The Originals: Special Ashcan Edition (May, 2004)
By Dave Gibbons
Edited by Pornsak Pichetshote & Karen Berger
Even some five-six months after moving house, it's crazy how much of my life is still in boxes... and not just those long white ones we like to stack to the ceiling, either.
Came across the book we're going to discuss today in a random box, along with some of my "Press" materials from when I volunteered at the Phoenix (Cactus) Comicon back in the md-2000's... and hadn't the foggiest clue what it was!
My "ashcan" collection is... pretty small, I guess. Just a handful of 'em. I never quite know where to "keep" them, you know? I suppose I could bag-n-board them, and just file them in the longboxes... well, yeah... that's probably the smart thing to do. Problem solved!
That's what we do here at our humble blog... find problems, and talk our way to solutions! Today ashcan-filing, tomorrow... low -fat cookies that taste good and world peace!
Anyhoo... any time I cover an ashcan or a "special preview" here, I feel like I'm cheating a bit... I mean, we've covered 100 page issues here, and today... I think this bugger weighs in at less than 10! Oh well, I guess it's not a terrible thing to take it easy every now and again. After all, we've been at this for 789 days straight...
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We open with a young fella named Lel waxing... er, petulant? We get a bit of him complaining about the generation that came before him... he comes across here as very angry... very teen-agery. He also mentions his good friend Bok. Bok's a guy who was picked on because he is black.
Lel would stand up for Bok... and as such, found himself becoming pretty good at fighting. He an Bok shared many interests... including the desire to join The Originals!
The Originals are a gang of oddly-dressed folks who ride "Hovers"... which are basically hovering motorcycles/scooters. We see Lel (I assume), in full Originals regalia standing before a tagged wall.
We flash back to when Lel and Bok tagged that wall with The Originals logo. Bok expresses a bit of concern... and Lel assures him "The Dirt" won't show up to put a crimp on their good time. I can only assume that "The Dirt" is slang for police here? Maybe some other governmental authoritarian unit? Who knows?
As they tag, they discuss their goals... chief among them, coming up with the scratch to afford a "Hover" so they might join The Originals. Some kid called Warren shows up to deliver some Dirty news... The Dirt yanked one of "Ronnie's boys" off their Hover. Not sure if Ronnie is tied up with The Originals... but Lel and Bok aren't pleased regardless. They tell Warren to beat it.
Lel and Bok return to the task at hand when suddenly... Hovers approach!
It's... The Originals! And we're out of time...
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Well, that was short and sweet! Not at all what I expected, either! Looking at the cover, I'd have bet money we were about to read about some weird band... not a futuristic motorcycle gang!
We don't get a whole heckuva lot here, but what we do get is pretty good. I could do without the whole "screw you, dad" sentiment from Lel. I find it hard to root for the petulant bratty type.
The setting here is kinda weird... we definitely get the vibe that we're in the future, but the only thing that seems futuristic are the Hovers. Everything else appears to be "normal-ish".
I find the use of lingo a bit weird for an introductory piece such as this. Referring to "The Dirt"... I mean, we might assume they're meant to be something akin to a police force... hell, they might just be a different gang. I really couldn't say. I'm never really one to request an "info dump", but if this is supposed to convince me to drop $25 on a 160 page hardcover... you're gonna have to give me something. Otherwise, what's the point of even making an ashcan?
So... did this ashcan steer me toward shelling out the bucks for the hardback? Well... I dig the sorta-kinda Akira-ness, and I'm a sucker for rise and fall... and rise again stories (which I get the feeling this is going to be), but I can't see myself paying full price for this. We really didn't get enough to make this feel "must read". That doesn't mean it isn't... it just means this ashcan didn't really "move the needle" for me.
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Introduction Piece:
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Action Comics #584 (January, 1987)
"Squatter!"
Storyteller - John Byrne
Embellisher - Dick Giordano
Colorist - Tom Ziuko
Letterer - John Costanza
Editor - Andrew Helfer
Cover Price: $0.75
Well... yesterday we discussed the final post-Crisis issue of Action Comics, so I figured why not spend today talking about the first!
It's pretty nuts (and refreshing) to see a book emblazoned with "First All-New Issue!" branding... without a #1 in the issue-number box. It's almost as if they realized that no matter how big a "#1" you put on the cover... you're still going to be getting a story and character that has a half-century worth of history to it.
Imagine an industry that actually embraces its history... rather than trying to disguise it for a to tempt an unwitting (and non-existent) "new" fanbase? It's almost too good to be true... which is probably why it isn't!
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We open on a Metropolis scene where reporter Carol Samuels is doing some some "on the street" reporting. It doesn't look like it's of much urgency... just a lot of "by golly, my town" sorta stuff. Ya know... I'm not even sure she has a cameraman with her. She might just be insane. Anyhoo, her monologue is interrupted by the arrival of... not bird nor plane, but... Superman! And, he's wrecking the city!
The crowd below watches as Superman proceeds to pulverize some buildings. Lucky for Metropolis there's a certain Titanic Teen among them!
Cyborg takes to the skies and is able to pulverize much of the building debris to ensure the folks below don't get smooshed. Then, on the roof... he faces off with the rogue Man of Steel. This doesn't go well for ol' Vic. In fact, Superman dismembers and literally bodyslams Cyborg from the top of a skyscraper to the street below.
Vic uses this newfound space between he and his foe to make a phone call to Titan's Tower. Gar and Donna answer the call, and after some of our usual Gar-cringe, they're on their way to lend a hand.
Seemingly moments later, Superman finds himself attacked by a giant green elephant. Considering that he's, ya know, Superman... this doesn't really slow him down.
Then Donna jumps in... well, actually she lifts and throws some poor Metropolitan's car in Superman's direction. This, naturally, doesn't do much to slow him down either. Superman refers to Donna as an "inferior creature", which she immediately takes as him being a sexist. Ya know, rather than just him considering everybody else an "inferior creature". Seems like Donna's got some built-up frustration, don't it?
We shift scenes to the Gramercy Street School for the Hearing Impaired... which is apparently a place that really exists... or existed, it might be called something different these days. There Jericho is helping some youngsters practice their Ameslan... which is a name for American Sign Language I'd forgotten all about! I'm so used to "ASL" (not in the chat room kinda way), that Ameslan just looks weird! Anyhoo, he learns of what's going down... and heads off to join his fellow Titans.
Back in mid-town Metropolis, Superman and the Titans tussle. Superman clearly has the upper hand... until Jericho arrives on the scene! They lock eyes, and then... Contact!, Jericho takes residence in the Body of Steel.
Unable to move, Superman begins to rage. The Titans wonder what could've gotten into him, when suddenly... a man appears. He is a small man on crutches... who claims to have the answers the Titans seek. Ya see, that guy in the Superman costume? He ain't the Real Steel Deal... it's this fella on crutches who should be wearing the cape!
The Titans... somewhat surprisingly... let the fella talk. He claims that Clark Kent received a call from David Gundersen with a request to contact Superman so he could help him complete an experiment. Turns out... it was a trap! Superman and Gunderson wound up trading bodies. Soooo... the rampaging Supeman was actually Gunderson, and the man on crutches is really Superman.
The Titans take Superman and Gunderson back to the lab so they can trade back. Once everyone is back in the right body, Superman gets to lecturing... I mean really... look at this bottom panel!
We wrap up with Lex Luthor being informed that Superman has been exonerated for the events of the day. He thinks to himself... there might just be a connection between Superman and Clark Kent.
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Nothing says "Welcome to the post-Crisis era!" like rehashing a story that must've happened dozens of times during the Golden, Silver and Bronze Ages, right? I mean, how many times do we have to see a "Superman's body taken over" story? I feel like the only Superman story that we see more is (a take on) the origin!
In spite of that... this was a good time. I'm always down for some Titans... and I guess it made sense for Byrne to include one of DC's hottest properties into this "First All-New Issue" of Action Comics. It's almost a can't-miss situation... folks are either going to come to see what this "new" Superman is all about... or they'll want to see the New Teen Titans. Either way, they're going to check this out.
For the story, well... there's not a whole lot to it. Like I said, it's nothing we haven't seen (many times) before. The Byrne-art is what we'd expect from him in mid-late 80's... and looking at that Gundersen fella... has there ever been a more "John Byrne character" ever put to paper? I mean, there's no mistaking who drew this guy!
Overall... for such a "landmark" issue, I find myself at a loss. There just isn't all that much to say. This is post-Crisis... it's the start of the Action Comics-as-a-Superman-team-up-book... it guest stars the New Teen Titans. I'd expect more from a "launch", but at the same time, can't really get mad at it. This issue has been collected in Superman: The Man of Steel, Volume 2 and is available digitally.
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(Not the) Letters Page:
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Action Comics #836 (April, 2006)
"Superman This is your Life, Part Two"
Writer - Joe Kelly
Pencillers - Dan Jurgen, Dick Giordano, Ed Benes, Ian Churchill, Phil Jimenez, Tom Derenick, Renato Guedes, Lee Bermejo & Doug Mahnke
Inkers - Kevin Conrad, Jose Marzan, Norm Rapmund, Andy Lanning & Drew Geraci
Colorists - Guy Major, Dave Stewart Renato Guedes
Letterer - Nick J. Napolitano
Assistant Editor - Jeanine Schaefer
Editor - Eddie Berganza
Cover Price: $2.50
Sometimes we can get a little too "close" to our comics. For the longest time, this was a Superman story I couldn't bring myself to reread.
I mean, as comics readers (or fans of any consumable entertainment/media), I think we've all experienced that feeling where we have an idea where a story is headed... and knowing that we're powerless to stop it. That's how I felt reading this back in 2005-2006.
I remember the first time I heard (in comics) that a Crisis was on its way. It was an issue of Teen Titans by Geoff Johns... and from that point on, my DC-reading fell into sort of a fog. I wasn't around for the first Crisis... so this was really my first time not feeling "safe" as a DC Comics fan.
Of course, these days that almost seems quaint. DC is getting just as bad as Marvel when it comes to reboots/relaunches/re-whatevers... and the industry has become so knee-jerk reactionary that I can't even remember the last time I felt "safe".
Anyhoo... this issue (and the story it's a part of) comes from a very... shaky time in my (and likely some others') DC fandom. Things were weird... and nebulous at best.
Let's give it a look and see if time has soothed this fan's soul.
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We open with three... kinda different tellings of Superman's origin story... it's a tale of three Kryptons... three families of El... three rockets, and three sets of Kents. Yeah, there's definitely something weird going on here. It's almost as though we're in the midst of experiencing a... Crisis of sorts. Hmm...
We jump ahead to the events(ish) of Man of Steel #1, where Lois and company are about to crash the "space plane". They find themselves saved by a strange flying man, who upon setting them down gives Lois a peck on the cheek and introduces himself to her as "Superman". Well, that's not right... right?
We briefly pop into the present, and find Superman in the heat of battle with... somebody. This somebody is commenting on the corruption in the world... and is wondering why Superman hasn't done more.
We hop back to the past... this time, it's the first meeting between Superman and Batman. This is a contentious meeting, so clearly post-Crisis. Batman tells Superman if he steps near him, it will set off a bomb that will kill an innocent. Superman calls his bluff, because he knows the bomb is on Batman's person. They agree to team up.
We briefly check in with the Earth-2 Superman, who is holding vigil over the ailing Earth-2 Lois Lane.
Back to the past! We relive an... altered version of Lex Luthor's Kryptonite Ring saga. It starts similarly enough, Lex taunts Superman with the one thing that appears to hurt him. He (Lex) then contracts cancer due to the Kryptonite exposure. Then, on his death-bed, Superman makes Lex an offer he can't refuse... he'll use Kryptonian technology in order to grant Lex a quarter-century of life. Lex accepts.
Then... a couple of versions of Lois Lane learning "the secret". They both end the same way.
Then... Doomsday! It's a greatest hits (pun!) from Superman (vol.2) #75... right up until the ending. Ya see, the titans both land their "finishing blow"... only, this time around Doomsday's punch isn't enough to keep the Man of Steel down.
We jump ahead... though, still in flashback... to the events of Identity Crisis. The satellite-era League is arguing about what they ought to do about Doctor Light. Just as in the original story, half of the team seems a-okay with the mindwipe... and the other half ain't exactly on board. Superman arrives to offer a third alternative. Well, he doesn't so much offer it as "invoke" it. He zaps Doctor Light... and banishes him to the Phantom Zone!
This, somehow, is viewed as the worst option by the League. Mindwiping is totally cool... but Phantom Zoning is "crossing the line". It's not that I disagree, but, c'mon... the League was acting a bit shady in the original Identity Crisis story. It's not like they have all that much room to talk. Anyhoo, the League holds an intervention with the Man of Steel... it seems as though the "Phantom Zone banishment" has become something of a go-to for him. Superman decides to disband the JLA... to which, Zatanna attempts to put Superman "to sleep"... but cannot seem to muster the words.
Then we meet Superman's new running buddies: The Elite. Well, the Justice League Elite.
We wrap up back in Metropolis where Jimmy Olsen and friends are having drinks and trying to ride out the apocalypse. Jimmy tells his pals that Superman has the situation under control... and there's nothing to worry about. Then... something happens.
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Such an... uncomfortable read.
This entire issue just feels "off", which I suppose is the point. It's like the "fun-house mirror" version of the post-Crisis Superman story. Added the "jam" of artists here... I'm not entirely sure what to make of it.
I get that this is just running alongside the actual Infinite Crisis event book... so things are being left purposely nebulous, but today... just as over a dozen years ago... I really can't talk myself into liking this. Perhaps it is the years of hindsight we now have... or maybe I just never let go of my reboot-bitterness. We've definitely hit, at least in my opinion, the point where these sort of things have diminishing returns.
I think back to the early days of the "Berganza era" and the influx of, what many post-Crisis fans referred to as "S.A.S." (that's Silver Age Sh-tuff)... and how that didn't really bug me. I felt like that was adding something, where I feel like this is only taking away.
Overall... this is a difficult one for me to recommend. I will say, if you do decide to give this a whirl, read the entire three-part story... and not just the middle chapter like we're doing here. It's available digitally, and has been collected in the Superman: Infinite Crisis trade paperback.
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Flash (vol.2) #161 (June, 2000)
"Honeymoon in Vegas"
Writer - Pat McGreal
Penciller - Paul Pelletier
Inker - Doug Hazlewood
Letterer - Gaspar
Colorist - Tom McCraw
Editor - Joey Cavalieri
Cover Price: $1.99
Today we're going to sorta-kinda pick-up on a story we discussed a few months back. This is the post-wedding of Wally West and Linda Park... we're just skipping all that Cobalt Blue stuff! Maybe we'll get to that some other time.
This is one of those "that cover, though" issues... I mean, just look at it? How could anybody resist reading a story featuring these folks? Steve Lightle absolutely kills it here... a very beautiful (and inviting) cover.
Let's see how the insides match up!
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Wally and Linda have finally wed (for real this time) and have shoved off on their Honeymoon. We pick up with several other speedsters who are sitting around sharing stories at the Flash Museum. While talk of honeymoons is in the air, Jay Garrick decides to share the dirty details of his own. Following their nuptials, Jay and Joan booked it for Las Vegas... which is quite a bit different than the Vegas of today. It was just, in Jay's words "a sleepy little cowboy town". Well, before the newlyweds can "hunker down" for the night, they are interrupted by...
Jay's Justice Society pals pop in and ask to take the happy couple out for a night on the town to celebrate. Joan gracefully bows out but insists Jay spend a few hours with his friends.
As the Society men head off to the "fabulous" Blue Heron Casino, we are introduced to this issues "running (pun!) gag"... a trio of tramps who resemble an amalgamation of several 1930's comedy acts hop out of a train car in search of... I dunno, wealth and fame?
The gang arrives at the Blue Heron, and we are filled in that it is being operated by Rocky Birnbaum, a well-known west coast mobster. The thing of it is, is he appears to be running this venture completely on the level. The Society ain't buyin' it... and decide a "pop in visit" might do just the trick... even if it's just letting Birnbaum know that they've got their eyes on him. At that very moment, Rocky is on the phone... being read the riot act by one of his "investors".
The Society heads inside and... well, immediately bully and badger Rocky. He assures him everything is on the up-and-up... and doesn't even have a problem with a super-speed search of the entire facility. In spite of there being zero evidence, Green Lantern still ribs poor Rocky.
Outside we meet another trio... not those vaudevillian geeks from before, but the Thinker, the Fiddler, and (a reluctant) Shade! Ya see, the Thinker wants to knock over the "fabulous" Blue Heron Casino.
He continues, claiming that Rocky Birnbaum is indeed running a scam... just a different kind of scam than usual. He is telling his investors/knee-cappers that the Casino is running at a loss so he can skim from the profits.
We rejoin the Justice Society at a table. They have a pretty interesting chat about whether or not masked heroes should inform their significant others about their dual-identity. Jay admits that, yes... Joan has known for awhile that he is the Flash... to which, the rest of the Society is aghast. In fairness to Jay, his "disguise" is a pie plate. Still, very cool little chat.
Jay then rushes off to check in on his blushing bride... running right over those vaudevillian geeks. The geeks then get up, brush themselves off and enter the "fabulous" Blue Heron Casino in search of a job. They're booted outside with the quickness... just as the Thinker and Co. are about to set their plan in motion.
Back at the hotel, Jay watches as Joan... seductively... sets her alarm clock. That's no euphemism, folks... I promise.
Meanwhile, back at the "fabulous" Blue Heron Casino... the Thinker has launched a hallucinatory attack. This, naturally, freaks out the patrons... however, the baddies certainly didn't expect to find the Justice Society this far west. Rocky looks on with glee... after all, a robbery might just be the perfect cover for his "skimming off the top".
While Jay and Joan... uh, consuma... er, celebrate, the Justice Society have their clocks cleaned by the bad guys. Green Lantern, with his weakness to wood, is the last to fall when he has a wooden chair cracked over his head. Jay returns just as the villains are celebrating their victory.
The Thinker tries whipping up some hallucinations for the Flash... but, no dice... get it? Um, look at the picture below... get it, now?
Jay then rushes through Shade's inky blackout goop and spears the baddie in the midsection.
Finally, the only one left is the Fiddler... who, upon seeing the Flash proceeds to... well, fiddle. This causes Jay to dance uncontrollably... and, wow... it's quite a panel.
Jay uses the momentum from his impromptu two-step and turns himself into a living tornado. This not only kayos the Fiddler, but it also sends the sack of cash that Rocky was trying to "skim" through a window and deep into the desert.
With a job well done, Jay and the gang leave. Upon return to the hotel, Jay passes out on the couch... leaving his new bride a little less satisfied than she probably hoped.
But, I hear you asking, what of that sack of money? Well... those lovable tramps from earlier? Yeah... they got it.
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Now there was a fun issue! If you're just getting over your sadness that the Justice Society is (still) in limbo, this probably isn't the issue you're going to want to read... because it will send you right back into your "I miss the JSA" depression!
This was just a really good time. A bright-colored adventure... lotsa laughs among pals... really, just so much fun. Makes you wonder why we haven't gotten a revival of the JSA... even if all they were going to tell were stories from the Golden Age. I mean, what harm could that do? It wouldn't mess with any continuity... it wouldn't have even messed with the precious "five year timeline" of the New-52! Tell me you wouldn't pop in for the monthly adventures of the Justice Society from the first half of the twentieth century!
I think my favorite scene here was the discussion the fellas had at the table regarding their secret identities. I don't think that's something we really think about as it pertains to this generation of heroes. I mean, these guys are the cornerstones of the hero community... everybody knows who they are (now). To be reminded that this wasn't always the case was really cool. Jay's response to all of it was equally cool... I mean, unlike his teammates, the dude doesn't cover his face one bit, he'd be a pretty easy one to point out!
Gotta talk about the art. I've been a Paul Pelletier fan forever... think he's just phenomenal. I'm looking at his Joan Garrick here... and despite her being in a negligee for most of the issue, she never comes across as hyper-sexualized. There's an innocence to her... though, I may just be conflating my own perception of 40's fashion with innocence. Either way, I was pleased to see her portrayed as... I dunno, modest? The art on the rest of the issue, it should go without saying, was fantastic as well.
So... if you're currently battling JSA-withdrawals, you might wanna check this issue out... though, be mindful, it might send you into a spiral when you realize that this team ain't around anymore... and it could be years before we see them again. Let's hope we just did a reverse-rain dance, and there'll be an announcement of their return in the coming weeks! For your convenience, this issue is available digitally.
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