The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode 063 - X-Men #48 (1968)

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode Sixty-Three

X-Men #48 (September, 1968)
"Beware Computo, Commander of the Robot Hive!"
"Yours Truly, the Beast"
Writer - Arnold Drake
Pencils - Don Heck & Werner Roth
Inks - John Tartaglione
Letters - Irving Watanabe
Edits - Stan Lee
Cover Price: 12¢

How can we miss the X-Men if they never go away?

Today we wrap up the "split-up era" for our Uncanny Heroes... just an issue after we kicked it off! This time, we're hanging out high in the desert mountains of New York City with Cyclops and Marvel Girl while they face off with a reject Fantastic Four baddie! It's not ALL bad though, once we get through with our lead feature, we get to watch Hank McCoy write with his feet for a few pages!

There's still the Mutant Mail-Box, the Bullpen Bulletins, and Stan's Soapbox gets relevant! All that, plus some discussion and interview notes about Gary Friedrich and Arnold Drake's little discussed time with the World's Strangest Teens!

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode 062 - X-Men #47 (1968)

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode Sixty-Two

X-Men #48 (August, 1968)
"The Warlock Wears Three Faces!"
"I, the Iceman!"
Writers - Gary Friedrich & Arnold Drake
Layouts - Don Heck
Pencils - Werner Roth
Inks - Johns Tartaglione & Verpoorten
Letters - Artie Simek & Joe Rosen
Edits - Stan Lee
Cover Price: 12c

With the X-Men no more, we check in with the Bosom Buddies and their Belles as they try to get tickets to the theatre! It's the return of the Warlock (not THAT Warlock... or the other one... probably not the third or fourth one yer thinkin' of either!). Also, despite the title of this ish... he's only got one face, and it's very boring!

Also: The Mutant Mail-Box, The Bullpen Bulletins... small-talk on Arnold Drake and Fabulous Flo Steinberg... and, finally, I read Professor Charles Xavier's eulogy! Join us, won't you?

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode 061 - X-Men #46 (1968)

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode Sixty-One

X-Men #46 (July, 1968)
"The End of the X-Men!"
"... And Then There Were Two"
Writer - Gary Friedrich
Pencils - Don Heck, Werner Roth, & George Tuska
Inks - John Tartaglione
Letters - Artie Simek
Edits - Stan Lee
Cover Price: 12c

Back behind the mic after a long hiatus... jumping back in with the Silver Age X-Men, just as they're getting set to split up! This being a Chris-show, expect the first half-hour of it to be full of stuff you probably couldn't care less about... but, once I finally get to the comics-content, it's a pretty good time! Two "ehh" stories, the Mutant Mail-Box, and Bullpen Bulletins are all here!

Huge and sincere THANK YOU for your patience and lack of new episodes over the past few months.

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode 58 - X-Men #45 (1968)

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode Fifty-Eight

X-Men #45 (June, 1968)
"When Mutants Clash!"
"And the Mob Cried... Vengeance!"
Writer - Gary Friedrich
Layouts - Don Heck
Pencils - Werner Roth & George Tuska
Inks - Johns Tartaglione & Verpoorten
Letters - Sam Rosen & Irving Watanabe
Colors - ?
Edits - Stan Lee
Cover Price: 12¢

On the eve of Avengers vs X-Men: Round Two -- we get to experience a slapfight between Cyclops and Quicksilver!  Not much more to say about this one!  Our "Origins of the Uncanny X-Men" backup is sillier than ever... and, speaking of silly - boy, wait'll you hear how the X-Faithful eulogized Professor X in the letters pages!

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The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode 57 - X-Men #44 (1968)

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode Fifty-Seven

X-Men #44 (May, 1968)
"Red Raven, Red Raven...!"
"The Iceman Cometh!"
Plots - Roy Thomas
Writer - Gary Friedrich
Layouts - Don Heck
Pencils - Werner Roth & George Tuska
Inks - John Tartaglione & John Verpoorten
Colors - ???
Letters - Sam Rosen & Artie Simek
Edits - Stan Lee
Cover Price: 12¢

We're finally back for a stint in the Silver-Age... where one of our teen-age heroes meets a fella outta Marvel's Golden Age!  It's the coming (and going) of Red Raven!  Hold on to yer harnesses gang, this one's gonna be a barn-burner!  We've got us a new writer to boot!

Plus - The Origins of the X-Men backup strip focuses on Kid Kool as he gets roughed up by some Strong Island street toughs, and thrown in the clink!

Also - our normal Silver-Age back-matter - Letters Pages (featuring future pros Keith Giffen and Carl Gafford), an abridged Bullpen Bulletins bit, and an absolutely overflowing MIGHTY Marvel Checklist!

It's great to be back in "the long ago", I sure hope you'll join me!

--

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The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode 052 - X-Men #42 (1968)

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode Fifty-Two

X-Men #42 (March, 1968)
"If I Should Die...!"
Writer - Roy Thomas
Pencils - Don Heck
Inks - George Tuska
Letters - Sam Rosen
Colors - ???
Edits - Stan Lee
Cover Price: 12¢

Not a Dream!  Not a Hoax!  Not an Imaginary Story!  Not a... good story either!

Today we celebrate... wait, that's not the right word for it... we commemorate the passing of the Mentor, Trainer, and Tormenter of the Uncanny X-Men: Professor Charles Francis Xavier!  We will almost certainly never see him ever again.

Plus: We wrap up Cyclops' origin in our Origins of the X-Men backup, we chat up the letters pages, go through the Bullpen Bulletins - have a brief aside about the Somerton Man, check out the new-look MIGHTY Marvel Checklist (now with 2 less anthologies!), hit up out own mailbag... and much, much more!

Join us, won't you?  This probably isn't the best jumping-on point... but, give a listen anyway, you'll be hooked!

--

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The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode 051 - X-Men #41 (1968)

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode Fifty-One

X-Men #41 (February, 1968)
“Now Strikes… The Sub-Human!” & "The Living Diamond!"
Writer - Roy Thomas
Pencils - Don Heck & Werner Roth
Inks - George Tuska & John Verpoorten
Letters - Sam Rosen
Colors - ???
Edits - Stan Lee
Cover Price: 12¢

In our Essentials "October finale... in the middle of November", we're going out with a... meh!  The X-Men fight another interchangeable monster of the month... and Cyclops fears that Professor X might have the not-so-secret hotpants for the lovely Ms. Grey!  Plus: Our Origins of the X-Men featurette rolls on, showing us how Scott and the Prof first met!

Plus - All the usual back-mattery nonsense you've come to know and tolerate!

--

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The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode 050 - X-Men #40 (1968)

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode 050

X-Men #40 (January, 1968)
“Mark of the Monster!” & "The First Evil Mutant!"
Writer - Roy Thomas
Pencils - Don Heck & Werner Roth
Inks - George Tuska & John Verpoorten
Letters - Artie Simek & Al Kurzrok
Colors - Ya know, that guy
Edits - Stan Lee
Cover Price: 12¢

It's the regular-sized, nothin' happenin' Landmark Milestone FIFTIETH Episode of The Essential X-Lapsed!

And, boy do I wish we had a better story to talk about...

It's the X-Men vs. Frankenstein('s Monster)... by the way, I will refer to him both as "Frankenstein" AND "Frankenstein's Monster"... so, consider that your trigger warning!  Also, we meet the First Evil Mutant, the ridiculous Jack O'Diamonds!

All'at and all of our normal nutty back-matter!

--

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The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode 049 - X-Men #39 (1967)

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode 049

X-Men #39 (December, 1967)
“The Fateful Finale!” and "Lonely are the Hunted!"
Writer - Roy Thomas
Pencils - Don Heck & Werner Roth
Inks - Vince Colletta & John Verpoorten
Letters - Artie Simek & Al Kurzrok
Colors - ???
Edits - Stan Lee
Cover Price: 12¢

Finally... our X-Tended stint with Factor Three comes to a close!

Today, your humble host proves that not even threat of illness will keep his stupid ass off the microphone, as we close out this arc, and prepare to jump headlong into the next... even weirder era!

Plus: Mutant Mail-Box, Bullpen Bulletins, a radio interview with Stan Lee, and much more!

--

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The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode 048 - X-Men #38 (1967)

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode 048

X-Men #38 (November, 1967)
“The Sinister Shadow of… Doomsday!” & "A Man Called... X"
Writer - Roy Thomas
Pencils - Don Heck & Werner Roth
Inks - George Roussos (as George Bell) & John Verpoorten
Letters - L.P. Gregory & Sam Rosen
Colors - 90% Accurate
Edits - Stan Lee
Cover Price: 12¢

Our Factor-Three story rolls on... well, it kinda limps on, but we'll try and remain positive.  Also, for the first time ever, X-Men has a back-up featurette, as we're kicking off the long-promised "Origins of the X-Men" series of stories!

Plus - The Mutant Mail-Box, Bullpen Bulletins, a new (hopefully unsqueaky) chair and all that nonsense!

--

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Justice League of America #209 (1982)

Justice League of America #209 (December, 1982)
"Crisis on Earth Prime, Book Five: Let Old Acquaintances Be Forgot..."
Writer - Gerry Conway
Art - Don Heck
Letters - Ben Oda
Colors - Carl Gafford
Plot Consultant - Roy Thomas
Editor - Len Wein
Cover Price: $0.60

Greetings gentle reader!  Today we wrap up Crisis on Earth-Prime.  As is the case anytime we finish off an arc here at the humble blog, you will be able to find it in it's entirety over at our Collected Editions Page!

I've had a blast with this one so far... let's see if Gerry and Roy can stick the landing!

--

We open with the trio of... trios we followed during yesterday's issue, returning to Washington, D.C. to report in to President Roosevelt.  Our first few pages are a quick and dirty retelling of what went down the pages of the previous chapters... Roosevelt's right-hand man, Harry Hopkins jots everything down on a chalkboard so we can follow along.  If you wanna follow along... you can check out our Collected Editions Page!

So, as it stands... we've got 30 minutes til Degaton drops the bomb.  Out of the 27 nuclear missiles, 3 remain... and we've got two teams of heroes still out on assignment.  Before checking in with one of those teams, we see F.D.R. jot down a note regarding the Manhattan Project... and how he ought to look a bit deeper into it.  Not sure how much of this is revisionist history to assuage him of guilt... but at the same time, I suppose it doesn't matter all that much.

Next, we shove off to Switzerland and join the team of Power Girl, Commander Steel, and Firestorm.  No sooner do they land, than they find themselves attacked by a cluster of heat-seeking (non-nuclear) missiles!  Pee Gee punches one out of the sky, while Steel absorbs the impact of another.  Firestorm blows the roof off a nearby building revealing... the Degateam!

After dealing with the geeks, Power Girl enters the building to snoop out the nukes.  Only, she finds herself battling... Johnny Quick... the other Johnny Quick... the bad one, from Earth-3.  The one with the cone head.  Anyhoo... they fight!

Quick swats at a member of the Degateam... unwittingly knocking him right into the launch button for the nukes!  D'oh.  Firestorm swoops in and locks the baddie in a construct clamp so the good guys can plan their next move.

The heroes spend the next couple of pages dismantling the live nukes... and manage to get the job done before they go big-boom.  They return to Washington, D.C. and chat up Roosevelt.  They, again, speak of the horror of nuclear armament... and all hope they're never put into a position where they might have to make the decision to use such a thing.

So, all's well that ends well, right?  Well... no, we ain't done yet.  Remember, Degaton and the Syndies mucked about in Earth-Prime's Cuban Missile Crisis... and doomed it to Armageddon.  We've still gotta deal with that!  And so, we head over to Earth-Prime, and join Green Lantern (Alan Scott), Firebrand, and Zatanna as they're chatting up Professor Zee (Zee and Zatanna in the same scene?  Madness.) about his assistant Per Degaton.

They convince Zee (and a Professor Everson) to let them finish building... and use their time machine in order to travel to 1962, which, as it turns out, is much easier than it sounds!

And so, bada-bing, bada-boom... the trio of heroes finds themselves in Cuba... just as the Russians are collecting their nukes.  Moments later, a rip is torn across the sky... and from it emerges Degaton and the Syndies!

Meanwhile, back on Earth-2 (1942), the rest of the collective heroes discover where Per Degaton is hiding out.  He's underground at the location where the Pentagon is going to be built.

From here, it's pretty academic.  They heroes burst into the bunker... beat up the Degateam... and nyoink Per Degaton out by his collar.  Anticlimactic?  Kinda... but, really... it's not like li'l Per (great rap name, if anyone wants it) was ever going to go toe to toe with Superman and Co.

What the heroes weren't expecting was for... Owlman to be lurking nearby!  He gets into a tussle with Huntress... which is fitting... and she whups his butt.  Good showing for Helena during this arc... taking out both Power Ring and Owlman!

Meanwhile, back on Earth-Prime... the heroes and the Crime Syndicate start scrappin'.  The heroes win quite decisively... and Zatanna manages to snag Per Degaton before he can hop back into his time machine.

And now... everything can go back to normal.  The heroes and villains on Earth-Prime begin to fade away, because they were never really there to begin with!  The same thing happens with the heroes on Earth-Two.  As they fade out, Huntress comments that she can already feel her memories fading as well.  None of them want to forget this outing... but, ya know... it never happened, so there's really nothing to remember.

We rejoin the All-Star Squadron (Earth-Two/1942)as they are returning to New York from San Francisco... this time, however, they aren't attacked by Nuclear the Magnetic Misfit, or whoever that was.  Before entering their headquarters, Liberty Belle pauses... as though she remembers something... but it's only an echo of a memory.  Also, I'm gonna assume that's just a coloring error, and she's not seductively licking her lips.

Also in 1942, Per Degaton is working for Professor Zee.  He tells him of the dream he had about ruling the world... and Zee tells him to shaddup and get back to work.

Next stop... Limbo!  The Crime Syndicate is never freed by Per Degaton, and so... they remain trapped in that construct bubble.  They're discussing whether or not the JLA and JSA intend to keep them there forever... which, I imagine, must be the usual (only?) topic of conversation in there.

Finally, we head back to the JLA Satellite on Earth-One (1982).  The League and Society are preparing for their annual get-together... only this time, it goes off without a hitch!

We wrap up this Crisis, with the heroes celebrating their good fortune... after all, every time they get together, something bad seems to happen.  Not this time though... right? (this is where I'd wink to the camera... but, you already knew that.)

--

Okay... a little bit to unpack here.

First, the "mind-wipe" ending.  I think this works, for the most part.  It would stand to reason that if the story we just read never actually happened... nobody ought to remember it, right?  I'm okay with that... it fits within the "rules" of time-travel... kinda... I guess.

I mean, time-travel is such a sticky-wicket, innit?  The rules are written in Jell-O, and can change to suit whatever the story calls for.  With that understood... this "forgotten" ending fits.  I think.  Don't hold me to it.  It's kind of a shame that there's no memory of the All-Star Squadron and Justice League working side by side... but, whattayagonnado?

Where I'm kinda stuck is... how come Per Degaton doesn't remember?  When this started, he had that dream where he ruled the world... which somehow triggered his memory of his battles with the heroes.  Why didn't that happen during the "Animal House" segment at the end?  Professor Zee just tells him to shaddup, and that's the end of it.

Why doesn't he remember?!  Far as I can tell, his mind didn't get screwed with... did it?  Did we just "get lucky" this time around that he didn't make the connection?  Does this mean that any day down the line he might wake up from that same "world ruling dream" and get his memory back?  That doesn't seem like too conclusive an ending, does it?  There's really nothing stopping him from doing the thing all over again... right?  Unless I'm missing something... which certainly is possible.

There's a fair amount of lauding Franklin Roosevelt here.  There's a deliberate attempt to distance him from the Manhattan Project here... likely to assuage him of any connection to the event at Hiroshima and Nagasaki.  This might make him appear innocent, but also pretty foolish.  To sign off on the Manhattan Project, and not really pay attention to exactly what they're doing?  That's pretty lousy leadership.  It's clear that Conway and Thomas are fans, and want to portray him in the most favorable light possible... but, making him ignorant to the potentiality of nuclear armament... ehh... not a great look.

Overall... despite a few "ehh" thoughts about how this all wrapped up, I had a really good time with this.  I mean, the ending was a bit anticlimactic, but... how else could this have ended?  Crisis (the big one) is still a few years away, so it's not like they were going to take one of the Infinite Earths off the table "for good" here.  This event needed to be "swept under the rug", and I feel like they did a great job of that... while giving us a really fun story to boot.  This issue, like all the rest, is available digitally.

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Letters Page:

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Justice League of America #208 (1982)

Justice League of America #208 (November, 1982)
"Crisis on Earth-Prime, Book Three: The Bomb-Blast Heard 'Round the World!"
"Fate is the Killer"
Writers - Gerry Conway & Paul Kupperberg
Pencils - Don Heck & Curt Swan
Inks - Sal Trapani & Dave Hunt
Letters - Phil Felix & Ben Oda
Colors - Carl Gafford & Anthony Tollin
Plot Consultant - Roy Thomas
Editors - Len Wein, Paul Cleveland & Dave Manak
Cover Price: $0.60

We're at the halfway point of Crisis on Earth-Prime!  So far, so good... really looking forward to seeing this to it's conclusion.

Part 1
Part 2

--

Picking up where we left off yesterday... and, heck... the day before that too, the All-Star Squadron and the Justice League are face to face at the old JSA Headquarters.  It's Earth-2, and the year is 1942.  Since this is the first meeting between a couple of groups of heroes... they fight!  They find that they're pretty evenly matched... and the fisticuffs continues until Superman (looking like he'd gotten a botched facelift) super-shouts at them to settle down.

Robotman (not that Robotman), being... well, a robot... is unaffected by the super-shout, but agrees with the Man of Steel that, rather than beat the hell out of each other, they really ought to try and talk things out.  Superman tells them about the future they come from... which, I always heard was a big no-no.  Isn't that where time paradoxes come from?  Ehh, what do I know?  Anyhoo... he lays it all out for the All-Stars (and I'd assume at least a few of JLA's readers).  Oh, and Firestorm flirts with Firebrand, even though she's drawn here to look like she could be his mother.

Superman continues... and tells them about the future of Earth-2.  The Justice Society HQ in 1982 has been destroyed... and the streets are festooned (that's a word, right?) in reverence of the master... and ruler of the world, Per Degaton!  Suddenly, a phone rings.

Why, it's the President of the United States, Franklin Delano Roosevelt... and he'd really like to meet with the All-Stars because he'd received a very curious package.  It's some hi-tech Japanese electronics, which baffles the U.S.'s science advisers.  All world leaders have been informed to leave the coming hour of broadcast time clear for an important message.

After flipping the switch, a video begins to play... it's Per Degaton, and he's talking to the entire world.  He introduces himself as the Earth's  "future supreme ruler"... and, interestingly... he's addressing both the Ally and Axis powers... dude doesn't discriminate.

Turns out the "video" is (somehow) two-way.  He can hear and have exchanges with the heroes... which, is... I dunno, kinda weird... but, helps the story along.  He threatens the world that he has enough nukes to basically end it all... and even mocks FDR for either being complicit in (or ignorant to) the Manhattan Project.  In order to show that he means business, he's planning on giving a demonstration.

As FDR plans his next move, we shift scenes over to Earth-Prime (1982).  The Justice Society traverses the wasteland... questioning just how it all came to this.  Alan ring-scans the area... and finally picks up some signs of life.  They follow the "ping" to a ramshackle "cavern"... and it looks like they've found the Morlock Tunnels!

The Morlocks freak the hell out and attack.  They're very protective of their hidey-hole... and, rightly so.  After a bit of a skirmish, Dr. Fate temporarily blinds the Prime-ers with a dazzling light... not before one of them mentions someone called "The Mad One" though.

The heroes continue through the tunnels... and finally come across a man... a normal-looking man.  He claims to be a Maintenance Engineer... who, as luck would have it, happened to be underground when the bombs went off.  Dr. Fate tries to read his mind... and his thoughts are transferred onto a nearby television screen.  It's John F. Kennedy, and he's talking about the Cuban Missile Crisis.

We learn a bit more about what happened after the Crime Syndicate and Per Degaton stole the Earth-Prime nukes last issue.  Both the United States and Soviets assumed the other side was playing them... the distrust grew into threats... and finally, to Kennedy... doin' that thing.  Ya know... that red button thing.  Apropos of nothing, it seems like leaving "the button" on the President's desk is kind of precarious, right?  I dunno about you, but... I'm not sure I've ever met a button I didn't wanna press!  That's too tempting for me!

Once the button is pressed... the Soviets react in kind, and much of the Earth (Prime) is rendered a wasteland.  Dr. Fate is very quickly (perhaps too quickly) able to deduce that Per Degaton was responsible for all of this.

We hop back to Earth-2 (1942), and the eyes of the world are on Per Degaton.  Both Allied and Axis powers are in position to watch his "demonstration".  Superman is (rightly) bothered that Hitler is also there to watch... and wonders just what he (Hitler) would have done if he were able to get his hands on nukes.  That's a very interesting question... and one I'm glad we don't have to answer!

Then... Degaton fires off a single nuke, and... it explodes in the water!  Zatanna whips up a spell to keep the blast (reasonably) contained.

The All-Stars are shocked by the power of this bomb-blast... and are rightly freaked out at the idea that Degaton has a bunch more missiles just like it.  After the mushroom cloud dissipates, Superman spies an... emerald construct floating in the distance!

It's (somehow) the Justice Society!  The League and Squadron help their kayoed comrades.  Meanwhile, Per Degaton and his Degateam look on from an overhead airplane.  He's sure that everything is about to fall into place.  The Allies are sure to surrender... and he's certain that the Axis won't be far behind.

Now, never let it be said that you don't get your money's worth at the ol' Infinite Earths blog... because we've got us: a bonus book!

We open with Metron Zodac riding the Cosmic Winds into Eternia.  He is there to save a single life... a life which very well might bring (and keep) peace to Eternia.  Though, he fears that he also might be damning them.  I dunno about you... but, I'd err on the side of caution... maybe sit this one out.

We hop inside Castle (Grayskull... I think?) where the Royal Court of Eternia is having a bit of a party.  The King and Queen wonder where their son, Prince Adam might be.  No sooner do they ask, than he saunters in with a "wench" on each arm.

(A mustache-less) Man-At-Arms ribs him about only having two "wenches", and suggests he's lost his touch at "wenching".  Suddenly, Zodac appears before them, with threats that Eternia's gonna go to pot, lest they produce their Greatest Champion.  Prince Adam hears him out... then runs off (with Cringer) to "change clothes".

He heads off to a cave... and (as He-Man... little disappointed we didn't get a scene of the change) chats up the Goddess.  She tells him that Zodac isn't a threat... he instead needs to focus on, you guessed it, Skeletor.  Duh.  Double duh.

Speaking of Skeletor... he, flanked by Beast-Man, is chatting up Mer-Man.  He asks the fishy fella to track down the other half of the Power Sword.  Rumor has it, it's in the deepest trench of the dark sea.  Fair enough.

We shift scenes to... Metropolis?  Well, that's unexpected.  Superman is delivering a crate of valuable electronics to the mainland from a broken down freighter.  He is suddenly attacked by a mustached octopus!  Maybe he took Man-At-Arms' 'stache!

They struggle for a bit... but Superman is distracted by a trio of glowing balls flying overhead.  He abandons the battle with the beastie to give chase.  He follows them into the drink, and gets caught up in a vortex.  Feels like we missed a few pages, doesn't it?

Back in Eternia, He-Man and Battle Cat meet Zodac.  He-Man asks his cosmic visitor to stand down, as he has no quarrel with him.  He's more interested in taking down Skeletor.  While you'd figure Zodac would be all-in with this plan... he ain't!  This, naturally... leads to a fight.

We rejoin Superman as he emerges from the water... only to find himself no longer on Earth, but in Eternia!  There was a portal underwater, donchaknow.  He recognizes it from the last time he visited (DC Comics Presents #47).  He knows Skeletor is behind everything... which, c'mon... who else it gonna be?

Speaking of Skeletor... he now has both halves of the Power Sword.  Yeah... this definitely feels like it's missing a grip of pages.  After pontificating a bit, he gives Beast-Man... what I can only describe as a "playful swat" on the tush with his Power Sword.  Superman than swoops in and steals'em both!

Rather than just running (flying) away with them, Superman throws 'em... one returns directly to Skeletor, the other somehow finds its way to He-Man's back.  This (somehow) ends the battle between he and Zodac.  We learn that Zodac is only fighting He-Man to keep him from getting to Skeletor, because he'd seen in the stars that such a meeting would result in He-Man's demise.  Undeterred, He-Man heads Skeletor-way.  Upon arrival, he sees that Skull-face has already defeated Superman... and is about to go for the killing blow.

He-Man and Skeletor attack each other at the same time... with He-Man actually impaling the baddie with his half of the Power Blade.  It manages to consume him... and sends him far away.  He-Man survives the blast he was hit with... and he, Superman, and Zodac celebrate their victory.  Yay?

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Another jam-packed installment of Crisis on Earth-Prime.

We did get the cliche hero vs. hero "misunderstanding" fight... but, at least it was short-lived.  These days, that single scene could (and, in many cases, would) fill several issues.  Here, though... a couple pages... and it works!  There's a neat bit where Firebrand and Firestorm start a... duh... fire, and Zatanna whips up some rain clouds.  This not only extinguishes the flames... but, it also empowers Aquaman.  Really neat multitasking there!

I liked seeing (Earth-1) Superman meeting Roosevelt.  I think that's the sorta thing we take for granted these days.  I mean, here's Superman, the greatest hero in the universe, meeting a man he'd only read about in history books.  Regardless of your politics, being in the presence of someone who was so (pivotally) involved in American (and World) history, has gotta be somewhat staggering.  Really cool stuff.

There was a bit of "wonk" here, in Degaton's message being somehow interactive with the heroes.  You gotta wonder, was it just with the heroes, or was he hearing everything that everybody was shouting at their television screens?  Was it the super-duper advanced Japanese technology that facilitated it?  Also... what did other viewers think when he was addressing people who weren't on the screen?  Was the heroes' backtalk being broadcast as well?!

There's also the bit with the League filling the All-Stars in on what's to come.  I dunno... I kinda feel like that's "not allowed", ya know?  Like... it's sorta cheating the "rules" of time-travel.  There are rules to time-travel, right?

Another bit of "wonk"... the Justice Society just "appearing" after the bomb-blast, though, I'm assuming that'll be cleared up before long.  I did enjoy their adventure on Earth-Prime (1982) though!  Thought it was interesting to see JFK pressing the fabled nuclear button.  Not something I was expecting to actually see on-panel!

My main complaint about this issue (the feature, anyway), however, would probably fall to the art.  It's just not all that dynamic... and we get some funky-looking faces.  Also, perhaps the worst Reagan ever put to paper.  I look at Ronald Reagan as having so many features that can be caricatured... seems like an easier real-life figure to draw... but here, he just looks like a dude with a businessman's haircut.

I really dig Degaton not taking sides in World War II... but, just being his own side.  I like the idea that even the Axis powers are on this guy's list!  Considering what we know about Earth-2 (1982) from earlier chapters... it looks like the world might just be about to bow to Per Degaton.  Really fun stuff... really raises the stakes!

Then... there was the "Bonus Book".  Can't lie, folks... didn't much care for this.  Outside of having a handful of the action figures, I didn't really get into He-Man as a kid.  I'm sure I'd have dug this if I saw it back in 1982... keeping in mind, I was still a couple of years away from learning how to read at that point.

Today?  I dunno... it's just all over the place.  Pacing was shoddy-at-best... we get panel after panel of pontification, either by Zodac or Skeletor while important actual occurrences are left out altogether.  We always here that comics are about "showing, not telling"... but, that's certainly not what we get here.

I mean, we waste so much time with monologues... and we don't even get the "By the Power of Grayskull..." scene?  Lame.  Tying Superman into the story?  I guess it's neat to see him side-by-side with He-Man... but, his involvement didn't exactly rock my socks.

Reading this makes me remember that weird time back around the turn of the century, where all of those 80's properties were coming back in style.  I remember sorta "buying in" to that fad, and quickly coming to the conclusion that... outside nostalgia, there just wasn't much there for me.

The folks at Wizard certainly did their part to foment the post-speculation speculation (above)... I even checked through several of their price guides to see if this issue of Justice League of America got a "bump" for having the Masters of the Universe bit.  It didn't... but, that's not much of a surprise... the Wizard gang never seemed to give a rip about DC, unless Kevin Smith was writing something.

Overall... another excellent chapter of Crisis on Earth-Prime, and... if you're a fan of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe... you're probably going to want this too (this story appears in several DC books cover-dated November, 1982).  Won't break the bank in either case.  It is available digitally... but I couldn't say whether or not the "Bonus Book" is included.

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