Vixen

Vixen first appeared in Action Comics #521 she was co-created by writer Gerry Conway and going from what I have seen on the internet at this writing her other co-creator is either Bob Oskmer or Curt Swan. Being a Curt Swan fan I am rooting for him. Mari Jiwe McCabe is from Africa and she inherited the Tantu totem when her father was murdered. The Tantu totem was passed down to each generation in her family and was able to give the powers of the animal kingdom to anyone who would protect the innocent.
She moved to America and became a famous fashion model by day and a superhero by night. She was dating the Bronze Tiger but that relationship failed. Currently she has been known to date John “Green Lantern” Stewart. The money she earns as a model she uses to fund her fight on crime. In her superhero career she has been affiliated with groups such as the Justice League, Suicide Squad, Checkmate, Birds of Prey and the Ultramarine Corps.
Vixen was at Firestorms side during the Identity Crisis adventure. Shadow Thief killed Firestorm. However, when Firestorm exploded it only killed Ronnie Raymond. When Martin Stein was found still alive in space he joined with Jason Rusch to create a new Firestorm.

White Tiger

Over the years Marvel has had many claim the name the White Tiger. The third one was an African-American police officer named Kevin Kasper Cole. Cole first appeared in Black Panther #50 in 2002. He found the Black Panther costume and tried to take T’Challa’s place. It was Sam Wilson, aka the Falcon, who told him it took more then being just a man in a panther costume to achieve his goals. He heard that there was an herb that if eaten he would have the powers of the Black Panther. He tried to get permission to eat it but had no luck. He took advantage of an offer from the evil Erik Killmonger who gave him a synthetic herb that gave him the powers and he became the White Tiger of the panther cult. He used his powers to track down a boy that Killmonger wanted found and it helped to lessen the debt he owed him. Currently the 4th White Tiger is Hectors niece Angela Del Toro. Kasper Coles whereabouts are not currently known. I would not be surprised if he was fighting Marvel’s Civil War. If the photo of this White Tiger is too blury I am sorry but it is the best picture I have of him.

Battlestar

Battlestar was created by Mark Gruenwald and Paul Neary. He first appeared in 1986 in Captain America #323 under his real name of Lemar Hoskins. He met a man called the Power Broker who gave him super strength and enhanced reflexes. It is through the Power Broker that he also met John Walker. John Walker was the Super-Patriot. He was traveling the country and hiring men like Lemar calling themselves the Buckies acting like they were fans of Captain America. They would attack Super-Patriot and he would win. Then he would announce that only the people of America should vote on who deserves the role of Captain America. When the Government stepped in demanding that Steve Rogers do what they wanted, as it was a Federal program that created Captain America, Rogers quit and took over a new identity known as the Captain. The Government hired John “Super-Patriot” Walker to be the new Captain America and Lemar Hoskins was to be the new Bucky.
In a short time Lemar changed to a new identity. He felt being called Bucky was demeaning. In reality it was African-American readers who wrote in to Mark Gruenwald and told him African-Americans find the name Bucky demeaning. Mr. Grunwald didn't know that but took action to fix the situation. In the end this wound up strengthening the character and the storyline. Battlestar took on a new costume and a shield designed to look like the shield that Captain America originally had. He called himself Battlestar. He had many adventures with the new Captain America but eventually they split up. Later Steve Rogers became Captain America and John Walker became the U.S. Agent. Battlestar had adventures on his own and for awhile joined with Silver Sable and the Wild Pack. More recently he has teamed up with Steve “Captain America” Rogers taking a stand against the Superhuman Registration Act in the Civil War mini-series.

A love impossible to escape.

...for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting iniquity of the father upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
Exodus 20:5 and 6 KJV

The Israelites had just escaped from slavery in Egypt when God gave them the Ten Commandments. He promised to "lavish" his love on them, if they would obey these laws. Exodus 20:6 is an astounding promise of God's love and faithfulness to his people.
It is all too easy for us to feel separated from God, all alone, and unloved, but Romans 8:35-39 assures us that is it impossible to escape God's love, even if we don't feel his love.
Can anything ever separate us from Christ's love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or are hungry or cold or in danger or threatened with death. [Even the Scriptures say, "For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep."] No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can't, and life can't. The angels can't, and the demons can't. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can't keep God's love away. Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The picture is clear. God's love never fails, and you can experience it now. Rest secure in the knowledge that nothing can separate you from God's love.

Hardware

Hardware is really Curt Metcalf. He is a superhero who was created by Dwayne McDuffie and first appeared in Hardware #1 in 1993. It was published by Milestone Comics through DC Comics. It was the first title the company published and was its flagship title.
Curt was a gifted child and when it was discovered he was enrolled in a special prep school. He showed he was much smarter then the other children. Even though he was about 13 when he enrolled he was 14 when he graduated and was 15 when he got his first college degree. His backer Edwin Alva Sr. paid for his education in exchange for employment. Years later after Edwin had made a lot of money from Curt’s inventions he asked for a point or two of the royalties. Edwin refused telling him he never thought of Curtis as family but as just a cog in the machine of his company. Curtis thought of quitting but a clause in his contract prevented him from doing so. Every where he turned to leave the company or try to get money from his inventions was blocked by Edwin Alva Sr. and his connections to organized crime. So Curtis created Hardware to stop Alva’s criminal operations. In a way since Alva funded his education and Curtis uses his equipment to build his crime fighting gear he actually helped Curtis create Hardware. Every night Curtis put on a high tech suit that he uses to help track down Alva’s illegal businesses.

Happy Birthday Peter Tork

Happy Birthday to Peter Tork of the Monkees who turns 65 today.

WKRP in Cincinnati Cover Art

Here is the cover art for WKRP in Cincinnati on DVD. You can go here to pre-order season one of WKRP in Cincinnati on DVD. This was one of the best comedies to come out of the 70's. If you ever want to see any show on what it was like to work in radio back then you need to see this TV show. It's also the show that proved a turkey can't fly.

Tyroc

Tyroc is really Troy Stewart. He is a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes and he was created by Cary Bates and Mike Grell. Tyroc was the resident hero on the island of Marzal. It was an island that only appeared on Earth for a few years at a time. Then it would go into another dimension till it would reappear again 200 years later. It was located off the coast of Africa. Tyroc first appeared in Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #216 in 1976. Tyroc only had one superpower and that was his scream. With it he could create dimensional portals, force fields, transmute objects, freeze objects, burn objects or simply destroy them.
The people who settled on the island were surprised to find that it was like the fabled Brigadoon that it would disappear for 200 years at a time. As a result they became isolationist and outsiders were not welcome. The Legion of Super-Heroes first met Tyroc when there was an emergency on the island. They came to help but Tyroc tried to keep them away. Finally he decided to let them help and he worked with them to resolve the problem. They offered him membership but he refused. After helping them from time to time they offered him membership again. This time he accepted.
During war time the island of Marzal was destroyed. After the war Jacques “Invisible Kid” Foccart was elected President and Troy “Tyroc” Stewart was elected as Vice-President.

Luke Cage, Power Man Hero for Hire

Luke Cage, Power Man was created in 1971 by Archie Goodwin and John Romita Sr. He first appeared in Hero for Hire #1. In prison for a crime he did not commit he volunteered for an experiment that would give him an early release from prison. When the Dr. was gone a guard, who held a grudge against Luke, misused the experiment controls on purpose to try and kill him. The results were that he lived but now had bullet proof skin and super strength. Luke was not given early release but he used his powers to escape the prison. He made his way back to New York City and became a hero for hire so he could fight crime. Eventually he cleared his name of the crime he was in prison for. He also entered into a business partnership with the martial arts hero Iron Fist. Through out his career he has earned the respect of other superheroes. He has been a member of groups like the Defenders, the Fantastic Four and the Avengers.
Power Mans book started out strong but his sales started to slow down. Iron Fist also had slow sales and both books were looking a cancellation. Marvel comics decided on making them an unlikely crime fighting team and the book Power Man and Iron Fist continued for a few more years with improved sales. Eventually the book was canceled but Marvel has tried in recent years to bring back both in separate mini-series. Neither series led to an ongoing book. The character of Luke Cage has since married and has a daughter. Luke has become involved in the Civil War mini-series as a member of Captain America’s Secret Avengers.

Amazing Grace!

Amazing grace! how sweet the sound—
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind but now I see.
Amazing Grace , John Newton (1725-1807)

The gift of forgiveness is often best appreciated by those who need it the most. The Reverend John Newton experienced this truth firsthand. His tombstone tells the story: "John Newton, clerk, once an infidel and Libertine, a servant of slavers in Africa, was, by the rich mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, preserved, restored, pardoned, and appointed to preach the faith he had so long labored to destroy." These words were written by Newton himself, a testimony to God's transforming power. After years as a hardened slave trader, that "wretch" met Jesus Christ and abruptly turned to defend the gospel he had so long despised.

Throughout Newton's years of ministry, God's amazing grace remained central to Newton's thinking. When it was suggested he retire (at age eighty-two!) due to poor health and a failing memory, he responded, "My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things: that I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Savior!"

Static

Static is a superhero created by Dwayne McDuffie and Robert L. Washington III. He first appeared in Static #1 in 1993 and was published by Milestone comics a sister company of DC Comics. His real name is Virgil Hawkins. He doused in an experimental chemical when he was caught in the middle of a gang war. The chemicals gave the high school student electrical based powers.
Milestone was a comic book company that specialized in minority heroes. Static was one of its staple characters and was published from 1993 to 1997 when Milestone went out of business. Being one of Milestones more commercial characters it came as no surprise when the WB network chose him to star in his own animated series, Static Shock. It was one of the more successful shows for the WB. It ran from 2000 to 2004 and spawned a mini-series in the comic books called Static Shock: Rebirth of the Cool. Later in the Justice League animated series Static is seen as an adult and a full fledged member of the League fighting side by side Batman and John (Green Lantern) Stewart.

If you want to buy Static #1 you can click on the title above to go to the site where you can purchase it.