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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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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Below you’ll find the original art for that page by Ethan Van Sciver, followed by the print version with colors by Hi-Fi! Click the pages to enlarge.

The best part… I’m now the proud owner of this original page!!! In all my years collecting Firestorm, this is only the second original page I’ve ever owned! I’m so thrilled about this! I gotta tell ya, Ethan is an incredible guy. He’s always been so supportive of FIRESTORM FAN, whether it was during his tenure on the book or even after. Thank you, Ethan!

Man I love this page!! Be sure to support Ethan’s work on Batman: The Dark Knight, as the upcoming regular cover artist on Earth-2, and the zillions of variant covers he’s got lined up in the next few months!

Also, I need to extend thanks to Roger Priebe who arranged the shipping of this art piece! Thanks Roger! Be sure to visit Roger’s site Off the Record DVD and pick up his interview with Gerry Conway on DVD!

Support Firestorm (and Ethan Van Sciver)! Fan the flame!

This episode Shag and Rob talk about The Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Men #12 (by Joe Harris, Yildiray Cinar, Marlo Alquiza, Daniel DHR, Walden Wong, Travis Lanham, and Hi-Fi)! We also chat about Rob’s major award, Shag’s podcast-cheating on Rob, and our new Tumblr site! Finally, the podcast wraps up with a double-sized dose of your listener feedback!

You can find the 28th 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 (38 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! Intro theme, “That Time is Now,” by Michael Kohler. Special thanks to Daniel Adams and his band The Bad Mamma Jammas for our fantastic original closing theme!

Have a question or comment? Send us an e-mail at firewaterpodcast@comcast.net. Visit our Tumblr site at fireandwaterpodcast.tumblr.com.

As promised during the show, here is a link to Sean Tiffany’s podcast and blog, Back to the Drawing Board! Also, below you’ll find Andy Kapellusch’s concept for a spin-off podcast, THE KNOT AND SCAVENGE PODCAST!

Finally, check out the virgin cover (meaning without the logos) to the The Fury of Firestorm issue covered on this podcast! Click to enlarge!

Support Firestorm and Aquaman! Fan the Flame and Ride the Wave!

This issue is written by Joe Harris, penciled by Yildiray Cinar and Daniel HDR, inked by Marlo Alquiza and Walden Wong, cover by Yildiray Cinar and Marlo Alquiza, colored by Hi-Fi, and lettered by Travis Lanham! Based upon this preview, it appears Jason and Ronnie are going to have their hands full with Pozhar, and Zither is finally showing what she’s capable of! Can’t wait for tomorrow!

Below are a few of the pages from the preview. Click the first image below to enlarge. Be sure to visit ScienceFiction.com to see all five preview pages!

Don’t forget, pick up your copy of The Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Men #12 tomorrow!

Support Firestorm! Fan the flame!

This episode Shag and Rob talk about Aquaman #11 (by Geoff Johns, Ivan Reis, Joe Prado, Jonathan Glapion, Andy Lanning, and Rod Reis) and The Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Men #11 (by Joe Harris, Yildiray Cinar, Marlo Alquiza, Travis Lanham, and Hi-Fi)! Fantastic issues that really ramp up the excitement! The podcast wraps up with your listener feedback!

You can find the 25th 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 (35 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! Intro theme, “That Time is Now,” by Michael Kohler. Special thanks to Daniel Adams and his band The Bad Mamma Jammas for our fantastic original closing theme!

Have a question or comment? Send us an e-mail at: firewaterpodcast@comcast.net

As mentioned on the episode, check out this fun artwork from the dastardly creative Luke Daab!

Support Firestorm and Aquaman! Fan the Flame and Ride the Wave!

This issue is written by Joe Harris, penciled by Yildiray Cinar, inked by Marlo Alquiza, colored by Hi-Fi, and lettered by Travis Lanham. In this issue Jason and Firehawk discover the secret origin of Pozhar, while Ronnie, Rakshasi and Pozhar face off against the threat of the rogue Firestorms! Also, we get a cover by Ethan Van Sciver and Hi-Fi! Can’t wait for tomorrow!

Below is one of the five pages in the preview. Be sure to visit ComicBook.com to see all five preview pages!

Don’t forget, pick up your copy of The Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Men #11 tomorrow!

Support Firestorm! Fan the flame!

Pre-2000 this was the colorist domain at DC. Today it is all the letterer! Hooray for them being able to bring more of their unique talents to each and every story. Comics really are a collaborative medium.

Therefore, looks like we’ve got Letterer Travis Lanham to thank for these cool artistic additions to the series! Below I’ve highlighted a few panels by Yildiray Cinar to demonstrate these unique word balloons.

Ronnie Raymond – red word balloons, yellow outline and yellow letters

Jason Rusch – yellow word balloon, red outline and red letters
Firehawk – white word balloon, red outline and red letters
Hurricane – black word balloon, yellow outline and yellow letters

Pozhar – white word balloon, red shaky outline and red letters
Rakshasi – violet word balloon, red outline and white letters

Fury – black word balloon, shaky red outline and white shaky letters

Wrath – salmon word balloon, shaky black outline and black shaky letters

Love those distinctive word balloons!

Support Firestorm (and Travis Lanham)! Fan the flame!

This episode Shag and Rob talk about Aquaman #10 (by Geoff Johns, Ivan Reis, Joe Prado, Andy Lanning, and Rod Reis) and The Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Men #10 (by Ethan Van Sciver, Joe Harris, Yildiray Cinar, Marlo Alquiza, and Hi-Fi)! Both storylines appear to be heading for dramatic conclusions in issue #12! The podcast wraps up with your listener feedback!

You can find the 23rd 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 (37 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! Intro theme, “That Time is Now,” by Michael Kohler. Special thanks to Daniel Adams and his band The Bad Mamma Jammas for our fantastic original closing theme!

Have a question or comment? Send us an e-mail at: firewaterpodcast@comcast.net

Check out the gorgeous virgin covers (meaning without the logos) to the The Fury of Firestorm and Aquaman issues covered on this podcast! Note Ronnie appears in the original art, but not on the final cover.

Support Firestorm and Aquaman! Fan the Flame and Ride the Wave!

Just a reminder.. if you haven’t pre-ordered your copy of The Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Men #0 from your comic shop, please do so before July 18! Also, please do whatever you can to encourage other comic fans to pre-order this issue! For more details, please click here.

This episode Shag and Rob talk about Aquaman #9 (by Geoff Johns, Ivan Reis, Joe Prado, Oclair Albert, Andy Lanning, and Rod Reis) and The Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Men #9 (by Ethan Van Sciver, Joe Harris, Yildiray Cinar, Marlo Alquiza, Norm Rapmund, and Hi-Fi)! We’re building towards an inevitable confrontation between Aquaman and Black Manta, then the JLI stops by for a visit with our favorite Nuclear Men! The podcast wraps up with your listener feedback!

You can find the 21th 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 (31 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! Intro theme, “That Time is Now,” by Michael Kohler. Special thanks to Daniel Adams and his band The Bad Mamma Jammas for our fantastic original closing theme!

Have a question or comment? Send us an e-mail at: firewaterpodcast@comcast.net

Check out the gorgeous virgin covers (meaning without the logos) to the The Fury of Firestorm and Aquaman issues covered on this podcast!

Support Firestorm and Aquaman! Fan the Flame and Ride the Wave!