comic review – Page 3 – Author Carlo Carrasco

A Look Back at Action Comics #689 (1993)

April 30, 2025April 27, 2025carlocarrasco

Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 20^th century pop culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1993 to take a close look at one of the tales of the Reign of the Supermen storyline told through an issue of Action Comics.

When Adventures of Superman #500 (1993) was released, it launched the Reign of the Supermen storyline (which focused on the tales of the Eradicator, Steel, Superboy and Cyborg Superman) and the comic book creators working on Superman comic books came up with lots of new concepts and storytelling ideas to sell to fans of the Man of Steel. Along the way, there was some suspense regarding the state of the supposedly dead Superman.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Action Comics #689, published in 1993 by DC Comics with a story written by Roger Stern and drawn by Jackson Guice.

Early story

The story begins in Metropolis when a major infrastructure of the city got heavily damaged leaving both Supergirl and Superboy (the lone teenager among the Supermen who emerged mysteriously after the death and funeral of Superman) no choice but to prevent the loss of human lives.

As the struggle in Metropolis continues, the Regeneration Matrix inside the Fortress of Solitude suddenly overloads with energy and breaks open. A man in Kryptonian garb wakes up feeling disoriented in the presence of several robots of the fortress. The man commands the robots to tell them what has been going on.

A short time later, the man uses the Kryptonian technologies of the fortress to examine simultaneous videos while receiving verbal updates from one of the robots. He gets informed that all individuals operating under the name of Superman have been monitored before he woke up. Carefully the man the captured footage of Superboy, the Eradicator, Steel and Cyborg Superman.

He is convinced that things have gotten completely out of hand and the name of Superman will not be turned into a franchise. He decides that something must be done and he has to get to Metropolis…

Quality

*Steel and the Eradicator fought each other.*

This chapter of the Reign of the Supermen storyline has a lot of developments moving simultaneously with the spotlight being shared among Superboy, Supergirl, Lex Luthor, Jonathan Kent, Martha Kent, Steel and the Eradicator plus the traditional supporting characters of Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen. To say the least, it will take an effort for any reader to grasp the many plot developments and all the details crammed into this single comic book.

By looking at the plot developments, Superboy’s plot does not have much depth. Apart from seeing him and Supergirl helping the people affected by the disaster, you will see his interactions with (and his perception of) her and Lex Luthor getting frustrated because Superboy rejected his offer to work for Lexcorp. Superboy is not so interesting here.

The other plots such as Jonathan Kent expressing his strong belief that Clark Kent is the true and the definitive Superman, the conflict between Steel and the Eradicator, and the mysterious man (Superman actually) inside Fortress of Solitude are the more engaging ones to follow. It was only right that the cover of this comic book focused on the newly returned Superman monitoring the other Supermen while inside the fortress.

What made this comic book interesting was the creative team’s exploration of the actual meaning of heroism, people’s fear and confusion while dealing with the existence of four Supermen, and humanity’s exploitation of the presence of powerful beings for financial gain or greater influence over the people.

Conclusion

*The mysterious man inside the Fortress of Solitude monitors recent events and who the Supermen are.*

Action Comics #689 (1993) is crammed and had a lot of plots dramatized. This was intentionally done because DC Comics at the time had momentum with the Reign of the Supermen storyline and it was inevitable that they started building up for the next stage that eventually became the return of the iconic Superman and re-establishing his prominence within the shared post-Crisis universe.

Overall, Action Comics #689 (1993) is satisfactory.

+++++

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A Look Back at Superman #292 (1975)

March 10, 2025March 9, 2025carlocarrasco

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 20^th century pop culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1975 to take a close look at one of the many tales published through the original Superman monthly series (first launched in 1939).

When I first read the literary rivalry between Superman and Lex Luthor, it was before Crisis on Infinite Earths happened. The pre-Crisis Luthor was a criminal mad scientist (as opposed to the tycoon Luthor of the post-Crisis age) who had to use technology and smart moves during his encounters with the Man of Steel. The pre-Crisis conflicts between the two were often dynamic and fantasy inspired. Of course, there is a lot more between Superman and Luthor starting with a shared past in Smallville.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Superman #292, published in 1975 by DC Comics with a story written by Elliot S. Maggin and drawn by Curt Swan.

Early story

The story begins at the ruined Metropolis International Airport with Superman helping with the huge repair efforts. It turns out, he and Lex Luthor just had an encounter there. When Mr. Hales of the airport authorities asked him why Luthor was always evil, Superman begins to remember the friendship he had with his rival when they were both teenagers in Smallville…

Quality

*Yes, it is all true. Lex Luthor and Clark Kent were students in the same high school in Smallville when they were teenagers.*

To make things clear, this comic book has two stories and the first one – titled “The Luthor Nobody Knows” – is clearly the main story.

The main story has this unusual format of storytelling that resulted in an abundance of flashbacks dominating the present-day tale. In connection with the tale’s title, this is a dramatized look back at the time when Luthor and Clark Kent (then Superboy) were high school students in Smallville. The creators took their time portraying young Clark Kent as the mild and ethical student and the teenage Lex Luthor as the daring student who truly believes he can make great achievements through science.

For those who might have heard the fabled start of the rivalry between Luthor and Superboy, you will see that in this comic book as well as the negative impact the former made as time went on. Along the way, you will see the stark differences between them which were nicely dramatized by the creators. Notably, you will see a more human portrayal of Luthor in his younger self.

The 2^nd story of this comic book – titled “The private life of Clark Kent” – is just a 5-page additive geared towards Superman fans wanting more of him in his civilian identity.

Conclusion

*This battle between Superman and criminal mad scientist Luthor should resonate with comic book fans who love the pre-Crisis era of DC Comics.*

Considering the way the main story was crafted, Superman #292 (1975) is technically an origin story of Luthor who went from an ambitious young student into a criminal mad scientist. This should surprise readers who remained unaware of the shared past between Luthor and Superman before Crisis on Infinite Earths happened. In relation to what was mentioned earlier in the review, the Superboy-Luthor conflicts here looked dynamic. There is a good amount of entertainment here to see and it should resonate with long-time comic book readers who miss the pre-Crisis era of DC Comics.

Overall, Superman #292 (1975) is recommended.

+++++

A Look Back at The Man of Steel #4 (1986)

February 28, 2025February 25, 2025carlocarrasco

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1980s culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the mid-1980s to explore a part of the DC Comics shared universe through a tale of the iconic Superman.

Shortly after the end of the original multiverse of DC Comics, the publisher organized a massive reboot of its superhero franchises and universe. To reboot and modernize the iconic Superman, DC hired John Byrne and backed him up with a solid creative team. The result was the 6-part comic book mini-series The Man of Steel. Previously, I reviewed The Man of Steel #1 and #2 which collectively established Superman and Lois Lane as the iconic superhero and the definitive supporting character of the post-Crisis age respectively. Of course, the super villain opposite the post-Crisis Superman had to be established.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at The Man of Steel #4, published in 1986 by DC Comics with a story written and illustrated by John Byrne.

Early story

The story begins when a daringly dressed Lois Lane arrives at the apartment of Clark Kent who has not even fully prepared himself for their trip to an extravagant gathering. It turns out, Lois’ ride picked her up earlier than expected which explains her early arrival.

After entering Clark’s apartment, she slowly begins to discover what he looked like in school and who his parents are. By this time, it has been almost eighteen months since Clark beat her to the first-ever Superman news story at the Daily Planet.

Afterwards, Lois and Clark took a surprising helicopter ride going to the luxurious ship of the powerful tycoon Lex Luthor…

Quality

*Superman intervenes to protect Lois Lane from one of the terrorists.*

To make things clear, this issue is all about John Byrne presenting a new version of Superman’s definitive rival Lex Luthor with the 1980s in mind. Instead of a mad scientist, the post-Crisis Luthor is a billionaire whose corporation (Lexcorp) has an interest in virtually every business in Metropolis and his immense wealth makes him a very powerful figure. This new version of Luthor was clearly done to be more grounded with reality, specifically with regards to the rise of tycoons in America in the 1980s. In short, Luthor was the ruthless and powerful businessman before Michael Douglas even got to play Gordon Gekko in 1987’s Wall Street.

While the effort of making a really new version of Superman’s arch-rival is clear, Luthor here does not appear too menacing at first. The story and impact of Luthor’s evil really started to materialize as soon as the South American terrorists appeared, but not in a way that you might expect. As mentioned above, Luthor here is more grounded with reality and that means you won’t see him oppose Superman with science and technology. Instead, Luthor simply has wealth, the power and resources to go against the Man of Steel. The tycoon also knows that the American-born Kryptonian would not dare attack him as laws already exist.

Having read lots of Superman’s encounters with Luthor in the pre-Crisis era – particularly the 1970s up to the mid-1980s – it is clear to me that their first post-Crisis encounter turned out underwhelming and never dynamic. In fairness, I really enjoyed reading the 2^nd encounter between Superman and Luthor as the words of the latter were filled with anger and tension. It should be noted that Byrne’s visual approach on showing the city and the people as Luthor’s dialogue went on was a great touch.

When it comes to the storytelling, it is quite simple which is not surprising because it was crafted to make way for post-Crisis Luthor to be introduced and dramatized. As for the character development, there is indeed progress with regards to the chemistry between Clark Kent and Lois Lane who are portrayed as friends living with a journalistic competition between them. It was also in this comic book where you will see Superman follow the law and the command of Metropolis’ highest official.

Speaking of law, you will notice what kind of impact Luthor has on others when he really does things his own way. This is something you should read in this comic book.

Conclusion

*This is John Byrne’s version of Lex Luthor in the form of a powerful tycoon. A complete departure from the mad scientist Luthor of the pre-Crisis era of DC Comics.*

While the first-ever conflict between Superman and Luthor in the post-Crisis age was indeed underwhelming, it was John Byrne’s in-depth writing and portrayal of events that made The Man of Steel #4 (1986) a worthy read. Don’t expect to see a lot of action here nor anything spectacular with Superman. Clearly, the tycoon Lex Luthor is the feature character of this tale and the start of his hatred towards Superman is really worth reading. In retrospect, Luthor’s ruthlessness and evil got stronger and clearer after the end of this comic book (for reference, click here).

Overall, The Man of Steel #4 (1986) is recommended.

+++++

A Look Back at Spider-Man 2099 #44 (1996)

February 14, 2025February 6, 2025carlocarrasco

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1996 and explore a part of the Marvel Comic shared universe through a tale of the Spider-Man 2099 monthly series.

To put things in perspective, the original Spider-Man 2099 monthly series that launched in 1992 lasted a total of 46 issues. The prolific author Peter David wrote the first 44 issues as he resigned from his duty in relation to the sudden firing of Marvel 2099 editor Joey Cavalieri in 1996. The previous issue was a great read.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Spider-Man 2099 #44, published in 1996 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Peter David and drawn by Ron Lim.

Early story

The story begins in the City of New York already flooded and infiltrated by lots of marine life. Under the water, Spider-Man and Roman the Sub-Mariner fight each other intensely as the foot of a gigantic sea monster is about to step in. At the last moment, Spider-Man saw the huge foot and instantly flipped away to survive with the Sub-Mariner.

After getting separated, Spider-Man gets out of the water to breath and immediately spots an organic-looking horn that the Sub-Mariner used to control the huge monster. Suddenly, on the aquatic humanoids appears to get the horn. Spider-Man then used his web to get the horn first which triggered the aquatic humanoid to move fast towards him.

Quality

*The intense battle between Sub-Mariner and Spider-Man went on even as the huge sea monster is very near them in the city.*

Without spoiling the plot, this comic book is a tale about a massive disaster and also a tale about the complicated legacy of Miguel O’Hara whose personal life is even more connected with the corporation he works for.

The huge disaster of New York getting flooded (which started in the previous issue) and Spider-Man fighting the leader of the mutates (genetically designed sentient beings) concluded in a really satisfying way. The futuristic webslinger really found himself struggling with the determined Sub-Mariner (motivated by what Alchemax did to the aquatic world) while dealing with the fact that so many citizens got displaced or even got killed by not only the huge flood but also by the presence of the gigantic sea monster. The stakes were really raised high for Spider-Man and the pay-off was really good.

The rest of the comic book deals with the intense meeting between Conchata O’Hara and Tyler Stone, Xina’s time with the Net Prophet, Gabriel O’Hara’s time with “father” Jennifer. Among the three sub-plots, the conflict between Conchata and Tyler is very intense and dramatic to read. More importantly, it was crafted by Peter David to be really believable and it ultimately added tension to the background and even the future of Miguel O’Hara (now a powerful Alchemax executive). This particular sub-plot is easily the most important one this comic book has and it will compel fans to revisit the 25^th issue of this monthly series as well as issue #10.

While the sub-plot of Xina and the Net Prophet does not generate enough depth for this comic book, there is a big revelation made in the sub-plot of Gabriel and “father” Jennifer which will compel fans to revisit issues #40 and #41. In fact, nothing is ever simple regarding the origin of a specific villain of the 2099 universe.

When it comes to the artwork, this comic book is a downgrade compared to what was presented in issue #43 (drawn by Andrew Wildman). I’m not saying that Ron Lim’s art is bad, it’s just nowhere as good as that of Wildman’s art. In fairness, Ron Lim managed to make the city disaster look intense and he managed to make the characters look recognizable. In fact, Lim successfully made the Conchata-Tyler scenes look intense and dramatic.

Conclusion

*The giant monster aspect of this comic book added intensity to the battle and the disaster. There were a few Godzilla vibes here and there.*

As the final Peter David-written issue of this monthly series, Spider-Man 2099 #44 (1996) is undeniably a very solid reading experience. There were strong pay-offs executed here to what was built-up in the previous issues, and in typical fashion, David kept building up the other sub-plots. The conclusion to the Conchata-Tyler sub-plot is actually more powerful than that of the city disaster. Clearly, Peter David kept track of the character developments and events that previously happened and dramatized them nicely here. In fact, you will feel some sympathy towards Miguel O’Hara knowing how unfortunately complicated his family legacy really is.

Overall, Spider-Man 2099 #44 (1996) is highly recommended!

+++++

A Look Back at Superman #79 (1993)

February 10, 2025February 4, 2025carlocarrasco

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s pop culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1993 and explore a notable chapter of the post-Crisis DC Comics universe through the Superman monthly series.

Months after DC Comics published the death of Superman with the best-selling Superman #75 (1993), the publisher went on to shake things up with the Reign of the Supermen storyline. One of the four Supermen was Cyborg Superman who first appeared in Adventures of Superman #500 (1993) and had his first story in Superman #78 (1993).

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Superman #79, published in 1993 by DC Comics with a story written and drawn by Dan Jurgens.

Early story

The story begins inside a dark part of The Daily Planet with journalist Ronald Troupe starting his work in the absence of Clark Kent. Since Superman’s death, the very accomplished Kent has been absent and was perceived to have died somehow while covering Doomsday’s rampage through Metropolis.

With Kent absent, the newspaper lost one of its best writers. This opened an opportunity for Ronald Troupe to approach Perry White to fill Kent’s slot and work. White, who was close with Kent, values hungry reporters and challenged Troupe to bring him a story so big, he could not turn it down.

With the sudden presence of the Supermen, Troupe viewed Cyborg Superman as a major subject to report about…

Quality

The evil Cyborg Superman handing over a device to US President Bill Clinton. This image is strangely symbolic as both of them are evil figures – one is fictional and the other is real. Clinton’s legacy of empowering Palestinian terrorists through the mass murderer Yasser Arafat still remains.

I want to start with the approach Dan Jurgens took to come up with this particular Reign of the Supermen story. Instead of telling the tale through the viewpoint of the more established Daily Planet journalist Lois Lane or photographer Jimmy Olsen, Jurgens instead used the newcomer Ronald Troupe who happened to be a hungry journalist tasked with coming up with a compelling report about Cyborg Superman. This creative approach resulted in a very fresh look at the events involving the caped cyborg complete with the use of a journalistic narrative Troupe wrote on his computer (the paragraphs are stylishly displayed on each page). The writing done was pretty lively to read from start to finish.

I do have a problem with how specific events turned out. To ensure that Troupe would encounter Cyborg Superman, the established character Max Lord (who is working directly with the US President over very sensitive matters) very unrealistically had his government-provided limousine stop (while entering the White House gate half-way) and actually got out to meet Troupe only because the reporter convinced him too easily. Even back in the 1990s, such a scenario is very unrealistic and no person working with the US President would ever stop to give a reporter special attention while compromising security of the White House.

And then there was the short sequence in which Troupe – already within the White House perimeter with several defense turrets already firing energy blasts – miraculously managed to get close to Cyborg Superman without getting hit was also very unbelievable. Very clearly, Troupe is this comic book’s magical black man.

To come up with the superhero spectacle, elements of Islamic terrorism (represented by the fictional Qurac and its terrorists) attacking the White House plus Cyborg Superman’s sudden involvement were implemented. Quite predictably, the caped cyborg became the centerpiece of the action. I can say the spectacle here was fresh and intriguing to see.

Conclusion

*Cyborg Superman fights the terrorists of Qurac.*

Superman #79 (1993) has a very unique approach on storytelling but the above-mentioned unbelievable turnout of events plus Ronald Troupe being the magical black person (literally protected by plot armor) somewhat ruined the reading experience for me. By the time the story ended, the anticipated pay-off to everything that was built-up ended up weak and unsatisfying. To be clear, this is not a badly made comic book but its flaws really ruined it. Also by today’s standards, Cyborg Superman is a very evil character and having him with the American flag on the cover is disgusting.

With regards to geopolitics, having Bill Clinton as the US President made this comic book age very badly. As President, Clinton empowered Palestinian terrorists and anti-Semitic people through the mass murderer Yasser Arafat (a real-life demon) while disrespecting Israel and its people. People who love abortion, political correctness (which leads to wokeness), victimhood and LGBTQ rights also benefited from Clinton’s sinister leadership. By today’s standards, having Clinton and Cyborg Superman appear together strongly symbolize real-life evil and fictional evil in a rather creative way.

It was destiny that his wife Hillary Clinton lost the 2016 US Presidential Election to Donald Trump. This is because the Clinton legacy remains very bad for the whole world. Trump, who is now the US President once again, is already working to make serious corrections while also restoring dignity in America.

Overall, Superman #79 (1987) is not worth your time. Only those who are really obsessed with the Reign of the Supermen storyline can enjoy it. For those looking for the iconic Superman, better look for another comic book!

+++++

A Look Back at Superman #1 (1987)

February 3, 2025February 3, 2025carlocarrasco

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1980s pop culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1987 and explore a notable chapter of the post-Crisis DC Comics universe through the iconic Superman.

To put things in perspective, DC Comics rebooted its entire shared universe in 1986 after the conclusion of Crisis on Infinite Earths. They published the 6-part The Man of Steel mini-series to reboot the iconic Superman and modernize him with the creative leadership of John Byrne. By the time the mini-series ended, the new background stories, the supporting characters and creative foundation of the post-Crisis Superman were established. That being said, a brand new Superman monthly series led by Byrne was inevitable.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Superman #1, published in 1987 by DC Comics with a story written and drawn by John Byrne.

Early story

The story begins with Superman smashing his way through into a secretive, high-tech facility. Noticing so much technology, he begins to wonder why would anyone abandon such a facility. As he slowly makes his way inside, he finds several images of him displayed confirming that someone has been devoting a great deal of time and effort to research him. This makes him concerned that someone in his old home town of Smallville could recognize a picture of Superman as their fellow resident Clark Kent.

As he keeps searching, he finds the body of a dead scientist whose neck was broken. He also notices the corpse’s fingerprints are the same as those found on the truck outside of the facility. The truck itself was involved in the theft of his Kryptonian rocket. After finding more nasty evidence, Superman digs deep down underneath the facility then lifts a huge part of the ground with the said structure on top. He lifts up everything and brought them all into space free from the reach of people below.

Superman then flies off to Metropolis to change into Clark Kent to meet with Lois Lane at the city park…

Quality

*I like the way John Byrne told parallel narratives with Superman in the present on the left, and flashbacks of Metallo on the right.*

To begin with, this tale written by John Byrne is another inspire piece of work published at a time when the post-Crisis shared universe of DC Comics was still new and expanding. Byrne really defined Superman’s place in the shared universe by modernizing it with the 1980s in mind and he came up with a story introducing the post-Crisis version of Metallo while coming up with a sub-plot of a mad scientist who was not only obsessed with Superman but also was involved with the said super villain.

The plot is clearly well-structured which starts with Superman doing believable detective work of his own which led to the discovery of the mad scientist whose intense research pose a danger to the Man of Steel. Having dual identities and social responsibilities to live up to, Superman also takes the time to adjust to his normal life as Clark Kent at a time when he has to socialize with his Daily Planet colleague Lois Lane. Without spoiling the plot, I can say that you will see the iconic superhero ranging from being mighty to becoming vulnerable, weakened and suffering tremendous pain. How Byrne handled the transition of Superman is excellent.

The sub-plot of the mad scientist obsessing over discoveries about Superman is short and yet highly significant. For one thing, Superman himself has been very careful on keeping his dual identities secret and yet someone managed to secretly photograph him and come up with a lot of information – including the destroyed world of Krypton and the Kryptonian legacy of the hero – that could expose his deepest secrets and ruin his life entirely. The mad scientist’s obsession has strong sci-fi elements related to UFOs and aliens from deep space.

For the Man of Steel, this is too dangerous and also too personal to be left behind untouched. This aspect of the story makes this old tale more relevant in today’s world of drones with cameras, CCTV systems, hacking and the potential of users (or artificial intelligence) who could collect information on people without their consent.

The post-Crisis Metallo looks inspired by the Terminator and appears in human form. He goes by the name John Corben who previously got fatally injured in a car crash and subsequently was taken by the mad scientist (who transplanted the man’s brain into a robotic body). It should be noted that the said scientist also has an obsession about Kryptonians which led to his plan to send a chosen warrior to go against Superman supposedly to prevent Earth from getting conquered. How Metallo and his physical fight with the Man of Steel is a must-read.

Conclusion

Imagine yourself discovering a secret room filled with information and pieces of evidence and visual references about you. This should resonate with people whose privacy got violated. Also try imagining people inside the offices of tech giants with collected information and images about you.

Superman #1 (1987) is still a great read. It has a complex approach on portraying the battle between good and evil without losing focus on the storytelling and the expansion of Superman’s post-Crisis lore. Its sub-plot of the mad scientist and his obsession on Superman will resonate with people who feel vulnerable over the loss of their private information in today’s world of social media, abusive technology giants and artificial intelligence-driven surveillance systems. There is also a lot of superhero action for readers to enjoy, and the spectacle is never silly nor outlandish to look at. Oh yes, seeing Superman in a vulnerable state and getting actually hurt is believable to see.

Overall, Superman #1 (1987) is highly recommended!

+++++

A Look Back at Superman #350 (1980)

January 27, 2025March 1, 2025carlocarrasco

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 20^th century pop culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1980 to take a close look at one of the many tales published through the original Superman monthly series (first launched in 1939).

Before Crisis on Infinite Earths happened, the DC Comics multiverse had a lot of superhero stories that had outlandish fantasy elements. For example, Action Comics #454 showed Superman eating tons of food in order to survive. In Action Comics #456, the battles between Superman and The Shark had lots of outlandish looking forms of action. In short, the old multiverse and its tropes are looking fun to revisit.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Superman #350, published in 1980 by DC Comics with a story written by Gerry Conway and drawn by Curt Swan.

Early story

The story begins when Superman makes his move to prevent a punctured hot air balloon transport from crashing. It turns out the balloon was part of the promotion of a reunion event at Metropolis University and Superman really went there to attend it in his civilian identity as Clark Kent. Also attending the event is his long-time friend and colleague Lana Lang.

As the old professor Lemuel B. Tolkein – former superior of Clark and his classmates – speaks during the reunion, several attendees – including people Clark personally knew – begin to disappear into thin air. The remaining attendees and guests begin to panic…

Quality

*Superman uses his special abilities to solve problems here.*

I really like this story. Without spoiling the plot, I can say that this tale written by Conway is actually a mystery that happens to take place during Clark Kent’s reunion with many people from his past. As there is no good-versus-evil concept, the story is solidly focused on mysterious happenings that challenge Superman’s ability to solve problems. Even though he already has many super powers, the Man of Steel still got challenged a lot by the disappearances of people and things.

Apart from the story, I also enjoyed Conway’s approach on developing Clark Kent/Superman, Lana Lang and Lois Lane. Seeing Clark reconnecting with people from his past at Metropolis University was a refreshing portrayal and it also sheds light on how he handled himself during his collegiate years. As for Lois Lane, she was portrayed to be hostile towards Clark with regards to journalistic competition between them, and yet she still has tenderness towards Superman deep inside.

Conclusion

*Superman quickly changes into his Clark Kent identity to attend the reunion.*

Superman #350 (1980) is enjoyable and the elements of the pre-Crisis multiverse of DC Comics added depth to it. The story is relaxing to follow and it managed to surprise me and keep me engaged until the very end. I am convinced to follow the next issue.

Overall, Superman #350 (1980) is recommended.

+++++

A Look Back at WildC.A.T.s Adventures #1 (1994)

January 20, 2025January 12, 2025carlocarrasco

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 20^th century pop culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the mid-1990s to take a close look at the launch issue of the comic book series that was an adaptation of the WildC.A.T.S: Covert Action Teams animated series.

To put things into perspective, Jim Lee and several creators left Marvel Comics to establish Image Comics. In 1992, Lee launched his creator-owned project WildC.A.T.s: Covert Action Teams #1 which also was a part of the creative foundation of the WildStorm universe. Just a little over two years later, an animated series of WildC.A.T.S. was launched on TV. Similar to what Marvel Comics did in relation to adapting stories of the X-Men animated series, Image Comics launched a comic book series based on the WildC.A.T.S. animated series.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at WildC.A.T.s Adventures #1, published in 1994 by Image Comics with a story written by Jeff Mariotte (adapting the animated story by David Wise) and drawn by Ty Templeton.

Early story

The story begins one night inside an office where Reno Bryce (Warblade) works obsessively on a circuit board. He is surrounded by the technology he knows and loves. As he works, three armed men wearing coats and hats enter his office and ask him for his identity. One of the men grabs a circuit board and destroys it, which triggers Reno to react with violence.

Knowing he is outnumbered, he quickly runs out of the office for safety. He heard one of the men referred to him as a crossbreed whelp. As soon as he finally leaves the building, Reno sees the WildCATS team composed of Grifter, Spartan, Zealot, Voodoo and Maul. Thinking that the WildCATS are out to kill him like the armed men, Reno keeps on running away.

Suddenly, a group of people are rushing towards the WildCATs. Powered with the Sight, Voodoo realizes that the mob is composed of Daemonites disguised as humans. The WildCATs and the mob engage in battle.

From high above, Reno see the battle happening. Suddenly, the three armed men appeared behind him telling him that he has no escape from them…

Quality

*Reno Bryce still adjusting to his new form as Warblade.*

Having seen the first episode myself, I can say that this comic book is actually a faithful adaptation and the creative team did their jobs well.

As an alternate introductory story of the WildCATs, this one obviously has the violence and visceral essence of the comic book series toned down due to the fact that the animated series was made with a younger audience in mind. There is still plenty of action here and the creative team’s focus on telling the story was consistently strong.

Within one story, the creative teams of both the animated episode and this comic book succeeded in gradually emphasizing the lore of WildCATS which had strong sci-fi elements (example: the long conflict between the Kherubim and the Daemonites), introducing the characters and the super villain, showcase the capabilities of the characters, emphasizing the purposes of each side, and having Reno Bryce as the newcomer who is about to discover his real role in the conflict (which reminds me of Jubilee in the opening episode of the X-Men animated series).

Conclusion

*Ty Templeton’s art is nice to look at and he captured the essence of the animated episode. The WildCATS themselves are easily recognizable.*

Like its animated source, WildC.A.T.s Adventures #1 (1994) is enjoyable and the creators did a very good job translating the story and essence from animation into literary format. Having read the Jim Lee-drawn issue #1 of 1992, this one worked well as an alternate introduction of the WildCATS and their conflict with the Daemonites. Like the animated TV episode, the presentation was done in a wholesome manner without ever becoming childish. I can say that there is still enough good stuff of WildCATS to enjoy here, and the characters are recognizable (both in looks and portrayals). Right now, I’m looking forward to reading the next issue.

Overall, WildC.A.T.s Adventures #1 (1994) is highly recommended.

+++++

A Look Back at Action Comics #484 (1978)

January 17, 2025January 6, 2025carlocarrasco

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 20^th century pop culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1978 to take a close look at one of the many tales published through the original Action Comics monthly series (launched in 1938).

Long before Crisis on Infinite Earths happened, DC Comics had its convoluted multiverse. For the newcomers reading this, this meant that there were actually different versions of Superman and other DC superheroes, plus different universes or parallel worlds existing with each other. This particular Action Comics issue features a certain version of Superman and what happened to him and the related characters.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Action Comics #484, published in 1978 by DC Comics with a story written by Cary Bates and drawn by Curt Swan.

Early story

The story begins in Metropolis of Earth-Two when four mechanical marauders fly through the city carrying bags of money taken from a bank. Superman (of Earth-Two) quickly flew after the mechanical marauders and uses his powers to beat them all. From a distance, Colonel Future (leader of the C-F Gang) observes Superman and analyzes his moves. It turns out, the gang is responsible for the mechanical marauders and Colonel Future believes that he can wipe out the Man of Steel.

Superman returns quietly into the Daily Star Building and changes into civilian clothing as Clark Kent. His office mate Jimmy Olsen approaches him and together they walk and talk about what has been going on.

Behind them, Lois Lane silently enters the store room where Clark came out of. It turns out, she prepared a hidden camera inside hoping to capture evidence about Clark using the room. She has been suspecting that Superman and Clark Kent are one and the same person…

Quality

*While it is clear that Superman – in his civilian form as Clark Kent – married Lois Lane, there is still a lot more to discover from the in-depth story written by Cary Bates.*

I really like this pre-Crisis Superman story which is specifically set in Earth-Two of the DC multiverse. To make things clear, this is a tale showing Superman getting married to Lois Lane without impacting the mainstream version of DC’s icon at the time. Confused? That’s the consequence of having different versions of Superman complete with detailed parallel universes for each.

More on the core concept of this comic book, there is a lot more at stake – storywise and creatively – than meets the eye. Without spoiling the plot details, I can clearly say that the concept of Superman and Lois Lane getting married involves a daring plot which was executed nicely by the Bates-Swan duo resulting in a really intriguing reading experience for me. In other words, there is nothing simple with the presentation as the fantasy elements are really strong and the creative team took creative risks to emphasize the story while developing the key characters in new ways.

Still on the storytelling, the conflict between good and evil is emphasized not by struggle but rather the consequences which ultimately affect Superman and Lois Lane. The main opposition used by the Bate-Swan duo involves magic as a creative way to impact the Man of Steel and the narrative in general. There are some really intriguing moments about Superman (including his civilian identity as Clark Kent) and Lois Lane that await readers.

Conclusion

*Lois Lane has an in-depth portrayal in this comic book, going beyond what the page shows you.*

Action Comics #484 (1978) is undoubtedly a very intriguing and surprising read. The creative team came up with ideas that subverted expectations and the execution was well done which made this a powerful and twisting read. Having read lots of Superman comic books through the decades, this comic book is one of the more surprising ones I have read. Finally, this one has a believable presentation about what married life between Superman and Lois Lane would be like reflecting the social norms at the time of publication.

Overall, Action Comics #484 (1978) is highly recommended.

+++++

A Look Back at Adventures on the Planet of the Apes #1 (1975)

December 27, 2024December 19, 2024carlocarrasco

Welcome back literature enthusiasts, 20^th century arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1975 to take a close look at Marvel Comics’ very own comic book adaptation of the science fiction film Planet of the Apes (1968).

The first time I ever saw the Charlton Heston-led movie was on local TV but I could only watch a few portions of it as my access to TV was very limited on the day of its broadcast. It took me a purchase of the DVD copy of Planet of the Apes in 2001 and the use of a relative’s TV and DVD player to finally see it entirely.

As the movie was highly philosophical and symbolic with its presentation, I could see why a lot of people regard it as a sci-fi classic. I should state that I do not believe in human evolution nor do I believe that humans and apes share a common genetic ancestor. Science and technology could never solve God’s designs and power of creation of life. As such, the concept of Planet of the Apes – which started as a novel before being adapted into film with the involvement of Rod Serling of The Twilight Zone – is nothing more than fantasy.

As the 1968 movie turned out successful, it not only spawned cinematic sequels but also an official comic book adaptation by Marvel Comics.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Adventures on The Planet of the Apes #1, published in 1975 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Doug Moench and drawn by George Tuska. This is the first chapter of a 6-part adaptation of the 1968 movie.

Early story

The story begins in deep space. Inside the speeding space ship is the American pilot Taylor doing an audio recording of mission details and his thoughts. He mentions the theory of Dr. Hasslein stating that centuries have already passed back on Earth even though he and his companions Dodge, Landon and Stewart (all three already in a state of suspended animation) hardly aged at all. He then joins his teammates for the long-term sleep expecting that by the time they wake up, they will their destination.

A very long time later, the ship enters the atmosphere of a breathable planet and crash lands on water. Now with facial hair, Taylor, Dodge and Landon wake up and they are shocked to see that Stewart is already dead. Suddenly, water begins to enter the interior of the ship forcing the three men go outside and ride on a boat with the equipment they managed to bring out. They move on as their ship sinks below the water.

Taylor, Dodge and Landon arrive on shore and they realize they are in the middle of a wasteland…

Quality

*Taylor, Dodge and Landon with the primitive humans.*

I am surprised to see that this literary work turned out to be faithful to the movie (specifically from the start until Taylor got shot during the ape-led hunt). It is not a 100% accurate which is not surprising as Marvel’s creators balanced the amount of details for adaptation while still having some space left for them to implement their own creative way of dramatizing the characters.

Writer Doug Moench clearly paid close attention to the details from the movie while ensuring that the adaptation will work within the limitations of the comic book format. For his part, artist George Tuska did a fine job drawing the characters, the environments and the apes. The way he drew Taylor, Landon and Dodge, there is clearly some 1970s influence on their space suits and the character designs (example: Dodge has an afro hairstyle). Tuska’s art on the apes unfortunately lacked details and they look rushed. The way they appeared in the comic book, the apes don’t look intimidating at all.

When it comes to adapting scenes from the movie script into comic book form, there were clear differences with regards to the arrangement of the details. For example in the movie, Charlton Heston’s Taylor talks a lot more in the opening scene (inside the space ship) expressing his lack of faith in humanity and desire for something better than his own species. In this comic book, Taylor talked much less in the beginning but his cynicism as well as his sarcastic views on humanity and nation were revealed in a scene when he and his companions were in the middle of the wasteland. Literary Taylor’s putdowns on Landon are much more detailed than what was shown in the movie. In some ways, the dialogue in this comic book is more philosophical than what was executed in the movie when it comes to the common scenes (between comic book and film).

Another example was the scene showing the three men and the waterfall. In the film, they took their clothes off and started swimming in the lake without even checking the quality of the water. In the comic book, Dodge actually tested the water and declared it safe for them to swim in. The comic book also showed more of Dodge’s dedication to scientific testing.

Conclusion

*Observe how divisive and cynical Taylor here is. The grey-haired Landon is in conflict with Taylor while Dodge keeps doing scientific work.*

I can say that Adventures on The Planet of the Apes #1 (1975) is an entertaining read and a good enough start of the 6-part adaptation of the movie. The Moench-Tuska duo’s efforts resulted in an engaging tale of Taylor and his two teammates who find themselves in a strange world that turned out to have apes being armed and riding horses. This comic book is mostly composed of build-up of details and expository dialogue, and yet the action scenes on the last three pages resulted in a short yet sufficient pay-off.

Overall, Adventures on The Planet of the Apes #1 (1975) is recommended.

+++++

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