The Super-Men (and -Women) of All-Planets

[Jim Kelly]

In THE NEW ADVENTURES OF SUPERBOY 45 (September 1983), our two teens go to a Japanese movie, SUNBURST VS MEGATROID, starring Takeo Sato as the super-hero Sunburst.



After the movie, Clark and Lisa go to the Smallville Soda Shop, where all the cool kids hang out on a Saturday night (but not normally Kent). And, of course, Bash Bashford tries to humiliate Lisa's crush.

Note: Kurt Schaffenberger must have originally been the penciller for this story--as he pencilled pages for it--but in the end Alex Saviuk was the penciller with Kurt providing the embellishments.

[Jim Kelly]

Takeo Sato in actuality has the real powers of Sunburst--but this is a fact hidden from the public. When Sunburst turns crook, the Red and Blue Blur visits Tokyo to sort out Sato's issues, in Nos. 45, 46 and 47.

Regular cover artist, Gil Kane, provides a Tokyo cityscape for issue 46.



A Japanese criminal gang threatens Sato's parents, if he doesn't pull off jobs for them.

Back in Smallville, Jonathan Kent and Mal Davis want to stop a mall development on the outskirts of town that will ruin local businesses.



Note: When Takeo Sato was a child the plumes from an active volcano gave him his latent abilities, which manifested later in life.

[RobinGA]

Jim:

I've really enjoyed this series. I'm sure that has been true for others as well.
In some cases it has reminded me of stories I read long ago. Other bits of Superman
lore that have been forgotten. I know it must be time consuming to produce this.

[Jim Kelly]

Issue 48: Back from Tokyo, on Monday morning at high school, Clark and Lisa are reunited (he left her in the lurch on Friday afternoon). Pete Ross seems bothered.



Clark's ex-pal, Lex Luthor, has escaped from reform school again, gaining new powers and a new costume. And the Kent General Store is bombed to stop Jonathan from running for council.

Issue 49: Johnny Webber's Dyna-Mind powers return, but he doesn't want to be evil anymore.



Lisa invites Clark to a live magic show at the Bijou, where Zatara makes the adolescent disappear.



Then Johnny Webber's way-out powers summon Turlock the Berzerker (riding a chariot led by two two-headed hounds). The Magician and the Kryptonian are overwhelmed, but Johnny uses the last vestige of his powers to save the day--choosing good over evil.

Note: Clark met Zatara previously, when he was Superbaby, in "A Mix-Up in Magic" (Rozakis/Delbo/Hunt), THE NEW ADVENTURES OF SUPERBOY 14 (February 1981).

[Jim Kelly]

It's issue 50 which calls for another anniversary celebration--and it's nearly the 35th anniversary of the first SUPERBOY title, too :

In the year 2984 (or possibly 2983), Nylor Truggs steals the 'H' Dial from the Museum of Heroes and Legends. Note: At different points in this story, the date given is either 2983 or 2984.

Not meanwhile, rather sometime in the 20th century, a gang of youngsters--Clark, Lisa, Pete, Lana, Bash, Valerie--are spending a day at the lake.



And meanwhile, at Soames Reform School, in a solitary cell, Lex Luthor is visited by Truggs, thanks to the 'H' Dial, its setting changed to 'V' for Villain.

Clark Kent is unaware that Lex has made another breakout, as C.K. walks home from the lake with his friends. Lana Lang, seeing that the boy next door is head over heels for Lisa, becomes green-eyed with jealousy. This motivates Lana to set her cap for Lisa's boy friend in issues 52, 53 and 54.



Six Legionnaires (Brainiac 5, Wildfire, Colossal Boy, Chameleon Boy, Element Lad and Starboy) arrive in 20th century Smallville on the time trail of Truggs.

Since they're in town, Clark invites them for a barbecue at the Kent house.



On that occasion, after a long absence, Krypto returns and the Dog of Steel proves invaluable in tracking down both Lex Luthor and Nylor Truggs.

[Jim Kelly]

However, Nylor eludes capture in the form of High-Roller and uses the 'V' Dial to transform Lisa, Lana, Bash and Pete into Blizzard, Wisp, Man-Mountain and Megaton.





The Dial-Up Smallvillain Quartet come into conflict with the Seven-Up Legionnaires. But once more, it's Krypto who saves the day by chomping down on the 'V' Dial, cancelling the metamorphoses.



And that's the last of Dial 'H' for Hero in this title.

[Jim Kelly]

Perhaps, with the extra sized anniversary issue, this put them behind schedule, because the next issue is a reprint of three and a half stories that appeared in the In-Between Years back-up feature for SUPERMAN.

Or is it possible this reprinting might have been deliberate?

It serves as a refresher for readers in advance of SUPERMAN: THE SECRET YEARS, the four issue mini-series that continues the story. Yet SECRET YEARS would not come out until almost a year after this reprint issue. However, consider that Frank Miller is the cover artist for this one (the only cover he did for this title) and he would be the cover artist on all the SECRET YEARS issues.

Clark Kent's Super In-Between Years:
(collect them all)

SUPERMAN 53 (July-August 1948)--1st story, "The Origin of Superman" by Bill Finger, Wayne Boring and Stan Kaye [brief recap]
ACTION COMICS 144 (May 1950)--1st story, "Clark Kent's Career" by Alvin Schwartz, Boring and Kaye [in flashback, first days in Metropolis]
ACTION COMICS 158 (July 1951)--1st story, "The Kid from Krypton" by Edmond Hamilton, Boring and Kaye [brief recap]

SUPERMAN 97 (May 1955)--3rd story, "Superboy's Last Day In Smallville" by Jerry Coleman, Boring and Kaye
SUPERMAN 125 (November 1958)--2nd story, "Clark Kent's College Days" by Coleman and Al Plastino
SUPERMAN 129 (May 1959)--3rd story, "The Girl in Superman's Past" by Finger, Boring and Kaye
SUPERMAN 146 (July 1961)--1st story, "The Story of Superman's Life" by Binder and Plastino
SUPERMAN 161 (May 1963)--1st story, "The Last Days of Ma and Pa Kent" by Leo Dorfman and Plastino
SUPERMAN'S GIRL FRIEND, LOIS LANE 55 (February1964)--1st story, "Lois Lane's College Scoop" by Dorfman and Schaffenberger [in flashback, Raleigh College, no Clark]

ACTION COMICS 393 (October 1970)--2nd story, "The Day Superboy Became Superman" by Dorfman (as Geoff Browne), Andru and Esposito
ACTION COMICS 403 (August 1971)--2nd story "The Man With the X-Ray Mind" by Dorfman (as Browne), Swan and Anderson
ACTION COMICS 404 (September 1971)--4th story, "The Day They Killed Clark Kent" by Dorfman (as Browne), Swan and Anderson
ACTION COMICS 408 (January 1972)--2nd story, "The Shocking Secret of Super-X" by Bates, Swan and Anderson
ACTION COMICS 410 (March 1972)--2nd story, "Healing Hands from Beyond" by Bates, Calnan and Anderson
ACTION COMICS 411 (April 1972)--2nd story, "The Girl Who Worshipped Clark Kent" by Bates, Calnan and Anderson [in flashback, Lorna Martin]
THE AMAZING WORLD OF SUPERMAN [Metropolis Edition] (1973)--"The Origin of Superman" by Bridwell, Infantino, Swan and Anderson
DC SUPER STARS 12 (February 1977)--1st story, "Don't Call Me Superboy" by Bates, Swan and Anderson
ACTION COMICS 500 (October1979)--"The Life Story of Superman" by Pasko, Swan and Chiaramonte

SUPERMAN 359 (May 1981)--2nd story, "The Last Time I Saw Smallville" by Rozakis, Swan and Giella
SUPERMAN 362 (August 1981)--2nd story, "Metropolis: Day 1" by Rozakis, Schaffenberger and Adkins
SUPERMAN 365 November1981)--2nd story, "Where, Oh Where Has Superboy Gone?" by Rozakis, Schaffenberger and Chiaramonte
SUPERMAN 366 (December 1981)--2nd story, "Perry White's Superboy Scoop" by Rozakis, Schaffenberger and Chiaramonte
SUPERMAN 370 (April 1982)--2nd story, "Super-Visions from Beyond" by Rozakis, Schaffenberger and McLaughlin
SUPERMAN 374 (August 1982)--2nd story, "Pete Ross' Crowning Achievement" by Rozakis, Schaffenberger and Hunt

LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES 300 (June 1983)--"The Future is Forever" by Levitz, Giffen, Schaffenberger [alternate timeline]
THE NEW ADVENTURES OF SUPERBOY 51 (March 1984)--reprints: "The Last Time I Saw Smallville"; "Metropolis: Day 1" [first part]; "Where, Oh Where Has Superboy Gone?"; "Perry White's Superboy Scoop"; cover art by Frank Miller
SUPERMAN: THE SECRET YEARS 1 (February 1985)--"Dreams and Schemes and Feeling Proud" by Rozakis, Swan and Schaffenberger; cover art by Miller
SUPERMAN: THE SECRET YEARS 2 (March1985)--"Reach Out and Touch" by Rozakis, Swan and Schaffenberger; cover art by Miller
SUPERMAN: THE SECRET YEARS 3 (April 1985)--"Terminus" by Rozakis, Swan and Schaffenberger; cover art by Miller
SUPERMAN: THE SECRET YEARS 4 (May 1985)--"Beyond Terminus" by Rozakis, Swan and Schaffenberger; cover art by Miller

[Jim Kelly]

In issue 52, we meet old Dave, who lives in a cave outside of town. The mute recluse gets a hard time from some of the folks in Smallville.



When Jonathan Kent was a kid he used to pick on him, just like the kids nowadays, but then he looked into his eyes and felt compassion for the hermit. How long Dave has been living in his cave, no one knows.

What they don't know is that Dave teleported from the planet Hujor--in another universe--almost a hundred years ago. Once on Earth, he was stranded and had no way to get back to where he came from. Nor could he function in human society.

Dave has stored up electric energy over all those years so he might finally teleport back to his own world. But when Dave attempts this feat, electricity in Smallville goes wild, and he is unable to teleport.



Dave uses the last reserves of energy to communicate his thoughts to the Kid and Canine from Krypton, before returning to his cave to resume the task of storing more energy in hopes of one day going home.

[Jim Kelly]

At the same time, in issue 52, Lana Lang begins her campaign to turn Clark Kent's head and steal him away from Lisa Davis. But he's not so easily won over.



And Clark takes part in a friendly game of baseball with the other guys. When Johnny Webber wants to play Clark and Bash stand up for the teen, putting Johnny's past bad acts behind him.

In issue 53, Jonathan Kent sees that the girl next door wants what she can't have--his son!



However, Mr. Kent has his own problems. Nefarious interests own the land where the new mall would be built and they don't want Jonathan to oppose the development. They have already bombed his store. And now they threaten his life.



Note: Issues 53 and 54 also feature the Superboy Revenge Squad--already discussed in posts # 301 and 302.

[Jim Kelly]

In the 54th and final issue, Jonathan faces down more threats. And Clark, bothered by Lana's unwanted advances, walks Lisa home.



At the Davis house, invited for dinner, Clark must make up an excuse to leave when the Teen of Steel is summoned by the White House to take care of the seismic eruptions caused by the alien Herzz.



And Mr. Kent has it out with the corrupt land developer, Gary Simmons.



The ongoing subplots involving Lana, Lisa, Mal, Jonathan and the mall development are never resolved. I think if Paul Kupperberg had advance warning they were going to pull the plug with issue 54, he would have tried to tie up a few of these loose ends.

As mentioned in post #302, the letter column for issue 54 says that Superboy will return in DC DOUBLE COMICS, so maybe the plan was for Kupperberg to further develop these storylines in that title.

It's disappointing not knowing what happened with Lisa Davis after this. As far as I know, this is her last appearance in any comic and the adult Clark Kent was never shown to remember her--the one that got away.

[Jim Kelly]

Jim:

I've really enjoyed this series. I'm sure that has been true for others as well.
In some cases it has reminded me of stories I read long ago. Other bits of Superman
lore that have been forgotten. I know it must be time consuming to produce this.

Robin:

Thanks for the kind words. Now I have to go back in my cave to store up more energy, before I can attempt another teleportation.

[Jim Kelly]

SUPERMAN 62 (January-February 1950)--1st story, "Black Magic on Mars" by writer unknown, Wayne Boring and Stan Kaye; on sale November 2nd, 1949; r. SUPERMAN FROM THE THIRTIES TO THE SEVENTIES (1971):

Orson Welles teams up with Superman to defeat a Martian Fuhrer.



BLACK MAGIC, starring Orson Welles as Cagliostro and Nancy Guild as Marie Antoinette, has just ended filming in Italy. As Welles and Guild drive to the wrap party, still in costume, Orson sees a rocket ship on a hill and investigates. It's a rocket being sent to Mars by scientists from around the world. However, the too curious Welles gets stuck on board the craft as it blasts off for the red planet. Because they had just finished filming the last scene of the movie, Welles still has his rapier with him.



Two hours later, the rocket ship lands on Mars and the Earthman is greeted by little Martian soldiers, the Solazis who have modelled themselves after the Nazis. Their leader is Martler, a Hitler fanboy, who is planning a conquest of the universe, starting with launching a fleet of rocketships toward the third planet from the Sun.



Welles attempts to warn Earth of the oncoming Martian invasion, but because of his famous "War of the Worlds" broadcast, no one believes him. However, Clark Kent's telescopic vision confirms that Orson is not lying.

[Jim Kelly]

The Man of Tomorrow finds that he is unable to stop the fleet on his own. Meanwhile, Orson Welles uses his skill in magic to distract Martler, and then hatches a plan with Superman to use one of the moons of Mars to take the rockets off course. The gravity of the moon pulls the fleet of rocketships into its orbit.

Martler is imprisoned on an asteroid and Welles returns to Italy in time for the costume party, only eight hours having passed since he left Nancy Guild.



Note: It is all true! Based on a novel by Alexandre Dumas, père, BLACK MAGIC (a.k.a. CAGLIOSTRO) was released in the U.S.A. on August 19th, 1949. Made in Italy, directed by Gregory Ratoff and Orson Welles (uncredited), the movie stars Orson Welles and Nancy Guild.




Orson Welles loved doing magic tricks--he does some sleight of hand in BLACK MAGIC and he pulls a rabbit out of a hat in "Black Magic on Mars." His notorious broadcast of "War of the Worlds" was on the night before Hallowe'en--October 30th, 1938--and created a panic for people tuning in late, who believed an alien invasion was actually underway.

[Jim Kelly]

SUPERMAN 81 (March-April 1953)--3rd story, "The Superwoman from Space" by William Woolfolk and Al Plastino:

On the planet Zor lives Tharka, a mutant born ahead of her time--she is their Superwoman. Having invented a television that can pick up broadcasts from other planets, Tharka tunes in what's happening on Earth. The Zorians see that the "Bowtie" Barris gang have commandeered an indestructible tank, causing mayhem in Metropolis. The Superwoman of Zor decides to leave for Earth to help out as a good-neighbour.







When her rocket arrives on Earth, she is unaware that her powers don't work because of the greater gravity. Knowing that all her deeds are being broadcast to Zor, the Man of Tomorrow doesn't want her to suffer public embarrassment and he secretly assists her. Superman lets Tharka have the collar, bringing in the Barris gang, and the Superwoman returns to Zor with her dignity intact.

Note: A planet called Zor had made an appearance less than a year before in ACTION COMICS 168 (May 1952)--1st story, "The Menace of Planet Z" by Bill Finger, Wayne Boring and Stan Kaye. This was covered in post #56, but I made a boo-boo there and called the planet Zar [now corrected]. However, there doesn't seem to be any relation between the two planets called Zor.

[Jim Kelly]

SUPERMAN 84 (September-October 1953)--2nd story, "A Doghouse for Superman" by Woolfolk and Plastino:

The Caped Kryptonian tries to build up immunity to Kryptonite by wearing a green K. dog collar. Bad timing as just then some truly weird aliens (gloopy looking) show up and believe him to be a dumb animal, incapable of proper communication.



The Man of Steel labels these people as "yeast-men." They take him to their planet and keep him in a doghouse.



Eventually, Kal-El is able to figure out how to communicate with them and proves his intelligence, so he wins his freedom.