Superman guides us through the New 52 - O.M.A.C.

You know what doesn't make me mad?

Another installment of Superman guiding us through the New 52, that's what!

And since we just happen to have a picture of Superman duking it out with OMAC up top, we might as well talk about O.M.A.C. #1 by Dan DiDio and Keith Giffen.

When I first heard they were bringing this title back, my first thought was "Really? With DiDio writing?" Then I saw that Keith Giffen was on pencils and plots and all is right with the world. After reading this issue, I'm glad to say that not only is everything right with the world, it's even better!

This issue scratched the Kirby itch in a big way, that not even Morrison was able to do during his Final Crisis saga. It's an unapologetic homage to the mad-cap craziness that was Kirby at DC during the early 70's. The fact that they were able to work a "Build-A-Friend" into the first issue was just the icing on the cake. For those of you unaware, that's one of those flying bathtub ladies from the cover of the original OMAC #1.

As much fun as the story was, it wouldn't have been half as entertaining without the fantastic pencils of Keith Giffen. I've been a fan of his style for a long time, but I haven't had this much fun with the energy and dynamism (is that a word?) of his stuff since his early Defenders.


All in all, if DC can manage to make the rest of their fringe and bottom-tier titles half as entertaining as this one, they just might be on to something with this whole reboot thing.

Script by Len Wein
Pencils by George Perez
Inks by Pablo Marcos
Colors by Gene D'Angelo
Letters by John Costanza

DC Comics Presents #61
The Once And Future War!
September 1983
Copyright (c) DC Comics

and

Story by Dan DiDio and Keith Giffen
Pencils by Keith Giffen
Inks by Scott Koblish
Colors by Hi-Fi
Letters by Travis Lanham

O.M.A.C. (Vol. 2) #1
Office Management Amidst Chaos
November 2011
Copyright (c) DC Comics

The Many Lives of Superman #14

The Many Lives of Superman

Green Lantern!

Script by Paul Levitz
Pencils by Curt Swan
Inks by Francisco Chiaramonte
Colors by Jery Serpe
Letters by Ben Oda

DC Comics Presents #6
The Fantastic Fall of Green Lantern!
February 1979
Copyright (c) DC Comics

Characters Continuity Forgot #5

Kriss-Kross

You better hope he does, Kriss-Kross, because not too many other people do!

Would be double-agent and Russian spy, Kristopher Kross, was caught by Superman as he tried to smuggle some "computer components" and a "plutonium based power pack" over to the Soviet Union. After his getaway jet was disabled, he attempted to parachute to safety but was struck by lightning while clutching onto his stolen goods.

After finally being apprehended and turned over to the military, Kross finds that he has become physically fused with the high-tech equipment, giving him the ability to control technology. His power will now criss-cross the world, creating a network of chaos under his control!

And he would've gotten away with it too, if only Firestorm hadn't been around to disrupt the NASA satellites he was stealing energy from to beat on Superman with.

Alas, a super-villain moniker derived from your real name that perfectly suits your powers and modus operandi can only take you so far. In this case it was one issue, and poor old Kriss-Kross was never seen again.

Script by Gerry Conway
Pencils by Rich Buckler
Inks by Bob Smith
Colors by Gene D'Angelo
Letters by Ben Oda

DC Comics Presents #45
The Chaos Network
May 1982
Copyright (c) DC Comics

Green Lantern Week - The Big Green Fist!

No celebration would be complete without it.

Script by Marv Wolfman
Plot & Pencils by Jim Starlin
Inks by Steve Mitchell
Colors by Jerry Serpe
Letters by Ben Oda

DC Comics Presents #26
Between Friend and Foe!
October 1980
Copyright (c) DC Comics

Sgt. Rock Redux

After yesterday's bit of silliness, here's a panel from the story where Superman really met Sgt. Rock.


Barking orders to a grunt...that's more like it!

Script by Cary Bates
Pencils by Joe Staton
Inks by Jack Abel
Colors by Adrienne Roy
Letters by Ben Oda

DC Comics Presents #10
The Miracle Man Of Easy Company
June 1979
Copyright (c) DC Comics

Characters Continuity Forgot #4

The Atom-Master!

A mad scientist of sorts, who with the use of his special helmet, is able to rearrange the dust in the air and materialize it any form he desires.

His original crime spree was cut short by Superman, Batman, and Robin, but never count on a renegade scientist to stay idle for too long. Unfortunately for him, his return to the big time years later was as a member of the Forgotten Villains! And true to form, he has remained forgotten to this day.

He did have a redemption of sorts, turning against the Enchantress at the last moment to prevent her from taking over the world. I think he should count himself lucky, as it's rare for a character that continuity forgot to have a relatively complete and satisfactory storyarc.

If you can call three appearances over 25 years a storyarc.

UPDATE: And yes, for those of you keeping score at home, this is the same Atom-Master who created the illusion of the T-Rex from the last Sunday versus post.

Script by Marv Wolfman
Pencils by Curt Swan
Inks by Dave Hunt
Colors by Gene D'Angelo
Letters by Ben Oda

DC Comics Presents #77
Triad of Terror!
January 1985
Copyright (c) DC Comics

Sunday versus #9

Superman vs. Tyrannosaurus Rex

Present...past...it doesn't really matter, as punching dinosaurs is just plain old fun during any epoch!

Script by Mark Evanier
Pencils by Alex Saviuk
Inks by Frank McLaughlin
Colors by Michele Wolfman
Letters by Ben Oda

DC Comics Presents #64
May You Live In Interesting Times!
December 1983
Copyright (c) DC Comics

Problems us normal people don't have to worry about

I guess it's the normal person equivalent of leaving the house with no pants on?

Script by Dan Mishkin & Gary Kohn
Pencils by Curt Swan
Inks by Kurt Shaffenberger
Colors by Gene D'Angelo
Letters by A. Kawecki

DC Comics Presents #50
When You Wish Upon A Plnetoid!
October 1982
Copyright (c) DC Comics

More Fun with Grundy

Speaking of an army full of Solomon Grundys...


...there was also that time that Superman had to stop an army of them from rising up from the sewers of Metropolis and destroying the city.

I know that his thing is constant reincarnation, but who knew that Grundy had such a predilection for getting himself cloned as well?

Script by Steve Englehart
Artwork by Murphy Anderson
Colors by Jerry Serpe
Letters by Ben Oda

DC Comics Presents #8
The Sixty Deaths Of Solomon Grundy!
April 1979
Copyright (c) DC Comics