Justice League of America and Brother Voodoo

It was cool to see Brother Voodoo get a higher profile while Marvel was looking for a new Master of the Mystic Arts to replace Doctor Strange a few years back.  It's always nice to see writers finding new purposes for lower profile characters that may have been in comics limbo for a while.  Sometimes all it takes is the right spin to make the popular again. Of course, Brother Voodoo was killed off at the end of his latest comeback appearance, so that's a bit of a bummer.  Still, we're talking about a magic-based character , so there's always a way for him to return.

Tintin and Popeye

I remember watching a local TV variety program called The Uncle Gus Show, because once per episode, the host would introduce a (usually black and white) Popeye cartoon.  Back in those days it was the only place I could see the animated adventures of the world's most famous sailor, and his nemesis Bluto.  There was something special about these cartoons, the creativity and detail involved in those shorts were definitely above the standard cartoon fare I was used to.  I later discovered that these were produced by The Fleischer Studios, which explains the quality.  Whether it was Popeye, Superman, Betty Boop or one of their other properties, their cartoons were always top notch.

The Hulk and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Other than a few pre-CGI behind the scenes shots, I have seen and read very little of the upcoming Michael Bay-produced theatrical reboot of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.  I am very curious as to haw this film will turn out.  Bay is known for his over-excesses, but his films usually at least look slick and cool.  The key is to give him a decent script to work with.  Director Jonathan Liebesman previous efforts include Battle: Los Angeles and Wrath of the Titans, two films that despite their spectacle did not do much for me.  Hopefully his take on the TMNT franchise works a bit better.

Mary Marvel Vs. Ms. Marvel

Now that DC has finally given in and stopped calling Billy Batson's alter ego Captain Marvel - giving him the name of the Wizard, Shazam - I wonder what that will mean for his partners when their super powered selves are brought into the New 52 DCU.  Shazam Jr.?  She-Zam?  Those don't really work for me so I hope they can come up with something better!

Huey Freeman and Power Man

I am really looking forward to the new Luke Cage series on Netflix.  I am assuming that they will be going with the more contemporary version of the character, that got rid of some of the 70's trapping the character had - costume, code name, even a head of hair!  I do like the modern Luke Cage and the higher place of importance he holds in the Marvel Universe, but part of me would have loved to have seen the classic  version of the character that I grew up with in a period piece.  Not many people could get away with a yellow shirt, chain belt and man-tiara - but Power man could because he was just so damned cool!  I'm not expecting that guy to show up on the Netflix series, but maybe us old fans can at least get a "Sweet Christmas" uttered by the star of the show.

Aliens Vs. Spider-Man

I have to admit, the trailer for The Amazing Spider-Man 2 looked better than I was expecting.  The first installment had its moments, but was an overall miss for me, so I wasn't really looking forward to the sequel. Yes, the next film looks to be a be a bit crowded with Electro, Rhino and two Osbornes slated to appear, but it also looks like a ton of fun.  The new Spidey costume looks great and Electro and the mechanical Rhino look pretty cool too.  The verdict is still out on Harry's goblin outfit, but from what I saw I wasn't very impressed there.  Visuals aside, what will make or break this film for me is the script.  Hopefully it s a step above the first outing.

Jack Skellington and Ghost Rider

Who needs Rudolph to lead your sleigh when you have Ghost Rider's flaming cycle?

I'd like to wish a Merry Christmas to everyone who takes time out to visit the blog.  I truly appreciate all of the feedback and kind words that you have given me.  It's been another fun year creating covers, and I hope that you will continue to make Super-Team: The Lost Issues a regular stop!

Now get off the computer and spend some holiday time with your loved ones!

The Legion of Substitute Heroes and Wolverine

I have always liked the idea of the Legion Subs.  Not everyone is going to make the cut as a superhero and not every power would necessarily lend itself to crime fighting, so it was fun to see a group of heroes that lived in the shadow of their more famous contemporaries.  I also liked that a few of the Substitute Legionnaires eventually did make it through to becoming full-fledged members of the LSH.  It might be fun to see this group work alongside a seasoned vet like Logan.

The Teen Titans and Spider-Man

Teenage angst and comic books - they are the perfect combination.  Stan Lee really tapped into something with The Amazing Spider-Man and it's no wonder they the character was such an instant hit.  DC had a great idea with the team of teenage sidekicks, a series ripe for the the whole teen angst angle.  Of course, reading those original Teen Titans issues today, some of the dialogue is a bit hokey, as it was written by middle-aged men.  The turmoils of teen life were still a major theme years later in the Wolfman/Perez New Teen Titans revamp, and that series really struck the perfect mix between superhero action and interpersonal drama.  When a title can maintain that balance, it makes for great reading. .

Justice Society of America and the Thing in "Raising the Stakes!"

I was a huge fan of the artwork of Mike Parobeck.  I first noticed his work on comics related to Batman: The Animated Series.  He was able to combine the Bruce Timm designs with his own style sense for some of my most fondly remembered Batman tales.  I also followed his work on titles like El Diablo and The Fly, but my favorite art from him was on the great Justice Society series that brought those classic characters out of limbo.  Sadly, that series last only ten issues.  Sadder still, Parobeck himself passed away not long after.  He was an amazing talent that was taken far too soon.

Doc Samson and Superman

This is the first cover where I have used an image featuring Superman in his New 52 duds.  It's not a bad look for him, but the collar just has to go.  Frankly with the negative reaction to it as well as the fact that Superman in Man of Steel was collar-free, I am surprised it is still there.  At least he still has some kind of an "S" on the cape.  I prefer a yellow "S" but it's better than the blank look of the movie and cartoons.

Gambit and Catwoman

For some reason, I was never really able to get into Gambit as a character.  Maybe it was because he hit the scene just as I was getting out of following the X-Men family of titles, or maybe it was his wonky costume that couldn't seem to decide what it wanted to be.  I think the main thing was his Cajun accent, which most writers tended to over-exaggerate.  I just seemed silly to me.  I do like his power set though, and maybe I only need to read the right story to change my mind.

Wonder Man and Wonder Girl

"Who is Donna Troy" from New Teen Titans #38 is one of my all time favorite comics.  It was one of the best origin issues I have ever read, and a nice showcase for Robin as well.  It's too bad that the story has been completely undone by all the DC reboots.  Donna Troy's history is one of the biggest casualties of DC's timeline tinkering, and a better question these days is "Where is Donna Troy".

The Super Friends Vs. The Avengers

When it comes to TV superhero theme songs, there are a few that rise to the top for me.  The 60's Spider-Man theme has a great beat and is fun to sing along with.  I also quite liked the 80's animated Hulk theme song, it felt right for the character.  Still, my favorite has to be the classic Super Friends theme.  There was no way not to get excited when I heard that orchestra playing.  It sounded majestic and powerful, and very befitting of Earth's greatest superheroes.

Deadman and Dead Girl

I gave up on trying to follow and make sense of the numerous reboots to the X-Men family of comics long ago, but every once in a while a creative team is announced on a title that gets me interested.  One such case was with X-Statix, by Peter Milligan and Mike Allred.  They created a team of heroes as pop-stars that was unlike anything I had seen from Marvel at that point.  Allred's design sense and Milligan's creativity made for an interesting group of characters and readers got to see some fun takes on various tropes from superhero comics.  Sadly, it only lasted a couple of years, although characters like Dead Girl and Doop have popped up since.

The Beast and Chewbacca

I was eight years old when Star Wars came out, so I was the perfect age to be completely blown away by the franchise.  I remember being very excited that The Muppet Show was going to have a special Star-Wars themed show featuring Luke Skywalker, C3PO, R2D2 and Chewbacca. Of course, this was pre-VHS, so I recorded the episode on cassette tape and listened to it over and over.  Decades later, I finally got a copy of the episode on DVD, and it was a blast to finally see it again.  One thing stood out to me, though - to make Chewbacca a little more kid-friendly, he wasn't wearing his trademark ammunition bandoleer.  It just seemed wrong to me, he looked naked without it!

Justice League of America Vs. Godzilla

The trailer for the new Godzilla movie has been released, and it looks very cool.  They still don't show a lot of the monster, but from the glimpses we see, it looks like the filmmakers have stuck closely to the classic design.  The special effects look to be top notch and with actors like Bryan Cranston and Elizabeth Olsen involved, I am confident the performances will be as well.  It  seems that we are finally going to have a film that makes up for the unfortunate Matthew Broderick-led Godzilla fiasco.

Wild Dog and The Punisher

Wild Dog only had a handful of appearances - A mini-series, a special and a serial in Action Comics Weekly - but he struck a nerve with me.  Max Allan Collins and Terry Beatty created a character that seemed to be to be a more realistic take on a Punisher-type of vigilante.  He kind of faded into obscurity fairly quickly, but the must be a few other fans out there, as I have seen him make a cameo here in there during big DC get-togethers.

The Sub-Mariner Vs. Black Manta

Black Manta is easily the coolest Aquaman villain, in my opinion.  His awesome helmet, appearances on Super Friends and the fact that he was created by Bob Haney all made him an early favorite of mine.  He was used well in the recent Young Justice animated series, too.  His ties to the new Aqualad give him even more depth as a character.

Battlestar Galactica and The Silver Surfer

The Silver Surfer is set to star in another comic series beginning soon.  That in and of itself is no big deal, Marvel cancels and relaunches its line of titles with alarming regularity these days.  Sill, the creative team of Dan Slott and Mike Allred has me intrigued. I've enjoyed Slott's work on Spider-man and The Thing, and Allred is one of the most creative artists working today, perfect for an outer space setting.  This is one series that I m going to have to check out.

Green Lantern and The Vision

With both Ultron and The Scarlet Witch slated to play major roles in the upcoming Avengers sequel, I'd say that The Vision is a good bet for the third installment.  We have his creator and girlfriend in the movie, now all we would need need is Simon Williams!  Plus, we know that Ant-Man will be in the third film, so we can see a version of that famous moment where Hank Pym must go inside The Vision to make repairs.

Batgirl and Scarlett

With Batman about to be re-imagined once again for the big screen, I don't know whether a Batgirl appearance will be in the cards in some future film.  With Nightwing rumored to be appearing in Batman Vs. Superman, the idea of an extended Bat-family will already be out there.  Still, I think it's more likely we will see Barbara Gordon show up as part of the upcoming Commissioner Gordon-centric Gotham TV series - at least a young version of her.

Krypto and Lockheed

 Superhero pets probably don't make a lot of sense but I just don't care because they are just so cool to me.  I've always loved costumed heroes and I am a life long animal lover so that's really not much of a surprise.  Of course my cat Sweetie's only power seems to be to sense the presence of ice cream anywhere in her vicinity.  Not much use in combat situations, but she's still super to me.

Buzz Lightyear and ROM

I am a huge fan of all three Toy Story movies. They have amazing animation telling stories with comedy, heart and great characters that speak to the kid in me and hit some great nostalgia buttons.  Plus, the movies have not let up in quality even after the third installment, something that very few franchises can claim.  I'm not sure where they will go from here, or even if they should go anywhere, as the last film ended on such a perfect note.  I have faith in Pixar though, and if they decide to bring Buzz, Woody and the gang out for another tale, I would give it a chance.

The Fantastic Four and The Herculoids

I was a Huge fan of Hanna-Barberra's World of Super Adventure as a young tyke. There were some crossovers between the various features that appeared on that show, But the Fantastic Four never got to be included in that fun.  I would have loved to see an episode where Marvel's first family mixed it up with Herculoids.  Kirby designs and Toth designs together - it would have been a feast for the eyes!.

Hawk and Dove Vs. Power Man and Iron Fist

I'm looking forward to Netflix various Marvel series, especially that the characters first four shows (Daredevil, Luke Cage, Jessica Jones and Iron Fist) will joining together for the final series, The Defenders.  Still, I hope they don't wait the entire run of their individual series before they start crossing over.  I definitely want to see a lot of action with Luke Cage and Danny Rand together.  Power Man and Iron Fist are one of comics' greatest buddy teams and I have been waiting decades to see them depicted in live action.  It's strange that it has taken this long, they seem to me to be two of the easier heroes to adapt.

Starfire and Firestar

Is Firestar the first character that started on a cartoon and then was integrated into the comics?  Jimmy Olsen came from the radio serials, but I think that Angelica Jones might have been the first cartoon star to make the transition (at least for Marvel and DC).  At any rate, I have a huge fondness for Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends, as it was the best superhero cartoon I had ever seen at that point - I loved how many guest stars and villains showed up.  So, even though she began as a replacement for The Human Torch, I am glad that Firestar found a continuing life in the comics after her cartoon series ended.  Come to think of it, didn't the same thing happen with H.E.R.B.I.E.?

The Avengers and Star Trek (And More!)

Some quick thoughts on the stars of today's anniversary cover:

With Disney now owning both The Avengers and the Star Wars universe, those two are more likely to meet than those in the main story.  Still I'd love to see Kirk and Cap clash in their leadership styles, while Iron Man and Scotty put their heads together in Engineering.  Spock and Vision would get along well, but Thor and Bones might get on one another's nerves... some fun story potential there!

I never watched Thundercats when it first aired, but I did catch the newer series and I thought it was pretty fun.  it's too bad that it was discontinued.  The last time I saw Wolverine animated was in the Hulk Vs. Wolverine short - probably the best Marvel related animated feature out there.  I'm sure we'll see a cartoon Logan again before too long.

I haven't kept up with the comics - Has Banshee returned from the dead yet?  I figured he might have a chance as he is a member of the X-Men: First Class films.  There aren't enough red headed heroes out there - we lost Ralph Dibny, we can't lose Banshee too!  Black Canary has recently been featured on Arrow, and it's quite an improvement on her previous live appearances in Birds of Prey and Smallville.  I hope she becomes a regular part of the show.

From the trailers for the Robocop remake, it looks slickly made with a great cast... and utterly pointless.  Seems crazy to me to try and redo a film that is still held in such high regard, and I think that it will suffer the same fate as the recent Total Recall remake.  Deathlok is a Marvel property that would work perfectly for the big screen, and I hope that something is in the works with this great Bronze Age hero.

Mister Miracle and Thor

There's a lot to love about the artwork of Jack Kirby - his action packed storytelling, his unending array of monstrous creatures, his mastery of the splash page - but for me the first thing that comes to mind when I think of his comic art is his machinery design.  Whether an object was man-made, mystical or alien, Kirby could make it look awesome and formidable through his imaginative illustrations.  His gadgets, weapons and vehicles were always larger than life and many are as fondly remembered as the characters themselves.

Bone and Calvin and Hobbes

When I think of comics that bring forth a sense of wonder, these are two that rise to the very top.  Both feature simple yet extremely expressive characters combined with beautiful backgrounds and landscapes in stories filled to the brim with imagination. Their tales will touch you as much as they make you laugh and are truly must reading for any lover of illustrated fiction.

The Emerald Elite

I've had a few request for a color-themed team, and I felt that green was the best way to go.  There are a lot of green-skinned heroes out there, and I think the reason for that probably comes down to aesthetics - they just looks so cool!  At any rate, I'd love to see how the above group of heroes would interact with one another, given their varied personalities.  They certainly would not be lacking in power, that's for sure.

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.