Setting the Standard in Comics!! :: Setting the Standard in Comics! - Cosmic Crossover (1980)

Cosmic Crossover - Distressed Cover

Artists: Mitch Ballard (Penciller) , Christopher Ivy (Colorist) , Mitch Ballard (Inker)

5 Comments - 3,561 Views - 0 Like

Cosmic Crossover - Distressed Cover Comic Art

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Artwork Details

Title:	Cosmic Crossover - Distressed Cover
Artist:	Mitch Ballard (Penciller)
Artist:	Christopher Ivy (Colorist)
Artist:	Mitch Ballard (Inker)
Media Type:	Computer Art
Art Type:	Commission
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	3,561
Likes on CAF:	0 1
Comments:	5
Added to Site:	9/29/2011
Comic Art Archive:

Description

Cosmic Crossover (September 1980) 100 pages!:
Co-publishers: DC/Marvel/Standard

This was one of the coolest comics from my early 1980s collecting days - DC, Marvel, and Standard all in one gigantic special! More specifically, the JLA, Avengers, and Sentinels in one big cosmic crossover! Nice. This one is from around 1980.

Granted, there was that one crossover back in the 1940s, but only a few copies ever show up at auction (at ridiculous prices), so the odds of seeing one are pretty slim. The 1950s one was .. interesting, to say the least (the Comics Code didn't help the Black Terror much, and as much as I love Jill Trent the Science Slueth (and "friend" Daisy), I don't know if she really counts as one of the "big guns" of the Standard Universe).

But, in 1965 they got it right: "Cosmic Crossover Special #1" (maybe the previous ones didn't count). Then, pretty much like clockwork (or calendar-work), they manage to crank one out, and they usually rocked (sure, that 1990's one was a bit of a stinker, but what can you do, it was the 90s?! "Pouches and shoulder pads for everyone!" Ugh). It was always so fun to see these crossovers, both for the epic battles and the little character moments - wow, plot and characters, strange concept.

Anyway, this periodic meeting of the three teams was going along swimingly until, as usual, something went wrong -- an explosion rocked Freedom's Stronghold (the scene of the crossover) in Philadephia.

Standard Comics' premiere super-team was first based in Phillie during WWII, back when they were called the Freedom Brigade. Later of course, the team would change, as would the name: "Freedom Brigade" in the 40s, "Sentinels of Liberty" in the 50s, and "The Sentinels" during the 60s-80s. Well, to be fair, I think Phillie was actually a bit of a retcon from when Thomas Royale was writing the "Freedom Brigade" series in 79-80, but I'm not sure. Things get more complicated because I think Standard Comics are almost real-time progression - weirdoes.

At any rate, back to the story. Apparently, it's not just super-heroes from different universes that can team up. Kobra, Doctor Doom, and Dreadhelm were able to put aside their animosity (at least temporarily) and try to defeat our heroes. As is typical of the genre, of course, the heroes had to fight each other at some point! Given some assistance from the unlikely combination of the Key, the Enchantress, and the Great Question, the villains were able to set the heroes at each other for while. Nobody got hurt too badly, as Batman and the Raven were able to figure things out in time.

Then the beat-down on the villains!

Or, it would have been, until the Kobra Cult minions, an army of Doombots, and Dreadhelm's Ebon-Cadre showed up. Sheesh, gang up much guys? Good thing Ben Grimm and Robotman (Cliff Steele) were there to help out - who would have thought to pair them up? Guest-stars welcome!

Epic.

Make Mine Marvel!
DC Comics is On The Move.

Setting the Standard in Comics!
------------
Yeah, no, of course none of this existed - crossovers apparently don't sell all that well, and splitting the profits into thirds likely wouldn't go over well in the boring real world. Mitch Ballard knocks another out of the park with this big battle, with Chris Ivy doing the logo and coloring duties to bring this fake comic cover to life. Love the "spine roll" and multiple pages look Chris achieved here. Wish I had this comic.

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	Roy Johnson
Joined:	December 2010
Last Login:	July 2023
Country:	CANADA
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Kevin Moorhead
Member Since 2008

Posted on 9/29/2011

I actually had this when I was a kid. I wonder what it'd be worth today?

Roy Johnson
Member Since 2010

Posted on 10/1/2011

Kevin Moorhead wrote:

I actually had this when I was a kid. I wonder what it'd be worth today?

Overstreet prices it at $10 in near mint. I wonder what all my Standard Comics Mego figures are worth? If they still had heads and what not.

The AvengersFan
Member Since 2004

Posted on 3/1/2012

Very cool and fun themes here!

Damon Owens
Member Since 2005

Posted on 3/12/2012

You gotta love the artwork of a man so cool, he has his own comics universe named after him!

Bobby Simpson
Member Since 2005

Posted on 11/2/2013

This is the kind of comic i would love to have.

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