Superman #70 (August 1992)



"Raising The Stakes"
Script: Dan Jurgens
Pencils: Dan Jurgens
Inks: Brett Breeding
Colors: Glenn Whitmore
Letters: John Costanza

Grade: B-


Now that's how you draw a cover in the Image Era!

As of this issue, Jurgens seems to be back on his game. That doesn't necessarily make this a good story, but the art is pretty darn good, and the characterizations are mostly working, except when Jurgens tries to write two teens talking to one another:



...or purposefully driving off of a cliff together:



Great moment, but I really didn't need Robin saying, "Totally Rad!".


As for the story itself, it lost me. Too much going on in this little inbetween episode that both concludes the Ruthven storyline and sets up the Blaze/Satanus storyline coming up next. Somehow, the climax had nothing to do with our heroes at all, though Jurgens attempts to somehow justify Robin's inclusion in this story by the close:



But, otherwise, it's all Blaze, and the subsequent final panels are crammed with confusing reveals: Blaze's brother is someone named Satanus, Blaze somehow now knows Satanus (who we know absolutely nothing about) wants Superman's soul, Collin Thornton conveniently shows up out of nowhere to offer Sam Foswell the job of a lifetime (is he under Satanus' control or something??), and I guess even though we just saw Ruthven die, he's now inside of Babe Tanaka instead??



What the hell (no pun intended) is going on, here? I'm utterly confused by the close instead of excited to see where this mess of plotlines ends up going.


However, a messy plot aside, Jurgens offers some great art and even greater characterization (well, Robin aside) for us to (ahem) sink our teeth into.

First off, I didn't understand last issue that this random guy mourning his dead family and considering ending it all was Sam Foswell:



I guess his being a widower to a wife and son is new information here? Anyway, it becomes clear this is Sam as of this issue, and wow does this guy become inexplicably loveable on the way down, reciting the Our Father while trying to kill himself, and then being enamored by the idea of a guardian angel. It's all Jurgens' art and pacing, really:



Of course, that's actually Blaze, but we won't tell Sam if you don't.


Speaking of Blaze, she's a problematic villain that this office has never managed to make me like previously, but Jurgens at least has fun playing her up as the cliche archvillain, complete with adorable yes man:



Meet "Burp," everyone. I just know I'm gonna love this guy.


Finally, you've got to love Superman as the ultimate boyscout here, taking mental health as seriously as a physical threat:



God, I love this outrageously wholesome take on Superman: Not a fool, not naive, just compassionate, informed, and more interested in doing good than in keeping the action going in his own books.



Minor Details:

1. Uh, didn't Superman just try to fly the vampire into the sun at the end of the last issue?




2. I guess this is how most folks saw Batman at this point, but it definitely wasn't how he was characterized by Moench and Dixon in his own titles at the time, nor by Wolfman, Grant and Milligan before them.




3. While I've long understood Superman's vulnerability to magic, it never occurred to me before that magic items and/or appendages could pierce Superman's skin:



In that case, why the hell was Superman totally unconcerned about first getting to Lucy's apartment after nightfall, and why didn't he use his newly acquired JLA status to call up a magic-weilding ally?

"Oh crud, a vampire! I know which DC hero I need to call in: ROBIN!"



In the end, this was a somewhat stupid premise and an awkward inbetween chapter, but Jurgens' art and characterizations still made it worthwhile.