365 Days of Defiance, Day 231: With a rebel yell, he cried, you're not stopping this ship

At last Luke Skywalker is up against an Imperial who has more sense and fighting abilities than the usual misshooting Stormtrooper: Sergeant Kreel, the guy so bad he's named after a fishing basket. Will Luke give up the rebel spirit against Kreel?


Panels from Star Wars (2015 Marvel series) #25 (January 2017); script by Jason Aaron, pencils and inks by Jorge Molina, colors by Matt Milla, letters by Joe Caramagna
Heck no. Not in a Star Wars story! Well, one published by Marvel at least.


Say, what sort of grade do you think Sergeant Kreel will get for his performance review by his boss>

365 Days of Defiance, Day 230: Your decisions turn around and make you back and then you're stuck

Panel from Batman/Hellboy/Starman #1 (January 1999), script by James Robinson, pencils and inks by Mike Mignola, colors by Matt Hollingsworth, letters by Willie Schubert
A very special Bullish thank you to Magnificent Matt Rowbotham, who suggested and identified this panel for me!

365 Days of Defiance, Day 229: Frank Castle, Vampire Hunter

So What If...? the Punisher armed with Doctor Strange's Cloak of Levitation was fighting evil vampire X-Men. What then, huh?


Panels from What If...? (1989 series) #24 (April 1991); script by Roy Thomas, Jean-Marc Lofficier, and Randy Lofficier; pencils and inks by Tom Morgan; colors by Tom Vincent; letters by Janice Chiang
The 1990s! There was no concept too high for that decade to embrace!

Seriously, do spray vampires with holy water.

365 Days of Defiance, Day 228: Tonight, don't watch that guy, watch this guy: Captain America!

from Captain America #702 (Marvel, July 2018), script by Mark Waid, pencils and inks by Howard Chaykin, colors by Jesus Aburtov, letters by Joe Caramagna

Namor vs. Fake News

Panel from The Avengers (1963 series) #287 (January 1988), plot by Roger Stern, script by Ralph Macchio, breakdowns by John Buscema, finishes by Tom Palmer, colors by Christie Scheele, letters by Bill Oakley

Today in 365 Days of Comics Defiance History, Day 228, August 16, 1781: You Say You Want a Revolution

cover of Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty #7 (Marvel, March 1999), pencils by Ron Frenz, inks by Roger Langridge
Wha...? you might say in astounded, be-baffled disbelief. I'm with ya on that front! Captain America in 1781? Is this a dream, an imaginary story, or a hoax? Is it a what-if or an elseworlds or an infinities or a deviation? It is a Red Skull-changed alternate reality? Is it a comic book? (It's a comic book.) Here's the story of a lovely lady of the Steve Rogers of 1776, complete with timely mullet. He's always copying nineties-era Superman! While discussing politics and quaffing ale out of golden tankards at his local replica Revolutionary War-era Charles Cheese Inn, Steve's alerted by 1776 Foggy Nelson (or maybe it's just ponytailed Bucky Barnes) that the Declaration of Independence has been signed! Huzzah! Three day holiday weekend, woo!

Today in Comics History, August 16, 1943: Happy (other*) birthday, Alfred Pennyworth!

from Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Five (2015 series) #26 (DC digital, June 2016), script by Brian Buccellato, pencils and inks by Mike S. Miller, colors by J. Nanjan, letters by Wes Abbott
*However, this comic is non-canonical, what with it's Joker-killin' and Superman-baddenin'. And the Pre-Crisis Alfred had his birthday on April 8. So, when he actually celebrates is anybody's guess! Somebody codfiy it into a story, won'tcha? (Me, I only celebrate Alfred's birthday on April 8!)


from Super DC Calendar 1976 (DC, 1975), letters by Ben Oda

365 Days of Defiance, Day 227: Willkommen, Bienvenue, Batman

What If...? (©1976 a completely different company) Bruce Wayne had become a hero in the Berlin, Germany of 1939? Well, he would be millionreichsmark playjunge Baruch Wane...but at night he would oppose the Nazi government as The Berlin Batman!


Panel from The Batman Chronicles #11 (Winter 1998); script, pencils, and inks by Paul Pope; colors by Ted McKeever; letters by Ken Lopez
This Batman fights not merely against crime but also the clampdown on intellectualism and artistry. Here he is fighting to prevent writings from a dissident Jewish economist (stored on a train) from falling into the hands of the Nazis. And when you've got actual Nazis, who needs the Joker?



By the way, that's Komissar Garten in the green trench coat. "You're only one man, what can you do?" taunts Garten. Why, he doesn't know Der Batman very well at all, does he?



And now you know about the legend of the Berlin Batman. In the heart of evil, may we all be so brave and dedicated.

365 Days of Defiance, Day 226: Marvel the Vote

It's Local Election Time in the Ms. Marvel Universe! And, you know, I never realized she had that gauntlet only on her left wrist. You learn something new every day!


from Ms. Marvel (2016 series) #13 (Marvel, January 2017), script by G. Willow Wilson, pencils and inks by Mirka Andolfo, colors by Ian Herring, letters by Joe Caramagna
Like, f'r instance, Ms. Marvel learning that some people just have ass-stupid reasons for not voting.


That's why it pays to know the facts. And here's where The Divine Ms. M. explains it all for you, debunking common misconceptions about voting. For instance, did you know it doesn't say anywhere in the rulebook that a stuffed bull can't be President? (looks in rulebook, notices it does say that. Oh well.) Anyway, for her attention to detail and knowledge with a capital K-N, they oughta call her Ms. Snopes!



So make sure you are registered to vote! Even if you voted last year, double-check it! And if you're not, you can register to vote right now so you'll be ready for the local, state, and national elections coming up. Learn and know your rights, your candidates, and your time and place to vote. Get involved and get the word out!

It's a Switch-a-Roo!

Panels from Daredevil (1964 series) #264 (March 1989), script by Ann Nocenti, breakdowns by Steve Ditko, pencils by Mike Manley, inks by Al Williamson and Mike Manley, colors by Christie Scheele, letters by Joe Rosen
and from Angel Love #1 (August 1986); script and pencils by Barbara Slate, inks by John William Lopez, colors by Bob LeRose, letters by Bill Yoshida

Today in Comics History, August 14, 1893: Excuse me, I have a little dust in my eye

from Back to the Future (IDW series) #11 (IDW, August 2016), story by John Barber and Bob Gale, script by John Barber, pencils by Marcello Ferreira and Athila Fabbio, inks by Marcello Ferreira, Athila Fabbio, and Toni Doya, colors by Jose Luis Rio, letters by Shawn Lee

365 Days of Defiance, Day 225: Not many people know his first name is Philadelphia

Panels from the Captain Freedom story in Speed Comics #13 (Harvey, May 1941), pencils and inks by Arturo Cazeneuve