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Al Milgrom Firestorm Sketch from 1979

Jul 21st, 2011
by Shag.
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Check out this fantastic 1979 sketch of Firestorm by Al Milgrom!  I thought this would help us get ready for the big interview tomorrow with Firestorm creators Gerry Conway and Al Milgrom!

Al Milgrom Firestorm Sketch from 1979

Truly classic Firestorm!  Interestingly, this was drawn during a period when Firestorm’s continued existence was questionable.  He’d only appeared in five issues of his own series before being canceled (Oct/Nov 1978).  This sketch was drawn after the cancellation, back when there were no definite plans to use the character any further.  It wasn’t until DC Comics Presents #17 (Jan. 1980) that Firestorm would return to the DCU.

My thanks to Philip Rutledge for granting permission to post this sketch from his own collection.  Be sure to check out Philip’s amazing collection of Firestorm sketches on ComicArtFans.com! Philip is a long-time Firestorm fan and owns a few other sketches we’ve posted here previously.  Thanks, Philip!

I’ll see you all back here tomorrow for the all-new interview with Firestorm creators Gerry Conway and Al Milgrom!

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Posted in: Al Milgrom, Firestorm #01: Original (Ronnie/Martin), Sketch/Art.
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Rafael Kayanan Firestorm Sketch

Jul 20th, 2011
by Shag.
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Rafael Kayanan (long time artist on the original Fury of Firestorm series) recently posted this sketch to his Twitter account.  He titled it, “Old nuclear friend found in pile of roughs”.

Rafael Kayanan Firestorm sketch

Normally I would zoom in and crop the Firestorm picture, but this time I thought it would be better to preserve that sexy Mary Jane sketch in the background!

Dude, I love Rafael Kayanan’s Firestorm!  My first Firestorm comic was Fury of Firestorm #28, back when Kayanan was the regular artist on the book.  So for me, Kayanan’s Firestorm reminds me of first discovering the character!  Keep up with Rafael on his website and on Twitter!

My thanks to Keith Baker for directing me to this sketch!  Thanks, Keith!

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SPECIAL ADVANCE NOTICE

Don’t forget to come back this Friday for an all-new interview with Firestorm creators Gerry Conway and Al Milgrom! Gerry and Al were kind enough to sit down with me for a lengthy discussion as we prepare for the release of the Firestorm: The Nuclear Man trade paperback! See you on Friday!

 

Posted in: Firestorm #01: Original (Ronnie/Martin), Rafael Kayanan, Sketch/Art.
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DC Comics Ultimate Character Guide

Jul 19th, 2011
by Shag.
5 comments

DK Publishing recently released DC Comics: The Ultimate Character Guide by Brandon T. Snider.  This 208 page book covers a variety of DC characters, including Firestorm and Killer Frost!

DC Comics Ultimate Character Guide

Here is the description of the book from the publisher:

From AQUAMAN to ZATANNA, DC Comics: The Ultimate Character Guide is you’re A-Z guide to your favorite DC heroes and villains! This compact, informative guide takes you alphabetically through the heroic and villainous characters that make up the DC Universe, shedding new light on your favorite heroes such as SUPERMAN and WONDER WOMAN, but also covering lesser-known characters, including CAPTAIN BOOMERANG and THE QUESTION. Learn more fascinating details about their powers, weaknesses, enemies, and more!

I don’t own a copy of the book yet, but I recently corresponded with the author and he let me know the Brightest Day incarnation of Firestorm is represented.  With all the changes coming our way with “The New 52″, be sure to pick up this book as a snapshot of the DC Universe just before the change!  Here is a link to the book on Amazon!

Below you’ll find a few pages featuring Batman, Batwoman, Beast Boy, and Big Barda!  Click each image to enlarge.

Batman and Batwoman in DC Comics Ultimate Character Guide

Beast Boy and Big Barda in DC Comics Ultimate Character Guide

Support Firestorm (and DC Universe: The Ultimate Character Guide)! Fan the flame!

SPECIAL ADVANCE NOTICE

Don’t forget to come back this Friday for an all-new interview with Firestorm creators Gerry Conway and Al Milgrom! Gerry and Al were kind enough to sit down with me for a lengthy discussion as we prepare for the release of the Firestorm: The Nuclear Man trade paperback! See you on Friday!

 

Posted in: Firestorm #08: Brightest Day (Ronnie/Jason), Killer Frost.
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Why Does Yildiray Cinar Hate the Planet Earth?

Jul 18th, 2011
by Shag.
4 comments

Why does Yildiray Cinar hate the planet Earth so much? Every time he draws Firestorm, he seems to be blasting or damaging the ground.  Does Yildiray have some sort of deep-seated hatred of his own home planet?

Yildiray Cinar on Firestorm - Brightest Day incarnation

Yildiray Cinar on Firestorm - Elemental incarnation

 

Yildiray Cinar on The Fury of Firestorm

All kidding aside, this art is GORGEOUS!  Scroll back up and check out the poses on the first two images.  He used the same pose for the Brightest Day and Elemental incarnations of Firestorm.  I love seeing the contrast between the incarnations like that!

My thanks to Brandon Leonard for pointing out the joke about Firestorm blasting the ground. We’re just goofing around, I don’t think Yildiray truly hates his own home planet.  At least I don’t think he does.  … Wait a minute … He did draw Legion of Super-Heroes for a while.  Maybe he’s more of a Dominator fan.  Hmm..

Since we’re on the subject of Yildiray Cinar, check out this new Firestorm image he posted recently on deviantART.  This was another warm up sketch shortly after getting the Firestorm assignment.  I LOVE his rendition of the Brightest Day costume!  My thanks to liquidcross for the heads-up about this new image!

Yildiray Cinar on FirestormSupport Firestorm (and Yildiray Cinar)! Fan the flame!

SPECIAL ADVANCE NOTICE

Be sure to come back this Friday for a very special treat!  We’re featuring an all-new interview with Firestorm creators Gerry Conway and Al Milgrom!  Gerry and Al were kind enough to sit down with me for a lengthy discussion as we prepare for the release of the Firestorm: The Nuclear Man trade paperback!  See you on Friday!

 

Posted in: Firestorm #03: Elemental I (Ron/Mikhail/clone), Firestorm #08: Brightest Day (Ronnie/Jason), Firestorm #09: New 52 v1 (Firestorm Protocols), Sketch/Art, Yildiray Cinar.
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Fury of Firestorm #2 Cover and Solicitation

Jul 15th, 2011
by Shag.
4 comments

DC Comics revealed the cover and solicitation for THE FURY OF FIRESTORM #2 on their blog yesterday.  Check it out below!

Fury of Firestorm #2 cover by Ethan Van Sciver

THE FURY OF FIRESTORM #2
Written by ETHAN VAN SCIVER and GAIL SIMONE
Art by YILDIRAY CINAR
Cover by ETHAN VAN SCIVER
On sale OCTOBER 26 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

Three innocent high school kids are caught in the crosshairs of an international special forces team with orders to murder them in cold blood…until two of those teenagers summon the terrifying, living nuclear monstrosity known as the Fury of Firestorm! Do not miss this disturbing look into the future of super powers in the DC Universe!

On the cover we’re looking at the ten-foot tall Firestorm being created when Ronnie and Jason fuse together (discussed by writer Ethan Van Sciver previously here).  Dude, Firestorm looks so furious and HUGE!  What a great cover by Ethan Van Sciver!!! Some people have pointed out this new Firestorm bears a resemblance to the Anti-Monitor and Deathstorm.  I can definitely see that.

Assuming two of the teenagers in the solicit are Ronnie & Jason, I can’t help but wonder who the third teenager will be.  Cliff Carmichael, Doreen Day, Mick Wong, or maybe someone new?  Can’t wait to find out!

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Posted in: Comic books, Ethan Van Sciver, Firestorm #09: New 52 v1 (Firestorm Protocols), Firestorm comic vol. IV, Gail Simone, Yildiray Cinar.
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1992 Impel DC Comics Firestorm Trading Card

Jul 14th, 2011
by Shag.
3 comments

DC Comics first universe-spanning trading card series was produced by Impel Marketing in 1991.  Some date confusion was created because the cards themselves were identified as the 1992 series.  Firestorm received his own card, highlighting his then-current status as an Elemental lost in space.  The pencils and inks on the card were done by the fantastic Tom Mandrake. Below you’ll find the front and reverse of this card.

Firestorm trading card - Impel DC Comics 1992 #50

Firestorm trading card - Impel DC Comics 1992 #50

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)

DC Bloodlines

Justice League Detroit

Diana Prince as the New Wonder Woman

Power of the Atom

Comics Make Me Happy

Better late than never!

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Posted in: Firestorm #04: Elemental II (Martin), Tom Mandrake, Trading Cards.
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Blackest Night #3 Cover by Ethan Van Sciver Reenacted with Action Figures

Jul 13th, 2011
by Shag.
3 comments

See what you can accomplish with too much time and too many action figures? Sometimes I frighten myself…

Blackest Night #3 Firestorm cover by Ethan Van Sciver with Action Figures

Blackest Night #3 Firestorm cover by Ethan Van Sciver

Yes, I took the time to reenact the Blackest Night #3 variant cover by Ethan Van Sciver using action figures.  I’m not sure what possessed me, but it seemed like a good idea at the time.

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Posted in: Blackest Night, Deathstorm/Black Lantern Firestorm, Ethan Van Sciver, Firestorm #07: Jason post-Infinite Crisis, Toys.
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Check out the Firestorm-mobile!

Jul 12th, 2011
by Shag.
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Okay… Firestorm didn’t really get a suped-up hot rod (but that would be cool).  Instead today we’ll be looking at the Hot Wheels 2011 Firestorm, part of the Thrill Racers Volcano series.  I realize this is tangentially related to Firestorm, but let’s face it… who doesn’t love Hot Wheels?!?!

Hot Wheels Firestorm Thrill Racers Volcano '11

Hot Wheels Firestorm Thrill Racers Volcano '11

The two photos above were sent to me by Firestorm fan, Roger Priebe.  Thanks Roger!  The image below came from the Hot Wheels Wiki.

Hot Wheels Firestorm Thrill Racers Volcano '11

A very cool looking car!  Just imagine Ronnie or Jason driving this bad boy up to their High School!

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Posted in: Toys.
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George Perez 1999 Firestorm Drawing

Jul 11th, 2011
by Shag.
3 comments

Here is a fantastic George Perez drawing of Firestorm done back in 1999.  In the early 1980s Perez drew Firestorm back-up stories in The Flash, and drew our favorite Nuclear Man in Justice League of America.  Even though Firestorm didn’t have his own regular series at the time, Perez drew the character often enough that I consider him the second regular Firestorm artist.

 

George Perez sketch of Firestorm 1999

There is a neat story behind this drawing too.  A.j. Chwaster, a fellow Firestorm fan and long-time supporter of this site, sent me this scan.  As I understand it, one of A.j.’s pieces of art was stolen from an art contest at the 1999 Motor City Comic Con.  Then as a favor to the con organizer, George Perez sent this drawing to A.j. as a replacement for the stolen piece.  George had no obligation to do this, but was kind enough to oblige.

Wow… Perez is such a great guy, and an amazing artist!

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Posted in: Firestorm #01: Original (Ronnie/Martin), George Perez, Sketch/Art.
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Todd McFarlane and Bart Sears draw Firestorm

Jul 8th, 2011
by Shag.
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Back in 1988, superstar artists Todd McFarlane and Bart Sears worked on the big DC crossover event of that year, Invasion! This three issue mini-series was about an alien invasion of Earth and how the superhero community fought back.  Firestorm was featured in the series, in his “blank slate” incarnation.

Below you’ll find three pages pencilled by Todd McFarlane, each featuring Firestorm.  I gotta tell ya, I love me some classic Todd McFarlane art!  That guy could really draw!

Todd McFarlane draws Firestorm in DC Invasion!

This next McFarlane page was also featured without word balloons in a Wizard Magazine special  (if memory serves).  I had a blown-up color copy of that image hanging on my walls for years.

Todd McFarlane draws Firestorm in DC Invasion!

The final McFarlane page features our favorite Nuclear Man saving Hal Jordan’s bacon!

Todd McFarlane draws Firestorm in DC Invasion!

Bart Sears pencilled and Joe Rubinstein inked the Invasion! Book Two cover, featuring the Justice League raising the United Nations flag.  Firestorm was given the honor of planting the flag and being the only Justice League member to show his rear on the cover.

Bart Sears draws Firestorm in DC Invasion!

Gorgeous stuff, right?!?!  Some really great Firestorm art from some top talent!  I’d love to see more of the Nuclear Man by these guys!

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Posted in: Comic books, Firestorm #02: Blank Slate (Ron/Mikhail/Stein).
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