DC Comics Presents #28 (December 1980)

Last time, I looked at DC Comics Presents #27 (November 1980), which saw the debut of one of Superman's more prominent malefactors: Mongul. In that story, Superman was forced to fight the Martian Manhunter to obtain a tuning fork-like device that would allow its user to control the most dreaded machine in the universe: Warworld. Warworld was an artificial planet that also functioned as a fearsome weapons platform. That story ended with Mongul getting the key and escaping to Warworld. What happened next? Well, let's join the Man of Steel and the Girl of Tomorrow as they try to stop Warworld in DC Comics Presents #28!

The cover is a Jim Starlin and Tatjana Wood piece. It's really neat. It depicts Mongul holding Superman and Supergirl in his hands as they're trying to fight him, with Warworld looming in the background. It really helps sell Mongul as tht\is big deal, with something even more dangerous looming in the background. 

"Warworld!"
Writer: Len Wein
Penciler: Jim Starlin
Inker: Romeo Tanghal
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Letterer: Ben Oda
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Executive Editor: Joe Orlando

The story begins with Superman and Supergirl flying through the universe, in pursuit of Mongul. We get a recap of the last issue, which allows us to learn what happened to Steve Lombard, Jimmy Olsen, and Lois Lane after the events of the last issue. Superman had returned them to Earth and while he was there, he picked Supergirl up. I did wonder why they hadn't asked J'onn J'onzz to accompany them. I can probably imagine he had to take care of New Mars at the time.

The two head towards where the gigantic artificial planet/weapon called Warworld was supposed to be at, but they find it's gone.

Clearly, Mongul has activated it. Supergirl uses her microscopic vision and detects a stream of sub-atomic particles. Warworld uses powerful nuclear engines to move around. Its exhaust left behind a trail of said particles. It allows the two Kryptonians to follow Warworld's path, realizing it is heading towards the "Raydor Galaxy". 

Superman wants to be careful. He and Supergirl may be practically indestructible by Earth standards, but who know what weaponry Warworld is packing. Superman spots Warworld passing by a white dwarf star.

"Ha, ha! Gravity is for the WEAK!"

White dwarves are dying stars, and they are very dense. They also have very strong gravitational fields. Warworld passes close by one of those stars, seemingly unaffected by this. The two heroes use their telescopic vision to examine Warworld. They see the various weapons on the surface, the massive computer that operates all of it, a city to house its inhabitants, the graves of the Warzoon that built it, and Warworld's empty command console. But there's one thing that catches their eyes.

"This is not my beautiful house!"

A gigantic missile. Warworld does not play around when it comes to weaponry. The two decide to give the artificial planet a proper welcome. The planet's alarm system alerts Mongul to the two approaching. He links his mind up with Warworld's computer systems. It's here we get to learn Mongul's origins. Once upon a time, Mongul was a warlord. He ruled a world occupied by billions of beings. However, he ruled with an iron fist. Mongul felt that was how power should be wielded. A religious figure called the Arkymandryte turned the people against him, fermented a rebellion. Mongul was forced to flee for his life.  The Arkymandryte would end up becoming a worse dictator than Mongul himself.

Mongul launches one of the giant missiles at the two Kryptonians. Superman decides to take the missile just to see if he can take it. I think I can understand why Batman sometimes thinks Superman is an idiot. 

Superman gets hit by the gigantic missile. 

Superman: "...YEOW THAT SMARTS!"

Turns out Superman isn't quite as dumb as Batman thinks, as the Man of Steel was able to get out of the way at the last possible moment before it detonated. However, the concussion managed to knock him loopy. Yeah. The missile managed to stagger Superman. Another missile heads towards him and Supergirl. Superman remarks that that missile could have been the death of him and Supergirl...and then he gets hit with a bolt of inspiration.

They're going to keep heading for Warworld. Force Mongul to attack them with everything this artificial planet is packing. Mongul provides, shooting at the two heroes with all the planet's weapons. Superman and Supergirl dodges the lasers, use heat vision to blast the missiles. It's here that Superman reveals his plans. Remember when the two Kryptonians saw the graves on Warworld? 

Well, Superman theorizes that the Warzoon didn't all die out from some plague or cataclysm. It was likely something about Warworld itself that killed them all. And as Superman speaks, Mongul collapses from the strain of linking his mind to the world's computer systems.

"I can't...stop...fantasizing..."

Unfortunately, without a mind to control it, Warworld's defenses start going off automatically. And they need to get Mongul out of there. Superman gives Supergirl some instructions, and she flies off. As Superman distracts the defenses, Supergirl flies back towards Warworld, picking up speed. She's going to ram her way into the planet.

She manages to smash her way into Warworld. Not just into it, but right through it like a hot knife into butter.

"Use the Force, Kara!"

Awesome. Superman makes his way inside Warworld, marvelling that the big planet's self-repair capabilities. He reprograms Warworld, but finds that Mongul has vanished. So, what did Superman make Warworld do?

Superman is left wondering how many explosions he has to survive today?

With Warworld destroyed, maybe the Largas can rest easier, and Superman can patch things up with J'onn J'onzz. But that still leaves one more problem...where's Supergirl?  

I personally enjoyed the issue. I couldn't help but wonder if Starlin had a hand in writing this issue alongside Wein, because of the mention of the holy man. This is a space opera story with the mention of a holy man freeing the people of Mongul's world from his rule. Space opera with theological themes, ending with Mongul possibly dying? This sounds more like a Starlin story than a Wein one. Anyway, this was a neat tale, but I do wish more was done to explore the dangers of Warworld.

Starlin is more known as a writer than a penciler to me, so it was a surprise to see him drawing a comic. As I said in my review of the previous issue, I enjoyed his pencil work, particularly his take on Mongul himself. I think Starlin's art has a good sense of storytelling.

If you want to read this for yourself, I recommend tracking down the 2013 trade paperback Superman vs. Mongul. Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, show it off! Take care of yourselves and each other! Stay safe, stay healthy, stay home, wash your hands often, wear a mask, and get your vaccine/booster! See you next time!