I name two comic book characters. You then have to connect the two using only shared appearances in comic books (official appearances in comics only - no cameos like Terry Austin sneaking Popeye into the background of a panel and no outside comic book appearances, like cartoons and the like). You have to do so using less than six comics total. Covers and pin-ups do not count - only actual appearances in the same comic book story (so it doesn't count if they each appeared in separate stories inside the same anthology). Mythological characters, public domain characters (other than public domain comic book characters, they're free game) and real people (by the way, unless a fake name is used for a real person, like Ronald Raygun or whatever, you can use the person even if they are not officially named in the comic) are unique to their own comic book appearances (so DC's Thor is different than Marvel's Thor, DC's Ronald Reagan is different from Marvel's Ronald Reagan, etc.). But a licensed character is the same in all of their various comic book companies (so the Marvel Red Sonja is the same as the Dynamite Red Sonja) and approved appearances by a real person can go across comic book companies, as well (so, for instance, you can use Marv Wolfman from his Teen Titans appearance to connect with Marv Wolfman in his Fantastic Four appearance - you just can't use modern appearances by Jack Kirby from one company to connect to Jack Kirby appearances from Marvel Comics, since obviously Kirby can no longer give approval for his appearance). Approval tends to be the key.

Every week, whoever connects the two characters in the least amount of turns gets to pick the next week's match (in the event of a tie, the winner is chosen randomly). Last time was Frankie Stein to The Machine. Frank W. was the only person who got the connection in a striking five moves, in one of the most audacious connections I've seen in the history of Comic Book Six Degrees. Here is how Frank connected the two...

NOTE: Before I begin, let me again request that when you folks send in your answers to please include your suggestion for next week if your answer is chosen. I know it takes a little time to think of an idea, but just bear in mind that it makes things go a lot smoother (as it allows me not to have to contact you and you write back to me) and you only really have to do it once in a while, since you can just keep on repeating your suggestion the next time if you aren't chosen this time. Many of you (like Frank) DO do it that way, and I appreciate it, but I'd like it if all of you could do it. Oh, and it would be nice if you demonstrate that it IS possible to connect your two suggested choices. Thanks! Okay, on to how Frank connected the two!

Frankie Stein was a member of the Shiver Givers with Grimly Fiendish (they appeared in multiple issues of Shiver and Shake together)

Fiendish appeared in Albion #6 with Cherie Blair

Cherie Blair appeared in Batman #656 with Bruce Wayne

Bruce Wayne appeared in Batgirl/Ghost with Ghost

Ghost appeared in Agents of Law #4 with The Machine

Connecting through Tony Blair's WIFE? Dang! That was certainly a surprising one! But it totally works (Albion and Batman were both DC books).

Frank's challenge is...

Rachel Beck (from Rachel Rising) to Rachel Van Helsing (from Tomb of Dracula)

E-mail me your answers at bcronin@comicbookresources.com. Do NOT post your answers in the comments section!

Whoever connects the two characters in the least amount of comics gets to pick the connection for next time around (I'll pick a random winner in the event of a tie)!

Remember, only authorized appearances in comic books count (for instance, all the Marvel characters in Savage Dragon/Destroyer Duck do not count)!