Some disasters are so overwhelming that they can only be staved with the peerless power of 32K of RAM! Your Major Spoilers Retro Review of Superman in “The Computers That Saved Metropolis” awaits!
SUPERMAN IN “THE COMPUTERS THAT SAVED METROPOLIS”
Writer: Cary Bates
Penciler: Jim Starlin
Inker: Dick Giordano
Colorist: Uncredited
Letterer: Ben Oda
Editor: Joe Orlando
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: Free
Current Near-Mint Pricing: $10.00
Release Date: March 26, 1980
Previously in Superman in “The Computers That Saved Metropolis“: Launched in 1977, the Tandy Radio Shack 80 was one of the first mass-market home computers. Retailing for the 1977 equivalent of three thousand dollars, the TRS-80 was indeed the bulky, angular, monochromatic-screened shape of things to come. By 1980, the Tandy Corporation, which owned Radio Shack, was ready to release the Model III, which replaced cassette tape storage with dual floppy drives, was designed to work on a single outlet (as opposed to the FIVE used by the Model I) and went beep-borp in fun ways, all the while having less computing power than my car keys do today. And who better to show the usefulness of the computer of tomorrow than the proverbial Man of Tomorrow?
Hearing that their book reports were going to be postponed might have been exciting for Ms. Wilson’s sixth-grade class, but the arrival of their guest instructor sent that excitement through the roof. The topic is “The History of the Computer,” and their instructor is Superman himself, carrying a pair of TRS-80 computers in his belt canisters. Not all the kids are impressed, though, as young Alec considers computers to be boring nonsense, no matter how long the teacher’s cape. That’s when Superman takes the whole class outside onto the roof for the first part of their lesson.
Superman explains how the space program would not be possible without the aid of computers (and the ad-based nature of the story lets the reader infer, incorrectly, that the TRS-80 was part of that) and how integrated circuits replaced the tubes of the original computing machines. The fascinating thing about this story isn’t that it’s pretty readable (thanks to Cary Bates, anybody with sense would expect that), it’s how well-done the art is. Longtime comics stalwarts Jim “I made Cosmic Marvel” Starlin and Dick “I edited the Charlton Action Heroes” Giordano make this promotional freebie look really good, perhaps even better than Superman’s regular art teams of the era. The class is so fascinated that they don’t immediately realize when Superman disappears to handle a mysterious cyclone in the midst of Metropolis.
It’s not the most natural of natural disasters, and that can mean only one thing on Earth-1: Costumed weirdos!
To be specific, Green Lantern’s minor adversary, Paul “Major Disaster” Booker, who used the tornado to disseminate a cloud of Kryptonite crystals throughout the city. Superman quickly discovers that his ability to control his super-powers is limited, and it takes immense amounts of concentration to not crash through buildings every time he takes to the air. This means that using his legendary computer-like mind is off the table, forcing him to take drastic action and rely on external computers. But Major Disaster thought of that as well, knocking out every major system in town…
…but he never counted on a couple of minors. *RIMSHOT*
Class good kid Shanna and the aforementioned snotty “Smart” Alec volunteer to use the TRS-80s to replace Superman’s computer brain, calculating the vectors and then, using that appliance, science-science-science, breaking only one or two laws, the Man of Steel can save the day. Crashing airplanes, floods, frost, fire, or frippery, nothing can stop the team of Kal-El and TRSDOS. Not even a meltdown at the local nuclear power plant!
With the help of their computers, Superman is able to draw the radioactive waste up and into outer space, saving the day, and allowing Alec and Shanna their moment in the sun, in the form of a TRS-80 commercial on WGBS-TV. Despite being a promotional comic book, Superman in “The Computers That Saved Metropolis” is a good-looking issue with a plot that gives a logical enough reason for including the product placement, rounding out to 3.5 out of 5 stars overall. If you’ve only heard the usual suspects complaining about this one as being “corny,” “stupid,” or “out of date,” you’re honestly missing an experience.
Dear Spoilerite,
At Major Spoilers, we strive to create original content that you find interesting and entertaining. Producing, writing, recording, editing, and researching requires significant resources. We pay writers, podcast hosts, and other staff members who work tirelessly to provide you with insights into the comic book, gaming, and pop culture industries. Help us keep MajorSpoilers.com strong. Become a Patron (and our superhero) today.
Despite what the Internet usual suspects might have you believe, this one is a silly-yet-endearing hunk of early '80s comics nonsense, with some REALLY good-looking art.
-
Writing6
-
Art9
-
Coloring6