#Teen Titans/The Legion Special

[dailydccomics]

mama Meloni and her baby boy Teen Titans/The Legion Special (2004)

[argoscity]

ULTIMATE SUPERGIRL READING GUIDE

since i've been asked a few times in the past for various reading guides for kara, i thought i'd compile them all into one post for the sake of convenience!

this guide has reading orders for supergirl comics in PRE-CRISIS (1959-1985), POST-CRISIS (2004-2011), NEW 52 (2011-2016), REBIRTH (2016-2021), and INFINITE FRONTIER (2021-present).

if you have any questions at all don't be afraid to shoot me an ask!

for each section bolded comics are required, italicized comics are recommended, and everything else is optional!

[PRE-CRISIS]

ORIGIN AND MIDVALE ERA (NOTE: you'll have to flip to the back of each issue to get to kara's section!) action comics (1938) #252, 258, 267, 276, 278-282, 285, 295, 309-310, 313, 317

STANHOPE COLLEGE action comics (1938) #318, 366-368, 372, 374 world’s finest (1941) #169 adventure comics (1938) #381, 386, 391, 395, 397

K-SFTV REPORTER — SAN FRANCISCO adventure comics (1938) #406-407, 410-415, 419-424

VANDYRE UNIVERSITY supergirl (1974) #1-10

STUDENT ADVISOR — FLORIDA (NOTE: every member of the superfamily has a story in the superman family (1974), so you'll have to flip through to find kara's section!) the superman family (1974) #165, 168, 171, 177 justice league of america (1960) #132-134 the superman family #183, 184-186, 187-189, 191-193, 196-198, 201-202, 203, 204-205

ACTRESS — NEW YORK the superman family (1974) 208-210, 211-214, 215-216, 217, 218 superman (1939) #373 (second story titled “an eye (and ear) on the world!”) detective comics (1937) #508-510 the superman family #219-222

LAKE SHORE UNIVERSITY supergirl (1982) #1-12 (cw: nazi imagery in the brief interlude in #12)  supergirl (1982) #13-15 (cw: antisemitism, nazi imagery, depictions of the holocaust.) supergirl (1982) #16-23

LAST APPEARANCES AND DEATH legion of superheroes (1980) #300-303 tales of the legion (1985) #4-7 crisis on infinite earths (1985) #4-7

BONUS POST-COIE APPEARANCES christmas with the super-heroes (1988) #2 (last story titled “should auld acquaintance be forgot”) supergirl (1996) #49, 75-80 solo (2004) #1 (third story titled “young love”) convergence: adventures of superman (2015) #1-2

[POST-CRISIS]

ORIGIN superman/batman (2003) #8-13  (or you can watch superman/batman: apocalypse (2010) instead which I recommend! the art is a lot more tasteful and it's a very faithful adaptation of the comic so you won’t be missing out on anything.)

KARA WITH THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES supergirl and the legion of super-heroes (2006) #16-36

LOEB AND KELLY HELL ERA supergirl (2005) #1-5, 9-10, 19 (you don’t have to read any of this since it gets retconned anyway, but if you’re interested in kara’s early characterization, the beginnings of her friendship with cassie sandsmark, or her difficulty fitting in on earth then you’re welcome to read what i’ve provided.)

KELLEY PUCKETT ERA Amazons Attack! teen titans (2003) #47-48  amazons attack! (2007) #3  supergirl (2005) #20  amazons attack! (2007) #4  teen titans (2003) #49

supergirl (2005) #21-22  teen titans (2003) #50, 51-55  supergirl (2005) #25-33

Superman: Brainiac  action comics (1938) #866-870

GATES AND IGLE HEAVEN ERA supergirl (2005) #34

New Krypton (new krypton is one of my favorite events and i recommend it in its entirety, but for the sake of brevity I’ll only be listing the issues relevant to kara.) superman: new krypton special #1  superman (1939) #681  adventure comics special featuring guardian #1  action comics (1938) #871  supergirl (2005) #35  superman (1939) #682  action comics (1938) #872  supergirl (2005) #36  superman (1939) #683  action comics (1938) #873

teen titans (2003) #66  supergirl (2005) #37-42

Friends and Fugitives superman: secret Files 2009 #1  supergirl (2005) #43  action comics (1938) #881  supergirl (2005) #45  action comics (1938) #882  supergirl (2005) #46-47

supergirl (2005) annual 1, #48-50

Last Stand of New Krypton  adventure comics (2009) #8  superman: last stand of new krypton #1  supergirl (2005) #51  superman (1938) #698  adventure comics (2009) #9  superman: last stand of new krypton #2  adventure comics (2009) #10  supergirl (2005) #52  superman (1938) #699  superman: last stand of new krypton #3 superman: war of the supermen (2010) #0, 1-4 

supergirl (2005) #53-57, annual 2, 58-59

END OF SUPERGIRL VOL 5 supergirl (2005) #60-64 supergirl (2005) #65-67

[NEW 52]

ORIGIN and SUPERGIRL VS THE WORLDKILLERS supergirl (2011) #1-7

SUPERGIRL and SILVER BANSHEE supergirl (2011) #8-11

SUPERGIRL and SUPERBOY superboy (2011) #6

SANCTUARY supergirl (2011) #12, 0, 13

H’EL ON EARTH superman (2011) #13 supergirl (2011) #14 superman (2011) #14 superboy (2011) #15 supergirl (2011) #15 superboy (2011) #16 superboy (2011) Annual #1 supergirl (2011) #16 superman (2011) #16 superboy (2011) #17 supergirl (2011) #17 superman (2011) #17

SUPERGIRL and POWERGIRL supergirl (2011) #18-20

CYBORG SUPERMAN supergirl (2011) #21-23 action comics (2011) #23.1 supergirl (2011) #24

KRYPTON RETURNS action comics (2011) annual #2 superboy (2011) #25 supergirl (2011) #25 superman (2011) #25

SUPERGIRL VS LOBO supergirl (2011) #26-27

RED DAUGHTER OF KRYPTON supergirl (2011) #28-29 red lanterns (2011) #28-29 supergirl (2011) #30 red lanterns (2011) #30 supergirl (2011) #31 red lanterns (2011) #31-32 supergirl (2011) #32-33

SUPERMAN: DOOMED (this is a whole storyline but I'll only be listing the issues that kara appears in!) superman/wonder woman (2013) #9 action comics (2011) #33 supergirl (2011) #34 superman: doomed (2014) #2 action comics (2011) #35 supergirl (2011) #35

FUTURES END supergirl: futures end (2014) #1

JUSTICE LEAGUE UNITED justice league united (2014) #1-5 justice league united (2014) annual #1 justice league united (2014) #6-10

CRUCIBLE supergirl (2011) #36-40

FINAL DAYS OF SUPERMAN (kara only appears in the issues i've italicized and bolded, but i put all the relevant issues if you wanted to read the full storyline!) superman (2011) #51 batman/superman (2013) #31 action comics (2011) #51 superman/wonder woman (2013) #28 batman/superman (2013) #32 action comics (2011) #52 superman/wonder woman (2013) #29 superman (2011) #52

[REBIRTH]

KARA IN NATIONAL CITY supergirl: rebirth #1

supergirl (2016) #1-8 batgirl (2016) annual 1 supergirl #9-12

supergirl (2016) annual 1 supergirl #13-20

world's finest: batwoman and supergirl #1-2

ROGOL ZAAR and THE SINS OF THE CIRCLE the man of steel #1-2, 3-6 supergirl #21-33, #34-36

LEVIATHAN and BATMAN WHO LAUGHS superman: leviathan rising special #1 supergirl #34-36 supergirl (2016) annual 2 supergirl #37-42

HOUSE OF KENT action comics (2016) #1022-1023 action comics (2016) #1024-1028

FUTURE STATE superman of metropolis (2021) #1-2 kara zor el, superwoman (2021) #1-2

[INFINITE FRONTIER]

action comics 2021 annual

WOMAN OF TOMORROW supergirl: woman of tomorrow (2021) #1-8

WORLD'S FINEST batman/superman: world's finest (2022) #2-6, 8, 12

A WORLD WITHOUT CLARK KENT and RED MOON (kara is featured in the back-up story! if you want the full context of this plot i recommend reading the full warworld arc in action comics [action comics #1030-1046, superman: warworld apocalypse #1]!) action comics (2016) #1044-1046, 1047-1049

DAWN OF DC action comics (2016) #1051-1053, 1055-1056 superman (2023) #1-3 power girl special #1 steelworks (2023) #1-3

KNIGHT TERRORS knight terrors: superman (2023) #1-2

DAWN OF DC (continued) action comics: doomsday special (2023) superman (2023) #7 hawkgirl (2023) #4 action comics (2016) #1058 supergirl special (2023) action comics (2016) #1059-1060 action comics 2023 annual

power girl (2023) #6-7

HOUSE OF BRAINIAC action comics (2016) #1064

UPCOMING IN 2024 action comics (2016) #1065 [out may 14]

[radioactive-earthshine]

Teen Titans/Legion Special 2004

The first thing he notices after months of being separate. ❤

[roseworth]

Rose Wilson: New52 and Beyond

i couldn't find a good list of all of rose's appearances after flashpoint so i made my own 🥰

now listen to me. most of these suck so bad. do NOT read anything on this list if youre not already a rose fan, instead check out my pre52 rose reading list first <3

the ones that i think you should read are in bold and my personal favorites are italicized. i would strongly recommend not reading any besides those because everything else is mostly unreadable and terrible

tldr: this is ALL of her appearances in order, but i recommend only reading the bold or italics. ok lets go

Superboy v6 #1-7, 32-34

The Culling crossover (Superboy #8, Legion Lost #8, Teen Titans #8, Teen Titans Annual #1, Superboy #9, Legion Lost #9, Teen Titans #9)

Ravagers #1-2, 6-12

Deathstroke v2 #19-20

Red Hood and the Outlaws v1 #39-40

Deathstroke v3 #4-7, 13-20, annual #1 (especially #7 and #18-20)

Deathstroke v4 #2-10, 12, 14-18, 20-29, 36-41, 44-50 (especially #2-18, #36-40, & #44-47)

Dark Nights Death Metal: The Last Stories of the DC Universe

Robin v3 #1-11

Deathstroke Inc #6-7

Shadow War crossover (Batman #122, Deathstroke Inc #8, Robin #13, Batman #123, Deathstroke Inc #9, Robin #14, Shadow War Omega)

Dark Crisis #3, 5-7

Wildstorm 30th Anniversary Special

Batman: the Brave and the Bold #1-6

Knight Terrors: Ravager #1-2

Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing #9-12

Gotham War: Red Hood #2

(posted November 2023 and probably will not be regularly updated lmao)

[lucysarah-c]

95 in Math

Summary: A little tale from my Teen! modern au Levi stories. Zeke had been getting on Levi's last nerve and they solved it as teenage boys know to.... beating eachother and posting it on snapchat. Words: 2920 Paring: Teen! Levi x Teen! Reader Warnings: cursing and slightly sexual mentions. Also violence from the fight but nothing too graphic.

If you want to read more stories from me, this is my masterlist! under the banner "Lele's tale" its all my Teen! Levi modern au world. Or you can click here!

There was a well-known fact, Levi despised No! Levi hated Zeke Jaeger with all his soul. It was an established rivalry since they were toddlers. Anyone must know about it. It didn't help at all that each one went to the biggest two schools whose rivalry on matches was popular too.

God, if they were in the same frag party, It was certain that they would at least exchange a few words if Erwin managed to retain his best friend from beating Zeke up. The tall blond would usually say "Come on Levi, do you want your mother to get mad at you for having to hear another of Diana's speech about Zeke's bruises?"

There was something else that didn't help, both of them belonged to respectable noble families. Jaegers and Ackermans have been throwing glaze at each other since the Titan war. One exception was the new wife of Grisha Jaeger, Carla, and Levi's mother, Kuchel. Both women knew each other since their high school years and they had done their modelling career together. Another special case was Eren Jaeger, he had an unusually good relationship with the Ackermans' kids, Mikasa and Levi. Probably because of his mother’s influence and, perhaps, the wish of pissing his father off.

Especially after he joined the Scouting Legion Academy and received the deep green and white letter jacked with the wings of freedom in them as a prize of belonging to the School team. Another fact that grew the bad blood between the two teens was that both of them were leaders of their respective teams. Of course, Levi was an Ackerman and, as any respectable member of the family legacy, he was good at any sport that he played. Ackermans had been the pride of the scouts for generations.

However, if there was one extra straw that was last needed to blow their bad blood out of proportion it was . . . Y/N

It's quite pointless to get into details of how YN and Levi began to date, that could be a story for another day but these two were high school sweethearts. It was not a secret, almost everybody knew about it unless that person lived under a rock. The way that she would run into his strong arms with her tight little navy blue and white cheerleader dress after he achieved another victory under the school uniform. Kuchel adored her, treating her as her own daughter, and, believe it or not, Kenny tolerated her.

Perhaps the question would be, what is the correlation between the rivalry of the two teens and the brand new relationship that Levi held. Long story short, jealousy. Before joining the Scouts prep, Y/N used to live in Marley and while being a cheerleader there, she encountered members from other schools. For example, Zeke. And apparently, Levi's new sweetheart got along with Pieck, who was close friends with Zeke.

One connection led to another and Zeke wasn't particularly jumping for joy when he heard from his little step-brother that the girl he spends three whole parties talking to, moved to another country and ended up dating Levi fucking Ackerman in less than a year.

On the other side of the tale, Levi fucking Ackerman wasn't happy hearing out from, guess who, Eren (Aka Zeke's little brother) that his biggest enemy since he used diapers had a crush on his girl. Zeke commented and liked all her pictures on Instagram and he replied to her stories? Levi was on a blink on asking Kenny for the family private plane, travelling to Marley and paying a visit to the other side of the Jaeger's household. The young Ackerman had beaten the living shit out of Zeke for less, way less.

No, things weren't looking good. It wasn't good timing for having the final of the baseball teams between the two schools. There were too many hormone teens in the same field for the game to end up good. The tension was rising like boiling milk, it was a matter of seconds until it blew out of proportion.

It was an early morning, Levi left Kenny's apartment around 5 to 6 am to arrive first to the field as the good captain team he was. Then the rest of the team arrived late, he almost freaked out when Eren was nowhere to be found but he arrived late, as always. When the young Ackerman was almost ready to go to the field, his backpack was vibrating. He picked up his phone and read "Come outside, I've something for you" from YN.

He peaked out of the changing room and she basically jumped into his arms.

"mhm" He groaned against the curve of her neck, feeling the sweet vanilla perfume from her smooth skin, the tight embrace of her bare arms around his neck and his strong arms were quick to find their place on both sides of her hips after the sudden hug.

"I came to kiss you once 'cause you had to wake up too early on a Saturday," She said before pressing their lips together on a quick peak. Before Levi could lead on and deepen the contact a bit, she parted away.

"Kiss you twice because the match is going to be alright" she repeated before leading on another kiss. This one lasted a little bit longer. “I’m going to be cheering for you!” “Try not to fall like in practice last thursday,” Levi teased back earning a little push from her, faking taking offence.

Levi’s team was winning but, at what costs? Marley’s side was playing so dirty that to stand a chance they had to go down to the same level. There were a bunch of “unprofessional game attitudes” and Levi himself had to stop Eren a couple of times from starting a fight.

There was something that Levi had to give it to Zeke and it was that he was a hell of a pitcher. If it wasn’t for his Ackerman reflexes the ball would have crushed right into the middle of his face. Luckily he squatted on time to avoid it.

“Sorry!” The apologises that left the blond felt anything but sincere. He was smirking as he chuckled with another member of the team under his breath. Levi was dedicating him his best death glance, he was meditating inside his head that it was his duty as a Captain to show professional and mature gaming attitude

The grandstand held their breath in a quick general gasp as the second ball was thrown way too close. Levi dodge it, again, but this time he was growing heavily and his teeth hurt from pressing them.

Hange was really active shouting about how Zeke was going to leave with his ass kicked if he kept with that attitude. Erwin held eye contact with Levi as he slightly shook his head, as the leader of the School’s student council, he had left it clear that they didn’t need another video of them fighting going viral online.

Levi hit the ground a couple of times with his bat and tried to remain focused. Breathing deep as he swore to himself that he wasn’t going to let it get on his head. When he turned, she was looking eyes with him. Worriness covered her features as she tried to tie up together with a smile of reassurance.

“Don’t worry, sweetheart, I would leave him as brand new,”

Maybe it was that his Ackerman’s powers blessed him with extraordinary abilities, perhaps another person wouldn’t have heard that comment from the distance they had. It would have been great if Levi hadn’t heard those words leaving Zeke’s lips as he dedicated the girl a sassy side smirk. It would have… but that didn’t happen. Levi heard it, clear as if it had been whispered to him.

Zeke didn’t even see it coming when he turned around, Levi had already tackled him to the ground. The public screamed, some of them in surprise, most cheering for one guy or the other.

“You like to eat earth, fucking monkey? Eat earth!” Despite the fact that Zeke was easily 10cm taller than the dark haired boy, he could barely hold on. Levi was pushing the Marley’s team guy’s face to the soft ground of the field, covering his face in mud as he grabbed the golden locks and tugged them.

“Mike! Do something! Stop them!” Erwin screamed to the other team member that was on the field watching interested.

“Wait, he’s winning,” Mike replied entertainingly.

“Of course he’s winning! KICK HIM IN THE GUTS” Hange screamed from the top of their lungs as they filmed the scene.

Reined tried to jump in in defence of their captain but Eren, who was easily rallied up, stopped midway. Soon the game was a disaster, professors trying to ease out the confrontations but they did little to no effort in stopping Levi.

One of them even said, when the principal told them to stop it “I’m not messing up with an angry Ackerman, I value my own life”

Each second that went by was loudly announced by the hanging clock in the room. Still in the muddy uniform of the team, Levi sat down, legs parted and elbows resting on his knees as he waited. The principal office was always quiet, but on a Saturday with no students in the school, the silence was overpowering.

No, phone, they had taken that away. Zackly was calling anyone at his household that would pick up. The game was over and as Erwin said “you’re lucky that any university would take you in no matter what, Zackly is 100% going to suspend you for a while”

The waiting room felt stupidly big at those hours that the cheerful slightly old-fashioned secretary wasn’t there to offer those old candies that she always had. The amount of available seats was tempting to raise his muddy boots and take a quick nap considering the time he had woken up. But he didn’t, his list of disrespect to the authority was quite crowded that day.

The office with the frosted glass on Levi’s right gave away the movement of someone in the attached room. The door with the golden plate on it opened up and revealed a furious Diana, whose heels echoed in the tiled floor as she hastened up. Before leaving the office, the blond woman (that Levi liked to call Karen because of the haircut) dedicated her best dead glance.

The teen just kept a stoic attitude, this wasn’t the first time Diana was mad at him and he feared it won’t be the last one either. Grisha walked slowly after handshaking with the principal, looked at Levi and kept going.

Levi did no movements, except from his eyes who looked up to his right. Slyly looking without turning to the principal who definitely didn’t expect to spend his Saturday’s lunch time dealing with angry parents after a baseball match.

“Nobody is catching up the phone in your house,” the adult affirmed.

“I told you. Kenny works at night, he must be sleeping until 3 to 4 pm and my mother is shooting a new HBO show in spain.” Levi repeated the information he had been giving since he was dragged to the office “Even if Kenny picked up the phone, he’s not gonna come,” 

“Well, you’ll spend the entire weekend here until an adult comes to pick you up and signs your suspension,”

The old man left the place, probably searching for a coffee. Levi’s curses under his breath filled the empty room.

The entry door opened up again revealing an enthusiastic Eren.

“Dude! I took a picture of Zeke crying in the nursing room! Hahah I post it on snapchat,” Eren, who had a black eye from fighting with Reiner, sat down next to Levi as if nothing was going on “You beat him up so good!”

Eren passed the pictures on the screen of his phone with his thumb, tilting to the right for Levi to see.

“Have you seen twitter?”

“They took my phone,”

“Ugh, Zackly it's been a pain in the ass since his wife left him”

“Yeah, fucking old man. Can’t get it up anymore and want to cut my balls because he’s frustrated,” Levi commented on gossip as he slacked against the uncomfortable chair “If they wake Kenny up, he’s going to kick my ass for real,”

“You’re fucked, because they asked Mika’s mother the number of Traute to get in contact with Kenny,”

Levi groaned loudly “Fuck! Come on! Zeke started! Why aren’t they suspending him too?!”

“Maybe because he’s going to lose one week of school recovering,”

“Oh yeah… the asshole can’t take a punch,” Levi replied and both of them began to chuckled “You should have seen him complained because earth was getting in his contact lenses,”

Eren left when Mikasa came to pick him up, the girl only said one thing “you’re dead, Kenny is coming over to pick you up. It was nice knowing you, cousin”

Gentle parenting? Kenny hadn’t heard of it. He was a man not made to deal with kids and Levi had known that from a young age, he was left on his supervision only when his mother couldn’t be around. Kenny always complained loudly about it until he could use his nephew in his advance, which wasn’t frequent but it happened more than Levi liked to admit. Skipping work under the excuse that he was trying to have quality time with his only baby nephew to what usually involved sending Levi away to a friend's house so Kenny could have the house for himself.

No, Kenny wasn’t a father figure. He wasn’t even a responsible adult. But he was a man who hated to deal with brat stuff and Levi was sure as hell that he felt his soul leaving his body when a tired barely woke Kenny showed up in the Principal’s office.

“Prepare your ass, rat. You won’t be sitting for a while,” Kenny murmured as Zackly invited them in. Both Ackermans sat down in front of the desk. Levi on the left chair, trying to make himself invisible. Kenny was slacked against the chair on the right, legs obscenely parted and hands on pockets.

“What’s the deal? I’m a busy man,” Kenny tried to get it done as soon as possible.

Zackly went through heavy detail on what happened earlier that day, making the young man grimace expecting his death sentence.

“You’re telling me that this rat,” Kenny pointed with his thumb to the left where his nephew was. “Kicked the living shit out of the Jaeger kid, got 2 other men out of his back to keep bitching the brat. All by himself?”

“Yes,”

Levi felt himself melting in the chair as he remembered being grabbed by two other Marley’s players trying to push him away and him throwing both guys out of his back. Maybe he did get carried away.

Cold big hand landed loudly with a pat on his head as Levi closed the eyes as a self reflect. His whole body moved as Kenny ruffled his dark hairs strongly.

“That’s my boy, a fucking Tiger. Unstoppable.” Kenny smirked proudly at him as Levi felt himself straighten his back as his uncle kept roughly tangling his hair. “That’s what we Ackermans do, we fight and we win.”

“Mr. Ackerman with all the respect, Zeke Jaeger has two teeth broken!”

“Nice,” Kenny replied, smirking all the way, turning around to Levi who was suddenly feeling really cocky “Did you use the kicks that I taught you?”

“Yes!” Levi replied quickly.

“Sir-”

“Look, if you want to teach morals. Talk to his mother. I think that assholes that flirt with your girly deserve a good punch, boys will be boys. They need to unleash energy” Kenny’s uninterested tone and slightly problematic tendencies weren’t what Zackly was searching for when he called for an adult. The old man sighed loudly as the two Ackermans raised from their spot

“Come on, rat.” Kenny’s towering figure abandoned the room without even caring to hear anything else, Levi was quick to follow.

“I’ve a party with the guys tonight, we won. Can I go?” Levi’s voice echoed in the empty corridors as he kept up with Kenny’s fast pace.

“As far as you don’t bust my balls, you’re free to go to another country as far as I care”

The Ackerman’s teen felt as if he had dodged a bullet, his uncle wasn’t angry, they won the game and he had won a free week from school. A win is a win.

However, when the following Monday morning the door of Kenny’s apartment opened up loudly and the voice of his mother screamed from the first floor “LEVI ACKERMAN, GET DOWN HERE IN THIS INSTANT!”

Levi dragged his feet down the stairs grimacing uncomfortably as he faced his mother that still had the luggage in the front door. Slightly wavy dark hair framing his mother’s complexion as he frowned at him deeply. Crossed arms and her feet tapping the floor.

“Something to say in your defence, young man?”

Levi looked at Kenny searching for an alibi, but his uncle just walked to the kitchen to make himself a coffee. Side eyes that said “you’re on your own, kid”

Kuchel raised an eyebrow, expectant.

Levi tried to force an innocent smile, searching for his mother’s lovely nature “... that I got a 95 in maths?”

[donnatroyprincessofthemyscira]

GoCollect

ComicListThis Week

COMICLIST: DC COMICS NEW RELEASES FOR 09/13/2023

Batman #1 (Facsimile Edition)(Cover A Bob Kane & Jerry Robinson), $6.99

Batman #1 (Facsimile Edition)(Cover B Bob Kane & Jerry Robinson Foil Variant), $8.99

Batman #1 (Facsimile Edition)(Cover C Blank Variant), $7.99

Batman #608 (Jim Lee 2nd Printing Foil Variant Cover)(Batman Day 2023 Special Edition)(available 09/16/23), $9.99

Batman ’89 HC (Joe Quinones Variant Dust Jacket)(Batman Day 2023 Special Edition)(available 09/16/23), $29.99

Batman And Robin #1 (Cover A Simone Di Meo Wraparound Variant), $4.99

Batman And Robin #1 (Cover B Stanley Artgerm Lau Card Stock Variant), $5.99

Batman And Robin #1 (Cover C Kael Ngu Card Stock Variant), $5.99

Batman And Robin #1 (Cover D Blank Card Stock Variant), $5.99

Batman And Robin #1 (Cover E Clay Mann Card Stock Variant), AR

Batman And Robin #1 (Cover F Kael Ngu Black & White Card Stock Variant), AR

Batman And Robin #1 (Cover G Simone Di Meo Black & White Wraparound Card Stock Variant), AR

Batman And Robin #1 (Cover H Stanley Artgerm Lau Foil Variant), AR

Batman And Scooby-Doo Mysteries #12 (Cover A Dario Brizuela), $2.99

Batman And The Joker The Deadly Duo #1 (Of 7)(Batman Day 2023 Special Edition)(available 09/16/23), AR

Batman And The Joker The Deadly Duo Deluxe Edition HC, $29.99

Batman Catwoman Prelude To Gotham War #1 (Batman Day 2023 Special Edition)(available 09/16/23), AR

Batman Gargoyle Of Gotham #1 (Of 4)(Cover A Rafael Grampa), $6.99

Batman Gargoyle Of Gotham #1 (Of 4)(Cover B Jim Lee), $6.99

Batman Gargoyle Of Gotham #1 (Of 4)(Cover C Frank Miller), $6.99

Batman Gargoyle Of Gotham #1 (Of 4)(Cover D David Finch), $6.99

Batman Gargoyle Of Gotham #1 (Of 4)(Cover E Jim Lee), AR

Batman Gargoyle Of Gotham #1 (Of 4)(Cover F Priscilla Petraites), AR

Batman Gargoyle Of Gotham #1 (Of 4)(Cover G Paul Pope), AR

Batman Gargoyle Of Gotham #1 (Of 4)(Cover H Frank Miller Black & White Variant), AR

Batman Gargoyle Of Gotham Noir Edition #1 (Cover A Rafael Grampa), $6.99

Batman Incorporated #12 (Cover A John Timms), $3.99

Batman Incorporated #12 (Cover B Michele Bandini Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Batman Incorporated #12 (Cover C Stephen Segovia Card Stock Variant), AR

Batman Incorporated Volume 1 No More Teachers HC (2022), $24.99

Danger Street #9 (Of 12)(Cover A Jorge Fornes), $4.99

Danger Street #9 (Of 12)(Cover B Walter Simonson Card Stock Variant), $5.99

Dark Knights Of Steel Volume 1 TP, $16.99

GCPD The Blue Wall HC, $24.99

Green Lantern #3 (Cover A Xermanico), $4.99

Green Lantern #3 (Cover B Evan Doc Shaner Card Stock Variant), $5.99

Green Lantern #3 (Cover C Rose Besch Creator Card Stock Variant), $5.99

Green Lantern #3 (Cover D Pablo Villalobos Hispanic Heritage Month Card Stock Variant), $5.99

Green Lantern #3 (Cover E Jack Herbert Card Stock Variant), AR

Green Lantern #3 (Cover F Gabriel Rodriguez Card Stock Variant), AR

Harley Quinn The Animated Series Legion Of Bats HC, $24.99

Looney Tunes #274 (Cover A Robert Pope), $2.99

Shazam Power Of Hope HC, $19.99

Superman Lost #6 (Of 10)(Cover A Carlo Pagulayan & Jason Paz), $4.99

Superman Lost #6 (Of 10)(Cover B Lee Weeks Card Stock Variant), $5.99

Superman Lost #6 (Of 10)(Cover C Gary Frank Card Stock Variant), AR

Waller Vs. Wildstorm #3 (Of 4)(Cover A Jorge Fornes), $5.99

Waller Vs. Wildstorm #3 (Of 4)(Cover B Eric Battle), $5.99

Waller Vs. Wildstorm #3 (Of 4)(Cover C Aaron Campbell), AR

Wonder Woman War Of The Gods Special Edition #3 (Of 4)(Cover A George Perez), $4.99

World’s Finest Teen Titans #3 (Of 6)(Cover A Chris Samnee & Mat Lopes), $3.99

World’s Finest Teen Titans #3 (Of 6)(Cover B Evan Doc Shaner Card Stock Variant), $4.99

World’s Finest Teen Titans #3 (Of 6)(Cover C Daniel Bayliss Card Stock Variant), $4.99

World’s Finest Teen Titans #3 (Of 6)(Cover D Dan Panosian Card Stock Variant), AR

World’s Finest Teen Titans #3 (Of 6)(Cover E Luciano Vecchio Card Stock Variant), AR

[its-sixxers]

first tag game in ages

It has been forever since I've done one of these! Thanks for the tag @c-n-i-d-a-r-i-a-n!!

As I usually do for these sorts of things it's an open tag-in, if you like the post do it and tag me so I can see!!

3 ships: I'm also in the camp of writing/drawing mostly oc x oc and oc x canon (as I generally play RPGs where there's a player character that has a story or personality within player control or animation) BUT I thankfully DO have three!

Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess - Link/Midna

This one is an oooold one I've recently become reacquainted with and I am just as weak in the knees for it as ever. Enemies (sort of) to friends to lovers, subtext heavy, starcrossed - it's got all my favorites wrapped in a comfy nostalgic LoZ package. I just read the manga on archive.org and was well fed but also very heartbroken.

Psychonauts - Sasha/Milla

Love a good opposites attract with a dash of psychic spy mid-century design fun. Probably the nicest/healthiest couple I ship due to their source material being relatively bright. The fic I wrote for these two is probably my most popular when it comes to the hits to kudos/comment ratio.

Warcraft - Maiev/Illidan

Extreme emphasis on the enemies part of enemies to lovers. I was enamored with them both since I was a kiddo playing Warcraft 3, and in my World of Warcraft playing days the Legion expansion just set my imagination going. They hate each other. They're bound to each other. Maiev has no purpose with him dead. Her purpose is to kill him. Illidan is trying to save their people through questionable means. Lawful Neutral x Chaotic Neutral. It's candy to me lol. Also night elves are very cool.

first ship: Teen Titans - Starfire/Robin

I remember racing home off the school bus to catch this show. My first username ever was related to it. As an adult Beast Boy/Raven is more intriguing to me but these guys hold a special place in my heart.

last song:

last film: Princess Mononoke - Boyfriend had never seen it, I made pho and we watched it. Great night.

currently reading: nothing im illiterate

currently craving: a nap tbh

fav color: Coral Red!

relationship status: Just had my 1 yr with my boyfriend! (Our anniversary is New Years :') )

last google search: "How did this get here I am not good with computer" - was talking lolcats w my bf

current obsessions: Twilight Princess, VTM, The Sims, trying to get more betterer at art

[watsondcsj]

Hot on the Heels of the Nightwing 2022 Annual Reveal of Heartless, It's Time to Gather all the Seeds in Son of Kal-El!!

Without spoiling the annual, the identity of Heartless was seeded in Nightwing #78, Tom's first issue on the run. I've already written an essay attempting to prove something is going to drop and bring Jon back to being a kid that is no longer entirely accurate to what I feel is coming, but just for posterity, here's a list of things that could be referencing other bits of information throughout the run.

Superman: Son of Kal-El #1, Jon is born in the Fortress of Solitude

Action Comics #976 (Superman Reborn), Jonathan Samuel Kent is born in the Fortress of Solitude

Superboy (2011) #19 , Jonathan Lane Kent born in the Fortress of Solitude

2. Superman Son of Kal-El #2, Jon's new identity Finn Conners where Jon puts on a bad blonde wig. "Finn" is an Irish name meaning "fair." Connors is also Irish.

Teen Titans (2011) #23, Cassie asks to call Kon "Conner" before going in for a kiss

3. Superman Son of Kal-El #2, no parties with Damian at the Fortress.

Superman & Robin Special, a party with Damian at the Fortress. Jon and Damian beat up Nazis. They also find an alien who rapidly ages before dividing and leaving.

Legion of Super-Heroes (2019) #3, Damian is rumored to become akin to Adolf Hitler.

Shadow War Omega, Damian: "Heroes don't kill!"

What of the aging alien?

4. Superman, Son of Kal-El #4, Jon reminisces about visiting his grandparents as a toddler. As far as we were shown in Superman and Action Comics during Rebirth, this never happened.

Doomsday Clock #12 (Dec '19), Jon and Martha Kent are reintroduced despite not being present since Flashpoint. Jon is not present for this story aside from a single mention in an earlier issue. This combined with Superman Reborn could explain the panels in SoKE, but that's kinda lame if you ask me especially if they were really about to push Jon into the role of Superman soon after this.

Superboy (2011) #19, Jon Lane Kent falls deathly ill just before the age of 4. Notice the choice of white is consistent between this panel and the ones in SoKE. Also notice the farmhouse in the background. Is this what Jon is remembering?

5. Superman Son of Kal-El #4, backstories of The Aerie and Wink retconned to have been caused by Bendix

Suicide Squad (2019) #8, The Aerie reveals their backstory and The Post-Human Project to be a faceless evil. This change in SoKE #4 causes Jay and Aerie to share more than a few similarities, and they share a creator. Both runs were written by Tom Taylor.

Superman Son of Kal-El #6, Jay was Gamorran First Family

Suicide Squad (2019) #10, The Aerie’s mother is a deposed president as well

Superman (2018) #6, Jon returns to Earth 7 years older after 5 years of abuse and only 3 weeks have passed

Action Comics Annual #12, Chris Kent ages rapidly in the Phantom Zone. Note how these text boxes describe a similar description to what happened to Jon in that Earth-3 volcano.

Tom Taylor has also commented on famously poorly-received storylines in Son of Kal-El and Nightwing, namely Event Leviathan and both Devin Grayson and Scott Lobdell's runs on Nightwing.

6. Superman Son of Kal-El #5, the kiss

Teen Titans (2014) #12, Kon 2 says goodbye to Tim and WHAT IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?

7. Nightwing #89/SoKE #9, Jon flies at age 9 and gets lost in a flashback. Dick in his N52 suit.

Superman (2016) #8 & 9, Jonathan Samuel Kent can't fly at age 10.

Super Sons #10, Jon masters flight

Superman #668, Chris Kent fully capable of flight in his early appearances

8. Superman Son of Kal-El #12, Henry Bendix calls Jon an "abomination" for the first time

Superboy (2011) #6, Kara gives the Superboy the name Kon-El, which translates from Kryptonese as "Abomination in the House of El"

Superboy (2011) #33, Kon 2 is reborn in the mind of Jon Lane after dying in the Superman event Krypton Returns just months before this was published.

Either of these last two issues could also explain how Kon 2 would have the memories of Jon Lane Kent or the memories of the people the psychic (and psychotic) Jon would have been in contact with. Kon 2 is shown images of Krypton as Kara remembers them through touch in Superboy #6 as well as learning to speak and understand Kryptonese.

[inulatus]

2022 ARCHIVE

•

JANUARY

joker presents: a puzzlebox #6 - 1/04

dark knights of steel #3 - 1/04

detective comics #1048 - 1/11

harley quinn: the ebkt #5 - 1/11

black manta #5 - 1/18

suicide squad : king shark #2 - 1/21

detective comics #1050 - 1/25

harley quinn #11 - 1/25

teen titans go / dc super hero girls : exchange students - 1/25

FEBRUARY

the joker presents : a puzzlebox #7 - 2/01

detective comics #1051 - 2/01

suicide squad: blaze #1 - 2/08

strange love adventures #1 - 2/08

harley quinn: the ebkt #6 - 2/08

detective comics #1053 - 2/15

suicide squad: king shark #6 - 2/15

harley quinn #12 - 2/22

detective comics #1054 - 2/22

dceased: hope at world's end TP - 2/22

dc vs vampires #5 - 2/22

MARCH

dark knights of steel #5 - 3/01

dark knights of steel: the gathering storm - 3/01

detective comics #1056 - 3/08

future state: gotham #11 - 3/08

the batman & scooby doo mysteries #12 - 3/08

detective comics #1057 - 3/15

detective comics #1058 - 3/22

harley quinn #13 - 3/22

teen titans academy #13 - 3/22

the war for earth-3 #2 - 3/29

dc vs vampires #6 - 3/29

APRIL

batman: urban legends #14 - 4/12

suicide squad : blaze #2 - 4/12

future state gotham #12 - 4/12

harley quinn #14 - 4/26

dark knights of steel #6 - 4/26

MAY

catwoman #43 - 5/17

shadow war zone #1 - 5/17

harley quinn #15 - 5/24

JUNE

dark crisis on infinite earths #1 - 6/07

dc pride 2022 #1 - 6/07

poison ivy #1 - 6/07

dark crisis: young justice #1 - 6/21

catwoman #44 - 6/21

harley quinn #16 - 6/28

dc vs vampires: killers #1 - 6/28

JULY

the joker #15 - 7/05

poison ivy #2 - 7/05

dc vs vampires #7 - 7/05

harley quinn #17 - 7/26

AUGUST

harley quinn #18 - 8/02

dark crisis #3 - 8/02

poison ivy #3 - 8/02

dc vs vampires #8 - 8/02

harley quinn #19 - 8/09

batman wayne family adventures #51 - 08/10

harley quinn #20 - 8/16

harley quinn #21 - 8/23

DC saved by the belle reve #1 - 8/30

harley quinn 2022 annual - 8/30

harley quinn: the real sidekicks of new gotham special #1 - 8/30

SEPTEMBER

dark knights of steel: tales from the three kingdoms #1 - 9/06

harley quinn 30th anniversary special - 9/20

harley quinn #22 - 9/27

dc vs vampires #9 - 9/27

batman: beyond the white knight #5 - 9/27

OCTOBER

harley quinn: legion of bats! #1 - 10/18

harley quinn #23 - 10/25

dc vs vampires #10 - 10/25

NOVEMBER

poison ivy #6 - 11/01

the joker: the man who stopped laughing #2 - 11/01

dark knights of steel #8 - 11/01

batman and the joker: deadly duo #1 - 11/01

harley quinn and the legion of bats #2 - 11/15

harley quinn #24 - 11/22

dc vs vampires #11 - 11/22

DC’s grifter git run over by a reindeer #1 - 11/29

DECEMBER

DC speechless! chapter #1 - 12/01

the joker: the man who stopped laughing #3 - 12/06

batman and the joker: deadly duo #2 - 12/06

harley quinn: uncovered #1 - 12/13

batman/spawn #1 - 12/13

harley quinn and the legion of bats #3 - 12/20

harley quinn #25 - 12/27

dc vs vampires #12 - 12/27

[charliecuntcicle]

my comics came and and mmmm nobody cares but im gonna list them cus i ahbdchjasc

the all new atom #6, 7

anima #15

the authority: prime #3

countdown to final crisis #17

demon knights #2

dial h #14

doctor fate (vol 4) #6

final crisis aftermath: ink #3

the fury of firestorm: the nuclear men #2

justice, inc. (vol 2) #1

legion of super-heores (vol 4) #1, 5

martian manhunter (vol 4) #4

martian manhunter (vol 5) #6 variant

millennium #4

the monolith #4

the ray (vol 2) #1

secret origins (vol 3) #12, 17

sword of the atom special #1

tailgunner jo #6

tales of the teen titans #52

tokyo storm warning #1, 2

underworld 1, 2

who’s who in the legion of super-heroes #2, 3

young justice: sins of youth- secret files & origins

[dailydccomics]

ITS KORY TOTALLY MAKING OUT WITH NIGHTWING

[argoscity]

Hi! do you have a reading guide for what to read after crisis on infinite earths?

Btw, thank you for doing the reading guides 🫂

hi of course!! so this guide is going to be a little longer than my last ones just because there's quite a few events that kara crosses over into and a lot of comics you have to switch between, but i do want to make it as easy to follow as possible :) as always, bolded issues are required, italicized issues are recommended, and the rest are optional! also i put [brackets] around the titles of storylines/events.

Superman/Batman (2003) #8-13 (or you can watch Superman/Batman: Apocalypse (2010) instead which I recommend. the art is a lot more tasteful and it's a very faithful adaptation of the comic so you won’t be missing out on anything.)

Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes (2006) #16-36

Supergirl (2005) #1-5, 9-10, 19 (these issues feature incredibly oversexualized art and gross depictions of adult/minor relationships, but if you’re interested in kara’s early characterization, the beginnings of her friendship with cassie sandsmark, or her difficulty fitting in on earth then you’re welcome to read what i’ve provided. you can disregard anything to do with krypton and kara’s relationship with her parents as that is all retconned in later issues of the series.)

[Amazons Attack!] Teen Titans (2003) #47-48 Amazons Attack! (2007) #3 Supergirl (2005) #20 Amazons Attack! (2007) #4 Teen Titans (2003) #49

Supergirl (2005) #21-22 Teen Titans (2003) #50, 51-55 Supergirl (2005) #25-33

[Superman: Brainiac] Action Comics (1938) #866-870

Supergirl (2005) #34

[Superman: New Krypton] (new krypton is one of my favorite events and i recommend it in its entirety, but for the sake of brevity I’ll only be listing the issues relevant to kara.) Superman: New Krypton special #1 Superman (1939) #681 Adventure Comics Special Featuring Guardian #1 Action Comics (1938) #871 Supergirl (2005) #35 Superman (1939) #682 Action Comics (1938) #872 Supergirl (2005) #36 Superman (1939) #683 Action Comics (1938) #873

Teen Titans (2003) #66 Supergirl (2005) #37-42

[Supergirl: Friends and Fugitives] Superman: Secret Files 2009 #1 Supergirl (2005) #43 Action Comics (1938) #881 Supergirl (2005) #45 Action Comics (1938) #882 Supergirl (2005) #46-47

Supergirl (2005) Annual 1, #48-50

[Last Stand of New Krypton] Adventure Comics (2009) #8 Superman: Last Stand of New Krypton #1 Supergirl (2005) #51 Superman (1938) #698 Adventure Comics (2009) #9 Superman: Last Stand of New Krypton #2 Adventure Comics (2009) #10 Supergirl (2005) #52 Superman (1938) #699 Superman: Last Stand of New Krypton #3

Superman: War of the Supermen (2010) #0, 1-4 Supergirl (2005) #53-57, Annual 2, 58-67

[radioactive-earthshine]

Post-Zero Hour Legion of Super-Heroes Reading List.

I am ever so delighted that since I finished the MAIN series I have had 4 people in my DMs wanting to know an official reading order. This is amazing. So for those who might be a little more message shy here is a list for you to take, keep, and read.

You might see this order and think it's weird, trust me it, it is. The reason why it is weird is because 1.) the Zero Hour event in 1994 rebooted the team in the middle of two books, so the creators drafted up a new start with a #0 issue and 2.) LOSH had two books per month.

Anyway, here is your primary PZH LOSH guide.

Legions of Super-Heroes (1989) has been shortened to "LOSH 1989" for simplicity.

Primary Run

LOSH 1989 #0

Legionnaires #0

LOSH 1989 #62

Legionnaires #19 then you switch back and forth and the comics will guide you where to go at the end of each issue. You do this all the way until the series ends. Don't forget the annuals!

Legion Lost 2000

Legion Worlds

The Legion

Teen Titans/Legion Special - The "end" of their run

Final Crisis: Legion of the Three Worlds - They are revealed to be alive still! Bart and Kon are brought back from dead.

Other Specials and Fun Things

Titans/Legion of Super-Heroes: Universe Ablaze - Read this sometime in the last 10 issues of the primary run.

Legion: Secret Files

Legion of Super-Heroes Secret Files

Showcase '96 Issues #11 & #12 - LOSH '89 should tell you when to jump to these two, you will read them when Querl and the lost Legionnaires are stranded in 1996.

Genesis 1997 - The Genesis Event, you will read this sometime during the time the Legionnaires are stranded in the 90s.

Inferno 1997 - A mini for Inferno, you should read this after Inferno breaks from the stranded Legionnaires in the 90s.

Adventures in the DC Universe Issue #10 - Just a fun little story.

There are many other appearances of this team in the 90s comics, particularly when they are stranded in the 1990s. Their book is particularly good however at informing you where to go, and if they appeared somewhere else.

Thank you, and happy reading.

Legionnaires #47 You want to read Jenni's run sooooo badly. Do it for her.

[sebeth]

Christmas With The Super-Heroes #1

Warning, Spoilers Ahead…

The next offering in the “A Very DC Holiday Collection is the 1988 Christmas With The Super-Heroes #1. The cover features Black Canary, Green Arrow, Wildfire, Batman, Superman, Robin (Dick Grayson) and Wonder Girl (Donna in her original outfit) gathered around a Christmas tree. DC didn’t put much effort in the 1988 holiday special as the six stories are reprints. Two of the stories – Batman: Wanted: Santa Clause – Dead Or Alive!” and the Legion of Super-Heroes: “Star Light, Star Bright…” were from the DC Special Series #21 that I covered in a previous post.  In

We are three years in the post-Crisis era in 1988, but all stories come from the pre-Crisis era of DC Comics.

We begin with Batman in “Wanted: Santa Claus – Dead Or Alive!” (1979). I covered that story in the previous holiday post, so I’ll skip the story.

The second story is the Justice League in “The Man Who Murdered Santa Claus!” from Justice League #110 (1974) by Len Wein, Dick Dillin, Dick Giordano, etc.

The third story is the Teen Titans in “The TT’s Swingin’ Christmas Carol!” (1968) by Bob Haney and Nick Cardy.

The fourth story is the Legion of Super-Heroes in “Star Light, Star Bright…” (1979). I love the Legion but this story was covered in the previous holiday post, so I’ll skip the story.

The fifth story is Superman in “Twas The Fright Before Christmas!” (1984) by Len Wein, E. Nelson Bridwell, Curt Swan, and Murphy Anderson.

The sixth, and last, story is Batman in “The Silent Night of the Batman (1970) by Mike Friedrich, Neal Adams, and Dick Girodano.

The Batman story was covered previously, so I’ll skip to the Justice League.

The Justice League story begins with Superman meeting with Batman to assist Santa Simpson in handing out presents to orphans. Santa Simpson is changing into his outfit when an explosion occurs! Santa Simpson has been murdered! Batman deduces the skeleton key in Santa Simpson’s hand is the “key” to finding the murderer. The World’s Finest are on the case but the duo decides to call in the entire League to solve it. Cue the World’s Finest interrupting the various Leaguers:

The Flash: Barry Allen and his wife are spending the holidays with Iris’s parents in the 30th century, so he doesn’t answer the call

Atom: Ray Palmer is exploring a submicroscopic universe and doesn’t receive the summons

Elongated Man: Ralph Dibny and his wife Sue are scuba-diving off the Caribbean coast. Ralph left the JLA receiver in the hotel so he isn’t even aware of the call

Aquaman: Arthur and Mera are presiding over Atlantis’ Festival of Lights and can’t answer a summons that isn’t a true emergency

Red Tornado: John Smith is strolling with his “lady friend” (and soon to be wife) Kathy Sutton in Central Partk. Kathy isn’t aware of John’s true identity as he has to resort to the ol’ “I’ve just remembered an emergency that must be dealt with immediately!” that numerous heroes have used to ditch their significant others.

Green Arrow and Black Canary: Oliver and Dinah are having a makeout session. Oliver is not amused by the interruption.

Green Lantern: Saving the best for last – Hal Jordan is in the shower, leaves to answer the summons, slips on soap, and knocks himself unconscious! All hail the greatest Green Lantern of all time! Hal’s ring promptly ditches him. Why? Hal is only unconscious, not dead. Is it out of second-hand embarrassment? The ring finds John Stewart who is conversing with friends. The ring informs John, the “alternate Green Lantern of space sector of 2814 – you are needed” and whisks him away without his consent. The rings must find the murders of Santas as serious business! I hope those unnamed friends of John were aware he was a Green Lantern or he will have some serious explaining to do upon his return.

The group – minus John – have gathered at the satellite. Batman decides to start the meeting: “Looks like we’re the only members who are going to show for this meeting”. Cue John’s dramatic entrance. Most of the League respond with a “Who are you?” but Oliver has been told of John by Hal.

The power ring states “…I’ve been programmed by my master…were he ever too incapacitated to answer your summons to secure John Stewart and deliver him to your presence in my master’s stead. John informs the team that “the Green Lantern regularly scheduled for this time has one monumental headache and you have me in his place”.

Hal owes John if he didn’t reveal the details on the cause of the “monumental headache”. Oliver and Bruce would never have let that go. And if Guy Gardner had ever heard the story! The shower incident reveals the true tragedy of the Crisis. Remember the post-Green Lantern Rebirth era when Hal and Bruce kept snarking at each other. Batman could have ended those exchanges with one simple “you knocked yourself unconscious leaving the shower”. But we’re post-crisis, so it never happened. Guy would have even more fun with the story – if Hal taunted him about the “one-punch knockout”, Guy could respond with the shower incident.

Oliver is pouting as it is a “miserable way to spend Christmas Eve”. Red Tornado doesn’t understand the problem. Oliver’s response is less than tactful: “How do ya explain something like that to a doggone machine?”

Red snarks back: “If you are unequal to the task of answering my simple query, merely say so and I will understand!”

Oliver wants to fight (you’ll lose, Ollie) but Batman intervenes.

Batman explains why the Santa-murder requires the Justice League: “The problem of this key…unless we find the lock it fits before the stroke of midnight, an entire block of innocent people will be blown to pieces!”

I assumed the story was taking place in Gotham or Metropolis, but no we are in St. Louis, Missouri. I am unsure why Batman and Superman were handing out gifts in St. Louis of all places but okay.

The team splits up to find the lock that matches the key. The group reassembles and falls through a trap door, resulting in a miniature yellow sun heading towards the team. The sun is yellow so it neutralizes John’s power ring. Shouldn’t Superman or Red Tornado been able to handle the problem in seconds? Never mind, the sun radiates primary red radiation but the valiant Superman sacrifices himself to save the others. Again. Red Tornado is right there – couldn’t he create a mini-tornado and hurl the min-sun far away. Maybe Superman can’t resist a valiant self-sacrifice?

The second layer of the death trap reveals itself when poisonous fumes flood the room. Red is again sidelined as “The room is sealed shut- no way for my super-whirling to dissipated the poisonous fumes!” How about you use your tornado powers to level one of the walls of the room? Just a thought. And the mini-yellow sun has been destroyed? Shouldn’t John Stewart be back in business? Instead the Black Canary “sings a silent ultrasonic melody that forces the choking fumes away from the gasping JLAers”. I’m not sure how that would work but go Dinah! The rest of the League flees the room but Dinah stays behind to keep the poisonous gas contained. Valiant but unneeded self-sacrifice is the theme of the story.

Oliver is irate over Dinah’s self-sacrifice. Batman orders Oliver to “pull yourself together. There’s nothing you can do for the Black Canary!” Exactly! I mean it’s not like you have a Green Lantern, a Red Tornado, and the World’s Greatest Detective standing next to you! There’s nothing you can do, Oliver!

We next see the villain behind the plot. It is…drumroll please…the Key! Shocking, huh? He refers to his henchmen as “Key-Man #1”, etc.

The key is in full villain monologue: “How do you expect me to rest until the rest of the Justice League of America is dead – or I am! And, my friend, when the Key slithers off this mortal coil, he’s taking as many as he can with him!”

Death trap layer #3 consists of giant-size Christmas ornament globes hurtling at the Leage! One absorbs Batman! Oh, no! Oliver sacrifices himself to save John and Red from the evil Christmas ornaments?

Death trap layer #4 sees the John and Red battle Tin Soldiers. The soldiers turn yellow, neutralizing John. The walking tornado remains ineffective.

The Key gloats: “I swore I’d have my revenge on those witless fools, swore I’d outlive them all. Well, most of them, anyway, and I have, by thunder I have.”

This story took place in 1974 – were there any notable League casualties by this point? I can’t think of any. Barry’s death and the Detroit League massacre were 10 to 12 years after this story. If I remember correctly, one of the JLA/JSA crossovers involved the death of the original Mister Terrific but 1) he wasn’t a member of the League and 2) I don’t remember if that crossover took place before or after this story.

The Key reveals that after his last encounter with the JLA, Superman was going to place in in a state of suspended animation in the Fortress of Solitude. The plan was stopped as a judge ruled Superman’s suggestion as unconstitutional and instead sentenced the Key to twenty years in prison. A prison doctor discovered the Key was dying since “the various psycho-chemicals you’ve injected with yourself over the years have destroyed your cellular balance”.

“The Justice League of America was responsible for the only defeats I’d known in my life! How could I leave them alive to witness my final defeat- my death? The murder of that dime-store Sanca Claus – the key-clue that led the Justice League into my specially-prepared death-maze, all the result of months of planning and preparation. All part of my unique Christmas gift to myself, my last gift, the destruction of the…”

The assembled League – all alive and kicking – interrupt the Key’s glorious monologue. How did the League survive? The Phantom Stranger! He’s only supposed to observe events, but much like Uatu the watcher, he intervenes when he wants. I’m guessing the Phantom Stranger was suffering an acute bout of second-hand embarrassment watching the League fail and intervened to end his suffering.

The Key manages to escape even with the assembled League and the Phantom Stranger present. The group does not pursue the Key so they can focus on stopping the impending explosion. Some buildings are lost in the explosion, but John rebuilds the buildings with the aid of his power ring and from his experience as an architect. Lower-income individuals were using these buildings as shelters so John adds a few improvements along the way. Oliver finally calls John the “Green Lantern”, saying he’s earned the title.

Batman is bummed the Phantom Stranger continues to ignore the League’s suggestion of joining the team.

Back at the satellite, the League gives Red a Christmas gift: a new more colorful outfit.

Rating: 10 out of 5 stars. Absurd death-traps! Villainous monologues! Batman defeated by a super-sized Christmas ornament! Hal knock himself unconscious by leaving the shower! This story was ridiculous in all the best ways! Loved it!

Next is the Teen Titans story. The story begins with Scrounge, an Ebeneezer Scrooge stand-in, sending his employee, Bob Ratchett. Unknown to Bob, his wheelchair-bound son (Tom) is going to visit him at work. Tom overhears Scrounge having some shady business deals.

The henchmen of a “Mr. Big” have a gun that turns “junk imported from overseas” into “brand-new expensive stuff that he can sell at big profits, without paying any duty!”

I have to say, this “Mr. Big” is smarter than the average comic book villain. He doesn’t put on a costume or pick fights with heroes. He stays under the radar and makes money. Smart. The only dumb thing is not paying taxes. Why risk all the easy money? This story was written in the 1960s, but can you imagine if someone invented that device today? They’d be trillionaires. And a big hero of the climate change/going green movement. He could recycle all types of used materials into new objects. Instant money maker and savior of the planet! He’d be set for life!

Tom informs his father who confronts Scrounge. Scrounge threatens to fire Bob if he utters a word of the scheme. Bob stays silent but the son informs the Teen Titans (Dick, Donna, Wally, Garth) who decide to investigate.

Garth: “Mumbling Mantas!” Do Mantas mumble?

Scrounge is confronted by Jacob Farley who sears to make the “old sod” pay for what he’s done. Wally breaks up the confrontation. It’s revealed that Jacob was Scrounge’s business partner. Material they sold was defective, people were hurt, and Farley took the fall.

Garth: “Mumbling Mantas!”

Later Garth: “Howling wolf-fish!”

Garth is providing quite the oceanology lesson: mantas mumble and wolf-fish howl.

Wolf-fish are real. Sadly, they look nothing like wolves.

The Titans have realized they are in the midst of a real-life “A Christmas Carol”. The group decides to use the story to scare Scrounge.

Garth: “Howling hogfish” and “Suffering Sticklebacks”

Let’s give bonus points to Garth for creativity. Why have one catchphrase when you can have twenty?

Garth: “Moaning Mackarel!”

Wonder Girl frequently says “Hola!” Hola may have a Greek root but its more known as Spanish for “Hello”. Nor sure why the non-Hispanic/Spanish Donna keeps saying “Hola” during fights. You do you, Donna.

Scrouge goes straight in the midst of the fight and assists the Teen Titans.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars (mostly for Garth’s catchphrases)

The Legion story is next but has been covered before so, next!

Next up is Superman. Superman stops a young teenager from robbing a Santa outside of a department store. Superman realizes the boy is hypnotized and using a gun that emits a “concentrated bear of low-grade radiation at its user” while appearing to be a toy gun. I haven’t read this story before. Should we take guesses on the villain before its revealed? I’m going with Toyman.

Superman takes the boy to the Fortress of Solitude where he can de-hypnotize the boy and question him on how he obtained the gun.

Superman asks the boy (Tim) where he got the gun. Is that you, Tim Drake? Maybe he took time out of stalking Batman to stalk Superman for the holiday season.

Tim reveals “…it was hidden in the hall closet with all my other presents. My folks still like to pretend Santa Clause delivers ‘em on Christmas Eve but I’m too old to believe in Santa so I snuck in early to check ‘em out early. I remember a blinding flash when I tried the dart gun and then I don’t remember nothin’ till I woke up here!”

Well, that rules out Tim as Tim Drake. That is way too much effort for the Drakes to accomplish. You know Tim’s presents came from Mrs. Mac.

Superman hypnotizes Tim for further information: “…and when you have rescued all the money from the evil grinch disguised as Santa Claus, you will deliver it to your local Big Shott Toy Store. Then our little game will be over and you will remember nothing!”

Has to be Toyman!

Superman: “I should have known he was behind this! It has insane imprint all over it!”

Superman locks up the fortress with the massive key and returns Tim home.

While heading home, Superman is hit with a ray from a toy starship Tim is holding and drops like a rock. Clark protects Tim on the way down, but the duo didn’t make it far from the Fortress of Solitude. Superman is unconscious and Tim is surrounded by snow, strong winds, and freezing temperatures.

Don’t worry, our duo is rescued by elves. Elves that complain that Superman weighs a ton and should consider going on a diet. How dare they! The total disrespect to a man who has saved the planet a hundred times over!

Back in Metropolis, the villain is revealed as…Toyman! Called it! Or the “Terrible Toyman” as he calls himself.

Superman wakes up surrounded by Tim and the elves. Oh, and Santa Clause. Clark’s reaction can be summed up as “WTF?”

Superman is still weakened by the ray blast but not to worry, Santa has a room filled with computer screens, one of which is monitoring the Toyman.

Santa is prepping to deliver toys across the world. Clark tells Santa that he could do it faster. Santa informs Clark that no, son, you cannot.

Santa drops off Superman and Tim in Metropolis.

Superman, with an assist from Santa, defeats the Toyman. Superman finds a list of customers who bought gimmicked toys from Toyman and quietly retrieves them throughout the night.

Superman returns Tim to his home. Clark returns to his apartment only to find a Kryptonian holo-toy in a pocket in his cape.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars. The story was goofy fun.

We end with Batman. Jim Gordon has summoned Batman via the Bat-Signal to sing Christmas Carols? Batman decides to join in and belts out a few tunes, with Jingle Bells, Deck the Halls, Silent Night, and We Three Kings being standouts.

Batman spends all night caroling with the officers as not one crime has been called into the police station. Batman leaves the station at 6 am.

That’s it, that’s the story.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars. There’s not much to the story but I miss this version of Batman. I do not like the psychotic, abusive to his family, man-child that has stalked the Batman titles of the past thirty or so years. Give me this version any day.

[arwainian]

Reading This Week 2023 #22

lots and lots of comic bookreading this week! I wanted more of my awful boy gar logan so my dad started me on the 2003 teen titans comics, which really held my attention at the beginning with excellent pacing, but it was starting to drag by the 2005 issues so i'll be moving on to different reads next week

Started and Finished:

Titans #1 written by Tom Taylor, art by Nicola Scott

Teen Titans #1-31 written by Geoff Johns & Gail SImone, art by Mike McKone, Tom Grummet, Matthew Clark, Rob Liefield, & Tony S. Daniel

issues #13-15 are a really great gar logan storyline if you want a bit of why i love this stupid green bean! but jesus christ i cannot handle how raven is being written. high school??

Teen Titans #1/2 written by Geoff Johns, art by Ivan Reis

Nightwing #104 written by Tom Taylor, art by Travis Moore & Adriano Lucas (with Night at the Circus: Finale written by C.S. Pacat, art by Daniel Hor)

Teen Titans/The Legion Special written by Mark Waid & Geoff Johns, art by Ivan Reis & Joe Prado

Green Arrow #46 written by Judd Winick, art by Tom Fowler

Outsiders #24-25 written by Judd Winick, art by Carlos D'Anda

"The Codpiece and the Pox" by Matthew Wills on JSTOR Daily

31 fatt fics for the marathon

Started and Ongoing:

Delicious in Dungeon, Vol. 12 by Ryoko Kui (will find the translator later)

the anime trailer has instilled a deep drive in me to catch up with the manga!!

[newx-menfan]

Have you seen the Wednesday Netflix series? How do you think a tone like that would fit the Academy X?

I haven’t seen it just because I have heard mixed reviews of the show from different people…

Honestly I feel like “Academy X” fits really nicely into the “Harry Potter”/“MHA”/“Wednesday”/Euphoria-Skins-GG-Elite/Young Justice,(add pretty much ANY teen show) demographic…

It’s funny to me because as much as Marvel and DC have been trying to make a “teen superhero school series” to cash in on current trends since the 2000’s- “Strange Academy”… “Teen Titans Academy”…”Gotham Academy”…

I always find myself thinking, ‘Why not JUST keep it simple and do another Legion of Superheroes or a teen X-book??’

X-Men was pretty much the golden age version of Teen Superhero School dramas…? Same with LoS?

The only reason, truthfully, teen x-books stopped doing well is because the books stopped being a teen book and became a “low-key” solo title to prop up Wolverine/Kid Omega/Hope Summers/Glob Herman/Spider-Man/ect…

Academy X is pretty much THE LAST book Marvel made that felt like a predecessor of “New Mutants” or “Generation X” and that’s why there’s WAY MORE nostalgia for them than WatXM/the Five Lights/SMatXM/Gen X vol.2…

Hell- I would even be fine with Marvel returning to Morrison’s “Special Class” idea; the problem, AGAIN, is that in Morrison’s original work it focused as much on Dust, Ernst, the Cuckoos, Quire, Glob, Angel S, Beak, ect… than just the adult instructors.

It would be RIDICULOUSLY EASY to make an animated NXM series that Disney COULD essentially use to grab the MHA and Wednesday fanbases…

The benefit would ALSO be that a NXM series would be completely different than XMTAS, Evo, or WatXM. None of the animated shows bothered to fully embrace the “school aesthetic“.

Everyone literally used to joke about XMTAS being called a “school” despite literally all the cast except Jubilee being an adult….

Evo went more towards the Buffy/Craft/90’s public high school drama than the super school motif with the aged down A-list X-Men attending Bayville for essentially traditional schooling and Xaviers for Superhero stuff/Boarding…

WatXM was AGAIN mostly adults, Kitty and Bobby basically being the only teenagers…

It would be the easiest answer, and I really DON’T get WHY Marvel doesn’t return to a more traditional teen X-book format…