The fifth episode of our WHO’S WHO UPDATE ’87 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 ’87, volume 5, discussing characters such as Robin, Strikeforce Kobra, The Spectre, Titano, Vibe, 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

You can find the fourth episode of WHO’S WHO: UPDATE ’87 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 (149 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 wild cover by Pablo Marcos! Click the image to enlarge.

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

First up is the Rocket Red Brigade! Firestorm’s own Pozhar (a.k.a. Mikhail Arkadin) wore Rocket Red armor in his earliest appearances (Fury of Firestorm #63, 64, and Annual #5 in 1987)! Click to enlarge.

Up next are the Royal Flush Gang! Firestorm tussled with this card-themed bunch back in Justice League of America #203-205 in 1982. Click to enlarge.

Then we have the Suicide Squad! Firestorm was hunted by the Squad back in Fury of Firestorm #64 (from 1987). Click to enlarge.

Finally we have a supporting character on TV’s The Flash — Vibe! Firestorm teamed-up with Vibe and the Detroit Justice League in Justice League of America #257 and the Legends limited series (back in 1986). Click to enlarge.

Support Firestorm (and the WHO’S WHO podcast)! Fan the flame!

The third episode of our WHO’S WHO UPDATE ’87 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 ’87, volume 3, discussing characters such as the Green Lantern Corps, Infinity Inc., John Constantine, Justice League, Kite-Man, Lady Blackhawk, Lex Luthor, 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

You can find the third episode of WHO’S WHO: UPDATE ’87 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 (153 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 beautiful cover by Eduardo Barreto! Click the image to enlarge.

Here is your Firestorm-related Who’s Who entry from this issue…

Justice League drawn by Kevin Maguire and Terry Austin! This is a snapshot of the early days of the JLI, the “Bwah-hah-ha” League. At this point, only five issues had been released of the series and no one knew exactly how popular they would become. While Maguire drew numerous crowd shots in this pose over the years, this is one of the few to include The Nuclear Man! Click to enlarge.

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Now let’s zoom in on that JLA poster. Notice the figure above the “J” and the “L”? That’s a pretty distinctive silhouette! Looks like our favorite match-head will make an appearance!

The name has been confirmed on a few sites, but here is a link to The Animation Blog. At the end or August, they listed Los Angeles production work for animated series, including “Justice League Action” under Warner Bros Animation.

Finally, for more information and speculation on which network it may air, check out the article over on The Nerdist.

As we find out more, we’ll be sure to share it here! My thanks to Keith G Baker, Jeff DeWitt, Aaron “Head”Moss, Xum Yukinori, and anyone else I’ve forgotten for the heads-up on this possible new series!

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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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One story within Justice League #39 features Typhoon vs Aquaman & Red Tornado! Great match-up with wind and water on each side!

Another story within the issue is a seven-page adaption of of DC Comics Presents #17 featuring Superman & Firestorm vs Killer Frost!

So much fun! I love that these comics were spawned by Russell’s disappointment in modern comics. Such a positive and creative way to respond! Be sure to head over to Russell’s website to read the entire comic, which includes other adventures with Martian Manhunter, John Stewart, Wonder Woman, Hawkman & Hawkwoman, Batgirl, Elongated Man, and even The Warlord!

Support Firestorm (and Lil’ Russell Burbage)! Fan the flame!

To be perfectly clear, this is not a bashing of Alex Ross. I love, LOVE, L-O-V-E his artwork and would be thrilled to see Firestorm fully-rendered by such a masterful artist! It’s just disappointing we haven’t had that opportunity.

Alex Ross began his professional comic book career 25 years ago. In that quarter century he’s rendered the Justice League dozens and dozens of times; and yet he’s only rendered Firestorm once. Just once. And to be specific, that one time he was painting over George Perez’s pencils, so Ross didn’t have a choice about which characters to render.

Alex Ross has demonstrated his love of the Satellite Era Justice League on numerous occasions, yet Firestorm has never crept into any of those renderings. As Firestorm was the final member of the Satellite Era League, you’d think he’d be included. Heck, Ross often includes other heroes from DC’s pantheon that weren’t even members of the Satellite League (i.e. Plastic Man, Captain Marvel, & Metamorpho).

As a fan of Firestorm (a.k.a. Match-head), you can’t help but feel disappointed.

I’ve been researching the lack of Firestorm rendered by Alex Ross for years. While I don’t have a concrete answer, I have some circumstantial evidence worth considering.

Exhibit A: We know Alex Ross is interested in the Silver Age versions of DC’s heroes. Below you’ll find an excerpt from an interview with Ross conducted back in 2004 by The AV Club of The Onion. Click here to read the entire interview.

The Onion: Looking at your work, Bruce Timm’s animated series, Alan Moore’s America’s Best Comics line, and, to a certain extent, Grant Morrison’s run on JLA, there seem to have been efforts to return to a Silver Age approach. Even Superman’s dog Krypto is back.

Alex Ross: What you have is a bunch of 40-year-olds and thirtysomethings like myself. We grew up with this stuff thinking of it a certain way, and we’re rejecting what was kind of knocked around on us the last few years. Basically, what still is going on in modern continuity, especially at DC Comics, is a rejection of everything they did in the 1990s to compete with the then-hip-and-happening changes coming from the more tumultuous time of what Marvel and then Image comics did. We’re sort of in a repairing stage. Those of us who are kind of these Silver Age purists who think you don’t need to fix what isn’t broken, we’re getting our way because more of us are in control at the moment.

Exhibit B: We know Alex Ross and Paul Dini made a conscious decision about which members of the JLA to feature in their gorgeous treasury-sized, JLA: Secret Origins and JLA: Liberty and Justice. Below is an excerpt from an interview with Paul Dini printed in the back of JLA: Secret Origins.

Exhibit C: From JLA: Secret Origins, here is a preliminary sketch for a series of panels including Firestorm, followed by the final version of those panels without Firestorm. Notice the JLA Satellite panel width is expanded to accommodate the missing Firestorm panel. Most importantly, notice the Firestorm commentary on the bottom right of the sketch.

There it is Match-heads, the strongest evidence for Alex Ross’s aversion to Firestorm.

“Firestorm? No! Iris Allen is dead when he shows up”

We don’t know if that note was written by Alex Ross or Paul Dini, but regardless it played a role in their decision to exclude Firestorm from JLA: Secret Origins and JLA: Liberty and Justice. I believe I understand where they are coming from with that decision. Some people consider the death of Iris Allen to be the beginning of darker storytelling for the DC heroes. It occurred in the middle of the Bronze Age, as comics marched towards the “Modern Age”. Or perhaps Ross and Dini prefer the Flash before he suffered the tragedy of losing his wife. If Ross doesn’t want to stray into the “darker” era of DC Comics, then that’s a reasonable cut-off point. Putting this on a timeline, Firestorm was created prior to the death of Iris Allen, but he hadn’t joined the JLA yet.

• Firestorm first premiered: Firestorm The Nuclear Man #1 (cover dated March 1978)
• Iris Allen is murdered: The Flash #275 (cover dated July 1979)
• Firestorm joins the JLA: Justice League of America #179 (cover dated June 1980)

In case you are wondering, Zatanna was the second-to-last member added to the Satellite Era JLA. Since Ross typically includes Zatanna, I checked and sure enough she joined the JLA in Justice League of America #161 (cover dated December 1978), seven months before the death of Iris Allen. Though if you want to get nit-picky, Zatanna wasn’t wearing her classic stage magician’s costume while she was with the JLA during this era. I imagine Ross overlooks that fact in favor of Zatanna’s most iconic costume.

Exhibit D: We can accept that Alex Ross may only want to draw the Satellite Era JLA as they appeared prior to the death of Iris Allen. However, Ross has rendered a few modern day JLA pieces, each lacking a certain Nuclear Man. Below you’ll find team shots including latter-day JLA additions, such as: Blue Beetle, Captain Atom, Mister Miracle, Big Barda, Orion, Lightray, John Stewart, Hawkgirl, Geo-Force, Vixen, Black Lightning, and Red Arrow. Was the exclusion of Firestorm intentional or simply a case of circumstance?

Summary of Findings: Evidence indicates Alex Ross prefers to render the Satellite Era Justice League as they appeared prior to the death of Iris West; therefore, no Firestorm. The lack of Firestorm’s inclusion in Ross’s modern day JLA work is inconclusive.

Final Verdict: Does Alex Ross hate Firestorm? I don’t think there is enough evidence to confirm or deny this statement. However, 25 years in the comics industry with a reputation for rendering the JLA and he’s only drawn Firestorm once? It certainly seems to indicate a lack of interest in the character.

With all this said, I still love Alex Ross’s work! To keep up with Alex, follow him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and his website!

I’m not the only one wondering about Alex Ross’s aversion to Firestorm. Check out Dale Bagwell’s blog post on this very concern!

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The 115th episode of THE FIRE AND WATER PODCAST is now available for your listening pleasure! THE FIRE AND WATER PODCAST is the official podcast of FIRESTORM FAN and THE AQUAMAN SHRINE.

This week Shag and Rob discuss Firestorm and Aquaman’s big appearances in other media: Firestorm on The Flash and Aquaman in Justice League: Throne of Atlantis!

You can find the 115th episode of THE FIRE AND WATER PODCAST on iTunes. While you’re there, please drop us a review on the iTunes page. Every comment helps! Alternatively, you may download the podcast by right-clicking here, choosing “Save Target/Link As”, and selecting a location on your computer to save the file (55 MB).

As always, thanks to my co-host Rob Kelly, Sea King of THE AQUAMAN SHRINE, for doing all the post-production on these episodes! Opening theme, “That Time is Now,” by Michael Kohler. Special thanks to Daniel Adams and Ashton Burge with their band The Bad Mamma Jammas for our fantastic original closing theme! This episode brought to you in part by InStockTrades.com!

Have a question or comment? Looking for more great content?

• Send us an e-mail: firewaterpodcast@comcast.net
• Check our Tumblr: fireandwaterpodcast.tumblr.com
• Visit The Aquaman Shrine: www.aquamanshrine.net
• or leave a comment below!

Thanks for listening! Fan the Flame and Ride the Wave!

Here is the description of the Trinity War set from WizKids:

Choose your Justice League and battle for the world’s salvation with DC HeroClix: Justice League – Trinity of Sin! Subthemes for DC HeroClix: Justice League – Trinity War include the Justice League of America, the Justice League Dark, the Crime Syndicate and more! Trinity War also freatures the first Seven Deadly Sins 3D Special Objects randomly inserted into boosters; these special objects interact with the Rock of Eternity and Pandora’s Box incentive resource dials. There are 73 figures to collect, including 17 Common figures, 16 Uncommon figures, 16 Rare figures, 12 Super Rare figures, 7 thematic Chase figures, and 1 Ultra-Chase figure. Build your Trinity War collection with Gravity Feed Foil Packs, the Dice & Token Pack (with 2 custom dice and 6 action tokens), the Booster Brick, or the Crime Syndicate Fast Forces Pack.

First up, Firestorm the Nuclear Man! Click to enlarge…

Next up, Deathstorm from the Crime Syndicate!  Click to enlarge…

Those are some gorgeous sculpts and paint jobs above. Given my experience with HeroClix, somehow I don’t think they’ll look exactly that snazzy in real life.

For an incredibly detailed description of the characters abilities (we’re talking click-by-click), check out the WizKids preview! And be sure to pick up some DC HeroClix: Justice League Trinity War booster packs next month!

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Since the theme is Forever Evil, this time they’ve included Firestorm!!! Here are the Firestorm-themed cards in game…

Firestorm (Her0)

Firestorm Matrix (Equipment)

Deathstorm (Villain)

Power Drain (Super Power)

Can’t wait to sit down and play this game!!

My thanks to my buddy Mike Truelove for sending these pictures my way!

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This year I’m thankful for all the Firestorm-related activity! The Flash TV series is jam-packed with Firestorm foes and soon the Nuclear Man himself! Firestorm is featuring prominently in The New 52: Futures End! We’re seeing new action figures and merchandise with ole flame-top! And much more that I’m sure is slipping my mind right now. It’s a great time to be a Match-head!

What comic book related things are you thankful for this year?

Happy Thanksgiving! Support Firestorm! Fan the flame!