As many people who read this blog are aware, I am old.
In the recent years, DC has recognized that there have been major events in their universe that have happened quite sometime ago. And knowing perhaps that there are old timers like me who remember those days fondly, they have put out specials to commemorate them. I suppose they hope that these events continue to have an impact on the universe today and that new fans therefore will be intrigued in reading these anniversary specials.
The latest book to "get the band back together" is Superman The Wedding Album 30th anniversary Special #1. Much like prior issues looking back at "The Death of Superman" Special and "The Return of Superman" Special, this book brings many of those classic creators back. Seeing Louise Simonson and Jon Bogdanove, Karl Kesel and Tom Grummett, and Dan Jurgens and Jerry Ordway back with Superman is always amazing. Throw in newbies Rainbow Rowell and Cian Tormey on the opening chapter adds some new blood. It all works, bringing back the feel of those halcyon days. We even get side plots!
Outside of the New 52, the Superman and Lois marriage has remained intact and a vital part of the mythology for these 30 years. So being able to celebrate again made me smile. Of course, there needs to be a story built around this and the creators do a good job working in a beloved villain who is desperately trying to celebrate but ends up reverting to his more mischievous ways. Who better to bring some fun than Mr. Mxyzptlk. The story also does a great job bringing in Jon has a key part of the story. Obviously children often want to know the history of their parents. Having John attempting to help his parents celebrate was another nice touch.
I have enjoyed these specials immensely and I continue to hope that they put them out. I do wonder how they sell. Of course, that we will determine whether or not there are more in the future than anything else.
On to the book.
It turns out Clark and Lois don't celebrate their anniversary much, barely remembering the date!
Jon begins thumbing through their wedding album and hears about how it all happened, including how Superman's super-hero friends weren't in attendance because no one knows Clark is Superman.
I always appreciated that. It never made sense to me that Linda Danvers would be in Jean Loring's wedding party or that Bruce Wayne and Carol Ferris attend Barry's wedding. How do you explain that?
Anyways, fun to see these pics. Rowell and Tormey do great work here showing the easy love between Lois and Clark.
Jon makes a decision. He sees an empty page in the scrapbook called 'Renew your vows' and decides he will put together a true surprise anniversary party. But how can he do that without tipping off his parents? And who can help him.
This feels more like the Jon I know.
It turns out that Mr. Mxyzptlk is a little upset he wasn't invited to the wedding and so he wants to help Jon get things together.
This chapter is by Simonson and Bogdanove and I love the insane energy of Mxy. We even get a Mxy Red/Mxy Blue joke.
But it is clear that Jon doesn't have the capacity to get it all together so Mxy is going to need to nudge things along.
There are crazy antics that result.
When Lois and Superman almost learn what Jon is up to, Mxy has Four-Armed Terror, a DNAlien from back in the day, show up as a diversion.
Even Lois feels that this is somehow 'retro'. Funny.
And Bogdanove has not lost his fastball.
One thing I liked is Simonson bringing Lucy Lane into the book.
Even more, I liked that we get some emotional moments between the Lane sisters. Lucy sees that Ron Troupe has moved on. She sees Jimmy has moved on. She talks about how she has tried to recreate or improve herself but she hasn't really found the right path. She seems depressed.
There is Lois to help her sister.
One of the things I love about the Superman mythos is its supporting cast. This was a small emotional moment involving a tertiary member of the cast and yet Simonson gives this to us. I loved it.
Kesel and Grummett come in and it is time for Mxy to take the bull by the horns and get this party happening.
He begins manipulating things. A street can be shut down for the event. Food suddenly is available. A wedding cake isn't being used. A circus can come and entertain.
Why no one isn't thinking 'hmmm ... this is all to convenient' adds to the humor.
Clark and Lois arrive because Mxy sends them a message that Jon is hurt.
When they arrive, Mxy finally reveals himself and tells them he is quite upset he wasn't invited to the first wedding celebration so he is making the couple renew their vows ... or else. He zombifies their friends into chanting 'renew your vows'.
And when the couple doesn't give in to his demands, he makes the wedding topper bride and groom kaiju-sized and has them begin attacking the city.
I have always loved Grummett's work. Fun to see him draw a formal Clark and Lois.
With mayhem happening, the Justice League gets involved.
You know who else wasn't at the original wedding? Kara. Glad to see her in attendance!
And Jurgens and Ordway on art is like chocolate and peanut butter. What a group shot!
What I really think is the piece de resistance is Lex Luthor and Guy Gardner being the ones to trick Mxyzptlk into saying his name backwards.
Mxy wants it to be that Lois and Clark are no longer married. Lex says Mxy will need to follow the legal rules of divorce. Putting the writ in front of him, he has Mxy read it fast ... including the slipped in, mandatory Kltpzyxm.
Amazing.
Guy and Lex saving the day! Brilliant.
They take it to the Watchtower so all those friends can finally celebrate the marriage. Everyone agrees, the Lois/Clark relationship is extremely healthy and aspirational for everyone.
As a fun epilogue, Editor Mike Carlin talks about putting the initial event together, including timing it with the Lois & Clark television show. What a time capsule!
Sometimes books just make you smile. This book made me smile.
And books are supposed to entertain. This one did.
I hope DC continues to put out these celebrations. If anything, they show the strength of DC's history and legacy, even if at times things have got muddy.
Overall grade: A
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