Today’s Comic> DC Retroactive: Superman – The 70’s

"Dear, can we discuss this later?"

DC Retroactive: Superman – The 70’s

(featuring a reprint of Action Comics #484)

DC Comics (September, 2011)

After Lana makes another move on Superman, he and Lois have a falling out. Superman doesn’t have time to reconcile as a collection of his villains keep popping up, thanks to Mr. Mxyzptlk as part of a bet with another creature. Not having slept or rested in a while, our hero is already on edge, but he soon figures out how to stop the imp’s latest trick, which is actually good news to Mxyzptlk.

What they got right: Mxyzptlk is a good way to bring in old Superfoes for this story, and if they hadn’t explained the mystery so early, we could be left wondering just what he did to Superman, but instead we get a side story where he makes a bet with another guy and watching that interaction is pretty neat. Plus we learn ol’ Mxy doesn’t actually want to kill anyone, not even Superman, just cause trouble.

What they got wrong: Again, the art doesn’t match the style of the 70’s, but it is good artwork. Although there’s one butt shot of Supergirl that made me…a bit uncomfortable.

Before we get to the recommendation, let’s look at the reprint for this issue.

Earth Two Didio is displeased.

Action Comics #484

DC Comics (June, 1978)

A group called the C-F Gang (led by Colonel Edmond Future) convinces the Wizard to eliminate Superman. However, all his spell ends up doing is wiping Clark’s memory that he is Superman, causing “Clark” to become more confident. A year later he and Lois are married and Clark’s news stories are upsetting the C-F Gang. When they try to kill him, Lois realizes the truth even if Clark doesn’t. Will she give up her happiness to restore the Man of Steel? By the way, this is all happening on Earth 2, the alternate universe based on the early Superman comics.

What they got right: By setting the story on Earth-Two Bates was able to do things DC wouldn’t do with the main story without having to go to an imaginary story/dream tale as well as return to older continuity. (Today’s DC, I hope you were taking notes.) We also get to see that’s it’s Superman’s personality she loves and not his powers when “Superman” disappears and Clark becomes more like Superman.

What they got wrong: This is on today’s DC’s part. Why use an Earth-Two story when it doesn’t give you an example of what the mainstream DC Universe was like at the time? Also, the main story was written by Martin Pasko, but this story is by Cary Bates. I thought they were going to have the same writer, then and now? I could be wrong on that last one.

Recommendation: A good Superman story and a good reprinted story, even if I wished it had been an Earth-1 story. Worth picking up.

(SIDEBAR: I wish DC had listed the comic that was being reprinted and shown the cover. I had to look for both online.]

How is that shot from the helicopter? That had to be inside the cable car.

Tomorrow’s Comic> DC Comics Presents Shazam! #1

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