COMIC BOOK OF THE WEEK – “Action Comics” #651 (March 1990)

Action Comics #651 (March 1990)

This week’s “Comic Book of the Week” is “Action Comics” #651, which was published by DC Comics in March 1990. This issue was titled “Not of This Earth” and was part three in an ongoing series called “The Day of the Krypton Man.”

This issue’s creative team included Roger Stern, writer; George Perez, Kerry Gammill and Brett Breeding, artists; Bill Oakley, letterer; Glenn Whitmore, colorist; Jon Peterson, associate editor; and Mike Carlin, editor. Perez was the cover artist for this issue, which sold for 75 cents at newsstands.

This 24-page issue begins with Clark Kent, who is the relatively new managing editor at Newstime Magazine, which is preparing a cover feature story about the fact that some of Earth’s greatest superheroes are aliens from another planet. Kent’s hoping this will calm some of the backlash against aliens resulting from a recent "invasion" that’s still on everyone’s mind.

Kent, who is himself a native of the planet Krypton, remembers all the negative encounters he’s had with aliens, including Lobo, Brainiac, Sazu and Maxima. Kent learned later that Sazu, who was involved the recent invasion, told a public defender that she actually destroyed a simulacrum of Maxima, not the real Maxima. As Kent’s mulling this over, the real Maxima is entering Earth's orbit in her space ship.

Maxima’s come to Earth in search of a fitting mate, and Superman’s got the right kind of bloodline. She beams down to Earth and finds her way to the Metropolis Women’s House of Detention, where Sazu is being held. Maxima arrives with a flash so bright that it’s seen across the city, and Kent leaps into action as Superman.

Before Superman can arrive, Maxima beams Sazu back to her orbiting spaceship for punishment later. Superman sees Sazu beaming back up and then lays eyes on the real Maxima for the first time. He doesn’t recognize her at first and begins to chase her.

Maxima leads Superman beneath Metropolis Harbor, where they begin to have a telepathic discussion in private. She reveals that she’s the true Maxima and tells Superman that her family has spent millennia forging a rich empire through continuous warfare. Thanks to selective breeding, her bloodline is the proud result.

Lately, her family’s been preparing to go to war against the tyrant Mongul. During their preparations, she came across footage of Superman’s successful participation in Mongul’s gladiatorial games in which he defeated their champion, Draaga. All of this is what caused Maxima to send her handmaiden, Sazu, to earth to investigate Superman.

After Superman’s defeat of Draaga, Mongul’s rule fell apart and while Maxima was going through the remnants of his empire, she found a map of Superman’s own genetic code. This code shows that Maxima and Superman are “quite compatible,” and they would be ideal mates. She tries to lure him in my telling him that through their children the lost race of Krypton would be given new life.

Superman turns her down, saying that he has no desire to father despots. Not being used to getting turned down, the beautiful Maxima goes ballistic. She proceeds to throw Superman up and out of the harbor, almost swamping a nearby boat, before he falls through the roof of the S.T.A.R. Labs roof. Maxima follows and begins wrecking the place.

Superman reappears, using his super-breath to knock Maxima off her feet. While she’s rattled, Superman brings out a headband he found that he hopes will hold her mental powers in check. Before he can put it on her head, she puts him in a trance that allows him to see his “destiny” with Maxima on her home planet of Almerac.

Superman turns her down again, saying he doesn’t want to be a warlord. Maxima become enraged again and blasts Superman with energy rays from her eyes. They battle back and forth for a while before Superman eventually knocks her out and puts the high-tech headband on her. From there, she's taken to a facility that's designed to hold individuals with superhuman abilities.

Later, we learn that the state department let her go because they considered her a head of state. She had to sign a non-aggression pact as part of her release deal. All of Kent's news magazine buddies are puzzled by Kent's reaction when he's informed of the news of Maxima's release.

The comic ends on a distant meteor, where Draaga’s spaceship has broken down. One of his colleagues is trying to repair it and tells Draaga that they’ll be on earth soon. Draaga’s got plans to get revenge on Superman, saying that he “must find Superman. I must have his head or die in the trying!”

This comic (unless I’ve sold it) and others are available for purchase through Peacock’s Books on Amazon.com. If you’re interested in buying it, search for it there by title, issue number and date of publication.