Wait, WHAT? Super porn?

[sherkahn]

Newsarama is counting down the 10 most wish-we-could-forget moments in DCU history, and I missed this one.

Did THIS really happen?! Was I actually able to forget this ever occurred? Can I do it again?



From the page...


SUPER-STAG FILM
You've heard about this one, right? In Action Comics #592 and #593, shortly after Crisis on Infinite Earths, John Byrne introduced a new villain named Sleez, who manages to trick Superman and Big Barda into filming a sex tape with each other. Yep.

Mr. Miracle, Big Barda's husband and fellow New God, wasn't too happy to find out -- wait, let's rewind. Mr. Miracle saw the film because Darkseid gave him a copy of the tape. That's right -- Darkseid, the ruler of Apokolips and generally the worst dude around in the DC Universe, tasked his minions to hit up the porno shops in Metropolis in search of a stag film on VHS.

This actually all might be pretty funny in an Elseworlds or "Bizarro Comics" story, but no, it was right there in continuity, filling two issues of one of the longest-running series in American comic book history.

Comments

[an_idol_mind]

Oh yeah...it's also worth mentioning that the comic comes off as seriously misogynistic. Barda is captured and mind controlled, made to dance around in scanty clothing for several days, and left screaming in terror when she temporarily breaks free only to be placed under Sleez's control again. When Superman falls under Sleez's control, he's got the "moral fibre" to resist it, while Barda seemingly has no similar qualms despite the fact that she is married. And to add insult to injury, Sleez later tries to use his powers on Scott, only to have him shake it off and state that Granny Goodness taught her subjects to resist mind control. Guess Barda was sick that day.

[naebler]

Add in the line above it about someone not being forced to something they wouldn't normally do. So it's hinting that Barda would normally cheat on Scott on camera.

Course then you fast forward a decade or two to Secret Six with Knockout and Scandal and she doesn't understand the fact she shouldn't sleep with deadshot, so it hints that relationships on Apokalypse are more the merrier. I.E. in the Authority where Midnighter meets time cops when he is trying to kill Hitler so he doesnt get blown up by the mad scientist.

[halloweenjack]

Exactly. Byrne likes to pretend that he's Jack Kirby's biggest fan, but he either doesn't get Barda at all or he just couldn't pass up the chance to do some (implied) Barda porn.

[newnumber6]

Here's what I don't get, though (not having read the comic)...

The scene posted here suggests that Superman had the strong moral fibre to resist, and that people can't be forced to dowhat they wouldn't normally do...

and yet, apparently the porn WAS made.

So what happened there? Did Sleaze just up the proverbial power on his mental whammy? Did something else convince Superman's conscience he should go ahead with it all? Did they bring in a stunt butt when Clark wouldn't seal the deal?

[an_idol_mind]

I think there were several videos already distributed with Barda sans Superman. (Apparently made in a matter of days...I know porn has a shorter development time, but that's a bit ridiculous.) The video Scott is watching is presumably a film featuring Barda that does not have Supes in it. Superman was brought in later to boost sales or something...I can't remember exactly, and I don't want to.