The third episode of our WHO’S WHO UPDATE ’88 podcast is now available — the show that dares to tackle one of DC Comics’ greatest publications! Each episode Rob and I cover a single issue of the legendary 1980s series, Who’s Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe. This time around we chat about WHO’S WHO: UPDATE ’88, volume 3, discussing characters such as Per Degaton, Rat Catcher, Shade The Changing Man, Sinestro, Starman, Suicide Squad, and more! We wrap up with your Listener Feedback! This episode sponsored in part by InStockTrades.com!

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You can find the this episode of WHO’S WHO: THE DEFINITIVE PODCAST OF THE DC UNIVERSE on iTunes. While you’re there, please drop us a review on the iTunes page. Every comment helps! Alternatively, you may play the podcast using the player below or by right-clicking “download”, choosing “Save Target/Link As”, and selecting a location on your computer to save the file (161 MB)

Thanks to my co-host Rob Kelly, Sea King of THE AQUAMAN SHRINE, for doing all the post-production on this episode! Special thanks to Daniel Adams and Ashton Burge with their band The Bad Mamma Jammas for our fantastic Who’s Who theme song!

One of the coolest aspects of each Who’s Who issue was the amazing wrap-around cover! Check out this exceptional cover by Ty Temploton! Click the image to enlarge.

Here are your Firestorm-related Who’s Who entries from this issue…

First up is the teenage Soviet super-team, Soyuz by Joe Brozowki and Sam De La Rosa. Soyuz lived in the Soviet Union and were supporting characters during the “Blank Slate” period of Firestorm. Firebird was the niece of Mikhail Arkadin (one part of Firestorm). Click to enlarge.

Next up is the Firestorm foe, Stalnoivolk (Steel Wolf) by Joe Brozowki and Sam De La Rosa. Steel Wolf was essentially a Soviet Super Soldier. Similar to Captain America in his physical abilities and his patriotism for his country. He first appeared in Fury of Firestorm #67 and eventually went on to work with the Suicide Squad. Click to enlarge.

Remember, please leave your comments over on the FIRE AND WATER PODCAST website by clicking here!

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The first episode of our WHO’S WHO UPDATE ’88 podcast is now available — the show that dares to tackle one of DC Comics’ greatest publications! Each episode Rob and I cover a single issue of the legendary 1980s series, Who’s Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe. This time around we chat about WHO’S WHO: UPDATE ’88, volume 1, discussing characters such as Atom II, Doctor Fate II, Duchess, Firestorm, Green Arrow, Green Flame, Green Lantern, and more! We wrap up with your Listener Feedback! This episode sponsored in part by InStockTrades.com!

• Be sure to check out our Tumblr site for several pages from this Who’s Who issue: FireandWaterPodcast.Tumblr.com!
• Have a question or comment? Send us an e-mail at: firewaterpodcast@comcast.net
• Follow us on TWITTER: https://twitter.com/FWPodcasts
• Like us page: https://www.facebook.com/FWPodcastNetwork

You can find the first episode of WHO’S WHO: UPDATE ’88 on iTunes. Each episode is released as part of THE FIRE AND WATER PODCAST feed. While you’re on iTunes, please drop us a review. Alternatively, you may play the podcast using the player below or by right-clicking “download”, choosing “Save Target/Link As”, and selecting a location on your computer to save the file (164 MB).

Thanks to my co-host Rob Kelly, Sea King of THE AQUAMAN SHRINE, for doing all the post-production on this episode! Special thanks to Daniel Adams and Ashton Burge with their band The Bad Mamma Jammas for our fantastic Who’s Who theme song!

One of the coolest aspects of each Who’s Who issue was the amazing wrap-around cover! Check out this exceptional cover by Ty Temploton! Click the image to enlarge.

Here are your Firestorm-related Who’s Who entries from this issue…

First up is Firestorm himself! The “Blank Slate” version of the character as he appeared in Firestorm the Nuclear Man Annual #5! Click to enlarge.

Up next is Ray Palmer, the Atom! Ray Palmer served as a scientific adviser to Ronnie Raymond when he was flying solo as Firestorm in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Click the image to enlarge!

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These promotions cover issues starting around Fury of Firestorm #22, and run all the way up to #100. One of the things I love is finding plots or concepts in the promotions that never appeared in the comic. These were story ideas the author was considering while planning future months, but ultimately chose not to pursue. I find those “road not taken” ideas fascinating.

These scans were compiled by Match-head and Nuclear Sub, Joe X! My apologies to Joe for taking so long to post these pages. He sent them to me way back in July 2014! Sorry, Joe! I chose not to crop the surrounding page(s) as they make for fascinating reading. You’ll notice the Firestorm entries have been highlighted in yellow to make it easier to find. Click each image to enlarge and read!

Amazing Heroes #39 – January 15, 1984

Note the mention of the never-published Firestorm Graphic Novel. Man, I would have loved to have seen that book!

Amazing Heroes #62 – January 1, 1985

Note the mention that Cliff Carmichael will be Ronnie’s roommate in college. I don’t recall that happening, but to be honest it’s been a while since I read issues in the 40s & 50s. I may be mis-remembering.

Amazing Heroes Preview Special #1 – Summer 1985

Note the mention of Firehawk joining the Justice League! Wow! This was during the Justice League Detroit era, so Firestorm was no longer on the team. That would have been fantastic to see Firehawk battling crime without Firestorm. A real chance to spread her wings (pun intended) and show the readers she’s a strong independent character. Also, another mention of the never-published Firestorm Graphic Novel.

Amazing Heroes Preview Special #2 – Winter 1986

Note the interesting ideas about Firestorm working for the Police and concerns of brutality. That would have been an interesting plot thread to see develop. Another mention of the never-published Firestorm Graphic Novel and Conway’s hope to place Firehawk in the Justice League!

Amazing Heroes Preview Special #3 – Summer 1986

This one is a little sad. This promotional copy would have been written about the time Gerry Conway was let go from the Firestorm book. Notice editor Denny O’Neil is being interviewed instead of Gerry. Many of these ideas were either never realized, or written by subsequent writers. There is mention of a new villain named “Lava” that never appeared. Also, Denny definitively put an end to the hopes of a Firestorm Graphic Novel.

Amazing Heroes Preview Special #4 – Winter 1987

Shades of the Blank Slate Firestorm being hinted at here.

Amazing Heroes Preview Special – Summer 1987

Pretty  much everything here happens exactly as they described (except the spelling of Zuggernaut). I’m surprised they gave away so much of the plot in this preview magazine. I’m glad I didn’t read this before the issues; all the surprises would have been spoiled!

Amazing Heroes #133 – January 15, 1988

Again with the major spoilers! Geez! Save your 75 cents kids. Read this and you don’t even need to pick up the issues to know what is happening!

 Amazing Heroes #145 – July 15, 1988

More issue by issue spoilers this time. Plus, a nice mention of Firestorm’s rising sales, and suggestion of a Soyuz mini-series that never materialized.

Amazing Heroes #157/Preview Special #8 – January 15, 1989

Building towards the Elemental Firestorm storyline! Interesting that they compare Rasputin to John Constantine. Plus an abandoned plot of Doreen in trouble. Man, it would have been great if the Parasite had eaten Doreen!

Amazing Heroes #170/Preview Special #9 – August 1989

Whoa, satire? We’ve come a long way.

Amazing Heroes Preview Special #10 – March, 1990

A slight hint about the series ending with issue #100 in the phrase, “… final, fateful changes…”  Other than that, no real way to tell the adventures of our favorite Nuclear Man (or Elemental Man by this point) would be coming to an end.

What a fun trip down memory lane! Plus some new realizations about abandoned plot threads. My thanks to Joe X for sending these my way!

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ESSENTIAL FIRESTORM READING:

Ronnie Raymond & Professor Martin Stein

• Firestorm The Nuclear Man 1-5 (1978): Firestorm’s earliest adventures. Collected
• DC Comics Presents 17 (1980): Firestorm returns to action with Superman & receives an invitation. Collected
• The Flash 289-299, 301-303 (1980-1981): Firestorm 8 page back-up stories. Partially Collected
• Fury of Firestorm 1-9 (1982-1983): Firestorm’s most successful run. Fun stories!
• Fury of Firestorm 14-18; Fury of Firestorm Annual 1 (1983): Excellent story introducing Firehawk and Tokamak. My personal favorite!

Jason Rusch

• Firestorm 1-3 (2004): The origin of Jason as Firestorm Available Digitally
• Firestorm 8-13 (2005): Jason teams-up with Firehawk and … deceased Ronnie Raymond? Partially Collected
• Firestorm The Nuclear Man 28-32 (2006-2007): Jason and Professor Stein together in a fantastic adventure
• Blackest Night 1-8 (2009-2010): Firestorm changed forever. Collected

New 52: Ronnie Raymond & Jason Rusch

• The Fury of Firestorm The Nuclear Man 13-20 (2012-2013): The New 52 Firestorm returned to a more iconic version. Collected

In my opinion, the comics above are the most essential Firestorm stories.  Up next are other Firestorm appearances definitely worth your time!

OTHER WORTHWHILE FIRESTORM APPEARANCES:

Firestorm-centric Justice League of America appearances:

• JLA 179-180 (1980): Firestorm joins the JLA
• JLA 183-185 (1980) : JLA travels to Apokolips. Collected
• JLA 192 & 193 (1981): Red Tornado goes wild. Collected
• JLA 205 (1982): Professor Stein vs Hector Hammond
• JLA 207-209, and All-Star Squadron 14 & 15 (1982): Crisis on Earth-Prime. Collected
• JLA 228-230, JLA Annual #2 (1984): Mars/Earth War and aftermath

Stories that dramatically changed Firestorm’s composition and personality:

• Fury of Firestorm 62-64, Fury of Firestorm Annual 5, Firestorm 65 (1987): Birth of the “Blank Slate” Firestorm
• Firestorm 85-100 (1989-1990): The Elemental era of Firestorm

Major DC Events Involving Firestorm:

• Crisis on Infinite Earths 1-12 (1985-1986): Collected
• Legends 1-6 (1986-1987): Available Digitally
• Brightest Day 0-24 (2010-2011): Collected Vol 1, Vol 2, Vol 3
• Forever Evil 1-7 (2013-2014): Collected

There you go. While Firestorm has appeared in hundreds of other comics, these are the ones I’d recommend to a new reader of the character. If you disagree with my selections, or think of other important appearances, sound off in the comments!

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While doing research for the new DC RPG: THE HERO POINTS PODCAST (you do know about the new podcast, right?), Siskoid informed me that for many years Dragon Magazine featured a one-page “Daily Planet Gaming Supplement” for the DC Heroes RPG. I had no idea! Turns out there was a Firestorm entry in 1988!!! How cool is this?!?! Click below to enlarge.

What fascinates me about this entry is that its focused on the “Blank Slate” Firestorm! Hooray! Essentially Mayfair took the stats for the classic Firestorm (first edition RPG rules, as that was the only edition at the time), and made some minor alterations to accommodate the new incarnation. See below a breakdown of the major changes from the classic Nuclear Man.

• Miscellaneous Limitation: A third personality controls the Firestorm body, rather than Ronnie or Mikhail.
• Minor Irrational Attraction: Confusion about the world.  This is to represent the “blank slate” nature of the new Firestorm personality. It’s worded strangely, but I understand the spirit of the item.
• Lowered Intelligence by 2 ratings, to represent the loss of Professor Stein.
• Added Starbolt power. This is probably just a correction as it should have been included with the original Firestorm.
• Finally, added Bio-Energy Blast power, limited to contact with the ground to create miniature exploding volcanoes. This was a power Firestorm inherited from Pozhar (as demonstrated below).

I’m thrilled to find the “Blank Slate” Firestorm getting some respect in the RPG! Years later Mayfair published a Who’s Who companion for 2nd edition which indicated the classic and “Blank Slate” versions of Firestorm had identical abilities. So not true!!! That never sat well with me. This version above accounts for the differences pretty well. For other Firestorm stats, please see below.

• Classic Firestorm [1st & 2nd edition stats]: includes erroneous statement that the classic and “Blank Slate” Firestorm had identical abilities and powers.
• Elemental Firestorm [2nd edition stats]: includes three different versions of his stats.

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VOTE! Click here to vote for your favorite six entries from, “What do you like about Firestorm?”

The six individuals with the most votes will receive one of the following fantastic prizes:

• An original art page drawn by Dan Jurgens and Ray McCarthy from the recent The Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Man #13 (courtesy of Ray McCarthy)
• Firestorm: The Nuclear Man trade paperback signed by writer and co-creator Gerry Conway
• The Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Men #11 & #12 signed by inker Marlo Alquiza (courtesy of Jeremy Hobbs)
• The Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Men Volume 1: God Particle trade paperback
• Brightest Day Firestorm action figure (courtesy of Mail Me My Comics)
• Batman: The Brave and the Bold t-shirt featuring Firestorm (courtesy of Lil’ Russell Burbage)

My thanks to Ray McCarthy, Jeremy Hobbs, Mail Me My Comics, and Lil’ Russell Burbage for donating prizes. Also, my thanks to Speed Force, the Flash blog, for inspiring this contest!

VOTE! Click here to vote for your favorite six entries from, “What do you like about Firestorm?”

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UPDATE: If you voted prior to 11:00pm EST on Monday, February 25, please vote again. I apologize for the inconvenience. Due to some voting inconsistencies, I had to delete the original poll. The new poll was launched just after 11:00pm on Monday. You may select up to six responses, but please don’t vote for the same response multiple times. If there is a repeat of voting inconsistencies, I will terminate the voting and select the winners myself. The new poll URL is: http://twtpoll.com/m17u99

Happy voting! May the best Match-head win!

The rules of the contest are pretty simple… Just share what you like about Firestorm, or a favorite memory involving the Nuclear Man. Write these thoughts in the comments section of this post or e-mail them directly to me by clicking here. You can discuss any era/incarnation of the character, or any series where he appeared (i.e. Fury of Firestorm, Justice League of America, Brightest Day, Super Friends cartoon, etc).  The only restriction is haters need not apply. If you’ve got a bone to pick with a particular incarnation of Firestorm, this isn’t the place. This is a celebration of Firestorm, so let’s keep it positive! The contest will run until 10pm EST on Sunday, February 17th. So be sure to get your entries in before then. One entry per person please. Once the contest closes on February 17, we’ll collect all the entries and set them up as a poll to be voted on by readers, and the top-rated five will win!

We’ve got some great prizes! Check these out:

• An original art page drawn by Dan Jurgens and Ray McCarthy from the recent The Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Man #13 (courtesy of Ray McCarthy)
• Firestorm: The Nuclear Man trade paperback signed by writer and co-creator Gerry Conway
• The Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Men #11 & #12 signed by inker Marlo Alquiza (courtesy of Jeremy Hobbs)
• The Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Men Volume 1: God Particle trade paperback
• Brightest Day Firestorm action figure (courtesy of Mail Me My Comics)

Yes, you read that correctly! We’re giving away an original page from Dan Jurgens and Ray McCarthy’s premier issue of Firestorm!  How cool is that?!?!?!

My thanks to Ray McCarthy, Jeremy Hobbs, and Mail Me My Comics for donating prizes. Also, my thanks to Speed Force, the Flash blog, for inspiring this contest!

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UPDATE: Vote for your favorite six entries from the contest!

No, you didn’t miss an actual inter-company crossover starring the Nuclear Man and the Gamma-irradiated Beast. This fictitious meeting is the work of a gentleman named Ross who runs Super-Team Family: The Lost Issues! That site is dedicated to the greatest team-ups that never happened. He started with Brave and the Bold fake covers starring Batman, transitioned into Marvel Two-in-One fake covers starring the Thing, and is now doing Super-Team Family featuring a wide variety of team-ups. Below are a few previous Firestorm appearances:

• Firestorm and The Thing
• Firestorm and Spider-man
• Firestorm and Power Man & Iron Fist
• Firestorm and The Mighty Thor
• Firestorm and Iceman

The comments on this posting suggested the great idea of Dr. Bruce Banner & Professor Martin Stein meeting face-to-face! That could be the germ for this entire concept. Banner and Stein work together on a lab project; something goes horribly wrong; and next think you know Firestorm is battling the Hulk in downtown Manhattan! The question is, which hero loses control?!?!? I don’t know about you, but I’d definitely buy that comic!

Be sure to check out Ross’ work on Super-Team Family: The Lost Issues! There are some real gems in there, and they were all done with Microsoft Paint! Impressive! My thanks to J. David Weter for the heads-up on this one!

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While there I decided to check out some of his current “SurVILEvor Island” posts, as well as his “Vile Menagerie March Madness” posts. Frank is running a series of polls to determine if you put all the guys who ever fought Martian Manhunter on a Survivor-style island, who would you cast out as not belonging to the group? A neat idea! Also, I figure I could use a good laugh as Frank tees-up some of the lamest super-villains and rogues to ever grace the DC Universe.

It suddenly stopped being funny when I came across the name … “Brimstone”. Excuse me?!?!? Is Frank trying to claim Brimstone as a Martian Manhunter rogue?!?! I don’t think so, you Mars-loving freak! Brimstone is a 100% Grade-A Nuclear Nemesis! If anyone is going to claim Brimstone as their rogue, it’s going to be Firestorm!

Brimstone has clashed with Firestorm on three different occasions, each time battling a different incarnation of the Nuclear Man. The first time they met was during the Legends crossover in The Fury of Firestorm #55 (January 1987). The second time the “Blank Slate” Firestorm and Firehawk battled Brimstone in Firestorm the Nuclear Man #76 (October 1988). Their final battle took place on the surface of the sun in the last issue of Firestorm #100 (August 1990). That battle not only ended the series, it resulted in the destruction of the first Firestorm Elemental (elemental, Ronnie, Mikhail), and the creation of the second Firestorm Elemental (elemental, Martin Stein).

It now appears Frank has seen the error of his ways. He’s got a post today over on his site indicating that perhaps he overstepped his bounds when claiming Brimstone. He goes on to explain that Firestorm is the most likely hero to “own” Brimstone as a villain. *harumph* Too little, too late Frank. The damage is already done!

Match-heads, please head over to The Idol Head of Diabolu today and let Frank know exactly which rogues gallery Brimstone belongs to!

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Below is Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Men #13 cover by Dan Jurgens & Norm Rapmund!

Below is the cover to Firestorm The Nuclear Men #65 by Ross Andru!

Both are great covers! While the covers aren’t exact matches, there are several similarities. For example: Firestorm is looking off to his right while floating upright; shooting an energy blast with his right hand, while his left hand is raised; battling technological marvels; and so on.

Here is the most surprising coincidence… both issues feature a new incarnation of Firestorm! The Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Men #13 will feature the new Firestorm incarnation of Ronnie & Jason sharing a single body (this new Firestorm will premier in the issue just prior to #13, The Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Men #0). Firestorm the Nuclear Man #65 featured the new “Blank Slate” incarnation of Firestorm (who premiered on the final page of the previous issue, Firestorm the Nuclear Man Annual #5).

New Firestorm incarnations and similarities in cover design? Makes you wonder whether the cover similarities are a happy accident or purposeful! My thanks to fellow Match-head Shane Snyder for bringing up this topic! He suggested there might be some similarities between the upcoming cover and previous issues.

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