Joshua, John :: All-Star Squadron 'continuation project' commissions

All-Star Squadron #111, homage to Secret Defenders issue #2

Artist: Dann Phillips (All)

1 Comment - 568 Views - 0 Like

All-Star Squadron #111, homage to Secret Defenders issue #2 Comic Art

Additional Images:

Panel sequence from Sensation Comics #68 showing Blue Lama's prior familiarity with the Ruby Of Life.

Secret Defenders #2 - source

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Artwork Details

Title:	All-Star Squadron #111, homage to Secret Defenders issue #2
Artist:	Dann Phillips (All)
Media Type:	Pen and Ink
Art Type:	Commission
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	568
Likes on CAF:	0 1
Comments:	1
Added to Site:	8/31/2020
Comic Art Archive:

Description

One more "Continuation Project" commission to conclude All-Star August - issue #111, art by Dann Phillips, based as always on the cover of a comic written, plotted or scripted by Roy Thomas, in this case Secret Defenders #2, original art by Andre Coates). I actually wasn't expecting this so quickly, but Dann came through brilliantly!

Title: "There Was Magic Abroad In the Air..."

Story: Following the events of Annual #7, Sargon the Sorcerer leaves the Ring Of Life at the Perisphere, guarded by Dr Occult and Flying Fox, while he goes to consult with Zatara and Ibis. Flying Fox is waiting to see Liberty Belle to let her know that Iron Munro has gone AWOL to look for the missing Tigress, and that he intends to return, at least temporarily, to his hidden tribe, the Quontauka.

The heroes are joined by famed aviator (and All-Star Squadron member) Blackhawk, who arrives to show his date, socialite Dianne Grayton, around the Perisphere - but they are interrupted by the arrival in a flash of light by villainess the Blue Lama, seeking to steal the mystic Ring Of Life. While the heroes are stunned, Grayton takes the opportunity to change into *her* secret identity, the Spider Widow, and attacks the Blue Lama with her psychically-controlled black widow spiders.

Reviving, the magically-powered Dr Occult and Flying Fox defend the heroes against the Blue Lama's attacks as she attempts to steal the Ring Of Life, but Blackhawk's bullets prove ineffective. Only when Dr Occult is able to focus the power of his magic disc *through* the Ring Of Life are the All-Stars able to get the upper hand, and under the pressure of the magical assault, the Lama spirits herself away.

In the aftermath, Blackhawk can't decide which is the more shocking - the magical battle he's been a part of, or the hideous identity adopted by his date!

I've wanted to use the Blue Lama as a villain for some time, but she doesn't debut until 1947. However, her first appearance (in Sensation Comics #68) suggests that the Ruby Of Life "has constantly thwarted [her] plans", even though Sargon doesn't recognise her, so I thought there was an opening there - and using the Ring Of Life (shown in All-Star Squadron #28 to be linked to the Ruby Of Life) seemed to me to be a solution. Hope it worked for you as well.

This was another cover where the line-up was partly driven by my love of the visual pun - I couldn't resist using Blackhawk to substitute for Darkhawk, Spider Widow for Spider-Woman, and the Canadian hero Flying Fox in place of Wolverine. Dr Occult's trenchcoat also seemed like a good stand-in for Nomad's civilian clothes, and as I needed a magic-using character, it all fell into place.

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About the Owner

	John Joshua
Joined:	May 2015
Last Login:	September 2025
Country:	UNITED KINGDOM
On CAF:	John's Want List Artworks Commented On Liked Art Site Activity on CAF

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Aidan (Re-Legion ) Lacy
Member Since 2005

Posted on 8/31/2020

A lot of work went into pulling it together Bravo !

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