Ostrander & Mandrake are running a Kickstarter campaign for their new graphic novel, Kros: Hallowed Ground. It’s a passion project they’ve wanted to publish for a long time. As of this posting, there are only 7 days left in the Kickstarter campaign. Please support these Firestorm creators! I did!

Here is the description of the graphic novel from John Ostrander & Tom Mandrake’s Kickstarter:

Kros: Hallowed Ground began over 10 years ago as a tale of horror set during the Battle of Gettysburg. A dream project for us both, it waited silently, like a vampire in the shadows… The story was written, some pages were drawn–atmospheric, dark murky landscapes, the dimly lit surgeon’s tent, a figure swirling from the smoke of battle…

It’s time to hear the wolf’s howl; to watch the undead descend like buzzards to the feast.  It’s time to unleash the vampires…

All wars are horror stories.

Gettysburg, July 1-3, 1863. The blood soaked battlefields of the Civil War draw Vampires who descend to feed on the wounded and dying as Blood calls to Blood. One man, a Vampire Hunter named Kros, stands against them, waging a battle at night as fearful and horrific as the battles fought during the day.

KROS: HALLOWED GROUND is a 128 page horror graphic novel by John Ostrander and Tom Mandrake. Kros is a dream project and Kros’ story is one we have been wanting to tell for a long time.

Below you’ll find a sample page from this gorgeous-looking graphic novel! Can’t wait to read it!

If you can’t give financially, please help spread the word through social media. Every little bit helps!

Support Firestorm (and Ostrander & Mandrake on Kickstarter)! Fan the flame!

The inaugural 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 1, discussing characters such as the Young All-Stars, Batman, Bizarro, Black Adam, Booster Gold, Carcharo, and more! We wrap up the show with your Who’s Who 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 first 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 (135 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 Joe Brozowski and Dick Giordano! Click the image to enlarge.

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

I recently sat down to discuss this issue with Stella, host of BATGIRL TO ORACLE: THE BARBARA GORDON PODCAST. We also chatted about the Batgirl #41 variant cover controversy, Chuck Dixon writing female characters, Harley Quinn and the Joker’s abusive relationship, The Flash TV series, the cultural acceptance of comics, my love of Barbara Gordon, and much more! Stella is an outstanding podcaster and a very gracious host. Be sure to check out her podcast, BATGIRL TO ORACLE: THE BARBARA GORDON PODCAST! My thanks to Stella for having me on the show!

Below you’ll find the Oracle-centric pages from Firestorm #98 written by John Ostrander (also author of Suicide Squad), with art by Tom Mandrake and Carlos Garzon!

Below is the cover to Firestorm #98; one of my favorites from this era!

Thanks again to Stella for having me on the show! I had a blast! You can follow BATGIRL TO ORACLE: THE BARBARA GORDON PODCAST at The Batman Universe Podcast Network, Facebook, and Twitter!

Support Firestorm (and the BATGIRL TO ORACLE PODCAST)! Fan the flame!

The nineteenth episode of our WHO’S WHO 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: Volume XIX, discussing characters such as The Question, Ragman, Ra’s Al Ghul, Red Tornado, The Riddler, Robin, Robotman, Raven, The Rag Doll, Red Bee, and many more! We wrap up the show with Who’s Who 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 nineteenth episode of WHO’S WHO: THE DEFINITIVE PODCAST OF THE DC UNIVERSE 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 download the podcast by right-clicking here, choosing “Save Target/Link As”, and selecting a location on your computer to save the file (82 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 Ernie Colon cover for Volume XIX! Click the image to enlarge.

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

First up is fellow Satellite-era Justice Leaguer, Red Tornado by Joe Brozowski (Firestorm artist) & Greg Theakston! Firestorm and Red Tornado fought side-by-side several times, however, the adventure connecting them closest is probably Justice League of America #192-193. Red Tornado’s origin is revealed and only Firestorm is privy to all the details. Click the image to enlarge.

Next up is the Royal Flush Gang by Tom Mandrake (Firestorm artist)! Firestorm has battled these folks a few times. Just to name a couple: Justice League of America (vol 1) #203-205 and Firestorm (vol 3) #17. JLA #205 wraps-up with a great battle between Hector Hammond and Professor Martin Stein! Click the image to enlarge.

Finally, a tangentially related character, Roy Raymond TV Detective by Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez (Praise Be His Name). Writer/artist Dan Jurgens recently established during his run on Firestorm that Ronnie Raymond is the nephew of Roy Raymond! While we haven’t seen them together yet, we do have this scene from The Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Man #14. This works in the New 52, but wouldn’t have worked in the Pre-Flashpoint continuity (since Ronnie’s real family name wasn’t Raymond). Click the image to enlarge. So… anyone get my subtle Tangent reference in the same paragraph as Dan Jurgens?

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

First up is Firestorm #98 (June 1990) with cover art by Tom Mandrake. This was during the Firestorm Elemental era; a personal favorite of mine. The vertical lines break up the art very effectively! Click to enlarge.

Next we’ve got The Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Man #9 (February 1983) with cover art by Pat Broderick and Dick Giordano. You’ll be seeing this cover again soon as we’ll cover this issue next month on THE FIRE & WATER PODCAST. We reviewed the previous issue earlier this week on Episode #80 of the podcast. What a great cover! The body language tells an entire story all by itself! Love this!! Click to enlarge.

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]]> http://firestormfan.com/2014/03/07/favorite-covers-rainy-days/feed/ 1 http://firestormfan.com/2013/08/07/elemental-direct-currents/ http://firestormfan.com/2013/08/07/elemental-direct-currents/#comments Wed, 07 Aug 2013 09:30:47 +0000 http://firestormfan.com/?p=8291 A few months ago we ran the back cover of Direct Currents #16 from May 1989. Turns out that back cover was a tie-in with an article within that issue.

Check out this cool promotional blurb from Direct Currents #16 about the coming of the Elemental Firestorm! Click the image to enlarge!

Man, I love me some Elemental Firestorm! That piece makes we want to break out those issues and read them all over again!

If you aren’t familiar with Direct Currents, they were a free promotional magazine containing approximately 8 pages soliciting the titles being released by DC Comics that month. My local comic shop didn’t typically carry Direct Currents, so it was always a treat to find one in other shops.

My thanks to Michael Bailey of the Fortress of Baileytude sending this scan my way!

Support Firestorm! Fan the flame!

You can find the third 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 (42 MB).

Thanks again to my co-host Rob Kelly, Sea King of THE AQUAMAN SHRINE, for doing all the post-production on these episodes! Additionally, special thanks to Daniel Adams and his band The Bad Mamma Jammas for our super-cool outro theme!

Thanks for listening! Send your feedback to: firewaterpodcast@comcast.net

Support Firestorm (and Aquaman)! Fan the Flame!

Before we look at Firestorm #100, check out Brimstone’s entry in DK’s DC Comics Encyclopedia, Updated and Expanded Edition (2008):

To showcase Brimstone’s unbelievable power, check out these GORGEOUS pages by writer John Ostrander and artist Tom Mandrake from Firestorm #100.  I picked just a few pages to display.  First up, page 34.

Below you’ll find page 36.

Next up is page 38.

Finally, look below for the two-page spread on pages 44 & 45!  Click the image to enlarge!

As you can see, Brimstone is crazy-powerful and a worthy adversary.  While the Elemental Firestorm was able to combat Brimstone within the Sun, I’m not sure any other incarnation of Firestorm would survive.  An impressive battle with impressive art!  Well done, Mr. Mandrake!

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Click here to check out the 1992 Impel DC Comics Firehawk trading card that we covered a while back!

Remember a few years ago when the Booster Gold comic did an official Zero Hour tie-in issue, over ten years after Zero Hour was over?  Today’s post is a little like that.  Last year several superhero blogs teamed-up to cover the 1992 Impel DC Comics trading card series.  Frank Lee Delano invited me to join in the fun, but my own personal schedule got in the way.  So consider this my late addition to the crossover!

Idol-Head of Diabolu (A Martian Manhunter Blog)

• Martian Manhunter
• Darkseid
• Despero
• Vandal Savage
• Gorilla Grodd

DC Bloodlines

• John Stewart
• Bronze Tiger
• Eclipso

Justice League Detroit

• Elongated Man
• Amazo
• Vixen

Diana Prince as the New Wonder Woman

• Troia
• Golden Age Cheetah
• Ares

Power of the Atom

• Nightshade
• Peacemaker
• Chronos

Comics Make Me Happy

• Adam Strange

Better late than never!

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Firestorm the Nuclear Man #70 – cover art by J.J. Birch (a.k.a. Joe Brozowski)

Firestorm #99 – cover art by Tom Mandrake

Keeping watching FIRESTORM FAN in the near future for the exclusive interview with John Ostrander!

Support Firestorm! Fan the flame!