SUPERMAN: PANIC IN THE SKY!


By various (DC Comics)
ISBN: 978-1-56389-094-9

Alien invasions are part-and-parcel of superhero fare and had therefore become rather devalued as a plot threat until this classy, back-to-basics, backs-to-the-wall thriller was concocted by the Superman creative army in 1992. DC had tried before in 1989 with Invasion!, but that effort, although well-thought and executed, was not happily received by fans and the core concept was further diluted by crossing-over into too many titles.

This stripped down version ran through the winter/spring issues of the Superman family of titles (namely Action Comics #674-675, Superman: the Man of Steel #9-10, Superman #65-66 and Adventures of Superman #488-489) and it keeps its pace and its focus by concentrating on a single master-villain and the deft internal continuity that was a hallmark of the Metropolis Marvel’s Post-Crisis incarnation.

The artificial proto-matter being known as Matrix had been wandering intergalactic space wearing Superman’s form when it (later “she”) encountered the artificial battle-planet Warworld, where the Man of Steel had defeated Mongul (see Superman: Exile, ISBN: 978-1-56389-438-1) months previously. Reverting to her previous Supergirl form Matrix falls under the spell of Brainiac, the new master of Warworld, joining his other super slaves Maxima and Draaga. The Despot’s next destination is Earth…

As the lethal planet nears Earth Superman rallies the World’s heroes into two forces, one to defend our sacred soil from the invading extraterrestrial hordes and another to take the battle back to Braniac…

With guest-stars that include the New Gods, Justice League International, the Golden Guardian, Thorn, Captain Marvel, Gangbuster, Doctor Fate, Aquaman, Deathstroke, Valor (anybody remember him?), the Metal Men, Agent Liberty, Nightwing, Wonder Woman, the Will Payton Starman and a whole bunch of Green Lanterns the accent is on last-stand heroics and all-out action, but there’s still room for enough sub-plot drama to keep the tension tripwire tight.

Editor Mike Carlin squeezed the very best in good, old fashioned four-colour fun out of writers Dan Jurgens, Jerry Ordway, Louise Simonson and Roger Stern, whilst artists Jon Bogdanove, Tom Grummett, Dan Jurgens, Bob McLeod, Brett Breeding, Doug Hazlewood, Dennis Janke and Denis Rodier, not to mention letterers John Costanza, Albert DeGuzman, Bill Oakley and colourist Glenn Whitmore’s all stretched themselves beyond the call to deliver a cracking good old fashioned graphic blockbuster.

“Look! Up on the Shelf! Still Readily Available! A Great Big Fun Read…!”
© 1992, 1993 DC Comics. All Rights Reserved.