Superman in the Post-Crisis Era (reviews by shaxper)
Jun 20, 2022 23:05:17 GMT -5
SJNeal and chaykinstevens like this
Post by shaxper on Jun 20, 2022 23:05:17 GMT -5
Action Comics #673 (January 1992)
"Friend in Need"
Script: Roger Stern
Pencils: Bob McLeod
Inks: Denis Rodier
Colors: Glenn Whitmore
Letters: Bill Oakley
Grade: B
It's getting increasingly difficult to review these issues, in which so many story arcs each progress slightly with none taking centerstage. While the cover suggests this issue is about the Post-Crisis introduction of Hellgrammite (an unusual choice considering that the character hadn't appeared in fourteen years and only ever made three appearances prior to that), the most significant story progression actually happens for Mannheim, who escapes from Stryker's Island in the wake of last week's attack on the prison by Purge. Mannheim escapes, gets a nuclear weapon, and is intercepted by Superman before he can blow up Metropolis.
This is really significant because (while it's never pointed out to us here) this was the event that triggered the dystopian futures in both Superman Annual #3 and Action Comics Annual #3 last year as part of the Armageddon 2001 event. In the first future timeline, Superman fails to prevent the detonation and becomes an anti-hero in the aftermath. In the second, Superman vaguely remembers enough from glimpsing the first future along with Waverider to prevent the detonation a second time, and that emboldens him to exert his power more upon the world in an effort to keep it safe.
The weird part is that they bother to acknowledge this here, and yet
1. We're never told why Superman is able to stop Mannheim in this reality. He does not seem to remember Waverider's intervention nor have a sense of things to come when he makes the choice to kill Mannheim rather than risk the deaths of millions:
2. It goes down completely differently here.
In Superman Annual #3, we're told that one of Mannheim's henchmen panics and hits the detonator when the bomb was only meant as a blackmail scheme:
And, in Action Comics Annual #3, we actually see it go down, though Superman prevents the detonation this time:
But, in this issue, Mannheim is alone and heavily armored:
Why? Did Stern and McLeod just not bother to go back and check how it went down previously? I mean, Stern WROTE Action Comics Annual #3!
Meanwhile, we FINALLY get back to Lex Luthor II after waiting a full month, but he only appears for a single scene that is in no way critical to any plot points:
Superman also mentions that Team Luthor has been cleaning up crime and making him feel unnecessary as of late, but none of that has been seen anywhere in these comics. We saw Team Luthor in action exactly once and they haven't been mentioned at all in the four issues since, even while a killer robot was breaking into Stryker's Island.
As usual, an impressive effort is made to maintain continuity across titles, in this case even showing that the events of this issue occur on the same day as the events of last week's issue:
and yet (as is also usual as of late), there are blunders too. Last issue, Purge's limbs had broken Mannheim's restraining collar off entirely, leaving him free to utilize his powers. Here, the collar is still on (though no longer functioning).
And what exactly was the collar dampening, anyway? Mannheim does not appear to have any powers without his armor.
Stern also goes long and makes a continuity reference from nearly four years earlier that even I'd forgotten:
For what it's worth, Adventures of Superman #445 was the very first issue produced after John Byrne's departure that was in no way based upon his remaining notes or plot points; the first time the remaining creative talents in the office produced something entirely on their own, setting the stage for this almost objectively superior era that has since followed. It all sort of started there.
I had three personal favorite moments in this issue. The first is this seemingly inconsequential moment:
Again, my favorite Superman stories are the ones that play up his character and dedication more than his powers, showing that his true hero status comes from within. In this case, since one month in our world is one week in Superman's world (as has been frequently established in these issues), and if Superman presumably hasn't been to this shelter since it was first established in Adventures of Superman #445 (41 months earlier), then it has been 41 weeks (nearly a full year) for Superman, and yet he remembers the name of one of the people working there like they see each other every day. I love that Superman makes the effort.
My second favorite moment was definitely this unexpected one that functioned almost like a jump-scare. comics rarely startle me, but this moment did:
And my third is Bibbo being the corniest, wholesomest guy in all of Suicide Slum:
It's no surprise that he has opened his bar up to everyone for Thanksgiving and is giving a down-on-his-luck Jimmy Olsen all the help that he needs. It's also great to see adorable bar regulars High Pockets and Lamar once again:
We haven't seen those two since Adventures of Superman #483:
Oh, and Pete Ross and Lana Lang are getting married...or are they?
Gad, I hope Lana's sad sack days of pining after Clark are finally over, but man that engagement and wedding planning happened fast! If one month in our world is one week in Superman's, then this couple has been together for LESS than a week at this point!
Important Details:
1. Superman seemingly kills Mannheim to prevent the destruction of Metropolis (as shown repeatedly in Armageddon 2001)
2. First Post-Crisis appearance of Hellgrammite, who has been hired to kill Lex Luthor II by a board member that LL2 spooked a little too much.
3. Lana Lang and Pete Ross are getting married.
Minor Details:
1. It took me far too long to realize that was the silhouette of a bed.
I was thinking it was a printing error, or the inker trying to cover up an error!
2. "Booty?" Is Superman a pirate, or is he coming on to this guy?
All in all, a MUCH stronger issue than the three that came before it. Something important ACTUALLY HAPPENS, and we see more of LL2 as well.
"Friend in Need"
Script: Roger Stern
Pencils: Bob McLeod
Inks: Denis Rodier
Colors: Glenn Whitmore
Letters: Bill Oakley
Grade: B
It's getting increasingly difficult to review these issues, in which so many story arcs each progress slightly with none taking centerstage. While the cover suggests this issue is about the Post-Crisis introduction of Hellgrammite (an unusual choice considering that the character hadn't appeared in fourteen years and only ever made three appearances prior to that), the most significant story progression actually happens for Mannheim, who escapes from Stryker's Island in the wake of last week's attack on the prison by Purge. Mannheim escapes, gets a nuclear weapon, and is intercepted by Superman before he can blow up Metropolis.
This is really significant because (while it's never pointed out to us here) this was the event that triggered the dystopian futures in both Superman Annual #3 and Action Comics Annual #3 last year as part of the Armageddon 2001 event. In the first future timeline, Superman fails to prevent the detonation and becomes an anti-hero in the aftermath. In the second, Superman vaguely remembers enough from glimpsing the first future along with Waverider to prevent the detonation a second time, and that emboldens him to exert his power more upon the world in an effort to keep it safe.
The weird part is that they bother to acknowledge this here, and yet
1. We're never told why Superman is able to stop Mannheim in this reality. He does not seem to remember Waverider's intervention nor have a sense of things to come when he makes the choice to kill Mannheim rather than risk the deaths of millions:
2. It goes down completely differently here.
In Superman Annual #3, we're told that one of Mannheim's henchmen panics and hits the detonator when the bomb was only meant as a blackmail scheme:
And, in Action Comics Annual #3, we actually see it go down, though Superman prevents the detonation this time:
But, in this issue, Mannheim is alone and heavily armored:
Why? Did Stern and McLeod just not bother to go back and check how it went down previously? I mean, Stern WROTE Action Comics Annual #3!
Meanwhile, we FINALLY get back to Lex Luthor II after waiting a full month, but he only appears for a single scene that is in no way critical to any plot points:
Superman also mentions that Team Luthor has been cleaning up crime and making him feel unnecessary as of late, but none of that has been seen anywhere in these comics. We saw Team Luthor in action exactly once and they haven't been mentioned at all in the four issues since, even while a killer robot was breaking into Stryker's Island.
As usual, an impressive effort is made to maintain continuity across titles, in this case even showing that the events of this issue occur on the same day as the events of last week's issue:
and yet (as is also usual as of late), there are blunders too. Last issue, Purge's limbs had broken Mannheim's restraining collar off entirely, leaving him free to utilize his powers. Here, the collar is still on (though no longer functioning).
And what exactly was the collar dampening, anyway? Mannheim does not appear to have any powers without his armor.
Stern also goes long and makes a continuity reference from nearly four years earlier that even I'd forgotten:
For what it's worth, Adventures of Superman #445 was the very first issue produced after John Byrne's departure that was in no way based upon his remaining notes or plot points; the first time the remaining creative talents in the office produced something entirely on their own, setting the stage for this almost objectively superior era that has since followed. It all sort of started there.
I had three personal favorite moments in this issue. The first is this seemingly inconsequential moment:
Again, my favorite Superman stories are the ones that play up his character and dedication more than his powers, showing that his true hero status comes from within. In this case, since one month in our world is one week in Superman's world (as has been frequently established in these issues), and if Superman presumably hasn't been to this shelter since it was first established in Adventures of Superman #445 (41 months earlier), then it has been 41 weeks (nearly a full year) for Superman, and yet he remembers the name of one of the people working there like they see each other every day. I love that Superman makes the effort.
My second favorite moment was definitely this unexpected one that functioned almost like a jump-scare. comics rarely startle me, but this moment did:
And my third is Bibbo being the corniest, wholesomest guy in all of Suicide Slum:
It's no surprise that he has opened his bar up to everyone for Thanksgiving and is giving a down-on-his-luck Jimmy Olsen all the help that he needs. It's also great to see adorable bar regulars High Pockets and Lamar once again:
We haven't seen those two since Adventures of Superman #483:
Oh, and Pete Ross and Lana Lang are getting married...or are they?
Gad, I hope Lana's sad sack days of pining after Clark are finally over, but man that engagement and wedding planning happened fast! If one month in our world is one week in Superman's, then this couple has been together for LESS than a week at this point!
Important Details:
1. Superman seemingly kills Mannheim to prevent the destruction of Metropolis (as shown repeatedly in Armageddon 2001)
2. First Post-Crisis appearance of Hellgrammite, who has been hired to kill Lex Luthor II by a board member that LL2 spooked a little too much.
3. Lana Lang and Pete Ross are getting married.
Minor Details:
1. It took me far too long to realize that was the silhouette of a bed.
I was thinking it was a printing error, or the inker trying to cover up an error!
2. "Booty?" Is Superman a pirate, or is he coming on to this guy?
All in all, a MUCH stronger issue than the three that came before it. Something important ACTUALLY HAPPENS, and we see more of LL2 as well.
