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Mild Mannered Reviews - Super Friends

Super Friends #23

Super Friends #23

Scheduled to arrive in stores: January 13, 2010

Cover date: March 2010

"Mystery in Space"

Writer: Sholly Fisch
Penciller: Stewart McKenny
Inker: Stewart McKenny
Cover: J. Bone

Reviewed by: Adam Dechanel

Click to enlarge



Roll Call: Superman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, The Flash, Green Lantern - John Stewart, Batman

Someone has broken into the Super Friends' satellite! Investigating they find Despero stealing from their trophy room, he's trying to retrieve a jar, one of the three magical artifacts that Felix Faust had combined for ultimate power! Despero reveals the other artifacts are being sought for right now by Mongul and Queen Bee!

The villains must be stopped!

The heroes use Oan Space Warps (that look remarkably like wooden doors) to travel across the universe. Searching the moon-like planetoid, it's not long before Mongul appears before them. He's bigger than them, he's stronger, almost impossible to defeat... but Superman uses his Super Breath to hurl the villain into the depths of space so they can safely retrieve the artifact - a golden bell.

They second artifact is a wooden wheel and it's on a planet abundant with wildlife. Queen Bee is their rival this time and she has an army of aliens she's made into bee minions! Bee's scepter changes Diana and Arthur into bees too, but quick thinking from Arthur saves them - Bees don't dive into water, if they do they'll be free of Bee's evil magic! They capture Queen Bee and revert all of her slaves to normal promising to return and send them all back home.

When the heroes return to the satellite they discover they've fallen into a trap! Despero laughs that Mongul tried bullying and Queen Bee tried force - but the best way to get what you want is to be - sneaky! Using his tremendously powerful hypnotic eye, Despero weakens his foes and is now in possession of the jar, wheel and the bell!

The heroes realize Despero's eye beam only lasts for one whole minute and each time it wears off they'll try to stop him. Arthur steps up and offers a deal to the villain:

Leave Earth alone and the Super Friends wont do anything to stop him from taking the Jar, wheel or bell.

Despero, deduces that a Super Friend would never break a promise and accepts the deal.

But no sooner does everything look lost than the day is saved again by a giant cage falling from the ceiling and trapping Despero! Despero cries that they lied and broke a promise - but Arthur points out they didn't! The automatic security system stopped them - not a Super Friend!

The Super Friends realize hiding Faust's artifacts will never be enough so with John's help they miniaturize the artifacts to a sub-atomic level and hide them inside tiny asteroids which they hurl into the sun!

If anyone ever tries to find the artifacts, they'll face JUSTICE!

ACTIVITIES:

Aquaman's Race Through Space Puzzle, Queen Bee's Be A Bee Dress Up Wings, (No) Bully For You Guide

SECRET CODE:

XOLI ISDO -- KIIKMU BC INO DKR PMSOXISPIP!

4Story - 4: A pretty short and sweet story, I think the charm of it however - aside from the Mystery In Space homage was the fact it threw in a few gems. First we have continuity - referencing Felix Faust and the previous story featuring the magical artifacts, then we have Despero, Mongul and Queen Bee! Love it!

4Art - 4: Did I mention I liked the fact Despero, Queen Bee and Mongul appeared? I love the character designs for these guys! I do enjoy it when the 'strict' boundaries on looks of a book are tweaked and pushed further. Some of you may recall an amazing artist called Aluir Amancio who did the very same thing when Superman Adventures was at the height of popularity. Stewart whenever you're ready for that interview buddy!

3Cover Art - 3: Loved Wonder Woman's awe of space depicted here, but the whole 'Mystery In Space' theme they have going just isn't magnified well enough here. John looks like a robot by the by.


Mild Mannered Reviews

2010

Note: Month dates are from the issue covers, not the actual date when the comic went on sale.

January 2010

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