Champions Annual #1, homage to Justice League Of America #207 (featuring the Squadron Sinister, Thundra, the All-Winners Squad and the Agents Of Atlas / 1950s Avengers)

This is some way outside my usual commissioning area, but I've been trying to do something with this cover for years (working up, and then abandoning, at least two different multi-universe Golden Age crossovers because I didn't think they worked properly). And then a few months back I picked up the Champions Classic trade in a sale and realised that the team starred a winged hero, a strongman, a heroine, and a character with a flaming head (as well as a fifth member) --- and it all started falling into place.

I may be the only person who's ever wondered what might have happened if sales of The Champions hadn't resulted in it being cancelled in 1977 --- but I'd like to think that if it had made it to 1978, then the first Annual might have looked something like this, with the Champions recruited by former foe the Stranger as pawns in a cosmic game with the Grandmaster (using versions of the Squadron Sinister and Thundra as his playing-pieces), with the two team battling across time and encountering the All-Winners Squad in the fantastic Forties, and Jimmy Woo's short-lived Avengers team in the fabulous Fifties.

(Yes, obviously I've cheated a bit by featuring Namora rather than Venus in the latter group's line-up).

Stephen continues his run of absolute knockouts for me with this one!