Comments on: Amazing Heroes Previews of Firestorm from the 1980s

By: Xum Yukinori

Xum Yukinori — Sat, 11 Apr 2015 06:44:10 +0000

It appears that editor Alan Gold had a hand in it as well, given that the quotes and info in the Preview blurb was credited to him.

By: Joe X

Joe X — Sat, 11 Apr 2015 02:10:12 +0000

That’s just my supposition. You’d have to ask Marv or Len about specifics.

By: Shag

Shag — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 21:48:24 +0000

Sorry Xum. I could have saved you the trouble. Back in 2012 I did quite a bit of research on the “Corona” graphic novel. I touched base with both Gerry Conway & Pat Broderick regarding it. Gerry didn’t recall it, and Pat would just say it was a shame it was never published.
I came to the same conclusion. I believe the “Corona” graphic novel was adapted to become the “Sparx” annual. Now reading these Amazing Heroes blurbs, sounds like Gerry was planning to use the exploration of the Firestorm powers in the monthly book, but didn’t get a chance when he was taken off the series. See the “Summer 1986″ blurb.
I’ve always planned to do a post on the Graphic Novel sharing all the mentions, but haven’t got around to it. Maybe now I can get motivated to do this soon.
Thanks!

By: Xum Yukinori

Xum Yukinori — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 21:29:25 +0000

BTW, I just pulled out my copy of Amazing Heroes #39 to re-read the (rest of the) Green Lantern entry again — and decided to also re-read the Justice League of America entry, which hints at the origins of the Justice League Detroit era by stating that JLA members that have their own titles will “take a leave of absence” and “stay away” in 1984. The reason behind it was an editorial issue (it would alleviate Gerry Conway, the editor of JLA, from having to coordinate with editors of other books that feature these JLAers). What is interesting is that this early-proposed version of the “new” JLA would have featured the current second-tier members and Firestorm was going to be the only JLAer with his own title to stay on the team, since Mr. Conway was writing both books.

It is all on page 68.

By: Xum Yukinori

Xum Yukinori — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 21:10:18 +0000

And Gerry Conway responded as best he can, given it’s been over 30 years and hundreds of projects ago…

https://twitter.com/gerryconway/status/586636080239128576

By: Xum Yukinori

Xum Yukinori — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 21:05:16 +0000

The Image appeared in full costume in the DC Sampler, and it was the preview in Amazing Heroes #39 that hinted that it would be the crippled Clay Kendall in some sort of psionic astral form.

Seeing how a “panel from the Firstorm graphic novel” is the same as page 1 from Firestorm Annual #3, I wondered if the intended “Corona” story for the graphic novel, which the comic lettercols mentioned would delve into the secret of Firestorm’s powers, was condensed and reworked to become “Sparx”. But that is a question only Gerry Conway can answer…

By: Earth 2 Chris

Earth 2 Chris — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 20:25:10 +0000

Interesting. I didn’t know Wolfman pushed this to help cement the deal. I know he had Jenette Klyburn at STAR Labs call “Mac” Ryan in a Titans issue to kind of set it up, but that’s as far as he got.

Chris

By: Joe X

Joe X — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 19:18:52 +0000

It’s not a problem, I figured you could use them for a fill-in podcast or something.

The Image never appeared, and Clay Kendall was one of the dead of Coast City.

The Mac Ryan Flash I think was a pitch that Wolfman rushed into print, hoping it would secure him the gig. Instead, it was passed over for the Wally West series.

By: Earth 2 Chris

Earth 2 Chris — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 18:15:26 +0000

Wow, what might have been. Firehawk in the JLD would have been a welcome addition. Looking at some of the other books, I’m not sure “The Image” ever showed up in GL, and that abandoned new Flash title, with no connection to the previous Flash, is mentioned. It think this is the largest piece of evidence existing on that lost project.

Chris