Superman (vol.2) #1 (January, 1987)
"Heart of Stone"
Story & Pencils - John Byrne
Guest Inks - Terry Austin
Letters - John Costanza
Colors - Tom Ziuko
Editor - Andrew Helfer
Cover Price: $0.75
Here's one that's a long time coming... I'm actually a bit surprised we haven't discussed this one before.
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We open with Superman busting through the wall of a lead-lined laboratory in search of his stolen rocket/birthing matrix. This is hot off the heels of Man of Steel, so the whole "strange visitor from another planet" bit is all pretty new to him. For that matter, so is wearing an outfit equipped with a cape. Anyhoo, he continues through the seemingly abandoned lab, until he comes across a whole lot of data... about himself!
He walks around looking at all of the pictures and information regarding him, and uses that as an excuse to mentally expound and drop a whole lotta exposition... f'r instance, in his civilian identity he goes by "Clark Kent"... and he grew up in Smallville... and now works for the Daily Planet in Metropolis. Before getting too wrapped up in his own life story, Superman happens across the long-dead body of a scientist. He deduces the fella had his neck snapped, and has been dead for several weeks at this point. After scanning his fingerprints, Superman's more or less convinced that this is the guy behind the Birthing Matrix theft.
Before heading outside, Superman notes the presence of a vat of acid. After grabbing a scoop of the stuff, he observes that there are bits of human bone in the soup.
Realizing he's late for a civvie-situation, and not wanting anyone else to happen across the lab.... Superman just plucks a whole bunch'a Earth around it, and takes it to the Lagrange Point between the Earth and Moon... that's where the gravitational pull between them is equal, and so the lab should stay put while he attends to other matters...
... matters like, going for a jog with Lois Lane! After a quick change of clothes and a lambasting from Lois for being "four minutes late" for their run... they finally get to it. Something I'd forgotten in the years since, Lois and Clark were pretty flirty here! It's kind of Moonlighting-ish, which I suppose makes sense considering the year.
As they jog along, they pass by a bank. Naturally, the bank is being robbed. Well, not so much robbed, but occupied by a big ol' brute with a very stylish rat-tail. Lois' nose-for-news gets the best of her, and she tries to get a closer look. This works out just about as well as you might imagine.
Clark rushes in for the save... but, since he's not in his "work clothes", has to pull his punch. What's more, he has to roll with the punch he receives in return! This allows enough space for Clark to "supe up" and confront his follicly-fashionable foe.
After demanding this guy "unhand that woman", Superman grabs the baddie by the... well, not so much "collar", but the upper portion of his open vest. I tell ya, this dude dresses for success. They say don't dress for the job you have... dress for the one you want. From the looks of it, this fella wants to be Bayou Billy. Anyhoo, shockingly the big guy hurls Superman through a wall!
Superman lunges back in, and Lois runs off looking like she's trying to get to the bathroom before having an accident. I mean, she's really clenched here... or, maybe just she's skating and forgot the wheels, I dunno. She's actually just looking for Clark. When she doesn't find him, she assumes Superman already swooped him away to safety.
The baddie, self-identified as Metallo, continues pummeling Superman... and vows to kill him. Superman, beaten and battered, asks why. This takes us into a neat "split-screen" sort of situation, where we see that Metallo had been working with the scientist from earlier... and by "working with" I mean "was experimented on by".
As Metallo continues to choke Superman out, the police bust in... and unload several shots into the villain's chest!
Lois rushes to Superman's side to check on him. He's certain the threat is over... since he can't detect Metallo's heartbeat. Well, not so fast, kemosabe... Metallo is alive and well, because, ya know... instead of a heart, he's got a hunk of Kryptonite in his chest.
We jump back into flashback mode, and watch as the scientist rants on and on about Superman being an alien invader. He speaks of twenty-eight years prior when he watched a spaceship crash down in Kansas... the very one he'd eventually steal. Along with the ship was a message from Jor-El. From this, the scientist deduced that Superman originally hailed from Krypton... and also, that chunks of his home planet were harmful to him. Where he got that second part, I haven't the foggiest. The Green-K is implanted in Metallo's chest... and, seeing as though he's now powerful enough to kill Superman, Metallo goes on ahead and snaps the Doc's neck.
While Superman and Metallo resume combat, we jump over to the LexCorp Building, where Mistuh Luthuh is brought up to speed on everything going on. He is not pleased to hear that someone else might wind up taking Superman down before he gets the chance.
Back at the bank, the battle brings the house down! Lois tries to head over to check on Superman, but is restrained by the police. From the rubble rises... a less-human-looking Metallo, and he's holding Superman's torn cape!
Superman pulls himself out of the wreckage as well... and drags himself up Metallo's body, which the baddie finds both humorous and pathetic. At this point, Metallo's chest opens... revealing his Kryptonite Heart. Feeling the effects, Superman immediately recoils.
Just when it looks like all hope is lost, Metallo... vanishes?!
Lois rushes by Superman's side, and explains that one second, Metallo was standing there... the next, there was a great big shadow... and then, Metallo was gone! Superman has a sneaking suspicion who might've been behind that...
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I can't remember the last time I even looked at this issue... probably at least twenty years. It feels kinda weird as a "first issue", until you take into account that this could more or less be Man of Steel #7. Not sure what you'd be thinking if you were a long-time fan of the character at this point, and somehow missed out on the status-quo shifting miniseries before reading this. I guess you'd probably be thinking "I'd better track down that status-quo shifting miniseries."
Looking back on this some thirty-something years later, I'm trying to figure out if this was a more staggering change to the Superman-faithful than subsequent reboots/relaunches/new takes. Considering that this sort of thing didn't happen all that often back in the long ago, I figure it probably was. I feel like, as fans today, we're always kinda bracing for the announcement that "everything we know is wrong"... it's just a well the creatively bereft go to a little too often anymore. I'd assume there was definitely more of a novelty to such an endeavor in the mid-late 1980's.
Since Man of Steel, I can think of nearly a half-dozen re-takes on the character... and we've discussed all of 'em here! Heck, I'm sure I'm probably leaving a few out!
- Return to Krypton
- Superman: Birthright
- Superman: Secret Origin
- The New-52!
- Superman Reborn
So yeah... with our jaded and tired 2019 eyes, it might not be so easy to note what a seismic shift this book was to fans of the Silver and Bronze Ages.
It's probably safe to assume that Superman was de-aged a little bit for this. We're given an age of 28... which maybe makes him less of your "dad", and more of your "cool uncle"... which is fine. He's old enough to be considered an "adult" without being seen as "over the hill". Also, 28 in 1987 is probably a tad bit different than 28 in 2019. I think late-20's/early-30's is probably the best age for pre-married Superman.
Speaking of "pre-married", I was almost taken aback by Lois and Clark's awkward sorta-kinda adversarial flirting during their jog. Like I said, it's been forever since I'd read this... but this was something I didn't really recall. I just assumed their relationship started here the same way it always seems to. Wasn't expecting Clark to try and lay on the charm... but was pleased to see that he did!
The art here is classic Byrne, which... to me, Byrne in the 80's was like the prototypical comic book artist. Like the old "dictionary definition" of a comic book artist. Very clean, easy to follow, not over-drawn. His writing... it's pretty wordy. Not a bad thing... and it would likely be enough to keep a kid quiet for a leg of road-trip... but, it's definitely noticeable. Feels like he's competing with Claremont for words-per-page!
I suppose much of the exposition was necessary... however, I feel like it might've been better presented in captions rather than having Superman "think" everything. It just came across as pretty clunky... not sure anybody thinks so "clunkily".
Overall, this is certainly an important issue, and starts to establish the new status-quo. Like many "first issues" of the day, some of the more interesting (to me) stuff is in the essay that occupies the "letters page" (included below). Lots of neat stuff from Byrne in there... it feels like he was really hankering down for an extended stay with the character! This issue is available digitally... though, if you search for "Superman #1" over at DC Digital, you're going to be searching for awhile!
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(Not the) Letters Page:
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Batman and Robin #1 (August, 2009)
"Batman Reborn, Part One: Domino Effect"
Writer - Grant Morrison
Art - Frank Quitely
Colors - Alex Sinclair
Letters - Patrick Brosseau
Assistant Editor - Janelle Siegel
Editor - Mike Marts
Cover Price: $2.99
As a fan of a certain age, I sometimes find myself playing that game. You know the one... where you look at a cover-date of a book... subtract it from now, and realize just how much time has passed since the thing hit shelves/the first time you read it. It's a horrid little game, and I recommend nobody ever play it.
Well, okay... just this once. I'm sitting here pretty dumbfounded that this issue came out... a decade ago! Holy cow. I mean, it's pre-Flashpoint, so it's at least seven-eight years old... that much I ought to know! But seeing the date there... starin' at me. It's enough to make one question what they've done with their life!
Or maybe I'm projecting.
Also, the cover reminds me of McDonalds... maybe I'm just talkin' out my backside at this point so let's just get to it!
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We open during Mr. Toad's wild ride... ya see, there's this frog-faced fella called Mr. Toad, and he's trying to evade the Batmobile. Unfortunately for him, there have been some improvements made to the ol' rig... for instance, it can fly now!
We hop inside the Batmobile, where Batman (Dick Grayson) is apologizing to Robin (Damian Wayne) for ever doubting the enhancements made to the car. They wind up running Mr. Toad off the road, and into the drink. Our amphibious new friend emerges from the drink holding a briefcase...
... unfortunately for him, he does this right at the feet of the new Dynamic Duo! They wallop him with their fists... which sends the contents of his briefcase flyin' all ova da place! Turns out, the case was full of... dominoes?
When Mr. Toad wakes up, he is blindfolded and is being dangled by his ankles high above Gotham City. Well, he thinks he's high above Gotham... he's actually just a couple of feet off the ground. Dick tries getting some information out of him... and, while I'm not sure what this geek is muttering about, he seems to get it (we later find out that it's "circus-speak". He drops Toad on the dock and takes off.
We flash back to a scene at Wayne Manor. Dick and Alfred are talking about the recent passing of the Man of the House. Dick comments that he never really considered being "next in line" for the cape and cowl (despite all that Prodigal stuff). After a trip to the cemetery, Alfred assures him that Bruce is and was always proud of him.
Back to the present, and we're at the Wayne Enterprises Building. Dick and Damian are in the down-below taking care of some Bat-Business. While Damian tinkers s'more with the Batmobile, Dick continues expressing trepidation about being Batman... and also, doing some research, while images of "ferocious" chicken and jalapeno sandwiches dance in his head. Damian notes Dick's reluctance and offers to take up the Bat-mantle himself. Yeah, not yet kid.
As Batman and Robin head into out, we briefly check in on a Toad-hauling paddy-wagon. Mr. Toad warns the Officers that he's got friends... and Gotham City will soon belong to them. Meanwhile, some creepy-looking people in Raggedy Ann masks emerge from a carnival tent.
We hop over to the roof of the GCPD, where Commissioner Gordon has illuminated the Bat-Signal. He is joined by a pair of incredulous Officers... they've lit the thing every night for months at this point, and nobody ever shows up. Well, that all changes tonight.
As Batman and Robin show up on the roof, down below a... burning man (Phosphorous Rex) arrives on the scene. Officers rush over to give him a hand (remember, he's on fire)... and get burned out for their troubles.
We shift scenes to the tiny apartment of an immigrant family. We meet a man, who was an associate (and passenger) of Mr. Toad... who happened to get away after they were run off the road (earlier this issue). He is frantically packing and telling his daughter, Sasha that they've got to beat a hasty retreat. He's escaped Batman once... and he's not interested in tempting fate.
He is interrupted by a knocking at the door. He goes to answer it... and sees that it's his brother (and fellow Toad-ssociate) Lev. He opens the door wider, and discovers that it's actually those Raggedy Anns from the tent!
Next thing we know... the fellow wakes up strapped to a table. He's approached by a man in a butcher's smock and a grotesque Pig mask. This is Professor Pyg. He waited for the man to wake up before performing his "de-uglifying" process, during which he places a white-hot doll mask on his face. It's an absolutely brutal-looking process.
Ya see, Pyg sees his doll-faced army as being the embodiment of "perfection"... which might tell ya just a little bit about how twisted this guy is.
What's more... he ain't done yet! He tells the fella that his daughter, Sasha... is next! Oh, and also... that he's going to assist with the "perfecting" process!
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Pretty excellent first outing here!
This was one I recall being excited for back in... ye old 2009. I loved the idea of the Batman and Robin dynamic to be sorta turned on its ear. Having a super-serious Robin in Damian alongside a more lighthearted Batman in Dick was definitely something I was ready for... and it delivered. Rather than being a student-teacher, or superior-subordinate relationship... these are two fellas learning their way... together. Damian as a hero, and Dick as the hero.
Professor Pyg is one of the only villains in comics that actually kinda makes my skin crawl. This is a creepy and twisted dude. There's that saying that the best bad guys actually believe themselves to be good guys. Here, we have Pyg trying to impose his version of "perfection" on people... he truly believes he's bringing people to their "best possible form".
It's a visceral, brutal... and permanent change, and somehow, despite only knowing Sasha Whatsherface for like two pages, we fear for her! It's some pretty great work. Speaking of great work, I can't believe we're one-thousand and seventy-five days into this blog... and we've never featured Frank Quitely! The sheer terror on Sasha's face really tells the tale here... a truly excellent (and horrifying) scene!
Really, this was a top-flight book. Excellent production all around... really feels like the "standard bearer" for DC Comics at the time. Suppose I wouldn't be me if I didn't kvetch about the Morrison Bat-Epic being derailed by the cosmic toilet flush that was The New-52!, right? Of course, if we were to go by DC's official stance, the reboot was already well in the planning stages by this point anyway. Ahem... of course.
Overall, this is one I'd certainly recommend checking out... probably best read in trade form (aren't they all this side of 2000?). Available digitally.
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(Not the) Letters Page:
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Superman (vol.2) #174 (November, 2001)
"Every Blade of Grass"
Writer - Jeph Loeb
Guest Art - Steve Lieber
Colors - Tanya & Richard Horie
Letters - Richard Starkings
Assistant Editor - Tom Palmer, Jr.
Editor - Eddie Berganza
Cover Price: $2.25
Going with a random pick today, from whichever longbox is closest... sometimes that's fun to do!
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It's the wake of Our Worlds at War, and much of Kansas has been rocked... and that includes a certain little town. Many of her citizens have gone missing... and that includes a certain little family. We open with Lois and Clark at the remains of the Kent farm, with the former digging through the rubble for one thing in particular. Lois manages to find Ma Kent's old journal, which she reads from aloud while Clark rebuilds the place.
Lois takes a look and misspeaks when she says Ma "kept" a journal, past tense. Clark is quick to correct her as he continues occupying his mind with work. This process continues for several days... and nights.
Clark is just about done with his construction project... which includes taking care of such things as pipes, and even the septic tank (which is a nice touch... details we might not always think about). Lois pops in to let him know they're about to have company... in the form of the Vice President of the United States of America... and the Second Lady!
Pete is a complete chucklehead here... almost feels like a middle-aged Eddie Haskell with the way he's talking... "What d'ya hear, what d'ya say?" So weird. Lana pulls Lois aside to ask the question that she's sure is on Lois' mind as well. Will Clark ever take up the cape again? Lois is unsure, but says that he hasn't outright ruled it out.
Back to Clark and Pete. The Veep claims that there are over a million displaced Americans... in Kansas alone! Which means, the likelihood of tracking down Jon and Martha Kent might be slim. Clark ain't about to take this lying down... not that he really has much of a choice, unfortunately. He tells Pete he'd best talk to his boss... or else he will.
After the Ross's leave, Lois begins to hint that Clark really ought to consider being Superman again. She brings up the fact that she'd lost her own father during Our Worlds at War... and knows that this isn't the right time to take a step back. The nearly-contentious conversation is interrupted by the arrival of a stranger passing through. He calls out to Clark and asks him if "Beef Bourguignon with Ketchup" means anything to him. Well, I'll say it does!
Clark learns that someone important to him is recovering at the local Red Cross Hospital... and so, he has himself a shave and heads off for a visit with Ma!
What he's not prepared for... is Ma's first question. "How's your father?" Clark is taken aback... he'd assumed Pa was here with her!
Clark brings Ma home to her rebuilt house... and gets right back to work keeping his mind off of "things". Lois calls him in to let him know that Perry White called. Clark shrugs it off. Ma suggests that it's be best for her boy to return to the real life... but he shrugs that off too, insisting that Pa is still alive.
Hey, wouldn'tcha know it... Clark's right! We shift scenes to Jonathan Kent hitching a ride on a big rig to head "north". Stands to reason he'd want to get away... he likely believes Martha to be dead.
Back at the farm, Ma gives Clark one of her trademark pep-talks. She assures him that there is a way to move on as Superman while honoring those lost during Our Worlds at War. Slowly but surely, her son comes around.
After checking in with Lois, Superman heads back into the Never-Ending Battle... with a slightly-altered "in memorium" uniform.
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Sometimes the "random pick" method will bite us in the backside... other times, I get a chance to revisit something I probably should have already revisited by now! Today was very much the latter.
The Our Worlds at War era of the Super-books kinda marked my going "all-in" after an extended time away. I'd popped in here and again... and kinda traced my finger around the edges of the Super-books going into the turn of the century, but was afraid of making such a large (and potentially daunting) commitment to a family of titles.
With Our Worlds at War, I found myself hooked! Sure, in hindsight the event was maybe a bit on the bloated side, and probably had a few too many tie-in one-shots and the like... but, back in 2001 I was all about it. This "quiet" reflect-y issue was a really good capper... and, just like the Super-book we discussed yesterday, didn't just tie a bow on everything that came before... but also spurred on a few story threads.
Of course to fully appreciate this issue we need to kinda suspend our disbelief. I have trouble reconciling the fact that Ma was holed up so close by at the Red Cross Hospital, and Clark didn't know it. Sometimes he can zero in on a particular heartbeat or voice... and sometimes he can't. Guess we just gotta roll with it.
The costume alteration to include the black shield? Gotta say, I really dug this touch. Heck, I was a bit bummed out when they reverted back to yellow! The black shield was a very striking touch... and a really neat way to pay tribute to those lost during Our Worlds at War... and, in the real world, to those lost during the 9/11 attacks.
Our guest-artist is Steve Lieber, and... while I'm not sure I'd like this kind of art in a "regular" action-heavy issue of Superman... for a quiet issue like this, it does the job. The (McGuinness) cover is also pretty great!
Overall, I definitely recommend this, though with the caveat that you'd probably want to have some familiarity with the events of Our Worlds at War to fully appreciate it. This issue (and many chapters of Our Worlds at War) is available digitally.
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