World's Finest Fools

What's more fun than one magical extradimensional imp?

Why, two of course!  

So, in honor of April Fool's Day, two of the earliest team-ups of Batman and Superman's two foolish foes, Bat-Mite and Mr. Mxyzptlk!

Bat-Mite Meets Mr. Mxyzptlk

The two imps first meet in World's Finest Comics #113 (November, 1960) in a story by Jerry Coleman, Dick Sprang and Sheldon Moldoff (under a cover by Curt Swan and Stan Kaye), where it was an ordinary day in Gotham, with Batman and Robin about to take down a criminal robot...or at least planning on it.  But the robot seemed too much, so Superman was going to pitch in...until Bat-Mite stopped the help because he wanted his hero to do the job.  The dynamic duo went to continue the battle, but Superman was distracted by mystical menaces....but Bat-Mite said it wasn't him stopping Superman.  

It was Superman's 5th Dimensional foe, Mr. Mxyzptlk!  Mr. Mxyzptlk was not happy that Bat-Mite was vexing Superman.  The two imps battled for a while, but, after a time, Mxy got tired of it, and went home to the 5th Dimension, and Bat-Mite tired of the activity as well, and also went home (much to the relief of the heroes). 

The Incredible Team of Bat-Mite and Mr. Mxyzptlk

For their second go around in World's Finest Comics #123 (February, 1962) under a cover by Dick Dillin and Sheldon Moldoff, and story by Jerry Coleman, Dick Sprang and Sheldon Moldoff, Batman and Robin were taking down a criminal gang that used a rocket to commit crimes (with Bat-Mite watching his hero in action).  The criminals were giving the dynamic duo a hard time, so Superman joined in (with Mr. Mxyzptlk appearing at the same time).  

Superman was taking out the rocked with a boulder (because of Kryptonite on the rocket), but Bat-Mite changed the boulder into a creature....then, Mr. Mxyzptlk changed it again....then, the creature took on a life of its own due to the combined magic, and became a big menace!  The two couldn't defeat it, even working together...as the creature would just change into an even bigger problem.  Superman's powers didn't work well against the magic creature, but Batman helped with a solution, making an opposite of magnetic creature it had become, and the two cancelled each other out.  The two imps went back home to not be insulted by the heroes. 

The two would meet again, and find more history on that with Bat-Mite's history, or a little on Mr. Mxyzptlk himself.

Celebrating Artist Val Mayerik

Celebrating the birthday of artist Val Mayerik (March 29, 1950) with his covers to the 1994 Bruce Lee 6 issue mini-series for Malibu...

..where Bruce Lee fights another dojo owner (Ace Zeppelin), as well as tries to get movie roles, fighting with Joe Dorgan and El General, to help Caitlin Thomas.

Bruce Lee #1 and #2 (July and August, 1994) 

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Bruce Lee #3 and #4 (September and October, 1994) 

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Bruce Lee #5 and #6 (November and December, 1994) 

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Celebrating Artist Glenn Fabry

Celebrating the birthday of London born artist Glenn Fabry (March, 24, 1961) with a couple of covers featuring the British magician, John Constantine, from Hellblazer #62 and #63 (February and March, 1993).

Meet Captain Britain

Time for a new hero from Marvel, but his one didn't come out of the offices in New York...he was produced in jolly old England, the first new hero from Marvel UK....a hero for the times (the mid-1970s, that is)...and he was Captain Britain.

Captain Britain

The story begins in Captain Britain #1 (October 13, 1976) by Chris Claremont, Herb Trimpe and Fred Kida and a cover by Larry Leiber and Frank Giacoia, with Captain Britain (seeming to just getting use to his powers and abilities) fighting the Reaver....

...then, the hero thinks back, to when he was just Brian Braddock, a student intern, working at the Darkmoor Research Centre in the moors, unlocking the secrets of fusion, until the facility was attacked by rouge scientist, Joshua Stagg, who planned on taking those secrets....and making it look like they all died in an unfortunate accident.  But, Brian escaped on his motorcycle, forcing Stagg and his troops to pursue.  Brian drove off a cliff when confronted by Stagg's airship...and fell into the next issue, which came out a week later.

From The Holocaust...A Hero!

In Captain Britain #2 (October 20, 1976, by the same creative team), picks up where the last issue left off, with Merlin and Roma offering young Brian Braddock a choice....the sword or the amulet.  Brian takes the amulet, and is infused with energy from the cosmos, becoming Captain Britain...to be a force for good to protect the land!

But, Stagg takes his time as well, taking the word to become the Reaver, and the battle between good and evil begins.  Brian learns on the go, keeping up the fight (catching up to where readers first met him), and eventually using his abilities to defeat the Reaver, and vows to the spirits that he will be their champion as Captain Britain.

Brian continued that battle for 39 issues....and beyond!

Remembering Artist Vince Argondezzi

Remembering artist Vince Argondezzi on his birthday (March 20, 1960 - December 14, 2018) with his Millennium crossover covers for Infinity, Inc. (#46 and #47, January and February, 1988), where the Infinitors matched wits with the Floronic Man, and dealt with the Harlequinn (who was an agent of the the Manhunters).

Celebrating Artist Shea Pensa

Celebrating the birthday of artist Shea Pensa (March 18, 1968) with his two covers to Brave and the Bold (#1 and #2, of December 1991 and January, 1992), a six issue mini-series featuring Green Arrow, the Question and the Butcher.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day With Dean and Jerry

To be fair, this isn't exactly a Saint Patrick's Day cover, but having Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis mess with a leprechaun seems like something good enough for the day...

...here, under this cover by Bob Oksner for the Adventures of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis #36 (April, 1957).