Love Bites!
It's the holiday season and Superman fights vampires and ninjas.
Continuing the story line that started before Superman's death (back in Superman: The Man of Steel #14), Babe's vampirism is getting out of control. She now wanders the streets at night looking for victims, and a body is discovered by the police in the morning. A magician called the Lock comes to Metropolis to perform, but Superman suspects his magic is more than an illusion. Babe is drawn to the Lock, who discovers Babe has the powers to help him reach another dimension. Jimmy Olsen interrupts before Babe can seduce the Lock to suck his blood. She confesses to Jimmy that she's the vampire stalking Metropolis, right before she bites him in the neck. Superman arrives and tries to stop her, but she's now powerful enough to toss him aside with one punch.
Kieth adjusts to his new life with the Whites, but Daily Planet publisher Franklin Stern expresses his disapproval of a white family raising a black child. Once again, writer Louise Simonson cites real-world sources in their discussion (a 1972 position paper issued by the National Association of Black Social Workers and the Child Welfare League) for both sides of the controversial topic of transracial families. It's informative, but like in the very special AIDS issue it almost kind of reads like a brochure.
While rescuing people in a snowstorm, Superman is left with no choice but to help a woman give birth. Lois is just glad the mother doesn't name her child after Superman. After bringing the mother and child to the hospital, he checks on Jimmy Olsen who's also recovering there. Unfortunately, he's not able to start looking for Babe until after the storm clears.
A new, ninja-like villain breaks into S.T.A.R. Labs and even Superman can't catch him when he escapes. We learn that he's Savitar Bandu, son of the king of Bhutran, who also has a scheduled interview with reporter Clark Kent on Christmas day.
Meanwhile, some lesser villains use the Ace 'O Clubs as a base to plan the next big crime while Bibbo is out playing Santa.
One hundred B-list and D-list villains, like Loophole, Captain Boomerang, and the Royal Flush Gang, have united to plan a holiday crime spree. They think Superman and the Metropolis police will be too overwhelmed to stop them all, but Superman gets the police to help him herd all the villains into one place so he can catch them all. He catches the last two, Punch and Jewelee, at a toy store and the owner thanks the Man of Steel by giving him the doll the villains were trying to steal, which turns out to be the very same item he's been trying to find as a gift for Lois.
This story seem like a missed opportunity to have Thorn guest star, since the gang in her origin was also referred to as the 100, but wait until next issue.
Artist Stuart Immonen begins a nearly 3-year run in this issue.
Superman recognizes the description of the Shadowdragon from another break-in. The Man of Steel is surprised at how fast the burglar is, and Shadowdragon manages to escape again. Shadowdragon later delivers a disc of stolen information to his country's embassy, apparently just with the motive to help Bhutran compete in the world market.
While photographing a New Year's Eve party, Jimmy spots Babe before she disappears. At the same gala, the serial killer who will become Saviour murders a senator in the men's room.
Watching the ball drop on TV at home, Lois and Clark joke about a new year of peace and tranquility together. While we get a glimpse of the holidays in Metropolis, these aren't the usual Christmas special sort of stories. There's no cheesy Santa Claus cameo or any need to try to save Christmas this year.
Superman: The Man of Steel #41
Kieth adjusts to his new life with the Whites, but Daily Planet publisher Franklin Stern expresses his disapproval of a white family raising a black child. Once again, writer Louise Simonson cites real-world sources in their discussion (a 1972 position paper issued by the National Association of Black Social Workers and the Child Welfare League) for both sides of the controversial topic of transracial families. It's informative, but like in the very special AIDS issue it almost kind of reads like a brochure.
Superman #97
A new, ninja-like villain breaks into S.T.A.R. Labs and even Superman can't catch him when he escapes. We learn that he's Savitar Bandu, son of the king of Bhutran, who also has a scheduled interview with reporter Clark Kent on Christmas day.
Meanwhile, some lesser villains use the Ace 'O Clubs as a base to plan the next big crime while Bibbo is out playing Santa.
Adventures of Superman #520
This story seem like a missed opportunity to have Thorn guest star, since the gang in her origin was also referred to as the 100, but wait until next issue.
Artist Stuart Immonen begins a nearly 3-year run in this issue.
Action Comics #707
Superman recognizes the description of the Shadowdragon from another break-in. The Man of Steel is surprised at how fast the burglar is, and Shadowdragon manages to escape again. Shadowdragon later delivers a disc of stolen information to his country's embassy, apparently just with the motive to help Bhutran compete in the world market.While photographing a New Year's Eve party, Jimmy spots Babe before she disappears. At the same gala, the serial killer who will become Saviour murders a senator in the men's room.
Watching the ball drop on TV at home, Lois and Clark joke about a new year of peace and tranquility together. While we get a glimpse of the holidays in Metropolis, these aren't the usual Christmas special sort of stories. There's no cheesy Santa Claus cameo or any need to try to save Christmas this year.
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