Monday, September 20, 2021

Nightwing Vs. Sandman

 

I'm not sure what Flint Marko's status is these days, but I hope he has not reverted to his evil ways.  I always liked him as a reformed villain.  The issue of Marvel Two-In-One where this is dealt with as he shares a beer with Ben Grimm is a favorite of mine.  I am always happy to use the amazing artwork of Mike Zeck on this blog.  Here's a sketch I picked up years ago that he did for  the Batman: Ten Nights of The Beast TPB cover: 



18 comments:

  1. Wonderful cover, Ross. The whole story is right there.

    And congrats on the Zeck piece. It is stunning.

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  2. Great title! Terrific job on the art to go with it.

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  3. Sorry, Ross. But, I just have to say it. :-)

    It looks like Sandman has rocked Nightwing to sleep.

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  4. "Marko Solo"
    I see what you did there... HA!
    I really liked The Sandman from the Maguire Spider-Man movie. That was a highlight! He was almost a tragic Bat-villain. I'd like to see him come back as part of a Sinister Six. Maybe that's what they're forming for Holland's third... "outing"...

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  5. Very nice! I liked the idea of the Sandman reforming, and greatly enjoyed that issue of 'Marvel Two-In-One', too.

    How about teaming the Sandman with MJP/Archie/Red Circle's 'Hangman', who also reformed (although he was later turned back to evil by a former partner with magical abilities)?

    Re Bludhaven _ I gather that when Nightwing first moved there some fans grumbled about the city suddenly being mentioned, when ["logically"] the existence of a place so crime-ridden that's so close to Gotham "should" have been mentioned in earlier Batman stories as well: My "solution" to this is that pre-Crisis it wasn't on the same Earth as Batman (anyBatman), it was on Earth-X instead... which helps to explain why it's so corrupt.


    ______________________________________________________

    Re Nightwing _ In my alternative version of the DC Multiverse (the 'Alternaverse') he was killed in the last stages of the Crisis -- in place of Earth-Two's 'Robin', who survived (and with Donna Troy killed alongside him, in place of Helena 'Huntress' Wayne) -- but the post-Crisis "main" version of Earth (which I call 'Earth-Alpha') does have a 'Nightwing' anyway: This is the pre-Crisis 'Batman' of Earth-One, eliminated from history & most people's memories (but remembered by the E-2 Dick & Helena, once he'd met them again) in favour of his [already dead] counterpart, who has taken the name as a tribute to his slain ex-partner.
    (He's still around despite being wiped from "continuity" like that because in this storyline he participated in the battle against the Anti-Monitor at the dawn of time... temporarily wielding a GL ring that had been issued originally -- just for the Crisis -- to Earth-One's version of Jimmy Olsen!)

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  6. LOL I love those pun-derful story titles :D
    How about a matchup of "Close Enough" Names... Flint Marko vs Terra Markov? Or maybe Terra and her brother Geo-Force face off against the Juggernaut Cain Marko...

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  7. This is an interesting cover, and I totally love the title -- it made me groan, but in a good way.

    Some time I'd like to see Flint Marko and Wesley Dodds actually teamed up. (I'm not sure what their relationship was when they first met in #59; the "and" suggests they're working together, but it looks like Flint's getting the drop on Wes.) After this cover, it'd probably involve Wesley convincing Flint to relent on the issue... or maybe it was Dream who did it, making for a Sandman trifecta!

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  8. Flint & Wesley will meet again.

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  9. The Simreeve Crisis-in-the-Alternaverse Scorecard!

    Can't tell one revised super-character from another without one. Get it in stores, now!*


    *Batteries most definitely included.

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  10. I'm generally not a big Marvel reader, but know the story of Sandman...he's a perfect example of a villain who's power lends itself to NON-villainy; much like Chunk in the Wally West Flash comics, his power is so useful he'd probably be able to make tonnes of money doing 'straight' work.

    There are certain villains where you look at their powers and figure "well, it must be your character/lack of moral fibre, then", because they could easily live inside the law and make a mint legitimately from their powers.

    Makes me think of Animal Man and the character who said "well, I received a Death Touch...what ELSE was I going to do but become a villain?" I suppose it's too late nowadays to become an executioner... :)

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  11. Not unless the guilty party in question is the first one to ask: "Does this [title] mean he's related to Napoleon and Han?"

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  12. "SEND FOR THE EXECUTIONER!"
    ---Baron Bomburst of Vulgaria.

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  13. You "hope he has not reverted to his evil way" but you make him the villain of the cover and not even a misguided or mistaken for one. You could have kept the same cover changing the wording to "Bludhaven has a new protector and THAT protector is me!".

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  14. Anonymous said...
    The Simreeve Crisis-in-the-Alternaverse Scorecard!

    "Can't tell one revised super-character from another without one. Get it in stores, now!"


    Would if I could, believe me...

    'Crisis in the Cold War' (a single-issue 'special' during COIE: Captain Comet, Martian Manhunter, the original Suicide Squad... and Rex the Wonder Dog!)

    'Robin and the Outsiders'
    'Nightwing and Redbird'

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  15. This comment has been removed by the author.

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