Superman #404 (February, 1985)
"Born to be Superman!"
Writer - Paul Kupperberg
Pencils - Carmine Infantino
Inks - Bob Oksner
Letters - Milton Snapinn
Colors - Gene D'Angelo
Editor - Julius Schwartz
Cover Price: $0.75
You ever just stare at a word... and it baffles you, because you could swear you spelled it wrong? And it's a word you've used a bunch before, even! So, like... you keep staring... and maybe you'll copy and paste it into Google...and even then, you're still not sure if you're quite seeing it right?
Well, that explains the last eight minutes in my house as I squinted sideways at the word... Kupperberg.
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We open with Superman fighting off a fleet of alien invaders. He pulverizes the hull of the craft and all sorts of nonsense starts to pour out... I've never seen Superman act so... I dunno, littery? Anyhoo, before he can properly board, the craft sounds its alarm. Only... that's not what's going on at all... what he's hearing is actually his alarm clock, it's time to get up!
He's in bed with his wife, Lana Lang. He tells her about the dream he'd just had, to which she reminds him that he's not Superboy anymore. He tells her that this time, it was a different dream... he wasn't Superboy, he was Superman. She kinda shrugs it off. We learn here that Clark lost his superpowers when he was 16, and spent the next decade in a coma.
As Clark gets ready for work, we learn a few more things. First, he and Lana have a son (who may or may not be a young Terry Long)! Also, Ma and Pa Kent never died of that tropical virus. Pa picks Clark up to take him to the Airport for a business trip.
On the car ride, we learn (we're doing a lot of learning this morning) that Jonathan Kent is a member of the State Legislature... and that Clark's trip to the West Coast is to open a Kent Supermarket (a chain that grew out of the Kent General Store in Smallville). Oh, also... Superboy lost his powers and fell into that coma after a battle with (who else?) Lex Luthor.
One plane ride later, Clark is picked up by Pete Ross... and a limo! He's driven to the Kent Supermarket, which kinda looks like a place that the Legion of Super-Heroes might shop at. It's definitely an eyesore.
After cutting the ribbon and dedicating the store, Clark and Pete load back into the limo and chat about his weird "super" dream. Remember, it was established that Pete found out about Clark's dual identity during the New Adventures of Superman series (perhaps elsewhere before that too!), so he knows all about what CK might be feeling. As it happens, this limousine is equipped with a television. A WGBS Superboy "13 Years Later" documentary comes on (narrated by Jimmy Olsen).
Clark asks Pete to shut it off... he's not keen on reliving the loss of his powers. Someone who is happy to see this, however, is... Lex Luthor. We learn that, in the wake of that fateful day, Lex was sent to jail for twenty years (being paroled after thirteen). He relives their final battle, and laments that Superboy never returned as a Superman, so he'd get the opportunity to kill him again.
Back in Smallville, Clark and the fam are out for a walk. Lana and the boy decide they want some ice cream... so, off to the ice cream parlor they go. Along the way, however, Clark notices a Superboy book (written by Lois Lane) in a shop window which causes him pause.
Lana flashes back to the day Superboy lost his powers... and how, after the big explosion, Superboy crashed back down on the football field. Pete Ross was quick to nab his pal, and was left with very little choice but to spill the beans about the dual-identity to Lana.
Lana and the boy continue along to the ice cream join, while Clark chats up Police Chief-turned-bookstore owner, Mr. Parker. They both lament the loss of Superboy, after all, Smallville owes him a whole heckuva lot.
We jump ahead three weeks, and Lex Luthor has created a... ridiculous looking pair of robotic walking legs, with which he's going to... look ridiculous while he robs a bank? Sure. His rig is fortified enough to withstand the fire of several police officers, and he is able to bust through walls with ease. Then, he runs into... Superboy?!
Only... this is no Superboy! This is Superman. The Luthor legs are tipped over, and they go boom. From here, we get some hand-to-hand fisticuffs... and a few choice observations from Lex. Like, Superman didn't absorb his punch the same way he used to... and also, he's not flying!
As they continue to beat on one another, we learn that Superman is really only keeping it together at this point because his suit is invulnerable. Well, that, and the fact that he... get this... built a homemade "power pack" to mimic some of his old power-set. And he did this with... wait for it... various colors of Kryptonite?!
They fight some more... and eventually Superman wins. After the dust settles though, he realizes that he did so... without the aid of his "homemade power pack"... and without superpowers at all! Yay?
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Okay, so... when we get a story like this, it can only ever end up going one of two ways. First: it's all a dream/hallucination... Second: Imaginary story. Neither of them are all that satisfying... though, at least with a dream, we might get some moralistic closing comments. We... don't get that here.
What we get... feels like a cop out. Made even worse by the comparably strong first half. I really dug the amount of effort that was put into building this alternate world where Clark lost his powers and never became Superman. How would the world take shape around him? Where would he wind up? There's some really fun (and strong!) storytelling here.
It felt kind of like an episode of Twilight Zone... which should've been a big red-flag. How often do ya see an episode of Twilight Zone with an enthralling first half... that has you at the edge of your seat... and ends with a "dud". I'd wager the answer to that is "Most of the time."
I mean, really... once we hit the midway point, the best case scenario was that this was a hallucination... or, Superman was going to be plugged into some weird machine. Now, if that's the best case... it's safe to say, we'd better brace for disappointment.
Let's talk about that ending. First, Superman makes a "power pack" out of... Kryptonite? I mean, I know he lost his powers... but, he's still a Kryptonian, right? He didn't just all of a sudden "become human", did he? This stuff should still be highly dangerous (life-threatening!) to him. To see him tinkering with the stuff is... weird, right?
The ending could be taken one of two ways. If you just look at the pictures, it looks as though Superman really didn't need the power-pack he built into his belt in order to "be super". If you read it, though... it's plainly said that a de-powered Superman actually defeated Lex Luthor. Dunno about you, but... I kinda like the first option better.
This issue features Carmine Infantino... who, by the mid-1980's, isn't one of my favorites. I feel like his art is part of the reason why I have so much difficulty getting through the Trial of the Flash... and, yeah... I did say "part" of the reason. I'll give him this, though... he still draws a mean Clark Kent. Everyone else though... ehhhh.
Overall... this was an issue I'd actually hunted down because the concept interested me. A retired-from-heroing Clark Kent settling down in Smallville and starting a family, while the world moves on without him? Sign me up! Ultimately though, it was a bit of a let-down. Super-strong first half... pretty lame conclusion.
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Letters Page (wouldn't be a Superman lettercol without The Mad Maple or Kent Phenis!):
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Superman #257 (October, 1972)
"Superman Battles the War-Horn!"
"The Greatest Green Lantern of All!"
Writers - Cary Bates & Elliot S! Maggin w/Neal Adams
Pencils - Curt Swan & Dick Dillin
Inks - Murphy Anderson & Dick Giordano
Editor - Julius Schwartz
Cover Price: $0.20
Being as though I am an avid "cheap-o bin" diver... I don't always come to the surface with pristine copies. Such is the case today. If you look at the cover (just over Superman's head), it looks like a vendor re-priced this issue at a nickel.
That might annoy some, however... I can't help but to find it kinda charming. I love the idea that this issue has a little bit of "story" to it. Plus, the way the price was rubbed out, it almost looks like Superman is wearing a cute little wizard hat... so, it's got that going for it too.
Anyhoo, today we're discussing a pretty important issue... and, get this, the important part comes in a back-up! A The Fabulous World of Krypton back-up, no less... and those are usually the worst!
Let's get to it!
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Our story opens with Lois, Clark, Jimmy and Perry enjoying a day out at the Metropolis Pier. It's been awhile since they'd all been together... as this is shortly after Morgan Edge swooped in and took over. After a long-overdue lunch, the foursome are witness to a strange glowing humanoid form careening into the water. Clark ushers the rest into a cab (using the city ordinance of only three passengers to a cab) to "legally" sneak off and "supe up". He destroys a bit of the pier in the process, but it's not like we're keeping score or anything.
In the drink, Superman comes across a... well, rather generic looking DC alien. The kind of alien that would drive me directly into the waiting arms of a Marvel comic. Anyhoo, he has a strange apparatus on his back, which we soon learn is his "war-horn". He uses it to whip up an underwater torrent which sends Superman off.
The water jets actually carry him thousands of miles over to the western coast of Africa!
As he makes his way back to the States, we shift scenes to a pair of children playing "monster" in the woods... and no, that's not a euphemism for anything (shame on you for thinking that is was). Anyhoo, they run into... War-Horn, who scares them off.
Clark returns to the Galaxy Building, and Jimmy shows him some film of fish acting weird. Also, the report of a pair of young fellas reporting having seen a hulking alien figure. Well, I dunno about "hulking", he looked a bit more lanky to me.
Clark rushes off to "supe up" and next thing we know, he's in a forest that had recently burned to ashes. He then gets a "mental chill" that tells him War-Horn is near. Never knew Superman had a "spidey-sense", but whattayagonnado? Either way, War-Horn is hanging out underground... just like the cover, only without the boys clutching Superman's legs.
War-Horn bursts from the ground, and uses his... uh, war-horn to surround Superman with earth... from which erupts a volcano. This being Superman, such a thing isn't terribly effective. He socks War-Horn in the mush, causing him to attempt to flee.
As Superman gives chase, he finds himself entangled in some vines. After shaking them off, he comes across a camper... who claims that he is responsible for the forest fire. Ya see, he struck a single match... and "whoosh" - the whole forest went up. Superman decides to engage his Infra-Red vision, which reveals... precious little Nitrogen in the air.
He deduces that War-Horn's mission is stealing Earth's atmospheric Nitrogen... and, get this... it turns out, that's exactly what he's here to do! War-Horn then surrounds Superman with a storm-cloud... claiming, if he were to break out of it... the resulting thunderclap would deafen everybody on Earth. Also, the only way to stop War-Horn... is to kill him!
Rather than risk "stepping out", Superman just freezes the cloud with some Super-Breath. He then creates a hail stone... and pelts the geek in the chin with it. With War-Horn on the ropes, Superman reels back and readies himself to deliver a fatal blow!
Before the punch connects, however, the (actual) war horn activates and whisks War-Horn (the alien) back to wherever the hell he'd come from. Ya see, that was exactly what Superman had hoped would happen... the device would do anything possible to protect its wearer. Kinda risky... but, it did the job. And honestly, worst case scenario if it didn't... we have one less generic murderous alien in the DC Universe.
On to the back-up... which, to me, is actually this issue's "main event". This is one of those (very few) important ones... which really adds to the lore of both Superman... and the Green Lantern Corps. We open with Tomar-Re preparing for his retirement. Before he is deactivated, however, the Guardians of the Universe have assembled to finally tell him the story of a certain planet he had been responsible for overseeing.
That planet, of course, was Krypton. The Guardians speak of a Kryptonian specimen who would make the finest Green Lantern... the offspring of a scientist named Jor-El and an astronaut named Lara.
The Guardians had received word of Krypton's pending doom... however, were helpless to stop it from happening. All they could do is send a member of their Corps, Tomar-Re out Krypton way to delay the inevitable long enough for the Kryptonians to realize the danger and colonize on another planet. Why they couldn't just tell the Kryptonians themselves... I dunno.
In fact, our friend Tomar-Re doesn't know either! Though, he deduces that if the Guardians got involved and facilitated the Kryptonians safe passage, it would do irreparable damage to their culture/way of life... or something. Anyhoo, Tomar-Re is tasked with gathering the element known as Stellarium... which, will somehow delay Krypton going boom. There are apparently nine "Krypton Years" left.
On Krypton, just as the Guardians had predicted... a certain scientist realized the extreme danger the planet was facing. He prepared for a planet-wide evacuation via a Space-Ark. Unfortunately, Brainiac stole it (along with the City of Kandor). Around this time, Lara gave birth to the "Star Child" we all know as Superman.
At this point, the rest of the science council decided that Jor-El was just a kook, and they weren't going to waste their time chasing the doom he foresaw. One of the jerks is even yawning in Jor's direction.
Back with Tomar-Re... as he exhausts a sector's supply of Stellarium, he is so absorbed in his work that he doesn't even realize that a nearby star (called Ariel) was just about to go nova!
This would render Tomar-Re temporarily blind. He'd use his radar-guide to attempt to remain on task, however, with the state he was in... it wasn't exactly a direct flight back Krypton way.
Then, just as his sight returns... the first thing he sees is, the destruction of the planet Krypton!
The Guardians continue their tale... Tomar-Re was left in a state of shock which took several days to recover from... during which time, the Guardians themselves were responsible for guiding Kal-El's spacecraft to Earth. Geez, the gall of these guys, taking the credit for everything.
We wrap up with Tomar-Re of Xudar being retired with honors.
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Well, that first story was kind of a stinker, wasn't it? Just Superman versus a generic alien. I've said it before, and I'm saying it now... it's stories like this that kinda slid DC Comics into "second place" for me growing up. Very little stakes... just some alien with an apparatus who makes a one-off appearance, never to be seen again.
Why would I read this instead of a Marvel book... where the heroes were fighting villains we actually had an investment in? Well, that's neither here nor there, I guess. Over at Marvel these days, I can't recognize the heroes, let alone the villains.
The Nitrogen thievery feels like something out of the Silver-Age (especially the page of Superman looking at the "spectrum"). Though, I mean, this was only 1972... not so far removed from the silly sci-fi Silver-Age. Superman risking actually murdering War-Horn was about the only sorta interesting part of this one. Overall, a skippable affair... really not much more to say about it.
Now, although the opener was skippable... the issue overall most certainly isn't... because, mark this date down, because a back-up finally delivered!
I have always loved the idea of Tomar-Re being (tangentially) involved with the last days of Krypton. I feel it's a little thing that adds so much to both the lore of Superman and the Green Lantern Corps.
It also answers a few questions. If the Green Lantern Corps has representation in every sector in the known universe, it would stand to reason that Krypton would be in one of those sectors. It would also stand to reason that the Green Lantern Corps would somehow be involved with their plight, even in just a "clean up" effort.
What I don't quite understand is why the Guardians couldn't just offer their assistance to the people of Krypton. We get kind of a weak answer in that it would somehow hurt Kryptonian culture... but, that feels like a complete cop-out. In fairness though, we are working within the constraints of a story that happened. It's not like we can have a story where the Corps actually intervenes and either A) Saves the Kryptonians or B) Fails the Kryptonians.
So, within the story constraints, I feel like they did the best they could. A temporarily blinded Tomar-Re is unable to deliver the time-buying Stellarium... and so, Krypton goes boom. When we think about it though, Tomar-Re very likely did buy Krypton just enough time for Kal-El to be born, and blasted in the approximate direction of Earth... so, we actually have him to thank for Superman's arrival on Earth.
Not sure I'm buying the Guardians taking full credit for "guiding" Kal-El's ship to Earth... but, whattaya gonna do? They always seemed like self-important jerks... and this is just another log for the fire.
Overall... this is one I'd suggest tracking down. The opener was just kinda "there" (though, it's got Curt Swan on art, which is nice). The backup is really what you're grabbing this one for though. Not only is it an excellent story, but it's also got some fantastic Dick Dillin art. The back-up has been reprinted a number of times, most recently in Superman: The Many Worlds of Krypton. This issue is also available digitally.
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Letters Page:
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Superman #389 (November, 1983)
"Brother Act!"
Plot - Cary Bates
Script - Paul Kupperberg
Pencils - Curt Swan
Inks - Dave Hunt
Letters - Ben Oda
Colors - Anthony Tollin
Editor - Julius Schwartz
Cover Price: $0.60
I've lost count at how many Vartox Week Miracles we've bumped into during this, Vartox Week.
Today we're going to be discussing an issue which I described yesterday as being "for Vartox Completionists only"... and you'll see why by the end. Another thing I said yesterday was that I checked with a few local shops about taking a peek in their back rooms to see if they might find those two issues of Power Girl we so desperately need...
... and I got that fateful callback yesterday afternoon! The books were located and I'm pleased to say that Vartox Week will roll on.
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We open with a man in a phone booth trying to get a hold of Clark Kent's office at the Galaxy Building. The operator can't really make out what he's trying to say... perhaps because he's making the call outside of a noisy construction site. Speaking of construction... our man in the box is very nearly clobbered with a wrecking ball! Luckily, Superman just happened to be in the neighborhood... and managed to save the stranger from a squishin'.
Before they get a chance to chat, Superman checks on the wrecking ball operator... only to learn that the poor fella'd been hijacked. Somebody bonked him on the head, and took over the controls... this was no accident! During the distraction, our mysterious man in the box removes his phony goatee and leaves the scene. It's gotta be Vartox, right?
Later, at the Galaxy Building... Lana and Lois look at a picture of the two of them after dousing each other with fruit punch. Yeah. They see a rather dapper looking fellow enter the floor... and, wouldn'tcha know it, he's trying to contact Clark Kent.
Only, he's not in. Jimmy Olsen and Terry Long's little brother turn the corner... and they recognize the man. He's just gotta be Vartox, right? This freaks dude out... so he, um, jumps out the window! Don't worry though, he is using his jacket as a parachute.
He attempts to make his getaway on a nearby roof... but runs smack-dab into the chest of steel.
After some questioning, the man removes his disguise... revealing himself to be Vartox Secret Agent Cory Renwald! If you're asking yourself "Who?"... you're not alone. Turns out this fella was, at one time, another foster child to the Kents. He spun out of a single issue of the New Adventures of Superboy, which... I dunno... kinda feels like a cheap way of introducing actual unseen elements of "history". I mean, Clark Kent having a brother seems like it should've been a bigger deal. Anyhoo, Cory's got amnesia. Last thing he can remember was waking up in an alley... with pockets full of cash.
Superman decides to drop Renwald off at Clark Kent's apartment... so his "brother" can explain who he is... and how they're "connected".
Back at the Galaxy Building... everybody seems to be looking for "the elusive" Clark Kent. During the hunt, Lana chats up Perry... and he's super-jazzed about having dinner with his wife that evening... as their relationship is kinda on the rocks at this point.
We rejoin Superman at the Pentagon, where he's learning a bit more about what's been going on in Renwald's life of late. I mean, he's your own brother... you never think to pick up a phone? Oh well, I suppose it's a two-way street, right? Anyhoo, he learns that Renwald has been selling secrets to the enemy!
Superman's all "no way"... to which, the F.B.I. is all, "yuh-huh". He asks for a few moments to try and get to the bottom of the situation... but the F.B.I. ain't havin' it. Unfortunately for them, you really can't threaten Superman. He leaves anyway.
Back at 344 Clinton, Clark and Cory reunite... and we get the quick and dirty on how they're sorta-kinda brothers. The sight of a photo of the Kents is enough to bring Cory's memories back. Clark cuts through the chatter and gets down to the nitty-gritty... what's all this about him being a traitor to the United States Government?
Cory reveals... it was all a set-up, see? He's bein' railroaded by some mooks to take the fall, see? Clark's all "okay, cool"... and suggests he turn himself over to the authorities... and together, they'll get to the bottom of this. To which, Cory karate chops Clark. Yup, that explains the cover.
Cory rushes out of the apartment and flees the scene. Clark "supes up" and goes to give chase... only, at that very second, Lana Lang reports that a tanker had flipped over spilling toxic nastiness all ova da place. Superman decides that'll have to be priority one.
Which is rather unfortunate for Cory... because, he only gets a few steps outside of 344 Clinton before being struck in the neck with a poisoned blow-dart.
Upstate, Superman takes care of business... dropping a, get this, city-sized dome over the affected area... then sucking up all of the toxic fumes, and rushing into outer space to exhale.
Back in Metropolis, an unconscious Cory Renwald is loaded into a remote control jet. The baddies admit straight away that they framed him for treason... and plan on having him take a "kamikaze" flight... crashing directly into the President of the United States.
And, they might've gotten away with it... if they didn't spend the last half hour explaining their plan to an unconscious man, and just got on with it! Superman arrives, and diverts the jet into the drink. He then pulls Cory from the cockpit and carries him to safety. Cory hopes that this is enough to convince the authorities of his innocence. Since this is his final appearance ever... I'm guessing it was not.
We close out with a pair of epilogues. First, Perry White is stood up by his estranged wife at the posh eatery.
Second, and more importantly... a comet is rushing through space, and in it's flamin' head... well, there he is... Vartox!
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See... toldja this one was for Vartox Completionists only. That epilogue, of course leads into a three issue arc which we've already discussed here earlier during Vartox Week. If you're interested in following that thread, click'em the covers below.
Gotta just love how Vartox is the cliffhanger... I wonder what the difference between cheers and groans was from the readership at the time!
Now, for the actual issue... it wasn't a bad one, it was just a strange one. You might get the feeling like Bates was trying to legitimize some of the Kent-history he was spinning over in New Adventures of Superboy by carrying Clark's never-mentioned foster brother into the "main" books. It reminds me of when John Byrne brought elements of Spider-Man: Chapter One over into the main Spidey books (post late 90's relaunch). It always comes across as cheap... and might actually de-legitimize the entire thing in the minds of the reader. I feel like it kinda did for me.
Unfortunately, not much more to say about this one. It marked the final appearance (and likely the final mention) of Clark's "brother" Cory Renwald... so, I guess it's got that going for it. There are some interesting "soapy" bits with Perry White's dysfunctional marriage. Overall though, if you're looking for Bronze Age/pre-Crisis Superman stories... there are tons out there that are better than this. I say it again... if you absolutely need every appearance of Vartox... then you're going to want to pick this one up too!
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Letters Page (featuring Kent Phenis... again and always!):
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