Mild Mannered Reviews - Classic Post-Crisis Superman Comics

Superman #7

Superman #7

Cover date: July 1987

"Rampage!"

Writer: John Byrne
Penciller: John Byrne
Inker: Karl Kessel

Reviewed by: Kevin Hollander

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The Daily Planet has sponsored a city-wide contest to create a pollution-free fuel source. Lois has been assigned to interview Dr. Kitty Faulkner on the progress of her "bio energy actualizer". The process involves using algae as a type of superconductor to produce electricity. A few milligrams of seawater contain enough algae to generate millions of watts of power.

Dr. Moyers interrupts the interview to voice his concerns about the project. He doesn't think that they're ready for a public display until they have worked out a flaw in the process. The Actualizer may accelerate the release of energy from the algae, but it accelerates their reproductive cycle as well. The more they are exposed to the Actualizer, the more they replicate, which in turns creates more power. He is concerned that this may generate more energy than the Actualizer can properly contain.

When Faulker tries to assuage his fears, he deliberately shuts down the power regulators in an effort to prove his point. The backup systems kick in but the power levels keep rising. Faulkner admits to Lois that there is a risk involved, all attempts to generate energy have some level of risk. Moments after this statement, the device explodes, destroying the compound.

Five minutes earlier: Clark contacts Carole Bennett, editor of the Boston Globe-Leader. He asks if they can somehow contact Wonder Woman and arrange an interview with the Daily Planet. His request is politely declined. Clark slumps back in his seat fully aware that his "interview" was just an excuse to meet Wonder Woman again. He's been unable to stop thinking about her since they met in Washington.

Now: Clark's super-hearing detects the explosion caused by the Actualizer and makes his way to the lab as Superman. Upon arrival the facility is in ruins, but he finds an orange-skinned woman emerging from the wreckage. Attempting to communicate with her, Superman learns that she is confused, aggressive, and at least as strong as he is when she begins to throw him around.

He eventually wraps her in some reinforced metal to buy him some time to think. Moyer emerges from the wreckage and informs him that the orange-skinned woman is Lois Lane. She was standing in front of the Actualizer and caught the brunt of the explosion. He theorizes that her cells were altered by the Actualizer and now store solar energy in a manner similar to his. Moyers then informs him that she will continue to absorb solar radiation until she explodes.

Superman refuses to let that happen. When he returns to Lois, she has escaped her makeshift restraints and is now leaping toward Metropolis. Superman knows that if she detonates while in the city, thousands will die. He follows her unsure of how to save her and the city. Minutes after they leave, Moyers finds another survivor.

As Lois descends upon Metropolis, Superman grabs her leg to prevent her from landing. He discovers that the radiation emitted from her body can actually harm him. In addition her strength is increasing at a geometric rate. He holds on as long as he can but eventually is forced to drop Lois. Once they reach the ground, Superman tries to contain her as best he can.

The arrival of an eight-foot tall woman with orange skin does not go unnoticed. News of this reaches Maggie Sawyer and Dan Turpin in the Special Crimes Unit. The media have already nicknamed Lois "Rampage".

Sawyer and Turpin make their way to the Superman/Rampage battle and fire a high-powered energy weapon. This does little more than stun her. Superman warns Sawyer that the creature is Lois Lane. However Lois appears and corrects Superman. Rampage is actually Kitty Faulkner. She took the full force of the Actualizer explosion, not her.

This distraction allows Rampage to grab Superman and attempt to crush him. Superman soon realizes that he can actually absorb the energy from Rampage. Fighting against the pain, he holds out until Faulkner has returned to normal. The end result leaves him super-charged and glowing bright orange. He quickly leaves to find a suitable method to release all the excess energy. Luckily he finds a lightning storm over Kansas and intercepts a lightning bolt.

Three days later Clark visits Kitty Faulkner in the hospital. Lois happens to be visiting as well. As Clark introduces himself to Kitty, Lois demands to know where he's been. Clark explains that as she probably guessed, he was interviewing Superman. She doesn't have to worry about him filing the story detailing Superman's absence; he made him promise not to reveal it. When she insists he tell her, he refuses stating - with a smile - that she'd never believe it anyway.

3Story - 3: A fairly straightforward story, but it felt like Byrne cut a few corners. A few details explaining how the algae were "stimulated" and what kind of energy was released to create the electricity were omitted. Just providing a name would have helped. It also came across as extremely convenient that once Superman knew Rampage wasn't Lois he figured out how to save her.

5Art - 5: Byrne and Kessel make a great art team on this title. The detail and fluidity of their work is top notch.

5Cover Art - 5: I'll give this a perfect score. Great composition and a touch of mystery to make you wonder exactly what will happen inside.


Classic Post-Crisis Superman Comic Book Reviews

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