Superman (vol.2) #174 (November, 2001)
"Every Blade of Grass"
Writer - Jeph Loeb
Guest Art - Steve Lieber
Colors - Tanya & Richard Horie
Letters - Richard Starkings
Assistant Editor - Tom Palmer, Jr.
Editor - Eddie Berganza
Cover Price: $2.25
Going with a random pick today, from whichever longbox is closest... sometimes that's fun to do!
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It's the wake of Our Worlds at War, and much of Kansas has been rocked... and that includes a certain little town. Many of her citizens have gone missing... and that includes a certain little family. We open with Lois and Clark at the remains of the Kent farm, with the former digging through the rubble for one thing in particular. Lois manages to find Ma Kent's old journal, which she reads from aloud while Clark rebuilds the place.
Lois takes a look and misspeaks when she says Ma "kept" a journal, past tense. Clark is quick to correct her as he continues occupying his mind with work. This process continues for several days... and nights.
Clark is just about done with his construction project... which includes taking care of such things as pipes, and even the septic tank (which is a nice touch... details we might not always think about). Lois pops in to let him know they're about to have company... in the form of the Vice President of the United States of America... and the Second Lady!
Pete is a complete chucklehead here... almost feels like a middle-aged Eddie Haskell with the way he's talking... "What d'ya hear, what d'ya say?" So weird. Lana pulls Lois aside to ask the question that she's sure is on Lois' mind as well. Will Clark ever take up the cape again? Lois is unsure, but says that he hasn't outright ruled it out.
Back to Clark and Pete. The Veep claims that there are over a million displaced Americans... in Kansas alone! Which means, the likelihood of tracking down Jon and Martha Kent might be slim. Clark ain't about to take this lying down... not that he really has much of a choice, unfortunately. He tells Pete he'd best talk to his boss... or else he will.
After the Ross's leave, Lois begins to hint that Clark really ought to consider being Superman again. She brings up the fact that she'd lost her own father during Our Worlds at War... and knows that this isn't the right time to take a step back. The nearly-contentious conversation is interrupted by the arrival of a stranger passing through. He calls out to Clark and asks him if "Beef Bourguignon with Ketchup" means anything to him. Well, I'll say it does!
Clark learns that someone important to him is recovering at the local Red Cross Hospital... and so, he has himself a shave and heads off for a visit with Ma!
What he's not prepared for... is Ma's first question. "How's your father?" Clark is taken aback... he'd assumed Pa was here with her!
Clark brings Ma home to her rebuilt house... and gets right back to work keeping his mind off of "things". Lois calls him in to let him know that Perry White called. Clark shrugs it off. Ma suggests that it's be best for her boy to return to the real life... but he shrugs that off too, insisting that Pa is still alive.
Hey, wouldn'tcha know it... Clark's right! We shift scenes to Jonathan Kent hitching a ride on a big rig to head "north". Stands to reason he'd want to get away... he likely believes Martha to be dead.
Back at the farm, Ma gives Clark one of her trademark pep-talks. She assures him that there is a way to move on as Superman while honoring those lost during Our Worlds at War. Slowly but surely, her son comes around.
After checking in with Lois, Superman heads back into the Never-Ending Battle... with a slightly-altered "in memorium" uniform.
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Sometimes the "random pick" method will bite us in the backside... other times, I get a chance to revisit something I probably should have already revisited by now! Today was very much the latter.
The Our Worlds at War era of the Super-books kinda marked my going "all-in" after an extended time away. I'd popped in here and again... and kinda traced my finger around the edges of the Super-books going into the turn of the century, but was afraid of making such a large (and potentially daunting) commitment to a family of titles.
With Our Worlds at War, I found myself hooked! Sure, in hindsight the event was maybe a bit on the bloated side, and probably had a few too many tie-in one-shots and the like... but, back in 2001 I was all about it. This "quiet" reflect-y issue was a really good capper... and, just like the Super-book we discussed yesterday, didn't just tie a bow on everything that came before... but also spurred on a few story threads.
Of course to fully appreciate this issue we need to kinda suspend our disbelief. I have trouble reconciling the fact that Ma was holed up so close by at the Red Cross Hospital, and Clark didn't know it. Sometimes he can zero in on a particular heartbeat or voice... and sometimes he can't. Guess we just gotta roll with it.
The costume alteration to include the black shield? Gotta say, I really dug this touch. Heck, I was a bit bummed out when they reverted back to yellow! The black shield was a very striking touch... and a really neat way to pay tribute to those lost during Our Worlds at War... and, in the real world, to those lost during the 9/11 attacks.
Our guest-artist is Steve Lieber, and... while I'm not sure I'd like this kind of art in a "regular" action-heavy issue of Superman... for a quiet issue like this, it does the job. The (McGuinness) cover is also pretty great!
Overall, I definitely recommend this, though with the caveat that you'd probably want to have some familiarity with the events of Our Worlds at War to fully appreciate it. This issue (and many chapters of Our Worlds at War) is available digitally.
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Superman (vol.2) #153 (February, 2000)
"Say Goodbye"
Writer - Jeph Loeb
Guest Pencils - Mike McKone
Guest Inks - Marlo Alquiza
Letters - Comicraft
Colors - Tanya & Richard Horie
Associate Editor - Maureen McTigue
Editor - Eddie Berganza
Cover Price: $1.99
Welcome to the penultimate day of our Third Annual Twelve Days of Christmas on Infinite Earths! I hope you've all enjoyed 2018's trip down Santa Claus Lane.
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It's Christmas Eve (just like in real life!), and Lois Lane is trimming the tree at the Kent Family apartment... talk about waiting til the last minute, right? She is lost in thought, and shares with us some "journo code". Ya see, Perry would always put a "-30-" at the end of her pieces when they were ready to print... I guess that's something folks in newspapers understand... and something that Jeph Loeb really wanted us to know that he knew as well? Fair enough.
We shift scenes over to the rooftop of the Daily Planet, where Jimmy and Superman are having a pow-wow. This is right off the heels of Jimmy running a story about there being a "Mrs. Superman"... which is something he is very sorry for. Superman shrugs it off, and reveals to his pal a wedding band. Ya see, Jimmy, Superman is married... so, quit makin' waves. Of course, Superman doesn't share the who's and how's of the situation.
Their conversation is interrupted by the arrival of... Mongul! Well, Mongul's son... who is also named Mongul. Uh, not the guy behind the destruction of Coast City... nor the guy from For the Man Who Has Everything... but the son of that guy... ya dig? Whole thing would be easier if we could just call him "Junior", so we're gonna.
Mongul (Jr.) informs Superman that he needs his help. Turns out the world-eating Imperiex is heading toward Earth... and if they don't stop him, billions of lifeforms will die. Superman turns to Jimmy and gives him the phrase that pays, "Beef Bourguignon With Ketchup"... he tells him to go find the Kents and repeat that phrase to them.
Superman and Mongul, Jr. arrive in deep space... might be Saturn... might be another ringed-planet in another galaxy (I assume there might be one or two, right?). Suddenly the planet explodes... I think... so, yeah, probably not Saturn then? Amid the boom, we can see Imperiex's tremendous warship.
Imperiex doesn't seem all that worried when he notices Superman and Mongul, Jr.... in fact, he just goes about his work until it becomes clear that they probably won't be leaving him alone. Despite getting nailed by a tremendous blast from the baddie, Superman maintains that he and Mongul ought to remain diplomatic... and attempt to negotiate.
Junior ain't havin' none of it... he tells Superman that it's fight or flight at this point, the time for talking has passed... if, in fact it was ever there to begin with! They pile on Imperiex... and manage to stagger him... if only a bit. The baddie then launches Junior out of the fray!
Back in Metropolis, Jimmy passes the phrase that pays over to Lois. We learn that this is sort of an "I'm okay, and I'll get home as soon as I can" sort of message, that has origins in tornado alley, where Clark grew up. It was a special way to let family know you were still kickin'.
Back in space, Superman lunges after Mongul to save him from... I dunno, crashing into another planet or something. This ticks Junior off in a big way... he scolds Superman for taking his eyes off the prize.
And indeed, as Superman makes his way back to the site of the battle, Imperiex has already bugged out. At this point, Round 2 can begin... Mongul, Jr. attacks Superman from behind! He's still ticked that Superman had often humiliated his father.
They fight for a bit, and Superman winds up winning... duh. At that very moment, it just so happens that the Main Man is riding by! He notes that Mongul's got a pretty large bounty on his head... and so, Superman hands him over as a sort of Christmas gift. Okay, that was pretty funny.
We wrap up back at the Kent apartment where Superman has arrived just in the nick of time to grab a Christmas Eve kiss from his wife.
But then... an Epilogue! Imperiex returns to his home base... and we learn that, the being that fought Superman and Mongul, Jr. to a standstill wasn't Imperiex at all... only a probe of the real Imperiex!
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I feel like I'm using the word "breezy" as a descriptor a bit too often these days. Maybe I'm just looking at too many post-2000 books in a row... but, that feels like the right word to use. This doesn't necessarily feel decompressed, as it (for the most part) is a self-contained story... and doesn't so much seem like it's being stretched to fill space... the pacing, though, is smooth and fast. Might have something to do with Loeb's screenwriting background.
A few days back I talked about how much I enjoy those "quiet" downtime issues... and while this one was chock-full of action, it was very much a transitional issue... bridging between the first "beat" of the Berganza era and Y2K era "City of Tomorrow" Metropolis. It allowed us to both catch our breath and get a taste for what's to come. Really well done.
Let's look at Imperiex. Love this design! There's just something about it that feels, I dunno... substantial. Just looking at him, you know he's going to be a force to be reckoned with. Superman needed more threats like him at the time!
I always talk about these grand "rereading projects", and this era (through Our Worlds at War) is always toward the top of my list. It'll likely never happen... not anytime soon, anyway... but, it's always scratching the back of my brain. Rereading this issue makes me want to pull the trigger all the more!
The Lobo cameo really cracked me up. I'd completely forgotten that he makes an appearance here... and it's such a silly thing. Superman just hands Mongul, Jr. over to him as a Christmas gift. How cool is that? Loved it!
Overall, a pretty great issue. Mike McKone, who, back in the long ago, wasn't my cuppa tea... puts in some great work here. It fits in with the bubbly bombastic tone set by (series regular) Ed McGuinness, and I really dug it! This one's certainly worth a look... and it's available both digitally and collected in Superman: No Limits!.
Remember to come back tomorrow, if you can fit it into the festivities and we'll wrap our Third Annual Holiday celebration up!
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On the Eleventh Day of Christmas on Infinite Earths, I gave to you, Superman (vol.2) #153, Spectre (vol.4) #12, Batman #598, Batman #596, Flash (vol.5) #17, Batman and the Outsiders #31, Captain Atom #13! Scooby-Doo! #139, Superman #369, Impulse #34, and a Flash (vol.2) #73 Discussion and Review.
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Batman #608 (December, 2002)
"Hush, Chapter One: The Ransom"
Writer - Jeph Loeb
Pencils - Jim Lee
Inks - Scott Williams
Colors - Alex Sinclair
Assistant Editor - Morgan Dontanville
Editor - Bob Schreck
Special Thanks - Mark Chiarello
Cover Price: $2.25
I've been meaning to revisit Hush for awhile now... for whatever reason, it's always an arc I wind up forgetting about. It's actually one of those arcs I haven't given a second look to since it originally hit the shelves.
I remember the reaction being... sorta polarized, but nothing extreme. I saw folks write the whole thing off as a series of fight scenes... which, I mean... there's something to that. I recall that I just received it as a fun bombastic romp through Batman's rogue's gallery... with some purty nice art.
After a few years of that Chip Kidd trade-dress era... Batman definitely needed a shot in the arm (creatively and saleswise), and I think this story achieved that. This was one of those books people had a hard time tracking down. I nabbed it right away, but I remember a lot of curious folks having to visit multiple shops to get their copy.
Let's see how this one held up!
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We open at the Gotham City Shipyard. Batman has deduced that he's got 73 seconds to get in and out for a clean retrieval. Retrieval of what? We'll get there. Past the locks, there are several armed men watching the perimeter. Batman tactically takes 'em all out.
Finally after working his way through the squad of goons, Batman comes across a port door... which he blows off it's hinges. When the dust clears, we can see he'd gone in to rescue a young boy.
The terrified boy takes his hand, and they bat-line out of the area. Unfortunately, it looks like Batman misoverestimated his timeframe, 73 seconds wasn't quite long enough... because as they make their escape, they run smack dab into... Killer Croc! It's just as well, really... Croc is carrying a suitcase Batman very much might want.
Batman and Croc spend the next several pages brawling... during which, that briefcase gets nyoinked away. In realizing he will not be able to overpower the beast, Batman pops a hypersonic beepy-thing on Croc's neck... and let's that put him out of commission for awhile.
With Croc all grogged out, Batman ties him to a beam... and the young boy ain't scared no mo'. Then, the F.B.I. shows up to ream Batman out about his methods. Sure, they're happy he retrieved the child (who is, by the way, Edward Lamont IV, heir to the Lamont Chemical fortune)... but, wattabout the briefcase full'a money?!
Well, Batman has a few ideas where that briefcase might've gone... and within minutes he's hot on Catwoman's... tail. She has the money, naturally... and they flirtatiously chase one another for a few pages.
Until... someone cuts the bat-line!
Batman falls all the way to the ground, only once breaking his fall with a stone gargoyle... which also breaks, sending him KRASHing into a gang-filled alley. They don't look all that happy to see him. On the other hand, they might be really happy to see him!
Catwoman reaches her destination... and we learn that she stole the briefcase under the control and orders of... Poison Ivy!
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Not much to it, is there? A few simple scenes... a fun fight... dynamic action, awesome art... but, really... not much yet to sink our teeth into. I mean, "Chapter One" is part of the title, and I guess it lives up to that!
I'm trying to recall whether or not we knew what "Hush" was at this point. Did we know that Hush was going to wind up being a person? Oh, by the way... Hush winds up being a person. I guess this is as good an opportunity as any to finally make use of some of my ephemera... and justify why I have several hundred pounds worth of Diamond Previews catalogs upstairs! Worth noting that Hush was a big enough deal to get a cover... two actually (we'll get there).
If we look at Previews Vol. XII #8 (August, 2002)...
We can take a look at the original solicitation...
No mention of whether or not "Hush" is a new character. Buuut, that might just be because DC Comics wanted to break that news the following month in Wizard! The solicit above actually makes reference to a "Wizard: The Comics Magazine preview"
And so, if we were to take a peek at Wizard: The Comics Magazine #134 (November, 2002) we'd actually get a look at the mummy-wrapped baddie.
So... I suppose it's possible that as of the release of Batman #608... we might not have known that Hush was going to wind up actually being a new character. I'm just trying to figure out whether or not Batman's batline being severed was a "whodunnit" when this first came out. I think I'd probably just assume it was a Poison Ivy thug at this point, and leave it at that.
Overall... this is a breezy read, won't take but a few minutes to get through. On a positive note, DC Comics did not raise the cover price here! It's still $2.25... which is, prrrrretty unbelievable, ain't it? I'd figure they could've easily cranked this one up to at the very least $2.99... perhaps even $3.99, and gotten away with it. Honestly, I'm surprised they didn't try! They actually keep the price at $2.25 for the entire Loeb/Lee run!
Could I recommend this? As a single issue... probably. As a collection... definitely (despite my recalling that it ends very predictably). This is a fun one... and the art, as mentioned, is pretty amazing. Naturally, it's been collected a number of times... and is available digitally.
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