Posts Tagged ‘ Adam Hughes ’

Real Power Part 7: Vixen

August 12, 2008
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Continuing a series of blogs that was inspired by the Adam Hughes poster The Real Power of the DC Universe.

Today we move to Vixen. Something that I didn’t know until I started doing research for this project was that Vixen was slated to be one of the first black female DC heroines to headline her own series (1978), but the series was canceled before it was even started. She debuted to the public in Action Comics #521 (1981).

I’ve never really paid much attention to Vixen, probably because no one at DC did either. She seems to play a back-up role in just about every book she is in, and therefore she can’t be found in too many collected editions. Sure she has her moments, but then she goes away or is put aside until a creator has a need of a female character that isn’t being over exposed at the time (i.e. Power Girl). Now, let’s take a look at some Vixen’s collected editions, or at least where you can find her:

  • Unpublished Vixen #1 from Cancelled Comics Cavalcade
  • Animal Man Vol. 2 TPB Origin of the Species Vixen meets and teams up with Buddy Baker. Collects #10-17 and Secret Origins #39 written by Grant Morrison.
  • JLA Classified: Ultramarine Corps The JLA vs. Gorrila Grodd and some other “super team”. Collects JLA Classified 1-3 and JLA/Wildcats written by Grant Morrison.
  • Birds of Prey: Between Dark and Dawn Huntress battles former Justice League member Vixen. Collects #69-75, written by Gail Simone.
  • Justice League Of America The Tornado’s Path Vixen reteams with the JLA and becomes a central figure. Collects Justice League Of America 1-7 written by Brad Meltzer.

Currently Vixen can be seen in Justice League of America. She will also get her own (five issue limited) series, Vixen: Return Of The Lion starting in October 2008; it only took her 30 years to get it.

Real Power Part 6: Black Canary

August 11, 2008
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Continuing a series of blogs that was inspired by the Adam Hughes poster The Real Power of the DC Universe.

Today we move to Black Canary. A true classic – that’s what Black Canary is. First appearing as a villain opposite Johnny Thunder in a backup story in Flash Comics #86; she was too pretty and headstrong to be used only as a foil. In fact, the next issue she was a full fledged hero and then she joined up with the Justice Society of America!

Always smart, in charge and working both as a team member and solo, she is now married to Green Arrow. Black Canary is easily recognizable by her fishnet stockings and her bright blonde hair and she is not one to mess with. Besides making your ears bleed with he sonic scream, Dinah Lance can kick you butt in five seconds flat. Leather, lace and a chick who can ride a Harley – every man’s fantasy. Now, let’s take a look at some Black Canary’s collected editions:

  • Black Canary Archives Volume 1 Every solo adventure (spanning from 1947 to 1972) is collected in this beautiful hardbound color edition. Collects Flash Comics #86-104, Comics Cavalcade #25, DC Special Edition #3, The Brave & the Bold #61-62, and Adventure Comics #399, #418-419
  • Birds Of Prey Of Like Minds TPB Black Canary is held hostage and Oracle reluctantly enlists the aid of the Huntress. Collects Birds Of Prey #56-61 written by Gail Simone.
  • Green Arrow/Black Canary: For Better Or Worse Be a witness to one of the most screwed up and loving relationships in the DC Universe. Collects Justice League Of America #75, Action Comics #428, #434, The Joker #4, Green Lantern/Green Arrow #94-95, Detective Comics #549-550, Green Arrow: Longbow Hunters# 1, Green Arrow (Vol.1) #75, #101, Green Arrow(Vol.2) # 4-5, #12, #21 and Birds Of Prey #88
  • Green Arrow/Black Canary: Road To The Altar Collects Birds Of Prey #109, Black Canary #1-4, and The Black Canary Wedding Planner
  • Green Arrow/Black Canary: The Wedding Album HC Collects Green Arrow/Black Canary Wedding Special and Green Arrow/Black Canary #1-5

Currently Black Canary is in Green Arrow/Black Canary and the Justice League of America. She can also be seen as a recurring guest on Smallville played by Alaina Huffman.

Collected Edition Blog browsing on Saturday Morning

August 9, 2008
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I’ll be off on vacation all of next week, so no podcast this Wednesday, but I’ll continue my Real Power theme blog.

Feel free to follow me on Twitter. I’ll do my best to post on Flickr, too. I’ll get all your e-mails when I get back.

In the mean time please download my latest podcast on all things that is the DC New Frontier and you can also catch me at TwoMorrows Publishing, with Bob McLeod and with John Mayo at his Podcast, Comic Book Page, where John and I discuss the Collected Edition Sales estimates for June 2008. As for what I’ll be reading while I’m away, American Flagg, The Eternals (Kirby and Gaiman) and perhaps some more Luke Cage and Iron Fist Essentials. Here are a few links that may interest you:

Real Power Part 5: Supergirl

August 8, 2008
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Continuing a series of blogs that was inspired by the Adam Hughes poster The Real Power of the DC Universe.

Today we move to Supergirl. To tell you the truth, I’m not much of a fan of Supergirl. I guess because my first introduction to the character was with the 1984 movie starring Helen Slater. That was one bad, bad movie and since then I haven’t had a real inclination to give her a real try, even though I did thumb through her two Archives. I guess someday I’ll have to sit down and really read up and get to know her better.

As for Kara Zor-El, herself, she’s had many different incarnations since her debut in Action Comics #252 (1959). Mostly appearing as a back up in the Superman family of books, she didn’t get her own title until 1996, but that was the Linda Danvers Supergirl. Now, let’s take a look at some Supergirl’s collected editions:

  • Showcase Presents Supergirl Volumes 1-2 and The Supergirl Archives Volumes 1-2 Take your pick – 1000 pages of black and white or 450 pages in color. Personally, I like the color.
  • Absolute Crisis on Infinite Earths Barry Allen wasn’t the only hero to sacrifice his life.
  • Supergirl TPB written by Peter David Witness the origin of Matrix who would eventually merge with one Linda Danvers to become Supergirl. Collects Showcase ’96 #12, Supergirl #1-9 (1996)
  • Superman/Batman Vol. 2: Supergirl The return of Kara to the mainstream DCU. Collects Superman/Batman #8-13
  • Elseworld’s Finest: Supergirl & Batgirl (1998) Based in a world in which Bruce Wayne was never Batman, and the infant Kal-El did not survive long enough to become Superman. The orphaned Barbara Gordon becomes Gotham’s near-dictatorial protector and Kara Zor-El as the Girl of Steel teams with Lex Luthor and the Justice Society.

Currently Kara is headlining the current title and Supergirl can be seen as a recurring guest on Smallville played by Laura Vandervoort.

Real Power Part 4: Oracle

August 7, 2008
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Continuing a series of blogs that was inspired by the Adam Hughes poster The Real Power of the DC Universe.

Today we move to Oracle. I grew up with watching Barbara Gordon as Batgirl on reruns of the 1960’s Batman TV show; little did I know that in 1988 Alan Moore would destroy everything that I (and probably you) would love about Babs in 1988′s  The Killing Joke. In hindsight, it was a brilliant move – no matter how sick and twisted the depiction was.

Barbara came out relatively fine, but bound to a wheelchair the rest of her days. She has since turned her crime fighting expertise to that of the DCU’s greatest computer hacker/programmer and information architect in Birds of Prey. Batman and the JLA are lucky that she’s on the good side. Now, let’s take a look at some of her collected editions as both Oracle and Batgirl:

  • Showcase Presents: Batgirl The debut of Barbara Gordon! Collecting several 1960’s stories from Detective Comics, Batman, Adventure Comics and World’s Finest Comics
  • Batgirl: Year One TPB by Scott Beatty and Chuck Dixon, this volume collects the 9-issue miniseries that uncovered Gordon’s transformation from average citizen into costumed super-heroine.
  • Birds of Prey 1 and Birds of Prey 2 Old Friends, New Enemies The very first BoP one-shots, min-series and first six issues of the ongoing series are collected over two trade paperbacks.
  • Birds of Prey: Catwoman/Batgirl & Catwoman/Oracle One woman fought crime valiantly as Batgirl before finding a new role as the all-seeing Oracle. The other stalked the dark streets of Gotham as Catwoman, earning a living by stealing from the rich. Now they must forge an uneasy alliance.
  • Thrillkiller TPB (Elseworlds) Collects the 3-issue mini and Thrillkiller ’62 by Howard Chaykin. Batgirl and Robin/Babs and Dick – together again.

Currently Oracle can be found in Bird of Prey and occasionally in the various Batman books especially Nightwing and even the Justice League of America. For a live action Oracle, the Birds of Prey TV show was recently released on DVD.