We are nearing the end of this side adventure as I only have a few more stories I am thinking of covering. And if my goal was to look at pre-Crisis Black Orchid, we are about as close as we can get.
Blue Devil Annual #1 came out on August 1, 1985 the very same week that Crisis on Infinite Earths #8 was on the stands. If you were looking for something to lighten the mood after reading Barry Allen sacrifice himself, this book would fit the bill. It is a complete romp.
In "The Day All Hell Breaks Loose", writers Dan Mishkin and Gary Cohn bring a near parody of comic magical battles. It is hard to believe this came out a year before Swamp Thing #50 which would echo the bringing together of 'dark' characters in battle. They lean into some DC history and have some fun with things.
But this is a look at Black Orchid and so I should comment on her appearance in the book. It is, as you might guess, as mysterious as her other appearances. She shows up, lays the smack down, and disappears. There are some things here that actually detract from the Supergirl theory. But the most hilarious thing is that Mishkin and Cohn offer up two Marvel-ous origins, adding to that parody feel.
Paris Cullins is on art and his stuff is always delightful, bright and fresh, just north of cartoony. I love his take on the Orchid, just gorgeous.
On to the book.
