The Real Comics Return

[peterparker05]

If you could see any storyline in the entire history of the original DC comics as an animated multi-part story or movie for Justice League, which one would it be and why?

[James Harvey]

That's just too many to choose from...but I think I oculd. I was really blown away by the recent TWOER OF BABEL mutli-parter in JLA and I think that could just translate perfectly onto JL.

[Eric Draven]

WRONG!

Some of you may not be old enough to remember this story, but it was probably one of the finest and most increadible stories I've ever read in a Superman comic, and it had MOST of the major Heroes (at the time).

Batman flys up to Superman's Fortress to give him a present for Christmas, but when he arrives, there's no sign of Superman. Finally they find him, in sort of a study, just standing there. Hes in some kind of coma, and has this big plant & tentacle creature sticking to his chest, and there is a box that was obviously a Christmas present he was opening at the time this thing landed on him.

Try as they might, Batman & Robin can't make Superman snap out of it, or remove the critter. They are musing out loud to each other as to who could possibly have sent him such a monsterous gift, when they here a "Greetings Humans" from behind them (someone was able to sneak up behind Batman??), and as they turn.. its Mongoul, smiling very evily.

Mind you, this is Silver Age Superman, the most powerful he has EVER been. Mongol wasnt stronger then Superman, not by a long shot. He was simply stronger then Superman was willing to become. Superman had this running reluctance for the longest time to allow himself his full power for fear of the backlash and potential harm it could cause the innocent. He feared the old addage was true..... absolute power corrrupts absolutely.

As Mongoul approaches, cut to Superman's eyes, and into what he is seeing.... his hearts desires.

Krypton isnt gone, his people arent dead, his father is still there to teach and protect him. Rather then a cold and clinical society, THIS Krypton is at the zenith of Human potential. Aware, emotional, and technically advanced, it truely IS everything he could possibly hope for. Best of all, there is no longer any threat or constant potential for harm of others.

Back in the Fortress, Batman & Robin pretty much have everything they can handle using their skills just to basicly avoid Mongoul. This is a creature of evil and power way beyond anything they can possibly even aproach, and are trying desperately to avoid Mongoul as they search the fortress for SOMETHING they can use to to revive Superman. Batman & Robin split up, with Batman trying to lead Mongoul away while Robin continues the search. Batman's luck eventually runs out, and Mongoul playfully begins to beat him to death. There is NOTHING Batman can do.

Just as Mongoul tires of the game, and is about to rip Batman's head clean off to end it, Wonderwoman arrives. Mongoul is happy that someone of a greater challenge has arrived, and tosses Batman's broken and bloodied body to the side thru a wall, and the fight between Wonderwoman & Mongoul commences. He begins to taunt her as they fight. Is she HIS (Superman's) woman? Is she ready to be his slave? Does servitude suit her better rather then this mascarade as a hero and warrior? She gets in some REALLY good shots, and Mongoul stops goofing off and REALLY starts to fight back. She starts taking a beating even worse then Batman's. She continues to fight, but she simply is not on the same level as Mongoul in power.

Meanwhile, Robin has found a pair of massivly oversized gloves, and remembers a story Superman had told him about their being used to manage & handle dangerous creatures in the Zoo Superman maintains. he goes back to where Superman is standing and begins trying as hard as he can to remove the critter from Supes' chest. it actually begins to budge!

*********************
The creature is invulnerable to harm due to its feeding on Supermans energy, and was able to latch on and begin feeding before he could knock it away or avoid it. As strong as he is, as powerful as he is, he was caught off guard. He could easily have looked into the package with his vision, or avoided the creature if he had expected anything other then a christmas present at his massive front door
*********************

Cut to Superman, where his dream has begun to suddenly collaps into a nightmare. Krypton has declined into a Military State & fallen into fasicm. Insurectionists are bombing things, and Superman is starting to have doubts about whats going on. As the creature loosens,, so does its hold on his mind. Tears in his eyes, and full of remorse, Kal-el turns to his father, and tells him he loves him, he always has, but he does not believe in him. He rejects all of this.

Robin is making headway on the creatures grip on Superman's chest. A MASSIVE crash and Mongoul comes thru the far wall having used Wonderwoman's inert and bloodied body as the club to open it with. He steps into the room with his grip around her throat, and sees what Robin is doing.

NO!!!! He screams/roars with a combination of fear and rage. This creature... in ALL it evil glory and power, fears Superman. He claps his hands, and Robin is blown away, and ends up partially buried in rubble unconsious. Mongoul turns to deal with Superman's inert form, and Superman Blinks and snaps out of it. The creature is no longer on his chest. Cut to a shot of Robin laying in the rubble with the critter attatching itself to his chest.

The fight begins. the REAL fight.. and Superman gets angry. For the first time he gets truely angry. He begins to beat the living crap out of Mongoul. The battle has ranged all about the Fortress, leaving it in a shambles. Superman has seen what Mongoul has done to his friends, and hes paying him back for it blow by blow. Mongoul is a mess, and even though hes fighting dirty, it really doesnt matter. Hes just too outclassed by Superman. Supes slugs him again, and is standing over a prone and stunned Mongoul, fists raised in rage, a mask of fury across his face. Mongoul sees his death coming, and there is nothing he can do but lay there.

Just as hes about to strike, Kal-el realises he is falling, that his greatest fear is occuring. He has lost control. Shocked, he hesitates for a fraction of an instant..... and Mongoul shoots him with the energy emiter on his belt.

***********************
Continuity used to be a HUGE deal with Comics, and I miss it dearly. Superman has a history with Mongoul, and its a bitter one. Mongoul has designed weapons to deal with Superman, they just arent very effective most of the time, seeing as how Superman can usually avoid whatever he trys, or simply can stand & take it since it really cant do much to harm him. The Emitter however is a little different. Its energy is similar to the radiation of a Red sun. It cant really HURT him, but it CAN over time rob him of his powers, leaving him vulnerable. But the Emitter is more or less a 1 shot deal, being VERY powerful, but taking ages to recharge.
***********************

Superman is stunned by the force of the beam, and is driven thru several walls and ends up buried in a HUGE pile of rubble. Mongoul approaches him and pulls him free and wraps his massive hands around a still stunned Superman's neck.

"I actually thought for a moment you might do it. I thought you may have actually had the courage" he says to Kal, refering to his nearly killing Mongoul. "You are NOTHING!" he rasps in a rageing whisper.

Superman simply says one word. He is no longer stunned.

"BURN", he rasps thru gritted teeth & clenched jaw, full of rage.

He uses his heat vision.. not some piddly twin pencil thick beams, but a MASSIVE release of energy to pay Mongoul back for the Emitter. Mongoul is driven thru litterally floors/ceilings/walls for a VERY large distance. He begins to crawl to his feet groggily

"Heads Up!" he hears. He looks up, and standing on the level above him at the edge of the massive hole in the ceiling /floor is Batman, wearing the gloves, with the Alien in his grasp.

Mongoul recoils in shock as Batman throws the creature at him, but at the last second he bats the creature away turning it into a glob of goo with the force of the blow. He jumps up and simply and litterally crushes Batman to a greasy/bloody mess. He then walks over to an unconcious Superman and you see the silhouette on the wall behind of him ripping Kal's head from his shoulders. He is marching thru the ruined cities of Earth now, his armies victorious, all of Earths heroes dead, with Superman's head on a pike.

"What are you going to do with him?"

Cut to Bruce asking Kal what are they going to do with the now Comotose/immobile Mongoul, creature sticking to his chest.

"I don't know really, there is a black hole about 60 or so light years from here past Alpha Centari. I passed it this morning on the way home. Maybe Ill toss him in there. He replies with a wry and teasing smile.

Cut to them Several days later, all sitting in a VERY MUCH tidyer library of sorts, all giving gifts to each other (Superman, Wonderwoman, Batman, & Robin). Batman & Robin leave, and its just Kal and Diana.

The situation hints at romance, as both obviously have very deep though ignored feelings for each other. They simply have too much history together to muddy up the waters with something as "inconsequentail" as romance. She hands him a large packadge, smiling

"And what have we got here?" He askes smiling.

He pulls open the wrapper on the somewhat roundish shape, and sees its an increadible replica of the shrunken city of Argo!

**********************
The Real Argo City & its people had long since been returned to their original size and found a new home a few years back (no thanks to Braniac), and Kal had made a replica, perfect to the tiniest detail, to fill the display & life support system the original city had rested in.
**********************

"Why.. its.. its beautiful Diana, its just increadible." he stammers in shock with a smile. "How...?".

"I wa...................................." Dana starts to say

Superman MOVES. Not quick.. not FAST.. I mean MOVES! Time actually STOPS as he passes thru the rooms of his recently repaired fortress. He removes the model of Argo City that rests there and stashes it on the other side of the Fortress hidden in a room with knicknacks. Still moving at REAL superspeed, he goes back to the library and sits next to Diana again.

"..........anted to give you something I knew you didnt have." she grins. "The Queens finest jewelers worked night & day to make an exact replica, perfect in every detail." she smiles .. quite proudly "I wasnt certain they would be able to finish in time, but they are very skilled."

"Thank you Diana, ... thank you." He smiles with affection "I know JUST where to put it" He grins back.

"I wanted to give you something I KNEW you needed, since the orginal model was destroyed in the fight with..." she trails off as the grueling memory of her defeat at the hands of the despot and monster.. the moment of joy and friendship lost in remembered horror.

Kal takes her hand in his, then both... then pulls her close. What MIGHT have turned into a kiss instead becomes a warm and loving hug.

"Merry Christmas Diana", he says into her ear, "Merry Christmas".

"Merry Christmas Kal" she replies into his.

Cut to a retreating shot thru & outside the Fortress's MASSIVE front door's keyhole, out over the icy plains and mountains, and up into space

THIS is one of the FINEST stories EVER written in the history of Comics.. and it deserves.. nay.. DEMANDS to be told again

"What did you DO Ray"

[James Harvey]

Holy Smokes! I totally forgot about that Superman story! That was (I think) Superman Annual #11 and was written by Alan Moore with artwork by Curt Swan. I totally forgot that issue. While I despise Wizard magazine, they picked this as the best Superman story (and it was in their top 40 comics of all time) and I agree. This story is what Superman stories should be today. Mongul is one of the ebst Superman villians, but overtime he got shafted. Thankfully the current creative team is doing their best to beef up the Man of Steel's rogue gallery.

Action Comics #775 would also be an amazing addition to the series as well.

Wow Draen...you picked a GREAT comic issue to adapt.

[Eric Draven]

Thanks :).. now lets see if we can get a petition going to make Warner and Dini bite eh?

"Does your family have a history of mental illness?"

[James Harvey]

You got 10 posts now - you can slap up an avatar!

I think this episoe could make a great companion peice for War World. After Superman kicks Monguls butt in that episode (which will happen) he'll want to seek revenge. That would perfectly lead into this episode. Plus a Robin appearance would be nice although he can easily be replaced with one of the Leaguers.

[Eric Draven]

Originally posted by Dick Grayson
You got 10 posts now - you can slap up an avatar!

I think this episoe could make a great companion peice for War World. After Superman kicks Monguls butt in that episode (which will happen) he'll want to seek revenge. That would perfectly lead into this episode. Plus a Robin appearance would be nice although he can easily be replaced with one of the Leaguers.

Very True, Robin CAN easily be replaced/swapped. What I posted isnt an actual verbatum retelling of the story.. (Robin pulled the critter from Batman's chest, and threw it at Mongoul in the comic), but was rather how I think they should retell it in animated form.

I think an injured Flash, since hes such a smart-assed punk in the series now (much like how he was in the comics for a while, before he got shot in the chest by Vandel Savage and his attitude changed), injured and unable to run after a beating at the superfast and strong hands of Mongoul, could be the one to throw the critter on Mongoul with a quick quip and a smirk. And he would have an excuse to be TOTALLY intollerable with a swelled head for "being the one to save everyones collective butts". :rolleyes:


GL.. well.. I dont like his attitude. Its too bitter and self obsorbed to do proud the mantle of a Member of the Green Lanterns Corp. Hes supposed to, in part at least, represent the finest qualities a life-form can exhibit as a chosen member of the Corp. Instead hes just another brooding Hero who tends to shoot first & ask questions later, and judge a book by its cover. He needs to get knocked out early.. so does John Johnzz.

Hawk Girl..... hmmmm.. jury is still out on her. I havnt been happy with her character.. I not a big fan. She can be off world at the time of the fight ;)

"Cats & Dogs... living together... MASS HYSTERIA!"

[Karkull]

Alan Moore does great work, doesn't he? The story you're all referring to is For the Man Who Has Everything, which came out about the same time as The Last Superman Story (which Moore also wrote). It would make a great episode.

[The Guard]

Can we avoid the whole Batman giving presents thing?

[Eric Draven]

Originally posted by The Guard
Can we avoid the whole Batman giving presents thing?

[sigh] :rolleyes:

See what happens when you abandon history, continuity, & tradition? You ALWAYS get someone who says or thinks .."Oh.. that would NEVER happen.." or "Thats not the kind of thing he/she/it would do"

Recent (& not so recent) years have seen changes in characters to fit what was popular for newer and fresher audiences in an effort to build a greater fanbase. Unfortunatly they repetedly abandoned concepts and events of the past in an effort to give new readers a "starting point'. After all , its far easier to catch up on the hero's past if the beginning was only 2 years ago rather then 30-40 right?

However, all they really succeeding in doing was pissing off and driving away their long time base of collectors and subscribers, and developed an industry supported almost soley by action/violence junkies with short attention spans. Im not even certain if the industry has REALLY learned their lesson on the matter.

The fact IS that, if you cater to the reader with a short attention span, sooner or later they are going to lose intrest & move on to the next bigger & better thing. So your left having driven off everyone who made you what you were for the sake of someone who didnt care.

Or am I just missunderstanding the whole situation even though ive been collecting comics for 30 years?

Merry Christmas everyone [hugs]

"The franchise rights ALONE will make us rich"

[Batman 80]

Thanks for that info Draven! That sounded like a great story and I would love to see that adapted into an animated episode. Mongul in my opinion is Supes best arch enemy besides Luthor. Do you remember any of the stories where Supes and Darkseid went toe to toe?

[Joe Tully]

Yeah, that story was in the Greatest Superman Stories TPB, Eric. And for a good reason! It told us a lot about Superman psychologically. Maybe if they just replaced Robin with Hawkgirl or Flash. Some of the other members might not work as well since they could put up more of a fight. (J'onn has telepathy, GL can make all kinds of crazy constructs)

[Eric Draven]

Originally posted by Joe Tully
Yeah, that story was in the Greatest Superman Stories TPB, Eric. And for a good reason! It told us a lot about Superman psychologically. Maybe if they just replaced Robin with Hawkgirl or Flash. Some of the other members might not work as well since they could put up more of a fight. (J'onn has telepathy, GL can make all kinds of crazy constructs)

I don't know.. Mongoul has a very powerfull and intelligent mind, even if he IS evil, it doesnt take away from its overwhelming power & will. To be honest, I think John Johnzz trying enter & control his mind would only end up with a backlash that takes him out P.D.Q.

Green Lanter DOES have power with the ring, but I dont think his energy constructs would hold up to Mongoul. Even Silver Age GL's (the most powerfull GL's in history) constructs crumbled before Mongoul & Superman. GL always ended up having his butt handed to him. After all.. its primarily will based, and Mongoul is pretty overwhelming, which is distracting.

Also.. GL has shown himself to be a hothead who likes to rush in. I think that qualifies him for first in line for a heaping helping of beatdown followed up with a frosty cold can of whoop-arse to wash it down with. I dont see him lasting 10 seconds against Mongoul. Besides.. Mongoul is yellow :eek:

"Oh no.. you were the best one in your entire ROW"

[Eric Draven]

Originally posted by hot rod
Thanks for that info Draven! That sounded like a great story and I would love to see that adapted into an animated episode. Mongul in my opinion is Supes best arch enemy besides Luthor. Do you remember any of the stories where Supes and Darkseid went toe to toe?

Darkseid & Supes.. geese.. I really dont remember them ever actually facing off against each other. Kirby still had a good hold on his characters back then, and the industry wasnt able to throw his characters into titles like they did with so many others. I don't think they did pre-current or Silver age.. though im SURE the fight would be a good one.. Supes would win once he got serious :cool:

The only pre-current fights I can recall involved the Pocket Universe Superboy as a member of Legion of Superheroes. There were I think 3 fights, but it was more or less a team effort with Darkseid losing (natch ;) )

With the Current run & timelines there have been some minor scurmishing, but its never been allowed to proceed to the inevitable conclussion. Darkseid always backs off, goofs, or takes a boom tube. :rolleyes:

Darksied is a good character to bring in IF they were to introduce the New Gods into a couple stories, but otherwise hes a plot complication at best

"He slimed me"

[Eric Draven]

Think there needs to be more input on this idea.. Ive posted a really great one.. but there have to be others you folks want to see? Perhaps a good multi-parter?

[JLU Dude]

I think they should adapt JLA: World War 3 into a storyarc.

[peterparker05]

I still believe that Panic In The Sky would be an awesome storyline for Jl. I am really itching for the return of Braniac.

Also, a Contagion type story might be kinda cool with Ra's Al Ghul attempting to release a deadly desease to the public.