Huh, I'd already fallen off by this point?

From 1988, Action Comics #603, cover by Kyle Baker. 

I know I tried the first two issues of DC experiment with weekly comics, but I can't recall: was it available in newsstands, or direct-market only? At a glance, the covers didn't have barcodes. Well, I just asked on BlueSky, we'll see if anybody knows! So, this was the third issue of the weekly experiment, thus it's the third chapter of everything.

This was post-Green Lantern Corps #224, a last issue I've never blogged, because I. HATE. It.. Hal Jordan was one of a very, very few GL's left; and his teammate and friend, Katma Tui, had been killed by Star Sapphire, who had been Carol Ferris, but Carol didn't seem to be home right then. Sapphire wanted revenge for the loss of her subjects, the Zamorans, who had left the universe with the Guardians of the Universe in GL #200, an issue I love! Hal manages to disable her, by snapping the ring setting of her gem; which is like using the Force to turn your opponent's lightsaber off mid-fight; then by punching her a bit. Hal moves to summarily execute Sapphire, but his ring won't do it--either because a lack of will, like he really didn't want to kill her; or something else--but after the cops show up, Sapphire zaps everyone, and now passes sentence on Hal...I haven't read all of this run, and Peter David would take over for a bit shortly, while Priest would have a couple Green Lantern Specials later; all of which seemed to have interesting ideas or moments, but maybe didn't entirely work for me. (Art by Gil Kane.)

Secret Six was an interesting idea: six injured specialists are given mechanical aides, uniforms, and gear, to serve as a Mission: Impossible-style vigilante team. Their benefactor, Mockingbird, was masked and unknown; and might not have been revealed until just before the serial ended, and isn't connected to the later team of villains. (Written by Martin Pasko, art by Dan Spiegle.) Then, in the Yucatan, Deadman tries to deal with the ghost Mayan Talaoc, the Central Intelligence Agency, and a stockpile of weird alien anti-ghost weapons. (Story by Mike Baron, pencils by Dan Jurgens, inks by Tony DeZuniga.)

Superman had only a token presence in Action for this run, a two-pager reminiscent of classic newspaper strips. I think the rationale was, Supes had two other books, right? (Written by Roger Stern, pencils by Curt Swan, inks by John Beatty.) Wild Dog was next, and possibly a bigger draw at the time than the rest; coming off a pretty successful mini-series. So, of course we don't get to see him today; as a pro-censorship/anti-porn group blows up a book store in Jack's neighborhood. I don't think I'd seen Wild Dog without his mask often, and without it he seems like an amiable goof; which might be a good cover for a hardass killer. (Written by Max Collins, art by Terry Beatty.) 

Finally, a plot-heavy installment of Blackhawk, as Ms. Hastings--who's pretty likely CIA herself--approaches Janos with an offer, to go after gold lost by the Japanese post-WW II, that probably fell into the hands of druglord Red Dragon. I think Blackhawk might've been the first Action serial to get spun off to a new title, but it only lasted 16 issues? Huh, I thought it ran longer. (Written by Mike Grell, pencils by Rick Burchett, inks by Pablo Marcos.)

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Nowadays, they'd call it "cosplay."

In 80's Punisher comics, Frank was able to go undercover sometimes and get information, because he wasn't just terrifying looking, like the modern Garth Ennis Punisher. Seriously, I don't know how that Frank could even buy groceries without scaring the crap out of people. But neither version ever made a hit under the guise of an ad campaign, like Wild Dog in today's book! From 1989, Action Comics Weekly #641. (Wild Dog segment, "Crack Up" Written by Max Collins, pencils by Terry Beatty, inks by John Nyberg.)

This was the second-to-last issue of the Action Comics Weekly run; it would return to being a monthly title with Action Comics #643. The anthology didn't catch on, I guess, since this issue had a telling U.S. Postal Service Statement of Ownership. Line C Total Paid Circulation: average number of copies each issue during preceding 12 months: 97,779. Single issue nearest to filing date: 60,309. Still, the Demon's serial this issue would be continued in his own comic, and another long-running strip, Blackhawk, would be promoted to ongoing as well.

I believe this was Wild Dog's last appearance for a while, and he goes out on a win, after casually strolling into a Chicago office building to gun down a mob meeting: onlookers assume he's a publicity stunt, probably for a Friday the 13th movie. WD's supporting cast tell him he has to quit afterwards, and he acquiesces...at least, until the next time he's needed. Also this issue: the conclusion of a Phantom Lady serial, another two-page Superman strip, and Phantom Stranger and Human Target stories. The latter was written by Mark Waid with pencils by Curt Swan (and inks by Dick Giordano) and features the Target trying to save an actor on a Batman '66 style show from deathtraps that aren't as fake as you'd think!

The Superman strip reminds me of the old public service announcements, although much more serious; like the kids from the old one didn't learn their damn lesson. ("Justice For All" Written by Roger Stern, pencils by Curt Swan, inks by Murphy Anderson, with "special thanks to Tom Peyer.") That's all that would fit in the scanner! When I got this, I also got Action Comics Weekly #642, we'll check that later.
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