Monday, January 23, 2023

Sure he lost his name, but he didn't seem to have much of a gimmick.

The interior one wasn't in the best shape, but a double cover on this copy! I mentioned getting a Suicide Squad double-cover some time back, but I don't see that very often. And I like the cover, anyway! From 1985, Superman #406, "The Fight for the Right to be Superman!" Written by Paul Kupperberg, pencils by Irv Novick, inks by Dave Hunt. Cover by Ed Hannigan and Klaus Janson!
Pro wrestler Moe Ramboe is plagued by nightmares: not because of his unfortunate resemblance to Bueno Excellente, but over the loss of his name. In his nightmare, he claims to have wrestled under the name "Superman" for twenty years before the Man of Steel made his debut. (Predating Superboy even, then?) Meanwhile, returning from a space mission, Superman flies through the sun to check out the sunspots and clean himself off; but then when he tries to save a falling airplane, it suddenly seems to be getting heavier on him. Still, his powers seem to check out later.
Moe tells his brother about his dream, and they wonder if it will come true, since Moe had a decent track record, picking Series, Super Bowl, and Stanley Cup champs in his dreams. Is there a way to make a buck off this dream, though? Maybe! With Moe in full rasslin' gear, they approach the mob with a promise to beat Superman--and take back the name--within 24 hours. Superman has another bout of strength loss, and isn't able to figure out why in the Fortress of Solitude; then is mysteriously compelled to fly to an old warehouse, where in the ring, Moe confronts his unknowing foe. And thumps him good!
Overjoyed, Moe wants to tell the world, but his brother considers he might want to keep it a secret, as that could undermine his career as a mob enforcer? Furious, Moe turns on his brother, and the battered Superman stands up, unwilling to let anyone get hurt. But his time, when Moe comes at him, Superman was back to full power! Moe throws in the towel, explaining whenever he could remember his dreams, they would come true; that might've forced Superman to come there and caused all this. Or the sunspots? Or lazy writing? Or something else...? Next month was a Mxyzptlk story, but I'm not sure they were related.
Also this issue: "Can You Stump Superman?" Written by Craig Boldman, pencils by Alex Saviuk, inks by Karl Kesel. At a charity fundraiser, Superman performs various feats, telling the audience someone in the crowd was doing something that was impossible for Kryptonians. But what? There's a fake answer, set up to stop some crooks; but Perry White knows the real one. (My guess, cry over sliced onions!)

2 comments:

Mr. Morbid's House Of Fun said...

You're right Goo, he DOES look A LOT like Bueno Excellente. Maybe they're kinda/sorta related?

Nice cover by Hannigan. Thought it was Neal Adams there for a second due to the detail & realistic posing of the two.

Seems kinda similar to the Crusher Hogan story...if he somehow obtained Spidey's powers through a weird dream.

H said...

A nice variation on a Silver Age Superman story, though I'm glad they didn't use the twist from that story. The 'manifesting dreams' thing happens once in a while in these sort of stories but the original twist was way overused.

Also, the answer in that second story is a bit of a lie (won't spoil it, in case anyone's actually curious). I get it though- it was the 80's and PSAs were in, especially since DC Comics were still appropriate for children.