Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Last Comic Picks of 2017

Well, a week from today and it will be a new year.  
So with that in mind, here are my last picks for 2017.  
Just click the link and enjoy!


Now, enjoy this week's Cover.

Comic Cover of the Week


Nightwing: the New Order #5

DC Comics

Cover Art by Trevor McCarthy

Saturday, December 23, 2017

Cosplay of the Day


Christmas Canary
by
Kitty Honey

Classic Cover of the Day - Showcase Saturday Edition


Classic Cover of the Day

Superman #305

DC Comics

Saturday Showcase: the Toyman

(Toyman by Alex Ross)

    Since Christmas is only 2 days away, I figured I should do a Saturday Showcase that sorta relates to the holiday.  So, I started thinking that the materialistic world of Christmas is all about the toys so why not discuss the Toyman?  So let's begin our discussion. 

    The Toyman has been a favorite villain of mine since seeing him as a member of the Legion of Doom on the popular Challenge of the Superfriends cartoon.  I always thought he was one of  Flash's rogues until I did some "research" and realized he was originally a villain for Superman.


(Action Comics #64, September 1943)

       The Toyman has gone by many names in his life in the comics.  The original Toyman was Winslow Schott created by Don Cameron and Ed Dobrotka.  Then their was Jack Nimball, who I was first introduced to, created by Cary Bates and Curt Swan.  Later, the Toyman name would be used by Hiro Okamura created by Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuiness.  Even though Winslow is the most published and popular, I still like the style of Jack Nimball the best.


(Toyman aka Jack Nimball)

   What made Toyman so dangerous was his toys of course.  Without them some would consider him to be a pitiful excuse for a human.  In fact if you look on Wikipedia under abilities, it states mechanical genius manifested through destructive toys.  

    His team affiliations is an impressive list as well.  Besides the Legion of Doom, the Toyman has been affiliated with the Superman Revenge Squad, the Super Foes, the Society, and the Injustice League.  He may seem to be a team player with a list like that, but he is most dangerous when he is alone.


(Toyman, Jack Nimble, takes care of some security guards during a heist.)

    Sure, the Toyman character has had success in comics, cartoons, and as of recently toys, but I feel there is more there.  I know he was used in Smallville, but I feel the Toyman needs to cause havoc on the DC shows that are out there ruling the airwaves.  I would love to see a crossover event where Arrow, Supergirl, and the Flash have to team-up to stop him, hopefully Jack Nimble.  However you see it or say it, the world needs more TOYMAN.

    Until next time Merry Christmas, Happy Holiday, and get your READ on!

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Comic Picks of the Week

To see what I am reading this week, click here.

Cover of the Week


Punisher #219

MARVEL

Cover Art by Clayton Crain

Until next time, get your READ on!

May the FORCE be with you!

Saturday, December 9, 2017

Classic Cover of the Day - Saturday Showcase Edition


Classic Cover of the Day

Doctor Strange #28

MARVEL

Saturday Showcase: the In-Betweener


    I was watching Guardians Vol. 2 the other day and it caused me to do some thinking about classic stories from the cosmos known as the Marvel Universe.  That is when I got the idea to do a Saturday Showcase on the In-Betweener.  Just who is the In-Betweener?  Well, he is Chaos, he is Order, he is right, he is wrong, he is madness, he is sanity, he is always in-between.  

    
    The In-Betweener was created in 1975 by Jim Starlin.  His first appearance was in Warlock #9 (Oct. 1975).  He has fought avengers, defenders, guardians, as well as the likes of Thanos and Galactus.  He is a powerful cosmic being, but his "ego" usually is his downfall.  

   He has had partnerships with villains such as Lord Chaos, Master Order, and even Thanos.  His powers besides immortality are the ability to warp perception as well as manipulate/alter reality.

    Like I said earlier, he once saw Thanos as an ally, but that ended when Thanos wanted the 6th infinity stone, the Soul Gem, which the In-Betweener possessed. Which led to a battle in which Thanos was the victor.  


    I believe that Marvel Studios already dropped the ball to introduce him since he was the holder of the Soul Gem, but it would be nice if he is at least mentioned in the Infinity War films.  Besides a Heroclix figure, you really don't see much of the In-Betweener except in the comics and I feel that is an injustice on this classic cosmic character.  I mean, he fought Galactus for Pete's sake!


Until next time, get your READ on!


Wednesday, December 6, 2017

Derf's Picks of the Week

To see my Comic Picks of the Week, click here.

Until then, check out my pick for Cover of the Week.


Spider-Man/Venom: Venom INC. Alpha #1 of 1

MARVEL

Cover Art by Ryan Stegman

Saturday, December 2, 2017

Classic Cover of the Day: Saturday Showcase Edition


Classic Cover of the Day

Avengers #344

MARVEL

Saturday Showcase: the Black Knight


    Today's Saturday Showcase features one of my favorite Avenger's from the '80's - '90's.  Dane Whitman, also known as the Black Knight.  I know, I know, some of you are thinking, wait, wasn't the Black Knight a bad guy? Yes, he was, sort of.  You see, Dane is the 3rd person to be known as the Black Knight and he was by far the best.


   He is and always will be one of my favorite Avengers.  He was a member of the team back when it was constant battles against aliens and magic.  A lot of his missions leaned toward the magic side since his sword was enchanted.  The Ebony Blade gave him great power but it also came with a curse.  That was one of the things that attracted me to the character.  I mean, to use his power comes with a price but he still wanted to "avenge" the innocents of the world to set the name of Black Knight back in the history books as a hero and not as the villain that his uncle was.


    Even though, Dane was popular in the '80's - '90's, he actually was introduced in the '60's.  Dane version of the Black Knight made his first appearance in December of 1967 in the Avengers #47.  He was created by Roy Thomas and John Buscema.


   At first, the Avengers were hesitant to fight alongside a Black Knight, but in the battles they shared, they realized that Dane's heart was pure and that he was on the side of Justice.  Dane proved to be a valuable member of the Avengers, even taking down Kang the Conqueror will others could not.

    Dane continued fighting with the Avengers, but that was not the only team that he would come to know and love.  He was also a member of the following teams.

MI-13
Defenders
Ultraforce
Excalibur
Heroes for Hire

    Dane is a team player no matter the team, but he is of noble blood and that is his true calling.  Dane was thought to be dead for years only to resurface in recent years, where he had to face off against some of those he called friends because the Ebony Blade had corrupted him and forced him to commit a crime while a member of the Avengers.  In the end, the Avengers realized it was his curse to bear, and left their friend at New Avalon to fulfill his destiny.

   Who knows what the future has in store for Black Knight fans.  I can only hope that we see him in film or TV soon.  I know he made an appearance in an Avengers cartoon as well as a great playable character in Avengers Alliance but I think he is destined for more.  Since he is such a well "traveled" Avenger, maybe some one will wise up and write him into the Infinity War 2 script.



Until next time, get your READ on!

Avengers: Infinity War Official Trailer