"Who Haunts This House"
Writer: Denny O'Neil
Artists: Joe Staton(p), Frank Chairmonte(i), Jerry Serpe(c)
Publisher: DC
Since I reviewed a Batman/Superboy book; it's only fair I cast my eye toward DC Comics Presents which teams the Man of Steel with Batgirl, one of your reviewer's favorite DC heroes.
The plot begins a year and a half ago where a desert dweller named Caleb Gurk discovers a mansion in his sand-shrouded territory. Cutting to the present, Mr. Gurk invites several VIPs to celebrate his good fortune.
As immediately as on page three, Denny O'Neil lets the reader know that all is not peaches and cream. At the same time, he subtly shows Babs Gordon's observational skills. While soon it becomes obvious, Babs first spots a dive bombing helicopter, which brought the guests to the remote area. Does this look like a job for Superman? Of course. How though can Superman save the day without revealing that he is in fact mild-mannered reporter Clark Kent? O'Neil covers Superman's secret identity through the use of his super-speed. Nobody questions the disappearance of Clark Kent because it seems as though he never left. Very smartly done.
"I got a sudden urge to kill."
So says the pilot, and Babs as well feels something "in the air." Notice how Joe Staton captures her curious look. This will not be the only moment in which Staton beautifully illustrates the Darknight Damsel.
As the story progresses, the madness becomes contagious, and one by one the guests succumb. Superman flies the pilot, injured by one of the maddened guests, to the hospital. As she through pure willpower and strength of character resists the madness, Batgirl employs an awesome array of jabs, kicks and martial arts to keep these Night of the Living Dead recollections from harming Caleb Gurk.
This issue represents a neat role reversal. Usually, it's Superman who does all the heavy lifting, but Babs fills his traditional niche. The Man of Steel confronts the villain and deduces the menace behind the madhouse. The switch shows Batgirl and Superman to be a dynamic duo and makes DC Comics Presents enthralling and original.
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