And we'll take a moment to check out the rest of 1980's
World's Finest #262, starting with "Siren of the Sargasso" Written by Bob Rozakis, pencils by Don Newton, inks by Dan Adkins. A senator goes overboard on a fishing trip, and Congresswoman (Barbara!) Gordon asks Batman to ask Aquaman to look for him. Said senator had taken a dive after a blonde vision, which was Atlena of Atlantis--the pre-sunk version! This also doesn't go into the "blondes are evil" that a lot of DC's aqua-stories get hung up on; but she had tried to save her people by opening a hole to another Phantom Zone-like dimension, which not only didn't work but still sucked people in now and then. With Mera, Aqualad, and a pod of whales, Aquaman manages to tow out a few refugees before the dimensional rift seals up again, and they have to wait for it to re-open to save the rest. They may still be waiting!
Perhaps not waiting as long, "The Ghost of Adam Strange" visits Hawkman: archaeologist Adam is inexplicably bored visiting ruins on Rann with his wife Alanna, and an idle wish to be back on earth is granted by a legendary "id-beast," which could kill him. Trapped in a ghostly form, a medium is able to put Adam's consciousness in Hawkman; then Shayera and Red Tornado help bring Adam back with the JLA transporter. Next month appeared to be Adam recounting recent events on Rann, which sounds like a try-out to replace Hawkman! (Story by J. M. DeMatteis, pencils by Ken Landgraf, inks by Armando Gil.)
Finally, another nice-looking Don Newton story: Captain Marvel, in "The Captain Marvel of 7,000 B.C." (Story by E.Nelson Bridwell, inks by Dave Hunt.) Billy Batson is visited by the Champion from before recorded history, who gained powers from the magic word "Vlarem" and a different roster of gods. Together they thump the various Sins, and set the Rock of Eternity in place: the Champion is the young wizard Shazam, who was the Champion for like 30 centuries before everyone forget those gods. Not bad!
I mean, while certainly not the best idea, it's also not 100% the worst either on Atlena's part, as she apparently only an extremely limited amount of viable options to choose from. Still though, the Phantom Zone!? And why hadn't Superman ever stumbled across this before?
ReplyDeleteNot sure about anyone else, but aside from his initial GA creators, Don Newton for me, is one of the top 5 Aquaman artists ever to do it, Jim Aparo included of course.
Definitely agree with that- Don Newton's Aquaman is definitely in the top 5. He was really hitting on all cylinders around this point- who knows what would have happened if he hadn't died so relatively young?
ReplyDeleteThere are at least 20 entrances to the Phantom Zone or Phantom Zone-like dimensions on Earth so I imagine even Supes would have trouble keeping track. And that's not even counting time travel or alternate earth portals!
The Adam Strange story next issue may or may not have been a stealth tryout but nothing ever came of it anyway. Hawkman stuck around up until the end of the Dollar Comic era. I personally think it was just a gimmick- DC liked to do those sort of superhero cross-throughs in back-ups during that era so I wouldn't put it past them.
I forgot he died young. Damn. I can only imagine how many more titles & characters, DC or otherwise, that would've been blessed from him rendering them.
ReplyDeleteFair enough for the PZ deal. I mean he IS Superman, but yeah, point nonetheless.