the man had a smile like a pale afternoon...

The longest reoccurring modern day super without an ongoing.

Over 500 appearances but less than 10 center focused stories.

Nat has existed since 1994, why is it that I can finish her entire chronology in a week or less? Nat has an established origin, family, strong principals and reasons for being a hero, friendships and relationships; All waiting to be told to new and old audiences. It’s more of a world than even some popular characters get. So much to work with but none of it is ever largely expanded on. Natasha deserves a new story; one that highlights her as a black woman, an inventor, and an amazing form of queer representation. Not just now but for years to come.

The Black Comic Alliance, the collective of content creators behind the viral #DCSoWhite campaign, has officially announced Stage 2 of its advocacy movement: DCBlackout, a coordinated protest calling on readers, supporters, and content creators to withhold financial support and pause content creation tied to DC Comics publishing initiatives until meaningful structural changes are made around…

I'm in the middle of note-taking on all of Rick Tyler's appearances (for reference/fic writing purposes, I do this for a lot of characters because how else am I supposed to remember all that), and what's staying fairly consistent across these is that he tends to be the one making sure everyone around him is okay. Checking up on everyone. Making sure the injured get cared for. Easily stepping into the role of Team Dad for the younger JSA members. Keeping everyone safe, even if it means directly endangering himself. Basic hero stuff, sure, but with him it has a specific flavor of caretaking.

And along with this comes a habit of downplaying whatever's going on with him. Never mind about his personal woes--let's talk about a teammate's love life! Just been stabbed? Time to get quippy. His team's medic wants to have a serious talk with him about substance abuse? Distract her with awkward flirting! When he's terminally ill, he's more worried about his dad not getting rest by sitting up with him all night, or how upset his mom is when their house gets vandalized.

Which makes a lot of sense as behavior for someone who grew up in a chaotic household, the only child of parents who were both emotionally volatile, struggling with their fractured relationship and their addictions, not having much time for him. Of course he'd learn to look after everyone else constantly. Of course he'd learn to keep up a light-hearted front. He still rebels against his dad, but he doesn't take up the mantle out of spite--he's drawn to the sense of purpose that helping others gives him (and...other aspects of the role, but that's another discussion).

“Echoes of Shazam” by Alex Ross

Lyle/Invisible kid could have been making the gotta do it to ‘em stance for the entirety of the Legion of Super-Heroes TV series and we wouldn’t know. There’s no way to disprove this either. really makes you think huh…

This is a birthday present for my friend Alex @dogsigil​. A gift for their tragically small fandom that is ripe for modern memes and spawned from a rogue thought I had yesterday. Good to have you loaned out another year from hell, you heathen. I’m glad we’re friends.

And for your viewing pleasure and editing pleasure; feel free to use and exploit these glossy transparent Invisible Kid PNGs anywhere that there is a slight chance that he could be present:

Guys, just think about it. Lyle could be out there. Anywhere. Doing it to ‘em. We just don’t know. 🤔 🤔 🤔

Zatanna #05 Cover

Art by Bruno Redondo

The Fury Of Firestorm #05 Cover

Art by Toru Terada

guy gardner has blown out his knee!

he also played linebacker at michigan and was drafted by cleveland and almost went pro