Here is a new game that we'll try out for as long as I find it interesting. As suggested by Jenos Idanian #13, the idea is to connect two comic creators to each other through artists/writers that they have jointly worked together with, in as few links as possible.

For instance, take connecting John Byrne and John Buscema.

Byrne drew Captain America with writer Roger Stern

Roger Stern wrote Avengers with artist John Buscema.

That's a simple one, but presumably there are more difficult ones out there.

I'll try to keep the ground rules brief.

1. We're only using writers and pencilers for this game. No offense to inkers, colorists and letterers, but it makes this too easy if we count them.

2. Plotting counts as writing and breakdowns/layouts count for penciling. Finishes SHOULD count, but I'm not counting them for the same basic reason of #1.

3. Alterations by another penciler don't count as a connection to the first penciler. Basically, you're never going to connect an artist with another artist. You can connect writers with each other, though, if they co-wrote (or plotted/scripted) a story.

4. Only comic book stories count. No pin-ups.

5. If a comic story contains multiple writers and artists, it's up to you to prove that the given writer actually wrote the page in the comic that the artist drew.

Every installment, whoever connects the two creators in the least amount of turns gets to pick the next match (in the event of a tie, the winner is chosen randomly among the people who sent in challenges for the next match.

NOTE: When you folks send in your answers, please include your suggestion for the next match in the event that your answer is chosen. And demonstrate that it IS possible to connect your two suggested choices within six moves. Thanks!

The very first match-up is in honor of the late, great Herb Trimpe and the recently Eisner-nominated writer Kelly Sue DeConnick...

Herb Trimpe to Kelly Sue DeConnick

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 creators gets to pick the connection for next time around (I'll pick a random winner in the event of a tie)!