Once Upon A Geek - Blue Devil #9 (Feb 1985)

This is Blue Devil number nine from DC Comics, cover dated February 1985, on the shelves November 15th, 1984, cover price was 75 cents, three shiny quarters, and the cover is by our beloved Paris Collins.

You want to describe the cover, buddy?

It's a busy cover.

We're in some sort of warehouse-sized lab where a large, blue, arc-like object is being held up by a rafter-type metal frame.

Far in the background, Sharon is held back by a group of scientists and some guy who looks like a pubescent space cabbie.

At the fore, an angry blue devil looks like he's about to skewer Bolt like a bundle of hay.

Not taking it lightly, Bolt is throwing a punch with one hand, energy emanating from the other.

Off to the side, Trickster is tail over tea kettle, trying to tie the laces of one red sneaker while floating midair.

I think this is kind of a fun cover.

You're right.

It's busy.

There is a lot going on.

But once again, they've tried to contain that with the coloring by making all the rubble one color, making the machinery one color, things like that.

One of the things I like about it is that, you know, we didn't get to see Paris Cullens really draw Bolt because by the time they introduced Bolt, Paris was already off the book.

So this is a chance for us to see how his Bolt would have looked.

And it looks really dynamic, I think.

Yeah, I definitely think it looks cool.

He's got a rich, inky quality to his costume.

And I just like seeing him interacting with Blue Devil.

They're different enough shades of blue to where, you know, he's clearly coated black back before they could really do blacks in four-color printing.

And so he separates himself out pretty well from Blue Devil.

He's got a very simple costume where Blue Devil's more busy.

It's a really nice contrast, I think.

And also, I'm glad to see it in profile so I can understand how those sunglasses are supposed to work.

That's a good point.