Creature Commandos and The Beast

 

Creature Commandos is coming back for a second animated season and I will be interested to see where the story goes.  Will any more DCU characters be introduced?  Will it connect to the upcoming Man of Tomorrow at all?  The Beast was just back in the second season of X-Men '97, and will be back in live action soon, as Part of Avengers: Doomsday.  Hopefully, he'll get some great moments and won't just be set dressing for the more popular heroes.

The Beast & Wonder Man Vs. The Brotherhood of Evil

 Of all of the X-Men returning for Avengers: Doomsday, I am looking forward to seeing The Beast the most.  He was cool in X3, but we didn't get to see him in nearly enough action scenes.  Hopefully that will be remedied in this new appearance.

Wildcat and The Beast in: "Lair of the Un-Men!"

 

These two first started working together in STF #3954...

This cover required some background removal, replacement and extension before I could add Hank McCoy in.  Here's a look at the behind the scenes progress:

X-Men and The Atom (Part One)

 I'm not sure if it's the similarly styles Silver Age costumes, but The Atom looks like he fits right in with the X-Men here.  They are called the Children of the Atom, after all.  Make sure you come back tomorrow for The conclusion of this story, where we discover which X-Men villain has been toying with Ray Palmer..  

Betty and The Beast

 

It looks like Archie Andrews has met his match. Maybe a well-timed Sentinel attack will distract the competition.

Hawk & Dove and The Beast

 

I liked the fact that after their transformations into non-human forms, characters like Hank McCoy and Ben Grimm decided to lean into it and just wear trunks as their entire costume - they weren't hiding thier new appearances from the world!  It's too bad the movies aren't following suit, with Hank in his lab coat and now a fully suited Thing in Fantastic Four: First Steps.  Even The Hulk is completely dressed these days!

The X-Men Vs. Batman's Villains

 

I feel that this would be an interesting series of match-ups, worthy of 100 pages.  Do you think the children of the atom have what it takes to defeat Gotham's most infamous foes? 

Here's a look at the full size versions of this issue's features: 

X-Factor Vs. The Outsiders

 

This is the First time that The Outsiders have met X-Factor, but as the X-Men, these groups have a bit of history on the blog - The Outsiders first tried to tame The Phoenix in STF #3454 and first met her in STF #112, and the one hero able to withstand The Phoenix Force was revealed in STF #2526... The X-Men came to The Outsiders assistance in STF #2595... and both teams had an adventure at The Statue of Liberty in STF #2675...

X-Men and The Creeper

 

Goodness knows that the Professor has a few skeletons in his closet. I'm not sure the Children of the Atom would take to kindly to Jack Ryder snooping into their headmaster, and that conflict would make for and exciting tale.

Firestorm and The Beast

 

Two of my favorite heroes duking it out with demons for 22 pages would be enough incentive for me to pick up this issue.  Ronnie Raymond works well with intellectual types like Hank McCoy, so I see this as a winning combination.

The Avengers and Kamandi

 

Look, I have the same questions about how Kamandi was able to get the upper hand here that Chronos has.  But that's just what would have made me pick this issue up off of the shelves - just to see what shenanigans that Kang is up to this time around.

OMAC and The X-Men in: "Yesterday Begins Tomorrow!"

 

Scott Summers is correct, OMAC is indeed back - he first sought the help of the X-Men back in STF #3089.  It looks like it is time for them to finish the job that they started in that tale. All depicted by Jack "King" Kirby, naturally!

Swamp Thing and The Beast

 

This cover required quite a bit of tinkering before I could add in Hank McCoy.  Text and a character had to be removed and the backgrounds replaced on those spots.  Then I had to move the foreground bad guys back a bit, which required some more rebuilding;  Here is a look at the behind the scenes progress:

The Creeper and The Beast in: "Party Crashers!"

 

I paired these two together back in STF #1086, and I thought it was time they made a return appearance together.  Being able to use George Perez artwork for both was an added incentive.

Chewbacca and The Fur Force in: "Trial by Fur!"

 

It looks like the third appearance of this team will truly put its leader to the test.  Let's hope this hairy rebel has what it takes to see it through.  Chewbacca and The Fur Force last appeared as an animated series in STF #3920, and made their debut in STF #1258.

The Spectre and X-Factor

 

Jean Grey went from an innocent young mutant to arguably the X-Men's most powerful member.  She committed some terrible acts while under the influence of the Phoenix Force, however. Would the spirit of vengeance find her responsible for those deeds?  Finding out might make for an interesting issue.

Sgt. Rock and The Avengers

 

I was watching some of the new DC Documentary on Max last night and Andy Kubert mentioned that his father Joe was a lot like one of the characters he was most famous for working on - Sgt. Rock.  I can belive it, as Rock is know for being a leader who never gives up, leads through example and inspires those around him.  Kubert not only worked as an artist for almost 70 years, he began a school that ushered in a new age of artists to follow his lead.  That's just one more reason that I consider him to be the greatest comic book artist ever.

The Beast and The Demon

 

Jack Kirby's time on the X-Men was before Hank got all blue and furry, so It was always a treat to see him illustrate the eloquent mutant in that form.  Kirby excelled at inhuman-looking characters after all, which is why Etrigan is one of my favorite DC characters that he worked on.

Starman joins The Avengers

I think the Prince Gavyn Starman would have fit right in with the Bronze Age Avengers line up here.  I used to like when they would get into cosmic situations with the likes of Mar-Vell or the Guardians of the Galaxy, and his presence would provide a gateway to more epic storylines like those.  

 

The Beast and Wildcat

 

One guy dresses like a big blue cat and the other guy looks like one.  It was about time these two got into business together.  Look like their first case is an explosive one, though!