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Superman vs. Mongul SC
by Robert Greenberger
“Burn.”
Perhaps one of the most memorable lines Superman ever uttered, it was a climactic point in the archetypal Superman annual #11 and the recipient of that burst of heat vision was the intergalactic conqueror Mongul.
Since his introduction years earlier, Mongul became one of the strongest, deadliest enemies Earth’s super-heroes would ever know. His formidable figure and variety of powers has made him a perennial opponent not only in the comics but also video games and animation. After all, few enemies can go toe to toe with the man of Steel and give as good as he gets.
DC Comics is collecting those earliest stories in Superman vs. Mongul, reprinting DC Comics presents #27-28, 36 and 43 along with the oft-collected Superman Annual #11. While his indelible image was crafted by artist Jim Starlin, credit scores to his creation really goes to writer Len Wein.
Back in the late 1970s, Starlin had been working both sides of the street, starting at marvel and giving the world Thanos, clearly inspired by Jack Kirby’s Darkseid. He began doing work for DC and wound up doing some writing as well. He and Julie Schwartz hit it off so he began a run on DC Comics Presents, which was a Superman team-up title without a regular team.
Starlin co-plotted and drew issue #26, working with writer Marv Wolfman on Superman and green lantern story that showed his continuing interest in life beyond Earth. cool as that story was, it was overshadowed by the 16-page insert introducing the world to the new teen Titans. An issue later, though, Starlin was assigned Wein’s script which pitted the action Ace and the Martian Manhunter against Mongul, come to claim Earth. In The Krypton Chronicles, Wein explained he was trying to find an even-matched villain for the pair to battle but it was Starlin’s art that captured the imagination as the yellow-skinned alien had a hulking physique not dissimilar form that of Thanos.
DC Comics presents #28
With Mongul’s Warworld coming closer to Earth, Superman recruited his cousin Supergirl’s help in the following issue. In the aftermath of that epic battle, Superman’s mind was assaulted and it took the otherworldy power of the Spectre to aid the World’s greatest Super-Hero in a story not included in the collection although an argument could be made for keeping the trilogy intact.
Eight months later, though, Schwartz afforded writer Paul Levitz a chance to tidy up loose threads from the recently cancelled Starman series in adventure Comics. He teamed up with Starlin to plot the story which also saw the artist revamp the character’s look and make Mongul a returning threat, this time to prince Gavyn’s home of Throneworld, cementing Mongul’s danger to the universe for years to come. The danger was so severe that it took the help of the legion of Super-Heroes to stop his next attack in DCCP #43 in a story by Levitz, Curt Swan and Dave Hunt.
Superman annual #11
Today, Mongul makes regular appearances but he was slow to catch on. It took three years after his last DCCP appearance before he returned this time in the care of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. As the story goes, Julie Schwartz hectored Moore into writing for him and pretty much gave him carte blanch. Moore and Gibbons were already talking about working together on The Watchmen so this was a sort of warm-up to the legendary partnership. The story introduced the Black Mercy plant and saw Batman, Robin, and wonder woman work to complimentary Superman from its grip. Which leads us back to the popular moment as Superman unleashed his power, exacting revenge for Mongul’s trap.
Great stories by talents at their height form all contributing to making the character memorable and enduring.
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Superman vs. Mongul SC
Classic comic covers from the Grand Comics Database.