"The End" Week: Superboy!

Even though we're checking out an example from DC, I'm going to say Marvel is usually worse about this: flooding the market with another book for a character that can barely carry one, and hopping on a trend waaaaaaay after its expiration date. Ah, not like DC's blameless on either, true. From 1998, Superboy and the Ravers #19, "Love is All That Anti-Matters, Part 3: Last Dance" Written by Steve Mattsson and Karl Kesel, pencils by Josh Hood and Todd Nauck, inks by Dan Davis.

If Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes sounds stodgy and dull, it was probably hoped that a new title with new heroic teens would seem new and hip. Except I'm not sure "raver" was ever used unironically; and I'm guessing this wasn't the full rave experience of crappy EDM and pills you hoped were X but were probably baby laxative and No-Doz. And even though I appreciate what they were trying to do, I'm still going to be mean here: if you're trying to make your book 'modern,' maybe including an update of Dial H For Hero (from 1966) and Rex the Wonder Dog (from 1952) isn't a great idea. (For some reason, Rex appears to be the size of a horse or more in some panels; which I think DC had tried with Krypto a couple times as well; like no one there knows how big a dog is.)

Since this is the last issue of the series, plotlines for several heroes and heroines are wrapped up: blind Qwardian Kaliber saves his people, with the help of his dead friend Half-Life. The homophobic Sparx, alienated from her teammates, may have burnt out her powers for good. The intergalactic rave's founder, Kindred Marx, closes up shop since it had done its job and found him a mate; and he leaves his Mother Box with Aura, so she could reopen it someday if she wanted. And Superboy returns to Hawaii, in time for a Kamandi riff in Superboy #50. Which I don't have, but...

I had never seen this next one, then found two this year! From 2002, Superboy #100, "A Boy's Life" Written by Karl Kesel, pencils by Tom Grummett, finishes by Wade von Grawbadger; and "Goin' Out with a Bang!" Written by Jimmy Palmiotti and Dan DiDio, pencils by John McCrea, inks by James Hodgkins. And a cover by the great Bill Sienkiewicz!

Kesel and Grummett were the co-creators of the modern Kon-El Superboy, and came back for a final eight page story, with the DNAlien Dubbilex looking back over his time with the Boy of Steel. He had telepathically felt Superboy had been in trouble, and considered leaving the Zen monastery he was in to help. Nah, I'm sure he'll be fine. Tough kid.

This would be the end of Superboy's time as the 'super' of a rattrap apartment complex in Metropolis's Suicide Slum. I don't think it took off, and this story didn't gel for me, either; even though again some plotlines are wrapped up. His 'will-they/won't-they' new love interest Trixie is turned down, although she was very interested, and they leave it open for her return to possibly a new setting. Recurring villain Scavenger gets a satisfying punch in the mush, which helps him realize S-B isn't working for whoever his "eternal enemy" was, since he's an immature clod. Former minor armored villain Cooper was on the verge of turning over a new leaf, thanks to his friendship with Superboy; but then Superboy feels betrayed when his past was revealed. Cooper gains redemption sacrificing himself to warn the tenants of a bomb, planted by another disgruntled low-level nobody; and the complex is leveled.

While Superboy feels like he brings misery to those around him, Superman shows up to give him a lecture, but a moderately encouraging one. If exceedingly long...Superboy is taken to Smallville and the Kents, to settle down, start a new life, get his act together. Waitaminute: this creative team started with the premise that Superboy should move out on his own, be his own man, now he's moving back in with the parents? Not his parents, but still.

Bother, thought I could go for the trifecta here, since I know I have Superboy #11, his next last issue. Per the GCD, nominated for an Eisner for 'Best New Series' and cancelled the same year. I'll schedule this out and look...