Random Happenstance

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice has its problems, but one (of several...) that got me was that Gotham City and Metropolis were so close together. In terms of geography, that is: Metropolis is all sunshine and glass while Gotham all crime and gloom, but they were basically across the street from each other. Yet they were still treated like separate jurisdictions...but why? They were right there! I always figured they were at least a couple states apart; but today's book provides evidence to support BvS! From 1982, World's Finest #275, "Summer Nights, Winter Days!" Written by Paul Kupperberg, pencils by Rich Buckler, inks by Frank McLaughlin.

Today's weather calls for unseasonable heat in Metropolis, and a full-blown blizzard in Gotham; even though they're "not a dozen miles apart." Putting aside "since when?" the guys already have their hands full, with Batman dealing with looters, and Superman with a warehouse fire. Like every single other day, then...teaming up to work the case, Bats starts working through the usual suspects for weather control, while Supes checks for a missing NASA satellite. Neither lead really goes anywhere yet still points to the culprit: Mr. Freeze, in an abandoned but posh Russian satellite. (Perhaps Freeze refitted it, with his one henchman.) Freeze had been siphoning heat from Gotham and dumping it on Metropolis, presumably because it had to go somewhere; and his big plan was to turn Gotham into his "own perpetual winter wonderland!" and secede from the U.S. with it. Well ahead of his time there, even though his old costume here looks weird now. His revamp in "Heart of Ice" was still ten years away.

Also this issue: "Archer in a Cage" Written by Mike W. Barr, pencils by Trevor Von Eeden, inks by Larry Mahlstedt. Huh, we blogged the next issue in 2012, around when Arrow was first announced, replacing the proposed movie, which would've featured Green Arrow in a "super max" prison. The final season for Arrow was recently announced, and they just finished a lengthy Ollie-in-prison storyline! I don't know that they necessarily were inspired by this run, though. With Ollie still in prison for refusing to name a source, Dinah has to do the legwork this month, saving a bank-robber's illegal immigrant family from a shakedown by a mob wannabe.

Next was "Soul Shriek!" (Written by Gerry Conway, art by Dan Spiegle.) Onboard a cruise ship, Zatanna fights a restaurant critic who has mysteriously picked up a magic scream power. No fishnets in this one, though.

Then, Hawkman in "Matter, Matter Everywhere!" (Written by Bob Rozakis, pencils by Alex Saviuk, inks by Rodin Rodriguez.) After Shayera had left him (she could do better!) Hawkman is a complaining wreck, but still trying to clear her name in the theft of some artifacts from the museum they both worked in. Flash makes a brief appearance to tell him, hey, at least your wife's still alive. (That page has the smallest panel for the longest awkward silence ever.) Hawkman finds one of the stolen artifacts had in fact been replaced, with a duplicate made of pure aluminum; which would be even more difficult to make than stealing the original!

It's the work of recurring Hawk-villain Matter Master, who has a wand not unlike Weather Wizard, and a complete wizard outfit to boot! (Which of course is completely obscured by a hat and trenchcoat, even with his wizard hat under that!) MM's plan was to change the artifacts into "fakes," wait for them to be discovered, then steal them from police lockup and change them back. But his capture doesn't clear Shayera, as he claims to have had an accomplice...

Lastly, "The Snatching of Billy Batson!" (Written by E. Nelson Bridwell, pencils by Don Newton, inks by Dan Adkins.) A mobster kidnaps Billy Batson, in order to extort Captain Marvel into killing a gangland rival. You see the flaw in his plan, there. It's up to Captain Marvel Jr. to save him, with the help of a close-enough lookalike: their friend Magnificus Sivana! Who is rocking the same look as Peter Hinwood in Rocky Horror Picture Show. Wonder if that was intentional...

And a Hembeck strip on the Daily Planet page!