#Giffen League

[splooosh]

“Welllll”

Chris Spouse - Bruce Patterson

#Blue and Gold #Blue Beetle #Booster Gold #Bruce Patterson #Chris Sprouse #Giffen League #Justice League #pride

[dirtyriver]

RIP Keith Giffen (November 30, 1952 – October 10, 2023)

#Comics #Keith Giffen #Original art #Legion of Super Heroes #Ambush Bug #Doctor Fate #Justice League International #Superman #Defenders #Daredevil #Video Jack

[dcbinges]

Justice League Annual #1 (1987) by J.M. DeMatteis, Bill Willingham & Keith Giffen

#blue beetle #mister miracle #scott free #ted kord #mr miracle #justice league #the justice league #jm dematteis #j.m. dematteis #bill willingham #keith giffen #dc #dc comics #80s comics #80s #annual #comics

[evilhorse]

I am not awake!

(Justice League America #32)

#justice league america #jla #blue beetle #ted kord #booster gold #michael jon carter #fire #beatriz da costa #awake #the Teasdale imperative #snoring #keith giffen #jm dematteis #adam hughes #dc comics #comics #80s comics

[kingnd]

Damn. RIP to another legend

#kingnd rambles #keith giffen #dc comics #marvel #justice league international #l.e.g.i.o.n #lobo #rocket raccoon

[dailydccomics]

R.I.P. Justice League America #40 written by Keith Giffen + J.M. DeMatteis art by Adam Hughes + José Marzan, Jr.

#scott free #big barda #orion #dc comics #keith giffen #lobo #new gods #jli #justice league #justice league america #j'onn j'onzz #martian manhunter #mister miracle #bardascott #maxwell lord #dc #beatriz da costa #hal jordan #batman #superman #wonder woman #bruce wayne #clark kent #comics #nightwing #dr fate #blue beetle #black canary #rip

[medusamagic]

So you want to know more about Big Barda

As Tumblr's resident expert on all things Barda, and as Kelly Thompson's Birds of Prey run brings far more attention to the character, I figured it was high time someone stepped in and gave the tumblr world a primer on DC's biggest and boldest heroine.

The Basics:

Introduced in Mister Miracle #4 by Jack Kirby, Big Barda was once the leader of Apokolips' premier death squad, the Female Furies. Trained from birth for a life of violence by Granny Goodness, Barda spent the first 250 years of her life as a living weapon. This all changed when she met Scott Free, a gentle Parademon-in-training with a mysterious past and a knack for escapes. Eventually, she and Scott both escaped to Earth, where they fell in love with both the Earth and each other. She's a lover, she's a fighter, she's a Pokémon card expert, but most of all, SHE BIG.

Barda's signature defining attribute is her raw strength. Her raw muscle allows her to keep up with heavy hitters like Wonder Woman. This isn't to suggest that she's a simple-minded brute, however-- Barda has centuries of military experience under her belt as leader of the Female Furies. She's mastered multiple weapons, including spears, swords, and her signature Mega-Rod.

Below are some reading recommendations for anyone interested in Big Barda:

Essential Runs:

Mister Miracle Vol. 1 #4-18 by Jack Kirby (1971-1974)

This was the run that introduced the world to Big Barda, as well as the Female Furies. If you want to know the basics of Barda, there's no better place to start. This run is collected in a trade, as well as a part in The Fourth World Omnibus Vol. 1.

(NOTE: Even though Barda doesn't appear until issue #4, I suggest you start with Issue #1. It'll help you get acquainted with the rest of the mythos.)

Justice League International #14-24 by Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis (1988-1989)

Big Barda was on the JLI! She plays off the other characters as well as ever, and a lot of what's great about her in Jack Kirby's original run is still here! Definitely check this one out if you want to see her in another team setting. This has been collected in this omnibus.

(NOTE: Once again, I recommend you start from issue #1.)

Popular Runs:

Mister Miracle Vol. 4 #1-12 by Tom King and Mitch Gerads (2017-2018)

Yeah, I know.

Listen, Tom King is a writer with... idiosyncrasies to put it nicely. The characters in the periphery of his stories tend to act really out of character, and his dialogue can be clunky at times. That being said, The Scott/Barda dynamic in this book is excellent, and this book has some of the best art that the Fourth World has seen since the 80s. The series has been collected in a trade.

(NOTE: Did you know that the CIA has over 2003 files on Tom King? Look up "Tom King CIA 2003" for more info!)

Mister Miracle: The Great Escape by Varian Johnson and Daniel Isles (2022)

If you're at all interested in the idea of a Young Adult reimagining of Mister Miracle and Big Barda's origin story with an all-black cast, this book was made for you. It's a bit heavy on the YA tropes, but the Scott/Barda dynamic is really solid. It was released as a standalone graphic novel.

Birds of Prey Vol. 5 #1-??? by Kelly Thompson and Leonardo Romero (2023-)

Admit it, this is the reason you're here. The Cassandra Cain & Big Barda is so instantly iconic, I'm surprised no writer has paired them up sooner. It also helps that this book has the single best Barda look since Jack Kirby's original run. Plus, she gets to throw down with Wonder Woman! What's not to love? This run is still ongoing, but the first 6 issues should be getting a trade pretty soon.

(NOTE: I started writing this before BOP #8 dropped, I had no idea about that thing that happens in the newest issue.)

Stories to Avoid:

Action Comics #592-593 by John Byrne (1987)

This is not a comic book-- it's an infohazard designed to cause pain and suffering to anyone who knows of its existence. Its premise is vile and disrespectful on the surface, and it becomes more insidious when you learn the context of its creation. This pair of issues is profoundly evil, rivaling even Avengers #200 in terms of loathsomeness.

For those who dare to investigate this, Content Warnings for rape, mind control, and human trafficking.

Anyway, let's end on something a bit lighter, shall we?

Remember that Mister Miracle YA graphic novel I mentioned earlier? Barda is getting a graphic novel of her own this summer! It's not out at the time of writing, but the preview pages look promising!

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed that introduction to one of my favorite superheroes ever. Please get back to me on this, I have no one else to talk to about Fourth World stuff.

#big barda #barda free #dc comics #mister miracle #scott free #fourth world #new gods #justice league international #jli #birds of prey #jack kirby #keith giffen #j. m. dematteis #varian johnson #daniel isles #kelly thompson #leonardo romero #small bat #black bat #cassandra cain #wonder woman #diana prince #diana of themyscira

[balu8]

Justice League International #8: Old News

by Keith Giffen/J.M. DeMatteis; Al Gordon; Gene D'Angelo and Bob Lappan

DC

#dc comics #global guardians #justice league international #keith giffen #j.m. dematteis #comic book

[curtvilescomic]

that punch from Justice League by Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis and Kevin Maguire

#comics #Justice League #Green Lantern #Batman #Keith Giffen #Kevin Maguire

[brevoorthistoryofcomics]

GH: JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #215

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA had been one of my favorite comic books when I was younger. It was one of only three series to which I ever maintained a subscription to insure that I didn’t miss an issue. But by 1982, the book was feeling tired and a bit stale. Writer Gerry Conway had been in place for more than sixty issues, and one got the feeling that his heart wasn’t in the assignment to the same…

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#Chuck Patton #DC #Don Heck #Gerry Conway #Grant Morrison #Howard Porter #J.M.DeMatteis #Justice League of America #Keith Giffen #Kevin Maguire

[splooosh]

The art of storytelling

Kevin Maguire

#Justice League #justice league international #Giffen League #Fire #Ice #Doctor Light #Batman #Maxwell Lord #Martian Manhunter #doctor fate #Guy Gardner #Black Canary #Captain Atom #Blue Beetle #Booster Gold #Oberon #Mister Miracle #Big Barda #Shazam #Kevin Maguire #Rocket Red

[dirtyriver]

Homage to Keith Giffen by Kevin Maguire

#Comics #Keith Giffen #Kevin Maguire #Justice League International #Ambush Bug #Lobo #Blue Beetle

[dcbinges]

Justice League International #19 (1988) by Kevin Maguire, J.M. DeMatteis & Keith Giffen

#batman #blue beetle #maxwell lord #bruce wayne #kevin maguire #ted kord #jli #keith giffen #justice league #j.m. dematteis #the justice league #dc #comics #80s #justice league international #80s comics #dc comics

[wwprice1]

R.I.P. Keith Giffen. A legend.

#dc comics #dc heroes #dc women #jla #justice league #justice league america #jli #justice league international #keith giffen #chris sprouse

[evilhorse]

Uh-oh.

(Justice League America #26)

#justice league america #jla #Batman #Bruce Wayne #the huntress #huntress #helena bertinelli #father daughter relationship #not really #uh oh #dat rack #keith giffen #jm dematteis #ty templeton #dc comics #comics #80s comics

[dcinthe90s]

Aside from being a co-creator of Lobo, the other big thing Keith Giffen is known for at DC is his run on the Justice League comics, commonly known as the "Bwa-ha-ha" Justice League because of its emphasis on comedy, even having the feel of a sitcom at times. One of my favorite aspects of this run was how it gave the spotlight to several B-listers, C-Iisters, D-listers, etc. that may never have had a chance to shine otherwise. A run that's fondly remembered by many nerds of the nineties, thanks in no small part to Mr. Giffen. Rest in Peace.

#90s nostalgia #dc comics #justice league #martian manhunter #green lantern #guy gardner #dc fire and ice #blue beetle #ted kord #general glory #keith giffen #rip