Psylocke Psaturday: Strike a pose

Next time: the awfully startling X-Tinction Agenda! This week: a pin-up cover! Because why not!


Cover of Marvel Age #104 (September 1991), art by Jim Lee

Today in Comics History, January 31, 2015: Elvis is annoyed his signature announcement has been upstaged

from The Multiversity: Pax Americana one-shot (DC, January 2015), script by Grant Morrison, pencils and inks by Frank Quitely, colors by Nathan Fairbairn, letters by Rob Leigh

Today in Comics History, January 31, 2001: Alien conqueror would have gotten away with it, if it hadn't been for those meddling kids

text page segment from Justice Leagues: JLA one-shot (DC, March 2001), writer unknown

Today in Comics History, January 31: Cthulhu finally gets his fan fiction published

from Annihilator #3 (Legendary, November 2014); script by Grant Morrison; pencils, inks, and colors by Frazer Irving; letters by Jared K. Fletcher

365 Days of Star Wars Comics, Day 31: Guy Fieri's new food show is a success

Panels from Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire #2 (June 1996), script by John Wagner, pencils by Kilian Plunkett, inks by P. Craig Russell, colors by Cary Porter, color separations by Heroic Age Colors, letters by Dave Cooper

Today in Comics History, January 30, 1934: In Soviet Russia, balloon crashes you

On this day in 1934: Soviet soldiers make a bold step forward in the space race with their Lenin-riffic super-balloon!


from "Journey into Space" in Eagle Comics #1 (Rural Home, February 1945), creators unknown
Let's salute this daring endeavor and the giant leaps ahead in air transportation...


Whoops. Well...(you know the rest).

365 Days of Star Wars Comics, Day 30: Bring Me the Head of Alfredo 3-CPO

Panel from Star Wars: Starfighter: Crossbones #2 (February 2002), script by Haden Blackman, pencils by Ramon Bachs, inks by Raul Fernández, colors by Brad Anderson, letters by Steve Dutro

Here, have some OMAC. In Italian.

O.M.A.C.! It stands for (if you follow the Kirby definition, and why would you follow any other?) One Man Army Corps. But in a future without national boundaries, that solo fighting guy with the big-ass mohawk might be known as different acronyms. For example, in Italy, let's call him UUAB! (Pronounced oo-abb.) Un Uomo Armato Battaglione! Mmmm, I think I had one of those after my spaghetti and meatballs down at Aunt Suzie's Italian restaurant last week. Oh, let's just continue to call him O.M.A.C. for copyright sake. Signor O.M.A.C.

Panels from Classici DC: OMAC trade paperback (Planeta DeAgostini, 2007), Italian translation by Margherita Galetti, Italian lettering by Silvia Romano; originally printed as OMAC #1 (September-October 1974), script and pencils by Jack Kirby, inks and letters by Mike Royer, colors by Jerry Serpe

(Click picture to speak-a the English)

Now that's a passionate, romantic version of OMAC! Be sure to join us here next time for "Here, have some Mister Miracle. In Norwegian."

Until then, always remember!:

365 Days of Star Wars Comics, Day 29: Jedi: Dumb as a bag of laser-hammers

Panel from Star Wars: Free Comic Book Day 2005 Special (one-shot) (May 2005), script by Miles Lane, pencils and inks by Nicola Scott, colors by Michael Atiyeh, letters by Michael David Thomas

The Suddenest "Suddenly" Panel Ever

Panel from the Mother Hubbard story in Scoop Comics #2 (January 1942), pencils and inks by Bill Madden

365 Days of Star Wars Comics, Day 28: Episode 3-D: Return of the Glasses

Put on your 3-D glasses now!



Panels from Blackthorne 3-D Series #47 [Star Wars 3-D #2] (Summer 1988), script by Len Wein, pencils and inks by Patrick Zircher, 3-D process color by Paul Tallerday, letters by David Cody Weiss
Me, I like it, but I'm just well-rounded that way.

The Entire Silver Age in One Comics Panel

Panel from "Lois Lane's Super-Brain!" in Lois Lane (1958 series) #27 (August 1961), script by Robert Bernstein, pencils and inks by Kurt Schaffenberger
Yes, truly, this was The Greatest Lois Lane Story Ever.

365 Days of Star Wars Comics, Day 27: That's Snow Jedi

Uh oh! Luke Skywalker has flown directly into the Northeast/New England area! Brrrrrrr!



Panels from the "Iceworld" storyline in the Star Wars comic strip (October 4-November 14, 1982), reprinted in Classic Star Wars #12 (September 1993), script by Archie Goodwin, pencils and inks by Al Williamson, colors by Ray Murtaugh
What is it about Luke Skywalker nearly dying every time he sets foot on an ice planet? Oh, wait, yeah. He came from a desert planet. I forgot. At home, he's probably always bugging Mara Jade about who turned down the thermostat. "Geez, Luke, just put on a sweater!"

Anyway, Luke and Threepio have some thrilling space adventures and then get rescued.



Panels from the "Iceworld" storyline in the Star Wars comic strip (October 4-November 14, 1982), reprinted in Classic Star Wars #13 (October 1993), script by Archie Goodwin, pencils and inks by Al Williamson, colors by Steve Buccellato
The super-secret twist ending: this is the origin of the Rebel Base on Hoth, as seen in The Empire Strikes Back. Or, as Luke was heard to sing:

Oh my God, I was wrong
It was Hoth all along
You've finally made a wampa
(Yes, we've finally made a wampa)
Yes, you've finally made a wampa out of me!

Missing in Action (Figures): Black Widow

Check out Luke Brown's fine article over at Comics Alliance on the upcoming Funko assortment of Avengers: Age of Ultron toys. Luke, as befits the Force-sense of his Star Wars namesake, cannily points out the complete absence of a Funko figure portraying Marvel Cinematic Universe Avengers founding member Black Widow in the set.


Um, hello, Funko? Who doesn't want a super-deformed big-eyed Scarlett Johansson sitting on their desk? As proof of concept, here's Skottie Young's take on the idea of Mini-Natasha. CUTE!


Variant cover of Black Widow (2014 series) #1 (March 2014), art by Skottie Young
(Fairness in disclosure: Yes, Funko did issue a Natasha figure to coincide with last year's Captain America: The Winter Soldier and The Sundance Kid movie, but that's long since vanished from the shelves. I know the character is going to be in Avengers 2...why omit her this time?)

Anyway, my point...and I do have one: I'm reminded of my recent visit to The Disney Store, which, among the Mickeys and Elsas and Lightning McQueens and Pocahonti, carries a small variety of Marvel superhero clothing and toys, especially those directly connected to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. You know, like the movie that starred these guys?:


That's one of several dozen figurine playsets the Disney Store sells, ranging from their classic movies to modern Pixar films. Please note there are exactly five figures in this set, and one of 'em ain't Black Widow. Really, guys? I know it's "traditionally" boys who buy action figure sets, but A) do you think they're going to avoid a set like this because it has one woman in it, and B) this is the ferschluggin' Disney Store. With all those members of the Princess Pantheon, young girls are your target market. Is it maybe because you can only fit five figures in the case? Hmmmmm?


Nope. Not only does the Incredibles figure set fit its the entire team in the same size box, plus the baby, and Frozone, not to mention the villainous Syndrome. Admittedly, I did not weigh these two sets, and maybe Hulk weighs too much for them to have profitably added a sixth figure to the Avengers set. But seriously, Disney Store? Do you want to make the point that action women aren't collectible or fun to play with? What's next, a Star Wars set minus Princess Leia?

I know, I know, the first rule of business: "never assume ill-intent when profitability is probably the real reason." But like Funko, for Disney to omit featuring a truly kick-ass hero like Black Widow is dangerously setting a trend for toys and collectibles.

I'm reminded of this politically incorrect but still funny cartoon by B. Kliban.


Cartoon from Two Guys Fooling Around With the Moon and Other Drawings (March 1982), by B. Kliban

365 Days of Star Wars Comics, Day 26: Old Yeller

Panels from "Thank the Maker" in Star Wars Tales #6 (December 2000), script by Ryder Windham, pencils and inks by Kilian Plunkett, colors by Dave McCaig, letters by Steve Dutro

365 Days of Star Wars Comics, Day 25: Thus was the Chewbacca bobblehead invented

Panels from "An Empty Galaxy" in Star Wars: Chewbacca #4 (April 2000), script by Darko Macan, pencils by Dusty Abell, inks by Jim Royal, colors by Dave Nestelle, letters by Vickie Williams