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Post by dupersuper on Oct 1, 2014 1:16:20 GMT -5
With no knowledge of their language and, thus, no ability to read any labels, markings, or even understand their onboard computer systems? Sure: they seem to still use standard ol' wires, and he can trace them all. He can see into the machinery and tell what it's doing, he doesn't need it to be labelled. Super geniuses with X-ray eyes make for awesome repairmen...
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Oct 1, 2014 4:32:24 GMT -5
With no knowledge of their language and, thus, no ability to read any labels, markings, or even understand their onboard computer systems? Sure: they seem to still use standard ol' wires, and he can trace them all. He can see into the machinery and tell what it's doing, he doesn't need it to be labelled. Super geniuses with X-ray eyes make for awesome repairmen... Point taken. I wonder if Supes does state car inspections...
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Post by shaxper on Nov 21, 2014 12:32:54 GMT -5
Action Comics Weekly #631 With 11 issues left of Action Comics Weekly (though this hasn't been explicitly stated in the letter column yet), it's becoming clear that DC is running out the clock. There's very little talk of exciting new features to come in these pages anymore. Instead it's talk of Blackhawk and Deadman spinning off into their own projects outside of the book, as well as a lot of firm "no"s in response to fans requesting and asking about new features for the book. James Owsley and M.D. Bright's Green Lantern has completely lost its way by this point and seems to have no central purpose beyond filling space. There's nothing bad about it; it's just so completely average. Sharon Wright and Randy BuBurke's Black Canary continues to be visually gorgeous with awful characterization, forced dialogue, and a plot that's both difficult to follow and yet so thorough in its lack of remarkability. Wright is clearly trying to write real people speaking like real people and dealing with real world crime, but it isn't working. Score one for depicting a non-judgmental attempted hookup between two HIV positive gay men in this story though. At least Wright's pushing boundaries. Paul Kupperberg and Fred Carillo's Phantom Stranger is a bit more ambitious than the previous done-in-one attempts. This is a multi-part story, bringing back a lot of old Phantom Stranger continuity, as well as Dr. Thirteen. The characterization is pretty strong, the writing decent, the inks pretty subpar, and the conflict not really in place yet. Has the potential to be decent. It is odd, however, that two pages are inadvertently published in reverse order here, making for some confusing reading. Cherie Wilkerson and Vince Giarrano's Speedy and Nightwing continues to be a tremendous disappointment with lousy plotting and forgettable art and writing, but at least Nightwing FINALLY appears for two pages of this feature and, while not in costume, it's almost-kind-of-sort-of fun watching him fire Speedy's bow out of a speeding car. Martin Pasko and Rick Burchett's Blackhawk also remains past its prime, forgetting that it was its simplicity and irreverence that made it so special in the beginning. Now, perhaps in anticipation for its new title, it's laying on dense but generally uninteresting plots with tons and tone of talking head exposition, and really only one vaguely fun moment that really didn't make the read worthwhile. ...And then there was Superman. "Point Blank" writer: Roger Stern pencils: Curt Swan inks: Murphy Anderson letters: Bill Oakley colors: Tom Ziuko editor: Mike Carlin grade: C The irony is just now occurring to me that this feature is written and penciled in a throw-back style that would appeal most to kids, and yet ACW weekly isn't approved by the Comics Code anymore because the editor felt it should appeal more to older readers. Most of the other stories in this book are incredibly mature, from Black Canary dealing with infidelity and aids, to Speedy now having a child outside of wedlock with an antagonist, to, well, everything in Blackhawk. What the hell was the Stern/Swan Superman feature even doing in this book? The choice just never really made sense. Well this is yet another installment in which very little happens, but what else can you expect from a weekly two page feature? Superman reflects on the fact we've already established that the cult worshipping him is somehow getting their powers from space, adds the secondary discovery that the bad guys attacking them are similarly getting powers in that way, and then confronts the attackers as Superman, and the cult realizes that Clark is gone. Some generous inks from Murphy Anderson to remind us when we're underground aside, there's just nothing fun nor appealing about this installment. Even Swan's panel arrangements feel uninspired this time around. Sigh. Only a few more chapters.
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Post by shaxper on Nov 24, 2014 19:21:52 GMT -5
Action Comics Weekly #632 We're officially given notice in this letter column that the ACW experiment will end with issue #642, but the reasons remain vague. (presumably) Mike Gold defends the experiment by saying that, "...ACW always sold in the top one-third of DC's regularly published titles (as least until the change-over was announced; we don't have our orders for the latter issues yet)." Does that last part suggest that the sales were slowly and consistently slipping to the point that ACW would soon no longer be in the top one-third, or was there some other reason for the title's cancellation that Gold isn't mentioning? Frankly, I'm amazed a book of this consistently low quality was continuing to sell well. Of course, with four issues per month and a minimum two month turn-around time on sales reports (heck, even the letter column is on a three month turn-around as of this issue), it's entirely possible that DC strongly suspected the sales were continuing to slip, but their outdated sales numbers weren't yet reflecting that. Also of interest, anyone wondering why it took until the 1990s for Nightwing to get a solo title should read this letter column where Gold(?) indicates that DC is waiting for Wolfman to do a Nightwing limited or ongoing series, but that Wolfman is too busy to do so right now. I'm impressed that they respected Wolfman enough to realize that it was worth waiting on him rather than having someone else writing Dick. Of course, once Chuck Dixon dazzles readers with his take on Tim Drake a few years from now, that puts a whole other option on the table for writing Batman's original sidekick. On to the content, itself: Green Lantern finally moves on to a new conflict (though still retaining the old one on the back burner for some reason) of a Green Lantern gone rogue and power hungry, and ruling his sector with an emerald fist. Yeah, this is pretty much just Sinestro all over again, isn't it? Not particularly badly done, though the pacing was weird as the rogue GL lets Hal go and then one page later comes back again to try to stop him. Huh? Phantom Stranger is trying its hardest to build in complexity and develop its supporting cast, but it just isn't engaging. Black Canary continues to have breath-taking art while doing absolutely everything else wrong. Unreadable. Nightwing and Speedy FINALLY actually has Nightwing in costume and playing a major role in the story, but the writing remains utterly lackluster. Completely forgettable stuff. Blackhawk finally regains some of its former glory after chapters of talking head exposition. There's fun characterization and good intrigue and action, but it didn't make the wait worthwhile. This feature is beginning to feel like, at worst, it's laborious and taxing, and, at best, it's repetitive. ...And then there was Superman. "Holy War" writer: Roger Stern pencils: Curt Swan inks: Murphy Anderson letters: Bill Oakley colors: Tom Ziuko editor: Mike Carlin grade: B- Well, we knew the story wasn't going to suddenly start impressing us at this late point, I feel like Swan is getting less and less inventive with his panel arrangements, and I have no idea why Tom Ziuko is suddenly and overpoweringly coloring everything red this time around, but man! This one made me laugh, and that's at least something: Superman rips open an enemy tank attacking him
Soldiers inside: Save yourselves! It's the beast of the apocalypse.
Superman: Oh, shut up!That, plus Superman groaning "Oh, no!" as the zealots supporting him charge the battlefield completely unarmed (of course, they DO have super powers). I'll settle for fun. It's better than tedious. plot synopsis: Superman is battling the bad guy army and finding their weapons hurt him, and the zealots supporting him arrive to join the battle sans-weapons.
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Post by shaxper on Dec 8, 2014 10:13:15 GMT -5
Adventures of Superman #452 "Hell Beyond" writer: Dan Jurgens pencils: Dan Jurgens inks: Dennis Janke letters: John Costanza colors: Glen Whitmore asst. editor: Renee Witterstaetter editor: Mike Carlin special thanks to Jerry Ordway for his plot assist Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster grade: C+ I believe this marks the first time Jurgens and Ordway collaborate on a Superman story, though I wasn't as pleased with the result as I might have hoped. Superman gets his reunion with the Word Bringer, but what transpires is pretty lackluster. A large part of that is due to Superman's characterization. For the first time since Byrne's departure, we have Superman returning to the arrogant, brazen, and sometimes downright ignorant characterization that Byrne had given him, especially in those Action Comics team-ups. It was pretty much my least favorite aspect of Byrne's run -- Superman not behaving like a Superman, and thus it really irks me that he storms in, fists blazing, punches first and asks questions later, and ends up being completely right. "The Union" is a morally problematic concept to say the least, but Supes has his rights and wrongs sorted out before he really assesses the situation and is rewarded for doing this. Word Bringer = bad. Union = good. Punch a whole lot, lecture, and they'll all listen. And they do. A real opportunity was presented when The Word Bringer revealed the truth about what happened in Trudeau (Adventures of Superman Annual #1). I was waiting for him to reveal that Superman had acted rashly there too, contributing to all those deaths, but instead, he's carte blanc exonerated. So I guess he's going to get over his insanity pretty soon, then. Why didn't The Union just tell him he did the right thing with the rogue Kryptonians too and be done with the whole arc? If we're giving out easy victories, we might as well go all the way. Important Details: - The Union is now in charge, not the Word Bringer, and they pledge to amend their practices. - Superman learns that he was not at all responsible for the deaths in Trudeau. The brains there did not, in fact, make him kill them. They killed themselves. Minor Details: - Luthor's life being meaningless without an enemy is a fun concept to explore. I suppose he was still on his way up when he first butted heads with Superman in Man of Steel #2. Now he's achieved all his goals; won all his victories. All that was left was Superman. This helps to answer Byrne's idea that never fully went explained of why Luthor was waiting to kill Superman when he could have done so at any time. - ...but, wait. Isn't Morgan Edge Luthor's enemy? Heck, he's far more of a threat to Luthor than Superman. And what about that stunt Prof. Hamilton pulled recently that hurt Luthor's public persona? Seems to me Luthor's got PLENTY of enemies and challenges to face right now. - Doesn't the Word Bringer concept -- the bald green alien who assimilates alien cultures -- resemble that of the Pre-Crisis Brainiac? Granted, I haven't read much Pre-Crisis Superman, but that's the impression I always had. It's certainly a good summary of who Brainiac is in the later Bruce Timm Superman Animated Series. I guess they still had to figure out what to do with the utterly ridiculous Brainiac that Byrne had given us (and that solution is coming soon). - Adam cruising down that hill in a speeding power wheels car while totally unattended. I assume this is foreshadowing. I'll give Jurgens credit for the subtlety with which he's handling Cat Grant. It's abundantly obvious that her life is still a car wreck waiting to happen, even without any overt clues given to indicate this. - "Helferer, or whatever your name is, your number is up!" Is Carlin still making digs at Andy Helfer this long after his departure? This seems to be all in good fun, but Helfer is gone and Carlin is still there presumably because of their differing attitudes towards John Byrne back when he was still calling the shots. I'd assume there's got to still be some resentment there. plot synopsis in one sentence: Superman confronts the Word Bringer and his Union of telepathically linked brains from various planets, Perry White orders Lois to bury the story on Trudeau because he's getting pressure from the President and because the information can't be substantiated without Superman around, Lois tries not to think about Clark being (presumed) dead, Luthor's life is meaningless without an enemy, Cat Grant is still involved with Morgan Edge, The Word Bringer creates "Eon," a super powered physical manifestation of the Union, they battle, inadvertently damaging one of the brains, Superman tries to save it, and The Union begins to remember what compassion, death, and loss of life mean, so they side with Superman against the Word Bringer, keeping him as a servant with Eon now in charge, and vowing to amend their practices, only collecting brains from willing donors who are about to die.
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Post by shaxper on Dec 8, 2014 15:00:14 GMT -5
Action Comics Weekly #633 My utter distaste for what Action Comics Weekly has become is significantly inhibiting my enthusiasm for continuing with these reviews so, with 9 issues left, I'm only going to read the features that interest me in the slightest. I'm just skipping the rest. Green Lantern: The new premise is marginally interesting, if derivative of Sinestro. But there's a complex mystery surrounding the rogue Lantern Malvolio, and I'm slightly curious to learn more about it. Additionally, M.D. Bright's pencils are pretty good. Black Canary: How is this awful thing still going after 10 chapters?? Considering how low readers rated the first Black Canary story arc, I can't imagine what possessed Mike Gold to give this much space to the second arc. Nightwing & Speedy: Nightwing and Speedy, in costume, hitchhiking on a highway, and writer Cherie Wilkerson can't even make THAT entertaining. I keep reading because it's Dick Grayson, but this is utter crap. Phantom Stranger: Got bored. Skipping it. Blackhawk: Got bored. Skipping it. ...And then there was Superman. "Blood and Sand" writer: Roger Stern pencils: Curt Swan inks: Murphy Anderson letters: Bill Oakley colors: Tom Ziuko editor: Mike Carlin grade: A- As good an installment in this story arc as we've ever gotten. Things are finally happening as we appear to be witnessing the climactic battle between the two factions with a helpless Superman caught in between and, ultimately, deciding to seek out the mysterious source of both sides' power. Swan does an impressive job with his panel arrangements, and Ziuko's colors come alive once more. The team hasn't been churning up the works this nicely for a few chapters now. Important Details: I've speculated a few times on whether this storyline is supposed to take place in the Post-Crisis. There's certainly a throwback tone to the whole thing, and Stern writes this Superman in the more traditional style while writing a more complex character in the pages of Superman. But this chapter finally makes it clear that we are in the Post Crisis as Superman needs to hold his breath before shooting out into space. The need to breathe while in space was not a constraint upon the Pre-Crisis Superman.
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Post by shaxper on Dec 8, 2014 15:49:15 GMT -5
Superman #30 The Exile storyline is finally beginning to take shape and, in the process, provide the Post-Crisis franchise with everything the Byrne run lacked by (1) finally giving Superman some rich characterization by leaving him alone in space to work through his thoughts/feelings/experiences and (2) using Superman's absence on Earth as an opportunity to develop the supporting cast and begin resolving old plotlines that were carelessly tossed aside. Theoretically, Byrne had planned to do some of this himself in the wake of Superman #22, but the letter columns have commented frequently on the amount of last minute scurrying Carlin, Stern, Ordway, and Jurgens have been doing to plan out this storyline, suggesting either that Byrne didn't leave them with much, or that the plans he left weren't all that usable. Whatever the case, getting an emotionally complex Superman and a more elaborate exploration of the franchise's supporting cast lays the groundwork for the highly regarded Triangle Era that's on the horizon. "Alone!" writer: Roger Stern pencils: Kerry Gammill inks: Dennis Janke letters: John Costanza colors: Glen Whittmore assistant editor: Renee Witterstaetter editor: Mike Carlin grade: A- This is what the Exile storyline should have been all along. No conflict; no convenient aliens. Just Superman working through some stuff, and having him attempt to settle on an empty but fertile planet, building a farm and taming the land with his super powers, is the ultimate expression of what the Post-Crisis Clark is: a super powered farm boy from Kansas. It's done beautifully here, especially as his immense satisfaction at finally being able to do what's always been in his heart proves hollow and empty. He's not a super powered farm boy; he's Superman, and he doesn't belong here. Gammill's art does wonders to help express this, especially with Clark's weary but satisfied face with a subtle hint of dispair on page 5. Conveying all that emotion at one time...wow. It's worth noting that, while I was upset with Jurgens' depiction of Superman in the most recent Adventures of Superman for being too much like the Byrne version in his arrogance and ignorance, Stern is clearly writing the Superman I prefer -- a character who chastises himself for lashing out at asteroids without thinking first. This guy never would have blundered in against The Word Bringer in the way that Jurgens' Superman did. They'll have to reconcile these characterizations down the road. Minor Details: Carlin and the gang are trying hard to drop references to past Byrne continuity whereever they can in this issue. It begins in this story with Pa Kent referencing his service in World War II (World of Smallville #1-2). plot synopsis: Supes tries to settle down on an uninhabited planet and ultimately comes to realize he can't stand isolation; meanwhile, Matrix wishes she was more like Clark Kent. "King of All He Surveys" writer: Dan Jurgens pencils: Dan Jurgens inks: Dennis Janke letters: Albert De Guzman colors: Glen Whittmore assistant editor: Renee Witterstaetter editor: Mike Carlin with special thanks to Jerry Ordway grade: A- If you'd never read a Post-Crisis Superman story before and wanted to know about the Post-Crisis Lex Luthor, this would be the story to read. It sums up absolutely everything there is to know about the character (aside from Amanda McCoy and his love for Lois Lane) in an amazingly efficient 8 pages, ending with Luthor deciding to attempt a hostile take-over of STAR Labs. And that's the weird part. The story build and builds, with Luthor deciding that making money isn't enough anymore; he's got to do something RISKY, and the end decision is a corporate hostile take-over? Even Carlin jokes after the final panel that you should "warn your broker!" Why in the world is this interesting to anyone? Yes, hints were dropped in the previous months that something shady is going on at STAR Labs under the new director (who we have not yet met), but this bold new direction doesn't exactly leave me clamoring to grab the next issue. plot synopsis: A review of pretty much everything that's happened to Luthor since Man of Steel #2, as well as Luthor's new decision to attempt a hostile takeover of STAR Labs.
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Post by wildfire2099 on Dec 8, 2014 15:59:29 GMT -5
Shax is on a roll!
I'm glad to see you get to the era I'm interested it... I read Supes in the Triangle era pretty regularly for a good 2-3 years, but it seems like I should like this era, too.
On a techincal note, is STARR labs really 'STARR' and not 'STAR' early on?
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Post by shaxper on Dec 8, 2014 16:06:59 GMT -5
I'm really catching the Superman bug again now that I've convinced myself I don't HAVE to read the Action Comics Weekly stuff Triangle Era was always my favorite, and my goal all along in doing these reviews has been to get back to that era. This stuff is pretty decent, but it's a pale prototype for what follows. Still, it's all connected, and that's part of what I love about this run. In the mid 1990s, they'll still be referencing stuff Byrne wrote in 1986. I stand corrected.
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Post by Action Ace on Dec 8, 2014 18:40:04 GMT -5
When I do this thread (tentatively scheduled for 2026) I will only be reviewing the Superman part of Action Comics Weekly.
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Post by fanboystranger on Dec 8, 2014 19:16:22 GMT -5
Does that last part suggest that the sales were slowly and consistently slipping to the point that ACW would soon no longer be in the top one-third, or was there some other reason for the title's cancellation that Gold isn't mentioning? Frankly, I'm amazed a book of this consistently low quality was continuing to sell well. Of course, with four issues per month and a minimum two month turn-around time on sales reports (heck, even the letter column is on a three month turn-around as of this issue), it's entirely possible that DC strongly suspected the sales were continuing to slip, but their outdated sales numbers weren't yet reflecting that. From what I remember, ACW wasn't cancelled because sales were slipping, but because the weekly deadline was an absolute nightmare. Mark Waid mentions in his introduction to Neil Gaiman's Legend of the Green Flame (which was meant to be an ACW issue or annual) that they were constantly scrambling at the last minute to get work done on the title, and because of this, they were spending three times as much time on ACW as other titles, including a lot of late nights in the office. It was basically decided that the book just wasn't worth the effort it was taking.
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Post by shaxper on Dec 8, 2014 20:02:12 GMT -5
From what I remember, ACW wasn't cancelled because sales were slipping, but because the weekly deadline was an absolute nightmare. This makes sense, but there were also diminishing returns on the amount of work they were putting in. They're quite honest in responding to constant feedback in the letter column that folks hate the two page Superman format, as well as the fact that a lot of these features aren't impressing the fans. cancelling ACW must have been a win-win for them: make the fans happy and give themselves a break. It was the original plan for a final storyline that would lead up to and include ACW #642, thus ending the Action Comics Weekly run.
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Post by shaxper on Dec 8, 2014 21:27:10 GMT -5
Action Comics Weekly #634 Three of the five features come to a close this week, presumably to make space for what would have been Neil Gaiman's Legend of the Green Flame (We'll get into the story of what happened there once ACW has concluded), but, in lieu of that, it looks like we'll be getting a crossover to set up the Blackhawk ongoing next issue, and then a return to the regular ACW format for six more issues before the whole thing gets shut down. I'd much rather be reading Legend of the Green Flame. Green Lantern: I can't believe this is actually getting really good. M.D. Bright's pencils are getting better and better, and Owsley is finally finding his footing after DC abruptly aborted his original concept for the Green Lantern feature back in Action Comics Weekly #623. Incidentally, Malvolio keeps referring to the Green Lantern central battery energy as the "Green Flame." I assume Gaiman intended his story to tie into what was being established here. Nightwing & Speedy: Wow. That was bad. Black Canary: Wow. That was worse. Phantom Stranger: I lost interest two issues back. Blackhawk: I lost interest long before that. ...And then there was Superman. "Breathless!" writer: Roger Stern pencils: Curt Swan inks: Murphy Anderson letters: Bill Oakley colors: Tom Ziuko editor: Mike Carlin grade: C- Beautiful Curt Swan art as he finds unconventional poses to show Superman struggling and out of control. Very powerful. Unfortunately, there's absolutely no story here. We watch Superman flail around, apparently disarm the machine causing all this, and then flail some more. I realize the very nature of a two page feature necessitates episodes like this one, where two whole pages exist just to set up one panel that's marginally important to the plot, but man, I am SO sick of this feature's snail-like pace and desperately want to get back to the climactic battle that FINALLY got started last issue.
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Post by MDG on Dec 9, 2014 12:08:21 GMT -5
From what I remember, ACW wasn't cancelled because sales were slipping, but because the weekly deadline was an absolute nightmare. This makes sense, but there were also diminishing returns on the amount of work they were putting in. They're quite honest in responding to constant feedback in the letter column that folks hate the two page Superman format, as well as the fact that a lot of these features aren't impressing the fans. cancelling ACW must have been a win-win for them: make the fans happy and give themselves a break. It might've been a better idea to surround Superman with a couple of good done-in-one stories in each issue instead of five lackluster chapters of stories no-one really cared about. It might've helped with deadline problems and given readers something to look forward to. I remember picking up these books and just wishing some of the stories would end. Every issue felt like top of the seventh and your team is down by 6.
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Post by fanboystranger on Dec 9, 2014 13:04:34 GMT -5
Action Comics Weekly #634 Three of the five features come to a close this week, presumably to make space for what would have been Neil Gaiman's Legend of the Green Flame (We'll get into the story of what happened there once ACW has concluded), but, in lieu of that, it looks like we'll be getting a crossover to set up the Blackhawk ongoing next issue, and then a return to the regular ACW format for six more issues before the whole thing gets shut down. I'd much rather be reading Legend of the Green Flame. Green Lantern: I can't believe this is actually getting really good. M.D. Bright's pencils are getting better and better, and Owsley is finally finding his footing after DC abruptly aborted his original concept for the Green Lantern feature back in Action Comics Weekly #623. Incidentally, Malvolio keeps referring to the Green Lantern central battery energy as the "Green Flame." I assume Gaiman intended his story to tie into what was being established here. The Green Flame in Neil's story is Alan Scott's power battery, which was on display in a Metropolis museum. I don't know if that has any connection to the Malvolio story. The Blackhawks had discovered it in the bunker where the JSA was killed/teleported to limbo during WWII. Hal Jordan flew to Metropolis to ask Superman for some advise to help deal with some of his current troubles, but Clark Kent had to cover the museum gala. (Hal knew that Clark was Superman, which is why the story was scrapped-- the editors in the Super-office had just made an official list of all the characters who knew Superman's secret identity, and Hal wasn't on it.) Catwoman is among the guests as Selina Kyle. Hal senses Scott's battery, and when he and Clark investigate, Scott's power battery "kills" Jordan and Kent, who then encounter Deadman in the land of the recently dead, and Etrigan in Hell. Meanwhile, the Phantom Stranger overcomes the Lords of Order's exile to his apartment, and is able to arrive at the end to save Hal and Superman. He also makes a suitably cryptic statement that the age of wild magic will return, but not quite yet, which foreshadows Gaiman's Books of Magic mini (which was then in the planning stages). Hal and Clark then have that conversation that Hal wanted. Good story all in all. Lots of reference to Moore's Swamp Thing and Tales of the Green Lanterns shorts.
The story doesn't touch on Black Canary, Speedy, or Nightwing.
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