science – Author Carlo Carrasco

A Look Back at What If #33 (1982)

August 25, 2025August 19, 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, 1980s arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1982 to examine alternate stories of the Marvel Comics shared universe chronicled through the original What If monthly series.

Back in the early 1980s, Dazzler quickly became popular among comic book readers and a standalone monthly series was launched no so long after her debut in Uncanny X-Men #130. Earl on in her monthly series, Dazzler eventually encountered Galactus (the classic nemesis of the Fantastic Four) in a wild tale involving the galaxy. On the other hand, Marvel Comics published a wild tale of the conflict of Iron Man and Dr. Doom (also the nemesis of the Fantastic Four) involving time travel and the presence of King Arthur in Iron Man #150. Eventually, Marvel decided to make alternate tales of the mentioned stories of Dazzler and Iron Man and publish them through an issue of What If.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at What If #33, published in 1982 by Marvel Comics with a Dazzler story written by Dan Fingeroth and drawn by Mike Vosburg, and the Iron Man story written by Steven Grant and drawn by Don Perlin.

Early story

What if Dazzler had become the herald of Galactus? – The story begins with Dazzler standing in the presence of Galactus, Terrax and Drone R-II. After Galactus renders his judgment on Terrax by banishing him to the depths of a black hole, he tells Dazzler she has proven herself worthy to become his new herald. As Drone R-II reminded his superior of the fact that previous heralds were forced to leave service due to their own moral codes and added that Dazzler will do the same, she questions them and stated that she does not belong in deep space and wants to go home. Galactus tells her that Earth is a planet he has sworn to devour and by becoming his herald, he will perhaps spare her home world. Dazzler finds herself cornered and reluctantly joins Galactus as his new herald. Immediately, Galactus sends her out to deep space for her first task…

What if Iron Man had been trapped in King Arthur’s time? – The story begins in the past wherein Doctor Doom and Iron Man found themselves during the time of King Arthur. After separating themselves by taking different sides – Iron Man with King Arthur and Doom with Morgana LeFay – they decide to set their differences aside for the common goal of creating a crude time machine to return to the future. Instead, Doom takes advantage of the time machine by shocking Iron Man and leaving him behind in the past. With Doom back in the future, Iron Man struggles moving on the ground only to encounter Morgana LeFay. Believing that there is no pleasure in breaking a helpless man, Morgana spares Iron Man and tells him to return to King Arthur with her pledge…

Quality

*After doing advanced work, Dazzler can only watch and witness the loss of life as her master Galactus consumes the planet.*

I can start with the good news for you all…the two featured stories in this What If comic book are great to read from start to finish!

With the Dazzler tale, I enjoyed how Danny Fingeroth told the alternate reality story of the dazzling heroine becoming Galactus’ herald and working immediately to serve him. Not only does Dazzler carried tremendous powers she did not have before, she was able to quickly travel through deep space and visit planets that are suitable for her master’s consumption. Even as she wielded tremendous power, Dazzler still retains her conscience and does some analyzing of situations.

Of course, she still retained her human nature throughout and there are moments when she felt defeated or shocked which alone made her a questionable herald. Galactus himself is pretty much in character in this tale and it is very engaging to see how his actions impact not only the beings of the cosmic realm of the Marvel universe but also on Dazzler herself. Without spoiling the plot, I can say the ending is captivating and truly is worth the build-up.

*The stranded Iron Man makes an impact on a battle favoring King Arthur.*

Regarding the Iron Man tale, the creative team came up with the concept of having the armored superhero actually stranded in time (left behind by Doctor Doom) and getting burdened by many factors. With Doom gone early in the plot, this effectively made Iron Man the main focus and his involvement in the conflict between King Arthur and Morgana really raised the stakes.

Not only does Iron Man have to deal with conflicts, he also became vulnerable as the era of King Arthur had very low forms of technology which made the superhero’s desire to return to the future an effort against the impossible. As the story went on, Iron Man makes impact on the conflicts between the forces of King Arthur and Morgana and the good news here is that the creative duo of Steve Grant and Don Perlin made it all believable and serious to follow.

Conclusion

*Tony Stark struggles initially with being stranded in the past.*

I can say that What If #33 (1982) is a great read! The respective tales of Dazzler and Iron Man are captivating, intriguing and enjoyable to read. The creative teams of each story succeeded in building up their respective concepts, moved the established superhero to daring creative directions, and delivered powerful conclusions. This issue of the old What If series has to read as it is a true escape from reality!

Overall, What If #33 (1982) 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 Independence Day #0 (1996)

August 22, 2025August 17, 2025carlocarrasco

Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book, watching the 1996 movie 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, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1996 to take a close look at one of the licensed comic books Marvel Comics published which was part of the release of the movie Independence Day (also referred to as ID4).

Back in 1996, there was a considerable amount of hype and anticipation for Independence Day’s release in cinemas not just in America but also in other parts of the world. Following the success they achieved together in Stargate (1994), producer Dean Devlin and director Roland Emmerich teamed up again to make Independence Day which was back then the most modern cinematic portrayal of aliens invading Earth causing the people to fight back. The film creatively was also a disaster movie of its own backed with science fiction concepts and the latest special effects of the era. Independence Day went on to gross almost $820 million worldwide and I myself saw it in a fully packed cinema here in the Philippines.

As I saw the movie, I noticed details about events that took place sometime in the past and they were presented not as flashbacks but only as spoken words. There is that verbal reference about Jeff Goldblum’s character punching Bill Pullman’s character some time before the latter became US President. There are also spoken words about Randy Quaid’s character being previously abducted by aliens. As part of the marketing and publicity of the movie, Marvel Comics was licensed to publish not only a 2-part comic book adaptation but also a prequel comic book.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Independence Day #0, published in 1996 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Phil Crain (based on ideas by Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerih) and drawn by Terry Pallot, Steve Erwin, Rod Whigham and Gabriel Gecko.

Early story

The story begins on July 4, 1947 in Roswell, New Mexico. A thunderstorm took place in the evening compelling residents to stay inside their respective homes. As the storm went on, an unidentified flying object (UFO) of alien origin got struck by thunder causing it to crash on the field of someone’s property with a huge impact that disturbed local residents. The alien ship opens and one of its passengers (alien) ventures out into the stormy night. Injured and still in shock, the passenger slowly moves away from the ship.

The next evening, the property owner arrives and finds several pieces of debris of the crashed ship scattered on the field. He notices the metal are lighter than anything he touched, and he could see the writings were not man-made. The property owner informed the local sheriff of what he found which led to the American army sending troops to the field. The American military plane flies over them and finds the crashed alien ship.

Quality

When Whitmore was still a US Senator and candidate for US President, he got punched by David Levinson who thought that he was having an affair with his wife Constance “Connie” Spano. This later led to the “You punched the President,” line in the movie.

As described above, this prequel comic book visually dramatizes the past events that were only mentioned in the movie particularly with regards to the Roswell UFO incident as well as Area 51 and how the government handled findings about aliens from outer space. In fact, the story here was scripted to move from one significant event to the next through the decades, and the good news here is that the exposition is not too heavy (when compared to Jurassic Park comic books of 1993) and the pacing moved at a medium pace. The result is a reading experience that is intriguing and entertaining.

The creators really went all in with their fictional portrayal of the movie’s aliens being involved in Roswell and Area 51, and the notable thing is that they really took the presentation seriously. It’s as if they were trying to tell a factual story which smoothly connects with the movie.

When it comes to the characters from the movie, you will find them in this comic book depending on the stage of the narrative and the time setting. While the characters of Pullman, Goldblum, Robert Loggia, Will Smith, Brent Spiner, James Rebhorn, Viveca A. Fox and Margaret Colin are dramatized in the 1990s scenes, you will see the younger versions of a few of them set in the 1960s scenes. The abduction scene of Randy Quaid’s character is set in the 1980s.

As for the script written by Phil Crain, the narrative of this comic book surprisingly has a more serious and dramatic tone when compared to what was expressed in the movie. There were even a few horror elements and no comedic stuff at all. Again, this should not be surprising because this comic book was meant to dramatize past events to not only connect with the movie’s core concept but also show why certain characters acted the way they did in the film.

As this comic book involved multiple artists, it should not be a surprise that the result is of varying quality from one scene to another. In fairness, the illustrator (or illustrators) who drew the Area 51 scenes and the crashed alien ship did a good job with the details. As for the characters, pilot Steven Hiller resembled Will Smith enough, and the same can be said about Thomas Whitmore somewhat looking like Bill Pullman, David Levinson looking somewhat like Jeff Goldblum, and General Grey slightly looking like Robert Loggia. Meanwhile, Constance Pano resembled Margaret Colin more while the 1990s Dr. Okun resembled Brent Spiner in a few shots.

Conclusion

*The creators went all-in to make the 1947 Roswell UFO incident a history of Independence Day.*

To get straight to the point, Independence Day #0 (1996) succeeded with its main objective of establishing visually the past and emphasizing developments connecting with the blockbuster movie of 1996. It was made with a strong appeal to fans of Independence Day as well as people who simply are fond of UFOs and conspiracy theories regarding Roswell and Area 51. People who are not too interested in the movie and UFOs might not be impressed with this comic book. In my view, this prequel comic book has good enough qualities that make it worth reading and its serious narrative is both surprising and enjoyable. Ultimately, it is a worthy companion piece to the movie.

Overall, Independence Day #0 (1996) is recommended.

+++++

A Look Back at What If #85 (1996)

August 18, 2025August 14, 2025carlocarrasco

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1996 and explore a part of Marvel Comics’ universe through the reimagined tales emphasized in the What If monthly series.

Back in 1993 – the year that Marvel Comics celebrated the 30^th anniversary of the X-Men – the definitive rival of the X-Men, Magneto, made a major comeback and he was so resourceful as a threat to everyone. With the massive space station Avalon as his lair, Magneto sent out Exodus to lure mutants to join him. As time passed, Magneto’s own force grew and arrogantly disrupted the funeral of Illyana Rasputin in the presence of the X-Men, X-Force, Excalibur and X-Factor (as told in Uncanny X-Men #304). As the conflict went on, Colossus betrayed the X-Men to join Magneto.

Can you just imagine what would it be like had Magneto became the ruler of mutants?

With those details laid down, here is a look back at What If #85, published in 1996 by Marvel Comics with a story written by David Michelinie and drawn by Arnie Jorgensen.

Early story

The story begins inside Avalon with Magneto and Colossus watching recorded footage of Charles Xavier announcing his decision to stop opposing the ascension of Avalon. It turns out, Xavier’s decision paved the way for mutants to relocate to Avalon (orbiting Earth) in return for assurance that those who remain in it will do so unmolested. With the intention to let Avalon’s residents achieve their full and glorious potential, Magneto allowed the mutants to rule themselves without any dictatorship by him.

Through the years, division between Avalon’s mutants – Acolytes who believe in isolation and the Acolytes who believe in annihilation – intensified and proved that the spirit of mutant unity has faded away. As violence between the mutants went on, the number of explosions inside Avalon kept increasing…

Quality

*A magnificent view for Magneto, Colossus and the readers.*

What I like most about this What If tale is its core concept exploring what would have happened had Magneto ruled the mutants specifically those living in his own realm (Avalon). Writer David Michelinie (best known for writing Amazing Spider-Man stories) wrote a really inspired script that emphasized Magneto’s vision of mutant utopia isolated from the twisted and complicated societies of Earth (which still has lots of people who are afraid of and hostile towards mutants) while leaving room for conflict in the form of ideological division between mutants on Avalon. As the growing division and violence are shattering Magneto’s vision of mutant utopia, the birth of an infant whose presence adds to the tension and fear of Avalon’s inhabitants.

The good news here is that Michelinie’s script is pretty solid and Arnie Jorgensen did a good enough job visualizing it all. The characters, mainly Magneto, Colossus and Beast, were portrayed clearly in character and to see the master of magnetism struggling with maintaining order on Avalon is a nice portrayal of his human side which makes him have a lot more in common with his opposite Professor X when it comes mutant matters. Considering Magneto’s long history of intense evil and obsession with leading humanity, his portrayal of insecurity, doubt and weakness is very believable to read.

Colossus, whose betrayal of the X-Men in Uncanny X-Men #304 remains unforgettable, is the loyal and sensible servant of Magneto. Beast, meanwhile, remains the very bright and insightful mutant scientist as he has always been which makes Michelinie’s writing really impressive.

Also at the heart of the story is mutant order. Apart from the division between Avalon mutants who want full separation from humanity and those who want to conquer Earth by eliminating all human beings, the very fabric of mutant society got shaken all because of an infant who was born there on Avalon (Avalon’s first natural birth ever). I like the way this sub-plot added tension to the mutant division because it is, in some ways, socially relevant to this day. It will remind you that certain groups of people out there who would go as far as committing murder only because they are so obsessed with their foolish, worldly beliefs. Look at the Palestinian terrorists, the Iranian terrorists and the woke mobs in many parts of the world.

Conclusion

*Remember Fabian Cortez and the Acolytes?*

With a very solid script filled with intrigue, social relevance and portrayals, What If #85 (1996) is a pretty engaging read. As it is strongly focused on Magneto and his mutants on Avalon, this comic book gives readers a fine dramatization of its core concept as well as developments on what would have happened had mutant utopia been realized far away from human society. I should state that for every build-up in the story, the payoff is fortunately solid. Consider this comic book a dramatic portrayal of mutants of Magneto without the involvement of the X-Men.

Overall, What If #85 (1996) is recommended.

+++++

A Look Back at What If #23 (1991)

August 13, 2025August 7, 2025carlocarrasco

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1991 and explore a part of Marvel Comics’ universe through the reimagined tales emphasized in the What If monthly series.

If you are not aware of the extensive literary history of the X-Men, the mutant franchise of Marvel Comics had its turning point in the mid-1970s with the release of the 68-page Giant-Size X-Men #1 which introduced a newer lineup of mutants (Wolverine, Cyclops, Nightcrawler, Thunderbird and Storm). It has been argued that Giant-Size X-Men #1 marked the starting point of the bronze age of comics in America and creatively it sparked a new chain of X-Men stories that captivated the fans and attracted new readers.

But what would have happened had the newer lineup of the X-Men did not even exist?

With those details laid down, here is a look back at What If #23, published in 1991 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Kurt Busiek and drawn by Rodney Ramos.

Early story

The story begins when the original X-Men (Cyclops, Jean Grey, Angel, Beast and Iceman) members, Havok and Polaris arrive on the island of Krakoa. A huge green monster suddenly appears and attacks them. Guided by Professor X’s mind, Marvel Girl/Jean Grey helps Polaris by overriding the mental blocks that prevented her from using her full magnetic might. With a lot more power in her, Polaris takes action and helps the X-Men not only overwhelm the monster but also hurled the entire island of Krakoa into space.

As the X-Men were never captured by Krakoa, there was no reason to recruit a new team. The X-Men returned home and proceeded with other matters. On the other hand, Charles Xavier experiences a series of intense nightmares of conflict in outer space. As the nightmares took its toll on him, Professor X decides to take a vacation. Before he could leave, the X-Men are suddenly attacked by Eric the Red, Proudstar and Nightcrawler…

Quality

*Without the existence of the 2nd X-Men team (from Giant-Size X-Men #1), the original X-Men’s first encounters with Dazzler, Kitty Pryde and the Hellfire Club turned out totally different.*

This What If tale exploring an alternate chain of events involving only the original X-Men is not only a daring piece of work by the creators but it is also highly ambitious as seen through the scope of the plot. I’m not just talking about the non-existence of the 2^nd X-Men lineup of Giant-Size X-Men #1 but also alternate realities of real X-Men developments such as the encounter with the Phoenix, Lilandra and Professor X’s first encounter, the X-Men’s encounter with the Hellfire Club, and more. Truly, the alterations were executed and the consequences were quite intense.

By focusing on the concept of the original X-Men proceeding as the 2^nd X-Men team did not materialize, the Busiek-Ramos team really went all-in exploring the different possibilities and most of them were intriguing and entertaining to follow. The reading experience can be jarring because of the sudden change of scope that happens when the narrative suddenly shifted from one plot development (of local conflict) to another (a conflict on a galactic scale). Indeed, the narrative can be challenging to follow and to really enjoy it, you should pay strong attention to the details as you read on.

When it comes to character development, there is very little to find here which is not surprising given the way the script was written and also because the spotlight had to be shared by so many characters. Still, I enjoyed the character moments between Cyclops and Jean Grey, particularly during important points in the 2^nd half of the story.

If there were any weak spots in the presentation, it is the fact that a lot of exposition had to be done and there were certain parts of the narrative that felt crammed with an excessive amount of details. Not only that, there is also an excessive amount of characters that go beyond the X-Men such as Lilandra of the Shi’ar Empire, the Starjammers, Alpha Flight, the Avengers and other beings of science fiction mixed in which make following the narrative challenging at certain points.

Conclusion

*The original X-Men team plus Polaris and Havok.*

What If #23 (1991) has more than enough advantages that outweigh the disadvantages. It’s story is very intriguing and enjoyable to read even though there were some bumpy parts on the narrative. Still, it is great to see what would have happened had the newer X-Men team never materialized and this comic book’s ending is very impactful to see.

Overall, What If #23 (1991) is recommended.

+++++

A Look Back at Action Comics #550 (1983)

August 8, 2025August 5, 2025carlocarrasco

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1980s arts and culture enthusiasts, DC Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1983 to take a close look at a part of the DC Comics universe through a tale of the Action Comics monthly series.

If there is anything notable about the presentation of superhero elements in Superman stories, it is the occasional use of science fiction. From time to time, DC Comics published tales of Superman going deep into space, encounter alien species and visit far-away civilizations. Sometimes, sci-fi is used on major disasters that Superman has to solve.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Action Comics #550, published in 1983 by DC Comics with a story written by E. Nelson Bridwell and Bob Rozakis, and drawn by George Tuska.

Early story

The story begins with Clark Kent and Lana Lang presenting television news at the WGBS station telling viewers about The Exploder who attacked a large jumbo jet full of people. As the program continues, breaking news about an enormous underwater eruption north of New Guinea came in.

Shortly after, Clark quickly and discreetly left the station to fly overseas as Superman. By visiting the site of the reported underwater eruption, he notices the entire New Guinea drifting southward. Superman is compelled to go deep underwater to prevent the nation from drifting further and he also realized there is no volcano that caused the blast.

Quality

*Superman goes to outer space to find answers behind the events that took place on Earth.*

This is a Superman tale that does not have the traditional good-versus-evil element of conflict. Instead, it is a sci-fi story that started with solid mystery causing the Man of Steel to do research and detective work to find answers.

The comic book writers behind this were really good in pushing Superman hard on his search for answers to solve mysteries that were really out of this world. Lana Lang’s father appears here as a long-time archaeologist who successfully discovered an ancient artifact described as a so-called disk. The plot turned intense when The Exploder suddenly emerged to take the disk away which unsurprisingly pushed Superman to not only react but also get answers.

I like the fact that as Superman does detective work, Lana Lang and Jimmy Olsen contributed nicely to the plot. At the same time, the mystery and tension really built up as the story went along and the payoff the comic book creators came up with is surprising and also worth it.

Without spoiling the plot, I can say that this Superman tale has its own twists on the concept of UFOs and alien that happen to have special interest on Earth. At the same time, you will realize how dedicated Superman is to protecting the people of Earth and why he would not tolerate aliens who actions would jeopardize billions of lives.

Conclusion

*I liked the interactions Clark had with Lana Lang as he tries to solve mysteries.*

While Action Comics #550 (1983) does not have a super villain for Superman to battle, you will still see him doing good, solving mysteries and prioritizing Earth’s people. The sci-fi concept the creators came up with looked outlandish on face value but when you read the story and pay close attention to all the details, you will realize that the story is actually believable. I also like the mystery aspect which gave the plot a good amount of depth.

Overall, Action Comics #550 (1983) is recommended.

+++++

A Look Back at Action Comics #497 (1979)

July 23, 2025July 18, 2025carlocarrasco

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1970s arts and culture enthusiasts, DC Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1979 to take a close look at a part of the DC Comics universe through a tale of the Action Comics monthly series.

Do you enjoy following stories with the “make-a-wish” concept as a key element? Or do you prefer seeing major events happen because someone else has the power to alter reality? I for one don’t enjoy those concepts very much and the element of wish-making really ruined the story of the glossy cinematic failure Wonder Woman 1984 (written and co-directed by Patty Jenkins). When it comes to Superman, the wish-making or the ability to seriously alter reality could be effect in storytelling when the right creators are involved.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Action Comics #497, published in 1979 by DC Comics with a story written by Cary Bates and drawn by Curt Swan.

Early story

The story begins inside a shed on a lot with three boys who have their own Superman club and support the Man of Steel’s never-ending battle for truth, justice and the American way. Arthur, who is up for drawing something for the next club newsletter, shared his idea (inspired by what he saw in a movie) about a gigantic meteor from outer space heading towards Metropolis which would compel Superman to save the city. Near the three boys is an empty chair reserved for a particular someone.

Many miles away deep within Metropolis, Clark Kent attends a conference in which Lana Lang delivers remarks to an audience of GBS affiliates. As Lana tells the audience that their news team is determined to maintain high standards of broadcasting, a uniformed door man causes a disturbance by telling everyone that a blackout has plunged the entire city into darkness.

Suddenly, the audience exited the venue and Lana notices that Clark is gone. Elsewhere, Superman quickly flies high and sees a giant meteor (the size of a stadium) on a collision course with Metropolis…

Quality

*Do you wish you have the power to make superheroes do something as you wish?*

Starting with the concept of reality getting seriously altered by someone with tremendous power, the said concept really brought the fantasy aspect of this Superman tale to a very high level. The Man of Steel ends up getting into unbelievable situations and do things that are amazing or shocking. In order words, the concept of altered reality (related to wishful thinking and intense imagination) actually works well in this tale thanks to the Bates-Swan duo.

Of course, this is not simply a Superman story about wild events that compelled him to react. There are character-driven scenes that emphasize how Superman analyzes what has been going on and why he seems to be controlled or guided to do things that he had no intent of doing. This particular element of the story raises questions about the ethics of having so much power at hand and being able to command a more powerful person to do something (as a wish is made by the one who wields a lot of power).

Considering the wild events that happened throughout the story, I can say that the Bates-Swan duo successfully pulled off a worthy pay-off at the conclusion.

Conclusion

*Superman saves Metropolis and many people once again. Lana Lang is among the people on the street.*

Action Comics #497 (1979) is an old Superman tale that is worth reading. While you won’t see Superman encountering any super villain, the fantasy elements and wild events more than made up for it. More importantly, the Bates-Swan duo was really careful with using the make-a-wish and reality altering concepts to make the plot believable while preventing it from becoming too outlandish. The result is a Superman tale that is entertaining to read.

Overall, Action Comics #497 (1979) is recommended.

+++++

A Look Back at Action Comics #481 (1978)

June 27, 2025June 24, 2025carlocarrasco

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 #481, published in 1978 by DC Comics with a story written by Cary Bates and drawn by Curt Swan.

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 #481 (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 #481 (1978) is recommended.

+++++

A Look Back at Action Comics #438 (1974)

June 23, 2025June 20, 2025carlocarrasco

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1970s arts and culture enthusiasts, DC Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1974 to take a close look at a part of the DC Comics universe through a tale of the Action Comics monthly series.

Throughout the superhero comics publishing history of DC Comics, Lois Lane is the definitive leading lady of Superman. Traits of her personality and journalistic work ethic got emphasized through her interactions with fellow reporter Clark Kent (Superman). At times, Lois Lane becomes a rival of Kent’s when it comes to getting the hottest scoop and getting the approval of their boss Perry White for publishing it on the next issue of the Daily Planet. But have ever seen Lane become a monster strong enough to take on Superman?

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Action Comics #438, published in 1974 by DC Comics with a story written by Cary Bates and drawn by Curt Swan.

Early story

The story begins on the busy streets of Metropolis with Clark Kent and Lois Lane riding in a taxi. He gives her a very unique looking necklace as an advanced birthday gift which she gladly wears. Lois then kisses Clark on the lips which surprises him. Moments later, the taxi stops on a sidewalk as something inside happened. Seconds later, a monstrous woman emerges from the taxi which turned out to be none other than Lois Lane in a transformed state. The monster Lois gets out of the taxi, throws the necklace away and leaves Clark behind. The incident causes a commotion in the city.

Still inside the taxi, Clark discreetly changes into Superman and flies away to search for Lois Lane…

Quality

*As Superman works to find monster Lois Lane, the media buzz about her begins on television. This was the time when social media was decades away from realization.*

To begin with, the concept of this comic book is clearly outlandish and the creators decided to make a monster out of Lois Lane and explore what would happen to both the city and Superman. The good news here is that the storytelling has a firm structure and the dialogue – most notably that of Superman – still made sense and was believable to follow. Without spoiling the plot, I can say that Superman is still the main focus of the story and how he made moves to solve problems while still caring for Lois Lane is engaging to read.

In this comic book, you will see some interesting developments that emphasize how Clark Kent works within the limitations of his journalistic career and connections, how Superman takes responsibility things he did before, and how he works to protect his secret identity. The Bates-Swan duo really delivered the goods here.

Conclusion

*Superman has two problems to deal with – finding monster Lois Lane and preventing a train disaster from happening.*

Action Comics #438 (1974) is a fun read but it is not a brainless nor a low-intelligence tale. This is a tale about Superman relying less on his powers and using more of skills as civilian Clark Kent to handle the problem of monster Lois Lane. The story lacked the superhero spectacle of action but it still is entertaining to read, and the emphasis on Superman and Lois alone is worth reading. As for The Atom short story included, it is essentially a somewhat fun additive.

Overall, Action Comics #438 (1974) is recommended.

+++++

A Look Back at Action Comics #436 (1974)

June 18, 2025June 20, 2025carlocarrasco

If you know the Superman lore in comics, you should be aware that Perry White (first appeared in 1940) is the editor-in-chief of the Daily Planet and is the superior of Clark Kent (Superman), Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen. As Perry White got race-swapped (a woke move that’s also idiotic) and presented as a black man in Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel and James Gunn’s Superman (2025), be aware that the long-lasting character originated in the comics as a white man who symbolized dedication and management consistently. I still remember the live-action versions of Perry White played by Jackie Cooper in the 1978 movie and by Lane Smith in the TV series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman.

I read a lot of Superman comic books and many times Perry White appeared as a supporting character. He also appeared in the memorable crossover comic book Superman and Spider-Man, interacting with Peter Parker (Spider-Man). As a supporting character in Superman tales, Perry White occasionally provides journalistic direction or a challenge to Clark Kent who in turn tackles problems in his civilian identity or as Superman.

But what if Perry White overshadows Superman himself?

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Action Comics #436, published in 1974 by DC Comics with a story written by Elliot S. Maggin and drawn by Curt Swan.

Early story

The story begins deep within Metropolis when the Daily Planet’s editor Perry White enters the Galaxy Building. White does not realize that he is being watched by two adults who turned out to have special abilities and together they levitated a gift for him before he reaches his office. The gift for Perry White was their response to the help he provided to them – the mutants – to escape the influence of Calixto sometime before. The two adults then vanished.

As White arrives in his office, Superman discreetly flies into the Galaxy Building and changed into his civilian form as Clark Kent. With his enhanced hearing, Kent heard the phone in his office ringing and quickly rushes to it. Through the phone, White (who was notified he won the Pulitzer Prize again) tells him that Edge Morgan has something big happening on both TV and on paper, and they should fly out to New York to work together…

Quality

*Superman and Perry White fly towards an enemy.*

To get straight to the point, this Superman tale shows the wild concept of Perry White overshadowing the Man of Steel in terms of capabilities instead of journalistic power. On paper it sounds crazy but the good news is that the wild concept was told nicely and it is actually fun to follow without ever going over the top.

*With witnesses around, Perry White uses his super powers.*

Apart from the story’s outlandish idea, the plot shows a new dimension of Perry White transforming from a supporting player (in the form of a newspaper editor) into a more heroic figure. Instead of being a helpless witness of events happening, White becomes more involved and contributes something to the prevention of disaster and even tackling evil head on. That being said, this situation allowed the creative duo to show a new side of White’s personality as he himself realizes the sudden weight and pressure that comes with having super powers, and he still has journalistic standards to live up to.

Conclusion

*Superman is surprised to witness Perry White fly and prevent a small plane from crashing.*

A product of its time, Action Comics #436 (1974) has a short story that had a zany concept which turned out to be an entertaining read. It is nice to see Perry White actually becoming super while the storytelling done by the Maggin-Swan team never became too outlandish. Think of this comic book – which also has a short story of Green Arrow – as a bout of fun focused on Superman and Perry White. I first read this comic book as a young boy and now as an adult, it is still enjoyable to read again. No woke garbage and no Zack Snyder-style darkness here. This is classic Superman.

Overall, Action Comics #436 (1974) is recommended.

+++++

A Look Back at Action Comics #689 (1993)

April 30, 2025April 27, 2025carlocarrasco

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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