Superman Through the Ages! Forum

Superman Comic Books! => All-Star Superman! => Topic started by: JulianPerez on March 18, 2006, 04:16:10 AM



Title: Possible Jack Kirby reference in ALL-STAR SUPERMAN?
Post by: JulianPerez on March 18, 2006, 04:16:10 AM
In ALL-STAR SUPERMAN #2, Lois becomes incredibly paranoid and suspicious of Superman, grabbing a Kryptonite laser to blast him before she lets him touch her.

It was later discovered that this was as a result of an experiment done by one of the malfunctioning Superman robots who released into the Fortress a colorless, odorless undetectable hallucinogenic gas.

Is it possible that this gas that the Superman Robot was working with was in fact a version of the hallucinogenic gas used by Dr. Bedlam in MISTER MIRACLE #3, "The Paranoid Pill?"

Like the Paranoid Pill, the gas in the Fortress was colorless, odorless, and could fill the entirety of a building incredibly rapidly. Like the effects of the Paranoid Pill, Lois Lane became primal, suspicious, and attacked anything that moved. Like the Paranoid Pill, the gas was described as "hallucinogenic."

The Paranoid Pill had effects that varied from person to person, instilling different beliefs in different people. For instance, a police officer fired his gun into a hallway of people, crying "this hallway is CRAWLING with ROBBERS!" Another man said "look out, the UFOs have landed!" Still others mistook Mister Miracle for a Demon and Vampire...and so forth. Lois becoming certain that Superman wants her for a wicked purpose and that she has to get him before he gets her, would be consistent with this overall pattern of how the drug works.

Morrison, too, is a big Kirby fan, though I insist with "Rock of Ages," he would have done Kirby the best tribute by leaving him alone. In ALL-STAR, for instance, there is a version of the DNA Project seen in SUPERMAN'S PAL, JIMMY OLSEN. It's hard to argue my pal Grant isn't familiar with the issue.

Superman, in the history that Morrison is drawing on to tell his story here, was shown to be a scientific genius, one that always worked on ways to combat the weapons of his foes - for instance, he had a whole room dedicated to finding a way to overcome Brainiac's Force Field. Further, Superman had extensive contact with the Fourth World. Thus, is it possible this gas is a Superman-duplicated version of Dr. Bedlam's Paranoid Pill?


Title: Re: Possible Jack Kirby reference in ALL-STAR SUPERMAN?
Post by: Bill 9000 on March 18, 2006, 08:00:30 AM
I always thought that Superman being highly intelligent was a great compliment to his also being incredibly powerful. That was always one of the things that appealed to me about everyone's favorite Man of Steel ... that he could use his super-powers intelligently and not just go in with his fists swinging. Being the son of Jor-El and inheriting his scientific genius (in addition to that genius being augmented by his super-powers) is what set him apart from every other Kryptonian. He's big ... he's powerful ... but unlike other superheroes who are big and powerful, Superman's not stupid!


Title: Re: Possible Jack Kirby reference in ALL-STAR SUPERMAN?
Post by: Superman of America on March 18, 2006, 03:28:48 PM
Anything related to KIRBY is good! All hail the King!!!!!


Title: Re: Possible Jack Kirby reference in ALL-STAR SUPERMAN?
Post by: Sword of Superman on March 18, 2006, 09:18:30 PM
Quote from: "Bill 9000"
I always thought that Superman being highly intelligent was a great compliment to his also being incredibly powerful. That was always one of the things that appealed to me about everyone's favorite Man of Steel ... that he could use his super-powers intelligently and not just go in with his fists swinging. Being the son of Jor-El and inheriting his scientific genius (in addition to that genius being augmented by his super-powers) is what set him apart from every other Kryptonian. He's big ... he's powerful ... but unlike other superheroes who are big and powerful, Superman's not stupid!

I can do nothing than agree with you :D  :D  :D  :D !