Photon Vs. Sinestro

 

I definitely think that this would be a cool match-up.  Their battle would also most likely provide the artist and colorist on the issue an opportunity to really step up with some impressive visuals.

Photon and Starman

 

These two heroes have power sets that I think would go well together.  I can see The Shade being able to give them trouble, though.  It would be a vissually interesting battle to see play out.

Captains Marvel (Vs. Thanos & Mr. Mind!)

 

I thought it was time for this assemblage of heroes that have held the Captain Marvel title to return.  Of course, a team this powerful requires some formidable opponents.  Who better than two of their greatest adversaries, putting their evil mind and might together?

Captains Marvel first appeared in STF #1610...

The Avengers Vs. Black Adam

 

As we reach the mid-point of this 5-Part Tale, we see that Black Adam is using his cosmically charged power to tear through Earth's Mightiest Heroes!  One member of the team thinks they have what it takes to face him solo, though.  Who is it, and are they correct?  Make sure you come back tomorrow for Part Four!

Superman and Photon

 

The Marvels will be the next big superhero movie released and for me Monica Rambeau will be the main focus of interest.  It sounds as though she will be using Photon as her heroic name, but I am holding out hope that there may be a change by the movie's end.  She was Captain Marvel in the comics well before Carol Danvers adopted the name, after all - I'd love to see her take the title back in the movies.

Green Lantern and Photon

 

The teaser trailer for The Marvels leaned a bit on the goofy side, but I am interested to see more.  Iman Vellani was enjoyable in Ms. Marvel, so it will be interesting to see her grow as a hero here.  Mostly I want to see the further development of Monica Rambeau into Photon.  I've followed the character since her very first appearance and I look forward to seeing her in full control of her powers. 

Steel and Photon

 

I am really looking forward to seeing Monica Rambeau return in The Marvels.  I'm hoping she uses Photon as a code name (it was her mother's call sign in the air force after all) rather than Spectrum.  Actually, my true preference would be for her to take over the name of Captain Marvel by the film's end.  I never liked that she lost the title in the comics.

The Light Brigade Vs. Dark Matter (and more!)

 

Since the timing for a new Team Cover coincides with an Anniversary Issue, I thought that it was only fitting that I had two STF teams facing off against one another.  Combining the 4th appearance of The Light Brigade with the 3rd appearance of Dark Matter seemed like natural choices given their opposite natures and the Cloak & Dagger connection.  For the back-up tale, I finally teamed Batman with comics' first character, something I have been meaning to do for years.

Legion Subs and Star Trek (& Much More!)

 

I was a big fan of anthology comics, whether they included new material, reprints, or a mix of both.  They were always a great value, and would sometimes even introduce me to a new character or two.  Sadly, they seem to have fallen by the wayside.  DC tried a new line of 100-Page Giants for sale in Walmart, but those seem to have been discontinued.  I do not know how well they sold, but apparently they have been replaced with comic book 4-packs.

Justice League of America and Photon

 

When I watched the theatrical release of Justice League, I was very unimpressed with what I saw.  So, I was not sure what to expect with the 4-hour Snyder Cut on HBO Max.  Wow, what a difference!  It is really a crime what was done with the movie.  This version had a much better story that really held together, with an overall epic feel and much improved  action and effects sequences.  Cyborg finally had a proper role and was great to watch.  Steppenwolf looked miles better and his interactions with Darkseid were a highlight.  I'm still not crazy about Ezra Miller as The Flash, but he was far more tolerable here, with a couple of really great action beats.  It's not perfect - it's at least a half hour too long (I would not have included the future stuff at the end) and Mera's British accent was not convincing.  Still, I've watched it twice now and quite enjoyed it both times.  What an example of ow studio interference can torpedo a movie! 

Aquaman in the Marvel Universe

 

For this Anniversary Issue, I thought that it would be fun to spotlight one DC hero that never received the 100-Page Giant treatment back when that format was popular in the 70's.  Such an oversight must be remedied, and this blog is just the place to do it! This marks the first time Aquaman has met these characters, except for The Punisher - they also shared an adventure in STF #1438...

Avengers and Booster Gold

 

Wasn't there talk of a Booster Gold and Blue Beetle movie a few years ago?  I wonder how far into development it got before being put on the back burner along with Spielberg's Blackhawk and other movies announced but never produced.  Maybe a HBO Max series might be a better choice for the property anyway, we'll see if the project gets another chance on that platform.

Wonder Woman and Photon

 

Wonder Woman 1984 is currently slated to open on Christmas, but it has been re-scheduled and delayed so many times that I will believe it when I see it at this point.  Black Widow has already peen pushed deep into 2021 while The Batman now will not open until mid-2022!  Maybe there is a silver lining to all of these delays, though.  Even a huge fan like me was feeling a little superhero fatigue with so many movies coming out.   Avengers: Endgame was spectacular, but also felt like a finishing point in some ways and a good place to take a break before dining into the next multi-picture epic.  A year without new content may be just what comic book fims need to cleanse the palate maintain interest in the genre..

The Light Brigade in: "Illuminating Evil!"

I'm hoping that we get a full trailer soon for WandaVision.  Despite delays, the series is still set to debut on Disney+ before the end of the year.  I mostly want to see how Monica Rambeau looks, and if they manage to give her a costume close to her classic appearance from the comics.

This is the Third Appearance of The Light Brigade - they previously battled Blackheart in STF #2690, and first appeared in STF #2170...

Photon and Batman

Norm Breyfogle was a truly unique talent.  Batman has had a lot of talented artists working on his titles over the years, but most more or less followed  a house style.  Breyfogle came along and broke all the rules of character design and panel layout.  His Batman tales looked unlike any that I had seen before, but somehow it all worked beautifully.  He joins an elite group in my mind including Neal Adams, Jim Aparo, Trevor Von Eeden,  Marshall Rogers and David Mazzuchelli that helped to evolve the Dark Kinght artistically.

The Light Brigade (Vs. Blackheart!)

I was not expecting the adult Monica Rambeau to make her MCU debut until a Captain Marvel sequel, but it won't take that long.  She is scheduled to be a supporting character in the upcoming Disney+ show Wanda Vision.  Will she gain her superhuman abilities in that show?  I hope so, I can't wait to see her using her powers in live action.

The Light Brigade first appeared in STF #2170...

Green Lantern and The Avengers in: "Grundy's Guardian!"

Writer Scott Snyder is bringing Alan Scott and the rest of the original members of the Justice Society back to mainstream DC continuity in the upcoming Justice League: Doom War arc.  It looks as though they will be a version of the team in their prime, as the story will feature characters from different time periods coming together.  There are strong hints that an ongoing series will follow, that will be set during this early days of comics' first superhero team.  Their return has been a long time coming and I have enjoyed Snyder's work on other titles, so I am looking forward to what he has planned.

Photon and Jesse Quick

Apologies to Rick Springfield and Paul Williams...

The main thing I really want from a Captain Marvel sequel is Monica Rambeau gaining her powers to become Photon.  Well, that's the name I use for her on this blog, they are just as likely to go with Spectrum.  Frankly, I liked it when Rambeau went by Captain Marvel, and I don't think she should have given up the title.  Whatever they call her, I hope the seeds that were planted with young Monica in the first film will blossom into the full hero we know from the comics.

Galactus Vs. The DC Universe (and more!)

I was surprised to see that next year's DC crossover on the CW is going to be Crisis on Infinite Earths.  I have long been waiting for an animated version, but never expected a live action attempt.  Can they do it on a TV budget?  I do think that The Monitor looked pretty cool on this past years' crossover.  If they stretch this over two weeks of episodes of Arrow, The Flash, DC's Legends of Tomorrow, Supergirl, Black Lightning and Batwoman they could have twelve chapters, just like the epic maxi-series.

Justice League of America and The Avengers in: "Depths of Deception!"

Marvel has certainly had many amazingly talented artists on its comics, but one has always stood out to me as having the "official house look" of the company. It should probably be Jack Kirby, but for me it was always John Buscema.  I can trace it back to many classic issues that he worked on, but most of all it's because of his contribution to How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way, a book that had a huge impact on me as a kid.  I was very happy to give my decades old copy away to a young comic fan at a yard sale last year, I hope it inspires him as much as it did me.

The JLA and Avengers have crossed paths before on the Blog... Once leading to the League's expulsion... Once in the League's first headquarters and once in my first 100-Page Giant...