Post by shaxper on Dec 1, 2015 21:42:02 GMT -5
Adventures of Superman #457
"Echoes"
plot: George Perez
script: Roger Stern
layouts: Dan Jurgens
finishes: Ty Templeton
letters: Albert De Guzman
colors: Glenn Whitmore
assoc. editor: Jon Peterson
editor: Mike Carlin
grade: A
Wow. There really is a mad scramble going on at the Superman office. What's with all the shared art and writing chores in this issue and in Action #643? Seems like Ordway and Gammill are staying in their own neat little Byrne-inspired world while everyone else is hustling and bustling in beautiful chaos.
And it is beautiful.
Ordway and Gammill's story in Superman #34 may have been a sleeper, but this issue serves as a perfect compliment to Action #643. Whereas that issue served as an uncomplicated starting point for new readers, this one works hard to bring them up to speed on past events, first with Clark's presumed death nearly a year back:
And then with a pretty heavy recap on Matrix that doesn't even try to explain what Matrix is or where Matrix came from (I guess we're saving that for next issue?):
Heck, the second panel of the issue makes it clear that new readers are going to have to keep up if they want to appreciate all that's going on:
But it's also careful to show that the work involved pays off, as we watch the Matrix story arc finally approach its climax. Up to this point, I'm not sure Matrix even had a story arc; she was a supporting cast member who'd never really received any proper focus in the wake of the Supergirl/Pocket Universe storyline more than a year back. So it's truly both surprising and amazing to see what Perez and Jurgens do with her here, moving the character out of the realm of amusing/endearing and into something both disturbing and incredibly tragic.
We first see it here, as we watch Matrix finally inexplicably attain what she'd always sought: oneness with Clark. Somehow, she is experiencing everything he is experiencing, much to both of their confusion, but Jurgens' layouts emphasize contrast as the two function in sync, and damn if it isn't depressing and disturbing as all hell:
Perez and Jurgens continue to emphasize this throughout the issue, as every sweet, endearing, amusing, or heroic thing Clark/Superman does is later echoed by Matrix in dark shadows and in the wrong contexts, especially as she punches out and nearly kills a police officer, believing him first to be an Intergang Agent and then an enormous gun.
We end the issue so thoroughly disturbed by and concerned for Matrix, especially as she has no awareness that anything is wrong at all. Thus, when the final box announces that "the story of Matrix comes to a fateful conclusion next week" I'm already grabbing for the blasted tissue box:
Powerful powerful stuff.
It's also worth noting that, amidst all this continuity building, new reader initiating, and tragedy building, Perez rekindles the old romantic tension between Clark and Lois that hadn't been seen in these pages in a VERY long time:
Really, this issue had it all, and I absolutely can't wait to read the next one.
Important Details:
- Matrix is becoming unstable and nearly kills a police officer
- Introduction of Clark's neighbor, Andrea. A letter column from a few issues back indicated that a new love interest would soon be introduced. I'm assuming this is her.
- The letter column explains that Jerry Ordway and Mike Machlan co-created Gangbuster. He never did seem to fit what Wolfman was trying to do in Adventures of Superman at the time. Speaking of which, with all the "credit where credit is due" that Carlin has been throwing around in regard to past creative teams lately, he never ever ever mentions Wolfman. Considering how much of the Post-Crisis Superman concept came from him (ESPECIALLY Lex Luthor as a business tycoon), I find the omission surprising. It's clear Carlin had an affection for and allegiance to Byrne. Did that mean that he had the same antagonism to Wolfman that Byrne seemed to have?
- Several of the Byrne Era plot points I listed as still needing to be resolved do get alluded to in this issue:
Needs to be resolved:
- There has now been a laboratory floating in orbit of Earth containing ALL of Superman's secret information since Superman #1, and yet no one has noticed it yet.
- Elinore Lane (Lois' mother) is still battling a deadly illness. Luthor is controlling Lois in exchange for treating her mom.
Neither of these yet.
- Amanda McCoy is trying to prove that Clark Kent is Superman and was inadvertently involved in the death of the private detective aiding her.
The death of the private investigator is mentioned. A clear nod to the reader that Perez and Jurgens do plan to return to this matter.
- When is Perry going to learn his "son" Jerry is the biological son of Lex Luthor?
- STAR Labs. Morgan Edge just bought the controlling stock in it, so what happens if he dies? What's up with the new director of STAR labs who was implied to be shady and have questioble motives several months back?
Nope.
- Jimmy Olsen's mom is still trying to find his dad now that she has a photograph proving he is alive.
Jimmy is clearly upset in this issue and indicates that part of that comes from him mother being away (presumably looking for his dad).
- Luthor and the Kryptonite radiation. I can't recall if it's been explained that he is dying from it yet.
Nope.
Minor Details:
- The gala event Clark, Lois, and Cat attend is the "Wonder Women of the Year, Sponsored by the Wonder Woman Foundation". It's been a few years since I read the Perez Wonder Woman run, but I don't recall this being mentioned there. Was the foundation something Myndi Mayer had put together before her death?
- Also,
Actually, no. Sorry to be that nerd (well, not really) but Superman #8 informed us that Superman cannot get hungry.
plot synopsis in one sentence:
Clark and Matrix are both repeatedly reliving the moment that the Eradicator Device blew up (Action Comics #643) for some reason, the Kents and Lana are concerned about Matrix increasingly becoming more like Clark in her behavior, Clark, Lois, and Cat attend the Wonder Woman of the Year event, Lois lets Clark know she still has feelings for him, Intergang invades the affair, Superman goes into action, and (back in Smallville) Matrix enacts the same actions in parallel, only against police officers instead, with Cat barely able to stop Matrix from killing a police officer at the last second.
"Echoes"
plot: George Perez
script: Roger Stern
layouts: Dan Jurgens
finishes: Ty Templeton
letters: Albert De Guzman
colors: Glenn Whitmore
assoc. editor: Jon Peterson
editor: Mike Carlin
grade: A
Wow. There really is a mad scramble going on at the Superman office. What's with all the shared art and writing chores in this issue and in Action #643? Seems like Ordway and Gammill are staying in their own neat little Byrne-inspired world while everyone else is hustling and bustling in beautiful chaos.
And it is beautiful.
Ordway and Gammill's story in Superman #34 may have been a sleeper, but this issue serves as a perfect compliment to Action #643. Whereas that issue served as an uncomplicated starting point for new readers, this one works hard to bring them up to speed on past events, first with Clark's presumed death nearly a year back:
And then with a pretty heavy recap on Matrix that doesn't even try to explain what Matrix is or where Matrix came from (I guess we're saving that for next issue?):
Heck, the second panel of the issue makes it clear that new readers are going to have to keep up if they want to appreciate all that's going on:
But it's also careful to show that the work involved pays off, as we watch the Matrix story arc finally approach its climax. Up to this point, I'm not sure Matrix even had a story arc; she was a supporting cast member who'd never really received any proper focus in the wake of the Supergirl/Pocket Universe storyline more than a year back. So it's truly both surprising and amazing to see what Perez and Jurgens do with her here, moving the character out of the realm of amusing/endearing and into something both disturbing and incredibly tragic.
We first see it here, as we watch Matrix finally inexplicably attain what she'd always sought: oneness with Clark. Somehow, she is experiencing everything he is experiencing, much to both of their confusion, but Jurgens' layouts emphasize contrast as the two function in sync, and damn if it isn't depressing and disturbing as all hell:
Perez and Jurgens continue to emphasize this throughout the issue, as every sweet, endearing, amusing, or heroic thing Clark/Superman does is later echoed by Matrix in dark shadows and in the wrong contexts, especially as she punches out and nearly kills a police officer, believing him first to be an Intergang Agent and then an enormous gun.
We end the issue so thoroughly disturbed by and concerned for Matrix, especially as she has no awareness that anything is wrong at all. Thus, when the final box announces that "the story of Matrix comes to a fateful conclusion next week" I'm already grabbing for the blasted tissue box:
Powerful powerful stuff.
It's also worth noting that, amidst all this continuity building, new reader initiating, and tragedy building, Perez rekindles the old romantic tension between Clark and Lois that hadn't been seen in these pages in a VERY long time:
Really, this issue had it all, and I absolutely can't wait to read the next one.
Important Details:
- Matrix is becoming unstable and nearly kills a police officer
- Introduction of Clark's neighbor, Andrea. A letter column from a few issues back indicated that a new love interest would soon be introduced. I'm assuming this is her.
- The letter column explains that Jerry Ordway and Mike Machlan co-created Gangbuster. He never did seem to fit what Wolfman was trying to do in Adventures of Superman at the time. Speaking of which, with all the "credit where credit is due" that Carlin has been throwing around in regard to past creative teams lately, he never ever ever mentions Wolfman. Considering how much of the Post-Crisis Superman concept came from him (ESPECIALLY Lex Luthor as a business tycoon), I find the omission surprising. It's clear Carlin had an affection for and allegiance to Byrne. Did that mean that he had the same antagonism to Wolfman that Byrne seemed to have?
- Several of the Byrne Era plot points I listed as still needing to be resolved do get alluded to in this issue:
Needs to be resolved:
- There has now been a laboratory floating in orbit of Earth containing ALL of Superman's secret information since Superman #1, and yet no one has noticed it yet.
- Elinore Lane (Lois' mother) is still battling a deadly illness. Luthor is controlling Lois in exchange for treating her mom.
Neither of these yet.
- Amanda McCoy is trying to prove that Clark Kent is Superman and was inadvertently involved in the death of the private detective aiding her.
The death of the private investigator is mentioned. A clear nod to the reader that Perez and Jurgens do plan to return to this matter.
- When is Perry going to learn his "son" Jerry is the biological son of Lex Luthor?
- STAR Labs. Morgan Edge just bought the controlling stock in it, so what happens if he dies? What's up with the new director of STAR labs who was implied to be shady and have questioble motives several months back?
Nope.
- Jimmy Olsen's mom is still trying to find his dad now that she has a photograph proving he is alive.
Jimmy is clearly upset in this issue and indicates that part of that comes from him mother being away (presumably looking for his dad).
- Luthor and the Kryptonite radiation. I can't recall if it's been explained that he is dying from it yet.
Nope.
Minor Details:
- The gala event Clark, Lois, and Cat attend is the "Wonder Women of the Year, Sponsored by the Wonder Woman Foundation". It's been a few years since I read the Perez Wonder Woman run, but I don't recall this being mentioned there. Was the foundation something Myndi Mayer had put together before her death?
- Also,
Actually, no. Sorry to be that nerd (well, not really) but Superman #8 informed us that Superman cannot get hungry.
plot synopsis in one sentence:
Clark and Matrix are both repeatedly reliving the moment that the Eradicator Device blew up (Action Comics #643) for some reason, the Kents and Lana are concerned about Matrix increasingly becoming more like Clark in her behavior, Clark, Lois, and Cat attend the Wonder Woman of the Year event, Lois lets Clark know she still has feelings for him, Intergang invades the affair, Superman goes into action, and (back in Smallville) Matrix enacts the same actions in parallel, only against police officers instead, with Cat barely able to stop Matrix from killing a police officer at the last second.
