Written by John Byrne & Marv Wolfman.
Art by John Byrne; Jerry Ordway; Dick Giordano; Karl Kesel; John Costanza; Michelle Wollman; Albert T. Guzman; & Tom Ziuko.
Collection Cover Art by Jerry Ordway; Tanya Horie; & Richard Horie.
SUMMARY:
Released in 2004 by DC Comics, this 208-page third volume reprints 1987: Superman # 4-6; Action Comics # 587-589; and The Adventures of Superman # 427-429.
Superman # 4. “Bloodsport!” – Claiming to be a Vietnam War veteran, a heavily-armed, African American urban terrorist goes on a bloodthirsty rampage in Metropolis. With Jimmy Olsen’s help, a wounded Superman realizes that this trigger-happy adversary’s disillusionment isn’t what he claims. A hidden wildcard is Lex Luthor, as he has his own sordid reasons for neutralizing Bloodsport and his high-tech firepower.
The Adventures of Superman # 427. “Mind Games” – The Man of Steel single-handedly invades the Middle Eastern nation of Quraci to avenge a terrorist assault committed in Metropolis. Superman is threatened by a mysterious, feline-like telepath capable of penetrating his deepest sub-conscious thoughts.
The Adventures of Superman # 428. “Personal Best” – A Metropolis mobster orders the abduction of Perry White’s son, Jerry, to extort The Daily Planet into retracting an exposé. Despite his son’s physical torture, Perry’s ethics won’t let him give in. While Clark Kent and Cat Grant become closer, it is up to Superman to find Jerry in time.
Action Comics # 587. “Cityscape!” – A bizarre mystical crisis in Gotham City has Jason Blood/The Demon propel Superman back in time to team with Blood/Demon’s mid-12th Century counterpart. To save present-day Gotham, the Man of Steel and the Demon must face off against Morgaine Le Fay.
Superman # 5. “The Mummy Strikes” – After a dream contemplating romance with Wonder Woman (in a brief flashback to Legends # 6), Clark Kent joins Lois Lane’s present archaeological assignment in South America. However, a robot resembling a gigantic mummy initiates an explosive showdown with the Man of Steel. (Part 1 of 2)
Superman # 6. “The Last Five Hundred” – In South America, Superman must fend off an alien invasion, as his adversaries have now taken human host bodies – including Lois Lane’s. (Part 2 of 2)
Adventures of Superman # 429. “Old Ties” – In a sequel to Issue # 427, Quraci’s mystical Circle seeks revenge on Superman by sending the powerhouse assassin known as ‘Concussion.’ Meanwhile, as Clark Kent and Cat Grant tempt romance, Superman tries to reunite Cat with her estranged young son.
Action Comics # 588. “All Wars Must End” – Hawkman & Hawkwoman summon Superman to help thwart a renegade Thanagarian invasion of Earth. The story subsequently ends of a double-cliffhanger.
Action Comics # 589. “Green on Green” – In outer space, Hal Jordan & the other six remaining Green Lanterns (Arisia; Kilowog; Ch’p, Salakk; Katma Tui; & John Stewart) save an unconscious Superman’s life. The Man of Steel then collaborates with the Lanterns to confront an unexpected threat to Earth.
Note: This title is also available in a digital format and a double-sized hardcover.
REVIEW:
Volume 3’s best asset is that its various art squads ensure that the visuals are consistently solid. Apart from the usual inconsistencies between John Byrne’s franchise reboot and Action Comics’ veteran Superman, the unremarkable storytelling lands squarely on the dull side.
An ugly exception, however, is John Byrne’s Superman # 4. Including its convenient, last-page plot twist, the story’s exploitative subject matter certainly isn’t entertainment in good taste. The fact that Byrne dedicated this tale to ‘The Black Wall’ (presumably, he means the Vietnam Veterans Memorial) is akin to rationalizing vigilante action movies like First Blood as an ode to American patriotism. Suffice to say, this compilation makes a crummy first impression.
Even guest spots by Jason Blood/The Demon, the Hawks, and the Green Lantern Corps mostly fall short of fun team-ups Superman had enjoyed in DC Comics Presents earlier that same decade. That is really the crux of Volume 3 – these middling nine stories convey far more quantity than quality.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
Jerry Ordway pens a three-page introduction. In a ¾-size format, a three-page cover gallery depicts all nine covers. Byrne and Ordway alternate as the cover artists.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 4½ Stars
