The Flash and Captain Midnight

The Flash has exceeded my expectations thus far.  The special effects are impressive for a TV show and showcase the Scarlet Speedster's abilities nicely.  I also like that the series seems to be working as a springboard for other DCU characters to appear.  Grant Gustin does very well in the lead role, which he imbues with a sense of earnestness and optimism that really evokes the character from the comics.  I'm really looking forward to the crossover event with Arrow, and then further on down the road... Grodd!

OMAC and The Fantastic Four

I'm a little surprised at how little we have actually seen of the upcoming Fantastic Four reboot.  I know that principal filming wrapped a while ago and they are in the process of creating the special effects, but I figured we would has seen some kind of footage by now.  Perhaps they are waiting until everything is perfect before they present it and silence the naysayers.  Or maybe it's the turkey many hardcore fans fear it will be and they will quietly release it without previews from the critics.  I must admit that I haven't read much that gives me a lot of hope for the film, but I still have to see a trailer or teaser before I can make a truly informed judgment.

Green Hornet and The Sandman

I am hoping that Marvel's Agent Carter mini-series does well, because that could open the door for more period piece comic adaptations.  Who wouldn't want to see a live action Sandman Mystery Theater with Wesley Dodds solving crimes and dealing out justice in the late 30's?  Well, I would anyway!  Perhaps a period Green Hornet show could help undo the damage done by the Seth Rogen film.

Wildcat and Wolverine in: "The Coach"

I established the relationship between Ted Grant and Logan way back in issue #51 (which can be seen here), and I thought it would be fun to expand upon that.  It has been cool to see Wildcat show up on recent episodes of Arrow, even if he is out of costume.  They have made reference to a previous heroic career for him, but the actor portraying him is considerably younger than the Grant from the comics.  Maybe they will explain that with some sort of nine lives effect.

The Lightning Bolts

I wonder what it is about lightning bolts being used as motifs for superhero uniforms.  There sure are a lot of them! I guess it's because they can stand for electricity, speed or power so they fit a lot of skill sets.  At any rate, I had gotten a few requests for a team that shares this theme, so I figured I would give it a shot.  I have to say, this would be a fun crew to watch work together.

Green Lantern and Battlestar Galactica

One aspect that I used to get a kick out of with Hal Jordan was how, despite being a superhero and intergalactic peacekeeper, he always seemed to have a tough time keeping his personal life together.  He was a great test pilot, but upon losing that job, he went through a series of occupations such as toy salesman that never really clicked for him.  He didn't have much luck with the ladies either - finally winning the heart of Carol Ferris only to have her become his arch-enemy.

Bouncing Boy and Speedball

I remember Bouncing Boy standing out to me among his many Legion of Super-Heroes teammates,  Even when he was not using his bouncing powers, he was illustrated as not having the typical super-heroic physique.  Indeed, he looked like he could stand to lose a few pounds!  It was nice to be reminded that heroes came in all shapes and sizes.

Abe Sapien and Triton

I have written before about how well realized Abe Sapien was in live action form for the Hellboy movies, and now with the announcement of an Inhumans film, I am looking forward to see Triton on the big screen.  His appearance has varied quite a bit from artist to artist over the years, so there is a lot to choose from when designing his look for film.  Hopefully, the filmmakers will stick closely to the Kirby design, you can't beat the original!

Wonder Woman and Elektra

As soon as news of the Netflix Daredevil series was released, there has been much speculation as to who would be playing Elektra.  Some assumed it would be Rosario Dawson, but her role has been revealed as Night Nurse.  With production well underway, and no new announcements, I wonder if Elektra will even be a part of the show.  It is understandable that the show runners do not want to follow the same path as the movie, and maybe they are going to concentrate more on Karen Page as a romantic interest.  Oh, well - they have to same some stuff for season 2!

Sgt. Rock and The Sub-Mariner

Whenever I look over old Sgt. Rock comics looking for images, I am struck by the power of Joe Kubert's covers.  He really knew how to stop a casual browser in their tracks, and demand that they pick up a particular issue.  Even a die-hard superhero fan like me had to find out what happened inside the pages of those war comics.

Ultron and Bender

I thoroughly enjoyed the recent Futurama crossover episode of The Simpsons.  I remember a fun comic book version of this meeting from years back that I loved, and I wondered why it took so long for a TV version.  It was worth the wait, with a ton of great gags - starting with one of my personal favorite characters, the Hedonism Bot, filling in on the weekly opening credits couch gag. It made me miss the Futurama gang, I'd love to see them defy the odds and return for a third time.

The New Teen Titans and The New Mutants

This is a team up that I have been wanting to do forever, I just was waiting to find the right images.  Both of these teams have seen a lot of shake ups and roster changes over the years.  I have to say that the incarnations presented here  are still my favorites.  The first couple of years of each title were team comics at their best - writing and art were firing on all cylinders, featuring lots of cool characters and concepts.  Plus, the protagonists were around my age, and had to deal with some of the same issues I did, in addition to their larger than life heroics.

Superman and Thor (Vs. Amazo and Taskmaster)

I have been checking out the original Adventures of Superman TV series lately.  I had watched a scene or two over the years, but never sat down for a full episode until they recently began airing on a local classic television channel.  I have to admit I get a real kick out of them.  George Reeves makes a great barrel chested Superman, reminding me of the comics from that era.  I like seeing all the classic styles of clothing and automobiles as well.  Clark isn't very careful with his secret identity though - the guy just cant resist making sly references to his alter ego at any opportunity!

Steel Vs. Hawkeye

Hawkeye spent a lot of the first Avengers film under the thrall of Loki, so we did not to get to see much of the trademark character traits that have made him a fan favorite hero in the comics.  I am hoping that is addressed in the upcoming sequel.  I'd like to see him competing with Cap over leadership of the team and displaying his flirtatious ways with newcomer Scarlet Witch. Joss Whedon excels at writing interpersonal relationships, so I am confident some of the familiar Clint will come through in the film.

The Hulk Vs. Amazo

I recently was reminded of an episode of The Incredible Hulk that featured guest stars Loni Anderson and Jeremy Brett.  My favorite Sherlock Holmes actor opposite The Hulk?  I had to check it out (thanks, Dave, for the heads up)!  I was struck once again about how enjoyable a series it was.  Sure, it is cheesy by today's standards, but the guest star list is a who's who of 70's and 80's stars and Bixby and Ferrigno gave their all to their performances - never once winking at the camera because they were in a comic book show.  Whenever I stumble upon an episode while channel surfing, I always seem to wind up watching the whole thing.

Usagi Yojimbo Joins Captain Carrot and his Amazing Zoo Crew

I have enjoyed the DCU animated shorts that are played during their cartoon series.  Most are light hearted and skew to a younger audience, so I think that some Zoo Crew appearances would be a fitting and welcome addition to the  line up.  These guys are tailor made for animation!.

As a reminder, you can order a copy of The Sakai Project below.   All of the proceeds from this over-sized book go to Stan and Sharon Sakai to help pay for medical bills incurred from a brain tumor that Sharon has been battling.

The Sakai Project

Justice League of America and Spider-Woman

With all the crazy rumors about plans to continue and expand the Amazing Spider-Man franchise (Sinister Six, All-Female Spider Team, Aunt May Prequel) floating around, I am surprised we have not heard of the most sensible route - a Spider-Woman solo film.  Jessica Drew has one of the great comic costumes and  a cool origin.  Her story is also quite different than Peter Parker's, which would set it apart from the previous films.  Maybe it's a rights issue... if that's the case, put her in The Avengers!

Firestorm and Flaming Carrot

I have been impressed with the super-speed visuals of The Flash on the CW, and it appears that the producers are going to be showcasing even more super-heroics with Firestorm.   Ronnie Raymond, Martin Stein and Jason Rusch have all been cast and we have already seen Firestorm rogues Multiplex and Plastique (not to mention Killer Frost as a series regular in her pre-Frost persona).  I am very curious to see how they pull of Firestorm's signature look as well as his powers.  This almost makes up for the hero being one of the few left out of the Justice League Unlimited cartoon.

Adam Strange and The Avengers

The Avengers: Age of Ultron teaser did just what it was supposed to do, tease the upcoming blockbuster sequel with a glimpse of the cast and a hint of the conflict that they will be facing.  I still feel as though there is a lot being held back, and that's a good thing.  We know that Ultron will not be the sole villain and still have yet to see The Vision in action.  Hawkeye and Hulk are said to have expanded roles, but other than the Hulkbuster fight, I don't know what that will entail yet.  Finally, the rumors of Captain Marvel or other heroes showing up continue to surface - time will tell if there is any truth to those.  I'm not going to go crazy looking for spoilers, though... it's fun to be surprised in the theater.

The Beast and Hellboy

Time for another all-Mignola cover.  I remember being impressed by his artwork on various Marvel titles and the Phantom Stranger mini-series in which he collaborated with P. Craig Russell.  It was Gotham by Gaslight, however, that really turned me into a fan.  His use of light and shadow was a perfect for for this turn of the century Batman, and it was a great comic reading experience.  I followed him to Hellboy, and it was great to really get to see him cut loose on his signature series.

Doctor Strange and Swamp Thing in "Servitude of the Sorcerer Supreme"

Benedict Cumberbatch is set to play Doctor Strange for the upcoming Marvel movie, and I think they have made another excellent casting choice.  He is great as Sherlock Holmes and I have no doubt that he will be able to utter Strange's complex incantations with gravitas.  This was a movie I wasn't sure I would be interested in, but now I am very intrigued to see how it turns out.

These two previously met in STF #227...

Tarzan Vs. Kraven The Hunter

This is a battle I would love to see.  You just know that these two would clash instantly.  Kraven would definitely want to match his skills against the lord of the jungle, and Tarzan has no patience for animal thrill-killers.  It would be a great fight, but ultimately my money is on Tarzan in this match up.

Black Lightning and Daredevil in "The Devil Made Him Do It!"

OK, we've had Simon Stagg (Metamorpho's boss) on The Flash, and Katana is on Arrow... I'm liking the seeds being planted for The Outsiders.  Now we need for Black Lightning to start appearing on one of these shows.  He would be a good fit for either, really.  He's street level like the heroes on Arrow, but he's got powers like the characters on The Flash.  C'mon, Warner Brothers, let's make this happen!

Robin & Batgirl Vs. Spider-Man

Continued from yesterday's cover, today's entry should provide a clue as to what exactly is going on in this saga.

It's amazing that the 60's Batman TV series is just now being released on DVD and Blu-Ray.  I have been enjoying watching some of the episodes on a local classic TV station.  It's crazy how good Batgirl looks on the series.  Batman and Robin are a bit campy looking, fitting for the show - but Batgirl looks like she stepped right out of the comics.  Then you have her Bat-Cycle, which is just an awesome design.  They really had her look down!

Batman and Spider-Man in "Bruce Wayne: Scapegoat!"

Like many in my age group, this first Marvel superhero I saw in live action was Spider-Man on The Electric Company.  While I thought it was cool to see him outside of the comics, there was something a little creepy about how they made him mute on the show.  Sure, it was so us kids could have the educational value of reading his thought bubbles, but I still found it off-putting.  It really illustrated the importance of Spidey's wisecracking persona, which did much to offset the appearance of a full face-masked character.

If you are curious about whats going on in the above cover, make sure to tune in tomorrow for Part Two of this story where all will be explained!

Martian Manhunter and Thor

Thor: Ragnarok will be the title of the third solo outing for Marvel's Thunder God and I am hoping that it will learn from the first two installments and have more of a focus on action over goofy humor and unnecessary side characters.  While Loki is sure to be featured prominently, I'd like to see some other Thor villains like The Enchantress or The Executioner get a chance to do their thing.  At any rate, we won't have to wait that long for an update on Asgard - Idris Elba let it slip that Loki and Heimdall will be making appearances in Avengers: The Age of Ultron.

Blue Beetle and Invincible

It was nice to see Jaime Reyes get such a sizable role in the animated Young Justice series.  I thought that his costume looked cool in the comics, and worked even better in motion.  Let's hope we get to see a live action version one of these days - that isn't as clunky as the one featured on that episode of Smallville.

Mister Fantastic, The Elongated Man and Mr. Gum

I always loved stretching heroes when I was a kid.  They looked cool on the page and they were fun to draw as well.  Ralph Dibny has yet to get a new lease on life with DC's rebooted comic line, but maybe there could be a place for him on TV.  After all, he got his start as a supporting character in The Flash, why not do the same on the televised version?

Mr. Monster and The Walking Dead

The Walking Dead is back and even though the gory stuff makes me watch half of it with my hands over my eyes, I have been enjoying the return of Rick and company.  I like that they have added in a character who just may have a cure for the walking dead plague if he can get to the right facility - it gives the group a goal other than merely just trying to stay alive, and a good reason to keep moving instead of holing up in one place.

Dick Tracy and Jonny Quest

Watching Gotham reminds me of how cool it would be to have an ongoing Dick Tracy series.  If you are going to have a police procedural set in a city rife with strange criminals, Chester Gould's classic comic strip is a perfect property to adapt.  While Gotham is fun, we won't really get to see the villains fully formed because of the prequel nature of the series.  With a Dick Tracy show, we could have the bad guys and the city's top cop in their prime.