Superman: The Man of Steel #8 (February 1992)
Superman: The Man of Steel #8 (February 1992)
Superman fights the deadly trio of Jolt, Blockhouse and Lois Lane. I mean, and… LOIS LANE?! Jolt and Blockhouse are the nasty cyborg lady and big dumb guy who have been stalking Lois on behalf of their boss, Cerberus, since last month. After dropping a giant Christmas tree on some people to distract Superman for a few seconds, Jolthouse finally kidnap Lois and put a mind-control necklace on her that will make her loyal to Cerberus. Lois manages to yell for help before that happens, though, and Superman appears so that the punching section of the story can commence.
Despite being weakened by Jolt's power-sucking whip, and despite Blockhouse having fists that are like three times the size of his head, Superman eventually kicks both their butts (because that's his job). In the end, however, the one who comes closer to defeating him is Lois: as Superman's coming to save her, she leans in for a kiss and snaps a mind-control necklace on him. Which is pretty low of Lois, because isn't she engaged to Clark Kent?
During his last moments of free will, Superman drops himself into the sea and the salty water ruins the necklace, as he planned. He then frees Lois from her own necklace and the two resist the temptation to start making out right there, since they know Cerberus probably filled the place with cameras (Superman doesn't need another porn tape of him circulating out there). Superman and Lois try to interrogate Blockhouse about his boss, but the only thing he can tell them before being remotely shut off (just like Rorc and Sgt. Belcher some issues ago) is that Cerberus "has different…". Different what? Ties? Actually, he probably does have lots of ties of all sizes…
We then see that Cerberus is indeed watching everything from somewhere else, and he considers the evening a great success since he learned Superman's true weakness: boobs. I mean, his friends. Some of whom have boobs.
Plotline-Watch:
This issue has an implied shout out to Superman #9, the classic "Joker's Metropolis vacation" issue by John Byrne: the Cerberus hideout where Lois is taken is covered in lead so that Superman can't see it, because everyone knows his X-ray vision can't see through that. However, not being able to spy into a building just makes it stand out to Superman even more and he finds the place right away. This isn't explained, but the Joker made the same silly mistake in that old story, so I think it's intentional.
Bibbo and Jimmy Olsen are now officially square: Jimmy saved Bibbo from an exploding gas station back in Superman #60, and now Bibbo has saved Jimmy's life by taking him in after he became homeless (which isn't as dramatic looking, but still cool). Also, he saves Jimmy again when he slips and falls while putting the star on the Ace O'Clubs' Christmas tree… so I guess they're not square anymore. Don Sparrow says: "I want to believe Bibbo got that moose head from an old English country hotel…"
Keith the orphan and Myra the lady who watches orphans return: when Superman is putting back the giant Christmas tree Jolt and Blockhouse dropped, he hears some kids talking about how Myra can't afford any holiday decorations for their orphanage. During the fight with Blockhouse, Superman crashes into a Christmas tree lot and breaks a whole bunch of the merchandise, to the dismay of the owner. Lois solves both problems in the last page when she buys all the trees and has them sent to the orphanage (the unbroken ones, that is – sending a bunch of broken twigs would be kind of a dick move).
What else does Don Sparrow say? Find out by clicking "Keep Reading!"
Art-Watch (by donsparrow):
We always start with cover, and this one is pretty literal, but that’s not a bad thing. A text heavy layout introduces all the players, and creates a good sense of danger of the story within. It’s also the last we see of Bogdanove for the issue, as he is given a breather by Kieron Dwyer this week. Lois seems in real peril from Jolt (and apparently cold air) and Superman is being punched so hard he’s spewing Crystal Pepsi, so they make the most of it.
Inside the issue, we’re given yet another tease as to Cerebus’ appearance. Can’t think of many other characters whose reveals were built up so long! [Max: What about Dr. Claw? Though we never did find out his face. Maybe he's Cerberus.] The opening pages do a good job of capturing the chill of a big city winter Christmastime. I didn’t realize that the oversized Christmas trees adorning major Metropolitan department stores were also decorated with oversized novelty decorations, which gives the proceedings a certain Dick Sprang feeling (page 2), and Superman’s musculature in motion looks good on page 3 as he saves the day.
Dwyer’s pencils through the issue have a very unvarnished sort of cartoonishness, very loose and energetic, with most of the population of Metropolis having a more rough-hewn character in their faces and physiques. Even the usually drop dead gorgeous Lois looks a little more conventional and plain throughout the issue, so someone as weird looking as Jolt really gets a downgrade in the looks department (the script is a confirmation of the artwork when Lois goads Jolt about her looks on page 11). It works well in the crowd scenes on page 6, though, as some of the hardened drunks aren’t so adorable, and actually wear the weight of their habits.
Like his last fill-in, Dwyer also excels at the cityscapes in the backgrounds, and everything seems in place and highly realized (page 8). He also does a disturbingly convincing job of Lois in real peril. The panel with her cheek along the bottom of the page is very hard to take (page 11) as is the lash of blood on page 12. The effect works, as I really want Superman to get to her rescue after seeing this stuff.
The ensuing battle scenes have a great sense of motion, particularly Superman crashing through the floor on page 13, and his uppercut on page 17 really convey his speed, bulk and power without using a lot of motion lines. I also appreciate how often Superman smiles through the issue, and wish we saw more of that in the current comics. [Max: Is it me or does he look distractingly Christopher Reeve-esque in that last one?]
STRAY OBSERVATIONS:
Is it me, or have there been a LOT of Superman stories titled “Power Trip”?
GODWATCH: Yup, that lady on page three (the double page above) is sure praying to be saved. Oh, and look at that, it worked! Plus the guy with the glasses thanks heaven, so they’re doubly covered.
Apparently Superman managed to save the annual Christmas party for the narrator club on page 4. "He’s in trouble…momentum’s forcing him down…we’ll be crushed…“
Getting "handsy” with Lois Lane is becoming a thing.
A Superman who cares about orphans at Christmas having enough decorations is a Superman I want to read about.
You’ve got to be a pretty dumb guy if the best insulting nickname you can come up with is “Smart Boy”. "Take that, above average looks-fella! And this, pleasing odor-dude!“ [Max: Unrelated, but I'm glad the criminal from the Action Comics #1 cover reformed and went into the Christmas tree business.]
That wah-wah ending with Lois is funny, if a little broad. [Max: Oh, yeah, I skipped that part: Blockhouse burned up all of Lois' painstakingly addressed Christmas cards with his jet boots when he kidnapped her, causing her to do the Action #1 pose too.]
