Posted By Dan Greenfield on Aug 10, 2024 | 5 comments

PART 7 of a daily feature on August’s Super Powers variant cover line-up…

Throughout August, DC Comics is publishing eight variant covers in honor of the 40th anniversary of Kenner’s Super Powers line of action figures, vehicles and playsets. Artists Jason “ToyOtter” Geyer and Alex Saviuk combined forces to create covers that homage the packaging, with the kicker being that none of the figures shown were actually made — though they should have been. (Geyer did the figures and the packaging; Saviuk, who was similarly involved in the original Super Powers line, did the “Style Guide” art.)

Our hope is that McFarlane Toys — which has revived Super Powers — will pick up this baton and actually make the figures. (And they’re not saying no. By coincidence, they’ve already made the Gold Superman that’s in the variant set.)

Since we can’t get enough of this whole project, we’re featuring Jason Geyer’s development art for each cover, every day for eight days, along with the final versions — backs and fronts. (His commentary is adapted from Facebook posts he’s done.) We’re be publishing them in the order they will be released by DC.

Next up? KID FLASH (The Flash #12, due Aug. 28):

“Nightwing needs a buddy, and who better than his longtime friend Wally West, Kid Flash!” Jason said. “Although, ironically, Wally gave up this identity at the same time Dick gave up Robin, so technically I’m pretty sure ‘Nightwing’ and Kid Flash never hung out together. But still.

“Kid Flash was always one of my favorite characters for some reason, which is kind of odd as I wasn’t a Flash fan per se. In any case, Wally soon became the Flash proper after Barry died during Crisis on Infinite Earths (spoiler/not spoiler) and, unlike Robin, we wouldn’t see a different Kid Flash for quite some time again.

“One thing that’s probably not immediately apparent to most (and that’s on purpose!) is that the dimensions of the comics are fairly different from that of the Kenner Super Powers cards. I had to really play with how the elements sat to not draw attention to the discrepancies, but I think overall it was pretty effective!”

Thanks, Jason!

Carmine Infantino’s Kid Flash design holds up today as one of the greatest in comics history. It’s perfect as it was and should never have been messed with. (Don’t get me started on the seams and whatnot that only clutter what was once a flawlessly sleek design.) On those grounds alone, I think it’s absolutely imperative that McFarlane get in gear with a Super Powers figure. And with two primary Flash figures already produced — one Barryish and one Wallyish — you have a twofer pairing: mentor and protege, and young man maturing into a new role. Can’t lose. (Teaming him with Wonder Girl and Nightwing would be fab too, natch.)

NEXT: Power Girl. Click here.

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MORE

— The WONDER GIRL SUPER POWERS Variant Cover is a Red Hot Design. Click here.

— The Golden Glory of the SUPERMAN SUPER POWERS Variant Cover. Click here.