Superboy #88

Diapers and Angels and Babies, Oh My!

Mama Joe Kelly & Papa Eddie Berganza Writers
Grande Padre Pascual Ferry Penciller
Great Uncle Keith Champagne Inker
Second Cousin Jason Wright Colors
Favorite Auntie Digital Chameleon Separations
Gran'pappy Comicraft Letters
Mike McAvennie No Relation

Our cover is pretty straight-forward, showing us that Superboy not only has to deal with the D.N.Angels, but also a stinky baby. I don't really know that much about either of these trials, but that doesn't matter. We'll just sit back and enjoy the ride until Impulse shows up on the last page.

So the baby is actually the reincarnation (if you will) of long-time Cadmus clone superhero, the Guardian. Tensions are high at Cadmus right now, under the presidency of Lex Luthor and direct supervision of Amanda Waller. And before the Guardian, Jim Harper, died, he apparently requested that he not be cloned anymore. Superboy is eager to fulfill Harper's final wish, while also taking care of this unexpected "bundle of joy" that pukes, poops and pees everywhere.

While shopping for baby supplies, Superboy is attacked by the D.N.Angels, who claim they're working for the government, but Kon doesn't trust them. After a bunch of running around and all the requisite high-jinks that ensue when a baby is involved, Superboy manages to escape the three super-powered women and retreat to the New York apartment of Bianca, the young woman who helped give him a redesign recently. The baby Jim Harper keeps them both up all night, and Kon finally falls asleep on the couch.

In the morning, Superboy learns on the news that Cadmus — the entire three-square-mile building — has mysteriously vanished without a trace. Superboy visits the empty site, complaining that nobody gave him a chance to collect his Playtendo, "female anatomy books" and official Wendy the Werewolf Stalker silver bullet. Suddenly, he's confronted by the entire Young Justice roster, and none of them look too happy.

And that's all that we care about. This story will continue in the tie-ins of Our Worlds at War — primarily a Superman story that grew to encapsulate the entire DC Universe. I really don't have much to say about this issue. I'm not a big fan of the art, but the humor was pretty good. I think I'm going to have to find the time to read this Superboy series one of these days.

Next time, we'll begin comics with the August 2001 publication date, which will take us into Our Worlds at War. But before we get to that crossover, we have to wrap up the Dark Tomorrow storyline in Impulse #75.