Sunday, December 21, 2025

THE STF 5000th ISSUE CELEBRATION!


Welcome to the 5000th issue of STF: The Lost issues!  Many of the covers presented here have not only crossed over characters from different companies, but from different timelines as well.  There has been speculation that these encounters were the result of an ongoing war between a pair of time tyrants.  As you can see above, the rumors are true!

When you count the B&B and MTIO covers that preceded STF, I have posted 5510 covers so far.  Needless to say, I have never used AI to create them and never and I never will - all I need is Photoshop and the inspiration and encouragement from visitors to this blog!

Time for some Special Features!  First up, let's take a look at larger versions of the stories presented here:











An All-New Saturday Morning Line-Up!  I'd definitely get up early to catch these STF-Inspired shows:


Now for some STF-Related merchandise.  There have been some cool playsets for comic book fans, but what would have been great was one that combined the two greatest superhero teams:


Or How about a Playset featuring one of STF's oldest teams - Robo-Force?


STF: The Lost Issues generally features pre-existing characters, but I have created a few for the blog.  Here are Action Figures for a couple of them.  First up, from a trio of Dick Tracy/Rocketeer team ups, is that unfortunate informant that everyone in the underworld wants to off - Rats McTattler!


And what young fan of STF: The Lost Issues wouldn't want an action figure of its greatest recurring villain - Mr. Universe!


Time to kick back with a classic board game - How about one featuring the two most popular characters from DC and Marvel?



And for younger kids, here's a Colorforms Set that combines heroes from DC and Marvel:




And with that, we close out another Mega-Anniversary Issue.  Thank you to all of the visitors over the years, especially the Patrons, who have help keep this blog running for over 15years of daily covers! If you would like to support the blog you can join them here.  Make sure you come back tomorrow and every day, there are lots more covers coming - featuring surprising new team ups, new and returning teams, characters making their STF Debuts, and more!   



22 comments:

Alaric said...

Thank YOU for all the work you put into this every day, Ross. The wonderful fantasies you create help many of us deal with the often less than wonderful realities of the world we live in.

That Colorforms set really takes me back.

Bigjeffoh said...

Thank you! Another amazing job in a truly amazing body of work. I have the original JLA playset. And now I want that updated version! The perfect holiday gift. Just needs some new villains to add to the package. Congratulations and thank you for all your creativity and attention to details. I look forward to the next 5510 issues. Happy holidays and happy new year!

Sphinx Magoo said...

Wow! This is an amazing achievement! Thank you for all the work you do! Seeing what you do, consistently, is one of the many joys of my life. Thank you.

That said, that Robin/Maestro match-up really has me worried...!

Davejonz said...

I'll just echo everything the guys ahead of me just said. It really is a joy to see your covers every morning. It definitely brightens the world up. Many many thanks for all the hard work and the astounding creativity.
BTW, before I forget, 5000 wows for today's cover.

Anonymous said...

5,510 issues altogether?! That means, four hundred ninety issues from now, you'll have churned out six thousand cover simulations, altogether! Egad!!

But, as a 1959-er, I thank you for this latest trip down Memory Lane*
My first purchase of comic books was in the earliest 1970's, shortly after the busybodies of the National PTA had chased superhero cartoon from the Saturday morning airwaves. Leaving only meddling kids and their speech-impaired talking dogs.

I also fondly remember those toy commercials. Ideal; Hasbro, Kenner, and--of course-- Mattel.** Colorform, though, was regarded as being "silly girl stuff!" by most of my male peers at that time.

So, congratulations, once again, Ross on your 5000th issue anniversary---Carycomic

*No relation to Lois. ;-D
**No relation to Kal-El. ;-D

Carycomic said...

P.S.---what action figure did you use as the model for Rats McTattler? My own wild guesses are either pre-Creeper Jack Ryder or pre-Mask Stanley Ipkiss.

Ross said...

Thanks, I appreciate the kind words!

Cary, Rats is made up from a few different action figures combined together. The scared head is from a Vinnie the Victim action figure.

Anonymous said...

Congrats on five thousand issues!

I love the offbeat team-ups for the back-up tales. I'm especially intrigued by how Dani Moonstar wound up with Jonah Hex's two-gun rig. And I'm wondering if the color form octopus is Doc Ock's genetically engineered pet (meant for attacking Aquaman and Spidey)?

Carycomic said...

Thank you. :-)

Anonymous said...

Here, here!

Anonymous said...

Hear, hear…. Dang it!

Anonymous said...

Maybe Kamandi could meet Captain Carrot and the Zoo Crew.

emsley wyatt said...

I'm blown away.

Aaron Ramos said...

I would definitely buy all of these! I have to see if I can make a custom Mr Universe figure

Pop Culture from an Alternate Dimension said...

I feel Like Veruca Salt "I want it all now." 5000?!!! Wow. Great job!

Detective Tobor said...


THE CBS Saturday schedule is STUPENDOUS!! The JLA AVENGERS play set is unbelievable!! (no G.L. or J.J. ??) The extra guide for the 21 frames is a big help too!! You need 4 hands to enjoy it ALL!! The original Jor-el is back!!
Somebody at DC took notes to do the mini series of Convergence, since that was the premise for it. Ross, when did you start working on all this multi level masterpiece??? (Lots of notes to do it???)

Anonymous said...

I am all in for The Lone Ranger and The Phantom show!

Paul said...

Great cover mystery to chip away at. Here's to the next 4,999 covers! Happy Holidays to you and yours! BTW Before I get back to work on my dessection... Cheers.

Detective Tobor said...

Just realized something....if Ant-Man prevents Superman from coming to Earth, there are no superheroes, no Captain America, no J.L.A, no Fantastic Four , no Avengers in one fell swoop!! Hell of a timeline for who is left.

Detective Tobor said...

Ross, as you inspire.... an 11th test... Crime Syndicate vs Squadron Supreme ..direct counterparts only (unlike # 1682)!! Superwoman vs Princess Power!! Owlman vs Nighthawk!! Along with the rest, none of them holding back!

Anonymous said...

Wow! Great celebration!

Bob Greenwade said...

The Kang/Time Trapper War is likely to rage on for quite a while -- except that now, I think heroes may be aware of how they're being manipulated. In fact, out of this batch, Mirage and Dawnstar might figure things out, as could the Invaders and LSH.

And nice work on 5000+ issues (plus B&B/MTIO)! There's hardly been a turkey in the lot.

PS: The comment about using AI wasn't really necessary. We all know that you don't need it, and wouldn't need it other than possibly to hunt down art of certain characters.

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