The River of No Return

"The River of No Return" from Anthro #5 (DC, 1969) by Howie Post

You know what I miss? A good caveman comic on the stands. I'm not being facetious, I'm fascinated by this minor genre, probably because I grew up on French-language Rahan comics. Still don't believe me? Let it be known that I've run GURPS: Ice Age role-playing games. And they were COOL.

Anthro is the first Cro-Magnon boy born in the Stone Age, and maybe(?) the first comic book caveman hero. So he's smarter than his Neanderthal tribe and I guess he's expected to have lots of babies and found the human race. No pressure.

Into the Red

"Into the Red" from Animal Man vol.2 (DC, 2011) by Jeff Lemire and Travel Foreman

Though Jeff Lemire's comics cred is pretty high right now, one of the major draws of the New 52 Animal Man for me is Travel Foreman's crazy indy art. With Animal Man and other "DC Dark" books, DC has revived the Vertigo superhero genre the label itself has gotten away from and in the process created a place where things are fresher and more interesting than the company's more mainstream efforts. However, it still bears the New 52 stamp, which is to say art-driven stories with plenty of splashes, but a consequently slow pace. Modern comics keep building the case for trade-only releases this way, since the monthly has a lower and lower content for money ratio.

Animal Man Meets His Maker

"Animal Man Meets His Maker" from Animal Man vol.1 #25 (DC, 1990) by Grant Morrison, Chas Truog and Mark Farmer

I still follow Grant Morrison's work, but I doubt he'll charm me as much as he did in the late 80s and early 90s with Animal Man and Doom Patrol, favorites both. Animal Man was especially good, acting both as intellectual meta-text about the comics form AND a tender-hearted family drama. Morrison portrayed Buddy Baker's powers the best, finding strange animals for him to take abilities from without resorting to strange transformations (which the current series has fallen prey to). Mind-blowing AND touching, that's not an easy effect to achieve. And of course, after the Coyote Gospel, and breaking the fourth wall, and Crisis II, and Character Limbo, it all culminated into a historic meeting between Buddy and Grant, a stylish descendant of those 60s and 70s stories that would feature writers and editors in the DCU or Earth-Prime or whatever. Just brilliant.

The short Milligan run that followed had lots of quirky Morrison-esque characters, but took place somewhere outside canon. Tom Veitch and Steve Dillon played with totemic aspects of his powers and returned him to his job as a stuntman. Not too memorable I'm afraid. Then Jamie Delano and Steve Pugh came on and turned it into a Vertigo series, turning Buddy into a chimera and then a kind of Messiah. Jeff Lemire's new series (splashed tomorrow) seems to respect Morrison's run, but void everything that followed. Of course, the Maxine subplot seems pretty close to things Delano was doing, so history may repeat itself.

Anima vs. Superboy

"Anima vs. Superboy" from Anima #10 (DC, 1995) by Paul Witcover, Elizabeth Hand, Steve Crespo, Buzz and Brian Garvey

You know what doesn't attract me to a series? When the lead is brand new and spun out of a terrible crossover event. Anima was one of the characters born out of Bloodlines (how 90s is that!), an event running through DC's 1993 Annuals, in which ugly alien monsters went on a rampage, drinking people's spinal fluids. It meant death for most, but in each Annual, it activated the meta-gene and created a new hero (or sometimes villain) with a lame-ass origin. A couple got mini-series (Loose Cannon, Argus), a few others got series (Gunfire, Anima, Hitman). Only the latter of these had any measure of success. Most were forgettable and forgotten. Here's the complete list, see who you recognize: Anima, Argus, Ballistic, Cardinal Sin, Chimera, Edge, Geist, Gunfire, Hitman, Hook, Jamm, Joe Public, Krag, Layla, Lionheart, Loose Cannon, Loria, Mongrel, Myriad, Nightblade, Pax, Prism, Razorsharp, Shadowstryke, Slingshot, Sparx, and Terrorsmith. Sounds like DC's answer to all the X-Men Marvel added in the early 90s.

From what I hear, Anima was actually an interesting little series, exploring psychological themes through its heroine's strange powers (releasing the life-sucking Animus from her psyche). It lasted 16 months, and Anima has since appeared infrequently in the DCU until being cut in half in Faces of Evil: Prometheus.

I Love You All

"I Love You All" from Angel Love Special #1 (DC, 1987) by Barbara Slate and John WM. Lopez

I remember Angel Love being on the stands in the 80s, but there was no way I would ever pick up an issue of looked like DC's answer to Nancy. I was a teenage boy, after all. Now that I'm older and more open to all sorts of comics, I'm kinda curious, especially since the Special (which I found and complete the story started in the book's 8 monthly issues) has a Mature Readers label! Should I look actively for issues? Any fans of Angel Love out there?

Apes in Love

"Apes in Love" from Angel and the Ape vol.1 #1 (DC, 1968) by Joe Albano, Bob Oksner and Henry Scarpelli

One of the things that sold comics in the 60s was APES. There's just something about them. Or maybe this series was created as a response to the specific Ape-mania created by the Planet of the Apes movie, which also came out in 1968. However it came into E. Nelson Bridwell's head, Angel and the Ape is about a couple of private eyes, one a beautiful girl, the other a talking ape (which later series would have originate in Gorilla City). The humor book was re-titled Meet Angel with its seventh and final issue, showing CONCLUSIVELY that it couldn't be marketed without the Ape. It was followed by a mini in '91 that connected it to the Inferior 5 (Angel is Dumb Bunny's sister), and later by a Vertigo series by Howard Chaykin and Philip Bond, so beautiful art but a story I dread to check out.

Aristotle vs. Plato

"Aristotle vs. Plato" from Anarky vol.1 #2 (DC, 1997) by Alan Grant, Norm Breyfogle and Joe Rubinstein

Earlier this week, I reviewed both Anarky series on Siskoid's Blog of Geekery. I don't think I need to repeat myself. Interested parties should check it out.

Flying Mounts

"Flying Mounts" from Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld #11 (DC, 1984) by Dan Mishkin, Gary Cohn and Ernie Colon

Amethyst's 3 series (a 12-issue maxi + Annual, a 16-issue monthly + Special, and a 4-issue mini finale) are on my reading list for my other blog's "Old 52" article series, which I'll hopefully get to before the character makes her first New 52 appearance in Sword of Sorcery (which I just know I'm gonna call Sword AND Sorcery). When the series was around originally, I know I was trying to get into some kind of fantasy series published at DC, but neither Warlord, Arion, nor Arak really did it for me. The Princess of Gemworld? Never gave her a shot. That comic was for girls! Basically She-Ra with purple jewelry. Well, I'm not 13 anymore, so a shot she shall get! The Ernie Colon art alone gives me reason to read it.

The JSA Hearings

"The JSA Hearings" from America vs. the Justice Society #3 (DC, 1985) by Roy Thomas, Howard Bender and Alfredo Alcala

So where did the Justice Society go in the 50s? Roy Thomas uses an elaborate Batman diary hoax plot that puts the JSA on trial to reveal the missing chapters of their careers, acting as a love letter to these characters as the Crisis on Infinite Earths loomed. It's a great comfort to me that even though DC was preparing to reboot much of their multiverse at the time, they still played its 50th anniversary for nostalgia, celebrating the past as it designed its future. It's particularly striking when compared to the most recent reboot, where it often feels like DC Editorial is actively trying to bury its past in the deepest of graves. The prologues of the original Crisis, if you can call it that, were celebratory projects like this mini and others about the Golden Age version of the trinity, and Who's Who. The New52's prologue was the dark, character-destroying vision of Flashpoint.

Minor Problem on Earth-6

"Minor Problem on Earth-6" from Ambush Bug: Year None #1 (DC, 2008) by Keith Giffen, Robert Loren Fleming and Al Milgrom

In the more recent Ambush Bug mini, I missed Giffen's older art style, and must admit I preferred Buggy's relationship to Julius Schwartz to the one he now has with Dan DiDio. Year None seemed to have so much pent-up satire about the DCU that it became an exercise in taking the piss out of every crossover event of the 2000s. It seemed angry with the state of the DCU, going so far as maddeningly omitting issue 6 (of 7) from existence as a statement on book lateness and numbering shenanigans. Even so, it had some delightful call backs to DC's long history, such as the checkered banners and JLA transformation stories of the 60s (above).

The Marriage of Ambush Bug

"The Marriage of Ambush Bug" from Ambush Bug #4 (DC, 1985) by Keith Giffen, Robert Loren Fleming and Bob Oksner

I've done so many Ambush Bug splashes on this blog, it was actually difficult to pick one I hadn't already posted! I'm a huge Ambush Bug fan, and have gone out of my way to get his various appearances. In fact, the first comic I ever bought with my own money was DC Comics Presents #59, his second ever appearance (pit against Superman and the Legion of Substitute-Heroes), and it has a very special place in my heart. The original mini-series came off of a number of back-up strips in Action Comics in which the zany, fourth-wall-breaking, non sequitur comedy format was really developed. I even remember finding the first three issues in a 7-11 spinner rack in Texas, where I spent many a summer (the modern family, eh?). Given that I had a limited comics collection down south, I read and re-read those books QUITE often. It's amazing how much DC history I learned from all those silly references.

But on the matter of that splash: Which of those ladies would YOU want to see wed to Ambush Bug in the upcoming (that's a lie) Ambush Bug Wedding Album Special?

They Have Cyclops on Their Side

"They Have Cyclops on Their Side" from Amazons Attack! #1 (DC, 2007) by Will Pfeifer and Pete Woods

I never read Amazons Attack!, as I was just coming back to monthly comics after an extended stay and had been warned well away from it. It can likely be chalked up to the whole phenomenon of most writers/editors not knowing what to do with Wonder Woman as a character, and her world in general. Is it me, or does ANY story involving Amazons smell of commentary on the female gender as a whole? And could we then not infer some kind of sexual (or at least gender-based) frustration coming from DC's decision makers? (I can't blame the writer because this was certainly an editorially mandated assignment.) Am I reading too much into something I haven't actually read?

Hex and Arkham About Town

"Hex and Arkham About Town" from All Star Western vol.3 #3 (DC, 2011) by Justin Gray, Jimmy Palmiotti and Moritat

The new All Star Western sends Jonah Hex East to Gotham City and other urban environments, and gives him Dr. Arkham (founder of the Asylum) as a sidekick/narrator. Somehow, it works, and gives the Jonah Hex strip a totally different stamp than his all its previous incarnations, despite the writers having worked on the previous one. I think they just proved that you can refresh a series without rebooting him to origin.

I'm also glad to see Palmiotti and Gray mixing original western stars in the back-ups along with the already established ones. I hope to see the Barbary Ghost again, even if I do enjoy strips about Bat Lash or Cinnamon & Nighthawk.

Trigger Twins: Two to a Log

"Trigger Twins: Two to a Log" from All-Star Western vol.1 #100 (DC, 1958) by Robert Kanigher, Carmine Infantino and Joe Giella

From #58 on, All-Star Comics turned cowboy and was the home of such features as the Trigger Twins, Madame .44, Don Caballero, Roving Ranger, Strong Bow, Super-Chief, and Johnny Thunder (after he left All-American). It lasted 10 years. A second volume, not to be represented on this blog, lasted 11 bimonthly issues in the early 70s before becoming Weird Western Tales, and starred Pow-Wow Smith, El Diablo, Outlaw (Billy the Kid), and Bat Lash.

Falling to Bizarro World

"Falling to Bizarro World" from All-Star Superman #7 (DC, 2007) by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely

Do I need to sell anyone on All-Star Superman at this point? I've been known to say that it could/should have been Superman's new status quo after any type of reboot considered. Many disagreed because Superman was too god-like and abstract for monthly comics and/or to exist in the shared DC Universe. Maybe. Though now we'll see how Morrison brings his love of old comics to the Superman mythos AGAIN and, I imagine, in a different way. Morrison's Action Comics are heavily inspired by Superman's Golden Age stories, while All-Star was more Silver Age, but maybe Action will eventually take from every era. Looks like it may.

Continuity hounds will find that All-Star Superman has many links with DC One Million, which would seem to infer that One Million may be the future of Earth-All-Star rather than Earth-DC, or that the two universes have the same future. Or that the Superman Squad is multi-dimensional so may visit any continuity they wish. Morrison's take on continuity is that "it all happened", but the nuances of Hypertime escape me.

Roll Call

"Roll Call" from All-Star Squadron #31 (DC, 1984) by Roy Thomas, Rick Hoberg and Mike Machlan

Oh, All-Star Squadron, you were a heck of a lot like a classroom, but I loved the curriculum! The very wordy Roy Thomas used his 70 issues on the book to re-introduce old characters to a new generation, pay tribute to the stories of the Golden Age, and create links between the wide and varied history of DC Comics. And he didn't let you ignore all that grand continuity because he explained his process and his references in the letters page. Sadly, the book didn't survive the Crisis. Not really. After Earth-2 was merged with Earth-1, the series became a place to print extra issues of Secret Origins, and then was reimagined as Young All-Stars. The focus on new, young characters and uninspiring art isn't what made me lose interest. The move to Direct Sales-only, at a time before I had access to a comic book stores did.

Shanghaied into Space

"Shanghaied into Space" from All-Star Comics #13 (All-American, 1942) by Gardner Fox and Jack Burnley

All-Star Comics (specifically #3) is one of the most important comics in all of comics because it invented the probably inevitable concept of the superhero team. And yet, it didn't go all the way with it, and the original Justice Society of America remains an anomaly when it comes to teams. Each issue, team members would meet at their club house, but then would be called to action separately against a common threat. They were solo stars in their own strips, so that was their element. More importantly, it created the idea of a shared DC Universe, though obviously, its stars were not yet DC's until later issues. My choice of splash is informed by Roy Thomas' tribute to this story in several issues of All-Star Squadron, the series that made me fall in love with the Golden Age in the first place.

All-Star Comics ended with #57 (1951), became All-Star Western until #119 (1961), and then returned to All-Star Comics #58 in 1976 for two and a half years of Earth-2 action, during which time it introduced Power Girl and the Huntress, characters still very much with us today.

Yellow Robin vs. Green Lantern

"Yellow Robin vs. Green Lantern" from All Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder #9 (DC, 2008) by Frank Miller, Jim Lee and Scott Williams

Always up for some humor at Hal Jordan's expense. That's probably why it's the only issue I ever got of this much-derided series. A flip through any issue will show the same kind of obsession with the unmotivated splash page that typifies Jim Lee's Justice League. I know it sounds strange coming from a blog that celebrates the splash page, but Lee uses too many splashes per issue, with no real understanding of how splashes punctuate a story. He seems to design them based on how generic they are so they can be sold on the art market rather than how much impact the moment has in any given story. Of course, that's the least of All-Star Batman's problems. In the end, you have to decide for yourself if Frank Miller has gone completely mad, or if he's actively writing a parody of the comics his own seminal 80s work inspired. EXTREME!

All-Star ended with its 10th issue (one more than is collected) with the promise that it would conclude in a series called Dark Knight: Boy Wonder, which never came. Jim Lee got derailed by the New52 project, not that All-Star wasn't pretty sporadic already.

Ivy Town - Hellmouth of Weirdness

"Ivy Town - Hellmouth of Weirdness" from All-New Atom #6 (DC, 2007) by Gail Simone, Eddy Barrows and Trevor Scott

I really liked All-New Atom's brand of high weirdness under Gail Simone's pen, and was disappointed when Rick Remender's short run turned out to be so dull (I'm enjoying his Marvel work though). Of course that's nothing compared to how I felt when DC killed off Ryan Choi for no good reason. Because they sure did something with Ray Palmer after that, right? I mean for the year it took before Ryan would have inevitably gone the way of Stephanie Brown in the Flushpoint anyway. Or maybe the fans saved Ryan Choi after all. By showing outrage at his death during Brightest Day, we may have insured his survival. He's apparently set to join Johns and Lee's Justice League as the New52's Atom. It was also cool to see him co-star with Batman in the awesome Brave and the Bold cartoon.

Of course, Ryan Choi is only one element of All-New Atom I miss. The other is that weird and wacky Ivy Town.

The Golden Age Star Sapphire

"The Golden Age Star Sapphire" from All-Flash #32 (DC, 1948) by Robert Kanigher, Lee Ellias and Moe Worthman

In the Golden Age, the Flash was a headliner as important as Superman and Batman, appearing in Flash Comics along with other features AND in his own solo book, All-Flash. I'm a big fan of the Fastest Man Alive superhero concept, so I'm not surprised. However, I DO find it surprising the strip took like it did with rather primitive art of Everett E. Hibbard on the character from his third appearance on. I did manage to find a splash of historical interest, as it features the Golden Age version of Star Sapphire you didn't know existed! The art, much in the style of Hibbard, is by Lee Elias. The issue, All-Flash's last, also featured the introduction of the Fiddler.

Black Lightning Used to Be a Western Star

"Black Lightning Used to Be a Western Star" from All-American Western #103 (DC, 1948) by Robert Kanigher and Alex Toth

Picking up the numbering from All-American Comics after interest in superheroes evaporated in the late 40s, the book became the home of western stars like Johnny Thunder, before turning into All-American Men of War after 24 issues and for the remainder of its existence. It probably helps that Thunder was named after a JSA member, because All-American's other features aren't so well remembered - Overland Coach, Minstrel Maverick, and Foley of the Fighting 5th.

Cannon Rider!

"Cannon Rider!" from All-American Men of War #52 (DC, 1957) by Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert

I see a war comic anthology, I immediately think of Joe Kubert. And that's what I want to see. Every time. Even if that means not showcasing one of the book's more memorable features, like Johnny Cloud, Gunner and Sarge, or Balloon Buster (who WAS drawn by Kubert on one occasion, but alas, no splashes).

Green Lantern Gets Himself Into the Headlines

"Green Lantern Gets Himself Into the Headlines" from All-American Comics #22 (All-American, 1941) by Mart Dellon and Bill Finger

Be careful with that headline's punctuation! All-American Comics turned super-hero with #16 with the introduction of Green Lantern. Other characters that came out of All-American include the Atom, Ma Hunkel's Red Tornado, Doctor Mid-Nite and Sargon the Sorcerer. All-American Comics and all its characters would be bought up by DC Comics in 1946, which was a good move seeing how important the Green Lantern brand is to the company's success today.

Goodbye, Smallville

"Goodbye, Smallville" from Adventures of Superman #450 (DC, 1989) by Jerry Ordway and Dennis Janke

After the Crisis on Infinite Earths, Superman was rebooted to #1, but his historic first series continued as Adventures of Superman (as of #424). The title's early years were Jerry Ordway's, at first illustrating Marv Wolfman's and John Byrne's scripts, and then writing it himself. I doubt it was ever as good later. 20 years later, the book merged back with the Superman main series, returning to the title Superman with #650. Hope you enjoy the crying Superman splash I chose to represent the book and that particular era.

Rex the Matadog

"Rex the Matadog" from The Adventures of Rex the Wonder Dog #36 (DC, 1957) by Bob Haney, Gil Kane and Bernard Sachs

Olé! (Yeah, I should be put down for the above pun. I beg your forgiveness.) Rex the Wonder Dog was an awesome dog strip from the 50s (with Detective Chimp back-ups!) that lasted 46 issues, eventually dipping a little too deeply into science fiction, but originally based on adventures of doggie heroes like Rin Tin Tin and Lassie, except on a more global stage, constantly parachuting into dangerous situations around the world. I'm a cat person, but I'm all about Rex.

Batman Meets Jerry Lewis

"Batman Meets Jerry Lewis" from The Adventures of Jerry Lewis #97 (DC, 1966) by Arnold Drake and Bob Oksner

For its first 40 issues The Adventures of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, losing Dean meant Jerry could team up with others, like Batman, Superman, Flash and Wonder Woman. Just as in-continuity as Bob Hope, it seems.

Super-Hip!

"Super-Hip!" from The Adventures of Bob Hope #97 (DC, 1966) by Arnold Drake and Bob Oksner

When Super-Hip appeared in the last few issues of Keith Giffen's Doom Patrol last year, it made Bob Hope's comic book adventures canon. CANON! No wonder continuity had to be Flushpointed. GIIIIIIFFFENNNNNNN!!!! (If you want to know more about Super-Hip, check out this Time Capsule!)

Alan Ladd, Man's Man

"Alan Ladd, Man's Man" from The Adventures of Alan Ladd #1 (DC, 1949) by Joe Certa and Sy Barry

The stories featured film actor Alan Ladd in a variety of adventurous situations. I think they should re-invent this type of market crossover comic for the modern age. With Jason Statham. Or Jackie Chan. Or KISS. Or Adam West. Oh wait...

Blue and Gold in: Another Fine Mess

"Blue and Gold in: Another Fine Mess" from Adventures in the DC Universe #8 (DC, 1997) by Steve Vance, John Delaney and Ron Boyd

You didn't think I would skimp on the animated DCU comics, did you? They were some of DC's best output in the 90s!

Krypto Waits for No Man

"Krypto Waits for No Man" from Adventure Comics vol.2 #6 (DC, 2010) by Geoff Johns and Francis Manapul

Possibly the last Johns comic I thought was truly excellent?

Tiny Legionnaires

"Tiny Legionnaires" from Adventure Comics vol.1 #338 (DC, 1965) by Jerry Siegel and John Forte

Adventure has had so many classic features over its 50 years, it was hard to choose, but it's best known for having launched the Legion of Super-Heroes so it seemed most appropriate. Still, here's to everyone from the original Starman to Aquaman, the Spectre and Dial H for Hero, and even Black Orchid and Captain Fear! Did YOU have a favorite Adventure Comics feature?

Adam Strange Trips Out

"Adam Strange Trips Out" from Adam Strange vol.1 #1 (DC, 1990) by Richard Bruning, Andy Kubert and Adam Kubert

Really going after their father's style too. The series is sometimes subtitled The Man of Two Worlds. (I'll skip vol.2, because I've done it before, last year.)

Calling Nancy Reagan Out

"Calling Nancy Reagan Out" from Action Comics Weekly #610 (DC, 1988) by Mike Baron, Dan Jurgens and Tony DeZuniga

After Byrne's team-up approach to Action, DC briefly turned the book into a double-sized weekly anthology that mixed big stars like Green Lantern and Nightwing with former stars like Blackhawk and Phantom Lady, and lesser lights like Hero Hotline and Wild Dog. Superman kept a foothold in the book through a two-pager in the style of newspaper Sunday strips.

Krypton Dies... Again

"Krypton Dies... Again" from Action Comics vol.2 #5 (DC, 2012) by Grant Morrison, Andy Kubert and Jesse Delperdang

The new Action Comics re-invents a lot of the Superman mythos, but some things just never change.

Post-Crisis JLA vs. Apokolips

"Post-Crisis JLA vs. Apokolips" from Action Comics vol.1 #650 (DC, 1990) by Roger Stern and George Perez

Over the past year, we've seen two versions of the JLA fighting the forces of Apokolips, one on the new Earth-1, and the other on the new Earth-2, with very different results. I hadn't realized the old continuity ALSO featured this event, and it's even at a time when Superman didn't yet know he was from Krypton.

Bizarro's New Album

"Bizarro's New Album" from A.Bizarro #3 (DC, 1999) by Steve Gerber, M.D. Bright and Greg Adams

Don't know much about this one, but it's on my reading list for the Blog of Geekery's Reign of the Supermen. Steve Gerber though, so it's at least interesting.

Destination: Home Earth

"Destination: Home Earth" from 52 #52 (DC, 2007) by Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid, Keith Giffen, Mike McKone, Justiniano, Eddy Barrows, Chris Batista, Pat Olliffe, Darick Robertson, Andy Lanning, Walden Wong, Rodney Ramos, Drew Geraci, Darick Robertson

Somebody in there was responsible for the 2-pager, at any rate. 52 was the book that made weekly comics both cool and marketable, something DC was never able to recapture. Sadly, they took so long to build on the return of the multiverse, we had to suffer through various other events before things settled down to the "New 52".

The Cave of the Talking Heads

"The Cave of the Talking Heads" from 1st Issue Special #5 (DC, 1975) by Jack Kirby and D. Bruce Berry

I had an idea that I could fiddle with Daily Splash Page's format and give it more focus, so let's call the next couple weeks an experiment... My challenge is to showcase one splash for every DC Comics series in alphabetical order (if I can find them, and if they exist, of course). To keep it under control (and so I don't spend a year on Batman alone), I'll likely skip mini-series and one-shots that start with a character's name followed by a colon, you know like "Batman: Haunted Gotham", but historical importance may trump that. Either way, it's a good opportunity to talk about the series themselves.

So that's how we get to 1st Issue Special. A series devoted to series try-outs, only Mike Grell's Warlord and the Return of the New Gods actually went to series. The rejects were Atlas, Green Team, Metamorpho, Lady Cop (a favorite), Manhunter (above), Dingbats of Danger Street, Creeper, Doctor Fate, Outsiders (not the ones that teamed up with Batman eventually), Codename: Assassin, and Starman (the alien), despite the considerable talents of Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, Walt Simonson, Joe Simon, Haney, Kanigher, and others.

Thor vs. the Midgard Serpent (14 of 22)

"Thor vs. the Midgard Serpent (14 of 22)" from Thor #380 (Marvel, 1987) by Walt Simonson and Sal Buscema

Thor vs. the Midgard Serpent (13 of 22)

"Thor vs. the Midgard Serpent (13 of 22)" from Thor #380 (Marvel, 1987) by Walt Simonson and Sal Buscema

Thor vs. the Midgard Serpent (12 of 22)

"Thor vs. the Midgard Serpent (12 of 22)" from Thor #380 (Marvel, 1987) by Walt Simonson and Sal Buscema

The 7 Super-Deadly Sins

"The 7 Super-Deadly Sins" from JLA/JSA: Virtue and Vice GN (DC, 2002) by David S. Goyer, Geoff Johns, Carlos Pacheco and Jesus Merino

It's Sunday! Repent!

Catwoman vs. Batman - Sorry About That

"Catwoman vs. Batman - Sorry About That" from Catwoman: When in Rome #1 (DC, 2004) by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale

FF Safari

"FF Safari" from FF #19 (Marvel, 2012) by Jonathan Hickman and Gabriel Hernandez Walta

I'm on vacation!

An Amethyst and her Dog

"An Amethyst and her Dog" from Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld #3 (DC, 1983) by Dan Mishkin, Gary Cohn and Ernie Colon

She's getting animated and will be the lead in a DC comic soon, so I thought I'd go back in time for this one.

Today? Who else but Captain America?

"Today? Who else but Captain America?" from Captain America vol.3 #213 (Marvel, 1977) by Jack Kirby and Dan Green

Happy 4th, Yanks!

Welcome to Sextillion

"Welcome to Sextillion" from Saga #4 (Image, 2012) by Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples

Planes vs. Ships

"Planes vs. Ships" from Our Fighting Forces #156 (DC, 1975) by Jack Kirby and Mike Royer

Happy Canada Day!

"Happy Canada Day!" from Alpha Flight vol.1 #17 (Marvel, 1984) by John Byrne