The Jurassic Four

I've been meaning to use Gon, the awesome creation by Masashi Tanaka for a while now, and this team grew out of that.  Gon featured wordless adventures of a tiny but tough dinosaur, set against lavishly illustrated backgrounds.  I would love to see how the little guy would interact with some of my other favorite dino characters.

Batman and Wolverine in "Death in the Danger Room!"

I recently watched The Wolverine, and while not perfect, I felt like it was a major improvement over X-Men Origins: Wolverine.  The role of Yukio is well cast, and I would be happy to see her in future installments. Even in his fifth outing, Hugh Jackman still does not seem bored by the role, and that's a good thing - his devotion helps make up for the fact that he is at least a foot and a half too tall to be playing the character.  I liked the smaller, more personal stakes in the film and all the nods to Chris Claremont and Frank Miller's character-defining mini-series.

The Huntress and Spider-Woman

Spider-Woman has one of the coolest costumes in comics, and it is no surprise that it has stood the test of time.  I'd love to see it in live action, but I wonder who has the rights?  She has a lot of history with S.H.I.E.L.D. and is a well known Avenger, so one of the sequels to that franchise would be the perfect place to feature her.  Then again, her rights may be considered to be part of the Spider-Man universe, and she may have to appear in a Spidey-related film.  Hopefully whoever has the license to use Jessica Drew on the big screen will find a cool way to showcase her one of these days.

The Spectre and Dexter

I recently watched the entire series of Dexter on Netflix, and man, did it give me some disturbing dreams. I guess I shouldn't be surprised considering the show is about a serial killer who kills other serial killers! While the series lost its footing a bit during the last couple of seasons, the first five seasons are great and well worth watching.   Michael C. Hall gives an interestingly subtle performance as the title character and the supporting cast, including Jennifer Carpenter as his foul mouthed sister all turn in solid performances as well.  Plus, there a lots of cool guest stars like Jimmy Smits, John Lithgow and Peter Weller to keep things interesting.

Nova and Adam Strange

Adam Strange is finally making his New 52 debut, in the pages of the upcoming Justice League United.  There has only been one picture and a few quotes released, but it sounds like a bit of a departure from the classic DC hero.  The new Strange is described as more of a science geek type who tries to keep up with his love Alanna, who is the real action hero.  Jeff Lemire is a great writer, so I will give him the benefit of the doubt.  Still, Adam Strange as originally conceived is one of the best concepts in comics, and I wonder why there is a need to tamper with it at all.

The Legion of Super-Heroes and The New Mutants

These two teams have each seen their share of revamps and relaunches, which have taken their toll on both groups.  The Legion seems to get made over every few years and attempts to make them darker and edgier have backfired, in my opinion.  They are currently back in limbo, hopefully their inevitable return will feature a more classic version of the team.  The New Mutants have fared a little better, but still tend to get lost among the glut of X-teams out there, and they have lost a lot of their uniqueness.  Still, I will always have a soft spot for them, especially the members featured in the first two years of the original title.

Aquaman and Godzilla

The latest casting rumor for the Justice League movie is Josh Holloway as Aquaman.  I loved him as Sawyer in  Lost, and always thought that he would make a good Hawkeye, but I could see him as the sea king as well.  There may be some scheduling conflicts with his new TV series, but with DC's movie plans being postponed almost a year, maybe that won't be an issue anymore.

Sandman and Spider-Man

With all the talk about the huge task of bringing Superman/Batman and The Justice League to the big screen, the equally challenging Sandman adaptation which was announced has been somewhat overshadowed.  Joseph Gordon-Levitt will have a major role,  possibly starring in the title role and also directing the feature.  He is usually involved in quality projects and has established some solid directorial chops to go with his already proven acting skills, so I think he is a great choice to lead the project.  Plus, from the quotes I have read from him, he clearly is a fan of the source material and is well versed in the incredible tapestry created by Neil Gaiman. I'm looking forward to hearing more about the production.

Alpha Flight and The Justice League of America

Little did I know when I created this cover months back that by the time I posted it, there would be an actual Justice League Canada comic!   Well, they changed the name to Justice League United at the last minute, but I think the team will still be referred to as JLC within the covers. It looks worth checking out - I like writer Jeff LeMire and the cast of Green Arrow, Martian Manhunter, Stargirl, Hawkman, Animal Man, Supergirl and Adam Strange is an appealing one.  I'm not so sure about the description of the New 52 Adam Strange as more of a science geek than a swashbuckling hero, though - that doesn't sound like the daring character that I loved from my youth.

Green Lantern and Thor in: "Everybody Must Get Stoned!"

I have featured these two characters together before, but I wanted to do an all-Gil Kane cover this time out.  Kane was indispensable to both Marvel and DC - helping to design some of DC's premiere Silver Age heroes, and providing dynamic covers and interiors for virtually every Marvel character.  It's hard to imagine what either company's output would have looked like without his contributions.

The Phantom and The Phantom Stranger

I'm surprised that we haven't seen a live action Phantom Stranger yet.  We didn't even get an animated version until the sadly missed Batman: The Brave and the Bold featured him in the fan-favorite episode, "Chill of the Night".  Still, he seems like an easy character to translate to live action, but where would we see him first?  Arrow has plenty of guest stars from the DCU, but The Phantom Stranger doesn't really travel in the same circles as Oliver Queen.  Maybe he will show up in the upcoming Constantine series.  There was Rumblings of a Deadman series a while back, that could be a good option as well.  And of course, there's the Guillermo Del Toro-led Dark Universe movie featuring the mystcial characters of the DCU... but with Superman/Batman delayed a year who knows how long it will be for a film like that to be put on the front burner? So many possibilities, hopefully one will work out.

The Metal Men and Red Sonja

This is another example of a cover where I feature a team up that I would never have thought of, but when I saw how well the images fit together I couldn't resist.  And it really isn't all that far-fetched when you think about it.  The Metal Men had an anything-goes attitude in their original series, and and appearance by a time-lost warrior woman wouldn't have seemed out of place with all the craziness that was going on.

Indiana Jones Vs. The Hulk

There was something so cool about watching Raiders of the Lost Ark for the first time.  I had heard it was action-packed, and it did not disappoint.  In those pre-internet days, there were no big moments that were ruined for me in advance.  I love the availability of information that we enjoy today, but one downside is how hard it can be to avoid spoilers, even when you make an effort to do so.

Superboy and Ben Reilly

I have warmed up to Superboy over the years.  I liked his introduction during the Death of Superman story line but I wasn't sure if I wanted this character to be existing side by side with Kal-El for too long as I think that too many variant characters tend to dilute the original.  It wasn't until Geoff Johns' take on Connor Kent in his Teen Titans run that I began to appreciate the character again.  I also liked his appearances on the sadly short-lived Young Justice TV series.  I haven't kept up with the character in the New 52 Universe, though.  I still miss the Superboy that was simply a young Clark Kent.  It's too bad that they took that aspect of the character away, it made him unique among superheroes.

Doop and Nibbler / Ch'p and Squirrel Girl

I thought I would throw together some of my favorite lower-profile characters on this cover.  Nibbler started out as a cute pet on Futurama, and was eventually revealed to be one of the most pivotal characters on the show.  Doop, the breakout star from Marvel's X-Statix, looks to be making a small comeback soon.  Squirrel Girl is one of the more inventive and unique Marvel heroines and her appearances are always fun.  Ch'p was a cool GL and I never quite forgave DC for running him over with a truck in Green Lantern: Mosaic.

Bonus points if you can properly translate Doop's speech balloon!

The Avengers and The Justice League of America in : "Homeless are the Heroes!"

When I was a kid, the big argument was whether The JLA or The Avengers was the cooler team.  Nowadays, folks are having the same conversation, only about the movie adaptations of each group.  I think it is a little crazy to choose sides.  I am just glad to finally be in an age where these huge comic book epics can finally be realized on the big screen.  I will always hope for fidelity to the original material, but in the end it's just cool to finally get to see so many of my favorite characters coming to life, no matter which publisher they are from.

The Doom Patrol and The Silver Surfer

The Doom Patrol is a title and concept that DC likes to return to and revamp an a regular basis.  In my opinion, the farther that they stray from the classic team, the less it works.  I don't mind when they add extra members, but I prefer the original cast, Cliff, Larry, Rita and the Chief, to be part of the mix.

The Angel and The Demon

Just the names of these characters suggest an interesting tale, so it would be fun to see them in a comic together.  They have quite different back stories and personalities, and I think that would make for some enjoyable conflict.

The Superman Family and Gladiator

There have been a lot of Superman analogues, and a few have been able to step away from his shadow to become interesting heroes in their own right.  Gladiator of The Imperial Guard (itself an homage to the Legion of Super-Heroes) is one such character.  I always liked his look and the way that he could hold his own against just about anyone in the Marvel Universe.

Black Lightning and Daredevil in "Whale Watch!"

Black Lightning has had a lot of different costumes over the years, but in my opinion he never looked better than he did in the mini-series Black Lightning: Year One.  Cully Hamner made a few very smart tweaks to Jefferson Pierce's classic costume and gave him a new hairstyle, resulting in a look that has a modern sensibility while respecting the past.  It's too bad that DC didn't stick with it.

Batman and Nick Fury in "D.O.A. Via L.M.D.!"

I have been watching Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and it has had a couple of really fun episodes, but so far I feel that it falls short of it   s promise.  I like Ming Na and Clark Gregg a lot but the rest of the cast still feel like stock characters to me.  Hopefully future episodes will continue to deepen their back stories.  The last episode finally shed some light on how Agent Coulson survived his death from The Avengers.  I was expecting an answer involving LMD's, but they simply say that he was dead and Nick Fury used extreme measures to revive him. They even showed a quick shot of Coulson being operated on, brain exposed, saying, "Let me die, Let me die...."   Hmmmm - Let Me Die...  LMD...   maybe those Life Model Decoys are part of the answer after all!

Plastic Man and The Blonde Phantom

I was looking for a Golden Age character to pair up with Plas and I liked how these two looked together.  You have to appreciate a heroine who will fight crime in heels and an evening gown!  Plastic Man has always been one of the goofiest looking superheroes, but I love the fact that he has never changed his look throughout the decades.  Come to think of it, I don't think I have ever seen him without his goggles since his first appearance... do they even come off?

Hawkman and Photon

No special connection between these two heroes, I just like them both and think it would be fun to see them join forces.  I have been a fan of Monica Rambeau since I first picked up Amazing Spider-Man Annual #16 off the stands.  I've always liked her power set and costume.  I remember really enjoying her character's arc as a member of The Avengers, and I would love to see her included in a future film outing.  I am not holding my breath waiting to see Hawkman on the big screen, even though it could potentially be really cool.  Hollywood doesn't seem to like superhero costumes that have winged helmets, so Katar Hol will have to overcome that obstacle if he wants a chance in the movies.

Booster Gold And Spider-Man

One of the more interesting rumors with the Spider-Man movie franchise is that there are plans to expand into other Spidey-related movies, including Venom and Sinister Six.  Venom I can understand, and I have  been hearing rumors of a solo film for that character since the first Spider-Man trilogy.  The Sinister Six I have been hoping would be the subject of The Amazing Spider-Man 3.  I don't know how a film with them but without Spidey would work.  Time will tell what the actual plans are, I'm sure a lot will depend on the performance of next Summer's sequel.

Thanos Vs. the Legion of Super-Heroes

That quick tease which audiences saw during the end credits of The Avengers featuring Thanos was great, but left me wanting more.  Now I can't complain too much because Ultron is my favorite Avengers villain and we will be getting him in the sequel... but I have to wonder where we will see Thanos next on the big screen.  I thought  that Guardians of the Galaxy was the next most likely place for his reappearance but that film already has a host of villains and I haven't heard that Thanos will be making an appearance.  Will we have to wait for Avengers 3 to see him again or will he possibly make another cameo before that?

Wonder Woman and The Cat

Gal Gadot has been announced as receiving the role of Wonder Woman in the upcoming Batman/Superman film.  I have only seen her in one small role on one of the Fast and Furious sequels, so I don't have much to judge her acting abilities on.  She looks right for the part - I have heard complaints that she was too lean, but I understand she is on a workout regimen to add muscle mass, so that isn't a concern to me.  I just hope the part is written well, it still strikes me a bit odd that she is even in the movie at all.  Will she be an intregal part of the plot, or a small cameo at the end, hinting at things to come?  Part of me suspects that this and a JLA movie may be filmed back-to-back, and that is why DC seems to be getting their Justice League cast members together.

Conan Vs. Predator

Here's another battle that I think would be very close.  I'd like to think that Conan would be able to use the knowledge he has of his home land to his advantage and give him an edge.  Still, the Predator certainly has the upper hand when it comes to weaponry.  Whoever wins will not come out unscathed.

Agents of the Abyss

Aquaman is finally getting the respect he deserves.  For a long time though, he was seen was the weak link in the JLA because of his power set.  It wasn't his fault  though, he just didn't get enough chances to show off his stuff.  hey, it's tough being  a water based hero when your team's headquarters is located on a satellite or the Moon!  It's long past time that we had a super group made up of the greatest undersea heroes.  banded together, they could shine in a way they never could when teamed up with air-breathing partners.

Superman and Hercules

I have seen a lot of interpretations of Hercules in print and media, and they are all entertaining to some degree.  There are a couple of competing films coming up, one starring The Rock in the title role.  Of course there are the classic films as well as Disney's animated version.  I was a fan of the fun, if sometimes hokey Hercules: The Legendary Journeys TV show, although I enjoyed the spinoff, Xena: Warrior Princess, more.  Despite all of these incarnations, my favorite Hercules is the Marvel Comics version.  I love his huge personality, and how he interacts with other characters around him.  He is a great addition to any story.

Dick Tracy and Batgirl

Dick Tracy's rogues gallery would be right at home in Gotham City, so I think he would fit right in there.  With the upcoming Gotham TV series in the works, it reminds me again how cool an ongoing Dick Tracy show could be.  Netflix has been picking up some great properties lately, and I think would be the perfect home for Chester Gould's comic strip legend.

The Anti-Monitor Vs. The Dark Phoenix

These two are among the most powerful characters in their respective universes, so it would be very cool to watch them clash.  I'm not sure who I would take in this battle.  The Anti-Monitor probably has more raw power at his disposal, but The Dark Phoenix has a mean streak that he can't match.  Regardless of the victor, there would be lots of damage in their wake, and that would be fun to see.