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Okay, here's the low-down. SUPERMAN rescues a plummeting rocket ship, only to discover that its lone occupant, HALK KAR, seems to be his (previously unknown) older brother from KRYPTON. Trouble is, he's a far weaker version of Supes and manages to get himself captured by 'WRECKER' ROSS and his gang of crooks. Strapped to an electrical device, Halk Kar is helpless to save himself, but when the MAN Of STEEL flies to his rescue, the bad guys give him the following ultimatum.
Okay, so what's wrong with that scenario? Simple. If Superman can move at invisible super-speed, then he's capable of moving before the bad guys can even blink - meaning that he could rescue his 'brother' with no problem at all, and without the need to seemingly accede to the baddies' demands. (Remember, in the SILVER AGE, Superman was as fast as The FLASH, who could circle the globe a staggering eight times in one second.)
Such illogical situations arose from Superman being too powerful to be threatened in any kind of credible way, which is why DENNY O'NEIL reduced his powers in the 'KRYPTONITE NEVERMORE' series back in 1971. Unfortunately, after O'Neil's departure, it wasn't long before Supes was back to his previous near-godlike state - meaning that there are probably hundreds of strips (at least) which justly belong in the department of 'Loopy Lapses In Logic'.
Look for more logic-defying lapses sometime soon.
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Incidentally, this titanic tale was originally published in SUPERMAN #80 as "SUPERMAN'S BIG BROTHER!" As well as the title change for GIANT SUPERMAN #222, some other details were revised, such as the location of Halk Kar's home planet.
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This post actually qualifies as a FAVOURITE COMICS Of The PAST entry as well, 'cause I first read the above story in Giant Superman #222, which I bought in Rothesay in 1970. I believe I got it at the same time and from the same shop (in Port Bannatyne) that my bruv got The FLASH #190. I also acquired GIANT BATMAN (G61) #213 on the same holiday, but in a different newsagent in Rothesay itself. I witter on about them elsewhere on this blog.
Then there's this lapse in logic: thinking a complete stranger is your brother, simply because they can do what you can do.
ReplyDeleteDave in the room next door to me can also tell you what synecdoche means but I never thought he was my brother. Yet Supey makes this assumption with Halk Kar and Lar Gand!
True - if that's all Supes had on which to base his assumption, Dougie, but I think the caption on the splash page has misled you.
ReplyDeleteSuperman actually thinks that Halk Kar may be his brother because there's a note saying "Chart of space-course to be followed so my son can reach Earth!" in Jor-El's handwriting tucked into Halk's 'pocket'.
Superman's supposition is not altogether unreasonable in that light. Even without the note, he'd have been justified in wondering if Halk was at least a fellow Kryptonian.
Obviously I was sparse on the details so as not to spoil the story for anyone who wants to track it down and read it.
But good thinking, man. You just weren't supplied with enough information to assist you in your conclusions.
Yes I remembered the note later on today because the story was reprinted in the same late- 60s giant as "The Sons of Superman" (which I adore).
ReplyDeleteIt was also a tortuous reference to "Superboy's Big Brother" Lar Gand aka Bob Cobb aka Mon-El/Valor/Mon'el. But I gather you know that now.
Mon-El was a name I was familiar with - it was Lar Gand and all those other ones that made my head hurt. We're talking about a character that the general public will never have heard of; if his continuity can be so complex, I dread to think about all the other obscure characters out there.
ReplyDeleteI re-read the 'Sons of Superman story last night, Dougie, in that very Giant-Sized Superman issue. Wasn't too bad at all.