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

[Jim Kelly]

On Paradise Island, Hippolyta offers the Woman of Tomorrow refuge among the Amazons and adopts Kara Zor-El as her third daughter (after Diana and Nubia).

As an adopted Amazon, the Princess of Power adds some Wonder Woman accoutrements to her ensemble--golden tiara, belt, boots and bracelets (the bracelets must be hidden under her cuffs).



Meanwhile, Nubia is close to death and the only thing that will save her is a rare plant that grows on a Pacific Island.

Supergirl flies off to get the plant but she is attacked by a trio of magic shaman. She's rescued by a Chinese man, named Fong, who has dressed up as a white gorilla. These shaman have a fear of white gorillas. But their magic attack has robbed the Blonde Blockbuster of her powers. Later, she dresses up in the white gorilla costume and steals the magic totems from the shaman so she may regain her powers.

Returning to Paradise Island and saving Nubia's life, Supergirl decides to go back to Man's World rather than close herself off from the rest of humanity.



Note: Given that Linda has a new boyfriend in every issue, she can't be very serious about any of them, so it seems rather an over-reaction when she finds her latest fling is not a one-woman man. She's hardly a one-man woman.

Hippolyta says that Princess Kara is her third daughter, but has she forgotten about Donna Troy? Maybe the Queen is thinking in terms of age. In birth order, Diana would be first, Nubia second, Kara third and Donna fourth. Queen Hippolyta is Supergirl's third mother, given that her first mother, Allura In-Zee, is still living in Kandor and her second mother, Edna Danvers, is still living in Midvale.

Despite the caption at the end, the next issue is not "on sale during the last week in November." In fact, this nearly would have been the final issue of SUPERGIRL, as no more came out for many months. Then THE SUPERMAN FAMILY began and hers was one of the three rotating cover features in that title. Her first new story being in SUPERMAN FAMILY 165. Yet there would be a tenth and final issue of SUPERGIRL after that.

***

Tomorrow: On Strike

[marhawkman]

Hippolyta says that Princess Kara is her third daughter, but has she forgotten about Donna Troy? Maybe the Queen is thinking in terms of age. In birth order, Diana would be first, Nubia second, Kara third and Donna fourth. Queen Hippolyta is Supergirl's third mother, given that her first mother, Allura In-Zee, is still living in Kandor and her second mother, Edna Danvers, is still living in Midvale.

Looking at dates? this precedes the creation of the Donna Troy character. It doesn't pre-date Wonder Girl... but this is back when Wonder Girl was teen Diana.

[Jim Kelly]

Looking at dates? this precedes the creation of the Donna Troy character. It doesn't pre-date Wonder Girl... but this is back when Wonder Girl was teen Diana.

Sorry there, good brother, but your information sources must be wrong.

TEEN TITANS 22 (July-August 1969)--"The Origin of Wonder Girl" by Marv Wolfman, Gil Kane and Nick Cardy--establishes that Donna Troy was found in a fire by Wonder Woman and brought to Paradise Island, where she was adopted by Queen Hippolyta. The TEEN TITANS book was late in correcting their error about Wonder Girl, but this was when they first tried to explain "Who is Wonder Girl?"

And this was before the events in SUPERGIRL 9 (December 1973 - January 1974)--"The Super-Amazon." Mind you, Donna kept getting new origin stories, so this story does come before one of those other retcons.

[marhawkman]

Sorry there, good brother, but your information sources must be wrong.

TEEN TITANS 22 (July-August 1969)--"The Origin of Wonder Girl" by Marv Wolfman, Gil Kane and Nick Cardy--establishes that Donna Troy was found in a fire by Wonder Woman and brought to Paradise Island, where she was adopted by Queen Hippolyta. The TEEN TITANS book was late in correcting their error about Wonder Girl, but this was when they first tried to explain "Who is Wonder Girl?"

And this was before the events in SUPERGIRL 9 (December 1973 - January 1974)--"The Super-Amazon." Mind you, Donna kept getting new origin stories, so this story does come before one of those other retcons.

I tried to look it up on the wiki... and... I suspect the wiki writers got confused. I looked again and found this: https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Donna_Tro...on_Adventures) which... claims the animated Wonder Girl from 1967 was Donna Troy? I R haz the confused nao.

So yeah... ok, guess it was before 1972.

[Jim Kelly]

I tried to look it up on the wiki... and... I suspect the wiki writers got confused. I looked again and found this: https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Donna_Tro...on_Adventures) which... claims the animated Wonder Girl from 1967 was Donna Troy? I R haz the confused nao.

So yeah... ok, guess it was before 1972.

These writers get everything confused by applying later retcons or facts not in evidence to the characters. The 1967 W.G. could not possibly be Donna Troy since that name wasn't invented yet.

I see this often on the Internet Movie Database, where a character in the screen credits is not identified by name yet they assume they are such and such character from the comics and give that name for their credits.

There's a lot of misinformation out there on the internet.

Looking ahead to tomorrow, I will identify Morgan Edge as alias Morris Edelstein. However, know that this name and that back story would only appear a couple of years after the upcoming adventure.

[Jim Kelly]

SUPERMAN 271 (January 1974)--1st story, "The Man Who Murdered Metropolis" by Maggin, Swan and Oksner:

Framing this tale is a union strike by the T.V. workers in Metropolis, including Clark Kent. Morgan Edge (alias Morris Edelstein) is sympathetic to the union brothers and sisters on the picket line--his father was a union man--but as Galaxy's chief executive officer he must muster management to take the place of union workers--and Edge himself delivers the news broadcast.

While the T.V. strike continues on the ground, another strike comes from the sky, as Brainiac threatens Metropolis with its mirror image descending upon the city--when the two skylines converge their destruction is mutually assured.

Edge rushes to the roof of the Galaxy Building to report live on the threat to the city. As he does so, the Action Ace drops an information capsule with instructions for Edge and his technicians to reverse the polarity of Brainiac's sensors--feeding the Computer Criminal a false image of Metropolis, replaced by a scale model of the city.



As the air war between the Cybernetic Coluan and the Caped Kryptonian ensues, Brainiac utters a series of cryptic sobriquets at the Scion of Smallville: "Old Red-and-Blue"; "Old Cigarette Smoke"; "Old Father of Modern Gardening"; "Old County in Southeast England"; "Old Ohio College Town"; "Old Paleolithic Cavern"; . . .



. . . "Old Star of Stage and Screen"; "Old Canvas Painter"; "Old British Duke"; "Old 19th Century Jurist"; "Old Writer of Science Fiction."



Superman doesn't seem to understand the meaning of these "nonsense names"--but maybe he's not letting on. By the next time he encounters Brainiac, he has figured out that the 12th Level Space-Pirate knows that Clark Kent is the Man of Steel.

I'm not sure why Elliot Maggin wanted Brainiac to spout all these cryptic clues. It does liven up what could otherwise be a routine match between super-hero and super-villain; however, it doesn't jibe with the nature of the Computer Criminal. A flaw in his/its programming?

Also, the title of the story is not accurate, since Brainiac isn't really a man. Yet it makes more sense given that Morgan Edge was "The Man Who Murdered Metropolis" in miniature.

Note: Since the Metropolis Marvel sticks to the skies, he never actually crosses the picket line around the Galaxy building. Brother Clark, being a union man, wouldn't do that--no matter which suit he wears.

[Jim Kelly]

SUPERMAN'S GIRL FRIEND, LOIS LANE 136 (January-February 1974)--"Wonder Woman: Mrs. Superman" by Bates, Rosenberger and Colletta; cover art by Bob Oksner:



This issue's story is presented as "A Lois Lane Special"



Superman starts a relationship with Wonder Woman, saying she's his choice for a wife.

Lois suspects it's a hoax and spies on the couple to prove her point. Queen Hippolyta's daughter, Diana, is pursued by thugs working for a mastermind called the Revenger.

Ms. Lane is taken captive by the Revenger and put in a death trap, before Melba Manton saves her bacon. Melba figured Lois "might need a sister's help."



The Revenger turns out to be an escaped mental patient who is a Superman stalker.

Note: As with SUPERGIRL, this would have been LOIS LANE's final issue, as the series went on hiatus. Meanwhile, THE SUPERMAN FAMILY was launched. However, SUPERMAN'S GIRL FRIEND would return several months later for one last dance.

[Jim Kelly]

SUPERBOY 200 (January-February 1974)--"The Legionnaire Bride of Starfinger" by Bates and Cockrum:

In the Legion of Super-Heroes, members losing their powers and getting them back was rather common. Chuck Taine, otherwise known as Bouncing Boy, went through this a few times. Maybe this was because some writers thought the character was too funny while others liked the broad comedy he provided. In any event, at the start of SUPERBOY 200, Chuck has got the bad news from Brainiac 5 that his powers are gone (for the time being at least).

Chuck thinks of all the wonderful times he had, especially with Duo Damsel, alias Luornu Durgo. Well duh, Chuck has to be the luckiest man who ever lived.



It takes him a moment but he comes to the realization that he should marry his Double Darling. And so Chuck runs off to pop the question to Luornu and she says yes.

Superboy having just arrived in the 30th century is the first to find out. Luornu used to have a crush on Clark, but now they're just good friends.



Duo Damsel also discovers that her powers are on the blink, but Brainy deduces that she has actually lost one of her two surviving selves (she used to be Triplicate Girl before her third sister self was killed by Computo).

Just the same, the two lovers become husband and wife on Mars with a big crowd of family and friends attending. Cockrum's wedding scene--which deserved to be a two-page spread--was squeezed onto one page which had to be tipped on end to be viewed properly.



No sooner have Chuck and Luornu been joined in matrimony than Starfinger shows up demanding that she be given to him. He has her sister self and if the two are not joined, they will both die.

Alias Dr. Lars Hanscom, a deranged scientist, Starfinger wants to figure out how Duo Damsel is able to split in two. When he thinks he has accomplished the feat and faces his twin, it's actually Superboy in a Starfinger costume.

With B.B. and D.D. going on the reserve list, that leaves two spots open. Clark will fill one of those openings (coming back off the reserve list), leaving another vacancy to be occupied.

[Jim Kelly]

SUPERMAN 272 (February 1974)--"Special All Magic Issue"; cover art by Nick Cardy:





Progeny of--

▪ ACTION COMICS 80 (January 1945)--1st story, "Mr. Mxyztplk Returns" by Don Cameron and Ira Yarbrough--see post to follow.
▪ SUPERMAN'S PAL, JIMMY OLSEN 81 (December 1964)--2nd story, "The Demons from Pandora's Box" by Siegel and Schaffenberger--see post to follow.
▪ ACTION COMICS 97 (June1946)--1st story, "The Magicians' Convention" by Siegel and Sikela--see post to follow.
▪ GREEN LANTERN 42 (January 1966)--"The Other Side of the World" by Fox, G. Kane and Greene--see post #943.
▪ ACTION COMICS 86 (July 1945)--1st story, "The Enchanted Mountain" by Don Cameron and Ira Yarbrough--see post to follow.
▪ SUPERMAN 165 (November 1963)--1st story, "Beauty and the Super-Beast" by Bernstein, Swan and Klein--see post #310.

[Jim Kelly]

"Mr. Mxyztplk Returns":

After his first appearance in the comic books--SUPERMAN 30 (September-October 1944)--Mr. Mxyztplk returns in issue 80 of ACTION COMICS to cause a series of mishaps for Clark Kent. Lane doesn't believe Kent when he says the imp did it all, until she sees for herself.

To make it up to her, Clark invites Lois to the movie premiere of ROGUE'S MARCH. But Mxy enters the theatre and brings the movie characters out of the screen and into the theatre.



The Master of Mischief follows that up with a series of disasters in Metropolis. But in the end the Son of Krypton tricks the impertinent prankster into saying his name backward.

***

"The Enchanted Mountain--A Tayle of Sorcery" is in issue 86 of ACTION COMICS, presented as a legend that may or may not be true:

In south-east Europe, in the little town of Morabia, the folks are vexed by the Wizard of Wokit. He takes the form of a giant falcon and abducts a youth, bringing him to the enchanted castle atop the mountain.

The people cry out for a champion to rescue their native son. Superman senses their need and arrives in Morabia. Entering the Wizard's castle, the Action Ace is blocked by sorcery, but is able to overcome the threats by refusing to believe in their power.

Going to the people in Morabia, the Man of Steel councils them to deny the Wizard's magic power.



Then, at the speed of light, Superman strikes the side of the mountain--bringing down it and the castle. The Wizard is gone.

***

"The Magicians' Convention":

Doc and Flannelhead--otherwise known as Hocus and Pocus--are two would-be magicians (also detectives), who make their third bow, along with their rabbit Moiton, in issue 97 of ACTION COMICS.

Because the Metropolis Marvel keeps helping them in secret, the two believe they really can do magic.

At a "Magicians' Convention," the conjurer who can stump their brother magicians will win a prize of $25,000. Hocus and Pocus are competing for the prize money, but they are also working as detectives to find out who stole the plans for a magic trick from Gregor the Great. With the help of the hidden Superman, Doc and Flannelhead find the stolen plans.



But Gregor is actually hoping to use his trick as a misdirection, while he robs the hotel safe. When Gregor is caught in the act, all believe it was Hocus and Pocus who solved the case. And they win the $25,000.

[Jim Kelly]

"The Demons from Pandora's Box":

On an archaeological dig in Greece with Lewis and Lana Lang, Jimmy opens a box like the legendary Pandora's Box, despite the warning that it might release evil spirits.



Later, as Jimmy drives father and daughter to the airport, he's bedevilled by demons and crashes the vehicle, leaving Professor Lang dead. Haunted by guilt, Olsen finds refuge in Superman's Fortress of Solitude. Yet again, the demons return to beguile the cub reporter and he shoots at them wildly, destroying the bottle city of Kandor and all its inhabitants.

Lori Lemaris then offers to treat Jimmy at the Psych-Lab in Atlantis. When Lori's sister Lenora shows Olsen around the undersea city, he's again driven mad by his demons and sets about killing everyone in Atlantis.



Coming to the surface, the possessed youth summons the Man of Steel with his signal watch and the demon spawn use their magic to turn Superman into Super-Demon. But as the Demonic Kryptonian threatens the remorseful reporter, Jimmy is roused from this nightmare by Professor Lang.

Emanations from a volcanic rock inside the box put Olsen in a coma and induced his hallucinations.



Jim summons Superman for real and the Man of Tomorrow hurls the evil box into the sun.

[Jim Kelly]

Also in this Super Spectacular--"Play the Graffiti Game with Superman":





Next week: We Are Family

[Jim Kelly]

SUPERMAN'S PAL JIMMY OLSEN 55 (September 1961)--1st story, "The Monster That Loved Aqua-Jimmy" by writer unknown, art by Plastino; 2nd story, "Jimmy the Red, Thor's Best Pal" by Bernstein, Swan and Kaye; 2nd story r. SUPERMAN'S PAL, JIMMY OLSEN 112 (July 1968):

First at bat: When Superman flies Aquaman to an away game on a far off water world, the King of the Seven Seas shares his powers with Jimmy Olsen, so the cub reporter can pinch-hit for the Major Leaguer while he's gone. Let that one marinate.



A prehistoric sea monster, preserved inside an iceberg, emerges from its frozen tomb and falls in love with the Sub-Contracted Mariner. And Aqua-Jim names his admirer Lizzie. However, when Lovesick Liz becomes too much for our Red-Headed Rover, Lori Lemaris returns the sea monster to cold storage. Lori must have ice in her veins to play a fellow sea dweller such a cruel trick.

Art note: Al Plastino is credited as both pencilling and inking this fish tale; however, the style looks slightly different and I wonder if Al had an assist on the inks.

Next at bat: A foul hit by Loki, the god of mischief, transports Jimmy back into Viking times where he befriends Thor, the god of thunder. Jim deduces that Loki is actually an ancestor of Mxyzptlk from the 5th Dimension.



Note: This precedes the appearance of Thor in JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY 83 (August 1962)--1st story, "The Stone Men from Saturn" by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, Jack Kirby and Joe Sinnott.

However, even earlier, Thor was in TALES OF THE UNEXPECTED 16 (August 1957)--1st story, "The Magic Hammer" by writer unknown, art by Jack Kirby. The King may deserve a plotting plaudit, as he re-uses ideas from this whopper in a couple of Marvel tales of Asgard.

[Jim Kelly]

SUPERMAN'S PAL JIMMY OLSEN 163 (February-March 1974)--1st story, "A World That Came Before" by Dorfman and Schaffenberger; 2nd story, "The Rip-Off On Pier 13" by Dorfman and Schaffenberger; cover art by Nick Cardy:



The alien Enorr is on his deathbed in a Metropolis hospital. He tells Jimmy and Superman that he came from his home planet thousands of years agone to carry out an experiment, bringing with him two gem stones. There are two identical sparklers that are the Stars of Cathay.



Jimmy becomes Marco Polo once more, continuing his adventures from before and honoured by Kublai Kahn, but Timur plots against him. Kurol the Djinn proves to be just as unreliable as before--is he really there to help Marco-Olsen or is he an enemy?

This inning ends on another nail-biter as Jimmy returns to the present, not sure of his own mind.

[Jim Kelly]

Heavy hitters, Corrigan and Olsen, crack a hijacking case on Pier 13 and Corrigan graduates to detective.



End of run. Turn down the stadium lights.

***