Superman `78 offers the same action and characters as the films, but adding to it with the comic book villany of Brainiac! It features a cover by Ben Oliver with the Christopher Reeve Superman shaking the hand of Lex Luthor resembling Gene Hackman. “Brainiac Chapter Two” is by the team of Robert Vendeitti and Wilfredo Torres. We see the Kord Industries building in Uptown Metropolis.
This area is right above Centennial Park in the comics and the location of the Daily Planet building. Kord Industries was owned by Ted Kord, the Blue Beetle, and also appeared in the Arrowverse. Luthor is being interviewed for a job, the opening is for a cafeteria position, love the three panels of Luthor’s frozen expression! He walks out and grabs a man’s umbrella when he goes out into the rain and splashed by a limo. A downward turn for Luthor. He makes his way to his apartment when a lamp is clicked on by Superman! I think a portrait in the back is of Ms. Teschmacher.
Superman has made a deal with Luthor’s parole board if he checked in on him. He says Luthor deserves a second chance and shows him the head of Brainiac. A team-up, of sorts, with Superman and Luthor! Superman entrusts Luthor with Brainiac’s head. Luthor kicks a panel on his wall that opens his lab, on a table is the upper half of his warsuit, most likely lead lined to protect against Superman.
At the Daily Planet, Clark is there for his lunch date with Lois, but she is more concerned about yesterday’s invasion. Interesting detail among the clutter of Lois’ desk is the roller skates hanging on the side of her desk. She gives him the rest of her fries, the packet looks like it came from McDonald’s. Lois says no one is investigating Brainiac’s attack. She gets a phone call and answers it as Clark eavesdrops with super hearing. Her contact, Steve from the Search for Extraterrestial Life Institute, a real organization. He mentions that they have an ongoing signal from deep space.
Kal-El has his scientific advisors in the comics, Dr. Emil Hamilton, he has appeared in Man of Steel (2013), Smallville, and Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. Jenet Klyburn is a scientist who worked for S.T.A.R. Labs. She was in Beavis (2013). Lastly, there is Professor Pepperwinkle who appeared on the radio show and also The Adventures of Superman. It would be fun to see one of them since Superman has a science fiction connection. On the rooftop of the Daily Planet, Clark takes off his glasses and looks to the sky.
There is a light sheen of grey with the city in the background, nice effect by colorist, Jordie Bellaire, the writer of Young Diana. Luthor at his lab has hacked into the Brainiac skull, it has sent a signal that there is a Kryptonian threat on Earth. Brainiac’s skull ship has arrived and makes an announcement heard by everyone in Metropolis that a Kryptonian is hidden among them! The green Brainiac walks down the ramp of his ship, his upper arms have the bionics of his drones. The drones start spilling from the skull ship searching for Superman! We get Superman flying towards Brainiac and he is surrounded by drones.
They make a crater in the Metropolis streets, very much like the fight in Superman II (1980). Lois heads for the battle. Superman emerges with another Brainiac skull. A cab driver is listening to the radio news, unlike the other comic, this panel firmly establishes who she is as a driver. Luthor tries to pile in saying there is a five hundred dollar tip to go to the battle. Superman flies towards the mass of drones cheered on by the crowd. This again reminds me of the second film, very cinematic. Also, right out of Superman II, he grabs hold of his chest insignia, and throws it.
Instead of wrapping around Non, this one nets some drones. I like the embrace of the campiness of the Superman sequel. It is very much like Batman `66. Brainiac on his ship mentions that he is also the last his people, the Coluans, in the comics. Superman struggles with the drones and blasts them with heat vision. The Metropolis citizens get angry at Brainiac. The computer intelligence of Brainiac considers a Kryptonian a threat to star systems. He activates a cannon out of the mouth of the skull ship to destroy the humans that want to protect Superman! What does Luthor have to do with the conflict? Has he found a way to counter the drones? I would like to see more cameos of other characters. Superman `78 ramps up the fun with Superman II references and the galactic threat of Brainiac!
Five Drones out of Five!
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