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

[Jim Kelly]

Now, from space, the Revengers' starspanner beams a ray that slices its way through the Earth right to the centre, where it destroys the Absorbium, awakening Eterno. Immediately upon being revived, the incredible behemoth resumes his billion year old plan of conquest. Eterno attacks Metropolis, destroying buildings and threatening citizens before Superman arrives to engage in battle with the 50 foot fink.

As Eterno holds the Man of Steel in his mighty fist, blasting him with his destructo-beams, on board the starspanner Garan gloats over the imminent defeat of the Metropolis Marvel. And he says that Eterno is only their puppet. However, Garan does not realize that the ship's loudspeaker is switched on and his words are audible to the conquering colossus. Instead of killing Superman, Eterno now sets his sights on the starspanner, blasting the Revenge Squad out of the sky with his destructo-beams.







Garan attempts to immobilize the gargantuan immortal by firing Absorbium capsules at him. Yet, as the towering metal man expires, he falls upon the Revengers' vessel, crushing everyone inside.

Reality Check: No word if Eterno actually survived this catastrophe. Given he's called "immortal" he ought to have come back for another kick at the cat.

[Jim Kelly]

SUPERMAN 198 (July 1967)--1st story, "The Real Clark Kent" by Cary Bates and Al Plastino:

At the Daily Planet office, Clark is exposed as Superman by another Clark Kent, with a beard, who claims to be the real guy. When the Man of Tomorrow gets his counterpart alone, he discovers that this Kent comes from a parallel Earth. There Superman and Clark are two different people and the Superman of that world had Clark imprisoned for three years while he took his place.

The two travel to the other Earth and the Action Ace assumes his Clark Kent identity to draw out the evil Superman. They get into a big fight and after the Man of Steel defeats his counterpart, he goes on a rampage destroying the city and setting off a massive explosion, in order to get the attention of the Superman Revenge Squad.



The Caped Kryptonian has figured out that this world is all a fake and the people androids, created by the Squad. The Revengers tell him that the whole point was just to get him here, this planet will be his prison, sealing off this part of the dimension from all others. However, the Man of Might is able to sneak past the S.R.S. ship and through the opening between dimensions before it closes. The Squad don't make it in time and their ship explodes upon impact with the barrier.



Reality Check: The androids actually believe they are human beings and go about their lives as though it was real--which maybe for them it was.

The second story in this issue--"The Fate of the Super-Super-Superman" by Bates, Swan and Klein--features a highly advanced alien lifeform which is one giant brain.



When the Metropolis Marvel encounters the brainy space traveller, he's given a power upgrade. But after witnessing how badly the Man of Tomorrow uses his new gifts, the Supreme Brain takes them back.

[Jim Kelly]

WORLD'S FINEST COMICS 175 (May 1968)--1st story, "The Superman - Batman Revenge Squads" by Leo Dorfman, Neal Adams and Dick Giordano?--the ink credits are not certain as either Adams or Giordano may have done them; r. SUPER-TEAM FAMILY 1 (October-November 1975):



A mob in Gotham City have formed their own Batman Revenge Squad to assassinate the Caped Crusader--these tough guys, choose to dress up in Batman type costumes with a cool colour scheme and skull-bat chest insignia.



[continued in the next post following . . .]

[Jim Kelly]

A chapter of the Superman Revenge Squad observe the B.R.S. in action--the Revengers in this chapter all prefer to dress up in Superman costumes, with glowing green 'S' insignias (symbolizing Kryptonite) and they sport the bald look.





Every year, at this time, Batman and Superman hold a three day competition to see who can best the other in a set of challenges (whoever had the broadcast rights for this Reality T.V. program must have made a fortune). Both Revenge Squads observe the games and have a stake in the outcome--with each gang covertly sabotaging or aiding the World's Finest competitors.

The Cape and Cowl Compadres have put up awards from their trophy collections for the winner of each day's event, but the Revenge Squads have booby trapped the trophies.

[continued in the next post following . . .]

[Jim Kelly]

The Revengers observe on their broadcast both heroes being blown up, but really Robin and Jimmy found that the trophies were booby trapped and it's just a hoax on the Squads.





Reality Check: The Superman Revenge Squad is said to be "...criminals from a hundred planets...and sworn foes of Superman!"

I don't know whose idea it was to give both Revenge Squads their own costumes that mocked Batman and Superman, but it was a visually enticing concept--so probably Neal Adams thought of it or else Carmine Infantino who would have designed the cover idea with Adams (and cover ideas would often come first before the story was scripted).

I remember how thrilled I was by those costumes when I got the comic book at the drugstore--especially the magenta and purple for the Batman Revengers. It doesn't seem to be an idea that was followed up on. There was previously, however, "the Brotherhood of Batmen"--a gang of crooks who dressed up as Batman, in "The Great Batman Swindle," DETECTIVE COMICS 222 (August 1955).



There's no more Batman Revenge Squad after this adventure, but this event is referenced later in WORLD'S FINEST COMICS 272 (October 1981).

[Jim Kelly]

ACTION COMICS 367 (September 1968)--1st story, "Mysteries of the Superman Awards" by Binder, Swan and Klein:



Every year for the last four years, at the Policemen's Banquet in Metropolis, the Superman Award is given to the person who has helped Superman the most.

The second annual Superman Award, for 1966, was given a man who never heard of Superman. A castaway, he encountered the Man of Tomorrow on a remote island. At that time, the Man of Steel was undergoing the transformational effects of Red Kryptonite.





This was no accident, in that the Revenge Squad used the Red isotype against their hated enemy as they had so many times before. But the castaway caught the Revengers in a trap.

Reality Check: Given the timing of the Superman Awards, this encounter with the S.R.S must have happened between ACTION COMICS 322 and 343.

[Jim Kelly]

ACTION COMICS 380 (September 1969) - 381 (October 1969)--1st stories, "The Confessions of Superman," "The Dictator of Earth" by Dorfman, Swan and George Roussos:

This adventure starts on Wexr II, establishing that it's the homeworld for the entire Superman Revenge Squad. And we see there are different sorts of Revengers, including some who wear the Super costume with the green S.



Two agents--a female, Dorx, and a male, Krit--are called the Liquidators and they're sent to Earth on a secret mission: exposing the Action Ace to artificial Red K., invented by their top scientist, to trigger the conscience syndrome effect.



They set up Superman so it seems he's unconsciously committing acts of vandalism.

In the next issue, the Liquidators witness Superman's unleashed mania and are surprised at the extreme effects of the artificial Red K., which they could never have predicted.

While on his rampage, he has left the Fortress of Solitude wide open for the Liquidators to walk right in. It's all a ruse, for what Dorx and Krit don't know is that their conversation is being bugged and transmitted via Telstar to the U.N. where Superman is on trial.



The Metropolis Marvel sends the Liquidators back to Wexr II, knowing the fate that awaits them for their failure--"lifelong slavery."

Reality Check: Dorx is also given as the name of the scientist that invented the artificial Red Kryptonite. Probably an error. That Red K. is on board the Telstar satellite. Telstar is the name given to a series of communication satellites beginning in 1962 and continuing to this day. "Telstar" is also the name of an instrumental track that shot to the top of the charts in 1962, performed by the Tornados, written and produced by the doomed Joe Meek.

[Jim Kelly]

SUPERMAN 228 (July 1970) - SUPERMAN 229 (August 1970)--2nd story, "Execution Planet" and 1st story, "The Ex-Superman" by Dorfman, Swan and Roussos:

A de-powered Superman is captured by a gang of thugs who turn him over to the Anti-Superman Gang (the Earth-based gangsters who are always out to get the Big Red S). They strip him of his uniform and, with the help of the Superman Revenge Squad (off panel), shoot him into space and he lands on Morgu, the Execution Planet.



There, the Ex-Superman is taken in charge by those who liquidate champions of other worlds. Lord Kopron and his underlings have the contract to exterminate Superman in some really original way, using the Eradicatron Computer to devise the best method. The Revenge Squad is paying them three new planets to do so.



Reality Check: I covered this two-parter in greater detail in an earlier post. The Superman Revenge Squad are merely referenced in the story and don't actually appear in any panels.

Tomorrow: Revengers Reassemble

[Jim Kelly]

ACTION COMICS 445 (March 1975)--1st story, "Count Ten, Superman--and Die" by Bates, Swan and Schaffenberger:

When Clark Kent and Lois Lane are at a charity event, with guest speaker Gregory Reed (the actor who plays Superman), a Puls-Bolt is discharged from a Revenge Squad spaceship.--but the agent has mistakenly fired at Reed not Kent. Clark switches to the Man of Steel and rescues the unconscious actor, but as he does so another Puls-Bolt hits him.





Using his powers will cause the Action Ace to expend his Puls-Flow--after the tenth super-feat, he will die. What the Revengers don't know is that the Man of Tomorrow has already detected them and sussed out their scheme. He gives Gregory Reed a pill to make him super (for a short period of time) and the two look-alikes split their chores, so that the real Superman has only enacted five super-feats.

The three Revengers on board their spaceship believe they have killed the Caped Kryptonian and head back to homeworld, expecting to glory in their victory. However, having failed they meet with the same fate that all Revenge Squad failures suffer--death.



Reality Check: The Revengers have reassembled after more than five years out of publication. It's back to basics for them as the original blue type appear in this tale.

[Jim Kelly]

ACTION COMICS 501 (November 1979)--1st story, "The Mystery of the Mild-Mannered Superman" by Bates, Schaffenberger and Joe Giella



When Clark dresses up in a Superman costume to help Morgan Edge win a bet, he's attacked in the Galaxy offices by a Projectacon emanation of Revenge Squad agent Muka. Having previously been bathed in Quoa energy, the Man of Steel is overcome by his fear response in the presence of his enemies.



However, Clark takes a tip from the Galaxy psychologist and performs as he would usually in front of the WGBS cameras, thus overcoming his fear and vanquishing the Revengers.



Reality Check: The costume Morgan Edge has Clark wear is one Kent previously wore on THE MIDNIGHT SHOW, Starring Johnny Nevada, in ACTION COMICS 474 (August 1977), "Will the Real Superman Please Show Up?"

[Jim Kelly]

WORLD'S FINEST COMICS 272 (October 1981)--1st story, "Assault on the Fortress of Solitude" by Cary Burkett, Rich Buckler and Joe Giella:

Clark is worried that Bruce has become too consumed by his war on crime and flies his friend to the Fortress of Solitude to look at the new holographic memory files he's installed. They just happen to be cued up with the adventure against the Superman and Batman Revenge Squads in WORLD'S FINEST COMICS 175 (May 1968).





As the Batman watches Robin in holographic action, Superman sees a change in his pal and recalls that it wasn't until Dick went off to college that the Darknight Detective became so grim. It seems the loss of that bright influence, from the Boy Wonder, changed Bruce.

However, our two favourite heroes are soon distracted from this sentimental journey by a gang of Phantom Robots that invade Superman's inner sanctum. Robots sent by an alien called the Weapon-Master, who commands an arsenal of advanced weaponry.

Reality Check: The Weapon-Master story continues in WORLD'S FINEST COMICS 273 (November 1981) and WORLD'S FINEST COMICS 274 (December 1981)--1st stories, "In the Citadel of the Weapon-Master" by Burkett, Adrian Gonzales and Bob Smith and "Greater Love Hath No Man..." by Burkett, Gonzales and Brett Breeding.

[Jim Kelly]

SUPERMAN 365 (November 1981) - 368 (February 1982)--1st stories, "When Kryptonians Clash," "Revenge, Superman-Style," "The Revengers Strike Back," "The Revenger of Steel" all by Bates, Swan and Chiaramonte:

When Kal-El finds his cousin unconscious in Central Park and suffering from the effects of Virus-X, he takes her to the Fortress and treats her with White Kryptonite (which kills all plant-life and Virus-X is a plant microbe). As Kara Zor-El is resting, the Man of Might is called away to several jobs for Superman.

Unbeknownst to either, the Virus-X infection was a misdirection by a Revenger named Blymm. His meta beams caused advanced sleep deprivation, so Supergirl was missing the vital R.E.M. sleep she needs to remain sane.



But not to worry, Superman figures out the problem in time before too much damage is done. But for Blymm this is a disaster as failure is not tolerated by the Superman Revenge Squad. The medallion he wears blows him to smithereens in front of the Super Cousins.

In the next issue. the Man of Steel prepares for one of the most daring adventures of his life and projects a holographic image of himself into Lois Lane's apartment to say farewell.



Having constructed a spaceship of alien materials, so that there is no evidence of its Earthly origins, the Metropolis Marvel then batters that ship so it will show signs of an attack by Superman. And he transforms himself into an unrecognizable lizard person.

Near the new planet that is headquarters for the Superman Revenge Squad (Wexr II got too hot for them), the idle spaceship is recovered by the S.R.S. Soon its unconscious reptilian occupant is headed for the scrap heap, before a last minute reprieve.



A blue female Revenger named Nryana greets "Vlatuu of Plyrox" and he recounts to her how he was a space pirate, about to make a raid on a Rygulian freighter, when he was stopped by a caped being. Nryana takes Vlatuu on a tour of their operations and he sees someone that looks exactly like his attacker--Superman but for a slash through his chest emblem. This is the proto droid that Revengers use for training purposes.

[continued in the next post following . . .]

[Jim Kelly]

Meanwhile, back home, Bruce Wayne and Hal Jordan are filling in, disguised as Clark Kent, so he won't be missed.

Superman's disguise as Vlatuu is so complete that he believes this is who he really is. The time spent with Nryana has grown into a love affair, even though that's forbidden under Revenge Squad regulations.



As the prime council spies on Vlatuu, one of them, Dramix, theorizes that this lizard is Superman, while Fwom says there's absolutely no proof of that.

Vlatuu battles and defeats the Superman proto droid and demands to be sent on an assassin mission to Earth. The council decide that it doesn't matter if Vlatuu is or isn't the Man of Steel, either way they win and he loses.



[continued in the next post following . . .]

[Jim Kelly]

In transit, the metamorphosis expires and Vlatuu becomes Superman once more, but with no memory of what happened during his transformation. At the Fortress of Solitude, the Man of Tomorrow downloads all information obtained, condensed in a single pulse of energy.



Reviewing the data, Superman and Supergirl devise a scheme to defeat the Squad once and for all. However, when Vlatuu fought the Superman proto droid, a post-hypnotic suggestion was implanted in his brain and when he sees himself in the mirror, the Action Ace sees himself as the proto-Superman. He believes it his mission to destroy the Man of Steel and all he loves.

When the so-called proto droid takes Lois Lane hostage, she leaps to her would-be death, believing that it is really Superman and the shock will bring him out of it.



At the very last moment, the Man of Tomorrow comes to his senses and saves Lois. Then he flies through hyper-space to the Revengers' world.

They are in a panic, believing he means to kill them all and himself, too. However, instead Superman releases a mist that encircles the planet and he super-shouts a warning to them that if they try to leave their world, they will suffer amnesia and lose their hatred.



Reality Check: At the time of this story arc, Linda Danvers is an actress working in New York on the soap opera SECRET HEARTS, produced by Galaxy Broadcasting. SECRET HEARTS was the name of a long-running romance anthology comic.

Superman uses "The Metamorphosis Machine" to completely transform himself, which was first seen in DC COMICS PRESENTS 35 (July 1981), in his team-up with Man-Bat.

I think this is one of the best Superman story arcs that Bates ever did. I could see it as a movie. My one complaint is that many pages are not readable because the printing press messed up so badly. Some pages are smeared with black ink so you can't see the panels. For this reason, I'd really like it to get a clean reprint, just so I could finally see what's in those panels and dialogue balloons.

[Jim Kelly]

SUPERMAN 383 (May 1983)--"Your World or Your Life Superman--One Must Die" by Bates, Swan and Dave Hunt:

One day, a powerful robot named Robrox, asleep for eons deep below the surface of Metropolis, awakens and comes out of the ground to battle the Metropolis Marvel. The mechanical creature was programmed by an advanced race to protect the Earth from a cosmic attack and Superman is such a threat.

In fact, the Superman Revenge Squad contaminated the eyes of the Action Ace as he flew through what he thought was a cosmic disturbance, on his way back to Earth. When the Man of Tomorrow uses his heat vision, the contamination will have set off a chain reaction destroying the Earth.

Robrox takes his battle with Superman to the Moon, where they can do no damage to the Earth. Until the Man of Might sees the error of his ways.







Having expended every last erg to safeguard the Earth against Superman, Robrox expires.

Reality Check: At the end of the story the Man of Steel vows he'll settle with the Revenge Squad later, yet that never happened. Given the events of the story arc before this, it would seem unlikely that the cosmic disturbance was created by the Revengers recently. Maybe it was an old trap they set, before the amnesia mist encircled their world. Superman may have had second thoughts about settling old scores. Sometimes you just gotta let it be.