I thought for this Anniversary Issue that I would present one big story. I always liked the old JLA/JSA crossovers where the two teams would meet, then break off into smaller teams for separate adventures, and finally all gather together again for the big conclusion. I can see a comic featuring these two powerhouse groups going down the same way.
The JLA first met The Defenders in STF #1600...
Awesome!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on 2700 issues!
Congratulations for reaching 2700! Love this team up. The Defenders don't get much loving anymore.
ReplyDeleteTomorrow's Bob Newhart's 90th birthday;and that milestone is more tasteful to celebrate than "rooting" for his obituary to indulge in!
ReplyDeleteI, too, congratulate you on this milestone. DC only recently reached the one thousandth mark with Batman (in Detective Comics) and Superman (in Action Comics). So, even collectively, they're still behind you by seven hundred issues!
ReplyDeleteI especially love this cover, as the very first JLA/JSA team-up I remember reading, in its entirety, was the Silver Age centennial one that re-introduced the 7 Soldiers of Victory. A year or two later, I read Marvel's homage to such team-ups: The Great Avengers-Defenders War (instigated by Loki and Dormammu)!
My personal confrontation on this cover? Zatanna vs. The Gargoyle. If I were Isaac Christians, my thought balloon would read: "Can't...resist...those fishnet...stockings. Must...surrender...without...struggle."
LOL!
Sorry! That should have read "...personal favorite confrontation."
ReplyDeleteSee how powerful she is in those fishnets? ;-D
ReplyDeleteW
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What a cover!
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Awesome! My take on these head-to-heads:
ReplyDeleteHulk vs. Green Lantern: Hal, hands down.
Namor vs. Wonder Woman: A close one, but I think I'd give the edge to Diana.
Dr. Strange (?) vs. Superman: Supes won't last five seconds.
Silver Surfer vs. Batman: Batman, because he prepared for it years ago.
Hellcat vs. Atom: It'll be a tough battle, but I think Atom would manage.
Gargoyle vs. Zatanna: Zee's got this one, though she may have to get creative.
Black Canary vs. Valkyrie: I'd give this one to Val.
Green Arrow vs. Nova: Nova's pretty OP versus Ollie.
On those last two, while I favor the Defenders over the JLAers, I do think that the latter would give a surprising challenge. Oliver can be pretty creative with his trick arrows; and Dinah, between her martial arts skill and her canary cry, can have plenty of surprises -- she and Valkyrie would probably have the most epic battle in the issue!
Of course, all that's assuming an equal footing. If something's affected the Defenders in some way, then that may affect their abilities, and Black Canary and Green Arrow could probably exploit that (plus, you know, story needs). Superman probably could even figure something out.
And then... what is it affecting the Defenders? Maybe Felix Faust has made some deal with Dormammu or Mephisto? Could Zatanna and Wonder Woman have some way of overcoming that spell? And how will the combined teams deal with their antagonists?
So, you see what you've done here, Ross? This is such an exciting cover that it's building a story in my brain.
PS: I'm assuming that's Dr. Strange from the cloak, apparently in some phase that I'm unfamiliar with.
@Bob: That's Kyle "Nighthawk" Richmond facing off against Green Arrow. Not Richard "Nova" Rider.
ReplyDeleteP.S.---that's Dr. Strange from the late Sixties, when he had to fake his death during his first pre-Defenders run-in with the Undying Ones. As to the instigators of this war? I'd say Dormammu and Felix Faust.
ReplyDeletegreat matchup, loved that your picked the masked Dr. Strange!
ReplyDeleteAnon@10:11 -- Thanks for the correction. That being the case, I think Ollie's got this one.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ross, for giving us another masterpiece... and congratulations on reaching #2700.
ReplyDeleteYet another comics that I so MUCH want to read....
Congrats, Ross. I liked the way you mixed eras here, from the pre-JLA Zatanna, the bad-ass masked Dr. Strange, and the Rebirth Black Canary.
ReplyDeleteI score the first round 4.5 to 3.5 for the JLA (GL [throws Hulk into orbit], WW, GA, Zat win; Supes, Atom [Patsy takes him out before he realizes how fast she is], and BC lose; Surfer / Bats tie (Bats immobilizes Surfer while being blasted). Second round WW over Doc [magic lasso breaks compulsion to fight], GL over Val, and Zat over Hellcat. Doc removes compulsion from rest of Defenders. Doc and GL track masterminds, combined teams severely punishes masterminds.
Amazing Ross, just the thing for a summer car trip!
ReplyDeleteWhile Bruce Banner and Bruce Wayne could have a reunion, The Hulk/GL matchup would result in the Hulk getting the power ring! Then a smart Hulk has to take on a Red Lantern Hal Jordan when he succumbs to his own rage issues.
Subby vs. Wonder Women? Either Diana wins by severely dehydrating Namor, knowing Aquaman's Achilles Heel. I can't actually see Namor committing a violent act on a woman, but maybe he bests Wonder Woman by breaking free of her magic lasso. Imperious Rex!
After some serious gritting of teeth, Superman would finally succumb to magic. But Doctor Strange would defeat Superman only after reliving the last days, and final destruction of the planet Krypton. And maybe Kal-El gets a surprise meeting with the Ancient One.
Silver Surfer vs. Batman? No contest. Norrin Radd might have the Dark Knight on the run at first, but then the Caped Crusader pulls a rope a dope on the Surfer. Remember, Batman can breathe in space! (Sorry.)
The Atom, being a gentleman, would be smacked down by Hellcat tout suite. Zatanna would be temporarily turned to stone, but not before she turns the Gargoyle into an infant version of himself. (Maybe Doctor Strange could sort them out later in the story.)
Green Arrow and Nighthawk end up in mass of bruises and contusions, but then realize they've been set up, and become new best buds over a beer later. Black Canary and the Valkyrie are the first to realize both sides have been set up, after they have their battle of course.
(Maybe they sing karaoke together later, after trashing the real villains henchmen?)
Which leads to the climax where Darkseid and Loki are revealed as the real perpetrators seeking to unseat the other gods of their respective universes. Or perhaps it's Dormammu and Lex Luthor who are after some new form of ultimate power.
Like CaryComic said, this is a great homage to the Avengers-Defenders War series. It also reminds me of when the JLA finally took down Starbreaker, but only after Sargon appeared, and helped the Justice League get their act together. Maybe the Phantom Stranger, or Adam Warlock steps in at the last minute? Hey, there's a team up right there!
Speaking of Sargon the Sorcerer, maybe have a showdown with Doctor Strange as well?
Terrific work, and congratulations on your 2700nd issue Ross!
A 100 issues. You must be pretty prou. huh? What?!?! 2700? On a daily basis?
ReplyDeleteWhen is he being committed? He's not? You're sure?
Hi there. Give me a minute. 27..0..0? By yourself? ..just for fun?
Are you sure they've not commi..ok.ok.
Congratulations Ross. It's not a common landmark. What's next, doing it in 3-D?
Seriously, Ross, I hope you recover soon. You've earned it..
Actually its 3210 covers when you count the ones I did for B&B and MTIO...
ReplyDeleteKen Roskos' impersonator said:
ReplyDelete"Then, let's not. And not even say that we did." ;-)
I agree with Anon1017. Felix Faust would be more appropriate as someone collaborating with Dormammu to get back at both teams. But, by what means? Certainly not the Evil Eye of Avalon; and that goes double for the Bell, Jar, and Wheel!
ReplyDeleteHmmmmmmmmmmm! How about the apparent abduction of Namorita by the erstwhile Aqualad? With Aquaman and Mera lying comatose because of a magic spell that can only be broken by the Sword of Kamuu! Only trouble is...that antediluvean item has been stolen!!
Can anybody think of anything more cataclysmic than a war between Atlantis and Poseidonis? I sure can't!
I'm getting a kick out of the theories as to haw this issue would play out.
ReplyDeleteAh, me public!
ReplyDelete@Bob: me, too. If only because of Ollie's on-again/off-again feud with Hawkman. The former got a lot of anti-aerobatic combat experience during the few times he and the latter went from trash talk to outright physical fighting!
ReplyDelete