Human Torch and Cyborg

 

In this, his 10th appearance, Mr. Universe proves that a truce with him was never going to last.  Let's hope that Victor and Johnny can turn STF's signature villain back before he returns to full power!

Legion of Super-Heroes and Warlock

 

My only real nitpick with Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3 was the portrayal of Adam Warlock.  The man-child thing is a bit overdone in the movies, and he didn't really remind me of the character I read in the comics.  Hopefully he will be depicted a bit more faithfully if he should appear un the future.

Silver Surfer and the Challengers of the Unknown

 

What's more unknown to The Challs than what lies beyond solar system?  I think it might be fun to read a tale where they are truly thrust out of their element.

Robin and Mockingbird

 

Bobbi Morse had such success recruiting Nightwing into  S.H.I.E. L.D. in STF #4088, that it looks like she decided to also bring in the original Dick Grayson as a well! It's probably for the best, he's been looking for a new purpose after finding himself unstuck in the Multiverse as a result of battling Kang in STF #1744.

Shang-Chi and Plastic Man

 

I enjoyed Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, so when I saw that director  Destin Daniel Cretton was involved with American Born Chinese, another comic-based property on Disney+, I decided to check it out.  I'm halfway through the series and I am really enjoying it.  It has an interesting story, engaging characters, and fun supporting roles by recent Oscar winners Michelle Yeoh and Key Huy Quan. 

This is another cover in which I had a bit of de-cluttering to do before I added in any new elements.  Here a look at the behind the scenes process: 

X-Men and the Justice Society in: "The Swap!"

 

This weekend, Black Adam will bring the JSA to the big screen, though I'm not sure how closely they will follow the comics.  This seems to be a new group, under the direction of Amanda Waller - so sort of a more heroic version of Task Force X, I guess.  Will there be any mention of an original team?  Will there be any ties to the Justice League?  I guess we will find out soon.

The JSA and X-Men have met a few times before.  They faced a crisis in Westchester in STF #2404, They were manipulated by Apocalypse in STF #1675, and first crossed paths in STF #1400...

Booster Gold and Conan

 

Hey, if you're going to learn, learn from the best!  I can see Booster using his Time Bubble to pull a stunt like this.  Of course, knowing him, not everything will go exactly to plan.

I am always glad to use an image here by Dan Jurgens.  I was lucky enough to pick up an original page by him (and inker Rick Burchett) many years back: 

Adam Strange and Doctor Strange in: "Drag Me Out Of Hell!"

 

Adam was left in Hell following the events of STF #3145, so who better than his mystical brother to try an bail him out?

This is the fifth appearance of The Strange Brothers.  They were last seen facing their wicked uncle in STF #2801, They were forced to do penance in STF #2649, before that, they were trying to escape from Limbo in STF #2146, and they were first revealed to be brothers in STF #370...

Sub-Mariner and Batman & Robin

 

It's been a constant rumor that Namor would be introduced as an antagonist in the Black Panther sequel, focusing on relations between the advanced societies of Wakanda and Atlantis.  With the tragic passing of Chadwick Boseman, nothing is certain as to how the story will move forward now.  When you factor in the delays already caused by productions shutting down, it looks like it will probably be quite a bit longer before we see the Avenging Son make his live action debut.

Batman and The Sub-Mariner met a couple of times back in my Brave and the Bold: The Lost Issues days - once in 2010, and then again in 2011...

Deathlok and Black Lightning

It will be interesting to see where Black Lightning goes now that it is in a larger world of superheroes after the Crisis event.  Will the show still be rooted in street level crime or will it get a bit more larger than life?  We've seen seeds planted for The Outsiders as well as The Masters of Disaster being formed, perhaps one or both of those teams will become fully developed.  Either would be cool, both would be epic!

Elongated Man and Moon Knight (Vs. Eclipso)

I've had a few requests for Moon Knight to face off against Eclipso, including Blog Patron Bob Greenwade, and I figured that I'd throw that conflict into the middle of STF's greatest fighting team.  I imagine that the events of this issue will have repercussions down the line.

This is the Fifth appearance of the MK/EM team - They faced an angry underworld in STF #2831,  Psycho Pirate turned them against each other in STF #2732, Ralph came to the rescue in STF #2518, and they first started working together in STF #2169...

Sub-Mariner and The Demon in: "Serpentine Sacrifice!"

Like the Infinity Gauntlet, the Serpent Crown is one of those Marvel Universe artifacts that has been at the center of a bunch of fun stories, involving many titles and characters.  Once Namor joins the MCU, I can definitely see a plot utilizing the crown in a future Marvel movie.

These two previously crossed paths in STF #445...

Geo Force Vs. Black Panther in: "Regal Rumble"

It's the clash that this Five-Part saga has been building to from the beginning! Don't forget to check out Part One ,  Part Two... and Part Three... and make sure you come back tomorrow for the exciting conclusion to our story!

Where is Geo-Force in the DCU these days?  I don't see him in the latest iteration of The Outsiders.  Has he made through the last few rounds of reboots, or is he another victim of the DC Ginger Curse? I'm guessing that between Doomsday Clock and the Superman identity reveal, another reboot is on the way, so maybe then he'll get another chance (Halo, too).

Sub-Mariner and The Phantom

It certainly seems that I am not alone in wanting Namor to come to the MCU.  A quick mention of "undersea explosions" in Avengers: Endgame has led many excited reviewers to speculate that the groundwork for Sub-Mariner has already been laid.  Alas, the Russo Brothers have stated that there was no hidden meaning in that dialogue.  Still, it shows how much interest there is to bringing the Avenging Son to life, hopefully Marvel is taking notice.

Tomar-Re and The Beast

I am surprised that Marvel has never paired up The Beast and Tigra in an adventure.  They are both card carrying Avengers who are at peace with the furry forms they have been transformed into.  It seems like they would have a lot in common.  Not that you need to have much in common for an exciting tale.. Tomar-Re is about a different character thank Hank McCoy as you can ask for, but I'd still love to see them join forces.

Doctor Strange and Mandrake

Yes, a love interest has already been established for the cinematic Doctor Strange, but I still hope that there is a way for Clea to be introduced in the sequel.  The first film did such a great job of incorporating so much of Strange's world, and her absence was the only notable missing piece for me.  Even with Captain Marvel coming up, the studio could use more female heroes, so why not her?

Todays cover comes about from a suggestion by Ken Roskos, a Patron of this blog.  Thanks, Ken!

The Demon and Doctor Strange

The Demon is one of those characters that brings out the best in artists.  His hellish appearance allows them to take plenty of creative licence while still retaining the classic look of the character.  Jack Kirby, John Totleben, John Byrne, Mike Mignola, Bruce Timm, Val Semeiks and others have given us many varied takes on Etrigan, each one cool in its own way.

This would be a fun match up to see, I think.  They are each well versed in the mystic arts, but have vastly different styles of utilizing that knowledge.