When I was running the rare art pieces last week, I excluded the following piece because it was not strictly commissioned by DC comics. That doesn't mean it isn't worth mentioning.

The above image of Blue Beetle, Booster Gold, Guy Gardner, and Fire at the beach by Neil Vokes and Rich Rankin was published in the fanzine Amazing Heroes Swimsuit Special #1 (June 1990). This image may seem a little odd now, but remember that swimsuit specials were all the rage in the 90s. The highlight of the image is probably Beetle's swim trunks, though your mileage may vary.

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Once upon a time, DC Comics used to publish yearbooks for the direct market spotlighting their planned titles for the upcoming year. Looking back, the best things about these books are what didn't come to pass. This image appeared on page 239(!) of the DC Comics 1993 Editorial Presentation: The Year of Change promotional book.

This pin-up image signed by cheesecake artist Bill Lux and Rick Burchett with its unusual cast of characters (Fire, Maxima, Wonder Woman and Oberon?), was never used in the series itself.

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Since Booster Gold's powers have always been derived from technology, disruptions in that technology have provided grist for many a story. For several years after Booster's original 25th-century power suit was destroyed, he relied on bulky 20th-century replacements. The best of these was the armor that he wore during his tenure with Extreme Justice

This costume was designed by Mike Wieringo and debuted in 1994's Justice League America #90. Ironically, Wieringo would never draw Booster in this suit in a published comic. In fact, the late, great Wieringo only drew Booster Gold for DC comics once, in 1993's Justice League Quarterly #12.

I'd love to tell you where this particular one-page spread was originally published, but I seem to have lost the info. Can anyone out there refresh my memory?

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Since we opened the week with a bit of a look back to something many Booster fans may have never seen, let's continue that theme with a peek at something else that has been around awhile but may be new to you. (Slight warning, the following may contain spoiler information if you have not yet read 52. But if you haven't yet read 52, shame on you.)

Years ago, DC posted Keith Giffen's layouts for 52 at 52thecomic.com (now archived at www.dccomics.com/sites/52/). Among those layouts are two original rough drafts for the ending of 52 Week 15, including one ending where Booster Gold is disintegrated and another ending where he was cut in half. Fortunately, neither of those things ended up happening to our dear Booster. He just died instead.

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Last week at ComicsAlliance.com, Andy Khouri posted Kevin Maguire's turnarounds (front, side, and rear view drawings used for visual reference by a sculptor) for the 2009 DC Direct Justice League International action figures. Of course these things look great.

Comics Alliance may have just posted an article about it, and I may have just re-posted it, but there isn't really anything new here. These drawings were made for a set of action figures released 2 years ago. Comics Alliance even notes that they re-posted these images from the (apparently now-defunct) Poytress of Solitude website, where they had been originally posted in 2008.

But there is no shelf life on great art, and if you haven't seen these drawings before, they're new to you! Thanks to loyal Boosterphile Morgenstern for calling these images to my attention.

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