This book really captures DC at the time: some cool moments, honoring some of its history, crapping on other parts...

It reminded me of Countdown to Infinite Crisis, really; although since I'm not as attached to some of these characters I'm probably not going to be as hard on it. From 2008, Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #1, "From a Cub to a Wolf" Written by James Robinson, pencils by Jesus Merino, Leno Carvalho, and Steve Scott, inks by Jesus Merino, Nelson Pereira, and Kevin Stokes.

Jimmy Olsen feels there's something missing in his life, drifting away from his old friends and his hookup girl, wanting more from work than struggling to keep Perry White's coffee warm. Also, at a recent fight between Superman and Atlas, he had caught a couple photos of something: a floating man, who he recognized from the funeral for a woman killed by the mob. Clark Kent encourages him to take some time off to pursue the story, with Perry grudgingly giving him two weeks.

From there, Jimmy pulls on string after string, pretty quickly getting a secret file, witnessing a murder, and getting chased by the psychic-powered Codename: Assassin! If you recognize that one, it's a deep cut: he only appeared once before, in 1st Issue Special #11 back in 1976! That's given a two-page recap, in somewhat loving detail. Despite having flight and some heavy-duty guns, C:A is troubled that he isn't able to read Jimmy's mind, which keeps him one step ahead. The file also has a link most everyone else would not have seen but that Jimmy recognizes, to Cadmus, which he remembers "even at my young age now seems like a fairy tale from long ago." He suspects the worst, then confirms his fears: the original Newsboy Legionnaires had all been killed.

Returning to Cadmus, he finds the vast facility cleaned out, with the exception of Dubbilex, who reveals another piece: the man who would later become Codename: Assassin had been Cadmus's head of security once, but was let go after killing Jim Harper, the original Guardian, in front of his own clone. Every time Jimmy had seen Guardian, that had been a clone, or possibly a clone of a clone: Harper's DNA had been special, suited for cloning. Dubbilex tells Jimmy all this before revealing he was bleeding out, already killed by Codename: Assassin.

Jimmy follows a final clue, to Warpath, Arizona; a border town that used to be the first stop for troublemakers or super-villains headed north, but had recently picked up some law. After a rather daring escape from Codename, Jimmy meets one of the men that cleaned up Warpath: Sheriff Greg Saunders, aka the original Vigilante! Who apparently works doubles, days as the sheriff, nights as the Vigilante, although sadly out of costume. He seems to pick up a hat mid-fight though, while punching up a ton of low-rent no-name super-villains with his pal, the Guardian! Or a Guardian, I guess; who similarly seems to grow a big-ass mustache overnight! This motorhome Jim Harper has a young daughter and a bit of distrust for Jimmy, but he has a story for him, that sends Jimmy racing back to Metropolis, to save Superman!

With the exception of a couple art hiccups, and an recruitment insert for the Navy, I should be more up on this one. But. I don't get how this could be virtually reverent of a one-shot wonder, while killing off multiple Jack Kirby creations, many of them off-panel? I did look up to confirm, this was Dubbilex's last appearance, at least pre-New 52. Also, the cover says "One-shot" and this wasn't, it's continued in Superman: New Krypton Special #1, and another Jimmy Olsen special, then more issues! Good effort in getting me to read that one, but no thanks: I'm pretty sure it ended with everyone involved who wasn't a regular character killed off or written out forever.

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"Ambassador."

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80-Page Thursdays: Countdown Special: Jimmy Olsen #1!

We still have a few of these left, so we might as well have a few more 80-page Thursdays. From 2008, Countdown Special: Jimmy Olsen #1, featuring stories and art by Jack Kirby, inks by Vince Colletta and Mike Royer, with Murphy Anderson doing some alterations for Superman and Jimmy. And a nice Ryan Sook cover!

This issue reprints three classic Jimmy Olsen stories: "The Saga of the D.N.Aliens," "A Superman in Super-Town!" and "Monarch of All He Subdues!" The first one is a bit more substantial, featuring Project Cadmus and appearances by Guardian and Darkseid. The rest is a two-parter with Superman, Jimmy, and the Newsboy Legion against the menace of Victor Volcanum. I don't think that was one of the King's better villains, but it's more notable as being the last of his run on the book.

Not my favorite of these Countdown reprints so far, but this may carry more weight for others. So far we've checked out two Atom specials, as well as the Flash, Kamandi, and OMAC. I have one more that we'll check out later, but I'm missing the New Gods one. Think I've read all of those issues, though.

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Eight Alpha Flight members today, no room for the Avengers on the cover too.

In ye olden times, when a comic reached it's hundredth issue, that usually meant a double-sized extravaganza, and maybe a good time to check back with a book you hadn't read in a while. Maybe. From 1991, Alpha Flight #100, "The Final Option" Credits weren't in this issue, but per the GCD, written by Fabian Nicieza, pencils by Michael Bair, Tom Morgan, June Brigman, Dave Ross, and John Calimee; inks by Michael Bair, Chris Ivy, Danny Bulanadi, and Larry Mahlstedt.

A ton of plotlines come to a head here: the alien Consortium assaults Toronto; as another alien species, the Quwrlln, explain why they saved James Hudson, the original Guardian, from the explosion that apparently didn't kill him back in Alpha Flight #12: to get super-heroes to help them save their world from Galactus.

A brief aside: Hudson returns in AF #25, where he reveals the explosion actually threw him through a space warp to Ganymede, a moon of Jupiter. He nearly died, but aliens found and saved him, but put him and his suit together! This was revealed to be a lie the next issue, when Omega Flight trashes Alpha Flight and "Hudson" is revealed to be evil robot Delphine Courtney! Several years and several writers later, in AF #89, Hudson is found held prisoner in a Roxxon facility, and the alien story is revealed to have been true after all! Hudson is killed again this issue, and although he'd be back later, I don't think he and his wife Heather would wear their Canadian-flag costumes together again: they've had different outfits here and there, and offhand I don't recall which one was using Guardian and which one was Vindicator at the time, or if they've switched since.

The dimension the Quwrlln were stuck in played havoc with Galactus's "life functions," but not anyone else: apparently, whatever was wrong with the place was beyond mortal kin, but messed him up. The heroes mostly pummel the poor Big G, and Hudson sacrifices himself to move the Consortium's world-ship into the Quwrlln's place, and vice versa. Galactus eats the invaders, both Quwrlln and earth are safe, and everybody's happy. Everybody still alive that didn't know Mac, I guess.

The Avengers guest-star, with Hercules punching Galactus a bit, a very enthusiastic alien biting She-Hulk, Captain America and Black Widow helping Northstar and Puck infiltrate a Consortium ship, and writer Nicieza apparently forgetting Quasar was basically Green Lantern and could've been way more helpful. Cap does show Black Widow mad respect, when Northstar asks how she's going to get off the ship before it warps out, Cap just nonchalantly tells him not to worry about it.

I...I'm not sure that guy's trying to stop her, exactly.

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"The History of Guardian."

At the time I did this strip, Guardian was going to be a member of the Justice League of America, because traditionally the JLA always sells better when it doesn't have any big names like Batman, Superman, or Jim Lee.

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By way of apology to Guardian:

Since I had some fun at Guardian's expense recently, when I saw this one in the quarter boxes, I had to pick it up. I think I might've had it when it came out in 1988 as well, but I'm not positive: Superman #27, "Of course you know, this means war!" Written by Roger Stern, pencils by Kerry Gammill, inks by Brett Breeding.

This issue is from before the Superman titles had triangle numbers, indicating what order Adventures of Superman, Action Comics, and Superman should be read in, but it does have an Invasion Aftermath Extra triangle. Previously in the main Invasion book and his own titles, Superman had been roughed up a bit by the Daxamites, the Thanagarians, and at one point was fished out of the river by Guardian and the Newsboy Legion. After helping out with a crashed alien ship in Australia, the exhausted Supes gets back to the Daily Planet, where a disheveled Clark turns in the story. White orders the front page replated, but also sends the obviously beat Clark home. His apartment trashed in a previous issue, Supes shaves, then falls asleep in front of the TV.

Shortly thereafter, Lex Luthor is having a meeting with Pentagon officials about salvaging alien technology, when the meeting is crashed by Gangbuster. Although at this point Lex was still hiding behind the facade of benevolent big-businessman, Gangbuster knows he's dirty, and is more than willing to cross a few lines to get at him. Luthor is rarely unprepared, however: this time, his secret weapon is Brainiac, which is a little less impressive since this is paunchy carnival Brainiac, but still.

Brainiac begins taking Gangbuster's mind apart, but Gangbuster's mind surprisingly is too strong for him, and Brainy goes down. Disoriented, GB flees out a ninety-story window, making a spectacular, and impossible, escape. Luthor hides Brainiac back in the closet he was keeping him in.

While running across rooftops, Gangbuster bumps into Guardian, who is happy to see him, but thinks GB might be going a bit too far. Gangbuster doesn't want to hear it, and slugs Guardian, much faster and harder than Guardian had expected. Guardian sticks it out, though, and later the enraged Gangbuster charges and sends them both off the roof; Guardian able to catch a ledge, Gangbuster falling seven-stories headfirst into a dumpster. Which he walks away from. Pissed. Obviously outmatched, Guardian still doesn't quit:

Gangbuster's costume tears, revealing...to be continued in Adventures of Superman #450! Yes, I'm not spoiling a twenty-two year old comic! And what are you gonna do about it? What? Google? Oh.

At any rate, Guardian seems very Captain America-like in this one; and this issue is thankfully devoid of the Newsboy Legion. It also doesn't mention any of his clone-business, Cadmus, or other baggage; which is probably just as well. I also don't remember how the big reveal that came out of this went over, since I know I was reading the Superman books on-and-off at the time.

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This one's for the DC historians:

This one is pretty much just for me and my sense of humor, yeah. Out for the weekend, so have fun!

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Getting advice from Hawkman is like catching a cold:

You may not want it, but it's coming, and there really isn't a lot you can do about it. Between his multiple reincarnations, and his tenure as a senior member of the Justice Society, Hawkman's invaluable decades of experience are doled out like bowls of soup to the junior members. Figure Katar gives advice like he's Dear Abby, only without the pesky inconvenience of waiting for you to write in and request it.

I may have one more Guardian strip, then might have that out of my system for right now. It references another, possibly even more obscure comic. Goody.

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If I get Forager, expect me to continue flogging this joke:

I think Wonder Woman is supposed to be a peaceful warrior, and not going around decapitating bad guys, but if she throws that shield at someone, that's exactly what's going to happen.

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Maybe you have to register the name worldwide, not just domestically.

Tiny print? Click to Great White North-size!
I have no idea if Sasquatch ever threw Puck around. I guess typically you wouldn't throw a puck. Maybe Sasquatch curled him or something. Huh.

I'm also not positive if Guardian, or Puck, or most of the rest of "Awful Plight" are still alive. Or if Omega Flight is Canada's superhero team, or if they're still active either. I do know it seemed a little insulting to put USAgent on Omega Flight, but am not sure if that's harder on the Agent or Canada.

Another post will be up later, and while it's mostly a reminder for me, it's a cool page that I didn't really get to see for well over ten years. Check back!
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Admittedly, it's harder than it looks.

Since I can't remember that many stories with Guardian, I can't recall if I've ever actually seen him throw that shield. While it would doubtless be plenty painful to be hit with, it couldn't possibly fly that well...

Although, that wasn't what Jim Harper had in mind when he picked it: after getting a stout beating from some of Suicide Slum's finest thuggery, Jim decides to get some off-the-books payback. Breaking into a costume shop, he puts together the iconic costume of the Guardian, or rather finds some tights, puts shorts on over them, and adds a hardhat. Still, since the thugs had guns, he decides he needs a little equalizer: a shield. It was 1942, but even so, great plan, Jim.


The shield is described as an antique, to lampshade it being bulletproof, but later Guardian would get an indestructible shield, but I'm not sure how or why it is. I don't know if there is in an in-story reason for it, other than Captain America's shield is, so...

Scan from Secret Origins #19, "The Secret Origin of Guardian and the Newsboy Legion" Written and adapted by Roy Thomas, pencils by Arvell Jones, inks by Greg Theakston. This one doesn't get into any of his later Project: Cadmus clone business, which may or may not be more interesting for you. And this issue also has the secret origin of Uncle Sam...who also doesn't do anything for me.
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The post where I say I'm posting somewhere else:

New strip today, but not here! Head over to Articulated Discussion, where I've got this week's One-Shots! You should be reading there already, but check it out!

I had a couple reasons for getting the DCUC Guardian figure, but primarily because he strikes me as funny: like he's going to be cloned and replaced every time he's killed. Check out the strip, and let me know what you think!

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Seriously offending his three, four fans...

Between work, family, Christmas shopping; blah, blah, blah, I am out this week. Next week? Already done. This week? Writing it off. Except for this, I guess.

Not that things are going that badly, despite my rising levels of aggravation and annoyance: I do have my Christmas shopping done, except for my dad. I don't think he reads this, so I can say I'm probably going to get him some more Bond films; but I have to go dig around, since in past years I've already hit most of the high notes. Can't just give him Goldfinger again, now can I? Heck, I don't think I can give him Goldeneye again. Think I'm into the Timothy Dalton movies, but I did like those...

Anyway, having my shopping "done" just means I'll probably find more stuff for the kids or the nephews. Or myself. The other day, I finally saw DCUC Wave, um, 8? 9? The one that allegedly has Green Arrow and Black Canary...(Thanks to ItsAllTrue.net, it's 9) Part of it, anyway: Black Adam, Deadshot, Guardian. All of whom are nice enough, but I don't have a huge attachment to, so I left them on the shelf for the time being.

In particular, I didn't feel that warm fuzzy feeling for Guardian. Later, I thought about it for a moment, and could not definitely think of any comic I had ever read with Guardian in it. (DC's Guardian, anyway; I know I've read the occasional issue of Alpha Flight.) Off the top of my head, I'm positive I have the Secret Origins issue with him, and maybe some Steve Rude-drawn thing, the occasional appearance in the Superman or Superboy books. I'm pretty sure his real name was Jim Harper, his sidekicks were the Newsboy Legion (there's a name destined to age well...maybe the Twitter Tots or something) and he has been cloned at least once. Pfft. Big deal.

The next afternoon...I have to have Guardian. At least three jokes for him came up overnight, some of which might even be funny. For some reason, I imagine Guardian the same way I picture the WildC.A.T.s Spartan: heroic, steadfast, noble...and completely disposable. Every crossover opens with Guardian's brutal death, and closes with the triumphant debut of the new cloned Guardian. Who's exactly the same. Which may be a more scathing rebuttal of crossovers than I had intended. (Blackest Night could've featured several dozen Guardians...)And thanks to bad headmeat wiring, whenever Guardian dies/respawns, I would hear sound effects from the arcade Mario Brothers game...

And it didn't occur to me until some time later...I need him because the name of the company I work for? Guardian. Duhr. Look, when I leave work, I leave work.
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