Star Trek Lands On The Planet Of The Apes

Well, it's been a fantasy for Mego collectors for decades...

...but, thanks to Boom Studios and IDW Publishing, the Planet of the Apes get new visitors...the crew of the starship Enterprise from Star Trek!

Boldly Going...Somewhere In the Universe

Written by Scott and David Tipton, with art by Rachael Stott and Charlie Kirchoff, Star Trek/Planet of the Apes: The Primate Directive mixes the worlds of Gene Roddenberry's original Enterprise crew with that of Arthur P. Jacobs' original Planet of the Apes movie.

Set during the first five year voyage of the Enterprise, Captain James T. Kirk, Spock, Dr. McCoy, Uhura, Sulu and Scotty find themselves dealing a Klingon plot of Kor....as well as monkeying around with Dr. Zaius, Cornelius, Zira, Nova and Taylor (all between Planet of the Apes and Beneath the Planet of the Apes).

Five issues (with multiple variant covers) with showcase all the 1960s future angst and hope, battling out in a crossover of incredible potential...mirroring the battle of a future where things would be wonderful for all...and that of a horrible end to mankind.  It's a battle we fight every day...and this one starts with Star Trek/Planet of the Apes #1 on December 31, 2014, with issue #2  scheduled in January 21, 2015, #3 in February 18, 2015, #4 in March 18, 2015 and #5 to be determined, but likely in April, 2015.

You'll want to get your stinking paws on these comics and beam them home!

These are the #2s.

A #3 and #4!

More #1s.

  

Merry Christmas

To you and yours, Merry Christmas!

Marvel's Giant Superhero Holiday Grab-Bags

Back in the day, Marvel had over sized Treasury comics, having some new stories, but mostly reprints.

 

 

Marvel did three holiday themed collections, and here they are for your enjoyment!

Christmas 1974

The first of Marvel's three Christmas specials was the Marvel Treasury Special, Giant Superhero Holiday Grab-Bag of 1974 and a cover by John Buscema and John Romita.

This collection contained Marvel Team-Up #1 (March, 1972) by Roy Thomas and Ross Andru, and had Spider-Man and the Human Torch facing the Sandman in "Have Yourself A Sandman Little Christmas!"; Daredevil gets a present of his new all-red suit and faces an angry Atlantean "In Mortal Combat With...The Sub-Mariner!" in a story by Stan Lee and Wally Wood from Daredevil #7 (April, 1965);

Black Widow faces off against the Astrologer in "...And To All A Good Night" by Roy Thomas and Gene Colan from Amazing Adventures #5 (March, 1971) and most of the Marvel Universe comes together for the Hulk to face the Thing (with the rest of the Avengers and Fantastic Four around), with Fantastic Four #25 and 26 from 1964 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, because nothing says "Merry Christmas" like a fist to the face (well, at least that's how it goes in the Mighty Marvel world!).

Christmas 1975

The second of Marvel's three Christmas specials was 1975's Marvel Treasury Edition #8 with a front cover by John Romita.

This collection contains the stories of "Twas The Night Before Christmas" from Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD #10 (March, 1969) by Gary Friedrich and Frank Springer, with Nick Fury facing a grinch to his holiday fun in the form of the Hate-Monger; Spider-Man finds the holidays can make you crazy (though Mysterio might be helping) in "Spider-Man Goes Mad" from Amazing Spider-Man #24 (May, 1965) by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko; it's not a sweet Christmas for Luke Cage as he faces a mad bomber named Marley in "Jingle Bombs" from Hero For Hire #7 (March, 1973) by Steve Englehart and George Tuska;

the Hulk finds out that "Heaven Is A Very Small Place!" in a story by Roy Thomas and and Herb Trimpe from the Incredible Hulk #147 (January, 1972), and Dr. Strange faces Eternity on New Year's Eve in the Roy Thomas/Gene Colan story from Doctor Strange #180 (May, 1969).

Christmas 1976

The third of Marvel's three Christmas specials was 1976's Marvel Treasury Edition #13, with a front cover by Gil Kane and Joe Sinnott.

Collected here for your yuletide enjoyment...are the stories by Gerry Conway and Gil Kane from Marvel Team-Up #8 (January, 1973) with the Spider-Man and the Thing getting involved in a battle between the Mad Thinker and the Puppet Master (as well as some of the family problems between Ben's blind girl friend, Alicia, and her father, who happens to be the Puppet Master) in "As Those Who Will Not See!"; seeing that "Even An Android Can Cry" in a story by Roy Thomas and John Buscema from Avengers #58 (November, 1968) because the Vision joined the Avengers; the Hulk and the Silver Surfer have a battle like in-laws in "He Who Strikes the Silver Surfer" from Tales To Astonish #93 (July, 1967) by Stan Lee and Marie Severin; Daredevil fights with the second Ox of the Enforcers in "Once Upon A Time...The Ox!" from Daredevil #86 (April, 1972) by Gerry Conway and Gene Colan; and all these stories are sandwiched between a new Fantastic Four/Avengers story (with a few extra guests like the Champions, Daredevil and the Defenders) by Roger Stern and George Tuska!

Makes all this better than holiday leftovers!  May you and yours have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

    

Superman and Santa Wish You A Merry Christmas

Santa Claus and Superman did indeed team-up…with DC Comics Presents #67 (March 1984) in a story by written by Len Wein and E. Nelson Bridwell, and drawn by Curt Swan and Murphy Anderson (and a stunning cover by Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez).

In it, the nefarious Toyman decided he was tired of being on the naughty list, but deserved it, as he sabotaged a bunch of toys for kids!  Superman and Santa had to save the day!

All in all, a quick way to wish you a Merry Christmas, and hey, Superman teamed with Flash and Green Arrow, so he’s worked with the red and green before!

Taking a Shot at Christmas

This ain’t your father’s Father Christmas.

Back in the later 1980s (and the 1990s), comics took a turn to the more violent.  The higher the body count, the better the book would sell.   Even the idea of “ultra-violence” would increase sales on a book (even when it was just a well-told, well-drawn story with nothing particularly nasty in it).  In 1985, Peter David and Mark Beachum presented us with Peter Parker the Spectacular Spider-Man #112.

Now, this story happens around the time of Secret Wars II crossovers, the Terminator movie and, of course, Christmas.  For the past few issues, Peter David had kids in Peter Parker‘s neighborhood seeing a mysterious figure in red around houses with bags full of goodies, and paid off that story thread here.   It was a thief, who had the idea of dressing as Santa Claus to confuse any kids who might see him wandering around at night, and during the course of his normal life, Peter Parker‘s alter ego, the Spectacular Spider-Man had to stop him.

NOTHING like the cover was actually in the issue (drawn by Kyle Baker), but it is a striking cover, isn’t it?  And, Santa got to participate in the violence of the time even more as time went by.  Ironic that some of the various parts of Santa‘s mythology lend themselves to a more violent genre?  

“You Better Watch Out” indeed!

Justice League Adds Members

Sure, the Justice League of America was a pretty big group with its original 7 members, but...the team felt the need to add more members to their lineup!


Green Arrow, Atom and Hawkman were the first 3 heroes to join the JLA after it formed...

...and here's the facts on them and when these solo heroes became Leaguers as echoed by the stories under this classic cover of Justice League of America #67 by Neal Adams!

Emerald Archer

Green Arrow was the first hero to join the JLA (in Justice League of America #4, April-May, 1961), but he had been around longer than most, since More Fun Comics #73 (November, 1941, by Mort Weisinger and George Papp).  Well, not unlike Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and Aquaman, that was the original, Earth-2 Green Arrow (who, along with his partner, Speedy, were members of the Seven Soldiers of Victory, back in the day)....as millionaire Oliver Queen by day, and masked hero with trick arrows and a boy partner by night...

...and the more modern Green Arrow (Earth-1's Oliver Queen) came to appear in Adventure Comics #218 (November, 1955)...or all the way up to Adventure Comics #246 (March, 1958) which had the first appearance of the Rainbow Archer (the earliest of Green Arrow's foes to make a return appearance in more modern times; unlike the archer himself, getting his early split from Earth to Earth isn't exact).  Back in those days, Green Arrow was little more than Batman with a bow, having an Arrowcar, Arrowplane, and Arrowcave (though Jack Kirby gave Green Arrow a new origin with him being stranded on an island with Adventure Comics #256 in January, 1959, ....and little in the way of personality; he couldn't even get a cover of Adventure Comics (unless he shared it with series star, Superboy like with #258)...and he was cursed with the same luck when he and Speedy (Roy Harper) moved over to World's Finest Comics (making a cover outside of the JLA only with Brave and the Bold #50, with the Martian Manhunter; he even had few foes coming to face him in the JLA, like Clock King).

His solo stories came to an end with World's Finest Comics #140 (March, 1964), and Green Arrow was only appearing as a JLA member, until Brave and the Bold #85 (August/September, 1969) when Bob Haney and Neal Adams changed the character, giving him a new look (and, following Justice League of America #75 in November, 1969, losing his fortune and meeting Black Canary)...which let Green Arrow to become a hard-traveling hero with Green Lantern in a series of stories by Denny O'Neill and Neal Adams in Green Lantern #76-89 (1970s).

Along the way, Green Arrow picked up a few foes like Merlyn, a new back-up series in Action Comics, then World's Finest Comics (and a great 4 issue mini-series in 1983 by Mike W. Barr and Trevor Von Eeden), and plenty of team-ups with Batman in Brave and the Bold...all leading to Detective Comics where he was featured until the Crisis on Infinite Earths, finally losing that back-up in Detective Comics with #567 in October, 1986.  But, Green Arrow stayed on target, and with the Green Arrow: Longbow Hunters 3 issue mini-series by Mike Grell, he got on target his own long running series, and has been a regular all over DC Comics ever since!         

Mighty Mite

Atom got started with Showcase #34 (September-October, 1961, by Gardner Fox and Gil Kane), where physicist Ray Palmer was able to use white dwarf matter to win one for the little guy (and save his girlfriend, Jean Loring, and fellow students from a cave in).  Ray kept going as the new, scientific, shrinking hero, the Atom for two more issues of Showcase before getting his own series with The Atom #1 (June-July, 1962), and joined the JLA with Justice League of America #14 (September, 1962).

The little guy kept busy during the 1960s, facing foes like the Floronic Man, Chronos, the Highway Man, the Bat-Knights, the Bug-Eyed Bandit, the Panther Gang, Dr. Light, the Thinker as well as socializing with other heroes like the Earth-2 Atom, Zatanna and Hawkman and Hawkgirl, and even gaining a pet in Major Mynah, and traveling through time with Alpheus Hyatt's Time Pool!  All this was enough to keep the little man busy through 38 of his own issues (through August-September, 1968), then to a shared magazine with Hawkman (more on that later, but it picked up Atom's numbering, and Atom & Hawkman went to issue #45 in October-November, 1969, with the pair facing off against Jean Loring!).

Atom kept going, being a JLAer, and popping up in Detective Comics with a solo story here and there (most importantly being the first to face the Calculator, along with Black Canary, Elongated Man, Green Arrow, Hawkman and Batman), teaming with Batman in Brave and the Bold, working with Superman in World's Finest Comics (and DC Comics Presents), as well as being a back-up many times in Action Comics, as well as being the featured player in Super-Team Family #11-14 (1977) which led to Ray finally marrying Jean Loring in Justice League of America #157 (August, 1978).

Sadly, the marriage wasn't perfect, and Ray caught Jean cheating on him, then ended up trapped in the jungle (and at six inch size) for the Sword of the Atom 4 issue mini-series in 1983 (by Jan Strnad and Gil Kane).  Though Ray got back and worked with the JLA for a time, he went back to the jungle for 3 Sword of the Atom Specials, and even helped out the JLA during the Crisis on Infinite Earths (though Atom's happy times in the jungle would not remain, as Ray came back to the world in Power of the Atom, and worked with the Suicide Squad and Teen Titans for a time after...and returning to the JLA).  

Winged Wonder

Hawkman came to Earth from Thanagar with his wife (and fellow police officer) in Brave and the Bold #34 (February-March, 1961 by Gardner Fox and Joe Kubert), looking to stop shape-shifting felon, Byth.  They were successful, and stayed on Earth (changing their names from Katar and Shayera Hol to Carter and Shiera Hall, and taking up jobs as curators of Midway City's museum, while being high flying super-heroes with anti-gravity belts and a penchant for ancient weapons, a Thangarian Absorbascon which allows them access to all Earth's knowledge,  including taking to birds at night).

After meeting Atom, Adam Strange and Aquaman (and going through appearances in B&B #35, #36, #42-44, #51, Atom #7 and Mystery in Space #87-90), got his own title with Hawkman #1 (April-May, 1964), and Hawkman joined the JLA with Justice League of America #31 (November, 1964).

Hawkman seems to have it all going on...sci-fi hero, police detective, ancient weapon wielder, devoted husband, and he did!

Hawkman faced menaces such as the Matter Master, the Shadow Thief, the Manhawks, I.Q., Chac, the agents of C.A.W., Fal Tal, the Shrike, the Wingors, the Raven, Lion-Mane and more (as well as introducing readers to Zatara's daughter, Zatanna) until his solo series ended with Hawkman #27 (August-September, 1968).

Thankfully, Carter's friend, the Atom, was looking to add on, and the Atom and Hawkman series started with issue #39 (October-November, 1968), introducing Hawkman to the Earth-2 Hawkman's foe, the Gentleman Ghost, before ending facing Atom's girlfriend, Jean Loring, in the last Atom and Hawkman (#45, October-November, 1969) a story that led into a pair of Justice League of America issues (#80-81).

Hawkman continued flying along, working with the JLA, teaming with Batman in Brave and the Bold, Superman in World's Finest Comics and DC Comics Presents, and even as a back-up feature in Detective Comics (facing folks like Konrad Kaslak and the Fadeaway Man), leading to a conflict with his own people, and a run in Showcase (#101-103), along with Hawkgirl and Adam Strange (and almost causing Hawkman to miss Atom's wedding)..and as a back up in World's Finest Comics.

Even more conflict with his own race came later, as well as leading to the Shadow War of Hawkman 4 issue mini-series of 1985 by Tony Isabella and Richard Howell, which led to a Hawkman Special, then a regular series that lasted 17 issues, returning many old nemeses, as well as friends and a few new ones.

Oddly, while the Silver Age Hawkman survived the Crisis on Infinite Earths with most of his history intact, it was undone by Tim Truman's 1989 Hawkworld mini-series (not the series itself, but by it's success, though the series was originally meant to be a prequel to Hawkman's Brave and the Bold appearances; but the regular Hawkworld series brought the mini-series Hawkman and Hawkwoman to Earth right after Invasion!, making appearances in Millennium, Invasion!, Justice League International #24 and the first Hawk & Dove mini-series the last appearances of the Silver Age Hawkman and Hawkwoman; writer John Ostrander worked wonders with the Hawks in Hawkworld, but it did make a mess out of DC Comics post-Crisis continuity).

All this gives a nice overview of the earlier JLA joiners, and check back for more on the next batch, including Black Canary, Elongated Man, Red Tornado, Hawkgirl, Firestorm and more!   

A Stalker's Quest

With the Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies due at the theatres, figured it was time to talk about another hero on a quest.

This hero was on a “Quest for his stolen soul!”. (It even says so on the cover, and is the title of the issue…talk about truth in advertising!). Sadly, this quest was due to be short…or not, depending on your point of view…it was certainly a long journey for Stalker, over many lands, and many times as well!

Stalker #1 was cover dated June-July, 1975, and featured as its hero, the Stalker, a peasant boy who wanted more out of life, but kept getting nothing. So, he made a deal with the demon lord, Dgrth, to become the ultimate warrior, able to handle any weapon…and all it cost the lad was his soul.

Stalker felt cheated by the deal, and while planning revenge on the queen who wronged him, went out to find Dgrth to reclaim his soul. The letter’s page even provided a map of the world of the Stalker.

With his second issue (cover dated August-September, 1975), Stalker went looking for Dgrth and faced a “Darkling Death at the World’s End Sea!”. 

Stalker confronted the priests of Dgrth, and freeing a slave maiden, though this didn’t turn out as planned for either side. It ended with the soulless one leaving behind his new companion, and heading out to the Burning Isle to find the passage to confront Dgrth in hell.

But, Stalker had to get to the island and survive the struggle there…and he did that in issue #3 (October-November, 1975), where he confronted the inhabitants of the island, including Srani (she who is on the cover).

 Eventually, Stalker got past the trials of the isle, and was ready to confront the war god, Dgrth….

…in issue #4 (December-January, 1975/1976).

Here Stalker would “Invade The Inferno” that was Dgrth’s home, and face the evil being that had taken his soul. The story changed (slightly) from straight out sword and sorcery to adding a little science fiction, and definitely established this was not on Earth (though that was relatively obvious from the first issue on…).

Here, Stalker’s quest changed a little, as he now worked to end Dgrth’s hold on the world….and, had the series continued we may have seen more of this new development.

Sadly, the fourth issue was Stalker’s final one. At least the series maintained one writer (Paul Levitz), and one artist (Steve Ditko) and one inker (Wally Wood). The combination of Ditko (known for his angular characters and hard faced heroes) and Wood (known for softer, curved art with beautiful women) helped to make this a unique series, and an artistic treat, as well as having a gripping story. The four issues were even reprinted in the first Steve Ditko Omnibus (along with Shade the Changing Man and a little more) in 2001.

Still, even during the series, there were plans to take Stalker further across his world (issue #2‘s lettercol mentioned that Stalker should be headed to the swampland in “the Great Swamp” in the “never happened” issue #7). Ironic, as the next place Stalker appeared was in Swamp Thing #163 (February, 1996), though it was for barely a panel, along with the sword and science Starfire (herself having 8 issues in the 1970s, and pre-dating the New Teen Titans‘ Starfire), Claw the Unconquered (12 issues in the 1970s) and Nightmaster (who was in three issues of Showcase…and may have dreamed the whole thing).

Stalker even came back again…towards the end of World War II, and faced the Justice Society of America when summoned by a cabal of Nazis who were looking for a magical force to fight the Americans (and got more than they bargained for, getting a Stalker who had given up his heroic pretense, and instead had decided the best way to end evil, was to end all life!

The JSA (and a few friends) barely got out of this one in All-Star Comics in May, 1999 written by James Robinson! Sadly, Stalker only appeared in the two main issues, and didn’t make the cover of either of the core issues (or the collected tradepaperback., the Justice Society Returns).

Stalker returned one more time, in four issues of Wonder Woman, #20-23 (2008, by Gail Simone and Aaron Lopresti), along with Claw the Unconquered and Beowulf (the ancient hero having 6 DC issues over 1975 and 1976 as well in DC’s fantasy explosion), to face an attempted invasion of Earth by D’Grth (giving D’Grth a cover, finally, fighting Diana on the last issue of the series, though Stalker never made the cover of the “Ends Of The Earth”; Dgrth had also gained an apostrophe in his name). Likely, this might have been a Stalker earlier in his life, as he still had hope, and worked with the other heroes (still lacking a soul, though…and these issues were collected in the Wonder Woman Tradepaperback, Ends of the Earth). Stalker left these heroes with a mad female oracle witch queen, still searching for a soul.

Stalker even returns in the New 52, getting a back-up feature in Sword and Sorcery, starting with the fourth issue, and ending in the 7th (still getting no covers, as they featured Ametyst and Constantine....in this small series by Marc Andreyko and Andrei Bressen).

Seems four is the number of the Stalker, and may give him more luck starting his quest this time (if not a soul to enjoy his return….).

Flash Facts Evil Speedsters

The Flash isn't the only speedster to have a legacy...it applies to the villainous speedsters as well. Here's a few facts on the folks that run the wrong way.

Rival

First Appearance: Flash Comics #104 (February, 1949).


Created by: John Broome and Carmine Infantino


Flash Foe: Jay Garrick

Edward Clariss was a chemist who duplicated the accident that gave Jay Garrick his speed...and became Jay's super-speed Rival in Flash Comics #104 (February, 1949).  Rival was successful in ending the Flash...that issue was the last of Jay's run.  Rival came back to face the Flash as a member of the Injustice Society under Johnny Sorrow for two issues of JSA (#16 and #17 in November/December, 2000, which gave Rival his only cover appearance!).  Rival returned again as Jay was mentoring Impulse, for the last two issues of Impulse's run (#88 and #89, September/October, 2002), wherein Rival ended up possessing Impulse's usual mentor, Max Mercury.  Jay and the rest of the Justice Society faced Rival and the Injustice Society again in JSA All-Stars #1 (July, 2003).

Reverse Flash

First Appearance: Flash #139 (September, 1963).


Created by: John Broome and Carmine Infantino


Flash Foe: Barry Allen

Eobard Thawne was from the 25th Century, and a fan of Flash (Barry Allen)...well, more or less.  Thawne found Barry's costume in a time capsule, and, being smart, treated it to allow him super-speed (and he reversed the colors since he planned to do evil with the costume).  Barry traveled to the 25th Century to retrieve the costume, and ended up defeating Professor Zoom (another name for the Reverse Flash).  Still, Thawne kept coming back, with more plots and plans...usually trying to become Barry Allen, or marry Iris West.  He even joined with other foes of Barry Allen, including the Secret Society of Super-Villains (most notably, Secret Society of Super-Villains #11-15 and Justice League of America #166-168), and was involved in a few of the early races between Superman and the Flash, no less!

It was just another day at the races with Reverse Flash, at least until Thawne went too far, killing Iris and pushing Barry to the edge....and beyond.  Barry killed Thawne accidentally in Flash #323-325 (damaging the time stream, something hinted at right before the Crisis on Infinite Earths...and Barry's own disappearance for a time).

Still, a good villain will find a way to come back...

...menacing Wally West during his time as the Flash (but before Thawne became the Reverse Flash and then again, working with another evil speedster as well), and then coming back during the Blackest Night event as an animated corpse...before being revived to life, and being a menace to Barry and the DC Universe as a whole.

The Reverse Flash had all the same speed abilities as the Flash did, but none of his moral restraint, so he messed with Barry Allen's life all along his time line, creating the Flashpoint event, then restarting the DC Universe with the New 52!

Zoom

First Appearance: Flash Secret Files #3 (November, 2001 as Hunter), Flash #197 (June, 2003, as Zoom)


Created by: Geoff Johns and Scott Kolins


Flash Foe: Wally West

Hunter Zolomon did not have a good life, having parents who weren't particularly appreciative, and, worst still, a father who was a serial killer (who died, after killing his mother).  Hunter took this and tried to be better, working for the FBI as a psychologist, where he even found Ashley, the love of his life.  But, inaction on Hunter's part allowed a criminal to kill her father, and they split, and Hunter was injured as well, never being able to run again.  Hunter ended up at Keystone City's police department, working there, becoming friends with Wally West...at least until a savage attack by Gorilla Grodd paralyzed poor Hunter.  Hunter asked Wally to fix his lousy life by using the Cosmic Treadmill to travel in time...but Wally wouldn't.  Zolomon tried himself, and the resulting explosion shattered Zolomon's connection to time, and turned him into Zoom, fighting with Flash in Flash #197-200!

Zoom had a purpose, to make Wally West's life miserable, so that Wally would understand pain, and be willing to change time to make things better.  Along the way, Zoom works with the new Secret Society (including his recruiter, the Cheetah, and Superman's reversed clone, Bizarro), and continues his battle with Wally, including a massive battle through time, as Zoom messes with Wally's love, Linda Park, and also recruits Reverse Flash into the fight (as well as Jay Flash, Barry Flash, and Bart Allen who is Kid Flash at this time), and battles Flash's Rogue's as well, as evil speedsters are never Rogues!).

Wally stops Zoom by locking him in the moment that Ashley's father dies...and that keeps him away, at least until the Infinite Crisis (because Crises are never good for Flashes....).

Zoom then frees the next generation of Flash (Inertia, more on him soon) from his prison while negotiating with Bart's grandma (Iris Allen) in Flash: The Fastest Man Alive #10-11, fights Damage (whom he had scarred in the opening of Infinite Crisis), joins with Libra and other villains during the Final Crisis, and then tries to change Inertia into Kid Zoom, who then changes Zoom back along his timeline into crippled Hunter Zolomon (all during Final Crisis: Rouge's Revenge).

Hunter is not deterred, and meets with Reverse Flash in prison, during Flash: Rebirth, going back to the idea he is helping Flashes, promising to make Reverse Flash better.

Inertia

First Appearance: Impulse #50 (July, 1999).


Created by: Todd DeZago and Ethan Van Sciver


Flash Foe: Bart Allen

Thaddeus Thawne started life as a clone of Bart Allen (Impulse), created by President Thaddeus Thawne (a descendant of Reverse Flash) in the 30th Century, first facing Impulse (along with his mentor, Max Mercury) over the issues of Impulse #50-53 (1999), then returning for a rematch in #56, and in #63-67 (trying to be Impulse...must be a characteristic of the Thawnes to want to be Flashes!).

Inertia returned after Bart was artificially aged up and taking over the role of the Flash, finding himself without super-speed and having to take Velocity 9 to fight, facing off with Bart's Flash in Flash: The Fastest Man Alive #5-8, and then #10-13 (over 2007, stopping between to join Deathstroke's Titans East in Teen Titans #43-46), with, in Flash: The Fastest Man Alive #13, Inertia was able to do something no evil speedster was ever able before, to kill Bart's Flash (with Wally stopping Inertia quite literally in All-Flash #1).

Still, the angry little man was revived yet again, this time by Zoom during the course of Final Crisis: Rogue's Revenge, where Inertia took on the mantle of "Kid Zoom" and removed Zoom's powers...before the Rogue's got to Kid Zoom, ending his run.

As long as there are Flashes, there will be rivals to those Flashes, running in reverse, even when the Flash transfers mediums to television like on the CW!