Back Issue Box: Superman/Doomsday:Hunter/Prey #1

Based on the recent Doomsday storyline in Josh Williamson's Superman book, I pulled out Superman/Doomsday: Hunter/Prey #1. After all, the ideas of Doomsday resurrecting more powerful, his connection to Krypton, and the Radiant being from Catalon all are introduced here. As crazy as it sounds and as old as it makes me feel, this mini-series is 30 years old. two years after the Death of Superman storyline. 

It is hard to believe but at this point we really didn't know anything about Doomsday. We knew he seemed to be alive, strapped to a meteor that Cyborg Superman shot into space. But who was he? What was he? 

Legendary creative team of writer/artist Dan Jurgens and inker Brett Breeding decide to answer the question. But this isn't a straight A to B line. Jurgens has this mini-series travel throughout the DCU with guest stars and other villains and pretty big action sequences. 

In fact, this is a big enough story with those big Doomsday reveals, I am surprised this took place outside of the main titles. This gets the slick, square-bound Prestige format which works great. But that means this major event is in a mini-series away from the Triangle era books. Would you feel cheated if you didn't get this and found out Doomsday's origin was here? Or is it par for the course

I don't know if I would call this a great mini-series. But it is very good. And it certainly has had historical legs. This has stuck, as seen even last month.

On to the story.

The book starts with Superman reliving a nightmarish memory. As a child he was afraid of going into the dark basement for Ma. That fear of the unknown stuck with him.

In fact, he is reliving that fear. This is a dream where young Clark morphs into adult Superman and that boogeyman in the basement becomes Doomsday. 

We are just 2 years out from Superman's death and basically 1 year out of Superman's return. This should still feel raw to him. So kudos to Jurgens for bringing up this dread, for showing us that even Superman is vulnerable to nightmares like Doomsday. 

And seeing Superman be afraid humanizes him a bit. Seeing him toss and turn and not be able to sleep is something we all can relate to. 

With Doomsday basically 'out there' somewhere, Superman realizes he needs to do some investigation. 

His timing is perfect.

Out in space, Doomsday's asteroid gets picked up by a scavenger ship. Once inside, Doomsday pops his bonds and slaughters the crew.

Remember, the last we saw of Doomsday was early in Reign of the Supermen when he was shot into space. So seeing him alive and stomping around was pretty shocking then. This was basically Doomsday's second appearance.

Superman realizes that the unknown aspects of Doomsday make the monster too big a mystery to just be floating in space. Was Doomsday created somehow? What if there are more of them? An army of them? He needs to find out.

But before he heads out, potentially to his death, he has to stop and see Lois. (I don't recall why they are separated from each other.)

This makes complete sense. Superman basically has to say goodbye because he might not come back. It also makes sense he'll need help to track Doomsday down. 

That ship that picked up Doomsday is an Apokolips crawler. And in the circuitry/chains which bound him was the persona of the Cyborg Superman.

Suddenly the Cyborg and Doomsday are destroying Darkseid's world.

Just like Doomsday, this is Cyborg's second appearance. This is the first time we have seen this red armor look. 

This is basically a sequel to Death/Reign. All the big names are here.

The first people Superman heads to for help is the Linear Men and Waverider.

Because, of course, if you are Superman and need help with something you don't go to Martian Manhunter, Green Lantern and the Guardians, or even Dr. Fate. 

You go to the Linear Men and Waverider. Of course you do.

Interestingly enough, they refuse to help Superman, saying they are merely observers, not participants. 

Thanks a lot Waverider.

And Doomsday is basically Doomsday.

He survives an Omega Beam attack and then beats the snot out of Darkseid. 

Is this simply done to let us yardstick Doomsday's power? 

How powerful is Doomsday? He survived Omega Beams and beat up Darkseid. 

I think we all know how tough Doomsday was, even then. So this seems like a yardstick move, when a tough character is beaten up just to show how powerful someone else is. 

"How powerful is XXX? They beat up Prometheus."

"How powerful is XXX? She beat up Lady Shiva."

I get it.

Next stop on Superman's tour looking for help? The JLA. 

Maxima not only wants to help Superman. He wants to join him. She is eager for another shot at him.

But there is even more serendipity. While Superman is there, Desaad actually reaches out to the JLA for help!

Recognizing cosmic karma ... or need to move the plot along ... Superman can sense that Doomsday has to be the threat on Apokolips. He grabs a Mother Box and heads to Apokolips.

This is where I would love to talk to Jurgens and see if he remembers his thoughts on writing this. Why not have more Leaguers present? Why only Maxima? Was it to truncate the scene knowing the other Leaguers would either try to talk him out of it? Or want to join him? 

I'm a Maxima fan. I loved seeing her zeal and her desire to want to join the fray!

Superman arrives and sees the devastation that the Cyborg and Doomsday have been up to. Slaughtered Parademons. Destroyed buildings.

And then this scene. When Superman sees images of Doomsday lumbering around, he is frozen. It allows the Cyborg to attack.

Regardless of fear or concern for his welfare, Superman flies out to engage. But before he can reach Doomsday, Desaad Boom Tubes the monster away.

It does give Superman pause. Did he fly as fast as he could? Did he hold back? Did he want Doomsday to be teleported away so he wouldn't have to fight again? We started with Superman thinking of Doomsday as a nightmare. We know see him, possibly, afraid to enter into a fight.

After the brutal beating he endured at the hands of Doomsday, I can imagine how hard it would be to skirmish again. And it adds an interesting psychological wrinkle to a story that is basically a physical brawl. 

And you have to put yourself into the time period. In 1992, Doomsday seemed more like a plot device than a character. But we knew what he could do. And Jurgens wastes no time to remind us of that power level. Doomsday is alive. He is strong enough to take out Darkseid. He has an odd ally with the Cyborg Superman. He is still 'new'. 

This is quite the opening chapter.

Overall grade: B