Adventures of Superman #487 (February 1992)
Adventures of Superman #487 (February 1992)
A story about Bibbo and Jimmy Olsen discovering the true meaning of Christmas… with some giant explosions thrown in to keep things interesting for those who think that's not reason enough to read a comic (who are these monsters?!). As seen over the past six months, Jimmy has been going through some tough times after losing his job at the Daily Planet, getting kicked out of his apartment, and ending up fighting hobos in a shelter. Now he's living at Bibbo's bar and lying to his mom about his situation (she thinks he's traveling the country on exciting photo assignments) because he's ashamed of being such a loser.
Oh, right: Bibbo and Jimmy dress up as Santa and an elf to celebrate Christmas with the lovable winos of Suicide Slum. When they see something on the news about the Santa visit that Superman and Batman put together for some kids (Superman #64), Bibbo's piano delinquent friends High Pockets and Lamarr get the idea of throwing a party like that for the children of the local orphanage. They even know where to get some presents! Bibbo is like "You're not gonna steal those presents, are you?" (but in pirate voice) but the drunkards assure him they won't… and then proceed to try to break into a toy store, at which point they get caught by Superman.
Superman turns High Pockets and Lamarr over to the police, and they spend the rest of their lives rotting away in Stryker\xe2\x80\x98s Island… or they would have, if Bibbo hadn't explained to Superman what the knuckleheads were trying to do. Superman is moved by their good hearts and impressive stupidity and lets them go, plus helps them organize their party by giving them the rest of the Batman-bought presents. While Superman, Jimmy and the three drunkards are entertaining the orphans, Jimmy's mom shows up – Bibbo figured out what's going on, looked her up and called her so she could be with Jimmy at Christmas.
Awwww. Then we see Clark Kent and Lois Lane exchanging gifts, with Clark awkwardly pretending to be surprised by his new sweater because he already looked at it with X-Ray vision. Anyway, Rao bless us, everyone!
Plotline-Watch:
As for the promised explosions: I lied, there's only one explosion, but it's a huge one. The issue opens with one Congressman Caldwell, a kindly old guy, receiving a special Christmas present: a bomb that blows up his entire mansion. Agent Liberty investigates the site of the explosion and tells his shady superiors it was probably terrorists from Qurac. His bosses are like "Yes, terrorists. It was definitely that." and go like this:
Meanwhile, the governor assigns a replacement to serve out the rest of Caldwell's term on Congress: some junior politician called Pete Ross who recently got engaged. (Yes, this is where that long "Pete and Lana in Washington" plot finally starts going somewhere.)
Oh, almost forgot to mention: JIMMY OLSEN TURNS INTO A GIANT TURTLE! In a TV commercial for a local pizzeria that he shot for quick cash (they never paid him). Lois Lane and Clark Kent see the ad on TV and realize how desperate Jimmy's situation is. If I was Lois, I'd be more shocked that someone is disrespecting the memory of the giant ape she befriended years ago by opening a business in his name, Titano's Pizza.
The orphanage where the touching reunion happens is, of course, the same one where lil' Keith lives and big Myra works. Apparently, this is also where Guy Gardner dropped his illegitimate child:
Don Sparrow makes a great point: "I know it’s for comedic effect, but the idea of a Santa reeking of booze (especially one so quick to raise a hand to a child, no matter how much he may resemble Guy Gardner) is a little disturbing to me, especially since some of the kids served at the orphanages may have come from homes with parents struggling with substance abuse issues. I’m glad to know this is only a pit stop on Bibbo’s road to rehabilitation."
Read more of Don's thoughts about this issue (including how it got him a non-Baldy Award) below the cut!
Art-Watch (by donsparrow):
Another great, Christmas cover from Jerry Ordway, with a lot going on, from tinsel Tarzan swings, to crushed toes, to finger-wagging. I love the palpable joy throughout the cover (shared by everyone but Bibbo and Jimmy). My copy has some colouring issues where you lose Keith on Bibbo/Santa’s lap, which is maybe OK since it looks like Bibbo is rearing back to really belt him. I have also have some selfish affection, since this is the cover that earned me my one and only BALDY AWARD! In the early 2000s (I think it was Superman #766, but I’ll have to dig it out) they asked a trivia question in the letter column, of when was the last time someone appeared as Santa Claus on a cover (which was this very cover). So in Action Comics #770, I responded to that question, and won myself a Baldy Award! Unfortunately, I never got an actual physical copy (either they stopped doing that by that time, or, more likely, it was because the letter columns were being answered by The Joker as part of the bizarre, anti-climactic Emperor Joker storyline, and we all know the Joker’s word isn’t worth much). But still, having a letter published, and “winning” a Baldy award still gives this issue a warm feeling for me. [Max: This is an outrage! You should write to Stan Lee and demand a real one.]
Inside the issue, we’re greeted almost immediately by a pretty excellent house explosion (the intact wreath in the flame is a pretty horrifying touch), with some great dry brush inking by Mr. Hazlewood on the fire clouds (and a gorgeous full page lettering effect on the “Badabooooooom!”) on page 2.
Page 4 has another full page spread, this one of the slapstick variety, as Bibbo takes a tumble, and I like the edges of the panel stabbing inward, almost like icicles.
The flashback of Jimmy’s problems is done pretty succinctly on pages 5 and 6, and the cheapness of the Titano’s Pizza commercial comes through well on the subsequent pages– I’m hoping Titano’s was a pre-existing business (founded perhaps by Italian-German Titano Schnatter?) which capitalized on the giant Ape from the Superman Annual, and not a business so opportunistic that it named itself after what was surely a disastrous and sad incident for Metropolis.
The panel with Pete and Lana’s toast is a great background, and drawing all the varied textures like pine needles, garland and reflective decorations isn’t easy–but it’s done so well, you might not even notice it, which is the sign of a great background. Plus, it’s an interesting visual juxtaposition from the coziness of the newly engaged couple’s first Christmas, to Agent Liberty hiding in a similar pine tree outside the wreckage of the Senator’s home.
PANEL OF THE WEEK! (A new feature I’m trying where I highlight the best drawn image from that week’s comic) Almost certainly the half-page spread of Superman scouring the city looking for Jimmy. A great look at Superman in flight, with his cape billowing in the winter wind. Just awesome.
I like Superman’s look of bemusement as our favourite rummies try to break into a toy store. I’m sure the irony isn’t fully lost on Superman that Bibbo is approaching Christmas for the needy essentially the same way Superman did a week earlier with Bruce Wayne’s help.
All in all, I’ve loved this whole month of Christmas issues, especially the tear-jerker reunion with Jimmy and his mother, and finally the quiet and tender Christmas enjoyed by Lois and Clark on Clinton Street. [Max: Yeah, I think these issues are pretty great, and they demonstrate the biggest benefit of having four monthly Superman titles – they can get away with giving most of an issue to some good-hearted drunks because they had plenty of "Superman punches stuff" scenes in the other comics.]
STRAY OBSERVATIONS:
Jimmy must be speaking very quickly to get that whole sentence out in the time it takes Bibbo to slip to the ground (the splash page above).
How can you not love the phrase “Giant–Turtle–Olsen?” being shared between Clark and Lois, incidentally?
That’s a pretty low-to-the-ground couch Lois has.
GODWATCH: I dunno, Pete. I’m glad you got the girl of your dreams and all, but it’s a bit tacky to thank God for the roof leak that led to you getting laid that same night.
Nice colouring detail on High-Pocket’s gin blossomed nose. [Max: For anyone wondering, Bibbo got Lamarr a whole jar of beef jerky, and they didn't get him anything because they "fergot it wus x-mas."]
While his name recalls Haldeman, Harriman’s look is pure G Gordon Liddy, right down to the circa-1972 turtleneck. It’s a sneaky bit of visual shorthand letting us know: corruption is happening! (page 13) You can also tell these guys are bad since they don’t even wish Agent Liberty a Merry Christmas. [Max: Another hint that they're up to no good: Judge Kramer was black in Agent Liberty #1, and he's white now. He's probably some sort of reptilian shapeshifter.]
“The Coates Branch of the Children’s Aid Society”? Nice little wink at the Lois of a bygone era.
Page 17 reminds us of Bibbo’s origins as a Popeye analogue. I can definitely hear Popeye calling Lois “Lois Lanes”.
It’s such a nice writing detail that not every kid in the orphanage is as boisterous as our friend Keith. I like the touch that there are shyer, quieter kids like Heather.
GODWATCH AGAIN! Putting a bow on the sweet reunion and Christmas joy that Bibbo brought to the Olsens and orphanage kids, his observation about love in the room gets a prayer-like “Amen to that” from Supes, punctuated by the orphanage director’s “God bless you all…”
Is there a way to say “m'lady” to a woman without sounding like a weirdo? It appears from Lois’ reaction Clark has found it, but I’m still skeptical.
