Task Force T

I pity the fool who wouldn't want to read the adventures of this group!  Personally I would be sold by the inclusion of Chaselon alone. Like being a sentient diamond with robotic limbs and a Green Lantern ring wasn't enough, he's got a mohawk to put his cool factor over the top!  No more jibba jabba! Here's my sixty cents!

Man-Thing Vs. The Spectre

Jim Aparo could draw just about anything, but he really shined on characters and stories that emphasized his excellent use of light and shadow as well as his knack for dramatic pacing.  In addition to the moody work he produced for heroes like Aquaman, Batman The Phantom Stranger and The Spectre, I would enjoy the occasional morality tale that he would illustrate for one of DC's horror comics. It would have been great to have seen him take on some of Marvel's more macabre characters like Man-Thing.

Dick Tracy and Spider-Man

These two were the stars of my two favorite action comic strips growing up, and I would have loved to have seen some kind of crossover event between them.  When I look over those old strips, I am always impressed at how much information that Chester Gould, Stan Lee and Larry Lieber were able to include in 3-4 panels a day.  It takes a real skill to work in that medium and Dick Tracy and The Amazing Spider-Man were among the best examples of the form ever.

Wonder Woman and Captain Britain

DC has released images of yet another new costume for Wonder Woman, and while most seem to like it, some have complained about the addition of strange hand spikes and the lack of skin showing.  Personally, I think it is a fine look.  Wonder Woman is one of those characters that I think would benefit from having multiple costumes anyway, depending on the event.  I don't mind when she switches to a skirt or wears a cape or extra armor on occasion.  As long as she has the trademark elements - tiara, bracelets, stars, eagle/WW and color scheme - I think it is cool for her to have a bunch of different looks.

The Blue Beetle and Captain America in "I'll Take Manhattan"

Like many kids, Captain America was a favorite character to role-play as because it was easy to use a trash can lid as a stand in for his shield.  I got pretty good at hitting targets and deflecting rocks with it, much to the annoyance of my father  who just wanted to darn things to fit on then trash cans.  Hey, it's not my fault he used cheap aluminum instead of a vibranium alloy!

Cap has also shared an adventure with Dan Garrtet's successor, Ted Kord.

Han Solo and The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

Here's another suggestion from Back Issue's Michael Eury, one that I thought was from left field until the last name connection was pointed out.  Then I just had to give it a shot.  I was very glad to hear that Harrison Ford is expected to make a full recovery following his recent plane crash.  The only thing I want to see him piloting from now in is the Millennium Falcon!

The Demon and The Thing

With Constantine looking unlikely to return for a second season, it seems as though comic fans will only have Gullermo Del Toro's rumored Dark Universe movie to count on if they want to see DC's more mystical characters in live action.  Hollywood seems to love revisiting the King Arthur legend, so an anti-hero like The Demon with ties to that era might be a welcome and unique addition to the silver screen's growing roster of comic book stars.

These two heroes met once before, in an all-Kirby classic during my MTIO period...

Wonder Woman and Captain America in: "Cheating... with Cheetah!"

Longtime followers of this blog know that from time to time I will revisit team-ups that I have featured before, sometimes presenting them in a new adventure and sometimes continuing off from where I left them last.  There is only one real ongoing saga, however - that is the marriage of Captain America and Wonder Woman.  This is the 8th cover featuring the official couple of STF and there will definitely be more to come.  To make them easier to see all at once, I have listened to a follower request and created a new label that you can click on: WW/Cap.

Hawkman and The Falcon in "Alien Inheritance!"

I loved watching The Falcon in Captain America: the Winter Soldier and I am hoping to see a lot more of him.  It sounds like I may get my wish as Anthony Mackie is in the cast list for Avengers: The Age of Ultron and is rumored to also possible be making an appearance in Ant-Man.  I thought I might have to wait until Captain America: Civil War to watch him take flight again, but it looks as though there will be some cool Falcon action before then.

These two crossed paths once before, way back in STF #41.

Batman & Robin Get Smart!

This is a crossover that I think could have actually worked as a TV special in the 60's.  Maxwell Smart would not have seemed out of place at all if he dropped into Gotham City for a visit. Thanks to Back Issue's Michael Eury for another great suggestion!

Doctor Strange and Deadman in "Waking the Dead!"

It will be interesting to see how Doctor Strange is presented visually in the upcoming Benedict Cumberbatch-Starring film.  He has had a few different looks over the years so there is some leeway.  For me, the Cloak of Levitation and amulet are a must, and I would really miss the signature gray temples if they were absent.  Hopefully we will hear more as the production of the movie ramps up in the coming months.

This is the second time these two have crossed paths - you can see their first meeting here.

Nick Fury Joins G.I. Joe

When Tom Zilla, (a Patron of the site in good standing) suggested a Fury/G.I. Joe team-up, I just had to smack my head because I hadn't thought of it before.  It really is a natural pairing. With all of the comics, cartoons and movies that have come along in the last few decades, G.I. Joe has a different meaning to fans of today than when I was a kid.  I remember the large size action figures with the real hair, cool accessories and king-fu grips.  The later miniature versions that came along and became the norm always seemed to pale in comparison to me.

Doctor Fate and Magik

DC has solicited a new Doctor Fate series, which I was glad to learn because I have always thought he was a really cool hero with a great look.  Checking out the solicitations, though, it seems that they are going to have an all-new character take up the mantle rather than use Kent Nelson or one of the others who have previously assumed the role.  I know that DC has a long tradition of legacy heroes, but the way they have been switching out who is under the helmet for the past couple of decades has diluted my enjoyment of the character.  Just when I get used to one guy, he's gone and everything starts over.

The Green Lantern Corps and Futurama

Futurama, in my opinion, is one of the greatest animated series ever.  It had a great cast of characters brought to life with excellent voice work and a setting that allowed the writers to fill their episodes with tons of sight gags and Easter eggs in addition to humorously inventive plots.  The episodes were often touching and thought provoking as well. The series has come back to life twice after I thought it completed, so maybe there's a chance that it may return again one of these days.  Until then I will enjoy re-watching old seasons.

Commissioner Gordon and Daredevil

The one rumor about Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice that I really hope is not true is that in the DC cinematic universe, Jim Gordon will already be dead.  This would be a waste of Batman's second best supporting character, especially since it would mean we wouldn't see him in future films either, save for flashbacks.  I'd love to see someone like Bryan Cranston (who has voiced the role before) acting opposite Ben Affleck in a future flick.   I'm warming up to TV's Gordon on Gotham, but that guy really needs a pair of glasses and a mustache!

Batman Vs. Darth Vader

After watching Gone Girl, I think that Ben Affleck is more than ready to take on the role of Batman.  He's got the appearance and attitude down, and we know he looks good in the suit from what has been shown thus far.  As cool as it will be to see him mix it up with Superman and then the whole Justice League, what I am really hoping for is to see an Affleck-Directed Batman solo film.  His work in Gone Baby Gone, The Town, and Argo show he has a great sensibility for it and I be he could give audiences a great version of Gotham City.

This confrontation has been a long time coming - Vader has had a grudge against Batman since they first met way back in August of 2011.

Vigilante and The Rawhide Kid

The Vigilante stood out to me as the Earth-Two western hero.  Unlike Jonah Hex or DC's other western characters, he had standing membership in a super team in addition to his more down to Earth adventures. I liked that he was also an entertainer, it was cool that he was famous for his singing voice as well as his heroic exploits.  Imagine if Elvis or Roy Rogers moonlighted as a crime-fighter!

Green Arrow and Grendel

It's funny how Green Arrow has almost become the Batman of TV.  When Smallville was on the air, Bruce Wayne was off limits, so the -producers introduced Oliver Queen/Green Arrow to fill in as a millionaire playboy/non-powered costumed vigilante to interact with the Man of Steel-to be.  In the current Arrow series, Queen works out of a subterranean base with a close knit group of operatives, has an ongoing feud with Ra's al Ghul and has had a hand in introducing a bunch of other heroes - once again filling the role that Batman usually would.

Superman Vs. The Avengers in "Earth's Mightiest Maniacs!"

I know that I was recently giving The Avengers a hard time for losing their helmets so often in the movies, but that really is just a nitpick.  The newest trailer looks awesome, and I like that it teases the new elements like Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch and The Vision without giving away the whole movie.  I have been trying not to spoil too much for myself this time around so that my viewing experience can be as fresh as possible.  All I really know is that The Avengers fight Ultron, a Stark experiment out of control, and a few characters are introduced... plus Hulk & Iron Man battle.  That's all I need, I'll be there opening night!

Superman and The Avengers have met before - and it didn't go well then either...

The Shadow and V

It's been cool to see pulp heroes like The Shadow getting more attention in comics lately.  I love the character and his period setting and have enjoyed his adventures in different media.  The new comics look cool and I like how he has been crossing paths with other established characters.  The Alec Baldwin film, while not perfect, is still a guilty pleasure of mine.  But what I will mostly think of when it comes to The Shadow are his classic radio shows.  I used to listen to those on cassette tapes as a kid, and I thought they were moody and cool.

Green Lantern and The Black Panther

Looking at the latest trailer and posters for Avengers: The Age of Ultron, I can't help but have the usual nitpick:  Captain America and Iron Man seem to spend a lot of time with their helmets ripped off (Thor didn't even bring his).  As much as I am looking forward to The Black Panther's eventual inclusion in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, I'm already wondering how much of him we will see in full costume, considering the actor-concealing face-mask.  At least John Stewart wont have that worry if he is included in Justice League.  Just make his eyes glow when he uses his ring and I'll be happy!

Galactus Vs. Trigon

I mentioned after my recent New Teen Titans vs. Terrax / Raven Vs. Galactus two-parter that Trigon might have something t say about his daughter becoming a new herald of the World Devourer.  I got a few requests to follow through on that idea and indeed it kept rattling around in my head as well.  So, now the two-parter is a three-part epic!

Batwoman and Spider-Woman

Spider-Woman is the latest heroine to have a makeover and while her classic outfit is a favorite of mine, I can understand the change.  It's amazing that she went so long with her original look, really.  The new costume seems to be designed to be more movie friendly, and looks influenced by Batgirl's recent redesign as well.  I think they did a decent job with the new look, we'll see if it sticks.

Kilowog and Beta Ray Bill

Now that Marvel has successfully introduced the cosmic side of their cinematic universe, I think that movie audiences are ready to see Beta Ray Bill on the big screen.  I'm not sure what the plot to Thor: Ragnarok will be, but it sounds epic enough that new characters will have to join in on the action.  How cool would it be to see Bill fighting side by side with the God of Thunder?  I bet they would even let him keep his helmet!

Spider-Ham and Milk & Cheese

I have only read a little of Milk & Cheese, but what I have seen has always made me laugh. Spider-Ham is a fun spin on funny animal comics crossed with mainstream superheroes and I remember getting a kick out of his first appearance in Marvel Tails.  He keeps coming back so it seems he struck a chord with other fans and creators as well.

Raven Vs. Galactus

Continued from yesterday's cover, we finally see which Titan Galactus has had his eye on since way back in STF #241 from November 2012.  This was a story thread that I left dangling and always wanted to return to.  With Raven's abilities to sense the emotions from others, she could become the type of herald that would be able to lead the World Devourer to planets with non-sentient life.  Trigon, however, might have something to say about his daughter's new position!

The New Teen Titans Vs. Terrax

With Cyborg now a Justice Leaguer and Donna Troy and Wally West MIA or unrecognizable, it's unlikely we will ever see this classic Titans team get a live action treatment.  There was a point in time when I thought that they would be the first to hit the big screen.  At least we will be seeing most of them in some form on the film and TV in the next few years with various projects that have been announced.

By the way, this cover is only the first part of the saga... tune in for the thrilling conclusion tomorrow!

Swamp Thing and Conan

One of the cool things about Swamp Thing and Conan is how they inspired the artists that worked on them.  Not only could I count on talents like John Buscema, Steve Bissette or Bernie Wrightson to provide amazing depictions of their heroes in action, I knew that that creepy villains that they faced and the landscapes that they fought upon would be just as beautifully illustrated.

"The Golfer": A New Robot by Eric Pearsall

My brother is back at it, with a new robot.   I got some great feedback when I posted his other robots, so I thought I would share this one as well:

Let's take the new guy for a spin:

Looks great, huh?  I love these!

Two-Face and The Green Goblin

Willem Dafoe was perfectly cast as the Green Goblin in my opinion.  It's too bad they when with the non-moving sports helmet type mask that covered up so much of his performance. Aaron Eckhart looked amazing as Two-Face (a quantum leap from Tommy Lee Jones with teeth painted onto a purple cheek), but I have to admit being a little disappointed that his entire criminal career lasted only a couple of hours.  I hope future onscreen incarnations of these classic villains will learn from the mistakes of the past and give comic fans even better versions than we have seen thus far.

The repercussions of the agreement above were played out in a couple of previous Lost Issues:

The Green Goblin turned Batman's world upside down back in October of 2011 and Two-Face had Spidey working double time in March of 2013...

Dick Tracy and The Spirit

These two seem like a very natural pairing and neither would seem that out of place if included in one of the other's tales.  Each have had their fair share of dealings with ghoulish villains, femme fatales and daring escapes in their classic adventures.  I can only imagine that a story featuring them both would packed with film noir style goodness.

The Legion of Super-Pets and Lockjaw

The prospect of an Inhumans movie is an exciting one, even if it is still years away.  I am especially looking forward to Lockjaw joining Rocket Racoon, Cosmo and Howard the Duck in Marvel's growing stable of animal superheroes on the big screen.  I have always thought the teleporting pooch was such a cool character in concept and appearance and it will be a treat to see him become the next scene stealer.