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DC Comics Presents 84
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In the Prologue, Jimmy Olsen asks Superman a question. On Krypton, before the discovery of the Phantom Zone, criminals were shot into orbit. If any survived the explosion, might they come to Earth as supercriminals? Superman replies, "Some did, Jim. But I wouldn't stay up nights worrying about it." At that very moment, in a spaceship above, a villain awakes from suspended animation and targets Earth as his next conquest... |
Meanwhile, the Challengers of the Unknown have met their match - at the manicured hands of Miss Bernstein, the Daily Planet's receptionist. The Challs need Jimmy Olsen or some other reporter to contact Superman immediately! Miss Bernstein can't help. "If you'd like to leave your names ..." (This is one tough secretary, to not swoon at all these hunks.)  Enter Clark Kent. Can he help? The Challs have a story "that will knock Superman out of his red boots!" |
The Challengers' tale happened in St. Louis last week. The Challs were called to grab a jumper - a man mad with terror. And here the comic takes a very strange turn - a story within a story we call originally slated for Adventure 498 In brief, a bank exec named Jenkins refuses to come off the ledge, terrified by something in his office. The Challs pull him in, but he dives out the window to his death. What terrified him? A card with a Kryptonian letter... Which brings the Challs hunting "the only Kryptonian we know." |
Clark says, "I don't have a signal watch like Jimmy does, but I do have a few tricks of my own. Have a seat." Clark changes to Superman. The card rings a bell, but he can't recall. "I'll need some help..." Superman flies to his Fortress of Solitude and sits under the mind-prober ray, unused since his Superboy days. Bathed by the rays, Superman recalls, as an infant... His father Jor-El showed his mother Lara the card. For some (unspecified) reason, just showing the card gave Zo-Mar the power to command anyone. Ironically, of all people, Dru-Zod knocked it away before Zo-Mar could capture Fort Rozz. Dru-Zod, a hero, was made General Zod. Zo-Mar was sentenced to lifetime incarceration in an orbiting satellite. |
Superman rushes back to the Challengers. "Where'd that card come from?" They'll show him. Superman scoops up ALL the Challs and blasts off. Red asks, "Couldn't we drive?" Ace feels airsick!  |
They land at a house. Zo-Mar marches out. "Welcome, Superman. The Challengers followed my orders perfectly!" Zo-Mar flashes the card - and Superman is mind-enslaved, same as the Challengers! Zo-Mar demands to know the secret of Superman's powers. Puppet-Superman tells of Earth's lesser gravity and yellow sun. "There is no secret. Under these conditions, all Kryptonians have such powers." "You're lying! I have no such powers!" roars Zo-Mar. Jor-El must have empowered Superman, who repeats, "There is no secret." Furious, Zo-Mar shows Superman HIS power - and orders he destroy the town. Unable to resist, Superman does in spectacular Jack Kirby style.  |
Trapped in his own mind, Superman destroys - but tries to think of a way out. "Super-ventriloquism! By duplicating Zo-Mar's voice..." Projecting his voice, Superman orders the Challengers to charge Zo-Mar and grab the card. Even while pulverizing the town, Superman directs the Challs' attack by remote control.  |
Finally Rocky snags the card. "I told you guys I wasn't an Olympics star for my good looks!" His mind freed, Superman finds Zo-Mar is a zombie. Superman must mete out his sentence of life imprisonment. Yet Zo-Mar suddenly soars away. "At last! I have the superior powers I sought!" Superman reckons the card has "some kind of mutated kryptonite that negated the effects of being on Earth. Once out of his hands, it couldn't affect him." Prof thinks too fast. "Then the answer's simple - give him back the card! Hey! What am I saying?" Superman slams Zo-Mar. He has more experience with superpowers, after all - until Zo-Mar hand-blasts him with some NEW power! Flailing in the sky, Superman sucks super-breath to levitate the card from the Challs. Zo-Mar dives for it - and Superman clocks him! Want a lecture on using super-speed? asks Superman. Zo-Mar grouses, "Some other time, maybe." |
Epilogue: Zo-Mar finds himself in the Phantom Zone - with no card. Floating, he bumps into Jax-Ur and General Zod. He growls, "The son of Jor-El roams free on a planet ripe for conquering. We must plan together."  Epilogue 2. Deja vu. The Challengers STILL can't get past Miss Bernstein. Clark arrives, again. Red wails,"The suspense is killing us!" How did Superman KO Zo-Mar? What happened to him? Clark jokes, "What can I tell you? Superman is like that sometimes.. But hey, isn't that right up your alley? Finding out something that's unknown? Consider it a challenge!" |
Comments Nice to see the non-super Challs can help out the Big Blue Boy Scout. A fun issue, if disjointed. How did the card work? Mutated kryptonite? Yet another survivor of Krypton? But lots of humor, especially when the boys are "challenged" by a secretary. A big fat handful of goodies, this issue. The original Jack Kirby cover was for sale once. Here's a shot.  |