Friday, September 9, 2011

Superman guides us through the New 52 - O.M.A.C.


You know what doesn't make me mad?

Another installment of Superman guiding us through the New 52, that's what!

And since we just happen to have a picture of Superman duking it out with OMAC up top, we might as well talk about O.M.A.C. #1 by Dan DiDio and Keith Giffen.

When I first heard they were bringing this title back, my first thought was "Really? With DiDio writing?" Then I saw that Keith Giffen was on pencils and plots and all is right with the world. After reading this issue, I'm glad to say that not only is everything right with the world, it's even better!

This issue scratched the Kirby itch in a big way, that not even Morrison was able to do during his Final Crisis saga. It's an unapologetic homage to the mad-cap craziness that was Kirby at DC during the early 70's. The fact that they were able to work a "Build-A-Friend" into the first issue was just the icing on the cake. For those of you unaware, that's one of those flying bathtub ladies from the cover of the original OMAC #1.

As much fun as the story was, it wouldn't have been half as entertaining without the fantastic pencils of Keith Giffen. I've been a fan of his style for a long time, but I haven't had this much fun with the energy and dynamism (is that a word?) of his stuff since his early Defenders.


All in all, if DC can manage to make the rest of their fringe and bottom-tier titles half as entertaining as this one, they just might be on to something with this whole reboot thing.

Script by Len Wein
Pencils by George Perez
Inks by Pablo Marcos
Colors by Gene D'Angelo
Letters by John Costanza

DC Comics Presents #61
The Once And Future War!
September 1983
Copyright (c) DC Comics

and

Story by Dan DiDio and Keith Giffen
Pencils by Keith Giffen
Inks by Scott Koblish
Colors by Hi-Fi
Letters by Travis Lanham

O.M.A.C. (Vol. 2) #1
Office Management Amidst Chaos
November 2011
Copyright (c) DC Comics

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Superman guides us through the New 52 - Action Comics


I've often wondered what it must have been like to pick up a copy of Action Comics #1 off the newsstand and read it back in the day.

After today, I have just the slightest glimmer of that experience.

Grant Morrison and Rags Morales' reboot of Superman was everything that I hoped it would be. It was wonderfully golden age in its themes and visuals, yet decidedly modern age in its storytelling and execution.

This was a Superman unencumbered by years of pre-existing stories, freeing him up to do what Superman was originally intended to do...fight for the people who couldn't fight for themselves, or were powerless before the rich and corrupt. That's not to say that the planet and universe didn't need saving many times over in the intervening decades, but by taking Superman back to the roots of his roots, we're getting our freshest take since All-Star Superman.

And while Morrison is sure to receive the lion's share of credit for this issue, you'd be foolish to overlook the contribution of Rags Morales, Rick Bryant, and Brad Anderson. Together, the three of them have put together one of the most fluid comic books I've read in some time. Each page flowed into the next one, never leaving me with any question about what was going on. Damn, if this wasn't one fine looking book.

Both of the central creators have had the occasion where the "confusing" Morrison or "rushed" Morales has shown up, thankfully this was not one of those times. If the New 52 had done nothing other than give us this Superman, you'd be hard pressed to call it anything other than a smashing success.

And my favorite part?


That right there is a Superman I want to read for the next few decades.

Script by Jerry Siegel
Artwork by Joe Shuster

Action Comics #1
Superman, Champion Of The Oppressed!
June 1938
Copyright (c) DC Comics

and

Script by Grant Morrison
Pencils by Rags Morales
Inks by Rick Bryant
Colors by Brad Anderson
Letters by Patrick Brosseau

Action Comics (Volume 2) #1
Superman Versus The City Of Tomorrow
November 2011
Copyright (c) DC Comics

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

The new guy


"Yeah, sorry about that Batman. I'd totally be down with teaming up, but Powerman doesn't think it's the right move for me at this point in my career. You understand, right?"

And sorry from me about the recent spate of posts on autopilot. It's been an exceptionally busy period for my secret identity, and I didn't get as far ahead as I usually like to be after the summer.

In fact, this whole month is going to be a little touch and go as things don't appear to be lightening up, so I'm thinking about messing with the format for the month of September to amp up the excitement and danger level. We'll see if I can keep the daily posts going, while flying by the seat of my pants.

So join us tomorrow as the pre-crisis, post-crisis, golden age, and silver age version of Superman takes us on a whirlwind tour of the new DCU.

Script by Edmond Hamilton
Pencils by Dick Sprang
Inks by Stan Kaye

World's Finest Comics #94
The Origin Of The Superman-Batman Team!
May/June 1958
Copyright (c) DC Comics

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

The Many Lives of Superman #14

The Many Lives of Superman

Green Lantern!


Script by Paul Levitz
Pencils by Curt Swan
Inks by Francisco Chiaramonte
Colors by Jery Serpe
Letters by Ben Oda

DC Comics Presents #6
The Fantastic Fall of Green Lantern!
February 1979
Copyright (c) DC Comics

Monday, September 5, 2011

The Many Lives of Superman #13

The Many Lives of Superman

The Flash!

Script by Cary Bates
Pencils by Curt Swan
Inks by Bob Oksner

Action Comics #441
Weather War Over Metropolis!
November 1974
Copyright (c) DC Comics

Sunday, September 4, 2011

The Many Lives of Superman #12

The Many Lives of Superman

Magician!
a.k.a. The Great Kento

Script by Leo Dorfman
Pencils by Curt Swan
Inks by George Roussos

Action Comics #382
Clark Kent, Magician
November 1969
Copyright (c) DC Comics

Saturday, September 3, 2011

The Many Lives of Superman #11

The Many Lives of Superman


Paratrooper!


Script by Robert Kanigher
Pencils by Ross Andru
Inks by Mike Esposito

Superman #216
The Soldier Of Steel!
May 1969
Copyright (c) DC Comics

Friday, September 2, 2011

One last time...

We celebrated the new beginning yesterday, but there was one more panel that deserves a shout out from this week's books, and that's the last in-continuity appearance of the old Superman.


Yep, there goes the Post-Crisis/Pre-Flashpoint Superman, dissolving into the speed force.

Rest easy big guy, as you definitely earned it.

I'll be seeing you in the longboxes as always. In the meantime, however, let's see what this new upstart can do.

Script by Geoff Johns
Pencils by Andy Kubert
Inks by Sandra Hope & Jesse Delperdang
Colors by Alex Sinclair
Letters by Nick J. Napolitano

Flashpoint #5
Flashpoint Part Five Of Five
October 2011
Copyright (c) DC Comics

Thursday, September 1, 2011

New Superman - Day One



And so it begins...again.

Script by Geoff Johns
Pencils by Jim Lee
Inks by Scott Williams
Colors by Alex Sinclair
Letters by Patrick Brosseau

Justice League #1
Justice League Part One
October 2011
Copyright (c) DC Comics

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

The New Superman!



What was true 41 years ago, is true again today.

(And give DC another 41 (or hell, even 25) years, and it'll be true again)

In house DC ad

Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #105
October 1970
(c) DC Comics

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Who watches the superwatchman



What possible reason could there be that Superman just happens to have punch-card profiles of every eligible bachelor in Metropolis? After all, it's not like he even has any formidable female rogues, where a precaution like this would actually make sense.

Who watches the watchmen, indeed!

Script by Cary Bates
Pencils by John Rosenberger
Inks by Vince Colletta

Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #132
The Second Superman!
July 1973
Copyright (c) DC Comics

Monday, August 29, 2011

Carnival rides were so much cooler back in the day

So if you delve a little further into Action Comics #282, you can see exactly what Superman was up to with the frozen dinosaur from yesterday's post.


What better way to teach kids about their natural history, than to have them memorize the names of dinosaurs while riding those actual dinosaurs! Just like the cavemen used to!

Although, let's keep this panel between you and me. We don't need the Discovery Institute getting wind of this one, and adding another "scientific fact" to their young earth creationist agenda.

Script by Bill Finger
Artwork by Al Plastino

Action Comics #282
Superman's Toughest Day!
November 1961
Copyright (c) DC Comics

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Sunday versus #23

Superman vs. Frozen Brontosaurus


Hmmm...I wonder why Superman would be messing with frozen dinosaurs?

Script by Bill Finger
Artwork by Al Plastino

Action Comics #282
Superman's Toughest Day!
November 1961
Copyright (c) DC Comics

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Awesome Grummett Cover!

There is nowhere near enough comic book covers colored with crayons, which makes this Adventures Of Superman issue worthy of being spotlighted for today's awesome cover post!


This is a great piece by Tom Grummett that does a very good job of capturing the spirit of a kid's drawing. In fact, the only thing that gives it away is the S-Shield. No kid is ever going to get the shield that precise. Hell, I turned 41 the other day and I still can't draw it!

Artwork by Tom Grummett

The Adventures Of Superman #558
June 1998
Copyright (c) DC Comics

Friday, August 26, 2011

Creepy Mxyzptlk Watch


What's with all of the voyeurism around here lately?

Let's give the lovebirds a little space. After all, they only have little less than a week left together.

Script by Martin Pasko
Pencils by Curt Swan
Inks by Frank Chiaramonte
Colors by Adrienne Roy
Letters by Ben Oda

Superman #349
The Turnabout Trap!
July 1980
Copyright (c) DC Comics

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Creepy Watch

It's creepy enough that Vandal Savage is peeping through the curtains at Superman and Lois' intimate moment...but then to have Luthor and Jimmy spying on Vandal and commenting on his emotional needs just amps up the creepiness.


Script by Marv Wolfman
Pencils by Curt Swan
Inks by Frank Chiaramonte
Colors by Gene D'Angelo
Letters by Ben Oda

Action Comics #516
Time And Time Again!
February 1981
Copyright (c) DC Comics

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

The lengths we go to to protect our secret identities

One of the staples that I love about reading Silver and Bronze Age comic books are the overcomplicated solutions or convoluted ruses that our heroes have to go through in order to not let anyone catch on to their secret identities. As soon as I think I've read it all, I find one even more ludicrous than that last.

Which leads me to today's post. Now, normally I like to keep things to just one panel per day, but occasionally exceptions must be made and today is one of those exceptions.

To set the stage, Clark Kent is filming a commercial for a watch company who has somehow managed to get Superman to take part as well. How are Clark and Superman both going to appear in the commercial with the secret identity still in effect?

Watch, and be amazed.


After throwing the watch in the air, Clark does a relatively standard move by doing the quick change at super speed. But that still leaves a Clark-less presence in front of the camera.

Now worries, as Superman has a plan...


He peels off a life size promotional cardboard cutout from the side of the news van, and turns it around to expose the 3-D picture he previously planted on the back side!


Before anyone is the wiser, he plants the 3-D cutout in Clark's place. So how is this going to fool anyone?

Well the 3-D side of the cutout has two offsetting images that will appear three dimensional to anyone wearing 3-D glasses.


Now all we have to hope for is that everyone on site remembered to wear their 3-D glasses today.

Or...you could take the initiative and outfit everyone's glasses with 3-D lenses ahead of time!


After that, it's just a simple matter of catching the watch you previously tossed into the air as Superman while your fancy cardboard cutout fools all of the people filming the commercial!


God I love these books.

Script by Cary Bates
Pencils by Curt Swan
Inks by Bob Oksner

Superman #291
The Time-Powered Peril!
September 1975
Copyright (c) DC Comics

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Birthday posting

Just a quick post today, as it's your humble bloggers birthday. I'm sure there's some birthday tradition involving presents and cakes and whatnot that the wife and kid have cooked up, so let's get this post taken care of so I can relax and enjoy it.

Which reminds me, didn't Superman have a birthday party once?


Good thing I have a firm "NO BLACK MERCY" rule for all my get-togethers.

Script by Alan Moore
Artwork by Dave Gibbons
Colors by Tom Ziuko
Letters by Dave Gibbons

Superman Annual #11
For The Man Who Has Everything...
1985
Copyright (c) DC Comics

Monday, August 22, 2011

Carefree Justice of the Golden Age


Script by Jerry Siegel
Pencils by Joe Shuster

Action Comics #12
May 1939
Copyright (c) DC Comics

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Sunday versus #22

Clark Kent and Lois Lane vs. Pterodactyl


So that's two weeks in a row with a shot of Clark and Lois being torn from a plane by a Pterodactyl.

I'm sensing a sub-theme within a theme. The challenge is on for next week to find a third.

Script by Jerry Siegel
Pencils by Joe Shuster
Inks by Paul Cassidy

Superman #4
Luthor's Undersea City
Spring 1940
Copyright (c) DC Comics

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Awesome Bullock Pin-Up!

I know that technically we ended our Lois Lane theme week yesterday, but after seeing her go through so many trials and tribulations, I thought it might be nice to highlight a different side of Lois with today's pin-up.

Thankfully, Dave Bullock has this great shot floating around the internet for us to cleanse our palet with.


Damn, if that isn't just about perfect.

I still think it's a crying shame that we didn't end up with a Lois Lane solo title in the new 52. I'm sure Batman wouldn't have minded sacrificing one of his eleven titles, right?

Be sure to visit Dave and see more of his exceptional work over here and here.

Artwork by Dave Bullock

Friday, August 19, 2011

The >sob< Lois Lane >gasp< Emotional Trainwreck >choke< Week #5


Don't worry Lois, just drink the serum like a good girl. It's only an imaginary story, so you'll either live happily ever after with Superman...or die on the last panel in some tragic fashion.

And since it's the last day of our theme week, let's live a little and break the one panel format with Superman getting a little melo-drama of his own!

WARNING...Spoiler filled bonus panel...WARNING


Yep, she died.

Artwork by Kurt Schaffenberger

Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #51
The Three Wives Of Superman! Part 1
The Terrible Secret of Mrs. Lois Superman!

August 1964
Copyright (c) DC Comics

Thursday, August 18, 2011

The >sob< Lois Lane >gasp< Emotional Trainwreck >choke< Week #4

So yeah, Lois was quite the emotional roller coaster during the Silver Age, but not always.

Every once in a while you got a gem of a story like The Satanic Schemes of S.K.U.L.! that showed her using all of her investigative skills to go undercover into a satanic cult that was hell-bent on killing Superman.

Nary a >choke<, >sob<, >gulp<, or >gasp< is to be found...except for the title page.


Lois is a team player. She knew that you had to lay the melodrama on a little think every now and again to help sell the story, even if you had things well in had.

Script by Leo Dorfman
Pencils by Kurt Schaffenberger
Inks by Kurt Schaffenberger

Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #63
The Satanic Schemes Of S.K.U.L.!
February 1966
Copyright (c) DC Comics

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

The >sob< Lois Lane >gasp< Emotional Trainwreck >choke< Week #3


Don't fret too much Lois...you and Superman are fated to always end up together, no matter what editorial mandate pulls you apart every couple of decades or so.

Script by Robert Bernstein
Pencils by Kurt Schaffenberger
Inks by Kurt Schaffenberger

Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #19
The Day Lois Lane Forgot Superman!
August 1960
Copyright (c) DC Comics

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

The >sob< Lois Lane >gasp< Emotional Trainwreck >choke< Week #2

Poor Lois...so distraught is she about the machinations of that scheming female, that she's crying in her sleep and in her dreams!


Script by Jerry Siegel
Pencils by Kurt Schaffenberger
Inks by Kurt Schaffenberger

Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #56
Lois Lane's Super Gamble
April 1965
Copyright (c) DC Comics

Monday, August 15, 2011

The >sob< Lois Lane >gasp< Emotional Trainwreck >choke< Week #1

So I recently came into a whole stack of mid-60's Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane comic books. I've never really read much of her (or Jimmy Olsen's) solo adventures before, and this was a real eye opener working my way through them.

First, these issues gave me a new appreciation for Kurt Schaffenberger! He's got such a crisp line, and smooth style that makes the books gorgeous to look at and fun to read. I'm now even more excited to fill out the rest of the collection.

The second thing I noticed is what an emotional wreck Lois Lane is for most of these. We've been spoiled with the dogged journalist interpretation for years, but take a trip back to the sixties and it wasn't always like that. You can't let three panels go by, without here breaking down over something.

All of which leads to this month's theme week, as we take a tour through the emotional ups and downs of Lois Lane.


Poor Lois!

But as you can see, not all the ladies were basket cases, as Joan Superman takes the opportunity to realize that bald dudes are hot!

Pencils by Kurt Schaffenberger
Inks by Kurt Schaffenberger

Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #46
Lois Lane's Outlaw Son!
January 1964
Copyright (c) DC Comics

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Sunday versus #21

Clark Kent and Lois Lane vs. Pterodactyl


Twenty-one matches strong, and Clark makes his first appearance. He better hope that Lois plays to form and feints, or his secret identity is so exposed.

Script by Robert Bernstein
Pencils by Kurt Schaffenberger
Inks by Kurt Schaffenberger

Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #9
Lois Lane's Stone-Age Suitor!
May 1959
Copyright (c) DC Comics

Saturday, August 13, 2011

The Many Lives of Superman #10

The Many Lives of Superman


Early American Colonist!


Script by Cary Bates
Pencils by Curt Swan
Inks by Tex Blaisdell

Action Comics #463
Die Now, Live Later!
September 1976
Copyright (c) DC Comics

Friday, August 12, 2011

Perseids

Tonight marks the start of the annual display of the Perseid Meteor Shower. Those of us in the northern hemisphere should expect to see about 60 or so an hour come racing across the sky over the next two nights.

That's if there wasn't a full moon brightening up the night sky, meaning there's not going to be too much to see.

Or maybe it's Superman's fault, up in the stratosphere busting 'em all to smithereens?


Script by Louise Simonson
Pencils by Scot Eaton
Inks by Denis Rodier & Jimmy Palmiotti
Colors by Glenn Whitmore
Letters by Albert T. DeGuzman

Superman: Save The Planet #1
Save The Planet!
October 1998
Copyright (c) DC Comics

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Good sportsmanship

It's great to see that even in the 30th century, gentlemanly conduct and good sportsmanship are still thriving, even in the rough and tumble world of gladiatorial combat!


Script by Edmond Hamilton
Pencils by John Forte
Inks by Sheldon Moldoff
Letters by Vivian Berg

Adventure Comics #339
The Menace Of Beast Boy
December 1965
Copyright (c) DC Comics

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Characters Continuity Forgot #6

The Tempter!



Making a grand total of one appearance in print, the Tempter didn't do a very good job tempting the readers into demanding more appearances.

A veritable blank slate of a character, he spends this issue whispering diabolical sweet nothings into the ear of Superman, tempting him to react to his baser instincts. He's good, and soon has Superman convinced he must destroy Midway City!

The plots a tad more convoluted than that, throwing Kandorian scientists and the Hawks into the mix, only to have true love surface to save the day. But honestly, if the creators of the character can't be bothered to give a little more backstory for the Tempter than I've probably already spent too much time examining him anyways.

So until some enterprising, young Grant Morrison wannabe upstart pulls him from obscurity for a starring role in the current DCU, he remains a character continuity forgot.

Script by Mike Friedrich
Pencils by Dick Dillin
Inks by Joe Giella

World's Finest Comics #209
Meet The Tempter--And Die!
February 1972
Copyright (c) DC Comics

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

A Superman history lesson

On this day in the year 1173 AD, the foundations were laid for the tower that would eventually become known as the Leaning Tower of Pisa.



Christopher Reeve as Superman

Superman III
1983
Copyright (c) Warner Home Video

Monday, August 8, 2011

The dangers of thumbing through a random Silver Age comic book...

...usually means that you inevitably stumble across an out of context panel that makes you scared (yet oddly titillated) to turn the page.


Yes, that's Lois standing near naked with a beard, sneaking a peek at someone else's diary.

I think it's best in this case to close the book before I find out what's really going on, as there is no way it could better than what I'm imagining.

Although who am I kidding...it's the Silver Age, of course it's better than what I could dream up.

Script by Otto Binder
Pencils by Kurt Schaffenberger
Inks by Kurt Schaffenberger

Superman'S Girl Friend, Lois Lane #58
Lois Lane, Spy Hunter
July 1965
Copyright (c) DC Comics

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Sunday versus #20

Superman vs. Space Dinosaur


Dinosaurs...from...spaceeeeeeeeeeee...

Script by Gerry Conway
Pencils by Curt Swan
Inks by Frank Chiaramonte
Colors by Gene D'Angelo
Letters by Ben Oda

Action Comics #519
Where The Space-Winds Blow!
May 1981
Copyright (c) DC Comics

Saturday, August 6, 2011

Awesome Dodson Cover!

It's been quite a while now, since we've seen the pencils of Terry Dodson grace the pages of a DC comic. With that in mind, it might be nice to revisit one of the rare times that he did some Superman work for today's awesome cover feature.

To find one, we have to go outside the Superman line of titles and drift over into the batworld, as aside from one fill-in issue of The Adventures of Superman, Terry Dodson never really did much Superman work.

What he did do, however, was a nice extended run on the under-appreciated Harley Quinn title from the early 2000's, and that's where we get today's cover from.


Great stuff!

Pencils by Terry Dodson
Inks by Rachel Dodson
Colors by Alex Sinclair

Harley Quinn #19
Going Out With A Bang!
June 2002
Copyright (c) DC Comics

Friday, August 5, 2011

Adventures in political correctness

So I guess beauty pageants in the mid-60's were essentially the same as they are now, except the judges were a bit less politically correct.


And is that a butter face reference? In 1964? "GUHHH" indeed.

Good thing Lois is undercover as the plain jane, ready to bring this whole shady operation down!

Pencils by John Forte
Inks by George Klein

Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #49
Lois Lane, Beauty Queen!
May 1964
Copyright (c) DC Comics

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Superhero fashion faux-pas


What could it possibly be?

And why are you wearing the Trickster's clothes?

Script by Cary Bates
Pencils by Curt Swan
Inks by Murphy Anderson

Action Comics #410
The Satanic Son Of Superman
March 1972
Copyright (c) DC Comics

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Greatest face mask ever!

Hmmmm...let's see...

You've escaped imprisonment in a Soviet Socialist Republic prison camp after giving yourself super powers by using a blend of three ancient Kryptonian hyper-explosives that crash landed on Earth after being banned and sent into the vastness of space.

So did the Kryptonian's fire off any rockets that didn't eventually crash on Earth?

Anyways, you're now set up with a new life in America and it's time to make Superman pay for never having rescued you from your slave labor, only there is one problem...you have a killer Iron Curtain mustache that you're unwilling to shave off and will no doubt give away your identity.

What to do?

Design the world's greatest face mask, that's what!


Script by Leo Dorfman
Pencils by Wayne Boring
Inks by Wayne Boring

Action Comics #357
The Kryptonite Rumble!
December 1967
Copyright (c) DC Comics

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Unnecessary adventures in randomness

Anybody who's read my other blog knows that I'm a fan of some good, old fashioned random shenanigans, but even to me this seems like a frivolous (if not outright dangerous) way to pick a leader.


Script by Edmond Hamilton
Pencils by John Forte
Inks by John Forte

Adventure Comics #319
The Legion's Suicide Squad!
April 1964
Copyright (c) DC Comics

Monday, August 1, 2011

Famous' Firsts - George Perez

As promised at the beginning of last month, we'll be spending the next couple of our Famous' Firsts posts looking at the first time each of the creators involved in the DC New 52 initiative first got their pencil or typewriter involved with the Man of Steel.

Today's entry features the mighty talent of George Perez!

Now this will actually be the second time that George Perez has made a high-profile entry into the Superman line, with the first being the helming of Action Comics when it returned to a monthly after its stint as Action Comics Weekly. For whatever reason, his time on the title never panned out, and he left the title with the potential for a great run never realized. Here's hoping the second time doesn't set a pattern.

That wasn't however, the first time George Perez got the chance to draw Superman. For that, we have to go back another eight years or so to some of Perez' earliest DC work in the pages of Justice League of America #185.


In looking at that panel, you can definitely see the beginning of the George Perez style. The funny thing is, however, is that I see it in the rubble and background more than with Superman himself!

George Perez is definitely famous for his massive crowd shots and dense illustration, but hands down, he's the best rubble illustrator in the business...and he's got three decades of work to prove it.

Script by Gerry Conway
Pencils by George Perez
Inks by Frank McLaughin
Colors by Gene D'Angelo
Letters by Todd Klein

Justice League of America #185
Crisis On Apokolips or Darkseid Rising!
December 1980
Copyright (c) DC Comics

Sunday, July 31, 2011

Sunday versus #19

Superman vs. Plesiosaur


So this is the third Plesiosaurus we've featured in the Sunday versus posts so far, and Aquaman has failed to show up in any of them.

Slacker.

Script by E. Nelson Bridwell
Pencils by Kurt Schaffenberger
Inks by Kurt Schaffenberger

Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #72
Lois Lane's Aquaman Tricks!
February 1967
Copyright (c) DC Comics

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Awesome Risso Pin-Up!

One of the highlights of the recent spate of Flashpoint mini-series has been Flashpoint: Knight of Vengeance, with Azzarello and Risso's return to the world of Batman (sort of).

Azzarello made his mark on Superman already, with the twelve-part For Tomorrow storyline that brought Jim Lee to the pages of Superman along with him. Risso, on the other hand, has not done a whole lot that I'm aware of.

There was his awesome variant cover for Superman #700, that was in itself an homage to the great Neal Adams cover for #233, but the only other thing that I can find is a pin-up from The Adventures of Superman #600.


Like a lot of Risso's work, it's very atmospheric and moody, which is not a side of Superman you see every day. I'm not sure I'd like to see Risso as a regular Superman artist by any means, but it sure would be a treat to see him give it a go for a one-shot or mini-series, if the tone was right.

Artwork by Eduardo Risso
Colors by Moose Baumann

The Adventures of Superman #600
March 2002
Copyright (c) DC Comics