Power Girl (Watercolor) by Darwyn Cooke
Justice Society of America Issue #50. Variant cover art by Darwyn Cooke (DC Comics, April 2011).
DC Comics artist Felipe Massafera was commissioned to bring the always-classic Justice Society of America to Superhero TV during Smallville's spectacular ninth season for the two-part episode, Absolute Justice -- and the result was, well, amazing, as you can see. (And if you can't, then Click & Embiggen!)
It seems slightly weird, maybe, that the JSA found its way onto the small screen before their modern day counterparts, the Justice League of America, did. For while Doctor Fate, Hawkman, and the other JSA-ers proved inspirational to Smallville's band of next-gen super-folk, the same type of story wouldn't easily be found in the pages of any recent DC comic book.
But we've always known there was a method to the Geoff Johns' scripted episode's maddness, and a reverance that's not just hyped for the show. Finally, thanks to Marc Guggenheim (one of the scribes of the coming Green Lantern movie and the current writer of DC's ongoing Justice Society of America) and illustrator-extraordinaire George Perez, Smallville's sense of inspiration has now been beautifully -- and concisely -- translated to the comic book page.
The JSA hit it's double-sized 50th issue end of April, a 46-page whopper featuring four individual stories by Guggenheim and one of DC's top artistic talents (not to mention a hot cover by Darwyn Cooke). They're all good, but it's the first tale we're talking about. Called Cornerstone, the brilliantly rendered eight-page story recounts the meaningful relationship between the JSA and the rest of the DCU, especially those next-generation heroes so influenced by DC's first superteam.
Enough said, we think. Time to show instead of tell, so stick around:
Justice Society of America: Cornerstone is coming up... NEXT!
Emma Frost, White Queen by Darwyn Cooke
Lots of great art has been finding its way onto the front of T-shirts lately, and Darwyn Cooke's Super Friends-inspired design is no expection. Cooke's work is always amazing, so it's no wonder the Free Comic Book Day folks asked him to do the honors this year.
Just 120 days away, this year's Free Comic Book Day, always the first Saturday in May, hits on May 7th, 2011. But Cooke's 2011 Free Comic Book Day Commemorative Artist T-shirt will be available at your local comic shop beginning in April, with T's coming in three colors: Orange, Black, and Denim Blue.
- Join FCBD 2011 on Facebook - HERE.
New Frontier by Darwyn Cooke
The Atomic Submarine by Darwyn Cooke
HAL JORDAN, the newest member of the Green Lantern Corps. By Darwyn Cooke, from his award-winning mini-series, DC: The New Frontier.
Check DC Comics' New Frontier website, here.
A Saturday afternoon Super Hero Happy Meal is a Silver Age BATMAN AND ROBIN. By Darwyn Cooke.
More later...
NEW FRONTIER AT NIGHT by the immensely talented and all-around wonderful guy, Darwyn Cooke. From DC: The New Frontier (2003-2004).