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Post by Cei-U! on Aug 14, 2015 6:47:03 GMT -5
The Superman Family #195
June-July 1979 (February 5, 1979) $1.00
Cover Art: Ross Andru (Penciller), Dick Giordano (Inker), signed
“Lois Lane's Super-Risk!” 8 pages
Julius Schwartz (Editor), Cary Bates (Writer); Kurt Schaffenberger (Penciller), Dan Adkins (Inker); Milt Snapinn (Letterer), Anthony Tollin (Colorist)
FC: Lois Lane Kent, Superman, teamed as Mr. & Mrs. Superman
Intro: A Superman robot
Synopsis
Having once again made herself a nuisance to the gangsters of Metropolis, Lois Lane is hurled to her death from atop a twelve-story building. Though Superman rescues her at the last moment and rounds up her would-be murderers, his cold formality towards her in public upsets her. Flying her back to the Daily Star building, the Man of Steel gently upbraids her for placing herself in harm's way and assuming he will save her.
That evening, Lois returns home intent on making Clark's favorite meal to make up for her earlier attitude. When she attempts to apologize, Clark says he doesn't understand what she is talking about. He hasn't left their apartment all day. The Superman who rescued Lois was an impostor.
As the couple search the streets of Metropolis in search of this impostor, Lois speculates that it must be one of her husband's robot duplicates that has somehow acquired the ability to act independently. It is only when Clark makes an excuse not to kiss Lois (as he had also done earlier at home) that she realizes it is he who is the malfunctioning robot, not the Superman she'd encountered that afternoon.
When the blades of a passing helicopter suddenly melt, Lois deduces that the robot has accidentally employed his heat vision. Intent on saving the plummeting chopper, the ersatz Kent begins changing into his Superman costume right there in public. Lois acts quickly, using the emergency shutdown to deactivate the robot then placing herself directly in the path of the falling helicopter. Superman appears on cue and saves both her and the helicopter crew. Afterward, he tells her that it was only the deactivation of the renegade robot, which set off an ultrasonic signal, that alerted him to her danger in time.
Behind the Scenes
This is the first episode of the “Mr. & Mrs. Superman” series to appear in The Superman Family.
The Good Guys
This is the first time the Earth-Two Superman is said to maintain robot duplicates of himself for emergencies as his Earth-One doppelgänger does. Although he did use a similar robot in the “Superman” story in World's Finest Comics #42 (September-October 1949), it was remotely controlled. The first Superman robot capable of independent, albeit preprogrammed, action would not appear until Superman #105 (May 1956).
According to this story, Superman's favorite meal is beef Wellington.
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Post by Cei-U! on Aug 15, 2015 8:09:41 GMT -5
Justice League of America #167
June 1979 (March 5, 1979) $.40
Cover Art: Dick Dillin (Penciller), Dick Giordano (Inker), signed
“The League That Defeated Itself” 17 pages
Ross Andru (Editor), Gerry Conway (Writer); Dick Dillin (Penciller), Frank McLaughlin (Inker); Ben Oda (Letterer), Jerry Serpe (Colorist)
FC: Batman (as The Blockbuster), Black Canary, The Elongated Man, The Flash, Green Arrow, Green Lantern (as The Reverse-Flash), Hawkman, The Red Tornado, Superman (as The Wizard), Wonder Woman (as The Plant-Master), Zatanna (as Star Sapphire), teamed as the Justice League of America
Villains: The Blockbuster (as Batman), The Plant-Master (as Wonder Woman), The Reverse-Flash (as Green Lantern), Star Sapphire (as Zatanna), The Wizard (as Superman), teamed as the Secret Society of Super-Villains
Villain: Hijack (out of costume)
Synopsis
While the Secret Society, in control of the JLA satellite and drunk on their newly-acquired super-powers, squabble amongst themselves, the five Leaguers whose souls occupy the super-villains' bodies awaken to find themselves imprisoned in a “magnetic stasis cube of Kryptonian design.”
Despite their disorientation and frustration, the indomitable heroes eventually escape the cube. They find the satellite deserted save for the unconscious Red Tornado. They reactivate him but the furious android, understandably mistaking his companions for the super-rogues they appear to be, attacks them. Reluctantly putting the Tornado on ice, the JLAers realize their only hope is to track the Secret Society down and somehow force the Wizard to reverse his soul-exchange spell.
Taking advantage of their appearance, the heroes pretend to break former Society member Hijack out of prison and trick him into revealing the location of the Sinister Citadel. Leaving a woozy Zatanna behind, the other four Leaguers break into the Cortney Building. But the baddies are waiting for them, alas, along with four real Justice League members. ‘Superman’ and his fellow changelings make sure the heroes are put down before they can argue their case, arousing Green Arrow's suspicions.
Only Zatanna, trapped in Star Sapphire's body and stripped of her magic, remains at large.
Meeting Minutes
The usefulness of the Cortney Building headquarters of the Secret Society of Super-Villains is irreversibly compromised in this story (though in fact it seems to have been deserted for many months).
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Post by Cei-U! on Aug 16, 2015 6:28:14 GMT -5
Adventure Comics #464
July-August 1979 (April 9, 1979) $1.00
Cover Art: Jim Aparo, signed
“To Everything There is a Season…” 8 pages
Ross Andru (Editor); Paul Levitz (Writer); Joe Staton (Art); Ben Oda (Letterer), Adrienne Roy (Colorist)
FC: The Huntress (as Helena Wayne), Power Girl (as Karen Starr), Robin (as Dick Grayson), Wildcat, teamed as the Justice Society of America
Intro: Charlie Bullock
Synopsis
Turning down an invitation from Robin, the Huntress and Power Girl to join them for “a night on the town,” Wildcat plans to revisit some of his old hangouts from his boxing days in his civilian identity. Encountering a fellow prizefighter now become a drunken bum, Ted changes his mind about having a drink and decides instead to walk down to the long-shuttered gym that once bore his name. A young boy from the neighborhood, unaware that he is speaking to former heavyweight champion Ted Grant, asks him if the gym might reopen someday and walks away disappointed when Ted says no. Concerned that his life apart from Wildcat has lost meaning, his reverie is interrupted by a cry for help. A moment later, the Feline Fury wades into four would-be muggers. Still not fully recovered from his brain surgery, Wildcat has some trouble with the crooks until the boy he'd spoken to earlier arrives to lend a helping hand. Afterward, Wildcat reveals his true identity to the boy, Charlie Bullock, sensing in him a kindred spirit. Later that night, Robin and the others return to find Wildcat packing his bags. He tells them it is time for him to move on because “someone's gotta start worrying about where the next generation of super-heroes is coming from!”
Continuity
It is not clear how long after the events of the previous issue this story takes place. Since Robin has not yet returned to his ambassadorial duties and Wildcat is still recovering from his operation, it probably occurs within a few days of the earlier story.
Meeting Minutes
Wildcat resigns from active duty with the JSA at the conclusion of this story.
The Good Guys
According to The Spectre #3, Ted Grant's gym for underprivileged kids was in Knickerbocker City, not Gotham City as portrayed here. It is possible that Grant's Gym was successful enough at some point to open branches in other cities and that it is one of those branches that Ted visits here.
Although it does not say so explicitly, the story implies that Ted Grant intends to reopen his gym.
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Post by Cei-U! on Aug 17, 2015 7:20:27 GMT -5
Justice League of America #168
July 1979 (April 9, 1979) $.40
Cover Art: Dick Dillin (Penciller), Dick Giordano (Inker), signed
“The Last Great Switcheroo” 17 pages
Ross Andru (Editor), Gerry Conway (Writer); Dick Dillin (Penciller), Frank McLaughlin (Inker); Ben Oda (Letterer), Jerry Serpe (Colorist)
FC: Batman (also appears as The Blockbuster), Black Canary, The Elongated Man, The Flash, Green Arrow, Green Lantern (also appears as The Reverse-Flash), Hawkman, The Red Tornado, Superman (also appears as The Wizard), Wonder Woman (also appears as The Plant-Master), Zatanna (also appears as Star Sapphire II), teamed as the Justice League of America
Villains: The Blockbuster (also appears as Batman), The Plant-Master (also appears as Wonder Woman), The Reverse-Flash (also appears as Green Lantern), Star Sapphire II (also appears as Zatanna), The Wizard (also appears as Superman), teamed as the Secret Society of Super-Villains
Synopsis
The Green Arrow is not alone in sensing something wrong with five of his Justice League teammates, particularly their sneering taunts toward and ruthless disposition of four captured members of the Secret Society of Super-Villains. Bound, gagged and caged by ‘Green Lantern’'s power ring, the baddies are helpless to reveal the startling truth: that the souls of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and the real GL have been mystically exchanged with those of the Wizard, Blockbuster, Plant-Master and the Reverse-Flash. The true Wizard, inhabiting Superman's body, hurls the caged villains toward a fiery death in the sun while glibly reassuring the others their foes have been put in “time-stasis” and placed in solar orbit “until science perfects criminal rehabilitation.” Accepting that explanation, the League flies off, overlooking the fallen form of Star Sapphire, host body of Zatanna's soul.
Back aboard the JLA satellite, a furious Red Tornado finally thaws out. Upset with himself for acting without thinking, the android hero restrains himself when Star Sapphire teleports aboard, giving her time to gasp out proof of her true identity before passing out.
In Mexico City, the Justice League stands guard over the priceless Nova Jewels, reputedly relics of extraterrestrial visitors to pre-columbian Mexico. This duty, allegedly arranged by Superman at the behest of the Mexican government, puzzles his peers and deepens their suspicions. The gig is up when a randy Reverse-Flash puts the moves on Black Canary. Clued that half the team are phoneys, the Leaguers use their knowledge of their teammates' weaknesses and limitations to down the Secret Society. The Wizard, struck down by his own magic despite his otherwise invulnerable Kryptonian physique, looks up to see himself and the other villains, rescued from his deathtrap by the Red Tornado.
Recovered from her ordeal, Zatanna reverses the spell of transference, reuniting the souls and bodies of hero and villain alike.
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Post by Cei-U! on Aug 18, 2015 6:41:41 GMT -5
The Superman Family #196
July-August 1979 (April 9, 1979) $1.00
Cover Art: Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez (Penciller), Dick Giordano (Inker), signed
“Editor of the Star” 8 pages
Julius Schwartz (Editor), Cary Bates (Writer), Kurt Schaffenberger (Penciller), Joe Giella (Inker); Todd Klein (Letterer), Adrienne Roy (Colorist)
FC: Lois Lane Kent, Superman (also appears as Ratso Malone), teamed as Mr. & Mrs. Superman
SC: George Taylor, Perry White
Intro: Mister Ace (Judge Adler, first name unknown)
Synopsis
Daily Star editor-in-chief George Taylor informs Clark Kent and Lois Lane that he will retire at the end of the month. Two Star reporters are being considered for his position: Perry White… and Clark. Unable to choose between them, Taylor declares that if one of them scores a “sensational scoop” before he steps down, such a feat is sure to influence his decision.
At home that evening, the proposition sparks the first serious argument of the Kents' marriage: Clark insists that his duties as Superman preclude his accepting any job that would leave him tied to a desk all day but Lois reminds him that “you’re a married man now” and that “we could use the extra money an editor's salary would bring in!” The Last Son of Krypton will be sleeping on the couch tonight.
Patrolling Metropolis later, Superman spots wanted fugitive Ratso Malone slinking around the waterfront. At first he intends to nab the felon but changes his mind when he overhears Malone tell another man that Mister Ace — a mysterious criminal mastermind running roughshod over the city of late — has called a meeting of the underworld for the following evening. The Man of Steel, realizing that the capture and unmasking of Ace would surely propel his alter ego into the editor's chair, decides to crash the meeting, noting that “if I can pull this off, Perry White is sure to be chosen the next editor of the Star!”
The next night, Superman infiltrates the meeting disguised as Ratso. Before he can bully the recalcitrant crooks into coughing up the identity of Mister Ace, Perry shows up with the master criminal in hand. Months of painstaking digging has led the intrepid reporter to this moment but Superman informs him that Kent has beaten him to the punch and is filing the story even as they speak. Leaving White to guard the defeated mob until the police arrive, the Action Ace flies off to phone the newspaper with his scoop.
In George Taylor's office the following morning, the retiring editor prepares to announce his decision. A confident Clark, having figured out that Taylor intended to pass over the man with the biggest scoop because that person would be too valuable as a field reporter to chain to a desk, is stunned when Perry tops his story. White has discovered that Mister Ace is actually Judge Adler, who disappeared under mysterious circumstances years before. A blow to the head changed the jurist's personality, turning him into the sinister Ace. Despite all his conniving, Clark Kent is appointed new editor-in-chief of the Daily Star.
Behind the Scenes
There is no “Mr. & Mrs. Superman” story in The Superman Family #197.
The story of the disappearance of Judge Adler is patterned after the famous case of Joseph F. Crater, a justice of the New York Supreme Court who vanished without a trace in 1930.
Continuity
This story clearly contradicts the “Superman Vs. Wonder Woman” story in All-New Collectors' Edition #C-54, which showed Perry White already in the editor's chair (albeit at the Daily Planet) as early as June 1942, as well as the countless Golden Age stories published since George Taylor's last appearance in Action Comics #30 (November 1940). This seems to confirm what the “Superman” story in Action Comics #484 implied: that on Earth-Two, Clark, Lois and the others never worked for the Planet.
Fashion Watch
The Earth-Two Perry White is depicted as younger and thinner than he appeared in Golden Age “Superman” stories.
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Post by Cei-U! on Aug 19, 2015 7:42:43 GMT -5
Adventure Comics #465
August-September 1979 (June 18, 1979) $1.00
Cover Art: Jim Aparo, signed
]b]“Countdown to Disaster!”[/b] 16 pages
Ross Andru (Editor); Paul Levitz (Writer), Joe Staton (Penciller), Dave Hunt (Inker), Ben Oda (Letterer), Adrienne Roy (Colorist)
FC: Doctor Fate, The Flash, Green Lantern, Hawkman, The Huntress, Mr. Terrific, Power Girl, teamed as the Justice Society of America
SC: Inza Nelson
Synopsis
Hawkman, the Flash and Green Lantern scour Gotham City in search of a capsule of lethal poison stolen from a hospital. If they cannot locate it by five o'clock, the capsule will dissolve and thousands of people will die. When City Hall receives a tape recording demanding a ransom for the capsule's return, the JSA trio trace it to a gang of penny-ante thugs. It quickly becomes apparent the extortionists never had the poison and were simply exploiting the crisis.
Power Girl helps the Huntress search the scene of the crime for clues. Fingerprints lead them to a cleaning woman, who confesses that she has been stealing drugs from the hospital to support her heroin-addicted son.
Hawkman, conceding that the available JSAers' powers are inadequate for the task at hand, flies to Salem to enlist the magical assistance of Dr. Fate. Inza Nelson pleads with the Winged Wonder not to disturb her husband, as the life of another may depend on the outcome of the mystic struggle in which he is engaged. With thousands of innocent lives at stake, Hawkman feels he has no choice. He calls Fate back to the mortal plane, overcoming the mage's objections with the urgency of his mission.
With only an hour remaining before the capsule dissolves, the other Justice Society members continue to follow its trail up the food chain of the city's drug network. Searching the dumpster where the kingpin insists his men threw any drugs that could not be immediately identified, they find evidence that leads them to a stray dog. The capsule is stuck to the stray's bone. Hawkman and Fate arrive in time for the Master Mage to send the poison to another dimension.
Later at JSA headquarters, Fate continues to worry about the life that may be lost because of the disrupted spell. Mr. Terrific arrives, ready to join the team on its visit to Earth-One and the Justice League of America.
Continuity
It is not clear in this story how much time has passed since the events of the previous issue. However, a comment in Justice League of America #171, which is part of the story arc begun in this issue, places these events six months after the death of the Earth-Two Batman. Since the “Justice Society of America” stories running through Adventure Comics #461-64 are said to take place in the summer of 1978 (see the Continuity note for Adventure #462 for more information), this would place the current storyline in the winter months of 1978-79.
Fashion Watch
Mr. Terrific is depicted wearing the costume he wore in Justice League of America #101-02 with the addition of the yellow gauntlets that were part of his original Golden Age outfit. Because he is not shown full figure in this issue, it is not known which variant of his footwear he is wearing.
Power Girl wears a thin black choker with white clasp around her throat in some panels of this issue. The choker is omitted in approximately half of the illustrations.
Points to Ponder
The identity and fate of the life which depended on Dr. Fate's interrupted spell is never revealed. It is probably not related to the subsequent death of Mr. Terrific, as Fate would surely do more than exchange small talk on the JLA satellite (as seen in Justice League of America #171) if he knew a fellow JSAer was in danger.
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Post by Cei-U! on Aug 20, 2015 6:44:38 GMT -5
Justice League of America #171
October 1979 (July 2, 1979) $.40
Cover Art: Dick Giordano, signed
“The Murderer Among Us: Crisis Above Earth-One!” 17 pages
Ross Andru (Editor), Gerry Conway (Writer); Dick Dillin (Penciller), Frank McLaughlin (Inker); Ben Oda (Letterer), Jerry Serpe (Colorist)
FC: Batman, The Flash, Green Lantern, Hawkman, The Red Tornado, Superman, Zatanna, teamed as the Justice League of America
GS: Doctor Fate, The Flash, Green Lantern, Hawkman, The Huntress, Mr. Terrific (dies in this story), Power Girl, teamed as the Justice Society of America
Intro: The Spirit King (Roger Romaine), in flashback only
Synopsis
A joint meeting of the Justice League and Justice Society ends in refreshments and conversation aboard the JLA satellite. Mr. Terrific tells the two Flashes of his recent encounter with an old enemy on the campus of Gateway University. Terrific caught the Spirit King, who possesses the power to make himself immaterial at will, attempting to steal an experimental device from a laboratory but was unable to prevent his escape. When the Earth-Two Scarlet Speedster, who has also tangled with Spirit King in the past, suggests Terrific should've contacted him for help, the Defender of Fair Play declares that he is still capable of handling his own cases despite his age and angrily storms from the room, warning that the villain's trail has led him here to the JLA satellite and that “when you learn the truth, one of you will be branded a traitor!”
Suddenly, a powerful, hull-breaching explosion rocks the satellite. When the League's automatic repair mechanism fails, several heroes rush to repair the damage before the atmosphere can escape into space. As the others scramble to seal the hull breach from the outside, Superman makes a horrifying discovery: the corpse of Mr. Terrific floating amidst the explosion's debris.
With the hull repaired, the super-hero teams turn to the cause of both Terrific's death and the explosion. Examination of the debris indicates that no detectable explosive was used. Zatanna attempts to probe a debris fragment mystically but is struck down by what Dr. Fate identifies as a “powerful mental force” that leaves the sorceress comatose. A super-swift search of the satellite by the Flashes detects no intruder yet the indicators prove neither the transporter nor the transmatter have been used within the past hour. Worse, the JLA's diagnostic computer reveals that Mr. Terrific died of strangulation, not in the explosion. As Superman notes, there is only one possible conclusion: “One of us is a murderer!”
Behind the Scenes
This is the first JLA/JSA crossover not produced under the editorial supervision of Earth-Two co-creator Julius Schwartz.
Cosmology
The city out of which Mr. Terrific operates is not identified in this issue. His employment at Gateway University implies that he operates out of Gateway City, former home base of the Spectre, but this cannot be confirmed.
Continuity
Batman states in this issue that it has been six months since the death of his Earth-Two doppelgänger.
Meeting Minutes
A footnote in this issue states that Mr. Terrific has not participated in a JSA case since Justice League of America #37-38 in 1965. In fact, the character had participated in several cases since that story, most recently in Justice League of America #101-02.
The Earth-Two Hawkman states that “we hardly knew [Mr. Terrific]… he was never really one of us…” in this issue. While it is true that Mr. Terrific participated in fewer JSA adventures than any other member except the Red Tornado, there has never been any previous indication that the team considered the Man of a Thousand Talents an outsider.
The Good Guys
The Huntress calls the Earth-One Batman “Uncle Bruce” for the first time in this story.
According to this story, Mr. Terrific (as Terry Sloane) has become a professor of English Literature at Gateway University since retiring and lives in a rented room off-campus. In his Golden Age series, Sloane was portrayed as independently wealthy, thanks to the income from his many patents and his own business acumen. It is not clear if Sloane now lives so simply by choice or has suffered some sort of financial setback, nor is it clear if “retirement” refers to his previous profession (never clear in his solo series) or to his role as Mister Terrific.
The Earth-Two Flash calls Terry Sloane “Jerry” in one panel of this issue.
The Bad Guys
Although described in this issue as an old foe of both the Earth-Two Flash and Mister Terrific, the Spirit King is not a Golden Age character. This is his first appearance.
The Spirit King's real name, Roger Romaine, is very similar to Colonel Roger Romane, the true identity of another Gerry Conway-created Earth-Two villain, the Gadgeteer, introduced in Steel, The Indestructible Man #3. There is no known connection between the characters.
Fashion Watch
The Flash of Earth-Two wears the ankle-high version of his boots throughout this issue and the next.
The Earth-Two Hawkman wears a simplified version of his latest costume, introduced in the “Justice Society of America” story in All-Star Comics #72. Missing are his armbands, the stylized hawk symbol on his harness' clasp and the yellow trim on his boots. His helmet is depicted with the cloth cowl's neckpiece in several panels.
Mr. Terrific wears a variant of the costume last seen in Justice League of America #38. He wears the brown shoes that were part of his original costume first seen in Sensation Comics #1 (January 1942) instead of the green ankle boots; also, his belt's buckle is colored brown instead of its usual white throughout this issue.
Power Girl wears the choker first seen intermittently in the “Justice Society of America” story in Adventure Comics #465 throughout this issue and the next.
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Post by Who's Who on Aug 20, 2015 11:44:07 GMT -5
I've often wondered if this story was somewhat inspired by the B-movie, The Dead Talk Back. In it, "To help solve a murder case, the police are forced to resort to a lonely meta-physicist working out of a basement ..." The lonely scientist looks a lot like the Spirit King.   |
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Post by Reptisaurus! on Aug 20, 2015 13:13:52 GMT -5
The Earth-Two Flash calls Terry Sloane “Jerry” in one panel of this issue.
we hardly knew [Mr. Terrific]… he was never really one of us… we don't even really remember his name.... |
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Post by Cei-U! on Aug 21, 2015 7:47:58 GMT -5
Justice League of America #172
November 1979 (August 6, 1979) $.40
Cover Art: Dick Giordano, signed
“I Accuse…” 17 pages
Ross Andru (Editor), Gerry Conway (Writer); Dick Dillin (Penciller), Frank McLaughlin (Inker); Ben Oda (Letterer), Jerry Serpe (Colorist)
FC: Batman, The Flash, Green Lantern, Hawkman, The Red Tornado, Superman, Zatanna, teamed as the Justice League of America
GS: Doctor Fate, The Flash, Green Lantern, Hawkman, The Huntress, Power Girl, teamed as the Justice Society of America
Villain: The Spirit King
Synopsis
When the evidence suggests that one of the Justice Society or Justice League members is the murderer of Mr. Terrific, Superman orders Doctor Fate and the Green Lanterns to create an impenetrable energy field around the JLA satellite to prevent anyone from leaving before the investigation is concluded. Once they are sealed in, the Man of Steel appoints Batman and the Huntress to joint command of the case.
Examining the room where the explosion that hurled Terrific's corpse into space originated, the Masked Manhunters find a piece of debris with “a charred edge, from some tremendous heat source” and five oval depressions on its surface. While Huntress connects the JLA and JSA computers and checks out a few facts and figures, Batman asks the Earth-One Flash to repeat his earlier conversation with his Earth-Two counterpart and Terrific. Without warning, the computer console explodes, badly burning the Huntress. Doctor Fate magically heals his young teammate's wounds. She recovers consciousness long enough to tell her father's doppelgänger, “You were right. The one we suspect… also battled the Spirit King… the last time he was in Gateway City… and the device… the Spirit King stole … was a new portable seismograph… everything fits…” With that, Batman announces, “I know who killed Mr. Terrific!”
The world's greatest detective explains to his captive audience that the depressions in the debris seem to have been made “by fingers gripping the metal with super-strength.” Because of their size and positioning, they point to Power Girl but Batman and Huntress suspected a frame. When he learned that Spirit King stole a seismograph, Batman realized the villain wanted to track the seismic trail left by a super-speedster, specifically the one “who defeated the Spirit King so badly that he was chosen for a special revenge… the Flash of Earth-Two! … But perhaps we should call you by your real name-- --Spirit King!”
In answer, the spectral form of the Spirit King bursts from the Flash's body in fury. He admits to possessing the Scarlet Speedster and using his vibratory powers to blow out the hull of the satellite and, later, destroy the JLA computer. As for Mr. Terrific, Spirit King boasts of “becoming corporeal just long enough to strangle that old fool in revenge for the times he defeated me!” Repossessing Flash, he escapes via the one route off the satellite the heroes overlooked: the transmatter cube. The JSA pursue him to Earth-Two after thanking Superman and the others for conducting an objective investigation, a fitting tribute to the man known as the Defender of Fair Play.
It is only after the Justice Society has gone that the League realize they are still sealed in their satellite. Silly super-heroes!
Behind the Scenes
Although Wonder Woman appears on the cover of this issue, neither version of the character appears in the story within.
Fashion Watch
The Flash of Earth-Two wears his buccaneer-style boots on the cover of this issue.
The clasp on the Earth-Two Hawkman's wing harness bears the emblem of his Earth-One counterpart throughout this issue.
Points to Ponder
The Huntress states at one point that Mr. Terrific “was retired, and for a reason. He was an old man… he could have been going senile.” This is an odd attitude for her to take, considering that her four male teammates — Doctor Fate, the Flash, Green Lantern and Hawkman — all began their super-heroic careers before Mister Terrific and are approximately the same age: in their early- to mid- 60s.
It is not clear how the Spirit King, to whom no mystical abilities are attributed anywhere in this story (the origin of his power to become immaterial and possess others is not specified), managed to sabotage the rubble from the explosion so as to put Zatanna out of action, as seen in the previous issue.
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Post by Cei-U! on Aug 22, 2015 7:00:52 GMT -5
The Superman Family #198
November-December 1979 (August 6, 1979) $1.00
Cover Art: Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez, signed
“The Leaning Tower of Metropolis!” 8 pages
Julius Schwartz (Editor), Cary Bates (Writer); Kurt Schaffenberger (Penciller), Dave Hunt (Inker); Milton Snappin (Letterer), Adrienne Roy (Colorist)
FC: Lois Lane Kent, Superman, teamed as Mr. & Mrs. Superman
SC: Jimmy Olsen
Villains: Colonel Future and the C-F Gang
Reintro: Ella Lane
Synopsis
Clark Kent's mother-in-law, Ella Lane, comes to Metropolis for a visit. In another part of the city, the fugitive Colonel Future declares “out-and-out war” against her daughter's crusading husband. In two days, Future and his henchmen will use his advanced technology to eliminate not only the Daily Star editor but the very building in which he works.
The next morning, Kent spots two of the C-F Gang attempting to plant a bomb atop a neighboring building. He captures them and disarms the device as Superman, unaware that Colonel Future has sacrificed these men to decoy the Man of Tomorrow away from his real operation.
When Mrs. Lane complains of a toothache while visiting Clark and Lois at work the following day, her son-in-law uses his x-ray vision to examine her dental work and inadvertently discovers a deadly danger to the entire Star building. At that moment, the structure begins to shake violently. Changing to his Superman costume, the Action Ace desperately tries to match the vibrational frequency of the force field his x-ray vision detected surrounding the skyscraper before it can topple over. (It was this vibration that was causing Mrs. Lane's teeth to ache.) Successfully penetrating the field, he traces it back to its source and, at long last, captures Colonel Future and his band of criminals.
Later, Clark is chastised by Ella for rushing off instead of staying by Lois' side during the emergency. She advises him to “leave the heroics to … Superman!”
Cosmology
The presence of a TV field reporter—an African-American TV reporter, no less—in this story is an anachronism. Remote broadcasting, at least as depicted here, was not yet possible in the early 1950s. And unless Earth-Two was far more racially enlightened than our reality during that era, a back reporter would never have been put on the air.
The Good Guys
Ella Lane should not be confused with her Earth-One counterpart introduced in Superman’s Girl Friend, Lois Lane #13 (November 1959).
Lois' father, Sam Lane, is mentioned but makes no appearance in this issue. He should not to be confused with his Earth-One counterpart, also introduced in Lois Lane #13.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2015 12:32:31 GMT -5
I really liked the Superman Family & Batman Family titles. The Mr & Mrs Superman feature was one of my favorites.
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Post by Cei-U! on Aug 23, 2015 8:31:29 GMT -5
Adventure Comics #466
November-December 1979 (August 20, 1979) $1.00
Cover Art: Jim Aparo, signed
“The Defeat of the Justice Society!” 17 pages
Ross Andru (Editor), Paul Levitz (Writer); Joe Staton (Art); Ben Oda (Letterer), Adrienne Roy (Colorist)
FC: The Atom, The Black Canary, Doctor Fate, Dr. Mid-Nite, The Flash, Green Lantern, Hawkman, Hourman, The Huntress, Power Girl, Robin, The Sandman, Starman, The Star-Spangled Kid, Superman, Wildcat, Wonder Woman, teamed as the Justice Society of America
SA: Senator Joseph P. McCarthy (?, see below), seen only in flashback
Intro: The Combined Congressional Un-American Activities Committee, seen only in flashback
Intro: Eliminations Inc., a Communist-sponsored assassination service, seen only in flashback
Synopsis
Returning to JSA headquarters after Mr. Terrific's funeral, the Huntress makes monitor duty pass more quickly by telling Power Girl the story behind the team's disbanding in 1951.
Shortly before the Justice Society's battle with the Key in All-Star Comics #57 (February-March 1951), a suave gentleman representing an organization of assassins calling themselves Eliminations, Inc, approaches a cartel of organized crime heads with an offer they can’t refuse: in exchange for a percentage of the cartel's profits, his people will kill the JSA.
Some time later, the team is confronted by a strange spherical flying television. The agent of Eliminations, Inc appears on its screen and explains that he represents a group of wealthy private citizens seeking to reward the JSA for their heroic deeds. Their “most unusual gift” is a new JSA headquarters, a huge satellite in geosynchronous orbit, not unlike the one the Justice League of Earth-One will construct nineteen years later, staffed by robots. Following their new benefactor trustingly into the satellite — “Who would be stupid enough to … take us all on in a fight?” asks Hawkman — the septet of super-heroes quickly find themselves locked in, under assault by the robot crew and hurtling into deep space.
But as so many opponents have before him, the assassin underestimates the Justice Society's resourcefulness. They escape the trap and trail the overconfident killer back to the cartel's headquarters. The assembled mobsters are no match for seven pissed-off super-heroes. But when they turn the crooks over to the authorities, they receive in return a subpoena to appear before the Combined Congressional Un-American Activities Committee. It is the JSA's turn to be caught up in the anti-Communist fervor of the day.
At the hearing, their testimony against the man from Eliminations, Inc — now revealed as a Communist agent — is discredited because they claim he used “futuristic technology” in his attempt on their lives and “no nation has technology superior to ours!” With their patriotism thus called into question, one of the senators demands the Justice Society members prove their loyalty by unmasking and revealing their civilian identities. Angrily proclaiming that “our faces-- our names-- our lives, are our business,” the heroes vanish with the promise that “you won’t be hearing from us again!” — a promise they will keep for over a decade.
The story concluded, the young heroines contemplate the irony of the JSA suffering its greatest defeat not at the hands of a super-villain but at those of “a madman who got himself a little power, and [used] it to crush people!”
Behind the Scenes
This is the final episode of the first Bronze Age “Justice Society of America” series.
The Combined Congressional Un-American Activities Committee, though modeled after both the House Unamerican Activities Committee (HUAC) and the various investigatory bodies chaired by Senator Joseph McCarthy, had no real world equivalent.
Continuity
Although this story begins with the funeral of Mr. Terrific, it is not clear how much time has elapsed since the events of Justice League of America #172.
No explanation is given for how the Flash got free of the Spirit King's possession or for how (or even if) the JSA captured him. Indeed, save for a passing reference to the unsolved case in America Vs. the Justice Society #3, the outcome of the Mr. Terrific murder case is never revealed during the remainder of the Bronze Age. Writer John Ostrander and artist Tom Mandrake would finally resolve the story in The Spectre (third series) #54 (June 1997) but that fine comic, alas, conforms to post-Crisis continuity and thus falls outside the scope of this guide.
Meeting Minutes
This is the first telling of the story of the Justice Society's last case and subsequent disbanding.
Johnny Thunder is once again not present at a Justice Society funeral. No explanation is offered for his absence. Interestingly, the Earth-One-based Black Canary is present at the funeral as well as in the flashback.
The Good Guys
The Atom's height is given as an even five feet in this story, rather than the usual 5'1".
The Bad Guys
Although the politician who demands the unmasking of the Justice Society is not identified by name in this story, he is drawn to look like Senator Joseph P. McCarthy of Wisconsin, whose very name is synonymous with the Cold War paranoia of the early 1950s and the numerous injustices it spawned.
Fashion Watch
The Flash resumes wearing his buccaneer-style boots in this issue. He is also shown wearing these boots in 1951. He wore his ankle boots in all his Golden Age appearances.
The yellow trim is restored to Hawkman's boots in this issue but the hawk emblem is missing from his harness clasp.
Hourman wears a variation of his costume in which all the elements normally colored red are colored yellow. The cape has no trim.
Power Girl no longer wears the choker introduced in the previous issue.
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Post by foxley on Aug 23, 2015 16:42:53 GMT -5
Roy Thomas (who else?) would later deal with this in an All-Star Squadron Annual where the then members of the JSA (and their significant others) were be exposed to a huge amount of chronal energy that would eventually slow down their aging over the decades to come. Although not specifically mentioned at the time, as Mister Terrific was not exposed to this energy, presumably he would have aged more than his team mates. Retroactive continuity at its finest!
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Post by Cei-U! on Aug 24, 2015 6:10:55 GMT -5
The Brave and the Bold #156
November 1979 (August 20, 1979) $.40
Cover Art: Jim Aparo, signed
“Corruption!” 17 pages
Paul Levitz (Editor), Cary Burkett (Writer), Don Newton (Penciller), Bob Smith (Inker); Ben Oda (Letterer), Jerry Serpe (Colorist)
FC: Batman [of Earth-One] and Doctor Fate
SC: James W. Gordon [of Earth-One]
Synopsis
While trying to ascertain why his crystal ball is clouded, Doctor Fate is zapped by the “evil power … hiding its activity behind these mists!” All the stunned sorcerer gains for his trouble is knowledge of a particular location.
Meanwhile on Earth-One, Batman attends an awards ceremony in Commissioner Gordon's office. No sooner has the ceremony ended then, with a clap of thunder, a ghostly hand appears and writes “a cryptic, smoking message” on the wall: “Beware-- corruption rules the house of the Gotham police!” Later, in the Batcave, the Darknight Detective runs a photo of the message through his computer, which identifies the handwriting as that of Donald Sterling, a crooked cop killed in the line of duty. That night, hitherto honest GCPD patrolmen inexplicably begin committing crimes all over town. Consulting with Gordon, Batman is caught off guard when his old friend shoots him at point-blank range. Only the magical intervention of the newly arrived Doctor Fate saves the Masked Manhunter from certain death.
Fleeing amidst a hail of police gunfire, the two heroes strategize. Batman will look into the circumstances surrounding Sterling's death while Fate enters the netherworld in search of the deceased patrolman's spirit. Each runs into resistance. Batman barely escapes with his life from police headquarters after entering it in disguise to snatch Sterling's case file. The Wonder Wizard, meanwhile, battles his way past mystic barriers and a savage were-demon. When he reaches the spirit of Donald Sterling, he finds that “an evil demon of great power has joined with his spirit-essence,” exploiting his desire for justice for its own sinister ends. Though the demon cannot harm Fate, neither can the mage exorcise it as long as the vengeance-crazed Sterling welcomes its help.
Convinced that Sterling was innocent of the corruption charges, Batman follows the chain of evidence to the files of Guiseppe Condetti, the wealthy businessman financing the drug ring for which Sterling allegedly worked. Escaping from the kingpin's estate with Fate's timely assistance, the Caped Crusader enlists his ally's magical help in obtaining a vital piece of evidence from an otherwise inaccessible safety deposit box.
With the final piece of the puzzle in hand, Batman confronts Sterling's partner William Tyler, the very policeman decorated by Commissioner Gordon earlier in the day. As Fate and Sterling watch from the netherworld, Tyler confesses to killing his fellow officer and framing him for his own crimes. When the rogue cop pulls a gun on his masked accuser, Sterling uses the demon's powers to brain his killer with his own framed promotion certificate. With his need for justice satisfied, Donald Sterling no longer resists when Doctor Fate exorcises his demonic possessor, freeing him to seek his eternal rest.
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