Monday, March 27, 2023

The STF 4000th ISSUE BLOCKBUSTER!

Welcome to the 4000th cover for Super-Team Family: The Lost Issues!  When you count the B&B and MTIO covers that I began with, the total comes to 4510 covers.  It's been just about 13 years of daily work, but it's been a fun ride thanks to all of the enthusiasm and support from visitors to the blog. This year was especially nice, with STF: The Lost Issues getting a segment in The Team-Up Companion from TwoMorrows Publishing, quite an honor.  I truly appreciate everyone who stops by to check out my daily covers, especially those who take the time to comment and let me know what they think and offer praise, constructive criticism and suggestions.  The biggest thank you of course must go out to the Patrons of this blog.  Your support has meant the world to me and a huge reason why the blog has lasted so long. 

In addition to the main cover here featuring a meeting between two teams that I have been meaning to get to for years, I've prepared some special features.   You know, it's too bad that legal red tape prevents me from selling any STF-related merchandise on this blog, but it got me thinking.  What are some of the cool STF-Inspired tie-in items that might have appeared over the years?  Let's see some of the greatest STF Swag that never existed - but should have!

Your All-New Saturday Line-Up!

I presented some Saturday Morning cartoons as part of the special features in my special features for STF #3000, and I wanted to expand the concept here.  Most of these new shows are based on previous STF adventures:

Adam Strange joined Star Wars in STF #3343...

Shazam met Shazzan in STF #1178...

Dick Tracy hunted Spider-Man in STF #1080...

Johnny Quest and Tintin Shared a two-part tale in STF #186 and STF #187...

and Aquaman and Sub-Mariner have a long history on the blog, they last appeared together with The Defenders in STF #3927, they battled Mer-Mutates in STF #2270, tried to avert war in Issue #1105, faced the sea's wrath back in Issue #751 and starred in my very first STF two-parter in Issue #3 and Issue #4.

That should make for a fun Saturday Morning, but there's no reason you can't get into the STF fun on school days with the...

Scooby-Doo: Marvel Madness Lunch Box!





After School, it's time to relax with a board game, perhaps one that's based on STF's longest running romance:

The Captain America & Wonder Woman Game!



They certainly have a history on this blog - this marks the 30th appearance of the WW/Cap Romance!

If it's a newer game you are looking for, maybe it's time for a round of...

Superman Vs. The Hulk Rock-'Em Sock-'Em Robots!


That's fun, but it's time for something even more advanced:

The Superman and Spider-Man Video Game!


And don't miss out on the fully articulated...

STF Action Figures!






Ah, what could have been.  Maybe such crossovers will never happen but here on the blog I'm going to try to keep on presenting them to you.  Thanks again for visiting and all of the support over the years.  Let the march to STF #5000 begin!

49 comments:

Glen Cadigan said...

So, so good!

dsnokc said...

Wow! I hope in some alternate universe, the ten-year-old version of me is asking Mom for all of the STF merchandise. I know what station he'd watch on Saturday mornings. Maybe next anniversary you could create cereal flavors with cool STF boxes. Happy Anniversary!

Detective Tobor said...

Unfortunately, words fail me. My fannish brain is being held for ransom by my fannish greed to want some of the best things i have ever seen that never existed.
The cap /WW game board is INCREDIBLE in its details.
The Superman -Hulk rockem sockem look totally real. As does the video game with Clark and Peter.
Now you see why i'm speechless.
Standing ovation all the way around, Ross, at every level.

Crazy Ivan said...

Weird. I remember having that lunch box as a kid, but I would swear it was Batroc the Leaper on the bottom, not Venom. Maybe they released two different versions?

Jack_Acid said...

Incredible milestone, and amazing work.

Daviticus said...

Wow, this is impressive. Congratulations!

The Irredeemable Shag said...

Ross - Congratulations on 4,000 (we’ll, 4,510) covers!! Such an incredible accomplishment! And this particular entry is a gorgeous one! I continue to be impressed each day, and these always bring me joy. THANK YOU!!

Carycomic said...

Fabulous, job, all around, Ross. :-)

You have accurately re-created everything I still love about the original 100-page annuals. Including the ones that would come out in the fall. I even remember the ads for the send-away stuff (like X-ray glasses, fake barf, voice-throwing whistles, etc)! Although, I must admit I'm a little puzzled by the identity of the video game character Spidey left hanging to Superman's right.

So, once again: HAPPY 4000th ANNIVERSARY! :-D

Alaric said...

All I can say is... Wow! (And congratulations on #4000!)

Ross said...

Glen, dsnokc, Tobor - Thank you!

Ivan, wow you had a rare prototype I think!

Acid, Daviticus, Shag - So glad you guys like this one!

Cary - that's Doomsday all webbed up

Alaric - Thank you!

Rip Jagger said...

Amazing stuff! Thanks for the hard work.

Anonymous said...

This is the world we should've been living in.

Thank you for giving us a look into a possible reality Ross!

Tran Bronstein said...

This is truly amazing work. Congratulions on reaching the milestone.

Anonymous said...

Phenomenal!!! Just plain phenomenal. Happy four thousandth issue!

:-)

Ken Roskos said...

Looks like I'm late to the party already, but hats off Ross! You've created an awesome amount of ingenious work here. The Scooby lunch box is incredible. The DD-Green Lantern action figure looks perfect. I know the powers that be won't allow it, but the Daredevil/Calvin and Hobbes "dance" t-shirt would be priceless. Salut!

Rune said...

Bravo! Fantastic! Amazing! Stupendous! Spectacular! Sensational! Totally Awesome!

Captain Bat-verse is gorgeous, and Jimmy the Hutt is hilarious.

Reg Aubry said...

Ah, Ross, you have outdone yourself this time! Bravo, and thank you!

Chris Bern, DVM said...

WOW!!!! You really outdid yourself this time! I love all of the merchandise tie-ins!

Bob Greenwade said...

Wow! I totally would want the Batman Universe and Iron Beetle figures -- not when I was a kid, but now! (I mean, seriously: if I got that Iron Beetle figure for my birthday, I'd be very happy.)

And Kitty has a GL ring now? There's another person to add to the GL Reserve Corps!

I also find it interesting that you found such an exactly perfect pose for Superman with Lockheed. Nice job with the lighting on that one, too. It's a piece of art worthy of a poster.

Back to the Iron Beetle figure... no, I don't have anything more to say about it. I just want to look at it some more. The Batman Universe one also captures the eye like no real-world figure I've ever seen.

Alec Semicognito said...

You've outdone yourself tenfold!

Jay Johnson said...

I don't comment much anymore, but STF is still one of the first pages I hit every morning. Congrats and keep 'em coming!

Anonymous said...

There's not much more that I can add to your well-deserved accolades except to ask: which Morgan LeFay are you picturing as the main antagonist? The magenta-haired version from "Spider-Woman," or the sadomasochistically dressed one from "Camelot 3K"?

Ben W said...

This is GREAT! I like how a commenter above mentioned doing cereals next time, but I'm also thinking maybe home console versions of the video games! Robo-Force game for the NES? Calvin and Hobbes/Iron Giant for Game Boy? And maybe the Playstation would have the "game of the movie" of Superman and Doctor Who! My mind is going crazy here!

Scott said...

Oh, how I want that lunch box!

Bob Greenwade said...

Maybe with #5000 we can see DVD covers for the various theatrical releases that have been featured here -- especially #2260, #2703, and #2889!

(And I'm still wishing we could have a Danvers Twins movie!)

Carycomic said...

"If wishes were wings, I wouldn't have to sling webs."
---Spider-Ham

Daniel Bonner said...

The action figures are so right on! And I laughed out loud at the rock 'em sock 'em. So perfect! You knocked it out of the park, dude! This must have been so fun to create. Way to go! Thank you.

simon said...

it’s Doomsday hanging in the Spider-man / Superman Game,
this is a dream collection of covers and items, thank you for all the phantom images comic cover artwork,
long may you continue,
Spider-Ham , Porky Pig, Pepper Pig , crossover ?

Ross said...

Rip - High praise coming from you!

Anon, Tran, Anon - Much Appreciated!

Ken Roskos - Always appreciate your input, thank you!

Rune - Those are faves of mine as well

Reg - Thank you Sir

Chris Bern - Thanks, I hand a blank on the extras for this until I thought of that angle...

Bob G - Haha yeah that GL cover is like half the MCU by now. And swapping an eagle for Lockheed was one of the easier images here. So glad you Liked the IB figure!

Alec, Jay, Shucks, always glad to hear for you guys

Anon - I like to think that MLF is the same person across all continuities!

Ben W = Oh my good ness let's worry about #4100 before #5000!

Daniel, Simon - Thank you both!

Davejonz said...

This is utterly utterly wonderful. Many thanks for your incredible work - and staying power!

Stephen Towler said...

This is excellent stuff!

Bob Greenwade said...

@Simon: I was kind of thinking a while ago that Spider-Ham and Pig-Iron would be an interesting pair.

Ross said...

Bob: https://braveandboldlost.blogspot.com/2013/03/spider-ham-and-pig-iron.html

Ross said...

Stephen and Davejonz - Thank you!

The Man in Black said...

Batman/Captain Universe looks cool

Bobbo said...

Congratulations!

Bob Greenwade said...

Actually, I did an accounting a couple of weeks ago as to who would be in that GL Reserve Corps, and I think I had about eight or nine people (even counting Godzilla). One or two more won't destroy anything.

Anonymous said...

Will the Supergirl/Capt. Marvel movie, starring Melissa Benoist and Brie Larson, be the subject of STF #4100?

Anonymous said...

I never MISS one day of your inspirational covers!!

Bob Greenwade said...

@Anon@2:28: A Benoist/Larson cover would be one of the covers between the various "special numbers" Ross uses.

Anonymous said...

You mean, like STF #4025? Or would he save the quarterly interval covers for something really epic? Like, say, Doomsday vs. the Asgardian Destroyer.

Carycomic said...

@Bob @ Anon: well, STF #4025 isn't due till April 21. So, that gives Ross plenty of time to decide which one to choose.

Anonymous said...

Awesome Ross! I love the merchandise especially the action figures!! Unbelievable amount of work and creativity. Congratulations!!!

Anonymous said...

P.S.---How about Iron Beetle vs. either A) Doomsday B) Amazo or C) the Asgardian Destroyer?

Carycomic said...

@Anonymous: I'm 4 it.

Anonymous said...

Cover of the month!

Anonymous said...

Another outstanding cover! Great work…

Anonymous said...

I hope you had a Good Friday, Ross. :-)

Carycomic said...

*Sigh!* It's official. STF #4000 has now been demoted to the top of page 2. :-(

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