Action Comics #811 (March, 2004)
"Strange New Visitor, Part One"
Writers - Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning
Art - Karl Kerschl
Colorists - Tanya & Richard Horie
Letterer - Rob Leigh
Associate Editor - Tom Palmer, Jr.
Editor - Eddie Berganza
Cover Price: $2.25
Over the past few weeks I've been researching some turn of the century Superman for an upcoming episode of Weird Comics History. It's been a lot of fun revisiting some of these stories... Y2K, Emperor Joker, Our Worlds At War, President Lex, Return to Krypton (I and II), and of who could forget... Time Storm?
Time Storm is a particularly interesting little curiosity because it played with the concept of multiple Earths in a time between Crisis on Infinite Earths and Infinite Crisis. I doubt this is the first and/or only time this had been done, but it definitely didn't happen all that often. Better yet, this story has to do with DC's acquired WildStorm Universe!
Let's get right to it!
--
We open with the Time Storm tearing through Metropolis... a young boy looks as though he's about to be swept into it, however, just in the nick of time he is rescued by... Mr. Amara? Well, it couldn't have been Superman, as he went missing a week earlier when the Time Storm began. We join Mr. Amara at the Daily Planet where he is giving an interview to Lois Lane... who is day-dreaming about the first time she'd experienced "Superman". We're going allllll the way back to Man of Steel and the Space-Plane incident for this one.
Once she comes around she thanks Amara for his time. Across the office, she sees Jimmy and Perry having a... sorta heated conversation. More like Perry's annoyed and Jimmy's trying to cool him down, so, ya know... Tuesday. Lois informs the Chief that she'll hopefully have a story for him later on that evening... and we follow her to S.T.A.R. Labs where the former Steel, Dr. John Irons and his team of geniuses are trying to get to the bottom of the Time Storm event. John sends his niece Natasha, who is the "new" Steel skyward with a sensor... and is hit by (time?) lightning!
She begins to plummet, but is luckily caught by Superboy. This leads us into another Lois Lane-flashback... this time to the Death of Superman and Reign of the Supermen. She can't help but to think, what if this time Superman doesn't come back? What if this time, she loses her husband?
She hops a cab and heads into Suicide Slum... more specifically, the Ace O' Clubs, where she decides to have a chat with our favorite salty barman, Bibbo Bibbowski who has been dispensing his own version of "street justice" in Superman's absence. I'm always a fan of that! She wraps up her interview by asking if Bibbo believes Superman will come back... and, duh... of course he does. Lois, unfortunately, isn't convinced.
We shift scenes to the apartment of Lana Lang as she tries to quiet her son Clark. She is on the phone with her ex-husband Pete Ross... who I can't remember if he's still President of the United States at this point or not. I'm pretty sure Lex has already been ousted... but can't recall if they'd moved on completely from Presidential affairs. Anyhoo... Pete's calling to discuss custody. Uh-oh.
We hop to the Fortress of Solitude, where Superboy and Steel (Natasha) are trying to sway the Eradicator to their cause in stopping the Time Storm. It's deduced that it is likely a residual result of Brainiac's B-13 virus from the Y2K storyline. That was the event/virus that transformed Metropolis into a literal "City of Tomorrow"... all high-tech and futuristic. We'll talk a bit about that below, suffice it to say... it's divisive among Super-fans, but I really dug it. Back to the story... the trio (and Krypto) decide to use a Phantom Zone Projector in hopes of containing the anomaly.
On her way back to the Planet, Lois conducts several "man on the street" interviews. She had initially feared that there wouldn't be enough stories to tell... and now finds herself with too many to even attempt! She stands at a station waiting for the sky-tram to arrive, when suddenly... the ground begins to disappear! It's as though Metropolis is rejecting the B-13 virus. Lois attempts to outrun the disappearing ground, however cannot! As she teeters from a beam she finds herself rescued by... Mr. Majestic?!!
--
Really enjoyed this! I feel like this era in the Super-books is a bit underrated... though, to be fair, I am picking and choosing what I'm checking out. Perhaps if I made an effort to read through the "Berganza-era" in toto, I'd feel a bit differently. I mean, we haven't yet discussed things like Cir-El here on the blog... and there is that Chuck Austen run... annnnd, the Jim Lee/Brian Azzarello story. Okay, maybe the era (as a whole) is rated about right... but that isn't to say it can't be a whole lot of fun!
I'm a big sucker for "shared universes" which apparently extends to "shared multiverses". I really dig the appearance of WildStorm characters in a main-line DC Universe book. It makes the story feel a bit "grander"... more important. Silly as it sounds, it's almost like we're witnessing history. This isn't a Prestige Format out-of-continuity one-shot... this is actually happening within Superman's "monthlies".
Let's hit up a bit of background. The B-13 Virus transformed Metropolis into the futuristic "City of Tomorrow" back in the Y2K arc. I've heard folks criticize this... claiming it makes Superman appear "less special", and I totally get that. Flying cars might take a bit of the wind out of the sails of a flying man. I totally agree, but cannot deny that I loved the look of the city on an aesthetic level. It just felt different from everywhere else in the DC (and Marvel, for that matter) Universe. While I feel it ran it's course pretty quickly, and probably overstayed it's welcome... I was still kinda sad to see it go!
For the issue itself... while I enjoyed it, I do tire of using a writer's notes as narration. This is a Lois-centered issue, which I suppose lends itself to being narrated by an article she's writing... but it kinda feels played out. Also, wasn't terribly keen on the art... Lois in particular. She looked a bit too "bubbly", which isn't to say "upbeat" but more a descriptor on the shape of her head. We did perhaps get a couple too many full-page spreads here too. Didn't feel warranted... but whatayagonnado?
Overall... despite the last paragraph, I had a good time with this. I'd say it's worth checking out... though, you'll likely get more out of it if you're already familiar with the World of Metropolis post-Y2K. It is available digitally, and has been collected as part of Majestic: Strange New Visitor.
--
Interesting Ads:
605
Green Lantern (vol.2) #122 (November, 1979)
"With These Rings..."
Writer - Denny O'Neil
Penciller - Don Heck
Inker - Vince Colletta
Colorist - Adrienne Roy
Letterer - Ben Oda
Editor - Jack C. Harris
Cover Price: $0.40
After reading about how Guy "fell to pieces" yesterday, I figured maybe we'd see how that might've effected his friends and loved ones... by jumping ahead six issues and checking out the wedding between his girlfriend and Green Lantern associate Hal Jordan?!
--
We open up with Hal Jordan flying his betrothed Kari Limbo to the chapel. She's wearing her wedding gown... and Hal is in his Green Lantern duds, that'll make for some interesting photos! The wedding invitations actually announce the marriage between Kari Limbo and... Mr. Green Lantern, which is pretty great. Upon arrival, Kari gets woozy... because she does that. While knelt down, she draws something in the dirt. Superman recognizes it as a Phantom Zone Projector, and runs off to the Fortress to check it out.
Kari turns to Hal and says that she had a vision about someone dear to her being in agony... hmm. Hal brushes his concern aside and suggests they head inside. Ollie pulls him aside for some real-talk... and Hal admits that he's pretty antsy.
We join Superman who has arrived at the Fortress of Solitude. Upon flipping on the Phantom Zone Projector, he sees the silhouette of someone familiar... and suddenly finds himself wrapped in a green beam and pulled inside!
Back at the chapel, Hal and Ollie talk about whether or not he will remain Green Lantern following his nuptials. Then, Hal's old friend (don't call him) Pie Face arrives! It's actually pretty funny... Hal calls him Pie Face, and Tom corrects him stating that at this point he's wildly successful and owns a whole bunch of filling stations!
Their chat is interrupted by the playing of the Wedding March... and so, we join the (sorta) happy couple at the altar. The Preacher does that thing where he asks if anyone "knows a reason why... yadda yadda yadda", and... nobody speaks up! Whew. Next he asks Kari if she takes this Lantern as her lawfully wedded so-and-so... annnnnd, she trances... again. She mutters a few words about a "Power Ring" before fainting. Barry suggests he run to the Fortress of Solitude to check on Superman... but Hal tells him this is Ring-Slinger business. After Hal's long gone, Kari begins to mutter once more... this time about her "beloved Guy". Uh-oh!
Hal arrives at the Fortress of Solitude, and wouldn'tcha know it, there's a Kryptonian force field around it! He fishes the Phantom Zone Projector out with his beam, and flips it on. He sees the same silhouette Superman saw... and so, he rushes into the Phantom Zone to check it out. Worth mentioning that he did recite the Green Lantern Oath into his Power Battery before hopping in. Once inside, he finds himself instantly attacked by a green power beam!
Hal fears that he's going to be squaring off with Sinestro, but... he's not in the Phantom Zone, right? He dodges the emerald onslaught and retaliates by covering his attacker with a net... and, uh-oh--it's Guy Gardner... and he wants Hal dead!
An off-panel voice informs him that Guy's not kidding... he really wants to see him dead! Hal turns around to see... oh boy, General Zod and the boyz... and they've got a down and out Superman to boot! Zod tells Hal that the Phantom Zone Criminals have all focused their own wills into Guy's ring making it far too powerful for him to overcome.
A fight breaks out, with the souped-up Guy having an early advantage. Lucky for Hal, Superman was playing possum the whole time... which, doesn't quite even the odds... but offers enough of a distraction for Hal to get in a few good shots. Meanwhile, back at the chapel trancin' Kari mutters for Hal to be careful.
Hal snares Superman with an energy beam and flies away... through an opening back from the Phantom Zone he created with his power battery. That's pretty handy... good thing the crooks didn't realize it!
Now back in the "real" world, Hal returns to his (now awake) betrothed to let her know that Guy still lives... he's just stuck in the Phantom Zone. This changes everything about their own relationship, and Kari tells Hal that they won't be getting married. He tells her he'll check in with her in a few months to see if she's changed her mind before flying off.
--
Wow, Hal doesn't mess around does he? For all he (or Kari) knows, Guy's only been "dead" for a little while at this point. Dude... isn't there some sort of "unwritten code" about waiting before moving in on the grieving girlfriend? Well, Hal's gonna Hal I suppose.
It's always neat seeing a bunch of heroes together back in the day when that didn't happen every month. Also, really like how this doesn't seem to have been a big hyped-up over-sized event. It's just another issue of Green Lantern (co-starring Green Arrow). I always appreciate that.
The issue itself, Kari Limbo... ay yai yai... I don't know her all that well, but what I do... she's really irritating. She kinda reminds me of Raven from the New Teen Titans... trancing out at what is somehow both the most opportune and least opportune time. I'm glad she doesn't linger for all that long.
It was nice seeing Tom show up for the wedding. I'm glad that he told Hal to ixnay the iefacepay, without turning it into a lecture. I'd like to think that Hal never used it as a racial slight, and Tom doesn't really suggest that it was ever meant that way (at least from Hal) either.
The Phantom Zone bit was okay... I think I've made my feelings on Zod pretty clear here... he's almost always bores me to tears. Glad this happened before it was "lol" to throw in a "Kneel before..." reference.
The Kari/Hal breakup at the end really speaks to how strong their relationship was in the first place. I gotta say, Kari never looked all that happy to be marrying him to begin with... though, that might've been due to Don Heck's art... for some reason almost all of the women in this issue looked rather annoyed to be there, Dinah especially! What a scowl!
Overall... perhaps not the strongest issue, but I cannot deny that it's one that adds to the mythos and facilitates a decent amount of forward progression. The issue that follows is the first in quite awhile that didn't have "co-starring Green Arrow" on the cover, signalling that it was a new day in Hal-town. We actually already discussed it here on the blog. Since this issue was from less-famous GL/GA run, it hasn't yet been collected or made available digitally... I'd say snag it if you come across it on the cheap, but I wouldn't break the bank for it.
--
Letters Page:
--
Interesting Ads:
604
Green Lantern (vol.2) #116 (May, 1979)
"My Ring... My Enemy!"
Writer - Denny O'Neil
Penciller - Alex Saviuk
Inker - Dave Hunt
Letterer - Ben Oda
Colorist - Adrienne Roy
Editor - Jack C. Harris
Cover Price: $0.40
Today we're going to discuss a semi-recent pickup. I grabbed this from a dollar bin during a local shop's Labor Day blowout along with several others. When I posted the "haul" on Twitter, my buddy Mark from I'm the Gun informed me that this was a prrretty important issue for Guy Gardner. I knew of Guy's trials and tribulations, but had NO idea that they happened in this very issue!
Been wanting to discuss it ever since, so let's get right down to it!
--
We open in Star City shortly following Ollie firing off his "Arrow Signal"... which is pretty much exactly what you think it is. This draws the attention of his Hard-Travelin' homeboy Hal, who has popped in to see what's up. Turns out the skies have turned red and a giant eyeball has appeared above the city. Hal attempts to sling some ring... but it's a no go! His emerald beam recoils and wraps itself around him at though it were a ticked-off boa constrictor!
When it finally does uncoil, it sends Hal careening into a brick wall... and, if ya can believe it... Hal is kayoed. That almost never happens to him! Okay okay, it almost always happens to him... We learn that the entire scene is being monitored... hmm, red skies... monitor... Nah, this time we're being watched by a Professor Ojo, who is responsible for the presence of The Eye... however, not responsible for Hal's wonky ring!
When Hal begins to stir, he informs Ollie that his ring has been acting up for a little while now... and in order to get to the bottom of it, he's gonna have to head to Oa! Ollie wants to join him on the cross-universe trek, to which Hal grows deadly serious... proclaiming this to be his problem, and his danger. Whooooa, reel it in Hal.
Lantern then zips out to space where he keeps his big rig... he was an over-the-road trucker at this point in his life. He grabs his power battery to drop off in Ollie's spare room before heading off.
The following morning, Ollie knocks on his guest room door to invite Hal out for some crazy chili-infused eggs. When Hal doesn't answer, Ollie lets himself in... and sees Green Lantern charging his ring... then going to pieces!
The image vanishes, leaving Ollie wondering what he'd just seen. Just then he meets... the "new Green Lantern" Guy Gardner! Not sure how he got inside Ollie's house... maybe Dinah let him in? Also, not sure why Ollie has a large portrait of... Superman (?) or is it Aquaman (?) on his wall!
Guy clarifies that he's just filling in for Hal while he's off planet. Ollie asks about John Stewart, and we learn that he's third-in-line at this point. Guy asks Ollie to show him the superheroing ropes, and he charges up his ring. It's so weird seeing Guy in the classic GL togs... mask and all!
Meanwhile, Hal is heading toward the fringe of the Milky Way when his ring konks out. I guess that'll happen when you leave your power battery at Ollie's place. He winds up landing... and stranded, on a desert planet with a red Sun.
Back in Star City, the Eye in the Sky reappears and so the Harder-Travelin' Heroes take the fight to it. An arrow shot dead-center does very little... only instigating a counter-attack in the form of a ray. Guy is able to push Arrow out of the way of falling debris, then takes aim at the Eye. Turns out his (likely miscolored, yellow) power beam is acting nearly as wonky as Hal's! The fellas collect themselves, and decide to retire for... you guessed it, a bowl of chili.
Back with Hal... he continues his trek across the desert wasteland. Suddenly the ground opens up and he falls into a sinkhole... right into a Guardian-filled bunker! When they saw him coming they made sure he made landfall on the desert side of the planet... (didn't even know there was a "desert side", that might've come in handy during Emerald Twilight!) because their sensors indicated that his ring-charge was whacked and they wanted to ensure he wasn't a threat. They examine his ring and deduce that the problem is with his power battery. He is given a new one, and is instructed to destroy the old one ASAP. Most important for this story in particular... one effect of the defective power battery is "time distortion" in which future events appear in the present. Let's remember that!
Back at Ollie's, Guy chokes down some of Queen's Famous... which is probably one of the best panels/captions I've seen in some time.
After swallowing... and likely a handful of Rolaids, Guy heads back to the skies. Ollie posits that he's been "bitten by the hero bug". We join Guy as he once again confronts the Eye in the Sky... this time blowing it to bits with but a blast! He's so psyched to be a Green Lantern that he can't wait to... recharge his ring! (record scratch!)
Hal returns to Ollie's and tells he and Dinah about his trip and his defective power battery. Ollie informs Hal that he could'a sworn he saw that power battery (and Hal) explode... though, he suggests (as he coolly sips his coffee) that it might've been Guy. Hal recalls what the Guardians told him about "time distortion" and punches a hole through Ollie's wall into the guest room where Guy is staying...
... Just in time for Guy to complete the Oath, and go to pieces! Hal is beside himself with grief, while Ollie's all... "hmph, I guess it was real!"
--
Well there ya have it, Guy Gardner gets in touch with his inner Patsy Cline and falls to pieces!
Talk about a bait and switch cover though... right? I mean, that's pretty clearly intended to be Hal... but whattayagonnado, they're tryin' to sell comic books ova hea'!
Really had a good time with this one. It really doesn't feel like a Bronze Age story though... at least in the way it's told. Everything feels so "matter of fact" that if not for the art (and ending), I might confuse it for a Silver Ager. I mean, Hal goes to space... and arrives exactly where he needs to... and he's just given a new power battery. Bada bing, bada boom. Guy knocks the Eye outta the Sky and just can't wait to recharge his ring. Just so "easy".
Let's talk about how weird it is seeing a clean-cut Guy Gardner! We never see him deferring to anybody... I mean, he busts Batman's chops regularly... and here he is letting Green Arrow show him the ropes... and eating his chili! Definitely not used to seeing our man Guy as a sorta "golly gee" sidekick!
Ollie's aloofness is something I gotta mention. He just feels so disconnected at times... and it's hilarious! His whole world revolves around a certain pretty lady, and bowls of chili! I chuckled out loud toward the end when Hal asked if he was sure the Lantern that blew up with the power battery was him... and he responded with "Well... could have been Guy, I guess!" as he sips his coffee. Then... after seeing Guy vaporized he's all "It was real, huh?" I'll concede that I might be projecting a Seinfeldian "that's a shame" kinda tone to him here... but, it's a hoot regardless.
Overall... this issue was great fun, and I would recommend it. This whole "second" (that is, without Neal Adams) O'Neil run on Green Lantern (co-starring Green Arrow) is full of these underrated little stories, and I think any fan of either character would have a good time with these! Unfortunately since this isn't from the O'Neil/Adams run... it's not yet available digitally nor has it (to my knowledge) been collected in trade.
--
Letters Page:
--
Interesting Ads:
603
