Superboy (vol.2) #4 (1994)

Superboy (vol.2) #4 (May, 1994)
"Superboy: The Animated Series"
Writer - Karl Kesel
Pencillers - Mike Parobeck & Tom Grummett
Inkers - Ande Parks & Doug Hazelwood
Colorist - Tim McCraw
Letterer - Richard Starkings
Editor - Frank Pittarese
Cover Price: $1.50

Well, here's another series I'd put off due to my "what volume is this?" neuroticism.  Ya see, this is usually referred to as Superboy, Volume Four... but that includes the series' New Adventures of Superboy, and Superboy: The Comic Book based off the syndicated television show (which would later become Adventures of Superboy)... making this volume technically the second to simply be called Superboy... and so, for the purposes of this blog... I'm gonna refer to it as Volume Two.

Yeah, I'm thinking too hard... but it's kinda what I do.

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We open with a retelling of Superboy's origin, told in very dramatic fashion!  It was the world's darkest hour... and all that jazz, when Superman was killed in battle with Doomsday.  Then, was lit a spark of hope... in the form of Cadmus Labs and their hankering for a hero via the magic of cloning.  Now the world looks to the skies to see... a very stylish (for the time... c'mon, you had that haircut back then too) young hero... Superboy!  It turns out, as if the cover wasn't a dead giveaway, that we're watching the opening credits to the pilot of Superboy: The Animated Series... along with the cast of this comic book!  We've got (a sick) Kon-El, surrounded by Tana Moon, Roxy, Dubbilex, and his agent, Rex Leech.

Tana takes Kon's temperature... and finds it normal, whatever "normal" might be for a Krypto-clone anyway.  He blames his illness on breathing in volcanic gases, and doing battle with Brimstone with The Ray (hey, we read that one!)... though, certainly Roxy blowing cigarette smoke in his face ain't helping matters either.  Dubbilex is dubious of Kon's self-diagnosis... as he knows there are some clone-centric diseases that he may be suffering from.  Rex don't have time for none'a this, however... he's got a cartoon to watch!

In toon-town, we are introduced to a pair of very Peter Davidesque villains going by the names Lock and Lode.  They have mistakenly broken into LexCorp Tower... thinking it to be where super agent Rex Leech lives on a count that it's shaped like a giant letter L.  They argue a bit... and throw a pair of "rent a cops" out the window... likely to their inky celluloid demise.

At "stately" Leech Manor, a very svelte Rex is conducting business with Police Commissioner Henderson... and, this is pretty neat.  In the comics Henderson is a white dude, but in Superman: The Animated Series, he is a black man... so, here, he's a black man.  What a fun touch!  Dubbilex makes his toon-debut as Rex's loyal (and wacky) telepathic D.N.Alien Butler... which is a hoot.  Rex's daughter Roxy is also introduced... as a mass of primordial slime!

As you might imagine, these portrayals are not well received by their real-world inspirations.  Dubbilex doesn't take kindly to being made to look like a silly servant... Roxy damn sure doesn't like the idea of being a puddle of ooze... while Superboy's just annoyed he hasn't shown up yet!

Back onscreen, Lock 'n Lode arrive on the scene and easily neutralize both Henderson and Dubbilex.  In the skirmish, the former's pistol goes flying... crashing through the globe that "held" Roxy's drippy oozy form, spilling her all about the room.

We shift scenes and finally meet, the man of the hour... Superboy!  He's hanging with a young lady at his Super-Grotto... which is sorta like the Batcave, only grotto-ier.  As he shows her his mysterious mineral spring, he notices... well, she notices... some slime dripping in from the ceiling.  Superboy knows that can only mean one thing... Rex has been attacked by super-assassins!

He bursts through the ceiling into the Manor above (way to give it all away, kid!) and finds Dubbilex and Henderson cuffed and seated... and Rex laying spread on a table while a laser pendulum swings above him... growing closer with each pass!

Superboy gets to fighting... and talking about his tactile telekinesis.  Man, I'd love to see a scene of Kon and Mercury from the Metal Men hanging out.  Liquid at room temperature versus tactile telekinesis... ay yai yai.  Everything looks to be going fine, when Superboy finds himself trapped in a super-hard resin... that the baddie lied and said was knock-out gas.  What a jerk!

It doesn't prove to be too detrimental to the Metropolis Kid... just momentarily slowing him down.  He breaks out of the crud... just in time to be ensnared in Lock's whip.  Lode steps in and begins applying the magnetic pressure to it when... Rex, now freed from the trap shoots the baddie in the shoulder.  Wow, what kinda violent cartoon is this?  Police thrown from skyscrapers... good guys using guns... blood (!) wild stuff here!

The day is saved... and we learn that it was all due to Rex's laser-reflective tie-clip (wonk wonnnnk).  Dubbilex enters to interrupt Kon and Rex's... soup feast (?) to inform them that something's going on in the Super-Grotto.  It turns out that Roxy has evolved... into a fungus (wonk wonnnnnk, again).

Back in the real world we wrap up with Kon excusing himself to head to the fridge... and with a TH-UNK, he hits the floor.  Tana Moon runs in to see him sprawled out... and fears him to be dead!

--

Well, this was a lot of fun.  Looking back it's hard to believe this issue came so early in the run!  I'd figure a story like this would've come a bit later on... but, here we are!  Such a fun concept to play with... if I'm remembering right, DC did something similar in a later issue of Guy Gardner Warrior.

As much fun as this issue was... there really isn't a whole lot to say about it.  We see that Rex Leech's cartoon self is a suave dude, rather than a frumpy con-man... and he views himself as the "real" hero.  It's silly, and further shows what kinda goofball jerk he is.

I don't feel like the cast is established enough to have these "amped to 11" cartoon versions to be as funny as they're meant to be.  Of course, reading this well after the fact, after having a better idea of who these characters are... it's easy to have the proper appreciation.  It's difficult to say how I would have received this had I read it in 1994.  I'm sure I'd have dug it... but, maybe not as much?  I dunno... my Kon-El mileage was a bit different back then.  Too be honest, he annoyed me... and I was hoping he'd be temporary.

The non-cartoon story here is focused on Superboy's illness... which everyone but Dubbilex writes off as his just being under the weather.  I can't remember what becomes of it... but I'm guessing it's taken care of within the next couple of issues.  The story within a story gives the Kon-is-sick bits some time to organically breathe... and not shove it in our faces.  His collapse at the end was actually a bit of a surprise, simply due to how nonchalantly it was treated up to that point.  Really clever storytelling here... a silly cartoon framed by a serious situation.  Great misdirection.

Overall... this is one I'd definitely recommend.  Though, I would posit that a basic familiarity with Kon's Kast would yield a better appreciation for the exaggerated animated takes.  The art alone, however, makes this more than worth a read.  Grummett's (relatively) realistic take contrasted with Parobeck's "lighter" animated style comes across great!  For your convenience, this is available digitally.

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Justice Society of America (vol.3) #15 (2008)

Justice Society of America (vol.3) #15 (June, 2008)
"Thy Kingdom Come, The Good Fight"
Story - Geoff Johns & Alex Ross
Penciller - Dale Eaglesham & Alex Ross
Inker - Prentis Rollins
Colorist - Alex Sinclair
Letterer - Rob Leigh
Assistant Editor - Harvey Richards
Editor - Michael Siglain
Cover Price: $2.99

I thought I missed an issue for a second.  This is the only one from this run that isn't the Alex Ross cover.  It's not a bad cover, but really sticks out when flipping through the collection.  Not something I feel an urge to remedy or anything... that would just leave me with a "double"... and those kinda make me itch.

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We open on Earth-22, where a battle rages until... the bombs are dropped!  Superman-22 narrates the utter hopelessness of the thing, and mourns the loss of his Earth and those he held dear.

We return to the here and now, where Gog is about to face off with the Brightest Day and Blackest Night combo from last issue, Green Lantern and Obsidian.  He's able to hold off the onslaught well enough, really... it looks like he's being jumped by a gang here... until, Obsidian uses his shadow powers to enter the baddie's bod.

After providing a psychological assessment of Gog, Obsidian attempts to blind him... this allows for Superman and Power Girl to briefly go on the offense, while Starman and Flash can direct traffic to keep civilians out of harms way.  Gog eventually "evicts" the young fella and regains his footing.

Stargirl and Lightning arrive, with the former instructing the latter to take out all of her frustrations on Gog... which leads to her blasting the baddie with her namesake while kvetching that she can't drive a car.  It's quite a bit cuter than I'm making it sound.  Amid this distraction, Liberty Belle jumps back into her old gimmick and calls upon the speed formula [3X2(9YZ)4A] she used while she was Jesse Quick to bum rush Gog... but gets blasted nonetheless.

By this point, the Justice Society just go ahead and dogpile Gog.  It's really quite the scene!  It's probably worth mentioning that it's the "kids" who are getting the upper hand here... Judomaster, Mr. America, Amazing Man, Citizen Steel, Lance... ya know, the newbies.  When one on one with Judomaster, Gog uses the environment against her... almost as though he'd sussed out her Achilles heel straightaway!

Ma Hunkel watches the whole thing unfold from the busted up brownstone.  Several Society members in various stages of kayo are with her... including her granddaughter Maxine who meets a new friend.  Sandman (who I think I've been calling "Sand" up to this point... because that was his name... it's the former Sandy the Golden Boy) arrives and tells the remainders that the villain is not Gog.

In Battery Park, the Society regains their bearings and heads in to head off Gog... before he can "head off" Judomaster.  Faced with pretty bad offs, Gog realizes discretion is the better part of yadda yadda, and so he activates a Boom Tube (!!!) to retreat.

Unfortunately for him... several Society members manage to teleport with him... in particular, Lance!  It's made pretty clear that Gog recognizes Lance... this will become important later.

Sandman shows up and demands (not) Gog spill the beans.  (Not) Gog reveals that Gog wants to save them all... and needs them to believe in him, and only him.  Suddenly, that giant purple Thanos-looking face from a few issues back activates.

The giant head's giant mouth opens... and (not) Gog is split in two!  It's a really cool visual... it's almost as though he's atomized from the inside out.  At the same time, Lance's... lance starts to glow even hotter than usual.  The rest of the Justice Society arrives just in time to see the mountain come apart.  Power Girl sees the giant head, and asks Sandman what it is she's looking at.  He reveals that, while speaking to the Earth, he learned that this stone head "didn't belong"... as in, it's not from this world!

The issue wraps up with Gog... the real one, stood tall... across an amazing vertical two-page spread.  He reveals to the Justice Society that he has come... in peace.

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Okay, we're getting somewhere!

It's been awhile since I read this, and I was bracing for another cliffhanger with (not) Gog facing off with another Justice Society member... was really glad that wasn't the case.  Not saying that this arc overstayed its welcome or anything... it just felt a bit repetitive over the past two or three chapters.

This issue is mostly an extended fight scene... but it's so well done, both in pacing, and art that it's a pleasure to experience.  While I'm a sucker for "talking heads" JSA stories, this was just as great.  Doesn't hurt that Johns managed to cram a who'lotta characterization into this bit.

Keeping with the fight, let's discuss that crazy dog-pile.  It's almost surreal to see all of these supremely powered characters have to actually bum-rush the threat of (not) Gog.  If I were a fella who got excited by superhero movies (I'm not, by the way) I'd say this would be an interesting scene to watch play out.  I especially liked Liberty Belle tapping into her old persona for a moment.  I feel like a less-invested writer wouldn't have "went there", and I'm glad Johns did.  It's the best kind of (and I hate this term) "fan-service".  If I didn't know about her past, this would have been something that prompted a Google search for sure.

It was neat seeing the newbies get their chance to shine.  Johns did this in a way that didn't cut down the establishment to make his point.  What we see is the new recruits having conviction and willingness to put themselves on the line to live up to the team, rather than bringing the team down to a lesser level.  That whole, if everyone else takes a step backwards... the people who simply stood still look better by comparison type of mentality.  I feel like that's the way a lazy (or agenda-driven) writer would've handled it, and I'm glad not to see that here.

And then there's Maude Gog!  We finally meet the "real" Gog here.  I mean, we saw his giant craggy head a few issues back, but we didn't know it was a living, breathing sorta thing.  I often gush over Dale Eaglesham's work... but, boy oh boy... Gog raising out of the mountain?  Friggin' incredible.  I could almost hear orchestral music... like as though you were about to fight a boss in Final Fantasy or something.  I hate the word "epic" because in the past decade of internetese, it's been rendered meaningless... but, c'mon... this was a pretty epic introduction!

Overall... yet another wonderful issue of Justice Society of America.  We wrap up this leg of Thy Kingdom Come and prepare for One World, Under Gog.  Well worth your time... and as loath as I am to promote a trade collection over single issues (not floppies, dammit), I'd recommend just hopping into the hardcover or tpb.  You're going to get an amazing story all in one bite.

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(Not the) Letters Page:

I'm pretty sure I have every issue with SIGHTINGS on the cover... and still haven't the foggiest idea what it means! 

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Batman #442 (1989)

Batman #442 (December, 1989)
"A Lonely Place of Dying, Chapter Five: Rebirth"
Writer - Marv Wolfman
Co-Plotter - George Perez
Penciller - Jim Aparo
Inker - Mike DeCarlo
Letterer - John Costanza
Colorist - Adrienne Roy
Associate Editor - Dan Raspler
Editor - Denny O'Neil
Cover Price: $1.00

Well, here we are... creeping out of that Lonely Place.

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We pick up right where we left off in New Titans #61.  Tim and Alfred are in the Batcave... with the former going into full-on panic mode.  Alfred's used to this kind of thing... well, as used to this kinda thing as one can get anyway.  Tim continues his mantra of "Batman needs Robin"... and holds Jason's duds aloft.  Back at the corner of 4th and 4th, Batman and Nightwing are pinned under the debris... while Two-Face anxiously flips his coin.  He considers the time... 2am, and figures this is the perfect time for Batman to die.

We rejoin Tim and Alfred hauling ass in the Alf-mobile (better than the Alf-cycle, I guess).  Tim is in the backseat trying on Jason's clothes.  He claims that he didn't want it to come to this... but I'm not so sure he's being completely honest.  As they pull up, Two-Face is just about to make the building go kablooey.

After the explosion, "Robin" runs up and socks Two-Face in the jaw.  Unfortunately, Dent returns the favor... except he's holding a brick.  He then snatches a bit of rebar, and goes to give the lad the ol' "Jason Todd special".

Alfred, who is still present, rushes in to stop Harvey... applying a pretty weak half-nelson.  Thankfully, this distraction is all Tim needs to land another sucker-punch on the baddie.  Must've been a helluva shot too, as Two-Face disappears for a moment.  The fellas check the perimeter, and Tim locates the coal-chute... and proceeds to pound on it to gain entry.

As Robin enters the building, Two-Face listens in (Alfred calls him "Tim", not sure if ol' Harv heard all that) before taking his leave.  Inside, Robin finds Batman and Nightwing... alive, and begins pulling the debris off of them.

Once back on his feet, Batman takes one look at "Robin", and nyoinks the domino mask right off his face.  As he walks away, Tim calls him "Bruce", prompting a "da hell?" response.  Tim continues, spilling the beans about everything he knows.

Alfred runs in to report on how well the lad handled himself against Two-Face... which, hmm... I'd suggest if Alfred didn't intervene, Tim would be nothing more than a smear at this point... but what do I know?  Tim continues to press the "Batman needs a Robin" mantra.  Batman ain't convinced... yet.

From here... Tim and Bruce continue to argue.  It's pretty funny, Dick and Alfred are just off to the side watching this punk kid try and school Batman.  The discussion shifts from Robin being a sidekick to Robin being a "symbol".  Tim thinks if the baddies know they can kill Robin... they can start hunting down more of the cape-set.  I can't argue that kinda logic... and it appears that Batman can't either.

It's decided to try and track down Two-Face.  Tim chimes in and says he's got it covered... during their scuffle, he'd slipped a tracking disk on him.  Ay yai yai, Tim is just so annoying at this point.  They follow the trace to Gemini Junkyard, where Batman decides it's best to leave Robin in the Batmobile while they scope out the place.  No sooner do Batman and Nightwing exit the car, than it gets smashed by a wrecking ball!  Whoops!

Well, let's not mourn the new guy too quickly.  He's Tim Drake after all... this kid's the picture of perfection!  He saw the ball coming, and dove out (and under) the Batmobile before it struck.

Two-Face then rolls up in the cutest little tractor ever.  It looks like one of those die-cast toys you'd get as a kid, that has a plastic bust of a character attached to it.  Check it out:

From here, a fight (obviously) breaks out.  Nightwing gets smashed in the face with a headlight... because, we gotta show how the "new guy" is better than the old one.  The skirmish ends with... a sock to the jaw.  I mean, Two-Face has taken so many punches to the mush, it's gonna be awhile before he can eat solids again.  The scene ends with Batman begrudgingly accepting Tim as Robin.

We begin our wrap up back at Wayne Manor.  Bruce tells Tim that he was right about their being symbols.  Wait, Tim Drake was... right about something?  More like right about everything during this story.  Bruce decides that he's willing to give this Batman and Robin team a try.

We actually close out by learning that Harvey wasn't suffering any psychosis when he thought the radio was speaking to him.  That's because, somehow, that voice belonged to... the Joker... who is annoyed (though intrigued) that there's a new Bat-brat on the block.

--

I'm gonna start by attempting to make it plain that I consider Tim Drake to be my Robin.  I've enjoyed following his career... until The New-52!, anyway... and will always consider him to be the definitive Robin of my generation.  I don't care that DC decided he never was Robin, and went directly to Red Robin... to me, that's just New-52! garbage they added to differentiate him and/or try and squeeze four Robins into that ridiculous (and impossible) five-year timeline.

Ahem... where was I?  Oh yeah... I'm a really big fan of the Drake.  That being said, boy oh boy was he annoying here!  I hate using the old "Mary Sue" or "Gary Stu" chestnut, because... yuck, but man... he was a bit too perfect here.  Ya know, excepting the part in which he almost died... but we'll get to that.

I don't think a new character should be able to come in and go toe-to-toe verbally sparring with Batman.  That just strikes me as a bit too "try hard" in the presentation.  I mean, I get that Batman's not quite acting himself... but, I feel like he should always be able to silence some snotty argumentative kid.  It felt like when you're a little kid and you're arguing with your parents.  At the point where they can no longer come up with actual replies and have to fall back on the old "because I said so."  It's right then that you both kinda feel like you "won"... but it's a Pyrrhic victory at best.

Also, Tim having the wherewithal to pop a tracer on Two-Face... after being smashed in the face with a brick?  First, c'mon... second, how did he know how to use a tracker?  Just a bit too perfect.  Next, Tim seeing a giant wrecking ball when Batman and Nightwing both missed it?  I get that we're trying to illustrate that Tim's a bright kid... but doing so at the cost of Batman and Nightwing both looking dumb doesn't do any of the characters any favors.  I probably ought to also mention that Dick taking a headlight to the face didn't quite work for me.  I mean, Dick's gone toe-to-toe with frickin' Deathstroke... and Two-Face can land a shot with a headlight?  C'mon, again... I get that we're trying to make Tim look good... but at the cost of Dick looking bad doesn't help anyone.

So, Tim almost died.  If not for Alfredian intervention, he would have been... at best, crippled by Two-Face and his rebar.  Moments later, Alfred tells Batman how well Tim handled himself in the "fight".  Wha--?  I don't get it.  Batman just lost a Robin... does Alfred really think this is a good idea?  I sure don't.

As a story, A Lonely Place of Dying was a great bit of fun.  As a final chapter, however, this all felt a bit forced.  Tim, despite coming moments away from being maimed/killed... is portrayed as being an always prepared, perfect sidekick for Batman.  His detective skills thus far have been demonstrated quite well... but, his "field" debut?  Didn't quite feel it.  I can't remember how I felt about this the first time I read it... but, I'm pretty sure Tim didn't grate on me as much then as he did this time.

Overall, even with my misgivings and how much Tim annoyed me, I'd definitely recommend this to any bat-fans and bat-historians out there.  A Lonely Place of Dying is an important piece of work (and a vital piece of the lore) even if it's no longer a thing that happened.  Perhaps the upcoming A Lonely Place of Living running through Detective Comics will shine a better light on that.

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