Tag: mad scientist

A Look Back at Superman #412 (1985)

A Look Back at Superman #412 (1985)

carlocarrasco

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

For the newcomers reading this, the original multiverse of DC Comics formally ended with Crisis on Infinite Earths (1985-1986). That being said, a lot of DC’s monthly comic book series had respective tales the reflect the closing period of the old multiverse (which lasted for decades) and the Superman monthly series of the era was part of the trend.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Superman , published in 1985 by DC Comics with a story written by Cary Bates and drawn by Curt Swan.  

The cover.

Early story

The story begins at the unemployment bureau in Metropolis. Clark Kent, who recently lost his jobs with WGBS and the Daily Planet, stands in line and waits for his turn. Being unemployed, Clark feels troubled and other people nearby recognize him.

As his turn at the counter starts, Clark senses something and decides to get out quickly. He enters the emergency exit, changes into Superman and flies out of the building. It turns out a high-rise building accident has occurred and already several pieces of sharp glass have been falling down. To prevent further harm, Superman uses his heat vision to convert the falling glass and collectively turn them into a growing molten ball. He brings the giant molten ball to the top of the building (still in construction/expansion) and meets the hard-hat workers before flying away.

Elsewhere, Lana Lang announces news to TV viewers regarding the dismissal her of close friend Clark Kent which was the result of the fake headline news story about Superman and the NASA satellite. In another location, Lex Luthor is very pleased watching the same broadcast knowing his plan of ruining Superman succeeded and got Clark Kent as a fake news casualty. Luthor is not done with Superman yet…

Quality

Lex Luthor here is ruthless, strategic and obsessed with defeating Superman.

I really like this Superman tale. This is a story about Superman who is still dedicated to doing acts of good by helping people with problems even though he is socially in deep trouble being unemployed as Clark Kent. Not only is the unemployment aspect relevant, the consequences of fake news and their negative effect on people made this tale more socially relevant with today’s world of fake news and unethical journalism.

Going back to Superman, it is clear that the embarrassment and unemployment of his civilian identity impacted him as a superhero. This is evident when Lana Lang accused him of betraying Clark Kent resulting in a fake news story that led to the firing by WGBS and the Daily Planet. Lana, who does not realize Superman and Clark are the same person, blamed the Man of Steel that the firing of Clark is so devastating to her as she cares for him so much (note: Clark and Lana were romantically involved during their teenage years at Smallville).  

The powerful writing by Cary Bates does not end there. In this comic book, you will see Lex Luthor execute his other plans to ruin Superman whom he personally accused over the loss of his family and his own world Lexor (click here and here for references). This is a Luthor who is not simply being evil but also someone who is well organized, strategic and even fearless. By this stage, the criminal mad scientist Luthor has accumulated a lot of resources to have his own headquarters, technologies and a dedicated staff. In some ways, Luthor in this comic book eerily resembled his financial tycoon version in the post-Crisis era (click here and here for relevance).

I should also state that the personal encounter between Superman and Luthor here is a great pay-off to the build-up that preceded it. You readers should see it for yourselves because to reveal more in this review will ruin it.

Conclusion

As Lana Lang delivers the news to TV viewers regarding Clark Kent and Superman, tension is brewing over at the Daily Planet.

Superman (1985) is undeniably a great Superman story published during the very late stage of the original multiverse (note: Superman #423 was one of the final tales of Superman of this particular era. Superman was part of the post-Crisis era). The portrayal of Superman being disturbed by the huge setback he suffered as a civilian is really compelling to see and his encounter with Lex Luthor really brought the tension and suspense to high levels. At the same time, the consequences of Superman’s actions (including those of his civilian form as Clark Kent) are very evident and nicely dramatized by the Bates-Swan team. You really feel that the creators were wrapping up their Superman stories and decided to move this series to a new direction knowing that the original multiverse will end. This is a must-read tale!

Overall, Superman (1985) is highly recommended.

+++++

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

A Look Back at Action Comics #481 (1978)

A Look Back at Action Comics #481 (1978)

carlocarrasco

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, 1970s arts and culture enthusiasts, DC Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1978 to take a close look at a part of the DC Comics universe through a tale of the Action Comics monthly series.

Believe it or not, there were times when Superman used advanced technology and machinery to achieve his goals, to win a battle or at least survive. This is something we people today can relate with since a lot us have smartphones and computers being used daily. As for the Man of Steel, there was a time when I saw an episode of Super Friends on TV in which a very vulnerable Superman had no choice but to use his personal flying vehicle called the Supermobile to travel and do something. It turns out, the Supermobile itself started in comic books.

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

The cover.

Early story

The story begins on a city street as Amazo (who recently gained the powers of Justice League members in a previous encounter) is about to strike a weakened Superman and Professor Ivo (who is responsible for Amazo) in front of many people. Amazo strikes but ends up smashing the part of the road as his targets vanished.

It turns out Superman and the professor were teleported safely all the way into the Fortress of Solitude. With his powers gone due to red radiation, Superman revealed that he made some preparations in relation to Amazo’s eventual rampage….

Quality

Exposition about the Supermobile in this page showing the trapped Justice League members.

This early, I want to point out that this comic book is not merely a shallow tale designed to introduce the Supermobile in lazy fashion. In fact, there is a lot of work done by the Bates-Swan duo here and this includes plot build-up backed with payoffs, lots of details that were revealed and, most notably, the story has a solid structure complete with smooth execution.

This story was preceded by an unfortunate series of events in which Amazo gained the powers of the Justice League members and had them trapped in space, while Superman got hit by red radiation and managed to get out for a new fighting chance. Here, Superman is powerless and vulnerable, and the fact that Amazo is so powerful, the unveiling and use of the Supermobile is clearly justified. Amazo himself is a fine example of a scientific creation gone wrong and seem inspired by the monster of Frankenstein in literature.

By looking close at the details, the dialogue and the execution of event, this is clearly not a rushed job to introduce the Supermobile. It is a sufficient story on its own and it even delivers a good amount of superhero spectacle to satisfy readers.

Conclusion

Superman and the professor inside the Fortress of Solitude.

Action Comics (1978) is indeed a satisfying and fun read. The build-up leading to the Supermobile’s debut is sufficient and the creators went on to keep building up the plot with Amazo getting bigger as a threat to not only against Superman but also against the Justice League. The Supermobile’s debut is justified and definitely it is not a cheap addition to the plot. The idea of Superman using a personal transport looked silly on face value but this comic book proved it is believable and sensible.

Overall, Action Comics (1978) is recommended.

+++++

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

A Look Back at Superman #292 (1975)

A Look Back at Superman #292 (1975)

carlocarrasco

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, 20th 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 , published in 1975 by DC Comics with a story written by Elliot S. Maggin and drawn by Curt Swan.  

The cover.

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 2nd 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 (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 (1975) is recommended.

+++++

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

A Look Back at Superman #1 (1987)

A Look Back at Superman #1 (1987)

carlocarrasco

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, 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 , published in 1987 by DC Comics with a story written and drawn by John Byrne.  

The cover.

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 (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 (1987) is highly recommended!

+++++

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

A Look Back at V #5 (1985)

A Look Back at V #5 (1985)

carlocarrasco

Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book, watching the V mini-series (Original Miniseries and The Final Battle) and the 1984 TV series, 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, science fiction enthusiasts, comic book collectors and fans of the V entertainment franchise of the 1980s! Before I start this newest retro comic book review, I am happy to say that I recently published my retro review of V: The Original Miniseries which is one of the most in-depth retro reviews I wrote so far. I recommend you to read it now. If you are a fan and you are interested to buy yourself the original mini-series on Blu-ray disc format, head on to Amazon. Now we can return to the 1980s comic book series.

Last time around, Ham Tyler and Chris continued their operation which resulted getting reunited with the star child Elizabeth Maxwell (refer to V: The Final Battle mini-series of 1984). Meanwhile, Mike Donovan and Julie Parrish met with delusional astronomer Earl Meagan (patterned after Carl Sagan) who is obsessing with meeting Diana of the Visitors.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at V , published in 1985 by DC Comics with a story written by Cary Bates and drawn by Tod Smith.

The cover.

Early story

The story begins with Diana, Linda and Charles watching a video message from the delusional Earl Meagan expressing his thanks to her (Diana) for accepting his peace proposal for a summit of peace between the humans and the Visitors. He expressed more of his delusion stating that he is confident that both of their races will benefit from the meeting.

Diana explains to her powerful companions that they have a lot to gain by turning one of Earth’s most influential figure to their side. After Diana left, Linda expresses that their commander has gone too far. Charles tells her what she is thinking of.

On Earth, in the presence of Ham, Chris and Bates, a weakened Elizabeth recalls her time with Kyle when they went into hiding away from the Visitors’ search team. She then makes mental contact with Kyle.

Elsewhere, as Mike Donovan and Willie watch the newscast about the peace summit between Diana and Earl Meagan set to happen soon, Julie Parrish personally tells the astronomer (by the helipad within a city) that he just can’t go as such a meeting is suicide. Still delusional, Meagan tells Julie that she is no different from her short-sighted friend Mike, leaves her and rides the helicopter to push through with the summit…

Quality

Realizing her mistake with the delusional astronomer Earl Meagan, Julie comes back to Mike.

First thing to mention is the good news that the quality of the writing and plotting by Cary Bates has the high quality maintained throughout. While the story about the peace summit between Earl Meagan and Diana is the highlight here, the other story (told through Ham and Chris) about the discovery of a secret camp where the Visitors conduct experiments on humans is itself very intriguing as it parallels what the Nazis did to prisoners during the dark days of World War II.

Going back to the highlighted plot of the comic book, Earl Meagan is not only delusional with his old belief that any extraterrestrial race capable of traveling through the depths of space is surely friendly and benevolent to humanity…he is completely wrong and a danger to his own people as clearly lost his touch with truth and reality. He is a perfect example of what happens when a scientist refuses to realize the limits of science and goes over the edge believing in the falsehood that another scientific breakthrough will prove him right and all others wrong. By today’s standards, Meagan can be compared with the radical socialists in America who foolishly believe that all foreigners (including criminals and terrorists) should be allowed free entry into their country without consequence and without responsibility, and at the expense of their fellow American citizens.

When it comes to characterization, I still recognize Ham and Chris as I remembered them from V: The Final Battle thanks to solid writing. Julie’s portrayal in this comic book, however, takes a drastic turn from powerful receiver of Earl Meagan in issue . More notably, it is refreshing to see the relationship between Mike and Julie getting strained as a result of Meagan.

Conclusion

The closest thing you can have about Carl Sagan betraying the entire human race in favor of aliens from outer space.

V (1985) is another solid tale about the conflict between the Resistance and the Visitors, but with Earl Meagan as the mad scientist with charisma who puts his fellow humans into more danger. It’s a worthy read from start to finish.

If you are seriously planning to buy an existing hard copy of V (1985), be aware that as of this writing, MileHighComics.com shows that the near-mint copy of the regular edition costs $28 while the near-mint copy of the newsstand edition costs $36.

Overall, V (1985) is highly recommended.

+++++

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me as well. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me at HavenorFantasy@twitter.com