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

365 Days of Defiance, Day 224: Silver Nemesis

If you're Ryan Choi, the All New Atom, you need to remember your Survival Guide to Sub-Atomic Hell ABCs:

Always
Be
Continually Punching Jet-Pack Hitler



Panels from The All New Atom #14 (October 2007), script by Gail Simone, pencils by Mike Norton, inks by Trevor Scott, colors by Alex Bleyaert, letters by Travis Lanham
Of course, while Atom's kickin' Hitler's flying ass, Ted "Blue Beetle" Kord has his own target already picked out:

Fun with Comics: 24-Carat Back Issues

MIKE! MIKE! MIKE! MIKE I FOUND SOME OLD COMICS HOW MUCH ARE THEY WORTH? MIKE WILL YOU GIVE ME LOTS OF $$$ FOR THESE? MIKE! MIKE! MIKE! MIKE!

365 Days of Defiance, Day 223: Batman Explains It All for You

Panel from "The Bond Wagon" in Detective Comics (1937 series) #78 (August 1943), script by Joe Greene, pencils by Jack Burnley, inks and letters by George Roussos
Help with identification of this panel came from online pal Comics in the Golden Age. Thanks CGA! Check out his amazing Twitter feed!

365 Days of Defiance, Day 222: The Justice League versus Nazis

from "The Savage Time" on Justice League (November 9, 2002), script by Stan Berkowitz, directed by Butch Lukic and Dan Riba

365 Days of Defiance, Day 221: DC Two-in-One

It's Wonder Woman and Wonder Woman! That is, Diana teaming up with her mom, to take down supervillains selling superweapons to Nazis on, I dunno, 1940s eBay, in a story that could only be called


Cover of Wonder Woman (1987 series) #185 (November 2002); pencils, inks, and colors by Adam Hughes
First, a moment of quiet reflection aboard a airplane with no visible in-flight entertainment and you can't even find the packets of peanuts. By the way, Diana is dressed as obscure 1940s heroine Miss America for Plot Reasons™ (but a mom always knows).


Panels from Wonder Woman (1987 series) #185 (November 2002); script and pencils by Phil Jimenez, inks by Andy Lanning and Lary Stucker, colors by Trish Mulvihill, color separations by WildStorm FX, letters by Comicraft
Enough mutual admiration, goils, let's get this party started*! (*Song not by U2.)


Honestly, I don't know of no better way to make your entrance during the years 1939-1945 than by bustin' in and tearin' up a big-ass Nazi flag! Actually, that same rule applies to 2016-present.


How do you think Hippolyta will disarm supervillain Armageddon?


Whoa! That works. This is just like that song "Harper Valley P.T.A.", except instead of wearing a miniskirt, the mom just lops the guy's whole arm off.

So, the moral of the story is this: When just one princess warrior will do against a buncha Nazis and their collaborators, use the double-Wonder action of new Wonder Woman Squared! It gets Nazis out!


Cover of Wonder Woman (1987 series) #184 (October 2002); pencils, inks, and colors by Adam Hughes

365 Days of Defiance, Day 220: In which Cloris Leachman kicks ass

Na na na na na na
Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman

Today's episode of "Let's Kick Some Nazi Butt" highlights one of my favorite retcons of the Modern Comics Age. Trust me, it's much better than "the Beyonder was an Inhuman" or "the Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver are Inhumans", or "everyone loves reading about the Inhumans." Nope: it's all tied up (with a golden lasso, I assume) in this:


Panels from Wonder Woman (1987 series) #184 (October 2002), script and pencils by Phil Jimenez, inks by Andy Lanning, colors by Trish Mulvihill, color separations by WildStorm FX, letters by Comicraft
To get you up to speed, Wally West-style, on what's happenin' here: Princess Diana (aka Wonder Woman) has (unknowingly) travelled back in time (doncha hate when that happens?) and has stumbled across Nazi soldiers (boo!) working in partnership with...Clea!


Cover of Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme #13 (January 1990), pencils and inks by Butch Guice
No, no, not that Clea! This Clea...


Cover of Wonder Woman (1987 series) #182 (January 1990), pencils and inks by Phil Jimenez, colors by José Villarrubia
...who's a classic Golden Age villain created by Marston and Peters as the jerk ruler of Atlantis (sound familiar, Marvel?) and charter member of "Villany, Inc.," which I think is some sort of licensed limited company. She's a go-getter gal in today's World War II's modern age of feminism and she's teaming up with Nazis, so hiss to her. She's in cahoots to trade a mystic Atlantean translation horn (the Rosetta Horn?) for an armored German submarine, presumably so she can finish filming her visionary film "Das U-Boot."


When what should appear to their Nazi sights but


WONDER WOMAN IN HER SATIN TIGHTS!

To explain: that's actually Hippolyta, Wondy's mom, who, the Post-Crisis Universe told us, was the Golden Age World War II Wonder Woman! I've always loved this relatively new retcon. (It leads to some neat character stuff over in the JSA comic, too.) I'm pretty sure this retcon doesn't exist in today's comics, which only makes me hate you more, New 52/Rebirth Universe.


Wonder Woman (Diana) needs to aid Wonder Woman (Hippolyta), but rushing into battle in her Wonder Woman (Diana) costume will surely wreck the timeline and confuse Wonder Woman (Hippo). So here's a plan: why not Wonder Woman (Lynda Carter) herself into the costume of another, '40s contemporary Wonder Woman (Miss America), Miss America!



Of course, two Wonders make no blunders and easily beat a pack o'Nazis and a Clea. But the adventure isn't over yet! Tune in tomorrow, same Wonder time, same Woman station, to see the continued team-up of Wonder and Wonder in a tale we had to title...ah, but I'll make you wait for that one.