The Lois Lane - Lana Lang Truce
[B]Illena of Kromal[/B] is another space-travelling woman. She pops up in SUPERMAN’S GIRL FRIEND, LOIS LANE No. 52 (October ’64), “The Lois Lane - Lana Lang Truce”; story: unknown writer; art: Kurt Schaffenberger.
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After yet another blow-up between Lois and Lana, the two are on the outs with each other, yet a strange visitor from another planet convinces the two to call a truce. A turbaned temptress, Illena of Kromal, immediately attracts the attention of Superman, as soon as her saucer ship lands on Earth.
The Man of Might presumably never suspects Illena as anything other than what she claims to be and he seems to spare little thought for Lois and Lana as he begins squiring the alien lady around the globe.
Soon, Illena displays the power to turn living creatures to stone. And, while she seems to do this only for good, Lois rightly observes that is not something Superman would do--as he would never kill a living creature (even an evil one). Then, Lane and Lang discover that a spy Illena had turned to stone was actually a double agent, so really one of the good guys.
Yet, Lois thinks nothing of turning the tables on Illena and giving her the stone treatment.
Illena herself is, in fact, an agent of the [B]Superman Revenge Squad[/B] (Agent X9831Q). Her stone transformations are accomplished thanks to a skull cap (under her turban) made from the snake scalp of that actual Medusa of myth. A pretty gruesome thing for a Code approved comic book.
Luckily for stone cold killer Lois, as well as Illena's petrified victims, the Man of Steel is able to use the skull cap to reverse the effect and bring them all back to life. So, despite her intentions, Lois isn’t guilty of murdering Illena.
Illena resembles not only several other female space travellers that were attracted to Superman, but those admirers of Jimmy Olsen, as well. More anon.
[b]Note[/b]: The Revenge Squad gets a thorough examination beginning on [URL="https://community.cbr.com/showthread.php?75972-The-Super-Men-(and-Women)-of-All-Planets&p=5464260&viewfull=1#post5464260"]post #294[/URL] and this story of Illena of Kromal (Agent X9831Q) is addressed again in[URL="https://community.cbr.com/showthread.php?75972-The-Super-Men-(and-Women)-of-All-Planets&p=5465728&viewfull=1#post5465728"] post #312[/URL].
Jimmy Olsen’s Super-Romance
One of Jimmy’s biggest loves was [B]Princess Allura of the Ashtar Galaxy[/B].
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We first meet Allura in “Jimmy Olsen’s Super-Romance,” SUPERMAN’S PAL, JIMMY OLSEN No. 64 (October ’62); story Leo Dorfman; art: John Forte; cover: Curt Swan & George Klein.
Truly a dysfunctional couple are Jimmy and Lucy. Once again in this story, Jimmy is jilted by Lucy when she’s the arm candy for the Army Air Corp’s Captain Corbin (a moustached pilot probably in his thirties).
However, Jimmy’s disappointment doesn’t last long as, back at his apartment, he’s contacted on a short wave radio by an admirer from another galaxy, who instructs him on how to create a mentor band, which boosts his intelligence. And with his higher I.Q., Jimmy builds an intergalactic video transceiver so he can see his lovely space princess, Allura, from the Ashtar Galaxy.
Thanks to his increased thinking powers, Jimmy performs some heroic feats and exposes Lucy’s Captain Corbin as an enemy spy, before Allura convinces him to break up with Lucy and journey to her galaxy, to be her super-husband. However, after Jimmy flies across the universe in a space suit and arrives on Allura’s homeworld, with its twin suns, the two long-distance lovers discover they are not to scale. To Jimmy Allura is a giantess, while to the princess the cub reporter appears too tiny.
Realizing their love is not to be, the mismatched pair must part. Jimmy (his mentor band burned up by friction) in his lonely apartment is once more pinning all his hopes for love on the Laodicean Lucy Lane.
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Jimmy’s Inter-Dimensional Romance
[B]Rona of the Seventh Dimension[/B]
Allura returns in SUPERMAN’S PAL, JIMMY OLSEN No. 77. But before we take a look at that adventure, we first must discuss yet another love gone wrong for Jimmy in SUPERMAN’S PAL, JIMMY OLSEN No. 73 (December ’63); “Jimmy’s Inter-Dimensional Romance”; art: John Forte & George Klein.
Jimmy hopes to win Lucy’s hand by sculpting her in stone. She models for him for weeks until she sees the finished product--and it’s not her. Instead, as if he were a modern day Pygmalion, Jimmy has been manipulated into sculpting an image of an unknown beauty.
Left in the sunlight, the statue of this latter day Galatea comes to life and explains to Jim that she is Rona from the Seventh Dimension. She was imprisoned in stone but he has set her free. She rewards him with a serum that builds him up into a physical marvel. The sort of man Lucy always wanted. But now he is Rona’s and Lucy can’t have him.
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In fact, Rona is a black widow who has already married and murdered several men. The Interdimensional Police Patrol imprisoned her in stone--in the Stone Zone--until she was released by Olsen’s sculpting.
Arrested by the Interdimensional Police, Rona is once more imprisoned in stone and sent to the Stone Zone. But you haven't seen the last of her.
The Colossus of Metropolis
In “The Colossus of Metropolis,” SUPERMAN’S PAL, JIMMY OLSEN No. 77 (June ’64), as Jimmy sorts through his mementos, he remembers the women that loved him including [B]Allura, Ilona[/B] and [B]Rona[/B]. He seems to have forgotten that Rona wanted to murder him.
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Meanwhile, Titano the Super-Ape has escaped from Earth’s prehistoric past through a time-warp and is menacing Lucy Lane in modern-day Metropolis. And Superman is stymied by the Super-Ape’s Kryptonite vision.
Having Colossal Boy’s growth serum and a replica of that Legionnaire’s costume, Jimmy becomes a 20th century Colossal Boy so he can take on Titano. Allura seeing that Jimmy is now on the same level as her and warm for his form, comes to Jimmy’s assistance.
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Unfortunately the Colossal Boy formula wears off and Jimmy is reduced to his former size. Allura tricks Titano into taking a ride with her back to her homeworld in the Ashtar Galaxy--where he's released into the wild to live peacefully with other apes of his size. The end of the story, sweetly, pictures our Titano with his own mate.
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Which is a nice ending for the Super-Ape--too bad later writers never respected this happy conclusion. Curt Swan and George Klein did the art for this one, but the writer remains unidentified.
The Great Miss Universe Contest
[B]Miss Platonia, Dialla of Platonia[/B]
“The Great Miss Universe Contest,” in SUPERMAN’S PAL, JIMMY OLSEN No. 83 (March ’65); was written by Sam Rolfe, who was a prolific TV writer--among his credits, he developed and worked on HAVE GUN, WILL TRAVEL and THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E--this might be the only comic book story he wrote. However, the art was by the dependable team of Curt Swan & George Klein.
When Perry White becomes invisible--thanks to Jimmy’s force field belt (a gift from Brainiac 5)--the cub reporter must take White’s place at the Miss Universe contest, as one of the judges. Jimmy is induced to vote for Miss Platonia, even though Lucy is one of the contestants (as Miss Metropolis).
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Miss Platonia is not of this Earth, as she is Dialla of Platonia and she takes Olsen back to her home planet. Unlike with other women, where he was totally into it, given Dialla’s telepathic and telekinetic powers, Jim may not have gone with her of his own free will.
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In any case, when they arrive at the planet of Platonia, Dialla reveals her true form as a protoplasmic creature and uses a conversion machine to change Jimmy into a Platonian, as well.
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But before the protoplasmic Olsen can depart the interplanetary craft to marry Dialla on her homeworld, he’s pulled back into the space-ship, the saucer doors slam shut and it’s revealed that the invisible Perry White had chaperoned the couple on their cosmic flight, as the editor and his cub reporter make their escape back to Earth.
Jimmy Olsen’s Wierdo Wedding
[B]SUPERMAN’S PAL, JIMMY OLSEN No. 100[/B] (March ’67) went on sale January 12th, 1967, and offers positive proof that Jimmy Olsen and Lucy Lane are monumental morons, in “Jimmy Olsen’s Weirdo Wedding” by Leo Dorfman and Pete Costanza--cover by Curt Swan and George Klein.
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Apparently, even though they were in the Abbey Road studios recording the album that would be SGT. PEPPER’S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND--John, Paul, George and Ringo decided to put on one last live performance at the Metropolis Stadium in early 1967.
And as Jimmy’s anniversary adventure begins, Perry White graciously gives Olsen two tickets to see that rare performance. Anxious to capture the heart of his Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, Jim intends to take her to the Met Stadium to see the Fab Four from Liverpool. But the silly sister Lane jilts James to instead go dancing at the Club Watusi with another of her pilot paramours--this one named Vince.
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Jimmy uses the last ounces of the serum he got from Rona (of the 7th dimension), to bulk up his build and become a strongman once again--and go to the Club Watusi, rather than see the greatest band on the planet. Yeesh!
When Rona’s formula wears off, Vince gives Jimmy a sound beating at the Club Watusi, but this stirs up Lucy’s affections for our ginger Romeo and she agrees to marry Olsen right then.
The next day, Jimmy throws out his little black book and the mementos of past lovers--as he flashes back on his romances with Allura from the Ashtar Galaxy and Dialla from Platania. He then zips off to the 30th century, to a meeting of the Legion of Super-Heroes (being himself an honourary member)--he’s disappointed to find out that he just missed one of their greatest adventures, defeating the Sun-Eater (in ADVENTURE COMICS 352 - 353).
And he sadly must break the news to Saturn Girl, Light Lass and Duo Damsel that he is getting married, as he still believes that these three super-females are carrying a torch for him--recalling how they fell for him in SUPERMAN’S PAL, JIMMY OLSEN No. 76, “Elastic Lad and his Legion Romances.” Saturn Girl telepathically tells her compatriots to play along with the deception--as they never really were in love with Jimmy, but let him continue to think so.
Finally the big day arrives, but Miss Gzptlsnz--the imp from the 5th dimension--is still angry that Jimmy jilted her and plots against the bride and groom. Disguised as Supergirl she has given Lucy a magic lipstick laced with red Kryptonite that has the effect of turning Superman into a Super-Mole every time that Jimmy and Lucy kiss. As they do when they say “I do.”
Upon realizing the disastrous effects from their smooches, they plan to annul their marriage; however, at the courthouse, Gzptlsnz reveals it was all her doing. But just then Rona from the 7th dimension shows up--having escaped her stone prison in the Stone Zone--and puts a curse on the newlyweds so that every time they kiss, one of their friends will turn to stone.
But then the Interdimensional Police Patrol arrive to cart Rona back to the Stone Zone--which as with 5th dimensional imps has the effect of reversing all Rona’s magic. Feeling like they can go ahead with their marriage, yet another ex-lover shows up. This time it’s Dialla from Platonia, who wants Jimmy back. He tells her to beat it, but Lucy has had it with all Jim’s exes and she insists on going through with the annulment.
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And they didn't live happily ever after. Should've seen the Beatles, you idiots.
The Mysterious Mr. Mxyztplk
The Squiffles never return nor is Hitler’s demon possession developed further, but a year later another magical creature, “The Mysterious Mr. Mxyztplk,” shows up in SUPERMAN No. 30 (September-October ’44); story: Jerry Siegel; art: Joe Shuster & Ira Yarbrough.
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Jerry Siegel purportedly wanted to create a rascal that would give Bugs Bunny a run for his money. The name itself, with all the consonants, was probably inspired by Joe Btfsplk from Al Capp’s LIL ABNER. In that strip, the hapless Btfsplk is a jinx, who always has a dark cloud above his head. As well, being Jewish, Siegel may have had to study Biblical Hebrew which is all consonants.
I imagine another inspiration for Mxyztplk was Rumpelstiltskin (or Rumpelstiltschen in German), a fabled figure whose story has appeared in many lands, in many languages. Guessing the name of the imp causes Rumpelstiltskin to run away, just as tricking Mxy into saying his name in reverse (or spelling it in reverse) sends him away--but for how long varies in the early stories, before finally the 90 day minimum is established.
Upon first arriving in Metropolis, the diminutive gentleman in the derby and three-piece suit goes on a spree, commiting several pranks before he attracts the attention of the Man of Tomorrow. As he later explains to Superman, he is a being from another dimension, where he was a court-jester, until he read a book by a scholar which revealed two words to him: one that would get him to our dimension and another word that would take him home.
This explanation suggests that Mxyztplk is not his true name but simply a magical formulation, given that when he is tricked into saying the reverse, Klptzyxm--as happens at the end of this story and so many others to follow--he pops back to wherever it is he came from.
Miss Dreamface meets Mr. Mxyztplk
Although “The Mysterious Mr. Mxyztplk”was the first story written, it ended up coming out after the magical imp had already appeared in the Superman newspaper strip. Whitney Ellsworth (senior editor of the Superman comics) was writing the strip at the time--with Wayne Boring the resident artist--and recognizing the genius of Siegel’s creation, Ellsworth rushed to get Mxy into the comic strip dailies first.
Thus Mr. Mxyztplk first became visible (inside Clark’s desk drawer) on March 1st, 1944, a Wednesday--although he had been invisible for a week before that. Note that this was a leap year, so there was a February 29th that year.
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Mxyztplk is said to be outer-dimensional. He demonstrates to Superman that he can also become two dimensional and even one dimensional. At one point in the dailies, the pop-eyed pest leaves the scene to chill in the 8th Dimension. He also explains to the Man of Tomorrow that for him three dimensional beings are like ants, so he doesn’t really care what happens to them
And it’s in these dailies where Mr. Mxyztplk routinely uses the name Super for Superman. This becomes the fashion in the comic books, as well, thereafter.
Meanwhile, the Most Beautiful Woman in the World (Miss Dreamface) arrives in Metropolis. For most of the continuity, Boring never shows her face, which only serves to hype up how beautiful she must be. A thousand men stand outside her apartment building, desperate to have a glimpse of her beautiful face. The Man of Tomorrow himself is afraid to look at her, as Clark Kent he already caught sight of her once with his x-ray vision and that was enough to throw him in a tizzy.
When Mxy sees Miss Dreamface, he also falls in love and begs her to marry him. But she will have none of it, as she has fixed her cap on Super. Instead of being her husband, Mr. Mxyztplk settles for being her slave and he disperses the thousand suitors by stealing away their pants, so they run away in embarrassment.
Miss Dreamface wants to be wealthy and powerful and she knows with Superman she can have the world at her feet. So she commands Mxyztplk to bring Super to her, but when Mxy has made good on this promise, she dismisses him. As it is a leap year, Miss Dreamface has the right to ask the Man of Steel to marry her and he nearly agrees to the proposal--so in love with her is he.
Yet she would have him forsake his mission, abandon humanity, to rule the world by her side. And the Man of Tomorrow is fine with that, until finally he’s brought back to his senses and realizes the absurdity of such a marriage. He must be a bachelor (for now).
Meanwhile, Mr. Mxyztplk plots revenge on Miss Dreamface by tampering with the brakes in her car; however, when the Most Beautiful Woman seems to die in the resulting car crash, Mxy is mortified--he wanted to create mischief but not kill.
Miss Dreamface’s most devoted admirer is Ted, who has known her all her life (long before she was the Most Beautiful Woman in the World) and he loves her for herself not her looks. The aged Agatha who is some sort of servant to Miss Dreamface (their relationship is never made quite clear) has no good opinion of the Miss, yet Ted does--even though the young woman seems terribly vain and unsympathetic.
Mr. Mxyztplk is gotten rid of in this tale, not by saying his name backwards, but simply because Ted punches him in the face--which Superman concludes “shattered the slender thread of psychic balance which allowed him to remain on Earth.”
For a fuller detailing of this continuity you can go to [URL="https://bullyscomics.blogspot.com/2018/01/a-year-of-mxyzptlk-1-enter-imp.html"]Comics Oughta be Fun![/URL]. Or better yet, buy the book, SUPERMAN: THE GOLDEN-AGE DAILIES 1942 - 1944 (IDW, 2016).
