The Thing and Wildfire

 

We've all been waiting patiently for actual casting news (not just rumors of the week) for Marvel's Fantastic Four movie, and it finally seems like that is imminent as Director Matt Shakman needs to begin filming soon.  The next big wait will begin then - to find out what The Thing will look like.  I imagine that will be one of the final reveals before a trailer is released so it will probably be at least another year before we get that information.  They can take their time, I just want them to get it right, he's easily my favorite Marvel character.

Superman and Throg

 

We say Throg the Thor Frog make a cameo in the first season of Loki.  Now that the Disney+ series is set to return, I really hope we get a chance to see him again.  Let's see him break loose from his bottle trap and pull off some mini-Mojlnir stunts! I know that I would certainly be entertained.

Throg met the Man of Steel along with some other JLA members back in STF #557...

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!

Catwoman Vs. The Shadow

 

In the 90's the big comic book action movie stars were Batman, The Rocketeer, The Phantom and The Shadow.  Each of them have been brought back to the big or little screen since then except one notable exception.  Where are the new adventures of Lamont Cranston's alter ego?  It's high time we had a new live action version of The Shadow.  Perhaps a period piece streaming series would be the way to go?

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.

Howard The Duck and The Spectre

 

Sharp eyed viewers glimpsed Howard The Duck showing up with all the returning heroes in the finale of Avengers: Endgame.  He wasn't at Tony Stark's funeral, so where did he go from there.  Did he return to space with The Ravagers, possibly setting up an appearance in the third Guardians of the Galaxy film?  Perhaps he stayed on Earth to begin some adventures there.  The point is, he could really show up anywhere now, so where would you like to see him?  I wouldn't mind seeing him and She-Hulk get involved in a case together at some point.

The Club

 

I first was just going to put together a team of pre-historic heroes and then I noticed a common weapon that they all liked to use and this cover really started to come together.  It even made for the perfect name!  I can only assume that Alley Oop first decided to gather this team when he met Captain Caveman and Bamm Bamm's future Father in law in STF #3331...

Daredevil and Static

 

There has been some talk of a Static movie in the works, and I thought that possibly it would have been announced as part of James Gunn's DC plans.  Static has crossed over with the DCU in the comics and in the animated shows as well, so I thought that maybe there was a chance.  It looks like the Milestone characters will get their own cinematic universe.  Let's hope they get started soon, it's getting crowded out there! 

Black Knight and Dawnstar

 

Did you guess the correct Legionnaire to accompany The Black Knight back to his era from yesterday's cover?  Who better to locate an important lost artifact than one of the 31st Century's best trackers? 

Marvel laid the seeds for The Black Knight in Eternals.  Let's hope we won't have to wait years before we see Dan Whitman on the big screen again, so that he can fully embrace his heroic destiny.

Legion of Super-Heroes and The Black Knight

 

Presenting Part One of a Two-Part Epic!  It looks like The Black Knight has traveled a long way to find one specific Legionnaire.  But which one of the future heroes depicted on this cover is he hoping to recruit?  Make sure you come back tomorrow for the thrilling conclusion!

Swamp Thing and Judge Dredd

 

Looks like Dredd is out of his jurisdiction, which usually makes for an entertaining tale. He wouldn't be there unless the was chasing down some kind of larger threat.  Let's hope that he and Swamp Thing can work together to confront whatever it may be. 

Legion of Super Pets and Pet Avengers

 

This is a team up that has been suggested for years.  I had been meaning to get to it, but the images never seemed to work together.  Either the art styles were too different or the poses did not fit with each other.  So, I am glad that I was at long last able to put this meeting of the pets together and finally cross it off of my suggestions note page.  It would definitely be a fun story to read.

The Demon Vs. Mephisto

 

After having his appearance rumored for years, it seems like Mephisto is finally about to join the MCU.  My only concern is the reports that he will be portrayed by Sasha Baron Cohen.  While he has played a few serious roles, mostly he is known for his broad comedy.  I really don't want Mephisto to be another wisecracking MCU villain.

This cover required some splash page extension and word balloon removal before I could add Etrigan into it.  Here's a behind-the scenes look at the process:

Mister Miracle and Spider-Man

 

We've seen Spider-Man break loose from being trapped through sheer force of strength and will before, but that's got to be pretty tiring, even for a superhero.  He could really use some suit upgrades from Scott Free.  You never know when a hidden lockpick or some of the other 4th World gadget might come in handy.

Ghost Rider and Lobo

 

There's been lots of rumors swirling about Jason Mamoa playing Lobo in James' Gunns new DCU movie plans.  This is really what should have been done in the first place, he's a perfect fit for the character and basically infused that personality onto Arthur Curry anyway. Some say that there will be confusion with him going from Aquaman to a new comic character, but I think that audiences have seen enough actors play multiple superhero roles in the past that they can roll with it.

Black Widow and Black Canary

 

Wow, have I really never paired these two together before?  Well they did both appear as members of one of STF's very first hero teams, The Black Beauties way back in STF #299 in 2013.  Still, it's high time they shared a cover together again.  They also appeared as guest stars in STF #2491 with Iron Man and Starman...

Moon Knight Vs. Deathstroke in: "Crashing the Assassination!"

 

I've been meaning to feature a cover that combines images by the amazing Bill Sienkiewicz for a while now.  Nothing ever quite came together because his unique style it tougher to blend than most, even with himself. I'm definitely not 100% satisfied with how this one came out, but I am glad I finally gave it a try.

Moon Knight first encountered Deathstroke in STF #2386...

Silver Surfer and OMAC

 

The Silver Surfer has had a rocky relationship with the Death Star on this blog.  He first encountered it during his brief marriage to Starfire in STF #397, and then he later returned to investigate it with Doctor Who in STF #3761.  If his choice of partner here is any indication, this time he may just shut the place down for good!

Agatha Harkness and Alfred

 

Agatha: Coven of Chaos looks to be a fun series and is about to start shooting.  The addition of Aubrey Plaza has me interested, especially that she is rumored to be playing Morgaine Le Fay. How will Agatha escape Wanda's spell?  Will Wanda appear?  Unfortunately it sounds like the show maybe pushed back to 2024, so it may be a while before we find out.

ROM and Space Ghost

 

ROM had a great comic book tie in back in the day - so why didn't the toy become more popular than it was?  I think one major mistake was not looking to what Marvel was doing for inspiration in expanding the line.  Pretty much all you could get was ROM himself, I saw no other Spaceknights on the shelves next to him, let alone vehicles and accessories.  An even bigger issue was that you could not even purchase a toy Dire Wraith for him to battle with.  What good was that cool weapon of his if you couldn't blast his arch enemies?  That was truly a lost opportunity.