Planet DC JLA And Batgirl

In 2000, DC had a loose theme tying together their annuals, that of having their established heroes meet new international heroes.

8 annuals in total, here are the first two, JLA Annual #4 and Batgirl Annual #1, which introduced the Janissary in Turkey and Aruna in India.

JLA Annual #4 (August, 2000)

First up is the Janissary in a story by Brian K. Vaughan, Steve Scott and Hector Collazo (the later two who provided the cover)...young Doctor Selma Tolon, who would become the Janissary, using the power of Sultan Suleiman's scimitar to magically defend Turkey, the Janissary was put to the test when General Kazim summoned the evil Jinn, Iblis, to gain power.  Iblis had planned to take the Janissary's body, and to enable that unleashed flaming Jinns with zombie soldiers across Turkey, involving the JLA (Batman, Aquaman, Wonder Woman, Martian Manhunter and Green Lantern) to battle them.  The Janissary eventually defeated Iblis, and was offered membership in the JLA by Aquaman, but she declined.

In the second story (by the same creative team), readers get the origin of Janissary: Selma Tolon found the scimitar in an ancient dungeon while working for the Red Crescent (a local version of the Red Cross), pulling it from the sand, and using the magic might of that scimitar (as well as unreliable access to the Eternity Book of Merlin, which would allow her to cast spells, with unreliable results), Selma came to fight crime and menaces, yet upheld her doctor's oath to not take lives.

The Janissary would later appear in Wonder Woman #174 and #175, as well as in the Day of Vengeance and Infinite Crisis, as well as in Birds of Prey #100.

Batgirl Annual #1 (August, 2000)

Next is Aruna, in a story by Scott Peterson, Mike Deodato and John Stanisci (with cover by Matt Haley and Kevin Nowlan), ...where Batman and Batgirl get distracted from their own case in India to find missing movie star Ashok Ramanan.  On the set, they get let to stuntman/actress Aruna Shende (who seems to produce incredible creatures that no one knows how she makes and performs them).  The duo track her down, finding out Aruna is a shape shifter, and changes into whatever she needs for the movie.  They also find she is one of India's untouchables class, which they also find Ashok was, and though a rich movie star, he was looked down upon by his neighbors, one of who killed him.

The second story of the Annual by Scott Peterson, Pablo Raimondi and Walden Wong, delves into the origin of Aruna, where she grew up in the wilds of India, poor, but loved by her parents who knew of her shapechanging abilities (though Aruna knew not what she even looked like).  Her parents were taken away by the government, and she used her powers to get food, eventually settling in stunt work and make up, but still trying to find herself and her parents.

Aruna only recently reappeared in the DC Book of Pride.

Celebrating Artist Simon Bisley

Raising a pint today to celebrate the birthday of British artist, Simon Bisley (March 4, 1962) , with a look as at his covers to the first Lobo mini-series from the 1990s, which he also drew the insides of.

A chance to see Lobo, who at this time, was a L.E.G.I.O.N. member totally out of control!

Lobo #1 and #2 (November and December, 1990)

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Lobo #3 and #4 (January and February, 1991)

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The Russian Starfire

A young teenage boy who accompanied his archeologist father to investigate what they discover to be crashed alien spaceship in the Siberian wastes near the Yenisei River in Russia back in June, 1908...the lad sneaks into the spaceship at night, where he triggers an energy blast that gives him great strength and speed, turning him into Russia's first hero....Starfire!

This Starfire debuted in Teen Titans #18 (November-December, 1968), and would later be tied to the Teen Titans.

Eye Of The Beholder!

In Teen Titans #18 (November-December, 1968) by Len Wein, Marv Wolfman and Bill Draut, under a Nick Cardy cover, we first meet Starfire in Stockholm, Sweden, where the Teen Titans and Starfire have to work together to stop the jewel thief, Andre Le Blanc from stealing the crown jewels.  Kid Flash, of all the Teen Titans, is especially displeased for their American team to have to work with the Russian hero, and the Russian lad is none to fond of his American counterparts.    The teens get a chance to try to capture Andre when he takes a practice run, but the team just works against each other, allowing Le Blanc to escape.  

The kids regroup, with tensions running high, when they split up to guard the thief's next target.  There, Andre traps Aqualad, Kid Flash, Robin and Wonder Girl (all under the watchful eye of Starfire)...with Starfire eventually confronting Le Blanc, who bests him and puts his life in danger. Thankfully, Starfire had freed the Teen Titans from their traps (who held back to allow Starfire the honor of capturing Le Blanc), and together, they bring Andre to justice, learning the lesson that all men of all nations need to work together.

A Pretty Girl Is Like A -- Maladi!

With New Teen Titans #18 (April, 1982) by Marv Wolfman, George Perez and Romeo Tanghal, the original Starfire returns (and his given name of Leonid Kovar) is revealed.  Here, starting in a forgotten bureau in the Soviet Union, Marek Slavik finds out his son Tomas was killed by Americans.  Marek's brother Tomas and wife Sonya were also killed earlier in two incidents involving the American army, and thus Slavik plots revenge.  Using a long abandoned project, Slavik infects his secretary, young bride-to-be Maladi Malanova, with a radiation (unbeknownst to her), and sends her with papers to deliver to New York City (promising her that she will be back before her wedding...a lie).  Later, King Faraday, of the FBI, recruits Robin and Wonder Girl to inform the other Titans that their old "friend", Starfire, is back in the USA on a covert mission. 

The Titans gather in their tower, and look for Kovar, finding that one of the custom agents at the airport collapsed (where Maladi was 3 days before) and was taken to the hospital. Raven finds out that the man was infected with a radiation poisoning and the Kovar was interested in this as well.  Kovar closes in on Maladi, but the Titans interfere, thinking he might be responsible to the radiation poisoning.  The Titans capture Kovar, where he explains that Slavik poisoned his secretary to spread death in America, and that though she cannot be saved, anyone she touched could be.  Kovar escapes Titans Tower to continue to go after her, while Maladi goes to a doctor to see about her sickness.  

Kovar tracks her down, and lets her know of her dire situation, and that he plans to kill her.  The Titans show up and fight him, stopping his plan.  They take her to a hospital where she dies.  Kovar, after being confronted by Kid Flash by his cold plan to kill her asks why...and Leonid explains that instead of the slow death she got he was to offer her a quick death, as he could do no less for the woman he was engaged to.

Though not in the issue, Kovar got a new heroic name, that of Red Star in Action Comics #551, and fought alongside the heroes during the Crisis On Infinite Earths, was later involved with the first Justice League International/Suicide Squad team-up, came back to America to fight with Hammer and Sickle of the People's Heroes at S.T.A.R. Labs, got a new costume and joined the Titans during the Titans Hunt against the Wildebeest, during which time he developed energy manipulation powers, stayed with the team until Zero Hour, but returned again with yet another new costume, all the while, loyal to Russia, yet also an honorable hero.

Celebrating Artist Andy Kubert

Celebrating artist Andy Kubert on his birthday (February 27, 1962) with his covers to the Adam Strange mini-series of 1990.

A chance to take a realistic look at the famous (on Rann) Earthman, bringing his interstellar adventures back down to reality with the death of his wife, Alanna, and birth of his daughter, Aleea.  (Don't worry, fans, Alanna got better!).

Adam Strange #1 (March, 1990)

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Adam Strange #2 (June, 1990)

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Adam Strange #3 (July, 1990)

The Secret Hearts Of Don Heck

Scandals and shocks galore for Secret Hearts, the downside of love, as shown in these two covers by Don Heck (#146 of September, 1970 and #152 of June, 1971) from the series that ran for 153 issues from September-October, 1949 to July, 1971.

Celebrating Artist Frank Brunner

Celebrating artist Frank Brunner on his birthday (February 21, 1949) with a couple of his covers to Howard The Duck (#1 and #2, January and March, 1976)...where, Howard, a talking fowl from another dimension had to make his way in a world that wasn't his, with his friend, Beverly Switzler.

Celebrating Artist Paul Pelletier

Celebrating the birthday of artist Paul Pelletier (February, 18, 1970) with a couple of his Green Lantern covers...

...featuring Green Lantern Kyle Rayner meeting with Flash Wally West as the duo faced a new Sonar in Green Lantern #66 and #67 (September and October, 1995).