Superman #267 (2026 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

Superman in the 1970s saw several changes. His vulnerability to Kryptonite was eliminated. Sidekick Supergirl went to college and became more independent. His partnership with Batman, who was becoming more of a darker vigilante hero, weakened, seeing the World's Finest heroes teaming more with other heroes AND VILLAINS, and less with each other. But perhaps the biggest changes for the Man of Tomorrow involved his secret identity, Clark Kent.

No longer working for the Daily Planet newspaper, Kent was recruited by the paper's new owner Morgan Edge, to host the evening news for Metropolis television's Galaxy Broadcasting Station (WGBS). He was also allowed to start dating Lois Lane; although their relationship was more platonic than romantic with Lois often wondering why she hung out with such a milksop as Clark Kent. Making his relationship goals difficult to achieve, Clark found himself in a love triangle for Lois' affections against his WGBS colleague, the macho braggart sports reporter Steve Lombard.

That's where the cover story for this issue begins. Clark and Lois are enjoying time at the beach when Lombard and his nephew appear. Steve treats Clark like the wimpy guy in those Clark Atlas ads, kicking sand in Smallville's face before grabbing Lois for a swim. On shore, Clark learns from Steve's nephew that his father has been missing for several weeks. However, when a sudden whirlpool occurs, threatening the lives of Lombard and Lois, the child exclaims that his father had warned him of such calamity just the night before. Intrigued by this contradiction, Clark changes into Superman and visits Steve and his nephew where the hero learns that the boy has a telepathic link to his missing father, a famous scientist. 

The revelation takes both Superman and the lad underneath the North Pole, where they encounter a long-forgotten subterranean race of flying reptiles called the Miros. With the missing Lombard's expertise in geophysics, the ancient people have been forcing the scientist to siphon the energy of the Earth's sun to power a special device that has been warming the Miros' subsurface habitat. Now with Superman on the scene, the reptilians seek to use the Man of Steel as the new battery for their failing synthetic sun.

This issue contains a backup story. Part of the 'Private Life of Clark Kent' series of tales, 'The Man in the Public Eye!', sees Clark Kent being put on a massive public relations campaign. Station boss Morgan Edge thinks that while Kent is a top notch newscaster but he's got the personality of a cold fish. Edge arranges for the newscaster to participate in a number of sporting activities in hopes of making Clark Kent appear more manly. As much as Clark tries to appear weak in front of the WGBS cameras, dumb luck mixed with his Kryptonian superpowers have the newsman looking really 'super., like when he accidentally knocks out the heavyweight champion of the world after a sparring match. Thankfully, the audience of Metropolis is eating up Kent's antics and it's sending ratings for the 6 o'clock news through the roof. Now if only Clark can screw up royally or else somebody is going to make a connection between the reporter and Superman!

Both the secondary story and the cover tale 'World Beneath the North Pole' were written by Elliot (S!) Maggin. Curt Swan drew both tales. He was assisted by Murphy Anderson on Superman's Arctic adventure. Bob Oksner gave assistance on the Clark Kent led tale.

The cover was drawn by Nick Cardy.

Completing this review completes Task #16 (A Superman Comic From the 1970s) of the 2026 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Action Comics #428 (2025 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

The opening story begins with the Metropolis Twin Towers engulfed in flames. Superman uses an iceberg and his heat vision to put out the flames. It's a feat captured on camera by Jimmy Olsen. However, when the event makes the front page of the Daily Planet, the story details that a freak thunderstorm put out the blaze.

When Superman as Clark Kent confronted Jimmy as to why he didn't credit the Man of Steel with putting out the fire, the cub reporter responds that Superman hasn't been seen or heard from in 10 years. Despite Clark being able to see Superman in the photos Jimmy took, everyone else he encounters merely sees a thundercloud raining on the skyscrapers. 

As Superman conducts further rescues throughout Metropolis, the citizens attribute the acts as miracles. Clearly, the populace has not only forgotten about Superman; they cannot even see him! 

The backup feature stars Green Arrow and Black Canary. Oliver Queen has been approached by a struggling motorcycle manufacturer for help with their lagging sales. Ollie negotiates a deal where Black Canary will perform a death defying stunt on one of the company's bikes during an upcoming sports event. Only, he forgot to ask the heroine permission for the endorsement.

Seeing as the funds for the stunt will go to charity, Black Canary reluctantly agrees. It will be her first public appearance in quite some time. Yet, it might end up being her last as a pair of ex-cons out for revenge on Canary have tampered with her bike's gas tank, rigging it to explode during the stunt jump. It's up to the Green Arrow to race against the clock and the sprawling city to save Black Canary in time!

The Superman opener was written by Cary Bates. Art was provided by Curt Swan and Murphy Anderson. Set during Clark Kent's days as a television newscaster for WGBS, it features a number of newer characters unseen from when he worked at the Planet. Station owner Morgan Edge and sports reporter Steve Lombard play important roles in the story along with Jimmy Olsen. Noticeably absent from the story is Lois Lane, who's not even mentioned in this news story heavy adventure.

The Green Arrow and Black Canary backup was written by Elliot Maggin. Dick Giordano illustrated. For fans of either character, this is a key issue in their relationship as this story ends with Dinah Lance revealing for the very first time that she loves Oliver Queen. 

This issue also features an article about the town of Metropolis, Illinois. The town, working with DC Comics and the State legislature, had just approved plans to make Metropolis the official home of Superman. Plans for a museum, a theme park and an annual festival showing old Superman serials and episodes from the 1950s series starring George Reeves, along with fun and games, were in the works according to the piece. Even the town newspaper would be changing its name to the Daily Planet! While The Amazing World of Superman theme park never came to be and the rag has been renamed as the Metropolis Planet, the museum, along with a giant statue of the Last Son of Krypton continues to welcome fans who arrive in droves every June for the town's annual 4-day Superman Celebration. 

Completing this review completes Task #31 (A Book Featured in a Facebook Group Post) of the 2025 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge. It also my 40th and final task for the 2025 Challenge.

Superman #411 (2024 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

It's the summer of 1985. You go to the local Fast Fare in hopes of the newest issue of Superman. Last issue saw the beginning of a 3-part 'Luthor Trilogy' that promises to cap the age old conflict between the Man of Steel and his greatest arch enemy right before Crisis on Infinite Earths changes everything. You scour the spinner rack where you find issue #411. Only instead of the 2nd part of Superman's battle with Luthor, you're faced with a special birthday issue devoted to DC editor Julius Schwartz!?

Elliot S! Maggin, Curt Swan, Murphy Anderson, John Costanza, Gene D'Angelo, Paul Levitz and Bob Rozakis crafted this September 1985 issue intended to be an oversized birthday to the beloved Superman editor known affectionately as Julie. This issue was planned as a surprise for Schwartz months before. Though you might be wondering how you can keep such an issue secret from the editor of DC's flagship hero. Enter Dick Giordano, who in his role as Vice President-Executive Editor, managed to keep everything under wraps until publication. 

'The Last Earth Prime Story' begins on Earth-One where that world's Julius Schwartz is down on his luck and homeless. Because of the existence of superheroes on that earth, interest in fictional stories about super-powered beings has waned. Hoping to change his fortune on his 70th birthday, Schwartz goes over to the Daily Planet building to ask old friend Perry White for a job but is turned away by White's secretary for his sloven appearance. 

Later in the day, Perry is alerted to Julie's visit and goes out with his wife to find him. When the White's run into Superman, Perry informs the Man of Steel about how Schwartz helped him get into publishing during the early days of Science Fiction pulps. Superman agrees to continue the search when he discovers Julie being held captive at the hands of a deranged member of a spy network who is literally half human/half machine! 

The book ends on Earth Prime at DC Comics headquarters. The Julie Schwartz of Earth Prime, our earth, is in the office enjoying his 70th birthday party. A number of DC talent make cameos in the scene including publisher Jeanette Kahn, Curt Swan and Dick Giordano. Astute fans of Superman history should also note the presence of former Superman editor Mort Weisinger, who appears as a decorative bust in Clark Kent's apartment. Superstars of the golden age of science fiction such as Ray Bradbury, Frederik Pohl and John W. Campbell cameo during the scene where Perry White explains his personal history with Julius Schwartz to Superman.

Julie retired from comics in 1986 after 42 years at DC Comics. In retirement, Schwartz would be a regular guest at comic cons nationwide. Schwartz was DC's editor emeritus until his death in 2004 at age 88.

Completing this review completes Task #44 (A Book Featured in a FB Group Post) of the 2024 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Welcome Back, Kotter #1

This was an amazing find! 

I've been wanting this 1976 comic book for so long. I've been wanting any of the 10 issues printed by DC Comics from 1976-1978. The series actually sat at the #1 spot of the top 10 comics based on a TV series that I wanted to add to my collection. No matter how often I tried, I never could find a copy for sale. Well, just this past weekend, I finally marked issue #1 off my wish list!

As a child, I was in love the quirky TV sitcom about a former student who returns to his alma mater to become a high school teacher. Welcome Back, Kotter launched the career of John Travolta. It had an extremely catchy theme song! And the series has been a syndication staple for nearly 40 years because of those connections.

Kotter isn't exactly your most high-brow of comedy shows. If you've seen one episode, you've seen them all as Welcome Back, Kotter was highly formulaic. In every episode, the following is going to happen:

1. Mr. Kotter will start off an episode with a anecdote about a family member that ends in a punchline.
2. Theme song plays and episode starts in Kotter's remedial social studies class.
3. Epstein will be late to class and produce a forged excuse from his mother.
4. Travolta's character of Barbarino is going to play dumb and say 'What?', 'Who?', 'Me?'
5. Boom Boom will try to charm someone by saying 'Hi There...'
6. The principal will enter and insult Kotter and his Sweat Hogs.
7. Horshack will either scream 'Oo-oo-oooh!' when wanting Mr. Kotter's attention or break something and ask 'Did I do that?'
8. Mr. Kotter then ends an episode with a anecdote about a family member that ends in a punchline.
ROLL CREDITS

Based on these 'cliches', I only had one thing on my mind as I read this issue: I truly hope it doesn't suck!

In this opening issue, Kotter is made aware that he's being transferred to another, better, school district. His students become aware of this and do everything they can to keep him at James Buchanan High. 

Superman's Elliot S! Maggin crafted a very good opening issue. Amazingly enough, Maggin didn't fall into those traps that prevented Kotter from being a highly evolving sitcom. In fact, with the exception of a brief chorus from the theme song, this issue didn't follow any of the show's ubiquitous antics. I actually found myself longing for one of Kotter's anecdotes!

The artwork was superior. Jack Sparling, who was known for his life-like recreations of live-action properties such as Mission: Impossible and Friday Foster for Dell Comics, does a fantastic job making all the characters look humorous but like the actors who played them at the same time. Okay- Mrs. Kotter looked nothing like the actress Marcia Straussman who played her on ABC. Still, Sparling does an amazing job on the art. 

This adaptation was worth the long-time search. Sadly, the cover was detached from the spine. I didn't learn of this until after purchase. Otherwise, the book's in really nice shape and I got it for a good price. I'd be open to getting the other 9 issues of the comic. But it's not a necessity. 

Only 8 more titles till my first TV show as a comic wish list is complete!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Showcase Presents: Justice League of America, Volume 6

Another great collection of Justice League of America issues.

This one introduces Earth-X; the earth in which Hitler and the Nazis won World War II. Back are Golden Age great like Uncle Sam, The Human Bomb, and the Phantom Lady.

Plus witness the return of several founding members of the Justice League. While most of these returns are just for an issue or two temporary team-up, there is one exciting return that actually sticks around! 

Featuring some of the most interesting and creative story lines of the Justice League, such as when writers Cary Bates, Elliot S. Maggin, and editor Julie Schwartz become the stars of one of their very own Justice League story. 

And for one very short period of time, witness the beginnings of Dick Giordano's amazing run on this title. He only pencils a couple of issues (and the art is so freakin' good), but it's a hint of what's in store for later issues of this series, one of my all-time favorites. 

Speaking of later issues, this volume ended quite sadly for me. Or at least bittersweet. This is the final volume of Showcase Presents: Justice League of America. Since this is a later edition, unless DC would ever consider revitalizing this dynamic series, the publisher more than likely is going to start over at issue #1. 

The good thing is that there's well over a hundred individual issues out there for me still to read. But it will take time (and I suspect a nice chunk of change) in order to obtain them all. Oh, don't worry, their now on my wish list and I'm ready for the hunt to begin.

A much better collection than volume 5. 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.