Wednesday Comics: DC, August 1984 (week 4)

I'm reading DC Comics' output from January 1980 (cover date) to Crisis! This week, I'm looking at the comics on May 31, 1984.

Tales of the Legion #314: The indicia of this issue drops the "of Super-Heroes" despite what the cover says. We get two stories this issue, both written by Levitz/Giffen. The first, with art by Shoemaker/Kesel is the most interesting. At his trial, former Science Police officer Ontiir claims he isn't a traitor but actually deep undercover for the SP. He he says proves it, but no one can verify the claim. He escapes from the custody, despite some Legion members being on hand. Later, he is brought before the Dark Circle, who also question his allegiances. Apparently, they had him infiltrate the SP long ago, but he went silent. He claims to be a double agent, still working for them. Meanwhile, the new Invisible Kid tries to help the original one, who is in a depression watching vids of himself being killed by Validus on repeat.

The second story, with art by Tuska and Kesel, is the first part of the origin of the White Witch with a frame of Blok viewing her history tape to learn more about her. We learn that she was born on a planet of clairvoyants but without the gift. After the death of her mother, she travels to the Sorcerer's World.

World's Finest Comics #306: In this issue Kraft/Rozakis and Lightle/Janke introduced that great superhero partnership, Swordfish and Barracuda. Man, they are really trying to make new characters happen in this book. While Swordfish reveals their origin to Batman, Superman, and Null, Barracuda stays frozen and in the hands of the Russians all issue. Meanwhile, Void, still stuck in another dimension, forms a partnership with X'ult who wants Barracuda to make her his bride. 

With Superman busy saving lives of people X'ult attacked, Batman, Null and Swordfish sneak on to the Russian ship where Barracuda is held prisoner, but they are outmatched by X'ult. Before the villain can claim his prize, Superman shows up to challenge him.

Action Comics #558: The first story by Rozakis and Schaffenberger feels like a throwback to the sillier stuff of a few years ago. Well, I suppose it hasn't entirely gone away, but it's less common. Absent-minded Professor Potter invents a helmet he hopes may be able to harness Superman's heat-vision to help the world. Unfortunately, when Superman takes the helmet off, he can't shut off his heat-vision. He's got to thwart some criminals with his eyes closed, then use his other super-senses to rebuild the busted helmet under Potter's addled instruction. 

In the second story by Kupperberg and Howard/Jensen, Clark Kent is covering Hoax Night in the small town of Pepperwood, New Jersey. The celebration is complicated when a very real a druid is freed of his centuries-long imprisonment in a tree (how he got in a tree in New Jersey isn't explained) and fights Superman. In the end, Superman wins the today and passes the conflict off as another of the town's hoaxes.

Arion Lord of Atlantis #22:  Cara Sherman-Tereno takes over on pencils with Smith still on inks. After one last sea-based menaced (a lamprey-mouthed sea serpent) Arion and friends disembark at Lysarr, bidding Bloodmoor goodbye, except for Wyynde's brother who decides the pirate life is for him. They have to fight some local ruffians, but the biggest danger is Garn Danuuth who has been released from statue-dom by the greed of Bloodmoor's mate. Garn promises to deal with Arion, but first, Atlantis.

All-Star Squadron #36: Thomas and Buckler/Howell open with the JSA watching newsreel footage of a new superhuman taking out RAF planes over Britian in support of German bombing raids and knocking Shining Knight from his horse. The press dubs him "Super-Nazi" (which angers Superman) but recognize him as Captain Marvel. Our heroes see a comic book at a newsstand and recognize the costume of "Super-Nazi" in it. Hitler orders Hauptmann Wunder to kill Superman just as Superman is flying to Britain to confront this new villain with other heroes close behind. We also see that the Germans have Billy Batson captive. 

Hauptmann Wunder manages to get the best of Superman but chooses to retreat over fighting the entire group of heroes. They are forced to stop pursuing him at the boundaries of continental Europe, lest they fall prey to Thomas' plot contrivance Hitler's Spear of Destiny mind control field.  Later, they encounter two American youth, Mary Batson and Freddy Freeman, who transform into what the All-Star's take for the "Hitler Youth" versions of "Super-Nazi."

Detective Comics #541: Moench and Colan/Smith continue the story that manages to feel like an episode of the 60s TV played more seriously. Batman on the trail of the Penguin who appears to have stolen information about a secret defense project. He figures out Penguin has gone to Antarctica to sell the info to the Soviets. Pursuing him in the batjet, he catches Penguin slogsleding cross the wastes. Penguin shoots him down with an umbrella launched missile, so the chase proceeds on foot. By the time they reach the Russian outpost, Batman is nearly dead while Penguin is pretty much immune to cold. Batman busts up the deal though, only to find Penguin was tricking the Russians and never intended to sell Americans secrets--only to collect money for doing so. Penguin is captured, but the Russians help Batman to leave as a gesture of goodwill.  Back in Gotham, Batman learns that there was never any secret information and that the whole thing was staged by the government as disinformation.

In the Green Arrow backup by Cavalieri and McManus/Trapani, Ollie is attacked in a case of mistaken identity by the Death Dealer, a card-wielding criminal after a "Wallace Hooper." After some investigation Ollie learns that Hooper is now Davy Chase, an all-night deejay but former con man, who testified against the mob and was put in the Witness Relocation Program. But Queen and Hooper are trapped in separate rooms by the Death Dealer, who sets those rooms on fire.

Jonah Hex #86: Jonah and Adrian go out on the town, but Jonah winds up whooping up on some gossips he overhears. Adrian's father does not approve of her dating such a man. Meanwhile, the Gray Ghost makes it back to his cabin and makes his son swear to carry on his mission. The son as the Gray Ghost ambushes Jonah on a rope bridge, dropping him into a river. Jonah manages to stay underwater long enough to escape the Ghost's vigilances. Changing plans, the Ghost kidnaps Adrian from her home and takes her to a slaughterhouse. He leaves a message for Jonah to lure him into a trap. Jonah takes the bait, but ultimately prevails. Still, the Ghost, though wounded, slips away when Jonah is untying Adrian.

While all this is happening, Emmylou is forced by the gang to take part in a robbery. Things go badly and Emmylou's mask is removed and a man is killed.

Sun Devils #2: Conway and Jurgens/Tanghal continue the story from last issue with Rik Sunn and his new friends being picked up by the Centaurians and, after an initial misunderstanding, offering to help that world fight the Sauroid menace. The short-sighted Centaurian bureaucracy rejects their offer, but when the Sauroid fleet makes a surprise attack, Rik and crew steal spacecraft to help out, anyway. They are joined by a Centauri fellow reject, a triad of clones with exuberant eyebrows and colorful makeup that make them look like they stepped off the set of Space: 1999. The groups skilled flying under Rik's leadership takes the Sauroids by surprise. They are aided mysterious and ghostly Myste, who assassinates the Sauroid commander on the flagship.

Super Powers #2: Kirby/Cavalieri and Gonzales/Marcos pick up where last issue left off. It seems like the Apokolips-enhanced villains have the upper hand, but the heroes use brains and teamwork to win the day--except in the case on the Joker where they prevail through the intervention of his therapist! Still, there are further threats ahead.

I head this issue as a kid. It was the first issue of Super Powers I read having missed the first. I wound up getting the rest of the series, though.