Month: December 2022

Written by Dan Jurgens.

Art by Corin Howell; Andres Ponce; Mike Atiyeh; & Tom Napolitano.

Cover Art by Corin Howell & Michael Atiyeh.

SUMMARY:

Amidst DC’s New 52 era, this premiere for a six-issue mini-series was released for August 2015.  Entitled “Transplant,” a jailed Bat-Mite is exiled from his home dimension to suffer in exile on New 52’s Earth.  Evidently no longer able to use his magical powers, Bat-Mite’s awful driving destroys the Batmobile trying to help Batman break up a bizarre kidnapping plot.  Abducted by one of Doctor Trauma’s criminal associates, Bat-Mite stumbles into a wacky brain-swapping scheme. 

Worse yet, in the dungeons holding Trauma’s future victims, Bat-Mite stumbles upon a captive Justice Leaguer facing an imminently grim fate.  

REVIEW:

It’s a groaner!  Giving Bat-Mite a try-out series in DC’s kiddie comics line would have made sense, if sales were impressive for his guest spot in Scooby-Doo Team-Up.  Yet, this Bat-Mite caper (i.e., its snarky juvenile humor; the cartoony artistic style) shifts towards teens and undemanding adults who enjoy ultra-goofy sitcom plots.  As the cover image suggests, just think DC-Meets-Mad or Cracked Magazine to spell out what this creative squad wants to do. 

This dubious Issue # 1 is meant for those readers who can’t get their fill of DC Comics parodying itself. Suffice to say, this issue isn’t a complete waste of paper and ink, but it is easily skippable.

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

The last page is a “DC You” mini-interview with Batman Beyond’s new creative team: Dan Jurgens & Bernard Chang.  

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                   3½ Stars

Written by Steve Vance.

Art by John Delaney; Ron Boyd; Bob LeRose; & Tim Harkins.

Cover Art by John Delaney; Ron Boyd; & Bob LeRose.

SUMMARY:

Released by DC Comics for October 1998, it is entitled “The Truth About Cats and Gods!”  For a $50,000 contract from the crazed stolen artifacts dealer, Bragg, Catwoman swipes a sleeping Wonder Woman’s golden lasso.  Forcing a kidnapped Professor Fuller to reveal a necessary inscription, Bragg subsequently channels the evil cat god, Kalinos, as a giant-sized, golden feline.  Against this potent threat, Wonder Woman and a repentant Catwoman call a truce to thwart Bragg’s rampage.     

Note: As acknowledged on the first and last pages, the title’s cancellation makes Issue # 19 the last issue. 

REVIEW:

Long predating similar-style tales featured in Wonder Woman’s Sensation Comics anthology, this Catwoman team-up is an okay read.  Still, given the intended audience, the ultra-simplistic story offers decent storytelling and the art squad’s appealingly cartoony visuals.  This issue, suffice to say, offers a likable option for a child’s entry-level comics collection.

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

The letters-and-answers column includes editor Kevin Dooley’s explanation re: why the TV-friendly Batman/Superman Adventures is replacing this title.  

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                        5 Stars

Main Feature & Back-Up Tale Written by Steve Vance.

Main Feature Art by John Delaney; Ron Boyd; Ray Kryssing; Bob LeRose; & Tim Harkins.

Back-Up Tale Art by  John Delaney; Ron Boyd; Tim Harkins; & Bob LeRose.

Cover Art by John Delaney; Ron Boyd; & Bob LeRose.

SUMMARY:

Released by DC Comics for May 1998, the issue offers a 15-page main feature and a five-page back-up adventure.  First up is “Not Always to the Swift …” where Wally West’s Flash and his girlfriend, Linda Park, find their Hawaiian vacation interrupted by a resentful Superboy.  Egged into a high-profile race up and back down from a volcano, Wally tries prodding a stubborn Superboy into conceding such a futile competition.  Yet, a natural crisis forces the duo into a truce where innocent lives are now at stake. 

Meanwhile, in Blüdhaven, “Bats!” has a visiting Nightwing pursue an unhinged Batman impostor.    

Note: This short-lived kiddie anthology would soon end with Issue # 19.

REVIEW:

Ironically, given so little to do, a bemused Linda Park is the main feature’s most likable character.  Still, in both stories, Steve Vance’s deliberately rudimentary writing delivers what it sets out to do.  The art squad’s visuals are also consistently up to par, given the target audience. 

All good intentions aside, neither story is anything remotely close to must-have reading.  However, this issue does supply suitable material for a child’s entry-level comics collection.  

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

A two-page letters-and-answers column include a cover reveal for Issue # 15.  

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                      5½ Stars

Written by David Michelinie.

Art by Tom Grummett; Denis Rodier; Bill Oakley; Glenn Whitmore; & Digital Chamelon.

Cover Art by Tom Grummett.

SUMMARY:

Entitled “The Sins of Change,” DC Comics released this issue for May 1997.  Lois guides her bewildered husband, Clark,  into using his strange new energy powers to heal his battered human form.  Seeking advice, Superman consults young second-generation hero, The Ray (Ray Terrill), about life as an energy being in humanoid form. 

Inside the Fortress of Solitude, a violent revolution rocks the bottled City of Kandor.  An escaped Kandorian renegade, Ceritak (known to Earthlings as ‘Scorn), explores Metropolis seeking out a rematch with Superman.   

Sporting new metal assimilation powers (reminiscent of Marvel’s Absorbing Man), Metallo gleefully terrorizes the Oceanside Amusement Park.  Despite Metallo nearly killing him in the day, Superman joins forces with the Metropolis SCU against Metallo’s most dangerous incarnation yet.  The Superman/Metallo feud subsequently shifts to Man of Steel # 68.

Briefly depicted is Jimmy Olsen opportunistically seeking an exclusive explaining Superman’s new look.  Having recently covered for Clark’s extended absence, Perry White wearily hints at dire medical news to discuss with his wife.    

Note: For DC’s interlocking Superman titles, this issue is # 21 in order that year.

REVIEW:

Unlike writer David Michelinie’s ho-hum plotting, the art squad’s visuals hold up relatively well a quarter-century later.  Given Superman’s ‘blue electric’ phase was a desperate sales gimmick, it is hardly surprising that Action Comics # 733 is forgettable.  Still, this issue offers a harmless bargain bin find for any child’s entry-level comics collection.

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

Along with “Watch This Space # 42” sharing some DC insider tidbits, there is a two-page “Re-Action” letters-and-answers column.  

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:           5½ Stars

Written by John Byrne.

Art by John Byrne; Keith Williams; John Costanza; & Tom Ziuko.

Cover Art by John Byrne.

SUMMARY:

Entitled “Past Imperfect,” DC Comics released this issue for August 1987.  Though unacknowledged, this story is Part 2 of a three-part crossover that began in John Byrne’s Superman # 8.  In a mysteriously idyllic version of Smallville, a Silver Age-like Superboy has used a Kryptonian device to paralyze the post-Crisis Superman. 

Note: Byrne’s Superman is openly acknowledged as not being as powerful or as fast as his pre-Crisis on Infinite Earths incarnation.  Yet, this Superboy, to some degree, has evidently surpassed the rebooted Superman’s power levels.    

The Boy of Steel’s device has simultaneously neutralized the Legion of Super-Heroes’ Blok, Invisible Kid, Sun Boy, and Brainiac Five.  Superboy intends to deliver these captive 30^th Century Legionnaires to his unknown ‘master.’  Pursuing Superboy into hyperspace, an outmatched Man of Steel’s failure sends him plummeting back to this slightly askew version of Smallville.     

After encountering Pete Ross and Superboy’s version of the Kents, Superman is double-teamed by the Boy of Steel and his ultra-loyal pet: Krypto the Super-Dog.  Subsequently, Krypto’s poignant choice gives Superboy and Jonathan Kent a last-ditch chance to win.  Afterwards, a compassionate Superman deduces enough of what has somehow transpired to make a truce with his repentant younger counterpart. 

Superman ponders some familiar elements of this world (again, broadly recalling the Man of Steel’s prior incarnation).  Elsewhere, the nefarious Time Trapper reveals what exactly he has done to finally vanquish the Legion of Super-Heroes.  Including Superboy, the crossover now shifts to Legion of Super-Heroes # 38 for its conclusion.    

Notes: Following 1985-86’s Crisis on Infinite Earths, DC Comics established that the post-Crisis Superman’s reboot meant he was never Superboy, let alone had never met the Legion of Super-Heroes.  Further, Superman’s reboot specified that neither Supergirl nor Krypto existed in his post-Crisis continuity. 

Historically, Issue # 591’s major twist signified DC’s first tweaking of its post-Crisis ‘no alternate reality’ policy in its seemingly unified universe.

REVIEW:

Old school fans can appreciate this odd storyline as John Byrne’s homage to the Silver Age: Superboy, Krypto, and the Boy of Steel’s association with the Legion of Super-Heroes. Though Byrne spells out his convoluted premise, casual fans might be understandably confused distinguishing the pre-and post-Crisis Superman from one another.  Byrne, in fairness, earns points for originality, even if his intriguing plot is somewhat disjointed.

Overall, Byrne’s kid-friendly writing and artwork are enjoyable for the mid-80’s, so one might consider finding Action Comics # 591 for nostalgia’s sake.  Given how muddled DC continuity is, his experiment thirty-five years ago pitching a few ripples is simplistic by comparison. 

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

There is a two-page “Re-Action Comics” letters-and-answers column.  

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                      6 Stars