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STEEL YOURSELF! Here is the first in what will become a recurring instance of bifurcated broadcasting, as we not only look at the prickly New Blood known as Edge, but also the rookie super-hero who hosted Tom O'Brien's debut in Superman: The Man of Steel Annual #2, Iron John! Well, you might not remember that short lived moniker, but surely you know Dr. John Henry Irons, the armored engineer who stood as part of the titular quartet from the epic storyline "Reign of the Supermen" who briefly replaced the Last Son of Krypton following his presumed death at the bony hands of Doomsday. We'll cover Steel's earliest career from his cameo in Adventures of Superman #500 through his star turn in Superman: The Man of Steel #22-24, as well as an overview of his role in the DC Universe. You can follow along with our reading of the annual at Scans Daily.
This episodes non-paying advertisers:
- The Man of Screen Podcast
- Listen To The Prophets - A Star Trek Deep Space Nine Podcast
- From Crisis To Crisis Podcast
Spill Some Blood!!!* *across social media only.
- Tweet host Diabolu Frank directly, or probe @rolledspine as a group.
- Email Diabolu
- If the main DC Bloodlines blog isn't your thing, try the umbrella Rolled Spine Podcasts.
1 comment:
I can't comment too much on Bloodlines, but I can talk about Steel.
I thought the trilogy of Death of a superman-Funeral for a friend-Reign of Supermen improved as they came out. Reign was an interesting story and I likded the idea of four people claiming the mantle of Superman.
Of all of them, it was clear that Steel would have the most staying power. Cyborg turned evil. It's hard to write an arrogant Eradicator for too long without it feeling one-note. And Suoerboy was a bit too trendy to last without ongoing changes.
That left Steel as a regular guy inspired by Superman to do more. That'll do! In the end he became the Iron Man of the DCU. Sometimes that can lead to lazy writing. 'We need a new device to beat an unbeatable foe ... let's get Steel! He can make anything!'
Those early issues with him trying to make up for his past sins of weapons making also reeks of Stark. But putting it on the street level with gangs was a nice new wrinkle. At the time, I thought Jin Bogdanoves art was amateurish, too rough in comparison to the smooth look of Grummett, Guice, and Jurgens on the other super books. Now I realize it was that difference that gave it vitality. It is the most memorable art because of that difference.
His later stories and solo book never rose to the power of this origin stuff. I did like his turn in Morrisons JLA.
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