shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Jul 8, 2014 17:06:15 GMT -5
Adventures of Superman #450  "Triple Threat" writer/penciler: Jerry Ordway inks: Dennis Janke letters: Albert DeGuzman colors: Glenn Whitmore assistant editor: Renee Witterstaeter editor: Mike Carlin grade: A- It's clear that, in Ordway and Carlin's minds, this was their first big issue. The Superman/Gangbuster arc resolves in expected but dramatically powerful fashion, closing the books on Byrne's final dangling plotline, while Superman blasts off for exile in space and a handful of other plot lines are begun and/or hinted at. It's a great way to celebrate the 450th issue of what used to be the core Superman title, as well as signal the beginning of a new era of coordination and shared vision across the Superman office. It's also necessary to point out the lengths Mike Carlin goes to in this issue to hold out an olive branch for John Byrne. Byrne's departure was never even acknowledged until the last letters page, but here we first get this acknowledgement by Carlin on the first page of the story: Thanks are in order to John Byrne for initiating the storyline Roger Stern and Jerry Ordway have been doing these past months...as well as to Mike Machlin for his part in the creation of Gangbuster. Thanks, guys! Incidentally, how interesting to have left Marv Wolfman out of an acknowledgment concerning Gangbuster. But then Carlin continues on the letter column page, stating CREDIT WHERE CREDIT'S DUE DEPARTMENT: As stated on the first page of this issue, all of us here on the two Superman titles would like to extend a hale and hearty thanks to John Byrne for setting up and helping to plan some of the directions these books have taken over the last five or six months. Before John's untimely departure from the Superman comics, much of the "Personality Crisis: plotline has been outlined; subsequently Jerry Ordway and Roger Stern fleshed out and fully realized this chapter of the Man of Steel's adventures. Thanks again, J.B...good luck with W.C.A. and S.H. -- say "hi" for us over there. I doubt Carlin speaks for everyone, as a lot of evidence brought up throughout the course of this thread suggests Byrne parted on bad terms with nearly everyone at DC, but to return to the issue raised by Brian Cronin over at CBR concerning whether what Stern and Ordway did was a continuation of, or a move away from, what Byrne had been working on, my point remains the same. Byrne laid the groundwork for Superman to seriously wig out after executing the Phantom Zone criminals in Superman #22, but Ordway and Byrne used that opportunity to redraw the lines of Superman's moral code -- to clearly articulate what his regular self stood for in contrast to his emerging dark side. This was not presented as a transformation in response to all that had occurred, but rather as if it had been Superman's way all along, only now threatened by what had occurred. In short, Byrne had a plan to make Superman wig out. Ordway and Stern used it to portray Superman as a more heroic individual than Byrne had. Important Details: - Superman realizes he has been Gangbuster all along. The Guardian is the only other witness to this. - Superman decides to exile himself from Earth until he can straighten all this out. Props to Ordway for figuring out that Superman can survive in deep space indefinitely with a simple breathing apparatus since Byrne once pointed out that he requires no food nor water. - Lois breaks the bad news to Jose Delgado: she doesn't love him. - Luthor forces Delgado to become his bodyguard against his will by remote controlling his body. Now really, what sense does it make to have a bodyguard who is serving you against his will? He's not going to make those death-defying leaps to protect you unless you make him do so. Is Luthor going to have to watch his bodyguard watch him 24 hours a day? - The return of Professor Emil Hamilton! Definitely the best new character introduced in the Post-Crisis continuity! - Kitty Faulkner (formerly Rampage) is now working for STARR Labs. - Subtle hints that all is not right at STARR Labs under the direction of a "Doctor Durwood," and that Durwood may be affiliated with Morgan Edge. Is it possible this is the same corruption at STARR Labs that was discussed in the Starman feature in Action Comics #622? - Morgan Edge is working for Darkseid. So, in what way is a media mogul attempting to turn the world against Superman and secretly working for Darkseid NOT a complete repeat of G. Glorious Godfrey from only a year earlier?? - As yet another kind nod to Byrne (who likely didn't deserve it), this issue concludes with a nice homage to his very first Post-Crisis Superman story, even if a dramatic inversion is present (and impressive): Man of Steel #1  Adventures of Superman #450  Minor Details: - This is the first Post-Crisis Superman cover to indicate which issue to read next ("Don't miss Superman #28 in 3 weeks"; Direct Stand version only). A clear indication of the increased alignment occurring between titles and the coming of the Triangle Era. - What were the three threats in this storyline? With so many plotlines being hinted at by this point and only one revelation of imminent danger (Luthor taking control of Delgado), I'm not entirely positive what the title is implying. - Lois still looks like a crack whore when Janke inks over Ordway - Jimmy Olsen sitting in Perry White's office and answering his phone is both adorable and seemingly out of character for someone we've been invited to take more seriously in these stories. - Cat Grant continues to forget to carry cash to pay her cab fare. A cute carryover from Byrne. - Morgan Edge's secretary is named Miss Conway, Superman passes a truck marked "Kirby's Salvage," and Lana Lang returns from Siegel's Drugstore. Cute. - Superman reflecting that "with great power comes great responsibility?" I think Ordway got his characters confused. - Yet another tease to the reader when Pa Kent nearly falls off of a ladder and is saved at the last minute by Clark. Ordway's really having fun making fans sweat over Pa Kent's mortality in the Post Crisis. - Wait. Clark and Lana share an open-mouthed kiss as he says goodbye to her? I thought all the mind-f*cking Clark was doing to Lana's fragile mind would finally go away with Byrne's departure. What the heck? plot synopsis in one sentence: Superman realizes he's been Gangbuster all this time and flees in shame and terror, Lois and Jose DelGado have a massive fight about his new allegiance to Lex Corp and she reveals she does not love him, Superman enlists the aid of both Emil Hamilton and Kitty Faulkner to get a breathing apparatus that will allow him to survive in space, we learn that the director of STARR Labs is obsessed with maintaining total secrecy about what is done there and may have an affiliation with Morgan Edge, Luthor takes physical control of Jose DelGado and forces him to be his bodyguard, Morgan Edge continues to move in on Cat Grant and is also revealed to have an affiliation with Apokolips, Superman visits the Kents, Matrix, and Lana in order to explain all that has transpired since Superman #22, as well as his plans to leave Earth indefinitely until he has sorted things out, and then he leaves for deep space. Still not Triangle Era perfection yet, but this issue was a major step forward. Things are truly progressing now. |
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Crimebuster
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Post by Crimebuster on Jul 8, 2014 17:14:17 GMT -5
- Morgan Edge is working for Darkseid. So, in what way is a media mogul attempting to turn the world against Superman and secretly working for Darkseid NOT a complete repeat of G. Glorious Godfrey from only a year earlier?? Only in that Morgan Edge worked for Darkseid when he first appeared way back in the Kirby Jimmy Olsen series in the 70's. I think the duplication of plots is maybe an inevitable side effect of everyone milking Kirby's work for decades afterwards. |
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Jul 8, 2014 21:19:35 GMT -5
- Morgan Edge is working for Darkseid. So, in what way is a media mogul attempting to turn the world against Superman and secretly working for Darkseid NOT a complete repeat of G. Glorious Godfrey from only a year earlier?? Only in that Morgan Edge worked for Darkseid when he first appeared way back in the Kirby Jimmy Olsen series in the 70's. I think the duplication of plots is maybe an inevitable side effect of everyone milking Kirby's work for decades afterwards. Didn't realize Morgan Edge had a Pre-Crisis counterpart. Anything else I should know about that backstory? |
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Post by Crimebuster on Jul 8, 2014 21:37:47 GMT -5
Only in that Morgan Edge worked for Darkseid when he first appeared way back in the Kirby Jimmy Olsen series in the 70's. I think the duplication of plots is maybe an inevitable side effect of everyone milking Kirby's work for decades afterwards. Didn't realize Morgan Edge had a Pre-Crisis counterpart. Anything else I should know about that backstory? Basically, once Kirby was off of Jimmy Olsen, the conglomeration in charge of the Superman line at the time decided to handwave it away so they could keep Morgan Edge as a supporting character. Robert Kanigher wrote a storyline in the pages of Lois Lane where it turned out the evil Morgan Edge was a clone from the Evil Factory. He was defeated and the real Morgan Edge was eventually rescued in a storyline that went on for several months. He then became a regular character in the Superman line, as Clark's boss at Galaxy Communications, which owned both the TV station and the Daily Planet. It's pretty obvious reading the original appearances that Kirby - who created Edge - intended Edge to be a bad guy all along, and that all the clone stuff was a retcon to tie up the 4th World elements that had crept into the Superman line. |
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Post by shaxper on Jun 9, 2015 15:33:20 GMT -5
Superman (1987) #32  “Gladiator” writer: Roger Stern pencils: Kerry Gammill inks:Dennis Janke letters: John Costanza colors: Glenn Whitmore editor: Mike Carlin plotting assist by Jerry Ordway and George Perez Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster grade: B- It's been half a year since Byrne left the Superman office, and yet I still feel like the franchise is spinning its wheels trying to tell a story. We've got solid continuity now, but we spent forever in the Exile storyline that went nowhere and are now spending a whole lot of time on Warworld even without a plotline that's particularly compelling. We all know Superman's getting out of this one alive and there's not much more at stake beyond that. He's already thoroughly redeemed himself as a hero and has nothing left to prove, so all that's left to care about at all is the mystery of the Eradicator device, but I'm not all that interested. However, I do like how Mongul is handled here. Stern and Gammill work together through visuals and writing to portray a supremely arrogant and yet intelligent dictator who is acutely aware of how to maintain his power at all times. I'm not particularly familiar with the Pre-Crisis Mongul, so I'm not sure if this is a different or tired old approach to the character, nor if the brief origin provided, explaining that he's conquered countless planetary systems, is in any way new.   I suppose Carlin, Stern, Ordway, and Perez are trying to slowly acclimate us to the change of now having three Superman titles thoroughly intertwined with each other. In addition to having the write-up after the final panel reminding us to check out Adventures of Superman #455 next, as well as solicits in the letter column for both that issue and the next issue of Superman, this issue begins with a four page recap of all that's transpired in the story thus far, just in case you were only reading the core Superman title up until now. My one hang-up with this issue is the conveniences Stern depends upon. For example, we've been hearing throughout this story that Superman is vastly depowered after having nearly died in space and being away from the yellow sun for so long, but in a climactic moment with Mongul, after having been beaten within an inch of his life, Superman is suddenly at full power again, the narration randomly popping in to explain: A witness to this even wonders why Superman didn't fight like this in his original battle against Mongul. Why? Because then there would have been no drama/story. A second convenience comes in Matrix, now disguised as Clark Kent, being more confused than ever and yet suddenly fully articulate, speaking like Clark instead of a grown woman-child. And yet a third convenience comes when Superman is literally killed by Mongul's energy ray and than inexplicably resurrected by the Eradicator device. This one had better get explained convincingly next issue. Stern just feels very sloppy in this issue. plot synopsis in one sentence: After a brief flashback on Mongul conquering planets and all that has transpired in this storyline thus far, Superman threatens Mongul to a one-on-one match in the gladiator ring, Mongul kicks his butt, Jimmy Olsen finds a disoriented Matrix posing as Clark Kent, Cleric uses his psychic abilities to revive Superman in time to break free of his restraints and fight Mongul a second time, he kicks Mongul's butt, Mongul then uses some type of energy weapon, and Superman is killed but then resurrected before Cleric by the mysterious Eradicator Device. |
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Post by shaxper on Dec 1, 2015 15:19:50 GMT -5
Old Byrne Plot Points Still Left Unresolved
Perez is trying to wipe the slate clean, but we'll also see Ordway working to resolve old plot points as early as next issue. Thus, for our own convenience, I present my best off-the-top-of-my-head effort to catalog all past Byrne continuity that still remains unresolved. Chime in if you think of something I forgot:
Note: I'm not including villains that left and might show up again or who still have mysteries involved in their backstories. It goes without saying that we'll see more from Silver Banshee, Draaga, Mxyzptlk, and the like.
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.
- Amanda McCoy is trying to prove that Clark Kent is Superman and was inadvertently involved in the death of the private detective aiding her.
- 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?
- Jimmy Olsen's mom is still trying to find his dad now that she has a photograph proving he is alive.
- Luthor and the Kryptonite radiation. I can't recall if it's been explained that he is dying from it yet.
Getting addressed right now:
Jose as Gangbuster. Will that continue to be a thing?
Morgan Edge
The Eradicator Device
Skyhook and (presumably) Maggie Sawyer's daughter next issue
Matrix
Probably should be revisited:
-Jimmy Olsen dating Lucy Lane (last mentioned in Superman #4)
-Cat Grant's son. We had some serious foreshadowing that things were going to go bad for that young man.
-Will there ever be a "real" Bizarro in the Post-Crisis, or are we stuck with the lame clone concept we got in Man of Steel #5?
-Will there ever be another Metallo beyond the one who got his butt handed to him in Superman #1 and then died in #2?
-Lois and Superman shared a kiss during The Earth Stealers
-Alice, the timid, mild-mannered staffer at the Daily Planet who kept getting mentioned and shown for no apparent reason over the course of several issues. Still wondering if that was an office in-joke and Alice was supposed to represent someone at DC.
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Dec 1, 2015 16:32:25 GMT -5
Superman #34  "By Hook or by Crook!" writer: Jerry Ordway pencils: Kerry Gammill inks: Dennis Janke colors: Glenn Whitmore letters: John Costanza assoc. editor: Jon Peterson editor: Mike Carlin grade: C- The trend from last issue continues as old dangling continuity is resurrected just so that it can be put to bed as quickly as possible. There's really nothing noteworthy about the return of Skyhook beyond his origin and the fact that, on the last page, he conveniently dies, resolving every plot point left dangling since his previous appearance ( Superman #15). We learn who he was, how he came to be, and what his motives were, watch the mutations he caused in all those children immediately disappear upon his inadvertent and convenient-as-all-heck death, and even see Maggie Sawyer and her ex-husband work out their problems. Everything falls into place far far too easily by the close. Important Details: - Skyhook's real name was Aleister Hook, a London doctor from the late 19th century. In 1889, he was caught kidnapping children to use in his own little crime syndicate, was burnt to death by a mob, and inadvertently made a pact with Satan when he was trying to pray to God in the process. - Death of Skyhook (again -- presumably for real this time) - Jimmy Olsen snaps a photo of Clark Kent (Matrix) and Superman standing side by side. I'm sure this will come in handy down the road. - Maggie Sawyer's ex husband is James Sawyer. Interesting that Maggie kept the last name. - First appearances of Dr. Rodriguez and Security Head Gabrelli over at Project Cadmus (simply called "The Project" here). They were working on curing Skyhook's "children" between Superman #15 and the events of this issue. Minor Details: - Jimmy Olsen mentions he is coming down with something. Is this going somewhere? If not, why mention it? plot synopsis in one sentence: We're given the origin of Skyhook, he returns JUST as Maggie and James Sawyer have been summoned to Project Cadmus to discuss using their daughter, Jamie, to find a cure for the other children Skyhood mutated since her mutation was not as far along, Skyhook mentally commands his children to return to him, Maggie and James pursue and summon Superman for help, and they inadvertently kill Skyhook by tricking him into impaling himself on a cross, pretty much solving everything including the mutations. |
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Post by Action Ace on Dec 1, 2015 19:49:46 GMT -5
Old Byrne Plot Points Still Left UnresolvedPerez is trying to wipe the slate clean, but we'll also see Ordway working to resolve old plot points as early as next issue. Thus, for our own convenience, I present my best off-the-top-of-my-head effort to catalog all past Byrne continuity that still remains unresolved. Chime in if you think of something I forgot: Note: I'm not including villains that left and might show up again or who still have mysteries involved in their backstories. It goes without saying that we'll see more from Silver Banshee, Draaga, Mxyzptlk, and the like. 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. - Amanda McCoy is trying to prove that Clark Kent is Superman and was inadvertently involved in the death of the private detective aiding her. - 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? - Jimmy Olsen's mom is still trying to find his dad now that she has a photograph proving he is alive. - Luthor and the Kryptonite radiation. I can't recall if it's been explained that he is dying from it yet. Getting addressed right now:Jose as Gangbuster. Will that continue to be a thing? Morgan Edge The Eradicator Device Skyhook and (presumably) Maggie Sawyer's daughter next issue Matrix Probably should be revisited:-Jimmy Olsen dating Lucy Lane (last mentioned in Superman #4) -Cat Grant's son. We had some serious foreshadowing that things were going to go bad for that young man. -Will there ever be a "real" Bizarro in the Post-Crisis, or are we stuck with the lame clone concept we got in Man of Steel #5? -Will there ever be another Metallo beyond the one who got his butt handed to him in Superman #1 and then died in #2? -Lois and Superman shared a kiss during The Earth Stealers all your answers can be found HERE |
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shaxper
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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: Neither of these yet. 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. Nope. Jimmy is clearly upset in this issue and indicates that part of that comes from him mother being away (presumably looking for his dad). 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. |
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Dec 13, 2015 21:30:25 GMT -5
Adventures of Superman #458  "I Sing the Body Elastic" Plot: George Perez writing and pencils: Dan Jurgens inks: Klaus Janson letters: Albert DeGuzman colors: Glenn Whitmore Jonathan Peterson: Associate Editor editor: Mike Carlin grade: C+ Before the new creative teams were finalized, Carlin laid out a plan in which one Superman title would focus on Superman, one would focus on the Daily Planet supporting cast, and one would focus on Clark's Kryptonian heritage. That last one never sounded like a workable premise, but the other two appear to be taking shape nicely by this point. Action Comics is Superman engaged in a lot of, well, "action," and Adventures of Superman is focusing the camera tightly on the Daily Planet supporting cast and their relationships with both Clark and Superman. It's the Superman title itself that still feels indecisive at this point. Perhaps Ordway wasn't onboard with all the new that Perez and Jurgens were bringing. Anyway, this issue works hard both to emphasize the Daily Planet supporting cast (once again) as well as to purposefully continue a few Byrne-isms in his absence, this time borrowing a silly aspect of the Silver Age and attempting to throw it into Post-Crisis continuity with a more believable angle. I'm talking specifically about Elastic Lad, a semi-regular alterego for the Silver Age Jimmy Olsen:  A lot of effort is put into explaining how he gained these powers (an alien virus Superman gave him upon returning to Earth in Action #643), the logistics of how they work (restructuring his body at an almost molecular level, his sweat causing the clothing to change with him), how he controls it (an instinct similar to pulling one's hand away from a flame), and even the idea that it would cause tremendous blinding pain. All very convincing, and yet the idea still feels so unnecessary and alien to the continuity being developed. I never liked when Byrne would bring back these silly Silver Age tropes. In fact, I'm already dreading the next appearance of Mister Mxyzptlk. But the development of the Daily Planet crew? Perez and Jurgens do a bangup job there, first unabashedly spending the first four pages of the issue just watching Clark, Jimmy, Cat, Lois, and Perry do aerobics at the Daily Planet as a start to their workday. No plot is imposed until the fifth page -- it's just relationships developing, and it feels so casual, real, and delightful. This was the aspect of the Superman office that drew me in even as an adolescent (I started reading eleven months from now). Everything felt so real and well developed. I cared about these people, and Jurgens clearly does here too. I especially appreciated the effort to steer Cat Grant away from simply being a trainwreck of a human being. She really has redeemed herself, and Jurgens allows the readers and the cast to view her as something more than a weak appendage this time around:  She's a compassionate and competent mom, as well as a total a$$ kicker in aerobics, leaving everyone else in the dust. I guess she's also back working full time at the Planet again? What has happened to Morgan Edge's media company in the wake of his arrest and ensuing medical crisis, anyway? And, speaking of developing the supporting cast and also bringing back some of the campier beloved aspects of the franchise, I LOVE how they hearken back to the Donner film depiction of Lois being such a tireless firecracker that she adorably stumbles over the fine details in favor of the big picture, especially with spelling:  Also nice to see other editors at the Daily Planet with their own relationships to the folks we know so well there. At a real major metropolitan newspaper, the Editor in Chief would not be personally overseeing most things his/her reporters were working on. So yeah, I can't say I'm a fan of the plot, but a valiant effort is made to make it work believably, and I really appreciated Jurgens working to further develop the Daily Planet team. Minor Details: - The creative teams all seem like a mess at this point, with plots and assists coming from different people than the assigned creative teams each issue, possibly as a result of all the intense collaboration being done. In all this mess, I'm not sure I'm clear what Roger Stern's responsibilities in the Superman office are anymore. Is he gradually backing off to make room for Perez? - For the second issue in a row, Jurgens gives a lot of time to Jimmy's unrequited romantic interest in Cat Grant, and yet there's been absolutely no mention of Lucy Lane. I guess she and Jimmy are no longer dating (last shown in Superman #4), or Jurgens isn't aware that they ever were. - Just as Superman will soon be crossing over with Starman because Roger Stern was involved with both, we get a nice little shout-out to Jurgens' Booster Gold, with a subtle hint of future tension between him and The Man of Steel as Superman goes on to say "I never really cared for this guy anyway!" as he hurls the billboard out of the way.  It's tempting to dismiss this as a shameless plug, but Superman was still a central character to the DCU (if not their #1 property anymore), so it makes sense that he should cross paths with the other heroes in that universe, and which better ones to visit than the ones the creative teams behind Superman knew intimately and could write accurately? It works a lot better than Byrne just taking on the characters he felt like writing and then portraying them largely out of character (see just about every damned issue of Action Comics before it went weekly). - Maybe I missed something here. When we first met Prof. Hamilton (way back in Adventures of Superman #425), he was a penniless genius. Since then, I believe I recall Superman getting him a job with Star Labs, but since when does he have the resources to furnish his apartment "in an old warehouse district" with this kind of tech:  And really, if the Professor is such a genius as to be an expert at virtually anything Superman needs at the moment (revolutionary shields and weapons, outer space breathing apparatuses, and now cellular surgery and alien viruses) how in the heck did no one but Lexcorp know of him until Superman arrived? What University did he come out of? Didn't he publish any papers? This just doesn't make any sense. The character as originally introduced had spent a lifetime working on one crazy invention; he was not an expert on all things science as he's since been depicted. plot synopsis in one sentence:
The Daily Planet folks are doing aerobics when Jimmy suddenly manifests Elastic Lad powers, panicking and going out of control from the pain, so Clark has to become Superman in order to subdue him and then brings him to Professer Hamilton, who determines the problem is caused by a virus Superman brought back from space, all while someone from space (Maxima?) is approaching Earth in an attempt to possess Superman. |
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Post by shaxper on Dec 14, 2015 20:50:40 GMT -5
Starman (1988) #14  "Look--Up in the Sky...!" writer: Roger Stern pencils: Tom Lyle inks: Bob Smith letters: Bob Pinaha colors: Michele Wolfman editors: Greenberger & Augustyn grade: B- I've been pretty careless in watching where Superman has made guest appearances thus far in Post-Crisis Continuity, but I chose to include this issue both because Action Ace brought it to my attention and also because Roger Stern is writing it, meaning it's far more likely to be in-continuity with what's happening over in the Superman Office. In fact, this is a pretty significant issue for a guest appearance. For one thing, we get a few significant insights into Superman's past history and powers that never really got discussed before (see "Important Details" below). For another, we get to see a whole new side of Superman here. When a writer brings in an A List character to help sell their own character or series, the tendency is to go the mutual respect route: have the two characters clash and then ultimately decide they equally respect one another. Essentially, if you like this A list character, then you'll have to love this D lister because he's just as good. Stern gives the reader more credit than that here, making no effort to disguise the idea that the Will Payton Starman is still a total rookie after only 14 months in publication. So the challenge is to find a different way for Superman to interact with the character that shows him as being something special. Stern does this by having Superman begin by mentoring Payton but ultimately become his friend. Superman has befriended many characters before, but this is different. Spending time with a super being like himself (who isn't a female bringing along sexual tension) for the first time gives Superman the first opportunity we've seen in three years worth of publications to just cut loose and have fun with a true "buddy," flying around for the fun of it while confiding in one another, sparring just for fun, and just acting like a couple of goofballs without a care in the world.  When has Superman ever allowed himself to behave this way before? And, of course, this friendship isn't just built upon having similar powers. They share similar beliefs too. In fact, I think the comic book fandom of 1989 really could have stood to take a break from their Punisher comics and DKR and Killing Joke tpbs in order to read this little exchange:  The goody-goodies weren't dead yet. Not a particularly memorable story in most respects, and Lyle's art outright hurt at times, but Superman having fun -- that was worth seeing. Important Details: - Clark Kent wrestled in high school "before my powers fully developed" - Clark learned most of what he knows about fighting from covering boxing matches for the Daily Planet - Superman can see "beyond the spectrum". This could simply mean he has X-Ray vision, but it seems to imply instead that he can see colors that the human eye cannot normally perceive. - Starman can recharge Superman. This will become important in the later Krisis of the Krimson Kryptonite storyline, if I recall correctly:  Minor Details: - Though this issue and Adventures of Superman #458 were released on the same date according to Mike's Amazing World, this story must have been intended to come first, as Superman spends an awful lot of time just "hanging" with Starman in Phoenix without a care in the world. Prior to Adv. of Superman #458, he didn't have any cares to get back to in Metropolis, but after that issue, Jimmy Olsen was on death's door. Can't imagine Clark would have been so unconcerned with Jimmy's predicament. -Dr. Kitty Faulkner (aka Rampage) is now working with Will Payton in Phoenix - S.T.A.R. Labs has laboratories across the country. This may have been true Pre-Crisis as well, but it's never been mentioned in Post-Crisis Superman continuity until now. - How could Superman countersign a legal document (page 5)? Is "Superman" considered a legal entity? He doesn't even have citizenship, does he?? plot synopsis in one sentence:
Superman arrives in Phoenix in order to assist Starman (Will Payton) in learning how to utilize his powers, so the two talk for a bit, end up sparring, and are interrupted when Parasite attacks, forcing Starman to fight Parasite with Superman's powers, but the two take him down together. |
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Post by Arthur Gordon Scratch on Dec 14, 2015 20:53:18 GMT -5
Adventures of Superman #458 "I Sing the Body Elastic" Plot: George Perez writing and pencils: Dan Jurgens inks: Klaus Janson letters: Albert DeGuzman colors: Glenn Whitmore Jonathan Peterson: Associate Editor editor: Mike Carlin grade: C+ Before the new creative teams were finalized, Carlin laid out a plan in which one Superman title would focus on Superman, one would focus on the Daily Planet supporting cast, and one would focus on Clark's Kryptonian heritage. That last one never sounded like a workable premise, but the other two appear to be taking shape nicely by this point. Action Comics is Superman engaged in a lot of, well, "action," and Adventures of Superman is focusing the camera tightly on the Daily Planet supporting cast and their relationships with both Clark and Superman. It's the Superman title itself that still feels indecisive at this point. Perhaps Ordway wasn't onboard with all the new that Perez and Jurgens were bringing. Anyway, this issue works hard both to emphasize the Daily Planet supporting cast (once again) as well as to purposefully continue a few Byrne-isms in his absence, this time borrowing a silly aspect of the Silver Age and attempting to throw it into Post-Crisis continuity with a more believable angle. I'm talking specifically about Elastic Lad, a semi-regular alterego for the Silver Age Jimmy Olsen:  A lot of effort is put into explaining how he gained these powers (an alien virus Superman gave him upon returning to Earth in Action #643), the logistics of how they work (restructuring his body at an almost molecular level, his sweat causing the clothing to change with him), how he controls it (an instinct similar to pulling one's hand away from a flame), and even the idea that it would cause tremendous blinding pain. All very convincing, and yet the idea still feels so unnecessary and alien to the continuity being developed. I never liked when Byrne would bring back these silly Silver Age tropes. In fact, I'm already dreading the next appearance of Mister Mxyzptlk. But the development of the Daily Planet crew? Perez and Jurgens do a bangup job there, first unabashedly spending the first four pages of the issue just watching Clark, Jimmy, Cat, Lois, and Perry do aerobics at the Daily Planet as a start to their workday. No plot is imposed until the fifth page -- it's just relationships developing, and it feels so casual, real, and delightful. This was the aspect of the Superman office that drew me in even as an adolescent (I started reading about eight months from now). Everything felt so real and well developed. I cared about these people, and Jurgens clearly does here too. I especially appreciated the effort to steer Cat Grant away from simply being a trainwreck of a human being. She really has redeemed herself, and Jurgens allows the readers and the cast to view her as something more than a weak appendage this time around:  She's a compassionate and competent mom, as well as a total a$$ kicker in aerobics, leaving everyone else in the dust. I guess she's also back working full time at the Planet again? What has happened to Morgan Edge's media company in the wake of his arrest and ensuing medical crisis, anyway? And, speaking of developing the supporting cast and also bringing back some of the campier beloved aspects of the franchise, I LOVE how they hearken back to the Donner film depiction of Lois being such a tireless firecracker that she adorably stumbles over the fine details in favor of the big picture, especially with spelling:  Also nice to see other editors at the Daily Planet with their own relationships to the folks we know so well there. At a real major metropolitan newspaper, the Editor in Chief would not be personally overseeing most things his/her reporters were working on. So yeah, I can't say I'm a fan of the plot, but a valiant effort is made to make it work believably, and I really appreciated Jurgens working to further develop the Daily Planet team. Minor Details: - The creative teams all seem like a mess at this point, with plots and assists coming from different people than the assigned creative teams each issue, possibly as a result of all the intense collaboration being done. In all this mess, I'm not sure I'm clear what Roger Stern's responsibilities in the Superman office are anymore. Is he gradually backing off to make room for Perez? - For the second issue in a row, Jurgens gives a lot of time to Jimmy's unrequited romantic interest in Cat Grant, and yet there's been absolutely no mention of Lucy Lane. I guess she and Jimmy are no longer dating (last shown in Superman #4), or Jurgens isn't aware that they ever were. - Just as Superman will soon be crossing over with Starman because Roger Stern was involved with both, we get a nice little shout-out to Jurgens' Booster Gold, with a subtle hint of future tension between him and The Man of Steel as Superman goes on to say "I never really cared for this guy anyway!" as he hurls the billboard out of the way.  It's tempting to dismiss this as a shameless plug, but Superman was still a central character to the DCU (if not their #1 property anymore), so it makes sense that he should cross paths with the other heroes in that universe, and which better ones to visit than the ones the creative teams behind Superman knew intimately and could write accurately? It works a lot better than Byrne just taking on the characters he felt like writing and then portraying them largely out of character (see just about every damned issue of Action Comics before it went weekly). - Maybe I missed something here. When we first met Prof. Hamilton (way back in Adventures of Superman #425), he was a penniless genius. Since then, I believe I recall Superman getting him a job with Star Labs, but since when does he have the resources to furnish his apartment "in an old warehouse district" with this kind of tech:  And really, if the Professor is such a genius as to be an expert at virtually anything Superman needs at the moment (revolutionary shields and weapons, outer space breathing apparatuses, and now cellular surgery and alien viruses) how in the heck did no one but Lexcorp know of him until Superman arrived? What University did he come out of? Didn't he publish any papers? This just doesn't make any sense. The character as originally introduced had spent a lifetime working on one crazy invention; he was not an expert on all things science as he's since been depicted. plot synopsis in one sentence:
The Daily Planet folks are doing aerobics when Jimmy suddenly manifests Elastic Lad powers, panicking and going out of control from the pain, so Clark has to become Superman in order to subdue him and then brings him to Professer Hamilton, who determines the problem is caused by a virus Superman brought back from space, all while someone from space (Maxima?) is approaching Earth in an attempt to possess Superman.Gotta love those Klaus Janson inks, beautiful! |
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Dec 22, 2015 14:21:11 GMT -5
Action Comics #645  "My Lady Maxima" writers: Roger Stern & George Perez pencils: George Perez inks: Brett Breeding letters: Bill Oakley colors: Glenn Whitmore associate editor: Jon Peterson editor: Mike Carlin grade: C+ Three issues into Perez's run and he's still yet to turn in an issue written and penciled entirely by him with no assists. I wonder if Carlin was getting worried yet. This is an odd issue in that it doesn't have all that much of a plot. It introduces Maxima, gives a very brief battle scene for Superman (not all that much action in this issue of Action), and then whisks Maxima away at the last moment, promising "The story of Maxima has just begun! It will continue to unfold in months to come!" What an odd choice, particularly as I don't feel anything was done here to keep the reader wanting more from this character. She controls people's minds. Got it. Nothing all that new or interesting there. But I have to say, a knock out romantic rival for Lois who can control people's minds would have been a no-brainer choice for the Adventures of Lois & Clark TV series. Why didn't they ever go there? As for the story (or lack thereof), one thing I do respect is how much effort it puts into tying up loose ends. In addition to Perez once more finding a simple visual way to catch us up on some complex continuity unfolding:  we see Stern and/or Perez working to reconcile some very minor nitpicky matters that had irked me in the past. One of these is Superman's carefree attitude while crossing over into the Starman title this month, acting like he didn't have anywhere to be. He outright says the opposite when he says his goodbyes at the start of this issue, but we're also given a subtle indication as to why Superman was spending so much time there and not rushing to get back home to see how Jimmy Olsen was fairing (see Adventures of Superman #458):  Finally, it really irked me a long while back when John Byrne felt the need to add the little Pre-Crisis nod that Lois Lane was known by the general public as "Superman's Girlfriend". They weren't dating, had had no true romantic encounters, and the whole thing just felt overly cutesy and also disrespectful to the powerful feminist reincarnation Lois had been given Post-Crisis, so it's very gratifying to finally see that get explained away in this issue when Lois states (while quite annoyed) that "No, 'they' do not {call me that}! A gossip columnist stuck me with that tag." Nicely done. But yeah, not all that much to this story otherwise, though Perez still manages to dazzle us with the art even when not all that much is going down.  I could be wrong, but this issue genuinely feels like something's amiss with the creative direction of this title. We're going to lose Perez in a very short amount of time, and I sense the beginning of that here. Important Details: - First appearance of Maxima and Sazu - Sazu betrays Maxima in order to protect the integrity of her royal bloodline Minor Details: - Contrary to my assumptions in the previous review, Starman #14 does occur immediately prior to this issue. - Why does Captain Sawyers' task force keep getting sent out into these metahuman combat zones without any kind of special gear whatsoever?  I could see someone trying to make a point about the city being dangerously underfunded while Luthor has managed to take control of most things through privatization (I don't think we've seen his armored Luthor soldiers yet, have we?), but none of that has been implied or stated yet. We just seem to have a crack team of three or four police officers with standard issue pistols jumping into these situations, week after week. Makes no sense. plot synopsis in one sentence: Maxima shows up and starts mind controlling people, Superman says goodbye to Starman and worries about Jose, Matrix, Lana, and especially Jimmy Olsen, Matrix shows up at the Daily Planet looking for Superman and then leaves, she forcibly takes over City Hall in order to bring out Superman, it works, and Sazu turns on her to prevent her from marrying him, killing her simulacrum and stalling Maxima's plans for the moment. |
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Mar 31, 2016 13:52:24 GMT -5
Superman #36  "Laugh...I Thought I'd DIE!" story/pencils: Jerry Ordway inks: Dennis Janke colors: Glenn Whitmore letters: John Costanza assoc. editor: Jon Peterson editor: Mike Carlin grade: C- Sheesh. At this point in Superman history, if I'm going to get a lousy story to sit through, I at least expect to be able to enjoy George Perez art. No such luck. It really is disheartening that, well over a year after Bryne's departure, this franchise still hasn't quite found its stride yet. The continuity is very strong, and they're finally really starting to "get" Superman's characterization in a way that I appreciate, but there are significant struggles that are impeding my enjoyment all the same. Let's walk through the positives first... Superman's characterizationIn the wake of his Gangbuster fiasco and subsequent soul-searching in space, Superman has found himself again as the superhero ideal he'd always strived for. I love how this issue opens, with Superman volunteering to clean up after a major battle. The media tries to find problems with what he's doing, but the comic just won't allow his good nature to be dominated and drowned out.  And that attitude extends into his life as Clark. He is both dorky and clueless, and also a good natured hero as an everyday Joe, best illustrated here when he is able to persuade Cat Grant not to revert back into being an alcoholic when things get rough (though she's too proud to admit it to him):  But it's therefore upsetting that the whole Gangbuster thing is being dredged up once again when we thought Superman had resolved it for the third time:  In a way, you could look at both Superman's doubts and Cat Grant's struggles in this issue and see a larger theme about the fear of relapsing after a hard climb out of the abyss, but we've patiently waited for over a year now for the new creative teams to get Superman's sh*t together, so it's a little upsetting to see the progress he's made get threatened once again. I can't handle another half a year of Superman brooding in space. Continuity:In addition to opening with Superman clearing the wreckage from a previous battle (I have lost track of what past adventure is being alluded to that involved "some robot or something that destroyed the Edgewater Parking Plaza" -- did they mean the battle with Matrix in Action #644?), continues with Superman clearing the air with The Guardian in regard to what transpired between them while Superman was doubling as Gangbuster back in Adventures of Superman #450, explores the final fall-out of Cat Grant being the one to expose Morgan Edge's ties to Intergang, brings back The Prankster and his reasons for having a grudge against Edge, returns to Project Cadmus ( Superman Annual #2), reminds us of Jimmy Olsen's life-threatening battle stemming from Adventures of Superman #458, addresses the fact that Clark went from having the brain of a child (while replaced by Matrix) to being himself again with no explanation offered to the staff of The Daily Planet, and possibly nods back to Superman's last encounter with Brainiac (though this part was a bit enigmatic). That's a lot of material to cover in one 22 page story. The weird part, though, was the absence of Lois in this story. I guess she's not always going to be walking the halls of The Planet. One unresolved plot point I really want to see them get back to is the issue of her mother's failing health and Luthor's using her medical treatments as barter for Lois not writing anything against Lexcorp. How has this been backburned for so long now? Now, the negatives... The Supporting Cast:I don't care what's happening with Jimmy and am not asked to care in this story, where his current problems are mentioned and then glossed over. Lois isn't in this issue. I still don't care about Cat Grant, nor do I understand her plight. Morgan Edge fires her, but hasn't she been working for Perry and The Daily Planet again? We just saw her doing a yoga class with the rest of the crew to start their day at The Planet in Adventures of Superman #458 last month, right? Heck, even Clark seems confused about this:  But, worse than that, I find nothing likable about her personality. Yes, it's great that she has stopped drinking and is trying to respect herself more, but removing the negatives doesn't necessary make me like or care about her. Plus, her son proves to be an absolute snot in this issue, concerned only with whether he gets to keep all the toys Edge bought him while his father is trying to save his mother's life. Speaking of which, this moment with Cat's ex-husband was actually darn cool:  I like that he's not just an asshole evil antagonist to Cat's custody concerns. Finally, there's the return of Jerry White. I get that Ordway is trying to show he's changed, much like Cat, but also as with Cat, making him no longer a trouble-making whiny teenager doesn't necessarily make him likable; you've just removed the things that made me dislike him. In fact, he's still kind of obnoxious and whiny here, just in a different way:  And, while Perry doesn't get much characterization in this story, it was cool to see him accept and be open to his son dating a black woman who wants to work for Lexcorp, after getting past both initial shocks. PlotThis story was terrible. I was never a fan of Byrne dredging up old campy villains from the Silver Age, but this story was excessively pointless and lacking in fun with its execution to boot. There was nothing funny about The Prankster's return. I guess Ordway was trying to comment on what passes for entertainment in the modern 1980s, but it was hardly incisive or well done, even with its nods to Friday the 13th, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Motel Hell:  and I really had a hard time with how flippant Supes was about the whole thing at the end.  Classic Superman might pull out that sh*t-eating grin at the end over a bungled attempt at a crime that had no substantial consequence, but pages earlier this guy was holding a chainsaw to Morgan Edge's face while the dude was lying half-dead in a hospital. NOT COOL. Finally, what was with this twist ending? I honestly don't understand whether or not I was supposed to understand what was being hinted at:  So, while there are some good things happening over at the Superman office right now, this issue was a true stinker that makes me wonder how long it's going to take for Carlin and the team to finally get their acts together. We're still half a year away from when I started reading as a kid, but I'm reasonably sure things were running well by that point. Plot synopsis:
Superman is assisting in the cleanup of wreckage from a previous battle and ends up meeting up with The Guardian, who takes him to Project Cadmus in order to further explore what caused his Gangbuster Double-Identity. This ends up causing Superman to worry that he may not be cured after all. Meanwhile, Cat Grant's ex-husband pays Morgan Edge a visit, threatening to kill him if he tries to kill Cat for exposing his ties to Intergang. Afterwards, The Prankster shows up for revenge against Edge while Perry and Alice White meet Jerry's new girlfriend, throwing off Jerry's expectations by not having a problem with her being black. Cat Grant also learns she has been fired by Morgan Edge, goes to her old drinking hole to drown her sorrows, and is interrupted by Clark, who talks her out of reverting to alcoholism. He then learns about The Prankster and intervenes as Superman, discovering that The Prankster's only real motive was to be in the limelight again. He also appears to still have some trick up his sleeve. |
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Jun 8, 2016 11:05:15 GMT -5
Superman #37  writer/pencils: Jerry Ordway inks: Dennis Janke letters: John Costanza assoc. editor: Jon Peterson editor: Mike Carlin grade: C- Once again, the Superman franchise feels like it's stuck in neutral, working furiously to rehash old continuity without really getting anything new and exciting started in contrast. Worse yet, this issue goes beyond the need of reminding us of all the loose continuity points still out there and being addressed (at the speed of an inebriated turtle) and dredges up some old resolved plot points that no one really needed to see the return of. I could care less about Jose Delgado at this point, about Project Cadmus and the Newsboy Legion (the least interesting element of Kirby's Fourth World, in my opinion), and we even got this little bit of foreshadowing:  I had to go back and look it up. With all the plot points Byrne left unresolved after his abrupt departure, Ordway wants to go back and dredge up a plot point from a totally forgettable filler story that was published over a year ago? In short, absolutely nothing that occurs in this issue or that is suggested to be coming up in future issues interests me in the slightest. It's a good thing I know that these titles start to pick up in a major way less than a year from now. Important Details: - Jimmy Olsen is from "Bakerline". We're told that he has a driver's permit. The writers have been evasive about Jimmy's age all along, but we can surmise here that he's at least sixteen (the minimum age for earning a learner's permit in New York, both the city that Metropolis is based upon and the home of DC Comics and its staff at the time). - Jimmy is told the cure that he is administered for his elasticity will take a few years to run its course. Looks like Ordway's leaving the door open for Jimmy to learn some control over his slowly diminishing condition and make a few Elastic Lad appearances. Fortunately, I don't think that ever got revisited. Minor Details:- The cover is an homage to Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #133:  but, more than that, it's an homage to the entire storyline contained in that issue, as it revisits The Wild Area from that storyline and references many of the visuals and facts pertaining to that region that we first encountered in that story. - It's also interesting that, for once, a cover in which Jimmy or Superman turns on the other was not a trick/gimmick. Jimmy really does try to gun down Superman in this story:  - I was incredibly displeased with Ordway's handling of Lois Lane. She's supposed to be strong, independent, and unflappable except in the most dire of circumstances. So it's troubling to see her reduced to an emotional wreck just because she broke things off with Jose Delgado (who we haven't even been thinking about since before the Exile storyline nearly a year ago!):  She spent most of the scene crying, and that final panel just took the cake. This is not Lois; this is a bad female stereotype. - Dennis Janke really gave it his all on that title page. Easily the best part of the issue (actually, it was probably the only good part):  Plot synopsis: Superman takes Jimmy to Project Cadmus against his will in order to get cured, Jimmy is resenting Superman for infecting him with the Eradicator Device in the first place, Lois breaks up with Jose DelGado and he tries to stop an armed bank heist in order to redeem himself, later resenting being rescued by Superman, Jimmy is having hallucinations in which he is being called back to the Middle East in order to revisit the entirely forgettable events of Adventures of Superman #443, the Newsboy Legion is feeling cooped up at Cadmus and decides to break out with Jimmy Olsen so that he can drive the Whiz Wagon and buy them movie tickets, Guardian allows them to go for unexplained reasons, and Superman stops them, but not before Jimmy orders the Whiz Wagon to attack him, making for an awkward/unsettling reunion by the close. So what was the point of this issue? Your guess is as good as mine. |
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