Superman '78

Say what you might about the Christopher Reeve Superman films, I love them. I know that the SFX hasn't aged very well and that people hate movies III and IV.  Yet, from 1978-1987, I believed that a man could fly, thanks in very large part from Richard Donner and the Salkinds. In 1995 when Reeve had his riding accident and was paralyzed from the neck down, I cried. Yet, for the last 9 years of his life, Mr. Reeve continued to be my hero as he became a spokesman for the disabled. Even now, in my mid-40s, I get chills when I hear just a few notes of John Williams' electric score!

So a couple of years ago when I learned that DC would be continuing the adventures of the Chris Reeve Superman, I jumped for joy. I've been a huge fan of the Batman '66 series and the very brief Wonder Woman '77 series was pretty darn good too. I was so enamored with these series based on the old school TV versions of DC characters I grew up watching on the small screen, that I started calling for the premier of other childhood favs like Superman '78 here!

The story takes place sometime between the first and third Superman films. Based on events that take place, this book may very well occur right after the events of Superman II. Though I am not sure quite where to place this story on the Superman movie timeline, I know that this book is very much part of that cinematic universe. 

Right off the bat, it's the artwork that awestruck me. The Quantum Age's Wilfredo Torres executes perfection with his pencils. Superman/Clark Kent looks like Christopher Reeve. And there are actors Gene Hackman, Margot Kidder and Jackie Cooper as Lex Luthor, Lois Lane and Perry White respectively. Thrown in cameos of famous stars from the 1970s like the cast of Barney Miller and I was in total 70s memory lane geek mode. Although, could somebody explain to me why the very 1980s Goonies gang pop up in a cameo in this and not say, Michael Gray and Les Tremayne from 1974-76's Shazam! TV show?

Another thing that sold me on Torres' art was how he styled the newcomer to this universe, Brainiac! Wilfredo Torres utilizes 50 years of DC history with the visuals of the android villain. When Brainiac first arrives on planet earth, he utilized Ed Hannigan's iconic silver robot design from the early 80s. But when Superman comes face-to-face with Brainy, we are introduced to Otto Binder and Al Plastino's green skin and purple robed version from 1958. Really, no stone was left unturned with this book.

Robert Venditti (Hawkman) penned a story that gave respect to the 1970s and 80s Superman films while adding nuanced tributes to the stories that inspired the 1978 film and later birth further Man of Steel lore past the dawn of the 21st century. I very much want more of this universe and I hope DC hasn't shut the door on further such endeavors.

I know that DC just capped a Batman '89 mini series and I so look forward to getting my hands on that. But I really want to see Shazam! '74, The Flash '90 and Swamp Thing '82! Heck, I'm going to throw it out there: I want an Adventures of Superman '52 and even a Batman and Robin '49! I love this nostalgia thing DC has going on and as long as talent like Venditti, Torres and colorist Jordie Bellaire (Quantum and Woody) are involved, I will make it a part of my comic book readings!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

The Quantum Age

After having explored the origins of Black Hammer (with Black Hammer '45), I then continued on to discover its future.

The events of The Quantum Age take place about 100 years after the disappearances of Abraham Slam, Black Hammer, Barbalien and the rest of the occupants of Black Hammer Farm. 

Now don't be duped by the back cover or what some other collected volumes of Black Hammer related books say. The events in this storyline do not occur 1000 years into the future. It's a typo. I think someone just added an extra 0 and proofread just didn't catch the mistake during the editing phase.

Black Hammer '45 was a tribute to war comics. The Cthu-louise one-shot and Madame Dragonfly FCBD entry were tributes to horror and suspense comics that were noted for their twist endings. And The Quantum Age is Jeff Lemire's love letter to DC's Legion of Super-Heroes and Marvel's mutant titles. 

While I was intrigued by the artwork of Black Hammer '45, I was a bigger fan of Wilfredo Torres's (Marvel Legacy Legion) work in this book. Maybe because it was less impressionistic than Matt Kindt's (Mind MGMT) stuff. Or maybe I'm less of a fan of water colors than I am with more traditional comic book coloring methods. 

There's a bunch of surprises and twists to this book. I had mentioned in a previous review of a Black Hammer collection that there were a couple of characters who I felt that their story wasn't over. Well, I was right. I will not spoil it here. But if you go digging through my other reviews, you'll learn just who those characters were. Well, two of them. Jeff Lemire managed to surprise me with a third reveal that I wasn't expecting.

And there was one character that I fell in love with and I had to read ahead to make sure they survived. I am glad to say that I got my wish. And if I hadn't, man was I going to be pissed!

I actually didn't want this story to end. Or maybe I should say, hopefully, there will be more coming. According to articles I've read, Jeff Lemire plans to close the door on Black Hammer in 2023. So maybe in these next 18 months, I'll get my wish and get to revisit The Quantum Age one more time.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Black Hammer: Streets of Spiral

This collection of Black Hammer stories continues to expand the amazing world created by Jeff Lemire and Dean Ormston. But instead of a multi-parter, Black Hammer: Streets of Spiral is a collection of 3 one-shot specials as well as a compendium of major players that comprise the world of Black Hammer.

The first segment takes us back to Black Hammer Farm, before the seemingly finalizing events of 'The Age of Doom'. Floating eyeballs have been a familar sight within the para-zone. In this time bendy story, we find out that one of those ocular creatures has a history with all of the members of the farmstead, not just Col. Weird.

Readers are then introduced to a character with what I think is one of the most creative names in probably the last 25 years of comicdom- Cthu-louise! The featured character is a  human/otherworldly squid creature hybrid. In a story that has inspiration in not 1 but 2 episodes of The Twilight Zone, readers will learn Cthu-louise's heartbreaking origin as well as be introduced to her hopeful second chance.

The third segment is not a complete story. It's actually a segment from a Free Comic Book Day offering of (at the time) forthcoming. But it offers glimpses into the future plans of Black Hammer that Lemire and Ormston have in store for the franchise. In a nod to the EC Comics horror anthologies of the 1950s, Madame Dragonfly takes readers on a tour of her infernal cabin of stories.

As for the encyclopedia of all things Black Hammer, it invokes memories of Marvel's Official Guidebook of the Marvel Universe and DC's Who's Who. Yes, it does reveal a little bit of some stories that I haven't read yet. But thankfully it doesn't give away too much.

Along with artwork by Ormston, there's a slew of talent in these pages. Wilfredo Torres (Black Hammer '45), Dave Stewart (B.P.R.D.), Sandy Jarrell (Batman '66), Andrea Sorrentino (Old Man Logan) and personal favorite Mike Allred (Bowie: Stardust, Rayguns & Moonage Daydreams) are just a handful of artists that have a literal hand in things. 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.