The 1978 2017 2023 DC Calendar of Super-Spectacular Disasters: August Ablaze

This is an expanded and updated version of a post originally published August 1, 2017.

"August: Black Lightning" in The 1978 Calendar of Super-Spectacular Disasters (DC, 1977); artwork by Rich Buckler and Vince Colletta
(Click picture to I'm-just-talkin'-'bout-Black-Lightning-size)



As the Bellrays sang

Storm cloud coming
Coming straight to you
You can’t run for shelter
There’s nothing you can do
I’m a new sensation
I’m on fire
Overload your systems
Gonna jump your wires
I’m Black Lightning!


"Black Lightning" by The Bellrays (Fargo, 2010); written by Robert Vennum, music video directed by Aiden Vaughn
Why yes. Yes, he is. And he's having, as Sly and the Family Stone sang


"Hot Fun in the Summertime" by Sly and the Family Stone (Epic, 1969), written by Sly Stone


It's Heat Wave, stage of comics and TV screen, and he is, as the Talking Heads sang


"Burning Down the House" by Talking Heads (Sire, 1983); written by David Byrne, Chris Frantz, Jerry Harrison, and Tina Weymouth; music video directed by David Byrne

In fact, they're having a regular, as the Muppets sang


"Heat Wave" by the Muppet Rats, written by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Eddie Holland, from the movie The Muppet Christmas Carol (jim Henson Productions/Walt Disney, 1992); screenplay by Jerry Juhl, directed byBrian Henson
Okay, enough of that. Oh hey, look, Superman showed up to congratulate Jeff on handling Heat Wave all by himself. Great timing, Superman. Thanks for stopping by after the work is all done.


Later in prison, Heat Wave received some hot news via a telegram


"I am Your Singing Telegram" from Clue (Paramount, 1985), written and directed by Jonathan Lynn
Well, I'm going to allow that one, since that's Jane Wiedlin, Queen of My Heart. But here's how it really looked:


Say, who is that Mystery Mastermind, and how much time does he spend at the Western Union sending mysterious missives to his multitude of malicious minions? Well, let's feed the data we have into the Super Friends super-computer (sorry, I don't have a clip for that), fill in the blank squares as instructed, see what it prints out on its cute little futuristic punchcards. Hey look, free confetti!


Know who it is yet? Well, think about it and use your noggin! And, speaking of noggins and heat, here's another vital clue...I think:


Ah ha! We;'ve solved the mystery! The Mastermind is none other than sinister brain-guy Egghead!


Wait though. He's dead. And from a different universe. Hmmmm, could it be this Egghead?


Or maybe this one?


Huh. I dunno either. So for more clues, see you in September


"See You in September" by The Happenings (B.T. Puppy, 1966), written by Sid Wayne and Sherman Edwards
NOW CUT THAT OUT