The DC Super Powers Action Figures where produced by Kenner in the 1980′s and featured the multitude of Superhero characteres from DC Comics (Superman, Batman, Wonderwomen, Green Lantern, etc.). What I found of interest is that on the Toy Otter website they have uncovered some conceptual designs that where not produced.

a favorite charcter of mine, Blue Devil in a

mock-up of how the final toy might look like.

Image used with-out Permission.

It seems that in quick succession some ex-Kenner designers found a few old boxes of long hidden items, which contained among other things the original pitch to DC Comics for the license, the actual presentation that detailed the final two years of the line, and amazingly, 8 never before seen prototypes. For the first time, we now have definitive word on what the next series was going to be, what direction the line was taking, and a glimpse of what the original concept for the line might have been. I’m going to do my best to make sense of everything, but be warned that there is a LOT of material, and some pages have many pictures on them and might take awhile to load. I tried to break it down into section the best I could, but some of it still skips around.

It’s fun to see the original marker illustrations, perticularly with the SuperFriends chracters like the Wonder Twins: Jayna and Zan. Another items to check out are the heroic vehicles too. I really like the Plastic Man Car too.

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Visit http://www.atomicbearpress.com/comics/log/ to see my
production art for my comic book, Beyond the Great Chimney
as well as other art, sketches and drawings.

I just discoverd this cool project on fbtb.net, a web site for Lego Star Wars fans. New Gothopolis is a Lego city featuring people, vehicles, and buildings from superhero comic books. It’s very cool. Check out the link HERE.

from the site:

New Gothopolis was made to be a ‘pencil holder’ in Erik’s spare time and features several landmarks in comic book geography. In addition to the above mentioned places, you also have the Gotham Police Dept, the Baxter Building, the Tick’s apartment (located right above the Evil Eye Café) and the mansion of Dr. Strange; Wayne Manor sits on a corner and of course you have to have a bank for the villains to rob – there’s even a pawn shop for items that the heroes and villains no longer use.

Very cool! Check it out. LINK(http://www.fbtb.net/newgoth/)

photo:http://www.fbtb.net/newgoth/

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Visit http://www.atomicbearpress.com/comics/log/ to see my
production art for my comic book, Beyond the Great Chimney
as well as other art, sketches and drawings.

Warning: Work in Progress

In my un-ending quest to find the coolest and strangest stuff on the web, I have gathered together some links of Superheroes appearing live on stages and arenas across the world. With everything from Singing and Dancing to Epic Stunt Spectaculars, and it is/was live on stage. Since many of the treasures bellow are things I have not seen I have placed links in order for you to get the opinions of those who have experienced them. I do not always aggree with the reviews, but then again, I am an artist. Enjoy.

DC COMICS

Superman the Musical – off Broadway, regional productions

The musical story of Superman, sort of. From what I can tell, it takes some libertys from the characters we know today. For instance the only familliar charcters are Lois Lane, Clark Kent/Superman and Perry White. There is no Jimmy Olson or Lex Luthor or any of the now famose suporting characters. It would be fun for some small theater company to try to update the show a bit, keeping it Campy and Fun, but including some more of the wounderfull folks in the Superman cannon.

The supermanhomepage.com has a nice page with a photos and a list of the songs in the show – HERE

Redboots.net has a review of the show as seen on Video – HERE

the Superhero Lives website has some information on the stage show HERE and the made for TV version from the 1970′s HERE .

Batman stunt shows

The popularity of the Batman movies, inspired a string of live franchised stunt shows at the Six Flags theme parks and the Warner Bros. (©owners btw) Movie World parks. Bellow are some photos of the shows. Many of the parks have duplicate versions.

http://pyrospectaculars.net/batman-stunt.php

http://www.themeparksonline.org/picturegallery.asp?name=Batman+Stunt+Show&picname=batmanstuntshow&numpic=9&picdir=sfa//

Batman vs. Catwomen: Catfight – Six Flags Great Adventure

Check out some photos at the wonderfull superhero lives website HERE.

DC Superheroes Live – Six Flags

Here is a show that I once saw an TV ad for, it was short lived, but seem to have some cool effects. Mostly from the superman flying which can be viewd in both RealPlayer movie and pictures at the site of the production company ZFX Flying Illustions.

The website uses Frames in a way that are hard to link to, so I have posted some direct links to the images. The website has some other instresting stuff, so make sure you visit it as well. These are photos from there Media Page of Superman, Batman, and the shows sign.

To see the video of Superman and Spiderman that they worked on you will have to visit the SITE and click on the links: Media>Video and they are down the page a bit.

Loony Toons meet the Justice League show

If anyone has any information on this show, please let me know. I slightly remeber seeing TV ad’s for it when I was a kid, but I didn’t find anything on the web at all. If you know anything, let me know.

MARVEL COMICS

Spiderman Rocks – Universal Studios Hollywood

What do you get when you combine rock songs and dancing with Spiderman. Don’t know. But it might be: Spiderman Rocks. On the web it has been noted that when people saw the billboards for the show that they thought they were building the Spiderman Ride from the Islands of Adventures, but it was not.

Ronald Dupont has some informaiton on his excellent Spiderman site. Be sure to check out the info on the 3D Spiderman Ride at Islands of Adventure park as well.

Also check out more information at spiderfan.org and eticland.com

Spiderman Live! – Touring Show

A traveling family show, visit the offical site HERE

To see the video of Spiderman Live! check out the ZFX SITE and click on the links: Media>Video and it is down the page a bit.

Marvel Super Heroes Show-Down – Universal Studios Hollywood

Part of an event called Marvel Mania, during the heigth of the Spiderman/Dare-Devil movie. Unfortunitly it seems that no one took any pictures of it.

The only image I could find was at the site for the company that helped with the effects rigging, Actionspecialists.com. The photo is at the bottom of the page and is pictured above.

Meet the Marvel Super Heroes-Universals Islands of Adventure

More a parade then a show, I still wanted to include it here. It would be awsome to drive one of those vehicles around, wouldn’t it.

Check out this link from IOAcentral.com HERE.

Marvel Universe at the Macys Day Parade -coming soon

TV Heros

In the TV Superhero Cartoon boom of the 1980′s we found a few of our heroic pals traveling the country and playing at local arenas. One thing to remember about these shows is that all of the costumes and sets were designed to look good from a distance. Meaning that up close that do appear a bit more….awkward.

Thundercats Live! – Touring Show

From what I can tell, this show all featured other charcters who where sindicated by Loramar TV, including the Silver-Hawks that where also produced by the animation studio of Rankan-Bass

visit purrsiathunder.net to check out the tour program from the show HERE.

He-Man and the Masters of the Universe POWER Tour! - Touring Show

The popular Masters of the Universe: He-man, Orko, Man-at-Arms, Teela as well as the evil Skeletor and his minions….on stage…singing. Wow.

HERE is a sinical review from x-entertainment, a site full of 80′s nostalgia goodness. There are lots of photos of the cast including some very nifty costumes. I perticularly like how they handled the fake muscles on some of the characters.

He-Man and the Masters of the Universe-Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade

image coming soon

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: coming out of their shells tour

Another funny/cynical review from x-entertainment.com on the Ninja Turtles live on stage. This article features video-captures of the behinds the scenes video footage. Check it out HERE.

INTERNATIONAL

Ultraman Live: 4D tour – Thailand Arena Show

The classic Japanise superhero appears live in a stunt spectacular all over Thailand. Yes this nifty seeming show is nowhere near Ultramans original home in Japan. I believe there is still a leagal battle going on over controll of the charcater in court, but that is not a story for today.

Check out the offical site ULTRAMAN.com to see pictures. Be warned only some of it is in English.

Time-Rangers (aka. Power-Rangers) show – Japan

In Japan it is not strange to have mini stage/stunt shows to promote the live action TV characters, in this case its the Senti team, the Time Rangers. I have no idea what or where the venue was.

HERE a kind internet user in Japan has uploaded their photos that they took druing one of these shows. The site is not in english.

_____________________________________
Visit http://www.atomicbearpress.com/comics/log/ to see my
production art for my comic book, Beyond the Great Chimney
as well as other art, sketches and drawings.