NFL SuperPro Super Bowl Special, by Fabian Nicieza, Jose Delbo, Bob Hall, Tom Morgan, Mike DeCarlo, and Kim DeMulder
"Fourth and goal to go"
March, 1991

Grade: C+

Format: original prestige format special

Brief synopsis:

Chapter 1: "The lift that drops you"

SuperPro busts up some goons smuggling chemicals for steroids. In his secret identity, SuperPro is Phil Grayfield, former football player turned sports reporter. He is investigating an illegal steroids occupation. This investigation leads him to an overeager rookie, then to a college professor named Henry Morrison, with ties to Jakobs pharmaceuticals. While SuperPro investigates, his cameraman and partner, Ken Reid, puts pieces together and deduces that Phil Grayfield is SuperPro!

Chapter 2: "Field of dreams and nightmares"

We learn the origin of SuperPro. Phil Grayfield had been a star football player in college and was the #1 draft pick. But an injury took him out before the season started. It resurfaced in his first game of the next season, then again saving a kid from falling from the bleachers before the next season started. His football career over, he became a sports journalist.

While visiting an eccentric football collector named Rudy, he learns of the SuperPro costume. The collector is an inventor and had built the ultimate football uniform, which would perfectly protect a player. Criminals attack, and set fire to the complex. Phil finds himself sprayed with chemicals, then dons the SuperPro costume to save Rudy and catch the bad guys.

Chapter 3: "Better dying through chemistry"

The rookie Carl takes his final dose of steroids, leading to adverse side effects, as he mutates into an out-of-control monster. SuperPro tries to contain him, until he dies of a heart attack.

While sad, this convinces his teammates to flush their own steroids down the toilet.

In the end, the bad people go to jail, and Phil has bagels for brunch with his girlfriend and fellow reporter, Jane. She claims she's going to learn how he gets the inside scoop on all these stories...


Review: Among its other strengths, this issue is full of snappy banter, between hoods and between SuperPro and the hoods. SuperPro's first line a fine example of this.

One goon is concerned about the boxes, that they may contain chemicals which could blow up in their faces. His colleague, replies, "Dude, on you, that would only be an improvement!" At which point SuperPro jumps in to stop their crime: "Gentlemen, I'd recommend you worry about something else blowing up in your face... like my fist!"

"Who duz this guy think he is, Super Football Man?" asks another goon.

The reply, in one of many football references is, "Close, 'Einstein', but you missed the first down marker by the length of a chain..."

"This little play from scrimmage didn't gain me much yardage".

In addition to the football motif to the dialogue and costume, the artist works hard to make sure SuperPro's attacks look like football moves. This fits in well with the origin of the character. That combined with the uniform design, which prominently features the NFL logo in two places, makes it clear you are looking at a football-based superhero.

Nicieza works to establish SuperPro with typical superhero motifs, like a reputation for being late for dinner.

The comic also confronts the issue of steroid use, how bad it is and what pressures lead to it. But we are also reminded the most football players do it through hard work and determination.

Notes:

SuperPro, has enhanced strength, speed, and stamina.