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Title: Grand Slam
Writer: Scott McCloud
Penciller: Rick Burchett
Inker: Terry Austin
Colorist: Marie Severin
Letterer: Lois Buhalis
Cover Art: Rick Burchett & Terry Austin
Release Date: September 3rd, 1997
Cover Price: $1.75 U.S./ $2.50 Canada
Summary:
Superman
has to battle his way through a lot of bad-guys. That's basically it.
Description:
Superman
is getting ready to throw out the first pitch for the third game of the World
Series. After he throws out the first pitch, Lois, Superman, and Professor
Hamilton settle into their seats and watch the game, it is called on account of
an alien invasion. Ain't it always the way? A pair of aliens, who were directed
toward Earth thanx to #1 Superman-hater Lobo, challenge Superman to a fight for
his planet's honor and the Nebula Cup, best two out of three. That's right, the
Nebula Cup! I can already see NBC trying to buy the rights to air these awards!
Superman agrees, after learning that if he does not compete, they will simply
shoot their weapons in Earth's direction.
So, the battles begin! With Professor Hamilton in
the announcer's booth, helping Superman figure out the alien weapons, the fights
begin! Superman loses the first battle, mostly due to the fact that he doesn't
know how to use the weapon he's been handed. How unfair is that? The second
contest Superman is able to win this time! The opposing sides are using gravity
disruption batons, and Professor Hamilton figures out what they do in time to
give Superman the upper hand!
With the score tied, the final contest begins!
Superman and his opposing fighter must use high
tech boxing gloves in this final fight. Of course, Professor Hamilton is unable
to come up with a way for Superman to use the weapon to his advantage, so
Superman takes them off and takes out the alien enemy with a nice solid punch
and old fashioned pummeling (nicely done in a nine-panel grid). Standing over an
unconscious alien , Superman wins the round and the contest. He's happy, of
course. Superman flies to the alien craft, where he is awarded the Nebula Cup,
sculpted from nebula stars. Professor Hamilton realizes that if that is so, then
the award would weigh as much as a thousand battleships, and tries to warn
Superman. But he doesn't want Superman in time and the heavy award causes
Superman to plummet toward Earth and onto innocent spectators below. Ow.
Professor Hamilton realizes that when they hit,
they will cause a pretty huge crater, and heads straight for one of the
anti-gravity rods to try and counteract the award's weight. Unfortunately, all
of the ballplayers scatter and Professor Hamilton is left to try and hit a home
run. Not the most confident sportsman, Hamilton prepares himself for the award
as it descends closer to Earth. The world holds it breath as he swings and he
hits it out of the park!!!!! Woo-Hoo! The crowd goes wild!
Review:
Pure
fun. Scott McCloud's final issue was one of the most fun issues of this series.
It's an all-out battle issue, with a plot behind it, which is pretty rare! The
art was stellar, as Rick Burchett never, ever disappoints. It's a shame that
Scott McCloud is leaving the title after 12 amazing issues. This series started
off very strong, and I hope it continues that way.
Rating:  ˝
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