Written by Dan Didio,
Illustrated by Shane Davis
Published by DC Comics
Dan DiDio delivers one of the least anticipated and least likely Hanna-Barbera / DC crossover with Superman/Top Cat Special #1.
When the head of the company picks up a book on the roster, I’m usually curious. DiDio’s Metal Men was a highlight of DC’s Wednesday Comics for me.
Superman: Earth One artist Shane Davis is also a favorite of mine though I wasn’t crazy about his cover for this issue.
Supes looks a bit off but maybe it’s the way the final art was cropped. He does draw a great Top Cat.
Normally, a cat (or anyone for that matter) in a fedora is cause for suspicion but TC is a childhood hero of mine, tying a string to a coin to yoink out of the doorman’s hand far predates that same life hack used in the 80s by video game freaks. And yes, they showed that trick in AMC’s retro computer drama Halt and Catch Fire, but I digress.
Somehow DiDio must be getting after his wife for feeding him too much salad and kale. He really works out his dietary issues in this comic. He imagines a ‘Chopped Salad Society’, a cultish crunching hoard, celebrating like a bunch of Basic Branches.
The superstore Wholesome Goods sponsors the event. But everyone is attacked from the sinister dish from the inside! Kale will not be digested.
Supes is on the scene and investigates at the closest Wholesome Goods, where our formerly skinny costar is holding down a part time job. Sure beats eating fish skeletons in an alley!
A monster from the Kalien race appears and our two heroes take on the mission of finding out what this Kalien monster’s real motivation is.
Back at The Daily Planet, TC and Supes track down billionaire Alexander Mikos as the real source of the conflict as having harvested this Kalien race and force fed the plant species to his drone loving subscribers. A king if the pun, we’re introduced to Mikos’ weapon — Amazo Prime.
In the end, heroes win, but are you surprised? TC tries to intern at the Hall of Justice. I guess his limo-bumper joy ride days are behind him.
The TC characterization and voice was not how I picture Top Cat in my head but hey, I’m not the boss of DC Comics!
