{"id":1076,"date":"2009-06-02T07:00:41","date_gmt":"2009-06-02T11:00:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/onceuponageek.com\/?p=1076"},"modified":"2010-05-30T20:27:17","modified_gmt":"2010-05-31T00:27:17","slug":"blue-devil-the-best-of-the-best","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/onceuponageek.com\/wordpress\/2009\/06\/02\/blue-devil-the-best-of-the-best\/","title":{"rendered":"Blue Devil: The Best of the Best"},"content":{"rendered":"

BLUE DEVIL WEEK<\/a> continues here at Once Upon a Geek! Today we’ll be spotlighting some of my favorite stories and supporting characters from Blue Devil. Don’t forget, on Friday we’ll feature an exclusive ONCE UPON A GEEK interview with the creators of Blue Devil!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Great Stories<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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The earliest Blue Devil stories are without a doubt the best.\u00a0 I could die a happy man if DC were to collect: the Blue Devil Preview comic (published in The Fury of Firestorm<\/em> #24), Blue Devil<\/em> issues #1-9, and the Blue Devil Summer Fun Annual<\/em> #1.\u00a0 These comics really form the foundation for the Blue Devil mythos and nearly all of them feature gorgeous artwork by Paris Cullins.\u00a0 The stories feature action, drama, and a healthy dose of humor.\u00a0 Here you meet Dan Cassidy and follow his transition from Hollywood stuntman to reluctant superhero.\u00a0 You also get to see mainstream DC Universe characters such as: Zatanna, Superman, Elongated Man, Phantom Stranger, Etrigan, Metallo, and the Trickster.\u00a0 You even get some original characters in these stories, including: Shockwave, Bolt, Nebiros, and Gopher Bloomberg (who would go on to become the Teen Titan Red Devil).\u00a0 If you’ve never read these issues, do yourself a favor and pick them up.\u00a0 For less than $14, you can purchase all 11 of these comics right now from Mile High Comics<\/a> (before shipping).<\/p>\n

Another great Blue Devil story is the four-issue mini-series JLA: Black Baptism<\/em> (2001).\u00a0 In this story the JLA must stop the rampage of a mob of demons to protect the Sentinels of Magic.\u00a0 This series prominently features Faust and Blue Devil, and was probably the best portrayal of Dan Cassidy since the original series had been canceled.\u00a0 There really wasn’t much humor in this tale, but it was still a fine story.\u00a0 This is another one you can pick up cheap online at Mile High Comics<\/a> – all four issues for about $5 (before shipping).<\/p>\n

Finally, Blue Devil’s recent return to stardom in Day of Vengeance<\/em> and Shadowpact<\/em> is worth mentioning. Bill Willingham and Matt Sturges really fleshed out the character for the first time in nearly 20 years.\u00a0 Blue Devil starts out in the series as a bouncer for an interdimensional magic-users bar.\u00a0 You then follow his journey as he learns more about the deal he made with the demon Neron, and that it’s the man that makes the hero (not the powers). You can pick up trade paperbacks of these great issues from your local comic book shop.\u00a0 Be sure to look for or special order: Day of Vengeance<\/a><\/em>; Shadowpact vol 1: The Pentacle Plot<\/em><\/a>; Shadowpact vol 2: Cursed<\/a><\/em>; Shadowpact vol 3<\/em> – Darkness and Light<\/a>; and finally, Shadowpact: The Burning Age<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Great Supporting Characters<\/h3>\n

I was planning to write up information on each of my favorite supporting characters.\u00a0 However, I simply don’t have the time and other folks have done it better than I could.\u00a0 So I’ve listed my favorite supporting characters and have provided links so you can read more about each.\u00a0 Nearly all of these links go to Justin’s Honest-to-Goodness Blue Devil Page<\/a>.<\/p>\n