Welcome Back, Kotter #1 (1976)

Welcome Back, Kotter #1 (November, 1976)

"So Long, Kotter!"

Writer - Elliot S! Maggin

Artists - Jack Sparling & Bob Oskner

Editor - Joe Orlando

Cover Price: $0.30

Taking a brief break from the horror and Halloween books.  Long story short... I had some free time this afternoon, and in an attempt to organize my comics library... sorta-kinda made a bigger mess than I was expecting.  I was going to don some scuba equipment and a headlamp to see if I could perhaps locate the Halloween book I wanted to cover today... buuuut, in the end that just didn't seem like a good use of my time.  I was going to upload a picture of the library's current state of disarray, but if I'm being honest... it would've been kind of embarrassing to do so.

Never fear, however... I did have a few books lying in wait to be discussed here at the humble blog... among them this explosion era DC-TV gem Welcome Back, Kotter #1.  While I cannot say that I was around during this show's initial run (it ended as I started), I do have fond memories of it from my childhood.  I catch it in reruns every now and again... I think it's on MeTV.  Sadly, I always seem to catch ones from the final season where John Travolta and the man himself, Gabe Kaplan are not present.  One of these days I'll remember to DVR it... and enjoy some fun mid-70's TV.

We'll get back to the horror books within the next couple of days.

--

It's morning in America... and the Kotters' Brooklyn apartment.  The neighborhood has a fine amount of... flavor.  Wrecking balls and crumbling buildings abound.  We go inside to watch as chunks of roof wind up in Mr. and Mrs. Kotter's coffee and cereal.  This sadly doesn't seem like an uncommon occurrence, as Julie phones Superman... err, that is the new Super, man... who uses his powers of deduction to conclude that the ceiling is falling apart.  

With some wifely prodding, Gabe realizes he's about to be late to work, and rushes out of the building. Doing his best Dagwood Bumstead impression, he collides with the mailman whose parcels and missives go flying.  Among them is one addressed to Gabe from the Department of Education.

Letter in hand, he hops on the bus.  Once seated, he learns that his transfer request has been approved.  He and his wife can leave their rotten Brooklyn apartment and move to Manhattan's East Side.  He's so pleased he plants a kiss on the passenger next to him... which buys him a beating via umbrella.  It's all good though, Gabe's spirits are still high enough for him to click his heels and go about his day.

Once in his classroom he continues reading his letter... he says aloud that he will have to go in for a physical examination before the transfer is made final.  His train of thought is interrupted when he hears a stirring in the supply closet.  Why it's Vinnie Barbarino making time with Rosalie "Hotsie" Totsie.  He gives'em both the boot, however without use of the classic Kotter wit.  It seems as though his mind is elsewhere... something that is not lost on young Barbarino.  He reports back to fellow 'Hogs Horshack and Freddie "Boom Boom" Washington (Juan Epstein is absent, but don't worry... I'm sure he's got a note)... and we get the classic sitcom misunderstanding.  The guys think that Mr. Kotter is quite ill, and they plan to "be really cool" with him today.

And so... the class decides to not only behave... but somehow get all their homework and studying done in the fifteen minutes before home room.  Not bad for remedials!  Kotter thinks he's lost his mind... when suddenly Mr. Woodface Woodman enters to congratulate him on his pending medical examination.  The Sweathogs take great offense to this, believing Woodman is celebrating their teacher's fatal illness.  Gabe straightens everything out, and comes clean about his transfer.  In the interest of full disclosure (and not getting jumped by a gaggle of angry 'Hogs) he blames the entire thing on his wife.

Barbarino, Horshack and Washington fearing that a strict teacher would be taking Mr. Kotter's place decide to pop in for a visit with Mrs. Julie Kotter... to try and win her over.  That's truly a terrifying thought... probably one that wouldn't fly these days.  Anyhoo, they... ahem... watch her from the fire escape... which (pardon my 2016) is creepy, right?  They see her in a cloud of dust as she struggles to vacuum the apartment.  The vacuum "bucks like a wild bronco and is sparking electricity all over the place.  Her household chores are interrupted by a ringing at the door.  Why, it's the Sweathogs, and they come bearing the gift of a brand-new (very likely "hot") vacuum cleaner.

After exchanging pleasantries, Vinnie wanders over to the Kotters' open and mostly empty refrigerator.  He offers to go grocery shopping for the busy Julie, and she hands him a tenner for his troubles.  Thirty-minutes later, the 'hogs return with $100 worth of groceries... and $9 change from the money Julie gave them.  I've hoid'a "hot" meals before, but this is ridiculous.

Julie is finally able to get the boys to come clean about why they're being so nice... and they say that Gabe gave'em the ol' "Happy wife, happy life" spiel, and so they want to make sure she's as happy as possible so their favorite teacher won't transfer.  Lucky for the 'hogs, Julie has a plan.  She lets her fingers do the walking, and calls a B. Wayne Pevey... and I don't think that "B" stands for Bruce.

The next morning Gabe happily swaggers into work, singing all the way.  There's an older fellow in his classroom who is helpfully advised of Kotter's arrival by... either Arnold Horshack or a rapture enthusiast standing in the parking lot.  The man shouts Kotter's name, and suddenly it is as though Gabe himself is a Sweathog once more.

After some screwing about, Gabe asks what's going on.  We learn that Pevey was Kotter's high school Social Studies teacher, and that Gabe himself was the founding member of the Sweathogs.  This next bit is funny... rather than stay and, ya know... teach classes today, Gabe asks Pevey if he wants to "do lunch"... and so, the pair leave.  I guess Barbarino and "Hotsie" Totsie can make out all they want this morning!

We follow Kotter and Pevey to the cafeteria, where they indulge in some gloppy mess.  Pevey tells the story of his retirement party, and how it was nearly ruined by a mean-spirited prank by Gabe himself.  The cheerleaders banner was replaced with one that read "Good Riddance".  Kotter admits he was ashamed of that act, and even went as far as chucking the banner into Sheepshead Bay.

The pair part with a newfound respect for one another, and Kotter heads back to his classroom where he finds... Juan Epstein... and wouldn'tcha know it... he's got a note!  Kotter laughs it off and heads over to the window to pull down the blinds.  Uh-oh... the blinds have been rigged by Epstein... and they fall to the floor!  The rest of the Sweathogs get all over poor unknowing Juan about potentially losing Kotter to (figuratively) greener pastures.

Gabe sees that his decision is affecting more people than just him... and so, he picks up his transfer letter and... tears it into tiny little pieces.  I'm not sure that's how transfers work, but I appreciate the sentiment.

We end our visit in Brooklyn with Gabe returning home for the day.  He gets his "sneaky, foxy" wife to admit that she was behind Pevey's arrival... but their smootch session is interrupted by a clattering in the closet... why it's Barbarino and Hotsie makin' it in the cupboard.  Roll the credits and the theme song (seriously), cuz we're out!

--

Yup... had a lot more fun with this one than I should have.

Yeah, it's silly... and some of the jokes fall flat (it is a comic and not live-action, after all), but dammit... it was fun.  And the art!  Sparling and Oskner craft wonderful likenesses of the cast... everyone is instantly recognizable... hell, even the Kotter apartment and classroom are remarkably on model.

The story is just as though you were watching an episode of the television show.  We get some great Gabe one-liners, some Sweathog shenanigans (including a wonderful sitcom-y misunderstanding), and learn a bit about Gabe's own past as a founding member of the remedial gang... and c'mon, the issue ends with a verse from the show's awesome theme song.  How can you not love that?

Guess my only complaints would be the lack of catch phrases.  I really was expecting an "Up ya nose widda rubba hose" outta one of 'em... but not today.  Not even a "Whuh... Whea?" out of Vinnie or a "Hi there" from Washington.  Guess I'm gonna have to track down the rest of this series if I want any of that.

Doing a bit of research, I learned that this book came out during the second season of the show... which shocked me.  I'd assumed the show had been around far longer than that at this point.  Such a strange thing for DC (or any comics company) to publish.  Out of all the sitcoms of the day... they choose this one.  Don't get me wrong, I think this was as good a choice as any... and as mentioned, a helluva lot of fun... but the question still remains.

Another surprising thing... this book is approved by the Comics Code Authority... and yet, it glorifies juvenile delinquency.  It is heavily implied (though not said outright) that the Sweathogs had stolen both a vacuum cleaner and a hundred bucks worth of groceries... don't get it twisted, I've got no problem with such things in a fictional setting, but just something I was (perhaps foolishly) curious about.

Overall... definitely worth a read... if you can find it.  I've only seen this book in the wild once, and that's the day I bought it!  I don't see this one ever being reprinted, but hell... stranger things have happened, right?  If you're a back issue bin-trawler like I am, maybe peruse the "W" section every now and again to see if any issues of this series pop up.  It shouldn't be too terribly spendy, and definitely worth the few bucks you'll have to shell out.  In closing all that's left to say, in my best Arnold Horshack... "Very Impressive, Mistuh Maggin!"

--

(Better than a) Letters Page:

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JSA #29 (2001)

JSA #29 (December, 2001)
"Kids"
Writer - Geoff Johns
Artist - Peter Snejbjerg
Letterer - Ken Lopez
Colorist - John Kalisz
Separations - Heroic Age
Assistant Editors - Morgan & Dontanville
Editor - Peter Tomasi
Cover Price: $2.50

It's a very Grundy Halloween for Star-Spangled Kid and Jakeem Thunder.

--

It's Halloween night, and the Flash, Green Lantern and Wildcat are off to find the rest of the missing Justice Society.  This being a rather dangerous task, they have decided to leave their two youngest members behind this evening.  Star-Spangled Kid and Jakeem Thunder are tasked with not only holding down the fort... but getting along as well!

The kids argue a bit over "who's in charge" and "who is babysitting who" until JSA Museum curator Alex enters the room.  He's dressed as Sonny Bono (the date that stood him up was set to be Cher), and he invites the duo to help him hand out candy to the trick-or-treaters.  Suddenly, there is a loud crash... not only did Alex's pumpkin get smashed... the Jokerized head of the Statue of Liberty has just landed in the middle of their street!

Spectators begin to appear... all surveying just what in the hell is going on.  Lady Liberty's face is painted up like the Joker's... now who would do such a thing?  Perhaps a fella who was born on a Monday... 

Grundy nabs Jakeem and nyoinks his magical pen from his pocket.  This pen is where Thunderbolt... lives?  Like, when Jakeem clicks the pen... Thunderbolt shows up.  Courtney gives Grundy a helluva kick, knocking him into a subway entrance.  Jakeem runs off after him, as he's got his pen-djinn... when a subway car comes flying out from underground... narrowly missing the boy, and crashing into the severed head of Liberty.

Courtney kind of makes light of Jakeem's loss.  She thinks he's upset that Thunderbolt is his only "power"... Jakeem corrects her and states that Thunderbolt is not only his power... but his friend... Courtney... is kind of a jerk to him about that, giving him the dreaded "whatever".  Perhaps as a defense mechanism, Jakeem starts razzing Court about her dad being a super-hero, and that being the only reason she's even on the team.  She corrects him... it's her step-father.  Her dad ran out on them many years prior.  Jakeem is all "well, I'd leave if you were my daughter too".  There's that line ya probably shouldn't cross kid.  He clearly realizes this as well, as he tries to rescind it immediately.

The pair reach the tracks, and its not long before Grundy creeps up behind them.  Star-Spangled Kid unloads a torrent of "shooting stars" at the beast, before noting that since Grundy is... ya know... dead, her nerve-based powers are kinda worthless.  When all seems lost, Jakeem manifests a can of spraypaint... and empties it into Sol's face.  The monster relinquishes the pen... but the boy bobbles it right into a sewer grate.

Grundy turns his attention toward Courtney once more.  Jakeem sticks his fingers into the grate... but the pen is just out of reach.  Then... a little trickle of electricity forms between his fingertip and the pen... the pen somehow rises from the grate, and Jakeem is able to push that magic clicker.

The lad instructs Thunderbolt to "burn Solomon Grundy from the inside out"... and he does!

Once that's outta the way, Jakeem asks T-Bolt to re-affix the Statue of Liberty's dome to her body.  As this is occurring, the kids take a moment to kind of clear the air.  They both apologize for... ya know, acting like children.  Jakeem mentions that he wishes he could speak to Johnny (Thunder) to get a better understanding of his pink electrical pal.  At this point in time, Johnny Thunder was afflicted with Alzheimer's Disease... and certainly not able to conduct himself on the front lines of superherodom.  We learn that Jakeem's middle name is Johnny here as well, which is a neat touch.

Speaking of Johnny... we wrap up with a visit to a... skilled nursing home, perhaps.  Where Mr. Thunder has left his room.  There is a doctor nearby, who is flabbergasted.  Apparently Johnny has somehow made a full recovery!  We close out with Johnny telling a nurse that he's going home.

--

Man... I've said it before, and I'll say it again... there's gotta be some day in the far-flung future where I'll have all the time in the world to read though my library.  I remember absolutely adoring this run of JSA... and even just dipping my toe back in with this issue, all those feelings came rushing back.  Such an awesome book... such a great time at DC.

Well... maybe not a completely great time at DC... this was, after all part of the Joker's Last Laugh crossover.  (Most) Every title in DC's line-up took part... and featured "Jokerized" villains.  I thought it was fairly horrid then... though, I'll admit... I haven't read it since.  Perhaps a reread would tell me something different.

Never been a big Grundy guy... maybe if I grew up on Super Friends cartoons I'd dig him a bit more.  I always... for whatever reason, conflate him with Bizarro.  Like I see "Me am hate you" coming out of his mouth.  So, yeah... never really gave a toss about 'im.  Here, I feel he was a great fit.  It's a Halloween story starring a pair of kids... he's a decent enough monster.

The whole fighty-fighty bit is just the backdrop for the wonderful character work between Courtney and Jakeem.  They are the only kids on the team... I suppose it would make a bit of sense for them to be at odds.  It's a great done in one, and helps bring the pair together... they now have a better respect for one another, and maybe even understand it was their own respective insecurity that kept them from bonding sooner.  It's interesting... they have, at the same time... a whole bunch in common, and nothing in common at all.  Man... this was a great series.

Overall, as if I hadn't made my position clear yet... this entire volume of JSA is something DC Comics fans should definitely check out.

--

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iZombie #1 (2010)

iZombie #1 (July, 2010)
"Dead to the World"
Writer - Chris Roberson
Artist - Michael Allred
Letterer - Todd Klein
Colorist - Laura Allred
Associate Editor - Angela Rufino
Editor - Shelly Bond
Cover Price: $1.00

Well, it was bound to happen eventually... for the first time on the humble blog we're venturing into the world of Vertigo.  While there's plenty under the Vertigo banner that would fit our Boo, Haunted Blog! October mandate... iFigure why not start with iZombie...

--

We're in Eugene, Oregon at the Green Pastures Cemetery where a casket containing a man is being lowered into the ground while surrounded by his loved ones... and a small crew of folks carrying shovels.  Having recently attended a funeral... my first, actually... I was surprised to see that there actually is such a crew... standing right by the family.  I mean, it's obvious... and necessary... just so weird, right?  Anyhoo... ashes to ashes, funk to funky... bada-bing bada-boom... dude's in the ground.  The crew finishes up, and the lone female member (Gwen) breaks off from the group claiming that she's forgotten her bag.

We follow the girl into a crypt where she is met by another young lady... one wearing fashions that are perhaps a bit passed their date.  Her name is Ellie, and she is utterly bored.  She's also quite dead... like 40 years dead.  Did I mention that yet?  She is Gwen's ghostly pal... and is in dire need of a "girls' night out".  Gwen relents and offers to take her to "Dixie's".

We shift scenes to a paintball course, where a young man (Dave) loses his crew.  He wanders through the woods a bit looking for his pals, but instead comes across the course's referee.  The attractive young lady shines her flashlight in his face, and razzes him about not wearing his goggles... before informing him that she is "starving" while flashing the camera a pointy-toothed vampiric smile.

Back at Dixie's Firehouse Diner we meet... Dixie... and a fella called Spot... er, Scott.  Gwen and Ellie enter and are invited to join Scott in his booth.  He very clearly has a thing for Gwen, and tonight... is bearing gifts... well, gift.  It's a vintage Dixie Mason Action Girl doll... the type of doll Gwen says Ellie reminds her of.

He continues to pathetically hit on Gwen, and we learn that he is some sort of were-creature when the full moon hits.  I guess that explains the unibrow... or monobrow... or however you say "dude's only got one eyebrow".

Back on the paintball course, Dave's buddies are looking for their missing pal.  Moments later he emerges from the woods arm in arm with the referee.  He appears to be somewhat out of it... and she's wiping her lips.  Hmm...

We head back to Dixie's, where Gwen and Ellie are leaving.  Gwen believes she recognizes a man from her "previous life"... and runs past him to avoid making contact.

We follow the girls to a back alley where they pass a car with two men inside.  From their point of view, they only see Gwen... which answers a question I was going to ask.  Anyhoo... one of the men, Horatio, lost someone close to him called Bethany.  The other fella, sigh, Diogenes notes that there has been an increase of "postmortem activity" in this town, and it's up to them to find out why.

The girls return to Green Pastures, and Gwen notes that it's time for her to eat.  Ellie understands that Gwen is self-conscious about people watching her eat, so she floats away.  Gwen grabs... not a knife and fork, but a pair of shovels... and proceeds over to the fresh grave, just dug earlier that day.

She opens the casket... and cleanly chops the inhabitant's head above the eyebrow.  She reaches in, removes the brain... and, you know it... takes a big old bite.  So yeah, spoiler alert... iZombie is about aZombie!  Gwen is not your every day garden variety walking dead... if she eats a brain once a month she is able to stop herself from becoming your standard "mindless and shambling" sort of undead.

The thing of this is... and this is such an awesome idea... the memories of the brain she eats wind up inside her.  This fella was murdered... and is crying for vengeance... and justice.  It's gonna be up to Gwen to catch this guy's killer!  So good.

--

I can't for the life of me understand why I never kept up with this book.  The only thing I can figure is that it was a $1 impulse buy... and I somehow filed it away unread.  Because, lemme tell ya... had I read this in 2010, there's no way this would be the only issue in my library.

Maybe it was just the zombie aspect of the thing.  I never fell into the zombie craze of the past decade and change.  I've always thought they were pretty lame... and still do.  Close-minded?  Perhaps... but I yam what I yam.  Either way, I dug the hell out of this issue.  Had a lot more fun with it than I ever expected when I plucked it outta the longbox.

I appreciate that this is a novel take on the zombie... er, mythology?  Having our star as a zombie... who understands how to keep her baser zombie instincts at bay is quite an interesting wrinkle.  Having her take the memories from her meals to find ways to exact vengeance is such an awesome storytelling device.  It sets up a perfect arc-driven approach... which I gotta say, I'm now kicking myself for not following while it was on the shelves.

The writing was excellent.  The character of Gwen is instantly likable... as is most of (if not all of) the cast (at least at this point)...  The art?  Whattaya want me to say?  It's Mike Allred.  If you like Mike Allred, you'll like this.  I do like it... so, I think this is amazing.  I'm always impressed with his cartoony style juxtaposed with his mastery of sequential storytelling.  Just a marvel.

I understand there's a television adaptation of this show... which, if I'm being honest, I'm not going to watch.  Not for any "headcanon" rationale, just that (silly as it sounds) I really don't have the time to invest in a TV show.  Hell, the Flash is one of my favorite heroes/books, and I can't bring myself to care about his small-screen exploits... just ain't my thang.  I will, however, be on the look out for single issues and collected editions of this book to follow it along.

Overall... snag this one if you see it.  Watch the show if that's your thing.  Either way, I believe this one is worth your time.

--

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Superman (vol.2) #84 (1993)

Superman (vol.2) #84 (December, 1993)

"Toys"

Writer/Penciller - Dan Jurgens

Finished Art - Joe Rubinstein

Letterer - John Costanza

Colorist - Glenn Whitmore

Associate Editor - Frank Pittarese

Editor - Mike Carlin

Cover Price: $1.50

It's Halloween in Metropolis... what could possibly go wrong?

--

We open on a disturbing scene featuring the new-look Toyman.  He's in his... nursery... hideout... and we can see that he has three children locked up in a jail playhouse.  They plead to be released, but Toyman ain't hearing it.  He tries to tell them that what he's done is in their best interests... as the world outside... their parents' world is a very bad place.  He demonstrates this by having a G.I. Joe-esque action figure fire a blast at a Barbie-esque doll.  From here he goes to bed... and, get this... he sleeps in an over-sized crib.  Creepy dude.  All throughout this scene we see several newspaper clippings in reference to the child abductions.

We shift scenes to Superman as he pulls a storm-stranded ship to shore... say that three times fast.  He does so with the quickness, and using his x-ray vision, is able to see a sunken Spanish galleon under the sands.  He digs down and retrieves a treasure chest... which I'd have to assume becomes at least somewhat important in a later issue.

From here he returns home to Metropolis... where he surprises Lois to an all-day trip to Paris, France.  Lois questions the irresponsibility of such an act... as she slips into her little black dress.  Clark points out that it's Sunday... and Halloween... and nothing will go wrong.  Hmm...

Later on we join Cat Grant and her son Adam as they arrive at a Halloween party at the school.  Young Adam is decked out in his Kon-El gear... which looks awesome.  He even corrects his mother when she refers to him as Superman.  The school has gone all out... even hiring costumed entertainers... like Turtle Boy!  And a pastiche on Barney the Dinosaur.

Adam runs off to hang with his pals... none of whom have nearly as cool a costume as he does, when our phony Barney waddles up to offer him a cookie.  Adam's all "beat it"... which leads our dino to reveal that there are some video games in the next room.  Not just video games, mind you... superb video games!  Now, I've played a game or two in my time... I don't think I've ever used the word "superb" to describe any of them... I will now though!  Anyhoo, Adam can't fight the lure of the Lextendo, and heads off with the Dinosaur... alone.

Meanwhile, in Paris... Lois and Clark are having a grand old time.  They're taking in the sights, and rediscovering one another.  They promise not to take things for granted anymore as they sit down to a romantic dinner.  Of particular interest, Lois ponders what would have happened had Clark landed in the Soviet Union.

Back in Metropolis Jimmy reports to Cat that there's no sign of Adam.  One of the kids said they saw Adam leave with a man in a dinosaur costume... to which, Jimmy reports that the agency did not have any record of sending anyone in a dinosaur suit to entertain.  Things suddenly go from urgent to sobering as the pair realize what horror may be facing them.

We travel to the Toyman's lair where he's deposited young Adam.  The lad mocks the Toyman's old timey toys, which sets him off on a diabolical lecture... during which, Adam sneaks away.  He comes across the toy jailhouse.  They beg him to find a way to let them out... and as luck would have it, there is a screwdriver on the floor.  Adam is able to free the kids, and even summons his inner Kevin McAllister by kicking over a bucket of marbles to trip up the Toyman.  Though the baddie hits the ground, he is able to grab Adam by the ankle... we see the Toyman raise his knife... and then, only blood.

Some time passes before we rejoin Cat and Jimmy.  They are at the Daily Planet offices waiting to hear from the MCPD.  Officer Turpin arrives... hat in hand.  He stammers a bit... apologizes that he's not very good at "this part" of his job, and directs her attention to the person he'd brought with him... a priest.  I think this was a missed opportunity.  This is all on the same page... however, if the reader had to turn the page to reveal the priest, I think it would have had more impact.  Up to this point, we don't know that Adam is dead.  I would assume that many readers would think that the person with Turpin was Adam... 

Cat is lead to the morgue... and all is confirmed.  Adam Grant is dead.

Later still, Lois and Clark return from their European excursion and appear to be happy as clams.  The Daily Planet they return to is a very different place than the one they left.  Jimmy immediately gets on their case for not being there... what he thinks Lois and Clark could have done to stop this from occurring is beyond me.  The Kents learn what happened to Adam... and Clark learns that when it comes to Supermanning, there are zero days off.

--

Hey, who put a Batman story into my Superman comic?

Now this was a pretty hardcore issue, no?  You really wouldn't expect to see a child murder go down in an issue of Superman.  We'll delve deeper into that in just a bit... first, we'll discuss the non-Adam-getting-killed aspects of the book.

First, loved Adam's Superboy costume.  That looked pretty damn cool.  He's always had a bit of a hate-on for Superman... which made it cool when he corrected his mother for referring to him as such.  It was also something of an inversion on Kon-El's arrival... everyone called him Superboy, and he would get annoyed and correct them... here's Adam doing the exact opposite.  Very cool.

Lois and Clark finally get a "night off" and decide to live it up for a day in Paris.  I'm glad attention was drawn to this.  Superman doesn't punch a clock... and doesn't take days off.  He chose just a regular fall Sunday to indulge... and, it just so happens to be the day that his friend Cat's son gets abducted... and murdered.  We're almost in Peter Parker territory here... I almost expect the next several issues to begin with Adam's ghostly floating head of guilt giving Superman a hard time.

Speaking of giving Clark a hard time... what the hell, Olsen?  Dude was going off as though Lois and Clark's presence could or would have changed Adam's fate.  That's a whole lotta responsibility you're piling on a dude you don't know is Superman... I get that he was frustrated... so, I can't be too hard on him... but it did feel a bit harsh... like it would have only made sense had Jimmy known that Clark was secretly Superman.  Even if he did, there's no guarantee that Superman could have stopped this... and, really... if it wasn't Adam, it would have been another child.  A hollow victory, if you can even consider it that.

Now... Toyman.  I'll concede I don't have a ton of experience with the character.  I understand that this is quite a departure from his original take... and he was a much goofier fella before.  Here he is incredibly creepy.  I mean, dude sleeps in a giant crib... and keeps children as (literal) playthings.  I suppose I should count my lucky stars this wasn't produced in the past ten years, otherwise I'm sure we'd have been treated with a shot of Toyman wearing a diaper.

Onto Adam... this really is a brilliant way to do this.  I mean, Adam... let's face it, Adam's a jerk.  He's not a lovable kid... he didn't ingratiate himself to the cast or the readership... and that's why this works so well... that's why it had to be him.  Child abductions are, unfortunately, something that happens in the real world.  It could happen to a nice child... or a jerk, psychopathic kidnappers often don't discriminate.

Of Adam, we can say that he went out as a hero.  He was trying to free his fellow captives when it all went down.  Of course, at this point that's just between him and we readers... and that works as well!  Not that anybody in the cast would be happy that something horrible befell him, but they may actually struggle to think of his good points if put on the spot.

This story's true strength... at least to me, is that it is all predicated on being in the wrong place at the wrong time.  Adam just happened to be at the Halloween party where a talking dinosaur solicited kids to play his Lextendo.  Having done a tremendous amount of research on missing children over the past few years... that scene... well, I can't say it "hit close to home"... but I can say that it raised quite a few red flags.  Even the safest places have the potential of being the most dangerous.  This kind of thing can happen anywhere at anytime.  It's sobering, disturbing, and if you let it... maddening.

This is a landmark issue during a landmark Superman run.  One of my higher recommendations.

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