Code: Red in: "The Benefactor!"

For the third appearance of Code: Red, I thought that it was time to reveal just who was behind the formation of this team.  Who better than the most famous redhead in comic strips? I'm glad she's using some of that Warbucks fortune for good.

Doctor Strange and Batgirl

 

When I posted a cover featuring Commissioner Gordon summoning Doctor Strange a week or so ago, Ken Roskos (a Patron of this Blog) and others said that the set up called for a follow up cover.  I had to agree, so here's what had Jim Gordon so concerned.

The Human Torch and Batgirl

 

Sometimes there was a cover on the racks that had so much going on that it practically dared you to try an resist picking it up.  Needless to say I had to at least flip through.  The above scenario is just the kind of image that would have had me hooked.

Spider-Woman and Batgirl in: "A Vile Visit From Mr. Universe!"

 

Spider-Woman and Batgirl met previously in STF #3879, but I thought it would be cool to see them in an animated adventure as well.  Who better to face off against them than STF's own Mr. Universe, making his 5th appearance.

Batgirl & Robin Vs. The Sinister Six

 

With Kraven about to make his cinematic debut, we will finally have seen live action versions of all of the Sinister Six.  Spider-Man: No Way Home came kind of close, but it's too bad we never got a proper Spidey Vs. The Sinister Six Movie.

Dick Grayson will face off against a slightly different Six lineup once he transitions into Nightwing, as seen in STF #3738...

Rom and Robin & Batgirl

 

Here's another cover which required a bit of prep work on the main image before I could add in the guest stars.  Check out a peek at the behind the scenes progress:

Batgirl and Black Cat

 

Black Cat first met Batgirl with the Birds of Prey in STF #3029...

This cover required a bit of background repair before I could swap out a canary for a cat.  Here's a look at the behind the scenes progress:

Batgirl and Hawkeye

 

I wasn't very familiar with Kate Bishop from the comics, but id did enjoy the character on the Disney+ Hawkeye series.  She's supposed to anchor a Young Avengers team eventually in the MCU, so I am sure that we will see her again, it's just a matter of putting together the rest of the team.  Still, with the various strikes and Marvel deciding to slow their output, it might be some time before that comes to pass.

Batgirl and Spider-Man (The Movie!)

 

Now this is a TV movie that would have had me staying up late and sneaking into my older brother's room to watch.  Two superheroes teaming up, with one portrayed by the gorgeous Yvonne Craig? Count me in.

Spider-Man and Batgirl met in a more traditional comic back in STF #938...

Ka-Zar and Batgirl

I was sorry to hear of John Romita Sr.'s passing last week.  When I was a Kid, Romita's style provided what I considered to be the definitive versions of Marvel Characters, mainly because so much of his artwork was used on promotional materials. He could draw anything from heroic figures to beautiful women to demonic villains to engaging cover scenes.  He was one of the true masters of the field and he will be missed.

 

Batgirl and Doc Samson

 

Long time followers of this blog know that this confrontation has been brewing for a while now.  Commissioner Gordon was first summoned to Mongo by Flash in STF #2535, Barbara Gordon began searching for him in STF #3879, and finally tracked him down and went to collect him in STF #3535. It's good to see them back home safe and sound.

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... 

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.

Captain Marvel and Batgirl

 

I wonder what's going to become of the Batgirl movie.  First it was going to be going straight to HBO Max, then it was decided it would be a theatrical release.  Commissioner Gordon will be played by JK Simmons, as he was in Zack Snyder's Justice League, with Michael Keaton back as Batman.  Keaton's appearance as Batman in The Flash was supposed to come out beforehand and would have explained how is there, but now that movie has been delayed at least a year due to behind the scenes drama.  Are they just going to release Batgirl anyway, and just hope audiences roll with it - or will it be delayed as  well?

Batgirl ran afoul of Ming the Merciless in STF #3535...

Storm and Batgirl in: "An Ancient War!"

 

The Batgirl movie has completed filming, but who knows when we will see it.  It was supposed to come out late this year but I don't know if that is still the case.  Michael Keaton is supposed to appear as Batman in it - but his return in The Flash which comes before this movie has been delayed at least a year due to a publicity nightmare with the increasingly erratic Ezra Miller.  Will The Flash being pushed back so far create a domino effect for the rest of the DCEU movies? Hopefully we will get some clarification soon.

Storm and Batgirl first met in STF #3254... and in STF #2932 with the Birds of Prey...

Flash Gordon and Batgirl

 

Regular visitors to this blog will know that Flash is of course referring to events covered in STF #2535... Looks like Jim Gordon is needed back home!

I am happy to feature the gorgeous artwork of Gray Morrow here.  I was lucky enough to pick up a page by him several years back - and interested to find out (for this project anyway) that he worked on standard 8 1/2 x 11 size paper:

Storm and Batgirl

 

I can still remember Kitty Pryde's shocked reaction when Ororo first debuted her new look with the mohawk and leather outfit.  I was just as surprised, this was well before internet spoilers could ruin such a moment and at a time when costume changes were not found as frequently as they are now.  It was a cool look, even though at first I missed that beautiful head of hair and tiara that Storm was famous for.  Chris Claremont provided characterization to go along with the change and it made for some good drama as well.

The Silent Partners in: "Breaking the Silence!"

 

We've now seen The Darkhold on Wanda/Vision after a version of the book was used on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., so it appears that Kevin Feige is ready to use concepts and characters from the Marvel TV shows.  That's good to hear, because I think the MCU will do a much better job of presenting heroes like Black Bolt and The Inhumans and villains like Absorbing Man and Graviton than we got in their first live action incarnations.

This is the fifth adventure of The Silent Partners - they last appeared battling Soundwave in STF #2810... the recruited Man-Thing in STF #2250, they were targeted in STF #1650, and made their debut in STF #764...

Batgirl and The Rocketeer

Lots of rumors are swirling as to what it will mean if Michael Keaton does indeed return to the role of Bruce Wayne/Batman for a The Flash and more DC movies.  Reports that he will be taking on a mentor role has folks (myself included) hoping to see a Batman Beyond film.  Then there's the rumor that he will be a guiding hand in a Batgirl movie.  I think that could kind of work, it will be interesting to see what kind of direction is taken with it.

Scarlet Witch, Batgirl and Buffy the Vampire Slayer

I am glad that WandaVision will still be coming to Disney+ this year despite all of the delays in Hollywood.  The teaser I have seen which show the couple in various sitcom-like settings has me intrigued.  Plus we'll finally see the adult Monica Rambeau (and hopefully her super-heroic alter ego), a character I have been looking forward to seeing since the MCU began.  Then there is the rumor of Mephisto appearing, it will be cool to see how the demonic villain is realized.