Superman (vol.2) #76 (1993)

Superman (vol.2) #76 (February, 1993)
"Funeral For a Friend/4: Metropolis Mailbag II"
Story & Art - Dan Jurgens
Finished Art - Brett Breeding
Letterer - John Costanza
Colors - Glenn Whitmore
Assistant Editor - Jennifer Frank
Editor - Mike Carlin
Cover Price: $1.25

Welcome to day three of the Twelve Days of Christmas on Infinite Earths.  Today we're going to discuss a very special issue.  This is actually the issue in which I was introduced to many of the DC Universe mainstays and heavy-hitters.  I don't think I've made it any secret that my introduction to DC was through the Death of Superman storyline... sure, I had assorted issues in my collection before that, but I never actually cared until the tail-end of 1992.

I've been looking forward to rereading this one just to imagine myself checking out so many of these characters for the first time.  It feels like a lifetime ago... and I guess an argument can be made that it was!

--

It's a rainy Metropolis Christmas Eve as many of DC's heavy-hitters organize atop The Daily Planet building.  Captain Marvel is the last to arrive.  The heroes have a brief rain-soaked discussion about the death of their friend... and loss in general.  Tonight is not all about talk, however, they are all there for a purpose... to fill in for Superman on the night that he tries to grant some wishes.  Of particular interest here is Robin, who is the relatively newly-minted Tim Drake at this point.  He has his own feeling about the loss of the Man of Steel, yet feels foolish sharing them.  Such a human reaction... really like it.

Meanwhile, across town... we meet up with our old friend Mitch.  You remember Mitch, right?  The punk kid from Ohio who got lippy with his mother until Doomsday and the Justice League destroyed his house... yeah, him.  Anyhoo, he feels responsible for the death of Superman, and ran off to Metropolis in order to apologize to... Mrs. Superman?

On an outdoor stage some nutjob has orchestrated a press conference so that she may tell the world about her super-secret affair with Superman.  Among the press is the Daily Planet's own, Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen.  As you might imagine, this is all quite difficult for Lois to digest... it's not long before she walks off.

Jimmy notices the odd looking Mitch and asks him if there's anything he might do for him.  Mitch spills the beans about wanting to apologize to Mrs. Supes, but Jimmy drops the proper knowledge on him.  Mitch decides it might just help him to talk to anyone who was close with Superman... well, I guess Superman's Pal might fit the bill!  Jimmy offers to buy Mitch a meal with Bibbo at Hobb's Bay Grille.

We rejoin Lois as she visits Clark's apartment for the first time since his passing.  The panel layout here is truly wonderful... long, thin, uncomfortable panels... we can actually feel Lois' dread as she enters.  It's at this point that Clark/Superman's death is becoming "real".  Not that his actual death and funeral weren't... but this signifies the fact that life will have to go on without him.

She enters and begins to cry... fearing that she is now all alone.  Lois' internal monologue is interrupted by a friendly voice... Ma and Pa Kent have arrived.  This is a particularly difficult scene for me, though it wasn't always.  I'm not sure if I've just grown sappy in my old age, or it's that I've become so much more familiar with these folks... but the scenes with the Kents are always the ones that "get" me.  The Lois and Kents reunion is interrupted by (a very blonde) Lana Lang.  This is a wonderful little "support group"... I mean, who else could any of these four go to in order to talk about this?  Not like Ma is going to ring up Batman.

We shift back to the Daily Planet where several heroes are rooting through the mail room... a mail room filled with letters to Superman.  Guy Gardner has some choice sarcasm for the entire endeavor... which I like to think is his defense mechanism.  He comments that all of these letters signify just another person that wants something.  Wonder Woman scolds him and they continue looking through for some wishes to grant.

Gardner winds up finding a letter from an older woman who has a terminal disease.  Her request for Superman is to find her son who ran off some three decades earlier.  He figures this is just the wish for him to grant... but he hopes there will be some need to "bust some heads" along the way.

Flash and Wonder Woman find a letter from... well, lookit this, a woman whose house was destroyed during the battle with Doomsday!  What the heroes notice is that the letter is primarily a thank you for saving the lives of her children.  Wonder Woman decides that they will do whatever they can for this family.

At Hobbs Bay Grille, Mitch dines with Jimmy and Bibbo.  He shares his story with them... telling them that if Superman hadn't come back to save them he would probably still be alive.  Bibbo talks him down and tries to put the entire event into perspective.  We learn that some/most of Mitch's guilt is due to making fun of Superman before everything went down.  He thought Superman was lame... and it's only because of Superman that he and his family are alive today.  Not even his own father cared enough... but Superman came back.

Back at Clark's apartment, the gang is discussing how they are going to go about explaining Clark's disappearance... and Lana wonders if it might be time that the secret comes out.  Ma and Pa give that thought the ol' nuh-uh... and the foursome agree that the secret stays between them.

We shift to Wonder Woman standing in front of an apartment door.  Inside is... Mitch's dad!  He first thinks she's there as a gag, or a singing telegram.  She informs him that she is quite real, and fills him in on what just went down with his children and ex-wife.

We next see some cameos... Nightwing and Maxima are delivering gifts to a homeless shelter, and Guy Gardner shanghais the old woman's son and facilitates a mother and child reunion.  I like to think that Guy didn't even talk to the guy... just zapped him with his ring and brought him home.

We join Flash and Green Lantern as they help a team of construction workers building a house for a certain Ohioan family.  We jump back and forth between scenes of Mitch paying his respects at Superman's tomb and his family home being rebuilt.  Of particular note, Jimmy swears he hears the faint sound of drilling at the tomb... hmm...

As construction nears completion Mitch's father, Roger reunites with his mother, Claire.  We find out that Claire never told Roger what went down with Doomsday... and right then and there, they decide they want to give being a family one more try.  Yeah, a bit too sappy and convenient... but, whattayagonnado... it's Christmas.

We wrap up with Jimmy and Mitch leaving the tomb... just as Cadmus is making off with the coffin!  To be continued...

--

Well, what can I say about this one?  As I mentioned above, this issue really was my introduction to the non-Super non-Bat DC Universe.  This was my first time really seeing Green Lantern, the Flash, and Wonder Woman in the comics.  Such a strange time to see them too, right?  Just as the biggest gun of them all is out of commission... 

I was pretty disappointed both then and now by Captain Marvel only showing up for a panel or two.  I thought I'd forgotten him playing a bigger role here, but... nope.  Guess it's really neither here nor there... just would've been cool to see him do more here.

The Mitch scenes bugged me as a kid... I'm not sure if I had the desired reaction to the lad... but I thought he was the worst back then.  In my current more *ahem* mature state, I can see the merit in him showing up... still think he's kind of a jerk though.  Boy he really let it all out during his dinner with Bibbo, right?  Issues with guilt... abandonment... guilt... death... guilt... loss.  Mitch got some stuff to work out, eh?

I mentioned in the synopsis... Mitch's folks reconciling, expecially under the circumstances, seems really "easy".  It neglects to take into account the prior complexities of their relationship in an attempt to give us something of a "love conquers all" bit... which, if it were in any different book, I might be a bit more upset... but it's Superman... during the death... at Christmas.  Any complaints that I have can't measure up to all of that.  I think Mitch shows up several years later... with powers (seriously)... maybe then we'll find out how his folks made out.

The scenes that most stuck with me... were really a very small part of this issue.  They were the scenes with the Kents.  When I was a kid, I saw Ma and Pa as Superman's "Aunt May"... and I didn't see that as a good thing.  I really didn't like having them around... can't put my finger on why I felt that way... but, what can I tell ya, I was 12.  In the years that followed, I grew to appreciate them... even really like them.  It soon became that the only way I could see Superman was as Ma and Pa's son.  The New-52 Superman always felt wrong to me due to their absense.  Of course they still raised him... but, I felt as though they should still be around.

As I stated above... these scenes have become particularly difficult for me in more recent rereadings.  I always think back to Louise Simonson describing these scenes during the documentary that came with the Superman: Doomsday animated feature.  She actually struggles to get through her statement... almost choking on her words as she fights back tears.  Ever since then, I have a similar problem getting through these scenes.  If you haven't seen that doc... it's highly recommended... and is legally available on YouTube uploaded by Warner Bros.  Actually... I'll just include it here:

Overall... if you're a fan of Superman or DC Comics, there's a very good chance you've already read this... it would be silly for me to type "recommended"... because, of course it is.

--

Letters Page:

--

Interesting Ads:

--

On the third day of Christmas on Infinite Earths, I gave to you... Superman (vol. 2) #76, JSA #55, and a Batman and the Outsiders #19 Review

JSA #55 (2004)

JSA #55 (February, 2004)
"Be Good for Goodness Sake"
Writer - Geoff Johns
Pencils - Leonard Kirk
Inks - Keith Champagne & Wade Von Grawbadger
Colors - Hi-Fi
Letters - Jared K. Fletcher
Associate Editor - Stephen Wacker
Editor - Peter Tomasi
For Jordan Marquis
Cover Price: $2.50

Welcome to the second day of our Twelve Days of Christmas on Infinite Earths special.  Today we have a very special issue from a very special series... JSA.  Just last month we discussed the issue that proceeded this one.  It was our Thanksgiving extravaganza... and it was a wonderful issue.  Definitely a high-point in my reviewing "career".  Can the Christmas-flavored follow-up measure up?  Let's find out.

--

It's Christmas Eve and the Flash and Wildcat are being led in an emerald construct sleigh by Green Lantern while Hawkman takes up the tail.  Even on this peaceful night, Hawkman can't help but carry his mace.  In light of Jay's non-alcoholic eggnog, Ted declares this to be yet another boring Christmas Eve with the fogies.  He then asks Alan if "they're there yet"... No, Ted... still about twenty minutes.

We shift scenes to an almost idyllic Christmastime scene in Londonderry, New Hampshire.  It really looks like something off of a greeting card... makes me feel pretty homesick.  Out here in Arizona, we don't really have seasons... it's just varying levels of hot... and dry.  Anyhoo, a woman and her children are having car trouble... lucky for her, a good Samaritan just happens to be passing by...

Meanwhile at the local department store, the Santa line is growing long and excitable.  A hoity-toity manager is annoyed that Santa is late, and threatens to fire him.  An assistant reminds him that their Santa was part of the sale agreement for the business... and they've used the same Santa for over fifty years!  Santa finally arrives... only ten minutes late, but if the manager is to be believed, it was the most important ten minutes in the history of the Earth.

Before Santa can start taking requests a trio of robbers enter the establishment... all wearing cheap-o Santa masks.  After the alarm sounds, they threaten to start taking hostages... Uh-uh, not on Santa's watch.

One baddie draws his firearm... however, before he can do anything with it, the department store fills up with emerald energy reindeer!  Santa smirks, as though he had been expecting the cavalry to arrive.

And boy, do they.  They make short work of the thugs.  One tries to flee the scene... Santa grabs for him, but gets his beard sliced off for his troubles... we finally see who is behind the beard... and, well I'll be... it's not a fella at all... it's the Golden Age Red Tornado, Ma Hunkle!  She wallops the baddie, and it's reunion time.

We advance a bit to Ma's house.  It's pretty much a Justice Society museum... there are framed photos throughout the home, and perhaps best of all... her old Red Tornado helmet, which is currently serving as a planter for a small Christmas Tree.  If you're not familiar with Ma Hunkle... her helmet was just a soup pot... and it was pretty cool.

As Alan and Jay admire her home, she enters with coffee and cookies.  Here we get a proper introduction... so, if you didn't know her before this... you get to know her now.  Ma Hunkle was a concerned mother who was just trying to keep her neighborhood clean... she had no "super" powers... just a lotta guts.

She asks Alan how he's doing... and he discusses his newfound appreciation for Christmas.  He is looking forward to spending the day with his family, where before as a broadcasting executive, the holidays were nothing more than a burden to him.

Next up is Jay.  He's almost a new man himself... having Bart Allen in his life is making him feel young again.  He talks about having to search toy stores in both the United States and Japan to find everything on Bart's wishlist.  Ted, quiet philanthropist that he is, is opening up his gym to the public so that he may feed the poor.  He seems kind of embarrassed to confirm this... but he does.

Ted's face makes this scene!

Finally, Carter... he's standing by the window all by his lonesome.  Ya see, one of the big subplots during this time was the Hawks (Man and Girl) not really seeing eye to eye on their "shared destiny" thing.  Carter is still into the old way of doing things... they live, they love, they die... repeat.  The current Hawkgirl Kendra Saunders, however, just ain't feeling it this time around.  She is trying to fight their destiny... and it really is quite a gripping story.  Anyhoo, Carter is upset that Kendra is spending Christmas with her family rather than him.  Despite their own spiritual beliefs, Christmas is/was still a special day for them to share.  Ma suggests he help out Wildcat at the gym... and it looks like she might be on to something.

Next up we get to catch up with Ma.  She wound up testifying against the Yellow Mask Mob to keep them off the streets.  To avoid retaliation, the government facilitated her "death".  Ever since, she has been in a sort of witness relocation... even kept from her sons.  Well, Alan's got some good news tonight... the last living relative of the Yellow Mask Mob just passed away.  Ma is now free to "rejoin the living"... and, even better... rejoin the Justice Society of America.  As the museum curator.

We jump ahead a bit and see that Ma has made herself at home at the brownstone.  It doesn't take her long to settle in and make herself an institution.  Now she gets to be everybody's "Ma".  It's really such a touching scene/issue.  I severely doubt my words are doing it any justice.  I usually save my "recommendations" for the end... but, spoiler alert... check this book out.

--

Ya know... my initial "gut" reaction in reading this issue is... anger.  Anger that the powers that be at DC Comics saw fit to retire these wonderful characters for some short-term financial gain back in 2011.  Thankfully cooler heads seem to have prevailed, and we will (eventually) be seeing them again in our new Rebirth-ed DC Universe.

As for this issue... damn, what an issue.  It's not too often a writer elicits such an emotional reaction from me.  I mean, I've gushed... I've hated... I've been indifferent... but today, I actually felt a bit of a tickle in my throat as I made my way through this issue.  This was a celebration of the Golden Age... a celebration of family.  Just a magical book... I absolutely loved it.

Best of all, I'd forgotten just who was under the Santa beard... I remembered that Ma Hunkle came back around this time, but totally forgotten that it happened here.  When that reveal happened, I must have had the dopiest smile on my face.  I loved the reunion, and the fact that she was able to rejoin the Society in some capacity.  Her old Red Tornado helmet serving as the planter for her Christmas tree was awesome too.

Really enjoyed the chatter among the fellas throughout the issue.  I mean, these guys have been pals for over a half century at this point... and it's just awesome seeing them play off one another.  Hawkman having some mixed feelings about the Holiday in light of his would-be soulmate, Hawkgirl being less than receptive to their shared "destiny" was a nice touch.  This had been a long-running subplot throughout this era, and was really quite well handled.

Green Lantern and the Flash are just the cornerstones of this entire generation of heroes.  They are just unshakable... such a comforting presence in the DC Universe... I hope they will be back soon... the real ones, that is.  Ted/Wildcat is definitely the Guy Gardner of this group... irascible and sarcastic with a heart of gold... just such a lovable jerk.  Man, this was just such an amazing book.

Overall... I gotta say it... if you're a DC Comics fan, you really owe it to yourself to check out the Justice Society.  Not that New-52 Earth 2 stuff... the real-deal stuff here.  If you are one of the fabled "new readers" DC threw the baby out with the bathwater to court, please check these issues out and let me know if these "old timers" would have been too intimidating and would have stopped you from buying DC Comics.

--

Interesting Ads:

On the second day of Christmas on Infinite Earths, I gave to you... JSA #55, and a Batman and the Outsiders #19 Review

Batman and the Outsiders #19 (1985)

Batman and the Outsiders #19 (March, 1985)
"Who's Afraid of the Big Red S?"
Writer/Co-Creator - Mike W. Barr
Artist/Co-Creator - Jim Aparo
Colorist - Adrienne Roy
Cover Price: $0.75

Welcome to the first day of our Twelve Days of Christmas on Infinite Earths series!  Gonna take this right up to the day itself.  I was planning on starting the Christmas/Holiday special on December 1... but then remembered how burned out I got on horror books during the month of October... Figured a "Twelve Days of..." would suffice.  Hell, if I'm still doing this next year I think October will get a "13 Days of Halloween" type'a thing to assuage extreme disinterest.

Anyhoo, that's neither here nor there... let's get right into it.  Today we're going to be discussing another Christmas-themed issue of Batman and the Outsiders.  Whenever I flip through my bins, I'm always surprised about how many Christmas-themed issues the Outsiders had!

--

We open with Halo bursting into Wayne Manor... well, that certainly won't attract any attention, right?  Luckily it's late on Christmas Eve, so nobody's really lurking about.  In such a panic, she nearly knocks poor Alfred over, spilling his tray of baked treats... she's got some horrible news for the Batman!  Well, it had better be important, Bruce has some Holiday reading to get to... she claims that Brion (Geo-Force) is on his way to kill someone!  He settles her tea kettle and asks her to start at the beginning.

Earlier that night we see Brion setting up his Christmas decorations (and smashing his thumb with a hammer).  Gaby arrives and they embrace.  This is in between Part 1 and 2 of The Truth About Halo, so at this point she is living with her "family"... she's been a bit adrift from her Outsider pals.  After becoming reacquainted, Brion produces a tiny box, one that might be the size of an engagement ring.  This prompts Halo to "have a talk" with her man... 

They both sit down with sullen looks on their face... they gather their gumption and at the same time they both announce that they don't love each other!  Hey, how easy was that?  That almost never happens... might just be the most unbelievable part of this comic book!  Anyhoo, Gaby says she's just been confused... finding out who she is... finding out she's got a family... yadda yadda yadda.  Brion says that he feels he might have been projecting his love for his dead sister Tara (that's Teen Titan Terror Terra to us), which is... kinda creepy, but I suppose I can forgive it.  He never knew Tara, and feels as though he missed out on loving/protecting her.  So, I guess he sees Gaby as his "little sister"... Hell, that's exactly how he refers to her when she opens her gift... which is a halo on a chain.

Halo decides to call Tatsu (Katana) to tell her about her gift, and to invite her over to Brion's.  We briefly shift over to Tatsu's place, and we see her decline to answer the phone.  As she listens to Halo's message she looks forlorn.

At this point, back in the "present", Bruce Wayne is all... "Get on with it!".  It's really quite funny... I, myself, had almost forgotten that this was a flashback.  Anyhoo... moments after trying to call Tatsu, Brion's phone rings.  On the other end is one of his classmates, a girl named Denise.  She just overdosed on sleeping pills and perhaps realized she's not quite ready to die.  Brion heads off and Gaby calls the paramedics.

Moments later, we see Geo-Force carry the poor girl from her home and deposit her in the back of an ambulance.  The paramedic informs him that she's "got a chance".  Brion promises that the one responsible for this will pay.

Gaby asks for clarification... and he mentions that Denise had muttered something as he carried her out... something about a professor of theirs... Dean Raeburn.  Doesn't that just sound like a teacher's name?  Like, I couldn't make up a better one if I tried!  Anyhoo, he crushes a brick in his hand, and heads off... to kill Raeburn!

This catches us up... Gaby went to Batman because she didn't know what else to do.  Clearly she couldn't stop Geo-Force herself... Hell, Batman might not even be all that much help if it became physical... this leaves Bruce having to rely on one ace he still has up his sleeve... and if the cover didn't already spoil it for ya... that ace, is Superman!

Alerted to a flipped switch in the Batcave, Clark Kent leaves the festivities of the Daily Planet Christmas party and suits up for "work".

A bit later, Superman meets up with Halo so that she can fill him in on all the details.  Gaby is immediately smitten with the Man of Steel... she's kind of acting like Ice would in his presence a half-decade later.

We shift scenes to a bell-ringer Santa Claus being held up by a street punk.  Luckily Black Lightning and Katana are out patrolling the area on this night.  Pierce zaps the baddie, and the Santa runs off to "get the P'lice"  He even refers to the Outsiders as "Youngblood"... which makes me realize neither Black Lightning nor Katana are drawn with feet on this page.

The pair stop the baddie from reaching his gun while they discuss Tatsu's current "Gaby" problem.  She claims that their separation needs to be permanent... for Gaby to truly move on and live with her family, Tatsu feels as though she should step aside and not be in the way.  Black Lightning thinks what we're all thinking... and it is just one word, "Bull."

We rejoin Geo-Force just as he arrives at Dean Raeburn's cabin.  He busts through the wall, Kool-Aid Man style, which causes Raeburn to go for his gun... bad move... Geo-Force crushes it in his hands.  We learn that Raeburn withheld Denise's scholarship... unless she, ahem, "served his pleasure"... I know that's probably the least offensive way that can be stated, but somehow it sounds the grossest!  He then lifts Raeburn off the ground threatening to cave in his skull!

Luckily, Superman (and Halo) have arrived in the nick of time.  Geo-Force is lost in rage, and accuses Superman of protecting Raeburn... which, he sort of is... but he's protecting Brion too.  Geo-Force does what everybody does when they're on the wrong side of Superman... he hauls off and punches him!  Which works about as well as you'd imagine...

Superman throws Brion from the cabin, fearing further physicality in the cabin would hurt or injure everyone present.  Brion slides back and hammers Superman from behind.  Here we get a pretty neat use of Brion's powers... he can affect gravity... and since Superman's powers are due in part to Earth having far less gravitational pull than Krypton... Geo-Force can somewhat level the playing field.

We briefly cutaway to Metamorpho and his lady Sapphire as they complete their Christmas shopping.  Sapphie thinks they're done, but Rex has other thoughts.  He wants to buy a gift for her father... the same dude who tried to have him killed a few times.  Aw, what the heck, it's Christmas!

Back by the cabin, Geo-Force is just walloping Superman!  They continue their philosophical discussion as they fight.  Geo-Force feels as though Raeburn's gotta pay with his life... while Superman, obviously, argues that there is a system in place to deal with people like the Dean.  Brion argues that it will simply be Denise's word against the Dean's... and sadly, he's not wrong.  Superman realizes that the fighting is futile... he looks around to make sure nobody is around, and with a thunderous clap... triggers an avalanche.

He plucks Geo-Force out of the powder, and returns to the cabin to confront Raeburn.  Of course, the Dean is none too quick to come clean... in fact, he threatens to sue for damages!  As if by magic, Batman appears holding a yellow envelope.  Inside are six signed affidavits from victims of Raeburn's "pleasure favors", which along with Denise's, will hopefully put this perv away.

We wrap up with battle-bruised Brion visiting Denise in the hospital.  She is well on her way to recovery.  She asks what day it is... and he informs her it is Christmas.

--

Man I love this series!  Just can't get over how much fun I have whenever I check out an issue of Batman and the Outsiders.  Never expected much from it, but damn... this is some great comics.  Between this and the New Teen Titans going on at the same time... what a great time it would've been to be a DC Comics fan!

A lot of stuff happened here... so let's try and piece it all out.  We'll start with one of the things that made me chuckle... Gaby telling Bruce the story... and losing her place in it!  I thought this was so well executed... because I lost my place in it too!  When Bruce put his hand on her shoulder, it was just as though he was reminding me that there ought to be a point to her tale.  So great!  It also shows us that Gaby is sort of acting like a normal teenager might.  Of course, since we already know "The Truth About Halo", that's kind of iffy... but, the way I look at it... we're all kind of a product of our environment.  Who and what we are surrounded by can have a profound impact on our behavior.  If everyone around Gaby is treating her like she's a teenager... it might stand to reason that she would begin acting as such.  Orrrrrrrrr I might just be thinking too hard.  Either way, loved this bit!

The Tatsu (which I type as Tatus EVERY time) and Gaby relationship is another interesting part.  I'm not sure what kind of vibe we were supposed to be getting from Tatsu's feelings... I consider Barr to be a pretty subtle writer, similar to Marv Wolfman... I dunno if we're supposed to read more into Tatsu's affections.  Granted this may all be revealed in an issue I haven't yet checked out.  If I were to guess, I would say that Tatsu has some protective urges... everything she has done for Gaby thus far has been what she considers to be in her (Gaby's) best interests.  I know very little about Katana's past... for all I know she might, just like Brion, be projecting "little sister" feelings toward her.

Brion and Gaby deciding that they love one another... but don't love one another was pretty great.  Just another one of those things that make you realize that these are (for all intents and purposes) young people.  People who are confused about their emotions... those who may misdirect their affections.  It really humanizes them, and I appreciate it being here.

Moving ahead a bit... we've got the philosophical debate between Geo-Force and Superman.  Superman has mostly (well, maybe not during the Golden Age) been portrayed as letting the system work... and getting involved when it doesn't.  Brion, being... again, a young dude... doesn't quite dig that idea... especially when what has gone down has affected him personally.  I really like that Batman was able to dig up a half-dozen more victims of Raeburn's "advances"... it paints an interesting picture... nobody was there for them, the way Brion was for Denise.  No matter how personally one takes an affront to justice, there is always going to be injustice.  Or, again... maybe I'm just thinking too hard.

Brion took this personally... and just maybe, he doesn't trust "the system".  Gotta remember, he's from Markovia... a country that was taken over by the Soviets.  He may understand first hand that the "system" doesn't always work.  He mentions that it would be a simple game of "he said/she said" should it escalate... which, as noted above, is sadly true.  I'm glad this cynical view saw print... because it is very real.  There is a maturation in comics during this era.  There is skepticism... doubt... distrust.  It would be refreshing, if not for the subject matter!  He even kind of stumps Superman with his cynicism!

Which takes us to the super-avalanche.  It's a little thing, but I love that Barr and Aparo had Superman make sure the coast was clear before triggering it!  This shows a more conscientious Superman as we ready ourselves for the post-Crisis era.  I mean, we've discussed stories in which Superman set off massive earthquakes just to screw with the baddies... likely causing a ridiculous amount of damage, destruction... and casualties!  Here however, he makes sure nobody will be hurt before slippin' the slopes.  Very well done. 

Overall, if my gushing didn't make it obvious... this issue (and series) is definitely worth your time.

--

Letters Page:

 

--

Interesting Ads: