Shane's 10 Favorite Wildstorm Covers!

I have been challenged by my very good friend, John Popa, to share my 10 Favorite Covers from Wildstorm Comics! Normally these challenges aren't much of a challenge, they're more of a fun excuse to look through old comics! But the Wildstorm challenge is a little different since Wildstorm was a company. I got to look through the companies entire range of comics to come up with my favorites! Still fun but a bit more work!

Wildstorm was Jim Lee's corner of the Image Comics company! Rob Liefeld had Extreme Studios, Marc Silvestri had Top Cow and so on. Jim Lee started with WildC.A.T.s and quickly expanded to Stormwatch, Deathblow and more!

I tried not to focus on Jim Lee but being his playground, he drew a ton of the covers! So only half my list is Jim Lee! I also tried to stay away from First Issues as much as I could. They're easy to love since they are extra dynamic and created to generate interest in a brand new title. 

Speaking of avoiding covers created to generate interest, I'm going to point out that I didn't choose any of While Portacio's variant covers that were created to form one giant pin-up! These were largely first issues and a few others that happned to be coming out at the time. Team 7, WildC.A.T.s, Stormwatch, Gen 13, Kindred, Deathblow, Union and Wetworks! This was the original backbone of the Wildstorm Universe and I honestly believe some of Whilce's best work! But there is just no way to pick one of these covers and exclude the others.

#10! Deathblow issue 11 by Jim Lee! This bad boy is a wrap around cover that showcases Deathblow with his Team 7 buddies, Grifter, Dane and Backlash (each stars of their own series!)! So, Deathblow and 4 other superstars standing around looking tough and loaded for bear. Drawn by Jim Lee. Yeah, that about covers it.

 

#9! WildC.A.T.s issue 5 by Jim Lee! This cover features Zealot and Grifter on the cover with the other team members standing around behind them. Very dramatic and cool! This was actually the first issue of the ongoing series after the original, 4 issue mini-series. Instead of another issue 1, Jim Lee decided to keep the momentum going with issue 5! 

 

 #8! Gen 13 issue 8 by J. Scott Campbell! Gen 13 and J. Scott Campbell were bound to make the list, there's no way around that! This might not be the overly dynamic cover Campbell is known for but maybe that's why I like it! The purple background is vivid but also highlights Caitlyn Fairchild who adds a little more color to it all. 

 

 #7! Wetworks issue 5 by Whilce Portacio! Another cover with exciting colors, which is good since Wildstorm was known for (and eventually bought by DC Comics for) their exceptional color work! Whilce can draw as dramatic a cover as anyone but this one really showcases Dane's shiny, gold symbiote with the reflection of Grifter in it! 

 

#6! Backlash issue 18 by Brett Booth! Colors again! This time in addition to the super dynamic artwork of Battalion attacking Backlash! On his own cover! Seriously, I'm not sure that 2 figures fighting could be more ready to jump off the cover and the colors make it explosive!  

 

 #5! Stormwatch issue 22 by Barry Windsor-Smith! Helspont is a crazy, creepy looking villain and Barry Windsor-Smith couldn't have made that any more obvious here! The, ahem!, colors definitley bring this one to life, too! 

 

#4! Deathblow issue 0 by Jim Lee! It might not seem as obvious but color plays a big part on this one. This image of Deathblow, standing with a dead hand grasping onto him has always been a favorite of mine! Come on, this cover is tough!

 

 #3! Stormwatch issue 1 by Jim Lee! Honestly, as far as Wildstorm first issues, this one always stands out in my mind. There is a certain roughness to it that just reminds me that this was early Image comics and they were figuring it out as they went. They still did it and got a lot right but they didn't let not having all the answers stop them!

 

 #2! Team 7 issue 1 by Aaron Wiesenfeld! It's no secret that I love Team 7 but I dare anyone who knows the book not to picture this cover when they think of the series! The detail and intensity are off the charts, not to mention the ferocity! And those colors aren't bad either!

 

#1! Deathblow issue 2 by Jim Lee! This is one of my favorite covers of all time and took no thinking or planning! The colors! The American Flag! The intense figure pointing a gun at you! Jim Lee! This one has it all! 

 

 And that brings us to, Honorable Mention. Both of these covers were Marvel/Wildstorm crossovers, so I guess they're only half Wildstorm. They're also both really orange and I'm not sure why! 

Team X / Team 7 is by Steve Epting and just a great looking movie poster of a cover! 

Deathblow and Wolverine is by Aaron Wiesenfeld and another cover that I can never get enough of! It's technically the collected edition of issues 1 and 2.

Popa's 10 Favorite THOR Covers

As I've become the Cranboyz resident THOR GUY, I dug through the classic series and picked my 10 favorite covers.

Obviously, The King himself - Jack Kirby - makes up the majority of the list but Walt Simonson and Ron Frenz are present and accounted for too.

What makes a great Thor cover?  SHEER AWESOMENESS.  Thor stories don't have to be subtle or nuanced.  There's a massive threat and Thor is going to pummel it.  He's not especially angst-ridden, after all, he's the God of Damn Thunder!

This is all from the initial series, I know Thor's been relaunched a few times but I didn't keep up with all that.  I HAVE read the tremendous run where Jane Foster becomes Thor but, well, that's all part of a post for another day!

As usual, this is my favorite stuff, which may not always be the most common or historic stuff.

Without further adieu....

10.  JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #83 - Jack Kirby

It all began right here, my friends!!

9. THOR 148 - Jack Kirby

Bad ass bad guy The Wrecker got his start giving Thor a hard time - just like he does here.  The God of Thunder trembles beneath the fury of the Wrecker and his crowbar!

8. THOR 429 - Ron Frenz

Whenever Thor and Juggernaut tussle the world should freakin' SHAKE.  Oh, and Ghost Rider was in this issue too.  It's all a boy could hope for, assuming that boy was me.  

7. THOR 126 - Jack Kirby

There's barely room for Thor and Hercules on this cover either!!  Fights with Thor take up the entire cover!! Why are Thor and Herc at each other's throats?  I HAVE NO IDEA.

6. THOR 363 - Walt Simonson

KURSE, baby.  The best thing to come out of Secret Wars II that wasn't The Beyonder's fashion was KURSE.  Unstoppable and probably the coolest looking costume in comics, Kruse was immediately a threat to Thor's dominance.  There's a new Kurse that's a lady person and her first appearance was drawn by Steve Epting, which automatically makes her awesome.  (Honestly, that story was pretty great too.)  

5. THOR 409 - Ron Frenz

You know what makes any comic cover better?  DR. DOOM.  He's been a thorn in everyone's side for as long as the Marvel Universe has been around.  

4. THOR 171 - Jack Kirby

The Wrecker's back and Thor's in big trouble again!!   

3. THOR 150 - Jack Kirby

Hela makes her first appearance and it's a doozy.  Did she kill Thor?  I hope not!  Otherwise, who's going to be in the next issue?  

2. THOR 359

A cover so cool I had Craig Rousseau do a recreation of it for my collection.  It's got it all - Thor defeated, Loki triumphant, the always bewitching Lorelei.  Pure comics heaven, right here my friends! 

1. THOR 157 - Jack Kirby

I mean, come on, this is just freakin' awesome.  Even the colors are awesome.  And RAGNAROK!  Any Thor comic that talks about Ragnarok kicks ass.

HONORABLE MENTIONS.

I know this was stuff from the original series but the aforementioned Steve Epting did some really cool covers for the more recent Thor comics a couple years ago.

And getting away from the Thor title entirely - this classic Silver Surfer cover has been making fans' collective heads' spin with excitement for like 40 years.  That's what happens when John Buscema draws you.

2018 Club JLI

The Cranboyz have covered a lot of  themes the last few years and we thought we were pretty much done.  Then one day Eric and Shane were talking about the "glory days" of the Keith Giffen,  J.M. DeMatteis, Kevin Maguire Justice League! When the League was in her glory with Blue Beetle, Booster Gold and Guy Gardner leading the charge! When "Bwahahaha!" was in every story and the Martian Manhunter was sneaking off to eat Oreos!

 Ok, maybe there are a few versions of the League more popular out there but at a time when "Dark and Gritty" was all  the rage in comics, a little "Bwahaha!" really hit the spot! 

So why "Club JLI?" Well, there's a story arc where Blue Beetle and Booster Gold  decided to  start a casino, on a living island, open a resort there and call it, CLUB JLI!  Hijinks and hysteria were out of control! The story has always been considered an instant classic, at least by us! 

 Now you might think there aren't that many characters in this stellar era of the Justice League and you'd be wrong! There were guest appearances, cross overs and membership drives! They even expanded to a second team!

Since Eric and Shane were spearheading this thing they decided to try something different. They got together and had a character draft! They made a list of some  of the more likely characters to get sketches of and took turns picking! The rest of the group was free to get anyone they liked and Eric and Shane agreed that the draft was flexible,  just for  fun.

As soon as the draft was completed they got online and started looking for artwork! The convention season was months away and these boys wanted some sketches! This took  them to the Fraimworks, online home of Brian and Brendon Fraim! There they found a couple of sketches that worked for both of them, Shane got a Wally West Flash and Eric got Wonder Woman, both founding members of Justice League Europe! Not how they expected to start off  but that's how  the JLI works!

 Moving on to the self proclaimed stars of the Justice League, Eric had Blue Beetle and Booster Gold drawn by Phil and Jeff Moy!

Shane picked up some Blue Beelte and Booster sketches that Chris Kasmar had available at his table!

Shane then collected sketches of the the League's leading ladies! Fire by Tressa Bowling and Ice by Nate Lovett!

 

Eric then commissioned this unbelievable Mister Miracle by Tressa Bowling and Shane added Big Barda by James Giar to the collection!

You can't have any Justice League team without the Martian Manhunter! Eric had the Mahnunter drawn by the legendary Arvell Jones! Shane got the Mahnhunter by superstar Darryl Banks!

If the Justice League had a black eye (was that a "One Punch" Joke??) it was Guy Gardner! The JL's resident Green Lantern and pain in the ass! Being a Guy Gardner fan Shane got sketches of him from Martin Egeland and Ron Frenz!

Kurt didn't mess around with his Justice League sketch! He got founding member Doctor Fate by Arvell Jones! Shane got  his Doctor Fate by  Aaron Archer!

"The Big Red Cheese" "Captain Whitebread" "Shazam" "Captain Marvel" His innocent nature played well against Guy Gardner and the others but made the JL a tough fit for Captain Marvel. Eric got his sketch by Tim Switalski at Free Comic  Book Day! Shane picked up a Captain Marvel sketch that Nate Lovett had for sale!

 Two more founding members of this team, Eric got Black Canary by the Fraim brothers and Shane picked up this Batman from Martin Egeland at Free Comic Book Day!

When the Justice League upgraded to Justice League International,  the first two members they added were Captain Atom and Rocket Red! Shane got his Captain Atom sketch from Craig Rousseau and Eric got his  Rocket  Red from Andy Bennett!

Justice League International led the way to Justice League Europe (which later became Justice League International but that's another story!), which featured these two guys! Shane got another sketch of Wally West as Flash (this time in his  shiny costume) and Eric had Scoot McMahon draw Elongated Man! 

Brandon Franklin  drew JLE member Animal Man for Eric and Lobo for Shane! Lobo wasn't really a member of the League but they let him join because they thought he was a friend of Big Barda's. He was actually hired to kill her but that's how things worked with the league! 

Kilowog was a long time friend and member of the team! Eric got his Kilowog sketch from Darryl Banks! Shane also picked up a Kilowog from Nate Lovett!

Hawkman and Hawkwoman teamed up with the team before briefly joining their ranks. Hawkwoman fit right in! Hawkman spent all of his time complaining about the teams antics while reminding them they would never find Hal Jordan or Barry Allen acting like that! Shane got his Hawkman sketch from Landon Franklin and his Hawkman sketch is from Chuck Patton! Chuck Patton drew some JLA comics but he worked on JL Detroit, which is a whole nother story!

The final Justice League art comes again from Chris Kasmar.  When Shane met him at a con, he had these little colored sketches already done. they were fun and of some key JL characters so Shane couldn't pass them up! Martian Manhunter,  Captain Atom, Kilowog and G'Nort all by Chris Kasmar! 

And if you don't know who G'Nort is, that's reason enough to check out these stories.

But if you're looking for G'Nort, he's  probably in the can!

Popa's Favorite Comics of 2018 (In No Particular Order)

I decided to get back into the regular comics buying habit this year.  I'm not sure what inspired it exactly, other than missing the fix.  Plus there's so much good stuff coming out that I was tired of feeling behind the curve on everything.

What follows is my favorite comics from 2018.  It's not in any order, it's just the books that stuck out to me and that I look forward to the most.

I even tried getting back into Marvel Comics with a couple of their relaunches from earlier in the year but, well, those books just aren't my cup of tea anymore.  I'm not sure why and I don't say that from the usual fanboy pit of despair ("HOW DARE THEY NOT MAKE A WOLVERINE STORY I LOVE! THEY HATE AMERICA!!)  It is what it is.  There's way too much cool stuff out there for me to worry about not liking super hero comics I liked more 25 years ago.  There's always Essential editions to relive the classic stuff.

Again, in no particular order ...

ARCHIE 1941 and VAMPRIONICA

Archie's done a pretty great job of reimagining their line for the modern world.  ARCHIE 1941  puts Archie on the cusp of enlisting into WW 2.  Mark Waid's a master comics writer and the story so far is clipping along at a perfect pace.  The real star, though, is Peter Krause's art that harkens back to classic art of that era, creating a world that's perfect for the sincerity of the period.  Great stuff.

The Archie reinvention really seemed to begin with the AFTERLIFE WITH ARCHIE zombie book from a few years back and as that book's struggled to come out, they fleshed out the line (heh) with a small group of other horror books, the best of which is VAMPIRONICA which sees Veronica turned into a vampire.  Fun stuff that's serious horror without forgetting that it's based on long-standing characters.  The art by Greg Smallwood is terrific too (to the point that I think he's been snapped up by Marvel.)

(Unfortunately, the shipping bug hit "Vampironica" too and it took an awful long time to put out 5 issues and has now gone on hiatus.  Still, track down the trade.)

SARA

Speaking of World War 2 - Garth Ennis has long been one of the top war comics writers out there.  I don't love war comics, to be honest, but when a new publisher partnered Ennis with Steve Epting, I had to give it a look.  I'm glad I did.  SARA is the story of a team of Russian snipers in the second world war, taking out Nazis.  It's based on a real story.  This is a deeply affecting story with a heavy and complicated protagonist, defending a Russia that was hardly the heroes of history.

Steve Epting can draw anything.  This book only continues to prove that truth.

(SARA is from a new publisher called TKO Studios, who are trying to change the way comics are produced and distributed.  You can read the first issue for free online - and then you can either buy the entire series as singles at one time, or buy the trade.  Everything is available at once, so whether you want to binge or buy it in pieces is up to you.  I hope this new model works, for the sake of comics!

DARK ARK

Cullen Bunn took one of those million dollar ideas that was right under all our noses and ran with it.  What if alongside Noah's ark there was another ark full of MONSTERS?  What an idea!  The book's as good as the idea as the monsters and a few trapped humans try to navigate the end times and come out on the other side.  Juan Doe's art brings each of the critters to life in style too.  It's a real end of the world epic.

CROWDED

Christopher Sebela and artist Ro Stein have also taken a sort of solid gold modern idea and turned into comics magic.  In "Crowded" you can crowdfund an assassination and, in this story, a seemingly random irritatingly perky dingbat of a young woman, is targeted with a million dollar plus bounty - but we're not sure why, and she's not exactly coming clean.  She's protected by an angry bounty hunter who's basic claim is being the cheapest protection money can buy.

If I were going to list a book as my favorite from this year, CROWDED would be it.  The book is fast- the dialogue is blazing banter, the art has a sort of curvy jazz to it, it feels like a mix of classic animation with a splash of Al Hirschfeld.  The two protagonists are a perfect odd couple, one random and motor-mouthed, the other cold and serious.  It puts a lot of fun conflict underneath the bigger conflict - namely trying to stay alive as all sorts of misfits try and collect the ever-increasing bounty on our main girl.

Comics are always trying to be cutting edge and modern.  CROWDED pulls it off.  It's sassy and bright, with a story that's constant motion and action.  It takes the modern world and amplifies it a thousand times.

GIDEON FALLS

Sort of the opposite of CROWDED is GIDEON FALLS by Jeff Lemiere and Andrea Sorrentino, which is more of a David Lynch sort of horror story - abstract, sad, it takes a handful of damaged people and drills down into their pain, all with the looming specter of a myserious Black Barn that somehow is going to tie everyone and everything together, but probably not in a good way.

More than most other books, GIDEON FALLS feels like episodic television, but uses the advantages of the comics medium to carve out its own path.

A COUPLE ONE-SHOTS

These are two books that were one-shots, not series, but were worth their weight in comics gold.

DR HORRIBLE: BEST FRIENDS FOREVER

Dr. Horrible came back in 2018 in a one-shot comic written by Joss Whedon himself!  Jose Maria Beroy's art brought all the characters back and in fine form.  A new character called Hourglass made her first appearance as did Moist's henchwomen, The Towelettes.  At the center, of course, was Dr. Horrible and Captain Hammer being unusually friendly.  It was a fun one-shot that felt like the original movie, all it needed was songs.

The world NEEDS DR. HORRIBLE.  Now more than ever.

WYTCHES: BAD EGGS

Whatever year the original WYTCHES mini-series came out, it was the best comic from that year.  WYTCHES is a tremendous horror comic and the only frustration has been waiting for more (Scott Snyder and Jock have been doing Batman instead, but that's a rant for another day.)  Finally we got a taste this year with the BAD EGG Halloween Special that had all the depth, drama and horror of the original series.

Snyder has promised the next big WYTCHES story in 2019.  In the meantime, BAD EGG showed us that he and Jock can take control of this world whenever they want, which is pretty damn exciting for comics fans.

MY FRIENDS ARE MORE TALENTED THAN YOUR FRIENDS

THE BEAUTY and THE REALM

My friend Jeremy Haun has been putting out two great books for a year or two now.  One is THE BEAUTY, science fiction police drama set in a world where beauty is passed around as an STD. The other is THE REALM, an apocalyptic adventure set in a world where the creatures of Dungeons & Dragons invaded our reality and made a big mess of everything.  Both books deliver their action in very different ways from one another.  Jeremy's collaborates with Jason Hurley writing THE BEAUTY (with art by Thomas Nachlik) and Seth Peck co-writing THE REALM.

THEY'RE NEW TO ME

These are books that have been out longer than 2018, but I just discovered them.

PAPER GIRLS

I mean, it's probably not surprising that Brian K. Vaughn and Cliff Chiang created a top notch comic but, still, PAPER GIRLS is as good as it gets.  It's a crazy time-travelling science fiction story set in the '80s that keeps piling mystery on top of mystery as the characters get closer to the truth, but further away from where they started.

It's a book I liked so much I made Andy read it :)

The only sad part about PAPER GIRLS is that apparently the next arc is the final one.  It's one of those books that even though it clearly set out to have an ending, I hoped it would take as long as possible to get there.

Also, Cliff Chiang is one of the best artists in the business.

THE BLACK MONDAY MURDERS

Dude, this book is in its own world.  Jeff Lemiere and Tomm Coker have created a story that makes all of the world market crashes into an insidious plot by nefarious forces.  What seems like a simple murder mystery, turns into a lot more and goes deeper and deeper.

What makes the book SO special though, is the style.  I read it in trades but the individual issues are 40-50 pages long and are a mix of traditional storytelling, newspaper articles and abstract images.  It's a book that rewards re-reading and lingering on the pages for as long as possible to see what's in the background.

The third arc comes out in 2019 - I can hardly wait!

Hopefully 2019 will deliver more great comics for me to read.  2018 certainly did its job.

Try new things, folks.  There are too many good comics to just read the same old crap you read 30 years ago that you've stopped enjoying.