OH, BROTHER! SUPER LOOPY LAPSES IN LOGIC DEPT STRIKES BACK!

Images copyright DC COMICS

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 hundred 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.