Mild Mannered Reviews - Classic Post-Crisis Superman Comics

Adventures of Superman #426 (1987)

Adventures of Superman #426

Cover date: March 1987

Writer: Marv Wolfman (Co-plotter: John Byrne & Jerry Ordway)
Penciller: Jerry Ordway
Inker: Jerry Ordway

"From the Dregs..."

Reviewed by: Christopher Evans



Close to one of Apokolip's fearsome fire pits, a Hunger Dog named Graggin fishes a river of fire, trying to find any tangible waste to help him make a living. He has a shock as his grapple hooks him an unconscious form, who we recognize as Superman. Graggin is astounded. Only the New God Orion has ever survived the fire pits before - surely this means the man is of some worth to him. Graggin takes the unconscious Man of Steel back with him, and word soon spreads amongst the Hunger Dogs that a man has survived the fire pits. A crowd gathers to catch a glimpse of Graggin's catch, doubtful of his tale.

As he holds a flaming torch to the unconscious Superman's hand, to show that his skin does not burn, the Last Son of Krypton stirs and awakens, crying out in pain and pulling his hand away! The crowd turns on Graggin, angry that he has been trying to fool them. As they threaten to throw them both into the fire pit, a woman steps forward, berating them. Can they not recognize their saviour? The crowd mutters suspiciously, referring to the woman as Amazing Grace and calling her a witch. Grace stands firm, telling the crowd that the stranger is not from Apokolips - he is the one they have been waiting for, the one who will lead them out of the Armagetto. The crowd begins to turn in Grace's favor, as she proclaims that this 'super man' is their saviour, who will lead them to victory. As the crowd chants 'saviour, saviour' they promise to follow the super man and begin to deface statues of their lord and master, Darkseid.

Darkseid watches events, seemingly unconcerned. Deciding it is time that Grace and her minions are taught a lesson, he sends in his Para-Demons. Darkseid's troops attack the crowd, blasting them mercilessly. Grace begs her saviour to do something and Superman leaps into action, despite his mind feeling muddled, managing to fell the Para-Demons using cunning and brute force, but none of his powers. Whilst grappling with a Para-Demon above the crowd, he feels more clear-headed, but his mind clouds over again after his victory, as he joins Grace back on the ground. The crowd cheers, no longer doubting that their saviour walks amongst them.

On New Genesis, a concerned Highfather consults The Source to try and help him understand a great disturbance which he has sensed. The source shows him the words he has feared (which the reader does not see).

In their hideout, Amazing Grace raises a toast with her colleagues to impending victory before moving through to another room where Superman sits in a large hot tub, enjoying a herbal bath to heal his wounds. As Grace orders the tattered remains of his Superman uniform taken away, he protests; feeling confused. Grace assures him he will receive new garments, before undressing in front of him (presumably to join him in the tub), saying that they shall go on to rule Apokolips together.

Hunger Dogs flock to buy effigies of their saviour, made out of the ruins of Superman's uniform. A statue of Darkseid is defaced, a lone Hunger Dog re-carving the face to represent that of his saviour.

The war begins. A thousand Hunger Dogs die in the first assault, but tens of thousands more press forward, led by their saviour, wearing a metal breast plate emblazoned with his symbol (the 'S' shield) and carrying a mace and his standard (the remains of his cape). Despite suffering horrendous casualties, the Hunger Dogs battle on, led by their saviour. Two of Darkseid's minions are slain for every loss of their own.

Dressed in formal robes, Amazing grace watches the carnage from a vantage point high above the battle. Speaking to an unseen companion, she voices her confidence that everything is proceeding as planned.

The Hunger Dogs claim victory and a bloodied and unshaven Saviour takes Grace in his arms, telling her that her love helped fuel their victory. Grace addresses the teeming multitudes of Hunger Dogs from the balcony, telling them they are free. Saviour joins her, telling the crowd that their hope has sustained them, their hope driven them against Darkseid's rule and their hope must therefore now be ended. Para-Demons swarm down on the crowd, blasting many to death and routing the horrified survivors. Smiling, Saviour holds Grace close, telling her that they have won. Grace begins to tell him that he has served them well, but Saviour asks to hear praise from his true master. A figure steps forward from the shadows as Darkseid smiles, telling his "son" that he has indeed served him well!

5Story - 5: WHOA! Talk about cliff-hanger ending!! From start to finish I thoroughly enjoyed this issue. The story plows on like an avalanche, driving the plot forwards at a breathtaking pace, perhaps almost a little too fast. We're given lots to process in a small amount of time, as Superman/Saviour fuels revolution on Apokolips, leading to full scale civil war and the death of thousands. These sweeping events are well handled though, with time taken to show the Hunger Dogs fervor for their saviour and dislike for Darkseid. The fast moving events, coupled with Superman's striking visual change as he takes on the role of Saviour, wearing metal and leather armor and waving a flag and heavy mace; helped to detract from Darkseid's absence during events. It could just be me being naive in my younger days back in the 80's, but I was really rocked when it's revealed that Superman/Saviour has been working for Darkseid all along (as has Grace) and that moment where Darkseid fondly places his hand on Superman's shoulder and addresses him as "son"! I mean, you could deduce Grace was controlling Superman from events in the story, but that ending is still a jaw-dropper.

And you know that there's going to be some good scenes to come. How will Clark come to terms with what he's done, even if he has been under the control of another all along? Thousands of people who followed him are now dead as a result of the fighting and his subsequent betrayal. There's got to be reckoning when he gets his mind back and realizes how he has been used.

There are nice smaller touches in this issue too, such as Superman's hand being burnt by Graggin's torch early in the issue (a clear sign that something is amiss), the insights into the daily life of the Hunger Dogs and Superman's defeat of the Para-Demons without the use of his powers. I do have to wonder how Superman's cape survived the fire-pits of Apokolips and in a good enough condition to take his weight as he was hauled free from a river of fire. As it isn't protected by his body's aura, it surely should have burnt away almost instantly? Still, only a minor quibble in the face of everything else good about this story.

(My favorite sound effect this issue was... waitaminit, there aren't any! Not a single one!!! All those battle scenes, explosions and chaos and not one 'vadoom', or 'ka-blammm' to be found. Perhaps this just goes to perfectly illustrate that less can sometimes be more...)

4Art - 4: Jerry Ordway's art again looks great. The splash page with Superman being hauled from a river of fire is a real eye-catcher. I'm still struck by how muscle-bound his rendition of Superman is - his arms are huge! Lots of nice touches to be found in thus issue too; such as the nice detail on the panel borders on page 4 and Amazing Graces' cloth headband being secured by a 'G'-shaped clasp. The battle sequences are suitably chaotic, with flaming bodies, clouds of smoke and shredded armor in every panel. My only quibble with the art is Jerry's depiction of Darkseid. It could just be that I've been spoiled by Byrne's interpretation of the character, but Darkseid just doesn't look as ominous here- he looks less craggy and granite-like and a little too smooth and rounded.

5Cover Art - 5: What a striking image, (pun not intended) - Superman smiting a Para-Demon with a mace whilst hoisting a banner bearing his symbol. Nice details to be found with the tips of the boots being folded down and Supes wearing a headband. The red and blue of the uniform contrast nicely with the colors of the Para-Demons and the background detail is good, with dark, fiery colors serving to illustrate the fierceness of the battle and make Superman stand out.


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