THE STF 5000th ISSUE CELEBRATION!

Welcome to the 5000th issue of STF: The Lost issues!  Many of the covers presented here have not only crossed over characters from different companies, but from different timelines as well.  There has been speculation that these encounters were the result of an ongoing war between a pair of time tyrants.  As you can see above, the rumors are true!

When you count the B&B and MTIO covers that preceded STF, I have posted 5510 covers so far.  Needless to say, I have never used AI to create them and never and I never will - all I need is Photoshop and the inspiration and encouragement from visitors to this blog!

Time for some Special Features!  First up, let's take a look at larger versions of the stories presented here:

An All-New Saturday Morning Line-Up!  I'd definitely get up early to catch these STF-Inspired shows:

Now for some STF-Related merchandise.  There have been some cool playsets for comic book fans, but what would have been great was one that combined the two greatest superhero teams:

Or How about a Playset featuring one of STF's oldest teams - Robo-Force?

STF: The Lost Issues generally features pre-existing characters, but I have created a few for the blog.  Here are Action Figures for a couple of them.  First up, from a trio of Dick Tracy/Rocketeer team ups, is that unfortunate informant that everyone in the underworld wants to off - Rats McTattler!

And what young fan of STF: The Lost Issues wouldn't want an action figure of its greatest recurring villain - Mr. Universe!

Time to kick back with a classic board game - How about one featuring the two most popular characters from DC and Marvel?

And for younger kids, here's a Colorforms Set that combines heroes from DC and Marvel:

And with that, we close out another Mega-Anniversary Issue.  Thank you to all of the visitors over the years, especially the Patrons, who have help keep this blog running for over 15years of daily covers! If you would like to support the blog you can join them here.  Make sure you come back tomorrow and every day, there are lots more covers coming - featuring surprising new team ups, new and returning teams, characters making their STF Debuts, and more!   

Doom Patrol and The Defenders in: "It's All in the Timing!"

 

I definitely think that these two teams go well together.  The Doom Patrol and The Defenders previously met in STF #3588.  The Patrol has also separately run into the Hulk in STF #2976 and Namor in STF #4344.  

Mary Jane and Lois Lane

 

Lois Lane is one of those characters that actresses really have fun with.  and there have been some really enjoyable depictions over the years, my favorites are Noel Neill, Margot Kidder, Teri Hatcher, Dana Delaney Erica Durance and Bitsie Tulloch.  Everyone seems to love the choice of Rachel Brosnahan as the latest cinematic Lois, and she does look great in the teaser trailer.  I can't wait to see what she brings to the role.

Star Trek Vs. Kang

 

With all of the time travel shenanigans that take place in Star Trek, it's only natural that the crew of The Enterprise would cross paths with Kang the Conquerer.  This would be a confrontation for the ages - literally!

Justice League of America Vs. Marvel Villains

 

For this Anniversary Issues, I thought I would go for a full issue throwdown between DC's brightest and Marvel's most vile.  You see the match ups here - do the world's greatest super-heroes stand a chance?

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.

Iron Man and Power Girl

 

It will be interesting to see whether Kang is written out or recast for Avengers 5 (no longer sub-titled The Kang Dynasty).  Either way, I don't expect him to have a huge role, and the film will give way to some other big bad for the MCU.  Between creative strikes and disappointing reactions to Phase Four, I'm sure Marvel is being extra cautious about their next step with their premiere team. 

Wildfire and Wonder Man

 

Uh-oh, looks like Kang's Timeskipper needs some assistance after Kang's run in with Spider-Man and The Legion of Super-Heroes in STF #3671.  He still has a Legionnaire under his thrall though, along with an Avenger, thanks to Dr. Psycho's mind manipulation.  Let's hope they can break free and save the day.

Kang and The Legion of Doom

 

Loki ended up its two-season Disney+ arc in such a way that Marvel can easily either continue with Kang as a main villain or move on from him to a different franchise wide antagonist.  I haven't heard of any concrete plans as to what direction the studio will go in, and I imagine we won't until Jonathan Majors' court case is settled one way or another.  

Darkseid Vs. Kang

 

These two were set to become the big bads of their respective cinematic universes, but things have not gone as planned.  The end of the DCEU and Snyderverse means that Darkseid will probably be put on the back burner for a while.  Jonathan Majors' legal issues have put everything Kang related into a holding pattern until a verdict on his alleged assault is reached.  It's a good thing we have Braniac and Galactus to pinch hit if necessary.

Samurai Jack Vs. Kang

 

Marvel has just announced new release dates with all of its upcoming film projects, with most being pushed back.  Avengers: Kang Dynasty has been pushed back a full year, and maybe that's for the best. Between the writer's strike, the accusations against Jonathan Majors' and a crowded superhero movie marketplace, stepping back and making sure everything is just right seems like a sensible move to make. 

Starman Vs. Kang

 

I finally checked out Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, and while it was cool to see Kang as the villain, I was hoping for some more time-related shenanigans.  I guess Marvel is saving that for Avengers: The Kang Dynasty.  Who knows what effects an ongoing criminal investigation and writers strike will have on that upcoming event, however.  He did look really cool, which is more than I can say for M.O.D.O.K.

Wonder Woman and Xena in: "Kang's For The Memories!"

 

I still think it's crazy that we have never seen a Wonder Woman animated series yet.  She certainly has an interesting enough supporting cast and rogues gallery to pull it off.  I'd love to see a show that explores her history from her origins through the various decades to the present day.

Wonder Woman and Xena previously shared a live action adventure in STF #2527...

Legion of Super-Heroes and Spider-Man

 

I'm surprised that I am only now getting to this team up. I could see Peter Parker wanting to hang around in the 30th Century, where there's a whole team of super-powered young adults that are accepted by society. He might have to change his name to Spider-Lad, but otherwise he'd probably fit right in.

Justice Society of America Vs. Kang in: "Chronal Detention!"

 

Presenting part One of a Three-Part Epic!  A blurry image of Kang from early promotional materials for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania has made the rounds, and it looks promising.  It's small and he is only seen in a reflection - but it does seem to look like Kang will indeed have the classic appearance from the comics.  I enjoyed Jonathan Majors in the final episode of Loki, and I think he will be even better here.

Make sure you come back tomorrow to see where the story goes in Part Two!

Kang first encountered the JSA in STF #2294...

Robin Vs. Kang in: "Batting 1,000!"

 

Looks like Kang's experiment with Batman from STF #2390 got a little out of hand, and now it's up to the Boy Wonder to make sense of things.  I can't wait to see what shenanigans Kang gets into when he next appears in the MCU.  From the end of the Loki series, it seems that he's already gotten started.

Kang battled the greatest Robin of all in STF #1744...

Iron Man Meets R2D2 and C3PO

 

We finally see the reason Shellhead has been spending some time in the Star Wars era.  Iron Man previously met Han Solo, and later on, Chewbacca, but that was with his original armor.  We see him here in my personal favorite suit - one can only imagine what kind of tech Tony Stark would come up with after having some time to examine droids!

Kang Vs. The Time Trapper

 

Continued from yesterday's cover, we see that The Flash isn't the only one that has gained attention for his time warping ways.  Visitors to this page, like Blog Patron Bob Greenwade, have suggested that Kang run afoul of The Time Trapper, and I have to agree that would make for an epic battle. Maybe together they can make some sense of DC Continuity!

The Flash Vs. Kang in: "Second Time Around!"

 

I absolutely cannot wait to see how Kang is brought into the MCU.  He's one of Marvel's best villains and hopefully when Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania gets rolling, we'll get some idea of how he looks and will be utilized.

It looks like Kang was not done with the scarlet speedster once he trashed his cosmic treadmill in STF #2879...  the story doesn't end here though - make sure you come back tomorrow to witness the exciting conclusion!

Challengers of the Unknown Vs. Kang

 

I was very happy to hear the casting of John  Majors as Kang for the MCU.  He's been well reviewed in Lovecraft Country.  Although I haven't seen that show yet, I enjoyed his performance in Da 5 Bloods.  I have been waiting for Kang to show up since the first Avengers movie, and I can't wait to see the time travelling villain brought to life.  Even cooler, he will make his debut in Ant-Man 3, which is sure to make that the biggest film of the trilogy.  Will his involvement pave the way for the Fantastic Four to make their debut as well?