The Omega Men and Omega The Unknown

I remember thinking that The Omega Men were going to be the next big thing.  They were introduced in the pages of the then red-hot New Teen Titans in one of their coolest story arcs after all.  I think the reason that they never really got a chance to catch on is that their series was only available in DC's direct format.  I got my comics off the newsstand, so I never saw an issue for sale.  I still think they are a cool group and I am glad that DC has found a way to bring them back from time to time.

Daredevil and Sherlock Holmes

I am glad that Martin Freeman and Benedict Cumberbatch have become part of the Marvel cinematic universe, but my favorite roles to see both of these talented actors in are Holmes and Watson.  So, I am very happy that we will finally be getting some new installments of Sherlock on the BBC in the new year.  I will watch anything Sherlock Holmes related, and I consider their show to be among the best (right after the just about perfect Jeremy Brett series).   Elementary has been tiding me over, but it just isn't the same

Hong Kong Phooey Vs. Chester Cheetah

This cover comes about as a suggestion from my brilliant and talented Sister-in-law Melanie.  She told me that she came up with an idea that I would have never thought of on my own, and she was right!  Chester Cheetah always seemed to be the "Poochie" of food mascots to me and I can see him snapping one day and lashing out at Tony the Tiger and the rest until HKP chops some sense back into him.

Princess Leia and Mr. Spock

I was very sorry to hear of Carrie Fisher's passing yesterday.  She, along with Leonard Nimoy, Robert Vaughan and so many other icons of my childhood that have left us recently will be truly missed.  It's especially sad in Fisher's case, as she was still so young.  I am glad we will get a chance to see her once again in her most famous role.  I was a fan of her comedy chops as well - as a writer and in appearances on 30 Rock and When Harry met Sally.

If you are wondering how such a scene depicted above could take place, it is a direct continuation from STF #1077...

The Atom and Hawkeye

One of my favorite moments in the 4-night CW Invasion crossover was when Cisco mentioned to Ray Palmer that he would finally have to get around to upgrading his power suit.  I have felt that it was too clunky all along and it looks like we may finally be getting a more streamlined version at some point this season on DC's Legends of Tomorrow.  Let's hope they tweak the helmet as well.

Man-Bat and Ghost Rider in "Hell's Army!"

I wasn't sure what to think when I heard that Ghost Rider was going to be a part of this season's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.  The show has not had the greatest track record of  adapting heroes (I'm looking at you, Deathlok) and it would be the new, car-driving Ghost Rider, Roberto Reyes, who I was not familiar with.  I am happy to say that my doubts were unfounded, and the Ghost Rider elements have been my favorite part of the season so far.  The effects are impressive for TV and Gabriel Luna does a fine job in the role.  As a bonus, we even got a Johnny Blaze Ghost Rider cameo!

These two first crossed paths in STF #1282...

Calvin & Hobbes and Peanuts

I'd like to take this time to wish a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all who take the time to visit this page.  It has been another fun year, with the blog topping 3.5 million views.  I truly  appreciate all of your feedback and suggestions and hope you are spending time with the ones you love today.  A special thanks goes out to the Patrons - you have helped this project to continue!

The Phoenix and Deathstroke

Ben Affleck's solo Batman movie will start filming next year, and little is known about the plot other than that it will feature Deathstroke.  I am trying to think of comic stories that featured the two up against each other, but other than a few guest appearances, there isn't a whole lot.  I am assuming, then, that we will see a completely original tale.  I have liked Affleck's previous scripts, so I am optimistic that we will see a bat-flick unlike any other.

The Falcon and Mr. T

Mr. T had a cartoon show when I was a kid, and it was truly bizarre.  He would team up with a group of gymnastic students and solve mysteries.  His dog even had a mohawk.  It sort of reminds me of today's Mike Tyson Mysteries - but at least that show is trying to be odd.

Namorita Joins The Teen Titans

It's cool to see dc with a Titans title featuring the classic members of the team again. I was worried that there would be no place for them, with their mentors still in operation and a whole new crop of Teen Titans to take their place.  Fortunately DC Rebirth recognized the value and fan base that comes with these characters and have given them a chance to shine again.

Spider-Man and Shazam! (The Movie!)

The Spider-Man: Homecoming trailer has hit, and while it looks like a lot of fun, it doesn't seem all that different from the Spider-Man films that have come before, with an awkward Peter Parker, Spidey putting his powers to the test and a tech-based villain.  There are enough new elements - Iron Man, web wings and an age appropriate cast - that should help it stand out from the others. I have confident that Marvel has come up with a decent script and it will definitely be a step above The Amazing Spider-Man 2 at least.

Spidey and Cap had a more traditional comic team-up back in STF #1122...

Wonder Man and Blue Devil

Both of these characters have been through a lot of changes over the years, in appearance and attitude.  I prefer both of them in their more action-comedy phases - Blue Devil from his original series and Wonder Man palling around with The Beast in Hollywood.  Attempts to darken these guys didn't really do much for me as a reader.

The Rocketeer and Superman

Everyone talks about how great John Williams' Superman score is, and with good reason.  Another one of my favorite superhero scores has to be James Horner's Rocketeer soundtrack.  You know it is great music because a bunch of other films have used it as a temp track in early commercials and trailers.

Superman and the Rocketeer first met back in STF #1627...

Power Man and Bumblebee

One thing I really miss in today's comics are the inventive subscription ads and series advertisements.  They often featured cool art that could not be found anywhere else.  Who can forget the two ads by Bill Sienkiewicz for Power Man and Iron Fist - one with Danny Rand asking the reader to subscribe to their series so as not to upset his partner and the other with Luke Cage daring the reader not to.

The Human Torch Vs. Captain Cold

Well it seems as though Wentworth Miller's Captain Cold is not completely gone from DC's Legends of Tomorrow.  He has been appearing as some sort of hallucination that Heatwave is experiencing.  We'll see if this leads to a full on resurrection down the line.  I have kind of preferred Heatwave on his own rather than chummy with a partner, so I hope this isn't just a set up to return to the previous status quo.

Zippy and Pinhead

I can't honestly day I always got the humor, but there was something about the Zippy the Pinhead cartoon that always kept me coming back.  I liked the artwork by Bill Griffith, and the whole affair was just so weird.  It definitely stood out among all of the more traditional comic strips in the paper.

Machine Man and Dynomutt

I love that DC has not only brought back a bunch of great Hanna Barbera characters in new titles but will now be crossing them over in a series of Annuals. I remember doing a Space Ghost/Green Lantern cover on this blog and folks responding that they would love to see DC actually pair the two - and now we are getting one for real!  I only wish that Dynomutt and the Blue Falcon were a part of the fun though.  I'd love to see them mix it up with Batman and Ace the Bat-Hound.

Aquaman Vs. Captain Marvel

Patrick Wilson has been added to the cast of Aquaman as Orm - Aquaman's half brother, also known as The Ocean Master .  He doesn't really resemble Jason Mamoa, so I guess they got their looks from their mothers! I was hoping that Black Manta would be the primary antagonist, but screenwriters just can't resist the evil brother angle. I'm also curious as to how they'll design the Ocean Master costume and helmet.

Katana and Sunfire

When I was a kid I was surprised that Sunfire didn't have a higher profile in the comics.  he had a whole episode of Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends dedicated to him, after all!  I guess there are a lot of fire-based heroes and villains and perhaps that's why he kind of got lost in the mix.

Abin Sur and Beta Ray Bill

Rumors have it that at least one green Lantern will indeed be showing up at some point in the upcoming Justice League movie.  No solid casting for wither Hal Jordan or John Stewart has leaked, so there is no guarantee that the cameo (or however large the role) will feature either one of them.  Perhaps we will just get an introduction to the Green Lantern corps concept, with an alien Lantern like Abin Sur arriving to warn of Darkseid, allowing one of the Earth GL's to be granted a ring in the Justice League sequel.

Batman and Kolchak: The Night Stalker

I recently checked out some old episodes of Kolchak: The Night Stalker, and I was amazed at how ahead of its time the series was.  Kolchak was out hunting and researching werewolves, vampires, aliens, and all sorts of paranormal phenomena decades before it became thew hip thing to do.  Shows like The X-Files and Supernatural certainly owe a debt to this trailblazer.  Darren McGavin made an appearance on The X-Files as the man who actually initiated the X-Files Program, so it was nice to see them acknowledge their forerunner in that way.

Green Hornet Vs. Daredevil

Continued from yesterday's cover, you knew it was only a matter of time before DD decided to check out what was going on with the new guy in town.

Judging from the comments yesterday, it seems that I am not the only one who felt that the Seth Rogen-led Green Hornet film was a big letdown.  So, I was very glad to hear that Paramount pictures and director Gavin O'Connor are already set to reboot the property, this time with a much more serious tone.  Let's hope that the second time will be the charm!

The Green Hornet and The Kingpin

I was sorry to hear of the passing of TV's Green Hornet, Van Williams this week.  It's been a tough few years with the loss of a lot of our childhood heroes, saying goodby to Yvonne Craig and Leonard Nimoy among others. At least through their iconic performances, their memories will live on for a long long time to come.

Make sure to come back tomorrow for the thrilling conclusion!

7 Soldiers of Victory and The X-Men (& 3 More Tales!)

DC's 100-Page Giants always felt like a "full meal" of a comic to me.  You had the big main course, then a couple of sides featuring lesser used fan favorites and finish up with a tasty golden age reprint.  I would complete my reading fully satisfied every time.

Iron Man Vs. Darkseid in :"Back in the Clutches!"

This cover serves as a direct sequel to STF #842, where Iron Man and Darkseid first clashed.

No hero changes costumes more than Tony Stark (okay, maybe Janet Van Dyne), but the classic red and gold of the 70's-80's remains my favorite.  I still hope to see a version of it on the big screen one day.  They really missed a great opportunity to feature it with all the armor variants in Iron Man 3.

Coming up tomorrow: STF #1700!

Bone and Concrete

I was very happy to read that Bone is finally being adapted into a movie by none other than mark Osborne, the director of Kung Fu Panda and The Little Prince.  I am a huge fan of Jeff Smith's epic tale and can't wait to see it reach an even wider audience.  It really has everything - humor, adventure, suspense, romance, action and gorgeous visuals.  I could say the same thing about Paul Chadwick's Concrete, another character that is long overdue to make the leap to the big screen.

Mr. Spock and Space Ghost

I liked the tribute to Leonard Nimoy in Star Trek Beyond.  My favorite part of the new incarnation of the original Enterprise crew is that through Spock Prime, they were able to avoid undoing all of the previous continuity.  The photo he gave the young Spock of the classic cast was a nice way to give a nod to Shatner and the rest of the original crew, while underscoring the importance of loyalty for their successors.

The Invaders Vs. The Brotherhood of Evil

It's a small comics world.  The Brotherhood portion of this issue comes from a cover by Ed Hannigan and Jose Delbo for of Mayfair Games' Blood Feud, starring the New Teen Titans.  It is a Role Playing Game written by none other than than Jeff O'Hare, a Patron of this very blog!  That was a very cool discovery to make, nice work Jeff!

Black Canary Vs. Klaw

*Spoilers* for those not caught up on Arrow.  Before Laurel Lance, the Black Canary of the CW died last season, she whispered a request to Green Arrow.  This season we finally learned what it was, "Don't let me be the last Black Canary".   The question is, who would that be?  We now know that Artemis is a traitor working for Prometheus, so that rules her out.  Speedy seems to prefer the world of politics, so I would be surprised if it was her.  The final chapter of the 4-night CW crossover reunited Oliver and Sarah Lance and they have lots of chemistry.  I'm hoping she switches back from the White Canary to Black Canary and joins Arrow again, where she really belongs.

Zatanna and Magik

I remember picking up the Magik mini-series because it was X-Men related and really digging it.  I have always enjoyed the relationships between Illyana Rasputin and her brother Colossus, as well as best friend Kitty Pride.   Here's hoping that she will be part of the in-development New Mutants film.

Sgt. Rock and The Phantom

I am waiting for DC's Legends of Tomorrow to have a WWII era-based episode featuring their stable of wartime characters.  They have so many great ones to choose from, the Unknown Soldier, The Haunted Tank, Madamoiselle Marie and of course Sgt. Rock and Easy Company.  I loved when the animated Justice League had an adventure during that period, and it would be great to see the Legends try something similar in live action.

Poison Ivy Vs. The Hulk

I have always thought that Poison Ivy was one of Batman's greatest villains and iI would love to see a live action version finally do the character justice.  Uma Thurman's turn in Batman and Robin was a campy mess.  The Poison Ivy arc going on in Gotham is a little creepy - a young girl with the body of an adult seducing men... whatever happened to the plant angle?  Hopefully one day we will see a comics-accurate version.

He-Man Vs. ROM

My first encounter with Masters of the Universe was seeing He-Man showing up in DC Comics Presents and being annoyed that an issue of one of my favorite comics seemed to be devoted to a toy advertisement.  I never really got into the cartoons back then for that reason.   I will say I did check out some of the more recent animated episodes and they were a lot of fun, I can see the appeal of the characters now.

Microforce

I was hoping that since The Atom's suit was destroyed on DC's Legends of Tomorrow, there would be a new streamlined version closer to the comics once he rebuilt.  From footage I have seen of future episodes, it looks like he will be back to the clunky Iron Man-type design with the ugly helmet.  What's worse in the upcoming Justice League of America comic, the Ryan Choi Atom appears to be adopting a costume to more closely resemble the TV version.  They're doing it backwards, it's Hawkeye all over again!

Ghost Rider Vs. Robin

I have to admit, I have kind of enjoyed Ghost Rider on this season of Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L,D.
While I prefer the motorcycle riding Johnny Blaze version, the Robbie Reyes Ghost Rider they have featured looks pretty cool for a TV budget (And the Blaze Rider himself did show up for a cameo).  It will be interesting to see where the character goes during the second half of the season.

Johnny Blaze and Dick Grayson have eyed each other suspiciously ever since Ghost Rider joined the Teen Titans in STF #828... and their rivalry will continue once Robin becomes Nightwing, as we saw back in STF #149...

Supergirl and Thor

Now that Supergirl has made the move to The CW Network, it's been even more fun than last season.  The Parasite was surprisingly well realized and I loved the revelation of The Cyborg Superman.  The Martian Manhunter/Ms.Martian subplot has been great as well.  I also really enjoyed Roulette and the return of Dean Cain and Kara's Earth Father.  I am really looking forward to next week's four part crossver between all the CW shows, it should be fun.

The Watcher and Amanda Waller

John Ostrander truly created a unique character with Amanda Waller.  Without any super powers, she's been able to go toe to toe with some of the most powerful characters in the DCU, just through her attitude, smarts and determination.  I wasn't crazy with the New 52 makeover that transformed her into yet another hard bodied model type, and I am glad that they seem to be getting away from that depiction.  It only served to make her a little more generic, in my opinion.

Nick Fury and The Unknown Soldier

Today is Thanksgiving, so what better time to thank all of the visitors to the blog.  The site continues to grow in popularity and I truly appreciate all who make the time to stop by and check out the covers.  Thanks for all the cool comments, kind words and interesting suggestions, It's always great to see what people have to say.  A very special thank you goes out to the Patrons of the blog, your support means a great deal to me!

Justice League of America and The Beast

The Beast had such a great look up until Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely decided to give him a makeover.  That cat-like design didn't last too long, and while his current appearance is a bit of an improvement, It's just a bit too generic looking for me.  Give me the classic hairline of the Avengers-era Beast again!

Wonder Woman and The Black Widow

I am very glad that Wonder Woman will be a period piece film.  It serves to add to the mythic aspect of the character and I have enjoyed the superhero movies set in different decades that I have seen like Captain America and the recent X-Men films.  It will be interesting to see how much contemporary action, if any, she sees in the film.  I have heard rumors of a Batman appearance so there may be at least a little.

Hawkman and Spider-Man

Spider-Man has always had a love-hate relationship with the police, so I think it would be interesting to see him interact with space cop Katar Hol.  I can see their different approaches lending conflict to a situation even if they ultimately share the same goal, and it would be fun to watch them bounce off of one another.

Crime Syndicate Vs. Squadron Supreme

Lots of heroes face off against dark reflections of themselves, so why not an entire team?  The Justice League of America has inspired more than a couple of  doppelganger groups, and it's been interesting to see writers take them in different directions that the traditional JLA.

The Maestro Vs. Parallax

Here are two classic examples of the "hero gone bad" storyline.  The Incredible Hulk: Future Imperfect was a ton of fun and one of my favorite Peter David Hulk tales, made only better by the ultra-detailed artwork of George Perez.  I wasn't crazy about Hal Jordan losing it and becoming Parallax, and I liked him as a host for the Spectre even less.  I have to say, however,  that Geoff Johns' Green Lantern: Rebirth resolved the whole story brilliantly and made it make a lot more sense for me in the end.

Wolverine and Robocop

A teaser trailer for Logan has been released and it looks to be quite different than any other cinematic Wolverine story that we have seen so far.  It will be interesting to see Hugh Jackman's final performance as the character in what seems to be more of a grounded western than the usual mutant-filled affair. I am glad we will see Patrick Stewart's Professor X one more time as well - even if he doesn't look in very good shape in the footage that has been released.

Data Vs. The Anti-Monitor

Continued from yesterday's cover, we se that our heroes did indeed retrieve Data.  The Data and Picard-centric episodes were always my favorites from Star Trek: The Next Generation.  It's too bad that the natural aging of Brent Spiner probably prevents him from playing Data any further - there's only so many times they can drop in lines like, "Captain, I have initiated the double chin and love handle subroutine to more closely approximate the human experience."

Starman and Captain Marvel

I wonder if there will be any mention of Mar-Vell in the upcoming Captain Marvel movie.  how cool would a pre-credits sequence featuring him be, giving some back-story to the heroic legacy that Brie Larson's Carol Danvers is about to inherit?  I'd love to see that Gil Kane-designed costume in live action.

This is only Part One of a Two-Part saga - make sure to stop by again tomorrow for the exciting conclusion!

Cyborg and The Falcon

When I think of my favorite scenes involving Cyborg, what my mind most often goes to in not an action packed moment, but a quieter scene from Victor Stone's civilian side.  In the "A Day In The Life" issue of New Teen Titans, early on in the series, Marv Wolfman and George Perez depicted Cyborg visiting with a group of kids who all had prosthetic limbs and offering them support and comfort.  That always stayed with me, I really liked seeing the different type of heroism that he displayed.

Superman Vs. Khan

I am a big fan of Benedict Cumberbatch and love his performances on Sherlock and Doctor Strange.  That said, as talented as he is, his turn as Khan in Star Trek Into Darkness did not work for me.  How can you try to recreate on of the greatest villains to grace the silver screen?  Ricardo Montalban gave such an iconic performance that I can understand why Cumberbatch chose not to try an imitation, but the result was a character that bore very little resemblance to the classic Star Trek adversary.  They should have just gone with an original villain.

Justice Society of America and The X-Men

I love to see George Perez artwork on just abou anything, but where I feel he shines the most is on team comics.  He has the ability to include multiple characters in his storytelling without the artwork. ever looking too crowded through his deft use of composition and multi-paneled pages.  Plus, his characters all have very individualized faces and body types, rather than stock hero and heroine forms, which really enhances my enjoyment of a comic with a large roster.

The JSA and X-Men first crossed paths in STF #1400...

Green Goblin Vs. The Creeper

This is a match up that would be very cool to see.  They are each Ditko-designed characters known for their maniacal laughter and outlandish garb in their costumed identities while holding down public positions of responsibility as civilians. There are a lots of similarities and contrasts that a writer could play off of.