Thursday, July 10, 2008

A Fan Letter: Whatever happened to Tornado?


Dear DFG:

I was so pleased to see Cyclone featured on the cover of Spy Comics Presents #2. He and Tornado were always two of my favourite DFG heroes. I enjoyed their cameo appearance last year in Retro-Spy #2 and the flashback seen in Spy Comics Presents the Invincibles #1. Obviously Cylcone in coming back, but what about his "hot-headed" brother, Tornado?

Sincerely,
Mowinda Passwinda
Nairobi, Kenya

Dear Mowinda:

Nice to hear from one of our Kenyan fans. Yes, Cyclone is returning as a regular character in the DFG stable! The cover of Spy Comics Presents #2 is actually a teaser for Issue 5! Watch for another cameo in #4, as well! As indicated in Issue #1, Cyclone and Tornado (the wind brothers) had been trapped somewhere in the Bermuda Triangle for some time. It has yet to be established how Cyclone got out, but we plan to reveal this fact in an upcoming issue of Spy Comics Presents sometime next year. As for the more volatile member of the duo, Tornado, his ultimate fate is unknown at the present time. We hope to present a special issue of Spy Classics sometime in the next year that will retell the original (now lost!) first appearance of Cyclone and Tornado. I believe it is safe for me to announce that Todd Abbot, who had penned that first story has signed on to redraw it!

Sincerely,
Frank Daniels
DFG Production Manager
(and Answer Man)

Monday, July 07, 2008

DFG Christmas Cards?

Dear DFG:
I am an avid DFG Collector. I'm especially interested in DFG related items (DFG action figures, posters, postcards, cereal boxes, decoder rings, etc). A friend told me that a few years ago DFG released a special Christmas Card featuring Captain Nepto. I have never been able to track it down and no one else seems to know about it. Does this item exist?
Javier Santamotzarello
Mexico City,Mexico.

Dear Javier:

I'm pleased to say that you have not been misinformed. There have been a variety of DFG greeting cards over the years, many of them unofficial, having been sent from one DFG staffer to another. However, in 2006, shortly after the relaunch, DFG released a limited edition Christmas Card that was sent to all former DFG staffers. It depicted Captain Nepto in his "classic" costume, with art by Todd Abbot. Incidentally, this was Todd's first artwork for DFG since 1996. Reproduced here, for your pleasure, is a personalized copy of the card, which was sent from DFG Co-publisher & VP to DFG President Dan Graves. Enjoy!

Frank Daniels,
DFG Production Manager
(and Answer Man)

Sunday, July 06, 2008

A fan Letter: What ever happened to the Nightmare character that was to debut in the 1980's?



Dear DFG:


I know that after the Spy-Master and Captain Nepto finished up their story arc in Spy 5 there was supposed to be a new 'hero' to continue in the series. I think his name was "Nightmare". Do I win a DFG prize for this?


Lexington Mazaicecreamconey
Texas, USA

Dear Lex:
The only prize you are worthy of is the DFG dumbell prize. Preliminary work was done on the Nightmare storyline and set to run in Spy Comics Volume 2 #6. This is no secret because of the extensive advertising campaign associated with that issue. Nightmare did appear in the latter issues of Spy #96 and was even featured on the cover of #8! He reappeared in Spy Comics Presents #1, in 2006. Watch for cameo appearances in issues 4 & 5 of the same title.
So no... no prize for you. If you were a real DFG fan you would have known this. So go to your local comicshop, or ebay, or whatever and pick up those back issues, you bonehead.
Affectionately,
Frank Daniels,
DFG Production Manager
(and answer man).
Dear Frank:
You CANNOT be telling me that the Nightmare of 1987 is the SAME Nightmare of 1996 and the new continuity. Please confirm!!
Lex

Dear Lex:
Not only am I telling you that it is one and the same person, I'M TELLING YOU IN A LOUD VOICE!!! And by the way, don't try to tell me that the first one had a hat and trenchcoat while the other seemed to lack any clothes. He just got more comfortable with his body image as the years went by. Now stop bothering me with this inanity and send me a question worth answering. PS: We mailed your DFG Bonehead award yesterday -- expect it by Friday.
Cheers,
Frank.

Friday, July 04, 2008

SPM Characters -- Back in Action!

Dear Fans:

Because you demanded it! SPM characters from the 1980's will be making a comeback in the DFG Universe! That's right... Electrolight! Formation Man! Black Shadow! The Bow! They are all returning in a cameo appearance in Spy Comics Presents #4! The characters were originally part of a company absorbed by DFG in 1982. There was only four issues of the ill-fated "SPM Comics" line, each issue featuring one of the characters, above. When DFG took over with #5, the book was retitled DFG's Greatest Heroes, with that issue featuring a special Captain Nepto appearance. Issue #6 was to feature Dan Graves' supernatural detective, Dr. Mystery. While the cover was completed and advertised, the interior was never done and the issue was never released. As part of the new direction of Spy Comics Presents, beginning with issue #6 of that series, the book will become a "showcase" title featuring team-ups of DFG's greatest heroes -- in a sense returning to the intent of that old DFG title of the same name that took over the SPM characters. Look for many of your favourite DFG characters, some lesser-known heroes and, of course, the return of the SPM characters, who are amongst DFG's greatest heroes!

Frank Daniels,
Production Manager,
DFG Comics.