DC Outburst: Firepower, card #75 (1996)

Since we posted the first of two cards featuring J'Onn J'Onzz last Friday, might as well finish 'er off this 'un.

Glancing over the set again for the first time in some time, I noticed artists were assigned to certain characters throughout the set. Famed Detective Comics artist Norm Breyfogle got to employ his Prime chops on the Man of Steel, while Manhunter artist Eduardo Barreto took on the Dark Knight, and Darryl Banks worked the pen over his own Emerald Gladiator, getting three cards each. Martian Manhunter of course got Chris Renaud for his two, while Flash got Chris Renaud for his three, as did Wonder Woman. I'm sensing a pattern here, not unlike what occurred with the artist on Metamorpho and Impulse, Chris Renaud. But I swear, Chris Renaud looked a lot like Kevin West on some of his cards, so the middling nature of the set can't be blamed entirely on him. Why, Aquaman's pair of cards were by Joe St. Pierre, best known for not being a superstar Valiant Comics artist, even by Valiant Comics standards. I could make a crack about the usually workmanlike Mike Collins' submissions, but the guy did his fair share of work on the Martian Manhunter, presumably willingly, and he was really turning in above par pieces here. Inked by Scott Hanna and benefiting from quality printing and colors for once, Collins depicts a ponytail-period Nightwing better than anyone that comes to mind but designer Brian Stelfreeze himself.

Text from the card, supposedly authored by Oracle: "He has a great mind for planning tactics and scheming to beat the villains he faces. But when it comes to the crunch, Martian Manhunter loves the rough and tumble of a good fight."

Huh? J'Onn? Uhm... inked by Barb Kaalberg. That's all I got. Well okay, how about "that makes about as much sense as having the Martian Manhunter in a set that has a blazing DC Bullet with the word 'Firepower' on every single card."