By various (DC Comics)
ISBN: 978-1-56389-487-9
Here’s another thrilling snapshot which highlights the era of superb creativity following in the wake of the post-Crisis on Infinite Earths Superman reboot. If you’re counting, the tale first appeared – in whole or in part – in Adventures of Superman #539, 542, 543, Action Comics #726, 730, Man of Steel #61, 65 and Superman: Man of Tomorrow #7.
By extracting pertinent episodes from a selection of sub-plots and entire episodes, the assembled creators – writers Karl Kesel, David Michelinie, Jerry Ordway, Louise Simonson and Roger Stern in close conjunction with artists Jon Bogdanove, Sal Buscema, Tom Grummett, Stuart Immonen, Ron Lim, Tom Morgan, Paul Ryan, Brett Breeding, Klaus Janson, Dennis Janke, Jose Marzan Jr. & Denis Rodier – assembled a crafty and exciting romp which pitted the Metropolis Marvel against a peculiar array of particularly irate enemies all working for a mysterious mastermind who was far from what he appeared…
The action commences with ‘Dopplegangster’ wherein a clone from the top-secret Cadmus Project intercepts a high-tech intruder and is infected with a hideous condition which brings all his submerged evil to the surface.
The invader is Misa, a spoiled, fun-loving, metahuman brat with incredible futuristic devices who has plagued Superman and the Project before, but here her skirmish with the re-grown Floyd “Bullets†Barstow has lasting effects, accidentally transforming the good-natured clone into a troubled paranoid soul who might suddenly transform at any moment into a brutal Anomaly with elemental shape-changing powers and no conscience at all.
Meanwhile in Metropolis Superman has his hands full defending the city and shuffling his new job as Editor of The Daily Planet, whilst venerable boss Perry White recovers from lung cancer and the subsequent chemo-therapy. It gets no easier when living weapons-platform Barrage returns in ‘Arms’, determined to kill Police Chief Maggie Sawyer, whom he blames for the loss of his right limb, and the anarchic Riot – a raving loon who generates living duplicates every time he is struck – also pops up to cause mischief and mayhem in ‘Losin’ It’.
‘Hero or Villain?’ concentrates on the history of Lex Luthor, providing insight and oversight to the multi-billionaire inventor who is under arrest and awaiting trial, whilst alien superwoman Maxima frets and festers in her futile quest to find a suitable mate. The Man of Steel was her first choice and he refused her many times. Once again she tries to have her way with him and the violent rejection sends her straight into the influence of someone who is gathering a team to destroy the Caped Kryptonian forever…
The unified assault begins in ‘The Honeymoon’s Over’ as Riot, Misa, Anomaly and Barrage meet Maxima and take their shot at their mutual enemy in ‘President of the United Hates’, but there is something not quite right about their enigmatic, shadowy leader and besides, what strategic genius would put five incompatible, uncontrollable ego-maniacs in the same team and expect them to have a ghost of a chance against Superman?
The final, spectacular battle inevitably goes awry for the rogues in ‘Losers’ and as the dust settles all the evidence points to only one possible culprit for the Revenge Squad’s campaign of terror. But is it really that clear-cut…?
Although a little disconnected in places – this storyline was running simultaneously with another extended saga (collected in the soon-to-be-reviewed Superman Transformed!) and the excision of irrelevant pages doesn’t lend itself to a seamless and smooth read – this tale perfectly exemplifies the brilliant blend of cosmic adventure, fights ‘n’ tights action, soap opera drama and sheer enthusiastic excitement that typified the Superman franchise at this time.
This kind of close-plotted continuity was a hallmark of the 1980s and 1990s Superman, and that such a strong tale could be constituted from snippets around the main story is a lasting tribute to the efficacy and power of the technique. Superman vs. the Revenge Squad! is a delightfully old-fashioned fun-fest that will delight fans of The Legend and followers of the genre alike.
A British edition (ISBN: 978-1-84023-077-2) was released by Titan Books at the time and may well be easier to find than the out-of-print US original.
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