Random Books My Son Picks...Issue 6
Good day. We are back after a short hiatus for this thing that Prince called life. Today I am going to do a review of the latest book that my son picked out, saying he loved the big yellow man. So without further ado, here is a review of December 1980's issue of DC Comics Presents #28, featuring Superman and Supergirl.
(Doesn't Mongul have a face that even a mother can't love?)
There are two stories in this issue, the main one and a feature called "Whatever Happened to" that was a regular feature of this book during this time. This months feature is Johnny Thunder, Lawman (not the doofus with the magic T-Bolt, the other one.)
Story 1 - "Warworld"
Writer: Len Wein, Artists: Jim Starlin and Romeo Tanghal, Letterer: Ben Oda, Colourist: Jerry Serpe, Edied by Julie Schwartz.
The story begins with Superman and Supergirl flying through space where Supergirl is recounting to her cousin his story of how he met Mongul before, and that Mongul got away from Superman with a crystal key that as the focus of his "quest". After agreeing with Kara on her version of events, Superman then explains why he returned to Earth to ask for her help...to locate the mysterious Warworld before Mongul finds it. Using their vision powers, they find traces of the energy trail that the large object has left behind.
Catching up to Warworld, the pair are astounded by the sheer power and abilities that the planet sized object can do, and they begin to scan the planet surface for Mongul. They find him, but also discover the size of the weaponry all over the planet. They decide to intervene.
Meanwhile, on Warworld, Mongul has realized that Superman has followed him. We get a clue to his origins as he reminisces about having been ruler of his home world until dethroned, but drawing satisfaction from the fact that the new ruler is even more cruel than he is. We also discover that his purpose for pursuing Warworld is so that he can rule the universe. He comes out of his reminisces and begins to defend the planet.
Superman and Supergirl discover that the weaponry can damage them with enough strength and they begin to use their powers to destroy all incoming missiles. Superman then comes up with a plan to defeat Mongul after realizing something about the planet's former inhabitants, and sure enough it works, and Mongul passes out from the strain of running the planet. However, the cousins come quickly to the realization that the planet has automated defenses and have to find a way to counteract.
Superman comes up with a plan that he shares with Supergirl. Kara then speeds towards Warworld exceeding the speed of light and passes through the core of the planet (and then disappears completely). Meanwhile (I just pictured the voice from the guy from Super-friends as I typed it), Superman manages to get in and reprogram the computer so that all weapons track inside and end up destroying Warworld. At the end of the story, Superman wonders where Kara has disappeared to.
Writing - I love Len Wein's work. Yet I have questions from this story. How the heck are the cousins communicating in space? Did Mongul die, because of he did, Superman violated his code as he made the planet blow up. How does Warworld reconstruct (because I think I saw it in a later book.) Anyway, overall a better than average book, and of course, anything with Kara in it gets a little boost from me...4 out of 5
Art - Starlin and Tanghal, while utilizing their own styles have made this book look like Swan's Superman and Supergirl. Mongul looks hideous and I feel he is where the powers that be at Matell were thinking of when they created Skeletor. It helped the artists that the vast majority of the story takes place in outer space and thus overall I give the book 4 out of 5 for art.
Overall - A decent read, but it does feel a bit too rushed in how quickly Mongul's defeat happened. I still will give this a 4 out of 5.
Story 2: "Whatever happened to Johnny Thunder: Lawman?"
Before we get into the story, a quick history of the character. Debuting in All-American Comics #100 (Aug 1948), he was John Tane, a schoolteacher who promised his dying mother he would not use guns and pursue a career in la enforcement (as his father did as sheriff.) He became a secret crimefighter in order to help his father while keeping his promise to his mother. He had a reasonably long history, appearing in almost forty issues of All-Star Western, and then having a bit of a run in the Bronze Age when western comics had a brief comeback.
Writer: Mike Tiefenbacher, Artist: Gil Kane, Letterer: Gaspar, Colourist: Anthony Tollin. Editor: Julie Schwartz.
The story begins with our hero on the street, when a robbery begins. The hero gives a flashback origin (as outlined above) while he prepares himself to his alter ego of Johnny Thunder. Realizing that the robber is one with a grudge by the name of Silk Black, he gets involved quickly, but takes a bullet as a reward. Meanwhile, another costumed (anti-)hero by the name of Madame .44 shows up and is distracted by the sheriff long enough that Silk Black escapes.
Waking up a short time later, Thunder manages to begin tracking both Silk and Madame .44. As he catches up he sees that Silk is about to shoot the unsuspecting woman, and shoots at Black. He missed, but so does Black and Madame .44 then realizes the danger. Johnny's stray shot has caused a rockslide and Madame .44 knocks the two of them off a cliff unto a river to save them from the falling danger. Johnny then gives .44 mouth to mouth and she wakes. She then manages to shoot Silk Black ending the confrontation. Madame .44 and Johnny Thunder have then deduced each other's identities and, after clearing the good name of Madame .44, they end up married, with children (I particularly liked the son's name Chuck Tane, as it reminds me of Chuck Taine, Bouncing Boy of the Legion of Super-Heroes) and retired.
Writing - A silly little predictable story, nonetheless it was entertaining. 3.5 out of 5.
Art - I have never been a huge fan of Gil Kane, but there are panels of Madame .44 he did I did like, so 2.5 out of 5
Overall - A 3 out of 5. I am left wondering more about Johnny Thunder, and thus I may try to pick up some of his Bronze Age books.
Ottawa News and Notes - Rob Lussier passes along that he is having his sales again on Wednesday evenings through to August 1, 2018. This will be your last chance to grab books there at his special for a while so check it out. I have huge respect for the guy for his charity work for CHEO, so check this out if you can. I have posted the info below direct from the source.
Rain or shine. (My comics are literally inside my garage).
-----------
My address is 32 Mountain Ash Drive, Ottawa, K2G 6R3.
Comics will be available for purchase from 5:00pm-8:00pm on the following dates:*
Wed, June 20
Wed, June 27
Wed, July 4
Wed, July 11
Wed, July 18
Wed, July 25
Wed, August 1
-----------
Comics priced at $3 are discounted as follows:
- If you buy between 1-74 comics they will cost you $1 each
- If you buy between 75-149 comics they will cost you $0.90 each
- If you buy 150 or more comics they will cost you $0.80 each
Comics priced at $4 or more are discounted as follows:
- If you buy between 1-74 you get 50% off
- If you buy between 75-149 you get 60% off
- If you buy 150 or more comics you get 70% off
**FREE long comic book box for anyone who buys 100 or more comic books**
Bring your friends!
I would be happy to convert your US cash to the Canadian dollar equivalent.
All comics are bagged and sorted in alphabetical order.
Mostly Marvel and DC (a few independents).
1970s to current
Sorry I don't have time to maintain a list. If you are interested in buying comics, you will need to come.
*****IF YOU ARRIVE AND THE GARAGE DOOR IS CLOSED, PLEASE RING THE DOORBELL*****
(Doesn't Mongul have a face that even a mother can't love?)
There are two stories in this issue, the main one and a feature called "Whatever Happened to" that was a regular feature of this book during this time. This months feature is Johnny Thunder, Lawman (not the doofus with the magic T-Bolt, the other one.)
Story 1 - "Warworld"
Writer: Len Wein, Artists: Jim Starlin and Romeo Tanghal, Letterer: Ben Oda, Colourist: Jerry Serpe, Edied by Julie Schwartz.
The story begins with Superman and Supergirl flying through space where Supergirl is recounting to her cousin his story of how he met Mongul before, and that Mongul got away from Superman with a crystal key that as the focus of his "quest". After agreeing with Kara on her version of events, Superman then explains why he returned to Earth to ask for her help...to locate the mysterious Warworld before Mongul finds it. Using their vision powers, they find traces of the energy trail that the large object has left behind.
Catching up to Warworld, the pair are astounded by the sheer power and abilities that the planet sized object can do, and they begin to scan the planet surface for Mongul. They find him, but also discover the size of the weaponry all over the planet. They decide to intervene.
Meanwhile, on Warworld, Mongul has realized that Superman has followed him. We get a clue to his origins as he reminisces about having been ruler of his home world until dethroned, but drawing satisfaction from the fact that the new ruler is even more cruel than he is. We also discover that his purpose for pursuing Warworld is so that he can rule the universe. He comes out of his reminisces and begins to defend the planet.
Superman and Supergirl discover that the weaponry can damage them with enough strength and they begin to use their powers to destroy all incoming missiles. Superman then comes up with a plan to defeat Mongul after realizing something about the planet's former inhabitants, and sure enough it works, and Mongul passes out from the strain of running the planet. However, the cousins come quickly to the realization that the planet has automated defenses and have to find a way to counteract.
Superman comes up with a plan that he shares with Supergirl. Kara then speeds towards Warworld exceeding the speed of light and passes through the core of the planet (and then disappears completely). Meanwhile (I just pictured the voice from the guy from Super-friends as I typed it), Superman manages to get in and reprogram the computer so that all weapons track inside and end up destroying Warworld. At the end of the story, Superman wonders where Kara has disappeared to.
Writing - I love Len Wein's work. Yet I have questions from this story. How the heck are the cousins communicating in space? Did Mongul die, because of he did, Superman violated his code as he made the planet blow up. How does Warworld reconstruct (because I think I saw it in a later book.) Anyway, overall a better than average book, and of course, anything with Kara in it gets a little boost from me...4 out of 5
Art - Starlin and Tanghal, while utilizing their own styles have made this book look like Swan's Superman and Supergirl. Mongul looks hideous and I feel he is where the powers that be at Matell were thinking of when they created Skeletor. It helped the artists that the vast majority of the story takes place in outer space and thus overall I give the book 4 out of 5 for art.
Overall - A decent read, but it does feel a bit too rushed in how quickly Mongul's defeat happened. I still will give this a 4 out of 5.
Story 2: "Whatever happened to Johnny Thunder: Lawman?"
Before we get into the story, a quick history of the character. Debuting in All-American Comics #100 (Aug 1948), he was John Tane, a schoolteacher who promised his dying mother he would not use guns and pursue a career in la enforcement (as his father did as sheriff.) He became a secret crimefighter in order to help his father while keeping his promise to his mother. He had a reasonably long history, appearing in almost forty issues of All-Star Western, and then having a bit of a run in the Bronze Age when western comics had a brief comeback.
Writer: Mike Tiefenbacher, Artist: Gil Kane, Letterer: Gaspar, Colourist: Anthony Tollin. Editor: Julie Schwartz.
The story begins with our hero on the street, when a robbery begins. The hero gives a flashback origin (as outlined above) while he prepares himself to his alter ego of Johnny Thunder. Realizing that the robber is one with a grudge by the name of Silk Black, he gets involved quickly, but takes a bullet as a reward. Meanwhile, another costumed (anti-)hero by the name of Madame .44 shows up and is distracted by the sheriff long enough that Silk Black escapes.
Waking up a short time later, Thunder manages to begin tracking both Silk and Madame .44. As he catches up he sees that Silk is about to shoot the unsuspecting woman, and shoots at Black. He missed, but so does Black and Madame .44 then realizes the danger. Johnny's stray shot has caused a rockslide and Madame .44 knocks the two of them off a cliff unto a river to save them from the falling danger. Johnny then gives .44 mouth to mouth and she wakes. She then manages to shoot Silk Black ending the confrontation. Madame .44 and Johnny Thunder have then deduced each other's identities and, after clearing the good name of Madame .44, they end up married, with children (I particularly liked the son's name Chuck Tane, as it reminds me of Chuck Taine, Bouncing Boy of the Legion of Super-Heroes) and retired.
Writing - A silly little predictable story, nonetheless it was entertaining. 3.5 out of 5.
Art - I have never been a huge fan of Gil Kane, but there are panels of Madame .44 he did I did like, so 2.5 out of 5
Overall - A 3 out of 5. I am left wondering more about Johnny Thunder, and thus I may try to pick up some of his Bronze Age books.
Ottawa News and Notes - Rob Lussier passes along that he is having his sales again on Wednesday evenings through to August 1, 2018. This will be your last chance to grab books there at his special for a while so check it out. I have huge respect for the guy for his charity work for CHEO, so check this out if you can. I have posted the info below direct from the source.
Rain or shine. (My comics are literally inside my garage).
-----------
My address is 32 Mountain Ash Drive, Ottawa, K2G 6R3.
Comics will be available for purchase from 5:00pm-8:00pm on the following dates:*
Wed, June 20
Wed, June 27
Wed, July 4
Wed, July 11
Wed, July 18
Wed, July 25
Wed, August 1
-----------
Comics priced at $3 are discounted as follows:
- If you buy between 1-74 comics they will cost you $1 each
- If you buy between 75-149 comics they will cost you $0.90 each
- If you buy 150 or more comics they will cost you $0.80 each
Comics priced at $4 or more are discounted as follows:
- If you buy between 1-74 you get 50% off
- If you buy between 75-149 you get 60% off
- If you buy 150 or more comics you get 70% off
**FREE long comic book box for anyone who buys 100 or more comic books**
Bring your friends!
I would be happy to convert your US cash to the Canadian dollar equivalent.
All comics are bagged and sorted in alphabetical order.
Mostly Marvel and DC (a few independents).
1970s to current
Sorry I don't have time to maintain a list. If you are interested in buying comics, you will need to come.
*****IF YOU ARRIVE AND THE GARAGE DOOR IS CLOSED, PLEASE RING THE DOORBELL*****
Anyway, hope you have enjoyed the review, because, next time I have another Ottawa artist to feature.
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