{"id":1117,"date":"2009-06-04T07:00:04","date_gmt":"2009-06-04T11:00:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/onceuponageek.com\/?p=1117"},"modified":"2010-05-30T20:27:02","modified_gmt":"2010-05-31T00:27:02","slug":"favorite-blue-devil-covers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/onceuponageek.com\/wordpress\/2009\/06\/04\/favorite-blue-devil-covers\/","title":{"rendered":"Favorite Blue Devil Covers"},"content":{"rendered":"

BLUE DEVIL WEEK<\/a> continues here at Once Upon a Geek! Today we’ll be spotlighting\u00a0some of my favorite comic book covers related to Blue Devil. Also, be sure to come back tomorrow for a 90-minute audio interview with the creators of Blue Devil and Amethyst, Dan Mishkin & Gary Cohn!<\/strong><\/p>\n

As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, the early Blue Devil issues were really the best.\u00a0 That’s why the selection of covers below is really heavy on the early Blue Devil issues.<\/p>\n

Here is the cover to Blue Devil #1.\u00a0 Paris Cullins did a great job laying out this cover.\u00a0 You’ve got the heroic pose in the foreground,\u00a0the background telling the story, and the film strip at the bottom with the supporting cast.\u00a0 Well done!\u00a0 A real classic!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

I can’t explain it, but there is something magical about issue #2 comic covers from the 1970s & 1980s.\u00a0 I’m not just talking about Blue Devil, but almost any issue #2 from the 70s\/80s.\u00a0 I feel the same way about the covers of\u00a0Firestorm<\/em> #2, New Teen Titans<\/em> #2, West Coast Avengers<\/em> #2, and so on.\u00a0 Back then issue #1 was usually self-contained, so issue #2 was almost like a sequel. I’m a sucker for sequels, so maybe that’s part of it.\u00a0 Anyone else feel this way?\u00a0 Regardless, another great cover by Paris!\u00a0 Blue Devil’s facial expression is really cool.\u00a0 He looks really tough.\u00a0 \u00a0This is also the start of snarky caption boxes on the cover.\u00a0 We’ll see a few more as the series progresses.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

It was nice that Blue Devil was placed so firmly in the DC universe early on.\u00a0 You can see the guest stars listed on the cover below and Zatanna featured prominently.\u00a0 Paris’ rendition of Zatanna is still the definitive version in my mind.\u00a0 I also like the shadows playing across the characters on this one.\u00a0 Better watch out Danny for Nebiros and the snarky caption box!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

I always love seeing Blue Devil fly into action\u00a0with his trident!\u00a0 It was a very unusual way for a hero to get around back then.\u00a0 Another great Paris Cullins cover (also featuring Zatanna), but what really puts this cover over the top is the snarky caption box.\u00a0 “And just for good measure — A Special Guest Star: THE MEXICAN ARMY!<\/em>”\u00a0 LOL!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Issue #6 is where the humor of Blue Devil really hit its stride.\u00a0 The cover does a phenomenal job reflecting that.\u00a0 I love the use of the word balloon on the cover.\u00a0 By 1984, word balloons on covers were fairly unusual.\u00a0 They were best used for humor (or villains so over-the-top it was funny).\u00a0\u00a0 Paris did an awesome job with Blue Devil’s body language and all the background detail work.\u00a0 One of my absolute favorites!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

I’ve displayed\u00a0issue #7’s cover here before, but it’s worth showing again.\u00a0 Again, the humor was\u00a0firing on all cylinders at this\u00a0point. This is where the Trickster begins to play a reoccurring role in Blue Devil’s life.\u00a0 Paris did this cover, even though\u00a0he was no longer the regular artist on the interiors at this point.\u00a0 My favorite bit is again the snarky caption box, “…\u00a0and a 1959 Pink Cadillac in PERFECT CONDITION!<\/em>”\u00a0 I find that hilarious!\u00a0 I can understand how difficult it would be to get a 1959 Pink Cadillac in mint condition in real life, but in a comic?!?!\u00a0 Too funny!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Probably\u00a0my favorite Trickster comic cover ever!\u00a0 Paris has a way of drawing dynamic scenes, yet they have a slight cartoonish look about them.\u00a0\u00a0Mishkin & Cohn’s idea for\u00a0a\u00a0bank robbery in mid-air — Genius!\u00a0 This issue is a laugh riot.\u00a0 You should read it, and then\u00a0read it again.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

First appearance of Kid Devil (a.k.a. Red Devil), and a wonderful spoof of Robin’s first appearance.\u00a0 Blue Devil’s embarrassment is wonderful.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Fantastic drawing of Marla!\u00a0 Paris really nailed the look of her struggling to keep these two apart.\u00a0 And another hilarious snarky caption box!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Blue Devil + Firestorm?\u00a0 What else could an Irredeemable Shag ask for?!?!\u00a0 Great cover!\u00a0 I love the shadowing on this\u00a0piece, and Firestorm’s got Kirby\u00a0dots!\u00a0 KIRBY DOTS!\u00a0 Hooray!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

All these Blue Devil action figures are adorable!\u00a0 Super fun cover and really nice perspective.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The Blue Devil Summer Fun Annual<\/em> #1 is where it all came together.\u00a0 Dan Mishkin & Gary Cohn brought the humor and the adventure, while Paris Cullins brought\u00a0his\u00a0amazing artistry.\u00a0 This comic is phenomenal!\u00a0 Do yourself a favor and pick up this book. If you own it already, go re-read it.\u00a0 It’s witty, fun, and full of action.\u00a0 The best single issue of Blue Devil!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Here is Blue Devil from his JLA days, but before his awful second costume. I liked Wojtkiewicz’s style.\u00a0 It was somewhat cartoonish, like Paris Cullins’ style.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

This Shadowpact <\/em>issue is where they really started to develop Blue Devil.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

This Shadowpact <\/em>cover is just awesome.\u00a0 Blue Devil looks smaller than usual, but is cranking out so much power.\u00a0 Very nice!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

I like this Justiniano cover of Blue Devil battling Etrigan.\u00a0 During the Shadowpact<\/em> series they built a rivalry between these two demon characters.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

That’s all the covers for now.\u00a0 Tomorrow wraps up BLUE DEVIL WEEK with a 90-minute audio interview with the creators of Blue Devil and Amethyst, Dan Mishkin & Gary Cohn! <\/strong>See you then!
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tell the world about ONCE UPON A GEEK:<\/h3>