Superman #13 (January 1988)
Superman #13 (January 1988)
Superman versus Toyman, a deranged British toymaker who went insane after being fired and started using his talents to murder his former bosses with killer toys. I believe the plot was adapted into the 1992 Robin Williams classic Toys. Anyway, one of the owners of Toyman’s former company happens to be Lex Luthor. Superman saves Luthor from one of Toyman’s explosive toys (which fails to impress Lex) and then fights an army of superhero action figures in the sky.
At this point the comic is rudely hijacked by Millennium, DC Comics’ yearly crossover event of 1988. Clark Kent is visited at the Daily Planet by his pal Lana Lang, who as we saw in Action #595, has suddenly turned evil. Lana attempts to reveal Clark’s secret identity by ripping open his shirt, but luckily he happened to be going commando that day. The confused Lana then jumps out the window and flies away. Superman follows her into the next issue…
Character-Watch:
After Mr. Mxyzptlk and Clark’s mermaid ex-girlfriend Lori, Toyman completes the trilogy of ridiculous Superman characters re-introduced to the new continuity in three consecutive issues.
Toyman is a stocky fellow called Winslow Schott, and at the end of the issue he’s kidnapped by a shadowy figure with a glowing green ring who wants him to use his talents to help kill Superman (Green Lantern?). This version of Toyman is gonna show up a few more times before his tragic ‘90s gritty revamp as a kool and edgy child murderer. #Comics!
Plotline-Watch:
Luthor’s Kryptonite: Luthor tells his physician Dr. Kelley that he’s feeling some discomfort in his right hand, the same hand he happens to be wearing his kryptonite ring on. Oh, I’m sure it’s nothing. Also, it’s interesting (to me) that Toyman tries to kill Luthor with a miniature version of his LexWing plane, the invention that began Luthor’s empire. Luthor apparently liked the idea and will eventually “kill himself” in a full-size LexWing.
Manhunters in Smallville: Lana is “revealed” as an agent of the Manhunters, a group of space robots bent on universal domination. As we’ll see next issue, it’s not just Lana who’s apparently been a robot spy all along, though.
WTF-Watch:
This issue has a weird (possibly illegal) cameo by The Avengers… the British version. So it’s a guy with a bowler hat instead of Samuel L. Jackson with an eyepatch, sorry.
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