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.

DC's Harley Quinn Romances #1

This is my last Valentines read for 2024. It's last year's 80-paged Valentine's Day special from DC Comics. From the clever title which is a great pun of those Harlequin Romance novels that everyone's mom, including mine, read, I thought we were going to be in for a treat. Instead, much of this book was one big hot mess. 

Readers get not 1 but 2 Harley Quinn tales. The last story, which also stars a slew of ladies from the DC universe, including members of the Birds of Prey as well as Superman's mermaid ex Lori Lemaris, was lots of fun. It's got Harley and the gals having a Galentine's Day brunch on Wonder Woman's credit card. Each of the women describe their past dalliances with King of the Sea, Aquaman. It was a brilliant exploration of the 80 year plus superhero career of Arthur Curry. 

If only the opening Harley story was anywhere near as good. That story has Harley interrupting a Valentines Day caper planned by lady love, Poison Ivy. I don't care what anybody says, but Poison Ivy is just as bad a romantic choice for Harley Quinn as the Joker is. If not worse! The Joker is abusive and manipulative. And that's not cool. Yet, Poison Ivy seems to do the same under the guise of being Harley's best friend/lover. I don't think any casual observer of the Joker/Harley Quinn relationship could see that the Clown Prince of Crime really had no love or care for Dr. Harleen Quinzel. Yet with Poison Ivy, she might not be physically abusive with Harley, but Pamela Isley is so rude and mocking of Harley. Most folks think Ivy and Harley are soul mates. But I know the truth! That girl is POISON!

The Power Girl story in which Superman sets her up with Jimmy Olsen was pretty cool. I hadn't realized that she had been reintroduced into the same DCU universe as Supergirl. Once I did a quick Google search to clear those questions up, I enjoyed the heck out of this story. Though I still prefer Supergirl to Power Girl any day!

The Hellblazer story was also really well done. It had a lot of heart and the big reveal of the secret guest star to the tale was so satisfying! 

The other remaining 4 stories stink, Stank, STUNK! I don't care a thing about the characters of Wildstorm. I didn't like them when they were the product of Image Comics and I don't like them now. The Kite Man story was stupid. The Fire and Ice story should have been a home run. Only the writing was clunky and the ending was flat. The Batman story had good writing and a clever plot with Batman racing the clock to deactivate a bomb placed inside a random dude's neck and the new fiancee tagging along. But the artwork was awful. 

I've yet to read this year's DC Valentine's Day special. The title of 'How to Lose a Guy Gardner in 10 Days' was ingenious. I immediately placed my order for the book when I saw it. Only it's currently on back order. That means I'll be reading it next year I guess. However, if it's anywhere close to how disappointing this book was, I might be waiting for nothing but a big letdown.

What a waste of a 10 spot. A twenty if this year's offering is just as lame!

Not Worth Consuming!

Rating: 3 out of 10 stars.

Superboy: The Greatest Team-Up Stories Ever Told

I love DC's 'Greatest Stories Ever Told' series. They featured classics of the silver and bronze age of comics. A big reminder of my childhood, they were great money savers on my wallet as well since the originals would be astronomical for me to collect.

The Superboy books were a lot of fun. They were designed for kids. But the adult readers of Superman really took to the series as it offered glimpses into Clark Kent's childhood. As a result, fans started seeing early connections between the Boy of Steel. Fans just couldn't get enough. Over time, just about every adulthood acquaintance that Clark Kent/Superman would encounter. And this book is chock full of them!

Jimmy Olsen. Lori LeMaris. Robin, The Boy Wonder. Supergirl. Green Arrow and Green Lantern as teenaged versions of themselves. Witness Clark Kent, cub reporter in his very first run-in with Perry White. 

There's the classic origin story of how Superboy met a boy genius named Lex Luthor. When a fire breaks out in Lex's lab, Superboy rushes in to save him. As a result of the whole mishap, Lex loses his hair and that's how a personal vendetta against the Man of Steel is born!

This collection boasts a dozen amazing team-ups. I won't spoil all the surprises. But if you are looking for DC Comics Presents #87 in which Superman of Earth-1 meets Superboy Prime for the very first time, I am sorry to disappoint. It's an essential team-up that explains why the Superboy of the New Adventures of Superboy had a different looking set of parents and other confusing things. Probably because of all of the back-story needed is why this quintessential Superboy team-up is missing from the collection. 

Don't worry. I actually have the issue in my collection. IT WASN'T that expensive to obtain.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen: Who Killed Jimmy Olsen?

I read a lot of insane, wacky stuff. I love The Tick, Madman, Deadpool, Harley Quinn, Tales From Bizarro World. Oddball stuff just seems my nature. But I don't think I've ever rad anything so off-the-wall, strange and sometimes down right silly as the 12-issue Jimmy Olsen miniseries from Matt Fraction!

After accidentally destroying a giant lion statue erected by one of Lex Luthor's ancestors, the whole city of Metropolis has it out for Jimmy Olsen. Perry White would fire him if it wasn't for all the revenue generated by Olsen's online reporting. Still, the high ups at the Daily Planet advise Olsen to lay low for a while. So when someone makes a hit on Jimmy's apartment, Superman's pal must fake his own death and go into hiding to find out who did it!

It was Luthor! WE all know it was Luthor, right? 

Actually, Lex Luthor might be trying to keep Jimmy Olsen alive. Now why would he want to do that?

And why did Olsen steal one of the wheels off the Batmobile and it's not even the holiday season? 

And why is the feline Red Lantern Dexx-Starr and his acidic blood vomits involved in all this?

There is so much going on in this story and none of it is in order. It's like Matt Fraction (Hawkeye) decided to make a Quentin Tarantino Superman story. Oh, my God! This book should be Tarantino's final film! It's got nostalgia. It's got mystery. It's kinda noirish but silly. And there's a lot of blood, death and mayhem. 

You don't have to be a fan of the old Jimmy Olsen books from the 50s, 60s and 70s. But it helps! What you do need is to be someone who looks at the world a little askew. Like me! Or Fred Hembeck. This is not a serious Superman story. But it is very much a Superman Family tale told with love.

The only thing I wasn't a fan of were the variant covers by Ben Oliver. I mostly didn't like Jimmy Olsen's face. Oliver makes Superman's pal look like a SAWK (scary-ass white kid. See: Village of the Damned). But the inks, color palette and tributes to the Saturday Evening Post covers of Norman Rockwell were really cool. Though I must warn you- stay away from the cover gallery until you finish the story. The alternate cover for issue #12 is in my opinion a real spoiler to the very end of Fraction's yarn.

Be ready for anything with this one!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Blue Devil #25

For you new to the comic book scene- holiday special issues is a thing. There are a bunch of Christmas books. Halloween comics are growing in popularity. Every once in a while, we get lucky with a Valentines or Thanksgiving book. But I've never seen a St. Patrick's Day themed book until now!

It's St. Patty's day in Metropolis Blue Devil is enjoying some suds at an Irish Pub when a bunch of Leprechauns run amok!  With Superman away, Big Blue must team up with the Man of Steel's best friend, Jimmy Olsen to get behind the rampage! They'll need all the luck of the Irish possible to save the day from this wee folk rampage!

Tons of Fun! I wish I could have waited to read this around St. Paddys. But I was on such a tear with getting through the Blue Devil run and I just couldn't wait. 

Whenever you decide to read this, just be sure to wear green!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars. 

Showcase Presents World's Finest Volume 2

The first volume to collect the Superman/Batman team-ups from the pages of World's Finest had many flaws. Silly plots that repeated frequently. A pesky Lois Lane trying to determine if Clark Kent really is Superman. Aliens. My god, the aliens! Those blemishes, I could overlook. But the one thing I couldn't forgive was that there weren't any Jimmy Olsen stories in that collection!

Volume 2 starts to dip it's toe into the various Robin & Jimmy Olsen Vs. Superman/Batman stories. We only get 2 or 3 such tales. But it's better than nothing!

The inclusion of Jimmy Olsen added a level of complexity to the World's Finest universe. Before the inclusion of Superman's Pal, the Man of Steel and the Caped Crusader would often pass Robin off like a child visiting divorced relatives seemingly every other issue. The Boy Wonder ended up being a major third wheel. Now with Jimmy Olsen, it's like Robin's got a playmate. 

Sadly, my volume ended. But there's a volume 3 and 4. Yes, both are OOP. But I am on the hunt. There's so many great adventures awaiting me. Plus, we start to curve away from the various alien invader capers which work fine for Superman. But Batman just seems out of his element in those sci-fi romps.

Tons of fun that promises to get even better!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Scooby-Doo Team-Up Volume 2

It's like this: I absolutely love Scooby-Doo Team-Up. But I came to the show a little bit late. In fact, I didn't even fully commit to this series until around issue #17. It was then that I wised up and subscribed through my favorite comics shop so I didn't miss an issue.

For one reason or another, this series is on fire. Kids and adults love it. The series is actually more popular than the regular DC kids Scooby comic. SDTU is a monthly issue. Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? is a bi-monthly release.

For this very reason, (plus this is a kids comic book), it is nearly impossible to find back issues of Team-Up. That's why I broke down and finally bought this trade release despite having a couple of the issues in reprinted inside. It was more important to me to get to read all of the issues in this series than getting double-helpings of some tales. In fact, when I reread those issues, I still had a ton of fun reading them!

Along with a costume swapping caper involving Jimmy Olsen as Elastic Lad and Lois Lane as Superwoman, this volume contains the critically acclaimed 2-parter in which the Mystery Inc. gang go back in time to meet the Flintstones and then forward in time to pal around with the Jetsons. 

Writer Sholly Fisch is a master at this genre. And I just love Dario Brizuela's art-style. The characters are superior and his repetitive use of backgrounds and certain characters has grown on me. It's not that he's a lazy artist. Instead, Brizuela is trying to capture the feel of those early morning Hanna-Barbera cartoons of the 60s, 70s and 80s.

Very Much Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Harley Quinn, Volume 3: Welcome to Metropolis

It's just too hot to be in Gotham right now. So Harley and Poison Ivy hightail it to Metropolis! If they're going to make it big in Superman's hometown, they've got to find a place to live, find jobs, and even make friends, like Jimmy Olsen and Bizarro!

Then Harley Quinn finds herself in the hottest water imaginable when she awakes in Hell. It's okay. This isn't a spoiler since the back of the book talks about Harley's final destination. 

A very interesting collection of stories. Many years ago, I saw a Bizarro Harley Quinn action figure and thought to myself that DC will do anything to sell action figures. Little did I know, that the Bizarro-Harley was taken from an actual comic! Okay, maybe this one was a spoiler. But these books are nearly 15 years old now!

Another interesting aspect of this volume is for an early 2000s book there is a frank depiction and defense of homosexuality. It's not something I have a problem with in this book. It's just how bent out of shape people are on social media about gays in comic books nowadays. Even though I wasn't actively collecting or reading comics at the time these Harley Quinn comics were being released new, I really do not recall people losing their minds over the same-sexual content of this series. 

Maybe I missed something. Well, there is one thing I miss- the utter civility of comic book fans, new and old in 2000-2005. 

Another great addition into the Harley Quinn mythos, though I wasn't so fond of the J'onn J'onnz storyline. It just didn't seem to fit. 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Adventures of Supergirl #2

   In this issue, Kara Danvers' co-worker and BFF Winn is arrested at Catco for doxxing; the illicit release of personal data. Once arrested, more incriminating charges are leveled against Winn, including a terrorist bombing in Virginia. Smelling a rat, Supergirl takes matters into her own hands and springs her friend from police custody. 

   Now fugitives, Supergirl and Winn seek the help of a fellow hacker to find out who's framing Winn. Their search uncovers yet another rogue alien named Vril Dox, whose also a living computer. It's Dox's intent of bringing the earth to its knees by taking over the internet. It looks like and open-and-shut case with Supergirl pulling the plug on the alien once the Winn's hacker friend can trace the source of Dox's feed. But with Jimmy Olsen held cyber-hostage by Dox, Supergirl's mission has now become a matter of life and death!

    Issue #2 was just as good as the premier issue of this series and it's been a great filler for this Supergirl fan whose been in major withdrawal of the great freshman series. There're lots of really cool easter eggs dropped throughout this issue, such as Winn's internet call sign is 'Supergirl_in_Action252', a play on the first ever appearance of the Girl of Steel in Action Comics #252. But I've seen from social media that a few fans aren't so happy about the choice of the baddie in this issue.

   Vril Dox is also known as Brainiac. But depending on what reboot of the DC Universe, Vril has either been a hero or as more recently, a villain. Fans of the show were hoping Brainiac was going to appear next season on Supergirl. But with his appearance in this issue, they feel disappointed that it's not going to come to pass. Honestly, I thought the villains Lex Luthor and Brainiac were considered off-limits to the TV shows because of the upcoming Justice League films. So I haven't been expecting Brainy to show up ever on a future episode...

    Two issues and twice I've been very pleased. So much, that I am ready to include it to my wish list. Not only that, but I am also ready to commit to buying it NEW off the shelf monthly! That's saying something because I almost always never pay full price for anything!

   Worth Consuming with another great Cat Staggs cover!

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Bizarro

 Bizarro has arrived on earth. Taking inspiration from a certain flying hero from Metropolis, Bizarro decides to become a superhero as well. But with his skewed ‘up is down- down is up' logic, Bizarro’s heroics has the city in near shambles.

   Taking inspiration from an idea of Clark Kent's, Daily Planet photographer Jimmy Olsen decides to befriend Bizarro in hopes of taking him on a cross-country venture to what would be the would-be hero's new home- Bizarro America (Canada!) And if this results in a best-selling coffee table book, well it's a win-win for Olsen. Along the way, the new pair of ‘Worstest Friends Ever!’ encounter a chupacabra named Colin, a pair of Egyptian themed villains, an actual ghost town, not so secret agents, and much more bizarre insanity that will have Jimmy Olsen rethinking the whole crazy scheme!

  It's really hard to do Bizarro right or is it wrong? See to the quasi-hero, everything is backward. Good is bad. Bad is good. For example, if the car Bizarro was driving in broke down, he would proclaim “This am the best thing to never happen!“

   Only a few writers have ever gotten Bizarro imperfections just right. Creators Otto Binder and George Papp were the closest, with Curt Swan doing an admirable job as well. Series writer Heath Corson did a really great job on not just Bizarro but the whole series. I loved how not only does Corson capture the essence of Bizarro but he takes the character into areas that have never been explored such as having Jimmy and Bizarro switch personas a la a failed magic trick.

Yet after over 60 years none of the writers of Bizarro have ever got him 100% right. Because if everything is backwards to him wouldn't he introduce himself not as “Me am Bizarro” but “Me no am Bizarro” instead? Am I picky? Sure, but I am trying to stay true to the character folks… When something great happens, Bizarro should not respond with 'Awww-some!"

 While the buddy-cop dynamic between Olsen and Bizarro was a laugh a minute riot, they were overshadowed by a bit player. The minute chupacabra Colin dwarfs over the regular sized characters and guest stars that pepper this book. Saying not a word but “hiss,” Colin's body language speaks volumes and he's really funny. That's all thanks to the fantastic cartoonish renderings of artist Gustavo Duarte ( and a slew of guest artists extraordinaire like Kyle Baker, Francis Manapul, and the late Darwyn Cooke.)

   What with DC rebooting the DC Universe this summer and Bizarro to become a member of Red Hood's Outlaws, a sequel probably isn't on the horizon anytime soon. But to forget Colin would be a crime against all of comicdom. I hope we see him paired with Bizarro in the Outlaws book. Colin is that great of a character to be forgotten.

  Worth Consuming

  Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Superman: The Adventures of Nightwing and Flamebird

 

   When the bottle city of Kandor is in trouble and Superman isn't around, the refugee residents of Krypton depend on Nightwing and Flamebird. The Caped Crusaders of Kandor, in reality, Nightwing and Flamebird are scientist Van-Zee and Phantom Zone parole Ak-Var; whom Van-Zee takes under his wing as his lab assistant. But these heroes, according to the book jacket, are NOT the original Nightwing and Flamebird. In fact, Van-Zee and Ak-Var aren't even the second duos to take on the mantle!

    The first Nightwing and Flamebird were Superman and his pal, Jimmy Olsen. They take on the mantle when during a misunderstanding, Superman finds himself a fugitive from the law and in order to find the real culprit takes on the role of Nightwing! (Superman #158, January 1963.) Then about a year later, in an imaginary story, Superman and Lois Lane's sons become the newest heroes of Kandor, when they find dad and Uncle Jimmy's costumes in the hidden Nightcave!

   Yes, Nightwing and Flamebird have a Nightcave, a Nightmobile, and I'm sure they would've had a Night-signal if it was needed as a plot device. Oy, Vey!

   I was really excited to find this book on clearance at my favorite LCS. But this isn't at all what I was expecting. First of all, the image on the cover is from the first appearance of Superman and Olsen as the heroes, which isn't included at all in this volume. Kal-El and Olsen's team do appear in two adventures as reprinted in the pages of Superman Family, but they are later adventures and one of which has them paired with the Van-Zee and Ak-Var Kandorian Dynamic Duo.

   The Adventures of Nightwing and Flamebird were a super hot mess! Though written by the talented Paul Kupperburg, some of these adventures were very jumbled and convoluted. Just how many people is Superman related to in Kandor? Plus, some of these adventures can only fully enjoyed or understood if you read other tales published in the same issue of Superman Family. (Only one story bears a foreword and afterword as to the excitement that took place before and after!)

   And don't get me started on continuity errors! They abound in this book. For example, Van-Zee is married to an earth woman friend of Superman and well as Lois Lane's! Both were married way after Krypton was obliterated. Yet, in one story, they two reflect on their life on the doomed plantet when they were on their honeymoon! Can anyone explain this head scratcher? Or maybe mail me a No Prize? (Ooops, wrong publisher.)

   I love the pre-Crisis Superman. If this volume included the Nightwing and Flamebird tales starring that Superman and that Olsen that I expected were within- I would be a huge fan of this book. But they don't and what little of them that do appear in this book isn't all that memorable. 

    This will not be a keeper in my collection!

   Not Worth Consuming

   Rating: 2 out of 10 stars.

   

Superman Adventures: The Man of Steel

  This digest-sized collection is a time capsule of the amazing Superman Adventures comic based on the cartoon of the same name. Superman Adventures was an indirect spin-off of the Batman Adventures and it lovingly explored that corner of the DC Universe devoted to the Man of Steel. First up are a series of short stories from the little-known Superman/ Batman Magazine. 

   The publication only lasted about 8 issues but the Superman stories contained in the magazine were early sketches of what would be the Superman Adventures cartoon. The artwork was done in the vein of Batman: TAS but it shows that preliminary designs were still underway and reflected the long-haired look that Superman bore after his return from the dead.

   Then 4 stories are reprinted from the Superman Adventures comic. In these tales, Superman is given a blast from the past when Mr. Mxyzptlk brings his beloved childhood pet, Krypto into the present day. Then Clark Kent must juggle his responsibilities as a reporter and the Man of Steel when Perry White gives him a deadline that might cost him his job should he fail to submit his article on the new subway line on time. Then Jimmy Olsen takes the new intern for the Daily Planet under his wing in hopes of showing him the ropes of being a photographer in busy Metropolis. Lastly, are a series of one-page tales that explore the day-to-day activities of the Superman Family. Called '22 Short Stories About Superman' this story was very similar to my all-time favorite Simpsons episode (22 Short Stories About Springfield) and I just loved it.

   Finishing up this awesome little collection is a Justice League Unlimited in which the League must travel to the Phantom Zone to conduct a rescue mission for the Man of Tomorrow from the clutches of General Zod and his Kryptonian army. But is a more sinister presence behind the hostage taking of the Last Son of Krypton?

   Featuring art and stories by a host of amazing talents that are well-known for their work on Superman such as Louise Simonson, Dan Abnett, and others. This book is now a permanent part of my collection but I don't think I will wipe out the books contained in this volume from my wish list. What if something was reprinted? I would hate to miss out on anything!

   Worth every full-price penny I paid for it!

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Showcase Presents: Superman Family, Volume 4

  When I was a little kid, it would be a special treat when my father would bring our his collection of comics from when he was a youngster. Born in 1955, my dad's collection was from the Silver Age of comics. So  most of my introduction into comics were titles from about 1956-1968. That's not a bad tutorial for a kid born in 1977 to have.

   My pop had things like the first appearance of the Barry Allen Flash, the Hal Jordan Green Lantern, and the Black Panther. (I later inherited these gems only to have them stolen by an older high school 'friend.') But my favorite comics were the ones that starred Superman, particularly those adventures that starred members of Superman's Family. Those titles included Superman's best friend Jimmy Olsen and the Man of Steel's best gal, Lois Lane.

    This collection reprints some of those gems from the Olsen and Lane titles. Ranging from 1959-1960, this book includes the first appearance of Jimmy as Giant Turtle Man, the beginning of the Imaginary Tales stories that pondered what would happen if Superman finally married Lois, and numerous cameos from another Superman Family favorite of mine- Supergirl!

    Featuring art from Silver Age legends Curt Swan and Kurt Schaffenberger, these stories are true American treasures. Sadly, just who wrote most of these classics has become lost to time or poor record keeping but you can see the deft handiwork of iconic DC editor, Julius Schwartz. The only thing missing would be a few ape covers because hey- gorillas sell books, kids!

   Besides being an anthology of some of the lesser known Superman titles, this was a time capsule to my childhood. It's been almost exactly 2 years since this title was published and a fifth volume in this series has yet to be issued. I hope DC hasn't given up on this series as there are at least another 10 years worth of stories left to be retold.

  Sometimes hokey, with some archaic views towards women and teens, but never boring, this is great stuff from the Silver Age that's totally Worth Consuming!

  Rating: 9 out of 10 stars

Legends of the DC Universe #14

I've read this story before in another treasury of which I've forgotten. I can remember where I was when I read this yet I cannot remember which book this was in. But that's okay because my memory of how much I loved this story still lingers and it's why I read this one again. If I'm repeating myself from a previous post, please forgive.

The story is set during the Jack Kirby run of Jimmy Olsen. In this story, Olsen uncovers a plot to turn the human race into rampaging monsters. He is assisted by the Guardian and Dubblex to defeat the minions of Darkseid. Meanwhile, the Man of Steel is trying to prove Bruno Mannheim is somehow involved with Intergang. Obviously, the two parties are going to intersect and it's going to out ************** (ah, ah SPOILERS) as being one of Darkseid's underlings!

   The surprise of who really is a bad guy gets me both times I've read this story. I've read my share of Superman stories from his 80 year history in print and I just don't remember this person being bad. So either I've not read that far yet or Mark Evanier decided to do some rebooting. Not sure which.

  Anyways, as I wrap up, I want to applaud the art of Steve Rude. I've seen many an artist attempt to draw in the style of the King but only Rude has ever fooled me into believing that this was some long lost story of Kirby's. Fantastic!

Worth Consuming

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars

Superman Family Adventures #3, (corrected)

 

How I got my hands on 2 issues of Superman Family Adventures is a common story in my blog. I found them at the library. As a fan of Art Baltazar and Franco, I would love to add  their DC titles to my collection. But since they keep turning up at my local library, it allows me to savor them for free and spend my money on other harder to find (at the library) titles.

  In this issue, Superman has bestowed his pal Jimmy Olsen with a special watch that will summon the Superman family in the event of an emergency. Eager to show his classmates that he is indeed buddies with the man of Steel, Jimmy uses the watch to alert the superhero of an assortment of troubles. The only problem, the watch keeps summoning the Super pets!

   Another laugh riot that’s geared for kids but has something adults will enjoy. Like a Disney film, there’s a little something for everyone. Thus, these books by Baltazar and Franco are perfect for parents to read as bedtime stories.

  

Worth Consuming.

 

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Superman Family Adventures #6

The dynamic team of Art Baltazar and Franco has done it again. First it was Tiny Titans- it’s a series that I must confess has turned me into a fan of the Teen Titans. Then the creative dup did this series- Superman Family Adventures. The title is in homage to Superman Family, a series in the 70s that contained original stories and reprints of not just Superman, but him as a boy, his cousin Supergirl, his best bud Jimmy Olsen, and his girlfriend Lois Lane. Sometimes, you get stories starring his myriad of villains, super pets, and friends and family. It was a Superman lover’s dream. And I had he first issue, I might add. It was awesome.

  This all-ages tribute to the Family of Steel captures that classic series perfectly. But instead of everyone starring in their own tales, the entire gang has adventures together. Added to the mix are more current Superman allies such as Steel and his niece Natasha. Also, we’ve got STAR labs and some of schoolyard chums of Kara and Connor Kent. Plus Ma and Pa Kent are alive in the DC Universe at the time of this publication and appear whereas they were both dead in the pre-Crisis 70s.

  The art might be childish but the Easter eggs and stories themselves bolster the all-ages appeal that will make kids and their parents enjoy this series for hours and hours. In this issue, the character of Metallo is introduced as an astronaut who becomes infected by sub-orbital kryptonite. Though he’s big and bad, he’s not as bad as his criminal counter-part in the adult comics. But that’s okay. It’s a forgivable tweak to a characters origin that won’t cause fans when they get older to hate. Plus, it makes for the issue to be more all-age friendly and parents of children wanting to become engrossed in comics will find this story more acceptable.

  It’s a real tragedy that with the coming of the New 52 universe, series like this and Tiny Titans got the heave-ho.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Superman: The Amazing Transformations of Jimmy Olsen

Of all the Superman family comics my dad owned and that I read as a tyke- the Jimmy Olsen’s were the most imaginative, colorful, and fun to read of all!!! Here are 18 classics in vibrant color. This is a true time capsule of the Golden-Silver age of DC Comics.

Very much worth consuming!

Jimmy Olsen: Adventures by Jack Kirby - Volume 2

WORTH CONSUMING!

Much better than Vol. One. I think Kirby found his niche in this one. No stomach turning collages, little of Flippa Dippa to be seen or heard. It is a shame there’s never gonna be a volume 3.

4 out of 5 stars.

Jimmy Olsen: Adventures by Jack Kirby - Volume 1

NOT WORTH CONSUMING

In 1970, Jack Kirby left Marvel and went to work for the enemy, DC Comics. Kirby’s first title at DC: Jimmy Olsen??

Yes, it’s true. Kirby used Olsen to introduce his new characters of Darkseid, Apokolips, and the New Gods, as a spoiler for his new titles due out in early ’71.

Kirby hated to work on established titles and it shows. The plots are loose, the continuity off base, well, you just have to wonder what Kirby was smoking. His collages are enough to make one trip out and puke with the drugs.

His revival of the Newsboy legion is okay, except for the addition of what has got to be one of the most annoying names and characters in all comics “Flippa Dippa”. Why must he always speak in first person?

And a special guest appearance of Don Rickles??

However, little did Kirby know, but his creation of the “Project” and the DN Aliens, helped pave the way for the classic “Death of Superman” story in the early ’90s and help usher in the modern day Superboy.