Superman #62 (December 1991)
Superman #62 (December 1991)
“Blackout” Part 4! Lois Lane fights Superman’s cavewoman bride, while Superman just floats there all like “Hmm, yes. Yes, keep going.” Why would Superman marry a cavewoman, or any woman besides the one he’s currently engaged to? Because he lost his memory and ended up stranded in an island full of dinosaurs, as seen on Part 3 of this saga. Meanwhile, Lois, the Guardian and Professor Hamilton (who is responsible for this whole mess) are looking for Superman all over the southern hemisphere and finally locate the island by following his brain waves. Another victory for pseudo-science! They arrive just in time to interrupt Superman’s wedding with the Guardian’s flying car.
Not only do they prevent the amnesiac Supes from marrying the hot islander (leading to the epic confrontation depicted on the cover), but they also insult Superman’s new BFF – the evil Mr. Z, who also lost his memory. Offended and depressed, the amnesiac Z goes off to sulk elsewhere on the island and accidentally causes a dinosaur stampede that heads for the cave people’s village. Superman manages to scare the dinosaurs away when Lois reminds him that he can shoot fire blasts from his eyes, but unfortunately, he still can’t remember anything else. That’s when Lois gets an idea for how to cure him:
The issue ends with Superman going “Wow! Lois?” Could it really be that simple? SPOILERS: No, it couldn’t. But we won’t find that out until next issue.
Plotline-Watch:
In Metropolis, Gangbuster and Thorn are getting overwhelmed by all the jerks looting the city during the blackout, but the mysterious Agent Liberty literally swoops in to the rescue. Still, it’s taking three heroes a whole lot of effort to stop just a bunch of random guys with baseball bats. Another reminder that the city is screwed without an invulnerable flying alien.
Fortunately, the power is finally restored to the city, all thanks to the just arrived Lex Luthor II! Lil’ Lex literally fixes the power grid with his own hands, because he’s just that good of a dude. Perry White then shows up to yell at him just for being Luthor’s son (like he can help it) but Lexie calms him down by appealing to the memory of Perry’s late son Jerry – technically Lex II’s half-brother. They do have a certain hairstyle resemblance.
There’s also a subplot about an overweight islander taking a liking to Professor Hamilton after he saves her from the dinosaur stampede, because of course there is. She even shares his exact eyeglass prescription, so it must be meant to be! Ham resists her charms, however, since his heart already belongs to his dear Mildred back in Metropolis.
Think this post was way too short? Then head over to Don Sparrow's section for more! Over to you, Don:
Art-Watch (by donsparrow):
We start with the cover, and it’s a deceptively excellent one. Obviously, the image that jumps out is the catfight between two LL characters, Lois and Lola, but there’s actually tons going on, as Jurgens manages to fit virtually every character important to the story in there somewhere, all the while creating realistic depth of field with roots, mountains, rocks and clouds. Plus, the weird, stern Superman looking on (approvingly?) keep it from being a completely slapstick cover. The seriousness of everyone’s expressions seems to indicate this battle actually matters. Great stuff, as usual.
We open the story with no less than two “What the–?” panels, as Superman (his chest hair miraculously having returned since last issue) is about to marry Lola-La, and Lois Lane hanging precariously from what is revealed to be an upside-down Whiz Wagon, traveling at high speeds to an island like the Savage Land with elements of Lost mixed in there as well (weird mists? Uh oh!).
Jurgens draws Lola, and indeed many of the islanders a little more humanoid and less Neanderthal looking than Bogdanove,which is welcome. Lois, Hamilton and Guardian’s arrival on the island is really well drawn, as you really get the sense of high speed from their flying hair and motion lines. Lois stomping on the gas is a great, funny visual.
In general this storyline has had more comedy than the usual issues, but it’s done well enough that it doesn’t seem like Booster and Beetle buying the island of Kooey Kooey Kooey or anything. Plus, Lois’ genuine terror at Superman marrying someone else, and the shambles a Superman-less Metropolis finds itself in adds some gravitas.
Back in Metropolis, the riot and fight scenes are excellent, helped by some nice high angle POV panels. Gangbuster seems pretty quickly convinced of Agent Liberty’s right wing talking points. As Liberty pulls his shield,I’m reminded that between him and Guardian, there are no shortage of Captain America analogues in Metropolis.
Page 12 has a pretty elaborate electricity set-up, which I’m guessing is Lex Junior’s creation. Maybe Berkowitz really is a terrible mayor. He knows nothing about this guy, but immediately hands the entire city’s grid over to him. The exchange between Lex and Perry on page 14 is an interesting one, and Jurgens masterfully shows the openness and emotion on Lex’s face.
One piece of foreshadowing might be that he seems to know about Jerry White’s lineage. Was that public knowledge? For someone who never really knew his father, he seems to know some of his dirty laundry. [Max: Well, I think Dr. Kelley would probably know about the Lex/Jerry connection (she might have even done the DNA test), and Lex II knows Dr. Kelley, since she's his mum.]
Back on the island, Lois’ tussle with Lola is the stuff of fanboy dreams (and apparently, Mr. Z, who implores Superman to let the fight continue). I don’t want to know what the translation is for “Slee Kitch” but I have a guess or two.
Superman re-learning his heat vision is a nice visual, as well, and the slapstick continues with Hamilton pancaked by an islander woman.
As usual, Jurgens draws a gorgeous Lois Lane, and she looks dynamite on page 21. Storywise, I love the idea that out of desperation, Lois tries movie logic,that a kiss will bring back Superman’s memory, and after this whole trip, Guardian and Hamilton must be gravely concerned about her relationship with Clark Kent.
STRAY OBSERVATIONS:
Why, yes, Professor Hamilton, this IS the time and place to correct Lois about the difference between Pteradons and Pterodactyls. Sheesh!
Glad to see Guardian’s back on-model with the yellow triangle on the top of his uniform. He was wearing the Kirby version of his costume in MOS #6.
Is that a sly Wolverine reference, when Guardian tells Superman he’s “the best there is” and Superman immediately asks what he does? I wonder. I’ve always thought that was a clunky and weird tagline of Wolverine’s anyway.
Thank goodness Gangbuster’s there to bust some jaws on members of the fearsome Howard the Duck gang.
Hey, watch the hands, Superman (second panel on the “cat fight” sequence above), you claim not to even remember Lois!
Ha ha, Mr Z is wearing Gilligan’s hat, which he found on the beach! From which, we can definitely inference that Gilligan and all his compatriots are long, long dead. Or is he? (Oh, maybe he is.)
[Max: You know, I never got that joke until this re-read. As a kid, when I read this issue before the beginning of the storyline, I somehow assumed the joke was that Z had left that hat there himself before losing his memory.]