The new guy

"Yeah, sorry about that Batman. I'd totally be down with teaming up, but Powerman doesn't think it's the right move for me at this point in my career. You understand, right?"

And sorry from me about the recent spate of posts on autopilot. It's been an exceptionally busy period for my secret identity, and I didn't get as far ahead as I usually like to be after the summer.

In fact, this whole month is going to be a little touch and go as things don't appear to be lightening up, so I'm thinking about messing with the format for the month of September to amp up the excitement and danger level. We'll see if I can keep the daily posts going, while flying by the seat of my pants.

So join us tomorrow as the pre-crisis, post-crisis, golden age, and silver age version of Superman takes us on a whirlwind tour of the new DCU.

Script by Edmond Hamilton
Pencils by Dick Sprang
Inks by Stan Kaye

World's Finest Comics #94
The Origin Of The Superman-Batman Team!
May/June 1958
Copyright (c) DC Comics

One last time...

We celebrated the new beginning yesterday, but there was one more panel that deserves a shout out from this week's books, and that's the last in-continuity appearance of the old Superman.





Yep, there goes the Post-Crisis/Pre-Flashpoint Superman, dissolving into the speed force.



Rest easy big guy, as you definitely earned it.



I'll be seeing you in the longboxes as always. In the meantime, however, let's see what this new upstart can do.

Script by Geoff Johns

Pencils by Andy Kubert

Inks by Sandra Hope & Jesse Delperdang

Colors by Alex Sinclair

Letters by Nick J. Napolitano



Flashpoint #5

Flashpoint Part Five Of Five

October 2011

Copyright (c) DC Comics

Birthday posting

Just a quick post today, as it's your humble bloggers birthday. I'm sure there's some birthday tradition involving presents and cakes and whatnot that the wife and kid have cooked up, so let's get this post taken care of so I can relax and enjoy it.



Which reminds me, didn't Superman have a birthday party once?





Good thing I have a firm "NO BLACK MERCY" rule for all my get-togethers.

Script by Alan Moore

Artwork by Dave Gibbons

Colors by Tom Ziuko

Letters by Dave Gibbons



Superman Annual #11

For The Man Who Has Everything...

1985

Copyright (c) DC Comics

The Man Of Steel 25th Birthday Celebration Week - The World's Finest!

So up until I read The Man Of Steel mini-series originally, old Superman and Batman had been the best of buddies since their days chasing the Legion of Doom around in the old Super Friends cartoon. At the time, it was still a bit of a novelty to read and experience their "first" meeting, and it was fantastic that John Byrne gave us a whole issue devoted to it.

While the villain they encountered was a bit of a lame duck, the issue did give us quite a few nice visuals, like this one...


It's a clever little twist, that gives Clark the upper hand initially. And if you know Batman, this wasn't the best of ways to introduce yourself. I'm pretty sure calling the future half of the World's Finest duo an "outlaw," doesn't help much either.

Script by John Byrne
Pencils by John Byrne
Inks by Dick Giordano
Colors by Tom Ziuko
Letters by John Costanza

The Man Of Steel #3
One Night In Gotham City...
August 1986
Copyright (c) DC Comics

The Weekly Panel of Steel #9

I'm just having too much fun with Flashpoint to not make it the Weekly Panel of Steel two weeks in a row!


We got a taste of what Superman was going to be all about in last week's Flashpoint: Project Superman #1, but here we see the real deal in action.

Kept in isolation and away from the sun for thirty years, Kal-El has become a pale, withered version of the hero we all know and love. He's the subject of a jailbreak, as Barry tries to assemble the Justice League from his memories, and what better place to start than with the man of steel.

I love how we see the power inherent in Superman in this panel, not with any sort of showy fashion, but by the awe reflected in Batman, Flash, and Cyborg's faces as they witness Superman flying for the first time.

So far, this mini-series is delivering on all levels, and I'm enjoying the heck out of Superman's part in it.

Script by Geoff Johns
Pencils by Andy Kubert
Inks by Sandra Hope
Colors by Alex Sinclair
Letters by Nick J. Napolitano

Flashpoint #3
Chapter Three of Five
September 2011
Copyright (c) DC Comics

Exclamations that never quite caught on

Never mind the floor, Superman, Ollie's mother has a laundry emergency that needs tending to!

Quick everybody! Darn those socks!

Script by Gerry Conway
Pencils by Dick Dillin
Inks by Frank McLaughlin
Colors by Gene D'Angelo
Letters by Ben Oda

Justice League Of America #182
Reprise
September 1980
Copyright (c) DC Comics

Awesome Colan Cover!

So I'm sure by now, everyone has heard of the passing of Gene Colan on Thursday. He was a heckuva artist, and there has been no shortage of tributes all over the comic book blogosphere.

Here at Superman 101, we'll fondly remember his great talents by using one of his covers for our semi-regular Saturday awesome cover posts. And since this is a Superman blog, we'll pick one with Superman in it.

Over the years, Gene was known as the Marvel horror guy during the 70's, and even though he worked for DC in the 80's quite a bit, he tended to stay in the Batman corner of things and didn't do too much Superman stuff. In fact, I could only find one cover that he ever did where he actually drew Superman.

So without further ado, the world's greatest Gene Colan Superman cover (by virtue of being the only Gene Colan Superman cover)...World's Finest Comics #297


Rest in peace.

Pencils by Gene Colan
Inks by Klaus Janson

World's Finest Comics #297
November 1983
Copyright (c) DC Comics

First day of summer

Vacation
All I ever wanted
Vacation
Had to get away

Sea World advertisement
Copyright (c) DC Comics

Sunday versus #11

Superman vs. Tyrannosaurus Rex Illusion

Now I'm sure I'm testing the boundaries of the rules here, but any excuse to show a little more Dick Sprang art and I'm all over it.

Script by Bill Finger
Artwork by Dick Sprang

World's Finest Comics #101
The Menace Of The Atom-Master
May 1959
Copyright (c) DC Comics

The Weekly Panel of Steel #4

It's kinda slim pickin' for a Panel of Steel this week as Superman only made one appearance, and that was in the pages of Superman/Batman #82.

The story continues to chug along quite nicely as Batman and Detective Chimp uncover some important clues into the disappearance of Superman, while Superman himself begins to find his footing in the not too distant future under a magically reanimated sun.

It sounds crazy, but then again the best comic books usually are. Cullen Bunn continues to impress with a very clever script (I love the magic world Batwing! If only this was a Batman themed blog that would've been the panel of the week right there.) and Chriscross makes it all look pretty. There wasn't really one panel of Supes that stood out, however, as Batman took the center stage for most of this issue. Luckily for us we are saved with a stunning cover by Travel Foreman and Val Staples!


I love the blue monochrome look to whole thing, with the focal point being Superman's glowing white hand. The blue gradually gets darker as the light recedes from his hand, giving the battle between Batman and an army of Solomon Grundys in the background an especially eerie feel.

The highlights in the sword are a nice touch and tie the whole image together, letting us know that the rules are somewhat different on this magically influenced earth.

Good stuff, and well worth the price of admission alone. The fact that you got a kick-ass twenty page story to back it up makes it even better.

Artwork by Travel Foreman
Colors by Val Staples

Superman/Batman #82
May 2011
Copyright (c) DC Comics

The old switcheroo...

At last, after forty years of super-villain shenanigans, the true meaning of evil is about to make itself known.

And brought on by Superman, no less!


Now we all know that that's not the real Superman.

Bonus points for anyone out there who knows which one of the super-villains at their feet is the real Superman.

And super-double bonus points to anyone out there who knows the identity of the rather generic looking fella on the right.

And super-triple bonus points to anyone out there who knows what blockbuster series took this storyline and expanded upon it almost three decades later.

Script by Gerry Conway
Pencils by Dick Dillin
Inks by Frank McLaughlin
Colors by Gerry Serpe
Letters by Ben Oda

Justice League Of America #166
The Long Way Home
May 1979
Copyright (c) DC Comics

Just chillin'

You know you're secure in your super-hero identity when you can just chill and let your guard down while swapping stories like a couple of school girls.


Thanks to Elliot S! Maggin and Alex Toth for giving us a peek into the private lives of the world's finest.

Script by Elliot S! Maggin
Pencils by Alex Toth
Inks by Terry Austin
Colors by Tom Ziuko
Letters by Gasper

Superman Annual #9
Villain! Villain! Who's Got The Villain?
1983
Copyright (c) DC Comics