DC Comics Presents #1
Published and © by DC, July-August 1978
Title: “Chase to the End of Time!”
Synopsis: Superman and Flash get drawn into an alien civil war, and end up racing to the end of time.
Writer: Martin Pasko
Penciler: José Luis García-López
Inker: Dan Adkins
Review: DC Comics Presents #1 should be more enjoyable than it is. Martin Pasko’s basic premise – Superman and Flash in a race to the end of time – is a good one, but the story is hampered by too many odd plot twists and herky-jerky pacing. Superman also seems out of character throughout, but the cliffhanger ending suggests this might be by design. The art, beautifully rendered by the oft-underrated José Luis García-López, is likewise flawed. While his page design is generally excellent, the scene transitions often feel rushed. On whole, this one falls short of its potential.
Grade: B-
Second opinion: “Off to a good start.” – Hassan Yusuf, FantaCo’s Chronicle’s Series Annual #1, 1983
Cool factor: José Luis García-López draws a good-looking superhero comic.
Not-so-cool factor: Hopefully, García-López didn’t design this issue’s alien villains – they look like goofy rejects from the original “Star Trek.”
Collector’s note: According to the Grand Comics Database, there is a Whitman variant and a 12p British variant of this issue.
Character quotable: “The waste-matter from their living ships – their ‘exhaust’ if you will … produced the first life on Earth …” – Aylem, leader of the Zelcot, tossing out one of the several interesting concepts in an issue overstuffed with them
Editor’s note: This review was originally published by Comics Bronze Age on June 25, 2010.
