Author: Patrick Ouandji

Business owner with experience in B2C sales. Worked as a news writer for ScienceFiction.com and a columnist for the University Star. Pre-med student at Texas State. Member of the Justice League of America!
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DC Day: Superman vs Black Adam

Superman and Black Adam battling with lightning striking Superman on the front cover of 'Action Comics #831'.
 
In 'Action Comics' (2005) #831, Superman battles Black Adam.
In ‘Action Comics’ (2005) #831, Superman battles Black Adam. Photo/DC Comics
Look! The Daily Planet logo with the Earth globe at the center.

DAILY PLANET EXCLUSIVE

Today, we talk about a battle of epic proportions! The Man of Steel has faced overwhelming foes over his superhero life. Let’s take a look and examine a battle that is sure to rock the Earth and crack the moon! I am talking about a battle royale between Superman and Black Adam. Can the Last Son of Krypton defeat the former Champion of the Egyptian gods?

DATABASE FILES

In 'Action Comics #831' (2005), Superman confronts Black Adam over his protection of the villain Doctor Psycho.
In ‘Action Comics (2005) #831, Superman confronts Black Adam over his protection of the villain Doctor Psycho. Photo/DC Comics

In ‘Action Comics #831‘ (2005), Superman confronts Black Adam over his protection of the villain Doctor Psycho. A battle ensues.

In 'Action Comics (2005) #831, Superman confronts Black Adam over his protection of the villain Doctor Psycho.
In ‘Action Comics (2005) #831, Superman confronts Black Adam over his protection of the villain Doctor Psycho. Photo/DC Comics

It appears that the Man of Steel and Black Adam are evenly matched in the strength, speed, and endurance departments. Their energy projection is dependable with Superman holding an edge.

It appears that the Man of Steel and Black Adam are evenly matched in the strength, speed, and endurance departments.
It appears that the Man of Steel and Black Adam are evenly matched in the strength, speed, and endurance departments. Photo/DC Comics

In the fight, Superman’s vulnerability to magic does not seem to be put in display. Black Adam holds back due to a simple misunderstanding between the two.

Superman is not holding back. He attacks with “a punch that would have split the moon in half.” Black Adam turns his back. Superman relinquishes the attack!

Superman is not holding back. He attacks with "a punch that would have split the moon in half."
Superman is not holding back. He attacks with “a punch that would have split the moon in half.” Photo/DC Comics

In the end, Doctor Psycho removes his hold over the citizens of Metropolis. Black Adam promises to punish Doctor Psycho. Superman reveals his knowledge of Black Adam’s formation of the Secret Society of Super-Villains and promises to watch over them.

Visit ‘Action Comics #831‘ at DC Database.

FAN REACTION

How do fans feel about the battle? Vote below.

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Krypton: Sunstone Crystals!

 
A blue Krypton in space from "The Man of Steel" storyline.
Krypton

Today, is Krypton Friday! We talk about an awesome Kryptonian technology: the sunstone crystals! If you are familiar with the Superman mythos, it is the material used by Superman to create the Fortress of Solitude in ‘Action Comics #840‘ titled ‘Up, Up, and Away!’, Part VIII of VIII: The Adventures of Superman (2006).

BIO

Sunstone is a mineral indigenous to the planet Krypton. Crystalline in structure, Sunstone is self-replicating and architecturally programmable. Kryptonians used the Sunstone mineral for a great percentage of their construction including buildings and space-faring vessels. Nearly all of the Sunstone deposits were destroyed with the destruction of Krypton, but in recent years, trace elements of the crystal have been found on Earth.”

– “Sunstone“, DC Database

CAPABILITY: Kryptonian Warship

In 'Superman' #653, Lex Luthor pilots a Kryptonian warship powered by sunstone technology over Metropolis.
In ‘Superman‘ #653, Lex Luthor pilots a Kryptonian warship powered by sunstone technology over Metropolis. Photo/DC Comics

In ‘Superman #653‘ titled ‘Up, Up, and Away!, Part VII of VIII: Up in the Sky’, Lex Luthor pilots a Kryptonian warship powered by sunstone technology over Metropolis.

Be sure to check ‘Sunstone‘ on DC Database!

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Dark Horse Day: The Death Star

'Star Wars #1'. 'The Greatest Space-Fantasy Film Of All!'
 

DARK HORSE DAY

The Death Star surrounded by space ships in space with Yoda talking.
The Death Star.

Today, we talk about the be-all end-all of science-fiction modes of transportation. Star Wars is replete with advanced modes of transportation, space ships, refined weaponry and methods of warfare. I present to you, the Death Star!

BIO

A Death Star was a gargantuan space station armed with a planet-destroying superlaser.”

-“Death Star“, Dark Horse Database

The Death Star is a moon-size space station created by the Galactic Empire “to be the most powerful force in the galaxy.” The Death Star is able to destroy an entire planet as demonstrated “by a test firing on Princess Leia’s [planet] of Alderaan at full power and the prison planet of Despayre at [half] power.” (Death Star)

Commanded by Grand Moff Tarkin of the Galactic Empire with a crew of over 250,000, the Death Star can house around 700,000 personnel once: gunners, troops and support staff are included, It also boast an impressive arsenal including: TIE Fighters, strike cruisers, blast boats and assault shuttles. It also has defense weapons ranging from turbo blasters to ion cannons and tractor beams.”

-“Death Star“, Comic Vine

Creation

The Death Star was created by George Lucas in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977). The Death Star first appeared in Marvel Special Edition Featuring Star Wars #2 (1978).

Visit Death Star on Comic Vine.

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Marvel Day: Dr. Strange

 

Hi guys! After a long hiatus, we pick things back up with one of the most under-celebrated characters in all of comic-dom! He just got a new movie green-lit! He has starred in two ‘Avengers’ movies to date, and has had a solo movie that has performed well with general audiences! Without further ado, I present, Dr. Strange!

Dr. Strange’s origin

Dr. Stephen Strange was once a gifted but egotistical surgeon who sought out the Ancient One to heal his hands after they were wounded in a car accident. Instead, the Ancient One trained him to become Master of the Mystic Arts and the Sorcerer Supreme of Earth.”

– ‘Doctor Strange‘, Comic Vine

Stephen Strange is the eldest of three children born in 1930 to Eugene and Beverly Strange while in vacation in Philadelphia. At a young age, he dreamed of being a doctor from a young age. At the age of 11, he aided his younger sister Donna when she was injured, a formative episode in his journey towards becoming a doctor.

Strange soon entered medical school upon finishing high school. Unable to help his sister when 19 from drowning, made him lose confidence in idealism though he did continue on his career choice.

Strange rapidly finished medical school at a young age and soon became a successful neurosurgeon. He displayed phenomenal talent and skill and “attained wealth and notoriety.” His skill won him cases, which, with each victory, increased his ego and made him more proud. He became estranged from his family and from his fiancee a United Nations translator, Madeline Revell. He even refused to visit his father on his dying deathbed.

After a car accident damaged his nerves in his hands, Stephen Strange’s life changed forever. He was on the way to becoming, Dr. Strange and with a concurrence of events, the Sorcerer Supreme (Doctor Strange).

Creation

Dr. Strange was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko and made his first appearance in ‘Strange Tales #110’ in 1963.

Major Story Arcs

‘Civil War’ and ‘World War Hulk’

Be sure to check out ‘Civil War’ and ‘World War Hulk’. Dr. Strange is encountered to be a founding member of the Illuminati, a secret organization of superheroes formed after the Kree-Skrull War to stop further threats. The members are: Iron Man, Namor, Mr. Fantastic, Professor X, Black Bolt and Dr. Strange (Illuminati).

Powers and Abilities

Dr. Strange possesses mystical artifacts to channel mystical energy, two of which are The Eye of Agamotto and The Cloak of Levitation.

Master of the Mystic Arts, Doctor Strange is one of the most powerful sorcerers in the world. Dr. Strange uses mystical energy invoked upon by spells/incantations or by the power of divine beings to manipulate forces of the universe including projection of mystic energy as bolts, slashes, binds, shields, or a scattered array of energy appearing like electricity, manipulating matter and various energies (physical or spiritual) even transmutation of matter, controlling the elements, opening or sealing mystical portals to other realms, teleportation or dimensional travel, reality warping and control over dimension, seeing through or casting illusions, invisibility and intangibility through astral projection, vast mental powers such as telepathy and telekinesis, communication with the dead and spiritual entities, seeing the future or past, manipulating dreams, removing spirits or placing them back into bodies, summoning supernatural beings, or using the powers of supernatural items.

Many of Doctor Strange’s powers are a function of his ability to manipulate the ambient mystical energy of the Marvel Universe. With this ability Dr. Strange can perform many functions. Commonly this is seen as energy attacks that range from low power to planet destroying, transmutation, telekinesis, teleportation, protective shields, etc. He uses this mystical energy to cast spells of a near infinite variety” (Doctor Strange).

SUPER FEAT: Dr. Strange Frees Eternity From Extra-Dimensional Villain Dormammu

In the pages of ‘Strange Tales #146‘ (1966), Dr. Strange performs the super feat of freeing the abstract entity Eternity from extra-dimensional villain Dormammu. Dr. Strange represents the cunning of the human spirit and the ability to triumph over overwhelming odds with skill and strength.

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DC Day: Super Flare vs Black Hole

 

Can a Super Flare Defeat a Black Hole?

In Superman #38, Superman in his battle with Ulysses unleashes the super flare, that releases all the energy stored in his cells and makes him human for 24 hours. Photo/DC Comics

In Superman #38, Superman in his battle with Ulysses unleashes the super flare, that releases all the energy stored in his cells and makes him human for 24 hours.

From IGN:

In the pages of today’s Superman #38, Superman’s discovered he has a new “super flare” power where he expels all of the energy in his cells to create a bright, powerful blast capable of incinerating everything within a quarter mile. The downside — aside from the mass destruction — is that using the super flare ability depletes his cells, essentially making Superman human for 24 hours.

– ‘Superman’s New Super Flare Power and Costume Revealed’, IGN

During his fight with Ulysses, a meta-human who can absorb energy, Superman blasted Ulysses with heat vision that Ulysses absorbed which resulted in Superman unleashing his Super Flare, as he started to glow. (Superman’s New Super Flare Power and Costume Revealed)

The fight resulted in the destruction of Superman’s armor costume in the New 52 multiverse which was created as a Kryptonian nano-tech armor that would cover his body, and the creation of a new costume.

At the end of the comic book, Superman reveals his secret identity to Jimmy Olsen: “I’m Superman Jim.”

In Superman #38, at the end of the comic book, Superman reveals his secret identity to Jimmy Olsen: “I’m Superman Jim.” Photo/DC Comics

Can a Super Flare Defeat a Black Hole?

In JLA Vol 1 #77 (2003), Superman holds ” a black hole no bigger than a speck of dust that is contained by a magnetic field”. Photo/DC Comics

In JLA Vol 1 #77 (2003), Superman holds ” a black hole no bigger than a speck of dust that is contained by a magnetic field”. The black hole is named Mnemon, it steals memories and causes the Justice League to fight among itself. Superman contains the black hole and with the help of Green Lantern John Stewart flies it “to a desolate stretch of space and hurl[s] it away.” (JLA Vol 1 77)

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Dark Horse Day: Conan the Barbarian

 

DARK HORSE DAY

“Know, O Prince, that between the years when the oceans drank Atlantis and the gleaming cities, and the years of the rise of the sons of Aryas, there was an age undreamed of, when shining kingdoms lay across the world like blue mantles beneath the stars… Hither came Conan the Cimmerian, black-haired, sullen-eyed, sword in hand, a thief, a reaver, a slayer, with gigantic melancholies and gigantic mirth, to tread the jeweled thrones of the Earth under his sandaled feet.”
– The Nemedian Chronicles

Today, we talk about war! War is a fact of life, a tale of glory, a battle for power and no one embodies this more than Conan the Barbarian.

Conan’s origin

“It may sound fantastic to link the term ‘realism’ with Conan; but as a matter of fact – his supernatural adventures aside – he is the most realistic character I ever evolved. He is simply a combination of a number of men I have known, and I think that’s why he seemed to step full-grown into my consciousness when I wrote the first yarn of the series. Some mechanism in my sub-consciousness took the dominant characteristics of various prize-fighters, gunmen, bootleggers, oil field bullies, gamblers, and honest workmen I had come in contact with, and combining them all, produced the amalgamation I call Conan the Cimmerian”.

– Robert E. Howard

Conan is a warrior-born who was born among the Cimmerians who migrated east of Atlantis some time before it sank to the ocean and was destroyed. Conan is a warrior-born as said, and was actually born on a battlefield between the Cimmerians and the Vanir. Conan’s father and his tribe encircled Fialla, his mother, as she was giving birth to Conan. This was an omen that Conan would become a great warrior.

Before the age of seven he crippled Donal, a bully in his own tribe, who was much older and bigger than himself. By age eight he was wielding an ax well enough to chop firewood for the tribe, and he was also training with the longsword, spear, and dagger. He was officially accepted as a man of the tribe that year when he rescued the tribe’s war chief from a hungry pack of wolves – killing one of the wolves with his bare hands and teeth in the process!

– ‘Conan’, Comic Vine

Conan eventually became a fighter, a mercenary, a thief, and a King wandering exotic and supernatural lands during the Hyborian Age. (Conan)

Powers and Abilities

Conan is an expert hunter, unarmed combatant, swordsman, horseman and archer. He is one of the most accomplished swordsmen in the Hyborian Age. (Conan)

Conan has a high level of strength, speed, and agility for a human and is able to lift very large objects. He has dealt over the years with magicians, sorcerers, and witches and has built a resistance to magical spells. He is also a master tactician who is able to lead armies into battle. (Conan)

SUPER FEAT: Conan Defeats a Frost Giant

Conan is a warrior-born, one born from battle lust, supernatural power, and the desire to conquer. He exemplifies the power to overcome the human condition with physical power and intelligence.

Visit The Cromcast: A Weird Fiction Podcast.

Episode 15: Savage Sword of Comics! (Or, Conan vs. Sequential Art)

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Marvel Day: The Power Cosmic

 

Today is Marvel Day! Yay! Today, we talk about an important super power in the Marvel universe, an ambient cosmic energy called The Power Cosmic.

The origin of The Power Cosmic is told in the Galactus Trilogy (1966). It is associated with a powerful figure, the Devourer of Worlds, Galactus.

The Galactus Trilogy (1966) tells of the origin of Galactus. He was formerly Galan, a scientist from the planet Taa and the last survivor of the previous universe. He merged with the sentience of the universe, the Phoenix as the universe was born from a new Big Bang. Galactus was born!

The Galactus Trilogy (1966) tells of the origin of Galactus.
The Galactus Trilogy (1966) tells of the origin of Galactus. Photo/Marvel Comics

Galactus was born with a hunger, an insatiable hunger to feed on planets with living energy. It was conceived to be a part of the cosmic order of things, a natural part of evolution: that the strong prey on the weak!

The Power Cosmic is an ambient energy of the cosmos that grants its wielders several super powers:

The Power Cosmic is a limitless power that can allow the user to do many things such as resurrect the dead, manipulate the user’s size and mass, teleportation, telepathy, creation of force fields, travel through time, superhuman strength, immortality and much more. The Power Cosmic can be used in a powerful blast or in small doses to change the color of a plant. The Power Cosmic can also be infused into the human soul giving them a portion of the Powers of the Universe.

– “Power Cosmic”, Comic Vine

The Power Cosmic is “power that of the endless cosmos” (Silver Surfer #4).

Silver Surfer, Skyrider of the Spaceways

In 'Silver Surfer' (1968) #1, In a desperate attempt to save his planet from destruction at the awesome power of Galactus, Norrin Radd swore to become the Silver Surfer.
In ‘Silver Surfer’ (1968) #1, In a desperate attempt to save his planet from destruction at the awesome power of Galactus, Norrin Radd swore to become the Silver Surfer. Photo/Marvel Comics

In a desperate attempt to save his planet from destruction at the awesome power of Galactus, Norrin Radd swore to become the Silver Surfer, a Herald of Galactus to seek new worlds for the Devourer of Worlds to consume and spare his home world.

He was granted the Power Cosmic, a silvery coating to protect him from the rigors of space and a silvery surfboard mystically linked to him, in order to assist him in his space travels and reconnaissance missions in search for suitable worlds.

SUPER FEAT: Silver Surfer’s cosmic blast keeps Mjolnir away from Thor.

Silver Surfer's cosmic blast keeps Mjolnir away from Thor.
In ‘Silver Surfer’ (1969) #4, Silver Surfer’s cosmic blast keeps Mjolnir away from Thor. Photo/Marvel Comics

Silver Surfer has been one of the most shining sentinels in the universe. He represents a nobility, and a purity of character that is held in contempt by the most fearsome foes – such as the Devil Mephisto.

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Super Power: Maxima’s Ferrokinesis

 
Maxima

Do you want to move metal, manipulate metal, manipulate iron?

Today, we talk about an interesting power. Called ferrokinesis.

Ferrokinesis is the ability to manipulate metal. It is different from magnetism which is the super power to manipulate magnetic fields. Dr. Polaris from DC comics has the power of manipulating magnetic fields.

User can create, shape and manipulate metal, a solid material (an element, compound, or alloy) that is typically hard, shiny, and features good electrical and thermal conductivity. Metals are generally malleable—they can be hammered or pressed permanently out of shape without breaking or cracking—as well as fusible (able to be fused or melted) and ductile (able to be drawn out into a thin wire).

– ‘Metal Manipulation’, Fandom
‘Maxima’, Comic Vine

Maxima, is a case of a character with the super power of ferrokinesis. Maxima was an imperial ruler on Almerac who sought to continue of the Almeracian tradition of inter-racial breeding with other worlds.

When Sazu, her handmaiden, intercepted a “subspace transmission” of the gladiatoral feats of Superman on Mongul’s Warworld, Maxima sought him as his mate. Superman resisted her advances and Maxima became his enemy. (Maxima)

As the peak of Almeracian gene pool, Maxima possesses various super powers such as super strength, flight, super speed, optical force beams, ferrokinesis, matter manipulation, illusion casting, force field projection, teleportation, mind bolts, enhanced empathy.

Maxima has exhibited immense telekinetic control over metals at the molecular level. She can cause metal to melt with a thought, or rearrange the molecules of scraps into anything she chooses, such as weapons or armor.

[…]In Justice League America No. 73, Dr. Destiny was responsible for making several Justice League members act very much out of character. The rogue heroes were capturing, torturing, and maiming super-villains. When one of the prison ships that they were using to capture super-villains attacked Maxima, she focused her ferrokinesis into a beam, and disassembled the ship into its separate components without incinerating the men inside. Later, in the same story-arc told in Justice League America No. 75, Maxima directed this ability on the Red Tornado, easily pulling him apart.

– ‘Maxima’, Comic Vine

SUPER FEAT: Maxima pulls apart Red Tornado.

In 'Justice League of America' #75, Maxima pulls apart Red Tornado.
In ‘Justice League of America’ #75, Maxima pulls apart Red Tornado. Photo/DC Comics

Super powers are the new thing! We must be willing to develop our super powers and believe that we all have the super power of moving metal, or at least, that we can affect metal with technology. We simply have to work at it! And apply our God-given talents!

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Super Feat of the Day

 

Batman recruits Wonder Woman, The Flash, Aquaman, Cyborg and Superman to save the Earth.

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Image Day: Supreme

 
Supreme and Radar

Today we talk about a character that is lesser known. Supreme was created by Rob Liefeld for Image Comics as a violent and angry Superman analogue. He was taken over by Alan Moore who created him as a “tribute to [the] Silver Age Superman”. (Supreme)

A bit on his origin.

Supreme, Radar, and Suprema

Ethan Crane, the son by adoption of Joe and Joanne Crane of Littlehaven. Supreme gained his super powers through exposure to Supremium radiation in 1925. “The radiation caused his hair to turn white” and granted him formidable super powers such as:

super strength, flight, invulnerability, super speed, durability, heat vision, ice breath, x-ray vision, energy absorption, atom manipulation, immortality via superhuman adaptation, regeneration, the ability to come back from death, skill with alien technology. (Supreme)

Supreme is vulnerable only to Supremium radiation.

He served in the military during World War II and joined the Allied Supermen of America, the first superhero team. He became a founding member of the Allies, “the premier superhero team of the 1960s”. (Supreme)

SUPER FEAT: Supreme averts floods in India by pushing the continent of Asia “from the path of a tidal wave”

Supreme averts floods in India by pushing the continent of Asia "from the path of a tidal wave."
Supreme averts floods in India by pushing the continent of Asia “from the path of a tidal wave.” Photo/Image Comics

Supreme’s origin story is recounted in “The Origin of Supreme” in Supreme #42.