Cancelled Comics Cavalcade was a two-issue collection of comic stories never published, usually due to a series being cancelled early. One of those was Firestorm, although his adventures would continue in the pages of The Flash. The Firestorm adventure we’ll be looking at was intended to be the sixth issue of Firestorm. For this review we’ll only look at the Firestorm story since it comes from the Firestorm The Nuclear Man trade and not the actually comic, which also featured unpublished Black Lightning, the Ray, Claw The Unconquered, the Deserter, Doorway To Nightmare, and Green Team tales.
Canceled before it was even inked. Shame.
Cancelled Comic Cavalcade #1/Firestorm #6
DC Comics (Summer, 1978, would have been published December, 1978 I would imagine)
“The Typhoon Is A Storm Of The Soul!” WRITER/CO-CREATOR: Gerry Conway ARTIST/CO-CREATOR: Al Milgrom COLORIST: none, the collection was all in black and white for both issues LETTERER: Jack Abel EDITOR: Jack C. Harris COLLECTION EDITOR: Mike Gold
At Stein’s lab, Ronnie and Martin test out Firestorm’s powers and determine that he uses cosmic radiation to power his abilities. However, the organic restructuring powers continue to feedback, which Martin suggests may be a psychological block sine the same amount of cosmic radiation is used. McGarrin, the PI Martin hired to find out where he goes during the “blackouts”, sees Ronnie leave and follows him on his date with Doreen (who is getting worried about her sister, Summer, who seems distant) and sees nothing connecting him to Martin. Ronnie’s dad is also acting strange. Meanwhile, “Spit” is still determined to get Hapgood to give up where Rockwell has disappeared to, and against family orders kidnaps him. However, another Shine son, Johnny, is trying to distance himself from his mobster family until his jerk assistant throws it in his face during the test of a new one-man submarine. During the test, the sub is damaged during a storm and the water mixes with the atomic pile powering it, getting into Johnny and turning him into a living typhoon. Johnny gets revenge on the assistant and captain for leaving him at the testing site, and then goes after the Shine family to get them out of his life once and for all. At the same time, Firestorm arrives to rescue Hapgood and unwittingly saves the Shines by defeating Johnny.
What they got right: This story was dropped (Typhoon ended up with different origins in the pages of The Flash) and I don’t know why. It continues the mystery of the Hyena by making Summer and Ed both look guilty (especially when the picture of Rockwell turns out to be Ed) as well as the Shine mystery. It was also a good origin for Typhoon, as a man who wants to eliminate his mobster family and separate himself from their legacy for good. I rather enjoyed it.
What they got wrong: As usual, it’s Cliff Carmichael. Somehow he gathered together some guys to help him force Ronnie off of the basketball team. Didn’t we see him getting picked on? Why do these guys have it in for Ronnie? At least Jeff showed up to chase them off but Carmichael is like Bulk and Skull from Mighty Morphin Power Rangers done wrong. Even in the cancelled story I hate this character AS a character instead of as a person.
Other notes: As I said, the origin and identity of Typhoon was changed when the same titled story appeared in The Flash #294 (the story continuing until #296). I don’t have those issues but I’m curious to see what the new origin is. The end of the comic also teased a new character called The Reptile Man, which according to the DC Wiki never appears to have shown up anywhere else.
Recommendation: While I don’t know the origins they went with I’m sorry they didn’t go with this one. It’s worth a look if you come across this trade or Cancelled Comics Cavalcade #1.
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[…] Cancelled Comic Cavalcade: The “lost” Firestorm adventure with an alternate origin for Typhoon as our heroes explore their powers more. […]
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