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scans_dailyWell, as my introductory post for DiD Week (Which I don't think we have room left for a tag for I'm afraid), I thought I'd NOT start with the obvious choice, but an example that highlights just about everything I'm looking for in such a scene.
So rather than Batman's chum, I'm opting for Superman's Pal, and from 1995 we find Superman investigating....
The Jimmy Cage... No seriously, that's what it's called....
The cover is suitably dramatic, isn't it? Also, be aware that this is during Superman's "luxurious locks" era and there is a LOT of grimacing going on, but with that being said...
Now, I've never wanted to overexamine my own tastes in these things as I think that would spoil the enjoyment a little. Rest assured they remain firmly rooted in the realms of fantasy, I hope I would never have it in me to actually have anything to with such a situation in real life, and if I did, well, I probably wouldn't be posting here any more.
Generally I'm looking for a good looking hero (or associate) in some sort of imminent peril. Now that peril can be as Rube Goldberg as you like, in fact I think that that's part of the fun, the sheer improbability of the event. If you're using a machine the size of a two car garage to imperil your hero via some esoteric means, when you could do more real damage with a box of matches and a couple of toothpicks, then you're thinking along the right lines.
Consequently, creativity also earns points, if you can work your criminal theme into the deathtrap then all the better, or at least show you've put some thought and effort into it, if you're good enough to improvise though (as the Joker has shown) then go with it.
Now this story takes place at the end of a long story arc involving a villain named Conduit, an old Smallville rival of Clarks named Kenny Braverman, who genuinely hated Clark (Who was always that bit faster, steonger and better than he was, and he'd been exposed to Kryptonite radiation from Clark's spaceship as a child which did his health no good at all, so a lot of his physical prowess might be seen as stemming from a need to prove himself) His primary goal was to wreck Clark's life, and in trying to do so, he discovered Clark was Superman, and used the knowledge of that secret to make life as hard as possible for Clark. Sending messages saying "I know" to Clark and repeatedly trying to blow up or kill Clark's friends and family. Conduit was NOT a nice guy.
In the lead up to their final confrontation, Kenny had kidnapped Jimmy Olsen to use as leverage against Superman. However in the course of that battle, Kenny overloaded his power armour, and died as a result, without telling Superman what he'd done to Jimmy.
A couple of days later, a letter arrives at the Kent's apartment, another one from Kenny (The return address being "I Know" is a clue) posted before he died. It contains a lock of hair which is Jimmy's colour, and a note simply saying "The Golden Gopher was mine"). Remembering that this was one of the many prizes that Kenny found himself runner-up for, this time as a summer camp they went to as kids, Superman heads stright there and finds an underground complex.
There's a great three page sequence of him busting through a vault door, but you'll have to take that as read as Superman finds himself in a room, a room with...
Okay, now that has my attention, as you might imagine. Superman wants (understandably) help his buddy, but his buddy, who clearly knows what sort of a trap he's shackled to (One suspects Conduit was a serious soliloquiser), is warning him off. Why? What does he mean?
We find out a couple of scenes later as we cut back to the situation at hand. (And given the namedropping, one has to assume Jimmy cant hear Kenny's recordings....)
Look, he not only explains the trap Jimmy is in, he has DIAGRAMS! I approve of Kenny's work ethic.
Of course, Superman really has no choice but to go and get the bomb, and once he's dealt with it, he returns.
Okay, he may be annoying at times, but given he's watching the countdown to his own demise, you HAVE to admit that Jimmy is pretty darned awesome there, trying to make Superman feel better about not being able to rescue him, and then managing to contribute to his own possible survival (I'm also a big fan of the trapped hero NOT being quiescent about their fate, but doing everything they can to get out of it, directly, or indirectly)
Well, WHEW! (Again, Jimmy's response being essential to his survival helps make this scene work for me)
Luckily for Superman, though the pummel bar was strong, the floor of the chamber wasn't. It would have been enough to pulp James Bartholomew Olsen of course, but it just shoves Superman into the ground and he tunnels right back up to finish releasing his buddy.
Now that's my idea of a fun dude in distress scenario.... And yours? :)
So rather than Batman's chum, I'm opting for Superman's Pal, and from 1995 we find Superman investigating....
The Jimmy Cage... No seriously, that's what it's called....
The cover is suitably dramatic, isn't it? Also, be aware that this is during Superman's "luxurious locks" era and there is a LOT of grimacing going on, but with that being said...
Now, I've never wanted to overexamine my own tastes in these things as I think that would spoil the enjoyment a little. Rest assured they remain firmly rooted in the realms of fantasy, I hope I would never have it in me to actually have anything to with such a situation in real life, and if I did, well, I probably wouldn't be posting here any more.
Generally I'm looking for a good looking hero (or associate) in some sort of imminent peril. Now that peril can be as Rube Goldberg as you like, in fact I think that that's part of the fun, the sheer improbability of the event. If you're using a machine the size of a two car garage to imperil your hero via some esoteric means, when you could do more real damage with a box of matches and a couple of toothpicks, then you're thinking along the right lines.
Consequently, creativity also earns points, if you can work your criminal theme into the deathtrap then all the better, or at least show you've put some thought and effort into it, if you're good enough to improvise though (as the Joker has shown) then go with it.
Now this story takes place at the end of a long story arc involving a villain named Conduit, an old Smallville rival of Clarks named Kenny Braverman, who genuinely hated Clark (Who was always that bit faster, steonger and better than he was, and he'd been exposed to Kryptonite radiation from Clark's spaceship as a child which did his health no good at all, so a lot of his physical prowess might be seen as stemming from a need to prove himself) His primary goal was to wreck Clark's life, and in trying to do so, he discovered Clark was Superman, and used the knowledge of that secret to make life as hard as possible for Clark. Sending messages saying "I know" to Clark and repeatedly trying to blow up or kill Clark's friends and family. Conduit was NOT a nice guy.
In the lead up to their final confrontation, Kenny had kidnapped Jimmy Olsen to use as leverage against Superman. However in the course of that battle, Kenny overloaded his power armour, and died as a result, without telling Superman what he'd done to Jimmy.
A couple of days later, a letter arrives at the Kent's apartment, another one from Kenny (The return address being "I Know" is a clue) posted before he died. It contains a lock of hair which is Jimmy's colour, and a note simply saying "The Golden Gopher was mine"). Remembering that this was one of the many prizes that Kenny found himself runner-up for, this time as a summer camp they went to as kids, Superman heads stright there and finds an underground complex.
There's a great three page sequence of him busting through a vault door, but you'll have to take that as read as Superman finds himself in a room, a room with...
Okay, now that has my attention, as you might imagine. Superman wants (understandably) help his buddy, but his buddy, who clearly knows what sort of a trap he's shackled to (One suspects Conduit was a serious soliloquiser), is warning him off. Why? What does he mean?
We find out a couple of scenes later as we cut back to the situation at hand. (And given the namedropping, one has to assume Jimmy cant hear Kenny's recordings....)
Look, he not only explains the trap Jimmy is in, he has DIAGRAMS! I approve of Kenny's work ethic.
Of course, Superman really has no choice but to go and get the bomb, and once he's dealt with it, he returns.
Okay, he may be annoying at times, but given he's watching the countdown to his own demise, you HAVE to admit that Jimmy is pretty darned awesome there, trying to make Superman feel better about not being able to rescue him, and then managing to contribute to his own possible survival (I'm also a big fan of the trapped hero NOT being quiescent about their fate, but doing everything they can to get out of it, directly, or indirectly)
Well, WHEW! (Again, Jimmy's response being essential to his survival helps make this scene work for me)
Luckily for Superman, though the pummel bar was strong, the floor of the chamber wasn't. It would have been enough to pulp James Bartholomew Olsen of course, but it just shoves Superman into the ground and he tunnels right back up to finish releasing his buddy.
Now that's my idea of a fun dude in distress scenario.... And yours? :)
no subject
Date: 2012-01-29 02:45 pm (UTC)Although... I question the 90s perm.
no subject
Date: 2012-01-29 03:15 pm (UTC)Also, do you have other issues around this time. I'd love to see scans of Starro from issue 713 (I think).
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Date: 2012-01-29 03:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-01-30 12:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-01-29 03:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-01-29 03:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-01-29 07:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-01-29 03:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-01-29 03:54 pm (UTC)If you're prepared to spend that little bit extra on materials it makes all the difference. (It's not like you need solid steel wrist and ankle shackles for Jimmy Olsen when you get down to it)
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Date: 2012-01-29 05:04 pm (UTC)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9O3Oukr7dAg
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Date: 2012-01-29 06:04 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-01-29 04:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-01-29 11:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-01-29 11:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-01-30 01:51 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-01-30 05:06 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-01-30 07:22 am (UTC)