Metal Men Vs. The Absorbing Man

 

This could be an interesting match up.  Would Crusher Creel be able to absorb the team's shapeshifting abilities in addition to their metallic properties? I'm thinking that would make for a more exciting battle, so if I was the writer, I'd say yes. 

Blue Beetle & Booster Gold and Nighthawk

 

Despite his wealth and abilities, Nighthawk was never quite able to rise above B-list status.  Still, I always liked Kyle Richmond and he had a very cool costume, so I always welcomed his appearances.  I think he would work well with the Blue & Gold team, acting as kind of a less gruff Batman.

The Light Brigade in: "To Save the Shadow-Thief!"

 

For this, the fifth appearance of The Light Brigade, I thought I would include one of my all time favorite villains.  His simple concept and look really appealed to me as a kid, and it didn't hurt that I first saw him illustrated by the legendary Joe Kubert.

Doc Samson and Two-Face

 

Harvey Dent indeed needs therapy, and who better to administer it than a super-strong shrink?  It would certainly be an interesting process to watch play out.

Nightwing and Puck

 

Nightwing previously faced off against The Ringmaster with The Roustabouts in STF #2410, and with Nightcrawler way back in STF #68...

Spider-Man and Black Canary

 

This is another example of a cover that required a bunch of de-cluttering before I could add in any new elements. Here's a look at the behind the scenes progress: 

 

Metal Men and Ultron in: "Indecent Restoration!"

 

This is The Metal Men's third run-in with Ultron.  He was last seen trying to make them his slaves in STF #3466, and they first met when he was after Doc Magnus in STF #1836. Can they dare to trust him now?

Man-Bat and The Abomination

 

This would be an interesting match up.  Man-Bat has agility and flight at his advantage, while The Abomination has his incredible strength.  No matter who wins, it would be cool to see them join forces against The Grandmaster at the end of the story. 

Wonder Woman and Machine Man

 

So what is the main reason behind the "no men on Themyscira" rule?  Is it simple because the Amazons truly distrust men that much?  Is there some kind of ancient prophesy or curse they are trying to keep at bay?  Or are they just being arbitrarily exclusionary? 

The Beast and Wildcat

 

One guy dresses like a big blue cat and the other guy looks like one.  It was about time these two got into business together.  Look like their first case is an explosive one, though!

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... 

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... 

The Fantastic Four and Wonder Woman

 

In the MCU,  Iron Man is off the table and while Tom Holland just signed on for more movies, Spider-Man will still be a shared character with Sony.  Marvel really needs a new "heart and soul" of their cinematic universe.  For me, that has to be Ben Grimm.  The MCU FF can't get here fast enough, and The Thing's look and characterization are hopefully a top priority for the studio.

Blonde Phantom and Wildcat

 

I've already established that Tigra is Wildcat's niece on this blog, and I thought it might be nice to give the JSA's resident pugilist a sister as well.  I come from a big family - I have four brothers and two sisters, so stories about relationships between siblings have always appealed to me.

Legion of Super-Heroes and Spider-Man

 

I'm surprised that I am only now getting to this team up. I could see Peter Parker wanting to hang around in the 30th Century, where there's a whole team of super-powered young adults that are accepted by society. He might have to change his name to Spider-Lad, but otherwise he'd probably fit right in.

The Metal Men meet Giant Man & The Wasp

 

I was happy to see Michelle Pfeiffer posting a workout video in preparation for return as Janet Van Dyne in Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania.  I was hoping that the original Wasp would see some more action this time around and it looks like I may get my wish.  If Pfeiffer also returns as Selina Kyle in The Flash, it will be even better!

Master of Kung Fu Vs. Storm Shadow

 

News about Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings has been somewhat sparse.  Other than some casting and a bare outline of the plot (and a few unconfirmed rumors), next to nothing solid has leaked about the production.  I saw one distant photo of Simu Liu and Awkwafina shooting a scene and a blurry long distance shot of a movie set, but little else.  That's not a bad thing, I feel like I already know too much about the upcoming Black Widow.  It's nice to go see a movie with no preconceived notions as to what is going to happen.  We'll get a trailer or teaser in the next few months, hopefully nothing too spoilery.

Wonder Woman and Spider-Man in: "Aunt May's Other Life!"

 

Nothing makes my feel my age like the fact that the cinematic Aunt May is now portrayed by someone just a few years older than me.  Don't get me wrong, Marisa Tomei is pleasant to watch, but I'm used to the frail elderly Aunt from the comics.  Rosemary Harris from the first Spider-Man trilogy was like the character had walked right off of the page, still one of the best comic book movie castings ever, in my opinion.

Wonder Woman and Spidey first crossed paths in STF #572...

The Vision and Hawkman

 

Wanda/Vision is set to debut in less than a month (finally), and given the intriguing trailer it will be interesting to see how the series develops.  I hope that there will be some way for The Vision to survive the series and continue on in the MCU,  but I think that his appearance is only due to Wanda's hex magic.  I'm guessing by the end of the series, She will have lost him for good and that's what will cause her to snap and make a break the multiverse which will be dealt with in the next Spider-Man movie and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.  So, I'll enjoy The Vision while we still have him!

Doom Patrol and Iron Man

I remember reading the Machine Man mini-series in 1984 and thinking that Arno Stark, the Iron Man of 2020, was pretty cool.  2020 seemed pretty far off to me then, so he truly felt like a futuristic version.  Well the year has arrived, and Marvel is appropriately featuring the character in their current comics.  Oddly enough, I am also living in 2020, and I hardly feel futuristic - more like an antique!  Nothing like going over past comics to make you feel your age!