Next up for the month is another C-lister: Bloodsport.
Before you say anything, they’re not connected to that awesome Jean-Claude Van
Damme movie. See, there have actually been multiple versions of this character.
The first version appeared in Superman #4 as Robert DuBois, a crazed veteran
who went on a killing spree. The next one who appeared the most was Alex Trent,
a white supremacist. He appeared around 1994. There was another one from around
2007 but we never learned anything about him.
Since someone wanted it, the first two versions had a
meet-up. By the way, DuBois was black, so you know you’ll get some “special”
talk from Trent. Adventures of Superman #526 was released in 1995. Karl Kesel
was the writer. Instead of Stuart Immonen, we get treated with a guest
penciller in Rodolfo DiMaggio. Klaus Janson also was a guest as the inker. So,
what happens when two inmates go at it?
Adventures of Superman #526
Writer: Karl Kesel
Pencils: Rodolfo Dimagio
Inks: Klaus Janson
“Title Bout!”
We start the issue by finding out that the two Bloodsports
are going to fight in a prison match at Stryker’s Island. The warden wants
Superman to referee just in case these two cause more trouble. Superman wonders
if this fight should even be happening and the warden tells him that he’s
allowing the fight in order to keep the peace. Robert DuBois, the first
Bloodsport, was recently sent to Stryker’s and still may be a crazed loon.
Unknown to everyone else, Alex Trent has found a way to use his teleportation
technology again.
I guess this is how most folk felt about the Mayweather/Macgregor fight. They both kinda suck, you see.
Elsewhere, Lois Lane and Cat Grant meet for a lunch date.
They talk business and about the fact that Cat keeps getting stifled at her job
by Vincent Edge. She brought a harassment lawsuit against him some time back
and he’s kind of getting back at her for it. Back at Stryker’s, the fight between
the two villains begin. It doesn’t take long for Trent to use his powers and teleport
a Toastmaster in. A riot breaks out and the two Bloodsports escape the arena.
During the riot, a crazed killer kills a guard and escapes.
Superman puts the beat down on the rioters, and then finds
Trent and his band of racists. Trent runs off to take out Dubois who’s sporting
a weapon of his own. Duboius beats the crap out of him and and tries to escape
Stryker’s but he is killed. Meanwhile, Lois and Cat are able to get their
stories on the incident. Cat’s story on the escaped killer actually gets
Vincent Edge to name her GBS’s new executive producer. Things don’t work out
for Alex Trent, though. The story ends with the Aryan Brotherhood setting his
prison cell on fire.
……………………………………………………..
This was a fine issue. There really wasn’t anything special with
this one. I will say that it was interesting to see Superman deal with a
situation like this. It was also nice to see these two villains interact even
if it was brief. I was actually into the whole subplot with Cat Grant as well.
This era of Superman did a lot in fleshing out the supporting cast and it wasn’t
just the regulars that got time. There were four Superman books out,
after all.
The artwork was okay for the most part. I definitely missed
Stuart Immonen who I guess needed a break for the month. Dimaggio and Jansen
did a fine job in showcasing the action and drama of the whole thing. You can
definitely tell that Klaus Janson was inking this thing, though. I may not like
his penciling, but his inking’s fine. There isn’t a lot I don’t like about the
issue. I did wish that the two Bloodsports interacted a bit more. Also, there
were points where the artwork didn’t look that good.
Well, I don't think he'll be in the next issue!
Overall, this issue was fine. It wasn’t bad but it wasn’t
really good either. I guess that happens when you have a nutjob and a racist as
the villains. Bloodsport’s an okay C-Lister. I can see why these versions
rarely stuck around. Outside of teleporting weapons, they’re pretty lackluster
whether one’s a nutjob or one’s a jackass racist. Speaking of jackasses, next
time will be the return of a “fan-favorite” of the blog. I’ve berated him and
called him many names. Still, he keeps coming back like a toothache. Until
then, Peace, God Bless, and be careful out there. Unfortunately, there are a
lot of guys like the Bloodsports out there too.
NEXT TIME: PRIME’S BACK, BABY!
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