Green Lantern (vol.3) #37 (1993)

Green Lantern (vol.3) #37 (March, 1993)
"The Final Game"
Gerard Jones - Friscophile
Mark Badger - Clevelandista
Romeo Tanghal - Voorheesian
Albert De Guzman - Edisonite
Anthony Tollin - Fairfielder
Eddie Berganza - Babylonian
Kevin Dooley - Cosmopolitan
Cover Price: $1.25

I was so excited to begin reading Green Lantern.  Back in the early 1990's, I was a Marvel kid.  I did not read any DC Comics (barring the Death of Superman story line), and I had decided that Green Lantern would be "my" DC title.  My comic-reading friends, also Marvelites, had all broadened their four-color horizons to include DC books... one picked up the various Lobo books, another got into the Legion of Super-Heroes, yet another stuck with the Superman titles following the Death and Return story line.  I was determined to also get into a DC book, and Green Lantern was my pick.  The first issue I was to grab was #37...

Imagine my disappointment when, upon arrival after waiting a couple of weeks (which may as well have been forever) to finally start my GL journey, I find this comic.  Hal Jordan looks positively ancient on the cover... and he's fighting demons... on a football field.  This is the kind of cover that would adorn an inventory/fill-in issue of Web of Spider-Man.  I picked it up, flipped through it, and... yeah... he's fighting demons on a football field.  I sheepishly placed the comic back on the shelf, and did not revisit Green Lantern until around the turn of the century.  By then Hal Jordan was a distant, yet persistent memory, and the book was starring he who would become "my" Green Lantern, Kyle Rayner.

In the years that followed, I have attempted to fill holes in my Green Lantern library.  I am a back-issue bin junkie, especially those of the 25 and 50 cent variety.  Often in those cheap-o bins, you come across a concentrated cache of a certain title.  Last Summer (2015), while scouring a... I wanna say 40 cent (yeah, forty) bin, I came across a few dozen GL issues from this era... including the one that I had thrown back those many years before.

Was it as awful as the cover would suggest?  Was I a fool to have dismissed it by its cover alone?

Let's find out.

--

We open on Hal Jordan discussing his relationship with Carol Ferris with his mechanic... Pie.  It's still odd seeing a character referred to as "Pie" (short for "Pie Face", natch... the Silver Age was a different time).  Whenever I reread Green Lantern from the Gerard Jones era, I find myself enjoying the more mature Hal Jordan.  He is no longer a "Hard Traveling Hero", he is now a "Hard Traveled Hero".  Hal is torn on whether or not to accept Carol's marriage proposal.  He has left her hanging for over a month, and is both scared of losing her... and committing to her.  This is a fun side of Hal to behold.  It seems post-Rebirth Hal is almost too cool, seeing him sweat humanizes him.

He invites Pie to accompany him to the SuperBowl, where his favorite team the Bay City Gold-Miners are playing against the Mudville Maroons (who just so happen to be Guy Gardner's favorite).  The book never outright says "Super"bowl, instead referring to it as "The 'Bowl".  It's makes some of the dialogue seem unnatural and stilted, however, its obvious why they had to do it.  The more I type the word "bowl" the stranger it looks... like it shouldn't be a word.

Upon arrival, Hal and Pie are unpleasantly surprised to find themselves accompanied by Guy Gardner and his date, runway model Lacey Lovitz... though Pie says he's never seen her on Hal's runway.  A demon called Sapolu requires immense power in order to break through dimensional walls and invade Earth.  This demon decides that the power created by the excitement created when the fan-fave Gold-Miners win the 'Bowl would suffice.  As Hal sees it, he needs to make sure his favorite football team does not win the Big Game.

Before he can put a plan into action, the Miners score a touchdown.  The excitement generated from the TD is enough for Sapolu to break on through.  Guy Gardner rings up some football gear (this was during Guy's time wielding a yellow power ring), and charges at the demon.  He spears the demon out of the stadium, where the excitement "energy trail" wanes.  Fearing it will ultimately become chained to this Earth without its power, Sapolu high-tails it back through a dimensional breach.  Ultimately the day is saved, and for the first time ever, the 'Bowl ends... in a tie.

--

This was a much better issue than its cover would suggest.  Nothing amazing, nor anything offensively bad... just another issue of Green Lantern.  Not really worth seeking out, unless you're a Green Lantern completionist, or if you can nab it on the super-cheap.  Hal's characterization is novel in comparison to how he has been depicted post-rebirth, there is no emotional spectrum, and the story takes place on Earth.  I always preferred a more grounded Green Lantern.  The cosmic stories are fine, however, after so many of them, I find them harder to truly care about.  I am glad that I put this one back on the shelf 20 odd years back, I would not have appreciated any of the character beats, and would have found the action to be far lacking when compared to my regular Marvel fare.

This era of Green Lantern has never, to my knowledge, been collected.  The first story line of this volume has been (along with the Emerald Dawn miniseries'), however the trades had not continued on to include this issue.

--

Interesting Ads:

Fairly disappointing ads this time out... a few 16-bit video games and some trading cards.  A few neat house ads, however...

How to Draw: Lobo
(Hope yer takin' notes!)

Imagine getting a year's worth of your favorite DC titles for $15!
Imagine a time when you could subscribe to books like Eclipso , Peter Cannon, and Black Condor!

--

Quotes:

Hal: "Hey, ask any superhero you want if he'll go up against Sinestro or Entropy and he'll say 'Lemme at 'im!'  Then ask him about marriage and see if he sounds so brave!"

Sapolu: "No, Green Lantern!  You've been called for pass interference--by the great referee Sapolu!  HaHaHaHaHa"

Sapolu (to Hal): "No, You are not Green Lantern.  You are like Green Lantern, but your hair isn't cut in a bowl!"

Chubby: "Hey, Skeeter!  You want to go spit off the bridge?"
Skeeter: "Gee, Chubby, only if we don't get in trouble!"

--

Enjoy the Super'Bowl!

Superman: The Man of Steel #18 (1992)

Superman: The Man of Steel #18 (December, 1992)
"Doomsday, Part 1"
Louise Simonson - Story
Jon Bogdanove - Penciller
Dennis Janke - Inker
Bill Oakley - Letterer
Glenn Whitmore - Colorist
Jennifer Frank - Assistant
Mike Carlin - Editor
Jerry Siegel & Joe Schuster - Creators
Cover Price: $1.25

This was the very first issue of Superman I ever bought.  I'm guessing I'm not alone in that, though I would never assume.  Never really had any interest in Superman before this arc... same old reasons that you hear from critiques of the Man of Steel... he's too powerful, he's boring, yadda yadda yadda.  This is the opening part of the Death of Superman story line, though its focus is more on wrapping up what went down before.

This is a very special issue to me, and is something of a personal collecting touchstone.  The Death of Superman has meant so many things to so many people... for me it makes me recall a very bright and wonderful time during my childhood.  I was 12 years old when this issue (and story line) arrived.

Earlier in 1992 I was a paperboy for New York Newsday, which if I am not mistaken was the newspaper that "broke" the story of Superman's pending demise.  I remember opening my bundle of papers to be delivered, and seeing the headline under the fold... something along the lines of "Great Caesar's Ghost, They've Killed Superman" and featured an image of Superman battling the monster we would soon refer to as Doomsday.  I felt as though I had privileged information, and quickly spread it around my small cluster of friends (those who would care anyway).  I kept the clipping of the article; however, after a handful of moves (including one across country) I seem to have lost it... though I still have my newspaper clippings from the 1986 Mets Playoffs and World Series, go figure.  I have scoured Newsdays archives from 1992, and have been unable to locate the headline/article.

This was toward the end of my stint as a paperboy, as the "boys" were being phased out and replaced with adults.  It makes sense, as adults could deliver more papers faster, and could do so early in the day.  The problem this created for me, however, is that I would no longer be able to afford these issues.  You see, I was (and am) a big fan of Marvel's X-Men.  I often say that while initially Elfquest made me go to the comic shop, the X-Men made me stay.

Running concurrently (or thereabouts) with the Death of Superman was X-Men crossover "X-Cutioner's Song" that would run 12 parts across four titles over three months.  The prices of the X-Books would increase by a quarter (to an unwieldy $1.50) to accommodate polybagging and adding a trading card to each issue.  I would have some tough decisions to make if I were to collect both story lines... after all, I only received so much lunch money each week that I could put toward comics.

A buddy and I decided to pursue gainful employment in attempt to cover our inflated comics expenses.  We went into the flyer business.  Several local shops used our services to pass out promotional flyers throughout the community, and we charged them $10 for our work (which we would split, and put toward our books).

Our final flyer gig occurred on the day before Thanksgiving, and was for the local TCBY yogurt shop.  We were in a rush to wrap up and get home, we both had out of town family visiting for the holiday.  After several weeks of marching up and down every street in our Long Island town, we finally realized that we could expedite our endeavors by absolutely carpet bombing a couple of local apartment complexes.  Upon finishing up, with the knowledge that I would be able to afford the post-death "Funeral for a Friend" story line (along with my regular must-buy X-titles), we retired.

I still remember walking home that evening.  Seeing my house in the distance, and the warm yellowish light spilling out of its windows.  There were more cars than usual in our driveway, our guests had arrived.  It was so cold outside, yet I felt warm.  It was as close to a perfect moment I can remember from my childhood, and I always subconsciously tie it to the Superman books of this era.  I cannot think of the Death of Superman without thinking of Thanksgiving Eve, 1992... and vice versa.

Anyways, where was I?  Oh, yes.  Man of Steel #18.

--

We open on Doomsday breaking out of containment.    Throughout the issue, we are treated to scenes of Doomsday's rampage including crushing a small bird, destroying a tree with but a punch, demolishing a highway overpass and stopping an 18-wheeler with his shoulder.

The actual story of this issue is about the Underworlders.  A young boy named Keith is trying to both locate his mother, and get a message to Superman.  Lois finds a note intended for Clark (who was supposed to alert Superman).  The note gives the location of the Underworlders.  Lois leaves a message for Clark on his computer, and naturally, decides to go to the location on the note.

Before Clark can check his computer, there is a power outage.  Superman is able to find Keith through the young boy's use of glow in the dark spray paint on a local basketball court.  Keith paints Superman's shield on the ground.  Superman is guided to the tunnels below Metropolis, and is told that a "reporter lady" down there to boot.

Superman arrives... fights... and defeats the Underworlders.  The issue closes with The Justice League's Oberon listening in on a call to the state troopers about a big monster, who just flipped a rig... with one hand tied behind its back.  Oberon says that this sounds like a job for the Justice League, and we are [to be continued...]

--

I remember being quite disappointed the first time I read this.  As this was the first part of the Doomsday story line, I suppose I may have been expecting more Doomsday... maybe even the first confrontation.  I was bummed out being dropped into an Underworlders story... I had so little in the way of experience with Superman (and DC Comics at large, really) that I didn't know who any of these characters were.

I also had a real problem with the art.  Judging by much of the reader mail around the time, I was not alone in that.  Jon Bogdanove's art stood out as different than much of the superhero output at the time, and I saw that as an indictment of its lack of quality rather than it simply being a unique take.  All of the characters were easily identifiable, so it wasn't as though Bogdanove was a bad artist by any stretch.

I have since evolved on both of these stances.  Any time I reread the Death of Superman, I enjoy the slow-burn storytelling during this opening act.  We would see Doomsday in action a week later in Justice League America #69 and Superman (vol.2) #74, so it isn't a terribly long wait.  Having Doomsday exploring his newly-found freedom unhindered, all the while Superman is going on with his normal hero-ing illustrates that Doomsday is not (or wasn't at the time) a Superman villain... he is a force of nature.  All he ever knew was containment, now he is free... pray for who or whatever gets in his way.  Bogdanove's art has grown on me as well.  It is different, certainly.  The characters are big.  This works for a title such as this.

Louise Simonson has been a favorite of mine going back to her time on the New Mutants.  She brings with her so much heart.  The characters are real, and her portrayal of the Lois and Clark relationship is excellent.

It feels weird telling people to grab this issue... as I would imagine most people reading DC Comics review blogs are familiar with the Death of Superman, and probably own this issue, be it in single format or collected.  If somehow you have not... Yes.  Grab this book.  Pick up one of the many collected editions of the Death of Superman, and enjoy a story that... well, may have still actually (sorta) happened.

--

Trivia:

This issue has "Triangle Number" 1992-45

--

Interesting Ads:

Robin III: Cry of the Huntress featured lenticular covers.
You had to pull a tab and it would make the image inside appear to move.
These are kind of proto-Villain's Month/Futures End covers... just really ugly. 

A Rock the Vote ad in a comic book...
Who says comics are for kids? (who, ya know... can't vote)

--

Quotes:

Nothing really stood out...

--

I remember being so annoyed when they stopped recognizing this issue as Doomsday's first appearance... and instead gave that distinction to Man of Steel #17, where we see Doomsday's... hand.  I still haven't gotten my hands on a copy of MoS #17.

Sandman #6 (1989)

Sandman #6 (June, 1989)
"24 Hours"
Neil Gaiman - Writer
Mike Dringenberg & Malcolm Jones III - Artists
(w/special thanks to Dom Carola)
Robbie Busch - Colorist
Todd Klein - Letters
Art Young - Asst. Editor
Karen Berger - Editor
Cover Price: $1.50

Coming from a time before Vertigo Comics was the imprint/home of Neil Gaiman's Sandman, 24 Hours features former Justice League villain Doctor Destiny, now John Dee, as he spend an entire day making the patrons and waitress of a small diner into his playthings.  This was a fun era of Sandman, and honestly the only one I could really get into.  I have the complete run, but usually stop reading in the mid-to-late-teens.  I have heard so much good about this title, that I suppose I'm afraid it won't live up to the hype.  Perhaps it's time for another try...

John Dee is in possession of Morpheus' ruby that had earlier absorbed much of Morpheus' powers.  He is biding his time at diner, until Morpheus eventually arrives.  While he waits, he makes the other people around him act out.  His very presence (along with the ruby) has caused madness and suicidal activity to occur.

We open on a waitress, Bette, who fancies herself a writer.  She writes about her usual customers, telling their stories in the way she thinks they should play out.  She always makes sure to end her stories on a happy note... as she states, it's important to know when to end a story... if not, it will always end in death.

Among the diner patrons are Judy, a young woman who is currently going through relationship troubles with her girlfriend; A young man who is grabbing a cup of coffee while he waits for a big job interview; The Fletchers, a husband and wife who may not be as happy as they let on; Marsh, a widower and truck driver; and a quiet stranger who is seated in the corner.  He appears frail, dark, and balding... he is holding a shiny red stone on a chain.  He is John Dee.

Throughout the first several hours of the 24, the young man decides not to go through with his job interview, choosing instead to remain at the diner... A children's television host, playing on the diner's TV set instructs his young viewers to slash their wrists... and Mr. Fletcher becomes frustrated and discombobulated, knowing they had been at the diner for too long, yet at the same time feeling as though they had just arrived.

Later, Dee lets the patrons live out their dreams... The young man has a high powered job, Mr. Fletcher is sitting in an expensive convertible being serviced by a prostitute, Mrs. Fletcher has killed her husband, Bette is an accomplished best-selling author...

Conflict is introduced during hour nine, and the patrons physically fight.  The people name Dee as God during the tenth hour, carrying him on their shoulders... one even offers him their finger for sustenance.  Televised news shows a wave of hopelessness and malaise taking hold on an international level.  He learns their darkest secrets and allows them to give in to their more carnal urges.

Fifteen hours in, he briefly returns them to their right minds.  They become painfully aware of how they had been acting thus far.  When asked why he was doing this, Dee replies "Because I can."

As the day winds down, Dee reduces the patrons to their most primal level.  The men fight over the women, and the women huddle together in fear.  Dee later uses the women for entertainment, they dance and sing for his pleasure.  The final patron we see alive is Judy, the young woman.  Dee shows her how she may finally "see the glory".  In a disturbing row of panels, Judy jams long skewers into her eyes.

Over the past 22 hours, John Dee turned a diner into a horrific and gory scene.  All that's left is to wait.  Two hours later, as though Dee planned it... Morpheus arrives to take back his ruby.

--

This is definitely my favorite issue of Sandman.  Admittedly, I haven't yet read the series in its entirety, I just can't imagine it getting much better than this... this is an amazing story!  This issue was incredibly engaging, and caused me to actually form a measure of empathy for its small ensemble cast.

The story is so well told... very dense, but at the same time it felt as though I read through it in no time flat.  It comes as no surprise (or at least it shouldn't), Neil Gaiman is, ya know... pretty good.  The art is not really a style that I normally dig, however, it is quite fitting for a tale of this kind.

It's crazy to think that this story is actually taking place in the DC Universe.  In the issues leading up to this one, Morpheus meets with both Mister Miracle and the Martian Manhunter, while in pursuit of his ruby.  Proto-Vertigo was such a fun playground... the current "DC Dark" or whatever they are calling it (if its still a thing, that is) has absolutely nothing on it.

This issue was part of a lot I stumbled across during a Half Price Books Independence Day sale... I found the entire series (minus issues 1 and 15), for ten-cents apiece.  Sandman is always available in trade, and though I am a "single issue" guy, I would definitely recommend picking this one up as part of a collected edition.  This issue is fantastic on its own, however, reading in trade really helps put the reader where they need to be.

--

Interesting Ads:

I suppose it would make sense for Swamp Thing to be an environmentalist

Superman returns to Action Comics following the year-long-plus
"Action Comics Weekly" anthology experiment.
Beautiful cover homage!

--

Quotes:

Caption: "They weren't just customers.  They were raw material."

Soap Opera: "But if my siamese twin is HIV positive, Doctor, doesn't that mean--*gasp*...?"

Children's Show Host: "...We're going to die.  Dino says we're all going to die.  Dino told me.  He says we should slash out wrists now..."

John Dee (to Morpheus): "Hello.  I'm glad you're here.  It was starting to get a bit boring."

Angel Love #1 (1986)

Angel Love #1 (August, 1986)
by Barbara Slate
Editor - Karen Berger
Cover Price - $0.75

The cover boasts "You've Never Seen a Comic Like This!!"  Back in the mid-eighties, especially from the larger publishing houses, you would be hard pressed to find one like it.  Angel Love is sort of romance, sort of comedy, sort of after school special, sort of slice of life... it's a hard one to categorize completely.  This is a new book to me, I had only picked it up a few months ago finding it (found all issues but #3) in a dollar bin at a local comic shop.  I had known about Angel Love for a while, from the curious ads in other DC Comics of its vintage.  I had never actually had any luck coming across "in the wild", however, until now.

Angel Love House Ad

What is Angel Love?  Besides warm... whimsical... and not at all what you'd expect... it is the story of a young woman living in New York City... maybe in the DC Universe?  

I have a filing system for my miscellaneous comics... if I grab an issue of say DC Comics Presents or Armageddon 2001, I file it in my "DC Universe" box... because the stories take place in the DCU.  If I grab an issue of Wasteland (80s era DC horror anthology) or a licensed title, I file that in "DC Comics etc.", because... while published by DC, the stories do not take place in the DCU... I hope that makes sense.

Looking at Angel Love, one would imagine it's bound for the "DC Comics etc." box... however... she does make an appearance in an issue of Animal Man.  Granted, it was during Animal Man's time exploring comic book limbo, and she only appears in one panel, and she's reading her own comic book... but she was there nonetheless.  I still haven't decided where to file this one, it is however, neat (and silly) food for thought.  Makes you wonder if Ms. Love is still out there somewhere, on the streets of post-Flashpoint New York City.

Animal Man #24 (June, 1990)

Now, I usually roll my eyes when I see a review devolve into defining any given thing by the decade in which it came out ("This is sooooo 90's!).  It's very lazy writing, and panders to a knee jerk, almost "preach to the choir" mentality.  Angel Love, however, is very much a product of the 1980's.  From the hair styles and fashions worn (Angel herself has a bright red mullet and it appears as though she is wearing leg warmers in some panels... her date Don is also very "business in the front", almost the stereotypical Wall Street villain of 1980's cinema) to social issues such as drug use.  This book also does not feature the Comics Code Authority badge, leaving it open to explore more mature themes.

Angel is an aspiring artist who left her home in Scranton, Pennsylvania to ply her trade in the big city.  Finding out the hard way that art gigs won't pay her rent, she takes a job as a rollerskating waitress at the "Balloon" Restaurant on the upper-west side.  She is hopelessly crushing on eatery patron, Don and is amazed when he asks her out on a date.

We meet Angel's roommate, aspiring actress Wendy who is rehearsing her delivery for an audition for Snowy Showy Detergent.  The girls' apartment is infested with a comical bunch of cockroaches.  The cockroaches act as comic foils and provide a bit of peanut-gallery chatter.  One unfortunate (potentially pregnant) cockroach finds her(?)self with a $10 bounty on her(?) head.  The girls' neighbor, Everett takes the contract and eradicates the threat.

Angel's date arrives, and is acting odd.  He is falling asleep during conversation, keeps excusing himself to use the restroom, and seems to have an "in" at a very exclusive NYC club (Studio 108... because it's twice as good as Studio 54, you see).  Considering this is a 1980's era comic, and our man is a bemulleted yuppie caricature... it should be no surprise when Angel discovers that Don is a user of...

COCAINE?!!

Meanwhile, we witness a relatively harmless... though creepy nonetheless bum breaking into Angel and Wendy's apartment.  They have the most comfortable couch, apparently.  He is surprised to find Wendy at home... and Wendy... asks him to make himself comfortable and act as her "audience" while she continues working on her acting.  The Bum is such an odd character, making himself completely comfortable in the girls' apartment... using their pillows, and treating himself to milk and cookies.  He is also a rather charming transient... he tickles Wendy's ego, by asking for her autograph.

The Wendy scenes, while odd are a fun diversion from the after-school special that is Angel's date with Don.  Wendy herself is a fun, if delusionally clueless character.  She (along with the cockroaches) works in keeping the issue from being to "issue-y" and serious.

As the issue draws to a close, as mentioned, Don's cocaine use is discovered.  He pops in to a phone booth, and snorts a line.  Rather than become defensive, Don decides to share the wealth.  He asks Angel if she wants any... and we are [To Be Continued].

Would Angel give in?  Does she want to keep from losing Don?  Will Wendy's autograph be worth millions?  Will they ever get that bum smell out of the couch?

--

This is a fun book.  A bit corny, perhaps... excruciatingly dated, for sure... but fun.  Definitely not for everyone.  The situations the characters are put in seem far less earth-shattering in 2016.  The world has changed a lot in the past 30 years, and Angel Love does not necessarily have a timeless quality to it.  That said, I did enjoy it.  It was light after school special fare, with fluffy writing and interesting cartoony art.  It is almost easier to read this through the prism of 2016 eyes, as it tempers the content from being as serious as it may have been intended in 1986.

At (extremely) quick glance, Angel Love may appear to be the first "batgirled" DC Comics title, three decades before the term was coined... minus the costume, of course.

Dollar bin fodder for sure, worth grabbing for the curiosity factor and novelty.  I wouldn't recommend going out of one's way for this one (unless you are like me, and really dig having these offbeat oddities in your collection).

A quick look at Angel Love creator, Barbara Slate's web-site tells me that Angel Love was not the first Slate-work that I rescued from the bins for the curiosity factor.  Years ago, I picked up a few issues of Sweet XVI from Marvel Comics, because of its unique look, and my inability to imagine it ever being published by one of the "big two".  I have yet to read Sweet XVI, but it is now on my radar... I'll have to dig it out of my library at some point.

Books like this are the reason I started this blog.  These sleeper titles from the offbeat corner of DC Comics are such a treat to explore.  This blog gives me the impetus to get off my butt and finally do so.

--

Interesting Ads:

New Chocolate Bonkers Candy!

I don't remember the chocolate variety, but I remember loving watermelon!

DC Heroes Role-Playing Game - Batman Edition!

Not so much an ad, but the initial Angel Love letters page

--

Quotes:

Slimeball: "Hey, Baby... That was a great punch!  Maybe we should get married."

Angel: "I can't kill a pregnant roach!"

Wendy: "Where is my Snowy Showy Detergent?  If you don't give it back, I'll kill myself!"

Bum: "Okay... Let's get this show on the road!  Lights, Camera, Action! *Hic*"
Wendy: "This is it!  My debut!"

Wendy('s autograph): "To Mr. Bum, Love and XXX, Wendy Thornball"

Bum: "Someday I'll *hic* see this name in lights!  Wendy Thorn*hic*ball!"

--

Looking at the quotes I chose, I guess I'd rather this be Wendy's comic.

New Teen Titans #38 (1984)

New Teen Titans #38 (January, 1984)
"Who is Donna Troy?"
Marv Wolfman & George Perez - Plot
Marv Wolfman - Script
George Perez & Romeo Tanghal- Art
Ben Oda - Lettering
Adrienne Roy - Coloring
Len Wein - Editor
Cover Price - $0.75

This is a somewhat topical post.  Odd to say, when discussing a book from 32 years and several continuities ago.  I just read the latest issue of Teen Titans (v.5 #16, March 2016) and was surprised to see that the next issue would begin the story of "Who is Wonder Girl?".  By my count, this is the fourth time DC has gone to this well, though I admit I may be mistaken.  If I am correct, the last time they ran with this was during the "Who is Troia?" story line during the first volume of Titans around the turn of the century (issues 23-25).  Before that was "Who is Wonder Girl" that ran from New Titans 50-54 in the late 1980s.  Going back even further brings us to the book I want to discuss (and hope I can do justice to) today, New Teen Titans #38 "Who is Donna Troy?".

Donna Troy had a convoluted backstory to the point that she was actually created out of a continuity error.  I may be mistaken, but I believe she was originally a de-aged version of Wonder Woman.  When assembling the first group of Teen Titans, this teenaged version of Wonder Woman was added with a certain amount of tweaking.  This tweaking has been going on for half a century, and even as of this writing no one can answer with any certainty, "Who is Donna Troy?"

--

The wedding of Donna Troy and Terry Long is approaching.  Terry Long is a milquetoast college professor with terrible curly red hair.  He is a divorcee with a daughter.  He sucks the oxygen out of every panel he is in.  This is a relationship that I never really "got".  I suppose that could be due to my thinking that Donna and Dick Grayson should have gotten together during this time, however, hindsight tells me that it's better that they didn't.  This issue really exhibits the brother/sister dynamic between Donna and Dick.  They truly care for, and love one another... just not romantically.

There is a scene where Robin watches Terry and Donna together and says:
"I'd always wondered what Donna saw in such an ordinary man as Terry Long.  But at that moment--I knew."
I suppose that proves that Dick is a great detective, because I've read this era of Titans several times over and I still don't know what Terry brought to the table.

After a very cinematic opening sequence, Dick and Terry have a meeting at the beach.  It is still jarring to see Dick Grayson wearing his short-pants Robin outfit in this era.  Terry wishes to hire Robin to help Donna find out about her past... who she is, where she came from.

Robin's internal monologue questions why it is he never thought to help Donna.  After all, he is a Batman-trained detective... it stands to reason if anyone could help Donna, it would be him.  So why hadn't he though to try?

Dick agrees and visits with Donna.  He asks her to tell him everything she can remember.  She remembers the fire she was caught in as a young child.  She remembers the building she lived in burning... the smoke... the bodies.  She remembers the one who rescued her--Wonder Woman.  Wonder Woman pulled her out of the wreckage and brought her to Paradise Island.  On Paradise Island Donna was granted a small amount of power from each of the Amazons via their Purple Ray.

Dick and Donna visit the now condemned building she remembered.  Donna tells Dick that they would not likely find anything there... she had "sifted through this rubble a dozen times."  Dick, however, has the building's blueprints which shows that this building had several hidden rooms.

In one such room, Dick is able to locate a box... inside that box is a scorched doll.  Donna claims that seeing the doll makes her feel strange.  They are onto something.  Dick also found some scraps of fabric in the box, which when pieced together and affected with chemicals in his lab featured the phrase "Hello.  My name is Donna.".

Dick applies a chemical compound to some faded writing on the fabric on the doll, and after a time he finds another clue.  The name of the toy store that made/sold the doll.

Dick flies to Newport News, VA to visit the doll maker, and is told of an orphanage he used to repair toys for... the Willowbrook Orphanage, which had closed down fifteen years earlier due to a child slavery scandal.

Dick is able to make contact with Elmira Cassiday from the orphanage.  No worries, she had nothing to do with the slavery scandal... that was all her lawyer's doing.  Elmira is in a nursing home, and hasn't spoken a full sentence in over a decade.  Seeing Donna shakes her, and she finally speaks.

She tells Donna about her mother.  A very young woman who had cancer.  She left Donna at the orphanage to ensure she would be taken care of.  Elmira's story continues, Donna was adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Stacey who she believed died in that fire.

Now knowing where she came from, Donna wanted to drive through the town she had apparently lived in as a child.  She is drawn to a neighborhood... and then a house.  She has found her adoptive mother, Fay Stacey (now Evans).  Dick and Donna are invited inside, where they learn the next chapter of Donna's adolescence.  Fay's husband, Carl Stacey passed away on the job leaving her with very little money.  The lawyer from the orphanage took Donna back, claiming that the widow Stacey would not be able to properly care for the child.

Donna was readopted, as part of the child slavery ring by a terrible pair, who as she put it "seemed to hate kids".  It was their bodies Donna remembered from the fire.  Dick leaves Donna with her family, and she is treated with photo albums.  She is finally able to see her past.

Dick dons his Robin gear and decides to pay a visit to the orphanage's lawyer, the imprisoned Mr. Harrison.  After a bit of tough talk, Harrison comes clean... Donna was never readopted, the awful couple were only pretending to be Donna's parents and were going to "sell the kid for twenty grand".

Before returning to the Tower, Dick and Donna stop at the cemetery where Donna's birth mother, Dorothy Hinckley is buried.  Donna talks to her mother's headstone and Dick gives her back the doll they had found, repaired good as new.

--

Okay, yeah... this story has its share of convenient moments, and plot devices to get from point A to point B, but it has enough heart to it that I can let that slide.  "Who is Donna Troy?" is the story that made me fall in love with this series.  After reading this, I felt like I knew these characters a little bit, and wanted to know more.  Regardless of who is running around the current DC Universe, this is Dick Grayson and Donna Troy.

Such characterization in superhero comics is rare.  This is Wolfman and Perez at their absolute best.  Even though I have spoiled the entire thing for you, read this book.  This, for me, is one of those "never look at comics the same way again" books, and despite it having been wiped from existence is still a must-read.  I have bought several copies of this issue to give to friends (sadly, it... like many DC books of this vintage, is a 50 cent bin book).  If you know anybody who is even remotely interested in following comics... this is the one to give them.

--

Score: 9/10 - Perhaps some of the moments were a little too convenient to keep this from a perfect score

--

Interesting Ads:

I always loved seeing the new Saturday Morning Cartoon ads that would appear in comics.  This one's "Got the Jazz!"

I cannot for the life of me remember there ever being Superman peanut butter, although my local Half Price Books has that reprinted Action Comics #1 behind glass for $50.

--

Quotes:

Donna: "What I remember can be fit onto the head of a pin--and still have room left over for an infinite number of angels."

Donna: "The Batman was more like your father.  Wonder Woman seemed like my sister..."

Dick: "Donna's voice quivered as I remembered when we first teamed up.  I could have fallen easily in love with her then.  Now, years later, I knew I did love her, more than I ever could if I were only her lover."

Robin: "The Batman and I have many enemies in this prison.  If it should leak out that you are my stoolie..."

Mister Miracle (vol.2) #7 (1989)

Mister Miracle (vol.2) #7 (August, 1989)
"Just Another Day!"
J.M. DeMatteis - Plotter
Len Wein - Scripter
Joe Philips - Penciller
Pablo Marcos - Inker
John Costanza - Letterer
Nanci Hoolahan - Colorist
Kevin Dooley - Asst. Editor
Andy Helfer - Editor
Cover Price - $1.00

The second volume of Mister Miracle takes place post-Crisis and focuses on a more domestic version of Scott and Barda Free.  Part of the Justice League International family of books, Mister Miracle has a little of that Bwa-ha-ha magic to it as the Free's try to balance their new "normal" life in Bailey, NH where Scott runs "Free's Fixit Shop" with their Justice League obligations.  This is a title that ran for 28 issues from 1989 to 1991, and was for the most part, able to maintain its fun and interesting tone throughout.

This was a 50 cent bin book for me that I had picked up around the turn of the century.  This was before I decided to pursue a full Mister Miracle run, and I chose it solely because of its cover.  Blue Beetle (Ted Kord) and Booster Gold (Michael Jon Carter) were old favorites of mine, and seeing them turn up at the Free's doorstep uninvited (and visibly unwanted) was more than enough for me to snag it up.

We open on old Justice League foe, Professor Ivo.  He is leaving a double-feature of Citizen Kane and Touch of Evil shown at a Bailey theater.  We later learn that this is not the sole Professor Ivo.  Ivo returns to hotel or apartment structure to be greeted by several more Ivos.  These are androids, based on Professor Ivo's personality and programmed to destroy the Justice League.

Scott is working away at the Fix-it shop, finishing up repairs on an old radio when he receives a call from Oberon.  We later see Oberon having a secret meeting with a man whose face is obscured from the reader.  They appear to be plotting something, Oberon plainly states "Scott Free won't know what hit him!!"

Big Barda has also taken a day job.  She is working at the Fair Street Nursery School where she rules over the tots with an iron fist... and booming voice.  Just as she is about to read a book to the children, she catches a glance at a most terrifying sight through the window... the Bug (Blue Beetle's aerial transport vehicle).  The bwa-ha-ha tandem of the JLI has come for a visit.

During this era of Justice League comics, the characters of Blue Beetle and Booster Gold are notorious for their antics, and are just barely tolerated by their teammates.  Miracle may feel as though Booster and Beetle are benign, if annoying... Barda, however, is clearly not a fan of the duo.

Beetle and Booster cause a stir outside the Fixit shop and people gather.  The main focus of these early issues of Mister Miracle's second volume is that Scott and Barda want to live as normal people when in Bailey.  Booster and Beetle showing up at their doorstep greatly hinders that plan.  An ongoing side plot features a couple of young boys who believe that when it comes to the Frees, there is more than meets the eye.  They overhear Scott ranting at Beetle and Booster, and hear him admit to being Mister Miracle.  This is a bit that will continue in the coming issues.

As Scott melts down, Beetle decides that the best course of action would be to act like they were just a pair of actors scheduled for a guest appearance/signing at Free's Fixit Shop.  It is all well and good, until they attract the attention one of the Ivos.

A battle ensues, ending with Beetle yanking the hair off of Ivo's head to show its true robotic form.  Booster now knowing he doesn't need to pull his punches, punches Ivo's head clear off.  Booster, Beetle, Scott, and Barda begin to celebrate until they notice that they are now surrounded by several more Ivos.

--

This was such a fun era of DC Comics.  Not everything needed to be an event.  We don't get stories like this much anymore.  Not overly serious, while at the same time not overly bwa-ha-ha either.  Booster Gold, Blue Beetle, and Mister Miracle had such a fun relationship.  Booster and Beetle were great on their own, but Scott plays the perfect straight-man to temper their antics.  Watching Barda and Scott trying to live their suburban lives in small-town New Hampshire is a treat, and gives the reader a unique view of (non-Metropolis/non-Gotham) civilian life in the DC Universe.

This is a series that has been relegated to 50 cent bins (though, I suppose mileage may vary).  It is an absolute steal at that price and definitely worth tracking down.  The Justice League International family of books from this vintage is one of the things that hurt me the most when they announced The New 52 reboot.  They were the perfect blend of super heroics, soap opera, and comedy.  Just fun comics.

--

Interesting Ads:

Sorry Mr. Bubble... getting clean will often be far less fun than getting dirty.

This ad used to drive me CRAZY as a kid. (still kinda does)
Couldn't they get anything right?

--

Quotes:

Ivo: "God, I absolutely love this town!  The even give you extra fortune cookies!"

Woman: "Murray, Look!  It's that Blue Devil guy from the movies!"
Beetle: "In point of fact, dear lady.  I'm the Blue Beetle--of Justice League fame!"

Beetle: "Where should we stick the pizzas?  They're getting cold."
Miracle: "You don't honestly want me to tell you where to stick them, do you?"

Miracle: "You have utterly ruined my life!!"
Beetle: "Gee, we--we didn't mean to."

Man: "How d'ya make it fly, huh?"
Beetle: "Uh--Would you believe hot air?"

Green Lantern: Mosaic #1 (1992)

Green Lantern: Mosaic #1 (June, 1992)
"Do You Want to See?"
Gerard Jones - Writer
Cully Hamner - Penciller
Dan Panosian - Inker
Albert De Guzman - Letterer
Steve Mattsson - Colorist
Kevin Dooley - Editor
Cover Price - $1.25

Do you want to see something weird?

Spinning out of the main Green Lantern title, Mosaic follows John Stewart as he attempts to oversee the now-patchwork planet of Oa.  Following the Guardians of the Universe leaving Oa to be with the Zamarons (female Oans), the sole remaining guardian Appa Ali Apsa ("The Old-Timer") lost his mind due to feelings of extreme loneliness.  He collected various cities from around the galaxy that he had visited, and turned Oa into a Mosaic of varying races/species of inhabitants.

John Stewart was "elected" to oversee this experiment (becoming THE Green Lantern of Oa) in attempt to see if they may form something of a cohesive collective.

We open with Stewart introducing us (he is "speaking" to the reader throughout) to some of the disparate species that inhabit Oa, all relatively harmless, and all quite odd.  He stumbles upon a pair of twin girls who ask if he "wants to die today", and proceeds to get thoroughly thrashed.  The girls thank him for the good time, and ask if he's up for another round tomorrow.

Mosaic is an odd book.  I remember flipping through this one when it was on the shelves.  Being a 90's comics kid, I was told during my initiation to grab anything with a #1 on it, as it would do all of those cliche things... buy me a house, put me (and my kids) through college.  I remember looking at this one, and I remember it bothering me.  It was unlike any Green Lantern book I had ever seen before... hell, it was unlike ANY book I'd seen before.  Even today, this book has the uncanny ability to summon pangs of discomfort from me.  This book can definitely leave the reader ill at ease, and that is absolutely part of its charm.

We continue on our nickel tour of the Mosaic patchwork with John.  He introduces a few more species... then informs us that not only are there humans on Oa, there are American humans on Oa.  The citizens of Evergreen City, a place that Hal Jordan had once lived, are also part of the Mosaic world.

We are informed that the disparate communities are connected by roads.  Roads that are built by Oa's "one hero" Oa's "one God"... it's builder, planner, architect... John Stewart.  As though it were planned, just as John makes this claim, he hears cries for help from various species of inhabitant.  He is called into heroic duty against creatures that would do harm.  This battle is interesting, in that one cannot be sure if it is actually occurring.  We watch the fight, however, it all seems too convenient.  John quickly neutralizes the threat, all the while quoting philosophers (quotes included below), including the great thinker of our time, Hal Jordan.

What follows is a look into John's mind.  We can hear things that have been said to him, and things he had once said.  It would appear that John is at a critical point, psychologically speaking.  He is full of doubt, full of envy... full of, well... voices.  The Old-Timer speaks to John... through John.  He is tortured by his voice, which he dismisses as a "cancer in [his] subconscious".

We wrap up our tour, and John finds himself in front of the twin girls again.  They ask him if it's tomorrow yet.  John turns to the reader, and welcomes us to his world.

--

Text piece touching on the "mission statement" of GL:Mosaic
Written by Gerard Jones

As cliche as it may sound, Green Lantern: Mosaic was a book that was truly... say it with me, "ahead of its time".  Packed full of fantastic ideas, mature themes, and imaginative storytelling methods, Mosaic separates itself from the rest of DC's early 1990's output.  The character of John Stewart is one that always felt more "real" to me than Hal.  I do enjoy Hal, but John (even though he wasn't "my" Green Lantern) was one who I felt I could empathize more with.  Hal, warts and all, was a roguish, cool, and confident superhero.  John was a man.  A man with responsibilities.  He was an architect... he had a job.  John's feelings of responsibility make him the perfect front for this series.  He has been given a task, and no matter what is thrown in front of him, he will see it through.

But at what cost?

John is clearly troubled in this opening issue.  Voices reinforcing institutionalized racism interspersed with his own jealousy of Hal Jordan's way of life make for quite the dichotomy.  It should also be noted, the Green Lantern ring is not the only ring John wears.  He is still wearing his wedding band.  His wife and fellow Lantern, Katma Tui was killed years earlier by Star Sapphire (Carol Ferris) who did so to send a message to Hal Jordan.  Later, John failed to protect the planet Xanshi from destruction.  John clearly had a lot on his mind, even before Mosaic.

Green Lantern: Mosaic is definitely worthy of a read-through.  It is unfortunately short for its vintage (only 18 issues), and has largely been forgotten.  Still an all-time favorite and more than worthy of read, in my opinion.

--

If tasked with scoring this one, I would give it a 9.25/10.

--

Interesting Ads:

--

Quotes:

John: "'I'm a kind man.  Really I am.  But not the weak kind.  You have the kindness that comes from strength.' -Jules Feiffer"

John: "'Of all evil I deem you capable.  Therefore I want the good from you.  Truly, I've laughed at the weaklings that thought themselves good... because they had no claws.' -Friedrich Nietzsche"

John: "'The roads must roll.' -Heinlein"

John: "'Man or no man, I'll never be completely alone as long as I have the road.' -Hal Jordan"

John: "Oh.  Of course.  I promised to show you something weird didn't I?"
John: "Well, I've got news for you."
John: "You're looking at him."

John: "'This is my world... and welcome to it.' -James Thurber"