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).

Life Stories Of American Presidents

When you are looking for history, you go with Dell.  

In a book cover dated November, 1957, they covered the Life Stories Of American Presidents, from George Washington to Dwight D. Eisenhower, and all in between, like Abraham Lincoln...with interior art by John Buscema.

A little history, for President's Day.

Valentine's Day With Harley Quinn

A happy Valentine's Day to all...

...but not so much for Harley Quinn, as seen on this Frank Cho cover to Harley Quinn #70 (April, 2020) with Harley not so happily chasing down cupid.

Celebrating Artist Ron Lim

Celebrating the birthday of artist Ron Lim (February 13, 1965) with a bit of a love story, between Captain America and Diamondback.

Captain America fought the Serpent Society, whose membership including Diamondback (Rachel Leighton), debuting in Captain America #310 (October, 1985, before Ron was on the series). 

But, Rachel soon found she had less interest in crime and more in the crime fighting Captain.  After dating Steve Rogers, she fell out of favor with the Serpent Society, and even tried to take them down. 

Captain America #371 and #373 (June, 1990 and Late July, 1990)

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Captain America #380 and #381 (December, 1990 and January, 1991)

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Young Romance With Jay Scott Pike

Love might mean never having to say your sorry, but boy, love also involved a lot of crying...at least if you've messed up your romance, as was a feature of covers of Young Romance, like this pair from Jay Scott Pike (from #140 of February-March 1966 and #146 of February-March, 1967), from the title that ran at DC for 84 issues, from #125 to #208 from August-September, 1963 to November-December, 1975.

Superboy Knows Football

Superboy shows he knows what to do on a football field, as shown in Adventure Comics #143 (August, 1949) with cover by John Sikela and Ed Dobrotka and Adventure Comics #207 (December, 1954) with cover by Curt Swan and Ray Burnley.

But, all that still doesn't impress Smallville's Lana Lang, as shown by this cover to Adventure Comics #170 (November, 1951) with cover by Win Mortimer.

Remembering Artist Rich Buckler

Remembering artist Rich Buckler on his birthday (February 6, 1942 - May 19, 2017) with a couple of very short lived Marvel series that he had done covers for the second issue of each...

...Modred the Mystic in Marvel Chillers and Ulysses Bloodstone in Marvel Presents.

Marvel Chillers #1 and #2 (October and December, 1975)

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Modred the Mystic started as an apprentice to Merlin in the 6th century, and battled the Other to try to claim the Darkhold (to use to battle Merlin, whom Modred feared mad).  The Other tried to claim Modred's betrothed, Janice, but he gave himself up to save her.  Her father, Gervasse, entombed Modred, hoping future generations could help him (and they did, with Janet Lyton and Grant Whittaker freeing Modred in the 20th Century, where he battled the other in modern Britain.  Modred battled elementals with the Thing and Spider-Woman, but Later, Modred fell victim to the power of the Darkhold, and did the bidding of the Other (Chthon) fighting the Avengers (revealing the history of the Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver as well). 

Marvel Presents #1 and #2 (October and December, 1975)

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Bloodstone was caveman made immortal by the alien Bloodgem in his chest.  Using his extra time on Earth, he became a monster hunter, and was retroactively placed fighting classic Marvel Monsters from the past (along side others, including Dr. Druid), including Gorgilla, Diablo and the monsters whom Mole Man tamed on his island.  In these two issues he faced the Dweller from the Depths and the Possessor.

Falling In Love With John Romita

A quick look at some romance comics, here, Falling In Love, which lasted for 143 issues (from September-October 1955 to October-November, 1973).  Here, two covers by John Romita (#49 from March, 1962 and #62 from October, 1963) summing up the romantic angst so common amongst the title.

World Of Krypton Romance

Odd to think of a love story when talking about the origins of Superman, but, even though their saga started with their death and the end of their world, Krypton...it showed their love as well, as they loved each other so much that they couldn't live without each other.

Here is the story of Superman's parents...Jor-El and Lara (though in brief style, through the World Of Krypton mini-series, originally intended for Showcase #104-#106, then #110-#112) with covers by Ross Andru and Dick Giordano.

World Of Krypton #1 (July, 1979)

First up is "The Jor-El Story" by Paul Kupperberg, Alan Kupperberg, Howard Chaykin and Murphy Anderson, with Superman reviewing a recently discovered diary of his father, Jor-El, which starts when his father (Jor-El I) took him and his brother, Nim-El, to see the Jewel Mountains of Krypton...continuing with his education, ending up in Kryptonopolis, working on their space program with General Dru-Zod and Professor Ken-Dal.  

There, he met a young astronaut, named Lara Lor-Van, and fell in love.  Jor-El continued to work, discovering an anti-gravity particle, which helped to reduce the cost of his ship (making it out of the heavy, but, for Krypton, cheap, metal of gold), all while Lara professed a love for him (and a desire to be the rocket's first pilot).  Jor-El's Golden Folly was supposed to be an unmanned flight, but Lara snuck aboard, ending up on Krypton's moon of Wegthor.  A rescue ship was sent, with Jor-El sneaking aboard using his anti-gravity...rescuing Lara.  Then, Jor-El presented a plan to Krypton's science council, of putting criminals in suspended animation and reforming them while they slept (all while in orbit).  At this time, with a possible promotion, Lara took Jor-El to the Matricomp (a Kryptonian computer) to ask for the right to marry.  

While Jor-El worked with rocked scientist Jax-Ur, Lara got the answer from the Matricomp, denying marriage, but instead proposing marriage to Anr-Mu, Matricomp's messenger.  The first test of the rocket suspension idea came, with Nali-Ilv crashing back on Krypton, demonstrating new super powers.  This seemed fishy to Jor-El, who figured it out.  It wasn't Nali-Ilv, but his twin, Ed-Ilv, using Jor-El's anti-gravity metal to fake super powers.  Nali's ship was disintegrated and the substitution made, to make Jor-El's project a failure, so criminals would instead be executed, to hide the crimes of the police chief, Tron-Et (who would be revealed if criminals reformed).  Flush with success, Jor-El headed home, to find Lara entranced with Anr-Mu who fought Jor-El with super strength.  Jor-El figured out Anr-Mu looked like the Matricomp's creator, and that Matricomp fell in love with Lara, creating an android to marry her.  Jor-El destroyed Matricomp, ending Anr-Mu and freeing Lara from hypnosis, clearing the way for them to marry...with Superman attending?   

More on the last in the next issue...and the stories here are adapted from Superman #233 (Jor-El's Golden Folly), Superman #234 (Prison In The Sky) and Superman #246 (Marriage, Kryptonian Style). 

World Of Krypton #2 (August, 1979)

Continuing on, with "This Planet Is Doomed!" by Paul Kupperberg, Alan Kupperberg, Howard Chaykin and Murphy Anderson, with the wedding of Jor-El meeting his father and fighting an ice bird outside Kryptonopolis, with Jor-El I being injured.  Jor-El and Lara were at the hospital, checking on Jor-El I (with Jor-El's assistant, Kal-El, a time tossed Superman who ended up on Krypton), with Jor-El discovering one of his father's ideas...that Krypton was doomed.  Presenting these facts to the science council, Jor-El had a plan of space arks to save the Kryptonians, working on that in Kandor with his supports as his father died.  

But, as Jor-El and Superman went to try to convince his other brother, Zor-El to join in from Argo City, they watched helplessly as Kandor was shrunk and stolen (by Brainiac), ending the space ark plan.  Jor-El lost one of his last supporters as Kal-El was accidentally launched into space, disappearing (free of Krypton's gravity and red sun, Superman was able to time travel home).  Yet, Jor-El did get some good news, as Lara told him she was expecting. During a rocket test, the rocket nearly killed them both, but they were saved by space traveler, Rol-Nac, who became godfather to Jor-El and Lara's son, Kal-El (the Star Child, also named after Jor-El assistant). 

Here, Jor-El discovered the Phantom Zone, a realm where people could exist and bodiless phantoms (which would save even more money than the prison rockets they were already using).  Showing this to the science council in competition with Gra-Mo, who was in competition with Jor-El for a seat on the science council, it was the winning competition as Gra-Mo's green androids failed (and he blamed Jor-El).  Rioting against Kryptonopolis' robot police, Gra-Mo and his gang ended up being the last criminals sent into orbit.  Jor-El got elected to the science council, and his father's assistant found the Krull spaceship (an advanced ship from an ancient race that ended up on Krypton).  Jor-El, Lara and Dr. Mar-Ko tested the ship, but, collided with a rocked secretly launched by Jax-Ur (who was testing illegal explosives in rockets), destroying the Krull ship and sending Jax-Ur's rocket into Wegthor, destroying the moon.  Jax-Ur was sentenced to eternity in the Phantom Zone, and the destruction of the Krull rocket (which would have given Jor-El advanced science for his own rockets) and Wegthor (a launching base, inhabited by many Kryptonians) foreshadowed doom for Krypton.

Superman originally attended his parents wedding in Superman #141, Brainiac steals Kandor in Superman #134, Rol-Nac saves Jor-El and Lara in Action Comics #378, Jor-El invents the Phantom Zone ray projector and deals with Gra-Mo in Superboy #104 and Jax-Ur is exiled into the Phantom Zone in Superboy #117. 

World Of Krypton #3 (September, 1979)

Concluding the saga, here with "The Last Days Of Krypton" by Paul Kupperberg, Alan Kupperberg, Howard Chaykin and Frank Chiaramonte, with Jor-El putting Jax-Ur in the Phantom Zone, and lecturing the science council of Krypton's approaching doom, Jor-El loses the vote to continue space exploration research.  Jor-El tracks a surviving piece of the Krull ship into the scarlet jungle (as he plans to continue to work on space rocket research in secret), while continuing to sentence other villains into the Phantom Zone like Faora Hu-Ul, General Zod and his cousin, Kru-El (see Phantom Zone).  

Jor-El tests a rocket with his sons dog, Krypto, but that is knocked off course, sending Krypto into space.  Jor-El heads to the scarlet jungle to get Krull rocket fragment, pursued by an agent of the science council.   Jor-El retrieves the rocket engine (using his anti-gravity device) and fights off the agent.  At home, exhausted and getting the jungle fever, Lara worries for her husband's health.  The Phantom Zone villains try to mentally enslave Jor-El to use the Phantom Zone projector to release them, but Lara stops Jor-El in time.  Free from the fever, Jor-El sneaks the Phantom Zone projector into Krypton's last rocket launch (sending Kru-El's weapons into space).  

Jor-El plans to test his new rocket engine with Beppo, and meets Lar Gand from Daxam, whom he gives a star chart to Earth.  Here, the last tremors of Krypton start, with Jor-El planning to send his son, Kal-El, to Earth.  Lara chooses to stay, knowing without her weight, the rocket has a better chance of reaching Earth, and she could not bear to live without her love, Jor-El.  Kal-El leaves Krypton in the rocket as Krypton explodes...a fiery star to equal the love of Jor-El and Lara.

Jor-El sent Krypto into space in Adventure Comics #210, Jor-El fights the Phantom Zoners and launches the projector into space in Superboy #104, Lar Gand gets directions to Earth in Superboy #88, Jor-El tapes a message for Kal-El in Superboy #89 and Beppo sneaks aboard the rocket Kal-El takes to Earth as Krypton explodes in Superboy #76, ending the saga of Jor-El and how his love for Lara started and ended.  

Celebrating Artist Steve Leialoha

Celebrating the birthday of artist Steve Leialoha, born on this date (January 27, 1952).

Here, he covered two covers, the first crossover between the Justice League International and Suicide Squad, resolving a storyline of Batman being at war with Rick Flagg's Suicide Squad that had started in the Legends mini-series in Justice League International #13 (May, 1988) and Suicide Squad #13 (May, 1988).

Superman Vs The Thing From 40,000 AD

Superman, being from Krypton, was an alien himself, but more often enough found himself protecting Earth from other alien invaders...

...but, there were times he also protected Earth from invaders from other times, as he did when he faced the Thing from 40,000 A.D. (covers by Wayne Boring/Stan Kaye and Denys Cowan/Bob Smith.

The Thing From 40,000 A.D.!

In Superman #87 (February, 1954) by Bill Woolfolk, Wayne Boring and Stan Kaye, Superman found himself in a jam, as a strange protoplasmic creature landed outside of Metropolis.  The Thing quickly adapted to the land, copying what it found.  Clark Kent went to investigate as the U.S. Army was as well, and, as Superman, stopped a truck full of explosives from going off (as the Thing set it on fire to distract the army from his impersonation of one of its members).

As the Thing pillaged scientific labs the area around Metropolis, Superman was following, finding it and its lair (where it was building a time machine to go back to where he came from to conquer Earth).  Superman confronted The Thing, first as Clark Kent, then as Superman, tricking it into an area where a H-Bomb test was to happen...and, leaving it there when the H-Bomb went off.  

Finding no trace of the Thing, Superman assumed it was dead. 

Metropolis Wasn't Build In A Day...Or Was It?

Starting off on the planet Kuraq, as a meteor with a familiar looking red and blue figure crashes on the planet is DC Comics Presents #89 (January, 1986) by Bob Rozakis, Todd Klein, Alex Saviuk and Ricardo Villagran.  On that planet were members of the Omega Men (an alliance of various species from the Vegan System, here...cat like Tigorr, bird like Harpis and newcomer Oho-Besh), who were enjoying the success in finding a home from refugees, when they were interrupted by the crashing meteor and a whirlwind of activity, building a stone replica of Metropolis!

Here, the aliens found themselves facing what they thought was Superman, as he oddly went through the motions he did as he faced the Thing, with the Omega Men taking the place of the villains.  This continued all the way to the site of the H-Bomb test....where Superman was incinerated.  Or was he?  The real Superman showed up (as the Omega Men had called for him) and revealed that was the Thing (whom Superman thought was dead) living Superman's life at the time.  Superman and the Omega Men left this planet as it was too strange (and didn't know that only the Thing's body was destroyed, and its essence stayed with the energy beings who populated this planet).