Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Super Goof and Dynomutt



I didn't follow too many funny animal type comics when I was growing up, I was all about the superheroes.  Now, when the cartoon characters we also superheroes, that was a different story.  Disney comics were another exception.  Even though the stories skewed a bit young for me, I always had to check them out because of the gorgeous artwork within.

Monday, August 12, 2013

Superman and The Sub-Mariner



I think that a battle between Superman and Prince Namor could be epic.  Sure, I would give Superman the edge... unless Namor was somehow able to lure him into the ocean.  There, he is even more powerful and has all the resources of Atlantis and the undersea world at his command, and Superman could be in for the fight of his life.  Making it a period piece would be even mor fun for me, as I love the golden age versions of these pioneering comicds charaters.

Sunday, August 11, 2013

The Demon and Thor



I have yet to see an episode of Game of Thrones, so I wasn't sure what to make of Kenneth Branagh being replaced as director on the sequel to Thor with GoT vet Alan Taylor, but I have to say that I like what I have seen in the trailers that have been released so far.  I thought that then first film was too Earth bound, and that does not seem to be the cast with the second outing. Also, there are indications that Sif will get a larger role, which is good because I loved her portrayal in the original film.  The only fault I saw was the same as has always been for the cinematic Thor - Put your helmet on already!

Saturday, August 10, 2013

The Thing Vs. Geo-Force



Here's a team up that I can't believe I never got to when I was doing my lost MTIO run.  Given Geo-Force's abilities to control The Earth's gravitational field and manipulate rock & stone, this could be a very interesting battle.  The thing I always thought was cool about Geo-Force was his relationship with his sister, Terra - the traitorous Teen Titan.  However, once she was killed off, DC never seemed to know what to do with Prince Brion of Markovia.  I have yet to see him appear in the New 52, hopefully he won't be just another victim of the reboot.

Friday, August 9, 2013

Vixen and The Black Panther



I've always liked Vixen, from way back to the days where she was a Superman supporting character with an ugly costume.  She's had to work hard to gain prominence, first as a member of the ill-fated Detroit era Justice League and then of Suicide Squad.  It was with the squad that she really began to flourish, under the pen of John Ostrander, who gave her a bit more depth.  I enjoyed her appearances on Justice League Unlimited as well, they really demonstrated how cool her abilities can be.  I think she was with Justice League International in the New 52, but since that title's cancellation, I am not sure where she's ended up.  Hopefully DC will find a home for her,  she's earned her place alongside the A-listers by now.

Thursday, August 8, 2013

Metamorpho and Iron Man



I think that the differences between these characters' power sets would make for an interesting match up. I'm not really sure who I would give the edge to if they went to battle, although I would be rooting for Rex.  I have always had a soft spot for hard-luck heroes, and he is one of the best.

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Robin and Ultimate Spider-Man



Little did I know when I made this cover that Damian Wayne would be killed off before I even had a chance to post it.  While I do think that it has been problematic that Batman has had so many sidekicks, I have to admit that I was just warming up to the kid before Grant Morrison decided to permanently close out his story arc... or did he?  Morrison's time on Batman has apparently ended with the revelation of numerous Damian clones, leaving the door for a return quite open, it would seem.

Marvel's Age of Ultron event ended with Galactus showing up in the Ultimate Universe, and some are already suspecting that this will indeed signal the end to that line of comics.  I can see that happening, but if it does I am sure there will be some elements that carry over to the mainstream Marvel Universe.  The top of that list is Miles Morales, I just can't see that character going away no matter what happens to the Ultimate line.

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

The Tick Vs. Ambush Bug



These guys seem like they were made to appear together. Aside from the similarity in appearance, the stories that they star in are always chock full of commentary and humor regarding the state of the comics industry.  I can imagine that any tale that featured them side by side would just be a ton of fun.  Heck, call in Patrick Warburton and Henry Winkler to reprise the voices and animate the story!  Now that would be a blast!

Monday, August 5, 2013

Hawk & Dove and Cloak & Dagger



I think that these two pairs of street level crime fighters would be fun to toss in a story together.  Dove and Dagger seem to spend as much time battling alongside their partners as they do trying to keep them in check, and that would make for an interesting dynamic.  It would also be a cool looking issue - the costume designs on these teams are both very visually appealing, it's no wonder to me that they have remained relatively the same since the characters were introduced (even though one of the genders may have changed).


Sunday, August 4, 2013

Deadman and Mephisto



It's only fitting that I feature Boston Brand today since I just had a great time at the Boston Comic Con.  Getting in was crazy, I don't think they were expecting such a huge crowd and the line took almost two hours to filter through.  It wasn't that bad, all the cool costumes gave me and my brothers plenty to look at.  We had a blast once we got in, highlights for me were talking to a couple of my favorite pros, Phil Jiminez and Lee Weeks.  Just great guys.  I had some nice brief chats with Bill Willingham,  Colleen Doran, Mike Mignola, Aaron Lopestri, and Mark Bagley as well.

Saturday, August 3, 2013

The Hobbits and The Hulk



I was a Peter Jackson fan after seeing The Frighteners (a movie that convinced me that The Spectre could work in live action, watch it and you'll see what I mean), and I was very encouraged when I heard he was going to take on the Lord of the Rings Trilogy.  Still, I wasn't prepared for just how lavishly those great books would be recreated.  Sure, there are changes and omissions (I was hoping to see Tom Bombadil), but it was still amazing how much he captured onscreen.  I had my reservations about the much shorter The Hobbit being stretched into three films, but I have to admit to being thoroughly entertained by the first installment and am looking forward to the second. So here's a director who can film an ensemble cast in a film packed with battles, amazing abilities and special effects, all while staying true to the source material, and isn't afraid to stay with a franchise... I think a Justice League movie could be an interesting next move - DC/Warner Brothers, are you listening?

Friday, August 2, 2013

The Brown Hornet, Spaceman Spiff and Marvin the Martian



I was a big Fat Albert and The Cosby Kids fan growing up, I even remember having a Fat Albert lunch box for a while.  I loved Bill Cosby's stand up comedy records and it was cool for me to see his childhood in animated form.  Of course, I thought it was cool when they introduced the show-within-a-show The Brown Hornet, adding a superhero element to the program.  I always thought that he could have had a life beyond the series, but I never saw anything from him after it went away.

Thursday, August 1, 2013

The Flash and Iceman / Dr. Fate Vs. The Red Skull



Another two-fer today.  The Flash has gotten a lot of press lately, with reports of a potential movie on the horizon, not to mention an appearance on the WB's Arrow, that is said to be leading to a new Flash TV Show.  I'm not sure whether the television news means that the movie is no longer happening or not, but it would surprise me if Warner Brothers went ahead with two versions.  One good bit of news on the TV front is that the producers are promising a proper costume and they will actually call the character by his name, which is a departure for their superhero adaptations.  I still fondly remember the 90's series and hope that the new iteration does Barry Allen justice.

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Justice Society of America and The Avengers: In Memoriam




Nobody has ever been better at illustrating team comics than George Perez.  His ability to give each character distinct body and facial types is put to great effect, as is his talent at creating densely paneled pages and detailed backgrounds.  These skills allow each member of a large cast to shine and give the whole comic a more cinematic feel.  Could any other artist have pulled off Crisis on Infinite Earths nearly as well as he did, with its cast of hundreds? I think not!

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Spider-Man and Halo



As a fan  of Mike W.Barr and Jim Aparo's Batman and the Outsiders, I am glad to see Katana finally getting some increased exposure with her self-titled series, membership in the JLA, and appearances on the Beware the Batman CGI series.  Now it's time for DC to take another look at her teammate, Halo.  Here is a great character that they have all but ignored for decades.  She has it all, a unique look, power set and back story.  Best of all, she is a truly original creation, and not just a female version of  an already existing male hero.  It's beyond me why DC decides to keep her on the shelf and out of the comic pages.  If nothing else, she should show up in the pages of Katana, those two always had an interesting relationship.

Monday, July 29, 2013

Wonder Woman and Captain America in: "The Trouble With Trevor!"



I was pleasantly surprised to see that Steve Trevor would be playing an active role in the recently relaunched Justice League of America series.  He is one character that has really benefited from DC's new continuity, for decades it seemed like writers couldn't figure out what to do with him, more often than not he was just written out of the series entirely.  It looks like DC is building up the character before having he and Wonder Woman start up any kind of romantic relationship, which is probably the right approach.

Sunday, July 28, 2013

Super-Team Family: The Lost issues at Boston Comic Con!

It's one week until the Boston Comic Con and I will be attending on Saturday, August 3, along with a couple of my brothers.  It has been a few years since I have been to a con and decades since I have been to one in Boston, so I am really looking forward to it.  My brothers and I will be wearing some custom made Lost Issues T-Shirts, so if you see us, make sure you say hello, we'd love to meet some fellow comic fans!  My brother, Alan, will be showing off artwork from his autobiographical story Merlin the Phoenix.  He is a great artist and has quite a story to tell, so I can't wait for his work to find the audience it deserves!  There's a ton of cool guests showing  up and the weather should be great - it looks to be a fun time and I can't wait!

You can find all the details on the Guests, Location  and Tickets here, hope you can join me!

http://www.bostoncomiccon.com/

Here's Alan's graphic design website:

http://alanpearsall.com/

Aquaman and Iron Man



Iron Man's future on the big screen seems to be in good hands, with slated appearances in at least two more Avengers films.  There aren't any more solo films planned, but that probably isn't a bad thing, for now.  I'd rather have fewer appearances by the character rather than Iron Man be over saturated with a bored Robert Downey Jr. phoning in the role.

With a Batman/Superman film announced, it seems like DC is finally on the road to a Justice League movie - but will it include founding member Aquaman?  He seems like a harder character to introduce within a JLA movie, but would DC/Warner brothers really take a chance on a solo film that is bound to be very expensive to make, given the largely underwater locales?  I think the only way it could work is if they got a major star for the lead role and a top director behind the camera.  The Favreau/Downey Jr. combo took everyone by surprise with a previously B-list character and we need the same kind of collaboration with Aquaman.  It's a tall order, but I think it could be done well, and look unlike any superhero that audiences have seen before.

Saturday, July 27, 2013

The Watcher Watches The Watchmen




I originally put this cover together as kind of a goof because I liked how the names went together, but now that I think about it, there could be a fun story to be told.  The Watcher is no stranger to divergent timelines, so I can see him peeking into The Watchmen's world and wanting to see if events would have unfolded differently in another reality.  Sure, he's got a vow of non-interference, but when has that ever stopped Uatu?

Friday, July 26, 2013

Atari Force and The Micronauts



Comics based on toys usually held only marginal interest for me, but there were a couple of exceptions.  The Micronauts was based on some of my favorite toys of my youth, and featured the gorgeous art of Michael Golden.  The fact that Marvel had the characters firmly rooted in the Marvel universe, with plenty of guest appearances, made it even better.  I didn't really pay much attention to the video game tie-in aspect to Atari Force, it was the amazing artwork of Jose Luis Garcia Lopez that drew me in.  I'd love to see either of these teams return, but with tangled rights situations, I am not holding my breath.

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