Reviews, ruminations, and (occasional) ramblings.
Superman #383 – “Your World or Your Life, Superman—One Must Die” – Cary Bates/Curt Swan/Dave Hunt
This one starts with Superman out in space, coming across a weird energy phenomenon. He checks it out (by flying right through it) and determines it’s no threat to any nearby systems, so he heads back to Earth. On Earth, Lois Lane is on a plane heading for her new assignment in the Middle East. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Superman 383, Action 543, DC Comics Presents 57, Warlord 69”
Superman #382 – “Where Trouble Goes—Euphor Follows” – Cary Bates/Curt Swan/Dave Hunt
Last issue, the supposed altruist Euphor (who can drain negative emotions from people) turned out to be a scumbag. He used some of the energy he drained to give powers to three people with a grudge against Superman. When that didn’t work, he gave powers to Lois Lane, drawing on her resentment at the aloof way Superman’s been acting toward her lately. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Superman 382, Action 542, DC Comics Presents 56, Warlord 68”
Superman #381 – “Whose Super-Life is it Anyway?” – Cary Bates/Curt Swan/Dave Hunt
Last issue, Superman and Superboy both tried to travel through time and ran into the same weird time-storm which caused them to switch minds and be catapulted back to their respective times. So now Superboy’s mind is in Superman’s adult body in the present, while Superman’s mind is in Superboy’s teenage body about fifteen years in the past. (That part of the story was told in concurrent issues of Superboy, which I don’t have and won’t be reviewing.) Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Superman 381, Action 541, DC Comics Presents 55, Warlord 67”
Superman #380 – “A Mind-Switch in Time” – Cary Bates/Curt Swan/Dave Hunt
This one starts with Superman heading back in time to do a favour for Professor Lang. Coincidentally, Superboy (years in the past) is heading forward in time to go visit the Legion. Superman and Superboy both encounter the same strange time storm during their trips and they both try to rush right through it. But the storm is stronger than they thought and they actually end up colliding with each other and being catapulted back to their respective time periods … except they’ve switched minds. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Superman 380, Action 540, DC Comics Presents 54, Warlord 66”
Superman #379 – “The Bizarro-Buster is Loose” – Cary Bates/Curt Swan/Dave Hunt
This one starts on Bizarro World (which is a planet shaped like a cube), where Bizarro has called a meeting of the Bizarro-JLA to discuss a problem … Bizarros are spontaneously exploding. At first, the Bizarro-JLAers don’t believe him, but after they start blowing up they figure he might be onto something. Unfortunately it’s too late and the epidemic continues all through Bizarro World, culminating in the Bizarros at the Daily Planet exploding too. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Superman 379, Action 539, DC Comics Presents 53, Warlord 65”
Superman #378 – “The Man Who Saved the Future” – Paul Kupperberg/Curt Swan/Dave Hunt
This one starts with Superman helping a NASA space shuttle land safely after some mechanical trouble. In side the control room, most of the technicians are amazed to see the Man of Steel in action, but one guy is absorbed in his own work … trying to design a solar-powered interstellar spaceship. Continue reading “Superman 378, Action 538, DC Comics Presents 52, Warlord 64”
Superman #377 – “Terra Times Two” – Paul Kupperberg/Curt Swan/Dave Hunt
This one starts with a typical day in Metropolis, as Superman chases the cosmic cowboy Terra-Man through the city. Terra-Man has added to his arsenal of high-tech weaponry and hits Supes with some red sun energy that binds him and drains his powers. Terra-Man shoots razor sharp cacti at the Man of Steel, hoping his weakened condition will leave him vulnerable. Superman uses Terra-Man’s horse to pull him free of the red sun energy and decks the goofy villain. Before he can wrap things up, Terra-Man disappears into a space warp, leaving Superman holding his lasso. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Superman 377, Action 537, DC Comics Presents 51, Warlord 63”
Superman #376 – “The Ozone-Master Comes Calling” – Elliot S! Maggin/Curt Swan/Dan Adkins
This one starts with Superman interrupting a robbery at a high-end glassware store. He’s surprised when the robbers’ weapons actually hurt him, first a heat gun then a force projector. Supes manages to chase the thieves away without smashing up the place and when they attempt to flee in an armoured helicopter, the Man of Steel destroys it and captures them … but not before getting blasted with another painful force beam. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Superman 376, Action 536, DC Comics Presents 50, Warlord 62”
Superman #375 – “The Stoning of Lana Lang” – Cary Bates/Curt Sawn/Dan Adkins
Last issue, Lana Lang prepared to leave Earth to go live with her alien loverboy, Vartox. Lana received a boon from out of nowhere, a protective aura allowing her to live in the harsh atmosphere of Vartox’s planet. But unknown to anyone, Vartox’s first love (Syreena) has returned from the dead and is the one who gave Lana the protective aura. Syreena hates Vartox for leaving her and has been screwing with his head, hypnotizing him to believe Superman is trying to get Lana for himself. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Superman 375, Action 535, DC Comics Presents 49, Warlord 61”
Superman #374 – “Love is Deadlier … the Second Time Around” – Cary Bates/Curt Swan/Dan Adkins
Last issue, Superman’s old friend Vartox came to Earth for a visit, and to reconnect with Lana Lang. Vartox’s planet is too toxic for Lana to live there, but she acquired a protective aura from an incorporeal benefactor. Instead of being suspicious of this sudden good fortune, Lana and Vartox were thrilled and started making plans for her to go back to his planet together. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Superman 374, Action 534, DC Comics Presents 48, Warlord 60”