He's Right: It is NOT Whipped Cream

Hot on the heels of last week's introduction of Kate Kane, this week's issue of 52 devotes a couple of pages to another new character--Supernova--who, as you probably know by now, seems to have some pretty strong connections to the story from 1968's World's Finest #178.



That, incidentally, is one of my favorite Silver Age covers, if only for the fact that it looks for all the world like Batman walked in, saw that costume, and then went and got Green Arrow so they could both make fun of it. Superman, meanwhile, seems completely oblivious to the fact that it's the most garish costume ever, instead getting all indignant for the wrong reasons.

No, Superman, it's not that they doubt your abilities as a crimefighter, it's that going out dressed like that is just asking for the wrong kind of attention.

Anyway, you probably know the deal already, which is good, since I forgot this was a two-part story and don't have the second part, which would make any attempt to summarize it pretty worthless once I got to the midpoint. In case you don't, however, here's a quick rundown of the first half:

It's an "Imaginary Story" where Superman--and stop me if you've heard this one--is out in space doing something when he mysteriously loses all of his powers. This leaves him pretty bummed out, so he turns to Batman in his time of need, who does the only appropriate thing when a pal loses everything...



...and socks him right in the jaw.

Because sometimes being a friend means you have to step in and regulate when your friends won't calm their asses down. That's what it means when you're Batman anyway.

Superman understandably gets depressed, but eventually resolves to follow the example set by Batman and Green Arrow--but not the one where you punch your depressed friends in the face. Instead, he resolves to train himself to become a crimefighter despite his lack of powers, and, using a cape given to him on a time travel adventure by Leonardo DaVinci (!), he becomes Nova, and is promptly dropkicked into unconsciousness by bank robbers and dragged to see underworld boss Mr. Socrates, who intends to use the powerless Superman in a plot to kill Batman.

One can only imagine what wonders appear in the second part.

What you might not know, however is that the first four pages of this comic play host to some of the most unintentionally hilarious panels I have ever seen. Because if the purple high-collared costume and "Over the Rainbow" reference on page two weren't quite gay enough, I invite you to feast thine eyes on the actual reason Superman loses his powers:





And finally... wait for it...



My work here is done.

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More of the Same:

| Superman and Batman's Night Together |
| Much Like Mr. Weatherbee, You Are Now Freaking Out |