Action Comics #763 (2000)

Action Comics #763 (March, 2000)
"Y2K, Part Five: Sacrifice for Tomorrow"
Writer - Joe Kelly
Pencillers - German Garcia & Kano
B13 FX - Tommy Yune, Steve Kim & Ed Roeder
Inker - Marlo Alquiza
Colors - Glenn Whitmore & WildStorm FX
Letters - Richard Starkings & Comicraft
Associate Editor - Maureen McTigue
Editor - Eddie Berganza
Cover Price: $1.99

So, whattayado when you really wanna talk about a certain character... say, that "new" android Hourman we met yesterday... but you've also got this #Action100 Endeavor you're currently working on?

Well, I guess we look for an issue of Action Comics that features Hourman!  I'm happy to report that Hourman does appear in this issue... for a whole two panels.  Don't worry... both panels will appear in this blog piece.

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We open on New Year's Eve (or maybe it's New Year's Day)... and Brainic 13 is wrapping the planet... Earth, that is... not "The Daily" in energy conduits.  Superman burrows through the planet (again, Earth) and faces off with the bot above the Planet... er, "The Daily", this time.  Ya dig?  Worth mentioning, they're using a different art style for Brainiac 13... it's this weird polygonal matte look... kinda like a game for the original PlayStation.  It looks super-dated now, but perhaps back in 2000 it looked kinda cool.  Anyhoo, before they can face off B13 invites Superman to take a look at what he's done with all of the citizens of Metropolis.  Superman turns around, and is aghast to find that everyone has been made into a mindless slave!

After Superman gets tossed through a building, we shift scenes to LexCorp, where Lex and his daughter Lena (who has been infected by Brainiac 2.5) are inside a stolen Kryptonian Warsuit.  They pow-wow over ways to take down B2.5's upgraded version, B13.  Feels like we're playing Bingo, doesn't it?

Back outside, we find Superman and a Kelex robot about to fly toward Brainiac 13.  Before they can land a single punch, the Kryptonian Warsuit bursts through B13's chest!

Superman realizes that Luthor is inside the Suit, and suggests they put their differences aside for the moment and work together toward shutting down B13.  Lex thinks this idea is positively adorable... and in response, bashes Superman into the pavement.

Superman enters a mindlink with Kelex, and commands it to link up to the Warsuit by any means necessary.  Just then, he is attacked by several of DC's highest profile robots!  We see Red Tornado, the Metal Men, and our new favorite (and reason we picked this book today), Hourman!

Inside the Warsuit, Lex and Lena trigger an electromagnetic pulse which downs all of the bots.  Welp, it was nice seein' ya, Tyler.

Amid the chaos, Kelex attempts to link up with the Warsuit.  Superman takes the fight to Brainiac 13... and it doesn't go all that well.  Ya see, this is a Brainiac from the future... one who has learned from all of his earlier mistakes.  He has run 1,098,288,546 simulations of Superman's death... so, he's more than prepared.  And so, he coats the Man of Steel in like molten metal cables... maybe?  Kelex, while attempting to link, pleads with Luthor to help save Superman... but he ain't budgin'.

And so, Kelex  calls in a revived/unslaved Red Tornado!

At this point, Red Tornado's vortex is causing Brainiac 13's "essence" to be drawn into the Warsuit... and so, an annoyed Lex and Lena disengage and bug out.  Kelex informs them both that he was lying about helping them... and that this was the plan all along.

It looks like the day is just about saved.  With Brainiac 13 trapped in the Warsuit, the B13 virus begins to dissipate throughout the world... and the human slaves begin to come to.

After checking in with Lois, Superman notices that Metropolis still appears to be infected.  He hears something behind him... and turns around to find Lex standing alone... the B13 Warsuit and Lena have disappeared!

We jump ahead one week later and join Lex sitting on an upper floor of the new Lex Tower... he mulls over what happened in that final moment.  Ya see, Brainiac 13 made him an offer... he couldn't refuse.  He offers up the B13 Virus codes... and the opportunity to be the "King" of the "City of Tomorrow", in exchange for... Lena.  Welp, we now know how that turned out.

We wrap up with Superman threatening Luthor... he says he'll find Lena... and ensure Lex pay for what he's done.

--

It's been awhile since I read Y2K... I was nervous to see how well it aged.  I'm pretty sure I've made it clear throughout our chats that I do hold a certain fondness for the literal "City of Tomorrow" era of Superman.  This is where I came back to the books... actually, the book advertised in the letters page is the one I came back with!

I feel like this was an interesting way to differentiate Metropolis from the rest of the DC Universe... and, I suppose it can be (and has been) argued that the spectacular futuristic city might've taken something away from Superman's "specialness", I found it most inviting... and a welcome shift from the "norm".

The issue itself... was a good one.  It's hard to really look at a "part 5 of 5" in a vacuum, but I feel like Kelly did a good enough job catching us up on what we missed in the earlier chapters.  I'm actually hoping to do a long-form look at Y2K for an upcoming episode of Weird Comics History, where we would examine that Superman 2000 pitch from Grant Morrison and the gang.  Hopefully the stars will align on that sooner than later!

There's a certain quaintness here... that is not the book's fault at all.  I mean, let's look at this for a sec.  The story is called "Y2K"... I mean, there are 19 year old humans walking the planet that weren't even born yet... who might not grasp exactly what Y2K meant to those of us who were there.  All of that "planes will fall out of the sky", "banks are going to lose all of our money", "stock up on canned goods and bottled water" fear and hysteria was a real thing... probably a lot "realer" for some of us than others... but real enough nonetheless.  It would be interesting to hand this book to a Millennial and see if they "get it".

While on the subject of "quaintness"... how 'bout that killer CGI?  Again, not a fault with the book itself... but it looks just so out of place, doesn't it?  I mean, we've always had odd collage pieces in comics... just look at any old Kirby "star field" page... but this feels like it really wanted to be "cutting edge"... when, I mean... even at the turn of the century, it looks dated.  Maybe I just can't take my "current year" glasses off, but it looks like something out of Reboot or something... and that show aired... I wanna say, 6-7 years before this.  I can't really get mad at it... but felt it was worth mentioning.  I'd guess that would be this story arc's "low hanging fruit".

Overall... if you're interested in this story, and how the next "era" of Superman comics kicked off... I'd suggest grabbing the trade paperback collection.  It's a (relatively) tight-knit story, and really ought to be read as a whole.

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(Not the) Letters Page:

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779

Action Comics #762 (2000)

Action Comics #762 (February, 2000)
"All I Want For Christmas"
Writer - Joe Kelly
Pencillers - German Garcia & Kano
Inker - Joe Rubenstein
Colorists - Glenn Whitmore & WildStormFX
Letterer - John Costanza
Editors - Maureen McTigue, Eddie Berganza & Mike Carlin
Cover Price: $1.99

Oh, c'mon!  Yesterday I got bit by the rhyming bug... and today we've gotta deal with the Demon?!

Even worse... Etrigan Claus... howsabout Satan Claus?!

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We open on New Year's Day 2000... but only briefly.  This isn't a Y2K story, nonono, this is (what I'm assuming was) a most unwelcome break in that senses-shattering storyline to see how Lois and Clark spent the last Christmas of the twentieth century.  Ya see, Lois was feeling a little "humbuggy" because she can never compete with her super-spouse when it comes to buying Christmas gifts.  So, after a bit of very cliche arguing (Lois stopped just shy of calling Christmas a "Hallmark Holiday") Clark agrees to taking a "no-powers" Christmas-shopping trip.

Clark has a run-in with some very cliche Christmas shoppers... and an older woman who can see he's clearly out of his element gives him a candy cane.  Elsewhere (in the same mall), Lois is also shopping... and, has a run-in with Encantadora (a new and seldom-used character) shopping for her little brother, a big Superman fan.

Deeper inside the mall, Clark notices some commotion over in the area where kids can take pictures with Santa and decides to check it out.  Who should he find there, but... Etrigan the Demon?!  If you're thinking "Well, that's pretty random"... I'd say, you're right.

Clark pops outta sight for a second to "Supe up", and returns to find out just what Etrigan is up to.  Ya see, the last time they ran into one another Etrigan was trying to freeze Hell (part of Day of Judgment)... so, the Demon ain't exactly the most trustworthy fella around this time.  Etrigan, a being of magic, has little trouble punching Superman straight into orbit.

With the Man of Steel out of the way, the Demon spies Encantadora... who has changed into a fairly trashy Santa outfit herself.  She has this magic mist power... and she uses it in attempt to, I dunno... seduce the Demon?  This makes Etrigan very happy... but not for the reason 'Dora hopes.

Meanwhile at the Moon... Superman recovers from the punch.  As luck would have it, he landed right outside the Justice League's Watchtower... and interrupted Plastic Man and Green Lantern trimming the tree.  After a brief exchange, he heads back to Earth.

Upon return, he is greeted by Encantadora... no longer in her bombastic bod, instead a little ghost girl?!  All around the mall, he can see that Etrigan has made it so the patrons will be haunted by manifestations of their own "inner" demons... and one lady in particular will be attacked by the Afrin Nose.

We shift back to join Lois as she beelines it toward the exit.  She finds herself attacked by a strange tiny version of Lex Luthor.  Ya see, around this time Lois dun a bad thing... she's keeping a secret for the domed-one, and it's sorta eating her up inside.  A little Demon-dust (mixed with Encantadora mist) is all she needs for the guilt to be given flesh.

Superman and Etrigan resume their battle, and the baddie explains that this is the one day of the year where the Demon form can freely roam without Jason Blood popping into his consciousness... and so, (somehow) with the aid of the magic mists he hopes to rid himself of his human half for good!  Er, okay.  He also feels as though bringing the people's "inner demons" out, he was doing them a favor... in seeing what they're struggling with, they'll be able to overcome and heal.  Superman's all "that's not the way it works, pal." but gets knocked on his butt before he can say much more.  Dora rushes in and tells Superman that he's gotta ixnay the istmay if he wants any hope of winning the day.

And so, he inhales every last bit of it.  Ya know how Dora looks like a little ghost girl?  I guess that's how she sees herself... and under the influence of the mist, projects that visage to the world.  Well, when Superman sucks it down, he appears to the world as... a farmer.  Like a giant glasses-less Clark Kent.  With a pouch full of emotions, he "seeds" Metropolis back to normal.  He then exhales the remaining mist into outer space.

Upon return, Etrigan's all "screw this" and leaves... though, he promises to be back in one year's time.

Superman then sees a chilly Encantadora on a rooftop.  He slings his cape over her to warm her up.  She takes the opportunity to re-mistify... and vanish... with his cape.

We wind down with everything happily ever after.  Lois and Clark exchange their gifts and Encantadora had the perfect gift for her Superman-fan hermanito, in the form of Superman's actual cape.  We wrap with the Demon chuckling about what's about to happen in the Y2K story.

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Ehh.

This was alright.  I'm not the biggest Demon fan... in fact, I usually find him quite boring.  Plus, I don't know a heckuva lot about La Encantadora other than this was like her second appearance (after first appearing in a Secret Files & Origins story), and that she was used very seldom going forward.

The entire story feels a bit convenient... but, ya know... we are talking about a Christmas issue of a superhero comic.  Not sure why the Demon was hanging out at the mall... did he know Encantadora would be coming?  Did he know what her powers were?  Did he ever explain how her powers could help him rid himself of the Jason Blood persona?  What happened to the actual Mall Santa Claus?  Was Jason Blood the Mall Santa?  So many questions!  Not enough interest to find any answers.

What worked about this issue for me were the bits with Lois... well, the later bits with Lois.  I appreciate that her having covered for Luthor is something that sticks with her... something that haunts her.  Her "Bah Humbugginess" was a bit trite... especially with the well-worn "Christmas is too commercial" soundbites.  Though, I suppose we can attribute her lack of Christmas spirit to her overwhelming guilt.  Maybe having helped one of the baddest men on the planet kinda squashes one's desire for eggnog and tinsel.

The art here was really not to my liking.  It has all the turn-of-the-century trappings that I sorta-kinda dig... but done all wrong.  I can get on board with exaggerated features... Ed McGuinness draws Superman with a tremendously large barrel chest... Humberto Ramos draws giant feet... both of those work for me.  Here in this issue, however... there was exaggeration, but really only in Superman's chin and jawline.  Made him look like he had a cartoon anvil for a head... almost expected to see "100 Tons" written on his cheeks.  Didn't hate it... just didn't appreciate it as much as I'd hoped.

Overall... I'd say this is unfortunately one you can skip and not miss all that much.  This was initially squeezed in between two chapters of the Y2K storyline... and I gotta assume it was a pretty unwelcome break from the action (pun!) back then.  It really doesn't add a whole lot... and, I figure this was just a way for Joe Kelly to feature his La Encantadora character... and attempt to give her a bit more depth.  Fair enough... but it's still not terribly interesting.

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Letters Page:

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On the Fifth Day of Christmas on Infinite Earths, I give to you Action Comics #762!  Young Justice #40, Superman: The Man of Steel #109, Green Lantern: Larfleeze Christmas Special, and a Red Hood and the Outlaws Annual #2 Review.

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Action Comics #761 (2000)

Action Comics #761 (January, 2000)
"For a Thousand Years..."
Writer - Joe Kelly
Penciller - German Garcia
Inker - Joe Rubenstein
Colorist - Glenn Whitmore
Separations - WildStorm FX
Letterer - John Costanza
Associate Editor - Maureen McTigue
Editor - Eddie Berganza
Cover Price: $1.99

It's funny, I'd been looking for this issue for years!  Not quite a thousand years, mind, but a long while.  I first found out about this one during a later Christmas issue (which I'll hopefully get around to looking at around this Christmas) where Clark gives Diana a miniature Mjolnir as a gift.  Ever since then, I wanted to track this one down.  It proved to be one of those issues that just, for whatever reason, refused to show up at any shops in my town... 

From Superman (vol.2) #165 (February, 2001)
Writer: Jeph Loeb / Artist: Ian Churchill

Then, I found it.  In a random bin, at a random record store... right next to the Adventures of Superman issue I reviewed the other day.  I thought it was interesting that they both played with similar themes... the Lois and Clark relationship dynamic, along with a potential romantic rival... then, I realized that they shared the same cover date (Jan. 00)!  What luck!

Does this one live up to my over-a-decade worth of expectations?  Short answer, maybe.  Long answer... read on.

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It's morning in Amer... Metropolis, and the Kents are huddled up in bed reading the latest edition of The Daily Star.  This is during the "Mrs. Superman" story, and Lois is giving Clark a bit of a hard time over it.  As she playfully gets in her digs and flings open the curtains to let in the morning sun, she is interrupted by a light tapping on the window.

It's Wonder Woman!  This one page sets the tone for this story.  Such a juxtaposition, and masterfully laid out by German Garcia.

Diana and Superman fly off.  Clark lambastes Diana a bit for her rather brash display of showing up at his (proverbial) doorstep in full garb.  She kinda laughs it off, reminds him that he called her, and jokes that she must have "gotten him in trouble" with Lois.  Superman states that Lois isn't the "jealous type", and flies off... Wondy smirks and calls him "Mr. Lane".

Back at the apartment, Lois is sizing herself up in the mirror.  This is a very cute scene, putting all of Lois' insecurities on display.  This is not the light we're used to seeing Lois in... and as such, it makes her all the more relatable...  which, is important for the story to come.

At the Metropolis Police Department, a pair of officers are discussing the recent "Mrs. Superman" controversy while assessing a piece of evidence Mr. Superman dropped off the week prior.  It is a gold-rimmed glass cube with a smoking crystal inside of it.  

This crystal is later served to a cursed female inmate called Encantadora who claims to have kissed Superman.  The smoky shard appears to give her control over those around her (perhaps just men?  perhaps those of her choosing?).  I can't say I'm all that familiar with this story line, so I'll just leave it at that.

Back with Superman and Wonder Woman, they are discussing Clark's recent request that Diana watches over Earth while he is off-planet dealing with the Son of Mongul.  He admits that he has not yet told Lois that he is planning to leave, and Diana is confused (yet touched) that he has confided in her.

Suddenly, a blue bolt of lightning strikes the pair, teleporting them into a battle with an insectoid critter.  Wonder Woman gleefully beats it down, as a shadowy figure approaches from behind.

"Whoa" indeed!

It is Thor... no, not that Thor.  Well, maybe Thor is universal, perhaps he transcends comics universes and the Source Wall itself... I dunno.  He welcomes them to Valhalla, where battles seemingly rage on forever.

Back on Earth, Lois and Jimmy sit on a park bench.  Jimmy is cluelessly going about with how beautiful he finds Wonder Woman... this is clearly not the day to be saying that around Lois, Jim.  Having heard more than enough out of our freckly-friend, she takes the ice cream cone he'd been eating and makes him wear it.

Back in Valhalla, Thor convinces Superman and Wonder Woman to aid him in battle.  Diana is honor bound to help in any Asgardian affairs, and Clark says he won't leave without her.  Thor tells them the last time they'd faced such a threat was against the Frost Giants in a battle that raged for two-thousand years.

What follows is several pages of Valhallan battle montage, in which dozens of years pass.  Superman begins to forget bits and pieces of Lois, including her smell and her voice... while becoming more familiar to Diana's.  During these years, Thor is struck dead.  Clark would go on to wield Mjolnir in his stead.

At the Daily Planet, on the same day Earth-time... Lois is sitting in Perry White's office.  They discuss the pleasure and pain involved in maintaining a healthy marriage.  They share stories, and end on Perry giving her the sage-like advice of "knock it off"... just stop worrying, and be happy... the rest will fall into place.

At this point in Valhalla, 999 years have passed.  On the eve of the one-thousandth year, Clark and Diana share an intimate conversation.  The two appear to very nearly "give in" to their passion, when Clark throws a flag on the play.  Despite how much he cares for, nay loves Diana... he still belongs only to Lois.  Although by now, she is long gone... he cannot be unfaithful.

The following day (in Valhalla) Superman and Wonder Woman enter battle for the final time... prevailing over the Vgrtsmyth Batallians.  At the close of the war, Thor returns to the land of the living to reclaim his mighty Mjolnir.  Clark and Diana ask him for one favor before they return to Earth... which I'm assuming has something to do with giving them back the past millennium of their lives.

On Earth, Lois is leaning on the balcony of their apartment, penning a letter to Clark in which she reveals that she made a deal with Lex Luthor in order to save The Daily Planet.  As she stands, questioning if she's even worthy of being Mrs. Clark Kent...

... her question is answered.  The Kents embrace and promise to hold each other tight for a thousand years...

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I'm of two minds with this issue.  On one hand, I liked it... really liked it, in fact.  This is a wonderful examination of the unbreakable and everlasting love between Superman/Clark and Lois.  This goes to show that no amount of time or distance can change their (or at least Clark's in this instance) feelings.  

That being said... I really must question Clark's quick agreement to join Wonder Woman in battle, after all, unless I'm mistaken... there wasn't any sort of guarantee that he could return to the present.  In that one moment, he gave up his life, gave up Lois... for Wonder Woman.  I kinda dig the internal conflict... but it still boggles my mind a bit.

Superman never wavered in his commitment to his wife.  This is such a beautiful thing.  Even in the face of (almost) certain doom, he remained loyal to Lois.  Speaking of Lois, her scenes were also quite well done.  Her questioning how she measures up to her husband's unreal superhero social circle was quite interesting.  We are accustomed to seeing Lois as super-confident and career-first... during this issue, however, she was insecure... and full of self-doubt.  Her turning to Perry (and even Jimmy) for guidance really encapsulates what I love about the Daily Planet dynamic.  Perry comes across as the wise fatherly figure, and Jimmy is the goofball little brother.  Love it!

German Garcia's art does a wonderful job of conveying all of the conflicting emotions.  Seeing Lois and Diana share a panel (from Clark's point of view)... where Diana is standing upright and majestic... literally bathed from behind in golden sunlight, and Lois as slouched, knobby-kneed and mussed really captures the theme of this issue.

My main... don't wanna call it a complaint... let's just say the main thing I didn't dig all that much was that 1,000 years went by in this issue.  I never had a problem with the theory that Superman can live far longer than us mere mortals... but, actually experiencing in practice?  I dunno... it just makes me feel... err, uncomfortable?  Detached?  Hmm... it's hard to put into words.

In following the monthly/weekly adventures of Superman (or any character) for all these years... when a massive amount of time passes "without me", I can't help but feel, pardon the pun, alienated.  I don't feel as engaged with the character as I was before.  I had similar feelings during the ElfQuest: Kings of the Broken Wheel series when they time-jumped hundreds (if not thousands) of years.  It just left me cold... this isn't quite that bad, considering Clark was able to return to the "present".

Overall, an issue I have conflicting emotions on... which, I'll concede may be due to my own misunderstandings.  Definitely worth a read!  This one is collected in Superman, Volume 1: No Limits, if you wanna check out the entire Superman family of books in the era (and, I think ya should).

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