Action Comics Weekly #608: With 100% more Oprah!
This week: Green Lantern, Wild Dog, Secret Six, Superman, Deadman, and Blackhawk
The first thing that is incredibly apparent with this issue is the strange coloring choices on Tod Smith’s cover that leave Hal Jordan looking a lot more like Kyle Rayner. It’s quite strange as Tod does a fine job on the Green Lantern interior pages.
“Where the heck is Green Lantern?” by Peter David, Tod Smith, and Danny Bulanadi
After working for several years in the sales department at Marvel, Peter David makes his DC Universe debut right here, taking over the story from the former Marvel editor who ushered him into comic writing in the first place. David had already been at DC for a couple of months now, working on Star Trek and The Phantom while also writing occasional Spider-Man stories, the New Universe’s Justice, and Incredible Hulk (where he just wrapped a run with Todd McFarlane) at Marvel.
This tale kicks off with Oprah Winfrey spouting the question that is also our title. We switch to Hal Jordan as he wakes up late for his appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show. He rushes to clean up, charges up his ring, and flies out. He immediately ends up in the middle of an armored car robbery. He springs into action, but with his appearance advertised, the criminals came with bullets painted yellow. One bullet wings him in the arm, but he creates a green King Kong to lift up the armored car and swallow it whole. The criminals give up as Hal flies off and arrives just seconds before Oprah’s show is to go on air. (Oprah was very famously taped live every morning during its early years with some markets airing it then.)
Oprah strangely doesn’t question his injured arm, but lets him explain his history as a defender of the planet. Things go off the rails again as the issue ends, when he admits he was picked for having no fear, which draws an audience full of laughter.
“Winged Dog” by Max Allan Collins, Terry Beatty, and John Nyberg
Things get darker in our story in the aftermath of the explosion killing the terrorist leader. We learn it was Layman himself who set off the explosive packed in the terrorist’s belt. He returns to seducing local chapter head Helen who will serve as his alibi.
Jack recovers fine despite the wound on his arm. He reports to duty the next day with the Legion of Morality. Layman gives him a uniform to put on. One of the men watches from a distance and sees his injured arm. Layman knocks Jack out and leaves him under guard as he and his men go to attack a pop art display in the area.
This installment goes quickly, but it works solidly to set the pieces in place for next week’s final chapter.
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