A Break from the Neverending Crossovers
This was a rare month of self-contained stories. By this point in the 90's, readers were
suffering from event fatigue after some story lines had literally gone on for years. At this same time, the Batman books were in a year-long crossover ban, following the Knightfall/Knightquest/Knightsend saga. The Superman books still continued the weekly numbering, but this month's issues could really be read in no particular order. This would prove to be a short break, as next month would lead into a controversial ongoing story that would last for the next year.
Clark Kent investigates a typical drive-by shooting at the Simon Project in Suicide Slum, a place in the city seemingly beyond the help of even Superman. Clark knows a neighborhood girl witnessed the murder, but he can't compel her to come forward as a witness against the local gangs. That night Superman crusades through the slum to remove all the drugs and guns from the street, reminiscent of the Man of Steel from the 30's who sometimes ignored laws in the pursuit of justice. The next day, Clark tries to talk to the girl again, but the gangs get their revenge and he's not able to stop one of their bullets from hitting her. Superman realizes that even his powers can't solve social and economic inequality. A maudlin happy ending is tacked onto the story; Clark rushes the girl to the hospital where she recovers, and a philanthropist gives her mother a job and a house away from the slum.
Clark Kent is assassinated in the street, a murder witnessed by none other than Clark Kent and Lois Lane on their way to work. The autopsy reveals it was just an empty shell that looked like Clark. As Lois and Clark investigate further, the main suspect in the shooting turns out to be a nonagenarian mobster from the 30's who commits suicide after their interview, but then 10 minutes later he is alive and looks the same age as his old photographs. Before he can reveal to Superman who his boss is, he bursts into flames from pyro-granulite.
At a secret board meeting, Vincent Edge has assembled a new Intergang, but they're immediately killed by a bomb. Boss Moxie enters the room to re-take control of his gang, along with his usual henchmen like Dabney Donovan.
Lois and Clark try to enjoy a quiet night by the fire, but the villain Cauldron returns to cause destruction on the docks on Metropolis. Cauldron's shell has been taken over from CADMUS by a Russian, and now powered by beta particles his power is virtually limitless. Though the original clone inside Cauldron tries to resist its new human master, Superman finds no other way to stop the machine other than trapping it in the Earth's core. As Lois and Clark watch the firefighters clean up the scene, Clark fears that they haven't seen the last of Cauldron. However, this would in fact be his last appearance and he's presumably still alive and trapped at the center of the Earth.
Lois and Clark are still reorganizing the furniture in their new apartment, although the dialogue from outside the building sounds suggestive of a different sort of newlywed activity. They're interrupted by a signal from the JLA and Clark flies off to respond. This doesn't really correspond to any JLA story at the time, as Clark still had his mullet in the first arc of that series and then has a new costume immediately after that.
After being accused of leading the new Superman Revenge Squad last month, Luthor is placed under stricter house arrest with a monitor bracelet but still manages to stay out of jail. A failed LexCorp experiment comes to Metropolis to get his revenge while Luthor is stuck in his tower. Superman saves Luthor from this villain, Rock, but Luthor uses their fight as an opportunity to attack them both. Though his lawyer argues Luthor acted in self-defense knowing that Superman would be unharmed, the judge places Luthor behind bars until his hearing. Lois and Clark both hope this will finally bring Luthor down, but Clark wonders if Rock would have been right in the chance that Luthor gets away with it again.
suffering from event fatigue after some story lines had literally gone on for years. At this same time, the Batman books were in a year-long crossover ban, following the Knightfall/Knightquest/Knightsend saga. The Superman books still continued the weekly numbering, but this month's issues could really be read in no particular order. This would prove to be a short break, as next month would lead into a controversial ongoing story that would last for the next year.
Superman #121
Adventures of Superman #544
At a secret board meeting, Vincent Edge has assembled a new Intergang, but they're immediately killed by a bomb. Boss Moxie enters the room to re-take control of his gang, along with his usual henchmen like Dabney Donovan.
Action Comics #731
Superman: The Man of Tomorrow #8
Lois and Clark are still reorganizing the furniture in their new apartment, although the dialogue from outside the building sounds suggestive of a different sort of newlywed activity. They're interrupted by a signal from the JLA and Clark flies off to respond. This doesn't really correspond to any JLA story at the time, as Clark still had his mullet in the first arc of that series and then has a new costume immediately after that.After being accused of leading the new Superman Revenge Squad last month, Luthor is placed under stricter house arrest with a monitor bracelet but still manages to stay out of jail. A failed LexCorp experiment comes to Metropolis to get his revenge while Luthor is stuck in his tower. Superman saves Luthor from this villain, Rock, but Luthor uses their fight as an opportunity to attack them both. Though his lawyer argues Luthor acted in self-defense knowing that Superman would be unharmed, the judge places Luthor behind bars until his hearing. Lois and Clark both hope this will finally bring Luthor down, but Clark wonders if Rock would have been right in the chance that Luthor gets away with it again.
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