Superman Annual #3 (1992)
Penciller: Scott Benefiel
Superman is zipping through the city of Metropolis with Eclipso on his mind. He overhears that someone has a gun and races to the scene. A man is holding a woman at gunpoint, screaming that he has to get to off the planet before the demon takes him over again.
Superman is able to get the gun away from the man. Bruce Gordon (the original Eclipso) arrives while the police are apprehending the gunman. It turns out the man has a black diamond in his back pocket. An unwitting cop touches it and is engulfed in some kind or armor. The armor begins to attack Superman. Luckily Gordon is on the scene with a solar flashlight and is able to zap the Eclipso armor. As we leave Metropolis the gunman tells Bruce and Superman that he was first possessed in Crater Bay.
Lois is on her way to Crater Bay. She has a lead on some shady hotel developers. Lois arrives in the sleepy hamlet to a very rude innkeeper. Luckily, the man she came to see, Mr. Cross is on the scene as well. Lois tells Mr. Cross that she’ll talk to him after she gets settled in.
As she is going to her room, the innkeeper gives her a necklace that he claims will protect her from demons.
It turns out the innkeeper is eclipsed, and has Mr. Cross’ wife. Mr. Cross must make Lois angry while she has possession of the black diamond, or Eclipso will hurt the wife and Mr. Cross.
We now go to the throne room of Eclipso on the moon. He reveals that he has been scheming for years to make the Man of Steel his, and he is ready for his plan to come to fruition.
Back on Earth, our Eclipso hunters, Bruce and Mona, are driving when their Eclipso detector goes off. A giant monster begins to attack their car. Luckily, Superman swoops in on the scene and begins to fend the monster off. He is holding his own, but he needs help from Gordon and his solar flashlight.
Superman tosses the beast into the solar collectors (conveniently located on this stretch of road) and the monster disintegrates. With all of their equipment broken, Mona and Gordon climb into their car, as Superman flies them into town.
Back in Crater Bay, Mr. Cross is taking Lois to the local diner to do their interview. In an effort to make her angry, Cross pushes hot coffee into her lap and tries to clean it up. Lois, while not having it, keeps her cool. When Cross sees Superman flying into town, he realizes that his time is running out.
So, what to do but throw another cup of coffee in Lois’ lap. That does it. Lois is out.
Lois has a headache, and no Tylenol. Superman picks this horrible moment to try to tell Lois to get out of town. Lois doesn’t take well to being told what to do. She has a headache, a lap full of coffee, and a black diamond. Eclipso time! Eclipsed Lois proceeds to open up a can on the Man of Steel as she tells him why Lois is angry.
While Supes is having his keister handed to him, Bruce is attacked by the Eclipso as well. Mona, seeing that Superman has his hands full, grabs the black diamond, and transforms. She fends off Eclipso long enough for Bruce to help Superman.
Bruce zaps the townspeople with the now repaired solar flashlight. This distracts them long enough for Superman to break free and fly Bruce and himself to safety. Superman’s goal now is to keep Lois busy until sunrise.
So the issue ends with Lois free, but Mona and the town of Crater Bay still in the thrall of Eclipso. Superman is going to have to come up with a plan to save them. To be continued in Justice League America Annual #6 and Action Comics Annual #4.
This is by far my favorite of the Eclipso annuals which I have covered. The creepy innkeeper, the crazed gunman, the repeated coffee throwing, there was a lot of interesting moments in this one. I also really like that Lois got her time to shine in this issue. I always say, the best Superman stories highlight the rest of the cast, and Lois held up at least half of the story.
Some nice cliffhangers here as well. Mona and the town of Crater Bay are still possessed, so even though the Lois part of the story has been resolved, their is still work for Superman to do.
All said, I would definitely recommend this issue. I might even say pay cover price ($2.50), just don’t tell Professor Alan of the Quarter Bin Podcast that I said that (I’ll deny it).
I’ll be back with Valor #1 towards the end of the month. In the meantime, several other wonderful podcasters and bloggers are also covering Eclipso: The Darkness Within. Make sure to check Them Out!
http://relativelygeekypodcast.blogspot.com/2017/06/crj-024-may-2017.html?m=1
http://chrisandreggie.podbean.com/
https://www.thepopculturepalace.com/
http://resurrectionsadamwarlock.tumblr.com/
http://imthegun.blogspot.com/
http://www.chrisisoninfiniteearths.com/
http://coffeeandcomicspodcast.blogspot.com/
http://betweenthepagesblog.typepad.com/http://dcbloodlines.blogspot.com
/https://www.retroist.com/2017/06/08/eclipso-66-puzzling-beginning/
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