Saturday, December 31, 2022

Superman and Daredevil

 

Tim Sale is another incredible artist that we lost too soon in 2022.  His special mini series featuring the biggest stars of Marvel and DC were among the most beautifully produced comics of the past few decades.  His artwork had a real sense of scope and grandeur that was perfect for depicting larger than life aspects of the characters. His powerful, signature style was unlike any other comic artist that I can think of, and he is sorely missed.

Friday, December 30, 2022

The Phantom Stranger and 8 Famous Co-Stars

 


For the conclusion of this Five-Part Epic, we see that The Enchantress' lost love was none other than King Arthur of Camelot 3000.  Let's wish our STF couples some peaceful times ahead after all they've been through. Hey, nobody said comic book romances wound be easy.

This marks the 15th Appearance of The Power Couple, The 29th Appearance of the WW/Cap romance and the 11th appearance of The Hercules/Vixen romance.

Thursday, December 29, 2022

The Enchantress and 7 Famous Co-Stars

 


As we reach Part Four of this Five-Part Epic, we see what's truly behind the Enchantress' machinations.  Just who is her "dearest" anyway?  Comic fans should recognize that silhouette. Make sure you come back tomorrow for the exciting conclusion!

This marks the 14th Appearance of The Power Couple, The 28th Appearance of the WW/Cap romance and the 10th appearance of The Hercules/Vixen romance.

Wednesday, December 28, 2022

Power Girl and Power Man (Vs. The Enchantress!)

 

As we reach the mid-point of this Five-Part Epic, We see that The Enchantress is not done with her heartbreaking ways, and that makes for an unlucky thirteenth appearance of The Power Couple on this blog. We finally have a hint of a motive, however - what's this about her true love?  Make sure to come back tomorrow for the next chapter in this saga...

Tuesday, December 27, 2022

Wonder Woman and Captain America (Vs. The Enchantress!)

 

For Part Two of this Five-Part Epic, we see that The Enchantress is now targeting STF's longest running romance - Wonder Woman and Captain America on this their 27th appearance as a couple on the blog.  Uh oh, it looks like there's a disturbing pattern forming here. Let's see if it holds in Part Three, coming tomorrow!

Monday, December 26, 2022

Hercules and Vixen (Vs. The Enchantress!)

 

Presenting Part One of a Five-Part Epic!  Will this, the 9th appearance of the Herc/Vixen Romance, spell the end for these STF lovebirds?  After all the time it took for them to get together, too!  Where will this tale go from here?  Make sure to come back tomorrow for the next heartbreaking chapter!

Sunday, December 25, 2022

Green Lantern and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

 

Merry Christmas!  I hope that every visitor to this blog is spending today in the company of those they love.  I truly appreciate the suggestions, kind words and encouragement you have provided me throughout the year.  A special thanks goes out to the Patrons, your support has helped send it towards its 13th year, and I can't tell you how much it means to me.  Have a wonderful day today, everyone!

Saturday, December 24, 2022

Sgt. Rock Vs. Predator

 

This is a crossover that I think would actually make for a great mini-series.  I usually prefer to see Sgt. Rock in situations more grounded in reality, but I'd love to see how he responds to this type of extraterrestrial threat.  He would be taken aback, that's for sure, but Rock never gives up and never stops fighting.  If there's one other soldier besides Arnold Schwarzenegger's Dutch that could have a chance against a Predator, it's got to be Frank Rock.

Friday, December 23, 2022

Sub-Mariner meets Dick Tracy

 

Now that Namor has been introduced to the MCU, I wonder where he will show up next.  My choice would be for him to team up with Dr. Strange and The Hulk (and The Silver Surfer, if he shows up in Fantastic Four as has been rumored) for a Defenders movie.  That way, Marvel can get around the loophole that Hulk and Sub-Mariner cannot have their own solo films.  I'd also like to see him putting the moves on Sue Storm just as he has done in the comics.  

Thursday, December 22, 2022

Magnus: Robot Fighter and Blade Runner

 

I've been meaning to use Blade Runner for a while, and when Ken Roskos, A Patron of this Blog, suggested I pair him up with Magnus it seemed like a perfect fit.   Thanks, Ken!  There's definitely plenty of story potential here.

Wednesday, December 21, 2022

The Flash and The Whizzer in "Central City Substitute"


 The Speed Demon has tried to take over for a Flash on this blog before - namely Jay Garrick in STF #2161... Jay has met up with the Whizzer a few times as well - first in STF #293, then again in STF #822, and finally with the whole Liberty Legion in STF #2684... 

Tuesday, December 20, 2022

Worf Vs. Aliens

 

One minor gripe I had with Star Trek: The Next Generation was that there were not enough scenes showing Worf being a badass.  I know he was there to show how the Federation had made peace with one of their greatest enemies, but he could have still tapped into his Klingon savage side a bit more for my tastes.  Ongoing storylines like giving him a son or an ill-conceived romance with Deanna Troy only served to soften him up further.  I see that he is returning with most of the original Bridge Crew for the new season of Picard - but in the trailer for that he announces that he is now a pacifist.  Let's hope he rethinks that stance by the end of the season.

Monday, December 19, 2022

Captain Britain and Black Canary

 

With Henry Cavill now officially out as Superman and done with The Witcher, will any of the speculation of him joining the MCU as Captain Britain (or maybe Hyperion) pan out?  It sounds like he may be busy getting a Warhammer-related project off the ground soon, but he may be available for both. Marvel seems to really be slow rolling their announcements these days though - so even if he does join I'm sure it will be a while before we hear anything about it.

Sunday, December 18, 2022

Captain Marvel and Ant-Man

 

Mr. Mind is one of my absolute favorite villains and despite seeing him in the mid credits scene of Shazam! it doesn't seem he will have a large role in the sequel - if he appears at all.  At least we have confirmation that M.O.D.O.K. will be appearing in Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania.  From what I have seen it is a more robotic looking version than in the comics - though I am hoping his helmet pulls back to reveal a giant humanoid face behind it.

Saturday, December 17, 2022

Metal Men and Big Guy & Rusty (And More!)

 

For this Anniversary Issue, I thought I would go for an all-robotic theme. Looking at all of these match-ups, I'm not sure which one I would want to read first. Probably the lead feature, especially if it sported George Perez or Geoff Darrow art like the cover image. But, any story with a robot in it is entertaining to me, as they often offer some keen insights into the human condition.

Let the march to STF #4000 begin!

Friday, December 16, 2022

Nova and Raven

 

Raven has a demonic, conquering father to contend with, so she might be more prepared for a battle with Thanos than most.  He seems susceptible to appeals to his emotions, and her soul self might give him some difficulty.  Of course, Psimon influencing him as well would be an issue - let's hope Nova recovers in time to lend a hand.

Coming tomorrow: STF #3900!

Thursday, December 15, 2022

Batman and He-Man

 

He-Man and The Masters of the Universe started to hit it big after I had stopped regularly watching cartoons, but this is an animated crossover that I would have definitely been there for.  Having seen them team up with Superman in their DC Comics Presents debut, I figured at first that MOTU was a DC property anyway, so such a tv special wouldn't have seemed completely out of the blue to me.

Wednesday, December 14, 2022

Moon Knight and The Elongated Man in: "The Tall-Tail Two!"

 

This marks the 13th appearance of the MK/EM Team on the blog, and maybe that unlucky number is an indication of the trouble they'll be facing no that there's a new crazy pairing in town.  Now that I see them together, I think an Elongated Man battle with Stilt-Man would be cool to see.  All that stretching around extended legs is sure to make for some fun visuals.

Tuesday, December 13, 2022

Deadman and Chance Falconer

 

I mentioned yesterday how Phantom Stranger's shadow should be a key element in bringing him to the big screen, and for Deadman I think his voice will be very important.  If an actor with a distinct way of speaking is hired, then it gives the other actors that play roles in which they get possessed by him something to perform with.  This was the angle that was taken for Deadman's appearance in the Justice League Unlimited cartoon, and it worked very well there.

Monday, December 12, 2022

Man-Bat and Wolverine

 

I was worried at first that Wolverine would be treated like a joke for his upcoming return in Deadpool 3, but maybe my concerns were unfounded.  The film has been described as a 48 Hours type of adventure between the two mutants, which sounds to me like a perfect approach.  I can see Hugh Jackman giving off a gruff Nick Nolte vibe while putting up with Ryan Reynold's broader comedy.

Wolverine and Man-Bat first met in STF #3819...

Sunday, December 11, 2022

Ghost Rider and The Phantom Stranger in: "Stay of Execution!"

 


Ghost Rider came to The Phantom Stranger's rescue in STF #3540, and  now it's time for that favor to be returned.  There's something very cool about the Stranger's design. On half of his cover appearances, all that is shown of him is his shadow/silhouette - and it still always makes for a striking image.  I hope that's an effect that can be translated to live action if the character is ever brought to the big screen.

Saturday, December 10, 2022

Star Wars on The Planet of the Apes

 

Well, it looks like Princess Leia was concerned about what she discovered on her re-con mission back in STF #3622, and decided to return with reinforcements. Of all the missteps made with the last Star Wars trilogy, perhaps the biggest one was not to have Luke, Han and Leia all together again for at least one scene.  Maybe there will be a way to do that through CGI in the future, but that just wouldn't be the same.

Friday, December 9, 2022

Legion of Super-Pets and The Herculoids

 

I've always been a fan of The Herculoids, and mostly because of the alien creatures on the team.  I liked that they were not treated as pets, but equal members of the roster.  Alex Toth's amazing designs made them always look cool, despite the limited animation.  My only gripe was Zok the Dragon's loud screech, which was a bit overused and could get a little annoying.

Thursday, December 8, 2022

The X-Men Vs. Amazo

 


Marvel seems to want to slow down and reassess after their Phase Four projects were not met with as much critical and commercial success as their previous phases.  I'm guessing that will push back the advent of  the X-Men in the MCU even further.  That's just for any new versions, though - in addition to Hugh Jackman in Deadpool 3, rumors persist that other members of the Fox X-Men films will be back for one last multiversal hurrah, most likely in one of the next Avengers movies.


Wednesday, December 7, 2022

Popeye and Donald Duck

 

I'm thinking these two might have a similar reaction to one another that Duck Dodgers and Spaceman Spiff did on the cover that they shares a couple of days ago.  They might find some common ground as sailors, but their tempers might just get the best of them - until Olive and Daisy set them straight, of course!

Tuesday, December 6, 2022

The Falcon and Doll Man

 

I got a kick out of The Flacon naming his little drone "Redwing" in Captain America: Civil War, but I have to admit I was hoping they would find a way to present the real deal.  Sam Wilson flying into action with an actual falcon at his side was always a cool visual in the comics and it would have been fun to see it in live action.  Besides, I like superheroes with animal sidekicks.

Monday, December 5, 2022

Duck Dodgers and Spaceman Spiff

 

I recently completed my re-read of the entire Calvin & Hobbes run, and my admiration for Bill Watterson has only grown.  It's amazing how strong his art and writing are on the strip from the very beginning.  Often features will take some time to find their footing characterization and design wise, but C&H is just about perfect right from the first week - and never wavered in quality until its completion.

Sunday, December 4, 2022

Amazing Man and Captain America

 

The boots alone would make this a great team-up.  It's surprising how many heroes had those buccaneer boots back in the day.  They always looked a bit heavy and tough to run in, but I guess they provided decent calf protection.  Plus, they looked cool - and isn't that what's really important in a superhero costume?

These two will eventually join forces in The A-Listers...

Saturday, December 3, 2022

Doctor Strange Vs. Lex Luthor

 

Like many, I was entertained but slightly disappointed with Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness.  There were some fun action scenes but I didn't care for the cannon fodder cameos and wanted much more madness out of the multiverse than we got.  I think Marvel is waiting for Avengers: Secret Wars before they go really crazy with the multiverse stunt casting stuff.  For a much better movie about variants and multiple realities, I highly recommend Everything Everywhere All At Once. That was incredibly creative and interesting, not to mention touching and funny on a much smaller budget.  It's starting to get noticed now that awards season is rolling around, so I am hopeful that more people will discover it.

Friday, December 2, 2022

Green Lantern and The Vision in: "The Mad March of Mister Universe!"

 

The last I read about the ever-changing Green Lantern show on HBO Max is that is was being retooled into a John Stewart focused series.  I don't know if that is still the case now that James Gunn and Peter Safran have been tasked with charting out a 10-year interconnected plan for the DCU.  Hopefully when everything shakes out, John, Hal and the rest of the Corps will have places of prominence.

The Vision met up with Hal Jordan in STF #607, and then with a couple of co-stars in STF #3019...

Thursday, December 1, 2022

Ka-Zar and Starfire

 


This is another unlikely combo, but when I think about it, Koriand'r might like visiting The Savage Land.  She's right at home in brutal, unforgiving environments but would also have an appreciation for all the beauty that is there as well.  She would have not a problem finding sparring partners to hone her warrior skills. Plus, the folks that live there dress in even skimpier outfits than she does.

Wednesday, November 30, 2022

The Rocketeer and Hawkman

 

There's been talk of sequels or reboots of The Rocketeer for years now, but nothing has seemed to really come of them.  Maybe it's for the  best - the original film is a classic and would be pretty hard to improve upon, in my opinion.  I'd prefer to see that version get a polish though - a nice high quality transfer with maybe some tweaks to the few flying sequences that don't quite hold up to today's visual effects standards.

Tuesday, November 29, 2022

Vigilante and Nova

 

This is the kind of oddball team up that I really liked to see as a kid. These are two heroes that I would have never put together, but upon seeing them in an action scene, I'd simply have to find out just what was going on.  

Time for another behind the scenes peek.  Vigilante's original partner in this scene had to be removed and replaced - not to mention his lasso... here's a look at the process:



Monday, November 28, 2022

Hyperion and The Atom Vs. Brainiac

 

There have been reports of Marvel looking for a leading man type to play the antagonist in the upcoming Thunderbolts movie, an extremely powerful character that they are reportedly considering Ryan Gosling (or someone like him) to portray.  Some have speculated that this is Hyperion, while others think it will be The Sentry.  I think The Sentry is more likely as well.  I'd love to see Hyperion join the MCU - but he would ideally have the rest of the Squadron Supreme with him so that a full on slugfest with The Avengers can go down.

Sunday, November 27, 2022

Doctor Doom Vs. The Demon in "Hell Hunt!"

 

The strongest character designs are those that even look impressive from the back.  Jack Kirby was such a master at creating costumes and armor that his creations looked great at any angle.  

Doctor Doom and The Demon first crossed paths way back in STF #739...

Saturday, November 26, 2022

Spider-Woman and Batgirl

 

I spider-Woman the first Super-Heroine to ever get her own animated TV series?  I think she just may be, and it's more impressive that it came out only a couple of years after her comic book debut.  It's still odd to me that Wonder Woman has never had her own cartoon.

These two may have to do a little more than search the city.  Regular visitors to this blog know that Jim Gordon was called to the planet Mongo in STF #2535... 


Friday, November 25, 2022

The Hulk and The Six Million Dollar Man

 

Now if this was a movie of the week when I was growing up, there would have been nothing to stop me from watching it.  There were very few live action super-heroes to be found, so even though he wasn't from the comics, I counted Steve Austin as one of them.  Pair him up with and actual Marvel hero, throw in some guest stars and that would have been a true recipe for action in my young eyes.

Thursday, November 24, 2022

Zatanna and Agatha Harkness

 

We are starting to hear some news about the upcoming Disney+ series Agatha: House of Harkness with the casting of Aubrey Plaza in a thus far unnamed role.  I have no idea what the plat of the show will be, but I enjoyed Kathryn Hahn quite a bit in Wanda/Vision, so I am looking forward to seeing what trouble she gets into.  Will Wanda herself make an appearance after the events of Multiverse of Madness?  I haven't heard that yet, but she's sure to be a presence story-wise at least, I'm betting.

Wednesday, November 23, 2022

John Wick and Krypto

 

The John Wick movies are entertaining in that they can usually be counted on for some very inventively staged action scenes, but I have to admit I find them a little hard to take seriously.  These "World's best assassin must come out of retirement because all the other assassins in the assassin guild are out to assassinate him, so he has to assassinate them first" type movies are usually a bit over the top, but this franchise takes it to a whole new level. In fights, Wick never seems to miss and the bad guys never seem to hit him.  Law enforcement never seems to notice the trail of bodies in his wake. Still, as long as I think of these movies as live action cartoons, I can enjoy them - I'll definitely check out the fourth installment.

Tuesday, November 22, 2022

Blue Devil and Banshee

 

In the comments section of a previous Blue Devil cover, Mike Shirley (a Patron of this Blog), suggested that Dan and Sean Cassidy may share a familial relation, and the idea appealed to me.  Thank you, Mike!  I've always like both characters and Banshee is that rare Ginger superhero that was actually portrayed by a Ginger in the movies.  It was a youthified version that was murdered off screen before the sequel hit, but at least they tried.

Monday, November 21, 2022

Guardians of the Galaxy Vs. Starro

 


Continued from yesterday's cover, we see just which JLA villain that the Guardians had set their sights on.  James Gunn has given us versions of all of these characters as supporting characters in his movies for Marvel and DC.  It might have been fun to see them go up against each other on the big screen.  Just as long as the conclusion to the battle isn't as disgusting as the one depicted in The Suicide Squad.  Yuck!

Sunday, November 20, 2022

Justice League of America and Guardians of the Galaxy in "Cross-Time Favor!"

 

Another Two-Part Epic begins here! I have not heard any word on whether the Original Guardians of the Galaxy will show up again in James Gunn's third volume of the movie series, but since it will be his last outing for Marvel, I hope he finds a way to include them.  Now, which JLA enemy have they shown up on this cover to help defeat?  Make sure you come back tomorrow to find out!

These two teams also shared an adventure back in STF #2018...

Saturday, November 19, 2022

Mephisto Vs. 4 Famous Co-Stars

 

Continued from yesterday's cover, we see that Ghost Rider has joined the fray. This crew has some history together.  Johnny Blaze first met Evel Knievel  way back in STF #74, they joined forces again to battle Mephisto in STF #376, and later both joined the team Rolling Thunder in STF #1115.  Batman and Ghost Rider confronted Mephisto back on one of my very first covers,  a lost B&B Tale from 2010.

Here's a peek behind the making of this cover, I needed a lot more flames before I could add the heroes in: 



Friday, November 18, 2022

Silver Surfer, Batman and Evel Knievel

 


Presenting Part One of a Two-Part Epic!  Will this trio of heroes be enough to take on Mephisto?   They'll need to call in another recruit for tomorrow's confrontation, and longtime STF visitors may have an idea as to who...

Batman and the Silver Surfer crossed paths on this blog a couple of times in the past over a decade ago - they first met in 2010 and then starred in a retro tale in 2011...

Make sure you come back tomorrow for the exciting conclusion!

Thursday, November 17, 2022

The Graveyard Shift (In The House of Secrets!)

 

The Sandman on Netflix has been renewed for another season, and I look forward to seeing more of Neil Gaiman's tales adapted for live action.  I hope to see more of Cain & Abel and their Houses of Mystery and Secrets, I enjoyed their appearances in the first season.

This is the second appearance of The Graveyard Shift.  They first appeared in STF #3290...

Wednesday, November 16, 2022

The Rhino Vs. Killer Croc

 

Brutes like these two may not be the most complex villains around, but you can usually count on them to provide some good action scenes.  It might be fun to watch them go up against each other... just don't expect a lot of thought provoking dialogue.

Tuesday, November 15, 2022

Blue Beetle and Captain America (Vs. The Hate Monger!)

 

A Blue Beetle/Booster Gold buddy movie was one of the many ideas floated by Warner Bros in the last decade that never seemed to go anywhere.  Now that there's new leadership for DCU films and given James Gunn's fondness for everyman type heroes, maybe there's a chance that this one could get back on track. 

Cap last appeared with Ted Kord under a mountain in STF #1741 and they two first met way back in STF #234. Cap met Blue Beetle Dan Garrett in STF #1078... 

Monday, November 14, 2022

Black Panther and Mickey Mouse

 

I haven't had a chance to see Black Panther: Wakanda Forever yet, but I am looking forward to it.  I really liked Shuri and M'Baku from the first film and hope to see them both with larger roles this time around.  I'm still not sold on Namor, we'll see if the writing and performance can overcome the fact that he looks absolutely nothing like the comic book character.

I am very happy to use the work of Fred Hembeck on this cover.  Back in 2008, I commissioned him to recreate one of my all-time favorite covers, and he knocked it out of the park - he even hand drew the logo:



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