According to the Superman Homepage, http://supermanhomepage.com/, Lucy Lane's accepted birthday is July 25. She is Lois Lane's younger sister. Lucy first appeared in Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #36, April 1959. In the silver age of comics, Lois and Lucy's parents were Sam and Ella Lane of Pittsdale. In the post Crisis Superman continuity, the Lane sister's parents were known as Sam and Elinore Lane. Readers of the recent New Krypton storyline know that the post-Crisis Sam Lane was a general in the U. S. Army.
During the golden age, Lois had a neice whose name was Susie Thompkins, who vexed Superman almost as much as Mr. Mxyzptlk. During the silver age Susie's mother was ret-conned as Lois' married sister Lucy Lane Thompkins. living on Earth-2.
The silver age, or Earth-1 Lucy Lane was an airline stewardess. She dated Jimmy Olsen off and on during the silver age.
When John Byrne rebooted Superman continuity in the mini-series Man Of Steel, Lucy remained a stewardess. In issue five of the mini-series, which featured the origin of the first post-Crisis Bizarro, Lucy had been blinded during a hijacking attempt. Her vision was restored when this first Bizarro was disintegrated in a mid-air collision with Superman. This story reprised the original Bizarro story from the 1950's, in a Superboy story.
Lucy briefly dated Jimmy Olsen, but eventually began dating the young Daily Planet reporter, African-American Ron Troupe. They would marry and hava a child. Over time the family disappeared from Superman stories. General Lane supposedly died protecting the White House during the Our Worlds At War storyline. At the beginning of the recently concluded New Krypton storyline, it was revealed that Lucy had joined the Army in honor of her late father. Her relationship with older sister Lois was strained. What happened with Lucy's relationship with Ron, and their child, was unknown.
During the New Krypton plotline, it was revealed that Lucy had become the new Superwoman, in a costume similar to the one worn by the original, silver age Superwoman. Supergirl Annual #1 revealed the origin of Lucy's transformation into Superwoman, with the unique properties of her costume. In a battle against Supergirl, Lucy's suit was ripped, causing her powers to overload and explode. In Supergirl #50 it was revealed that Lucy was somehow resurrected, and apparently still operated as Superwoman. Her fate after the conclusion of the New Krypton story is unknown.
This has been a very brief summary of Lucy Lane's history. The rest of this episode will feature her earliest appearances, beginning with her first. Lucy Lane first appeared in the second story of Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #36, April 1959, titled simply Lois Lane's Sister. The story was written by Otto Binder, pencilled by Curt Swan and inked by Stan Kaye. It has been reprinted in Showcase Presents: Superman Family vol. III. Unfortunately for me, I only have the first volume. For the plot summaries of the stories cited in this episode I used Mike's Amazing World Of DC Comics at http://dcindexes.com/.
One day Jimmy Olsen meets Lois Lane's sister Lucy, who is a blonde. He is immediately smitten with her and asked Lucy for a date. She agreed, but wasn't impressed with Jimmy. As a stewardess, Lucy soon went back to work ar her airline. Probably with a touch of jealousy, Jimmy was afraid Lucy would fall in love with someone else. So he bought a ticket for the same flight. Jimmy kept Lucy from accepting dates with two passengers, with help from Superman. Lucy was impressed by the trouble Jimmy had gone for her, and agreed to continue to date him. but when Jimmy proposed to her, Lucy declined. She refused to get married until her older sister Lois did. And so Jimmy's long wait began.
In real life today, I don't know if the modern woman would be impressed or creeped out, but this was typical of the silver age stories under the editorial control of Mort Weisinger.
Jimmy and Lucy did eventually marry, if only in an imaginary story, Superman Red And Superman Blue, which was published in Superman #162, July 1963. It was written by Leo Dorfman and pencilled by Curt Swan. After Superman was split into twins after a kryptonite experiment backfired, Lois and Lana marry their own Superman. At the ceremony, Jimmy and Lucy were members of the wedding party, and on the spur of the moment agreed to marry, and made it a triple ceremony. This story was reprinted in The Greatest Superman Stories Ever Told, DC's Greatest Imaginary Stories and Showcase Presents: Superman vol. IV.
Subsequent stories chronicled the ups and downs of the relationship between Lucy and Jimmy.
The Most Hated Girl In Metropolis
Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane #9, May 1959
Lucy brought sister Lois to Hollywood, after the Daily Planet reproter was shunned by her fellow staffers when an old story she had written but never filed was published, saying that Clark Kent was Superman. Lois was a surprise guest on the classic TV show This Is Your Life, which was an actual, long-running TV show. The article was a hoax to get Lois to go to Hollywood so she could appear on the show (with friends like these ...). The most bizarre part of the story was when Superman used an amnesiac man to stand in for Clark Kent so that both could appear on stage with Lois. Another typical Mort Weisinger edited story.
The Jimmy Olsen Signal Watch
Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #38, July 1959
Jimmy gave Lucy a signal watch, so that she could alert him anytime she needed his help. Afterward Jimmy showed his fan club the different costumes he wore during his many adventures. Each time Lucy needed Jimmy he showed up in a different costume. Finally too embarrassed to tolerate it any more, Lucy returned the signal watch to Jimmy.
Jimmy Olsen's Wedding (same issue)
Jimmy broke a date with Lucy to go to the dentist. He fell asleep in the dentist chair and dreamed about marrying Lucy. In the dream Lucy was jealous of Jimmy's friendship with Superman, and made him choose between her and the Man of Steel. Jimmy chose Lucy and they got married. Their marriage was fairly happy. They had a son, Jimmy, Jr., who would become a friend with Superman like his father did. Lucy ended her jealousy of the Man of Steel when he saved the family. After the dental visit was over, Lucy asked Jimmy for a date, but he was hesitant. I wonder why?
Alias Chip O'Toole
Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #49, December 1960
Lucy was starstruck by singer Chip OToole. Jimmy was a little jealous and disguised himself as O'Toole. He took Lucy out on a date, and she fawned over him. Later, Jimmy took Lucy out on a date as himself, and she acted cold toward him. Superman exposed Jimmy's disguise, and Lucy revealed that she saw through his disguise and wanted to teach him a lesson. Well played, Lucy, well played.
The Girl With The Green Hair
Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #51, March 1961
Supergirl disguised herself as Ka Ra, a green haired woman from another world (years before Marvel's She-Hulk). She pretended to fall in love with Jimmy to make Lucy jealous, and her plan works. Jimmy is unaware of Ka Ra's real identity when he dates her, but eventually decides to stay with Lucy. (I have to wonder why Lucy would want Jimmy back.) Ka Ra "leaves" to return to her home planet. Lucy found a Ka-Ra robot a professor built as a gift (for Jimmy?) and believes Jimmy tricked her. So Jimmy lost both girls. Thanks, Supergirl, for nothing.
The Boy In The Bottle
Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #53, June 1961
Jimmy exchanges places with Kandorian Van-Zee, who assisted Superman with an experiment. The machinery that allowed the two men to switch places malfunctioned, so Jimmy was stuck in the bottle city of Kandor. Using Kandor's monitors, I assume, Jimmy was able to observe Lucy with other guys, and becomes depressed. A Kandorian scientist removed Jimmy's memories of her to relieve his depression, before Superman was finally able to repair the machine and return Jimmy to full size. Jimmy still did not remember Lucy, however. She was intrigued by his new indifference; maybe she believed he was playing hard to get. Superman restored Jimmy's memories and his relationship with Lucy returned to normal, which bored her. Just another typical Mort Weisinger edited story.
Baby Jimmy Olsen
Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #54 July 1961
Jimmy was disappointed that Lucy thought he was too young. So of course he drank Professor Potter's growth serum. But apparently it was past its expiration date, so Jimmy regresses to a toddler as a result. It seemed that he retained his adult intellect even though he could not talk. So he dressed as Superbaby and visited the Daily Planet offices in search of a cure. (I wonder why he didn't search the Professor's lab, but then if he did we wouldn't have had a story.) He failed, and made his way to Lois Lane's apartment. Lois assumed he was an orphan and took him in. Little Jimmy immediately showed affection for Lucy. Somehow he exposed her date as a gangster. The crook locked Jimmy in a room, from where Jimmy summoned Superman (perhaps with his signal watch). Superman helped Jimmy fake superpowers and made the girls and the gangster beleive he was the real Superbaby. After Jimmy defeated the gangster, Sueprman gave him the antidote.
The Battle Of The Sisters
Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane #27, August 1961
Lois became jealous of her sister when Superman appeared to romance sister Lucy. Jimmy wasn't happy either, when it seemed that his best friend was putting the moves on his girlfriend. Superman proposed to Lucy, but she surprisingly declined. Lois learned that it wasn't the real Superman, but Kandorian Bor-Jak. He had switched places with the Man of Steel during another experiment and had fallen in love with Earth, and Lucy in particular. Lucy had turned him down because she did not want to move to Kandor. Bor-Jak returned to Kandor and Superman returned to full size on Earth.
Lois Lane - Gun Moll
Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane #28, October 1961
A visitor brought a device to the Daily Planet offices, claiming that he could make people's evil tendencies become dominant. Lois was the only one who agreed to test the device on herself, showing her dominant impulsive tendencies. She soon became very rude. After Lucy discovered her role in a robbery, Lois kidnapped her sister. But Superman rescued Lucy, while Lois revealed that she was engaged to Lex Luthor. After a public wedding, they escaped to Luthor's hideout. Superman discovered the lair and melted Lois with his heat vision. It wasn't the real Lois, but a robot. The Man of Steel found the real Lois, kidnapped by Luthor, who Superman returned to prison.
Jimmy Olsen's Sweethearts
Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #56, October 1961
Lucy stood up Jimmy on a date in Hollywood, so Jimmy decided to make her jealous (a favorite Mort Weisinger plot). Jimmy was seen dating Marilyn Monroe, Tuesday Weld, Gina Lollabrigida, Brigette Bardot and Jaynse Mansfield. The plan worked, as a jealous Lucy confronted Jimmy. He revealed that the girls were members of a look alike club, and he was doing a story about them. As expected, Lucy stormed out.
Don't worry, I won't end this podcast on such a down note.
Jimmy Olsen, Freak
Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #59, March 1962
A girl from another planet arrived on Earth and met Jimmy, who seemed to be a chic magnet for other-worldly girls.She gave him a belt which allowed him to have super powers. Jimmy found out that on her home world she has four other husbands, and so he wanted to back out. Superman helped his friend trick her to believe that Jimmy had two wives already, and she returned to her home planet alone. Lucy wanted to date Jimmy again after seeing him with another beautiful woman.
This was a bizarre story, even for the silver age. Playing tricks on people was a staple of editor Mort Weisinger. But at least we end this episode with Jimmy and Lucy back together.
Next episode: An Imaginary Summer 2010, Part II: Waverider And The Adventures Of Superman Annual #3, 1991!
Join the Superman Fan Podcast and My Pull List groups on facebook, and follow the podcast and blogs on twitter @supermanpodcast.
Superman Fan Podcast is a proud member of the League Of Comic Book Podcasters at http://www.comicbooknoise.com/league and the Comics Podcast Network!http://www.comicspodcasts.com/.
Superman Fan Podcast is at http://supermanfanpodcast.mypodcast.com/ . Send e-mail about this podcast to supermanfanpodcast@gmail.com.
My Pull List is my spoiler free comic book review blog of the titles I read every week. It can be found at http://mypulllist.blogspot.com/. Send e-mail about this blog to mypulllist@gmail.com.
Superman and all related characters are trademark and copyright DC Comics.
Thanks for listening to the Superman Fan Podcast and, as always, thanks to Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Episode #135: An Imaginary Summer, 2010: Waverider & SUPERMAN ANNUAL #2, 1991!
This summer will continue a tradition begun last year and feature some of the imaginary stories in Superman comics. For the first few episodes the featured stories will be the Superman Annuals from 1991. They were tie-ins, along with all of the other Annuals for the rest of DC's titles, with the two issue event mini-series Armageddon 2001. The first issue, cover dated May 1991, was published on March 12, 1991. It contained 64 pages sold for $2.00. It was written by Archie Goodwin and drawn by Dan Jurgens. They created the character that tied into all of the Annuals, Waverider.
He was originally Matthew Ryder. As a young boy he was saved from a collapsing building by a superhero that he does not remember the identity of. Sometime during his childhood one of the DC superheroes decided to establish order in society, killed all of the other heroes, and ruled the world as the dictator Monarch. As an adult Ryder volunteered for a project to enable someone to travel through time. In spite of the deaths of previous volunteers during the experiment, Ryder volunteered for the project. He survived and was transformed into the time traveling entity known as Waverider. His purpose was to travel back in time to discover the identity of the hero who betrayed his, or her, fellow heroes and became Monarch. Waverider would then kill Monarch and prevent his future from occurring.
He searched for the future dictator by touching each hero while invisible and in a moment seeing their future unfold. These future lives formed the stories that were told in the DC Annuals for 1991. The first of these Annuals to be featured on this podcast was Action Comics Annual #3 in episode #47, Superman For President, published on November 5, 2008.
The featured story for this episode is Superman Annual #3, 1991, published on April 19, 1991, containing 64 pages for the cover price of $2.00. Mike Carlin was the editor. The cover was pencilled by Dusty Abel and inked by Terry Austin. The story, Execution 2001, was written by Dan Jurgens, pencilled by Dusty Abel, inked by Terry Austin, John Beatty, Dick Giordano and Dennis Janke, colored by Glenn Whitmore and lettered by John Costanza. Dan Thorsland was the assistant editor.
The story began with Superman foiling an escape attempt out of the Stryker Island prison by a group of Intergang thugs, who used floating discs that had been smuggled into the prison to effect their escape. The Man of Steel then captured the crew of an Intergang support plane and added them to the prison population.
Waverider then followed Superman to the roof of the Daily Planet building, where Lois Lane waited for the Man of Steel. As they began a conversation, Waverider, who was able to keep himslef invisible to Superman's senses, touches him and in an instant watches Superman's future unfold.
He watched Clark and Lois marry. Sometime later, Mannheim blackmailed Metropolis with the threat of detonating a nuclear device. it was never meant to explode, but some malfunction caused the weapon to explode. The city of Metropolis is wiped away, including the entire staff of the Daily Planet, and Lois Lane.
After an undisclosed amount of time where Clark grieves for his late wife and friends, he married Lana Lang. He vowed that the destruction of Metropolis would never be repeated.
Superman modified his uniform. His cape had a high collar, and was attached to his uniform with some yellow discs, and he wore red gloves. He confronted a submarine, forcing it to surface. Superman then ordered the U. S. Naval crew to abandon ship, and then sunk the submarine using his x-ray vision.
At the White House President Forrest and his aides discussed how to stop Superman. He had increasingly begun to interfere with international relations, taking oil tankers and grain silos to impoverished nations. It was revealed that not all of the sailors had left the submarine before Superman sunk it. One aide suggested that there was one person who might be uniquely equipped to deal with the Man of Steel.
In Gotham City, the Batsignal shined against Gotham Tower. Mayor James Gordon met Batman and gave him an address that was written on a piece of paper. On one of Gotham's docks at the waterfront, Batman met President Forrest, who offered the Dark Knight the job of killing Superman. At first Batman refused, but the President challenged him to at least investigate the claim. Batman agreed to do that much.
At a Kansas farm Superman appeared in the basement after flying through a tunnel to avoid anyone discovering his secret identity. He briefly talked with Lana about his day, and then spent some time with Ma Kent. She was limited to a wheelchair, suffering from Alzheimer's. She thought Clark was still in high school. Bruce Wayne paid the Kents a visit. He pressed Clark to retire, and told him about the claims about the dead sailors. Clark informed Bruce that he used his x-ray vision to check the submarine for any stranded sailors before he sunk the sub. Bruce was releived. Clark changed into Superman and flew out through the basement tunnel, and referred to Lana as "Mrs. Kent". Bruce was shocked, and expressed his concern about the mental strain Clark was under. Lana told Bruce that Clark was haunted by the fact that he had not yet been able to dismantle Intergang.
In Washington, D. C. someone broke into a room that contained military records. He found the file on the sunk submarine and was able to confirm that a number of sailors were indeed left aboard the sub when it sank.
Sueprman was confronted by the Justice League, led by the Martian Manhunter. They fought, and Superman used Fire's powers against the League. John J'onzz became surrounded by flames and panicked. He had a heart attack and died in Fire's arms.
The Man of Steel knew that the authorities would be gunning for him now. He took Lana and Ma Kent to the Fortress of Solitude for their safety.
In the Batcave we discover that Tim Drake, now dressed as Robin, was the person who broke into the records room in the nation's capitol and discovered the truth about the dead sailors. Batman reminded him about what Superman told him, as originally presented in Action Comics #654, that he trusted Bruce to kill him if it ever became necessary. Batman contacted Clark at the Fortress, and convinced him to meet at Crime Alley in Gotham City.
In a scene reminiscent to The Dark Knight Returns, Superman met an armored Batman. They battled on the Gotham streets until Batman used the kryptonite ring to kill Superman. Batman wondered who would be sent to finish him off when his time came. Robin assurred Batman that he did the right thing. Batman disagreed, saying that it could never be called right.
Waverider confirmed that Superman would not become Monarch and left. Superman's only sensation about the contact was to mention to Lois that he had a brief feeling that someone had walked acroos his grave.
Next Episode: Happy Birthday, Lucy Lane!
Join the Superman Fan Podcast and My Pull List groups on facebook, and follow the podcast and blogs on twitter @supermanpodcast.
Superman Fan Podcast is a proud member of the League Of Comic Book Podcasters at http://www.comicbooknoise.com/league and the Comics Podcast Network!http://www.comicspodcasts.com/.
Superman Fan Podcast is at http://supermanfanpodcast.mypodcast.com/ . Send e-mail about this podcast to supermanfanpodcast@gmail.com.
My Pull List is my spoiler free comic book review blog of the titles I read every week. It can be found at http://mypulllist.blogspot.com/. Send e-mail about this blog to mypulllist@gmail.com.
Superman and all related characters are trademark and copyright DC Comics.
Thanks for listening to the Superman Fan Podcat and, as always, thanks to Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.
He was originally Matthew Ryder. As a young boy he was saved from a collapsing building by a superhero that he does not remember the identity of. Sometime during his childhood one of the DC superheroes decided to establish order in society, killed all of the other heroes, and ruled the world as the dictator Monarch. As an adult Ryder volunteered for a project to enable someone to travel through time. In spite of the deaths of previous volunteers during the experiment, Ryder volunteered for the project. He survived and was transformed into the time traveling entity known as Waverider. His purpose was to travel back in time to discover the identity of the hero who betrayed his, or her, fellow heroes and became Monarch. Waverider would then kill Monarch and prevent his future from occurring.
He searched for the future dictator by touching each hero while invisible and in a moment seeing their future unfold. These future lives formed the stories that were told in the DC Annuals for 1991. The first of these Annuals to be featured on this podcast was Action Comics Annual #3 in episode #47, Superman For President, published on November 5, 2008.
The featured story for this episode is Superman Annual #3, 1991, published on April 19, 1991, containing 64 pages for the cover price of $2.00. Mike Carlin was the editor. The cover was pencilled by Dusty Abel and inked by Terry Austin. The story, Execution 2001, was written by Dan Jurgens, pencilled by Dusty Abel, inked by Terry Austin, John Beatty, Dick Giordano and Dennis Janke, colored by Glenn Whitmore and lettered by John Costanza. Dan Thorsland was the assistant editor.
The story began with Superman foiling an escape attempt out of the Stryker Island prison by a group of Intergang thugs, who used floating discs that had been smuggled into the prison to effect their escape. The Man of Steel then captured the crew of an Intergang support plane and added them to the prison population.
Waverider then followed Superman to the roof of the Daily Planet building, where Lois Lane waited for the Man of Steel. As they began a conversation, Waverider, who was able to keep himslef invisible to Superman's senses, touches him and in an instant watches Superman's future unfold.
He watched Clark and Lois marry. Sometime later, Mannheim blackmailed Metropolis with the threat of detonating a nuclear device. it was never meant to explode, but some malfunction caused the weapon to explode. The city of Metropolis is wiped away, including the entire staff of the Daily Planet, and Lois Lane.
After an undisclosed amount of time where Clark grieves for his late wife and friends, he married Lana Lang. He vowed that the destruction of Metropolis would never be repeated.
Superman modified his uniform. His cape had a high collar, and was attached to his uniform with some yellow discs, and he wore red gloves. He confronted a submarine, forcing it to surface. Superman then ordered the U. S. Naval crew to abandon ship, and then sunk the submarine using his x-ray vision.
At the White House President Forrest and his aides discussed how to stop Superman. He had increasingly begun to interfere with international relations, taking oil tankers and grain silos to impoverished nations. It was revealed that not all of the sailors had left the submarine before Superman sunk it. One aide suggested that there was one person who might be uniquely equipped to deal with the Man of Steel.
In Gotham City, the Batsignal shined against Gotham Tower. Mayor James Gordon met Batman and gave him an address that was written on a piece of paper. On one of Gotham's docks at the waterfront, Batman met President Forrest, who offered the Dark Knight the job of killing Superman. At first Batman refused, but the President challenged him to at least investigate the claim. Batman agreed to do that much.
At a Kansas farm Superman appeared in the basement after flying through a tunnel to avoid anyone discovering his secret identity. He briefly talked with Lana about his day, and then spent some time with Ma Kent. She was limited to a wheelchair, suffering from Alzheimer's. She thought Clark was still in high school. Bruce Wayne paid the Kents a visit. He pressed Clark to retire, and told him about the claims about the dead sailors. Clark informed Bruce that he used his x-ray vision to check the submarine for any stranded sailors before he sunk the sub. Bruce was releived. Clark changed into Superman and flew out through the basement tunnel, and referred to Lana as "Mrs. Kent". Bruce was shocked, and expressed his concern about the mental strain Clark was under. Lana told Bruce that Clark was haunted by the fact that he had not yet been able to dismantle Intergang.
In Washington, D. C. someone broke into a room that contained military records. He found the file on the sunk submarine and was able to confirm that a number of sailors were indeed left aboard the sub when it sank.
Sueprman was confronted by the Justice League, led by the Martian Manhunter. They fought, and Superman used Fire's powers against the League. John J'onzz became surrounded by flames and panicked. He had a heart attack and died in Fire's arms.
The Man of Steel knew that the authorities would be gunning for him now. He took Lana and Ma Kent to the Fortress of Solitude for their safety.
In the Batcave we discover that Tim Drake, now dressed as Robin, was the person who broke into the records room in the nation's capitol and discovered the truth about the dead sailors. Batman reminded him about what Superman told him, as originally presented in Action Comics #654, that he trusted Bruce to kill him if it ever became necessary. Batman contacted Clark at the Fortress, and convinced him to meet at Crime Alley in Gotham City.
In a scene reminiscent to The Dark Knight Returns, Superman met an armored Batman. They battled on the Gotham streets until Batman used the kryptonite ring to kill Superman. Batman wondered who would be sent to finish him off when his time came. Robin assurred Batman that he did the right thing. Batman disagreed, saying that it could never be called right.
Waverider confirmed that Superman would not become Monarch and left. Superman's only sensation about the contact was to mention to Lois that he had a brief feeling that someone had walked acroos his grave.
Next Episode: Happy Birthday, Lucy Lane!
Join the Superman Fan Podcast and My Pull List groups on facebook, and follow the podcast and blogs on twitter @supermanpodcast.
Superman Fan Podcast is a proud member of the League Of Comic Book Podcasters at http://www.comicbooknoise.com/league and the Comics Podcast Network!http://www.comicspodcasts.com/.
Superman Fan Podcast is at http://supermanfanpodcast.mypodcast.com/ . Send e-mail about this podcast to supermanfanpodcast@gmail.com.
My Pull List is my spoiler free comic book review blog of the titles I read every week. It can be found at http://mypulllist.blogspot.com/. Send e-mail about this blog to mypulllist@gmail.com.
Superman and all related characters are trademark and copyright DC Comics.
Thanks for listening to the Superman Fan Podcat and, as always, thanks to Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Episode #134: Truth, Justice And All That Stuff!
In honor of the recent Fourth of July holiday, this episode will focus on one of the most familiar phrases tied to Superman, "Truth, Justice and the American Way." Generations of Superman fans are familiar with that phrase. But its origins do not stretch back to Superman's beginnings. The phrase that described Superman in his earliest stories was, "Champion of the oppressed." he has also been known as, "The Man of Tomorrow", and more commonly, "The Man of Steel".
At the beginning, Superman was a lot different than he is today. He wa a lot rougher on the bad guys. The stories in Superman #1, published on May 18, 1939, according to http://dcindexes.com/, contains enough expamples of the Man of Steel's actions to filll this episode.
In the first story of the issue, an expanded version of the original Superman story from Action Comics #1, the Man of Steel forced a woman to confess to a murder she had committed. "Are you ready to sign a confession? Or shall I give you a taste of how that gun felt when I applied the pressure." Superman had earlier grabbed her gun and squezzed it into scrap metal. Superman then knocked down the Governer's door to give him the proof he needed to stop the execution of an innocent man.
Later in the issue Superman knocked a wife beater against the wall, hard.
After Lois was kidnapped, Superman caught the car, filled with her and her captors. After saving Lois and shaking the gangsters from the vehicle, he smashed the car against the rock, in a scene portrayed on the cover of Action Comics #1. Superman then hung one of the gangsters at the top of a telelphone pole, presumably by his belt.
In another story, Superman dragged a war lobbyist behind him while he ran across a telephone wire, then dropped to the sidewalk from a great height, with the frightened lobbyist in tow. With the information he gained, Superman then forced a munitions maker, who had been supplying both sides in a war, to enlist in the army. To make sure the businessman faced the horrors of war, Superman donned a uniform himself and made sure he learned his lesson. On the battlefield, the Man of Steel found a group of soldiers torturing a prisoner. Superman threw the torturer into the trees like a javelin. When a fighter plane fires on troops, Superman jumped into the air and shattered the propeller, allowing the plane and pilot to crash.
Back in the United States, Superman taught the owner of an unsafe mine a lesson by trapping he and his party in his mine, after the owner took his party inside the mine shaft. The Man of Steel purposely caused an avalance, and then saved everyone as their air was running out.
In the last story of the issue, Superman stopped a group of crooked gamblers who were trying to fix a college football game. To do this Superman kidnapped one of the team's benchwarmers, who looked like him, after giving him an injection to knock him out. The Man of Steel then took his place during the week's practice and earned a spot onto the starting lineup. Superman basically was a one man team, until late in the game, when he switched places with the real player.
Another example of a rougher Man of Steel came from the untitled story Europe At War from Action Comics #22, March 1940. While covering a European war as Clark Kent, Superman caught a bomber in the air, and threw it to the ground, where it crashed with the crew aboard. On an ocean liner heading across the sea, Superman spotted a submarine. He dove into the water, caught a torpedo heading toward the ship, and aimed it back at the submarine, destroying it.
Superman has also been known as The Man Of Tomorrow. When actor Ray Middleton became the first actor to wear a Superman costume, at the Superman Day of the 1939 - 1940 New York World's Fair, it was at the World of Tomorrow exhibit. Whether this is the source of that phrase I could not find out for certain. From 1996 - 1999, DC Comics published 15 issues of a quarterly Superman title, Superman: The Man Of Tomorrow. It would be published during the months with a fifth week during the era when four Superman titles were published each month.
Truth, Justice and the American Way was part of the introduction of every episode of the 1950's Adventures Of Superman TV show starring actor George Reeves. Comic book writer and editor Mark Waid has been attributed as saying that it became part of the introduction of the 1940's radio show, beginning in 1942. While I do subscribe to a podcast rebroadcasting that radio show, the latest episodes I have are not from that year. The ones I do have contain the intoduction, "... the neverending battle for Truth and Justice."
After just a few years, Superman quickly changed from a champion of the oppressed to a defender of the establishment. DC was quick to establish an editorial policy barring its heroes from killing, or allowing to die, any villains. They were one of the more conservative comic book publishers. Their control over Superman increased after Jerry Siegel joined the Army. Dc's control over Superman became complete after creators Siegel and Shuster were fired for suing their publisher.
During the 2006 movie Superman Returns, Frank Langella as Perry White was giving orders to the Daily Planet staff about Superman's return to Earth. One of the angles he wanted his staff to cover was, "Truth, Justice ... all that stuff." Apparently, director Brian Singer and the scriptwriters wanted to avoid the many connotations to "the American Way", and the many interpretations involved. They wanted to avoid any controversy about what would define the American Way.
Next Episode: An Imaginary Summer 2010!
Join the Superman Fan Podcast and My Pull List groups on facebook, and follow the podcast and blogs on twitter @supermanpodcast.
Superman Fan Podcast is a proud member of the League Of Comic Book Podcasters at http://www.comicbooknoise.com/league and the Comics Podcast Network!http://www.comicspodcasts.com/
Superman Fan Podcast is at http://supermanfanpodcast.mypodcast.com/ . Send e-mail about this podcast to supermanfanpodcast@gmail.com.
My Pull List is my spoiler free comic book review blog of the titles I read every week. It can be found at http://mypulllist.blogspot.com/ Send e-mail about this blog to mypulllist@gmail.com.
Superman and all related characters are trademark and copyright DC Comics.
Thanks for listening to the Superman Fan Podcast and, as always, thanks to Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.
At the beginning, Superman was a lot different than he is today. He wa a lot rougher on the bad guys. The stories in Superman #1, published on May 18, 1939, according to http://dcindexes.com/, contains enough expamples of the Man of Steel's actions to filll this episode.
In the first story of the issue, an expanded version of the original Superman story from Action Comics #1, the Man of Steel forced a woman to confess to a murder she had committed. "Are you ready to sign a confession? Or shall I give you a taste of how that gun felt when I applied the pressure." Superman had earlier grabbed her gun and squezzed it into scrap metal. Superman then knocked down the Governer's door to give him the proof he needed to stop the execution of an innocent man.
Later in the issue Superman knocked a wife beater against the wall, hard.
After Lois was kidnapped, Superman caught the car, filled with her and her captors. After saving Lois and shaking the gangsters from the vehicle, he smashed the car against the rock, in a scene portrayed on the cover of Action Comics #1. Superman then hung one of the gangsters at the top of a telelphone pole, presumably by his belt.
In another story, Superman dragged a war lobbyist behind him while he ran across a telephone wire, then dropped to the sidewalk from a great height, with the frightened lobbyist in tow. With the information he gained, Superman then forced a munitions maker, who had been supplying both sides in a war, to enlist in the army. To make sure the businessman faced the horrors of war, Superman donned a uniform himself and made sure he learned his lesson. On the battlefield, the Man of Steel found a group of soldiers torturing a prisoner. Superman threw the torturer into the trees like a javelin. When a fighter plane fires on troops, Superman jumped into the air and shattered the propeller, allowing the plane and pilot to crash.
Back in the United States, Superman taught the owner of an unsafe mine a lesson by trapping he and his party in his mine, after the owner took his party inside the mine shaft. The Man of Steel purposely caused an avalance, and then saved everyone as their air was running out.
In the last story of the issue, Superman stopped a group of crooked gamblers who were trying to fix a college football game. To do this Superman kidnapped one of the team's benchwarmers, who looked like him, after giving him an injection to knock him out. The Man of Steel then took his place during the week's practice and earned a spot onto the starting lineup. Superman basically was a one man team, until late in the game, when he switched places with the real player.
Another example of a rougher Man of Steel came from the untitled story Europe At War from Action Comics #22, March 1940. While covering a European war as Clark Kent, Superman caught a bomber in the air, and threw it to the ground, where it crashed with the crew aboard. On an ocean liner heading across the sea, Superman spotted a submarine. He dove into the water, caught a torpedo heading toward the ship, and aimed it back at the submarine, destroying it.
Superman has also been known as The Man Of Tomorrow. When actor Ray Middleton became the first actor to wear a Superman costume, at the Superman Day of the 1939 - 1940 New York World's Fair, it was at the World of Tomorrow exhibit. Whether this is the source of that phrase I could not find out for certain. From 1996 - 1999, DC Comics published 15 issues of a quarterly Superman title, Superman: The Man Of Tomorrow. It would be published during the months with a fifth week during the era when four Superman titles were published each month.
Truth, Justice and the American Way was part of the introduction of every episode of the 1950's Adventures Of Superman TV show starring actor George Reeves. Comic book writer and editor Mark Waid has been attributed as saying that it became part of the introduction of the 1940's radio show, beginning in 1942. While I do subscribe to a podcast rebroadcasting that radio show, the latest episodes I have are not from that year. The ones I do have contain the intoduction, "... the neverending battle for Truth and Justice."
After just a few years, Superman quickly changed from a champion of the oppressed to a defender of the establishment. DC was quick to establish an editorial policy barring its heroes from killing, or allowing to die, any villains. They were one of the more conservative comic book publishers. Their control over Superman increased after Jerry Siegel joined the Army. Dc's control over Superman became complete after creators Siegel and Shuster were fired for suing their publisher.
During the 2006 movie Superman Returns, Frank Langella as Perry White was giving orders to the Daily Planet staff about Superman's return to Earth. One of the angles he wanted his staff to cover was, "Truth, Justice ... all that stuff." Apparently, director Brian Singer and the scriptwriters wanted to avoid the many connotations to "the American Way", and the many interpretations involved. They wanted to avoid any controversy about what would define the American Way.
Next Episode: An Imaginary Summer 2010!
Join the Superman Fan Podcast and My Pull List groups on facebook, and follow the podcast and blogs on twitter @supermanpodcast.
Superman Fan Podcast is a proud member of the League Of Comic Book Podcasters at http://www.comicbooknoise.com/league and the Comics Podcast Network!http://www.comicspodcasts.com/
Superman Fan Podcast is at http://supermanfanpodcast.mypodcast.com/ . Send e-mail about this podcast to supermanfanpodcast@gmail.com.
My Pull List is my spoiler free comic book review blog of the titles I read every week. It can be found at http://mypulllist.blogspot.com/ Send e-mail about this blog to mypulllist@gmail.com.
Superman and all related characters are trademark and copyright DC Comics.
Thanks for listening to the Superman Fan Podcast and, as always, thanks to Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Episode #133: Happy Birthday, Dan Jurgens!
Dan Jurgens was born on June 27, 1959, in Minnesota, where he still lives. He is a comic book writer and artist most famous for his work on the Superman titles of the early 1990's, and for creating the superhero Booster Gold.
His interest in comic books began with the 1960's Batman TV show. Dan's first comic book was Superman #189, and the first comic book story to make an impact on him was Robin Dies At Dawn, in Batman #156, June 1963.
Dan studied art in college and worked as a graphic designer. His career as a comic book artist began when he showed his portfolio to comic book writer and artist Mike Grell, at an appearance at a comic book shop. Grell was so impressed with Dan's art that he gave Jurgens his first comic book work, as penciller on Warlord #63, November 1982. Dan would continue as penciller on the title through issue # 91, March 1985. He also drew for a variety of other titles, including Sun Devils 8 and 9, which he also scripted, and Tales Of The Legion Of Super-Heroes 322 - 325.
Jurgens' creation, Booster Gold, first appeared in the first issue of his own title cover dated February 1986. This first Booster Gold series lasted through issue #25, February 1988.
Dan Jurgens first worked on a Superman story with The Adventures Of Superman Annuual #1, 1987. That annual introduced the Wordbringer, an alien who lived on a vast spaceship, and collected living brains from beings across outer space to live on his spaceship. Superman investigated the mysterious disappearance of the residents of Trudeau, North Dakota.
Jurgens also drew the Deadman story that appeared in Action Comics Weekly issues 601 - 612. he also drew the DC Flash Gordon comic book through issue 9.
Dan first worked on the monthly Superman titles with Superman #29 as writer and penciller, and Adventures Of Superman #452, both cover dated March 1989. He would be a member of the Superman creative team through Superman #150, November 1999. At the beginning of Dan's time as a Superman creator, Art Thibert served as his inker, but Brett Breeding would become his regular inker through most of Jurgens' time on the Superman titles. He also created the villains Doomsday and Cyborg, who would loom large in the Superman titles.
The Death Of Superman storyline was told in the Superman titles cover dated October and November 1992. Funeral For A Friend occurred in the Superman books cover dated January - June 1993, and Reign Of The Supermen was told in the Superman titles cover dated June - October 1993.
Jurgens also served as the penciller for the Armageddon 2001 event mini-series. He co-created the hero Waverider with writer Archie Goodwin. Dan also created Agent Liberty, who first appeared in Superman #60, October 1991. The character had his own special issue with Agent Liberty Special #1 in 1992.
Dan Jurgens wrote and pencilled the Zero Hour miniseries, cover dated September 1994. This series served as a mini-reboot of the DC Universe, the first since Crisis On Infinite Earths about eight years before.
In 1995 he wrote and laid out the Superman Vs. Aliens mini-series, and Kevin Nolan did the finished art.
Dan has also worked for Marvel. He pencilled the first six issues of The Sensational Spider-Man in 1996. Three years later Dan wrote and pencilled the single issue special Superman / Fantastic Four. He served as the original writer for the Tomb Raider series for Top Cow/Image the same year.
In 2000, Dan Jurgens wrote and laid out the Titans / Legion of Super-Heroes: Universe Ablaze mini-series. He also wrote scripts for the titel Aquaman from issu 63, January 200, thorugh issue 75, January 2001.
Dan Jurgens returned to the character Superman as writer and penciller for the Superman: Day Of Doom four issue mini-series, cover dated January 2003, ten years after the Death Of Superman story. The following year he pencilled a few issues of Legion, from issues 35 - 38, late September - late October 2004.
For Marvel, Dan Jurgens worked on the titles Captain America and Thor.
He also pencilled four issues of Solar, from issues 46 - 50, inked by Dick Giordano. With inker Tom Grinberg, Dan wrote and pencilled issues 51 - 54.
Back at DC, Dan Jurgens pencilled the first four issues of the mini-series Crisis Aftermath: The Battle For Bludhaven, and issue six, cover dated June and July 2006. This was Dan's opportunity to dwell in Batman's world.
For the weekly series 52, he wrote and pencilled the back issue feature History Of The DC Universe for issues 2 - 10. Dan also did the same for the next weekly series Countdown for issues 49 - 38 (this series counted down for the issue numbers) on the back issue feature History Of The Multiverse.
Dan Jurgens wrote and pencilled the six issue mini-series Metamorpho: Year One, cover dated December 2007 - late February 2008.
He returned to a new Booster Gold monthly series with a new #1 cover dated October 2007, and is serving as a writer and penciller.
Dan also worked on Superman again, of sorts, with the twelve issue mini-series Tangent: Superman's Reign, cover dated May 2008 - April 2009.
In several interviews that have been posted on the internet (links to which will be posted at the end of this episode), Dan said that he does not prefer writing or drawing, but sees both as different aspects of the same job. He is most prould of his work on Superman and Booster Gold, because they represent strides in his career. If he could pick any series to write and draw, it would be Green Lantern, because he has enjoyed the cosmic type of stories when he has had a chance to work on them. Finally, the only thing that has bothered him about how other creators have portrayed Booster Gold has been when some have shown him to be an idiot. He was not referring to the classic Justice League International Blue Beetle stories. Dan doesn't see Booster as a perfect hero, but as one who at times gets in his own way.
The featured Dan Jurgens story of this episode is the three issue mini-series Superman / Domsday: Hunter / Prey, cover dated April - June 1994. The story was collected in a trade paperback the following year. Dan Jurgens wrote the story and laid out the art. Brett Breeding finished the art, Bill Oakley did the lettering and Greg Wright was the colorist. This mini-series was collected in Superman: The Doomsday Wars, first published in 1998, and Superman / Doomsday Omnibus, published in 2006.
This story began with Clark Kent having a recurring dream. It started with a scene from his childhood, when he had to go into the dark basement. It ended with him as an adult facing Doomsday. Eventually he told Lois that he had to fly into space to find out where exactly Doomsday's body was, so that noone else would think to use Doomsday for their own ends.
Doomsday was found by a passing cargo ship heading toward the planet Apokolips. The crew realized too late what it was, and Doomsday killed the entire crew as the ship flew to its destination. The ship landed on Apokolips and Doomsday began wreaking havoc on Darkseid's troops.
Cyborg appeared, having hidden his intelligence on a small piece of electronic equipment attached to Doomsday's back. Cyborg created a new body from the body and armor of one of Darkseid's dead soldiers. He planned on taking over Apokolips after Doomsday had killed everyone on the planet. Darkseid monitored events, not yet taking any action, even though he knew exactly what Doosday was, an unkillable force.
Before leaving Earth, Superman met Matt Rider and Waverider and demanded to know how to defeat Domsday. They were hesitant at first, not wanting to change the future.
Darkseid finally entered the battle after Apokolips' weapons were no match for Doomsday, but was severely injured. DeSaad contacted Superman at JLA HQ, asking for help. A Motherbox teleported Superman to Apokolips, but he was unable to catch Doomsday before DeSaad used a boom tube to teleport Doomsday off planet.
Book II began with Waverider wrestling with his conscience about helping Superman.
The Man of Steel used his Motherbox to heal Darkseid from his injuries while Cyborg decimated Apokolips' forces. Superman was joined by Waverider, who tells Superman of Doomsday's origin.
In the uncounted past a geneticist worked at an installation on an extremely hostile planet. His team grew a clone and ejected it into the hostile environment, which was killed by the violent creatures that lived outside. The team would collect genetic material from the remains and create another clone. This process was repeated innumberable times over many decades until the Ultimate was created, Doomsday's original name. Not only did he survive the hostile environment, but he killed the violent creatures that attacked him.
The Ultimate turned his attention to the installation, and attacked it, murdering everyone inside. He boarded a supply ship and escaped the planet, spreading terror across outer space. He finally landed on the planet Calaton, and was defeated for the first time by the artificial being Radiant. The planet's survivors wrapped Doomsday in a green containment suit and bound his body in steel cables, sending his body to float in space. Eventually he crashed on Earth and was buried deep underground. That was where the Death Of Superman story began.
Darkseid recovered and used his Omega Beams to kill Cyborg. Superman discovered that DeSaad had sent Doomsday back to Caladon.
Issue III began with the revelation that Cyborg was not really dead, but his intelligence was imprisoned in a small globe, for Darkseid to use and control later.
A boom tube sent Superman and Waverider to Caladon, too late to stop Doomsday from finally killing Radiant. Superman battled Doosday, stopping him from destroying a power plant, but not before being injured.
Waverider used his power to link with Doomsday in an attempt to find a way to defeat him. He discovers that Doomsday sees Superman as his creator. Superman realizes that the reason for that is because Doosday was created on the primitive planet of Krypton. The remnants of the cloning facility was used by ancient Krypton to create their own cloning technology, as shown in the 1987 mini-series World Of Krypton.
The battle raged on, and Doomsday broke Superman's left arm, and threw him into the power plant, destroying it. The Man of Steel found Waverider's wristband, and used it to teleport himself and Doomsday to the end of time. Waverider recuperated in time to follow Superman and retreive him, leaving Doomsday at the end of time.
The Motherbox used the last of its power to heal Superman's arm and restore his traditional costume. Superman then returned to Lois.
In the story Superman: The Doomsday Wars Brainiac would retreive Doomsday from the end of time to use for his own ends, which involved the kidnapped infant of Pete and Lana Ross. This story was also collected in the Superman / Doosday Omnibus.
Next episode: Truth, Justice And All That Stuff!
Join the Superman Fan Podcast and My Pull List groups on facebook, and follow the podcast and blogs on twitter @supermanpodcast.
Superman Fan Podcast is a proud member of the League Of Comic Book Podcasters at http://www.comicbooknoise.com/league and the Comics Podcast Network!http://www.comicspodcasts.com/
Superman Fan Podcast is at http://supermanfanpodcast.mypodcast.com/ . Send e-mail about this podcast to supermanfanpodcast@gmail.com.
My Pull List is my spoiler free comic book review blog of the titles I read every week. It can be found at http://mypulllist.blogspot.com/ Send e-mail about this blog to mypulllist@gmail.com.
Superman and all related characters are trademark and copyright DC Comics.
Thanks for listening to the Superman Fan Podcast and, as always, thanks to Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.
His interest in comic books began with the 1960's Batman TV show. Dan's first comic book was Superman #189, and the first comic book story to make an impact on him was Robin Dies At Dawn, in Batman #156, June 1963.
Dan studied art in college and worked as a graphic designer. His career as a comic book artist began when he showed his portfolio to comic book writer and artist Mike Grell, at an appearance at a comic book shop. Grell was so impressed with Dan's art that he gave Jurgens his first comic book work, as penciller on Warlord #63, November 1982. Dan would continue as penciller on the title through issue # 91, March 1985. He also drew for a variety of other titles, including Sun Devils 8 and 9, which he also scripted, and Tales Of The Legion Of Super-Heroes 322 - 325.
Jurgens' creation, Booster Gold, first appeared in the first issue of his own title cover dated February 1986. This first Booster Gold series lasted through issue #25, February 1988.
Dan Jurgens first worked on a Superman story with The Adventures Of Superman Annuual #1, 1987. That annual introduced the Wordbringer, an alien who lived on a vast spaceship, and collected living brains from beings across outer space to live on his spaceship. Superman investigated the mysterious disappearance of the residents of Trudeau, North Dakota.
Jurgens also drew the Deadman story that appeared in Action Comics Weekly issues 601 - 612. he also drew the DC Flash Gordon comic book through issue 9.
Dan first worked on the monthly Superman titles with Superman #29 as writer and penciller, and Adventures Of Superman #452, both cover dated March 1989. He would be a member of the Superman creative team through Superman #150, November 1999. At the beginning of Dan's time as a Superman creator, Art Thibert served as his inker, but Brett Breeding would become his regular inker through most of Jurgens' time on the Superman titles. He also created the villains Doomsday and Cyborg, who would loom large in the Superman titles.
The Death Of Superman storyline was told in the Superman titles cover dated October and November 1992. Funeral For A Friend occurred in the Superman books cover dated January - June 1993, and Reign Of The Supermen was told in the Superman titles cover dated June - October 1993.
Jurgens also served as the penciller for the Armageddon 2001 event mini-series. He co-created the hero Waverider with writer Archie Goodwin. Dan also created Agent Liberty, who first appeared in Superman #60, October 1991. The character had his own special issue with Agent Liberty Special #1 in 1992.
Dan Jurgens wrote and pencilled the Zero Hour miniseries, cover dated September 1994. This series served as a mini-reboot of the DC Universe, the first since Crisis On Infinite Earths about eight years before.
In 1995 he wrote and laid out the Superman Vs. Aliens mini-series, and Kevin Nolan did the finished art.
Dan has also worked for Marvel. He pencilled the first six issues of The Sensational Spider-Man in 1996. Three years later Dan wrote and pencilled the single issue special Superman / Fantastic Four. He served as the original writer for the Tomb Raider series for Top Cow/Image the same year.
In 2000, Dan Jurgens wrote and laid out the Titans / Legion of Super-Heroes: Universe Ablaze mini-series. He also wrote scripts for the titel Aquaman from issu 63, January 200, thorugh issue 75, January 2001.
Dan Jurgens returned to the character Superman as writer and penciller for the Superman: Day Of Doom four issue mini-series, cover dated January 2003, ten years after the Death Of Superman story. The following year he pencilled a few issues of Legion, from issues 35 - 38, late September - late October 2004.
For Marvel, Dan Jurgens worked on the titles Captain America and Thor.
He also pencilled four issues of Solar, from issues 46 - 50, inked by Dick Giordano. With inker Tom Grinberg, Dan wrote and pencilled issues 51 - 54.
Back at DC, Dan Jurgens pencilled the first four issues of the mini-series Crisis Aftermath: The Battle For Bludhaven, and issue six, cover dated June and July 2006. This was Dan's opportunity to dwell in Batman's world.
For the weekly series 52, he wrote and pencilled the back issue feature History Of The DC Universe for issues 2 - 10. Dan also did the same for the next weekly series Countdown for issues 49 - 38 (this series counted down for the issue numbers) on the back issue feature History Of The Multiverse.
Dan Jurgens wrote and pencilled the six issue mini-series Metamorpho: Year One, cover dated December 2007 - late February 2008.
He returned to a new Booster Gold monthly series with a new #1 cover dated October 2007, and is serving as a writer and penciller.
Dan also worked on Superman again, of sorts, with the twelve issue mini-series Tangent: Superman's Reign, cover dated May 2008 - April 2009.
In several interviews that have been posted on the internet (links to which will be posted at the end of this episode), Dan said that he does not prefer writing or drawing, but sees both as different aspects of the same job. He is most prould of his work on Superman and Booster Gold, because they represent strides in his career. If he could pick any series to write and draw, it would be Green Lantern, because he has enjoyed the cosmic type of stories when he has had a chance to work on them. Finally, the only thing that has bothered him about how other creators have portrayed Booster Gold has been when some have shown him to be an idiot. He was not referring to the classic Justice League International Blue Beetle stories. Dan doesn't see Booster as a perfect hero, but as one who at times gets in his own way.
The featured Dan Jurgens story of this episode is the three issue mini-series Superman / Domsday: Hunter / Prey, cover dated April - June 1994. The story was collected in a trade paperback the following year. Dan Jurgens wrote the story and laid out the art. Brett Breeding finished the art, Bill Oakley did the lettering and Greg Wright was the colorist. This mini-series was collected in Superman: The Doomsday Wars, first published in 1998, and Superman / Doomsday Omnibus, published in 2006.
This story began with Clark Kent having a recurring dream. It started with a scene from his childhood, when he had to go into the dark basement. It ended with him as an adult facing Doomsday. Eventually he told Lois that he had to fly into space to find out where exactly Doomsday's body was, so that noone else would think to use Doomsday for their own ends.
Doomsday was found by a passing cargo ship heading toward the planet Apokolips. The crew realized too late what it was, and Doomsday killed the entire crew as the ship flew to its destination. The ship landed on Apokolips and Doomsday began wreaking havoc on Darkseid's troops.
Cyborg appeared, having hidden his intelligence on a small piece of electronic equipment attached to Doomsday's back. Cyborg created a new body from the body and armor of one of Darkseid's dead soldiers. He planned on taking over Apokolips after Doomsday had killed everyone on the planet. Darkseid monitored events, not yet taking any action, even though he knew exactly what Doosday was, an unkillable force.
Before leaving Earth, Superman met Matt Rider and Waverider and demanded to know how to defeat Domsday. They were hesitant at first, not wanting to change the future.
Darkseid finally entered the battle after Apokolips' weapons were no match for Doomsday, but was severely injured. DeSaad contacted Superman at JLA HQ, asking for help. A Motherbox teleported Superman to Apokolips, but he was unable to catch Doomsday before DeSaad used a boom tube to teleport Doomsday off planet.
Book II began with Waverider wrestling with his conscience about helping Superman.
The Man of Steel used his Motherbox to heal Darkseid from his injuries while Cyborg decimated Apokolips' forces. Superman was joined by Waverider, who tells Superman of Doomsday's origin.
In the uncounted past a geneticist worked at an installation on an extremely hostile planet. His team grew a clone and ejected it into the hostile environment, which was killed by the violent creatures that lived outside. The team would collect genetic material from the remains and create another clone. This process was repeated innumberable times over many decades until the Ultimate was created, Doomsday's original name. Not only did he survive the hostile environment, but he killed the violent creatures that attacked him.
The Ultimate turned his attention to the installation, and attacked it, murdering everyone inside. He boarded a supply ship and escaped the planet, spreading terror across outer space. He finally landed on the planet Calaton, and was defeated for the first time by the artificial being Radiant. The planet's survivors wrapped Doomsday in a green containment suit and bound his body in steel cables, sending his body to float in space. Eventually he crashed on Earth and was buried deep underground. That was where the Death Of Superman story began.
Darkseid recovered and used his Omega Beams to kill Cyborg. Superman discovered that DeSaad had sent Doomsday back to Caladon.
Issue III began with the revelation that Cyborg was not really dead, but his intelligence was imprisoned in a small globe, for Darkseid to use and control later.
A boom tube sent Superman and Waverider to Caladon, too late to stop Doomsday from finally killing Radiant. Superman battled Doosday, stopping him from destroying a power plant, but not before being injured.
Waverider used his power to link with Doomsday in an attempt to find a way to defeat him. He discovers that Doomsday sees Superman as his creator. Superman realizes that the reason for that is because Doosday was created on the primitive planet of Krypton. The remnants of the cloning facility was used by ancient Krypton to create their own cloning technology, as shown in the 1987 mini-series World Of Krypton.
The battle raged on, and Doomsday broke Superman's left arm, and threw him into the power plant, destroying it. The Man of Steel found Waverider's wristband, and used it to teleport himself and Doomsday to the end of time. Waverider recuperated in time to follow Superman and retreive him, leaving Doomsday at the end of time.
The Motherbox used the last of its power to heal Superman's arm and restore his traditional costume. Superman then returned to Lois.
In the story Superman: The Doomsday Wars Brainiac would retreive Doomsday from the end of time to use for his own ends, which involved the kidnapped infant of Pete and Lana Ross. This story was also collected in the Superman / Doosday Omnibus.
Next episode: Truth, Justice And All That Stuff!
Join the Superman Fan Podcast and My Pull List groups on facebook, and follow the podcast and blogs on twitter @supermanpodcast.
Superman Fan Podcast is a proud member of the League Of Comic Book Podcasters at http://www.comicbooknoise.com/league and the Comics Podcast Network!http://www.comicspodcasts.com/
Superman Fan Podcast is at http://supermanfanpodcast.mypodcast.com/ . Send e-mail about this podcast to supermanfanpodcast@gmail.com.
My Pull List is my spoiler free comic book review blog of the titles I read every week. It can be found at http://mypulllist.blogspot.com/ Send e-mail about this blog to mypulllist@gmail.com.
Superman and all related characters are trademark and copyright DC Comics.
Thanks for listening to the Superman Fan Podcast and, as always, thanks to Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.
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