Null & Void Part IV

WORLD'S FINEST COMICS #306, DC Comics, August 1984
So from Trevor von Eden's scratchy expressionism, we're back to Steve Lightle's porcelain dolls. Not a big role for our two (former) friends in the penultimate issue of their saga, but nonetheless a crucial one.

In the real world, Null has reformed (he was never very bad in the first place, just a victim of peer pressure) and used his magic tattoo to free Swordfish from temporal ice. He and Batman rejoin Superman in international waters and pledge to go to Cuba and rescue Swordfish's partner, the lovely Barracuda, who may or may not be an ancestor of the Kents' (but not you, Superman, you're adopted, remember?). These two were abandonned on the same Caribbean island where Null & Void got their powers by the dread super-pirate X'ult, where the natives weren't any more friendly nor intelligent. They got matching tattoos, touched them, and beat the natives' asses.

In Dr. Strange-world, a freed X'ult makes Void an offer he can't refuse: Trade in friendship for... more.
I'm not judging. They get back to the real world where X'ult aims to get his long-time enemy Barracuda as a bride (ok, now I'm judging). But first, they have to get through the Commies.
Superman to the rescue! When you get an S.O.S., suddenly you're justified in crossing borders. The Commies are thankful. However, they have to watch out how they show their gratitude to a guy practically wrapped up in the American flag. The Cubans do it RIGHT:
The Russians do it WRONG!
Don't try to tell me that guy isn't going to get sent to the gulag.

Meanwhile, Swordfish, Null and Batman have infiltrated the Commie HQ. Swordfish gets owned by gas when his powers fail. Batman beats up a cadre of soldiers. And Null almost touches hands with Barracuda, but fails when Void and X'ult barge in. Friendship officially OVER.
That's sad. Sadder still is that Batman can't do anything against the lucky groom and his godlike powers. Next: Superman kicks him to the curb, and the final fate of Null & Void!

Comments

H said…
I am impressed. I don't think I was able to finish reading those death throe issues of World's Finest. You're a stronger man than I (or should that be, H?) Siskoid!
Siskoid said…
My love for Null & Void know no bounds.

And I didn't know any better at age 13.