DC Comics Super Heroes and Villains Fandex

Coming to me courtesy of the Irredeemable Shag, I'm sharing with you, my friends, the Red Tornado entry from the not-so-brand-new, but new-to-me DC Comics Super Heroes and Villains Fandex. Click on over to Shag's Once Upon a Geek and check out his review of the piece as a whole. Afterwards, come on back, we'll be here waiting for you.

My oldest daughter (and therefore passed along to her sisters, but since lost, naturally) used to have a couple learning games set up very similarly to this. The learning games were simple math and spelling, things of that nature. Admittedly, this is a bit of a far cry from that, but it's the first thing I thought of when I saw this solicited. I have yet to get my grubby paws on a copy, but with Father's Day on the horizon, anything is possible.

I point you to the Aqua-marketplace on Rob Kelly's magnificent Aquaman Shrine to connect yourself to a copy of this bad boy.

Naturally, DC chose to go with a shot of Reddy drawn by Ed Benes from Brad Meltzer's "The Tornado's Path" story. This image is from the foldout poster that popped up in issue #7 (I believe, sound off if I'm wrong here). Interestingly enough, I had Meltzer sign this image in my hardcover copy of "The Tornado's Path" during his recent signing tour for Heroes for My Son.

Back to the Fandex, though. I do like the line, "Red Tornado grew a soul." If only it were so easy.

Thanks again to Shag!

Red Lead

Li'l Red

Justice League of America # 192 Part 4

Hey all!

Sorry for the MASSIVE delay, but Walt Disney World was calling the family for spring break, so we broke!

It's time to return to our regularly scheduled re-visit of Red Tornado's adventures in the JLA.

Here's where I just fell in love with Red Tornado, as he sits down to the table and convinces Traya that even he must find sustenance.

 The non-verbal conversation between Kathy, Reddy, and Traya is priceless and just adds to the legend of George Pérez.

Unfortunately for all parties, T. O. Morrow has an override implanted into his creation. So much for a quiet meal. Agian, Pérez's artwork shines masterfully here, with effects and layouts well before their time. The superimposed image of Morrow over Red Tornado's struggling face is pure brilliance.

Once in Morrow's clutches, it becomes quite clear that the Red Tornado may be headed for some trouble.

As I mentioned previously, I was an Aquaman fan from his appearances on Super Friends, and to see his shadowy silhouette climbing out to rescue this character racked me with such excitement for the next issue. Of course that issue did not disappoint in any way.

One last note, I'd like to throw a link out here for you kooky kids to check out. As many of you are aware, Rob Kelly - of Aquaman Shrine fame - used to do a JLA blog as well. Here's the link to his coverage of JLA #192.

I'm going to spend some time sharing my thoughts and memories of JLA #193, but for future Justice League of America (volume 1) I'm going to recommend that you guys all take a few days to soak in the greatness Rob has assembled.

Rest peacefully Dick Giordano!

One of the greats of the industry passed away at the age of 77 on Saturday.


Newsarama has a nice article about Giordano, and CBR has one as well.

Personally, I never had the pleasure to meet Mr. Giordano, but he sure made an impression on the comics I grew up enjoying, whether it was as a writer, inker, or editor.

Rest in peace Dick Giordano, and thanks for all the great comics!

Red Tornado in June

Let's take a brief detour away from memory lane to look at what Red Tornado-centric stuff is on tap for the month of June.

Comic Book Resources (among other sites) posted up DC's June Solicitations yesterday, so I'll save you the trouble of figuring out what Red Tornadoish stuff might be blowing our way in June.

Here we go:

First up is the collected edition of the Red Tornado mini series that just recently concluded.

RED TORNADO: FAMILY REUNION TP

On sale JULY 14

144 pg, FC, $17.99 US

Written by KEVIN VANHOOK Art by JOSE LUIS Cover by ED BENES & MARIAH BENES

The Justice League of America’s android hero discovers his strange family of super powered androids in this tale from the six-issue miniseries. But will it cost him the love of his adopted, human family?

OK, so it actually releases in July, but it is listed with the June solicits. I encourage you to support your LCS, but if you're looking for a deal, this TPB is available over at Amazon for a few bucks less. Is it worth it? In my opinion - as a Red Tornado fan - no. This was a rather disappointing story all told, but if you're looking to learn about Red Tornado, this mini was conceived to establish a new status quo for the sometimes-elemental android.

I'm a little unclear as to whether or not Red Tornado will be making appearances in JLA in months to come, but I'd say it's a 50-50 bet, especially given that Cyborg was making BFFs with Reddy in one of Robinson's early issues.

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #46

On sale JUNE 30 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US

Written by JAMES ROBINSON Art by MARK BAGLEY & ROB HUNTER cover by MARK BAGLEY & JESUS MERINO

BRIGHTEST DAY continues with the start of an all-new, 5-part JLA/JSA crossover! The return of one hero heralds the release of the powerful Starheart that empowers Green Lantern Alan Scott. Now this chaotic force is unleashed on Earth, causing magic to go wild – and new metahumans to emerge! It’s more than one super-team can handle, but can even the combined efforts of the Justice League and the Justice Society contain the light and dark power wielded by one of their own? Witness the transformation of the moon and a journey into the Shadow Lands that will corrupt a hero!Continued in next month’s JSA #41, this epic event features a 5-part connected cover spotlighting both teams in glorious action illustrated by Mark Bagley with inks by Jesus Merino!

A JSA-JLA crossover would almost certainly include some Tornado action, right?

The only other remotely tangential Red Tornado related piece is JSA All-Stars #7 where the heir apparent of the Tornado legacy - Cyclone - makes her regular home.

JSA ALL-STARS #7

On sale JUNE 2 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US

Written by MATTHEW STURGES Co-feature written by JEN VAN METER Art and cover by FREDDIE WILLIAMS II Co-feature art by TRAVIS MOORE & DAN GREEN

Following Damage’s untimely death in BLACKEST NIGHT, the All-Stars gather to pay their respects to their fallen comrade.In the co-feature, their powers and abilities may not be enough to help the unusual team of Liberty Belle, Hourman, Tigress and Icicle when they face various death traps left on their trail to finding the Staff of Life!

Not a lot of Red Tornado coming your way this June, but maybe there will be a surprise or two.

Justice League of America # 192 Part 3

The JLA fights back against Reddy, with the Flash disassembling Red Tornado at super-speed. Once he's got the android apart, however, Red Tornado appears to self-destruct. Taking the brunt of the explosion, Flash is knocked out. Superman decides to take Flash down to the infirmary, where Wonder Woman is taking Batman who has a dislocated shoulder.

That leaves Green Lantern, Aquaman, and Firestorm to discuss what is happening and try to figure out why Red Tornado would attack them so violently.

Unfortunately for them, the self-destructed android apparently wasn't THE Red Tornado.

George Pérez's art will never, ever cease to amaze me. To say that man is gifted is a tremendous understatement, as you can plainly see from this page here.

For those of you reading this for the first time, there are five pages that occur between what I previously posted about JLA #192 and this post.

Justice League of America # 192 Part 2

So after buying the comic, I began walking home with my brother, my pace slowed dramatically by the gravitas of the situation unfolding before my eyes.
The Super Friends were in space! For real?!
I knew almost all of these characters, and some of the ones they were talking about from the Super Friends cartoon. I didn't know that guy with the flaming head, but face it, with a visual like that, I was going to remember him for a long time to come.
Just like that, this Red Tornado - who I had never met - took out the Super Friends - er, Justice League of America. Bam. I was hooked.
Real heroes are never truly defeated though. After all, we're talking about Superman here. . .

I had read comics before this - Spider-Man, Marvel Team-Up, Fantastic Four, Batman, Detective, and of course some Archies. This one 50¢ comic forever changed how I viewed the four-color medium though. It wasn't just a comic. It was art. It was entertainment. It was escapism, and Red Tornado was leading the charge.

Written by Gerry Conway, and stunningly drawn by George Pérez with John Beatty on inks, this book did me in. The characters were awesome, the story was intense, and this issue was shortly after Firestorm had joined (although I didn't know that at the time). Firestorm provided the perfect gateway for an impressionable nine-year-old to learn about comics and superheroes the DC way.

Firestorm, Red Tornado, and I became lifelong pals with this issue. I know, at this point, Red Tornado doesn't seem too friendly, but he eases up. You'll see. . .