DC Outburst: Firepower, card #04 (1996)

This was one of the last DC card sets I bothered to collect, in the waning days of that industry. The previous sets had all featured some really nice art, informative text, or at least interesting gimmicks. Here, the art was largely blah, typically overwhelmed by flashy computer coloring and effects. The main draw was that each card was embossed with the word "Outburst" (get it?) and the figures in the drawing. Eleven years later, all that means to me is a card that is difficult to center on a scanner and a set that sits all poofy in its box. I expect that colon in the title expresses either indecision of the part of manufacturers Fleer/Skybox or an intent to produce more Outburst, which was not meant to be.

Artist Chris Renaud seems to be taking his cues from Joe Quesada and perhaps a bit of Sal Velluto, the last major influence on the character's look before Howard Porter really got people talking. Those Martian saliva streaks weren't really called for, were they? But hey, check that numbering! Fourth card after the holy DC Trinity of Superman, Batman... and Azrael? Oh. Um, followed by Wonder Woman and Flash...

Text from the card, supposedly authored by Oracle: "His Martian birthright gives J'onn J'onzz superior strength, telepathic abilities and the power of invisibility. A great tactician and strategic thinker, the Martian Manhunter's single weakness is psychological vulnerability to fire."