_______________________________________________________

                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 save