Here are some scans of the original art from Firestorm vol. II #84. Jon from the Fizzit Firestorm blog happens to own several of the original pages. He was kind enough to allow me to publish them here. Thanks, Jon!
Firestorm volume II #84 – “Souls of Fire”
Writer: John Ostrander
Penciller: Tom Grindberg
Inker: Sam De La Rosa
Letterer: Duncan Andrews
Colorist: Nansi Hoolahan
Asst Editor: Dan Raspler
Editor: Denny O’Neil
This is a fairly important issue. This issue Ronnie and Mikhail begin to realize there is more to the Firestorm matrix than they understand. This issue also features Svarozhich, a failed Russian attempt to clone Firestorm which produced a soulless creature instead. In the issue following this, Ronnie, Mikhail and Svarozhich combine permanently (somewhat) to create the first Elemental Firestorm.
Here is the cover of issue #84 from Comics.org.
Below is page 2 from issue #84. Click the image for a enlarged version. I really like seeing Ronnie and Mikhail meeting face-to-face. This is something that almost never happened in this run of Firestorm. Nice work by Grindberg & De La Rosa showing Ronnie & Mikhail sapping power from Svarozhich.
Jon mentioned that the yellower parts in these pages are pre-printed textures that have been stuck to the page. He says it actually gives them a nice touch as opposed to just being straight black and white on the original pages. I’m not 100% sure, but I believe that process is called zip-a-tone or screentone.
Below is page 4 from issue #84. Click the image for a enlarged version. A nice subway chase scene by Grindberg & De La Rosa with Ronnie, Mikhail, and Svarozhich.
Below is page 5 from issue #84. Click the image for a enlarged version. Here we also see Firebird, Mikhail’s telepathic niece and leader of the Russian teen team Soyuz. Soyuz were an interesting group of supporting characters during this run of Firestorm. It’s be nice to see them again. Also on this page, a great shot of Svarozhich flying through the subway!
Below is page 15 from issue #84. Click the image for a enlarged version. Here we see the mysterious Rasputin, possibly the infamous Rasputin who helped cause the Russian Romanov dynasty to fall in the early 1900s. Regardless of his true identity, this Rasputin eventually helps Ronnie and Mikhail realize the Elemental potential of Firestorm. Also on this page is Ronnie being a bad ass. Love it!
Thanks again to Jon from the Fizzit blog! I’ll be posting some further scans from him in the coming weeks!
Apparently, Rasputin was intended to be somewhat of a John Constantine stand-in
http://www.qusoor.com/hellblazer/bastard.htm
(scroll down a bit)
This was a funny issue in a lot of ways. Ron and Mikhail’s lack of ability to communicate was a total contrivance. (1) They could communicate telepathically across half a globe, such that Mikhail could hear Ron’s thoughts whatever the language. (2) Firestorm’s first confrontation with Pozhar established that Mikhail could speak English anyway.
Oh well.
Just finished reading Firestorm #85-May 1989. (Soul Of Fire). WOW