When Firestorm premiered his cowl featured pointed temples. While this feature wasn’t critical to his overall costume, it was an interesting accent. See the red angled points near his eyes in the image below from FIRESTORM THE NUCLEAR MAN #1 (Mar. 1978) drawn by Al Milgrom, Klaus Janson, and Joe Rubinstein.

Interestingly enough, while the pointed temples appeared inside the comic, they were slightly different on the cover. Below is an image from the cover of FIRESTORM THE NUCLEAR MAN #1 (Mar. 1978) drawn by Al Milgrom. Notice the pointed temples have been replaced by a angled corner. I’m guessing the cover was done while they were still finalizing the interiors, which would explain the inconsistency. I believe this is the only time Al Milgrom drew the angled corner instead of the pointed temples.

Below you can see Al Milgrom’s Firestorm from the cover of FIRESTORM THE NUCLEAR MAN #4 (Sept. 1978). Pointed temples present and accounted for!

After the DC Implosion and the cancellation of his series, Firestorm disappeared for a year or so. Our favorite Nuclear Man didn’t resurface until DC COMICS PRESENTS #17 (Jan. 1980). Below you can see Firestorm on the cover of that comic drawn by Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez and Steve Mitchell. Pointed temples? Check!

After that, Firestorm was a regular in the JLA. Below is an interior page from JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #179 (June 1980) drawn by Dick Dillin and Frank McLaughlin. Notice Firestorm’s cowl features the angled corner instead of the pointed temples. I’m guessing Dick Dillin used the cover of FIRESTORM THE NUCLEAR MAN #1 as a reference.

Next Firestorm had his own back-up feature in several issues of THE FLASH.  Below is a close-up from an interior page of THE FLASH #292 (Dec. 1980) drawn by George Perez and Bob Smith. Nice job George including the pointed temples! By the way, it’s worth noting that George still draws Firestorm with the pointed temples! Click here to see a George Perez Firestorm sketch from 2009! Amazing attention to detail, George!

The pointed temples continued to appear in THE FLASH back-up stories for a while longer. Below is a image from THE FLASH #302 (Oct. 1981) drawn by Denys Cowan and Rodin Rodriguez.

Notice below the pointed temples in THE FLASH #302 (Oct. 1981) drawn by Denys Cowan and Rodin Rodriguez. Here you can see Firestorm floating unconscious with a garbage scow closing in on him.

In the very next issue the pointed temples are nowhere to be seen. Below you’ll see an image from THE FLASH #303 (Nov. 1981) picking up where the image above left off. The scene is set the same, just without the attractive temple accents. It’s worth noting this issue was the first time Firestorm was drawn by Pat Broderick. The inker for this issue was Adrian Gonzales. This was the only issue of THE FLASH Adrian Gonzales inked. It’s possible the change in artists resulted in the loss of the pointed temples (whether accidentally or purposefully). Perhaps the loss of the pointed temples was so overwhelming to Firestorm, he passed out in the river. I know I would have been depressed to lose such rockin’ cowl accents.

The pointed temples returned one last time in THE FLASH #304 (Dec. 1981) drawn by Pat Broderick and Rodin Rodriguez as you can see below. The primary difference between issues #303 (above) and #304 (below) was the inker. Rodin Rodriguez, the inker for #304, had been inking the Firestorm back-up features for some time. It’s possible Rodriguez added the pointed temples to issue #304 since he would have been aware of them from inking previous issues. This would be the final regular appearance of the pointed temples. After this they would only show up once in a blue moon, but they were always a fluke rather than a regular cosmetic feature.

Below is an interior panel from THE FURY OF FIRESTORM THE NUCLEAR MAN #1 (June 1982) drawn by Pat Broderick and Rodin Rodriguez. This representation of Firestorm’s cowl became the standard look for our favorite Nuclear Man going forward.

It’s worth noting down the line Firestorm featured other cowl accents. Below you’ll see the cowl-sideburns which premiered in FIRESTORM THE NUCLEAR MAN #65 (November 1987) drawn by Ross Andru. The cowl-sideburns were a distinct feature of the “Blank Slate” Firestorm and hung around until FIRESTORM THE NUCLEAR MAN #85 (May 1989).

Finally, Ronnie Raymond is currently sporting a unique cowl accent. See an example below drawn by Ethan Van Sciver. I’m not sure exactly what to call them; maybe cheek-bone tips? It would be interesting to find out if Ronnie’s current cowl accents were inspired by the pointed temples, the cowl-sideburns, or some new idea all together.

Rounding back to or original question… who is responsible for the disappearance of the pointed temples? We may never know. However, my instinct tells me it was Pat Broderick who did away with the pointed temples (whether accidentally or purposefully). Broderick became the regular artist of Firestorm beginning with THE FLASH #303 and the pointed temples only appeared once more. Now keep in mind that’s my own speculation. We may never know the truth…

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To view all 104 covers to Justice League of America #50, please visit the Hero Initiative website. Below you’ll find a few Firestorm-related covers…

 Below is a cover by Firestorm co-creator Al Milgrom! This is one of the few covers to feature Firestorm. Click the cover to enlarge.

Below is a cover by Scott Koblish (inker of O.M.A.C.). Not only does the cover include Firestorm, but also Aquaman, Doctor Fate, Flash, Vibe, and so many other favorites! I couldn’t resist posting it! Click the cover to enlarge.

Below is a cover by current Firestorm artist Yildiray Cinar! It doesn’t include Firestorm, but it’s gorgeous! Click the cover to enlarge.

Finally, below is a cover by future Firestorm inker Norm Rapmund! Again, no Firestorm, but beautiful line work! Click the cover to enlarge.

To check out all 104 covers to Justice League of America #50, please visit the Hero Initiative website.

Special thanks to our buddy liquidcross (of The Indigo Tribe and Text and Violence) for the heads-up on these covers! Thanks, liquidcross!

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If you’ve never read Firestorm The Nuclear Man #1 (Mar. 1978) written by Gerry Conway and drawn by Al Milgrom, then you probably don’t know who I’m talking about.  Eddie Earhart was a 1970s hipster who sported gold chains, a receding hairline with a Mike Brady-like perm, and thick mutton chops with connecting ‘stache.  I’m sure you can tell by the description he was a real class act.  Eddie was the leader of an environmentalist group known as the Coalition to Resist Atomic Power (yes, the acronym is C.R.A.P. – well played, Mr. Conway).  The Coalition held protest rallies at power plants in the attempt to slow the spread of nuclear power. After watching Clark Kent interview Eddie Earhart on television, Ronnie Raymond decided to join the Coalition in the hope of impressing Doreen Day.  Ronnie did a lot of dumb things in his teenage years and I’d say joining a nuclear protest group to win a girl’s heart is pretty high on that list.

Ronnie joined the Coalition and soon discovered that Eddie and his group had a darker agenda.  That evening several members of the Coalition broke into the Hudson Nuclear Power Plant with the intention of blowing it up.  Eddie had the idea to bring Ronnie along to take the blame from the authorities for their terrorist actions.  Eddie knocked Ronnie unconscious when the teenager attempted to stop the Coalition.  Meanwhile, Professor Martin Stein (sporting a friggin’ cool pipe!) was in the process of bringing the power plant online.  Stein discovered Eddie and his gang, which resulted in being knocked out himself.  I tell ya, Eddie should’ve been a boxer the way he knocked people out with one punch.  Next, Eddie set the explosives by the atomic pile and the unconscious forms of Ronnie and the Professor.

The resulting explosion transformed Ronnie Raymond and Professor Martin Stein into Firestorm the Nuclear Man (but you probably already knew that part).  After briefly testing his new powers, Firestorm tracked Eddie and the Coalition to another nuclear power plant in Jersey.  Firestorm made quick work of the Coalition members and managed to punch Eddie Earhart twice — once for the Professor and once for Ronnie I suppose.

There you have it, Eddie Earhart is the man who single-handedly created Firestorm.  Eddie conned Ronnie into joining the Coalition on their bombing attack of the Hudson Nuclear Power Plant, he punched out both Ronnie and the Professor, and he set the explosives himself that blew up the nuclear reactor.  If it weren’t for Eddie, Firestorm may never have been created!  Thanks Eddie… I guess.  Kinda weird thanking such a rotten dude.

Surprisingly, Eddie Earhart never appeared in comics again.  Sure you’d see him in flashbacks of Firestorm’s creation, but he never returned to plague the Nuclear Man.  Considering how often other Firestorm villains reappeared, I’m shocked we never saw Eddie again.  If we’re lucky, perhaps Ethan Van Sciver and Gail Simone will figure a way to incorporate this dastardly dude into the new Firestorm continuity.

For the full story of Firestorm’s creation, pick up the Firestorm the Nuclear Man trade paperback by Gerry Conway and Al Milgrom!

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FIRESTORM: THE NUCLEAR MAN

Written by GERRY CONWAY; Art by AL MILGROM, GEORGE PEREZ, KLAUS JANSON and others; Cover by AL MILGROM

For the first time, the stories that introduced Firestorm are collected from issues #1-5 of his 1970s series, plus stories from THE FLASH #289-293. After Ronnie Raymond is tricked into nearly blowing up a nuclear reactor, he and Professor Martin Stein are caught in a nuclear incident. Their personalities merge, forming the being called Firestorm!

DC Universe | 176pg. | Color | Softcover | $17.99 US

As we heard from Al Milgrom, this collection will include the unpublished Firestorm the Nuclear Man #6 and some other bonus artwork!

For those of us that already own these issues, I strongly encourage you to buy the trade paperback anyway. First, it’s a great read and will be a nice collection. Second, let’s send a clear message to DC that we’ll buy classic Firestorm comics in trade paperback form. After this trade, I want THE FURY OF FIRESTORM collected!

Support Firestorm!  It’s not just a slogan!  Seriously, SUPPORT FIRESTORM by buying this trade paperback! Fan the Flame!

Back in 1977, Gerry Conway and Al Milgrom created the character of Firestorm the Nuclear Man.  Now seemed the ideal time to sit down with Gerry and Al as the Firestorm: The Nuclear Man trade paperback is due in stores on August 3rd.  For the first time, the stories that introduced Firestorm are collected from issues #1-5 of his own 1970s series, plus the Firestorm back-up stories from The Flash #289-293. As you’ll hear in this interview, perhaps some more items will find their way into the collection as well.

Gerry Conway was one of the most prolific comic book writers of the 1970s and 80s. His writing credits go on for miles! He’s probably best known for co-creating the Punisher and Firestorm, as well as scripting the death of Gwen Stacy in the Amazing Spider-Man. He also wrote for and produced such TV series as Law & Order and Diagnosis Murder. Gerry recently returned to comics after an almost 20 year absence. He wrote the insightful mini-series The Last Days of Animal Man, and has a one-shot coming this August entitled DC Retroactive: Justice League of America – The ’80s.

Allen “Al” Milgrom is a man who has worn many hats. Al has worked as a comic book penciller, inker, writer and editor since the 1970s.  He’s been extraordinarily prolific, working on many books including most of the Marvel Comics’ line at one point or another. He’s well known for his ten-year run as editor of Marvel Fanfare; his long involvement as writer, penciller, and inker on Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man; his four-year tenure as West Coast Avengers penciller; and his long stint as the inker of X-Factor.  More recently Al has been inking for Archie comics.

Gerry and Al were extraordinarily generous with their time sitting down with me for over two and a half hours (that’s right, 2 1/2 hours)!  Surprisingly, this interview was the first time Gerry and Al had verbally chatted in about 30 years.  It was a real thrill listening to them catch-up and reminisce.  Topics covered include: discovering comics as a child; breaking into the business; working together on different projects; several editors, writers, and artists from the Silver and Bronze Ages; the creation of Firestorm; the DC Implosion; favorite Firestorm characters; changes in the comic industry; and much, much more!  Ever wonder why Firestorm has puffy sleeves?  Find out in this interview!

You may play the interview right here on the FIRESTORM FAN site with the handy-dandy player below! I apologize for not offering the interview in text format, but transcribing an interview that long would have taken months.

Alternatively, you may download the file and listen to it on an MP3 player or your computer. You may download the interview by right-clicking here, choosing “Save Target/Link As”, and selecting a location on your computer to save the file (114 MB).

My thanks to both Gerry Conway and Al Milgrom for being so generous with their time!

To keep up with Gerry, follow him on Twitter and Facebook. If you’re interested in hearing more from Gerry, I’ve interviewed him on two previous occasions.  Click here for an interview with Gerry specifically about Firestorm.  Click here for an interview with Gerry about his careers in comics and television.

If you’re interested in original artwork, Al does some great commissions.  I’ll always treasure the sketch I commissioned from Al of Firestorm.  One of the cool things Al offers are commissions inside your trade paperbacks.  He can draw them either on the blank pages in the back, or on a separate sheet of paper which could be attached inside the cover.  To get in touch with Al, drop him an e-mail at: allenmilgrom@gmail.com.

Don’t forget, pick up your copy of the Firestorm: The Nuclear Man trade paperback on August 3rd!

Support Firestorm!  It’s not just a slogan!  Seriously, SUPPORT FIRESTORM by buying this trade paperback! Fan the Flame!

Truly classic Firestorm!  Interestingly, this was drawn during a period when Firestorm’s continued existence was questionable.  He’d only appeared in five issues of his own series before being canceled (Oct/Nov 1978).  This sketch was drawn after the cancellation, back when there were no definite plans to use the character any further.  It wasn’t until DC Comics Presents #17 (Jan. 1980) that Firestorm would return to the DCU.

My thanks to Philip Rutledge for granting permission to post this sketch from his own collection.  Be sure to check out Philip’s amazing collection of Firestorm sketches on ComicArtFans.com! Philip is a long-time Firestorm fan and owns a few other sketches we’ve posted here previously.  Thanks, Philip!

I’ll see you all back here tomorrow for the all-new interview with Firestorm creators Gerry Conway and Al Milgrom!

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This gorgeous two-page spread comes from ole flamebrain’s first appearance – Firestorm the Nuclear Man #1!  Story by Gerry Conway and art by Al Milgrom.

Support Firestorm! Fan the flame!

Personally, I recommend you also buy the upcoming Firestorm trade paperback.  It includes several Flash back-ups, and some possible surprises.  Additionally, if we want to see subsequent Firestorm collections, we need to support this first trade paperback.

My thanks to Doug Zawisza (of Comic Book Resources, the Doom Patrol blog, and the Red Tornado’s Path blog) for the heads-up about this comiXology listing.

Support Firestorm! Fan the flame!

Even if you already have the issues, order a copy of this trade!  Let’s send a clear message to DC that we’ll support Firestorm comics in trade paperback format!   If you want to see further Firestorm reprints, such as collected editions of The Fury of Firestorm series, then order this trade! By purchasing a copy you’re also supporting creators like Gerry Conway and Al Milgrom!  Order today!

Support Firestorm!  It’s not just slogan!  Seriously, SUPPORT FIRESTORM by ordering this trade paperback! Fan the Flame!

FIRESTORM: THE NUCLEAR MAN

Written by GERRY CONWAY; Art by AL MILGROM, GEORGE PEREZ, KLAUS JANSON and others; Cover by AL MILGROM

For the first time, the stories that introduced Firestorm are collected from issues #1-5 of his 1970s series, plus stories from THE FLASH #289-293. After Ronnie Raymond is tricked into nearly blowing up a nuclear reactor, he and Professor Martin Stein are caught in a nuclear incident. Their personalities merge, forming the being called Firestorm!

176pg.  |  Color  |  Softcover  |  $17.99 US

Okay, here’s the information on the possible “easter eggs”…  Rumor has it that DC may consider including previously unpublished material in this collection.  Some items that immediately spring to my mind include the sixth unpublished issue of Firestorm the Nuclear Man, as well as pencils from issue #7 and character design sketches.  Issue #6 only ever appeared in Cancelled Comic Cavalcade with a minuscule print run of just 35 copies.  If this is true, it would be the first time we’ve ever seen issue #6 in color!  How cool is that!?!?!  I’ve done some calculations myself, and if they include all the issues from the solicit (including covers), they still come up about 30 pages short of the advertised 176 pages.  That leads me to believe we just might see this bonus material!

Contact your comic book shop and pre-order your copy right now!  Even if you already have the issues, order a copy of this trade!  Let’s send a clear message to DC that we’ll support Firestorm comics in trade paperback format!   If you want to see further Firestorm reprints, such as collected editions of The Fury of Firestorm series, then order this trade! By purchasing a copy you’re also supporting creators like Gerry Conway and Al Milgrom!  Order today!

Support Firestorm!  It’s not just slogan!  Seriously, SUPPORT FIRESTORM by ordering this trade paperback! Fan the Flame!