Stingray and Mera in: "Queen's Ransom!"

 

One Disney+ series that I have heard a title announced for and little else about is Armor Wars.  I remember enjoying the Iron Man related storyline in the comics, so I hope the show is still coming.  Iron Man may not be around anymore, but it sounds like Don Cheadle's War Machine will assume the central role.  Stingray was involved in the comics' version, so this series might be a great place to introduce him into the MCU.  Well see if the show is among the announcements at the upcoming D23 event.

Stingray first met Mera back in STF #856, and shared an adventure with her and Aquaman in STF #1925...

Captain Marvel and Darth Vader

 

Shazam: Fury of the Gods has been delayed yet again.  While Warner Bros/Discovery seems to have finally found their version of Kevin Feige in Dan Lin, they don't seem to know what to do with the DC films already in development under the previous leadership.  I say stop dragging things out and release them already, using the end of The Flash as a hard reboot - then just start over from scratch.

The Bondsmen in: "Operation: Doomfall!"

 

This cover marks the fifth appearance of The Bondsmen.  Their live action movie was featured in STF #3170, They found themselves in a beastly situation in STF #3050, They had to temporarily replace one of their own in STF #880 and were first introduced in STF #564...

It took a bit of cleaning up of Latveria before I could add in our heroes on this cover.  Here's a peek at the process: 

Firestar and Killer Frost

 

Like many (I assume), I was a little confused when I first saw Firestar on Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends.  The fire powered superheroine was named Anjelica Jones, but visually she looked just like Mary Jane Watson.  Peter Parker even had a big crush on her just as he did with MJ in the comics.  It looked like maybe she was designed to be MJ and then later given a name change, but I'm not sure what the real story is there.

Demon and Power Man & Iron Fist

 

Power Man and Iron Fist outfits from the 70's and 80's may seem silly and dated to some, but since those were the looks they had when I was discovering comics, I'll always like them.  I hope that when the Heroes for Hire show up in the MCU, they'll at least have a nod to their classic appearances.  They looked fine on the Neflix shows, but I think they could have been a little more comics accurate.

Superman and Cyclops

 

When The X-Men finally come to the MCU, one of the main things I want to see is a far better treatment of Cyclops.  The previous actors in the role did a fine job, it's just that they were not given much to work with.  Fans want to see Scott Summers as the seasoned field leader we know from the comics rather than a straight man relegated to the background until he is unceremoniously killed off.

Black Panther and Deadman

 

Hopefully we'll be seeing a full trailer for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soon.  The teaser trailer was impressive, and I am ready to see more.  I'm still not sold on the new look for Namor, but if his attitude and motivations are comics accurate, I will be happy.  Will we Shuri or M'Baku suited up - not to mention Ironheart?  I have a feeling most of those big reveals will be kept to the actual moviegoing experience - as they probably should be.

Pinky & the Brain and Mighty Mouse

 

There were no shortage of cartoon mice characters when Pinky & The Brain made their debut, but they found a way to stand out from the pack.  Maurice LaMarche and Rob Paulson gave the characters distinct and iconic voices to go along with their cleverly written adventures. I'm a little surprised that we've never seen a revival in the past couple of decades. EDIT - Sounds like they came back on Hulu - I'll have to check it out!

US 1 and Space Cabbie

 

It came out at a time when I checked out most anything Marvel or DC, and I was a fan of Every Which Way But Loose and BJ & The Bear... but I still could not get myself to pick up a copy of US 1 when it was released.  Space truckers just seemed to be too oddball of a hook for a comic.  I did finally read a little about them when they showed up in Sensational She-Hulk, and maybe I judged them too harshly.  With the right writer, there are definitely some cool stories that can be told with the concept.

Soviet Super Soldiers and Red Star

 

I've read adventures featuring members of the Soviet Super Soldiers as guest stars in various comics, but I don't think I've read too many stories with them all together as a team.  I lost track of Red Star after his New Titans appearances.  So, I'm not sure what the status is of any of these characters today, but back in the 80's, this would have been a fun crossover for me to see.

Red Sonja, Detective Chimp & Black Knight in Camelot 3000

 

I just checked out the newest collection of DC Showcase Shorts (Constantine in the House of Mystery, Kamandi, The Losers and Blue Beetle), and they were all at treat to watch.  These 20-minute adventures of some of their lesser known characters have been more entertaining to me than DC's full length animated efforts in the past few years, and I really hope the Warner Bros/Discovery shakeup doesn't mean the end of them.  Camelot 3000 would be a perfect place to visit in a future installment, so let's hope they continue.

Winter Soldier Vs. Bane

 

I'm wondering if and when The Winter Soldier might Show up again in the movies.  Captain America: New World Order is of course an option, but I haven't heard whether Sebastian Stan will be joining the cast of that film yet.  The Thunderbolts is another option, as both Hawkeye and The Winter Soldier have led iterations of that team in the comics. Bucky Barnes has one of the longest story arcs in the MCU and it will be interesting to see where he goes from here.

The Spirit and Elektra

 

With Denny Colt's tendency of getting involved with femme fatales, I figured that it was only a matter of time before he crossed paths with one of the greatest ever created, Elektra. Let's hope their working relationship isn't as fraught with drama and danger as the one she shared with Daredevil.

Captain America & The Falcon and The Doom Patrol

 

I always liked the connection to The Doom Patrol that Gar Logan provided for the New Teen Titans.  The issue where they run into Robotman still remains one of my favorites, with the cover being among the best in the series.  Changeling/Beast Boy may have one of the least convincing origins in comics, but I can forgive that given his cool power set.  

Mary Marvel and Werewolf by Night

 

Mr. Mind was teased in the first Shazam! movie, but I see no signs of him actually showing up in the sequel.   We got a reference to Mr. Tawky Tawny, but I am not holding my breath waiting for him either.  I  miss the whimsy of the early Captain Marvel stories.  I suppose we could get some in a third sequel, but given the continued delays of Shazam: Fury of the Gods, Warner Bros. change in direction, and the rapidly aging cast, I have my doubts as to whether that will ever come to be.

Spider-Man Vs. Solomon Grundy

 

Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse is a movie that I have showed to a few different non-comic book fan friends, and they all have really enjoyed it.  They weren't thrown off by the multiverse stuff and the amazing animation wins everyone over.  The next installment in this franchise looks to be great as well, from what I have seen.  This time around I will make a point of watching it in the theaters on the big screen.

Sandman and Moon Knight

 

It sounds as though Moon Knight will be getting another season on Disney+.  That's good news, as the series left off on a huge cliffhanger and I want to see where the Steven Grant/Marc Spector/Jake Lockley story goes.  I do hope to see more of Moon Knight in costume the next time around - and less blackout moments when the action begins!  It will be great to see Oscar Isaac return and hopefully we'll see his character interact with some other members of the MCU.

Robin and The New Mutants

 

I remember being excited about the arrival of the New Mutants.  As crazy as it sounds now, a spinoff ongoing comic from The Uncanny X-Men was a new thing, and I could get on the ground floor.  Well, not exactly the ground floor.  I remember being frustrated that their debut was made in a graphic novel, only available in comic shops.  It would be years before I got my hands on that first chapter.

Speedy Gonzales Vs. Sonic The Hedgehog

 

This seems like a race that's long overdue.  I wasn't a big player of the main Sonic games back in the day, I found them to be a bit repetitive.  I did like Sonic Spinball a lot, and still pull that one out to play from time to time.  I of course enjoyed the Speedy Gonzales cartoons, but I have to admit I more closely identified with his cousin, Slowpoke Rodriguez. 

The Baroness Vs. Black Widow

 

The one thing that that bothers me about the death of The Black Widow in the MCU is that it eliminates one team up I had been hoping to see.  Now that Daredevil is in the fold and getting his owns series on Disney+, I was really hoping we would see some action with DD and the Widow side by side.  I loved the era in the comics when she was Daredevil's partner, and even shared logo space on the cover.  It would have been great to seen an episode of Daredevil: Born Again pay homage to those classic tales.

The Impossible Man and The Joker

It seems like the rumors are true and Lady Gaga will indeed be playing Harley Quinn in Joker: Folie a Deux.  The only hints about the plot is that there will be a musical element and Zazie Beetz is in talks to return as well.  Will we see Dr. Quinzel analyzing The Joker while descending into madness herself?  I don't think Joaquin Phoenix has ever done a sequel before, but I guess the first film making over a billion

dollars can change a lot of minds.  Let's hope the script is a strong as the first time around.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Vs. Count Von Count

 

This oddball cover comes about from a suggestion by Bob Greenwade, a Patron of this blog.  I think there might have been an episode of Buffy The Vampires Slayer where some of the cast were transformed into puppets, so she's had experience with this type of menace.  You just know the felt and fangs would fly during this fracas!

Captain Carrot Vs. The Punisher

 

It probably should be taken with a grain of salt, but Rosario Dawson has made a few statements lately that indicate both she (as Claire/Night Nurse) and Jon Bernthal (as The Punisher) are set to become part of the MCU proper, most likely in the upcoming Daredevil: Born Again series.  I hope it's true, I really like both of those characters on the Netflix shows, and would enjoy seeing them again.

Doctor Fate and Mr. Fantastic (Part Two)

 

Presenting the conclusion to this two-part epic!  As you can see, it was none other than Mordru stirring up trouble for the mage and scientist.  Let's hope they can regain the upper hand.

We're still waiting for a Fantastic Four casting announcement.  Some still think that John Krasinski will have the role, despite having already appearing as a variant Reed in Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness.  I won't be disappointed if they look elsewhere, though.  I kind of soured on his Mr. Fantastic after (SPOILERS FOLLOW)... 

...the supposedly brilliant character acted stupidly (revealing Black Bolts abilities to the enemy) and then went out like a punk in 5 seconds flat.

Doctor Fate and Mr. Fantastic (Part One)

 

Presenting Part One of a Two-Part tale! I look forward to seeing Pierce Brosnan as Doctor Fate in the upcoming Black Adam movie - despite thee odd design choice not to have eyeholes on his helmet.  I really hope my prediction is incorrect and that the character is not killed off by the end of the movie.  I have a sneaking suspicion that one way or another there will be a passing of the mantle.

So just who is the foe these two are heading to face, anyway?  Come back tomorrow for the thrilling conclusion!

Sunspot and Fire in "The Wraith of the Rainforest!"

 

I though it was time for the return of one of STF's pairs of super-siblings.  This is the fourth appearance of this particular brother-sister team. They faced a T-Rex in STF #3287, they returned to Brazil in STF #2673 and they first appeared together in STF #2484...

The Flash and Sub-Mariner

 

The Flash on the WB is finally set to air its final episodes with the upcoming shortened final season.  Like most, I feel the show started strong, but lost its way and has become pretty formulaic.  Every episode seems to have one character doubting themselves until three quarters the way in when another character gives them a pep talk saying "believe in yourself", and they break out of their funk.  Hopefully now that they have an end in sight, the writing will step up a notch and Barry Allen and company will have a fitting finale.

Emma Peel, Batgirl and Lieutenant Uhura

 

It was sad to hear of the passing of Nichelle Nichols this week.  I can only imagine how many people that she inspired through her breakthrough role as Lieutenant Uhura on Star Trek. She seemed to have a genuine love for the character as well as her fans, and she will be missed.

Venom and Green Lantern

 

I can still remember reading an issue of The Comic's Buyers' Guide and seeing plans for a new all-black Spider-Man suit.  I didn't think Marvel would stick with such a drastic change for more than an issue or two, but had to admit the new costume as illustrated by Rick Leonardi looked pretty cool.  Little did I realize what it would lead to. To think that Jim Shooter purchased the design off of a fan for a few hundred bucks!

The Creeper and Doc Samson

 

Have we all forgotten that Doc Samson is part of the MCU.  If William Hurt and Tim Roth could continue their roles after The Incredible Hulk, then way can't Doctor Leonard Samson?  Actually, if he were to get a Gamma infusion like in the comics, this might be a good candidate to recast.  As much as I like Ty Burrell, It might be hard to take the former Phil Dunphy seriously with  a muscular physique and long green hair! 

Judge Dredd and The Teen Titans

 

If these teen heroes thought that their mentors could be tough on them, I can just imagine how they would feel with Dredd calling the shots for the group.  I can imagine a Silver Age story in which the Mega-City One lawman and the super sidekicks with a rebellious streak have to find a way to work together for a common goal.