Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Justice League America Kellogg's Cinnamon Mini Buns Mini-Comic (1993)



I tried to research this little guy online, but the only site with real information was Lone Star Comics out of Austin, or as you non-Texan types know it, MyComicShop.com. They called it "Justice League of America vs. Amazo" which is pretty close to the cover text, and as there is no title in the indicia, I suppose the matter is up for debate. They also claimed, "These were mailed in a flat, white envelope with a thank-you card," but I got my copy straight out of the cereal box, sans card. I was also somewhat dismayed that I didn't get the comic I was shooting for at the time, Wonder Woman and the Star Riders. Today, I'm ever so pleased with the one I got, as I can now write a synopsis for it here, and because I found scans for the Wonder Woman comic cover it elsewhere. I'd have never paid the $30 they want for the League book on eBay, so all to the good. Besides, it could have been the lousy Flash or Superman issues. Yech!



Martian Manhunter, Wonder Woman, Ice, Green Lantern Hal Jordan, and the Wally West Flash raced toward a collapsing bridge lined with traffic. Amusingly, Hal was carrying Ice on a yellow energy construct at first. Flash initially took charge: "Haven't much time, Martian Manhunter! You weld the cracked girders with your heat vision-- while Wonder Woman and I pull people to safety. Ice and GL noticed their powers were fading, only to learn the culprit was "Amazo-- the Power-Stealing Android!" J'Onn J'Onzz angrily proclaimed, "You destroyed the bridge! It was a trap to draw us here!" Amazo stole some of the Manhunter's power (clearly more akin to the Superman foe "the Parasite" than Ivo's creation,) then tossed the Martian on his butt.

Meanwhile, a curiously multi-racial trio of boys still on the bridge spied a little Asian girl dangling off the side, hanging by her fingertips to a girder. They formed a human chain to reach the girl, but she slipped, falling into the the arms of the Manhunter from Mars. J'Onn J'Onzz rejoined the battle, where Wonder Woman had kept Amazo occupied, and told her the kids had inspired him to a solution. "Like them, we'll never succeed-- unless we work together! Come on Ice! On my signal, let loose with your frost-power to hold up the bridge." Martian Manhunter carried the ice princess below the bridge in preparation, but she was so weak she was unsure what good she could do. Seemingly irritable, as he'd scowled throughout the adventure, he replied "Just be ready!" Then again, while imperceptible at print size, blown-up art above suggests a sudden outbreak of Martian impetigo, which will louse up anyone's day.



Martian Manhunter rallied the collected heroes: "It was a mistake to battle Amazo one at a time! If we attack as a team, we'll force him to drain all our abilities simultaneously!" Continuing the assault from afar with laser vision, "Just as I'd hoped! The sudden energy surge has overloaded Amazo's robotic circuits! They're burning out-- releasing and restoring our super-powers in one burst! Now, Ice! NOW!"

All ended well, and Martian Manhunter was far and away the star of the book. He appeared on 12 of the 15 story pages, spoke nearly all the dialogue, had the only visible battle, conceived the victory strategy, and led the team. Come to think of it, I can't think of any other Justice League comics ever produced to portray J'Onzz totally owning a team of A-listers like this. I'd love to thank the creators, but there were no credits. The pencils looked pretty old school, but someone of the Image school inked the living tar out of some panels...

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