The DC Bloodlines Podcast: Eclipso-- Hero and Villain in One Man!

Look for us on iTunes, ShoutEngine or the Internet Archive, where you can also directly download an art-tagged MP3.

The show returns as part of a multi-blog/podcast crossover covering the 1992 DC Annual event Eclipso: The Darkness Within by offering a detailed account of the first three decades of the villain's career derived from numerous print and online sources. Created by Bob Haney and Lee Elias in 1963, Eclipso appeared in House of Secrets for 19 issues before moving on to guest roles in Justice League of America, Metal Men, Green Lantern, Adventure Comics, Outsiders, The Phantom Stranger and more! See the misadventures of Bruce Gordon, Mona & Simon Bennett as they combat the super-villain!

#BestEventEver Eclipso

• Hero History of Eclipso
  • Never-Ending Reading Pile

• Eclipso-- Hero and Villain in One Man!
  • DC Bloodlines

• Eclipso ‘66 Merchandise on The Retroist
  • …What A Puzzling Beginning!
  • Playing Cards With Batman – Part One
  • Playing Cards With Batman – Part Two
  • The Brave and Bold #64

• Starman #42-45 on Chris and Reggie's Cosmic Treadmill
  • Starman #42 (1992)
  • Starman #43 (1992)
  • Starman #44 (1992)
  • Starman #45 (1992)
  • Starman #42-45 Podcast

1. Eclipso: The Darkness Within #1
   
   ♦ Chris Is On Infinite Earths

♦ Professor Alan's Comic Book Reading Journal



2. Superman: The Man of Steel Annual #1
   
   ♦ Resurrections-An Adam Warlock Podcast Episode 61



3. Green Lantern Annual #1
   
   ♦ For the Non-Discerning Reader



4. Detective Comics Annual #5
   
   ♦ For the Non-Discerning Reader



5. Superman Annual #4
   
   ♦ For the Non-Discerning Reader



6. Justice League America Annual #6
   
   ♦ Professor Alan's Comic Book Reading Journal



7. The Demon Annual #1
   
   ♦ Professor Alan's Comic Book Reading Journal



8. The Flash Annual #5
   
   ♦ Coffee & Comics Podcast



9. Action Comics Annual #4
   
   ♦ Professor Alan's Comic Book Reading Journal



10. Wonder Woman Annual #3
    
    ♦ Diana Prince is the New Wonder Woman



11. Green Arrow Annual #5
    
    ♦ Professor Alan's Comic Book Reading Journal



12. Robin Annual #1
    
    ♦ Chris Is On Infinite Earths



13. Hawkworld Annual #3
    
    ♦ Pop Culture Palace Presents



14. Deathstroke: The Terminator Annual #1
    
    ♦ Diana Prince is the New Wonder Woman



15. The New Titans Annual #8
    
    ♦ Diana Prince is the New Wonder Woman



16. Justice League Europe Annual #3
    
    ♦ Resurrections-An Adam Warlock Podcast Episode 62



17. Batman Annual #16
    
    ♦ Professor Alan's Comic Book Reading Journal



18. L.E.G.I.O.N. '92 Annual #3
    
    ♦ I'm the Gun



19. The Adventures of Superman Annual #4
    
    ♦ Professor Alan's Comic Book Reading Journal



20. Eclipso: The Darkness Within #2
    
    ♦ I'm the Gun

• Valor #1
  • For the Non-Discerning Reader

Spill Some Blood!!!* *across social media only.

• Tweet host Diabolu Frank directly, or probe @rolledspine as a group.
• Email Diabolu
• Rolled Spine Podcasts Facebook, which Frank hates and has nothing to do with.
• If the main DC Bloodlines blog isn't your thing, try the umbrella Rolled Spine Podcasts.

The End Of An Era...

And just in time to get a snazzy new logo. The Outsiders are dead; long live the Outsiders.

PS: The idea of the Outsiders (or, more accurately, a subset thereof) being written by Grant Morrison in Batman, Inc. is actually less appealing to me than the characters simply going on the shelf for a while.

Who Are These Women?

Who are these women? Not Black Canary, we know who she is. And evidently the gal in the middle is Sterling. But who are the other two?

The obvious call for the redhead is Poison Ivy, but why would Poison Ivy help out the good guys? Looks to me like it might be Rose & Thorn instead, which would be a novel approach. That to me would also explain the black part of the costume.

And the sword slinger? Tell me this is not Katana. Please, please, tell me this is not Katana. Katana has made some questionable costume decisions over the years but if this is her, this is the absolute worst of them all. This sort of costume would have sucked in the 90s, and now that it's the 10s, this thing is absolutely atrocious. Ugh.

I guess it doesn't matter. It's Birds of Prey not written by Simone, so it won't last. Plus, it's Birds of Prey, period. So I am not buying it.

Freight Train -- The Lost Bloodline

Hey folks. Luke here, author of Being Carter Hall and El Jacone's Comic Book Bunker. I am also known in some circles as "That weird guy who likes The Outsiders," up to and including the current title by Dan DiDio and Philip Tan.


Freight Train, the muscle- and attitude-laden hired gun of Simon Stagg, had lead the fugitive Outsiders Black Lightning, Owlman, and Metamorpho into a trap in British Columbia. Stagg intended on using Black Lightning's powers to resurrect his deceased daughter Sapphire. After securing Owlman and Metamorpho, Stagg asked "Cecil" to join him in the laboratory where Black Lightning and Sapphire waited. When Freight Train refused to be part of Stagg's procedure, Stagg ordered his manservant Java to subdue him -- by changing into the new Shaggy Man. The ensuing brawl gave Freight Train a chance to recount his origin for the benefit of the reader.


I really like that editorial note. Very apropos.


Freight Train would continue to lay a beating on the Shaggy Java while Owlman and Metamorpho escaped their bonds. The procedure seemed to spin out of control, and Sapphire Stagg regain a semblance of life just long enough to drift away again, this time in her beloved Rex Mason's arms. Shaggy Java had lost consciousness and reverted to his regular self, Black Lightning was barely alive, supported by Owlman, and Stagg had broken down beside his daughter's body. Surveying the carnage, Freight Train quipped, "I don't get it. What's there to be sorry about? We won, right?"

Outsiders #35 was scripted by Dan Didio and drawn by Philip Tan, with both men sharing in the plotting duties. Released with a cover date of February 2011, Freight Train no doubt holds the distinction of the longest unheard from Bloodlines character. At least, until another one comes about...