Remembering Artist Keith Giffen

Remembering artist Keith Giffen on his birthday (November 30, 1952 - October 9, 2023) with a look at his covers for the Omega Men, a Baxter (enhanced paper) series.  The Omega Men were a team of citizens of the Vega system, who had banded together to fight the oppression of the Citadel, having a system wide war.  Their members included leader Primus, his wife Kalista, cat like Tigorr, cloaked Nimbus, rocky Broot, serpentine Demonia and winged Harpis.  During this run, bounty hunter Lobo was introduced, and the Omega Men suffered a shake up, as Tigorr took control...and defeated the Citadel!

Omega Men #1 and #2, (April and May, 1983)

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Omega Men #3 and #4, (June and July, 1983)

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Omega Men #5 and #6, (August and September, 1983)

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Lost Sgt. Rock

It seems at times that Sgt. Rock was lost, whether being redirected by a superior officer, or working with out a compass, but Easy Company could always count on the Rock....as shown on these two covers for Sgt. Rock #334 and #335 (November and December, 1979) by Joe Kubert.

Happy Thanksgiving 2025

A happy Thanksgiving to all.

May you have more fun, and not face a turkey as big as this pilgrim did, in this cover to More Fun Comics #26 (November, 1937) by Vin Sullivan.

Blackhawk's Batman Villains

Blackhawk had changed from a straight war comic to almost a team fighting super villains....but, they had a few interesting villains by name.

Blackhawk fought (a) Mr. Freeze and Cat-Man before Batman did!

Mr. Freeze

In Blackhawk #117 (October, 1957) with art by Dick Dillin and Chuck Cuidera, the Blackhawks were helping to test inventions by three scientists, when the items were stolen by a masked man, whom the Blackhawks called Mr. Freeze (due to his using an ice-ray, one of the items, on them). 

The team eventually deduced it was one of the scientists, Professor Thurman, who was the real criminal, using his robot to commit the crimes.

Cat-Man

While in Blackhawk #141 (October, 1959) also with Dillin/Cuidera art, the team encounters a villain who is willing to take incredible chances with his life, as he feels he was gifted with the lives of a cat by a witch doctor in Africa.  

Blackhawk and his crew convince him he has used up his extra lives, and not wanting to lose his last one, Cat-Man surrenders.

"The Real Ones"

But, Batman's Mr. Freeze debuted in Batman #121 (February, 1959, as Mr. Zero) and his Cat-Man in Detective Comics #311 (June, 1963), going on to long careers facing Batman and more.  

Though they aren't the same characters, Blackhawk had them as villains before Batman!

Sgt. Rock Art

Here, a couple of Sgt. Rock covers showing a slightly different view of war and war comics by Joe Kubert, and quite the stunning looks from issues #370 and #371 of November and December, 1982.

 

Remembering Artist Steve Lightle

Remembering artist Steve Lightle on his birthday (November 19, 1959 - January 8, 2021) with a couple of his covers to Conan the Barbarian, featuring Conan and Red Sonja - #244 and #246 of May and July, 1991.

Remembering Artist Darwyn Cooke

Remembering artist Darwyn Cooke on his birthday (November 16, 1962 - May 14, 2016).  

An incredibly talented artist and writer, with a love of comics...remembered here by the first four issues of Catwoman, which he did the covers for.

Catwoman #1 and #2, (January and February, 2002)

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Catwoman #3 and #4, (March and April, 2002)

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