I am only talking about the Joe Meach Silver Age version who kicked Superman's and Batman's ass both times he faced them in World's Finest 142 & 168. Supes and Bats only survived because of Compy losing his powers just before he turned out the lights on them for good. Meach died in a heroic act of self sacrifice so he was never to return to take them on again. I am not interested in the reworkings of the character after World's Finest 142 and WF 168.
Now this story absolutely thrilled me as a child. Compy's appearance was both very cool and macabre at the same time. My favorite artist Curt Swan was fantastic at making super villains look frighteningly realistic. An ordinary janitor named Joe Meach not only acquires Superman's powers but all the powers of the Legion of Super-Heroes. He uses Chameleon Boy's power into changing himself to look like a half Superman half Batman demon with a green face.
Meach is a janitor in the Superman museum where life like Legionnaire statuettes are displayed. Very life like because each statuette was created by making an exact duplicate of each legionnaire that included his/her own individual powers. A lightning bolt strikes the statuettes and also the nearby Joe Meach who is sweeping up. A curious thing about the Silver Age is that people never close their windows during a lightning storm. Meach is then imbued with powers and an evil personality.
Like all good super-villains Compy has to toy with Batman and Superman before he destroys them just long enough until it's too late. Of course if he knocks them off in the first couple of pages there's about 14 empty pages of story, right?
8 comments:
Forgot all about this guy and first time I have seen any mention of him in > 40 years. Thanks for the memories.
My brother and I have wasted a lot of time trying to dream up a scenario where the Composite Superman could lose a fight. We haven't succeeded yet. Most powerful DC character ever!
Absolutely agree Compy rules! For anyone interested, I have both of Joe Meach's adventures up at my site for reading:
http://supermanfan.net/nightwing/adventures/compositesuperman.htm
Thanks for the link David. I've got your site on my blogroll now.
Not only do I keep my window open during a lightning storm, I always make sure my Mon-El action figure is strategically placed along with the other LSH figures.
If I could only get one hero's power it be a hard decision not to want Invisible Kid's. That would be too much fun.
Close a window during a lightning storm?? Forget that! I try to fill my pockets with random chemicals in case I get hit (not having access to cool Legionaire statues).
The one "just suppose" I've always wondered about with Composite Superman is if he turned a corner and faced Amazo. Would Amazo be able to duplicate Comp's full roster of power without popping a circuit? If so, then Amazo would have the Legion AND the JLA in one package.
Post a Comment