The Super Heroes Monthly #3

I remember exactly when I bought this. Earlier this year, I was at my favorite comic shop. I had just finished buying some new release stuff I had ordered when I saw it. The book hadn't been put out yet. It was on top of a pile of things to be bagged, boarded and priced. But from the cover, I was enticed. I had to have it!

The book was actually a magazine from the U.K.. Filled with holiday reprints from DC Comics America, I was fairly certain that I already had copies of all 3 stories. But because of that Bryan Talbot cover and the title's exotic nature, I needed this as part of my Christmas comic book collection.

The cover reminds me of that scene from the beginning of Lethal Weapon where we first meet Mel Gibson character of Riggs... or is it Murtaugh? Anyways, the character is working undercover at a Christmas tree lot trying to weed out drug dealers. With Batman standing over the body of one of Santa's helpers in the middle of a tree lot with guns pointed at the Dark Knight, I feel like this is what would have occurred if the first Lethal Weapon film took place in Gotham instead of L.A..

The 3 tales inside are classics. Batman investigates the appearance of a boat owned by an underworld kingpin and stumbles upon a Christmas Eve theft at a local department store. Paul Levitz pens a tale set a thousand years in the future with Superboy invited to spend Christmas with the Legion of Superheroes. Lastly, Len Wein crafts a murder mystery where the Justice League of America investigate the killing of a man playing Santa Claus. Guest starring John Stewart subbing in for an injured Gal Jordan, the investigation turns into a race against time when the mysterious killer reveals in clues that he's set a bomb somewhere in the United States at the stroke of midnight!

Like I said, I've read all 3 stories before. I don't think I own any of them in their original formats. But over the years I've managed to collect them in reprint form. A fascinating glimpse of British comic books published by DC Comics in 1981. Since nothing over the pond seems to ever be issued first run or even in chronological order, I don't think I could live permanently in the UK and be a comic book collector with any sort of sanity.

A great time capsule. My only problem, it's oversized, like a tabloid,and I don't have a comic book box that will fit it. So where am I going to store it???

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 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.

The Legion: Foundations

I'm not sure why I'm not more of a fan of the Legion of Superheroes. Just about everything I read starring them is top notch stuff. And yet, I will overlook their adventures in lieu of a What If... or an Elseworlds book every time. If I wasn't given this book as a gift, I probably wouldn't have picked it up in a million years. 

This trade collects 6 issues from the 2001-04 DC series. In this book, Superboy returns to the ranks of the Legion. But it's not the Clark Kent Superboy but rather the Conner Kent version. Or is it. 

A strange anomaly that threatens all of reality gives birth to Conner. Even in the year 3003, Darkseid remains. The pure evil ruler of Apokolips has plans on unleashing his Anti-Life Equation on the universe and a time-displaced Superboy is at the center of Darkseid's plan. However, with no less than 2 other members of the Legion having recently betrayed the team, folks have their doubts that this Superboy is legit. But deep down in my heart, I know. This is the real deal... I think.

This volume also includes the main story taken from Legion Secret Files 3003. It's a great introduction to all the members of the Legion. It needed to have been added first to this volume. But that would have spoiled the inclusion of Superboy to the Legion's ranks. Though I don't think it's much of a spoiler as Superboy is right there on the corner- FRONT and mostly CENTER!

This was a great read. Lots of mystery, action and intrigue. I really wouldn't have any qualms reading the 24 issues that take place before this collection as well as the 7 or so issues that precede. But knowing me, I'll probably pass them over for something else on my wish list. I just have other preferred tastes even though this was a wonderful read.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars

Detention Comics #1

I'm heading into my third week of the new school year. In celebration or maybe a moment of blessed relief, I dug through my long boxes to give this back to school special a read.

Detention Comics is comprised of 3 stories starring the Tim Drake Robin, the Connor Kent Superboy and Guy Gardner during his stint as Warrior. For a 1996 one-shot, it's not quite your typical DC stuff. All three stories are more morality plays than gritty action adventures that have been dosed with too much testosterone. In fact, in the Superboy story, not a single punch, kick or threat is heaved in the entire thing! But let's start with Robin, since his was the opening story.

A schoolmate of Tim Drake's is being bullied- by his overbearing mother! Constantly cut from team after team, the teen finally snaps and decides to get payback against the family of the high school's head coach.

With Superboy, he's on the beaches of Hawaii trying to impress some coeds when truant officer Mack Harlin arrives to spoil the fun. It appears to be a battle of brains versus brawn. But then all bets are off when Harlin wins over the babes with his recitation of Shakespeare's sonnets.

Lastly, former teacher, Guy Gardner has been called into his former high school stomping grounds to evaluate whether the troubled institute should remain open or be turned into a mini mall. In a remake of The Substitute, which was also from '96, Guy plays the role of Tom Berenger when a trio of metahuman teens seeks revenge on a brilliant student while setting the school ablaze!

Okay, that last story sounds a little like a typical 1990s DC Comics story. But it was so full of cliches and really preachy. It read like some of the Teen Titans stuff from the 1960s and 70s in terms that whomever wrote it (Ruben Diaz, Martian Manhunter: American Secrets) didn't know how to relate to teenagers. Plus, as a teacher myself, I don't appreciate stories that paint schools as dead end hell holes. True, there's a couple of schools in the area that I don't think you could pay me enough money to teach at. But I don't think of them as helpless cases either.

The Robin story was the best of the bunch. It's interesting, and maybe even a little odd, to read a tale from Drake's early days in which he's so unprepared. I've always thought of Tim Drake as the ultimate Robin. Yet, here, he's a floundering duckling without Batman or Alfred to back him up. 

As for the Superboy story... Geez, was he really that corny back then? I'm used to a less assured Connor Kent who seems to feel out of place being a clone and also a half-Luthor clone at that. 

Oh, and having Guy Gardner turned into some sort of mutating alien arsenal. That's pretty odd. I'm glad that plot idea was retconned. Please, somebody tell that was retconned?!

For a themed one-shot, I was entertained. However, the book wasn't written for youths. And if it was, the writers, with the exception of Denny O'Neill (Detective Comics) don't seem able to write for younger audiences. I loved the logo of this one-shot. The homage to the classic Detective Comics logo done as a chalkboard was eye-catching. It obviously did it's job as it was a big part of what enticed me to buy this book.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

The New Adventures of Superboy #39

The Kents have a visitor for the holidays. A fellow classmate of Clark's is having to stay with Jonathan and Martha as the lad's parents are traveling without him. This puts the student in a foul mood. In response, Clark decides to become Superboy and show him an alternate earth that doesn't celebrate Christmas. 

The planet Superboy travels to is a polluted, war torn mess. Townsfolk prey upon the meek- such as this earth's Clark Kent! Can Superboy and his classmate restore the Christmas spirit to this world's Smallville. Or is peace on earth completely doomed?

I enjoyed a large chunk of this story. I wonder if a return story was ever done to this multiverse realm. I liked the twist ending. But as much as I am a fan of Paul Kupperberg, I have one issue with this story. Why is Clark Kent on this troubled earth such a weenie? Why isn't he super-powered? Is the sun for this planet the wrong color and thus Clark can't become Superboy? This oversight is really overlooked. Thus another reason why I feel that there's was more to this world than what was published in this tiny issue.

I wasn't such a fan of the secondary story. It was another chapter in the Dial H for Hero saga. I always liked the creativity of this story. But so much plot was wasted on a bus accident that if it was scraped, we wouldn't have had to deal with a stinking cliffhanger. 

An unusual type of festive story. But once again, there's a story included that doesn't give me closure. At least it wasn't the cover story that enticed me to buy this one.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Superman Vs. Zod

This volume collects some but not all of the appearances of General Zod. However, he's such a non-player in many of these stories, that DC really shouldn't list Zod on the title of this book. He's not even in the first story included here! Instead, the book should be called Superman: Adventures in the Phantom Zone. 

The first story is from a 1961 Superboy story. It introduces the concept of the phantom zone projector which will become a staple of many Superman family related tales. 

Zod appears in a couple of stories from the late 70s. But the star of that two-parter is a female Kryptonian named Faora-Ul. She's a precursor to Ursa, Zod's right hand man, er woman, from Superman II. I'm wondering why this character got a new name/identity in the movies? Copyright payments to the creating artist, maybe?

Zod and Faora return for another 2-parter set right around the end of the Pre-Crisis era. Zod's got a slightly bigger role. But really, this episode from DC Comics Presents is more about Jor-El and the creation of the phantom zone projector than about the evils of Zod's military attempted coup. 

We don't really see Zod in all his soldierly glory until the last story. It tells of the Science Council's cover-up of the impending destruction of Krypton. Plus it calls the Ursa character Ursa. And there's the tragic character of Non finally!

This all leads up to a big question: why were the leaders of Krypton so eager to deny that the planet was about to explode? Has the reasons for their conspiracy ever been explored? And if so, where can I read this tale?

This was a very good collection of Superman stories. But it offered more questions than answers. Plus, it really doesn't feature Zod enough to be a Zod book. I am wondering if this is why I was able to find a copy of this book at Ollie's for only $2!

Enjoyable but definitely nowhere near anything you'd expect from that dynamic cover pitting the last son's of Krypton in mortal combat.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

. 

Young Justice, Volume 1 (Family Comic Friday)

     Last November, it was announced that acclaimed Cartoon Network series Young Justice would finally be getting a third season after a massive write-in campaign on Facebook. It has been 3 years since the show went off the air abruptly. Lots of fans were highly disappointed in the cancellation I was one of those fans. I was also one of those fans who demanded more of that awesome series.

     I'm not really sure why Cartoon Network cancelled the show. It had strong ratings, critics loved it, and DVD sales of seasons 1 and 2 were very strong. One thing that the show didn't have much of a following in was readership of the comic book tie-in.

     Recently, I found a trade paper back edition of the first few issues of the series. I was totally blown away by it. Briefly, the book gives a kind of overhead that's just like the series. How the team of Robin, Aqualad, and Kid Flash got together with the niece of the Martian Manhunter and a clone of Superman from Cadmus, a research facility of questionable means is taken straight from Cartoon Network. 
     After the intros, the book follows the plot of the series but ventures off unto it's own after that. The Young Justice team are used as a covert strike force by the Justice League. Their main enemy are the secret villains of the League of Shadows. Plus, Superboy seeks both his place in this world and Superman's acceptance. It's great stuff full of action, twists, and turns.

     Anybody wanna guess who the writing talents are behind this amazing series based on the equally amazing series of the same name? Why it's Art Baltazar and Franco of Tiny Titans fame. The artwork is just as breathtaking. The combined efforts of Christopher Jones (Batman '66) and Mike Norton (Hack/Slash) looks so much like the characters of the series. Overall, this was the right group to chronicle the paper adventures of Young Justice.

     This series has been out of circulation since 2013. So why am I reviewing their efforts now? Well, with Young Justice 3 just in the development stage, the hype for the comics is very low. But that's not going to be for long. Copies of this book can be found in bargain bins for a dollar or less. But, that's not the case on Amazon. 3 of the 4 trades that collect this series are being listed for prices of anywhere $20-$100+!

      I'm telling you folks, this series is going to get hot quick! When your children fall in love with the new series and you can't find these comics, don't come crying to me! You've been warned!

      Young Justice is not an all-ages book but it is family friendly. Readers aged 10- up will delight in these adventures. You just have to find them and for a collector like me, that's half of the fun!

    Worth Consuming

     Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.
      

The Superman Story

   The Man of Steel takes the people of Metropolis on a tour of the newest Superman Exhibit. From his earliest days of Krypton to becoming Superboy in Smallville and rising to become the Man of Tomorrow around the world, almost every secret of Superman's is revealed. Unbeknownst to the Last Son Of Krypton, the exhibit is secretly a trap designed by one of his most deadliest foes and should one single member of the tour escape, the entire building will come crashing down taking all of the city with it.

   Originally published in 1978, this pocket-sized paperback graphic novel was intended as a primer for folks to use before going to see the Superman movie directed by Richard Donner. As much as I love the Christopher Reeve Superman and the pre-Crisis Man of Steel, I forgot how much of a bummer the 1970s Superman had become.

   Prior to the movie, both sets of parents to Superman were dead, he was no longer working as a reporter for the Daily Planet, and years of exposure to Kryptonite had started to rob him of not only his powers but his memories as well. In a modern world, the Man of Tomorrow was just too much and DC decided to knock him down a peg or two- and it sucked; the only bright spot being Jack Kirby's brief run on Jimmy Olsen during this period.

   Thankfully, despite giving Superman the ability to go back in time and to give people super-amnesia through his powerful kissing prowess, the Donner films returned the Man of Steel back to some semblance of the Superman I feel in love with through reading my dad's old comics. Oddly enough, the New-52 Superman is more exciting than the 70s comics version.  This isn't the Man of Steel- more like the Man of Aluminum Foil! 

    This was an okay read but it's not Untold Story of the Dark Knight (the Batman companion piece to this book.) Usually, I muddle through and put even a poor Superman book into my collection for permanent keeping. Not this time! The Superman Story is going right back where I found it- the used bookstore in Greensboro.

   Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

Superboy And The Legion of Super-Heroes

  This pocket-sized paperback from 1977 reprints 4 Superboy & Legion of Superheroes tales. The first tale is a straight-on Superboy story from the mid-70s, in which the superpowered youth discovers a capsule containing the bodies of his Kryptonian parents Jor-El and Lara. However, Superboy cannot rescue them as their vessel is encrusted with deadly Kryptonite. Added to the danger, a rogue scientist from Kal-El's birthplace has rigged nearby asteroids to exploded should Superboy use his powers. You know, for  doomed planet in which Superman was originally the only survivor, a whole lot of Kryptonians slipped through the cracks of that tragedy!

   The next story is taken from the late sixties. It Involves Superboy bringing his girlfriend Lana Lang with him to the future to meet the Legion of Superheroes. Lana at this time had a way to become a superhero called the Insect Queen and it's her hope that the Legion will make her a member. But when it is discovered that her powers are not natural, they reject her. Can she convince them that she has what is takes or will a prophecy from a Legionnaire with clairvoyant powers spell Lana Lang's doom?

   Story #3 stars only the Legion. Saturn Girl ana Princess Projecta are called upon to recapture a dangerous fugitive. When the villain escapes them, he also causes the heroes to pass out. When revived, none of their fellow Legion seem to know who they are and treat them as villains. Even more mysterious are two new Legionnaires named Saturn Lad and Prince Projecto! Are these male counterparts behind the Princess and Saturn Girl's mistaken identity or is there a more sinister plot lurking in the background?

   Lastly, in perhaps the best story of the four, is a tale that spans the past, present, and future. In medieval England, Superboy battles a wizard who seeks to use a powerful stone to kill Superboy and then conquer the world. After Superboy defeats the mage, he throws the rock into the stratosphere where it goes into orbit for two thousand years. The rock winds up in the hands of the Legionnaire Chameleon Boy. Possessed by the stone, Cam is compelled to complete the wizard's goal of killing the Boy of Steel as he travels to 1970s Smallville to finish the job!

    The second and last story were really any good. They were entertaining, fun, and didn't seem to treat the reader like they were stupid. The first adventure ended in such a way that the reader is lead to beleive that none of it even happened. And the ending to the tale with the forgotten Legionnaires was such a cop-out and it had a really stupid solution to it. I was not impressed!

   This reprint collection is rare and by many collectors, it's considered a holy grail. Actually, any pocket-sized treasury like this from DC or Marvel is held in high regard amongst collectors and fans of Silver and Bronze Age comics., I being one of them! But, they look nowhere near what they originally did when they hit newsstands. This type of  book is reprinted in black and white, edited down in order to fit the smaller format, and they rarely give credit to the writers, artists, and editors behind these vintage yarns.

     Yet, those same collectors who adore these collections often tend to hate their modern counterparts (DC Showcase Presents and Marvel Essentials!) This is ridiculous. Both vintage and modern collections are in black and white. Both don't always give credit where it is due and both are edited for format reasons. Yet, the modern collections only remove ads, letter pages, and stories that don't star the theme character. Plus, the modern books boast bigger pages and for only $20 you get about 25 stories in DC Showcase and Essentials!

  So why all the hate? I love both versions of the reprints and I REALLY love the modern treasuries as they are a darn good deal. I think a blindness to nostalgia is behind the hatred.

   If you are looking to get a bunch of reprints for a good price search out Essentials and DC Showcase. I'm not trying to dissuade you from books such as this one that I am reviewing. But due to rarity, they are often very expensive and since they are scarce, they are really hard to find unless you are willing to look and look.

   Collections like these are beautiful discoveries when you can locate them. And like everything beautiful, it's in the eye of the beholder. But this is one of the weaker collections I have been fortunate to come across in my nearly 40 years of comic collecting.

   Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

Superman Family Adventures #8

   

   A few months ago I was able to check out several issues from this dynamic all-ages series devoted to the Family of Steel. I had found issues 7-12 but somehow overlooked this issue. Was it checked out or just misshelved? I'm not sure, but it did provide cause for quite a bit of confusion.
 
    Between issues 7 and 9, it was somehow revealed that A) Brainiac was behind a plot to overthrow the earth and B) Kara, the mother of Superman had survived the destruction of Krypton! The Brainiac revelation wasn't such a shock, as his emblem of 3 connected dots had been popping up since issue #1. But having Superman's mother be in fact alive was a big shock to me.

   How did this happened? And did this also occur in the pre-New 52 DC Universe?

   Well, I can't answer the second question but I can say- Oh who am I kidding? It's a major spoiler. You'll just have to read it for yourself.

    But at least I got my answer- finally.

  Worth Consuming

  Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Superman Family Adventures #7

   

   I went a little bonkers at the library last week. They had several issues of Superman Family Adventures in library binding and I couldn't resist. I love the work of Baltazar and Franco and anytime I can get my hands on some new stuff, I jump.

   As I have mentioned before, these comics are intended for kids. But that's okay because Baltazar and Franco realize this. They also understand that parents will be reading these to their kids and so they include really great Easter eggs that only the adults enjoy.

  For starters, I read issue #7. In this issue, the Toyman sets his sights on the younger members of the Superman Family who've invited their friends Beat Boy and Starfire to the Fortress of Solitude for a Kryptonian Tooth Fairy party. Toyman is up to his usual bag of tricks decking out some sweet Justice League action figures to attack the superheroes. There are some really cool cameos, but I would have to say my favorite was udders down, Batcow!

This is another gem in the DC Kids treasury. Lots of fun for parents and kids to both enjoy. There's also a fun "What's Robot Bug Saying?" deciphering game through the book, plus a glossary, and some review questions that are great exercises for kids who might be interested in creative writing.

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 Secret Years #4 (of 4),

Well, the joy couldn’t last. Once again, Superboy is down in the dumps. First his arch-enemy escaped Juvenile, then his roommate was paralyzed from the waist down after drunk driving, then his girlfriend turned out to be a mermaid who went back to live with her people. To top things off, Superboy’s best friend died in a fiery accident and the Boy of Steel was just seconds too late to save him.

 

In order to ease his pains, Superboy goes off to live with the survivors of the Bermuda Triangle, who were discovered to have found paradise in a parallel universe a couple of issues ago. With Superboy gone, all hell has broken loose as Lex Luthor has taken control of the USA’s nuclear arsenal and will destroy earth, unless the Boy of Steel agrees to die at Chrome Dome’s hands.

How will this work? Well, let’s just say that Luthor’s come up with a way to steal Superboy’s powers and thus if and when Superboy ever answers Luthor’s challenge it’s going to be an uneven fight in the opposite direction.

The biggest conflict in this issue isn’t if Superboy will defeat Luthor but will he be reached in time to keep earth from being vaporized. Remember, Superboy is on a parallel earth and despite super-hearing can’t hear Luthor’s global communiqué. Thankfully Superboy created a sort of dog-whistle and pre-cursor to Jimmy Olsen’s signal watch in order to give to his best friend in case of emergency and we all know how that turned out.

Perry White in his pre-editorial days at the Daily Planet plays a major part in this conclusion to the Secret Years. 'Where’s Superboy?' has become the leading headline and solving this question could earn the reporter who breaks that story a Pulitzer- and editorship of the Planet. I’m just glad White was around to offer some sage fatherly advice that Clark Kent has sorely been missing in this mini-series. So, all-in-all, I was very happy with how this series ended.

Lastly, I want to talk about the cover art. It features a pre-Dark Knight Returns Frank Miller. I’ve really enjoyed these covers. But, this one of Superman in a very patriotic pose is one of my favorites. It’s classic Superman!

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars (Overall series rating: 8.75)

Superman: The Secret Years #3 (of 4)

Things seem to be looking up for Clark Kent. Even though Luthor is on the loose, Kent has a new girlfriend, and new best friend, and he’s discovered the secret of the Bermuda Triangle. Things couldn’t be better!

But on the night Lori Lemaris is set to return to her people, a dam bursts in the Western US and Superboy must do the right thing and save the day. Only as he’s set to return to Metropolis, his new best friend is trapped in a raging inferno. I think you see where this is going…

Will the Boy of Steel be able to save his friend before it’s too late?

A great third chapter in the Secret Years of Superboy. I like a happy Clark Kent a lot better than one who wallows in self-pity. The art is classic and clean and like I mentioned earlier, the dialogue scripting is fantastic.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Superman: The Secret Years #2 (of 4)

 With the drunk driving accident of one of his roommates, Clark Kent feels responsible that he wasn’t able to save his friend from becoming paralyzed. Down in the dumps, the Boy of Steel tries to take his mind off of things while searching for a number of planes and boats that have disappeared recently in the Bermuda Triangle.

But life seems to want to get in the way. Lex Luthor has escaped- AGAIN! A mysterious young co-ed in a wheelchair literally falls into Kent’s lap and steals his heat. And a freshman to Metropolis U appears on Clark’s doorstep, claiming to be from his hometown, desperate to become his best friend. Aside from a case of hero worship, it turns out Clark has no idea who this kid is.

This second chapter in the untold years of Superboy’s life right before becoming Superman was very well done. The story paid an excellent tribute to the golden age of comics with the appearance of Lori Lemaris. Also, the scripting is superb when it comes to Clark Kent interacting with his roommates and classmates around campus. What is annoying is Superboy’s self-deprecating inside voice. I like my Superboy/man to be confident. I guess it’s needing in order for the super hero to eventually grow up but I just don’t prefer a whiny and uneasy Clark Kent. I think that’s why I liked it when after the Crisis, DC brought back the Kents instead of having them die right after Clark graduates high school.

True, Clark has his moments of self-doubt in the Post-Crisis comics. But, he’s got Ma and Pa Kent to help center him. That sort of sage advice is sorely lacking for Superboy in this series.

Aside from that, the series is pretty good and it’s growing into a hidden treasure in my vast comic book collection.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Superman: The Secret Years #1 (of 4)

Sometime in the late 70s and early 80s, a series of short stories were published in the back of certain Superman themed comics that told of Clark Kent’s days at Metropolis U. The series only lasted a couple of years with about a dozen tales total. The writers of the series desperately wanted to continue telling some untold tales of Superboy as he was growing into the Man of Steel. But for various reasons, the project never manifested. Now, it’s 1985 and with the history erasing Crisis on Infinite Earth’s quickly approaching, it was do or die time to conclude the early days of Clark Kent.

  In this first issue, Clark is still Superboy and is asked by Kansas officials to help recapture Lex Luthor, who has escaped from a juvenile detention facility. While searching for Luthor in his spare time, Clark Kent must come to terms being the only boy out of a group of 4 dorm mates without living parents. Also, one of his roomies is succumbing to alcoholism. When Luthor finally makes his plans known, it’s up to Superboy to save Metropolis from the fiend’s criminal intentions. Sadly, it’s a decision and action that may cost Kent the life of his roommate.

   I enjoyed this tale, but in this first chapter, I really didn’t know what was going on. I had never read any of the college years tales of Clark Kent before. In fact, my little spiel at the beginning of this review was all comic book history that I didn’t learn until a “Letter from the Editor” article at the end of this issue. Now that I know more of the background of Superman: The Secret Years, I think the rest of this miniseries will be more enjoyable.

  Worth Consuming.

  Rating: 8 out of 10 stars

Superman Family Adventures #1

Superman Family Adventures #1

The team of Baltazar/ Franco has done it again. First it was Tiny Titans, then Billy Batson and the Magic of Shazam!, and now they bring you Superman Family Adventures. This first issue has Superman and his cousin Supergirl and clone Superboy fighting against some mysterious robots that share the color scheme of a certain bald super-villain. Along with Krypto and Lois Lane, the Superman Family must save Metropolis before the robots destroy the entire town!

Superman Family is geared toward kids but adults will enjoy it too! It’s like the comic book equivalent of a Disney film- there’s something for all ages without seeming too childish or too adult! I loved it.

I happened to have read a teacher’s edition of this book as the back 6 or so pages were filled with vocabulary words, discussion questions, and other fun learning activities. Using comic books to educate? I’, all on board for that. Too bad we didn’t have this when I was growing up.

Worth Consuming.

Rating 10 out of 10 stars.