_______________________________________________________

                T H E    K R Y P T O N I A N    C Y B E R N E T
                _______________________________________________


                       http://www.ms.uky.edu/~sykes/kc

                           Issue #28 - August 1996

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CONTENTS
--------
Section 1:  Superscripts: Notes from the Editor
               Don't Mess With The S
            News and Notes
            Just the Faqs
               "Who is Whitty Banter?", by David T. Chappell
            The Metropolis Library
               Lois and Clark: Heat Wave, by Isaiah J. Campbell
            
Section 2:  And Who Disguised As...
               Growin' Up, by J.D. Rummel
            Superman: The Serial
               Chapter 2: Depths of the Earth, by Steven Younis
            Merchandise

Section 3:  Reviews
               The "Triangle" Titles
                  Superman #115, by Ken McKee
                  Adventures of Superman #538, by Anatole Wilson
                  Action Comics #725, by William J. Nixon
                  Superman: The Man of Steel #60, by Art LaMarche

Section 4:  Reviews
               Other Super-Titles
                  Showcase '96 #8, by Rene' Gobeyn
                  Steel #30, by Dick Sidbury 
                  Superboy #31, by Art LaMarche
                  Superboy and the Ravers #1, by Jeff Sykes

Section 5:  Reviews
               Other Super-Titles (cont)
                  Supergirl #1, by Patrick Stout
               Miniseries
                  Eradicator #2, by Rene' Gobeyn
                  Justice League: A Midsummer's Nightmare #1, by Matt Combes
                  Kingdom Come #3, by Rene' Gobeyn

Section 6:  Reviews
               Miscellaneous Appearances
                  Superboy Annual #3, by Jeff Sykes
                  Alpha Centurion Special #1, by Rene' Gobeyn
                  New Gods #11, by Rene' Gobeyn
            After-Byrne
               Blackout: Part 4
                  Superman #62, by Mark Lamutt
                    
Section 7:  The Phantom Zone
               The Girl Friend and the Pal
                  Lois Lane Giant #113 and Jimmy Olsen Giant #104
                  by Jon B. Knutson
               Into the Archives
                  Superman #7, by Neil Ottenstein
               Super Friends
                  DC Comics Presents #24 and #42, by Joe Crowe

Section 8:  The Phantom Zone
               The Wedding of Lois and Clark
                  Action Comics #484, by Emes Votzedek
            TELEscopic VISION: Superman on the Small Screen
               Great X-Pectations (Episode Review)
                  #3-10: "Virtually Destroyed", by Diane Levitan

Section 9:  TELEscopic VISION (cont)
               An Interview With K Callan
                  Conducted by Nancy Jones

Section 10: TELEscopic VISION (cont)
               It It To LAFF
                  The Los Angeles FoLC Fest, by Zoomway
            Coming Attractions



STAFF:
------
Jeffery D. Sykes, Editor-in-Chief
Arthur E. LaMarche, Executive Coordinator of Reviews
Nancy Jones, Executive Coordinator of Lois and Clark Section

Editors:
   Chip Chandler         Curtis Herink         William O'Hara
   Joe Crowe             Ken McKee             Shane Travis
   Steve Hanes           Bill Meeks            Steven Younis



LEGAL DISCLAIMERS:
-----------------
Superman and all related characters, locations, and events are copyright and
trademark DC Comics.  Use of the aforementioned is not intended to challenge
said ownership.  We strongly suggest that each reader look to the media sources
mentioned within for further infor- mation.

All original material published in The Kryptonian Cybernet, including but not
limited to reviews, articles, and editorials, are copyright 1996 by The
Kryptonian Cybernet and the respective authors.  Reprinting in any format is
expressly forbidden without the permission of The Kryptonian Cybernet and the
contributing author.

Opinions presented within this issue belong to the authors of the articles
which contain them.  They should in no way be construed as those of any other
particular member of the editorial or contributing staff, unless otherwise
indicated.

This magazine can be distributed, in whole, freely via e-mail.  Should you
desire to share this publication with other on-line services, please contact me
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        http://www.ms.uky.edu/~sykes/kc

_______________________________________________________


SUPERSCRIPTS:  Notes from the Editor
------------------------------------

DON'T MESS WITH THE S

A warning in advance.  I'm gonna rail on Kenner/Hasbro about their Superman toy
line.  But I'll admit that I don't know much about the inner workings of the
toy industry.  So if Kenner's practices are actually fairly standard, then
kindly (or unkindly) redirect the remarks at the toy industry as a whole.

It's now been nine or ten months since the Man of Steel toys hit the shelves. 
It's been almost a year since we first saw information *from Kenner* about what
they were going to release.  Yet the only things that seem to be readily
available in stores are leftovers from the initial offering of the five basic
action figures.  (And I've looked in dozens of stores in about ten cities in
Arkansas, Kentucky, and Wisconsin.)  Why is Kenner doing such a poor job?

Let's first look back at September 1995.  That month, Kenner solicited, through
PREVIEWS, orders for ten action figures, three two-packs, and two vehicles. 
All this was supposed to be out by Christmas.  However, by the time Christmas
rolled around, the only things widely available were five of the ten action
figures, and maybe the Superboy cycle.  Two of the three packs and the Superman
transformation vehicle were eventually available in bigger numbers by January
or February.  The Superman/Batman two-pack didn't show up until early Spring,
and four more of the action figures arrived in late Spring.  Of course, these
were released in such limited quantities that they were snapped up and quickly
became unavailable once again.  Earlier this summer, the Ultimate Superman
10-inch figure became available, but again only in limited quantities.

Yet, if you go to any toy store, Kenner's got billions of STAR WARS and Batman
toys on the shelves.  So what's happening here to give the Supes toys the short
end of the stick?  

I'm sure there are a number of reasons.  I realize that there are probably
comic stores buying up new figures to resell at ridiculous prices.  However, I
know that in this area, the comic shops won't touch Superman figures because
they've already decided that fans aren't interested -- as evidenced by the
large number of Steel and Conduit figures remaining on the shelves at the
discount and toy stores.  As I mentioned before, I've checked several different
stores, including toy specialty stores, and none of them seem to have much.  So
I seriously doubt that unscrupulous comic shops are the primary problem.

Even if that were the case, it doesn't explain Kenner's failure to have the
toys widely available on their own schedule.  They solicited *ten* different
action figures almost a year ago, and we still only have five readily
available?  Perhaps Kenner has simply taken on too many toy lines to be able to
adequately meet the demand.  As I mentioned before, there's never a shortage of
STAR WARS or Batman toys...

And of course, their marketing has been horrible.  The only commercial that's
been aired was the stupid "Don't Mess With the S" ad.  And that featured the
Superman and Doomsday figures from the two-pack which wasn't widely available
until *well* after the commercial began airing.  

Is there any hope for the line?  I'm beginning to wonder.  The rest of this
year will be extremely telling.  With the animated series beginning next month,
and the almost certain hoopla over the LOIS AND CLARK wedding, there should be
some free Superman hype for them to use to their advantage.  And of course,
there's another Christmas shopping season.  But if the toys aren't available
when the hype is largest...

We've already had a slew of new toys solicited for the coming months.  A
Superboy/King Shark two-pack, the Kryptonian Battle Suit, an action figure
collector's case, six animated series-based action figures, two action
playsets, and five deluxe action figures.  Yet we've still got many people who
haven't seen the four new action figures, the Ultimate Superman, or the
Superman/Batman two-pack.  

If Kenner doesn't get their act together soon, then perhaps DC should talk to
Todd Toys.  Or maybe they should look into their own toy company -- much as
Marvel has taken control of Toy Biz.  Regardless, DC shouldn't allow their
premiere icon to be abused in the way that Kenner has done so far.

Jeff Sykes
Editor

_______________________________________________________


NEWS AND NOTES:
--------------

MORE ABOUT STEEL'S NEW DIRECTION

    Last month we informed brought you news of the impending changes in
    the STEEL title.  Again, to remind you, Christopher Priest takes the
    writing chores beginning with issue #34, which should ship in November.
    The man under the armor will be reclaiming his hard-earned degree,
    becoming known as Dr. John Irons (note the loss of the middle name).
    He and his niece Natasha will be moving to Jersey City, and the series
    will focus more on gang violence and Steel's attempts to clear the
    streets of the weapons he invented.

    Steel's armor will once again regain the "S" on his chest, and though
    Priest wanted to get rid of it, the hammer will remain.  Priest has
    also indicated that Natasha will begin acting more like a typical
    teenager (I've been reading the book for some time now, and I didn't
    even know Nat *was* a teenager!) and there will be some friction in her
    relationship with her uncle.  Readers can also expect appearances from
    other heroes such as the Ray and Jesse Quick.

    Contrary to last month's report, the current art team will not continue
    illustrating STEEL.  Denys Cowan has signed on to pencil the book.


DC MATH

    This winter, DC will be introducing several team-up specials featuring
    the title character plus one or more guest-stars.  These 48-page "Plus"
    titles include SUPERMAN PLUS (featuring the Legion of Super-Heroes),
    SUPERGIRL PLUS (featuring Mary Marvel), and SUPERBOY PLUS (featuring
    Captain Marvel, Jr.).  SUPERMAN PLUS will be written by Tom Peyer and
    illustrated by Bernard Chang.  No word as yet on the creative teams for
    the other two books.


ELSEWHEN...

    DC continues to crank out the Superman Elseworlds titles.  This time,
    Ted McKeever (EDDY CURRENT, METROPOL) brings his distinctive style to a
    story titled SUPERMAN'S METROPOLIS, which combines the Superman mythos
    with the classic silent film from the 1930s.  Those of you unfamiliar
    with McKeever's work can sample his style in his short story from
    BATMAN: BLACK AND WHITE #1.


SUPERMAN REBORN

    Well, I'm sorry to say it guys, but it may be some time before we see
    another Superman movie.  I recently "spoke" briefly with Mike Carlin
    about the progress, and he explained that there's really nothing to
    report.  Earlier reported screenwriters Jonathan Lemkin and Gregory
    Poirier are no longer involved in the project, and a new screenwriter
    has begun work.  It's still very early in the process, so I wouldn't
    get my hopes up for anything hitting theaters before 1998.  (The 60th
    anniversary of the Man of Steel *would* be an ideal year for a new
    movie, don't ya' think?)

_______________________________________________________


                                Just the FAQs
      More Details about Frequently-Asked Questions about the Man of Steel

                            by David T. Chappell

                           "Who is Whitty Banter?"

Introduction

Though newspaper is clearly the most important medium in the Superman legend,
television has played an ongoing minor role in the stories over the years.  In
the pre-Crisis era of the 1970s, Clark Kent even worked for WGBS as a news
anchorman.  In modern continuity, even though Clark is still at the Daily
Planet, both Cat Grant and Jimmy Olsen work for WGBS, the head station for
Galaxy Broadcasting.  Cat hosted her own talk show, "Cat Talk," for a while,
and her famous televised interview with Superman turned out to be the Man of
Steel's last appearance before his fatal combat with Doomsday.  In other ways,
television continues to play a role in the Superman comics through various
subplots.


A New Talk Show

After Superman's return from death, a new talk show appeared on the Metropolis
scene.  Billboards and other advertisements mentioned this new Whitty Banter
and his television program.  Whitty soon became quite a hit, and his name
popped up more and more often in the comic books.  The Planet staff and other
supporting characters discussed their enjoyment of the show, though some
characters' schedules forced them to tape the show on a VCR.  In what might
have been one of Whitty's proudest moments -- had he known Superman's secret
identity -- his show was even the focus of one of Lois and Clark's last dates. 
As Whitty Banter's popularity rose, a reader might infer that he or his show
would eventually be at the center of a Superman story line rather than merely
at the fringes, but neither the man nor his show have ever made it onto the
comic page.


The Story Behind the Man

In the spring of 1996, Roger Stern told me the secret inside scoop behind
Whitty.  It turns out that the character's development had been planned from
the start, from the basic introduction to the non-existent climax.

At one of the regular Super-team meetings of the entire creative staff, the
topic of conversation drifted to television talk shows.  Colorist Glenn
Whitmore commented on his dislike for all the fancy gimmicks on modern shows,
and he insisted that if he ever had his own talk show it would focus on simple
"witty banter."  The idea was such a hit among the team that they decided to
include a new character.  Taking a pun from Glenn's family name, Whitty Banter
was born.

As shown in the comics, the plan was to build the character up over time and
illustrate the Whitty Banter Show becoming increasingly popular.  While the
Super-team hoped to pique fans' interest in the character, it was initially
decided that he would never actually appear in the comics.  Thus doomed to be
an off-camera character, Whitty remains one of the best-known yet never-seen
members of the Metropolis background cast.


Conclusion

Despite all the hoopla, it turns out that Whitty is a combination of an inside
joke, a long-standing Super-team tradition of incorporating comic creators'
names into Metropolis signs, and a comment on modern television.  Perhaps if
real-life talk show hosts were as honest and witty as the fictional Mr. Banter,
they, too, would be the talk of the town.

_______________________________________________________


                             THE METROPOLIS LIBRARY
                        --------------------------------
                by Isaiah J. Campbell  (jcampb01@mail.orion.org)


HEAT WAVE, by M. J. Friedman

I have finally gotten around to reading and reviewing this novel.  Before I get
into my review, I would like to warn you that Superman has never made the
transition from live action to novelization very well.  This could be either
because the novels were direct adaptations of the movie (as with SUPERMAN: THE
MOVIE, a novel which I don't believe was very well written), or because the
book, in trying to be original, has given itself no identifying characteristics
that can be directly tied to the series.  The latter is what happened in this
novel.

The plot is very basic: a heat wave is in town, and so is a big movie in the
making.  Both of these are causing a lot of trouble, which Superman must fix. 
This plot was so basic, I felt it would have been better used in a "Choose Your
Own Adventure" book.

While the plot was well written, the characters left something to be desired. 
Lois acted like a ditsy person thirty percent of the time, and like a jealous
girlfriend the rest of the time.  In all of this, she acted very unlike a
reporter.

Clark had little or no distinguishing purpose in this book, except to change
into Superman.  I felt that his lines could have been given to Jimmy Olsen and
no one would have known the difference.  His only high point was his Groucho
Marx impersonation, and that only lasted two or three lines.

Superman was in this book for action and to give everyone a happy ending. 
While I felt that Superman was one of the two well-written characters, he
lacked the uniqueness that defines him as Superman.  I could have imagined his
part being played by Captain Marvel at times.  Oh well, you can't have
everything.

Lucy Lane was the best-written character in this whole book.  It is a shame she
was only given two pages.  Her dialogue was snappy and intelligent, her remarks
witty and concise, and she had that little sisterness that made her what she is
in the comics.  I believe she gets the "Best Overall Character" award.

My main gripes in this book: the beginning line and the end line.  Original? 
Yes.  The best?  No.  If Mr. Friedman had worked a bit more on those lines, I
would not have started and ended this book thinking, "Whoa, that's stupid."

My only other gripe has to do with the pictures in the middle.  If a novel
needs pictures to identify it with the show, then throw out the pictures and
just say it is a Superman novel.  If the novel doesn't need pictures to
identify it with the show, then throw out the pictures.  They just aren't
needed!

My favorite part of this whole book (I know you will think this is cruel, but
it is true) was the "about the author" at the end.  That was well written!

Good book, fun to read, but not the best I've seen.

You can find HEAT WAVE in some bookstores, or you might be able to buy it from
a friend.  And if all else fails, check out your local library or the
Metropolis Library.  We have a door on the roof.  Just fly on over.

_______________________________________________________


And Who Disguised As...
---------------------------------------------------
A Column of Opinion by J.D. Rummel (rummel@creighton.edu)


Growin' Up

When this 'zine started two years ago, I was originally the Other Media writer.
I was going to look at the Man of Steel's appearances outside mainstream
comics (for those of you who wondered why this space is called, "And Who
Disguised As...").  It didn't take long for my natural tendency to wander to
take over, and Mr. Sykes kindly let me start spouting about whatever thing came
to mind (this is a tribute to his natural goodness, not any incriminating
photos I have of him).  Fortunately, some good people have taken up my slack in
the meantime, doing some nice pieces on Superman's extra-comic adventures. 
That doesn't mean I won't offer opinions on them as well, it just means that
other folk are taking more responsibility.

What prompted that first paragraph was my recollection of one of the first
columns I wrote here.  It discussed the Filmation Superman cartoons of the
sixties.  In that piece I waxed nostalgic about childhood and how much fun
Saturday morning was for me.  In a subsequent installment I actually got a hold
of some of those cartoons, and after viewing them I was pretty stunned at how
much time had embroidered my memories.  The Filmation material was really
rough.  Certainly time and advancing standards in quality had something to do
with my surprise, but I was pretty disappointed at just how lame they were.

So, being just a sucker for punishment, the J-man sees the announcement that
USA is running the Filmation stuff at 6 a.m. on weekdays and he sets his timer.

Now, I'm not a total fool, despite what longtime readers might tell you.  I
remembered how disappointed I was when viewing the re-visited material two
years ago, and I swear my expectations were lowered.  Really.  Honest Injun
(yeah, that's probably not politically correct, but I wanted something that
sounded old).  I told myself, "Sure they're not great, but it will be nice to
grab that old Saturday morning feeling."  Okay, maybe I did snow myself a
little, remembering my joy at seeing the first animated appearances of Green
Lantern, Hawkman, Atom, and Flash (And no matter what anyone writes, Hal Jordan
is not, and was not ever a villain!  I grew up with him, and I know someone
will set this mess straight).  Yeah, I probably was expecting more than I
should have.

Anyway, for one solid week I watched the USA reruns of the shows.  They were
very sad, and in some cases downright painful!  The animation is rudimentary. 
Sort of like ITCHY AND SCRATCHY.  Mistakes to offend purists abound; Kid Flash
has inexplicable black hair, the Atom's costume is wrong.  Admittedly, some
touches are kinda cool; Hawkman has bulletproof wings and a hi-tech claw
gauntlet, but all in all, it's not pretty.

Perhaps the greatest waste was the inclusion of THE SUPER FRIENDS.  Yes,
painfully jammed into a half-hour slot with the weak Filmation product is the
egregious SUPER FRIENDS.  These pieces of cel-crap tell ridiculous parables
mixing real science and bad storytelling.  Surely there is nothing more
deceptive and confusing to impressionable minds than explaining the ecology in
correct, if simplified terms, and simultaneously showing the Bat-jet fly to the
moon at the drop of a hat.  No wonder kids do badly in school.  Look at the
crap we foist on them for entertainment.

Still, even THE SUPER FRIENDS are part of someone's past, just as the Filmation
cartoons are mine.  Heck, some people actually look back fondly on SCOOBY DOO. 
I suppose the lesson I take from this is that it's good to have a VCR.  If I
had gotten up and watched these, I would have been really mad.

Either that, or it's part of growin' up.

Away.

And Who Disguised As... is copyright 1996 By J.D. Rummel.  Copying this
document in any format is expressly forbidden without the written permission of
the author.

_______________________________________________________


SUPERMAN: THE SERIAL
--------------------
    by Steven Younis (younis@dot.net.au)


A quick recap of last month's column: In my efforts to review the 15 chapters
of SUPERMAN: THE SERIAL, I introduced the series and reviewed "Chapter 1:
Superman Comes to Earth".  I also mentioned that I'd pass on any info as to
where you can purchase the 2 video sets of both SUPERMAN: THE SERIAL and ATOM
MAN VS SUPERMAN, and Kevin Chorusey was kind enough to e-mail me with the
following information for readers in the U.S.:

While browsing at a Suncoast Motion Picture Company video store in Long Island,
New York, USA, I saw both serials on display, at a cost of $29.95 for each
two-tape set.  Since Suncoast appears to be a national store chain here in the
US, interested buyers can probably order it through them (if it isn't on the
display racks locally).

I'll be attending another Collector's Fair this month, so I'll find out what I
can for Australian readers.

*CHAPTER 2: DEPTHS OF THE EARTH*

On to this month's review!  Chapter 1 left us like this:

Narrator: "After the death of his foster parents, Clark Kent leaves his home to
take the train to Metropolis.  At the depot he learns that a broken rail has
been discovered nearby.  And as the Station Agent tries desperately to flag the
train..."

The station master runs up ahead and waves his flag wildly trying to signal the
train driver to stop!  One man races off to call an ambulance just in case,
while the other -- realizing the driver isn't going to spot the station master
in time to stop -- runs for cover.

Clark (looking very intense) thinks to himself, "This looks like a job for --
SUPERMAN!" and races off behind a gathering of trees.  Two seconds later, from
behind those same trees emerges Superman!

The train speeds past the station master, horn blaring and brakes screeching as
Superman prances (I'm sorry but he prances) across the tracks, bends over the
broken section of the rail and pushes it back into place.

The train driver attempts to brake when he sees the flag-waving Station Master,
but the train continues through to the station, horn blaring.  Lois and Jimmy
leave their seats to find out what's happening.

Superman runs back across the tracks, smiling as he looks back and sees that
the train has stopped safely, and again hides behind the group of trees.

One of the two men (the one who ran for cover) stands stunned, leaning against
a light pole as the Station Master rushes back to him and asks him what
happened.  The man stumbles over his words saying "I saw him with my own eyes."
Not getting any sense out of the man, the Station Master runs over to the
train driver (who's followed closely by Lois and Jimmy).  The men muse over the
events that have just occurred, wondering how the train managed to avoid being
derailed.  They look back along the tracks only to see that the rail is fine!

As the men begin to walk up the line to examine it closer, the train driver
tells Lois that she and Jimmy must wait at the station and get back on the
train.

Lois is excited about the story she's going to write about these events, but
Jimmy doesn't think anyone will believe it.

Clark emerges from behind the trees and heads back to the station.

Lois hangs up the public telephone she's been talking to Perry White from and
tells Jimmy that Perry thinks they're crazy!  Jimmy wonders if they are.  Lois
grumbles that they still have to check out the story on the mine disaster. 
Shortly thereafter, the train driver returns to tell Lois and Jimmy to get back
on the train.

METROPOLIS (an aerial view)

Bags in hand, Clark walks out of the Metropolis train station and walks across
the road.  A nearby taxi driver calls out to Clark.  Clark asks him to take him
to a Newspaper office.

"Which one?" asks the driver.
"Which do you recommend?" returns Clark.
"The Daily Planet is our biggest and best!"

Sitting himself down in the back seat, Clark is soon driven to the Daily Planet
building, only to see a horde of fire engines race by, sirens wailing.  Clark
tells the taxi driver to take him to where the fire is.

The taxi pulls up as close as possible, but Clark says he's going to take a
closer look.  As the firemen go about their work, Clark stands amongst the
growing crowd being held back by police.

A close up of Clark's eyes as the Narrator speaks, "Again Superman makes use of
his X-ray vision."  Through the flames that are spouting out a pair of open
windows, we see a woman lying unconscious inside the burning building.  Clark
dashes off!

Looking back at the fire, Clark thinks to himself, "This looks like a job for
Superman!"  He unbuttons his jacket, crouches behind a parked car, re-emerging
as Superman!  With the animated special-effects used in the serials, Superman
flies towards the building.

A man in the crowd remarks, "Something just flew in the window!"
The woman next to him says, "It was a bird!"
To which he replies, "It couldn't have been, it was too big!"
"It was a man!" says another man.
"But he flew through the air!" exclaims the first man.

Now inside the burning building, Superman carries the unconscious woman to the
open window through the flames.

"Look!  There he is again!" says the second man in the crowd.

Superman, carrying the woman, flies out of the window and lands behind the
parked car he used earlier.  The crowd surges forward, excited by the turn of
events.  Superman lays the woman down on the foot path and sprints off.  The
crowd finds the woman where Superman left her, already starting to doubt what
they just witnessed...

The printing presses are working over time!  The Daily Chronicle's headline
reads: "Mystery Figure Who Saved Train Appears Again!" and in smaller print:
"Saves Girl From Burning Building".  Another headline from the Gazette Journal
reads: "Mystery Bird Man In Thrilling Rescue!"  The Star Dispatch proclaims:
"Man From Sky Saves Girl!", while the Evening News' front page reads: "Entire
Nation Amazed!"

Now inside the Daily Planet building, a receptionist (with headphones,
switchboard, plugs, and all) answers the phone, refusing the caller a
conversation with Perry White.  Clark Kent walks in and asks to see the boss,
and she tells him also that he can't see Perry White (Managing Editor).  Clark
asks why not?  To which she says, "On account of he went temporarily crazy over
a train wreck that didn't happen!"  Clark smiles to himself and announces that
he'll just barge in anyway, much to her protest.

Clark walks into Perry's office, to see him raving on to two reporters about
the stories circulating about this flying man.  He tells them he thinks it mass
hysteria, and that's the angle he wants them to play up.  The reporters leave
Perry's office at his command, leaving Clark alone with Perry.

Mr. White looks up as Clark approaches his desk and ask him what he wants?

"A job!" answers Clark.
Sarcastically Perry asks in return, "Any special kind?  Or will mine do?"
Clark says he wants to be a reporter, although he doesn't have any experience.
Just then the phone rings, and Perry picks it up.

Lois is on the other end -- she's down at the mine disaster site, where ten men
are trapped at the bottom of a mine shaft, but police are not letting anyone
get close.  After hanging up with Lois, Clark tells Perry that he can get that
story.  Perry just wants to know how Clark knew he and Lois were talking about
the mine disaster when he never mentioned it!?!  Clark answers with a weak, "My
hearing is a little better than average."  !!!  Perry tells Clark that if he
can get in and get that story then the job is his!  He says to contact Lois and
Jimmy when he gets down there, "They'll be the ones on the outside!" :)

Lois, waiting impatiently amongst a crowd outside a large wire fence, is
approached by an elderly man who asks to speak to her in private.  For a bit of
cash, the man tells Lois he knows of another "unguarded" entry into the mine
and leads her there.

The man explains that the explosion that trapped the ten miners must have
opened up this old entrance, that's why nobody knows about it.  He also
explains that the miners may be too weak from breathing smoke and gas to climb
out themselves.

Lois enters the cave, only to be knocked unconscious by falling rocks as an
explosion collapses the entrance she just used.  The old man runs off to find
help.

Clark arrives at the wire fence (right next to Jimmy!) and, introducing himself
as a reporter from the Daily Planet, asks the policeman guarding the entrance
if he could speak to the manager of the mine.  The policeman refuses and Jimmy
remarks, "So Perry did hire someone else!"  Clark introduces himself and tells
Jimmy he gets the job only if he can get the story.

Just then the old man comes rushing through the crowd, yelling at the policeman
about how he led the lady reporter to the old mine entrance and that it
collapsed.  The policeman tells Jimmy and Clark not to pay any attention to the
"Old Coot" as he's been reporting fake accidents for years, and threatens the
old man to leave or he'll run him in.  Clark tells Jimmy he'll check with the
old man just in case.

Meanwhile Lois wakes up to find herself a few feet away from the trapped
miners. One of them (coughing badly) attempts to sit up, and Lois (coughing
herself) comes over by the man's side and gives him a hand.  He tells her that
there's a fire around the next bend blocking the exit, and she tells him that
the way she came in is also blocked.

Clark and the old man arrive at the old entrance and examine the cave-in. 
Clark tells the old man that he must be mistaken, that the rubble seems to have
been lying there for years.  The old man, tricked into thinking that Clark also
thinks him crazy, runs off to find someone who will believe him.

Using his X-ray vision, Clark looks down into the mine and sees Lois and the
miners.  "This looks like a job for Superman!"  Again he races off behind some
bushes and a second later, out comes Superman, who runs towards the old cave
entrance!

Lois and the miner both pass out because of the smoke and gas, and...

"What terrific force is this that Superman is fighting?"  (Scenes of Superman
smashing electronic equipment with a wooden chair!)

"What sinister danger menaces Clark Kent?"  (Clark's eyes roll up and he passes
out as another man opens a box with a glowing rock inside!)

"Don't fail to see THE REDUCER RAY, the third thrill-packed chapter of Superman
at this theatre next week!"

Don't you fail to catch the next chapter in this e-zine next month! :)

I hope you enjoyed this month's review of Chapter 2 of SUPERMAN: THE SERIAL as
much as I enjoyed writing it.  This chapter definitely had a lot of story
packed into it.  I really liked the newspaper headlines scenes, with all the
stories of Superman's heroics, the way they zoom the newspapers to the
foreground while snippets of the scene they portray happen in the background.

Join me next month when I review Chapter 3: The Reducer Ray.

Please don't hesitate to e-mail me at any time with your thoughts and reactions
to my column.

You'll find the SUPERMAN: THE SERIAL Theme Music (recorded off the video) and
other Superman related sounds for you to download (in .wav format) in the BITS
& PIECES section of my Web of Wonders homepage at:

http://www.dot.net.au/~younis/web_of_wonders.html

I've also designed a puzzle called "Mr Mxyzptlk's Mix-Up Puzzle" that's updated
weekly.  You'll find it in the GAMES & PUZZLES section there.

Catch you all next month!

Later!

Steven Younis
younis@dot.net.au

The Superman - The Serial Review column is Copyright (C) 1996, Steven Younis. 
All rights reserved.  Making copies in any format is expressly forbidden
without the written permission of the author.

_______________________________________________________


SUPER MERCHANDISE
-----------------
        Information on Forthcoming Superman Merchandise
        Assembled by Jeffery D. Sykes


The information which follows is reprinted without permission from Diamond's
PREVIEWS and is in no way meant to serve as a replacement for that magazine.
For further information on (and in many cases, pictures of) the below
merchandise, see recent issues of PREVIEWS!

ABBREVIATIONS:
-------------
FC: Full color
HC: Hardcover
PB: Paperback
PI: Inquire about price
SC: Softcover

Unless otherwise indicated, the product is from DC Comics.

Also keep in mind that dates listed are when Diamond will be able to
distribute the product in question.  For some merchandise (books and toys
especially), you may be able to find the item at a retailer earlier
than this given date.

These monthly updates only list new merchandise solicited by PREVIEWS.
For a full listing of Superman-related merchandise, visit the Kryptonian
Cybernet Homepage!

          ___________________________________________________________


OCTOBER:
-------
THE GOLDEN AGE OF SUPERMAN:
    THE GREATEST COVERS OF ACTION COMICS FROM THE '30S TO THE '50S
    (Offered Again by Abbeville Press)
    by Joe Desris
    Mark Waid introduces this oversize volume featuring 200 full-color cover
    reproductions of classic ACTION COMICS covers featuring Superman!
    HC, 9x12, 144 pgs, FC
    $19.98

THE SILVER AGE OF SUPERMAN:
    THE GREATEST COVERS OF ACTION COMICS FROM THE '50S TO THE '70S
    (Offered Again by Abbeville Press)
    by Joe Desris
    Mark Waid introduces this oversize volume featuring 200 full-color cover
    reproductions of still more classic ACTION COMICS covers featuring
    Superman!
    HC, 9x12, 144 pgs, FC
    $19.98

DC COMICS: 60 YEARS OF THE WORLD'S FAVORITE COMIC BOOKS
    (Offered Again by Little Brown)
    by Les Daniels
    Welcome to a guided tour of DC Comics!  From the author of MARVEL: FIVE
    FABULOUS DECADES!  The definitive history of DC Comics: from its roots in
    the 1930s to its brightly shining Golden and Silver Ages, and beyond!
    Rediscover the classic heroes; thrill to today's cutting-edge comics; and
    feast your eyes on 600 illustrations in full color!  Read stories and
    anecdotes from the goldmine of behind-the-scenes revelations by the
    masters of the comics medium -- the writers and artists who create the
    DC magic!
    HC, 9x11, 256 pgs, FC
    $40.00

SUPERMAN DELUXE ACTION FIGURES
    (Kenner/Hasbro)
    Choose from both the regular figures and the animated figures!  Amazing
    super power actions make these figures a must for any superhero toy
    collection.  Choose from: Power Vision Superman (with light-up chest
    emblem); City Stealth Superman (with urban camouflage flightpack and
    capture gear); Heat Vision Superman (with electronic laser gun); Blast
    Hammer Steel (with ratcheting arm gauntlet and launcher); and Speeding
    Bullet Superman (flies up to 20 feet!)
    NOTE: Not available outside North America
    CAUTION: May not be available in some areas due to licensing restrictions;
             all information subject to change, but should ship no later than
             90 days past its scheduled shipping date.
    PI

ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN VIDEO COLLECTION
    (No company indicated)
    This special video collection includes original vivid full color cartoons,
    representing the pinnacle of animation during its Golden Age.  These
    Technicolor classics from the Fleischer studios were first released from
    1941 to 1943, and have now been transferred from mint 35mm prints onto
    high-grade video tape to insure the finest quality.  Each of the three
    volumes has an approximate running time of 50 minutes.
    Vol. 1: "Superman", "The Mechanical Monsters", "Billion Dollar Limited",
            "Arctic Giant", "Bulleteers".  Also on this volume is
            "Snafuperman", a wartime parody of the cartoons from Warner
            Brothers.
    Vol. 2: "Magnetic Telescope", "Electric Earthquake", "Volcano", "Terror
            on the Midway", "Japoteurs", and "Showdown".
    Vol. 3: "Eleventh Hour", "Destruction, Inc.", "Mummy Strikes", "Jungle
            Drums", "Underground World", and "Secret Agent".
    $12.95 per volume

SUPERMAN RED BEAM HOLOGRAM
    (Offered Again, No company indicated)
    Up, up, and ... away off the printed page!  Here comes Superman -- soaring
    high above the streets of Metropolis -- like you've never seen him before,
    reproduced by master holographer Lon Moore, and presented in two stunning
    channels as an ultra-cool, ultra-three dimensional Red Beam laser image!
    Ships matted and ready for framing in an illustrated collector's package.
    8x10, $30.00

DC COMICS CHARACTER PEN TOPPERS SET
    (Offered Again, No company indicated)
    Top your pen with these nifty super-hero pen tops!  Boxed set includes
    Flash, Wonder Woman, Superman, Batman, Robin, and Steel each topping a pen.
    PI

DC COMICS CHARACTER PENS
    (No company indicated)
    Now the power of the world's greatest and most famous comic book
    characters can help you write that crucial note, letter, or missive.
    Available individually or in three-pack sets.  Set 1 contains Batman,
    Robin, and Steel.  Set 2 contains Superman, Wonder Woman, and Flash.
    PI

_______________________________________________________


REVIEWS
-------

Ratings Panelists:

  AL: Art LaMarche            JS: Jeff Sykes          PS: Patrick Stout
  AW: Anatole Wilson          KM: Ken McKee           RG: Rene' Gobeyn
  DS: Dick Sidbury            MC: Matt Combes         VV: Vic Vitek
  JG: Jack Grimes                                     WN: William J Nixon
  

As always, the first rating given after the average is that of the reviewer.

The average rating given for each book may correspond to a larger sample
of ratings than what is printed following the average.



THE "TRIANGLE" TITLES:
---------------------
33. SUPERMAN #115, "Love hurts"
    Story:         Dan Jurgens
    Breakdowns:    Ron Frenz
    Finishes:      Joe Rubinstein
    Lettering:     John Costanza
    Colors:        Glenn Whitmore
    Separations:   Digital Chameleon
    Assoc. Editor: Mike McAvennie
    Editor:        KC Carlson
    Cover:         Ron Frenz, Joe Rubinstein, and Patrick Martin
    September 1996
    $1.95 US/$2.75 CAN


RATINGS:

Average: 3.1/5.0 Shields

KM: Story: 2.0 Shields
    Art:   4.0 Shields - As usual, it can't be topped.
MC: 2.5 Shields - Another one of those "eh" books.  The Mountain of
        Judgment/Hairies/Outsiders plot really didn't grab me, but some of
        the Lois/Clark relationship matters gave a little depth to the book.
        Frenz's artwork is so-so.
JG: 3.0 Shields - Well, I don't like the concept of this breakup, but the
        execution wasn't all that bad.  Kesel still writes better Cadmus,
        though. :)  The art is fine, but Ron has some trouble with telling
        the story with his pictures.
PS: 4.0 Shields - The terrific body language in the artwork tells more of the
        story than the captions and dialogue, though it was neat of Jurgens
        to use Kirby 4th World elements to tell a parallel story of love and
        freedom.
JS: 3.8 Shields - Nice storytelling by Jurgens, using the long absent Hairies
        and Outsiders to bring Clark the realization he *had* to make.  And
        while Frenz has some moments where he gets a bit weak (why does Lucy
        always look cartoonish lately?), he still provides some powerfully
        emotional artwork.


Well, it finally happens.  Lois packs her bags and splits, leaving Superman,
Clark, and Metropolis in a trail of tears and broken hearts.  All I can say is
... good riddance.  Who needs her anyway.

The first part of the story shows our hero trying to figure out what happened
between the two of them.  Lois simply tells him that she needs a change, needs
to be on her own, find herself, get her edge back, and she is not a "princess
in waiting."  They both agree on one point -- they can't seem to get along
anymore.

Lois tries to explain the situation to her parents, and her father reacts in a
calm, rational manner -- he wants to beat Clark to a pulp for hurting his
daughter.

Now comes the story within the story.  After all, who wants to spend $1.95
watching Lois and Clark whine about their doomed relationship?  Superman
decides to release a little frustration by smashing a few boulders.  He is
greeted by a mysterious blonde who offers to help him forget his cares for
awhile.  She gives him a harmonizer gizmo which will allow him to tap into the
positive aura of life.  Sheesh, she sounds like a graduate from the Shirley
McLane School of Psychic Wackos.  Needless to say, things go from bad to really
weird for Superman, who can't stop the harmonizer from turning his brain into
mush.  Suddenly the blonde's husband smashes onto the scene on his Harley
tricycle and with the perfect plan to save Superman.  Oh please, do you really
want me to ruin it by telling you the ending?  Go buy the comic and find out
for yourself.  It really isn't important anyway.  Actually, this story was a
lot more interesting than the breakup of Lois and Clark.

While all this is going on, Lois finds Perry at the grave of his son, Jerry. 
She apologizes for hurting Perry by leaving, but it is something she has to do.
She certainly is making the rounds before she leaves, isn't she?

The end of the story shows Clark tearfully waving good-bye to Lois as she is
boarding a plane.  I can just barely hear Peter, Paul, and Mary singing in the
background.

There wasn't much to this comic.  But what can you expect?  Since 1993 DC
Comics has killed Superman, brought back the old Lex Luthor, killed Clark, had
Superman on trial for murder, and now destroyed the relationship that was
supposed to last forever.  Frankly, I wasn't all that impressed with it.  It
was a pretty dull climax for a story that seemed to last forever.  I'm just
wondering how DC will try and surprise us after Lois and Clark get back
together (and you know they will).  Let's see, they could really get married,
have kids, make Ma and Pa Kent get a divorce or actually get killed by a
runaway tractor (or maybe a psychotic tornado bent on revenge).  Maybe Superman
and Wonder Woman could kick up a new romance.  Anyway, if things don't get a
little more exciting I may start reading Archie comics.  I guess I just ruined
my chances for a second Baldy award.

Ken McKee (stdkrm01@shsu.edu)

===============================================

34. ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #538, "Fatal Obsession"
    Writer:        Karl Kesel
    Pencils:       Stuart Immonen
    Inks:          Jose Marzan, Jr.
    Letters:       Albert De Guzman
    Colors:        Glenn Whitmore
    Separations:   Digital Chameleon
    Assoc. Editor: Mike McAvennie
    Editors        KC Carlson and Joey Cavalieri
    Cover:         Stuart Immonen, Jose Marzan, Jr., and Patrick Martin
    September 1996
    $1.95 US/$2.75 CAN


RATINGS:

Average: 3.1/5.0 Shields

AW: 1.0 Shield - We get the idea -- being a Superman's no fun.  Neither is
        this issue.
MC: 1.5 Shields - Great...the Cheese of the Month has arrived.  They have got
        to find some other thing they can do when they're flailing around for
        fill-ins than just grab a villain outta nowhere.  I had guessed
        Perry's predicament with cancer a handful of issues earlier, so it
        wasn't a surprise to me when it was revealed here, but it's certainly
        a new turning point for the Superman family -- one that I'm looking
        forward to.
WN: 4.0 Shields - Loved the art this month, especially the shadow shot of
        Clark holding Lois' picture.
PS: 5.0 Shields - That the editorial team would create a good character like
        Obsession and only use her in a one-shot (while milking beyond
        tolerance "The Death of Clark Kent" and "The Trial of Superman")
        borders on the criminal.  This should have been a three-parter,
        working Lori more into the mix if not Lois as well.
VV: 2.5 Shields - Oh, good. Another villainess.  *sigh*  What ever happened
        to the idea of using previously-introduced characters, rather than
        setting up a "bum of the month" club?


I'm trying to pretend that the whoooshing sound I hear is Superman flying by,
but the reality is that it's $1.75 being sucked from my wallet into that
vacuous void reserved for dull comics.  After months of watching Dana use Jimmy
to further her obsession with Superman, the "payoff" is just another short
encounter that fizzles before it begins, preluded by 12 page of the continuing
soap opera that identifies Superman comics these days.

The issue begins with Dana Dearden ambushing Jimmy Olsen at her apartment.  She
now has super-powers from stealing the magic coins a couple of issues ago.  Now
she believes she's the perfect match for Superman, and she's going to make
Jimmy tell him.  Jimmy, who has become a despicable character in his own right,
gives up his signal watch.

Superman, meanwhile, is busy keeping the city safe while still moping over
Lois.  He'll be even busier still, as Perry White reveals he has cancer, and
has appointed Clark as the new Acting Managing Editor.

So on one hand we have the reality of a very long recovery period for Clark's
breakup with Lois paired with the unreality of Clark -- a reporter -- being
promoted above any of the paper's editors, who would undoubtedly be more
qualified to assume the mantle of control.  Now I don't want to tread on
dramatic license, but let's have a little more balance.  If we have to have
soap opera dominating the Superman line, I hope in the future we'll see less
moping and more Clark dealing with his new position -- which has interesting
possibilities besides "how does Clark juggle his editorial schedule and being
Superman at the same time?"

So now we're halfway through the comic, and finally we get to the conflict
promised on the cover.  Superman responds to Jimmy's signal watch only to find
Dana at her self-made Superman shrine.

(By the way, the highlight of the issue is the lower left corner of page 12 --
the cover of "Auto Action" that closely resembles the cover of ACTION #1,
calling it the "Superman safety test.")

Dana is upset when Superman rebuffs her, and they kind of push each other
around a little bit.

The "climax" is when Dana throws a stray thunderbolt that sets an oil tanker on
fire.  Dana, who never meant to hurt anyone, helps him save the crew.  For
reasons that weren't quite explained, Superman flies off while she flies into
the exploding ship, never to be seen again.  Yet another "foe" disappears while
Superman flies off, oblivious.

The epilogue of this story shows Jimmy Olsen publicly putting Dana down, while
Superman tells Lori Lemaris that he needs to be alone for a while.

Clearly this issue was meant to accent how lonely the life of a Superman is. 
But haven't we been seeing this same old theme over and over again throughout
the Superman line?  Can't we move on?

Anatole Wilson (awilson@vnet.ibm.com)

===============================================

35. ACTION COMICS #725, "Variations on a Scheme" 
    The Bottle City: Part 1 (of 3)
    Writer:          David Michelinie
    Guest Penciller: Tom Morgan
    Inker:           Denis Rodier
    Letterer:        Bill Oakley
    Colorist:        Glenn Whitmore
    Separations:     Digital Chameleon
    Assoc. Editor:   Mike McAvennie
    Editor:          Joey Cavalieri
    Cover:           Tom Grummett, Denis Rodier, and Patrick Martin
    September 1996
    $1.95 US/$2.75 CAN


RATINGS:

Average: 2.25/5.0 Shields

WN: 2.75 Shields - Alien slugfest revenge antics in a tale uncorked.
MC: 1.5  Shields - Bad comic.  But I want to take the time to point out that
         since its construction, the Superman tribute statue has been broken,
         cracked, shattered, and ripped from its foundation, yet it still
         keeps coming back in one piece.  As it shall even after Tolos beat
         the tar out of the front and Turpin blasted part of it away in this
         issue.  Methinks Superman's statue just might be more invulnerable
         than he is!
PS: 3.0  Shields - A good set-up issue for the Kandor three-parter and the
         Perry White cancer subplot.  Morgan gets a lot of mileage out of
         each page with his artwork.
JS: 1.5  Shields - Pretty cover, but the only thing of importance that
         happened was Perry's struggle over how to break the news to his
         family.  And once again, Michelinie's telling rather than showing.
VV: 2.0  Shields - Would have held more suspense if we didn't know who was
         behind this right on the cover.


Superman must have the ultimate to do list.  Last month (quite rightly) he told
Rosebud that he would someday get to the bottom of who was behind Brawl.  Back
in SUPERMAN #107, Supes swore that one day he would hunt Tolos down and
liberate the prisoners within his Bottle City.  ACTION COMICS aids and abets
that promise as it ushers in a new three part story: The Bottle City.  If the
superhero won't go to the Wizard, then it follows that the Wizard will go to
the hero.  And he is a wizard piqued, with mayhem and incarceration on his
mind.

A Grummett/Rodier cover shows Tolos, mighty wizard, and his Bottle City --
great nails!  Tolos, last seen in "The Trial of Superman," has come to Earth to
capture Superman in his Bottle.

In Met's Centennial Park, an alien figure arrives at Superman's statue.  A UFO
watcher greets the alien only to be repelled.  This is one alien subscribing to
the "Independence Day" approach to first contact.

Clark is settling in to his new job as Acting Managing Editor of the Planet. 
In a moving scene Perry talks about how people are now relating to him since he
told the staff about his cancer.  He also confesses to Clark that he hasn't
told Keith or Alice yet.  I was surprised by that -- Perry always seems so
straight up.  It must be difficult, though -- these things never seem entirely
real until other people know, until the pain of admission is crossed.

A Trial Judge, big and blue is in Centennial Park with SCU, this Judge refers
to himself in the third person and has come prepared for Superman.  Genetilocks
from Court World weaken Supes, but Turpin helps him to escape.  Dan then
becomes a target.  The Judge shuffles off towards an alleyway to be replaced by
a Slug Monster (serious 1950's B movie material).

Lois (of Arabia) gets in touch with the Planet for an update on her story as
she  crosses Northern Africa.  The foreign correspondence gig is not a cushy
number as her comms go down and the temperature goes up.  At least she doesn't
seem to be pondering "what-ifs" and "whys".

In Metropolis, the Slug Monster tries to drown Supes in slugs (seems
reasonable, disgusting, but reasonable).  Superman expectorates them and then
wipes them off by slam-dunking his body into concrete.

Catching his breath, he realizes that both the Judge and the Slug Monster both
had a satchel, part of a matching set of intergalactic turquoise luggage. 
Volcania from Apokolips appears and has the same chic luggage.  She blasts our
hero with lava.

On her cell phone Lois catches up with Perry.  She is tired, sandy, and ready
to pack it in.  I guess sand and heat can wear down even the most resolute
reporter.  He tells her that she needs to see her story through.  She thanks
him for the reality check, little knowing that it was necessary for both of
them.  On his desk Perry sees his family photograph and it reaffirms what he
knows he must do.

"Volcania" plays on Superman's need to protect innocent lives to draw him in
close by starting various fires.  They meet in a crossed "lovers" embrace as
she readies a lava kiss.  Superman holds her mouth closed to force her to choke
-- ah, young love.  He finishes putting out the fires and turns to find her
gone.

In an ironic twist, Superman follows his mysterious foe into a souvenir shop
full of Metropolis mementos and Superman figures.  Superman is unable to see
into the shop, his x-ray vision doesn't work.  On the final page Tolos appears
in all his pink and ectoplasmic glory.  The day's mischief and destruction was
payback for Superman's escape, and now he wants him for his Bottle City. 
Tolos' words about Superman preparing for "the most difficult ordeal of your
life" appear above the panels of Perry leaving for home.

The final panels and Clark's shift in status, while not the main plot, were the
compelling elements of this issue for me.  Perry, tough managing editor and his
personal strength in the face of his diagnosis bring a resonant emotional
dimension to these titles.  One of the strengths of these books for me has
always been their grounding in reality.  Social issues have never been ducked
and have always been well-handled with sensitivity and care, and this is no
different.

For the most part though, this was a slugfest issue which set the scene for the
remaining installments.  It was entertaining but lacked the 'whodunit' factor
of Mxy's shower scene in ACTION #721.  You could almost feel yourself shouting,
"It's Tolos, and he's behind you."

Tom Morgan appears as guest penciller again this month and does a good job.  I
particularly liked the strength-sapped Superman who faced the Judge.  Some of
Rodier's inking seemed heavy, particularly on the opening splash page, but
overall I enjoyed this starter.

William J Nixon  (W.J.Nixon@lib.gla.ac.uk)

===============================================

36. SUPERMAN: THE MAN OF STEEL #60, "Shattered Lives"
    The Bottle City: Part 2 (of 3)
    Story:         Louise Simonson
    Penciller:     Jon Bogdanove
    Inker:         Dennis Janke
    Letterer:      Ken Lopez
    Colorist:      Glenn Whitmore
    Separations:   Digital Chameleon
    Assoc. Editor: Mike McAvennie
    Editor:        Joey Cavalieri
    Cover:         Jon Bogdanove, Dennis Janke, and Patrick Martin
    September 1996
    $1.95 US/$2.75 CAN


RATINGS:

Average: 3.2/5.0 Shields

AL: 2.5 Shields
MC: 2.5 Shields - A little better.  Bog's art seemed to actually get better
        than usual in this issue.  The Daxamite angle was enjoyable, but this
        whole Tolos story is doing nothing for me.  On the other hand, I like
        the continuing storyline dealing with Perry's bout with cancer.
JG: 3.5 Shields - Great story with Perry, just another action scene with
        Superman.  The pacing was messed up here, too.  Why didn't Perry tell
        his family that the cancer wasn't terminal?  Did Simonson forget?
PS: 4.0 Shields - Simonson gives us a good glimpse of life in this new
        version of Kandor, and an even more up close and personal look at the
        White family coping with Perry's illness.  There's also a good shot
        at the shopkeepers in DC's (and David Letterman's) neighborhood on
        page 12 with the snow globe salesmen.
VV: 3.5 Shields - Okay, it is a fight.  But a fight with someone who is
        stronger than Supes, so he can't just punch it out.  And a fight with
        someone who has a reason to fight, not just because he is an
        experiment gone wild.


The story opens with Tolos determined to have Superman for his collection. 
Tolos, an alien who keeps victims in a bottled city, has the power to remove
them and posses their bodies for his needs.  To battle Superman he selects a
Daxamite.  Superman takes the battle to a junkyard to protect bystanders and to
weaken the Daxamite's body with the high amounts of lead present in the area.

Tolos returns the Daxamite to the bottle and flees.  Superman goes back to the
Planet to finish both his and Perry's work.  He is interrupted by Lori, who has
brought Chinese food for their enjoyment.  The meal, in turn, is also
interrupted -- some things never change.  Tolos summons a plasma generating
creature to defeat Superman.  The Battle rages through the night.  Superman
defeats the creature, but Tolos presses the battle by summoning the Daxamite
again.  Superman takes no joy in beating and bruising the Daxamite, because
Superman knows his battle is with Tolos and not his victims trapped in the
bottle.  He prepares to hunt down Tolos and the bottle when the coward flees,
but Superman is unable to trail them.

We also learn more about the bottled city of Kandor.  The Daxamite's name is
Cil Gand, and he is aware that the biosphere is failing.  In addition to the
environmental trouble, there is civil unrest.  A group of the city's
inhabitants wants to fight out of the city.  They will have freedom or die
trying.  Another faction wants to adapt to their prison and live out their
lives.  While Cil Gand wishes to keep peace among the populace.

In addition to the City in the Bottle plot, the story line about Perry's cancer
also progresses.  It surprised me that he would inform the workers of the
Planet about his battle, but not his family.  Strange.  He tells Alice, as
Keith overhears the conversation.  The fear that he will lose his adopted
father, so soon after losing his mother is too much for him, and he tries to
deny it.  Having overheard the conversation, when Perry tries to tell him, he
makes excuses and runs away.  The next morning, he is more open, Perry is more
gentle, and they draw on each other's love to support one another.

I was surprised that Perry did not tell his family first.  But he is from a
different generation than I am.  After having thought about it, I think my
father would have done something similar.  *shrug*  I think the writers do a
very good job in capturing the generations.  The difficulty of the previous
generation discussing emotional issues with the family is something I have seen
many times.

I wonder what the city will hold for future story lines.  Will Tolos become a
recurring villain, or will the city of Kandor be used as a vehicle for many new
story lines?  They certainly have left several dangling threads with the
possibility of a civil war and the failing biosphere.

Arthur LaMarche (DrArt95@aol.com)

_______________________________________________________


OTHER SUPER-TITLES:
------------------

SHOWCASE '96 #8, "The Hard Way"
    Featuring Superman and Superboy
    Writer:        Karl Kesel
    Penciller:     Tom Grummett
    Inker:         Joe Rubinstein
    Colorist:      Dave Grafe
    Letterer:      John Costanza
    Assistants:    Duffy and Kurtin
    Editors:       Pittarese and Pasko
    Cover:         Tom Grummett and Doug Hazlewood
    September 1996
    $2.95 US/$4.25 CAN


RATINGS:

Average: 3.5/5.0 Shields

RG: Story: 4.0 Shields - Tight, well plotted, complete.
    Art:   3.5 Shields - Well detailed, excellent perspectives.
MC: 3.0 Shields - You can't beat Grummett's art -- it really livened this up
        for me.  Hardrock has some great character potential, and I'd love to
        see him pop up somewhere else sometime in the future.
JG: 3.4 Shields - Nice story, great art, but stilted dialogue.  Still a little
        simplified, but it *is* Showcase.
JS: 4.0 Shields - Nicely done!  This is what SUPERBOY has been lacking for a
        while -- good characterization all around, and the story actually has
        a point.  Grummett and Rubinstein work very well together.


This is a job for Superboy!  Ever wonder if Superman feels out of touch with
today's youth?  Well, wonder no more.  The answer to this question is obviously
yes, and he knows who to call when he needs help.

An excellent, well balanced story with just about everything you could ask for.
The story is well thought out and tightly plotted with almost nothing wasted. 
We get to see Superman turning over a job to Superboy, and we meet a potential
new Metropolis character.  Complete in one issue too, I don't ask for much
more.

I actually hope to see more of Hardrock.  While he isn't a great hero, I think
he could be worked into either of the two supporting casts with very little
trouble.  Who knows, maybe he could even help Superboy with some of his
problems in school.

The art is nicely detailed, with good use of perspective and shading, and the
coloring suites daytime Metropolis.  The only thing I could ask is for more
detail in the backgrounds

Superman calls in Superboy to help him with a teenage gang that seems to have
picked up a Meta powered kid named Hardrock as a mascot.  The stunts are
getting close to criminal, and Superman thinks that he can get Superboy to help
him reign in the kids before they cause real problems.

                                     * * *


    "Limited Resources"
        Starring Supergirl
        Writer:    Peter David
        Pencils:   Terry Dodson
        Inks:      Karl Story
        Lettering: Albert De Guzman
        Coloring:  Megan McDowell
        Editor:    Chris Duffy

RATINGS:

Average: 3.3/5.0 Shields

RG: Story: 3.0 Shields - Nice intro to the new Supergirl series.
    Art:   2.0 Shield  - Blocky, lacking in detail, no background.
MC: 4.0 Shields - I've never seen Dodson's pencils before, but I will say
        they were amazing.  He draws women great.  Story's inks were a
        little ... oh ... scratchy.  David, while not in my list of favorite
        writers (yet), digs in deep into Supergirl's mind and how she feels;
        or rather, what she can't feel.  Short, but good.
JG: 3.0 Shields - Good art, but the story was a bit depressing.  Still,
        understandable considering the topic.  I'd rather see Supergirl deal
        with these in her title than fusing with a human.
JS: 3.7 Shields - Gorgeous Adam Hughes-ish artwork by Terry Dodson.  The story
        was well-written, though I felt that Peter David was perhaps trying
        to explain why he's taking such a drastic new direction for the
        character.


Wow!  Two Super stories in one issue!  Not to mention good ones.  I hope this
is the start of a trend.  You could do far worse than buying this one.

A nicely plotted story of Supergirl starting to come to grips with who and what
she is, but more importantly why.  She is starting to ask questions that may
lead to her developing a real personality and a life outside of her superhero
persona.  In this story she is exposed to life and death, as well as the limits
of her own powers.

Peter David is well known for his excellent writing, and the detail and use he
makes of a character's personality and background.  It will be interesting to
see what kind of a slant he puts to the developing character of Supergirl in
the new series.

Supergirl uses her powers to help out in a small town during a hurricane.  As
Supergirl is starting to question her existence, and the path her life is
taking, a local reporter helps her to focus a bit.

                                     * * *


    "Assassination Agenda"
        Starring Legionnaires Gates, Leviathan, and XS
        Writer:    Tom McCraw
        Penciller: Roberto Flores
        Inker:     John Lowe
        Letterer:  Chris Eliopoulos
        Colorist:  Tom McCraw
        Editor:    Mike McAvennie

No "Super" content - not rated

Leviathan, XS, and Gates work to stop an assassination.  Gates learns a lesson
about leadership.

Rene' Gobeyn (gobeyn@kodak.com)

===============================================

STEEL #30, "Split Personality"
    Writer:            Louise Simonson
    Penciller:         Phil Gosier
    Inkers:            Ken Branch and Rich Faber
    Letterer:          Pat Brosseau
    Computer Colorist: Stu Chaifetz
    Associate Editor:  Chris Duffy
    Editor:            Frank Pittarese
    Cover:             Phil Gosier and Rich Faber
    September 1996
    $1.95 US/$2.75 CAN


RATINGS:

Average: 2.5/5.0 Shields

DS: 2.75 Shields - This story deals with the aftermath of John Henry's
         grandmother's death and doesn't give us any insight into Steel or
         his family.
JS: 2.2  Shields - The usually-great art was a bit sub-par this month,
         possibly due to having two inkers.  The first half of the book was
         somewhat involving, but after Steel deals with the media, the
         remaining half of the book is little more than setup for the next
         issue.


Story:

The story opens with a TV report in which Ms. Wallace, the reporter, states
that after his grandmother's death, Steel doesn't care what happens to
Washington, DC and quotes Jemahl.  This leads John Henry to believe that the
media has a plant in the Irons' household.  At the funeral, John Henry
ruminates over his recent failures: he accidentally killed Hazard's associates
with the Annihilator (his ultimate weapon) and failed to prevent the death of
his grandmother -- most of which happened because of Steel's revelation that he
was John Henry Irons.  He reiterates his promise to his grandmother to keep his
family safe.

After the funeral, Double, Steel's British secret agent/superhero friend shows
up at the Irons' home.  After showing John Henry the bugs that had been planted
in his house he promises to hide his family and keep them safe.  A news
helicopter shows up overhead with cameras focused on the Irons' household. 
John Henry concocts a plan to get his family to safety: while Double is leading
them out to his van parked behind the house, Steel will cause a commotion out
front to allow them to slip away unnoticed.  While the camera crew and pilot
are talking, Steel flies up to the chopper, breaks the glass windshield, and
forces it to land.  As other news crews rush up to interview him, Steel
proceeds to trash their camera equipment "just like I smashed your bugs and
wire taps!"  The media profess ignorance of the wire taps, and Steel, uh ...,
(I guess the right word is) kidnaps Ms. Wallace and demands that she tell him
about the wire taps.  She refuses to cite her sources because they are
"classified".  Steel drops her (after flying near the ground so as not to
injure more than her pride) as his family slips away, apparently unnoticed. 
The police then point guns at Steel and arrest him, but he just teleports away
ignoring them.

In the area where he goes when he teleports, he communicates with Grandma Bess.
He hears her comfort and concern but continues to wallow in angst about taking
the "innocent" lives of Hazard's henchmen.  He decides to travel through the
white zone to Hazard's secret headquarters, to get Hazard's computers back on
line and to hack into the government computers to see if SPEC is behind part of
the conspiracy.

Steel suddenly realizes that he is not floating peacefully in the white zone
but instead is being held by some dark entity with the requisite skull for a
head, very sharp teeth, and an unhappy manner.

Meanwhile, at SPEC headquarters the agents are bemoaning the fact that Steel
has found the bugs that they planted.  They decide to continue feeding Wallace
their propaganda since she seems to be quite gullible and able to convince the
public of her innocence.

Steel finally teleports into Hazard's headquarters, but without his armor, and
discovers that Hotspot, Quake, and Flatline -- Hazard's cronies -- were not
killed after all, but were teleported out of harm's way a millisecond before
the annihilator beam struck with full force.  As they are pummeling Steel, he
is starting to feel less guilt-ridden.  Unfortunately, the bad guy, whom we
haven't yet been properly introduced to, shows up and frightens the others into
giving Steel up to a fate at least as bad as death, and the curtain comes down
on this issue.

Art:

I've been on vacation for the past two weeks.  Each year I take a trade
paperback or two to read while I'm loafing at my Dad's lake house.  This year I
took THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS and THE WATCHMEN.  The difference between the
artwork in the old classics and more modern stuff is striking.  There are very
few oblique panels in either series and much of WATCHMEN is three rows of three
panels on each page.  Of the twenty-two pages in STEEL, three are single panel
splashes, the first one of which is very effective.  There are three or four
other pages in which one area dominates the entire page.  Gosier's trademark
oblique panels move the action very effectively through one fight scene.  Pages
13-15 are very effective in this regard.

The cover is very busy.  It depicts Hotspot, Quake, and Flatline standing above
Steel as he comes through a doorway.  Steel is very angularly drawn with lots
of rivets on his uniform and a blank expression on his face that reminds me of
Shaquille O'Neil.  It's one of the dullest covers on this comic in the past
year and not one, it seems to me, to encourage the casual reader to buy this
issue.

On the other hand, the first page is extremely effective.  It is a single panel
containing Steel's head in a close up as viewed from below at a slight angle. 
His face is very angular but sleek and pure black.  His teeth are perfect and
whiter than any person's teeth have ever been.

In general the artwork follows their usual style.  The colors are exceptionally
vibrant and set the tone very well.  Steel probably uses the glossy format as
well as any book that I read.

The backgrounds in most of the panels are sparse, which gives Gosier's work a
slightly different feeling from normal.  Several times there seem to be green
sparks flying from Steel's body.  Whether this is significant or just an effect
can only be judged in the next issue.

Summary:

The artwork is pretty much what it has been since Gosier and Faber have been
doing Steel and is one of the strong points of the book.  Simonson's story
seems to mostly be a buildup to the next issue or two when John Henry can feel
less guilty about the lives that he didn't take after all and we find out about
the new mystery villain.

Dick Sidbury (sidbury@cs.uofs.edu)

===============================================

SUPERBOY #31, "Summer Fun!"
    Guest Writer:     Eddie Berganza
    Guest Pencils:    Paul Ryan
    Guest Inks:       Vince Giarrano
    Letters:          Richard Starkings and Comicraft
    Colors:           Tom McCraw
    Associate Editor: Chris Duffy
    Editor:           Frank Pittarese
    Cover:            Tom Grummett, Karl Kesel, and Patrick Martin
    September 1996
    $1.95 US/$2.75 CAN


RATINGS:

Average: 1.8/5.0 Shields

AL: 2.5 Shields
MC: 1.0 Shield - Man, what a story!  This was simply terrible!  Bad
        characters, no great development, and boring!  The only thing that
        made me give it one shield was the art!
JG: 2.5 Shields - The story wasn't *bad*, but it was *far* from good.  The
        plot was jumpy, the moral was simplified... I liked the go-go checks,
        though. :)
JS: 0.9 Shields - Pointless issue with a horrible inking job.  Hope Ryan's
        pencils are given a better treatment by Breeding in MAN OF TOMORROW.
VV: 2.0 Shields - Superboy has Tana and Roxy -- why someone new, other than
        to show how irresistible his tactile telekinesis is?


In this issue, Superboy is confronted by a jealous Hawaiian boy who has formed
a symbiotic relationship with an organism that lets him "spawn" various new
identities.  The boy is jealous of Superboy's physique and the attention he
gets from the local girls.  It does not help that the boy's father runs a
Superboy souvenir shop and is verbally abusive.  With the help of the organism,
the boy hopes to show up Superboy to get the attention, and possibly love, that
he believes he deserves.

But the boy is unable to handle the powers he has gained, and instead of being
a bully or a hero, he just comes off as a fool.  At an evening Luau, his cape
catches on fire and he flees.  As he is running away, a bounty hunter shows up,
prepared to kill him.  Superboy destroys her gun, and the boy escapes. 
Superboy learns about the symbiotic organism and that it thrives on hate and
anger.  He agrees to help her capture the "grub" --  the name given to the
organism by the bounty hunter.

They confront the boy and his grub in a large stadium.  When the boy nearly
kills Superboy, the boy screams.  Killing was never his intention.  The grub is
unable to handle massive feelings of remorse, and jumps away from the boy.  The
bounty hunter is able secure the grub as the police take the boy into custody,
and Superboy flies off into the sunset with the girl.

This was a filler issue, but I liked some of it.  Some of it I did not like. 
The Bounty Hunter's name was Dakini.  I guess this was because she wore a metal
bikini.  I felt bad for the boy, Chuck.  He was abused by his father.  He was
misguided.  His life will get worse and Superboy gets the girl.  The art was
OK, not great, not bad.  I really did like the colors, however.

Arthur LaMarche (DrArt95@aol.com)

===============================================

SUPERBOY AND THE RAVERS #1
    Writers:       Karl Kesel and Steve Mattsson
    Penciller:     Paul Pelletier
    Inker:         Dan Davis
    Colorist:      John Kalisz
    Letterer:      Kevin Cunningham
    Assoc. Editor: Chris Duffy
    Editor:        Frank Pittarese
    Cover:         Paul Pelletier and Dan Davis
    September 1996
    $1.95 US/$2.75 CAN


RATINGS:

Average: 4.0/5.0 Shields

JS: 4.0 Shields - A nice beginning by Kesel and Mattsson, with good 
        characterization and plenty of intriguing questions left unanswered.
        Pelletier and Davis provide wonderfully detailed art, though maybe
        a touch too much cheesecake...
MC: 4.5 Shields - I came into this thinking it would be a some lame-o comic
        that could never pull off the ground.  The plot sounded dull and
        boring.  I'm glad I was proved wrong.  This is a *fun* comic (at
        least, this first issue was fun...).  Pelletier is a godsend for art
        on this book.  Unfortunately, I know that a lot of people won't pick
        this up for the same reasons I wasn't going to -- meaning that it may
        flounder.  Hopefully it'll hold it's own.
JG: 3.5 Shields - *Really* really nice concept, not so pretty execution.
        Maybe because I knew half the stuff they explained, thanks to the
        Internet.  Future issues will be better, I'm sure.  Paul looked
        better with Romeo Tanghal.
VV: 4.0 Shields - I am well over rave age, but this still held my interest.
        This book has promise.  Done right, there is no place in the DC
        universe that can't be visited, which opens up lots of story
        possibilities.  Just don't treat each visit as a major event, and
        keep the stories light, and I think this will do well.


Though I had some initial doubts, this first issue of SUPERBOY AND THE RAVERS
turned out to be an entertaining beginning to the new series.  Karl Kesel and
Steve Mattsson do a good job of capturing the appropriate atmosphere, and Paul
Pelletier and Dan Davis wonderfully portray the various attitudes and emotions
of the characters involved.  But as I mentioned before, I was a bit worried at
first.

The story opens with Superboy in a bit of a funk, the same type of attitude
he's exhibited in recent issues of his original title.  This is simply *not*
the depiction of Superboy I'm interested in.  Sparx appears to let the Kid in
on her new discovery, the Event Horizon, but the first we see of the place is a
bunch of spandex-clad metas.  And most distressingly, most of the female
characters are either melon-chested or dressed in costumes which leave little
to the imagination -- or a little of both.  If I wanted this type of
super-powered female characters, I'd be reading Image books.  So you can
understand my initial displeasure.

Fortunately for both myself and the title, things pick up immediately, and we
get a taste of the fun we're in for with this comic.  While Superboy is
initially reluctant to escort Sparx around the place, his willingness gains a
major boost as he lays eyes on the bombshell Aura, who will play a large role
in this series.  

Superboy suddenly realizes that he can't understand anyone and begins to search
out Sparx, of whom he lost track while distracted by Aura.  Unfortunately,
Sparx has made friends with a group of Khunds, one of which has become a little
too friendly.  She resists and a melee ensues, in which Superboy makes the
mistake of hitting a bouncer.  Before things get out of hand, Superboy is
pulled aside by Hero, a human meta who teleported in with a white dog named
Rex!

At this point, Kindred Marx, the host of the Event Horizon makes his
appearance, and Superboy is adorned with the hand-stamp which will allow him to
come and go as he pleases.  As well, the stamp finally eliminates the language
barrier, serving as some sort of universal translator.  The mysterious Marx
then vanishes, leaving the teens to their party.

As yet another mysterious figure admires Sparx from the bushes, Superboy gets
the lowdown on Aura from Hero.  And we discover that Aura's been intentionally
"advertising" herself to Superboy.  Hopefully this will explain away the
broken-back poses we've seen her in to this point.  Note that we still have
learned nothing about any of the other teen-metas' powers, except for a few
minor players and the rubbery blue bouncer.

We now meet Kaliber, a Qwardian who accuses Superboy of defiling the Man of
Steel.  Before they can get into it, the large bouncer appears out of nowhere
to separate the two.  Marx also suddenly reappears, and the group is
transported to some arena where the two can settle their differences in combat.
Unfortunately, Marx is warned of an impending arrival, and the Event Horizon
transports yet again -- this time leaving Superboy and Kaliber behind.  To make
matters worse, their stamps have disappeared, and the two appear to be placed
under arrest by some interdimensional police force!

At times, the dialogue is priceless.  As we've seen many times before from Karl
Kesel, there is a smooth transition from scene to scene, often with one
character finishing another's dialogue.  Kesel and Mattsson resist the
temptation to overuse the current "hip teen lingo," instead providing just
enough to keep the characters believable.  And Superboy finally begins to act
once again like the overconfident and near-pompous teen that we grew to love in
his first appearances in ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN and his own title.

When not stooping to the cheesecake shots, Pelletier and Davis do a wonderful
job of capturing facial expressions and detailing the backgrounds.  It's clear
that a lot of quality time goes into their work.  They are going to contribute
immensely to the overall feel of this book.

While quite a bit happened in this issue, we still have a lot of unanswered
questions.  We've met all but one of the characters who will form Superboy's
Ravers, but we know little about them or their abilities.  We also met two of
the cliques that Kesel and Mattsson have mentioned: the Khundian Red Shift and
the undead Corpse Corps.  However, absolutely no light has been shed on The
Event Horizon itself or the group which is out to shut it down.  We've got a
*lot* of storytelling ahead of us!

Jeff Sykes (sykes@ms.uky.edu)

_______________________________________________________


OTHER SUPER-TITLES (cont):
-------------------------

SUPERGIRL #1, "Body & Soul"
    Writer:     Peter David
    Pencils:    Gary Frank
    Inks:       Cam Smith
    Letters:    Pat Prentice
    Colors:     Gene D'Angelo
    Separators: Digital Chameleon
    Editor:     Chris Duffy
    Cover:      Gary Frank, Cam Smith, and Patrick Martin
    September 1996
    $1.95 US/$2.75 CAN


RATINGS:

Average: 3.8/5.0 Shields

PS: 5.0 Shields
MC: 4.0 Shields - It took me a read or two to grasp all the constant change of
        hands between Matrix and Linda's thoughts and feelings.  But still, a
        very good and very clean story.  Frank's artwork was simply wonderful,
        and accompanied well by Smith's inks.  This is one of the rare
        occasions where I'm on the edge of my seat waiting for the next issue.
JG: 3.0 Shields - Great art, but I don't care much for the story, or the
        direction PAD seems to be taking her.  Not my cup of tea.  I wish the
        title luck, though, and if I hear good things about it, I may pick it
        up again.
JS: 4.0 Shields - An interesting new direction by Peter David.  I'm not real
        sure about the supporting cast yet, and I'm not much for demonic
        villains, but this first issue certainly sets up some interesting
        questions for Supergirl.  
VV: 3.0 Shields - Interesting way to bring back Linda.  A little choppy in
        places, but a good introductory story.


This issue brings you the birth of an all-new Supergirl.  Sure, she and her
town have names in homage to the first Supergirl, Linda Lee Danvers ... and she
seems at first glance to be the same Supergirl we've been reading about since
John Byrne recreated the character ... *but* Peter David set out to create a
whole new Supergirl.  "I don't care if she came from a pocket universe or
pocket lint," David recently stated in a message on one of the Usenet news
groups -- signaling that this first issue marks a new start for the Supergirl
character.

Is the first scene in this first issue, a splash page showing blood washing
down a shower drain, also an homage to the great director Alfred Hitchcock and
"Psycho"?  I don't know.  But Peter David had a good reason to start out with a
shower scene -- as he indicated on Usenet's rac.dcu, appearing naked is
symbolic of rebirth.  We also note a few pages later that the pink protoplasm
symbolic of Supergirl II has washed down the drain (never to be seen again?).

This person in the shower doesn't know her own name.  She deduces from her
roommate's shouting of her first name that she's Linda Danvers.  But roommate
Mattie also says that Linda was thought to be dead, a victim of kidnapping and
possible Satanic ritual.  The new Linda remembers her spooky boyfriend Buzz
burning a hole in her jeans with a cigarette, leaving the bar in anger, and
being grabbed from an alleyway.

Mattie notices that Linda's eyes are blue.  Linda has brown eyes.  "I was empty
... and ... I needed to learn," the new Linda says, more to herself than in
reply to Mattie's question about her eyes.  Linda's memory flashes back to a
fight with her father, and she suddenly is overcome with the urge to leave the
apartment, to run through the streets of Leesburg.  A man attempting suicide by
jumping from a building is caught by a flash of wind -- he swears an angel
saved him.

The new Linda realizes she's human, but not human.  She goes to the offices of
the Leesburg Tribune to seek information.  There she meets New Age reporter
Cutter Sharp.  Recognizing the missing Linda Danvers, he literally begs her to
stay and let him interview her.  "This isn't how a reporter behaves," she
states.  "If I were any good, do you think I'd be working here?" is his reply.

As she sits across the desk from Cutter, it is Supergirl's mind that brings
forth a picture of a different reporter: Clark Kent, who first told her, "Don't
say a word, Mae.  Keep it to yourself."

Supergirl's mind flashes back to her conversation with Mr. and Mrs. Danvers,
who called her in when their daughter was kidnapped.  They told her how Linda
admired her and appeared to relate to her.  As they pleaded with her for help,
she swore to rescue Linda.

Cutter talks about the cult suspected of kidnapping Linda.  As he lights a
cigarette, the flame appears to frighten her.  She pushes him away and flees
the newspaper office, ending up on the building's roof in a fetal position. 
Linda's mind is back in control, as she remembers Supergirl battling
sword-wielding men, surrounded by flames.

Now it's Supergirl, remembering being hit by blast after blast of flame, seeing
Buzz a few feet away slashing Linda with a dagger.  As the blood-drenched
dagger is hurtled toward some creature of darkness, Supergirl shatters the
dagger with a psychokinetic blast before it can reach the creature's waiting
claws.  The creature screeches and Supergirl's mind goes numb.

Linda and Supergirl sit with fingers intertwined -- Linda bloody and battered
by the physical world, Supergirl mentally devastated by the supernatural world.

Earlier, the headline in that day's newspaper read: Supergirl Feared Dead. 
Mattie had tried to tell Linda that all the police found in the burned-out
warehouse was Linda's charred ID card and Supergirl's costume.  The costume is
the centerpiece of a police news conference later in the day.

As a policeman tells reporters there are still no leads in the Supergirl
disappearance, the costume is snatched from his hands by a rushing blur.  We
then see Supergirl flying through the sky, thinking of how it is that she and
Linda are now one person.

Still a lot of questions remain unanswered in the story of Linda and Supergirl.
I'm sure we can count on Peter David to dole out the answers, bit by bit, as
the mystery unfolds.

I'm both intrigued and puzzled by the Gary Frank cover to Supergirl #1.  It
shows a thoroughly modern teen Supergirl with homemade necklace and wristband,
a grungy flannel shirt, and a skateboard.  Much as I love this cover, the Linda
portrayed in the story has none of the fashion traits shown on the cover.  Is
this part of the new Supergirl personality we haven't seen yet, or is it just
more mystery?

Patrick Stout (mfpms@uxa.ecn.bgu.edu)

_______________________________________________________


MINISERIES:
----------

ERADICATOR #2 (of 3), "The Lord God Gepetto"
    Writer:    Ivan Velez, Jr.
    Penciller: Roger Robinson
    Inker:     John Lowe
    Letters:   Chris Eliopoulos
    Colorist:  Roberta Tewes
    Editor:    Chris Duffy
    Cover:     Roger Robinson and John Lowe
    September 1996
    $1.75 US/$2.50 CAN


RATINGS:

Average: 3.25/5.0 Shields

RG: Story: 3.5 Shields - Good continuity, fills in some blanks.
    Art:   2.5 Shields - Some good pages - some poor, inconsistent.
MC: 4.0 Shields - Things start to make a little more sense here, which is
        good.  I like the entrance of the Cleric and the slow release of the
        Eradicator's actual history.  I still would like David Connor to be
        retained somewhat in him, but I am hoping for a totally new change
        and a new direction when the series is over.
JG: 4.0 Shields - Nice work here ... tying up loose ends and plot points ...
        with a general respect for what past writers have done, which is
        always a plus with me.
JS: 2.0 Shields - This just isn't working for me.  The artwork is dark and
        brooding, and the story has just been confusing.  Maybe it'll make
        more sense when taken as a whole, but at this point I'm disappointed.


Not a bad story so far.  If you're a fan of the Eradicator in his current
incarnation, and have been curious about some of the seeming inconsistencies of
his origin, then this may be the book that you have been waiting for.  If not,
then you can probably give it a miss.  The book is concerned mostly with the
history of the Eradicator artifact from Krypton, and why it has behaved the way
it has over the years.  Many of the inconsistencies about it and about why the
Kryptonians were incapable of leaving their planet are explained.

In the end, after a short battle, The Eradicator is again on Earth, with little
really changed from the end of issue #1 except that he seems to be a bit more
mentally stable, but how long that will last remains to be seen.  Where the
story will take us next is up in the air, but I do hope that it will resolve
the issue of Dr. David Connor's family.

I found much of the art to be inconsistent throughout the book.  Some very nice
pages are followed by others that looked rushed.  I'm not sure if the use of
the high quality paper on the main monthly books has spoiled me, but I find the
overall look of the book to be very flat and two dimensional.

Continuing on from last issue...  The Eradicator has stepped through a portal
into another world, where he is promised that his pain and confusion would end.
He finds himself on old Krypton, where all the near mythical beasts and a very
beautiful young woman is waiting for him.

After a bit of confusion, he finds out that he is in a virtual world and she is
yet another program that, like himself, came from Kem-L of Krypton.  While he
proclaims himself to be real and a human, the arguments she makes are nearly
convincing.  It isn't until she tries to trick him that he learns the truth,
and the true history of Kem-L, the Eradicator, and the memories that have been
plaguing him of late.

Rene' Gobeyn (gobeyn@kodak.com)

===============================================

JUSTICE LEAGUE: A MIDSUMMER'S NIGHTMARE #1 (of 3), "True Lies"
    Writers:    Fabian Nicieza and Mark Waid
    Pencillers: Jeff Johnson and Darick Robertson
    Inkers:     Jon Holdredge and Hanibal Rodriguez
    Letters:    Ken Lopez
    Colors:     Pat Garrahy
    Editor:     Ruben Diaz
    Special Thanks to Brian Augustyn
    Cover:      Kevin Maguire and John Dell
    September 1996
    $2.95 US/$4.25 CAN


RATINGS:

Average: 3.5/5.0 Shields

MC: 3.9 Shields
JG: 4.3 Shields - *Very* nice story.  A little slow, but I'm sure things will
        pick up as the mini moves along.
WN: 3.5 Shields - I was not a big fan of the League books in the past but I
        liked this opening gambit.  Everything is the same but different, not
        quite in the "league" of Kingdom Come.  I will be back for more.
JS: 2.5 Shields - Not much really happens for a 48-page comic, and the art
        has some horrible moments.  However, all things considered, I don't
        suppose it's a bad *start* to a three-issue tale.
VV: 3.5 Shields - Intriguing.  As long as there isn't some hokey explanation,
        the idea promises a logical means to bring the group together.  And
        what a group.  The JL *should* be the world's greatest heroes, with
        support from people with unique powers to prevent the big guns from
        hogging all the action.


Question: What do you get when you mix a little intrigue, a little action, a
little humor, and a big mystery?  Answer: You get a good comic.  Or rather, in
this case, you get JL: A MIDSUMMER'S NIGHTMARE #1.

The heroes we know and love are no more.  There is no Superman, no Batman, no
Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Green Lantern, Flash, or Martian Manhunter.  In their
place are tens of thousands of everyday people, "sparking" into metahumans and
gaining powers of their own.  But the people that are the DC heroes are only
normal Joes.  Or so it seems.

Kyle Rayner, a.k.a. Green Lantern:  A flailing writer/artist for, ironically,
the comic book GREEN LANTERN.  Besides his coffee-shop friend Radu, he is
seemingly one of the last few people in New York that hasn't sparked.

Clark Kent, a.k.a. Superman:  A mild-mannered reporter for the Daily Planet in
Metropolis.  He muses over the recent upswing of sparkers, and is the first to
realize that there's something ... something not quite right with the world. 
Unfortunately, at first he can't figure out what it is.

Bruce Wayne, a.k.a. Batman:  A billionaire mogul from Gotham City with a heart
and a big wallet for orphaned children.  Later, he too notices there's
something wrong with his life -- and everybody else's.

Wally West, a.k.a. Flash:  A Health Ed coach with nightmares of another
reality.  He gets his first realization that something is amiss when he
glimpses a GREEN LANTERN comic book a student brought to class.

Diana Prince, a.k.a. Wonder Woman:  Headmistress at the Themyscira School for
Girls in Gateway City.  She "sparks" when a student accidentally puts fellow
students in danger after sparking herself.

Arthur Curry, a.k.a. Aquaman:  A fish-friendly Vice President of environmental
concerns at a tuna company in New Carthage.  He lost his hand in a factory
accident and was given more say in ecological policies in the hopes that he
wouldn't sue.

J'onn J'onzz, a.k.a. Martian Manhunter:  Living the family life on what he
thinks is Mars.

Clark is the first to get himself out of the daze.  After watching a helicopter
crash through the Daily Planet's "planet," reminding him of the explosion of
Krypton, he knows who he is and what he can do.  And he does it.  He then takes
off for Gotham, where Bruce Wayne realizes things are awry when his now-living
parents come to visit.  As he rushes to the grandfather clock (that Batman fans
would know is the entrance to the Batcave), he finds that there is nothing
behind it.  He ponders over why there isn't -- until Clark shows up to point
him in the right direction; to open his eyes and believe.  Bruce takes off for
the Batcave, while Clark stays behind, only to be attacked by some petty
metahuman thieves.

After Clark cans three of the thieves, Batman shows up to take out the fourth,
invisible, one.  They both then go over exactly what they should do from there.
Clark suggests they need to find and team up with others, if they are to have
any chance of breaking the world from the "spell" being cast by ... oh, wait, I
forgot the villain hasn't been introduced yet.  Guess you'll just have to wait
until #2. =)

I really enjoyed this book.  I really can't tell whose art is Johnson's and
whose art is Robertson's, but both were nicely done (my fave was page 34 --
this is a great drawing of Superman).  I don't know how much Fabian Nicieza
added to the story, but Waid, being my second favorite writer in the biz,
brought out the best in this title (excluding page 3, but that's just my view).
I can't wait to see how they get the other heroes out from under the hypnotic
suggestion and get the whole world back to normal.  I'm also too overjoyed for
words to tell you how excited I am to have JLA return as a team with the
big-shots rather than second-stringers.  Let's hope that, if DC wants to keep
sales up and not paltry as they were with the last run of the book, they'll
keep the subordinates from joining or the big honchos from dropping out. 
Anyways, MIDSUMMER'S NIGHTMARE is proving to be a good read so far, and I'll
expect that from the next two issues.

Oh yeah, look a little closer, and you'll find Beavis and Butthead.  Just
another of those quirks creative teams like to stick in every now and then.

Matt Combes (MrNandoX@aol.com)

===============================================

KINGDOM COME, Book Three: Up In The Sky
    By Mark Waid and Alex Ross
        with Todd Klein
    Painted Cover by Alex Ross
    September 1996
    $4.95 USA/$6.95 CAN


RATINGS:

Average: 4.9/5.0 Shields

RG: Story: 5.0 Shields - Interesting plot developments, terrific story.
    Art:   5.0 Shields - Beautifully detailed, fully painted.
MC: 4.7 Shields - Artwork is as great as ever, and the story is still
        captivating, but the third issue to me wasn't as exciting as the
        first two.  The last pages of it, of course, were intense.  I'm
        anxiously awaiting KC #4, both for the as-yet unseen cover and the
        ending to this great comic series.
JG: 5.0 Shields - Everything comes together here.  It's all set for next
        issue.  Bam.  Buy it.  Now.
WN: 5.0 Shields - Definitely one of the year's hottest books.  That final
        painted page was worth the admission price alone.  Glad to see Bruce
        turn the tables on old Lex.
VV: 5.0 Shields - Just when you think you know it all, Waid and Ross come up
        with surprise twists.  So far, two major plot lines have been
        (apparently) wrapped up well in advance of the last part of the book.
        What could possibly be left?  Answer coming soon to a dealer near
        you -- and don't miss it.


"Dissension in the ranks" just about describes this issue.  That the story is
coming to a climax is more than obvious.  The budding romance between Superman
and Wonder Woman is stillborn, and we begin to see the results of Batman's
treason.  Quite a lot for a single book, but Waid and Ross manage to pull it
off with ease.

The focus of the story continues to follow Rev. Norman McCay and The Specter as
they follow the action and reaction to Superman's meta-human gulag in what used
to be Kansas.  As Norman's visions of Armageddon come more and more frequently,
we feel the story coming to it's climax.

The art continues in its excellence, emphasizing and strengthening the impact
of the story.  We don't have any of the 'fun' scenes of the last two issues,
but there are more than enough group shots of heroes past and present, known,
familiar and unknown to keep us guessing.

The primary focus of this issue centers around the meta-human Gulag that
Superman and the new Justice League have built in the wasteland that used to be
Kansas.  As the story opens, Rev. Norman McCay and the Spectre are visiting the
prison, observing how the incarcerated metas are dealing with it.  What we see
is a troubling snapshot of meta-human society as it has developed.

>From here they travel to a meeting of the Galactic Lords and the Immortals who
have (in the past) interfered with the affairs of Earth.  Shazam (the wizard
who empowered Captain Marvel) is arguing that they should intervene in the
current crisis.  The others all seem to be against it, but you never know how
this group will react.  In addition, the question was raised last issue whether
or not Deadman could see Norman and the Spectre; considering how he pops in to
talk to Norman, it seems he can.

We next travel to the JL satellite where Superman and Wonder Woman are taking a
break and catching each other up on what has happened during the years of
Superman's retreat.  We come to see that the years have hardened Wonder Woman,
forcing her to become harder in her dealings with humans in general and the
other metas in particular.  The years have done little but strengthen
Superman's altruistic ideals.  Whether he and Wonder Woman will be able to
reach a compromise remains in question.

We then travel to the center of the Mankind Liberation Front, where we get a
chance to see how it was that Lex was able to pervert Captain Marvel into what
he has become.  It seems that Dr. Sivana and his little mind control worms have
been busy in the years of Superman's absence.  Billy Batson has been
brainwashed into the belief that super-powered humans are inherently evil --
that he has one inside of himself has split his personality, making him
susceptible to Luthor's control.  We follow Luthor to see how the union of the
MLF and Batman's group of metas are working together.  We also get to see a bit
more of who some of Batman's colleagues are and why they are working with him.

Back at the JL Satellite we see that not all of Superman's supporters are quite
as sure of what they are doing now.  Many of the younger ones seem to be
questioning the whole prison scheme.  When the meta prisoners riot, it is
Wonder Woman, not Superman who takes charge of the situation.  The heroes
follow her lead without question, showing that Superman is now more of a
figurehead than the leader that they thought him to be.

When Luthor and the MLF hear of the riot, Captain Marvel is sent off to break
down walls and release the metas.  The plan is to force the meta-humans into a
battle that will devastate both factions, leaving the world ripe for a
takeover.  Batman and his allies chose this time to come out from undercover to
try to stop Luthor and Marvel.  In a beautifully timed coup, they succeed in
stopping Luthor, but not before Marvel has gone off to join the battle.  The
book closes with the battle joined, and Marvel standing above Superman.

Rene' Gobeyn (gobeyn@kodak.com)

_______________________________________________________


MISCELLANEOUS APPEARANCES:
-------------------------

SUPERBOY ANNUAL #3, "Fathers and Suns"
    Writer:        Barbara Kesel
    Penciller:     Anthony Williams
    Inker:         Andy Lanning
    Colorist:      Tom McCraw
    Letterer:      Kevin Cunningham
    Assoc. Editor: Chris Duffy
    Editor:        Frank Pittarese
    Cover:         Anthony Williams and Andy Lanning
    1996
    $2.95 US/$4.25 CAN


RATINGS:

Average: 2.9/5.0 Shields

JS: 3.7 Shields - Pretty good story, though I wish a little more had been
        explored about Chala and the reasons women were forbidden to be metas.
        Fairly nice art by Williams and Lanning.
JG: 3.0 Shields - Interesting concept, and one of the better "Legends of the
        Dead Earth" annuals, but still not perfect.  I hope the '97 theme
        will be better...
VV: 2.0 Shields - Ehhh.  An okay story, with an okay premise.  But too many
        dangling threads for a self-contained story.


I've always enjoyed Barbara Kesel's writing, especially her joint effort with
her husband on HAWK AND DOVE some years ago.  She and Karl have a knack for
developing interesting supporting characters.  The main problem with that in
*this* case is that we've only got a one-issue story, and little time to
develop any of the supporting cast.  This was my primary complaint about the
book -- perhaps this story should have been fleshed out into a miniseries.

To understand one of my problems as it relates to the supporting cast, I need
to explain the introduction of the story.  Far in Earth's future, the leaders
of the planet needed some way to convince colonists to leave home and discover
more wealth for Earth.  So they began to establish vacation planets modeled
after ancient Earth civilizations.  This tale takes place on one such planet,
called Aztlan.

The crew that traveled to Aztlan were to build a replica of the ancient Aztec
culture, but as they were doing so, a revolution occurs on Earth, and the
colonists are trapped with no way to leave.  And without regular supply
shipments, many of the workers begin to fear for their survival.  Sanson, a
young worker who also happens to be a metahuman, uses his powers to impersonate
the Aztec sun god, Quetzalcoatl, and promises to deliver a hero with the powers
of the sun.  Shortly thereafter, Sanson reveals his "new" powers and becomes
the first Superman of this world.

The important thing about this introduction is that the workers are a diverse
group -- young and old, black and white, male and female.  There seems to be no
leaders among the group, and everyone appears to enjoy equal status.  This *is*
far in Earth's future.  

But I guess 500 years can be a long time.  The remainder of the book takes
place 500 years after the opening events.  Aztlan is now a thriving empire
based on the Aztec culture, and the people worship Quetzalcoatl through their
Superman.  The Supermen have chosen their own successors, leading the world
through their connection to the sun god.

The current Superman is an abuser of his power who rules with a savage fist. 
He chooses a young man to be his successor and begins to train this Superboy. 
But Superboy quickly learns of his leader's corruption.  While Superman trains
the boy for his debut at the upcoming meta-games, Superboy begins to search out
the truth about his position.  In doing so, he befriends a beautiful young
woman, Chala, who also has meta-human powers -- but they must keep this secret
because women are forbidden to have such abilities.  He also discovers the
previous Superman, whom the world believed dead.  Apparently, he choose his
successor poorly, and that power-hungry Superboy forced his early retirement.

Superboy begins to learn about himself and his people, and with the help of
these newfound friends, he eventually confronts Superman in a fight for his
very life.  Chala and the older Superman combine their powers to trick the
current Superman into fighting an illusory Quetzalcoatl.  But when Superman
discovers their treachery, the true Quetzalcoatl appears and destroys the "Man
of Steel."  Superboy refuses to take the title of Superman, instead choosing to
continue his training with the older Superman and Chala.

Fairly standard story of the younger hero replacing the corrupt older hero. 
Nonetheless, this was fairly well told.  The only real problem is, again, with
the supporting characters.  There simply wasn't enough time to elaborate on the
dethroning of the older Superman.  However, I wish that Mrs. Kesel would have
taken the time to explain how the society managed to step backwards with
regards to women.  Not only were females forbidden to have meta-powers, there
was another scene in which the Superman expects and takes sexual favors from
one city's fairest maiden.  This is a far cry from what was depicted in the
introduction.

The art here was good.  Williams and Lanning provide clean pencils and inks
with wonderful facial expression and detailed backgrounds.  Tom McCraw's colors
were generally nice, though a bit dark on occasion.  However, I suppose this
may have been done intentionally to help depict the nature of the corrupt
Superman.  I suppose the only thing I disliked about the art was the design of
a few of the meta-humans which competed against Superboy in the games.  

In short, the solid writing and art made this a pretty good annual, though I
still wish that the idea had been expanded to explain a few of the aspects of
the resulting society.

Jeff Sykes (sykes@ms.uky.edu)

===============================================

ALPHA CENTURION SPECIAL #1, "Protector of Earth?"
    Plot:       Barbara Kesel and Stuart Immonen
    Dialogue:   Barbara Kesel
    Pencils:    Dean Zachary
    Inks:       Wade von Grawbadger and Pam Eklund
                (with special thanks to Ray Snyder)
    Letters:    Ken Lopez
    Colors:     Glenn Whitmore
    Emperor:    Mike McAvennie
    Cover:      Stuart Immonen and Wade von Grawbadger
    1996
    $2.95 US/$4.25 CAN


RATINGS:

Average: 3.6/5.0 Shields

RG: Story: 3.5 Shields - A long overdue origin, good continuing plot.
    Art:   3.0 Shields - Good, but needed detailing and backgrounds.
JG: 4.3 Shields - Fantastic!  Fresh, new, fascinating.  Give me a miniseries!
        Anyone else think this might have been what Gerard Jones was planning
        to do with the Guardians?
JS: 3.0 Shields - Average story and art, but some absolutely huge developments
        left open for future books -- or the DC Universe as a whole...
VV: 4.0 Shields - I liked this book. Sure, it was a "Who do you trust?" story,
        but a good one.  I am interested in seeing where this one goes in the
        future -- will it be remembered or just easily dropped?


This book has been long overdue.  While this incarnation of Alpha Centurion
(Marcus Aelius) has been around since ADVENTURES #527, his true origin has
never been told in detail.  This book fills in the blanks and gives him a much
needed history and some character that has been missing.  We finally get to see
what has been happening to him since his Centurions (ex. Team Luthor) were
commandeered by Luthor a few months ago.

The art in the book suffered more than a little from the lack of backgrounds
and details that the regular Superman and Batman titles have.  The paper used
gave most of the colors a flat look that detracted a bit as well.

The story opens in Washington DC with a pointless and totally forgettable
battle with a new villain named Ephemera, who seems to have a passion for
history.  <yawn>  Marcus is contacted by the alien race (Virmiru) that trained
him and gave him his powers.

A large number of flashbacks takes us from Emperor Hadrian's court to the
Virmiru ship and home world where Marcus is trained and given his armor.  An
excellent summary, and a well-done origin.

We next meet the alien that was left on Earth when Marcus was taken away.  It
seems that he has come to appreciate Earth and humans in general, and has
decided to take our side in what will be some future invasion by the Virmiru.

After a few less pointless fights with both Foris (the original alien left on
Earth) and Bellator (the new alien contact), Marcus manages to defeat Bellator
and sends his body back to the Virmiru as a warning that Earth will not be
invaded unawares.

If this is a possible lead in to a new limited series for Alpha Centurion, I
couldn't tell, but the future invasion of Earth is a dangling plot that just
begs to be filled.  I do hope that DC will do something with it, but only the
future will tell.  Who knows, now that Alpha Centurion is in Washington, maybe
a tie in with the Steel story line will resolve it.

Rene' Gobeyn (gobeyn@kodak.com)

===============================================

NEW GODS #11, "Restoration"
    Guest-Starring Superman
    Writer:           Rachel Pollack
    Penciller:        Sergio Cariello
    Inker:            Brian Garvey
    Letterer:         Clem Robins
    Colorist:         Patricia Mulvihill
    Assistant Editor: Jason Hernandez-Rosenblatt
    Editor:           Paul Kupperberg
    Cover:            Stefano Raffaele
    September 1996
    $1.95 US/$2.75 CAN


RATINGS:

Average: 2.6/5.0 Shields

RG: Story: 3.5 Shields - Couldn't stand on it's own, wrapped up many
                         loose ends.
    Art:   3.0 Shields - Needed backgrounds and establishing shots.
JS: 2.0 Shields - Again Superman seemed out of place, but the art improved
        a little over last issue's.  


If you haven't been following this title and the companion books (MISTER
MIRACLE, TAKION) this one won't make much sense.  On the other hand, if you
have been, this one fills in many of the blanks and resolves the whole
'poisoning of the Source' story line.  This is a good thing, because starting
next month John Byrne takes over as writer of the title.  I don't know where
John will take it, but I'm sure it will be interesting.

The book had the feeling of being stretched out.  After re-reading the previous
issue, I felt there didn't seem to be enough story to justify making it into
two parts.  The artwork in this book was mostly large panels and splash pages,
and without any real justification (such as background elements that add detail
to the story) this grows old quickly.  The almost total lack of detail and
establishing shots made me think of (mostly) unconnected pin-up pages rather
than the wrap-up of an 11-issue plot line.

One of the nice things that happened is that we see Superman fighting against a
foe who has him totally outclassed.  This forces him to think of how to defeat
S'ivaa with Orion's help.

Superman and Orion are still battling to keep S'ivaa The Destroyer from
destroying all of reality.  High Father has already given himself to the Source
in an effort to make it whole again.  Darkseid has decided not to enter The
Source himself.  This will have the effect of the Source burning itself out. 
Superman, however, manages to trick S'ivaa into knocking Darkseid into the
Source, making it whole again, and trapping S'ivaa in the Wall of Titans.

Rene' Gobeyn (gobeyn@kodak.com)

_______________________________________________________


AFTER-BYRNE: Reviews of the post-Crisis Man of Steel
----------------------------------------------------

BLACKOUT!
---------
    by Mark Lamutt (markdl@netcom.com / mdlamut0@wcc.com)


Title:        SUPERMAN #62
Written by:   Dan Jurgens
Pencilled by: Dan Jurgens
Inked by:     Brett Breeding
Cover Date:   December 1991
Cover Price:  $1.00 US/$1.25 CAN/60p UK


"Blackout 4"

After skipping the series for a month, a quick review of the story is in order.
Superman and Mr. Z have been struck by a power surge emanating from a helmet
designed by Professor Hamilton.  The surge wiped out both of their memories
completely.  After being rescued by a group of French scientists, they are lost
once again when their plane crashes in the south pacific.  Floating on a life
raft for several days, they wash ashore on an island inhabited by the local
native tribe and multitudes of dinosaurs.  After several mishaps with the
tribe, Superman and Mr. Z find themselves being accepted -- especially now that
Superman is about to marry the chief's daughter!  Meanwhile, Lois has enlisted
the aid of Professor Hamilton and the Guardian to search for the Man of Steel. 
They are flying south in the Guardian's Whiz Wagon.  And finally, Lex Luthor II
has made his entrance to the city of Metropolis -- promising to do all he can
to help the extreme power outages the city has been experiencing.

Looking surprised, Superman looks over at Mr. Z and exclaims, "I can't be about
to marry this girl?  Can I?"

Looking even more surprised, Lois, upside down, exclaims, "Nooooo!  This really
can't be happening!  Can it?"  The Whiz Wagon has been attacked by pterodactyls
as it approaches the island our hero is marooned on, very much to everyone's
surprise in the vehicle.  Making some quick maneuvers, the Guardian manages to
avoid the pterodactyls while almost flying into the gaping maw of an awaiting
sea serpent.  Barely missing that trouble, the three approach the island,
hoping to find Superman.  Even though the island's magnetic field has rendered
the Whiz Wagon's instruments useless, the professor has built a device that can
track Superman's alpha brain waves.  Flying through the clouds, the trio spots
land, and through the Wagon's cameras, they also spot our hero about to be wed
to the island princess.  As Lois looks on in amazement, she stomps down on the
Whiz Wagon's accelerator, propelling them towards the ground and the wedding.

Just at the last moment, the Whiz Wagon pulls up, narrowly missing the ceremony
participants.  Superman, looking confused, asks Mr. Z whether this kind of
thing happens at all weddings.  As the craft lands, Lois rushes from the door
straight at Superman.  The three quickly attempt to explain to Superman who and
what he is to Metropolis and to the world.  And then the spears start flying at
Lois from the tribal princess.

Meanwhile, back in Metropolis, things are going from bad to worse.  On every
street, rioters and looters rule the night.  In one such street, two heroes
attempt desperately stem the tide.  Gangbuster and Thorn fight side by side in
a vain attempt to stop the masses.  As they are overwhelmed, a new figure leaps
from the darkness and turns the tide of the battle.   Although neither of the
heroes know who this new fighter is, he appears to be fighting on their side. 
He introduces himself as Agent Liberty.

In the bowels of the Metropolis power plant, Lex Luthor II and his crew have
designed and built machinery to supply the city with much needed power once
again.  As the system is engaged, lights around the city begin coming on.  The
city once again has the power it needs.

Back on the island, a battle of another kind rages on.  Lois and the princess
are going all out at each other, while Superman, the professor and Mr. Z stand
back and watch.  Professor Hamilton urges Superman to put a stop to the fight
before one of them gets hurt.  Not wanting that to happen, Superman breaks the
women up.  Meanwhile, Hamilton turns on Mr. Z, blaming him for this entire
mess.  Indignantly, Mr. Z stalks off through the jungle.

As he walks through the underbrush, Mr. Z still wonders about himself. 
Rounding a bend in the trail, he stumbles upon a baby dinosaur, staring at Mr.
Z with big, wide-open, adoring eyes.  Unfortunately, the baby's mother is
nearby, and reacts to Mr. Z's presence.  The result is a stampede headed
straight for the village!

Seeing the rampaging dinosaurs headed right for them, Superman and the Guardian
push the villagers, Lois, and the Professor behind them and prepare for the
attack.  A stegosaurus crashes into the Guardian's shield, putting a dent into
its indestructible surface.  Lois cries out to Superman to use his heat vision
to scare the animals away.  Not really knowing what he is doing, Superman lets
forth a burst that sets ablaze a fiery trail through the jungle.  The dinosaurs
turn tail and run.

A bit later, the Guardian tells Hamilton not to worry about Mr. Z, especially
when Superman needs their attention.  Meanwhile, Superman breaks off his
"engagement" with the princess.  All the while, Lois is trying to come up with
a solution to bring Superman back to his senses.  She thinks back to old movies
where the person always regained their memory after a long, smoldering kiss. 
Calling Superman over, she takes hold of him, and kisses him.  And kisses, and
kisses, and kisses.  As she steps back from our hero, she asks, "Well?"
Superman's reply: "WOW!  Lois?!"

Not only is this issue written well, it's just a lot of fun to read.  The story
moves along at a brisk pace, never staying in one place too long.  Dan manages
to draw most of the loose threads together, while keeping it entertaining.  As
the readers will recall in the part 3 of this arc, my biggest complaint with
Louise Simonson's writing was that she translated every word that the natives
spoke, spoiling some of the mystery and the mystique of the culture.  Dan
doesn't do that here -- in fact, he doesn't translate *any* of the native
dialect.  The writing style makes for a more enjoyable story.

As for the artwork, once again, a mostly superb job by Mr. Jurgens.  Twenty out
of the twenty-two pages are beautifully drawn.  There are only a couple of
exceptions -- namely with the way that he drew the fight between Lois and the
island princess.  But, all in all, a nicely done book.

All in all, this book gets 4.0 shields out of a possible 5.  Stay tuned next
time for the conclusion of Blackout in ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #485.

_______________________________________________________


THE PHANTOM ZONE: Reviews of the pre-Crisis Man of Steel
--------------------------------------------------------


THE GIRL FRIEND AND THE PAL:  LOIS AND JIMMY IN THEIR OWN COMICS
----------------------------------------------------------------
    By Jon B. Knutson (jonknut@eskimo.com)


Continuing the reviews from LOIS LANE GIANT 113...

"The Girl Who Mourned for Superman" (originally from LOIS LANE 43, Aug. 63) is
written by Leo Dorfman, with art by Kurt Schaffenberger, and begins with Lois
meeting the Jimmy Olsen fan club on the way to the Planet offices.  A storm is
brewing, and the kids were expecting Jimmy to demonstrate Ben Franklin's famous
kite and key experiment, but Jimmy hasn't shown up yet.  Lois agrees to help
them out, and when lightning strikes the kite, Superman shows up to stop the
flow of electricity before it could kill Lois.  He berates Lois for acting so
stupidly, but the kids insist that she was only trying to help.  Lois promises
not to be so careless and finishes getting to the Planet.

Strangely, when she gets there, Perry seems to think she's supposed to be on
vacation at her new bungalow she'd recently bought at Pine Lake (the Planet
pays real good, it seems).  Lois tells him it's next week she's going, and gets
an assignment to get an interview with the visiting queen of Morvania.  Since
the storm has cleared, she takes the Flying Newsroom to the airport, but as she
lifts it off the Planet building, it is sucked into a gigantic glass bowl,
which carries her to a distant island.  Lex Luthor greets her there, and tells
Lois she's bait in his latest plot to destroy the Man of Steel.  He creates a
hologram of Lois trapped within the bubble, and sends word to Superman that
he's captured Lois, and to rescue her if he dares.  He arrives at the island,
spots the projection, and when he lands, Luthor triggers a blast, exploding a
dozen bombs filled with liquid Kryptonite!  The blast, however, causes a
cave-in, and both Luthor and Superman are killed (Luthor insists it was worth
it).  Lois, freed by the flying debris shattering the bubble she was trapped
in, sees the dying Man of Steel, who insists that she keep his death a secret,
and that a robot double will replace him while the people of Kandor choose a
replacement for him.

After a good-bye kiss between Superman and Lois, the Superman Emergency Squad
arrives to bring Superman to a monument in space.  Lois flies back to
Metropolis, where she learns that the Queen of Morvania landed at a different
airport.  Lois still keeps Superman's death a secret, even when she's surprised
to see the Superman robot arrive at the Planet.  Lois is tormented being around
the robot, but it gets worse when Perry asks her to collect some information
about Superman's greatest deeds for the Vardor Galaxy.  Trying to forget
Superman, and being unable to be around his replacement, Lois starts dating
other men, but to no avail.  At a dance, she meets the ambassador from
Atlantis, who asks her to dance.  Lois insists he can't be the ambassador from
Atlantis, but learns he is ... and that Atlantis never sunk!  Lois discovers
that she's somehow passed into a parallel world, and so she drives up to Pine
Lake to tell her counterpart what happened.  Just as she's about to meet her
parallel self, Lois knocks a glass of water onto an electric typewriter, and
she's whirled back into time and space to her own dimension, returning at the
exact moment she left.

This story was kind of a "cheat," in some ways... as you read it for the first
time, you start wondering if Mort Weisinger forgot to add the "Imaginary Story"
tag on it, until Lois discovers she's gone to a parallel world.  At the end of
the story, all Lois can think of is how much luckier she is than her parallel
world counterpart ... not really feeling sorry for her, though!

Still, given the artist, I'm sure five shields out of five for the art won't
come as a surprise to anybody who's read previous columns of mine ... three out
of five shields for the story.

The last story in this annual is really something special...  "Superman's
Romance with Lana Lane!" from LL 41 (May 63) is the only non-Schaffenberger art
job of the issue; fortunately, it's art by Curt Swan, so there's no problem
there!

The story opens with Lois and Lana browsing through the Fortress of Solitude,
looking at slides, and finds one of "Lana Lane," Superman's lost sweetheart. 
Lois and Lana figure since Lana Lane looks like the two of them rolled into
one, that must be why Superman likes them both the same!  Superman arrives and
is surprised they don't remember Lana Lane at all ... and has them wear
"mento-helmets" to spark their memory.  Flashback begins...

Superman flew Lois and Lana to a valley inhabited by colonists from the planet
Zermb, who are returning home soon, so it's okay for them to write about the
Zermbs.  Lois and Lana are given Zermb clothing to fit in while they explore
the colony, and the two are drawn to an exhibit near the zoo featuring the
charms belonging to an evil sorceress, Malignia (and with a name like that,
she'd *have* to be evil!).  Lois and Lana ignore all the other times they've
encountered magic, and when they're left alone, Lois takes a picture of Lana
holding up a necklace, and then Lana takes one of Lois.  They don't realize
that this necklace has just caused a lamb and eagle to merge together, as well
as a parrot and a dog (shades of B'wana Beast!).  Lois puts on the necklace so
Lana can take another picture, and the two of them are merged together! 
Superman arrives, and as "Lana Lane" starts apologizing for all the rash and
foolish things Lois and Lana have done before, Superman realizes that he finds
their combination incredible, and proposes to the new LL.  They accept, and
kiss, and Supey flies off to create a honeymoon palace for them to live in
after they marry.  Returning to the colony, they learn that the magic
necklace's effect is only temporary, and once the merged beings split apart,
they die within minutes.

However, a magic Dragonette can save one of the merged forms!  Just then, Lana
Lane splits into Lois and Lana again, and Superman has to choose which one will
live.  Torn, he takes a rock from Zermb and squeezes it with super-pressure
while melting it with heat vision in hopes it'll then emit rays to save both of
them ... to no avail!  He then decides to flip a coin to decide who will live,
but flips too fast, the "coin" melting with air friction.  Lois volunteers to
sacrifice herself, but Lana insists Lois is only doing that to save her own
skin.  Superman finally chooses, but Lois realizes the time limit has passed,
and that they're both still alive. Supey figures the rock really did save them,
they just couldn't see the rays.  In the present again, Lois and Lana ask
Superman which he'd decided to save, but he plays it smart and says he'll never
tell them.

This was a really *fun* story, and one that's fairly popular among Silver Age
DC fans.  No contest here ... five shields out of five for story and art ... a
true treat for fans of the Weisinger-era Superman!

Just enough room this time around to review the first story in JIMMY OLSEN
GIANT 104, Aug.-Sept. 67, featuring Jimmy's weirdest adventures with his pal,
Superman!  "The Boy Who Hoaxed Superman" (artist and writer uncredited ... I'd
guess Plastino artwork, perhaps).  Jimmy goes to Perry White seeking a raise,
but Perry shows Jimmy a scrapbook he's kept of all the misspellings Jimmy'd
been responsible for in the Planet's headlines, and tells him to forget it
(guess Jimmy won't be buying a bungalow next to Lois' at Pine Lake any time
soon, eh?).  Later, Jimmy covers an experiment in suspended animation at a
scientific lab, in which animals are frozen alive in blocks of ice.  The person
responsible for these experiments, Professor Dekker, is hoping for a human
volunteer, and Jimmy volunteers gladly ... or does he?

At home, Jimmy unloads a lifelike dummy of himself and a microphone set.  He
then returns to the lab, places the dummy in the block of ice, and hides the
speaker for the microphone set under the dummy's collar.  When Dekker comes
into the room, he falls for the dummy being the real Jimmy (even though when it
talks its lips don't move ... he must've known that card Jimmy's also a
ventriloquist, eh?) and closes the ice block.  Superman arrives as word gets
out, and Dekker says Jimmy's safe so long as heat doesn't melt the ice (Supey
can't x-ray it to be certain, as his x-ray vision also projects heat).  Jimmy
sneaks home and creates a new identity for himself as Gilbert Knox to take his
own place at the Planet, using his knowledge to get the job easily.  Jimmy
figures if Gilbert is a flop in the job, they'll welcome back Jimmy gladly.

Superman, however, hasn't fallen for this one bit ... and decides to "help out"
by making Gilbert look like ten times the reporter Jimmy was!  "Gilbert"
becomes so successful that he gets his own private office and secretary, and
Jimmy figures he may as well stay Gilbert forever.  Superman figures this out
quickly, and forces Jimmy to return by melting the ice block with his heat
vision.  Jimmy takes his dummy's place just in time, and goes back to his old
job at the old salary ... plus he has to hear Perry talk about how great
Gilbert was.

Well, Jimmy's learned his lesson here ... or has he?  I'd give this story a
solid four shields (just because Jimmy really deserved what Superman put him
through, even though it isn't really what I like to see the Man of Steel
wasting his time on) out of five, and the artwork three shields out of five.

Next month:  More stories from that JIMMY OLSEN GIANT!  If you have any issues
of JIMMY OLSEN or LOIS LANE you'd like to see me review in future issues of KC,
or just want to offer some comments on this or other reviews, feel free to
e-mail me at jonknut@eskimo.com.

_______________________________________________________


INTO THE ARCHIVES
-----------------
    by Neil A. Ottenstein (otten@gluon.umd.edu)


SUPERMAN #7, Nov./Dec. 1940

The most notable change in this issue is that the mantle of editorship of The
Daily Planet has passed from Taylor to White.  There is no mention of what
happened to Taylor, though.  Other overall changes are that each story opens up
with a splash page and there are not as many other features in-between the
stories.  On the splash pages we are given a little summary of what is to
follow in each story.  Each of the four stories is 13 pages in length.

1) Superman saves prosecuting attorney George Lash from a frame by racketeers. 
Using some applied psychology he manipulates the killer into confessing before
the police.

2) A gas menaces the inhabitants of Gay City.  This story is a bit more in the
science fiction realm as this gas makes people fragile as if they were made of
glass.

3) Superman finds corruption in Metropolis and, using his powers to spy on the
people involved, manages to put them in the hands of the police.

4) The Daily Planet is scooped on a series of robberies.  Lois and Clark find
out why and Superman stops the felons.  More on this below.

In-between the stories there is a page for the Supermen of America Club which
has another secret message from Superman and Clark Kent telling readers to "hit
the line hard" which means "to be strong and fair and honest and sincere -- and
it also means being the sort of American who can hold up his head and be proud
to say 'I am a *real* American.'"  There is also a page of "fantastic facts," 
advertisements for the Superman radio show including one telling that "The
Return of the Yellow Mask" will begin in December, a text story -- "Rinaldo's
Revenge" -- wherein a thief learns the hard way that the head of a cobra can be
dangerous even when it has been severed, an advertisement for ACTION COMICS
telling about the other features besides Superman therein, a "Shorty" comic
strip, an advertisement for a Superman sweat shirt and other clothing, and
advertisements for other comic books.

The fourth story begins with editor Kennedy of The Morning Pictorial taunting
White of the Daily Planet about his reporter Peeker's latest scoop on "The
Black Gang."  Clark is amazed at how fast he gets the news, while Lois
suggests, "maybe he's Superman disguised as a reporter!"  White threatens them
that they need to get a story on "The Black Gang" or he'll get two new
reporters.

Lois suggests to Clark that they go visit night clubs and keep their eyes open.
Clark is thrilled to have a night on the town "all in the name of business,"
but Lois cautions him to "remember to keep your mind on business!"  When Clark
arrives at Lois' door he gets a big surprise as she has bleached her hair in
order to not be recognized.  She suggests he take off his glasses in order to
change his appearance as well.  Clark protests that he'll be "blind as a bat,"
but Lois insists.  He fears she will recognize him as Superman, but she is just
surprised to notice that his face is "actually handsome."  (Nothing more is
mentioned about Clark being "blind as a bat" without his glasses -- not even
any sight gags.  Lois does not notice.)

They go to the most glamorous night club in Metropolis -- The Green Hat.  After
being seated behind a pillar, Clark has to bribe the headwaiter in order to get
them to a table with a view.  Lois has a load of fake jewelry and she
encourages Clark to tip liberally in order to attract the attention of "The
Black Gang."  While Clark tips the dancing girls, Lois thinks, "He doesn't have
to overdo it!"  He then tips more to get the orchestra leader to play "Star
Dust."  While dancing, Lois tells him he plays his role "almost *too*
naturally!"  Clark responds, "just obeying instructions implicitly, my dear!"

The headwaiter tells Peeker and an associate about the couple "tossing money
around as tho they owned the mint!"  Peeker says they would make a nice item
for his column and introduces himself to Lois and Clark, who take on the
identities of Oklahoma socialites Ralph Carlson and Kay Andrews.  Peeker's
associate leers at Lois, much to Clark's consternation.  Lois thinks that
"Clark simply can't stand that other man paying *me* attention."  That man cuts
in on the dance and Clark's mood takes a turn for the worse.  He introduces
himself to Lois as Frank Jordan and joins Lois and Clark at their table.  A
friend of his, Jane Day, then joins them.  Clark is upset that Lois is paying
so much attention to Jordan.  Jane asks Clark to take her home and Jordan tells
him he'll take care of Lois.  Clark is upset that Lois seems to insist that he
leave, but he thinks she must have a good reason.

Jane starts to make moves on Clark in the back of their car.  Clark is quite
nervous, but soon a black sedan forces their cab to the curb.  It is "The Black
Gang!"  Jane tells Clark not to resist.  They ask for his wallet and smack him
on the back of his head.  They are quite surprised that this doesn't seem to
bother him as he runs away.  They fire their guns at him and Clark is upset
that his suit is ruined by the bullets bouncing off his back.  They are amazed
that they "missed him."  Clark returns as Superman to see Jane being "forced"
into their car.  He overhears her being told, "a fine decoy you turned out to
be."  (A slight coloring error is made in this panel as her hair is now blond
instead of brown and her outfit green instead of red, thus matching the look of
the disguised Lois with the exception of hair length.)

Meanwhile Jordan invites Lois to a "livelier place."  He soon drives into a
garage and snatches her purse.  He removes her revolver from her purse and
orders her out of the car and into a building.  Superman soon sees the black
sedan entering that garage.  "The Black Gang" tell Jordan of their bad luck,
and he shows them Lois' jewelry while one member ties Lois to a chair. 
Superman is about to enter when he sees Peter Peeker arrive to see how things
went.  He is surprised to see that the jewels are imitations and finds Lois'
press-card in her purse.  He tells them he is leaving and advises them to kill
her and then leave town.  They want him to do the shooting, as "The Black Gang"
was his idea, and they threaten to shoot him if he won't.

Superman bursts in, quickly takes care of them all, and frees Lois.  They find
the loot and Lois calls the police.  After the police arrive, Superman leaves
and Clark arrives.  Peeker protests that he was captured trying to get the
news.  Clark hears the call of the Morning Pictorial Extra and returns with a
copy.  Inside the paper is Peeker's column about the holdup of Kay Andrews and
Ralph Carlson -- he sent in notices of the holdups before they happened!  Back
at the Planet, White apologizes to them and tells them they're "still the two
best reporters in town!"  Lois responds, "with Superman on our side we can't
lose!"

This was quite a fun story with lots of good dialogue and looks between Lois
and Clark.  The name of the reporter, Peter Peeker, instantly brings to mind
Peter Parker.  Clark's feelings for Lois are clearly shown here.  It is
surprising that he doesn't know what Lois is up to when she has them split up
at the club.  Still he does have other things on his mind.  This seems like it
would make the heart of a fun television episode.

_______________________________________________________


SUPER FRIENDS
-------------
    by Joe Crowe (j.crowe4@genie.com)


First the bad news. I am having absolutely zero luck finding DC PRESENTS #27-
29.  Sigh.  If anybody out there would like to help me out via trade, I'd be
mighty happy to do that.  Now the good news.  This month a double dip; two,
two, two reviews in one.  They costar two of the niftiest heroes in comics. 
Superman's in there too!


DC COMICS PRESENTS #24
    Superman and Deadman in "The Man Who Was the World"
    Writer: Len Wein
    Artist: Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez
    August 1980
    Cover Price: $0.40

Rating: 3.5 Shields

Deadman is the ghost of Boston Brand, a murdered circus aerialist.  Rama
Kushna, the "spirit of the universe," has given him a chance to right wrongs as
a spirit with the power to possess the living.  In the opening scene, Deadman
bellows "I QUIT!"

Recent failures have racked up on Mr. Brand, and he's been disappointed to the
point of demanding his eternal rest.  One more mission, says Rama.  Deadman
grudgingly agrees, and Rama teleports him into the middle of a city
experiencing an earthquake.  Deadman possesses an old man and saves his life
from falling rubble.  But that still doesn't even the score, says Deadman, as
he wonders where he is.

His question is answered as Superman appears.  Deadman watches Superman take
care of business, then a man runs up to the big S on the street, and has a
heart attack.  The man gasps that he must be taken to STAR Labs.  Superman
obliges, and Deadman tags along, wondering what's going down.

The guy is a scientist with heart trouble, and he's developed a "cardialink" to
fix his bum ticker.  One piece attaches to the guy's chest (ick) and the other
goes to the center of the Earth.  The guy assumed that the Earth's rhythm would
correct his heart, but instead he's causing the Earth to have a big heart
attack.  Always "me, me, me" with this guy.

Anyway, the scientist has a lovely daughter, who has a lowlife punk boyfriend,
who works for an elderly crime boss, who wants to live forever.  Deadman
follows the scumbucket to the crime boss and finds out the whole deal.  Then he
follows the bad guys to STAR Labs, where they jump on the scientist and give
him another heart attack.  Rama Kushna mouths off something smart at Deadman,
who basically then tells her to get out of his Kool-Aid.  He goes to get
Superman.

He possesses the S-Man and flies him to STAR, where he rounds up the thugs. 
The old crime boss dies, and the thugs give up.  The heart attack is too far
along, but Superman refuses to let the scientist die.  He heads for the Earth's
core.  Meanwhile, Death (who wasn't a girl back in 1980) makes a grab for the
scientist, but Deadman gives Death a sock in the jaw.  Superman turns off the
cardialink and offers to perform super-surgery on the scientist, grinning all
the way.  Rama Kushna offers Deadman his eternal rest again, but Deadman
refuses, confident now that he punched out Death.


DC COMICS PRESENTS #42
    Superman and the Unknown Soldier in "The Specter of War!"
    Writer: Paul Levitz
    Artist: Irv Novick
    February 1982
    Cover Price: $0.60

Rating: 3.25 Shields

Superman blows the radioactive cloud from a nuclear test out into space.  He's
really ticked off.  He goes to Perry White and asks about doing a story on the
causes of war and "why the human race keeps trying to commit suicide!"  Perry
says "that's philosophy, not journalism."  Then a military officer comes in
with an envelope for Clark Kent.  The message inside reads "Dear Superman."

Superman tries to find the soldier, but he's vanished.  His superhearing picks
up a nuclear warhead about to go off inside a silo, the same place his note
warns him about.  He defuses the bomb.  At the North Pole, Santa Claus is
nowhere around (that's another issue of DCP), but a bunch of military
survivalists are.  They have a gizmo that will set off all the nuclear warheads
in the world.  At the Pentagon, Clark Kent is arrested, but a general meets the
MPs and orders his release.  The general passes him another note and says "I
know who you are and I know you're not a simpering coward, so drop the act!" 
The general disappears.

Superman flies up to the JLA satellite and Red Tornado grouses about being just
a machine for about two panels, then helps Supes dig through the computer
files, which took a long time back in the old days, kids.  He finds the file on
the Unknown Soldier, a badly disfigured secret agent master of disguise in
World War II whose only giveaway was that he scratched at the neck of his
masks.

The satellite pinpoints the North Pole base, and Superman heads there.  A
soldier has arrived there on orders, but is captured by the survivalists.  They
aim their gizmo, which goes off just as Superman gets there.  He flies off to
save the whole shebang.  The survivalists plan their escape ... until a voice
from off panel says "You're sittin' out the rest of *this* war!"

Superman defuses all the missiles in the world, just in the nick.  When he gets
back to the North Pole, NATO is there, having collared the bad guys after a
soldier rousted them and marched them to the authorities.  The soldier then
vanished, Superman is told.

Clark Kent places a wreath at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier and whispers
"thanks."  A groundskeeper watches him from afar, then scratches the back of
his neck and says "anytime."

Ah, for the halcyon days of weird comics heroes.  I miss the Creeper.  Anyway,
both of these stories, if you noticed, had a twist.  Superman never knowingly
hooked up with either of his partners.  Both of them involved the world about
to end, a threat out of the league of either of the co-stars, but a perfect fit
for the Man of Steel.

Neither co-star was out of his element, as often happened in Superman team-ups.
The world-saving was left to Superman in both.  Deadman's contribution was on
a spiritual level, and the Unknown Soldier was involved in military intrigue.

The Deadman story focused on the co-star, also unusual.  Deadman was given a
sense of purpose again, while Superman zipped through, never knowing the whole
story.  It was very gratifying to see the wide grin on Deadman in the last
panel.  He deserves it.  Now if somebody can convince artists nowadays to stop
drawing him like he hasn't eaten in an eternity.

Speaking of artists, I love me some Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez!  What great stuff. 
Superman grins like a doofus and furrows his brow angrily.  Old supporting
character and STAR scientist Jenet Klyburn clicks a pen against her gleaming
white teeth.

This story was the Unknown Soldier's only foray ever into action outside World
War II except for a 12-issue maxi-series a while back, post-Crisis, that I
never got hold of.  Another gratifying ending without being sappy, as Superman
tells the soldier that they are "soldiers for life."

A unifying theme here was the belief by both co-stars in the indomitability of
Superman.  Neither of them doubted the Man of Steel, despite neither being able
to talk to him directly.  Both of them knew that if they could get Superman, he
would take care of business.  That's his job.

_______________________________________________________


THE WEDDING OF LOIS AND CLARK
-----------------------------
    by Emes Votzedek (hershst@cpmail-am.cis.columbia.edu)


It has been announced that Lois and Clark will marry in the third episode of
the new season.  Can't you see the press releases in your imagination?  After
58 years, Clark and Lois finally tie the knot.  Superman is certainly a very
patient man.

Actually, many of us in fandom know better.  We remember the Clark Kent and the
Lois Lane who first appeared in ACTION COMICS #1 back in June 1938 getting
married quite some time ago.

As the top line of the cover announced, it was the fortieth anniversary of
ACTION COMICS.


                               ACTION COMICS #484

                               Story by Cary Bates
                         Art by Curt Swan and Joe Giella
                Cover by Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez and Dick Giordano
                      Letters by Ben Oda, Colors by T. Wood
            Edited by Julius Schwartz, Assisted by E. Nelson Bridwell
                                   June 1978


This story was presented as a flashback in the world of comics.  The "original"
Clark and Lois were then said to live on a parallel Earth called Earth-2. 
Comics were canceled on our world when the Earth-2 heroes retired.  Now you
know why the "Golden Age of Comics" ended.  The "Silver Age of Comics" began
when super-heroes appeared on Earth-1 from the 1950's through the 1980's.  In
ACTION COMICS #484, we learned the reason for a one year-long retirement of
Superman of Earth-2.

The story begins in earnest with a clever take on the line we all know.  "Look!
Up in the Sky!  Is it a bird?  A Plane?  No!  It's the Mechanical Marauders!" 
These flying robots were involved in a bank heist.  Colonel Future was the
culprit behind this crime.  He stole blueprints of new weaponry in order to use
them for crime.  But he was no match for Superman, who destroyed his robots.  A
frustrated Colonel Future abducted the Wizard (he's an Earth-2 Golden Age
villain who made trouble for the Justice Society, so *please* forget about
Gareb Shammus' fanzine for the remainder of this article), who considered
turning his captors into newts and toads.  Anxious to learn more about Colonel
Future, he allowed himself to be taken to C-F's lair.  There the Wizard turned
the room upside down and learned that C-F wanted Superman eliminated.  In
return for this small favor, Colonel Future offered the Wizard the Glastonbury
Wand, reputed to be the handiwork of Merlin.  Having already stolen the
Glastonbury Wand, the Wizard refused.  C-F revealed that his men already stole
the real thing, and the Wizard possessed a fake replica.  Realizing why his
relic never responded to his spells, the Wizard now agreed to the deal.

Meanwhile, Clark and Lois were out strolling while the C-F gang were engaged in
robbery with their high-powered bazookas.  Clark sensed the attack with his
super-hearing and pushed Lois out of harm's way.  Lois observed Clark disappear
at this sign of danger, as he typically was known to do.  Then Superman pursued
the hoodlums and apprehended them.  He threatened to drop them unless they
provided information about their boss.  Just then the Wizard was chanting his
spell.  Superman literally descended into the Earth beneath a large image of
the Superman shield.  That's all, folks.  No blood.  No gore.  Not even a
scratch!  The sequence showing the magical "death" of Superman took only six
panels spread over two halves of two pages.  (By the way, Superman did drop the
gangsters.  No stoolies, these guys.  This original Superman had a sense of
humor and you get to understand why these graphic stories were called *comic*
books)

The magical shield was not to be a memorial to the Man of Steel.  Gradually the
emblem reverted to normal soil as a familiar figure emerged from the ground --
Clark Kent!  Knowing nothing of his former alter ego, Clark went about his
regular job of reporting the news for the Daily Star.  Clark went beyond his
journalistic duty and led attacks against crime.  All the while, he honestly
wondered what had become of Superman.  Lois was impressed by Clark's bravery. 
No longer did Clark act as though he had no spine, as Lois accused earlier in
this issue and many others.  With no need to disguise himself in a way that no
one would suspect him of being Superman, Clark acted like his honest self.  In
the space of less than two pages, Clark proposed and married Lois.  Then they
were off to Bermuda for the honeymoon.

Colonel Future noticed this new hero.  He sent hitmen in a mini-submarine to
assassinate him.  They hit Clark directly on the back while swimming.  When he
emerged unscathed, they assumed their weapon was faulty and ran off.  Lois was
watching the entire incident.  Frightened that she was losing Clark, she ran
closer to learn he was unharmed after taking enough fire power to sink a PT
boat.  This version of Lois often suspected Clark of leading a double life --
in this very issue she had hidden a camera in a storeroom where Clark often
changed into and out of his Superman costume.  (He didn't always use a phone
booth, you know.)  Superman was always ready for Lois, and he fogged up the
film with his x-ray vision.  Many times Lois thought she had proof that Clark
and Superman were one and the same, but Superman gave some demonstration that
it could not be so.  The snoopiness of this "classic Lois" led to the
restoration of Superman's career.  That night Lois tried to snip her husband's
hair just in case she had been right all these years.  The invulnerable locks
broke the scissors!  And this time, there was no Superman to disprove Lois'
assertion!

Lois felt bad at first that Clark did not reveal the truth to her even after
the marriage.  But in light of Superman's disappearance, Lois suspected that
Clark himself truthfully forgot everything.  Would Clark regain his Superman
identity?  We all knew that would happen somehow, but we did not know how
heroic Lois would be.  Lois was well aware that Superman never seriously
considered marrying Lois as long as he had the duties of his career.  If
Superman would regain his memory, Lois expected him to leave her immediately. 
But the world needed a SUPERMAN.  Lois researched the various claims of
responsibility for the disappearance of Superman.  After many hours in the
archives she came across something really unexpected about one Frederick P.
Garth.  She found him in Metropolis Park, ragged and unkempt.  Garth revealed
to Lois that he used to be the Wizard, but could no longer cast a spell. 
Unable to prove that he was really responsible for the vanishing of the Man of
Steel, he lost his confidence.  Lois believed him and advised him how to regain
his self-respect.  Selflessly, Lois suggested that the Wizard cast a
counter-spell at a public press conference.  In the face of public derision,
the Wizard (dressed like a proud magician) concentrated and he succeeded.  What
followed was no surprise.  Superman returned and captured the Wizard
immediately.  Colonel Future realized that his career was almost finished.

What came next was a surprise.  Superman revealed an unseen side of his
character.  As Clark showed Lois what love really is (alluded to in one thought
balloon on the top of page 15), Superman announced that he came to realize how
much he loved Lois.  Lois was stunned by Superman's decision to remain in the
marriage.  In fact, he solemnized it at the issue's end -- and only full-page
illustration -- with a Kryptonian style ceremony.  In my youth I did not take
the footer on the cover seriously.  "Superman Takes a Wife.  -- His most
sensational feat!"  Right.  Explain that to a ten year old.  Page one reminded
us of the Superman we all thought we knew.  "With powers and abilities far
beyond those of mortal men  ... who can change the course of mighty rivers ...
bend steel in his bare hands ..."  That was Superman.  He "long ago decided
that there was one woman in the world he *loved* so deeply that he *had* to
have her by his side."  Yes, Superman had duties to Earth, but that would not
stop him from being true to himself and finding time for a family.  Balancing a
major league career with demands of a family ... truly a job for Superman.

This event was foreshadowed one year before in a special letter column that
appeared in the 1977 SUPERMAN SPECTACULAR.  DC tried to publish books with 63
pages of story that could sell at the same price as other magazines.  In this
way, DC hoped to sign on news dealers who refused to stock 35 cent comic books
with seventeen story pages for small profits.  Yes, here was a book that could
sell for a dollar back in the days of Jimmy Carter.  In a special column,
various pros and devoted fans discussed the notion of letting Clark marry Lois
in the regular continuity.  Gerry Conway was certain that Lois was the wrong
woman for Krypton's Last Son.  Absolutely incompatible!  (Snoopy, reckless,
thoughtless, and heartless.  What good did Superman see in her?  According to
her characterization in the stories of the day, this was an irrefutable
argument!  In the story being reviewed, she is selfless and heroic.  Perhaps
her frustrated ambitions to marry the Man of Steel changed her true character
all the previous years.)  Len Wein could not see Superman doing the chores that
a good father must do.  Denny O'Neil recognized the Lois/Clark/Superman
triangle as part of the formula which had made Superman the world's most
popular super-hero for so long.  But the fans cried out for the wedding! 
Retired long-time editor Mort Weisinger came to the fans' aid with the idea of
a separate series about a "Mr. and Mrs. Superman."  Following this issue of
ACTION, it began in the back pages of SUPERMAN and carried over to the pages of
SUPERMAN FAMILY, another high-priced "Dollar Comic."  With the inflation of the
Reagan years, there was no room left for this series as page counts diminished.
Shortly after, the concept of Earth-2 was discarded in the CRISIS ON INFINITE
EARTHS.  Happily, we first got this glimpse of the natural progression of the
Lois and Clark relationship here.

This was quite a story.  It was truly solicited as a flashback to the past, but
it honestly turned out to be a harbinger of the future!  Good story-telling by
Swan.  Unspectacular, but adequate inking by Giella.  I imagine that he was
chosen because he was not a regular in the Superman stable, thus automatically
giving the Earth-2 Superman a different look.  Thanks to Bates for an engaging
story that just got better and better every time I read it!  He put in real
effort to put in characterization beyond the standards of his time, all within
the constraints of twenty-two pages.  

It was a delight to see Clark be able to act as his true self, so that Lois
would be attracted to him for who he really was.  Likewise, it was great to see
how much Lois' character changed once she could be united with the man that she
loved.  This was the true magic of the story, although the bride and groom gave
credit for their happiness to the magic of the Wizard.  A good read, and a
portent of better things to come.  Four shields.

_______________________________________________________


TELEscopic VISION: 
------------------
    Superman on the Small Screen


This month we have an article by Zoomway on the Los Angeles FoLCFest.  As an
attendee I can tell you it was great -- well, except for "the march of death". 

We also have a special treat for you this month in the form of an interview
with Ma Kent herself, K Callan!  Only one episode review this month, however,
as we wind down towards the debut of the fourth season.  This month, Dean
Cain's episode, "Virtually Destroyed".

The long summer drought is going to be coming to an end late in September. 
VARIETY and HOLLYWOOD REPORTER have both published schedules with LOIS AND
CLARK starting on September 22 with the first half of the two hour season
premiere.  I have heard from the production office that ABC has reserved the
right to start the season on September 29 by showing both parts of the premiere
in a two hour block, essentially as had originally been planned.  Once the
season gets underway, the good news is that barring Presidential debates (any
League of Women Voter Members out there?), we should see a string of new
episodes through the end of November -- with only *one* pre-emption!

Also, as many of you may have heard by now, the third episode (tentatively
October 6) will *finally* feature the real wedding of Lois and Clark!  You
heard me right -- no frogs, clones, Lex, amnesia, or unscrupulous doctors!  And
the following episode will focus on the honeymoon!  (Get your mind out of that
gutter right now! :)

As some of you may remember -- John McNamara and Dean Cain wrote letters, that
we published, requesting people register to become bone marrow donors, because
their friend, Kathy Meyers-Grabemann needed one.  Mr. McNamara has written me
about how Kathy is doing, and I thought I would pass the message on to all of
you.

"We are so moved by the response Dean's letter to our LOIS AND CLARK fans has
created.  It's nice to know that people will take time out of their otherwise
very busy lives to try and help and be concerned for a complete stranger.

As for Kathy's current health, we are hopeful.  We have found possible donors; 
however, she must be put back into remission before any further test matching
can be done.  We're sure she will be back in remission any day now and be able
to travel to Seattle, WA for her transplant."

Nancy

_______________________________________________________


GREAT X-PECTATIONS

Episode #3-10: "Virtually Destroyed"
------------------------------------
    by Diane Levitan (levitan@earthlink.net)


US Airdate:      December 10, 1995

Guest Starring:  Andrew Mark Berman as Jaxon Xavier
                 Andrew Bryniarski as X (Kombat)
                 Paula Poundstone as The Voice of the Computer
                 Thomas Bailey as the man 
                 Erin Donovan as the computer voice/off-screen.

Teleplay by:     Dean Cain
Story by:        Dean Cain and Sean Brennan
Directed by:     Jim Charleston


"Virtually Destroyed," or VD as the FoLCs so affectionately call it, is
actor/writer Dean Cain's second LOIS AND CLARK script.  With promises of
stellar special effects and hints of long-awaited hanky panky between Lois and
Clark, VD had a lot to live up to.  Fortunately, the episode largely deserves
its prime billing, and while Jaxon Xavier proves to be as disposable as most of
the third season's Kleenex villains, Cain more than makes up for this with his
characterization of Lois and Clark.  VD deals with a subject that needed to be
raised before the ultimately abortive wedding -- that of Lois and Clark's
sexual history -- and Cain manages to do so in an adult, yet
prime-time-suitable manner.  In doing so, he keeps with the feel that Deborah
Joy LeVine established during the show's first season, and proves that he cares
deeply about the show and its future.

>From the beginning, Cain has stressed his status as a writer.  As he tells it,
he originally came to Hollywood to write, and only turned to acting to support
himself.  Hence, it was perhaps inevitable that he would end up writing for
LOIS AND CLARK, and his first effort, the second season Christmas episode
"Season's Greedings," was well received.  Like "Season's Greedings," however,
"Virtually Destroyed" suffers from a not-so-convincing villain, in this case
Jaxon Xavier, a virtual reality wizard who insists on being called "X".  X is a
Hulk-like virtual reality alter ego Jaxon has created, and the episode opens
with a virtual reality fantasy that recalls Lex's flight of fancy from the
first season episode "The House of Luthor."

Jaxon/X is not without his virtues -- he offers Cain a chance to poke fun at
his own character, as Jaxon refers to Clark as "Mr. GQ," and takes delight in
beating him up as X.  While Cain himself has admitted to being largely computer
illiterate, having his villain be "a geek with a lot of RAM" has its amusing
points, and those of us online can't help but giggle at Jimmy being suddenly
transformed into a computer genius, or Perry's mistrust of "those machines." 
Andrew Mark Berman, better known from recent Nestle Crunch commercials, makes a
slightly annoying Jaxon.  Annoying would be fine, if it were not for the fact
that Cain makes Jaxon Lex Luthor's illegitimate son, and the episode turns
around his nebulous plans to take over his father's mind control programs
through VR.  Cain was rather unhappy that ABC spoiled the fact that Jaxon is
Luthor's son, but Jaxon, even with a sidekick computer voiced by comedian Paula
Poundstone, is simply not interesting enough for it to matter.  We expect more
from our Luthors.

Luckily, the A-plot can easily be dispensed with, and provides a backdrop for
the cast and crew of LOIS AND CLARK to play against.  The special effects
budget was clearly upped for their star's episode, and it pays off in the
creation of X's virtual reality "world."  The morphing effects are fun to
watch, especially one in which the virtual X comes to life from a Tazmanian
Devil (love the WB connection) poster, but just as important are the fight
scenes and virtual Metropolis.  The episode makes heavy use of twins and
primary colors to give a computer-created, repetitive feel to the virtual
world.  While the cuts back to the "real world" of Lois and Clark groping in
their virtual reality goggles and gloves are awkward, overall the episode
creates a fun, if completely unrealistic, computer fantasy.

The acting and character interaction in the episode are high points, and it
seems that the cast is enjoying themselves throughout it.  Cain does an
excellent job playing Jaxon disguised as Clark, managing to copy Berman's
mannerisms and body language, so that we find ourselves yelling at "Clark" as
he embraces Lois.  From the episode, it is especially obvious that Cain likes
Justin Whalin, who plays Jimmy Olsen, and their camaraderie both on and off
screen is quite apparent.  Jimmy's "I'm the king of video games" takes on a
whole new meaning if you know that Cain and Whalin are often to be found in
Cain's trailer trying out the newest Nintendo game.  He writes the relationship
between Jimmy and Perry very well, and while it may not be the comical, "yes,
Chief" relationship of season one, it has warmth and friendship.

The most important scene, however, and the one with the most repercussions for
the show as a whole, is one in which Lois and Clark discuss their past
relationships.  Taking place, appropriately enough, at Gabby's Deli, the scene
is less awkward and comical than an earlier discussion at the Planet, in which
Lois first tests the waters regarding Clark's sexual history.  She is more
blunt in their second go-round, but surprisingly enough, and to Cain's credit,
there is not a single mention of the word "sex" in the entire episode.  Relying
instead on metaphor, we eventually learn that Lois considers all of her past
relationships disasters, while Clark, despite having dated, has never crossed
"the intimacy threshold."  Lois is surprised, and a little upset, but seems to
come to grips with the fact that Clark is a "v..very patient man," and even
expresses regret that she hadn't "waited" herself.  While I think that Cain
takes his portrayal of Lois as a poor, wounded soul a little far, overall the
scene is a good one, and well acted by both Hatcher and Cain.

To satisfy the drool quotient, the episode does include the most prolonged
"makeout scene" between Lois and Clark to date, and while it doesn't progress
quite as far as Dean and Teri's interviews on such programs as ENTERTAINMENT
TONIGHT led us to believe, it was enough to make this viewer blush.  Like
"Season's Greedings," plot is not the strong point of "Virtually Destroyed,"
but Cain proves that he has thought long and hard about the characters of Lois
and Clark, and cares about the direction in which they are taken.  Cain
obviously sees these characters as real people, and opens up new directions for
the show to explore.  Whether they do or not remains to be seen; I, for one,
have even greater expectations for the honeymoon.  Let the games begin...

_______________________________________________________


AN INTERVIEW WITH K CALLAN
--------------------------
    Conducted by Nancy L. Jones
    

K Callan took time out of her busy schedule revising a new edition of her book
"The Life of the Party", participating in charity events, remodeling her house,
and playing TV's favorite mom and what, to many, is the definitive Martha Kent
on LOIS AND CLARK: THE NEW ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN.

K Callan was born one January 9 in Dallas, TX.  At the time, she was named
Katherine but was called Kay.  Kay was then whittled down to just plain K
without a period -- "because my husband thought it was cool."

K has done many things in her life.  On the career front she has taught high
school physical education and drama, been a professional singer, modeled,
worked conventions taking pictures of all the guests, written books, and served
as a member of the Board of Directors at Screen Actors' Guild.  She moved to
New York to pursue her career in acting and then on to LA.

K started acting as a child.  Not only did she put on plays in her backyard,
but as a preschooler, she was drafted into service for plays at the school her
older brother and sister attended.

After graduating from college, K apprenticed at the famed Margo Jones Repertory
Theatre in Dallas.  While working as a high school teacher she wrote and
produced plays, directed community theater, and started her own Children's
Theatre Group that performed in Dallas.

MOVIES

A Change of Season, A Touch of Class, Joe, American Gigolo, The Onion Field,
Frankie and Johnny, Fast Break, Flight of Black Angel, Fast Walking, This House
Possessed, The Unborn

TV SHOWS AND TV MOVIES

Ike: The War Years (mini), Blind Ambition: The John Dean Story (mini), Married:
The First Year, Splendor in the Grass (movie), Cutter to Houston (series),
Hollywood Wives (mini), Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (series),
Day By Day (series), Joe's World (series), Making Babies (mini)

TV GUEST ROLES

All in the Family, Coach, Deep Space 9, Quantum Leap, Bosom Buddies, Sara,
Remington Steele, Dallas, LA Law, Moonlighting, Night Court, Barney Miller,
Fish, One Day at a Time, Fernwood Tonight, Police Squad, The Waltons, Rhoda,
Rags to Riches, Hunter, Father Murphy, Lou Grant, Aftermash, Highway to Heaven,
etc.

Format notes:  All informational comments are preceded by "NJ:" Each of Ms.
Callan's remarks are preceded by "KC:"


PREPARATION FOR THE ROLE

nancy in chicago (nljfs@aol.com) asks:
How well did you know the Superman story before LOIS AND CLARK?  Did you ever
read the comics?  Watch the movies (serials and Christopher Reeves versions) or
original TV show?  Were you a Superman fan?

    KC: I read Superman comics when I was a little girl and named my first
        cat Lois Lane, so I guess I was looking for female role models
        even then.

What sort of image did you have of Martha Kent before reading the LOIS AND
CLARK script?

    KC: A nice little old lady with a print blouse, white hair, and a bun.

Did your assessment of the character change when you read the LOIS AND CLARK
pilot script?

    KC: Totally.  When you read a script where the character welds, you don't
        think of her in a print blouse and a bun!

Lee K. Seitz (lkseitz@hiwaay.net) asks:
Have you ever read any of the comic books featuring Jonathan and Martha?

    KC: Not really.

What/who do you base your character on?

    KC: I based it on what Deborah Joy LeVine (the writer of the pilot) had
        on the page.  What she wrote just sparked my imagination.


MARTHA KENT IN THE FOURTH SEASON

NJ: From what the producers and writers told a group of FoLCs touring WB
Studios, **minor spoilers** the 2 hour season opener has become a two-parter. 
The third episode is going to be the wedding (for real, this time) and the 4th
the honeymoon.  LOIS AND CLARK will be doing 23 episodes this season (one more
than usual due to the 2 hour opener).  K will be in the same number of episodes
as in previous years -- "one more than half."

nancy in chicago (nljfs@aol.com) asks:
Have you seen the script for the season opener?  Do you think the FoLCs will
like it?

    KC: We are in the middle of filming right now.  I think the FoLCs will
        like it.

How do you think that Lois and Clark's upcoming marriage will affect your
character?  Your character's relation with Clark and Lois?

    KC: I think that Lois and Clark's upcoming marriage will not change my
        relationships with either Lois or Clark in any major way.  I will get
        to know Lois better and we will probably do more girl talk.  I have
        no idea what the writers have planned, but imagine it will be very
        close to real life -- now, we feel we have gained a daughter.

What do you think of Lois knowing that Clark is Superman?

    KC: I think it opens things up a lot.  There is no way that they could get
        married if she didn't know who he was.  I love how Lois is able to
        cover for Clark now.

nancy in chicago asks:
After 3 seasons of being Martha Kent, is the role becoming routine?  Do you get
many challenges from the part?

    KC: Not too many challenges, no.  Hopefully more this year.


ON THE SET

NJ: Although every day is different when K is working on LOIS AND CLARK, her
typical call time is 6:30 a.m. and a day is nearly always 12 hours long, and
sometimes they can be 18 hours long since LOIS AND CLARK typically goes
overtime.  By Friday, they are trying to finish everything that didn't get done
earlier and have been known to shoot until 7:00 a.m. on Saturday.

Lee K. Seitz (lkseitz@hiwaay.net) asks:
How well does the cast get along with each other?  Specifically, how well do
you get along with Mr. Jones and Dean Cain?

    KC: The whole cast gets along very well and as you know, most of my scenes
        are with Eddie and Dean, so I am lucky that I am crazy about both of
        them.  It's been so nice on the set this season.  Here we all are ...
        the 4th year and we really are a family.  It feels so good.

Do you think the writers sometimes have problem involving your characters since
they live in Smallville and Clark is in Metropolis?

    KC: It doesn't seem to have stopped them much.  We just arrive and not
        much is said.  I think the reason we are not in more episodes is that
        our contract just calls for one more than half and they don't want to
        spend the money to put us in more.

What's your favorite episode of LOIS AND CLARK?

    KC: This question is like asking which is my favorite child.  The pilot
        will always be a favorite.  My next favorite would probably be the
        first Tempus episode, and the next would be last season's finale with
        Roger Daltry.  Being a bad guy was fun.

Steven Younis (younis@dot.net.au) asks:
What were your personal views on the "non-wedding" arc?  Were you disappointed
with the turn of events?

    KC: I thought the "non-wedding" arc was extremely clever of the writers.
        Supposedly the only dictate to come down from ABC last year was "no
        wedding."  That the writers managed to have a wedding and not have a
        wedding was pretty clever of them.  The thing that disappointed me
        was that I just felt it went on too long with Lois and Clark not
        knowing who the other was, etc.

Do you have much (if any) say in the way the scripts go?

    KC:  No.

nancy in chicago (nljfs@aol.com) asks:
How much say do you have with your character when you get a script?

    KC: I do register a complaint if there is anything written that I feel is
        "un-Martha."  They don't pay much attention to what I say ... but it
        rarely happens.  After all, they don't tell me how to act, it would be
        presumptuous of me to tell them how to write.

Do you want to direct?

    KC: I did that at an earlier time of my life and have since raised a
        family that has taken all thought of direction out of my brain.  I
        have enough to do!!

nancy in chicago (nljfs@aol.com) asks:
Do you have any say in what your wardrobe is like?  Are there any specific
colors or types of clothes that Martha wears?

    KC: Yes, Judith Curtis, our wonderful costumer always confers with me and
        I frequently shop with her.  She does that with all the actors.  She
        wants us to be comfortable with what we are wearing.  She is
        brilliant, though, and I rarely disagree with her ... really ...
        almost never.


MARTHA KENT AND FAMILY

Don Stromberg (strom@freenet.toronto.on.ca) asks:
What kind of religion do you follow as Martha Kent?  Do you want Clark to
follow your own religion, and do you not mind if Clark worships his own
(Kryptonian) God as well?  Perhaps, Clark can adopt both the religions and
apply them as rite towards marriage to Lois.

    KC: I think Jonathan and Martha go to a pretty standard Church, and as
        Martha (and as K), I think whatever Clark wants to do as far as
        religion is concerned it his own business.  I just want to know that
        he has a spiritual life.

After Lois and Clark really get married, where will you live and work?

    KC: I don't have any reason to think that anything about Jonathan and
        Martha will change with the upcoming wedding.

Lee K. Seitz (lkseitz@hiwaay.net) asks:
Do you think Jonathan and Martha raised Clark any differently than they
normally would have due to his powers and/or his "adoption"?

    KC: No.  Other than the fact that we never got to talk about him in a
        real way to anyone else.  Of course, that just made us all closer.


K CALLAN AND FAMILY

NJ: K brings a lot of herself to the part of Martha Kent, in both personality
and hobbies.  You can see one of her quilts in the Kent farmhouse in the
episode entitled "Green Green Glow of Home."  She has been married and
divorced, and she has 3 children and 2 grandchildren.  In her *spare* time K
remodels her house, quilts, cooks, woodworks, is a Reiki healer, loves to have
people over for dinner and games, and spends time with her children and her
cat, P-2.

nancy in chicago (nljfs@aol.com) asks:
How much of yourself (K Callan) have you brought to the character?

    KC: It's hard to say ... a lot of it was there, that's surely why I got
        the part.

How much has playing Martha changed your life?

    KC: Well, for one thing, I was able to remodel my bathroom!!

I know that you quilt and do woodwork -- are you a technician or a designer? 
(To clarify what I mean -- I do a lot of needlework very well, but creating my
own designs is of little interest -- I find enjoyment in the technical skills
of stitching -- I consider myself to be a technician.  I know that Martha is
artistic and designs her own pieces so I would consider her a designer.)

    KC: Well, I design everything I build and things that I sew.  I'm always
        getting an idea and just "doing it."  That doesn't mean that it's
        museum quality, but the curtains are hung or the shelf is built or
        I've made up a game for a party.

NJ: That puts you down as a designer in my book, K.

Lee K. Seitz (lkseitz@hiwaay.net) asks:
How does having your own children influence your being a parent to
Clark/Superman?

    KC: I think my relationship with my own kids had a direct bearing on my
        getting this role.  I am so much like Martha that this part is a
        perfect fit for  me.

Jenny Stosser (jenerate@ozramp.net.au) asks:
As a mother of two small kids who has recently returned to full-time work, I
was wondering whether you ever had to deal with having to take time off work to
care for your children, and whether your being a mother ever affected your
chances of getting work on any particular play or movie or TV show or whatever?

    KC: I have been extremely lucky in being able to have a career and being
        able to be a full time mother.  When my kids were very little (before
        we moved to New York -- they were 5, 8, and 9 then), I didn't really
        work.  I did a commercial here or there and taught part time, but I
        was a real full time mother.  When I got divorced and went to NY, I
        took the kids and was basically their sole support.  I chose not to
        go up on things that would tour or otherwise disrupt my family.  There
        were times when I said to myself: "If I weren't a mother, I could do
        thus and so," and I was frustrated about it.

        Now, with the perspective of time, I see how raising my children and
        making the decisions I did ... really healed me from an unhappy early
        life.  I never made a better decision.  Kids grow up really fast.
        Jobs are always there.  I might have had an entirely different career
        without children.  I don't think my life would have been as happy or
        as fulfilled.  One can't have everything.  You have to choose.

nancy in chicago (nljfs@aol.com) asks:
I know you were in New York for the Special Olympics Equestrian Competition a
few weeks ago.  How involved are you in charity events?  Is there a special
reason that you picked this event?

    KC: They invited me to come.  Now I know the kids and I like to go back
        to work with them.

How do you find the time, in your busy life to be involved with charities?

    KC: I totally overextend myself and intend to get a better hold on
        myself this year.

Lee K. Seitz (lkseitz@hiwaay.net) asks:
What other shows/movies have you been featured in?

    KC: Nancy put up  a list of my credits in the introduction.  My first
        film, "Joe", holds a special place in my heart as well as "A Touch of
        Class" with Glenda Jackson and George Segal.  A terrific project and
        wonderful people.  My favorite guest appearance in a TV episode was
        on "All in the Family."  Called "Cousin Liz" where I played a lesbian.


BOOKS AND SCRIPTS

NJ: K writes books as well as acts.  She has several 'How-to' books published
dealing with various show-biz topics such as selling scripts, finding an agent,
and getting jobs either directing or acting.  On the non-show-biz side, K is
currently working on the 2nd edition of her popular book "The Life of the
Party".

Some of K's books are: "How to Sell Yourself as an Actor", "The Los Angeles
Agent Book" (a.k.a. An Actor's Workbook), "The New York Agent Book", "How to
Sell Yourself as an Actor", "The Script is Finished, Now What Do I Do?", and
"Directing Your Directing Career"

nancy in chicago (nljfs@aol.com) asks:
Are your show-biz books good to read for people not interested in actually
being in show business?

    KC: Although they are written for people interested in being in the
        business, I've been told by people who just bought "How to Sell
        Yourself as an Actor" in order to 'have' one of my books that the
        principles I discuss are applicable to anyone looking for work ...
        particularly in any free lance field.

Jenny Stosser (jenerate@ozramp.net.au)
Is your party games book available in Australia?  I've never seen it around,
but it sure would come in handy!

    KC: It's available online at the ABC store.  There are just a couple
        left anyplace.  The new one won't be out for at least two months.
        Maybe more.

        It may well be available in Australian bookstores as it is sold
        internationally, but you could certainly order via AOL at the ABC
        site.

Michael R. Williams (mrwillia@ou.edu) asks:
Having written several nonfiction guides, have you any desire to write fiction
novels?  TV Scripts?  Screen Plays?  Other than LOIS AND CLARK, which shows
would you like to write for?

    KC: I really want to write novels and screenplays.  I have no desire at
        the moment to write for another show.

Leigh Raglan (Leigh4CK@aol.com, LeighRagln@aol.com) asks:
K, have you written a L&C script?  Have you written any scripts for anything
else?  If you have, how valuable was the knowledge you acquired while writing
your book "The Script is Finished, Now What Do I Do?"

    KC: I have written several unproduced scripts ... years ago.  "The Script
        is Finished" is not about "how to write," it's about, having written
        your material, how to get it sold and how to figure out what kind of
        material would be commercial.


INTERNET FANS ...

nancy in chicago (nljfs@aol.com) asks:
You have been on IRC channels and AOL chats on a number of occasions.  What do
you think of all the fan attention to the show?

    KC: It's very rewarding to all the people involved in L&C that we have
        such committed fans.

Do you think that it has influenced L&C at all?  Has it influenced your work? 
The way you portray Martha Kent?  Do you like the immediate feedback?

    KC: I don't know whether it has influenced L&C or not.  It has not
        influenced what I do with Martha.  Feedback is always nice, but
        actors have to learn to stay focused on their work regardless of the
        reaction.  Justin had a very tough time when the fans used to "dis"
        him so, when he first came on the show.  He should not have read the
        posts.

You went to FoLCFest 1 in LA last year.  Did you enjoy yourself?

    KC: It was great to meet all the people I had only known on the net.
        I had a lot of fun.  I hope the group had a good time this year.


OTHER

Michael R. Williams (mrwillia@ou.edu) asks:
What do you see as the future of SF/Fantasy shows on Television?

    KC: It seems that SF/Fantasy always does well on television if it's
        done well.

nancy in chicago (nljfs@aol.com) asks:
Since you have worked on films, TV, and theater, could you describe the
differences between them?  Is there a medium that you prefer?

    KC: Another of those "Which is your favorite children?" questions.
        Theater, of course, is bigger and an actor is more in control.  On
        film, you could be brilliant, but if the camera is not on you or is
        shooting you from across the street, it's difficult to register.
        Television has so many faces -- half-hours, hour shows, minis, films
        ... each has it's own personality and problems and rewards.

You were on the board of directors of the Screen Actors Guild.  Do you have any
advice for aspiring actors interested in joining the SAG?  Has it helped you
with your how-to books at all?

    KC: Being on the Board of Directors of SAG has not influenced my books at
        all.  I have always (and continue to be) very pro union.  The biggest
        influence it had on me was serving on Trial Boards when union members
        were brought up for doing nonunion work.  It made me very vocal in
        encouraging would-be members *not* to join until they were further
        along in their careers and were at a point where they could reasonably
        expect to work union with some regularity.  Once you are a union
        member, you no longer have access to all those nonunion films.  Once
        you are a union member, your competition is *all* the (80,000) other
        union members.

Do you have any topics that you would like to tell us about?  Any upcoming
movies or books?

    KC: I'm afraid all I have to talk about at this point are my newly
        refinished floors, my new paint job in my house, and my new bathroom.
        This has been a "fix up the house" summer for me.  As soon as I have
        something to share, I will happily do so.

What TV shows do you watch regularly?  What films do you recommend?

    KC: I loved what Michael Keaton did in "Multiplicity" and I think "Lone
        Star" is one of the best films I have seen all year.  The only thing
        I watch regularly other than L&C is "Larry Sanders."  I'm a big fan
        of "Roseanne," "Seinfeld," "NYPD Blue," (Dennis Franz is a particular
        favorite) and a few others but am rarely home in the evenings.

Finally, what can people expect from K Callan in the future?

    KC: That she will continue to overextend herself!

NJ:  Many thanks to Ms. Callan for all the time she gave to the KC for this
interview and for all her hard work at making Martha Kent such an interesting
character and LOIS AND CLARK such wonderful viewing!  We look forward to seeing
her in many new episodes and other shows!

_______________________________________________________


IT IS TO LAFF
-------------
    by Zoomway (Zoomway@aol.com)


This will be a brief look at the 1996 Los Angeles FoLCFest.  Some comments were
from a post I made to LOISCLA listserv (the e-mail discussion list of LOIS AND
CLARK: THE NEW ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN) and is augmented by later impressions.

I can't give a fair appraisal of this year's FoLCFest (popularly known as LAFF)
because I was scarcely there.  Combining festing with a family vacation meant
more vacation and less festing.  I had tried to get space at the Marriott (home
of LAFF 96), but when they switched me to reservations, the voice on the phone
said, "Marriott Salt Lake City..."  I then got back to the Marriott at Marina
Del Rey, but they said they had no space available.  When I mentioned the
FoLCFest (as we were directed to say in the fest info), they said, "never heard
of it."  Okay, well, I called the Holiday Inn in Burbank (site of last year's
fest).  They not only had rooms, but they had them for 40 dollars cheaper, so
that became a deciding factor.

On the 25th (when the fest should have been in full swing), I called the
Marriott for the number of the FoLCFest con suite, and the voice on the phone
said, "Never heard of it."  They then asked if I could give a name.  I did, and
voila, I got connected to someone (still don't know who answered the phone) who
said the fest was in the basement (yup, the basement) of the Marriott.  My
family (sans my nephew, who wanted to watch TV and order room service) arrived
and found the basement was accessible via a stairway in the lobby of the
Marriott.  There were two rooms.  One contained a kind of sign-in area with
posters (great work on the LAFF poster by Steve McNatt) and some goodies.  Oh,
before I forget, the Flake candy bars were delicious, but I had worded my
desire to sample them awkwardly.  I said, "I can't wait to find if the Flake
bars made it to the FoLCFest," which prompted my sister to ask, "Who are the
Flakebars?"  The second room contained the TV, a VCR, a couple of sofas, and
some chairs.  Not many people were there, but the few who were came up and said
"hi" and were very nice.

I have to admit that most of it was a blur, because as more FoLC arrived and
introduced themselves, I was having trouble remembering their names and
remembering if I'd introduced them to my family, and so I think I reintroduced
my family to everyone.  That night was Bill Kidd's presentation, and he did an
excellent job.  We began to laugh every time "Trask's Theme" was played in
"Green Green Home" (how Mr. Kidd most often referred to "Green Green Glow of
Home").  We also laughed when Mr. Kidd wondered if Jonathan meant something
"different" when he said, "Clark is not normal."  It's amazing how much
difference music makes to the finished product -- how it can enhance or
intensify the action.  He would show us the clip without the music, and then
with the music added.  He was also able to play up the music or play it by
itself so that we could hear it in its pure form.  He talked about the music
clashing with the sound effects people because, as he demonstrated with the
pilot, a horn honking in the scene where Clark crosses the street to enter the
Daily Planet for the first time sounded like a musician playing out of tune. 
Bill said that they were often told to watch the whole episode to get the full
effect of what they'd be scoring, but usually they just fast forwarded to the
particular point they had to score.  He said that one of the exceptions was 2nd
season's "Church of Metropolis" (an excellent McNamara script) and that he
watched the whole episode (Bill only scored music for first season and the
first half of 2nd season), and he introduced us to his "bug theme" from that
episode.  I wish I could have thanked him for the great job on his
presentation, but my sister was getting antsy about her son being alone at the
hotel, and so we left right after Bill finished.

My next brush with the fest was Friday, and the infamous "march of death" tour
of Warner Brothers.  Our tour guide, TJ (my nephew speculated her initials
stood for Turbo Jet), left the tour office at a sprint saying, "We're behind." 
(Sheesh, and we hadn't even started).  We literally galloped to the Daily
Planet exterior to hear the writers chat a while.  I won't go into the spoilers
since I'm sure they've been well covered.  We then maintained this breakneck
pace for the remainder of the tour.  It was so uncomfortable that whenever we
would stop for a "point of interest," most of us looked for what little shade
was available, and those of us who had water guzzled it in the hundred degree
heat.  When we reached the stairway leading down to the wardrobe department,
two members of our group chose to stay behind, and a third member of our party
all but collapsed on the floor of the hallway.  She opted to stay on the floor
during the wardrobe tour, but this did not provide much rest for her because we
got the bum's rush there as well.  Many of us were assaulting the vending
machines for cold drinks, and I noticed most fans were holding the cold
beverage cans against their flushed and perspiring faces.

After the Reader's Digest tour of the wardrobe facility, the reenactment of the
Bataan march continued.  We may not have been dropping like flies, but we were
beginning to lag like a bad server on the IRC.  The line of stragglers
suffering from the pace and heat stretched at least 3 blocks.  It had gotten so
bad that "spotters" had to stand at crucial corners so the stragglers would
know in which direction the tour had gone.  I tended to stay toward the back as
well, but mainly because I wanted to "see" something, and at the hurried pace I
couldn't see anything.  Not to mention several people were beginning to look
ill, and I was worried about Uni, who was several months pregnant.  However,
she was great and got through the mess with flying colors.  The tour at this
point was such a fiasco that the slaphappy comments began to flow.  I met my
STAR TREK buddy Eileen and we found some appropriate Trek quotes (mainly
dealing with Scotty talking about the engines not being able to take much more
of this).  The endurance test ended at the Warner Brothers store.  What was the
big attraction there?  L&C merchandise?  (Get real, it doesn't exist.)  The big
attraction was the air conditioning!  People stood over the floor vents with
their eyes closed whispering, "Thank God!"  They have T-shirts at Universal
Studio stating: "I survived the JURASSIC PARK ride."  Well, if anyone is
interested in printing a similar T-shirt regarding the WB tour, I'll buy one.

After hearing similar tour horror stories from the other two FoLCFest groups
(due to our number we were broken into 3 groups), our guide, TJ, seemed to be
the best of the assigned guides.  TJ, unlike the other two guides, was not
mean-spirited, just fast with her walking pace.  For those who have never taken
a WB tour, before you actually see anything at the studio, you are shown a
short film of WB's history, this comprised mainly of memorable clips.  After
the FoLC tour had become such a fire drill, the quote from Strother Martin in
Cool Hand Luke began to ring in my head, "What we've got here, is failure to
communicate."  It was almost as if the WB tour office had no idea they were to
be invaded by about 150 LOIS AND CLARK fans.  It seemed they were only aware of
this fact at the very last minute.  This was drastically different from last
year when the office knew who we were and assigned guides well acquainted with
the series.

I felt sorry for the fans who traveled such long distances and thought the tour
would be similar to last year's.  This is *regardless* of meeting the cast or
writers as we did last year.  I'm just talking about the tour and tour guides
themselves.  We went at a "strolling" pace last year, the guides were
knowledgeable about LOIS AND CLARK, and they gave us bathroom breaks and let us
refill our water bottles.  They actually "lingered" at points of interest and
let us pose for photos in front of the Daily Planet, inside the saloon from
Tempus Fugitive, and in the asylum from that episode.  They even let us "touch"
items and seemed to give us some amount of trust.  They treated us like people
and not cattle.  One culprit to this "mistrust" may have posted on AOL.  He
said that he had taken the WB tour on the 24th (just 2 days before our tour)
and admitted to stealing a photo from the Daily Planet news room, and stealing
part of a script he found in the back of Lois' jeep (don't worry, it was an old
script).  It just takes one thoughtless person like that to ruin things for a
whole lot of people.  I just wish they knew true FoLC would never pull a stunt
like that.  I do thank the writers for taking the time to talk to us.  It was
incredibly hot, and they were sitting without benefit of shade and trying to
answer questions even with a hectic schedule that was running behind and two
episodes overlapping each other being filmed.  So, there was a bright spot.

The last event I attended was the FoLC dinner.  I actually got to know fans a
bit better there since it was a long, rather casual dinner.  (But don't ever
take your hands off your drink or your plate, or they'll be snatched away by
the staff!)  I met a lurker named Laurie.  I always have a soft spot in my head
... er heart for lurkers.  I got to meet (okay, I only saw a photo) of a rat
that was named after me.  (It's about darn time!)  I got to speak a little bit
more with Di Kidd who sent me hilarious instructions about navigating the L.A.
freeway system.  Paul Hulse, the Production Sound Engineer from Warner Brothers
was at our table, and though he never gives spoilers, he's great for answering
my dumb questions about where things are located in L.A.  I was asked if I was
at the punishment table due to it being the table farthest from the view and
the buffet; also the staff had to turn on a small overhead light to prevent us
from needing Braille utensils.  However, it was located right next to the
staff's swinging door, so there was the entertainment value of the "amiable
passerby" colliding with a member of the staff occasionally.  Now to Danny
(you're a dead man) Gibbins' play Pulp Listserv.

I thought it was hilarious (why am I always involved in nefarious plots?).  At
least he had my confederate in crime, Demi, aiding and abetting me.  I want to
thank Nancy Lemieux for making me tall and lovely even temporarily and doing a
great acting job, as well as all of the other players.  It was a lot of fun,
and if anyone has a video of the play, ask for a copy, it's a howl!  Anyone can
tell you my face was burning the whole time.  I love parody, and Danny's play
was right on the money.  I also want to give a bit of what Danny wrote in my
LAFF memory book, and X-FILES fans will understand, "Thanks for not killing me
after Pulp Listserv!  But hey, I haven't played the DC Heroes role-playing game
all these years without learning a thing or two about courage..."  It was
signed "Dan 'I'm a dead man' Gibbins."  Thanks again, Danny.

Someone suggested that next year there should be a convention type
get-together, and perhaps that would be a better way to go, at least in terms
of how many can attend.  Even though twice as many were allowed to attend LAFF
this year compared to last (making 150 maximum), there were many many more who
wanted to attend, who could not.  A convention is a great deal less personal
and intimate, but accommodating a larger number of fans is what a convention is
all about.  These days, fan conventions are run by professional convention
organizers.  This can lead to well-run conventions, but if the wrong organizer
is chosen, an expensive fiasco can take place.  FoLC, when asked, said they'd
prefer that someone who shares their love and passion for the show be the
organizational spirit behind a convention, but said they would accept someone
with no feelings for the show over someone who actually disliked it.  So
perhaps a LOIS AND CLARK convention can try to recapture the spirit of the
first STAR TREK convention.  It was chaotic, but it was run by a couple of
enthusiastic fans.  They were not professional convention organizers, but they
did love the show, and that, even more than the historic nature of the event,
made it so pleasant for fans who attended.

In the end, LAFF 96 was about meeting fellow fans who share a like-minded love
of a show that only another fan can understand and appreciate.  That is what
makes such fan gatherings so worthwhile.  So despite unsympathetic tour guides
and dinner rolls that would make good paperweights, it was meeting and sharing
with other fans that will make LAFF 96 fondly remembered by many.

_______________________________________________________


COMING ATTRACTIONS
------------------
        A List of Upcoming Comics Featuring The Superman Family of Characters
        Assembled by Jeffery D. Sykes


This monthly section is dedicated to giving you official information
concerning which comics you should watch for in the near future in order
to keep up with Superman, Superboy, Supergirl, and all the rest of the
Superman family of characters.

The information which follows is reprinted without permission from Diamond
Previews and is in no way meant to serve as a replacement for that magazine.
I strongly recommend that each reader find his or her own copy for additional
detailed information on the entire DC Universe!  Note that Diamond is the
exclusive distributor of DC Comics!


                                     NOTES
                                ---------------

    In the wake of THE FINAL NIGHT, October's Superman titles find the Man
    of Steel desperately searching for a way to restore his powers, and he
    will receive help from many sources, including the Legion of Super-
    Heroes, Cadmus, and some of the New Gods.  SUPERBOY sees the unexpected
    and shocking return of Dubbilex's powers, and the RAVERS continue their
    foray to the planet Rann.  SUPERGIRL must overcome the evil influence
    of Grodd, and STEEL must help his niece overcome the evil influence of
    the drug TAR.

    THE SUPERMAN ADVENTURES welcomes new scribe Scott McCloud, who
    introduces the series' version of Metallo!  And SHOWCASE '96 brings us
    a tale of three generations of Brainiacs -- Superman's arch enemy, his
    son Vril Dox II (the former leader of L.E.G.I.O.N.), and Brainiac 5 of
    the Legion of Super-Heroes!

    On other fronts, DC and Marvel are at it again, this time with
    DC/MARVEL: ALL ACCESS, a four-issue miniseries reuniting the heroes
    and villains of the two universes.  And in the first issue, expect a
    Superman/Spider-Man team up against the web-slinger's foe Venom!

    Lest you think DC is offering us a bit of a break on the pocketbook
    this month, October offers the premieres of two Superman-related
    prestige format miniseries.  SUPERMAN/WONDER WOMAN: WHOM GODS DESTROY
    is a four-issue Elseworlds miniseries from Chris Claremont and Dusty
    Abell, and WORLD'S FINEST: SUPERBOY/ROBIN is a two-issue prestige
    format miniseries from Chuck Dixon, Karl Kesel, Tom Grummett, and
    Scott Hanna.

    Though we won't be reviewing this issue, I thought it best to point it
    out to the Superman completists who are fanatic about obtaining *every*
    appearance of the Man of Steel.  Superman will make an appearance in
    GREEN LANTERN #81 -- see THE FINAL NIGHT or the August issue of
    PREVIEWS for the reason why!


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                    LIST OF TITLES BY EXPECTED ARRIVAL DATE
                 ---------------------------------------------


Arrival Date:   Comic title and information:
------------    ---------------------------
August 7:       Action Comics Annual #8
                   Written by David Michelinie
                   Art by Kieron Dwyer
                   Cover by Jerry Ordway
                   48 pgs, $2.95

                Justice League: A Midsummer's Nightmare #2 (of 3)
                   Written by Mark Waid and Fabian Nicieza
                   Pencilled by Jeff Johnson and Darick Robertson
                   Inked by Jon Holdredge and Hanibal Rodriguez
                   Cover by Kevin Maguire and John Dell
                   48 pgs, $2.95

                Showcase 96 #9
                   Lady Shiva and Shadowdragon
                      Written by Joan Weis
                      Pencils by Kevin West
                      Inks by Keith Champagne
                   Cover by Ron Frenz and Brett Breeding
                   48 pgs, $2.95

                Steel #31
                   Written by Louise Simonson
                   Art and Cover by Phil Gosier and Rich Faber
                   $1.95

                Superman: The Man of Tomorrow #6
                   Written by Roger Stern
                   Art by Paul Ryan and Brett Breeding
                   Cover by Tom Grummett and Brett Breeding
                   $1.95

August 14:      Adventures of Superman #539
                   Written by Karl Kesel and Jerry Ordway
                   Art by Ron Lim and Klaus Janson
                   Cover by Stuart Immonen and Jose Marzan Jr
                   $1.95

                Detention Comics #1
                   Superboy story:
                      Written by Ron Marz
                      Art by Ron Lim and Andrew Hennessy
                   Cover by Joe Phillips
                   64 pgs, $3.50

                Kingdom Come #4 (of 4)
                   Written by Mark Waid
                   Painted Art and Cover by Alex Ross
                   48 pgs, Prestige Format, $4.95

                Supergirl #2
                   Written by Peter David
                   Art and Cover by Gary Frank and Cam Smith
                   $1.95

August 21:      Action Comics #726
                   Written by David Michelinie
                   Art by Tom Morgan and Denis Rodier
                   Cover by Tom Grummett and Denis Rodier
                   $1.95

                Superboy #32
                   Written by Ron Marz
                   Art and Cover by Ramon Bernado and Doug Hazlewood
                   $1.95

August 28:      Eradicator #3 (of 3)
                   Written by Ivan Velez Jr
                   Art and Cover by Roger Robinson and John Lowe
                   $1.75

                Legion of Super-Heroes #85  (Superman)
                   Written by Tom Peyer and Tom McCraw
                   Art by Lee Moder and Ron Boyd
                   Cover by Alan Davis and Mark Farmer
                   $2.25

                Superboy & The Ravers #2
                   Written by Karl Kesel and Steve Mattsson
                   Art and Cover by Paul Pelletier and Dan Davis
                   $1.95

                Superman: The Man of Steel #61
                   Written by Louise Simonson
                   Art and Cover by Jon Bogdanove and Dennis Janke
                   $1.95 


September 5:    The Final Night #1 (of 4)
                   Written by Karl Kesel
                   Art and Cover by Stuart Immonen and Jose Marzan Jr
                   $1.95

                The Power of Shazam! #20  (Superman)
                   Written by Jerry Ordway
                   Art by Peter Krause and Mike Manley
                   Painted Cover by Jerry Ordway
                   $1.75

                Showcase '96 #10
                   Bibbo
                      Written by Paul Castiglia
                      Art by Denis Rodier
                   Cover by Denis Rodier
                   48 pgs, $2.95

                Steel #32
                   Written by Darren Vincenzo
                   Pencilled by Roger Robinson
                   Cover by Phil Gosier and Rich Faber
                   $1.95

                Superman #117
                   Written by Dan Jurgens
                   Art and Cover by Ron Frenz and Josef Rubinstein
                   $1.95

                Superman Adventures #1
                   Written by Paul Dini
                   Art by Rick Burchett and Terry Austin
                   Cover by Bruce Timm
                   $1.75

September 11:   Adventures of Superman #540
                   Written by Karl Kesel and Jerry Ordway
                   Art by Terry Dodson and Karl Story
                   Cover by Stuart Immonen and Jose Marzan Jr
                   $1.95

                The Final Night #2 (of 4)
                   Written by Karl Kesel
                   Art and Cover by Stuart Immonen and Jose Marzan Jr
                   $1.95

                Justice League: A Midsummer's Nightmare #3 (of 3)
                   Written by Mark Waid and Fabian Nicieza
                   Art by Jeff Johnson, Darrick Robertson, Jon Holdredge,
                      and Hanibal Rodriguez
                   Cover by Kevin Maguire and John Dell
                   48 pgs, $2.95

                Supergirl #3
                   Written by Peter David
                   Art and Cover by Gary Frank and Cam Smith
                   $1.95

                Superman: The Man of Steel Annual #5
                   Written by Kurt Busiek
                   Art by Paul Ryan and Josef Rubinstein
                   Cover by Jerry Ordway
                   48 pgs, $2.95

September 18:   Action Comics #727
                   Written by David Michelinie
                   Art by Tom Morgan and Denis Rodier
                   Cover by Tom Grummett and Denis Rodier
                   $1.95

                The Final Night #3 (of 4)
                   Written by Karl Kesel
                   Art and Cover by Stuart Immonen and Jose Marzan Jr
                   $1.95

                Parallax: Emerald Night #1
                   Written by Ron Marz
                   Art and Cover by Mike McKone and Mark McKenna
                   48 pgs, $2.95

                Superboy #33
                   Written by Ron Marz
                   Art and Cover by Ramon Bernado and Doug Hazlewood
                   $1.95

September 25:   The Final Night #4 (of 4)
                   Written by Karl Kesel
                   Art and Cover by Stuart Immonen and Jose Marzan Jr
                   $1.95

                Superboy & The Ravers #3
                   Written by Karl Kesel and Steve Mattsson
                   Art and Cover by Paul Pelletier and Dan Davis
                   $1.95

                Superman: The Man of Steel #62
                   Written by Louise Simonson
                   Art and Cover by Jon Bogdanove and Dennis Janke
                   $1.95


October 2:      DC/Marvel: All Access #1 (of 4)
                   Written by Ron Marz
                   Art and Cover by Jackson Guice and Josef Rubinstein
                   48 pgs, $2.95

                Showcase '96 #11
                   Brainiac, Vril Dox II, and the Legion of Super-Heroes
                      Written by Tom Peyer
                      Art by Derec Aucoin and Jason Minor
                   Cover by Steve Lightle
                   48 pgs, $2.95

                Steel #33
                   Written by Peter J. Tomasi
                   Art by Jim Aparo and Dick Giordano
                   Cover by Roger Robinson and Dennis Janke
                   $1.95

                Superman #118
                   Written by Dan Jurgens
                   Art and Cover by Ron Frenz and Josef Rubinstein
                   $1.95

                Superman Adventures #2
                   Written by Scott McCloud
                   Art and Cover by Rick Burchett and Terry Austin
                   $1.75

October 9:      Adventures of Superman #541
                   Written by Karl Kesel and Jerry Ordway
                   Art by Paul Ryan and Jose Marzan, Jr.
                   Cover by Stuart Immonen and Jose Marzan, Jr.
                   $1.95

                Supergirl #4
                   Written by Peter David
                   Art and Cover by Gary Frank and Cam Smith
                   $1.95

                Superman/Wonder Woman: Whom Gods Destroy #1 (of 4)
                   Written by Chris Claremont
                   Art and Cover by Dusty Abell
                   48 pgs, Prestige Format, $4.95

October 16:     Action Comics #728
                   Written by David Michelinie
                   Art and Cover by Tom Grummett and Denis Rodier
                   $1.95

                Superboy #34
                   Written by Ron Marz
                   Art and Cover by Ramon Bernado and Doug Hazlewood
                   $1.95

October 23:     Superboy & The Ravers #4
                   Written by Karl Kesel and Steve Mattsson
                   Art and Cover by Paul Pelletier and Dan Davis
                   $1.95

                Superman: The Man of Steel #63
                   Written by Louise Simonson
                   Art and Cover by Jon Bogdanove and Dennis Janke
                   $1.95

October 30:     Superman #119
                   To be retrosolicited -- info next month
              
                World's Finest: Superboy/Robin #1 (of 2)
                   Written by Chuck Dixon and Karl Kesel
                   Art and Cover by Tom Grummett and Scott Hanna
                   48 pgs, Prestige Format, $4.95


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                  SPOILERS
                             ------------------

October 2:
---------
DC/Marvel: All Access #1 (of 4)
    Marvel Comics and DC Comics recapture the magic of the hit crossover
    miniseries DC VERSUS MARVEL with this astonishing sequel miniseries.
    Young Axel Asher -- also known as Access -- is the living key to the door
    between the DC and Marvel Universes!  He believed the crossover crisis was
    over.  But when mutants and metahumans mysteriously begin appearing in the
    wrong reality, Access must act quickly before prolonged contact recreates
    the bizarre fusion reality known as the Amalgam Universe!  Superman,
    Spider-Man, Batman, Daredevil, the JLA, the X-Men, and others are all on
    hand as a mysterious power with sinister motives brings together the best
    of both worlds!

Showcase '96 #11
    The time-lost Legion of Super-Heroes' efforts to escape the 20th century
    are complicated when Brainiac 5 frees his ancestor, the villainous first
    Brainiac, in the hopes of getting his help to return home.  But the evil
    Brainiac has his own agenda, and it will take the combined efforts of the
    Legionnaires and R.E.B.E.L.S. leader Vril Dox II to stop him.  Also in
    this issue: a prelude to SCARE TACTICS, a new DC series, and insights into
    the origin of the Golden Age Wildcat.

Steel #33
    Natasha's abuse of the drug TAR finally takes its toll, leaving it up to
    Steel to help her get through the ordeal.  But a mysterious man with the
    ability to speak to the dead has other plans for the remaining members of
    the Irons family.

Superman #118
    The time-lost Legion of Super-Heroes guest-star!  In the aftermath of THE
    FINAL NIGHT, during which Superman's powers were depleted with the
    darkened sun, the Legion moves into the Lexcorp Building, where they meet
    Lex himself, and Brainiac 5 searches for a way to restore the Man of
    Steel's powers.

Superman Adventures #2
    ZOT! creator and UNDERSTANDING COMICS author Scott McCloud takes the
    writing reins with this issue as Metallo strikes at the Last Son of
    Krypton through a woman who's been going around Metropolis claiming to be
    Superman's girlfriend!  The series features covers with backgrounds from
    the animated show!


October 9:
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Adventures of Superman #541
    Misa of the Outsiders returns, trapping the Man of Steel in a strange
    virtual nightmare while Project Cadmus attempts to restore Superman's
    powers.

Supergirl #4
    Transformed into a savage new form, Supergirl menaces the few normal
    people left in Leesburg, while Grodd reigns over his new apocalyptic
    kingdom.

Superman/Wonder Woman: Whom Gods Destroy #1 (of 4)
    ELSEWORLDS.  In a world where Superman rocketed to Earth in 1938, Clark
    Kent has hardly aged a day by 1996, while his beloved Lois Lane has
    watched herself grow older with each passing year, with the gulf between
    immortal man and mortal woman ever widening.  But when Lois gets the
    chance to obtain her heart's desire, she finds herself transformed by the
    power of ancient gods into the Man of Steel's perfect mate -- a Wonder
    Woman whose life and love will endure as long as Superman's.


October 16:
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Action Comics #728
    Once Guardian uses his Whiz Wagon to transport Superman to the Fortress of
    Solitude, the Man of Steel encounters a bizarre new alien life-form of
    unknown origin and intent!

Superboy #34
    Dubbilex's powers return with a vengeance, and all of his pent-up psychic
    energy is going out of control!  Now it's up to Superboy to stop him.
    Plus, Tana's accidental betrayal leads to major trouble for the Kid when
    he's set up for an ambush.


October 23:
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Superboy & The Ravers #4
    Guest-starring Adam Strange, it's all-out war on Rann when the Ravers get
    caught in a battle between the planet's warring factions and deadly alien
    monsters.  Plus, Superboy takes charge as the Ravers become a team!

Superman: The Man of Steel #63
    In a final desperate attempt to restore his lost powers, Superman heads
    for their source: the sun itself!  Will it prove to be his salvation ...
    or a suicide run?  Only New Gods Metron, Barda, and Mister Miracle may
    hold the answer!


October 30:
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World's Finest: Superboy/Robin #1 (of 2)
    For the first time, the Kid of Steel meets the Boy Wonder as they join
    forces to face the double threat of Metallo and Poison Ivy!  In an
    adventure that takes them from the alleys of Gotham City to the beaches
    of Hawaii, Superboy falls under Ivy's biochemical control, with Robin
    forced to take Batman's secret store of Kryptonite in an attempt to stop
    him.  But Robin doesn't know that Superboy isn't really Kryptonian, and
    there's no telling what effect the Kryptonite will have on him!

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End of Section 10/Issue #28