Lex Luthor Super Powers Mini-Comic
As much of a comic nerd as I am, I was late arriving to the Super Powers party. Around 1984, Super Powers was the latest wave of
action figures from DC comics. Featuring all of their mainstays, plus a few weirdos like Red Tornado, Mr. Miracle and Aquaman (he's always weird).
The figures were roughly 4 inches tall and all had a "power action". You'd squeeze the figure's arms or legs and something would move.
Example: squeeze Green Arrow's legs together and he draws his bow (most guys would pop you in the temple if you did that to them, but Green Arrow just picks up his bow).
I wasn't too keen on DC in the early 80's, preferring the "cool" Marvel characters. To me, DC was still the corny world of Superfriends and any connection to it made my 10 year old self feel immature! But in 1986 I started reading DC more often and picked up a few Super Powers
figures as novelties. The entire toy line had been cancelled at that point, and I would find a few figures at K-Mart for $1.00 each on closeout sales.
The selection wasn't great, but as late as 1988 I would still find an occassional Super Powers figure for dirt cheap. I ended up with a good chunk of the line and each figure's accompanying mini-comic.
That long-winded intro finally segues into THIS feature article about the Lex Luthor mini-comic. No creator credits are listed and it's tough to tell who worked on this thing. It's in the 70's JLA/Dick Dillin style and is set in its own universe. These are essentially "parallel universe" comics where the JLA is known as the "Super Powers Team" and hangs out in the Hall of Justice. This comic is from the first wave/year of Super Powers which featured all the big names like Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Penguin, Brainiac, etc. The figure and comic both feature Lex in his 1980's "power suit"--a suit of armor which gave him super powers and made him look like a green Stilt-Man.
The story begins with Wonder Woman and "The President" watching a parade. The Pres is enjoying the festivities, but seems to be more impressed with Wonder Woman's Red White n' Blues, as we see here:
Bill Clinton's nothing compared to this guy.
Before Wonder Woman can be appointed Secretary of the President's Staff, the Pres is zapped away by Lex Luthor and his Lex-Soar 7 jet! Wonder Woman
tries to stop the craft with her magic lasso and gets dragged all over the city for her efforts. Superman hears the commotion and arrives to help out. Supes makes sure to drive home the point about how dangerous Lex is, while getting pinched with a Kryptonite Claw (tm?). Supes falls into the ocean, but is saved by his Supermobile (also available from Kenner! Your parents help you put it together)
Note the rough size of the Lex-Soar 7, because that soon becomes an issue. In the next scene we see Lex and the Pres in what looks like a laboratory! But, but.. the Lex-Soar ship looked about the size of helicopter. I guess it has a conference room. Logic in Comics!
Lex issues his ultimatum to the President. Abdicate and declare Lex president or the Lex-Soar 7 will mess up Washington DC! The Pres, being a complete dolt in negotiations, tells Luthor that he'll never get away with it.
I'm not expert at these things, but if I'm abducted by a bald nutjob in a pink spaceship and he asks to be president...I simply say "sure, you'll be president". Then we land, a sniper will put a bullet in your head, and the whole thing's over. Ergo, this dim President must be a Republican.
Meanwhile, the Lex-Soar 7 has picked up a passenger. Wonder Woman still has the thing lassoed and is following along. Including a scene that the nincompoops who frequent SuperDickery.com might have some out-of-context fun with:
The fun n' games soon end as the Lex-Soar 7 flies right into a giant humpback whale. When Superman fell into the ocean, he called his pal Aquaman to save the day. Lex flew his ship right into a frickin' whale! Evil genius, my ass. That ellicits a good "BAH" from Lex!
That's what I liked about old school villains. They always got the last word in. Be it the Scoody-Doo "I would've gotten away with it..",
Dr. Doom's "Curse you, Richards!", or even the generic "Blast!". Only a villain can yell "Blast". It doesn't work for the rest of us.
So I'm a little disappointed that the best Lex can do is "BAH!". Again-- evil genius, my ass!
Technically, Aquaman's not the "hero of the day". It's the big ass whale. Yet the whale doesn't even get a mention. The acknowledgement goes to the glory-hounding swimming dweeb in an orange t-shirt.
Summary: Lex flies in pink spaceship with President while dragging Wonder Woman. Flies into whale.
Cover price: n/a
Rating: .75
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