Tag: Action Comics reviews

Comics Reviews: Superman 333, Action 493, DC Comics Presents 7

Superman 333 coverSuperman #333 – “Happy New Year … Rest in Peace” – Martin Pasko/Curt Swan/Frank Chiaramonte

This issue continues the holiday theme that’s been running this month, although this is set during New Years not Christmas. This one actually starts out on Bizarro World, a planet where imperfection (and stupidity) are practically worshiped, and where everything is the opposite of Earth. Bizarro has gotten a message from the Future-Scope Teletype (the opposite of Earth teletypes, which only report what’s already happened) that Superman’s friends Lana and Lois are going to die. His editor is so happy he fires Bizarro, who heads to Earth to check things out. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Superman 333, Action 493, DC Comics Presents 7”

Comics Reviews: Superman 332, Action 492, DC Comics Presents 6

Superman 332 coverSuperman #332 – “The Eternity Cage” – Martin Pasko/Curt Swan/Frank Chiaramonte

You may remember last issue Lana Lang’s old classmate Carl Draper (who’s had a weirdly obsessive crush on her since high school) designed a new escape-proof prison for super-villains. Superman made some improvements, putting the prison miles up in the atmosphere, and had the prison named after him. Draper, already jealous because of Lana’s crush on Superman, went a little nuts and used the technology that drains the powers from the villainous inmates to attack Superman. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Superman 332, Action 492, DC Comics Presents 6”

Comics Reviews: Superman 331, Action 491, DC Comics Presents 5

Superman 331 coverSuperman #331 – “Lockup at 20,000 Feet” – Martin Pasko/Curt Swan/Frank Chiaramonte

This one starts with Superman confronting Metallo, who has broken out of prison. Metallo has replaced the radium that was powering his artificial body while he was in prison with his preferred power source, kryptonite. He’s attempting to steal some solar mirrors from some energy collector on the roof of STAR Labs—apparently looking for yet another alternate source of power for his bod. His kryptonite heart gives him an advantage over Superman, but the Man of Steel uses the old “empty boots hanging off the ledge” trick to fake Metallo out and turn the tables. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Superman 331, Action 491, DC Comics Presents 5”

Comics Reviews: Superman 330, Action 490, DC Comics Presents 4

Superman 330 coverSuperman #330 – “The Master Mesmerizer of Metropolis” – Martin Pasko/Curt Swan/Frank Chiaramonte

Have you ever wondered why nobody can tell that Clark Kent and Superman are the same person? After all, a pair of glasses is hardly a convincing disguise. We’ve all laughed about it at some point, and we’re not the first ones to do so. I can only imagine that this particular story was cooked up in response to all the people saying “Glasses? That wouldn’t fool anyone!” We start with a satellite falling from orbit and heading straight for the WGBS Building. Lois Lane, Lana Lang, and Jimmy Olsen urge Clark to change to Superman and stop the satellite from killing them all. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Superman 330, Action 490, DC Comics Presents 4”

Comics Reviews: Superman 329, Action 489, DC Presents 3

Superman 329 coverSuperman #329 – “I Have Met the Enemy—And It Is Me” – Martin Pasko/Curt Swan/Frank Chiaramonte

This one starts pretty much where last issue left off, with Superman wrapped up by a lamp-post. We get a recap of what led to this moment: years ago on Krypton, Superman’s father helped create some nanobots to aid people with disabilities, but the nanobots gained sentience and started taking over the people they were in contact with. The nanobots were frozen and shot into space (which seemed to be Krypton’s solution to everything) and ended up on Earth, where they thawed out and merged with a Superman robot. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Superman 329, Action 489, DC Presents 3”

Comics Reviews: Superman 328, Action 488, Jonah Hex 17

Superman 32 coverSuperman #328 – “Attack of the Kryptonoid” – Martin Pasko/Curt Swan/Frank Chiaramonte

This one starts with Superman destroying the Laser Defense System satellite in orbit. You may remember the LDS was a top-secret orbital laser designed to protect Earth from space-bound threats. Superman found out about it accidentally (and was pretty mad that he hadn’t been told) and has now convinced the Pentagon that it’s unreliable. The one-armed general in charge of the project (General Derwent, who we saw vowing revenge against Superman an issue or two ago) watches on a monitor as Supes collects the pieces of the smashed satellite. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Superman 328, Action 488, Jonah Hex 17”

Comics Reviews: Superman 327, Action 487, DC Comics Presents 2

Superman 327 coverSuperman #327 – “The Sandstorm That Swallowed Metropolis” – Marin Pasko/Curt Swan/Frank Chiaramonte

This one starts where last issue left off, with Clark Kent being accosted in his apartment by a dude dressed in a snake outfit (and his henchmen). The guy is Kobra, an international high-tech terrorist who appeared in his own mag for seven issues, then fought Batman and Aquaman a couple times. Kobra explains that his high-tech weapons are looted from ancient civilizations and UFO crash sites. The teleporter device Superman took from SKULL last issue was one that SKULL stole from Kobra, and when Kobra tracked it to Clark Kent’s apartment, he accidentally found out Clark was Superman. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Superman 327, Action 487, DC Comics Presents 2”

Comics Reviews: Superman 326, Action 486, Jonah Hex 15

Superman 326-coverSuperman #326 – “A Million Dollars a Minute”– Martin Pasko/Curt Swan/Frank Chiaramonte

This one starts right after the end of last issue, with Superman telling everyone he’s agreed to go on UBC live and reveal his secret identity to the world. Superman says commercial time is selling for a million dollars per minute and even shows reporters the contract where he agrees to reveal his identity. Lana gets all choked up and Superman suddenly comes to his senses, wondering where the hell he is. He takes off and goes to see Jenet Klyburn at STAR Labs. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Superman 326, Action 486, Jonah Hex 15”

Comics Reviews: Superman 325, Action 485, DC Comics Presents 1

Sup 325-cover (Copy) (Copy)Superman #325 – “The Super Sellout of Metropolis” – Martin Pasko/Curt Swan/Frank Chiaramonte

This one starts with that idiotic story device where we see a scene then learn what led up to it in a flashback. Pretty much this entire issue is a flashback, which might be a new record. Anyway, we start with Superman signing autographs in front of the UBC Building and learn that Supes has signed an exclusive (and lucrative) contract with UBC to appear on air. Lois, Lana, Perry White, and Morgan Edge are nearby, upset that Superman seems to be selling out, especially to UBC. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Superman 325, Action 485, DC Comics Presents 1”

Comics Reviews: Superman 324, Action 484, Jonah Hex 13

Superman 324 coverSuperman #324 – “Beware the Eyes That Paralyze” – Martin Pasko/Curt Swan/Frank Chiaramonte

This one continues from last issue, with Superman down for the count thanks to a brain-blast from Atomic Skull (aka Albert Michaels) and about to get wasted by Titano the Super Ape and his kryptonite vision. Jenet Klyburn (of STAR Labs) is free, but can’t do anything to save the Man of Steel. Luckily for him he was just faking unconsciousness and manages to evade Titano’s green-K vision. Supes wraps a lead pipe around Titano’s eyes to block the deadly rays and we get a quick recap of last issue. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Superman 324, Action 484, Jonah Hex 13”