Copy Link
Add to Bookmark
Report
The Kryptonian Cybernet Issue 15
_______________________________________________________________________________
T H E K R Y P T O N I A N C Y B E R N E T
Issue #15 Ñ- July 1995
_______________________________________________________________________________
CONTENTS
ÑÑÑÑ
Section 1: Superscripts: Notes from the Editor
Even a Superman can fall...
News and Notes
Just The FAQs
ÒWhat influences did the Christopher Reeve movies have
upon the modern comic book incarnation of Superman?Ó
by David T. Chappell
Section 2: And Who Disguised As...
SupermanÑThe Movies, by J.D. Rummel
Letters to Christopher Reeve
Section 3: With A Little Help From My Friends...
Perry Jerome White, by Denes House
Not A Fleischer Cartoon But A Bob Clampett Cartoon
Episode: ÒSuper-CecilÓ, by Neil Ottenstein
The Adventures of Superman
The novel by George Lowther, reviewed by Ken St. Andre
Section 4: Reviews: The ÒTriangleÓ Titles
Action Comics #712, by William J Nixon
Superman: The Man of Steel #47, by Anatole Wilson
Superman #103, by Ken McKee
Adventures of Superman #526, by Patrick Stout
Section 5: Reviews: Other Super-Titles
Superboy #18, by Victor Chan
Steel #18, by Dick Sidbury
Showcase Ô95 #7, by ReneÕ Gobeyn
The New Titans #124, by ReneÕ Gobeyn
Miniseries and Other Appearances
Superman Vs. Aliens #2, by Jeff Sykes
Green Lantern #65, by ReneÕ Gobeyn & Arthur LaMarche
Section 6: Looking Back: Legacies
Marvel Treasury Edition #28:
Superman and Spider-Man: ÒThe Heroes and the Holocaust!Ó
by Joe Crowe
The Silver Age Superman
Superman on Krypton: Part 4, by Bill Morse
Section 7: Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
Up, Up, and Coming
News and Notes, by Jeff Sykes
The Superman Curse
And other flavors of baloney, by Zoomway
Episode Reviews:
ÒChi of SteelÓ and ÒWhine, Whine, WhineÓ,
by Jennifer Traver
Classifieds
Resources
The Mailbag
Section 8: The Ruby Spears Superman
CBSÕ animated series from the late 1980s,
by Arnie Harchik
Section 9: Coming Attractions
New comics shipping in September, including the
beginning of UNDERWORLD UNLEASHED!
EDITORIAL STAFF:
ÑÑÑÑÑÑÑ-
Jeffery D. Sykes, Editor-in-chief Arthur E. LaMarche, Reviews
LEGAL DISCLAIMERS:
ÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑ-
Superman and all related characters, locations, and events are copyright and trademark DC Comics. Use of the aforementioned is not
intended to challenge said ownership. We strongly suggest that eachreader look to the media sources mentioned within for further infor-
mation.
Opinions presented within this issue belong to the authors of
the articles which contain them. They should in no way be construed
as those of any other particular member of the editorial or contributing
staff, unless otherwise indicated.
This magazine should be distributed freely via e-mail. Should
you desire to share this publication with other on-line services, please
contact me at sykes@ms.uky.edu for permission. Feel free to advertise
subscription information on other on-line services which have internet
mail availability.
THE KRYPTONIAN CYBERNET is available by e-mail Ñ to subscribe, send
the commands
subscribe kc <address>
end
in the body of an e-mail message to Òlists@phoenix.creighton.eduÓ (without
the quotation marks). The address field need not be used when the address
being subscribed is the same as that from which the request is being sent.
The program ignores the subject line of the message.
Back issues are available via ftp Ñ see the resources section.
_________________________________________________________________
SUPERSCRIPTS: Notes from the Editor
ÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑ
IÕve been a fan of Superman comics for about eight years now. And IÕve been a
fan of Superman even longer. In fact, it seems that IÕve been taken with the
Man of Steel all my life. ItÕs one of those things you canÕt really put your
finger on Ñ I know there had to have been a time where I first learned of
Superman, but for the life of me, I canÕt recall it.
Through the years, IÕve seen many different interpretations and versions of the
Man of Steel, but one thing was always constant. Superman was Superman. He
couldnÕt be hurt Ñ not really. When he was trapped at the bottom of LuthorÕs
pool in SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE, I knew heÕd find a way to escape. When he lost
his powers in SUPERMAN II, I knew heÕd get them back. When he turned bad in
SUPERMAN III, I knew it wouldnÕt last. When he lost his powers in ÒThe Krisis
of the Krimson Kryptonite,Ó I knew heÕd get them back. When he *died* in
SUPERMAN #75, I knew that heÕd be back.
Following a character who lives in a fantasy world, it becomes very easy to
lose sight of the realities of everyday life. Christopher Reeve *was* Superman
to me. No other actor has ever portrayed the Man of Steel as well. And as I
knew that Superman could never be hurt, the identification of Superman with
Chris Reeve made *him* seem invulnerable. Of course this makes no logical
sense. But the fact is, itÕs very easy to forget that we live in a much more
fragile world than that of Superman. ItÕs easy to forget that bad things *do*
happen to the best of people.
When I first heard of Mr. ReeveÕs accident, I was stunned. This was akin to
what I felt upon learning of things such as the Space Shuttle ChallengerÕs
destruction, the San Francisco earthquake, and the Oklahoma City bombing.
Random tragedies. No rhyme or reason. Whether they be accidental,
uncontrollable acts of nature, or disturbing acts of willful violence, the fact
remains that these tragedies affect everyone, even the best and most innocent
among us. Bad things happen to good people.
Even Superman...
Mr. Reeve, you have been a source of inspiration, a shining example of the best
of what we are capable. You have served as an icon, a hero to a generation.
And tragedy struck even you. Our hopes and prayers go out to you. May we
continue to live our lives, striving to be the best of humanity. And may you
one day fly again, soaring higher than even Superman.
Jeff Sykes
sykes@ms.uky.edu
_________________________________________________________________
NEWS AND NOTES:
Not much news to report this month. First, Roger Stern, writer of
SUPERMAN: THE MAN OF TOMORROW, has recently joined the team who produces
the Legion of Super-Heroes books. Hopefully, heÕll be able to give us
more information in our upcoming...
INTERVIEW WITH ROGER STERN!
Mr. Stern has graciously agreed to an interview, which I tentatively
want to plan for the September issue. WeÕll run this like our past
interviews. WeÕll have a number of questions already prepared for
Mr. Stern, but the fans always seem to come up with some great questions
we might not otherwise think of. If you have a question for Mr. Stern,
send it to me at either sykes@ms.uky.edu or KryptonCN@aol.com. The
deadline for submitting questions is August 5.
MIKE CARLIN LEAVING THE SUPER-BOOKS?
This is pure speculation on my part, but according to a recent Legion
of Super-Heroes chat hour on AOL, KC Carlson will soon become editor of
the Super-books (He is currently Co-Editor with Mr. Carlin). Does this
mean that Mike will no longer be heading up the super-team? If so, what
will he be moving on to? WeÕll let you know as soon as we know more.
THE KRYPTONIAN CYBERNET ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB
IÕve been furiously setting up a web Homepage for the Kryptonian
Cybernet for the past couple of weeks. IÕve not quite got everything
running, but we welcome you to check us out and make any suggestions
and comments you might have for the page. Already set up is a complete
library of all interviews and the web version of COMING ATTRACTIONS.
An archive index is under construction, and the web version of this
issue should be operational in a couple of days. Let us know what
you think!
KC Homepage URL:
http://www.ms.uky.edu/~sykes/kc/
Finally, I hope that you all enjoy this issueÕs tribute to Christopher
Reeve. LetÕs all continue to keep him in our hopes and prayers.
Jeff
________________________________________________________________
JUST THE FAQs
More Details about Frequently-Asked Questions about the Man of Steel
by David T. Chappell
During the month of August 1995, IÕll be moving across the country and getting
settled at Duke University, so my column will probably take a brief leave of
absence. In the spirit of this issueÕs tribute to Christopher Reeve and his
Superman movies, it is appropriate to ask
ÒWhat influences did the Christopher Reeve movies have
upon the modern comic book incarnation of Superman?Ó
INTRODUCTION
Much of the credit for revisions to the post-Crisis Man of Steel goes to John
Byrne for his 1987 revamp. Although Byrne was directly responsible and indeed
deserves credit, he was not solely responsible for the changes that went into
the ÒnewÓ Superman. Writer Marv Wolfman and editor Andy Helfer were fellow
architects of the new Man of Tomorrow, but credit extends even beyond the
trio. Indeed, they have repeatedly discussed the many influences on the
improved version that make it more of a conglomerate than a novel version of
the Superman legend. Elements of the modern stories originated in various
forms such as the original comic books, radio serials, television shows, and
feature films. Byrne admitted that he Òtook what I hoped were the best parts
of every version of Superman that had ever been, and stuck them in a blender
and shook well.Ó [1]
SUPERMAN: THE MOVIES
As early as 1984, hints leaked to the press that DC was considering revising
Superman. While the early rumors were off-target, they were correct in
revealing that DC realized it was time to reshape the Man of Steel. The
character who had once been their best-seller had slumped to mediocre status.
The Superman mythos continued to become more complex and self- conflicting,
and it had become difficult to write entertaining stories about this near-god.
Much of SupermanÕs background was lacking in logic, and modern elements
continued to grow from the root of contrivances.
Even earlier than DCÕs formal plans, a motion picture had inadvertently
planted the seeds of the comic book revision. Famous comics writer and artist
John Byrne said, Òever since I saw the first Superman movie with Christopher
Reeve, IÕve been going around shooting off my mouth: ÔDC doesnÕt know what
theyÕre doing with Superman; they have no idea.ÕÓ [1] When Byrne left Marvel
several years later, DC solicited from him a proposal for revising Superman,
and his presentation was chosen over other authorsÕ submissions.
The first three Superman movies from Warner Brothers had been shown in
theaters when Byrne revamped Superman, and together they became one of the
guiding influences on the new stories. For example, the movies emphasized
ByrneÕs recognition of the need to tone down SupermanÕs powers and make him
more human:
ÒHe had simply become too powerful. He was no longer comprehensible.
The sort of touchstone I used to indicate this was that, again, in the
first movie with Christopher Reeve, he flies around and turns the Earth
back; he knocks over mountains; he does all this stuff but the one
scene that the audiences cheered was the scene where he rips off the
car door to get to Lois. ThatÕs a very comprehensible thing; ripping
off a car door is something that people can wrap their brains around.
Knocking over the side of a mountain is hugely impressive, but itÕs
not really something you can actually get a reaction to.Ó [1]
CHRISTOPHER REEVE THE ACTOR
While many scenes and elements of the most recent movie series were
influential, the actor who played Superman had a strong personal role in
shaping John ByrneÕs plans for the revised version of the character in the
comics. For example, Byrne commented on this portrayal of the dual identity:
Òit was Christopher Reeve who convinced me there was more than a
comic-book contrivance at work in ClarkÕs disguise. By altering his
hair and postureÑwhich Superman also did in the comicsÑand adopting
a pair of glasses that, by their size and configuration, subtly altered
the shape of his face, Chris made me BELIEVE SupermanÕs disguise could
work.Ó [2]
In addition, John Byrne complimented Reeve on his acting skill. For all his
powers and popularity, Superman was a difficult character to write. Byrne
said, ÒThereÕs not much you can do with Superman; it took Christopher Reeve to
give dimension to Superman.Ó [1] Similarly, ByrneÕs revision emphasized
characterization in both Superman and Clark Kent.
COMPARISONS TO MAN OF STEEL
When the MAN OF STEEL mini-series first unveiled the post-Crisis Superman,
readers quickly reported their thoughts and feelings on the work. Some fans
mentioned comparisons of key scenes in the mini-series and the movies. While
IÕve never seen an admission that the movie scenes influenced the comics
scenes, some comparisons are clear.
For example, in MAN OF STEEL #1, Clark is the star of his high school football
team. As Kent runs for yet another touchdown, the announcer points out,
ÒSmallville High has just never seen a football player like this amazing,
all-round champion.Ó [5] In stark contrast is the football scene from
SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE. In the movie version, Clark is not a hero but merely a
fumbling water-boy for the football team. The distinct difference
demonstrates the move from the traditional, mild mannered Clark to an
outgoing, confident secret identity.
A second scene earned many comparisons because of its similarity rather than
its contrast between the two stories. In MAN OF STEEL #2, Lois Lane was so
eager to write ÒThe Story of the CenturyÓ that she intentionally drove her car
off a bridge to get SupermanÕs attention. While her act did procure a brief
conversation with the super-hero, Superman subtly revealed that he had known
her intentions. A similar scene from the first movie also had Lois and her
car diving into the water only to be saved from drowning by her hero. Scenes
such as these not only drew fans of the movies to the comic books but also
demonstrated ByrneÕs appreciation for the movie version.
Other, more general comparisons accompanied the contrasts of scenes. One
reader wrote, ÒSuperman in [MAN OF STEEL] #2 reminds me so much of the first
SUPERMAN movie that I could see Christopher Reeve in those situations!Ó [4]
Most readers agree that SupermanÕs rebirth in the modern comics has
incorporated the best elements of the movies.
KRYPTON
Along with a revised Clark Kent and a new Superman, John Byrne gave the world
a revamped Krypton. In the comics, Kal-ElÕs home planet had slowly gained a
complex history all its own. Background stories revealed why space travel was
illegal for Kryptonians yet provided escape routes for several other survivors
of the doomed planet. The planetÕs history grew richer as new stories were
added, and readers could easily grow sympathetic for Krypton. Had the planet
not exploded, it appeared that Kal-El was certain to enjoy a wonderful life
far from Earth.
ByrneÕs new Krypton, however, is a far cry from the pre-Crisis version. The
current Krypton is based in part upon the scenes from the first two movies.
It is portrayed as an emotionless, crystalline world that serves as an
antithesis to Earth. The movie scenes were brief, but they helped inspire a
different version of the planet with great crystal structures reaching to the
skies.
OTHER INFLUENCES
Other incarnations of the Man of Steel had their own influences on the modern
comics. For example, THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN television show made several
contributions. George ReevesÕ self-confident Clark Kent was quite different
from the more common, timid interpretation of the character, and the modern
Clark Kent inherited this personality trait from Mr. ReevesÕ portrayal.
Moreover, SupermanÕs police liaison with Inspector Henderson is a carry-over
from the television program.
In reference to the many influences on his revamp, John Byrne once said, ÒThe
new Superman has many fathers and mothers.Ó In several sources, most of which
date from the 1987 unveiling of the improved Man of Steel, Byrne and his
fellows cited the stronger sources from which they borrowed. For the most
comprehensive listing of sources, Byrne said, ÒElements of his personality
came from almost every interpretation of the character ever seen.Ó [3] Among
the influences listed are:
Joe Shuster & Jerry Siegel (original comic books)
George Reeves (ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN television show)
Michael Fleischer & the Fleischer Studios (Fleischer cartoons)
Christopher Reeve & Margot Kidder (SUPERMAN movies)
CONCLUSION
While some fans still yearn for the pre-Crisis days and their favorite old
version of Superman, the overwhelming response to ByrneÕs transformation of
the Man of Steel has been positive. Rather than relying merely upon his own
imagination and past comics stories, John Byrne took the extra step of
analyzing and including the best elements from other versions of the legend.
By taking the best parts from television and movies, including aspects from
the best actors, and referring to more memorable scenes from past stories,
Byrne successfully crafted a hero who appeals to the broadest audience. As
the circle of influence continues to grow, the contemporary LOIS AND CLARK
television program has borrowed from the post-Crisis comics, again
demonstrating that no single medium has presented the decisive implementation
of Superman.
ENDNOTES
[1] Hansen, Neil. ÒSuper-Discussions.Ó COMICS VALUES MONTHLY SPECIAL.
No. 2, 1992.
[2] Byrne, John. ÒLois & Clark: An Introduction.Ó Introduction, LOIS AND
CLARK, THE NEW ADVENTUERS OF SUPERMAN. Trade paperback. DC Comics, 1994.
[3] Byrne, John. Dedication. SUPERMAN: THE MAN OF STEEL. Trade paperback.
DC Comics, 1988.
[4] Chuang, Raymond. Letter in ÒAction Reaction.Ó ACTION COMICS #585,
Feb. 1987.
[5] Byrne, John. SUPERMAN: THE MAN OF STEEL. Trade paperback. DC Comics,
1988.
________________________________________________________________
End of Section 1
________________________________________________________________
AND WHO DISGUISED AS ...
ÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑ-
By J.D. Rummel (rummel@phoenix.creighton.edu)
Jeff excused me from writing a Chris Reeve article for the Chris Reeve issue
because I had already tackled the subject in last monthÕs edition. But, while
I had some things to address, I couldnÕt bear the thought of not mouthing off
again about the Superman movies when others would be doing the same. Last
year I reviewed them each in capsule format. Below is what I wrote, with some
minor modifications.
SupermanÑThe Movies
Almost everybody has seen the Christopher Reeve Superman. Movies I and II are
still in the top 100 of the highest grossing films of all time. Great sums of
money were spent, and seriously talented folks were engaged to bring their
gifts to the Man of Steel. I would, in fact, offer my own opinion that Reeve
provides the best Superman portrayal to date in any medium requiring an actor,
but more on that later.
Why then, with these factors considered, do I believe the movies are all
failures when it comes to honoring the last son of Krypton?
Because the creators do not respect the source material, nor the audience,
thatÕs why. The producers were the epitome of businessmen working in an art
form, never interested in anything other than a fast buck. LetÕs look at each
of the four Reeve vehicles.
I. It is painfully easy to see the touch of multiple writers with vastly
different perspectives in this film. From Mario PuzoÕs earnest, epic American
myth rendering with its loooooong hour before our hero shows up, and BrandoÕs
soporific wandering with the inexplicable ÒSÓ on his chest, to David and
Leslie NewmanÕs demeaning and puerile efforts to convince us that their
clownish Lex Luthor is anything other than insulting, this is a desperately
confused movie.
What redeems this mess? Christopher Reeve, pure and simple. Without him,
there would have been no reason other than curiosity to see this movie, and in
all likelihood it would be on MST3K today. Watching him is the only time I
have ever believed that Kent and Superman are not the same guy. He makes me
recognize the nerdy Clark as the guy we all are, and when he says he is here
to fight for truth, justice and the American way, I believe in him.
Furthermore, I believe in ideals and my cynicism melts.
Oh, there are some good moments that work. Glen Ford on the farm, and the
wheat field cinematography are moving; Gene Hackman is superb, brilliantly
rising above the foolishness he is asked to read, but ultimately it is a movie
that belongs in the burgeoning Richard Donner Hall of Shame.
II. The best of a lame lot. In it, the issues addressed are so powerful that
they bench press the movie above the Madison Avenue thinking which corrupted
the first, third, and fourth films. Superman must face the awesome
responsibility of his power, and forsake things that he really wants, because
he has a destiny and a mission. It offers true heroic characterization.
Superman cares about everybody all right. Once again, Reeve is magnificent,
and this time, at last, he faces a real menace in Terence Stamp. Great fight
scene. This movie offers some sadness as well. It raises the idea that
Superman may not be able to marry. There is the poignant goodbye kiss as
Superman removes the painful knowledge of their love from her memory. But
there is no one to perform this task for him, giving us Superman, the titan
who has all things, as being ultimately tragic. Viewed from our decade of
Lois and Clark fueled romance, it is interesting that II suggests that
Superman is incapable of romantic commitment to one woman, because his
responsibilities preclude this scenario. I donÕt know that I buy it like I
used to, but itÕs very intriguing to sit around and chaw on.
III. The people responsible for this should be caned. A more accurate title
would be: Superman three, Richard Pryor, four, because Superman is the loser
in this crap-fest, as are we. The opening Mack Sennett sequence during the
credits redefines disregard for the audience, making true fans of Superman
feel positively homicidal when forced to watch it. The film rarely rises
above this nadir.
While PryorÕs place in the pantheon of American humor cannot be denied, the
use of his then box-office clout to hedge the money making bet degrades the
value of the Superman legend and reveals the film makers for the grubby
businessmen they are. The fact that they have produced nothing but box-office
A-bombs since III (_Supergirl_, _Santa Claus_, _Christopher Columbus_) proves
to me there is justice left in the world. May they never make a dime again.
The saddest part of it all is the waste of a fine idea. The concept of
Superman discovering his dark side is vastly interesting and could have
rendered an introspective masterpiece of entertainment. Additionally, there
is something chilling in watching III now. Richard Pryor, once the hottest of
stars, and Christopher Reeve once among the most active and vivacious of
people have both been struck down. It makes me feel a little fragile.
IV. This is really grim stuff. Cannibalism is never pretty. The writers
actually pirated the first two, financially successful films and repeated what
they must have deemed the Ògood parts.Ó In IV, Superman again flies with
Lois, again has a super battle, again loses his powers, and is again rescued
by a green, illuminated piece of wind chime. Additional slaps to the Super
fan are his talking in space, and perhaps the worst bit of film story editing
since the invention of the medium, when, near the end it is obvious to even
the numbest of skulls that a significant portion of plot remained on the
cutting room floor. Again, a fine idea is shot in the head. Superman would be
tempted to play God, to use his powers to make the world better in spite of
us. The real plot should have been people resisting SupermanÕs efforts to
disarm the world. The NRA and whole lot of others would have lobbied against
him.
Yeah, IÕd say the above is still my opinion, with stress on the excellence of
Reeve in the starring role. Whoever is cast in the years to come to play
Superman has some damn big boots to fill.
Away.
________________________________________________________________
LETTERS TO CHRISTOPHER REEVE:
ÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑ-
Mr. Reeve,
We at the Kryptonian Cybernet want to wish you all the very best. We will
keep you in our hopes and prayers. May you be blessed with a speedy recovery.
Some of our readers would also like to pass along their wishes:
I would like to add my sympathy to the many other fans who are saddened by the
news of Mr. ReeveÕs accident. Many of the outspoken fans have expressed the
influence ChrisÕs role as Superman had on their lives, but my appreciation for
him is from a different standpoint. My respect for Chris comes first and
foremost because he is a humanÑwe should feel for him as we would for anyone
else who was seriously injured, but we should not pay attention solely to the
famous hero and ignore another injured person with less fame. Second, though,
comes a reflection on ChrisÕs acting skills. His roles in the Superman movies
did not overly impress me. While he did a fine job acting in them, the movies
were (in my opinion) overall merely good and neither great nor inspirational.
However, later years showed that Chris could be more than just a Superman.
Many actors with similarly prestigious roles wind up being typecast and unable
to find other acting jobs. Though ChrisÕs past may have cost him some jobs, I
recall several cases where he performed admirably in other roles. When I saw
him in another movie, I would recognize his face as being that of the actor
who played Superman, but the thought would fade as I paid more attention to
his current role. A lesser actor would have had me thinking of his famous
role throughout any other positions he played, but Chris showed that he had
the talent to escape the Kryptonian mold. I will keep Christopher Reeve in my
thoughts and prayers, yet I also think his situation can help us sympathizers
become better people. Just as we have given so much attention and compassion
to the man who played Clark Kent, let us display similar kindness and
sensitivity to others who are disabled or hospitalized. Let us not forget
Chris nor stop praying for his health, but I think Superman would encourage us
to also provide what aid we can for others.
David Chappell
*******************************************************************************
Good luck, Chris.
You were my hero as a child. You still are. =-)
John Heiden
*******************************************************************************
Hello, Mr. Reeve, I am a fan of Superman and I really enjoyed your series of
movies. My favorite one was #4 World Peace because it was the best of the
Special Effects. Well, after you stopped making moves I saw you on Discovery
channel and that was neat too.
I hope you get better and make more movies.
Loyal Fan,
Dave
*******************************************************************************
Dear Mr. Reeve:
I first learned about Superman from the TV cartoon show, ÒSuperfriends,Ó comic
books (which I bought to look at when I was a kid), and from ÒSuperman IIÓ (my
first movie and the first one that IÕd seen you in when I was a kid at that
time). When I watched that movie at that time, you were not only just a good
actor, but I watched and thought of you as my favorite hero!
I wanted to say that youÕre my favorite and only Superman that IÕve known. I
donÕt know what this ÒSuperman curseÓ (that is associated with cast members
starring in the movies and the original TV show) that IÕve heard about
recently on a TV tabloid show is about. However, I just wanted to say get
well (hope you will have FULL movement of your body soon).
Yours sincerely,
Benjamin Lee
Your favorite Superman (and Clark Kent) fan from the comic book and the movies.
*******************************************************************************
Dear Mr. Reeve and Family,
You have shown great determination and strength in the course of your recovery
and for that you seem to embody the spirit of the Superman character that you
are well-known for. My friends and I wish you the best of luck and health.
WeÕre 100% sure that youÕll be back to your usual self in no time!
Regards,
Victor Chan
*******************************************************************************
Mr. Reeve:
May your recovery be faster than a speeding bullet,
May your will be stronger than a locomotive, and
May your hopes leap over tall buildings in a single bound!
My thoughts and those of my family are with you.
Johnny Fusion
*******************************************************************************
Dear Chris:
HereÕs hoping for a speedy recovery. A lot of people are praying for you.
There is no way we can fully understand what you must be going through right
now, but you are a source of strength and hope. You have influenced a whole
generation of people with your role as Superman. We really did believe that a
Òman could fly.Ó You were Superman in the movie and you are still Superman in
private life. I am just one of millions of fans who stand with you and behind
you. Best of luck.
Ken McKee
*******************************************************************************
To Christopher Reeve:
Our prayers are with you, may you have a speedy recovery.
Mark Manis
*******************************************************************************
Dear Chris,
You were always someone I looked up to when I was little. I grew up, as did
lots of us, with Superman, and IÕd like to thank you for all the wonder you
filled me with, watching you fly on the big screen.
I really hope that you get better soon, and learn to cope with your situation
as I know you will.
My very best wishes,
Craig Campbell, Glasgow, UK
*******************************************************************************
Dear Christopher Reeve,
I was very sorry to hear about your accident, but I am glad to hear that you
are slowly but surely improving, and I hope this progress continues until you
are completely recovered! I have been a fan of yours since the first Superman
movies came out, and have enjoyed your fine performances in many other films,
including Somewhere in Time, Deathtrap, and Switching Channels, just to name a
few. I attribute your brilliant performance as Superman not just to the fact
that you are an excellent actor, but also because you share in common with him
the qualities that make him a heroÑhis strength of character, his desire to
help others. Like him, you have used the abilities you possess to try to make
the world a better place through your many charitable activities. You may not
possess super-powers in real life, but make no mistake, you *are* a hero. Get
well soon!
Karen Whitney (kwhitney@freenet.calgary.ab.ca)
*******************************************************************************
Mr. Reeves -
Best wishes towards a fast recovery. May Rao guide your healing!
Jared Bond (ak190@detroit.freenet.org)
*******************************************************************************
Dear Mr. Reeve-
Your movies have meant a lot to me over the years, and I hope that you beat
this problem, just like I know you can! Best wishes, always!
Harris Rotman
*******************************************************************************
Mr. Reeve-
Thank you for all your fine work in your career. You have been a model to
show that people can be Òboy scoutsÓ. Best wishes, and I hope you have a
speedy recovery. Thanks again.
Jeff Hude
*******************************************************************************
Dear Mr. Reeve,
Please know that your fans all around the world are praying for your speedy
recovery. Be patient and be strong, youÕre in our prayers Superman.
ÑErnestÑ
*******************************************************************************
Hi Chris!
I met you 17 years ago, when you first wore the red cape of Superman.
Superman was the hero of my childhood, as well as of my present day, and you
were the live image, flesh and bone, of Superman. I thought that, like him,
you were invulnerable, immortal...I was wrong. You are so human like me, but
this was not the least of what made you Superman. Indeed, the human in you
was the spirit that gave life to him. Come on friend, go ahead...you can
defeat these bad times and fly, run, and smile once again! Up, up, and away,
Chris!!
John Jairo Mejia
*******************************************************************************
Dear Mr Christopher Reeve,
Let me begin by saying that you have been my idol since I was six years old.
I still believe that you played the best Superman that ever was and will ever
be.
From what I have seen, you have always given your best to your work. Although
I have not had the privilege to know you personally, I believe that you have
tried to do the best with your personal life also.
Wishing you a speedy recovery and a happy life,
Faisal Wadiwala.
*******************************************************************************
Mr. Reeve:
I heard that you are a remarkable man, and I wish you all the best in your
recovering. IÕm also very glad that your treatment is working.
Sincerely,
Eduardo Zacarias B.
A.M.D.G.
*******************************************************************************
To Chris Reeve!
Hi, my name is Avi Dardik and IÕm an 18 year-old from Israel. I just wanted
to let you know that people are holding prayers for you all over the world.
You are known throughout the world, and people from various nations are
waiting for your quick recovery.
Let me wish you health and may you never experience pain ever again!
Your fan,
Avi.
- Kfar-Sava, Israel.
*******************************************************************************
Hi!
I have only one thing to say: I hope you will fly again soon!
Gerhard G.R. Riegler
*******************************************************************************
Dear Chris,
When Superman: The Movie came out in the late 70Õs, I was only four years old.
Since then I have been a faithful fan of the Man of Steel and always will be.
He represents all the virtues we strive for but never quite attain, yet he is
so human that we can somehow relate.
Chris, you brought the hero to life because you are a true hero yourself. Get
well soon, you are in our prayers.
Love,
Hilary Ma
San Francisco, CA
*******************************************************************************
I need to thank you for all of the pleasure you have brought to me with
your talent. While I know is it not the sole focus of your work, your
interpretation of Superman brought new dignity to, and preserved the
respect of millions for a character that is near and dear to generations.
_You_ made me believe a man could fly.
I anxiously await your next artistic effort, whatever it may be, because
I know that someone such as yourself has standards to maintain and dreams
to fulfill.
Best Wishes,
J.D. RUMMEL
OMAHA, NE.
*******************************************************************************
Mr. Reeve, I was sorry to hear of your accident, and I wanted to offer you my
hopes and prayers for your complete recovery. As you can gather from the
sending address, I am a big Superman fan, and you will always be his real life
embodiment in my eyes. I have enjoyed many of your other movie roles, and my
particular favorite is ÒSomewhere in TimeÓ.
Anyway, I hope to hear favorable news that your condition will continue to
improve, and I wish for you a speedy recovery.
Sincerely,
Michael Zeno
*******************************************************************************
As a teenager, I bore a strong resembalance to Clark Kent in
looks, lack of physical co-ordination and mild-maners. I was used
to being called Clark Kent by others as an insult, and this happened
more often as the Superman movies came out. One night I met a very
beutiful girl and almost the first thing she said to me was ÔDo you know
that you look a lot like Christopher Reeve?Õ That one question changed
a lot of things in my life, and yes, we are now happily married and have
four wonderful kids.
Paul Albers
PS: She looks a lot like Lana Lang
________________________________________________________________
End of Section 2
________________________________________________________________
WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS...
==================================================================
a column about the Supporting Cast in the Superman family of books
by Denes House
dhouse@itsmail1.hamilton.edu
The Superman supporting cast performs many functions. From a story
perspective, they give Superman people to talk to. From a character
perspective, they help draw out aspects of SupermanÕs personality. This
monthÕs featured supporting character gives the WorldÕs Mightiest Mortal
someone to look up to.
PERRY JEROME WHITE
==================
a.k.a. ÒChiefÓ
Perry White was born in the mean streets of MetropolisÕ Suicide Slum. As a
young boy, he was the only kid in school to befriend the young Lex Luthor.
Their friendship would last through the years, until differing paths showed
Perry LexÕs evil heart.
PerryÕs youth was not an easy one. His father was killed while fighting
overseas, leaving his mom to take care of him. He took odd jobs to help shore
up the familyÕs financial situation, finally being hired at the tender age of
ten years old as a Daily Planet copy boy by then-editor Stanley Jackson. The
Planet was where Perry grew up, and where he would stay, in various roles, for
the rest of his life. By his early twenties, Perry had become the PlanetÕs
star reporter.
In direct contrast to PerryÕs ÒbootstrapÓ life was Lex Luthor, flushed with
rapid success in his fledgling aerospace firm. The two crossed paths when
Lex rented out his first corporate office in the top floor of the Planet
building. Soon, he had acquired the Planet, and added it to his fast-growing
corporate empire. It was in this context that Perry grew to see LexÕs
deceitful business practices and unethical conduct.
Fortunately for White, a happy dimension was added to his life when he met and
fell in love with Alice Spencer. As tensions with Luthor grew, so did their
love. Trying to defuse both of these situations with one calculated blow,
Luthor had Perry assigned to cover a brush-fire war in Southeast Asia. This
was a career-making assignment, partly because of the extreme danger involved.
Luthor manipulated situations on the home front, preventing Alice from knowing
exactly where Perry was, and leading her to believe that he might have been
killed. He then seduced Alice in her moment of grief. Soon, though, Alice
discovered where Perry was, and upon his return to Metropolis she broke off
her affair with Luthor.
Through Alice, Perry learned that Luthor was planning to dump his holdings in
the Daily Planet in order to develop a global television network. Perry
confronted Lex, who admitted his plan, and offered Perry a job as the head
anchorman of WLEX. Furious, Perry rejected this offer and instead set out to
save the newspaper that had been his life for these many years. Perry finally
persuaded his friend, financier David Ling, to head a consortium to buy the
Planet. Ling agreed, on the condition that White take over as the paperÕs
Managing Editor. Reluctant to leave his first career love, reporting, Perry
agreed in order to save the Planet. [1]
As a character, Perry White has received little attention over the years,
especially when compared to characters like Jimmy Olsen, Lois Lane, and even
Cat Grant. Under John ByrneÕs hand, PerryÕs early life was spelled out, but
it was only under the hands of the Superteam of the late 80Õs, Jerry Ordway,
Roger Stern, and Dan Jurgens, that real attention was focused on this
essential character.
Perry White is the man that the Man of Steel looks up to. He has hired most
of the Superman booksÕ supporting cast, Jimmy Olsen, Ron Troupe, and Lois
Lane, and was the man who gave Clark Kent a chance to prove himself. While
serving mainly as a foil for Jimmy Olsen in the Byrne era, showing up in every
third story or so to yell or rant, it was always understood that Perry White
was the guiding hand that helped Clark and Lois become the ace reporters they
turned out to be. On paper, it seemed his only function was to yell ÒDonÕt
call me CHIEF!Ó or ÒGreat CaesarÕs Ghost!Ó but behind the scenes, his
influence could be felt.
There have been three main character-forming events in PerryÕs life that have
been revealed in the Superman books [2]. Two have involved PerryÕs home life,
and the third Clark Kent.
At about the time David Ling bought the Planet, Alice discovered she was
pregnant, and in the course of time Perry Jerome White, Jr. was born.
ÒJerry,Ó as the rebellious teen eventually insisted on being called, was a
continual source of grief to his parents, falling in and out of trouble on a
regular basis. Much of his anger was directed at his father, and he sought
companionship in street gangs. It was in this context that he met Jose
Delgado, aka ÒGangbuster.Ó He also formed a tentative friendship with the
young Jimmy Olsen, who ironically looked up to Perry Sr. as a father-figure.
During a jaunt at JerryÕs workplace, the Metropolis night club ÒBlazeÕs,Ó
Jerry and Jimmy were gunned down in a drug-related shooting [3]. As the two
lay dying in the hospital, Lex Luthor confirmed what Perry and Alice had each
secretly suspected, that Lex was JerryÕs natural father [4]. Jerry died soon
thereafter, his lineage driving a wedge between Perry and Alice that took a
long time to heal.
During this time, Clark Kent, under the influence of the Kryptonian artifact,
the Eradicator, left his job at the Planet to become the managing editor for
Collin ThorntonÕs magazine, Newstime [5]. Perry was very hurt by KentÕs
departure [6] but welcomed him back when he was fired from Newstime [7].
Alice, however, was not so forgiving, holding a grudge against Clark for quite
a while [8].
The most recent storyline involving Perry White has been his ongoing
relationship with the orphan boy, Keith. When KeithÕs mother was discovered
alive, but dying of AIDS, Alice and Perry decided to adopt the boy. KeithÕs
mom, after talking with Alice, agreed to make the Whites the legal guardians
of Keith, a helpful first step to adoption [9]. Shortly thereafter, KeithÕs
mom died, and he came to live with the Whites. This adoption has been
controversial from the start, the Whites being Caucasian, and Keith being an
African-American. Franklin Stern, the African-American publisher of the Daily
Planet, initially opposed the adoption, fearing the boy would lose his
identity. He eventually agreed to serve as the boyÕs uncle [10]. The
adoption has not yet taken place, but seems to be a certainty.
Perry WhiteÕs role in Clark KentÕs life can perhaps best be summed up in
ClarkÕs own words, from his Kryptonian diary [11]:
ÒPerry White gave me the forum to make a difference as Clark
Kent and IÕll always value his guidance...the people who know
this business say if you can work for Perry White, you can work
for anybody. NobodyÕs tougher and nobodyÕs fairer.Ó
Even though Clark Kent is now a freelancer, Perry White will always be the
person that Clark the journalist looks up to. In the able hands of Louise
Simonson, the writer most involved in PerryÕs life, Perry White will continue
to yell, will continue to rant, and will continue to provide a very human
backdrop for the Superman family of books.
FOOTNOTES:
===========================================================================
[1] WhoÕs Who in the DC Universe.
[2] Not counting mini-series, etc.
[3] Adventures of Superman #469.
[4] Superman #47.
[5] Superman #39.
[6] Action Comics #650.
[7] Superman #43.
[8] Adventures of Superman #466.
[9] Superman: The Man of Steel #39
[10] Superman: The Man of Steel #41.
[11] Adventures of Superman #468
________________________________________________________________
NOT A FLEISCHER CARTOON BUT A BOB CLAMPETT CARTOON
ÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑ
by Neil A. Ottenstein <otten@quark.umd.edu>
Episode: ÒSuper-CecilÓ
Released: 196?
Running Time: 5:44 minutes
ÒAh, up in the skyÓ
ÒItÕs a bird, itÕs a planeÓ
ÒNo, itÕs Super-Cecil!Ó
ÒWatch the mighty super-deeds IÕm capable of doingÓ
ThatÕs how our cartoon begins before the opening credits. Cecil then appears
excited with the arrival of his super-serpent diploma and Super-Cecil
supersuit. Dishonest John spots him wearing the suit and decides to become
the Bilious Beetle. He wants to Òmake a dummy out of that dimwitÓ and so
adorning a Beany hand puppet he comes to deceive Cecil. He cries out, ÒHelp,
Cecil, help!Ó Cecil sees the unfortunate puppet and declares, ÒThis looks
like a job for Super-Cecil!Ó Unfortunately, for Cecil, his cape is attached
to the ship anchor, and as he zooms forward, he is snapped back.
The Beetle is still torturing the hand puppet Beany. Seeing the head being
distorted to great proportions, Cecil cries, ÒThatÕs stretching things a
little too far.Ó Beany reappears and asks, ÒWhere you going, Cece?Ó ÒTo save
my pal Beany,Ó Cecil replies and races off.
The Bilious Beetle has landed on the top of a building and Cecil has decided
to rescue ÒBeanyÓ by launching himself from a cannon. He hits his head on an
outcropping and only retrieves a bump on his head. The Beetle has now placed
ÒBeanyÓ in a guillotine. He taunts Cecil with ÒCecil canÕt fly,Ó so Cecil
gets some powered wings. As he flies by, the Beetle snatches the wings off.
Unobservant of this, Cecil still thinks he is flying and boasts of his feat,
but a nearby bird is unimpressed. ÒHow do you fly without wings?Ó asks the
Beetle. ÒWithout wings?!Ó Cecil cries as he falls prey to one of the laws of
cartoon physics and suddenly descends through the air.
He grabs onto the edge of the building with his mouth. BB proceeds to cut off
the edge with the announcement, ÒHope you donÕt get ÔsawÕ at me!Ó To
everyoneÕs surprise it is the building which falls first. Cecil laughs before
falling onto to some telephone wires. ÒMind if I cut in?Ó ask the BB,
producing large scissors. Snap goes Cecil into he telephone pole. The BB
ties him to the pole and puts a target on him, getting ready to sting him.
Cecil has a Super Secret Escape Hatch which releases him from the pole and it
is then the BB who is his stuck.
Cecil then produces a bottle of genuine bilious beetles and they chase after
the Bilious Beetle with cries of ÒDaddy!Ó The cartoon ends shortly after
Beany cries, ÒGee, Cece, youÕre Super!Ó
The Bob Clampett Beany and Cecil cartoons are a wonder with more puns per
minutes than you would think possible. The animation is not very impressive,
but the fun is. IÕve mentioned just a few of the puns above, but there were
many, many more. Some of them fly by so fast that you might not catch them in
a first viewing.
All the Beany and Cecil cartoons IÕve seen start with a small segment
preceding the opening title and credits. This time they voiced the cries
similar to what goes before the titles on the Fleischer cartoons. I havenÕt
mentioned those before now, but they begin with ÒUp in the sky, look!Ó ÒItÕs
a bird, itÕs a plane.Ó ÒItÕs Superman.Ó The title to this cartoon,
ÒSuper-Cecil,Ó was in proper Superman logo fashion. The Superman ÒSÓ emblem
on he Super-Cecil costume looked quite correct until you notice that the ÒSÓ
has a serpent head. I do not know just when this particular cartoon was made
[if anyone out there does know more details please e-mail me at
otten@quark.umd.edu]. I believe it probably was after January 1962 when the
cartoons became part of MATTYÕS FUNNIES WITH BEANY AND CECIL Saturday nights
on ABC. The characters were not originally animated cartoons, but earlier
appeared on Bob ClampettÕs TIME FOR BEANY puppet show in the 50s. After three
months the showÕs title was shortened to BEANY AND CECIL and after 1962 the
show switched from prime time to various other times on the day on ABC until
1967.
My copy of this cartoon is from volume 1 of the BEANY AND CECIL on Columbia
Pictures Home Video. I got it a few years ago from The Whole Toon Catalog
[P.O. Box 369, Issaquah, WA 98027]. Unfortunately, this cartoon collection
does not seem to be still available, but you might be able to find it for rent
somewhere or it many be reissued. Happy hunting!
________________________________________________________________
THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN
ÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑ
Reviewed by Ken St. Andre <kstandre@ci.phoenix.az.us>
From time to time, Superman escapes the comic book ghetto and appears in some
other media, occasionally even as a novel. The first time that happened was
in 1942, and George Lowther was the young author who fleshed out Siegel and
ShusterÕs superhuman hero with details about Ma and Pa (Sarah and Eben not
Martha and Jonathan) Kent and how Clark got his first job as a reporter with
the Daily Planet.
LowtherÕs short novel, THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN, fits into a mere 215 pages
of double-spaced text. It has original illustrations by Joe Shuster, and it
will take you back to 1942 when America was at war with the Germans. It is
also designed to read like a movie of the time period with sinister sets,
foreign agents, treacherous plotters, and a Lois Lane who canÕt stay out of
trouble. It feels just like a Republic serial.
The book begins with an eleven page introduction by super-scribe Roger Stern
telling a little about writer George Lowther and artist Joe Shuster. Lowther
was in his late twenties when he wrote the first Superman novel, and he went
on to have quite a distinguished literary career. Ten of ShusterÕs original
illustrations decorate the book including four in full color. My favorite
shows a bullet-like rocket ship speeding away from an exploding Krypton toward
a green and yellow Earth with Saturn hovering in the background. Other color
paintings show Superman rescuing an old man from a watery grave, Superman
catching a red-hot cannon shell in his bare hands, and Superman punching out a
man in a green robe while a breathless Lois watches in amazement. The
frontispiece, in black and white, shows Jor-El placing his infant son in the
rocket ship while a tower collapses in the background.
Lowther begins his story on the planet Krypton with Jor-El, haggard from weeks
of overwork, trying to warn the Council of One Hundred that Krypton is doomed.
They, of course, think he is mad, but even if they had believed him, it
wouldnÕt have mattered, for Krypton had run out of time. Jor-El barely had
time to place baby Kal-El in a model of the rocket ship that he had been
developing as a prototype for rescuing the populace of Krypton and blast him
into space before the planet self-destructed. This is really the first
detailed view of Krypton that anyone had ever done.
The legend was further elaborated with the introduction of the Kents, Eben and
Sarah, a childless pair of farmers, onto whose pasture the spaceship crashed.
Although the ship was surrounded by flames, Eben bravely plunged through them
to rescue the baby that he could see inside, burning himself severely in the
process. However, he recovered without serious complications.
Luckily for the Kents, baby Kal-El didnÕt have any super powers yet. He first
manifested a power Ñ x-ray vision Ñ at age 13 in school, and it got him into
trouble. At about the same time, Sarah made him a costume Ñ the basic blue
Superman suit with crimson cape Ñ for a costume party. And other powers
began to appearÑhe learned to fly, and grew prodigiously strong. After his
first bad experience, Clark knew enough to keep quiet about his abilities Ñ
he feared what would happen if others thought he was different. In this novel
there is no hint of the existence of Superboy Ñ Clark grew to full adulthood
before taking on superhero status.
Clark grows up. Eben dies (tragically overstraining himself while lifting an
anvil) because the Kents desperately needed money, and eventually Clark goes
off to Metropolis to see Perry White about a job at the Daily Planet. While
Perry sees potential in the young man, Lois sees a rival, and tries to scuttle
him before he even gets hired. Perry wants to see what kind of reporter Clark
Kent would be, and ships him off to a seacoast town in Maine to investigate
mysterious events Ñ rumors of a ghost ship. After ClarkÕs first report
indicates that something fishy is indeed going on, Perry sends Lois to join
him in order to have an experienced reporter on the scene.
What Clark finds, and how he and Superman cope with supernatural
manifestations (a ghost ship full of skeletal sailors) and enemy agents, make
up the rest of the book. ItÕs quite a mystery, and a worthy first challenge
for Superman.
THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN by George Lowther (copyright 1942) is published in
hardcover by Applewood Books for $17.95, and it should be available in finer
bookstores and libraries everywhere. Find it and read it if you canÑitÕs a
time capsule from a super past!
________________________________________________________________
CROSSWORD ANSWERS
ÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑ-
Here are the solutions to last monthÕs Crossword puzzle!
WeÕve run out of puzzles, so if any of you out there are working
the puzzles weÕve been having, you need to get to work on
supplying us with some new ones!
|C|L|A|R|K| | | | |L|O|I|S|
|H|I|V|E| | | | | |O|N|T|O|
|I|S| |A|A| | | | |K| | | |
|T|A|L|L|B|U|I|L|D|I|N|G|S|
|I| | |L| | | | | | | | | |
|N|O|S|Y| | | | | |L|O|B|O|
| | | | | | | | | |U| | |B|
|T|H|E|M|A|N|O|F|S|T|E|E|L|
| | | |A| | | | |A|H| |B|O|
|D|E|A|N| | | | | |O|V|E|N|
|O|N|L|Y| | | | |B|R|I|N|G|
________________________________________________________________
End of Section 3
________________________________________________________________
REVIEWS
ÑÑÑ-
Ratings Panelists:
AL: Art LaMarche JS: Jeff Sykes SF: Suzanne Fleischauer
AW: Anatole Wilson KM: Ken McKee VC: Victor Chan
DS: Dick Sidbury PS: Patrick Stout WN: William J Nixon
RG: Rene Gobeyn
This month, weÕve added an average rating. This is the average of all ratings
submitted for that title. Note that for many of the titles, ratings/comments
were submitted that were not printed. So please donÕt write us to say that
our arithmetic is off! :)
As before, the first rating given after the average is that of the reviewer.
THE ÒTRIANGLEÓ TITLES:
ÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑ-
29. ACTION COMICS #712, ÒThe Jimmy Cage!Ó
Writer: David Michelinie
Pencil Art: Kieron Dwyer
Finished Art: Denis Rodier
$1.95 US/$2.75 CAN/#1.25 UK
RATINGS:
Average: 3.4/5.0 Shields
WN: 3.5 Shields - JimmyÕs back, KennyÕs gone, and Kieron has signed up
AL: 3.0 Shields - Fun to look at and fun to read. Nice mix of brains and
brawn. But JimmyÕs bow tie and Hawaiian shirt... *cringe*
DS: 3.5 Shields - Solid issue. Both Superman and Jimmy use their brains to
solve the problems.
KM: 4.0 Shields - Very exciting issue. Lots of action.
SF: 3.5 Shields - Continues a welcome trend of remembering that Clark has a
life, a job, and friends. The plot manages to generate some
suspense, and the solution requires brains (supplied by
Jimmy). New artist Kieron Dwyer seems to have some trouble
drawing smiling faces; only the grimaces look natural. Nice
3-panel end shot, though.
Superman crashes into ConduitÕs legacy as ACTION COMICS wraps up the loose
ends of the ÒDOCKÓ storyline. Kieron Dwyer comes onboard as the new penciller
and Jimmy Olsen faces mortal death. This issue opens with Superman flying
closer and closer to a steel door in a series of four panels, until he crashes
through it in a splash page. He has crashed into a room of TV screens. The
entrance to the eponymous ÔJimmy CageÕ is a cheap gameshow sign lit with
ÔHeeereÕs JimmyÕ. JimmyÕs image flickers onscreen. HeÕs chained to the
floor, an unpleasant two ton pummel block suspended overhead.
In Metropolis, Lois wonders how Clark is getting on. She thinks back to
helping him move into his apartment. Lois broke Manny, the SuperÕs, heart (I
guess one Superman is enough). He hoped that she was the new tenant. I liked
Manny and the humor he brought to the moving-in scenes. Clark had an almost
feral grin of mirth in announcing that heÕs back. There was another letter
from Kenny with ÒI KnowÓ on it. It pointed Clark towards Summer Camp in
homage to another lost contest in KennyÕs youth.
In the present, Clark is faced with a mocking Kenny. The ÔJimmy CageÕ is his
laugh from the grave (funny, huh?). He offers Superman another no win
alternative: Smallville or Jimmy? A bomb began counting down in Smallville
when Superman broke in, and there are only 47 seconds left. JimmyÕs only got
two minutes.
In Stryker Island, the serial killer Ramsey Murdoch develops a disturbing
talent for making knives appear (and then disappear under bedclothes).
KennyÕs bomb is hurled into the sky to harmlessly airburst over Smallville.
Superman hears a second bomb which has also begun counting down. This one is
in Smallville Elementary. Superman flies into the classroom and grabs the
world globe containing the bomb. He lets it explode safely underneath him.
The second bomb was to show Superman that he had failed but he didnÕt. It
only strengthened his resolve to rescue Jimmy and continue to thwart KennyÕs
posthumous plans.
In the ÔJimmy Cage,Õ the timer on the pummel block resumes counting down.
Kenny has set up the hyperbaric chamber to make heat vision and sheer strength
useless. Any direct move by Superman would cause the pressure to rise and
Jimmy would be crushed. Jimmy hits upon the solution, suck the air out. In
some nice art, Superman creates a vortex to reduce the pressure. Kenny
doesnÕt play by the rules and the pummel block drops. Supes holds itlong
enough for Jimmy to get out. In an act of selflessness, Jimmy is less
concerned about himself and more concerned about Clark and Lois.
Jimmy returns to the Planet, interrupting an awkward tryst between Ron and
Lucy. Ron looks sheepish as Lucy leaps into JimmyÕs arms. AllÕs well, and as
Lois says to Clark, ÒWeÕre the futureÓ.
I enjoyed the new art this issue and I would like to warmly welcome Kieron
Dywer (who also worked on this summerÕs DETECTIVE COMICS ANNUAL). His art
seems to be quite distinctive. This seems most notable in his detailed
renderings of mouths and teeth, though that could have been just this issue.
Lois looked good and I liked Manny. Superman looked powerful and determined.
The cover lists Guice and Rodier, but the cover itself and interior art were
done by Dwyer and Rodier.
JimmyÕs now back and various elements of the status quo have reasserted
themselves. We have I hope seen the last of Conduit. In his place though,
ACTION COMICS offers us Ramsey Murdoch, soon to take the moniker ÔSaviourÕ
presumably with a humbling sense of irony. Ramsey was introduced in ACTION
COMICS #705 with the murder of Sylvia Feltman. An act of uncharacteristic
brutality in the Superman books. He has until this month been very much
confined there.
I may be giving Kenny too much credit, but it strikes me that he conceived and
executed a fairly clever double bluff with the bombs and JimmyÕs confinement.
Thankfully it didnÕt work :) If we assume that his actual target was
Smallville Elementary (he just did not have a good childhood did he?), then it
was a clever twist on what he believed SupermanÕs actions would be Ñ i.e. to
want to save both Smallville and Jimmy. Superman should have rocketed back to
save Jimmy in his remaining few seconds when the bomb exploded in the school.
It did seem kind of obsessively tidy to resecure the statue when he knew Jimmy
was waiting, but such are the plot devices to give Superman a chance to hear
the second bomb. ThatÕs my only quibble with this story. The grief at that
explosion would have been compounded by the fact that the timer on Jimmy had
stopped and was only restarted when Superman returned (Superman couldnÕt have
known that JimmyÕs timer would stop, that wasnÕt an option). Kenny certainly
didnÕt play by the rules. David MichelinieÕs plotting was still clever for
all that.
William J Nixon
========================================================================
30. SUPERMAN: THE MAN OF STEEL #47, ÒSins of the FatherÓ
Writer: Louise Simonson
Layouts: Jon Bogdanove
Finished Art: Dennis Janke
$1.95 US/$2.75 CAN/#1.25 UK
RATINGS:
Average: 2.8/5.0 Shields
AW: 0.5 Shields - TheyÕre just going through the motions to fill an issue.
The creative team deserves better plots to work with; we
deserve better stories.
AL: 2.0 Shields - I am getting tired of being slapped in the face with social
issues and the lack of Superman in his own book.
KM: 4.0 Shields - This story was so good I overlooked the artwork.
PS: 3.0 Shields - Nice personality piece on Franklin and Perry and the story
that forged their friendship (Supes appears on just 5
pages);
also a good Òhistorical backgrounderÓ for AOS #526.
SF: 3.0 Shields - This is Perry WhiteÕs issue, and Supes appears only briefly.
Though the flashback tale seems set in the 60Õs, Bogdanove
draws Perry in a 40Õs style that is well suited to his
character. Less heavy handed than most message stories.
I think this issue can be summed up quickly: Back in the Ô50s, Perry White and
current Daily Planet Publisher Franklin Stern meet and foil the genetic
experiments of the ÒAryan Brotherhood,Ó a neo-nazi/KKK-type group that was
kidnapping blacks, experimenting, then killing them in an effort to create a
race of Aryan supermen.
IÕd go into more detail, but why bother? YouÕve probably heard the same story
a hundred times. ThereÕs no effort to create suspense or put even the
slightest original spin on the tale, from the obvious guilt of the Aryan
brotherhood right down to the small-town sheriff who (of course) is secretly a
member of the brotherhood. Perry and Stern snuck into the brotherhoodÕs
hide-out and then escaped so easily, it was clear that even the creative team
didnÕt feel like going through the motions.
I suppose the excuse for the story of this issue is to set up some future
stories, like the Bloodsport vs. Bloodsport match in Adventures of Superman or
the coming of Saviour in Action. I suspect the pregnant mother in this story
is the second BloodsportÕs mom, and LoisÕ interview with the Saviour is
supposed to make us shiver at night anticipating the horrors he has in store
for Superman. SupermanÕs stopping a gang war was probably meant to emphasize
the tension thatÕs supposed to be building.
OkayÑIÕve justified two pages out of this comic. Anyone care to tell me why
I paid for the other twenty? And donÕt say itÕs the art. Bogdanove and Janke
turn out a fine job, but nothing that makes this issue stand out.
The plot-by-committee approach to Superman may sell a lot of comics to
continuity buffs, but it consistently leaves Louise Simonson Ñ a fine
storyteller Ñ with little story to tell, and leaves few reasons to buy this
or so many other issues of MAN OF STEEL.
Anatole
========================================================================
31. SUPERMAN #103, ÒPulp FrictionÓ
Story: Dan Jurgens
Layouts: Gil Kane
Finishes: Joe Rubinstein
$1.95 US/$2.75 Can/#1.25 UK
RATINGS:
Average: 2.6/5.0 Shields
KM: 2.5 Shields for the story; 5 Shields for the artwork.
DS: 2.0 Shields - This story didnÕt seem natural. It will be believable and my
rating increase if it turns out that JimmyÕs resignation was
a plant in order to do undercover work.
JS: 2.0 Shields - Leave Arclight in the box, please! The story just didnÕt
feel right, and Joe Rubinstein just doesnÕt ink Gil Kane
very well.
PS: 3.0 Shields - Superb splash page in the form of a Daily Planet front page
with LoisÕ column with inset of the Planet staff reading and
discussing the column; the battle with Arclight is action-
packed but does not seem padded out (great layout on pages
14 and 15); why is Jimmy behaving like a member of the 1963
Fantastic Four?
SF: 2.5 Shields - Somehow this story didnÕt come off for me. The narration was
torturous, and JimmyÕs walkout at the end seemed wholly
contrived. Kane is clearly uncomfortable drawing ClarkÕs
ponytail Ñ I wish Clark would lose the hair (sorry, IÕm
going to say that every month).
Our adventure begins with Lois receiving praises for a story she wrote on a
demented killer, Ramsey Murdoch, aka the Saviour. Jimmy Olsen begins to think
he could also write the big stories if only given the chance. He asks the
chief for an important assignment; White responds by telling him that Òa real
reporter hits the streets Ñ and digs it up on his own.Ó Olsen begins
fantasizing what others will think about him after he lands the big one.
Instead of looking for news, however, he decides to create a little action on
his own to write about. Big mistake.
He decides to run an ad in the paper which he hopes will Òsmoke Arclight out
of the woods.Ó He also solicits the help of Big Words, who is not real
thrilled with the idea of being used as bait.
Right on cue, Arclight shows up (Well, hey, what did you expect). Before he
can actually start any trouble, Superman intervenes. I love the shot of them
high above the Metropolis skyline. Jimmy and Big Words decide to get close to
the action in the flying whiz wagon. As Superman is trying to warn the boys
not to get too close, Arclight grabs the Man of Steel from behind. While
Superman is getting the stuffing beat out of him, Arclight tells him that he
would rather be dead than live the life that has been forced on him. A
terrific battle ensues, but as quickly as it starts, it is over. Superman,
knocked unconscious by Arclight, is glowing white hot and falling to the
ground. Jimmy quickly navigates the car so that our hero lands in the
backseat and they zoom off to see Dr. Hamilton. Arclight is nowhere to be
seen.
The good doctor discovers that ArclightÕs energy has been fused with Superman
and that it must be drained off immediately. After hooking Superman up to
some sort of electronic gizmo, ArclightÕs essence is trapped in a containment
chamber. Superman revives and tells Hamilton that in time he would like to
free Arclight and place him in a robotic body.
Jimmy is thrilled that he finally gets his big break and rushes home to write
the story. After pounding the keyboard for a number of hours he dashes over
to the Daily Planet, where he runs into Perry outside the building. The
excitement is short-lived. Perry had already given the story about Arclight
to Ron Troupe. Jimmy missed the filing deadline by just over an hour. Jimmy
is ticked. He is tired of being jerked around and treated like a kid instead
of a reporter. Instead of trying to work something out, he quits the Daily
Planet and vows to never return. Good riddance.
First of all, a reporter DOES NOT CREATE THE NEWS. Perry should have fired
Olsen on the spot for his dangerous stunt. A lot of people could have been
killed. Jimmy needs to grow up and quit acting like some immature brat.
This, IMHO, makes the story really lame. On the other hand I loved the art,
especially the cover. I hope Arclight breaks out and comes back for revenge.
I sort of liked the fellow.
Ken McKee
========================================================================
32. ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #526, ÒTitle Bout!Ó
Writer: Karl Kesel
Artists: Rodolfo DaMaggio & Klaus Janson
Cover: Stuart Immonen & Jose Marzan Jr
$1.95 US/$2.75 CAN/#1.25 UK
RATINGS:
Average: 2.75/5.0 Shields
PS: 3.0 Shields
AL: 2.5 Shields - LetÕs have a racial fight to lower racial tensions Ñ yea
right.
DS: 2.5 Shields - Yawn! Cat and Lois in the bar was the most interesting
aspect
of this issue. If only Lois wouldnÕt call it soder.
SF: 2.5 Shields - An average issue that seemed to be marking time. The
by-play
between Lois Lane and Cat Grant has its moments. Kesel
always gives Lois a much-needed spark.
WN: 3.0 Shields - Strong racial story, uncompromising in its brutality with a
powerful last page. I like the renewed emphasis in
subplots.
DidnÕt like the Lois and Cat artwork though.
The splash page consists of SupermanÕs hand holding a poster advertising a
fight between the two Bloodsports (Bobby DuBois and Alex Trent) in the gym at
StrykerÕs Island Prison. Cut to the next panel, where Superman rips the
poster in half while scolding the warden for scheduling and promoting such an
event. The warden indicates that prisoners are promoting the bout without his
sanction, but that he has allowed it to be scheduled as a tension release for
the inmates.
The issueÕs main subplot involves Lois Lane and Cat Grant. Both are drinking
colas at DooleyÕs and Cat is appreciative of LoisÕ column, which has been
cited as the reason the killer known as the Saviour has remained behind bars.
Their conversation is interrupted by a barfly who has scoped them out on his
Òbabe-o-meterÓ Ñ and the look they give him is hilarious (p.5). Talk
resumes, and Cat confides that her sexual harassment case against Vincent Edge
has not helped her to build a serious news reputation.
The fight begins on StrykerÕs Island. Superman is refereeing. DaMaggio and
Janson provide two pages (8 & 9) of graphic boxing action. But, with a little
help from external members of the Aryan Brotherhood, TrentÕs weapon
teleportation power is restored and he summons up a heavy-duty blaster that
sends Superman out of the ring. As Trent takes out a couple of guards, DuBois
plants an elbow to his midsection which causes him to collapse and release the
weapon.
As DuBois shoots a guard and flees the gym area, it is obvious that heÕs
reliving a fantasy of Vietnam as a POW. TrentÕs buddies carry him away from
the gym while Superman is busy mopping up the main prisoner riot. Cat and
Lois learn about the prison action through a TV news bulletin, and each begins
making plans to get to the scene.
With the prison riot continuing, Ramsey Murdoch (the Saviour) discovers that
he has imitated BloodsportÕs weapons teleportation power. Wishing for a
knife, he stabs a guard to death and begins to make his getaway. Trent and
the Aryan Brotherhood arm themselves with Toastmaster blasters, but Superman
arrives to stop them cold Ñ except for Trent, who runs away.
After killing another guard, Trent is tackled by DuBois. As the black
Bloodsport pulls the Toaster trigger, intending to shoot a hole both through
Trent and the prison wall, Superman whisks Trent out of the line of fire.
Before Superman can alert the tower guards that heÕs in pursuit of DuBois,
they shoot the fleeing prisoner dead.
Cat Grant is back in the WGBS newsroom, on the telephone with Lois. Edge
refused to send her out on the story, so sheÕs getting details from the Planet
reporter on the scene. Cat gets LoisÕ permission to use an element of the
story that EdgeÕs reporter on the scene doesnÕt have. She goes on the air to
report that Ramsey Murdoch escaped prison during the riot (dressed in the
uniform of the guard he killed). Edge acknowledges CatÕs flair for scoops by
making her executive producer of GBS News.
Trent is locked in solitary confinement in the riotÕs aftermath. He is
visited by two other members of the Aryan Brotherhood who express displeasure
at DuBoisÕ apparent physical superiority over him. They light a Molotov
cocktail and watch the flames incinerate Trent in his cell.
This may be one of the roughest Superman stories ever written. It pushes the
envelope in terms of violence and language. Blood-spurting fisticuffs, the
on-panel murders of four prison guards and Bobby DuBoisÑincluding an
extremely graphic depiction of the Saviour stabbing a guard in the heartÑand
the (barely) off-panel incineration of Alex Trent make this the most violent
single story in this readerÕs memory. KeselÕs use of racist language during
the fight scenes (monosyllabic approximations of the N-word, ÒSamboÓ, and use
of the phrase ÒSend you back to AfricaÓ) might make conscientious parents want
to take time to discuss this story or read it along with younger Superman
fans.
Actually, itÕs the racial polarity depicted in this story that works against
the believability of the basic plot setup. In a prison where tensions exist
between blacks and whites, what sane warden is going to conclude that tensions
can be released by having representatives of each race beat the tar out of
each other? WouldnÕt this type of spectacle instead allow these Òus against
themÓ feelings to build, giving the prisoners public permission to loudly and
physically express their racist hatreds?
My son is eight years old, and I donÕt think he knows the N-word. It is
ironic that his initial exposure to it will probably be through urban songs,
or stories like this, which are meant to teach an opposite lesson.
Patrick M. Stout
________________________________________________________________
End of Section 4
________________________________________________________________
OTHER SUPER-TITLES:
ÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑ-
SUPERBOY #18, ÒBattle of the Century!Ó
Writer: Karl Kesel
Artist: Tom Grummett
Inker: Doug Hazlewood
$1.95 US/$2.75 CAN/#1.25 UK
RATINGS:
Average: 3.3/5.0 Shields
VC: 3.5 Shields
AL: 4.0 Shields - The card game references left me rolling on the floor.
I also liked the foreshadowing, irony. This book is
currently the constantly the best in the Superman mythos.
DS: 2.5 Shields - I guess this is KeselÕs month for fights.
JS: 3.5 Shields - Not bad, for a slugfest. The best parts of this issue are
the subplots leading up to the fight.
SF: 3.0 Shields - One big slugfest punctuated with current slang and tropical
references. Competently drawn as always.
After a light spar with Krypto at the compound, Superboy heads to school,
where he discovers a note from Tana in his locker asking him to meet her at
Diamondhead crater.
Upon arrival, he canÕt find Tana but spends some time with his adoring public.
Almost immediately, he is attacked by a red- and blue-clad young man
proclaiming his name as Champion. Although furiously beset, the kid holds his
own with the help of his tactile telekinesis [Superboy paid me to write that].
In the meantime, Roxy is at local police headquarters asking for advice from
Sam Makoa in applying to the police academy when news of the big fight comes
through.
Similarly at TV station KONAT, Tana is about to head over to the battle.
However, she is quickly stopped by her boss explaining that her relationship
with Superboy would affect the stationÕs objective stance on Superboy news-
stories.
As the battle ensues, Mr. Gamboli is watching from afar, giddy with greed as
bets roll into his control room on the outcome of the fight. A trainer
enters, concerned. He explains that Champion gets confused quickly and
becomes weaker as the fight progresses, but it falls upon deaf ears as Gamboli
is not concerned about ChampionÕs well-being.
From the compound, Rex and Dubbilex watch the brawl on TV. Rex is very
nervous because he set up Superboy, and Dubbilex proceeds to dissect his
mind...
As both combatants become very tired, the nearby military has received orders
to stop the fight using whatever means. As Superboy and Champion struggle to
continue fighting, a large impact in their midst announces the presence of
another entering the fray! To be continued...
A small cliffhanger there, but IÕm sure the KC fans would appreciate it more
if I didnÕt give away the identity of that third person until next issue. :)
Although this was a slam-bang biff! pow! issue, Kesel has done a great job
with the storyline. In all honesty, it was paced like a TV episode of an
action show where the camera cuts away in the middle of a fight to another
story development but comes back to the battle at crucial moments. The story
was essentially Superboy fights Champion, but the way the pages were laid out,
it seemed more fleshed-out than simply that.
I can see Mr. Kesel leading up to the true identity of Champion (which I have
speculated as Lar Gand in KC #13) as well as a resolution with Mr. Gamboli.
The truth of the matter is that Kesel has been adding smatterings of little
events that will most likely culminate in fuller storylines. RoxyÕs desire to
become a police officer and TanaÕs relationship with the kid are only a couple
of the future plots that the current story hints at.
After a somewhat disappointing Watery Grave story arc, IÕm glad to see Mr.
Kesel get back into the riding saddle, galloping with promising stories and
creative ideas, even though this issue concentrated more on a fight than on
getting the other storylines started.
On an artistic note, IÕm sort of sad to see MAN OF TOMORROW become the ÔDC
skip week comicÕ even though itÕs well-rendered by our Mr. Grummett. On the
other hand, this means we wonÕt lose our talented penciller from SUPERBOY.
Another issue of great art, inking and coloring, guys! (BTW, Mr. Monroe looks
an awful lot like a comic shop owner here in Edmonton, albeit with black hair
but the same beard. Hm...)
Victor Chan
========================================================================
STEEL #18, ÒWasted FlowersÓ
Writer: David Michelinie
Penciller: Phil Gosier
Inker: Rich Faber
$1.95 US/$2.75 CAN/#1.25 UK
RATINGS:
Average: 2.5/5.0 Shields
DS: 2.5 Shields
AL: 2.5 Shields - I still do not like the ÒMetahumanÓ tie-in with the armor.
One of the things I forgot to mention in my review last month was the fact
that David Michelinie was the writer, but the cover gave credit to Louise
Simonson. It wasnÕt clear to me whether this was a mix-up or whether DC
didnÕt want us to know who was doing this story. Well this month they did put
David MichelinieÕs name on the cover. This monthÕs continuation reads like a
Michelinie story Ñ lots of action, almost no supporting cast, and a few
clever bits of dialogue to spice things up occasionally.
Last month Steel searched for his nephew Tyke while simultaneously trying to
evade Chindi, a native American super-hero bounty hunter.
PLOT SYNOPSIS: Federal agents are trying to catch Steel for reasons that are
unclear. Chindi is trying to take SteelÕs armor to sell to an unknown
individual for a bounty. Steel is looking for the location where some bad
guys have kidnapped children for nefarious purposes since they have probably
taken Tyke. ThereÕs lots of fighting going on between Chindi and Steel, with
Steel trying to outwit Chindi and Chindi trying to use his technological
devices to disable SteelÕs armor. In the last issue, Shauna Beryl told Steel
that the child kidnappers could be using an abandoned waste management plant,
so he decides to check it out. He finds sophisticated equipment and a medical
lab, as well as a PC networked into something. He tries to copy a file from
the computer for evidence, and that sets off an alarm Ñ all hell breaks loose
between Steel, the baddies, and Chindi, who has been following Steel with a
tracking device. Chindi and Steel fight each other until they break through
a wall where they come upon the kidnapped children. Here it is revealed that
the children were kidnapped by Hazard, the guy who hired Chindi to get SteelÕs
armor. Chindi is upset by this and breaks his deal with Hazard since the
children were being given artificial hormones in an effort at mind control.
Unfortunately at this moment, the room is sealed and a time bomb is started
which threatens to kill Steel, Chindi, and the children in about two minutes.
Next issue is the conclusion to this exciting(?) story. This book is
beginning to remind me of the Saturday morning serials I used to go to when I
was a kid.
This story also features another episode of the ÒsentientÓ armor. As John
Henry Irons is flying around at the beginning of the issue patrolling
Washington, he has doubts about continuing to be Steel. At this thought his
armor disappears and he starts falling to earth. Upon seeing that he will
probably die when he hits the concrete, he changes his mind and his armor with
jetpack reappears. For this reason, Steel goes to STAR Labs to see if they
can shed any light on these occurrences. Russell Wolf, aka Chindi, sees
SteelÕs armor disappear. He remains hidden and lets his tracking device
follow John Henry. The tracking device is discovered at STAR Labs and
disabled, but before they can examine the device or the armor, Steel has to
flee the federal agents who have a warrant for him.
The artwork for much of the issue consists of splashes over which individual
panels are imposed. Probably a quarter of the overlays have very little
background but the overall visual effect is pleasing. The images are sharp,
and the colors are intense. Too many of the faces look alike and too many of
the expressions are similar. DoesnÕt anybody smile anymore?
Next monthÕs issue apparently is the end of this story. It seems to me
thereÕs a lot to do in the amount of space thatÕs left to make this a really
satisfactory story.
Dick Sidbury
sidbury@cs.uofs.edu
========================================================================
SHOWCASE Ô95 #7, ÒExit to Eden: Part 1Ó
Starring Mongul
Written by: Peter J. Tomasi
Pencils by: Scot Eaton
Inked by: Pam Eklund
$2.95 US/$4.25 CAN/#2.00 UK
RATINGS:
RG: Story - 2.5 Shields - origin recap, not much new
Art - 3.0 Shields - clean and well detailed, but average
Interesting look at one of the old (lame) pre-crisis villains that managed to
get recast into a powerful major villain in the current continuity. After
seeing some nicely detailed, full page montage panels, depicting some of the
high (low?) points of his career, we are finally brought up to speed that what
we are seeing is really an intense VR experience being used in an attempt to
break or rehabilitate Mongul in some distant future.
Eventually the scientists feel that they have made sufficient progress and
that he is to be used as an example to other hard core criminals. <sigh> They
never learn Ñ Mongul is just faking it and uses this to his advantage,
killing the scientists and other criminals and escaping from the prison
satellite where he is being held. His ship is damaged during the escape, and
he is about to die when he is rescued by aliens.
All-in-all, not a bad story for a Òpart 1.Ó I look forward to reading Òpart
2Ó next month. The story could serve as an introduction to Mongul for a new
reader. About the only thing that bothers and confuses me is that the story
takes place so far out of the current continuity. Recently Mongul has tackled
(Kyle Raynor) Green Lantern and the Flash (Wally West). I canÕt think of any
real reason why this story couldnÕt take place in continuity, possibly
substituting the Darkstars for the future prison setting.
ÒHiding Place on Rye, Hold the MayoÓ starring Arion
Written by: Paul Kupperberg
Pencils by: Mike Huddleston
Inked by: Mark Propst
Story rating: 2.0 Shields - dull stuff, didnÕt go anywhere
Art rating: 2.5 Shields - too dark in places, needed details
Arion (an immortal sorcerer king of ancient Atlantis, grandfather of Powergirl)
has sunk into depression. His ancient enemy Chaon (now a friend) uses magic
and (slight) humor to bring him out of it.
ÒA Shadow over EdenÓ starring Orion
Written by: Scott Ciencin
Pencils by: Ramon Bernado
Inked by: Joe Rubinstein
Story rating: 3.0 Shields - lead-in to new Gods series
Art rating: 3.0 Shields - nicely inked, could use backgrounds
A murderer is loose on New Genesis, and Orion (son of Darkseid) is called in to
stop it. Not a bad story, but there isnÕt much here either.
ReneÕ Gobeyn
========================================================================
THE NEW TITANS #124, ÒPrometheus GatheringÓ
The Siege of the Zi Charam: Part 1 (of 5)
Written by: Marv Wolfman and Michael Jan Friedman
Pencils by: William Rosado
Inks by: Keith Champagne and Jason Martin
$2.25 US/ $3.25 CAN/ #1.5 UK
RATINGS:
Average: 4.0/5.0 Shields
RG: Story: 4.0 Shields - good lead in, interesting by-play
Art : 4.5 Shields - excellent detail, very nice backgrounds
JS: 3.5 Shields - I actually enjoyed this issue, a rarity these days. Good
characterizations and solid artwork.
A NASA satellite gets swallowed by what appears to be a gravity well (small
black hole). Sarge Steel, wanting to get something for all the money the
government is investing in the team, sends the Titans out to check into the
situation. After an all too brief look at the growing chaos that is the
Titans and DarkstarÕs headquarters, the team (except for Impulse, who gets
left behind) uses the Darkstar ship and space survival gear to go check into
the situation. We get a few brief interludes between Supergirl and Green
Lantern, and another with Donna and Roy. It is also the first hint (as if we
all didnÕt know it) that the whole thing is actually a trap.
When they get there, the gravity well acts like itÕs alive, sending out
tendrils to grab Jarras. The rest of the team (and the ship) get pulled in
while trying to save him. Terra manages to seal the aperture behind them, but
the whole team is transported to another galaxy. When they finally get there,
they are attacked by an alien ship. The Titans manage to break into the ship
but Arsenal, Mirage, Damage, and Terra are taken by the Progenitors, leaving
Supergirl, Green Lantern, Darkstar, and Jarras behind.
The book is a very pleasant mix of characterization, interaction, and action
scenes, carefully blended to get a reader involved quickly. This book could
very easily be used as a jumping-on point for a new reader.
While IÕm starting to get tired of the almost constant x-overs in the comics
of late, I have trouble thinking of the other books in the Titans family as
separate titles. Instead, the other titles tend to use the Titans book as a
focus or spin off point for thier own plots. In many ways, itÕs more like the
way the Superman titles have developed into almost a weekly book, more than a
group of unrelated stories with the same characters.
The art in the book shows how different inkers can bring out different aspects
of the same artistÕs pencils. This is not a bad thing Ñ not when the inkers
compliment each other as well as Champagne and Martin do.
This story will be continued in GREEN LANTERN #65, THE DARKSTARS #34, DAMAGE
#16, and ends in THE NEW TITANS #125.
ReneÕ Gobeyn
________________________________________________________________
MINISERIES AND GUEST APPEARANCES:
ÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑ-
SUPERMAN VS. ALIENS #2 (of 3)
Story and Layout Art by Dan Jurgens
Finished Art by Kevin Nowlan
$4.95 US/$6.95 CAN
RATINGS:
Average: 4.1/5.0 Shields
JS: 4.0 Shields
AL: 3.0 Shields - They weakend Superman WAY too quickly IMHO! But, there
are good things about this book, also.
DS: 4.0 Shields - Very good suspense. These creatures could take out the big
blue cheese! Kara is too interesting to die, but IÕm
steeling myself for the worst in the last issue.
KM: 5.0 Shields - I may be a loner on this one, but I think this is a great
story. The ending was a real cliffhanger.
SF: 4.5 shields - I still think the elfin look of NowlanÕs art is wrong for
Superman (and that hairdo he gave Lois Ñ yow!), but the
guy can sure draw. Action builds to a fever pitch in this
one, and the Kara story is more interesting than anything
going on in the regular seriesÕ plotlines. YouÕll believe
a Superman can be threatened.
On board the LexCorp space station, tension runs high. The ship containing
the survivors sent back by Superman speeds out of control towards the station,
but Dr. Kimble manages to link to the ship and return it safely to the docking
bay. After a ten minute decontamination period, the scientists inspect the
ship to find that one of the survivors is now dead, his chest torn apart.
The three remaining survivors are rushed to the med lab, but Lois discovers
a slimy substance inside the ship, causing her to wonder what the ten minutes
may have cost them.
In Argo City, Kara leads Superman to a makeshift medical center, where she
applies a medicine to his eyes. Having tended to his wounds, the sixteen-
year-old relates the story of Argo City to the Man of Steel. After eight
years, the city was dying Ñ the machinery was breaking down, and the people
were starving. They thought they were saved when they spotted a space
freighter, but it crashed into the asteroid near the city. When they went to
investigate, they found that the shipÕs inhabitants had been dead before the
crash. But they also found an alien queen Ñ an egg-layer Ñ in cryogenic
suspension. Thinking the creature dead, they left it Ñ until a couple of
years later, when someone thawed it, thinking it could be used as food.
After Superman verifies that his reduced powers still allow him to fly, Kara
chokes back her astonishment and explains how the aliens breed. They begin as
a small crab-like creature who impregnates a host by implanting Ñ via the
throat Ñ an embryo in the hostÕs gut. The embryo later erupts from the hostÕs
chest. As Superman realizes that the dead face-hugger (the crab-like alien) he
had run across was near the survivors he sent to Earth, he stops dead in his
tracks.
In LexCorpÕs station med lab, the scientists are stunned when one of the
survivors is killed by the emergence of an alien from his chest. Dr. Kimble
quickly regains her composure, orders the remaining survivors to be placed
into isolation, and then initiates a search for what she now knows is two of
the aliens. Shortly thereafter, Lois and one of the LexCorp scientists are
obtaining the shipÕs video log, but their discussion is interrupted by the
appearance of an alien. While the moster quickly dispatches of the scientist,
Lois finds first that her legs are frozen in fear, and then she finds herself
face to fact with the beast.
Kara quickly follows Superman as he searches desperately for a way off the
rock, but their search is interrupted by the sound of gunfire. They race to
the box, the last safe place in the city, where they discover that it is no
longer so safe. They join the melee Ñ Kara begins firing immediately and
urges Kal-El to do the same. Superman is torn over his vow to never again
take a life Ñ he still believes he has no right to kill another, but these
uglies are vicious. He picks up a nearby weapon, knowing it would even the
odds, but he quickly throws it down, refusing to intentionally kill.
He attempts to fight the aliens with his bare hands and his heat vision, but
as he finds himself having to help Kara, and as the sheer numbers of the alien
army begin to overwhelm him, he realizes that he should have kept the gun. He
somehow manages to subdue the current threat, defeating the alien into
unconsciousness, but Kara is not impressed. She points out the clear fact that
the numbers are against them. Though he may feel good about being a saint,
they are in the middle of a war.
On the LexCorp station, Lois manages to run from the alien, but she soon finds
that the bay has been sealed. Dr. Kimble refuses to override the lockout and
help the reporter. Thinking quickly, Lois jumps into the ship and closes the
hatch, sealing herself away from the alien. Fiddling with the controls, she
manages to activate the bayÕs airlock, sucking the ship and alien towards open
space. Dr. Kimble, however, does not want to lose the specimen and orders that
the airlock be reclosed. Just as the alien manages to smash through the shipÕs
canopy, the airlock closes, trapping the alien in space.
Overwhelmed by the numbers, Superman flies Kara and the other survivor away
from the mix, but itÕs too late for the other. The idea of being the sole
survivor of her planet is overwhelming, and she simply refuses to move on.
Superman watches over her as he allows her to get some sleep, but this rest is
cut short as the aliens manage to rupture the cityÕs dome. As fuel lines begin
to explode, Kal-El finds himself falling among the crumbling buildings Ñ his
powers no longer enable flight, and he is helpless to save Kara from the same
situation.
Throwing aside a rock, Kal-El crawls from the rubble and screams for Kara to
respond. This draws only the attention of more aliens, who quickly overwhelm
the Man of Steel, sending him into unconsciousness. As he awakens, he finds
himself restrained, hung against a wall. His narrow line of vision reveals
his fate Ñ the facehugger wraps itself around his head, forcing the
embryo-laying appendage down SupermanÕs throat...
This book is incredibly intense. There is as much action going on as in any of
the current titles, but here itÕs done well. The mood of the story, as well as
its pacing, kept me on the edge of my seat. Superman seems to be in a huge
spot of trouble, and even the LexCorp space station isnÕt yet out of the woods.
For the first time in a *long* time, I canÕt seem to wait for the next
installment of a Superman story!
The artwork, as it was last month, is superb. The great use of shadow and dark
colors contribute as much to the story as the creepy rendition of the aliens by
Jurgens and Nowlin. I canÕt wait to see how these two get Superman out of
*this* mess!
Jeff Sykes
========================================================================
GREEN LANTERN #65, ÒRescueÓ
The Siege of the Zi Charam: Part 2 (of 5)
Writer: Ron Marz
Pencils: Ron Lim
Inks: Romeo Tanghal & Terry Austin
$1.75 US/$2.50 UK/#1.25 UK
RATINGS:
Average: 4.0/5.0 Shields
AL: 3.5 Shields
RG: Story: 4.0 Shields - good character interaction
Art: 4.5 shields - excellent detail, nice backgrounds
JS: 4.0 Shields - Nice Lim art, and excellent characterization of Supergirl
by Marz.
This issue picks up where NEW TITANS #124 left off. The Titans have been
stranded in another galaxy. Green Lantern and Supergirl are on a mission to
rescue Arsenal, Damage, Terra, and Mirage, who are being held by the alien
Progenitors. After a brief exchange of laser fire, the two of them are able
to breach the hull and access the ship.
Meanwhile, Minion is arguing with Darkstar about what they should be doing.
Minion wants to enter the fight, and Darkstar wants to keep him in the ship as
a reserve. Minion goes AWOL and exchanges laser fire with the alien ship.
The story concentrates on the developing friendship between Supergirl and
Green Lantern. Supergirl is having trouble opening up and trusting her new
teammates. After having been hurt so badly by Luthor, she has been afraid to
trust anyone. They have fought their way into the ship that captured the
others, and Supergirl comes up with a plan to rescue them. She is forced to
trust Green Lantern enough to use her shape changing power to disguise herself
as one of the Progenitors, who has taken Green Lantern Òcaptive.Ó This gets
them into the prison part of the ship, where they rescue the other Titans and
a few aliens besides.
Back on the Titans ship, the Titans are reunited as they decide what to do.
The aliens are carnivores to an extreme. They eat sentient life forms and the
Titans are worried that they will soon come to Earth. As this discussion is
occurring, Minion comes back in close pursuit by the aliens; all the aliens...
I enjoyed the issue. The artwork was really nice. The colors were great. The
shading was amazing. This title still uses the old format. The old and the
new formats each have pluses and minuses. The art in this issue used the
pluses very well, and minimized the minuses. In the plot, I enjoyed the way
that Matrix kept giving Kyle the brush off and her references to Lex Luthor.
However, I did not like the fact that the aliens were dumber then dirt.
Supergirl is able to just walk by them with no form of ID, or enough
familiarity to fast talk. Oh well, canÕt have it all. It is Green LanternÕs
book, but they do a good job handling Supergirl. Fans should pick it up, itÕs
a good read.
The story is continued in THE DARKSTARS #34.
ReneÕ Gobeyn & Arthur LaMarche
________________________________________________________________
End of Section 5
________________________________________________________________
LOOKING BACK
ÑÑÑÑÑÑ
LEGACIES: Reviews of the pre-Crisis Man of Steel
ÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑ
MARVEL TREASURY EDITION #28:
Superman and Spider-Man: ÒThe Heroes and the Holocaust!Ó
Script by: Jim Shooter
Pencils by: John Buscema
Figures Inked by: Joe Sinnott
1981
Cover Price: $2.50 (US and Canada)
RATING: 4.7 shields
In 1981, Marvel and DC got the brilliant idea to start doing crossovers more
regularly. Naturally enough, their first one was a return engagement with
their two franchise characters. This time note that the title reads Superman
ÒandÓ Spider-Man, not Òvs.Ó, and indeed, the two S-men act like buddies
throughout. Which is a good thing, because in this one theyÕve got plenty of
other guys to fight. Spider-Man is the leadoff guy, as he foils a bank
robbery next to a construction site, all the while snapping pictures for the
Daily Bugle. His Spider-Sense tingles, but he doesnÕt know why, as if the
whole site was the threat. The scene cuts to far below the site, where we see
the armored glove of someone observing Spidey.
ItÕs Doctor Doom! The evil monarch says that for years, even while he worked
on other plots to rule the world, his current plan was a work in progress. In
nearly every major city are underground complexes like this one. ÒFor truly,
the lifeÕs work, the masterpiece of Doom is...Project Omega!Ó Alone, Doom
broods, then calls for a report on ÒOperation H.Ó He is informed that the
Hulk has just reached the outskirts of ... Metropolis.
Uh-oh.
We turn to the tribulations of Peter Parker, wherein J. Jonah tells him that
his Spidey photos donÕt sell anymore. JJJ tells him that the wire services
report Hulk sightings heading toward where Òthat other self-styled do-gooder,
whatsisname, hangs out.Ó He might buy pictures of that, he says.
Meanwhile, Lois Lane and Clark Kent helicopter over the outskirts and witness
major devastation, but no Hulkster. Clark wonders how heÕs keeping out of
sight, then guesses that he might be being guided. Clark sits in on a GBS
staff meeting with the whole cast, while sweeping the area with telescopic
vision. The Hulk shows up in the middle of town; Clark guesses through the
sewers, where the lead pipes wouldÕve blocked his super-vision.
Clark makes for the familiar storeroom, while Hulk is amok. Superman arrives
and tells Hulk that he doesnÕt want to hurt him. (!) At which point we get
rrrrrready to rumble! Now this is a fight that weÕve all *really* wondered
about. Hulk beats Superman like a rented mule. Supes knocks Hulk into a
building, burying him under rubble. He goes to dig him out, and takes one in
the kisser for his trouble, getting knocked over the rainbow. Mid-fight,
Peter Parker arrives on a bus. Spidey is about to jump on his fellow
Marvelite, then Superman shows up again.
Spidey is surprised that Supes is still alive after the HulkÕs punch.
ÒAlive... and a little annoyed!Ó says Superman. This time Superman is ready,
but the madder Hulk gets, the stronger Hulk gets. Superman takes every shot
without flinching, and discovers a micro-size drone thatÕs putting out an
ultrasonic blast thatÕs been driving Hulk crazy. Supes destroys the drone,
thus calming Hulk, who changes back to Bruce Banner. Spidey changes back to
Parker and looks on. Amidst the rubble, the purple form of the Parasite
climbs out from the underground prison where Superman sequestered him the last
time they fought. Parasite recounts that Dr. Doom contacted him and arranged
HulkÕs rampage, so he would strike a certain spot, which would open up the
earth and shatter ParasiteÕs prison.
That part of the plan worked, but Parasite used up the last of his energy
reserves in the climb to the surface. Lucky for Parasite that Peter Parker is
nearby. Peter feels woozy as Parasite absorbs some energy and escapes. Pete
faints, but is helped by Jimmy Olsen. They become fast friends, and Jimmy
takes him to WGBS. Peter flips for Lana Lang, Perry White really likes his
photos, and offers him big bucks for them. Meanwhile, Clark leaves on
sabbatical for New York.
Superman discovers ParasiteÕs jailbreak and decides that since LuthorÕs in the
Hotel Graybar, it must be Dr. DoomÕs handiwork. What follows is the best
scene in *all* DC/Marvel crossovers! To sum it up, Doc and Supes chat, Doc
has kryptonite, Supes cleverly saves himself, then leaves. Parasite appears
from a hidden passage, and asks why he didnÕt let him have a crack at the big
S. Doom reminds him of his past inability to handle SupesÕ vast energies. He
tells Parasite to be patient. Clark goes to the Daily Bugle and asks Jameson
for freelance work while heÕs in New York. The visiting Superman becomes the
hero of New York while he searches for clues to DoomÕs scheme. He even flies
to Latveria, where he spots a construction site. DoomÕs lackeys fire a
mysterious beam at him...
Parasite is ticked off at the waiting and the secrecy. He tells Doom that he
is his partner, not his lackey. Doom reveals that he has captured Hulk, and
he has laid a trap for another Òspecimen.Ó Doom wonÕt tell him who, and
Parasite angrily tries to drain DoomÕs strength. Doom, of course, has made
his armor proof against ParasiteÕs power. Perry White tells Peter heÕs doing
a good job, but Peter doesnÕt really know how to respond to being treated
well. As if on cue, Lana shoots him down in flames, and Steve Lombard
humiliates him. He goes out web-swinging and laments some more. Then he
swings over another construction site, and gets the same vibes as back in New
York. This time he finds a trap door and drops down into the underground
complex. There he finds a bunch of goons fighting Wonder Woman! A
misunderstanding ensues, thanks to Doom, and WW and Spidey go at it. Spidey
convinces Diana heÕs a good guy. At just that moment, more goons attack and
take her by surprise. Spidey tries to save her, and runs upon Doom and
Parasite. He listens in the shadows. Doom tells Parasite the whole plan.
Doom has built Omega stations all over the globe, under construction sites.
When Doc gives the order, the machines will all emit radiation that will
eliminate all fossil fuels, then all atomic fuels. Then Doom will offer the
world energy from his fusion reactor. Parasite will be DoomÕs right hand man,
after he absorbs Hulk and Wonder WomanÕs power.
Spidey retreats, just as Superman arrives at the construction site. He gives
Superman the sordid details. Supes declares ÒThis is a job for Superman!Ó
But Spidey tags along too. Big fight ensues. Supes takes care of business,
but is occupied with a big robot as Parasite comes in from behind. Spidey
arrives then, but Parasite absorbs his abilities. Spidey then webs up the
robotÕs eyes, and thatÕs it. Time for the contingency plan... Doom hits a
button which covers Supes head to toe with kryptonite. Parasite drops Spidey.
The button activates tiny grains of kryptonite that were shot at Supes in
Latveria with that mysterious beam. Doom gives Parasite a nice vest that will
allow him to absorb SupermanÕs power. Secretly itÕll transform a very dead
Parasite into a crystal form that will correct a major instability in his
fusion reactor. As the vest goes on, Parasite is warned by Spider-Sense that
he absorbed. He thumps Doom, as Spidey frees Superman by dragging a web
across his body, brushing off the kryptonite. Parasite damages the control
panel. The fusion reactor goes critical. Superman yanks a Parasite-proof
glove off Doom and KOs Parasite, then heads into the reactor to stabilize it.
Spidey uses all the technical know-how he can muster, as Superman fades, due
to red sun radiation. Doom tries to escape, but Spidey has webbed up his
spacecraft. Spidey successfully shuts down the reactor. Doom escapes back to
the diplomatic immunity of the Latverian embassy just in time. Peter and
Clark move back to their respective cities without seeing each other. Clark
says Superman would stake his life on Spider-Man, and JJ hires Peter back
because heÕs Òeasier to push around than that slippery Kent.Ó
This makes it two for two. Both of these team-ups are great. The first one
was great fun, as the creators seemed to be having a ball just having both
characters on the same page. Second time around, though, was much more plot -
intensive. No overblown case of grand larceny hereÑhere was a giant threat,
one that really could only be handled by Superman. And Spider-Man, too, of
course. I found that Jim Shooter made Superman the most fascinating character
in the book. Note that; the editor-in-chief of the competition put Superman
over the top. Almost every fan has wondered who would win if Superman fought
Hulk. In these pages we found out. One disappointment, however: in the first
team-up, the de-energized Spidey hammers away as Superman stands with hands on
hips, unhurt. Here, the angered Hulk hammers away as Superman stand with
hands on hips, unhurt. But on the way there we get great lines from Supes
like ÒGreat Krypton! HeÕs even more powerful...more savage than I imagined!Ó
Superman tells Hulk Òcalm down, big fellaÓ to which Hulk replies ÒSHUT UP! No
one tells Hulk ANYTHING!Ó Jim Shooter created Parasite, and without
reservation, this is the best Parasite story ever. The guy gets a Marvel-size
dose of angst, angry at Doom, sorry for himself (ÒLook at this hideous thing
that I am!Ó), hot to trot for Wonder Woman. Then Parasite tells Doom he lusts
for power, not ... letÕs move on.
Like I said above, the first meeting of Superman and Dr. Doom has sparks. In
1981, nobody engaged in duels of words with Superman. Nobody, even Luthor,
infuriated Superman like this Ñ Superman says ÒTry something and thereÕll be
no place youÕll be safe from me!Ó Practically everyone he fought ended up in
prison. But Doom has diplomatic immunity, and for all of SupermanÕs power,
and all of DoomÕs crimes, the Man of Steel couldnÕt touch him. At storyÕs
end, Doom is jetting back to his embassy when his boot jets fail. So Doom
=runs on foot= down the street, into the front yard of the embassy, safe, as
Superman touches down a second too late. Superman needed a foe like this. Of
course, he finally got one in the revamped Luthor. I trace that characterÕs
origins right back here.
Run out and grab a copy of this. Right now. :)
Joe Crowe (j.crowe4@genie.geis.com)
________________________________________________________________
THE SILVER AGE SUPERMAN
ÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑ-
by Bill Morse (billmorse@aol.com)
Superman on Krypton: Part 4
The Mystery of KryptonÕs Second Doom is the sequel to Superman on Krypton,
which I reviewed last issue. It originally appeared in Superman 189, August
1966, six years after the original appeared in Superman 141. Wayne Boring did
the art.
It could have been a great story, but there were just too many contrivances,
weaknesses, and illogical inconsistencies in the plot.
As it begins, astronomers discover a Ògiant rogue planet entering our galaxy
and streaking toward Earth on a collision course!Ó Superman rushes out to it,
only to find that it is Krypton, complete with a red sun?!
He meets Jor-El, who acts strange. And he has not aged since SupermanÕs
previous visit to Krypton. He doesnÕt seem to recognize Superman as his
former assistant. This time, Superman explains who he is, and asks how
Krypton can still exist. Jor-El says, ÒGrown son? From Earth? Hmmm . . .
there is a family resemblance in your face.Ó He goes to check his files - -
microfilm that will explain everything. But his vault explodes, killing him,
and destroying his lab. Superman flees the building, and encounters a man on
the street who says, ÒFire? So what? DonÕt bother me!Ó Superman gets a
mechanical fireman to put out the flames, but it malfunctions, wrecking a
skyscraper, and killing dozens of people. Passers-by are indifferent. Is
this the Bizarro World?
Superman sees Lyla Lerrol, and rescues her from danger. But itÕs a movie set!
He just ruined a take! Everyone is annoyed with him, and Lyla doesnÕt
remember him. SheÕs engaged to the director.
Next, Superman visits a weather control tower, where he accidentally causes a
massive disaster, which kills a big chunk of the population. As the weather
director himself is dying, his last words are, ÒRelax, Kal-El! YouÕre taking
this whole thing too seriously!Ó WhatÕs going on here? Superman doesnÕt seem
to puzzle over it too much. But IÕll tell you, itÕs not a Red Kryptonite
dream, or Mr. Mxyzptlk.
He meets Lyla again. Her fiancee, the director, was killed by the weather
disaster caused by SupermanÕs blunder at the control tower. Suddenly, she can
remember him. ÒNow, Kal-El, we can continue our romance, which was broken off
when destiny sent you away from Krypton.Ó Huh? Well, as IÕve noted before,
SupermanÕs analytical powers are at a low point, so he just enjoys a renewed
romance, and puts everything else out of his mind. This includes the fact
that he caused massive death, that Lyla couldnÕt remember him at first, and
that Krypton is still on a collision course with Earth.
Then, yet another unlikely event. A radiation belt constricts around Krypton,
killing everyone but Kal-El and Lyla, yet Lyla seems unconcerned. This at
last prompts Superman to ask her just what is going on, but just as she is
about to explain, a chunk of debris kills her. Superman is the last living
creature on Krypton.
Finally, he finds a hologram projector of Jor-El, which explains that this
world was constructed as a decoy to fool any would-be invaders. This idea was
developed in the imaginary story ÒSupermanÕs Other LifeÓ, in which a computer
reveals what SupermanÕs life would have been if Krypton had not exploded. I
reviewed that story in an earlier issue. Anyway, this fake Krypton was
peopled with androids who were Òprogrammed to think and act like their
original prototypesÓ. That doesnÕt explain why the android Lyla didnÕt
remember Superman at first, or why the others were not concerned about mass
deaths. Is that how their original prototypes behaved?
Now Superman understands everything. But heÕs still on a collision course
with Earth. Here comes a real cop-out ending: the fake Krypton falls into its
red sun, presumably destroying them both and ending the threat to Earth. At
the last possible second, Superman finds a rocket ship and escapes. Very
heroic.
In later Superman stories, he and Supergirl create a fake Krypton as a
tribute, and people it with androids. Perhaps the idea came from this story.
To make up for this story being so bogus, I will share with you the story
about my encounter with the Comics Code Authority, which I promised in an
earlier review.
I worked at DC Comics in 1976-77. My dream was to become a comic book
illustrator, but I started in the production department. I didnÕt stay in New
York long enough to ever get my first art assignment, although I did become an
illustrator (but not for comics). In the production department, I mainly did
art corrections and lettering. Editors would send the pages to us, with
changes noted. We would have to re-draw panels and match the style of the
original artist, and make lettering corrections. At the end of every day, we
had to send copies of all of the pages we had worked on to the Comics Code for
their approval. At this time, artists were starting to render females in a
much more sexy way than they had before. Particularly, many artists were
putting a lot more detail in the breasts. Before this, breasts had not been
too exaggerated, and were smoothly rounded. Now they started to have the
WonderBra look, and to be pointed, implying nipples! The Comics Code went
nuts over this development, but the artists were not going to back down. We
kept getting pages returned from the Code, with instructions to tone down the
breasts.
So on April FoolsÕ day, I decided to ZING the code. DC still published one
lone romance comic, which was everyoneÕs least favorite book to work on. I
had it this month, and there was a particularly insipid story titled, ÒI WonÕt
Kiss That Way Ñ ItÕs Bad, ItÕs Evil!Ó (Some title, huh? But itÕs real, I
swear.) The splash page showed two small panels on top, of a woman kissing a
man goodnight, in his sportscar. He says, ÒCome on baby, you can do better
than that! You kiss like my Grandmother!Ó (How did he know what his
Grandmother kissed like?) She breaks away, and the splash panel shows her
running away from him, toward the viewer, crying. I thought this was a
moronic concept. ItÕs evil to French kiss? She looked very sexy, in a
tight-fitting halter top, and appeared to be in her mid-twenties. So whatÕs
the big deal?
Inspiration hit me Ñ a way to comment critically on this ridiculous story,
and ZAP the Comics Code at the same time. I copied the page, and on the copy,
re-drew the woman so that her halter top had been partially torn off, and one
breast was completely exposed, as she ran toward us in tears. Then I put that
fake page in with the bundle of pages going to the Comics Code. I never
dreamed it would have such an explosive effect! They were on the phone to my
boss, enraged, fuming, sputtering, threatening legal action! My boss, Jack
Adler, had a good sense of humor, and knew that the Code was full of bluster.
So I didnÕt get in any trouble. He explained to them that it was an April
FoolÕs gag. But I noticed they werenÕt so picky any more about the breasts
that the artists were really rendering.
And one final ZAP Ñ we in the production department had to keep a supply of
the stock elements that appeared on the covers: titles, DC bullets, and the
Comics Code symbol. I doctored up a copy of the Code symbol, so that it read
ÒCosmic Code AuthorityÓ. I just switched the S around in Comics, to get
Cosmic. Then I made photostats of the altered version, and put them in the
drawer where we kept those symbols. No one noticed for a long time after I
had departed. The Cosmic Code Authority symbol appeared on many DC comics
that appeared in the last half of 1977.
________________________________________________________________
End of Section 6
________________________________________________________________
LOIS AND CLARK: THE NEW ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN
ÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑ
UP, UP, AND COMING:
ÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑ
by Jeff Sykes
News: Only a couple of news bites this month, also. The new season reportedly
began filming last week. WeÕll do our best to get you some news from
the inside! Check out the new issue of TV Guide, with Dean Cain on the
cover, but be forewarned Ñ the article may cause a true fansÕ blood to
boil! LOIS & CLARKÕs new competition may not be as strong as previously
indicated Ñ rumors abound that Helen Hunt is leaving MAD ABOUT YOU to
pursue a film career, whil Paul Reiser may have threatened to leave the
show if it is moved!
________________________________________________________________
THE SUPERMAN CURSE
And Other Flavors of Baloney
by Zoomway
Near the end of the play INHERIT THE WIND, a play wherein the right to think
is
on trial more than anything else, the defense attorney, tiring of the cynical
newspaper manÕs comments says, ÒYou never pushed a noun against a verb except
to blow up something.Ó This play was written forty years ago, and yet the
cynical newspaper man has changed little in all that time. He may have a
video magazine forum now, but the idea of sensationalizing an event remains
constant, and certainly pre-dates this play.
Whether yellow journalism Ñ a coin termed just about a century ago when
Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolf Hearst were trying to out-sensationalize
each other with their respective newspapers (the World and the Journal), and
the popular cartoonist of the time, Richard Outcault, who drew the Yellow Kid
for the World, was seduced away by the Journal, thus giving birth to the term
Ñ or simply the modern word ÔtabloidÕ (though even this term dates back quite
a ways), theintent is the same. Take an event, gossip, tragedy, etc., mix
with lurid text, photos, and ÔsourcesÕ that only see print if they can manage
to find something horrific, scandalous, or gaudy to say, and voila, you have
women giving birth to aliens, pyramids on Mars, and the Superman curse.
Christopher ReeveÕs recent accident, which left him paralyzed, was used to
promote the idea of a Superman ÔcurseÕ. It seems one need only find two
actors who have played the same role and have suffered a tragedy, and a
ÔcurseÕ is born. George ReevesÕ death was certainly well publicized. His
suicide/murder/accident (take your pick, there is an unauthorized biography to
go with each) made headlines, and usually in the worst taste possible.
However, this still leaves Kirk Alyn (Columbia movie serials in the late
forties), Bob Holiday (portrayed Superman on Broadway) and Dean Cain (current
TV Superman). It would seem those who belie the idea of the curse outnumber
those who are victimized. Fortunately for the curse faction, anything, no
matter how incidental, can be turned into curse potential.
Kirk Alyn, thriving well into his eighties, was Ôstruck downÕ by AlzheimerÕs.
Imagine, the blush of youth barely gone from his creased and furrowed cheeks,
cut down by a malady that is in no way uncommon for his age. Bob Holiday, who
starred as the man of steel in ITÕS A BIRD...ITÕS A PLANE.. ITÕS SUPERMAN, a
musical from 1966 at the Alvin theater on Broadway, was largely ignored by the
ÔcurseÕ mongers. This probably due to the fact that weÕre a TV and movie
nation, and curses are so much better with good video transfer. Though the
notion of a curse is so popular, I would not be surprised if the cartoon
Superman was facing a paternity suit filed by Daisy Duck, currently being
hushed up by Disney Studios. Until this torrid affair is unearthed, weÕll
just move on to 29 year old actor, Dean Cain.
If good looks, a friendly demeanor, throngs of worshipping fans, a string of
beautiful girlfriends, not to mention getting paid to make-out with Teri
Hatcher is a curse, then I know a lengthy list of men who would willingly
follow CainÕs bread crumbs to some hidden gingerbread house to be zapped with
the same curse. The truth is, sometimes bad things happen to very good
people, and we search for some cosmic answers. We invent curses and
conspiracies because we feel there must be some deeper reason. The truth is
insufficient to placate the morbid among us, and so the search goes on, and
sometimes truth and justice are temporarily derailed by the American way of
journalism. ÒHe that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind, and the
fool shall be servant to the wise in heart.Ó
All of the staff here at the Kryptonian Cybernet send all our best wishes to
Christopher Reeve and his family. He humbly reminds us with his courage in
the face of uncertainty, that one need not be Superman, to be a super man.
________________________________________________________________
EPISODE REVIEWS:
ÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑ
Episode #11: ÒChi of SteelÓ
ÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑ-
by Jennifer Traver <ksq3@maristb.marist.edu>
US Airdate: January 8, 1995
Guest Starring: Brian Doyle-Murray, Yuji Okumoto, James Hong,
Leila Hee Olsen, and Steve Eastin
Written by: Hilary Bader
Directed by: James Hayman
Chi of Steel is a perfect example of the Òmore action, less romanceÓ type of
episode that was supposed to dominate the second season in order to garner
higher ratings. Many of us fans of the romance angle groaned when we heard
about the showÕs new direction, and rightly so; ÒChi of Steel,Ó airing in the
first half of the season, was a forgettable episode.
The plot centers on a tai chi master that steals from a not so nice
businessman using indentured servants in his factories. This ÒninjaÓ, if you
will, steals PerryÕs life savings because of his association with this
businessman. So Lois and Clark are on the trail to find out who has been
making these robberies and to recover PerryÕs savings.
The side-plot to this episode concerns Lois not receiving enough respect
because she is a woman. She is denied entrance to PerryÕs gentlemanÕs club,
is refused tai chi lessons because of her gender, and even has a dream in
which Perry, Jimmy, and Clark treat her like a secretary. This part of the
episode really could be left out as it reveals nothing new about Lois and her
neuroses...if it werenÕt for the fact that the ninja turns out to be the old
tai chi instructorÕs grandDAUGHTER, thus proving women are as capable.
Chi of Steel has a sort of comic-book quality to it, and whether that is good
or bad, I will leave up to you. I, like many others, prefer a story with
intelligent writing, minimal goofy effects, and major romantic development.
It is the romance that draws me into watching, and I will continue to watch so
long as ABC remains faithful to the title of the show and puts Lois and Clark
FIRST.
________________________________________________________________
Episode #21: ÒWhine, Whine, WhineÓ
ÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑ
by Jennifer Traver <ksq3@maristb.marist.edu>
US Airdate: May 14, 1995
Guest Starring: Jim Pirri, Barbara Bosson, Jason Carter,
Michelle Abrams, Cliff Bemis, and Sal Viscuso
with Kay Lenz as ÒConstance HunterÓ
Special Appearances: Martin Mull, Ben Stein, Frank Gorshin, and Adam West
Special Guest Stars: Richard Portnow, and Bruce Campbell as ÒBill Church, Jr.Ó
Written by: Kathy McCormick & John McNamara
Directed by: Michael Watkins
This episode, in my not-so-humble opinion, was one of the best of the season,
second only to the season finale. Mixing the perfect blend of romance and
action, ÒWhine, Whine, WhineÓ showed us Lois at the height of her frustration
with Clark, and Clark getting heat as Superman and as himself.
The episode opens with Clark and Lois on a date at a carnival. When a speaker
threatens to fall on a musician, Clark is forced to desert Lois to save the
musician, Calvin Dreg (an appropriate name), who is thoroughly ungrateful. In
ClarkÕs absence, Dan Scardino horns in on Lois and reinforces her doubts about
ClarkÕs commitment to her. Lois also has doubts about Dan. He wonÕt tell her
anything about his work, and Lois suspects he doesnÕt trust her.
Meanwhile, the musician whose life Superman saved chooses to sue him, and
this, as well as the situation with Lois, leads Clark to a personal crisis.
He doesnÕt think he can lead dual lives anymore and contemplates running away
from it all.
Intrigued by Dan ScardinoÕs secrecy, Lois investigates and discovers that Dan
is running a sting involving a mind-altering drug up for approval. The
Intergang agent pursuing approval discovers DanÕs true identity and that Lois
has knowledge of the deal. This is where the crime and action part of the
episode comes in. The agent plans to kill Lois and Dan with a bomb at
SupermanÕs trial. Superman gets rid of the bomb, and accordingly gets the
trial dismissed.
And back in the romance part of the episode, Lois and Clark are both faced
with choices: Lois has to choose between Clark and Dan; and Clark has to
choose between being Superman 24-7 or committing to Lois. Lois makes up her
mind first. The issue of trust finally pushes Dan out of the picture, her
crush on Superman is buried, and behind Door #3 is Ñ Clark Kent. Lois
arrives at ClarkÕs apartment, ready to Òstand up and say the scary wordsÓ, and
is shocked by Clark being all packed and ready to leave. Anyway, they patch
things up and Clark pledges his commitment to Lois.
May I mention a few minor things in this episode that contributed to its
completeness: Continuity was established from previous episodes Ñ for
example, SupermanÕs therapist from Individual Responsibility counseling Lois
in this episode. The Nature Channel with host Martin Mull (on everyoneÕs TV)
served as a metaphor for what was happening to the characters and was
thoroughly amusing. I also enjoyed the three minute music-accompanied part
(was that Clapton?) showing Lois and Clark wanting to be together, talk to
each other, but utterly failing to communicate.
In closing, this episode was chock full of running sidebars and sub-plots to
the story which gave it the kind of quality we hope to see all throughout the
third season.
________________________________________________________________
CLASSIFIEDS
ÑÑÑÑÑ-
I am looking for any Superman lapel pins and buttons. If you know of
any companies that make and/or sell them, I would be interested in that
also.
Ken McKee
stdkrm01@shsu.edu
ÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑ
I have an extra (complete) set of Superman II cards (first series and, yes,
the ones from the movie) from Topps that I would like to sell or trade. The
set is without stickers, but itÕs still a nice set of cards in fairly good
condition. IÕm asking $15 + shipping, or if you have something to trade for
them, make me an offer. IÕd be particularly interested in the Lois and
Clark L&C cards #2 and #8, BJ #1 and #6, or possibly another set of cards or
something. IÕm flexible, so just let me know what youÕd be willing to offer
or write me, Holly (hhervey@ucsd.edu), for more info. Thanks a lot!
ÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑ
ÒTo all those who had a business or personal relationship with the
deceased Alicia Allison Parker: Disposition of the contents of her
safety-deposit box to be opened publicly, 9:00 a.m., June 21, at
First Metropolis Bank.Ó
ÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑ
The following companies have Superman items for sale including T-shirts
(Blue with the red ÔSÕ Shield), caps and watches:.
Johnson Smith Company
4514 19th Street Court East
P.O. Box 25500 Dept. J9506
Bradenton, Florida 34206-5500
You can also get a ChromArt framed reproduction of Action Comics #1 for
$19.98. I donÕt know if this is just the cover or the whole comic.
Time Warner ViewerÕs Edge
P.O. Box 3925
Milford, CT 06460
1-800-947-3928
This catalog has T-shirts and hats. Both catalogs are free.
ÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑ
If you would like to place an ad, send it to one of the following addresses:
Arthur.E.LaMarche@Dartmouth.edu, sykes@ms.uky.edu, or KryptonCN@aol.com.
Try to keep your ads fairly short.
All advertisements must be received by the first Monday of the month to
be included in the next issue of the magazine. Be certain to include
your e-mail address in the ad.
________________________________________________________________
KRYPTONIAN CYBERNET: INTERNET RESOURCES
ÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑ-
This is a list of the changes made since in the recent updating of the
Internet resources file. In addition to obtaining the complete version of
this file via the new KC homepage, you can also get it by e-mail or ftp.
Details can be found below.
Needed: If you know of any other Superman-related Internet resources,
please let me know. If you know of the availability of any such files
on online services not given below, please provide me with information
on the locations of such files. I would also like to know of any
WWW homepages which have links to Superman data of any kind.
WWW Homepages:
ÑÑÑÑÑÑ-
NEW! THE KRYPTONIAN CYBERNET HOMEPAGE!
This site is still under construction, and will probably not be
completely operational until the end of the summer, but you are
certainly welcome to see everything thatÕs ready now and give us
your input!
http://www.ms.uky.edu/~sykes/kc
Andrew GouldÕs Superman Homepage
http://web.syr.edu/~ajgould/superman.html
Victor ChanÕs L&C Homepage
http://gpu2.srv.ualberta.ca/~vichan/www/lc.html
Joe DawisÕ L&C Homepage
http://www.xnet.com/~creacon/LNC
FTP:
ÑÑ
(Number) indicates the size of the file. Note that capitalization is
important on some of the sites, so you probably want to pay close attention
to it on *all* sites.
SITE CHANGES:
The ftp.dhhalden.no site has been moved to ftp.hiof.no, and
the ftp.hyperion.com site has moved to ftp.best.com.
Kryptonian Cybernet Files:
ÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑ-
phoenix.creighton.edu
/pub/zines/kc
kcresrcs.txt (28913) - The complete resources file
kc95.zip (445259) - a zipped file containing all 1995 issues
kc95-05.jpg (164910) - ÒCoverÓ to first anniversary issue, May 1995
kc95-05.txt (222056) - Issue #13, May 1995
kc95-06.txt (134117) - Issue #14, June 1995
kc95-07.txt (182325) - Issue #15, July 1995
Comics Files:
ÑÑÑÑÑÑ
ftp.hiof.no (158.36.33.3)
/pub/Comics/FAQ
Superman.FAQ (52590) - David T. ChappellÕs Superman FAQ
Version 2.31, July 1995
ZeroHour.FAQ (62945) - David T. ChappellÕs Zero Hour FAQ
Version 3.00, June 1995
/pub/Comics/Reference
Crisis.Summary (14460) - A summary of the events of DCÕs ÒCrisis on
Infinite EarthsÓ
Superman.ComicList (42358) - David T. ChappellÕs List of Superman Stories
Version 3.21, July 1995
Superman.TimeLine (5908) - David T. ChappellÕs Superman Time Line
Version 1.20, July 1995 (Post-Crisis)
Lois and Clark Files:
ÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑ
Text: (NOTE SITE AND DIRECTORY CHANGES!)
ftp.best.com
/pub/hyperion/Lois-and-Clark
LC.EpGuide2 (13908) - Jeffery D. SykesÕ second season episode
guide for Lois & Clark
LNC4-17A.ZIP (60888) - log of IRC session where Teri Hatcher showed
and nobody believed it was her!
Pictures: (NOTE SITE AND DIRECTORY CHANGES!)
ftp.best.com
/pub/hyperion/Lois-and-Clark
EWL&C.jpg (76665) - a 536x751 picture of Dean and Teri in an odd
position Ñ from Entertainment Weekly (EW)
Index.jpg (246651) - a 1068x948 thumbnail index of all pictures in
the directory
LCmav1.jpg (79215) - a 612x462 screen capture of Superman flying Lois
into the newsroom
LCmav2.jpg (102109) - a 608x452 screen capture of Superman carrying
Lois, floating above the newsroom
dccasual.jpg (83891) - a 524x603 picture of Dean in an open coat and
striped pants
dcclose.jpg (65813) - a 499x605 close-up of DeanÕs face Ñ it appears
heÕs been in the water recently
dcshirt.jpg (60682) - a 484x590 chest-up picture of Dean in a blue
shirt
dean.gif (60990) - a 272x365 B&W photo of Dean in a sport coat
and tie (marked from DC Comics)
deanbed.jpg (60941) - a 443x603 picture of Dean in a white shirt and red
pants, reclining on a bed
deanpjs.jpg (86699) - a 476x604 picture of Dean in a flannel-looking
shirt and white drawstring pants
deansuit.gif (38943) - a 232x368 photo of Dean in a brown suit and tie
(marked from DC Comics)
deansupe.jpg (54644) - a 443x604 picture of Dean in Superman costume
ewsupes.jpg (92841) - a 360x475 picture of Teri in a red high-slit
dress,
surrounded by cheesecake ÒSupermenÓ (EW)
ewteri.jpg (177183) - a 414x716 picture of Teri in black dress with blue
and white S-shield (EW cover)
kiss.jpg (265472) - a 564x426 scan of card #71 (Superman and Wife?)
from the recent Skybox L&C set
lnclogo.gif (7838) - a logo designed for (I think) a new round of
mailing list t-shirts Ñ ÒFoLCsÓ
sheishot.gif (49887) - a 272x365 photo of Teri in a brown suit, as she
appeared on ÒExtraÓ (Marked DC Comics)
tericoat.gif (81421) - a 412x549 photo of Teri in a brown suit coat
(this picture is very red)
teripant.gif (51358) - a 436x603 picture of Teri in a white coat and
huge red and white-striped pants
unreal.gif (105719) - a very nice 640x480 work up of the famous tattoo
picture on a sphere in a very surreal setting
ftp.best.com/pub/hyperion/Lois-and-Clark is now mirrored at ftp.uml.edu
in the directory /TV/Lois-and-Clark. You may find that the mirror site
will provide better transfer times. In addition, both sites have a
subdirectory (/pub/hyperion/Lois-and-Clark/Thumb for ftp.best.com, and
/TV/Lois-and-Clark/Thumb for ftp.uml.edu) which contains thumbnail size
previews of each picture in the parent directory. You can download these
very quickly to preview the pictures.
How to obtain the complete Resources file:
ÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑ-
Note that the file also contains information about how to use ftp and
ftp e-mail. The file will be located at phoenix.creighton.edu in the
directory /pub/zines/kc and at ftp.hiof.no in the directory
/pub/Comics/Fanzines. For those of you who do not know how to use ftp
or donÕt have ftp access, e-mail a message to either of the addresses
given below. For the body of your message include only the lines
between the dashes below.
Addresses: ftpmail@decwrl.dec.com or ftpmail@sunsite.unc.edu
Body:
ÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑ-
connect phoenix.creighton.edu
chdir /pub/zines/kc
get kcresrcs.txt
ÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑ-
Do not include the lines of dashes, and do not include anything else
in the body of the message. You will receive a message telling you
that your request has been queued. Then, about a day later, you will
receive the file itself.
________________________________________________________________
THE MAILBAG
ÑÑÑÑÑ-
Last month, Tony Cianfaglione enlightened us about several forms of
kryptonite. David Allen Skaar <das3@acpub.duke.edu> has this to add:
I just have one clarification to the descriptions of the various kryptonites.
The one piece of Jewel K Superman was exposed to was brought to earth by a
Phantom Zone villain after he and Superman went back in time together to
Krypton. (The villan was a scientist who had a cure in his lab for a plague
affecting the mer-people of Atlantis). After SupermanÕs ÒexposureÓ to this
Jewel K, anything flammable blew up when he came too close. It turns out that
what the Jewel K was actually doing was acting as a focus for the Òmental
powersÓ of the phantom zone villans, and they were blowing things up, making
Superman think it was his fault. It actually had no affect whatever on
anyone, so it wasnÕt really Kryptonite (it also wasnÕt a remnant of exploded
Krypton.)
I also remember another interesting Kryptonite story for the continuity freaks
out there (not that it matters now), involving the first time Superman
encountered Red K, as Superboy. IÕm not sure if this was actually the first
ever Pre-Crisis appearance of Red K, or if the story was just relating the
first time Superboy encountered it. An alien shows up on earth with a piece
of Red K that will split Superboy into his two parts, Superboy and Clark Kent,
but first he demonstrates its powers on an EARTH caterpillar, splitting it
into a caterpillar and a butterfly. Thus violating the fundamental principle
of Pre-Crisis Kryptonite, which held for all Red K afterwards, that its
radiation only affects Kryptonian life (of course White K came along later and
violated this again).
ÒX-KryptoniteÓ was accidentally created by Supergirl (without her realizing
it, as far as I know) from a piece of Green Kryptonite in an attempt to find a
way to neutralize it. In a masterwork of storytelling, instead of disposing
of it in the accepted pre-Crisis way (dumping it in the ocean in a lead box to
be found by a passing supervillan in a submarine), she threw it away in the
woods to be found by Streaky the cat, who temporarily became Streaky the
Supercat when exposed to it.
David Skaar
________________________________________________________________
End of Section 7
________________________________________________________________
THE RUBY SPEARS SUPERMAN CARTOONS
ÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑ-
by Arnie Harchik <arnie@ici.net>
Thanks to the Internet and Usenet, IÕve been able to track down copies of many
of the cartoons I used to watch as a kid. But probably my favorite find is
one I never knew was on. ÒSupermanÓ was a terrific thirteen episode series
that ran on CBS Saturday mornings in the late Ô80Õs.
While not as classy as ÒBatman: The Animated Series,Ó this series was still
very well done. With itÕs familiar John WilliamsÕ theme, excellent voice
work, and swooping shots of the Man of Steel, IÕm surprised it didnÕt last
beyond itÕs original thirteen week run.
Each week brought great action stories with Superman/Clark, Lois, Jimmy,
Perry, Luthor and assorted sci-fi villains. This series did not focus on
romance between Lois & Clark (although Superman and Lois did seem to have some
sort of thing going) but was more action oriented with clear good guys and bad
guys. Each show was followed by a short segment called ÒSupermanÕs Family
Album,Ó which followed important moments in ClarkÕs life in Smallville with Ma
& Pa. No Superboy in this version.
I was thrilled to get a copy of these shows, but in his effort to edit out
commercials, the gentleman who originally made this tape also edited out some
program titles and all the credits. I would love to know who worked on these
shows. Maybe one of you out there could let me know. Anyway, hereÕs how they
went:
Episode #1 Destroy the Defendroids
Lex Luthor builds the ÒDefendroids,Ó robot policemen which he donates to the
city. After staging some crimes, having the robots stop the crimes before
Superman arrives, and having hired actors tell Superman that Metropolis no
longer needs him, Luthor convinces Superman to leave town. Now that ÒSupesÓ
(as Luthor calls him) is out of the way, Luthor can continue with his original
scheme. Which is to steal a gold shipment that is traveling on one of his
very own trains.
Naturally, Superman only pretended to leave town to see what Luthor was up to.
Once aware of LuthorÕs plan, Superman, with some help from Lois and Jimmy, is
able to stop the robbery and expose the Defendroids. But of course, Superman
is unable to connect Luthor to any of the crimes. And LuthorÕs Kryptonite
ring keeps Superman from hauling him off to jail as well.
A terrific start to the series. No need for a retelling of SupermanÕs origin.
We get right into the action. We have all the classic Superman material here
too. A wimpy Clark, a gutsy Lois, a young Jimmy, and a pompous Luthor. Here
Luthor seems to be a wealthy industrialist like the post-Byrne Luthor, calls
himself Òa brilliant criminal scientistÓ like the pre-Byrne Luthor, but acts
silly mostly like the Gene Hackman Luthor.
ÒSupermanÕs Family AlbumÓ recalls the time that Martha & Jonathan Kent brought
the baby they found to the Smallville orphanage. Hoping that they will be
able to adopt the child, they are disappointed to find out that they are too
old. But this special baby has other ideas. As various parents are brought
in to meet the baby, he does his best (using super powers) to scare these
potential parents off. Eventually he just flies out the window and into
Martha & JonathanÕs bed. There they vow to go back to the orphanage and
demand to adopt baby ÒClark.Ó
A very cute episode and probably the best of the bunch. I guess this Clark
starts right off with all his super powers.
Episode #2 Fugitives From Space
STAR Labs finds a crashed space ship outside of Metropolis. Inside, Superman
and crew discover two aliens in suspended animation. As Superman prepares to
bring the ship back to STAR labs, Jimmy accidentally presses a button that
brings the creatures out of their sleep. Later that night, one alien slips
out in a space suit, grabs some ÒeggsÓ and drops them in the harbor where one
hatches and grows into a monster. Superman stops the monster with his cold
breath and then checks the ship again. Both aliens appear to still be in
suspended animation. Suddenly a tape player is accidentally triggered and the
investigators hear the alien captainÕs log. Apparently this ship was a police
vehicle chasing an outlaw who had plans to conquer the Earth with the
creatures hatched from these alien eggs. The ship captured the outlaw and was
leaving Earth when it was caught in a meteor shower and fell back to Earth.
So now, one of these aliens is a lawman and the other a criminal, but which is
which?
After they are awakened, the criminal eventually gives herself away by using
SupermanÕs x-ray vision as a power source to hatch her eggs. With super cold
breath Superman defeats all the creatures, and captures the alien. The alien
lawman thanks Superman and friends and takes his prisoner back home.
Another entertaining episode. I really enjoy the artwork here. Lots of shots
of ClarkÕs shirt being ripped off to reveal the red & gold ÒSÓ. And many
shots of the ÒSÓ flying right at us. The voices in this series are terrific
too. It sounds like the cast really had fun on this show.
ÒSupermanÕs Family AlbumÓ tells the story of toddler ClarkÕs first trip to the
Supermarket where he stacks cans at super speed, cooks hot dogs with his heat
vision, and flies his nervous mother home in her car. A fun story.
Episode #3 By The Skin Of The DragonÕs Teeth
Lois, Clark, and Jimmy head to China, where Luthor has just purchased the
Great Wall of China. While traveling there, LuthorÕs henchmen attempt to
eliminate the reporters. After Superman rescues them, they all continue on
the journey to the wall. No one seems too upset with Luthor for the attempt
on their lives. Behind the scenes, Luthor reveals that he bought the wall so
he could claim the treasures underneath. And he plans on tricking Superman
into digging out most of the treasure. When this happens, one of the many
treasures Luthor finds is a gold dragon. But the dragon is cursed and when
Luthor removes its tooth, the dragon comes to life and begins to destroy
China. Eventually Superman grabs Luthor, and forces him to return the tooth
to the dragon. With the dragon stopped, Luthor later returns the Great Wall
to the people of China.
Another good episode. Here Clark is at his wimpiest. When it looks like the
gang is in danger, he just faints. I donÕt know why Lois or anyone would talk
to him afterwards. But thatÕs what makes it a classic Superman type story.
Luthor also has some help this episode from a dizzy girlfriend similar to the
Valerie Perrine character in the movies. Here ÒMs. MorganberryÓ adds some
comic relief.
This episode of ÒSupermanÕs Family AlbumÓ recalls Ma & Pa KentÕs first night
out and how ÒinterestingÓ an evening the babysitter had with young Clark.
Another cute episode.
Episode #4 (missing title)
An overthrown cyborg dictator from EarthÕs future comes back in time to
Metropolis. He hopes to change the past so he can rule the future. With his
cyborg powers he slowly changes the city of Metropolis into a living being
while also changing the people of Metropolis into cyborgs. Lois and Jimmy
eventually get changed, but Superman is able to keep them from hearing the
cyborgÕs commands and gets them to help him defeat the cyborg. With some
equipment from STAR labs, the trio is able to capture the dictator and return
him to the future. During their battle, SupermanÕs secret identity is
revealed. ItÕs fun to watch an episode where everyone knows that Clark is
Superman. But of course, when Superman returns the city to normal, he also
programs everyone to forget about his dual identity.
More great science fiction and action in this episode. We also see a couple
of minutes of romance between Superman and Lois as they celebrate her
birthday. But this series doesnÕt want to focus on that.
ÒSupermanÕs Family AlbumÓ looks back on little ClarkÕs first day at school.
There, some kids see him flying but no one believes them, Clark meets Lana,
and best of all, when asked to draw pictures of home, Clark draws a picture of
Krypton.
Episode #5 The Big Scoop
A scientist in Smallville invents the ÒChronotron.Ó It allows you to see one
hour into the future. Of course, Lex Luthor has to have it. He kidnaps
friends of Superman, including Ma & Pa Kent. While Superman is rescuing them,
Luthor grabs the Chronotron. Later while viewing a crime one hour in the
future, Luthor sees reporter Clark Kent pull off his shirt to become Superman.
Now heÕs got him!
Luthor has a ÒGeraldoÓ type reporter on his TV network plan to do a show
revealing SupermanÕs secret identity. Later, LuthorÕs goons grab Clark Kent
and bring him to a TV studio. Then in front of a live audience, Clark sits
next to a monitor showing LuthorÕs rockets headed for space. On the rockets
are ÒChronotronÓ satellites. When these satellites are in place, Luthor will
be able to see what happens anywhere on Earth one hour ahead of time. The
only way to stop the rockets is for Clark to change into Superman on live
television. How will Clark get out of this one?
Suddenly Superman appears in space and destroys the rockets. But of course
they are lined with Kryptonite so it does take some time. Then Superman
bursts through the walls of the TV studio to shake hands with Clark.
Meanwhile, Lois breaks into LuthorÕs compound and destroys his ÒChronotron.Ó
Unfortunately, destroying the Chronotron eliminates any evidence connecting
Luthor to the crime.
Then Superman flies ÒClarkÓ back to Smallville where the mask is taken off to
reveal that Pa Kent was disguised as Clark to protect his sonÕs dual identity.
A busy episode and one of my favorites. I was looking forward to seeing how
Superman would get out of this one. I was a little disappointed that he only
needed his dad in a mask to fool the world. But then, this world is fooled by
a simple pair of glasses every day. Luthor is at his best in this one too.
The best line in the show when his scheme fails: ÒI wish I had hair, so I
could pull it out!Ó
In ÒSupermanÕs Family AlbumÓ Clark goes on a hike with the boy scouts.
Surprisingly, not much really happens.
Episode #6 (missing title)
General Zod and two female prisoners, all in the Phantom Zone, look down on
Earth and Superman and complain about their imprisonment. Then they create
ÒThe Hunter,Ó a creature that will travel to Earth and destroy the son of
Jor-El. Hunter reaches Earth and finds he has the power to change into any
material he touches.
Using the Daily Planet staff as bait, he eventually finds Kal-El and
temporarily defeats him in battle. As Superman recovers, he knows this foe
will be difficult to beat. He creates a device and then asks Lois to do him a
favor if Hunter defeats him. Meanwhile, Hunter finds Luthor and demands him
to hand over his ring. Now Hunter can turn himself into Kryptonite.
Later Hunter, disguised as Ma Kent, attacks Superman, turns into Kryptonite,
and kills the Man of Steel. Here we get to see this seriesÕ version of ÒThe
Death of Superman.Ó ItÕs short but also well done. As Lois and Jimmy say
their last goodbyes to Superman and walk out of the funeral service, Lois
tells Jimmy about the request Superman made. Should he die in battle she
should press the button on this box he gave her. She does and of course
Superman returns to life. Apparently he just faked his death with suspended
animation to give himself a chance against a Kryptonite Hunter.
Meanwhile Hunter has freed General Zod from the Phantom Zone and is about to
free the other two women when Superman returns. Another battle with Hunter
and this time Superman wins by reflecting the HunterÕs powers right back at
him with a satellite dish. Superman sends Zod back to the zone and the Earth
is safe again.
My favorite episode of the series. Hunter is a villain that really challenges
Superman. And the faked death was a more original way to battle him. It was
interesting to watch how everyone in this series reacted to SupermanÕs death.
It was much quicker and simpler than the recent ÒdeathÓ in the comics. The
best line in the episode though was from Ma Kent to Pa: ÒPa, should we have
left our son alone with that monster?Ó
Young Clark Kent runs away from home in this piece from ÒSupermanÕs Family
Album.Ó But he doesnÕt get very far before he starts to miss the comforts and
love of home.
Episode #7 Triple Play
The Prankster gets out of jail. With some sort of transporter device heÕs
invented, he steals the World Series games and brings all the players to an
island. He also captures Lois, Jimmy, and some other friends of Superman.
Then when the Man of Steel comes to rescue them, the Prankster demands that
Superman play ball against this captive team to ÒwinÓ his friends freedom.
My copy of this series only included a few minutes of this episode. But if I
had to miss one episode this was definitely THE one. It looked pretty silly,
and the Prankster got to be quite annoying after only a few seconds.
Unfortunately, I also missed this installment of ÒSupermanÕs Family Album.Ó
Episode #8 (missing title)
This episode starts on Paradise Island, where Wonder Woman and the Amazons are
in the middle of a traditional ceremony. Meanwhile in space, Superman is
destroying a comet that is threatening the Earth. A piece of the comet lands
on Paradise Island and sets free the prisoner ÒSirene,Ó an evil sorceress with
plans to rule the Earth. Sirene imprisons all the Amazons, but Diana escapes
to find help in the outside world.
Wonder Woman reaches Metropolis where she finds Superman. Superman says to
Wonder Woman ÒitÕs been a long time.Ó So apparently these two have a history
here, but we never find out what it is. Superman agrees to help the Amazons,
but before he and Wonder Woman can head for Paradise Island, they are attacked
by SireneÕs creatures. After a number of battles with mythological beasts,
the duo make it to Paradise Island, where they eventually defeat Sirene and
free the Amazons.
Not a bad episode. But the voices of Wonder Woman and especially Sirene got
to be annoying after a while. It was good to see another hero in one of these
episodes. It would have been nice to see more of the JLA had the series
continued. It was fun to watch Lois get jealous of Wonder Woman too.
In ÒSupermanÕs Family Album,Ó young Clark has a birthday party. Here he uses
his x-ray vision to peak at his birthday presents and to play pin the tail on
the donkey. He also fires up the BBQ grill with his heat vision. It looked
like a lot more fun than my birthday parties.
Episode #9 Bonechill
Professor Chilton Bone at Metropolis University is an expert on some ancient
talisman. The rest of the faculty laughs at Prof. Bone, so you can guess what
happens next. Prof. Bone uses the ancient powers of the talisman to change
into ÒBonechill,Ó a skeleton-like creature who summons other demonic creatures
to destroy the University.
A somewhat lame episode that doesnÕt get any deeper than that. Superman
battles the creatures one by one and defeats them. He eventually catches up
with Bonechill, destroys the talisman, and hauls Prof. Bone off to prison.
Teenager Clark Kent takes his driversÕ test in ÒSupermanÕs Family Album.Ó He
doesnÕt use many super powers here, but he does impress his driving
instructor.
Episode #10 The Beast Beneath These Streets
It turns out there is an ÒOld MetropolisÓ buried beneath the city of
Metropolis. As it is dug out, Superman tells the story of an evil scientist
back then who tried experimenting with animals. He would try and draw
strength from the animals, but instead was turned into one. He was never
heard from again. Until now of course. As the old city is being explored, a
Bat-like creature emerges and attacks. It is the old scientist and he is
still planning to conquer the world. Eventually he puts his lab together
again, tricks Superman into coming there and then steals all of SupermanÕs
powers.
Superman, with some help from Lois and Jimmy, devises a plan to get his powers
back. First Superman checks to see if he is still vulnerable to Kryptonite.
The Kryptonite does not affect him, and so Superman plans on using it against
this Bat-beast. The trio head for the old city, battle the beast and after
exposing him to Kryptonite, they are able to transfer his powers back to
Superman.
One of my favorites. ItÕs great to see Superman without his powers still save
the day. In one scene, Superman has to fight a bunch of hoodlums without his
super powers. They still are no match for the Man of Steel. Again, this
beast is one of SupermanÕs more interesting foes because he is one of the more
challenging ones.
This episode contains the funniest moment in the series. Superman heads to
ClarkÕs apartment to get some Kryptonite to use against the beast. Later Lois
asks: ÒWhatÕs in the box?Ó Superman: ÒKryptonite.Ó Lois: ÒYou SAVE
Kryptonite????Ó
Clark Kent has his first date with Lana Lang in ÒSupermanÕs Family Album.Ó It
goes well, but Clark is nervous and accidentally rips the car door off.
Later, the concert they are attending is delayed because the bandÕs van broke
down. Clark flies off to help fix the disabled van. During the concert, the
band members see Clark in the audience and are a bit surprised.
Episode #11 WildShark
Perry White and his wife are vacationing on a cruise ship. The ship
disappears in the Bermuda triangle and Superman investigates. He arrives just
in time to save another ship from disappearing but still canÕt figure out what
happened to PerryÕs boat. As Clark Kent he heads for Bermuda to investigate.
Not to be Òscooped,Ó Lois and Jimmy head for Bermuda too. Eventually they
learn that ÒWildshark,Ó the worlds most powerful pirate, is stealing ships in
the Bermuda triangle. Wildshark has his men capture the nosy reporters from
the Daily Planet.
Wildshark has a setup similar to any good James Bond villain. ItÕs a huge
facility designed to capture cruise ships and hold everyone hostage.
Eventually Superman tears the place up and frees the hostages. But Wildshark
makes off with Lois and sends a tidal wave to destroy Bermuda. Superman
destroys the wave, rescues Lois, and captures Wildshark.
Not a bad episode. Action packed and a real 007 ripoff. But it is fun. And
the Daily Planet crew has a good time in Bermuda. Lois really shows her stuff
too by running around WildsharkÕs facility like a true spy.
In this edition of ÒSupermanÕs Family Album,Ó Clark tries out for the high
school football team. He has a great showing on tryout day. But Pa talks to
him later and asks him to think if it is really fair for Clark to compete with
ÒnormalÓ boys. Clark decides to not play on the team. One thing he does to
get off the team is to start wearing glasses.
Episode #12 Night of the Living Shadows
One of LuthorÕs scientists invents the Shadow Suit. Whoever wears it becomes
a human shadow and can slither through cracks in walls and not be touched.
Naturally Luthor has his goons use the suit to steal some jewels. Later
Luthor even tries the suit himself. He then learns that if he wears the suit
for over two hours, he will remain a shadow forever.
While investigating the story, Lois stumbles in on the Shadow Suit ÒGang,Ó
grabs a suit and secretly joins the gang, unaware that she must remove the
suit in less than two hours.
During their next crime spree, the gang battles Superman and almost wins.
Lois reveals herself and helps Superman but is still unable to remove the
suit. Now aware of the time limit and of LuthorÕs connection, Superman and
Lois race to find the gang. Finding the crooks in an old warehouse Superman
lifts the building and tosses it into space towards the sun. He threatens to
let it keep flying until the goons tell him how to get Lois out of the suit.
They agree, Lois is freed and the crooks are caught. Of course Luthor got out
of the building just in time and destroyed any evidence linking him to the
shadow suit.
Another terrific episode. The shadow suit was a really unique device and well
handled. And it was good to see Lois and Superman really work as a team.
Unfortunately, this was the last we got to see of Luthor in this series.
ItÕs high school graduation day in ÒSupermanÕs Family Album.Ó Clark runs
around town taking care of chores and trying to make it to graduation on time.
Then when almost there, he sees storm clouds over the outdoor ceremony. He
spends a good chunk of time in the sky using super breath to blow away the
storm. He makes it back to the ceremony just in time to get his diploma.
Episode #13 The Last Time I Saw Earth
Lois and Jimmy are aboard AmericaÕs first interplanetary space ship. Soon
they are captured by aliens and taken into Òhyperspace.Ó Superman, aware of
the danger, is already in pursuit and seems to have no trouble traveling in
hyperspace himself.
The aliens bring Lois, Jimmy, and the space ships crew to meet their leader
(who looks like Jabba the Hut from Star Wars). He feeds them a huge dinner,
has them analyzed, and informs them that they and the entire Earth are being
sold to another planet that finds humans Òappetizing.Ó
Meanwhile Superman lands on this alien world and looks for clues for his
friends whereabouts in the local bar (another familiar Star Wars-like scene).
He eventually finds a young alien who helps him track down his friends.
Superman defeats the aliens, rescues the crew, and brings everyone home.
An entertaining sci-fi episode, even if it did borrow ideas from George Lucas.
ItÕs good to see that this Superman can travel across space and still give it
to the bad guys. You could tell that this was the last in a series of
episodes. As Superman brings the space ship back to Earth, Lois tells Jimmy
how Superman is still ÒEarthÕs Greatest Hero.Ó
In ÒSupermanÕs Family AlbumÓ Clark bids farewell to Ma and Pa and heads to
Metropolis for a job at the Daily Planet. Ma gives Clark a package and says
itÕs something she put together from his baby blankets.
Perry White agrees to give Kent a job if he can outscoop Lois Lane.
Meanwhile, some crook has stolen a tank and is destroying downtown Metropolis.
Lois and Clark head out to get the story. Eventually Lois ditches Clark and
is driving after the tank when the bridge she is on gives way and her truck
heads into the river. Clark watches and says, Òthis looks like a job for,
hmm.Ó Then he jumps in a phone booth and out comes Superman, who saves Lois,
stops the tank, and impresses a city.
Later at the Daily Planet, Perry welcomes Clark to the team, while Lois asks
Clark if he knows Superman. Clark gives that familiar wink to the camera and
says Òa little.Ó
Like everyone else I am looking forward to the Fall of Ô96 and a new Superman
animated series from the creators of B:TAS. I hope the new show will have the
same action, excitement, and fun that this series had. ÒSupermanÓ of the late
Ô80Õs really captured the grandeur that is Superman.
________________________________________________________________
End of Section 8
________________________________________________________________
COMING ATTRACTIONS
ÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑ
A List of Upcoming Comics Featuring The Superman Family of Characters
Assembled by Jeffery D. Sykes
This monthly section is dedicated to giving you official information
concerning which comics you should watch for in the near future in order
to keep up with Superman, Superboy, Supergirl, and all the rest of the
Superman family of characters.
The information which follows is reprinted without permission from Diamond
Previews and is in no way meant to serve as a replacement for that magazine.
I strongly recommend that each reader find his or her own copy for additional
detailed information on the entire DC Universe! Note that Diamond is now
the exclusive distributor of DC Comics!
Notes: In September, DCÕs next big event takes place Ñ UNDERWORLD UNLEASHED!
Written by Mark Waid (FLASH, IMPULSE, KINGDOM COME) and drawn by
Howard Porter (THE RAY), this event focuses on DCÕs villains, as an
immensely powerful now player offers new, increased powers to many
of DCÕs villains. However, as usual, the offer has a catch Ñ this
new entity, Neron, expects something in return! UNDERWORLD UNLEASHED
is a three-issue miniseries, and it will feature tie-ins throughout
the DC Universe. Note however, that *none* of the tie-ins are
required for following the story. In addition, there will be several
one-shot specials which tie in, beginning with this monthÕs focus on
Apokolips.
Because of the nature of this crossover, I have decided not to list
the vast majority of tie-ins as part of Coming Attractions. The only
parts of UNDERWORLD UNLEASHED that you will find below are the mini-
series itself (as I assume that Superman will be involved) and
the same Super-books which are always listed. If one of the future
one-shot tie-ins focuses on the Superman family, it will also be
listed. However, you should note that one of the primary features of
this event is that villains will be showing up in unusual places.
This means that several Superman villains may show up in non-Superman
titles. Rather than include these in the full listing, I will point
out any such occurences in these notes. Just for your convenience,
this monthÕs Coming Attractions includes a complete checklist of the
miniseries and all tie-ins.
On the UNDERWORLD UNLEASHED front, Lord Satanus appears in PRIMAL
FORCE #13 (9/12), Blaze causes problems in FATE #13 (9/26), and
the Atomic Skull finds his way into THE RAY #18 (9/26). Note that
I am assuming this is the same Atomic Skull introduced in ACTION
COMICS #670 and SUPERMAN: THE MAN OF STEEL #5.
Finally, back to the Superman books! This month begins the next big
Superman Òevent,Ó as well, as DC presents ÒThe Trial of Superman.Ó
This major 12-part saga, which begins in the extra-sized SUPERMAN: THE
MAN OF STEEL #50, offers action, intrigue, guest stars galore, and
surprise villains Ñ and the action begins when a depowered Man of
Steel is placed on trial for the destruction of Krypton! September
also brings the 3-part crossover between SUPERBOY, LEGION OF SUPER-
HEROES, and LEGIONNAIRES, as well as *two* elseworlds tales which
feature alternate versions of Superman Ñ SUPERMAN: AT EARTHÕS END
is a sequel to the prior KAMANDI: AT EARTHÕS END, which brings us
a post-apocalyptic Superman trying to prevent an army of Bat-men,
and LEAGUE OF JUSTICE is a 2-part tale of a Justice League set in
a time of sword and sorcery. SuperboyÕs (cloned) parentage is
finally revealed in the SUPERBOY ANNUAL #2, and the tale of SupermanÕs
first adventure in space is detailed in the ACTION COMICS ANNUAL #7.
1. List of Titles by Shipping Date:
ÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑ-
Date: Comic title and information:
ÑÑ ÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑ-
July 4: Action Comics #713
Michelinie, Dwyer, & Rodier
$1.95
The Darkstars #34 (Supergirl)
THE SIEGE OF THE ZI CHARAM: Part 3 (of 5)
Friedman, Collins, & Branch
$2.25
Green Arrow #100 (Superman)
Dixon, Aparo/DaMaggio, & Fernandez/Campanella
48 pgs, $3.95
July 11: Adventures of Superman Annual #7
K. Kesel, R. Wagner, & Rubinstein
Cover by Walt Simonson
56 pgs, $3.95
Damage #16 (Supergirl)
THE SIEGE OF THE ZI CHARAM: Part 4 (of 5)
Joyner, Armstrong, & Ensign
$2.25
Loose Cannon #4 (of 4)
Loeb & Pollina
$1.75
Superboy #19
K. Kesel, Grummett, & Hazlewood
$1.95
Superman: The Man of Steel #48
L. Simonson, Bogdanove, & Janke
$1.95
July 18: The New Titans #125
THE SIEGE OF THE ZI CHARAM: Part 5 (of 5)
Wolfman, Rosado, & Champagne/Blyberg
48 pgs, $3.50
Showcase Ô95 #8 (of 12)
Mongul Story - Part 2 (of 2)
Tomasi, Eaton, Eklund
Cover by Jurgens & Austin
48 pgs, $2.95
Steel Annual #2
L. Simonson, Sharpe, & Pepoy
56 pgs, $3.95
Superman #104
Jurgens, Garcia-Lopez, & Rubinstein
$1.95
July 25: Adventures of Superman #527
K. Kesel, Immonen, Marzan Jr
$1.95
Steel #19
Michelinie, Gosier, & Faber
$1.95
Superman vs. Aliens #3 (of 3)
from DC and Dark Horse
Dan Jurgens with Kevin Nowlan
$4.95
JULY Super-FanÕs Total: $26.05
Hopeless CompletistÕs Total: $41.20 (!!!)
August 1: Action Comics #714
Michelinie, Dwyer, & Rodier
$1.95
Green Arrow #101 (Superman)
Dixon, Damaggio, Campanella
$2.25
August 8: Superboy #20
K. Kesel, Grummett, & Hazlewood
$1.95
Superman: The Man of Steel #49
L. Simonson, Pelletier, & Austin
$1.95
August 15: The New Titans #126
Hrebik & Mays
$2.25
Showcase Ô95 #9 (of 12)
Lois Lane story
Goff & Staton
Cover by Gosier
48 pgs, $2.95
Superman #106
Jurgens, Garcia-Lopez, & Rubinstein
Cover by Jurgens & Rubinstein
$1.95
August 22: Adventures of Superman #528
K. Kesel, Immonen, & Marzan Jr.
$1.95
Steel #20
L. Simonson, Gosier, & Faber
$1.95
August 29: Shadowdragon Annual #1
Michelinie/Breeding, Giordano, & Breeding
Cover by Breeding & Janson
56 pgs, $3.50
Superman: The Man of Tomorrow #2
Stern, Grummett, & Breeding
$1.95
AUGUST Super-FanÕs Total: $18.85
Hopeless CompletistÕs Total: $24.60
September 5: Action Comics #715
Michelinie, G. Kane, & Rodier
Cover by Dwyer & Rodier
$1.95
Showcase Ô95 #10 (of 12)
Gangbuster Story
Ordway & Staton
Cover by Frenz
48 pgs, $2.95
Superboy Annual #2
K. Kesel/B. Kesel, Brewer, & Parks
Cover by Brewer & K. Kesel
56 pgs, $3.95
Underworld Unleashed #1 (of 3)
Waid, Porter, & Green
48 pgs, $2.95
September 12: The New Titans #127
Wolfman, Rosado, & Blyberg
$2.25
Superboy #21
FUTURE TENSE: Part 1 (of 3)
K. Kesel, Grummett, & Hazlewood
Cover by Grummett & K. Kesel
$1.95
Superman: The Man of Steel #50
THE TRIAL OF SUPERMAN: Part 1 (of 12)
L. Simonson, Bogdanove, & Janke
48 pgs, $2.95
September 19: Legion of Super-Heroes #74 (Superboy)
FUTURE TENSE: Part 2 (of 3)
Peyer/McCraw, Moder, & Boyd
Cover by A. Davis & Farmer
$2.25
Showcase Ô95 #11 (of 12)
Agent Liberty Story
Jurgens & St. Pierre
Cover by Dan Jurgens
48 pgs, $2.95
Superman #106
THE TRIAL OF SUPERMAN: Part 2 (of 12)
Jurgens, Frenz, & Rubinstein
Cover by Jurgens & Rubinstein
$1.95
Superman: At EarthÕs End
Tom Veitch & Frank Gomez
48 pgs, Prestige Format, $4.95
September 26: Action Comics Annual #7
Michelinie, D. Robertson, & Vancata
Cover by Walt Simonson
56 pgs, $3.95
Adventures of Superman #529
THE TRIAL OF SUPERMAN: Part 3 (of 12)
K. Kesel, Immonen, & Marzan Jr.
$1.95
League of Justice #1 (of 2)
Hannigan & Giordano
48 pgs, Prestige Format, $5.95
Legionnaires #31 (Superboy)
FUTURE TENSE: Part 3 (of 3)
Peyer/McCraw, Moy, & Carani
$2.25
The Outsiders #24 (Supergirl, Steel, Superboy, etc)
M. Barr, C. Jones, & Hunt
$2.25
Steel #21
UNDERWORLD UNLEASHED tie-in
L. Simonson, Gosier, & Faber
Cover by Gosier & Janke
$1.95
SEPTEMBER Super-FanÕs Total: $28.75
Hopeless CompletistÕs Total: $49.35 (!!!)
2. UNDERWORLD UNLEASHED Checklist:
ÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑ
9/5: Underworld Unleashed #1
Aquaman #14
Azrael #10
Damage #18
Green Arrow #102
Guy Gardner: Warrior #36
Manhunter #12
9/12: Extreme Justice #10
Flash #107
Primal Force #13
The Spectre #35
9/19: Underworld Unleashed: Apokolips - Dark Uprising
Green Lantern #68
Hawkman #26
Justice League America #105
R.E.B.E.L.S. Ô95 #13
Starman #13
9/26: Detective Comics #691
Fate #13
Impulse #8
The Ray #18
Steel #21
10/3: Underworld Unleashed #2
Catwoman #27
Damage #19
Green Arrow #103
Guy Gardner: Warrior #37
Robin #23
10/10: Underworld Unleashed: Batman - DevilÕs Asylum
Batman #525
Extreme Justice #11
Legion of Super-Heroes #75
Primal Force #14
Superboy #22
The Spectre #36
10/17: Underworld Unleashed: Abyss - HellÕs Sentinel
Green Lantern #69
Hawkman #27
Justice League America #106
R.E.B.E.L.S. Ô95 #14
10/24: Underworld Unleashed: Patterns of Fear
Adventures of Superman #530
Detective Comics #692
Fate #14
Justice League Task Force #30
10/31: Underworld Unleashed #3
Legionnaires #32
Superman: The Man of Tomorrow #3
The Ray #19
3. Spoilers:
ÑÑÑÑÑÑ
September 5:
ÑÑÑÑÑ-
Action Comics #715
Driven mad by Lex LuthorÕs insidious experiments, a crazed Parasite
battles Superman and drains the Man of Steel of his powers. Plus, Team
Luthor reorganizes under the ContessaÕs command.
Showcase Ô95 #10 (of 12)
Gangbuster returns when Jose Delgado encounters a deadly situation in the
streets of Fawcett City, the home of Captain Marvel. The first backup
features Darkstar Ferrin Colos. In the second backup: After her defeat at
the hands of Superman, Hi-Tech retreated into a virtual reality. But a
hostile force makes her new world crumble into a realm of horror. Part 1
of a 2-part story by Barry Kitson, with art by Lee Sullivan and Ray
McCarthy.
Superboy Annual #2
A YEAR ONE Annual - The truth about the KidÕs past is revealed at last.
Superboy learns from whom he was cloned, and the knowledge may have
disastrous long-term effects on his life. Plus, Superboy confronts the
one surviving, prototype clone Ñ a bizzare, imperfect duplicate.
Underworld Unleashed #1
The villains of the DC Universe are the key playing pieces in an insidious
game to corrupt EarthÕs heroes in this exciting new miniseries. Neron is
an ageless entity of demonic power with a ravenous appetite for human
souls. By supercharging the worldÕs super-villains, EarthÕs ever more
desperate heroes are pushed to their moral breaking points and, in some
cases, beyond, where Òdeals with the devilÓ may be the only option to
stopping widespread death and destruction. But those who strike bargains
with Neron are forever bound by the terms of the deal.
September 12:
ÑÑÑÑÑÑ
The New Titans #127
ÒMeltdownÓ continues: With the tension in the team reaching the boiling
point, the Titans have begun to unravel: Damage and Arsenal come to blows
for the final time, leaving the Titans with a broken leader; Terra finds
an unexpected love interest and is forced to choose between her new
relationship and the team; MirageÕs new abilities manifest themselves in
nightmarish fashion; and Changeling returns to hunt the women heÕs loved.
Superboy #21
FUTURE TENSE: Part 1 (of 3) - A classic DC tradition is reborn when the
Legion of Super-Heroes travels back to the late 20th century to save the
life of Valor and meets Superboy for the first time. The Legionnaires
must have SuperboyÕs help to save Valor, but the Kid takes their sudden
appearance as a threat, and all may be lost unless Brainiac 5 takes
drastic action.
Superman: The Man of Steel #50
THE TRIAL OF SUPERMAN: Part 1 (of 12) - His powers drained by the
Parasite, Superman is taken into custody to stand trial before an
intergalactic tribunal for the destruction of Krypton. And with Superman
off-planet, an alternate timeline from ZERO HOUR seems to be turning real
as Alpha Centurion steps in to replace the Man of Steel, not only as
EarthÕs defender, but also apparently as a potential suitor for Lois Lane.
September 19:
ÑÑÑÑÑÑ
Legion of Super-Heroes #74
FUTURE TENSE: Part 2 (of 3) - Unwillingly yanked into the 30th century,
Superboy is none too happy about being trapped in the future. But his
presence is critical to saving Valor and to stopping one of the KidÕs old,
old enemies, the Scavenger.
Showcase Ô95 #11 (of 12)
Agent Liberty is back in action, but his life will be forever altered
when he meets the deadly ultraright-wing ÒSons of Liberty.Ó The first
backup focuses on Arkham Asylum, while the second backup continues the
story from last issue. The manipulator of Hi-TechÕs virtual reality
nightmares is revealed: Killgrave, one of SupermanÕs oldest foes. Hi-Tech
must defeat him to learn whether she is woman or machine.
Superman#106
THE TRIAL OF SUPERMAN: Part 2 (of 12) - The verdict is in: Superman is
guilty in connection with the destruction of Krypton! While he awaits
sentencing, the Man of Steel is thrown into an interstellar prison filled
with the galaxyÕs worst criminals and is forced to witness the brutal
execution of an old foe.
Superman: At EarthÕs End
In a nightmarish Elseworlds future, the Man of Steel has begun a fight for
the memory of one of his oldest allies. If he fails, a new scourge will
sweep across the Earth: an army of bat-men created from the remains of a
long-dead Dark Knight. Superman is pushed to the limit as he struggles
against mad geneticists and their monstrous constructs.
September 26:
ÑÑÑÑÑÑ
Action Comics Annual #7
A YEAR ONE Annual - Superman learns the limitations of his awesome power
in his first space adventure Ñ and some of the lessons are humbling to
the young Man of Steel.
Adventures of Superman #529
THE TRIAL OF SUPERMAN: Part 3 (of 12) - A prison uprising leads to the
escape of several inmates Ñ including Superman, who is chained to the
fugitives. Meanwhile, on Earth, public opinion begins to turn against
the missing Man of Steel. Plus, Superboy, Steel, Supergirl, and Alpha
Centurion prepare to leave Earth in search of Superman...but not before
Lois Lane springs a big surprise on Alpha Centurion.
League of Justice #1 (of 2)
In this Elseworlds 2-parter, a group of teenagers is transported to a
magical world of sword and sorcery. Only by helping to save this world
do the teenagers have any hope of returning home. But they can only do
that if they can secure the aid of this strange landÕs mystically-
empowered beings Ñ heroes familiar yet compellingly different.
Legionnaires #31
FUTURE TENSE: Part 3 (of 3) - As the battle against Scavenger ends, the
galaxy prepares for Òthe Second Coming of Valor,Ó an event that the Legion
had tried to keep under wraps until a stray comment from Superboy turns it
into a frenzied media event.
Outsiders #24
In the guest-star-filled series finale, the Eradicator joins Superboy,
Supergirl, Steel, and Alpha Centurion on a quest to find Superman,
leaving the Outsiders to face the return of Eclipso alone.
Steel #21
An UNDERWORLD UNLEASHED tie-in - ItÕs an all-out iron war when Metallo,
empowered by Neron, arrives in Washington D.C. with one goal: the total
annihilation of the man called Steel.
________________________________________________________________
*******************************************************************************
End of Issue #15
