Writer: Kupperberg
Penciller: Steve Erwin
Editor: Mike Gold

Cover price: $1.50

My copy: $2.00 at Fat Jack’s Comicrypt in Oaklyn, NJ

Vigilante was a hero that I only cared about in the context of the Teen Titans. I tried reading his solo book, but other than the cool black costume (which is now done much better in Nightwing), there wasn’t anything very interesting beyond the origin. Plus it’s written by Kupperberg, who I haven’t forgiven for that Martian Manhunter special. But when I read what happens in the final issue, Vigilante #50, I got interested.

Stop reading here if you don’t want the story revealed. Knowing won’t spoil it for you, but just in case. Adrian Chase, Vigilante, runs around town tortured by his conscience, but unable to stop himself. The cops are tracking him down, but he’s too good to be caught. The chase reminds me of the end of “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” rooting for somebody when you know he isn’t going to make it. Vigilante shoots a friend in an all too common self-righteous moment, then goes home and realizes that he needs to be stopped, and only he can do it. In a shocking and modestly told sequence, Vigilante loads a revolver and kills himself in his bathroom, surrounded by his costume.

You don’t see suicide very much in DC comics, understandably. It’s a delicate subject to the readership, presumably teenage boys who might feel a bit on the outside, and if your life has been touched by suicide, you’re not going to want a comic book’s protagonist to present a compelling case for killing yourself. Since this book was the last in the run, I doubt there is a letters collection on the issue, but I’d be curious to see what people had to say.

The story is relatively self-contained, wrapping up all of the storylines, conveniently and emotionally squeezing an origin into the chase while conveying the gnawing desperation of the Vigilante at the end of his rope. There isn’t much to tie it to the rest of the DC universe other than in tone and general morality, and there are characters who I still have no idea who they are. If you can get it for cheap, and are up for a well told story on an uncommon subject, pick up Vigilante #50.

Writer: Ordway
Artists: Jurgens, Breeding, Gammill, Janke, Swan, Byrne, and Ordway
Editor: Mike Carlin

Cover Price: $1.50

My copy: $1.50 at Midtown Comics in Manhattan

You can get this book cheap, because it had a second printing, and it’s a good thing. Superman starts off without any powers, and Red Kryptonite is in the story. This was shortly after his John Byrne relaunch, so anything could happen. Ultimately, Ordway and Carlin find a fun post-Crisis solution to a pre-Crisis concept, and deliver a rich story. In the letter column, they thank a loyal reader for a suggestion that leads to the return of Red K, proving that it can happen to you.

With multiple artists, stories often feel disjointed and competitive, but Carlin and Ordway do a great job unifying the art while keeping the artists distinctive. Each artist brings a degree of excitement to his pages, buoyed by the playful setups from Ordway. Clark Kent has his first experiences with body odor, and a subway, and being saved by other Metropolis heroes. As a subplot, Clark proposes and Lois accepts. Probably a bit unsatisfying if you were following Superman at the time and wanted the engagement to be featured in it’s own book, but when looking back at one episode, it adds terrific color to the tale.

Even though it’s part four of a storyline, I only read this one and have no desire to see the first three. The story is fully satisfying on it’s own, and might be annoying when dragged out over four issues. Several storylines are brought to satisfying conclusions, several characters take a moment to reflect on their place in Metropolis, and even though I don’t follow Superman’s books, I know who these people are and enjoyed their moments.

If you don’t want to ruin a cool surprise, skip this paragraph. The main reason to buy this issue is the revelation that Mxyzptlk is also Marvel’s Impossible Man. There are two pages of John Byrne art to prove it, showing the Fantastic Four, partially obscured, fighting him. Very fun. I knew about it ahead of time and still loved seeing the pages, a total surprise.

Superman #50 is a classic Ordway tale that tells a complete and satisfying story. It doesn’t really break any new ground, it’s not Morrison or Grell. It is forty-eight pages and totally worth two bucks if you can find it.

Writer: Robert Kanigher
Artists: Dick Dillin and Joe Giella
Editor: Julius Schwartz

Cover Price: 15¢

My copy: $3.00 at Roger’s Time Machine, W.14th in Manhattan

I know finding this may seem like a stretch, but Wizard lists it at $5.00, so by logic a reading copy should be cheaper. It’s worth it. These early seventies JLA books are treasures as far as I am concerned. From issue 68 when Denny O’Neil took over from Gardner Fox to issue 99 when Mike Friedrich turned the reins over to Len Wein, the JLA was a wonderful book. I didn’t like these issues so much when I was younger, but now I get into the campy activism. Hunger, pollution, terrorism, racism, the generation gap, these guys hit them all in a really sincere, sweet way. Mike Friedrich in particular presents a stylistic interpretation of the times. Whether or not it’s accurate, it’s fun.

Issue 84 is a hoot front to back. The cover includes a Monica Lewinskyish drawing of Black Canary. The inside cover has novelty ads for flesh eating plants ($1.00), a nine foot hot air balloon ($2.50), and a slot machine not to be used for gambling purposes ($2.50). In the second panel, the JLA wins a Nobel Prize for “invaluable contributions to the ‘good of humanity.’” There’s tons of fighting, a ridiculous upgrade of Black Canary’s sonic powers that allows her to read minds, and a drug that turns warlike people peaceable. There’s the start of a race between Superman and Flash, to be judged by the much slower Hawkman. There’s a letter from Marty Pasko, whose name I recognize but can’t associate with anything.

Skip this paragraph if you don’t want the big secret of this issue. The reason I chose this issue over other similar issues is the melodramatic clinch between Batman and Black Canary. They have both lost lovers recently, and they seek comfort in the embrace of a fellow crime fighter in the JLA satellite. Batman says this: “Black Canary... Don’t cry... Please...." "With the awkward tenderness of a man, Batman enfolds the sobbing Black Canary in his arms... Like a broken-winged fledgling she lifts her tearstained face towards his distressed eyes... Trapped by the same universal web of loneliness in which all humans are imprisoned...the couple gropes through the darkness of their souls... Their lips fumbling for warmth... Their hearts beating in a secret language without vocabulary...” And then they kiss, with Black Canary kicking up a heel. It’s awesome! “Suddenly, their breaths severed by the slashing sword of guilt...” And it’s over. We’re only on page nine! I’m not sure if this kiss was undone by the Crisis or Zero Hour, but it sure is in JLA #84. I still can’t believe heroes used to just run around kissing each other willy nilly.

The writing is so overly sincere, it’s a little fumbled, but it’s a totally different flavor from most of what I see today, and I find it charming, almost pulp. Tons happens in this issue, as opposed to the tiny plot moves you’ll see in a typical book. You’ll feel like you got a fistful of JLA. For five bucks or under, JLA #84 is a great buy.

Writer: Bob Haney
Artists: Dick Dillin and Henry Scarpelli
Editor: Murray Boltinoff

Cover Price: 20¢

My copy: $2.00 at Roger’s Time Machine on W.14th Street in Manhattan

Lately I’ve seen a slew of old World’s Finest books for cheap. Roger’s Time Machine has them coming out of their ears. They’re hit or miss, but the ones that have basically hit for me have Clark Jr. and Bruce Jr., the Super-Sons. Clark has half the powers of Superman, and Bruce has a huge allowance. They hang out and rebel, mimicking the GL/GA Hard Traveling stuff. The cover of #215 has Bruce with his mask pulled back, wearing the Batman outfit and shouting at a poster of Superman and Batman. “We’re going to run our own lives--and you can’t stop us, Super-dads!” This stuff is great, in the same way “Red Dawn” is great.

A member of the biker gang “Satan’s Sockers” tears the phone out of Clark Jr’s hand and says, “Talkin’ to your chick? Naw, a straight clown like you breaks out just thinkin’ of dolls! Sorry, this rap is over!” Gems like this dot the story and give it a very period feel. Bruce Jr. calls his dad “an obsessed, no-fun freak!”

As silly as it sounds, and actually is, I really liked the underlying issue of the story. The guys are fumbling to get out from under their parents. I can’t remember the last time I saw it explored so fully in a comic book. Even if it’s the premise of Impulse and Max Mercury, it’s handled in an explosive manner here and I rather like it. And for two bucks, why not?