#tony isabella

[phoenix]

The creator of Black Lightning, Misty Knight, Tigra, and Justice Machine (Okay that one is for me specifically) came out as transgender today.

Her preferred name is Jenny Blake Isabella, and her preferred pronouns are she/her.

So proud of her.

[marvelousmrm]

What If…? #24 (Isabella/Kane, Dec 1980). Pete dives after Gwendy on the fateful bridge. She lives, and what follows is somehow even more tragic than the alternative.

[the-gershomite]

Ghost Rider #6 -June 1974-

Marvel comics

"Zodiac II"

writer: Tony Isabella

concept: Gary Friedrich

artist: Jim Mooney

inker: Sal Trapani

letters: Artie Simek

colorist: Phil Rache

[aboutzatanna]

Leave it to Tony Isabella (creator of Black Lightning) to have Zatanna guest star in Hawkman Vol 2 #4 because her debut was in Hawkman Vol 1 #4.

Also Richard Howell's art paired with this lovely quote:

"The very first time she performed he told her, you give your children two things; one is roots; the other wings."

Even though they don't get to interact as much as they should, the Hawks and Zatanna are still pretty close, especially Zee and Shayera. Even Hawkman noticing that Zatanna is putting up a cheerful face to mask the pain of her father's death:

Hawkman Vol 2 was kicked off after the amazing Shadow War of Hawkman mini series (highly recommended if you're interested in the Thanagarian versions of the Hawks).

[nerds-yearbook]

The pilot for Black Lightening aired on January 16, 2018. Cress Williams played principal Jefferson Pierce, who secretly used to be the super hero Black Lightening. Events occured to cause him to suit up once more to protect his students and city. ("The Resurrection" Black Lightening, TV Event)

[dailydccomics]

Jeff's energy >>>> Black Lightning (1977-78) #1

[balu8]

Unknown Worlds of Science Fiction: Slow Glass

by Tony Isabella: Gene Colan and Tom Palmer

Marvel

[nickfuryagentofsword]

Moon Knight 35 (1983) by Tony Isabella & Kevin Nowlan

Cover: Carl Potts

[danaclese]

The ending of what is probably the last Black Lightning solo title for a decade or more.

I'm upset that it's over, but it was a good limited run and I'm happy I bought the physical copies.

Grace is back and it looks like Anissa and Grace are on again, so that's nice.

Jeff and Grace do the fastball special, and I think that's pretty cool.

I am not a fan of Jeff and Lynn getting back together romantically. We had a divorced, co-parenting hero who was best friends with their EX. That is something we will probably never get to see again. They were healthy like that.

Media needs to show that's an option, the hero doesn't have to "get the girl" and sometimes the correct healthy choice is to NOT be romantic and be friends who respect each other.

So this is the ending of this limited run of Black Lightning.

Jeff is my favourite DC man, and he hasn't had a Title run since 2009 with a six issue "Year One" and hasn't had an ongoing solo run since 1995. And now they send him into obscurity for another decade.

When these series end it's supposed to be melancholy, this was supposed to be bitter sweet, but I'm just kinda bummed about it.

PS.

I was ready to be up in arms about dead-naming the creator and that definitely tainted my experience of this issue.

But Isabella said in a FB post that she would continue to use it as a pen-name, so that IS her choice and NOT DC being jerks.

[cantsayidont]

April 1974. The Boris Vallejo cover painting and "Night of the Snow Vampire" caption allude, somewhat vaguely, to this issue's adaptation by Tony Isabella of the 1939 August Derleth short story "The Drifting Snow," exquisitely drawn by Spanish artist Esteban Maroto:

[doctorstrangereview]

0120: Giant-Size Defenders #1

Cover Date: July 1974 On-Sale Date: April 23,, 1974

Giant-Size Defenders #1 mainly reprints the core members past adventures under the guise of showing Valkyrie what she's in for. There are a few pages that serve as a framing story which is what will be reviewed here. These pages are written by Tony Isabella and lovingly illustrated by Jim Starlin.

The gang are returning to Doc's Sanctum Sanctorum after their adventure with Xemnu in Defenders #12. The trio finds a local drunk has taken residence in front of the Sanctum. His encounter with the group is... interesting.

Doc, for once, resists the temptation to perform a non-consensual mind-wipe. It's for the best of reasons, of course. Doc may have some doubts about this friendlier green giant, but keeps them to himself.

Inside, Val wonders how this odd group came together and Clea offers to show her some of these weirdos' past shenanigans. Val agrees.

This leads us to a reprint of a story from Hulk #3 (way back in 1962.)

Once the tale is complete, we return to the present and see the Hulk enjoying Wong's cooking when something goes wrong. In the other room, Clea and Val continue their history lesson.

Val's next journey into the past is to Sub-Mariner Comics #55 (really far back to 1955.)

After Namor's adventure with bombers and Nazi submarines, Doc realizes what's going on, but Clea casts her next spell before he can reach her. As it's a Doc adventure, he vanishes.

Doc will find himself back in the clutches of Mr. Rasputin from Strange Tales #145 (back in 1966.) You can check out the review for that one here.

We return to the present where the Defenders are re-battling their old foes in some weird limbo. They're not doing well. Doc realizes he needs to bring the team together and gets shot AGAIN by Mr. Rasputin for his efforts. (Okay, it's some phantom in Mr. Rasputin's place.)

The Hulk and Namor manage to get Mr. Rasputin off Doc. He's then able to return them to the Sanctum and then return Namor back to wherever it was Clea plucked him from. Doc scolds Clea as she must always know the effects of a spell before you cast it. Val now has a better understanding of her teammates.

The issue ends with a reprint of the Silver Surfer Story from Fantastic Four Annual #5 (from way back in 1967.)

There's not much to say about this. The framing story accomplishes it's goal of introducing lots of reprint material. Tony Isabella does what he can do with the assignment. Jim has some great artwork, especially some absolutely priceless facial expressions for Hulk.

We do get a nice pin-up out of the deal.

It is what it is.

[avianandloaded]

Hasbro Marvel Legends MCU Deadpool and Rhino Build-A-Figure wave Misty Knight.

[the-gershomite]

Ghost Rider #8 -October 1974- Marvel Comics

"Satan Himself!"

writer: Tony Isabella

artist: Jim Mooney

inker: Sal Trapan

letters: John Costanza

colorist: Phil Rache

[sublimedestructivevoid]

Always be who you really are.

[nerds-yearbook]

After a 14 year gap, Mystery in Space continued publication with issue 111#, cover date, September 1980 (issue 110# had a cover date of September, 1966). ("Ultra the Multi-Alien: The Pied Piper of Pluto", and "The Booby-Trapped Asteroid!", Mystery in Space 111#, DC Comic Event)

[comic-covers]

(1976)