of comic-related movie and TV announcements lately, and the one that surprised me most was that Hourman would be getting his own TV series.  I hadn't heard that this was even being discussed, but given the character's ability to gain super powers for 60 minutes at a time, he is kind of perfect for an hour-long show.  Unfortunately nothing I have read mentions his original power set, only the "time vision", where he can see an hour into the future, which was grafted onto later versions of the character.  No mention of a costume either, and I doubt that he will wind up looking like any incarnation of Hourman from the comics.  I hope to be pleasantly surprised, but I have a feeling that this will be one of those adaptations that keeps the name, a few trappings and little else from the source material.

Jonah Hex and The Lone Ranger

I love a good western and these guys are two of my favorite heroes from the genre.  It's too bad that both of them have had recent films that failed to do them justice, but I don't think that will hold them back.  Both are too iconic and plain tough to be set back by a misstep on the silver screen.

Space 1999 and Star Trek

With all the hoopla over J.J. Abrams taking over the Star Wars franchise, I wonder what will become of the rebooted Star Trek universe that he began.  Finally some names are emerging as candidates for the director's chair in the next installment.  The latest I have heard is Joe Cornish (Attack The Block), but others such as Rupert Wyatt (Rise of the Planet of the Apes) have been mentioned as well.  Whoever takes over, I hope there won't be as long a wait for the third movie as there was between the first and second.  I also hope they stake out their own territory, rather than try to pay too much homage to a previous film or episode, something that really hampered my enjoyment of Star Trek Into Darkness.

Black Orchid and Daredevil

It wasn't long ago that I was writing on this blog that I thought Daredevil would make for a great TV series.  Now it seems I am going to get my wish - and then some!  Marvel and Netflix have reached an agreement to present five 13-episode series featuring Daredevil, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, Jessica Jones and The Defenders (which will combine all the characters).  I could quibble about them using The Defenders for what is clearly a Heroes for Hire concept, but I don't care right now because I am so happy with the format that has been chosen.  Having these as Netflix Original Series, they will be commercial free and not bound by the restrictions of network TV.  Plus, we'll get the entire seasons at once!  I have been impressed by House of Cards and Orange is the New Black, so I hope that Netflix will maintain the high standard that they have set for themselves. Now lets get Joel Edgerton cast as Matt Murdock!

Amethyst and Beta Ray Bill

When you want to read a comic that features plenty of large scale battle scenes, you're really in luck if it is illustrated by Walt Simonson.  He's been impressing me for decades with his ability to make comic panels burst with movement and energy through his signature style.  I am glad that his current work as well as the renewed interest in Thor is bringing his talents to a whole new generation of fans.

The Flash Enters The Marvel Universe

Company-wide crossovers are so commonplace today that it is easy to forget how fun it was when Crisis on Infinite Earths and Secret Wars first hit the stands.  In retrospect, the convoluted plots and aftermaths of these series can be debated, but there's no denying the cool factor of having so many characters together in one big sprawling epic, illustrated by masters like Mike Zeck and George Perez.  In the pre-internet age, the tie-ins that promoted each series were much more effective than they would in these spoiler filled days.  DC's comics featured mysterious red skies and  a shadowed figure working with the villains of Earth.  Marvel had their heroes enter a strange stadium, disappear, and return with the changes that would happen within the upcoming mini-series.  Both of these build ups had me eagerly anticipating the crossovers, and I could not read each issue that came out fast enough.

Wonder Woman and Spider-Man

The latest rumor for the role of Wonder Woman on the big screen is Jaimie Alexander, currently starring as Sif in Thor: The Dark World.  Apparently she is in talks with the folks making Batman Vs. Superman. While I think that she would be a great choice for the role, I don't think that they are going to have WW in that movie.  It's more likely that she is being considered as a love interest for Bruce Wayne.  I have been watching and enjoying the new James Spader drama, The Black List this season, and the female lead Megan Boone is someone that I think could make for a great Wonder Woman.  She definitely has the looks, can do fight choreography and has the acting chops as well.

Kamandi and The Sub-Mariner (Part Two)

We have seen brief glimpses of undersea worlds in films like Star Wars: The Phantom Menace and The Abyss, but there has yet to be a big blockbuster that features an underwater civilization as its centerpiece.  Underwater filming is difficult and expensive, so it is no surprise.  Still, I think that special effects are finally at a place where a huge undersea epic could finally be realized.  Who will be the first superhero to take advantage, Sub-Mariner or Aquaman?  I think it rests with the rights for Namor - if he his with Marvel Studios, then he's a sure bet to make it to the big screen first, and if  he is tied up with the Fantastic Four at 20th Century Fox, then Aquaman has a fighting chance.

Kamandi and The Sub-Mariner (Part One)

Time for another all-Kirby cover.  It's amazing to look at today's comics and see how many of his characters and designs are being used by DC, Marvel and beyond.  There's a reason that in a field with so many amazing creators, only he is called The King.  Like the greatest from any artistic genre, I am confident that he will be inspiring artists for generations to come.

A story this epic cannot be contained to a single issue... stay tuned for part two tomorrow!

Martian Manhunter Vs. Fin Fang Foom

I love that Fin Fang Foom graduated from his early days as the villain of a monster comic to becoming a fairly wall known opponent  in the Marvel superhero line of titles.  There were a lot of giant monsters terrorizing the populace when Foom first hit the scene, but few would be able to transition genres they way that he has managed to. And why not?  With creators like Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, it's not surprising that other writes would like to use him in their stories.  Now let's get him into an Iron Man or Thor movie

J. Jonah Jameson Joins The Green Lantern Corps

I am surprised that there has been no mention of J. Jonah Jameson or The Daily Bugle in connection with the Amazing Spider-Man sequel.  I understand that the movie will have enough on it's hands with the introduction of Electro, The Rhino and Norman Osborn among others, but still the whole newspaper photographer angle seems like a big part of the Spidey mythos to leave out for a second time.  The JJJ scenes from the first trilogy were some of the most well received, and it will be hard to top J.K. Simmons' portrayal when they do try to recast the role.  That shouldn't stop them from trying though!

Metamorpho Vs. The Absorbing Man

I think that this would be a really cool battle to see.  Metamorpho can change his shape and mimic any element, while The Absorbing Man's body takes on the properties of anything it touches.  That would make them an good match for one another.  Plus, you know that the fight would be very cool to look at as their powers make for interesting visuals.  I'd give Rex Mason the edge in this conflict, but Crusher Creel is skilled enough at using his abilities that he would make it a close one.