Reviews, ruminations, and (occasional) ramblings.
Superman #323 – “The Man With the Self-Destruct Mind” – Martin Pasko/Curt Swan/Dan Adkins
This one starts with some drama (or melodrama, as the case may be); we see a weirdo named Atomic Skull freaking out and using his powerful eye-beams to demolish a statue of Superman. Seems Atomic Skull is dying (painfully) and the only people who might have cured him were thrown in jail by the Man of Steel. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Superman 323, Action 483”
Superman #322 – “Laser War Over Metropolis” – Martin Pasko/Curt Swan/Frank Chiaramonte
A quick recap: Parasite used a crystal to make Superman’s powers increase out of control which also made Superman act like kind of a dick. Parasite stole the knowledge of how to operate the top secret Laser Defense System and is threatening to obliterate Metropolis if he doesn’t get a billion dollars. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Superman 322, Action 482, Jonah Hex 11”
Superman #321 – “Too Strong to Survive” – Martin Pasko/Curt Swan/Frank Chiaramonte
This one starts right where last issue ended, with Superman about to be detained by the Army for illegally entering a top secret facility. We get a recap to bring us up to speed: the Army told Superman a lighthouse would be attacked by foreign spies in a mechanical octopus at a certain time; he was a bit late, thanks to a fight with Solomon Grundy, but when he showed up his powers were running out of control (thanks to the Parasite, but Superman doesn’t know that) and he smashed the mechanical octopus to pieces. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Superman 321, Action 481, Black Lightning 7, Jonah Hex 10”
Superman #320 – “The Absolute Power Play of the Parasite” – Martin Pasko/Curt Swan/Frank Chiaramonte
This one continues from last issue, with Solomon Grundy strangling Superman with his own cape as the Parasite watches from a nearby rooftop. But even though Superman is being choked, he manages to use his super-breath to push Grundy away, causing the cape to unwind and Supes to drill into the ground like a corkscrew. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Superman 320, Action 480, Jonah Hex 9”
Superman #319 – “How to Make a Marshland Monster” – Martin Pasko/Curt Swan/Frank Chiaramonte
This one starts with a recipe (of sorts) on the splash page, giving us a preview of what’s to come in the story. The story itself starts in a garbage bin behind the United Nations building. Something—or someone, rather—coalesces out of the refuse. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Superman 319, Action 479”
Superman #318 – “The Wreck of the Cosmic Hound” – Martin Pasko/Curt Swan/Frank Chiaramonte
This one seems kinda goofy at first glance, but turns out to deal with some pretty deep themes. Unfortunately, it starts with that stupid storytelling device of having something dramatic happening (in this case, Superman is being crushed by cosmic energy bands shaped like a gigantic dog’s head), then using flashbacks to catch us up. I hate it when they do that! Just tell the damn story already! Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Superman 318, Action 478, Warlord 10”
Superman #317 – “The Killer With the Heart of Steel” – Martin Pasko/Curt Swan/Dan Adkins
This continues right from last issue, with Metallo gloating about how he beat Superman and how he plans to use Superman’s super heart to power his own android body. Metallo leaves Superman to die, surrounded by kryptonite. When will these villains learn, you never walk away and assume the hero will die; once you’re out of sight, all kinds of crazy shit can happen. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Superman 317, Action 477”
Superman #316 – “The Heart Attack That Crippled Superman” – Martin Pasko/Curt Swan/Dan Adkins
This continues the Metallo/SKULL storyline from a few issues ago. We see Metallo robbing the Metropolis Natural History Museum of some kryptonite and Superman trying to stop him. Supes gets zapped by Metallo’s green K chest beam and Metallo takes off with the kryptonite. Continue reading “Comics Review: Superman 316, Action 476, Warlord 9”
Superman #315 – “Good Evening Superman: I’m Clark Kent … and You’re Not!” – Martin Pasko/Curt Swan/Dan Adkins
This one continues from last issue, showing us what’s happening after the plague ended in Central City. Superman and Supergirl go to the Fortress of Solitude and send Nam-Ek into the Phantom Zone. Supergirl takes off, leaving Supes to relax. But his downtime is interrupted when an alarm goes off warning him that SKULL is making a move. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Superman 315, Action 475”
Superman #314 – “Before This Night is Over, Superman Will Kill!” – Martin Pasko/Curt Swan/Dan Adkins
This one continues directly from last issue and there’s a lot of plot convenience in the first few pages. We get a recap of the story so far: Amalak sent an alien named Jevik to a news conference to infect everyone with some kind of space plague and Superman figured out Jevik was “disguised” as a stray dog that Steve Lombard’s nephew Jamie picked up. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Superman 314, Action 474”