Identity Crisis
The story of Superman and Braniac switching bodies comes to a close. Superman has to deal with some monsters freed from S.T.A.R. Labs by the Parasite. And Lois makes a shocking announcement that seems to finalize their break-up. Because these stories were during the break-up period, I had never read them until now.
Trapped in a teenage boy's body, Superman locates the body of Braniac in the LexCorp tower. Superman had thought Chas may have switched bodies with Braniac, but instead discovers Milton Fine is in his own body again. Braniac arrives in Superman's body and tries to kill Chas by throwing him out a window, but then he immediately saves the boy. Superman realizes that both Braniac and Chas are in his body, and after making the boy remember childhood abuse everybody is restored back to their own bodies. Chas helps Superman defeat Braniac, and in return Superman clears Chas of murder charges, convinces the doctors that he's not criminally insane, and gets him treated properly for his seizures.
Aside from a few references to the break-up, this story reads like a fill-in month that could have been published at any given time. The covers are all generic with nothing to do with the interior. Although that's common these days it was a little unusual at the time.
The Parasite returns to S.T.A.R. Labs and causes a power outage, letting the monsters that we glimpsed last month escape to run wild through the city. At the Daily Planet, Lois and Clark argue over who should cover this story. Lois decides to let their editor pick one of them, but when they go to Perry White's office he seems to have just received some bad news. Perry sends Clark to cover the monster story, which infuriates Lois. But after he leaves, Lois answers Clark's phone for him and gets another lead on the power outage from Lori Lemaris, who saw something while she was swimming.
A giant, four-armed white gorilla picks up Lucy Lane and carries her to the top of the LexCorp tower like King Kong. Jimmy Olsen and Ron Troupe go up the building to try to rescue her. Superman ultimately saves her, and Lucy is angered that Jimmy cares more about the story than about her. S.T.A.R. Labs director Burton Thompson shows up in a bizarre African warrior-like costume that looks something like Kraven the Hunter.
On his honeymoon somewhere in the Pacific, Lex Luthor is more interested in the news happening in Metropolis than in his new wife, the Contessa. He puts on his sunglasses and pretends to be focused on her, but he's really still watching TV in the lenses. He watches Superman fighting Brawl, who leads the Man of Steel to a woman he was married to before he was transformed into a monster. Before Brawl can tell Superman who did this to him, Lex Luthor pushes a button on his laptop and Brawl is electrocuted to death.
Investigating the wreckage at S.T.A.R. Labs, Lois Lane discovers it was the Parasite who was responsible for the power outage that freed all the monsters.
Clark tries to compliment Lois for how she beat one of the monsters all by herself, but she finds his comment condescending. Lois and Clark both think to themselves if they even be friends anymore.
John Henry Irons' grandmother is killed by the Parasite (in Steel #29). Superman tracks the Parasite down to his hideout, but Lois had enlisted Professor Hamilton to help her catch the villain and Superman nearly ruins their trap trying to save her. Even more ridiculously, Burton Thompson bursts through the wall wearing his silly costume with all guns blazing, and he also nearly ruins their plan to catch the Parasite.
Refusing to be his damsel in distress, Lois tells Superman she's accepted a job as a foreign correspondent so he won't have to worry about her anymore.
Superman #114
Aside from a few references to the break-up, this story reads like a fill-in month that could have been published at any given time. The covers are all generic with nothing to do with the interior. Although that's common these days it was a little unusual at the time.
Adventures of Superman #537
A giant, four-armed white gorilla picks up Lucy Lane and carries her to the top of the LexCorp tower like King Kong. Jimmy Olsen and Ron Troupe go up the building to try to rescue her. Superman ultimately saves her, and Lucy is angered that Jimmy cares more about the story than about her. S.T.A.R. Labs director Burton Thompson shows up in a bizarre African warrior-like costume that looks something like Kraven the Hunter.
Action Comics #724
Investigating the wreckage at S.T.A.R. Labs, Lois Lane discovers it was the Parasite who was responsible for the power outage that freed all the monsters.
Superman: The Man of Steel #59
Clark tries to compliment Lois for how she beat one of the monsters all by herself, but she finds his comment condescending. Lois and Clark both think to themselves if they even be friends anymore. John Henry Irons' grandmother is killed by the Parasite (in Steel #29). Superman tracks the Parasite down to his hideout, but Lois had enlisted Professor Hamilton to help her catch the villain and Superman nearly ruins their trap trying to save her. Even more ridiculously, Burton Thompson bursts through the wall wearing his silly costume with all guns blazing, and he also nearly ruins their plan to catch the Parasite.
Refusing to be his damsel in distress, Lois tells Superman she's accepted a job as a foreign correspondent so he won't have to worry about her anymore.
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