Supergirl #2 Homage Cover

Just yesterday I reviewed Action Comics #279, the first appearance of Lesla Lar. I was prompted to review because it was revealed in solicits that Lesla Lar is in the upcoming Supergirl #2 by Sophie Campbell. Furthermore, the solicit also says that Lar is impersonating Supergirl in Midvale. All of that is a riff on the original Lesla Lar story arc.

While the book is still a bit away, I have been feeling some cautious optimism about it. Most of the optimism comes from the feeling that Campbell actually likes the character of Supergirl ... unlike other writers who have her shoot up schools, hate Superman, become 'the mistress of the axe' and abandon Earth, bring a young girl to a stoning execution, or just plain be boring. 

I could be wrong. 

But things like bringing back an impersonating Lesla Lar to Midvale, it feels like there is a respect for the character.

So I thought I would read all the old Lesla Lar appearances, figuring I'm eventually going to Back Issue Box review them all. 

So I did indeed go to the long boxes and pulled out Super DC Giant S-24, a reprint collection of Lesla's second arc. 

That night I woke up and 4am because it finally hit me.

Look at this cover.

Now look at the two covers side by side.

Look at the middle strip in particular. Even the dialogue is the same. 

Sophie Campbell is homaging a 1970's Supergirl reprint comic cover for the current series.

I said it feels like Campbell respects the character, likes her. Something like this makes me feel like I might be right.

This is pretty cool.

Back Issue Box: Action Comics #303

Back in Action Comics #1081, Phantom Zone villain Ras-Krom summoned Zanchyroia dragons.

I'll be honest, I thought for a second they were an updating of the Kryptonian kaiju from Action Comics #303. Turns out, I was wrong. This creature is a Kryptonian Drang. 

Then in Superman #21, we learned that Superman's Red emotional storms are the result of a Red K injection from Pharm and Graft. I remembered Action Comics #303 again for its Red-K centric main story.

Between a flying Kryptonian dragon and the Red K connection, I thought it would be fun to formally review this story here. As a plus, Supergirl has a small role in the story. Besides, it has been a while since I have gone back to the Silver Age for something completely silly and fun. 

'The Monster from Krypton' was written by Edmond Hamilton with art by Curt Swan. It sports a pretty eye-grabbing cover of Supergirl riding the one-horned monster while the US military fire Kryptonite bullets at it. But perhaps the most interesting thing about the cover is that it gives away the twists. The monster IS Superman, changed by Red Kryptonite!

Well, settle in for a silly ride! Here's some Kryptonian Kaiju and Red K hijinks!

Back Issue Box: Action Comics #512

A few weeks ago, I reviewed Action Comics #510, covering a story where Lex Luthor apparently turns over a new leaf, becoming a force for good because he has found love. The story started there, with Lex finding Angela Blake, saving her from a lethal DXS disease, and falling so in love that he turns away from evil. 

Action Comics #512 completes the three parter (sorry, I can't find my #511!) and it is, perhaps, one of the craziest Lex stories I have read. Settle in for some Lex playing the long game, Lex altering his own mind, and Lex regretting it all in the end. But also get ready to read Lex at his most evil, his most brutal. 

And when you deal with all that Lex, get ready to see an appropriately angry Superman.

Kudos to Cary Bates for this one. I'd say that three part stories were relatively rare back in 1980. But I think that second part (alas not reviewed here yet) was a keep part to get us to this issue. That middle chapter adds time to this story, makes Lex's long con feel long, and adds some potential legitimacy to Lex's turn to goodness.  

It all starts with this killer cover by Ross Andru and Dick Giordano. Superman kissing Lex's bride in front of him, and clearly on the wedding day is a throwback to the classic covers with our hero acting mean to his friends. The red aura is a nice clue to what happens in the story. And lastly, the addition of the toppling wedding cake is pure gold.  Inside art is by the classic team of Curt Swan and Frank Chiaramonte. 

Settle in. This one is a doozy.

Back Issue Box: Action Comics #510

People who frequent this site know that I look to themes in current comics to help me decide older comics to review. I never wanted this to be an index review site for Supergirl comics. I wanted it to be dynamic and related to current books.

So which current plot to take a look back at? I was torn between two and may end up doing both. One is Lex Luthor turning over a new leaf and trying to become a force for good. Joshua Williamson has been doing that over in Superman since he took over. The other was a look at Amazo given the android being both part of Absolute Power and My Adventures With Superman. 

Somehow I landed on the Lex plot. (But the Amazo story I have in mind is too fun so keep your eyes peeled.)

Action Comics #510 starts a three part story where Lex decides to stop trying to kill Superman. Instead he will become a good man. And the reason for this new lot in life? Well, it's hard to believe! It is the surprise ending so I don't want to spoil it here.

The cover by Ross Andru is certainly eye-catching but doesn't have much to do with the story on the inside. Superman letting Lex be killed would be an interesting plot ... but that isn't here.

On to the book.

Review: Action Comics #514

With House of Brainiac starting this week, I thought I'd dive into the back issue box to cover Action Comics #514, on the racks in September of 1980. 

I will admit that this was a recent purchase out of the bargain bins at my local store which had just about filled a long box with very late Bronze Age Superman. I had been on the lookout both for Brainiac issues and issues from this time period, a sort of hole in my Superman collection.

It doesn't hurt that one of the main plot points of this issue is Brainiac returning  since his 'death' in Superman #338, a book I covered on this site nearly 16 years ago. It is also an issue that has one of the most bad-ass Supergirl moments in history. Readers get a decent tour of the Fortress. 

The book also has a pretty wild ending, one that warrants a little more investigation! First off there is a heavy dose of comic book science. And then a crazy turnabout to close things. Throw in some usual Bronze Age insanity and you get a decent issue. 

Art is by the legendary team of Curt Swan and Frank Chiaramonte. Swan clearly is a master, spinning a Superman story that feels like a Superman story. It doesn't hurt that Swan was the Superman artist for me in the formative years of comic reading.

So settle in for some craziness. On to the book.

Crisis on Infinite Earths #7 Fallout: Superman #414

Last week, I reviewed the Crisis on Infinite Earths #7 sections of the George Perez Tribute issue of Back Issue. It reminded me of just how in depth my coverage of COIE #7 has been on this site over the last 15 years. By now, I thought I might have covered almost everything. I even have a subset of posts called Crisis on Infinite Earths #7 Fallout, deeper looks at books reflecting closely on the events of that famous book.

So I was shocked, truly, to realize that over the time of this site I have never covered Superman #414, a Crisis crossover issue in the immediate aftermath of Crisis on Infinite Earths #7. This issue came out in September of 1985, 2 months after Supergirl's death in the Crisis.  In many ways, it is an epilogue to Supergirl's life although it takes a long time to get there.

Writer Elliot S! Maggin clearly had a tale to tell, of Superman mourning Kara's death and returning her body to Rokyn, New Krypton and her family. But to get there, he needs to tell a very padded tale of the Superman Revenge Squad causing some havoc. There are a lot of needless splash pages, aerial fights over Rokyn, and home scenes of Van-Zee. In fact, if you removed the Revenge Squad story you could have a tight 8 pager showing the aftermath of Kara's death with a bit more dignity. I get that you need action in comics, especially then, but I would have preferred a 22 pager showing that aftermath. While I am glad we got this epilogue, it still feels like Kara got short shrift here.

To make things maybe a touch worse, the art is a bit muddy. Curt Swan's usual magnificence is rendered crudely by co-artist (inker?) Al Williamson. Even the lettering by Ed King feels a bit wonky. I do like the cover by Eduardo Barreto. Barreto drew the back end of the 1980's Supergirl title. So seeing his take on the iconic COIE #7 cover is a nice touch here. 

On to some details.

Back Issue Box: Superman #315

I recently completed my coverage of Superman #311-314 on the site, taking a deep dive into a convoluted story that focused on Superman's code against killing and had some tremendous Supergirl moments.

And while I have the recent Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes movie sitting on my blu-ray to review as well as the Scholastic Backstories novelette to review, I thought I would just finish up this coverage with a bit of an epilogue from Superman #315. And I will end with a question for the audience.

I will start by saying that I will not be reviewing the bulk of the issue despite this winner of a cover showing Superman being defeated by Clark Kent (!!) who has become Black Rock. But it is a bananas story by writer Marty Pasko who was really leaning into his creation of SKULL, a nefarious super-science criminal conglomerate! Instead I'll focus on the first couple of pages which wrap up the fate of Nam-Ek who played such a huge role in the prior arc. 

The art is again by Curt Swan with inks by Dan Adkins. Swan was THE Superman artist in the Bronze Age and he brings his style and solid art foundation to the book. But it is Adkins who brings a real polish to the art here. I wonder if we should have some sort of poll of best Swan inkers (although perhaps we should say 'after Murphy Anderson'). 

But let's take a last look at poor Nam-Ek, the ever-healing, immortal, stench-bedeviled, Rondor mutate.

Back Issue Box: Superman #314

I have been having fun the last couple of weeks reviewing a four-part Superman story from 1977, involving Superman and Supergirl fighting the vengeful space pirate Amalak. The central plot point of the story is Amalak trying to trick Superman into killing. By forcing the Man of Steel to break his ethical code, Amalak knows Superman will be psychologically broken and will retire. Today I cover the finale in Superman #314. 

Writer Marty Pasko has weaved an intricate plot involving a space plague, the return of the Kryptonian criminal Nam-Ek, and a stray dog/alien vector as both the source of the epidemic and a lynch pin to Amalak's plot. Each of these four issues only has 17 pages of plot but Pasko packs it to the brim with twists and turns. All that despite using recap pages to keep readers up to snuff. I have loved the way Pasko has inserted Supergirl into the mix and treated her properly. In this issue, I love his handle of DC lore.

The art is again by Curt Swan and inker Dan Adkins. It is an good mix of fisticuffs between plot points. Swan gets to stretch out a bit, moving from fist fights to Kaiju battles. Adkins gives the work a sort of Schaffenberger slickness, something unusual to how I picture Swan in my head.  But it is pretty slick.

Add to all that some Lois and Clark drama on the last page and you have a winner!

On to the book!

Back Issue Box: Superman #313

Superman #313 was released in 1977, the third part in an intriguing four part story with a central theme of Superman's code against killing. A four parter was a rarity back in those days. Folks weren't writing for the trade. The spinner rack was often hit-or-miss. Things were mostly one and done.

Writer Marty Pasko does a lot in this story, bringing in a little known Silver Age villain, bringing in his own Kryptonian creation Nam-Ek, touching on the real life 'Legionnaires disease' outbreak, and even ratcheting up some tension between Clark and Lois. Heck, even Supergirl has a role here. But the real meat is how important Superman's code against killing was back then (and should continue to be). Superman is brought to the brink of despair and madness as personal ethos is put to the test. 

The art is by Curt Swan, the de facto artist of Superman back in the day. But the inking is by Dan Adkins. It is a smoother Swan but feels off. There is almost a Kurt Schaffenberger feel to the art here. It gives Supergirl a familiar feel but it still feels somewhat off. Not as strange as Frank Springer's inks. But not what I picture in my mind when someone says Curt Swan. And such an interesting cover with Superman tossing an alien around, threatening to kill it. Quite the art duo on this captivating piece, Dick Dillin inked by Neal Adams!

So get ready to dive into part three of Amalak and his machinations. (You can read the reviews of part one and part two here.)

Review: Superman #311

Last week, on a lark, I reviewed Superman #312, the second part of a 4 part story. The response was very positive with folks wanting to hear more about the story itself. Perhaps starting with part 2 wasn't the best choice.

So I am here today to catch you up! Today I cover Superman #311, by Marty Pasko, Curt Swan, and Frank Springer. The issue sports a delightful cover by Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez. If you are looking for a cover that screams ' buy me' from the spinner rack it is this one. Superman being manhandled by a horned unknown villain. People dying around him from plague! Guest starring the Flash! This one has it all true believer.

Pasko does a great job for an opening chapter, dropping us into the action scene immediately and then catching us up. There are a lot of mysteries here. Who is the villain in the scientist (revealed in #312)? Who is the newcomer in the trench coat? What is causing the new plague? And how can Superman recover from an philosophical crisis? Add to that a lot of supporting cast interactions, including the worst 'Steve Lombard is a jerk' scene on record, and you have a winner! And all that in 17 pages!

As I said in the prior review, Springer on Swan is a weird mix. But the action is brisk and beautiful. It is the more character driven scenes that seem to suffer here.

On to the book!

Back Issue Box: Superman #312

When I do back issue reviews here I often try to tie them to some sort of theme or plot that is happening in books currently on the rack.

Sometimes I look at them because I do a deep dive in some aspect of Supergirl's history, like the recent look at Comet's origin.

So why I am I looking at Superman #312?

Is it the great Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez cover, showing Superman and Supergirl teaming up to fight Amalak? Is it writer Marty Pasko's recognizing Supergirl's history or his deepening of Kryptonian lore? Is it the interesting if imperfect teaming of penciler Curt Swan with inker Frank Springer?

All of those would be good enough reasons. But they weren't THE reason. 

It is that recently I saw this picture of Mork reading the issue on an episode of Mork and Mindy.

This is a wild issue. It is a primer on Bronze Age story-telling, covering a lot of plot in a scant 17 pages. It is the second part of a four part story. (I suppose I should cover all of them here.) And while Supergirl is made a damsel in distress in the story, she also is treated with respect by Pasko who makes her act like Superman's colleague, not sidekick or mentee. 

On to the book.

Review: Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane #92

I have been going down a little rabbit hole here on the site, looking at the origin of Comet the Super-Horse. It started with my review of the children's book Comet!, a remarkably faithful adaptation of the Silver Age origin. With that done, I thought I'd look at the actual origin in Action Comics #293.

With those out of the way, I thought I would take a look at one of the wackier books from the early Bronze Age, Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane #92. Leave it to writer E. Nelson Bridwell to take a look back at DC's history and faithfully stick to the details. And leave it to the early Bronze Age to have Lois undergo a rather Olsen-esque transformation into a centaur and a horse. Also, leave it to this time era to make things be a little cringe-y and weird. 

The art really sings here. We start out with a Curt Swan/Neal Adams cover with the Lois centaur while Superman look on shocked. The inside art is Swan again, this time inked by Mike Esposito. Esposito really overpowers Swan's work here. Still, things are truly gorgeous here. 

But please, buckle up. Like many stories from this era, there are more plot turns in this one than in years of current comics. It is a wild ride ... no pun intended!

On to the book.

Black Orchid Wednesday: Bullet Review Superman #149

Welcome to Black Orchid Wednesdays where I have been exploring the fan rumor in the 70s that Black Orchid was actually Supergirl. I am nearing the end of this side mission with but 2 more pre-Crisis Black Orchid stories to cover. Alas, while I have purchased said issues, I don't have them yet. 

But I have been a bit more creative recently on this little musing. At first I was looking at ways that the Black Orchid stories could have been Supergirl. But more recently, I have been more intrigued in looking at Supergirl stories from the Silver and Bronze Age that seem to fit Black Orchid's tales.

And so I bring you one of the craziest imaginary tales of all time, Superman #149 and 'The Death of Superman'. Written by Superman creator Jerry Siegel with art by Curt Swan and Stan Kaye, this has one of the most brutal scenes in comics I have read. 

It also has one of my favorite Supergirl moments in it, at the very end.

And, fitting for this, it has a moment that feels like a Black Orchid moment. I will also reiterate that this is an Imaginary Story meaning that applying the events here to an 'in continuity' fan rumor could be considered troublesome. 

I am surprised that 14 years into this blog that I had not covered this story yet. But here we are. This will be a bullet review with brief coverage because this story deserves to be read in full. I'll hit the high points I promise.

And a word of warning, my copy of this is from 'The Greatest Superman Story Ever Told' trade paperback, which has a very tight binding making scans less than perfect. Apologies up front!

On to the tale.

Back Issue Box: Adventure Comics #394

Every so often I need a little bit of a breather from reviewing critically modern comics. Every so often I need to slip back into the silliness of the Silver Age.

I wanted to cover a Supergirl this issue to keep the focus of the site intact. I was going to delve back into the world of the Earth Angel Supergirl. But as I was thumbing through the Supergirl collection I realized I hadn't covered an Adventure Comics story in quite some time. And boy, I could use a little bit of the insanity that was in these books.

I thought for sure I would review the cover story, 'Heartbreak Prison'. I mean, who can resist the girl prison cover by Curt Swan. 

But then I read the other story in this issue which is so insane that I needed to cover it.

If I was looking for a simple and fun diversion, this was it.

"The Mysterious Motr of Doov" was written by E. Nelson Bridwell with art by Win Mortimer. 

Readers surely picked up the gist of the story just based on this opening panel but there is an even bigger clue there if you look for it.

But Supergirl walking with a metal humanoid, an anthropomorphic beast, and an electric man? All while following the Crimson Trail? Yeah, this all looks familiar.

Back Issue Review: Superman #247

Last week I reviewed Superman #25, the first chapter in the Synmar plot which marks the end of the Brian Michael Bendis run on the character. In that pilot, we see a race of aliens called the Synmar who seem to live in judgment over the universe. In fact, there is a brief discussion about stopping Kal-El's rocket before the baby Kryptonian can become some sort of monster.

The idea of some alien race sitting in judgment over Kal-El certainly stirred up memories of 'The Trial of Superman' storyline from the diamond era. But it also made me pull out Superman #247 in which the Guardians of the Universe wonder if they should curtail Superman's actions. They sort of sit in judgment over him as they try to impart a hard lesson.

"Must there be a Superman?" is one of the more famous Superman stories and certainly is a 'must reprint' in any Bronze Age or Seventies Superman collection. And it is an interesting thought exercise. What should Superman do? And what shouldn't he do? 

 

Perhaps most interesting is that the Guardians of the Universe espouse a very Luthorian view of Superman in this book. Luthor always screams that Superman is holding humanity back. Here the Guardians say much the same thing.

 

And the narrative boxes are also somewhat novel told in the second person, as if you the reader is Superman. 

 

On to the book.

Back Issue Box: Superman #363

I continue my look at a COVID-19 inspired back issue box review today by looking at Superman #363.

In last issue, Lois and Lana got exposed to a deadly tropical plague germ, a universally fatal disease. Ironically, it is the same tropical disease which killed Ma and Pa Kent. At the time Superboy couldn't save his adopted parents, even a Kryptonian blood transfusion failed.

Superman has a little more time because Lois and Lana are young and healthy. So Superman begins the search for a cure and it takes him to some funny places. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

There is a nice little, almost easy solution to the whole thing. I am sure I am not spoiling things by saying that Lois and Lana survive. Writer Cary Bates shows just how distraught Superman becomes during this infliction, perhaps missing the answer in front of his face because he is reeling. Perhaps the most interesting thing that happens in this issue is a side scene with Lana. More on that later.

I also have to wonder how ethical it is for Superman to not tell Lois and Lana that they have the infection. Shouldn't he share this info so that they can get their houses in order? I am rubbing my chin on this. What do you think? Should he have told them? I think yes.

The art is steady as always in the hands of Curt Swan. But the win is the cover by Rich Buckler with Luthor cackling with glee over not helping his foe! Amazing.

But to be honest, the real reason to find this issue is that back up story where Bruce (Superman) Wayne - this Elseworld like story has the Wayne's discovering Kal's rocket - marries Barbara Gordon! And Babs becomes Batwoman! Wild stuff.

On to the issue!

Back Issue Box: Superman #362

I figured it was time for me to take a break from my look at Kandor and switch to a different sort of topic on my mind these days! COVID-19!

I've covered a couple of back issues recently dealing with various viruses and Superman's afflictions and cures. So why not go back to the well and cover Superman #362 and #363, a two-parter dealing with a tropical plague.

Today I'll cover the first part, Superman #362.

I remember buying this issue off the rack at the time, intrigued by the cover. I didn't get the second part at the time. And I lost my original copy somewhere in the parental purge. I recently was lucky enough to get both parts and the disease story is apt for the time.

But ... spoiler alert ... White Kryptonite is not used to save the day. And that despite it being used frequently in continuity as a germ-cleanser and plant killer, like here, here, and even here!

So how does this plague get cured? We'll find out.

On to the book.

A Little Bit Of Kandor: Superman #371

Well, after that whole Candor nonsense, I thought we all could use a little palate cleanser. So let's head away from modern comics and head to the Bronze Age and the then 'new' Kandor.

Superman #371 came out in 1982, just about 3 years after  Superman #338 , the classic story when the 'real' Kandor was enlarged and those Kryptonian citizens were relocated to Rokyn. (Funny to think that that issue was one of the earlier books I reviewed here.)

But just as any good IP gets reinvented, DC and the super-offices must have thought that the Bottle City of Kandor was too good an idea to stay away forever. So why not bring it back.

Even more interesting, at least to me, is that Len Wein wrote this issue bringing back Kandor, just as he was the writer on #338 which took it away! Did Wein regret the decision? Want to bring it back? Was this just editorial dictating it and Wein happened to be on the book?

For Superman fans, it certainly is an eye-catching cover. What is this bottled city in the Fortress? And what is the crazy alien doing trying to destroy it? For continuity nuts like me (even at that tender age), I had to buy this. My original copy was lost in the 'parental purge' so I was only able to get it again recently.

On to the book!

Review: Superman #156

I continue to navigate the current COVID-19 world of no new comics by dipping into the collection and covering interesting back issues. If they include some sort of infection, it's a bonus.

A couple of weeks ago, I covered Action Comics #366 in which Superman being cured from his infection with Virus X, So I figured why not cover Superman #156, 'The Last Days of Superman', the first appearance of Virus X, as far as I can tell.

It is a classic Silver Age story, deemed on the cover to be 'Not a Hoax' and 'Not a Dream' but real! The cover is certainly a grabber. Superman is in some isolation booth, saying goodbye to Supergirl, Krypto, and the Kandorians. he is dying from Virus X. And he needs his friends to heed his last wishes. His will is unfurled before him. You can see the concern on Kara's face, This is a winner by Curt Swan.

As for Virus X, it is as deadly as it seemed to be in the other story. It cannot be destroyed by heat, cold, the vacuum of space, or time. It is impervious.

One thing that I love about this issue is that Supergirl is really the star here. You will see how she is in charge of enacting Superman's wishes, executing his will, and still working tirelessly to try and cure her cousin. Kudos to writer Edmond Hamilton for giving Kara the space here to shine.

Can you figure out how Superman survives this before the ending?

On to the book.

Supergirl Quick Hits

 Hey all, just a couple of unexpected Kara moments cropped up this week at the comic store which I thought were worth mentioning here. One is current. One is pure Bronze Age joy.

We'll start off in Wonder Woman #46. 

I must admit, I haven't been too impressed with James Robinson's run as it seems like Wonder Woman is a supporting character in her own book. I will openly admit that I am floored by the tremendous Jenny Frison variant covers that have been on the book.

This issue has Diana battling the Cheetah. Cheetah keeps ranting how the god Urzkartaga, who cursed her with her bestial form, is dead. Dark gods are coming. And this theistic upheaval is enough to enrage and madden the Cheetah who goes on a killing spree.

In fact this seems to be hitting home normal people too. They are questioning their faiths and rioting.

Maybe you can see where this is going given the Supergirl focus of this site.