Captain Kirk Vs. Michael Myers

Thanks to Patron of this blog Mike Shirley for suggesting this Halloween team up! For a kid who liked Superheroes, I don't remember really dressing up as them for the holiday.  I mostly stuck to the classic monsters like Dracula, Frankenstein or the Mummy.  It wasn't until college Halloween parties that I started too put together comic related costumes - The Flash, Superman, Bizarro, Clark Kent, and so on.  I still remember coming as Green Lantern and some girl at the party asking if I was supposed to be a potted plant.

Dr. Fate Vs. Ghost Rider

The two Ghost Rider movies starring Nicholas Cage are both extremely cheesy with weak villains and lots of over-acting.  Even so, whenever I stumble upon one of the action sequences on TV while channel flipping, I have to stop and watch it.  It's a testament to the awesome design of the character and his vehicles.  Even in a sub-par product, he is very cool to watch do his thing.

These two first crossed paths way back in STF #233...

Batman Vs. Kang

Kang is the next Avengers villain that I really want to see on the big screen.  His time travelling shenanigans could make for a real corker of a story and allow the filmmakers to explore some other eras in the Marvel Universe.  A lot of hints are pointing to altering the timeline as a part of the events of the upcoming Avengers 4, though - I don't know if the movie makers will want to go to that well twice in a row.

Fin Fang Foom Vs. The Metal Men

The Metal Men always had an eclectic rogues gallery, and I think that Fin Fang Foom would fit right in with them. He is giant and menacing, and likes to make grand speeches.  Plus,  his big purple gym shorts make him just goofy enough to work in a story with Doc Magnus' amazing robots.

Spy Smasher Vs. Spy vs. Spy

I remember my first encounter with Spy Smasher in the pages of a Justice League of America crossover.  I didn't understand why this guy wasn't a bigger deal.  He had a neat costume, great name, and cool mission statement.  I even copied him for my stable of made up heroes that I liked to draw - I named my guy Spy Fighter. 

Iceman and Cyborg

Rumors are that the reason Wonder Woman 1984 is being pushed back 7 months is that some Flashpoint type plot elements are being added to accommodate a soft reboot of the DCEU.  This will allow for a new timeline and actors going forward.  I'm guessing the Cyborg solo film may be a casualty.  It's odd that he first appeared in Justice League and is slated to be a part of The Doom Patrol on DC's streaming service rather than with the Titans, where he really belongs.   I'd prefer to see him in adventures with Dick, Gar and Kori et al before "graduating" to the JLA, as he did in the comics.

Deathstroke Vs. Moon Knight

This could be an interesting match-up.  Deathstroke takes pride in being able to anticipate his opponents every move, and counter accordingly.  Moon Knight, with his shifting personalities, might have an extra layer of unpredictability to offset such an advantage.  I'm thinking it would be pretty close.

Superman and Warlock

I was really looking forward to Adam Warlock being introduced in Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3.  Now that the film is without a director and shooting has been pushed off for another year, I am wondering if we will see him at all.  If they decide to keep James Gunn's script, he will probably still be included, but there still seems to be some debate about that happening. 

Thank you to David Miller for suggesting this pairing, one I was surprised that I had not done before!

The Thing and The Badger

Now that the Disney/Fox deal is nearing completion, I am really looking forward to what the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe holds, and number one on my list is not just a proper version of The Fantastic Four, but the fact that such a film will allow for something that I have been waiting to see on the big screen my whole life:  a Thing/Hulk fight!  I always lived their rivalry in the comics and was thrilled at the animated battle they had in the second season of the 90's Fantastic Four cartoon.  Come on, Marvel - make it happen!

Freddy Krueger Vs. Scooby Doo

When A Nightmare on Elm Street first hit the screens back in 1984, it was an instant with us kids in  high school.  Even as someone who never liked gory horror movies, I could see why.  Freddy Krueger had more humor and attitude than any movie monster that I had seen before.  He was as scary as Jason, The Wolf Man or Alien while chasing his victims, but he would also produce some killer one-liners while doing it.

Bronze Tiger and Iron Fist

I wasn't very surprised at the cancellation of Netflix' Iron Fist, this week, as I felt it was the weakest of their Marvel shows.  That they also cancelled Luke Cage did surprise me, though.  Hopefully what's in store is a Heroes for Hire series that will feature both characters as well as Misty Knight and Colleen Wing.  

Wonder Girl and Bucky

I featured these two together as a back-up tale in STF #1149, which was part of the ongoing Wonder Woman / Captain America saga on this blog, but I felt they deserved a cover all their own.  I used to be amused at how each male member of the original Teen Titans seemed to have a crush on Donna Troy, and I imagine that Bucky Barnes would have been similarly smitten.

Sinestro Vs. Man-Thing

I am not expecting any follow ups to Justice League in the theaters any time soon, given the critical and commercial reaction to the first outing.  While I think at least a soft reboot is in order, I have to admit that I liked the tease at the end of the formation of a Legion of Doom / Injustice League-type team.  I still hope that we will see a story line like that in the movies one of these days.

Doctor Doom Vs. Lex Luthor

Here are two arch-villains that have been woefully represented on the big screen.  And it's so unnecessary, too - all the filmmakers need to do is to follow the comics.  Doom is a disfigured dictator who dabbles in science and sorcery and Luthor is a genius billionaire who ruthlessly uses his resources for personal gain - the further the movies stray from these simple concepts, the less it works.  And casting is key - of all the odd choices made for the DCEU, Jesse Eisenberg as Luthor was the most baffling.

These two first met in STF #491...

Commissioner Gordon and Spider-Man

This might be a interesting set up.  How different would Spider-Man's career be if he operated out of a city that had a more cooperative view to his crime-fighting activities?

I look forward to the upcoming season of Gotham.  Given that this has been announced to be the final season for the show, I expect them to go all out and throw everything at the wall.  This year's episodes promise to be even crazier than usual.

Deathstroke Vs. Daredevil and Black Widow

It looks like a solo Black Widow film is finally going to happen.  Knowing Marvel, there will be other heroes that show up, and I am looking forward to hearing what other characters will fill out the cast.   Could this possibly be a chance to unite Marvel's cinematic world with its Netflix shows, and bring in Daredevil for a scene or two?  I'm sure that's a long shot but one can always hope.  I loved their comics together and would love to see their partnership represented on the big screen.

New Teen Titans and Jack of Hearts

When I did a recent post poking fun at some truly ugly costume designs, I was surprised to see Jack of Hearts mentioned as another example of an unattractive superhero outfit.  I know that it's always gotten a bad rap, but I figured that mostly had to do with the fact that it's intricate pattern is difficult to draw.  As a visual, I have always thought that it was pretty cool!

Sandman and Sherlock Homes

I was disappointed to hear that Benedict Cumberbatch has signed on to star in a new series, further closing the door on the likelihood of new Sherlock episodes from him and Martin Freeman.  I'll just have to get my Holmes fix elsewhere.  Elementary has gotten better each season and the seems to be continuing.  Robert Downey Junior has hinted that he is ready for a third cinematic outing as the character.  Then there's the upcoming Will Ferrell/John C. Reilly comedy - but I can't say the trailer for that made me laugh once.

Raven and Scarlet Witch

I understand that the movies would want to change up Scarlet Witch's outfit, but I still think they could have been a little more comics-accurate with the designs she has been given.  First, she needs brighter colors - she's not called the Deep Maroon Witch, after all.  Plus, she really does need a tiara/headband of some sort, that can't be that difficult so pull off in live action.  Capes are tough to justify, but maybe she would wear one to honor the memory of The Vision?

Superman and Power Man

This is a team-up that I am surprised I have not done before, it feels like a natural.  I'm very curious to see where Luke Cage will go in a third season on Netflix, given where the character ended up at the end of season two.  It was an unexpected development and alters the relationship he has with every other character on the show.

Deadman and Sub-Mariner

It was a long time before I considered Namor to be a hero.  As a kid, whenever I saw him, he was at odds with the good guys.  He always seemed to be waging war on the surface world, trying to make moves on Sue Storm, joining forces with Doctor Doom and so on.  Even when he assisted the heroes, it seemed very reluctant with him complaining all the time.  Eventually, through other appearances over the years, I began to see him as more of an anti-hero - but I think he's still a jerk!  That's not a completely bad thing though, it makes him fun to read about.

White Tiger and Mister Miracle

It would be cool to see at least one of the incarnations of The White Tiger to show up on the Netflix shows.  Daredevil is my first thought, given some of the story lines they have shared, but he (or she) would probably fir in well on any of the series.  It could be just the boost needed for the character to rekindle popularity in the comics.

The Junkyard Gang

Sure, it's easy to become a superhero if you are a playboy millionaire - but I am more impressed with those who have chosen such a path without those kinds of vast resources.  I thought it might be fun to have a group that consisted of heroes that wage their war on injustice despite coming from the opposite side of the financial spectrum.  Don't expect a fancy headquarters - but do expect action!

Howard the Duck enters The House of Mystery

As I kid, I liked the fact that DC's horror titles would mix a little humor in with the scary goings-on. Giving Sergio Aragones a page or two to do his thing, or having Cain make darkly funny introductions to the stories and torment his brother Abel helped to offset some of the dark themes within.  It was a mix that worked for me and helped make the tales of murder and evil deeds more palatable.

The Kingpin Vs. The Creeper

The Creeper is a character that I think would be a good candidate for an animated show on DC's streaming service.  Let's face it, his look would be very tough to pull off in live action, but I really liked his appearance on Batman: The Animated Series.  That show gave his origin a connection to The Joker, so maybe they could stick with that idea and have him appear on Harley Quinn to test the waters.  I think a tabloid TV show host by day / superhero by night could have a lot of potential for fun story lines.

The Fantastic Four and The New Teen Titans

It looks like the Disney/Fox deal will be finalized by the end of the year, so Marvel can soon start making plans for all the characters they will now have the rights to use. The Fantastic Four is the property that I am most interested in.  Is it too much to hope for a post credits scene after Avengers 4 teasing their arrival?  I already have such a scene in my head - A news report about an experimental spacecraft, "The Fantastic" that crashed back to Earth with no sign of its four-member crew.  As shots of the wreckage appear, the reporter asks the camera, "What has become of The Fantastic Four?" Fade to black.

Marvel Boy and Robin

Marvel Boy, The Uranian, Quasar (at least the uniform) -  whatever name he is going by, I've thought this character was cool since I first saw him in the pages of Fantastic Four.  This is another cover based off of a suggestion my Mike Shirley, a Patron of this blog.  Mike pointed out the Grayson connection between these two boy heroes, and I was surprised that it had never dawned on me before.  Thanks, Mike!

Doctor Fate and Beta Ray Bill

The arrival of Walt Simonson on Thor was very exciting to read.  In those pre-internet days, the only hint of the big changes to come story-wise and artistically was a small half page promotional ad a month or so before the first issue with the new creative team hit the stands.  And what a way to hit - an amazingly powerful cover of an alien in a Thor-like outfit smashing the classic logo with a hammer of his own!  I knew instantly that the status quo was being shaken up and I had to find out more.

The Avengers and Adam Strange (Vs. Thanos!)

Doing this cover brought back good memories of Avengers Annual #7 and Marvel Two In One Annual #2, featuring Earth's Mightiest Heroes battling Thanos alongside The Thing and Spider-Man.  This was back in the day when Annuals were a real treat and felt like the most important stories of the year.  Jim Starlin was of course the perfect artist to depict the epic star spanning tale.

Adam Strange previously met The Avengers in STF #943...

Black Knight in Camelot 3000

I remember when Camelot 3000 first came out, I didn't collect it because it seemed separate from DC's superhero stuff and I didn't think it would interest me.  Then I heard about delays on the later issues of the Maxi-Series that dampened the enthusiasm of a lot of fans.  Still, I liked Mike W. Barr's work on titles like Batman and the Outsiders, and Brian Bolland's art simply amazed me, so a few years later I collected the entire run - and I loved it!  The story was cool and it was so great to see Bolland doing interiors as well as covers.  I am a bit surprised that DC has never revisited any of the characters introduced within.

Captain Marvel and The Invaders in: "Pyramid Scheme!"

This was one of those covers that looks relatively simple but took a bit of tweaking to get just right.  Captain Marvel's position worked for what I was going for, but his right leg had cover elements on it that I had to "erase" and his left leg was missing entirely, requiring a "transplant" form the reversed right one.  The Human Torch's body needed to be flipped horizontally to work, which then required me to fix parts of the pyramids in the background.  With a new sky added in, I finally got the image looking the way I had it in my mind's eye.

Captain Marvel first met The Invaders in STF #1214...