tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12154664295710653622024-03-24T23:09:22.110-07:00Retro Cover ProjectReno Maniquishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721086410710743203noreply@blogger.comBlogger75125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1215466429571065362.post-45537597278647756742022-11-21T19:33:00.000-08:002022-11-21T19:33:01.376-08:00Hare Today, Gone Tomorrow<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNiZManPwyODUPXaMLpI1c-VWt7JGxO0gobEOUPfcv__iqPfd4jZUOByavZk2t47EONk8X4SIB47AaPmq6rjgoQhl-Qb0-FG_9bWlwSIOtw7TMYWzXYJ9nTNWalJmXsuh40XFz3Rgd3MHzlEDqNcbXqy268mcMcshqmwhKMYHJDiiun6oA0NpdhPQ/s1600/075-zoo-crew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1131" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNiZManPwyODUPXaMLpI1c-VWt7JGxO0gobEOUPfcv__iqPfd4jZUOByavZk2t47EONk8X4SIB47AaPmq6rjgoQhl-Qb0-FG_9bWlwSIOtw7TMYWzXYJ9nTNWalJmXsuh40XFz3Rgd3MHzlEDqNcbXqy268mcMcshqmwhKMYHJDiiun6oA0NpdhPQ/w453-h640/075-zoo-crew.jpg" width="453" /></a></div> <p></p><p>Would Captain Carrot and the Zoo Crew have been more successful if they had an animated series? Could they be revived nowadays as an animated feature? League of Super Pets was a bit of a success. Maybe the world is ready for anthropomorphic superheroes.<br /></p><p> Apologies to Neal Adams for the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snowbirds_Don%27t_Fly" target="_blank">Green Lantern no. 85</a> parody.<br /></p>Reno Maniquishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721086410710743203noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1215466429571065362.post-69965575762676895202021-03-10T22:03:00.001-08:002021-03-10T22:03:52.111-08:00Get Hardy<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkIKaJzwezA_33e8tNM0ZoDnZ4SpFoHST9FWWwh0wDjvREhWwMP7d2viUvIevs_Wtj2i0kthhM0J-09awImcicYTo5LMoXqy8TBUKCV08pyChhxj8IroXpT1fTlHKGMor6vd3nzNKRmXk/s1600/074-Get-Hardy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1131" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkIKaJzwezA_33e8tNM0ZoDnZ4SpFoHST9FWWwh0wDjvREhWwMP7d2viUvIevs_Wtj2i0kthhM0J-09awImcicYTo5LMoXqy8TBUKCV08pyChhxj8IroXpT1fTlHKGMor6vd3nzNKRmXk/w453-h640/074-Get-Hardy.jpg" width="453" /></a></div><p></p><p>I liked the dynamic between Spider-Man and Black Cat back when they were together. In a nice twist, she liked him as Spidey but not as Peter. Unlike past relationships where Spider-Man was the hindrance to Peter having a normal relationship with a woman, this time it was Peter who came between Spidey and Black Cat.<br /></p>Reno Maniquishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721086410710743203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1215466429571065362.post-61956763354423901752020-06-21T20:03:00.000-07:002020-06-21T20:03:27.343-07:00Shadows<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg19uXWesLINej5jWNBwlWLewRQDMmqKQr2fC5YC7J98tzKo1kZJozXlI4-L446votjoex8jvT2jhOR4qwkCmJt16TlBHtwCa8iPQQYHQMgb0SIdAmgvOmEfYrz-VKX8bvuB2N3uiRsNbU/s1600/073-Shadows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1132" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg19uXWesLINej5jWNBwlWLewRQDMmqKQr2fC5YC7J98tzKo1kZJozXlI4-L446votjoex8jvT2jhOR4qwkCmJt16TlBHtwCa8iPQQYHQMgb0SIdAmgvOmEfYrz-VKX8bvuB2N3uiRsNbU/s640/073-Shadows.jpg" width="451" /></a></div>
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After starting out the first issue of this series with the Shadow in his original guise as a pulp hero, by the second one he was in full superhero mode. Maybe the folks at Archie comics took inspiration from DC's Golden Age Sandman, who took a similar route?<br />
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That green and blue/purple suit is fugly, though.Reno Maniquishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721086410710743203noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1215466429571065362.post-57541116550990684872020-05-03T21:49:00.000-07:002020-05-03T21:49:37.074-07:00Doc & Savage<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglkWbEWtWJOBDReVJED4GFJANqF0QaVT0n087YGe7Bk9UfkAPryQ9bTQQCnfLB33F0vJ45xE5rgkydT7DZpayfqwSk1bKBiL4b8jXSnCQKQvPBOcrP1O17t8_05-6k1WTxAbAGfQex_dM/s1600/072-doc-%2526-savage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1131" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglkWbEWtWJOBDReVJED4GFJANqF0QaVT0n087YGe7Bk9UfkAPryQ9bTQQCnfLB33F0vJ45xE5rgkydT7DZpayfqwSk1bKBiL4b8jXSnCQKQvPBOcrP1O17t8_05-6k1WTxAbAGfQex_dM/s640/072-doc-%2526-savage.jpg" width="451" /></a></div>
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The Hulk's look has varied over the decades, but my favorite is the one I grew up with... the Sal Buscema version. I remember Sal bouncing around a lot of Marvel comics from the 1960s to the 1980s, even up until the 1990s. I think The Incredible Hulk was his longest continuous stint. Which has me wondering... Does Sal Buscema hold the record for most comic pages drawn for Marvel?Reno Maniquishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721086410710743203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1215466429571065362.post-89990459047063682052019-11-01T00:38:00.000-07:002019-11-01T00:38:58.348-07:00Pretty Fly (For a White Gal)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihVkJ9UuzI_pd5dWTyxRYAD_KPldMK8XtOuunqDHe57nd_w_bnssc_CkookCjnMkmj9SqYMfdccARTNE5mSkKsbA2pzTWSx4tFxsilWJrdEGFdJ19sVrg2lTZCqHqUGFfs2dVp1PouMbQ/s1600/071-fly-girl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1131" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihVkJ9UuzI_pd5dWTyxRYAD_KPldMK8XtOuunqDHe57nd_w_bnssc_CkookCjnMkmj9SqYMfdccARTNE5mSkKsbA2pzTWSx4tFxsilWJrdEGFdJ19sVrg2lTZCqHqUGFfs2dVp1PouMbQ/s640/071-fly-girl.jpg" width="452" /></a></div>
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This cover is a meta-comentary of sorts, because from what I know, Fly-Girl remains the property of Archie Comics, but her male counterpart, The Fly, is owned by Joe Simon's estate. Hopefully in the future Archie Comics can use the character again alongside the other Mighty Crusaders. Although because of recent disappointing (sales-wise) attempts at bringing back their superhero universe, they might not be too willing to pay license fees for a character that may not be a financial success.Reno Maniquishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721086410710743203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1215466429571065362.post-20078277476933076932019-09-13T00:53:00.001-07:002019-09-13T00:53:59.626-07:00Electric Bill<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAQDp2kC0PmSk5vydknbMlHOOuDXcihBJ5xjoGfLwq3ECrORJvzjlMk3s-ZbeEHKtcWp8d3B5ZSomOPG16gjaHa_84KSl18mOqmVZ3rDXOoGA6n4dEVXgPWHrpnLZoJ8_VdygKqpHOo7I/s1600/070-beta-ray-bill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1131" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAQDp2kC0PmSk5vydknbMlHOOuDXcihBJ5xjoGfLwq3ECrORJvzjlMk3s-ZbeEHKtcWp8d3B5ZSomOPG16gjaHa_84KSl18mOqmVZ3rDXOoGA6n4dEVXgPWHrpnLZoJ8_VdygKqpHOo7I/s640/070-beta-ray-bill.jpg" width="452" /></a></div>
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Beta Ray Bill is a case of not judging a book by its cover. His first appearance had him smashing the old Thor logo, and his monstrous appearance suggested that he'd be a villain. Although he was at odds with the Thunder God at first, his nobility shone through, and was deemed worthy of wielding Mjolnir. Readers even took to him favorably, and he remains one of the best secondary characters added to the Marvel Thor mythos.Reno Maniquishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721086410710743203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1215466429571065362.post-60460180299275561752019-06-27T03:35:00.000-07:002019-06-27T03:52:00.956-07:00Heavy Mettle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiLuo75bPpQxNUyR5NNfkv3zZkzgUExPBDXQMa-4K8C25RbogUn9wuXDTXQAO2FYcWCimQpT3WBEI5QqxacQdkxOW1V5jEGQqjtHN_VdGHBXCPu1Ou7cBaU-a0pH5eUAd2RhSXkwPSHQY/s1600/069-Magnus-VS-Megatron.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1131" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiLuo75bPpQxNUyR5NNfkv3zZkzgUExPBDXQMa-4K8C25RbogUn9wuXDTXQAO2FYcWCimQpT3WBEI5QqxacQdkxOW1V5jEGQqjtHN_VdGHBXCPu1Ou7cBaU-a0pH5eUAd2RhSXkwPSHQY/s640/069-Magnus-VS-Megatron.jpg" width="452" /></a></div>
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Yeah, this match-up wouldn't really be possible back then, since Magnus, Robot Fighter 4000 A.D. (the original Gold Key series) ended its run in 1977 and The Transformers debuted much later in 1984. But it's such a natural crossover, right? Since Magnus keeps getting revived every now and then, hopefully it happens in the future (pun intended).<br />
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And, yes, I know that Megatron is supposed to have his gun and back barrel protrusion on his right side, and I painted this one originally flipped to where Magnus is on the right side of the page. But when I was putting on the masthead, the layout looked better the other way around.Reno Maniquishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721086410710743203noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1215466429571065362.post-35068475956098698642019-06-20T20:17:00.000-07:002019-06-20T20:17:03.741-07:00The Boys in Blue<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiaWrQeuTEnhKuQZjbt4FdxUyNF7vTmhruULFRLUcqd07gwxtT363BsVdErYewpMKTVoar5tJorK-paB68yD0oA2FSPiGPutTfH-7l_093aVNC1i4S_jwaROzq73sARELl_IdXrJtTzZM/s1600/068-Superboy-CaptainMarvelJr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1131" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiaWrQeuTEnhKuQZjbt4FdxUyNF7vTmhruULFRLUcqd07gwxtT363BsVdErYewpMKTVoar5tJorK-paB68yD0oA2FSPiGPutTfH-7l_093aVNC1i4S_jwaROzq73sARELl_IdXrJtTzZM/s640/068-Superboy-CaptainMarvelJr.jpg" width="452" /></a></div>
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I wasn't too keen on the idea of Superman having adventures in his teen years as Superboy. How long does that last in real time? Seven years? Yet his teen adventures seem endless, not to mention his time with the Legion of Super-Heroes. Heck, even the Legion had to grow up, and when DC wanted to keep them young, they just kept rebooting them.Reno Maniquishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721086410710743203noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1215466429571065362.post-37697590437254803062019-05-26T23:28:00.000-07:002019-05-26T23:28:42.171-07:00A Nightmare on Yancy Street<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv3lLGmeeYmFb3NFQ0s9ior6Xn1HgdY5U-XYLONQuBvWMbyV7WhDL22q_RBeIUC700CSaoyN8bRXrJff_lOkmfollrjAETZYIn_jH0EMWlr1_e6OSZkANyAiS0EqjIOHrgFddlohsoEzY/s1600/067-fantastic-four.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1131" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv3lLGmeeYmFb3NFQ0s9ior6Xn1HgdY5U-XYLONQuBvWMbyV7WhDL22q_RBeIUC700CSaoyN8bRXrJff_lOkmfollrjAETZYIn_jH0EMWlr1_e6OSZkANyAiS0EqjIOHrgFddlohsoEzY/s640/067-fantastic-four.jpg" width="452" /> </a></div>
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Even though the Thing was my favorite FF member, I didn't mind when She-Hulk took over for a while. She meshed well with the rest of the team, no doubt due to John Byrne's excellent writing.</div>
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I don't think I've seen the Fantastic Four go up against Nightmare before, or even had much interactions with magical characters in their own title.</div>
<br />Reno Maniquishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721086410710743203noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1215466429571065362.post-72992731821242823932019-04-21T04:46:00.000-07:002019-04-21T04:46:23.461-07:00Hare vs. Hare Match<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCjBZXsimp3ZCaEdq0UtE4EFqe12TjVbhoyQ5Dfn0nbHaSQ6U8Jj9V1f0GKj4CW220_7YBcStlck3-zrMZs-KGA_wKUoXY0_0ARJ7nMkCRIc_qvFY9fd7AeZ_RMkNtKwaUCAglEGXhcHM/s1600/066-carrot-v-hoppy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1131" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCjBZXsimp3ZCaEdq0UtE4EFqe12TjVbhoyQ5Dfn0nbHaSQ6U8Jj9V1f0GKj4CW220_7YBcStlck3-zrMZs-KGA_wKUoXY0_0ARJ7nMkCRIc_qvFY9fd7AeZ_RMkNtKwaUCAglEGXhcHM/s640/066-carrot-v-hoppy.jpg" width="452" /></a></div>
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My first issue of Captain Carrot and his Amazing Zoo Crew! was the title's last. The Changeling (from the Teen Titans) was a guest star, and that made me pick up the book. I enjoyed it a lot, so I went scouring for back issues. A TPB collection would be most welcome, DC.<br />
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Oh, and Happy Easter to all!Reno Maniquishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721086410710743203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1215466429571065362.post-78918495368215746222019-03-04T22:30:00.000-08:002019-03-04T22:30:31.831-08:00Miracle Misters<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1GQKZNMLLS0VUTObdvmXVn4iWcWgG-IGj71ol8agDEzgrD7alfxkbf1hLEUs9Srw8R7n07n9w5vSYYq3FIxfINM06xMhsAbG9w6wP1ErFu5epwBiG-78_HCq_VYnZJKORxdNrjHcH9zw/s1600/065-miracleman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1131" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1GQKZNMLLS0VUTObdvmXVn4iWcWgG-IGj71ol8agDEzgrD7alfxkbf1hLEUs9Srw8R7n07n9w5vSYYq3FIxfINM06xMhsAbG9w6wP1ErFu5epwBiG-78_HCq_VYnZJKORxdNrjHcH9zw/s640/065-miracleman.jpg" width="452" /></a></div>
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I only read parts of Miracleman's story in issues of Warrior Magazine, back when he was still known only as Marvelman. Later reprinted then continued by Eclipse Comics, I never bought those issues since Chuck Beckum/Austen's art didn't appeal to me, neither did Rick Veitch's work. The later John Totleben issues were a masterpiece, though. But Alan Davis is still the single artist I really think of when I see the character (not a knock on Garry Leach, who also did excellent work).<br />
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As for Stardust the Super Wizard, I only learned of him a few years ago, and the stories are bat-$#!+ crazy. Give his adventures a read at the <i><b><a href="https://digitalcomicmuseum.com/index.php?dlid=31115" target="_blank">Digital Comic Museum</a></b></i>.Reno Maniquishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721086410710743203noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1215466429571065362.post-55381555728158687992019-01-30T03:24:00.000-08:002019-01-30T03:24:20.749-08:00One Punched Man<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNTq6vfcW87oQnfTLOVxlvR4bD4uC5PGE2WejMwWl8xH3vIBwFmi3-eGwXl024CmqbJdLrJRakSyKXQlQVWYC38PEm04HEvQhJRZCOanTv2-moOnEzMsAGcb3S9O0GQGLjBPwVIs1rc_Q/s1600/064-steel-sterling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1131" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNTq6vfcW87oQnfTLOVxlvR4bD4uC5PGE2WejMwWl8xH3vIBwFmi3-eGwXl024CmqbJdLrJRakSyKXQlQVWYC38PEm04HEvQhJRZCOanTv2-moOnEzMsAGcb3S9O0GQGLjBPwVIs1rc_Q/s640/064-steel-sterling.jpg" width="452" /></a></div>
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This was a confusing title from Red Circle. It started out as Lancelot Strong: The Shield , then became Shield/Steel Sterling then settled on just Steel Sterling for the remainder of its short run. Before Steel Sterling took over as the main character, the Shield was seen fighting Deathstar (it's a wonder Lucasfilm didn't sue) as they plunged into a volcano, never to be seen again. Did they both die? I can't remember if he kept appearing in Mighty Crusaders after that, but it seemed like an unresolved plotline. This is my take on Deathstar re-emerging and Steel having to take him on in the Shield's memory.Reno Maniquishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721086410710743203noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1215466429571065362.post-52204656481086022172019-01-05T06:22:00.000-08:002019-01-05T06:22:35.285-08:00The Ghost Who (Cat)Walks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglzuY4itDbRA4jtztZHXvV5m2WaW8VaSiJMbCGS60VXvLZt8TL_ISIYdwV-GqFTUos0xMJHYcEssjcBC71uG8LGv-P0fwA7Q0hVaT9Nx6KAMboL8s_S3qZTsFUTckXAoya4KgE5aOo-bc/s1600/063-rainbow-phantom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1131" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglzuY4itDbRA4jtztZHXvV5m2WaW8VaSiJMbCGS60VXvLZt8TL_ISIYdwV-GqFTUos0xMJHYcEssjcBC71uG8LGv-P0fwA7Q0hVaT9Nx6KAMboL8s_S3qZTsFUTckXAoya4KgE5aOo-bc/s640/063-rainbow-phantom.jpg" width="452" /></a></div>
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This is obviously a riff on Sheldon Moldoff's cover for <a href="http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/Detective_Comics_Vol_1_241" target="_blank"><b>Detective Comics 241</b></a>, featuring "The Rainbow Batman." It's kind of appropriate for the Phantom, since his costume is colored differently across several countries. The most famous one is the iconic purple, but in other countries it's either red or blue, mostly in Europe. I think I've read somewhere that creator Lee Falk intended it to be gray, like how it looks in the daily newspaper strips.Reno Maniquishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721086410710743203noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1215466429571065362.post-40343270929934711322018-12-18T03:50:00.000-08:002018-12-18T03:50:44.598-08:00AVP: Arachnid vs. Predator<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4xvHtr9tohY0gPZfvsN817I9tpCj0UYUhtsGJsEW4oToRH0A1uGgzE5KU2wX72_TjPv-URgrBX0uWB_6L2TpF20yhkgYyx1XMRYHqqIZfS9jw5LbyZ6f8QSB2GOfQNO428sQNQhUeSrY/s1600/062-spidey-kraven.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1131" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4xvHtr9tohY0gPZfvsN817I9tpCj0UYUhtsGJsEW4oToRH0A1uGgzE5KU2wX72_TjPv-URgrBX0uWB_6L2TpF20yhkgYyx1XMRYHqqIZfS9jw5LbyZ6f8QSB2GOfQNO428sQNQhUeSrY/s640/062-spidey-kraven.jpg" width="452" /></a></div>
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Among Spider-Man's major foes, Kraven was the one I liked the least. Maybe it was his goofy costume. I don't know. Even when I read Kraven's Last Hunt for the first time, I thought it was just okay (awesome Mike Zeck and Bob McLeod art, though). I loved it, though, when I re-read it when I was older. I guess my appreciation for it grew when I matured. And, yeah, I think I like Kraven much better now, too... Goofy costume and all.Reno Maniquishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721086410710743203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1215466429571065362.post-91336728383214907222018-12-14T00:32:00.000-08:002018-12-14T00:32:57.962-08:00Claws Encounter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUaZsNiqOgDP1OFMUz9CqHtHJjNG1CCDGM1pjrbgA6Mi2akBfyw_1TClAExlCjw_BKr9mS5o9uRcUROl3HA3nEjypSFRy4On16RlsQ0JwE8MJPia_Ha5HHWuZNJ5c1aA7gBy1vmbTskuA/s1600/061-wolverine-v-puma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1131" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUaZsNiqOgDP1OFMUz9CqHtHJjNG1CCDGM1pjrbgA6Mi2akBfyw_1TClAExlCjw_BKr9mS5o9uRcUROl3HA3nEjypSFRy4On16RlsQ0JwE8MJPia_Ha5HHWuZNJ5c1aA7gBy1vmbTskuA/s640/061-wolverine-v-puma.jpg" width="452" /></a></div>
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The brown suit is still my favorite Wolverine costume. It was during those times that Logan was still not ridiculously over-powered (or OP, as the kids say nowadays). He was hard to kill, but it wasn't impossible.<br />
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I've always liked Native American characters when I was growing up, and Puma is no exception. He debuted as a Spider-Man adversary, but even then he didn't seem villainous. I think he's more of a Deathstroke-like character, straggling the line between friend or foe.Reno Maniquishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721086410710743203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1215466429571065362.post-7495358899572718412018-10-18T20:25:00.000-07:002018-10-18T20:25:09.486-07:00Arak in a Hard Place<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqvSjoZhEyRIHVCNkuPAmiuy7sBFw-H957gHycIO20yul3UuuM2snHU05UTlNnTbJOEyxdibTDU4DuhKUK_YBhhkETQHcjnDcmYeKutPgy9Hniz_eZi9PzmhibxBp25J0RD_-ZexvhPxI/s1600/060-arak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1131" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqvSjoZhEyRIHVCNkuPAmiuy7sBFw-H957gHycIO20yul3UuuM2snHU05UTlNnTbJOEyxdibTDU4DuhKUK_YBhhkETQHcjnDcmYeKutPgy9Hniz_eZi9PzmhibxBp25J0RD_-ZexvhPxI/s640/060-arak.jpg" width="452" /> </a></div>
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I was maybe 8 or 9 years old when I bought Arak no. 4 on a whim at a small general merchandise store. I don't know why it caught my eye, the cover was Arak about to attack a monstrous tree with some people struggling to free themselves from its grasp. I liked it well enough, but it didn't compel me to buy any more Arak comics. I guess I was too much into superheroes back then (although I would buy DC's horror/mystery books whenever I'd see them. Go figure). I was already an adult when I bought a few more from back issue bins.</div>
<br />Reno Maniquishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721086410710743203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1215466429571065362.post-24611967479742168702018-09-26T23:05:00.001-07:002018-09-26T23:05:21.710-07:00Rock 'n' Wrestling<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXPnzdQpYacsyCClIeqQPFGNa3fl3MQQekOsdcZmz1DQeXieM2NkVkIHJHkrHPp1wXlljyZeJfgG1I_pBgh3xxIBgvYUXft5PkjG8qEDGKLwNoeXFaGt54m0dC5wKpm67RJWYjrXB8RP4/s1600/059-Thing-x-D-Man.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1131" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXPnzdQpYacsyCClIeqQPFGNa3fl3MQQekOsdcZmz1DQeXieM2NkVkIHJHkrHPp1wXlljyZeJfgG1I_pBgh3xxIBgvYUXft5PkjG8qEDGKLwNoeXFaGt54m0dC5wKpm67RJWYjrXB8RP4/s640/059-Thing-x-D-Man.jpg" width="452" /></a></div>
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Ben Grimm, the Thing, is my favorite Fantastic Four member. I guess it also holds true for a lot of readers since he was the only one who spun off successfully on a solo series (a number of them, actually). Marvel was trying to do the same with the Human Torch, but with little success. I guess Ben's troubled nature while still trying to be a positive guy resonated more with fans, as opposed to Johnny's cocky young man who has everything going for him.Reno Maniquishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721086410710743203noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1215466429571065362.post-79471633455140053062018-09-05T05:17:00.000-07:002018-09-05T05:17:53.607-07:00Risky Business<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvXpKum2uEbHHrRtSRH7JyViUKAMY4QaTebdueR33iWdxaaofU5inhcUyObXNeUFhsazluKusdgeHnm9IVfIWJMn18CDabBloe3fbG9497lNTwKyr8cDiCZJ6nwaFfw1s3gZcMZL6t2Rs/s1600/058-blue-beetle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1131" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvXpKum2uEbHHrRtSRH7JyViUKAMY4QaTebdueR33iWdxaaofU5inhcUyObXNeUFhsazluKusdgeHnm9IVfIWJMn18CDabBloe3fbG9497lNTwKyr8cDiCZJ6nwaFfw1s3gZcMZL6t2Rs/s640/058-blue-beetle.jpg" width="452" /></a></div>
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John Byrne's take on Lex Luthor as a ruthless businessman (based on Marv Wolfman's idea, I believe) was very different from the mad scientist of the Pre-Crisis universe, but it worked. He became much more dangerous in my eyes, and it became difficult for Superman to bring him to justice since he could just employ an army of lawyers to avoid being imprisoned.</div>
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I think this clash would be something Ted Kord would lose, since during those days Ted was not too keen on running a company. Indeed, by the end of the Blue Beetle series his father had wrested control of the business from him.</div>
<br />Reno Maniquishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721086410710743203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1215466429571065362.post-6810131691298706212018-08-28T02:34:00.001-07:002018-08-28T02:34:11.204-07:00Red, White, and Sacre Bleu!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLRnSGpXjcZK9burMZLFqHJmfn2Go-Oqhh3lJnC_RLfSHJeLhO-hoch-srJlHz1yPvY16m43I4IzXqkNLcPqD63pi0hyVW1_i4tkzovsk7uWvw-PZAqinnPFFQbQyQQVgqiaoozxxbmp8/s1600/057-cap%2526batroc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1131" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLRnSGpXjcZK9burMZLFqHJmfn2Go-Oqhh3lJnC_RLfSHJeLhO-hoch-srJlHz1yPvY16m43I4IzXqkNLcPqD63pi0hyVW1_i4tkzovsk7uWvw-PZAqinnPFFQbQyQQVgqiaoozxxbmp8/s640/057-cap%2526batroc.jpg" width="452" /></a></div>
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I first saw Batroc the (or should that be "zee"?) Leaper in a <b><a href="http://www.themarvelproject.com/2012/04/crazy-magazine-house-ad.html" target="_blank">Marvel house ad for Crazy Magazine</a></b>. I really haven't read too many stories with him in it, but I kinda like him because he demonstrated some sort of code of honor way back when Roger Stern and John Byrne used him during their all-too-brief run in Captain America.<br />
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I can totally see him teaming up with Cap for a while, but I know Steve isn't a fool who will trust him much.Reno Maniquishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721086410710743203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1215466429571065362.post-59254652518500121372018-08-23T02:30:00.000-07:002018-08-23T02:30:40.683-07:00Black Magic (Cat)Woman<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVCD0QRrwViN3V0sC3WFq7bJm-DsN-s2Dp-YV6CSUW9NTlBVDttlleJWvPR6U1BluWYNOsilPVawpcHCI1bgRql2jmywnKsLUOvFTQcaNu0sygs41RBcsweuXEsd05Zi_jwtyF7OzI4GE/s1600/056-catwoman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1131" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVCD0QRrwViN3V0sC3WFq7bJm-DsN-s2Dp-YV6CSUW9NTlBVDttlleJWvPR6U1BluWYNOsilPVawpcHCI1bgRql2jmywnKsLUOvFTQcaNu0sygs41RBcsweuXEsd05Zi_jwtyF7OzI4GE/s640/056-catwoman.jpg" width="452" /> </a></div>
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This is my favorite Catwoman outfit. I know it's very impractical for running across rooftops, but during the time she wore this I don't remember her sprinting across Gotham's buildings. I think that version of Catwoman happened post-Crisis, specifically during Frank Miller and David Mazzuchelli's Batman: Year One.</div>
<br />Reno Maniquishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721086410710743203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1215466429571065362.post-18111099174775681112018-08-17T05:05:00.000-07:002018-08-17T05:05:49.968-07:00Billy and Willie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAaDnCzVdURxaMkUvWj0zqnVbJCS_vcFi4chsuLSdIbLqVqza3Jb912LC8QU678QpDGLiNkBI8UqCcqhCHMDJcEGhkx63zSxz8vo7xaoBGaNxIOwihbsObcenShJCCnhYDB4PY2jNXV7w/s1600/055-shazamVSthunder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1131" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAaDnCzVdURxaMkUvWj0zqnVbJCS_vcFi4chsuLSdIbLqVqza3Jb912LC8QU678QpDGLiNkBI8UqCcqhCHMDJcEGhkx63zSxz8vo7xaoBGaNxIOwihbsObcenShJCCnhYDB4PY2jNXV7w/s640/055-shazamVSthunder.jpg" width="451" /> </a></div>
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It's been over half a year since I last posted! I was very busy with work but now I've been afforded a bit of a break so I managed to finish a new piece. I dabbled with a modern coloring style, hopefully I still managed to capture the essence of 1970s/1980s comic books with this one.</div>
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Captain Marvel is one of my all-time favorites ever since I first picked up Shazam no. 2, with the cover depicting him flying straight out of a comic book, and as a kid I didn't realize that the guy who fought the Man of Steel in Superman no. 276 was not the same guy. That was Captain Thunder, DC's test run to see if readers would want to see Superman and Captain Marvel battle it out. I guess it worked because eventually the two heroes would collide for real a short while later.</div>
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It would have been a hoot to see Marvel and Thunder encounter one another. And if you look closely at my depiction above you'll see who's masterminding this fight.</div>
Reno Maniquishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721086410710743203noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1215466429571065362.post-46219369401522154032018-01-03T22:05:00.000-08:002018-01-03T22:05:36.079-08:00Parker Posin'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitYwFiu7yBLCkqXTkmWqHWOzNXB2rFS7xVSg9Xs7nqsxtkI7gQUj5kd91J621iSduZiCde-3c3QHOGDCo_MJkmIU8QZXS_YooIAihVN_q7CMCEn3DZz_uXUNJgh_4limZXXYcBMO9fydI/s1600/054-spider-man-homecoming.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1131" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitYwFiu7yBLCkqXTkmWqHWOzNXB2rFS7xVSg9Xs7nqsxtkI7gQUj5kd91J621iSduZiCde-3c3QHOGDCo_MJkmIU8QZXS_YooIAihVN_q7CMCEn3DZz_uXUNJgh_4limZXXYcBMO9fydI/s640/054-spider-man-homecoming.jpg" width="452" /></a></div>
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Out of all the actors who played Spider-Man, Tom Holland seems to be the one who's really into the role. In some of his social media posts, he really seems to think that he IS Spider-Man in real life.<br />
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The artwork above was colored by my daughter, Jade. You can see more of her work at <a href="http://galaxymascot.deviantart.com/" target="_blank"><b>galaxymascot.deviantart.com</b></a> and at <a href="http://instagram.com/ta.kage" target="_blank"><b>instagram.com/ta.kage</b></a>.Reno Maniquishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721086410710743203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1215466429571065362.post-49638516120044832352017-11-14T03:12:00.001-08:002017-11-14T03:12:38.323-08:00Flower Power<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLnRLO_2L6nnVU268bH4PJY75VsHHbYdSSkU6c6aU6aeUZtDKhLKMKxAPL3mbVxGwC75wwkGLRxOthXG3AzHk-nqnbLYVXFiYR8mQptu-EXHMNkZxqhDAcZ0CAKmXi0m1u5DIzcxX9N2o/s1600/053-black-orchid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1132" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLnRLO_2L6nnVU268bH4PJY75VsHHbYdSSkU6c6aU6aeUZtDKhLKMKxAPL3mbVxGwC75wwkGLRxOthXG3AzHk-nqnbLYVXFiYR8mQptu-EXHMNkZxqhDAcZ0CAKmXi0m1u5DIzcxX9N2o/s640/053-black-orchid.jpg" width="452" /> </a></div>
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The Black Orchid was a rarity because when she first appeared, she had no origin or backstory. It wouldn't be until more than a decade later that Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean would give her one. I wonder what co-creators Sheldon Mayer and Tony DeZuñiga had in mind for her, or if they intended her to just be a mysterious figure, like the Phantom Stranger. And did the lack of an origin kill interest in the character and prevented her from being a regular fixture in the DC Universe?<br /><br />In contrast, Lady Shiva seemed like she was created solely for the purpose of being a supporting character for Richard Dragon, Kung-Fu Fighter. But when she became a recurring character on the Batman titles, she became a mainstay of the DC Universe, flip-flopping from villain to anti-heroine. </div>
<br />Reno Maniquishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721086410710743203noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1215466429571065362.post-83423806227372132972017-10-05T04:08:00.000-07:002017-10-05T04:08:11.244-07:00Super Smash, Bro!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiKOwWjInE5hsby40iSpTWjb846k4e7GY8yN4z8iy0wvJYvBW024OHfMXs6pe3L1E6ldT4VlRDhY5saJfLK-_PzbzgWGZC5XL_aKk_FVrh_Pg6jtpmnGobyNVS3qbctLw4Igot9SK-uY4/s1600/052-superman-vs-ultraman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1131" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiKOwWjInE5hsby40iSpTWjb846k4e7GY8yN4z8iy0wvJYvBW024OHfMXs6pe3L1E6ldT4VlRDhY5saJfLK-_PzbzgWGZC5XL_aKk_FVrh_Pg6jtpmnGobyNVS3qbctLw4Igot9SK-uY4/s640/052-superman-vs-ultraman.jpg" width="452" /> </a></div>
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Ultraman (and by extension, the Crime Syndicate of America), to me, seemed like throwaway characters when they first appeared. It seemed like they were done specifically for the story in JL of A no. 29, and that should have been it. I guess I felt that way because their outfits didn't look well-designed, especially the monstrosity that the original <b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAYbByh4evp-StYJS4AvumYojCBZRJlSSJswzVrALUsCoaVH6SdwBfIwIIx0p3YZbBMbApHGHO_fqLbgge3cmYNe26hBk1y6sMvOWrzzwphNxiMnhixjEUo6cdEhGCXrkAdyXyH619Gn8/s1600/owlman.png" target="_blank">Owlman</a></b> wore. Also, their names sounded quite silly in comparison to their heroic counterparts.</div>
<br />Reno Maniquishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721086410710743203noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1215466429571065362.post-71223959412124362462017-09-14T20:23:00.000-07:002017-09-14T20:23:43.632-07:00Alternate Currents<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRVXAGkNctREwzanuIsdZ-ABGXRg86YR5lXtXd6Ey7wLMkAPvBPz6rBaynedHHPZyUMSgoOuWSgo8oZ5_HnMpkz8IvuwDydUpmXvjnbu_ZdR0zAOK_Ig4w2rx1xMwfM_f_qABct0Jzl-M/s1600/051-black-lightning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1132" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRVXAGkNctREwzanuIsdZ-ABGXRg86YR5lXtXd6Ey7wLMkAPvBPz6rBaynedHHPZyUMSgoOuWSgo8oZ5_HnMpkz8IvuwDydUpmXvjnbu_ZdR0zAOK_Ig4w2rx1xMwfM_f_qABct0Jzl-M/s640/051-black-lightning.jpg" width="452" /></a></div>
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Some people made fun of Black Lightning's afro wig way back when, but I thought it was a great idea. Realistically, a mask doesn't really hide one's identity, but add a wig and it might be enough to distract people from it. Plus, I thought it was cool that the wig was attached to the mask.</div>
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Black Lightning will have his own TV series soon, I hope it will be good.</div>
<br />Reno Maniquishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721086410710743203noreply@blogger.com1