#80s Comic books

[vertigoartgore]

1980s house ads for the legendary run of Walt Simonson on Thor, more specifically 1983's Thor #337 (where the alien Beta Ray Bill made a rather memorable first appearance) and 1985's Thor #363 (where Thor is turned into a frog by his brother/archnemesis Loki).

[comic-covers]

(1982)

[thesparkwhowalks]

Batman of the Wasteland

Real Name: Cohen (no first name given) All Appearances: Hex #11-12

As the world teetered on the brink of nuclear annihilation, a young gymnast and criminology PHD candidate named Cohen was making a startling discovery: the Batcave! Writing his dissertation on the long-dead Dark Knight, Cohen had found the ultimate firsthand source for his research.

And then the bombs dropped.

He was safe inside the deep cave, but millions of others weren't so lucky. He made his way back to New York City, hoping to find his parents. His mother, a Rabbi who advocated for gun control, and his father, a diplomat who lobbied for nuclear disarmament, had miraculously survived the conflagration. Unfortunately, so had fascists in desperate need of scapegoats. Two prominent Jewish Americans who'd advocated for arms control (on every level) fit the bill, and they were shot dead in the street by Nazis.

Their son, inspired by his idol, designed his own Batsuit and gadgets to become the post-nuclear age's very own Dark Knight. His rule was simple: no guns in NYC. Based out of the Statue of Liberty, he patrolled New York in his futuristic jet until Jonah Hex - in full Mad Max knockoff mode at the time - mistook him for a murderer. The two fought, set aside their differences to go after the real baddies, and Batman appears to have died ditching his Batplane into the bay....but they never did find a body.

So, uh, do you think DC could find some interesting stories about a sort of Mad Max meets Escape From New York version of Batman? Because I sure as hell do. And fun fact, Bruce Wayne is also Jewish in current continuity, making Cohen here the first but least famous Jewish Batman.

[whywoulditho]

for some reason middle aged comic fans coming on the internet to defend their decision as to why they thought a twelve year old should have died or lived is so funny 😭😭😭

[morggard]

Manga page redraw

How I love being a traditional artist

The original page:

[the-watcher-in-the-sky]

[possible-streetwear]

[seeminglydark]

A look-book and little break-down of Caro’s style and fashion Journey. I didn’t include their cheer uniform or GasCo uniform because those really didn’t influence their actual style much, other than the Varsity jacket and work jacket. I thought it would be fun to set it up almost like a magazine article and I’m in love with the results. I hope you enjoy it too. (The cover is my fave thing ever, just so you know.)

Here’s the Text:

Caro Greene, Cheerleader to Ghosthunter! An exclusive look at superstar Caro Greene’s style evolution. From femme to them!

The Teenage Years! Caro has been aware the high-femme style their parents chose for them was not the look they wanted for a long time, but didn’t know how to address it. Pairing their best friends tee-shirt over their Prom dress was the first step in figuring out their own personal style! From there, they tested out the route of borrowed too-big sweaters whenever they weren’t under the watchful eye of their family.

GasCo Era! Years of emotional neglect build until Caro chops off their hair, an asset more important to their parents than their happiness, and finds themself abruptly homeless, with nothing but some jeans, shirts and an oversized jacket belonging to their long-gone boyfriend. They get a job at the local gas station, and are gifted a new jacket that fits, with their new name on it, in their favorite color! More gender exploration leads them to a better haircut, and their first time trying a binder, and starting to not hate how they look.

Thrift stores, Sneakers, and T! Now in a new environment with supportive people at the GasCo, Caro discovers thrift stores and the tacky ‘80s aesthetic of their dreams. After years of other people controlling their body and looks, starting on low T is a big step in taking back control. They start wearing crop tops and sleeveless tees to show off new body hair, but also love chunky colored sweaters since they’re always cold. Sneakers go with everything, and when you’re short, the possibilities are endless in the kids shoes section.

Mil-Liminal! Caro’s podcast Mil-Liminal goes viral, and they are given the choice of staying faceless and anonymous, or taking the stage in live shows. They decide to do a face reveal, and that means choosing an iconic ‘look’ for their live performances. They choose their favorite color, GasCo Purple, and a jacket that is a blend of their varsity jacket and GasCo work jacket, two clothing pieces that always made them comfortable. They wear their trans identity on their sleeve, and top it off with the snapback look they donned years ago on their first venture ‘out’ as a teenager. The rest is history!

Current Caro! Which brings us to the present! There’s been some small changes, oversized sweaters and tees with a cosmic theme, which is new for the usually spookified Caro. They’re sporting white hair instead of their trademark blond, and have added a cross earring and a pendant to their Mil-Liminal uniform. A black snapback shows up as often as the purple one, and there’s a new bounce in their step, but perhaps they’ve just been indulging in too much coffee these days.

Caro Green is from my webcomics Seemingly Dark and Mil-Liminal, and podcast Mil-Liminal.

[shyjusticewarrior]

*sobbing* he's just a lil guy

[designfiend]

TANK GIRL (1988-Present)

Tank Girl, a British comic book, was brought to life by Jamie Hewlett and Alan C. Martin. While initially illustrated by Jamie Hewlett, a roster of artists including Philip Bond, Glyn Dillon, Ashley Wood, Warwick Johnson-Cadwell, Jim Mahfood, Brett Parson, Jonathan Edwards, Craig Knowles, Rufus Dayglo, Andy Pritchett, and Mike McMahon have also contributed portrayal.

[browsethestacks]

[vertigoartgore]

1988's The Incredible Hulk Vol.1 #345 cover by Todd McFarlane. Also used years later as the cover of the Incredible Hulk: Ground Zero tpb. Source

[current-comix]

[thesparkwhowalks]

Sonik

Real Name: William Parker

All Appearances: World's Finest #310, #318

Will Parker is a local boy made good, having grown up in an economically disadvantaged neighborhood and made it into college on his smarts. He's returned to his old neighborhood to make a difference, opening up a Boy's Club to offer local kids a safe place to hang out when they're not in school.

Unfortunately, the kids aren't interested. See, it looks to them like college just lands you a crappy apartment in the 'hood and an underfunded boy's club to manage. Local hoodlum Billy Ray, with his nice car and flashy clothes, looks like the guy to emulate. Inspired by the World's Finest (and a vague idea that kids think sound is cool, for some reason) uses stereo equipment to create a small arsenal of sonic gadgets. Dubbing himself Sonik, he sets out to bust Billy.

It turns out that Billy's acting as the middle man for gun runners Batman's tracking, and they both arrive at their hideout at the same time. Sonik's attempt to take them by surprise does wallop the guards but sets off the dogs (they're sensitive to sound, y'know) which gets him and Batman captured. They're left in a death trap but it's Batman, so....

Back in the bad part of town, the neighborhood kids witness Billy Ray getting the crap kicked out of him for leading Batman & Sonik to the hideout - what good's a middle man if he leads crimefighters right to you? He's saved when Batman, Sonik, and Superman turn up to bring down the gang. Sonik reveals his secret identity to the kids, Bruce Wayne buys the Boy's Club through the Wayne Foundation Charities, and everybody's happy. Sonik returned for a second adventure where Superman roped him in to acting as bodyguard for a not-Michael Jackson character named Marlon Monroe. I mention it only in the name of thoroughness and how much the idea of Prince using robot rockets to wipe out his competition tickled me.

His Royal Badness didn't need supervillain tricks, just his own brilliance and an unhealthy relationship to working on his music.

Anyhow, Sonik is...certainly a character published by DC Comics. I see why he never caught on, as he's basically a mashup of The Guardian (local boy made good mentoring a gaggle of at-risk boys) and Black Lightning (African American hero of a poor neighborhood). Only he's far less compelling than either character. Still, he's a fun bit of Pre-Crisis fluff.

[all-that-good-stuf]

Sketches of the gang at the premiere

[the-most-humble-blog]

The Predator’s Size Reveal: My WTF Moment as a Kid

When My Kid Brain Realized the Yautja Is a Walking, Hulking “Holy S--t!”

Alright, let me set the stage for you. I was just a kid when I first watched Predator, sitting way too close to the TV, probably eating something I wasn’t supposed to. The movie had me hooked from the jump: explosions, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jesse Ventura chewing scenery (and probably tobacco), and this mysterious alien stalking them like it had beef with their entire gene pool.

But then the climax hit. And I saw it. The Predator. The full Predator. And let me tell you, my brain short-circuited.

My Reaction: “WAIT. HOLD UP. THIS THING IS HOW BIG?!”

1. They Didn’t Warn Me About This

For most of the movie, the Predator was just... there.

It was cloaked, hiding in trees, making creepy-ass clicking noises. You didn’t think about its size because it didn’t need size. It was scary enough as a shadow.

Every time it killed someone, it was quick and surgical. Boom—someone’s gone. No need for brute force.

And then, just when I thought I had the Predator figured out, it dropped its weapons, took off its mask, and stood up. And all I could say was, “WTF.”

2. The WTF Realization

You know that feeling when something goes from scary to “oh, we’re all doomed”? That was me.

The Cloaking Lies: This thing had been sneaking around the jungle like a ghost, and suddenly it’s towering over Arnold like a damn tree.

Arnold Looks Tiny: Let’s be real—when you make Arnold Schwarzenegger look small, you’re not just big. You’re stupid big.

The Mask Drop: I was already freaked out by the size, but then the Predator’s face entered the chat, and I was done. Those mandibles? That growl? NOPE.

WTF?: “How the hell did this thing fit in the trees? Was it doing yoga up there?”

3. Why It Was So Effective

Even now, as a grown adult with bills and existential crises, that size reveal still sticks with me. Why? Because the movie played me like a fiddle.

It Hid the Truth: For 90% of the movie, the Predator is more of an idea than a physical thing. It’s all about fear, stealth, and mystery.

The Payoff Was Huge (Literally): By holding back its size until the end, the movie made the reveal hit like a brick to the face.

4. My Inner Monologue: A Play-by-Play

Watching that final battle felt like running through the stages of grief—but with extra WTF energy.

Denial: “Nah, it’s not that big. The angle’s just weird.”

Anger: “WHY DIDN’T THEY WARN US ABOUT THIS?!”

Bargaining: “Maybe Arnold can still win, right? Right?!”

Acceptance: “Okay, we’re all screwed.”

Kid Thought: This thing could bench-press Arnold and the entire squad without breaking a sweat. And here I was, barely able to carry my school backpack.

5. The Real WTF Moment

Here’s the part that really messed me up:

The Predator wasn’t just a brute. It was smart. Like, scary smart.

It dropped its weapons and went hand-to-hand with Arnold, as if to say, “I don’t just kill—I dominate.”

Kid Logic: “Wait, so it’s huge and it knows kung fu? Who signed me up for this nightmare?!”

6. Why This Moment Stuck With Me

Years later, I’ve watched a lot of monster movies, but Predator still holds up. And it’s not just because of the size reveal—it’s because of the way it’s delivered.

The Build-Up: You spend the whole movie fearing what you can’t see.

The Payoff: When you finally see it, it’s bigger, badder, and more terrifying than you imagined.

I Wasn’t Ready

Let me be clear: when I watched Predator for the first time, I wasn’t ready. The Yautja’s size, its intelligence, and that final showdown completely blindsided me. And even now, every time I rewatch it, I feel like that same kid, sitting too close to the TV, whispering, “WTF.”

So, if you’ve ever felt the same way—like the Predator just punked you with its sheer size and power—you’re not alone. It’s not just a movie moment. It’s a WTF moment.

Still reeling from the Predator’s WTF size reveal? Follow The Most Humble Blog for more unapologetic movie takes and hilariously sharp nostalgia dives.