thechronologicalsuperman:
The Deadly DwarfSuperman Daily...
The Deadly Dwarf
Superman Daily Newspaper Strip - August 4 through September 20The Scientists of Sudden Death Part 4: The diminutive Slag takes charge, using his power of super-hypnotism – which we know from previous adventures numbers among the Man of Steel’s few weaknesses – to make his play for the death of Superman and the $1,000,000 reward.
He freezes Superman in his tracks, puts him under his power, and gives Superman a fatal command – do everything in reverse! The puzzling command has Superman retracing his steps backwards, barely overcoming by force of will alone the command in those few moments when he narrowly avoids exposing his identity, rushing towards some inevitable calamity or act of destruction – be it life or property!
Meanwhile, Slag has an opportunity to issue the same command to Lois, resulting in a switched-up scene where Lois – who truly despises everything about Clark Kent – finds her affections reversed as she throws herself at him and threatens suicide if he turns her away. “Don’t let me stop you” replies Clark, still suffering Slag’s hypnotic command even in his civilian identity. Yes, the adoration Clark feels deep in his soul for Lois Lane has been hynoptically reversed into hatred – mind you, the dialogue between the two is still keen and clever, and a reminder that the best part of some of these early Superman stories was just Clark and Lois doing a Hepburn-Tracy routine…
In the end, Clark wrangles Slag into giving him - in his secret identity - the same reversal command given to Superman, thereby making The Man of Tomorrow normal again. Slag, of course, perishes by his own machinations, and a new Scientist of Sudden Death steps up to the plate…
No comments:
Post a Comment