“Yesterday’s” Comic> Action Comics #695

“Dancing With The Superheroes” never caught on.

Action Comics #695

DC Comics (January, 1994)

Trying to improve their reputation, Cadmus creates a cyborg named Cauldron using a man injured during the Doomsday attack as the template. Kevin controls it through a telepresence system. Superman is wary about this but not for the reason he should be. Donovan is still alive and takes control of Cauldron just to show he can, putting lives at risk. Superman is unaware of this as he battle Cauldron, crashing into an abandoned building that the homeless have been taking shelter in. Superman is forced to damage Cauldron so he can save the people but when Donovan stops messing with the cyborg Kevin uses it to hold the building up, dying when the building finally gives way with everyone having enough time to get out. Kevin felt him die and decides to leave the project. Meanwhile, Lobo has business with Superman. That won’t end well.

What they got right: The plot of a cyborg that Donovan takes over to attack people is an interesting one. There are themes to explore on the nature of cloning ethics and if something that looks like that thing on the cover isn’t overkill when it comes to fighting smugglers and drug dealers.

What they got wrong: Unfortunately it never quite succeeds. Cauldron didn’t need to be a cyborg clone. It has no brain and follows Kevin’s commands (except when Donovan takes it over). It only saved people because Kevin ordered it to, so there’s no emotional connection to it’s death. Yes, it’s. Whatever it came from (namely Kevin), it had no life of its own and again, no reason not to just make it a robot except that Cadmus is a genetics lab. And I’m not sure what Donovan’s motivation was. Making Cadmus look bad? Was he actually trying to show how easy it was to take over Cauldron’s controls like he said? I just don’t know.

Recommendation: This was a good idea that never found it’s potential. I’d skip this one.