Posted By Dan Greenfield on Aug 4, 2024 | 5 comments

Beginning a new, daily feature on August’s Super Powers variant cover line-up…

Throughout August, DC Comics will be 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 going to be 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’ll be publishing them in the order they will be released by DC.

First up? SHIRTLESS BATMAN (Batman #151, due Aug. 7):

“Shirtless Batman!” sez Jason. “Made famous by Neal Adams’ dynamic art of the fight in the desert with Ra’s Al Ghul in 1972’s Batman #244, this figure honors the decision by Batman to take off his top, gloves and cape, but keep the cowl!

“Plus, I heard some of you loud and clear and re-sculpted his right arm to have an open hand! (He originally had a closed fist. I also corrected the infograph on the back, which no one caught, where I gave him gloves and an emblem on his chest. Did I mention I’ve been tired?)

“Shirtless Bats even made an appearance in Batman: The Animated Series,” Jason added. “Also, shout-out to toy designer Aaron Archer, for making the first shirtless Batman in Kenner’s Knight Force Ninja line back in the 1990s!”

Good stuff, Jason.

Of all the covers in the line, this is the one I’d most like to see done. Yes, it’s because I’m an enormous Batman fan. Yes, it’s because I’m an enormous Neal Adams fan. But mostly it’s because of the sheer cleverness of the idea. And I’d say it has a decent shot: Batman and Superman variants are staples of every McFarlane Super Powers wave, and if we can get great ones like Zur-En Arrh Batman and Manga Batman, then Shirtless Batman — aka Hairy-Chested Love God Batman — is a no-brainer.

NEXT: Poison Ivy. Click here.

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MORE

— DC’s SUPER POWERS VARIANT COVERS: A Goldmine Just Waiting There for McFARLANE TOYS. Click here.

— McFARLANE TOYS on DC’s SUPER POWERS Covers: ‘YOU NEVER KNOW.’ Click here.