Adventures of Superman #434 (November 1987)
Adventures of Superman #434 (November 1987)
Introducing GANGBUSTER! Honest teacher Jose Delgado has had it with these motherfucking thugs in this motherfucking city, so he buys a vigilante costume and some nunchakus and goes out to bust gang members. Hence his name. Gangbuster and Superman then team-up to stop an army of hoodlums who are about to storm the streets with military weapons (courtesy of LexCorp). I’m pretty sure Superman could have done that on his own, but it was nice of him to let Gangbuster tag along.
Meanwhile, Perry White’s son Jerry has had time to reconsider his life choices after spending a while behind bars (he was arrested last issue) and reconciles with his dad after he’s released. He even helps Superman and Gangbuster against the gangs (again, not necessary, but it’s the intention that counts). Luthor’s “One Machine Gun Per Gang Member” project is aborted, though once again no one can link him to any wrongdoing. In the eyes of the public, he’s just an innocent business man who wants to kill Superman.
Character-Watch:
Gangbuster’s debut, of course. I’m sure this whole vigilante thing will turn out great for Jose and he won’t have his spine broken or anything. Also, Clark Kent’s awkward love interest Cat Grant says she’s moving to New York to be with her son. I guess she already got all the action she could get from Clark and is getting another man-toy, the trollop. (Incidentally, she and Gangbuster will hook up in the future.)
Plotline-Watch:
This concludes the “Gangwar!” storyline started in Adventures #432, tying all the loose ends (Jerry’s delinquency, Luthor’s machine gun initiative, Gangbuster’s gang busting), except one:
Who The Fuck Is Synapse: Last issue Luthor’s scientists killed some young thugs while experimenting on them to create a Super-Thug. In this issue, some of the victims’ friends get retribution by trashing Luthor’s lab, setting back “Project Synapse” (and thus Superman’s unexplained dream prophecy about it) a few more issues.
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