[Superman Fan Club] Reading 2 May Second Reading May 21st 2020

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For our [Superman Fan Club] second reading in May, let’s again read bits from the beginning, middle and the end of the Silver to Bronze Age available DC Universe library runs within Action Comics, DC Comics Presents, Superman and World’s Finest comics on DCU.

Click here to join the Club: [Superman Fan Club]

I’ve added Silver Age World’s Finest to our reading itinerary here: [Superman Fan Club] Google Sheet Reading Plan

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Beginnings deep in the Silver Age of Superman:

ACTION COMICS (1938-) #267 (August 1960) Action 267 An entertaining “Part 1” of a two-part story of Hercules vs Superman in 1960!…too bad no one has digitized part 2, but still a fun story to read as well as the rest of the comic. Also lots of fun with a first encounter between the original Supergirl with the Legion of Super-Heroes.
(If you want to know what happens in part 2 of Hercules vs. Superman , maybe I’ll post some images in the next week or so from my Superman: The Man of Tomorrow Archives V3…it’s actually the very last story in that volume, and I don’t own Volume 4 (now I’ll be haunted about searching for those other volumes…aaaaaiiiiii)).

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ACTION COMICS (1938-) #284 (January 1962) Action 284 “THE BABE OF STEEL.” Clark Kent has been sent out to do a report on a medium who can contact people from beyond the grave! In “THE STRANGE BODIES OF SUPERGIRL!” Supergirl experiences effects from red Kryptonite by growing an extra head! One does wonder what medicinals the writers were into when this “double header” came out, lol.

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Middle, beginning of the Bronze Age:

WORLD’S FINEST COMICS (1941-) #198 (November 1970) World’s Finest 198 Flash / Superman Race Part 1 Dennis O’Neil, Dick Dillin

SUPERMAN (1939-) #234 (January 1971) Superman 234 The Amazing New Adventures of Superman (of 1971) continue with Dennis O’Neal and Curt Swan presiding! Working for WGBS, Clark Kent is sent to a South Seas island to cover a volcano that’s about to erupt. Second feature: The Fabulous World of Krypton starring Tron-Et, Jor-El, Lara, Ken-Dal, Nali-Ilv, Ed-Ilv, and Jax-Ur.

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SUPERMAN (1939-) #235 (February 1971) Superman 235 The Amazing New Adventures of Superman (of 1971) continue as Superman takes on Ferlin Nyxly, who is surprisingly fast, smart, and strong.

Towards the end of Bronze Excellence of Thrilling enticing Storytelling:

DC Comics Presents (1978-) #1 (July 1978) DC Comics Presents 1 Superman and the Flash find themselves on opposite sides when they become “super bounty hunters.” Written by the recently-departed and missed Martin Pasko! Drawn by the highly-skilled hand of José Luis García López!

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Discussion (with spoilers):

  1. In the Hercules story, is Hercules really the bad guy here? Why or why not?
  2. Would you purchase stories of Baby Superman if it came out today?
  3. Superman 234-235, the stories are all linked together with an interesting backstory slowly playing out during the main adventure of each issue. How compelling for you is the continuing plot of the Sand Superman?
  4. Which “racing” story between Superman and the Flash is your favorite, the 1970 Denny O’Neal one or the 1978 Marty Pasko take? Why?

In two weeks: We continue our three rail train ride through Silver and Bronze Age Superman tales!!

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The late Mr. Pasko certainly packed that issue of DC Comics Presents with every possible sci-fi concept he could fit into those 18 pages. Are we finishing the story next time?

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Yup

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The earlier World’s Finest race with Flash is also a two parter that we’ll finish next time as well.

And yesterday as I was slowly filling up our Google sheet with descriptions of the stories we’re planning to read, I discovered yet one more earlier Flash-related Superman story.

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This is the other racing cover of our club reading this time around. Hard to say which is the better cover to feature…

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Now we know why Supergirl turns evil every other year. People are real jerks to her. Ha Ha, heres some pranks to endanger lives at the fair. Oops, you’re a grown woman for ten minutes, sorry ‘no Legion for you’ try again next year. Hey cousin, live the life of an orphan, and don’t let anybody know we’re related because you might be convenient some day. Don’t blame blondie for losing it occasionally.

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Superbaby says shrinking didn’t effect his mind, but come on Superbaby is got one heck of an attitude, he’s kind of a brat. I did 100% enjoy this story for its goofiness but then it turns cool when it’s Mon-el who sent the message.
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Finally, for my first batch read the O’Neil/Adams story. I’m loving this 70s Superman. This is great stuff. From creepy sand Superman to how Clark ended up a tv anchor. Now, I believe he can pull off the reporter gig because of what he shows this issue. But, the anchor job still seems too much having to work around a broadcast schedule.
Anyway, time to read some more

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Did the second half of the reading, to a little more mixed results. World’s Finest #198 is a big ball of goofiness in which O’Neil seems to be adding new challenges to fill out his page count. But, in the end it’s a lot of fun and an enjoyable read.
Really loved Superman #235. I know I was reading Superman by this point, but have only vague recollections of the individual stories. This story is so good that the idea of someone using an evil stringed instrument to gain superpowers and change themselves into Pan, makes perfect sense. And, our creepy sand Superman. I completely did not see the turn he made coming. Looking forward to seeing where this takes us.
Finally, the one down note. The irony is that the more modern Superman-Flash race is also the most dull. There just wasn’t anything there for me to sink my teeth into. It was fine, but forgettable.
Looking for to the next list.

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Thanks for your observations on the reading, @msgtv . I’m eager to reveal one more “Superman / Flash” adventure perhaps during our next round of reading.

Now to post the [Superman Fan Club] Watchalong. Don’t bring HR to the meeting, lol.

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Well, he’s not a good guy. He becomes over-infatuated the moment a pretty lady shows him any attention and spends the rest of the issue peacocking. And then he threatens violence against the guy actually into.

This man would not be my friend.

Yes! If some right, that could be adorable. :hugs:

I’ve never read this before and I do want to know what happens and where this is all going, so it’s compelling to me.

I guess the first one, but only by a bit. The second one isn’t really a racing story, yet, and I think it’s silly that a race that is desperate to stop a civil war is willing to destroy a whole planet full of people to do it.

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Glad you got some enjoyment this round, @ralphsix and @msgtv ! Looks like we all agree that the early '70s relaunch of the “Amazing NEW Adventures of Superman” is a knockout punch of a great series to read!

Too funny that while the talented Mr. Bendis quietly gets rid of Superman having kids around, we all like Superbaby just fine, and, whatever you do , B Bendis, don’t look when the CW Superman launches in January or so with 2 kids!

Here’s hoping everyone enjoys parts two for the two racing stories along with the third “mystery” Superman / Flash story lurking in the dim past here at the DC Universe digital library!

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The [Superman Fan Club] holds it’s first Watchalong Wednesday night at 9 pm ET / 6 pm PT in the swanky Watch a Long room here.

Then, next Wednesday the 10th we start the first reading for June.

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The next [Superman Fan Club] reading for June is slated to go up later today.

Anyone else have thoughts on the current reading selection, story, art or history / culture?

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Slowly but surely making my way through these stories! :sweat_smile:

  1. In the Hercules story, is Hercules really the bad guy here? Why or why not?

I mean, it’s not like he’s trying to take over the world or do anything truly terrible, he’s just not taking no for an answer for Lois’ affections. Which is…not really good either. You just want to go up to him and be like “Dude, I know Lois is hot, but she’s also a hot mess who is both clingy and stand-offish! Avoid like the plague!”

  1. Would you purchase stories of Baby Superman if it came out today?

I don’t know if I’d throw cash money at one, but it was pretty hilarious seeing stuff like Baby Superman waddling on a Navy aircraft like he owns the place with the other seamen like “WTF is going on?”

Also, I think I noticed this before when I was reading some of the silver age Legion stories, but…is this what these writers actually think babies sound like? Baby Superman sounded more like a half-way bizarro than an actual child. I mean…I guess technically babies are pretty bizarro, but…they just don’t sound like this!

By the way, this also reminded me of these:

  1. Superman 234-235, the stories are all linked together with an interesting backstory slowly playing out during the main adventure of each issue. How compelling for you is the continuing plot of the Sand Superman?

I am liking these stories – it feels like a mix of what I enjoy about silver age wacky concepts, with more bronze age serialization of plot, characterization, and dialogue. These actually feel like proper superhero stories instead of tragedy of comedy farces.

I am curious about what is up with this Sand Superman – I get the feeling that it’s their sort of “get out of jail card” in case readers don’t like this less/more vulnerable take on Superman.

  1. Which “racing” story between Superman and the Flash is your favorite, the 1970 Denny O’Neal one or the 1978 Marty Pasko take? Why?

I think I’d have to go with Denny O’Neil’s story. I mean, it’s hard to beat Denny in terms of comics in this era. Plus I feel like O’Neil’s story just got to the point and had some fun and inventive moments highlighting both characters.

The Pasko story, while having a neat hook at the end for why Superman and The Flash must race, just goes on forever setting up the plot. It would be one thing if these aliens are in anyway interesting but they’re just not. I could feel myself nodding off during reading that issue, and it wasn’t just because it was the last break on my night shift.

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Yeah, the Legion was definitely way too into hazing back then. If they were a college fraternity in the 21st century, they’d be kicked off the campus for sure!

And yeah, let’s not forget her origins of watching Krypton explode. Hell, Silver Age Supergirl’s origin is even worse, as I recall, since she actually watched Argo City slowly become Kryptonite underneath her feet and watched her home slowly die of Kryptonite poisoning. It’s a minor miracle she isn’t just given a Red Lantern ring from the start!

Seeing this message did remind me of something – that Mon-El thing was a neat touch, but I couldn’t notice that at the end, it was eventually closed by Supergirl and Krypto closing the gap in the Phantom Zone with their heat vision. Let’s just forget trying to figure out how heat vision fixes the Phantom Zone by asking: if that’s all you had to do, why not just go up to space and do that yourself? I think he just wanted to mess with people by dressing up as a baby for no reason.

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That Superbaby from Tokyo is something!